Sweet Honey in the Rock and Bill Banfield’s “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World” to Premiere at The Kennedy Center, April 13-14, 2012

The premiere performances will be conducted by Thomas Wilkins with the Morgan State University Choir, directed by Eric Conway. Both shows are slated to begin at 8 PM.

Hollywood, CA, March 21, 2012 – New York…Iconic and Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will premiere their first ever orchestral collaboration, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” with music composed by William C. Banfield and lyrics written by the ensemble members: Ysaye M. Barnwell, Carol Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, and Louise Robinson, with the National Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on April 13-14, 2012. The premiere performances will be conducted by Thomas Wilkins with the Morgan State University Choir, directed by Eric Conway. Both shows are slated to begin at 8 PM.

“Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” was co-commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra (Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; the Minnesota Orchestra, (Osmo Vänskä, Music Director); and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Millennium Park, Chicago. The Minnesota Orchestra will present the work at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on April 21, 2012. It will be conducted by Mark Russell Smith with the Vocal Essence Choir, directed by Philip Brunelle. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will present the work with the Sphinx Orchestra in Chicago, on October 3, 2012. It will be conducted by Bill Banfield with The Children’s Choir of Chicago, directed by Josephine Lee.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK and Banfield began collaborating on “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” five years ago. The final thirty minute work comprises five movements including: “A Higher Note” by Aisha Kahlil, ”Dreams,” by Carol Maillard, “The Day the World Awoke,” by Nitanju Bolade Casel, “Discourse of Change,” by Ysaye M. Barnwell and “Yes,” by Louise Robinson.

“Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” is a labor of love and one of the most challenging and adventurous projects we’ve undertaken as a group,” stated Ysaye Barnwell. “It has been a dream to one day blend our unique sound, artistry, and lyrics with a symphony orchestra, and we’re very fortunate to have fulfilled it by partnering with such a gifted and talented composer as Bill Banfield,” she added. “We thank the National Symphony Orchestra, The Minnesota Orchestra, and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance for co-commissioning, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” and we are delighted to be performing it with each of them.”

Banfield cited some of the musical inspiration and concept for the score by offering, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” affirms every human power we have: love, imagination, fear and courage, will to change, dreaming, to ask the question and to touch someone else’s soul. It is stepping out as the text asks for ‘a higher note,’ to redefine the traditions in our art that need new fueling.”

While “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” represents SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S first foray as an ensemble writing lyrics for an orchestral score, they have previously collaborated as composers and performers with dance companies (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Washington Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance and Step Africa), instrumentalists (Wynton Marsalis), as well as noted poets (Sonia Sanchez, Alice Walker, and Maya Angelou).

Bill Banfield is a noted composer, author, recording artist, musical director, performer, and currently serves as a Professor of Africana Studies/Music and Society, and Director of Africana Studies Programs at Berklee College of Music. His works have been commissioned, performed and recorded by orchestras including: the National, Atlanta, Dallas, Akron, Detroit, New York Virtuoso, Grand Rapids, Akron, and many others.

Tickets for both performances can be purchased online by going to http://www.kennedy-center.org/tickets, or by calling the Box Office, (202) 467-4600, toll-free (800) 444-1324, or TTY, (202) 416-8524.

CONTACT:RAMON HERVEY II
herveyco@aol.com

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK® www.sweethoneyintherock.org

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/

Get 40% Off Laser Hair Removal!

Leading cosmetic surgery provider The Harley Medical Group is currently running an excellent offer on selected laser hair removal treatments, which can see patients saving up to 40% on a range of packages. However, the offer is only available until midnight on Thursday 5 April 2012, so those interested are advised to book now!

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular non-surgical treatments in the UK and can be carried out on both men and women. It can be performed on many areas of the body and the Harley Medical Group’s offer includes some of its most popular packages.

Eight and four treatment packages for specified body areas have been included in the offer, as well as other multiple treatment packages. For instance, the eight treatment package for laser hair removal for the female chin was £600 and has been reduced to £450 for a limited time only. Similarly, laser hair removal for the full male back is now £1,250, down from £1,590.

