Florida Trend Focuses on 'Style & Design 2010'

St. Petersburg, FL — The cover story for the November edition of Florida Trend is "Style & Design 2010." Among the featured designs is the Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa, which is described as "a sort of metal jewel box atop a glass pedestal."

Other style and design highlights include:

- Lighthouse Point house, designed by architect Jeffrey Silbertstein.

- 1450 Brickell office tower, designed by architect Bruce Brosch of Nichols, Brosch, Wurst, Wolfe & Associates in Coral Gables.

- Captiva Island house, designed by architect James Lucia of Winter Park.

- Burke Hogue Mills offices for and by architecture firm Burke Hogue Mills in Lake Mary.

For details about these and other stories, Click Here.

HDNet to Provide Live Coverage of Shuttle Discovery's Final Launch

ALERT: The launch of Discovery has been postponed. Check www.NASA.gov for updates.

Kennedy Space Center, FL — HDNet will provide extensive coverage of the final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) beginning at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, at the Kennedy Space Center.

Discovery has been moved to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for its 39th mission, the most of any NASA shuttle. The planned 11-day trip features a visit to the International Space Station. Crew members will deliver additional parts to the Station, providing storage capacity to the orbiting complex. Discovery will also transport Robonaut 2, which will become the first humanoid robot in space.

The crew for STS-133 is an all-veteran team led by Commander Steve Lindsey (Colonel, USAF, Retired), in addition to Pilot Eric Boe (Colonel, USAF), Mission Specialists Timothy Kopra (Colonel, U.S. Army), Dr. Michael Barratt, Nicole Stott and Alvin Drew (Colonel, USAF Retired).

SOURCE: HDNet

JOY-FM Targets 10,000 Turkeys for Bay Area Families

Sarastoa, FL — The JOY-FM has set a goal of collecting 10,000 frozen turkeys to distribute to families in the Tampa Bay area.

The station, which features contemporary Christian music, has been serving North, Central and Southwest Florida for more than 20 years. 

"We are listener supported and appreciate the generous donations of our listeners, churches and business underwriters," a spokesperson said. "Last year 9,472 turkeys were donated. This year, more families than ever need our help.  That’s why our goal this year is to collect 10,000 frozen turkeys."

The donated turkeys will go to freezers of local food banks and homeless shelters, organizers said, adding that, "From there they will be turned into food boxes, holiday meal plates, and the warmth of hope and God’s love for the unfortunate in our community, many of whom are children."

Each individual donor of a turkey will receive a Joy-FM T-shirt.

For a list of participating Publix Supermarkets, Click Here.

"Come out and trade a frozen turkey for a JOY FM T-shirt," a spokesperson said, adding that, "Yes, we’ll accept 'paper turkeys' at $10."

NOTE: For times and dates, check out this Turkey Stop Schedule.

Bright House Presents Northeast Exchange Club’s Ribfest Nov. 12-14

St. Petersburg, FL — Bright House Networks presents Ribfest 2010 Nov. 12-14 at Vinoy Park on the downtown waterfront with ribs, music and a family fun zone.

Ribfest marks its 21st year of helping a variety of youth-oriented causes “one rib at a time," organizers said. The three-day charity fund-raiser features "the best barbeque ribs in the world," national touring artists playing classic and southern rock and country hits.

Northeast Exchange Club of St. Petersburg has signed national recording bands and entertainment to its line-up for Ribfest 2010. Among the bands taking the stage are Dave Mason, Lee Brice, The Doobie Brothers, Phil Vassar, Rick Springfield, Eric Church and Grand Funk Railroad.

In addition, Hell on Wheels, the nation's leading BMX action stunt show, will be performing throughout the weekend. On Saturday, there will be a Classic Car and Truck Show, presented by Tires Plus, and on Sunday a Motorcycle Show, presented byFull Throttle Magazine.

Advance ticket are available in October at Rally Food Stores and online at www.RibFest.org.

Through the years Ribfest proceeds have contributed $3.2 million to local causes including:
• All Children’s Hospital and the construction of its new hospital
• Child abuse prevention – Help-A-Child. and Family Resources
• Northeast Exchange Club service projects with Youth and Community Service
• Promoting Americanism by installing Freedom Shrines at local schools

"Ribfest is the community’s way to help these youth focused causes by simply coming out and sampling the best ribs in the world," a spokesperson said.

