Ventura Toys Announces CEO Retirement and New Appointee

Ventura Toys Corporation announced Monday that Paolo Lucas will retire as chief executive officer on October 30. However, Lucas will continue to serve as chairman of the board. The board of directors elected Manuel Garza as Lucas's successor, effective on October 31. Garza currently serves as president and chief operating officer.

Lucas has played a variety of roles at the company, including senior attorney, product manager, and treasurer. He has served on the board of directors since 2004. Lucas was appointed president of Ventura Toys in 2008 and CEO in 2009. Under Lucas's leadership, the company has grown through strategic acquisitions and a strong emphasis on new product development.

Lucas said of his successor, "I'm confident that Ventura will continue its growth under Manuel's leadership." Manuel Garza is a 20-year veteran of the company who has served as COO since 2012. In that role, he led all of Ventura's global operations.

Meryl K  | 11:42 a.m.
How about going out to lunch for a change? I'm tired of the cafeteria food. There's a Thai place a few blocks away that looks good. Not too expensive, and lots of vegetarian options for you, too.

Ellen B  | 11:44 a.m.
I wish we could do that, but there's the CFO visit at 1:00, remember? Everyone is supposed to be here, and I don't think we could make it back in time. Maybe tomorrow?

Meryl K  | 11:45 a.m.
Oh, I guess you didn't see the e-mail that went around about an hour ago. The visit's been moved to 3:00, so it's not a problem.

Ellen B  | 11 :48 a.m.
Just read it. Thai food it is, then.

MINT DESIGN

576 Fullerton St., Granger

Invoice Date: 08/02
Balance Due: $1,937.01

BILL TO:

Vista Hotel
900 Myrtle Boulevard, Granger

SHIPMENT DETAILS:

Carrier: RFT Couriers Method: two-day priority Ship Date: 07/23

Item	Price ($)	Unit	Qty	Total ($)	Tax
Design services (logo, letterhead, business card)	3,500.00	project	1	3,500.00	8.25%
Additional services (sketches)	125.00	each	1	125.00	8.25%
IMPORTANT: This invoice is payable by check only, made out to Mint Design. Balance is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Late payments are subject to additional charges of 5% per month. Thank you!				Pre-tax Total:	3,625.00
				Tax:	299.06
				Shipping:	12.95
				Total:	3,937.01
				Payments:	-2,000.00
				Balance:	1,937.01

FOR SALE

I'm selling my 1986 Celebrity Eurosport because my company is transferring me overseas. This car has very low mileage, and I am its only owner. I have treated this car with great care.

Don't miss this one!

• Classic F-platform with original doors and GM/Delco stereo!
• New exhaust, shocks, tires, and brakes-all replaced within the last six months
• Needs a paint touch-up and some minor repair work on fenders, rear bumper, and engine
• Seat covers and window shades included
• Reliable transportation for a student or as a second car
• $400 O.B.O.
• Sash only please

Call Randy, 389-3412, weekdays before 5 p.m.

To: Saul Leganza, Guzzi Imports <sleganza@guzziimports.com>
From: Peter Brown, Mel-Mart Superstore <pbrown@mel-mart.com>
Subject: Re: Flight delay
Date: August 15

Hi, Saul.

[1] This is just to confirm that I have received your phone message. [2] I will now be leaving Concord early tomorrow morning and arriving in Los Angeles on Star Airways flight 77 tomorrow night around 8:00. Because it's a last-minute booking, the only affordable flights had multiple stops (Philadelphia and Las Vegas), so it is going to take a lot longer than I had anticipated. [3] I am sorry for any trouble this will cause you. [4] Hopefully, we can reschedule our meetings for the day after I get there, the 1th. I have attached my new itinerary. Please call me if you have any questions; otherwise, see you soon!

Regards,
Peter

Movies at the Marquis

The Marquis is proud to announce our special feature week.

