Wednesday, August 13, 2014

MADD “Crash Car” Exhibit and CHP Start Smart Program to Come to CIG Insurance’s 2nd Annual Community Safety Saturday™ September 6, 2014, in Monterey, California

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) hopes its dramatic exhibit will influence behavior to stop drunk driving. CHP Public Information Officer, Jaime Rios will talk to teens and parents about the Start Smart Teen Driving Program.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2014 – The MADD Central Valley Chapter will bring the dramatic "Crash Car" Exhibit to CIG Insurance’s 2nd Annual CIG Community Safety Saturday™. Parents and teens will have the opportunity to learn about the CHP’s Start Smart program, a driver safety education class which targets new and future licensed teenage drivers between the age of 15 - 19 and their parents/guardians. CIG Community Safety Saturday will take place at Capital Insurance Group, 2300 Garden Road, on Saturday, September 6, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


MADD can see a future without drunk driving
The “MADD Crash Cars” are visual educational tools presented with the intention to change behaviors and attitudes concerning the dangers of drinking and driving and riding with an impaired driver. The “Crash Car” Exhibit also addresses the excessive use of speed and the failure to use seat belts, and explains the roles that each of these factors play in the injury or death of loved ones.

The MADD booth will feature graphic displays of auto accidents. Volunteers will distribute informational material related to the dangers and prevention of drunk driving. Victoria Flores, MADD Chapter Leader and Victim Advocate, explains, “Over 10,000 people in the United States are killed by drunk drivers every year. On average, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash every 51 minutes. In 2011, 226 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. These tragedies are 100% preventable."

CHP believes education is a key to teen driving safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States and CIG Insurance is committed to helping to keep teen drivers safe.

Parents and teens will have the opportunity to learn about and sign up for the CHP Start Smart teen driving program at CIG Community Safety Saturday. Jaime Rios, Public Information Officer, California Highway Patrol remarks, “One of the things that teens need to realize is that a vehicle becomes a deadly weapon when in the hands of someone who is not being responsible. Both Teens and their parent or guardian attend the class together. We want them coming out of the class realizing that their actions don’t just affect them --they affect passengers, other drivers, families and friends.”

Kathy and Fred Forgnone lost their daughter, Vanessa, in a car crash in 2002. Since then, they have been volunteering and speaking to teens and parents at classes and at CIG Community Safety Saturday events. Kathy Forgnone remarks, “I think the classes elicit conversation between teens and parents, probably on the way home from the class and at the dinner table with the whole family - there are real ‘heart to heart’ discussions.”

Arne Chatterton, CIG Vice President of Field Operations & Business Relations explains, “We are committed to spreading the message about driver safety classes for teens and making sure there is communication with parents. Programs like the CHP Start Smart Class make quite an impact in every community they touch.”

CIG Community Safety Saturday was developed by a CIG Insurance employee in 2010 and has been held throughout California and Nevada ever since. The event features activities, demonstrations, and educational services designed to improve the safety and security of children, teens, families, and communities. People of all ages will enjoy free games, prizes, and a wealth of materials and information from many different booths staffed by local and regional organizations.

CIG Community Safety Saturday will feature the following attractions:

Special Presentations for:

* Jaws of Life Demonstration at 11:30 am provided by the Monterey Fire Department

* Whiskie the Whale Spotter™, the famous rescue dog from Marine Life Studies, will perform whale tricks at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

* California Highway Patrol will coordinate the child car-seat inspection station. They will also bring safety handouts and present information about their CHP Start Smart Driver Education classes available statewide for teens and their parents. Start Smart classes increase traffic-safety knowledge and better prepare teens for the road ahead.  Fred and Kathy Forgnone will be on hand to talk with attendees about the Start Smart program.

* Monterey Police Department will bring a squad car as well as crime prevention information.

* Monterey County Sheriff’s Office–Coastal Station Monterey will bring crime prevention handouts as well as their K-9, SWAT Team, and Search and Rescue vehicles. They will also do “meet and greets” with their K-9 team.

* Monterey County Crime Prevention Officers Association will provide safety brochures.
* Monterey Fire Department will bring a 55' ladder fire engine and safety information. They will also conduct a Jaws of Life demonstration showing how they cut open a car when necessary to free a driver trapped inside.

* American Red Cross–Monterey Bay Area Chapter will give out Family Disaster Plans.  Test your knowledge of Disaster Readiness and win prizes when you spin the “Wheel of Preparedness”.

* California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) will bring a fire engine and fire safety materials.

* California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will provide educational materials about how to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis.

* Monterey County Office of Emergency Services will bring emergency preparedness information.

* U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will bring water and boating safety materials as well as environmental protection information.

* Boy Scouts of America–Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council will provide emergency survival and safety tips.

* Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will provide safety information.

* Young artists from Youth Arts Collective will be on hand to sketch portraits and share information about YAC, the local after school art studio and mentoring program for artists, ages 14-22.

* Independent Transportation Network of Monterey County will bring information about its organization that offers rides to seniors and the visually impaired in Monterey County, California.

* United Way Monterey County will have an information booth including handouts about the 2-1-1 program.

