Bexley Public Radio Dividend Note No. 6, May 29, 2009.

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An occasional note on dividends. This is an informal collection of some information on dividend increases.


Airgas Inc. May 19, 2009 (NYSE: ARG) industrial gas maker on Tuesday said it raised its quarterly cash dividend by 13 percent to 18 cents per share from 16 cents per share.
The dividend is payable June 30 to shareholders of record as of June 15.
"This dividend increase is a way to reward our shareholders in a tough environment," Chairman and Chief Executive Peter McCausland said in a statement.


AmerisourceBergen Corp. May 19, 2009 (NYSE:ABC) approved a two-for-one stock split of the company’s outstanding shares of common stock and also announced that it plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to 6 cents per common share — on a post-split basis — beginning with the third fiscal quarter of this year. The split will be in the form of a stock dividend, whereby each AmerisourceBergen stockholder will receive one additional share for each share owned. The new shares will be distributed June 15 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 29. The company has 150.8 million shares of common stock outstanding. AmerisourceBergen Corp. is a wholesale pharmaceutical distribution company.


AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. May 12, 2009 (Nasdaq:AFSI) announced that its Board of Directors approved an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2009 to shareholders of record as of July 1, 2009.
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational insurance holding company, which, through its insurance carriers, offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, commercial automobile and general liability; extended service and warranty coverage.

Assurant, Inc. May 15, 2009 (NYSE: AIZ) , a provider of specialty insurance and insurance-related products and services, announced that it will pay a quarterly dividend of $.15 per share of common stock. This represents a seven percent increase above the quarterly dividend of $.14 per share, declared on Jan. 23, 2009. The dividend will be payable on June 9, 2009 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 26, 2009.
"Despite the global economic slowdown, where many companies have trimmed or cut their dividends completely, Assurant is pleased to be able to increase its quarterly dividend for the fifth straight year," says Robert B. Pollock, Assurant's president and chief executive officer. "We believe this increase reflects our continued strong capital position, our ability to generate solid cash flows through our diversified portfolio of specialty insurance businesses and the disciplined capital management philosophy to which we remain steadfastly committed."

Assurant is a provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected international markets. Its four businesses are Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, and Assurant Employee Benefits
Assurant is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, and has more than $23 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue.

Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. May 12, 2009 (Nasdaq:AUBN) announced a second quarter $0.19 per share cash dividend, payable June 25th, 2009 to shareholders of record as of June 10th, 2009. This represents a 3% increase over dividends declared for the second quarter of 2008. On an annual basis, the cash dividend paid to shareholders has increased in 13 of the last 14 years.
Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. is the parent company of AuburnBank with total assets of approximately $803 million. AuburnBank is an Alabama state-chartered bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has operated continuously since 1907. Both the Company and the Bank are headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. The Bank conducts its business in East Alabama, including Lee County and surrounding areas. The Bank operates full-service branches in Auburn, Opelika, Hurtsboro and Notasulga, Alabama. In addition, the Bank will be opening a new full-service branch in Auburn during the first quarter of 2009. In-store branches are located in the Auburn and Opelika Kroger stores, as well as in the Wal-Mart SuperCenter stores in Auburn, Opelika, and Phenix City, Alabama. Mortgage loan offices are located in Phenix City, Valley, and Mountain Brook, Alabama. Additional information about the Company and the Bank may be found by visiting www.auburnbank.com.

Avista Corp. May 7, 2009 (NYSE: AVA) said that it is raising its per-share dividend paid to owners of the company’s stock by 3 cents, to 21 cents per share. That translates to a 17 percent increase.
The dividend will be paid June 15.
“The dividend increase is indicative of the board’s confidence in our continued progress toward achieving our goals, and it provides a demonstration of that confidence to our shareholders,” company President and CEO Scott Morris said in a news release.

