Coral Gables Branch Library To Close For Electrical Upgrades

MIAMI,FL—The Coral Gables Branch Library will be closed from Thursday, December 3rd through Saturday, December 5, 2009 due to upgrades in the…

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Coral Gables Branch Library To Close For Electrical Upgrades

Cops to Reenact Shooting of Retired Miami Officer

It’s been nearly five months since retired cop Robert Yee was shot execution-style at a Miami marina, and police are still searching for his killer.

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Cops to Reenact Shooting of Retired Miami Officer

Basel on the beach: Containers give way to performance art (Miami Herald)

New is necessary in the art world. And so this year the beachfront at Collins Park, which had been home to Art Basel Miami Beach’s popular Art Containers exhibit of mini-galleries inside metal shipping containers, is bursting from its boxes.

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Basel on the beach: Containers give way to performance art (Miami Herald)

Take Your Pick of Miami’s Oceanfront Properties

Be honest.  When you think of Miami, you think of beach, right?  Beautiful blue waves softly lapping the white powdery sands.  

Looking at a map makes it seem like the beach runs forever in Miami.  It does.  However, most of the beach cannot support dwellings – literally.  Most of the land in South Florida is marshy swamp land and it’s difficult to find the appropriate building blocks for beach front homes.

If living on the water is a priority for you, you have a few options.  You can pay millions of dollars for a home that is really on the beach, or you can pay less for a home in the suburbs that is still on the water – a nice lake most likely.

Miami area lakes have many benefits as opposed to oceanfront property.  First and foremost, lake water doesn’t cause the damage that the ocean does during a storm or hurricane.  Considering that Miami has a six month rainy / hurricane season, this is certainly something to think about.

If the ‘burbs aren’t really your cup of tea, there are oceanfront properties always up for sale.  Many are palatial mansions, but most are condos in gorgeous high rise buildings where you have private beach rights and spectacular views. 

Just prepared to pay.   Adding “Miami Beach” to your address adds costs you never thought about!   House insurance is outrageous simply because it’s only a matter of time before your beautiful new home is demolished or heavily damaged by a storm.  Property taxes also have even the rich and famous almost fainting when the tax bills come in.  Ask your new neighbor about power outages and he’ll tell you where to have your new all house underground backup generator installed for about $40,000. 

If living on the beach is still your dream, you can usually have your pick of locations and buy according to your needs:  condo, house, corner, boat slip, easy access to airport – it’s all there for the taking…and big bucks.

 

 

 

Smile Gallery Sets South Florida Dentist Practice Apart From the Pack

“I have never seen a smile gallery as extensive as Smile South Florida’s and where the final result of every case is of such a high standard. “

Craig Galbraith
daVinci Dental Studios
ABC’s Extreme Makeover Dental Lab

Want to see the results produced by the professionals at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry? The proof is on the walls.

Nothing seems to show what a dental procedure can do for an individual like before-and-after photos.

With that in mind, Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry in Fort Lauderdale created a Smile Gallery to show patients the great results that can be achieved through cosmetic dentistry.

“It’s one thing to tell patients what we can do for them,” said Dr. Charles Nottingham, a cosmetic dentist who is the senior partner at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry. “It’s another thing to show them.”

Nestled within each elegant bronze frame that lines the newly renovated hallways, are two (8-inch x 10-inch) photos of patients’ smiles- one before photograph displaying their dental procedure and one after.

“The patients love it,” said Office Manager Marianne Taylor. “This was the best thing to ever happen because patients see these photos and seem to feel encouraged that they are going to leave here with their desired results.”

When Taylor discusses procedures such as laminates or porcelain veneers with patients, she can walk them through the hallway and point to a visual of how the completed procedures look.

Several types of procedures are featured in the Smile Gallery.

Congenital Malformation

It is not uncommon for people to be born without certain teeth. More than five percent of people lack upper second incisors or second premolars. One example of this in the Smile Gallery shows how a patient’s missing anterior teeth were restored using two fixed porcelain Lava Bridges. The premolars were restored with porcelain veneers.

Overlapped, Crowded and Crooked Teeth

Teeth that are overlapped, crowded or crooked can cause oral health problems, such as periodontal disease, cavities and uneven wear. One example pictured in the Smile Gallery shows how a patient’s smile was restored by placing porcelain crowns on the upper teeth to give the patient a straighter, wider smile than her original upper arch, which was too narrow and tilted inward.

Poorly Shaped Teeth

Photos in the Smile Gallery show how natural teeth that are oddly shaped and pointed in different directions can be improved with porcelain restorations.

