The membership drive will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Aiken Mall. Troops open to girls in K5 through 12th grades will have information tables, Girl Scout cookies, crafts, demonstrations and other activities at the mall.

Area Girl Scout troops are also looking for adult volunteers and troop leaders. Scheduling for adult volunteers is flexible,key rings, according to Bonnie Boucek of the Aiken/Edgefield Girl Scouts. Girls interested in participating in Scouting on an individual basis can join the Juliette program, which is designed to accommodate even the busiest young woman’s schedule.

Aiken and Edgefield troops are part of the Girl Scouts Mountains to Midlands Council, based in Columbia. The Council serves 22 counties in western South Carolina and includes more than 12,300 young women and some 5,200 adults across the state.

Now in its 98th year,pendants, the Girl Scouts of America is the largest organization serving young women in the United States. The program has arms that emphasize science and technology, the arts, outdoor and environmental concerns,cuff Links, business and economic literacy,Charm pendant, and personal ethics and responsibility.

For more information about Saturday’s membership drive or about local Girl Scouting options, contact recruitment manager Melinda Barron by e-mail at brianmylinda@aol.com.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.

A Beaufort County Council committee unanimously recommended the change Tuesday that would allow for more shops in the Oakwood I and Oakwood II centers.

Oakwood manager Jane Hincher applied for village-center zoning that would allow more flexibility in finding tenants. The current community preservation and professional office district zoning of the 2.14-acre property between Miller Drive and Mayfair Court on the west side of Sams Point Road mostly limits the buildings to use as office space or services.

Those uses would still be allowed under the village zoning, which also would allow retail stores.

The Natural Resources Committee’s recommendation Tuesday followed unanimous votes of approval from the county Preservation Committee, the Planning Commission and the Lady’s Island/St. Helena Island Subcommittee. The issue goes next to the County Council for final consideration.

Sams Point Road already has stores that have been grandfathered in since Oakwood I was developed in 1983. The center is beside an area zoned village center to the south,watches, which last year was rezoned to allow retail stores. The Valero gas station along Sam’s Point Road to the east of the properties would also be included in the proposed rezoning.

The Natural Resources Committee also recommended on Tuesday the following items be approved:

–Change the May River Community Preservation District to rural community preservation zoning to limit development and preserve the character of the May River Road corridor in Bluffton. The amendment was a result of five years of work and discussions by the May River Community Preservation Committee,Charm bracelet, according to county planning director Tony Criscitiello.

–Amend the zoning and development standards ordinance to allow varietystores,rings, such as Family Dollar or Dollar General, smaller than 10,000 square feet in rural business districts. They would have to be at least five miles apart,key rings, under the proposal.

–Amend the same ordinance to allow historic buildings — defined as those more than 50 years old — to be renovated and reused through a special-use permit rather than torn down.

Four-Star Gen. McCaffrey, former National Drug Policy Director, said, "This is a national crisis. More than 5 million teenagers have serious behavioral disorder issues according to the Surgeon General. At least one in five youth have a mental health disorder – 46,000 young people in Utah alone. Mental health issues can manifest into a host of behaviors including drug and alcohol abuse which is growing at an alarming rate. Utah’s treatment gap for drug and alcohol abuse among all ages is 178,000; only 15,000 receive treatment. Almost 100,000 Utah youth 12-25 need but do not receive treatment."

Dr. Barry Karlin, the Chairman and CEO of CRC Health Group, the country’s largest behavioral treatment organization with 145 facilities, including nine in Utah specializing in helping troubled youth, said, "The conference will create greater awareness of the explosion of problems facing young people today. We’re bringing together clinical experts, providers, parents, families, local government, safety leaders, and the public to discuss the range of co-occurring issues affecting youth including drugs, depression, bullying, runaways, unemployment,key rings, finances, and behavior and thoughts threatening health and life. We want more people aware of the importance of treatment and prevention."

Attorney General Shurtleff has had personal family experience with serious youth problems and the benefits of treatment and family involvement, and the First Lady has been an advocate and leader of many effective programs assisting troubled youth.

