New World Gold Corporation, based in Boca Raton, is preparing to upgrade its mills. Mill capacity is to increase from 40 tons per day to 150 tons per day. Once completed, the Company says the upgrades are expected to increase production to more than 100 ounces of gold each day.

The company arranged $500,000 in finance, at 9% interest. The arrangement pays back the money over 3 years.

With its own operating mills, the Company plans to process its own reserves, and also purchase and process ore from other mines, to generate secondary cash flow. Concurrently, the company will continue to expand its own reserves through development work on existing leases.

New World Gold, Boca Raton

The $500,000 financing that funds the upgrade is to be paid back over three years, at 9% interest.

The company has mines in Montana and Colorado and will need to hire additional staff.

In October last year, the company predicted that, as additional leases entered production, and secondary veins were tapped, production could reach 23 to 25 ounces of gold per day by mid 2011. In October, gold was trading at around $1,300 per ounce and the company said this made production much more viable. At over $1,500 per ounce today, the company has a much needed boost.

New World Gold Corporation trades in the United States on the NQB Pink Sheets under the symbol “NWGC”. Visit the website www.newworldgoldcorp.com for more information.

Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative is to use Airspan 4G equipment to deploy broadband wireless access networks in southern Virginia, USA.

Airspan, based in Boca Raton, is a 4G wireless solution provider, trading on the Pinksheets (PINKSHEETS: AIRO). Airspan has customers throughout the US and in over 100 countries. ( see the Airspan website www.airspan.com )

The Telephone Cooperative will use two infrastructure grants it received, to deliver wireless broadband Internet access to residents and businesses in fifteen counties in south central Virginia. The grants include a government Broadband Stimulus award of $18.9 million dollars by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and a $3.9 million dollar grant from Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

The project will provide 100 per cent coverage of residents and businesses in the Federal Communications Commission licensed serving area, offering a minimum of 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) of service and up to 10 Mbps. The primary deployment phase will be completed within 12 months and has a projected subscriber base of upward of 30,000 customers within five years. Availability of access to broadband connectivity is one of the key elements for economic growth in the region. In addition, by creating this new business division, BIT will create 64 direct new jobs — mostly in Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties.

Built with Airspan’s reputable product offering, the network consists of Airspan’s Air4G base station, a compact, all-outdoor, Macro unit. The network is also supplemented for in-fill coverage with AirSynergy, a Pico base station with integrated backhaul. This next-generation dual-band network operates in both 700 megahertz (MHz) and 3.65 gigahertz (GHz) frequency bands. Due to its natural propagation characteristics, the 700 MHz product allows for optimum coverage and range, requiring fewer base stations and minimizing deployment costs.

“We are very excited to bring Airspan’s advanced technology to our region and service community,” commented Mickey L. Sims, General Manager at BIT. “With the support of the ARRA and Virginia Tobacco Commission funding programs, we have a vision of increasing broadband services in these underserved markets, reaching a previously unreachable population and allowing further expansion into rural Virginia. The speed-to-market enabled by Airspan not only supports the government’s stimulus goals but will also assist us in achieving our business model objectives and providing broadband for everyone. BIT expects to be substantially built out by late March, 2012.”

With over 50 years of experience, BIT has continued to serve south central Virginia with telephone services, Internet access, and retail computer sales, repair and services along with the Cooperative’s well-known regional telephone directory. The company applied for Broadband Stimulus funds in 2009 in order to widely expand their service offerings to rural and underserved areas of the region.

“Airspan is very excited to work with BIT to bring broadband services to Virginia residents,” commented Amit Ancikovsky, President of Products and Sales at Airspan Networks. “Airspan is able to provide BIT with a turnkey solution that is quick-to-deploy, cost effective and will maximize the network’s return on investment.”

Airspan products provide 4G WiMAX and LTE solutions operating in the 700 MHz up to 5.9 GHz bands.

The Holocaust and other tragedies in history may seem unimaginable to today’s youth. But Park Vista High School came up with an innovative and stimulating program to bring awareness of these atrocities to students that also translated into relevant issues facing teens today. For three months, they have studied the White Rose resistance movement, when a group of courageous college students almost their own age from Munich were the first to stir up the ranks of Hitler’s Nazis during l942-3. Students honored those who lived and died during that time on Holocaust Remembrance Day last month when they wore white roses, most probably a symbol of peace and purity. Donations from the effort were sent to the Save Darfur Coalition.

