Road Trip this Summer? Check Out These Festivals  By Patricia Rodrigue TerrellRISMEDIA, July 10, 2010--(MCT)--The United States is no longer an agricultural nation, but you wouldn't know it from the way we like to celebrate produce. From sea to shining sea during the summer, we're awash in festivals celebrating the fat of the land.Garlic, watermelon, lentils, cherries, even the world's biggest mushroom - if you can grow it, someone has decided to build a party around it. So pack your eatin' pants, and plan a trip to one of our favorite foodie festivals this summer.National Cherry FestivalTraverse City, Mich.July 3-10History: This corner of Michigan is one of the nation's top cherry-growing regions, and locals began celebrating with an informal "blossom blessing" festival almost 100 year... 07/12/2010

Smart Tips Smooth Out Family Travel By Heidi Stevens RISMEDIA, July 10, 2010--(MCT)--It takes a village to raise a child, and at least as many to entertain one on an air­plane. With that in mind, Nina Willdorf, editor in chief of Budget Travel, collected travel advice from her readers for a handy new book, "The Smart Family's Passport: 350 Money, Time and Sanity Saving Tips" (Quirk Books, $14.95). Here, a few of our favorites:  —I write my cell phone number on the inside of rubber bracelets ... and have my children wear them when we're away from home. That way, should we get separated, they can show the number to a helpful adult. — Susan Redman, Hebron, Conn. —When we take our kids to foreign desti­nations, in addition to spending days at museums, cathedrals and castles, we visit superm... 07/12/2010

How to Make Your Visualizations a Reality  By Maya Bailey, Ph.D.RISMEDIA, July 10, 2010--"Visualize your success" is something we hear a lot of these days. However, we don't always know how to make our visualizations powerful enough so that they become a reality.Myth: "I'll believe it when I see it"Fact: "You'll see it when you believe it"The first step in any visualization process is to believe that you can have it.As an example, let's consider success in your real estate career. Before beginning to visualize your success, you need to believe that it can happen.As Henry Ford once said," Whether you believe you can or you can't, either way, you are right."If you have trouble believing that it can happen, then most likely you are experiencing some self limiting beliefs that need to be c... 07/12/2010

With Federal Support, More Loans Trickle to Cash-Starved Small Businesses  By Sharon BernsteinRISMEDIA, July 12, 2010--(MCT)--Federally backed loans to small businesses are increasing as more banks participate in federal lending programs - at least for now.The stepped-up lending through the Small Business Administration comes at a time when thousands of small businesses say they are choking from a lack of funds; many have gone out of business because they don't have the money to purchase inventory or equipment."The market has changed," said Gary Youmans, senior vice president of Pacific Alliance Bank in Rosemead, Calif., which recently stepped up its SBA lending. "They've made it more attractive for both sides - the lenders and the borrowers."The SBA supports bank lending in a variety ... 07/12/2010

For Your Clients: Take Your Party to the Porch  By Joe GrayRISMEDIA, July 12, 2010--(MCT)--When we walk through Chicago neighborhoods of an evening, surveying the houses - with envy - we're struck most by those with porches. But they're all empty.The end to the porch-socializing era has been long lamented. But we say, stop whining and head out to the porch. The cute, homey "Porch Parties" (Chronicle, $16.95), by Denise Gee, will help. We've collected some of Gee's best ideas (and a few of our own) here:Ambience: Leave off that too-bright overhead light. String lights around the porch edges; light votives. Use luminaria, but in white bags instead of traditional brown. Add music; get your tech-savvy teen to set up an MP3 playlist. Dress up the floor with outdoor rugs; or keep the surface ... 07/12/2010

With Cash to Invest, Homeowner Chooses Solar, Not Stocks   By Gerry SmithRISMEDIA, July 12, 2010--(MCT)--A few years ago, Jim Camasto thought about investing $20,000 in the stock market.But instead, Camasto, 43, of Naperville, Ill., spent that money on a "greener" investment - solar power.Camasto has installed a solar thermal and solar electricity system on his roof, which helps heat and power his home.His gas use has dropped more than 50 percent, and his electricity use has dropped about 70 percent. He sells extra power back to the electricity grid and sells renewable energy credits, which investors buy and trade to support renewable energy projects.His return on his investment is about 3 or 4 percent a year."Some people say that's a slow return," he said. "But I'm willing to bet utili... 07/12/2010

