The annual “Sharing of the Green” presented by the Education Foundation of Cotati-Rohnert Park
- Kaylene Tobin was one of the winners for the Masquerade Costume event
A night of enjoyment for all
The Education Foundation of Cotati and Rohnert Park supports the best gift that can be given to a child-that of an outstanding education.
The EFCRP provides funds for educational programs in local classrooms.
Given the fiscal constraints facing the schools and community it is even more important to provide the additional support.
Join the EFCRP to continue to raise money for the students, teachers and schools.
The annual fundraising auction is called the “Sharing of the Green” which is presented by the Education Foundation of Cotati-Rohnert Park
The “Sharing of the Green” is a community effort with generous donations of products, time and talents from the entire community made the 26th annual event, a howling success.
The entertainment for the evening was the Poyntlyss Sistars Rockin’ Show Band. Kaila Wahl, Miss Sonoma County’s outstanding teen 2012 sang a song from the Disney movie “Pocahontas” entitled “Colors of the Wind.”
Katelyn Miller, 2012 Miss Sonoma County Court and Miss Congeniality belted out a perfect rendition of “Rockin’ Robin.”
The annual “Sharing of the Green” took place March 31, 2012at the DoubleTree Hotel in Rohnert Park, Ca.
Letter to the Northbay Times and northbaybits.com
The Education Foundation of Cotati and Rohnert Park (EFCRP) wishes to thank you and the Northbay Times for your support in advertising the 26th annual Sharing of the Green 2012, “Masquerade”. Your assistance in announcing our signature event is greatly appreciated.
Special thanks go to Terri Halawah, General Manager, Joseph Violi and the Doubletree Hotel for always, tirelessly working with EFCRP to reach our goals in this signature event. A highlight of the evening was the “Poyntlyss Sistars”. In addition, we salute our Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer, Michael Jurian, the “morning guy” from radio KTRY for his professional, seamless talents that actually drove the presentation of our event. On a personal note, Dan and I would like to thank Michael (MJ) and his lovely bride, Alice for their cherished friendship. MJ’s contributions are both valuable and priceless.
Thank you to our gracious supporters, to all the businesses and individuals who graciously donated cash and auction items, to Greg at the Outback Steak House for donating dinner to our hard working volunteers, and to Charlene Lavezzoli & Nanette Lindland for their genius table decorations. You are all contributing to our most prized assets, the children of our community and their needed education. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my dedicated Education Foundation board members and valued friends. If you see them sometime, make it a point to say thank you to them, they are truly very special.
Best,
Vera Blanquie, Immediate Past President
Sharing of the Green Chair
Education Foundation of Cotati and Rohnert Park
707-765-4935 www.efcrp.org
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CASH SPONSORS
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2011-12
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Sponsor Level
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| Cotati Accordion Festival |
PhD
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| Exchange Bank |
Master’s Degree
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| Kaiser Permanente |
Bachelor Degree
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| James & Gaylene Rosaschi |
Bachelor Degree
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| Dr. Craig Davis, DDS |
Bachelor Degree
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| Dr. Nicole Smith, DMD, MSD |
Bachelor Degree
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| Michael & Sherrie Dunn |
Bachelor Degree
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| PG&E Employee Donations |
Bachelor Degree
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| Rancho Cotate High Class of 2001 |
Bachelor Degree
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| Dr. Michael Bird, DDS |
Associate Degree
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| G & C Autobody, Inc. |
Associate Degree
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| Protransport-1 LLC |
Associate Degree
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| Mary’s Pizza Shack |
Associate Degree
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| Venus Ann Maher Chiropractic |
Associate Degree
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| Jane & Dana Wheeler |
Associate Degree
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| Ken Weise – Edward Jones Investments |
Honor Roll
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| Arch’s Glass |
Honor Roll
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| Ralph Cota & Holly Neal |
Honor Roll
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| Bank of the West |
Honor Roll
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| Pro Nails & Spa |
Honor Roll
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| SonomaParlor #111, NSOGW |
Honor Roll
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CASH DONORS
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Pam Stafford
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Mr. & Mrs. Pete Callinan
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Mr. & Mrs. Peter Bailey
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Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kaufman
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USELS
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Virginia Mae Bruce
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Barbara Bickford
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Donna Yock, DMD
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IN-KIND SPONSORS
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2011-12
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Sponsor Level
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| KTRY/Michael J |
Platinum
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| City ofRohnert Park, Farmer’s Market |
