California Press Releases for the month of June 2009
6/29/09
Pioneer Press to Revolutionize Journalism June 30. Live News On-line Show Seeks to Save Small Town Newspaper - and all community newspaper journalists in the process Contact: Daniel Webster 530-468-5355, pioneerp@sisqtel.net
Click here for a pdf of this press release.
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6/23/09
Giselle Uffens of San Diego captures the title of Mrs. California-America 2009. Tiffany Ellison, Mrs. California-America 2008 crowned Giselle Uffens as the new Mrs. California-America 2009 at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel on Saturday evening. Click here for a pdf of this press release.
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6/19/09
California Shock Trauma Air Rescue, (CALSTAR) leads the way in pioneering Helicopter modification which is expected to greatly enhance safety and save lives.
Click here for a pdf of this press release.
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6/16/09
New website UPickStorage.com lets storage customers pick their price
Contact: Brandon Braud, 877-678-6730
Click here for a pdf of this press release
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6/15/09
Central Valley Writers' Workshop
Saturday, July 25 at the Madera County Library.
Contact: Glenna Jarvis, CVWW President - (559) 665-7381
Click here for a pdf of this press release
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6/08/09
Universal Insurance Holdings of North America
To Purchase ICAT Specialty Insurance Company
Contact: Megan McConnell Tel: (303) 583-1284 mmconnell@icat.com
Contact: Leona Liskovec Tel: (210) 323-2020 lliskovec@uihna.com
Click here for a pdf of this press release
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PRESS RELEASES
June 29, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Webster 530-468-5355, pioneerp@sisqtel.net
Pioneer Press to Revolutionize Journalism June 30. Live News On-line Show Seeks to Save Small Town Newspaper - and all community newspaper journalists in the process
The Pioneer Press seeks to revolutionize and redefine the world of journalism on June 30 when it launches its world premiere of the groundbreaking news broadcast at www.pioneerpresslive.com. Viewers will watch the news come to life on the show as events of the week are delivered from the stage with a live audience via the worldwide web from Main Street in Etna, Calif., population 750.
The Pioneer Press is the Official Newspaper of the State of Jefferson - the 51st state. In the same way this broadcast will seek to save this small town newspaper, Publisher Daniel Webster, hopes it will create a new vibrant journalism industry nationwide.
"Every journalist in the nation should join us on June 30," said Pioneer Press Owner and Publisher Daniel Webster. "The newspaper industry must rethink how we are delivering the news or face extinction. I believe on June 30 we will deliver an answer for community newspapers across the country."
Unlike existing forms of online journalism, www.pioneerpresslive.com brings back interactive old-school journalism and intimately reconnects journalists with their customers, using the technology for the next generation of news consumers.
"Pioneer Press Live is the first stepping stone on the road to next generation of journalism," said Webster. "This new design for online news will allow a revolutionizing expansion of the news industry by bringing everything, to everyone, all at once, in a hyper-local format - all the while keeping audiences young and old engaged in live interactive local news."
The world premiere of Pioneer Press Live is set for Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. PST, and will air every Tuesday at the same time on www.pioneerpresslive.com. Etna is located just south of the Oregon-California border, west of Interstate-5 in Yreka.
"No longer will New York and Los Angeles determine how local news is presented to local communities across the country. On June 30, a small town in Northern California will be the one to transform how news is delivered in a hyper-local style," said Webster.
The small town publisher has brought together the brightest young minds in his community to breathe life into Pioneer Press Live to demonstrate how the news will meet the needs of the younger audience, as well as the traditional newspaper customers. Three starring members of his team just graduated from the high school in Etna last week, including his new news editor Sarah Loogman.
Company Information: Founded in 1972, the Pioneer Press is an adjudicated newspaper in Fort Jones, Calif., a small northern California town just south of the Oregon border. Owned and published by Daniel Webster, the newspaper serves Siskiyou County, along the state border.
