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pinerlotus · 2 years ago

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Treasured friends

Hang out at our house year round and make some of your happiest memories at our special events. Įnjoy the Carousel's festive decor when you visit - perfect for selfies! Treasure Chests can be found on the top floors of houses, basements. The Silver Beach Carousel, with its brass ring machine and 44 hand-carved, life-like horses began thrilling crowds of visitors in 1910. Treasured Friends updated Unlock Treasured Friends by looting a Treasure Chest in a successful mission in a 3+ zone. Pick your favorite and come ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights.Ĭarousel History Learn About the Long & Storied Past of the Silver Beach Carousel. See all 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots. Blooming Branches, Larkspur, Garden Roses, Cymbidium Orchids, Spirea. īeautiful Figures Whirling with excitement to see you! This magnificent Carousel wouldn’t be here without the generosity of our donors! Please help us make happy memories for generations to come. Thanks for Giving! Help Make Children Happy for Generation After Generation. The Silver Beach Carousel is located at the Silver Beach Center - one of the most fun places to be year round! See what’s along our boardwalk. Or shop here online and we’ll send your selections wherever you want to make someone happy. Per Ray's wishes, there will not be a service. To send online condolences, please go to in The Brass Ring Gift Shop to find the perfect Carousel-themed souvenir or gift. Matthias Fuchs whose steadfast care and attentiveness to Ray’s health over the years helped Ray extend his retirement years and enjoy even more time with family and friends beyond what anyone thought possible. Treasured Friends provides quality care to all ages and disabilities in need of additional support at home.We pride ourselves in offering 24 hr care so you or your loved one will never have to feel left alone. The family wishes to thank the Bellin ICU and 4th-floor nursing teams for the care they provided Ray in his final weeks. Specialties: Treasured Friends Home Care,Is women owned and operated. Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his lifelong friend James "Jim" Kidd. Ray will be missed by his many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He is further survived by his brother Alvin (Rose) Spakowitz and sisters Alvina Michalski, Virginia (Harold), Becks, and Dorothy (Mike) Baxter. Ray is survived by his partner of 25 years, Lori Ruechel son Joe (Michelle) Spakowicz grandchildren Alex (Yanica Gonzalez) Spakowicz and Jenna Spakowicz step-grandchildren Hanna Kline and Zachary Kline great-grandchild Nicholas Spakowicz daughter Amy (Tanyi) Tanjong grandchildren Cameron (Georgina) Tanjong, Jordan Tanjong, and Noah Tanjong daughter Annette (Eric) Lepp, and son Andy Spakowicz. Ray was a wonderful, loving, caring partner, father, and grandfather and a cherished friend to many. In his younger days, on Thursday nights, Ray could be found at the bowling alley for league night with his many treasured friends. He most enjoyed any time spent with family, particularly at the holidays when the whole family was together, and visits with Lori's sisters, Marlis and Kay. He always looked forward to watching high school football, especially those teams with his grandsons or other family members suiting up. Ray was a devoted Wisconsin sports fan, following the Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Badgers. He enjoyed using his outdoor equipment and "collecting" mowers, tractors, golf carts, skid steers, and whatever else caught his eye. Whether it was trout fishing, teaching his grandsons Cameron, Jordan, and Noah to fish, or deer hunting with his best friend Jim, son Joe, nephew Tom, and grandson Alex at their hunting camp, or just clearing trees in the woods with Lori, he loved being outside. The passion for the business just isnt there. The consignment has taken over, and its all overpriced, underwhelming and dated. It is a messy, sad shadow of its former self. Ray loved living in Pembine and spending time outdoors. 1 review of Treasured Friends Gifts 'This is not the store it once was. A wide range of additional services may also be offered by the Treasured Friends. Following graduation, Ray began a lifelong career with the railroad, first with the Chicago & Northwestern, then the Fox River Valley, Wisconsin Central, and finally, retiring from the Canadian National. The Treasured Friends, located in Highland, Indiana is an Animal Shelter that provides temporary housing and care for stray, unwanted, and owner-relinquished animals including dogs and cats in Lake County. You Are So Special A very cute card with a perfect message to make your friend feel special. After the family moved to Green Bay, Ray completed his schooling at Green Bay West High School. Best Girl Friends A cool friendship ecard for your best pal. Ray was born July 10, 1945, in Angelica, WI, to Dominic and Cecelia Spakowicz. Ralph "Ray" Spakowicz passed away peacefully on August 22, 2022, after fighting a number of health issues.

#Treasured friends

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mrsbluebertgreggleson · 5 years ago

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A federal judge raised serious constitutional questions about the Legislature’s crackdown on Amendment 4, saying lawmakers created a “mess” that has left felons afraid to register to vote.

“What we have now is an administrative nightmare,” said U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who is overseeing a challenge to the law by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, during a Tuesday hearing in Tallahassee.

The ACLU asked Hinkle to temporarily stop the law, which requires felons to pay back all court fees, fines and restitution to victims before being allowed to vote. Hinkle is expected to rule on it in the coming weeks.

But Hinkle made clear that the Legislature’s law, which critics have called a “poll tax,” raises constitutional questions that attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Laurel Lee and county elections supervisors were unable to answer after two days of arguments.

It’s become an administrative nightmare, he said, because of problems created by lawmakers. Even so, he said it was the Legislature that was best suited to fix the law, which he said was preferable to judges like himself trying to fix it.

Amendment 4 was supposed to reverse a 150-year-old racist law and restore the right to vote to most felons in Florida who completed “all terms of sentence, including probation and parole.”

An attorney for those who helped pass Amendment 4 in 2018 had said “all terms” included court fees, fines and restitution, and the state’s GOP-controlled Legislature imposed those terms this year, despite nationwide criticism that their plan would stop poor people from voting.

Hinkle on Tuesday agreed that lawmakers created a system that kept people from voting who couldn’t ever afford to pay back those fees.

And that was a problem, he said, because of a crucial 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling from 2005, Johnson v. Bush, which was also a challenge to the state’s Jim Crow-era law preventing felons from voting.

“Access to the franchise cannot be made to depend on an individual’s financial resources,” the opinion states.

Because whatever he decides is almost certain to be appealed, Hinkle told lawyers that the opinion was his “starting point” on whether the Legislature’s law is legal.

He said his view wasn’t radical, noting that eight of the 12 circuit judges signed off on the 2005 ruling.

“These are not judges on the fringe,” he said.

On top of that, Hinkle questioned whether the Legislature’s actions might have run afoul of the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment states that voting in federal elections “shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.”

Hinkle did not call it a “poll tax.” But he did wonder whether requiring felons to pay court fees constituted an ��other tax.”

Court fees are created to subsidize the court system, and judges have no discretion over them, Hinkle noted.

“Why is that not a tax?” he asked lawyers for the state.

They had no good answers.

Attorney Mohammad Jazil represented Lee, who as secretary of state oversees Florida’s elections systems. He said court fees were merely another burden felons had to pay back to society for their actions.

Hinkle seemed unconvinced.

What was apparent after the day and a half of debate is that lawmakers created an almost hopelessly complicated process for felons to restore their rights.

Felons have no easy way to determine if they can vote. Clerks of court are unable to confirm whether some felons have paid back all their fees. And elections supervisors are using voter registration forms that are different from those used by Lee.

Lawmakers now require voters to check one of three boxes when they register: (a) that they’ve never been convicted of a felony; (b) if they have been convicted of a felony, to affirm they’ve had their right to vote restored by the state’s clemency board; (c) if they have been convicted of a felony, to affirm they’ve had their right to vote restored by Amendment 4.

Submitting false information on the form is a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Hinkle said the options on the form make no sense, and don’t even apply to people who were convicted in other states. Amendment 4 only applies to convictions in Florida state courts. Leon County’s elections supervisor said he was still using the old form because it was less confusing.

Hinkle wondered whether the new form was intended to discourage felons from registering, since they could later discover they still owe fees from some long-ago felony case.

Lawyers for the state again had no good answer. Jazil conceded that the language was “inartfully worded,” and that the secretary of state was considering adding additional check boxes to cover people convicted in other states.

Felons described for Hinkle the byzantine, and sometimes insurmountable, efforts they’ve had to go through to find out if they owe any fines, fees or restitution, or the damages felons must pay as part of their sentence.

No agency in Florida tracks restitution, for example, meaning felons who stopped paying it can’t find out how much they still owe. And while county clerks of court track payment of court fees and fines, they’ve had massive trouble with older cases.

Betty Riddle, 61, has drug-related felony convictions dating to 1975. She testified that the Sarasota County clerk hasn’t been able to dig up her old records to tell her how much, if anything, she owes on cases before 1990. The clerk in Hillsborough County couldn’t produce any records at all from her 1988 case, she said.

A supervisor at the Leon County clerk of court testified the office didn’t even have records about court fees and fines for convictions before 1998.

Other felons said the sources of information were unreliable. Attorneys showed two examples where the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s criminal database showed felons owed nothing, but county clerk websites showed felons owed thousands of dollars.

The Legislature allowed felons to pay their financial obligations another way: by converting them to community service hours, typically at $10 per hour. But Hinkle scoffed at the idea.

“You’re not going to win on the argument you’ve come up with some alternatives,” Hinkle told lawyers for the state and supervisors. “If you had a $25,000 fine in a drug case, nobody’s going to work that off through community service hours.”

Hinkle said the Legislature could, and probably should, make changes to the law, saying they were “free to adopt provisions more generous to felons than Amendment 4.”

Lawmakers had the chance to do that during this year’s legislative session. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, advocated for a bill that would allow felons to vote while they paid down their fines and fees.

But in the last week of session, GOP lawmakers instead chose the more restrictive route.

Hinkle said a new law could resolve many issues felons are facing and that action by lawmakers would be better than a judge like himself deciding how the law should be implemented. He set a trial date for April 6, three weeks after the next legislative session ends.

“The Legislature,” he said, “can make it a whole lot easier.”

Article published and updated October 8, 2019, written by Lawrence Mower.

And:

Clifford Tyson wants to help choose America’s next president. But the Florida resident fears his vote might return him to jail.