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc. May 21, 2009 (Nasdaq:BFED) announced that the Company will pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of the Company's common stock. The dividend reflects an annual cash dividend rate of $0.20 per share, and represents a 25% increase from the current quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share. The dividend will be payable to stockholders of record as of June 13, 2009, and is expected to be paid on June 23, 2009.
"We are pleased to be able to increase our cash dividend in this, our second year of being a publicly traded company," said Mr. Prossner.
Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc., through its banking subsidiary, Beacon Federal, offers banking and related financial services to both individual and commercial customers. The Bank is headquartered in East Syracuse, New York, with six full-service branches in Marcy and Rome, New York, Smartt and Smyrna, Tennessee, Tyler, Texas and Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Communications Systems, Inc. May 13, 2009 (Nasdaq: JCS) announced today that the Company will pay a cash dividend of $.14 per share of common stock to shareholders of record on June 15, 2009. The dividend will be distributed on July 1, 2009. For the preceding seven quarters the Board of Directors had declared a cash dividend of $.12 per share of common stock.
Communications Systems, Inc. provides physical connectivity infrastructure and services for cost-effective broadband solutions and is a supplier of voice-grade connecting devices and wiring systems. CSI serves the broadband network market as a supplier of media conversion technology that permits networks to deploy fiber optic technology while retaining the copper-based infrastructure already embedded in the network. In addition, CSI supplies copper wire and fiber optic structured wiring systems for broadband networks, as well as line filters for digital subscriber line service. CSI also provides network design, training and management services.

Expeditors International of Washington Inc. May 8 2009 (NASDAQ: EXPD), a logistics company, declared a semi-annual cash dividend of USD 0.19 per share.

This represents a 19% increase from the semi-annual dividend of USD0.16 per share declared in 2008.
The new dividend will be paid on 15 June 2009, to all shareholders of record as of 1 June 2009.

FactSet Research Systems Inc. May 12, 2009 (NYSE: FDS) announced that its Board of Directors approved an 11% increase in the regular quarterly dividend from $0.18 per share to $0.20 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on June 16, 2009 to holders of record of FactSet's common stock on May 29, 2009. 

The ex-dividend date on FDS is May 25th. 

The dividend yield on FDS after the increase is 1.5%


FFW Corporation May 22, 2009 (OTCBB: FFWC) (5/21/09 Close: $11.10), parent corporation of Crossroads Bank, has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable June 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on June 15, 2009. The dividend represents a 4.76% increase over the cash dividend of $0.21 paid the prior year's same quarter.

The book value of FFW Corporation stock was $18.24 per share as of April 30, 2009. The last reported trade of stock at the close of business on May 21, 2009 was $11.10 per share and the number of outstanding shares was 1,112,260 as of the same date. On April 30, 2009, the corporation had assets of $320.2 million and shareholders' equity of $27.6 million.
Crossroads Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of FFW Corporation providing an extensive array of banking services and a wide range of investments and securities products through its main office in Wabash and four banking centers located in Columbia City, North Manchester, South Whitley, and Syracuse, IN. The Bank provides leasing services at its banking centers and its Carmel, IN leasing and commercial loan office. Insurance products are offered through an affiliated company, Insurance 1 Services, Inc. The corporation's stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "FFWC.OB." The FFW Corporation website address is www.crossroadsbanking.com.


Flowers Foods May 29, 2009 (NYSE: FLO) announced a quarterly dividend of $.175 per share, or $.70 per share on an annualized basis. This represents an increase of 17% over the dividend paid previously. The dividend is payable on July 2, 2009, to shareholders of record on June 19, 2009.

Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods is one of the nation's leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Blue Bird, and Mrs. Freshley's. Flowers operates 39 bakeries that are among the most efficient in the baking industry. Flowers Foods produces, markets, and distributes fresh bakery products that are delivered to customers daily through a direct-store-delivery system serving the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southwest as well as select markets in California and Nevada. The company also produces and distributes fresh snack cakes and frozen breads and rolls nationally through warehouse distribution. For more information, visit www.flowersfoods.com.

IBM May 4, 2009 (NYSE: IBM) announced that it will pay a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per common share, on June 10, to stockholders of record May 8.

The dividend will represent an increase of $0.05, or 10 percent higher than the prior quarterly dividend of $0.50 per common share.
IBM has increased its quarterly dividend by 175 percent since 2006. This is the 14th year in a row that IBM has increased its quarterly cash dividend.

Knight Transportation, Inc. May 21 2009 (NYSE: KNX) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared an increase of the company’s quarterly cash dividend to $0.05 per share of common stock. Prior to this 25% increase, the company’s quarterly dividend had been $0.04 per share of common stock. This quarterly dividend is pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors. The actual declaration of future cash dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the company’s financial performance.
The company’s dividend is payable to shareholders of record on June 5, 2009, and is expected to be paid on June 26, 2009.
Knight Transportation, Inc. is a truckload carrier offering dry van, refrigerated, intermodal and brokerage services to customers through a network of service centers and branches located throughout the United States serving North America. As “Your Hometown National Carrier,” Knight strives to offer customers and drivers personal service and attention through each service center, while offering integrated freight transportation nationwide and beyond through the scale of one of North America’s largest trucking companies. The principal types of freight we transport include consumer staples, retail, paper products, packaging/plastics, manufacturing, and import/export commodities.


