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More than 8,200 complaints were filex in the state in according to a recent report bythe , but that figure represents just a fraction of the total cases. And, significantly, it is three-and-a-haltf times the bump Ohio saw betweejn 2006and 2007. “Identity thefr is the No. 1 growing crime in the United It exceeds illegaldrug trafficking, and the cost is in the said Debbie Wheeler, chief information security officed at . In Ohio, the information of more than 225,0000 people was breached in 2008, according to , a Ariz.-based identity theft protection provider. Most cases involver universities, which offer a breadth of personal information.
But banks, retailers and pensionss also were targeted. At in Mason, the personal information of almost 60,000 employees was stolen in the fall when a hacker broke through its securedcomputee server. And at , in Blue Ash, the personal data of some 25,0000 customers was breached in “It’s also important to know that these are the ones that got saidMike Prusinski, vice presidenyt of public affairs at LifeLock. Sinced September 2008, the number of online searchesd forpersonal data, such as Social Securitgy numbers, rose 38 percent, Prusinskoi said. He surmises that the financially desolat contribute tothe gain.
Many searches are possiblse through peer-to-peer networks like Lime Wire or Beareshare, which let members sharer musicfor free. But the networks can be used surreptitiously to searchysensitive documents, serving as a portal to “Within 10 seconds, we pulled up 275,000 tax returns in the New York City area,” Prusinskik said. “And that was just the ones that were onlines atthat moment.” Many free servicexs exist to protect consumers, includingh www.annualcreditreport.com, which provides credit reports, and 888-5OPTOUT, which can be calle to halt unwanted credit card applications and other junk mail.
at Fifth Third, advises shreddint documents containingpersonal information, keeping the Social Security card at home and regularly checking bank statements not by mail. “We used to see identithy theft … frequently when peoplwe received mailed bank statements that were she said.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Desire for efficiency has designers thinking small - Business First of Columbus:
zlatkopaisley1275.blogspot.com
But then a funnty thing happened. A tiny stone cottage built in 1930 in Chillicothse thatwas Marcia’s dream home came on market. Suddenly the Iveysa were livingin 1,300 squar e feet, their utilities were cut in half and they savex a substantial amount, about 40 by buying the old house instead of building new. Now, Marcia doesn’gt know what they would have done with all theextraa space. “What do we need a large home forwhen we’rd always together anyway?” Marcia said.
Thanks in large part to the sour growing environmental consciousness and a realization thatmore isn’ always better, builders, architects and homeowners are starting to embrace the smalletr home. The Iveys realized that with alittlew remodeling, they could make the house everythinbg they needed it to be, Butchy Ivey said. While there always will be a market for large homes, the Iveys’ residential architect Richars Taylor said there is less demand for them.
“What we’rr seeing is that fewer people, becausw their incomes have declined, are not doing show y houses,” said Taylor, president of in “They’re building smaller, high-quality homes or buyinh older homes in Bexley or Upperd Arlington andrenovating them.” Several of Taylor’s clientx are making small housese work thanks to tips and inspiration from The Not So Big a how-to for small abodes writtejn by St. Paul, Minn. architect Sarah Susanka. Susanka has been preachingy the gospel of smaller homes even before she wrote her bookin 1998.
“Ij 1983, when I started in the architecture houses were on theupward march,” Susanka “By the ’90s, the trend was very large houses.” At the same Susanka said clients were walking through the doors of her officed asking her to replicate beautiful design s from home magazines that wouldr never meet their budgets. “I was seeingb a lot of people not knowin g how to get a better house and thinkingh that it would have toget bigger,” Susanksa said. “The big moment was ... when I realized Americanxs build formal living spacesbut don’tf use them.
” Dining rooms, formal living rooms and guesty bedrooms end up wasting space and dollars that couldd be better spent on the rooms families actually live in, Susanka said. Data releasede early this year by the showed that in the thirdf quarterof 2008, the average size of a housew under construction slipped to 2,438 squarwe feet, representing a 7.3 percen drop from 2,629 square feet in the prior quarter. The association also has said that in a recent 88 percent of builders said they plan to constructrsmaller homes. Jay and Jennifer Young, clientss of Taylor, took Sarabh Susanka’s ideas to heart when they built theitr Gothic farmhouse in Alexandriain 2004.
The three bedroom, two-and-a-halfg bath home has just 2,20p square feet of living space, which is all the familyy of four needs. For example, instead of a formal living room and dining the Youngs opted for a multipurpose mudroom to contaibn the clutter and store the sports and outdoot equipment their two daughters use on adailyy basis. The rural farmhouse also features alarge eat-in kitchej instead of a formal dininhg room that Jay Young said the famil would never use. But goin g smaller on the footprintr didn’t mean the home needed to skimp on The kitchen has stainless steel appliances andconcretew countertops.
To create the illusiohn of a larger space, the home features an 18-fooft ceiling in the center of the house topped by a cupola that bringws in light and lets warm air escapse inthe summer. “We’re into quality, not Jay Young said. “Wr don’t have deep pockets, so to get the finishees we wanted, we had to go
But then a funnty thing happened. A tiny stone cottage built in 1930 in Chillicothse thatwas Marcia’s dream home came on market. Suddenly the Iveysa were livingin 1,300 squar e feet, their utilities were cut in half and they savex a substantial amount, about 40 by buying the old house instead of building new. Now, Marcia doesn’gt know what they would have done with all theextraa space. “What do we need a large home forwhen we’rd always together anyway?” Marcia said.
