Vol. 14 No. 21 Thursday, August 8, 2002 NewsObserver@netscape.net
Armstrong Chiropractic opens new clinic
By AUTUMN SMITH
Unfortunately this program was to take place about the same time as Hurricane Andrew devastated south Florida. Soon thereafter there was a congressional budget cut for the Air Force and in 1992 he was cut. Remembering how he was helped by the chiropractor he saw during his time as an Air Force pilot, Armstrong decided to go to school to become a chiropractor. Since he grew up in Brevard County, he decided to return home to open his own practice.
Street resurfacing announcement
This is the City's third phase of paving for fiscal year 2001 - 02 and includes the paving of three miles of City streets. By Sept. 9, the City will have completed 6.5 miles for this fiscal year. Last year the City paved over 10 miles under this repaving program.
OP-EDLife after cableIt goes on. And the quality of life improves as well.I know because those of us who subscribe to Benchmark in North Brevard have been in the dark for almost a week. We're back to rabbit ears and the original ABC, CBS, and NBC networks. When the TV went dark I thought of the remark made by Malcolm Muggeridge who said, "I have had my television aerials removed. It's the moral equivalent of a prostrate operation." First a little background on the company in trouble up here serving subscribers north of SR 46 in the rural communities of Mims and Scottsmoor (called SKIMS by the old locals) who consider themselves hearty pioneers, and who city dwellers refer to as rednecks - neither description entirely accurate. For the benefit of the subscribers who don't know what happened and the county commission who granted this rotten franchise to prevent a monopoly situation - not permitting residents to enjoy the superior service of Time Warner, the company problems began over two years ago Scientific-Atlanta Inc. was so eager to sell set-top boxes to Adelphia (the parent company of Benchmark, located on US 1 at the intersection of Glenn Road)that it offered to advance the cable-TV operator $216 a box to help market a new digital service. These days, the deal doesn't look so enticing. Scandal- ridden Adelphia acknowledged that it never spent the marketing money - using it instead to reduce reported expenses. Today, with Adelphia in Chapter 11 reorganization, Scientific-Atlanta will have a tough time collecting the more than $80 million Adelphia owes it. Others affected by the downfall is Walt Disney Company, which sells Adelphia its ESPN sport programming, will see its cash flow cut by $50 million bucks as a result of the bankruptcy. And it isn't just the suppliers who will feel the ripples of the bankruptcy. Rival cable operators have been under pressure since Adelphia said it hadn't disclosed some $3 billion in off-balance sheets to the company's founders, members of the Rigas family. The Rigas family: a bunch of New Jersey sheisters who favor silk Italian suits and white ties and who chum around in Jersey and South Philly restaurants looking for the best pasta and cabbage rolls. They took their profits off the top and middle, leaving little at the bottom. Another sign of the lack of integrity of U.S. corporate accounts. Although it is reported that no other cable companies have been accused of similar shenanigans, Adelphia's meltdown - and now World Com's problems - has left investors wary o' debt . Despite the troubles, media and technology companies still covet Adelphia's 5.7 million subscribers in Los Angeles and Florida - and elsewhere. Anticipating that Adelphia will sell some of its choice systems (assuming North Brevard is one of them) or get money from the courts to keep operating. So why do a deal with a sinking company you ask? Some believe if they're long-term contracts with time to run on them, the bankruptcy court could keep them in effect when those systems are sold off or restructured. This could be wishful thinking and there could be more surprises as independent board members investigate the Rigas family deals. So, this is the background, and subscribers up here don't know what to expect. I know that all calls I've made to the company office have been unanswered. Perhaps it's time for our County Commissioner, Truman Scarborough to look into it. I remember when all we had was the three networks, who stood virtually alone. Today there are over 100 national services of various kinds, with more coming - pressing on regardless if they see a buck to be made, or an investor to screw. This new crop of networks serving niche markets is the big news in cable. We have a comedy network, consumer-business news, and, ironically, and appropriately - a science-fiction network. The only thing I miss now is the government channel, which up here was on channel 51 - 99 in the big city to our south. Today, cable TV is available in about 67 percent of American homes and is projected to reach 75 percent within a very few years. The average cable user has more than 60 choices, but many more with satellite systems. And a napkin -size dish is what Sue and I may invest in in the future. At least I can pick of the several golf channels offered. The one thing I missed last Sunday was the golf games. It changed my entire MO for the day. I plugged in the record player, pushed in some old Sinatra tapes, collected my tools and cleaning material and embarked on some long-neglected household projects. It was a good feeling not being captive to the tube. It kept my mind focused on the important things, not who took home a bag of cash in the Stapleford tournament. And the withdrawal did not require methadone. It was a day of accomplishment and fulfillment. And since the sets (all six of them) went dark last week I've been catching up on my reading. I've finished John Grisham's A Painted House and am completing the very interesting The Shelters of Stone, by Jean Auel. I hadn't read her stuff since The Clan of the Cave Bear, and decided it was worth more of my time than watching reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies. My one concern is the start of the professional football season, but I suspect the problem up here will be resolved by then. In the meantime I'm catching up on all my renovation, remodeling, and fix up projects. My wife Sue's only question was, "What are you going to do when you run out of things to do.?" Fat chance of that! Around this house I'm still finding armadillo holes to fill and assassinating fire ants by the millions. But wait until all my painting projects begin. I can't wait. A perfect golf club?Riiiight. I'll believe it when I see it , and maybe not then.There isn't a week that goes by that someone isn't touting the worlds "greatest" golf stick. It's usually utility clubs, or putters, but now it is what the creators call the "perfect" golf club. A press release calls golf's most thrilling shot the long, high, straight one into the heart of the green. Also golfs most illusive shot I should add. But not any more says Peter Kessler, known for his gig on the Golf Channel. This guy believes it is the most versatile and easiest club ever made to hit long, high shots. Kessler has a passion for the game, including a recurring dream to find a club that not only is incredibly easy to strike great shots with, but also makes you play your other clubs better and with more confidence. Kessler has spent years working with the world's greatest teachers in an effort to help recreational players improve their game and his involvement with this new club is an extension of that theme. The Perfect Club replaces the 5 and 7 wood (or metal) all utility clubs and long irons. It has a shorter shaft than the clubs it replaces, is slightly more upright and puts the player into their most athletic set-up position. Shots struck with this club consistently fly higher and farther than balls with the clubs it replaces, says Kessler, and it does deliver this height and distance from even the most horrendous and challenging lies. "It's designed to make you feel as if you're about to hit your favorite short-iron, yet the distance and height that you achieve is the kind you wish your fairway woods and utility clubs would deliver. By the way, this club is available in graphite, steel, ladies and lefties. Also claimed is that it is the easiest club to hit great shots with from 180 to 225 yards of any club you ever played. There is no 'lie' it can't handle. Well, unless this claim is the real 'lie', we old geezers who hack around with handicaps in the 20's range have heard it all before. My question is always the same: If it is what it's claimed to be why aren't the pros using it on tour? I also suspect that this wonder club will retail in the $600 to $800 range, although it was not stated. I could find a good used set of Pings for the price of this one club. The one to ask about this is Chuck Cudgel or some others in the local pro shops and golf stores and see if they have any information they would like to share. I think I already know the answer....
