plus 3, Slovenia Retail Sales Increase In October - RTT News

Slovenia Retail Sales Increase In October - RTT News
Toledo parade kicks off holidays - Toledo Blade
New wheels on display at Transportation Museum - Press Republican
NADAguides.com to Make Big Announcement at Los Angeles International ... - KRDO

Slovenia Retail Sales Increase In October - RTT News

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 04:52 AM PST

Slovenia Retail Sales Increase In October
11/30/2009 7:54 AM ET

(RTTNews) - Monday, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia announced that the retail sales increased 1.2% month-on-month in October, compared to the 0.9% fall in the previous month.

At the same time, retail sales, excluding automotive fuels increased 1.8%, rebounding from 0.4% decline in September.

On an annual basis, the volume of retail trade turnover decreased 13.4% in October, slower than the 17.2% fall in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles climbed 4.2% on a monthly basis in October and fell 14.8% compared to the preceding month.

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

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Toledo parade kicks off holidays - Toledo Blade

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 01:39 AM PST

Don't try to fool Joe Lassiter.

The 6-year-old from Northwood knew that wasn't a real dog that floated above him at about the height of a housetop during the Downtown Holiday Parade Saturday.

"He's just a balloon," said Joe, who admired the display nonetheless. "They spinned him around."

The dog helium balloon carrying a giant rolled-up Blade newspaper was one of at least 70 entries in a parade that entertained thousands of people lining Summit Street, Jackson Boulevard, and Huron Street.

The crowd stood several people deep almost the entire route of the parade that was sponsored by The Blade, Buckeye CableSystem, and Taylor Automotive Group.

Blade Advertising Manager Mike Mori promised the parade would be the biggest yet, and some of the parade spectators agreed.

"Most definitely, there's a lot more stuff, it's a lot better than last year," said James Fink of Byrne Road, who said he and his fiancee, Shelly Toda, attend the parade annually.

Parade kicks off the holidays

They brought children and nephews along to share in the annual tradition.

"It gets you in the holiday spirit with the kids," Ms. Toda said.

Parade entries included high school marching bands; Shriners in minicars and Jeepsters; the cast of A Christmas Carol by Toledo Repertoire Theatre; City Council members; a helium nutcracker balloon; police, fire, and water department units; horses and ponies; motorcycles; clowns, and, of course, Santa Claus bringing up the rear.

Joe Lassiter came with his mom, Chrissy Vogelpohl; dad, Matt Lassiter, and brother, Jackson, 1.

"I came when I was a kid, but this is the first one I've been to since I was about 13," Ms. Vogelpohl said. "I thought it would be a good way to get the kids into the holiday spirit."

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner was one of the lead-off marchers with a Toledo Pride float, while Mayor-elect Mike Bell walked closer to the end, acknowledging cheers in his University of Toledo baseball cap.

Friends Abbey Schell, 22, and Marissa Stevenson, 27, who live downtown in the Commodore Perry Apartments, figured it would be easy to find a seat on the curb.

Not so.

"It's more than I thought would show up," Ms. Stevenson said. "We should have got here earlier." As downtown residents, both were glad to see the activity.

The weather was cold and sunny but maybe not cold enough for Leo Brent, 52, and Debbie Miller, 53, who walked the route and sold cups of hot chocolate from Coney Island Hot Dogs on Superior Street, as they have done for more than 20 years.

"It's a pretty good-sized crowd. Kids like it. That's what a parade is all about - kids," Mr. Brent said.

Shriners driving little red cars dazzled Devon Ezell, 10, and his siblings and cousins. They stood in the shadow of the LaSalle Apartments on Huron while the car drivers zipped around in figure eights and other intricate paths, narrowly missing each other.

"It was sweet. It was radical," Devon said. He spent the night in the LaSalle with his cousin and her family.

Diane and Peter Fuhlbrigge of Columbus brought their dog, Clifford, adopted from a pound in Franklin County. Clifford let Mayor Finkbeiner pet him but growled at one of the clowns who tried to give candy to one of their daughters, Ms. Fuhlbrigge said. The family was in town visiting Mr. Fuhlbrigge's mother, Margaret Hodges of Ottawa Hills, and came to the parade as they do every other year.

"Dogs are fun at parades," Ms. Fuhlbrigge said. "All the people wave at the dog."

Sheila Thomas, 23, came to the parade as a child and had to bring her daughter, Eban, 4, after she asked to go.

"She saw Sponge Bob in the paper. She said, 'I want to go where he's at,' so I said I'll take her to the parade," Ms. Thomas said. Parade Marshal Sponge Bob Square Pants rode in an open Cadillac.

Melanie Lutman, and children Michael, 11, and Bailey, 10, came only because Ms. Lutman heard the parade mentioned while she was working Friday night at the Lucas County Arena.

"I switched my whole work schedule around so I could be here. This is our first parade, so I'm super-excited," she said.

Before the parade 10 families had breakfast with Santa at the Imagination Station, a privilege granted them as winners of a contest.

Mr. Mori estimated the crowd at about 30,000, or about twice what he thought turned out last year.

Many of the parade-goers with children next went to Kris Kringle Village in the Erie Street Market. The village featured children's activities, ice-carving demonstrations, and a display by the Imagination Station. Horse-drawn carriages provided tours from the market.

Santa Claus put in a long day, first hosting, then riding in the parade on a sleigh, and then having children sit on his lap for five hours.