Platinum
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| Lagunitas Brewing Co |
Gold
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| Joyce Rogers & Don Davis |
Gold
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| Montgomery VillageSummer Concerts |
Gold
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| Rotten Tomatoes |
Gold
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| Sally Tomatoes, Gerard Guidice |
Gold
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| DoubleTree Hotel,Rohnert Park |
Silver
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| Steve & Linda Ortega |
Silver
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| Rohnert ParkPublic Safety |
Silver
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| Poyntlyss Sisters Band |
Silver
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| Cattlemen’s Steakhouse Petaluma |
Silver
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| Sign A Rama |
Silver
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| Maverick Media |
Silver
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| Outback Steakhouse |
Silver
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| Vera & Dan Blanquie |
Silver
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| Gary & Barbara Tatman |
Silver
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| Eagle DistributingCo. |
Bronze
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| Rodney Strong Vineyards |
Bronze
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| Hook & Ladder Winery, Rick Neve |
Bronze
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| Longboard Beer |
Bronze
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| Mary’s Pizza Shack |
Bronze
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| Shock Top Beer |
Bronze
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| Cathy Slack |
Bronze
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| Irene Hilsendager, Northbay Times/northbaybits.com |
Bronze
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| Pastryk Family |
Copper
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| Minuteman Press |
Copper
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| Chris Baker |
Copper
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| Friedman’s Home Improvement |
Copper
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| Fairydust Faces |
Copper
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| Massage, Inc |
Copper
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| Minuteman Press |
Copper
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| Pasta King |
Copper
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| CinCityBurgers |
Copper
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| Red Line Oil |
Copper
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| Elizabeth Smith, CPA |
Copper
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Oliver’s Markets launch the real Music Program to benefit the Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Tom Scott and Frank Hayhurst
Oliver’s Markets launch the real Music Program
Compilation CDs of Local Music to Benefit The Redwood Empire Food Bank
Customers strolling through Oliver’s Markets will soon have the opportunity to place yet another homegrown product in their shopping carts. The grocery chain already stocks about 5,000 items from Sonoma County growers and producers, but it is taking the homegrown concept to a new level with the launch of the Sonoma County Real Music program. The multi-faceted campaign promotes local music and musicians to further the Oliver’s tradition of supporting the local community.
At the cornerstone of the program is a series of compilation CDs that will be sold at Oliver’s Markets with profits benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank (www.refb.org). Submissions are now being accepted for The Sonoma County Real Music Compilation Vol. 1, the first of three slated for 2012. The sampler CD will feature 14 acts and is expected to be available for purchase at Oliver’s Markets by April 20. (See below for submission information.)
“Local music is important to our community and well-being, just like local food,” said Oliver’s Markets’ Vice President and General Manager, Tom Scott, the architect of the Real Music program. “It’s a natural extension of the Oliver’s family to embrace and celebrate the diversity and creativity of our home-grown musicians.”
The Real Music program will offer live performances by local acts at Oliver’s Markets, release parties for the compilation CDs at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, and a series of workshops for musicians at Zone Recording in Cotati.
Furthermore, the compilation CDs will be integrated into the house music mix at all Oliver’s Markets and promoted via local radio and www.oliversmarket.com. Oliver’s Markets will also sell CDs produced by a selection of local recording artists.
“The Real Music project will benefit real local people in need of food assistance, and help us end hunger in our community,” said David Goodman, executive director of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. “About 78,000 of our neighbors rely on our organization every month for food, and we rely on homegrown innovators like Tom Scott of Oliver’s Markets.”
Support from the Sonoma County Community
The program already has a coalition of supporters including Doug Jayne of The Last Record Store, Blair Hardman of Zone Recording, The Krush 95.9 FM, and musician/community advocate Frank Hayhurst.
“While our local music scene is vibrant and really diverse, there are too few ways for musicians to bring their music to the attention of the public,” said Hayhurst. “Real Music is a wonderful opportunity for local musicians to get the recognition they deserve.”
Submissions for the Sonoma County Real Music Compilation CD
Submissions for the compilation CDs should be emailed to Hayhurst (frank@oliversmarket.com), and include a short biography, contact information, and an MP3 of a song from a currently available CD. All types of music are welcome. See the Sonoma County Real Music page on the Oliver’s website.