Tyson, 63, owes court-ordered fines and fees for three felony convictions, one for robbery, two for theft, all decades old. Under a Florida law that went into effect July 1, he must pay those penalties before casting a ballot or risk being prosecuted for voter fraud.

Tyson searched court records, first on his own, then with the help of a nonprofit legal advocacy group. They say that because Florida has no comprehensive system for tracking such fines, the documents don’t make clear what he owes. The records, viewed by Reuters, show potential sums ranging from $846 to a couple thousand dollars related to crimes he committed in the late 1970s and 1990s. Tyson says he won’t risk voting until Florida authorities can tell him for sure.

“Until there is clarity, as much as I want to vote, I won’t do it,” Tyson said.

The Tampa pastor is now a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the payments law, which was crafted by Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, also a Republican. The law came just months after Floridians approved a ballot initiative restoring voting rights to more than 1 million felons who have completed their sentences; that change to the state’s Constitution created a potentially huge new crop of voters in a critical battleground state ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

The lawsuit, filed in June by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Brennan Center for Justice, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund, alleges the fees requirement defies the will of Florida voters and amounts to an illegal poll tax on newly enfranchised Florida felons, many of them minorities.

But another argument is shaping up to be central to the plaintiffs’ case: Florida has no consolidated system for determining what felons owe or certifying that they have paid up. It’s a situation that ex-offenders say makes it virtually impossible for them to prove they are eligible to vote.

Those claims are bolstered by state election officials who say they can’t calculate what felons owe, either, according to a Reuters review of 7 depositions, emails and other internal correspondence from voting administrators submitted by plaintiffs’ attorneys as part of the lawsuit.

Florida has no centralized database where records of court-ordered fines and fees - and any payments of those penalties - are stored, election and court officials say. To get that information, felons typically must search documents in courts where they were convicted, be they federal or state, inside or outside Florida. Records have been found to be incomplete, contradictory or missing, plaintiffs’ attorneys say.

With the Feb. 18 deadline to register for the state’s 2020 presidential primary approaching, the issue is taking on urgency. An estimated 436,000 felons have fees to settle before they can vote, according to a study by University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith, an expert witness for the ACLU. The study was based on court data and Department of Corrections records.

The stakes are high. Florida commands 29 of the 538 electoral votes that are used under the U.S. Electoral College system to select the American president. In Florida and most other states, the candidate who places first in the popular vote – even if just by a hair – wins all the electoral votes. Florida has a history of tight elections and contested outcomes.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys say Florida has shifted all responsibility for compliance with the new payments law to ex-offenders, who risk prosecution if they get it wrong. The state contends the legislature merely implemented the constitutional amendment as it was written on the ballot.

The legislation, known as SB 7066, “sows seeds of confusion,” said Leah Aden, deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “It will chill participation.”

Some of the state’s 67 county elections supervisors - the public servants who ultimately decide which felons get culled from the rolls and which can stay - expressed concern in their depositions and to Reuters about making mistakes that could invite challenges to future election results.

Five testified recently in the lawsuit that they lack the manpower to do detailed searches or have no way of ascertaining for certain whether ex-offenders have met their financial obligations under SB 7066.

They said they are relying on Florida’s Department of State, which manages the state’s elections, to help them determine who is ineligible. That agency is developing a procedure to send counties regularly updated lists of felons on their rolls who have unpaid fines and fees, but it has no timetable as to when it will be ready, said Maria Matthews, the director of the Department of State’s Division of Elections, in a September deposition. Matthews did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

For now, the agency is providing counties only with names of Florida felons who are incarcerated, and thus ineligible to vote, Toshia Brown, chief of the department’s Voter Registration Services, said in an August deposition. Brown did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

An early list sent to Leon County in Florida’s Panhandle region appeared to contain inaccuracies, Deputy Elections Supervisor Christopher Moore said in a July email to his staff, which was viewed by Reuters. Moore’s office researched a June list provided by the Department of State containing 66 names of allegedly incarcerated felons, but could not determine whether felony convictions existed for 24 of them – 36% of the total - emails exchanged between Moore and his staff show.

“This process is not off to a very accurate start and we are playing with people’s eligibility to vote,” Moore said in the July email. Moore told Reuters that subsequent data his office has received from the Department of State has gotten better.

Sarah Revell, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the Department of State reviews information from a variety of sources, makes an initial determination on a voter’s eligibility, then passes that along to county supervisors. She said the agency is working to “improve the accuracy and efficiency of the information,” but said it’s up to those elections supervisors to make the final call.

Some backers of the payments law say the responsibility should be on ex-offenders, not the state, to figure out how to comply with SB 7066.

“If you’re going to register to vote and you’re a former felon, it’s worth double checking to make sure you took care of everything,” said J.C. Martin, chairman of the Polk County Republican Party in central Florida.

A federal judge in the Northern District of Florida has set a Monday hearing on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction to throw out the fees requirement. A decision could come as early as this month.

NO CENTRALIZED DATABASE

Florida stripped felons of their votes during the Jim Crow era in 1868, a ban that endured 150 years and disproportionately affected black voters. As recently as 2016, more than 1.4 million people with felony convictions were barred from voting in Florida, including one in five African American adults, according to The Sentencing Project, a criminal justice nonprofit, which used state conviction and incarceration records for the study.

In November 2018, nearly 65% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons, except those convicted of murder and sex crimes.

Through the end of July, Florida recorded around 337,000 new voter registrations, 45,000 of them by African Americans. That’s a 22% increase in new black voters compared to the same period in 2015, the year preceding the last presidential election, a Reuters analysis of Florida voting data shows.

The ballot initiative said felons must first complete “all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.” Republican lawmakers interpreted that to include any court costs, fines, fees and restitution to victims imposed at sentencing. In May, they passed a bill requiring repayment as a condition for voting.

DeSantis, the governor, signed it into law in June amid criticism by voting rights advocates that the legislation was intended to suppress potential votes of African Americans, who tend to vote Democratic. DeSantis has dismissed claims that the law is a poll tax.

The state is still discussing ways to centralize data to track payments. Building a consolidated system could take years and cost millions, according to lawmakers and officials who debated the issue before the law’s passage.

“Right now, the system is just a mess,” ACLU attorney Julie Ebenstein said.

Sean Morales-Doyle of the Brennan Center said the group spent weeks trying to track down what Tyson owes, but couldn’t get a clear answer.

For example, Tyson has a 1998 theft conviction in Hillsborough County on Florida’s Gulf Coast. A judgment order on the clerk’s online docket shows he was ordered to pay $661 in costs, fines and fees. But a separate subpage on the website indicates he was ordered to pay $1,066. Still another shows a total of $573. Tyson’s lawyers say no officials have been able to explain the discrepancies.

State Representative Jamie Grant of Tampa, a Republican supporter of SB 7066, said critics of the law are the ones trying to defy the will of the electorate.

“You don’t get to change what the definition and terms are after people vote for it,” Grant said.

Article published October 7, 2019, written by Linda So (link here), article link here.

#voting #florida #institutional racism #politics #elections #classism #the legal system #reuters #links #text post #long post

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the-record-obituaries · 5 years ago

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July 17, 2019: Obituaries

Patricia Mash, 58

Mrs. Patricia Kilby Mash, age 58 of Wilkesboro passed away Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Private family service will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Mash was born September 23, 1960 in Cabarrus County to Vonley and Rosie Lee Barnette Kilby. Patricia loved her family, especially her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, a daughter; Lisa Marie Lyndsay and a brother; Roger Kilby.

She is survived by her husband; Billy Mash of the home, a son; Bryson Lyndsay of Kannapolis, her father; Vonley Kilby of Millers Creek, two grandchildren; Courtney and Julian and one great grandchild; Corbin, a sister; Lori Kilby of Wilkesboro and two brothers; Bobby Kilby and wife Sharon of China Grove and Vonley Ray Kilby of Millers Creek.

Jimmy Cardwell, 76

Mr. Jimmy Ray Cardwell, age 76 of Boomer passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Funeral services were July 12, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Pastor Jason Whitley officiating. Burial was in Scenic Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Cardwell was born May 13, 1943 in Wilkes County to Conrad and Sadie Pauline Smithey Cardwell. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a carpenter, a "piddler extraordinaire" and a professional grandpa. He was an avid outdoorsman, around the clock super hero and the best man we ever knew.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife; Betty Jean Broyhill Cardwell of 44 years of the home, daughter; Amanda Boyd and husband Brandon of Mulberry, son; Steven Cardwell and wife Amy of Wilkesboro, five grandchildren; Cole Shumate, Jimmy Cardwell, Garrett Shumate, Emma Sutphin and Madison Cardwell, brother; Robert Cardwell and wife Gladys of Millers Creek, four sisters and fur baby; Peyton.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, 4200 Morganton Road, Suite 200, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

Iris Triplett, 86

Iris Faye Greene Triplett, age 86, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. She was the youngest of six children, born September 4, 1932 in Wilkes County to Grady and Loretta Benge Greene. Mrs. Triplett was a member of Lewis Fork Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jasper Seagle Triplett; two children, Deborah Sue Lewis and Gary Lynn Triplette; four sisters, Ella Mae Crane, Delores Walker, Veora Eller, Lake Marley; and brother, Roland Greene.

Surviving are her children, Tony Triplette and special friend Jo Johnson of North Wilkesboro, Kevin Triplette and spouse Susie of McGrady, Joyce Kent and fiancé Virgil Anderson, Judy Triplette and fiancé Gary Miller all of North Wilkesboro; eight grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Funeral service was July 10, at Lewis Fork Baptist Church with Rev. Dwayne Andrews and Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Park Road #250, Charlotte, NC 28209. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers will be Daniel Triplett, Scott Combs, Marty Church, Justus Church, Johnny Triplett and Geramy Triplette.

Larry Reid, 75

Larry Lee Reid, age 75, of Wilkesboro, passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at Rose Glen Village. He was born June 17, 1944 in Surry County to Thomas Parks and Annie Harris Reid. Larry was a graduate from Appalachian State University with a Master's Degree in History, and was a teacher at Wilkes Central High School. He was also a member of Oakwoods Golf Club where he loved to play golf, he enjoyed bird hunting and fishing.

