A Glimpse Inside the Training Kitchens at the Midwest Culinary Institute
By Peg Ashbrock
Â
Cooking is big business.
Â
According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry is projected to reach $558 billion in sales this year. The rise of cooking shows on television networks and the popularity of celebrity chefs have made the culinary field hotter than ever. So just how do you get the training to be a professional in the industry? It all starts at culinary school, and guess what, one of the hidden gems in the profession is located right here in Cincinnati. (more…)
Summerfair Kicks Off the Summer Arts Scene
By Peg Ashbrock
Who knows why art is appealing to you. Is it the intellectual stimulation? Is it the spiritual feeling it creates in you? Could it be you just like the colors, the textures, the shape?
Â
Two women, two artists, use light and color as their guide in very different ways to craft unique interpretations of the world around them. They, along with another 300 artists, kicked off Summerfair 2008, Cincinnati’s official start of summer festivals. (more…)
Eat Your Way Through Summer with Cool Local Treats
By Peg Ashbrock
Â
Eating ice cream in the summer is not only a summer ritual; it’s your patriotic duty. Really. In 1984 President Reagan declared the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
So there you have it. It’s your duty as an American to eat ice cream July 20. Because of Cincinnati’s sheer number of ice cream options it definitely will take longer than just one day. So my advice? Make this an all summer project. Invest your time, your taste buds and a few friends to honor your patriotic commitment to get the scoop on Cincinnati’s ice cream. (more…)
Do You Know TechnoEtiquette?
By Peg Ashbrock
Cell phones and BlackBerrys. Email and text messaging. Sure today’s gadgetry may allow you to multitask even more now than ever, but at what cost? Do you know today’s techno-etiquette and cyber civility, or are you rude in America?
According to etiquette consultants, manners really do matter. “When the social niceties are not maintained it has an impact on society,” explained etiquette expert LisaMarie Luccioni, adjunct associate professor of communication at the University of Cincinnati. (more…)
More TechnoEtiquette Tips
Our experts had more great information than we could fit in In Touch !
Voice Mail:
Use a professional greeting. Clever messages and music aren’t professional.
When leaving a message say your phone number slowly and repeat it twice. If you’re a new caller or have a challenging name, spell it slowly. (more…)
Getting Started:
Establishing a Financial Safety Net
By Patty K. Scott, Investment Advisor
Recession. Job Layoffs. Divorce.
In times of crisis you don’t want to be shaking pennies out of a piggy bank. Having a financial safety net in place can ensure that you’re protected when an emergency arises. Start by setting up a cash reserve, a pool of readily available funds that can help you meet emergency or highly urgent short-term needs. (more…)
As In Touch went to press, we learned Cincinnati’s Olympic hopeful in target shooting was not chosen for the one open spot on the U.S. team for the Beijing Olympics, but we are so proud of her efforts to make the team. Her story follows in At Work.
Cincinnati Native Shoots for Beijing Olympics
By Peg Ashbrock
From earliest Greece to today’s Olympic Games, target shooting has evolved into a competitive sport. In the U.S. trap actually began right here in Cincinnati, in 1831. Today we have our own Olympic hopeful in the sport- Theresa Dewitt, 44, a McAuley High alum. (more…)
Using a Life Coach to Craft a Life You’ll Love
By Melissa Haller
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It is not length of life, but depth of life.” Does that leave you scratching your head, wondering where you should start digging? By asking, you’ve taken the first step to figuring out the rest of your life. It’s a journey that many people choose when they’re in transition with work or family, feel something is missing, or want to create a life they love. If you’re on that path, looking for something, you must first define what it is you want: A new job? Fulfilling family life? Adventure? “Don’t ask for an apple when you want an orange,” says Cincinnati-based life coach Ed Burns. (more…)
Teaching Your Children the Joy of Giving
By Patty K. Scott
First Financial
SVP Managing Director, Wealth Resource Group
The best gift you give your child this holiday season may not come from any store. Beyond the treasures depicted in television commercials, experts suggest kids need a chance to feel good about themselves by making a difference. And that rarely comes in neatly wrapped packages. (more…)
Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
By Patty K. Scott,Senior Vice President and Managing Director ,First Wealth Resource Group
What’s the fastest-growing white-collar crime in the U.S.? According to the FBI, it’s identity theft, and it happens to an estimated 700,000 Americans each year. Whether they’ve snatched your purse, stolen your mail, dug through your trash and dumpsters or hacked into your computer, they’re out to get you and your information.
What do you get if you’ve been a victim of identity theft? A big headache, and the chance to clean up the mess that’s left behind. However there are steps you can take to help to protect yourself from becoming a victim. (more…)
Make sure your furry friends are taken care of with a pet trust
By: Patty K. Scott, Senior VP and Managing Director First Financial Bank Wealth Resource Group
If you’re worried about what might happen to your beloved pet after your death, it’s possible to create a pet trust to provide for the continuing care and well-being of a particular animal or animals. (more…)
From corporate America to the halls of academia
By: Staci Giordullo
Honestly, how many of us can say we love our jobs? Whether it is as a stay-at-home mom (a.k.a. domestic engineer) or a full-time businesswoman, we have all fantasized of our dream job. But that’s where the fantasy usually ends – for most. For others, they take the plunge and move from one career to another in search of making a difference in their lives. Here are just two of many stories about Tri-state women who discovered their destiny was in the world of education. (more…)
Balancing family and financial responsibilities
By: Patty K. Scott, Senior VP and Managing Director First Financial Bank Wealth Resource Group
At a time when you may be looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to help your children with college expenses while at the same time managing the needs of your aging parents. Squeezed in the middle, you’ve joined the ranks of the “sandwich generation.” (more…)
What to look for in a college as an adult student
By: Maggie Davis, Director of the Career and Experiential Education Center at the College of Mount St. Joseph
What do you think of when you hear the words, “college student”? Most times, the image of an 18-year-old living in a dorm comes to mind. But that picture does not completely reflect reality. A college degree is becoming increasingly necessary in the marketplace for adults seeking upward mobility or change in their careers. (more…)
Health insurance – Decisions, decisions.
By: Patty K. Scott, Senior VP and Managing Director First Financial Bank Wealth Resource Group
These days, we are all seeking ways to reduce the cost of health care but maintain quality. Health insurance is becoming more expensive. HMOs lower costs, but offer limited choices. What else is out there? Plenty, but the challenge is understanding the options. (more…)
To give or not to give?
Gifting for the charitably inclined.
By: Patty K. Scott, Senior VP and Managing Director First Financial Bank Wealth Resource Group
A variety of personal benefits are available from charitable giving – advantages that go well beyond just that “warm feeling” and a tax deduction. Many gifts are made for purely unselfish reasons. Individuals who donate their time and talents to their church, synagogue, community organizations, educational institutions or other charities are often open to making monetary gifts as well, especially when they are shown tax-saving methods to do so. (more…)
