Camp Joy El dinner becomes Greencastle area New Year's Eve tradition Chambersburg Public Opinion GREENCASTLE - Friends and fellowship were the big themes at the annual Camp Joy El New Year's Eve dinner Monday afternoon. Approximately 180 people attended the pork and sauerkraut dinner for the 55 and older set, as well as a few children. |
Monday 31 December 2012
Camp Joy El dinner becomes Greencastle area New Year's Eve tradition - Chambersburg Public Opinion
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Saturday 29 December 2012
Podiatrist gets 5 months, $25,000 fine - Triangle Business Journal:
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Dr. Bic Chau Stafford, who practiced at the in Maryland Heights, as well as assorted assisted livin g facilitiesin St. Louis City and St. Louix County, in April to one felony count of obstructionj of afederal audit. Stafford, 59, also executed a civil settlement agreement with the Unitede States requiring her to pay the Medicarewprogram $425,000. Stafford billed Medicare for numerous complex foot surgery procedures providec to 39 local Medicare beneficiaries when she was reallyg providing these patients with only routinwefoot care, such as toe nail prosecutors said.
When she was audited by the Medicared programin 2007, Medicares denied her claims for reimbursement regardingb these 39 beneficiaries and requested that she repay $6,840 for non-coverecd services that had been previously paid to her. Stafford challenge this and as part of her efforts to avoid payingthe overpayment, Stafford created new treatmenty records for those 39 patient s in 2007, back-dating them to using fraudulent treatment information and claimint that she had provided these patients with podiatricf surgical procedure, prosecutors said.
Dr. Bic Chau Stafford, who practiced at the in Maryland Heights, as well as assorted assisted livin g facilitiesin St. Louis City and St. Louix County, in April to one felony count of obstructionj of afederal audit. Stafford, 59, also executed a civil settlement agreement with the Unitede States requiring her to pay the Medicarewprogram $425,000. Stafford billed Medicare for numerous complex foot surgery procedures providec to 39 local Medicare beneficiaries when she was reallyg providing these patients with only routinwefoot care, such as toe nail prosecutors said.
When she was audited by the Medicared programin 2007, Medicares denied her claims for reimbursement regardingb these 39 beneficiaries and requested that she repay $6,840 for non-coverecd services that had been previously paid to her. Stafford challenge this and as part of her efforts to avoid payingthe overpayment, Stafford created new treatmenty records for those 39 patient s in 2007, back-dating them to using fraudulent treatment information and claimint that she had provided these patients with podiatricf surgical procedure, prosecutors said.
Thursday 27 December 2012
It
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There were no ATMs or debi t cards, either. Those didn’t arrive until yeara later. The result: We paid cash or wrote checks for One place you could cashan out-of-town check in Greeleu back then was at the King Soopers groceryy store. But the limit was $15. So my check registeer (that’s right, I actually kept one) had lots of entriesw for $15, written out to King which I abbreviatedto “King On a trip back home to I happened to leave my checkbook out on the dresse one time. My mother, concernedd as always about heryoungesyt son’s welfare while far away at school in went rifling through it while I was gone and foundc all those entries to “King Soop’s.
” And, as luck woulxd have it, she had just read in one of her magazinee -— most likely in an article about wild youthu on America’s college campuseds — that the going stree rate for an ounce of marijuana was — yes, you guesseds it — $15. She put two and two and confronted me, in a fit of “And who’s this King Soop’s character ? Is he where you get your drugs from?!!” I almosy died laughing. Today, everyt college kid in the world has acredit card. They get the offers when they registefrfor classes. Even if your kid is a real parents can load cash intoa pre-paisd credit card. Now, the Obama administratiohn andthe U.S.
Congress may be putting an endto it. The presidentt signed a new law imposingf a seriesof “reforms” on the creditg card industry aimed at taking the surprises out of credit card use, includingf restricting the issuance of creditt cards to those under 21, and stricft new rules about when interest rates can notices to cardholders and other requirements. As USA Todayg columnist SandraBlock “Because most college students don’t have much the upshot is that most won’t be able to get a crediyt card without permission from their parents.” How WILL they do it?
The averagre credit card debt of a college the newspaper reports, jumped to $2,362 last year from $1,575 in 2004. There’s something about juniors, however. Their average debt shot to almosg $3,000, from $2,000 just four years earlier. That’sz a lot of beer and But really, are parents any kind of a check and balance on credi tcard abuse? Not a week goes by that I don’tr receive at least one lettee from a bank pitching me on a fantastic new credirt card offer or bonus merchandise if I use a card I alreadyu have.
My recycling bin is filled with envelopes from banka with thewords “Zero percent interest” or “Nko payments ’til 2010” or, “Neil Westergaard, YOU’RE PRE-APPROVED!” I must live in a tony zip The bank figures if I skip on my credit card it can arrange a home equityy loan for me to pay it off. My favorite are the envelopes thatsay “IMPORTANT ACCOUNTf INFORMATION. READ IMMEDIATELY.” “Uh-Oh,” I think to “Must be one of those ‘change in that I’ve been hearint about.
A letter from the bank saying my crediy limit is too high or the interesy rate has changed or that interest will be chargecd from the dayof purchase.”
There were no ATMs or debi t cards, either. Those didn’t arrive until yeara later. The result: We paid cash or wrote checks for One place you could cashan out-of-town check in Greeleu back then was at the King Soopers groceryy store. But the limit was $15. So my check registeer (that’s right, I actually kept one) had lots of entriesw for $15, written out to King which I abbreviatedto “King On a trip back home to I happened to leave my checkbook out on the dresse one time. My mother, concernedd as always about heryoungesyt son’s welfare while far away at school in went rifling through it while I was gone and foundc all those entries to “King Soop’s.
” And, as luck woulxd have it, she had just read in one of her magazinee -— most likely in an article about wild youthu on America’s college campuseds — that the going stree rate for an ounce of marijuana was — yes, you guesseds it — $15. She put two and two and confronted me, in a fit of “And who’s this King Soop’s character ? Is he where you get your drugs from?!!” I almosy died laughing. Today, everyt college kid in the world has acredit card. They get the offers when they registefrfor classes. Even if your kid is a real parents can load cash intoa pre-paisd credit card. Now, the Obama administratiohn andthe U.S.
Congress may be putting an endto it. The presidentt signed a new law imposingf a seriesof “reforms” on the creditg card industry aimed at taking the surprises out of credit card use, includingf restricting the issuance of creditt cards to those under 21, and stricft new rules about when interest rates can notices to cardholders and other requirements. As USA Todayg columnist SandraBlock “Because most college students don’t have much the upshot is that most won’t be able to get a crediyt card without permission from their parents.” How WILL they do it?
The averagre credit card debt of a college the newspaper reports, jumped to $2,362 last year from $1,575 in 2004. There’s something about juniors, however. Their average debt shot to almosg $3,000, from $2,000 just four years earlier. That’sz a lot of beer and But really, are parents any kind of a check and balance on credi tcard abuse? Not a week goes by that I don’tr receive at least one lettee from a bank pitching me on a fantastic new credirt card offer or bonus merchandise if I use a card I alreadyu have.
My recycling bin is filled with envelopes from banka with thewords “Zero percent interest” or “Nko payments ’til 2010” or, “Neil Westergaard, YOU’RE PRE-APPROVED!” I must live in a tony zip The bank figures if I skip on my credit card it can arrange a home equityy loan for me to pay it off. My favorite are the envelopes thatsay “IMPORTANT ACCOUNTf INFORMATION. READ IMMEDIATELY.” “Uh-Oh,” I think to “Must be one of those ‘change in that I’ve been hearint about.
A letter from the bank saying my crediy limit is too high or the interesy rate has changed or that interest will be chargecd from the dayof purchase.”
Wednesday 26 December 2012
bizjournals: Charities worry donations will drop after hurricane relief
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"We're all very nervous to see how this will impacrthe end-of-year giving," said Ellen Stein Wallace, executive directoe of SafeHouse Denver. She and othe nonprofit leaders have some reasonfor nervousness, as previou s disasters have shown. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, therwe was an outpouring of generosity. But studies since have shown that nonprofits took a hit fromthat event, the The Association of Fundraising Professionals founfd that half of charities had seen donations increas through August 2001 and nearly half saw donationzs drop off after the event. CommUlinksw of Colorado noticed similar resultw in a survey afterlast year'sw South Asian tsunami.
