In Search of Napa

A turtle moves slowly across the tall grass. A snake slithers around the neck of the handler. Alpacas gently walk across the lot to greet their admirers. Across the pasture a donkey sticks its head through the fence staring at the onlookers. A large black Labrador receiver walks between the tables and takes a rest underneath the canopy. A man wearing a cowboy hat sits on a stool while he strums an acoustic guitar. Four friends laugh around the table as they sip their white wine.
In Perfect Harmony, Art, nature and science come together. 2,390 miles from Napa, in a quaint Ohio Village, Award winning wines are produced. Bethel Ohio is the home of Harmony Hill Vineyards & Estate Winery. This Boutique Winery is perfectly situated in a relaxed country setting in the middle of a seventy acre Nationally Certified Wildlife Refuge Farm.
With our busy lives and hectic schedules, it’s nice sometimes to just slow down. Take a drive to the country; put the cell phone on quiet. And uncork the joys and beauty of nature.

Established in 2003 by the owners Bill and Patti Skvarla, The Winery opened its barn doors to the public and never looked back. The Skvarlas’ are the perfect host. Everyone feels like a friend as Bill and Patty proudly pour their award winning wines and make their unique property available for the public. The Skvarlas’ put new meaning to the phrase “hands on management”. With a dream, hard work and a vision for greatness, Bill and Patti have created a hidden paradise. After one visit to Harmony Hill Vineyards you will be telling people you have friends who own a winery.

Harmony Hill supports the arts by having local musicians providing the entertainment for the complex. While enjoying the fine wines you may be hearing the next big hit song. The Nashville songwriters in the round try out their creative original songs on the crowd. The rotating cast of entertainers plays everything from originals to your favorite cover music. There are no wine snobs here. Real down to earth people having a great time enjoying good friendship and great wine.
A large stone patio is the setting for the entertainers to perform on. Wine Barrel tables with colorful umbrellas surround the stage for the guest to enjoy the music. And below it all, rest a 55 to 58 degree temperature controlled underground wine cave. This rare structure is just one of the features that make Harmony Hill unique from other Ohio Wineries.
I sat underneath the covered patio sheltered from the Ohio heat. With a perfect view of the singer on the stage, I enjoyed a crisp white semi sweet wine called Ovation. An award winning white, Ovation was a bronze 2008 winner at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Ovation would be a great wine to enjoy on any occasion. Ovation paired perfectly with the ham and bacon sandwich that I had brought with my picnic basket. Harmony Hill sells cheese plates to be paired with the wine, or bring your own lunch and purchase an award winning vintage to enjoy on the scenic grounds.
The 2009 season has seen some changes in operating hours due to popular demand. The Friday night crowd continues to grow while the fans of Harmony Hill enjoy the local music. The hours for Saturday have changed from 12-6 to 2-9pm which have shown a great increase in business for the 2009 season. New friends are made while enjoying some great Harmony Hill wines. The support of local business could not be any more evident than the addition of the farmers market this season. Local farmers and vendors bring their produce and crafts to the Vineyard on Saturday afternoons.

The next time you find yourself around Cincinnati; don’t forget to meet your new friends Bill and Patti Skvarla. Just thirty five miles east of Cincinnati and a short drive to the Ohio river makes Harmony Hill a must visit Ohio destination . The Winery is open on Friday evenings 5-9 pm and Saturday’s 2-9 from May to the end of September. With every visit to Harmony Hill, the experience just keeps getting better. A detailed list of their award winning wines can be viewed at their website at HHWINES.COM.

Cincinnati Travel Sports and Boat Show

The Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati hosts the Travel Sports and Boat Show through January 16th through JANUARY 25TH.