In terms of multiple treatment packages, patients can save an astonishing amount – the female full body treatment was £4,225 and is now just £2,770. It includes four full laser hair removal treatments for the arms and legs, along with treatments for the bikini area, navel pubis and underarms.

“Our current offer on laser hair removal will only be available for the next couple of weeks, so those interested should act quickly to make the most of it,” said Lisa Littlehales of the Harley Medical Group.

“Anyone that would like to book a treatment at one of our nationwide clinics can find the current laser hair removal prices on our website, and can book via our online form, specifying which treatment they are interested in.”

To find out more about the treatments available, visit www.harleymedical.co.uk now.

###

Imogen Fry or Monique Cockerill
Rain Communications UK –
020 7828 0118
Imogen.fry@raincommunications.co.ukMonique.cockerill@raincommunications.co.uk

Bristolite Sheds New Light On Daylighting Systems

Daylighting is not a new concept, and it can easily save businesses and residents a lot of money. In some cases customers can expect to save as much as 35-65% on their electrical costs, but not everyone understands the concept of daylighting and that is something that Bristolite is set to change.

 

Santa Anna, California, March 7th 2012. Saving money on energy bills is quickly becoming not only a business necessity, but also an environmental responsibility. Consumers and businesses are turning on more lights every single day. These lights are costing billions of dollars each and every year. By harnessing the natural light from the sun, consumers and businesses can greatly reduce their energy bills, and leave a much smaller footprint in the environment.

 

What is daylighting?

Before you can understand the savings, you have to understand exactly what daylighting is. Daylighting systems are strategically placed skylights that allow the use of natural light instead of traditional electrical lighting. These skylights are coated to prevent minimal heat from entering the room.

 

Daylighting can also refer to designing rooms and buildings so that they get the most out of natural lighting. The overall benefits of using daylighting accurately are quite impressive.

 

The Big Advantage

The largest advantage to using daylighting is saving money on electrical costs. The other great advantage is the fact that daylighting is easier on the environment. Daylight is there. It is right outside your window, but most people and businesses are not using this light to illuminate their homes and businesses. They are missing out on a huge savings opportunity.

 

Bristolite Daylighting Systems brings over 40 years of experience to the table, and they are currently helping customers save millions of dollars every day.

 

With a comprehensive product line that services the commercial, industrial, retail, municipal, and residential markets, Bristolite is helping both businesses, and individuals save money by lowering their electrical costs. It all begins by simply turning off the lights and letting natural light come in by using daylighting systems.

 

About Bristolite Daylighting Systems:

Bristolite Daylighting Systems helps provide customers with the most affordable ways to cut down on energy costs by employing skylights that allow more daylight into rooms. Located in Santa Ana, California, Bristolite Daylighting Systems services the entire United States. For more information on their products and to find a local representative in your area visit: http://bristolite.com/, or call toll free 1-800-854-8618.

 

Bristolite

401 E. Goetz Ave

Santa Ana

CA

92707

United States

1-800-854-8618

sales@bristolite.com

http://www.bristolite.com

Bliss Drive, An Internet Marketing Company Expands Its Internet Marketing Services to Long Beach, California

There are many things that make up an excellent internet marketing program. At the very center, or heart of it all is a website that must be eye catching, but also easy to read. The website should provide a service. It should be informative and to the point, but having a great website is just the beginning of the entire process.

 

If you own a business, ask yourself this question. How good is a website if no one visits it? In order to get the most out of a business website, then it must be marketed the correct way. Without the proper marketing, it will just sink to the bottom of the search results, and no one will be able to find it.

 

Bliss Drive, a web design and internet marketing business in Irvine, California has extended its suite of internet marketing services to the city of Long Beach. Businesses in Long Beach can now get the expert marketing services that their business needs. This full range of services will help any business website do what it needs to succeed.

 

Services Include:

 

Search Engine Optimization – There are several forms of Long Beach interent marketing, and Bliss Drive can handle them all. Starting with on page optimization, Bliss Drive will make sure that your business website is built with the latest and greatest search engine optimization standards in mind. These standards will make sure that your businesses website starts off on the right foot.

