COMMUNITY BANKING

One of the solid points for our country started years ago, Community Banking. Business people creating banks to help local citizens in many different ways. Locally operated banks and thrifts during the current economic times have given us the real definition of

well managed and caring.

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor telling us what caring is all about.

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The Burning of the Socks

“All other things being equal, the crew without socks will win.” A. Andrews, Racing Boat Designer

Click here: Annapolis, Maryland, last day of winter.

Thank you Robin Flaherty for this great information!

CHILD LABOR LAWS

My lawn and landscaping does not look too bad, not until I am showing homes and see the professional like landscaping of others.

Last night was a prime example: Mrs. Guanciale and I visited the home of Kurt & Kate Harden for their son John's high school graduation party. The party was well planned and included two large tents in the rear yard to protect Kurt & Kate's guest from the light rain. Their Newark home's landscaping is nothing but superb, front and back. I was so impressed with how well planned the landscaping was, I went back to the Hardens early this morning to shoot a photo of this one of many groupings. The multi colored Iris were in full bloom.

Now to child labor laws: Now I know why my landscaping looks so blah, if I could violate and feel comfortable with violating the child labor laws, my mulch and landscaping would be perfect too.

Please check out PHOTO #1 & PHOTO #2, to understand why Kurt has the perfect lawn.




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DEREK HOLLAND, NEWARK TO HOUSTON

Twenty-two years old, just a short time ago he was a Newark Wildcat. Tonight he is a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers.

It is a great thing for a local person tied to Newark, Ohio to bring some national attention to our area without having to falling off a motorized bar stool.

Read the Newark Advocate article here.

Click here to watch Derek's MLB debut

Father's Day

Father's Day must be right around the corner, twice during the past couple of days I have had inquiries of which handheld radio scanner would be a good gift.

The Uniden Bearcat BC72XLT 100 channel handheld programmable scanner is an excellent choice. Very easy to program, light weight and will fit in your hip pocket if you do not want it hanging on your belt. The package includes a charger, this is uncommon for Radio Shack. I rotate rechargeable batteries, just in case there is a long late night fire. 100 channels are too many for our community, I have 7 channels programmed into my main scanner.

You will pick up most Fire, EMS and Police communications in Licking County. One of the negative draw backs: this scanner will not pick up the 800MHz frequencies. Only a few local PD & FD use the upper end frequencies, you will not miss any action.

This radio scanner is offered by Radio Shack for $99.99, the lowest priced Radio Shack handheld scanner runs $89.99 , you will find it heavier and pulling your trousers down if you put it in your hip pocket.

Call or write if you need the Licking County, Ohio frequencies for your new scanner. Also: it appears there is no shipping charge, once again a chance of keeping your gift buying expense lower this year.

ONE BILLION

• One billion is a thousand million.
• If you were to count nonstop to one billion, it would take you 31.7 years.
• One billion seconds ago it was 1977.
• One billion minutes ago, the Roman Empire was in full swing.
• One billion hours ago, we were in the stone age.
• One billion dollars is the approximate yearly expense to insurance companies in the USA for arson for profit fires.

SOCIAL SECURITY AT RISK

I arrived home from my last appointment at about eight o'clock this evening, sat down to dinner and read this morning's Columbus Dispatch. The front page article "Social Security, Medicare at Risk", brought back some memories.

Years ago I had several over 62 year old individuals working for me who would have their commission checks held and then request the checks during the following year. At this time if you made over a certain amount of income during a year, I think it was $12,000, the agents could no longer receive their Social Security checks or would have to pay back the Social Security funds they had received.

Sometime during the past, the rules of Social Security changed. A person could make as much money possible and still receive their monthly Social Security funding. Something is not right about this, as an example: a person who makes an income of $50,000 per year. not from investments, but actual income can receive their Social Security also.

The article above if I read it correctly is saying Social Security will be out of funding about the time I should be of age to receive my retirement funding. I have been paying into Social Security since eighth grade.

Please do not get me wrong, I am not talking about Medicare. I think everyone over 62 years old, should be eligible for Medicare no matter what their income.

Should Social Security be paid to individuals that are gainfully working?

I can see a person receiving Social Security no matter what they have in their personal retirement accounts and savings or working because they need to supplement their Social Security income to a certain extent. I can not see someone receiving Social Security, because they deserve it while making thousands of dollars and taking it away from me.

Beautiful Wedding

Yesterday was the highlight of my Spring social schedule. A beautiful day for an outdoor wedding at Granville's Bryn Du Mansion. NFD Capt. Jim Lewis and wife Judith have a great family, three wonderful daughters and really know how to plan a wedding.

Sitting on the veranda during the ceremony, I could not help but think of Tuscany, one of my favorite regions of Italy. Surrounded by stone buildings, stone walls and a country side view of the bright green grasses and trees made this wedding special.

One of my key blogs to follow held a post of Italian men not wearing socks while dressed in suits and ties. Yesterday, minutes before leaving my home for the wedding I decided to take Will's post and advice. (I can promise there will be very few occasions for this action again.) Click here to read Will's post.

Photo above: NFD Engine 3 driver Dave Baughman, NFD & proud father of the bride Capt. Jim Lewis, NFD Asst. Chief Tom O'Brien.

33% equals 12.5 years

"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference" Tommy Lasorda

Kurt Harden this morning had a link on his most recent post that turned up the quote above. I have been thinking about it for the past half hour after also reading a quote by Mickey Mantle.

If Tommy Lasorda's quote is true, during my real estate career I have gone 12.5 years without a selling a home. I have had 12.5 successful years, but the thing that keeps me going is the 12.5 years with no explanation of my production, this must be why I always feel financially broke.

Always lubricated and ready for change....

Today's economy calls for all business people to look at the way they are doing business, attracting new clients and retaining there current client base.

Staying flexible and ready to except change is important today, not just in our business life's but with our personal life's also.

Today I was reading Kurt Harden's post about reviewing and making changes to his company's sales presentation. Kurt points out many good suggestions on a sales presentation. This is a fine example of making changes that are not just due to the economy, but for the way people want to do business today.

Change is so important, we all have to stay well oiled and flexible during the tough times to stay ahead and be ready for the good times ahead.

Check out the video portion of a Sean Carpenter recent post here

Who voted "no"?

I have talked to many people during the past several months about the most recently won Newark School Levy (yesterday). Most people were very positive about the school levy and understanding the need, some were on the fence and hopefully I was able to give a point of reason so they would change their mind and give a positive vote.

Who votes "no"? Well I found the person today. He did not come right out and say he voted against the levy, he just placed his thoughts into one sentence.

"I ain't happy about it passing, it is going to cost me $750 per year"

This fellow has several rental homes and he was referring to the property tax increase he expects. The real persons this social security collecting fellow should be mad at are his parents, for teaching him not to say "ain't". I do not know if I am even spelling "ain't" correctly, most likely due to my mother not allowing me to use the word.

Congratulations to the schools and their volunteers who were able to win their levies during this tough economy, to the defeated schools and volunteers, please try again. I want to help.

BAIL OUT PLANS

The main conversation for almost everyone since last November has been our National bail out plans, below you will find two examples of a good and bad bail out.

CLICK HERE FOR A GOOD BAIL OUT

CLICK HERE FOR A BAD BAIL OUT


For the Newark Fire Guys!