The Fredonia Mall is a small store in the very small town of Fredonia, Ohio. If you’re passing through on Ohio State Route 661, you could miss if you blink. Here’s a video highlighting some of the characters you’ll find at the store and some highlights showing the many things they sell.

Here’s a map of their location in Fredonia, Ohio.

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Licking County recently gained a new emergency air helicopter company in Saint Louisville, Ohio called Air Evac Lifeteam. We’re lucky to have these fine people serving our community. They have saved lives and are an important part of the area’s health services. I’ve seen references where they’re being used very, very frequently.

Heritage Days 2011 Air Evac Lifeteam (Photo credit: Macomb Paynes)

It caught my eye that so many stories in the news state the use of emergency air transport, but then it will state, “transported with non-life threating injuries.”. What’s that about? You would think that a life threatening injury is the only reason air transport would be required. I worry that they’re calling for air transport when it’s not really required to pay for this multi-million dollar operation. I don’t know enough to know that this is the case, but I don’t think it’s out of the realm of reasonable suspicion to question this. One reason that reports may appear this way is that air service is also called when there may be a loss of limb, but not a loss of life.

When emergency air transport is called, costs vary in the $10,000 – $20,000 range. It depends on your insurance as to how much of this is paid. Some are under the assumption that their coverage pays for 100% of this, but are shocked to find out that insurance only pays what it considers to be customary, usually about $3,000. The patient is responsible for the rest of the bill.

Since I suspect that the service is being used at times when it may not be required, I want insurance to cover it. As a motorcycle rider, I know that just about any accident could cause an injury where air service is requested. It’s not like a patient has a choice in the matter either. Theoretically you could refuse air service, but what are the chances of you getting your way. If they’re called, you’re paying. There’s also a very good chance that you really will need them.

So what can you do to cover the chances of getting a bill that could put you into bankruptcy? There is a membership that costs $50/year. Seems like a great idea. Problem is, the membership only covers the cost of that particular service is used. If you buy the Air Evac Lifeteam membership and another service from Columbus is called, the bill is not covered. Check the FAQ for Air Evac. It answers most of the questions I have.

Newark, Ohio has found another program to fund it’s operations with state funds. This transfer of state taxpayer funds goes to clean up a local property on South 21st street. Here’s the story, ironically published at Business First.

There have been some improvements to the website. If you look at the Link Directory link in the toolbar of Newark, Ohio Links, you’ll find a few more ways to discover the websites connected to the city. They are organized in a few different ways and more will be added. 

The old link system was outdated and the new one is more flexible and easier to update. The admin will get instant notification when a bad link is found so the directory will stay updated with nothing but valid links. 

New websites that have been added are - 

• Haynes Carpets
• Church Street Floor Covering
• Nice carpets 
• The H Man
• Occasions By JK  Major improvements were done to their site.
• Mattress Firm
• Beish Services
• David B. Wills & Associates
• Michael A. Haas & Associates
• Wei Acupuncture Of Newark
• JBA Architects
• Christy’s Pizza

The types of sites deleted due to failed websites - 

• Geese Control Company
• 1 Landscape company
• Licking County Sports score website.
• 4 Personal blogs that had either quit posting for years or were gone.
• 1 bed and breakfast
• 1 Hotel
• 1 office supply store
• 1 restaurant
• 2 Bars
• 1 clothing store
• 1 Pizza restaurant
• 1 Firearms instruction school.
• 1 Travel Agency
• 1 Golf Course
• 1 Clothes Cleaner
• 1 Tanning Salon

It’s sad to see so many sites leaving. Many are failed businesses and others are giving up on owning their own websites and resorting to the walled content at Facebook. As Facebook begins to lose followers, I expect to see some of these return to the benefits of owning their own website again. 

Some of the new websites are Yellowbook websites with nothing more than a few photos and a phone number. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. 

The new link system may not look much now, but I will phase in more functions later. It will also free up some time for other features that I’ve been wanting to add. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful. 

Something happened a few weeks ago that I’ve never seen before in keeping track of Newark, Ohio related links. At the same time, there was a large number of sites that disappeared and a large number that were added. Part of that may be due to websites expiring as 2012 started, part of it is because I had the time to look at every link, but that doesn’t explain all of it.

Some, but not many, of the links that have left have switched to using social media, primarily Facebook. I can see the appeal in being able to easily post for free, but I think that in the coming years, these businesses will regret that decision. Starting a WordPress blog is nearly as easy and the return over time will be greater. It’s always wise to own your own content and Facebook owns everything that you place on their pages. 

