Happy 4th of July 2010 !!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Meet Me for Coffee, tough guy.
Check out Holiday job search is unlikely to be jolly | The Columbus Dispatch
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| Holiday job search is unlikely to be jolly Sunday, November 8, 2009 3:38 AM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Sarah McCann has a tough choice to make. The manager of Silver Mountain jewelry store at Polaris Fashion Place mall has three holiday jobs to fill and, because of the state's high unemployment rate, a mountain of applications. And they're among the best and most highly skilled prospects she's ever seen. "In previous years, the applicants haven't been as impressive," McCann said. "Now, I've got too many good people to choose from. "It's making my hiring decision so much harder than it's ever been." Competition for seasonal jobs is fierce this year, industry observers say. The U.S. jobless rate for October hit a 26-year high of 10.2 percent. Ohio's rate for September, the most recent data available, stood at 10.1 percent, with 594,000 people unemployed. Add to that the number of people who seek seasonal employment to supplement their income or to pay for holiday purchases, and the job hunt has become much more competitive, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based employment-consulting firm. "Holiday hiring might improve slightly over last year, but only because 2008 saw the lowest seasonal employment growth in nearly 20 years," John Challenger, the firm's CEO, said in a statement. "With millions of Americans out of work and many more simply cutting back on all discretionary spending, few retailers will take the risk of eating into slim profits with extra workers." While Ohio's employment environment isn't as bad as in some states -- Michigan's jobless rate was 15.3 percent in September -- it's still "likely to be a bit of a challenge" to find a seasonal job this year, said Bill LaFayette, vice president for economic analysis at the Columbus Chamber. From the time the recession started until now, central Ohio has lost 1.9 percent of its total employment, compared with a 5.2 percent loss of jobs nationally, he said. In the retail sector, the region lost 4.5 percent of its jobs, compared with 5.6 percent nationwide. A recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found that only 8 percent of Columbus area employers plan to hire employees during the fourth quarter, while 9 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. The majority -- 75 percent -- expect to maintain their current staff levels, and 8 percent aren't certain of their plans, the survey found. Employers seem "to be really jittery still, and consumer confidence is down," LaFayette said. "That doesn't bode well for hiring anywhere. "It'll likely be less challenging here (to find a job) than in other areas, but that's not so comforting for someone looking for a job." Locally, help-wanted signs hang in the windows of several retailers, including Williams-Sonoma; Christopher & Banks; J.Jill; D&D Sports; Macy's; GameStop; Bed, Bath & Beyond; CoCo & Lilly; Yankee Candle; and Victoria's Secret. GameStop plans to hire 15,000 workers companywide, spokeswoman Marissa Andrada said, about the same number of workers the Texas-based company hired last year. The company operates 6,100 stores worldwide. "The end of the year historically represents a large part of our company's annual sales, and 2009 is not expected to be any different," she said in a statement. "The recent price reductions for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii gaming consoles are expected to create a lot of store traffic from customers." LaFayette advises job seekers to also look beyond standard retail companies for seasonal jobs. "People should be a little creative in looking for holiday employment," he said. "There are likely to be jobs at transportation firms as more people use the Internet to shop and send goods, thus making that a stronger possibility" for work. Shipping giants FedEx and UPS have numerous job openings throughout central Ohio, according to both company's Web sites. Emily Kleier has been looking for a job for a couple of weeks. The North Side resident said she's applied for several positions and so far has gotten a "no," "nothing so far," and one interview offer. Kleier's goal, she said, is to gain a seasonal job as a way to "pad my savings to start 2010 on the right foot." She noted in an e-mail that "2009 drained it a bit, so I'm hoping to sock it all away." "It seems like everyone is looking for seasonal help these days, so that leads me to believe that there are jobs out there to be had."
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Check out Columbus school lines to be redrawn | The Columbus Dispatch
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| Columbus school lines to be redrawn Changes in building assignments will affect thousands Sunday, November 8, 2009 3:52 AM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH MapsSee which areas would be reassigned to a different neighborhood school, by type of school: Related storyPublic forumsThe Columbus district will host a series of public meetings to explain the closing process and a reassignment effort. All are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m.
