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Source: Albuquerque Journal, N.存倉M.Sept. 08--Which would you rather potentially endanger?Private investment in a renewable energy project or White Sands Missile Range's ability to test forward-looking military systems intended to defend the nation.While one would hope there is a third option, this isn't a theoretical question. As President Obama is urging the United States to insert itself into yet another Middle East war, it also is clear Americans prefer using high-tech weaponry launched from distances over putting their sons and daughters in harm's way.The U.S. Department of the Interior appears ready to rubber stamp a proposed $1.2 billion electricity transmission line that in addition to its goal of delivering power from renewable sources to western markets will benefit private investors and a few high plains ranchers who lease their land for solar and wind farms.But the Department of Defense says a 45-mile stretch of the line as proposed through what is known as the WSMR Northern Extension north of the range could interfere with low-flying aircraft or create problems when attempting to shoot down missiles in tests. DOD officials feel strongly enough to be on record as saying the proposed line is a threat to national security.Power line proponents say DOD signed off on the route back in 2011, but a review of documents shows that "approval" was subject to various provisions outlined in another document that also urged continued examination of alternatives. There is nothing in the files that shows DOD ever approved a final route.Sen. Tom Udall and Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Michelle Lujan Grisham are urging compromise. Rep. Steve Pearce and Gov. Susana Martinez support the DOD position. And Sen. Martin Heinrich says if SunZia investors don't get the go-ahead right now, the project could be dead.It is far from clear.Heinrich subsequently said there were ongoing efforts to discuss ways to allay the military's concern.SunZia has options. It could bury some of the transmission lines in the Norther迷你倉 Extension. Or it could move the line north. But either option could also kill the project, SunZia says, as burying line is expensive and moving the line would take too much time and planning.SunZia has said the project will generate more than 30,000 jobs, a claim that has generated considerable skepticism. The project also has drawn opposition from environmental groups in Arizona.On the jobs scorecard, the missile range supports 9,000 workers and their families, with salaries generating $2.3 million each day for the regional economy. WSMR supporters say losing test capabilities to SunZia could threaten White Sands in future BRACs.But as Congress and the American public consider the course of action in Syria urged by the president, it's important to recognize the importance of WSMR in having high-tech military options available to the commander in chief. For example, it was at White Sands that one of the first series of Navy Tomahawk Cruise Missiles was tested in 1976 and 1977. And testing of unmanned aircraft -- drones -- was being done there as early as the 1950s.Bottom line for the U.S. and New Mexico: America needs to develop renewable energy, but at the end of the day it is in the best interests of the nation to protect White Sands, a unique post with its ground to infinity unrestricted air space, top-notch testing infrastructure and thousands of experienced workers already here in the Land of Enchantment.Future American security and freedom will depend more and more on the kind of defense technology that is at issue here.Interior, DOD and our elected officials need to find a solution that protects that capability.This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) Visit the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) at .abqjournal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉

Bonds are a popular way for companies and govts to borrow money from investors, who generally regard them as less risky, reports CAI HAOXIANGONE month ago, as Singapore celebrated its National Day, Japan celebrated a dubious national milestone.存倉On Aug 9, 2013, the Japanese finance ministry announced that total Japanese government debt as at end-June was over 1,000 trillion yen, or 1,000,000,000,000,000 yen.One quadrillion yen translates to $12.8 trillion in Singapore dollar terms, or $12,800 billion. The size of Singapore's economy was just $350 billion last year. Japan's government thus owes money to the tune of 37 Singapores. This astronomical sum was more than twice the size of Japan's own economy, which was already the third largest in the world.Add in total corporate and private debt, and total Japanese debt is 500 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), or more than 2,000 trillion yen.By contrast, the total market capitalisation of the Tokyo Stock Exchange was just 400 trillion yen at end-August.Debt is obviously a big deal, and this is also reflected in global financial markets.The news might tend to be dominated by stock market movements, but the movements in the bond markets have a potentially weightier impact.According to a 2011 report by consultancy McKinsey, the world's stock of equity and debt amounted to US$212 trillion in 2010. Stock market capitalisation amounted to just a little over a quarter, or US$54 trillion. The remainder consisted of debt: bonds issued by corporations, financial institutions, governments; asset-backed securities; and bank loans held on balance sheets. Government debt amounted to 69 per cent of world GDP.Since the global financial crisis, money has flowed into debt markets as governments borrowed to fund stimulus programmes or to boost confidence in the economy, and investors fled to the relative safety of high-quality debt securities.Among the very rich, a popular way to mint money in a low interest rate environment was to borrow from banks at a lower rate, say 3 per cent, and buy bonds yielding a higher rate, say 6 per cent. Assuming the bonds did not go into default, which would seldom happen if they bought investment-grade bonds, and assuming the lengths of both the bank loans and bonds were matched, the trades were extremely profitable at a very low risk.But what exactly are bonds? And how do you go about bond investing?This article gives the briefest glimpse of the world of bonds, otherwise known as debt or fixed income securities. I will focus on the simplest type of bonds, and leave the discussion of perpetuals, callable or putable bonds, convertible bonds, preference shares, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities for another day.The gist is this: Bonds are a way for companies and governments to borrow money from investors for a fixed period of time over the long term.From the investor's point of view, bonds are generally regarded as less risky. However, they usually have to settle for lower returns. And in an environment of potentially rising interest rates as the US Federal Reserve gradually stops pumping so much liquidity into the financial system, bonds are not a recommended investment for investors who intend to sell their bonds before they are due.How to buy bondsI will tackle the investing question first before going into detail on the nature of bonds.There are two ways of investing in bonds: buying the individual bond, and buying units in a bond fund.Buying individual bonds is typically not done by the retail investor due to the large commitment required per bond, which can be $250,000 a lot. But there are a couple of options.Singapore government bonds, for example, can be bought through an ATM machine or Internet banking platform. The minimum investment is $1,000, and people buy in multiples of $1,000.Some bonds are also traded on the Singapore Exchange. These are known as retail bonds. There are 10 retail bonds out on the market, issued by companies such as Singapore Airlines (SIA), Olam, Genting, CapitaMalls Asia, United Engineers, and Tiger Airways.The minimum investment required for retail bonds is typically relatively low. In 2010, SIA was the first listed company to set aside a portion of its corporate bonds for retail investors, with a minimum subscription of $10,000.The largest amount of debt sold to investors here happened last year, when casino operator Genting made a $1.8 billion perpetual bond issue, with another $500 million of perpetuals targeted at retail investors with a minimum subscription of $5,000.But the main portion of the bond market is traded by institutions and high net worth individuals in the over-the-counter (OTC) market, that is, not publicly in any formal exchange. To buy them, investors go through banks or through a broker. Bond professionals, however, recommend that retail investors invest in bond funds instead. These funds invest money in a variety of bonds. This is to spread out the risk, in case the company you lent money to goes belly-up. Bond funds are typically more liquid. This means they are traded more frequently, so it is easier to buy and sell at a fairer price.There are numerous bond funds catering to bonds across different countries, geographical regions, and companies. They can be bought through the迷你倉Central Provident Fund (CPF) Investment Scheme, through fund providers such as Fidelity, Vanguard and BlackRock, and offered indirectly or directly in products by insurance companies and banks.There are a few bond funds tradeable on SGX. The ABF Singapore Bond Index Fund is one such investment. It is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) run by Nikko Asset Management, and gives investors exposure to Singapore government bonds. Its last traded price was $1.1320 a unit, and the lot size is 1,000 units a lot. The fund distributes dividends once a year. Its last distribution was announced at end-September 2012, of $0.0128 per unit, giving a yield of 1.1 per cent.What are bonds?Bonds are essentially a contract between a borrower and a lender.The lender agrees to lend a sum of money to the borrower for a fixed period of time for a year or more.In return, the borrower typically promises to pay the lender interest payments every six months, to compensate the lender for parting with the money. These payments are known as coupons.Coupons are called thus because bonds used to be issued to investors in the form of engraved certificates. The bonds would come with multiple coupons that represented the interest payments. When they become due, say on June 30 or Dec 31, the owner would clip the relevant coupon and bring it to a bank to exchange for money. At the end of the borrowing period, the borrower will give the entire sum borrowed back to the lender, together with the final coupon payment.This process is automated now, but the old name stuck.If the borrower cannot pay interest payments or pay back the original sum it borrowed, it will be in default. This is a technical term that means the borrower has not met its legal obligations according to its debt contract.The lower the credit rating of the borrower, known as the bond issuer, the higher the chance of default.Credit rating agencies such as Moody's, S&P and Fitch are companies that help investors assess the likelihood of failure. They classify bonds into various grades, akin to the grades you get in school.The top four grades, AAA, AA, A, and BBB (Baa for Moody's), are known as investment grade bonds. Typically, these are bonds that banks and financial institutions invest in, because these borrowers are judged to have a low enough risk.Issuers with strong balance sheets and mature businesses tend to get rated higher. By having a higher rating, they do not need to pay investors as much interest. The yield of investment grade bonds tend to be low, say 2-3 per cent a year.Bonds below investment grade, such as BB, B, or C-rated bonds, are considered speculative grade. These bonds are also known as junk bonds, or high-yield bonds. These companies are assessed to be riskier to invest in and lend money to, and often have to pay investors a higher interest rate, say 7 per cent or more. There is an advantage to buying the bonds of a risky company compared to buying its stock, however.In the event of default, bondholders get paid first as a company's assets get liquidated. Stockholders are often left with nothing after that.The bond investor also seldom loses everything even if the company defaults. A study by Moody's on 1,100 defaulting North American bond issuers from 1983 to 2003 found the average recovery rate to be 39.5 per cent, and the median, 36.6 per cent.Bond jargonThe bond world, unfortunately, is rife with jargon. This can make it difficult for the layman investor to understand how bonds work.The exact mechanics of bond pricing will be explained in a future piece.But the most important thing investors should be careful of is the percentages bandied around by bond professionals.A bond typically pays a fixed coupon rate on its face value, the amount that the issuer has to pay back upon the end of the borrowing period.For example, an issuer might borrow $1,000 from investors with a coupon rate of 5 per cent, for a period of 10 years. This means coupon payments are $50 a year, or $25 every half-year.There will be a total of 20 half-year payments of $25, before the investor gets back $1,000 at the end of 10 years.But the price of the bond, or the cost to investors who buy when the bond is first issued, might not be $1,000.It will only be $1,000 when market interest rates equal the coupon rate. If interest rates are at 5 per cent and the bond offers a coupon of 5 per cent, the market is indifferent to investing $1,000 to get $25 a half-year either in the bond, or elsewhere. Thus it is willing to pay $1,000 for this 5 per cent coupon, 10 year bond.But if one year later, general interest rates rise to, say, 6 per cent, the market can now get more money by investing in another instrument. Demand for this bond will fall.The price of this bond will also fall to $931.23 - even though it will continue to pay out $25 every half-year for the next nine years, and will pay $1,000 when it matures.If investors need to sell the bond instead of holding it till maturity, they will suffer a loss.The coupon yield, current yield and yield to maturity of a bond can all be different. Investors need to pay the greatest attention to the bond's yield to maturity, which is the bond's total return at the moment when the investor is looking at it.Yield to maturity is the common understanding of what a bond's yield is.自存倉

Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.自存倉Sept. 08--HYANNIS -- The management of C.B. Perkins Tobacconist in Hyannis has a rule about the sale of electronic cigarettes.Only legal adults are allowed to pur苞hase the nicotine-releasing devices, which emit a vapor instead of smoke."We'll only sell to 18-plus," store man苔ger Ricky Patel said. "You're going to watch some 14-year-old kid smoking? I don't want to see that."The store management came up with this rule because the town of Barnstable does not precisely regulate e-cigarettes, which arrived on the scene just a few years ago.While marketers call e-cigarettes a healthier -- and cheaper -- alternative to regular cigarettes, public health officials say they are undoing years of anti-smoking education and creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.A study released last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control shows youthful use of e-cigarettes is climbing.The report says the number of students in grades 6-12 who have ever used an e-cigarette more than doubled from 3.3 percent to 6.8 percent from 2011 to 2012.The percentage of those in grades 6-12 who recently used an e-cigarette jumped from 1.1 to 2.1 percent.But while more children are getting their nicotine fix through the battery-powered devices, the e-cigarette phenomenon is largely flying under the regulatory radar.Only a few states and towns -- including a handful on the Cape -- explicitly prohibit their sales to minors.That may change soon.Calling the CDC report "alarming" and "troubling," the American Lung Association is calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate e-cigarettes and other tobacco products making inroads with children and teens, including hookahs and pipe tobacco."This is a generation that said, 'I'll never smoke,' but now they're trying e-cigarettes,"said Cynthia Hallett, executive director of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights."This is a product that is delivering nicotine, which is addictive,"she said.The FDA indicated it would issue guidelines later this year.In the meantime, State Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, D-Jamaica Plain, has filed legislation at the Statehouse to prohibit sales of e-cigarettes to minors.And the Cape Cod Tobacco Control Project is encouraging local towns to spell out prohibitions on the sale and use of e-cigarettes in their tobacco control and anti-smoking regulations."It's just to keep everything honest," said Robert Collett, director of Cape Cod Tobacco Control."They are really becoming big business."Often marketed as a device to help smokers kick the habit, electronic cigarettes have a heating element that produces vapor rather than smoke while delivering nicotine.They come in a variety of flavors that critics say appeal to children, including black cherry, cotton candy and bubble gum.While marketers say the nicotine is odorless and cannot be detected, Collett said the health risks are still not known."The problem is they haven't been evaluated by the FDA as to the chemical content of the vapors,"he said.Proponents of e-cigarettes point to studies that it helps people quit smoking and doesn't involve the smoker ingesting tar and myriad of other carcinogens."You're not breathing in any smoke, just a little bit of water vapor,"Patel said. While the scientifi c jury is still out on the full list of chemicals contained in the devices, Patel said companies such as Fuma use natural processes to extract the nicotine from tobacco.Regardless, he said the tobacco shop he manages checks IDs and does not sell to teenagers under 18, although technically they can because the town 迷你倉新蒲崗oard of health regulations don't prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors."Technically, a 12 or 14-yearold could walk into any store where these are not regulated and purchase them,"Collett said.He said Bourne, Brewster, Falmouth, Mashpee, Harwich and Orleans all have some regulations explicitly governing the sale of e-cigarettes to minors or their use in public places."Any nicotine derived device shouldn't be given to a minor," said Bourne Health Inspector Zack Seabury. He said the use of e-cigarettes also is forbidden in areas where smoking is prohibited."If you were sitting in the back of a bar and had an e-cigarette, a person at the other end of the bar wouldn't know," Seabury said.In September 2012 Brewster used a model regulation developed by the Cape Cod Tobacco Control Program to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes where smoking is prohibited by Massachusetts law and town regulations, Brewster Health Director Nancy Ellis Ice said.A few months before that, in July 2012, the town passed a regulation saying people under age 18 cannot purchase e-cigarettes, Ice said. In March of this year, theYarmouth Board of Health included e-cigarettes in regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, said Bruce Murphy, the town's health director.ButYarmouth doesn't explicitly prohibit the sale or e-cigarettes to minors or their use in no-smoking zones, Murphy said. He said municipal officials figure e-cigarettes already are covered by existing health regulations."It still has a tobacco by-product so it would not be allowed inside a public place,"such as a restaurant, store or public meeting room, he said.Nor should e-cigarettes be sold to minors, Murphy said. "That's how we're looking at the regulations right now."Barnstable doesn't specially ban e-cigarettes in non-smoking areas, but patrons at Trader Ed's Restaurant and Bar in Hyannis are directed to the outdoor smoking area to use the devices."They usually understand," manager and bartender Paul Gayewski said.But not including specific language about e-cigarettes leaves local regulations open to legal challenges or debatable interpretations of prohibitions on tobacco use, Hallett said.Collett said he is working with towns to include language not only on e-cigarettes but also on "nicotine delivery products" in their regulations, to keep up with new developments such as nicotine gels and tablets.Hallett said 87 localities in the U.S. currently restrict the use and sale of e-cigarettes via town regulations and state laws.E-cigarettes entice former smokers as well as young people who have gone through years of education on the hazards of smoking, she said. Hallett said they look at the flavorful devices and think, "That's great and they're safer!"But a physician associated with the public policy research firm R Street says e-cigarettes do not recruit new nicotine addicts as much as they help smokers get healthier.Studies in the United States and United Kingdom show "non-smokers are not taking up e-cigarettes," Dr. Joel Nitzkin said.Non-smokers may try one out of curiosity, he said, but the main users are smokers seeking a less toxic alternative to regular cigarettes."It's people who are already smoking, including the teenagers," Nitzkin said.He said the smokers are benefi tting from the switch, improving their lung power and ability to compete in athletic events as well as regaining their sense of taste.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉出租

Source: The Fayetteville Observer, N.迷你倉C.Sept. 07--A larceny charge against the speaker of the Lumbee Tribal Council has been dismissed, Robeson County court officials confirmed Friday.Pearlean Revels faced the charge after being accused of stealing financial documents from tribal headquarters in Pembroke last month. A civil lawsuit seeking to permanently ban her from tribal property also has been dismissed.On Aug. 22, Revels took a copy of the tribe's general ledger from the finance director's desk.The financial documents in question have been a point of contention between the council and the administration for months.Council members argue that they should have access to the ledger to ensure spending is in line with the budget.Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks refused to release the documents, saying it would violate privacy laws.On Aug. 12, Revels and Brooks signed a memorandum of understanding that the administration would provide the general ledger and check registers from all tribal accounts by 1 p.m. Aug. 30.Revels admitted to taking the ledger, saying she assumed it was being prepared for the council.Tribal administration officials said they told Revels it was not ready and that taking it would be a violation of the court agreement.Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt confirmed Friday that his office dismissed the larceny charge Tuesday."The crime of larceny requires that the state prove that there was a taking of property," Britt said, "and evidence that the defendant did so to permanently deprive the owner use of the property."He said the case "woefully la儲存倉ked evidence" since there was a prior court agreement to disclose the records.Britt said he had told several officials from the tribal administration before charges were filed that the case lacked probable cause and was not likely to hold up in court.The administration appeared before three magistrates before one agreed to file a warrant against Revels in the case, Britt said.The lawsuit banning Revels from access to tribal records and property also was dismissed this week.Chief District Court Judge Stanley Carmical dismissed it and the temporary restraining order against Revels and Councilman Terry Campbell, who was with Revels when she took the documents, saying the state did not have jurisdiction in the case because it was an internal tribal matter."The exercise of jurisdiction by this court plainly would interfere with the powers of self-government of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, would subject a dispute arising under the tribal constitution to a forum other than the forum that the Lumbee people have established for themselves, and would undermine the authority of the tribal court created by the tribal constitution to adjudicate such disputes," Carmical's order states.Revels in a statement Friday said the "council cannot be accused of stealing what was rightfully theirs from the start."Staff writer Ali Rockett can be reached at rocketta@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at .fayobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉價錢

