1  NOTES by Charles Allen Let me first say that I appreciate the confidence shown me by my colleagues by electing me to a two-year term as president at our Detroit Convention. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I first came into the Division when Art Segal was president. He was followed by Larry Posont. I can only pledge to them that I shall do everything I can to build upon their work with honor. I am sure my fellow officers and board members share my view. They are: Joseph Van Lent, First Vice President; Wayne Shevlin, Second Vice President; Kevan Worley, Secretary; Don Morris, Treasurer; Don Hudson, Carl Jacobsen, Larry and Donna Posont, Ben Snow, Barbara Swygert, Andy Virden and Fred Wurtzel, Board Members. Many thanks go to Fred Wurtzel, Larry Posont, Donna Posont and the Michigan Vendors who worked so hard to make our Detroit Meeting successful. A special thanks goes to our Connecticut colleague, Ben Snow, for his work on raffle sales. Those of you who have called our HOTLINE know that Don Morris was elected Chairman of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) Ad Hoc Committee. We have formed subcommittees to concentrate on issues identified at the Washington meeting and have had two telephone conference calls of the entire committee. So what have we accomplished so far? Agency personnel and vendor representatives are actually talking with each other with mutual respect. We are working hard to listen and to hear each other. For some of us, this is a new experience. Perhaps the members of the NCSAB will finally hear our message. Within the last year, I read a letter from an agency director to a vendor denying his request for a machine which would make his operation more efficient. The reason cited was the "charm of hand vending" in the Randolph-Sheppard Program! Such arrogance! Such a lack of recognition of the vendor's business acumen! Vendors talk with me about vending program money being spent in questionable ways, reviews, etc. As long as agencies control the timing of evidentiary hearings -- which they do, in spite of BEP Rules and Regulations -- these issues beg for resolution. We have to go through the process to get a Federal Hearing. If we go to court, we are told we must go back to the administrative process first. We cannot correct these problems overnight. They take time--perhaps longer than our lifetimes. But we keep fighting. Our faces may change, but our message remains the same. This is why there is the National Federation of the Blind. I direct you with a sense of respect (and envy) to Joe VanLent's article about highway vending. In Iowa there are no forced partnerships, no subrosa limitations on income, no thoughts on facility splitting--a recognition of the Randolph Sheppard Program as a Business program, not only a Rehabilitation Program for finding as many closures as possible. The BEP Director speaks with pride and tears of how well the vendors do financially. This has long been a state with a strong NFB affiliate. This is why the NFB. Don Morris sent me a newspaper article about Joe Byard, a Maryland Vendor. The Maryland Agency, along with Learning Independence Through Computer, Inc. (LINC) has set up a pilot program to teach computer skills to vendors. Joe, with his new computer skills, may soon be able to do his own bookkeeping with his home computer and his Talking Laptop. He has a talking cash register, a talking calculator and a money identifier. He is learning to take inventory, add daily receipts and to do payroll. Those of us in states with primitive programs salute (and envy) you, Joe. The Maryland Vendors fought long and hard to get the Maryland Agency to be an advocate, rather than an adversary. This is why the NFB. Just a few more notes: We want to get a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that supports our contention that Royalties are not subject to Self Employment Tax. The NFB has already hired a lawyer to represent us. We should reimburse the NFB for this expenditure. Send contributions, made payable to NFB Merchants Division, to D.J. Morris, 16547 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Designate in the memo, "Legal Fund". Do it! This is why the NFB. Those of you who have called our HOTLINE -- 502/226-3002 -- have heard that we shall have a new message on the first of each month. Remember that you have two minutes to leave a message. Communicate! At the risk of directing you to one article over another, I urge you to read Don Morris' tribute to Lou Zuares (War'es). He is one of the finest persons I have ever met and I treasure his friendship. His story is also a lesson in the wonderful things that can happen when a vendor, a state licensing agency and a host agency exist with mutual respect, trust, and in Lou's case, love. The Roar of '94! Merchants Make Noise at National Convention by Kevan Worley, Editor Blind business people were everywhere and involved in everything at the 1994 national convention of the National Federation of the Blind held at the Detroit, Michigan, Renaissance Center. This country's blind vendors and others interested in business opportunities for the blind were a big part of it all. The Merchants Division of the National Federation of the Blind held an all day financial planning seminar to kick off our part of the convention. Dozens of Merchants members and others interested in financial planning surely must have benefitted from this wide ranging seminar covering taxes, investments, retirement and more. Covering the basics of financial planning for the novice and moving to more complex investment issues, this full day