Coronavirus: No help for those in entertainment working behind the scenes
John Van Norman is used to being invisible.
The Yucca Valley resident owns NextExit Productions and has spent almost 40 years as an audio engineer for corporate meetings and conventions, working behind the scenes to ensure events go on smoothly and successfully.
But with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, along with the efforts put in place to fight the spread of the virus, Van Norman worries that the show will no longer go on for himself and thousands of other unseen independent contractors in the entertainment industry.
After the cancellations of numerous large events in this region because of the virus and now a statewide shelter-in-place order that shutters all businesses considered to be non-essential, he's out of work and significantly concerned about his livelihood.
"It wiped out my calendar for the rest of the year," Van Norman said. "It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to plan. I’m going to have to (find other ways to earn income) but this all happened so quickly and there’s been no time for me to decide what to do yet. Another source of income was (performing) my music and that’s vanished now too."
He estimates he has about two months worth of savings.
"I’ve never seen instant industry devastation quite like this," La Quinta resident Damian Lautiero said. "The closest thing I can compare it to is 9/11. It shut everything down, but it didn't come with the widespread limitations of how many people can be in a room."
Lautiero is the director of event technology at an upscale resort in La Quinta, a position the hotel contracts for with PSAV, an audio-visual and event technology support service that staffs events and venues across the country.
He estimated the resort lost about $700,000 in revenue when more than 20 events canceled within 72 hours of Gov. Gavin Newsom's initial public health advisory recommending all non-essential gatherings larger than 250 people be canceled.
Gatherings have since been restricted to 10 people or less.
'We've always been a bit recession proof'
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees representative and trustee Carlos Cota said the union is still trying to gauge the economic repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality/entertainment industry.
"After 9/11 and the 2008 recession, people still wanted to be entertained. We’ve always been a bit recession proof, even when the economy is slow," he said.
"This is the first time something has hit our industry directly. Nationally, 90% of our work is gone within a matter of two weeks — and that’s about 150,000 members nationally. We’re at less than 10% employment right now."
Cota said the remaining 10% of unionized employees still working are in box offices, editing or in scene shops making stage backgrounds.
"That’s probably not going to last long," he added.
For independent contractors such as Van Norman, who are considered self-employed, there aren't any options to pursue, even with possible stimulus packages on the way and assistance for small business owners.
"There’s talk right now of having independent contractors and self-employed people get some kind of unemployment insurance," Van Norman said. "As a (small business owner), I can’t do that, but that would be a big help. Right now, it’s too much uncertainty."
No help for independent contractors
Former Coachella Valley resident Cliff Horn, who now lives in North Hollywood, is a freelance camera assistant on a stop-motion production. He said he has worked in the industry since 2018.
Because he signed a non-disclosure agreement, Horn declined to say the title of the production he was working on. It shut down indefinitely March 16.
"I was fortunate enough to save money, but I'm basically living off my savings," he said. "I know a lot of other people who are scrambling to find any gig that they can, or considering working something like Doordash or Uber."
A salaried manager, Lautiero is able to work from home, but furloughs are likely coming in a few weeks. Nevertheless, Lautiero acknowledged that the independent contractors he uses for events are left in a much worse position.
"They might as well be Uber drivers, because it’s a gig economy," he said.
Brandon Henderson of La Quinta, a project manager for a video company in Los Angeles that specializes in projection mapping, content projection and video walls, also collects a salary and describes himself as "extremely lucky" for the time being.
“I feel sick to my stomach for the massive amount of production people that are immediately affected by all of this. I’d like to see this talk of federal aid for them become a reality," Henderson said.
Assembly Bill 5, the controversial labor legislation meant to provide wage and benefit protections to gig industry workers, such as Uber and Lyft drivers and as many as a million other independently contracted workers across other fields, was signed into law in September by Gov. Newsom. It took effect Jan. 1.
Entertainment unions such as The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood Teamsters 399, and Studio Utility Employees Local 724, as well as IATSE supported AB 5.
Still, some in the industry say that for these kinds of workers there are still issues.
"The flip side to AB 5 is even though they’re independent contractors and classified (as employees), we have to build a safety net for them," Cota said. "If you aren’t covered by a union contract, you have no security at all. You can still be an independent or freelance, but we still need to have a mechanism to provide support. It doesn’t need to be this extreme, even if its seasonally slow or a recession, there has to be some kind of a safety net for freelance work."
He added that IATSE is working to include its members in the Family First Coronavirus Response Act signed by President Trump on Wednesday.
Though, it extends paid sick leave to workers diagnosed with or in quarantine for COVID-19, the plan only applies to employers with more than 50 or fewer than 500 employees.
Henderson said there needs to be safeguards for people who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.
"(It's) scary how entire industries are going belly up in such a short amount of time," he said. "Hopefully some safeguards will be put into play that keeps everyone safe during future catastrophes. Not really sure what those are at the moment, but I have confidence we can all dream something up."
The future is uncertain
It's not just the question of when things will return to normal for those who work in live production for events or as film hands, but what will be left standing? How will the industry look when events and film productions resume?
Henderson is concerned with many cancellations and not a lot of rescheduling during the fourth quarter of the year, adding in his specialty of the industry, "If it costs money, it gets cancelled. If it makes money, it gets postponed."
"The majority of events I do are perks for these companies. There’s probably a lot of companies saying, ‘We’re going to save a million dollars and not throw our big annual event.' It’s not producing money like Coachella where they’re saying, ‘Oh, we need to make that happen this year.’ That’s the problem with my industry.”
Lautiero said his company has re-booked a couple of events for September, but is unlikely to have any additional openings at La Quinta Resort and Club once business resumes.
"Now that your have (Coachella and Stagecoach) pushed into October, one of the challenges is what we ran into with Desert Trip in 2016, we don't have available hotel rooms." Lautiero said. "What they will try to do is move the smaller conferences and offer incentives to reschedule so they can free up some inventory. It is going to be a challenge if this clears up and Coachella and Stagecoach happen. There's going to be an inventory shortage on hotel rooms, which will drive up the price."
But Cota indicated how abrupt entertainment events were shut down and offered an example of where some of the industry currently stands.
"The Broadway shows that tour, they’re all (using) trucks. With a lot of the theatres that shut down, they basically shut the lights off and left the productions on stage. The day people can go back to work, it’ll be immediate and that stuff will (resume)," Cota said.
There are also concerns of what the state of the world will look like and if people will want to be in big crowds in the near future, even on the backside of coronavirus, as well as the world economies.
“Everything requires financial backing, and if we get thrown into an extreme recession, some of the money probably won’t be there to back some of these events," Cota said. "The smaller events that don’t have a large price tag are easier to mount. Festivals should be fine and will be coming back. But it’s hard to say, nothing has ever hit our industry like this, so what the backside looks like is anybody’s guess."
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or (760) 778-4617. Support local news, subscribe to The Desert Sun.
Previous reporting by USA Today reporter Gabrielle Canon was used in this report.


