The historic sites included in the 2010 list include:

1. Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale, threatened by increased development continuously threatens the view corridors
2. Royal Poinciana Playhouse and Plaza, Town of Palm Beach, threatened by potential removal of historic landmark status and proposed development
3. Central Christian Church, Orlando, threatened by demolition due to neglect
4. Hialeah Park Race Course, Hialeah, threatened by partial demolition and new development
5. Coconut Grove Playhouse, Coconut Grove, due to development pressure
6. Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, because of redevelopment pressure
7. Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, threatened due to severe deterioration
8. Boynton High School/Mangrove Park School, Boynton Beach, threatened because of deterioration and increasing development pressure
9. Miami Marine Stadium, Biscayne Bay; redevelopment pressure
10. Milton Historic District, Milton, threatened by potential adverse effects from a proposed road widening project
11. Bob White Citrus Packing House & Strawn Sawmill National Register Historic Districts, DeLeon Springs, threatened by vacancy, lack of financial support, and demolition pressure.

Founded in 1978, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation promotes the preservation of the architectural, historical and archaeological heritage of Florida through advocacy, education and stewardship of historic properties.

The Trust’s Passport membership program offers free or reduced admissions and other special benefits at over 80 historic sites, museums and parks across the state of Florida.

For additional information, please contact the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation at (850) 224-8128 or visit www.floridatrust.org.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Holiday Inn is bringing its global relaunch to WALT DISNEY WORLD. The minute guests step into the glass-ceiling atrium of the Holiday Inn in the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, the citrus scent, harmonious sounds, lush foliage and floor-to-ceiling views of the zero-entry tropical pool will guarantee that guests are set to experience a new Holiday Inn.

“When the Holiday Inn in the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort opens this fall, it will be the newest property in the Downtown Disney area,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, brand management, Holiday Inn Brands, the Americas, in a press release to FloridaSnapshot.com. ”Many of today’s travelers have memories of staying at Holiday Inn during their own childhood family vacations, and we’re excited that our new contemporary brand will now be a part of even more vacation magic.”

The property will be a flagship of the Holiday Inn brand relaunch. First announced in 2007, the relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 800 hotels have been relaunched so far.

Parts of the relaunch

Refreshed Guestroom: New bedding that redefines the look and feel of each guestroom with fresh, white triple-sheeting and pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” An enhanced bathroom that features an improved showerhead offering superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities to deliver a consistent bath experience that feels fresh and contemporary.

Warm Welcome: A new signature arrival – including new lighting, landscaping and design features – that creates an energized and branded sense of welcome that is universally recognizable. Customized music and scent selections also engage guests in a complete sensory experience, and a decluttered front desk to promote a more efficient and interactive check-in process.

New Service Promise: A best-in-class service culture – “Stay Real” – to further ensure the team develops the behaviors and skills to best serve guests so they feel like individuals and not numbers. Genuine people delivering real service. Leading the charge will be a newly created position at each hotel – the Guest Experience Champion.

The 14-story Holiday Inn is scheduled to open in fall 2009, within walking distance to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The 323-room hotel will include 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a restaurant, lounge and all-day dining.

Holiday Inn in the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort is at 1805 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Orlando, 32830. For more information, or reservations, please visit www.hiorlando.com or call 407-828-8888. The hotel is owned by CIG LBV, LLC, and will be managed by InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc.

American Eagle will operate the service with 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 jets.

“We have received a very positive response from our customers to our first daily nonstop flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Tallahassee,” said Peter Bowler, President and CEO of American Eagle. “So we’re delighted to double our service from Texas to Florida’s capital.”

“This new schedule allows Tallahassee customers the ability to fly into Dallas to conduct business meetings and be home that same day,” Bowler said. ” It also offers even more convenient connections throughout American’s vast network, especially to the West Coast, Hawaii and Asia.”

The schedule for the Tallahassee service follows (all times local):

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Tallahassee Regional Airport (DFW-TLH)

Flight Departs Arrives Days

3237 9:50 a.m. 1:10 p.m. Daily
3259 5:55 p.m. 9:20 p.m. Daily

Tallahassee Regional Airport To Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (TLH-DFW)

Flight Departs Arrives Days
3258 7:15 a.m. 8:35 a.m. Daily
3238 1:35 p.m. 2:50 p.m. Daily

Earlier this month JetBlue relocated from Fort Lauderdale’s Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 to offer customers easier connections and to provide the additional gates needed to serve the value airline’s growing roster of destinations including recent additions San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Nassau, Bahamas. JetBlue currently offers 37 daily departures – increasing to 49 per day during the winter season – to 17 nonstop destinations across the United States and Caribbean.

