Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Venice Florida Creator of Heart Healthy Cookies Speaks at Parisian Food Expo

VENICE, Fla. – Dr. Bo Martinsen√ and Dr. Anne-Marie Chalmers√ of Venice-based Omega3 Innovations recently returned from Paris, France, where Martinsen was a speaker at Biovelop product presentation at the “Food Ingredients Europe” trade show.

Martinsen, who co-founded Omega3 Innovations with Chalmers, his wife and partner, said the international FIE show included more than 1,200 exhibitors from 65 countries; with a huge focus on nutritious ingredients that aim to improve the health of consumers.

Martinsen presented a talk about the many health benefits of beta-glucan oat fiber, which along with 2,000 mg of omega-3 fish oil, form the foundation for the company’s Omega Cookie®.

“Fiber, unlike vitamins and essential fatty acids, is the one family of nutrients for which the government has set a minimum-required dose of 750 mg to achieve heart benefits,” he said. “Unfortunately, most food manufacturers fail to clarify that all of the more than 250 types of fiber are not equal.”

Only the long chained beta-glucan oat fibers are particularly effective in reducing cholesterol, he said. And, Martinsen said, they also have an added bonus that in combination with omega-3 fish oil these oat fibers seem to have an added appetite suppressant benefit.

For more information on any of Omega3 Innovations’ products, call 866-414-0188 or visit www.omegacookie.com or www.omega-cure.com.

About Omega3 Innovations: Founded by Bo Martinsen√, M.D., and Anne-Marie Chalmers√, M.D. – two physicians who have worked with omega-3 fish oil for more than 15 years – the company offers several varieties of Omega Cookies, as well as Omega Cure supplements. Each Omega Cookie contains seven capsules worth of omega-3 fish oil, five grams of fiber, 200% of the daily value of vitamin D and 35% of the daily value of calcium. The company was named a winner in the category of innovation at the 2010 annual Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s Hall of Fame awards. The honor came as the result of being the first company to create a bakery product that contains an effective dose of omega-3 fish oil. For more information, visit www.omegacookie.com or www.omega-cure.com.

Only 20 Three bedroom condominiums remain for sale at DiMucci Twin Towers in Daytona Beach Shores

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. --- Only 20 three bedroom condominiums remain for sale at the DiMucci Twin Towers, located at 3315 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores.

Anthony DiMucci, who heads DiMucci Realty, said the luxury condominium units range from 2,100 square feet of living space and are priced from the mid $300s.

DiMucci said all of the two bedroom condominiums at the Twin Towers have been sold.

However, a few two bedroom condominiums are available for resale, DiMucci added.

First Green Bank to Host Official “Green Opening” Celebration at Award-Winning Mount Dora Headquarters Facility on Feb. 4

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank of Lake County will host the official grand opening of its new 12,000 square foot headquarters facility at 18251 U.S. Hwy. 441 in Mount Dora on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dubbed the “Grand Green Opening Celebration,” First Green Bank officials said the event will include tours of the award-winning facility, which ranks as the second privately constructed building in Florida designed and built to exceed the U.S. Green Building Council’s rigid Platinum LEED standards for energy efficiency, environmental quality and durability.

First Green Bank was recently named Florida’s Green Business of the Year for 2011 by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Central Florida chapter.

The building---with a design reminiscent of pioneer architect Frank Lloyd Wright---is constructed from materials that required minimal energy for their manufacture and maintenance. Windows, insulation and even the building siting were chosen to reduce energy needs and provide a safe, secure environment for customers.

There’s are recharging stations for electric cars, said Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, and their use is free to all customers at all times.

LaRoe promised an exciting family fun day with food refreshments and entertainment at the bank’s “Green Opening” event.

“We’ll feature an Audubon Society’s Birds of Prey exhibit and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department’s Mounted Posse, along with a caricature and balloon artists, clowns, face painting, and plenty of food, beverages and live music,” LaRoe said.

LaRoe said the bank plans to hold a contest with cash prizes and give away promotional items.

Ashton Woods Homes opens three new ready-to-move-in single family homes at Grand Hampton in New Tampa region

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has opened three new ready-to-move-in homes at Grand Hampton, located on Dunham Station Drive off County Line Road just west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said new three and four bedroom homes range in size from 1,981 square feet of living space to 2,822 square feet and are priced from $212,900.

