Month: October 2010

Ken Goldstein named vice president of sales at the Orlando-based education management software leader

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2010) – eSchool Solutions®, the leading provider of technology solutions for the pre K-12 education market, has named Ken Goldstein as its vice president of sales.

Goldstein comes to eSchool Solutions after nearly 15 years in the education technology field, where he worked for Productivity Point International, NETg, eClassroom (K-12 division of eCollege), and Blackboard. Since 2006, Goldstein has served as the regional vice president of Blackboard’s K-12 line of business.

In addition, Goldstein has a proven background in sales management and coaching, solution selling, and account and project management for advanced technologies.

“We are excited to have Ken joining the eSchool team,” said Lisa Welton, senior vice president of sales and marketing for eSchool Solutions. “Ken’s exemplary experience in the education technology field, along with his proven track record in sales, will make him a valuable leader to our sales force across the country.”

Goldstein earned a bachelor’s in business administration and a bachelor’s in journalism from University of Colorado-Boulder, and received a master’s in organizational management from University of Colorado-Denver.

eSchool Solutions, which provides a suite of technology solutions for the preK-12 education market, services more than 500 school systems, encompassing 29,000 schools in the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more about the company, visit http://www.eschoolsolutions.com/ or call 800-776-8774.

About eSchool Solutions

eSchool Solutions® is the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the preK-12 education market. In 1987, the Orlando-based company revolutionized substitute management for school systems, completely changing the way districts managed substitutes and employee absences. Now, as a total solutions provider, eSchool Solutions provides a full suite of products and services designed to improve administrative efficiency and help school districts work smarter. The company serves more than 500 school systems, encompassing 29,000 schools in North America.

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

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22-inch tall teen from Nepal turns 18 this week; birthday brings title of world’s shortest man

ORLANDO, Fla. (October 11, 2010) – It’s no tall tale, but it may be the biggest short story ever.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, the 22-inch tall teen featured in the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! book, Enter If You Dare!, will officially take the title of world’s shortest man this week.

Khagendra will turn 18 this Thursday, October 14, making him eligible for the world’s tiniest title. He’s a full five inches shorter than the current smallest man.

Khagendra has earned another title recently – Nepal’s Goodwill Ambassador. His mission will be to help the country attract 1 million tourists next year.

“Khagendra has been recognized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for years as the smallest person known to exist over the age of two,” said Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “He’s one of the most amazing people that we have ever come across. We wish him a happy birthday and congratulate him on his latest accomplishments.”

Khagendra has also been busy helping attract readers for Enter If You Dare!, the annual collection of unusual, amazing and odd stories from Ripley Publishing, and was the talk of the town during his recent visit to New York City.

Facts about Khagendra:

Birthday: October 14, 1992

Birthplace: Baglung District, Nepal

Height: 22 inches

Weight: 11 pounds

Hobbies: Karate, dancing

Downloadable images of Khagendra are available at:  http://www.ripleybooks.com/smallestman/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

frank@wellonscommunications.com

About Ripley Publishing

Ripley Publishing is the publishing arm of Ripley Entertainment Inc., the owner of the internationally famous trademark Ripley’s Believe It or Not! As world authority on all that is unbelievable, the company offers up its vast archives of the strange and unusual through books, television shows, tourist attractions, motion pictures, merchandise and the worldwide syndication of its daily newspaper cartoon. Ripley researchers across the globe are busy each day digging deep into the world of the odd and bizarre to compile enough fresh and exciting material to fill the Believe It or Not! series of books published each year.

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

Featured in this Encore Episode of
Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast Are:

The world’s fastest female talker, Fran Capo, entertains us with her high speed humor and talking skills; The Great Cindini tells about her edgy life as a strongwoman, stuntwoman and Human Firecracker; we learn of one lady’s amazing dedication to her bedtime ritual; we’re introduced to the world’s richest heiress; and we visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Ripley Radio – an On-Demand Oddcast

Ripley Radio is a journey through the weird, wacky, whimsical, wild, and totally unbelievable world of the odd, strange and unusual. Each show provides listeners with amazing and absolutely true tales of today as well as unbelievable facts culled from the extensive archives of the company that has been freaking out families for more than 90 years!