Mr. Moskovic from Hobe Sound was l3 years old when he was taken by the Nazis and when he was released in l945, was the only surviving member of his family. He escaped death three times from nothing short of miracles. His goal in sharing with students is “to keep the memory alive and to help our youth carry the truth in the future so people don’t forget.”  Students also shared how they have grown from the project, similar to PSAs, and posters which are part of a large quilt that covers a wall in the main cafeteria.

The White Rose program at Park Vista was made possible through a grant provided by LEAH, the League for Educational Awareness for the Holocaust based in Boca Raton, an organization that educates and advocates about the Holocaust and other genocides. It seeks to engage teachers in inspiring and motivating students to actively contribute to a kinder, more compassionate world.  To date, LEAH has funded more than 300 education grant awards which have touched the lives of 36,000 students in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. 

The White Rose group are most well-known for their leafleting and a secret organization started by Sophie and Hans Scholl of which several award-winning movies, documentaries, books and plays have been made. All seven members were convicted of treason and beheaded at a very young age. 

Media Specialist and coordinator of the school-wide program, Brigitta McTigue, spent her early years growing up in Munich, Germany where Sophie and her brother Hans Scholl and the White Rose students were considered heroes.  

“Our l6 and l7 year olds need to know this, so that they learn how to deal with prejudice, bigotry, bullying, and other human rights issues they face today. We hope this program has given them some tools to become more tolerant in their daily lives and to find healthy ways to stand up to hurtful and cruel actions done to other people merely because of differences.” 

Also collaborating and working together on the project was Sue Mehok, English teacher, as well as reading and social studies classes. Activities included reading chapters or books about the White Rose movement and watching the film “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.” 

“As we teach students about the Holocaust, and other examples of genocide such as Darfur, Rwanda and Bosnia we are in a very real way repairing the world,” said Amanda McGee, executive director of LEAH. “They are taking the lessons that happened in the Holocaust of these very brave young people in the White Rose movement so that they can hopefully become better human beings.”  

Educational programs such as these are designed to help children learn about time periods and events that may seem incomprehensible to them. 

“They have no concept of what freedom is, because they have it,” said Ms. Mehok. 

While many schools offer only a few paragraphs in their history books about the Holocaust, Park Vista High School has a dedicated program, under the leadership of Eileen Shapiro who heads up Holocaust Studies for the school district of Palm Beach County. It was at her suggestion that McTigue applied for the grant from LEAH.

Parking meters have been installed in some of Boca Raton’s most popular areas, including around Mizner Park.

Parking meters were seen as a way to raise city revenue without increasing taxes. Many people are concerned that the use of parking meters will drive away visitors. Parking in parking garages remains free.

The parking meter issue has been talked about for several years. Back in 2009, Nancy Liu, a resident of Sun & Surf near Red Reef Park, said she was opposed to the installation of parking meters at the beach areas, citing park safety.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres flowed through Raymond Lee Jewelers in Boca Raton as guests arrived for the unveiling of a Diamond Horn Signature Pendant, for Nat King Cole Generation Hope Foundation. The night was fueled with fashion, philanthropy and a cause all were eager to learn more about.

The turnout was a Celebrity filled event to support music education in public schools and build awareness about the lack of funding available to those really need it.

Amongst the celebrities present were Casey and Timolin Cole (Nat King Cole’s Twin Daughters ); Jeff Josephson, the owner of Raymond Lee Jewelers, Franco Corso, the Italian Singer, Sherry Ratay, Award Winning Color Expert, Cara Rosenthal, of CBS’s Amazing Race, and Kesi Case, the Fashion Designer.

And schmoozing with the guests, the most notorious jewel thief, Walter Shaw. Hold on tight to your jewelry at all times, when hear this man.

“Keeping Music Alive” – NKC Generation Hope, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in Florida. The foundation works to provide musical instruments, instruction, seminars, state-of-the-art recording equipment and funding to students with the greatest need and fewest resources in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

Jeffrey Goldstein, a Boca Raton man who suffers from alzheimer’s, was reported missing Wednesday. He was found by the Florida Highway Patrol, and is safe in Miami, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Goldstein was last seen driving his car in Boca Raton and the Sheriff’s office had asked local to keep a lookout for him.

Laser surgery isn’t only for cosmetic effects. Veterinarians are now using the same techniques.

Two green sea turtles from the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center had bulbous tumors on their eyes and flippers. The tumors are directly related to pollution in South Florida’s waterways, according to a marine conservationist at the center.

Agricultural runoff and sewage often causes the fibropapilloma tumors in young green sea turtles.

