Two Fast Food Conglomerates Looking To Sell Off Divisions

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Two major US fast food conglomerates are looking for ways to maximize profits.  Selling off several chains that do not fit into their long-range plans are being considered.

Yum Brands is looking for a buyer for their A&W and Long John Silver’s restaurant chains.  Yum Brands is concentrating on overseas development and neither Long John Silver’s or A&W have an international presence.  That would leave Yum Brands with KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, which all have international locations.  A&W and Long John Silver’s have a combined total of 1, 630 locations nationwide.

Wendy’s is looking to sell Arby’s so they can concentrate on Wendy’s development.  Wendy’s/Arby’s combined have over 10,000 restaurants.  Wendy’s is the larger chain with over 6,500 restaurants.  Arby’s is struggling because they tend to be more expensive than other fast food chains and offer less of a dollar menu.

Wendy’s/Arby’s is also the target for a potential takeover bid after receiving an inquiry to buy the chain in June of last year.

Reading Woman Falls Into Fountain At Berkshire Mall While Walking And Texting

You have to love this stuff folks. 

A Reading woman was strolling through Berkshire Mall and texting on her cell phone at the same time.  You know what they say about walking and chewing gum…so I suppose texting and walking is about the same.  When we are not paying attention to what we are doing, accidents happen.  Consequently, the woman fell into a fountain at Berkshire Mall in Reading. 

Now, she is angry that the security footage was released.  The “victim” has hired a lawyer and is contemplating a lawsuit against Berkshire Mall.  She thinks mall security should have been more concerned about her welfare.  However, she immediately got up and walked away, apparently unharmed.

The reason people know her identity is because she released her own name to the public.  Her face was digitally covered in the video footage.

OH PLEASE!  Does somebody want their 15 minutes here or what?

UPDATE – this just keeps getting better.  Read all about the “faller” in this Reading Eagle article http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=280672

Bryn Mawr’s Yangming Chinese Restaurant Rated Number One In America

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20 years ago, Michael Wei opened a formal Chinese restaurant in Bryn Mawr.  It also featured fusion cuisine.  Neither of these concepts was associated with Chinese cuisine then.  Chef Wei took a huge risk. 

Wei received the prestigious award in San Francisco, where the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants Awards was first started in 2004.  Yangming won for best overall-excellence.  In this category, restaurants are judged on consistency, quality, taste, variety, décor, atmosphere, customer service, cleanliness, presentation and value.  WOW! 

It is estimated there are 50,000 Chinese Restaurants in the United States.

If you are a lover of great Asian/American cuisine, a trip to Yangming should be in your future.

Yangming is located at 1051 Conestoga Boulevard, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.

Voice: (610) 527-3500

Website: http://www.yangmingrestaurant.com/index.htm

Harrisburg Mulls Surveillance Camera Installation In High Crime Areas

Mayor Linda Thompson stated one of her goals for 2011 is to have surveillance cameras installed throughout the city.  Public grants can be used to fund this project.

South Allison Hill and parts of Uptown and Downtown Harrisburg are being targeted as the most likely places to have cameras installed.  These areas experience high crime and surveillance cameras would act as a deterrent as well as provide police with evidence.

Wilkes-Barre has installed 230 cameras in various sites around the city.  They used $3 million in state funds from the Department of Community and Economic Development.  In Wilkes-Barre’s case, the cameras have not been a deterrent; however, the footage has helped police solve more crimes.  Wilkes-Barre has only experienced very minor equipment malfunctions.  Police officers rotate on camera duty.  The footage is monitored 24/7!

Larger Scranton has only installed 12 cameras (obviously not nearly enough).  The say the cameras malfunction often and are down sometimes for two weeks at a time.  Scranton obtained a grant for $200,000 to pay for their project.  Unlike Wilkes-Barre, the camera monitor is put behind the front desk.  The officer on duty is constantly being distracted with other work so footage is only monitored “as time permits”.  (See Wilkes-Barre model, Scranton PD)

And then there is progressive Lancaster!  Lancaster has had cameras installed since early in the last decade.  There are 165 cameras monitored by the Safety Coalition.  The Safety Coalition is a nonprofit volunteer organization.

During a six-month period is 2009, surveillance footage assisted in 51 arrests.  Police requested footage for 166 cases.  The Lancaster police love cameras!  Public and private grants fund the camera system.  Delegations from Baltimore, New York and Warren, OH have paid a visit to Lancaster to learn how their system works.  An interesting story is told of a man who was found dead on a sidewalk in Lancaster.  Police reviewed the surveillance footage and watched the man trip and fall.  He was not the victim of a crime.  Think of the cost savings to city residents by not having detectives investigate a simple slip and fall as a possible homicide!!

Carlisle is spending $270,000 in federal grants to install 15 cameras in their downtown area.

Harrisburg does have “some” surveillance cameras already in place.  Harrisburg Police and the Dauphin County District Attorney feel more cameras would be helpful.  Residents of Allison Hill and Uptown reacted favorably to surveillance cameras hoping they will reduce crime in the neighborhood.  Neighbors said the idea makes them feel safer and more protected.

We think these cameras are a great idea.  Personally, I would love to see them in Pottstown!  Remember, grants can pay for these projects.  No taxpayer cost involved.