seminar would have qualified for continuing training and education credit offered by some BEP Programs. Michigan merchants members had their hands full hosting the national convention. Fred Wurtzel, member of the board of directors of the national Merchants Division, was everywhere during the week of national convention. He, along with many other merchants, assisted conventioneers in finding all of the various meetings and events scheduled throughout the Renaissance Center. As usual, blind merchants took a leadership role at convention in all aspects of Federation activities. Mary Brunoli has been a long time leader of the Music Division of the NFB. Mary says, "it is important for blind vendors to work in every way we can to support the efforts of the Federation, not only to improve our opportunities in business; it's all related." Mary, who has recently retired as a manger in the Connecticut Business Enterprise Program, served for many years as president of our NFB Music Division. At our national convention in Detroit she was elected secretary of that division. Members of the Merchants Division share Mary's zest for the Federation. We realize how much the Federation has done for us as blind business people and we try to give back through our local chapters and various committees and divisions of the organization outside of the Merchants Division. Ben Snow and his legion of raffle ticket sales people were everywhere throughout the week. Charles Allen, our division president, sold the most tickets and Karen Cox, Colorado, sold the winning ticket to Zena Pearcy, one of our NFB leaders in Louisiana. Donna Posont, Michigan, chaired our flower selling effort. Members of our division did an excellent job providing beautiful corsages and boutonnieres for the banquet and helped our division raise needed funds. Our booth in the Exhibit Hall is always popular; It is staffed by Merchants Division members to sell flowers, raffle tickets and give information about vending. We also had complementary Pepsi and Diet pepsi for those thirsty conventioneers trying to see all they could see of the incredible array of products for the blind consumer. Prior to our Merchants Division meeting, Larry Posont, Michigan, brought in some snack food and drink suppliers to show off their goods. This year's Merchants Division meeting agenda was packed with a wide range of items of particular interest to blind vendors and others in business. President Charles Allen reported on the various activities that our division had been involved with over the past year. He spoke specifically of the many situations and cases in which the Merchants Division of the NFB had intervened. President Allen spoke of our work in Kansas, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and elsewhere. President Allen talked about our leadership role in the NCSAB Conference in Washington and our on-going involvement in the Ad Hoc Committee which is attempting to deal with major problems which confront vending programs across this country. At our annual meeting we did the usual business of the Division: secretary's report, treasurer's report, various fund-raising items, etc. We also heard from vendors across the country giving their views of BEP and related topics. We were treated to an instructive presentation by Priscilla Hudson of the Boulder, Colorado, Public Library, and Dean Blazie of Blazie Engineering, the developer of the famous Braille'n speak. The room was packed with people in attendance at our annual merchants meeting. Many more came and went throughout the afternoon. Chris Johnson, a blind vendor from Ohio, and also a parent of a blind child, said, "I wanted to make sure I caught at least some of the technology discussion, so I ran over here from the Parents of Blind Children Meeting." National conventions of the NFB are like that. You have to pick and choose your activities and move from one meeting to another. There is just so much happening. After the banquet, the board of the NFB Merchants Division met for over an hour, before we got to party! This year the Merchants Division was a part of the second Roll Call of States. On the last day of the NFB National Convention there is a Roll Call of States so that affiliates can make contributions to the White Cane and the Ten Broek Funds, which allow us to do the vital work that we do in our organized blind movement. This year our division was proud to make contributions to both funds as well as a contribution to the NFB's international effort to restore the Louis Braille Home and Museum in France and to the purchase of Sun Shares. As you can tell, the Merchants Division is on the move. Are you a part of it? You can be. You can be involved in your state's merchants division. We encourage all blind people who are interested in business to share with us their knowledge and expertise and to take from us our experience, enthusiasm and philosophy of blindness. Our NFB Merchants Division celebrates our accomplishments and plans for the future every year at our national convention. Join with us to do the work of the division throughout the year. Join with us in July of 1995 in Chicago for the next national convention of the National Federation of the Blind. White Cane Coffee Day and Contributions by Joseph Van Lent Yes, footballs will soon be flying and maybe snowballs too, brrrr! But, one thing is certain--October 15th will soon be here and with it the Merchants Division White Cane Coffee Day. Each year members of the NFB Merchants Division contribute money from the sale of their coffee and other designated items to help support the many