Breaking News

SARASOTA, Fla. -- With the completion of a new resort-like clubhouse, Sarasota Yacht Club www.sarasotayachtclub.org (SYC) is beginning a new chapter in its 84-year history while revitalizing the city’s waterfront scene.

“Our beautiful multipurpose clubhouse is designed for the future,” said SYC Commodore Kay Goodman. “With dining rooms and lounges overlooking Sarasota Bay, a pool and fitness center, and a full-service employee team, our clubhouse offers an ideal venue for members’ family and social activities such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.”

Featuring a sail-like fabric roof and modern glass and stucco exterior, SYC’s 22,000-square-foot clubhouse on John Ringling Boulevard is oriented to maximize the site’s waterfront setting, according to Sarasota architect Tom Denslow, DSDG, Inc. “The new clubhouse is a striking example of coastal contemporary design, driven by innovation and function, that reinforces the club’s connection to sailing,” he said.

Elevated over 71 spaces of covered parking, the multi-level clubhouse provides panoramic views from throughout the building, including a variety of indoor-outdoor dining options, formal and informal lounges, two dance floors and an “honors gallery” for yachting trophies, photographs and memorabilia. The new facility overlooks the club’s busy marina, which can handle 100-plus vessels, including yachts up to 100 feet.

Upon arrival at a covered porte-cochere, SYC members and guests will travel along a 90-foot lobby that extends through the building and provides a direct view of the main dock in the marina. The main lobby has a wood floor inlay inspired by a classic teak and holly ship deck and is surrounded by blue terrazzo with a compass rose medallion at each entrance.

“A luxury yacht was the inspiration for our design,” said Susan S. Bardin, director of interior design, Peacock + Lewis in North Palm Beach. “When you walk in, you want to know you're in a yacht club. Interior details include royal blue colors with red accents, teak woods and fixtures inspired by deck prisms that were used to light ships below decks and at night.”

Sarasota-based Tandem Construction completed the new clubhouse in March, just 15 months after the ground-breaking. The club operated from an interim facility during the construction process. Designed to withstand 130-mph winds, the building incorporates numerous environmentally friendly features, including natural skylights, recycled materials, thick insulation and a highly efficient air-conditioning system.

“Tandem Construction is proud to be part of the team that created another iconic building that will grace the Sarasota skyline for many years,” said Nathan Renner, project manager.

Goodman said the new clubhouse was carefully planned to accommodate the club’s 511 memberships with space for 200 more in the future. “Over the next five years, we expect to see significant growth,” she said. “Although we have one of the best marinas on the west coast of Florida, if not the entire state, only about half of our members own a boat. Those members, along with our boaters, enjoy our club’s many social activities, outstanding food and recreational programs. SYC is not just a yacht club – it’s become a resort without the rooms.”

Founded in 1926, Sarasota Yacht Club is one of the original 13 members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. SYC is a private membership club. It welcomes inquiries regarding club membership and boat slip availability.

For more information, go to www.sarasotayachtclub.org

Note to editors: additional photos available upon request.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6268767&lang=en

Funding by Non-Profit Collaborative Group Will Spur Testing of Non-Invasive Methods for Monitoring Brain Tumor Responses to New Therapies

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative (BTFC) today announced the award of 11 one-year feasibility grants of $100,000 each to teams of researchers and clinicians developing the types of tools needed to translate scientific discoveries into effective new treatments for brain cancer patients. The BTFC’s second joint initiative for brain tumor research is intended to accelerate the testing of different kinds of brain tumor response markers – reliable, easily monitored biological signals that can reveal if and how a tumor is responding to therapies.

“Each project focuses on a unique approach to solving a vexing problem encountered by clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving patient outcomes from one of the most deadliest types of cancer,” said Dr. Susan Fitzpatrick of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, one of the eight BTFC members. The other seven participating organizations are American Brain Tumor Association, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Goldhirsh Foundation, Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation, National Brain Tumor Society and Sontag Foundation.
“Having the ability to monitor brain tumor characteristics consistently and reliably using non- or minimally invasive approaches is of particular importance to patients, especially for children,” said Susan L. Weiner of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.

