Summer is here. Does that phrase excite you or does it strike fear into your heart?
You might ask what could there be to fear about summer. Hurricanes? Sharks? Yes, I’m talking more about things that we face on a regular basis. How about the fear of going to the beach and putting on your bathing suit? How about the fear of summer wardrobes and pool parties?
If the fun of summertime is overshadowed by your fear of being embarrassed about the way that you look it is time to stop being afraid and do something about it.
Fear can be a great motivator. I think everyone would agree that it would be nice to be really healthy or to have a great looking body, but when the alarm goes off for that 6a.m. workout, is that desire still there? Not really. But what about fear? If you’ve ever had a health scare or a frightening conversation with your doctor, you know how motivating fear can be. Getting healthy in order to avoid a second heart attack or to lower your risk of stroke can be very motivating.
The fear of not being around long enough to see your grandchildren can really motivate you. On a lighter note, what about the fear of being embarrassed at the beach this year?
That fear is powerful. Use it to your advantage.
That is your motivation to start exercising. That is your motivation to start eating healthy. The good news is that it is never too late to start, but don’t procrastinate. The #1 killer to fitness success is procrastination. “I’ll start next month. I’ll start next week. I’ll start when the kids’ schedule slows down.” No, you won’t. I’ve seen it happen a million times.
Start today. Start today by making a decision. Make the decision that today will be the worst that you ever look and feel because as of tomorrow, you will start looking and feeling better! Make the decision and take action. Call me and schedule an appointment, call the gym, sign up for bootcamp or call a friend and set a time to go walking. Do something. Take some concrete action today to set your plan in place and you can be healthier and happier this summer.
“Creating healthier and happier bodies one client at a time.”
Fitness Together Miami is located at 5829 SW 73 St., Suite 2 in South Miami. For more information, call 305-665- 3694, or go online at: < www.fitnesstogethermiami.com > or email at: < scottbaumann@fitnesstogether.com > Scott Baumann is the co-owner of Fitness Together in South Miami.
“Where excellence in personal training meets privacy and luxury.”
I was talking to a client a couple weeks ago who was looking for a new employee. Yeah, I know what you’re saying, “Conterio, I know you’re making this up, NOBODY has been hiring new employees for months!” I know, I know, but seriously they really did have a job opening.
And they already filled it, so please don’t call me! Anyway, my client was telling me about an applicant who had seemed like they might not be bad for the job, until he went and did a little searching in the internet. Seems our job-seeker had a Facebook page that was not private. It also seems our job seeker had written a few things and posted a few pictures that didn’t exactly enhance their resume, if you catch my drift. Oops.
The moral to that little story obviously is, make sure your Facebook, and other social web pages are private, or better still, don’t post foolish things on line at all, things that might make a potential, or even current-employer reassess your value as an employee.
There is great concern about privacy in the Internet age, and rightly so. But sometimes the damage in this regard can be self-inflicted. If you ever participate in on-line forums or chat rooms, or even on email lists where you exchange a string of messages among a group of people, you have no control of what happens to the things you write, and where they might wind up. You might think you have some expectation of privacy, but the reality is, once something is out there, there’s no getting it back. Many people are shocked to discover this is also true at work. But unless you work for yourself, you have very little legal or reasonable expectation of privacy. The computer workstation you work at, your email account, possibly even your cell phone are all provided by your employer. They pay the bills, it is their property you are using, and what’s more, they have a certain degree of liability for what you use them for, so they not only have the right to monitor your use of these tools, in many regards they have a responsibility to do so. The best way to be clear about what you should and should not be doing with your company phone, computer or email account is to make sure you have read the policy manual your employer provides you with, in particular the Acceptable Use policy. This will outline your responsibilities when using your employer’s equipment. If your company or organization does not have a policy manual or an Acceptable Use policy, you might want to point this out to them. Politely of course!
At the end of the day, the best way to prevent your words (or pictures!) from making it on to the Internet is to think very carefully before you post them there. Consider that literally anybody will be able to see them. If you can imagine a worst possible scenario with someone seeing what you are about to send or post online who you REALLY don’t want seeing it, perhaps you should think twice about writing it in the first place.
Handy Internet Tip!
A friend of mine turned me on to this, it’s a web browser tool called Readability from an outfit called ARC90. If you are trying to read an article or story online, Readability will eliminate the clutter on the page, and allow you to customize the size and layout of the text, making it much easier and more comfortable to read. You can check it out for yourself at: http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/
If you have any ideas, tips or suggestions, you think are really great, send them to me at info@giatech.net .
A couple years ago, Microsoft released a new desktop operating system, Vista, which couldn’t have been more of a disaster. Despite a long beta-testing period, Vista was clearly not ready for the market.
It sported an entirely new interface, imposing an unnecessary learning curve on users, had lots of device driver problems, and was downright unfriendly with a lot of application software. Amid a flurry of complaints, people quickly started demanding the old reliable Windows XP when they purchased new machines, and almost nobody upgraded their existing computers. Microsoft was forced to push-back the dates for discontinuing support and sales of XP, and after a year, many computer makes didn’t even bother to advertise their systems with Vista.
Vista might well have received something of an unfair bad reputation. I have been using it on my main business desktop for more than a year and a half, with little to complain about, but it took quite a bit of getting used to. I had some initial device driver and software compatibility issues, but these were all quickly solved. But these days this is a lot to expect of the average user. Computers are not just toys for enthusiasts and technophiles these days, they are serious tools, and most of us depend on them for work to an increasing degree. We don’t want disruptions, and we certainly don’t want to have to learn a new interface for no reason. Although they tried to put a good face on it, Vista was not a experience for Microsoft.
In late October, Windows 7 hit the streets. Will it be a repeat of the Vista debacle? Happily, it looks like Microsoft got it right this time. I received my RTM (Release to Manufacturing, which is Microsoft-ese for the production version) copy of Windows 7 in September, and immediately put a copy on one of my laptops to give it a spin. As a computer consultant, I re-load operating systems on computers a lot, and one of the things you learn very quickly is to have copies of all the device driver software on-hand before you start, especially with laptops, which often have much more unique hardware built-into them. With my CD in hand, I started the installation, only to find I didn’t need it. To my very pleasant surprise, the Windows 7 installation recognized each device on my computer, and installed the correct driver for it, all automatically, with no intervention from me. Very impressive! It has also subsequently identified third-party items, like an old Netgear PCMCIA wireless adapter, and either automatically installed the drivers for them, or pointed you to the manufacturer’s website to download it. I installed several applications, including Intuit’s QuickBooks, and Adobe Photoshop, and had no incompatibility or problems of any sort. The laptop I’m using is a few years old, featuring a dual-core processor and only a single gigabyte of RAM, but it still performed very snappy, every bit as quickly as Windows XP had.