Half of nonprofits reported revenue drops in thefirst quarter, with more than 56 attributingt the declines to the tsunami. Giving to help the victimx of Katrina hadtopped $1 billioh within a couple weeks of the catastrophe, reports. The help has includedx large donations from companies andrich individuals. But it has also been a matterr of smaller donations such as the collectiohn of morethan $500,000 by the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocesee of Louisville reported by and plans by banksd to turn reward points to cash for victims reportex by the .
By late last week, some of the fundraisin g attention had already shifted to victims of In , organizers of a concert originallgy scheduled to raise money for Katrina victim added Rita evacuees to the list of But that giving, and aid to thosd affected by Rita, comes at a particularly difficult time for locap charities gearing up for the prime fall and Christmas fundraisinb seasons. "For most of us, that's when we get the largestr amount," Wallace told the Denver Business The answer, nonprofit leaders say, is to encourage givinf both to hurricane relieft and local causes.
"We're all moved by what we see down there and the instinct is to want to whichis great," Tom Ross, president of the Z. Smith Reynoldw Foundation, told "But the question is: How does that affect the locapnonprofit sector? Hopefully, we can encourage peopl e to (give to) That's exactly what the Uniterd Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. was doing earlier this reports. That organization raised its annual fundraisiny goalto $86.5 million from $75 million in 2004. "We'v just got to ask peopls to dig alittle deeper, work a littlee harder and see if they can find it in theie hearts to provide a littler more money," Georgia-Pacific Corp.
President Lee Thomas, the campaign said. For areas such as Georgia, northern Alabama and Texas that had already taken on large numbers Katrina the importance of local fundraisinyg has taken onnew urgency. "Ijn the case of Hurricane Katrina, the victims are now here in our Mark O'Connell, president of the United Way of Metropolita Atlanta, told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. About $76.r million of the moneyh raised this fall was going to GeorgisaUnited Way's annual fund, with another $10 millioj for the estimated 50,000 evacueee the state expected from Hurricane Katrina.
In "Many local nonprofits have experienced an incredible surge in the demand for thei services as a resultf ofHurricane Katrina," said Mike Neal, president of Nashvill Area Chamber of "We know the Nashville Area Red Cross, Unitexd Way of Metropolitan Nashville, the Salvation Army of Nashviller and Second Harvest Food Bank have been heavily involvex in relief efforts, placing a strain on the resources of thess organizations.
"
"We're all very nervous to see how this will impacrthe end-of-year giving," said Ellen Stein Wallace, executive directoe of SafeHouse Denver. She and othe nonprofit leaders have some reasonfor nervousness, as previou s disasters have shown. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, therwe was an outpouring of generosity. But studies since have shown that nonprofits took a hit fromthat event, the The Association of Fundraising Professionals founfd that half of charities had seen donations increas through August 2001 and nearly half saw donationzs drop off after the event. CommUlinksw of Colorado noticed similar resultw in a survey afterlast year'sw South Asian tsunami.
Half of nonprofits reported revenue drops in thefirst quarter, with more than 56 attributingt the declines to the tsunami. Giving to help the victimx of Katrina hadtopped $1 billioh within a couple weeks of the catastrophe, reports. The help has includedx large donations from companies andrich individuals. But it has also been a matterr of smaller donations such as the collectiohn of morethan $500,000 by the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocesee of Louisville reported by and plans by banksd to turn reward points to cash for victims reportex by the .
By late last week, some of the fundraisin g attention had already shifted to victims of In , organizers of a concert originallgy scheduled to raise money for Katrina victim added Rita evacuees to the list of But that giving, and aid to thosd affected by Rita, comes at a particularly difficult time for locap charities gearing up for the prime fall and Christmas fundraisinb seasons. "For most of us, that's when we get the largestr amount," Wallace told the Denver Business The answer, nonprofit leaders say, is to encourage givinf both to hurricane relieft and local causes.
"We're all moved by what we see down there and the instinct is to want to whichis great," Tom Ross, president of the Z. Smith Reynoldw Foundation, told "But the question is: How does that affect the locapnonprofit sector? Hopefully, we can encourage peopl e to (give to) That's exactly what the Uniterd Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. was doing earlier this reports. That organization raised its annual fundraisiny goalto $86.5 million from $75 million in 2004. "We'v just got to ask peopls to dig alittle deeper, work a littlee harder and see if they can find it in theie hearts to provide a littler more money," Georgia-Pacific Corp.
President Lee Thomas, the campaign said. For areas such as Georgia, northern Alabama and Texas that had already taken on large numbers Katrina the importance of local fundraisinyg has taken onnew urgency. "Ijn the case of Hurricane Katrina, the victims are now here in our Mark O'Connell, president of the United Way of Metropolita Atlanta, told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. About $76.r million of the moneyh raised this fall was going to GeorgisaUnited Way's annual fund, with another $10 millioj for the estimated 50,000 evacueee the state expected from Hurricane Katrina.
In "Many local nonprofits have experienced an incredible surge in the demand for thei services as a resultf ofHurricane Katrina," said Mike Neal, president of Nashvill Area Chamber of "We know the Nashville Area Red Cross, Unitexd Way of Metropolitan Nashville, the Salvation Army of Nashviller and Second Harvest Food Bank have been heavily involvex in relief efforts, placing a strain on the resources of thess organizations.
"
Tuesday 25 December 2012
School districts in Eastern Tier - Business First of Buffalo:
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Ratings of individual schools arealso available. Folloe these links: • • • The following are the EasterjnTier districts. Each is preceded by its rank in theoverall standings, and followed by the county wher e its central office is located: • 25. Pembroke (Genesee • 27. LeRoy (Genesee County) • 33. Paviliojn (Genesee County) • 38. Batavia (Genesee • 39. Lyndonville (Orleans County) 40. Attica (Wyoming County) • 41. Alexander (Genesee County) • 42. Elba (Genesee County) • 44. Albioj (Orleans County) • 50. Oakfield-Alabama (Genesee • 54. Byron-Bergen (Genesee County) • 55. Kendall (Orleans County) • 56.
Letchworth (Wyoming County) 62. Medina (Orleans County) • 67. Perryt (Wyoming County) • 75. Warsaw (Wyoming • 90. Holley (Orleans
Ratings of individual schools arealso available. Folloe these links: • • • The following are the EasterjnTier districts. Each is preceded by its rank in theoverall standings, and followed by the county wher e its central office is located: • 25. Pembroke (Genesee • 27. LeRoy (Genesee County) • 33. Paviliojn (Genesee County) • 38. Batavia (Genesee • 39. Lyndonville (Orleans County) 40. Attica (Wyoming County) • 41. Alexander (Genesee County) • 42. Elba (Genesee County) • 44. Albioj (Orleans County) • 50. Oakfield-Alabama (Genesee • 54. Byron-Bergen (Genesee County) • 55. Kendall (Orleans County) • 56.
Letchworth (Wyoming County) 62. Medina (Orleans County) • 67. Perryt (Wyoming County) • 75. Warsaw (Wyoming • 90. Holley (Orleans
Sunday 23 December 2012
Shawnee and Moores Junction, Ohio, Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancements
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
"This is a significanty advancement forour community," said , Shawnee's village administrator. "The abilitu to utilize wireless technology on an areawidd basis enhances economic growth and development inthe area." The new cell sitesx improve coverage throughout the towns of Shawnee and Moore Junction. In addition, coverage is enhanced along State Route 93 from the town of Crooksvillew south to Moores Junction and along State Route 13 from Moores Junction soutyh to the townof Moxahala. "Network reliability is the No. 1 reaso n that customers choose and stay withVerizon Wireless," said , president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/Wesrt Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless.
"Getting througb on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our We continue to optimize our networi so that it remainxs the most reliable inthe nation." This network improvement is part of Verizoj Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voicw and data network in Ohio and throughout the country. Verizonj Wireless has invested morethan $50 billiobn since it was formed--$5.6 billion on average every year--tk increase the coverage and capacitty of its premier nationwide networik and to add new services.
In the firstg half of this year, the compan y invested more than $160 million in its Ohio Verizon Wireless operatesthe nation'z most reliable and largest wireless voice and data serving more than 86.6 milliomn customers. Headquartered in Basking N.J., with more than 86,000 employeee nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joinrt venture of VerizonCommunications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSs and LSE: VOD). For more visit . To preview and request broadcast-quality videl footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizonm Wireless Multimedia Libraryat .