Grand Hampton features a community clubhouse with multi-use aquatic center, tennis and basketball courts, excessive conservation areas, a park and lakes.

Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix. Visit www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.

Mattamy Homes opens new phase with 30 Homesites at Greenleaf Village at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes, with only two home sites remaining in phase I, has now opened phase II with 30 homesites at Greenleaf Village at Nocatee, located off U.S. 1 just north of Race Track Rd. in Ponte Vedra.

Kerry Soltis, marketing manager for the Jacksonville division of Mattamy Homes, said 12 of the new home sites in Phase II are 50-foot and 18 are 60 foot, and sales are underway for new homes priced from $206,990.

Mattamy Homes recently started construction of a new model home that will open in February in phase II at Greenleaf Village at Nocatee.

Homes at Greenleaf Village feature the Innovation Series of single family homes that range from 2,483 square feet of living area to 3,221 square feet, with three and four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and with two or three car garages.

There is one model home — The Kaila — in phase I that is available for viewing.

The Kaila offers a spacious first floor master suite, a formal dining room, a family-sized gathering room with vaulted ceilings and an optional oversized covered lanai.

About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

Kinder, Gentler Online Travel Company Joins UCF Business Incubation in Kissimmee, Recently Launched Web Portal

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Inspire Travel, a kinder, gentler online travel company that provides a platform that can be leveraged to support social causes and community organizations, has joined the University of Central Florida Business Incubator in Kissimmee.

Rafael Caamano, site manager for the UCF Business Incubation Program in Kissimmee, said Inspire Travel is a startup company with a conscience and a business model that combines the best features of online booking agencies with group discounting and social media while promoting social entrepreneurship.

Inspire Travel recently had a soft launch of www.InspireTravel.com, its web portal, Caamano said. A more robust version of the dynamic web portal is scheduled for launch next year.

“Inspire Travel is a next-generation travel company that focuses on a whole package of services from airline flights, hotel and resort accommodations and rental cars, with plans to add dining and entertainment,” Caamano said.

Bill Haberman, founder and chief executive officer of Inspire Travel said he began working on Inspire Travel’s socially-conscious business model while developing a luxury condominium hotel in Celebration, Florida.

“Inspire Travel is a natural evolution of online travel that combines discount travel options with a social media driven marketing strategy,” Haberman said.

“Most importantly, we aim to be practitioners of ‘kinder capitalism’ by leveraging our platform to support the awareness and philanthropic efforts of worthy causes,” he said.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 100 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook.

About Inspire Travel
Inspire Travel is a next-generation web-based travel portal that combines the best practices of the current online booking engines and group buying discounters with personalization, immersive imagery, and a social network and cause marketing strategy. Through the Inspire Giving initiative, Inspire Travel aims to be a successful practitioner of what has been described as “kinder capitalism”. While operating as a for-profit enterprise, Inspire Travel’s mission includes the dual purpose of providing a medium through which charitable, educational and other worthy non-profit organizations can raise awareness, generate donations and affect social change. Please visit www.inspiretravel.com to learn more.

CELEBRATION GOLF CLUB HOSTS D.J. GREGORY'S WALKING FOR KIDS FOUNDATION CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

Celebration, Fla. – Celebration Golf Club hosted the 2011 Walking for Kids Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament recently for D.J. Gregory, whose inspirational trek earned him a spot as the ABC News “Person of the Week” and the admiration of professional golfers and golf fans across the country.

A slew of Gregory’s admirers participated in the tournament, including PGA Tour stars Spencer Levin, Steve Marino, Rory Sabbatini, Paul Stankoski, Lucas Glover, Donnie Hammond, former Minnesota Twins General Manager Frank Viola and Comedian Michael Collins.

Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management, said he was proud to host the tournament and delighted at the number of celebrity golfers who participated.

“D.J. Gregory’s story has captured the hearts of the golfing community throughout the country,” Garrote said. “He is an inspiration to all of us and we were most pleased to accommodate the Walking for Kids Foundation Tournament,” Garrote said.

Michael J. Neumann, social media supervisor at Celebration Golf Management, said D.J. Gregory’s Walking for Kids Foundation raises funds for children’s charities throughout the U.S.