The user interface of Windows 7 is rather a compromise, bringing-back some of the “feel” of the classic Windows desktop. The Aero desktop is still present, but the Side Bar is gone. If you were a fan of Windows Gadgets from Vista, these can now be placed anywhere on your desktop. And of course you can turn-off Aero by selecting one of the “basic” desktop configurations. One of the more disliked features of Vista, UAC or User Account Control, has been transformed from an annoyance to a useful feature. For Vista users, turning-off UAC was always one of the first things users did. The annoying pop-ups, asking for permission or confirmation of nearly everything were too much to deal with. In Windows 7, UAC is configurable, with two useful, much less intrusive settings in between the “on” and “Off” states of UAC in Vista. The added security to your computer is considerable, and may alone be worth the price of entry if you have been plagued in the past by malware and trojans.
There are many other features and options to explore, but in the most important areas that effect users every day, Microsoft has done a very good and thorough job. When Vista came out, my advice to users was that there was nothing compelling about it, and unless they had some very good reason to change, they should stick with XP. But with Windows 7, Microsoft finally gives us a desktop operating system worth upgrading to, and one I will feel comfortable recommending.
If you’re a small business owner or an entrepreneur selling your services, you probably won’t be hiring a PR firm (and its generous rates) to market for you. You can make your marketing dollar stretch farther by some creative strategies that tell the world where you are, who you are, and what you have to offer. These strategies don’t cost big bucks, but they do require some imagination and a spirit of “opportunism”.
One of the first rules of the game is “Packaging is everything.” The term “packaging” refers to a great deal more than brown paper and string or tape. It relates to all the things you do to “package” your good and services. Some concrete examples are crisp, clean business cards, the free coffee and cookies at your storefront, the attractive tip sheets you distribute to your prospects and customers.
“Packaging” can refer to prompt delivery, a neat and clean office or retail space, a smile in your voice when you or one of your employees answers the phone. The way you handle customer complains is a sign of good or poor packaging. Annoying as those complaints may be, your calm and positive voice and your ability to listen patiently will go a long way toward keeping rather than alienating customers.
Supplying your customers with printed instructions on the use, maintenance, repair, cleaning, etc. of a product becomes part of positive packaging. This also includes providing a phone number for the customer’s use in case of questions, complaints, or suggestions.
A website can be part of your packaging, too. Is it well organized, easy to navigate, without an avalanche of words that intimidate or confuse the reader. Keeping the web site up-to-date with fresh information rather than text that is two years old gives you high marks for packaging.
“Packaging” your business/service effectively will draw customers to you and keep them coming back. It will give those customers a pleasant buying experience and cause them to refer their friends to your business.
To bring home the definition of “packaging” think of the rest rooms you have visited during stops at gas stations on the way to another city. If the rest rooms were nightmares of disorder and trash, as though they hadn’t be cleaned in years, you walked out with vivid memories and a firm desire never to stop there again. If the rest rooms were clean, well supplied, and maintained, you probably made a mental note to recommend the gas station to any friends traveling the same route.
The time and attention you give to “packaging” your business will pay off in a thousand ways. Your competitors may be bigger and better off financially but your thoughtful packaging of your goods and services may bring customers away from them, right over to your door.
It’s that time of year when the winter holidays are almost a distant memory and the new year is upon us, kids are finally back to school—and you’re working on your New Year’s marketing plan. Fun times, right? It’s time to review, renew and make a new plan, Stan!
If you’re a small business owner, marketing on a tight budget, you need to understand the calendar for each year. There will be times when big efforts will be wasted, no matter how well planned. In contrast, there will be times when your opportunities will be ripe for launching a new concept, a new product or service, or an expanded menu of goods and services.
If you want to know when your target consumer will be paying attention to what you do, look at your calendar. What’s the difference between February and July? The differences could be drastic, depending on what you’re selling. Here’s a simple system for interpreting your planning calendar:
From January 2 (right after people have recovered from the New Year’s hangover) to somewhere in late April or possibly the first week of May, the buying public is more likely to notice if you want to make a Big Deal Campaign for a product or service.
From the first or second week of May until the end of August, the buying public goes into the “summer coma” when they think about vacations, summer-related activities for the family or just the joys of relaxing. The buyers are not tuned in to your fresh, new campaigns that introduce something unless the theme is summer for those products/services. Bathing suits, vacation hotels, beach restaurants, summer clothes, etc. will gain attention, only because they are seasonal.
The next segment of your marketing calendar begins around the first week of September, when children start going back to school. The buying public recognizes back-to-school as the signal that the summer coma is over. Consequently, you will gain more attention if you launch something big and new in the time period between early September and perhaps the first week in November.
The final segment of the marketing year—November through January 1—could be called the “holiday coma”. It’s a time when people think about holiday trips, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, gift-giving, holiday parties, etc. Don’t even think about creating a big splash in the marketplace unless your effort is holiday-related.
So how should you plan your marketing? Here’s a recap: Big announcements or events for maximum public attention are do-able between Jan. 3 and May 1, and between September’s first week through November’s first week. Use the summer coma period and the last week of December for planning and organizing your upcoming marketing efforts. You can effectively use the holiday season to send greetings to your client list to remind them that you have appreciated their business and that you look forward to serving them in the coming New Year.
If you’re a mom and a small business operator—most likely out of your home, or if you’re lucky a separate office with low overhead—you’re a mom-preneur (a new version of entrepreneur) and Multi-Tasking is your middle name.
You may be well educated or apologize for not having an MBA or even completing community college, but you have a lot going for you in this current economy of tight finances and scarce jobs.
Here are some samples of things in your favor:
You already know how to do four things at one time. You’re familiar with holding a baby on your hip while you make dinner for the family and talk on the phone, ordering a birthday cake for your four-year-old.
You know how to squeeze 150 cents out of a dollar because you use coupons, shop the sales, and check out the comparative prices of two brands of chicken nuggets.
You have a built-in network of prospective customers: parents of the kids in your toddler’s day care group, parents of kids in your first grader’s elementary school, parents of kids who attend your church, parents of kids who are in your son’s Boy Scout troop. These parents feel a kinship with you and will be more sympathetic to your marketing than they would be if you were a complete stranger.