On Friday, laser surgery procedures removed the tumors. The National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation provided the laser equipment. The non-profit foundation aims to preserve marine life, especially endangered species, in Florida’s oceans and waterways.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has more details on the turtles and the laser procedure.

Florida small businesses, small ag coops, small aquaculture businesses and many private non-profits are eligible for federal economic injury disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, because of 2010 drought.

The declaration includes the following counties: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk and Saint Lucie.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster”

Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of that disaster. Up to $2 million is available, with a 4 percent interest rate for small businesses, 3 percent for non-profit organizations. Terms can be up to 30 years. To be used for working capital, the loans can pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

Loans can’t be used to replace lost sales or profits, and eligibility for the program is based on a range of things, including the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. The loan amounts and the terms are set by the SBA, based on the financial condition of the applicant.

For complete disaster loan information and application forms, you can call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, send an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or download at www.sba.gov.

Note that loan applications close December 5th this year.

BOCA RATON, FL -  The Downtown Boca Film Festival (DBFF) is proud to announce Best Buy signing on as the title sponsor for the 6th Annual Film Festival.  Other recently confirmed sponsors are the Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, which will serve as the host hotel for the film festival, and Stella Artois, the official beer of the 2011 DBFF.

“Best Buy is proud to partner with the Downtown Boca Film Festival to be a title sponsor for 2011 DBFF,” said Armando Lopez, South Florida district manager of Best Buy, “community partnership is central to the way business is done at Best Buy.”  “Best Buy’s sponsorship and support from our other partners and sponsors ensures that the DBFF will continue to build audiences, and allows the organization to develop new and exciting events and programs to support filmmakers and festival attendees,” said Dr. Michael Posner, director and founder of the DBFF. Additional information about the upcoming film festival and other 2011 sponsors and partners can be found on the DBFF’s new website (www.dbff.us) which was launched this week.

About the DBFF: The Downtown Boca Film Festival is a non-profit 501 (c-3) organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world, including a venue of student shorts and Xtreme sports. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the USA, the DBFF provides a unique cultural experience as well as educational programs and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Founding sponsors for the DBFF are committed to providing independent film makers / artist with a venue to screen their films and to network with other filmmakers and industry insiders.

The DBFF is truly an independent film festival, small enough to allow for an intimate environment in which to mix and mingle, yet big enough to attract large local audiences, which has stayed close to its roots and mission of making available original and independent films not ordinarily seen in mainstream movie theaters.

The DBFF is still accepting submissions for the 6th annual film festival. The film festival will be screening over 100 films. Please submit your films through https://withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=4469 Works in progress are accepted.

The DBFF is also interested in accepting a “Best of” compilation of films, exclusively featuring various institution’s students and alumni. This type of submission must be 90-minutes or less, and can be submitted for the cost of only one film. For more information about the 6th Annual Film Festival, or for information pertaining to sponsorship, please email info@dbff.us. Additionally, if you are a business within Southern Palm Beach County or Northern Broward County and are interested in hosting an event or after party at your location, please contact events@dbff.us

Volunteers are needed to assist in all areas of the DBFF such as staffing theatre entrances, sorting and mailing films, and ticket sales. Volunteering for the 2011 Festival is about helping artists share their stories. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please email volunteer@dbff.us.

More than 150 high-school students from throughout Florida will compete in the 3rd Annual USF Poly RoboBattle Jan. 29, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Contestants include the Smoke and Mirrors team, which includes members from Lakeland, that won the world championship last year.

The RoboBattle is a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge regional qualifying competition.  The event helps students learn to design and build robots with both radio- and autonomous-controlled behavior using the TETRIX robotic design system. Student teams develop robots that can perform the tasks defined in the Challenge, and then compete with, and against, other teams in qualifying competitions and a state championship. The USF Poly RoboBattle is the last qualifying competition before the state championship.

“The FIRST Tech Challenge lets high-school students experience the fun and excitement of complex problem solving in a positive and supportive team environment,” says Dr. Naomi Boyer, assistant vice president of USFP’s Extended University. “It also helps them discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.”

Boyer also serves as director of the Central Florida Gifted & Talented Institute at USFP, which includes the Hot 2 Bot Applied Robotics Academy and other programs for which registration is now open.

Competing in the USF Poly RoboBattle will be 14 teams from Lakeland, Winter Haven, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Oviedo, Miami, Longwood, Palm Harbor, Seminole, Fort Myers and Boca Raton.

For more information contact Christina Pixley at cpixley@poly.usf.edu or (863) 667-7741.