For more information, visit www.RibFest.org

Ukulele Getaway Set for Nov. 5-7 at Lake Tarpon Resort

Palm Harbor, FL — Ukulele lovers rejoice! An event scheduled for the first weekend in November will give your beloved musical instrument all the attention it deserves.

The Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway will take place Nov. 5-7 at the Lake Tarpon Resort, 37611 US Highway 19 North, in Palm Harbor. Featured artists include Jim and Liz Beloff, Victoria Vox, Gerald Ross, Craig Robertson, The Barnkickers and Haole Kats.

There is no charge for the Friday session, which starts with a “Ukulele for Beginners” workshop at 6:30 p.m. That is followed at 7 p.m. by a screening of the film "Mighty Uke" and live music at 8:30 p.m.

Admission for the Saturday session is $50 and runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., followed by a freestyle jam. Activities include registration, vendors, workshops, performances, lunch, swap meet, Q&A, dinner and a concert.

Sunday’s activities start at 10 a.m. and include registration, performances, raffle drawings and a Luau. Cost is $35. Visitors who plan to attend both days can save $10 by purchasing a weekend pass.

Sponsors for the three-day event include Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars & Ukuleles, Suncoast Hospice, Kala Brand Ukulele and Stevie B's Total Guitar. Proceeds go to the American Asperger's Association, a non-profit group that provides treatment and support for children with autism.

Details about the Getaway can be found at www.TampaBayUkulele.com.

Here are profiles of the scheduled performers:

Jim and Liz Beloff: Jim is the author of “The Ukulele – A Visual History” as well as a series of ukulele songbooks. Jim, along with his wife Liz, owns Flea Market Music, Inc., a company dedicated to the ukulele.

Victoria Vox: Victoria graduated from The Berklee College of Music with a degree in songwriting. Her debut ukulele album, “Victoria Vox and Her Jumping Flea,” was released in 2006. Her latest, “Exact Change,” was released in May.

Gerald Ross: Gerald is known for his work with the ukulele and Hawaiian lap steel guitar. He has recorded five solo CDs and appeared a number of times on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Craig Robertson: Craig, who has released six CDs of original music, performs the cabaret-style Ukulele Noir and writes for the Ukulelia blog. He will be accompanied on bass by his daughter Zoe.

The Barnkickers: Steve Boisen and his daughter Amanda make up this popular group. In 2008 they had the number one featured video on YouTube. In 2009 they released “Up Before Noon,” their debut CD of original music.

Haole Kats: T.J. Weger, Josh Gibson and Joe Martin make up this group. They are known for playing a style of Hawaiian music known as Hapa-Haole (Half-Foreign). Other styles include as jazz, swing, bossa nova and surf classics from the 1960s.

For more information about The Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway, visit www.TampaBayUkulele.com.

Former Fox 13 Consumer Watchdog Opens Law Firm

Former Fox 13 consumer lawyer Eric Seidel has opened Eric Seidel Law, a litigation-based law firm. In order to start his practice, Seidel left WTVT a few weeks ago following an award-winning 19-year career.

“After exposing unscrupulous businesses and scam artists with a camera and a microphone on television, it was time to fight them with my legal training in the courtroom,” Seidel said.

Seidel has partnered with Kendall Almerico, a board-certified civil trial attorney with 22 years of civil trial experience, to form the boutique litigation practice primarily aimed at helping consumers who have been injured by corrupt businesses as well as those injured through the fault of others.

“Having a seasoned trial attorney like Kendall gives us a one-two punch that will keep scammers and unfair insurance companies against the ropes,” Seidel said.

Eric Seidel Law is headquartered on the top floor at 500 North Westshore Boulevard, Suite 1015, in Tampa. 

“Just because people are not seeing me in the same news segment every night doesn’t mean they are losing me as a resource and an advocate," Seidel said. "Anyone can go to my Web site, www.EricCanHelp.com and see a new One Minute Tip video nearly every day to stay on top of the latest consumer issues."

For more information, contact Eric Seidel at Eric Seidel Law, (813) 712-3742.

The (Ron) Reason Behind The Trib's New Look

Back on Oct. 12, The Tampa Tribune launched a re-design. The effort was executed by Designer-Consultant Ron Reason, who was hired by the Trib's parent company, Media General, back in May.