 

On site optimization is only a very small part of the entire search engine optimization game. In order for a website to succeed, it must also have the proper off site search engine optimization. Bliss Drive will make sure that each and every website uses only the best off site optimization.

 

Video Marketing – Video marketing is quickly becoming the number one method for not only bringing in new leads, but for also converting those new leads into sales or customers. Every internet device, be it a mobile device, or a home computer has the ability to play video. Adding video to a website is like having a salesperson available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

About Bliss Drive

Bliss Drive is a full service internet design and marketing company that is located in Irvine, California. Businesses that want to get the most from their online presence are encouraged to take advantage of Bliss Drive’s free consultation by calling them directly at, 949-229-3454. For more information, visit their website, http://www.blissdrive.com/.

 

Bliss Drive

17595 Harvard Ave Suite C2480

Irvine

CA

92614

USA

805-202-4800

info@blissdrive.com

http://www.blissdrive.com

 

 

SalutetoSpouses.com Launches New Resource to Help Military Spouses Navigate Homecoming Transition

Salute to Homecoming offers personal stories, articles from experts and tips for reintegrating a service member into the family routine; kicks off yearlong series of free live events with webinar on March 27

Buffalo, NY, March 20, 2012 – SalutetoSpouses.com today announced the launch of “Salute to Homecoming,” a new web resource for military spouses featuring articles from experts, first-hand stories, tips and more to support spouses as they welcome home a deployed service member. Additionally, Salute to Homecoming will host a series of free podcasts and webinars throughout the year that will explore specific issues military spouses face as service member reintegrate into “normal” life after deployment. A webinar, titled “Is it Supposed to Be Like This?: Military Spouses Share Homecoming Highs and Lows,” will kickoff the free series on March 27 at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

Five contributors from SalutetoSpouses.com, who are also military spouses, will host the webinar. The panelists are:

* Samantha Carroll – An army Spouse and SalutetoSpouses.com contributor, Samantha has been married to CW2 Michael Carroll for five years. As an apache pilot he is TDY often and has deployed to Afghanistan once. Samantha and her 3-year-old daughter are preparing for Michael to deploy again to Afghanistan. The family is currently stationed in Hunter Army Air Field in Georgia.

* Jan Wesner Childs – An army Spouse and SalutetoSpouses.com contributor, Jan has been married to Mark Wesner for 21 years. Jan has spent much of her career as a journalist covering the military and deploying with U.S. troops so she understands the difficulties of deployment from both the homefront and the battlefield. The family has endured multiple short deployments as well as two that were a year long. The couple has two children and is currently stationed in Germany.

* Stephanie Loaiza – A navy spouse, Stephanie has been married to Petty Officer First Class Andrew Loaiza for eight years. He has spent 18 months on various ships and submarines deployed in oceans around the world. Stephanie rarely knows where he is actually located or when she will be able to call or even email him again.

* Allison Perkins – An army spouse and SalutetoSpouses.com editor, Allison has been married to Sgt. First Class John Marlow for 11 years. John has spent a total of 48 months deployed to the Mideast since 2003. Allison has spent time as a journalist embedded with troops deployed to both the Pacific and Iraq. The couple temporarily moved their family to Kuwait in 2005 so that Allison could travel into Iraq and work from the frontlines. Now, John, Allison and their five children, ages 9, 8, 4, 1 and 5 months, are stationed in Hawaii.

* Sarah Young – An army spouse, Sarah has been married to Maj. Bill Young for ten years. In that time, the couple has pcs’d six times, moving between Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Louisiana and Maryland. They recently relocated to Kansas. Sarah has served as an FRG leader and key spouse at nearly every command. Now the couple and their three children, ages 9, 7 and 5, are preparing for Bill’s fifth tour to the Mideast.