Media Contact: JAG Public Relations (joe@jagpublicrelations.com, 707.795.9400)
Music Contact: Frank Hayhurst (frank@oliversmarket.com)
There was a time long ago when Frank Hayhurst was just a college student at SSU with a rock band known as the Bronze Hog. Those were the days when the Inn of the Beginning (a very old establishment in Cotati) was in full swing, when the stars of the music scene would swing by Cotati just to hang out with what one music critic of the times, Ralph Gleason called “the people your parents don’t want you to meet.”
But these were the same people that became members of the community. Hayhurst has been a member of the Cotati community for over 40 years and even was honored about three years ago at one of the Cotati Multi Cultural Festival for his many years of community service.
Frank started Zone Music in just one little room on Old Redwood Highway in 1982 where his philosophy was to create a store that treated customers like members of his own band. Hayhurst said at the time of closing Zone Music that twenty nine years is long enough for a business to become an institution When the economy turned its ugly nose downward and the internet and box stores could keep their prices lower then Zone Music, Frank knew the writing was on the wall. He said, “I gave it everything I had but it just wasn’t enough.”
Neville Hormuz, a former employee of Zone Music, finally opened the doors again as Loud & Clear, and has made it into a very successful business.
About Oliver’s Markets | Real Food | Real People
Established in 1988, Oliver’s Markets (www.oliversmarket.com) is a locally owned and operated grocery chain in Sonoma County, California that is dedicated to offering the finest selection of natural, conventional and specialty products. This mission begins with a commitment to support a community of 300 local partners including staff, schools, nonprofit groups, farmers, and producers of food and wine as well as its “Green Item of the Month” and the Sonoma County Real Music program. A member of the Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative, Oliver’s received “Green Business Certification” from the Sonoma County Green Business Program (2011), a “Best Practice Award” from the Business Environment Alliance (2007), and the title of “Best Grocery Store” from the North Bay Bohemian (2010).
Tom Scott and Steve Maass have been strong pillars in the local community for many years. They have generously donated to hundreds of nonprofits and sponsored community events. They also received the 2009 Spirit of Sonoma Award.
Steve Maass is a life long entrepreneur and began his retail career selling fruit at a roadside fruit stand in San Francisco in 1975. His stand at Taraval and Dewey was always so busy that he was required to provide valet parking and the stand was featured on an “Eye on San Francisco” and “Good Morning America” TV shows.
Steve bought the last Farmer’s Market grocery store in Cotati through a bankruptcy proceeding and when he opened in November of 1988, the store only employed nine people. Today Oliver’s employs thousand of people with operating three supermarkets in Santa Rosa and Cotati.
Tom Scott has been the General Manager and Vice President for many years. He earned his MBA at SSU and became Steve’s partner in 2006.
Dictionaries and third grade students match up very nicely
- Jane Wheeler, principal of Monte Vista School, Rotarians LuAnn Schaan, Mickey Jones and Sharon Landon
Dictionaries and third grade students match up very nicely
Rotarians hand out dictionaries to every third grade student in the community. Through the simple gift of a United States made dictionary, students are armed with a very powerful tool.
Receiving a dictionary of their very own, the children will develop necessary skills and use them as stepping stones throughout their schooling and beyond.
Dictionaries will help a student work on their creative writing, thinking and also expand their vocabulary.
The years of 2001 and 2002 were the first years District 5130 was able to purchase and hand out dictionaries. Twenty five clubs participated and purchased 8,350 books. Each year more and more clubs were able to purchase the dictionaries so therefore more third graders are benefiting from rotary participation. Now more than 24,640 Macmillan for Children dictionaries have been delivered in District 5130.
The Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati started in 2007 for their first year purchasing dictionaries for the schools of the local community. Close to 2,000 dictionaries have been distributed in the local schools and it is always with great joy when it is time to bring the books to the schools. Every third grader is extremely excited when they hear a Rotarian say, “Your names will be on the bookplate of these dictionaries and they are yours forever and you can even take them home.”
The Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati invites all Rotary Clubs in the United States to participate in the local HANDS ON project.