With newspaper circulation in the U.S. dropping (the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average daily circulation fell 5 percent in the April-period) one wonders about the long-term effect of a re-do.

Reason offers his reasons behind the "new and improved" look:

"Tampa is the first of Media General’s three metro newspapers to adopt a refined new look that will share many (but not all) elements, in advance of the creation of two consolidated editing and design centers," Reason wrote in his blog at RonReason.com. "In December, those centers will go live, and the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch and Winston-Salem (NC) Journal will adopt many elements of the new format."

The biggest challenge Reason faced: "Getting three sets of editors and publishers from the three different papers, in three different states, to agree on a new look to be shared by all."

For more about the Trib's re-design, Click Here.

Meeting Eric Deggans — “The Man” Behind “The Brand”

“Every advertisement should be thought of as a contribution to the complex symbol which is the brand image.” — David Ogilvy

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, I met Eric Deggans, "The Man." It was a great experience. I've followed Eric's newspaper career during his time here in the Tampa Bay area. He's a fine writer. Over the years, we'd e-mailed back and forth a handful of times. And, occasionally, I've even added comments to his blog at the St Petersburg Times Web site.

But this was different. This was face-to-face. Mano a mano. (Except, of course, for the other 20-plus people in the room.)

Eric had consented to be part of a panel discussion for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) at the Tampa Club in downtown Tampa. The topic was “Media Relations Unwired."

One comment Eric made during his presentation changed my perception of him. He talked about Eric Deggans, "The Brand."

I told Eric after the discussion that I'd never considered him a "Brand." But I added that I did consider him a part of my "Media Sphere," a phrase he seemed to like. What I meant by the comment is that, as far as I was concerned, Eric was as much a part of my life as Cheerios, Twinkies and Publix, my local supermarket.

So, I guess, in a way, Eric is a "Brand."

I'd read him in the Times. Watched him on PBS. Seen him on CNN. I think I’ve even heard him on the radio a time or two.

Eric is everywhere. Like “Where’s Waldo.” And, now, he was here, in front of me. Flesh and blood. A "real person." That he had the savvy at some point in his career to realize that he was a "Brand" was (and is) brilliant. It means that Eric consciously stepped into that Media Sphere, like Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Bill O'Reilly. Eric is more than just a name. More than just a face. He’s a commodity.

And, I might add, one that I can reasonably endorse.

Why? Because, when I read something by Eric, he fulfills a certain expectation. In that good way. Like a great cup of coffee.

I can think of few things more satisfying. And many things less . . .

The lesson is that, in this age of the Instant and the Ubiquitous, each of us (in one way or another) is a Brand. And the sooner we accept and nurture that, the better off we are. So the next time you Twitter. Or type in a comment on FaceBook. Or update LinkedIn. Remember to connect the dots: You aren't just "you." You are a "Brand." And that's something worth projecting — and protecting.

IABC's Oct. 20 Luncheon Features Veteran Bay Area Journalists

SUMMARY: Three veteran Bay Area Journalists — Janet Coats, Eric Deggans and Mike Connelly — will be featured at a panel discussion hosted by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators on Oct. 20 at The Tampa Club in downtown Tampa.

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) will host a luncheon/panel discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at The Tampa Club, 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 4200, in the Bank of America Building in Tampa.

The topic is “Media Relations Unwired” and features a panel of three veteran journalists. They are:

- Janet Coats, former executive editor of The Tampa Tribune and Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and currently the New Media Journalism Initiative manager for the Patterson Foundation, an independent charitable grant-making organization based in Sarasota.

- Eric Deggans, media analyst for the St. Petersburg Times, who has been a music and TV critic with the paper since 1995.

- Mike Connelly, executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and former reporter with The Wall Street Journal, regional editor at the Baltimore Sun and vice president at Congressional Quarterly.

Registration and networking takes place 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The panel discussion and lunch are scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost for IABC members is $27. Non-members are welcome. Cost is $32.

To register for the Oct. 20 luncheon, visit www.iabcTampaBay.com. For information about The Tampa Club, call (813) 229-6028

ABOUT IABC: The International Association of Business Communicators is a non-profit network of professionals committed to improving the effectiveness of organizations through strategic, interactive and integrated business communication management.