Surviving are his sons, Matthew James Reid and spouse Donna of Denver, NC, Wesley Paul Reid and spouse Erin of Alexandria, Virginia; grandchildren, Isabella Reid, Adelaide Reid, Landon Jamison Reid, McKenzie Jo Reid; sister, Gail Henkle and spouse Richard; and nieces, Ashley and Allison.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Dennis Curry, 66

Dennis Joseph Curry, age 66, of Thurmond, passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born July 22, 1952 in Surry County to Girtha and Wessie Lyons Curry. Dennis was a self-employed carpenter for almost 45 years. Mr. Curry was preceded in death by his parents; and great granddaughter, Makenna Cash.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret Billings Curry; daughter, Maryjane Williams and spouse Joey of Rock Creek; son, Daniel Curry of Thurmond; grandchildren, Tiffany Cash of Millers Creek, Joey Williams, Jr., Ashleen Williams both of Rock Creek; great grandchildren, Serenity Williams, Brayden Cash, Emilia Cash all of Millers Creek; brothers, Alvin Curry and spouse Judy of Elkin, Donald Curry and spouse Ann of Thurmond; sisters, Henrietta Curry, Brenda Curry both of Thurmond, Kattie Ray Turley spouse Rennie of Traphill; nephews, Andrew Curry of Thurmond, Zack Turley; niece, Renee Melara; great nephews, Jessen Melara and Damien Brown.

Memorial service was July 14, at Miller Funeral Chapel. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Etta Blackburn, 83

Mrs. Etta Sue Vannoy Blackburn, age 83 of North Wilkesboro passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at her home.

Funeral services were July 11, at Bethany Baptist Church with Rev. Daniel Shores and Rev. Michael Golden officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Blackburn was born February 4, 1936 in Wilkes County to William Ernest and Victoria Hester Haynes Vannoy. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband; Eli Jerry Claude Blackburn, two sons; David and Michael Allen McGlamery and two brothers; Harold Dean and James Thomas Vannoy.

She is survived by three sons; Tommy McGlamery and wife Belva of Wilkesboro, Gary McGlamery and wife Wendy and Kevin Blackburn and wife Gail all of North Wilkesboro, nine grandchildren; Matthew McGlamery, Phillip McGlamery, Jerry Taylor, Kristie Winkler, Jason Winkler, Aaron Blackburn, Bethanie Blackburn, Kristen McGlamery, and Katie McGlamery, seven great grandchildren; Arian Winkler, Christian Winkler, Tyler Wheeling, Lydia McGlamery, Maverick McGlamery, Amelia McGlamery and Elijah Blackburn and one brother; Willie Vannoy of North Wilkesboro.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Rosemary Mathis, 5888 River Road/Liberty Grove Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

Carl Smithey, 76

Mr. Carl William Smithey, age 76 of North Wilkesboro passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist-Wilkes Medical Center.

Funeral services were July 11, at Liberty Grove Baptist Church with Rev. David Sparks officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites by North Wilkesboro Lodge #407 was in the church cemetery.

Mr. Smithey was born October 18, 1942 in Wilkes County to Freddie Brisco and Mary Lucille Anderson Smithey. He was a member of Liberty Grove Baptist Church where he held many positions and was very dedicated to his church, he was also involved in church mission trips including an Alaskian trip.

He worked for Abitibi in Roaring River in maintenance department and was an electrical engineer. He was a Master Mason of North Wilkesboro Lodge #407. He was a representative for Compo Shoe Company of Waltham, MA, a licensed electrical contractor, sole layer for Blue Ridge Shoe Company and worked at Wilkes Electric Armature.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife; Mollie Whitley Smithey of the home, two brothers; Robert Smithey and wife Davida of North Wilkesboro, Roger Smithey and wife

Peggy of Millers Creek, and two sisters-in-law; Anah Lee Whitley Wingler and Shirley Mae Whitley Huie both of Hays. He had many nieces and nephews that he loved very much.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Liberty Grove Fellowship Hall Building Fund, 5899 River Road-Liberty Grove Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

Bill Rhoades, 81

Bill Warner Rhoades, age 81, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. He was born July 2, 1938 in Wilkes County to Estel and Maie Barlow Rhoades. Mr. Rhoades was a US Army Veteran and a member of Hilltop Baptist Church. He enjoyed lawn mower, go-kart and drag racing. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Bradley, Jim and Don Rhoades.

He is survived by his wife, Willa Hayes Rhoades; daughter, Elizabeth Rhoades Griffin and spouse William of North Wilkesboro; son, Gwyn Rhoades and spouse Donna of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Cody Griffin and spouse Jessica of Hays, Casey Reavis and spouse Daniel of Millers Creek; great grandchildren, Bailee Griffin, Christian Osborne, Carson Griffin, Sawyer Griffin, Emma Reavis; sister, Marie Mann of North Wilkesboro; and brother, Joe Rhoades and spouse Jean of North Wilkesboro.

Graveside service with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 was July 11, at Mountlawn Memorial Park with Rev. Ronnie Gregory and Rev. Rodney Blake officiating.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9956 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.

Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Bobby Call, age 72

Bobby Arnold Call, age 72, of Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2019 at his home. He was born December 28, 1946 in Wilkes County to Gertrude Call. Bobby was a retired US Vietnam Army Veteran. He was an Air Defense Artillery Senior Sergeant; 7 years and 7 months 11B50 Infantryman and 7 years 7 months 95B50 Military Police. Bobby received the National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Good Conduct Medal and NCO Professional Development. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude Call Church; and brother, Tom Call.

Surviving are his son, Bobby Lee Call and fiancé Amanda Renae Church of Hickory; daughter, Rebecca Call and boyfriend, Donnie Foster of Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Bryson Lee Call, James Ethan Call, Monica McKinney, Ashley Faw, Austin McKinney; sisters, Tammy Wilson, Rosie Bouchelle; brother, Thorton "Doc" Call.

Funeral service was July 11, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor David Wellborn and Jimmy McGlamery officiating.

Burial with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 followed in Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church Cemetery. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Lisa Baldwin, 53

Lisa Carol Baldwin, age 53, of Thurmond, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at her home. She was born May 30, 1966 in Surry County to Ted Cox and Carolyn Wagner Roten. Lisa liked to do art and loved spending time with her kids and grandkids.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Justin Allen Royal; granddaughter, Hollie Royal.

Surviving are her spouse, Jeff Baldwin of North Wilkesboro; sons, T.J. Royal and spouse Megan of Thurmond, Gary Baldwin of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Lane Royal, Annabelle Royal, Hunter Stotler, Hallie Jo Stotler all of Thurmond, Karli Baldwin of North Wilkesboro; brothers, Ted Cox and spouse Kimberly of Asheville, Barry Cox and spouse Teresa of Pleasant Hill; sister, Betty Jo Sebastian of Jonesville; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Service from 6:00 until 8:00 Friday, July 19, 2019. Flowers will be accepted. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9956. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

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ecotone99 · 5 years ago

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[HR] Objects in the Rearview Mirror May be Closer Than They Appear

This one is my first go at a scary story! Let me know what you think!

*****

As far as anyone was concerned, there was nothing wrong with the car, except maybe that both Grandpa and Great Uncle Jim had died in it. Of course, if one could get past sitting down where two old guys bit the dust, she really was a beauty. Luke Ballinger’s seventy-five Mustang convertible was cherry red, with the original leather still intact and a chrome bumper that sparkled and shone like the day it hit the market. And though he’d taken extra care to ensure that the black, rubbery tonneau cover didn’t lose its luster during the time it was secure between the windshield and the trunk (which was every day for the ten years he had it) it still looked like it was aching to get out of the sun. Gloria, as the car had been christened, wasn’t just a convertible. It was like she wanted to cart around a group of hip teenagers with the roof torn down and her speakers straining with rock and roll and dirty pop songs. She sat in the driveway with a look about her that screamed anticipation; she had an engine that rested on its toes, bound beneath a slick hood that bled seduction and seemed to whisper: drive me, baby. Gloria looked alive. She was no Porche, but to the six grandchildren of driving age in the Ballinger family, she was the ultimate ride. It took one day for every foot Grandpa lay underground for everyone to start bickering over who was going to get it.

As it turned out, the car legally hadn’t been entrusted to anyone. Grandpa’s will left a lot of money to a lot of people, but there wasn’t any mention about where the convertible would go. And so the vicious battle to lay claim to Gloria began. Grammie Jean suddenly found six, new, very sympathetic helpers around the house. On a slow day, two of her grandchildren would show up at the same time with promises of Pine-Sol and elbow grease and then fight over who could offer the most of their services. The sudden interest in visiting confused her, especially since the children only really stopped over on holidays—but the front yard had never been so trim. She wasn’t complaining.

Five of the grandchildren spent a good two weeks completing chores that Grammie Jean hadn’t been able to get to for years, hoping that she’d find favour with one of them enough to write it over to them on their birthday or something. But the middle grandchild, whose name was Julie, quietly under the radar, had taken a different approach to trying to get the car. On the days that her cousins weren’t sniffing around her grandmother’s back yard, she would go over to visit. At twenty, she had chores of her own to worry about and though she had hoarded more than enough money to purchase her first ride, she preferred to keep that stockpile for other things. Levelheaded, logical and skeptical of anything she couldn’t see, reasonable Julia grew tired of watching her cousins’ repeated attempts at manipulation, and thought of a better plan. On a Wednesday in June, she marched into Grammie Jean’s living room and asked if she could have the Mustang.

“I don’t see why not,” the woman remarked, “Your grandfather hated the damn thing; wouldn’t even get in it some mornings. It’s about time someone gave it a good spin. Take it off my hands.”

That was that. Julie would never forget the look everyone wore when they congregated at Grammie Jean’s house the next Monday ready to begin working for a prize that was no longer available to them. She watched in triumph as their faces lit with shock, and then fell with disappointment, and then after a minute, as they each contemplated how to hide their anger about the defeat, twisted in disgust. The car, in three seconds flat, had gone from a thing to be coveted, to a dirty rag.

“Ew, Julia, Grandpa died in that thing. You’re sitting in his, like, juices.”