“Last year Walking for Kids Tournament donated almost $85,000 to children’s charities including United Cerebral Palsy of Central, Florida,” Neumann said. “The goal in 2011 is to donate more than $100,000,” he added.

In 2008 Gregory, who suffers from cerebral palsy, began walking the PGA tour as a way to raise awareness for children’s charities. That first year followed 3,256 holes on tour, walking more than 988 miles.

Orlando EB5 Investment, LLC raises $16.5 Million to help fund two restaurants atop Los Angeles W Hotel

MAITLAND, Fla. --- Orlando EB5 Investments, a subsidiary company of Orlando based CommerCenters LLC, helped finance two upscale restaurants at the W. Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. recently with $16.5 million in investment capital.

Richard A. Asta, president of CommerCenters, LLC and Orlando EB5 Investments, said the private equity group helps international investors obtain permanent U.S. immigration visas by investing $500,000 or more in U.S. projects that will generate or retain at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers.

Asta said financing the W. Hotel project was a joint venture that includes Orlando EB5 Investments and American Dream Fund of Los Angeles.

CommerCenters, LLC is a privately-owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, affiliated with NAI Realvest and NAI Global, one of the largest worldwide commercial real estate brokerage firms. Headquartered in Maitland, Florida, CommerCenters has clients and joint venture partners in various cities in the United States and around the world.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Renewal Agreements with two long-time tenants at The Citadel in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed two lease renewal agreements for a total of 1,858 square feet of office space at The Citadel located at 5950 Hazeltine National Drive in Southeast Orlando.

Mary Frances West, CCIM, senior broker associate at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transactions representing the landlord, Citadel Partners, LTD, based in The Villages, Fla.

Noresco LLC, who has been a tenant in Citadel III since 1999, renewed its lease of Suite 510 with 1,010 square feet. Noresco is a premier energy service company headquartered in Westborough, Mass.

JTB International, Inc., a Japan-based company that specializes in group and individual travel reservations and tours, renewed its lease of Suite 250 with 848 square feet in the Citadel International building where JTB has been a tenant for over 10 years.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Office Lease at Alafaya Corporate Center Wise up is the new Tenant

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 2,045 square feet of office space at Alafaya Corporate Center, 2000 North Alafaya Trail, Suite 900, in east Orlando.

Robert Blackwell, SIOR, a principal at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the tenant, 9801 Investment LLC d/b/a Wise Up, a language school that teaches English as a second language.

The landlord, represented by Faith Thompson, is Orlando-based Alafaya Corporate Center LC.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, serving all of central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.nairealvest.com.

Hendricks & Partners Negotiates REO Sale of 64 Unit Palm Villas Apartments in Fort Myers for $1,575,000

FORT MYERS, Fla. --- Hendricks & Partners, which ranks as one of the largest and most active multi-family investment banking and research companies in the U.S., recently negotiated the REO sale of the 64 unit Palm Villas Apartments property in Fort Myers for $1,575,000.

Cole Whitaker, director of the Southeast Division of Hendricks & Partners in Orlando, said Associate Partner Hal Warren and he negotiated the sale of the apartment property representing the seller PNC Bank.

Promotora Inmobiliaria, LLC was the buyer of the apartments consisting of four two-story garden-style buildings situated on 4.6 acres. The buyer was represented by Michael Maurer of RE/MAX Estates.

Palm Villa Apartments was constructed in 1968 and renovated in 2006.

Stirling Sotheby's International Realty Named Exclusive Brokers for Luxury Home Short Sale at Windsong in Winter Park

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been named exclusive sales and marketing agents for a luxury home short sale at Windsong in Winter Park.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the listing represents one of the best values available in Winter Park.

“The home was recently appraised at $890,000 and it is being listed for sale on a short sale basis at $789, 000,” Soderstrom said.

International Luxury Homes Specialist Erin Wanner is representing the property.

The 3,899-square foot two-story Italiante luxury home offers four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a private swimming pool and spa on a quarter-acre home site, Wanner said.

The home features a large game room with a balcony and wet bar, she added.

“There is only one lender involved, which makes the short sale process much easier,” Wanner explained. “We expect this home to sell quickly because it’s such a great value.”

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, new home communities, commercial and investment properties, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates two performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.