Candlelight Devo was amazing! I took some cool pics with my phone and if I can figure out how, I'll post them in a blog sometime soon. I talked to Jake twice today and that was nice. I love getting to see my internes again, that's the coolest thing about ACU right now. He's beginning to think I have stlaker radar or something. Hopefully I'll be able to get more creeper points than him soon... I definitely creeped out his roommate, so I'm gettin' there, haha.

Other than that we didn't do a whole lot that was exciting. But I did find out that I got more financial aid so I now should have around $24,000-something in loans/scholarships/grants. So that's exciting, I only have to pay like $2 - 3,000 for this first year. Hopefully I can keep up with my grades and keep that financial aid. Also, keep praying that I get that Student Recruiting position I applied and interviewed for, I find out on Friday if I got it.

Well, I gotta wake up at 5:30 in the morning to be ready to leave by 6:15 for the Sunrise Devo. Thanks for all the prayers and I really miss everyone back home. College is so different! Well, toodles!

-Bee-

(PS) I'll be attending Highland CoC with a girl from my U100 class. I'm pretty excited about it, which is ironic because I really did NOT wanna go to Highland just because everyone from my Youth Group that goes to ACU ends up going to Highland, but I think that might be a reason I've gravitated toward that church as well.

I doubt it, but I can't be certain

Highland Homes' web site is down again.

So are Highland Terrace's web site and Highland Park's web site.

And it doesn't appear that any of them will be back any time soon.

Last week, I borrowed a car and went back to Highland Terrace to see what was up. It turns out that there are a few things that are not going on over there.

Most noticeable is that the electric meter is gone and the electric cables to the sales trailer have been cut. I looked in the front doors of the sales trailer, and the furniture is gone. Moving around to the back, the waste water tank has been removed. That sales trailer is just sitting there collecting road dust. Oh, and the Highland Homes flags are fading and shredding also.

Then there's the semi trailer that sits prominently at the front of the site. I hadn't noticed it before, but the license plate on that trailer expired in 2006. I'm not exactly sure how semi trailers are licensed, so the 2006 date may be when the plate was issued, and it may be valid in perpetuity. Either way, it doesn't really matter. It's still an eye sore.

The "Construction Funding Provided by Premiere Bank" sign is, indeed, gone. Good for Premiere Bank. If they have truly pulled out of the deal, they dodged a bullet. If they haven't? Well, they're in for some heartburn.

Now, as I moved down to the back of the lot, back to the place that I used to call "The PIT", I saw a very nice pond. It is just big enough and deep enough to house a few small frogs and a million-bajillion-quazillion mosquitoes. Remember, I found this pond over a week after those 100° heat alert days. No rain since then, and this pond is still living. I will now christen it "Highland Pond". Feel free to use it in conversation.

Otherwise, it's hard to see much of anything back at The PIT. Everything is grown over, and grown over quite well. The vegetation is lush and green, and between two and five feet tall – depending on the variety of plant. It is slowly becoming a very nice wildlife preserve. An urban refuge, if you will. I kind of like it the way it is.

I took a hundred or so pictures that day, and I am in the process of making panoramas with them. Once I have them completed, they will be uploaded and linked to either this post, or another. Keep your eyes peeled.

And that is my update on Highland Terrace, I have more stuff coming on another company and another possible partner for Messrs. Cavanagh and Shallenberger. The new guy's name is Rufus M. Henderson, and the new company is Westwood Land Acquisition. More to come ...

Ecological issues aside, musk is the dominant aroma of Highland incense stick and it's an astonishing musk, with the staying power of a skunk spray but with the aroma of paradise. From the ingredients list you also get white sandalwood, purple sandalwood, agarwood, saffron and pangolin scales along with 20 other medicinal ingredients. All of these ingredients are among the most pricy in incense and they make Highland one of the most richest, indulgent incense experiences available. Fragments of sticks will not only scent your living space but your memory as well, and I've carried this deep, musky, aroma in my mind to places far away from an incense burner.

As much as I can talk about this being a prime example of a great Tibetan musk incense, part of the reason is the richness of materials being used, a spicy and multi-faceted base that plays behind the initial aromatic impact and adds character and definition. It's a great incense from top to bottom, the musk hitting you first, the spices through much of the middle (the musk lingering along; possibly some benzoin or amber) and then slight woody hints that lift it even more. Like the Tibetan Medical College scents (apparently Highland is created by a retired doctor from this college) and Samye Monastery Samathabadra, Highland sits in the very top echelon of world incenses. If you ever wondered why companys go to such ends to imitate this sort of musk, this is the incense to try. I can't say if it will eliminate bacteria or cure the flu, but based on my mood after a burn, there probably won't be any evil spirits left when you're done.

