Marks second acquisition in Northeast Ohio; name will change to Saint Therese of Westlake
ST. LOUIS PARK, MN / ACCESS Newswire / May 1
2025 / Aging care and services leader Saint Therese today announced it is acquiring The Belvedere of Heritage Retirement Communities of Westlake
The transition of ownership is expected to occur on May 1
This marks Saint Therese's second acquisition in Northeast Ohio in the past six months
including the 2023 acquisition of IHM Senior Living in Monroe
The Belvedere has 33 apartments of assisted living and secure memory care and is located just four miles east of St
The Belvedere was most recently owned by Heritage Retirement Communities
"This acquisition represents our commitment and dedication to the Ohio market and to grow Saint Therese's presence and impact with other mission and values-aligned communities," said Craig Abbott
"Belvedere residents will have access to award-winning transitional and long-term care at St
Mary of the Woods will now have the option of a Saint Therese memory care community at The Belvedere."
Saint Therese will change the name of The Belvedere to Saint Therese of Westlake to reflect its integration into the organization and alignment with the Saint Therese brand
About Saint Therese: Minnesota-based Saint Therese was founded in 1964 and prides itself on its rich tradition of providing exceptional care for seniors
It has locations and services in Brooklyn Park
Most communities provide the full continuum of care from independent living
Odilia in Shoreview specializes in hospice and palliative care
Ascend Rehabilitation provides rehabilitation therapy
Barb Hemberger, 612-669-0381; barbarah@sainttherese.org
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Executive Circle Awards
The Belvedere Guest House in Cherry Grove on Fire Island
Iconic Fire Island hotel hits market for just second time in 68 years
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— After nearly two years of opposition from Ormond Beach residents and leaders
Belvedere Terminals announced it will not be building a fuel terminal in the city
the company is looking about 25 miles north
“We are incredibly relieved in Ormond Beach to know that we're not going to have this 20-million-gallon fuel terminal on our doorsteps
steps away from just thousands of residents who live here,” Ormond Beach resident Elena Krafft said
According to initial project plans, the Belvedere Terminals site at 874 Hull Road in Ormond Beach was going to have 16 storage tanks that would hold up to 20.4 million gallons of fuel — with six of the tanks set to be 40 feet tall
Residents raised concerns over possible safety and environmental issues in the area
“We're thrilled with that fact that they're moving
And if it wasn't for the residents banding together
but as well as residents in all of Volusia County to stop this from being built here on this inappropriate facility
This wouldn't have happened,” Ormond Beach resident Robin Magleora said
Some concerns for residents included the proximity to a sports complex
Sheila Lind said her house is right near to the railroad track
“It was more to me for the future of our area it was not just the above ground fuel storage then the lightning capital of the world
but it was going to be the additional train traffic and tanker trailer traffic that would be going down hull road behind me would be cutting off one of our entrances into our 55-plus retirement community,” she said
Belvedere Terminals received a $10 million Florida Department of Commerce Grant
to build the $75 million fuel storage facility
Flagler County officials said the county and the city of Palm Coast are working together to bring a new industrial business
specifically a fuel terminal that receives gas and diesel by rail
which will distribute fuel to the tri-county area
The goals are three-fold: providing high-paying jobs
and increasing the property tax from an estimated $500 to $800,000 annually
An added benefit of this project is a safer
lower cost and more reliable delivery of fuel to the region
raised the same types of concerns that plagued the Ormond Beach project
But Belvedere Terminals CFO Timothy Schwarz said the plan in Palm Coast would include a top-of-the-line facility
"We're nto cutting corners," he said
probably $50 to $60 million more than would be required at any standard
to have better safety than anyone could ever see in a facility like this."
The project under consideration is with a company called Belvedere Terminals
which will make $75 million to $80 million in capital investment plus an additional $10 million in state appropriations
It is anticipated the company will bring in 30 to 35 high-paying
Schwarz said company officials hope to have the project completed some time in 2026
Officials said this would be an economic development boon that would bring tax revenue into Flagler County
the bulk of which comes from homeowners with only about 5% coming from commercial and industrial properties
“This land is already zoned industrial in Flagler County,” said acting Palm Coast city manager Lauren Johnston said
“We’ve heard from our community that economic vitality is a top priority
This project will help us start to balance our tax base more evenly and minimize the burden on residential homeowners.”
Belvedere would build on 78 acres near the tracks and the city’s utility plant off U.S
“The Florida Department of Commerce grant will cover the land acquisition
and the construction of critical infrastructure necessary to support a fuel storage and distribution terminal,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said
Now that the plans were halted in the Ormond Beach property
residents are sharing what they would like to see done in the lot in the future
some barbecue pits to where people can enjoy that property without a threat of another industrial operation coming to that location,” Ormond Beach resident Catherine Pante said
Spectrum News 13 reached out to the city of Ormond Beach for comments on this decision
“The City of Ormond Beach sincerely thanks Senator Tom Leek for his unwavering leadership in ensuring the relocation of the proposed fuel farm
Leek not only secured the state economic development funding in the 2024 budget but also actively pushed for a better outcome on behalf of our community
We also extend our appreciation to Representative Bill Partington
for his continued advocacy and support throughout this process
His deep understanding of our community and long-standing commitment to the residents of Ormond Beach played an important role in helping guide this issue toward a more suitable resolution
the project is now moving forward in a location that better aligns with community needs
We are incredibly grateful for their leadership
and tireless work to protect the unique character and quality of life that make our region so special
Their advocacy is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when elected officials work hand-in-hand with the people they serve."
© Heatherwick StudioThe concept designs for the new Belvedere include a distinctive pavilion with a flowing, ribbon-like form, surrounded by lush green spaces and pedestrian-friendly pathways. These features are intended to create a more organic connection between the city and the riverfront
improving walkability and making the space more inviting for daily use
the design aims to establish a more dynamic and inclusive public space where people can relax
and experience the waterfront in a new way
Related Article On the New Life of Buildings: Concepts, Reflections, and Adaptive Reuse Projects of 2024
A crucial aspect of the redevelopment has been community involvement. Recognizing the importance of local input, city officials and project leaders have engaged with Louisville residents through a series of public meetings, gathering ideas and feedback to help shape the final design. This collaborative approach reflects a broader effort to ensure the new Belvedere meets the needs of the community while preserving its historical significance.
