Business Incubator to host tour

The UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud will host a Discovery Tour Open House for entrepreneurs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the Corporate Campus building at Stevens Plantation, 3201 Budinger Ave. in St. Cloud.

Jim Bowie, site manager at the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud, said the Discovery Tour event is open to established business owners and potential entrepreneurs who are considering new business startups.

“The Discovery Tour is a brief overview of the services and facilities offered at the UCF Business Incubator to see whether a new business startup is the right fit for our program,” Bowie said.

Bowie said recent studies show that 87 percent of entrepreneurs who launch their business startups in an incubator facility are still successful after five years.

“The UCF Business Incubator offers facilities, a network of community partners dedicated to the support of emerging enterprises and business coaching,” Bowie said. “Our goal is to help promising startup enterprises accelerate their growth and flourish,” Bowie said.

No RSVP is required, Bowie said.

For more information about the Discovery Tour Open House, contact the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud at 407-498-0432 or visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.  

Utility offices close for Thanksgiving

Kissimmee Utility Authority’s customer service center and administrative offices will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving today and Friday.

Regular utility business hours – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. – will resume Monday.

Customers wishing to make a bill payment during the holiday weekend can do so through the utility’s automated telephone system at 407-933-7777, online at www.kua.com or at any area Amscot Financial or 7-Eleven convenience store location.

KUA's 24-hour outage number is 407-933-9898. If power goes out, customers should notify KUA immediately.

Crist appoints Murphy to court

Gov. Charlie Crist recetly announced the appointment of Judge Michael “Mike” Murphy, of Orlando, to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

“Judge Murphy has participated in virtually every part of our justice system and has gained invaluable experience during his nearly six years on the county bench,” Crist said. “He is extensively involved in the legal community and is highly qualified to serve fairly and impartially from the bench of the circuit court.”

Judge Murphy, 40, has served on the Orange County Court since 2005.  Previously, he was a sole practitioner from 1998 to 2004 and practiced with the University of Central Florida’s student legal services from 2000 to 2004. He served as an assistant state attorney for the 18th Judicial Circuit Court from 1996 to 1998 and practiced with Donald A. Lykkebak from 1995 to 1996. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida since 2008. He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Murphy will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge R. James Stroker.

Assistance available

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, or SHINE, program is available to provide free help for Florida Medicare beneficiaries as they carefully evaluate their health care options during the annual enrollment period for Medicare.

During the enrollment period, which runs through Dec. 31, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to make changes to their Medicare Prescription Drug or Medicare Advantage plans. SHINE encourages beneficiaries to review their benefits each year for a variety of reasons.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to act quickly to assure a smooth transition into the 2011 benefit year. To receive help from SHINE to review and enroll in a plan, individuals may visit designated SHINE counseling sites, attend enrollment events in local communities or contact SHINE’s trained volunteer counselors at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).