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Forecast is down, but it only takes one
As expected, the National Hurricane Center on Tuesday forecast a slightly less active hurricane season than originally predicted. It now expects 12 to 15 named storms and seven to nine hurricanes. Three or four could carry winds of at least 111 mph. The May forecast was for 13 to 16 named storms, and eight to 10 hurricanes, four to six of which could become major. The season has produced three tropical storms and no hurricanes so far, but the busiest part of the season has just begun. Besides, all it takes is one big storm to make a bad season, said hurricane center director Max Mayfield. By the way, forecasters were watching an area of low pressure east of the Windward Islands they say could become a tropical depression soon.
A Cuban rum for American cocktails
A type of rum that fell victim to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba is for sale again in the States. Bacardi on Tuesday began shipping Havana Club, based on a recipe created by a family-owned Cuban company in 1935. It has been widely available around the world, though Bacardi says that version didn't follow the original recipe. "It's a hell of a rum," said 70-year-old Ramon Arechabala, whose great-grandfather concocted Havana Club. Bacardi bought the recipe and the name from the Arechabalas in 1994, and the rum was sold in the United States for three years before a legal battle stopped sales. It should be available in Florida this week.
Fewer sales of homes, but at higher prices
After reading about slumping property sales in Tuesday's St. Petersburg Times, Pinellas County Property Appraiser Jim Smith called to point out that prices are - unbelievably - still up in some areas. For example, sales of single family homes in South Pinellas dropped from 903 in July 2005 to 554 last month. The median price, however, rose from $175,000 to $180,000. But beach condo prices dropped from $545,000 to $475,000, along with sales that dropped from 180 in July 2005 to 33 last month. He expects a general decline in real estate prices in the coming months
Cable firm has naming rights to UCF stadium
The University of Central Florida Golden Knights will be the only public university football team to play in a corporate-sponsored school stadium. The name Bright House Networks Stadium - not to be confused with Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater - will cost the cable company $1-million a year for 15 years.