If you’re wired for the Internet, (which most moms are), you can create an email newsletter, using the addresses of those day care, school, church, scout troop contacts, so you can tell them about price specials now in force.
If your children are old enough to be walking around, you may be able to enlist them for tasks such as putting labels on envelopes, helping you assemble gift baskets, passing out your business cards and flyers, and keeping you company when you do deliveries from your car, SUV, or van.
If you’re a mom-preneur, time management will be a key skill. If all the kids are in school on week days, then you have time to operate your business and market your products or services. If you still have an infant or toddler, some of your work time will be while the little one is taking a nap or at night after the wee one has gone to sleep. Try to plan your business time one week ahead, remembering that a child’s sudden sore throat or fever and vomiting will change the schedule.
If your business involves your purchase of supplies, do a lot of price-shopping. You can use the Internet for this and when you’re out and about in the car (picking up the kids from school, for example), you can make a quick stop at a party supply store, office supply store, or other neighborhood retail outlet that has what you need.
If you can find ways for your kids to “help”, then you can make your business a “family thing”, giving your children an early education in economics and capitalism. As they find it fun to do things with Mom, your business can be something the kids look forward to sharing, not as something that keeps them away from Mom.
Use PTA meetings to give short talks (tips on planning a party, purchasing pet supplies—anything related to what you do). Emphasize ways to “save money” when planning a party but be available in case those in the audience would like you to take over the job.
If it’s any encouragement, know that huge companies all over the U.S. are having trouble keeping afloat because of the economic conditions. You, on the other hand, operate out of your house or garage or have a low overhead. You emphasize one-on-one marketing. Those in your neighborhood contact networks become return customers because they know where to find you and because your prices are reasonable and you provide great customer service, a great product and a winning smile.
When our country started out (you’ve heard about the Pilgrims, right?), everybody was a small business—the shoemaker, the tailor, the doctor, the baker. You’re part of a long and worthy tradition. “You Mom-preneurs ROCK!!”
Nobody knows your business better than you do. That makes you, as a small business owner, the perfect candidate to be a speaker at a local club’s luncheon or dinner meeting.
If you’re someone who quivers at the thought of public speaking, think about this: A club meeting gives you the chance to market your business without having to buy an ad. The difference between your speech and an ad is that you’ll teach the audience something about your specialty, which will cause them to see you as a credible expert—someone to call if they need your goods or services.
How do you make this happen? Start with research on the names of local organizations that have regular meetings. Examples include civic clubs (Kiwanis, Optimists), business-oriented groups (Business and Professional Women, city or community business networking groups, trade groups), and school groups (PTA). Then find a contact name and email or phone number for clubs that interest you. Make a contact, indicating a topic you can talk on that will interest the members of that group.
When the contact person gives you a positive answer, then make sure to get the exact time, date, and location for the meeting. Ask how many minutes is usually allowed for the speaker (often its 20 minutes or so). You will probably be asked to send a brief biography of yourself to the contact person so that you can be introduced properly.
In preparing for your appearance, create a simple flyer or bullet sheet with tips that you can give out to the audience. Make sure that your company contact information is somewhere on that flyer/bullet sheet.
Now: how do you plan a speech? First, make sure the topic is one suitable for the audience. A retirees group has little interest in how to give an inexpensive birthday party for pre-schoolers. On the other hand, parents of pre-schoolers are not in the market for financial advice for senior citizens.
Make sure that this speech has helpful, practical or educational information. Start out with a question for the audience that will lead to the main point of your presentation. If you’re an interior decorator, you might use, “Are there rooms in your house or your office that are boring? The colors haven’t changed in five years and the furniture is exactly what it was five years ago.” You’re leading up to how to plan for a fresh look—colors, materials, furniture, floor plans.
Do NOT start your speech with a joke, unless you are talented at telling funny stories. Sometimes a real-life example has all the humor you need, without your having to deliver a punch line.
Make your speech organized, so that the audience can follow you from point to point. Leave time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers. If someone asks a question that you’re not prepared for, try, “That’s a good question. I’m going to research that. See me after the meeting and I’ll get your contact information so I can get back to you.”
As you deliver your speech, move your eyes slowly from one part of the room to another. Smile a lot. Watch for body language from the audience—are they engrossed in your presentation—are they going to sleep—are they distracted by a phone call?
When the meeting is over, spend some time talking one-on-one with the members. Offer them your business card and ask for their cards. If you have done a good job in communicating, the audience will find you approachable and worth recommending to friends who are in other clubs in need of a speaker.
City Manager Roger Carlton shot right back at the Watchdog Report ( www.watchdogreport.net ), which did a little piece on the goings on over at city Hall. The manager’s response, which was in the April 4 edition, was pretty decent and direct, but my guess is that the initial WD report stung the manager a bit. I bet his well written, to the point, “let’s set the record straight, you got it all wrong,” is just one of many explanations that this current city manager will be writing during his tenure.
So, I hear that city commissioner Brian Beasley is trying to future out how to fulfill his campaign promise from two years ago when he told prospective voters that he was going to give computers to all the kiddies that live in South Miami. Well, that’s the unsubstantiated rumor that is floating around town, and also that he’s hoping that as a good will gesture Mark Richman, who operates the city parking garage, will give the city $50,000 that Brian will then be able to use for getting all the kiddies the computers.
Yes, that’s what I hear is floating around inside the head of Brian “The Brain” Beasley. And I bet that he’s even hoping that the present mayor (Phil Stoddard) will be so fed up with being mayor in two years that he won’t run again and then Brian “The Brain” will go for the mayor’s slot.
That reminds me of the mantra I heard recently, “I am the king, I am the king, I am the king of nothing.”
Speaking of nothing: When this commission gets done blaming the last commission and the last manager for everything that ails the city, just what will they do then and whom will they blame for all the new stuff that goes sour? Any bets that at first they won’t blame themselves? But after a while, they will, and you can count on it, they will blame each other and then they will blame the new city manager. Yup, that’s the program… blame the manager…just like they are doing now and just like the last manager got blamed, and the one before that and, of course, the one before that. So, Mr. Manager, you might want to keep copious notes about everything that this commission asks you to do in public — and, of course, in private — cuz before you know it you’re going to need it, when they unceremoniously terminate you, just like the commissions of yesteryear did with most of the previous managers.
