Self Checkout Counters

Self checkout counters, increase the profits to the corporations while reducing their payroll.
Reduced payroll means LESS employees.
Demand more cashiers and say "NO" to the self checkout counters.

Here's how I put my money where my mouth is:
About a month ago, we were shopping at the Tecumseh Road East Canadian Tire store and they had only one cashier working.
The line grew and grew until finally another cashier came up and announced that we could use the self checkout registers. As people slowly moved towards the self checkout, I said, in a voice for all to hear, that we should not cash ourselves out, and should demand they open another cash register.

I continued, "why should we ring our own products through just so the corporations increase their profits and reduce their payroll" . Looking at the cashier, I said, "please tell your managers to open more cash registers because none of us are going to cash ourselves out"

With that, the people who left to check themselves out, returned to stand in our line.
Within minutes, another cashier arrived and opened another register.

One more person had work that day thanks to collective opposition to corporate greed disguised as automation and progress.

Spotlight: Tea Paradise

Tea Paradise is a family owned and operated local business located at 25 Amy Croft Dr, Tecumseh

I spent a very pleasant morning with my mother, sipping on freshly steeped Minty Ginger tea at Tea Paradise.
Since mom is the reason I love tea and all things healthy, it was only fitting to bring her to one of my newest favourite places to buy my hard to find tea varieties. Mom loved the cleanliness of the place and the relaxed atmosphere, and did not hesitate to say so.

Just in time for the holidays, they are offering twenty percent off everything and a special on loose tea - buy 2 bags of loose tea and get the third one (of lesser or equal value) free. But the special is over on December 19th and the shop will be closed from December 20th till January 4th.... so hurry in for tea and snacks for yourself or gifts for your friends and loved ones.

Help For The Holiday

Unfortunately, this is a reality faced by many people in this turbulent time of lay-offs and shut-downs of major manufacturing plants as well as the smaller "feeder" plants. Please help by donating goods to Coats for Kids, Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, or other charitable organization in your area.

The Salvation Army
The Unemployed Help Centre
Goodfellows
Goodwill Industries
Royal Canadian Legion
United Way
Drouillard Place

Night on the Town

Original title:
Classy Facade Cracks and Shatters

This entry has been moved.
The comments have been disabled and all existing comments are only available to the webmaster.

Rise Grand Opening

It's official!
Rise Nite Club (800 Wellington Ave) will be opening on October 18th, 2008 featuring Canada's top male and female flair bartenders performing live, GoGo dancers and other "surprises". Rise is expected to be a fun and exciting dance club with a large U-shaped bar, pool room with lounge, large main dance floor with an elevated lounge area, stand-up tables, lower lounge and much more.


Their entertainment director is busy planning new contests with quality prizes. Their DJ seeks out new and fresh music to get you dancing. Their head bartender will be testing new and fun drinks as well, and according to their website, " RISE is the most exciting club to ever come to Windsor" with "the largest light and sound system in southern Ontario pumping out the best Top 40 tunes along with the best of the retro "high-hair" days of yesterday. Dance, house, retro, rock & R/B is what to expect. All the great club anthems of today AND the great sing-alongs you love."

I can't wait to mingle among the movers and shakers, celebrities, media .... I'll be taking pictures at the grand opening and adding them to this post. Be sure to arrive early to get the best booths or call to make reservations, at 258-7473

See you there
:)

VQA: is 100% Ontario

That's right! You don't need to step outside the province for a great bottle of wine. Look for the VQA Medallion and you'll be sure to taste the essence of Ontario wines. The VQA, which stand for Vintners Quality Alliance, is a set of standards for winemaking excellence.

The VQA Ontario site explains, "VQA is your assurance that the wine you choose is made from 100% grapes grown in Ontario and its unique viticultural areas. All VQA wines are verified to confirm their origin and tested to ensure they meet a rigorous set of quality standards." ... read more

Here are the basic VQA regulations as listed on the WinesofOntario.org website:

"To claim Ontario as its origin, a wine must:

Be made from 100% Ontario grown grapes of approved varieties.
Wines bearing more specific origin (sub-appellations) must be 100% from the stated area
Meet minimum sugar levels (ripeness) at harvest as set for each grape variety.
Be made from a minimum of 85% of grapes grown in a single vintage (year) and indicate the vintage on the label."
... read more from the Wines Of Ontario website

Healthy Skin, Local Products

Today I started a new skin care regime using local products from Jamieson Laboratories which I purchased at the local Sears store. Rosie was fabulous and helped me select just the right products for my skin type and took the time to explain to me the correct way to use them. I spent a great deal of time at the cosmetics counter with Rosie and another lady (sorry I didn't catch her name), and really enjoyed the excellent customer service from such friendly people.

