Vespa Admiration

Pat, Jerry + Robin admire Charlie Snyder's Vespa Scooter
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

ALLERT: NO MORE BATHROOM TISSUE ROLE CRAFTS

Don't plan on receiving more Bathroom Tissue Tube Art from school projects.

See below, green has struck back in a new way.
Click here to read the entire Time article.

ALWAYS LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER

NO MATTER WHAT BUSINESS YOU ARE IN, YOU SHOULD LOOK OVER

YOUR SHOULDER AT ALL TIMES AND HAVE A HERO

FALLON: Where were you at the time?

HILFIGER: I was in upstate New York. We were opening stores on college campuses. My partners and I were also partying it up at Studio 54 and Max's Kansas City and hanging out in the city and not really paying attention to the business. So that was a lesson learned.

FALLON: In your secret diary that no one reads, who do you say that you're jealous of?

HILFIGER: Who am I jealous of? Every time I pass a Ralph Lauren store, I think, I know he's been in business for more than 40 years and I've only been in business for 25, but, boy, do I ever want what he's got.

FALLON: At what point were you like, "Man, I'm successful. This is working."

HILFIGER: I think it's dangerous to think that you're successful, because then you become complacent. I think you've got to stay humble. In this business, you have to look over your shoulder at all times because you can lose it all with the snap of a finger.

Click here to read the complete interview by Jimmy Fallon.

LICKING COUNTY PARK DISTRICT NEEDS $6 PER YEAR

Yes you read it right, the Licking County Park District needs our help: "If approved, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about 50 cents per month, or $6 per year" per Parks Director Ray Edgington.

I know at this current time in history, $6 is a concern. But the long time benefit our children will receive is worth way more than what we spend for this levy.

Click here to read the Newark Advocate article.

Click here for the endorsements by the Licking County Chamber of Commerce and The Newark Advocate.

THE WEEK BEHIND

Kurt Harden facilitates the Licking County Chamber's Board of Director's

retreat at the beautiful Davis-Shai House in Heath, Ohio.
Lucy the Fire Dog spent a morning at the salon and came home with her
seasonal bow for Halloween.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

NFD BREAKING NEWS: Firefighter Tim Cline long time chauffeur of Rescue-1 stationed in Downtown Newark, Ohio makes a move to Station-3 in West Newark.

Due to the retirement of Engine-3's driver, Tim with more seniority than any of the NFD Brothers surprised everyone by assuming the west end job. Above you view a

photo of Tim's notorious condo in the bunk room and now vacated.

Personally I did not ever think I would see the day!

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Steve Layman issued on his blog this morning a post concerning the economy. As I read, one paragraph struck me:

"Miller sees a future less bright than the past, but he also sees a people who are learning to solve the problems they face by accepting the responsibility for those problems and by then making different- perhaps difficult- decisions. Sounds healthy and positive to me."

After six years of the mess our country, business, government and education has seen, maybe it is time to step back. Everyone is not polished in every one's profession.

Every day we find government and education trying to get the upper hand on each other in order to compete with the private business sector. I do think it is time to privatize some segments of government and for government to depend a little more on the private business sector for producing several of their goals (if they know how to establish a goal).

The same goes for education, we should not be relying only on the government to figure out the education problems, but the real educators and their management should be involved. As I see it, obtaining more programs instead of supporting the business sector to get a job done, is a grab for a larger budget request and gives the ability to pound on their chest a little louder amongst each other.

As well, not everyone is fit to manage certain aspects of private industry, but for some reason in private business this eventually solves it self.

It is time to accept responsibility of what has taken place during the past, tuck it up and make one very difficult decision: working together.

WHERE IS THE GRASS GREENER?

“As the level of wealth has doubled or tripled in the last fifty years in many industrialized nations, the levels of happiness and satisfaction with life that people report have not changed, and depression has actually become more common.” -The Happiness Hypothesis

Click here "Where the Grass is Greener"

by, The Art of Manliness

TRANSPARENCY & BUSINESS

Several years ago the Park National Bank of Newark, Ohio ran a series of ads on the radio and in print with their key employee's names, photos and their direct business telephone number along with their home number. The advertisement would ask people, if they have a problem to call a banking officer at work or at home. To this day, even the senior officers of the bank answer the telephone when someone calls on the direct line to their desk. I was at the home of a Park National Bank person one time watching a football game, he answered his phone and helped a lady with her checking account problem. To me this was a great promotion of making sure people knew the bank was transparent.

Transparency of business people and owners have somewhat gone to the wayside. Staying hidden & not available on weekends makes you wonder how some businesses draw new clients and how they keep their past clients.

I try to stay as transparent as possible, making sure I am out where I can visit and where others can visit with me. It is not hard to find me since my published home & office telephone numbers go directly to my cell phone, have an easy to remember web address and watch out if you google my name. I can be found, my goal.

The internet can be a demon to transparency if you allow it, you can hide by deciding social media, web sites and blogs are not the way to go. Today, their is no excuse for a business person to think it is too expensive or time consuming to make you have a spot within the worldwide web (www) so you can be found.

A company I purchased a Scottevest jacket through was found on the web. The owner who I have never met had a problem several weeks ago and emailed his customers which created a positive & supportive firestorm via Twitter, Facebook and bloggers across the world. He has gained more business because of the issue he brought out. When I emailed him, he emailed back. He is transparent.

