A downtown luncheon on Friday was intended as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of a nonprofit organization. But it turned into a love fest between Sue Gibbens and some of the owners of small businesses that she has helped get started or expand here over the past six years.

Gibbens is the executive vice president of the Henderson office of Community Ventures Corp. (CVC), a Lexington-based nonprofit that is the largest Small Business Administration lender in the nation, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses secure loans ranging from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars.

In fact, CVC President and CEO Kevin Smith said his organization expects in a couple of weeks to have $900,000 to loan in the Henderson area through the USDA Intermediary Relending Program, which is intended for businesses in rural communities. Loans of up to $150,000 will be available.

But Gibbens, a Certified Economic Developer and the local face of CVC, is more than a loan officer. She's also a consultant, a mentor to fledgling business owners even a provider of a shoulder for a nervous entrepreneur to cry on.

"They become my best friends, my kids," Gibbens said of her clients following the anniversary celebration.

The affection was obvious as client after client owners of small businesses ranging from a power-washing service to a professional philanthropy consulting firm thanked or even hugged her during the luncheon.

Three of those clients spoke about their businesses and the role Gibbens played.

Rebecca Goodman knew that opening Mind's Eye Studio to teach art to children in Morganfield was "a very risky business."

"But CVC had faith in me that I could do it," Goodman continued, as Gibbens helped her figure out how to research demographics such as income levels and average family size to help assess the feasibility of her venture. Gibbens also helped her obtain a micro loan.

Since opening with 17 students in 2008, Goodman's studio has grown to an average of 105 students.

Originally posted here:
Business owners thank Gibbens at CVC celebration

SULLIVAN For Sumner Memorial High School Salutatorian Brianna Fernandez, the learning experiences outside the classroom were as important as those inside.

The high school, she said at graduation ceremonies June 7, was like a boxing ring with friendly wins and losses among students and with the school administration.

We have learned more than a textbook could teach us, she said.

Relatives and other well-wishers crowded the gymnasium for the event, which culminated with a balloon drop from a net fastened to the ceiling and a triumphant march down the center aisle.

Valedictorian Jamie Hoglund compared her and her classmates four-year journey to Platos allegory of the cave about the limitations of perceived reality.

Our reality has been shaped by what weve seen and what we know, she said.

Graduation, said Hoglund, catapults students into the real world where they should see and experience as much as possible.

Quoting Helen Keller, she said: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

The commencement speaker was history teacher Vern Campbell, who shared his tongue-in-cheek presentation and slide show with Americorps volunteer Marcie Powers.

They concluded with an alternative to the three Rs of a fundamental education three Ls learn every day, laugh every day and love those around you.

See the rest here:
Sumner Grads Look Back and Ahead

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Residents in Middleborough voted Monday night to make the foul-mouthed pay fines for swearing in public.

At a town meeting, residents voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 fine on public profanity.

Officials insist the proposal was not intended to censor casual or private conversations, but instead to crack down on loud, profanity-laden language used by teens and other young people in the downtown area and public parks.

I'm really happy about it," Mimi Duphily, a store owner and former town selectwoman, said after the vote. "I'm sure there's going to be some fallout, but I think what we did was necessary."

Duphily, who runs an auto parts store, is among the downtown merchants who wanted take a stand against the kind of swearing that can make customers uncomfortable.

"They'll sit on the bench and yell back and forth to each other with the foulest language. It's just so inappropriate," she said.

The measure could raise questions about First Amendment rights, but state law does allow towns to enforce local laws that give police the power to arrest anyone who "addresses another person with profane or obscene language" in a public place.

Matthew Segal, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot prohibit public speech just because it contains profanity.

The ordinance gives police discretion over whether to ticket someone if they believe the cursing ban has been violated.

Middleborough, a town of about 20,000 residents perhaps best known for its rich cranberry bogs, has had a bylaw against public profanity since 1968. But because that bylaw essentially makes cursing a crime, it has rarely if ever been enforced, officials said, because it simply would not merit the time and expense to pursue a case through the courts.