Reverse Smile and Small Teeth

An imaginary line around the incisal edges of the upper front teeth should follow the superior border of the lower lip. This is called the “smile line.” When the centrals appear shorter than the canines, this is referred to as the “reverse smile line.” Smile Gallery photos show how this problem can be corrected by using porcelain veneers and crowns to create longer central teeth, a wider arch and improve the shape of the teeth.

Spaces, Stains and Failed Fillings

One dramatic Smile Gallery photo shows how proper fitting and anatomically correct porcelain crowns were used to close the spaces between teeth, decrease the flair of upper anterior teeth and re-contour the teeth.

“The Smile Gallery not only shows patients various types of dental improvements achieved through cosmetic dentistry, it gives patients confidence to follow through with suggested procedures”, Taylor said.

Taylor recalled a recent patient who was so self-conscious about her teeth; she feared showing them to the dentist. Once Taylor walked the patient through the smile gallery and showed her the ‘before’ pictures of several other patients, the woman felt less self-conscious.

“This woman thought she was going to be the absolute worst case the doctors had ever seen,” Taylor noted. “One trip through the Smile Gallery showed her this was not true.”

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and serve patients from Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Dr. Charles Nottingham

South Florida Dentist & Dentist in Florida, Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, is an internationally and nationally renowned cosmetic dentist. He has been creating dazzling, healthy smiles for his patients since 1974.

Miami Real Estate | Strike when the Iron is Cold

Purchasing property now in Miami is a gamble. You have got to have all the right cards. These include credit, capital, and long term security. Sure, these may sound obvious, but in today’s market, home sellers and the banks issuing loans are looking closely at potential investors. Real Estate is still a commodity. People are just taking a higher level of morality and opportunism to it. If you are in the market to buy, be sure to work with a trusted real estate professional. Then, if all the cards are right, you can bet on a big win.

First-time buyers and investors snapped up low-priced properties last month, but their added interest was not enough to boost sales of previously owned homes in the South, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

April’s slide was significant because it follows an 8 percent annual drop in March. Low mortgage rates and the economic stimulus package have not been enough to offset job losses and other economic worries.

Meanwhile, discounted foreclosures sales kept pushing down prices in much of the South, where the median sales price slid almost 13 percent to $148,000, the Realtors group said. Nationally, April sales of existing homes declined 4.6 percent year-over-year, without adjusting for seasonal factors, while median sales prices fell more than 15 percent to $170,200.

Lawrence Yun, the Realtors’ group chief economist, said most of the sales were lower-priced homes, the entry point for first-time buyers. Rookies made up about 40 percent of the national market, lured by low mortgage rates and an $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers that’s set to expire Nov. 30.

Still, “high-end home sales remain sluggish” because it is more difficult to get financing, Yun said. Also, the amount of existing homes available for sale rose almost 9 percent from March, representing a 10-month supply at the current sales pace.

April sales increased from last year in just four of 20 the Southern metro areas covered by The Associated Press-Re/Max Housing Report — Washington D.C. and the Florida cities of Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Transactions have increased for three straight months in the four cities, and the market likely has hit bottom in terms of sales there.

Of the 20 cities, median sales prices fell in all but two of them — Tulsa, Okla., and Little Rock, Ark., the AP-Re/Max report showed.

The AP-Re/Max report, released Wednesday, analyzes all home sales recorded by all real estate agents, regardless of company affiliation, in the metropolitan statistical areas.

Throughout the South, low prices mean good deals for buyers and a strategy change for sellers.

“A lot of sellers who weren’t absolutely forced to sell have finally come to the realization that prices are indeed down and have brought their prices down to Earth,” said Bill Weaver, real estate professor at the University of Central Florida. “Reality is beginning to seep in.”

Meanwhile, cash-carrying investors have begun snapping up Florida properties with the goal of renting them out, Weaver said. These investors are different from the wave of speculators who used subprime mortgages to buy homes during the housing boom with the goal of reselling them for a quick profit.

So there you have it, Miami’s real estate market is either ripe for opportunity or a place to avoid all together. It just depends with whom you are working and if your capital, credit and security is in order.

Indiana Pacers Basketball Tickets – Come Watch the Pacers Make a Run for the Playoffs

Fans who bought Indiana Pacers basketball tickets for the 2006-2007 season were disappointed with the team’s performance. The Pacers did not make it to the playoffs. The team has got a new head coach now- Jim O’Brien. Furthermore, the team has strengthened its roster by adding Travis Diener and Kareem Rush. So fans are hoping that the Pacers go on to win the 2008 NBA championship.

Home Ground

The Indiana Pacers have been playing their home games at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1999. Before that they used to play at the Market Square Arena. Fieldhouse is a state-of-the-art facility which can sit around 18,350 people for a basketball game. The Pacers wear navy blue, gold, silver, and white as their colors. Boomer and Bowser are the team’s mascots.

