~~lt;pgt;It used to be the president announces he is going on vacation and that was that. The president goes on vacation to Texas or California and the issue is pau.lt;/pgt;
lt;pgt;Now President Barack Obama either is or isnt coming here on Dec. 17 for his traditional Christmas in Hawaii visit. To further complicate the trip, GOP candidate Mitt Romney is griping about Obama getting any golf time, period.lt;/pgt;
~~
With the support of mayors around the state, including West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta and North Caldwell Mayor Joseph Alessi, as well as the mayors from Millburn and West Orange, Gov. Chris Christie held a press conference Thursday calling on the state legislature to pass sick and vacation day payouts for public employees.
#13;
This is the right thing to do, commented Tempesta in a phone interview on Friday. This is a benefit that cannot be born by the taxpayers. It is too rich, Tempesta added.
#13;
Tempesta explained sick days earned by public employees 30 years ago when they were at a significantly lower pay scale have to be paid out at retirement at their current pay rate. It has grown exponentially, and it is happening around towns across the state, he stated.
#13;
As mentioned by Christie in his press conference, vacation and sick day pay reform is needed to help towns stay within their two percent property tax caps.
#13;
Tempesta commented he knows of towns that have had to issue bonds in order to payout unused vacation and sick days to departing employees. It is scary, he commented.
#13;
At his press conference, Christie stated the state Legislature has had almost 19 months to act on specific bills to reform vacation and sick pay. It is past time for the legislature to stand up and give mayors the tools they are asking for to provide savings to taxpayers, including a complete end to the inexplicable practice of paying scarce taxpayer dollars for unused sick days, Christie stated.
#13;
The state legislature had passed a bill that would cap future payouts at $15,000, but the governor vetoed it; his goal is to eliminate the payouts completely.
#13;
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, who sat in on the governors press conference, said Democrats have made attempts to work with Christie.
#13;
We need to ensure that in our rush to reform the system, we do not push long-time workers to the exit. If we do, local governments will be faced with having to pay all of those retiring workers now, inadvertently putting themselves in an even more tenuous position, Weinberg stated.
#13;
According to a chart released by the NJ Department of Community Affairs, as it stands now Caldwell would owe just under a million dollars in employee accrued sick and vacation days, North Caldwell would owe almost a half a million, and West Caldwell would owe about $1.3 million.
#13;
For the average homeowner, this would amount to $390 in property taxes for Caldwell, $217 for North Caldwell and $264 for West Caldwell.
#13;
Other Essex County towns range from the lowest being Fairfield at a little more than $11 and Verona with $19 per household to the highest being Newark with $771, East Orange with $661 and West Orange with $623. Many fell somewhere in between some of those being Bloomfield at $372, Livingston at $364, Montclair at $218, Cedar Grove at $203 and Belleville at $171 per household.
#13;
Caldwell Mayor Ann Dassing and North Caldwell Mayor Joseph Alessi were not available for comment.
Im writing this article on my laptop outside a restaurant, next to a blazing fire pit. At 11:00 pm. In Mexico.
Yes, Im on vacation with my husband (no kids this time). As any business owner knows, vacations arent without some degree of worry and stress. I bring my laptop and iPhone. Checking in a couple of times a day actually helps me better enjoy my time away from the office.
Thankfully, my husband is a tech salesman for whom the sales meter is always running. Were side-by-side at the fire pit tonight, sipping lattes. He calls it geek foreplay. But even when we vacation with our children and friends, it only takes a few minutes a day to check in with my team. Then Im able to really, truly relax.
I know some people think its heresy to bring any work on vacation, but heres why it works for me and why it could work for you:
1. No surprises. A few years ago, my company was asked to submit a proposal to be the sole supplier of marketing writers for a $6 billion tech company 3,000 miles away. With the deadline three weeks out, I felt confident I could take a week of vacation, gather my thoughts and return recharged. The day after I arrived in Mexico, I awoke to a text message saying the RFP deadline was moved up to the day before I was to return. Despite being confined to a tiny corner of the resort so I could grab the free Wi-Fi, I collaborated with seven members of my extended team in three time zones to whip up a 40-page response. My in-office team printed, assembled and overnighted the proposal to London. And yes, we won the business.
2. A change of scenery fuels creativity. Its amazing how a warm tropical breeze can clear the cobwebs from my brain and help me make decisions faster and with greater clarity. Vacations also one of the rare times I can read for pleasure, so I always stop at the airport newsstand to pick up a wide variety of books, newspapers and magazines. By the time I come home, Ive dog-eared plenty of new ideas for my business, recipes for my family and must-see destinations for the future.