© Heatherwick Studio Belvedere has an incredible potential to become a new green 'living room' for Louisville and its people. Our design will stitch together the Ohio riverfront and connect it to the expansive parks beyond. We've been listening to the community and hear a huge appetite for something powerful, exciting and new to happen. -- Stuart Wood, Executive Partner and Group Leader at Heatherwick Studio
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provides something rare for American golfers: regular access to one of the finest examples of a Golden Age architect’s work
Join the clubJoin the clubJoin the clubJoin the clubLog inLog inLog inLog inAccessPrivate
2021aboutVisiting Belvedere feels like stepping back in time
known for his many excellent courses in California
spent his summers at Charlevoix Golf Links (now Charlevoix Golf Club) as the Professional in Charge from 1914 to 1935
It was during this period that he was commissioned to design Belvedere
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Head professional Marty Joy has transformed the modest Belvedere golf shop into a terrific history room
Joy has extensively researched William Watson’s life
and the shop now displays some of his work
Featuring intriguing sketches of holes and fascinating old photos
it is well worth arriving 5-10 minutes early to explore
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Belvedere has served as the venue of the Michigan Amateur more times than any other course
the course hosted 26 consecutive championships and has now reached a total of 40
Belvedere is set to host the event again in 2025
coinciding with the club’s centennial celebration
The 16th hole begins at the lowest point of the back nine and climbs to the central ridge
It serves as a reminder that not every short par 4 has to be drivable
A slight miss to the right or excessive spin will send the ball rolling down
Bailing left leads to a tricky chip that could easily roll off the green
In an era where drivable par 4s have gained prominence
short par 4s demanding intricate wedge shots have become underrated
and the 16th hole stands as one of our favorite examples
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How do you build a compelling course with just one core topographical feature
By using it repeatedly and crafting incredible greens
William Watson built fascinating golf on a site featuring a prominent ridge with a road running through it
defined by a steep ridge and a road—Marion Center—that bisects the property almost equally
The road has been there since the course’s inception
dividing the front nine on the west side and the back nine on the east
The ridge extends to both sides of the road
His routing allows many holes to play off of
Players encounter this dynamic from the very start
The first hole at Belvedere features a dramatic tee shot off the ridge
playing down to a fairway pressed against the ridge line
This stellar hole makes an immediate impression
whereas the next four navigate some of the course’s least interesting land
the holes are memorable because of standout greens
has one of Belvedere’s many “potato chip”-style greens
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From the low point on the west side of the property
you begin your ascent up the ridge on the sixth hole
This hole provides a welcome splash of topographical variety after a series of flat holes
The seventh continues the climb with a long par 5
you find yourself back on top of the ridge
Recent tree removal by superintendent Jordan Caplan has emphasized the infinity character of this spectacular green
tempting you to shorten the hole by biting off some of the right side
The hole culminates in another remarkable Watson green with a false front and a severe left-to-right slope
the 10th once again takes you from the ridge down into the valley
Hitting your tee shot to the right leaves your view of the green obstructed by a small ridge
The short approach demands utmost attention because of the green’s sharp undulations
many of which repel the ball away from its target
The back nine stands out for its greater interaction and variety with the ridge
you walk up to the 12th tee and play along and down the ridge diagonally
Shorter hitters will approach the green from the ridgetop
A tough outcome is if the ball stays on the slope of the ridge
resulting in a sidehill approach with a wedge
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the back features only two flat holes: the par-4 13th and the par-3 14th
The 13th boasts one of the best greens on the property
This hole takes you down a second ridge to the lowest portion of the east side of the property
There are two options off the tee: play safe and stay on top of the ridge or attempt to cut the dogleg right and get to the lower area
Playing to the top leaves a longer approach but is an easier tee shot
and the chance for your ball to catch on the ridge
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the exceptional 16th hole ascends back up the ridge
The long par-3 17th plays over a valley in memorable fashion
leading to a green that leaves a lasting impression
Situated on flat land with a false front and a couple of knobs
this green will often send you away with a five even if you reach it in two
Belvedere’s virtues are simple but enduring
and his greens test your short game and enliven the duller sections of the property
All towns could have a course like this—and I wish they did
the greens and routing at Belvedere are masterful
While the agronomic presentation is impressive (superintendent Jordan Caplan has remarkably enhanced Belvedere’s playing conditions over the years)
the course’s stylistic presentation suffers from the lack of original bunkers
resemble open saucers more than Watson’s rugged creations
would significantly improve the course’s aesthetics
that consulting architect Bruce Hepner has skillfully restored fairway lines
and playing corridors on a budget over time
Although the ridge is used ingeniously in some areas
there are too many flat holes for the property to be considered elite
The Underappreciated Craft of Golf Course Drainage (Article)
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Founder Andy Johnson started Fried Egg Golf in 2015 by answering his own question: What if we made golf architecture approachable
In looking at an entire golf course holistically
Fried Egg Golf brings another dimension to the game and fills a gap in golf coverage
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Fried Egg Course RatingWe rate golf courses using a three-"Egg" scale
a course must be very good; to receive three
Most courses will not get any Eggs at all — and this is not meant as an insult
Click here to learn more about our rating system and our criteria of Land
Superintendent Series: Jordan Caplan on Belvedere and Michigan GolfSuperintendent Series: Jordan Caplan on Belvedere and Michigan GolfSuperintendent Series: Jordan Caplan on Belvedere and Michigan Golf54 minAugust 31
The Venetian-inspired Belvedere Guest House for Men in Cherry Grove
an architecturally distinctive hotel in Fire Island’s Cherry Grove community
The ornate, Venetian-style hotel with a 68-year history has long served as a popular vacation destination for the gay community
The property has 33 rooms and 200 feet of bayfront
according to listing agent Mitch Muroff of Muroff Hospitality
“You’re on the ferry on the Great South Bay and you see this building and it’s just incredible,” said Muroff
“It doesn’t look like anything else on Fire Island … You’d expect to see a property like this in the south of France
20 suites have private bathrooms while the economy rooms have eight shared bathrooms
The property was listed by Coldwell Banker Sammis and co-brokered by Gail Gladstone and David Blumberg in 2003 for $4.5 million
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who has owned and operated the hotel since 2018
is selling the property so he can spend more time with his partner and not worry about the busy summer hospitality rush
“There’s no great impetus for the sale,” said Muroff
“He and his partner would like to spend more time together without the challenges of running a hotel all summer long.”
Fire Island’s Cherry Grove and Pines communities draw around 110,000 LGBTQ+ tourists every summer
Dorcelien Eberhardt could not be reached for comment Friday
Dorcelien Eberhardt was not the first owner of the hotel
but represents the third generation of a group of gay men that have run it since 1957
The Belvedere was built by the late artist and builder John Eberhardt
who began buying land and building homes in Cherry Grove in 1949
Eberhardt constructed the Belvedere in 1957
and continued expanding on it after he met his partner
adorned with European antiques and elaborate murals
“John met Craig and they formed a life-long relationship,” said Muroff
It’s essentially been in the same family for three generations without any of them being related by blood.”
The Belvedere has been ubiquitous with Fire Island since its inception
who said the hotel exemplifies Cherry Grove’s history of drag and camp culture
high style of the ‘queens’ sitting around having high tea
Men saw it as an oasis from the homophobic environment back then.”
who also sold the Ice Palace and Grove hotels in 2022
“This hotel is an irreplaceable asset” to Fire Island
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Audi announce organisational restructure ahead of F1 arrival in 2026
5 Winners and 5 Losers from Miami – Who excelled in the Sunshine State
Tsunoda concedes he ‘made life much more difficult’ with five-second penalty in Miami after battling for final point
Antonelli taking plenty of positives from Miami weekend despite struggles on way to P6 in the Grand Prix
‘We took the tough decision’ – Vasseur defends Ferrari team orders situation in Miami as he acknowledges Hamilton’s frustration
Building on the landmark 10-year Global Partnership between Formula 1 and LVMH
Formula 1 is excited to announce Moët Hennessy luxury spirit
as the sport’s first-ever Official Vodka Partner
The collaboration marks Belvedere’s first foray into global sports
and connects two brands celebrated for their heritage
Formula 1 and Belvedere will create one-of-a-kind experiences and give fans the unforgettable taste of an F1 race
READ MORE: Moët & Chandon returns as the Official Champagne of Formula 1
Belvedere Vodka is produced in one of the world's longest operating Polish distilleries
with distillers drawing from a 600-year Polish vodka-making history to artfully craft rye into an extraordinary vodka of distinct taste and character
Belvedere will host an Official After Party of the Australian Grand Prix
an exclusive event that will redefine high-end entertainment and nightlife and bring together the world’s most renowned DJs
Belvedere Vodka will be served in hospitality spaces throughout the season
including in Paddock Club and the F1 Garage
further adding to the incredible energy of the circuit
said: “Formula 1 has always been the symbol of prestige
which is why we are so thrilled to welcome Belvedere as our first Official Vodka Partner
Together we share the same dedication to quality and the pursuit of exclusive moments
“This announcement once again confirms the strong connection with LVMH
Their willingness to fully embrace the spirit of Formula 1 excites us and makes us proud of this partnership.”
READ MORE: Louis Vuitton joins Formula 1 and becomes title partner of the Australian Grand Prix
added: “I am immensely proud of the partnership between Belvedere and Formula 1
where milliseconds forge legends and engines roar with untamed energy
Belvedere Vodka arrives not just as a partner
but as the embodiment of the festivities and the entertainment
Formula 1 isn’t just about speed; it’s about spectacle
there will be always a reason to honour the excitement of the sport
Don't miss your chance to experience the picturesque Imola circuit..
MIAMI LOWDOWN: All the key moments as McLaren and Antonelli shine, Ferrari face tensions and LEGO takes over
MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: How Leclerc and Hamilton’s opposing Miami strategies culminated in fractious Ferrari radio exchanges
HIGHLIGHTS: Piastri leads McLaren 1-2 after thrilling race in Miami
Driveable LEGO big builds welcomed to Miami drivers’ parade
Cadillac unveil their team logo and brand during dazzling Miami launch event ahead of 2026 entry
Verstappen vs Norris into Turn 1 and Antonelli after redemption – What To Watch For in the Miami Grand Prix
Driveable LEGO big builds welcomed to Miami drivers’ parade
MIAMI LOWDOWN: All the key moments as McLaren and Antonelli shine
© 2003-2025 Formula One World Championship Limited
Uecker played her father George Owens on the family sitcom
Belvedere," a show that aired on ABC in the mid to late 1980s
Tofte, who played Heather Owens on "Mr. Belvedere," was "absolutely heartbroken" upon learning that Uecker died on Thursday
She posted a lengthy tribute to her TV dad
even noting a personal experience she had with Uecker just last month at his home in Menomonee Falls
which made the visit even more important to me," Tofte wrote
he was cracking jokes and making me laugh."
is what Uecker did all the time while on set back in the 1980s
"I’ll always treasure the memories from Mr
Belvedere – there were so many," Tofte wrote
"Bob was the glue that held us together and kept us grounded
and his #1 goal was always to make us laugh."
She recalled days spent on his boat on Lake Michigan
or seeing him at the ballpark whether it was in Los Angeles or Milwaukee
"Bob had a rare gift of making everyone feel special," Tofte wrote
"He appreciated everyone — no matter their status
One of his other TV children also remembered Uecker
"90 years and still gone too soon," Brice Beckham, who played Uecker's youngest son on the show, Wesley, wrote on Instagram, along with a series of photos representing Uecker's well-traveled life
Share it here: What's your favorite memory of late Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker?
