Miami crime novel a nimble read

My friend and colleague John Lantigua has just had his new novel, On Hallowed Ground, published by Arte Publico Press. It brings back his Miami private eye Willie Cuesta, a former detective for the Miami Police Department who has a day job working for his brother?s nightclub as chief of security. Willie gets hired to [...]

Source: http://www.pbpulse.com/arts-and-culture/book-reviews-arts/2011/04/22/miami-crime-novel-a-nimble-read/

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Thanks to a full plate of funk and blues, the Earth moves for SunFest fans

More: Photos from SunFest | SunFest news A burst of exploding colors in the sky set to loud, pulsing classic rock and dance tunes signaled the end of the 29th edition of SunFest. But the several hours of music that preceded the fireworks show was arguably one of the best sets this year. With headliners [...]

Source: http://www.pbpulse.com/music/sunfest/2011/05/01/thanks-to-a-full-plate-of-funk-and-blues-the-earth-moves-for-sunfest-fans/

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Ben-Ezra & Katz to close foreclosure business, second South Florida firm to shut its foreclosure operations

The Fort Lauderdale-based Ben-Ezra & Katz law firm gave layoff notices today to 146 employees as it moves toward shutting down its foreclosure operations, a spokesman for the company confirmed. An additional 8 employees will be laid off from the firm?s title company.

The firm will remain open as a boutique real estate firm.

Earlier this year, the firm had nearly 600 employees, but has been decimated following the loss of foreclosure business from federal mortgage backer Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae fired the firm in February citing ?execution issues? in foreclosure proceedings.

The shutdown is the second collapse of a South Florida foreclosure law firm, following the March 31 closing of the Law Offices of David J. Stern.

A spokesman for Ben-Ezra & Katz said the firm intends to make an orderly transfer of all of its files to new foreclosure attorneys.

Chase Home Finance, which also cut ties with Ben-Ezra, was ordered by a judge earlier this month to pay a $4 million surety bond to get its foreclosure cases back. Ben-Ezra & Katz says Chase owes it $6.2 million in legal fees.

Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/realtime/2011/04/28/ben-ezra-katz-to-close-second-south-florida-foreclosure-firm-to-shut-its-doors/

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As temperature rises, greens fees dropping at local golf courses

Analysis: State parties positioning for next year's campaigns

Man killed in early morning shooting in West Palm Beach

One man was killed and a woman remains in critical condition after a shooting early Saturday morning that caused West Palm Beach Police to block off Village Boulevard from 45th Street to Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.

Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/man-killed-in-early-morning-shooting-in-west-1444800.html?cxtype=rss_crime_1341

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Twin-engine plane crashes into house outside Miami

Endeavour launch brings tourists, traffic to Fla.

Florida Space Coast hotels are sold out, residents are renting bedrooms and restaurants are doubling food supplies as thousands of tourists arriving for Friday's launch of space shuttle Endeavour are boosting a region fearing its economic future.

Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/travel/endeavour-launch-brings-tourists-traffic-to-fla-1440205.html?cxtype=rss_travel_5228

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PB County Clerk Sharon Bock in $ tug-of-war with soon-to-be-ex

Gigliotti with Bock

Gigliotti with Bock

Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Sharon Bock’s divorce got uglier.

Bock, 58, is alleging that her neighborhood activist husband of 14 years, Tony Gigliotti, broke into their marital home and stole furniture, jewelry, stemware and china, according to court papers.

Bock was out of town after changing the locks on the doors of the couple’s Palm Beach Shores home. When she returned, she called police although there was no arrest.

“Like every divorce in Palm Beach County, this is a very emotional divorce, and the parties are working through the emotions,” said James Green, Gigliotti’s lawyer. “He removed property he felt was his before the marriage.”

And in another recent filing, Bock also alleged that Gigliotti, the chairman of the politically powerful Singer Island Civic Association, tried to shield his ownership of a farm in North Florida. He claimed that his two adult children from a previous marriage are the rightful owners although Bock disputed that.

The silver lining: The popular, twice elected county clerk will do just fine financially without Gigliotti.

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According to her financial filing Bock, who ran a law practice before she was elected in 2004, lists about $4.4 million in real estate and investments, including: the $850,000-marital home on Singer Island, a $1.4 million-motel and the 162-acre hay farm in Suwannee County that Gigliotti claims is his.

And Gigliotti, according to the divorce file, wants a bigger share of the marital pie because he claims to have brought more money into the marriage than Bock.

Still Bock’s attorney, Melinda Gamot, says she is hopeful to be able to hammer out an agreement soon.

“I believe we can close the gaps between both of them fairly soon,” Gamot said.

Source: http://www.page2live.com/2011/03/29/pb-county-clerk-sharon-bock-in-tug-of-war-with-soon-to-be-ex/

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Charlie Sheen brings his ?Truth? to South Florida

More: Many Sheen fans at BankAtlantic Center unfazed by erratic behavior So it wasn’t the complete and utter train wreck I’d been expecting. Not that the “Violent Torpedo of Truth,” Charlie Sheen’s approximately 90-minute live grab bag of comedy, aggression, self-help and sparklingly unfiltered candor wrapped in catch phrases, was completely “winning.” It was, in [...]

Source: http://www.pbpulse.com/events/2011/04/24/charlie-sheen-brings-his-truth-to-south-florida/

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