March 18--Blanca Muoz was ready to convert the room into a mint-green paradise for 500 partygoers, but she confronted several obstacles: washing machines, assorted appliances, power tools.

She had to wait hours for all of it to be hauled away so she could drape and decorate.

"I'm tired. It's a lot of work," the Avondale businesswoman said in Spanish. "But that doesn't matter."

This is just what Muoz has long wanted, to turn her party-planning and craft-making talents into a business. On Friday, she prepared for her biggest job yet, a quinceaera -- 15th birthday party -- with hundreds expected to attend.

The guest of honor's family had rented an auction warehouse that doubles as a banquet hall. No one said this would be easy.

The preparations were another step on Muoz's path to mogul status that began when she stepped into a Kennett Square classroom for a program designed to encourage business development in the Latino community.

"How to Succeed as a Latino Entrepreneur" is a bilingual course offered by Kutztown University's Latino Business Resource Center. The eight-week seminar teaches aspiring business people the intricacies of business plans, marketing, finance, loans, insurance, and legal issues.

The program, which began in Chester County in the fall, is a partnership among the resource center; National Penn Bank; Chester County SCORE, an entrepreneurship counseling group; and La Comunidad Hispaa, a Kennett Square social-service agency where the classes are held.

Noting the growth in the Latino population in the region, "the second generation comes along, people have ambition and want to start businesses," said Horace Scherer, a project coordinator and bilingual business counselor for SCORE, who is helping to coordinate the program.

A new session scheduled to begin in Kennett Square on Thursday.

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Program Grows Businesses in Hispanic Community

The guest of honor's family had rented an auction warehouse that doubles as a banquet hall. No one said this would be easy.

The preparations were another step on Muoz's path to mogul status that began when she stepped into a Kennett Square classroom for a program designed to encourage business development in the Latino community.

"How to Succeed as a Latino Entrepreneur" is a bilingual course offered by Kutztown University's Latino Business Resource Center. The eight-week seminar teaches aspiring business people the intricacies of business plans, marketing, finance, loans, insurance, and legal issues.

The program, which began in Chester County in the fall, is a partnership among the resource center; National Penn Bank; Chester County SCORE, an entrepreneurship counseling group; and La Comunidad Hispaa, a Kennett Square social-service agency where the classes are held.

Noting the growth in the Latino population in the region, "the second generation comes along, people have ambition and want to start businesses," said Horace Scherer, a project coordinator and bilingual business counselor for SCORE, who is helping to coordinate the program.

A new session scheduled to begin in Kennett Square on Thursday.

The program was founded in 2007 as part of an effort by Kutztown to offer increased services to the Latino community and bolster the region's economic health, said Carolina Martinez, director of the school's Latino Business Resource Center. Kutztown University, in Berks County, is in an area with a large Hispanic population.

About 200 students have participated in the program, and 45 percent have started businesses within two years, Martinez said. The university has not tracked how many of the businesses are still in operation.

Since the initiative began, program officials frequently have been called on to advise others seeking to start similar efforts. SCORE contacted the center in hope of expanding the program to southern Chester County, which also has a large Latino community, Martinez said. Plans to start the Kennett Square operation began soon after.

The first Chester County session started with 16 students. Eleven graduated with plans to open businesses, including a restaurant, an auto-detailing shop, and a Mexican handicraft business.

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Program grows business in the Latino community

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2014 - News from the Parishes Saturday, 15 March 2014 20:36

St Peters RC Church in Mayaro now has a brightened appearance thanks to pressure washing provided at no cost by a company known as Stork.

Stork is a global provider of knowledge-based asset integrity management services for the oil & gas, petrochemical and power sectors, and operates in the Mayaro community.

Parish Priest Fr Trevor Nathasingh had appealed to Stork for the pressure washing services, as a gift, or at a reduced price. Stork management decided to provide the service at no cost. Assistant Operations Manager John Walker visited the church one of the earliest Catholic churches in Trinidad and held discussions with Fr Nathasingh, discussing among other things the issue of height access and safety.

According to a media release from Stork, it believes it has an important contribution to make to the development of its local communities, not only as an employer but also through support and empowerment.

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By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine and join Russia "would never be recognized" by the United States, as he and other top U.S. officials warned Moscow against making further military moves toward southern and eastern Ukraine.

The two leaders spoke after residents in Crimea voted overwhelmingly in favor of the split in a referendum that the United States, European Union and others say violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law and took place in the strategic peninsula under duress of Russian military intervention. Putin maintained that the vote was legal and consistent with the right of self-determination, according to the Kremlin. But the White House said Obama reminded Putin that the U.S. and its allies in Europe would impose sanctions against Russia should it annex Crimea. U.S. and EU sanctions are expected to be announced Monday.

In the call, which came amid a heightened exchange of decidedly Cold War-style rhetoric between East and West, Obama urged Putin to pursue a diplomatic de-escalation of the crisis, support the Ukraine government's plans for political reform, return its troops in Crimea to their bases, and halt advances into Ukrainian territory and military build-ups along Ukraine's borders.

Obama told Putin that "a diplomatic resolution cannot be achieved while Russian military forces continue their incursions into Ukrainian territory and that the large-scale Russian military exercises on Ukraine's borders only exacerbate the tension," the White House said in a statement.