For one week per month, we will show movies from a particular genre. This month, we have chosen horror. We want to know what YOU want to see, so fill in an audience choice form next time you visit. We will select our next genre based on the results of the survey.

Horror Week

Ghostly Monsters (1956)
Kip McVities, Rosie Ranger
Monday, 6:00 p.m.

The Bilge and the Brine (1943)
Mack Jangler, Gregory Ryan
Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Elvis and the Swamp Monster (1978)
Mike Myron, Roger Paul
Thursday and Friday, 8:00 p.m.

Digstown (1987)
Lou Rosette, Jr., D. Hasbro Wiseman
Friday through Sunday, 9:00 p.m., 12.00 a.m.

Bugs and Beans Coffee Shop

Museum of Natural Sciences
401 E. Rosser Ave., Columbus, OH 45021
Tel: (502) 235-5555
coffe@mofns.com

Mr. Tomi Galoob
Galoob Ceramics,
P.O. Box 356,
Frisbee, NY 02165

Dear Mr. Galoob,

Thank you for sending me a copy of your latest ceramics catalog. You have been sending us your catalog here at the museum for several years now, and I always look forward to reading it. I was amazed yet again at the variety and creativity that you have displayed in your work. Your vases and bowls are quite exquisite! They really do resemble the plants and animals that they are modeled after. I will probably purchase 50 or more of the ladybug bowls. They are perfect for holding sugar cubes. However, it was the \scorpion cups that really grabbed my attention. According to the catalog, they - are available in small, medium, and extra-large sizes. I am interested in purchasing approximately 25 of the extra-large scorpion cups. Please send me information on your available stock. I would appreciate receiving the information by e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Linda Trent

Sam Kliff:  | 9:41 a.m.
Hi, Rob & Tina. Sorry to bother you on a Saturday, but it's kind of an emergency. I've been looking over the brochures for the trade fair, and there are some serious errors in them. Some photos are wrong, and two of the pages are out of order.

Rob Martin:  | 9:44 a.m.
And we need those for the trade fair by the 16th! This isn't good.

Tina Zakaria:  | 9:44 a.m.
It's strange-somebody must have checked the proofs before they were printed. What happened?

Sam Kliff:  | 9:45 a.m.
I haven't been able to trace the error yet because I can't get ahold of the people in charge. But my main concern is what to do now. Do we order 400 new copies?

Tina Zakaria:  | 9:46 a.m.
I think we have to. We can't go to the fair without them.

Sam Kliff:  | 9:55 a.m.
I just got off the phone with the printer. The only way to get the corrected brochures done in time is to pay for their rush service, which isn't cheap. But I can't do that without approval from someone higher up.

Rob Martin:  | 9:56 a.m.
Yeah, we have to get approval from Peter. I'll call him. He's probably working from home today anyway.

Tina Zakaria:  | 9:57 a.m.
Exactly, he almost never takes a day off. And I'm sure he'll OK it. It's our only option at this point.

Sam Kliff:  | 9:58 a.m.
Thanks, guys. I appreciate your help. I'm checking over the digital file now, and I'll e-mail, it to, you both so you can look at it before I send it to the printer.

Tina Zakaria:  | 9:59 a.m.
OK. You were right to let us know. And nice job catching those mistakes.

Rob Martin:  | 10:00 a.m.
Yep. Sam, I'll call you when I get confirmation.

Dream Vacation

Golden sandy beaches, deep blue seas, peace and quiet, and delicious food.

Would you like to take the vacation of a lifetime? [1] Have you always thought about getting away on a romantic cruise but could never afford it? Now your dream can become a reality.

[2] Get away with Dazzle Tours! [3] Why not take one of our mini-breaks? You will find that a seven-day break costs a lot less than you thought. [4] For a limited time, we are offering a Caribbean cruise with stops in Jamaica, Aruba, and Puerto Rico for only $799 (plus taxes). Service charges and visa fees are included.

