The Willimson County Historic Court House; one of the well-known symbols of the county

For the second consecutive year, Williamson County has been ranked the healthiest county in Texas. The rankings are conducted annually for all 50 states by the County Health Rankings, a project involving the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. By ranking counties based on various health factors, the project aims to highlight areas that can be improved to make communities healthier places to live. The population health model used for the project studies health factors and their outcomes in counties across the U.S. These health factors look at things like diet and exercise, tobacco use, alcohol use, access to health care, education, income, safety, air pollution and access to healthy food in determining the overall length and quality of life in the county.

A typical Texas Hill Country scene; fields of wildflowers in Williamson County

Based on this model, Williamson has kept its lead as the overall healthiest county out of Texas’ 254 counties. Our very own Travis County came in 6th, which is actually a step up from last year’s ranking. Some of the other top-ranked counties include Collin, Denton, Gillespie and Rockwall. Despite being on top, these counties are all continually looking to improve the health and well-being of its residents.

Thanks to an article in The Statesman blog,  Shannon Jones, acting director for Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department said, “The rankings represent a tool we can use toward further improvements. We will continue to work in partnership with the community and take the actions needed to make this county one of the healthiest places to live.”

So if you’re looking for some healthy living, head on out to Central Texas! But remember, you can always get involved in helping make your community a healthier place to live. For more information, check out the County Health Rankings Action Steps and see what you can do to help your county move up in next year’s rankings.

Every year, Chicago celebrates St. Patrick's Day by dying its river green; boats travel up and down the river dying it to just the right color before the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

But there are some fun and interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day that most of us probably never knew. Yes, there actually is more to the holiday than drinking pint after pint of Guinness and avoiding those dreaded pinches by wearing green!

1. Saint Patrick was not actually born in Ireland: March 17th marks the date of St. Patrick’s death, not his birth. He was actually the son of a noble Roman in England, kidnapped and taken to Ireland. Patrick finally escaped when apparently, the voice of God told me to flee by ship. After that, Patrick joined a monestary and decided it was his destiny to convert the Irish to Christianity. This was his life mission until he died on March 17, 461.

2. Saint Patrick was never officially canonized by the Catholic Church: Now, for those of us that don’t know what it means to canonized, it is the act of officially declaring someone a saint after their death. The reason St. Patrick was never canonized is that there wasn’t an official canonization process until the Middle Ages around the 12th Century.

3. Until recently, the pubs and bars in Ireland were closed on St. Patrick’s Day: Up until the 1970′s, the law in Ireland required that all pubs remain closed on St. Patrick’s Day. This is because the holiday is traditionally reserved as a holy day with an obligation to attend mass.

4. The Irish don’t actually wear green in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day: No one has to wear green in Ireland merely because everyone is already Irish. However, the green shamrock – which has three leaves - has constantly been utilized as a symbol of the holiday because it was utilized by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland.

5. Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional meal in Ireland: In fact, many Irish were unable to afford beef until they left to achieve more prosperity in America. They would have been more likely to eat boiled bacon, if any meat at all on the holiday. The popularity of the meal is more of an Irish-American tradition rather than purely Irish.

6. The very first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City, not Dublin: The parade in NYC actually pre-dates the Declaration of Independence and will be held for the 250th time this year! Dublin didn’t actually host a St. Patrick’s Day parade until the 1930′s. Even then, Ireland didn’t create the Saint Patrick’s Festival until decades later to promote their March tourism.

While the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day has definitely evolved over years, the tradition is one that no matter how it’s celebrated, is always memorable. We hope you have a wonderful and safe St. Patty’s Day! 

