15.05 2010

Property Wholesalers muscle in while vested interests squeal

These days some parts of America, especially poorer neighborhoods, are beginning to look like victims of bombing raids, as whole city blocks are up for bulldozing following a recession blighted by unemployment, failed mortgages, and foreclosures.

But it doesn’t have to be this way … that is, if the American spirit of free enterprise is allowed to work its magic.

Enter the real estate wholesaler from the left, please. America’s latest breed of entrepreneurs is paying cash for houses regardless of condition, then flipping them on for a profit of just $10,000 a few days later. Real estate wholesaling offers mixed benefits to communities – these include putting distressed homes back into the hands of those who care for them, but also adding a premium to houses that lower-income families battled to afford before they came along.

Nobody knows how many of these dark knights in armor there are. One thi

Read more…

15.05 2010

Solarbron mulling Warrick location

Officials of The Communities of Solarbron are considering a site in Warrick County, Ind., just east of Evansville, for a potential second location in the future.

Terry Miller, Solarbron chief executive/health administrator, said in an interview Wednesday the location of primary interest sits on the south side of the busy intersection of East Lloyd Expressway and Epworth Road.

The consideration, he said, is the result of many people expressing an interest in having Solarbron’s 25 years of experience more readily available to the area’s East Side,

“From talking with different people, that would help us serve the community better.”

Miller said “absolutely yes” when asked whether the Solarbron West campus, established in 1985, would continue operating.

“We will never abandon our commitment to the West Side,” he said.

The existing Solarbron is a 72-acre continuing care retirement campus, adjacent to the University of Southern Indiana.

Said Miller: “Solarbron has a well-established tradition of providing quality services to seniors and has been recognized for its residents centric approach to care.

“Solarbron will continue this tradition on Evansville’s West Side.”

Miller said the new second campus under consideration would employ more than 100 additional people.

Solarbron West on average has between 130 to 140 employees.

Solarbron officials envision the Warrick County site would contain assisted living, independent living, memory care, apartments certified for Medicare, skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation and a large rehabilitation gym.

“Solarbron is very appreciative of the strong support the entire community has extended over the years.

“This proposed East Side project is truly the product of community support,” said Miller.

“It’s important to note however, that there are many contingencies that must be satisfied before the project goes forward.”

Miller has held his positions with Solarbron for more than 20 years and has been associated with the industry 32 years.

14.05 2010

Meet Sarasota Bay’s dolphin family

The old females run so shallow their dorsal fins can’t submerge. It’s called sharking, and it could kill them. Their pursuit of mullet has lured them into stingray territory, and stingray wounds account for 10 percent of all dolphin fatalities in the bay.

We know this — as well as the hunters’ identities, their ages, who their families are — because they are catalogued in the largest scientific database on wild dolphins ever assembled.

Their histories reside in libraries of bones and DNA samples at Mote, in sighting maps, mortality graphs and prey distribution charts. Digital photo galleries of telltale dorsal fins compress the anonymity into serial numbers and nicknames like Riptorn, Sharkbait, Beggar and Sawblade. The

Read more…

14.05 2010

Evansville-based United Components Inc. posts 1Q results

Evansville-based United Components Inc. saw its year-over-year net income rise last quarter, but the company is also carrying a substantial debt load.

On Thursday, the company reported that it earned a net income of $12.3 million during the first quarter. During the same period a year earlier, the company’s net income was $1.6 million.

Net sales last quarter were $230.3 million, up 4.7 percent over the same period in 2009.

United Components is controlled by The Carlyle Group, a private investment firm that purchased it in 2003. In its 2009 annual report, United Components said Carlyle owned all of United Components’ common stock and 90.8 percent of the company’s equity.

At the end of the first quarter, United Components had $424.7 million in debt and $165.8 million in cash.

Last month, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported that Carlyle Group was looking to sell United Components.

Read more…

12.05 2010

Start A Handyman Business

Love DIY? Fancy yourself as a bit of a handyman? Then perhaps starting a handyman business is could be the perfect business idea for you.

Despite the growing DIY market that’s made B&Q and Focus such well known brands there are still a lot of people out there that are stumped by a screw driver. And those of us who feel comfortable being our own ‘handyman’ are sometimes just too busy to assemble our latest flat pack furniture purchase. So who are we going to turn to? A handyman of course.

So if you’re a dab hand with a screw driver and fancy starting your own business read on. You nev

Read more…

11.05 2010

Food City eyes Quebecor site for new store

KINGSPORT — Food City is planning to bring a new grocery store to downtown Kingsport next year.

Steve Smith, CEO of Food City parent company K-VA-T Food Stores, said Friday his company is hoping to build a new store on the old Quebecor property in downtown Kingsport. Smith said Food City officials have wanted to locate a store in this area of Kingsport for a long time.

“It’s an area we don’t particularly service very well with our other stores. We’ve looked at several different locations, and this one would certainly be our first choice,” Smith said Friday afternoon.

Mayor Dennis Phillips said Friday the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consider Food City’s plans at its June 1 meeting. The idea is f

Read more…

11.05 2010

Emotions high over restaurant at a local beach

Yet the rather plain-looking pavilion on Manatee Public Beach, with its casual restaurant and kitschy souvenir shop, may be Anna Maria Island’s most popular gathering spot. Locals and visitors love the laid-back ambience, the low-priced food, the free evening concerts that motivate many of them to dance, and especially the friendly staff.

“It’s the personal touch,” said Bradenton resident Frank Riecker.

Read more…