Source: The Montana Standard, ButteSept.迷你倉出租 07--Be it sun, rain, or a Montana version of a hurricane, the only thing blowing people away faster Friday at the Fairmont Hot Springs golf course were the Butte Bulldogs girls' golf team.Despite demonstrating body language on the course that looked like she might be missing a lost puppy, senior Hailey Hoagland shot a solid second round 77 to finish with a 155 total and a three-stroke individual win to help pace the Bulldogs to an easy 26-stroke victory at the Butte High Golf Invitational with a team score of 683.Both Hoagland and junior Shealyn Hafer, who also improved in the second round with an 82 and ended up tied for fifth with a 168, aimed so high that despite playing better one would think both girls resembled the groundskeeper in "Caddyshack" rather than Tin Cup."I guess we both know that we can do so much better," Hoagland said. "Both of us concentrate so much and especially toward the end of our round. Our scores weren't very good, but they worked out. Since (Senior's Kortney McNeil, 158)'s score was so close to me you do keep track of it, but at this point in our careers when you play in the top groups you can't worry about what anyone else is doing and play to your own potential."Butte head coach Eric Mankins, who also noted the fabulous play of Hailey Ogolin (90-86-176, tied for 11th place) and Megan Ingersoll (96-88-184) as key to the team win, said that the competitive drive of his top two can only help his team."They are striving to be better each week and they know the number they put in their head and if they don't shoot it they are disappointed," Mankinss said. "We didn't play that well today and still managed to win. They still have a lot to accomplish."The team win however is nothing to take for granted even if the dominant win doesn't guarantee state supremacy at the Class AA finals...not yet, anyway."It feels good, the girls competed and posted good scores for two days and showed consistency," Mankins said. "They should get better each week. We aren't the front runner to win state because anyone can come out with four scores and win it. Capital has made strides, West has made strides, Hellgate included. We still have to go out and play. It's a different course in Missoula."As for the Butte boys, they finished the tournament strong ending up in ninth place with a 652, including a much improved 312 second round to move up two spots since Thursday."That was wonderful and it was nice to see them post a 312," Mankins said. "I am really pleased with them. We had a talk this morning and they responded. They came out and did it. We are young and not consistent yet, but they are learning. They knew that they had to play better after not being pleased with themselves after the first day."Trey Hoagland paced the Bulldog boys with a 155 total including Friday's round of 75. Will Kilmer ended up with a 160, Houston Green knocked out a 168, and Levin Mullaney scored a 169.Trey Hoagland's final was good enough for a tie for 12th place individually."I was really happy with how we played because Thursday nobody shot really great," Trey Hoagland said. "We all played a lot better today and we hope to score like that on the first day and second day in the upcoming tournaments. We are likely nervous that first day and then know how we are playing and start to feel good and play better. We have to start off the first day like the second day which we have played better in in all the tournaments so far."Butte Golf Invitationalat Fairmont Hot SpringsRound 2Friday, Sept. 6BOYSTeam Results:1. Bozeman 613, 2. Missoula Hellgate 614, 3. Billings West 620, 4. Billings Senior 620, 5. Kalispell Glacier 623, 6. Billings Skyview 626, 7. Helena Capital 635, 8. Missoula Sentinel 647, 9. BUTTE HIGH 652; 10. Great Falls CMR 672, 11. Great Falls High 674, 12. Kalispell Flathead 675, 13. Helena High 685, 14. Missoula Big Sky 745.Top 15 Individuals1. Pal Colberg (Hellgate) 76-68-144, 2. Cody Babinecz (Great Falls) 75-71-146, 3. Austin Berg (Billings West) 75-72-147, T4. Sean Benson (Billings Senior) 73-75-148, T4. Tevin Lewis (Helena Capital) 73-75-148, T4. Scott Redelsperger (Bozeman) 71-77-148, T7. Payton Scott (Billings Skyview) 75-77-152, T7. Logan Becker (Sentinel) 76-76-152, T9. Brady Henthorn (Hellgate) 77-76-153, T9. Tyson Odden (Bozeman) 78-75-153, 11. Hayden Peters (Billings Senior) 79-75-154, T12. Trey Hoagland (BUTTE) 80-75-155, T12. Garrett Woodin (Billings West) 77-78-155, T12. Tommy Mann (Glacier) 87-68-155; T15. David Follett (Billings West) 75-81-156, T15. Jack Brew (Billings Skyview) 76-80-156, T15. Cody Sherrill (Glacier) 79-77-156, T15. Scott Larson (Glacier) 79-77-156, T15. Riley Sisson (Bozeman) 78-78.TEAM RESULTSBUTTE HIGHTrey Hoagland 80-75-155, Will Kilmer 86-74-160, Houston Green 87-81-168, Levin Mullaney 87-82-169, Andy Kelly 88-9迷你倉-178.BILLINGS SENIORSean Benson 73-75-148, Hayden Peters 79-75-154, Austin Walter 82-78-160, Austin Egan 80-80-160, Patrick Zimmer 80-84-164.BILLINGS SKYVIEWPayton Scott 75-77-152, Jack Brew 76-80-156, Gage Passon 78-79-157, Grant Franjevic 78-83-161, Dalton Kangas 95-85-180.BILLINGS WESTAustin Berg 75-72-147, Garrett Woodin 77-78-155David Follett 75-81-156, Nick Bell 87-78-165, Bryley Woods 84-82-166, BOZEMAN Scott Redelsperger 71-77-148, Tyson Odden 78-75-153, Riley Sisson 78-78-156, Connor Brown 77-81-158, Kyle Powell 79-79-158.GREAT FALLSCody Babinecz 75-71-146, Tanner Thelen 84-89-173, Stephen Thurston 88-87-175, Schafer Palaidichuk 90-90-180, Bryce Clark 92-90-182.GREAT FALLS -- C.M. RUSSELLEaston Enott 80-77-157, Mark Solomon 84-85-169, Allen Rogers 92-79-171, Dylan Halverson 82-93-175, Cole Stenziel 104-94-198.HELENAMatt Krantz 83-79-162, Logan Teegarden 86-83-169, Travis Wright 91-87-178, Brandt Seitz 97-90-187, Kienan Stief 86-WD-WD.HELENA CAPITALTevin Lewis 73-75-148, Barron Culver 82-77-159, Noah Strizich 79-81-160, Skyler Skinner 86-82-168, Taggert Sullivan 92-90-182.KALISPELL FLATHEADRyan Keenan 81-76-157, Joseph Potkonjak 84-79-163, Jacob Wezch 90-84-174, Matthew Marshall 93-88-181, Escher Kornick 96-95-191.KALISPELL GLACIERTommy Mann 87-68-155, Cody Sherrill 79-77-156, Scott Larson 79-77-156, Greg Jones 82-77-159, Kevin Talcott 84-80-164.MISSOULA BIG SKYRichard Robinson 97-85-182, Jake Quinn 93-92-185, Tyson Gentri 94-92-186, Drew Beck 100-93-193, Riley McVey 104-92-196.MISSOULA HELLGATEPat Colberg 76-68-144, Brady Henthorn 77-76-153, Dylan Rossbach 78-80-158, Devin Bray 82-78-160, Isak Nord 85-79-164.MISSOULA SENTINELLogan Becker 76-76-152, Jon Nolan 84-81-165, Sam Rivey 85-83-168, Sean Ramsbacher 88-80-168, Nate Fuge 82-90-172.GIRLSTeam Results:1. BUTTE HIGH 683, 2. Billings Senior 709, 3. Helena Capital 712, 4. Billings West 713, 5. Missoula Hellgate 737, 6. Great Falls High 751, 7. Billings Skyview 779, 8. Bozeman 802, 9. Helena High 806, 10. Great Falls CMR 819, 11. Kalispell Flathead 822, 12. Kalispell Glacier 835, 13. Missoula Big Sky 863, 14. Missoula Sentinel 881.Top 15 Individuals1. Hailey Hoagland (BUTTE) 78-77-155, 2. Kortney McNeil (Senior) 79-79-158, 3. Teigan Avery (Glacier) 82-81-163, 4. Coral Schulz (Capital) 83-81-164, T5. Kelsey Martin (Capital) 83-85-168, T5. Shealyn Hafer (BUTTE) 86-82-168, 7. Sammey Walter (Senior) 85-84-169, 8. Bridget Beyer (Bozeman) 171, 9. Hayden Flohr (West) 87-85-172, 10. Katie Willis (Hellgate) 90-85-175, T11. Hailey Ogolin (BUTTE) 90-86-176, T11. Casey Babinecz (Great Falls) 85-91-176, 13. Mike'la Atkinson (West) 92-86-178, 14. Elli Sullivan (West) 95-86-181, 15. Hannah Zwemke (West) 92-90-182.Team ResultsBUTTE HIGHHailey Hoagland 78-77-155, Shealyn Hafer 86-82-168, Hailey Ogolin 90-86-176, Megan INgersoll 96-88-184..BILLINGS SENIORKortney McNeil 79-79-158, Sammey Walter 85-84-169, Emma Dyre 96-92-188, Allie Bofto 99-95-194, Abbey Mohr 131-99-230.BILLINGS SKYVIEWDelaney Schmidt 95-94-189, Alicia Stoner 99-91-190, Kodi Bell 105-95-200, Madison Bartleson 100-100-200, Angela King 115-104-219.BILLINGS WESTHayden Flohr 87-85-172, Mike'la Atikinson 92-86-178, Elli Sullivan 95-86-181, Hannah Zwemke 92-90-182, Dani Campanella 96-93-189.BOZEMAN HIGHBridget Beyer 86-85-171, Meggie Delaney 111-96-207, Hannah Rosanova 114-96-210, Ryen Meeks 113-101-214, Ellie Lamberty 118-102-220.GREAT FALLS HIGHCasey Babinecz 85-91-176, Catrina Babinecz 94-90-184, Abigail Davidson 98-95-193, Hannah Good 101-97-198, Kayla Slavik, DQ-107-DQ.GREAT FALLS C.M. RUSSELLRylie Carmichael 92-84-186, Harley Rowe 98-105-203 Savanna Voyles 107-102-209, Toni Calloway 113-108-221, Allysa Cereck 118-112-230.HELENA HIGHAshley Puyeat 98-92-190, Claire Inman 97-95-192, Tori McHugh 107-98-205, Rowan Rankin 117-102-219, Caitlyn Murphy 117-125-242.HELENA CAPITALCoral Schulz 83-81-164, Kelsey Martin 83-85-168, Tjaden Pallister 96-93-189, Shelby VanHemelryck 98-93-191, Jamie Wilson 114-111-225.KALISPELL FLATHEADJenna Jensen 99-89-188, Morgon Knutson 103-93-196, Aryn Phillips 115-101-216, Micheala Murer 109-113-222.KALISPELL GLACIERTeigan Avery 82-81-163, Kyersten Seibanler 117-102-219, Cynthia Gilbertson 112-111-223, McKenna Tinseth 120-110-230, Emma Epperly 133-120-253.MISSOULA BIG SKYShayla Johnson 95-97-192, Marlee Sandry 107-112-219, Sidney Davis 116-110-226, Sami Ormesher 114-115-229, Sedona Gaudin 125-112-237.MISSOULA HELLGATEKatie Willis 90-85-175, Maddie Trent 95-88-183, Susie Hawthorne 98-90-188, Jenna Herrick 100-93-193, Kate Michell 98-95-193.MISSOULA SENTINELKailee Nelson 111-99-210, Brie Finbraaten 115-102-217, Lindsay Bixler 113-110-223, Katie Domako 123-108-231, Serina Breum 124-111-235.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Montana Standard (Butte, Mont.) 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湖北日報訊 圖為：襄陽高新區劉集街辦魏莊社區老百姓的幸福生活。 （本報視界網鄭鐘鳴攝影）圖為：襄州現代農業示範區成為市民休閒娛樂的好去處。（樊小平 劉東攝影）圖為：襄州現代農業綜合示範區成為農業新科技的教育平台。（通訊員 劉東攝 影）閱讀提示：城鎮化是不是急著讓農民進城；錢，文件倉從哪裡來？人，往哪裡去？工業化、城鎮化過程中如何不讓耕地減少反而增加，同時，又讓工業化、城鎮化所需用地不減少？在新型城鎮化戰略引領下，農民的生活發生著怎樣的改變？近期，本報記者深入襄陽，試圖探尋其在實施新型城鎮化、“四化”同步和城鄉一體發展戰略的新實踐。方照軍：幸福來的太突然——襄城區尹集鄉白雲人家新社區走筆記者 鄧洪濤 通訊員 曾忠保8月3日，豔陽高照，熱浪襲人。記者來到襄城區尹集鄉白雲人家農村新社區，迷惑了，這裡到底是城還是鄉？2012年6月16日，白雲人家在一片荒山上開工，臨時修築的一條土路，汽車進不去，只好步行，參加完開工儀式，鞋子和褲腿上已被泥巴沾滿。如今，這裡房前屋後綠樹成蔭、芳草如碧；防洪渠里，碧水悠悠；太陽能路燈齊刷刷地“站崗”超市、社區政務服務中心、衛生服務站、幼兒園散落其中。一條柏油路一直通到新居民方照軍的家門口。三層小樓樓上樓下走一遍，記者更感慨了。一樓客廳、廚房、洗澡間。二樓三間臥室加一間露天陽台；三樓，兩間臥室加一個陽台。有線電視、寬帶網、太陽能熱水器、空調、天燃氣、抽油煙機等家電器具，一應俱全。“有一句歌詞說幸福來得太突然，很貼切。”方照軍頗有些得意。襄城，襄陽主城區之一，農業占比不足20%；尹集鄉，距襄陽主城區僅8公里，大部分被納入所轄8個村（居）。1.4萬人，農民大部分在外地或主城區打工。方照軍會砌工，拎著一把刀走南闖北，如果有活幹，一天倒也有100多元收入。13畝土地他也沒有當回事。家里原有的兩層樓房還是上世紀90年代初蓋的，占地面積約一畝。全鄉3786戶的情況跟方照軍家差不多。市、區想把一些工業項目、教育科研基地項目往尹集放，但鄉里並沒有多少建設用地指標可供。一張籃圖鋪開——對全鄉49.72平方公里進行全域規劃，將8個村（居）的1.4萬人，集中到5個新社區，配套建設中小學、三甲醫院等公共服務機構，實現“鄉不動，城入村。”錢，是個硬東西。解放思想和改革創新的武器再次發揮威力。劉友文，襄陽宏林園藝集團有限公司董事長，襄陽本土成長起來的民營企業家。10年前，他就在襄州租了個林場，想實現景觀植物與生態旅遊的結合。但林場太偏，基礎設施不全，現有景觀植物產業功能巨大，旅遊功能卻為零。方照軍所在的青龍村，荒山、荒灘、塘堰，尤其是被村民們粗放利用的土地、宅基地等加起來有1.5萬畝之巨，交通又很便利。劉友文一次性拿出3億元，按照市里統一規劃，在鳳凰村一個荒山上建設白雲人家新社區，小區共有516套房子，使用面積從80平方米到180平方米不等，總面積10.5萬平方米，可將包括方照軍在內的504戶人家全部搬進新社區。政策也很優厚，遷一還一，如果拆除房屋面積小于新社區提供面積，按最低價賣給農民。土地則規範流轉給劉友文。水田每年800元/畝，旱地每年500元/畝，且租金每年增長5%；每畝地配套安置20至25個工人。方照軍的妻子王香蓮早在去年就把8畝水田和5畝旱地流轉給了劉友文，現在全部種上了各種景觀樹，王香蓮本人也進入宏林集團成為一名護林員，每天50元的收入；有了土地經營權，劉龍文投資的膽子也大了。一下子投入2個多億，興建中部地區最大的中華紫薇園，發展生態旅遊。民俗風情體驗園、襄陽名人園、漢唐詩穀、中華養生園美麗鄉村等20多個景點緊鑼密鼓陸續開工。劉友文說，到明年開園迎客，整個青龍村村民還滿足不了用工需求，還得到外村去招人。市、區兩級深知，新型城鎮化如果沒有產業支撐，就無法擴大農民的就業空間。近年來，已經投入13億元，建設重大產業支撐項目10多個，初步測算，完全可以保證尹集鄉9400名勞動力的充分就業，還能帶動歐廟等周邊鄉鎮的2.8萬名勞力就業。就在記者採訪時，年過五旬的方照軍接到一家企業招聘人員的電話，希望老方去工作，8小時工作制，有五項保險，被老方婉拒。“老了，拎把刀，想幹就幹，不想幹就休息，圖個自在。”老方向記者解釋。老方和他的老伴，現在都參加了新農合。襄陽市和襄城區還計劃把新農合和城鎮居民基本醫療保險合併，原有的新農合政策不變，到區以上醫院看病就按城鎮居民醫療保險政策執行，讓農民得到更多的實惠。教育等公共服務的投入也在不斷加大，計劃在尹集鄉投入3015萬元，擴建一所九年一貫制的中學和2所標準化幼兒園。規劃建設的三甲醫院也已�動。【點睛】鄉不動 城入村尹集的探索至少解決了三個問題：一是“錢從哪裡來”的問題。政府主導、財政支持、社會參與、市場運作，這也是解放思想的結果。二是解決了“地從哪裡來”的問題。全域規劃，五個社區，實現土地集約、節約利用，盤活了土地資產。三是解決了“人往哪裡去”的問題。現階段，農民不可能全部湧進城，先社區、後鄉鎮、再縣城，把城里公共服務引進社區，因地制宜發展產業，實現就地城鎮化，應該是新型城鎮化戰略的優先方向。徐明富：68歲緣何還能年入3萬元——襄州雙溝現代農業示範區調查記者 鄧洪濤 通訊員 柴化銳 劉東車行襄州現代農業綜合示範區，一眼望不盡的綠。綠油油的水稻、綠油油的菜地，往來穿梭的車上裝滿著運往全國各地的蔬菜。8月4日下午5時，徐明富在湖北李行農業技術股份有限公司（下稱“李行農業”）一個蔬菜大棚里，維修滴水管，只見他手腳麻利地將鋪在蔬菜根部的塑料軟管，拽出來，一截一截地檢查，破了的，迅速剪斷，還能用的，撿到一邊。徐明富，襄州區雙溝鎮陶王崗社區居民，68歲，兒子、兒媳都在城里打工，留下老兩口種著6.2畝水田。改變，似乎在一夜之間。2012年初，襄州現代綜合農業示範區建設�動。襄州，原襄陽縣，全國重要糧食生產大縣、生豬調出大縣，農業是其特有的優勢。去年，其糧食總產146萬噸，增長9%，獲全國糧食生產先進縣標兵稱號，畜牧業全省“7年冠”。“解決中國人吃糧、吃菜問題只能靠自己。工業化、城鎮化，不能以犧牲糧食和土地資源為代價。”省委常委、襄陽市委書記王君正在襄州調研時，反複這樣強調。一個總規劃面積達到75.3平方公里的現代農業綜合示範區�動建設。這是一盤前所未有的棋。農民向社區集中，解決“空心村”問題。在統一規劃基礎上，按照“區域相近、適度聚集、有利生產、方便生活”的原則，採取集並、改建、整治等措施，將示範內的26個行政村，規劃建設成11個新型農村社區。土地向規模經營集中，發展現代農業。建設了38.3平方公里的都市農業示範片，以蔬菜和花卉苗木為主；建設15.5平方公里的“糧食高產示範片”，通過規模化種植、標準化生產、產業化經營，輔以農業機械化、信息化、生態化、設施化手段，打造全國糧食高產、高科技設施農業和生態觀光農業示範區。徐明富把自己的6.2畝水田轉包給了李行農業，每畝每年1000元。沒有了田地煩存倉，老徐反而覺得無聊了。李行農業正好缺一個生產隊長，雙方一拍即合。月薪2200元，加上6200元的租金。徐明富一年的收入超過了3萬元。示範區建設的�動，為李行農業提供了前所未有的機遇。李行農業董事長李永強說，在市、區支持下，他與陶王崗社區、陶河村的農民簽訂了土地流轉協議，總面積達到1萬畝。這兩個村約有6000人。50歲以內的，沒有人從事農業生產。加上還在上學的，真正需要重新安置就業的農民不到1000人。4000多萬元資金扔到地里，水、電、路、大棚全部建成，旱能灌、澇能排。徐明富拾弄了一輩子田地，種水稻、玉米是行家里手，種普通菜也沒問題，但大路貨的菜，支撐不起每年每畝1000元的租金和昂貴的種田成本。底薪5000元，再根據收成按一定比例提成。李永強一次性從山東壽光、江蘇徐州引進了7個種菜能手。種了一輩子地的徐明富開了眼界。江蘇徐州技術員李金帶來了南瓜種子，長出來的南瓜最大的單體重100公斤；通過私人關係，從荷蘭引進的布里塔茄子，抗病、耐寒、產量高，可以從頭年的10月一直賣到次年7月，正好彌補國內茄子上市淡季。單產七八萬斤，一畝地能弄8萬元的毛收入；從美國引進的蕃茄單株產量可以達到5公斤，而國內只能達到3公斤左右。現在，李行農業萬畝高產蔬菜示範園里，簡直成了國內外優質蔬菜品種的展示園，引進的新品種達到100多個。不習慣種植國外蔬菜的農民，也紛紛到李行農業購買菜苗，回家試種。現在，李行農業每天向襄陽市各大超市提供50噸蔬菜，還向武漢、十堰等地供菜。李永強說，同樣是種菜，他種菜一畝地的收入在5萬元至10萬元。這是現代農業給襄州帶來的改變。李永強也信守承諾，只要農民願意來公司種菜，每天就有80元的收入，對於那些50歲以上的家庭婦女來說，是一個不錯的工作。現在陶王崗社區、陶河村周邊的400多人成為李行農業的員工。【點睛】城鎮化不能以犧牲口糧為代價民以食為天，糧安天下。13億人口，如果把嘴巴交給外國人，是一件非常可怕的事。襄州的最可貴之處在於，以豐富農業資源為依托，走高產、優質、高效、生態的現代農業之路。無糧不穩，千古教訓。邱士生：有錢難買老來福——襄陽高新區魏莊社區農民的新生活記者 鄧洪濤 通訊員 陳茜8月4日，周末，60歲的邱士生和55歲的老伴張蓮英起了個大早，到菜場買菜。今天，在襄陽安達物流公司上班的兒子邱愛虎和兒媳袁玉閃要回家吃飯。老邱是襄陽高新區劉集辦事處魏莊社區的居民。魏莊，襄陽高新區劉集辦事處一個被工廠、工地包圍的新社區。5年前，老邱壓根沒想到自己的晚年生活會如此安逸。5年前，魏莊社區還是襄州區劉集辦事處的魏莊村。遠離城鎮、土地貧瘠、經常因旱缺水吃。村民收入主要靠外出打工，1.2萬畝坡地上常年種著兩種莊稼——小麥和玉米。村民年人均收入不足6000元，村集體負債160萬元。高新區快速發展使這個村莊被城鎮化。坡地全部被襄陽高新區深圳工業園給徵了，襄州區劉集辦事處也交由襄陽高新區托管，魏莊村變為魏莊社區。種了一輩子莊稼的老邱當初死活不同意徵地，土地是農民的“命根”，連命根都沒了，還怎麼生活？不想，高新區隨後的一連串動作，讓老邱和家人笑逐顏開。工業園建設徵地，社區和村民在短時間內得到相當數量的財富。其中，徵地補償款1.2億元。土地安置款2.2億元，地上附著物及青苗補償款若干。老邱得到土地安置費、地上附著物及青苗補償款、房屋補償款19萬元，還從1060套還建房里分到兩套共297平方米的新樓房，老邱和小邱各一套。襄陽高新區並沒有把土地補償費全部支付給農民。土地安置費、地上附著物及青苗補償款根據規定發放到人頭。土地補償費的70%按戶籍人口確定股權，每人50股，並發放股權證。30%用于購買居民養老保險等。老邱和老伴、兒子、兒媳，包括3歲的孫女每人都分到了50股。土地補償費中還列支了一部分，給所有居民購買養老保險，現在老邱和老伴每月定時從社保部門分別領到297元的養老金。2008年，社區從土地補償費中拿出500萬元註冊成立�鑫實業公司，在園區內從事土地平整，工業園區也把一些工業地產、商業門面、小區車庫建設交由�鑫開發，社區一下子掘到4000萬元的“金。”當初，按成本價回購的還建房小區車庫現在已增值3倍，現在年收益近百萬元；社區現在又在興建廠房、酒店、藍領公寓等，預計建成後，每年可為社區帶來500萬元的租賃收入。臨街的商業門面建成後，收益會更多。當年負債160萬元的魏莊村，已經變身為集體資產3.2億元的魏莊社區。集體發展了，村民也受益。去年元月和6月，今年元月和7月包括老邱在內的2286名農民每人分到8000元的“紅。”社區為此耗資1828.8萬元。社區生意為什麼這麼好？這是工業化帶來的成果。園區駱駝蓄電池、康明斯發動機等80多家企業入駐，務工人員近兩萬人。“這些工廠，這麼多人，衣食住行都是機遇。”劉集鎮黨委書記宋勇說，在建的19.5萬平方米藍領公寓，可以幫企業減少投資，可以安置1萬多名員工，集體也有不錯的收益。大量企業進入，也為小邱和袁玉閃這樣的年輕人提供了就業機會，使他們“在家門口過著城里人的生活”。數據顯示，魏莊社區18至50歲的1378名勞力中，有1200多人在園區內就業，100多人在園區內從事餐館服務等。居民家庭年收入去年達到1.3萬元。12時剛過，老邱一家人聚齊了。夠了！老邱說這輩子也沒有想過，還能來個老來福！【點睛】農民不是工業化城鎮化的對立面“四化”同步也好，新型城鎮也罷，都是路徑，都是手段，目標和目的是使老百姓過上好日子。目的搞清楚，政策、方法、措施就有譜了。中國之大，荊楚之博，各地各村情況不同，但相同的是，以人民為上，把老百姓放心上，捧在手上，一切都會變得有辦法、有方法。觀察“襄陽模式”的示範意義內需的最大潛力在城鎮化。城鎮化可以帶動幾十個行業，城鎮化每提高一個百分點，可以代替10萬億元的出口。襄陽的探索示範意義，比較準確地把握了新型城鎮化道路的內涵。新型城鎮化戰略根本內涵是，“四化”同步。工業化是動力和引擎、農業現代化是保障、城鎮化是載體和支撐、信息化是平台。四者不可偏廢。很多城市為什麼建了拆，拆了建，根本在於沒有一個長遠觀念，只有任期思想。《都市襄陽》的規劃把城市邊際固定下來，做好空間、城市、產業等系列專業規劃，這就避免了心裡沒數，一哄而上，從而也避免了一哄而下和一哄而散的可能。在建設的先後順序上，先新社區、後特色鎮，這是符合中國農民城市化進程的。中國城市裡現在還擁有大約2.6億打工群體，他們工作在城市，根基在農村；勞力在城市，家屬在農村；這部分人的城市化問題還沒有解決，如果再把大量的農民推進城，城市吸納不了。就地城鎮化問題值得嘗試。統籌協調好了城與人、城與地、城與鄉的關係。以新社區為突破口，實行農民向社區集中、工業向園區集中、土地向規模經營大戶集中，實現了土地的集約利用，為工業化和城鎮化提供了土地和人力資源，把城市公共服務引進社區，改善和提高了農民的生活質量和生活方式，這點更難能可貴。 （鄧洪濤）迷你倉