Some footage from the 2011 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Houses being swept away in Natori City in northern Japan following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011; photo courtesy of Time.com

Today, March 11th, at 2:46 p.m. Japan time, the largest, most powerful quake to ever hit the country devestated cities and continues to threaten in its aftermath with tsunami waves being experienced as far away as the U.S. West Coast. According to Time.com, geophysicists say the magnitude 8.9 earthquake is one of the most powerful earthquakes experienced in more than a century. The quake, which occured at the shallow depth of just 15 miles before the surface, caused tsunami waves to devastate cities around northern Japan. While the quake was felt in other areas of the country, including its capital city of Tokyo, the damage was minimal compared to that of the northern, more rural cities, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located. This is most likely due to the measures the Japanese government has taken over the years to ensure their larger cities are prepared for natural disasters of this sort; making them a world leader in disaster preparation. As of now, the death toll is unconfirmed but the Associated Press reported that 300 bodies have been washed ashore, 137 deaths have been confirmed and 349 are still missing. Prime Minister Naoto Kan addressed the issue in a press conference. “We will secure the safety of the people of Japan and work to remain cautious, and be vigilant about keeping tuned in to television and radio reports,” he said. “We ask the people of Japan to act with calm.”

AP Raw Video: Japan’s Earthquake as Seen from Above

Since the earthquake, warnings have been issued to countries around the Pacific Rim and to the entire West Coast of North America from the Mexican border to Alaska. Hours after, tsunami waves splashed ashore the West Coast of the U.S. Evacuations were ordered in California, Oregon and Washington but luckily, little damage was sustained.

Between the time of those waves reaching mainland shores, the tsunami threat for Hawaii was much for serious. In the middle of the night, sirens awoke residents as the governor ordered evacuations in coastal areas. People waited in lines at grocery stores and gas stations to stock up on much needed supplies as the governer warned residents to take the tsunami threat very seriously. In fact, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that the waves were traveling at a speed of 500 mph – as fast as a jetliner- and likely woudn’t stop until they hit a massive area of land. While the tsunami will most likely go around smaller islands, the size of Hawaii’s islands will actually amplify the waves causing them to crash into the coast line even harder. Luckily, the states warning system has been effective in clearing out residents and tourists from beaches around the islands, including the most popular Waikiki beach.

See photos from Japan’s earthquake thanks to Time Photos online

It is unfortunate that this happened, but the positive is that after centuries of experience with earthquakes, the country of Japan is one of the most prepared nations in the world for natural disasters. In addition, the hours of warning gave coasts around the pacific enough time to prepare for the worst. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected in the earthquake and its aftermath.

In a study conducted by MarketTools, Inc., a market research company based out of San Francisco, nearly 50% of surveyed employees have considered leaving their current jobs. It’s no question that satisfied employees lead to better customer experiences and ultimately, more profitability for the company. Studies constantly show that companies with a culture of recognition have employees that are five times more likely to feel valued and eleven times more likely to feel committed to their job. So do your employees feel appreciated?

Here are some things you can do this Employee Appreciation Day (or everyday if you want!) to show your employees that their work is truly valued:

Surprises!

Everyone loves surprises! A great way to show your employees that you value their work is surprising them with little gifts throughout the day. Design it so the surprises progress throughout the day, such as a little trinket or a “thank you” card in the morning to something like a gift card by the end of the day.

Go Off-Site

For a truly special Employee Appreciation Day hold at least part of the work day outside of your office. You can go out to lunch with some of your employees or even just take an outing to one of the local parks for a picnic! Just a find a place where employees can relex and mingle for a little part of their day.

Hold a Silly Awards Ceremony

It’s not a question that people love getting awards, even if it’s just for something silly. This Employee Appreciation Day hold a fun awards ceremony where every one of your employees can be awarded for something. Its a great way to get your employees involved and having a good time together.

Make it Personal 

The most important part of making Employee Appreciation Day special is making sure you, as the manager, make a personal connection with each of your employees. One way is writing a personal little letter to your employees telling them how much you appreciate their work and their value to the company. If you don’t have very many employees, even better! You can go around to each employee thanking him or her in person for the great work they do for you and the company.

Have Fun!

Last, but not least, it’s important that you have fun with your employees on this day! This is not the day to talk business with them. Enjoy the day and celebrate the people that make your business successful!

