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White Castle Turkey Stuffing

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This is one of Erin’s favorite holiday recipes, she thought you may like to try it as well. Let us know what you thought of it!

WHITE CASTLE TURKEY STUFFING

Amount Measure Ingredient
——– ———— ——————————–
10 White Castle hamburgers, Pickle removed
1 1/2 c Celery, diced
1 1/4 tsp Ground thyme
1 1/2 tsp Ground sage
3/4 tsp Coarse ground black pepper
1/4 c Chicken broth

Preparation Method
In a large mixing bowl, tear the White Castle hamburgers into pieces and add diced celery and seasonings. Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well.

Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting. Makes about 9 cups (enough for 10-12 lb bird).

NOTE: Allow 1 White Castle hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of 3/4 cup stuffing per pound.

Photo Credit

Superman saves home from Foreclosure!

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Yes, that’s right. Superman saved a family home from foreclosure. A family packing to leave their home due to foreclosure found a box in the attic that contained what looked to be a true comic book collector’s dream: Action Comics #1, the “holy grail” for collectors because it is the comic book that first introduced the Superman character. The home had been in the wife’s family since the 1950’s, and her father had placed the comic there in the attic years ago.

The family contacted Stephen Fischler of Comic Connect and Metropolis Collectibles in New York. Mr. Fischler’s success in auctioning off previous copies of Action Comics #1 for 1 and 1.5 million dollars respectively. Mr. Fischler was concerned that the family had found a valueless reprint copy, but upon viewing the photo they sent him, realized it was the real item.

Mr. Fischler has valued the comic at $250,000, enough to save the family home from foreclosure. Superman saves the day!

Supporting Small Businesses in a Tough Economy

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by Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.

Ohio’s economy is made up of tens of thousands of small businesses, and at its heart are those entrepreneurs who set out to make a difference, to make their mark and to do it their way. From the auto repair shop in Cleveland to the software engineering firm in Toledo to the daycare center in Cincinnati, Ohio’s small businesses are the driving force behind Ohio’s economy. In fact, 85 percent of Ohio businesses have fewer than 20 employees.

As someone who has run a small business myself, I understand their importance to Ohio’s economic growth, and my office and I want to help them grow and prosper. So we are starting a new initiative that we hope will help small businesses deal with those who try to exploit them.

One of the Ohio Attorney General’s primary duties over the years has been protecting individual consumers from fraud and unfair business transactions. However, small businesses and nonprofits who are victimized by scams previously have not been able to file such complaints.

Now, for the first time ever, the office has made this service available to small businesses. In July, we opened up the complaint process to a test market of these enterprises. So far, we have received complaints from more than 900 businesses, and we have been able to recover or secure more than $75,000 for those businesses. We also are offering this new service to nonprofit organizations such as libraries, churches and others who improve the quality of life in our communities and deserve the same protections from the Attorney General.

Businesses that order products that are not delivered, receive shoddy services or otherwise get ripped off can now file a complaint with my office.

We offer an informal dispute resolution service through which we may be able to resolve complaints and help get money back for those who have been scammed. Complaints also give us the kind of evidence we need to take legal action against scammers and predators.

Hundreds of scenarios have come through our office already. They have painted a clear picture: Ohio’s small businesses can use our support, and I am proud to say they have it.

Here are just a few stories from businesses and nonprofits that have already filed complaints:

  • A Trotwood trucking company made an Internet purchase for more than $8,000. After paying for the product, the supplier never delivered and refused to return phone calls. The Attorney General’s Office resolved the issue and the trucking company received its purchase.
  • A West Jefferson library was charged for a Web service that it never authorized. We recovered $244.
  • A Columbus auto repair company was charged $849 for a Web site advertisement listing that it never authorized. We resolved the issue and the auto repair company did not have to pay the charges.

The types of issues that the Attorney General’s office can help resolve include:

  • Invoices for unauthorized advertisements.
  • Payment for a product or service that was never received.
  • Overcharges for property repairs and improvements or performing work poorly.
  • Disputed invoices for office supplies.

Sometimes we will be able to recover $100; other times it may be as much as $10,000. Either way, helping our small businesses avoid being nickel-and-dimed is well worth the effort. If you yourself or any small business or nonprofit you know has been targeted by unfair practices, take a few moments to file a complaint with my office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or call us at (800) 282-0515. We are glad to stand on your side.

Richard Cordray is Ohio Attorney General. For updates about the office’s work protecting small businesses and consumers, and for other updates, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/.

Foreclosure Prevention Resources

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Here is a list of contact numbers for organizations working to help you avoid foreclosure. Foreclosure is not the only option when you are having trouble paying your mortgage, please contact one of our team members at 614-888-6100 for additional information without obligation. We’re here to help.

