This promises to be the best market so far this year. We have Chef Chris Hastings – Hot and Hot Fish Club, Pony Rides for the kids, the music of the ever popular Miles apart, and our non-profit Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS).

Chris Hastings is the owner and executive chef of Hot & Hot Fish Club, an award winning restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama, was twice a finalist for the James Beard Award ”Best Chef in the South” award. In 2012 Chef Hastings was the winner of this award.

He will be preparing his famous Hot & Hot Tomato Salad. The demo will begin at approximately 9 am.

Miles Apart

It has been almost a year since we were entertained by “Miles Apart”, and people are still buzzing about the show they put on. Miles Apart is comprised of La Reunion Idol winner (and U of A PhD. candidate!) Ashley Partridge and singer/songwriter/jack of all musical trades Thomas Trussell. Though no longer performing regularly as a duo, they had such a great time at the market last year that they have reunited for one last performance for us. If you can only make one musical event in Helena this summer, this should be the one! — with Ashley Partridge and Thomas Trussell.

Cloud 9

Cloud 9 is the pony that the kids will have the opportunity to ride. Each ride is $5.  This is one of many ponies and horses at Rocking S Farm.

When my kids were little we had a pony and they loved riding it each day. Bring your kids so they may enjoy a possible once-in-a-lifetime event.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)

Eight women. The number was small, but the need was great. The first MOPS meeting took place in February 1973 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. For two hours, while their children received care, these mothers talked, laughed, ate, passed a basket for childcare expenses, had a craft demonstration and ended with a short devotional. In this humble beginning, the seeds of the MOPS concept and format were planted. Through friendship, creative outlets, and instruction, the women began to understand that “mothering matters.” Today, the same needs for significance are met in much the same way in MOPS groups across the United States and around the world.

Rise of the Guardians (PG)

When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.

This is an animated movie featuring the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher

Chris Pine

Born in Los Angeles, California, Chris Pine comes from a show business family. He is the grandson of actress Anne Gwynne and Max M. Gilford, who was President of the Hollywood Bar Association. His parents are actors Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford. His sister, Katherine Pine, also acts. Pine attended Oakwood School in the San Fernando Valley, and went on to study English at the University of California, Berkeley where he received a bachelor’s degree. During this time, he spent one year studying at the University of Leeds in England. Pine also studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. After embarking on an acting career, Pine won guest roles in many television series, and made his feature film debut opposite Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Other roles in film and television followed, but he became an international star when he was cast as James T. Kirk in the hugely successful franchise reboot, Star Trek (2009).

Alex Baldwin

Raven-haired, suavely handsome and prolific actor Alec Baldwin was born on April 3, 1958 in Massapequa, New York, and is easily the best-known of the four Baldwin brothers in the acting business (the others are Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin). Alec burst onto the TV scene in the early 1980s with appearances on several series, including ”The Doctors” (1963) and ”Knots Landing” (1979), before scoring feature film roles in Forever, Lulu (1987), Beetlejuice (1988), Working Girl (1988), Married to the Mob (1988) and Talk Radio (1988). In 1990, Baldwin appeared in the first on-screen adaptation of the “Jack Ryan” character created by mega-selling espionage author, Tom Clancy. The film, The Hunt for Red October (1990), was a box office and critical success, with Baldwin appearing alongside icy Sean Connery. Unfortunately, Baldwin fell out with Paramount Studios over future scripts for “Jack Ryan”, and subsequent Ryan roles went to Harrison Ford.

Isla Fisher

Isla Lang Fisher was born on February 3, 1976 to Scottish parents in the Middle Eastern country of Oman. Her family moved to Australia in the early 1980s. From a young age, Isla showed an interest in both acting and writing. At nine years old, she was appearing in Australian TV commercials. She landed some small parts in the Australian television series ”Bay Cove” (1993) (aka “Bay City”). This led to a bigger part in the television series”Paradise Beach” (1993). When that show ended, she landed a role in the long-running Australian soap opera ”Home and Away” (1988). While working on that show, she indulged in another of her passions, writing, and published two best-selling novels, “Seduced By Fame” and “Bewitched”. In 1997, she was picked by the readers of FHM magazine as #35 on the list of the “100 Sexiest Women in the World”, and in 2003, she placed 26th.