I purchased the Jamieson Unique Foaming System Facial Cleanser, Jamieson Purifying Elixir Facial Toner, Jamieson Vitamin A Retinol Vital Day Moisturizer, Jamieson ProVitamina A Retinol Renewal Night Cream and the Jamieson Vitamin E Eye Cream with APKCo10 & Vitamin K.

So far I'm loving how quick and easy the products are to use and the way my skin feels....
Price-wise, it was easy on the pocketbook as well ;)

Reitman's, Made in Canada?

I received an eMail and have obtained permission to post it ( anonymously to protect the writer's identity ).
Here's what I recieved:

This is the reply I received from Rietman`s after sending them an email about, their merchandise"Made in China "It is nearly impossible to find anything at their stores that is Made in Canada but are listed on a website for doing just that here`s the link:
http://www.canadianmade.com/retail_clothing.shtml
Thanks .L. C



So let's start at the beginning with her letter to Reitman's


From: L
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 11:42 AM
To: Customer Service Reitmans
Subject: Made in Canada



To whom it may concern.

I`m looking to purchase clothing and accessories that are made in Canada , I came upon this website
http://www.canadianmade.com/retail_clothing.shtml
I see your store is listed there but, after going to look at the clothing to my surprise most is 'Made in China "

Thanks for taking the time to read this email hopefully we`ll find Made in Canada clothing at your stores in the near future.

L. C


.... and Reitman's reply to L


We appreciate your concern regarding where a portion of our collection is manufactured. We at Reitmans share your concerns, and are pleased to advise you that we have a code of conduct that is to be strictly followed by all employees who deal with outside suppliers. Reitmans believes that the incorporation of internationally recognized human rights into our business practice results in a higher quality working environment and higher employee morale. Reitmans will only do business with partners whose workers are in all cases working voluntarily, not put at risk or physical harm, fairly compensated, allowed the right of free association and not exploited.

We sincerely appreciate your taking the time to share your views with us and please be assured that they will be heard within our organization.

Feedback from our customers is greatly valued by us and it does significantly influence our future business decisions.



Sincerely,
Tara Satim
Customer Service Representative
Reitmans Division


Cc Nadia Cerantola, Vice-President – Merchandising
Donna Flynn, Vice-President – Merchandising, Sportswear
Robin Kjilaas, Operations Manager - Communications

Get listed

In order to promote local business and generate buzz about our community, I invite local business owners to advertise with us and get their stores, clubs, restaurants, websites, etc., listed on our site. Check out our Local Business Directory or the Clubs, Events & Entertainers section.

We are also looking for contributing bloggers. Promote your business, events, sales. Express personal opinion on local matters. and more ....

We look forward to hearing from all interested parties.

Festival Epicure 2008

What a fabulous event!
We were at the Sunday shows from opening untll closing and enjoyed everything. The fabulous foods we sampled from Foia, Koi Sushi & Japanese Cuisine, Nuccelli's Frozen Yogurt, The Gourmet Emporium, and the deliciously refreshing beverages from Gilligan's Juice Bar (classic lemonade and Lemon Cherry --- yummy!), and Walkerville Brewing Company where we sampled (several) Premium Blonde and the Classic Amber lagers while we enjoyed the show as well as people watched ( a personal favourite festival activity ) .


While sipping on our tasty beverages, we enjoyed the terrific Blues/Jazz/Motown sound of Impact 7, the tropical sounds and rhythms from the Mediterranean/Caribbean of Johannes Linstead, the energetic classic music of The Miracles, and the soulfull jazz of Alexander Zonjic.




