Vol. II, Issue III - Mid-Summer 2008

Formerly Known as The Bridge

Greetings loyal readers…and welcome to the first issue of the Beaver County Courthouse newsletter. You may be wondering what happened to our old name, The Bridge. Well, our friends at the Beaver County Courthouse decided they wanted to start a newsletter themselves and, since they couldn't think of an original name, they decided to just use ours. Of course, we didn't have the name trademarked, so it was obviously up for grabs. Sure, maybe we're just a non-profit, two-man operation, and all of the money we make on advertising goes right back into printing the newsletter and, therefore, we didn't have the $450+ to spend on getting The Bridge trademarked, but hey…that's our problem, right? Even though our mission was to be a community journal that worked to bring the community together, that doesn't mean that another "community" organization can't steal…I mean, pay us a compliment by taking our name for their newsletter. Besides, in today's culture, who cares about consideration? Who cares about respecting others in your community? The only thing that matters is the law, and the law says that unless a name is trademarked, it's up for grabs. So, for now on, we will be known as the Beaver County Courthouse newsletter. We also have a new motto: Divided by People…United by Bridges. If that sounds familiar, you're probably mistaken. It's a completely original motto that we came up with completely on our own. Hope you like it!

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FREE MONEY: THE CASE FOR COUPONS

As Al Gore famously gesticulated and drawled in a campaign speech, “everything that is up should be down.” This includes inflation, energy prices, food prices and more. I dare say that we are all feeling the squeeze and I propose that instead of complaining about something we have no control over (prices), that we take collective action and stick it to “the man”. (I am not sure who “the man” is exactly, but I know I want to stick it to him.)
How are we going to do this? One word: coupons. Outside of someone just walking up to you and handing you some crisp Benjamins, they represent the easiest source of free money I know of. So here is a brief primer!

Where to find? Newspapers (primarily Sunday edition), direct mailing circulars, entertainment (fill in the last two digits of the year) booklets, and that Al Gore invention known as the internet. Some of the many sites include print.coupons.com, coolsavings.com

Strategy: Beaver Super triples coupons under a dollar, so a 75 cent coupon turns into $2.25 so I go there with the lesser coupons. Next I go to Giant Eagle who doubles coupons under a dollar, and with their bigger selection I use the coupons I could not fill at Beaver Super. Just a suggestion…use a human checker at Giant Eagle as the automated checkout stations often get hung up on certain coupons and you can feel the wrath of the people in line behind you as you wait for someone to help.

Organize: Check expiration dates, then put your coupons together in order of the aisles of the store you are shopping.

Just an idea: Be a good human and share coupons with your friends, or if you have some good ones for items you don’t use, consider making a purchase and donating to a shelter or foodbank (I think I smell a tax deduction).

Now let’s all get out there and stick it to the man!

Michael C. Poole
234 Navigation St
Beaver, PA 15009
724-601-5316
www.bign.com/mpoole


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Summer in the Burgh

orange cones and traffic zones, highways in repair
butterflies and turquoise skies, comfort in the air

freshpicked corn and lawns new shorn, freshness everywhere
picnic sun and car cruise fun, a country county fair

swimming pools and tan lines too, martinis in the dark
neighbors laughing, river rafting, concerts in the park

outfield seats and hot dog eats, let's go Bucs we cheer
it's hard to frown in Pittsburgh town, this special time of year

Michael C. Poole

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Stick-Legged Spider

Stick-legged spider
up in the corner
alone
waiting
day after day
What are you waiting for
up there
in your invisible web
There are no flies
in here
no bugs
to ensnare
in your sticky trap
Yet somehow
you subsist
waiting
watching
Patience
Is all you know
Stick-legged spider

VJB

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A WARMING THOUGHT
by Barbara Horter of Rochester

Sometimes I see something that
Makes me wish I could share
What I'm seeing......

But family and friends are
Off growing and living and
Leading their lives--
Just the way they should

So I look up at God....
And whisper, "Thank You Lord!!"
And it is a restful sharing--

For He knows where I've been,
Where I am now and
Where I'm going.

There is no need for effort
To remember what I wish to share....

GOD is....
And always has been..
And will at all times
BE THERE!!!


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Choosing a Title for Your Book

When you write a book, one of the hardest parts is coming up with an exciting, enticing title to draw readers in. It can be a frustrating process that can leave you disheartened.

But fear not, aspiring writers! We here at the Beaver County Courthouse newsletter have put together a list of engaging titles that are sure to make your book a bestseller. Just pick the one that best fits your manuscript:

• The Da Vinci Code
• War and Peace
• Moby Dick
• The Sound and the Fury
• Robinson Crusoe
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• The Kite Runner
• The Great Gatsby
• Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus
• Little Women
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• The Shining
• Treasure Island
• Catch-22
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Bible

Believe us, these are all completely original titles, so you don't have to worry about trademark infringements, stepping on someone's toes or blatantly stealing someone else's title. Good luck!