3. Time to catch up. Theres nothing like a good email purge. Getting away from home and office distractions frees me to work on those not-so-urgent replies and connect with people who have slid ever-father toward the bottom of my inbox. While the kids are playing in the pool or watching TV in the hotel room, I can spend a few minutes replying to friends and distant relatives, checking in with a client, or reading a bookmarked article.
4. Minimize the avalanche. Nothing eliminates the vacation state of mind like the deluge of voice messages, postal mail and email that faces me when I come back. Staff, customers and vendors have often been sitting on decisions, waiting for me to return. Intermittent check-ins during vacation can minimize the stress of being disconnected for longer periods of time, and help make me more effective when I come back.
5. Money. In this economy, its hard to justify taking any time off no matter what your role in a small business. While Ive been out of the country this past week, Ive been contacted by three new clients and received several large POs for existing project work. Yes, work will always be there and my team does the follow-up for me but being accessible and responsive to clients is a point of pride, and the reason clients come back time and again.
Going away for a week with my husband has been wonderful. And instead of returning to the anxiety of hundreds of emails and client requests, Im rejuvenated and looking forward to focusing on my family — without feeling overwhelmed.
This post originally appeared at Inc.
Now see how to get telecommuters to actually work from afar gt;
Probation is a beach for Lindsay Lohan … whos currently sunning herself in Hawaii — but only because her new probation officer signed off on the tropical vacation.
Lohan IS allowed to travel under the terms of her probation, but shes not allowed to go anywhere without running the idea by her PO first — and this time, LiLo played by the rules.
Sources close to Lohan tell us … the probation officer was impressed by the fact Lohan is way ahead of schedule in her court-ordered stint in morgue duty and psychotherapy sessions … and found no reason to reject the trip.
Were told Lohan wanted to get out of town to escape the spotlight for a few days … to prepare herself for the PR madness that will surround the release of her Playboy spread.
Pass the poi, mahalo.
By Tom Richards, contributing writer
The thought of visiting Walt Disney World and not visiting a theme park might seem inconceivable to most travelers–this writer included.
But it shouldnt.
In the early years of the Walt Disney World Resort, promotional materials focused on the variety of leisure activities available for guests. If Disneyland was The Happiest Place on Earth, then Walt Disney World was to be The Vacation Kingdom of the World.
In addition to the Magic Kingdom and the three original Disney resorts, what could visitors expect at Walt Disney World? Tennis. Golf. Horseback riding. Boating. Water skiing. Swimming. Shopping. Fine dining. Dinner shows. This idea of Walt Disney World as a resort is evident even in the opening montage of The Wonderful World of Disney during the 1970s, which featured footage of guests boating on Bay Lake and splashing around River Country at Fort Wilderness.
To this day, it is possible to spend a week at one of Walt Disney Worlds many resorts and never set foot in a theme park. A sojourn at Disneys Wilderness Lodge, for example, can easily fill a week or more.
Looking for a chance to reconnect with the great outdoors? Theres a quiet meandering path that connects the lodge to Fort Wilderness where it is not uncommon to spot deer, especially at dusk. It is also possible to rent a variety of boats at Teton Boat and Bike Rentals near the main pool. Nothing compares to a tranquil pontoon ride around Bay Lake or a high-speed romp on a Sea Raycer; the view of the resorts, natural open spaces, and the Magic Kingdom are unparalleled. More boating opportunities are available at the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn where pedal boats, kayaks, and fishing equipment are available for rental. Bike rides around either resort are also quite enjoyable. If sitting on the beach sounds good, try the beaches at the Wilderness Lodge for sunning in the daytime or for stargazing at night.
The athletically inclined can swim in the beautiful Silver Creek Springs pool, work out at Sturdy Branches Health Club, play tennis, or play volleyball. Nearby Fort Wilderness offers many activities such as trail rides and pony rides at the Tri-Circle D Livery. Thrillseekers can head over to the Contemporary Resort for parasailing at Sammy Duvalls near the Contemporarys main pool area. Golfers can enjoy any of the world-class Disney golf courses scattered throughout the vacation kingdom.