Source: Columbus City Schools More school newsThousands of students -- particularly those who live in Linden, the East Side and the South Side -- would be assigned to different neighborhood schools next year under a proposal that the Columbus district plans to unveil this week. Many details of how the reassignment plan would work aren't clear yet, but spokeswoman Kim Norris said the district's school-choice policy would continue. However, 48 district schools would be assigned different students -- either losing or gaining them -- next school year under the proposal, which still must be approved by the Board of Education. When plotted on a map, roughly half the area that makes up the district is affected by a change at the elementary, middle- or high-school level. The reassignments go well beyond those necessitated by school closings planned as a result of declining enrollment. Superintendent Gene Harris and other officials said the changes will make the district more efficient and strengthen neighborhood options by creating direct and clear patterns of how elementaries feed into middle schools, and middle schools into high schools. The district said in early September that a big reassignment proposal was in the works, but a detailed plan has not been distributed to families who could be affected. Robyn Taylor, president of the Columbus Council of PTAs, said she didn't know about the plan. She is encouraging parents to attend community meetings that start Tuesday so that they understand the implications. "I don't think a lot of people really understand," she said. "I believe parents will want to have a say in this." District officials said they plan to send letters to parents whose children could be affected, and that they also will make information available on the district Web site and at the public meetings that begin Tuesday. How the entire proposal would play out is unclear because about 45 percent of Columbus students don't attend their assigned schools because of the district's school-choice lottery. The bulk of the changes will affect middle schools, where more than three of every 10 students will be routed to a new school, mostly in Linden, the East Side and South Side. The roots of Columbus' current school-assignment plan go back to the 1970s and court-ordered busing, said Steve Tankovich, the district official in charge of designing a new assignment plan. There are more than 450 "elementary attendance zones," or EAZs, that form the basic building blocks of school assignments. During desegregation, the zones allowed officials to assign neighborhoods of black and white students to schools to achieve racial balance. After busing for racial balance ended in 1996, EAZs were reassigned as many schools closed and many students left for charter schools, making some assignments less geographically logical today than they were years ago, officials have said. The district promised during the 2008 levy campaign to close at least six more buildings as continued competition from charter schools and vouchers eats away at Columbus' enrollment, and officials decided now was the time to redraw the boundaries. The Columbus Board of Education is scheduled to vote in December on the recommendation to close as many as nine schools. It will close at least six but could close more. "Any number of schools we close increases our efficiency," Harris said at a school-closing committee meeting last month. The district's "reassignment and consolidation" process would do the same, she said. Decisions about the reshuffling of district students will be made quickly, in part because the application process to attend one of the district's specialty schools begins in January. Once the plan is approved, parents will have to learn whether their children's school is closing or changing and then make choices about where they'd like to send them. Deadlines to apply for one of the district's specialty schools close in February. After mid-June, the district won't make any changes or accept students on waiting lists even if seats become available in sought-after schools. The practice of closing the door on the lottery process is new this year. Another twist in the school reassignment is that the merging of schools could allow the district to effectively erase the record of a poorly performing school. If a merged building has a new student body -- and none of the previous schools contribute a majority of the student population of the new school -- that building could apply for a new state identification number. Because the new ID wouldn't be attached to past academic struggles, a merged school might be able to escape the consequences of poor performance of the schools feeding into it. District officials mentioned this option at a recent school-closing committee meeting but didn't say whether they planned to use it, or where. |
Check out Top 5 Ways to Pay Less Over the Holidays - WalletPop
Click here: Top 5 Ways to Pay Less Over the Holidays - WalletPop
By Kelli B. Grant,
Senior Consumer Reporter, SmartMoney.com
Senior Consumer Reporter, SmartMoney.com
It may be the season of giving, but shoppers are watching every penny.