See more here:
Mass. town OKs $20 fines for swearing in public

TORONTO, June 11, 2012 /CNW/ - With the summer months come fun in the sun, but the warm weather can also spell trouble. With thunderstorms, floods, lightning, strong winds, tornadoes, and even talk of hurricanes, Canadians should be prepared for severe conditions and the aftermath that can sometimes accompany warmer weather.

"While the weather is often unpredictable, it's fairly safe to say that all Canadians will experience a moderate to severe weather event in their area sometime this season," said David Phillips, senior climatologist, Environment Canada. "Therefore, it's important to remind Canadians that they should be prepared wherever they might live."

CSA Group, a leading certification and testing organization committed to public safety, wants to help everyone stay safe during the coming summer months. "At CSA we are all about safety," said Anthony Toderian, CSA Group. "The summer months are generally filled with quality time spent outdoors with friends and family. Being weather aware and summer-smart is easy if equipped with a few simple but essential tips, which may ultimately help Canadians stay safe throughout the summer and fall storm seasons."

STRONG WINDS & TORNADOES

Canada has the second most number of recorded tornadoes in the world, with between 60 and 80 events each year. CSA Group encourages Canadians to keep in mind some essential safety tips when it comes to recovering from severe wind damage:

STORMS AND FLOODING

Thunderstorms occur regularly in Canada during warmer months. In eastern Canada, two to three tropical storms enter Canadian waters in an average year, sometimes wreaking havoc on shore. Even a "garden-variety" thunderstorm can cause major wind and water damage. CSA reminds Canadians to keep in mind the following when dealing with flooding:

BLACKOUTS

In Canada, there are up to three-million lightning strikes each year, and an average of one strike every three seconds in the summer in central Canada. Lightning and extreme summer heat can lead to brownouts, or even blackouts. If faced with this situation, there are some important safety considerations:

For more everyday consumer tips and safety advice, please visit http://www.csasafetytips.com

Read the original post:
Wicked Summer Weather Can Wreck More Than Your Week; Prepare Yourself with These Severe Weather Recovery Tips from CSA ...

Dramatic footage as a tornado hits Morley. Courtesy Steven McKiernan.

Caution: Strong language. Watch as chairs and other debris fly through the air during today's tornado. Courtesy Jason Bourke

Watch as a tornado forms over Perth's Northern suburbs. Courtesy Josh Bird.

STORM FRONT: Peter Ehlers stands in his Light Street backyard after a tornado ripped through Dianella and Morley. PICTURES: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

DESTRUCTIVE PATH: The line of destruction from the mini-tornado. Source: PerthNow

TREE FLOP: The tree in front of Maureen Ransom's Fitzroy Street home fell onto the road without causing damage to any houses or cars. PICTURE: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

DESTRUCTIVE: A mini-tornado has slammed Dianella-Morley around midday today. Picture: David Alexander Source: PerthNow

DESTRUCTIVE: A mini-tornado has slammed Dianella-Morley around midday today. Source: PerthNow

FLYING HIGH: What looks like pyjama pants hang from a tree in Marmion Street, Dianella. PICTURE: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

DESTRUCTIVE: A mini-tornado has slammed Dianella-Morley around midday today. Source: PerthNow

More here:
Residents tell of tornado terror as storm smashes homes

Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV)

UPDATED:

The City of Twin Falls has lost electrical power to its primary water source at Blue Lakes Springs.

Due to this emergency, the City is able to generate only a small percentage of the water required for normal activity in the City.

An emergency is hereby declared, pursuant to the Twin Falls City Code 7-8-12, and it is ordered that use of the Citys potable water system is limited to essential uses.

This order is effective immediately, and all use of water for industrial uses and irrigation is prohibited until further notice.

Previous Story:

All residents of the City of Twin Falls are being asked to cease any unnecessary use of City water.

Strong winds damaged electrical lines that provide power to pumps, which maintain a majority of the Citys water supply.

Crews are working to restore power to the pumps, however, the Citys water reservoir levels have reached critically low levels.

View post:
City of Twin Falls Declares Emergency, Residents Need To Conserve Water

NEW YORK, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Global communications leader Porter Novelli announced that the agency won a total of five 2012 SABRE Awards for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, with Apex Porter Novelli of Kenya winning the coveted Platinum Award for Best PR Program of the Year. Porter Novelli also was named the Best Multinational PR Consultancy to Work for in EMEA for the second consecutive year, and the third time in six years.

