Are you starting your own business? Have you been reading everything you can get your hands on to help you get started or to grow your business? A local resource that might fit your needs is “Guerrilla Marketing Breakthrough Strategies” by Terry Telford and Jay Conrad Levinson. This book is written in a conversational style as if you are having a coffee at Tim Horton’s with an energetic and passionate business buddy. What I like about this business buddy is that he isn’t afraid to include his personal stories and discuss pitfalls or mistakes we could make. Telford and Levinson’s humanizing of dry stuff promotes your belief in yourself. By the end of the book, you realize that you too can be successful.

Both authors, Terry Telford and Jay Conrad Levinson are marketers, authors and businessmen who got together to form a joint venture that includes a web presence. They each bring to the table different experiences, skill sets and strengths. Levinson has been around a long time as a speaker, copywriter and marketer. His deep experience with large corporations, ad agencies and entrepreneurial activities compliments Telford. Telford brings to the table an online presence, advertising training, and success in local Kingston offline businesses, such as Snack Shack and Kingston East News. Together, they take Levinson’s guerrilla marketing strategies into the 21st century and the online community. Their successful merge as joint venture partners shows you how to build a business.

This book, which also has a web component, shows you how to prepare for a joint venture partnership, how to find your partners, how to approach them and how best to spend your time. It is filled with strategies, scripts and action plans. The goal is to give you clarity and focus and get you thinking strategically. Peppered throughout the book are websites to check out and the reasoning to help you understand why you need to try their ideas. It’s an inexpensive start to what might be an exciting new phase in your life!
Perhaps you know of a local author whose book Kingston East could feature? If so, please contact the paper!

Review by Jackie Powell

In a cynical move to get re-elected, President Obama has shelved the go-ahead (for now) of a pipeline extension to carry Canadian oil to Texas refineries. For good reason, he is worried. There is already considerable “buyer’s remorse” among voters who bought his message of change and hope. Obama will have a fight on his hands if the Republicans choose moderate Mitt Romney over several wingnuts now snapping at his heels for the GOP nomination. But whatever the election outcome 10 months from now, the extension will proceed.

How about the lavish pensions enjoyed by our Members of Parliament? This has to end. The federal government can’t expect the rest of us to accept reduced services and job losses while those who make our laws walk off with pensions of 50% of their $ 157,000-a-year pay beginning at age 55 after serving at least six years in Parliament.

We should all be asking our own MP how—and if—he’ll vote when this issue is dealt with (probably in the March budget.)

The government says that for every $ 1 MPs contribute to their pensions, taxpayers throw in $5.80 (a far higher ratio than generous private plans.) The Canadian Taxpayers Foundation says the taxpayers’ contribution is actually $ 23 for every $ 1 of MP’s money.

A few years in Parliament should not be the ticket to a golden retirement. MPs should have pension plans and RSPs like the rest of us lucky enough to do so. I don’t buy the argument that high salaries and rich pensions are needed to lure good people into politics. The Harris government ended Ontario’s gold plated pensions for MPPs and their salaries are less than federal counterparts. But I witness no difference in the quality of candidates as a result.

Then there’s the hullabaloo because the federal government has told the provinces they’ll get 6% increases in health care money for the next three years and after that the funding will be tied to economic growth but not less than 3%.

The provinces cry foul and demand to negotiate. The Prime Minister has told them to take the health money and spend their time and efforts finding better ways to spend it.

For as long as I can remember, the provinces have demanded that the federal government recognize health as a provincial responsibility. That has now happened.

We can’t keep throwing borrowed money at the problem. We need reform and increased efficiencies in the health care system. The provinces should stop whining and get to work.

Last but not least, we should be proud of our local police services and justice system.
I write this column as the now famous Shafia clan murder trial goes to the jury.
Whatever the outcome, it seems obvious to me that the Kingston Police and our local court services were exemplary in their investigation and handling of this heinous case.

Law enforcement and justice don’t come cheap. Because most people never come into direct contact with it, law and order is not a high public spending priority.

Let’s remember that what we’re buying is public confidence in the integrity, fairness and quality of the system and its ability to keep our communities safe. Other countries would kill for that—and do.

By: Sally Barnes

Ashley Kekkas, the Barista, will be serving hot beverages from Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 – 6 and Saturdays from 8:30 – 5.

Pictured left to right, Chris Carter Sgt @ Arms, Jack O’Brien President, Mr Ted Hsu, MP, Tom Burke 1st Vice President and Jim Pine 2nd Vice President.

Nathalie Dion, succeeds Mrs. Annie Thibault. With a degree in Management, Bachelor of Education and an active member of the Canadian Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Ms. Dion will maintain sound management within ACFOMI Employment Services.

“I am happy to work with such a great team of professionals, and together we will continue to deliver the Employment Ontario programs and services that are available for free to all job seekers and employers,” said Nathalie.

“John Machin Park has enjoyed a number of recent and popular upgrades. We are looking to add on to these and are calling on residents to help us define their sports park needs.” says Neal Unsworth, Manager of Parks Development.

The City is prepared to move forward with the $900,000 project and may be looking at a public-private partnership to complete it.
As soccer continues to become more and more popular, the need for additional playing facilities becomes more evident. Some soccer clubs are forced to practice as far away as Belleville, because of the lack of playing fields here in Kingston.