Freefall Economy

The public is facing an economic crisis not seen since the depression. The Unemployment rate continues to rise with companies downsizing or closing their doors completely. With the loss of jobs and any means of gainful employment the foreclosure rate is reaching an all time high. The news continues to get worse with more layoffs daily.
Where does the consumer turn to make the hard earned dollar stretch to meet the basic needs in times of trouble? Retails stores have felt the pinch of consumer worry with decreased sales and lackluster holiday shopping turnout. A county can get votes to fund a new stadium for the fans professional football team but lacks the votes for funding for county law enforcement officers to work the jail. Smaller fire stations have rolled up the hoses with lack of funding putting the residents at risk with longer response times from overloaded stations.
The juggling act continues as the retail establishments struggle with labor costs while trying to keep the customers serviced. The corporate restaurants have scaled back workers and then struggle to provide adequate service once a small surge of business comes in the door. The corporate programmed manager avoids the hostess area of disgruntled customers that are waiting up front while the restaurant sits half empty. The corporate manager hides in the kitchen or smokes in the office acting to busy to deal with the customers while the understaffed underage hostess takes the burdens of the frustrated patrons on herself.
Newspapers and magazines are closing the printing presses due to a lack of advertising dollars for print publications. With each step forward in new technology an outdated product and workers fall to the wayside. With advancement in time management and increase in efficiency another industry suffers. The trickle down has occurred and turned into an out of control freefall. The worker loses his job. Unemployment rises, credit tightens as the banks stop lending. New car sales plummet as inventories sit on over crowded lots. Casual dining establishments suffers as consumers wise up and stop paying twenty five dollars for a bottle of six dollar wine. Unemployed workers struggle to find work in an ever increasing pool of laid off talent. The government bailouts continue to put a band aid on a temporary solution with no plans for a common sense resolution. The talk continues as nothing new is said in a sea of desperate news. Meanwhile while a desperate situation can turn into an opportunity, a slick talking salesman awaits to take your hard earned money with promises of unlimited income from your new business opportunity, buyer beware.

Great Balls of Savannah

The ten year anniversary took my wife and I to some of the most beautiful places in the South.
A stop first in Asheville North Carolina to see the Biltmore Estate. A must see for any lover of history and Grandeur wrapped in one luxurious estate. Feel how the rich lived as you stroll through the enormous rooms of this American Mansion. What estate would be complete without the Land Rover Driving School, A stable for the horses. And a lower living quarters for the large staff that supported the family that lived there. Lush Gardens surround the Biltmore fit for the Royalty and Upper class of that era. The great Gatsby comes to mind while one drives through the gates at the bottom of the drive.
After enjoying a beautiful day at the Biltmore, it was then on to Hilton Head Island. Crossing the bridges going into the Hilton Head area , scenes from the movie Prince of Tides comes to mind. Author Pat Conroy is from the area and there are a lot of local references to the Author. Anyone having the
Pleasure of enjoying Hilton Head knows the feeling. Not your typical beach town, If your looking for tacky gift shops and neon night club signs, then keep driving. Hilton Head is in a class all to itself when it come’s to enjoying the finer things the South has to offer. The finest Hotels sit strategically placed throughout the Island. Beautiful manicured golf courses surround the Island that make this the perfect getaway. A golfers paradise while the family enjoys the day on the beautiful beach or relaxing in one of the luxury resorts.
When the Sun starts to set, make way over to one of the marina’s and enjoy fresh seafood at some of the best restaurants in the South. Relax with the family on one of the many charter boats while enjoying a dolphin watch cruise. Make it even more special by taking a moonlight dinner cruise with that special someone.
Somewhere we always wanted to visit but never made the time was just across the harbor from Hilton Head, Savannah Georgia. We drove the short trip over to Savannah and the beauty and elegance of the Historic town embraced us as soon as we arrived. The cobblestone streets made this a classic Southern vacation. Savannah is ranked one of the most haunted cities in the United States due to the role Savannah played in the civil war.
Savannah became known for the setting of the hugely successful novel by John Berendt. “Midnight in the Garden Of Good and Evil”. A New York Times Best Seller for two hundred and sixteen weeks. The Novel brought Hollywood to Savannah with Clint Eastwood directing the movie. John Cusack and Kevin Spacey put Savannah on the big screen with superb acting portraying the story of murder and lust in the Old South. A must read for any literary lover. A must see movie to really appreciate the beauty of this Historic Southern Town.
Walking along the cobblestone street by the Harbor, small shops and restaurants provide local merchandise and some of the finest foods the south has to offer. At the time I was working on my first novel and enjoyed the literary feel the town offered. A small book store sat along the row of stores with a sign out front that read Author book signing. I walked around the store and watched the Author hang out around the table. A sign read Author of Great Balls of Fire. I am a big Jerry Lee Lewis fan and had seen the movie many times over. The Author was a local writer named Murray Silver. His new book he was promoting was titled “Beyond the Moss Curtain”.
Mr. Silver was very down to earth. Welcomed my wife and I to Savannah and wished us a happy anniversary. I talked with Mr. Silver for a few minutes and I am sure he would have talked as long as I wanted. He was a pleasure to speak with and could not have made us feel more welcome. I purchased his book and after he signed it we went on our way to enjoying the rest of our vacation. After returning to our hotel I relaxed for the evening and began reading Behind The Moss Curtain. I could not put the book down, and within a couple of days I had finished reading this well written book by Mr. Silver.
Mr. Silver’s storytelling ability brings Savannah alive and takes the reader deep into the roots and History of Savannah. Mr. Silver is published through Bonaventure Books out of Savannah. Bonaventure is an independent Publishing company that caters to the creative talent in Savannah and others areas of Georgia. I look forward to reading more of Murray Silvers work, and also getting back to the beautiful town of Savannah.