* U.S. Forest Service will bring informational handouts as well as a wildland fire engine. Smokey Bear will also be on hand if he’s not busy fighting a forest fire!

* Sponsored by First 5 of Monterey County, MY Museum will bring the Wheelie Mobilee, a playground for the mind and so much more.

* Restorative Justice Partners will bring information about dispute resolution programs that foster empathy, accountability and restoration of fairness to victims and the community.

* Family Service Agency of the Central Coast/Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast will have a bean-bag toss and tic-tac-toe game and distribute their brochures and STOP cards.

* KlaasKids Foundation will conduct a Print-A-Thon that provides digital photo IDs & fingerprinting for every child.

* Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) of the Monterey Peninsula will give out materials about turning off the gas/electricity and water in emergencies and simple medical responses learned in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.

* Recovers.org will provide information about community resilience and their project in Seaside and Monterey.

* Central Coast CERT Association will provide emergency preparation information.

* MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will bring their “crash car” and provide handouts about the dangers of drinking and driving.

* The U.S. Coast Guard will bring their boat and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will provide water, boating and environmental protection information. Auxtter the Sea Otter mascot will also be on hand.

* Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District will provide information about trail hiking and wildlife safety.

* YWCA Monterey County will present information about domestic violence and the services it offers at both its Seaside and Salinas locations.

* YMCA will provide “Healthy Family Home” handouts and youth development information.

* Marine Life Studies will share information about protecting whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife and observing them safely in the wild. Whiskie the Whale Spotter™, a rescue dog, will perform her whale tricks and attendees will learn how Whiskie spots whales from Marine Life Studies' research boat in the Monterey Bay National Sanctuary.

* Monterey County Boys and Girls Club will have a Wheel of Fortune Safety Game and information about their organization.

* Community Partnership for Youth will bring face painters and offer a lanyard-making activity.

* KION/Telemundo is the media sponsor.

* Radio station 101.7 The Beach will provide music and prize giveaways.

At the conclusion of CIG Community Safety Saturday, a drawing will be held for exciting, family- oriented prizes, such as an annual family membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Family Plus annual memberships to MY Museum, four season passes to the 2015 Monterey County Fair, four passes for whale watching at Randy’s Whale Watching & Fishing, four passes to a performance at the Pacific Repertory Theatre, four passes for kayaking from Adventures By The Sea, a family pass to Elkhorn Slough Safari Nature Tours, and a family pass to the Monterey Zoo.

For more information about the event, please go to www.CIGsafetysaturday.com or call
(831) 233-5500.

Publicity Contacts: Wendy Brickman
Office: (831) 633-4444/Cell: (831) 594-1500
Email: Brickman@BrickmanMarketing.com

Barbara Howard
Office: (831) 920-2759 /Cell: (831) 521-8608
Email: writermarketer@gmail.com

About Capital Insurance Group:
Capital Insurance Group® (CIG) is the leading regional property and casualty insurer serving the Western U.S. since 1898. CIG insures Personal Auto, Homeowners, Farmowners, Condo Owners, Vacation Property, Renters, Apartment Building Owners, and many kinds of Commercial and Agricultural Auto and Property. The more than 115 year-old company is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, the independent financial monitor of the insurance industry. CIG manages personal, business, and agriculture risks underwritten by its affiliate companies: California Capital Insurance Company, Eagle West Insurance Company, Nevada Capital Insurance Company, and Monterey Insurance Company. Types of policies may vary from state to state. For more information, please visit www.CIGinsurance.com

CIG DELIVERS MORE. Continuously. ™

About the KlaasKids Foundation
The KlaasKids Foundation was established by Marc Klaas in 1994 to give meaning to the death of his twelve-year-old daughter, kidnap and murder victim Polly Hannah Klaas, and to create a legacy in her name that would be protective of children for generations to come. The foundation’s mission is to stop crimes against children by providing education and knowledge to the general public and promoting partnerships with concerned citizens, the private sector, organizations, law enforcement and legislators. www.klaaskids.org

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.BrickmanMarketing.com

“Italian Night at Cibo Ristorante Italiano – A Fundaiser for Festa Italia Santa Rosalia Foundation” on Thursday, August 28th

Don’t Miss “Italian Night at Cibo Ristorante Italiano - A Fundraiser for Festa Italia Santa Rosalia Foundation “ on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at Cibo Ristorante Italiano

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2014 - Don’t Miss “Italian Night at Cibo Ristorante Italiano - A Fundraiser for Festa Italia Santa Rosalia Foundation “ on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at Cibo Ristorante Italiano, 301 Alvarado in Downtown Monterey. Parking is available in the adjacent garage.

From 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Cibo will present a 4-course dinner for $24.95 featured below in addition to the regular menu and children’s menu. Special entertainment will be provided by the The Festa Italia All Stars featuring Mike Marotta Sr. and Mike Marotta Jr. with their amazing Accordians, Local favorite Drummer Dave Morwood, and Singers Ree Brunnell- Oracio Aiello, Dave Marzetti and Anthony Lane Cotroneo from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

20% of proceeds from the dinner will be donated to the Santa Rosalia Foundation.

