Telesphere, a nationwide hosted PBX, VoIP and cloud communications business phone and Internet service provider, announced today the release of two new products: FaxMail, a new service that allows users to send and receive faxes with any email client; and Speak2Dial, a new service that allows users to access a company’s directory through voice prompts from their office or cellular phone.

The release of these two products emphasizes a continued focus from Telesphere on FMC efforts, which allow users to access key business
communication features without the restraint of being tied to any one device.

“We are excited to announce the release of these products, which will help our customers streamline their communications while reducing
costs,” said Clark Peterson, CEO of Telesphere. “As communications continue to move to the cloud, managing all services in one place is swiftly becoming reality.”

With FaxMail, users can:

• Send and receive faxes directly from Outlook or their SmartPhone
  - or any email client through a secure, dedicated connection
• Automate delivery of inbound faxes – by delivering the fax
  directly to the intended recipient’s email account
• Increase efficiency and reduce costs – by eliminating dedicated
  analog lines connected to fax machines for incoming and outgoing faxes
• Easily annotate, forward or archive received faxes – in a
  familiar e-mail environment
• Increase employee productivity and workflow processes – by
  eliminating manual faxing

With Speak2Dial, users can:

• Dial by voice from office or cell to co-workers instantly by
  simply pressing a preprogrammed button on their desk or mobile phone
  and speaking the name of the person they are trying to reach. Since
  the directory is hosted in the “cloud,” users no longer have to
  continuously sync their mobile phones and other directories when the
  directory is updated.
• Access Voicemail by simply saying, “Voicemail,” and the
  system prompts for user credentials.
• Connect with the press of a button by adding the Speak2Dial
  company directory access number as a one-click soft-key, mobile phone
  favorite or desk phone direct extension.
• Create shortcuts to connect like “Operator,” “IT Helpdesk” or
  “Technical Support” to reach company departments without knowing a
  specific party’s name.
• Ensure safety while driving – by eliminating the need to fumble
  through their mobile phone’s directory. With Speak2Dial saved as a
  shortcut, users can access their entire directory with the push of one
  button.

“We are excited to announce the release of Speak2Dial, and know it will be a big hit based on the feedback of our beta customers,” said Sanjay
Srinivasan, CTO of Telesphere. “Anytime we can make our customers’ lives easier with the release of a new product, it is a win-win.”

For more information on FaxMail or Speak2Dial, please contact a Telesphere Cloud Communications Specialist at 888-MY-SPHERE (697-7743).

Popularity: 4% [?]

99¢ Only Stores will be celebrating the grand opening of its new store located in Tucson, Arizona, on Thursday the 30^th of September. The 22″ Phillips Flat Screen LCD TVs will be sold for only 99 cents to the first 9 customers at its new Tucson Oracle Road location on Thursday the 30^th at
8am to celebrate the grand opening!

The next 99 customers in line can purchase a Scooter for only 99 cents at its new Tucson Oracle Road 99¢ Only Stores location. The following 99 customers can purchase DuoPhones Wireless Headphones for iPod Nano – a $ 20 value – for 99 cents only and the next 99 customers can purchase a Belkin Netmaster Mouse, a $ 12 value, for 99 cents only!

The new Tucson Oracle Road location is located at 4144 North Oracle Road, on the southeast corner of Limberlost Drive, a block south of the Tucson Mall and just a few minutes east of the 10 Freeway.

Additionally, for the next seven days the new Oracle Road store will continue to offer its customers many special promotional items. On Friday the 1^st of October, the first 99 customers can buy an i.Sound iPod Shuffle Tripod – a $ 30 value – for 99 cents only! On Saturday, October 2^nd, the first 99 customers can buy the Samba Maracas for Wii – a $ 20 value – for 99 cents only!

On Sunday, October 3^rd, the first 99 customers can buy the Friends 3-pack DVD Collection – a $ 12 value – for 99 cents only! On Monday, October 4^th, the first 99 customers can buy Automatic Powered Scissors – a $ 20 value – for 99 cents only!

On Tuesday, October 5^th, the first 99 customers can buy a Helen of Troy Sunless Tanning Airbrush System – a $ 10 value – for 99 cents only! On Wednesday, October 6^th, the first 99 customers can purchase The Art of Pirates of The Caribbean coffee table style book – a $ 50 value – for 99 cents only!

Popularity: 24% [?]

Over a dozen companies are already preparing for the possible approval of Proposition 203, which would make medical marijuana legal in the state of Arizona.

The proposition will allow only 120 medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, which is why many are rushing to set up shop in hopes of selling it. However, the dispensaries will have to be non-profit organizations – seemingly not a deterrent, as some are already in business before marijuana is even available.