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Polish alcohol label Belvedere Vodka continues to shake up the beverage scene. After revealing opulent bottles and a luxurious campaign with Future and Taika Waititi in 2024
Belvedere now steps into the caffeinated aisle with Dirty Brew
The brand’s new coffee-based liqueur will get you buzzed in more ways than one
blending organic rye vodka with robusta coffee beans for an impactful flavor
The roasted notes of coffee are heightened with touches of toffee and espresso
brightening your cocktails with bold accents
Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Center at Belvedere is partnering with the University of Virginia for a special screening of Dottie
a film created to help healthcare professionals build empathy for individuals with dementia
expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration
calling the film “a really cool conversation around how we… talk about this disease that a lot of people are scared of.” The event will also include a Q&A session with Dottie’s artistic director
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the Center is collaborating with Dementia Friends of Central Virginia to support the growing number of individuals affected by cognitive decline
“One out of every 10 adults that are 65 and older are suffering with some aspect of cognitive decline,” Benjamin shared
She noted that all Center staff have undergone specialized training to better assist those experiencing memory loss
Through initiatives like the Dottie screening and its continued partnership with Dementia Friends
the Center at Belvedere is deepening its community impact
the Center remains a vital resource for older adults and their families
“It’s something that benefits all of our society when we actually do those things,” said Benjamin
referring to the Center’s commitment to dementia-friendly practices
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Olivia Davis is a Content Contributor for Cville Right Now
UVA Alert Monday morning from self-inflicted gunshot incident
The Nelson County Sheriff and The AWARE Foundation of Virginia asking help finding a missing Nelson County teen
Governor Youngkin took final actions to complete the legislative session for 2025 in the General Assembly
City Council Monday night considers a grant program to assist low- and moderate-income people whose home ownership in the city may be in jeopardy due to financial stress associated with costs owning that home
Virginia’s standing as one of the top states in the nation for patient safety in hospital settings has again been affirmed in the Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grade rankings
Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg unveiled the first proposed renderings of the reimagined Belvedere and the project's new manager at his 2025 State of the City address Thursday
we're now going to create an iconic world-class destination that will serve as Louisville's front yard and canal," he told an audience at the Rotary Club of Louisville
I'm going to publicly share some conceptual renderings of what the Belvedere could look like."
saying she was taking "on a new challenge" in her statement
The initial renderings are not set in stone, Greenberg told the audience at his address. The government is still collecting feedback and community reactions through an online form.
Beyond the announcements about the Belvedere
Greenberg touched on several facets of life in Louisville
from public safety to parks to libraries — including that the Parkland Library will reopen in late February — amid a slew of running puns
though Greenberg said he is committed to reforming the department regardless of a consent decree
gave the speech in a navy suit and athletic shoes
He likened being mayor to running in a race and said he is focused on "building momentum" through the rest of his time in office
spearheaded the legislation and previously said it was meant to force mayoral candidates to "hunt votes" around Jefferson County
Greenberg pitched himself as a mayor for the full county during the address
"I want to strengthen the connections among our neighbors and all of our neighborhoods
whether it's the neighborhoods that are closer to the urban core
or the neighborhoods that are close to the county line and might be surrounded by woods and farmland
The full 2025 State of the City address is online
Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X
Building a Crazy Pro Street Car Out of a Crazily Styled Vehicle Is Pro Street GeniusTony Netzel treated his 1961 Plymouth Belvedere to the Pro Street look
The twin-turbo 440 backs up the looks with serious performance
Barry KluczykWriterKevin DiOssiPhotographerMar 04
There’s a lot of existential power in “just because”—the reflexive reply to an impulsive act that seeks neither validation nor approval
“just because” is the answer to why we pushed your little sister to the ground or poured maple syrup down the heating vents
He plucked it from a wrecking yard in North Dakota way back in 1994
The owner then directed Tony to the Belvedere
“A ’61 Belvedere wasn’t remotely on my radar,” said the flooring specialist from the Gopher State
“but it was so odd-looking that I had to do something with it
it was better than driving home and listening to the empty tow dolly rattle on the highway.”
With inspiration from the low-slung, big-tire Pro Street cars he’d seen in magazines when he was young
it wasn’t long before Tony had the quirky-looking Mopar with the furrowed browback-halved and tubbed
along with a tweed interior and a tangerine paintjob
It was all the standard fare of mid-’90s hot-rodding
but I wanted to stretch the car more and take it to the next level,” he said
but Tony remained steadfast in his grander vision for the car
It included more chassis and suspension work and revisiting the powertrain
“I started thinking more about it over time
and then my buddy Matt suggested twin turbos for the car,” he said
We got started on the car again around 2012.”
effectively creating a full frame over which the unitized body structure was channeled
Highlights include a four-link setup in the rear
with coilovers and a Mustang II–style front suspension and the requisite rack-and-pinion steering system
The stance and ride height are tailored perfectly with airbags
In addition to the dare-to-be-different body, the car’s other big “just because” element is the twin-turbocharged RB big-block
The engine displaces 493 cubic inches (a 0.030-over 440 block with a 4.150-inch stroke) and is fitted with forged internals as well as a comparatively small solid camshaft
It also wears a set of Indy cylinder heads
a pair of 64mm Borg Warner turbos blow into Holley 450-cfm carburetors mounted on old-school Mopar long-ram intake manifolds
Supporting elements include an MSD ignition system and fuel-system stuff from Aeromotive
the force-fed 493 makes about 800 horsepower
which Tony acknowledges seems a bit tame compared to the big-boost street cars topping 1,000
the goal for this car was never to win HOT ROD Drag Week
“It’s not a race car and was never intended to be one,” he said, “but it has gone 10.90 at 132 mph, sips pump gas, and never, ever overheats. I did the last Power Tour West
and when the ambient temperature hit 113 degrees
It’s also worth mentioning just how far streetcar performance has come in recent years
It wasn’t all that long ago that a truly streetable 700-horsepower hot rod would have been cover material
with those twin-turbos on vintage long-ram manifolds
It all finally reaches the pavement via 22.5-inch-wide Hoosier tires mounted on classic Weld Rodlite 15x14-inch rear wheels
Matching 4-inch-wide Rodlites and skinny 165/80R15 tires keep the car’s chin off the ground
As Plymouth applied its own dare-to-be-different styling to the ’61 Belvedere
so Tony simply straightened and smoothed the stock sheetmetal
and gave the hood a bit of a bikini trim to make room for all the turbo plumbing
That stock appearance amplifies the car’s presence
and so does the bold Dodge Viper Snakeskin Green paintwork with a contrasting roof color
There’s also a full rollcage, and to make room for the massive wheeltubs, the rear seat was jettisoned. Nevertheless, there was enough room for a tidy audio system with a Pioneer head unit mounted in a custom center console. The wheeltubs also take up a fair bit of the trunk, which is otherwise filled to the brim with a big long-hauler fuel cell, the battery, and an air tank for the airbags.
That alone justifies the effort. Not that Tony was seeking validation. From every angle, his Plymouth oozes the very essence of “just because.” We should all be so confident.
Formula One has announced Belvedere as the first-ever official vodka partner of the series
This is the latest deal to form part of the ten-year contract that Formula One agreed with LVMH Group last year
It also makes Belvedere the first brand controlled by the luxury goods conglomerate to partner with the series that was not named in the original announcement
Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton were the three brands specified initially
Belvedere’s designation as ‘official vodka’ of Formula One follows the recent trend of increasing commercialisation in the series, which began with KitKat being named the series’ first official chocolate bar in November 2024
“Formula One has always been the symbol of prestige
which is why we are so thrilled to welcome Belvedere as our first official vodka partner,” said Stefano Domenicali
president and chief executive of Formula One
“Together we share the same dedication to quality and the pursuit of exclusive moments
This announcement once again confirms the strong connection with LVMH
Their willingness to fully embrace the spirit of Formula One excites us and makes us proud of this partnership.”
president and chief executive of Belvedere Vodka
added: “I am immensely proud of the partnership between Belvedere and Formula One
“Formula One isn’t just about speed; it’s about spectacle
Belvedere will host an official after party at this year’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix
which is being title sponsored by fellow LVMH-owned brand Louis Vuitton
Looking to unlock more exclusive insights and strategic connections in the motorsport industry
The BlackBook Motorsport Forum is the destination that connects and inspires top decision-makers and leaders across global motorsport. Join us in London on 27th March 2025 to dissect the critical balance between on and off-track performance, exploring areas such as technical innovation, sustainability and commercial success. Discover more here
It's time to inject some much-needed energy into our city. The proposed redesign of the Belvedere
spearheaded by the award-winning London-based design firm Heatherwick Studio
promises to breathe new life into this iconic space
When I first heard about the plans to redo the Belvedere
I couldn't help but wonder: why fix something that isn't broken
it's clear that this project is about more than just aesthetics — it's about creating a vibrant
engaging destination that reflects our inherent spirit
Area landmarks seem to be woven into the designs
thoughtfully incorporating elements from the sweeping curves of the KFC Yum
Center and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts
plus the use of color seen at the Muhammad Ali Center
Belvedere project with Waterfront Park would be visual refugeToday
the question shouldn’t be "why?" It must be "why not?"
but the value they bring to our community is immeasurable
combined with the Waterfront Park and the new play area
would offer a visual refuge for tourists and locals
Gov. Beshear We reintroduced Kentucky to the world at economic forum, and it wants to invest. | Opinion
This public art space would greatly enhance the cityscape
creating a welcoming environment that everyone can enjoy
Louisville tourism brings in a substantial $3.4 billion
and enriching the cultural fabric of our city
While some may be critical of investing in projects aimed at attracting tourists
the benefits extend to everyone in our community
The Belvedere project plays a significant role in drawing visitors
which in turn boosts our economy and provides shared spaces for all to enjoy
inspires creativity and reflects diversity
everything becomes monotonous and uninspired
The Belvedere redesign offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate visual and creative diversity
making our city a better place for everyone
I see office workers taking lunchtime strolls and hear children on field trips laughing and playing while releasing energy
Opinion: Louisville police reform is not optional. It is a mandate from this community.