June 23, 2009
Contact: Loni Kallay, Mrs. California-America P.O. Box 3208 Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Phone 714-280-1714 Fax 310-372-3051
Giselle Uffens of San Diego captures the title of Mrs. California-America 2009
Tiffany Ellison, Mrs. California-America 2008 crowned Giselle Uffens as the new Mrs. California-America 2009 at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel on Saturday evening.
Redondo Beach, CA, June 20, 2009: Some of the most beautiful, accomplished and articulate married women from across California came together on Saturday evening at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel to compete for the coveted title of Mrs. California-America. The panel of judges selected Giselle Uffens of San Diego as Mrs. California-America 2009. Giselle will now go on to compete with 50 other State winners (all States plus the District of Columbia) for the title of Mrs. America 2009. Mrs. America will take place on September 8that the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ.
For 34 years Mrs. America, the renowned nationally televised competition, has been recognizing the extraordinarily beautiful, poised, articulate and versatile married women of the United States of America. Mrs. America represents the 70 million married women of our country during her year long reign, speaking to and for our country’s Greatest Natural Resource and most important constituency – its married women. The winner of Mrs. America will represent the United States of America at Mrs. World competition which will be broadcast live from Vang Tau, Vietnam on November 22, 2009. Married women in California can find Information about becoming a contestant for Mrs. America at www.MrsCalifornia-America.com and at www.MrsAmerica.com.
June 19, 2009
For Immediate Release Contact: Gene Hall (707) 365-4310
CALIFORNIA SHOCK TRAUMA AIR RESCUE, (CALSTAR) LEADS THE WAY IN PIONEERING HELICOPTER MODIFICATION WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GREATLY ENHANCE SAFETY AND SAVE LIVES.
California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CAL STAR) has the first helicopter in the world modified to allow for dramatically enhanced abilities and increased safety to make landings while using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), Joseph Cook, CALSTAR's President and CEO announced today. The modification, according to Cook, will no doubt save countless numbers of lives.
With CALSTAR having served as the pioneer of this new technology, it is anticipated that many rescue helicopters throughout the world will be modified in a similar way.
Deborah Pardee, director for CALSTAR's Coastal Valleys Region and who is based at CALSTAR IV in Ukiah, said flight crews are still training on the modified helicopter routes and approaches but they be should be in use in the very near future.
Paul G. Likens, lead pilot for CALSTAR IV, explained that the new system will allow pilots to make significantly more landings in inclement weather. As an example, when making an approach to the Ukiah Municipal Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that if pilots bring their aircraft down to an altitude of I,I07 feet above ground and still cannot see the landing site they must abort the landing. The new vertical guidance system will allow pilots to descend their aircraft to 364 feet to see the landing site. 'This is a tremendous difference," Likens said. "We will be able to make landings that up until this modification would have been impossible."
Cook and Pardee noted that Likens worked tirelessly in collaboration with the system's developers-Hickok & Associates in Alabama-designer of the approaches and low altitude routes and Garmin International, designers of the aircraft avionics systems, for more than two years to get the system approved by the FAA. Garmin International is headquartered in Salem, OR. " It was a tedious, difficult process but it was well worth it," Likens said. "Without a doubt we will be able to more safely complete the transportation of the gravely ill and victims of trauma."
In addition to the new flight system, Hickok & Associates was able to establish nearly 200 miles of off-airway/feeder routes to provide Minimum Instrument Altitudes (MIA) enroute to approaches. "What this means is that we will be able to travel directly on our own private low altitude routes," Likens said.
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Primary beneficiaries of the new system will be patients who need to be taken to or picked up from Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC) in Ukiah , Mendocino Coast District Hospital (MCDH), in Fort Bragg, and Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) in Gualala. Two years ago CALSTAR placed an Automated Weather Observation System at MCDH. "With the addition of these new approaches, CALSTAR is in the best possible position to pick-up or deliver patients during inclement weather, particularly to its coastal medical facilities," Pardee said.
According to CALSTAR Director of Development and Outreach Mike Nichols, these dramatic improvements would not have been possible without the help of several very generous grants. "Our sincere thanks goes out to the Allen Heath Memorial Foundation, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, the George and Ruth Bradford Foundation, Wells Fargo and the Ukiah Wal-Mart Store," he said.
