Thanksgiving is just a week away, and I know in my heart I have many blessings to be thankful for; but, like many of you, my heart is burdened. Over the last year, we have all experienced many toils and challenges, and for those of us who live for more than just a dollar, it has been tough.

This year, I have done some of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have found myself fighting back a surge of emotions as I have released some of the finest employees wherein it has been my privilege to have worked with them. In the State of Florida, we are going into year three of this economic bust, and the bad news never seems to end. The Wall Street meltdown in September seemed to deflate hopes for many, serving as salt to already opened wounds.

On Thursday, December 4, 2008, FBMA’s PAC will be hosting its annual golf tournament at Mystic Dunes Golf Club in Celebration, Florida. A “fun” raising event, 100% of the proceeds from this tournament will benefit FBMA’s lobbying efforts for 2009. FBMA’s PAC has set an ambitious goal and has much fundraising to do, so please join our efforts and register for the tournament today!

On November 14, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) proposed an 18.6% increase in Florida workers’ compensation rates in response to the October 23 Florida Supreme Court’s adverse ruling in Murray v. Mariner Health, a case which unraveled the attorneys' fees provisions which had helped curb rising workers' compensation rates over the last 5 years by limiting the attorneys' fees to medical cases and capping the amount at $1500. The proposed 18.6% increase will be spread over a two-year period, with an 8.9% increase in 2009. Prior to the Murray case, the workers' compensation rates were expected to decrease for the sixth straight year.

Green Building's Five Deadly Sins: Here's how to avoid red flags as you take green to a higher volume
By Teresa Burney

In a heartbeat, Tom Hoyt, co-founder of McStain Neighborhoods, recalls a striking example of how painful and costly missteps in building green homes at a high volume can be.

Click on Full Story to view this week's construction industry links.

Home prices and property values continue to decline across the country, causing a dramatic near stand-still in home purchases. Almost 85,000 jobs have been lost in the past two months in the construction industry alone, mostly in specialty trades related to home building.

I Love Cold Florida Mornings
In the 1950’s and 60’s on the north side of Ocala, Swift and Company operated a meat packing plant and Libby, a citrus processing operation. On a cold morning with the wind out of the north the odors from both permeated the air.

The other cold morning phenomenon was a dark haze that hovered over the west and poor side of the city. There, instead of gas and fuel oil, homes were burning wood in fireplaces and using kerosene grove heaters for warmth. It seemed as if every cold snap resulted in the loss of lives due to a home fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 1957 along with his father-in-law, Raymond Mynatt, Joe Mazzola founded Raymond Building Supply. Now after over 50 years Joe is retiring and planning on spending time with his family and on the golf course. Well known and respected, Joe’s presence in the building supply industry will be missed. We wish him a happy and healthy retirement.