Floral arrangements are being loaded up for delivering on Valentine’s Day
Rotarians Tim Miller, Bob Stewart, and Pat Miller ready to get the flowers delivered
Floral arrangements are on the Rotary’s delivery list for Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day and the Monday prior to, the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park Cotati, District 5130, were hustling to deliver the flowers to their designated addresses.
Since 2001, Rotarians and Grohe’s Florist have teamed together for another fundraiser, that of delivering floral arrangements for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
Grohe’s Florist receives the orders for deliveries to Rohnert Park,Petaluma,Sebastopoland Penngrove and the Rotarians in return receive a donation from Grohe’s for the deliveries. This is just another endeavor on the part of the rotary club to help each other in the community.
Since the beginning of the partnership, the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati has added over $22,000 to their club coffers and in turn is used for the following:
It goes to the general fund which is used for all club projects:
Community (local), NOAH, Backpack, Helping Hands, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts (although they didn’t make a request this year), Boys & Girls Club, and Computer labs.
International
Adopt-a-Village (Africa), Festival of Brotherhood (Mexico), Education, Health (Emergency Clinic) and Clean Water,
Vocational
Business partnerships
Promote 4-Way Test, Ethics and Service to all local and regional businesses
Career mentoring
New Generations (youth service) projects.
Scholarships
Career guidance
Interact Clubs
In recent years, Grohe’s Florists has begun a program to donate flowers for a year and also sends a floral arrangement once a month to the highest bidder at the Rotary’s Golf Auction fundraiser.
Grohe’s Florists and Greenhouse has been family owned and operated in Sonoma County since 1902. Grohe’s Florists have three locations in Sonoma County: Santa Rosa,Windsor and Rohnert Park and all are located about sixty miles north ofSan Francisco.
The Santa Rosa office also has a large greenhouse which allows them to offer fresh green and blooming plants year round.
Their staff consists of experienced designers and are all qualified to create the perfect bouquet for any occasion.
Grohe’s Florists and Greenhouse provides delivery service any place in the United States and in most countries throughout the world through their affiliated FTD wire service network.
Beautiful arrangements waiting to be delivered by Rotarians
Rotarians come to the aid of a handicapped gentleman whose bike was stolen
Rotarian Keith Garlock, owner of State Farm Insurance, Bob Arguello, the recipient of a new Schwinn tricycle and Rotarian President, Mike Pastryk, owner of Liberty Valley Doors.
Bob’s special tricycle was stolen & Rotarians come to the aid of a handicapped gentleman
Upon receiving the news that a handicapped person’s tricycle was stolen by someone cutting the lock, the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati immediately jumped in to aid this gentleman.
The hat was passed during one of the early Tuesday morning meetings with $140 being collected. The president of the club, Michael Pastryk had already checked with Wal-Mart to see what the full amount would be in order to get another vehicle for Bob. The new set of wheels would cost $270 thereby the fund was short $135. Keith Garlock, owner of State Farm Insurance, hurriedly wrote a check for that amount and the order was placed for a sleek new tricycle along with a large rear basket.
The new blue 26 inch Schwinn Meridan Adult tricycle was presented to Bob Arguello, a victim of a stroke, at the last rotary meeting. Word has been received that Bob is extremely happy to have a new set of wheels so that he may go to the market again to purchase his groceries.
Life is very short, so break your silly ego, forgive quickly, believe slowly, love truly, laugh loudly & never avoid anything that makes you smile.
Jimmie Payne-America’s Fitness Friend
Jimmie Payne –America’s Fitness Friend
1926 – 2012
By Kaaron Carver ~ local historian
Although fitness centers try to be friendly, newcomers often feel intimidated. All those mirrors reflect a perhaps less than perfect body, or outdated workout gear, or someone who might stumble over machines while “regulars” wait less than patiently.
But if they were fortunate enough to walk into a gym with Jimmie Payne managing the front desk, they would always feel welcome. A hearty “good morning, how ya doin” greeted everyone, along with a plate of grapes, melons or oranges.
Despite the fact that Jimmie was “Mr. America” in 1950 and maintained full muscle tone throughout his 85 years, he never judged anyone about their workout abilities or body status. All regulars were old friends, and newcomers were simply friends he had not yet met.
Jimmie’s friendly nature made him, along with partner Jack LaLanne, unique in the fitness movement. Though perfect enough in physique to win contests and wow crowds with hand-balancing feats, they never developed big egos.