The SABRE Awards, which recognize Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation, are presented by The Holmes Group, a leading global public relations publishing operation, and were recently announced at a ceremony in Brussels, Belgium.

"I am delighted that Apex Porter Novelli took the top prize of the night for its work with Unilever Kenya," said Gary Stockman, CEO, Porter Novelli. "The 'School of 5 Hand Washing Campaign' delivered extraordinary results in increasing the frequency of hand washing and educating the community on the direct connection between hand washing and improved health and hygiene.

"On top of our network's campaign wins, we are honored to be named the top multinational agency network across EMEA for the second consecutive year," Stockman continued. "This award confirms that we can make the most transformative impact for our clients when our colleagues are encouraged to thrive and are given the tools and the opportunity to think big, act big and provoke the change the client needs. I applaud our leadership across EMEA for putting those principles into action and giving our staff the opportunity to truly be their best."

Platinum SABRE

Gold SABRE

Silver SABRE

About Porter NovelliA global public relations leader, Porter Novelli was founded in 1972. In 90 offices in nearly 60 countries, Porter Novelli combines the power of immersion with the rigor of research to create deep human insights that enable the agency to transform the opinions, beliefs and behaviors of those who matter most to its clients. For additional information, please visit http://www.porternovelli.com. Porter Novelli is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency ServicesDiversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc.Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Read more:
Porter Novelli and Clients Win Three Gold EMEA SABRE Awards, One Silver and the Platinum Award for Best in Show for ...

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire -06/05/12)- On Thursday, June 7th, BMO employees will help clean up the Wood's Homes' grounds by power washing and painting as part of a larger project to revitalize the grounds for the Foundation's upcoming celebration of 100 years of service.

Wood's Homes Foundation has been supporting troubled children and their families since 1914 through 35 different programs and services throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

The initiative is part of the first North America-wide BMO Volunteer Day, and 6,500 employees across Canada and the U.S. will roll up their sleeves to give back.

"One hundred years of dedicated service to children and their families is a commendable achievement," said Robert Hayes, Senior Vice-President, Prairies, BMO Financial Group. "Many people have been touched by the work that Wood's Homes does, and we're proud to be part of this Centennial celebration."

Read more from the original source:
Media Advisory-BMO Volunteer Day: BMO Employees in Calgary and Across North America Give Back

What would be a really lazy beginning to this piece? Start with a quote. Keeping with the spirit, here goes. Marketing whiz Jay Abraham had said "You are surrounded by simple, obvious solutions that can dramatically increase your income, power, influence and success. The problem is, you just don't see them." Beg to differ, sir, but here are 15 ideas some novel in thought, some in execution and some as sheer genius that our pack of intrepid entrepreneurs not only recognised but acted upon.

God bless entrepreneurship. Now you don't have to move out of the house. You can do your grocery shopping, clothes shopping, shoe shopping and even intimates without moving away from your recliner. Unless you are the relic shopper who is still for the look-andfeel buy, the computer really is your oyster. It's this intrinsic need to vegetate that these idea entrepreneurs have realised and are tapping for business. Some are in for the long haul and other for good time.

They are from among us, PLUs okay a few are IIT-ians . They use Facebook to popularise their ideas to connect to PLUs and they talk the language of your needs. Like Amit David Wilson of Store-More , who's banking on our collective capacity to consume and hoard. The more we hoard, the more he stores for you. It's simple. Mumbai-based Bharat Ahirwar realises our reluctance to go bhaaji shopping in the heat or standing in queues in government offices. He gets you an office guy to do it.

The core thought for all of them: simplify life. Because why not?

