Adrian Durban Florist is budding.

        The family-owned Cincinnati company recently agreed to buy Artistry in Flowers, formerly Art & Sue Baker Florist, at 2838 Observatory Ave. in Hyde Park. It's the fourth location for Adrian Durban.

        The shop, which will be called Adrian Durban Florist in Hyde Park, will retain former owner Margo Middlemas as manager.

        “I am pleased and excited that Margo has agreed to remain with us,” Kerry Durban, company CEO, said. “It is is a win-win scenario. We get to keep an extraordinary group of people, and customers will continue to be able to work with the people they have known for many years.”

        Shop hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

        Adrian Durban was established in 1899 by George and Mary Durban. The full-service florist maintains locations in Clifton, Blue Ash and Symmes Township. Customers may also order through the company's Web site.

        Information: 221-ROSE or www.adriandurban.com.

Golf web site helps find bargains

        Golf enthusiasts can cruise Greater Cincinnati's courses at the click of a mouse, thanks to a new Web site.

        The site, launched June 1, provides local golfers with current information about specials. Additional courses are being added daily, said David Goodman of Maineville, owner of CinciGolf.com.

        “Some of the offers include senior specials, ladies' specials, all-you-can-play rates, juniors-play-free, twilight rates and free-lunch Tuesdays,” Mr. Goodman said. “There's even a free pair of name-brand golf shoes with the purchase of 18 holes and cart for only $25!”

        Mr. Goodman recently sold the Montgomery location of Kramer's Sew & Vac, a business he owned for almost 25 years. He has combined his love of golf and his enthusiasm for Internet marketing to forge this new enterprise.

        Information: www.CinciGolf.com or 697-6270.

Florence resident at small business summit

               John T. Watkins served as Northern Kentucky delegate to the 2002 National Small Business Summit.

        Mr. Watkins, president of Intelligent Decision Solutions LLC in Florence, was nominated for the post by Congressman Ken Lucas. The summit, in Washington D.C. June 12-15, is the largest gathering of independent business owners in the U.S. About 800 entrepreneurs attended to express their views on important issues facing them as small business owners. Senior administration officials and members of Congress were also present at the conference. The event is sponsored by the National Federation of Independent Business.

        Mr. Watkins is active with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, serving on its board of directors and chairing its Diversity & Minority Business Council. His firm is a certified Minority Business Enterprise.

Cosmetology school completes Hyde Park expansion

        Aveda/Fredric's Institute has completed an expansion at its facility at 3654 Edwards Road, at Hyde Park Station.

        Company officials say that the upgrade was necessary to respond to demand for cosmetology instruction.

        “We started to outgrow our space and have added another 2,500 square feet to accommodate a larger cosmetology classroom and more space for our aesthetics department,” said Julie Holzberger, the institute's director of recruitment and retail. “Now we have six treatment rooms, a makeup bar and a dedicated full-time classroom.“

        The institute opened in 1999 with 4300 square feet of space. In the three years since, it has won two Awards of Excellence from the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. The school was a finalist in the first Better Business Bureau Torch Award for marketplace ethics.

        Information: 533-0700.

CRC relocates its center to Sharonville

               An organization that works with area businesses to turn excess inventory into resources for the needy has moved to a larger location.

        The Community Resource Center (CRC) relocated from the Brendamour Evendale Business Center to a 25,000-square-foot center at 3610 Park 42 Drive in Sharonville.

        Businesses can donate furniture, discontinued stock or overflow inventory to CRC for use by non-profit agencies. Donors are charged a handling fee of 10-20 percent of fair market value. During 2001 the estimated value of these in-kind donations exceeded $3 million.

        “Our new location, made possible in part by a generous contribution from the Castellini Foundation, will allow us to continue our sixteen-year mission of serving non-profit organizations,” CRC executive director Molly Lohr said. She said the organization's expansion allows it to better display its office furnishings and equipment, computers, gift items, novelties and children's books.

        During the past five years CRC membership has grown from 226 to 609. In-kind donors have increased from 87 to 276, swelling donations more than six-fold.

        Information: 554-4944.

Yoga school expands near Blue Ash studio

               The Cincinnati Yoga School & Bookstore is also spreading out.

        A new yoga room, “The Annex,” is now open two doors down from the main studio at 11130 Kenwood Road in Blue Ash.

        The additional space enables the organization to offer more classes in response to public demand. New offerings include Kids' Yoga, designed for youngsters age 5 to 12; Baby & Mom Yoga, for mothers and infants 3 to 6 months old; and Yoga Pilates. A free Introduction to Yoga class is offered 1-2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month.

        “We offer classes to students of all levels, from the new beginner to the more advanced practitioner,” said Teresa Horne, a company spokeswoman. “Our bookstore carries hard to find yoga props such as sticky mats, blocks, videos and music.”

        Information: 247-9642 orwww.cincyoga.com.

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