>From 10-11 AM,Charm pendant, there will be a display, also open to the media,bangles, of ways to deal with problems, and solutions and programs that can be utilized. Following the 11 AM news conference, media is invited to join the experts and attendees at an informal lunch at noon.

The conference is organized by CRC Health Group and its subsidiary Aspen Education Group which specializes in treatment of troubled youth. Other behavioral leaders participating include Dr. Rick Meeves, Executive Director, Outback Therapeutic Expeditions; Liz Zentner, Utah PTA Health Commissioner; and the Utah Department of Human Services; the Addiction Recovery Program and Health Support Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and many other experts and leaders.

“Like mixtapes of the 1980s, a Searchme playlist is a very personal — and inexpensive — way to tell someone how you feel about them,” said Randy Adams, CEO of Searchme. “With Searchme Music, our users get free, unlimited full-song streams so they can find the perfect playlist for their Valentine. We hope this contest inspires our users to have some fun with Searchme Music and gives them a creative gift idea for their Valentine. We’re looking forward to seeing what our users come up with this Valentine’s Day.”

The Searchme “Share the Love” Valentine’s Day contest is open to anyone 18 and older in the U.S. Details on entering the contest can be found here; all playlists must be submitted by February 14, 2009 (midnight PST). The winner will receive round-trip air tickets and hotel accommodation for two, along with two tickets to earrings see a performance by the legendary Britney Spears at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

About Searchme

Searchme is an innovative way to search the Web that uses patented visual search and category suggest features to deliver relevant, meaningful results faster, to every kind of Internet user. Searchme was founded in 2005 by Randy Adams, CEO, and John Holland. The company received initial funding from Sequoia Capital. key rings For logos, images and web/broadcast material, please visit www.searchme.com/press.

(C) 2008 Searchme is a trademark of Searchme, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consumers nationwide are scaling back as spending for the holiday is predicted to fall to $28.6 billion, down 4.8 percent for 2008, according to the research firm IBISWorld Inc. The firm expects couples will choose chocolates or greeting cards instead of pricier gifts, such as jewelry and expensive dinners.

Alan Crown of Jacksonville usually buys his wife a gift and takes her out to dinner, but not this year.

“Times are tough and money’s tight,” said Crown, 61, as he peeked through the tiffany window of a St. Johns Town Center shop. “We cut back the dinner because we agreed it was overdoing it.”

‘The luxury items will suffer’

More expensive gifts like jewelry and clothes are expected to take the biggest hit, while sales for smaller items such as candy and greeting cards will thrive, said Paul Mason, an economics professor at the University of North Florida.

“It’s no different than any other holiday,” he said. “When the economy is weak, people will still buy gifts, but the luxury items will suffer. ”

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, florists are expecting big losses. The majority of their holiday business comes from office deliveries, according to local florist shop owners.

February sales for Kuhn Flowers, which has three Northeast Florida locations, were down 10 percent in 2008, and the company is expecting another double-digit decrease this year, said co-owner Rick Graham.

“Valentine’s Day is about making a splash,” Graham said. “People want to get something that earrings everyone in the office will be talking about, so it does hurt that it’s not on a weekday.”

Along with Christmas, Valentine’s Day brings the most revenue to Kuhn Flowers, so a down season can really hurt, he said.

To combat the loveless economy, the florist is dropping prices and offering bouquets for each price range. The company is selling a dozen roses delivered for $54.99, which is $25 less than the usual price.

“Last year, guys in construction and real estate would come in with wads of cash, and we know that won’t be the case this year,” Graham said. “So we’re trying to offer something for everyone and products at all price points.”

Flowers by Pat on Edgewood Avenue South is expecting similar results, so the company reduced its stock order.

Owner Pat Cyrus said she expects only about three-quarters of last year’s revenue.

“We know the economy is bad and a lot of people lost their jobs,” she said. “People still need to buy something, they’re just not going lavish.”

But some Jacksonville businesses are more optimistic about the calendar.