Lowe's Cos. May 29 2009 (NYSE: LOW) raised its quarterly cash dividend to 9 cents per share from 8.5 cents and its shareholders re-elected four directors at the home improvement chain's annual meeting on Friday.
Lowe's new dividend represents an increase of about 6 percent over the previous payout. The dividend will be paid on July 31 to shareholders of record on July 17.


Molson Coors Brewing Company May 15 2009 (NYSE: TAP, TAP.A) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a 20% increase in the quarterly dividend rate on its Class A and Class B common shares from US$0.20 per share to US$0.24 per share, payable June 15, 2009, to shareholders of record on May 29, 2009. The quarterly dividend increase raises the annual dividend rate from US$0.80 per share to US$0.96 per share. In addition, Molson Coors Canada Inc. (TSX: TPX.B, TPX.A) declared a quarterly dividend on its Class A and Class B exchangeable shares of approximately CDN$0.28 (the Canadian equivalent of the dividend declared on the Molson Coors' stock), payable June 15, 2009, to its Class A and Class B exchangeable shareholders of record on May 29, 2009.

"Since the merger of Molson and Coors in 2005, we have strengthened the financial foundation of Molson Coors by building our brands, reducing costs, paying down significant amounts of our outstanding debt and increasing our free cash flow," said Peter Swinburn, president and chief executive officer of Molson Coors Brewing Company. "We are in a strong position to increase cash returns to shareholders, while preserving the financial flexibility to explore growth opportunities that meet our strict return criteria."


National HealthCare Corporation May 6 2009 (AMEX: NHC) a long-term health care company announced that it would pay, dividends on its common and preferred stock. A quarterly cash dividend of USD0.26 per share will be paid on the common stock, representing an 8.3% increase over the previous quarter. This dividend is payable on 1 September 2009 to shareholders of record as of 30 June 2009.

Northrop Grumman Corp May 20 2009 (NYSE: NOC) announced that its board of directors approved a 7.5% quarterly dividend increase.
The Los Angeles-based company said that it has increased its dividend from 40 cents per share to 43 cents per share.
The dividend is payable June 13 to shareholders of record by the close of business on June 1st. This dividend boost means that the military contractor has now increased its dividend for five consecutive years.
PepsiCo, Inc. May 5 2009 (NYSE: PEP) today announced a 6 percent increase in the annual dividend, from the current $1.70 to $1.80 per share on PepsiCo common stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.45 is payable June 30, 2009, to shareholders of record on June 5, 2009.
"We are pleased to announce our thirty-seventh annual dividend increase, reflecting the strength of our cash flow and balance sheet," said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. "Even in this difficult economy, we are committed to return cash to our shareholders while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of our business."


Pharmaceutical Product Development May 26 2009 (Nasdaq: PPDI) is raising its dividend 20 percent, to 60 cents from 50 cents a share, the contract research organization and development company announced.

PPD, which employs some 1,000 people in Research Triangle Park, is in the process of major management changes.

Company founder and chief executive officer Fred Eshelman will soon become executive chairman of the company. Replacing him will be David Grange, a former U.S. Special Forces soldier and member of Delta Force. Grange, a member of the PPD board, is leaving the McCormick Foundation where he was CEO.

The dividend increase takes effect June 14 and will be paid 15 cents per quarter beginning June 29.

“Our board of directors, management team and employees are pleased to reward our shareholders with an increase in our cash dividend rate for the fourth consecutive year since adopting our policy in 2005,” Eshelman said in a statement.


Portland General Electric Company May 13 2009 (NYSE: POR) announced a 4% increase to its quarterly stock dividend, to 25.5 cents per share from 24.5 cents per share for the previous quarter. This gives the stock a CD-beating yield of 5.6%. The dividend is payable on July 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 25. 