William S. Stephens

Fire Safety

Planning Fire Exits
The Holiday season is one of my favorite time’s of the year. The saddest moment is turning on the news to hear about a family that has lost everything due to fire. The tragedy is bad enough, but happening around the holiday season seems to add more of a devastating experience to an already tragic incident. What can we all do to make sure that we are safe and secure with our family this Holiday season.
First of all inform all family members and anyone visiting where fire exits are located at throughout your house from top to bottom. Make sure especially small children understand the importance of keeping the zones clear for fire exits.
Do not place presents or anything that has been moved temporarily to an isle blocking doors or windows. If possible Tape all cords and strands of lights to an overhead fixture to prevent a trip or a fall in an emergency situation. Keep all wrapping paper far enough away from any heating elements to prevent sparks or any chance of fire.

All paths from the farthest point upstairs to doorways or windows must be free of any heavy furniture in order to make the most effective and efficient use of fire exits. Rope ladders with sturdy and durable hooks can be purchased from approved vendors to keep in your upstairs rooms to be near all windows designated fire exits. Remember to clear stairwells of shoes and all items to make a safe and clear path for fire exits. From basement areas without lower outside exits, inform all members in the household of windows in lower levels, and how they can be removed for a safe fire exit. Glass block or any type of permanent window fixture should never be used in a lower area without an outside entryway.
Garages- Single car attached garages should have a clear path long enough to move family members on either side of the car for a straight exit from the house to the outside area. Family members should be shown an emergency disconnect cord for electric garage door openers in case of power outage in a fire. Once the cord is pulled and the door is free it will be easier to lift for a safe and fast fire exit. With families with an extra car or collector car in the corner of the garage, sometimes the area around the car becomes a staging point in the garage. Always be aware when you place an item around the project that you keep in mind safe and effective fire exits.

Shrubs should be cut low and out from the lower levels of your home. With a clear path between your house and shrubs your family members will have room to get out a window and maneuver without being trapped. Besides being a safe fire exit, well kept shrubbery and landscape also is a robbery deterrent exposing any potential hiding place for unwanted personal around your home.
Another outdoor plan for safe fire exits is solar lights along the walkway. In case of power outage due to fire, the solar lights will still work and provide a safe lighted pathway for your family. Motion detectors that are solar powered can be strategically placed around the outside of the house also to provide light when needed. When a fire occurs it is a devastating event for the family, however with proper planning and attention to detail, the most important asset in the home can be saved, the family.