Blog: Constellation, Modelo retake vows
Chris Mercer | 29 October 2010
Constellation Brands and Grupo Modelo have kissed and made up, so it looks like Crown Imports will be sticking around.
Constellation and Modelo said today that they have settled their legal dispute over marketing funds for the Crown Imports beer venture in the US. The 50-50 venture imports Modelo's Corona lager among others.
It looked as if the venture might be coming to a premature end (it runs until 2016) when Modelo signalled that it would sue its partner at the end of 2009. But, today, everyone is back in bed.
Constellation has repeatedly called the dispute "financially immaterial" and it looks as though the two firms will, afterall, continue to work together.
The most likely alternative for Modelo, assuming it could have afforded the Crown Imports cancellation fees, would have been a deal with Anheuser-Busch InBev. The Budweiser brewer holds a 50% non-controlling stake in Modelo.
However, Modelo's controlling families don't have a lot of love for A-B InBev, as they proved in the UK recently by snubbing the group in favour of rival Molson Coors.
The Coca-Cola Co has had its fair share of critics this year, from health campaigners to investor David Winters, who this week called for CEO Muhtar Kent to be replaced....
The UK health lobby is always very vocal on alcohol at this time of year, predictably so, and this year is no different. ...
“Ah, yes, you've hit upon a very sensitive area,” says Thomas, my guide at the Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen last Friday....
Experimentation has long been a watchword in the Scotch whisky industry. It is what has given consumers the huge range of ageing options, from refill hogsheads to virgin oak to Sherry butts....
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Nigeria, as reported last week, is on a drive to reform its energy sector. When this happens, the country’s GDP is expected to overtake South Africa in 2014 according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Nigeria currently earns US$235 billion as her GDP and it expected to increase between 2013 and 2014 when the country’s energy sector is fully deregulated.The Executive Director (Corporate Planning and Strategy) of NNPC, Dr Timothy Okon said the energy sector is the biggest in Africa and all industry stakeholders should play a pivotal role to ensure that the sector is fully reformed. This will allow more jobs to be created. Oken continued by saying that the country’s economy is around 5% the size of the US and to increase the country’s output, reform was vital. Here the energy sector was vital because the country has abundant economic resources which can translate into economic development, if reformed and maintained. This will also allow for better participation which will increase the return.
Infrastructure, such as pipelines for the transport of crude oil, is in place but needs good maintenance and some upgrades. Reform would address this issue. More refineries however, would not bring down the cost of petroleum significantly but, it will encourage more investment.Nigeria is looking at hydro power and natural gas as energy alternatives to oil. Source: allAfrica.com


Investing in gold or investing in real estate or Property. That is the question many individuals are asking themselves. Many organizations seem as if they are attempting to invest in gold as if it is going out of style. So the question remains, which is better for investing gold or real estate.
Individuals can also do what is known as lease options which allows them to get in with no amount of money down. Investing in a rental property will provide a steady cash flow. This is much different from gold because gold is considered dead weight. An investment in real estate will provide a constant flow of cash coming in whereas gold is considered dead weight because it does not bring in a steady income.
The price of gold was Rs. 26200 in March 2015 but the price today is Rs. 26300 there is hardly a .5% growth in the price. Whereas, the house in a decent location in Delhi was with a rent of Rs.15,000 last year; as per the agreement the rent has been increased by 8%, today It is Rs.16200.So, the variation of 8% is a God figure in comparison with Gold Price.
The growing Population and migration of people from one part of India to other are the main reasons for increase in the demand for Property or house renting.
Cities like Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata have seen a rapid growth in the rental market; thanks to the Government initiatives in IT Industry creating Special Economic zones for more job opportunities. High demand has been observed in the mid-segment residential properties. Demand from the IT/ITeS sector employees kept upward pressure on rental.
The Demand is set to go up as the builders are delaying the delivery of projects across top 7 cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Gurgaon, Noida and NCR where the demand is very high
Along with Property Renting, agents and Property brokers are also offering furniture like Refrigerator, AC’s, Furniture, Kitchenware, home decors and other demanded items are also offering on Rent. This will be a New Milestone in the rental business.
More information on Rental Products visit http://www.rentsewa.com and explore the possible rental options across India


Goldplat plc / Ticker: GDP / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining & Exploration
1 April 2021
Goldplat plc ('Goldplat' or 'the Company')
Sale of the Kilimapesa Gold Mine - Transaction Update
Goldplat plc, the AIM quoted gold producer, with international gold recovery operations located in South Africa and Ghana, is pleased to provide an update relating to the sale of the Kilimapesa Gold Mine in Kenya (the 'Transaction').
The Company is pleased with the substantial progress that has been achieved over the past month in satisfying a number of key conditions of the Transaction. These include: receipt of government consent and approval of the Transaction; the execution by all parties of a formal Share Purchase Agreement ("SPA"); and the submission by Papillon Holdings Plc ("Papillon") of the prospectus to the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), under which Mayflower Capital Investments Pty Limited ('Mayflower') will complete its reverse takeover of Papillon and complete the Transaction with the Group.
Given this progress and further to its announcement of 23 February 2021, the Company can confirm that the completion date of the Transaction has been changed from 31 March 2021 to 30 April 2021, subject to the following being completed by 20 April 2021:
The Financial Conduct Authority's ("FCA") review of Papillon's prospectus being finalised and the prospectus being lodged;
Papillon having released its Notice of Meeting for its shareholders to approve the transaction with Mayflower; and
The receipt of funding commitments as required by the SPA and the binding term sheet first announced on 31 July 2020 of a minimum of US$ 4 million;
Mayflower, Papillon and its advisors continue to engage with the FCA with respect to obtaining the final approval for the Prospectus.
Werner Klingenberg, CEO of Goldplat commented: "Mayflower and Papillon continue to progress towards Papillon achieving its planned re-admission to the Official List and Goldplat continues to be very supportive and looks forward to completion of the Transaction by the end of April 2021."


Serbia: NIS’ investments for 2021, News Serbia Energy
In 2021, Serbian oil company NIS will invest more than 155 million euros in development projects, CEO of NIS Kirill Tyurdenev announced.
Tyurdenev said that the company will invest in all the main areas of its business – exploration and production, processing and modernization of its retail network. It will focus on the most profitable projects in Serbia and the region. As one of the key projects to be realized this year, he highlighted the commissioning of the combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Pancevo, which NIS is building in partnership with Gazprom Energoholding. NIS CEO said that the year 2020 had been extremely challenging due to the sudden drop of the price of oil and the circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, pertaining, among other things, to the considerably reduced demand for oil and oil products.
In the first nine months of 2020, NIS invested around 177 million euros, mainly in oil and gas exploration and production activities at its Deep Processing Unit at the Pancevo refinery, as well as in upgrading its retail network in Serbia and the region. In the January-September 2020 period, oil and gas industry was affected by adverse global trends, reduced demand for petroleum products, before all, due to the COVID-19 pandemics, as well as to sharp decline in oil prices. In the third quarter, NIS’ EBITDA indicator amounts to 68 million euros, while the same indicator for 9 months of 2020, amounts to the total of 88.5 million euros. NIS also preserved its positive cash flow, which was, in the period January-September 167 million euros. Net profit realized in the third quarter was 16.2 million euros, but unfavorable macroeconomic situation in the first half of the year influenced the NIS Group to record the loss of 70.6 million euros in first nine months of the current year.
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Job creation and economic growth in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County are only possible if we have a well-educated, well-trained workforce available to fill those new jobs. The Chamber’s Workforce Development initiatives are designed to ensure that we will be able to meet the demand for qualified workers by promoting student achievement, creating career awareness, and helping prepare students to meet the demands of our knowledge-based, globally competitive economy. These initiatives include:
- Real World Connections is a program that brings business people together with students in small groups or one-on-one to give the students a sense of what is involved in different career paths.
- Career Specific Partnerships show students what they can expect from careers in four key professional areas – Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, Construction, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) – to help them get a head start on their career decision.
- Classroom Speakers Program includes local business and community volunteers who are willing to share their expertise with students in the classroom. Speakers bring relevance to a particular topic, helping students understand the connection between the curriculum and the real world of work. Speakers also provide teachers with additional curriculum-related resource expertise. Click below to get involved.
Classroom Speakers Program
Construction Industry Council
The Construction Industry Council is made up of area construction professionals and educators who work together to bring more students into the construction fields, producing the next generation of architects, craftspeople and skilled and semi-skilled tradespeople. There are not enough people going into the skilled trades to fill positions left vacant when employees leave. These jobs offer lucrative career opportunities for young people emerging into the current workforce. Addressing the heavy demand for skilled workers is a Chamber priority. Council meetings focus on topics relevant to construction industry professionals and on strategies to promote the industry to the emerging workforce.
For more information, please contact Rodessa Mitchell at (336) 728-9222.
Construction Career Days
To address the skilled workforce shortage, the Chamber’s Construction Industry Council, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hosts a two-day Construction Career Days event.
With about 1,200 students from Forsyth and surrounding counties in attendance, this event exposes high school students to the vast array of exciting opportunities and career paths available in the industry. Students learn about the latest equipment, tools, and industry innovations through interactive, hands-on activities, the operation of heavy equipment, and one-on-one conversations with skilled-trade professionals and educators.