Need some Disney-style entertainment to get in the Disney zone? No problem. At the lodge, view the nightly showing of the Electrical Water Pageant, a tradition that started in 1971. Its something of a floating Main Street Electrical Parade set to familiar Disney tunes with a patriotic finale. At Pioneer Hall over at Fort Wilderness, theres the venerable Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, a rousing dinner theater show that has been pleasing crowds for decades. For quality time with Disney characters, theres the lesser-known campfire program that meets at the Meadow Trading Post. Sing along with Disney cast members while roasting marshmallows around a campfire and hanging out with Chip and Dale. Another character driven show–Mickeys Backyard BBQ–features Mickey, Minnie, a Country Western band, and good old-fashioned barbeque style food. The monorail resorts are only a short boat ride away, so consider seeing characters at the Polynesian Resorts Ohana Character Breakfast, the Contemporarys Chef Mickeys, or the Grand Floridians character dining with Mary Poppins or Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare.
Shopping opportunities abound at the resorts. The Wilderness Lodge Mercantile stocks a limited selection of ubiquitous Walt Disney World merchandise, but also offers an interesting assortment of items with the Wilderness Lodge logo or a National Parks theme. Nearby resorts offer more options. The Contemporary features several shops–Fantasia and Bayview Gifts–that carry a surprisingly large variety of gifts, toys, souvenirs, clothing, and art for all ages. At The Grand Floridian, M. Mouse Mercantile is the spot for souvenirs and toys, while Summer Lace and Commander Porters offer clothing for women and men, respectively. The Polynesian has two shops–Wyland Gallery and BouTIKI–that offer items exclusive to this location.
Children can take advantage of programs unique to the resorts. The Wonders of the Lodge Tour at the Wilderness Lodge is a great option for older children, the petting zoo and wagon rides at Fort Wilderness are fun for all ages, and little explorers will get a kick out of the various pirate cruises available at the nearby monorail resorts. Other recreational activities at Walt Disney World include miniature golf and water parks.
There are plenty of indulgences geared towards adults as well. For fine dining, theres Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. Take the monorail to the Contemporary for the California Grill, to the Polynesian for Ohana, or to the Grand Floridian for Victoria and Alberts or Narcoossees. Another treat is time spent at one of Walt Disney Worlds world-class spas. Indulge, relax, and unwind.
There is something very special about experiencing the Vacation Kingdom of the World at a slower pace, one that does not involve standing in lines or battling crowds. Particularly for frequent visitors, exploring the amenities found at Walt Disney Resorts can make a trip to the World an entirely new experience. And for those visitors who just cant stay away from the parks, consider a day or two off to take advantage of all the World has to offer.
Tom Richards is a life-long admirer of Walt Disney, something of a Disney historian, and a free-lance writer. His Disney interests include–but are not limited to–Walt Disney World, classic Disney animation, live-action films made during Walts lifetime, and Disney-related music and art.
MousePlanet.com is the leading independent online source for all information about the Walt Disney Company. Be sure to check out our
Disneyland and
Walt Disney World Park Guides and other featured articles at
MousePlanet.com.
ISLAMABAD-The US has to complete its vacation process of Shamsi Airbase before December 11 and has to submit report to the Defence Ministry in this connection, sources said Friday.
While, majority of the assets were shifted from the airbase to Afghanistan and other locations, the sources added, without specifying as what was actually shifted to other locations.
However, according to some reports, the US has shifted five drone aircrafts to Afghanistan, and United Arab Emirates took control of the airbase. The UAE built Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan for landing of small aircrafts and then the US had extended the runway for heavy aircrafts.
After NATO attacks against two posts in Mohmand Agency along Afghan border at the dawn of November 26, when 24 Pakistani soldiers were martyred and over a dozen others injured, Pak-US and Pak-NATO relations became tense.
Pakistan called a meeting of the Defence Cabinet Committee (DCC) that decided to block NATO supply to Afghanistan via Pakistan besides ordering US to vacate Shamsi Airbase, the operative station of US drone in the region.
The committee also decided to boycott the long-awaiting international conference on future of Afghanistan that was held in German city of Bonn in the first week of the current month. The DCC decisions were endorsed by the Parliamentary committee on National Security that also decided to call in joint session of the parliament over the issue.
After the NATO attack Pakistan and US were propagating their own accounts of the incident and the former also called in its diplomats from various countries for consultation over the situation emerged after raids against Pakistani posts. Sources said, “In fact meeting of the diplomats was held for reviewing Pakistan’s policy in this connection”.
Pakistani authorities had fixed December 11 as the deadline for vacating the airbase.