Source: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteSept.迷你倉 07--It is easy to see why people in the neighborhood call it "The Castle." The large stone three-story, Spanish Mission-style house appears to be holding court as it sits upon a well-landscaped corner lot in Highland Park.The house at 5421 Baywood St. (MLS No. 965132) is a beautiful example of the housing stock in the city's East End. On the market for $374,900, this four-bedroom property is listed with Ryan Edmondson of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services (412-521-2222 or .pittsburghmoves.com). An open house is scheduled today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.The roof parapet sets the Mission tone for the exterior of the house while Craftsman-style details carry through the interior. Working in partnership with East Liberty Development Inc., owner Gary D'Orso has taken care to preserve the best of the house while updating with top finishes and products. The house, which once contained six apartments, has a brand-new asphalt shingle roof."A number of developers have been renovating on this street, [bringing it] back to what it once was a few decades ago," Mr. Edmondson said.Many older homes in the area are being converted back from multi-units to single-family homes, bringing new life into the area. Turning back time, Mr. D'Orso took big steps in changing the layout of the house from the first floor to the attic."This was once a bathroom," he said, standing in the open first-floor living space between the living and kitchen areas. It's hard to imagine that now.The rooms are all very spacious. The living room measures 25 by 13 feet, the kitchen 12 by 11 feet and the dining room 20 by 15 feet. Rich oak flooring has erased where walls used to be.One of two decorative fireplaces in the house is the focal point of the living room. The floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and chimney reaches up to dark beams stretching across the ceiling. Rich wood paneling frames a trio of tall windows in both the living and the dining areas."All the windows in the house are new Pella windows, double paned," Mr. D'Orso said.During the renovation, the walls were fully insulated; something the original builders would never had envisioned in 1906.The second fireplace is a complete contrast to the first. Located in the 12- by 5-foot entry hall, the original tile fireplace is almost genteel in comparison.The house has been completely rewired and has new electrical panels. Mr. D'Orso installed Craftsman-style lighting throughout, holding true to the spirit of the home's style.French doors between the living room and the kitchen lead to the fenced-in backyard and the detached garage with room for two compact cars.The kitchen is where modern convenience meets traditional style. There are white Kraftmaid cabinets and new Bosch appliances including stove, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher and quartz countertops."I have never gotten more 'wows' than I have taking people through this house," Mr. Edmondson said. "People always gasp when they walk in."The 15- by 14-foot master bathroom is one room that always gets more than a few gasps. One of three full bathrooms in the house, it is meant to be an experience. The glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity with quartz countertop and separate water closet for the toilet are just icing on the cake compared with the bath儲存倉ub. Not an ordinary tub, this large slipper tub comes with temperature control, built-in music systems and is surrounded by windows on one side. It almost seems a shame to put up curtains.The other two full bathrooms feature shower tub combinations with tile surrounds, single vanities with quartz tops and ceramic tile floors. The first-floor powder room is completely paneled in dark wood with a quartz-topped vanity.There are three bedrooms on the second floor, measuring 15 by 12 feet, 12 by 12 feet and 12 by 8 feet."A really cool feature is that there is a separate side entrance that goes all the way to the third floor," explained Mr. Edmondson. "There's a door on the first floor that you could lock to make it a separate unit."Like many older homes in the area, there are stairs, once used by servants, leading to the third floor that are independent from the stairs leading to the second floor.Taking both the attic area and the third floor living area, Mr. D'Orso has transformed the area into its own apartment giving the new owner plenty of options from an in-law suite, an entertainment area or a rental property. With a space plumbed for a kitchen area and separate bedroom and bath, Mr. Edmondson figures the third floor could rent for $1,000 per month. The property is zoned for multi-family occupancy.Mr. D'Orso installed a two-zoned system that includes two brand-new gas furnaces and two electric air conditioning units. The first floor and part of the second floor are handled by one unit while the remaining part of the second floor and third floor are handled by another.Shopping is close-at-hand with the expansion of the Penn Circle retail area, the Target store along with new hotels, restaurants and retail outlets opening along Penn and Highland.The property has a 2013 county assessed value of $32,700 (2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Default.aspx). Over the past three years, eight properties have sold on Baywood Street for prices ranging from $20,000 in March 2013 to $316,000 in April 2012 (.realstats.net).SALES SNAPSHOT1ST WARD/DOWNTOWN-BLUFF20122013SALES1827MEDIAN PRICE$250,000$306,000HIGHEST PRICE$480,000$660,0002ND WARD/DOWNTOWN-STRIP20122013SALES4776MEDIAN PRICE$235,000$290,000HIGHEST PRICE$2,070,000$2,700,0003RD WARD/HILL DISTRICT20122013SALES2139MEDIAN PRICE$66,500$80,300HIGHEST PRICE$268,000$239,0004TH WARD/OAKLAND20122013SALES143157MEDIAN PRICE$97,000$105,000HIGHEST PRICE$740,000$825,0005TH WARD/HILL-SCHENLEY HEIGHTS20122013SALES3866MEDIAN PRICE$51,200$24,000HIGHEST PRICE$277,000$375,0006TH WARD/STRIP-POLISH HILL20122013SALES7397MEDIAN PRICE$72,000$82,900HIGHEST PRICE$400,000$425,0007TH WARD/SHADYSIDE20122013SALES162231MEDIAN PRICE$250,000$248,000HIGHEST PRICE$2,056,000$1,700,0008TH WARD/BLOOMFIELD20122013SALES86113MEDIAN PRICE$108,000$124,900HIGHEST PRICE$395,000$415,0009TH WARD/LAWRENCEVILLE20122013SALES114175MEDIAN PRICE$93,000$100,000HIGHEST PRICE$306,419$370,13010TH WARD/MORNINGSIDE20122013SALES212248MEDIAN PRICE$60,000$61,299HIGHEST PRICE$330,000$950,00011TH WARD/HIGHLAND PARK20122013SALES130193MEDIAN PRICE$139,000$123,500HIGHEST PRICE$784,500$620,000Lizabeth Gray: lgray@post-gazette.com.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at .post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉價錢