This holiday season, consumers will spend an average $683 -- 3.2% less than last year -- on gifts, decorations, parties, greeting cards and other expenses, according to the National Retail Federation. "No one can afford to be frivolous this season," says Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
But there's no need to put the "Bah, humbug!" on celebrations, either. This year, trim your tab using these five strategies:
Check out P&G consolidation will affect 700 workers | The Columbus Dispatch
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P&G consolidation will affect 700 workers
Monday, November 9, 2009 4:32 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI -- The Procter & Gamble Co. is centralizing some research and development operations, affecting some 700 jobs.
P&G says it expects most of the affected employees in southwest Ohio and Massachusetts to transfer to new locations, but will work on alternatives for those who can't move.
Most of the jobs will move to P&G's South Boston complex and centers in the Cincinnati area and Bethel, Conn., starting next year and completing by June 2012. The maker of such consumer products as Tide detergent plans to end operations at its Miami Valley Innovation Center, where 445 work near Cincinnati, and at Needham, Mass., where 105 work.
Also closing is an R&D center in Lewisburg, Ohio, where P&G also plans to close a pet-food manufacturing plant.
Check out Giant western Pennsylvania underground mushroom farm laying off 260
Click here: Giant western Pennsylvania underground mushroom farm laying off 260 | The Columbus Dispatch
| Giant western Pennsylvania underground mushroom farm laying off 260 Monday, November 9, 2009 8:27 AM WORTHINGTON, Pa. (AP) - An underground mushroom farm in western Pennsylvania plans to lay off 260 workers because of falling demand and increasing competition from other farms. Creekside Mushrooms Ltd. is based in Worthington, about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Company officials have not immediately returned calls Monday. The company, which produces Moonlight brand mushrooms, says on its Web site that it has more than 500 employees. KDKA-TV says the company sent a letter to its employees announcing the layoff plans. The company says its underground mushroom farm is the only one of its kind in the country.
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Check out Post Offices Adjust Delivery Routes | NBC4i.com
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Post Offices Adjust Delivery Routes
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CENTRAL OHIO—Declining mail volume, fuel costs and the economy led to a national review of postal delivery routes.
Some Central Ohio zip codes were to be affected.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
Several Columbus and Dublin post office routes were to be consolidated, which alters delivery times.
Affected offices in Columbus included the 43202 area of Clintonville, 43206 area of German Village, 43209 in Bexley, 43213 in Whitehall, northwest Columbus with the zip code of 43220, 43231 in northeast Columbus and 43232 in the Eastland area.
Marysville and Mount Vernon post offices also were to consolidate deliveries, which alters delivery time or means a new mail carrier.
Changes were to happen as early as next week.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
Check out "Lose The Blue" Is Back | NBC4i.com
“Lose The Blue” Is Back
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COLUMBUS, Ohio—
“Beat Michigan” week will be back in 2009 with a project that supports the OSU football team and collects clothing for Goodwill Columbus.
The Ohio State Department of Athletics and the Ohio State University Trademark and Licensing Services Department run the “Lose the Blue” clothing drive annually during the week when the Michigan and Ohio State football teams renew their storied rivalry.
This year, fans can donate gently used blue clothing at the Ohio State Official Team Shop in the Jerome Schottenstein Center Nov. 16-20. Fans that make donations of blue clothing will receive a free Scarlet and Gray Fridays T-shirt, while supplies last.
In conjunction with the “Lose the Blue” drive, the Official Team Shop will hold a 20-percent off sale Nov. 16-20 on all store merchandise except the Nike Rivalry items that are set to debut today and any items previously on sale. In the past two years, the project has led to the donation of more than 14,000 pounds of donated clothing.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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Check out Crime Stoppers Holds Holiday Self-Defense Class | NBC4i.com
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Crime Stoppers Holds Holiday Self-Defense Class
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio—With the holidays, there is an increased chance someone may target you, your purse, your wallet or something you are carrying.
But you don’t have to be a victim, though.
In fact, you can fight back.
The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chillicothe and the police department will hold Refuse To Be A Victim Nov. 21.
