Conn. grants $500K for lost business in Newtown

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? For Vito Kala, owner of an Italian restaurant not far from a street leading to the grade school in Newtown where 20 children and six educators were shot dead last month, the murders were not only emotionally draining, but also financially.

Roads in the area were initially clogged with police cars and ambulances, then by TV satellite trucks and eventually a crush of visitors paying their respects at makeshift memorials. As a result, many customers could not get to The Villa restaurant or more than a dozen other area businesses.

"We were isolated," Kala said. "It was the worst month for me."

In addition to limited access to businesses because of crowds, the long mourning period in the community soured the appetite for holiday parties, shopping and decorating. Responding to pleas for help, the state stepped in on Tuesday, giving Newtown a $500,000 grant to help businesses recover.

"The community as a whole was not in a celebratory mood to do Christmas shopping," said Elizabeth Stocker, Newtown's director of economic and community development. "People shopping, friends going out to eat and doing what you can to prepare for the holidays all got thrown out the window."

About a week after the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, business owners asked whether town officials could do anything to help them "get through the crisis," Stocker said.

So town officials went to the state. It was decided that a grant from the state's Small Town Economic Assistance Program would be the quickest way to deliver money to Newtown, said Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

"This is a bit out of our normal realm, but it was very important for that part of the state, so we were happy to help out," Smith said.

As many as 16 businesses are affected, said Newtown First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra.

The included restaurants, a delicatessen, a dress shop, a toy store, a karate studio, a coffee shop and other small businesses that were essentially shut for nearly two weeks, Llodra. The town told state officials that not helping would devastate the small businesses.

"This would be a harm on top of a harm," Llodra said.

Additionally, there are costs to workers who lost pay because their employers closed, Stocker said.

Some businesses, though, benefited from an increase in visitors and reporters, she said.

"When we visited the businesses in Sandy Hook, a couple said they would not need assistance because they did not have any drop off in activity," she said. "Some businesses were OK."

Officials have not yet drawn up a process to distribute the money, Llodra said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-08-School%20Shooting-Financial%20Help/id-9f75dbe269e442319c792a06db9df0cd

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66 Million US Households Will Access The Internet Via Game ...

Ten years ago, the most common way to connect to the Internet at home was via a PC or a laptop. Now, connectivity at home is increasingly being supplemented by tablets, smartphones, and other media devices, although PCs/laptops still dominate. Consumer electronics device manufacturers cashing in on this shift are offering Internet-ready capabilities in many of their devices. Although the notion of ?connected devices? can be quite broad, we focused specifically on game consoles, Blu-ray players, and high-definition (HD) TVs in our recently published Forrester Research Connected Devices Forecast, 2012 To 2017 (US). Here is a brief commentary on each of these device segments:

• Game consoles: In 2012, the game console manufacturers experienced declining sales. Unlike in the past, when the introduction of a new console generally saw significant uptake in sales, Nintendo?s Wii U (launched in Q4 2012) is not expected to hit the peak sales of the original Wii. We believe that this trend will be seen more broadly in the game console industry. This is largely (though not exclusively) driven by the availability of low-cost/"freemium" titles on smartphones and tablets, which fulfill the gaming needs of the casual gamer ? and have a negative impact on the console market. However, we still expect the console market to see moderate growth. By 2017, the majority of consoles will be ?connected? to an IP connection because consoles are multi-purpose and allow users to do many activities online such as rent/buy movies and TV shows, purchase games, watch streaming videos, and listen to streaming music.
• Blu-ray players: The sales of Blu-ray players have continued to increase over the past five years but at a slower pace than the DVD players in their early years. Growth drivers for Blu-ray player sales include declining prices, bundled offers with HDTVs, DVD player replacements, the availability of more titles in the Blu-ray format, and Blu-ray disc availability via kiosk rental channels. However, consumers? preference for owning fewer optical discs and the availability of streaming services via set-top boxes, game consoles, and connected TVs will moderate the standalone Blu-ray player sales growth. Availability of Blu-ray disc playing capability in the game consoles such as Sony PS3 will also decelerate the sales of standalone Blu-ray players.
• Connected HDTVs: By 2017, as the number of ?connectable TVs? increases, more US households will have a connected TV than will have a connected game console or a connected Blu-ray player. We expect the number of connected HDTVs to grow faster due to the availability of an increasing number of movies and TV shows via online streaming services, a shift in consumers? preference for watching more online video content via their TVs, the increasing maturity of TV operating systems, and the anticipated large-scale production of OLED TVs starting in 2014.