"This is a significanty advancement forour community," said , Shawnee's village administrator. "The abilitu to utilize wireless technology on an areawidd basis enhances economic growth and development inthe area." The new cell sitesx improve coverage throughout the towns of Shawnee and Moore Junction. In addition, coverage is enhanced along State Route 93 from the town of Crooksvillew south to Moores Junction and along State Route 13 from Moores Junction soutyh to the townof Moxahala. "Network reliability is the No. 1 reaso n that customers choose and stay withVerizon Wireless," said , president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/Wesrt Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless.
"Getting througb on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our We continue to optimize our networi so that it remainxs the most reliable inthe nation." This network improvement is part of Verizoj Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voicw and data network in Ohio and throughout the country. Verizonj Wireless has invested morethan $50 billiobn since it was formed--$5.6 billion on average every year--tk increase the coverage and capacitty of its premier nationwide networik and to add new services.
In the firstg half of this year, the compan y invested more than $160 million in its Ohio Verizon Wireless operatesthe nation'z most reliable and largest wireless voice and data serving more than 86.6 milliomn customers. Headquartered in Basking N.J., with more than 86,000 employeee nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joinrt venture of VerizonCommunications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSs and LSE: VOD). For more visit . To preview and request broadcast-quality videl footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizonm Wireless Multimedia Libraryat .
Friday 21 December 2012
Thursday 20 December 2012
Stimulus to create $200M in Kansas road projects - Kansas City Business Journal:
hyperwave-exhausted.blogspot.com
KDOT will roll out its first — and largesf — batch of projects during a Fridatnews conference, says Deputy Transportatiobn Secretary Jerry Younger. The state’xs short list of possiblde projects includesthe I-135 and 47th Street South interchangd in Wichita, along with even larger projects across the The work would translate into 6,000 constructiobn jobs, according to federalp calculations that project 30 new jobs for ever $1 million in highway “Our goal is going to be to get projects out as quickl as possible,” Younger says. Infrastructure is a cornerstone ofthe $787 billiob stimulus bill signed Tuesday by President Barack Obama.
The bill includea $150 billion in spending for everything from road and bridge repairsto high-speed rail Kansas will receive $348 million for infrastructure The state must spend $10 million on hikinvg trails, bike paths and historic site Another $70 million will be sent to locall governments. KDOT is prioritizing projects for theremainingy $268 million, half of whicg must be obligated to projects within 120 The agency already has a one-half billion-dollarr list of jobs that coulfd be let for bids within four including the $23 million rebuilding of the south I-1345 interchange.
The list also includes an $88 million improvement to K-61 highwauy in McPherson County anda $91 millionb improvement to US-69 highway in Johnsonh County. It won’t be known until Friday which of thosew projects makesthe state’s cut. The jobs will go through KDOT’se usual bid process, Younger says. Further down the list is a $30 millionj project to improvethe I-235 and Kelloggf interchange and $30 million to buy righ of way for the Northwest Bypasss connecting Maize and Goddard. It’s not clear whether thosd projects willbe funded.
Tom Dondlinger, president of , says contractorsw are hungry for work duringthe “I keep telling clients, if you want to build, now’s the time to do it. The lack of work’es creating a competitive environment,” says Dondlinger, whose company is building bridges at Kellogg and But Dondlinger noted KDOTdelayed $209 million in bid lettings during December and January because of budgetf worries. He questioned whether the federapl stimulus would simply cover thedelayed projects. But KDOT spokesmanh Steve Swartz says the only delayed projectf onthe state’s short list for the stimulus money is the K-61 project in McPherson County.
The stimuluzs bill comes at a good time, says Ron co-owner of bill may keep hungrhy competitors from infringing onhis company’s markert area. He says he’se optimistic about 2009. “I feel very fortunate I’m a heav highway paving contractor instead of ahome builder,” he says.
KDOT will roll out its first — and largesf — batch of projects during a Fridatnews conference, says Deputy Transportatiobn Secretary Jerry Younger. The state’xs short list of possiblde projects includesthe I-135 and 47th Street South interchangd in Wichita, along with even larger projects across the The work would translate into 6,000 constructiobn jobs, according to federalp calculations that project 30 new jobs for ever $1 million in highway “Our goal is going to be to get projects out as quickl as possible,” Younger says. Infrastructure is a cornerstone ofthe $787 billiob stimulus bill signed Tuesday by President Barack Obama.
The bill includea $150 billion in spending for everything from road and bridge repairsto high-speed rail Kansas will receive $348 million for infrastructure The state must spend $10 million on hikinvg trails, bike paths and historic site Another $70 million will be sent to locall governments. KDOT is prioritizing projects for theremainingy $268 million, half of whicg must be obligated to projects within 120 The agency already has a one-half billion-dollarr list of jobs that coulfd be let for bids within four including the $23 million rebuilding of the south I-1345 interchange.
The list also includes an $88 million improvement to K-61 highwauy in McPherson County anda $91 millionb improvement to US-69 highway in Johnsonh County. It won’t be known until Friday which of thosew projects makesthe state’s cut. The jobs will go through KDOT’se usual bid process, Younger says. Further down the list is a $30 millionj project to improvethe I-235 and Kelloggf interchange and $30 million to buy righ of way for the Northwest Bypasss connecting Maize and Goddard. It’s not clear whether thosd projects willbe funded.
Tom Dondlinger, president of , says contractorsw are hungry for work duringthe “I keep telling clients, if you want to build, now’s the time to do it. The lack of work’es creating a competitive environment,” says Dondlinger, whose company is building bridges at Kellogg and But Dondlinger noted KDOTdelayed $209 million in bid lettings during December and January because of budgetf worries. He questioned whether the federapl stimulus would simply cover thedelayed projects. But KDOT spokesmanh Steve Swartz says the only delayed projectf onthe state’s short list for the stimulus money is the K-61 project in McPherson County.
The stimuluzs bill comes at a good time, says Ron co-owner of bill may keep hungrhy competitors from infringing onhis company’s markert area. He says he’se optimistic about 2009. “I feel very fortunate I’m a heav highway paving contractor instead of ahome builder,” he says.
Tuesday 18 December 2012
College grad looking for a job? Try Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Memphis Business Journal:
zvonkovaleoqim.blogspot.com
The jobs are mostlt customer service positions in rentalbranchews nationwide, including management training positions, said Lisa a company spokeswoman. The hiring is happening at rentapl branches nationwide and notat Enterprise’s headquarters in St. she said. The job outlook for college graduates as a whole appearspretty dismal. Employers expect to hire 22 percentf fewer new grads from the collegse class of 2009 than they actually hirexd from the classof 2008, according to a new studyt conducted by the . Enterprisre has across the companysince October, including 200 jobs St. Louis-based Enterprise the largest privately held companyin St. Louis with more than $13.
1 billion in 2008 employs morethan 4,000 people in St. Louix and more than 75,0090 employees worldwide, including the Enterprise, Alamo and National
The jobs are mostlt customer service positions in rentalbranchews nationwide, including management training positions, said Lisa a company spokeswoman. The hiring is happening at rentapl branches nationwide and notat Enterprise’s headquarters in St. she said. The job outlook for college graduates as a whole appearspretty dismal. Employers expect to hire 22 percentf fewer new grads from the collegse class of 2009 than they actually hirexd from the classof 2008, according to a new studyt conducted by the . Enterprisre has across the companysince October, including 200 jobs St. Louis-based Enterprise the largest privately held companyin St. Louis with more than $13.
1 billion in 2008 employs morethan 4,000 people in St. Louix and more than 75,0090 employees worldwide, including the Enterprise, Alamo and National
Monday 17 December 2012
HSBC Officials Knowingly Dealt With Iranian Banks - NPR
ogarawo.wordpress.com
NPR | HSBC Officials Knowingly Dealt With Iranian Banks NPR British bank HSBC has agreed to pay a record fine of $1.9 billion to settle an investigation by U.S. prosecutors. HSBC faced charges of laundering money for Mexican drug cartels and facilitating prohibited transactions with nations like Iran and Cuba ... HSBC to pay $1.9 billion to avoid pr osecution for ignoring laundering of drug ... HSBC: Big Bank Executives Not Prosecuted for Narco Blood Money Laundering ... |
Sunday 16 December 2012
Casto snaps up Puerto Rico deal - Business First of Columbus:
ethelbertdiya3334.blogspot.com
The Columbus developer and Commercial Centers formed Casto Caribbean to own nine retail propertiestotaling 1.5 milliob square feet throughout Puerto Rico and at Commercial Centers' 222,000-square-foot Scotiabank office building in the San Juan financiapl district. Casto partner Tony Martin said Commercia l Centers first invested with Casto 11 years ago in the redevelopmentr of aWinter Park, Fla., shoppingy mall into a retail lifestyle center. Since the companies have expanded their portfolio to eight lifestyl e centers in the Carolinas and Florida with a combinedx 2 million square feet andthree mixed-use projectx with a combined 2 million square feet.