If the proposition passes, patients who are medically cleared will be allowed up to 2.5 ounces of weed every two weeks.

The bill has plenty of financial backing. Campaign finance reports reveal $640,503 in donations have been amassed – a paltry $6,685 has been collected in favor of opposition at Keep Arizona Drug Free.

Companies are setting up to not only sell to buyers, but to doctors who could refer patients to their dispensary. One such entrepreneur told The East Valley Tribune that what they are doing is simply “preemptive marketing.”  He adds that doctors seem to be in favor of the proposition – out of 10,000 contacted, he says several have responded in favor while only one has requested to be removed from his list.

Supporters of legalized medical marijuana say it is necessary to give doctors alternatives to stricken patients, such as to relieve the nausea that comes from chemotherapy. Andrew Myers, manager of the Prop 203 campaign, says that pot is a reasonable alternative to much more addictive and dangerous drugs, such as OxyContin and Vicodin. Detractors of the legislation say it’s a small step away from legalizing it for everyone. Skeptics of weed’s ability to alleviate pain say that it will cause doctors to ignore better options to help their patients.

The vote will take place November 2.

For more information, visit The East Valley Tribune.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The efforts of Chandler civic and community leaders were honored today when America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to youth and children, announced the City had been named a winner of the Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People competition presented by ING, a global financial services company and leading provider of retirement plans and programs for teachers. Its 2010 recognition marks the fourth win for Chandler in the competition.

The 100 Best designation recognizes those communities that make youth a priority by implementing programs that help keep children in school and prepare them for college and the 21st century workforce. The competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational opportunities, most winning communities have taken steps to facilitate improved access to health care for its young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow. The entire 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People and their accomplishments can be found at www.americaspromise.org/100Best.

Chandler was named one of the nation’s 100 Best for making young people’s health and education community priorities. The City is dedicated to providing health services to all young people, ensuring they have a healthy start in life. Community partnerships have been essential in developing the Chandler Care Center, the Chandler Unified School District’s medical center that provides services to uninsured children and families. Several medical, dental and counseling professionals have donated their time and resources to Chandler Care Center allowing them to offer free immunizations, counseling, medical and dental services to community members throughout the city.

Chandler has made education a priority inside and outside the classroom. Chandler-Gilbert Community College has partnered with area high schools to provide service-learning programs that include community service and academic instruction to enhance student’s problem-solving and leadership skills. To encourage youth participation in local government, the city initiated the Mayor’s Youth Commission, giving students an opportunity to identify community issues and recommend solutions. To educate young people on the judicial process, Chandler’s Municipal Court dedicates one day a month to hold teen court allowing young people to hear and resolve juvenile disputes.

“Being named a 100 Best is further validation of our community-wide efforts to create a brighter future for our young people,” said Chandler Mayor Boyd W. Dunn. “I think all Chandler residents should be proud of this recognition, especially since this comes so soon after the other big honors we have received in the last three months; being named an All-America City and a Playful City USA.”

Mayor Dunn added, “We know that being named 100 Best does not mean we’re perfect, but it shows that we have community leaders, educators, faith leaders and neighbors working together to keep us moving in the right direction. We face our challenges head on and work to bring people and organizations together to find solutions that help our youth reach their full potential and live safe, healthy and productive lives.”

On Sept. 21, 2010, Chandler and the other winners spanning 37 states were recognized at a ceremony in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Each of the winning communities was formally recognized with a designation on a map of the U.S., illustrating the geographic and demographic diversity of the winning 100 communities.

The competition is one element of the Alliance’s Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to mobilize all Americans to take action in their communities to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. More than 7,000 students drop out each school day in the U.S., resulting in 1.3 million young people a year. To help decrease these numbers, the Alliance is more committed than ever to recognizing communities – regardless of size, location or history – that are taking real action to help more young people stay in school and graduate on time.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Ridgeway Arizona Oil Corp. (Ridgeway), a wholly owned subsidiary of Enhanced Oil Resources Inc. (TSX-V), (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the initial investigation and evaluation of the St Johns Dome as a potential site for low-temperature CO(2)-based geothermal power production technologies.

Ridgeway has been informed that its joint venture partner, GreenFire Energy, has received notice of the award of a $ 2.0 million grant from the U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Program. This grant, combined with Ridgeway’s contributions, will be focused on initiating research and potential development at the St Johns Dome for CO(2) based geothermal energy. This is the first geothermal project of its kind that has received DOE funding to use CO(2) as the geothermal fluid instead of water.

