Jean's China Travel Journal - March 16, 2010

It’s not good when your wake-up call arrives at 4:15. But we made it to the airport and through the craziness of checking in with time to spare. Arrived at Shanghai’s smaller domestic airport on the first day that the new wing of the terminal was being opened. Wow, another spectacular place and everything worked even on the first day. We stopped for lunch on the way to our hotel and many of my fellow travelers are desperate for some American food. I find it odd that people didn’t anticipate eating Chinese food at every meal for the week. I think the food is quite good and there’s a tremendous variety since we are served family style at tables with giant lazy susans. But Chinese breakfast on the plane was a challenge. Congee is sort of like thin oatmeal, but made from white rice instead of oats. That was served with a sealed plastic pouch of pickled vegetables and a dark brown hardboiled egg. I think it was a duck egg boiled and then soaked in tea. The roll was filled with sweet bean paste. Not what we’re used to, but a new take on the breakfast of champions.

More later.

Jean's China Travel Journal - March 15, 2010

Our breakfast briefing at Reed Smith LLP, a leading legal firm in Shanghai, on China’s Legal Climate and Challenges for Foreign Invested Capital was a learning experience. China’s government’s stimulus package of about $650 billion has worked in ways that America’s hasn’t. A few differences: China put on 2nd and 3rd shifts on construction projects to get more people working; it got banks to really lend to businesses; and it distributed prepaid debit cards to people in areas of high unemployment quickly to infuse cash into the economy. Of course, it’s easier to accomplish these tasks when the government’s state-owned businesses are about 60% of the economy. Yet, who would have imagined that private enterprise controls about 40% of the economy even 10 years ago?

I climbed the great wall of China. Okay I climbed only a very small part at Juyong Guan pass. The mountains on either side of this pass jut towards the sky. With snow on the ground and the steps climbing was very tricky. A few people in our group made it all the way to the top of the pass where some of the “steps” were more than 30 inches high. Coming down was harder than going up and the wind was wicked. It gave me a sense of respect for the Chinese people who built most of this wall in the 14th to 16th centuries during the Ming dynasty as a protection from the Mongols to the north. In fact it gave me respect for the Chinese people who restored it in the 1980s.

We also visited the Ming Tombs and the Hall of Eminent Favor, which has been made into a museum containing some artifacts from the one tomb that was excavated and an impressive statue of Yongle, the 3rd Ming Emporer. But the most impressive part of the building is the construction. The roof is supported by 40 foot-tall cedar columns that are more than 12 feet in circumference at the bottom. The tombs were built in this area because the ridge of mountains protects the area on 3 sides and keeps the evil spirits carried on the north wind away from the area.

We had dinner tonight at a banquet hall with about 200 other Chamber executives from the U.S., Norway, Bermuda, and Great Britain. Some Chinese officials from the Ministry of Culture joined us. We were greeted upon arrival by dragon and lion dancers and entertained by a trio of musicians that played “Oh, Susannah” and “Red River Valley” on erhu (a two-stringed violin). I think I may be experiencing culture shock. Most of the other Chamber execs are here to see and experience China, but are not part of our Ford Foundation Fellowship group. They have more time for sightseeing and shopping, but I’m so glad to be able to participate in the discussions and workshops being presented.

Back to the hotel to pack. We have to be out of the hotel at 5 a.m. tomorrow to catch the 7:30 flight to Shanghai.

Jean's China Travel Journal - March 14, 2010

Arrived in Beijing last evening with a group of fellow Chamber execs. All of us are ACCE (Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives) Ford Foundation RSD Fellows. RSD stands for Regional Sustainable Development and each of us worked on projects dealing with efforts to make our communities better in the 21st Century.

Thanks to ACCE and Ford for sponsoring this trip to China. We'll be spending 3 days in Beijing and 4 in Shanghai and meeting with a people working in China on issues ranging from Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility to Foreign Investment and the Talent Landscape.

