DETROIT, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit has received full payment on its investment in the One Kennedy Square building and other key properties are seeing stable returns and record occupancies, a report shows.

Just a few years ago when renovation or construction of new commercial projects was planned in Detroit few banks would lend and investments made by the Police and Fire Retirement System have resulted in stable returns, full reimbursements to the Pension Fund with the added benefit of increased occupancy and building density in Detroit.

"The Police and Fire Retirement System is proud of its record of investing in commercial properties within the City of Detroit," said Chairman Matt Gnatek. "All six of the commercial properties in our Targeted Investment Fund are generating good yields and the entire $3 million loan made to the One Kennedy Square project has been repaid in full. No other pension system has made these types of investments to help grow businesses in the City."

Gnatek commented on a report titled the Detroit Targeted Investment Fund that provides up to $25 million of revolving loans prior to the loan repayment from One Kennedy Square. Many of the development projects, he noted, could not have been done without financing from the Fund. The investment report was prepared by Alex Brown Realty, Inc. and presented to the Board by advisor Marty West at a recent meeting.

"For a long time one of the few capital sources available to developers in the City of Detroit was the Police and Fire Pension Fund," said West. "They had a plan to help stimulate growth in key areas of the city and it has resulted in performing loans and nearly fully occupied office and apartment buildings."

The PFRS invested in the Kales Building, One Kennedy Square, Lafer Building, Union at Midtown, Beethoven Apartments and the College Park Medical Building all within the City of Detroit. The pension fund is receiving a minimum interest rates ranging from 7.25 percent to 8.5 percent.

"The Police and Fire Pension Board has taken a lot of heat for so-called bad investments," said Gnatek. "While there have been some isolated projects that went awry, the vast majority even with the benefit of hindsight were excellent investments for financial reasons and to help build density in the core city areas and underserved areas of the City and that was exactly what the intent of these investments were at a time when no one would touch City properties."

"Everyone is praising Dan Gilbert and Quicken Loans and other companies for moving downtown and they should," said Gnatek. "We would appreciate acknowledgment that with Pension Fund monies wisely invested these buildings represent more than 40 stories of buildings with commercial space and apartments now occupied in the City. We are very proud of helping make this happen at a time when no one else would and the Board was criticized for throwing good money after bad."

Redico, owners of One Kennedy Square, refinanced the 10 story building paying a $3 million mezzanine loan off to the PFRS five months early. The building was refinanced for $27.3 million or $112 per square foot.

"This building has been a great addition to the city skyline adjacent to Campus Martius Park," said Redico CEO Dale Watchowski. "It likely would never have happened without the mezzanine financing from Invest Detroit and the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System. We are very grateful for their vision and foresight in establishing their Targeted Investment Fund."

Originally posted here:
Police and Fire Retirement System Investments in Detroit properties sparks growth, buildings fully occupied

TORONTO--(Marketwire -08/23/12)- TransUnion's quarterly analysis of Canadian credit trends found that the average consumer's total debt (excluding mortgage) rose modestly, increasing by $192 in Q2 2012 to $26,221. Although this continues the trend of inflationary growth seen in the past five quarters, Q2 2012 is still the highest debt level per person seen to-date. The nation has now experienced consecutive quarters of accelerated growth when comparing both quarter over quarter (0.74%) and year over year (2.41%) numbers, possibly marking yet another turning point in the directionality trend for consumer debt.

"We are in a unique situation because while it is somewhat disconcerting to see average consumer total debt reach its highest level since we've been tracking this variable, Canadian consumers appear to be able to manage this debt as delinquency levels have dropped across all of the major credit vehicles," said Thomas Higgins, TransUnion's vice president of analytics and decision services. "It's quite possible that this is a trend that will continue as consumers take advantage of the low interest environment. However, if there are any sudden economic shifts such as a significant rise in unemployment, then it's quite conceivable that delinquencies will rise with debt levels."