CALSTAR is a 50 I (C) (3) non-profit organization that serves all of Central and Northern California as well as parts of Nevada. In September of this year it will
mark its 251h anniversary. Cook noted that CALSTAR is widely recognized as being a leader in the industry. Since its inception CALSTAR has completed over 38,000 flights with an excellent safety record , with no aircraft accidents injuring either patients or crew members.
All flight crews are made up of a pilot and two registered nurses. "This is considered to be the gold standard for air ambulance Crews," Cook said. Pilots must have as a minimum a commercial pilot's certificate, an instrument rating and 3,000 hours as pilot in command.
CALSTAR is fully accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Medical Tran sport Services (CAMTS), an internationally recognized agency that reviews, inspects and provides credentials to medical transport organizations that meet a comprehensive list of established standards .
As a non-profit organization, CALSTAR offers membership s to companies large and small as well as to individuals. For a nominal fee, individuals and their families can become CALSTAR members. If a member is flown by CALSTAR or ne of its affiliates, CALSTAR will accept the patient's insurance reimbursement, if any, as payment in full.
For information on how to become a CALSTAR member call 1-888-207- LIFE (5433).
Contact: Brandon Braud
Tel: 877-678-6730
For immediate release June 16, 2009
New Website Lets Storage Customers Pick Price
Upickstorage.com is on line. Upickstorage.com has chosen California to be its pilot market. California has a strong and robust storage market which is uniquely situated for testing the launch of the website. Customers looking for airline tickets and hotels have been able to name their price on line for some time. Now people searching for self storage for their goods can name their price. In addition to naming their price consumers also have flexibility to choose size, location and climate of their desired storage. Customers fill out a simple and quick form describing their ideal storage unit and then Upickstorage.com submits the offer to all the storage facilities that meet the description or exact search criteria.
"We wanted to create a website that would help both the facility owner and the customer. By creating new customers and traffic for the facility, we are helping the proprietors and by allowing customers to electronically find their own unit at their own price we are helping the customer. It's the perfect site for both the proprietors and the consumers. In the current economic climate being able to negotiate a lower price for any product is a bonus, but now for the first time people can find the storage they need for the price they want to pay." Arlen Braud, President and Creator of Upickstorage.com
For further information phone upickstorage.com on 877-678-6730
Glenna Jarvis, CVWW President - (559) 665-7381
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Agents, Editor to speak at Annual Writing Symposium
Central Valley Writers' Workshop's annual writing symposium will feature three speakers this year - two well established agents and an editor from one of the country's largest publishing companies. The symposium will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at the Madera County Library. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Wales Literary Agency owner and agent Elizabeth Wales, Andrea Brown, Literary Agency agent Kelly Sonnack, and New York Publishing Company Tor Books Assistant Editor Stacy Hague-Hill will offer writers an inside view into today's publishing world. Wales Literary agency represents narrative fiction, quality fiction, and is looking for talented storytellers with a special interest in writers from the Northwest, Alaska, the West Coast and the Pacific Rim countries.
Sonnack specializes in children's literature including picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels. She looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader's imagination, and an authentic voice.
Hague-Hill handles fantasy and science fiction for Tor Books. Tor imprints include Forge, Orb, Tor Teen/Starscape, Tor/Seven Seas, and Tom Doherty and Associates, LLC. Some of the group's authors include Dan Brown, Thomas Harris, Stephen Coonts, and Janet Evanovich.
As a bonus this year, CVWW will sponsor Jay Asher, best-selling author of the young adult novel 13 Reasons Why, at a Friday night (July 24) reception in Oakhurst's Willow Bridge Bookstore. See www.centralvalleywriters.com for more details.
