Main Street Initiatives - September Connections Article

On every Main Street. These are more than just words to us, they represent who we are and what we do,  as proven by our most recent round of Main Street Lehigh Valley (MSLV) grant projects:

Our four cities are the hub of the Lehigh Valley, and by funding projects in their neighborhoods we are making a difference one small project at a time - projects that encourage community bonding or tourism - many achieve both. Grants were awarded in the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Phillipsburg to civic groups for events with tourism appeal  and accompanying site furnishings at event locations; downtown cleanliness and sidewalk flower bed plantings; way-finding, identity, and historic house signage; alleyway string lighting; holiday décor; and a restaurant guide.

Alburtis is touting their history, their story, by applying for National Historic District designation, and the Foundation is helping them on this path by helping to fund a professional architectural property inventory. Thousands of people attend the Walnutport Canal Festival, an educational celebration of history and heritage; we are now a contributor towards this tradition. We are part of preserving this history.

Coopersburg and Bath previously received MSLV money to fund aesthetic enhancements in their towns. Coopersburg is replacing decade old street banners and Bath is  pursuing the purchase of 3 illuminated American flags in the downtown. Coplay is eagerly anticipating both welcome signs and pole banners this year. A series of eight signs will be installed along Fogelsville’s business corridor to create identity and consistency in a rapidly expanding area. We are part of these high quality visual enhancements, where a little change goes a long way.

We are thrilled to support billboard advertising for Nazareth area library’s “touch a truck” event, a family friendly and educational opportunity for kids that is also  a fundraiser for the library. Emmaus needs financial support in marketing their businesses, as does Forks Township and the Foundation is stepping in to help.

Hellertown benefitted from MSLV funds last year to help construct the band-shell at Dimmick Park. This year, they are investing in the restoration of an historic fountain at Authority Park.

Slatington is pursuing the finishing touches on their Memorial Park, established in 2010.

Northampton plans to purchase a gazebo to be their centerpiece for a new park uptown that will be built on a borough vacant lot. We are part of this enhancement and maintenance of recreational assets.

Bangor Heritage Mural number two is in the works – a follow up to the renowned first mural featuring real people and real places. Catasauqua is following in the success of Bangor – with the installation of their own community-driven mural. Pen Argyl is promoting last year’s MSLV project with a film on their Wisdom Walk: an inspiring, painted sidewalk trail through the business district. We are part of learning and being healthy through art.

Macungie created a $50,000 Streetscape Plan several years ago and they are now ready to take it to the next level; but first, they need a re-evaluation of the proposed improvements. Fountain Hill is making updates to a decade old plan for Stanley Avenue recreation area, which will bring the plan from to completion. The chamber is part of this project for which improves quality of life.

We ARE on every Main Street and these projects are our legacy – join us in making Main Street Lehigh Valley great. 

Anne Baum, Capital BlueCross

Chair, The Chamber Foundation

Buddy Lesavoy, Lesavoy Butz & Seitz, LLC, Co Chair

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Richard Stallman: Copyright vs. Community

Il 7 novembre 2012, Richard Stallman ha tenuto una conferenza presso l'Università di Reykjavik, dal titolo "Copyright vs Community". 

Questo è il video dell'evento, la lezione dura due ore ed è, ovviamente, in inglese. 

Buona visione

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Keystone Harley Davidson - Member of the Day 7-19-13

Today's Member of the Day is Keystone Harley Davidson located in Parryville PA.

Jean Davidson, granddaughter of Walter Davidson (one of the founders & the first President of Harley-Davidson® Motor Company) will be at Keystone Harley Davidson Saturday July 20^thfor a very special Family Day at the dealership. Family Day takes place from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Ms. Davidson will be here most of that time.

Jean Davidson has just completed her 6^th & final book, “Harley-Davidson® Family Memories” and is debuting her book at Keystone H-D® that day! This book has not been seen nor distributed anywhere… Keystone H-D® is honored to have been chosen to debut this amazing publication.

In addition to her writing, Ms. Davidson is also passionate about her 501c(3) foundation, “Yell and Tell”, which is set up to teach young children what to do in dangerous situations.  She will be sharing a Yell and Tell lesson with all kids in attendance at 11:00 a.m. on July 20^thas well.