activities of this division. This year we are hoping to expand this fund-raising event by inviting private restaurants and businesses to take part. We are asking the Merchants Division Chapter in each state whose members are customers of these businesses to ask them to participate in our fund-raising efforts. For that reason we are continuing to have October 15th as the featured day of White Cane Coffee Day activities. However, many of our locations will be closed that day and we invite those people to set aside either Friday, the 14th or Monday the 17th as their fund-raising day. We will provide signs for both cafeteria and vending facilities. You can put them on your vending machine or by your register with a donation box or dish and invite your customers to contribute, as you give away free coffee or other designated items. If you are in the vending machine business, we suggest you empty your coin and dollar boxes in your coffee machine at the start of the day and count what was collected at the end of your business day. You may make a check for that amount (or more) to the Merchants Division of the National Federation of the Blind. Some vendors prefer just to make a sizeable donation and some have even invited their coffee supplier as well as other suppliers to donate coffee or money to this activity. However you wish to handle it, it will be okay. Just send your check to the designated person for your state or to Joseph Van Lent, 300 Walnut Street, #119, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. For further information you may call me at work (515/281-6060) or at home (515/243-6843). You should be receiving a letter and other information about the WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY in a couple of weeks. If you do not hear from me, let me hear from you! Maryland SLA vs the VA by Don Morris In the Spring, 1994, issue of the Merchants Messenger, you read about our victory over the Veterans Administration in Minnesota. The Federal Court ruled that VA Hospitals really are federal facilities and therefore subject to the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Here is continuing news about the VA Hospitals. This time the Maryland State Licensing Agency (SLA) went against VA for the right to operate a vending facility on VA property. As you will see, the VA loses again. Andrew Freeman, Esq., is the attorney who successfully handled the Maryland Vendors lawsuit/grievance against the Maryland SLA several years ago. That same SLA was duly impressed with Mr. Freeman's skill and extensive knowledge of the Randolph-Sheppard Act and its provisions. The SLA selected Mr. Freeman to serve as their appointed arbitration panelist. (You recall that each side chooses one panelist and together, those two select a third.) The case was argued by attorneys for the VA and the SLA. The arbitration panelists had questions for both sides. It is common in an arbitration that decisions are reached two to one. That is to say that the panelist appointed by one side or the other, along with the arguments presented, will sway the third panelist to their opinion. In this case, however, the arguments by the SLA were so strong and the defense by the VA so weak that the other two panelists agreed with Andy Freeman and found in favor of blind vendors and the Randolph-Sheppard Act with a vote of 3-0. Whether the VA accepts defeat and permits the blind vendor to go to work without further delay from VA or whether the VA drags their feet longer by appealing this arbitration decision, only time will tell. We will keep you posted. On The Iowa Road, Again and Again by Joseph Van Lent Roadside rest area vending in Iowa began shortly after Roger Erpelding became Director of our Business enterprise Program (BEP). Many of you met Roger at the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) meeting that was held in Washington, D.C. and found out what a dynamic leader he is. Iowa started its rest area program with a location close to Des Moines on Interstate 80 at Waukee, Iowa. The next year locations were open on Interstate 80 at the east and west borders of Iowa. Since that time we added four additional facilities on Interstate 80 and two on Interstate 35. We are now about to complete two more additions - one on Interstate 35 and one on I-380. We began our building of these rest areas by constructing a glass frame building on a 10' X 20' cement platform with a door opening at each end. We also used a plastic bubble roof which turned out to be a poor choice. However, because we started on a trial basis we since have converted these buildings and constructed all new ones with a slanting shingle roof. we also increased the size of the building to 12' X 24' feet and have found this to give us adequate space for machines and customers and at the same time allowing us to service the machines while customers use them. Our operators pay for their own electricity and were paying a 1 1/2% fee to the Department of Transportation. Last year we reached an agreement with the Department of Transportation that allows non-profit organizations to give away coffee and cookies only on three major summer holiday weekend - Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. They are restricted to those nine days of the year. after we reached this agreement, as Chairman of the State Blind Vendors Committee, I wrote to the director of the Department of Transportation and asked that they waive the 1 1/2% fee that our operators were paying. The director of the Department of Transportation agreed to this and now our vendors no longer pay any fees for operating their