08-08-08 are very important numbers if you are a follower of the Summer Olympics. Beijing, China will play host to this super athletic event and television commercials have begun to entice potential viewers.

One that certainly left an impression on my mind was where USA super-swimmer, Michael Phelps, appears with his pet English Bulldog, George. Of course, I am a bit partial to Bulldogs since Cid, our Bulldog, has been a part of the family for over 12 years now and anytime a commercial happens to feature a bulldog I take it all in.

Michael Phelps, in my opinion, is one of the greatest swimmers in US history and is absolutely the most humble person you could come across. Quite a combination and well worth watching when the Olympics roll around. Remember 08-08-08!

If you have not had the recent opportunity to visit our website, www.westsideconnect.com, I urge you to do so the first chance you get. Chris Cline, who heads up our creative services, has been very busy implementing some new features.

We are pleased to now offer on-line classified advertising placement and payment options. In addition, we are now a part of a statewide classified advertising service so our on-line ads now reach thousands of more potential viewers. Classified ads placed by phone or by visiting our office are also added to this statewide network. When you visit our site you will also be able to view classifieds placed in other newspapers that are a part of the network. We believe this is a value-added feature that will benefit our readers and advertisers as well.

Services such as engagement and wedding announcements, birth announcements, milestone anniversaries, community events and so many more can also be submitted online.

Another fabulous feature is the ability to order photos online.

While attending the many sports and community events, Dean, Julie and David are sure to snap more than their fair share of photos. It only takes one special photo to make the pages of our paper each week but we have so many more outstanding photos that don’t make the paper. We keep all of those photos on file and they have been available for reprints by coming into our office and looking through our many archive binders.  Now, we are able to post all of those photos online in weekly albums and orders for prints can be placed directly online. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to get your photo reprints and orders can be placed at any time of the day.

Speaking of photos, another great feature online is our Reader Photo Galleries. This is where you can submit your favorite photos with a brief description of what the photo is about. Whether it be your favorite vacation spot, your family, your pet or your gorgeous garden we hope you will be enticed to share it with other online viewers.

We are also pleased to provide you with the video of the recent West Side Stories program that featured Supervisor Jim DeMartini. The program is hosted by Bill Mattos and is produced by Gordon Barbosa of Barbosa Video in Patterson.

Supervisor DeMartini speaks out about the controversy surrounding the recent YouTube posting, the proposed project at the Crows Landing Naval Base, his bid for re-election as supervisor and many other topics that affect the West Side.

For those of you who were unable to watch West Side Stories on television, this is a great opportunity to hear what Supervisor DeMartini has to say.

Speaking of the proposed project at Crows Landing, I was a bit surprised this week when I received a survey from the Stanislaus Economic Development & Workforce Alliance that included the following question: Are you in favor of the proposed development of the Crows Landing air facility, including a rail connection to the Port of Oakland?

The cover letter, signed by Bill Bassitt, CEO of Alliance, states that the information collected from the survey will generate a comprehensive economic forecast of the local economy and that the results should provide a window into how local business leaders view the upcoming year, both by industry and in our area as a whole.

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time trying to figure out how the naval base project has anything to do with the economic forecast for the upcoming year.

Dean contacted Bill Bassitt on Monday and he said that the survey has always included a topical question and that the intent is only to gain the business community’s perspective on the project. Well, let’s see how all of that plays out! Coincidentally, The Alliance has been one of those at the forefront of the criticism directed to Supervisor DeMartini because of his opposition to the project. There we go, it’s that coincidence thing going on again!

For those interested, the final results of the survey will be available starting March 5 at 11:00 a.m. by visiting www.stanalliance.com.

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