“I heard Great Uncle Jim kicked it in the front seat before he did. Sat in it a week before they found him too, I bet.”

“Dude, that car is totally cursed.”

“Julia’s probably going to die now.”

“Still gross, man.”

Julia didn’t have to shrug a single person off that day. She was enjoying her victory too much and each dig at her confidence only boosted it further.

It took about a week for her to discover why Grandpa loathed the car. On a breezy afternoon, Julia packed the Mustang to capacity with squealing girlfriends and took her for a spin. Gloria sailed down backroads, radiating freedom, and everyone drank it in and sang cliché choruses to songs that they didn’t know the names of. By the end of the day, with the sun still high for another few hours, Julia dropped her crew off one by one, and took off on her own to enjoy her new toy.

That evening, everyone seemed to be out tending to their yards. This meant that Gloria had an audience, and Julia loved it. People lifted their heads from their gardens to watch in awe as the red beauty cruised by. One man in particular seemed especially enthralled by the sight. He was in his forties, an infant beer gut just starting to swell from his waistline, slipping into the routine of mundane summer chores: he mowed the lawn on a tractor while his wife, easily ten years his junior, lay out on the grass in her bikini. Julia looked up and smiled; the man waved, and watched her drive past in admiration. She was so pleased with the attention that she continued to watch him, smug through her rearview mirror as the scene melted away.

Just before she lost sight of them, however, she noticed that the man, who couldn’t keep his eyes off of her bumper, had continued driving forward and was growing dangerously close to the woman on the ground. As her car rounded the corner, the front of the mower began chewing the towel, grinding grass, and then fabric, and then, before Julia had time to register what was going on, hair and flesh. The mower had been red, like her car, and, as she thought sickeningly before turning the corner completely, red like the puree now spraying generously out the back of it.

She hit the brakes, slamming her head off of the steering wheel. As she shook the stars from her eyes, she was unsure if the grating screech she heard came from Gloria or out of her own mouth.

That man had just ground up his own wife with the family mower. Right over the back of her head. She’d been listening to music too, Julia bet, and so she probably had no idea what was happening until her brain went to bits like strawberries in a blender. Julia opened the door and dry heaved a few times before her heart fell back from the inside of her throat. She sat up, slowly, sweating, and wondered if turning around was the right thing to do, and then thought about what she’d gain from it: most likely some serious PTSD and enough guilt to last her a lifetime.

You just witnessed murder. She thought, and then quickly corrected herself. Manslaughter. You saw manslaughter. He didn’t mean it.

Because he hadn’t meant it. He’d been wrapped up in her car, and like the pied piper to a rat, the Mustang pulled him right toward calamity. It was technically her fault.

Go back, she thought. Go back there and help. Julia knew there was a rule against driving away from an accident, but that usually only applied to the drivers stuck behind it. What happened to the people in front? Not everyone watched their mirrors every ten seconds. Leaving and forgetting about the whole thing was perfectly logical and, she assumed, even legal. Even if it is my fault. But the justification didn’t hold, and Julia tearfully found herself reaching for the gearshift to turn around. As she backed into a nearby driveway, Julia caught on to something and stopped. The street was quiet, and that didn’t make any sense at all.

Julia expected screaming, and wailing and shouting and sirens, but there was nothing to be heard over the hum of her engine. She waited, listening intently to any sign that her assistance would be needed. Instead of screaming, however, she heard a lawn mower. The tight knot that had formed in her stomach loosened, and then the whole thing turned to jello, threatening to send whatever was left inside it back out into her lap. Was that monster going back for round two? While every fibre of her being pulled her away, Julia took a wavering breath, locked the doors and put the car in drive. If the watery nausea she felt was right, she would be required to report something completely different to the police. She chanted to herself: I will not get out of the car. I will not get out of the car. Julia pulled out onto the road, and the Mustang crawled around the corner.

When she saw that the man was still driving around the lawn, earphones in, bopping his head to music she couldn’t hear, Julia let out a sob. That sick bastard, oh my God, he wasn’t looking at the car, he was watching me and he killed his wife, that sick fuck ohmygodohmygodohmygod—

But there was no blood in the grass. There were no scraps of skin or hair or grey matter dotting the ground. When Julia did gather the courage to look down, she saw that the woman, now slightly burning, had flipped over onto her back and was reading an issue of Cosmo. Julia let the car roll by, her body, now a bundle of live wire, thrummed as her cheeks grew wet.

I must be going insane, she thought. The man waved. A little blond girl that she hadn’t seen before, their daughter, she supposed, smiled at Julia as she jumped rope in the driveway.

That night, she googled symptoms of psychological disorders. Much to her relief, she didn’t qualify for anything out of the ordinary. Instead, she concluded the only logical explanation: she was tired. Her diagnosis was an overactive imagination and with a good night’s sleep, the prognosis was cheerful. When she woke up the next morning with the sun creeping in through her curtains and the lawnmower incident buried deep behind the duties of the day, Julia felt better.

Except that evening, through the rearview, she watched a jogger bring his run to a dead halt on the Town Bridge and swan dive over the side. This time, when she slammed on the brakes and pulled over, Julia got out of the car, phone at the ready like a pistol from her hip. She didn’t need to go very far. Before her foot made full contact with the sidewalk, she bumped into him head-on. Though the running man wasn’t impressed, a very shaken Julia informed him that she was glad he was still alive and he managed a confused smile before carrying on. A little girl eating an ice cream cone looked at her incredulously across the street. On the way home, she kept her eyes on the road ahead, and vowed to stop drinking coffee so late in the day.

A week later, Julia was switching lanes on the highway and caught a glimpse of the driver behind her. He was missing his head; jagged arteries grew from the stump left behind and spurted forth black blood like a clogged fountain. It created an abstract masterpiece on the inside of the windshield. It took everything she had not to pull the car off of the road. Later on, when her heart slowed and her hands grew steady, the same car whipped past, carrying a family of four. They were singing along to something upbeat on the radio, and their heads were very much where they were meant to be. Their daughter, small and blonde, made a face at her through the back window.

As time wore on, Julia became resigned to the fact that she was losing her mind and had begun practicing different ways to break the news to her mother every evening before bed. Nightmares of the grizzly deaths she was witnessing—now at least one every time she got behind the wheel— destroyed any hope of sleep, each scenario more gruesome than the last, played out in perfect clarity in a three by seven inch mirror. And each time she’d turn around, everything would be pristine and pretty again, and she’d wake up sweating and screaming and wishing she hadn’t asked for the damn car in the first place. She had started wondering whether or not the thing was cursed after all.

Eventually, after watching her Uncle Frank’s six-year-old golden retriever get his head squashed by the family Toyota while the line of cars leaving Fourth of July dinner backed out of his driveway, Julie had to admit that she had had enough. In a fury, she marched into her uncle’s garage, found a roll of duct tape and sealed the rearview shut for good. She washed her hands of the matter, and with some difficulty, was able to find her way back to the road using only her side mirrors. Curse or insanity, regardless of the matter, Julia was free.

She drove that way for weeks, and eventually—save for a few angry, blaring horns from the drivers she cut off—grew comfortable driving blind. Soon, the frequent hindsight bloodbaths became nothing more than a faded memory. All was well.

Until one Sunday Julia’s mother enlisted her to take Grammie Jean to church. That morning the two sat in her kitchen, sipping tea and sharing stories when the topic of the car came up.

“So how do you like it?” Grammie Jean asked.

“Oh, you know. It’s nice to have something to drive,” Julie replied, taking in too much tea and then having to swallow the scalding mouthful. She flashed a pained smile. Grammie Jean laughed quietly.

“You know you can tell me that you don’t like it. Luke hated it.”

“So you said,” Julie murmured. “Say—Grammie, did Grandpa ever say why he didn’t like the car?”

Grammie frowned, drumming her fingernails on the tabletop. “You know, it was something about it being bad luck— or some other complete nonsense. Kept seeing bad things in it. He was convinced that it was the Mustang’s fault that anything had happened in the first place. We’d be out driving somewhere and he’d yelp and speed up out of the blue,” she shook her head, “Come to think of it, I never did see any of the stuff he was talking about, and the damn coward never turned around to help if there was someone who needed it. I guess it was good he never did. Had I known his heart was so bad, I’dve never let him in a car in the first place.”

Julie felt a familiar anxious tickle.

“Didn’t Great Uncle Jim have the car before Grandpa did?”

Grammie Jean nodded, clicking her tongue. “Jim was the worst driver I had ever seen. That man managed to cause enough accidents to break a world record…And he never stayed,” her eyes fell.

“Once, when your grandfather and I were younger, Jim cut a couple off on the main road, and they swerved and ran down a little girl. I remember watching it happen out the back window, and screaming at him to stop, but he just kept driving. A few days later, I read in the paper that she had died. I wanted to call the police and tell them; that poor couple was in so much trouble, but Jim made us promise not to tell.” She shrugged. “Maybe that’s why I don’t care too much for skipping Sundays.”

“Wait, he did that in the Mustang?” Julia was feeling very peculiar indeed.

“Oh no,” Grammie Jean said, “this was long before Gloria’s days, my dear. But I think he had even more problems with that car that he did with any other. Toward the end, I think some of the reckless decisions of his younger days had caught up with him. He didn’t really care for driving much by that point, either. We’d all go out, and he’d spend the entire ride monitoring his rearview like he expected to relive some of his mistakes. The guilt got to him, I think.”

Julie had an inkling that guilt didn’t have much to do with it.

“But God, that little girl. Blonde pigtails, and a smile that’d win anyone over. I couldn’t get the image of her obit picture out of my head for years.”

Oh yes, Julia was feeling, very, very funny. Because the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she wouldn’t be able to forget that little girl’s face either. She had seen her almost daily in various ways that summer. Sometimes with a skipping rope, sometimes with a ballcap and jean shorts, always with blonde, shiny pigtails.

“Grammie Jean, How did Uncle Jim die?”

“Heart attack. Right behind the wheel, like your grandfather. Fitting, too. They were both so close.”

Julie felt the blood drain from her face.

“No need to look so nervous, dear,” said Grammie Jean as she collected the teacups, “the family had a history of heart disease. It was bound to happen sooner or later.” Grammie Jean stroked her face with an affectionate thumb, “You’re nice and strong and beautiful. You’ll be quite all right.”