Republic Bancorp Inc., May 21 2009 (NASDAQ: RBCAA the parent company of Republic Bank & Trust Co., has increased its second-quarter common stock cash dividend by 9 percent.
A dividend of 13.2 cents per share of Class A common stock and 12 cents per share of Class B common stock will be payable July 17 to shareholders of record as of June 19.
“This dividend increase demonstrates the board’s confidence in the company’s long-term growth opportunities and financial strength following our record performance in the first quarter of 2009,” Republic president and CEO Steve Trager said in a news release.
Republic’s first-quarter net income increased 16 percent to $25.8 million, from $22.1 million a year earlier.

RLI Corp. May 7 2009 (NYSE: RLI) the board of directors has declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.27 per share on common stock, a $0.01 increase over the prior quarter.

Safeway May 5 2009 (NYSE: SWY), announced a 21% increase in its regular quarterly dividend, from 8.28 cents per share to 10 cents per share, payable July 16 to shareholders of record as of June 25. This gives the stock a yield of 2.2%. 

 



Safeway's dividend payment of $107 million is extremely well-covered by the operating cash flow of $2.25 billion. It has $5.5 billion in total debt with just $383 million in cash.

STERIS Corporation May 7 2009 (NYSE: STE) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a 38% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.11 per common share. The dividend is payable June 18, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 21, 2009.
STERIS Corporation provides infection prevention, decontamination and health science technologies, products and services. The Company'has more than 5,000 employees around the world who supply a broad array of solutions by offering a combination of equipment, consumables and services to healthcare, pharmaceutical, industrial and government customers. For more information, visit www.steris.com.


May 30, 2009 Supervalu May 30 2009 (NYSE: SVU) announced that it will pay a 1.45 percent increase in the annual indicated dividend to $0.70 per share from last year's level of $0.69 per share.
The new quarterly dividend rate of $0.175 per share will be effective with the September dividend payment. The previously announced quarterly dividend, which is payable on June 15 to shareholders of record as of June 1 will be paid at last year's quarterly amount of $0.1725 per share.


Tower Group, Inc. May 7 2009 (NASDAQ: TWGP) a property and casualty insurance provider reported Thursday a rise in its first-quarter net income, as net premiums earned more than doubled from a year ago. The company also provided guidance for the second quarter and fiscal 2009. Further, citing its strong financial position, Tower raised its quarterly dividend by 40%.


Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. May 22 2009 (NYSE: TRH) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the company's common stock, payable September 17 to stockholders of record on September 3. The move represents a 5.3 percent increase in the stock's quarterly dividend.
Transatlantic said it has raised the quarterly dividend every year since TRH became a public company in 1990.
New York-based Transatlantic Holdings is a reinsurance organization whose subsidiaries, Transatlantic Reinsurance Co., Trans Re Zurich and Putnam Reinsurance Co., offer reinsurance capacity on both a treaty and facultative basis.
The company structures programs for a range of property and casualty products, with an emphasis on specialty risks.

Unum Group May 22 2009 (NYSE: UNM) said it will boost its quarterly dividend by 10 percent starting in the third quarter.
The new dividend of 8.25 cents per share comes six years after Unum cut the dividend while focusing on restructuring and rebuilding its finances, Thomas R. Watjen, president and chief executive, said in a statement. The prior dividend was 7.5 cents.
"With our consistently solid operating results and capital position, we believe the time is right to increase the dividend we pay to stockholders," he said. Shares of Unum rose 15 cents to $16.68 in morning trading.


Weyco Group Inc. April 28 2009 (NASDAQ: WEYS) engages in the business of the manufacture purchase and distribution of men's footwear. The principal brands of shoes sold are Nunn Bush Brass Boot and Stacy Adams. The company's products consist of both mid-priced quality leather dress shoes which would be worn as a part of more formal and traditional attire and lower priced quality casual footwear of man-made materials or leather which would be used for leisure or less formal occasions.

The Company paid cash dividends of $1.6 million and $1.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. On April 27, 2009, the Company s Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend rate from $.14 to $.15 per share. This represents an increase of 7% in the quarterly dividend rate. The impact of this will be to increase cash dividends paid annually by approximately $450,000.

Weyco Group Inc. has a market cap of $276 million; its shares were traded at around $24.34 with a P/E ratio of 19.7 and P/S ratio of 1.2. The dividend yield of Weyco Group Inc. stocks is 2.2%. Weyco Group Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 4.1% over the past 5 years.