The St Johns Dome, located in Apache County, Arizona and Catron County, New Mexico, is believed to be the largest undeveloped CO(2) and helium resource in North America. Ridgeway operates approximately 235,000 acres within the St Johns Dome and has drilled in excess of 40 exploration and appraisal wells over the past fifteen years. “The Company remains focused on delivering CO(2) to Permian Basin for its enhanced oil recovery projects and extracting our helium resource,” Mr. Barry Lasker reports. “However, the potential to produce significant amounts of renewable energy and sequester CO(2) within the St Johns Dome as well is an exciting opportunity that we are eager to evaluate.”

The St. Johns Dome is considered to be an optimal location at which to generate CO(2)-based geothermal electricity. This is due to its combination of a large volume of low cost natural CO(2), the potential presence of a thermal reservoir underlying the dome area and a local connection into the power grid. The region in which the St. Johns Dome is located also contains six major coal-fired power plants that collectively emit about 90 million tons of CO(2) per year. If carbon capture technologies are deployed in the future, these facilities can provide the GreenFire JV with additional CO(2) for added power production, while sequestering that CO(2) at the same time. As power plants around the world begin implementing carbon capture and sequestration, many additional sites for CO(2)-based geothermal energy projects may become available.

“Exactly one year ago we announced our joint venture agreement with GreenFire Energy,” stated Mr. Barry Lasker. “It is exciting to see them receive this award and know that we are one step closer to investigating their technology. We shall provide further details as they come to hand.”

SOURCE Enhanced Oil Resources Inc.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The law meets the law.

Former Chandler police lieutenant Shawn Hawkins has formally surrendered his certification after retiring in the wake of an affair with a civilian co-worker.

He reportedly had sex with the woman many times while on duty in many different locations around the Chandler Police Department since November 2008. He is also accused of verbally harassing her with text messages stemming from his jealousy of her being a flirt in bars.

The veteran of 20 years retired in February, still able to hold on to his pension.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Between being a host for the hit game show “Deal Or No Deal” and being a guest judge on another mega-hit TV show “America’s Got Talent,” many forget that Howie Mandel is a stand-up comedian. You can check out his routine this week in the East Valley at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. The show starts at 8 pm on Friday, September 4.

Tickets range from 38 to 58 dollars.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Universal Technical Institute, provider of automotive technician training, appointed Dr. Roderick Paige to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Paige served as the United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005, receiving his doctorate and masters in health and physical education from Indiana University and his BS from Jackson State University.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians.

Dr Paige

“Our extensive search has culminated in an extraordinary addition to our Board of Directors.

The addition of Dr. Paige’s skill sets and experience in education will be a significant benefit to our Board, employees, current and future students and other stakeholders.”

- Kimberly McWaters, President and Chief Executive Officer of UTI.

Dr. Paige has tremendous educational and regulatory experience from his 53 year career in the education sector.

During the past 45 years, UTI has graduated more than 130,000 students. The organization offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Tempco Merger With Program Under A Cloud

Tempco says its merger with Program, LLC, of Mesa, Arizona, has materially changed. Tempco and Program were in talks and conducting due diligence activities for a proposed merger

They issued a non-binding Letter of Intent May 25, 2010. The proposed merger was subject to satisfactory due diligence results, availability of financing and mutual agreement to the terms of a definitive binding agreement.

A third party approached Program with a financing proposal that was more beneficial to Program and its owners than the proposed merger with Tempco.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Chandler’s All-America City Community Celebration begins Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at the Chandler Center for the Arts

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment and refreshments in the lobby, followed by a presentation in the main auditorium at 7 p.m. The presentation will include a slide show and video highlighting the Chandler delegation’s trip in June to Kansas City, Mo., for the competition. The event will also honor the people, organizations, and corporate sponsors who supported the City’s award application.

Representatives from the three projects that were highlighted in the All-America City award presentation will have information booths at the celebration. Refreshments and drinks will be available thanks to generous donations from several local restaurants, including Serrano’s, Floridino’s and Shangri-La De Old Cathay. The Chandler Unified School District is donating the drinks and desserts.

For more information on Chandler’s All-America City award go to www.chandleraz.gov/allamericacity.

Chandler’s All-America City Sponsors Made this event possible:
All-America City Platinum Partner
- Cox Communications
- 360 Vantage

All-America City Gold Alliance
- Carollo Engineers
- Rockefeller Group Development Corporation

All-America City Silver Sponsor
- Achen Gardner
- Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization
- Chandler Regional Medical Center
- Chapman Automotive Group
- First Credit Union
- J2 Engineering & Environmental Design
- SRP

All-America City Friend of Chandler
- Chandler Kiwanis Club
- Downtown Chandler Community Partnership
- Errand Genie
- Fast Signs
- Mortenson Construction
- San Tan Sun News
- The Smith Group
- Westcor
- Wrangler News

Hope we see you at the All-America City Community Celebration in the Chandler Center for the Arts

Popularity: 5% [?]