By BOB SOCKS GamblingA survey by Roper Reports and the U.S. Gaming Panel said about 2.32 million Floridians age 21 or older gambled at a casino in 2001.According to the survey, based on two nationwide studies commissioned by Las Vegas casino operator Harrah's Entertainment, Miami/Fort Lauderdale served 594,000 casino gamblers in 2001, with a total of 2.31 million casino trips for an average of 3.9 visits a year per person. The next highest raw numbers in the state were Tampa/St.Petersburg/Sarasota with 428,000 casino gamblers in 2001. Orlando served 341,000 casino gamblers in 2001, for a total of 888,000 casino visits, or an average of 2.6 annual visits. Gary Loveman, Harrah's President and chief operating officer, said the Florida numbers show a pent-up demand. "There are significant gambling dollars being spent out-of-state by Florida players," said Loveman. "If Florida chooses to expand casino gambling opportunities, it could generate needed tax revenues, jobs and capital investment simply by recapturing this spending." City of Titusville License Report (Business), July 2002Total licenses issued—26Breakdown as follows: Home Based business-14; Physicians-3; Lounge/Restaurant - 1; Office Admin. Services-1; Lessors of non-residential buildings-1; Real Estate Agent-2; Group Home- 1; Janitorial/Commercial-1; Building Contractor, Class II-1; Special Event Vendor- 1; Real Estate Transactions
Government Economic Report–July 2002-Sixth Districk of the U.S. (Southeastern U.S.)–Economic activity was "sluggish", marked by continued weakness in business travel, auto sales below year-ago levels and retailers reporting weakening sales in early July. Retail store owners, however, anticipated sales in the third quarter would outpace the level seen a year ago. Manufacturing activity was mixed as apparel factories reported weak demand while car-parts suppliers said they were swamped with orders. Tourism was down in Miami, but cruise ships continued to set sail at full capacity without offering discounts. Feeling PainWhich areas of the country have been hit the hardest by the prolonged stock market slump (bear market)? States with the largest losses in shareholder wealth per household from the peak of the Wilshire 5000 on March 24, 2000 through Friday, July 26, 2002.
Strictly my opinionRiveredge Drive in South Titusville, south of the Holiday Inn is not your normal street of dreams. There is quite a bit of controversy regarding the future of that street regarding building, units per acre, size of units to be built, ingress/regress from the area, etc. The residents of that street are very particular as to what they want, the city is not sure, and the developer wants to put 15-20 units per acre on his property. He wants to build 1,500 sq. ft. condos, with all the amenities, and spruce up the street a bit.I drove down the street and this is what I see. Heading south from the Holiday Inn, there are four 3-story townhouses which are in dior need of refurbishment (paint), 10 moderate priced townhomes in the $100K area, 6 luxury townhomes, very expensive and well maintained. Then as you drive south there is a shack or two, 9 homes, some maintained, some need attention, one super luxury home, a women's prison, completely surrounded by chain link fence, a restaurant (formerly Harold's) that just recently re-opened, a biker bar, a junk marina that is a real mess, and then the Ackley project that is a guarded gate community with For Sale signs and no sign of any activity at all. If I lived on that street, I would welcome anything new, anything that would spruce up the street. 1,500 sq. ft condos are not that small, in fact they are probably larger than the average home in Titusville. I am beginning to wonder if Economic Development is still the number one priority in the city. If not, it's time to place this item back on top because I feel we are giving our potential developers to hard a time, and I fear they will leave, as they have in the past. AMTRAK—Too many accidents... not enough cars... Amtrack is the summer nightmare, with accidents every week, people injured or dead, passenger cars destroyed by the dozens, no money to operate, safety problems galore, demoralized employees and a very dim future. What to do? Do not expand. Reduce routes, lay off employees, slow down, re-vamp the entire organization, and begin to build confidence with the American public if possible. And to Titusville City officials – please do not start building the station, the train will not be arriving at the station. Quote of the Week:"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone."– John Maynard Keynes, Economist
 Ken's Used Books is celebrating 10 years in business and want to thank their friends and customers for their continued patronage. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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