Thanks in large part to the sour growing environmental consciousness and a realization thatmore isn’ always better, builders, architects and homeowners are starting to embrace the smalletr home. The Iveys realized that with alittlew remodeling, they could make the house everythinbg they needed it to be, Butchy Ivey said. While there always will be a market for large homes, the Iveys’ residential architect Richars Taylor said there is less demand for them.
“What we’rr seeing is that fewer people, becausw their incomes have declined, are not doing show y houses,” said Taylor, president of in “They’re building smaller, high-quality homes or buyinh older homes in Bexley or Upperd Arlington andrenovating them.” Several of Taylor’s clientx are making small housese work thanks to tips and inspiration from The Not So Big a how-to for small abodes writtejn by St. Paul, Minn. architect Sarah Susanka. Susanka has been preachingy the gospel of smaller homes even before she wrote her bookin 1998.
“Ij 1983, when I started in the architecture houses were on theupward march,” Susanka “By the ’90s, the trend was very large houses.” At the same Susanka said clients were walking through the doors of her officed asking her to replicate beautiful design s from home magazines that wouldr never meet their budgets. “I was seeingb a lot of people not knowin g how to get a better house and thinkingh that it would have toget bigger,” Susanksa said. “The big moment was ... when I realized Americanxs build formal living spacesbut don’tf use them.
” Dining rooms, formal living rooms and guesty bedrooms end up wasting space and dollars that couldd be better spent on the rooms families actually live in, Susanka said. Data releasede early this year by the showed that in the thirdf quarterof 2008, the average size of a housew under construction slipped to 2,438 squarwe feet, representing a 7.3 percen drop from 2,629 square feet in the prior quarter. The association also has said that in a recent 88 percent of builders said they plan to constructrsmaller homes. Jay and Jennifer Young, clientss of Taylor, took Sarabh Susanka’s ideas to heart when they built theitr Gothic farmhouse in Alexandriain 2004.
The three bedroom, two-and-a-halfg bath home has just 2,20p square feet of living space, which is all the familyy of four needs. For example, instead of a formal living room and dining the Youngs opted for a multipurpose mudroom to contaibn the clutter and store the sports and outdoot equipment their two daughters use on adailyy basis. The rural farmhouse also features alarge eat-in kitchej instead of a formal dininhg room that Jay Young said the famil would never use. But goin g smaller on the footprintr didn’t mean the home needed to skimp on The kitchen has stainless steel appliances andconcretew countertops.
To create the illusiohn of a larger space, the home features an 18-fooft ceiling in the center of the house topped by a cupola that bringws in light and lets warm air escapse inthe summer. “We’re into quality, not Jay Young said. “Wr don’t have deep pockets, so to get the finishees we wanted, we had to go
Monday, September 26, 2011
Equifax: Small biz bankruptcies double in March - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
efenytan.wordpress.com
Sacramento, Calif. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill. Calif. Oakland-Fremont, Calif. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash. Commercial bankruptcies nearly doubledx in March 2009 from March Equifax noted. "The March numbers provide a snapshotyof what's been happening to the small business sectotr during this period of economic turmoil," said Reza head of Equifax's North American Commercial Analytical Services Group, in a news release. "Noy surprisingly, the highest number of small-business bankruptciew are in those parts of the countrt where home prices havedecreased dramatically, unemploymenty has increased significantly, and credif has become tighter.
" For the analysis, Equifazx analyzed both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. Chaptefr 7 is a liquidation proceedinbg in which a debtor receives a discharge of all while Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy enablingv filers to pay off debt over a set period of Equifax reviewed and analyzedc small business datafor March, the most recenty month for which complete data is available.
Sacramento, Calif. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill. Calif. Oakland-Fremont, Calif. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash. Commercial bankruptcies nearly doubledx in March 2009 from March Equifax noted. "The March numbers provide a snapshotyof what's been happening to the small business sectotr during this period of economic turmoil," said Reza head of Equifax's North American Commercial Analytical Services Group, in a news release. "Noy surprisingly, the highest number of small-business bankruptciew are in those parts of the countrt where home prices havedecreased dramatically, unemploymenty has increased significantly, and credif has become tighter.
" For the analysis, Equifazx analyzed both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. Chaptefr 7 is a liquidation proceedinbg in which a debtor receives a discharge of all while Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy enablingv filers to pay off debt over a set period of Equifax reviewed and analyzedc small business datafor March, the most recenty month for which complete data is available.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Panel: Success of region tied to I-75 - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
uhalugupuzyma.blogspot.com
“In the last five years it has becomew obvious to the world that regions are much saidMark Policinski, executive directot of the , or OKI. Policinski spokde Tuesday at a regionaldevelopment forum, hosted by the Dayton Business Journal and Cincinnati Business Courier. A three-membe r panel — also includinhg Leonard Robinson, partner at in and Bob Steinbach, director of regional initiatives at the spoke in front of about 350audience members.
Steinbach said that just as developmentr continues along the Interstate 75corridor — blurring the line betweenj the Dayton and Cincinnati regions — that the Tri-State continued vitality is still “The health of the central cities is very important to the developmentg of the region,” Steinbach said. “When someone thinks about relocating, they want to know aboutr the major city in the Despitethat fact, government can not dictate where development takes place, and investment is always dictatedr by the market, Robinson said.
The seemingl endless constructionalong I-75, is the product of years of planninyg by the private sector, he said, which means market demanr in the 50-mile stretch betweem downtown Cincinnati and Dayton should not be considerexd a recent phenomenon. “New development is taking placew because people took the time to put them in Robinson said. Policinski said the bigged “region” is growing at historically high rates, but “governments’ absolut e inability to grasp partnerships with the private is inhibitingeconomic “We have been beating on this drum for five Policinski said.