One of those children was Anderson Jachimiak, 2, of Port Clinton, with his mother, Rachel Stewart, and father Jim Jachimiak. Anderson's plan while waiting about a half-hour in line was to ask for "some trucks."

Anderson ran up and gave Santa a hug, and then asked for trucks and Play-Doh.

An older youth, Machiah Lojewski, 12, of Walbridge, didn't plan to sit on Santa's lap but did so when Santa made him - and to be a good example for his three cousins.

He said Santa asked if he was good and ate his vegetables.

"I said no and he said that's not right," Machiah said.

Santa is played by - don't let the children read this - Timothy Stapleton, 70, of Oregon, who has been the holiday parade Santa for 18 years, according to family members, who were taking orders on a book soon to be published about his experiences, A View From Santa's Knee.

Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.

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New wheels on display at Transportation Museum - Press Republican

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 12:34 AM PST

Published November 29, 2009 10:07 pm - Several new vehicles are now on display at the Champlain Valley Transportation Museum, including some that may be on loan through the winter only.

New wheels on display at Transportation Museum
New vehicles on exhibit at Transportation Museum

By JEFF MEYERS

TAKE A TOUR
The Champlain Valley Transportation Museum is located at 12 Museum Way adjacent to the Clinton County Historical Association. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children 6 to 12. Tours can also be scheduled by e-mail at tours@cvtmuseum.com or by calling 566-7575.

Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH — The Champlain Valley Transportation Museum continues to grow in leaps and bounds as several new vehicles are on display through the winter.

The museum, started a decade ago by a small group of automotive enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the region's connection with the historic Lozier automobile, features a variety of 20th-century vehicles and other older forms of transportation.

"There's always something new happening here," said Head Docent Richard Soper, who conducts tours through the museum with emphatic zest for the history of each vehicle on display.

For instance, the museum is currently displaying a 1900, 22-foot passenger launch that was built in Plattsburgh when the Lozier Co. focused its efforts on boat building.

The vessel, sailed each summer on Lake Champlain by owners Fred and Noreen Brown, is temporarily docked alongside other museum transportation vehicles.

Plattsburgh's Joyce Huntley loaned three vehicles to the museum, including a 1950 Indian brand motorcycle, a 1927 Pierce-Arrow built in Buffalo and a 1930 Model A Huckster, manufactured by Ford.

"The car was built by Ford up to the windshield, but the rest of the vehicle was made of wood and built under contract by other companies," Soper said.

The Huckster was often used by farmers for picking fruits and vegetables and then for selling the produce to customers from the back storage bins.

"It's your early version of the farmers market," he added.

The Pierce-Arrow's novelty are the headlights the company placed directly on the front fenders as opposed to the traditional placement on either side of the front grill.

Alongside the museum's two signature Lozier automobiles sits another new addition, a 1917 Paige touring car, a vehicle that cost $2,000 less than the Lozier's typical asking price of $3,500.

Another unique vehicle now on display is a seven-eights scale model reproduction of a 1903 Oldsmobile, a vehicle that utilized a lever-style steering system rather than a steering wheel.

"We're hoping to soon have a collection devoted to the horseless carriage," Soper said. "This (Oldsmobile) is our bridge to that collection."

There is also a 1914 "Redbug" scooter newly on display. The two-seated vehicle sits low to the ground and was used by the Jekyll Island private resort in Georgia because resort owners did not want the congestion created by larger vehicles.

Another addition to the collection also promoted a smaller-sized vehicle. The 1960 BMW Isetta is a three-wheel compact vehicle that was designed by Italian engineer Renzo Rivolta because parking space was limited in Italian municipalities.

The museum's edition, which was actually built in England, is a one-door sedan, with access to the car through a front hatch that swings outward, windshield included.

Also on loan is a 1911 Kissel Kar, an unrestored vehicle that is still operational and in excellent condition.

In fact, the car's owner drove the Kissel from Vermont a few weeks ago, arriving at the museum with goggles and a leather skull cap as if walking out of a page from a 1911 touring guide.

There's lots more of the region's transportation history on display at the museum, with Soper always eager to tell each vehicle's personal story.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com

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NADAguides.com to Make Big Announcement at Los Angeles International ... - KRDO

Posted: 29 Nov 2009 04:28 PM PST

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- NADAguides.com, the leading provider of pricing information and market research for cars, classics, RVs, motorcycles and boats, will be making big news at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Although NADAguides.com has not released details on the upcoming announcement, the news will come during a press conference and will represent a first for NADAguides.com.

"Over the past year, NADAguides.com has worked extremely hard to strengthen existing relationships throughout the auto industry with the end goal of providing its online visitors with the most sought after new and used car information and relevant data possible," said Mike Caudill, NADAguides.com spokesperson and automotive expert. "Wednesday's announcement will not only showcase an expanded role for NADAguides.com, but will also reveal news the broader automotive industry will find relevant. Our announcement at the LA Auto Show will be a first for NADAguides.com. Stay tuned for breaking news from NADAguides.com on Wednesday, December 2nd."

The first of its kind for NADAguides.com, the LA Auto Show announcement is another example of NADAguides.com's commitment towards improving the consumer research and car buying experience by being the most accurate and comprehensive online vehicle information and pricing source.

About NADAguides.com

NADAguides.com (http://www.NADAguides.com) is the largest publisher of vehicle pricing and information for new and used cars, classic cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and manufactured homes. NADAguides.com offers in-depth shopping and research tools in addition to the most market-reflective pricing available. The company also produces print guidebooks, software, web services, raw data and web syndicated products.

SOURCE NADAguides.com

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