Elizabeth Wilson of the American Brain Tumor Association, added, “When time is of the essence, being able to quickly and accurately determine the effectiveness, or not, of the available therapeutic approaches could make all the difference to a patient’s longevity and well-being.”

According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, approximately 22,000 people annually are diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor, and another 38,000 have nonmalignant brain tumors. Because brain tumors affect neural and cognitive functions, both the disease and its treatment have a high incidence of disability.

"Tragically, this year an estimated 13,000 people will die of brain tumors," said Dr. David R. Hurwitz of the National Brain Tumor Society. "Over 3,700 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with this disease. In addition, pediatric brain tumors have surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of cancer death in children."

Inaugurated in 2003, The Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative is a strategic effort among private foundations and non-profit organizations to pool their resources and focus their research dollars toward specific therapeutic goals. “Advancing brain tumor research requires scientists, clinicians, and funders to come together around the same table and identify what needs to be done,” said Rita Berkson of the Goldhirsh Foundation.

Kay Verble of the Sontag Foundation agreed on the need for a collaborative approach to attacking brain cancers. “We are learning both the pitfalls and the tremendous advantages of working together, to sharpen our own ability to invest strategically in the brain tumor research effort,” she said.

The 11 funded projects were selected during a multi-stage review process from more than 54 responses to the BTFC call for proposals. At the end of the year, the BTFC will evaluate progress and consider further investments.

Prior to announcing the awards, BTFC representatives spent 18 months meeting with experts and exploring a variety of translational research opportunities. “Our analysis of the brain tumor research landscape identified the need for reliable brain tumor response markers as a priority,” explained Rob Tufel of the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation.

“Although the current armamentarium for treating brain tumors is limited, a number of new treatment options will be coming online,” said Suan Marshall of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. “Validated tumor response markers will be a necessary component of research and clinical decision making.”

Despite the dedicated efforts of researchers and clinicians, the identification of successful treatments for brain tumors remains elusive. “We believe the unusual case of eight private funders working together in a spirit of cooperation and openness sends a powerful message,” said Fitzpatrick. “It is time for some new ways of attacking this devastating disease.”

The funded research will be carried out at the following institutions:
Children’s Hospital Boston
Emory University School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts General Hospital
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
University of California (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA)
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Additional details on the principle investigators and projects can be found on the BTFC website: www.braintumorfunders.org.

Brain tumor facts are available at http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/types/brain/

Contacts
James S. McDonnell Foundation
Dr. Susan M. Fitzpatrick, 314-721-1532
susan@jsmf.org

Source: James S. McDonnell Foundation and Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative
View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100120006250/en

WILL TIGER WOOD’S WIFE BENEFIT FROM A POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT?
    Boca Attorney - Doreen Yaffa - Says Post-Nup Can Help Salvage Troubled Marriages

BOCA RATON, FL (Dec. 7) – Golfer Tiger Woods may be able to salvage his marriage if his wife Elin agrees to a multimillion-dollar post-nuptial agreement, according to Boca Raton attorney Doreen Yaffa, a board-certified matrimonial lawyer.

“If media reports are accurate, Tiger and Elin Woods are amending their pre-marriage agreement after the extensive coverage of his ‘transgressions’ – a potentially positive step for both of them,” said Yaffa. “By settling the big financial issues, a post-nup would allow the couple to work on the emotional side of their relationship.”

Woods is the latest of a string of high-profile celebrities who have stated they want to stay with their wives despite marital problems.  For instance, TV host David Letterman in October confessed to a string of affairs, made a public apology on his show and said he hoped his marriage to Regina Lasko would survive.