Another unwelcome side effect of not knowing your average monthly kWh usage level is that you may end up paying more than you expect. This can occur when a customer inadvertently shops an electric rate based on a higher usage level than they actually use. Electricity suppliers commonly advertise their electric rates associated with the highest (2000 kWh) usage levels since those tend to be the lowest rates.
Dallas area residents now have the option for choosing their electric provider. However, with all of the different plans that are available, it can be difficult to make the right decision for your particular electricity needs. You may find yourself overwhelmed by the number of options presented to you by all the electric company advertisements or concerned about shady marketing gimmicks.


Not quite business as usual: How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed Fayetteville business
Some Fayetteville businesses opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, others closed — and still others navigated executive orders to change operations in the past year.
Ashley Thompson, owner of Pressed — a Creative Space in downtown Fayetteville, was one of those who navigated the changes.
In early 2020, Thompson didn’t think stores would close, until Gov. Roy Cooper issued a stay-at-home order in March last year.
“It definitely was a scramble,” Thompson said.
The downtown storefront that sold unique gifts, home goods, office items, clothing and self-care items closed. All of her employees took unemployment.
So Thompson and her husband transformed the upstairs of their home into an online business. They used Instagram Live to showcase crystals, a popular item at their Fayetteville store.
“It kind of let people get that personal experience, and we could show items on live video,” Thompson said. “So we went to that model really quickly.”
Under the name New Moon Minerals, the Thompsons catered to online shoppers — selling 90% crystals, along with candles, books, jewelry, clothing and other accessory items.
Thompson’s brick-and-mortar shop remained closed from March through the beginning of June, but closed again from July through September after a manager moved.
With executive orders lifting to allow businesses to operate at reduced capacities, Thompson brought back a former store employee as the new store manager for Pressed — a Creative Space. But she isn’t abandoning the online business, which she credits with keeping her afloat during the past year.
As the manager is now able to focus on local customers, Thompson said she and her husband are able to focus on online shipments.
The online business grew to the point they are moving into a warehouse and ship products across the U.S. now.
Thompson isn’t the only local business owner who had adjusted operations.
As movie theaters were closed for months, one local cinema owner was inspired by a concept seen decades ago and that still exists in a limited number of North Carolina towns — drive-in theaters.
By July, Omni Cinemas 8 owner Dean Melvin was determined not to close his 30-year business.
An outdoor screen was set up and patrons could listen to the movie through their radios.
Melvin said the Omni Family Amusement Center, next door to the theater on Sycamore Dairy Road, has received the most foot traffic during the pandemic.
Melvin quoted Winston Churchill when describing how business is currently: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
"I think where we're at with COVID, we're definitely hoping to see a light at the end of the tunnel over the next couple of months," he said.
Changes weren't limited to the movie theaters.
Grocery stores have allowed customers to order online or use phone applications to have groceries brought to vehicles for curbside service.
Fayetteville was even picked as a Walmart pilot program site to deliver groceries via drones.
Local restaurants also shifted to curbside pickup, and local businesses embraced outdoor dining as executive orders lifted to allow restaurants to operate at partial capacity.
“People are eager to get out,” Bianca Shoneman, president and CEO of the Cool Spring Downtown District, said in August. “I think Fayettevillians are eager to eat al fresco during the warmer months.”
Nathan Cuffee, one of the owners of the Blue Moon Cafe on Hay Street, agreed that his cafe’s outside space, which seats between 16 to 20 people, seemed to be an option for patrons with concerns about being in enclosed spaces.
“I would say a lot of our clientele love the ability to sit outside,” Cuffee said. “A lot of time we’ll have a waiting list, even on some of the hot days.
Food truck owners also reported an uptick in business.
Rob and Mary Russell started operating their R Burger truck back in 2013, serving burgers made from specially blended ground beef purchased locally.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Bob Russell said, R Burger has donated meals to the Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Russell also reported business growth, as the food truck started parking in neighborhoods and other areas to present an alternative to going to an indoor restaurant.
Yet, despite some businesses finding ways to survive, others still closed their doors.
National chain, Pier 1 Imports, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2020, but “the impact of COVID-19” hindered its ability to secure a buyer that would allow the company to “wind down,” CEO and chief financial officer Robert Riesbeck said in May. Their Fayetteville store at Cross Creek Mall was among the hundreds of Pier 1s to close its doors.
Fayetteville’s Stein Mart on Raeford Road was among 281 stores the company announced it was closing in August, after the Jacksonville, Florida-based company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
"The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic have caused significant financial distress on our business," Stein Mart CEO Hunt Hawkins said in a news release.
In July, RTW Retailwinds, Inc, the parent company of women’s clothing retailer New York & Company, announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The decision led to the closing of New York & Company as Cross Creek Mall.
“The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused significant financial distress on our business, and we expect it to continue to do so in the future,” Sheamus Toal, chief executive officer and chief financial officer of RTW Retailwinds, Inc., said in a news release.
Loans, grants and help from PPP
As national retailers declared bankruptcy, others found financial assistance from local and national governments.
The Logistics Company, a local Fayetteville area service-disabled veteran-owned small business, was among the first to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program.
The program falls under the $2 trillion emergency funding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law March 27, 2020.
The program has helped employers with payroll, rent, leases, mortgage interest and utilities.
Walsh and representatives of the company provided feedback to Sen. Thom Tillis on Tuesday during a roundtable discussion about the Paycheck Protection Program.
Theresa Fletcher, chief contracting marketing officer for the Logistics Company, said the program helped the company and its subcontractor bring back about 200 employees.
In May, Cumberland County Community Development established a Small Business Resiliency Grant program.
The grant was established to assist qualified local businesses that suffered economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said in a news release.
Supported by Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the CARES Act, it provided grants up to $10,000 to small for-profit businesses with 10 full-time employees or less.
Officials said 22 local businesses applied for the first cycle of the grant.
Darren Donovan is one of the local business owners who applied for one of the county’s $10,000 grants.
Donovan opened his business, Marley’s Cafe & Lounge, at the beginning of 2020.
“Those two months, before everything closed, projections were great, and things were looking amazing,” Donovan said. “We had a good response in the community for trying to do something different.”
Donovan said the business held its grand opening at 6628 Yadkin Road two days before executive orders were issued to close certain non-essential businesses.
He said he was still in the midst of trying to pay off the credit cards he used to startup the cafe.
That little bit of debt hurt when he tried to apply for national grants and loans, he said.
The business took more than a 95% revenue loss, with an attempt to use a third-party vendor for food delivery services.
“As a new business and restaurant, we didn’t have the clientele base to get a lot of delivery orders,” he said.
Donavan, who served in the Air Force for 14 years, said his retirement check was what kept the doors open until about Halloween when state rules relaxed.
He said he received the $10,000 grant through the county, but that didn’t help cover the mounting bills for lights and rent.
“I just had my taxes done and was told it was just bad timing,” Donovan said. “I didn’t even get anything back on taxes, so I’m catching up.”
Donovan said the driving force for him to keep the business open was putting his savings into what was his “next plan” after the military.
In November, Fayetteville officials said the city had distributed $370,000 to 44 small businesses and helped retain 162 jobs between May and November through CARES Act funding.
While some businesses closed and others sought help, some new businesses also joined Fayetteville’s landscape.
Downtown Deli on Hay Street opened its door in mid-June.
"It is risky,” owner Yousof “Joe” Alrobye said. “Why I did that is because I love to do businesses. I am in the food business. As soon as I got the chance, I went for it.”
Angel and Tinisi Young opened A&T Soulful Kitchen at 2653 Hope Mills Road on Juneteenth — which celebrates when all enslaved people learned they were freed, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Angel Young said she was already comfortable with catering and her clientele, and was confident with their food.
She said opening during the pandemic allowed time to sit back and save.
In the Haymount area, House of Taps opened in September.
The self-serve taproom in the former Hilltop Restaurant allows customers to pour their own beer, wine, cider or sour.
"I think to put a taproom in a (112-year-old two-story) home is unique,” co-owner Eydie Hammaker said. “When people come in, it's like coming into my own home. I want them to experience it like they're coming into my home."
Also in September, the first Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Fayetteville opened at 5323 Ramsey St. with a staff of 30.
What’s on the horizon
While health officials are still urging patrons to wear masks, maintain social distancing and use precautions. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that pandemic restrictions would ease starting Friday.
Among the changes, Cooper said, retail businesses, salons, personal care shops, tattoo parlors and museums could operate at 100% capacity indoor and outdoors with mask-wearing and 6-feet distance.
Restaurants, breweries, wineries, gyms, pools and other recreation establishments will be allowed to operate at 75% indoor capacity and 100% outdoor capacity.
Bars, conference centers, sports venues and venues for live performances are allowed to operate at 50% indoor and outdoor capacity.
The 11 p.m. curfew for on-site alcohol consumption was also lifted.
Donovan, the owner of Marley’s Cafe & Lounge, said the business originally opened as a restaurant and lounge with shifts from early mornings through late at night.
He said with indoor dining being reduced during the pandemic, there became more of a focus on the entertainment part.
Now that curfews are lifted, he said, he plans to stay open between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. to build the business back up.
“Trying to keep the restaurant going was a big hurdle we had to go through,” Donovan said. “Right now, with restrictions easing, we’re trying to get back to a little bit of a normal routine, after the reduced hours and operating with a minimum staff.”
For business owners like Thompson, the downtown shop owner who’s expanded to an online business, it won’t be that things are getting back to business as usual.
“The pandemic forced us to go online and get creative, and that’s where we grew our business a lot,” she said.
She said she plans to remain focused on storefront operations, as executive orders lift, but the online model is an equal focus.
“It’s a balance,” Thompson said. “We realized quickly that the online shopping model and store-front are two different businesses, so it was almost like starting a new business … (The pandemic) really forced us to be creative and innovative, even if we weren’t ready for it.
“It sparked that innovation that led us to the next thing.”
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 910-486-3528.