Entourage Season Five Finale Delivers

The season finale of HBO’S Entourage series delivered in award winning style. Season five ended with Vince and the boys going back to Queens to drown their sorrows in local girls and local spirits. The Queen’s setting brings out what the boy’s are all about with Johnny Drama investing in his own bar. Turtle carrying on the relationship with Jamie –Lynn Sigler over the phone to be caught having phone sex by his mother in his mothers home. With another rejection from a possible movie role from Gus Van Zant, Eric is fired after verbal abuse from Ari and Vince. E show’s resilience by going back to Hollywood alone, and continuing to manage the success of his only client.
The episode could have gone so many different directions leaving a cliffhanger for the long dry spell between Entourage Seasons. Mark Walhberg and writing staff delivered with a last minute swerve that no one saw coming. A visit to Queens from Ari finds Vince and the boys minus E in Johnny Drama’s enjoying the good life. A surprise phone call from the living legend Martin Scorsese brings Vince back from the dead with a starring role in the Modern Great Gatsby. Thanks to Eric’s determination and hard work Vincent Chase is back on the map.
Eric returns to his office to find Vince and the boys bringing the good news to E and welcoming him back into the Entourage. The Season ends with Ari, Vince, Drama, and Turtle going to celebrate walking through LA, once again on top of the world, with not a care in the world. Season Five was a season that had it’s up and downs and at times stayed to long on certain storylines. The Season Finale erased all doubts about the creative direction and original writing for this dynamic Original Series.
Entourage has been picked up for another season which will begin late summer of next year. It will be interesting to see what the show can do with Vince and the boys in a sophisticated setting in New York with a classic like The Great Gatsby. Bring Jamie- Lynn Sigler back next season with appearances from celebrities dropped in throughout the show and you have got a great upcoming season six of the best series on the air. Give Vince a new Hummer, or another new Escalade, a bigger house with views and sexy women in bikinis or less, and you have got a mega hit that leaves the fans screaming for more. The only negative AI have to say about this show, is that it should be an hour long.