This project will provide a space for them
It's about creating a place where people can come together
The recent unveiling of renderings for a new multi-million dollar project
The door is now open for a vibrant discussion about our future and sets the stage for defining a collective vision
Heatherwick Studio has created iconic structures worldwide
Their work showcases their ability to blend creativity with functionality
The Belvedere project is another example of their innovative approach
offering our community an exciting opportunity to shape our urban landscape
Looking through the company’s portfolio strengthens my belief that great design can transform spaces and enhance the lives of those who use them
The Belvedere redesign must be more than just a facelift
We should embrace it as a bold step toward creating a world-class destination
Let’s not forget the Michael Graves-designed Humana building
now stands as an iconic symbol of our city's architectural
The Belvedere project must be about embracing change
Let's come together and make this vision a reality
Agree or disagree? Submit your letter to the editor here.
Kolarik is a marketing manager at a Louisville agency
He also is a former Courier Journal Opinion editor
Plans for fuel farms in Fort Pierce, Ormond Beach and Jacksonville made headlines in 2023 amid public outcry over their proximity to neighborhoods and natural waterways
TCPalm previously reported Belvedere Terminals has no experience building or operating such terminals
Now a new investigation found Grupo México
the Mexican company responsible for loading and transporting millions of gallons of flammable petrochemicals
has an extensive record of safety and environmental violations
Neither company responded to TCPalm's multiple requests for comment about the community’s safety concerns
“It's no secret that I am not in favor of this project being so close to our new wastewater treatment plant or 10 Mile Creek,” said Florida Rep
“We must also be careful with the organizations that Belvedere Terminals will partner with.”
What is Grupo México?Grupo México is a global mining
transportation and infrastructure conglomerate based in Mexico City with operations in México
The company bought the Florida East Coast Railway in 2017
making it ultimately responsible for the fuel tankers
CEO Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco — the world's second-richest Latin American
according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index — has expanded the company into the freight rail industry since taking over in 1994
the company operates over 6,800 miles of track
It's not uncommon for companies as large as Grupo México to receive safety and environmental violations
especially when they manage operations across multiple industries
But the mining and transportation conglomerate was fined 2.5 times more money than the average of its top 10 peers in the industry
Since acquiring FEC Railway seven years ago
Grupo México has more than doubled its safety violations
according to Federal Railroad Administration data
the FEC Railway received 14 safety violations during the seven years before Grupo México took over
the railway was hit with 38 safety violations
Grupo México was found responsible for various environmental disasters around the world, including what the Mexican government considers the worst mining disaster in its history: a 2014 acid waste spill in Sonora that contaminated a dozen towns and two rivers
U.S. operations have resulted in nearly a half-billion dollars in environmental violations since 2000, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA slammed mining subsidiary ASARCO with a $163.5 million penalty in 2015 for releasing hazardous air pollutants, including lead and arsenic, from a 103-year-old copper smelter in Arizona.
Mining operations were responsible for 20 Superfund sites in seven states, which are contaminated areas so polluted that cleanup could take years.
Belvedere Terminals: Fort Pierce fuel farm sparks public safety, water pollution concerns
Belvedere Terminals: CEO and founder Edwin Cothron bribed public official in 1984
On the Treasure Coast, the company was fined $7,090 in 2023 for letting toxic lead paint flake off into the St. Sebastian River for years, according to Florida Department of Environmental Protection records
Grupo México has the second highest total fines for environmental violations, topped only by Norfolk Southern, the railway responsible for the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in 2023. Here are the top 10 freight rail companies operating in the U.S
and their total financial penalties since 2000:
a Volusia County resident who helped lead the opposition to that fuel farm
Fort Pierce fuel farm plansBelvedere Terminals
is responsible for building and operating the fuel tanks
The company leased land from FEC Railway to build the Fort Pierce fuel farm and submitted a pre-application plan to St
There's “no update yet," a spokesperson told TCPalm in December
Initial plans call for fuel tanks on a 145-acre forested site on Glades Cut Off Road
just south of Lake Zobel in the George LeStrange Preserve
The fuel farm would be about half a mile from residential neighborhoods and adjacent to the Ten Mile Creek
The depot would have one 40-foot-tall tank that would hold 94,000 barrels
two 40-feet-tall tanks that would hold 67,000 barrels
and a smaller secondary tank that would hold 51,000 barrels
Belvedere Terminals' intentions in Ormond Beach are uncertain
The company hasn't responded to Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald nor addressed concerns that it omitted certain wetlands impacts in its Environmental Resource Permit application
“After several attempts to reach you and your associate … I continue to seek information from you, or any of your associates, to ascertain Belvedere's intentions,” he wrote in a letter to Belvedere Terminals in August 2024
Belvedere also hasn't said whether it's considering relocating the 16-tank fuel farm proposed near neighborhoods
the city's municipal airport and the Ormond Beach Sports Complex
officials and environmental advocates pressured Belvedere to move the site and the state allocated $10 million to do so
Jacksonville had more luck convincing Belvedere to relocate its 14-tank terminal from a site near the Dinsmore neighborhood
Belvedere agreed to build it at a CSX railway depot off Sportsman Club Road
Fuel will be transported by FEC Railway south of Jacksonville
Belvedere points to Florida’s lack of gas pipelines and in-state production of oil
More fuel resiliency would reduce the reliance of boat deliveries
“We are in communication with Florida state leaders and we are hopeful that our company's mission will benefit Floridians,” CEO and President Edwin Cothron III said in the statement
What is Belvedere Terminals and who runs it? Belvedere was founded in Delaware in 2012 and began doing business in St. Petersburg in 2019, according to Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations records
The company’s website said Cothron has "a thorough knowledge of the petroleum industry" from his 29 years in "management, training and service-related experience,” and that he developed over 50 gasoline convenience and retail centers in his career
Cothron has tangled with criminal and financial issues, including two bankruptcies and a 1984 conviction for bribing a public official
he offered $50,000 to a State Attorney’s Office representative to drop cocaine trafficking charges against a longtime friend who was on parole
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com
— Residents filled the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday for discussion surrounding a proposed fuel terminal in Palm Coast
Belvedere Terminals are looking to build near the city’s utility plant off of U.S
1 after plans in Ormond Beach fell through
That project has seen a lot of back and forth
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris took to Facebook
saying he recommended to city staff to withdraw from consideration for the project
“We are severely limited on properties zoned for industrial development and the large landowners are unlikely to offer up lands for zoning changes to bring about meaningful industrial / commercial development,” Norris stated in his post
His post included an email sent to Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston
saying in part: “In light of the quite vocal rejection of the project
we need to withdraw from consideration for the terminal project.”
13 people used public comment at the commission meeting to speak about the proposed fuel terminal
a majority holding signs and wearing shirts in opposition
“Most of us are against this and we’re outraged
we’re deeply concerned,” Palm Coast resident Narina Speaks said.
a neighborhood that’s a few minutes away from the proposed fuel terminal’s location
She worries about the environmental impacts this project could have and its proximity to neighboring buildings
we have our elders living there,” Speaks said
“If we don’t stand and we don’t speak up about what’s going on
we’re going to have everything polluted and our environment’s going to go terrible
We’re just not going to have a chance for our kids to enjoy what we’re enjoying.”
Joshua Stumbo started a petition on Change.org that’s for the Belvedere fuel terminal
He believes the city and county need to see this through
they’re just denying it like the city hasn’t done anything yet about it
let the facts be heard before we just say no,” Stumbo said
Stumbo is from Pennsylvania and knows what it’s like to be close to projects of this scale
To him and many others, it’s about job creation in the area
they’re right next to houses up there and they haven’t done anything,” he said
it only damages the tank and 400 feet away
It doesn’t go a mile and a half to a mile away.”