roadside locations. Iowa vendors have seen the advantages of roadside vending and we now have many applicants for these locations. We still have some locations left to build and I am sure the bidding for them will be as competitive as in the past. Many of these operators are already members of the Merchant Division and others (although they are not) have contributed to our White Cane Safety day because they are well aware of how the NFB has led the way for roadside vending. If your state has not gotten into roadside vending, I urge you to push for this as you will find these locations to be very profitable and worthwhile businesses. Roger and I will be glad to help you in getting your state to add roadside vending locations on your Interstate systems with blind vendors operating them. Explore Your Local Public Library by Priscilla Hudson Editor's Note: Priscilla is a long time Federationist and active in the NFB of Colorado. She works as a Librarian in Boulder. We best know her at conventions from her association with Diane McGeorge and "Turkey." We were privileged to hear her speak at our Detroit Division meeting. She is married to Don Hudson, one of our Board members. Public libraries are everywhere. Small towns, neighborhoods, big cities all have public libraries and there should be one near you. To find out, check your local telephone directory. Libraries are listed in most yellow pages with addresses and telephone numbers. Today's public library is a magic place. No longer the somber, quiet atmosphere of studious research, libraries have evolved into centers of activity and information delivery of all kinds. To acquaint you with some of the more interesting services available at your public library, I have put together sort of an armchair traveler journey. HOW DO I GET THERE? You can visit your public library three ways. You can go there in person. Libraries are usually centrally located and therefore close to public transportation services. You can call your library on the telephone. Telephone services are available the hours the library is open for what is called "telephone reference questions". Many libraries will FAX information to you. You can dial up your library on your home computer. Many libraries have their catalog and often the catalog of adjoining library systems available through dial-up access. This service works like any other computer dial-up service. You need a personal computer, a modem, and a communications software package. WHAT TO SEE THERE Libraries have all kinds of materials in addition to books these days. If you are visiting your library, ask about these other collections. Most libraries have recorded materials including music and books on tape. Most libraries have large video collections. Most libraries are switching from music recordings on long playing records to compact discs. Opera, new age, rock, jazz, classical, country are all to be found in the music section of your library. Books on Tape are a recent addition to the "media" section of libraries. These audio cassettes are conventional tapes that play on a standard cassette player. They are extremely popular and often checked out. Audio cassettes providing foreign language instruction are to be found in the library. My library has instructional tapes for Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and some others too. Public libraries subscribe to many magazines to provide a wide variety of information to their patrons. Some libraries allow magazines to be checked out, and some only allow them to be used in the library. Ask your librarian about the magazine section and the services offered there. My library in Boulder, Colorado, subscribes to more than 1200 magazines, from Newsweek to Ski Magazine. WHAT TO DO THERE Programs open and free to the public are scheduled weekly at public libraries. Story hours for children are probably the most well known type of program, but most libraries today offer art exhibits, film programs, concerts, lectures, discussion groups, and community participation workshops. Be sure and ask for the library's activities and program calendar when you call or visit. SERVICES AVAILABLE Interlibrary loan is a service that has been around for a long time. If you are in need of some book or other material that is not available at your library, you may request such material be found at another library and sent to you. There is no charge for this service at most libraries. If the material you need is checked out to someone else, a library will allow you to request such item be saved for you when it is returned. This is usually called a "reserve" or a "hold". There is no charge for this service at most libraries. Libraries offer special services to meet the needs of their particular community. My library has a Braille Output Center where information is put into a computer, translated into Grade 2 Braille and embossed on a braille printer. This service is done on a request only basis for the public at a cost of 10 cents per page to pay for the paper. My library also has an adult literacy program, which offers one-on-one tutoring to adults needing reading assistance or instruction. My library also delivers books and other library materials to people who are unable to come to the library. This is called our "Homebound" program. Ask your library about their "special" programs. Reference services are heavily used by all ages and professions of patrons. The most widely asked for information is about education and business. Vendors in the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind are independent business persons no different