Greenbackville Fire Co. set to celebrate 50

Greenbackville Fire Co. set to celebrate 50

GREENBACKVILLE -- It's hard to be humble when you are so proud, but folks of the volunteer fire department here are doing their best.

The organization has hit a milestone and is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary of service to the community on Saturday.

The event will include a 10 a.m. memorial service at Union United Methodist Church, an 11:30 a.m. antique fire truck parade down Stockton Avenue, and children's events beginning at noon. Food and drinks will be sold.

At 1p.m. there will be a time capsule dedication and 1:30 p.m. fireman's olympics. The day will end with a 7 p.m. dance.

What makes this a special event is that the department has so many "down home" members who are second- and third-generation firefighters, close friends and neighbors in the community of about 230.

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Jon Crellin named General Manager at the Fairmont Hamilton ...

Jon Crellin named General Manager at the Fairmont Hamilton ...

Norman Mastalir, managing director, Bermuda and general manager at the Fairmont Southampton, announced the appointment of Jonathan Crellin to general manager of the historic Fairmont Hamilton Princess, effective October 23, 2006.

In this role, Mr. Crellin will manage the operation of this 410 room historic property, known as the 'Pink Palace.'

'We are delighted to have Jon Crellin as the general manager of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess,' said Mr. Mastalir. 'His background in marketing and operations at historic properties will provide the strategic direction to make this landmark hotel a tremendous success and one of the flagships for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. We are looking forward to welcoming him to the island.'

Mr. Crellin brings more than 20 years of experience to this position, including 10 years at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

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Classics Sailboat show biggest US event for Beneteau,

Classics Sailboat show biggest US event for Beneteau,

Streaking up to 19 knots in strong winds but comfortable enough to sleep six, this 50-foot yacht is designed as much for functionality as it is for pleasure.

And for about $600,000, it can be yours, says Garth Hichens, president and owner of Annapolis Yacht Sales.

His company is the leading sales force behind the First 50 and three other new models of the world's largest sailboat builder at the 37th annual United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, a highly publicized event that has become the international spot for manufacturers to show off new models.

Company officials say they will rely on Mr. Hichens and his team to repeat Beneteau's legacy as the show's No. 1 seller.

The five-day event that wraps up tomorrow is the Beneteau's largest show in North America, serving as the bellwether for sales in the coming year and drawing enthusiasts from every U.S.

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Catch some rays, save money

Catch some rays, save money Dominick Porretto Jr., a certified electrical contractor and owner of A National Electric Service Inc., recently installed 10 solar-powered panels on the roof of his building to help provide energy for his home/office in Pompano Beach. The SunPower-brand photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, will power part of his apartment's energy needs year round, even on cloudy days. The system would normally retail for about $8,600, Porretto said, after a rebate from the state. Despite the high initial cost of installing a photovoltaic power system, Porretto and other proponents of solar power think demand for these products will expand in South Florida and other parts of the state as people become aware of rebates now available from the state, the potential savings as power bills continue to rise and the "green" benefits of solar power.

Crime a growing pain in Santa Rosa County

Crime a growing pain in Santa Rosa County The growth in Santa Rosa County that is elevating property values and bringing added retail shopping opportunities also is fueling increased crime."The crime rate today is up. It's up 17 percent over last year at this time," Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall told the Central Santa Rosa Republican Club recently. "If we can come in with less than a 10 percent increase by the end of the year, I won't be happy, but I won't be quite as sad."Many categories of lawlessness have increased by double or even triple digits this year over last year. The number of calls for law enforcement service is up. Arrests have increased to the point where Hall believes the county jail may need to be expanded.The cause?"We're experiencing growth, and unfortunately, a certain percentage of those individuals who move in here won't play by the rules," Hall said.

DeSoto News Briefs RSVP for WWII veterans ceremony

DeSoto News Briefs RSVP for WWII veterans ceremony A ceremony to honor local World War II veterans will be hosted by DeSoto County Commissioners at the Arcadia Elks Lodge, 1028 W. Oak St., at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6. Any World War II veteran who now lives in DeSoto County or who has lived here previously is invited to call DeSoto County Public Information Coordinator Matt Holloman at 863-993-4800 to secure his or her place on the guest list. The tribute ceremony will include dinner, presentation of certificates, a live musical performance and an audiovisual show featuring photographs from the personal collections of local WWII veterans. A final guest list must be in place by Oct. 18, so veterans are urged to call Matt Holloman as soon as possible. Each veteran is welcome to bring one family member or friend for free. Additional loved ones wishing to attend will be asked to pay $15 for their meals.

USA. Luhrs names Edgewater Yacht Sales as new dealer for its ...

USA. Luhrs names Edgewater Yacht Sales as new dealer for its ...

Luhrs Corporation has announced that Edgewater Yacht Sales, LLC, of Pensacola, FL, will become a new retailer of its offshore fishing yachts for the Florida Panhandle and Coastal Alabama markets. Edgewater Yacht Sales is ideally located between Pensacola, FL, and Orange Beach, AL, on Perdido Key at the Oyster Bar Restaurant & Marina. Edgewater offers a 250-seat restaurant, 50-slip marina, in-water new yacht sales, brokerage and a marine service department. Edgewater Yacht Sales has a great location thats close to some fantastic fishing areas, said Don Smith, dealer development manager for Luhrs Corporation. Its employees are all serious fishermen so we expect to have a lot of success in the market. Since Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the marina facilities are new -- including decks, pilings, power and fuel -- and the restaurant has been remodeled.

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