“When your spouse comes home after a deployment it’s exciting to have your whole family together again, but finding a new rhythm as a unit can be challenging when you’ve gotten used to running the household and making decisions on your own. Salute to Homecoming will bring together insights from experts and the real experiences of military spouses to provide practical information,” said Ms. Perkins, Editor of SalutetoSpouses.com. “The webinar will be a terrific way to start the conversation; there is something really special about getting a group of military spouses together to talk about the topics important to us.”

The military spouse support webinar will feature both a moderated discussion from panelists discussing everything from challenges they faced, rituals or traditions they’ve developed over multiple deployments and other life lessons learned while being married to the military. Attendees will also have the chance to share their own stories and pose questions to the panelists.

The webinar is offered for free by SalutetoSpouses.com. Military spouses interested in attending are invited to register at http://www.salutetospouses.com/webinars.

Salute to Homecoming is part of SalutetoSpouses.com, an online resource edited by military spouses for military spouses that features personal stories, advice, tool and tips. The site was launched in 2011 as a complement to Bryant & Stratton College Online’s Salute to Spouses Scholarship, which provides eligible spouses up to $6,000 for online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online. All Salute to Spouses Scholarship recipients must meet Bryant & Stratton College scholarship guidelines to receive the full award.

“The deployment and post-deployment return of a service member can be stressful on military families. Members of the military are away from their family and can feel disconnected, while spouses are left running the show by themselves, balancing raising children, maintaining a career and sometimes pursuing a degree,” said MAJ (Ret.) Ed Dennis, Military Relations Manager at Bryant & Stratton College Online and an Iraq war veteran. “At Bryant & Stratton College Online we are proud to support our military students and their families during all stages of service, by providing resources like Salute to Spouses and Salute to Homecoming.”

As a member of the Service Members Opportunities College (SOC) consortium*, Bryant & Stratton College Online adheres to the SOC principles for service members and their families. They are also an approved institution for the training of U.S. veterans and their family in accordance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bryant & Stratton College Online participates and accepts transfers from CLEP, DANTES, ECE and other SOC Colleges. In recognition of the schools support of veteran and military students, G.I. Jobs Magazine named Bryant & Stratton College Online a Military Friendly School for 2012.

Currently, Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs and eleven online associate’s degree programs. For more information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degree programs, visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/Online-Learning.aspx.

*The Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach campus is also a SOCNAV and SOCAD consortium member.

About SalutetoSpouses.com
SalutetoSpouses.com is a go-to resource for education and career news for military spouses. Sponsored by the Bryant & Stratton College Online’s military relations department, SalutetoSpouses.com was launched as a complement to Bryant & Stratton College Online’s Salute to Scholarship, which provides eligible spouses up to $6,000 for online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online. The articles, tips, advice columns and personal accounts on SalutetoSpouses.com uniquely support the needs of military spouses because they are created and edited by military spouses. For more information please visit http://www.salutetospouses.com.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education the Council for higher education. With locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center the College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s, associate’s degrees and professional certificates for over 155 years. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, eleven online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://www.bryantstratton.edu/Online-Learning.aspx.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Denver Heating and Air Conditioning – Reduce Energy Consumption

An energy efficient Denver Heating and Air Conditioning system would be the best investment that every home owner might want to consider installing in their homes. Solar heating systems are a great hot water heating solution that’s eco-friendly and has extremely low operating costs. Another is the hybrid heat pump which is an efficient combination of gas furnaces and traditional heat pumps. Ground source heat pumps are among the most efficient heating and cooling options on the market today. Radiant heating is another environmentally-friendly heating solution that has gained popularity in recent years. With these choices of Denver Heating and Air Conditioning systems you are sure of saving a lot on energy and contributing to a greener world.
Although solar hot water heating can be expensive to install, it usually pays for itself in less than five years through reduced energy bills and government incentives. Once the equipment is paid off, you have almost zero operating costs as you continue enjoying hot water, pools, and water for radiant heating. Heat pumps function quite efficiently during warm months, but at cold temperatures they typically lose their effectiveness. Ground source heat pumps are quite eco-friendly as well as inexpensive. They utilize the relatively constant temperature of ground to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. Ground source heat pumps are a completely safe method of heating and cooling your home with a renewable alternative to fossil fuels.
Another choice of the energy efficient Denver Heating and Air Conditioning systems is the radiant heating which functions by circulating heated water through Pex tubing in your flooring. This warms the floor and radiates heat throughout your space as the warmth from the flooring rises. Because the tubing must be installed under the flooring, radiant floor heating is recommended for new construction or during major remodels.