from any small business operator in the United States. Successful and creative business people always are searching for new markets, new products, new enticements for their customers. Where does one find this information? Talking to other vendors, or ... using the wealth of information found at every local public library around the United States. Do you know who your customers are? Men, women, professionals, civil servants? Do you know what they buy? Of course you do. But, do you know what they buy when they aren't in your establishment? You can find out at the public library. When you hear about a new product do you wonder if it will be popular with your customer base? When you hear about a new product but your distributors don't carry it, you can find out who does at your local public library. It doesn't take a genius to know that if you sell soft drinks, you must sell Coke and/or Pepsi. But, if you want to offer a variety soft drink such as grape or orange or root beer, do you know the brand that holds the greatest market share in your geographical part of the country, among the demographics of your customer base? You can find out at your local public library. Okay, you say, I'll bite. What do I say when I call the library or go there. Who do I ask? What do I ask for? I don't want to look stupid. Every central library, but not all branches, of public libraries around the country have what are called reference librarians and reference materials. Some libraries have more information than others, but all libraries can get the information. If you call on the telephone, ask to speak to a reference librarian in the business area. Telephone numbers for libraries are listed in local telephone directories and are also available from Information Assistance. Once you have the librarian on the line, or if you walk in, once you are in the right department, ask the exact question you want to know first. Reference librarians are trained to do what they call a "reference interview." This means that librarians will ask you questions about what you are looking for, and continue to ask you, until you are satisfied that you received the information you were seeking. If you receive information that is not quite right, say so. The librarians will not mind because the mission of libraries is to provide information. Sometimes the librarian will not be able to find the information with the materials on hand and will need to do further exploration for you. You need to leave your name and telephone number, so that the librarian can contact you when the information is found. How is the library able to get all of this information? What other kinds of information is in the library that people use every day? These questions have never-ending answers, but to explain it simply, today's libraries have connections, electronic and others, with a great majority of the libraries around the world. Libraries are committed to share their resources with other libraries so that the public can receive information from almost anywhere in a short period of time. Computer networks and FAX facilities allow for information to be delivered within minutes. Reference libraries usually have a number of basic resources in house for patron use. These resources include things like Thomas Register, which lists products and their manufacturers. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? There is no charge for information. However, if you are photocopying something, or getting a FAX, or a printout from a computer screen there will be a minimal charge. The public library is the best bargain around. So, the next time you have a question about something, try your library. You may end up making it a habit! Insurance Merger Editors Note: Mark E. Currie, President and Gary M. Lewis, VP of Insurance Associates of Iowa, Inc., have written to Charles Allen, with the following announcement. Insurance Associates of Iowa, Inc. is pleased to announce a merger with Central Companies Insurance, Inc. effective September 1, 1994. Central Companies Insurance, Inc. is a member of the Central Companies Group. Central Companies is a diversified group of finance, insurance and real estate businesses including Iowa Realty, Central Life, Midland Savings Bank, Midland Financial Mortgage, Iowa Mortgage, Midland homes and Central Properties. Central Companies Insurance, Inc. has the financial and technical resources to become a prominent leader in our industry and Insurance Associates of Iowa, Inc. wanted to be a part of the team. All of the members of your personal and commercial staff: Mark Currie, Gary Lewis, Debbie Stocker, Cindee Bentley, and Ann Polito will be joining Central Companies Insurance, Inc. We want to assure you the quality of service and dedication to serving your insurance needs will continue. Our new office, effective September 12, 1994, will be located at 1516 35th Street, Suite #210, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Our new phone numbers will be 515/221-2400 and our new toll free number will be 1/800/362-9783. We are here to serve you and are looking forward to continuing our relationship. Please feel free to call any member of our staff if you have any questions. Insurance Concerns by Gary Lewis, CIC In the course of my day-to-day dealings with many of the vendors throughout the United States, there are three areas that I am concerned with in regard to the business operations. The concerns I have are as follows: A) CHANGES: Please make sure all changes in your operations are reported to your insurance agent as soon as possible. Examples would include adding or deleting