We expect 66 million US households ? 54% of the total ? to access the Internet via one or more of these types of devices in 2017; they will usually supplement, rather than replace, incumbent devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. People will also connect to the Internet via devices such as set-top boxes, portable media players, eReaders, digital photo frames, and even connected digital cameras. With the proliferation of many consumer technology devices that are connected and the rapid rise of Social/Mobile apps, consumer behavior is taking on a profound shift in how it consumes media, interacts with brands and people, and where it interacts from. This shift will challenge the existing business models of Media and Telecom industries and will result in newer opportunities for Internet-based businesses.

Source: http://blogs.forrester.com/jitender_miglani/13-01-07-66_million_us_households_will_access_the_internet_via_game_consoles_blu_ray_players_or_connected_?cm_mmc=RSS-_-MS-_-1710-_-blog_Jitender-Miglani

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Report: Syrian troops repulse rebels in Aleppo

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syria's state media said Monday that government troops repulsed a rebel attack on a police school in the northern city of Aleppo, one day after President Bashar Assad called on Syrians to fight rebels he characterized as religious extremists.

SANA news agency said members of the "terrorist group" were killed and wounded in the late Sunday battle but did not specify the number, The government and the pro-regime media refer to rebels as terrorists.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and a former commercial hub, has been a major front in the civil war since July, with battles often raging for control of military and security facilities such as the police school. Rebels have recently made significant advances there, in the east, and in the capital Damascus, bringing the civil war closer to the seat of Assad's power.

In his speech Sunday, Assad laid out terms for a peace plan but dismissed any chance of dialogue with "murderous criminals" who he said were responsible for nearly two years of violence. Nearly 60,000 people have died, according to a recent United Nations estimate.

Assad appeared confident and relaxed in a one-hour speech ? his first public address in six months. He struck a defiant tone, ignoring international demands for him to step down and saying he is ready to hold a dialogue ? but only with those "who have not betrayed Syria." He also vowed to continue the battle "as long as there is one terrorist left."

He offered a national reconciliation conference, elections and a new constitution but demanded regional and Western countries stop funding and arming rebels trying to overthrow his regime first.

Syria's opposition swiftly rejected the proposal. Those fighting to topple the regime, including rebels on the ground, have repeatedly said they will accept nothing less than the president's departure, dismissing any kind of settlement that leaves him in the picture.

The West, including the U.S. and Britain that have called on Assad to step down denounced the speech that came amid stepped-up international efforts for a peaceful way out of the Syrian conflict.

Previous diplomatic initiatives have failed to stem the bloodshed.

Syria conflict began as peaceful protests after the uprising against Assad authoritarian rule erupted in March 2011. It morphed into civil war after a brutal government crackdown on dissent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-syrian-troops-repulse-rebels-aleppo-094507523.html

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Best Food & Drink 2012 Panama Costa Rica Nicaragua Chifrijo Sibu

Welcome to Part 2 in our Best Of the Trans-Americas Journey 2012 series of posts. Part 2 is all about the Best Food & Beverages from the past year on the road from a gourmet surprise on a volcanic island in Nicaragua to the best chifrijo in Costa Rica. Part 1 covers the Best Adventures & Activities of 2012?and Part 3 covers the Best Hotels of the year.

Yes, end of year round-ups can be lame. On the other hand, they can also be a valuable chance for us to look back on the year that was and remember just how damn lucky we are.?Done right, an end of year round-up can also be a quick and easy way for you to get ?the best tips, tricks and truths that made our Trans-Americas Journey travels so special in 2012. Maybe, just maybe, you?ll hit the road yourself in 2013 (or 2014, no pressure).

First, a few relevant stats:

In 2012 the Trans-Americas Journey?

?thoroughly explored Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama

?drove 8,349 miles?

?spent $2,608 on fuel?

?made seven overland border crossings

We?ve also eaten nearly all of our meals in restaurants of one description or another from street food stalls to bustling markets to multi-star restaurants. In no particular order, here are some of the best bites and top tipples that made all that time on the road even tastier.

Best iced coffee: The talented baristas at the?Caf? Las Flores?coffee shops around Managua, Nicaragua turn the organic coffee grown and roasted by Caf? Las Flores into rich, satisfying coffee drinks of all descriptions including hard-to-find properly made iced coffee (US$2).?No hot coffee watered down with ice cubes here!?

Best pizza: The kitchen at?Al Cielo Hotel & Restaurant?is run by Xavier, a young French chef-slash-surfer who ditched the bustle of Paris in favor of the views and vibe at the ridge top place he helped create minutes from super surf in the town of?Aposentillo in northern?Nicaragua. Before he left Paris, a mentor gave him his pizza dough recipe as a going away present. Xavier has perfected it to suit the water and the oven in his new kitchen and, among other tasty dishes, he now offers authentic gourmet pizzas for 180 cordobas (US$7.50).?

?

Best cinnamon roll: They bake a lot of things at?La Casa de Don Colacho in Jinotega, Nicaragua but stay focused on the cinnamon rolls which have the sticky sweetness to rich pastry ratio dialed in.?

