Archive for January 2008
PRSA Houston February Luncheon Event
Houston Artist, Texas Tim, Creates Anti-smoking Coloring Book
Houston Artist Creates Anti-Smoking Coloring Book for Children
Houston, TX – January 7, 2008 – Freelance artist and poet, Tim Webb, a Spring resident, also known as Texas Tim, announced today that he has created an anti-smoking coloring book to reach young children with the message that cigarette smoking is harmful to their health through cartoon illustrations and poems.
Webb’s goal is to provide a means for parents to teach their children in the tender years to refrain from cigarette smoking or, as he puts it, “to dodge the smoking bullet.”
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), “cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined.” The ACS strongly recommends that ‘parents start talking about tobacco use when their children are 5 or 6 years old and to continue through their high school years’ as a preventative measure.
One helpful tool that parents can use to introduce anti-smoking messages to their Pre-K and early elementary school age children is the new coloring book, “Smoke in Your Eye Makes You Cry,” written and illustrated by Texas Tim, which includes imaginative jokes, puns and play on word poetry with original caricature art that is sure to attract young children while teaching them that smoking cigarettes is a poor choice.
Using the term Sickerettes (c) to describe cigarettes, the coloring book features characters such as “Ollie Owl” who can fly for miles because smoking is not his style or “Freddy Frog” who tells his young audience that there is “no room for an ash tray on my lily pad.” The sensible frog adds, “A fisherman offered me a Sickerette (c) / Certainly as a joke/ What, me use tobacco/ You think I want to croak?”
Experts agree that parents are the primary factor in a child’s choice to abstain from smoking. Dr. Denton A. Cooley, M.D., founder, president and surgeon-in-chief of the Texas Heart Institute, prescribes in the foreword that “this book belongs in every child’s ‘Survival Kit.’ The knowledge will serve them from childhood through adulthood into their parenthood.”
“Texas Tim” Webb, (http://www.texastim.com/), freelance artist and poet, wants to work with schools, health organizations and interested private parties and businesses to spread the anti-smoking message in a delightful, easy to understand way to children. The coloring books are available for purchase for only $5.00 each at http://www.texastim.com/.
Contact:
Candace Runaas
Runaas Resources PR
281.257.4431
Announcing Customer Service That Really Sizzles!
For Immediate Release:
First Sizzler Restaurant in U.S. To Offer Full Service Located in Houston
December 21, 2007 – Houston, Texas – Mr. Assad Shorrosh, President and CEO of Shorco Enterprises Inc., announced today that his Sizzler steakhouse franchise located in NW Houston will be the first and only Sizzler Restaurant to offer full service in the United States.
Sizzler, a trusted restaurant brand, re-introduced their “fast casual” restaurants, a form of dining where the customer orders their food prior to being seated, to the city of Houston this year with a grand opening at FM 2920 and Kuykendahl in July 2007. The initial area response was “tremendous. Our opening was well above expectations,” says Shorrosh.
In the coming months, customer feedback revealed that interest in a “full” service style of dining had more appeal than Sizzler’s traditional “pay-first” method.
Shorco took the initiative in addressing the concerns by creating a proposal to modify the receipt of customers, the cost structure, and the introduction of new menu items in order to accommodate the public.
In early November, Anthony Shorrosh, Shorco business partner and head of operations for the restaurant, began working directly with corporate executives in California to propose the full service concept for the Houston market. Coincidentally, Sizzler was planning to implement this service style in Las Vegas, but as a direct result of Shorco’s proposal, Houston will be the first and only full service Sizzler in the United States.
Initial customer reaction suggests that the changes are welcome. Todd Peterson, Vice President of New Business Development at Sizzler’s offices in California, says, “It is still early in the test, but all indications are that this is a positive move, particularly in the Texas market.”
Since 1958, Sizzler has served great steaks, seafood and salad while emphasizing value comfort and convenience . Sizzler now owns or franchises more than 400 midscale, casual dining restaurants worldwide, with locations in Puerto Rico, Asia and Australia. Sizzler continues to frequently update and expand their restaurants and marketing efforts by research-driven brand strategy.
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Candace Runaas
Runaas Resources Public Relations
281.257.4431
info@runaasresources.com
Happy New Year!
New Year’s is a time of hope and optimism. I wish you much success in your business endeavors this year. God bless you all!
Candace Runaas
President
Runaas Resources Public Relations