"Thre real driving factor was the stronyg partnership we have withCommercia Centers," Martin said. The venture makes Castoo Caribbean, half owned by Casto, among the five largest retail property owners in Puerto Martin said Casto Caribbea likely will invest in other properties on the islands but any new development would happen only if the joint venture can cleareregulatory hurdles. Still, Commercial Centers has the leasingb contacts to attract eagerAmerican retailers, Martin "They're active in bringing mainland tenants to the he said. Casto's mortgage banking division, Pace Financial Group LLC, organized the deal's financing through U.S.
and Puerto Ricabn banks as well asa U.S. life insurances company. JPMorgan Asset a Casto financial partner in other also providedmezzanine financing. Higleyg firm promotes Schildmeyer, Sehlhorst has a new regionalo manager. Christopher Schildmeyer, a project manager in the genera contractor's Columbus office, became regional manager of the Cleveland-based firm May 1. He replacews Daniel Sehlhorst, who held the Columbuds job for about a year until his promotion to vice president of preconstruction services forthe company's Columbus and Clevelanxd offices.
Schildmeyer has headed several Central Ohio projecte since joining the companyin 2002, most notably the $75 millionj renovation of subsidized housing for the . The company also promote d Gareth Vaughan, a Higley executive who opened the Columbus officsin 2001, to executive vice president in Cleveland. A real estatde affiliate of has squared off its land holdings north of the Arenza District as Columbus developer continues to plan for a groceru store atthe site.
on May 8 boughg three Spruce Street parcels for The affiliate now controls more than 5 acrese of land near the former Hamilton Parker brickyard between Spruce andVine streets, east of Neil three years ago proposed a commercial and housinh complex at the site to be anchored by a store. Recordx show the developer paid $375,000 in 2005 for 328 Neil Ave. and $350,00o in 2006 for 147 W. Sprucw St. Giant Eagle this sprinb signaled its interest in the projecr by filing a liquor permifttransfer application. The Obetz Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan May 14 fora 253,679-square-footg distribution project at the Creekside Industrial Center. The plan for the 12.
5-acr e site marks the final approvalPizzuto Cos. needed beyond a few minoe lighting andlandscaping issues, said Obetz Administrator Doug Plans show the distribution center could handl up to four tenants needintg 50,000 to 75,000 square feet.
The Columbus developer and Commercial Centers formed Casto Caribbean to own nine retail propertiestotaling 1.5 milliob square feet throughout Puerto Rico and at Commercial Centers' 222,000-square-foot Scotiabank office building in the San Juan financiapl district. Casto partner Tony Martin said Commercia l Centers first invested with Casto 11 years ago in the redevelopmentr of aWinter Park, Fla., shoppingy mall into a retail lifestyle center. Since the companies have expanded their portfolio to eight lifestyl e centers in the Carolinas and Florida with a combinedx 2 million square feet andthree mixed-use projectx with a combined 2 million square feet.
"Thre real driving factor was the stronyg partnership we have withCommercia Centers," Martin said. The venture makes Castoo Caribbean, half owned by Casto, among the five largest retail property owners in Puerto Martin said Casto Caribbea likely will invest in other properties on the islands but any new development would happen only if the joint venture can cleareregulatory hurdles. Still, Commercial Centers has the leasingb contacts to attract eagerAmerican retailers, Martin "They're active in bringing mainland tenants to the he said. Casto's mortgage banking division, Pace Financial Group LLC, organized the deal's financing through U.S.
and Puerto Ricabn banks as well asa U.S. life insurances company. JPMorgan Asset a Casto financial partner in other also providedmezzanine financing. Higleyg firm promotes Schildmeyer, Sehlhorst has a new regionalo manager. Christopher Schildmeyer, a project manager in the genera contractor's Columbus office, became regional manager of the Cleveland-based firm May 1. He replacews Daniel Sehlhorst, who held the Columbuds job for about a year until his promotion to vice president of preconstruction services forthe company's Columbus and Clevelanxd offices.
Schildmeyer has headed several Central Ohio projecte since joining the companyin 2002, most notably the $75 millionj renovation of subsidized housing for the . The company also promote d Gareth Vaughan, a Higley executive who opened the Columbus officsin 2001, to executive vice president in Cleveland. A real estatde affiliate of has squared off its land holdings north of the Arenza District as Columbus developer continues to plan for a groceru store atthe site.
on May 8 boughg three Spruce Street parcels for The affiliate now controls more than 5 acrese of land near the former Hamilton Parker brickyard between Spruce andVine streets, east of Neil three years ago proposed a commercial and housinh complex at the site to be anchored by a store. Recordx show the developer paid $375,000 in 2005 for 328 Neil Ave. and $350,00o in 2006 for 147 W. Sprucw St. Giant Eagle this sprinb signaled its interest in the projecr by filing a liquor permifttransfer application. The Obetz Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan May 14 fora 253,679-square-footg distribution project at the Creekside Industrial Center. The plan for the 12.
5-acr e site marks the final approvalPizzuto Cos. needed beyond a few minoe lighting andlandscaping issues, said Obetz Administrator Doug Plans show the distribution center could handl up to four tenants needintg 50,000 to 75,000 square feet.
Friday 14 December 2012
N.Y attorney general ends BofA probe - Triangle Business Journal:
ernstiryastrov.blogspot.com
Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to providr liquidityto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billiobn in auction-rate securities it sold to aboutt 5,500 investors, small businesses and small charitied before the market collapsed inFebruary 2008. Accordinh to the Securities and Exchange the settlement also requires BofAto “use its best to provide up to $5 billiobn in liquidity to businesses and institutional investors with accounts valued at $15 millio or more, and charitiesd with accounts valued at $25 million or The agreement resolved allegations that securitiex dealers made misrepresentations to customers durinhg sales of auction-rate securities about their safety and liquidity.
Auction-rater securities have interest rates that are reset at weeklu or monthly auctions run byinvestment firms. The $330 billionn market collapsed last year, when investors became alarmerd at the prospects of the abilit of corporate borrowers covering debt service on the Many were left with securitiesd they could not sell intothe market. Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing.
The SEC also has finalizefd a settlement with BofA overthe
Cuomo says the banks have and will continue to providr liquidityto investors. Last October, agreed to buy back as much as $4.7 billiobn in auction-rate securities it sold to aboutt 5,500 investors, small businesses and small charitied before the market collapsed inFebruary 2008. Accordinh to the Securities and Exchange the settlement also requires BofAto “use its best to provide up to $5 billiobn in liquidity to businesses and institutional investors with accounts valued at $15 millio or more, and charitiesd with accounts valued at $25 million or The agreement resolved allegations that securitiex dealers made misrepresentations to customers durinhg sales of auction-rate securities about their safety and liquidity.
Auction-rater securities have interest rates that are reset at weeklu or monthly auctions run byinvestment firms. The $330 billionn market collapsed last year, when investors became alarmerd at the prospects of the abilit of corporate borrowers covering debt service on the Many were left with securitiesd they could not sell intothe market. Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing.
The SEC also has finalizefd a settlement with BofA overthe
Thursday 13 December 2012
Security Bank CFO leaving - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
andreychukuze.blogspot.com
McLemore leaves July 13. Michae B. Smith, senior vice president and CFO of Securitg Bank ofBibb County, was named interij CFO. "Jim has been a valued membee of the Security Bank management team for the pastsevenj years, and we wish him succesd in his new position," said Tony E. Collins, presidenyt and CEO, in a statement. Macon-based Security Georgia’s fourth-largest bank with $2.8 billion in is under federalregulatory oversight. And Security Bank of Gwinnetr County had the highest problem loan ratio of any Georgia bank in thefirsty quarter. One-half of the bank’s $210 million loan portfolio is in some stage of delinquencgyor default.
The bank is one of five owned by Security Bank that is under a regulatory watcand undercapitalized. In a March Securities and ExchangeCommissionb filing, the auditor for Security Bank SBKC) revealed doubts about the institution’as ability to survive as a goinv concern. Auditor McNair, Mclemore, Middlebrookd & Co. LLP said it has “uncertaintyy about the [Security Bank's] ability to meet obligatione coming duein 2009.” The bank has roughlg $300 million in total borrowed funds, according to its annual That figure is 45 percent higher than the bank’s $204 millio n debt level in 2007. Security Bank trimmed its lossto $18.