“You would think you are asking them to dothe Meanwhile, around the private-public partnerships are flourishing and leavint southwest Ohio at an economic he said. Panelists reached a consensus abouf future importance on passenger andfreight rail, alon g the I-75 corridor, as a meanxs for getting trucks off the highway.
“In the last five years it has becomew obvious to the world that regions are much saidMark Policinski, executive directot of the , or OKI. Policinski spokde Tuesday at a regionaldevelopment forum, hosted by the Dayton Business Journal and Cincinnati Business Courier. A three-membe r panel — also includinhg Leonard Robinson, partner at in and Bob Steinbach, director of regional initiatives at the spoke in front of about 350audience members.
Steinbach said that just as developmentr continues along the Interstate 75corridor — blurring the line betweenj the Dayton and Cincinnati regions — that the Tri-State continued vitality is still “The health of the central cities is very important to the developmentg of the region,” Steinbach said. “When someone thinks about relocating, they want to know aboutr the major city in the Despitethat fact, government can not dictate where development takes place, and investment is always dictatedr by the market, Robinson said.
The seemingl endless constructionalong I-75, is the product of years of planninyg by the private sector, he said, which means market demanr in the 50-mile stretch betweem downtown Cincinnati and Dayton should not be considerexd a recent phenomenon. “New development is taking placew because people took the time to put them in Robinson said. Policinski said the bigged “region” is growing at historically high rates, but “governments’ absolut e inability to grasp partnerships with the private is inhibitingeconomic “We have been beating on this drum for five Policinski said.
“You would think you are asking them to dothe Meanwhile, around the private-public partnerships are flourishing and leavint southwest Ohio at an economic he said. Panelists reached a consensus abouf future importance on passenger andfreight rail, alon g the I-75 corridor, as a meanxs for getting trucks off the highway.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Botsford Group grows client base despite market turmoil - Houston Business Journal:
jabire2389.blogspot.com
Erin Botsford may be a graduat of the School ofHard Knocks, but she’s spent her career trying to help others avoifd the financial pitfalls that nearly devastated her Her company, The Botsford specializes in financial planning that allows clients to enjoy a comfortablwe lifestyle regardless of what’s happening with the “I have 350 clients who are all out playinhg golf,” she said. “Aned to my knowledge, not one of my clientds is worried abouthis future.” who has a real estate and insurance background, bega studying economics and demographics — particularlyh baby boomers — in 1995.
Her research suggested that the stoco market would peakfrom 2008-2010, dive 40% to 60% and stay that way for 10 to 13 “It became clear to me that this could be devastatingg to retired people,” she said. “I set up my busineszs from that day forward that if something like that were to my clients would not benegativelyh impacted. I’ve worked hard to achieves that. Because of that, my clients are thoroughly prepared and nobody has had to changewtheir lifestyle.” Botsford often shares her story of growingb up in California with five siblings and losing her father, a colleg e professor, when he was age 50.
His $10,0090 life insurance didn’t go far, and the family quickly slipped from middle class into When shewas 16, Botsford was charge d with involuntary manslaughter for a traffic accident in whichu her car collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the driver’xs death. Her family’s attorney said he wouldn’t charged any legal fees if shepleadede guilty. But Botsford did not do that, and in fact was “I learned early on that money buys you she said. Her mother took out a second mortgage on thei r home forher defense, which revealed that the motorcyclisyt had actually hit her.
“A lot of people don’t realize that they are one car accident away from losing everything ifthey don’t protect or take care of thei assets,” she said. “In Texas there are a lot of good and easy ways to protec tyour money. Most financial advisers don’t focus on Among the investments Botsford uses are financial instruments such as structured which are designed for either falling orrisingf markets. Botsford has clients in 31 includingMike Miller, a retired entrepreneur, 47, who livex with his wife, Sherri, and nine childrenb in Tennessee. Miller suffered a setbacmk after he pulledabouty $2.
5 million from his Botsford Group portfolio and invested with a who recently was accused of defrauding dozens of clients. the money Miller had left with Botsforxd had grown enough to coverhis family’a living expenses. “Erin is very solid,” he “She looks at where you want to be and how to get you to that She will help you adjusrt your investments to maintain thelifestylew you’re looking for.” While her competitors’ businessesd suffered declines of 20% to 30% from 2007 to Botsford said she lost less than 1% in In 2008, she posteds $4.5 million in revenue and has more than $500 millionb under management.
She believes her company continues to thrivr because of her proactive role in positioning her clients and notactingv “like a deer in the headlights.” “Clients buy confidencee from us in their future,” she “If you didn’t anticipate this you must have been hiding under a Next on her agenda is to hire a new business developmenyt president and pen a book about baby boomers, “a generationn in the balance.
” Her hope is to apply her strategiess for high net-worth individuals to othersx interested in investing in their Even though she had a few more bumps alonfg the way — like the time she won moneyt on “Wheel of invested it and later lost it all Botsford’s story has a happy She married her high school traveled around Europe as an Air Forcse wife, offered real estate seminars to Americans living abroad and finally landed in Dallaws in 1992. Her company employs 16 peopl e and has officesin N.J., and Atlanta, and she’s excite d about its growth possibilities. “We’re in a real positionb of strength,” she said.
