Treasure Coast Newspapers Business

Sales listed are for single-family homes and condominium properties of $25,000 or more, filed at courthouses in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties published Sept. 7, 2008.

DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com has placed 79th on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the nation.

The Advertising Federation of the Treasure Coast will hold its monthly meeting Sept. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Florida Club Golf Course Clubhouse.

The Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commission has suspended intrastate animal movement requirements due to the large number of animals in harm’s way as Hurricane Ike approaches. The suspension applies only to animals fleeing affected areas.

The Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce and SCORE are holding a free workshop Sept. 18 on starting a business. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at chamber offices, 11954 S.E. Dixie Highway, Hobe Sound.

Three Martin County businesses are among recipients of the 2008 Governor’s Business Diversification Awards.

BankUnited, which has branches on the Treasure Coast, said Friday that the Office of Thrift Supervision had reclassified the bank’s status from well capitalized to adequately capitalized although the bank’s capital ratios meet the higher classification.

State Farm Florida sought the hearing after an Aug. 25 denial for a rate hike. But according to Steve Parton, general counsel with the Office of Insurance Regulation, "State Farm's petition for hearing was incomplete.''

Hampton Inn & Suites has opened in Stuart.

Three Martin County businesses are among recipients of the 2008 Governor¡'s Business Diversification Awards.

Florida's property tax wars now return to the state Legislature, a place where gridlock and battling interest groups make it difficult to achieve the deep relief that politicians promise. In the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling removing a major tax initiative from the Nov. 4 ballot, legislative leaders vowed Thursday to again make property taxes a top issue in their annual spring session.

Lamm has signed a 20-year lease with the Sexton family to operate The Patio on U.S. 1, a historic eatery that served as a hangout for Dodger fans as well as locals for more than half a century in Vero Beach.

Construction Data, which provides information to the commercial construction industry, has acquired BidTool, a similar information provider.

Tampa-based Shells Seafood Restaurants has filed for bankruptcy, following a trend among casual dining restaurants.

Sony said Thursday the recall involves 19 models in the Vaio TZ series manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008.

Shells Seafood Restaurants Inc., which has a location in Stuart, has parked its two-year struggle for a return to profitability in bankruptcy court.

The event will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kight Center for Emerging Technologies on Oct. 1

Airlines are retreating from South Florida, which could leave hotels and restaurants with fewer tourists this fall. This month, carriers using Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will offer 94,160 fewer seats than in September 2007, a 9.6 percent cut.

Scripps Florida in Jupiter and the Scripps Research Institute have received a grant of more than $80 million from the National Institutes of Health.

Kayaks Etc is celebrating its 11th year in business.