Isla has since appeared in the films Wedding Crashers (2005), The Lookout (2007), Hot Rod (2007) and Definitely, Maybe (2008), and starred inConfessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

This is a great night to bring the family to a free event and enjoy the lowest priced family meal in town.

Park Rules – Bring you lawn Chairs and blankets. Pets are welcome. Do not bring - outside food, drinks, or coolers  as they are not allowed in the park.

The Concession Stand offers hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pizza, candy, water and soda. We will also offer glow necklaces and rings.

The HBA pays for the movies and the park improvements out of the profit from the concession stand sales. All of the park equipment you see in the amphitheater was provided by the Helena Business Association.

Date: June 14, 2013
Time: Concession stand opens 6:30pm; Movie begins approximately 8:00pm
Location: Old Town Helena Amphitheater
Cost: Free

See you at the movie!

Paranorman (PG)

A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

The movies features the voices of

Kodi Smith-McPhee

Kodi was born June 13, 1996 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.  He is the brother of Brother of Sianoa Smit-McPhee.

Tucker Albrizzi

Tucker is the brother of Patrick Pedraja who was the 2007 CNN Heroes Young Wonders winner at the age of 12. Tucker helped his brother organize international marrow drives for charity.

Anna Kendrick

For her role as “Dinah” in “High Society” on Broadway, Anna Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award (second youngest ever), a Drama Desk Award, and a Fany Award (best actress featured in a musical). Her spectacular performance landed her the Drama League and Theatre World Award.

This is a great night to bring the family to a free event and enjoy the lowest priced family meal in town.

Park Rules – Bring you lawn Chairs and blankets. Do not bring - outside food, drinks, or coolers  as they are not allowed in the park.

Concession Stand offers hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pizza, candy, water and soda. We will also offer glow necklaces and rings.

Date: June 7, 2013
Time: Concession stand opens 6:30pm; Movie begins approximately 8:00pm
Location: Old Town Helena Amphitheater
Cost: Free

See you at the movie!

Brave (PG)

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

This movie stars. . .

Kelley MacDonald (voice of Merida)

Kelly Macdonald (born ) is a Scottish actress, known for her role in the independent filmTrainspotting and mainstream releases such as Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park, Intermission, No Country for Old Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. On television, she is known for her roles in Boardwalk Empire, The Girl in the Café and State of Play.

Billy Connolly (voice of Fergus)

Billy Connolly was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He left school to work in the shipyards becoming a welder and joined the Territorial Army (in the parachute regiment) at around the same time. He developed an interest in folk music, eventually becoming an accomplished banjo player and a member of the band Humblebums with Gerry Rafferty(later of Baker Street fame). The jokes he told between songs eventually took over his act and he became a full-time comedian. Already a big star in Scotland, he became a household name in the UK after appearing on ”Parkinson” (1971) in the early seventies. Billy has released many recordings and videos of his concert performances over the years. He has expanded his repertoire to include acting, appearing in a number of television dramas and films, most recently in the USA. In the 90s he made two documentary series for the BBC, about Scotland and Australia respectively, and in 1997 he starred in the award winning film Mrs Brown (1997). He is one of the UK’s top comedian.

Emma Thompson (voice of Elinor)

Emma Thompson was born in London on April 15, 1959, into a family of actors – her father was Eric Thompson, who has passed away, and her mother, Phyllida Law, has co-starred with Thompson in several films (her sister, Sophie Thompson, is an actor as well). Thompson’s wit was earlier cultivated by a cheerful, clever, creative family atmosphere, and she was a popular and successful student. She attended Cambridge University, studying English Literature, and was part of the university’s Footlights Group, the famous group where, previously, many of the Monty Python members had first met.

This is a great night to bring the family to a free event and enjoy the lowest priced family meal in town.

Park Rules – Bring you lawn Chairs and blankets. Do not bring - outside food, drinks, coolers, or pets as they are not allowed in the park.

Date: May 31, 2013
Time: Concession stand opens 6:30pm; Movie begins approximately 8:00pm
Location: Old Town Helena Amphitheater
Cost: Free

See you at the movie!

Date: April 7, 2013
Time: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Location: 4300 Helena Road – Helena, AL 35080
Cost: This is a free event

Refreshments will be provided by Nonna’s Catering.

Unscripted will spotlight architecture and landscape images from the United States and Europe.