Now more than ever, Julie found that she was reluctant to get into the driver’s seat. Don’t be silly, she thought, shaking her head as she helped her grandmother into the front. Your car isn’t haunted; it’s not demon possessed. Julie ran through every logical explanation that disproved ghosts and other supernatural things in succession as she gathered the courage to sit down and buckle her seatbelt. Even though she was able to reassure herself a bit, Julie eyed the covered mirror with apprehension. If you’re so sure, she whispered in her heart of hearts, then why don’t you take the tape off? Shuddering, she started the car, thankful to have that firmly in place, thankyouverymuch.

A cry from the right made her jump. Her first thought was that Grammie Jean had seen something too. The woman was staring in horror at the rearview, and for a split second, Julie felt relief. She was not alone. She was not insane. But in the same instant, Julie remembered that Grammie probably couldn’t see anything at all. And that was probably why she looked so mad.

“Are you insane?” she cried, waving wildly at the tape.

Yes, Julie thought. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

“Grammie, I—”

“I don’t care what sort of trend that fits. I will not risk my life in the name of fashion. You take that tape off right now.”

“Grammie—”

“Now, Julia!”

So Julie had to pull over and remove her saving grace. She was careful not to look as she scraped away the remaining bits of tape, and forced herself to only use the side mirrors when she pulled out into traffic. Aside from the furious lecture she received from her grandmother, the trip to church was rather uneventful. Julie managed to drop Grammie Jean, still grumbling, at the front and went to wait for her in the parking lot, incident free.

Alone in the car now, with nothing to protect her, Julie was terribly anxious. She had brought a book with her to stay occupied like she always did with long waits, but with the glaring portrait of hell above her head, it was hard to focus on her story. She knew that if she were to glance back, she’d get a shot of something gruesome. And now that she was aware at some level that there was something horribly wrong with the car, Julie had a feeling it would be the worst scene yet.

Of course, that meant that Julie believed in ghosts and other stupid things, and as any rational human being—as Julie proudly labeled herself—knew, it was silly to entertain the conjurings of the imagination.

That didn’t change the fact that she couldn’t shake the thought of the two men who had died where she was sitting. Before today, she hadn’t heard tell of a history of any ailment in her family. And both men seemed to have trouble using their mirrors. It was enough to leave a sour taste in her mouth.

There was also the sudden, stinging, sure as shit feeling that someone was watching her from the back seat.

Julie suddenly wondered if a short burst of intense fear was enough to send someone into cardiac arrest.

She could resist the mirror no longer. It was either time to dismiss her imagination or confront whatever was blocking her vision. Slowly, heart pounding, she lifted her eyes from her book to the rearview, praying—for the first time in a long time— that there would be nothing there.

But Julie was met by the cold, milky white source of the gaze that bored its way into her spine. The little girl was older than Julie thought she would be, but then again, it was hard to tell. She was sitting in the middle of the back seat; half of her face had been mashed in and torn away. Julie had never seen a car accident victim, but this one looked like someone had taken an eggbeater, stuck it into her ear and let it fly. Brain, blood, and clear fluid leaked through the grated, bony mess, and when she smiled—because that’s what they always did in the movies, wasn’t it? —six of her teeth fell out onto the collar of her shirt.

Julie’s friend was not alone. The girl lifted two mangled arms and draped them over the shoulders of the moaning corpses in the seats beside her.

Bloated and purple, as though they had been laid out on hot asphalt to rot, Grandpa and Uncle Jim grimaced up at her, two sets of gnarled hands clutching at their chests, where the buttons of their shirts burst from the pressure, their faces twisted and frozen in their final expressions. Grandpa looked horrified. Uncle Jim looked guilty.

There’s no room for me back there, Julie thought.

And then she screamed.

They heard it in the church. Halfway through the offertory hymn, the congregation fled the sanctuary to find Jeanie Ballinger’s granddaughter slumped over the steering wheel in her husband’s mustang. When they managed to pry her knuckles, white and hardened from the dash and get a good look at her, it was evident that there was nothing they could do.

The whole town agreed that it was a right shame Julia Ballinger went the way she did. Twenty years old, and her heart wasn’t strong enough to take the summer heat. There was talk about a cardiovascular health course at the community centre. There was talk about a memorial.

But there was even more talk about the look on Julie’s face when they found her. Some blamed it on panic. Some kids, trying to scare younger siblings told stories of monsters and killers in the parking lot. Most people left it to awkward, premature rigor mortis and left it alone.

Regardless of how anyone explained it, the look etched into Julie’s face was unforgettable. Frozen forever in a soundless cry, dull eyes stuck heavenward, the horrified grin she wore was so unsettling, the family opted for cremation.

The Mustang returned to its usual spot in the late Luke Ballinger’s garage. When the shock of losing Julie died down, the grandkids began to fight over it again.

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blackpjensen · 5 years ago

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Capturing Commercial Work

Contributed by Landscape Leadership

Landing a large commercial account is at the top of many landscapers’ wish lists. But transitioning into the commercial landscaping market requires more than buying larger mowers and trucks. You have to change the way you and your team manage projects to truly be successful.

Before jumping into commercial landscape work, do your homework. Compared to residential work, “it’s a totally different animal,” says Gib Durden, vice president of business development at HighGrove Partners in Austell, GA. “It’s still cutting grass, pruning, and planting flowers, but commercial landscaping is a totally different mindset.”

Switching between commercial and residential work can be difficult. “Don’t try intermingling the same guys doing commercial and residential work,” says Jim Schill, vice president of Schill Grounds Management in North Ridgeville, OH.

One major variant is that you rarely deal with the owner in commercial work. The point of contact is probably not the decision-maker and could be replaced at any time, says Terry Delany, president of ServFM in Fayetteville, AK.

Profit margins are typically lower with commercial, but these are counter-weighted by higher contract dollar amounts. It’s a low-margin, high-quantity set-up, Delany says.

Finding New Accounts

Find out if existing residential clients have any connections to commercial accounts. “A lot of the time, if you’re new to the business, it might take time to gain traction,” Durden says. “Start small, and start working on that.”

When trying to identify prospective accounts, look for locally owned places. “These are the best because you often have a chance to deal directly with the owner,” Delany says. You can also try to find properties that have the highest up-sale potential. Once you decide on the type of business you’d like to approach, gather information on all of these in your service area, Delany says. Create a pamphlet aimed at that market, and start visiting the properties. “We offer to bring lunch by for the office staff,” Delany adds. “That nearly always gets us in the door.”

A big part of finding accounts is connecting with the right people. “Cold calls and emails don’t work that well,” Durden says. Instead, he says attending community events or meetings allows you to talk directly with property managers. “Then, if you follow up with a call, it’s a warm call.”

There are also organizations that can put you in contact with the decision makers. Durden suggests getting involved with real estate groups, such as Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). Another organization he recommends is Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International.

Chamber of Commerce meetings, CEO forums, and other networking events are also good places to meet potential clients. “Build your sphere of influence, and the world gets much smaller,” Delany says.

After you’ve laid the groundwork, turn your attention to the bidding process. “If you’re bidding commercial maintenance and landscaping jobs like you bid residential, you won’t get the work,” Schill says. “Most commercial accounts are chasing the bottom dollar.” It’s very important to have a good grasp on every aspect and expense of your business.

“You’re better off trying to take the scientific approach,” Durden says. That includes taking good field measurements and knowing the number of man-hours the task will require.

“It costs time and money to put a bid in on a property, so make sure you truly understand the specs and the client’s expectations,” Schill says.

When working on a contract, Delany says to add a clause giving you the right to pause work until you get paid. “If you don’t have that in your contract and you stop working, you’ve breached it first,” he explains.

One of the main numbers to look at when bidding commercial lawn maintenance and landscaping jobs is your profit. “Since all landscape contractors are paying approximately the same amount for trucks, mowers, labor, overhead, and fuel, the deciding factor is often how much profit do you want/need to make on this job,” Delany says.

Here are questions he suggests asking yourself when deciding how much profit to add to your bid: How many competitors are submitting proposals? Which competitors are they, and how do they usually price work? Was this a cold call or warm referral? What is your financial position as a company right now? Do you need to buy new equipment or hire more employees to add this maintenance contract to your book of work? What are the up-sale potentials? Who will be your contact if you land the account? How long has this potential account been in business? Does the individual or committee have any landscape knowledge? How often does the account switch landscape contractors?

Avoid These Pitfalls

When you’re first starting out, it may be tempting to “buy” a job to get a foothold with an account. But, that’s a lose-lose situation. Stick to your set profit margins. You also have to educate your employees. Just because your sales team is good at landing residential accounts doesn’t mean they’ll be as successful in the commercial sector.

Commercial lawn accounts and landscaping contracts can bring in large checks, but make sure your business isn’t too dependent on one account, or property type. “You don’t want to have all of your eggs in one basket,” Schill says.

With the right preparation, you can make commercial accounts a profitable part of your landscaping company. “If you have the patience and are willing to deal with slow payments and losing/replacing large accounts,” Delany says, “go commercial.”

Landscape Leadership is a sales and marketing agency specializing exclusively in lawn, landscaping, and tree service companies.

Do you have a comment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below or send an e-mail to the Editor at [email protected].

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zoedart-blog · 6 years ago

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Gran’s Story

Grans Story

I was born in Kensington, Melbourne on 5-1-1923. My family lived near the Flemington Racecourse. My mother Agnes Grey McKissock and father- Joseph Purcell Brown had a lolly shop next door to the theatre. My mother came to south Australia by sailing ship- My grandfather George McKissock was 6ft1in, He came from Paisley, Scotland and had lovely snowy white hair and beard and a beautiful accent, he was a sailor on sailing ships. Stephen has a couple of signing off certificates in his possession. They came to live in Port Melbourne where his wife Kate Lavina Grey rented a double fronted house and the front rooms were turned into a midwifery hospital. Kate took on women who wanted nursing whilst having babies. My grandfather eventually got a job on the wharves. My father’s mother and father apparently had over time a few country inns around St. Leonards and Sussex Way. He was a sailor in the British Navy, I think he left the navy in Sydney and joined the A.I.F his number was 206. I remember living behind a lolly shop next door to a theatre in Racecourse Road, Flemington. I can remember at the age of 3 kneeling on a chair in front of an ice cream can digging ice-cream out with a spoon at theatre intervals. My sister Betty Ellan was born there and not long after we shifted to Ascot Vale to a delicatessen shop where my mother did ALL the cooking- (pies which we had for lunch every school day) fish, cold meats etc etc.