So I was talking with my parents the other night about careers, salaries, marriage, family, etc. How much is needed to have a house and support others as a man these days. It got me thinking more about where I'm needing to go from here and such. I jumped on Google for a bit before I went to bed and found that there are currently openings at SIUE for police officers. HOOZAH! This is precisely the field I'm trying to get into. The best part? They don't require you to have a college degree for entry level. You simply have to:

• be 21
• have a high school diploma
• pass the physicals
• pass all the course work and exams
• complete and pass the firearms course to carry a firearm

So I read all the info and found two different job postings. One said the deadline was today by 4pm, and the other stated the deadline was this Friday at 3pm. So I called up to SIUE and checked.. hoozah again, it's not till this Friday. So I went ahead and downloaded the (many) forms needed to apply and I've gotten most of them done. It's not a bad paying job, and I'll already be in the field I desire to be. Entry level salary is 35k a year. Not the greatest, but definitely not the worst. It is enough to support a wife on as well as myself and gets me seriuosly thinking about if this is the direction God has for me to go. If I do get this job I will be starting my actual career, and I can continue going to school at SIUE for law enforcement and only up my salary. With the experience I get I can apply at a local, county, or federal police department with my degree and go on from there. It's a perfect (in my mind) plan. I just wonder if God agrees. This would jump start me into life providing funds for school, the possibility of marriage, and experience I'll need for the rest of my life.

I need you guys to pray with me on this. I'm gonna go up tomorrow or Wednesday and put in my application, and register for the exams and physical. God willing my life (as far as career goes) may be starting sooner than I'd dreamed.

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2006
[page 2-3]

NEW BUSINESS:

  4. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

    c. Petition 06-14 Highland Development Company:

A request for a change of zoning from C-3 General Commercial District to R-3 Planned Urban Development (PUD) for a 17.56+/- acre parcel.
The subject site is located on the south side of Highway 94 east and west of Robert Ridge Drive.
The proposed development will include townhomes and condominiums.

Mr. John Cavanagh, Highland Homes, and Mr. Kenneth R. Schaeffler, The Clayton Engineering Co., Inc., presented this item to the Commission for approval.

Chairman McNames opened the public comment at approximately 7:07 p.m. The following individuals spoke:

1. Mr. E.J. Goodwin, 1285 Shirley Ridge, stated that Meadow Ridge Subdivision can’t handle any more people and cars, and that traffic and parking would be a terrible problem. He further stated that there were 17 cars in line tonight to get onto 94 Highway from Kisker Rd.
2. Pat Crawford, 1341 Robert Ridge Dr. stated that it takes ten minutes to get out of her driveway, let alone get to Hwy 94. She’s also concerned about the noise and the floodplain, as they already have water problems. She also stated that she feels the creek can’t handle that much water run-off and wondered where the Page Extension was going to go and where the outer road would go.
3. Mr. John Schlum, 1337 Robert Ridge Dr., stated that being one of the first in this area 20 years ago, he’s already had flooding in front of his house and he is concerned about what this development would do to their property values, and he fears that Meadow Ridge will end up with others using their amenities such as playgrounds, tennis courts, etc. He further said parking would be a problem.
4. Mrs. Peggy McLaughlin, stated that she’s lived here 9 years, and was in opposition to this item for the same reasons those who spoke before her said.
5. Ms. Sally Breck, 11 Charlotte Ridge, asked what the definition of a PUD was and Ms. Julie Powers answered her. She further stated she was very concerned about additional traffic congestion, less tax revenue for the Francis Howell School District, and that it had been tried several years ago and failed.
6. Mrs. Sheila McLafferty, 4685 Peggy Ann Drive, stated that she was concerned about future access to Hwy. 94, more stress on their subdivision, and questioned what the builders requirements would be for basement parking.
7. Mr. Don Graveman, 4684 Kelly Kris Dr., stated that his property joins the back of this proposed development and he feels it is too dense already and if you add another 500 more cars going down there it would be chaos, and also that the storm water retention is a real potential problem.
8. Mr. Jerry Smith, 4701 Kelly Kris Court, stated he has lived here for 20 years and traffic is so heavy now that anymore added cars would only make that worse, and he also said the area is too dense as it is now and he was also concerned about the water issue.
9. Ms. Karen Carter, 1389 Timothy Ridge Dr., stated she had just moved in, but she agrees with the others on the issues of traffic, access, density and lots of children.
10. Mr. Orville Caupp, 1274 Stephen Ridge Dr., stated he was the president of the Homeowners Association, and the density and traffic and safety for children plus the water problems were all of concern to him.
11. Ms. Christine Kvet, 4720 Haynes Drive, stated she’s only been here one year, but the traffic issues are a real problem and wondered with the housing market so depressed, if they would keep on building with no one buying.
12. Mr. Bill Ralph stated his lot backs up to this property, and he feels it would have a negative impact on the area.
13. Mr. Jeff Waller, 4689 Kelly Kris Dr., stated that there’s too much traffic now with the amount of children in the area, and that Kisker and 94 are not currently adequate.