“If these men are serious, a post-nuptial agreement can help salvage their marriages,” says Boca Raton attorney Doreen Yaffa, a board-certified matrimonial lawyer. In recent years, Yaffa has helped several couples resolve their marital issues with a “post-nup,” a contract that is similar in many ways to a pre-nuptial agreement signed before marriage. In fact, a pre-nuptial agreement can be turned into a post-nup at any time if both husband and wife agree.

“Post-nups are rare today because most people don’t understand the concept,” says Yaffa, managing partner at Yaffa & Associates. “But if there were more post-nups, I believe the divorce rate would probably be lower.”

Now, when someone comes to her office who wants a divorce, Yaffa says the first question she asks is, “Are you sure your marriage is over?” If the person is not sure, she suggests considering a post-nuptial agreement.  “In every case, the spouses who signed a post-nup are still married,” Yaffa says.

A post-nup allows a couple to plan for the equitable distribution of savings, investments, real estate and personal property in the event of a divorce, Yaffa says.
It’s a flexible document that can be structured to accommodate an couple’s specific needs and goals.

“In South Florida, which has many second marriages, a post-nup can be a very positive tool for improving a relationship,” Yaffa says. For example, it can resolve inheritance issues that might otherwise cloud a new marriage.

“A post-nup can assure that the children of a prior marriage receive a share of the marital assets,” she says, “almost like estate planning. Or if you received an inheritance from your uncle for $1 million, your spouse would be entitled to 50 percent. But with a post-nup, you can split amount in any manner you choose.”

One of the most common reasons for a post-nuptial agreement is infidelity. Typically, the husband has an affair, and then wants his wife to take him back. 

In these cases, a post-nup can be structured with a “bad boy” clause that includes a penalty for further infidelity, Yaffa says. For instance, the agreement could specify that the wife would get $5 million in addition to the normal distribution of marital assets if the husband cheated again.

However, a post-nup will not cover any issues pertaining to children, such as custody or visitation, because those provisions would not be legally enforceable under Florida law. As Yaffa says, “The state has the right to decide what’s best for the children.”

Yaffa & Associates specializes in complex and sophisticated family law matters, both domestically and abroad. For more information,  www.yaffapa.com.

CAT OR DOG MIGHT BE ‘PURR-FECT’ HOLIDAY GIFT FOR SENIORS, SAYS MATRIX HOME CARE PSYCHOLOGIST

WEST PALM BEACH – When choosing a holiday gift for an older relative, consider a warm and fuzzy dog or a cat. A pet can provide companionship, open the door to neighborhood conversations and even improve a senior’s physical health, according to Matrix Home Care psychologist Alexander Fiuza, PhD, as director of client services for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

“A dog or cat can be the ‘purr-fect’ gift for a senior,” said Dr. Fiuza. “A pet offers a feeling of love and connection, which is very important to someone who is living alone or lacks companionship.”

Taking care of a pet can also change an elderly person’s lifestyle, opening the door to new daily activities, such as taking a dog for a walk or playing hide-and-seek with a cat. “Petting a cat or playing with a dog relaxes a human, as well as a pet,” added Dr. Fiuza. “By helping to relieve those internal stresses, a pet can improve the quality of life for an elderly person.”

Studies of nursing home residents found that seniors who were around pets smiled more often and were more alert than those who did not come into contact with animals. Holly Bedgio, RN, Matrix’ director of clinical operations/risk management agrees with those findings. “I believe pets can be a real morale-booster to almost any senior,” said Bedgio. “After I gave a small dog to my mother, who is living at home, I could see a real improvement in her attitude toward life.”

Dr. Fiuza notes clinical research studies show that having a pet also can provide physical health benefits for the owner, such as lower blood pressure and reduced cholesterol levels. A three-year study of 5,741 people in Australia found that pet owners had lower blood pressure and triglyceride and cholesterol levels than did non-owners

“A pet can be the ideal holiday gift,” said Dr. Fiuza, “providing a loved one with companionship for many years.”