Although Texas is having a particularly warm winter, that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing freezing temperatures in the near future.  This is why it is so important to take the time to protect your Texas home from frozen pipelines and expensive repairs.

Across the nation an average of a quarter-million families have their homes damaged every winter because their water pipes freeze and burst.  Repairs for damage to hardwood floors, carpet, and furniture can be extremely costly.

The holidays already bring enough challenges and expenses, leaving little room for extra costs.  Fortunately Texas Homeowners can avoid this tragedy.  Standard Homeowners Insurance Policies cover winter disasters that may occur to your home, but it is still important to make sure that you have enough coverage to protect you in an unfortunate event. 

Besides having a thorough Texas homeowners insurance policy, there are a few other things you can do to avoid the hassle of frozen pipes.

1.  Exposed pipes are more susceptible to freezing, make sure that your pipes are well insulated in your garage, crawl spaces, and attic.

2.  You can wrap more susceptible pipes with heat tape. Be sure to use approved products by an independent testing organization.

3.  Keep your home temperature at a minimum of 65 degrees, tempretures lower than this may not keep pipes from freezing.  This is because  the temperature inside of your walls is substantially cooler.

 4.  Keep water moving within the pipes during a freeze, by opening them and letting them drip slowly.

 5.  Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and prevent air leaks.

6.  Use indoor valves to cut off drain water from any pipes leading outside, and cover spigots with special Styrofoam insulators.

A San Francisco based Wells Fargo Bank admits to making mistakes in 55,000 foreclosure cases.  Wednesday, the bank admitted they had problems with their paperwork, and the errors will be fixed by mid November.   Several depositions from Wells Fargo employees suggest that the bank rushed through the foreclosure process. 

A South Carolina Wells Fargo employee said that “she signed anywhere between 300 and 500 foreclosure documents per day.”

Another employee stated he only verified the dates on up to 150 documents, and relied on co-workers to ensure that the rest of the information was valid.

Currently, the foreclosure crisis is growing in several large metropolitan areas. Attorneys general in all 50 States are investigating hundreds of thousands of cases in all major banks to determine whether paperwork and legal procedures were handled properly.   The Federal Reserve is also investigating if companies cut corners when they foreclosed on people’s homes. 

The bank describes these errors as “technical” and they see no need to halt the foreclosure process. The documents are being refilled in 23 states where judge approval is required to complete a foreclosure.

Wells Fargo spokeswoman Teri Schrettenbrunner said “We don’t believe that there are instances in which the foreclosures would not have occurred otherwise.”

Other banks are halting their foreclosure process until this dilemma simmers down.  GMAC, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co and PNC Financial Services are among the banks taking further precautions. 

Bank of America has taken one step further by partnering up with Fidelity who will provide title insurance on the sale of all of its foreclosed properties.  Title insurance protects the mortgage provider and homebuyer in an event of any unpaid taxes, financial interest, and questionable ownership. 

Articles sourced from CNBC and the Charolette Observer.

Republican Tom DeLay, begins his trial today in Austin, TX.  The former U.S House Majority Leader was accused of illegally directing corporate campaign contribution money to help elect GOP Texas legislative candidates.  The Travis County prosecutor found that Delay sent $190,000 of corporate money to the Republican National Committee. 

Dick DeGuerin

DeLay and his attorney Dick DeGuerin are happy that the long awaited trial (5 years later) is beginning today.  They feel that justice will finally come when the trial proves that “he [DeLay] didn’t do anything.”  DeGuerin said that he would prefer to hear this case in DeLay’s hometown in FortBend; and he claims that Travis County is “heavily Democratic,” and it has a “strong anti-TomDelay feeling.”

Delay was previously under investigation for his close relationship with Jack Abramoff, who admitted to deceiving Native American clients.  Abramoff obtained 66 million dollars of his tribal client’s money to aid him in gaining casino licenses.  He was also accused of fraud, conspiracy to bribe public officials and tax evasion in 2006.  Delay’s ties with Abramoff however, were not strong enough to make a case.