Chairman McNames closed the public comment at approximately 7:42 p.m.

Mr. Kenneth Schaeffler, Clayton Engineering, then addressed the issues brought up by the 13 individuals in opposition.

Mr. John Cavanagh, Highland Homes, then asked the Commission to postpone this item to the next Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting on August 2, 2006.

Chairman McNames also suggested the developer have a separate meeting with residents of the area.

Alderman Jerry Hollingsworth made a motion and Mr. William Rupp seconded to postpone this to next months meeting.

All in favor; the motion carried.

To further clear the agenda, Chairman McNames made a motion and Mr. Gus Elliott seconded to postpone the site plans for this project to next months meeting.

All in favor; the motion carried.

Complaints found: 16
Complaints resolved successfully: 0

NOTE: "Complaints resolved successfully" means the consumer was offered something of value, such as a refund, services performed, a product or credit toward future purchases.
In the remaining complaints, negotiations are continuing or the business and the consumer were unable to reach agreement.

Or, what you apparently NEED to know

Hello again. I received a phone call from one of the more rabid readers of this blog yesterday. I was informed that I should view this as a business, and not as some sort of hobby. I was told that I shouldn't leave you hanging, wondering if and when I might update again. Well, okay. I submit to your will.

Here's what I can tell you about those things I teased in the last update.

Highland Park News

This is unconfirmed 3^rd party information, but it seems to be holding up. The Highland boys have been told to stop all work at Highland Park in Saint Peters, MO. This is a directive from the upper reaches of the Saint Peters government. Apparently, there are serious building code violations and fire code violations with the project, and the only way that Saint Peters felt sure that changes would be made was to stop all work at the site. It has also been relayed to me that Highland has been called to the carpet to review those steps that they will have to take to reopen the Highland Park project and continue construction. Again, this comes to me from a third party.

Highland Terrace News

Highland Terrace in O'Fallon, MO has a few quirks. A few weeks ago there was a construction sign on the site that proclaimed that the financing for the project was being provided by Premiere Bank. That sign is gone now. There were also heavy grading machines parked on site. They are also missing. No work has been done to the site since April. One more thing, the last time I drove by the Highland Terrace site, there was a moving truck in the parking lot, and three gentlemen were handling office furniture. The problem is, I cannot remember if they were loading or unloading the truck. If I had to guess, I would say that they were moving furniture out of the sales trailer and into the truck. But that is only a supposition.

Highland Terrace Contract Holders Unite!

None of the people that have contacted me about Highland Terrace contracts have been contacted by Messrs. Cavanagh and Shallenberger about receiving refunds of their earnest money. If you remember, John Cavanagh III told O'Fallon Mayor Donna Morrow that he (or his company Highland Development) would contact all Highland Terrace condominium owners and inform them of the changes to the development and if the contract holders so chose, Highland would refund all earnest money paid. It hasn't happened yet.

There is an investigation going on here. Trust me. I can't talk about it yet, but when I can, I will.

Speculation Continues in the O'Fallon Mayoral Race

I may have mentioned it before, but there is going to be a large field of candidates for Mayor of O'Fallon come next April. Persons inside City Hall are tossing around a few names, as are members of Missouri's political parties.

The most talked about names are:

• Mayor Donna Morrow
• Ward 4 Councilman Bill Hennessy
• Ward 2 Councilman Peirce Conley
• Ward 1 Councilman Bill Gardner
• Missouri 19^th Representative Cynthia Davis
• Missouri 17^th Representative Vicki Schneider
• Ward 4 resident (and former opponent of mine) Debbie Cook

Again, these are the names that I have heard the most when discussing the field of likely candidates. Anyone that has followed the polls in the Presidential race know how accurate political predictions can be, so take this list with a couple of grains of salt.

Still Pending

I still haven't heard back about the City Council races for next year, but when I do, I will let you know what's up. I would like to point out that I have already decided that I will run for Ward 4 councilman again in 2009. I don't plan to spend any money on the election this time either. Let's see if we can't do better than 44 votes this time, huh?

Unless Debbie Cook is going to run again in Ward 4. Then I would have to vote for her again. I did the last time.

Pictures From the Camera

Are still in the camera. I haven't pulled them off of it yet. Sorry, I have been a little preoccupied with my Mercury.

Speaking of which ...

My Car

I ordered the fuel pump and the fuel pump screen on Monday, I should have them by Friday. That means that if the rain stays away over the weekend, I should be back on the road by Tuesday.

Sunday night Loren and I will be at baby brudder's house, helping with the pre-Chuck-e-Cheese party sleepover. Monday will be the first Chuck-e-Cheese birthday party for my nephew (all of us, really), and I am part of the "Adult Supervision Team" for the big event. Hooray for me ...

