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American Free Enterprise - Some Thoughts
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 10.15.2009 / 7:21 AM PDT
Our Chamber of Commerce mission is to, “Create and maintain an environment where business and community will prosper.” While that is a fairly generic statement that can be applied to most other Chambers the implication is that economic development is a big portion of a Chamber’s reason to be.
Sometimes we forget about the power […]
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No closure on Healthcare - The same for State Politics
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 09.03.2009 / 2:21 PM PDT
Last week here in Clermont, Florida Republican Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite held a couple of Town Meetings on the healthcare legislation making its way through the US Congress. No fireworks here although Minneola City Hall overflowed with over 700 people attending from around the district. Click here or copy and paste to see part […]
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“Tranquility Base, Houston - The Eagle has Landed.”
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 07.20.2009 / 7:35 AM PDT
I remember vividly July 20, 1969. It was a beautiful Sunday in Batavia, (upstate) NY. My dad, who was a space exploration fanatic, was glued to the TV most of the day. I sat down only as I heard that the lunar module was getting close to landing. I recall being a bit antsy […]
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Healthcare - Upfront and Personal
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 06.22.2009 / 8:28 AM PDT
After going through the ordeal of major surgery for prostate cancer recently, the issue of healthcare delivery is fresh in my mind. Until you have been forced by serious illness to deal with it head on, you can’t appreciate that old saying, “There but for the grace…”
There have been times in the past eight […]
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Florida looking for some wins, not wind…
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 06.02.2009 / 9:30 AM PDT
June 1 marks the start of hurricane season in Florida, not for the University of Miami Hurricanes mind you, but the full blown real force of wind, rain, and material destruction.
The State of Florida has taken a big financial gamble on whether or not we get hit with a big one. Between private insurers […]
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The Chrysler bankrupcy comes home in Clermont
Posted by Ann Dupee | 05.20.2009 / 9:08 PM PDT
Even though we are “empty nesters” and many do not still operate businesses, they are horrified about the story of the Dodge – Isuzu dealer in Melbourne on the East Coast of the state.
Our local dealer survived the closure orders since he sells Chrysler – Dodge – Jeep, but the Melbourne dealer (second generation) has […]
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A Lighter Shade of Pale
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 04.30.2009 / 9:20 AM PDT
The South Lake Chamber hosts its annual golf outing tomorrow AM. Golf outings proliferate in our Central Florida communities, but across the board the number of golfers are down and committees and organizations running them struggle to find sponsors, advertisers, “goody bag” door prizes, and volunteers to help run them as our economy continues […]
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Worries about government control
Posted by Ann Dupee | 03.20.2009 / 10:54 AM PDT
Spent time Wednesday with a couple (Empty Nesters from the north) that started a successful mortgage company here a dozen years ago. They both work hard and have one employee. They do lots of business in The Villages 45 minutes north of here, a retirement community of 70,000 residents that straddles three counties.
I asked if […]
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Thoughts on Obama’s speech from Clermont
Posted by Ann Dupee | 02.25.2009 / 2:48 AM PST
The “empty nesters” community of Clermont has many retired residents. Many come from states from Michigan east maintain two homes, coming here for the winter and returning “home” for the summer. Local taxes and residency requirements may dictate how long they stay in each locality An example, my parents had primary residency in Washington State […]
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CENTRAL FLORIDA (Orlando) UPDATE
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 02.03.2009 / 9:31 AM PST
Lake County, Florida now has an 8.5 percent unemployment rate and it is not even the highest in Central Florida. It will surely go to 9 percent in next few months and some say even higher. I am hoping we are closer to the bottom rather than in free fall.
A recent study by the economist, […]
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The inauguration through the eyes of Clermont
Posted by Ann Dupee | 01.19.2009 / 12:27 PM PST
One Clermont empty nester is excited to be in Washington, DC. Daniel Keel, 86, a 10-year resident of our adult Kings Ridge community, is one of the remaining members of the historic World War II Tuskegee Airmen group invited to the inauguration. The Tuskegee Airmen, who trained at a segregated airbase in Tuskegee, Alabama, were […]
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Looking for some hope in the new year
Posted by Ann Dupee | 01.01.2009 / 9:39 PM PST
Seeing mixed actions here in Empty Nesters.
Lake County unemployment figures for Lake County have hit 8%. Hope we do not reach the 12% we experienced in the early 80’s recession. That was not nice. Lake County seems to hit the region’s highest unemployment first and recover last because we are not diversified in industry and […]
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The Final Roundup
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 11.06.2008 / 9:20 AM PST
As the dust has settled on the historic Presidential election of 2008, here is a final update from the “Emptying Nests” patch of our crazy quilt geography.
Lake County, Florida just outside Orlando went to John McCain by 56% - 43%. In 2004 it was 60% - 39% for George W. Bush over John […]
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It’s down to the real numbers game.
Posted by Ray San Fratello | 10.31.2008 / 9:03 AM PDT
In the “battleground” state of Florida, Governor Charlie Crist extended early voting hours in the waning days before the “real” election day, going from 9 AM to 5 PM to 7 AM to 7 PM, as a record turnout has taken place in Florida’s 67 counties. Over 1.2 million have voted as of this […]
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The view from Clermont
Posted by Ann Dupee | 10.23.2008 / 9:34 AM PDT
Latest count in the Presidential Poll at the House of Presidents in Clermont is 693 for Senator McCain, 677 for Senator Obama, 118 for Senator Clinton and 48 for others. Remember you go by and cast your vote in the lobby if you have not already done so.
Robo calls have not started here, at least […]
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