  

In addition to Yell & Tell and the book debut, Family Day will also have a few other great features:

The PA State Police will be on hand between 10 – 2 & will provide fingerprinting & digital photos of the kids in attendance. Their families will be provided with a complementary safety card that day in case of emergency. 

For lots of fun, local magician Tom Yurasits will present a Magic Show at 1 p.m. & in the atrium and they’ll have a Moonwalk Bounce House and a big cooler of Lehigh Valley Polish Water Ice for the kids!  The Parryville Fire Department will be selling Funnel Cakes outside too. 

All events will be conducted inside the 50,000 square foot dealership. This heat wave won’t get in the way of fun that day!

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Junior Achievement of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley Seeking Volunteers

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

inspire. empower. motivate.

"What do I want to do when I grow up? Is college right for me? How do I create a budget? What should my resume look like?"
 
Help 10th and 11th grade students find answers to these questions at Junior Achievement's 2013 Symposium Series: Pathway to Careers!

JA is looking for Symposium Planning Committee Members in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties. Empower students to own their economic success by sharing your real-world experiences with them!

COMMITTEE REQUIREMENTS:

- Attend one-hour planning meetings once per month: July - November 2013
 
- Add input and feedback during planning meetings
 
- Assist in recruitment of adult volunteers from the local business community to serve as day-of mentors
 
- Attend the event day-of to assist with logistics, set-up, break down, and student mentorship.

Contact:
Ellen Albright, Program Manager, for more information or to sign up today!
email: ellen@jareadinglehigh.org
phone: 610-373-3500

Check out their website for more information

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Guest Blog Post: You Can Start Something with Big Brothers Big Sisters

Mentoring comes in all shapes and sizes. Right now, there are mentors at large corporations, in our local schools, and in your own back yard. With these mentors, the possibilities for children in our community are endless – they can learn anything, whether it’s reading books, baking a cake or shooting some hoops. Life is a whole lot easier when someone’s there to spend time with you and help guide you.

But this isn’t always the case. There are many children in the Lehigh Valley without role models to look up to—or even a person to read a book with, or simply hang out and talk with them.

That’s where Big Brothers Big Sisters comes in.

For over 40 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has wanted to start something – a positive, lasting relationship. When we pair a trained, screened, and qualified volunteer (Big) and a child (Little) we provide an opportunity for all involved to create a lasting relationship based on trust.

The greatest contribution anyone could make towards building these relationships would be donating a few hours of their time each week to mentor a child in need. The programs we provide in our community can help foster these few hours each week into a lifetime of memories.

Here in the Lehigh Valley, Bigs and Littles in our Community-Based Mentoring Programs spend time together doing everyday activities, like taking a walk, going to a museum or playing catch several times each month. Our School-Based Mentoring Programs pair High School or College Bigs with Elementary or Middle School Littles. Bigs in these programs meet with their Littles at their schools to work on homework, play on the playground and more.

The impact that these mentoring programs have on the youth is overwhelming. Youth with mentors are:

·         46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

·         32% less likely to hit someone

·         52% less likely to skip school

·         27% less likely to begin using alcohol

Here’s how you can be a part of this life changing process – become a Big Brother, Big Sister, volunteer at our special events, or donate to help sponsor a match between a Big and a Little and support our programs.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, every little step you take can create big opportunities for the children in the Lehigh Valley.

For more information check out our website at www.bbbslv.org , or call us at 610-391-1827.

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Ritorna la Community nella home page di Ubuntu con tanto di nuova pagina dedicata

Piccolo post per segnalare il ritorno (finalmente) in una posizione più felice della sezione Community sulla home page del sito internazionale di Ubuntu ovvero http://www.ubuntu.com/

Come i miei lettori ricorderanno la sezione Community era sparita dall'header del sito a seguito del restyling di Aprile (leggete il vecchio post polemicoso  Ubuntu e la community messa in secondo piano).

Riecco il link alla Community di Ubuntu che ritorna in prima pagina

Il link è ora tornato con tanto di pagina dedicata alla community raggiungibile all'indirizzo http://community.ubuntu.com/

La nuova pagina dedicata alla Community

Be, che dire, son contento che Canonical abbia fatto un passo indietro :)

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Lehigh Valley Academy seeking candidates to appoint to Board of Trustees

The Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School is seeking candidates for appointment to its Board of Trustees.  As an active member of the community, we are asking for your assistance in sharing this volunteer opportunity within your spheres of influence in order to increase our reach to interested potential board members.      

