Sarasota-based company Cruise Car Inc., continues to expand its global presence—winning a coveted contract to supply Disney Hong Kong with custom-built low-speed vehicles throughout the amusement park grounds and resort. The team worked closely with Disney Hong Kong’s management team and the city's authorities to obtain this approval.

Last week, the Hong Kong Transportation Department solidified the contract after a "lengthy application and approval process." This will be the first time Cruise Car will be providing vehicles directly to Disney, as opposed to distributing to vendors of Disney. “This contract, directly with Disney Hong Kong, is an excellent opportunity for us to expand in Asia and with major amusement parks,” say Adam Sulimirski, president of Cruise Car. 

Low-speed transportation vehicles with golf cart-like models, are currently capped in Hong Kong at about 500 units—requiring the city’s DOT to approve a license to outsource additional vehicles. After meeting in Sarasota with the Hong Kong-based engineering team, a formal purchase order was issued with a multi-year opportunity for Cruise Car to ultimately replace their 60-vehicle fleet. Of Cruise Car’s 100 different vehicle models, Disney selected two ideal utility carts for its flagship property. Cruise Car then customized the models to match their exact need/application to handle specific tasks. For this specific fleet, the team engineered Disney Hong Kong's carts for aggressive use, a challenging topography and salt-air environment. 

“Hong Kong uses standard back-to-back carts, but we approached them and suggested building the same cart on a longer chassis,” explains Sulimirski. “This would allow us to place a secured locker area down in the hauler body and also a storage cage between the back-to-back seats. Disney has serious hills, so a fully programmable motor/controller package included a torque package and a special 240v onboard charging system.” The two-passenger and four-passenger vehicle models provided not only have those hill climbing features and built-in storage lockers, but are fabricated with aluminum to avoid common rust issues, as Hong Kong’s salt air tends to eat away steel carts. Cruise Cars may all be manufactured as street legal LSV’s (low speed vehicles) and include a 17 Digit VIN allowing them to be plated and used on streets posted up to 35mph. 

Now breaking into a global niche market, Sulimirski notes, “We have always focused on large institutional fleet buyers, but find our walk in retail business has accelerated with the positive publicity we have received.” 

Photo courtesy of Cruise Car.

Siegfried, a legendary German hero, slew a dragon then bathed in its blood for invincibility—all to earn young Kriemhild’s affection. Nowadays, flirting needn’t be quite as extreme. Historic Downtown Village’s new Siegfried's Restaurant has you covered with its cozy indoors, string lit beer garden and family recipes straight from Erkelenz, Germany, like the Düsseldorfer Senfrostbraten. A striploin steak sourced from Geier’s Sausage Kitchen, this tender cut is grilled then topped with a cheese crust, German mustard and fried onions, then served alongside Bratkartoffeln—sliced and pan-fried German potatoes with bacon and onions—and a salad with homemade raspberry vinaigrette.

“We want to show the locals our favorite Rheinland dishes and hopefully make them their favorites, too,” says René Zimmerman, co-owner of Siegfried’s. After vacationing in Sarasota his whole life, Zimmerman, alongside his wife Kim, sold everything but six bags of belongings and their dog Lacey to indulge the big SRQ. Try their classic German pretzels, Wiener Schnitzel, Bratwurst or Siegfried’s Currywurst for an authentic taste of the Rheinland.

Siegfried’s Restaurant is open 4–10pm Wednesday–Sunday and plans to expand hours at the turn of the season. 

Photo courtesy of Siegfried's, 1869 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 941-330-9330.

The 5th Annual Adopt-A-Palooza will be held this Saturday, August 3, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto from 11am to 4pm.

Adopt-A-Palooza is the largest one-day adoption and expo-style event in Manatee County and will feature more than 100 adoptable puppies, dogs, cats and kittens from Manatee County Animal Services, local shelters & animal rescues. In addition to adoptable pets, the family-friendly event will include retail vendors selling a variety of pet products and providing pet information resources, demonstrations, raffles/silent auction items and more. For those pet-owners interested in adopting another, there will be shelter staff and volunteers who can assist with a meet and greet between furry strangers.

The proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of Manatee County Animal Services. 

Adopt-A-Palooza

The Board of Trustees for The Players Centre for Performing Arts has invited two of its Advisory Council Members to join the voting board.

Cynthia L. Miller is the vice president at 1st Source Bank – Wealth Advisory Services in Downtown Sarasota. Miller has been a banker for 37 years but with 1st Source for 17 years. She has served on various nonprofit boards including South Bend Civic Theatre and Indiana University at South Bend Arts Foundation. Joseph F. Kaminsky is a Certified Public Accountant and has worked as a Senior IRS Agent for the U.S. Treasury in Washington D.C., Senior Manager KPMF Peat Marwick in New York, Americas Regional Head of Tax ING Bank in New York,  Global Head of Tax ING Investment Bank in London, Senior Tax Advisor ING Bank in Amsterdam NL, and Managing Director of KAM Capital LLC, business to business financial consulting. 

Players Centre for Performing Arts

The American Council of Engineering Companies Florida Chapter (ACEC-FL) presented the Tampa-based Stantec with a Grand Award in the Water Resources Category for its work on the Robinson Preserve Expansion project at its annual Engineering Excellence Award Banquet. The awards recognize projects that represent a wide range of engineering achievements and demonstrate the highest degree of skill and ingenuity.

The Robinson Preserve Expansion project, located in Bradenton, restored 150 acres of formerly disturbed farmland to a mosaic of native coastal habitats where wildlife can thrive. The preserve is home to endangered and threatened species that include the American oystercatcher, bald eagle, black skimmer and wood stork. As part of Stantec’s role, the team provided site assessment, planning, engineering design, permitting and construction phase services for Phases I and II of the project involving passive recreation, ecological restoration and habitat creation. 

Robinson Preserve