This fine art photography showcase will feature the beautiful works of 3 photographers, including:

Dj Boyd

Dj Boyd is an accomplished fine art, travel, and wedding photographer in Birmingham where she has studied and practiced photography for 13 years. Dj processes and prints her own work on fine art materials. She is the current President of Shades Valley Camera Club where she has won numerous awards in club competitions; some of these images can be seen on the  SVCC website and flickr. Dj’s image of “Vulcan Yoga – Downward Dog” was featured on the cover of the September 2011 issue of the internationally distributed photo magazine Shutterbug. Read More…

Laura Brookhart

Laura Brookhart is an arranger and composer of images through the lens of her camera. A single image that engages her may become a springboard for a playful manipulation of whimsical juxtaposition.  Read More…

Gary Ricketts

Gary Ricketts enjoyed a life-long career in television production and management. While at the ABC Television Network, one of the highlights of his career was covering the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics for which Gary received the first of his three Emmys. Gary’s interest in photography spans several decades starting with a Kodak Brownie as his earliest camera. Read More…

Gretchen Birdwell’s artwork and portraits will be on display.

I have attended two of the first three Unscripted events and I highly recommend this event. The photography is incredible. The treats from Nonna’s are delicious. All limited edition artwork will be available for purchase.

For additional information please contact Gretchen Birdwell by phone 205-999-3531 or email gretchen@gretchenbphotography.com

Follow Your Curiosity

I am constantly amazed watching children – both of whom have amazing curiosity. The next time you are in Publix look at the children. They are constantly looking around, trying to push buttons on the card processing machine, grabbing the bags, grasping the receipt and more. They are naturally curious.

Now observe the parents and what they usually say. “Stop”; “Don’t Do That”; “What Are You Doing”; among other words that effectively stifle curiosity. By the time they reach school-age the curiosity begins to fade and for far too many people it is completely gone by the time they become adults.

We need to become more curious about the world around us.

Perseverance Is Priceless

If you want to succeed at anything the one characteristic you need in life is perseverance. One of my favorite poems is Don’t Quit. I confess I read this poem quite often.

Focus On The Present

“Yesterday is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today is the only day you have.” Ever since I read this quote it is the way I have tried to live my life. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from history and that you should not plan for the future. The key word is focus. What can you do today that will correct mistakes from the past and better prepare you for the future.

The Imagination Is Powerful

Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Several years ago my wife and I took the Johnson O’Connor test to learn what our natural aptitudes and skills are. One of the categories was “Ideaphoria” which essentially was a test or your imagination skills. My wife tested off the scale – above any one they had ever tested. She has the gift of imagination. For most of the rest of us we may have to work a little harder.

Make Mistakes

Albert Einstein said “If you have never made a mistake you have never tried anything new.” I confess I am a creature of habit in some areas of my life – what I like to eat, movies I like to watch, etc. But I am willing to try something new in my life or my business without fear of making a mistake. There is a great book written by John Maxwell that I recommend – “Failing Forward”.

Live In The Moment

This is very similar to Focus on the present with a slight twist. Too often we let “stuff” get in the way of being aware of what is going on around us. We have all heard the expression “take time to smell the roses”. I think what this means is be more conscious of what is going on around you right now.

Create Value

Einstein said “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” During my career in sales it was all about mission statements. In today’s world it is a value statement. What can you offer or do that brings value to other people’s lives? In a business it is what can you bring to the table that is of value?

Don’t Expect Different Results

Einstein said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Why do we do this? I think for a couple of reasons: 1) We have all heard the expression – “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” I suggest if you don’t like the results you are getting then it is broke. Use your imagination and find a new way to accomplish something.

Knowledge Comes From Experience

Experience is the great teacher in life. Knowledge may come from education but it has little value until it is applied. Dale Carnegie said “Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.”

Learn The Rules and Then Play Better

Almost every thing you do in life has rules. If you play competitive sports there are rules of the game. If you play cards or other games there are rules. If you work for a company there are rules (policies) about what you need to do to keep your job. Learn the rules and then determine how to use them to your advantage in order to play better.