Source: The Philadelphia InquirerSept.迷你倉 08--Around dinnertime on Presidents' Day, Kylee Bryant strolled into SugarHouse Casino and headed for the craps tables.That was his game.He liked how gamblers circled the table to watch a shooter roll the dice. He liked all the hoots and hollers.At blackjack tables, players studied their hands in stoic silence. But when a craps player was hot, it was like cheering a Michael Vick drive from the Eagles' bench.Bryant, 33, was a regular in Pit Four. Everyone knew him, yet no one knew him. No one knew he had voluntarily signed a pledge to stay out of all casinos in Pennsylvania.Yet here he was, putting down $100. He was up and down and up and down.Out of work at the time, the married father of two from West Philadelphia was hoping to win at least $500 to pay a traffic fine.It wasn't happening. He got up to eat. He switched tables.Twenty-four hours passed.Bryant went to his car to take a nap. But he hurried back, afraid he'd miss a shooter on a hot roll.Another day passed.Bryant was losing and thought the tables had gone cold. Taking a break from play, he held his iPad just below the craps table and checked his e-mail and Facebook.SugarHouse security got suspicious. What was this guy doing? A surveillance camera zoomed in and read his name on the iPad.Someone checked the database of players. Bryant came up on a self-exclusion list.Seventy hours after arriving at SugarHouse, Bryant was escorted away by security. State police cited him for trespassing, a misdemeanor.The 'self-exclusion' listKylee Bryant knows he has a gambling problem.His wife does, too. He said she prodded him to sign a voluntary agreement to exclude himself from all 12 casinos in Pennsylvania.But Bryant's experience, marred by his inability to stay away from casinos, underscores the difficulty of enforcing self-exclusion pledges."When people sign up, we tell them, It is your responsibility to stay out of the casino," said Liz Lanza, director of the office of compulsive and problem gambling for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.C.P. Mirarchi, a counselor for compulsive gamblers in Philadelphia, says a self-exclusion list is a tool, not a solution. "I tell my patients, 'It's not like Star Trek, where you vaporize once you walk through the doors of a casino,' " he said.Under Pennsylvania law, casinos are required to have policies and practices in place to catch banned customers.But while casinos are skilled at spotting cheats, they are less so at stopping players who are trying to control their impulse to gamble, according to experts."It is somewhere between infrequent and unlikely that you will be detected," said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. Casinos "rely on security guards at the entrance with an antique face book -- a binder with photos" of customers on self-exclusion lists.In Pennsylvania, 5,631 people have asked to be excluded from casinos for one year, five years, or a lifetime. As of July 31, 777 gamblers had violated their agreements once or more frequently.Violators are caught by casino staff or detected when they try to make a transaction with an ID card, such as receiving a jackpot or cashing a check.New Jersey has 1,329 people on its self-exclusion list, Delaware 260.At their July meeting, Pennsylvania's gaming commissioners excoriated SugarHouse representatives for not catching Bryant.The incident that began on Presidents' Day was the third time Bryant had violated his pledge.He signed an agreement with the gaming board Jan. 4, 2012 -- and broke it 10 days later. He was picked up during a two-day bender at SugarHouse only after his wife called the casino to report him.The second time, Bryant entered SugarHouse on June 29, 2012, and was not turned away until 91 hours later.After reading a report on Bryant, Commissioner Gregory Fajt told SugarHouse officials he was "outraged.""It boggles my mind that somebody can be in your facility for three days in one instance, four days for another, a known compulsive gambler on the list, and not be recognized," Fajt said at the board meeting. "It's disheartening to me."'We're not proud of this'Kylee Bryant wasn't always a gambler. He made the occasional trip to Atlantic City, nothing more.That changed when SugarHouse came to town."SugarHouse is like a neighborhood casino," Bryant said.A friend intro自存倉uced him to craps. He would play $100 to $200 at a time and had beginner's luck, sometimes winning a couple of hundred dollars, once a couple of thousand."Whatever I could win, I'd hurry up and get out of there," Bryant said.But it started getting harder and harder to leave the table. He kept chasing his last big win.After Bryant lost his job -- he had worked for a Norristown firm, cleaning out apartments after tenants were evicted -- it seemed as though he found himself at SugarHouse every other day. "It was like a job," he said.In the windowless cocoon of the gaming floor, Bryant said, it was easy to lose track of time. "You can be in there for 10 hours and not know it."Despite his self-exclusion pledge, Bryant said he went right back to SugarHouse because "I didn't think anyone would notice me."Problem gamblers are warned from the outset that they can be cited for trespassing if they violate their self-imposed bans. Bryant was charged three times.SugarHouse, too, faced penalties. In a settlement last December with the gaming board, the casino agreed to pay a $10,000 fine for its handling of Bryant and another compulsive gambler. The company also pledged to retrain its staff on methods for enforcing the self-exclusion list.With Bryant's third violation, the board has taken a tougher stance. At their July meeting, commissioners rejected a new settlement agreement that would have included a $15,000 fine and another pledge to reinforce training. The matter is pending.Fajt said the gaming board was "not without culpability." The agency, he said, has compliance officers on the floor at SugarHouse, and they, too, missed Bryant.But Fajt pressed SugarHouse officials on how they could have failed to detect Bryant during off hours. "At 8 o'clock in the morning, 7 o'clock in the morning," Fajt said, "there can't be that many people in the casino."Rosemarie Cook, vice president for gaming at SugarHouse, responded that many customers return day after day. "So it's not unusual in our casino to see somebody the next day and the day after that and the day after that," she said. "It's a local market."Cook said Bryant did not display any behavior that would have been a warning sign for casino staff."It was not a case of being 'asleep at the wheel,' " she said.Bryant, she testified, was not making large bets; he was not belligerent or disruptive or drunk; he was not unkempt; he displayed no unusual gambling rituals, a tipoff of compulsive behavior.By reviewing surveillance video, the casino concluded that Bryant spent most of his time away from the tables, Cook said. And when he did play, it was for two to 12 minutes."I assure you, we're not proud of this moment," Cook said.SugarHouse keeps a binder with photos of the more than 5,000 people on the self-exclusion list. Faces of repeat offenders, like Bryant, have been placed on an "alert board" outside the table games office, she said.Some casinos employ technology to recognize faces of customers, but it is costly, according to Cyrus Pitre, chief enforcement counsel for the gaming board. He told the commissioners, "I'm not going to say what casinos have it in the state, but it does exist."A verdict, a job, a banOn Aug. 2, Bryant had a hearing in Philadelphia Municipal Court on his most recent trespassing charge and was found not guilty.His public defender, Jason Parris, said the prosecution failed to produce a copy of the self-exclusion paperwork. Without that evidence, there could not be any testimony about the consequences of violating the voluntary pact, he said.Last March, Bryant asked to be taken off the state's self-exclusion list.Working now for the city's sanitation department, he said he still gambles, but far less than before."I work too hard for my money to lose it all," he said.He said that over the years, he has probably lost more than he's won.Recently, he has gone with friends to Parx in Bensalem and Harrah's in Chester to play craps. But not SugarHouse. The casino has banned him for life."He can never come into the SugarHouse Casino," Michael Sklar, a casino lawyer, assured commissioners in July, "or he's not supposed to."Contact Jennifer Lin at 215-854-5659 or jlin@phillynews.com, or on Twitter @j_linq.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at .philly.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉新蒲崗