They now have access to the recently introduced Highland Historic Environment Record (HER) which contains information on tens of thousands of historic buildings, archaeological sites and finds dating from earliest prehistory through to the present day. The complete HER database is available online, together with thousands of linked documents and images.

The latter option is what sets this particular resource above the others at the moment, as it give easy access to source documents relating to the subject item, scanned from the original records, and provides an easy way to consult them, without having to travel to the archive and arrange access.

The online HER is fully searchable using an interactive map. There is also a wide range of other resources including themed articles and heritage trails.

Like all these facilities, the content is continually being added to, so is always worth a look, even if it hasn't featured something that you were looking for in the past, and they also invite comments and new information.

Click on the logo above to visit the Highland Historic Environment Record, or click here to begin a search.

Yes, yes, yes, I know it has been a while since I did any real updates to the blog. I am sorry about that, but – as the title suggests – I have been a little busy for the last week or so.

Last Monday my car broke. I think it's the fuel pump, but I'm not positive. If I'm going to replace the fuel pump, I want to be certain that it's what's wrong. I already tried replacing the fuel pressure regulator and the fuel filter, but it didn't help.

That was Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I recovered from working out in the heat on Monday and Tuesday. Thursday was all about trying to nail down the problem with the car. Diagnostic check, reading and reading and more reading. It looks like it's going to be the fuel pump.

Friday was a blur. Well, until about 19:30. Loren and I went to the Village China Wok in Saint Peters. It wasn't too bad, and it was just under $25.00 for the two of us. I recommend it.

Saturday was my nephew's birthday party at my mother's house. I had to shop for him before the party, and then I had to wrap the presents. He made out pretty well. He got:

• A remote controlled Batmobile from The Dark Knight Returns From Uncle Loren
• A Batman sheet set with pillow cases From my parents
• A remote controlled Wall-E from the Disney movie of the same name From his mother's parents
• 2 bags of marbles (100 marbles total) From me
• A color changing light saber with sound effects From me also
• A bottle of bubble fluid (the kid LOVES bubbles) From my parents again
• A build-it-yourself self propelled race car kit From me again
• And some other little things from my parents. I forgot what they were.

Saturday was also the day after my sister-in-law's birthday, so she got a couple of things. Loren got her a brick with a Longhorn Steak House gift card attached to it. I got her a card. Her parents went with her to Mr. Steak in Saint Charles on Friday. Then we all ate cake and ice cream. A good time was had by all.

Sunday was all about sports. The NASCAR race at Watkins Glen and the Cardinals versus the Cubs in prime time.

So it's not that I don't love you guys; I don't. It's just that I've been a little busier than usual around here lately. I still have things to do before I can really get back into blogging. Like, I have to fix my car. Oh, and I have to fix my car. Did I mention that I have to fix my car? Well, I do.

But know this: I have some juicy dirt on Highland Park in Saint Peters, Highland Development in general, the upcoming mayoral race in O'Fallon, and some nifty news about about the city council races in April. I just need to verify a few things before I can make them all public. And I have some new pictures to pull off of the camera. That will all be coming as soon as I fix my car.

Thank you for reading this stupid little blog.

Sincerely,
Scott E. Lee

You can check out the Walk Score site at www.walkscore.com

Here is a little bit more information from their site:

What makes a neighborhood walkable?

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
• Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
• Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
• Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

And in case you were wondering why you might want to live in a walkable neighborhood (although I bet you can guess!) here are some facts Walk Score shares on their site:

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.

Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.¹ Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.

“We are here to show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive.”

- Patrick Swayze, Point Break

-->Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!²

Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.³

Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.

Pretty cool!

Emily Chaney - Kentwood Cherry Creek - 303-564-3534

Medical Mutual SuperMed One Ohio Health Insruance Quote

Company Overview

Medical Mutual is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. The company serves its customers through high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers.

More information can be found on the company's award-winning Web site at MedMutual.com [1]

A Pioneer on the Cutting Edge

In 1934, America was in the depths of the Great Depression. But in Ohio, a group of fledgling Clevelanders authorized a loan of $7,500 to start the Cleveland Hospital Service Association (CHSA), a pre-payment hospitalization plan to help people pay for their healthcare needs. It was one of the first plans of its kind in the nation and the first ever multi-hospital payment plan.

Today, as Medical Mutual of Ohio, that same healthcare pioneer has been transformed into a multi-faceted company with health insurance at its core. Through the years, the company's mission has not changed – to finance and manage benefits that improve the health and well-being of its members.

Community Involvement

Medical Mutual's mission – to improve the health and well-being of its members – goes hand-in-hand with its commitment to promote wellness through its involvement with more than 200 charitable organizations.

Flexible Products

Medical Mutual provides cost-effective access to quality healthcare for its members by delivering leading edge health insurance products and related services in a manner that enables it to maintain a strong financial foundation, and also, support the communities it serves.