Ooops! Usually my sources bowl a strike, but occasionally one of them will throw a gutter ball. Unfortunately the info I passed along last time about the King Pins Challenge II was in the latter category.
Event Producer John Edward Smith tells me that contrary to what I heard, Mayor Stoddard did not bowl on former mayor Horace Feliu’s team. He bowled on Commissioner Carlos Gimenez’s lane, which was sponsored by the Commissioner himself. And FPL was not a lane sponsor for former Mayor Feliu’s lane. As with Commissioner Gimenez, the mayor committed to underwrite the lane himself. FPL paid for two positions on the lane and additionally provided the minimum guarantee of pin pledges for both players. Sorry about that! Saw one of the commissioners over at Lee Park the other day, couldn’t quite figure out what they were carrying with them, but even with the help of my binoculars I couldn’t figure out if they were $20 bills or something that looked like them.
And speaking of binoculars, I hear that one city employee was asked to secretly take pictures of one of the city parking garage employees. Yes, that’s the story around town. And if you are wondering whether or not the photos were taken, I was told that the proposed photographer said, “No way!” By the way, does anyone know why and who wanted those pictures taken?
Was over at Deli-Lane the other day, ran into former mayor Horace Feliu and it looked like he was chatting with Rene Guim. Not sure though, because this guy is way thinner and has way bigger arms that when he ran for the commission awhile back. Also, saw legal eagle Gary Rackear at Big Cheese with an ol buddy of his. And nearby was Palmetto Bay mayor Gene Flinn, who by the way is running for the seat presently occupied by Katy Sorenson, who will be retiring after serving for some 16 years. Hospitals on the move…
Larkin Hospital, which is on SW 62 Avenue, just purchased a 30,000 square foot building at 5996 SW 70 Street for a reported $3.6 million. The building, which was built in 1992, is just a hop, skip and jump from the hospital, and was most recently the home for folks in the building industry.
And I see that Kendall Regional Hospital, at the Florida Turnpike and SW 40 Street, was finally able to purchase the gas station that was literally right in front of the hospital. The gas station is no more and I hear that a helicopter pad is going to replace it. What? you ask! Yup, that’s the story. I also hear that the hospital is moving towards becoming a Level 2 Trauma Center and the helicopter will get the injured there a whole lot faster than by ambulance…
And of course, we’ve got South Miami Hospital, which seems like it is forever improving the buildings and service that it provides to us, and more good stuff is on the way. SMH will start constructing a new Emergency Room sometime next year which will be built on to the west side of the existing emergency room.
And if you’re looking for something to do, just take a look at the roof of South Miami Hospital’s east wing. There is the large black fence all around the roof. I can’t help but wonder what’s happening on the other side of the black-out material. Some have told me that there is a garden up there. Others claim that it’s the new home of the basketball court or even a miniature soccer field. But, I got to tell ye, I think the fence just blocks our view of all the air conditioner equipment and the like, and I’m happy that they’ve done it.
Mr. Bob Welch, AKA Bicycle Bob, was seen at a rally for Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate for US Senate. And actually I’ll bet a whole lot of people saw Bob at the nationally televised event as Rudy Giuliani endorsed Rubio. Golly. And I thought that Bob was a die-hard Democrat. Couldn’t believe my ears the other day, when two civic activists told me that a very big top dog over at city hall got hired without a background check even being done. Hmmm… Didn’t someone get canned the other day, cuz their resume wasn’t exactly correct?
A few weeks ago, Police Chief Bobbie Richardson was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of Lee Park residents. The Chief spoke about things that the police department was doing to make the area safer and assured the group that the drug dealers and smokers will be hearing from the police real soon.
President of United Teachers addresses CBBA
Karen Aronowitz, President of United Teachers of Dade, was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Cutler Bay Business Association (CBBA) on Thursday April 8.
Held in the Palm Room at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, her topic was, “Education is Good for Business,” but with many teachers and even students in the streets last week protesting the Florida Legislature’s Senate Bill 6 and corresponding House Bill 7189, concerns over the future of public education in South Florida were at the core of the discussion.
United Teachers of Dade is the union representing 39,000 teachers and education support professionals in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Aronowitz, a former language arts teacher at Miami Southridge Senior High, was elected president of the organization in 2004 and was re-elected for a three year term last month. She is an advocate for high quality public education and the rights of students and their teachers to work in healthy and safe schools, and is an ardent supporter of “authentic education,” which includes physical education, arts, music and technical education for all children.
“I was so happy to be at the Cutler Bay Business Association,” Aronowitz told the community after the meeting.
“Everyone needs to call Governor Charlie Crist and ask that he veto Senate Bill 6 because it’s not only damaging for the students and teachers of Miami- Dade, but it’s also damaging to the local business community. The governor has two weeks to veto or not veto the bill, and the more people that call and say ‘veto this bad bill,’ the more effective it will be. You don’t keep taking money away from a system and then say that the people who work within that system are the sole responsible agents for the outcome. They’re not provided the resources or salaries that are necessary to do the job.”
With degrees from the University of Florida and Florida International University, Aronowitz additionally serves on the board of The Children’s Trust and United Way of Miami, and is a member of the Miami Chapter of the NAACP, the American Federation of Teachers K-12 Program & Policy Council, the AFT Urban Schools Initiative, and numerous other organizations.
For more information about the CBBA, visit their website: www.CBBA.biz or call Cyndi Rogg at 305-609-1096. For more information about the Palmetto Bay Village Center, contact JoAnn Parns at 786-249- 0946 or by email at info@palmettobayvillagecenter. com.
Was over at Big Cheese the other day and saw Palmetto Bay Mayor Gene Flinn, who by the way is running for the seat presently occupied by Katy Sorenson, who will be retiring after serving for some 16 years. And nearby was legal eagle Gary Rackear at another table with an ol buddy of his.
‘Best Time’ for Ballpark? Even if you’ve been against it, you have to realize that this is “the best time” to build the Marlins’ baseball park in Little Havana. So said County Manager George Burgess to Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association members in answer to impromptu questions about county spending.
The Manager decries those who claim “tax” money is wasted, summarizing the four major non-ad valorum tax sources for the county’s share, including $50 million budgeted to renovate the old Orange Bowl — which “is certainly being renovated now!”
Concludes Burgess: “Actually, this has turned out to be the best time to build a new stadium. Bids are so competitive during the current down-economic construction time that some are coming in below cost estimates.”
