Commentator, Actor, and Financial Genius Ben Stein to speak in Raleigh

The News & Observer announced today that Ben Stein, the actor, comedian, financial commentator, is coming to Raleigh to speak at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce meeting on Sept. 16. This event will be held at the new convention center in downtown that is set to have its grand opening ceremonies on Sept. 5-6.

Stein will speak on "Business, Economics and America," according to a news release from the chamber.

The event should be very good and very informative. Stein, who is known for his "deadpan humor" is very blunt and to the point with his business and economic commentating.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the convention center and admission is $85 per person.

At the same event, the Chamber will highlight its accomplishments for the past year, recognize its leadership and present the A.E.Finley Distinguished Service Award.

Tickets are available at www.raleighchamber.org.

Gas at 3 month low; How low can it go?

Did you hear the good news? Gas prices are down to the lowest level in 3 months. GAS PRICES ARE DOWN TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN 3 MONTHS!!!

The average price U.S. consumers paid for a gallon of gas hit a three month low as the cost dropped 7.1 cents last week to $3.81. Yes, this is still $1.04 a gallon higher compared to a year ago, but it is moving in the right direction, primarily due to the lifting of the Executive Order by President Bush to drill off the coast.

This has caused a $33 drop in crude prices that we should expect to continue to fall over the coming weeks. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), every $1 price drop in crude oil results in a 2.4 cents off the price for a gallon of gasoline. If this is truly the case, then gasoline should fall about 79 cents from its peak according to the EIA. Of course, the national price has only fallen 30 cents, but common sense would dictate that the prices will decline slower then they rise due to unforeseen circumstances.

In the EIA's survey, the highest price for gas was on the West Coast at $4.06 a gallon, down 8.3 cents last week. This is the only region to remain above $4 a gallon with San Francisco having the highest big city price at $4.18, down 7.9 cents.

According to AAA Automobile Club, the average price in North Carolina has dropped dramatically over the past month from a high of $4.006 a gallon to $3.879 this month. Of course, this time last year, the price in North Carolina was $2.82 a gallon.

Schools Results-A mixed Result

The News & Observer reported that North Carolina schools have shown improvement with state testing performance. The article announces that there are more public schools meeting the state testing standards, "but it's uncertain whether the improvement is due to better teaching or to a change in how schools are evaluated."

Released results show that 82 percent of schools met the state's goal during the past academic year on the state's ABCs of Public Education program. An increase from 71.9 percent the previous year.

Due to this gain, many teachers in these schools will qualify for bonuses, even though the Board of Education decided to cut the size of bonuses to be paid by as much as 30 percent.

Other positive news released today include a higher graduation rate to 70 percent, up from 69.5 percent.

The negative in this report may be more telling as to the true nature of education in North Carolina. Apparently, only 39 percent of schools in North Carolina met the standard under the federal No Child Left Behind program, down from 45 percent the prior year and could drop even further this fall when the results from the reading tests are factored.

By the way, both the state and federal programs utilize the same tests, but the results are evaluated differently. For more information about the ways these test scores are evaluated, please refer to the article linked.

Most districts in the Triangle saw gains in the percentage of schools meeting state expectations.

In Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro, every school met the state's goal of improvement.

Johnston County saw 90 percent of schools meeting expectations, up from 79 percent.

Durham County was up to 70 percent, up from 50 percent the previous year.

In Wake County, there was a slight drop in the percentage of schools meeting state requirements, dropping a percentage point from 85 percent to 84 percent. These figures could change as Knightdale Elementary School's results are being reviewed amid questions of irregularities of testing there.

Downtown Manager wants Empire off Downtown Deal

Once again, Raleigh's city manager is requesting that Empire Properties be removed as the developer for the Lafayette project. Russell Allen, city manager, is asking the City Council to reopen bidding for the development on a half-acre, city-owned site bordering Salisbury, Lenoir and South streets. If the council agrees with Allen, this will end the deal between the city and Empire Properties for the project, known as the Lafayette.

Last month, Allen asked that bidding for the site be reopened because Empire Proprieties had yet to get financing for the deal. The council ruled against the city manager by extending the deadline to Nov. 1 for Empire to find the money needed.

That extension included a provision where Empire Properties would share the cost to widen Salisbury Street, work that is being done as part of the Lafayette deal. Greg Hatem, CEO of Empire Properties has refused to sign the extensions under these terms, stating that he should pay for his portion of the street project once he purchases the land. Empire's share of the road widening would be approximately $50,000. He currently has the option to purchase the Lafayette property from the city for $1.44 million.

Hatem, like many developers has found it difficult of late to raise money for large projects considering the economy and the credit crunch. The developer has suggested that he may scale back the project, which is originally designed to be a 22-story tower with condominiums, retail and a hotel.

North Carolina Ranks 2nd for Business Climate

In a study by the marketing firm, Development Counsellors International, North Carolina received second billing behind Texas as the best business climate.