Walkerville Brewing Company - The Official Beer of Festival Epicure!
Walkerville Brewing Company - World-class beer brewed right here! Served on tap in all your favourite bars and restaurants in Windsor or grab a jug of fresh beer in our brewery Located at Wyandotte E & Argyle in historic old Walkerville. Open to the public.

Escape Latin Night

Saturday June 28, 2008 there will be a Latin night at Escape Cafe on the River featuring the hottest Latin DJ in Windsor, DJ Ivan.

Drink specials
Tequila shots $3.00
Lime Margarita Pitcher $8.00
$3.50 Corona (before 11 PM)
Mixed drinks - $3.00 (Vodka, Rye, Rum)

$3.00 cover

Dress to impress
I'll see you there

Escape Cafe on the River
152 Riverside Drive West
519.973.8338

Fireworks night June 23

"Mark your calendars - this year's colossal fireworks over the Detroit River will be happening earlier than usual.
The annual Target Fireworks will go off at 10:06 p.m. on June 23. wrote Rebecca Turcotte, of the Windsor Star ( May 26 )

"This year's fireworks are going to be on a Monday night to coincide with the conclusion of the GM River Days in Detroit," said Joan LeMahieu, president of The Parade Company." ... read more


--- As for me, I prefer to think it's all part of my anniversary celebration - done in grand fashion.
See you there

---

Hail Caesars Windsor

Tonight is the grand opening of Caesars Windsor after the casino's $429-million makeover and expansion.. There will be an invitation only banquet and show in the 5,000 seat "Colosseum" featuring the piano man himself, Billy Joel.

Visit the Caesars Windsor website for a full schedule of events and entertainers or the Windsor Star photo gallery to see photographs of the casino, by Dan Janisse

Caesars Windsor
377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, ON N9A 7H7

Spotlight: Tru Pest Control

As a gardener and an environmentalist - I care about all creatures great or small. However, I'm not a fan of creepy crawly things all over my house making it impossible to enjoy the calming backyard sanctuary we've created for ourselves. I've become squeamish over the years and found the best solution was to call on the professionals to spray my house and make it as unappealing to the pesky spiders, as they can (without hurting my plants, pets or the environment).

We turned to Rob Trudell of Tru Pest Control. With 21 years of service with commercial and residential clients -- as well as word of mouth testimonials from dozens of neighbors, our choice became abundantly clear ... Give them a call for your pest control management and write to tell us about it -- or add a comment here.

Carousel of the Nations

Todays Windsor Star headline read, "Record crowds at Carrousel despite weather".

Unfortunately, my husband and I weren't part of the crowd. We couldn't get in because we didn't have "a pass" to park. We asked security how we can go about obtaining a pass and were told he didn't know and his only instructions were to not allow anyone to enter without it. We turned our car around - drove around downtown for almost an hour looking for a parking space before we gave up and left, disappointed.



Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County website lists the schedule for the various villages around town from June 20 - 29.


Caribbean Village - 2410 Central Avenue
Chinese Village - 1420 Tecumseh Road E.
Croatian Village - 1701 Turner Road
German Village - 55 Edinborough
Greek Village - 65 Ellis Street East
Hungarian Village - 790 Hanna Street E.
Italian Village - Erie Street
Macedonian Village - 5225 Howard Avenue
Polish Village - 1275 Langlois Avenue
Romanian Village - 1960 Tecumseh Road E.
Scottish Village - 1340 Tecumseh Road E.
Serbian Village - 6770 Tecumseh Road E.
Slovenian Village - 1367 Drouillard Road
St. Dimitrije Village - 2690 Seminole Street
South Asian Village - 1075 Ypres

I can't wait to visit the villages, take in the culture and sample the cuisine (whatever vegetarian foods I find). I hope everyone takes this opportunity to do the same.

See you there!


(I found this on the MCC homepage -- maybe I should've checked it out before I went downtown)
Carrousel Weekend Pass Buttons available at:

Multicultural Council offices: 245 Janette Ave. and 7651 Tecumseh Rd. E.
TD Canada Trust branches around Windsor and Essex County
Holiday Inn Select – Huron Church Rd.
Ray and Kim’s Super Convenience – 352 Ouellette Ave.
Sutherland Global – 2790 College Ave. and 500 Ouellette Ave.
Pet Zown – 25 Amy Croft Drive, Windsor (Lakeshore)

G.M. Transmission Plant Announces Closure

The Windsor GM plant is closing in 2010, because General Motors has no new product for the plant. 1,400 employees will be put out of work as a result.