State aid to public schools should increase and be tied to inflation, the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Board told local legislators Monday night.
The district also asked Reps. Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake) and Hunter Cantrell (DFL-Savage) and Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) to increase the money for special education and basic skills.
In May, Gov. Tim Walz signed an omnibus education bill that included a 2% increase in the basic per-student formula in 2020 and 2021. The increase roughly matches inflation, and Pratt called the increase a personal priority.
District Executive Director of Business Services Julie Cink said the increase was helpful but only applied to about 60% of the district’s revenue, making the true increase closer to 1%.
“We appreciate the money, don’t get me wrong,” Cink said. “We appreciate that you look out for us, we do. It’s just we continue to go backwards a little bit.”
Board members also requested more options for additional security changes to schools. They said they’d like to see an expansion of acceptable uses for a district’s Long-Term Facilities Revenue to include “safety enhancements through security modifications, remodeling and additions to existing buildings,” according to the district’s legislative platform.
Assistant Superintendent Jeff Holmberg said the growing popularity of Prior Lake High School’s Fabrication Lab has the district considering a dedicated trade pathway through the district’s MNCAPS program. Holmberg said talks with local businesses left the district optimistic.
“They needed this yesterday,” he said. But federal rules around having students under 18 on job sites and increased liability insurance for any potential partners are posing a barrier.
Pratt said he’s talking with the state’s labor commissioner about letting 16- and 17-year-olds on job sites and would hold a hearing on the possibility of increasing student involvement in a safe way.


Bombardier Reaches Deal with Unifor
CBJ — Bombardier says it has reached new three-year collective agreements with Unifor, which represents about 2,100 production and office workers at its Toronto location.
The contracts cover workers represented by Unifor Local 112 at the Downsview plant and Local 673 who work in technical office and clerical positions.
Bombardier assembles its Q400 turboprop aircraft and several models of business jets at its Toronto operations.
The three-year contracts include wage increases in each year of 0.5% in the first year, 0.75% in the second year and 1% in the final year of the contract.
The ratified agreements, which expire on June 23, 2021, also include improvements to dental benefits, pension increases, and a retirement incentive program.