“kI want to be a dominant player inthe
Erin Botsford may be a graduat of the School ofHard Knocks, but she’s spent her career trying to help others avoifd the financial pitfalls that nearly devastated her Her company, The Botsford specializes in financial planning that allows clients to enjoy a comfortablwe lifestyle regardless of what’s happening with the “I have 350 clients who are all out playinhg golf,” she said. “Aned to my knowledge, not one of my clientds is worried abouthis future.” who has a real estate and insurance background, bega studying economics and demographics — particularlyh baby boomers — in 1995.
Her research suggested that the stoco market would peakfrom 2008-2010, dive 40% to 60% and stay that way for 10 to 13 “It became clear to me that this could be devastatingg to retired people,” she said. “I set up my busineszs from that day forward that if something like that were to my clients would not benegativelyh impacted. I’ve worked hard to achieves that. Because of that, my clients are thoroughly prepared and nobody has had to changewtheir lifestyle.” Botsford often shares her story of growingb up in California with five siblings and losing her father, a colleg e professor, when he was age 50.
His $10,0090 life insurance didn’t go far, and the family quickly slipped from middle class into When shewas 16, Botsford was charge d with involuntary manslaughter for a traffic accident in whichu her car collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the driver’xs death. Her family’s attorney said he wouldn’t charged any legal fees if shepleadede guilty. But Botsford did not do that, and in fact was “I learned early on that money buys you she said. Her mother took out a second mortgage on thei r home forher defense, which revealed that the motorcyclisyt had actually hit her.
“A lot of people don’t realize that they are one car accident away from losing everything ifthey don’t protect or take care of thei assets,” she said. “In Texas there are a lot of good and easy ways to protec tyour money. Most financial advisers don’t focus on Among the investments Botsford uses are financial instruments such as structured which are designed for either falling orrisingf markets. Botsford has clients in 31 includingMike Miller, a retired entrepreneur, 47, who livex with his wife, Sherri, and nine childrenb in Tennessee. Miller suffered a setbacmk after he pulledabouty $2.
5 million from his Botsford Group portfolio and invested with a who recently was accused of defrauding dozens of clients. the money Miller had left with Botsforxd had grown enough to coverhis family’a living expenses. “Erin is very solid,” he “She looks at where you want to be and how to get you to that She will help you adjusrt your investments to maintain thelifestylew you’re looking for.” While her competitors’ businessesd suffered declines of 20% to 30% from 2007 to Botsford said she lost less than 1% in In 2008, she posteds $4.5 million in revenue and has more than $500 millionb under management.
She believes her company continues to thrivr because of her proactive role in positioning her clients and notactingv “like a deer in the headlights.” “Clients buy confidencee from us in their future,” she “If you didn’t anticipate this you must have been hiding under a Next on her agenda is to hire a new business developmenyt president and pen a book about baby boomers, “a generationn in the balance.
” Her hope is to apply her strategiess for high net-worth individuals to othersx interested in investing in their Even though she had a few more bumps alonfg the way — like the time she won moneyt on “Wheel of invested it and later lost it all Botsford’s story has a happy She married her high school traveled around Europe as an Air Forcse wife, offered real estate seminars to Americans living abroad and finally landed in Dallaws in 1992. Her company employs 16 peopl e and has officesin N.J., and Atlanta, and she’s excite d about its growth possibilities. “We’re in a real positionb of strength,” she said.
“kI want to be a dominant player inthe
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wake Forest nixes plans for uptown tower - Charlotte Business Journal:
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The building, under construction at 550 S. Tryon St., was originally to be known as the Wachoviaa Corporate Center and serve as the new headquarters ofWachoviaa Corp. Those plans changed aftee San Francisco-based bought Wachovia at the endof 2008. The toweer has since been renamed the DukeEnergy “In light of the changer in ownership of Wachovia and changes in the bank’d plans, we have decided to explor other options,” says Steve Reinemund, dean of businesse at Wake Forest. Reinemund didn’t elaborate on why the changde in ownership alteredthe school’ s plans. Wake Forest says it is seekinf atleast 25,000 squares feet for its base of operations in Charlotte.
The facility will houser graduate business classes as well as outreach programs to the Charlottrbusiness community, alumni activities and facultyu research. “The university is committed to continuing to grow its businesas programs in theCharlotte area, and we are exciteds that these plans will also enable us to better serve our Reinemund says. The local operations would move uptowbn from the Morrocroft office complexin SouthPark. Wake Forest’w Babcock Graduate School of Management has offered an MBA program in Charlottesince 1995. Wake a private, liberal arts university, is basef in Winston-Salem.
In February, (NYSE:DUK) said it woulcd take about a third of the spacew in the newuptown tower. The compangy had planned to take 240,000 squard feet of space in the building. But now it will occupy 500,000 square feet, becoming the principal tenan t inthe 1.4 million-square-foott tower. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) owns both the building and an adjoining culturalcampus that’s also under The cultural campus, with its museums and othe r features, is expected to carry the Wells Farg o name. Wells Fargo Chierf Executive John Stumpf has said the buildinb at the corner of Soutnh Tryon and Stonewall streets remains inthe bank’s pland for Charlotte and will house Wells Fargo employees.
The office tower is schedulex for completionnext spring.
The building, under construction at 550 S. Tryon St., was originally to be known as the Wachoviaa Corporate Center and serve as the new headquarters ofWachoviaa Corp. Those plans changed aftee San Francisco-based bought Wachovia at the endof 2008. The toweer has since been renamed the DukeEnergy “In light of the changer in ownership of Wachovia and changes in the bank’d plans, we have decided to explor other options,” says Steve Reinemund, dean of businesse at Wake Forest. Reinemund didn’t elaborate on why the changde in ownership alteredthe school’ s plans. Wake Forest says it is seekinf atleast 25,000 squares feet for its base of operations in Charlotte.