Keeping your believes and face out front brings more business.

Click here to watch The Rise to the Top video, he talks about being transparent.

Click here: Five Ways to Make Your Business More Transparent

BOEING 747-8

World's largest Lego set, putting together the Boeing 747-8 Dreamliner.

Click here for more information from Gadling.

TELL SOMEONE THEY SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE

There could not be a better time to consider buying a home. Most mortgage rates are now below 4% and qualifies many for a home loan. Call one of our local lenders to sit down and see what you can do about purchasing your next home.

If you think this is a good time to refinance, just refinance your mortgage balance.

Don't get a big dream of borrowing extra money for a new boat, cruise or furniture.

NEVER MESS WITH THE EQUITY IN YOUR HOME!

PERFECT CLOTHING BY GOD

For several years during high school and college I worked for Harold Pierce, then owner of Cornell Clothing Company on the North side of the square in Downtown Newark, Ohio. Today when I think about it, I should have paid him the 75 cents per hour, I learned so much listening to and watching him.

One time he mentioned "God only made the perfect clothing" he continued "we were born and we are buried with it on, it mends itself when torn, stretches with us as we grow and shrinks when we shrink".

This morning as I sat at my desk loosening my tie to get comfortable and attack the work at hand, the collar button broke in half. I was reminded of Mr. Pierce and that God even made the only button we were born with perfect, I have never heard of a broken "belly button".

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK HAS PASSED

Make sure your house number (sometimes called a "fire number" in rural areas) can be seen!

The Amish Man on the Roof
Sometimes our dispatch information is limited. Last winter I was riding shotgun in the pumper as we searched for an address based on two pieces of information: The fire was in the chimney, and the house was owned by an Amish family. We were fruitlessly scanning houses when we spotted a bearded man in overalls and a wide-brimmed hat dancing and waving from a rooftop. That pretty much narrowed it down.

Once you have called for help, there are a number of little things that can enhance our response. For starters, make sure your house number (sometimes called a "fire number" in rural areas) can be seen—that it isn't missing or in disrepair, obscured by overgrown brush or hedges, or stenciled on the butt of a garden gnome.

Post your house number plainly, and make sure it can be seen at night. In fact, nothing helps us locate the right house when it's dark like someone flashing the porch light. If someone is available, send him to the end of the drive or down to the entryway. One bit of warning: Once we spot you, step well clear. Sometimes folks try to run up to the rig, which gives them a shot at being first on the gurney. Ambulances and fire trucks are extremely heavy and cannot stop on a dime. Give us room to get everything shut down before you leap to the running board.

Click here "16 Panic-Free Ways to Handle Any Emergency"

Proposed 28th Amendment

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States

that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives;

and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives

that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."

Thank you Bill Cost.

ART WORK BY NICHOLAS BATE

Click here to check out more of Nicholas Bate.

NEW DINING OPTION FOR LUNCH

The Burrito Bus is a new addition to The Beverage Source's parking lot. Open Monday-Friday 11am-3pm. Located on W. Church St. next to Appletree Auction Center.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

MOTIVATION

We never know what the office manager will do to get the office hyped up!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

DOWNTOWN SIGNAGE, GOOD, BAD & THE UGLY

Above you will find several signs in front of shops and businesses on the

south side of the Square in Downtown Newark, Ohio.
Above you will see the initial signage on North 4th Street as one enters the gateway to the downtown area from St. Rt. 16 (should be 161).



I can not believe with all the haggling of the city's departments over economic
development, planing and property maintenance help can not be found to obtain
a grant to establish financial help for the store and business owners to coordinate an
effort for attractive signs. A clean up of the home made and painted over
signs currently seen around the downtown area, would make Downtown Newark a
more inviting place to shop and do business.

AIRLINE'S CASH COW FORKED

During the past several months I collected together all my birthday money and purchased a travel jacket/vest from Scottevest. I purchased the tropical weight (check out the x-ray) with room for a warm sweater underneath if necessary, with the sleeves zipping off and the balanced design makes it handy for stashing all kind of stuff for traveling and day tripping.

But.........I received an email today from the owner indicating Delta Airlines would not allow him to run the advertisement as he proposed shown above, stating they did not like his statement of being able to carry more on the flight because of the 18 plus hidden pockets of his clothing line.

This squelch on his ads shows the airlines combined last year made $769 million dollars on baggage fees. Scott has opened a bag of worms, which is a good bag to open and created a 20/20 type story only viewed on the Internet. (watch Scott's Youtube video here).

According to Hap Klock, founder of North Face: “Scott, this is classic David vs. Goliath. Their reaction shows how touchy of a subject baggage fees are for them. You've found a way for everyday people to get around their crazy policies, and you just put a fork in their cash cow.”

Check out this New York Times article, follow Scott on Twitter.

Only thing I ask of Scott: create a blazer with multiple pockets, easy to wear on a plane, wear around town or wear to dinner. Large task I know, but needed.

This Professor Looks Familiar…

"Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel Has an Unusual Side Job on Campus—Teaching a Class"

"You never want a name at the top of the alphabet—you might get some lates," a chipper Mr. Tressel warned one morning last week as he began taking attendance, a laborious process that took more than 10 minutes as he butchered names and mused about their origins.

Click here to read the entire Wall Street Journal article.

Thank you to Sister Robin (not a nun) for passing this article along.