A Merry Christmas To YOU!

This edition of the Urban Liaison Magazine has me more excited and encouraged than ever before. As we approach the holidays, many local businesses chose to partner with the area’s only local lifestyle magazine to get the word out about their local products and services this shopping season.

I know you’ve heard it before and I am going to say it again, shopping local is critical to our local economy. The power of your purchasing decisions in our community is not to be underestimated. The problem for many shoppers, however, is being informed enough to make those local purchases. That is why we are cutting some of the legwork out of the equation and providing you with a local shopping guide that details area businesses and recommended gift items. We’ve even included price points and pictures for you!

We know you want to shop local and now you have a resource to make it happen. So before you map out your Christmas shopping list, flip to Page 14 and find out what your local merchants have in store for you this year.

On another note, our Holiday Edition is filled with fun stories including topics such as holiday decorating, green living this season, and (of course) food. Speaking of food, I want you to know I had to promise my husband I would pre-wash the dishes before I put them in the dishwasher just to get him to share his fantastic Almond Roca recipe for the Christmas candy section in the magazine.

Now I know what you are thinking (or maybe I’m the only one thinking this) but shouldn’t the dishwasher wash the dishes? Is it really necessary to “pre” wash them? Frankly I’m appalled the dishwasher doesn’t load and unload itself and now I’m being subjected to actually washing the dishes before the dishwasher washes them? But every time I bring this up my husband mumbles something about tea stains on mugs and petrified cheese on plates. My argument is “at least they are sanitized,” but this is a point he simply won’t budge on.

With that said, pre-washing the dishes (at least until he forgets about our little deal) is definitely worth it in the long run! Anyone who knows my husband knows his almond roca is to die for (or at least do dishes for). I’m not even a chocolate fan but I basically live off of almond roca through the months of November and December. So please be sure to check out his recipe in the Urban Food section on Page 24. You can think of me when you are enjoying succulent almond rocca and you better believe I will be thinking of you as I reacquaint myself with the kitchen brush and sponge.

Well that’s enough of that. I hope you enjoy our Holiday Edition and take the time to consider our local retailers when shopping this season.

From our family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to another successful year in 2011.

 

Shine On ~ Casey Clark Ney

Let’s Just Say I’m Adapting

Welcome to my destiny. That may sound like a rather peculiar statement, but looking back I can honestly say I have arrived without question. My journey to the here and now has been a long one, but alas here I am and things have never been better.

It all began in 1995 when I was a senior at Payette High School. I signed up for the school’s newspaper – a class that I opted to take for two specific reasons. One, the school newspaper staff attended a conference in Sun Valley each year and I was determined to get there one way or another. Two, the only other class available to me was already occupied by a not-so-nice girl who had proven she would slap me whenever she wanted. And so, I became a Cutlass staff member in which our fearless leader Anne DeBord assigned me as the lifestyle editor and gave me the task of writing a weekly column on the high school for the Independent-Enterprise.

After high school I worked for the Three Rivers Chronicle in Payette for a short stint before heading off to college. While studying communications at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, I officially realized my future was in print media. At the time I was focused on starting a career in public relations. I even had aspirations to be a television reporter. But one day while standing in the hall after a graphic design class my professor asked about my future career plans. I explained my intentions were to go into PR and then, without consent, I heard myself say, “but I will probably end up working at a newspaper.” Within a year I found myself back in the Treasure Valley and sure enough working for the local newspaper.

That was 10 years ago. Today, I am a self-employed writer and graphic designer. Last year I met the publisher of the Urban Liaison Magazine in Canyon County – Cheryl Richard. Cheryl founded the UL as a way for small businesses to advertise their products and services at an affordable rate while also showcasing local people and events and encouraging area residents to spend their dollars locally. Currently there are UL Magazines in Seattle, Boise, Canyon County and now Ontario.

At the Ontario UL, we serve Malheur and Payette Counties and Weiser. Our primary objective is to produce a magazine that informs its readers about local people, events, trends, and businesses. Let’s face it, so many of you out there rock and it’s time the rest of the Treasure Valley knows it!

