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New “Green” Building Opens in Florida

June 2008

A 33,000 square-foot, four-story office building that has a self-sustaining eco-environment has opened in Lake Worth, Florida. It is the first building of its kind in the state.

 

Ecocentre, dubbed a “living building”, incorporates natural systems and green technologies designed to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and water consumption, and create a healthier environment.

 

Florida’s new living building is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and will seek Gold L.E.E.D. Certification, a national rating classification system for sustainable buildings. The gold level is the second-highest rank a project can earn from the U.S. Green Building Council, which handles LEED certification. The Green Building Council is based in Washington, D.C.

 

Inside the building, a “living machine” will treat grey water from the building’s restrooms, showers, and kitchen sinks and re-use it for exterior irrigation, reducing potable water consumption. In addition, rainwater will be collected in an 8000-gallon cistern and will be re-used for flushing toilets. Condensation from air conditioning units will be the source of fish pond water which is used to irrigate interior landscaping, a press release points out.

 

A Biolarium, situated in the center of the building, is to be filled with plants and will reduce CO2 concentration. Also, a rooftop “roof park” will be covered with grass, trees, and plants.

 

"We are looking forward to creating this 'Living Building' to prove that business can co-exist with a comfortable working environment while addressing environmental concerns and needs, sustain energy, recycle water and provide for a happy, healthy environment for our employees and others working within the building,” said John Romano, whose law firm will occupy much of the facility.  

 

 

March 2008
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.  March 19 – June 1, 2008.  Epcot's annual spring flower fest is the premier show of its kind.  Impressive and colorful gardens with massive displays of wide varieties of flowers is the backdrop for this festival.

April 2007
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.  Flowers, gardens, concerts, pirates and princesses!  It's all at the Epcot flower and garden festival, now through June 3rd.  A pirate ship topiary (sculptured shrubs), millions of blooms, hundreds of butterflies and dozens of character topiaries are on display throughout Epcot. 

Displays, shows and events will appeal to adults and to kids.  Engage in gardening at home discussions by the Disney experts.  "Flower Power" concert series offers evening entertainment from the '60s and '70s.

November, 2006
Daytona Speedweeks 2007 Schedule!  The annual racing blitz starts with the Rolex 24 on January 27 (practice and qualifying on the 25/26th).  Then the Budweiser Shootout on February 10, followed by the Gatorade Duel on February 15th, a Craftsman Truck Series race on February 16, the Daytona 300 on February 17th, leading up to "The Great American Race" - the Daytona 500 on February 18.  That's a lot of racing!

November, 2006
Florida theme park animal family doing well.  Several Florida theme parks have proud new additions to their animal populations. 

Busch Gardens, Tampa, welcomed its newest member in September with the birth of a hippopotamus.  The mother, Moxie, gave birth underwater at Busch Gardens’ Edge of Africa.  Also in September, the Shamu whale family increased by one with the birth of a 7-foot-long, 350-pound baby to mother Katina.  And again at Busch Gardens, the attraction is also home to the baby gorilla, Bolingo, born on November 18, 2005.  Mom Kishina, and her baby boy, are doing well and can be seen in the Myombe Reserve.  Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando is the proud park of the recently born giraffe named Imara to mother Aibuni on October 7, 2006.  The baby girl giraffe weighed in at 110 and was six-foot tall at birth!

Congratulations to these parks and the parents!  We wish these families well!

November, 2006
Disney decorates and offers vacation events galore!   During an extended weekend from November 10 to 12, the Walt Disney Resort will host a variety of seasonal events.

The Festival of the Masters presented by Sharpie® at Downtown Disney will feature work from more than 200 award-winning fine artists from 29 states and Israel including photographers, painters and sculptors.  Runs Nov 10-12.

The ABC Super Soap Weekend presented by Colgate Total at Disney-MGM Studios will see more than 30 TV stars from several popular daytime "soap" shows.  Celebrity activities include talk shows, interviews, motorcades and autograph sessions.  Each day the event will close with a live musical performance.  Runs Nov 11-12.

The Nov 11-12 weekend is the finale to Epcot's 2006 International Food and Wine Festival.  Don't miss the opportunity to experience this culinary extravaganza.

October, 2006
Epcot's 2006 International Food and Wine Festival is in full swing.  The festival runs from October 13, 2006 to November 12 2006.  At Epcot's World Showcase, explore and enjoy international and regional flavors of wine, beers, cheeses, deserts, and samplings of main dishes from 26 countries and regions!  The full breadth of culinary experiences range from complimentary tastings and samplings with costs of a few dollars to extravagant and elegant dinners up to $300 USD. 

In between, enjoy "Sweet Sundays" - cakes and pastries, "Food and Wine Pairings" - three wines and three tasting portions from Epcot's signature restaurants, the Saturday night "Party for the Senses", and others.  Late afternoon and evening musical performances liven the atmosphere and include different entertainers each day.  For more information, visit Epcot's web site at www.epcot.com.

October 4, 2006
Southern Florida Wetland stamps and postal cards released.   Naples, FL - U.S. Postal Service releases stamps and postal cards depicting 21 plants and animals found in southern Florida wetland areas.  The goal is "to raise awareness of the diverse species inhabiting the fragile environment of the world’s largest subtropical marshland — the Florida Everglades". 

The sheet of 10 First-Class 39-cent stamps, available for $3.90, and 10 stamped postal cards selling for $7.95, are available in Naples Post Offices today, and nationwide, Thursday, Oct. 5.

October 3, 2006
Hurricane experts downgrade the 2006 forecast predicting below average hurricane season.  William Gray and Philip Klotzbach of the Colorado State Forecast team released a report today that predicts two more named storms, one more hurricane and no more intense hurricanes for the remainder of the hurricane season, which ends November 30. 

So far, no major hurricanes have struck Florida this season.  This is certainly good news for Florida after the beating it's taken over the past two seasons.  The hurricane season is not over yet, but Florida residents are holding their breath!

September, 2006
Biketoberfest® in Daytona Beach is set for October 19-22.  The annual event in Daytona Beach is set for another awesome motorcycle rally that offers bikers a weekend of sun, fun, beaches, and of course, motorcycles - thousands of them!  There will be motorcycle shows, rallies, contests and demo rides.  Non-stop entertainment keeps the place hopping with live rock, blues and reggae music.  Long time favorites including the BootHill Saloon, Iron Horse Saloon, Last Resort, Stock Exchange, Smiley's Tap Room, Dirty Harry's and Gilly's Pub 44 all have special entertainment and activities planned for the long weekend.  So, if you are a biker looking for a unique Florida vacation, consider the Biketoberfest!  Go to www.biketoberfest.org for more information.

September 12, 2006
Universal Orlando offers two parks, for seven days for $85. The new ticket, which becomes Universal’s primary advance-purchase multi-day ticket, allows all visitors up to seven days unlimited admission to both Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure for $85!  Good deal!  Purchase in advance from Universal’s website (www.universalorlando.com), other online sites, AAA locations or other professional travel agencies and tour operators.