All well and good, George. Now whadda’ya gonna do about that lousy Marlin bullpen?
F ree ‘Backyard Astronomy’ at 8 p.m., Friday, April 18, when Southern Cross Astros conduct a program for novice nighttime sky watchers in CP-145 of FIU’s Physics Building. Types of telescopes, screening out lighting, easy-to-see sky objects on the menu, and more. Park in the main campus garage at SW 109th Avenue and SW 8th Street, opposite the Physics Building. For details, call 305-666-1375 or visit www.scas.org .
Gary Alan Ruse and Richard Yager contributed to this column.
‘Best Time’ for Ballpark
Even if you’ve been against it, you have to realize that this is “the best time” to build the Marlins’ baseball park in Little Havana. So said County Manager George Burgess to Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association members in answer to impromptu questions about county spending The Manager decries those who claim “tax” money is wasted, summarizing the four major non-ad valorum tax sources for the county’s share, including $50 million budgeted to renovate the old Orange Bowl — which “is certainly being renovated now!”
While the multiple sources comprising the $350 million-plus additional funding largely constitute pledges from future income sources, Burgess views them as revenues not coming from ad valorem property tax rolls (although a case could be made for saving those same dollars for more significant needs).
Concludes Burgess: “Actually, this has turned out to be the best time to build a new stadium. Bids are so competitive during the current down-economic construction time that some are coming in below cost estimates.” The Manager says more than 80 percent of the construction is also under contract to local firms, creating a job market during the equally- depressive employment downturn: “You wouldn’t have seen that three years ago,” he reasoned. “And you probably won’t see that in this market three years from now!”
All well and good, George. Now whadda’ya gonna do about that lousy Marlin bullpen?
Zoning agenda will see West Kendall’s Council meet Thursday, April 15, 6:30 p.m.at Kendall Civic Pavilion in the Village Town Center, 8625 SW 124th Avenue to hear Costco’s application to install two additional gas pumps and canopy coverage at London Square (previously deferred due to lack of quorum); also, erection of 100-foot transmitting tower at 9901 SW 142nd Avenue by T-Mobile South.
East Kendall CC meets Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. at the Kendall Civic Pavilion, to hear FirstBank’s application at 9830 SW 87 Street for parking exceptions and a fivefoot rear property masonry wall. Also on tap: a T-Mobile South 100-foot tower erection at 9901 SW 142nd Avenue; a Sunday alcoholic beverage sales permit at the SW 117th Avenue BJ’s, just north of SW 72nd Street.
Riviera Day School that’s planned on Galloway Drive may still undergo formal protest by area neighbors through an administrative appeal. Continental Park homeowners must come up with $1,272.31, the cost of filing that legal notice. Those contemplating the action say a 2009 zoning decision would permit grandfathered property rights for new school construction that might adversely effect nearby homeowners.
Free ‘Backyard Astronomy’ at 8 p.m., Friday, April 18, when Southern Cross Astros conduct a program for novice nighttime sky watchers in CP-145 of FIU’s Physics Building. Types of telescopes, screening out lighting, easy-to-see sky objects on the menu, and more. Park in the main campus garage at SW 109th Avenue and SW 8th Street, opposite the Physics Building. For details, call 305-666-1375 or visit www.scas.org . Gourmet Department: If you haven’t been by DiPapa’s Restaurant recently (Kendall Drive, just west of the Shula overpass), you’re missing one of the best spaghetti and meatball combinations sampled in years, thanks to a delectable sauce and perfectly-cooked pasta. Five stars for making an ordinary dish extra-special, says our dining critic.
Richard Yager contributed to this column.
Thought for the day:
Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs. — Malcolm Forbes
Just a few weeks ago, Martha Backer who blew the whistle on SW 104th Street widening in West Kendall queried us about the 30 mile per hour speed limit on SW 157th Avenue, a four-lane divided thoroughfare. (Someone got ticketed for going 40 mph.) “Shouldn’t it be 40 or 45 mph? I have driven it and felt like it met the criteria for higher than 30 mph,” writes MB. “Is there a formula? Who decides this? Can you find out?”
A couple of weeks ago, we noticed the same 30 mph limit on a SW 134th Street winding through The Crossings, south of SW 104th Street. So we jauntily wrote in this column last week that our crack reporting staff was “right on top” of the speed limit issue and would have an answer.
Here’s what Delfin Molins, Public Information Officer for MDC’s Public Works Department, replied in total: “The roadway characteristic of SW 157th Avenue is a curvilinear type that runs from Kendall Drive (SW 88th Street) to SW 104th Street. Even though it is a four lane divided facility, due to its curvilinear nature it is posted 30 MPH.
This facility acts as a neighborhood roadway with its proximities to schools, residences and businesses. The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) is responsible for enforcing the speed limit on this facility.” Well, okay, Delfin, but we still want to know who makes all the decisions on speed limits. Get busy again, staff, and find out who does what, or neither Martha nor the boss’ll be happy!
Ribbon cutting at Winston Park K-8 Center where a former playground was closed for safety hazards four years ago due to its barren and pitted dirt surface. Credit the school’s PTSA that raised $30,000 to lead the effort to bring back the school play area with an official ribbon-cutting set for 9 a.m. on April 20, to celebrate.
Another Continental Park HOA meeting last Thursday night brings out more protest against legal maneuvers by Riviera Schools to utilize existing rights of the former church owner’s property, thus avoiding a public hearing. Neighbors now look to appeal the administrative order that bypassed normal zoning channels that are normally required to convert the property for multiple school uses. Of course, the only ones making hay out of this ploy are the lawyers involved! Hispanic Coalition will hold its second Job Fair with Chase Bank on Tuesday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coalition’s West Kendall Office at 3839 SW 137th Avenue. Those who are bilingual and looking for work should attend, and bring a resume, too. For information, call 305-262-0060.
Idle thoughts by a grizzled CN editor over the ineptness of local TV glamour anchors who fail to background the school education bill, primarily an attempt to share funding of the Obama “Race to the Top” billions that were won by Tennessee and Delaware.
Florida finished ‘out of the money’ by devising an inadequate program to qualify for such big bucks. “TV reports who, what, when and where’ but totally overlooked the ‘why,” gripes the curmudgeon of traditional journalism, adding “that’s why TV news will always be considered just headlines between commercials, promotions and brainless chatter, unless, of course, a teenage celebrity is involved,” he grouses. . .
Thought for the Day:
I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man. Mahatma Gandhi
Richard Yager contributed to this column. Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to < michael@communitynewspapers.com >.