L & L Heating & Air Conditioning
177 Summit View Circle, Parker, CO 80138-4733
(720) 851-1691

Denver Heating and Air Conditioning
Denver Air Conditioning Repair

Navy Veteran Utilizes CrowdFunding To Open Meineke Car Care Center in Pensacola

Decorated veteran seeks financing via Boost A Hero program.

Pensacola, FL (USA), Wednesday – March 21, 2012 — After 10 years in the United States Navy, Tom Perez has signed with Meineke Car Care Centers to take over the location at 2871 West Michigan Ave. in Pensacola, Fla. Meineke quickly approved Perez’s franchise application because of his skills and personality. Meineke has discounted its franchise fee by 25 percent and is financing nearly 75 percent of the entire purchase, but Perez still needs to raise additional capital to get started. He is the first Meineke franchisee to use Sprigster’s Boost A Hero ( http://www.sprigster.com/boost-a-hero ) franchise crowdfunding program.

Perez, 31, who was honorably discharged last year due to downsizing, served as a master of arms in the Navy. He completed three tours in Iraq and many tours in other locations. Perez is a decorated veteran who has received four Navy/Marine Corp Achievement Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Expeditions Medal and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

“Tom is a great franchise candidate who served our country for 10 years and just recently returned to the U.S.,” said Dave Schaefers, senior vice president of franchise development of Driven Brands. “Tom has a great personality and the skills to be a successful business owner. Veterans make great franchise owners because they are hard working and know how to follow a system. We look forward to bringing Tom into the system and we’re doing everything we can to help him get the financing he needs to get started.”

Boost A Hero is dedicated to using crowdfunding to get U.S. veterans the start they need to be franchise business owners. Veterans who are accepted by Boost A Hero create a project campaign telling their story and funding goal. The projects can be viewed on the website ( http://www.sprigster.com/boost-a-hero ) where people can make contributions. View Perez’s project at http://www.sprigster.com/projects/6-help-navy-vet-tom-open-a-meineke.

“In my 10 years in the military, I spent half that time in hostile environments. Now I am ready to use my leadership and management experience combined with my education to be a successful entrepreneur,” Perez said. “I know that my military training will help me excel in business because it instilled in me the leadership skills and the work ethic to make it happen. I’m really looking forward to getting started with a great brand like Meineke and I’m very excited to be one of the first people to use the Boost A Hero program for financing.”

Meineke is owned by Driven Brands, the parent company to six franchised automotive brands. Other Driven Brands companies include MAACO Franchising, Inc. (collision repair and auto painting), Econo Lube N’ Tune (automotive repair/quick-lube services), Aero Colours (automotive paint repair), AutoQual (vehicle reconditioning, protection and appearance maintenance services) and Drive N Style (aftermarket installation services), as well as Tortal.net, a training company that specializes in developing interactive online training solutions.

DRIVEN BRANDS, INC.
2871 West Michigan Ave.
Pensacola, FL 32526
Contact: Tom Perez
Phone: 850-377-0561

Press & Media Contact:
Caitlin Varley
Sanderson & Associates, Ltd
Pensacola, FL – USA
312-829-4350
caitlin@sandersonpr.com
http://www.sprigster.com

‘Automotive Engineering Show 2012’, the 5th International Exhibition on Technologies for Automotive Manufacturing to be held at Auto Cluster, Pune (Mah, India) From 26 – 28 April 2012

* This is the definitive platform for Vehicle and Auto-component companies to access latest technology and connect to providers of systems and processes to optimize of efficiency, quality and costs. * Awards to be presented to middle level / plant managers for Excellence in Innovation & Creative Automation.