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Time: 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET
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Get a Car Loan Online, Then Get a New or Used Car in Festus, MO
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Compare Up to Four New Car Loans in Festus, MO
Do you qualify for the lowest interest rates on new car loans in Festus? Apply through the myAutoloan website to find out! You won't have to wait long. We know you can't wait to get in the driver's seat of that sparkling new car! We'll show you up to four offers in minutes. No need to stress about researching lenders, calling your bank or driving to all the Festus car dealerships to see what they'll give you. (Put the brakes on visiting dealerships until financing is complete.) Through myAutoloan, you can review all of the new car loan offers you're eligible for, all in one place. Once you pick the best new car loan for you, you can have your money in as little as 24 hours. Then you're ready to head to any Festus car dealership you want to purchase the new sports car, sedan, SUV, van, or truck you've had your eye on!
Compare Used Car Loans in Festus, MO
Want to finance a shiny, "new-to-you" ride with some miles on it? Yes, you're still in the right place. Check today's lowest rates for used car loans in Festus and apply now to see if you're eligible. Purchasing a preowned vehicle in Missouri can be a smart financial move as used vehicles are generally less expensive, don't cost as much as a new car to insure, and their early years of high depreciation are in the rearview mirror.
myAutoloan offers fast used car financing whether you choose to visit one of the Festus car dealerships listed here or purchase from a private party. Plus, you might even be eligible for a less lengthy loan term and make less loan payments. Living debt-free faster? Yes, please! Choose "Used Auto" on our website and complete the free, no-obligation application. Remember that you might be able to get more favorable loan terms if you purchase a certified pre-owned or certified used car since these cars are typically evaluated by a mechanic before sale and thus more favorable to finance than a car from a private party. Reach out to the Festus dealership of your choosing for details about their used car inspection and certification process.
Refinance Your Car Loan in Festus, MO
You can't imagine trading in your car but you'd love to trade in your car loan. We understand! Review today's lowest auto loan refinance rates in Festus and apply to see if you qualify. There's a high likelihood that you could tweak your current loan term, interest rate, or payments and save money by lowering your monthly payments or interest rate. Our refinance application takes just a few minutes and might save you a ton of money. We mean it! Just read reviews from real myAutoloan customers for an idea of how much other drivers have saved with auto loan refinancing.
When should you refinance an auto loan? If your credit score has gotten better, your income has changed, Missouri interest rates have gone down, or you don't like your current car loan, it's a good time to apply for a refinance loan. You'll receive as many as four loans for refinancing to select from, and then it's up to you to go with the refinance car loan that best suits you.
myAutoloan Is Your Source for Bad Credit Car Loans in Festus, MO
myAutoloan is here for all drivers who need auto financing in Festus, and we really mean ALL drivers. (Approval is not guaranteed.) While many car finance companies in Missouri (and especially big dealerships) cater to one type of driver, we're here to help every driver. Even those with no credit or bad credit. Auto loan companies may consider you to have "poor credit" if you have a low credit score in the 300-580 range, lots of current debt, or a history of tardy bill payments. Turn to myAutoloan for help buying a car with bad credit in Festus. The application process is the same as our other loan offerings. It's still super fast, super confidential, and 100% obligation-free. With help from myAutoloan, you can get financing to buy a car with bad credit in Festus, and buy it from the Festus dealership of your choice. Apply and experience how easy it can be to buy a car with bad credit.


The FTSE was once again the best performer on a mixed day for European markets.
ondon, which had a disastrous performance last week as the rest of Europe made gains, continued its steady rally as it flipped after opening in the red.
The strengthening in commodity stocks helped support the index as price increases continued.
The first flight from London closed 19.63 points, or 0.27%, up to 7,286.32 on Wednesday.
Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at EG Group, said: “Energy, mining and banking stocks are advancing, pulling the FTSE 100 out of its morning session slump and seeing the UK market once again outperforming its peers on the continent, where Covid fears continue to weigh on risk appetite.
German actions have been particularly weighed down by reports that the country is considering a return to lockdown measures as cases increase and neighboring countries reinstate their own restrictions.
Mr Beauchamp added: “Headlines on a foreclosure in Germany sent the euro to its lowest level in nearly a year and a half against the dollar, helping to provide a small measure of support for European stocks.
“So far, however, the usual rally in stocks in late November has yet to fully materialize.”
The German Dax fell 0.26% and the French Cac rose 0.05%.
US markets lost momentum after a rally at the end of Tuesday’s session, with major markets opening lower although a strong performance in tech stocks brought some relief to traders.
Meanwhile, the pound has struggled to keep pace with a resilient dollar, which had benefited from a modest improvement in GDP figures in the last quarter.
The pound fell 0.01% against the US dollar to 1.333 and rose 0.02% against the euro to 1.190.
On the corporate side, Intertek has helped FTSE advance after its stock was boosted by a 5.6% increase in group revenue to date.
The FTSE 100’s insurance and product inspection business said it is on track to deliver ‘robust’ like-for-like revenue growth, rising margins and strong free cash flow in 2021 .
Shares climbed from 310p to 5,470p.
Handbag maker Mulberry saw its shares jump after its stores reopened following pandemic restrictions that allowed it to increase sales.
Bosses said sales jumped 34% in the six months to September 25 to £ 65.7million, from £ 48.9million a year ago when stores were closed for de long periods of time due to various blockages.
He saw stocks rise from 68p to 370p as the company also went black for the half-year.
Johnson Matthey fell from 47p to 2,135p after announcing the sale of its Advanced Glass Technologies business for £ 178million to Fenzi Holdings and recorded a half-year loss.
The price of oil rose slightly after markets absorbed Tuesday’s announcement that oil will be released from the strategic oil reserve.
Brent crude rose 0.09% to $ 82.37 a barrel as London markets closed.
The biggest risers of the FTSE 100 were Intertek, up 310p to 5,470p, St James’s Place, up 31.5p to 1,550.5p, Segro, up 25.5p to 1,384.5p, Taylor Wimpey , up 2.85p to 160.65p, and Persimmon, up 49p to 2822p.
Aveva, down 130p to 3,229p, United Utilities, down 60p to 1,825.5p, Fresnillo, down 26p to 901.4p, Johnson Matthey, down 47p to 2,135p, and Flutter Entertainment, in drop from 225p to 10,815 p.


18 August 2020
Relationships have been strengthened, new products have been purchased and inspiration has been shared at Formland Autumn 2020, which brought the interior and design industry together for four days, offering the opportunity to meet in safe surroundings.
Formland Autumn 2020 was the 73rd time the interior and design fair has been held. Photo: MCH/Tony Brøchner.
The value of the personal meeting was clearly apparent during the Danish trade show Formland Autumn 2020, which ended on Sunday after four inspiring days brimming with networking, news, knowledge-sharing and the biggest current trends. Both exhibitors and visitors agree that the greatest highlight for them was the opportunity to once again meet customers and colleagues in a safe and secure setting.
One of them is exhibitor Camilla Dybdal Christensen, CEO of design company AU Maison, who recently participated at Formland to meet existing and new customers.
"It's been so great to finally meet our customers at eye level again. The quality of the visitors has been really high, and there was a steady flow of customers already from Thursday. So our preconception that this time the show would be a little quieter than normal because of Corona completely flew out of the window! We've had a fantastic fair where we have presented our four brands and received some really attractive orders, as well as enjoying a positive dialogue with our customers," says Camilla Dybdal Christensen, adding:
"But Formland is so much more than just sales. The sense of community that the fair brings simply makes you become a better organisation. The fair helps strengthen the company DNA and create a special unity in our own team and in the industry as a whole," she says.
A boost for the entire industry
Jan Tasholm Jørgensen, Market Manager at Eva Solo, confirms he has the same experience.
"It gives a boost to the entire industry when Formland gathers all the different brands under one roof, and for us to stand together as a collective industry and show what we as suppliers have to offer," he says and continues:
"Formland gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our products in different environments, so that they excite, motivate and inspire the shops. It isn't the same as an iPad or a sales display case - physical meetings build relationships and help create the foundation for deeper dialogues. This is what Formland really excels at, he emphasises.
Paustian: Formland is always worth a visit
The opportunity for dialogue is also highlighted by Paustian Aarhus CEO Susanne Kristensen, who perceived the fair as being a safe meeting place.
"We save a great deal of time by visiting Formland, where the entire industry is gathered and where we get to meet all our suppliers in just a few days and can also look for new ones. I enjoyed talking to the suppliers and, as always, I have taken away a lot of inspiration. Formland is worth a visit every time, and there's no way we could do without the fair. Never, she reinforces.
Positive statements bring joy
The management at the organiser MCH A/S are pleased with the buyers' and exhibitors' statements.
"Safety was a crucial factor at this Formland trade show, and we are delighted that our TrygtMCH concept has been so well received. At the same time, we are pleased with the amount of buying interest at the fair, which shows that fairs can help strengthen trade and the Danish business community," says Georg Sørensen, CEO of MCH A/S.
Formland Autumn had 284 exhibitors and was visited by 5,729 professionals, and the figures should be considered in the light of the Corona situation in Denmark and the rest of Europe. The organiser is pleased that the proportion of shop owners among the visitors has risen from 16 to 24 per cent, which can be a contributory factor to the buying interest at the fair.
MCH's next interior and design show, Formland Spring, will take place on 4-7 February 2021.
Professional shopping centre
The 73rd Formland show was the first trade show to be held since the lockdown in March.
Trade shows are subject to the same regulations as department stores and shopping centres, which stipulate a minimum amount of floor space per person.
To supplement these measures, MCH has also developed the TrygtMCH concept, which uses basic principles of numbers, distance and hygiene to provide the industry with a responsible and attractive meeting place. Read more here
Personal and safe meetings in the limelight at Formland