The increase in average debt was consistent throughout Canada. All provinces experienced increases during the quarter except Saskatchewan. On a year-over-year basis, only Alberta posted a decreased annual growth rate in Q2 2012 versus Q2 2011, which constituted the third consecutive quarter where debt levels decreased from the prior year.

Consumer Debt - Quarterly/YearlyDespite year-over-year growth on total consumer debt, directional changes in debt levels varied for several credit instruments.

Consumer Delinquencies - Quarterly/Yearly

Delinquency levels continue to remain low across all major product categories.

"Across the board, we saw delinquencies drop on an annual basis," said Higgins. "Auto loan delinquencies stand out most as they are traditionally among the lowest of the major credit types, yet they've continued a downward trajectory even while auto debt experienced significant increases."

Three Highest Delinquency Provinces

Three Lowest Delinquency Provinces

Consumer Bankruptcies - Quarterly/Yearly

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TransUnion: Personal Debt Levels Shifting Back to Growth Mode

Caspar Haydar and Elle Daftarian cant stop giggling. Or interrupting each other. Or gushing over everything.

Who could blame the best-friend, event-planning duo, who are not only celebrating one-and-a-half years in their quaint Summerhill store, but starring roles in an upcoming Food Network show SugarStars, a behind the scenes look at their event planning and catering business.

Located on a quiet leafy street in the affluent neighbourhood, Haydar and Daftarian said Petite & Sweet started as a haphazard sweets and events business operating out of Daftarians basement six years ago.

The pair met through mutual friends in the fashion industry. And after talking about getting into event planning together for some time, Daftarian finally convinced Haydar to jump in.

Since then, employing their fashion sensibilities for colour and style to food and fun has meant securing contracts for some of Torontos largest private and corporate events. Their work ranges from catering hot food, to cakes and sweets, and their job is to find the best of everything in town to meet clients needs and expectations. The two dont aim to do everything themselves, instead drawing on the professionals to assist them in making each event a success.

One, for example, is Yolanda Gampp, their expert cake-maker and co-star on SugarStars.

Working out of Daftarians basement for five years initially, the pair set their sights on retail space as clients were asking where they could pick up gifts and sweets last minute.

Two weeks after spotting an unused storefront around the corner from the house, they moved in.

Now, a year and a half later, the space is bright, the shelves are stocked with specialty items often picked up on their travels: vases filled with silk flowers; seashells and gumballs; Depression-era platters, and soaps and candles delicately packed and stocked from Paris and New York.

The pair handle everything under one roof planning every last detail of the lavish events that include catered food, floral arrangements and ornate sweets tables that range from the dramatic to whimsical.

Original post:
Food Network’s new SugarStars find friendship and success at Toronto shop

The Valley is full of hidden gems, and Yoga Deva is one yogis will want to discover.

The studios unassuming exterior blends with the rest of its Gilbert complex, yet opens to a breathtaking soul sanctuary with soaring ceilings, cool silver walls and room to breathe deep.

The distractions of the exterior world fall away in the softly lit space, designed with organic elements of warm walnut paneling, a faint hint of lavender, and a luminous, deep blue wall that draws you toward the light. The spacious studio is flooded with diffused daylight, and the massive inverted ceiling vaults float like clouds above. Translucent white panels cocoon you from the outside world, and shadows play just beyond. A natural flow is experienced as visitors journey through this unique space, built with the intent to heal through beauty.

Classes include Flow, Synergy, Yin/Yang, and Power variations lead by instructors with a genuine passion for the practice.

Yoga Deva is at 2680 S. Val Vista Drive, No. 143, in Gilbert. Reach it at (480) 722-9000 or YogaDeva.net.

Follow Lily at LocalLily.com, a blog published by Beth Hickey and Brandi Walsh, where youll find the best local restaurants, shopping, events and things to do.