The broadcast is an unpredictable and fun-filled show that proves beyond all      dimensions that Ripley’s is indeed, the global authority on the weird, strange, bizarre and the UNBELIEVABLE!

You can enjoy Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast at the dedicated Ripley Radio website and in the Podcast section of iTunes.

Meet Ripley Radio’s Ensemble:

• · Tim O’Brien, executive producer
  Vice President, Communications, Ripley Entertainment Inc.

• “Ralf with an F” (Ralf Ingwersen)
  Director of Ghost Tours
  Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, St. Augustine, Fla.

• Edward Meyer
  Vice President, Exhibits and Archives, Ripley Entertainment Inc.

• · Marci Pikel
  Manager of Marketing & Production Services, Ripley Entertainment Inc.

For detailed information on each host, please visit the Ripley Radio website.

About Ripley Radio

Ripley Radio is owned by Ripley Entertainment Inc., keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand and is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 80-plus world-wide attractions annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations.  Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Contact:

Tim O’Brien
Ripley Radio Executive Producer
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
obrien@ripleys.com
Office – 615-646-7465
Cell – 615-496-5949

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

FROM: Ripley’s Haunted Adventure

Public Relations – (210) 226-2828

Contact:  Davis Phillips

TERROR IN TEXAS

9^th ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PROMOTION AT RIPLEY’S HAUNTED ADVENTURE CHALLENGES VISITORS TO FACE THEIR WORST FEAR

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Visitors and locals to San Antonio will have the opportunity to be scared stiff this month as Ripley’s Haunted Adventure presents its annual October Halloween celebration with a new twist.

New for 2010 is PHOBIA – Face Your Fears. Visitors will finally have the chance to face ALL their fears in one place. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure has been turned into a one stop phobia shop featuring: fear of the dark, fear of the dead, fear of insects, fear of being closed in with no way out, fear of being trapped in small places, fear of heights, and fear of clowns. All these spectacular fears, plus some you have probably never thought of – all seen and experienced in ways you have dreaded all your life!

PHOBIA comes alive this month only with live actors who can sense YOUR fears!

Located at 329 Alamo Plaza, across from The Alamo, this state-of-the-art, multi million dollar haunted house combines live actors, animatronics, and bone chilling special effects for a terrific experience.

“Any soul brave enough to enter will get the scare of their lives at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure this October,” exclaims Davis Phillips, General Manager of Phillips Entertainment, Inc. Groups will ascend three stories into their worst nightmare via an ancient, rusty old coffin lift. Then they must face their fears in order to find their own way out!

PHOBIA premieres October 1 and will operate Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights only through October 22 and then daily through October 31. Doors open each evening at 7.

Admission to Fright Nights is $18.99 per person – group rates are available. $2 off discount coupons are available at any area Exxon Tiger Market location, or on any Pepsi product at area Wal-Marts. Any Pepsi can may be brought in for the same discount. For more information, visit http://www.AlamoPlazaAttractions.com or call (210) 226 2828.

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

Contact:

Lisa Welton

Vice President of Marketing

Ph: 407-835-9899

lwelton@eschoolsolutions.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

eSchool Solutions aims to eliminate ‘lost learning days’ for the district’s 10,000+ students

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (Oct. 7, 2010) – Robertson County Schools in Tennessee has selected Orlando-based eSchool Solutions® to provide the software to manage absentee teachers.

The eSchool Solutions software is scheduled to go live in the district this spring. It will streamline how the district manages teacher sick days and absences across the county.

Previously, the district used a manual method of managing absentee teachers, selecting subs and assigning the jobs at the school level. This required administrators and principals to handle the absentee needs of more than 630 teachers in the district.

eSchool projects that the new automated system will save the district money and help fight lost-learning days for students.

“We are very proud to be serving Robertson County Schools. We know that this district is working hard to improve its educational standards and get the most out of its teachers and its students,” said Lisa Welton, senior vice president of sales and marketing for eSchool Solutions.