A city of Palm Coast spokesperson tells Spectrum News 13 they believe this project will be talked about more during Tuesday’s city council workshop
Flagler County and Palm Coast leaders said the fuel terminal project would create high-paying jobs
but he also had a successful acting career
including his role in the popular TV sitcom Mr
Uecker spent several years playing the part of George Owens
But what hasn’t changed is her love and appreciation for Bob Uecker
The ‘80s hit show made viewers fall even more in love with Uecker
Tracy says it was “amazing” to work with him as a child
She played his TV daughter from the age of 12 until she turned 18
“He was like a second dad to me,” Tracy said
They were like a parental figure for me for most of my life.”
visiting them in Wisconsin on his boat and sharing time in Los Angeles when he went there to call Brewers games
She said they always tried to get together
Tracy was lucky enough to see Bob just three weeks ago at his home in Menomonee Falls
“When I first walked into their home and saw him
‘Get a hold of your emotions,’ because the sight of him made me want to burst into tears
and we just sat at the kitchen table for a few hours.”
Watch: Tracy Tofte remembers Uecker as her TV father
Tracy learned of Bob’s passing from a text message early this morning
As she works through the shock and heartbreak of Mr
darling,’ and giving me a big hug,” Tracy said
“He would call me Darling Trace and kitten
He had so much pride about baseball in Milwaukee
you could see how the memories mattered to him
And I’m just very honored and blessed to have known him
I feel like everybody should try to be like Bob—make everybody feel special.”
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Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight
A missing person report was taken Sunday in the 2300 block of Olive Street
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It is with the most profound sadness that we announce the passing of Devin “Belvedere” Shea on July 10
due to complications from ventricular tachycardia
He will be remembered and missed by his parents Jim and Linda (Wickeri) Shea of Hudson
brother Jamie Shea and his wife Teri of Framingham
He attended Hudson High School (Class of 1997)
he spent his entire life in Hudson and in Orleans
He loved not only the people of Hudson and Orleans
and collected and preserved memorabilia from both towns since he was a child in his family’s antique shop
Devin graduated UMASS Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art + Design: Graphic Design (Class of 2001.) He was incredibly artistic and creative
making the perfect gift at the perfect time
He helped to restore his family’s beloved cottage “The Surf” at the Cape
and put many unique “Devin” touches in
such as antique porthole windows and mirrors
learning to play at the Odd Fellows Hall (above the family antique store) and then at On Cue Billiards in Hudson when he was 13 years old
he worked at Gee Cues Billiards in Marlborough
He won more pool tournaments than can be counted
and has competed nationally in Las Vegas nine times
He ran the Massachusetts Eagles Eight-Ball Tournament whenever the Hudson club hosted
Devin was also an avid fisherman and sportsman
He loved spending time at his summer home in Orleans
always making time to stop for a few casts under the Railroad Bridge along the Cape Cod Canal
and brought many a bushel home to share with dear friends
or a batch of 2:00 AM baked-stuffed quahogs
that told someone immediately how you knew him
and yet always made you feel like the only person in the room
Devin was loved by many and he loved you back even more
When asking friends to sum him up in a single sentence
the same qualities came up again and again
He always made himself available to anyone in need and would do anything for anyone
He helped so many people and touched so many lives
whether it was to give a hand or just be there as a friend
or just to say nothing and give you the best hugs.
Devin was a kind soul who could always make you laugh
he was the friend who would find something and turn it into a joke
along with a smile that would brighten up the room
no matter who you were or what mood you were in
could always put a smile on your face and was there for you when you needed him
He was an old soul who brought a certain type of happiness into people's lives
and had the ability to make people feel like they were on a field trip when in his company
He was always happy as he made his way about town
Devin was incredibly intelligent and wildly clever
He had a memory like an elephant and used it to his hilarious advantage
(Don’t let him know your soft spot!) He remembered things about everybody
He could take the smallest piece of “junk”
turn it into something so special for someone
Or he would decorate something or hide something in your home
yet understood for each person he knew just what special combination of his personality they needed most
That is the one thing that sums up Devin the most
the one thing that he was incredibly rich with – love
He loved everyone and was loved by everyone
Please join us in celebrating Devin’s/Belvedere’s indominable wit and spirit at a Celebration of Life at the Hudson Elks (99 Park St.) on July 28
in a private ceremony on the family’s property in Cape Cod
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Belvedere Terminals has shifted its plans from building a fuel storage and distribution facility near Ormond Beach to a site in Palm Coast as its proposed location
Belvedere Terminals plans to build the facility on more than 70 acres near the city’s utility plant off U.S
The project is expected to bring about 300,000 barrels of product ― one barrel is equal to 42 gallons ― in about four to five tanks
Belvedere Terminals' Chief Financial Officer Tim Schwarz said
Schwarz said Belvedere Terminals chose the site in part because it's already zoned for industrial use and it's near to the Florida East Coast Railway track
which would be used for transporting the product
He said he's been working closely with Flagler County and Palm Coast officials on the plans
Belvedere Terminals plans to invest about $75 million in the project and use an additional $10 million from the state of Florida
The state offered the money as an incentive for the project to move from Ormond Beach to an alternative site in Volusia
and the funds would go through Flagler County government
Plans for the Ormond Beach project on Hull Road faced major backlash from residents
business owners and others concerned about the possible hazards of living next to a large fuel storage facility as well as traffic increases and other issues
Schwarz said he's trying to avoid that early by educating people about the safety features and benefits of the Palm Coast project
"There's a lot of things that we bring that I don't think we ever really got a fair hearing in Ormond Beach to talk about the benefits
I think people were too concerned about a lot of disinformation about the safety of our system," he said
Schwarz said Ormond Beach is a backup plan if Palm Coast falls through
The Florida East Coast Railway owns the Ormond Beach site
Elena Krafft was among those who advocated against the Ormond Beach location
"I'm incredibly happy for Ormond Beach," Krafft said
"It was always an extremely inappropriate project for our beautiful beach community
will be part of a bigger system of fuel delivery and storage that has taken more than 10 years and over $20 million to develop to date
"We're redesigning the way product is brought into Florida," he said
every gallon of gas you consume currently comes over the water into the three main ports: Tampa
crews will load 125-car trains with product at a hub in Mississippi
and the trains will deliver products to "spur locations" in Jacksonville
the products will be trucked to local retailers
Schwarz said it will provide a stable source of fuel that won't be disrupted by severe weather like ports are
and it also won't rely on long-haul trucking
Safety has been top of mind for Belvedere Terminals from the beginning
and the business has invested "millions and millions" toward that end
The trains are built specifically for Belvedere Terminals
If a component such as a bearing were to overheat
the locomotive and control room would be notified
the train would stop and the train car would be pulled out of service for repairs
"That telemetrics is basically bringing passenger-level safety to industrial-commercial rail," Schwarz said
The storage tanks will be state of the art
with advanced lightning protection systems and floating roofs to prevent vapor and air from accumulating and risking an ignition
Each tank would have a foam suppression system that would be immediately triggered to put out a fire if something ignited
Tanks would be monitored daily for leaks visually and electronically
The entire facility would also have a berm wall
it would be contained within the berm wall
Underneath the property will be a nonpermeable membrane so no leaks will seep out of the area and into the groundwater system
the facility will go above Environmental Protection Agency standards to control vapor loss
which can happen when moving product from one container to another
"We're 10 times better than the EPA's standard for vapor recovery," he said
Schwarz said officials expect about one train a week to come to the Palm Coast site and about four trucks from customers an hour to pick up fuel for local delivery
What's the next step in the Palm Coast fuel facility project?The land is already zoned for industrial use
Belvedere Terminals still needs to complete a lease agreement with Flagler County
and go through the regular project permitting process with Palm Coast
which is from the Florida Department of Commerce
will also go toward site improvements and building infrastructure
Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito said in a prepared statement
While the project sparked pushback in Ormond Beach
Palm Coast officials voiced enthusiasm for the fuel facility
The project is expected to bring in 30 to 35 jobs with salaries of $100,000 or more and $800,000 of tax revenue
A press release from Flagler County government said the project would be an "economic development boon" in a county where only about 5 percent of tax revenue comes from commercial and industrial properties
Belvedere Terminals also plans to work with its customers
and with Palm Coast and the surrounding area to ensure that fuel is available for first responders in the event of an emergency that limits access to fuel
Palm Coast and Flagler County officials commented on the proposed fuel facility Friday
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris said in a text message to The News-Journal that
"It's a strategic asset for the state and an economic opportunity for … our city that's in desperate need of balancing out our tax base
With the planned north-south connector C.R
it will be ideally located to support ingress and egress into and out of the state during national disasters."