In fact, both wanted to share their techniques and believed that anyone could develop a healthy body, or what Jimmie always referred to as “a temple.”
While Jack and wife Elaine began pitching fitness to housewives on TV in the 60’s, Jimmie decided to do the same for kids. In 1961 he began a “Junior Mr. And Miss America” TV show, featuring his own four children, animals and many celebrities, teaching exercise, healthy eating and promoting fitness as a fun lifestyle.
Jimmie continued to visit with kids in classrooms over the years while owning and managing gyms, and in 2005, he and I co-wrote a kids’ fitness book titled “With Payne You Gain.” We planned to use it in school visits, where he would tell his story, get the kids up doing exercise, and then conclude with wrist wrestling, something he participated in successfully in the 1960’s and 70s.
Lalanne and Payne preached passionately to youth against steroid use. They spoke with historic knowledge, as they watched with concern while Joe Weider’s early disciples began to suffer bad side effects from Dianobol, an early steroid.
Jimmy was one of the kindest friends I ever met, and he trusted me enough to loan his photos and other memorabilia, which were scanned and used in the book and accompanying CD. If anyone would like a copy, please contact me at kaaroncar@yahoo.com.
I spent many hours taping Jimmie’s story which I relayed to the public in newspapers and history websites. Despite his busy work schedule, which ended on weekends at his favorite Indian Casino, or maybe a hop toLas Vegasto see Jack or other friends, Jimmie always had time for me. Even with many challenges late in life, such as loss of family and declining health, Jimmie always had a big smile, an ironclad handshake and hug for me. He inspired so many, and was in turn inspired by workouts with his children and later family members Carole and Tony, and with home support from Bella.
I am sure he is on some beautiful beach in heaven, with Jack and his other buddies who did rings, bars and hand-balancing atNeptuneBeach. And if a newcomer should happen by, I am certain Jimmie would rest long enough to smile and say “Welcome, friend.”
Sharing of the Green 2012 March 31 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Rohnert Park, Ca.
Benefits the Education Foundation and always so much fun. Get your tickets for the March 31, 2012 ‘Sharing of the Green’
2012 Amateur Economic Forecast by Leland van den Daele (personal opinion)
2012 Amateur Economic Forecast
By Leland van den Daele
My Economic Forecast is my yearly exercise in trying to make sense of the future through the lens of economic valuations. I don’t feel particularly impassioned or motivated to write this year’s Forecast –perhaps because I have trepidation about the future, and this exercise only makes the shaky condition of our democracy and the world obvious. But to begin, I’ll list assumptions that are implicit in my analysis that have become more and more central to my thinking about economic valuations.
Money Talks
Examination of the US political system of elected and appointed officials, drawn from fiscal entities, corporations, cartels, political action committees, NGOs, and government bureaucracies determine government regulations and policies. Among the set of players, the deepest pockets possess the largest clout. As is obvious to even school age children, the deepest pockets belong to the money lenders, and US fiscal policy since 2008 pretty much has accommodated their interests.
The Money Lenders
The “financial sector” possesses a distinctive status. Banks, hedge funds, insurance companies, investment managers, retirement funds, and their ilk occupy a position in the capitalistic stratosphere. They are not like other corporations. Banks, in particular, have been privileged by government with “special drawing rights” and entrusted with decision-making powers about allocation of money. The banking sector exists in “meta-relation” to the rest of the economy. Banks do not make anything. They apportion money and credit to the “credit-worthy”.
With the demise of the Glass-Steagall act under the Clinton Administration, banking was given reign to loan and “invest” in the same product or entity with attendant conflicts of interest. Repeal of the act enabled creation of mortgage backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, and so-called structured investment vehicles. These, in turn, are linked to trillions of dollars of “derivatives”, which are basically “bets” on principal and interest. The result is a monstrous entangled house of cards. As a consequence, banking decides whether to loan or invest, implement government recommendations to “loosen the purse strings”, to lend or not to lend, and hold the entire economy hostage. Banks interface government policy with industry and the rest of us.