While retail wine sales are down at the Grape, a Jacksonville restaurant, wine bar and wine retailer, holiday meal reservations are booked.

General manager Kris Chislett attributes the success to the holiday’s date.

“It’s a godsend that Valentine’s Day fell on a weekend,” he said. “It will offset the negative effects of the economy, which has taken its toll.”

Chocolatiers are also expecting good results.

Peterbrooke spokesman Chris Sams said he hopes more people will be inclined to buy a $20 box of chocolates than a $100 piece of jewelry.

From Feb. 1 to Feb. 10, sales at the chocolate company are up 2 percentage points compared key rings to the same time last year, he said.

But Peterbrooke’s busiest days of the year are yet to come — today and Saturday.

Sams said sales on these two days could make or break Valentine’s Day revenues, which bring in about 20 percent of the company’s overall business.

And the economy isn’t just affecting retailers. Jacksonville residents are also pinching pennies this holiday.

Justin Rose, 23, and his girlfriend are not celebrating the holiday at all.

“She and I came to an agreement,” he said. “The money needs to be spent on bills and other priorities.”

This report contains material provided by The Associated Press.

By Vicki T. Lee

Baltimore AFRO Staff

For many, the idea of wearing jewelry akin to what our ancestors wore during slavery, is considered insulting to African-American strides.

Contrary to that belief, a local company believes that a visual reminder of our not-so-distant past will instill a more focused future.

Ujaama Inc. is a family-owned business that produces the Freedom Bracelet, a sterling silver bracelet made in the likeness of a shackle. Company president Shawn Baker doesn’t view the significance of the bracelet as a return to the past, rather an insight into the future.

“It’s a part of my history,” Mr. Baker said. “It’s not to relive, but to remember how far we have to go.”

The Freedom bracelet was the brainchild of Mr. Baker and his brother Gor’Don as they were traveling through Winston-Salem, N.C. on their way back from a CIAA basketball tournament in 1992. During the ride, they closely examined the lengthy journey of our ancestors in their quest for a better life and compared it with the present day African-American community. In the face of alcoholism, drug addiction, imprisonment, and the separation of the Black family, the freedom bracelet is meant to make every African-American individually responsible for the struggles still before us.

Rather than awaiting a leader, Mr. Baker stated that “it will take a collective effort” to tiffany and co break the mental chains enslaving the Black community.

Each freedom bracelet is made with the last link broken, showing the African American break from the chains of slavery. On the inside of the bracelet is the Ujaama, Inc. emblem and a number indicating how many bracelets have been made. The purchaser of a bracelet also receives a certificate of authenticity and a deed of commemoration.

Ujaama, the fourth principle of Kwanzaa, was formed in 1997 with the mission of “rais[ing] the consciousness of all nations, to keep cognizant the unerring truth of the contributions made to society and to the world by the African-American people.”

The freedom bracelet provokes a mixture of comments and opinions according to Mr. Baker, who wears his on a daily basis with the broken link dangling on the outside of his wrist.

“The bracelet catches the eye,” of Whites and Blacks alike. “Some of the younger Black guys think I’m on a home monitoring system,” Mr. Baker said.

Mr. Baker stated that he has received comments criticizing a product reminiscent of a negative key rings part of our history, and comments recognizing the importance the company mission, even a favorable comment from a “card-carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan.”

Mr. Baker, who tells people that he encounters that he’s “a run-away” from slavery, also encourages that “you have to set yourself apart from everybody.”

The company encompasses the Baker family: Gordon and Vera Baker, four sons, three daughters, a brother-in-law, and a close friend of the family.

The Ujaama corporation also produces t-shirts in various styles, baseball caps, lapel pins and coffee mugs, all with the freedom bracelet logo. Events such as Afram, the Juneteenth celebration and conventions promoting African-American awareness have served as vending opportunities for the company to promote their message.

Interested in receiving additional information about the freedom bracelet and other Ujaama products?necklaces Call Shawn Baker at 410-542-1006; Fax: 410-542-1442; E-mail: Ujaamal @ aol.com; or contact their website at www.welcome.to/ujaama.