The Depression was on and sadly people owed them a lot of money, the shop was situated in an area where there were a lot of horse trainers, jockeys where they used to tick up everything, so once again we shifted. To Brunswick where I went to school, I was about 6 years old. We had to wait till our house was ready in Merlynston, North Coburg. We had enough money for a deposit on a three-bedroom weatherboard house at 39 Orvieto Street Merlynston, eight hundred pounds and my mother paid 1 pound a week till they paid it off.

My brother Donald George Harry was born here, and we were all so happy. My father at that time was employed on two ships going back and forth to Tasmania, hit his war wounds were a big problem and he eventually received the TPI pension. We bought a car, at least my dad did and each weekend in the spring and summer we ALL mum, dad and 3 kids, uncle and aunts etc would go to Seaford. The car had a big front seat and two dicky seats on the back of it and a big back seat. So, held quite a few bodies. We also went to Hanging Rock for New Years Day and picnics in the autumn a wonderful time for us kids.

It was such a sad time for my mother and father, our long-awaited brother wasn’t doing to well and it was found he had double cataracts in both eyes and some double mastoids in both ears. My mother had measles whilst carrying him for so many years he had to have many operations, the result was vision- 16 inches and partly spastic. My poor mum had to do so much for Don and my Father, taking Don to a private school 3 days a week. My dad was also in and out of hospital.

At the age of 58 years my mum collapsed and died.

The doctors said, “there was nothing they could do for her, she was worn out”. My dad went on to be manager of the Masonic Club dining room in Flinders Street, all voluntary and he died at 72. During all that time mu aunt Kate looked after Don and Dad. She died at 64 in 1963 and then Allen and I took over the care of Don, looking after him. He was living in a cottage environment for many years he had spent 5 years with us. He was 18 when he came to live with us.

So much for my family.

My sister and I went to church 4 times a week each Sunday, 10am Christian Endeavour, Church, Sunday School and church again at night. My dear grandfather would give us threepence every Sunday if we had been good, many a time I would only get a penny. Bet seemed to manage a threepence. We sang in the choir in the Methodist church in our street and each summer and winter we’d get a new dress only to be worn on a Sunday or for something special. I was also a Sunday school teacher until I got ticked off for wearing lipstick at 16 years old.

My life at home- I always had to clean the brass. Perhaps that was how I got to love it so much. I can remember 4 brass candlesticks they had been given to my mother as a wedding present, I had them dated 17th century. I have them here and Tina’s put her name on them, Brass taps, plates etc. We would as kids have to set the table, always a white cloth and a vase of flowers in the centre, a big oval table and then we had to wash up after tea. In those days no dishwasher, only children. As we did that, we would sing our heads off until dad told us to shut up. I also had to mow the lawns, with a hand mower of course and that took hours. For pocket money on Saturdays we’d get sixpence to go to the local pictures and threepence to spend. If we bought our lunch on Friday whilst attending Merlynston Primary school another threepence- one penny for a pie. 1 penny for a luscious family ice block and a lolly. Bliss. I made many long-life friends at that school, 23 of us met in Melbourne 1st Monday in December. The girls who live in Melbourne met monthly, but there is always the phone, not short cats, they’re lovely long ones. Of the 23 girls present last December only three were under 80 (only just). We met at school, friends through teens, dances, shows, weddings and babies. We all knew each other’s families, husbands, some children until we all went off to different places but now, we are mainly widowed, sad really. Some of the girl’s names- Val Creighton, Lil Westwood, Peg Woods, Clarice Roberts and Norma Joyce the only one of us to marry a yank and head odd to the USA but came back here eventually Olive Stubbs, Peggy Cash, Lorna Watts. We played cherry bobs, basketball, have school reports, concerts exams. My dad gave me my first watch when I passed my merit certificate at 13 1/2 , I could leave school then. My first job was at Allen’s music shop, at the information desk, a bit boring, seven shillings and sixpence a week.

Then I got a position at the posh end of Collins street to learn Millinery at Thommy Harrisons. It was the most exclusive salon in Melbourne where I learnt to make hats and sell them. Only people with lots of money could afford to shop there.

My girlfriends told me that first night after I said after I had a few dances with him “hands off he’s mine” and he was. We had a wonderful time together dancing, dinners at lovely places, theatres etc until he went overseas. We got engaged before he went to Manus Island with the 79th Spitfire Squadron on active service. Allen’s brother Jim was in the Navy, he served in some dangerous countries for 37 years, his brother George was in the 6th Division Middle East, Greece and was captured in Crete and was a POW in Germany and came home safely after the war. Arthur was also in 6th Division and was sent to Malaysia, was captured and died on the Burma Railway. Four sons in the forces, his poor mother she has such a lot to bear. Allen came back to Australia to pick up more spitfires and was given leave to come home from Oakey, Queensland. Two days to get home, three days here and two days back there a week and they let him come home again. We married on the 31st of January 1945 at St Linus Church of England in Merlynston at 5pm, I arranged the wedding in 3 days and we had 4 days honeymoon- I don’t know why my granddaughters had to take 12 months or more. We had the reception at the Federal Hotel in Collins Street, and I wore a lace dress with a train and a veil borrowed from a Catholic Convent. The nuns made them and lent them out to all who would like them. They asked what time we were to be married so they could pray for our future happiness. I thought it was a lovely thought perhaps that is why Allen and I had such a long (58 years) wonderfully happy life together. Everyone has their ups and downs and to succeed one must give and take and look after one another in sickness and health. Then whatever setbacks one can always get above them if there is plenty of love about. We had part of our honeymoon at the Hotel, room 21 with a bathroom, very posh and then had two days at the Georgian Inn. So, we had seven days of married life then Allen went off again to Moratie and several other islands. The war ended in August 1945 and Allen was discharged in Bairnsdale 1945.

I went up there to live and keep house for two months. I couldn’t cook much, but I soon learnt, not like you girls- we weren’t allowed in the kitchen, perhaps because of food rationing. I don’t quite know why as my mother was a lovely cook. We had three honeymoons altogether and between postings it was at Bairnsdale I learnt I was pregnant, thrilled to bits we were. When Allen left the air force, he went to Tech school at night to brush up on his carpentering. We lived with mum and dad in Merlynston. Ian was born 19th of August 1946 and by then we had bought a block of land for 55 pounds at 14 Edward St, Fawkner and were planning our home. Materials were very hard to get, and one had to go on a list to buy things. We gad enough money to build the back of our house, one bedroom, nursery, big kitchen, sunroom, laundry and bathroom combined. Allen worked very hard to get it ready for when Stephen arrived on the 17th of October 1948. We shifted in when Stephen was three weeks old, we furnished our house very comfortable with bits and pieces relations gave us and were quite happy to do that. Later on, we built on a bedroom, hallway, bathroom, and lovely big loungeroom. In 1950 Allen decided to join the police force, he did very well in all his studies often coming 1st or 2nd. He was the only married bloke in No.5 squad and lived out. The single fellows lived in barracks, he even learnt to swim. Allen’s first police station was in Brunswick and by then we decided we’d like a little girl. Ian was at Lynch Road School and Stephen had just started, Stephen and Ian shifted into the middle room, us in the front one (even had a walk-in robe!) The nursery was empty, Robbie John arrived on the 11th of May 1955, and so we gave up the idea of trying for a girl. Allen’s mum had 9 boys and two girls; the girls arrived last. Allen finished off our house and we even had a road made by then, he was doing very well in the police force. Allen was promoted to uniform to plain-clothes detective and went to Airlie College and came out 4th of 36. It was very hard demanding work, all shifts life was a struggle in those days, but we managed to buy a car, a Morris for 100 pounds then in 1952 an A model ford for 50pounds, Allen’s pride and joy. What fun we had picnics, rabbiting, mushrooming, wood gathering. A picnic consisted of a cooked leg of lamb, jar of beetroot, pickles, loaf of bread, butter, tomatoes, white onions and fruitcake- wonderful. Pop and Gran Mumford lived 5 minutes away across the paddocks, we all used to go to Sunday school night tea. Geoff, Dorrie, Jean were home enough to have a footy or a cricket team, great times.

Then, Allen was talked into trying for a country station, Wedderburn the first, what excitement, had to rent out my lovely family house everything just right. Garden was lovely- we shifted just after Christmas 1958. Allen had the Ford all done up as he had to use it for the Police work and away we went with the trailer on the back, on board more incidentals plus bikes, dog, dog kennel, 4 bantams on eggs, 1 possum and I imagine a lot of pot plants. I was his unpaid offsider, After Wedderburn we went to Violet Town the Yarra Junction, each town provided for all us new experiences. Wedderburn was a small town, 3000 people all very friendly, a lovely big old house and an office looking out onto a village green where cricket was played in the summer. Stephen went down to the local milk bar, he was breathless when he got back, the man said we could have a loan of a cow and he had two and not enough feed as we had a Lucerne paddock we accepted. Me on the condition I did not have to milk her. Flossie, A jersey cow. I did learn how to milk later as Allen would sometimes be caught up with work and the boys would be playing sports etc. I also had a piglet given to me for Mother’s Day, when sold 5 months later $79 came my way. I mothered in the first 6 months, 5 baby lambs, a clucky hen who sat on 10 duck eggs, rosella parrots and galas on my combustion stove hearth who all had to be hand fed. We had a possum who ate roses, fruit and chocolate. I even made my own butter, separated the milk and supplied everyone who called in with jars of cream and homemade jams. My town friends could hardly believe but it’s all true.