a location, a change in the business name, increasing limits. B)PUBLIC LIABILITY: Make sure the limits are adequate for your lessor. C)NON OWNED AUTO: For those of you who have "Non Owned Auto" liability coverage, this is only for those autos you do not own (lease, hire, rent or borrow) that are used in connection with your business. Included are autos owned by your employees or partners -- or members of their households -- while used in your business or personal affairs. The coverage provides liability coverage only; there is no physical damage. It does not replace needed primary coverage for an auto. "Non owned Auto" coverage protects the insured as a business owner if he/she is found negligent. If you have any questions concerning any aspects of the insurance coverage found on the vendor policies, please call me at our toll free number-1/800/362-9783 or speak to your current agent. Lou and the Spirit of Christmas by Don Morris Leon "Lou" Zuares has a varied business background and a wealth of experiences. Although Lou was born in Egypt, his religion is Jewish. His mother was born in Italy, his father in Sardinia. Lou has lived in several countries and is fluent in French, Italian, Arabic, and English. Lou has been a blind vendor in the Maryland Program since 1984. He currently operates three restaurants. His primary operation is at the Maryland Automobile Insurance fund (MAIF) located in Annapolis. He has an annex facility at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Experimental Farm, Greenbelt, Maryland. He has recently taken over the management of a third full-line cafeteria; this satellite operation is located in the Legislative Services Building in downtown Annapolis. We all know that the real Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, but Lou Zuares is a genuine long-distance Santa's helper. For the past nine years, Lou has provided Christmas dinner to any and all of the 500 employees at the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund. The price of admission to this traditional Christmas dinner is a gift-wrapped toy. There is a barrel placed inside the door. As diners file past, they deposit their gift in the barrel. Packages are marked as being for a boy or a girl and indicate the approximate age. Lou places no minimum price requirement on the presents. He says, "we leave it up to each person what they want to give. From what most people tell us, the presents have a value of around $7.00 to $10.00 each." The gifts are turned over to `Toys for Tots' who distribute them to children in needy families. Wearing chef hats and aprons provided by Lou, the serving line is staffed by the senior management of the Maryland automobile Insurance fund, who scoop the potatoes, dip gravy and carve the twenty two freshly roasted turkeys. Even though lunch is served in three shifts, this still means a very large group of diners at any given time. To accommodate the large number, Lou rents additional tables and chairs, as well as linens for every table. Entering the cafeteria is a sensory delight. The wonderful aroma of roasting turkeys, and the scent and sight of poinsettias and other table decorations heighten the Christmas spirit. Once everyone has been served, Lou and his own employees take over for a massive clean-up effort. In addition to the normal clean-up procedures, "left overs" are packed for transport to a Salvation Army facility who distribute them in a feeding program for homeless people. Lou is modest about his generosity. He says, "This is just something I like to do." However, his customers and the children who receive the gifts say more. "When I have Christmas lunch with Lou, his food feeds my body and his kindness for children feeds my soul," reports one customer. Because gifts are donated anonymously, Lou doesn't hear from any of the children, but our guess is they appreciate this unlikely Santa's helper. MONETARY MUSINGS by Charles Allen Snyders of Hanover has added an Ultra Twin Pretzel to their line. Van Den Bergh Foods has Ragu Letto Pizza. Included are sausage, pepperoni, supreme and deep dish supreme. These individual serving size pizzas come frozen in a 24 count case. Procter and Gamble has had a nice hot weather item -- Sunny Delight Citrus Punch. You can buy it in 24 ct./8 oz. plastic bottle or in 12 ct./16 oz. size bottle. Silverado Foods has six flavors of mini-sized cookies which come in a 36 ct./2 oz. case. Doesn't Mini Cappuccino Sandwich Creme sound good? The same company offers an intriguing line called Jungle Jems (100 ct./1.2 oz.) They have Fruit and Nuts, Low Fat Fruit and Chips and No Fat Exotic Mix. Guiltless Gourmet is marketing a vend line of fat free Tortilla Chips (48 ct./1 oz.). It helps take the fat out of Tex-Mex foods. Fleetwood Snacks added two more fat free bars - fig and strawberry shortcake. They are as good as their fat free blueberry and apple bars. Available from Lance, Inc. in a vend count are a new fat free apple bar and a fat free cranberry bar. n a blind vendor in the Maryland Program since 1984. He currently operates three restaurants. His primaryw4/[7e$5[Me$5 T/0[ Z4lZ0gp'hʔ \3w"i4 O" i\ O"H7\/"B(*sudf!#  bd13NPy{}$$&&-'/'R)T)+++,,,,,,....//f3h333j4l4|44444455w688::l;n;;;;;<<[>]>@@@@CCrEtEFFFFFFFFPHRH`IbIJJJJJKKTLVLMMMMMPOP-Q/QRRRRRTTThTUUUVV4Y6Y[[\\\\s]u]^^__Ya[adddgggWhYhhhhiiiii}kkemgmGnInInnnooooooopp"q$qmsos1t3t5tBtWtWtfthtuuiwkwwwzz{{?}A}W~Y~}'9;=?68ہ?A 68ہ?A  +/8;FOR` ln @z Once everyone has been served, Lou and his own employees take Arialassive clean-up effort. In addition to the normal clean-up procedures, "left overs" are packed for transport to a