“JetBlue is proud to continue our international expansion from Fort Lauderdale by expanding south of the border to Cancun and Santo Domingo,” said Scott Laurence, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning. “These two destinations are key markets for JetBlue and we’re pleased to be linking them to our growing South Florida focus city. We look forward to welcoming our loyal customers aboard these new routes to once again prove that at JetBlue, low fares come with higher standards.”

“We are delighted that JetBlue has added a new direct flight into Cancun from South Florida,” said Jesus Almaguer, Director of Cancun’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Cancun is one of the top destinations for North American travelers, and Fort Lauderdale’s proximity to Cancun makes it even more attractive for those who are seeking excellent service, culture, beautiful beaches, great gastronomy, first class hotel infrastructure and lots of fun — all within an hour’s flight time and with the best value.”

Travelers looking for a value-priced vacation package to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or other top destinations need look no further than JetBlue Getaways. Customers can create customized packages that include air travel on JetBlue, a selection of JetBlue-recommended hotels and resorts to choose from, and a car rental. Book yours online at www.jetblue.com.

Dr. Meirson is a leading Mohs micrographic surgeon and cutaneous oncologist. A graduate of Ohio State University’s College of Medicine, he completed his residency in dermatology at New York University Medical Center. He has won numerous academic honors, is an active member of national Dermatologic societies, and has served in various elected positions with FSDDS over the past decade.

Dr. Meirson is the 14th recipient of this honor, first awarded in 1995. The Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery is the State’s oldest and largest association of dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons www.fsdds.org.

In recent months the state seems to have stabilized, employment-wise. That makes it the perfect time to consider that dream move to Florida. Our 11 reasons:

1. Universities are nearly free. We exaggerate a bit but … if your child does well in high school, the Bright Futures program allows them to go to state schools almost tuition-free; it was free until last year. This program does sound too good to be true, and has been slightly cut back, but still, it’s very popular in Florida and some sort of large state discount is bound to survive. Even wealthy parents take advantage of it; it helps them afford top graduate schools for students elsewhere. Even if your kids don’t get the grades, Florida has some of the least expensive college-level education in the U.S.
2. Houses are reasonable. Yes, houses are cheap everywhere, but consider that most people plan on moving for retirement somewhere they always wanted to live. Why not do it now. Today, a modest house can be had for $100K; empty dream houses are going waiting. Waterfront in many places is now sometimes under $300K. Florida got hit early with the real estate collapse, and so prices have stabilized. While most believe there are further problems in housing, the worst is over, and are making this a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do be careful about your insurance rates. Ouch!
3. Public schools are competitive. Florida has a bum rap when it comes to secondary education. Yes, there are some deficient rural and inner city schools, but what state doesn’t have them? What you should know, however, is that Florida has a liberal program of school choice; parents can usually pick schools within a school district. In addition, large numbers of established charter schools are in Florida. This gives the public schools hefty competition; which they rise to quite easily. Of course there are great private schools in Florida, too. Some that are connected to churches are very inexpensive compared to the Northeast. Another secret is that you can look at a profile of all public schools in Florida online. Before you move, go online to find the juicy details about every public school in the state, including stats on racial makeup, subsidized school lunches and FCAT scores. Realtors can’t give you this information by law but you can still look it up to get the answers. If you have even two children in private school in the Northeast, it might be cheaper to buy a house in Florida and send them to school there than a year’s worth of tuition.
4. Daycare is free. Floridians joke that it is the perk of a “Socialist Paradise,” but seriously, Florida offers state-subsidized voluntary pre-Kindergarten, called VPK. This is offered either in a public school, or the state will subsidize your children in a private daycare setting if it is not offered. They also have a state-subsidized health program for children.
5. Help is cheap. If you need help either as an older person or you just plain don’t like to clean house, consider that Florida has a wealth of service professionals who do just about everything. Many people in Florida work as old-fashioned sole proprietors in areas that include trees, computers, pests, carpentry, nursing, house cleaning, embroidery, pools, etc. They count on less income and trade it for a better quality of life. You will get household stuff done fast, with no unions.
6. The weather is temperate. Huh? The Northeast can get blistering in the summer, with high humidity. The west burns. But Florida stays about 90 degrees. Of course it gets hot, and the sun just CRANKS, but the great thing is that there is a pool everywhere so you never feel it. If you do like some seasons, consider northern bits of Florida, which do see some trees. Or do what most Floridians do and head to the Northeast during leaf season to see the weather change, and then head back to warmth.
7. Lots of family. If you move to Florida, your family comes to visit. Often. It’s great; they come for a few days, visit, catch up, and then go home, only to come back the next year. It does wonders for family relationships.
8. Beach, beach, boats, boats! O.K., so this is obvious, but if you like the beach and boats, there is plenty of it. And you will be surprised at how cheap the boats are getting in recent months. Because Florida has a tourist economy, there are also lots of public amenities that are free. In most places, things like beach parking and such have fees. While Florida has some of these annoying fees, mostly they don’t.
9. Churches dominate. The churches are the hub of life for Floridians. It’s like Mayberry. While Florida sometimes has a randy reputation as a state of troublemakers (just watch CNN’s Nancy Grace any night), the reality is that the large senior population and the large number of young conservative families make for busy churches and church programs that span a wide variety of denominations. Even if you are not conservative or old, you’ll appreciate the fact that every week of the summer, there is a well-run Vacation Bible School.
10. Jobs are there. O.K., so there are areas like Cape Coral that have high unemployment and not a lot of industries. Not the greatest place to move if you are jobless. But areas in the Panhandle, Tampa and Jacksonville area are close to defense clusters, meaning great jobs for the veterans and more stable employment. Space is obviously at Cocoa Beach, and will be making some cuts, but still the Atlantic Coast of Florida has many aviation jobs. Other clusters include cruise industry in Fort Lauderdale, light manufacturing and warehousing in South Florida, tourism-related jobs in Orlando (and everywhere) and university-related jobs in Gainesville, Sarasota, Tampa and Tallahassee. In Florida, the average jobs are respectable in the community. For instance, Publix hires college grads for its training programs, and well dressed twentysomethings are quite happy to work in the butcher department because Publix is such a great place to work.
11. Taxes are low. Taxes are going up in almost every state. And while the taxes in Florida are trying to inch up, they can’t but so much. There is no income tax, and real estate taxes are regulated if you get a homestead exemption. There are many tax refugees in Florida from places like California and New York. There are bound to be more.