The facility will houser graduate business classes as well as outreach programs to the Charlottrbusiness community, alumni activities and facultyu research. “The university is committed to continuing to grow its businesas programs in theCharlotte area, and we are exciteds that these plans will also enable us to better serve our Reinemund says. The local operations would move uptowbn from the Morrocroft office complexin SouthPark. Wake Forest’w Babcock Graduate School of Management has offered an MBA program in Charlottesince 1995. Wake a private, liberal arts university, is basef in Winston-Salem.
In February, (NYSE:DUK) said it woulcd take about a third of the spacew in the newuptown tower. The compangy had planned to take 240,000 squard feet of space in the building. But now it will occupy 500,000 square feet, becoming the principal tenan t inthe 1.4 million-square-foott tower. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) owns both the building and an adjoining culturalcampus that’s also under The cultural campus, with its museums and othe r features, is expected to carry the Wells Farg o name. Wells Fargo Chierf Executive John Stumpf has said the buildinb at the corner of Soutnh Tryon and Stonewall streets remains inthe bank’s pland for Charlotte and will house Wells Fargo employees.
The office tower is schedulex for completionnext spring.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
European leaders still divided on debt crisis - MarketWatch
doqujamup.wordpress.com
Sydney Morning Herald | European leaders still divided on debt crisis MarketWatch By MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) รข€" European leaders made little headway Saturday on resolving a banking crisis that threatens to weaken their economies and spread damage overseas to countries such as the United States. ... Europeans remain divided on bailouts EU countries divided on possible new finance tax EU countries divided on possible new finance tax |
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Free buses bring Chapel Hill livability award - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
dawojetos.blogspot.com
The home of the , Chape l Hill beat out more than 200 municipalities across the natiohn to claima first-place City Livability Chapel Hill won for cities with populations of fewed than 100,000. Charleston, S.C., won for citie with populations of morethan 100,000. The contesgt was judged on three criteria: mayoral leadership, creativituy and innovation, and the broad impacf on the quality of life for The U.S.
Conference of Mayors honored Chapelp Hill for its decision in 2002 to no longer charge farese to any rider on its bus the organization said in a press While many bus systems in collegetowns don’yt charge students and faculty to a scant few provide free service to all The town implemented the fare-free system to encouragew people to take the bus and leave their cars at The plan worked. Ridership on Chapel Hill transit has more than doublec since fares were eliminated going from 3 million in 2002 to a projected 7 millio nthis year. “The Chapel Hill Publivc Transit system is the foundation of oursustainabled future,” Foy said in a press release.
“This bus syste m makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of placspeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big The town says it is planning a “community to celebrate the livability awar and that it will releases details soon.
The home of the , Chape l Hill beat out more than 200 municipalities across the natiohn to claima first-place City Livability Chapel Hill won for cities with populations of fewed than 100,000. Charleston, S.C., won for citie with populations of morethan 100,000. The contesgt was judged on three criteria: mayoral leadership, creativituy and innovation, and the broad impacf on the quality of life for The U.S.
Conference of Mayors honored Chapelp Hill for its decision in 2002 to no longer charge farese to any rider on its bus the organization said in a press While many bus systems in collegetowns don’yt charge students and faculty to a scant few provide free service to all The town implemented the fare-free system to encouragew people to take the bus and leave their cars at The plan worked. Ridership on Chapel Hill transit has more than doublec since fares were eliminated going from 3 million in 2002 to a projected 7 millio nthis year. “The Chapel Hill Publivc Transit system is the foundation of oursustainabled future,” Foy said in a press release.
“This bus syste m makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of placspeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big The town says it is planning a “community to celebrate the livability awar and that it will releases details soon.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
SEC: N.Y. investment firm misled S. Fla. seniors - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
soileauifyyfa1786.blogspot.com
"They used free lunches as the low-tecgh bait for their high-scale scheme," said Robertr Khuzami, director of the SEC's Divisiojn of Enforcement. The SEC alleges elderly and retiredf investors were lured into purchasing highly unsuitable variable annuities with lucrative sales commissions while ignoring the financial goalwof victims. The SEC alleges that Eric J. Brown of Highlanx Beach, Matthew J. Collins of Boynton Beach, Kevin J. Walsj of Viera, and Mark W. Wells of Boca Raton, were amonfg those offering and sellingthe annuities. It’s alleges that the firm and its representatives earnedc millions of dollars insaleas commissions.
PCS is a registered broker-dealer and wholly-ownesd subsidiary of Gilman Ciocia, an income tax preparatio business headquartered in Poughkeepsie that offers financial servicesz inNew York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Robertt Heim, a NewYork attorney who represents Prime Gilman Ciocia, and several of the including Collins and Wells, said the conducty at issue in the complaint is "ver old" and occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000. He said the companyt reached a settlement withthe (FINRA), when it was calles the (NASD). As part of that agreement, the compan y implemented some wide-ranging updates to its supervisory and compliance systemssin 2005, Heim said.
He added that he didn' t know why the SEC was going over thesame ground. "Al l of these issues were addressed years ago and we feelthe company'es response has been appropriate," he While Brown and Walsh have since Collins and Wells are still with the he said. An administratives law judge will determine whether the allegations agains the respondents aretrue and, if so, whethert they should be ordered to ceases and desist from future violations.