5 million in the first quarter and withdrew its application to participate in the TARP Capitaol Purchase Program.
McLemore leaves July 13. Michae B. Smith, senior vice president and CFO of Securitg Bank ofBibb County, was named interij CFO. "Jim has been a valued membee of the Security Bank management team for the pastsevenj years, and we wish him succesd in his new position," said Tony E. Collins, presidenyt and CEO, in a statement. Macon-based Security Georgia’s fourth-largest bank with $2.8 billion in is under federalregulatory oversight. And Security Bank of Gwinnetr County had the highest problem loan ratio of any Georgia bank in thefirsty quarter. One-half of the bank’s $210 million loan portfolio is in some stage of delinquencgyor default.
The bank is one of five owned by Security Bank that is under a regulatory watcand undercapitalized. In a March Securities and ExchangeCommissionb filing, the auditor for Security Bank SBKC) revealed doubts about the institution’as ability to survive as a goinv concern. Auditor McNair, Mclemore, Middlebrookd & Co. LLP said it has “uncertaintyy about the [Security Bank's] ability to meet obligatione coming duein 2009.” The bank has roughlg $300 million in total borrowed funds, according to its annual That figure is 45 percent higher than the bank’s $204 millio n debt level in 2007. Security Bank trimmed its lossto $18.
5 million in the first quarter and withdrew its application to participate in the TARP Capitaol Purchase Program.
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Morph's back for online film by Aardman - The Sun
sucujovide.wordpress.com
The Sun | Morph's back for online film by Aardman The Sun CHILDREN'S favourite Morph is making a comeback â€" in a new film from the creators of W » |
Monday 10 December 2012
Schools enhance education for would-be entrepreneurs - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
efimtsovavadan.blogspot.com
“Even with a good idea, you need to be more creativs with financing,” Olszewski adding that startup businesses may haveto self-finance untio the economy gets stronger. UW-Madison also is set to launch its thirc annual entrepreneurialboot camp, an intensee program for graduate students in engineering and law. Conducted over five, 12-hour classe days, the program introduces students to theskills needed, and issuez faced in technology entrepreneurship. UW-Whitewater will launch an entrepreneurship major inJanuary 2010. The campus also has receivefd funding from the business community to offefr an independent studies program in entrepreneurshithis summer.
“The students we have in classw are going to be facing a global job markeftthat we’ve never seen said Debra Malewicki, an assistant professor of management. “Students must think entrepreneuriallyand strategically, even if they don’g go into business for themselves.” For many UW-Whitewater has offered a business plan which will serve as the capstonwe for the major. “We’re very focusefd on encouraging students tostart high-impact not businesses such as coffee shops,” she UW-Whitewater expects to have about 70 students in the entrepreneurialo class each semester.
The expansion of entrepreneurship programs is a positive development for students and for the potential positivs impact onthe state’s economy, UW-Madison’s Olszewski said. “I thinmk it’s a clearly a good thing for the he said. “It’s a very collaborative field.”
“Even with a good idea, you need to be more creativs with financing,” Olszewski adding that startup businesses may haveto self-finance untio the economy gets stronger. UW-Madison also is set to launch its thirc annual entrepreneurialboot camp, an intensee program for graduate students in engineering and law. Conducted over five, 12-hour classe days, the program introduces students to theskills needed, and issuez faced in technology entrepreneurship. UW-Whitewater will launch an entrepreneurship major inJanuary 2010. The campus also has receivefd funding from the business community to offefr an independent studies program in entrepreneurshithis summer.
“The students we have in classw are going to be facing a global job markeftthat we’ve never seen said Debra Malewicki, an assistant professor of management. “Students must think entrepreneuriallyand strategically, even if they don’g go into business for themselves.” For many UW-Whitewater has offered a business plan which will serve as the capstonwe for the major. “We’re very focusefd on encouraging students tostart high-impact not businesses such as coffee shops,” she UW-Whitewater expects to have about 70 students in the entrepreneurialo class each semester.
The expansion of entrepreneurship programs is a positive development for students and for the potential positivs impact onthe state’s economy, UW-Madison’s Olszewski said. “I thinmk it’s a clearly a good thing for the he said. “It’s a very collaborative field.”
Sunday 9 December 2012
American Eagle first quarter earnings decline - Orlando Business Journal:
showarticle-cultura.blogspot.com
Net income for the quarter ended May 2was $22.p million, or 11 cents per share, comparedd to $43.9 million, or 21 cents, for the year-ag quarter. The teen clothing retailer, based on Pittsburgh'w South Side, saw total saless decline 4 percent to $612 million, from $640.2 million. Comparable-store sales for American Eagle were down 10 percent for the compared to a 6 perceny decline in the same quarter ayear ago. "Whilwe we are never satisfied with anearningd decline, there are early indications that the businesds is stablizing," CEO Jim O'Donnell said in a He cited improvement in the AE brand and categorie s like dresses and accessories.
Analysts were expectinf earnings per share of7 cents, in line with management’a recent guidance, as the company seeksx to improve its women’s apparel and maintaihn its sales during a time when most retailerx are facing difficult sales declines and mallsa are drawing fewer customers. Jennifer a principal of Oregon-based research compangy JenniferBlack & Associates LLC, saw reasonm for optimism. “I think it’s a very democratic bransd and it appeals to a lot ofdifferentf people,” she said.
“They’re in a pretty good position because they offer consumers value but they have the brand Black was encouraged bythe women’as assortment that American Eagle has rolle out in its stores, praising the increasedd selection of women’s dresses and women’es denim, a weakness at the company of for both tapping into the “Boho Chic” trend and offeringb selection that enables female shoppers to mix and She also was strongly encouraged about the returbn of Roger Markfield, the company’sa former Co-CEO and Chief Merchandisiny Officer who retired in 2006.
His return to America Eagle was announcedin January, unde r the newly created title of Executive Creativs Officer. Black said she didn’ft expect Markfield’s new strategies to have any major influence untilothe fall. Holly Guthrie, an analyst for suburbabn Philadelphia-based Boenning & Scattergood Equityu Research, also expected the company won’t see any meaningful turn aroununtil then. “In October 2008, same store saless decelerated at a fast andfuriouas pace,” she wrote in a recent report.
“We believed that (comparable store sales) coul d continue to be negativde for the next four to five months and most importantlu the biggest volume sales are seen when productsaare promoted.”
Net income for the quarter ended May 2was $22.p million, or 11 cents per share, comparedd to $43.9 million, or 21 cents, for the year-ag quarter. The teen clothing retailer, based on Pittsburgh'w South Side, saw total saless decline 4 percent to $612 million, from $640.2 million. Comparable-store sales for American Eagle were down 10 percent for the compared to a 6 perceny decline in the same quarter ayear ago. "Whilwe we are never satisfied with anearningd decline, there are early indications that the businesds is stablizing," CEO Jim O'Donnell said in a He cited improvement in the AE brand and categorie s like dresses and accessories.
Analysts were expectinf earnings per share of7 cents, in line with management’a recent guidance, as the company seeksx to improve its women’s apparel and maintaihn its sales during a time when most retailerx are facing difficult sales declines and mallsa are drawing fewer customers. Jennifer a principal of Oregon-based research compangy JenniferBlack & Associates LLC, saw reasonm for optimism. “I think it’s a very democratic bransd and it appeals to a lot ofdifferentf people,” she said.
“They’re in a pretty good position because they offer consumers value but they have the brand Black was encouraged bythe women’as assortment that American Eagle has rolle out in its stores, praising the increasedd selection of women’s dresses and women’es denim, a weakness at the company of for both tapping into the “Boho Chic” trend and offeringb selection that enables female shoppers to mix and She also was strongly encouraged about the returbn of Roger Markfield, the company’sa former Co-CEO and Chief Merchandisiny Officer who retired in 2006.
His return to America Eagle was announcedin January, unde r the newly created title of Executive Creativs Officer. Black said she didn’ft expect Markfield’s new strategies to have any major influence untilothe fall. Holly Guthrie, an analyst for suburbabn Philadelphia-based Boenning & Scattergood Equityu Research, also expected the company won’t see any meaningful turn aroununtil then. “In October 2008, same store saless decelerated at a fast andfuriouas pace,” she wrote in a recent report.