Mumbai, India, Wednesday – March 21, 2012 — The fifth edition of the ‘Automotive Engineering Show (AES) 2012’ is to be held at Pune (MAH, INDIA) from 26th – 28th April 2012. Displaying a wide array of automotive plant processes and systems and technologies with a Special focus on Metrology & Vision Systems. The event is largely targeted at mid-level functional executives & managers who are responsible for the quality and quantity of production especially those who arrange necessary materials, machines, tools etc. The event is organized by Focussed Events, a leading B2B exhibition organizer headquartered in Mumbai.

Over 125 exhibitors are displaying world class automotive technologies and products ( http://www.focussedevents.com ) including IT solutions in Design, Development, Planning and Manufacturing, Automation systems, Factory Control and Sensors, Assembly Line System Integrators and Line builders, Machining Centers and Metal Cutting equipment including Laser cutting, latest concepts in Tools, Jigs and Fixtures for enhancing productivity, Specialized solutions in Welding including Laser welding, End to end In-plant (Material) Handling systems, Automotive Painting equipment, Paintshop Integrators, Robotics.

A unique feature of AES 2012 is the presentation of ‘Excellence Awards for Innovation & Creative Automation’ at a special seminar for seasoned automobile middle-level managers equivalent of plant managers and general managers. These managers present their experience in Quality, Safety, Energy Efficiency, Environment Protection, Productivity, and Value Improvement and illustrate with examples how they creatively used Technology in true life situations or overcame some specific challenges with technical creativity enhancing plant performance and efficiency. This is the only public platform where middle-level managers are given an opportunity to share their knowledge and earn awards.

Like the previous editions, the number of visitors is likely to exceed 5000 comprising of OEM/third-party manufacturers, Component manufacturers. Managers from Planning, Quality, Design dept, Production, Capital purchase, Procurement, New Projects heads, Maintenance, R & D dept. heads, Engineers from the assembly line, Technology managers etc. For further information and registration, please log on to http://www.focussedevents.com or write to sales@focussedevents.com.

Press & Media Contact:
Mitesh M Kapadia
Sentinel Public Relations Pvt Ltd / Sentinel Advertising Services
B-603, Samajdeep
Near Bhanu Park/Seasons Restaurant
Adukia Road, Off S V Road
Kandivli (W), Mumbai 400 067. INDIA
Tel: (91 22) 28625131/32
Cel: +91 98205 03876
Fax: (91 22) 28625133
mitesh@publicrelationindia.com
http://www.publicrelationindia.com
http://www.focussedevents.com

Major Property Management Company in Florida Earns $30 Million Hurricane Insurance Settlement

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Mar. 19, 2012 – The Continental Group (TCG), a FirstService Residential Management company, will host a historic check presentation to celebrate the successful culmination of years of their efforts on behalf of 65 Independent Condominium Association (ICA) at Kings Point in Delray Beach on March 26th at 11 a.m. at The Continental Group Corporate Offices at 6300 Park of Commerce Blvd. Boca Raton, Fla. The ICA will receive the last of a $30 million insurance settlement from Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (FIGA).

When Wilma hit South Florida in 2005, the Kings Point Delray Beach retirement community as a whole was devastated. The ICA buildings and their 3120 units suffered extensive damages to the roofs, siding, patios, expansion joints and meter rooms.  TCG cleaned up the destruction as best they could and suggested to the ICA that they hire a public adjuster to represent them. The fact that the ICA had the FFI-obtained Ordinance/ Law coverage, allowed them to ask to have the damaged buildings brought up to new code requirements.  Over the years, repairs had been achieved with materials that were no longer considered safe and, in some cases, were no longer manufactured. TCG and public adjusters Goodman, Gable & Gould (GGG) pursued the insurance company to replace roofs and siding completely rather than perform patchwork and bring everything up to new code requirements.  Although board members did not expect to surpass the building’s 3% windstorm deductible, they put their faith in the public adjuster and allowed TCG to guide them through the process.