How’s that again…? In an e-Currents Update sent out by Village Hall last Thursday, Earth Week Supporters & Sponsors (including Community Newspapers) were thanked for taking part in the schedule of events. It was a great week, with significant support from local government, schools, organizations and businesses in the community. But village staffers must have been a little tuckered out from handling all those thousands of ladybugs, as they inadvertently referred to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society as the Southern Cross Astrological Society (Hey, baby, what’s your sign?). Ah well… By the way, the Southern Cross Astronomical Society was originally founded in 1922 as the Southern Cross Observatory, and is one of the oldest amateur astronomical societies in the Western Hemisphere. You can join the Southern Cross Astros, 8-10 p.m. every Saturday evening all year at the free popular, outdoor SCAS Observatory in Palmetto Bay’s own Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center, SW 176th Street / SW 79th Ave., 1/2 mile west of Old Cutler Road. “Under the darkest skies nearest to downtown, you might see a satellite, a sudden brilliant meteor or the International Space Station in addition to the seasonal planets, the magical Moon and dazzling constellations,” says SCAS outreach director Barb Yager. “Enjoy the beauty overhead in SCAS state-of-the-art hi-tech equipment, including the largest telescope in Miami-Dade County for public use.”
Katie Edwards, the Executive Director of the Dade County Farm Bureau, will be the keynote speaker at the next meeting of the Cutler Bay Business Association on Thursday May 13. The meeting will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Road in Palmetto Bay.
“I’m going to give an overview of different business opportunities in agriculture, and emerging trends,” Edwards told one of our staff. “It’s coming on the heels of the county’s passage of three ordinances that pertain to expanding opportunities for agribusiness. The topic is not just for farmers, but also for people who want to get into the culinary side or the marketing side.”
For more information about the meeting call Cyndi Rogg at 305-609-1096 or send her an email at Sencyn1@bellsouth.net .
A unique showcase of environmentally- oriented exhibits demonstrated the exceptional creativity and academic talent of students at the Terra Environmental Research Institute, the new ‘Green’ High School off SW 84th Street. We won’t even try to recall our own “projects’ in ninth grade after witnessing a working robot and medical tests by Terra’s students, accomplished under the capable guidance of its teaching faculty and the inspirational leadership of Carrie Montano, a gal whose charismatic appeal and love of teaching restores faith in what teaching is all about. Everyone connected to the Terra dedication program deserves a big A-plus in our book!
Coming up! Modification of an application to build an eight-story tower proposed by J. Milton Dadeland LLC, east of SW 77th Avenue and south of Kendall Drive in the cluster of mid-rises that have sprung up in the past decade in Dadeland South. The revisions include a redesign of the previously-approved application to eliminate a tennis court. The matter comes up before East Kendall’s Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 13, during a public hearing at the Kendall Village Center, 8625 SW 124 Avenue, ironically in West Kendall for multiple reasons that the EK Board continues to lack suitable space for its monthly zoning hearings, several of which attract overflow crowds.
Now hear this… from Ashley Sugarman we hear that the Shops at Sunset Place is inviting all companies and organizations with knowledge of hurricanes and relevant safety products to participate in its Hurricane Preparedness & Safety Expo on Saturday, May 22, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free-to-thepublic to inform about hurricane hazards and action to take before, during and after a storm, in addition to other safety measures for families.
To participate in The Shops at Sunset Place’s Hurricane Preparedness & Safety Expo, or to receive more information about the event, please contact Claudia Marquez at 305-663-0482 or via email at cmarquez@simon.com .
Look to the stars for guidance…? Well, maybe not
Mark this on your calendar… There’s a Town Council Meeting on Wednesday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. Where? Why, at the South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211th Street, Room 203. Why not go and keep your elected leaders company for a few hours. They get lonely… This is a good idea, but be advised… “In an effort to reach out to our residents and business owners, the Town of Cutler Bay is developing an email notification system that will be in place in the near future,” Residents are told that if they would like to receive notification and information on Town meetings and events via email they can download the opt-in registration form from the Town website and either deliver the completed form to the office during regular business hours or fax it in. There is a disclaimer on the form stating that under Florida law, email addresses are a matter of public record and are accessible to anyone requesting them. Don’t think it can happen? An attorney, his agenda unknown, already asked for and got Palmetto Bay’s email list of residents who subscribed to their newsletter.
How’s that again…? In an e-Currents Update sent out by Palmetto Bay Village Hall last Thursday, Earth Week Supporters & Sponsors (including Community Newspapers) were thanked for taking part in the schedule of events. It was a great week, with significant support from local government, schools, organizations and businesses in the community. But village staffers must have been a little tuckered out from handling all those thousands of ladybugs, as they inadvertently referred to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society as the Southern Cross Astrological Society (Hey, baby, what’s your sign?). Ah well… By the way, the Southern Cross Astronomical Society was originally founded in 1922 as the Southern Cross Observatory, and is one of the oldest amateur astronomical societies in the Western Hemisphere. You can join the Southern Cross Astros, 8-10 p.m. every Saturday evening all year at the free popular, outdoor SCAS Observatory in Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center, just a bit north of Cutler Bay at SW 176th Street / SW 79th Ave., 1/2 mile west of Old Cutler Road. “Under the darkest skies nearest to downtown, you might see a satellite, a sudden brilliant meteor or the International Space Station in addition to the seasonal planets, the magical Moon and dazzling constellations,” says SCAS outreach director Barb Yager. “Enjoy the beauty overhead in SCAS stateof- the-art hi-tech equipment, including the largest telescope in Miami-Dade County for public use.”
A unique showcase of environmentallyoriented exhibits demonstrated the exceptional creativity and academic talent of students at the Terra Environmental Research Institute, the new ‘Green’ High School off SW 84th Street. We won’t even try to recall our own “projects’ in ninth grade after witnessing a working robot and medical tests by Terra’s students, accomplished under the capable guidance of its teaching faculty and the inspirational leadership of Carrie Montano, a gal whose charismatic appeal and love of teaching restores faith in what teaching is all about. Everyone connected to the Terra dedication program deserves a big A-plus in our book!