For Your Clients: Kitchen Remodels on the Comeback Trail  By Jean PattesonRISMEDIA, July 12, 2010--(MCT)--The explosion of remodeling shows on TV and makeover spreads in magazines has whetted America's appetite for glamorous rooms brimming with the latest furnishings, appliances and color schemes.Kitchen remodels are among the most popular, according to a report in the just-published August issue of Consumer Reports and online at consumerreports.org. And the economic slowdown means there are outstanding deals on everything from cooktops to countertops. It also means kitchen designers and building contractors are eager for work and willing to negotiate.But bargain prices and good looks aren't everything, said Celia Kupersmzid Lehrman, Consumer Reports' deputy home editor."When remodeling... 07/12/2010

The 2nd quarter sales for the Toledo, Ohio are continued almost the same as the first quarter sales. Here are the figures for the 2nd quarter:        April       May    June Maumee   15   34 28 Holland   16   16 29 Sylvania   51   37 52 Moncloca   6   3 7 Whitehouse   8   8 6 Waterville   5   6 6 Perrysburg   49   43 49 In comparison here are the figures for the 1st quarter:       January   February      March Maumee   11 11 16 Holland   7 6 18 Sylvania   17 23 33 Monclova   3 3 5 Whitehouse 0 6 8 Waterville   2 5 5 Perrysburg 13 22 37 As you can see the 2nd quarter shows all the areas increasing in sales except Waterville, OH.  The market has definite improved in the 2nd quarter and it is expected to maintain or increase in the next quester.     07/10/2010

                                                    There were fireworks in downtown Toledo on the 4th of July.  The whole weekend had activities planned and there were lots of celebrating going on.  It's great to be downtown for the fireworks along the Maumee River which leads to Lake Erie.  Lots of boats in the water, people around the docks, and restaurants loaded with people taking in the great food and festivities. 07/08/2010

Tips to Help Secure Your Future Financial Health  By Stephanie AndreRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--With so much uncertainty in the current economic climate, one thing's for sure: protecting your financial health is a top priority. For some who may have lost their jobs-or may know someone who has-there's a lot to consider. From health insurance to your plans for retirement, read these tips from Family Wealth Management Group, LLC to help protect your assets and financial future.-- Evaluate your financial health. Review your income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Don't wait until your savings is depleted to alter your spending habits. Even if you have an emergency fund, pinching pennies now will help ensure that money is there when you need it.-- Review your health insurance options. If you ... 07/08/2010

Setting Plan to Manage Debt Load  By Claudia BuckRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--(MCT)--Like carrying unwanted pounds, many college graduates pack on a hefty load of student loan debt during their four years.And in a tough job market with no guarantees of steady income after college, it can be daunting for graduates to shed those extra dollars.The median amount of cumulative loan debt among U.S. college undergraduates was nearly $20,000 in 2007-08, according to the most recent College Board data.At the University of California-Davis, the number of students graduating with student loans is "trending up" each year, said Katy Maloney, interim director of financial aid.Of 5,700 graduates in 2008-09, more than half - 52 percent - had student loans, both government and private. The average UCD studen... 07/08/2010

Pictorial Social Network DailyBooth.com Links Click-Happy Users  By Jessica GuynnRISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--Every day for six years, New York photography student Noah Kalina took a picture of himself with a digital camera.He toiled on the art project in obscurity until 2006, when he strung together all 2,356 self-portraits into a five-minute, time-lapse video and posted it on YouTube.com.The video surged in popularity, touching off a global phenomenon. More than 15 million people have viewed it, and the video inspired dozens of others to turn their cameras on themselves. Kalina's digital exhibitionism was even spoofed on an episode of "The Simpsons."Where others just saw photos, British entrepreneur Jon Wheatley saw opportunity. "You could see these people actually grow and evolve.... 07/08/2010

Airfare Deals: Roll the Dice and You Might Get Lucky  By Carol PucciRISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--With airlines boosting fares, adding summer surcharges and packing planes, is it still possible to have a deal fall in your lap?Websites offer an array of online tools aimed at taking the guesswork out of finding the lowest airfares, but sometimes it simply comes down to being in the right place at the right time, ready to pounce without procrastinating.That's what happened to me while I was doing some casual shopping for a flight from Seattle to Cincinnati between Christmas and New Year's. I wasn't planning on buying an airline ticket this far ahead. I knew better (or at least thought I did). There were no sales, and airlines rarely release their cheapest domestic-flight seats more than t... 07/08/2010