Best casual gourmet surprise: Caf? Campestre in the village of Balgue on Ometepe Island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua is owned by chef Ben Slow. He turns local, organic ingredients (much grown on his own nearby permaculture farm) into delights including homemade tagliatelle (seen drying, below), chicken curry, real chilli, humus (made with locally sourced jackfruit seeds instead of imported chickpeas?you?ll never know the difference) and much more all for less than many of the run-of-the-mill eateries on the island. His lovely and well-trained local staff and rustic/chic d?cor are also welcome surprises.?

?

Best ice cream:?It?s best to think of the frozen treat that?s been sold at La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora in San Jos??s 130 year old Central Market for more than 100 years as frozen egg nog with all the nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and rich, custardy goodness that entails. It?s even the same color as egg nog. Locals like it even more with cubes of red Jell-O in it. We liked it so much (sans Jell-O) that we made it one of our 17 Reasons Not to Blow Off the Capital.

?

Best chifrijo in Costa Rica: Pull into a road side stand just a few miles after you exit the new pay highway from San Jose onto the Costanera highway on Costa Rica?s Pacific Coast and get ready for the best example of Costa Rica?s national dish that we had during our 5+ months in the country. The chifrijo here (shown below), made with white rice and whole red beans topped with chopped tender pork then crumbled with chopped chicharon (fried pork skin) then doused with pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime juice, is sublime.?

Best restaurant name: Claro Que Seafood Grill, the formal restaurant for the iconic Si Como No hotel near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, wins this one hands down with its clever play on the common Spanish phrase claro que si (which means ?clearly? or ?of course?).

Best French fries: 9 Degrees Restaurant & Lounge in Bocas Town on Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago of northern Panama serves up thick cut, freshly made fries dusted in chunky salt and served on a chic waterfront outdoor deck.

Best chocolate: Sibu Chocolate?near San Jose, Costa Rica is heaven for chocolate lovers and lovers of the environment. Innovative owners Julio Fernandez Amon and George Soriano?not only produce top drawer organic hand-made chocolates they do it with local ingredients from small-scale farmers, they offset their carbon emissions and their elegant packaging is made from recycled materials.?

Source: http://trans-americas.com/blog/2013/01/best-food-beverages-2012/

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Use Short-Term Business Loans for Your Working Capital Needs

Small businesses can't survive without funding for their operations. They need funding in the short-term for working capital needs, seasonal needs, cyclical needs, and cash flow ebbs and flows. This is where short-term business loans come in to play.

Short-term bank loans have been difficult to obtain during the Great Recession. Banks tightened up credit and credit requirements. As the recovery progresses, credit requirements are gradually loosening. As consumers become more willing to buy, small businesses need to obtain short-term loans to ramp up their inventory. The best option for small businesses is not large banks. Check out your small community banks and credit unions instead. You may find them much more willing to work with your business.

Here is an article on short-term loans that may help you. Check it out!

Short Term Business Loans

Most Popular Topics |Latest Articles | Newsletter | Discuss in my Forum | Add to RSS Feed |Follow me on Twitter! | Fan me on Facebook!

Source: http://bizfinance.about.com/b/2013/01/04/use-short-term-business-loans-for-your-working-capital-needs.htm

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J.R. Smith Dunk: Pablo Prigioni Sets Up Reverse Ally Oop Slam As Knicks Defeat Spurs (VIDEO)

NEW YORK -- Sometime between Stephen Jackson's sideline stumble and J.R. Smith's soaring slam, the San Antonio Spurs realized this wasn't their night.

Too much fatigue and way too much Knicks defense.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, Smith kept up his surge with 20 and New York snapped San Antonio's seven-game winning streak with a 100-83 victory Thursday night.

Steve Novak added 15 points and Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds to help the Knicks bounce back from consecutive losses by dominating the final period against the Spurs, who appeared to run out of gas in their second game in two nights.

"They shot the hell out of it and I could see it wasn't going to happen," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Just too low on fuel and their defense was too good. Bad combination, and then they made shots, which makes it even worse."

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker each had just 11 points for the Spurs, who lost Jackson to an unusual injury, then lost what had been the NBA's longest winning streak.

Jackson played just three minutes off the bench before spraining his right ankle when he took a shot then fell back into a waitress working the sideline in front of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Smith, who had scored 25 points in his last four games as a reserve, highlighted his outing with an acrobatic dunk in the fourth quarter that brought fans to their feet. The lobbed pass came from reserve point guard Pablo Prigioni, who had one of his most complete games since coming to the NBA at age 35, finishing with six points and nine assists.

That meant the Knicks needed just an ordinary game from Anthony, who finished with about half of the season high-tying 45 he scored in a loss against Portland on Tuesday.