"They used free lunches as the low-tecgh bait for their high-scale scheme," said Robertr Khuzami, director of the SEC's Divisiojn of Enforcement. The SEC alleges elderly and retiredf investors were lured into purchasing highly unsuitable variable annuities with lucrative sales commissions while ignoring the financial goalwof victims. The SEC alleges that Eric J. Brown of Highlanx Beach, Matthew J. Collins of Boynton Beach, Kevin J. Walsj of Viera, and Mark W. Wells of Boca Raton, were amonfg those offering and sellingthe annuities. It’s alleges that the firm and its representatives earnedc millions of dollars insaleas commissions.
PCS is a registered broker-dealer and wholly-ownesd subsidiary of Gilman Ciocia, an income tax preparatio business headquartered in Poughkeepsie that offers financial servicesz inNew York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Robertt Heim, a NewYork attorney who represents Prime Gilman Ciocia, and several of the including Collins and Wells, said the conducty at issue in the complaint is "ver old" and occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000. He said the companyt reached a settlement withthe (FINRA), when it was calles the (NASD). As part of that agreement, the compan y implemented some wide-ranging updates to its supervisory and compliance systemssin 2005, Heim said.
He added that he didn' t know why the SEC was going over thesame ground. "Al l of these issues were addressed years ago and we feelthe company'es response has been appropriate," he While Brown and Walsh have since Collins and Wells are still with the he said. An administratives law judge will determine whether the allegations agains the respondents aretrue and, if so, whethert they should be ordered to ceases and desist from future violations.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Health reform details emerge - Houston Business Journal:
efenytan.wordpress.com
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsfor full-time employees under the health care reform bill beinb considered by the House. They also would be requiredr to pick up at leasrt some of the tab forinsuriny part-time employees. Businesses that don’t providw this minimum level of coverag e would be required to pay the federal government a fee basee on 8 percent of their Small businesses undera yet-to-be-determined threshold would be exemptee from this “play or pay” The chairmen of three House committeesa with jurisdiction over health care introduced draft legislation June 19, offerint the most details yet on how healtnh care reform could affect small businesses.
Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurance through anational exchange, which woulde include a government-run plan and privatee insurers. Tax credits would be availabld to help small businesses affordthe coverage. Healthg insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase another 9 percent next accordingto PricewaterhouseCoopers. Smallo businesses often face much higher rate While most small businesses agrede the current health insurance marketis there’s a lot of disagreemeng over whether the House bill would cure the problek or just make it worse.
Mike who owns a retail clothing store and designh business called Smash inDes Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan woulds hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time but reimburses them for the cost of policiee they buy on their own. That’sz fine with his employees, who are singl e and in their 20s. The reimbursementes now account for 6 percenof Smash’s payroll, but that couldx jump to 22 percent in four years, when Drape expects everyone on his management team to have creating the need for family plans.
His businesas couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were he would consider buying insurancde through the exchange if it were easyto use. But he might decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiews they purchase through the exchange. Draper thinks employers shouled be required to help pay fortheir employees’ health insurance. Like Social Securityt contributions, this sort of responsibility is “kinf of what you signed up for” when you become a businessz owner, he said. Other small business owners, however, thinkj the House bill imposes too tough of a standare onsmall businesses.
The requirement to pay 72.5 percentf of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ias much too high for many small businesses,” said Karehn Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusines & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many smalp businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowers Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurance forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablwenext year, because “our ratee are going to skyrocket,” co-owner John Nicholson told the House Smalpl Business Committee earlier this month.
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsfor full-time employees under the health care reform bill beinb considered by the House. They also would be requiredr to pick up at leasrt some of the tab forinsuriny part-time employees. Businesses that don’t providw this minimum level of coverag e would be required to pay the federal government a fee basee on 8 percent of their Small businesses undera yet-to-be-determined threshold would be exemptee from this “play or pay” The chairmen of three House committeesa with jurisdiction over health care introduced draft legislation June 19, offerint the most details yet on how healtnh care reform could affect small businesses.
Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurance through anational exchange, which woulde include a government-run plan and privatee insurers. Tax credits would be availabld to help small businesses affordthe coverage. Healthg insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase another 9 percent next accordingto PricewaterhouseCoopers. Smallo businesses often face much higher rate While most small businesses agrede the current health insurance marketis there’s a lot of disagreemeng over whether the House bill would cure the problek or just make it worse.
Mike who owns a retail clothing store and designh business called Smash inDes Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan woulds hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time but reimburses them for the cost of policiee they buy on their own. That’sz fine with his employees, who are singl e and in their 20s. The reimbursementes now account for 6 percenof Smash’s payroll, but that couldx jump to 22 percent in four years, when Drape expects everyone on his management team to have creating the need for family plans.
His businesas couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were he would consider buying insurancde through the exchange if it were easyto use. But he might decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiews they purchase through the exchange. Draper thinks employers shouled be required to help pay fortheir employees’ health insurance. Like Social Securityt contributions, this sort of responsibility is “kinf of what you signed up for” when you become a businessz owner, he said. Other small business owners, however, thinkj the House bill imposes too tough of a standare onsmall businesses.
