Wednesday, October 4, 2006 · Page 15 LET US DO THE COOKING FOR YOUR presents THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST! ex Co ssex CookHou The E se Deerbrook realtor Dan Inverarity, North American Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion Jonathan Banks, Kronk trainer Emmanuel Steward and Kermit Cintron, the International Boxing Federation welterweight Latino champion, pose at Colchester Harbour Sept. 28. Steward intends to open a Kronk gym in Colchester. CALL FOR RESERVATIONS Thanksgiving Day Brunch Sunday, October 8, 2006 Now Serving from 10 2 p.m. 19 Laird Avenue, Essex ROAST TURKEY, STUFFING, MASHED POTATOES, HONEY HAM AND MUCH MORE!! 776-5469 I will bring the voice of the taxpayer forward Deputy Vote Legendary boxing gym sets sights on Colchester BY SARAH FISHER It took neither a jab nor a hook to convince Emmanuel Steward that the famous Kronk gym of Detroit should expand into Essex County. Last Friday, Steward known best for training former World Boxing Council welterweight champion Tommy Hearns and heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis arrived at Colchester Harbour by limousine to host a press conference to announce plans for a $1 million training facility in the area. Steward was accompanied by two of his fighters -- cruiserweight champion Jonathan Banks of Detroit and Kermit Cintron, a Puerto Rican IBF welterweight Latino champion. Both are fighting Oct. 28 at Joe Louis Arena. Kronk has expanded over the years and now includes a gym in Ireland. Steward said Kronk felt Colchester would be a prime spot to open its Canadian location. "For years Canadian fighters and some of their top hockey players trained in Detroit," Steward said. "They were coming back and winning Canadian championships because they were training with better fighters there. This is a quiet town but it's going to Small Business 101 Small business confidence takes upward jump in 3rd quarter, 2006 Results of the latest quarterly survey of small- and medium-sized enterprises by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) show that business confidence took a sizeable jump in the third quarter. The CFIB Quarterly Business Barometer Index stands at 108.6 (1988=100), almost a point and a half above where it stood in June. "This puts us back in the high range of expectations measured in the past five years, which suggests good prospects for the economy for the rest of this year and into next," said CFIB's chief economist, Ted Mallett. Overall, about 45 per cent of all business owners say their firms are doing much better or slightly better than one year ago, while only 22 per cent say they are doing somewhat or much worse. However, longer-term expectations are more positive, with 49 per cent of business owners expecting stronger performance during the next twelve months, and only 13 per cent expect a weaker year ahead. Carrying on a two-year trend, businesses in BC and Alberta lead their eastern counterparts in confidence by a sizeable margin. Confidence in both provinces, near their historical highs close to the 120 mark, are fully eight points or more higher than the next most positive province-- Nova Scotia. Businesses in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador, are keeping with the improving national average in the 105-to-108 range, while business confidence in Manitoba, New Brunswick and PEI fell somewhat from mid-year. On the employment front, the increase in overall confidence is matched by a corresponding increase in hiring expectations. About 32 per cent of business owners are expecting to increase fulltime employment in the next 12 months three percentage points higher than in June. When asked about factors affecting their businesses, respondents reported improvements in several key areas. Both energy prices and insurance premiums have come down in a way that has helped CFIB members ramp up their capital investment plans. Mallett concluded by saying that with small business owners planning to maintain demand in the labour market, which supports the consumer sector, and the positive news they are reporting in terms of input costs, we expect to see a strong finish to 2006. Small Business 101 is an information service provided by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. become famous when we get here." Funding for the project, as well as the construction of a new Kronk gym in Detroit, will come from Kore International Management Inc., an independently owned financial management company. Kore representatives have been working with Dan Inverarity, a candidate for municipal election in Essex and a real estate agent for Deerbrook Realty Inc., to find a location. Steward said small towns allow fighters to focus and are ideal for training. "We have budgeted $1 million for a gym and that doesn't include housing," Director General for Kore International Petar Vucicevich said. Norm Jobin ~Tecumseh~ MAyor Time for a Change! To Volunteer your 519-791-3052 services, sponsor, request lawn signs 519-791-0779 or questions call ... 519-791-1763 Pranab Shah, an urban planner for the company, said Kore already owns property in the area of County Road 50 and Jackson Road. Development plans have not yet been submitted to the town, but he said there would be two phases to the project, including construction of a bed and breakfast and a coffee shop, as well as the gym. George "Kirky" Scott, known for his work as a mental toughness coach for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League, said a Canadian Kronk's would be a great opportunity for Canadian fighters. "This is the best known boxing gym in the world," Scott said. Essex BIA Business Excellence Awards Drop off or mail to Essex BIA 33 Talbot St. S. Essex, ON N8M 1A8 Fax: 519-776-9658 By October 15, 2OO6 Email: bia@townofessex.on.ca Interior Improvements to a Business I WISH TO NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING: Exterior Improvements to a Business Unique and new look to an existing business Relocating an existing business to a new or renovated building Outstanding Customer Service