Coming up! Modification of an application to build an eight-story tower proposed by J. Milton Dadeland LLC, east of SW 77th Avenue and south of Kendall Drive in the cluster of mid-rises that have sprung up in the past decade in Dadeland South. The revisions include a redesign of the previously-approved application to eliminate a tennis court. The matter comes up before East Kendall’s Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 13, during a public hearing at the Kendall Village Center, 8625 SW 124 Avenue, ironically in West Kendall for multiple reasons that the EK Board continues to lack suitable space for its monthly zoning hearings, several of which attract overflow crowds.
Now hear this… from Ashley Sugarman we hear that the Shops at Sunset Place is inviting all companies and organizations with knowledge of hurricanes and relevant safety products to participate in its Hurricane Preparedness & Safety Expo on Saturday, May 22, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free-to-thepublic to inform about hurricane hazards and action to take before, during and after a storm, in addition to other safety measures for families.
To participate in The Shops at Sunset Place’s Hurricane Preparedness & Safety Expo, or to receive more information about the event, please contact Claudia Marquez at 305-663-0482 or via email at cmarquez@simon.com .
Thought for the Day:
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? — Confucius
Gary Alan Ruse and Richard Yager contributed to this column. Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to < michael@communitynewspapers.com >.
Sighted at Deli Lane: Former Miami- Dade County Manager Merr it t St ierheim, Dr. Eneida Rolden, the CEO of Jackson Memorial Hospital and two other bigwigs. Although I was very close to them they weren’t speaking loud enough for others to overhear them. P.S. — I hear that current City Manager Roger Carlton likes to go to Deli Lane, too.
And speaking of Deli Lane, owner Mike Maler is a regular at Ed’s Boot Camp, the one held at the city’s Community Center just about every day. Mike goes to the 6 a.m. work out and the best time to talk to him is right about 7 a.m. when he is just finishing up and he’s bright eyed and bushy tailed, and ready to rock and roll for the rest of his busy day.
Many thanks to Scott Baumann and the personal training staff at Fitness Together. This very private, one on one, personal training only facility is located right behind RA Sushi (on SW 73rd Street) in the city-parking garage. I have the privilege to work out a couple of days a week, with Frankie, Elisa, Melia and occasionally Scott, who take me through a vigorous series of exercises, including stretching, biking, tread milling (Gee, is that a new word?) weight lifting, squats, jump roping, boxing and lots more for around 45 minutes and then of course what makes it worth it all is at the end, you get the cool down stretching exercise that gets you back in the place physically and mentally so that you are set for the rest of your day. To find out more about the great folks at Fitness Together go to www.fitnesstogethermiami.com or call 305-446-3665.
Seen over at Casa Lario’s: Chip Black, the real estate big guy with EWM, who I hear just loves eating there on Saturday mornings with one of his partners in crime (just joking, Chip) and let’s see who else loves it there: Former Mayor Horace Feliu, Paul Marolf, Lee Stephens, Grant Miller and of course South Miami’s Finest love to go there, too.
Don’t speed in South Miami as the Constables on Patrol, AKA the Cops, are out enforcing the law, with radar galore right there on Sunset Drive right by City Hall. Then the cops also just love to be on the north side of Sunset from about 65th Avenue to 63rd Avenue or so, just waiting for you to make an illegal left turn in the morning. By the way, I think the fine is $179.
Went out of my zip for dinner the other night and went to The Fish House on SW 56th Street and 100 Avenue. This place is rocking and rolling literally, especially on Wednesday nights when music is live with their soon to famous Rock Wednesday, and if that is not to your liking, they’ve got Blues Mondays and Jazz Thursdays and lots of other very spontaneous music to entertain you. Oh, yes, the food and service is super duper. To find out more and hear a clip of some music check out www.fishhouse.com . P.S. While I was there, ran into Community Newspapers’ long time editor David Berkowitz and his wife Rita and family as well as Charles Ruiz de Castillo and Shirley and Horst Huber.
Quite proud of my wife, Susan, and our children. Our son, Jeff, just earned his Masters Degree in International Business and will be continuing his studies in Economics. Our daughter, Lauren, who is soon to be a senior, majoring in Public Administration, is presently doing an internship so that she can start to get a look-see at the inner workings of government.
And then of course, my wife, my friend and the mother of our children, is becoming quite the devotee of power lifting. A few months ago she competed in a bench pressing competition (that’s where you are on your back and you push up the weight).
Well anyway, she benched pressed 132 pounds. Well, gee, that was good enough for first place in her age group. Nope, I’m not disclosing what age group she is in. But I will say that, in a recent practice session, she benched pressed a whole bunch more. (Yup, I don’t mess with her.)
In the good old summer time, village-wise
Well, folks, Earth Week (Day and Month, also) is now past (although we suspect a few village officials are still picking ladybugs out their hair), the warm weather and rainy season are cranking up once again, so can summer be far away? June 21 is drawing near, and we can see more activity in the parks and other outdoor venues, at least until it starts getting really hot.
Good news for whizzz-BOOM fans. We hear that Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, and Cutler Bay have joined together to help fund the 7th Annual July 4 Fireworks display at Black Point Park. Each city is kicking in a $3,000 donation to make sure this highly popular event will take place again, and we think they deserve a round of applause for doing so. Actually, you can be a sponsor, too.
For more info on that check out the official village website: http://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/ or call Village Hall at 305-259-1234.
Reminiscing, East Kendall’s Barry White recalls (North) Kendall Drive being called “the road to nowhere” when there were only horse farms “out west,” adding: Southeast or Southwest, Eighth Street was actually called Eighth Street, not “Calle Ocho.” Anything on SW Eighth Street after 107th Avenue was a rock pit or a farm. Forty-first Street on Miami Beach was actually called Forty-first Street, not Arthur Godfrey Road. No one had ever heard of Arthur Godfrey!
Continues Barry: “The major north/south artery for Miami was Seventh Avenue. North of 79th Street, a two-lane rock road all the way to the Broward County line. I-95, the Florida Turnpike and Alligator Alley did not exist. There were only two roads out of Miami to northern destinations, US-1 and Route 27, aka “Road 27.” US-1 was named “Biscayne Boulevard,” becoming “Brickell Avenue” for a short distance south of downtown Miami.
As US-1 continued further south, it passed through Homestead and “The Last Chance” saloon, so named as the last sign of civilization until Jewfish Creek, some 35 long miles straight ahead with trillions of mosquitoes along a desolate stretch between Homestead and Jewfish Creek. (You prayed your car would not get a flat tire, break down or run out of gas).