Lehigh Valley Academy, founded in 2002, is a non-profit K-12 public charter school presently serving 1,065 students. As a charter school, LVA is funded by public dollars and represents an alternative choice for parents/guardians to education available in public school districts. The school’s academically challenging education program utilizes the acclaimed International Baccalaureate Organization curriculum (www.IBO.org).  As a school district, LVA has also consistently achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as measured by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.   LVA was recently named the number two high school in the state of Pennsylvania by U.S. News and World Reports.

As part of LVA’s governing board, trustees support the continued success of Lehigh Valley Academy by contributing their experience and expertise to the oversight of school operations and accountability. Board membership requires a commitment of attendance at two monthly evening board meetings. Meetings are held on the second and third Tuesdays of each month. The usual term of service is three years. Advocates of the charter school concept with a background in marketing/public relations, real estate/leasing law, or fundraising/capital campaigns are encouraged to apply.

Candidates may submit a resume accompanied by a letter detailing their interest in serving as a trustee.  Submissions may be made by email or regular mail to the addresses listed below. The deadline for submission is Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Email address: k.koons@lvacademy.org

Mailing address:
Ms. Kimberly Koons
Lehigh Valley Academy
1560 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 200
Bethlehem, PA   18017

Please contact Ms. Koons at 610-866-9660 x4107 if you require additional information.
We appreciate your time and attention. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
The Board Development Committee of
Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School


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DUCC-IT 2013 - Fermo, Palazzo dei Priori, 1 e 2 giugno 2013

La Debian/Ubuntu Community Conference Italia 2013 (in breve DUCC-IT 2013) è un evento che vuole riunire le comunità italiane di Debian e Ubuntu ma anche e soprattutto tutte le realtà italiane attive nel Software Libero, per scambiare conoscenze, discutere della situazione attuale e conoscere altri sviluppattori e membri della comunità.

L'evento si terrà a Fermo, presso il Palazzo dei Priori, nei giorni dell'1 e del 2 giugno 2013.

La partecipazione è aperta a tutti: membri della comunità, utenti, appassionati e anche semplici curiosi che vogliono capire di più di come funzionano le nostre due comunità.

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Programma

La DUCC-IT è divisa in due sessioni:

• Una dedicata al pubblico e destinata a talk divulgativi e promozionali, che si tiene sabato pomeriggio
• Una dedicata alle discussioni interne della comunità (ma comunque aperta al pubblico), che si tiene sabato e domenica mattina

Il programma completo è disponibile nella pagina "Programma" del sito.

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Partecipare alla DUCC-IT

Tutte le informazioni necessarie per arrivare e soggiornare a Fermo durante il weekend della DUCC-IT sono state pubblicate nell'apposita pagina.

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Help Nurture Nature Center’s Garden to Grow!

Nurture Nature Center in Easton, PA is a dynamic center for community learning that uses science, art, and dialogue programs to get the community talking and thinking critically about local environmental risks. Since its opening in 2011, NNC has hosted thousands of visitors for its programs, including shows on its noted Science on a Sphere exhibit. NNC's newest project, the Urban Recycle Garden, is a chance to bring the community together to create a new exhibit that will help local residents grow food and transform their own urban spaces. NNC is seeking business partners to contribute to this demonstration garden, which will use recycled and found materials to showcase growing techniques for urban areas (walls, balconies, small paved spaces), so that people can learn how to grow their food and/or beautify their urban spaces. The techniques demonstrated will be low cost and easy to replicate, and will also include ways to manage stormwater in urban areas.

This project will help urban residents and local business create a greener and more beautiful community, one container or trellis at a time! Please help us grow this fantastic garden by making a contribution and spreading the word to friends and family.

Learn more and donate at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/urbanrecyclegarden/nurture-nature-centers-urban-recycle-garden.  Pledges must be made by May 25 to count toward our campaign, and early donations help build momentum for the campaign. Donations of $100 or more will be recognized on a plaque at the garden.  Donate today! 