Vacation Home Rental for Owners and vacationers has never been this easy with new technology in the vacation home industry. Rent My Vacation Home dot com insures every Home and Vacation made on its travel site with the new technology.
Los Angeles , California (PRWEB) December 09, 2011
For vacationers, theres an affordable, comfortable and convenient alternative to booking a hotel room. Its renting a whole house with Rent My Vacation Home dot com new technology.
And for owners of those vacation homes, the logistics of renting their excess weeks out for profit have never been easier then it is now. The updated Homeowners offer credit card check out and travelers insurance that does away with deposits.
Ideally, its a win-win for both parties; owners make money and can pay mortgages, utilities, taxes and HOA and vacationers get more for their money, often surprisingly more.
Jay Kalin, author of Rent My Vacation Home and a director of Rent My Vacation Home dot com, an online market place for vacation home rentals, says, The average traveler thinks that vacation homes are expensive to rent and they have to wait on a key and leave deposits with strangers, but the vast majority of the homes available are reasonable and require no deposit or a key. Reasonable means within the $100 to $300 a night peak season range. Off peak, a nice place might be $100 to $200 a night.
As for the owner, Kalin says a recent poll of clients revealed that the average weekly rate they received in rentals came to $1,978 and nearly half the respondents said their homes are occupied about 21 weeks per year. That suggests that an average owner could expect to bring in more than $39,000 in revenue a year.
Exploding market
During the past decade millions of Americans bought vacation homes as second homes. Most were bought primarily as investments but about a third of the purchases were as vacation homes. When the market tanked in 2008 they had to rent all of them as selling was no longer an option.
Hundreds of thousands of vacation properties are available for short-term rentals. Rent My Vacation Home dot com alone has more than 70,000 properties available worldwide. These often are bargains for cost-conscious consumers.
Heres an example:
A beautiful Two-bedroom, three-bath 1,378 square foot Condo in Orlando with one king-size bed and one queen, cable television , stereo, fireplace, barbecue and more costs all of $1,100 a week, any season.
Compare that with a decent hotel in town, which will cost at least $150 a night per room with 1 Bed – $1,050 a week. And hotel rooms dont have the extras that make a home rental even more of a deal like privacy in the bedroom and that adds to the pleasure of vacationing.
For instance, these homes boast full kitchens and often barbecue grills; families save big money by eating in and most of the time they can bring family pets.
Plus, there are often things to do around the house itself. In a hotel room, Vacationers in a Hotel have 2 beds one for them and the other for the kids just 3 feet away. This does not make for a romantic trip at all.
Ive found that people who stay in private homes dont feel like an outsider but a local. Says Kalin. They hang out more and relax, which is what a vacation should be about.
But for some vacationers it takes a leap of faith to rent a house on line, sight otherwise unseen.
Does the property really exist? Is it as represented? These are some of the questions vacationers ask themselves, Kalin says.
Kalin advises the faint of heart to take several steps to reassure themselves that the rental will go off as planned with the new technology :
- Vacationers only use credit card to pay. That will establish the home owner as responsive owners and you get a warranty with Rent My Vacation Home dot com that protects the vacationer against fraud.
- Get Travelers Insurance. Vacationers get protection from the weather and unforeseen.
- Examine the photos. Only consider rentals where you can see pictures of all the important rooms – each bedroom, kitchen and living room. Ask where and when the photos were taken and whether a zoom was used. That can make it look like the house in on the beach, rather than a block away.
- Use Rent My vacation Home Dot Com where everything is built into the listing and verified.
Kalins organization has a strict policy, After a property is listed, it is investigated by our 83 local offices and then put on the web site. Even one complaint, if blatant enough, can be grounds for removal.
What owners should know
For owners who want to rent out properties there are many places to list properties. The general rule is the more exposure you have for your vacation home the more demand you create and the more profit.
Kalin has more advice for owners as well:
- Put lots of photos on your web page and complete, accurate information; dont exaggerate. That will help avoid disappointment from renters who expect more than there is. I, as a consumer, would not rent a place without seeing photos of each bedroom and the living room, Kalin says.
- Replace the furniture often. The normal wear and tear on upholstery and linens can prove a turn-off for vacationers. Theyre much more satisfied when everything is more crisp and new.
- Hire a Maid .It is best to get one that is also a handy man just ask around..
According to Kalin, who rents out a couple of vacation homes, owners have few problems renting out their properties to strangers. He says that most guests are very respectful of the properties.