Palm Coast Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston said economic vitality is one of the community's top priorities because it will help diversify the tax base
“This project will help us start to balance our tax base more evenly and minimize the burden on residential homeowners," she said in a prepared statement
Staff writer Colleen Michele Jones contributed to this story
but the effort to build the riverfront plaza took nearly the same length of time
Louisville residents not only celebrated the achievement
they reflected on the decades it took to get the project done
Louis consultant Harland Bartholomew collected dust for 27 years before they were picked up and revised
Louisville officials agreed to have the Reynolds Metals Company and General Electric buy and develop a riverfront park
but the relationship between the businesses and the city would soon grow tense
Reynolds felt they had to wait too long to get the project started
while city leaders were skeptical of the "elaborate and expensive" designs drawn up by Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis
Reynolds and GE pulled out of the project in 1967
the portion of Interstate 64 running past downtown Louisville
A local planning group wanted to split the expressway and develop the proposed riverside park in between
but the Kentucky Highway Department disagreed
The Belvedere plaza would eventually be built on top of the highway
More: Retro Louisville | Louisville Downs closes in 1991 following decades of harness racing
as "expediter" of the riverside park project in 1964
Cochran died before the Belvedere opened to the public
but he was credited by officials for leading the turnaround of what was a floundering project before he came in
a seven-member board "created to get the project moving," the Courier Journal noted in a 1973 article
Work to develop the Belvedere did finally get moving in 1969
who was retained by the Riverside Commission as the project's lead architect
all of which would cost about $13.5 million to put up
The city started taking in construction bids in July 1969
Ground was broken on the garage five months later
Barmore Construction was awarded a $2.3 million contract to build the Belvedere plaza
When the area opened to the public 18 months later
Burke considered it to be one of the best riverfront developments in the country
It's a return of the city to its source," he said in April 1973
More: Retro Louisville | Jackie Robinson visits Kentucky as baseball player, social justice advocate
hundreds of students from Louisville schools released balloons into the sky and watched as fountainheads sprayed water in a dazzling display
1973 called the ceremony a "glorious moment for Louisville" and a "realization of a dream of some 40 years ago."
then told them who the Belvedere is meant for
"Over there you see a mother and her children
This is significant because the plaza is dedicated to them," he said
More: Greenberg unveils Belvedere renderings at 2025 State of the City address
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X
Belvedere Senior Housing hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt
a family-friendly event open to the public
Director of Marketing and Sales Andrea Puente and Executive Director Stephanie Westphal were thrilled to welcome the community for fun and connection
“It’s a great opportunity for the community to visit our residence home and create some amazing memories together,” said Puente
“We have a variety of activities planned for families
We’re also offering photos with the Easter Bunny and providing lunch
so it’s a nice way for residents to enjoy a meal with those visiting their home.”
Westphal had a lot to prepare for the event
and it was certainly worth it—it was well attended and thoughtfully organized
She can credit not only her efforts but also the support of Puente
who plays a key role in ensuring the community knows about their presence and in bringing people together for the meaningful events they host
“We start planning and preparing months in advance,” said Westphal
“We begin by working on candy donations and deciding which activities to include
make sure the Easter Bunny arrives on time
It takes a lot of coordination to get all the eggs stuffed
thanks to the hard work of our marketing director.”
Events like these are amazing for the residents of Belvedere Senior Housing
as they get a chance to enjoy the weather and spend valuable time with their family and friends
“It benefits the community because they enjoy a fun
family-friendly event—even if they’re not directly connected to our residents,” said Puente
and we just want everyone to know about all the great things happening here at Belvedere Senior Housing
we want our residents to keep making amazing memories.”
the turnout exceeded expectations as the population nearly tripled compared to the year before
“We received candy donations from several local businesses,” said Puente
“We also provide baskets and over 1,000 Easter eggs filled with candy
We want to give a big shoutout to our team—they helped stuff the eggs
and promoted the event to make sure as many people as possible could enjoy it
They’ll also be the ones helping run everything on the day of.”
Many of the residents at Belvedere Senior Housing don't have family nearby—or
any family—so bringing in children and creating an intergenerational experience is incredibly special for them
The residents are filled with smiles and laughter during and after these events
we prioritize bringing the community into our building as much as possible,” said Westphal
"Many of our residents aren’t able to get out easily
but they’re still a part of this community
we help them stay connected to the world around them
Our second annual Easter egg hunt is a wonderful opportunity for intergenerational engagement—our residents love seeing all the little kids running around and being part of the fun.”
For more information about Belvedere Senior Housing, visit their website and Facebook page.
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Search‘Madam Belvedere’ Connie Wiley dies at 98, leaves legacy of civic dedicationFrancisco MartinezJan 157 min readEx-Belvedere Mayor Connie Wiley died on Christmas Eve at age 98
(via Paige Peterson)Longtime Belvedere resident Connie Wiley
a former Citizen of the Year and two-time mayor whose dedication to civic volunteerism included a combined 12 years on the City Council and Planning Commission
died of COVID-19 at her lagoon home on Christmas Eve
Wiley was elected uncontested to the City Council in 1996 after four years on the planning board
She stepped down after serving two full terms
and was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2005
where she served as an inaugural Belvedere member from 2007 to 2011
she was a member of the Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce board and the Tiburon Economic Development Committee and co-chaired the inaugural Friday Nights on Main street festival when it debuted in September 2004
Wiley built an accomplished career as an interior designer and was long considered one of Northern California’s top professionals
She was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and had her work published in three books
Interior-design magazine House Beautiful featured a kitchen she redesigned on its front cover in 1992
and she co-owned decorative-arts store The Dovecote at The Boardwalk shopping center for a quarter century
said Wiley was a neighbor and friend of her parents
She called Wiley a role model because of how she cared for the city
which came through whenever she talked about it
“She’s always been seen as the elder stateswoman of the city and everyone
respects her for all she’s done,” Cooper said
Longtime friend and former Mayor Sandy Donnell said Wiley epitomized what was beautiful about Belvedere and noted that “living in Belvedere
“If anyone deserved a title to be Madam Belvedere
and there’s nobody like her right now,” Donnell said
an engineer who graduated from Harvard University
Francis Wood neighborhood of the city and graduated from the all-girls Katherine Delmar Burke School
as her family would sail out to Belvedere Cove
Wiley’s grandparents built a home on San Rafael Avenue in 1952
She lived on San Rafael Avenue until about 1977 before moving to Beach Road
where she lived next-door to actor Vivian Vance of “I Love Lucy” fame until Vance’s death in 1979
She then moved into Vance’s former residence
when she moved back to San Rafael Avenue and remained there until her death
Tennis was an integral part of Wiley’s life
She played for the University of California at Berkeley tennis team as its No
graduating from the university around 1948 with a bachelor’s in design
Wiley then embarked on a brief professional tennis career that was cut short after she faced 14-year-old Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly in 1948
“And then Mom realized that maybe she was really good
but that was the end of her professional career,” Peterson said
Connolly in 1953 became the first woman to complete the Grand Slam in a calendar year by winning Wimbledon and the tournaments now known as the Australian Open
Wiley continued to play tennis recreationally all over the world
She also once played doubles with famed Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti against a pair that included San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen
you run,’” Peterson said of the doubles match
“She said he was a really good athlete and a really good tennis player
but she ran her ass off while he stood at the net.”
Wiley worked in the design department and on the sales floor at Macy’s before earning her design license and beginning her interior-design practice
Though she was active in the field up to her death
her mother’s prime as a designer was in the 1980s and ’90s
Wiley was able to bring in Italian and French furniture and give the pieces a “bit of modern design,” Peterson said
adding that Wiley’s sense of color and ability to arrange and layer made her a brilliant designer
“She had the most extraordinary visual ability to see beauty,” Peterson said
“She loved fabrics and painted furniture and lovely paintings
Wiley ran her interior-design business out of The Dovecote
said Wiley brought in the likes of Battersea enamelware
Russian lacquer boxes and Fortuny-branded fabrics
She was later married to John Wiley from 1959 to 1973
but Peterson said her mother’s most important relationship was her six-year relationship with Otto Lang
Peterson said her mother and Lang were a match because Lang was “very sophisticated and a lover of beauty as a filmmaker.”
“I think they connected in a way that was completely different,” Peterson said
Wiley first got involved in the city’s civic affairs when she joined the Planning Commission in 1992
she pointed to a recent flurry of demolition-permit requests submitted by homeowners and said Belvedere “must be very careful what kind of homes are built on those properties” and that the city’s character should remain the same
While she noted at the time that evaluating home proposals could be difficult and that the commission’s work was often thankless
she reiterated how important the board was to the city
“I think every citizen who loves this city should volunteer in some capacity,” Wiley said in 1992
working for the common good of the community.”