Beijing is impressive. The airport (which was totally rebuilt for the 2008 Olympics) is extraordinarily beautiful and everything worked incredibly well from Immigration to Customs. We passed through temperature detectors that are set to find people with high fevers. Luckily we all passed with flying colors.

We're staying at the Beijing Marriott City Wall, which is built next to the only remaining section of the wall of the "common" city--to distinguish it from the Imperial and the Forbidden Cities. It's a lovely hotel with an elegant lobby and beautiful rooms. The bathroom is a delight to someone who just spent 14 hours flying from JFK to PEK.

There are 17 million people living in Beijing. Within the 3rd ring--the Common City (the first is the Forbidden City and the second the Imperial City)--are hotels, the enormous train station, office and government buildings, and the Central Business District. The boulevards are wide and the traffic is fierce. Our guide says there are more than 4 million automobiles registered in the Beijing area.

Most of the office buildings are pretty bland in design--about 30 story glass blocks, but one is very striking for two reasons. The China TV building is called "the blue jeans building" by locals. It's a two offset glass towers with a cantilevered connection that forms the belt and torso, It's a pretty odd building by itself, but is made much odder by the burned out building adjacent to it. It was completely destroyed one year ago during the spring festival by fireworks. Fireworks here are pretty serious and a little out of control. The developers are still trying to figure out how to take down the blackened and twisted hulk since it shares a foundation with the other two towers here.

MARCH 2010 MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to Jerry Dietz of CSP Management, who was honored by the Human Services Coalition with the Anne Tompkins Jones Award for community services as a Distinguished Volunteer.

---------

Kudos to Chamber member Heather Marshall of the Econo Lodge, who was honored by the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association with the 2010 Stars of the Industry Award for Outstanding Manager/Supervisor.

------------

Hickey’s Music Center was named last year to the “Top 200 Largest North American Music Retailers” by Music Trades Magazine. Currently owned by David Zimet and Charles DePaolo, Hickey’s Music was first opened in Ithaca on State Street in 1892 by Joseph Hickey as a Guitar, Mandolin and banjo shop.

Katie Foley has been named the Director of Development at Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca, being promoted from Associate Director upon the retirement of Laura Day in December. Katie has been with F&CS since 2007, coming to the agency from the Ithaca Youth Bureau where she served as the director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. She is a graduate of Ithaca College, as is Edie Jodz, the agency’s new Development Associate.

-----------

Thanks to Elisabeth from Snug Planet for this kind testimonial:

"Being featured as a new business in a recent Chambergram has made an incredibly positive impact on our business. We have received many leads and a great deal of positive feedback from the community because of the exposure. New customers hired us because they liked the picture of our crew -- it made them feel comfortable having us in their houses. Every day people tell me they have seen us getting 'positive press' and it's all because of the Chambergram. Thank you!"


Elisabeth – Snug Planet


PS. We LOVED having our staff meeting in the Chamber Conference Room. It feels so nice to be part of a bigger team out there in the world!

Remax Relocates

RE/MAX In Motion has been providing real estate services to Ithaca and the surrounding areas since May 2005. We are proud to announce the opening of our new location at 313 N. Meadow Street (aka Route 13 North), between Buffalo and Court Street. Our new location brings with it increased visibility, lets Ithaca know that we are Local Experts in the real estate market and offer Global Exposure to all of our clients.

There are many opportunities that exist in today's market. The tax credits, first time home buyers programs, and over 500 great properties at great prices. RE/MAX In Motion is committed to providing customized marketing, premier ONLINE Exposure, and confidential commission structures. The real estate market fluctuates with time, and right now, There is NO BETTER time to buy a new home.

At RE/MAX In Motion we are experienced, full time agents who are either college graduates, broker associates, or have been selling real estate in this area for over 19 years. Stop in and see our new space, visit us at www.reinmotion.com, or call us on our direct lines. We love what we do.