The Grand Plaza Beachfront Resort

St. Petersburg
Barefoot Bridesmaids lined the wooden stairwell leading to the soft white sand. A beautiful tan bride gleamed under the Florida sun as her white train blends into the beach. Her dark hair will never be more perfect than this day tucked underneath her thin Vail. A perfectly tailored groom stands besides his bride in front of his young groomsman. The bridesmaids smile holding their lavender dresses in place as the gulf breeze picks up. All eyes are fixed on the most beautiful couple joined together on the most beautiful spot on earth.
All this viewed from my first evening in my oceanfront suite at the Grand Plaza Hotel Beach front Resort and Conference Center. A quick trip to St Petersburg for fun and relaxation never fails to deliver time after time. If you have to be landside then enjoy the views from a unique and picturesque property.
A sand lover’s dream with old world charm and new world amenities. Escape to the coast of Florida in your own tropical paradise. Luxury and relaxed comfort is a fine line few hotels can combine together. The Grand Plaza Hotel does just that with ease and finesse.
From the moment you pull into the parking lot you’ll be taken away by the beauty of this unique resort hotel. The Grand Plaza is hard to miss towering high above the other hotels along the gulf. The Grand Plaza’s staff is very professional from check in to housecleaning. The lobby has a tropical feel with palm trees surrounding the baby grand piano in the corner. A small business center fits perfectly in the corner without losing the old world feel. Everyone you encounter throughout your stay makes you fell genuinely welcome without being phony.
One of the features that makes the Grand Plaza Unique is the revolving restaurant that sits atop. Spinners restaurant offers splendid dining high above the gulf coast. The wait staff paced the meal perfectly to enhance the dining experience with the ocean and bay views. The golden fried crab cakes appetizer seemed to be just the right touch of perfection to start the dining experience. The chardonnay recommended by the server was a perfect pairing to the sautéed chicken coated in the chefs skillfully prepared alfredo sauce. The well spoken server provided just the right mix of courteous conversation without sounding scripted. The perfectly dressed young lady displayed a level of professionalism shown in the finest dining establishments knowing just when to step in and out of sight. A truly enjoyable and memorable dining experience.
Nothing compares to the beauty at hand walking along the white sands on the gulf coast. You feel like you can walk forever as your mind and body is in the perfect state of relaxation. A seagull seems to stop in mid flight then swoops down into the beautiful salt water. The cool water covers your feet while the tides rushes in. You continue to walk on the edge of the tide as the sunlight gives way to the lights in the distance.
Your Paradise awaits with the Grand Plaza strategically illuminated between the palm trees. At the foot of the hotel, Bahama Mama’s beach bar provides the acoustic music to set the perfect ambience for the ocean side evening. The musician is doing his best attempt of Jimmy Buffett and Don Henley songs. Its’ close enough as you sip your margarita interacting with the other guests. Between songs you can here the sounds of the waves crashing against the sand in the cool night air.
Return to your tropical oceanfront room while enjoying the ocean breeze from your balcony. Ceramic tile flooring and wood shutters bring images of a simpler time. Hemmingway would fit right in underneath the tropical ceiling fans while penning the next great piece of American Literature. Awake just before sunrise and open that patio door. Standing on your balcony your witnessing the best nature has to offer. Nothing in your life has ever been more beautiful than the empty white beach. The cool air blows by your face while your staring at the calm gulf in front of you. Your sipping coffee while enjoying the natural beauty of St. Petersburg’s beach.
The Beachcomber restaurant is on the first floor of the resort, open for breakfast for indoor dining with a view, or poolside dining overlooking the ocean. Relax at breakfast by enjoying the breakfast buffet or ordering off the menu and reading your complimentary news paper.
Spend the afternoon on the beach in the warm Florida sun, and when your ready for shade pull the canopy up on your own private cabana. A sailboat quietly drifts by in the distance. Off to the right danger approaches as a pirate ship full of tourists is advancing on your position. The acoustic music starts a few feet away as the live entertainment begins at the Bahama Mama’s beach bar. Sit back in the cabana with a cold drink from the bar and enjoy the tropical music and the ocean view.
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John’s Pass is just a short drive away which has a variety of souvenir shops and restaurants. Sample some local wines as your palate falls in love with a new vintage. Choose the perfect painting by the local artists to adorn the office and remind you of this special trip. While at John’s Pass there are many boat charter options to spend the day in the gulf watching dolphins or sport fishing. There is no more beautiful way to shop than coming out of the specialty stores and having a bay view to look at. Even while landside, there is nothing like staying close to the marinas.
The St Petersburg, Clearwater area has many Yachting and Charter Options to choose from along the coast. The splendor of the Clearwater area can be enjoyed on your drive through the area as scenic views are all around. The usual choice of your chain restaurants are within a few miles up the highway but you would not do yourself justice without sampling some of the local seafood establishments. Leave the rental at the resort and enjoy the gulf on the Jolly Trolley. A street car that looks like it just came from San Francisco can take you along the coast into Clearwater, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the scenery.
St Petersburg is a great coastal destination for the lovers of beautiful white sandy beaches and clear blue water. Tampa bay is just a thirty minute drive away to explore the downtown area and watch the large cargo and cruise ships come into the harbor. Orlando is just over an one hour drive to be in the midst of Disney World and all of the nearby attractions.
After soaking up the ambience of the Grand Plaza Hotel Beachfront Resort & Conference Center you will bookmark this as a must stay the next time you visit the golf coast. The Grand Plaza will be a great place to spend your evenings after spending your days at The St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail. The largest boat show on the gulf coast taking place Dec 4-7 will be hosted at the Mahaffey , Theatre Yacht Basin. This Super Show will feature over 300 Power Boats and a large contingent of Sail Boats. Just in time for the holidays to purchase that new Yacht for that hard to buy for friend. The St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail will be the ideal time to see what new lines of luxury cruisers our coming to the market. There will also be a wide selection of vendors throughout the show to view or purchase the latest in technology for your maritime needs.
Put the Boat Show in your calendar for the years to come as you find St Petersburg an annual stop along your coastal journeys. With one visit to the beaches you will understand why they have won so many best beaches awards. You may also find yourself picking up a real estate guide.