Cost for the Symposium is $75 ($65 before July 11), and includes lunch. Guests are invited to submit the first page of their novel (or non-fiction work) for feedback from the speakers on a first-come, first-served basis as time allows. Proceeds benefit the workshop's yearly symposium and Friends of the Madera Library. Send a check or money order, and the first page of attendee's novel, to Central Valley Writers' Workshop, P.O. Box 503, Chowchilla, CA 93610. For more information contact CVWW President Glenna Jarvis, gfjarvis@gmail.com, (559) 665-7381 or visit centralvalleywriters.com.
June 08, 2009
Contact Contact
Megan McConnell Leona Liskovec
Tel: (303) 583-1284 Tel: (210) 323-2020
mmconnell@icat.com lliskovec@uihna.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Universal Insurance Holdings of North America
To Purchase ICAT Specialty Insurance Company
(June 8, 2009) Universal Insurance Holdings of North America ("Universal North America") and ICAT Holdings, LLC of Boulder, Colorado announced today that they have received regulatory approval that completes Universal North America's purchase of ICAT Specialty Insurance Company (ISIC).
Under the terms of the agreement, Universal North America will acquire ISIC's residential named hurricane program and business in Hawaii. ISIC, under ICAT's ownership, has underwritten small commercial property accounts in Florida and named hurricane coverage for homeowners in Hawaii. The Florida commercial business will be transitioned on renewal from ISIC to ICAT's Lloyd's of London Syndicate 4242. The Hawaii residential named hurricane business will continue to be underwritten by ISIC (expected to be renamed Universal Specialty Insurance Company). Universal North America has entered into a long-term agreement with ICAT Managers whereby ICAT will continue to administer all functions related to the Hawaii residential named hurricane business, including claims functions.
"ICAT has provided a great service to the people of Hawaii by providing hurricane insurance for homeowners, who find it difficult to find coverage, " stated Hawaii Insurance Commissioner, J.P. Schmidt. "Teaming with Universal North America will provide a synergy of forces where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We were happy to welcome to Hawaii Universal North America which provides, in addition to hurricane insurance, other coverages such as homeowners, dwelling fire and flood."
According to Rick Espino, President of Universal North America, "Universal North America is focused on being a premier multi-regional insurance provider in the U.S. The agreement with ICAT and the purchase of ISIC will allow us to continue our strategic expansion plan into Hawaii and North America."
Espino added, "This transaction brings together two highly focused and disciplined underwriting organizations enabling us to provide long-term stable insurance programs and capacity to agents and consumers in Hawaii."
Universal North America entered the Hawaii residential property market in September, 2008 when it commenced offering homeowners, condominium unit owners, renters, dwelling fire and flood products through Universal Insurance Company of North America. ISIC (soon to be Universal Specialty Insurance Company) will provide stand-alone Named Hurricane coverage.
Jack Graham, CEO of ICAT Holdings, stated "ICAT is excited about the partnership we have formed with Universal North America. ICAT will continue to provide all underwriting and operational services for the Named Hurricane coverage we have been delivering to Hawaii's homeowners, as well as ongoing reinsurance support through our Lloyd's Syndicate 4242. We think this is an excellent partnership for Hawaii policyholders and agents."
About ICAT Holdings, LLC
ICAT Holdings, LLC is an insurance holding company that specializes in underwriting small and middle market commercial properties that are located in catastrophe-exposed regions of the United States. ICAT is an underwriter at Lloyd's of London through their Syndicate 4242 (rated "A" [Excellent] by A.M. Best Company, and "A+" [Strong] by Standard & Poors). ICAT also underwrites on behalf of other insurance companies and other Syndicates of Lloyd's of London. For more information, visit www.icat.com or call Megan McConnell at (303) 583-1284.
About Universal North America
Universal Insurance Holdings of North America is a Delaware domiciled Property and Casualty Insurance Group organized to market property and casualty insurance in North America. Universal North America currently writes insurance coverage in seven states including Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, and California. Universal North America Insurance Company maintains an A.M. Best Rating of A- ("Excellent"). Universal North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Group, Inc. headquartered in Puerto Rico, with equity in excess of $320 Million. For more information about Universal North America, visit www.universalnorthamerica.com or call Leona Liskovec at (210) 323-2020.
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