About Matrix
Based in West Palm Beach, Matrix provides a complete array of services, home health care, disability management so injured employees can quickly return to work, independent senior care based on the needs of the elderly and specialty nurses' services, including wound care, infusion therapy and rehabilitation nursing. Certified as a woman minority owned business, Matrix serves Southwest and Southeast Florida from locations in Tampa, Bradenton, Venice, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach and Coral Gables.
For more information, www.matrixhomecare.com.

MIAMI, FL (NOV. 19) – Randy A. Fink, MD warns that new government recommendations regarding breast cancer screenings may be a serious step backward for women’s health.

“Early diagnosis is critical to the effective treatment of breast cancer,” said Fink, a Miami-based board-certified specialist who was recently named one of “America's Top Obstetricians & Gynecologists” by the Consumer Research Council.

In a report released Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said most women should start regular breast cancer screening at age 50 rather than 40. It also said women age 50 to 74 should have mammograms every two years, rather than every year, and that doctors should stop teaching women the techniques of breast self-examination.

The task force, which advises public policymakers, said these guidelines were intended to reduce harm from overtreatment. Many doctors are concerned that insurance companies will rapidly adopt these recommendations for cost savings.

“As we are finally making strides toward early diagnosis of breast cancer, it is surprising this group has suggested we abandon our efforts at screening women in their 40s, who account for one-fifth of new breast cancer cases,” said Fink, who is medical director of the Miami Center of Excellence for Obstetrics & Gynecology. “I fear these new recommendations will cost lives.”

While breast self-examination has not been shown to improve survival in women ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer, Fink said a woman should remain alert to changes in her body of which she herself will be most keenly aware.

“I resent that a government statistical analysis would stand in the way of a woman’s understanding of her body, and suggest that she ignore such an important part of herself,” he said. “I remain confident teaching my patients how ‘normal’ feels, and continue to believe that self-examination is important for ongoing good health.”

Fink is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, which continues to recommend screening mammography starting at age 40.  The American Cancer Society also stands by the existing guidelines, and encourages that women discuss their concerns with their doctors, rather than interpreting the government recommendations on their own.

Fink serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Family Planning and BabyCenter.com, and his research interests include sexuality, fertility and contraception. For more information: www.drrandyfink.yourmd.com.

JENSEN BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thanksgiving has come early for Hibiscus Children’s Center, a nonprofit organization that cares for abused and neglected children on the Treasure Coast of Florida. A gracious benefactor, who is passionate about assisting needy children worldwide and wishes to remain anonymous, today purchased for $850,000 The Travels of Babar co-signed by former First Lady Barbara Bush and her son, Jeb Bush, the 43rd Governor of Florida.

The book is part of a larger collection up for auction this week through November 24 that includes signed childhood favorite books from some of the most famous people in world, including President Obama, Maya Angelou, John Glenn, Jimmy Buffett, Hugh Hefner, Tiger Woods, Senator John McCain, Oprah Winfrey, Jack Nicklaus and Jane Go...

Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

DARIEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Noah Webster, the author of the first American dictionary, was born 250 years ago October 16th.

A patriot with many talents, Webster served in the American Revolution and rubbed shoulders with the great figures of the day. George Washington read Webster’s works which proposed ideas that later became part of our Constitution. Noah Webster and Ben Franklin became great friends with a common interest in spelling reform. Webster also practiced law, believed and fought for copyright laws, wrote textbooks, and was editor of New York’s first daily newspaper – American Minerva. Noah Webster, however, is best known for his achievement that is the cornerstone of education and literacy today – the first dictionary of American English.

In 1783, N...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

JENSEN BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eyebrows of rare book and signature collectors will rise this fall when an extraordinary collection with a tender mission will be available for an online and live auction beginning November 9-24, 2009 (www.eBay.com ). Dubbed The Little Auction That Could (www.littleauctionthatcould.org), the 70+ collection includes signatures from some of the most iconic figures of our time, including President Barack Obama, John H. Glenn, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling and Tiger Woods.

