Alfred, NY (myPressManager.com) September 28, 2012
Alfred State ranks no. 7 among top public schools/regional colleges (north) according to the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s 2013 Best Colleges report for the second year in a row. Additionally, Alfred State ranked no. 23 on the list of top regional colleges in the North, up from the no. 25 spot last year. Alfred State was also included in the rankings of those colleges with the highest average freshman retention rate, coming in at 74 percent. These figures represent a gain over previous year’s rankings!U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking studies more than 1,600 schools nationwide and is the most trusted and comprehensive research tool students and parents look to when considering higher education choices.Dr. John M. Anderson, Alfred State president,attributes the top ranking and Alfred State’s increased ranking on the list to the compelling relevancy Alfred’s project-based learning has on students and employers alike. “The way we approach project-based learning is unique to us in many ways which is why it has become a cornerstone of our culture,” said Anderson. “Our focus is on teaching students how to think – not what to think – and that is something that resonates extremely well with employers. In fact, it is the reason why we are able to boast a 99% employment and transfer rate.”The category of ‘top public schools’ refers to public colleges and universities from small liberal arts colleges to large research institutions. The ‘regional colleges’ category on the report encompasses schools that focus almost exclusively on the undergraduate experience while offering a broad range of programs in the liberal arts and in fields such as business, nursing, and education. Alfred State is a member of the technology college sector within the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The College offers 52 associate degree programs, 20 baccalaureate degree programs, and three certificate programs in addition to an array of online programs. For more information, contact Tami Bacon, Marketing Communications Specialist at Alfred State at (607) 587-4230 or baconts@alfredstate.edu.About Alfred State
Project-based learning is a cornerstone of our Alfred State culture. When students work on real-world problems, they learn how to think, not what to think. As a result, Alfred State has a 99 percent employment and transfer rate.
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North Carolina based parking management firm, Park Select, headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, announces the grand opening of their new Raleigh, North Carolina location. The newly franchised Park Select will offer business and property owners in downtown Raleigh innovative alternatives in parking enforcement, coupled with cutting edge and affordable parking management technologies.Local business owners, Eva and Dan Brown, recognized the growing demand on available parking in Raleigh’s busy downtown districts and recently contracted for the Park Select franchise rights for all of Wake County. “Raleigh business owners are looking for a way to combat the abuses that increased parking demands are causing.” says Dan Brown, the new owner of Park Select Raleigh. “Park Select offers business and property owners an effective deterrent at no cost. In a challenging economy, we felt a cost free and valuable service would be a welcome change in our community.” Park Select’s unique business model was developed nearby in Wilmington, North Carolina; and, for over a decade has offered merchants and lot owners alike the free hourly monitoring and enforcement that has become their trademark. But while it may be free to the lot owners they represent, the cost of Park Select’s hourly enforcement is passed on to the parking violators they work to discourage. Park Select lot monitors identify violators and issue parking fines as an alternative to towing enforcement. “We have found that fines are much more effective than towing or booting,” says Kirk Iventosch, founder of Park Select Franchising Opportunities. “Our clients can’t afford the negative impact that towing might cause their business. We give them back their lots, without the hassles of monitoring them.”The newly established Park Select Raleigh will offer that same monitoring and enforcement, along with revenue generating management options such as daily and hourly pay parking and monthly tenant management. Utilizing new cloud-based credit card payment technologies and other payment management systems, Park Select will offer Raleigh lot owners percentage-based lot management fees for new and existing pay parking lots. “Our goal,” says Dan Brown,” is to provide Raleigh lot owners more space and higher profits. If we can do that, we’ll be successful.”
Established in 2001 in Wilmington, North Carolina as a parking management firm, offering services to area business and parking lot owners; Park Select has now become the newest franchised business model in North Carolina. The first Park Select franchise was sold this month to business owners Dan and Eva Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina. Plans for a second Park Select Coastal franchise, which will include all North Carolina beaches, will soon be finalized and other locations as far west as California are currently in negotiation. As small business owners themselves, Park Select founders Kirk and Sandra Iventosch recognized the need for affordable parking management. “We were restaurant owners and our parking lot was constantly abused. We couldn’t afford the negative impact of towing,” explained Sandra, “but hiring an outside firm or paying our own employees to monitor the lot wasn’t cost effective. We realized that business owners like ourselves needed a third alternative.” The resulting company, Park Select offers hourly monitoring and parking enforcement to business and property owners regardless of the lot size and at no cost to the lot owner. Park Select’s fees are paid by issuing fines to any parking violators identified in the lots they manage. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” says Sandra, “The lot owner gets parking optimization for free, our fee is paid by the violator, legitimate local paid parking is utilized more frequently, and even the violator wins when they don’t get towed.” Park Select’s client base increased as they added other parking management services, including pay parking and tenant parking. The success of their unique business model in Wilmington made Park Select executives question what other markets throughout the US might benefit from their services. Forming Park Select Franchising Opportunities, they developed the tools and training programs to help business owners in other cities duplicate their success. In an industry dominated by fast food and automotive services, Park Select Franchising Opportunities is the first and only parking management franchise system. Their stated goal is to change the parking industry, one lot at a time. Through franchise sales, Park Select may do just that, one city at a time. 