Video Chat Comes Closer to the Mainstream   By Victor GodinezRISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--In a series of TV ads in 1993, AT&T pitched a vision of a near-future absolutely brimming with live video communication.From a busy mom tucking her kids in bed from a video phone booth and a barefoot exec participating in a business meeting from the beach to a student quizzing a professor about the history of jazz from across the country, narrator Tom Selleck confidently promised that "You will!" soon be doing all those Jetsonian tricks.Seventeen years later, the technology is catching up.The question now is whether anyone wants to use it.Cell phones, video game consoles, hotel meeting rooms and even video phone sex providers are offering real-time video communication that is far more sophisticat... 07/08/2010

Smartphones Easily Invaded, Researchers Find  By David SarnoRISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--Security researchers Nick DePetrillo and Don Bailey have discovered a seven-digit numerical code that can unlock all kinds of secrets about you.It's your phone number.Using relatively simple techniques, this duo can use your cell phone number to figure out your name, where you live and work, where you travel and when you sleep. They could even listen to your voice messages and personal phone calls - if they wanted to."It's really interesting to watch a phone number turn into a person's life," DePetrillo said."Everyone's taught to keep their Social Security number a secret," Bailey said. "But the phone number seems just as dangerous, if not more so."The world has come a long distance from old-styl... 07/08/2010

For Your Clients: Have You Thought About an Outdoor Kitchen?  By Jean PattesonRISMEDIA, July 8, 2010--(MCT)--The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favors outdoor living almost year-round."It's a hot item," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system. People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around."Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor ... 07/08/2010

Setting Plan to Manage Debt Load  By Claudia BuckRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--(MCT)--Like carrying unwanted pounds, many college graduates pack on a hefty load of student loan debt during their four years.And in a tough job market with no guarantees of steady income after college, it can be daunting for graduates to shed those extra dollars.The median amount of cumulative loan debt among U.S. college undergraduates was nearly $20,000 in 2007-08, according to the most recent College Board data.At the University of California-Davis, the number of students graduating with student loans is "trending up" each year, said Katy Maloney, interim director of financial aid.Of 5,700 graduates in 2008-09, more than half - 52 percent - had student loans, both government and private. The average UCD studen... 07/07/2010

Tips to Help Secure Your Future Financial Health  By Stephanie AndreRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--With so much uncertainty in the current economic climate, one thing's for sure: protecting your financial health is a top priority. For some who may have lost their jobs-or may know someone who has-there's a lot to consider. From health insurance to your plans for retirement, read these tips from Family Wealth Management Group, LLC to help protect your assets and financial future.-- Evaluate your financial health. Review your income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Don't wait until your savings is depleted to alter your spending habits. Even if you have an emergency fund, pinching pennies now will help ensure that money is there when you need it.-- Review your health insurance options. If you ... 07/07/2010

Tax Tips on Preparing for Hurricanes, Tornados and Other Severe Weather  RISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there have already been 49 disasters declared thus far in 2010,* with several months still remaining in the year. With annual hurricane, wildfire and tornado seasons underway and flood season just beginning, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® shares tips for taxpayers living in areas prone to severe weather - to help them understand what steps to take should disaster strike and they need to claim losses."For the many taxpayers who live in areas prone to natural disasters, it's critical to plan in advance so that they're not left scrambling in the wake of a crisis," said Mark Steber, chief tax officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "For ... 07/07/2010

Disgruntled Customers Find Themselves Shopping for New Bank  By E. Scott ReckardRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--(MCT)--Mark and Roberta Maxwell had been zapped by fees for overdrawing funds and using the wrong ATM, and they felt their bank, the former Washington Mutual, had lost its personal touch since a takeover by Chase.Adding insult to injury, Roberta said, they had to pay a special fee for depositing more than $5,000 in cash to their small-business account in a single month - something they might do again because Mark, a saxophone player, earns much of his living selling his smooth-jazz CDs at street fairs."I thought banks were supposed to want you to put more money in them," Roberta said.So the Maxwells moved their account last year to the Studio City, Calif., office of the Musicians' In... 07/07/2010