The study interviewed 281 corporate executives and is conducted every three years. DCI explained that North Carolina received such high ranking due to its strong labor market, low operating costs and its pro-business climate.

DCI President Andrew T. Levine stated, "With the battle for business more intense than ever, states and their economic development organizations need to pay close attention to the results of this survey. Whether accurate or misguided, perceptions about a location's business climate often play a crucial role in site selection decisions and where companies invest money and create jobs."

To round out the Top Five states, Georgia is third, followed by Tennessee and Florida, which were tied for Fourth.

Finishing last on the list was California as respondents cited taxes, high costs, and an "anti-business" regulatory environment.

Steven W. Nelson, a local Realtor in Raleigh exclaims that "it is no surprise to me that the Top Five were dominated by Southern states. Being born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I experienced first hand the deterioration of the business climate there as the Labor Unions garnered too much power throughout the state and the elected officials continued to raise taxes to pay for social reform." He went on to say that it reminded him of the Ann Rand novel, Atlas Shrugged, where the producers decided to quite producing and let the economy collapse upon itself.

Development Counsellors International is a leader in marketing places. With more than 350 past clients since 1960, they have served cities around the globe to better market to enhance economic development and travel marketing.

Executive Townhouse with Great Location

JUST LISTED!!!

This great townhouse is very conveniently located near Crabtree Valley Mall and the I-440 Beltline. This gorgeous home, built in 2006, has all the upgrades to include Corian countertops, wainscoting in the dining room and the stairs, wrought iron on the stairs, and plantation shutters in the family room. This home also has hardwood floors, and tile in this fabulous 3 story home. Not only does the family room have plantation shutters, but is also pre-wired for surround sound and a warming spiral staircase from the foyer. This home has 4 bedrooms and 2 full and 2 half baths and has nearly 2500 sqft. The master bedroom has cathedral ceilings and the bath has a separate garden tub and shower as well as a large walk-in closet.

The garage and a bedroom are located in the basement along with the utility room. The garage has epoxy flooring for long life and stain resistance. Additionally, the garage has plenty of storage room for the family bikes. The basement bedroom can be a game/entertainment room or a private bedroom for the teenage or the in-laws.

The kitchen is immaculate with plenty of counter space and an island bar for family breakfast. The kitchen also has a large pantry and is connected to the dining room. The deck overlooks the large and spacious common area shared by the surrounding neighbors. It is a great place to spend time with the children or the pets as there is a walkway completely around the common area.

Backyard Large common area for family and the pets to play, complete with a sidewalk that circles the common area.	Bedroom 2 Large bedroom with a sitting area and a good closet. This bedroom will be great for a guest room or for the teen.
Bedroom 3 Spacious bedroom on the second floor that has a good closet and place for a student's desk.	Bedroom 4 Spacious bedroom in the basement that could be an office, game/entertainment room or an in-law suite.
Deck Nice wooden deck that overlooks the common area with plenty of great foliage for your viewing. It makes for a great spot to spend the evenings with a glass of wine.	Dining Room Cozy family dining room with wainscoting whose window overlook the common backyard.
Family Room Spacious family room that has a gas fireplace, pre-wired for surround sound, and plantation shutters will be a cozy family gathering area to create family memories.	Finished Basement The finished basement includes an oversized garage with plenty of storage space, a bedroom that could have many different uses, and the utility room with a half bathroom.
Fireplace In the family room,the gas fireplace will make for cozy evenings for the entire family.	Garage Oversized garage with epoxy flooring, this garage has great storage space for all of the family toys.
Gourmet Kitchen Large kitchen that comes with Corian countertops, a large pantry, and an island bar, great for family breakfasts. This homes comes with all of the white appliances in the kitchen, including the refrigerator.	Master Bathroom The master bathroom comes complete with a large, garden tub and an oversized separate shower. This bathroom has 2 separate vanities for his/her use. Additionally, there is a large walk-in closet and a linen closet.
Master Bedroom A cathedral ceiling adorns this spacious room. It has plenty of room for a king-size bed and all of your special furniture.

For more information on this beautiful home, please visit 2741LaurelCherry.com.

Announcing a new listing

A great home in a starter community close to Raleigh, this home offers much potential and many amenities for the 1st time home buyer or an investor. With 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, this home has the basic needs for a young family. However, this home also offers the added benefit of having a great sun room/den in addition to a large family room with a wood fireplace. This is a must see home for the investor or young family.

This home also offers a great backyard that will be great for barbecues, pool, or extended decking system. Additionally, the children will benefit from having a great yard to play as it is very clear and flat for many activities.

Little River park is approximately 1 mile from this home and offers a picturesque waterfall, a great swing set, and numerous picnic sites for the family to enjoy. Visit this great park when you visit the home as it is a quaint park with many trees.

For more information about this home and to view all the photos of this home, please visit the website link above or email me with your questions.