An abbreviated sentence about the garden is: Nurture Nature Center’s newest exhibit, the Urban Recycle Garden, is an educational demonstration garden that will showcase unique and low-cost methods for growing food and managing storm water in urban communities. This project will help communities to transform the urban landscape one container or trellis at a time!

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The Power of Partnerships - Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

By Tony Iannelli, President and CEO, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

March 11, 2013

For the past 15 years, it has been my honor to preside over the fastest growing Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Serving 800 members in 1998 when I began this journey through today, we now close in on 6,000 members strong, and there is no doubt as to how that growth came to fruition. It can easily be summed up by our mantra: "The Power of Partnerships," business leaders coming together for the common good of the Lehigh Valley — that's how this Chamber, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, became the ninth largest in the United States.

The growth from a small-town organization to what we've become today didn't happen by chance. It happens when community leaders, stakeholders — from both the public and private sectors — agree to stand together and unite with one voice to focus on the needs of the entire community. In one word, "regionalization" positions this Valley on par with the larger municipalities in the state and nation. Move over Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — the Lehigh Valley has arrived!

I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the leadership in the Lehigh Valley municipalities, large and small. Their contribution to the Valley becoming the fastest growing and third most populous region in Pennsylvania has been immeasurable, and it is why it has become such an allure to people and businesses from neighboring states.

Boasting a $30 billion gross regional product, our metropolitan region is home to more than 820,000 people in Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Warren County, N.J. If you look at our proximity to New York City (75 miles), Philadelphia (60 miles) and even Washington, D.C., (200 miles) — along with our affordable housing market and comparably low taxes — throw in an ever advancing quality of life — you will see how we've become the 64th most populated metropolitan area in the country.

I can't overstate our rapidly improving quality of life and its impact on our appeal as a destination. When it comes to sports, we've reached a higher level than we ever dreamed! We are proud to be the home to a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park and soon a Philadelphia Flyers affiliate in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at its new Allentown PPL Center arena.

Our arts community continues to thrive with gems like Easton's State Theatre and Crayola Experience, Bethlehem's SteelStacks complex, and the Allentown Art Museum. Any company looking for an educated talent pool should look no further than here, with its abundance of top-notch colleges (Lehigh, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, Cedar Crest, Penn State, Moravian, and Lehigh and Northampton community colleges) and exceptional technical institutions, as well.

Our current 15,300 employers in the Valley provide close to 300,000 jobs. We are proud to be the home-base to world renowned corporations such as Air Products and Rodale, and have welcomed nationwide manufacturers such as Sam Adams and Ocean Spray while always remembering that our small businesses are the backbone of our community.

More than two-thirds of Valley businesses employ nine or fewer people, and exist on every main street from Northampton to Coopersburg and Fogelsville to Phillipsburg, and everywhere in between. Providing those employers with the networking opportunities, innovative programming and pro-business public policy advocacy is the daily work of the 26-member Chamber staff located and working on every main street across this Valley.

Let me close by saying this economy won't escalate at the rapid pace of the '90s, but it will improve at a deliberate and steady pace. Businesses are running leaner and poised for expansion like never before. They are eager to expand in the coming years. I'm hopeful our political leaders will join us and make the necessary difficult decisions that will increase confidence in our nation's economic future. I look forward to a bright 2013-14 in a region that, no doubt has arrived.

Copyright © 2013, The Morning Call

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Un milione di OpenStreetMappers

OpenStreetMap ha appena oltrepassato il milione di utenti! Un milione di persone si è registrata per collaborare a creare la mappa libera del mondo.

A prima vista potresti pensare che OpenStreetMap sia una mappa. Coloro che ne sanno di più diranno che in realtà è un database; un repository flessibile e modificabile di dati geospaziali liberi. Ma soprattutto OpenStreetMap è una community. Una grandissima community dove le persone come te e me collaborano insieme e aiutano a costruire questa cosa.. e adesso siamo un milione!



Una grandissima community è ciò che fa funzionare OpenStreetMap. Ci servono molte persone iscritte, e ci servono in ogni vicinato, in ogni angolo del pianeta, per contribuire (almeno) un pochino con i nostri strumenti di editing. In questo modo siamo cresciuti e progrediti in modo spettacolare lungo il 2012. Questo bellissimo video illustra che grande anno di attività abbiamo avuto.