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Rising govt revenues make social initiatives possibleBy Xu Xiaoxuxiao@chinadaily.存倉com.cnRelying on the wealth accumulated during six decades of economic growth, authorities in the Siming district are now focused on improving public living standards.The district was established in 1950 in Xiamen, Fujian province. It is now the economic, political and cultural center of the renowned coastal city.The district government said “fortune” and “happiness” are the key words for today’s Siming.The local officials pointed out that increasing government revenues are an important indicator of public fortune and a major financial resource that the government uses to improve the local quality of life and for other social undertakings.In 2012, the district reported government revenue of 13.3 billion yuan, an increase of 20.3 percent year-on-year, signaling record growth in the past five years.In the first half of 2013, government revenue approached 9.1 billion yuan, the largest of all the cities in Fujian.The officials said the fortune comes from the city’s abundant business opportunities brought by its born geographic advantages as a close neighbor of Taiwan, as well as its preferential policy environment as a part of a city that is listed as one of the four special economic zones in China and a pilot in cross-Straits business cooperation.Tourist attractionsThe unique natural environment there also makes the district appealing to both residents and tourists.Embraced by mountains and sea, Siming district has a pleasant climate.There are several renowned tourist resorts along the 10-kilometer beaches. Fifteen of Xiamen’s top 20 resorts are located in Siming.The most attractive among all the resorts is the 1.77-square-kilometer Gulangyu Island, which is about 500 meters away from the city proper across the Lujiang River.Featuring blue sea, green trees and colonial-style houses, the serene island is also known as “the garden on the sea”.According to the district government, Siming’s tourism revenue reached 39.2 billion yuan in 2012, accounting for 70 percent of Xiamen’s total.In recent years, the government has highlighted the service industry and several emerging industries.It has a booming high-end consumer goods market, making it a trend leader in Xiamen as well as Fujian province.The Paragon Center is Fujian’s first and largest high-end shopping mall, gathering some 80 globally renowned brands, including such luxury names as Gucci, Burberry and Montblanc.Another luxury shopping mall called China City has a 200-meter-long corridor for showcasing renowned watches. Here consumers can find luxury watch brands, including Piaget, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Omega, and IWC.China City also has the first Ferrari and Maserati showrooms in Fujian province.In addition to these luxury shopping malls, high-end hospitality business is another propeller of Siming’s development.In Siming, there are 48 star-rated hotels, accounting for 61 percent of Xiamen’s total.Many hotels combine first-rate facilities with Siming’s regional characteristics.For instance, the Hotel Nikko Xiamen gives guests a sea view through French windows in the rooms.The district is also on its way toward becoming a luxury yachting hub of Xiamen, with the Shangshan International Yacht Club now under construction. Local government officials said “the club is expected to introduce a new lifestyle to local people” when becoming operational.Pivotal roleSiming district is playing a pivotal role in Xiamen’s initiative to build a cross-Straits financial hub.According to the district government, in the first half of 2013, the district’s financial and insurance enterprises generated revenue totaling more than 6.6 billion yuan, an increase of 9.3 percent year-on-year.Government officials said these companies have offered strong financial support for local growth and cross-Straits business cooperation.Another driver of growth is Siming’s advantages in terms of high-quality human resources. The district is home to seve迷你倉al renowned higher learning and research institutes, including the prestigious Xiamen University.The district government has also implemented a talent plan, with a 100-million-yuan fund to support talent development.The district also regularly hosts academic activities, inviting famous experts and scholars to give lectures to local researchers and students.Amid rapid economic and social transformation, the local government wants to make sure that all the residents, especially those lower-income families, can enjoy a better life.One of the efforts is the “warm-heart supermarket”, an invention by the district in May 2004. In these supermarkets, donated goods are displayed on shelves and needy people can choose what they want for free.The goal of the supermarket is to let people get help while keeping their dignity, government officials said.So far, 1,200 families have received continuous help from the service.Now the “warm-heart” initiative has evolved into a public welfare brand, including 11 supermarkets, 26 online schools, six classrooms, 12 canteens and 40 community funds under the same name.Investment projectsThe Siming district is bringing a number of investment projects to the 17th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which opens today in Xiamen, to seek potential partners from China and abroad.The following are the major projects:Developments relating to the cross-Straits financial hub． Haixi Jingu Plaza: an office building complex with total floor space of 400,000 square meters.． Kaiyuan Industrial Park: a development with total floor space of 1.53 million square meters.． Tefang International Center: a commercial and cultural facility with 387,000 square meters of floor space.． Xiamen Financial Center: a 49-story, 212-square-meter building.． Zhonghang Zijin Plaza: a five-star hotel and other commercial facilities.Guanyinshan area． Guanyinshan Plaza: a hotel and an office building and other facilities.Sports and culture． People’s Stadium: a sports center combining cultural and commercial facilities.． Longshan Creativity Park: the largest creativity park in Fujian.． Xiamen Industrial Design Center: a facility combining design, R&D, technology transfer, information consultation and other functions.． Straits Fashion & Art Center: a facility for fashion design and performance.． Siming Architecture Design and R&D Center: office building for architecture design and research firms.． Hongwen Fashion Industry Park: a facility combining fashion design, exhibition and experience.High-tech development． Siming Photo-Electronic Building: an R&D service center for photo-electronic enterprises in the Xiamen Science Park.． Xiamen University Science Park: the only university science park in Fujian.． Cross-Straits e-commerce park: office buildings for e-commerce businesses.highlightUnique HistorySiming, which means “missing the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)”, was given its name by renowned general Zheng Chenggong.After the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) force defeated the Ming in the north, Zheng still led an army in Fujian province to defend the struggling Ming.He named the place where his army was stationed as the Siming prefecture in 1650.Zheng led a navy force from Xiamen to Taiwan to fight against the Dutch invaders in 1661. After several decisive victories, the Dutch were forced to leave Taiwan, and the island became Zheng’s last stronghold against the Qing, which had already seized most of the Chinese mainland.Zheng was a diehard loyalist to the Ming Dynasty, which made it impossible for him to return to the mainland. Unable to return to his homeland because of the continued strife, he died in 1662 in Taiwan.In the early years of the Republic of China period (1912-1949), Siming county was established with an area covering today’s Xiamen city and Kinmen county of Taiwan.In 1950, the Siming district was founded at the central part of Xiamen.A huge Zheng Chenggong statue has been erected on the Gulangyu Island to commemorate this national hero.自存倉

Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.迷你倉Sept. 07--SOUTH YARMOUTH -- Society is in denial about the damage caused by drugs and alcohol, Special Sheriff Jeffrey Perry told the Women's Republican Club of Cape Cod on Friday.In his job with the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office, Perry said he sees for himself the harm of substance abuse."The hardest thing I have to do is walk by a parent or grandparent that I know in the hallway who has a child or a grandchild incarcerated for addiction," said Perry, whose office is next to the waiting room of the Barnstable County Correctional Facility.He addressed about 30 members of the Republican club at the Riverway Lobster House about the drug problem on the Cape. He said 80 percent of his facility's inmates are incarcerated as a result of addiction. When the inmates' maximum sentences of 2 1/2 years are served, they return to the streets of the Cape."They get out and go back to our neighborhoods," he said. "It's your neighborhood and my neighborhood, not just some street in Hyannis."Perry's discussion focused on the issues of opiate addiction, which usually begins with prescription pills and turns to heroin abuse, and the recent legalization of marijuana for medical use, a development that Perry said sends the message that marijuana is safe and OK.But he also offered a note of hope. If society learns the lesson from the nation's successful campaign against cigarettes, the war on drugs could turn around, he said.For everything the police and the prison system do with education, treatment programs and job training, the real focus needs to be on the demand for drugs and alcohol, he said.With cigarettes, he said, society successfully tackled that demand by spending billions educating young people.And it worked, he said. The Falmouth Prevention Partnership, which has a federal grant to mobilize the community to address drug abuse, does annual surveys of Falmout儲存倉 students. The most recent results of this survey showed that about 20 percent of the town's 11th- and 12th-graders had smoked cigarettes in the previous month. That compared with more than 50 percent who had used alcohol and just under 50 percent who smoked marijuana, he said.The study also showed that more than 90 percent of students perceived a health risk from smoking. But for alcohol, the perception of risk went down to around 75 percent, and for marijuana, the perceived risk dropped to about 55 percent."The perception of our youth is that alcohol and marijuana are not as dangerous as cigarettes," Perry said. "We've done a great job with the cigarette campaign, but not with drugs and alcohol."We've spent practically zero educating against opiates," he said, yet that is the biggest drug and crime problem on the Cape.Recently a young man was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing banks. While that wouldn't be classified as a drug crime, the police reports state that the man was robbing banks every few days to feed his heroin addiction, Perry said.Many of the inmates in jail lack high school diplomas, work experience or job skills, and suffer from debilitating addictions, he noted. The jail offers Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other special programs focused on addiction, mental health and religious counseling, he said.These people get help in jail, he said.The police also work together on Cape Cod to keep the streets clear of drugs. But none of these efforts combat the desire to try drugs and alcohol in the first place, he said."Our community is in denial about what's going on," Perry said. "We're in denial about how it's impacting our youth, crime and our economy. We're losing that war on drugs."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉價錢

Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.mini storageSept. 07--PLYMOUTH -- Two weeks after an electrical malfunction caused the shutdown of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's reactor, the plant is still not at full power.Representatives from Entergy, which owns and operates the plant, initially attributed the delayed return to standard procedure. Shutdowns provide opportunities to address items on a reactor's "to do" list, they said.But federal nuclear energy officials confirmed Tuesday that a failed motor in one of three massive pumps that supply water to the reactor was keeping the plant from operating at peak.The burned-out motor, within days of the wiring problem, had nuclear watchdogs talking.Diane Turco, a Harwich resident and founder of the Cape Downwinders, compared the 41-year-old plant to an old Volkswagen Beetle. "You keep repairing it bit by bit until the front wheels fall off," Turco said. "This is a far too serious situation to keep having problems. They need to close the reactor."Mary Lampert, founder of Pilgrim Watch, called the two plant problems "an example of one thing after another.""It's indicative they're not spending the money to make sure the equipment is in operable condition," Lampert said. A replacement motor was in stock at the plant, but it had last been refurbished in about 2007. Plant officials decided to send it out for an inspection before installing it.The motor was checked and is now awaiting installation."It's fair to say any power plant has operational conditions that need to be managed, and we're doing a good job of responding and getting the plant back to full power," said James Sinclair, spokesman for Entergy.Lampert said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should be demanding better performance from Pilgrim. "The Nself storageC doesn't seem capable of developing a backbone and making sure they're doing what they should be doing," Lampert said.NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said feed-water pumps are a production issue, not a safety issue. They provide water for the nuclear reaction process. "Still we are certainly going to monitor the work," Sheehan said of the motor installation.On Aug. 22, a breaker had tripped due to a faulty electric cable in the junction box, causing the three large feed-water pumps to shut down. Workers immediately halted the nuclear reaction process.Pilgrim was at zero power from Aug. 23 to 25, then very slowly powered up over the next three days to 20 percent. On Aug. 29, power reached 74 percent and now hovers at about 76 percent.While the lower production rate would seemingly result in lost revenue, Sinclair said Entergy does not comment on production-related issues for business reasons.In its mid-year performance review released Wednesday, the NRC appeared satisfied with the Plymouth plant. "Pilgrim operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives," the review letter said.The NRC will continue to oversee Pilgrim at the level used for plants that meet performance standards.Sheehan said the August shutdown, the plant's fifth unplanned shutdown in the last 15 months, wasn't factored into the mid-year review, but will be considered as part of the NRC's third quarter report later this fall."We are still evaluating whether there will be any changes in oversight due to the number of unplanned shutdowns," Sheehan wrote in an email.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉

Source: Journal Star, Peoria, Ill.迷你倉Sept. 07--PEORIA -- The Heart of Illinois United Way kicked off another campaign by recalling a theme from the film, "The Wizard of Oz" -- there's no place like home.More than 600 people attending a kickoff breakfast Friday at the Peoria Civic Center applauded news that "pacesetter" firms already have raised just more than $1.1 million for this year's campaign. Last year, the local United Way effort raised $10.5 million.Bill Springer, United Way board chairman, also applauded the work of volunteers, who donate 25,000 hours of service in this community annually. More than 900 volunteers took part in Friday's "Day of Caring" program, participating in more than 50 volunteer projects across the area, said Gina Edwards, United Way's vice president of marketing and communications.Volunteers raised 47,000 pounds of food in Friday's food drive while others read with children or were involved in painting or landscaping projects across the community, she said.A number of the volunteers who attended the breakfast were recognized by campaigns chairs Doug and Vicky Stewart, with Rick Dokey, a vice president with the Federal Cos., receiving the Hoot Gibson Award, an outstanding volunteer service award named after a longtime manager of IBM's Peoria office.Guest speaker Steve Pemberton, author of "A Chance in the World," recalled his own experiences growing up i文件倉 foster care.A ward of the state for much of his childhood, Pemberton now serves as chief diversity officer and divisional vice president for Walgreen Co.The speaker brought home the importance of home, the United Way theme, recounting that, as a 5-year-old, he asked a social worker why he didn't have a home."We don't know if you belong with a white family or a black family," the social worker told Pemberton, a light-complexioned African-American.Being only 5, the speaker said he thought that referred to whether he should live in a white house or a black house."Books became my saving grace," said Pemberton, recalling the kindness of a woman who brought him books that helped advance his education."I am here largely because of her," he said, referring to his benefactor, a woman he met 35 years later."Hold on to that kindness. That's your power," Pemberton urged the audience.Money raised by the Heart of Illinois campaign funds programs in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties.The results of this year's campaign will be announced on Jan. 29, said Edwards.Steve Tarter can be reached at 686-3260 or starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) Visit the Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) at .PJStar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉

Syed Mohamed Ibrahim, the man in charge of the strategic planning and development of Iskandar Malaysia, relishes the opportunity to create, from scratch, one of the top 10 liveable cities in the world.自存倉 By Malminderjit SinghHE likens himself to an artist commissioned to paint a masterpiece. The canvas? Iskandar Malaysia in Johor.Syed Mohamed Ibrahim, the man in charge of the strategic planning and development of the project, is aware that it will be a developmental "masterpiece" with far-reaching influence.He will have the chance to shape something raw into a finished showpiece to the envy of all, he explains. It is a challenge which gives someone like him an adrenalin rush and that is why he took up this job.In an exclusive interview with The Business Times, the president and CEO of Iskandar Investment - the investment holding company created to oversee and encourage investment and development of Iskandar Malaysia - says that he would like to leave a legacy behind and sees the eventual Iskandar region as his biggest contribution to Malaysia and his home state of Johor.His vision and dream for Iskandar Malaysia, is simple, yet ambitious. "The masterpiece that I am crafting is for Iskandar Malaysia to be one of the top 10 liveable cities in the world," Mr Syed Mohamed says. And the Universiti Malaya economics graduate is confident that his vision can be achieved.For starters, location is an important factor that weighs in favour of the southern Malaysian economic region. "This is the best that Malaysia has in terms of location," he exclaims. "Even though we have several other economic zones or corridors, but nothing is quite like Iskandar Malaysia."When probed about what he considers to be so unique about the location of the Iskandar region, he answers instantaneously: "We have Singapore!" he quips.Mr Syed Mohamed points out that no other state in Malaysia enjoys the same geographical proximity to Singapore. He admits that at the beginning of the economic zone's conceptualisation stage, the Republic did not figure as prominently, but things have now changed dramatically. After 2012, which he describes as the tipping point - when the catalytic projects of the first phase of development of Iskandar Malaysia were due - the dynamics of the relationship quickened, he notes. Both countries became closer than previously in history, a development that augurs well for both countries and especially the Iskandar zone.While the strengthening of the Singapore-Malaysia bilateral relationship and closer ties between their political leaders were instrumental, Mr Syed Mohamed, who spent more than 25 years in real estate and banking, believes that the ability of his company to deliver promising results for the Iskandar region also helped to increase its credibility, allowing Singapore to warm up to the idea of looking across the Causeway for opportunities."Before, Temasek (Holdings) was only looking at collaborating with Khazanah on the healthcare and wellness project. But after the tipping point (of 2012), Temasek is now looking beyond that in Iskandar," he points out.Even though he admits that the Iskandar region is a far from completed project with certain gaps still existing, Mr Syed Mohamed believes that his team and he have shown that they are able to identify and fix these problems. It is this longer-term vision and the ability to have a macro-plan in place while delivering what has been promised along the way that has helped attract greater Singapore interest and participation in the region, he adds.In fact, one of the biggest challenges facing him is to make sure that his team have a credible plan that can be realised. They need to show a track record of projects being done and plans being realised as "credibility is only there because of the delivery" of milestones. Moreover, the plans and deadlines set also help his team and him keep track of their progress and an eye on the bigger picture of development of the entire region."It is not just about putting in the money, because others have the money too. A vision must be in place, executed through clear plans if the strategic value of Iskandar Malaysia is to be unleashed," the 55-year-old says.Strategic visionMr Syed Mohamed narrates that when he took over the job at Iskandar Investment, he was told that he had to deliver what the authorities had planned for. "I took over in November in 2010 and the tipping point was in 2012 and so I had to make sure that the projects that had to be completed and in operation in 2012 were on track, otherwise we would lose our credibility."They achieved what was planned for 2012, but then there was this other challenge of how to create value for each sector in Iskandar. "How do we add breadth to each sectoral vertical? We needed to think of what ancillary activities we could have to catalyse the planned iconic projects."He illustrates using the example of the education vertical in Iskandar. When EduCity was conceptualised, it focused more on the institutions itself, Mr Syed Mohamed explains. However, the region has now launched EduPark, which is the second part of EduCity."For EduPark, it is more integrated by making sure that the plan includes activities complementing the institutions. For example, residential - the EduPark includes accommodation catering for the people working in the institutions as they also require accommodation." The EduPark is also created with retail needs in mind so that the institutions' staff and students will have their eateries and do their grocery shopping there.Nevertheless, other gaps do exist in the plans to implement his strategic vision, and Mr Syed Mohamed and his team are seeking to fix them to attract more investors from Singapore. The first of the迷你倉新蒲崗e is security. Crime in Johor and other parts of Malaysia, involving Singaporean victims, has been high. Moreover with the recent spate of shootings across the country, Mr Syed Mohamed acknowledges that safety and security concerns are paramount on many Singaporeans' minds. But he has plans in place to make Iskandar a safer place to live in.For a start, "what we have done is to form a joint venture with UEM Sunrise to provide security services in Nusajaya." These measures include obtaining about 600 licences for auxiliary policemen to complement the Royal Malaysian Police in providing security services, while the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) have gotten another 2,000 of such licences.Mr Syed Mohamed admits that the Royal Malaysian Police are currently unable to provide the kind of security needed for the Iskandar area, given their budgetary constraints, and thus these plans they have in place are necessary as it is something they must do. Therefore, besides providing complementary services in patrolling and surveillance, he says that this joint venture also funds the Royal Malaysian Police's implementation of a smartphone app for residents in Iskandar to notify the police if they are in need of assistance through the press of a button on their smartphones.Close partnershipThis collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police will continue, says Mr Syed Mohamed, as there has also been a platform established for direct engagement with the state police to cooperate and maintain close communication. "If we can do it well in Nusajaya, we can replicate it (the collaboration) elsewhere in Iskandar Malaysia."This close partnership between government and the private sector is crucial for Iskandar Malaysia to be successful in meeting its objectives. However, Mr Syed Mohamed acknowledges that there are cynics out there, even from Singapore, who believe that the bulk of the investment in the region has been driven by the Malaysian government."I would say that is true for when we first started because the level of confidence in the region then was zero. And we needed bodies like Khazanah to come in."Now though, he points out that the level of confidence in Iskandar Malaysia has been boosted strongly as all the top guns of Malaysia's private sector now have some form of investment presence in the economic zone. As this is only growing, he says that the challenge now is in trying to accommodate all of them within the Iskandar region."Even in the theme park sector, we may want to slow down the pace of our ventures and allow companies like Sunway to do their own theme park."When Iskandar first kicked off six years ago, Mr Syed Mohamed says that in initial efforts to rope in the private sector for the Medini area, the companies would only come in after their request to do a joint venture was agreed upon. But now, those very companies are so convinced by the prospects of the region that they come back wanting to buy out the Iskandar Investment stake in their business."Now, all the joint ventures that we had when we first started are all 100 per cent owned by our partners and we are glad, in fact, to back out as we have given them the confidence that they will get whatever was promised to them."It needed someone who believed strongly in the Iskandar proposition himself to be able to convince others of its merits too. Mr Syed Mohamed took up the offer of this job despite being only less than a year into his previous position as group director of property & infrastructure at DRB-Hicom Berhad. He explains: "The pull factor here was overwhelming because as a Johorean, I thought this was an opportunity not to be missed to come back here. So I really jumped in at taking up the offer to do my part (for Johor)."His wife and he now live in Johor although his four children and three grandchildren live in other parts of Malaysia. He regularly commutes to Kuala Lumpur for meetings. Despite having lived away for so many years, including stints in the Middle East where he worked on developing a smart city - the Madinah Knowledge Economic City - in Saudi Arabia, Mr Syed Mohamed still has a soft spot for Johor.Mr Syed Mohamed says that his current role with Iskandar Malaysia is a project that he will retire with. For now, he is focused on developing his masterpiece, which he acknowledges will take time, as he has until 2025 to achieve his vision.After all, every artist worth his salt never rushes into completing his work of art, for every brush stroke is deftly and carefully delivered with passion. Mr Syed Mohamed is no different. And he believes he has kept the best for last.msingh@sph.com.sgSYED MOHAMED IBRAHIMPresident and CEO, Iskandar Investment1958 Born Nov 3, Johor BaruAttended the English College school in Johor Baru1981 Degree in Analytical Economics, University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur)Worked in the banking industry for 8 years after graduation1989 Joined Johor State Economic & Development Corporation (JSEDC)1992 Assigned to JSEDC member Kulim (Malaysia) subsidiary as general manager, his first exposure to the property sector1995 Joined Sime Darby to set up their second property arm, Sime Darby Land2003 Joined Tabung Haji's property arm and contributed to the turnaround of their flagship project of over 5,000 acres near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)2007 Joined as Chief Operating Officer at a joint-venture company in Saudi Arabia belonging to King Abdullah Foundation and a few other public listed companies that developed the Knowledge Economic City in Madinah2007 Conferred title of Datuk2010 Returned to Malaysia to work for DRB-HICOM as group director responsible for property & infrastructure from January to October2010 November: Joined Iskandar Investment Bhd迷你倉出租

長和系近期頻頻將資產放盤，自存倉繼早前和黃（00013）放售百佳後，長實（00001）亦有意出售上海首個寫字樓項目「東方匯經OFC」及廣州商場項目，引發市場「撤資」疑惑，長實董事郭子威昨於北京接受當地傳媒訪問時否認撤資，強調不會退出中國市場，只是「分散投資」， 「不把雞蛋都放在一個籃子裡」。本報記者趙建強 在新地豪擲200億元（人民幣，下同）投得上海徐家匯地皮的同時，長實卻於早前放售公司於上海開發的首個寫字樓項目，陸家嘴「東方匯經OFC」，叫價高達60億元人民幣。郭子威日前接受北京傳媒訪問時否認公司同時出售北京物業的傳聞，亦否認要退出中國市場。他強調，公司是出於穩健的投資考慮，才決定出售物業。「今天賣出去，明天價格合適還可能再買回來。國內外的投資機會同樣都在關注，只是目前到歐洲投資的機會更多。」 否認缺乏資金傳聞 郭子威以上海徐家匯中心拍賣為例，指項目地價高逾200億元，連同其他投資，落成前至少要投資400億元，亦難以確保投資回報率，而且時間較長，迷你倉新蒲崗險又不小。相對地，海外投資所需資金較少，而且競爭沒有中國激烈， 「從未來的投資回報率看，歐洲的機會更多。」但郭子威強調，預期未來中國GDP增長仍可保持7%以上，因此不會撤資。 長實亦否認集團缺乏資金的傳聞，郭子威稱，僅北京「譽天下」項目，今年累計銷售已近70億元，加上即將推出的「瑞景花苑」，均價約每平米4萬至4.5萬元，資金回籠並不是問題。 上半年投資歐洲200億 相對於撤資論，亦有分析認為，長實是看淡中國前景而趁高位沽售旗下物業套現，如萬科董事長王石早前就若有所指地在微博發文稱， 「精明的李嘉誠先生在賣北京、上海的物業，這是一個信號，小心了！」言論亦即時惹來中國將出現金融危機、樓市泡沫爆破、人民幣將急速貶值等猜想。 內地一些傳媒統計亦發現，長和系今年上半年在歐洲投資超過200億元，相反在中國則完全沒有投資，而以近300億元標售百佳、60億元叫賣上海東方匯經OFC，及早前出售廣州項目套現約30億元，涉及資金近400億元，投資策略明顯改變。 迷你倉出租