“We believed that (comparable store sales) coul d continue to be negativde for the next four to five months and most importantlu the biggest volume sales are seen when productsaare promoted.”
Saturday 8 December 2012
National City facing $700M in 4Q charge-offs - Dayton Business Journal:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
The Cleveland-based bank said in a mid-quarter financiall update that its provision for loan losse s in the fourth quarter couldapproach $700 million. The companu already has set aside $611.5 million in the firsgt three quarters. Executives said the expectee charge-offs, the exact amount for which won't be determined until after the close of the stem from problems withthe run-off portfolio of mortgag lender , which it sold for $1.3 billioh in January. It said for-sale home equity loanes and lines of credit it removed from the secondary market and transferred to its portfolio during the third quarter also deteriorated beyond previous The bank's unit is based in Miamo Township.
National City (NYSE: NCC) closedd the third quarter with year-to-date earnings down 47 perceng at $772 million, or $1.28 a share, compared with $1.46 billion, or $2.36 a share, in the first nine monthse of 2006. Combined interest and non-interestr income totaled $8.83 billion year-to-date, down 2 percent from $9.01 billiomn in the same periodlast year.
The Cleveland-based bank said in a mid-quarter financiall update that its provision for loan losse s in the fourth quarter couldapproach $700 million. The companu already has set aside $611.5 million in the firsgt three quarters. Executives said the expectee charge-offs, the exact amount for which won't be determined until after the close of the stem from problems withthe run-off portfolio of mortgag lender , which it sold for $1.3 billioh in January. It said for-sale home equity loanes and lines of credit it removed from the secondary market and transferred to its portfolio during the third quarter also deteriorated beyond previous The bank's unit is based in Miamo Township.
National City (NYSE: NCC) closedd the third quarter with year-to-date earnings down 47 perceng at $772 million, or $1.28 a share, compared with $1.46 billion, or $2.36 a share, in the first nine monthse of 2006. Combined interest and non-interestr income totaled $8.83 billion year-to-date, down 2 percent from $9.01 billiomn in the same periodlast year.
Thursday 6 December 2012
Don Chalmers tries to nurse his health care premiums downward - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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Every time the premiums increased, Chalmers' 200 employees had to pay more out of thei r checks for theirhealth care. But rather than merely Chalmers decided to see if he could do somethinb to improve the health of his employees andtheit families, and try to slow down the increasesz in health care costs. And so, in early when he was negotiating his healtgh insurance coveragewith , Chalmers made a uniquew request: He wanted an on-site nurse who coulxd prescribe drugs and treat, not only the auto dealership'ss employees, but their families as well.
The nurse, who came on boared in August 2003, in a move that was an experimen for both Chalmersand Presbyterian, is now seeing about 90 patientd a month. "I suggestefd that that is what I wante d to have happen and that I would want the insuranc e company to participate in the cost of says Chalmers, who also operates a dealership in Albuquerque. "Theyu do, and I participate as well, and it has been very interestingy and we arelearning something. Whethetr it will truly control costs, I don'rt know. I think, in the long term, it can. In the shorft term, it costs us a little extra money and it take a little of the pressurw off the emergency rooms and other areaes ofhealth care.
" Joni director of Employee Based Health Plane for Presbyterian, says the deal with Chalmers "isz a research and development "It is very much a collaborativ e effort in that both the health plan and Don Chalmerse have been working to provide the resources," Pompeo "It is part of a larger initiatived of improving the health of Don's employeesw and their family members. "Wde don't have any other employer groulp in the city that isdoing this," Pompeo says, addinfg that while other U.S. employers provide on-sits nurses, very few allow those nurses tosee employees' family members.
Having an on-sitr nurse and clinic, initially, is costinv him an additional $40,000 a year in Chalmers says, and it's not yet cleadr whether the program will reduce health care costs in thelong run. Pompeo says it is still too early to trackany long-term The nurse, Rhonda Bentz, is an employee of the Presbyterian Medical Group and spends four hours a day at Chalmers' Westsidwe location where the dealership has helped build and suppl the small clinic. A nurse practitioner, Bentaz can prescribe drugs and operate the clinic onher own. She however, meet with a doctor once a month to reviewthe clinic'as cases. "We just opened a brand-neq clinic.
It is very accessible to the Presbyterian put most of the equipment in it and Don takesx care of the Bentz says. "It's small, but we can do anything in our littlde clinic that they can do in a family Don wanted it for the familiexs ofhis employees, so we set it up like a littlew family practice clinic." Employees and their familiea don't pay anything to see and so they can go to her with questionas about their health and not have to worryu about making a co-payment, Bentz says. "They see me for minoe problems anduncomplicated illnesses.
If I find something complicatedx and they decide that they need to see a a lot of times I can save them the initia l work up front and save them a Bentz says. In addition, Bentz helps run Chalmers' anti-obesity and anti-smoking Bentz says that in 2004, employees' prescription drug costsw have "gone way down. "Many people were seeinb drugs on TV and wanting touse them, and so we did a lot of educatiojn and so people are not getting more generi drugs," Bentz says. "We're also seeingh that urgent care and emergency room useis down. We see everyonr who is coming down with a minor illnes s orany injury. We have found several tumorsx in people.
"We had one man, he wasn't feeling but he had had a cough for a and he saidit wasn't going He wasn't sick or short of I looked at him and saw that he had a huge tumotr growing down his airway." Chalmers says the program is good for busines s and popular with employees. "I get a benefit in that the employeedare happier," he says. "And if they are happier, they make my customerxs happier." "I think if Rhonda ran for president of the companh she couldget elected.
"
Every time the premiums increased, Chalmers' 200 employees had to pay more out of thei r checks for theirhealth care. But rather than merely Chalmers decided to see if he could do somethinb to improve the health of his employees andtheit families, and try to slow down the increasesz in health care costs. And so, in early when he was negotiating his healtgh insurance coveragewith , Chalmers made a uniquew request: He wanted an on-site nurse who coulxd prescribe drugs and treat, not only the auto dealership'ss employees, but their families as well.
The nurse, who came on boared in August 2003, in a move that was an experimen for both Chalmersand Presbyterian, is now seeing about 90 patientd a month. "I suggestefd that that is what I wante d to have happen and that I would want the insuranc e company to participate in the cost of says Chalmers, who also operates a dealership in Albuquerque. "Theyu do, and I participate as well, and it has been very interestingy and we arelearning something. Whethetr it will truly control costs, I don'rt know. I think, in the long term, it can. In the shorft term, it costs us a little extra money and it take a little of the pressurw off the emergency rooms and other areaes ofhealth care.
" Joni director of Employee Based Health Plane for Presbyterian, says the deal with Chalmers "isz a research and development "It is very much a collaborativ e effort in that both the health plan and Don Chalmerse have been working to provide the resources," Pompeo "It is part of a larger initiatived of improving the health of Don's employeesw and their family members. "Wde don't have any other employer groulp in the city that isdoing this," Pompeo says, addinfg that while other U.S. employers provide on-sits nurses, very few allow those nurses tosee employees' family members.
Having an on-sitr nurse and clinic, initially, is costinv him an additional $40,000 a year in Chalmers says, and it's not yet cleadr whether the program will reduce health care costs in thelong run. Pompeo says it is still too early to trackany long-term The nurse, Rhonda Bentz, is an employee of the Presbyterian Medical Group and spends four hours a day at Chalmers' Westsidwe location where the dealership has helped build and suppl the small clinic. A nurse practitioner, Bentaz can prescribe drugs and operate the clinic onher own. She however, meet with a doctor once a month to reviewthe clinic'as cases. "We just opened a brand-neq clinic.
It is very accessible to the Presbyterian put most of the equipment in it and Don takesx care of the Bentz says. "It's small, but we can do anything in our littlde clinic that they can do in a family Don wanted it for the familiexs ofhis employees, so we set it up like a littlew family practice clinic." Employees and their familiea don't pay anything to see and so they can go to her with questionas about their health and not have to worryu about making a co-payment, Bentz says. "They see me for minoe problems anduncomplicated illnesses.
If I find something complicatedx and they decide that they need to see a a lot of times I can save them the initia l work up front and save them a Bentz says. In addition, Bentz helps run Chalmers' anti-obesity and anti-smoking Bentz says that in 2004, employees' prescription drug costsw have "gone way down. "Many people were seeinb drugs on TV and wanting touse them, and so we did a lot of educatiojn and so people are not getting more generi drugs," Bentz says. "We're also seeingh that urgent care and emergency room useis down. We see everyonr who is coming down with a minor illnes s orany injury. We have found several tumorsx in people.
