(Press Release)_​Research biologists from the Research Laboratory at Loggerhead Marinelife Center recently published a scientific study on how contaminants such as mercury and natural toxins from red tide algal blooms affect sea turtles’ health.

In 2014, Dr. Justin Perrault, the Center’s associate director of research, began studying the toxins’ effects on Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles in Big Bend, Florida. Although very few studies on the toxins' effects on sea turtles have been conducted, it’s more common to see algal blooms in that area, making it a prime spot to research the toxins.

During the study, LMC’s research biologists and colleagues from other laboratories collected blood samples and examined otherwise healthy turtles to see if they showed signs of fibropapillomatosis (FP), a tumor disease that affects green sea turtles. Then, they examined health parameters in plasma, and found that brevetoxins from red tide potentially contributed to inflammation, increased tumor growth and decreased body condition in Kemp’s ridleys and greens.

“These contaminants can potentially impact disease development and negatively impact the immune function and survival of these endangered marine turtles,” said Dr. Perrault. “We hope to continue learning about how these toxins affect sea turtles in an effort to better understand treatment options for animals that strand as a result of red tide.”

This is the first study to reveal that brevetoxin exposure may promote FP tumor growth in green sea turtles.

The peer-reviewed paper is published in the Science of the Total Environment journal and can be accessed over the next 50 days for free. For more information visit authors.elsevier.com.

For more information on LMC’s research projects, visit marinelife.org/research.

(Press Release)_MIAMI – July 20, 2017 – MiamiCentral, the expansive downtown development featuring Central Fare, the city’s first food hall experience, innovative retail shops, 800+ Park-Line rental residences, uniquely connected urban offices and a major transit hub providing both local and multi-city transit options, announced today the additions of Einstein Bros. Bagels and Starbucks to its lifestyle retail promenade.

Serving the downtown community, the licensed locations are a collaboration of celebrated Miami Heat basketball star and community leader Udonis Haslem and Managing Partner Ramona D. Hall, through their company JFC Miami, a dynamic South Florida food and beverage operator.

“We are delighted to have JFC Miami join MiamiCentral with Udonis Haslem and Ramona D. Hall as a part of our team,” shares Daniel Quintana, vice president of development for Florida East Coast Industries. “MiamiCentral is the new epicenter of Miami, home to Brightline and leading companies Ernst & Young and Cisneros, Miami’s first true food hall experience, Central Fare, and at the crossroads of Metromover, Metrorail and the future Tri-Rail expansion into downtown.”

JFC Miami’s soon-to-open Starbucks and Einstein Bros. Bagels in MiamiCentral add to Haslem’s ever-expanding culinary portfolio that is helping to shape the future of South Florida’s economic community.

JFC Miami aims to hire local job seekers and young adults from low-income households to provide them with the means necessary to support their families, a mission Haslem and partner Hall are equally passionate about. A proven leader in South Florida’s business and political community for the past 20 years, Hall’s past experience with regional and national brand management proved instrumental in securing JFC Miami’s new MiamiCentral operations. JFC Miami was awarded 2017 Franchise/Licensee Company of the year by Black Enterprise, the premier business, investing and wealth-building resource for African Americans.
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​Royal Caribbean’s new Innovation Lab takes the ship design process to new heights by bringing the best creative minds and the latest technology together under one roof. From engaging virtual reality rooms to collaborative work spaces, the cruise line’s new facility in Miami helps accelerate innovation and gives experts the ability to tangibly play and push the envelope before construction even begins.

(Press Release)_MIAMI - July 13, 2017 – Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) today announced its new real estate brand Park-Line, offering residences for lease with unparalleled connectivity in urban locations. Debuting in 2018 with a 290-unit tower in downtown West Palm Beach, followed by two towers with a total of 816 units at MiamiCentral in 2019, the Park-Line brand is an integral part of FECI’s dynamic, transit oriented developments transforming South Florida.
 
“Park-Line residences are designed for people on the move who want to live and travel smarter,” said Daniel Quintana, vice president of development for Florida East Coast Industries. “Each of the innovative towers in West Palm Beach and Miami will expand residents’ playground and working options by utilizing a vast variety of transit options just steps away from their front door, including our new Brightline train service that will seamlessly connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.”

Partnering with Lincoln Property Company, among the most respected and diversified names in residential real estate services, Florida East Coast Industries will bring the Park-Line experience to life. Park-Line properties will feature multi-family residences for lease including studio, one and two bedroom apartments in West Palm Beach and studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments within MiamiCentral. Every residence will be highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows, classic designer finishes and a collection of unparalleled amenities.

Amenities making Park-Line one of the most sought after addresses for today’s professional seeking a modern urban living experience include: a full-service poolside lounge; open-air cross training course; yoga lawn and fitness center with juice bar; private cabanas with outdoor grills and intimate seating areas; shaded dog parks and pet grooming salon; event lawn with movie screen and full social calendar of resident events. Also at the unique MiamiCentral location, residents will benefit from 180,000 square feet of retail space including Miami’s first true food hall experience, Central Fare. Adding to the mixed-use environment, MiamiCentral’s 300,000 square feet of office space will offer office employees the option for a live, work, play lifestyle.

“Lincoln Property Company is always seeking opportunities to raise the bar on multi-family living residences and this collaboration with Brightline is a glimpse into the future,” said Chuck Shallat, executive vice president of Lincoln Property Company’s Southeast Region. “We look forward to welcoming our first Park-Line residents in 2018 and offering two of the most innovative addresses in South Florida.”

The Park-Line residences will be located within steps of the Brightline express intercity train service connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach with new downtown stations, a fleet of innovative trains and a complete customer-centric operating and communication offering that redefines what it means to travel by train in America.

(Press Release)_The steel cutting ceremony for Carnival Cruise Line’s third 133,500-ton Vista-class ship set to debut in 2019 was held earlier this week at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Additional information on the as-yet-unnamed ship, including homeport, design and itinerary details, will be announced in the coming months. The new 3,934-passenger ship will be a sister to the hugely popular Carnival Vista, the namesake vessel in the series which debuted in May 2016. A second Vista-class ship, Carnival Horizon, is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and scheduled to enter service in Europe April 2, 2018. The three Vista-class ships are the largest ever constructed for Carnival Cruise Line.

(Press Release)_ WHO:    ​ ​Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach (LMC)
                 
WHAT:  Loggerhead Marinelife Center will release two sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles from its facility Wednesday morning. Krebster was found near Hutchinson Island with anemia, hypoglycemia and overall poor health due to starvation. Dr. Paul was accidentally hooked by an angler at the Juno Beach Pier. Fortunately, after months of fluids, medications and close monitoring by LMC staff, both have fully recovered and have been approved for release in Juno Beach.
 
Krebster and Dr. Paul will be prepared for release from LMC beginning at 10 a.m. One of LMC’s education docents will convey a history of the sea turtles’ journeys and final arrangements to visitors, followed by a procession to the beach for the turtles’ release into the ocean.
 
 
WHEN:  Wednesday, July 12, 2017
                   10:30 a.m.; Pre-release procedures starting at 10 a.m.
                                                                         
WHERE:  Loggerhead Marinelife Center
        14200 U.S. Highway One
        Juno Beach, FL 33408