Group and individual customers have a complete line of comprehensive, flexible benefit designs in which to choose. Medical Mutual's SuperMed family of managed-care products include: Preferred Provider Organization, SuperMed Plus; Point of Service, SuperMed Select; and Health Maintenance Organizations, SuperMed HMO and HMO Health Ohio.

The Highest Quality

Medical Mutual's focus on quality has earned the highest accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance , (NCQA) an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of America’s healthcare.

NCQA has awarded Medical Mutual the highest levels of accreditation for the Company's PPO, POS and HMO products. In fact, Medical Mutual's SuperMed Plus product was the first PPO in the country to earn this status from NCQA.

To earn these accreditations, Medical Mutual has met rigorous requirements that focus on complaint and appeal processes, customer service, physician credentialing, utilization management and the infrastructure for quality improvement. These areas have been identified by employers, consumers and others as being of special interest.
A Brief Corporate History
In 1934, America was in the depths of the Great Depression. But in Ohio, a group of fledgling health insurance pioneers in Cleveland authorized a loan of $7,500 to start the Cleveland Hospital Service Association (CHSA), a prepayment hospitalization plan to help people pay for their healthcare needs. It was one of the first plans of its kind in the nation and the first ever multi-hospital payment plan.

Today, as Medical Mutual of Ohio, that same healthcare pioneer has been transformed into a multi-faceted company with health insurance at its core. Through the years, the company's mission has not changed – to finance and manage benefits that improve the health and well-being of its members.

It was 1926 when John R. Mannix, who at 24 was the youngest person to ever be appointed to the post of hospital administrator, began experimenting with the idea of hospital pre-payment. His revolutionary idea was to divide the cost of healthcare among all people whether they were hospitalized or not. Unknowingly, he applied the basic principle of insurance, and from it, sprang the beginning of a movement that would evolve into the system that we have today.

Eventually, Mannix led the crusade that led to the formation of the CHSA, which opened for business on June 15, 1934, in room 237 of the 1900 Euclid Building in Downtown Cleveland. Premiums at the time were 60 cents a month for ward service or 75 cents a month for semi-private room service. At that time, the maximum length of hospital stay under contract terms was 21 days. There were no age limits, nor were subscribers called on to take physical examinations to join the plan.

At the time, hospital service associations around the nation became known as Blue Cross Plans. But it wasn't until 1939 when the non-profit prepayment plans officially came together under the Blue Cross identity when it came under the control of the American Hospital Association.

Medical Mutual of Ohio was created from two companies. The first, CHSA, which was formed to provide hospitalization insurance, and Medical Mutual of Cleveland, which was formed in 1945 to provide insurance for the payment of physicians' bills.

In 1957, the CHSA merged with the Akron Hospital Service Association to form Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio. Then, in 1984, Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio merged with Medical Mutual of Cleveland to become Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northern Ohio, combining coverage for hospitalization and physician fees under one roof. In 1986, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northern Ohio merged with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northwest Ohio to form Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio.

In April of 1997, the company re-claimed the name of one of its predecessors, becoming the present day Medical Mutual of Ohio.

The combination of an expensive healthcare market and a legal status that threatened its future forced the company to make a bold move in 1987, not only for survival, but also for the benefit of its policyholders.

The company proposed a change in state law that would enable it to contract with hospitals in a competitive manner. The result was a memorable legislative battle that concluded in victory for all consumers.

In 1993, Medical Mutual was among the fastest-growing healthcare companies with a managed care product known today as SuperMed. SuperMed proved beneficial to the Greater Cleveland Growth Association's Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), and later became a national model for insurance among small businesses, chambers and associations.

In 2001, Medical Mutual's SuperMed Plus was recognized as the first Preferred Provider Organization in the United States to earn Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of American's healthcare.

In order to keep Medical Mutual financially stable and growing, the company has expanded beyond health insurance. As a way to leverage the company's vast computer systems, Antares Management Solutions was introduced in 1997. Antares offers access to a broad range of technology resources and applications, which encompasses the installation and management of hardware and software for businesses in a variety of industries.

Medical Mutual Services, another company launched to ensure long-term company stability, provides comprehensive third-party administration of healthcare benefit plans to companies nationwide, featuring the most innovative information system applications and technologies.

Despite the fact that the Medical Mutual of today is much more than a health insurance company, it continues to focus on its founding principles that were introduced in that small office on Euclid Ave. in Downtown Cleveland – providing the best service, products quality and value.
The Evolution of Medical Mutual

1934 Cleveland Hospital Service Association formed to provide hospitalization insurance.

1939 Blue Cross Association is formed. Cleveland Hospital Service Association is a member.

1945 Medical Mutual of Cleveland formed to provide insurance for physicians’ bills.

1957 Cleveland Hospital Service Association merges with Akron Hospital Service to form Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio.

1961 Medical Mutual of Cleveland becomes affiliated with the Blue Shield system.

1984 Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio merged with Medical Mutual to form Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northern Ohio.