Your Dazzle Tour includes:

• Round-trip airfare from Palm Beach to Belize
• All meals and on-board entertainment
• Choice of breakfasts, a buffet lunch, and a three-course dinner menu
• Full use of our sports center, sauna, and casino
• Jet-skiing and scuba diving
• Savings on shopping
• Book of discount coupons given to each passenger-can be used in any of our on-board shops and boutiques (excluding alcohol and tobacco)
• Guided tours at destination cities with one of our expert local guides. All guides are fluent in English and extremely knowledgeable about their city.

With Dazzle Tours, every day is a new adventure! All tours last seven days and six nights. Departures are every Sunday until August 31. Reservations must be made two weeks in advance. Call one of our agents to reserve your place now!

Dazzle Tours: 1-800-455-2222

Tips for Shopping Online

Shopping online gives you access to thousands of goods from companies around the world. However, some more unfortunate individuals find that the goods they ordered look nothing like the pictures, arrive damaged, or don't arrive at all. Here are some tips to help protect yourself when you shop on the Web.

• Before placing your first order, research other people's opinions of the company. There are many websites dedicated to reviewing online companies with satisfaction surveys, and customer reviews and comments.
• Next, read all the available information the company provides, including the fine print. Make sure you read and understand the return policy. Check whether you will have to pay for shipping if you need to return the goods.
• Always include shipping costs and sales tax in the final price when comparing costs. If the cheapest item has the most expensive shipping fees, it might not be the bargain it seems to be.
• Keep records of your order. Print out your e-receipt, or save it to a file on your hard drive. This proof-of-purchase will help you in the event that your item is damaged or not what you ordered.

If you encounter any problems with an online company, contact a consumer advocacy group. You can easily find telephone numbers for such groups on the Internet.

Park Board Meeting

All local citizens1are invited to the City Park Board open meeting!

The City Park Board open meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, at 6 p.m. in conference room B of the public library. Current agenda items include the following: regular committee reports, funding for the purchase of snow blowers, construction of a temporary outdoor ice rink for the winter, and next month's Winterfest Bonfire Ball to raise money for equipment for the children's playground.

Snow blowers will enable Mendez Park to stay open all year round, even in the heaviest snow. Now with the park open even in the winter too, we have decided to convert the central pond into an ice rink. Local businessman Hans Feine has donated $10,000 toward the cost.

Winterfest Bonfire Ball tickets will be on sale at the meeting. They always sell out fast, so coming to the meeting will increase your chances of getting tickets.

It is not necessary to notify us of your attendance in advance. However, if you would like to add an item to the agenda, speak at the meeting, or present a report on behalf of a local organization, please contact Glen Tuber at the city office, at 345-4444, extension 221, before October 5. All speakers must receive authorization before the meeting, so it is essential that you contact us in advance. We hope to see you there!

Park Board Meeting Agenda: October 17
I. Call to Order, Approval of Agenda	6:00 p.m.
II. Committee Reports: A. Park Police Report B. Planning Committee Report	6:10 p.m.
III. Purchase of Snow Blowers	6:30 p.m.
IV. Cedar Lake Beach Improvements	7:00 p.m.
V. Ice Rink Construction	7:20 p.m.
VI. Winterfest Bonfire Ball (ticket sales)	8:20 p.m.
VII. Adjournment	8:30 p.m.

MEMO

To: All Branch Managers
From: Sunshine Holidays Marketing
Re: Customer Preferences

As a result of recent research, we have decided to launch a staff competition.

More than 1,000 British people were recently surveyed by Sunshine Holidays about their vacation plans for the coming summer. About 200 people in each of five different age ranges were surveyed. They were asked to indicate which countries they planned to visit out of four possible choices: Italy, France, England, and Spain. It seems that as they get older, people tend to choose not to travel overseas. Participants over 55 chose Britain as their first choice to visit. When asked why, they gave several reasons, including fears about health problems and access to medical treatment in a foreign country, worries about communicating in a foreign language, and the desire to spend time with their grandchildren during school vacations. However, overall, France was the most popular destination for all age groups. This is because of its close location to Britain.