Regardless if one likes their toilet paper to hang over the roll or under, or if they are a “wadder” or a “folder,” Consumer Reports latest study points Americans to Walmart’s White Cloud 3-PlyUltra Soft toilet tissue. Declared as Consumer Reports decisive winner, scoring 91 out of 100 and beating it’s closet competition by 10 to 50 points, White Cloud’s Ultra Softs performance shows that consumers do not have to pay a premium price to receive a premium tissue. The top 25 toilet paper brands were subjected to specially trained sensory panelist and an extensive battery of tests grading on softness, absorbency, value and strength. White Cloud 3-Ply Ultra Soft ranked highest across all categories. The tissue was also singled out for its price value costing only 19 cents per 100 sheets as compared to well-known premium priced tissue priced between .30 cents and .38 cents per 100 sheets. Toilet Paper Fun Facts
“You treated us like royalty.” Those were the parting words of Regina, the last patient to leave the Mission of Mercy clinic at the Lake County Fairgrounds last Friday. The Expo Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds was transformed into a huge, two-day free clinic on Friday and Saturday with the goal of treating underserved patients with dental, medical and vision needs. More than 1,300 volunteer dentists, hygienists, assistants, dental students, physicians, vision professionals, nurses and lay volunteers treated 2,082 children and adults during the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation and CURE Network’s Mission of Mercy event. “Throughout the course of this giant, free clinic, our dental volunteers provided 1,113 exams and oral cancer screenings; 811 cleanings; 878 extractions; 1,242 restorative treatments, including fillings, root canals, and crowns; and more than 100 partials and denture repairs.” said Dr. Mark Humenik, a general dentist who chairs the Mission of Mercy.“More than 500 patients received vision exams, and eyeglasses were made on site for every patient who needed them,” stated Dr. Ken Nelson, Chair and Co-Founder of the CURE Network. “We performed medical exams, pap smears, breast exams, blood sugar screenings, and blood pressure screenings on over 300 patients.”“This weekend, we have witnessed many extraordinary circumstances in which people have lost their jobs; their dental, health, or vision insurance; or are dealing with really difficult circumstances. We’ve had the opportunity to touch the lives of many in desperate need,” said Dr. Alice Boghosian, who chairs the Illinois State Dental Society’s Public Relations Committee. “What you see at the Mission of Mercy is simply a larger example of the charitable care that dentists, physicians and vision professionals provide every day in their offices. This year’s event was especially significant due to the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation’s partnership with the CURE Network to provide dental, medical and vision care,” said Dr. Robert Bitter, President of the Illinois State Dental Society.Certainly, the Mission of Mercy has called attention the serious problem that many Illinois citizens have in accessing dental and medical care, but charity is not the foundation for a properly working healthcare system. Only the Illinois legislature can provide the solution through adequately funding the Medicaid program in Illinois. “If everyone gives a little, we can do great things,” Dr. Bitter adds. “The overwhelming sense of gratitude from our patients was so rewarding to our tireless volunteers. Many patients commented that they had never been treated with such kindness and dignity.” Learn more about the 2012 Mission of Mercy at 
This morning, the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation and CURE Network officially kicked off the Mission of Mercy, or “MOM,” at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake on June 8-9. Nearly 1,500 volunteers from throughout Illinois will provide an estimated $1 million in free basic dental, medical and vision care to patients who would not otherwise have access to necessary treatment.Nearly 1,500 volunteers from throughout Illinois will provide free basic dental, medical and vision care to needy patients. They include 223 general dentists, 24 pediatric dentists, 24 oral surgeons, 13 endodontists, 10 orthodontists, 95 dental hygienists, 250-plus dental assistants, 104 dental students, 14 physicians, 60 RN/LPN/CNA’s, 19 vision professionals, and a large group of lay volunteers.Volunteer clinicians are prepared to see 1,000 patients per day, but hope to accommodate more. Dental volunteers will use 100 portable dental units to provide free basic dental care and oral surgery to patients who would not otherwise have access to necessary dental treatment. However, not all dental services are provided, and dental problems are prioritized with the most critical being treated. No false teeth will be made, but limited partials will be made in the lab.Basic medical screenings include high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and women’s health, including breast exams and PAP smears. Vision professionals will conduct eye exams and screen for glaucoma and macular degeneration. Prescription eyeglasses will be made on site.Monetary and in-kind donations from more than 130 organizations, businesses, dental and medical supply companies, and individuals have been provided to offset the costs of equipment and facility rental, supplies, pharmaceuticals and food costs for this huge access to care event. A list of our generous donors is available on the ISDS Foundation website.The Mission of Mercy calls attention to the serious problems that Illinois citizens have in accessing dental and medical care. The event will relieve some suffering, but it won’t solve the problem. Only the Illinois Legislature can provide the solution through adequately funding the Medicaid program in Illinois, which was drastically cut in the 2013 state budget.“More than 2.6 million Illinoisans are enrolled in state-sponsored health insurance. Two-thirds of those enrolled in government-sponsored health care are children. While Illinois has experienced a steady increase in public aid enrollment, funding for the most critical procedures have not increased in more than 30 years,” noted ISDS President Dr. Robert Bitter of Skokie.He adds that, “Medicaid’s adult dental program was a casualty of the May 25th passage of Senate Bill 2840 that slashed $1.6 billion from the $11 billion Illinois Medicaid program. The adult program will now be an ‘emergency only’ program. “The Mission of Mercy media kit and other information are available by clicking on the home page “Mission of Mercy” graphic at