Xcel Energy Inc. May 20 2009 (NYSE: XEL) has increased its quarterly common stock dividend 3.2 percent, the company announced, The new dividend will be 24.5 cents per share, up from 23.75 cents per share. Minneapolis-based Xcel will pay the second-quarter dividend on July 20 to shareholders of record on June 25.
“The board recognizes the importance of the dividend to our shareholders,” Xcel Chairman, President and CEO Richard Kelly said in a statement. “The increase in the dividend is consistent with our goal of growing the dividend 2 to 4 percent annually.”

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Editorial Collective.

Laura Franks Bexley CPI Report Second Quarter, 2009.

Laura Franks reported that most Bexley retail prices in her standard market basket unchanged for the second quarter, 2009. Nonetheless, because of the recorded prices of two items, her consumer price index showed an overall price decline for the quarter.

The Bexley CPI reports on the aggregate prices paid for a uniform basket of merchandise purchased at retail in Bexley and nearby retail stores.

The Bexley CPI measures the change of prices for typical retail purchases made by Bexley residents.

The Bexley CPI can be compared to the price changes reported by the Bureau of Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The comparison can provide useful information for Bexley consumers about local price changes compared to price changes in other parts of the United States.

As of the second quarter, 2009 compared to the first quarter, 2009, Bexley prices showed a marked decrease of 10.70%. This decline is attributable to two factors. One is a significant 29% markdown on one(1) personal hygiene item. The second factor is the result of a stationery item being out of stock and having to replace it with the same product, but in a smaller size, and therefore priced at $1.00 less than the regular market basket item.

Even if the regular stationery item had been available at its first quarter price, we still would have had a little over 5% decrease in Bexley retail prices.

Except for these two(2) items, the prices on the remainder of the market basket purchases stayed the same as the first quarter 2009.

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Laura Franks. Photo is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Editorial Collective.

John Matuszak: Trio taps into rich vein of humor.

What do you get when you mix three heavy-metal airheads with a trio of faux folk singers - minus their long hair, tight spandex, plaid shirts and dickies?

You get an evening of delirious entertainment courtesy of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, who brought their "Unwigged & Unplugged" tour to the Palace Theatre Sunday night.

The creators of Spinal Tap, the happily clueless "world's loudest band," and the Folksmen, the earnest musicians seen in "A Mighty Wind," appeared without costumes to showcase their musical parodies.

The question going in was: will the songs work without the trappings, and out of the context of the films?

The answer is a resounding yes. In a way, it might have been sad to see these now-middle-aged men strutting about in tight pants, like many rock acts past their prime (although I'm sure they would have mined this for laughs).

But like some other aging entertainers, the threesome retooled their repertoire - and the songs are funnier than before.

The hits were on display - Tap's "Hell Hole" and "Sex Farm," the Folksmen's "Blood on the Coal" and "Eat at Joe's". They had some fun with notes from NBC censor Bill Clotworthy, whose excising would have turned "This is Spinal Tap" into a 30-minute featurette.

A Q&A session revealed that Guest has an idea for his next film gestating in his head, and that he and co-writer Eugene Levy are in the early stages of turning "Waiting for Guffman" into a Broadway musical. A new Spinal Tap CD, "Back From the Dead," is due in June.

McKean's wife and co-composer, Annette O'Toole, joined the group onstage for "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" and "The Good Book Song" (Guest's wife, Jamie Lee Curtis, watched from the audience and was gracious to fans seeking photos and autographs). Arranger and keyboardist C.J. Vanston added greatly to the proceedings.

The two-hour concert was a trip through decades of musical obsessions, covering the Calypso craze, the commercialized folk revival, the skiffle that launched the Beatles, all the way to overblown arena rock.

Parody might not even be the right word to describe their take on popular music. The compositions are so carefully crafted and the men so accomplished as musicians that they come off almost as an homage - granted a pretty hilarious one.

What has always made these songs work is that Guest, McKean and Shearer demonstrate a great deal of affection for their alter egos - from Tap's Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins, to the Folksmen's Mark (later Martha) Shubb - and the genres they embody, even while poking holes in their pretensions.

This makes them an antidote to the mean-spirited, shot-to-the-groin comedy that prevails today, and keeps alive comedy with intelligence and ingenuity.

On a scale of one to ten, this tour earns and 11.

For what it's worth: Harry Shearer was the only one to stop and sign autographs for the fans who waited an hour after the show outside the stage door.Way to go, neighborino!