Wiley said her priorities were ensuring the Belvedere Lagoon did not become “walled in” by new homes and remodels
She also worked to plan Belvedere’s Venice-themed centennial celebration later that year
Former Belvedere City Manager Ed San Diego said he first met Wiley around 1987
when the city was working to convert its former fire station into what is now the Belvedere Community Center
He said he reached out to her because of her interior-design expertise
and they talked about what furniture should go in the space
The pair’s professional relationship blossomed from there
with San Diego offering guidance and answering questions when needed
He noted Wiley would come into his office and ask the questions she needed to on items like the city’s budget
only leaving when she was satisfied with what he said and how it would relate to the city
where the two reminisced about their time together
San Diego said he was heartbroken to hear of Wiley’s death
adding that “the interests of Belvedere were first and foremost in her mind.”
“She was like a mother figure and wanted to make sure everything worked collegially in the family
Following her 2004 departure from the City Council
Wiley remained active in local politics after being elected to the Sanitary District No
The city of Belvedere had been annexed into the district in 2005
and the 2007 election was the first time Belvedere residents were able to run for a seat on the board and vote in the election
Wiley became part of Belvedere’s inaugural class on the board alongside Claire McAuliffe
Donnell noted that one of Wiley’s standout qualities was her confidence in speaking her mind
“She was smart and sharp until the last minute of her life,” Donnell said
“It was inspiring to see how brilliant her brain still was.”
Belvedere resident Adam Gavzer said he first met Wiley when he and husband James Campbell moved into the city in 2007; she was the first to invite them over for lunch
He said his favorite memory of Wiley is their shared dances during the city’s free annual Concerts in the Park series
where Gavzer recalled Wiley’s beautiful outfits and how she’d light up whenever he asked her to dance
and I just think her loss is a great loss to the community,” Gavzer said
said Wiley was a prolific host of luncheons and informal social events
He also remembers Wiley’s love for the animals that roam the city; Wiley would often ask Campbell about where pelicans would go to sleep at night
and she still felt she was the luckiest person on Earth to be able to live here and enjoy all of this,” Campbell said
Peterson said that while Wiley could be intimidating as a parent
given her prowess as a tennis player and as a sailor
Peterson said her own work ethic comes from changing The Dovecote’s window displays every Sunday
saying that as a kid she witnessed her mother “doing extraordinary things and being remarkably successful” at her professional and civic endeavors
Peterson said Belvedere was her mother’s greatest love
“It was one of the last things she talked about in the last week: ‘I just love my city.’”
adding that he was unsure who’d fill in for her role
“I hope we haven’t moved out of that generation where there’s a person like Connie
who’s the fabric and the glue of the community
In addition to daughters Peterson and Laurie Everson
Wiley is survived by grandchildren Heidi Geist
Alexandra Peterson and Peter Cary Peterson
A private memorial service will be held in May
Reach Tiburon reporter Francisco Martinez at 415-944-4634
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April 3, 2025 | FlaglerLive | 30 Comments
“The pause is appropriate,” County Commission Chair Andy Dance said this morning
and sharing of information on his type of significant project is important.”
The Flagler County Commission was to approve the $10 million grant since the county would be buying the land on behalf of Belvedere
and for five years would be the property owner of the site in Palm Coast
(Belvedere would pay property taxes starting from year one of operations.)
Closing on the property would have to occur within six months of the County Commission approving it
and $2 million of the $10 million would have to be handed to Belvedere within 90 days after closing for site development
The county has until June 2026 to approve the grant
The decision to pull the proposal for now also reflects trepidation not just from the public
but from elected officials–and not just in Palm Coast
the county chair–and a landscape architect–has concerns
my initial concerns are ones that have been repeated by residents
and that’s the location of the wells and the water treatment plant,” Dance said
The water plant is about 3,500 feet from the project parcel in one direction
A pair of wells are equidistant in the other direction
So those are still items that are for me still being evaluated.”
Neither the Palm Coast City Council nor the County Commission had discussed the plan in public until the council did so for the first time Tuesday
prompted by public responses to reporting about the plan
along with Belvedere Terminals’ chief financial officer
disclosed the plan’s details to reporters last Thursday
Company officials had met individually with city and county elected officials in late February and early March
The plan until then had been cloaked under the state’s allowance for certain economic development projects to be temporarily exempt from sunshine-law disclosure
we’re going to pick this land and the county is going to buy it and own the land
and the company is going to go belly-up,” Pontieri said
filed for bankruptcy in 1998 and 2012.) “If it does go belly up we certainly don’t want a wasteland
particularly next to residential development.”
Mayor Mike Norris has championed the project as essential to balance the city’s tax base
which relies heavily on residential development
even he was acknowledging public distaste for the facility at the U.S
“We only have so much industrial land so I don’t think they’re going to have an easy time finding a site unless they have a connection with Rayonier,” the Jacksonville-based timbering company that owns the majority of the land west of U.S
“Maybe they can try something further down in the county
If it’s safe in the county that’s a big bonus to the tax base
but I don’t think the citizens of Palm Coast have an appetite for it
But that’ll be between the county and Belvedere.”
Glad they will look at other options for the fuel depot
That site was not a good one for that use
Why don’t they build it in the middle of the approved 8,000 residential for the Growth of a Vision of 2050 for Bunnell
Let’s see how that flies with the developers
A lot of the problems Palm Coast has are due to the inability of the city to hold builders that live here accountable for contractual agreements
If the city cant get builders that live here to live up to the contractual agreements then how do they expect to hold a CEO living in a country where the drug cartels have more powee than the politicians accountable
Especially a CEO with a track record of taking the money and then declaring bankruptcy leaving cities burried in debt and toxic waste
When this happens the FL governments department of envirinmental protection will have no problem opening a second lawsuit against us
like the other environmental fines they already have piled on the city
And the EPA will join suit and fine the city
This scenario will play out with a declaration of palm coast as a public “superfund” site that will tank property and result in continous and perpetual fines for cancer causing carcinogens
We need to protect the ground water supply in that area
we need an industrial tax base to help support growth in the this county
We need the type of business that employs 100’s of people who make things
that creates a salary base for people to live here and prosper
This fuel dump would employ 40 people who are going to watch computer screens
and keep the place from leaking or catching fire
We don’t need new schools because this city hasn’t provided a place for young people to work and start new families
Instead we attract 50+ year olds who are at or near the twilight of there working careers and the last thing we want is increasing costs
My wife and I are always amazed to see the level of low paying strip mall or gas station jobs that are built on every square inch of available soil
These jobs used to be entry level into the real working world or support you while in school
Now the expectation is that these jobs are a career
The council blames how the land was previously rezoned
This is as dumb as buying an RV and a boat then driving them home wondering how it’ll all fit in the single car garage
to “diversify our tax base” in their own words
They prioritized their pitiful desperation before citizen and community wellbeing for sure
A big thanks to our city and county commissioners for tabling this project for future study
I am pro-business and hope that we can bring some industrial business where appropriate to the surrounding areas
Must build the thing and and be done with it
Palm Coast is always crying it’s need more industry
Either build it or quit crying about industry in the city
That fuel depot should be down toward Brevard County to serve folks north
A depot at or next to I95 and the 528 would serve that purpose
did I just read that the Ritz-Carlton is wanting to build an elite 128 condo
Just think if we would’ve stood up before all this development and overpopulation
This would’ve been a nice quiet town instead of the zoo it is becoming like Orlando
Just another example of government getting in the way of business
This is a Republican county and people here voted for less regulation
Will politicians have to return the bribes they got for pushing this shit
People opposed to this is are overlooking some key facts: #1 Regardless of where the Fuel Depot end up being built
the trains loaded with Fuel are still going to be passing the new neighborhoods
the water treatment plant and the water wells
#2 Fuel Depot’s and Fuel Tank Farms are required by EPA and fire code regulation to have liners and berms to contain over 100% of the maximum capacity of whatever will be on site
#3 Railroad tracks do not have to contain anything and often do end up with derailments that leak chemicals into ground water
#4 Having the Fuel Depot in the proposed location means that the trains will be moving slowly to unload in the vicinity and therefore much less likely to derail with spillage
#5 Having the Fuel Depot in Flagler provides energy security for Flagler residents in the event of storms versus the current situation with everything having to be trucked into the county
#6 Having the Fuel Depot local to Palm Coast means residents might finally be able to get cheaper gas since we will no longer be an the end of expensive distribution routes
The whole Belvedere fuel farm strikes me as a solution looking for a problem
When have our gas stations ever run out of fuel with the current distribution system
for giving us a clearer picture about what has been happening behind the scenes and how our input as local residents can still impact what can be done to stop this fuel tank farm
which is incompatible with the surrounding community
A question I have regarding zoning (rezoning) is: How was the land rezoned from industrial to residential over the past decade or so
but that parcel cannot be rezoned as residential
It seems that now that there are hundreds of homes and thousands of residents living adjacent or very near this site
it would make more sense to rezone the parcel that Belvedere Terminals wants to build on
We are not opposed to an industrial project
as long as it doesn’t have negative health
safety and environmental impacts on the surrounding community as the Belvedere Terminals project clearly does
‘ninetynine problems but a superfund site aint one’ commented : “If the city cant get builders that live here to live up to the contractual agreements then how do they expect to hold a CEO living in a country where the drug cartels have more powee than the politicians accountable.”