What bears scrutiny is who owns the banks? The following table derived from Yahoo Finance provides a glimpse to how the banking oligarchy is aggregated. Hedge funds, money management, and large, “too big to fail”, banks predominate. No doubt these interests act in concert and effectively constitute a constituency which can (and does) dictate government policies and priorities.
| Top Institutional Holders for Bank of America |
| Holder |
Shares
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% Out
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Value*
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Reported |
| STATE STREET CORPORATION |
455,747,401
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4.50
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2,789,174,094
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| VANGUARD GROUP, INC. (THE) |
383,805,234
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3.79
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2,348,888,032
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. |
251,443,830
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2.48
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1,538,836,239
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| JP MORGAN CHASE & COMPANY |
223,424,792
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2.20
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1,367,359,727
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| CITIGROUP INC. |
168,473,535
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1.66
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1,031,058,034
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLP |
136,968,555
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1.35
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838,247,556
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| DODGE & COX INC |
135,586,405
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1.34
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829,788,798
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| Capital World Investors |
131,020,000
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1.29
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801,842,400
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| Capital Research Global Investors |
129,552,985
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1.28
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792,864,268
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Sep 30, 2011 |
| GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC |
114,353,607
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1.13
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699,844,074
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Sep 30, 2011 |
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This is baldly apparent with the revolving-door arrangement between government and money interests and with cabinet level appointments for investment bankers. Less obvious and less in the foreground are the self-same revolving-door Federal appointments to the FDA, the Federal Communications Commission, the Energy Commission, and the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Defense, and Homeland Security.
Corporate Oligarchy
The usual rationale for government appointment of industry officials to agencies that determine regulations and policy is that such persons bring expertise. This is the same rationale that corporations invoke when hiring former government officials to executive positions. The long and short of it is that the preponderance of officials that are presumed to regulate industry in the public interest are constituted by past or future industry officials or “consultants”. Movement from the elected or appointed government status to industry or interest group is the norm. All in all, the foxes guard the henhouse. FDA decisions favor Big Pharma; Department of Agriculture, Big Agri-business; the Federal Communications Commission, Big Networks; and so on. ContemporaryUSgovernment is best described as corporate oligarchy where specific corporate influence interfaces with agencies designed for their regulation.
Budget Allocations and Power
The 2012 Federal Budget provides benchmark numbers that clues to who exercises power and influence inWashingtonpolicies and the economy. 2012 budgetary outlays for defense, homeland security, and veterans’ affairs total in excess of 1.3 trillion dollars. Health outlays, including Medicare and Medicaid, nearly match this total. Education, including student loans, accounts for about 300 billion, and agriculture, another 140 billion. The current economy of theUSlargely depends upon government subsidies to these “big budget” entities.
The budget statistics provide a portrait of American priorities. The highest priority is given to the military and the use of force, nationally and internationally.America’s economy depends upon the accouterments and capacity to deliver destruction. Almost on a par is treatment of illness, disease, and disability. Since enactment of Federal subsidies for health care during the Johnson administration, Federal health care expenditures have increased annually at double digits. Federal health care dollars have provided a cornucopia of benefits to insurance companies, health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers, and increasingly have marginalizedAmerica’s doctors. Education and Agriculture are a distant third in Federal budget allocations.
Continuing Increases in Budget Demands
Constituencies aim to grow. This is so for corporations and their associated governmental agencies. Corporations assume a minimum growth of 3% of profits for return of capital investment. A parallel requirement for increased revenue applies to non-profits with obligations for salaries, health care, equipment, and amortization of loans. Likewise, bureaucracies are continuously expansive by design –regulations always entail new regulations (since new complications and loopholes are ever evident), and oversight necessitates more oversight (since sight is never as stereoscopic as desired and overseers need to be overseen).
These claims on the public purse for ever expanding budgets (and power) call for justification. For defense, need is entailed by police actions and war and, once military action is engaged, by obligation to “support our troupes”. Analogously, homeland security calls for threats to national security. Health requires disease. Education invokes “lack of competitiveness”. And agriculture is buoyed by food stamps and school lunch programs.
Do be sanguine about Obama’s recently proposed cuts in defense. Even a 500 billion dollar cut would amount to only a 3% reduction over a ten year period; and in the meantime, wars happen. I suspect that reduction in defense spending will go the same way as closing theGuantanamodetention facility.
The Future and the Coming Year
Federal and corporate realpolitik suggest the same players will continue to dominate Federal policies and expenditures in finance, defense, healthcare, education, and agriculture. Real budget yearly expenditures for favored constituencies ought to average 3% increases with variations from year to year.