The tour continues Tuesday in Cleveland.

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. John Matuszak.

Dianne Garrett: Parrots of the Caribbean coming to central Ohio.

Dust off those grass skirts, leis and silly hats for an escape to island time in Central Ohio. Parrots of the Caribbean Band will provide the music. All you need is your beachcomber style. The popular band, based in Dayton, is known as the No. 1 Jimmy Buffett tribute band in the country, and has delighted audiences for the past eight years in the United States and Canada.












Dave Albrecht, lead singer of the Parrots of the Caribbean, brings much color and many surprises with every performance. The Dayton based band is known as the No. 1 Jimmy Buffett tribute band in the country.

Lead singer, Dave Albrecht, has an uncanny likeness to Buffett in looks and sound. He also does a mean Blues Brother Dan Akroyd impersonation. About 20 years ago he and a nine piece band were signed with "Legends In Concert", a top ranked show of impersonators based at the Imperial Palace Casino in Las Vegas. He fashioned his harmonica style by listening to Greg "Fingers" Taylor from Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.

Jeff Cline, also known as "Hawaiian Hillbilly", is lead and rhythm guitar, as well as lead and backing vocals. Jeff was in his first band at 16 years old. He can play it all...rock, blues, fusion, funk, country and pop.

Keyboard player, Kenny Rice, also known as "The Professor", has been playing since he was eight years old, and is trained classically. He was a member of "Up With People" and founding member of progressive rock band, "Flyweil", and played with "The Hathaways". He has performed on "The Tonight Show", HBO, and has opened for such artists as Edgar Winter, Cheap Trick, Tower of Power, Eddie Money, Rich Little, George Carlin, Michael Bolton and Willie Nelson.

Gary Rigmaiden is a seasoned bass guitar player and songwriter. He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and lived in Spain and Brazil as a child. He says that it made it easy to understand the philosophy and musical approach of Buffett. "The island songs of the sea, bayou themes and beachcomber blues are right at home", says Gary.

Greg Martin, drums and vocals, has been playing professionally for 34 years. He and Gary also were members of progressive rock band, Arch Rival. The group had a reunion show last November after about 20 years since they disbanded. They have five albums.







Dave Albrecht as a pirate. Also in the foreground are Gary Rigmaiden, bass and vocals on the left, and Kenny Rice on the keyboard. The Dayton band will be appearing at Gahanna Creekside May 23 and Sycamore Park in Pickerington on June 21.

Parrots will appear at Gahanna Creekside, 123 Mill Street on Saturday, May 23 from 8-10 p.m. They will return to Sycamore Park in Pickerington on June 21 at 7 p.m. That park is located on Lockville Road south of the covered bridge near the Historic District.

They also sing originals, which they will have available for sale on their first CD. To see more about the band, log on to www.potcband.com. As all parrot heads say, 'PHINS UP!"

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett. Photos are copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett.

WCRX-LP Editorial collective asks: Casino passenger trains in Ohio?

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Casino passenger trains in Ohio? Sounds like a sensible idea to us.






Another casino initiative petition is being circulated for signatures in Ohio. If successful, casino gambling will be permitted in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo.

State and federal budgets are providing money for passenger rail service in Ohio. The state funding will establish new passenger rail service connecting Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland. There is existing Amtrak passenger service to Toledo.

Almost the same list of cities will be effected by both of these issues.

Yet, the casino proposal and the passenger rail budgets are independent public issues.

Neither proposal mentions the other. Casino gambling ignores passenger rail and passenger rail ignores the casinos.

Duuuhhh.

It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to recognize that the casino proposal and passenger rail service funding should be coordinated.

For example:

Rail passenger terminals could be located near casinos.


Casinos could be located in passenger terminals.


Casino rail cars could be added to passenger trains.

Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly enacted an $8.4 billion transportation budget. Included in that budget is rail passenger funding contingent on the results of a ridership study scheduled for this summer.

What are the odds that the ridership survey asks questions about whether consumers might use passenger rail service to visit Ohio casinos?






Cincinnati is also seeking federal stimulus funding for a new passenger terminal or improvements at the existing Union Terminal.

Is there any chance that upgrading Union Terminal or finding a new location for a passenger terminal includes consideration of the casino gambling proposal?











There is also an $8 billion federal commitment to funding for high speed passenger rail service. Existing Ohio Amtrak service and the proposed Three-C corridor passenger service is in the competition for this federal funding.