Special “Italian Night” 4-Course Dinner for $24.95

Polenta Caprese
Grilled Polenta, Roasted tomato compote, pesto puree, balsamic reduction

Insalata Verde
Local Field Greens, Shaved Turnips, Parmigiano, Balsamic Vinaigrette

Choice:
Pennette Pasta with fresh Swordfish, tomato, eggplant and mint
or
Chicken Saltimbocca, Fontina Polenta, Vegetable of the day

Dolce
TiramisĂș

Coffee, tea
$24.95 per person

Cibo’s $3 happy hour with tasty appetizers will be available from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

To RSVP, please go to www.cibo.com. For more information, call (831) 649-8151.

About the Santa Rosalia Fisherman’s Festival:
This year will mark the 81st Annual Santa Rosalia Fisherman's Festival honoring the local fishermen of Monterey, past and present. It is a celebrated event with wonderful Italian food and drink and amazing entertainment. We thank all those who came out and celebrated the Italian heritage with us in the past and we invite all to take part in the sights, sounds, food and culture that make the Italian experience so very special. Mark your calendars now to attend this year's gathering for three days of Italian cuisine, music, dancing, fun and friendship. This year's 3-day festival will take place from September 5th - 7th at the Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey. Festival favorites include: unprecedented entertainment, raffles, bocce tournament, parade, Italian food, beer, wine and more, all offering something for everyone's enjoyment.

About Cibo:
Cibo Ristorante Italiano offers Italian cuisine, gourmet pizzas, cocktails, fine wines, cordials, and more, including gluten-free pizzas and pastas. Cibo (pronounced chee-bo) means food in Italian, but it’s more of a feast for the senses. This beautiful, spacious and comfortable restaurant features an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere which is accentuated with expressive art in the form of photography, paintings, sculpture, hand-blown glass and live jazz. Fusing the best of old and new world Italian cuisine, Cibo offers an eclectic menu ranging from gourmet pizzas to multi-course dinners. Families are welcome and there is a special children’s menu. Cibo has been a favorite of locals and visitors alike since 1990.

Cibo is open every evening with dinner served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Cibo Bar is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is a popular “pre-event” and “after-party” destination. The bar features a $3 Happy Hour with special appetizers daily from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. They offer an extensive high quality local and international wine and beer list, cordials, microbrews, rare and small batch Bourbons, Scotches, Ports, Grappa and liqueurs, as well as espresso, coffee drinks and a full menu of cocktails.

Cibo also presents live music 6 nights a week. On Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the cool sound of Jazz accompanies dinner from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. The restaurant features a lively and fun atmosphere with a DJ, Reggae, R&B, Rock or Salsa dance music on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. with no cover charge. They also hold a special "Happy Hour Jazz Jam" from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. every first and third Sunday of the month which includes Happy Hour food and drink specials.

With 150 seats, including intimate booths for dining , and room for over 50 people in the attractive bar area, Cibo also accommodates large groups for business functions, wedding rehearsals and receptions, special group dining events, and customized private parties.

Cibo Ristorante Italiano is the winner of numerous awards including California Writers Association Recommended Dining, Best Place to Meet Singles in Their 30's and 40's, Gold Key Award for Interior Design, Best Place to Enjoy a Martini, Best Place for Live Jazz, Best Italian Restaurant, Best Place to Dance, Best Martini and one of the Top 10 Happy Hours in Monterey.

For more information, go to www.cibo.com or call (831) 649-8151.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.BrickmanMarketing.com

Buying vs. Leasing for Your ASC

The startup of an ASC or other outpatient surgery center is a long and difficult process for prospective owner operators.

Dallas, Texas, August 13, 2014 - The startup of an ASC or other outpatient surgery center is a long and difficult process for prospective owner operators. One of the more difficult decisions that arise early on is the choice that an owner must make between buying a property and leasing space for their center.



The Ambulatory M&A Advisor published an article covering this topic going through the pros and cons of both sides. Dr. John Gomez, Medical Director at Rapid-Med Urgent Care Center, and Adam Maciak, President and CEO at Boston Urgent Care, offer comments that help explain the different scenarios and considerations that an owner should consider.

“If you’re somebody who doesn’t have a background in real estate, I think it’s a better idea to lease, but you still have to know what you’re getting into when you sign that lease,” Maciak said. “I would advise having an experienced attorney review and help you negotiate your lease. A favorable lease can save you significant money and headaches over time. You need to clearly understand the terms of your lease. But, if you are a real estate savvy person, have the ability to purchase, and understand the market you are going into, my advice is to always buy.”

The Ambulatory M&A Advisor is an online publication that covers the most up-to-date trends and topics surrounding ambulatory care center deal making, including information on investment banking in the ambulatory care realm. To read this article and others like it, visit the publication at www.ambulatoryadvisor.com.

You can read the full article from The Ambulatory M&A Advisor here.

Contact:
Blayne Rush, MHP, MBA
Ambulatory Alliances, LLC
18181 Midway Rd Ste 200
Dallas, Texas 75287
469-385-7792
publisher@AmbulatoryAdvisor.com
http://www.ambulatoryadvisor.com