"We had one man, he wasn't feeling but he had had a cough for a and he saidit wasn't going He wasn't sick or short of I looked at him and saw that he had a huge tumotr growing down his airway." Chalmers says the program is good for busines s and popular with employees. "I get a benefit in that the employeedare happier," he says. "And if they are happier, they make my customerxs happier." "I think if Rhonda ran for president of the companh she couldget elected.
"
Tuesday 4 December 2012
New parking meters bring in more cash for Baltimore coffers - Baltimore Business Journal:
sucujovide.wordpress.com
million in parking fees for Baltimore last year and is expected to keep pumping up parking revenuese as moreare installed. But the verdict is still out on whethe the meters have helpes businesses and restaurants attract the patrons who travekl into the city to eat or Some businesspeople say greater enforcement of the new system is neededs so downtownworkers won’t take coveted spots away from short-term Some meters limit parking to two hours at a a restriction that goes unheedef in some parts of the said Jason Sullivan, executive director of Fellss Point Main Street.
Enforcing the time limits at the he said, would go a long way to increasing the supplu of parking spaces by steering office workers to the city garagex instead. Alvin Turner, director of operations and capital projectse for the parking said the city is focused on ensuringthat it’s the stores and shoppers that are serveed by the new meters. “The whols thing about our parking management planis it’ss based on turnover,” Turner said. “Iff it doesn’t work for the merchants and their it doesn’t work for the city as well.
” Sinc e launching the EZPark meters in 2003 as a pilogt program, the city has installe more than 700 of the solar-powered parking machines and saw annual revenues increase to $7 million from $4.5 million in 2008. Baltimore expects to have 1,000 units by the end of the year. About 6,500 of the old-stylwe meters remain. The goal of the parkingt authority was to use the new technologh to benefitthe short-term parker. The new meters let cars park closerf together instead of spacing them out in front of individual meters. Baltimoreans have quickly caught on to the new said the owner of the companyh that makes the meters for Baltimore andother cities.
“In the there was confusion from the you can always have afew burps,” said George Levey, president of Cale Parking Systems USA Inc., a Clearwater, company. “I’m not on the streetds of Baltimoreevery day, but I woulx say the acceptance of the meterw was actually quicker than in othe r cities.” Charles Street through downtown Baltimore was one of the firstr corridors to get the new technology. It’d helped free up spaces becausemotorists aren’y parking for as long as they mighft have with the old mechanical meters, said Michael spokesman for Downtown Partnership of Baltimore Inc.
The new meters also let motorists pay with either coins or acredity card.
million in parking fees for Baltimore last year and is expected to keep pumping up parking revenuese as moreare installed. But the verdict is still out on whethe the meters have helpes businesses and restaurants attract the patrons who travekl into the city to eat or Some businesspeople say greater enforcement of the new system is neededs so downtownworkers won’t take coveted spots away from short-term Some meters limit parking to two hours at a a restriction that goes unheedef in some parts of the said Jason Sullivan, executive director of Fellss Point Main Street.
Enforcing the time limits at the he said, would go a long way to increasing the supplu of parking spaces by steering office workers to the city garagex instead. Alvin Turner, director of operations and capital projectse for the parking said the city is focused on ensuringthat it’s the stores and shoppers that are serveed by the new meters. “The whols thing about our parking management planis it’ss based on turnover,” Turner said. “Iff it doesn’t work for the merchants and their it doesn’t work for the city as well.
” Sinc e launching the EZPark meters in 2003 as a pilogt program, the city has installe more than 700 of the solar-powered parking machines and saw annual revenues increase to $7 million from $4.5 million in 2008. Baltimore expects to have 1,000 units by the end of the year. About 6,500 of the old-stylwe meters remain. The goal of the parkingt authority was to use the new technologh to benefitthe short-term parker. The new meters let cars park closerf together instead of spacing them out in front of individual meters. Baltimoreans have quickly caught on to the new said the owner of the companyh that makes the meters for Baltimore andother cities.
“In the there was confusion from the you can always have afew burps,” said George Levey, president of Cale Parking Systems USA Inc., a Clearwater, company. “I’m not on the streetds of Baltimoreevery day, but I woulx say the acceptance of the meterw was actually quicker than in othe r cities.” Charles Street through downtown Baltimore was one of the firstr corridors to get the new technology. It’d helped free up spaces becausemotorists aren’y parking for as long as they mighft have with the old mechanical meters, said Michael spokesman for Downtown Partnership of Baltimore Inc.
The new meters also let motorists pay with either coins or acredity card.
Sunday 2 December 2012
Westminster Mall buys its Mervyn's - Phoenix Business Journal:
sunrise-invoices.blogspot.com
million square feet, has bought the mall’sw vacant Mervyn’s building for $3.3 according to real estate records. The purchas e may be a step toward puttingy theoutdated mall, which is only under single ownership in anticipatiom of its redevelopment as an urban-oriented, mixed-usse property. Major mall tenants, including usually own their buildings. Mall owner MD Management Inc. of Kansas City also no longer is working with locao LLC on redeveloping Westminster Mall and upgrading two of its KansaseCity malls, according to Alberta spokeswoman Megan Campbell.
An MD principal said as recentluas January, according to The Denverf Post, that he was happy to be working with Albertq on a plan to redevelop Westminster Mall. Progressd on updating MD's hometown malls -- Metro North and Metcalf South -- slowed in the last few supposedly because of the economic according to the Kansas CityBusiness Journal. MD Westminster Parcelws LLC, an MD Management closed on the purchase ofthe Mervyn’ss store from Chicago-based Klaff Realty LP in mid-May, accordinf to Jefferson County real estater records. “We sold our fee interest to an entityu controlled by themall landlord,” said Keith Brown, executivew vice president at Klaff.
With the recent Colorado’s 11 Mervyn’s stores all have been sold or leaseed to retailers such as Burlington Coat Factorhy andSports Authority, except for 15,000 square feet of the Pueblo store, Brown said. Englewood-based Sportes Authority leases most of the spac in theformer Mervyn’s in Pueblo Mall. The Mervyn’s store at Westminster Mall close inearly 2006, one of 10 Colorado store in the department store chain to shut down at that Surviving anchors at the mall include Sears, JC Penney’s and Completed in 1977, Westminster Mall is locateed at 5433 W. 88th just off U.S. Highway 36.
Westminster Mall’es longtime manager, Kenton Anderson, said he had no information regardingthe Mervyn’s building sale. Tom a principal at MD Management, didn’tt return a call for Westminster Mall’s redevelopment is in the beginning according to the cityof Westminster, which has pushefd for an updating of the property for years. “We look at the propertyg as theexisting mall, but also as 100 acred in the middle of the U.S.
36 one of the most vibrant corridors in themetro area,” said Susann Grafton, economic development manager for the city of “There’s loads of opportunity there … to do something more urbanj because of the transportation access.” The redevelopment is in the “ver y early conceptual design phase,” according to a summarh of an April Westminsted city council meeting. The concept includes office andresidential space, as well as the realignmenft of nearby 88th Avenue and Sheridan Another component of the redevelopmentt is the nearby Regional Transportatioh District bus park-n-ride, at U.S. Highway 36 and West 88th which may getlight rail.
The council adopted a resolutionb on April 13 forthe city’s development authorityt to work with MD Management and potentiao developers “to create a visionj and assemble properties to make redevelopment of Westminster Mall a the summary said. Klaff and partners acquired the Mervyn’s departmenty store chain in 2004for $1.654 billion. The joint venture that owns the storess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization inJuly 2008, and converted to Chapter 7 liquidatio n in October.
million square feet, has bought the mall’sw vacant Mervyn’s building for $3.3 according to real estate records. The purchas e may be a step toward puttingy theoutdated mall, which is only under single ownership in anticipatiom of its redevelopment as an urban-oriented, mixed-usse property. Major mall tenants, including usually own their buildings. Mall owner MD Management Inc. of Kansas City also no longer is working with locao LLC on redeveloping Westminster Mall and upgrading two of its KansaseCity malls, according to Alberta spokeswoman Megan Campbell.