John Machin Sports Fields Park currently has two newly constructed international regulation-sized soccer fields as well as a variety of sports fields that allow the City to accommodate users of all ages.

The Park also connects to the four kilometer Greenwood Park trail and has a newly paved parking lot and access road.
Come out to the Feb. 15 meeting and show your support or ask your questions.

The Strategic Plan was created with the intent of outlining emerging priorities and strategies that are key to achieve the community’s vision of becoming the most sustainable city in the country. Some of those priorities include maintaining and enhancing infrastructure, enabling economic development, and developing proactive community plans. The plan is intended to be a living document, able to evolve with the community’s needs. Standing on the pillars of dynamic and diverse economy, social equity, a healthy environment, and cultural well-being. This document tries to define Kingston’s path to a sustainable community.

The city has kept a rise in tax rates to the maximum allowable 3.5%, managing an increase in several key areas, while keeping others at a more modest level. One area of improvement is transportation services, representing one of the highest overall budget stimuli, with a 10.5% increase to include more vehicles and routes for special access and city buses.
Councillor Reitzel also took some time to outline the committees he is involved with as part of council, adding that city committees are open to any interested and informed citizens. For more information you can visit the City of Kingston website, or contact Councillor Reitzel at breitzel@cityofkingston.ca.

Commissioner of Recreation and Leisure Lanie Hurdle also gave a presentation on some of the upcoming projects from her department. A $3 million renovation project is planned for Artillery Park, Kingston’s downtown aquatic recreation center, as well as the finishing work on two international size soccer pitches at John Machin Park, and the installation of an artificial turf field in the same location. As well there will be a public meeting mid-February to discuss the prospect of a new soccer dome or field house at the park. Information will be posted to the City of Kingston website as available.

By Shane Sweetman

I fully understand the concern residents have regarding property taxes. This is never an easy topic to discuss as it is the most direct form of taxation we have. Responsible taxation is what we as a city council are using as our guide. Responsible taxation is meeting the needs and expectations of city residents, while not overburdening any one taxpayers ability to pay.

This is the dilemma faced by every city in our country. One of the most costly areas of any budget is our ability to maintain and update our city infrastructure. When this is ignored for the popularity of having zero percent tax increases, or worse yet, tax decreases, a community, province and country, put themselves in a position of required “catch up.” This is so costly it can bankrupt a government.
I spoke at the meeting in regards to the committees that I attend and also listed the opportunities for residents on civic committees. At this time there is a requirement for citizens to become members of three committees, Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee (1 public member), Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation Board of Directors (1 tenant), Pump House Steam Museum Committee (1 public member). Applications must be received by Tuesday February 8th. Visit www.CityofKingston.ca/committees for more information or to complete an online application. Applications are also available at City Hall in the Clerk’s Department.

Please enjoy the remainder of our winter (?) and take in the activities of our Feb Fest which begins on February 2nd to February 5th.

It’s illegal to prevent recognition of a driver but every day I see numerous vehicles that could have a Martian or a robot behind the wheel for all I know. Don’t believe anyone (such as those who tint windows for a living) who tells you otherwise.

Darkly tinted windows are dangerous. As a pedestrian or driver I have the right to see if a motorist looks drunk, distracted by the lunch he’s eating or has spiked hair and a face full of tattoos, a phone in his ear or a dog on his lap.

I wish the Ontario Government will rein in its spending before we end up like the Greeks. Swallow your pride boys. It’s time for reality and leadership. Admit your energy policy is a disaster. Remind the public service the cookie jar is empty and they should be thankful they have jobs and benefits that hundreds of thousands of other Ontarians can only dream about.

Ontario, once the proud engine that drove our country, is now the spare tire in need of repair. We’re running a deficit higher than all the other provinces combined. The money lenders are hovering overhead like hungry vultures ready to pounce if the prey doesn’t get back on its feet.

The labour peace we have enjoyed in recent years has come at a high price and is probably over. The level of public services as we now know it can’t be maintained. Buckle your seat belts and hope for sanity behind the wheel.

I wish the media would stop referring to “honour killings.” There’s no honour in killing a woman or a child who embarrasses her family. It’s murder plain and simple. Why try to glorify it ?

Ditto for the federal government’s decision to deny citizenship to women who refuse to remove their opaque veils at citizenship court. This is not an issue of religious freedom. It’s a clash of cultures. We take justifiable pride in providing equality for girls and women and ensuring they have the right to participate fully and publicly in every aspect of life in this country. Veiling subverts that principle and ridicules our values.
A retired citizenship court judge told me recently that he insisted women show their faces when he was presiding and in his long involvement never experienced opposition from women. It was the men speaking for them who caused the fuss. I rest my case.

I wish we could put a damper on the polarization of political opinion that threatens our civility and success as a nation. As long as a majority of Canadians occupy the middle of the political spectrum and politicians have to court their votes, I remain positive about our future.

Right now, it seems that an increasing number are staking out ground on the far left or right. Not good. Politics will remain the art of the possible only as long as we elect good people who believe in and practice moderation.

I wish more of us appreciated our good fortune in being the home of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first and greatest prime minister. Join us at the foot of his statue in City Park on Jan. 11 to pay tribute to his memory and all he did for this area and this country.

And last but not least, I wish that we all remain grateful for how fortunate we are to live in this community and in Canada. Happy new year!

By: Sally Barnes