1986 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northern Ohio merged with Blue Cross of Northwest Ohio to form Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio.

1997 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio renamed Medical Mutual of Ohio.
The Historic Rose Building, Headquarters of Medical Mutual of Ohio
The Rose Building, corporate headquarters of Medical Mutual of Ohio, is one of Cleveland's first steel-frame buildings and one of the city's many distinctive historical landmarks.

Completed in 1900, standing 10 stories high and covering an acre of land, the 380,000-square-foot facility was the largest and tallest office building in Ohio, and the largest outside of New York City.

Many Clevelanders doubted the building's viability, referring to the building named after Benjamin Rose as "Rose's Folly," because they never thought business would grow as far east as the building's location at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Erie (East Ninth) Street.

Originally, the first five stories of the building were planned for a department store. This intention accounts for the unusually high ceilings on these floors. When a tenant for the floors couldn't be found, Rose operated his own store, Scott-Griggs Company, until his death in 1908. The remaining five floors housed commercial and medical tenants.

Other tenants have included Western Union, the BF Goodrich Chemical Division, and the Forum Cafeteria, which occupied the ground floor for 50 years. These tenants, and others, helped to fund the Benjamin Rose Institute, a well-known facility for elderly care.

An outstanding attraction of the early Rose Building was its lobby, designed around a circular stairwell 10 stories high. Four open-caged elevators serviced passengers. In 1928, the lobby was remodeled much as it looks today.

The institute sold the Rose Building in March of 1984 to Medical Mutual of Cleveland, which is a predecessor company of the present day Medical Mutual of Ohio and a tenant since 1948. Four months later, Medical Mutual of Cleveland merged with Blue Cross of Northern Ohio, which had also been a tenant since 1948.

At the same time Medical Mutual purchased the Rose Building, it also acquired the adjacent Sloan Building, now called the Rose Building Annex.

Built in the 1940s, the Sloan Building was originally an apartment building, and was later converted into office space. It was even once occupied by Chef Boiardi, for whom the line of canned Italian foods is named.

Originally designed by architect George H. Smith, the Rose Building has undergone several changes since 1900. In April 1985, construction began on a five-year total renovation of the building under the direction of The Voinovich Companies, to convert it from a multi-tenant facility to Medical Mutual's corporate headquarters.

The first phase was to restore the building's exterior to its original appearance. Subsequent phases included renovations and repairs to make the building more energy efficient and conducive to telecommunications and computer technology.

Today, the Rose Building has been completely restored to its original exterior. It stands as a source of pride for Medical Mutual employees and Clevelanders alike.

referenced from www.wikipedia.org

As usual the tasting was done blind and to style.

Appearance: Winner – Oscar Blues

Oscar Blues – Pours a light amber color with a good sized head of slightly off white color. The haed leaves an attractive lace as it slowly disapears.

Highland – This pours a golden color with a small white head. The head disappears leaving no lace.

Aroma: Winner – Oscar Blues

Oscar Blues – This has some really nice aromas. There is a hint of grain, some strong citrus and a touch of resin in the nose.

Highland – This has more of a grainy hop aroma along with a touch of sweetness.

Taste: Winner – Oscar Blues

Oscar Blues –This has a really full and robust flavor. It is not to strong there is just a lot going on for a relatively light beer. There is some initial bitterness that is then joined by a hint of caramel sweetness. The hops dominate but not like an IPA.

Highland – This has very little bitterness, in fact it has a surprising sweetness with a slightly odd taste that I still can’t quite place.

Body/Finish: Winner – Oscar Blues

Oscar Blues – This has a light-medium body with a nice long dry finish. The bitterness in the finish is well controlled and I definitely wanted more.

Highland – This has a light body with a smooth mouthfeel and almost no bitterness in the aftertaste.

Overall: Winner – Oscar Blues
Chalk up another win for the big beer in the little can. Between these two beers it is dominate. It has more aroma, better flavor a good finish and it looks inviting with its color and head. I really like the Highland brewery. I have been drinking their beers since it opened and am usually happy with there beers. But the St. Terese’s just seems a bit to well pale. It needs a bit of character. Character is definitely something the Dales has in abundance and in a can.

Councilman Hennessy called me out tonight

Oh no, he didn't!

Oh yes he did. And he didn't even give me credit for it.

Councilman Bill Hennessy called me out at the city council meeting. Right after the Mayor withdrew her veto of bill 5699, Councilman Bill told everyone that an email had been sent out, asking people for information, by an individual, at the request of a council member. Councilman Bill then went on to say that if anyone receives an email like that they should ignore it because "If I have something to ask you, I'll call you and ask you."