Our inspector came once a month for lunch and this day Allen had Fred, a simple lad in the lock up. He was caught flashing himself off to school girls. I had to give him lunch also, so inspector said “what are you going to give Fred for lunch?”, same as you I said, but I put a bit more bacon on yours” and the inspector said “are you going to put it on a plate with a fork and knife?”. “yes” I replied. “well” said the inspector “He could break the plate, cut his throat, stab himself with knife and four times with the fork” so, Fred’s lunch was on an enamel plate with an enamel cup and a spoon, one soon learns. Another time, a runaway boy who I had already made him a great heap of sandwiches, Allen came in and said “he was still hungry”, we had, had a flower show and cooking competition, I won the lamington prize and I bought the prize fruit cake, I don’t know if Allen told him what he was about to eat but he never left any.

Next stop Violet Town- Allen’s mother and father were born at Boho and Warrenbain in time we found we were related to half the town. We’d have weekends when Allen’s parents would come up and have open house and all wonderful stories these relations would tell. The Hume Highway was very bad for accidents, dreadful ones- trucks-many times I’d have injured people to look after and feed till their relatives would come and pick them up. Once, Allen and the shire engineer (he said he would help) a truck with milk powder and a truck with 250 sheep collided, what a mess. Both trucks caught fire and by the time Allen got there the sheep were running up and down the highway with their wool on fire. All the sheep had to be destroyed, nothing much left of the two truckies but the shire engineer never offered to go with Allen again.

Next Stop- over the mountains to Yarra Junction. What a difference. Mountains. Huge gumtrees. Ferns and a house on the side of a mountain and facing Bencairn near Donna Buang. Within 3 days it was all on fire. I didn’t see Allen for four days and then I saw him on the TV. Allen and a ranger tried to get two boys and their grandparents to leave their house as it was in a valley surrounded by trees, but they said “they would stay” so Allen couldn’t do much about it. After the fire they went back to find them. They had all perished on the way out in a ute. The house was still standing, so very sad. The fires were over by Wednesday and Dianna Trask’s wedding was on the Saturday. Allen in one car containing a policeman, his wife, myself, 3 boys and two girls in the back of our station wagon, we were the crowd control.

People came from everywhere to Warburton it really was a circus, church windows full of faces, the brides father had his wallet pinched out of his pocket, after all that Allen had to make way for the bride and grooms car to the reception with a green Holden station wagon with all of us in it and one of the kids yells out “look they’re kidding!” what fun we all had. After the fires the ferns grass and trees were all starting to shoot after 10 days. Plenty of snow in the winter to play in.

After two years Allen and our family had to shift back to Melbourne to Seaford to take up a promotion what a shock to our systems, the people were so rude, always in a hurry and didn’t care about one another. After a while I was a bit lost after having been so busy for several years. I was lucky to meet with Winifred Moss a well-known dressmaker for the wealthy, also did beautiful society weddings, entered the gown of the year 7 times and won 3. Winifred wanted someone to do beading and bridal headgear. I started at 3 ½ days a week and ended up doing full time. I was offered a position at Haileybury College looking after 700 boys and masters in sickbay. I loved it, I also had to show overseas visitors over the school and do flowers and decorate the reception rooms when needed.

Allen was not at all well and became very ill and was discharged on medical grounds, as a family his boys and I were very proud of our policeman and the wonderful life he had provided. I retired from Haileybury and we bought an old house on a big treed block near the beach in Rye. We spent many happy years renovating and creating a lovely garden. My garden was featured in Home Beautiful as the best CWA garden on the peninsula.

We decided six months after finishing the house to move to warmer climes, to Maroochydore where we had, looking back 5 ½ years of holidays. But we returned to Victoria as our granddaughters were growing up without us around.

Ian, Heather and four granddaughters in Tinamba

Stephen and June and two granddaughters in Canberra

Rob and Sue in Lakes Entrance

We settled in eagle point and the mozzies made us move to rosebud, where the traffic made us move to Maffra, just the right type of place we were looking for. Lovely little town, very caring people, loving friends and I hope I have many more years among you all.

Sadly, Allen passed away in April 2003, a brave man.

We now have 6 granddaughters and seven great granddaughters, and hopefully someday maybe a great grandson.

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gardenersperth · 6 years ago

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#Jims Lawn Mowing Services #Lawn Mowing Services #Lawn Mowing Services Perth

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democratsunited-blog · 6 years ago

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FOX NEWS FIRST: Trump predicts Dems will be put on ICE in November; Dems in dissension; Mexico elects ‘messiah’

https://uniteddemocrats.net/?p=5065

FOX NEWS FIRST: Trump predicts Dems will be put on ICE in November; Dems in dissension; Mexico elects ‘messiah’

Welcome to FOX News First. Not signed up yet? Click here.

Developing now, Monday, July 2, 2018

FOX News Exclusive: President Trump says he is not likely to ask his Supreme Court nominee’s view on Roe vs. Wade and predicts Democrats will lose ‘badly’ in the midterm elections if they continue their push to abolish ICE in wide-ranging interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo

Democrats appear to be in disarray as Rep. Maxine Waters admits she was ‘surprised’ by party leader’s criticism over her recent controversial comments about ‘confronting’ Trump administration officials. In addition, a top Democratic senator dissents from growing party calls to abolish ICE

A left-wing populist who fervently opposed President Trump’s immigration policies won Mexico’s presidential election Sunday night

NBA superstar LeBron James agrees to four-year, $154 million blockbuster contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, once again leaving behind his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers

THE LEAD STORY – FOX NEWS EXCLUSIVE – TRUMP ON SUPREME PICK, ROE V. WADE … AND PUTTING DEMS ON ICE: President Trump expects his next Supreme Court pick “to go very quickly” and says he is unlikely to ask his nominee’s position on the landmark Roe vs. Wade abortion rights case … In a wide-ranging interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump said abortion rights “could very well end up” being determined on a state-by-state basis after a new Supreme Court justice is seated, but the president said he “probably” would not ask his pick to replace retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy how they would vote on Roe v. Wade. “But I’m putting conservative people on,” Trump said. Trump predicted the new Supreme Court nominee, whom he has vowed to name on July 9, would be approved by the Senate “very quickly,” with “a lot of support.”

In the interview, Trump also predicted Democrats will be “beaten so badly” in the midterm elections if they campaign on the policy of abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — just as the once-fringe call to scrap the agency is going mainstream among the left. In New York, socialist primary challenger and ICE opponent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shocked the party’s establishment by beating Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. In the days afterward, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio added their support to the cause. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif has said that the U.S. should consider “starting from scratch” while Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., announced he would be introducing a bill on Monday to abolish the agency.

DIVIDED DEMS FALL: Democrats appear to be cracking under the pressure of opposing President Trump, and party infighting is going public months before the midterm elections ... Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said Sunday that she was “surprised” by criticism from Democratic leaders over her statement that people should “push back” against members of the Trump administration over its immigration policy. Waters attracted criticism from Republicans last weekend after she told rally-goers in her Los Angeles congressional district that members of the public should confront members of the Trump administration and “tell them they’re not welcome.”

Waters made the remarks after White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen left a different restaurant after protesters began shouting at her. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi distanced herself from Waters’ remarks. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor to say that harassment of political opponents was “not right” and “not American.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sunday bucked calls by fellow high-profile Democrats to abolish ICE, putting a damper on the far-left proposal that has gained mainstream traction in recent days. “We are always going to need immigration enforcement,” Klobuchar said on ABC’s “This Week.”

POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO: A left-wing populist who railed against President Trump’s immigration policies won a historic victory in Mexico’s presidential election Sunday night, with both of his main rivals conceding before the first official results were announced…. A late-night official quick count from electoral authorities forecast that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would win with between 53 percent and 53.8 percent of the vote, a remarkable margin not seen in the country for many years.

Lopez Obrador, known popularly by the acronym “AMLO,” has long been the consensus front-runner in the race, having promised a “transformation” of a country plagued by violence and political scandal. While Lopez Obrador has railed against Mexico’s “mafia of power,” he’s saved some of his strongest words for Trump.

He launched his presidential campaign in the border city of Ciudad Juarez and vowed that Mexico would reassert itself as a “free, sovereign and independent” nation. He has vowed that Mexico “will never be the piñata of any foreign government” and ripped the Trump administration’s policy of separating families who cross the border illegally as “arrogant, racist and inhuman.” He’s also promised to roll back some of outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto’s policies toward Central American migrants who cross Mexico’s own southern border, saying that his government would no longer do Trump’s “dirty work.”

L.A.-BRON GOES HOLLYWOOD: LeBron James has agreed to a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agency says … Klutch Sports Group announced that the contract would pay James a fully guaranteed $154 million. ESPN reported that the fourth year of the deal was a player option that James can decline in order to become a free agent again after the 2020-21 season. This is the third time in eight years that James has changed teams via free agency. He left the Cleveland Cavaliers following the 2010 season to go to the Miami Heat. He returned to Cleveland following the 2014 season. James isn’t planning any more comments and there won’t be a welcoming press conference or celebration in Los Angeles, a person familiar with his plans told The Associated Press.

AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS WEEKEND

‘EVOLUTION OF A SOCIALIST COUP’: “Right now in America, there are forces dug in, organized, and well-funded doing whatever is necessary to make socialism happen. Today’s demonstrations are part of an ongoing step-by-step agenda to change our country at its very core.” – Judge Jeanine Pirro, in her “Opening Statement” on “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” outlining the current rise of socialism in America. WATCH

ICE AGE FOR DEMS?: “Calls to abolish ICE will lead to the abolishment of the Democrat party.” – Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, on “FOX & Friends Weekend,” arguing that calls to abolish ICE will lead to the end of the Democratic Party. WATCH

TRENDING

Trump crashes wedding at Bedminster golf club.

D-Day concert on Sword Beach in France for 75th anniversary draws outrage from some veterans.

American hunter’s images of her black giraffe ‘trophy kill’ spark outrage.

Notorious French criminal escapes from prison using helicopter, sparks massive manhunt.

THE SWAMP

John Bolton on Trump-Putin meeting: Critics shouldn’t develop ‘case of the vapors.’

NSA deleting hundreds of millions of call records, raising questions about surveillance program’s viability.

Obama still backing Pelosi while other Democrats move on.

ACROSS THE NATION

Battling the despair of opioid addiction in an unexpected place.