Let’s begin with the Don’ts:

1. Do not use all CAPS as it comes across to the reader as screaming at them. No one wants to be yelled at.
2. Do not use multi-color fonts. Using fonts with colors like magenta, red, yellow make it hard to read. Not to mention that some readers are color-blind.
3. Do not use a colored background. Sometimes the text gets lost in the background color and your message is lost.
4. Do not forward emails directly to multiple recipients. Many of your friends do not want their email address disclosed to other people they do not know.
5. Do not use non-standard fonts, such as, Comic Serif. They may seem like fun to you but they are hard to read. (see do’s below).
6. Do not center the Text – it is very difficult to read.
7. Do not use a subject line that will cause the reader to discard your email. When I get an email with a subject line or a statement in the body of the email that says something like “send this to x number of friends or else…”

That covers the six major don’ts. Here are the 6 effective ways to craft an email.

1. Proper use of upper/lower case is effective and will lead to higher read rates. Here is an example.  Would you prefer to read – “THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPED OVER THE FENCE” – or – “The quick brown fox jumped over the fence.”? My preference is the non-all-caps.  If you want to emphasize something use Bold, Italics, or Underline.
2. Use only black fonts. It easier to read. Think about the old trick question – “What is black and white and read all over? Answer – the newspaper. Now before you tell me the USA today is a color newspaper I suggest you look at the background color (white) and the text of each article (black) – the color comes from advertisements and photos.
3. Using a colored background is a definite no-no. Make the main background color white.  Even Amazon has a Kindle White Paper – white background, black text.
4. Forwarding an email to a list of your favorite friends is usually a bad idea. I send the email to myself and use a blind copy (bcc) for all the other recipients. This protects all email addresses. I also delete the eMail address of the person who sent it to me – I do leave the persons first name and last name initial. This will let your recipients know you did not originate the email.
5. Use standard fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman. The font point should be either 10 or 12. Anything smaller or larger is too hard to read. When I receive an email with a font that is too large and want to forward it, I highlight the text and change it to one of the three recommended fonts and font sizes.
6. Left justify the test – like a book, magazine, or newspaper – it is easier to read and increases comprehension.
7. I have often changed the subject line of an email that I forward and I delete the “forward or else” language. I do not like Chain-eMails.

There is a lot more to effective eMail writing and increasing your open and read rates. But if you follow the above guidelines your emails will be more effective than the majority of the emails you receive, create or forward daily.

My 2 Cents,
Henry

What does it mean to you?  Do you have plans to enjoy this day of celebrating our past Presidents?

I used to think it was just another day off from work.  As I get a little older I have begun to stop and think about everyday things especially holidays.  I thought I would share with you what I think makes a great President – one worthy of a holiday.

I think it begins with a dream or vision.

“Dream big dreams, because little ones have no magic.”

Rachel R. Russel
Dork Diaries 3: Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star

A dream is nothing but a vision.  In order to be President you must have a big vision. A big vision must include everyone and when successful will lead to a better life for all.

George Washington had a big vision – independence of a nation – he led his army (team) to victory.

Abraham Lincoln had a big vision – emancipation for slaves– he led the north to win the civil war – and he won freedom for all.

Ronald Reagan had a big vision – end the cold war – he led a nation that saw the wall torn down.

The key word in each of these three examples is led or in other words each man had to be a leader.

John Maxwell wrote a book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.  I highly recommend this book. I have it in my library and read it often.  In fact, I have read one chapter a week to become a better leader in just 21 weeks.  And I re-read it annually to ensure I am still growing as a leader.

The 21 qualities include:

1. Character: Be a Piece of the Rock
2. Charisma: The First Impression Can Seal The Deal
3. Commitment: It Separates Doers From Dreamers
4. Communication: Without It You Travel Alone
5. Competence: If You Build It, They Will Come
6. Courage: One Person With Courage Is A Majority
7. Discernment: Put An End To Unsolved Mysteries
8. Focus: The Sharper It Is, The Sharper You Are
9. Generosity: Your Candle Loses Nothing When It Lights Another
10. Initiative: You Won’t Leave Home Without It
11. Listening: To Connect With Their Hearts, Use Your Ears
12. Passion: Take This Life and Love It
13. Positive Attitude: If You Believe You Can, You Can
14. Problem Solving: You Can’t Let Your Problems Be A Problem
15. Relationships: If You Get Along, They’ll Go Along
16. Responsibility: If You Won’t Carry The Ball, You Can’t Lead The Team
17. Security: Competence Never Compensates for Insecurity
18. Self-Discipline: The First Person You Lead Is You
19. Servanthood: To Get Ahead, Put Others First
20. Teachability: To Keep Leading, Keep Learning
21. Vision: You Can Seize Only What You Can See

For years I heard that leaders were born. After reading Maxwell’s book I now understand True Leaders are developed.  You can become a good, maybe a great leader – whether it is your family, church, sports team, department, your business or your community – you can become more than you think you are!