It took three years, but thanks to GGG, Rolyn Restoration Company, CPA firm Gerstle & Rosen and Attorney George W. Bush Jr., FIGA agreed to replace the roofs in June 2008.  In addition, over half of the ICA buildings received new siding and/or significant allowances for siding replacement. The process was drawn out because the insurance company adjusters refused to acknowledge the extent of the damages and do what should have been done from the onset. Thanks to the key players’ perseverance and the patience and trust that the ICA boards placed in their management company, the ICA received a $30 million settlement for the damages and upgrades needed.

Residents of the ICA now live in safer units that are stronger and better built than before the devastating storm. In addition, the ICA is now able to receive better quality insurance because of the structural upgrades.

About The Continental Group, Inc.

Founded in 1990, The Continental Group’s corporate headquarters is located in Hollywood, FL.

It also has regional offices in Boca Raton, Miami, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Vero Beach, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and Destin. The company is the largest manager of condominium and homeowner associations in the state, and one of South Florida’s leading private sector employers.

Today, The Continental Group manages and maintains 1,500 Associations and more than 310,000 residential units. As the leading community association management company in Florida, Continental pioneered many of the practices widely utilized throughout the industry today.

The Continental Group is a subsidiary of FirstService Residential Management (FSR). FSR is the largest manager of residential communities in North America, overseeing more than 5,600 properties and over 1.3 million residential units.  FSR is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV, TSX: FSV), a global leader in the rapidly growing real estate services sector, providing a variety of services in commercial real estate, residential property management and property services. More information about FirstService is available at firstservice.com.

To learn more about The Continental Group, call (954) 925-8200, toll-free: (800) 215-2316 or visit tcgmgt.com.

 

Sedona Concierge Now Offers the Best Sedona Helicopter Tours

Colorado, Arizona, March 19, 2012 – Sedona Concierge by Cobalt Escapes has made available air tours through the great red Rocky Mountains of Arizona. You can now see and enjoy the beautiful and gorgeous sceneries of Sedona with a bird’s eye view. Take the ultimate touring experience with the help of Sedona Concierge as they take you to the skies of Arizona.

John C. Sagos, owner of Sedona Concierge explains, “We give you two options for air tours, helicopters or hot-air balloons. Whichever you prefer, Sedona Concierge will definitely fulfill your dreams of exploring Arizona from the top.”

For helicopter tours, there are three packages available. The first one is a short 15-minute helicopter flight which is also the cheapest among the three methods. This tour will take you to the attractive Lee Mountain and the Three Nuns just adjacent of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. After that, you can take a breathtaking view of the Bear Wallow Canyon and Schnebly Hill Road.

The next package is a 25-minute flight over the majestic Dry Creek area and the mysterious Secret Canyon. From there, your next destination would be the Rattlesnake Mesa to the glorious ancient Sinaguan Indian cliff houses located at Boynton Canyon. You will also take a tour at the Bear Mountain, Fay’s Arch, and Doe Mesa.

The last and the most exciting package is a 35-minute flight over the grand Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Bell Rock. All the exciting places that the other two packages explored will also be visited. The tour is made more interesting by the indigenous wildlife seen such as the elk, javalinas and deer.

Furthermore, you can schedule your helicopter flight just at the time of sunrise. This will truly be an unforgettable experience for all visitors as the spectacular red Rocky Mountains bask at the glorious ray of the sun.

Like what was already mentioned, aside from the Sedona helicopter tours, you can also fly in the sky of Arizona with the help of hot-air balloons. This is reasonably more expensive type of air tours because of the unique experience it offers.

Company Profile
Sedona Concierge by Cobalt Escapes is dedicated in meeting your tourism needs in Sedona. The company has consistently made a great impact in both the tourism industry of Arizona and in the satisfaction of its customers. Because of the excellent service and high level of safety and client’s approval, Sedona Concierge was able to reach the prestigious Cobalt Signature Level™. The company is also a longtime member of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.

2675 W. State Route 89,A, #1103. Sedona, Arizona 86336
Phone: (928) 649-3090
Email: info@cegrandcanyon.com