See the article here:
Yoga Deva a soul sanctuary in Gilbert

23 August 2012 | last updated at 11:36PM

SMK Teluk Kumbar students during the hockey coaching clinic at the schools ground recently. Pic by Ramdzan Masiam

GEORGE TOWN: STUDENTS of SMK Teluk Kumbar got a once in a life time experience when four ex-internationals conducted a hockey coaching clinic at the school's ground recently.

The ex-internationals who conducted the half-day coaching clinic were ex-national skipper Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin, Lailin Abu Hasan, Mohd Amin Rahim and Fairus Wanazir.

Nor Saiful, who is the Tenaga Nasional sports department head, and the three taught the excited students the basic skills of hockey, which included hitting the ball correctly, stopping, scooping and also on how to hold the stick correctly while running.

For the students, aged between 13 and 15 years, it was their first experience playing hockey, said an excited Form Two student, Ahmad Ali.

The clinic was made possible by the state Tenaga Nasional Bhd distribution department and the Pulau Mutiara Kilat Club with the support of Bayan Lepas state assemblyman Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad.

SMK Teluk Kumbar principal Norati Mohd Othman said the students were just learning to play hockey and despite no proper coach or guidance, had finished third in the Penang Schools district level competition.

She said the school has boys' and girls' Under-14 and Under-18 teams who were in regular training and with the coaching clinic and assistance from Penang State Hockey Association and Universiti Sains Malaysia, she hoped the players and teachers would be motivated to improve and strive for excellence.

Present at the event were Universiti Sains Malaysia sports and recreation department director Muhammad Mohd Haniff, Penang State Hockey Association secretary and treasurer V. Jayanandhan and K. Sunderason respectively.

Originally posted here:
HOCKEY: Former stars share knowledge

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Coaching with passion

A great coach who should never be forgotten. He was innovative, unorthodox and would crush his opponents. He would clean the womens stadium bathrooms with Clorox and sweep off the seats on game day. He would help the flight attendants serve his players and clean up after them as well. He would win, set records that have never been broken and take his team to parts of the world where football has never been played.

He compiled one of the best coaching records in the history of college athletics (186-62-4 ties, a 74% winning percentage)

ICONGene Upshaw, like many others, was groomed by Steinke.

Steinke was the athletic director and head football coach at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) for 23 years and during that time he compiled a record that takes a back seat to no one. More importantly, he recruited and harmonized whites, African-Americans and Hispanics together and taught them to play together and respect each other in the south where and when racial tensions were running hot.

Steinkes squads won six national championships, were a national runner-up once and had an eighth postseason victory when the Javelinas won the 1960 Great Southwest Bowl.

His teams had a 14-1 record in NAIA post-season play.

The Javelinas won 10 Lone Star Conference championships in his 1954-76 tenure. This was no easy feat as during this time most Texas football players stayed in the state and the Lone Star Conference was loaded with talent.

Steinke had a 39-game winning streak intact when he stepped down as head coach after the 1976 season.

In his final three seasons, Texas A&I was 13-0 in 1974, 12-0 in 1975 and 13-0 in 1976.

He also had undefeated teams in 1962 (9-0-1) and 1967 (9-0-0).

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Gil Steinke: The greatest coach you've never heard of

To tell the story of Joe Paterno, author Joe Posnanski wrote an opera, structuring his book with an overture and acts, arias and intermezzos. It's an homage to Joe Paterno's love of opera, as well as an illustration of the size and scope of Joe Paterno' life.

"It's a big life," Posnanski concludes.

And clearly, one that eludes easy reduction. "Paterno" which went on sale Tuesday offers no definitive answers to what the late Penn State coach knew about Jerry Sandusky or what he meant when he said, more than once, "I wish I had done more." The book does not claim that as its mission. In fact, the core of "Paterno" might come from a story entirely unrelated to Sandusky.

While recruiting John Cappelletti, who eventually won Penn State's only Heisman Trophy, Paterno first met the running back's younger brother, Joey, who had leukemia. Paterno spent the evening talking with Joey, while an assistant coach discussed Penn State with Cappelletti and his family.

