WCI SUED
>> WCI Communities Inc. (NYSE: WCI) and its subsidiary The Resort at Singer Island Properties Inc.(RSI) have been named in a class action lawsuit alleging that they violated securities laws. The complaint, filed on behalf of residents of the Resort of Singer Islands in Palm Beach, says the company and RSI did not register the offering of the 239 resort units with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A statement issued by WCI denies the allegations: “The company and RSI believe that the charges are without merit and intend to vigorously defend themselves.”

BUSINESS OFFICE
>>The City of Cape Coral has launched an initiative to provide rent-free office and classroom space to Business Industry Services (BIS), a state-funded agency implemented through the Lee County School District. BIS offers business training courses to local employers and employees. Until recently, BIS offered its services through High Tech North. When the facilities at High Tech North became unavailable, the Cape Coral Economic Development Office proposed that BIS use half of a modular unit occupied by Florida Gulf Coast University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which also occupies the city space rent-free. The Cape Coral City Council approved the BIS move last week.

BANK PROFITS
>>Orion Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Orion Bank, has reported a 2007 profit of $26 million and return on equity of 21 percent. Comparable figures for 2006 were not provided. As of Dec 31, total assets were $2.7 billion, up $126 million over the same period a year ago. Total loans grew to more than $2 billion in 2007.

TOP HOSPITAL
>>The NCH Healthcare System has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the country’s top five percent of hospitals, according to an independent study of mortality and complication rates released by HealthGrades, a healthcare ratings company. The NCH Healthcare System achieved HealthGrades’ 2008 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence based on its clinical quality performance.

DENTAL CENTER
>>CHS Healthcare’s Countryside Dental Center will open on Wednesday at 1749 Heritage Trail in east Naples.

BANK BRANCH OPENS
>>Naples-based Hillcrest Bank Florida (www.hcbfl.com) has openeda full-service banking office in the WCI Design Center at 24201 Walden Center Drive in Bonita Springs. It is the bank’s first location in south Lee County. The 3,700-square-foot office is managed by David Freeland, vice president and branch manager; Butch Manley, vice president of business development; and Vivian Duryea-Shea, vice president of cash management.

HEADING TO VEGAS
>>Robb & Stucky Interiors (www.robbstucky.com)will open a 90,000-square-foot showroom at the Town Square Las Vegas early this month. The showroom will feature lifestyle vignettes rather than gallery merchandising by manufacturer or furnishing type. About 9,000 square feet will be dedicated to outdoor living displays, approximately the same space devoted to merchandise in the company’s free-standing patio locations in other markets.

TOWN OF BIG CYPRESS
>>Collier Enterprises has submitted a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) application to Collier County and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council for the Town of Big Cypress, the company’s community proposed for eastern Collier County. Collier Enterprises plans to create varied residential neighborhoods as well as jobs, shopping, healthcare, schools, civic and cultural activities, and recreation. The application outlines plans for development of about 2,800 acres over a period of 12 to 15 years. Big Cypress will include approximately 9,000 residential units.

PUBLIX AT AVE MARIA
>>Publix has signed a lease at the town of Ave Maria (www.avemaria.com). Permitting is now in process and a tentative opening is planned in the fourth quarter of this year. The 28,000-square-foot store will be one block east of the Town Center. It’s expected to create roughly115 new jobs.

AIA PRESIDENT
>> Keith Gilbert, an architect with Architectural Network Inc., has been named the 2008 president of the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) Southwest Florida Chapter. Gilbert has been a member of AIA since 2005 and has served as secretary, vice-president/treasurer and design conference chairman. In 2006, he was named the Individual of the Year for the AIA Southwest Florida Chapter. Gilbert earned his bachelor of science degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., and his master of architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

CASA YBEL GM
>>Froilan Ramirez Jr. has been named general manager of Sanibel Island’s Casa Ybel Resort . He will manage all aspects of the resort, including communications between the board of directors, owners, guests, associates and the community. Ramirez began in the housekeeping department at Casa Ybel in 1955 and was most recently resort manager and director of operations and revenue management.

LAW FIRM STOCKHOLDER
>>Attorney Scott A. Beatty has become a stockholder with the law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt (www.henlaw.com). Beatty concentrates his practice in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, including business torts, real estate litigation, construction and lien law litigation, contract disputes, collections and foreclosures as well as securities litigation and arbitration. Scott received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and his law degree from the University of Miami.

FLORIDA BAR LEADERSHIP
>>Jessica L. Thomas, Florida director of administration and marketing for the Roetzel & Andress (www.ralaw.com) law firm, has been elected to serve as an affiliate at-large on the executive council of the General, Solo & Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar. The section provides its members with a forum for the exchange of ideas and information essential to the improvement of the quality of legal services and the economics of law practice.

Weekly stock performance
>>Southwest Florida publicly traded companies

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