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”

Jim Rohn
9/17/1930 – 12/5/2009
Speaker, Author, Philosopher

‘til the next time,
Henry

For The Man Who Hated Christmas
by Nancy W. Gavin

This true story was originally published in the December 14, 1982 issue of Woman’s Day magazine.  It is re-printed her with permission (see the editor’s note at the end).

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck in the branches of our Christmas tree.  No name, no identification, no inscription.  It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas – oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending. . . the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth.  I reached for something special just for Mike.  The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.  These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.  As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears.

It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.  Well, we ended up walloping them.  We took every weight class.  And as each of the boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said.  “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”  Mike loved kids – all kids – and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.  That’s when the idea for his present came.  That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.  On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.  His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.  For each Christmas, I followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.  The story doesn’t end there.

You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.  The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down the envelope,

Editor’s Note: This true story was originally published in the December 14, 1982 issue of Woman’s Day magazine.  It was the first place winner out of thousands of entries in the magazine’s “My Most Moving Holiday Tradition” contest in which readers were asked to share their favorite holiday tradition and the story behind it.  The story inspired a family in Atlanta, GA to start The White Envelope Project and Giving 101, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth about the importance of giving.  To learn more about honoring a loved one through this special tradition, please visit www.giving101.org/WhiteEnvelopeProject.  On the site, you can browse a catalogue of unique giving opportunities, create and send your own white envelope gift, purchase charity gift cards and more.

Black Friday
This is the name given to the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving.  It is considered to be the busiest shopping day of the year.  Wednesday’s Birmingham news had a front page headline “Area Lawmen Pull Out The Big Guns For Shopping Frenzy”.  Every year stores open earlier with many expected to open at 12:01am Friday morning.  Personally, I cannot imagine fighting the crowds and traffic. No malls for me.

Cyber Monday
This is the marketing term for the Monday following Black Friday,  It was created by companies to encourage online shopping.  It made its debut on November 28, 2005 and quickly became the biggest online shopping day of the year.  At least this one I understand. No travel, No traffic, No fights at the mall, and No crowds. Shop from the comfort of your home on the internet.  Often shoppers find deeper discounts online than they do at the brick and mortar stores.

Small Business Saturday
Sandwiched in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday.  This was started by American Express to encourage shopping local where small businesses are usually found.  In 2011 over 100 million people came together to shop small businesses nationwide.  This is a great idea and one I try to support every day not just one day a year.

Here is what I do and I encourage everyone to do the same:

1. I shop locally in Helena, AL even if I might have to pay slightly higher prices.  Why? Because it benefits the city, benefits the people who live here, requires less travel and certainly on Black Friday avoids crowds.  The Wednesday edition of the Birmingham News had a front page headline titled “As Sales Taxes Dwindle, Ciity Reserves Sink”.  While this article was related to the city of Birmingham it is even more true of Helena.
2. I shop online for products I cannot find locally.  It is easy, safe, secure, and gives me access to even more products than I can find at brick and mortar stores.  I save time, gas, and wear and tear on my automobile.  I cannot remember the last time I was in a mall.

I recently read in No Sleep In Helena’s blog that the city of Helena was over budget for the fiscal year 2011.  The budget was $6,025,245 but the city went over that amount by $362,593. 

Here are some interesting numbers if my math is correct (if not please let me know).  Assuming there are 16,000 residents in Helena and you divide that number into the deficit the result is $22.66 cents.  How can we correct this and not have a deficit?

The short facts

• Helena Sales Tax Rate is 4% with 1% set aside to pay for the Helena High School
• Deficit per person $22.66 ($362,245 divided by 16,000)
• Divide the deficit per person by 3% yields approximately $755
• Divide the $755 by 52 weeks yields approximately $14.51 per resident per week in additional spending in Helena.

The simple solution is to shop locally.  Spend an additional $14.51 per week for every member in your family and Helena will not have a budget deficit.  Double that amount and the city will have a surplus.  Imagine what our beautiful city can accomplish if every family shopped locally first and other venues last!

Just my 2 cents!