Even before official results of the referendum were announced, the White House denounced the vote, saying "no decisions should be made about the future of Ukraine without the Ukrainian government" and noting that Russia had rejected the deployment of international monitors in Crimea to ensure the rights of ethnic Russians there were protected.

"Russia has spurned those calls as well as outreach from the Ukrainian government and instead has escalated its military intervention into Crimea and initiated threatening military exercises on Ukraine's eastern border," the White House said, calling those actions "dangerous and destabilizing,"

But with no military response envisioned, and with U.S. and EU sanctions apparently foregone conclusions, the Obama administration slightly shifted its focus to keeping Russia from encroachment into Ukraine beyond Crimea, where it has a large naval base.

U.S. officials warned that any Russia moves on east and south Ukraine would be a grave escalation requiring additional responses.

In a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "strong concerns" about Russian military activities in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, where Russian troops appeared Saturday, and about "continuing provocations" in cities in east Ukraine, the State Department said.

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White House urges Putin to back down in Crimea

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Power washing, or pressure washing is the application of high pressure water spray to remove dirt grime and other contaminants from a surface. High powered water, if used improperly, can result in costly damage to surfaces, but our skilled and knowledgeable specialists ensure a high quality wash that brings results. Over time, surfaces can appear run down from dirt, rust, oil, algae, or mold. Power washing quickly removes even the toughest stains. The results can be dramatic, and well worth the investment. Popular services include cleaning concrete patios, sidewalks, decks, house siding, entryways, and driveways.

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Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 12, 2014

For years Home Exterior Systems, a home improvement company based in the Houston area, has been racking up the awards for its exceptional service. And in 2014, the companys recognition continues; Home Exterior Systems has recently received a Best of Houzz 2014 Service Award for Client Satisfaction from Houzz.

Houzz awards Client Satisfaction designations based on a variety of factors, which include the number and quality of the client reviews received regarding companies in 2013. A platform for home design and remodeling, Houzz connects millions of homeowners online. At the Houzz website, homeowners put up pictures of their house interior and exterior features, showcasing the work that the home improvement companies have performed. Houzz records 16 million usersfondly known as "Houzzers"on a monthly basis, and the website currently has over 230 million photos. The Houzz platform prides itself on being the largest residential home design database on earth.

Founded by Houston resident Jay Sanchez, Home Exterior Systems has built a reputation for providing outstanding services. Currently, at its Houzz profile, the company has a 5-star cumulative rating, the highest possible. With its focus on the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area, Home Exterior Systems has been around since 2003 and has been a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2005. The company provides a 12-year personal warranty on their workmanship and labor, and it is licensed through the Texas Residential Construction Commission.

Upon receiving the award from Houzz, the recipient can display a Best of Houzz 2014 badge on the company website. The badge also appears on the company's profile at Houzz.com. That way, homeowners looking for home improvement services can easily spot the very best Houzz has to offer. Home Exterior Systems was recently honored with the Best of Houzz 2014 Service Award for Client Satisfaction for their excellence.

About Home Exterior Systems provides a variety of exterior home improvement services. These services include window and door replacement, roofing, HardiePlank lap sliding, power washing, and deck and patio construction. Based in the Houston metropolitan area, Home Exterior Systems won the 2010 Super Service Award from Angies List, as well as the 2010 Home Pro of the Year Award from ServiceMagic (now HomeAdvisor). The company is also a BBB Excellence Award winner for 2011 and 2012. For more information or to receive a quote, Home Exterior Systems can be reached by phone at 281-542-9577.

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Home Exterior Systems Receives Best of Houzz 2014 Award

Population Services International (PSI) is a leading global health organization with social marketing and social franchising interventions in Vietnam to address HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Safe Water/Hygiene, Tuberculosis and Hypertension. PSI uses private sector approaches to improve the health of Vietnams low-income and vulnerable communities in close to 20 provinces.

Working in partnership with the Government, private sector and civil society partners, PSI harnesses the power of markets to empower underserved populations to lead healthier lives. For more information: http://www.psi.org

PSI currently seeks an experienced training and outreach professional to join our dynamic, results-focused team in Hanoi. Are you passionate about participatory training techniques? Do you believe in the power of face-to-face communication to motivate behavior change? Get us to notice you and join our inspiring mission.

Job Title: TRAINING & OUTREACH SPECIALIST Report to: Marketing Manager

Job purposes:

The Training/Outreach Specialist is responsible for identifying, implementing and actively promoting best practices in face-to-face communication including outreach, medical detailing and provider counseling - as a key component of integrated, multi-channel behavior change communication campaigns implemented by PSI and other partners to motivate healthier behaviors including consistent use of low dead space syringes, safe water treatment, hand-washing with soap, improved maternal and child nutrition and others.

Major duties:

Selection criteria

Interested candidates are requested to submit detailed curriculum vitae (CV) with a letter of interest indicating the position you are applying for as well as copies of relevant certificates/degrees no later than 17:00, 21 March to HR Department, PSI Vietnam; Address: 11th Floor, VINAFOR Building, 127 Lo Duc Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi; Email:hr@psi.org.vn.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Please do not contact via telephone. Dossier will not be returned

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Training & Outreach Specialist