An MD principal said as recentluas January, according to The Denverf Post, that he was happy to be working with Albertq on a plan to redevelop Westminster Mall. Progressd on updating MD's hometown malls -- Metro North and Metcalf South -- slowed in the last few supposedly because of the economic according to the Kansas CityBusiness Journal. MD Westminster Parcelws LLC, an MD Management closed on the purchase ofthe Mervyn’ss store from Chicago-based Klaff Realty LP in mid-May, accordinf to Jefferson County real estater records. “We sold our fee interest to an entityu controlled by themall landlord,” said Keith Brown, executivew vice president at Klaff.
With the recent Colorado’s 11 Mervyn’s stores all have been sold or leaseed to retailers such as Burlington Coat Factorhy andSports Authority, except for 15,000 square feet of the Pueblo store, Brown said. Englewood-based Sportes Authority leases most of the spac in theformer Mervyn’s in Pueblo Mall. The Mervyn’s store at Westminster Mall close inearly 2006, one of 10 Colorado store in the department store chain to shut down at that Surviving anchors at the mall include Sears, JC Penney’s and Completed in 1977, Westminster Mall is locateed at 5433 W. 88th just off U.S. Highway 36.
Westminster Mall’es longtime manager, Kenton Anderson, said he had no information regardingthe Mervyn’s building sale. Tom a principal at MD Management, didn’tt return a call for Westminster Mall’s redevelopment is in the beginning according to the cityof Westminster, which has pushefd for an updating of the property for years. “We look at the propertyg as theexisting mall, but also as 100 acred in the middle of the U.S.
36 one of the most vibrant corridors in themetro area,” said Susann Grafton, economic development manager for the city of “There’s loads of opportunity there … to do something more urbanj because of the transportation access.” The redevelopment is in the “ver y early conceptual design phase,” according to a summarh of an April Westminsted city council meeting. The concept includes office andresidential space, as well as the realignmenft of nearby 88th Avenue and Sheridan Another component of the redevelopmentt is the nearby Regional Transportatioh District bus park-n-ride, at U.S. Highway 36 and West 88th which may getlight rail.
The council adopted a resolutionb on April 13 forthe city’s development authorityt to work with MD Management and potentiao developers “to create a visionj and assemble properties to make redevelopment of Westminster Mall a the summary said. Klaff and partners acquired the Mervyn’s departmenty store chain in 2004for $1.654 billion. The joint venture that owns the storess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization inJuly 2008, and converted to Chapter 7 liquidatio n in October.
Saturday 1 December 2012
Tranzyme Pharma mulls cash options to test drug - Triangle Business Journal:
caloloary.blogspot.com
With solid results from phase II clinical trials in Tranzyme Pharma has three choices for its next move findinga partner, raising as much as $60 million or sellinvg the company to underwrite human tests. Vipihn Garg, the Durham company’s president and CEO, says phase III clinical trialson Tranzyme’s lead drug, a treatment to help restore the gastrointestinal tract to normal function following abdominalo surgery, are scheduled to start early next year.
Garg says his companhy is talking with six large pharmaceuticak companies based in the United States and abroad abouyt a partnership or even a sale of the companty that couldtake Tranzyme’s drugs all the way to A third option is another rounxd of financing for the venture-backedc company. Tranzyme has raised $60 millio n to date from investorsincluding , Quake r BioVentures and . “We believe there’s a deal to be Garg says. “It’s a question of, can we find the righgt deal?” Tranzyme’s lead drug, TZP-101, treats a condition called postoperative ileus.
Following intestinal surgery, the gastrointestinalk tract sometimes can ceasefunctioning normally, says Dr. Greg a colorectal surgeon at . The condition essentially paralyzeszthe intestines, which temporarily stop digestin food and liquids. Waters says doctors don’t know exactly what causes postoperativd ileus. But doctors believe the condition may be a responsde to the handling of intestines during surgeryu as well as the effectof pain-killiny narcotic drugs.
For patients, it means discomforyt and nausea that can last anywherre from a few days to two Garg says that byrestoring patients’ intestinal function more TZP-101 could help patients recover sooner and shorten their hospital stays. Three yearw ago, Tranzyme considered financing drug developmentf and clinical trials of the drug by raisingbetweemn $60 million and $80 million in an initial publi c stock offering. Poor market conditions kept the companyu from pursuingan IPO, Garg says. Tranzyme CFO Richarcd Eisenstadt says it might still be hard for Tranzym to pursue an IPO even when marketconditions improve.
There’s a backlogy of companies that have had IPOs on and investors might also be lookinf for companies that are much closer to bringinygin revenue, he explains. Eisenstadt says Tranzyme has accessto $20 which is sufficient to start phase III trials for TZP-1011 and to start phase II triale for TZP-102. TZP-102 is a tablet to be administere d on anoutpatient basis. It is intendecd to treat gastroparesis, a condition in whicj damaged stomach nervesdelay digestion. Garg says TZP-102 could fill the need vacatexdby Propulsid, a product developed by subsidiary that reachedf $1 billion in sales in 1999 before bein g withdrawn in 2000 because it was linkeds to heart problems.
Waterw says only one drug on the markety treatspostoperative ileus. The in May approved the drug developedby Exton, Pa.-based in partnership with . Wateres says Entereg blocks the effect of narcotics onthe That’s a different approach than the one takebn by Tranzyme. Garg says TZP-101 activates receptors in the gastrointestinaol tract to restoreintestinal function. Therr may be other companies looking to take other approachesa to treatingpostoperative ileus. Waters says he has noticexd a number of startup companiee working on developing drugs forthe condition. “This is an area that a lot of peoplwe areinterested in,” he says.
With solid results from phase II clinical trials in Tranzyme Pharma has three choices for its next move findinga partner, raising as much as $60 million or sellinvg the company to underwrite human tests. Vipihn Garg, the Durham company’s president and CEO, says phase III clinical trialson Tranzyme’s lead drug, a treatment to help restore the gastrointestinal tract to normal function following abdominalo surgery, are scheduled to start early next year.
Garg says his companhy is talking with six large pharmaceuticak companies based in the United States and abroad abouyt a partnership or even a sale of the companty that couldtake Tranzyme’s drugs all the way to A third option is another rounxd of financing for the venture-backedc company. Tranzyme has raised $60 millio n to date from investorsincluding , Quake r BioVentures and . “We believe there’s a deal to be Garg says. “It’s a question of, can we find the righgt deal?” Tranzyme’s lead drug, TZP-101, treats a condition called postoperative ileus.
Following intestinal surgery, the gastrointestinalk tract sometimes can ceasefunctioning normally, says Dr. Greg a colorectal surgeon at . The condition essentially paralyzeszthe intestines, which temporarily stop digestin food and liquids. Waters says doctors don’t know exactly what causes postoperativd ileus. But doctors believe the condition may be a responsde to the handling of intestines during surgeryu as well as the effectof pain-killiny narcotic drugs.
For patients, it means discomforyt and nausea that can last anywherre from a few days to two Garg says that byrestoring patients’ intestinal function more TZP-101 could help patients recover sooner and shorten their hospital stays. Three yearw ago, Tranzyme considered financing drug developmentf and clinical trials of the drug by raisingbetweemn $60 million and $80 million in an initial publi c stock offering. Poor market conditions kept the companyu from pursuingan IPO, Garg says. Tranzyme CFO Richarcd Eisenstadt says it might still be hard for Tranzym to pursue an IPO even when marketconditions improve.
There’s a backlogy of companies that have had IPOs on and investors might also be lookinf for companies that are much closer to bringinygin revenue, he explains. Eisenstadt says Tranzyme has accessto $20 which is sufficient to start phase III trials for TZP-1011 and to start phase II triale for TZP-102. TZP-102 is a tablet to be administere d on anoutpatient basis. It is intendecd to treat gastroparesis, a condition in whicj damaged stomach nervesdelay digestion. Garg says TZP-102 could fill the need vacatexdby Propulsid, a product developed by subsidiary that reachedf $1 billion in sales in 1999 before bein g withdrawn in 2000 because it was linkeds to heart problems.
Waterw says only one drug on the markety treatspostoperative ileus. The in May approved the drug developedby Exton, Pa.-based in partnership with . Wateres says Entereg blocks the effect of narcotics onthe That’s a different approach than the one takebn by Tranzyme. Garg says TZP-101 activates receptors in the gastrointestinaol tract to restoreintestinal function. Therr may be other companies looking to take other approachesa to treatingpostoperative ileus. Waters says he has noticexd a number of startup companiee working on developing drugs forthe condition. “This is an area that a lot of peoplwe areinterested in,” he says.
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