Carl Paladino, Jimmy McMillan, and Andrew Cuomo

“Papa Smurf” Jimmy McMillan, is running for governor of New York.  McMillan had the least name recognition in upstate New York until his flashy debate on Monday.  He is running on “the rent is too damn high” party— which pretty much covers the basis of what he is trying to do.   

The 64-year-old Vietnam Veteran says that If he is elected, he will work to lower the cost of living in New York.   His local NYC political party has presented itself in the 2005 and 2009 elections, and he received over 4000 votes in 2005.

Jimmy McMillan

McMillans guerilla tactics have created much buzz across the country, and his political party had the most recognition since Mondays debate.   McMillan claims to have walked over 500 miles from Brooklyn to Buffalo in 1994 to gain recognition for the need of housing and jobs for veterans. 

While “Papa Smurf’s” only real concern is handling the high cost of living, his running mates Anderew Cuomo and Carl Paladino have other things in mind.  Property taxes, government waste, insurance, and corruption were a few of the topics discussed.

  McMillan definitely stole the show last night, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a SNL skit in the near future.  See the debate for yourself on Youtube  or visit NYDailyNews for an article about it.

Reed Family

This holiday couldn’t come at a better time; Our office would like to celebrate Scott Reed and his wife Stacey Reed today. Thank you for treating all of your employees fairly, for providing us with yummy snacks in the break room and keeping the atmosphere casual and relaxed. They both show appreciation for their employees’ efforts, and are also understanding about the occasional personal problem. Scott and Stacey are flexible with our schedule and understand when one of the Texas State, or UT students has a major exam coming up! Scott has a good sense of humor, and often times will crack jokes around the office, not taking everything too seriously. 

Stephen an office manager said “he doesn’t sugar coat anything, he tells you exactly what he is thinking and what expects of you.”

Our newest licensed agent in the office, Travis, said that “[Scott] is not only a boss, but also a teacher.”

Holly, our office manager, is the smiling face you see when you walk into our office.  She said the relationship [Scott and Stacey] have with their employees is more family-like than business. We do work while we’re here, but we keep up with each other’s lives and adjust the work schedule accordingly if needed.”

We recognize all of the hard work and challenges Scott and Stacey face running Reed Insurance Agency.  Thank you and happy boss’ day!

Austin Energy is preparing itself for the arrival of a new breed of car to hit the streets—Electric cars.  Within the next 10 years studies have shown that Austin could have approximately 192,000 cars that run off of electricity. The new cars rolling out into Austin dealerships in the near future are  Nissan Leafs and  Chevy Volts. 

Nissan Leaf

The next two years Austin’s sole electric utility company will be building public charging stations.  This new technology is also a new source of business for electric companies, and they must be prepared for their arrival.  According to Kari Rabago, they are currently “figuring out what [they] are going to build and where.” The Austin utility plans to initiate a subscription service to electric car owners ranging from  $60-$80 a month plus an added service of roadside assistance for an additional cost.   The Whole Foods Headquarters located in downtown Austin has already installed a charging station just last month.  

Chevy Volt

There are multiple benefits of owning an electric car.  The dependency on foreign oil will be reduced, the air we breathe will be cleaner, a complete charge will only cost around 50 cents, and the maintenance time of the vehicle will be reduced. The city of Austin also included an Electric Vehicle Incentive between $100 to $500.   Austin EV (Austin Area Electric Automobile Association)  holds monthly meetings to discuss and support the advances in electric vehicles, and how to continue their growth in the Austin area.

An electric car is no different than insuring a gas powered car.  The basic terms like age, driving record, and credit still apply to qualify for a good rate.  The industry standard for a hybrid or electric vehicle is set to %10 and several carriers offer this.  You can always get a free quote on your vehicle and see if this discount applies to you.

If you are interested in this topic you should definitely watch the movie who killed the electric car or visit these articles from Green Car Congress and RenewableEnergyWorld.com.