Brief History

Indiana Pacers joined the NBA in 1976. Initial years were full of struggle. However, after a decade of poor show, the Pacers finally became a very competitive basketball team in the Eastern Conference of the Central Division. The period between 1994 and 2000 were especially good for the Pacers and Indiana Pacers basketball tickets. During this period the Pacers made it to five Conference Finals, won two Central Division titles and even made it to the NBA Finals in the year 2000.

Reggie Miller And Larry Bird

One player who constantly delivered for the Pacers during this period was Reggie Miller. He is one of the NBA’s all time greats. He is also one of the best three-point shooters in all of basketball history. Miller was good news for the Indiana Pacers basketball tickets. However, we cannot ignore the contributions of Larry Bird also. Bird became the head coach for the Pacers in the year 1997. During his very first season with the Pacers he guided the team to 58 wins against 24 losses. For his efforts he was awarded the Coach of the Year Award that same year. In his third year as coach, the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals.

Presently Larry Bird is the team’s President. Bird is known as the greatest player to come out of Indiana. In 2003, Bird hired Rick Carlisle to coach the Pacers. Carlisle was responsible for retaining Jermaine O’Neal and Ron Artest in the Pacers. The Pacers finished the 2003-2004 season with 61-21 score. Furthermore, both O’Neal and Artest made the All-Star team. Artest also got the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award that season.

Players like, O’Neal and Artest had a positive effect on the sale of the Indiana Pacers basketball tickets. Jim O’Brien will be coaching the team in 2007-2008 season. They would be up against some stiff competition with Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat.

2007-2008 season is going to be full of action, Pacers are working hard on their game. You can buy Indiana Pacers basketball tickets online and be there in person to support the team. Tickets sold through online ticket brokers are priced above the face value; however, if you take time to shop around you can find a good deal. Yet, you must take care to only deal with authorized ticket brokers because you surely would not want to be stuck with fake tickets.

Miami Beach Oceanfront Condos On Sale To A Growing Target Audience

It is not difficult at all to find Miami Beach oceanfront condos on sale these days, and there are many reasons for this. Firstly, these development properties are going up quickly, and are vastly replacing many of the older and less modern complexes which used to dot the sands. These newer and more posh digs are trendy, spacious, and heavily in demand for anyone who wants close proximity to the beautiful ocean and all of its splendor. Folks from all over the world flock to Miami Beach to scoop up investment, vacation, secondary, and dream home deals. Are you thinking about this pampered, privileged, sunny lifestyle, too?

More and more families are headed toward the Miami Beach oceanfront condos on sale in this area, and this has spiked some new tax revenue for the city. Moreover, those families who want to live maintenance free, which equals out to less time and work spent toiling in the yard, are finding oceanfront condo life to be rather appealing. The busy lives of working families are made much easier, more convenient, and far more interesting in the luxury high-rise complex situation of today.

Keep in mind that when you do find Miami Beach oceanfront condos on sale, the returns on your investment are bound to be well worth the commitment of hanging on to for a few years. Even quick turn-around investments are doing well along the coast, and this is expected to better over time. In other words, there is little risk when purchasing oceanfront condo or single family residencies here, and the benefits are enormous. Townhouses, apartments, and residential towers have been here for decades, proving that this is the favored and sought after way of life for the Miami crowd.

While your checking out some Miami Beach oceanfront condos on sale, be sure that the amenities offered are the type that will make your experience worth while. If pool lounging is your idea of the best pass time, be sure that the onsite pools are a place where you can imagine yourself relaxing. If working out is your cup of tea, do a thorough inspection of these facilities. And if you don’t cook, you are bound to find a complex which offers catering and room service as well as a restaurant of two. Have fun with your search, as you are sure to find exactly what you want and need here.

Good Morning. Barack Obama Says He Would Ease Cuba Restrictions. Do You Think That Is A Good Idea?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/el…

EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday called the Bush administration’s decision to tighten restrictions on relatives of Cubans who want to visit the island or send money home strategic blunders and promised to reverse the measures if elected.
The Illinois senator leapt into the long-running and often bruising debate over U.S.-Cuba policy with an op-ed piece published in The Miami Herald.
“The primary means we have of encouraging positive change in Cuba today is to help the Cuban people become less dependent on the Castro regime in fundamental ways,” Obama wrote.
“Unfortunately, the Bush administration has made grand gestures to that end while strategically blundering when it comes to actually advancing the cause of freedom and democracy in Cuba,” he added.

Who Are The Best Pediatricians In Miami, Fl — Specifically Kendall Area, 33176 And Why?

I need a good pediatrician for my 6 week old daughter — hate my current pediatrician! Also, if anyone knows of any holistic doctors in Kendall, 33176 area, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!!

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