County Life

Just Passing Through

2009-07-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

On a personal note it seems as though life is slowly moving into the next chapter. Camille and I have always prided ourselves on the number of people who have touched our lives and the many different circles we live in. You know, I've said many times that we all start with the plans for our lives coming out of school etc... and somewhere in the middle of all of them "Life Happens". Something your parents were going through while you were growing up and continues generation after generation.

Looking back, we've met sooo many close friends, ones that have largely shaped who we are today and yet unfortunately do not have much contact with today. The simple truth is all of us go through life's changes, new jobs and new locations can bring new circles, and I'm thinking that it is all ok. Right or wrong, Camille and I (although trying to keep in touch) have found ourselves even wanting to leave certain circles just as we remember them. Life moves on, you meet new people and things change and all of a sudden one day you look back to another place or time...And WOW, what a great time we all had but reality says we were JUST PASSING THROUGH.

Why we do the things we do.

2009-05-07T05:15:00.001-07:00

Last evening we received the "Entrepreneurial Excellence" award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. What I remember most about the evening was the introduction we were given and the truth was it was right from our CountyLife.info page. It really does serve us well sometimes to be reminded why we do the things we do.
We all know that technology has put the world at our fingertips which allows us to travel the world virtually in seconds but what that has also done is create a void. I think we often skip right over those things close to home in search for the newest hot topic from who knows where. Now I'm all for traveling and have spent much of my life doing so but even still, I often regret or wonder at least about those little things I've missed. Some of the coolest sites or neatest parks never make a national map. It was and still is our hope to bring these treasures out.
One of the fastest growing markets are the one we are in, every online advertising agency out there is struggling to capture this exact idea. Just how do you bring the Internet close to home, how does it become personal, and as a business just how do you monetize that. Well, we think we have it, and even have a few more additions up our sleeve. We really love giving our smaller communities full color exposure online. We are now in the process of looking for some additional working capital to expand into several more counties and to add a few more bells and whistles to our site. How cool will it be to look at western NY online county by county to see just what treasures lie just a few miles down the road. Thanks Everyone!

Something I've Noticed...

2009-04-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

Just where is Point Breeze, NY? What I mean is that I thought everybody knew where it was, not so. Surprisingly we have plenty of those in Orleans County that are not even familiar with the place let alone those 50,60, 100 miles away. Sure we have lots of fishermen come in from other states throughout the year but what about our close neighbors. In talking with a few business owners I've found this to be a glaring need. To start with there is no signage to be had, 104, 31, the Thruway etc... There is nothing for those going east or west to even think the place exists.
What a great little gem in Orleans with boating, sailing, skiing, fishing, dining or simply an evening with a nice sunset yet I'm aware of a business owner in Medina who didn't even know the place was there until just a short time ago. Now whether it is the business owners themselves who must rally for a better ad campaign or a push for more publicity from county and state tourism organizations is not really my issue, but the truth is WE all benefit when people come from outside our area spend their money here and leave. FREE MONEY and a beautiful place to boot. Point Breeze should be on the map.

A Destination Point

2009-02-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sure in 10 seconds flat we could all come up with a hand full of economic issues we face in western NY but after spending much of my adult life away from here I ready to give us a few props. We LOVE our summers here and appreciate them for what they are and don't tend to take them for granted. We have an extremely diverse culture, and I'm not just talking about our ethnic backgrounds. From ski slopes to wine country, from fall foliage to summers on the lake, and from the historic Erie Canal to several pro sports teams that we cling to even in one of the small markets out there.
The truth is, we have a lot to offer. Many of us may not feel as though we have anything cool right next to us but in reality we are all within an hour of just about anything. We use to brag about being the EMPIRE state and you know what, most of those things are still here. I think it is about time we holding our heads up high again and push to put western NY back on the map. From great cities and smaller towns to winding mountian roads and grand fresh water lakes, lets make this place A DESTINATION POINT.

Life's Turns

2008-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

As the holidays come and go I'm sure we may all have spent a bit more than we should and will be coming back down to reality. It is kind of crazy, how things can change...Just a few years ago life in the U.S. seemed to be running smoothly and now? Well, lets just say that things are a bit bumpy. It is in these times that I see the strength of the human soul, in the midst of it all there is still hope. Hell, even some businesses find upward swings through the mess. We seem to have an uncanny knack for getting back to the basics. As people we remember what is dearest to us, friends, family etc... As businesses we tighten up, trim the fat and get back to what made us profitable in the first place. Our willingness to go the extra mile is what America is all about and as we go through another one of life's cycles I have no doubt we'll get tough, hungry again, and competitive. We'll show the world once again, we lead the way because we are FREE to do so.

Checked into the Boards

2008-12-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

How cool is this...I stopped into Valle Jewelers in Batavia the other day to get some information about a website. Not only did I get what I was looking for, it was also brought to my attention that GeneseeLife.info is now being advertised on the boards at the Falleti Ice Arena. Right there heading into the northeast corner of the hockey rink is the sign and although we wish no real pain, the thought of someone getting checked into our sign is awesome. Thanks to everyone working at arena, it is a great place for fun, exercise and well...a little hockey can erase a lot of frustration.

Time for Your "Self"

2008-12-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

Running door to door selling ad space on our site I've found an interesting note. Perspective is the answer of late. Two types of businesses I find quite often are coffee shops and Fitness gyms, both of which could be falling on hard times in this economy. The truth is, when asked about their condition, I've heard everything. Some say gym membrships are an easy expense to cut in rough times, some economist say to lay off $4 lattes and I'm glad some people just don't listen. Perspective is everthing.

The owners that are doing well have got it figured out, take Betsy from Curves for example. Her philosopghy is simple, for $30 a month women get some time to themselves and get to do something that good for the body and soul. Where else can you get that kind of return on $30. Taking an hour out of a busy week to sit and maybe read, or chat with an old friend over coffee is just what life is all about. The business owners who are reminding their clientele seem to be doing well. Maybe we should all take a hint from their success.