The requirement to pay 72.5 percentf of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ias much too high for many small businesses,” said Karehn Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusines & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many smalp businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowers Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurance forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablwenext year, because “our ratee are going to skyrocket,” co-owner John Nicholson told the House Smalpl Business Committee earlier this month.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sports group hits Facebook and Twitter - Washington Business Journal:
ejyceh.wordpress.com
The group promises to provide information aboutf upcomingsports events, franchise campaigns and many other doings related to sports in The Sports Authority is an influentiaol player in attracting major such as last spring’s NCAA men’s basketball The efforts will also promote the authority’se bid for events, volunteer opportunities and special tickeft offers. “We are very excited to officially entert the realm ofsocial networking,” said Oregon Sports Authoritu CEO Drew Mahalic, in a release. “It’s a fantastid way for us to keep everyone posted on the futuree ofOregon sports.
” Interns Kailee Crawford, Meagann Kalez and Taylor Hinshaw created the pages. The groulp can be found on Facebooiat http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Sports-Authority/137195479568. Its Twitter address is http://twitter.com/OregonSportxs
The group promises to provide information aboutf upcomingsports events, franchise campaigns and many other doings related to sports in The Sports Authority is an influentiaol player in attracting major such as last spring’s NCAA men’s basketball The efforts will also promote the authority’se bid for events, volunteer opportunities and special tickeft offers. “We are very excited to officially entert the realm ofsocial networking,” said Oregon Sports Authoritu CEO Drew Mahalic, in a release. “It’s a fantastid way for us to keep everyone posted on the futuree ofOregon sports.
” Interns Kailee Crawford, Meagann Kalez and Taylor Hinshaw created the pages. The groulp can be found on Facebooiat http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Sports-Authority/137195479568. Its Twitter address is http://twitter.com/OregonSportxs
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Fontainebleau Las Vegas company files Chapter 11 - Dallas Business Journal:
acklinegymejac1362.blogspot.com
Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of itsaffiliatesz – Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings LLC and Fontainebleau Las Vegad Capital Corp. – filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late The Miami Beach hote is not included in the The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapted 11 was the direct result of litigation with lenders on the Las Vegae hotel construction project that had to do with contractuao disputes related tonearl $800 million in construction fundinyg for the $2.9 billion resort-casino project, whichu is 70 percent Lenders include , and Deutsche Bank Trus t Co. Americas.
The legal dispute has effectively shut down the projectand “put thousands of peoples out of work,” said Howard chief restructuring officer of Fontainebleau Las in the release. “Our goal now is to secure fundingv to completethis world-classa project and restructure our existing debt.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas reachexd a provisional agreement with a group of its non-defaultingv lenders for the use of cash for the administration of its bankruptcty case, and is in negotiations to obtain financing to restaryt construction on that project. Fontainebleau Miami which is a separatelegal entity, continues to operatse as normal.
Turnberry West Construction, the project’ds general contractor, is also not included in the according to thenews release. In Nakheel Hotels of Dubaoi bought a 50 percent interesy in the Fontainebleau Miami Beachfor $375 The Las Vegas hotel companies that filed bankruptcy are based in South Florida because the Soffer famil y of Aventura, which also owns the Turnberry development and constructionj companies, owns all the Fontainebleau companies. Jeffrey Soffefr is a principal of umbrella company FontainebleauResorts LLC, according to stat e records.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas also withdree without prejudiceits $3 billion lawsuiy in Las Vegas against some of its lenders, and refilex the case in Miami bankruptcy court, wherre the Chapter 11 petitions were filed. The lawsuit with lendersx was amended on May 12 to include allegations that Deutsche BankTrustg Co. Americas was “seeking to destroy the Fontainebleau in order tominimize competition” with the nearby and which is wholly owned by a Deutsche Bank "This claim is an attempt by the Fontainebleau's developersx to distract from the fact that they have breachec their loan covenants.
We will defend ourselvea vigorously against this meritless Deutsche Bank spokesman John Gallaghe said inan e-mailed response. Fontainebleau Las Vegax LLC lists morethan $1 billion in debt and a simila amount in assets on its petition, with more than 1,000p creditors. The only South Florida credito listed was International Bedding inFort Lauderdale, with a claikm of $498,737.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of itsaffiliatesz – Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings LLC and Fontainebleau Las Vegad Capital Corp. – filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late The Miami Beach hote is not included in the The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapted 11 was the direct result of litigation with lenders on the Las Vegae hotel construction project that had to do with contractuao disputes related tonearl $800 million in construction fundinyg for the $2.9 billion resort-casino project, whichu is 70 percent Lenders include , and Deutsche Bank Trus t Co. Americas.
The legal dispute has effectively shut down the projectand “put thousands of peoples out of work,” said Howard chief restructuring officer of Fontainebleau Las in the release. “Our goal now is to secure fundingv to completethis world-classa project and restructure our existing debt.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas reachexd a provisional agreement with a group of its non-defaultingv lenders for the use of cash for the administration of its bankruptcty case, and is in negotiations to obtain financing to restaryt construction on that project. Fontainebleau Miami which is a separatelegal entity, continues to operatse as normal.
Turnberry West Construction, the project’ds general contractor, is also not included in the according to thenews release. In Nakheel Hotels of Dubaoi bought a 50 percent interesy in the Fontainebleau Miami Beachfor $375 The Las Vegas hotel companies that filed bankruptcy are based in South Florida because the Soffer famil y of Aventura, which also owns the Turnberry development and constructionj companies, owns all the Fontainebleau companies. Jeffrey Soffefr is a principal of umbrella company FontainebleauResorts LLC, according to stat e records.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas also withdree without prejudiceits $3 billion lawsuiy in Las Vegas against some of its lenders, and refilex the case in Miami bankruptcy court, wherre the Chapter 11 petitions were filed. The lawsuit with lendersx was amended on May 12 to include allegations that Deutsche BankTrustg Co. Americas was “seeking to destroy the Fontainebleau in order tominimize competition” with the nearby and which is wholly owned by a Deutsche Bank "This claim is an attempt by the Fontainebleau's developersx to distract from the fact that they have breachec their loan covenants.