For the foreseeable future, deficit government expenditures and fiscal priming will continue. Due to international demand (especiallyIndia,China,Brazil, andRussia, and don’t forget the Asian tigers), commodity prices will tick upward as will cost of food and imported goods. Expect real annual inflation for food, fuel and goods to vary between 5 and 8%. Due to “hedonic substitution”, official government figures will be half the real rate. Real inflation will continue to erode US currency to half its current value in the next three to five years (as measured by purchase of goods and commodities).
The operative economic principle during the period of withdrawal from the previous era of illusory valuations is to “keep the money changing hands.” So far, this has been a largely “trickle down” effort (from banks to “prime” customers) with too little “bubble up” emphasis (increased social security and worker’s benefits). During 2012, anticipate skirmishing between the political parties on strategies to “prime the pump”. Diminished tax revenues likely will put pressure on budgets, but debt ceilings will be raised. The Federal Reserve will move toward additional quantitative easing in the event of material slowing of theUSeconomy.
The Euro as well as the US dollar appears engaged in “a race to the bottom”. If the race to the bottom is managed with approximate parity and does not engage protectionism, trade ought to rise and securities rally. This is Bernanke’s “best of worlds” scenario and no doubt significant behind the scenes pressure is being applied to European Central banks to manage an orderly descent of exchange. This scenario may witness stocks defined as value investments and, believe it or not, a hedge against inflation.
Volatility
Economic commentators expect volatility this year and so do I. Certainly this has been triggered by policies and practices of EU member states which followed theUSexample of smoke and mirrors, wishful thinking, and not attending with the right hand to what the left hand was doing. The Euro currency may well fall precipitously with a populous German revolt, but more likely the US dollar and Euro will fall in tandem. Since economies are highly interdependent, the gyrations of theUSand European markets will be reflected in Asian markets. The daily reports from governments on policies ought to provide traders with ample opportunities to drive securities on a wild ride and profit accordingly.
“Safe haven” investments like gold and silver ought to trend upward, but with the risk of strong retrenchments. For example, if the US Congress failed to agree on a tax package, automatic tax cuts would occur. This would boost the dollar and savage gold and silver. However, such a consequence is unlikely to endure due to the outcry from favored constituencies, corporations, and agencies. A tax package would be agreed or the Federal Reserve would engage in additional quantitative easing or both.
Major volatility would occur if the US or its allies attack Iran. The US recently agreed to sell to Saudi Arabia sixty billion dollars worth of its most advanced fighter jets. At the same time, the US entered into a 3 billion dollar contract with theUnited Arab Emiratesto provide it with advanced surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. This spells trouble for the coming year or in the near future. Someone is going to get trigger happy. The US seems to be spoiling for a fight and intent upon triggering an Iranian reaction that can provide a reason for attack.
In what seems conduct befitting a madman, the US actually has long-term strategic aims in mind. In particular, the US intends to obliterate an emergent Russian-China-Iran sphere of influence in theMiddle East. The modus operandi is similar in design to the ill-conceived Iraqi war. The desired aim would be neutralization of competing interests in that part of the globe. In the event of an attack on Iran, oil would spike. Other commodities, with the exception of gold, would likely fall. The stock and bond markets would take a heavy hit.
In the matter of an Iranian attack, timing is everything because 2012 is an election year. I suspect that the President’s handlers have advised that Iran must be seen as the aggressor. If attack is to occur, I believe the US would defer to one of its Middle Eastern Allies. The US ould intervene only under cover of a “rescue effort” or some such similar rationale. A US or allied assault prior to November is risky to Obama’s re-election because the results of war are negative for the global stock and bond markets and otherwise unpredictable. In fact, the potential economic fallout from an Iranian conflict may stave off assault until 2013 or 2014.
Given the madness that prevails, I advise you to buy cellar wines, silver coins, and forward contracts on oil. You might consider a retreat in Uruguay,Costa Rica, or the South of France –but pay cash. If you have a taste for greater risk, buy securities. Perhaps the angels or demons will smile upon you. Whatever you do, enjoy the ride! And have a happy, hearty 2012!
This article is entirely the opinion of Mr. van den Daele
A Happy New Year to all from Miss Blogger
A Happy New Year to my faithful readers!
Many readers ask how long I have been blogging-only a couple of months.
