The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 45

i Movie listings, 3G SUNDAY jft, August 14, 1988 ff 1 SECTION MjT Express': Bon't leave-home -without it Armenian nian Express will funnel 25 percent of its net profit to Armenian cultural, civic and charitable organizations in the United States. On the other hand, the Armenian I Cultural Foundation, a charity group that Bupports schools, publications, the Armenian Olympics and other community activities in Southern California, will donate all its card proceeds to such causes, foundation officials say. Such aid could total as much as $500,000 by the end of 1989, according to estimates of the two organizations. Community activists see it as a windfall for the growing Los Angeles-area Armenian community which, with 250,000 members, represents the greatest concentration of Armenians outside the Soviet Union. (Please rum to CARD, Page 20) to the four winds ever since.

"It's a pride-and heritage thing," said Keith Cullam, a vice president of Armenian Express Canada the Vancouver, British Columbia-based parent company of -Armenian Express (U.S.A.)."Nine out of 10 people who responded to our marketing survey gave the same reason for wanting the card: 'Because I'm Issued as a Mastercard or Visa under a contract with Marine Midland Bank of New York, the Armenian Express card even bears the image of Mount Ararat, a symbol of unity for a people still in mourning for the loss of their homeland. "It speaks to every Armenian's heart," said Zohrab Shamassian, the general manager of Santa Ana, Calif. -based Armenian Express (U.S.A.). "Mount Ararat excites every Armenian to the heavens." According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arme By Steve Chawklns tos Angeles Times i LOS ANGELES After narrating the fcftle of yet another traveler stricken with a sudden loss but saved by his trusty credit card, the tough customer with the cauliflower nose might Invoke an unfamiliar homily: "Arantzkarteettoorsmeeyeller!" That's Armenian for "Don't leave hOme without it" and while it hasn't been selected as the advertising message for one of two new credit cards being marketed to Armenians in the United States, it might as well be. Joining the ranks of "affinity" credit cards targeted at groups ranging from the Sierra Club to the National Rifle Association, the Armenian Express card is vying with one issued by the Glendale, Armenian Cultural Foundation for a seen employed anywhere," said John Love, publisher of Credit Card News, a Chicago-based newsletter.

Over the last few years, banks have pried open the clogged credit market with hundreds of cards designed for loyalists of all stripes. The cards usually Visas or Mastercards also feature the names and logos of alumnj groups, professional organizations, football teams, even rock radio stations, and a percentage of the company's profits typically are donated to some associated wortfly cause. "People respond to their group's name or endorsement," Love said. "They may be getting a cold letter from an out-of-state bank, but at least it has a warm name on it." That name can go a long way among Armenians, a people with ethnic loyalties made all the stronger by enduring a devastating massacre in 1915 and being scattered place in the hearts and wallets of the estimated million Armenians in the United States. Some 160,000 direct-mail solicitations for Armenian Express have been Bent in recent weeks to Armenians whose names have been culled from mailing lists and telephone directories across the country.

In addition, Armenian investors are being wooed at cocktail parties planned in Los Angeles, Anaheim and Fresno, Detroit, Boston and New York. At the same time, the non-profit Armenian Cultural Foundation has mailed out 50,000 letters pitching its "ACF Armenians west of the Rockies. Both are being heavily promoted in Armenian community newspapers. The cards, which sprouted independently of one another, are believed to be the first aimed at an ethnic group. "It's a new concept of affinity I haven't jjyinnp Housing heats up out west 750 I 1 NUMBER Or UNITS I Seasonally adjusted, in thousands: A I 700 mmmmmmmwmmmmmmmA A By Leslie G.

Tidwell Journal Times 650 Ss -y 550 A A 1987 1988 120 I $117.0 "A $119-0 $117.8. 115 VST-- 105 I MEDIAN PRICE 100 In thousands of dollars: -ii -1 i i i i i i A A 1987 1988 1 "We decided we needed to get! into delivery because it was growing so quickly," Jenkins said. Another factor that pushed Pizza Hut toward delivery service was the technology that allows pizza to beT delivered hot in a reasonable amount of time, he said. Pizza Hut claims a delivery time of about 30 minutes. "Ultimately we want (the deliv- ery service) to be everywhere by 1992," Jenkins said.