I am the one that sent out that email. I did it. You know what? Here's the email:

She did put Highland on notice though

O'Fallon's Mayor, Donna Morrow, had announced that she was going to veto bill 5699, which was a rezoning request by Highland Development/Smails, LLC. However, Madame Mayor withdrew her objection to Highland's proposed R-4 zoning for Highland Terrace after discussions with John Cavanagh, city staff, City Counsel, and the City Council. Mayor Morrow implied that it was not her preference, and that threats were made – and ignored.

So, the bill will become an ordinance, Highland Development will get their 348 condos, the people of O'Fallon will get a shoddy new incomplete development, and everybody will be happy. *snark*

Welcome to today’s Head to Head challenge.
Style: American Pale Ale. View Table

As usual the tasting was done blind and to style.

Appearance: Winner – Tie

Bells – This beer pours golden with a small white head. The head diminishes quickly and leaves almost no lace.

Highland – Virtually the same color and head size as the other beer. It would be hard to tell them apart.

Aroma: Winner – Tie

Bells – The dominate smell is of floral hops with a slight candy sweetness.

Highland – This has more of a grainy hop aroma along with a similar sweetness.

Taste: Winner – Bells

Bells – There is some hop bitterness in the flavor but in general it has a refreshing if bland character.

Highland – This has a slightly odd flavor I could not quite place. It detracted a bit from the grain and malt sweetness of this beer. I kept searching for a trace of bitterness but it never really materialized.

Body/Finish: Winner – Bells

Bells – This had a light body with a dry finish with a trace of bitterness.

Highland – This has a light body with a smooth mouthfeel and almost no bitterness in the aftertaste.

Overall: Winner – Bells
This started out quite even with the Bells Pale Ale pulling out the win towards the end. Both beers had a good appearance and a nice aroma. The bells just had slightly more flavor and a better finish. The Highland seemed to have a slightly odd flavor that I could not place. It did start to taste better as it warmed a bit and was never off putting it simply was a little strange. Both beers were drinkable and refreshing especially for a hot summer day although I am not sure I would seek either out.

City's Mayor Plans Yet Another Highland Veto

Yup, it's true. Mayor Donna Morrow has issued a statement saying that she has vetoed Highland's latest bill. At the last City Council meeting, the council passed the rezoning proposal by Highland/Smails (Bill No. 5699), and sent it to the mayor for her approval.

On 10 July, the mayor signed every piece of legislation that passed, and all of the signatures were in place on every bill – except one. Highland Terrace has hit another (albeit temporary) roadblock. If my math is correct, this veto should go down in flames Thursday night. The point is made though.

When I decided to finish off Westfall, I had to go up a bit of a hill to the town line with Rochester. It's not much of a hill and I've taken it on the downslope before, but there are construction sites on both sides of the road. There was a lot of junk tracked into the street from the construction vehicles and the pavement wasn't that good to begin with. So I decided I'd go up, but not back down. I skated into the city for a little way and picked up the Erie Canal Trail on E. Henrietta.

Skating eastbound along the canal at sunset is wonderful. It's flat, smooth and straight and the low sun at your back makes all to colors vivid. I think I had a bit of a tail wind to boot.

Since my circuit was pretty big tonight, I have two maps to show the detail and the whole route. Looks like I missed a bit of Westfall, but anything on this side of town will be easy to reach from the Canal Trail.

Highland Airways www.highlandairways.co.uk  has launched a new air charter service from Edinburgh.

The Inverness based airline expects demand for its Jetstream 41 to come from the business sector as well as sports teams and supporters.  

Nicolas van der Meer, Business Development Manager, said: “ “With Edinburgh’s growing status as a financial and administrative capital we expect demand to be high."

BAA Scotland Business Development Manager, Paul White, welcomed the move, "The growth of private air charter at Edinburgh is good news for our passengers, offering an even wider choice and greater flexibility when it comes to air travel to and from the Capital.

"Highland Airways’ new service at Edinburgh is a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with the airline to ensure its success.”
 
Highland Airways, which is headquartered in Inverness with bases in Aberdeen, Lancashire, Wales and the Western Isles, already has three smaller Jetstream 31 based outside of Scotland.

These aircraft augment their weekday work with leisure and sports related charters at the weekend.

And it was lovely:

After which I rode down to Highland Park to check out the blues and barbecue festival. It didn't tickle me, so I came home for lunch; some Annie's, tomato and black pepper over light rail construction in Sim City.

I rounded off the daylight hours with Atlas Shrugged at the park, and then a nice ride around Brighton and back home for the daily show and this journal entry. Pardon my breaking the fourth wall, I'm not feeling so literary tonight!

Pleasant.

I also just happened to be passing the cookery theatre as Bruce Elsworth from the Angel Inn at Hetton and Robert Phillip from Hellifield Highland Beef were about to start there demonstration.  it was very good with both Robert & Bruce working well with each other, one from the Chef's point of view and the other farmer, producers angle.  The meat looked fantastic, rich ruby red colour with a nice marbling of fat, well hung and just how real beef should look.