607.277.1500
www.reinmotion.com

A Big Welcome From the Chamber to Palmer Pharmacy

Originating in Trumansburg, NY, Palmer Pharmacy is an independently owned full-service pharmacy. This brand new downtown location is next to one of the TCAT's primary bus terminals on East Green Street. In addition to traditional pharmacy necessities, Palmer Pharmacy offers a variety of products to enhance well-being. The store features a vintage soda fountain with hand mixed soda, local ice cream and coffee. Palmer Pharmacy is excited to join the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and serve the Ithaca community.


607.882.9500

Hello From Rick and Blodwen at the Orange Blossom Pancake House

We would like to thank the people who have patronized our restaurant, which is located in the Franklin Plaza, at the intersection of Route 13 and 3rd Street. We feel we have a sumptuous menu, one which is a little different, and that everyone enjoys.

We are trying very hard to make this a pleasant place to be for families, a meeting place for business luncheons, and a place where people can come and enjoy the atmosphere and their friends and family.

Our hours currently are from 6am -2pm on Monday through Friday and from 8am-3pm on weekends, serving breakfast exclusively on Sundays. As the days grow warmer and longer, we anticipate extending our menu into the evening hours. Our evening fare will be our breakfast and lunch menus with an additional entrée special on Thursdays in conjunction with Red Feet Wines’ wine tastings. The Thursday evening hours are between 5-9 pm.

Both of us have lived in Ithaca for 22 years, and we felt that there was a real need for something different on the north end of town, as it was not being served. Our mission is to provide quality service and food made from the best available fresh ingredients that we can find in and around our community. We serve fair trade coffee, local maple syrup and we will be incorporating local vendors as we grow and dependent on the season.

We have wonderful chefs who have also included on our menu tasty vegan and vegetarian dishes as well, and continue to bring new and scrumptious dishes to your table.


607.227.3428

The Chamber Welcomes Mighty Yoga!

Discover the amazing power of yoga at Ithaca’s newest oasis, Power Yoga studio, Mighty Yoga.

While finishing her PhD in Environmental Engineering, studio owner Heather Healey discovered her yoga practice at a welcoming Pittsburgh studio. When she moved to Ithaca, she found good yoga studios, but none that shared the same energetic vibe. Additionally, finding a class that was equal parts challenging, accessible and fit into her busy work schedule as an Energy Engineer proved difficult. So Healey decided to start her own Power Yoga studio.

With roots in Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga is a vigorous practice that develops endurance, strength, balance and flexibility through flowing, heating postures. This combination of heat and energetic flow, teamed with yoga’s ability to reduce stress, encourages students to strengthen their minds and bodies as they shift from pose to pose while maintaining an enlivening breath.

Nearly six months after its opening, Mighty Yoga now offers a broad schedule of classes for all levels seven days a week, mornings and evenings, and the heated studio provides an uplifting space to begin, maintain or deepen one's own yoga practice. Under the guidance of caring, trained instructors, students at Mighty Yoga can explore their edge—break through existing boundaries into uncharted territory—in a haven where compassion and love blend with fun and laughs.

As the studio approaches its six-month anniversary celebration, a gathering open to the public from 6 to 7 PM on Saturday,March 6 and $6 classes all weekend, the Mighty Yoga team looks forward to welcoming more of you into its growing community of vibrant yogis and yoginis.


www.mightyyoga.com
607.220.8367

Joe Knows Solar!

Joe Solar is a locally owned company providing design and installation services of solar thermal systems for homes, businesses, and industry. We’re completely focused on solar heat and hot water systems, and we’re actually the only business serving the local community who is. We’ve dedicated ourselves to providing the absolute best in solar thermal after recognizing the many unique benefits the technology offers, especially to the local Finger Lakes community.

In this region, the vast majority of the energy consumed is used for the purposes of providing heat in some form. The need for heat represents over three quarters of a typical household’s energy profile. Solar thermal systems can provide a large portion of this energy with a very high degree of efficiency, far greater efficiency than many other renewable energy systems, and at a much, much lower cost. The systems we install have been proven effective, efficient, long lasting, and reliable in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, in regions with considerably less sunlight than what’s available here.