Helping Women Make Smart Investment Decisions
Eight Proven Ways You Can Lower Your Credit Card Debt
Here are eight proven ways to lower your credit card debt:
1. Pay more than the minimum payment
By paying more than the minimum payment each month, you can reduce your debt faster and save on interest charges.
2. Consolidate your debt
If you have multiple credit card debts, consider consolidating them into a single loan with a lower interest rate. This can make it easier to manage your debt and pay it off faster.
3. Use the debt avalanche method
With the debt avalanche method, you focus on paying off your credit card with the highest interest rate first, while making minimum payments on your other cards. This approach will save you the most money on interest in the long run.
4. Use the debt snowball method
With the debt snowball method, you focus on paying off your credit card with the lowest balance first, while making minimum payments on your other cards. This can helps you increase your motivation and momentum as you take as many cards as quickly as possible to a zero balance.
5. Consider a Balance Transfer
This can save you money on interest charges and help you pay off your debt faster. If you have a credit card with a high interest rate, transfer the balance to a credit card with a lower interest rate. This combines the advantages of the debt avalanche method of paying less interest as well as the debt snowball method taking as many cards to zero as quickly as possible.
CAVEAT: Be sure to read the fine print and understand any fees that may be associated with the balance transfer.
6. Negotiate a lower interest rate
If you have a good payment history and credit score, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate with your credit card company. This can make it easier to pay off your debt and save you money on interest charges.
7. Use a debt management plan
If you’re having trouble making your monthly payments, you may want to consider a debt management plan. This is a repayment plan where you make one monthly payment to a credit counseling agency, which in turn pays your creditors. A debt management plan can help you get your debts under control and may be able to secure a lower interest rate on your debts.
8. Cut expenses and increase income
You can accelerate your debt repayment by cutting expenses and increasing your income. This could involve things like creating a budget, finding ways to save money, or looking for ways to earn more money through a side hustle or a part-time job.


County to hold public hearing on Hold Harmless tax for judicial complex
ALAMOGORDO — Otero County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing today at 6 p.m. to discuss issuing Hold Harmless gross receipt tax (HHGRT) revenue bonds for the new judicial complex and the expansion of the Otero County Detention Center.
County Commissioners will decide to adopt Ordinance No. 17-02 which authorizes the issuance and sale of Otero County HHGRT revenue bonds, in one or more series, not exceeding $41.5 million for the purposes of constructing, purchasing, furnishing, equipping, rehabilitating, making improvements to one or more public buildings including the expansion of the county detention center and the county courthouse project.
County Commissioners authorized the 1/8 and 1/4 HHGRT in September 2015, both for the purpose of expanding the detention center and for constructing a new courthouse.
According to county notes, a feasibility study was commissioned to determine the parameters of each project. The feasibility study for the detention center has been completed, determining the parameters for the project within budget, and ready to be implemented.
The feasibility study for the courthouse is still in the process of receiving input from court personnel, regarding their requirements and input from the public and court personnel regarding the location. Input from the County Finance team, regarding the budget constraints is also still needed.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), rules require that a binding commitment to begin expending money on a project must be entered into within six months after the issuance of bonds.
Earlier in January members of the community unofficially voted to demolish the current courthouse and rebuild it into a functioning facility that could cost up to $34.4 million.
Court officials and residents said they would like to remain in the downtown area because it is the heart of the city and they would not like to move elsewhere causing people to move further out of Alamogordo.
The reconstruction/relocation of the Otero County Court House is the most expensive project the county has ever worked on in their history and has the community and even officials debating the location on social media.
In a November 2015 Otero County Commission meeting former County Commissioner Ronny Rardin was adamant that the best site for the courthouse would be off of First Street, which is a piece of land that was donated to the county for free.
During the November 2015 meeting, Rardin said after meeting with architects, the current location would not be able to meet the 3–to–1 parking ratio by the City without buying additional land. It would also cost more than $3.5 million to develop this location and limits any kind of future growth. Architects also concluded that it was very disruptive to courts and users in the area and it cannot adequately build a solar field.
He went on to say that going with the current location would be absolutely ridiculous.
According to Rardin, research shows that future growth for the site off of First Street would last over 100 years and allows economic development to begin as Alamogordo grows.
Rardin also said the site off of First Street is the only option he could see that keeps the county true to their promise to the public for raising the tax and is good planning for now and the future.
County Commissioners have not decided on a location due to cost issues that are unclear at the moment.
One thing County Commissioners made clear was that they did listen to the community when they voted to keep the courthouse at its current location.
During the Feb. 9 Otero County Commission meeting, County Commissioner Lori Bies was concerned with the cost of the bonds and said she would not vote for a bond that she could not verify all of the details as to location and cost prior to leaving them responsible for funds they don't know they can use to get the project done because it was looking to be more expensive than what they thought.
The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Otero County Administration Building, 1101 N. New York Ave., Rm. 123.