But a little research turns up that the CEO: “Cothron is a sixth-generation Floridian who studied engineering and computer science at Santa Fe College in Gainesville from 1979-1981
as per https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2023/11/13/belvedere-terminals-fuel-farm-ceo-founder-edwin-cothron-1984-bribery-conviction-two-bankruptcies/71520323007/
Maybe ‘ninetynine problems but a superfund site aint one’ has a little racism problem
It just speaks to: Someone is getting paid off
I hope people will still show up at the Flagler County commissioner meeting on Monday morning
You’re necks are on the chopping block
Keep the tankers trucks on State road US-1
Then watch builders still build near the terminal
like the airport where the people complain that actually moved there
This way others can move near it and complain
I’ll take the the industrial taxes and 50 in- house jobs
If they build it out in the middle of nowhere it just shouldn’t be a problem
@”Standing in the middle of Palm Coast Pkwy” thank you for fact checking this
It is both unfortunate and unsurprising a good ole boy from Gainesville is in on this
I was referring to parent company Groupo Mexicono
let us not forget the parent company of Marineland was based in Mexico and them declaring bankruptcy is the other major cataltyst for PalmCoasts woes
It is not racist to point this out I assure you
Mexico peopke would not be allowes to have the discussions like we are having online about this
Cartels would be involved in making sure the deal goes through and dissenters end up in wells
There is a good reason a lot of mexicans want to immigrate here
They have had entire city blocks explode killing their families
Bunch of Karen’s in this area… all you people just moan and groan about everything
@Landman – The 30-40 jobs are mostly engineers jobs paying $100K a year
If they are going to hire folks from Palm Coast that would be great but I have absolutely no faith in that
they are not human resource jobs and they are not maintenance jobs
If there are men and women engineers living here in Palm Coast and they are looking for a job that’s great but some how I don’t think so
I believe Palm Coast is mostly made up of folks trying to retire
I could be wrong so more than likely there will be no jobs for our residents
And I’m still not understanding 100% “as the county will own the property for the first five years
though Belvedere Terminals will pay property taxes from the time it begins operations.” My understanding is that this company will not be paying taxes on the land they own for the first five years
I would like for them to pay mine for five years
Where is it coming from because in my mind if the county/city whoever has this money then it should go to the water treatment plant
This farm is benefiting Volusia and St Johns County but we will be living with it
THERE IS NO IN LAND AVAILABLE AND IF SO IT STILL DOES NOT BELONG IN PALM COAST
I live a little too close to this and I am NOT A KAREN
No one should be complaining about anything that a company wants to do
Remember how bad regulations are and how detrimental they are to business
They should be welcomed into ever neighborhood not just someone else’s
DeSantis wants Buc-ees with their 104 pumps to not run out of gas
All 3 of the proposed Counties have or will have a Buc-ees within 30 miles
Hard to tell how much Buc-ees contributed to his campaign (which it did) because PACs hide it well
Landman… says: You really think your property taxes will decrease
The company itself said 35 engineering jobs paying 100k but likely they’ll bring their own
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A proposed fuel terminal that previously prompted safety concerns from some Volusia County residents and elected officials may have found a new home in Flagler County
pending processes and approvals that would still need to come through before any development plans are finalized
Belvedere Terminals is eyeing a parcel of land zoned for industrial use in Palm Coast
making it a good fit for the fuel storage and distribution terminal Belvedere wants to build
according to Chief Financial Officer Timothy Schwarz
“We need to be adjacent to rail tracks for the way our system is designed,” Schwarz said
“Belvedere's system brings product in by rail
“pretty much every gallon of gas you consume comes over the water,” from refineries off the Gulf Coast
the gas is long-haul trucked to various locations throughout the state
“That is a system that has some vulnerabilities to it
and you have recovery and repair challenges in the aftermath of [hurricanes].”
Belvedere’s $500 million fuel terminal project is “designed to have a safer
cleaner way to bring refined products — gas
jet [fuel] — into the state of Florida,” Schwarz said
Originally, Belvedere had hoped to develop a fuel terminal site in Ormond Beach in Volusia County. But those plans ultimately fell through, following months of pushback from area residents, some of whom lived under a mile from where the facility would be built. A petition against the Ormond Beach site drew nearly 44,000 signatures
“There was a fair amount of local resistance to that
and I think a fair amount of activity by the government — the elected officials — that appeared to make it a challenge
After initially voting unanimously in favor of a temporary moratorium on industrial development
including the site where Belvedere hoped to build
Volusia County Council members later stepped back from that moratorium: clearing the way for Belvedere to build in Ormond Beach
RELATED: Volusia Council tosses moratorium, clearing path for controversial fuel farm
the company ultimately backed off from its plans to develop in Volusia
Belvedere is finding a more receptive audience in Palm Coast and the wider Flagler community
because of the tremendous benefits we bring to the community for doing this,” Schwarz said
Many Volusia County residents had voiced their safety concerns with the proposed facility, which would be designed to store up to 500 million gallons of different fuels, according to an initial air construction permit issued in 2023 by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection
Residents worried about what could possibly happen in the case of a chemical explosion or other emergency situation at the site
the proposed fuel terminal would not be dangerous
describing safety as Belvedere’s “absolute number-one priority.” He pointed to the company’s investment of millions of dollars into “state-of-the-art safety systems,” adding that all rail cars would be brand new
applied to commercial-grade rail traffic,” Schwarz said
was established to deliver projects designed to boost the resiliency of Florida’s fuel supply
When asked about the company’s track record with building similar fuel terminal projects
the spokeswoman wrote via email that Belvedere works “with a broad team that includes some of the best design
with decades of experience and hundreds of comparable projects.”
To move the project forward, Belvedere has its eye on a $10 million appropriation to the Department of Commerce, which state lawmakers specifically set aside last year for either Volusia
Brevard or Flagler County to build a fuel storage and distribution terminal
Flagler commissioners are slated to discuss approval of the $10 million appropriation at an April 7 commission meeting
the county would move forward with a purchase and sale agreement for Belvedere to acquire the industrial site
said Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito
“our involvement will be somewhat limited with this project,” Petito wrote in an email
Although the state appropriation requires a county to receive the grant funding
“The property is located within the City of Palm Coast
so all the permitting and development approvals will take place at the City
This is a project that the Mayor of Palm Coast was seeking
and we are just helping with the grant portion to allow for the site to be acquired and developed,” Petito wrote
BALTIMORE — If you drive on York Road near the Belvedere Square Market
you will see an empty plot of land just before the staples
There used to be some homes here that were demolished a really long time ago and it's pretty much been an ad-hoc parking lot in those few decades," said Anna Evans-Goldstein
president of the Belvedere Improvement Association
The Belvedere Improvement Association announced last week that it has purchased the land
Evans-Goldstein says people wanted a say in what it will be
it could be anything from keeping it as a parking lot to transforming it into like a pocket park or an urban farm or something like that," she said
The association was able to purchase the land with help from Senator Mary Washington
who was able to get state funding from the purchase
"To have support a the state level from our senator was really game-changing
and I'm sure as we move forward we'll continue to do so because we've got our sights set high on what we decide to do here," said Evans-Goldstein
The next step is to decide what the land will become
The neighborhood association plans to hold several workshops within the next few months
The first meeting for the Belvedere Improvement Association will be held on Thursday
— The Palm Coast City Council is asking Belvedere Terminals to conduct a site selection analysis to ensure its proposed fuel terminal project is a good fit for the chosen location off Peavy Grade and U.S
On March 28, Belvedere Terminals officials announced that after nearly two years of opposition, they would not be building a fuel terminal in Ormond Beach
Palm Coast residents said they worried that the process was moving too quickly, and said they were glad the city and county are trying to find the best path forward
“I hope they’re listening to some of the feedback they’re getting," Palm Coast resident Jennifer Herold said
because it seemed like it was on track to happen no matter what.”
Flagler County Commissioners were expecting to hear a presentation about the Florida Department of Commerce’s $10 million grant that would enable the Belvedere Terminals deal to move forward
It has since been pulled from the agenda as leaders have asked Belvedere to conduct a site selection analysis
let’s have it be something that’s going to make some jobs and give us a good industrial area
which would receive gas and diesel by rail and distribute it to the tri-county area
City and county leaders said the facility could provide high-paying jobs
But some residents believe a better option is out there
“I would rather see a different kind of company be the catalyst to bring in jobs into the county," Herold said
"I don’t know if I see a lot of other development coming from this."
Petitions are circulating online for and against the fuel terminal project.
it’s one of those necessary evils," Herold said
"It’s got to happen somewhere — we all use fuel
but you always say you don’t want it in your own backyard
Belvedere Terminals didn’t respond to a request for more information about the site selection surveys
An official with the city of Palm Coast said there’s no timeline on when the site selection surveys will start.