許多學生人手1支智慧型手機，迷你倉使用LINE等通訊軟體聊天。台灣電磁輻射公害防治協會檢測發現，手機運作通訊軟體所釋放的電磁波，較待機時高出10倍，長期下來可能引發頭痛、耳鳴等症狀，呼籲學生少用，或下載至電腦再操作。智慧型手機越來越普及，且不少人都是上網吃到飽，但看不見的電磁波對人體可能造成威脅。台灣電磁輻射公害防治協會隨機檢測iPhone4、hTC儲存ONE等10款手機，發現這些手機待機時所釋放的電磁波約在每平方公尺210至400毫瓦，但一打開網路，數據就大幅增加，使用通訊軟體時，電磁波竟飆破每平方公尺4000毫瓦，差距達10倍。協會副秘書長邱春華解釋，手機接收通訊軟體訊號時會釋放大量電磁波，體質較敏感的人可能會覺得頭暈、想吐，長期暴露在電磁波中也可能造成電磁波敏感症，出現頭痛、耳鳴、失眠等。新蒲崗迷你倉

□江蘇 毛建國辛辣點評網絡輿情分析師作為一門新興職業，新蒲崗迷你倉正式被人社部納入職業培訓序列。這一職業，“主要替領導看網。”人民網輿情監測室副秘書長單學剛說，網絡輿情涉及各行各業，甚至是明星、名人等個人，但對此需求最大的還是各級黨政機關和企業的領導。（據《新京報》9月6日報道）網絡輿情分析師的走紅，從一個側面證明《人民日報》評論文章所說，“網絡是個新東西，我們要用好，這已成為很多黨員領導幹部的自覺”。雖然網絡輿情就在那裡，但要透過紛繁複雜，準確的掌握輿情，並沒有想象中的那麼簡單。“聞道有先後，術業有專攻”。網絡輿情分析師以其專業性，有其不可取代的作用。而且領導幹部重任在肩，在對網絡輿情的掌控上，也很難做到及時、全面、深刻。這一意義上講，輿情分析師“替領導上網”，有其必然性。“替領導上網”可以，“代替領導上網”不行。兩者一字之別，卻有本質區別。“替領導上網”，僅僅是為領導提供輿情方面的服務，輿情分析師是領導掌握輿情的主要信息源，但不是唯一信息源；而一旦“代替領導上網”，也就意味著領導當上了“甩手掌櫃”，在網絡輿情上只能聽之于人。網上輿mini storage紛繁複雜，每一個人都有自己的興奮點和關注點，輿情分析師也不例外。而那些無意中被輿情分析師過濾掉的輿情，很可能是領導決策、執行所需要的。再者，一旦“替領導上網”成了“代替領導上網”，領導幹部掌握的輿情完全依賴輿情分析師，也不排除會有些輿情分析師出于各種考慮，故意選擇或者淘汰一些輿情。現實中，雖然許多地方還沒有專門的輿情分析師，但很多領導 都要求下面每天呈送輿情。而呈送輿情的機構和人員，有的是嫌麻煩，粗粗選幾條；有的是出于各種考慮，只選擇對自己有利的，或者領導喜歡看到的……由此得來的輿情報告，自然難以體現真實、完整的輿情風貌。這一背景下，領導幹部還是應該保持親自瞭解網絡輿情的習慣。事實上，網絡輿情的特點，也決定了領導幹部不致於成為“門外漢”。瞭解網絡輿情，很多時候只需要上上網、瀏覽門戶網站首頁、看看幾個主流BBS以及微博，主要想瞭解本地，每天用百度習慣性搜索一下。如果領導幹部有自己的實名微博，更是能夠從中得到不少有針對性的輿情。下基層聽民聲，可能需要半天時間；瞭解網絡輿情，每天一刻鐘也行。這點時間，領導幹部再忙也是能夠抽出來的。self storage

昨日，迷你倉出租創新工場CEO、微博紅人李開複的一條微博立即成為網友關注的熱點，這位前穀歌全球副總裁、中國區總裁在自己的微博上，公佈了不幸患上淋巴癌的消息，引來了不少粉絲的關注和祝福，截至記者發稿時，這條微博的轉發和評論數量均已經超過10萬次。不過，對於不幸患病，李開複仍顯得較為樂觀，表示會“選擇更加積極的心態來面對生活起伏”。據悉，目前李開複正在遵照醫生指示進行治療。“人生導師”不幸患癌引發�多粉絲關注先後在微軟和穀歌擔任要職，尤其是在擔任穀歌全球副總裁、大中華區總裁期間，李開複一度是國內IT行業的風雲人物之一。再加上他喜歡寫作，曾出版過多部針對年輕人的書籍，李開複在不少在校大學生中間擁有不小的威望。就在幾年前，記者曾現場採訪過李開複在成都電子科技大學的一場演講，聞風而來的大學生們把會場圍得水泄不通，李開複如同明星一般，被�多人追捧，演講結束後幾乎無法脫身的場面依舊令人印象深刻。也正因為如此，他被不少人稱為“人生導師”。後來，李開複從穀歌離職創業，創立創新工場之後，李開複受到“學歷造假”事件的影響，減少了在公�場合露面的頻率。而後，隨著微博的流行，李開複又迅速在微博上累積起了超過5000萬粉絲，成為新浪微博上粉絲最多的微博賬號之一，成為微博紅人。9月5日，李開複正是在自己的微博上透露出自己不幸患上癌症的消息，他在微博中說迷你倉“世事無常，生命有限。原來，在癌症面前，人人平等。”在看到這條消息後，不少粉絲就紛紛猜測李開複有可能患上癌症。而昨日，他本人再次發微博，確認自己患上淋巴癌。不過，他在微博中展現了自己積極樂觀的一面，他表示“病痛也是生活的一部分，我會選擇更加積極的心態來面對生活起伏。”創新工場新聞發言人王肇輝也在微博上表示，目前李開複正在遵照醫囑接受治療。�多IT行業高管都曾遭遇癌症折磨事實上，除了李開複外，還有不少的IT行業高管都曾經遭遇癌症折磨，其中最著名的莫過於已經去世的蘋果“教主”喬布斯，2011年他被胰腺癌奪走生命。據公開資料顯示，喬布斯早在20多歲時就已經患上癌症並開始擴散，其元兇很有可能是電子行業的有毒化學物質，而喬布斯健康的飲食習慣延長了他的生命。除了喬布斯外，微軟聯合創始人保羅·艾倫也被診斷出患有癌症，而艾倫在20多年前就已經接受過一次癌症治療，此次已經是他二度患癌。俄羅斯第一大搜索引擎Yandex聯合創始人、CTO伊亞-塞加洛維奇也是癌症的受害者，他于去年9月被診斷出胃癌後，病情始終無法得到好轉，最終於今年7月不幸去世。公開資料顯示，還有部分IT行業高管也不幸患上癌症，惠普前董事會主席帕特西婭·鄧恩就因為患上卵巢癌不幸去世，雅虎前CEO巴茨也曾患上乳腺癌，她頑強地與病魔鬥爭，目前仍在IT行業繼續奮鬥。本報記者 王鑫儲存倉

Source: Kennebec Journal, Augusta, MaineSept.mini storage 06--AUGUSTA -- Motorists tired of waiting in traffic at one of the many construction sites where workers are laying natural gas pipeline into the ground could have years of waiting ahead of them.While work bringing major natural gas lines into the city is underway at sites throughout the city at a fast pace this summer, further work putting in smaller pipelines connecting to residences could take place during each of the construction seasons of the next several years, city officials said Thursday.Lesley Jones, public works director, told city councilors it could take three to seven years for both companies competing to serve businesses, residents and institutions in Augusta to build out their pipelines.City councilors said they've been getting numerous calls from residents with concerns and complaints about the disruptive work taking place between city streets and sidewalks and the business and residential properties they abut."I've gotten a lot of calls from people wondering what's going on out there," Councilor Cecil Munson said.However, Munson said he'd also gotten a letter from a citizen and former state Department of Transportation engineer who said he thought the gas line work was being done professionally and at a good pace.Summit Natural Gas of Maine and Maine Natural Gas have contractors doing pipeline construction that has torn up numerous streets, delaying motorists throughout the city."Some of you may have noticed a little difficulty getting around the city," Mayor William Stokes said of the widespread construction. "There seems to be an awful lot of workers in the streets and on sidewalks, laying pipe at a feverish pace. It can be inconvenient, but we all know there can be long-term benefits to what's going on right now."Jones said Augusta may be one of only two cities in the country where two gas companies are installing pipelines in the same streets.City Manager William Bridgeo said as many as 20 construction crews have been excavating simultaneously in the city for the pipelines.Peter Bottomley, sales manager for Maine Natural Gas, thanked the people of Augusta for their patience during the project. He said the company has nearly completed installing the backbone of its system and soon will transition to building out its system to serve gas users via smaller lines."We realize there's a lot going on. There is a lot of waiting at construction sites," Bottomley said.Michael Duguay, business development director for Summit Naself storageural Gas of Maine, offered similar thanks to the people of Augusta and said he hopes the benefit will outweigh the immediate inconvenience of the work taking place.Those benefits, he noted, include not just the eventual availability of natural gas, but also economic development in the construction jobs created and the money those construction workers spend locally."There's an incredible amount of economic activity," Duguay said. "I realize it's a inconvenience and apologize for that."Bridgeo said both companies have said they want to continue working as late into the fall as possible.He said Jones and Jerry Dostie, street supervisor, will monitor the sufficiency of pipeline construction crews' street and right-of-way restoration work closely, because that type of work gets more complicated as the temperature drops.The city grants street-opening permits for the gas line work to take place. Jones estimated the city has taken in, so far, about $300,000 in street opening permit fees.Thursday's session was not a public hearing. Bridgeo said if citizens have concerns about the construction, they should contact his office, their city councilors or Jones at the Public Works Department at 626-2435.Resident Tim Bolton, in a series of emails to city officials, has complained about several issues after pipeline work took place near his home on Chapel Street, noting that stamped concrete transitions between the sidewalk and street were not replaced, and pavement was put in their place. He said he thinks the new transition isn't compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards for providing access to people with handicaps, and is unattractive.Jones responded, also by email, to Bolton by saying the previous concrete stampings were not compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, though they were acceptable when they were installed in the 1990s. So, she said, the city has been directing contractors to pave the transitions instead.Bridgeo, in an apparent reference to Bolton's complaints, said when concerns have been raised about ADA standards, city officials have sought expert advice and "we have made every best effort to ensure we have the right information and are making the right judgments. Unfortunately, we're not always able to satisfy an individual complaint."Keith Edwards -- 621-5647kedwards@centralmaine.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine) Visit the Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine) at .kjonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉

But still a long road ahead for buses in terms of customer satisfaction, survey findsCOMMUTERS are happier with trains but not public buses, according to the latest Customer Satisfaction Index of Singapore released yesterday.文件倉The two biggest bugbears for public bus services from SMRT and SBS Transit were the frequency of buses and customer service, which were among the most important factors to commuters.There were also no improvements in bus comfort and cleanliness since last year."The Bus Service Enhancement Programme and our continued investment in hardware, software, manpower and training will hopefully improve the overall customer experience," said SBS Transit's senior vice-president of corporate communications Tammy Tan.This is the third year in a row that bus services have seen a drop in its index score, going from 66.4 out of 100 in 2011, to 61.6 last year and 60.6 yesterday.Train services, which include the MRT and LRT, rebounded from the 61.9 scored last year in the wake of a series of breakdowns, to get 64.1.Those surveyed said they saw improvements in comfort, frequency and punctuality.SMRT director存倉of corporate marketing and communicationsAlina Boey said the firm was "quite happy" with the results and that it was "heartening to know that efforts put in for customer service and improving speed and travel experience have yielded positive results".Yesterday's index by the Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University (SMU) measured customer satisfaction across the transport and logistics, public and private education sectors. From May to July, 11,123 responses on 191 companies in these sectors were gathered.All three sectors showed year-on-year improvement in customer satisfaction scores, with transport and logistics going up by 6.4 per cent, public education rising 7.9 per cent, and private education institutions improving by 4.6 per cent."The challenge is for all companies to keep their fingers on the pulse of what matters most to their customers, and deliver on them," said SMU's assistant professor of marketing Marcus Lee.Now in its seventh year, the index will also survey other sectors including health care and the food and beverage industry in the coming months.audreyt@sph.com.sg迷你倉