Thanks for the memories, guys! Went out of my zip for dinner the other night and went to The Fish House on SW 56th Street and 100 Avenue. This place is rocking and rolling literally, especially on Wednesday nights when music is live with their soon to famous Rock Wednesday, and if that is not to your liking, they’ve got Blues Mondays and Jazz Thursdays and lots of other very spontaneous music to entertain you. Oh, yes, the food and service is super duper. To find out more and hear a clip of some music check out www.fishhouse.com . P.S. While I was there, ran into Community Newspapers’ long time editor David Berkowitz and his wife Rita and family as well as Charles Castillo and his wife, and Shirley and Horst Huber.
Quite proud of my wife, Susan, and our children. Our son, Jeff, just earned his Masters Degree in International Business and will be continuing his studies in Economics. Our daughter, Lauren, who is soon to be a senior, majoring in Public Administration, is presently doing an internship so that she can start to get a look-see at the inner workings of government.
And then of course, my wife, my lover and the mother of our children, is becoming quite the devotee of power lifting. A few months ago she competed in a bench pressing competition (that’s where you are on your back and you push up the weight).
Well anyway, she benched pressed 132 pounds. Well, gee, that was good enough for first place in her age group. Nope, I’m not disclosing what age group she is in. But I will say that, in a recent practice session, she benched pressed a whole bunch more.
(Yup, I don’t mess with her.)
‘Kendall Drive’ never existed
Reader Fred Diamond wants to correct Department of Public Works spokesman Delfin Molins, recently quoted in this column in reference to what was called “Kendall Drive.”
“You can tell him that it DOES NOT EXIST,” declares Fred, noting the road known as North Kendall Drive became “SW 88th Street” once the county began its numerical designation for local roadways. Continues Fred:
“There is a road called South Kendall Drive which runs parallel to North Kendall Drive. After WW2, these roads received numbers and South Kendall Drive became SW 104th Street. North Kendall Drive got to be four-laned and paved (while) South Kendall Drive stayed a dirt road and even when paved, remained merely two lanes.
“Those were the boundaries of Mr. Kendall’s property and farm, both of them running from Biscayne Bay to the Everglades,” referencing Trustee Henry John Boughton Kendall, the Englishman who managed the original tract sold to a Florida land company in 1883, as retold by Jean Taylor’s history crediting County Commissioner Dan Killian with naming both roads as the acreage’s northern and southern boundaries.
“On an old-time map, both (Kendall Drives) are clearly marked,” adds Fred. “As kids on bicycles, we’d ride through the south side wilderness on South Kendall Drive, way before WWII.” (So there, DPW!) Further reminiscing, East Kendall’s Barry White recalls (North) Kendall Drive being called “the road to nowhere” when there were only horse farms “out west,” adding: Southeast or Southwest, Eighth Street was actually called Eighth Street, not “Calle Ocho.” Anything on SW Eighth Street after 107th Avenue was a rock pit or a farm. Forty-first Street on Miami Beach was actually called Forty-first Street, not Arthur Godfrey Road. No one had ever heard of Arthur Godfrey!
Continues Barry: “The major north/south artery for Miami was Seventh Avenue. North of 79th Street, a two-lane rock road all the way to the Broward County line. I-95, the Florida Turnpike and Alligator Alley did not exist. There were only two roads out of Miami to northern destinations, US-1 and Route 27, aka “Road 27.” US-1 was named “Biscayne Boulevard,” becoming “Brickell Avenue” for a short distance south of downtown Miami.
As US-1 continued further south, it passed through Homestead and “The Last Chance” saloon, so named as the last sign of civilization until Jewfish Creek, some 35 long miles straight ahead with trillions of mosquitoes along a desolate stretch between Homestead and Jewfish Creek. (You prayed your car would not get a flat tire, break down or run out of gas).
Thanks for the memories, guys! Ferro Property, scheduled to come before the County Commission last Wednesday asking Urban Development Boundary movement in West Kendall, was suddenly withdrawn by ex-Commissioner and now Atty.
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla. The 9.9-acre plot was part of the “Kendall Commons” planned housing development at SW 167th Avenue and SW 104th Street, only a few blocks from Baptist’s new WK Hospital, now being completed for opening in 2011.
Schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho popped up in a little-publicized “Town Hall” visit with parents at Kendall’s Barnes & Noble April 26 but won’t appear Monday, May 10, at a Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association 7 p.m.meeting at the Kendall Village Center civic pavilion. Someone else will report School District 7 affairs, according to Lawrence Percival, KFHA veep, who tries to keep everyone abreast of such doings.
Thought for the Day
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Aldous Huxley
One of the world’s most iconic office buildings is receiving a new name and welcoming new tenants. Downtown Miami’s Bank of America Tower at International Place, a 600,000-square-foot I.M Pei-designed building recognized around the world for its changing palette of exterior lighting schemes, has been renamed “Miami Tower.”
The news, which follows former tenant Bank of America’s decision to consolidate its area office space in another South Florida building, coincides with the Tower’s announcement that it has finalized 62,000-square-feet worth of lease transactions in the past year.
The name change was announced by Robert Aldrich, president for Wealth Capital Investments, the building’s owner.
“Miami Tower’s landmark status extends far beyond South Florida; it has been an international icon for more than two decades,” Aldrich said. “When people think of Miami, they instantly picture I.M. Pei’s iconic skyscraper lighting up the night sky. It’s only fitting that the building’s new name has universal appeal.
Miami Tower truly is the face of Miami.” Tony Puente, senior vice president of Fairchild Partners, the commercial real estate services firm that manages leasing and marketing for Miami Tower, also announced five lease renewals/expansions accounting for 9,519-square-feet of office space. The tenants involved in these deals are Au Bon Pain, Daniel David Custom Clothier LLC, the American Arbitration Association, law firm Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin PA, and One World Inc. In total, Miami Tower finalized transactions accounting for 62,000 square-feet of class- A office space in 2009, including a fiveyear, 34,536-square-foot deal with UBS Financial Services valued at $7.5 million. “There’s no question that Miami Tower’s worldwide exposure has a direct, positive impact on our leasing efforts,” Puente said.
“Tenants are drawn to the idea that they can locate their business in a landmark office building located at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Miami Tower’s recognition — coupled with its ideal location and class-A amenities — continues to fuel our strong tenant retention and occupancy rates. Above all else, we take pride in the fact that our tenants stick with us for the long term.” To learn more about Miami Tower, visit the property’s new website at < www.MiamiTower.net >.
For leasing information, contact Tony Puente of Fairchild Partners at 305-668-0620.