We want to increase the number of older customers visiting Spain (target A) and the number of younger visitors traveling within Britain (target B). For this reason, we are launching a staff competition. Please submit your ideas to increase the number of customers in these two groups. All staff at the branch with the winning ideas will get five additional paid vacation days. You have until March 27 to make your submissions. Good luck!

TO: Nigel Rory nrory@sunshineholidays.com, Yasmin Farhad yfarhad@sunshineholidays.com, Greg Stiles gstiles@sunshineholidays.com
FROM: Olivia Benn <obenn@sunshineholidays.com>
SUBJECT: Competition
DATE: March 20

Hello, everyone.

This is to follow up on our brief discussion of the recent memo from Marketing about the staff competition. I think it makes sense to divide into two teams: Greg and I will work on target A. Nigel and Yasmin, I'd like you to tackle target B. Let's meet as teams tomorrow at 4:30 and start brainstorming. Then on Friday, each team will make a presentation, and we'll give each other feedback. My assistant will combine all the best ideas into a slide deck, which I'll send in by Monday. Let's win this!

Olivia Benn, Branch Manager

http://www.lakelandcollege.com

Lakeland College

STUDENT-ORGANIZED EVENTS

Authorized Events on Campus

The Student Event Committee governs plans for activities or events on campus that are sponsored by a recognized student organization. Note that authorized events require a faculty sponsor who will both attend the event and help with the planning process. After arranging for a sponsor, please fill out the application here to get authorization. The application must be submitted at least four weeks before the event so the university can oversee planning issues for student organizations. Processing of applications normally takes five to ten days. Not all student-organized events must be authorized. For example, you do not need permission for weekly organization meetings, practices, or organization-sponsored trips. If you will charge admission, if you serve food or alcohol, or if your event is open to the public, then you must obtain prior authorization.

Reserving Event Space

As soon as your,student group has identified a date and time when you would like to host your event, as well as back-up dates and times, you will need to reserve a place to hold your event. Large venues on campus must be reserved six weeks ahead of time (at a minimum). Make sure you check on the availability of your desired location before you get too far into the event planning process.

APPLICATION FOR STUDENT-ORGANIZED EVENT

Name of applicant (student filling out application):
First: Binu
Last: Sharma
Applicant's e-mail address: binu@lakelandc.edu
Organization requesting authorization: Drama Club
Faculty sponsor: Lara Miller
Event description: Performance of three one-act plays. each about 45 minutes
Requested space: Student Center 2nd-floor auditorium
Date and time: May 2.7:00 p.m.

Is your event open to the public?

Yes ☑  No ☐

Will you charge admission?

Yes ☐  No ☑

Will you serve food or drink?

Yes ☐  No ☑

LC's Aspiring Actors and Directors to Put On a Show

Students and local residents alike are in for a treat on May 2, when theLakeland College Drama Club will once again hold Page-to-Stage Night at the Student Center. Page-to-Stage is the culmination of a year's work by the college's Drama Club, as they show off their gifts by performing three one-act plays.

Two of the plays are also student-directed. Drama Club's Binu Sharma chose a couple of her favorite works, Out of Time and The Ancestors by playwrighrCharles Goldman. The event also features a guest director: local literary star Javier Nunes, presenting his own play about a group of college friends, Four Summers. "I'm truly impressed with what these students have accomplished at their age-especially considering the budget they had to work with," Nunes said. "I expect it to be a fantastic success."

Last year's event certainly was. "We look forward to this every year," said Sharma. "We've even moved to a bigger venue because last time it was standing-room only."

Come to the Student Center auditorium on May 2 at 7:00 p.m. and support some of Lakeland's most talented students. There's no charge for admission, and you won't get a finer evening of free entertainment anywhere.