Do you want to bet that the casino gambling proponents aren’t considering how this federal money will effect casino gambling in Ohio?

It makes sense for the proponents of these two issues to start talking to each other.

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Editorial Collective.

Dianne Garrett: Jay Leno Leaves Them Laughing

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno with Dianne and Jack Garrett



"Tonight Show" host, Jay Leno, was watching "60 Minutes" last January when he saw a piece about the devastation DHL is causing in Wilmington, Ohio. He said that he knew right then that he had to do something to help. Shortly afterwards, his comedy stimulus shows were born. First in Detroit, and then the little bedroom community in southwest Ohio.

Last May DHL decided to close up shop in the air cargo business, which meant closing down all its locations, including the hub in Wilmington. They have since decided to continue with international shipping, but are moving it back to the Greater Cincinnati/Kentucky International Airport where they began. In their jet stream, they are leaving about 8,000 workers jobless. All will be done in Wilmington by late July.

I was lucky to be approved as a media person for his May 10 Mother's Day appearance. The Associated Press made all the decisions who would be authorized. We all had to send emails, and of course, mine was quite passionate since I'm originally from Wilmington, and still maintain close ties. I had also explained how I worked there almost 30 years ago when it was Airborne Express, and the sadness of my friends losing their jobs was ripping at my heart. I not only was approved, but my husband was also given the privilege of meeting Jay, and sitting in the VIP section with me. What a great Mother's Day treat this was, even though it was minus the kids. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Jay was so kind to everyone, and in true Leno fashion, he was hysterical. I have to say that I enjoyed the humorous stories he shared about his parents and growing up in Massachusetts, as well as their visits to Los Angeles the most. And for the record, he uses no Teleprompter.

He shared that when he saw local folks being interviewed on "60 Minutes" he could see that they were not crying and moaning about their situation. Rather, they were pulling for the entire community and relying on each other to get through it. He noted that in tough times like this, people learn to lean on one another and help each other. He said that he knows he cannot change the situation, but felt he could bring some comedy relief, and let the people of Wilmington know that they are not alone. He also said, "From what I can see, a lot of good people got screwed!" To that he received a standing ovation.

The "Tonight Show" bandleader, Kevin Eubanks and a scaled down band opened with some incredible compositions. The event was sponsored by Pepsi, who also provided snacks and drinks for each show. Roberts Centre provided the venue.

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett. Photo is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett.

Dianne Garrett: Calling All Pugs. May 23 "Pugnic"

Prancer and Prunie Garrett


They are short, pudgy, cute, full of personality and love, and snort more than they bark. If you love the Pug breed, you can get your Pug fix on May 23 at Whitehall Community Park during the eleventh annual Ohio Pug Rescue Reunion and Fundraiser, also known at "Pugnic".

The two cute little guys in the photo are my "grand pugs", Prancer and Prunie, who were adopted from OPR by my son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Sabrina Garrett, of Grove City. Prancer, the male, is a little live wire maniac full of energy and bounce. Prunie is female, and loves to do a happy dance with me whenever we see each other. She loves to snuggle.

OPR is a non-profit, all volunteer organization, and 100 percent of all proceeds of the event will benefit OPR. The group offers surrender, foster care and adoption services to all homeless pugs in Ohio, regardless of age, health or condition. Prior to adoption, all animals are spayed/neutered, updated on vaccinations, microchipped for identification, and any health issues are addressed.

Everyone is welcome, and you don't have to have a pug to enjoy the fun. The reunion brings an average of 200-300 pugs in attendance each year. The event runs 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is free to OPR members and a $5 donation for non-members. Prizes will be awarded in the Pug contests, which include best costume, best trick, longest tongue, most wrinkles, curliest tail, buggiest eyes and more. There will be over 100 items featured to bid on in the silent auction, as well as a 50/50 raffle, Pennies for Pugs contest, concession stand and bake sale.

Participants can pre-register by logging on to www.ohiopugrescue.com. You will be guaranteed a good time. The park is located at 402 N. Hamilton Road. Prancer, Prunie and I, along with all of their pug friends invite you to the Pugnic. Hope to see you there!

HELP BEXLEY PUBLIC RADIO UPGRADE ITS ANTENNA. SEND YOUR MONEY PROMPTLY. BE GENEROUS.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett. Photo is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Dianne Garrett.