Collect Call: StoreMore

What: Storage service for individuals and households Where: Delhi/NCR Price: Rs 299 per month for any number of boxes On the Sloth Scale: 7 - Because you have to make your own inventory (advisable)

In 2010, Reliable Records was started in Delhi by IIT Kharagpur and IIM Calcutta alum Adesh Sarwan, ex IIM Bangalore's Amit David Wilson and economics grad Nitin Dhawan. The idea: to help companies store their mountain of paperwork, in a mountain of boxes away from the offices. Last year in June, one satisfied client requested them to store his personal book collection with them. And StoreMore was born. Till now in a testing phase, the company is all set to go on a collection overdrive from June end and they are ready to store everything from books to trophies to children's first clothes to that unused dinner set to wedding albums which they digitise and store the physical copy away. "Anything that has no intrinsic value but more emotional and sentimental attachment," says Wilson and adds, "We are not a vault." Most requests are now coming from people moving cities the stuff that gets called back. Wilson's okay with storing more and himself has 20 boxes full of his father's books. And yes, he pays! Wilson's not ready to share business figures just yet as he's in talks for investments but in two years they have two warehouses in Noida and are looking to construct their own facility soon. They don't offer insurance as yet but give 100 per box against breakage. What spurs them: people's ability to consume and of course the changeability of life. "There's forever stuff happening: children, parents moving in, divorce, marriage, transfers. It makes StoreMore more relevant!" Hoarders of the world can think in the box.

Wash on Wheels: Car Cleanz

What: Doorstep car cleaning service Where: Delhi/NCR Price: Rs 1,500 for a dry cleaning (car interiors) On the Sloth Scale: 8 - Answer the door, hand the car keys and go back to your PS3

An Audi pulling in next to your trusty WagonR is a common sight for you, but for Amit Kumar it was a business opportunity. Three years in the business of car maintenance, he started Car Cleanz a doorstep car cleaning service a year back. The idea: if people are spending big bucks on their point-A-to-point-B ride, they will be ready to spend on the upkeep. And the future seems bright, almost as the Teflon coat he gives to the cars.

Read this article:
Check out the lazy Indian's guide to good life

BARRIE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 1, 2012) -

Editor's note: There are two photos associated with this press release.

PowerStream and Nissan Canada at the Georgian College Auto Show today demonstrated, for the first time in Canada, the latest innovation in electric vehicle technology, a system where a fully or partially charged battery in an electric vehicle (EV) can provide power to a home.

Referred to as 'vehicle-to-home" (V2H) and developed by the Nissan Motor Company, the technology can help Ontario homeowners on time-of-use (TOU) rates, who own a Nissan LEAF "100% electric, zero gas, zero tailpipe" vehicle, to better manage their electricity costs through load shifting as well as provide a back up power source for their homes for up to four hours during an outage.

The demonstration, which continues through the weekend in the PowerStream booth at the auto show, involves the use of a Nissan LEAF plugged into a power control system (PCS) that enables the car's battery to power lights, appliances and other devices in the home. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) allows for the home's electricity supply source to be switched from the power grid to the battery in the EV through the PCS.

PowerStream and Nissan believe this system will allow households to be supplied with a stable amount of electricity throughout the day and reduce any potential burdens on the current power supply by charging and storing electricity in Nissan LEAF with electricity generated at night or through sustainable methods such as solar power, and using it during high demand periods.

For example, electricity customers in Ontario on TOU rates using the V2H power supply technology can load shift by charging the batteries in their Nissan LEAF from the power grid during off-peak pricing periods and then supply the stored electricity back to the home during on-peak pricing periods.

The output from the Nissan LEAF can provide enough power to operate high electricity-consuming appliances in the home, such as an air conditioner, stove, refrigerator, washing machine and dryer, at the same time for approximately a full day.

"As a global leader in the development and sale of electric vehicles, we know it is crucial to partner with companies like PowerStream to expand the use of this technology and to open doors to more consumers," said Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada. "The public debut of V2H in Canada today will drive new advancements and collaboration in the auto industry of tomorrow. V2H will foster literal connections, such as those between vehicles, infrastructure, the Internet, and the nation's electrical grid, and the connections and relationships between engineers who are developing the next generation vehicle technology."

Frank Scarpitti, PowerStream's Board Chair and Mayor of the Town of Markham, applauded the introduction of the V2H technology, explaining how consumers can benefit.

See the rest here:
PowerStream, Nissan Show Electric Vehicle Powering a Home