Les Schwab breaks ground on new alignment center

Excavation at 930 E. 17th St., where Les Schwab Tire Center s building an alignment center.

OK, I'm back from two weeks on the East Coast, and while I tried to keep some content coming there's still no place like home. Funny thing was while I was there anytime I saw new construction my immediate reaction was to ask myself, "Wonder what's going on there?"

This morning's first order of business was to visit the city of Idaho Falls Building Department to get an answer for two BizMojo Idaho readers, Gary Mills and Chad (chado347l), who wanted to know what was happening next to Les Schwab Tire Center on 17th Street. The longtime car wash at 930 E. 17th St., has been torn down and a quick drive-by revealed dirt being dug on the .63-acre site.

Word from the city is that Les Schwab is adding on to its operation there and building a new alignment center. No word on when it will be complete, but if you look at the frame a few blocks further east where Natural Grocers is going up fast I think it's a safe bet they'll have it done before the snow flies.

Darci Davis returns to eastern Idaho AmeriTitle office

Darci Davis

After a two-year hiatus, Darci Davis has returned to the escrow team at AmeriTitle's office in Idaho Falls. After 10 years in the title and escrow Industry, Davis took a break to acquire and manage a family-run dry cleaning business, helping it turn into a successful and stable enterprise. She returns to AmeriTitle today as the escrow manager for the Idaho Falls, Rigby and Rexburg locations.

"I am excited to get back into the industry I am so passionate about, and look forward to again working with the outstanding AmeriTitle team and our customers," she said.

"Darci brings with her an in-depth knowledge of escrow, a wealth of experience and a known reputation as a leader in our industry throughout the region. We are thrilled to have her back," said Richard Hajek, general manager of the Idaho Falls AmeriTitle office.

What's a Facebook 'like' really worth? Depends on whether you're talking ego or money

When Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men," I don't think he was talking about 21st century social media, but who knows? Whatever you want to believe is fine with me.

This morning, prompted by my friend Melissa "Moe" Bristol, a local photographer and occasional BizMojo contributor, I invited all my friends and associates to like the Facebook page for her business, https://www.facebook.com/PhotographyByMelissaBristol.

I admit that part of this was driven by ego. Before I started my fishing expedition, she had 326 likes. A half-hour later she had 330. If she ends the day with 450, I'm really going to feel like somebody.

I won't endorse her except to say she's a person who sees pictures everywhere she goes and whether it's with an iPhone or a digital Canon, she almost always gets a shot. This can be annoying or frustrating, depending on how much of a hurry you're in. But as a single mother of two boys, Mikey, 11, and Leighton, 6, she's trying to make a living doing what she loves, shooting photos of families, engaged couples, high school seniors and weddings. More power to her.

Beyond that, however, this whole exercise has got me wondering, "How much is a Facebook like really worth?" If you drive down 17th Street and every business has a sign that says, "Like us on Facebook!" doesn't that devalue the currency?

Diving into the matter, I found this link from earlier this year:
http://www.businessinsider.com/brands-spend-on-facebook-not-effective-2013-66.

Feel free to read it, but here's the sentence that jumped out at me:

Researchers have attempted to calculate the potential value of a user who "Likes" a brand, but those numbers vary wildly. Social Media Examiner's 2013 Social Media Marketing Industry Report surveyed 3,000 marketers, and 41% said they are "uncertain" about the effectiveness of Facebook marketing. The report also found that 17% flat-out said the site is ineffective for marketing purposes. Only 32% agree it is effective.

It's all very scientific and hard to quantify -- I'll grant you that -- but at the most basic level, who doesn't like to be liked?

Oh, by the way, if you want to like BizMojo Idaho's Facebook page, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/BizMojoIdaho. Like everyone, I could use some validation.

One-man Churchill show coming to Carr Gallery in September

Sir Winston Churchill on April 5, 1955, the day he resigned as prime minister because of declining health. (Source: British Pathe Archive)

I saw this on Facebook today, and as a student of history I found it interesting. The Idaho Falls Arts Council is bringing Churchill, a one-person show, to Idaho Falls Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carr Gallery. Tickets are $50.

Set in April 1955, Churchill agonizes in his wartime bunker below London whether to resign as prime minister. As he tries to decide (Spoiler: He did. He was 80 and had suffered a stroke in 1953), he reviews his uniquely eventful career, filled with history-changing events and people, glorious speeches, pithy comments and funny stories. The show promises all the wit and wisdom that has made Churchill into an imperishable legend. 

Limited tickets are available to create these intimate performances in the Carr Gallery. Selections of sweet and savory desserts are included in the admission price. It is being sponsored by Jerry and Carrie Scheid and Tim and Anne Hopkins. For tickets, go to www.idahofallsarts.org or call 522-0471.

As an aside, I can't imagine whoever is playing Churchill will smoke the way the great man did. Not in an art gallery. Yet for the record, here is brief bit from Cigars Magazine:

The man for whom the imposing Churchill cigar size is named smoked eight to 10 cigars a day, primarily Cuban brand. Not even the necessity of wearing an oxygen mask for a high-altitude flight in a non-pressurized cabin could prevent Churchill from smoking. As the story goes, the prime minister requested that a special mask be created that would allow him to smoke while airborne. Naturally, the request was fulfilled. On another occasion, Churchill hosted a luncheon for King Ibn Sa'ud of Saudi Arabia, who did not allow smoking or drinking in his presence. Rather than submit to the king's wishes, Churchill pointed out that "my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." The king was convinced.

I remember Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain (20 to 40 cigars a day) many years ago at the Colonial, and all the coughing and consternation over the clouds of cigar smoke billowing from the stage.

Development Company receives $1.5 million federal grant for Driggs job center

East Central Idaho Planning and Development Association of Rexburg has received a $1.5 million grant to help build and fund the Teton County Professional Technical Education and Business Center in Driggs.

The Economic Development Administration grant was announced last week by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. The center is expected to create 100 jobs and contribute $850,000 in private investments, according to estimates from the association.

Instead of constructing a new building for the center, an already existing two-story, 20,000-square-foot building will be brought up to code and have a new HVAC system and other utilities installed. The renovated building will be used for professional technical education and will support light manufacturing and other industries.

“One of the Obama administration’s top priorities is ensuring American workers have the skills they need to compete for good-paying jobs,” a news release quoted Pritzker saying. “The Teton County Professional Technical Education and Business Center in Idaho, supported by this $1.5 million EDA grant, will help train workers and ensure local businesses have the skilled workforce they need to be successful.”

Latin is a dead language, but it doesn't have to kill you

Have you ever used "i.e." when you meant to use "e.g."? I know, I know, it's embarrassing. Luckily, I have just discovered an easy way to keep the two clear in my mind.

I.e. is the abbreviation for the Latin term id est, which means "that is."

E.g. is the abbreviation for exempli gratia, which means "for example."

Remember the letter "i" as "in other words," if you want to impress someone by using i.e.

Remember the letter "e" as "for example," if you feel the need to show your erudition with e.g.

That wasn't so hard, was it?

Concerts at Snake River Landing planned in support of United Way

Want to learn more about the United Way of Bonneville County? Here's your opportunity to do that at a fun Alive After Five-style event. If you want a larger version of this poster (i.e., if your eyes are as bad as mine), click on it to enlarge it. Print it out and put it on your fridge. Full disclosure: Happyville, the band in which I play guitar, will be performing Aug. 29. We hope to see you there, but you don't want to miss 40 Something Band either, 'cause they're good and they're our buds.