Matthews happy for year to end

Bob Matthews, the prominent Palm Beach real estate investor who recently lost his Palm House hotel in Palm Beach and another resort in Nantucket, has had a rough year. In an interview, he said 2009 was “humbling,” even as a foreclosure sale of his office complex at 221/205 Royal Palm Way loomed on Monday. He said his setback have gotten more attention than many other people hurt in the real estate collapse, but added that he plans to continue to be a part of local charities, even as he and wife, Mia, have fallen delinquent $264,450 in property taxes on Casa Bendita, their $15 million oceanfront home in the North End. [Palm Beach Daily News]