©Black Cow Press, Sarasota, Florida, www.blackcowpress.com

CORAL GABLES - Investor Wilbur Ross is bullish on Florida.

“We think the long term outlook for Florida is good,” said Ross in an interview with Neil Cavuto on the Fox Business cable network. The interview came on the night of his purchase of Bank United in an Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-sponsored sale.

That same day, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that Florida was one of only a half-dozen states to have a drop in unemployment rates for the month.

Ross said that his optimism came out of the fact that Florida was a low tax state, with no state income tax, and would continue to attract tax refugees. While the state had problems, including a large amount of highly mortgaged property in foreclosure, Florida would gain in the near future because of these new residents.

Ross invested in BankUnited, a newly chartered federal savings bank, which acquired the banking operations, including all of the non-brokered deposits, of BankUnited, FSB of Coral Gables in a transaction facilitated by the FDIC.

BankUnited’s 86 offices make it the largest independent bank in Florida. The management team is headed by John Kanas, a veteran of the banking industry and former head of North Fork Bank.

“Florida still is undergoing huge amounts of foreclosure,” Ross said, “It’s a court directed system.” While the system is slow, the state, Ross believes, is far enough into the problem to know the extent of it.

Similar to public-private partnerships TrafficLand has across the country, the Fairfax, Virginia-based company will install its IP video equipment at FDOT Operation Centers in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Live video from the FDOT cameras will be available to the public on TrafficLand’s free website www.trafficland.com.

The addition of Florida cameras will extend TrafficLand’s national traffic camera network to over 67 markets throughout the U.S., including extensive coverage along one of the nation’s most heavily-traveled routes; I-95 from Connecticut to southern Florida. Additionally, critical evacuation cameras along the Florida Keys will become part of the network.

“Our DOT partners recognize the importance of reliable access to real-time traffic video through a scalable, redundant network that can handle the demand spikes typically seen during extreme weather and other emergency events,” said TrafficLand CEO Lawrence Nelson in a press release.

The TrafficLand public website uses interactive maps showing traffic camera locations, which users click to view live video streams. Users can save customized camera displays, schedule emails with live images from selected cameras, access cameras by Web-enabled mobile devices and even set up traffic camera Widgets on personalized home pages or blogs.

“Miami’s fusion of cultures and influences makes it the ideal location for the first Cubavera domestic retail store,” said Gary Rubin, President of Retail for Perry Ellis International, in a press release. “We look forward to expanding brand recognition via this highly visible venue as well as providing visitors with a one-stop destination for apparel, accessories and gifts with Latin flavor.”

See http://www.pery.com.