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Letter to the editor

Local companies have ties to moon launch

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 17, 2007

DUNEDIN - ALICE, an optical instrument designed by Ocean Optics of Dunedin, will be aboard a NASA spacecraft bound for the moon next year in its search for water beneath the moon's surface, according to a company announcement Thursday.

The mission will send a rocket crashing into the moon with an impact expected to generate a 2.2-million pound plume of matter. A second spacecraft carrying ALICE will measure the reflectivity of the plume as it rises into the sunlight, allowing scientists to distinguish between water vapor, water ice and other materials.

In developing ALICE, Ocean Optics has been working with Aurora Design & Technology of Clearwater, the company developing the reflectance viewing optics for the mission.

To survive the harsh conditions of the lunar mission, ALICE has been designed to withstand significant shock and vibration and extreme temperature ranges.

The mission is scheduled to launch in October next year from Kennedy Space Center. The spacecraft will orbit the Earth twice before striking the moon's south pole in January 2009.

This is Ocean Optics' second NASA collaboration. Another of its custom-engineered spectrometers will be part of the 2009 ChemCam Mars mission to study rock and soil composition of the red planet.

Ocean Optics, with headquarters at 380 Main St., is a leading supplier of optical sensing solutions. With branch offices in Asia and Europe, the company has sold more than 90,000 spectrometers worldwide since 1989.

The company also develops chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, optical fibers, thin films and optics used for medical and biological research, environmental monitoring, science education and entertainment lighting and display. Ocean Optics is part of the Halma Group of safety and detection companies. For more on Ocean Optics, visit www.oceanoptics.com.

Aurora Design & Technology, based at 13575 58th St. N, provides high-quality domestic outsourcing for optical, mechanical, software and system designs. For more on this company, visit www.aurora designtech.com.

Badcock's Home Now adjoins retail store

W.S. Badcock Corp. celebrated the opening this week of its newest Home Now rent-to-own store and the first to be located beside one of its leading retail stores.

The 7,927-square-foot store at 890 Missouri Ave. N joins operations in Tampa, Cocoa and the company's flagship Home Now store that opened two years ago in Clearwater.

Sabrina Rakowski, who has 14 years of management experience, will manage the Largo store and its four other employees.

Badcock is based in Mulberry, where the company was established in 1904. It has more than 330 retail locations in seven states that offer a full range of furniture, bedding, appliances, electronics, accessories and floor coverings.

Business seminars, classes, assistance

A free seminar on "Ten Steps to Starting a Small Business" will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E Lemon St. The program is presented by members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives SCORE. Registration is required and can be done by calling the library at (727) 943-4922.

SCORE members offer free counseling to small-business owners who want to grow their enterprise. Members are experienced in management, marketing, sales, manufacturing, human resources and finance.

- Pinellas County Business Development Center, 13805 58th St. N, Suite 1-200, in the Icot Business Center near Largo. Programs are free and meet from noon to 2 p.m. To speak with a business counselor or register for classes and seminars, call (727) 453-7200.

Small-Business Lending Fair: Aug. 28. Meet more than 25 loan officers experienced in small business. Lunch will be provided.

How to Start a Business meets every Wednesday. The introductory workshop offers information on how to conduct feasibility studies and develop business plans, how to obtain licenses and permits to be a legal business in Pinellas County and more. Advance registration requested. Members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) will give a free seminar at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Understanding Entrepreneurship meets the first Thursday of each month. Find out if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur and discover the challenges and rewards of owning your own business. Evaluate your business acumen.

Understanding Accounting and Tax Procedures meets the second Thursday of each month. The seminar is designed to help small-business owners understand proper record keeping and accounting methods to satisfy federal and state requirements for taxes and payrolls.

Marketing Your Small Business meets the third Thursday of each month.

Financing Your Business meets the fourth Thursday of each month.

- Business Assistance Center at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. Meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and also from 5 to 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For an appointment, call (727) 784-4287.

The center provides information on starting and growing a business in Pinellas County. Assistance includes business plan development, permitting, zoning, government-regulations information and more. The business assistance specialist also provides information to assist local companies looking to export their products and foreign companies wanting to establish operations in Pinellas County.

News of businesses and business people can be faxed to the Business Digest at 445-4119, e-mailed to cosdon@sptimes.com or mailed to Business Digest, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. We are interested in new and unusual businesses, promotions, expansions, commercial sales and major new contracts. Photos can be mailed or e-mailed by jpeg file

[Last modified August 16, 2007, 20:34:54]