“Our software is all about reducing what we call ‘lost learning days,’ which students can encounter when not supervised by the best possible substitute,” Welton noted. “Our system is the most efficient way to get qualified people into the classrooms.”

In the month of October, Robertson County Schools will install the latest software from eSchool Solutions—known as SmartFindExpress—that matches classrooms with the highest qualified subs. This new software system automates the process, while ensuring the highest qualified substitutes are placed in each class.

To learn more about the company, visit http://www.eschoolsolutions.com/ or call 800-776-8774.

About eSchool Solutions®

eSchool Solutions® is the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the preK-12 education market. In 1987, the Orlando-based company revolutionized substitute management for school systems, completely changing the way districts managed substitutes and employee absences. Now, as a total solutions provider, eSchool Solutions provides a full suite of products and services designed to improve administrative efficiency and help school districts work smarter. The company serves more than 500 school systems, encompassing 29,000 schools in North America.

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Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

Hollywood oddities wanted for museum renovation

Orlando, Fla. – (October 4, 2010) – Happen to have a bust of Brad Pitt made from bottle caps? How about a killer statue of Tom Cruise made from crayons? If you do, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! wants to hear from you.

The company is actively looking to acquire items for its Hollywood Odditorium, which will undergo an extensive renovation this winter.

Items of particular interest include three-dimensional sculptural creations. Top targets would include creations of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Russell Crowe, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Jessica Alba, along with the Hollywood staples Bogart, Brando and Hepburn.

“We know there are some great creations out there, sometimes they’re just difficult to find,” said Edward Meyer, Ripley’s VP of Exhibits and Archives. “We’re in an expansion mode and in search of artists who have a flair for the unusual.”

In addition to artwork, Ripley’s is also looking for Hollywood collections or film-related artifacts.

Any new acquisitions will join a star-studded lineup of exhibits headed for Ripley’s Hollywood Odditorium, including a collection of items owned by Marilyn Monroe (worth more than $1 million), a life size portrait of John Wayne made from colorful laundry lint, a giant portrait of James Dean made from playing dice, a cane owned by Charlie Chaplin, the derbies worn by Laurel and Hardy, a 12-foot long mural of forty-one Hollywood celebrities made from license plates and Fred Astaire made from film.

Anyone with an item they think would be worthy of going on display at Ripley’s Hollywood Odditorium should contact Edward Meyer at meyer@ripleys.com.

Contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

Office – 407-339-0879

Cell – 407-637-6000

frank@wellonscommunications.com

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries.  In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.

Child ID, Halloween safety info part of October 26-27 event

Nashville, Tenn. – (October 1, 2010) – Remington College-Nashville Campus will be providing complimentary “Toothprint” services along with Halloween safety and dental hygiene tips on Tuesday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 27. The event will be held as part of National Dental Hygiene Month.

From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, students from the Dental Hygiene School will provide Toothprint services for children. The Toothprint is a special child identification device that records both bite characteristics and DNA information. Parents receive a wafer with the information imprinted on it.

The Toothprint procedure takes only a few minutes and children as young as 3-4 years of age are usually able to provide an acceptable imprint. More information is available at http://www.toothprints.net/toothprints.html.

Since the event is taking place during the week of Halloween, students and instructors will also provide children and parents with tips for having a safe Halloween and maintaining healthy teeth.

“This event will provide parents with important child identification, health and safety information, as well as remind people of all the valuable services that dental hygienists provide,” said Larry Collins, Remington College-Nashville Campus President.

Parents interested bringing children in for Toothprint procedures are asked to reserve a space by calling the school in advance at 615-493-9398. Walk ins will be accommodated as long as supplies last.

The Remington College dental hygiene school offers several low-cost services for the public, including oral prophylaxis, topical fluoride treatments, x-rays, scaling and root planning and dental sealants.

The school is on the Remington College-Nashville Campus, located at 441 Donelson Pike, Suite 150 in Nashville.

For more information, call 615-493-9398.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/.

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

Posted by Wellons Communications, an Orlando public relations firm.