Chi si unirà alla community di OpenStreetMap nel 2013?

Traduzione da OpenGeoDataAny source

Christmas in Bethlehem - by Lynn Cunningham

My office is located on the second floor of the Main St. Commons overlooking Main and Broad Streets. Throughout the year, I am filled with pride at what a terrific community it is that I grew up in, live in and work in: when I walk outside to see a slew of Musikfest volunteers, employees and vendors setting up for the upcoming 10 day festival; when I’m working late in September and I can hear the clear sound of a lone bagpiper practicing somewhere in the neighborhood for the Celtic Classic and when I see my staff and the merchants of the downtown helping decorate the streets with hay bales, corn stalks and pumpkins to prepare for the Fall shopping season and Harvest Festival.

As the Vice President of Bethlehem for The Chamber my focus is centered on tourism, marketing and the overall financial health of the business community. Much of the work we do in the office revolves around Christmas – the logistics of bringing Christmas to the Christmas City – most of which doesn’t really involve the birth of Christ.  It is the business of Christmas: building, decorating and managing the Christmas City Village, coordinating the 100 details that go into The Community Tree Lighting Ceremony, raising the funds to pay for the 800 trees that go up throughout the town, marketing the many events that occur here during the Christmas season; and finding sponsors and managing The Christmas City Trolley. Much is riding on the success of the Christmas season and in this 75^th year of Bethlehem being designated as “Christmas City, USA” it is more so.  The one event that does involve the spiritual aspect of Christmas - the Community Advent Breakfast – must be handled as a business venture; ordering  beeswax candles, Moravian Sugar Cake, booking speakers, and marketing this  47 year old tradition. Year after year since I’ve had this job, the warmth that I should feel during this holy season is delayed because of my role in making sure that Christmas happens in the Christmas City… and is paid for.

That ended this year. The Citizens Christmas City Committee – one of my committees - has been raising funds for the City of Bethlehem’s Christmas decorations since 1964 with the Christmas City Seal. Every year we mail out thousands of envelopes with a sheaf of stamp-like seals and hope that the residents of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley send us a donation. Every year these donations decrease. The population that donates to the Christmas City Seals is getting older and their income has been fixed for almost two decades. This year, because of staffing changes, I took on the task of opening these envelopes for the first time. What I thought was going to be a drudgery job turned into a joy. Hundreds of names that I have heard from my 53 years of growing up here kept coming before me: Petraglia, Meixel, Uhler, Buzzard, Kessler, Pongratz, Barnett, Ytsma and to my utter delight - my own mother - who has been donating to this committee for most of the last 48 years. There were a few checks for $100 or $25 but most of the checks were for $10 and some envelopes had just one dollar stuffed inside. I cannot begin to tell you the warmth and affection that I felt while opening every single one of these envelopes.

Vernon Melhado, the President of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce in 1937 said “Bethlehem didn’t create Christmas, Christmas created Bethlehem” referring to the Moravian’s christening of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania  in 1741. When “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is sung, it has a double meaning to all of us. With Bethlehem’s many churches, Vesper concerts and Christmas putzes, the spirit of Christmas is prevalent. I now know that this community is also invested in Bethlehem as the Christmas City. Christmas is in the hearts of its residents which is interwoven with their faith, their pride and sense of community.  I want to express my gratitude to everyone who contribute - day in and day out - to make Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a great place to work, live, raise a family…and celebrate this holiday. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Lynn Collins Cunningham, born and raised in Bethlehem, is the Vice President of Bethlehem for the Greater Lehigh Chamber of Commerce

Work Address: 561 Main St, Suite 200, Bethlehem, Pa 18018

Mobile Phone: 610-739-1510

Email Address: lynnc@lehighvalleychamber.org

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Community e foto su Google+

La fine dell’anno è per molti di noi l’occasione per ritrovarsi con i propri cari e riscoprire le cose che danno un senso alla nostra vita. Sono momenti come questi che mi fanno tornare in mente il motivo che ci ha spinto a creare Google+: rendere la condivisione sul web più simile a quanto avviene nella vita reale. Troppo spesso gli strumenti online non sono in grado di riprodurre le sfumature e la sostanza delle interazioni della vita reale. Google+ vuole rimediare a questa mancanza e fortunatamente possiamo contare sul sostegno di una vivace community.