The class will address techniques to fight back and escape an attack and how to really be aware of your surroundings.
If you would like more information, call 740-773-1191 or go to http://southernohiocrimestoppers.com/events/refuse-to-be-a-victim/
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Check out CCS Holds Public Meetings On Student Assignment Plan | NBC4i.com
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CCS Holds Public Meetings On Student Assignment Plan
CCS Reassignment & Closings
The district is developing a new K-12 student assignment plan and closing at least six school buildings. NBC 4
Columbus City Schools moves ahead with its levy campaign promise to close six schools and holds a public meeting Tuesday evening.
Related Links
Click here to review the criteria and list of preliminary schools, for a list of community meeting dates and times and to review proposed reassignment maps.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio—Columbus City Schools continued to move ahead with its levy campaign promise to close six schools.
Before the district makes a final decision on which six buildings to close, it will hold a series of meetings to get input from parents and the community.
The new K-12 student assignment plan is for effective use of school buildings through balanced enrollment, aligned school feeder patterns and optimum use of high-quality academic programming.
The first community meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at East High School, 1500 E. Broad St.
Natalie Martin plans to send her young children to Eastmoor Middle School at 3450 Medway Ave.
Eastmoor is convenient because it is across the street from her home, the same home in which she grew up.
Eastmoor was placed on a preliminary list of schools that could close next school year.
Martin said she plans to attend one of the community meetings to get information and give feedback on the district’s Student Reassignment and Consolidation plan.
An external oversight committee narrowed the list of schools proposed for closure last week. A minimum of six will be chosen for closure.
Elementary Schools
- Deshler at 1234 E. Deshler Ave.
- Douglas at 43 Douglass St.
- Fair Alternative at 1395 Fair Ave.
- Literature Based Alternative@Hubbard at 104 W. Hubbard Ave.
Middle Schools
- Beery at 2740 Lockbourne Rd.
- Clinton at 3940 Karl Rd.
- Eastmoor at 3450 Medway Ave.
- Franklin Alternative at 1390 Bryden Rd.
- Indianola Math, Science, and Techinical at 420 E. 19th Ave.
Superintendent Gene Harris said the committee looked at certain criteria, including student enrollment, safety, access, success and more.
None of the district’s high schools were placed on the list because the buildings didn’t meet the criteria.
Harris said she wants to make sure all elementary schools are strong academically and feed into strong middle schools.
She said middle schools would see the biggest changes.
The district has gone through the process before when it realigned elementary assignment zones and reassigned students in 1996.
Some high-school students may end up attending a different high school than they attend this year.
The goals of the student reassignment and consolidation process are to:
- Assign students as close to home as possible.
- Strengthen neighborhood schools through the use of K-12 vertically aligned communities.
- Maintain school choice as seats are available.
- Improve continuity of alternative programs (K-12) thus eliminating under-enrolled programs and develop innovative, new themed schools.
- Work toward eliminating the use of modular classrooms.
All of the criteria, maps of zones and the template used in the last process are available on the district’s Web site at http://www.columbus.k12.oh.us/index.html
School choice will continue.
The district’s board of education said it hopes to vote on the committee’s final recommendation by the end of December.
School lottery applications begin in January.
The rest of the meetings were scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates at the following locations:
- Thursday, Nov. 12 at Walnut Ridge High School at 4841 E. Livingston Ave.
- Monday, Nov. 16 at West High School at 179 S. Powell Ave.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Northland High School at 1919 Northcliff Dr.