It has been more than twenty days since I got my shipment and I was still wondering how much I had to end up paying for Customs here in India. I finally decided to call up the DHL office and asked them how much I had to pay. So here is how much my Kindle finally worked out to:
Kindle shipment update 2
Kindle 3: 6,500
Shipping: 1,000 (it took less than 3 days from dispatch to delivery)
The figures above are in approximate INR.
I know this is high (the customs almost killed me) and could have been just below 7,000 had someone got it along for me. But I do not mind paying a premium for getting it two months or more early had I depended on someone else. And anyway it is still much cheaper than any other e-reader available in India. And undoubtedly the best there is.
If you think my review helped and would want to buy the Kindle, please use the below links:


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A common scenario for VA loan assumptions involves the following frequently asked question:
"I inherited my parents’ home. I want to know if I can do an assumption on the VA loan and who I contact for this. Will I have to pay for any fees?"
It is true that VA loans are assumable, but the borrower is required to work with the lender and/or get VA approval for the transaction, as instructed in VA Pamphlet 26-7:
"Transfers of ownership on properties securing loans for which commitments were made on or after March 1, 1988, must have the prior approval of the loan holder or its authorized servicing agent if either of them have automatic authority. If neither the holder nor the servicer has automatic authority, the servicer must submit a credit package to VA for underwriting."
These rules also feature instructions to the lender. How is a VA loan assumption required to be carried out? According to the VA:
"A seller must apply for approval of the transfer prior to completing the sale. Servicers and holders with automatic authority must examine the application to assess compliance with the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 3714. VA will make the determination in a case where neither the servicer nor the holder has automatic authority, following receipt of a complete application package from the servicer."
In order to successfully process the loan assumption, the VA loan "must be current or will be brought current at the closing of the sales transaction." The person assuming the loan must be creditworthy. Not all lenders allow VA loan assumptions.
What about any fees associated with VA loan assumptions? VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter Five states, "A processing fee may be collected in advance, including a reasonable estimate for the cost of the credit report.” For more information on VA loan assumptions, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or discuss the situation with your VA loan officer.


For every action there is a reaction, and for every reaction there can be unintended consequences.
Such is the case with a proposal before the Worcester Board of Health to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only establishments, such as retail tobacco stores, vape shops and cigar bars.
The proposal is part of a comprehensive policy being considered by the board that focuses on reducing youth access to tobacco. The board will hold a public hearing on the matter Monday night.
Flavored tobacco products are considered "starter" products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. surgeon general, meaning they help get young people interested in smoking and can lead to long-term addiction.
On the surface, the restriction might seem like a noble idea.
If one wants to keep tobacco products out of the hands of minors, restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products, which many contend are purposely targeted to young people, would seem a good start.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said the proposal has the strong support of his administration. He said it is supported by an evidence-based strategy that has been adopted by 112 municipalities across the state, including Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance member communities Holden, Grafton and West Boylston. Other Central Mass. communities that have adopted the restriction include Spencer, Clinton, Marlboro, Leominster and Gardner.
"Backed by community input, a priority area listed within the 2016 Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan includes restricting sales of all flavored nicotine delivery products and devices to adult-only establishments," Mr. Augustus said. "In addition, the 2015 Worcester Regional Youth Health Survey found that 76 percent of area youths would not use e-cigarettes if they were not available in flavors."
But once you dig deeper into the proposal, one has to wonder just how much sense it really makes or how fair it is.
There are those who feel that what is being considered will have unintended economic consequences for convenience-store owners who will no longer be able to sell a legal product they have been selling for years, while that same product could still be sold in the city at "adult-only" establishments.
According to the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the proposed restriction, 266 businesses in the city would be affected by the change, with many being so-called mom and pop stores.
The chamber has raised questions about the need for the restriction because it contends convenience-store owners are already doing a very good job of keeping tobacco products out of the hands of minors. It pointed out that Worcester retailers have a 96 percent compliance rate when it comes to the law, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone younger than 21.
That's a pretty impressive compliance rate and one the city can boast about, yet many of those owners could end up being punished financially for doing nothing wrong. At the same time, adult-only businesses, of which there are significantly far fewer in the city, would stand to gain a financial windfall by having the market all to itself for those products.
While the chamber said it understands the "well-intended reasoning" behind proposing such a restriction, it does not believe it is the appropriate way to tackle the underlying issue of underage access to tobacco products.
"The policy as currently constructed doesn’t appear to have the ability to meet its intended goal of reducing youth access to tobacco since Worcester retailers have a 96 percent compliance rate and further the policy only restricts the sale of these products to adults," said W. Stuart Loosemore, general counsel and director of government affairs and public policy for the chamber. "The policy also will create a very uncertain environment in Worcester because of the disparate treatment of similar retailers."
Jonathan Shaer, executive director of the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association Inc., said the policy being considered by the Board of Health has failed elsewhere in the state and sends the wrong message to youth and adults.
He said millions of dollars in revenues for these stores hangs in the balance and could end up seriously harming retailers’ ability to operate, hire and expand in Worcester. He also strongly disputes Mr. Augustus' claim that evidence supports the need for the restriction.
He said he has not seen any evidence whatsoever, either in Worcester or elsewhere, to warrant such an action.
"Worcester's 260-plus retailers had a near-perfect 96 percent compliance rate with tobacco sales regulations in 2017," Mr. Shaer said. "Youth are not getting tobacco and nicotine products from Worcester retailers. We are doing our job. This is consistent with data from the Center for Disease Control, which shows that four out of five youth nationally get tobacco from friends, families and the internet, not local retailers."
Mr. Shaer said a financial impact study shows that local retailers stand to lose as much as $5 million in revenue from lost sales of flavored tobacco products.
All of which begs the question: Why punish the vast majority of law-abiding convenience-store owners when it doesn't seem, at least from the statistics, that their stores are a major source for minors gaining access to flavored tobacco products?
"In a community with a 96 percent compliance rate, it points to the fact that Worcester’s youth are not obtaining these products through the brick-and-mortar retail market in the city," Mr. Loosemore said. "Nor do those brick-and-mortar locations wish to sell to underage individuals. Therefore, a sales restriction is not going to properly address the problem of underage tobacco use; it is just going to harm those law-abiding, local businesses that comply with the letter of the law."
When a package store is caught selling beer to a minor, that owner is not prohibited from selling beer any longer; instead, the store can be slapped with suspension for violating its liquor license or even run the risk of losing it. Both Mr. Loosemore and Mr. Shaer believe that store owners that sell tobacco should be treated the same way.
"The Board of Health and City Council need to treat youth access to, and the use of, tobacco products and adult rights the same way we do alcohol," Mr. Shaer said. "Adults should be free to purchase flavored and unflavored tobacco and alcohol, while minors should be subject to purchase, use and possession regulations for tobacco, just as they are with alcohol and will be with marijuana. The Board of Health and City Council should work with local retailers, not against them, to address this issue."
The Board of Health deserves credit for taking on the issue of youth access to tobacco. If it is able to prevent one kid from getting hooked on tobacco, it's a success.
But the board also must weigh the potential unintended consequences of its actions, which could have financial implications on business owners who have never contributed to the problem. It also shouldn't be picking and choosing which stores can and cannot sell certain products.
"Convenience-store operators all favor age restrictions to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors," Mr. Shaer said. "We feel like we are doing everything right, yet without any solid evidence we're being told we're the problem. That's simply not true and it's unfair."
Contact Nick Kotsopoulos at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @NCKotsopoulos