Oggi Google+ è la piattaforma con il più alto tasso di crescita mai registrato: più di 500 milioni di persone hanno adottato Google+, di queste 235 milioni utilizzano diversi servizi Google (fanno +1 sulle app in Google Play, usano gli hangout in Gmail...) e 135 milioni sono attive sullo stream.

Siamo convinti che questo entusiasmo derivi dall’aver creato degli strumenti che permettono di costruire relazioni vere: partecipando a un hangout in diretta, guardando una foto insieme agli altri o condivendo contenuti con una ristretta cerchia di amici. Oggi annunciamo due nuovi miglioramenti che ci permetteranno di portare sul web le sfumature e la ricchezza delle relazioni del mondo reale.

Community Google+: un luogo di aggregazione per interessi in comune
Dalla fotografia all’astronomia (e tutto quello che c'è nel mezzo), Google+ è sempre stato un luogo in cui le persone si riuniscono intorno a interessi comuni e stabiliscono relazioni nuove. Tuttavia, finora è mancato uno spazio specificamente dedicato agli interessi degli utenti: tutte quelle cose meravigliose, stravaganti e magari completamente folli che ci appassionano. Da oggi, le Community Google+ offrono un luogo di incontro per discutere delle proprie passioni, con queste caratteristiche:

• Accesso pubblico o privato, per soddisfare le esigenze di tutti i tipi di gruppi, da quelli dedicati alla discussione di argomenti e interessi comuni, a quelli destinati ad associazioni di quartiere.
• Categorie di discussione, per trovare le conversazioni che vi interessano di più.
• Possibilità di fare degli hangout e pianificare eventi con i membri della community.
• Possibilità di condividere contenuti con la community grazie a qualsiasi pulsante +1 sul web.

Per iniziare, è sufficiente creare una community o entrare in una già esistente, una volta che l’icona Community apparirà nello stream. Si tratta solo di un’anteprima, quindi non esitate a farci sapere cosa ne pensate.

Snapseed: bellissime foto con il proprio dispositivo mobile
Le foto migliori non si scattano, si fanno. Da anni Nik Software aiuta le persone a fare foto straordinarie. Ora che Nik è entrata a far parte della famiglia Google siamo entusiasti di rendere disponibile la loro app Snapseed (eletta app dell’anno per iPad nel 2011) su Android. L’app include:

• Modifiche di base come regolazione colore, raddrizza e ritaglia;
• Filtri creativi come drama, bianco e nero, vintage - da applicare singolarmente o insieme;
• Tecnologia Control Point che consente di modificare le foto in modo selettivo, ad esempio illuminando solo un viso o rendendo piu’ scuro solo il cielo.

Snapseed è disponibile su Google Play e sull’App Store e a partire da oggi entrambe le versioni sono gratuite.

La fine dell’anno è solitamente quella parte dell'anno in cui celebriamo il passato e sogniamo ciò che ci aspetta.. Pertanto, vogliamo ringraziarvi per aver abbracciato questo piccolo progetto e vi invitiamo a entrare in un futuro in cui tutti si sentano a proprio agio con la propria identità, non solo nella vita reale ma anche online. Continuiamo a costruire insieme Google+ e approfittiamo delle Feste per donare agli altri il meglio di noi stessi.

Scritto da Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President

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The Bangor Heritage Mural Is Complete

This article appeared in the October issue of our monthly Connections publication, written by Anne Baum, Chair of the Chamber Foundation.

The Bangor Heritage Mural (funded in part by a grant from Main Street Lehigh Valley) is complete. 

Bangor Borough and the Bangor Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) partnered with Totts GapArts Institute (TGAI) and Todd Miller, owner of the Bangor Trust Building, to produce a Heritage Mural, on the Trust Building in the heart of our historic downtown business district. The mural was painted by student artists under the direction of James Gloria, art director at Totts Gap. The painting itself was an attraction, with people of all ages stopping by to watch the progress. Long time Bangor residents brought photos and stories of their ancestors who lived and worked in Bangor in the era depicted in the mural.  Most of the people in the mural were real folks who helped build Bangor. View photos of the Bangor Mural here.