So I invite you to read our first publication that was made possible thanks to the endless efforts of my team and community contributors. I would also like to thank all the people who have been so supportive during this venture including my husband, James (you’re the best … really!); children Josh, Taylor and Maddox (my world revolves around you); mother, Yvonne Clark (what would I do without you?); Ted and Bonnie Ney (the best in-laws on the planet); Cheryl Richard (you pretty much rule the world); Telori Watson (for making me take time for myself); Kathy Buckley (hey, 15 years counts for something!); my neighbor, Kari Cowman (for dragging me to Zumba and thus preserving my sanity); the rain (because rain makes corn …); Gladiator (so what if you’re a horse, you can still be my best friend!); and of course, God (you are my ROCK).

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “Adapt yourself to the life you have been given; and truly love the people with whom destiny has surrounded you.” I think Marcus would be proud.

Shine On ~ Casey Clark Ney

Something To Celebrate

Around here we like to celebrate. In fact, if you haven’t noticed, the Urban Liaison is all about celebrating local business, people and anything else that comes our way. We believe there is a lot of good out there and we aren’t about to let it pass by without a positive nod.

Celebrating is important. Take for example the upcoming season. Until recently, fall has been more like a four-letter word to me than something to appreciate. But once I learned to embrace the falling leaves (even though they take weeks to rake up at my home) and celebrate the season, it became much easier to appreciate. After all, who doesn’t like to bust out the pumpkins and corn stalks and create an outdoor display that screams harvest? If I weren’t busy organizing decorative gourds on my front deck I would spend my time dwelling on the looming winter months ahead.
Ah yes, celebrating is good! But let’s not stop with fall.
In this edition of the UL Magazine, we are celebrating an assortment of things. Perhaps my most favorite is the recently evolved Care-O-Sell Consignment that now carries women’s clothing And let’s not forget about the upcoming Pirate Football season (our alma mater) and the rockin’ Jeff Ward at Backroads Broadcasting who is dedicated to documenting the entire season via his radio show and Internet video feeds.
This issue even provides you details with how to celebrate fall with your exterior décor and plants along with a feature story on Payette’s The Bee’s Box where you can purchase holiday interior décor or kick off your holiday shopping (yes, I just suggested you start Christmas shopping in September).

But one thing we are really excited to celebrate this month is the Urban Liaison! In honor of the area’s only local magazine, we are throwing a Launch Party to celebrate the publication’s founding. Of course, all are invited (just send me an e-mail RSVP) to the big event to take place at 5:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 8 at Romio’s Pizza & Pasta in Ontario. And while we are on the topic, many thanks to Romio’s for sponsoring our launch party. If you haven’t eaten there lately, I highly recommend you stop in and check it out. If you are at a loss as to what to order, I suggest the gyro. One can never go wrong when ordering Mediterranean.
But back to fall. As the weather cools you will find many awesome events going on in the area. Case in point, the Ontario Air Faire will take place Sat., Sept. 11. Last year thousands of local residents turned out for this fun-filled day of food and entertainment, I hope this year you will be one of those individuals! And if you do find yourself at the event, be sure and stop by the UL booth and say hi. For other events going on this fall (and what’s left of summer), please visit the calendar of events on our Web site at TheUrbanLiaisonOntario.com.

From our family to yours, have a happy fall and remember to celebrate the Western Treasure Valley and yourself this season.
Shine On ~ Casey Clark Ney

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. After you read this, you should delete and write your own post, with a new title above. Or hit Add New on the left (of the admin dashboard) to start a fresh post.

Here are some suggestions for your first post.

1. You can find new ideas for what to blog about by reading the Daily Post.
2. Add PressThis to your browser. It creates a new blog post for you about any interesting  page you read on the web.
3. Make some changes to this page, and then hit preview on the right. You can alway preview any post or edit you before you share it to the world.