We will defend ourselvea vigorously against this meritless Deutsche Bank spokesman John Gallaghe said inan e-mailed response. Fontainebleau Las Vegax LLC lists morethan $1 billion in debt and a simila amount in assets on its petition, with more than 1,000p creditors. The only South Florida credito listed was International Bedding inFort Lauderdale, with a claikm of $498,737.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Back to basics: Amish Country appeals to travelers in numerous ways - Lancaster Eagle Gazette
http://www.vincent-guillemot.com/?p=88
Back to basics: Amish Country appeals to travelers in numerous ways Lancaster Eagle Gazette Amir Eylon gets nostalgic when thinking back to spur-of-the-moment car trips he and his family embarked on during summer months. "You don't hear of families doing long trips anymore, instead going on extended weekend trips," the state tourism director ... |
Friday, September 2, 2011
California fiscal emergency declared, IOUs expected soon - New Mexico Business Weekly:
tower-tennesseea.blogspot.com
billion budget deficit Tuesday night. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declarex a fiscal emergency to force lawmakers into aspecial "Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problen yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficiyt remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest untikl we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road the roadstops here," Schwarzenegger said in a The governor's declaration under Proposition 58 requires lawmakers to adopt a plan to close the deficift within 45 days.
Schwarzenegger also signedf an executive orderforcing 220,000 state worker s to take a third furloughh day without pay beginning this month. As a resuly of Tuesday's blown budget deadline, the state whosse economy is bigger than all but sevehn countries in the world is gettingb ready to issue IOUs beginninbg Thursday for only the second time since theGreatt Depression. State Controller John Chiang said the Stater Pooled Money Investment Board will meet Thursday to set the interest rate forabourt $3 billion in short-term promissory notes that will matur in October. Most of the money will go to the disabled andwelfare recipients, abouty $1 billion.
About $565 milliob will go businesses andanother $159 million will go to By missing the midnight deadline, state leadere lost an important opportunity to shave $3 billion in education spendinf in the fiscal year that just Both the Democratic plan for the budger gap and Schwarzenegger's had counted on that. The governodr proposed $16 billion in cuts, borrowing $2 billion from local government s andtaking $6 billion from other government accounts. He also backz accelerated personal and corporate incometax collections, as well as a 5 percent cut in state employee pay.
The Democratic which holds a majority in both the Assemblu andthe Senate, has proposed $11 billioh in spending cuts, raising fees on vehicle licensesa and hiking taxes on tobacco products and companies that drill for oil. Statwe Treasurer Bill Lockyer promised on Mondayh thatCalifornia won't default on its refuting a possibility raised by analysg Martin Weiss of Weiss Research in a June 22 The state's bond rating is already the lowestg in the nation, but rating agencies have threatened to drop it nearere to junk bond statux because of the budget impasse whicj has dragged on since April.
State leaders thought they had resolve the current year budget earlier than ever when they adopteed onein February, but the recessionm cut tax revenue by about 20 percent sincd then. California bonds maturing in 2037 trade d as lowas 83.35 cents on the dollaf Tuesday, a yield of about 6.27 down from a recent high of 97.25 cents on May 12.
billion budget deficit Tuesday night. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declarex a fiscal emergency to force lawmakers into aspecial "Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problen yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficiyt remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest untikl we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road the roadstops here," Schwarzenegger said in a The governor's declaration under Proposition 58 requires lawmakers to adopt a plan to close the deficift within 45 days.
Schwarzenegger also signedf an executive orderforcing 220,000 state worker s to take a third furloughh day without pay beginning this month. As a resuly of Tuesday's blown budget deadline, the state whosse economy is bigger than all but sevehn countries in the world is gettingb ready to issue IOUs beginninbg Thursday for only the second time since theGreatt Depression. State Controller John Chiang said the Stater Pooled Money Investment Board will meet Thursday to set the interest rate forabourt $3 billion in short-term promissory notes that will matur in October. Most of the money will go to the disabled andwelfare recipients, abouty $1 billion.
About $565 milliob will go businesses andanother $159 million will go to By missing the midnight deadline, state leadere lost an important opportunity to shave $3 billion in education spendinf in the fiscal year that just Both the Democratic plan for the budger gap and Schwarzenegger's had counted on that. The governodr proposed $16 billion in cuts, borrowing $2 billion from local government s andtaking $6 billion from other government accounts. He also backz accelerated personal and corporate incometax collections, as well as a 5 percent cut in state employee pay.
The Democratic which holds a majority in both the Assemblu andthe Senate, has proposed $11 billioh in spending cuts, raising fees on vehicle licensesa and hiking taxes on tobacco products and companies that drill for oil. Statwe Treasurer Bill Lockyer promised on Mondayh thatCalifornia won't default on its refuting a possibility raised by analysg Martin Weiss of Weiss Research in a June 22 The state's bond rating is already the lowestg in the nation, but rating agencies have threatened to drop it nearere to junk bond statux because of the budget impasse whicj has dragged on since April.
State leaders thought they had resolve the current year budget earlier than ever when they adopteed onein February, but the recessionm cut tax revenue by about 20 percent sincd then. California bonds maturing in 2037 trade d as lowas 83.35 cents on the dollaf Tuesday, a yield of about 6.27 down from a recent high of 97.25 cents on May 12.
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