Completion of the mural fulfills several strategic objectives in the BBRP-led Bangor Community Visioning Plan, adopted in 2009 and partially funded by an earlier grant from Main Street Lehigh Valley. Among those objectives are:

• Promotion and preservation of Bangor Heritage

• Highlight local art and artists

• Provide educational opportunity for the community

• Be a focal point for the proposed Bangor Historic District, to attract tourists and new investors

Execution of the mural involved no public or borough dollars. The MSLV grant stimulated so many donations in the form of financial assistance, in-kind professional services and volunteer labor. A local business owner donated the printing costs for high quality posters of the mural. We intend to sell the posters to raise funds for our next Bangor mural.

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The Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation

One of the best things that we do at this Chamber is run our Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation.  I'd call it our best kept secret, since many are familiar with the programs that it actually operates but not the Foundation itself, and this is absolutely something worth talking about.

The Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation is a foundation that seeks to raise money to be reinvested in programs and physical improvements in the urban core of the Lehigh Valley.  It raises the money from private and public partners, of which there are several.

The Foundation itself runs a grant program and two Main Street programs:

Community Improvement Grants (CIG):  Operating on a bi-annual basis, the CIG program provides matching grants of up to $2,000 for streetscape improvement, events, urban planning and promotional efforts.  A 50% match is required, ensuring that a grant recipient has multiple partners committed to the success of a project.  To date, 101 grants have been awarded, totaling more than $192,000 in funding that has leveraged an additional $4,300,000 in other funding.  For more information on the grants awarded, see the attached document.  We just made our 5th grant awards and will announce those shortly.

Borough Business Revitalization Program:  The Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) is a regional Main Street program that seeks to revitalize the downtowns of the seven participating Boroughs (Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua Coopersburg, Hellertown and Pen Argyl).   This is a bottom-up program whereby volunteers, elected officials, business and property owners work together to outline the goals of their program and execute projects that fit the need of each participating community.  The coordinator provides technical support, access to resources, and helps to coordinate the volunteer efforts and assist municipal staff.  The program specifically works in five areas:
• Improving the physical appearance of each downtown.
• Recruiting more businesses while assisting already existing ones.
• Promoting each community as a great place to live, work and play.
• Ensuring that each community is safe, clean and green.
• Creating a sustainable board that can manage the program years into the future.

Hamilton District Main Street Program (HDMSP):  The HDMSP operates in downtown Allentown, from 5th to 12th street, Walnut to Linden Streets.  The HDMSP seeks to revitalize downtown Allentown and concentrates specifically in the areas of Marketing, Asset Development, Design, Safe, Clean & Green and Organizational Development.  Like the BBRP, the HDMSP consists of volunteers, elected officials and local business and property owners that are working towards the revitalization of downtown Allentown.

Check out the video below for more info on the Foundation:



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Aumenta la popolarità dei tuoi video su YouTube

Tempo fa abbiamo lanciato un'applicazione dal nome YouTube Insight, che permette a chiunque carichi un video su YouTube, di raccogliere utili informazioni sull'interesse che quel video ha generato tra gli utenti.
In che modo? attraverso dati che mostrano il numero di visualizzazione, i picchi di interesse per il video, i paesi dove questo è stato visto.

Da oggi, YouTube Insight si arricchisce di una nuova funzionalità, "Community", che permette di vedere il livello di coinvolgimento degli utenti nei riguardi del vostro video, nel corso del tempo e in base alle diverse aree geografiche di provenienza di ciascun utente.

Accedendo alla tab "Community", all'interno della sezione dedicata a YouTube Insight, potrete vedere sia il numero di voti raccolti dal vostro video, i commenti e le segnalazioni come preferito, sia altre informazioni utili per capire il grado di popolarità del video.

Per esempio, se il voto generale del vostro video è di 3/5 stelle ma attraverso "Community" vedete che gli utenti giapponesi vi hanno assegnato in media 2 stelle, mentre i francesi 5, sapreteora dove si trovano gli utenti che vi apprezzano maggiormente e potrete tenerlo presente per migliorare la popolarità dei prossimi video che realizzerete.

Ancora una volta l'obiettivo è darvi accesso a informazioni che vi aiutino a capire come venite percepiti dalla community e, se è di vostro interesse, intervenire per aumentare la popolarità dei vostri video su YouTube.

Scritto da: Google Italia Blog Team
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