Rent My Vacation Home dot com is having a special for home owners to list their home for 1 year for 99.00 and 2 weeks featured listing included on all 83 website.
# # #
For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebHOWTORENT/12/prweb9027139.htm
When Jan. 1 rolls around, many celebs resolve to eat better or hit the gym harder. But not Zac Efron. (Probably because he already has rock-solid abs!) Instead, the star of New Years Eve (in theaters Dec. 9) says his resolution is to spend some quality time with his family.
I want to take my dad and brother on a really long hike, just the guys, says the 24-year-old actor. And I also want to take my mom somewhere shes never been and show her a really good time. Show her the world. (Aww!)
But hes not just nice to his family. His costar Michelle Pfeiffer (with whom he shares an onscreen kiss!) seems to think hes pretty sweet, too. He is exactly what he seems, says the actress, 53. Hes just so genuine.
Watch our exclusive video interview to find out what surprised Efron about Pfeiffer and why he says his 80-something grandfather is like Iron Man.
Selena Gomez is really enjoying her vacation with Justin Bieber in Mexico. The songstress seems to be taking a much needed social media break, not updating her Twitter or Facebook accounts since December 7, the day after she and JB arrived in Mexico. The Biebs, on the other hand, has been tweetingâ??a lot.
Got word that there is 16 more days to find the PLATINUM tickets in the #UnderTheMistletoe albums to come meet me in NYC on NYE! #FINDTHEM (sic), Justin tweeted just hours ago. He has also sent out several tweets to his fans, calling them flawless and thanking them for always having his back.
Its interesting to see the difference between Selena and Justin and how JB still keeps up with his fans and his Twitter account even when he is on vaca. In general, Justin seems to tweet more than Selena anyway, and even though it would be nice for him to just shut things down for a couple of days, he is dedicated to his brandâ??and to his fans. At least hes not tweeting constantly while trying to get some alone time with his lady!
 Effie Orfanides 2011
Fripp Island, SC, November 13, 2011 (PR.com) When Marketing Specifics launched the Facebook contest Win a Free Fripp Island Getaway Vacation for their client 4RentonFripp.com, everyone expected to read postings by the sites fans that would be both varied and interesting. Perhaps there would be posts about not having money to spend on a vacation at this time, a post desiring a family reunion, or even a request for a wedding or anniversary celebration might be posted. Over 850 Facebook fans wrote on the site why they needed a vacation on the small island of Fripp and why they should be chosen to win the 5-day free vacation in one of 4RentOnFripp.coms beautiful, luxury vacation homes.
After all of the postings were read at the end of the contest, 4RentOnFripp.coms co-owner David Patzke knew one story stood out as the contests clear winner. Michelle Armstrong of Lowell, North Carolina, posted a touching story of the loss of her daughter the previous year from a terrible automobile accident and what she had accomplished to help others in toughing the law against habitual offenders.
Michelle has turned her grief into advocacy to help prevent other families from the tragedy she has endured. Michelles daughter, Laura, was only 17 when she was killed as the vehicle she was riding in was struck head on by a drunk driver who had three previous convictions of DWI on his record. On June 23, 2011, the North Carolina Legislation passed a new law referred to as Lauras Law. Created to add a greater degree of punishment than was previously available, this law seeks to increase jail time and fines, as well as post-release requirements for those with certain, severe factors weighing against them.
It was a true honor to recognize Michelles tremendous efforts and accomplishment in the passing of Lauras Law, said David Patzke, of 4RentOnFripp.com. I am so grateful for people like Michelle who in her moments of sorrow was able to make such a positive change for others. She is a true winner. Michelle, her husband and some close friends recently returned from their Fripp Island vacation where they enjoyed the fun and festivity of the island.
More information about the contest winners accomplishments to harden the law against drunk drivers, can be seen by cutting and pasting this video link:
http://images.news14.com:80/media/2011/7/25/video/FORTENBERRY_ANNIV._PKG.mp4
Media Contact:
Marketing Specifics, Inc.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Toll Free: 800-717-8999
www.marketingspecifics.com
Media Contact:
Joan Barnes
Direct: 678-920-0211
E: joanb@marketingspecifics.com
About 4RentOnFripp.com: Founded in 2001 by co-owner David Patzke of Acworth, Georgia, 4RentOnFripp.com is a luxury vacation home rental business offering high-end rentals for the discriminating vacationer on Fripp Island in South Carolina.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only. Claims made in the above release have not been reviewed by and are not endorsed by JAGSReport, LLC or its editorial staff.