The Windsor Star (May 13) reports, "GM Canada told its Windsor employees last month that the company would no longer produce the automatic four-speed transmission they assemble after mid 2010. But there was no word then about the plant's future.
Most of the area's politicians have spent the last 18 months urging GM to find a new product for the Windsor plant and pledging assistance. But the decision to close the factory came down suddenly and without any recourse, MPP Sandra Pupatello (L -- Windsor West) said.
"The finality of it is the only thing I'm taken aback by," said the minister for economic developmet and trade. "They've told me all along they don't have a product."
With GM downsizing all of its North American operations, from assembly plants to component plants producing engines and transmissions, many of the company's workforces on the bubble of closure had been fighting for a share of a diminishing pie."


With this plant closure comes the end of CAW Local 1973
Another sad day for Windsor

What They Say About Us - May 3

Windsor highway planned
Detroit Free Press - United States
It would create about 12000 jobs in Ontario, mostly in Windsor. The new parkway is envisioned as a way to bypass the surface streets of central Windsor that ...

Auto makers post best April sales on record
Globe and Mail - Canada
Vehicle deliveries jumped 4 per cent last month in Canada, giving auto makers their best April sales on record, but double-digit US declines for more than ...

Cable Acquires FibreWired Burlington Hydro Communications ...
FOXBusiness - USA
"This acquisition, which follows the acquisition of MaXess Networx(R) in the Windsor area, is another step in the enrichment of the Cogeco Business ...

What's next, Ontario jokes?" -- Bob Runciman
Net Newsledger - Thunder Bay,Ontario,Canada
Secondly ... the Canada-Ontario agreement, will now be well and truly honoured by Prime Minister Harper. Finally, the equalization formula has now been ...

cormorant shooting cull at 72
United Press International - USA
WINDSOR, Ontario, May 2 (UPI) -- Canadian environmental officials reported killing 72 double-crested cormorants in a campaign to save a southwestern Ontario ...

Earnings up, jobs down
Windsor Star - Ontario, Canada
In Ontario the numbers edged up slightly to 7.8 per cent from seven per cent in 2000. The number of full-time jobs in the Windsor area shrank three per cent ...

Spotlight: Sweet Pea's

Spotlight on local merchants:
Sweet Pea's
Children & Maternity

4112 Walker Road
Windsor, Ontario
( 519 ) 969.4040

Fantastic high end products, accessories and fashions for maternity and baby.

I went to the grand opening the weekend of April 5th and left with an armful of maternity fashions, baby clothes and a bathtub.

The store was dressed-up with pastel balloons and delicious looking cupcakes arranged creatively on a tiered rack on the counter next to a beautiful cake adorned with "icing" peas, greeted me. Although I arrived only ten minutes after the store opened for the day, it was already packed with shoppers and a line had already formed for the cash register with women carrying arm loads of children and maternity fashions, toys, baby and child furniture and accessories. I was pleased there was such a great turnout but could feel my heart sink as it beat faster and louder, fearful that items I had seen previously would be gone. I reached the racks and found only two of the Thyme Maternity and Old Navy Maternity shirts I had come to purchase. I was happy and shopped around a bit more and found several more items.

Pleased with my selections, I made my way to the cash register where I filled out ballots as the clerk entered my purchases on the cash register. Speaking briefly with the owner Mackenzie Murphy as she helped show me how to operate the bathtub gadgets. They are not the simple blue molded plastic vessels they used to be when I was a new mom and find Mackenzie extremely helpful in explaining how to properly use the products she sells, even when the store is full of people and activity.

I highly recommend Sweet Pea's for your purchase or sale of maternity fashions of baby clothes and accessories.

Green Tip of The Day

Man Beats Husky

An international university student “allegedly” beat his 4 month old dog in an attempt to train it. He was witnessed dragging and lifting the puppy by the neck with the leash, kicking it and slamming it up against a fire hydrant. People followed him home and called police.The dog named Kiki, was found with numerous broken bones including all four legs. source