- Monday, Nov. 23 at Marion-Franklin High School at 1265 Koebel Rd.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
Check out Medicare option threatened | Columbus Dispatch Politics
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| Medicare option threatened Health-care reform package would cut money from Medicare Advantage plans Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:14 AM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A little-noticed provision in the House-passed health-care plan would strip billions of dollars out of privately run Medicare plans that emphasize wellness and are increasingly popular among retirees in Ohio and nationally. About 504,000 Ohioans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs, which are run by private companies that contract with the government to offer health plans that cover traditional Medicare benefits as well as supplemental programs such as preventive care. The plans also are offered to retirees in Ohio's three largest public pension systems: the State Teachers Retirement System, Public Employees Retirement System and School Employees Retirement System. About 162,000 retired school and government employees are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, say officials at the Public Employees Retirement System and the School Employees Retirement System. The program is being offered to retired teachers for the first time in open enrollment now under way. House Democrats say the health-care package would save $154 billion by eliminating overpayments to private providers of Medicare Advantage plans. The plans cost significantly more per capita than traditional Medicare and do not result in better health care for retirees, the Democrats say. U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, and many other Republicans disagree. The health-care package narrowly passed the House Saturday night and now heads to the Senate. Voinovich said the legislation would cut half of the benefits currently offered as part of Medicare Advantage. "I support health-care reform that will provide quality, affordable health-care insurance for all Americans, but it should not come at the cost of limiting choice and access to physicians and health services for seniors," he said in a statement. Democrats have acknowledged that some Medicare Advantage beneficiaries would lose some benefits, but they characterize the changes as minor, such as the loss of free gym memberships. Medicare Advantage is not universally popular. Many of the 120,000 Public Employees Retirement System retirees who are enrolled have a "love-hate relationship" with the program, said William Winegarner, executive director of Ohio Public Employee Retirees Inc., an advocacy group for retirees. Retirees appreciate the emphasis on preventive care, improved access to health clinics and services such as a 24-hour nurse hot line, but they don't like the extra paperwork, he said. "We like it because there is an economy for the pension system," Winegarner said. "We don't like it because of the hassle." None of the three state pension systems that offer Medicare Advantage has studied the impact of the federal legislation on their members. Spokesmen for each pointed out that the plans would be unchanged in 2010. "Since the debate in Washington continues, it's not possible to say if changes would be needed in our program," said Richard Baker, a spokesman for the Public Employees Retirement System. "We're watching developments closely. Our intent is to continue providing a clinically focused health-care program to our retirees." |
Check out Funding Problems Could Eliminate Police Force | NBC4i.com
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PATASKALA, Ohio—For months, the City of Pataskala has suffered through serious funding concerns. Now, there is question on the future of the police department.With money problems hanging over the department, Police Chief Chris Forshey has an interesting solution—buy him out.
Funding Problems Could Eliminate Police Force
Funding Issues
For months, the City of Pataskala has suffered through serious funding concerns. Now, there is question on the future of the police department.0 Ratings | 37 Video Views
The chief wrote a letter outlying a possible solution to save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and keep the police force in some capacity beyond 2010.
It was just a week ago the voters rejected an income tax hike that would have helped the police force stay together.
Without additional funding sources the force could be reduced to a part-time force, and eventually close and be patrolled by the county.
Forshey said that buying him out of his position would give the force some wiggle room in the short term until city officials find a way to get more revenue to the city.
The issue is expected to be discussed at Monday’s city council meeting.
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Check out N.C. school sells grades to students | The Columbus Dispatch
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| N.C. school sells grades to students Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:45 AM ASSOCIATED PRESS GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- A middle school in North Carolina is selling test scores to students in a bid to raise money. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported today that a parent advisory council at Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro come up with the fund-raising plan after last year's chocolate sale flopped. The school will sell 20 test points to students for $20. Students can add 10 extra points to each of two tests of their choice. The extra points could take a student from a "B" to an "A" on those tests or from a failing grade to a passing grade. Principal Susie Shepherd says it's not enough of an impact to change a student's overall grades. Officials at the state Department of Public Instruction say exchanging grades for money teaches children the wrong lesson. |
Unemployment Extended!
Monday, November 9, 2009On Friday, November 6, 2009, President Obama signed legislation approving up to 14 additional weeks of extended unemployment benefits for claimants in all states, and another 6 weeks of extended benefits for UC beneficiaries in states such as Ohio with high unemployment rates. As a result, Ohioans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits could be eligible for another 20 weeks of benefits. |
Sunday, November 8, 2009
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