"In this story," Posnanski writes, "as with so many of Paterno's actions, you can see the beauty or you can see the self-interest. Do you see a man who came across a child in pain and decided that the most important thing he could do that evening was try to bring a little joy into his life? Or do you see a man who determined that the best way he could recruit John Cappelletti to play at Penn State was to spend the evening talking to his sick younger brother?"

How you answer those questions will determine your reaction to the book. A reporter from ESPN.com wrote that "[f]or the fair-minded reader, the book will begin to rehabilitate Paterno's image." A review in the Wall Street Journal called the book "a devastating blow to Paterno's legacy."

Posnanski, who spent nearly a year in State College and was the last person to interview Paterno, does not crucify or indemnify the coach. He does not lead readers to stark conclusions one way or the other. Instead, Posnanski moors his book, particularly those sections regarding Sandusky, in a middle ground he describes variously as "murkier waters," "the storm" and "smoggy gray."

Friends and family members essentially forced Paterno to break from preparing his team to play Nebraska and read the November 2011 grand jury report that graphically described Sandusky's acts of pedophilia. Paterno, Posnanski writes, was confused both by the report and people's reactions to his part in it.

While reading the report, Paterno asked his son Scott, "What is sodomy, anyway?"

The late head coach also wondered how child-care professionals who approved Sandusky to be a foster parent and adopt children could have missed such crimes.

Read this article:
Joe Paterno's life, in operatic form

By Phyllis Day, Times Staff Writer Phyllis DayTampa Bay Times In Print: Thursday, August 23, 2012

Health and support

Alcoholics Anonymous: For Hernando County locations, call (352) 683-4597.

Alzheimer's Association: The Florida Gulf Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association offers support groups at several locations:

2:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, Oak Hill Hospital's Senior Partners Club (behind the hospital), 11361 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill. Jerry Fisher, (352) 688-4537.

2:30 p.m. the first Friday, Lykes Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Jerry Fisher, (352) 688-4537.

2 p.m. the third Monday, Residence at Timber Pines, 3140 Forest Road, Spring Hill. Diane Koenig, (352) 683-9009. Free day care available with advance reservations.

11 a.m. the first Tuesday, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 550 U.S. 41 S, Inverness. Sue Piatek, (352) 527-4600.

5 p.m. the fourth Tuesday, Emeritus at Barrington Place, 2341 W Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto. Free day care provided with advance reservations. Sue Piatek, (352) 527-4600

1 p.m. the second Monday, First United Methodist Church, 8831 W Bradshaw St., Homosassa. Free day care provided with advance reservations. Sue Piatek, (352) 527-4600.

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Hernando health and support, Aug. 23

NEW YORK: Personalized fitness is no longer the domain of movie stars and world-class athletes. Studios providing one-on-one fitness are catering to clients who prefer their fitness far from the all-purpose gym crowd.

This is definitely a growing area, said Meredith Poppler of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, the trade association of the fitness club industry.

In 1999, 4 million Americans were using personal trainers, according to IHRSA, but now the number hovers around 6.5 million.

Poppler said personal-only trainer facilities run the gamut from franchises to independent, boutique clubs that pop up in major cities.

Dwayne Wimmer, owner of Vertex fitness Personal Training Studio in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, said his clients range from retirees to students who are often fleeing mass-market gyms.

Its never crowded, never busy, always focused, and the music isnt blaring, said Wimmer, who has operated his studio for more than 11 years.

Many of his clients, he said, have been frustrated at the big gyms because they didnt get the attention they wanted or needed.

Others are intimidated by big health clubs, he added.

An individual session at Vertex costs $90 an hour, comparable, Wimmer said, to a personal training session at a standard health club chain.

But he added that his studio makes it more personal beginning with a discussion about health, injuries and goals.

The rest is here:
One-on-one training studios take health and fitness personally