In Light of U.S. Economic Woes, First Lady's Vacation Raises Eyebrows
I haven't really taken a huge vacation this year other than a short trip to southern California about six months ago to hang out with my folks and have some laughs with a bunch of old school Vietnam veterans. Besides that, I haven't done much else unless living vicariously through Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern and their Travel Channel shows actually counts for anything. In an ever so stark contrast to my 2010 travels, first lady Michelle Obama, her youngest daughter, Sasha, and several friends of the Obamas recently spent five days in southern Spain, which included a charity event heavy on the celebrity hosted by the likes of Antonio Banderas and Eva Longoria and a Sunday lunch date on the island of Majorca off Spain's northeastern coast at the summer home (read as "palace") of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. That sounds like a pretty decent way to spend five days, and I'm sure good times were had by all.
The trip, however, has drawn criticism stateside what with the economy moving steadily away from the much vaunted recovery President Obama touted mere months ago. With unemployment currently at 9.5 percent and millions of Americans perhaps unable to afford a vacation due to various circumstances, many are calling Mrs. Obama's vacation everything from a case of poor timing to poor judgment or even flat out insensitivity. Writing in the New York Daily News, Andrea Tantaros took it a step further, stating that "Michelle Obama seems more like a modern-day Marie Antoinette...than an average mother of two."
Damn...tell us how you really feel, Andrea.
Most of the criticism of Mrs. Obama's trip has, not unexpectedly, centered on how much of the bill will be covered by taxpayers. While the White House has stressed that she would be covering personal expenses, including transportation and their hotel stay at the Ritz Carlton's five-star Hotel Villa Padierna, and that her friends that accompanied her are also paying their own way, many are concerned about costs for other expenses such as the necessities of providing a Secret Service detail. Some estimates have put the cost of the flight to Spain alone at approximately $178,000 for a roughly eight hour flight, or about $11,555 per hour.Continued on the next page


Affiliate Marketing Opportunity
Affiliate Marketing has actually been an effective tool in the promo of many online ventures and organizations for the longest time. Affiliate Marketing is also a type of performance-based marketing where a company compensates one or more affiliates per visitor or client brought about by the affiliate’s marketing efforts. In easy terms, Affiliate Marketing is an Internet-based marketing practice in which merchants (online entrepreneur) compensate affiliates (online merchants) for each of their visitors or clients caused by the affiliate’s marketing efforts. It is one of the fastest growing industries on the Web. To date, there are many examples of business that run successful affiliate marketing programs.
With numerous affiliate marketing opportunities available on the Internet, it can be a challenging job for site owners to sift through all the possibilities and select the most rewarding and prospective programs to promote on their websites. Affiliate programs have lots of advantages. The greatest benefit is the income accruing to the merchant as a concurred upon amount from the sale of each of the consumer’s or audience’s purchases. Another advantage is the direct interaction with the customer or audience, which can result in more sales and even result in a boost in the audience size, therefore increasing the company’s revenue.
Affiliate marketing has actually been credited as the most effective and most convenient way for online merchants to increase their income and profit margins. It enables a company to take advantage of a big audience, at a low cost and without much effort. Although it is essential to note that to maximize your income potential, you require to construct a high-converting website. A lot of affiliates focus only on certain niches. So prior to engaging into affiliate marketing, ensure that you have a niche for which you can drive huge traffic.
There are a number of ways to begin into affiliate marketing. The most common technique is for an individual or a company to open an account with an affiliate marketer. As soon as an account is opened, the marketer will provide the affiliate marketer with the relevant info that they require in order to get begun. This includes the products or services to be sold and the names and addresses of potential consumers. The online marketer likewise enters a referral code, which can track the development of the customer or viewer through the sales recommendation number.
Another common technique for getting going into affiliate marketing is for a business to employ an affiliate online marketer, who will act as the intermediary. With this technique, the business will provide the affiliate online marketer with the relevant information that they require in order to get begun. This includes the service or products to be offered, the names and addresses of potential consumers and the recommendation code for payment functions. The marketer then enters the recommendation code and selects a specific affiliate program, which will pay the online marketer a commission for every single sale made through the referral. If the referred consumer makes a purchase from the picked affiliate program, the company will pay them a part of the quantity made from the referred customer.
Email Marketing is a type of affiliate marketing that has been around for a long time. The idea behind email marketing is for companies to connect to their target audience straight through their existing e-mail database. Through this approach, companies will be able to gain access to their target audience at any time of the day. These audience members might have just recently purchased a particular product online or might not presently use that product however have an interest in it. By sending out an email message that connects to a particular services or product, companies can develop brand awareness for their item, attract new customers and even solicit feedback from previous customer purchases.
In order to get spent for affiliate marketing, a company will require to select an affiliate marketing program that provides performance-based payment. Under this kind of program, companies will only pay their affiliates if their efficiency has actually helped to increase the earnings of the program’s customer. An example of performance-based compensation would be Pay Per Click, which pays affiliates based upon the variety of times their ad is shown. There are likewise lots of other performance-based programs out there but Pay Per Click stays to be among the most popular. This is due to the fact that Pay Per Click offers a terrific way to start earning money without needing to put in too much effort as it just needs a little in advance financial investment from the marketer’s side.
Prior to dedicating to promoting an item through an affiliate marketing program, an affiliate online marketer ought to make sure that the item being promoted is something that he or she will truly delight in promoting. Even if you discover the perfect product, it does not imply that you will become successful in offering it. Just like everything else in life, hard work is what will lead you to success. Prior to choosing which products to promote, an affiliate online marketer should research on what specific niche he or she will be promoting. The niche should be something that will have a bigger audience. For example, if the marketplace is based upon acne treatments, there are a lot of advertisers out there, but just a couple of products that will truly cater to the needs of acne-sufferers.


In the March Budget, it was announced that Deeds of Variation would be reviewed as part of a crackdown on tax avoidance. Following the Summer Budget, the Government has now launched a consultation on the use of Deeds of Variation for tax purposes with comments being accepted until 7 October 2015. We will then find out whether Deeds of Variation are to be abolished in their entirety or if changes are made to the way they can be used.
Deeds of Variation (or Deeds of Family Arrangement) are a binding method for a family to re-arrange, after death, who inherits. A beneficial interest inherited after a death, is redirected by the beneficiary to someone else. Effectively, a variation is a gift from the original beneficiary to the new one within two years of death. The benefit of proceeding in this way is that it is possible to elect that the normal Inheritance Tax (IHT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules which otherwise apply to such gifts do not apply so that the gift is treated as if it were made by the deceased.
Deeds of Variation were originally introduced nearly 50 years ago as a means of addressing perceived unfairness when there was a change from Estate Duty to Capital Transfer Tax. A tax efficient Will written under Estate Duty may not have been so under Capital Transfer Tax and therefore the ability to change those dispositions after death was provided by way of a Deed of Variation.
Since that time, Deeds of Variation have been a useful tool for IHT planning but also for providing flexible family protection and they are sometimes used to correct other problems in the distribution of an estate which, had the testator had the opportunity or capacity to do so, they would very probably have corrected themselves.
It may be that in certain circumstances the use of Deeds of Variation has gone well beyond the envisaged purpose to carry out tax planning. If they were abolished, however, it would have wider implications for families trying to re-arrange the distribution of a family member’s estate post death where tax is not the main concern. Or indeed if the aim is to achieve a sensible tax treatment that, owing to a lack of advice or poor advice, the family had failed to plan for during their lifetime.
HMRC are seeking evidence by way of a questionnaire to identify the main reasons for using a Deed of Variation and whether they generally increase or decrease tax payable. It is to be hoped that the responses to the consultation will demonstrate the beneficial role that Deeds of Variation play. If they are abolished clients are likely to need more complex Wills and advice, and will need to review their Wills more regularly. For those who cannot afford this, or are unaware of the consequences, their estates may pay more tax and the distribution of their estate may adversely impact on their families who will have no form of remedy.
For anyone where a Deed of Variation is potentially possible now, professional advice should be sought and acted upon as soon as possible as the ability to vary may not be available in the future.
For further information, please contact Alice Clewes, Partner at Hay & Kilner
Call: 0191 232 8345