Due to these large volumes of changes I’m working on converting my old system to a newer system for keeping track of the link directory. This will mean an ever better organized list of active links. 

Here’s the list of recent changes:

Websites added:

• Massage and Prosper
• Arensberg Pharmacy
• Licking Land Trust
• The Ohio National Road
• Newark Kiwanis – major update and new domain name
• Caribou Coffee
• Legend Farm And Feed
• Pet Supplies Plus
• Heath Eagles
• Awaken Technologies – computer repair, web design, and consulting
• Jay Baldwin
• Licking Springs Golf Club
• LongHorn Steak House

Websites deleted:

• Multiple catering businesses
• Multiple churches
• 1 Engineering firm
• 1 radio station
• 1 clothing manufacturer
• 1 clothing cleaner
• 1 embroidery company
• 1 gift shop
• 2 local blogs
• 1 news website
• 1 motorcycle repair website
• 1 restaurant ceased to operate their website, but remain in business
• 1 winery
• 3 realtors
• 1 property management group
• 2 personal trainers
• 4 websites supporting local sports teams
• 1 firearms instruction school
• 1 website hacked and unusable
• 1 yoga center
• 1 hockey team
• Licking County Farm Bureau apparently chose to cease it’s own website, but larger organizational website exists.
• 1 apple farm
• 1 attorney
• 1 junkyard
• Multiple car repair garages
• 1 Christian school
• 1 child care center
• 1 limo service
• 1 rock band

Related articles

• New Links For The Directory (newarkohiolinks.com)
• How to Make Website More Sociable with 10 Joomla Extensions (prweb.com)
• New Links For The Newark, Ohio Directory (newarkohiolinks.com)
• New Newark, Ohio Website Updates (newarkohiolinks.com)

A recent article stated that Newark, Ohio has received a loan from The State Of Ohio to continue upgrading their meter system to an automated system. There’s many questions surrounding the use of smart meters for utilities in other cities around the nation. 

Image via Wikipedia

• Can they be hacked? 
• Can their signal interfere with other wireless systems? 
• Do they bill correctly and what is the recourse if they do not? 
• How are the states funding these projects when they are broke? 
• How are the cities funding these projects when they are broke? 

I’ve got many questions and I’m sure others do too. So far, here is the only link of substance that I can find on the issue, Newark, Ohio borrowing money for water meter system. That’s on the city’s $20,000 website, so whether the link stays good or not, we’ll see. My apologies if it’s bad. 

With a resource as vital as water, Newark’s residents place a lot of trust in city officials to get this done right. My concern is that there is no mention of how problems that other cities have experienced will be addressed here. With the money freely granted from the State Of Ohio, we’ll find out. 

Related articles

• Water shortages will drive demand for smart water meters, analysts predict (businessgreen.com)
• Monroe replaces thousands of water meters (mysanantonio.com)
• Water Meters Explained (bestbathrooms.com)
• Charlotte city council to vote on new transmitters for water meters (charlotte.news14.com)
• Top 5 Smart Grid Trends of 2011 (greentechmedia.com)
• Building A More Effective Water Meter (business-opportunities.biz)
• A short history of meter reading technology (chicagolandh2o.wordpress.com)
• Not your father’s water meter (chicagolandh2o.wordpress.com)
• Cheaper with a Water Meter? (waterwatchbc.wordpress.com)
• Water Meters for Vancouver? (waterwatchbc.wordpress.com)
• Fresno’s water meter project is on right path (fresnobeehive.com)
• Thousands In Baltimore City, County Will Get New Water Meters (cbsbaltimore.wordpress.com)
• Smart meters (kevingriffiths.wordpress.com)
• UCLA Bringing a Fully Networked Smart Grid to Campus (greentechmedia.com)
• Smart Meter Battles in Nevada (lettingfreedomring.com)

I have quite a few new links added for this update.

In the Newark, Ohio Restaurant And Bars category:

• The Steak Escape
• Christy’s Pizza
• Damon’s

In the Health category:

• Custom Care Giving
• Behavorial Healthcare Partners Of Central Ohio
• Primary Vision Care

In the Non-Profit category:

• Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee

In the Local Bloggers category:

• Randolfo Stories And Photos

In the Recreation, Sports And Leisure category:

• Valley Zipline Tours
• Roscoe Village

In the Industry And Warehousing category:

• PCA – The Packaging Corporation Of America

In the Attorney And Legal category:

• Handleman Law Office

In the Financial category:

• McClain, Hill, Rugg, And Associates Inc.