Value of Exports for the Country of Gromatia, 2000 vs. 2010 and 2020 Estimated Income

Product	2000	2010	2020 (estimated)
Beef	$2.2*	$2.4	$2.8
Fruit	$2.3	$2.4	$2.7
Wine	$0.3	$0.3	$1.0
Coffee	$3.4	$1.7	$1.8
Grains	$4.1	$4.9	$5.0

Figures courtesy of the Gromatian Ministry of Trade

* Value in millions of dollars

http://commerce.nic.gr

Farmers of Gromatia, Be Proud!

The Government of Gromatia would like to thank all its farmers for their hard work this year. Despite the winter flooding and the summer drought, 2010 was a great year overall for the farming industry, as well as for government revenues and our overall economic health. As a nation whose income is closely linked to the productivity of our farmers, we truly value your work.

We have sent you the figures for 2000 and 2010 so that you can measure your success for yourselves. However, you will notice that exports were down in certain sectors-in particular, coffee. These days, coffee is becoming increasingly popular thanks to large chains of coffee shops offering cheap but tasty coffee worldwide. We feel that it is important for Gromatia to gain a position in this market. Over the next five years, we will be offering substantial subsidies to farmers who plant coffee. We hope that this will enable us to increase our annual exports.

The other areas in which we hope to excel are wine and beef. Producers of these items will also be receiving subsidies under our five-year plan. With more leisure time, better education, and higher incomes, people are becoming more interested in these luxury items, This is where we see a niche for us in the market. We believe that in five to ten years, these will be our fastest growing export items.

Although small, Gromatia has the potential to do very well in the iriternational market. Thank you for your efforts in taking us there.

To the Editor:

Thanks for your reporting on the government's new scheme to subsidize certain agricultural products. Like most people in this country, I support aid to farmers. However, I think that this aid could be more carefully targeted where it can do the most good.

We should provide support for farmers who grow essential foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains. Level the playing field so that smaller and medium-sized farms can become more competitive with agribusiness corporations and contribute more to our growing export industry.This money could encourage the development of the kind of agriculture people truly need.

Sincerely,
G. Happ

Monthly Wastage of Stationery Supplies in the Offices of MAJOR Knottzach Systems

Memorandum

To: All Employees
From: Meg Gillio, Office Manager
Date: August 27
Subject: Re: Stationery Recycling Policy

Since our official merger with MAJOR Electronics Inc. last month, we have continued to use stationery with our former name, Knottzach Business Systems. Stationery which carries the new logo, MAJOR Knottzach Systems, is now available for use. All employees are requested to use this new stationery for all official correspondence, effective immediately. Please pick up a supply of the new stationery from Ryan Fischer on the fourth floor. However, in order to reduce waste and to do our best to save the environment, we are implementing two new systems.

1) Sign-out system: Each time you receive any company stationery, you must sign a sheet specifying what you took, how much you took, and when you took it. This information will be recorded on your employee record card.

2) Recycling: We throw away a lot of usable paper every month. All paper must be put in the recycling bins now placed in each department office. A catered pizza party will be awarded to the department that wastes the least paper during the month of September. And if your department succeeds in producing the least wastage for three months in a row, each member will receive a $50 bonus for each month.

TO: Human Resources (ALL)
FROM: Meg Gillio <eggillio@majorelec.com>
SUBJECT: Recycling
DATE: October 2

Dear Human Resources staff,

I'd like to congratulate your department for winning the company-wide recycling contest for the month of September. Department director Stephen Zola deserves special mention for leading the effort. You followed our new policies to the letter and wasted far less paper than any other department. You will therefore be enjoying delicious free pizza next week on the day of your choice. The CEO plans to stop by during the party to congratulate you as well.

Well done, and don't forget phase 2 of the contest. If you keep up the good work, I could be writing to you again in November!

Sincerely,
Meg Gillio