Volunteer mom Karla Preissman wanted to foster a love of reading among children living at Jensen Beach, Florida-based Hibiscus Children’s Center who have suffered from abuse and neglect. First, she helped create a library within the non-profit shelter and filled it with ...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Matrix Home Care today announced the opening of a new office in Tampa, extending the company’s network throughout the Gulf Coast.

“We are committed to working closely with families, physicians and insurance companies to deliver personalized cost-effective patient care in the home setting,” said Pernille Ostberg, MBA, RPh, president and CEO of the West Palm Beach-based company, which is certified as a woman minority owned business.

Along with its new central Tampa office, located at 410 S. Ware Blvd., 8th Floor, Suite 43, Matrix (license # 20080096) serves Southwest and Southeast Florida from locations in Bradenton, Venice, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach and Coral Gables.

“Tampa is a major healthcare and insurance center,” Ostberg said,...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

SARASOTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After celebrating a “topping off” construction milestone, Sarasota Yacht Club (SYC) is moving toward completion of its sparkling new waterfront clubhouse in February 2010.

Yacht club members and Sarasota civic leaders will hold an evening reception on August 28 after construction crews finished the highest point of the 47-foot tall structure. A palm tree and American flag were raised to the roof to mark the accomplishment.

“With its coastal contemporary design, sail-like fabric roof and modern glass and stucco exterior, our new yacht club will be a beautiful addition to the downtown Sarasota skyline,” said SYC Commodore Bill Chastain. “Our architects understood our objectives and designed what we believe will be the most specta...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

SARASOTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With U.S.-Cuba relations warming up this spring, the Sarasota Yacht Club (SYC) will host a May 21 forum on plans for the 2010 Havana Regatta and other steps to rebuild nautical ties between the two nations.

Dr. Timothy F. Ashby, an attorney with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Miami and national expert on Cuban–American trade issues, will discuss potential changes in U.S. policies toward Cuba, and how the SYC’s support for binational sailing competitions, education and marina development programs could lead to stronger Gulf Coast ties with Cuba.

“We expect widespread interest in our forum in light of the new climate in Washington,” said SYC Commodore Bill Chastain. “Allowing U.S. sailing teams to participate in the 201...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the eight North American private funding organizations comprising the Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative announced a new funding initiative aimed at accelerating development of non- or minimally-invasive methods for monitoring if, when, and how human brain tumors are responding to investigational therapies. This represents the second round of funding offered by a unique collaborative funding effort representing private foundations and patient advocacy groups. The BTFC inaugurated its funding program in 2005, awarding grants to three multi-institutional, collaborative research projects. The BTFC’s primary goal is bridging the “translational gap” that can prevent promising laboratory findings from yielding new medical treatments. In...
Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

SARASOTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cuba’s sailing team has invited Sarasota Yacht Club (SYC) to participate in an offshore race near Havana, restoring a 70-year-old international tradition.

Citing the Sarasota club’s distinguished nautical heritage, the Hemingway International Yacht Club (HIYC) in Havana extended an invitation for U.S. boaters to compete in the Regatta Castillo del Morro, a 15-mile race from Marina Hemingway to the port of Havana and back.

The SYC sailing team, headed by Jay Meyer, recently applied to the U.S. government for permission to participate in the June 6th regatta. “We see this as a chance to renew friendships between two nations that once enjoyed spirited competitions,” said Meyer. “We have also been asked to help coach or train the l...

Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Many seniors are facing difficult financial choices due to Florida’s economic downturn. But maintaining good health should still be a priority, according to Pernille Ostberg, MBA, RPh, president and CEO of Matrix Home Care, www.matrixhomecare.com, a statewide home services firm.

“Whether you are taking care of a family member at home or using the services of a professional caregiver, it’s essential to be sure that economic conditions have not jeopardized the level of care,” said Ostberg.

Because financial pressures can affect a senior’s physical, mental or emotional state, Ostberg said family members should pay close attention to the early warning signs of health problems:

• A decrease in social activities, such as going o...
  Read the full news release on BusinessWire.com