$45,000-per-year private school in uproar over plan to ‘segregate’ students by race.

PHOTO: Hero golden retriever protects owner from rattlesnake attack, suffers bite on face.

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

‘Sunday Morning Futures’: Trump refuses to back down from the China tariffs in Bartiromo interview | Trump to delay NAFTA decision.

Canada tariffs on U.S. goods from ketchup to lawn mowers begin.

June jobs report highlights holiday week.

This part-time job pays $300K a year. (Seriously)

Tesla reportedly hits Model 3 manufacturing milestone.

ICYMI: Nine ways to save on vacation this summer.

FOX NEWS OPINION

Harry J. Kazianis: Are the U.S. and North Korea on the brink of another nuclear showdown?

Andy Puzder: Trump’s trade critics are wrong — His tariffs could bring major benefits to America.

Ronald Reagan showed us how to deal with today’s political demonization.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

Roseanne Barr claims she’s been offered new TV projects since cancellation scandal.

Heather Locklear voluntarily agrees to long-term rehab.

Sophie Turner says ‘Game of Thrones’ will be ‘bloodier,’ promises ‘more death.’

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Fourth of July tips for keeping pets calm.

Self magazine features plus-size model Tess Holliday on first digital cover.

German ‘Stonehenge’ site reveals 10 dismembered bodies of women, children.

STAY TUNED

On FOX News:

FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: A look at what some law enforcement officials think of some Democrats’ call to abolish ICE. A breakdown of the top candidates to be President Trump’s next pick for the Supreme Court. Guests include: Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump; retired U.S. Marine Corps Bomb Technician Johnny “Joey” Jones; New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin.

FOX News @ Night, 11 p.m. ET: Guests include: Brad Thor, author of “Spymaster.”

On FOX Business:

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: More of Maria Bartiromo’s interview with President Trump; Newt Gingrich, former House speaker.

Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Rep. Jim Renacci, Ohio Senate candidate; Michael O’Rielly, FCC commissioner.

Countdown to the Closing Bell, 3 p.m. ET: Amb. Rufus Yerxa, National Foreign Trade Council president and former WTO deputy director general.

On FOX News Radio:

The FOX News Rundown podcast: Months away from the midterm elections, how is each party getting their base ready? Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, discusses what direction each party should take as they head towards November. An estimated 2 million women and girls in Africa live with obstetric fistula. Ann Gloag, is the founder of Freedom from Fistula and one of the UK’s most successful business leaders. FOX News’ Dana Perino sat down with Gloag to discuss the accomplishments of her humanitarian work on Freedom from Fistula’s 10th anniversary. Plus, commentary by Josh Holmes, former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and president and founding partner of Cavalry.

Want the FOX News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.

#OnThisDay

1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law a sweeping civil rights bill passed by Congress.

1937: Aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappears over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight along the equator.

1926: The United States Army Air Corps is created.

1776: The Continental Congress passes a resolution saying that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”

Fox News First is compiled by Fox News’ Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your Monday! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Tuesday morning.

Read full story here

#Democrats

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djgblogger-blog · 7 years ago

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Robotic fundings, acquisitions and IPOs: April 2018

http://bit.ly/2ri12ek

Twenty startups were funded in April 2018.

Fifteen disclosed transaction amounts totaling $808 million of which the $600 million to SenseTime, the Alibaba-funded Chinese deep learning and facial recognition software provider focused on smart self-driving vehicle systems, was by far the largest.

Year to date, fundings total $2.3 billion!

Seven acquisitions also occurred in April. The most notable was the acquisition by Teradyne (which previously acquired Universal Robots and Energid) of MiR (Mobile Industrial Robots) for $148 million with an additional $124 million predicated on very achievable milestones between now and 2020.

Robotics Fundings

SenseTime, a Chinese deep learning and facial recognition software provider focused on smart self-driving vehicle systems, raised $600 million in a Series C funding round led by Alibaba Group with participation by Temasek Holdings and Suning Commerce Group.

Formlabs, a Somerville, Mass.-based manufacturer of industrial quality 3D printing systems, raised $30 million in a Series C funding. Tyche Partners led the round, and was joined by Shenzhen Capital Group, UpNorth Investment Limited, DFJ, Pitango and Foundry Group.

Zimplistic, a Singapore-based kitchen robotics firm which makes the $999 Rotimatic roti maker, raised $30 million in a Series C funding led by Credence Partners and EDBI.

6 River Systems, a Massachusetts-based point-to-point logistics mobile robot maker, raised $25 million in Series B funding in a round led by Menlo Ventures with participation from all existing investors (Norwest Venture Partners, Eclipse Ventures and iRobot). Details here.

Houston Mechatronics, a Texas defense and space systems integrator, raised $20 million in Series B funding from Iain Cooper and Simple-Fill. Funds will be used to develop a novel transformer-like underwater device called Aquanaut.

Vicarious Surgical, a Cambridge, Mass-based robotic surgery startup, raised $16.75 million in Series A funding. Khosla Ventures and Innovation Endeavors led the round the round, and were joined by Gates Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, and Marc Benioff.

Efy-Tech, a Chinese UAS control systems startup, raised $15.8 million in a Series A funding from Aviation Industry Corporation, a Chinese state-owned aerospace and defense company.

DeepScale, a Silicon Valley self-driving vehicle AI perception startup, raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Point72 and next47.

Ready Robotics, a Baltimore-based provider of collaborative robots as a service (RaaS), raised $15 million in funding. Drive Capital led the round, and was joined by Eniac Ventures and RRE Ventures.

Symbio Robotics, a Berkeley, CA robotics control software startup, raised $15 million from undisclosed sources.

Marble, a San Francisco-based developer of a fleet of intelligent courier robots, raised $10 million in Series A funding. Investors include Tencent, Lemnos, Crunchfund, and Maven.

Regulus Cyber, an Israeli startup developing and making security devices for drones and autonomous vehicles, raised $6.3 million in a Series A round led by Sierra Ventures and Canaan Partners Israel.

Comma.ai, the San Francisco startup led by superstar hacker George Hotz, raised $5 million in a Series A round although it’s unclear who invested in the round which was reported in an SEC filing.

Bear Robotics, a Silicon Valley mobile robot startup for the food industry, raised $3 million in a Seed round (in January) of which $2 million came from Korean food-tech firm Woowa Brothers.

Segway Robotics raised $1.1 million from 952 backers in an IndieGoGo campaign for their Loomo mobil robotic mini personal transporter which they are selling for $1,499 and begin shipping in May.

Robotics Fundings: amounts undisclosed

DroneSense, a Texas UAS platform for drone users and OEMs, raised an undisclosed amount from FLIR Systems. “This alliance with DroneSense will help bring to market a truly mission-critical solution needed by first responders to effectively deploy a complete UAS program across their organizations. We believe this platform is scalable geographically, across multiple markets, and across multiple FLIR Business Units,” said James Cannon, President and CEO of FLIR.

BBS Automation, a Germany-based global integrator of automated testing and inspection systems, raised an undisclosed amount from equity fund EQT Mid-Market which intends to assist BBS Automation’s growth ambitions both organically and through add-on acquisitions in new end markets.

Plug-and-play Panda robot

Franka Emika, a German startup producing the Panda co-bot, raised an undisclosed amount from their new joint venture partner, German conglomerate Voith. The new joint venture has launched Voith Robotics which will develop the Panda co-bot business while Franka will focus on the research and selling to academia and the research community.

Franklin Robotics, the Lowell MA startup that created a garden weeding robot named Tertill, sold 25% of the company to Husqvarna Group for an undisclosed amount. “With almost 1,500,000 environmentally friendly robotic mowers sold all over the world, Husqvarna Group has vast experience and insight that will be invaluable to us as we bring Tertill to market, and continue to develop robotic weeding solutions for the garden and beyond”, says Rory MacKean, CEO Franklin Robotics.

Intuition Robotics, an Israeli startup developing an eldercare social robot, raised an undisclosed amount (in January) from SamsungNEXT Ventures.

Acquisitions

UPDATE to the acquisition of Energid by Teradyne in February for an undisclosed amount. The amount is now known to be $25 million.

Beijing Aresbots Technology (Ares Robot), a Beijing startup developing Kiva-like warehousing robots, was acquired for an undisclosed amount by Face++, a Beijing facial recognition and ID company also known as Megvii.

Genesis Advanced Technology, the Canadian startup developing LiveDrive, a direct-drive actuator with torque-to-weight that can meet or beat motor-gearbox actuators, has been acquired by Koch Industries for an undisclosed amount. Koch will form a new company Genesis Robotics & Motion Technologies (Genesis Robotics) – to commercialize LiveDrive and related technologies. Details here.

Genmark Automation, a Fremont, CA maker of automation tools and wafer handling robots for the semiconductor industry, was acquired by Nidec Sankyo, a Japanese maker of motors, clean-room robots and robot components, for an undisclosed amount.

JR Automation, a Michigan industrial robot integrator, acquired Setpoint Systems, a Littleton, CO, an integrator of building automation solutions, and Setpoint, an Ogden, Utah amusement and theme parks ride designer. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

MiR (Mobile Industrial Robots), the Danish startup with 300% sales growth in 2017, was acquired by Teradyne (NYSE:TER) for $148 million with an additional $124 million predicated on very achievable milestones between now and 2020. Details here.

Van Hoecke Automation, a Belgian-based industrial robot integrator, was acquired by Michigan-based Burke Porter Group for an undisclosed amount. BPG is a multi-subsidiary conglomerate providing testing and clean room equipment to the auto industry.

Wind River, a control systems software provider acquired by Intel, has been acquired by private equity firm TPG Capital for an undisclosed amount. “This acquisition will establish Wind River as a leading independent software provider uniquely positioned to advance digital transformation within critical infrastructure segments with our comprehensive edge to cloud portfolio,” said Jim Douglas, Wind River President. “At the same time, TPG will provide Wind River with the flexibility and financial resources to fuel our many growth opportunities as a standalone software company that enables the deployment of safe, secure, and reliable intelligent systems.”

IPOs

None

Failures

Revolve Robotics (developer of the KUBI tabletop remote presence device) has folded and turned over remaining sales, service and support to their Northern California manufacturer Xandex.