"That's their scheme, to try to take me out of the game," Anthony said. "Just a matter of us making shots when we swing the ball, and Novak made shots, J.R. kept his streak alive of playing good basketball, Pablo came in and led our team from the point guard position. Everybody contributed in their own way."

The Knicks put away what had been a close game for three quarters, scoring the first 10 points of the fourth to take a 17-point lead. The Spurs, playing for the fourth time in five nights, went with reserves from there and never put much of a dent in it.

San Antonio, which averaged 111.7 points on 53.4 percent shooting during its winning streak and rang up 117 points on Wednesday in Milwaukee, shot just 36 percent in its lowest-scoring game this season. Gary Neal led the Spurs with 12 points.

"It wasn't the first time, it's not going to be the last one," Spurs reserve Manu Ginobili said of the tired performance. "But of course we've got to give them credit because they forced us to not find anything easy, they made us really work."

Popovich praised the Knicks' defense before the game, though it had slipped during their stretch of three losses in four games. Looking for a fix, coach Mike Woodson gave Marcus Camby a start at forward in hopes of ending the Knicks' slow starts, and they allowed just 19 points in the first quarter.

"Our defense was slacking the last 10 games or so. Our defense kind of went the other way," Woodson said. "We put a nice feel-good tape together to show our players how we started the season, that we were No. 1 in defense and on offense. There was some major slippage."

Amare Stoudemire had 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting in his second game of the season after knee surgery. He seemed more aggressive than in his debut Tuesday but is clearly without his typical explosiveness, having a number of shots blocked when he tried to power his way inside.

Leading 67-60 after three, the Knicks made it 77-60 on Novak's 3-pointer with 10:24 remaining in the game. New York poured it on from there, the lead growing to 20 when Smith caught a lob from Prigioni around his waist while in the air and slammed it home as the players on the Knicks bench jumped up in celebration.

"J.R. does some amazing things. He's a freak of nature," Chandler said.

Novak followed with another 3-pointer on the next possession to make it 95-72.

Jackson entered the game just 13 seconds in, but his night was over late in the period after his bizarre injury. Jackson launched a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:23 left, stepping backward out of bounds after the miss and falling onto the waitress. He limped back onto the court as the Knicks played with a 5-on-4 advantage that led to Anthony's 3-pointer. The Spurs then took a timeout and Jackson limped off toward the locker rooms.

It was unclear if the waitress was serving Bloomberg, who was seen eating a box of popcorn shortly after.

Jackson was unavailable for comment.

Woodson said before the game he thought the Spurs were the best team in basketball right now, though Popovich dismissed that as gamesmanship he learned from Larry Brown. San Antonio sure didn't look its best while losing for the first time since a 112-106 setback at Denver on Dec. 18 and getting held well below its NBA-best 105.9 points per game.

Notes: The Spurs hadn't played here since January 2011, so this was their first time back in Madison Square Garden since renovations began. Popovich jokingly yelled at Parker for not knowing how to get from the locker room to the court before the game. ... Ginobili, Prigioni's teammate with Argentina's national team, was held to eight points on 2-of-10 shooting.

___

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/jr-smith-dunk-pablo-prigioni-ally-oop_n_2406942.html

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Lace Up the Skates, Nautical Mile Pond Hockey Tournament is a Go ...

The recent sub-freezing temperatures may have put a chill on many outdoor events, but has organizers of the Nautical Mile Pond Hockey Winter Classic warming up plans for a weekend of games, activities and civic pride in St. Clair Shores.

Organizers decided Thursday to move forward with the outdoor hockey tournament after temperatures recently dropped enough to cause the canals next to Brownie's on the Lake to freeze. Additionally, the seven-day forecast includes nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing.

"We are a go," said Shawn Nicholson, vice-president of the St. Clair Shores Hockey Association and one of the organizers of the event. "I am a lot more confident now than I was two weeks ago."

The inaugural tournament had been planned for this past January, but unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of ice led to the cancellation of the event.

Even with the cancellation last year, there has been strong interest in the event this year with 44 of the planned 48 teams already registered for the Jan. 25-27 tournament.

Each team, which is comprised of players 21-years-old and older, will have at least three games - with some being played under lights set-up on the ice - with semi-finals and championships on Sunday.

"I think it is going to be an event that brings the community together," said Greg Esler, parks and recreation director. "We want to make sure the hockey players, and their families feel special, and find St. Clair Shores a great place to live and maybe buy a house down the road."

For more information about the tournament, visit the Pond Hockey website.

Volunteers are also needed. For more information, visit the volunteers needed page.

Source: http://macomb.patch.com/articles/lace-up-the-skates-nautical-mile-pond-hockey-tournament-is-a-go

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