In the Photographers category:

• Barclay Photos

In the Beauty And Barbershops category:

• Tan Pro
• BeachFront Tanning

In Food category:

• Al’s Meat Market

In the Retail category:

• T.E.M. Pawn Shop

In the Artists And Galleries category:

• Stained Skin
• Rising Tide Studio

The directory is at a total of 840 active links with only a small percent of the links not belonging to businesses, individuals, or organizations in the immediate vicinity of Newark, Ohio. As always, I’m looking for more to add and I always appreciate any help with errors or omissions.

Happy New Year’s and best wishes to all for 2012.

Related articles

• New Newark, Ohio Website Updates (newarkohiolinks.com)
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A recent article in The Columbus Dispatch points to Jonathan Davey, CEO of Safe Harbor Wealth, Inc, as being involved in a Federal lawsuit for running a Ponzi scheme with investor’s money. From the accusations, he and others are accused of diverting funds intended for investment abroad and spending that money on paying off other members of the scheme, buying real estate, and spending the money on themselves. 

Dispatch writer Josh Jordan points out that Jonathan Davey ran for a position on the Newark City School’s board in 2003. According to their article, he ran by promoting better financial accounting for Newark City schools. 

Scammers are everywhere and at all levels of society. We can see from this that the wolves are at the door when they see an organization like Newark, City Schools wasting money in the ways that they do. I bet Davey did see the fraud and abuse, but I bet he wasn’t there to solve the problem. More than likely, he wanted to use his expertise to funnel these unchecked funds to his benefit. I cannot help but wonder how many are already doing this or have plans to in the future. 

Point of this is that many are not financial wizards and if you look at the Newark City Schools finances, the truth of how the money is spent is buried in there somewhere, but it’s not easy to find. Find the most detailed report there and only in new construction will you find exactly what vendors were paid and there’s nothing telling what they were paid for. The lack of public accountability is indeed open for attack anyone pulling a scam. The only safeguard available is that the school district polices itself very well and take into full consideration that there are many looking at them as a cash cow. 

Here are some other links related to the Ponzi scheme with Jonathan Davey:

• Keith Simmons – charged in a Ponzi scheme involving CapitolONE Bank
• Bryan Coats – assets frozen in the same investigation. 
• Deanna R. Salazar – California Board Of Insurance explains her involvement in the Ponzi scheme. 

I’m sure you’re wondering the same thing as me. How did this group join up? What linked them together? 

The Golden Wok is a Chinese restaurant in Newark, Ohio that’s a bit of a secret. It sits in an alley on the north side of the courthouse square in the downtown area. There is a sign on North 3rd street, but it’s high and a little hard to see as time has faded it. From what I’ve been told, it used to be a speakeasy in during the prohibition era and when you’re inside it, it feels like it. The place reminds one of a scene from an old gangster movie.

Newark, Ohio's Chinese restaurant, The Golden Wok, has an entrance in the alley just north of the courthouse square.

I’m not qualified to tell you much about the food at The Golden Wok as I’m not a big fan of Chinese food. I enjoyed the meals I’ve had there as far as Chinese food goes though. It’s worth a try just to experience the place.

If you have trouble finding it, look for these signs. I’m also including a map.

Sign visible from the Newark, Ohio square for the hidden Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant.Closeup Of The Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant in Downtown Newark, Ohio.

Closeup Of The Golden Wok Sign.

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Related articles

• The Lucky Bamboo Chinese Restaurant In Newark, Ohio. (newarkohiolinks.com)

The Lucky Bamboo is one of Newark, Ohio’s Chinese restaurants that does a good business. It’s on the far west side of town at 1485 Granville Road. They’ve been in business for many years and remain one of the favorite unique restaurants in Newark, Ohio. 

There is carry-out(10% off) or dine-in. The Lucky Bamboo’s phone number is 740-344-1822. Hungry Chinese food lovers in Newark should try them. They are very close to The Cherry Valley Lodge and The Marriot. They are also a short drive from Granville, Ohio. Don’t settle for fast food on the west side of town when you could have great Chinese and Thai food. 

As of this writing, I cannot find a website for this location. 

Another longtime favorite Chinese restaurant in Newark, Ohio is The Golden Wok, which used to be a speakeasy during prohibition. 

The Lucky Bamboo In Newark, Ohio

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