Statewide Resources
Empowering & Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP)
HUD Approved Housing Counselors
(216) 361-0718
(877) 731-3767

National Foundation for Credit Counseling
HUD Approved Housing Counselors
(800) 388-2227

Ohio Attorney General’s Office
Information and Referral
(800) 282-0515

Ohio Department of Commerce
Information and Referral
(800) 750-0750

Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA)
Mortgage Payment Assistance
(888) 362-6432

Ohio State Legal Services Association
Legal
(866) 529-6446

Save the Dream Ohio
Information and Referral
(888) 404-4674

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD Approved Housing Counselors
(800) 569-4287

The Grass is Growing Even Greener in Columbus

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The following article was written by Sue Lusk-Gleich for the Presidents Perspective of In Contract Magazine. Sue is the current President of the Columbus Board of Realtors (CBR). In Contract is the magazine sent to all 6200 CBR members.

By Sue Lusk-Gleich, 2010 CBR President

The growth and innovation that is happening in Central Ohio at this time is incredible.

Central Ohio is home to (15) Fortune 1000 companies, (6) Fortune 500 companies and has been ranked first among the Top 10 Up-and-Coming Tech Cities. We’ve been named the best metro area for business and top “City of the Fortune” for international investment. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was ranked first in the nation and COSI the number one science center in the country. We’re home top-rated ballpark, college president and research institute along with nine public high schools that are rated in the top five percent nationwide.

As our profile increases, the real estate industry will expand. I attended the Business First Power Breakfast on Feb. 16, 2010 and was impressed by the numerous medical expansion projects planned in greater Columbus.

ProjectOne at the Ohio State University’s Medical Center is a one billion dollar cancer hospital and critical care tower with planned completion in 2014, which will bring 10,000 jobs to the Columbus region, 7,000 of those high-level positions.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital master facilities projects will be completed in 2012, doubling the hospital’s size, that will have new state of the art clinical and research facilities. The construction alone will bring 1.3 billion dollars to the community.

OhioHealth and Mt. Carmel Health System are planning expansions in central Ohio that will benefit the real estate community along with Hplex Solutions structuring the four major ambulatory facilities in Franklin County.

All in all, the health care systems in central Ohio are extremely financially sound with an annual gross revenue of 9.4 billion dollars and expansions that will grow that amount in the future. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, which featured and highlighted plans to build a better Columbus by 2020, was held on Feb. 24, 2010. Columbus2020! is a community-driven vision and strategic plan for economic development in Central Ohio. The hallmarks of this plan are sustainable vision and bold goals with its primary focus on the business segment of the economy.

Eighty percent of growth comes from already-existing businesses, so part of Columbus2020!’s strategy is to concentrate on retention and expansion of existing companies while helping to grow the 40,000 small enterprises here in central Ohio. Part of the vision is to advance economic development by thinking and acting regionally, thereby developing a more sustainable economic future in central Ohio.

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the business community have built a development model founded on our city’s unique businesses, arts, education, suburbs, and communities. Some of the goals put forth by Columbus2020! include a 40 percent increase in per capita income, pushing the city to become a top ten community in economic development and fueling the creation of 180,000 net new jobs. Columbus2020! operates on the theory that the challenges we face create opportunities for economic growth. This plan will take our region to the next level and be the quarterback for Columbus development, serving existing businesses and on their needs.

Columbus2020!’s cooperative efforts have shown real results. One of the successes was the retention of OSCC on the east side of Columbus. The Chamber’s Team OSCC, a coalition of business, government and civic leaders advocated the retention and growth of the Defense Supply Center Columbus (Columbus’ twelfth largest employer). Because the Department of Defense was conducting a national review of all of its bases, the 6,100 jobs at DSCC were at risk. After a $1 million campaign to advocate DSCC was deployed, the Pentagon announced that DSCC would not only remain open, but would also grow up to 2,000 jobs.

Another result of this collaborative venture was Rickenbacker Airport and Industrial Park which will help the Columbus region on the global stage. Through cooperative negotiation, a deal was struck that provides sewer and water service to this facility without annexation to Columbus. This will help Rickenbacker grow and raise our profile on the worldwide level.

JP Morgan Chase and their expansion to make central Ohio their home is another testament to regional cooperative development.

Also bright spot in Columbus improvement, Tech Columbus is working with 150 companies in the region and accelerating the growth of local businesses. The numbers of companies coming to Tech Columbus over the last 3 years has increased exponentially.

This year is a year of transition, launching us to the next steps that encourage and incorporate the business community, local governments, educators and residents to participate in a plan of action for the benefit of the community. All local residents and businesses have a vested interest in the Columbus2020! plan. It is all about joint marketing efforts and working together to foster improvements that help us all.

That philosophy applies not only to fiscal development but to our work as REALTORS®. Our network of real estate professionals benefits from business innovation and from our collaborative work with each other. These are the ties that create the extremely positive outlook for our continued and future growth and success in central Ohio.