One of the tenets of our business is "Bringing Solar down to Earth". We're approachable, informative, and straightforward, and we offer the smartest, most professional systems in solar. Give us a call; toll free (877) 609-5050, or shoot us an email, Joe@JoeSolar.org. Let's talk solar. We're more than willing to share our knowledge, and we treat all of the systems we install as if they're our own. We care about our customers, our community, our families, and our environment. We want to be your solar guys!


www.joesolar.org
877.609.5050

Tompkins Tourism

Winter Recess Attracts 3,400 Educators

Despite difficult economic conditions, Tompkins County’s annual Winter Recess teachers fest attracted 3,400 teachers and family members, the second-largest attendance in the event’s four-year history.

A record 163 local business participated, offering special events, deals and activities for educators and their families at more than 168 locations around the county. This year’s calendar listed more than 90 events including arts, entertainment, dining, education and outdoor recreation.

“Our attendance declined 15% from 2009, but considering the economy and all the school budget troubles, we’re pleased,” said Bruce Stoff, communications manager for the Ithaca/Tompkins CVB, the event coordinator. “Obviously we would like to see growth, but we’re still thrilled we got 3,400 visitors here in February and showed them what a wonderful community this is.”

Highlights for visiting teachers included spa parties at Satori and Crystal’s, happy hours at Corks & More and Moosewood and dining deals at Maxie’s Supper Club and the Boatyard Grill. The Cayuga Wine Trail Mardi Gras, Downtown Chili Cookoff, Sciencenter and Museum of the Earth were the most popular events and attractions.

Held Feb. 12-21, Winter Recess is the nation’s first citywide festival celebrating state educators. The event has attracted 11,000 visitors since its inception in 2007. Dates for Winter Recess 2011 are Feb. 18-27.

What Really Counts

March 17 is and always will be St. Patrick’s Day to me. It’s a day to celebrate my Irish heritage, break out my mother’s recipe for corned beef and cabbage, and bake a few loaves of whole wheat soda bread.

But this year it’s also the day that we should be receiving the census form in the mail. So now we have another great reason to celebrate.

The U.S. Census is an amazing thing. It provides us with a snapshot of America and with the tools to apportion legislative seats at the local, state and national level. It gives school boards accurate data to assess whether they should build new classrooms or convert some buildings to new uses. It allows city and regional planners to consider where new water and sewer infrastructure needs to be built or whether roads or other transportation systems need to be updated. Businesses can evaluate what communities might need their goods based on demographics. Marketers can learn more about their potential audiences. And, in 70 years it provides an opportunity for your grandchildren to look back and find where you were living in 2010.

But the census only works if you fill out the form and get it back. I am very concerned that we may once again get an undercount in Tompkins County. In 2000 our official count was 96,501 when estimates put our number at just about 100,000. The 2008 estimate is 101,136 and we want to get to that number and make sure that everyone who resides here is counted here, but the calendar makes this very difficult.

Every address in the county should receive a form. But there is generally only one form provided per living unit. College students living off-campus should fill out the form here in Tompkins County since that’s where they live 9 to 10 months of the year. But they have to fill out one form and include all the people living in the apartment. If the form isn’t returned by the end of April for a specific address then census enumerators visit that address to try to find out who lives there. Unfortunately many college students leave town or move in early May and the census enumerators will only find an empty apartment.

So, what can you do? Please fill out the form and get it back in the mail. If you have questions, go to www.2010.census.gov and find out the information. If you are a landlord please talk to your tenants and remind them to fill out the census form and return it. If you don’t receive a form in the mail by the end of March please go to the Questionnaire Assistance Center (QAC) at Tompkins County Public Library and fill out a census form. There will be other QACs in the County as well.

A few years ago I hunted through 1910 census data to find my paternal grandparents, who had died in the influenza epidemic in 1918. My father never spoke about them much and I didn’t know their middle names or where they’d been living. It was a joy to find their names. So give your descendents a gift and fill out the form.