I have been in print publication for many years. I started my own positive newspaper four years ago however due to illness; the print version had to be shuttered.
Being a person that can’t sit quietly and must be doing something many hours out of the day, the website was started through the urging of many friends.
According to the comments I receive, everyone seems to enjoy the cleanliness of the blog, the style and subject matter which are mainly written for the area in which I live…Sonoma County, Ca.
I thoroughly enjoy receiving the comments from all over the world…and here I was so worried no one would read my blog! I usually receive between 200 and 300 comments a day.
The northbaybits.com website is very easy to maneuver by just clicking the tabs under the dash board. Home, social bits, local bits, featured bits and more bits. This site gets updated every other day unless the blogger (one person only) is out on an assignment.
More photos will be added eventually as we approach Spring and more outdoor events will happen.
Tour a magical store and party place in Sebastopol, Ca.
THE PRINCESS ROSE – A MAGICAL STORE & PARTY PLACE IN SEBASTOPOL, CA.
Stepping inside the gate to the entrance of The Princess Rose, you may think you are about to meet Alice in Wonderland. Two large porcelain rabbits are sitting at a little round table having tea. Going up the steps into the front entrance, brings you into a land of enchantment. It feels as if you are about seven years old!
As Sue Salinas, one of the owners, leads the way, you come upon a fantasyland tearoom.
Salinas then invites you to please go up the magic “fairy staircase”. Once at the top, you reach a large room with vaulted ceilings and filled with hundreds of costumes & pretty dresses, long, short, pink, purple, blue and every other color. And not only dresses but also more accessories than you could ever imagine.
In the upstairs bay window there is a vanity table where fairy dust is applied and up-do hair does done. There is a lavender “butterfly chamber” dressing room where the girls go to “morph” into their alter egos. And shoes, oh my! Shoes, hats, wigs, wands, wings, gloves, fans and furs! Now that you have read about The Princess Rose, let us continue as to why two grown ladies hold court in such a mystical place.
Many years ago, a great- grand daughter of Sue’s journeyed to Los Angles and was invited to a dress-up party. Both Sue and her daughter–in-law, Connie, had always thought that this could be a great business venture (as well as being ‘uber’ fun). They kept that little seed planted in their minds for almost a decade and then one day in 2007 they decided to make it happen.
The Salinas ladies really enjoy the dress-up parties and you can hear it in their conversation while they explain the party concept. You may book parties for eight to ten girls, ages 3 to 103. The Princess Rose furnishes the costumes, dainty finger sandwiches, fruit, apple juice, and cupcakes and will even send out special invitations for the party. They top it all off with “goodie bags.”
Can you imagine the screams of delight and “awes” at the sight of all the costumes as they enter into the special room called the “Royal Closet.” Parents may dress up also and even some of the little girls put wigs and hats on their daddies. Can’t you just hear the squeals and laughter at daddy in a wig and tea hat?
It all begins as the children go up the fairy staircase and embark on their journey to a fantastic birthday party. Some will even change costumes five to six times until they feel just fabulous. Then comes the hair and a sprinkling of glitter-what fun! During this time, the Princess Rose is taking photographs. These memories maybe kept forever. After each person is dressed to the hilt, they descend the fairy staircase and proceed to the tearoom. The table is beautifully set with china and goblets. During the special teatime, parents sit in an adjacent elegant parlor and watch the fun. After tea, the birthday girl proceeds to the “special birthday” chair and opens gifts while her guests sit around her and watch.
After this, it is back up the enchanted curving staircase to put on a fashion show and get more pictures taken. Miss Sue tells them to “strut their stuff” and surprisely you can just see their attitudes change.
Another enchanted room is the powder room. Most bathtubs contain water or a rubber ducky. This bathroom will make you hold your breath. A three dimensional display is almost surreal. Have you ever seen fairies, unicorns, flowers, frogs, turtles, and most of God’s creatures with a forest and lights growing out of a bathtub?
Why not stop in at the Princess Rose, 309 South Main, in Sebastopol or call for more information at 707-823-3323. The parties have a special price and you must call for availability. There is also Drop-in Dress-up every Wednesday & Friday for $10 a girl between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 PM. Book a date and watch the magic sparkle in your child’s eyes. Can you imagine spending a cold and rainy day with your children playing dress-up? Check out their web site at www.princessrose.com.
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