Bruce managed to cram a lot of dishes into his half hour slot and included his own twist on the use of various cuts like mince, brisket and oxtail,  all good value cuts. 

First Bruce commented on the quality of proper mince, good quality, ruby red, minced coarsly not too fine and he preparerd homemade beefburgers, like this:-  best coarse mince, a little finely chopped onion, garlic puree, salt & pepper, fresh thyme & parsley and a dash of Worcestershire Sauce, gently mixed together by hand and then formed into a ball and pushed into a metal ring to form a nice thick burrger.  Cooked for 2 or 3 minutes on each side to leave a nice juicy burger.  if you fancy a cheeseburger Bruce suggested including a ball of blue wensleydale into the ball of burger meat before pressing into the burger shpae so the ball of cheese is in the middle of the burger and will melt and ooze as it cooks.  Served in a bread bun with a green salad and home made salsa.    The salsa was just skinned & deseeded tomatoes, chopped red onion or shallot, salt & pepper and olive oil.

I will add the photos and info on the oxtail soup and braising steak recipes later, off to play cricket now...

As some of you might remember, we used to have the Shore Line Bus Company, which had routes throughout the Calumet Region. The buses were painted a yellow orange and green and was dominent way to travel if you didn't have a car. They lasted until the mid 1970's and I still remember them.

Since I was the sick one in the family, I often went to see the doctor with my mother and took the buses to Highland, where the office was. We took the 5 or 5b bus that dropped us off in downtown Hammond and transfered to the number 2 bus that traveled to Highland and beyond.

Riding into downtown Hammond, I remember the old bridge with the steel overhead canopy that existed over the river, near American Steel Foundry. Did you know that the site of the foundry was also the site of the first settlement in Hammond? There's a plaque on the side of the building that says so. I read it one day walking to downtown Hammond from Calumet College in the 1970's.

Anyway, once we got on the #2 bus to get into Highland we traveled down Hohman Avenue to Ridge Road. Most ofthat is pretty much the same, except if you look at Downtown Hammond. It's Ghosttown Hammond these days. Goldbaltts is gone; the other stores are just a memory, now. The streets echo the footsteps of people no longer there.

Ridge Road is also different. When I used to go to the Doctor, then, it was all farms and open area. You could actually see barns ans animals grazing in the fields. Today it's all stores and businesses. Traffic is congested and driving or riding is like being in a smokestack. I suppose you could call it the price of progress these  days. But we just traded one old sameness for another one.

After the doctor visit. My mother used to splurge and get me a chocolate malt at the Ken-Ridge drug store, which had a soda fountain in the store. I didn't get a chance to notice if the place still exists, but I'm sure the soda fountain is gone. It's not very cost efficient. But the malt and the atmosphere sure was great.

I never know how far that bus traveled from the time it left us off in Highland and returned. I suppose it went into Gary and returned to pick us up later. It was a long trip. Maybe a good half day. But it was cheap and for a kid, a chance to see a world beyond North Hammond.

Medical Mutual Quotes SuperMed One Quotes Ohio Health Insurance

Cleveland – The report card from The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has been issued and Medical Mutual of Ohio’s commercial products have passed with flying colors.

In recognizing Medical Mutual’s commitment to provide quality healthcare to its members and noting improvements to the company’s business structure, NCQA awarded Medical Mutual the Accreditation Status of Excellent – the highest level achievable.

Medical Mutual products included in the Excellent Accreditation Status are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans SuperMed Plus® and Ohio Med™. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans HMO Health Ohio® and SuperMed HMO® and Point-of-Service (POS) Plans SuperMed Select® and SuperMed Preferred.

In addition, Medical Mutual’s Medicare Advantage products were reviewed by NCQA and were awarded Commendable Status.

NCQA is an independent, non-profit organization that assesses and reports on the quality of the nation’s managed care plans.

“Our accreditation achievement is important because health plans earning NCQA accreditation tend to substantially outperform non-accredited health plans across a wide range of measures of clinical quality and member satisfaction,” said Paula Sauer, Medical Mutual’s vice president of Care Management.

“This good news means Medical Mutual’s HMO and POS plans have maintained their Excellent Accreditation Status under the Managed Care Organization (MCO) accreditation review,” said Sauer. “It also indicates Medical Mutual’s PPO plans received Excellent Accreditation Status the first time they were evaluated under MCO accreditation review.”

The Excellent Accreditation Status was awarded after rigorous evaluation by NCQA of all aspects of Medical Mutual’s plans, including preventive health services, member satisfaction, physician credentialing and quality improvement.

The review included both on and off-site evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. A national oversight committee of physicians then analyzed the team’s findings and assigned Medical Mutual’s Excellent Status based on the Company’s performance compared to NCQA standards.

Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual of Ohio is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. The company serves its customers through high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers.

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