The addition of the delivery service was no small change, Jenkins said. "It was handled as a separate business for the first two years," he said. Madison said the addition of delivery service here has created more jobs since drivers are needed to deliver the pizzas. "Customers want convenience and they're willing to pay for it. When we didn't have delivery, people called our competitors.

Now we have a chance at those customers," he said. about six weeks, said Laurice Stephens, assistant manager of the restaurant. "The delivery service has creased sales," Stephens said. What does Pizza Hut's delivery mean to the competition? "People can choose for themselves whose pizza is better," said Paul Sockness, manager of Rocky Rococo, 6631 Washington Ave. "It hasn't affected us and I don't think it will," he said.

Julie Conlon, assistant manager of Domino's Pizza at 2308 Lathrop said, "It may mean something at first in that people will want to try it, but we're not worried about it because we still get a better pizza there faster. That's something Domino's has always prided itself on." Pizza Hut began delivery marketing tests in 1984 and realized the market was moving rapidly toward delivery and carry-out service, Jenkins said. By 1985, Pizza Hut had 500 stores nationwide delivering pizza. Today there are 1,500 Pizza Huts with delivery service, he said. Whether it was competition or pressure to conform, Racine's Pizza Hut restaurant, 5000 Washington Avenue, has recently joined the ranks of other local pizza places offering free delivery.

Denise Madison, area manager for Racine's Pizza Hut, said the new delivery service is not just in response to competition. "It's not. just to increase sales. (Through delivery) there's another segment we can reach people who want pizza, but who don't want to dine in or carry-out," she said. According to Mike Jenkins, corporate public relations manager at the Pizza Hut corporate headquarters in Wichita, the firm didn't jump on the delivery bandwagon immediately.

"We're a restaurant company and that's the way we were founded," Jenkins said. The Racine Pizza Hut has been delivering to a limited area for SOURCE: U.S. Cnu BufMU MoCnphic 1988 Nonh Arofic Syndkal. Inc. WASHINGTON (AP) Home prices and sales during the April-June period portray a booming economy on the West Coast, some cooling in the once red-hot.

North-Bast, resurgence in the Midwest and a hint of a turnaround in the Southwest. National Association of Realtors said Thursday that three Cali- fornia metropolitan areas Ana-heim-Sarita Ana, Los Angeles and San Frahcisco posted the highest home appreciation rates in the country. 20.1 percent rise in prices from (he. second quarter of 1987 to the same period this year made the Anaheim-Santa Ana area the costliest housing market in the nation. Median home prices there were $204,000.

RLos -Angeles, where prices rose 19.1 percent to a median of $175,600, had the second highest appreciation rate, followed by San With an increase of 15.5 percent to "People just keep moving to California. Consequently, prices keep going up," said Mark Obrinsky, an economist with the U.S. League of Sayings institutions. "Also, it's a di- versified and growing economy and there are a lot of middle and upper-income jobs." jfi Nationally, prices rose 3.4 percent to a median of $88,900, meaning half houses sold for more and half less. (' 'Housing is mirroring the econ-jomy virtually all over the country," -said John A.

Tuccillo, the Realtors' Jrief economist. Where the is very, very good, we find that housing is very, very good. Likewise where housing is weak, so Is the economy." Home prices in New York and the larger cities in New England remain among the nation's highest, they have not been going up as fast as in previous years. 5 The year-to-year appreciation in New York was 4.9 percent to 4 median price of in Boston, 3.8 percent to in 7.6 percent to $169,000 and in Providence, 8.9 percent to $130,400. Appreciation rates were also Higher than the national median in manufacturing cities, 'Where prices are among the lowest the United States.

Buffalo; N.Y., the fifth best appreciation rate ih the country at 14.4 percent. Chicago, Columbus, Ohio; Detroit jand Grand Rapids, all re- Floating restaurant on Rock River but it's not new bad news," Obrinsky said, noting what may be early signs of improvement. When compared with the first quarter of this year, home prices rose 5.5 percent in Houston and a little bit better than even, up 0.7 percent, in Oklahoma City. Also, the pace of sales in Texas improved 8 percent between the first and second quarters, nearly as good as the national average. Nationally, the Realtors group said the resale pace of condominiums and single-family homes, spurred i by lower-than-expected mortgage interest rates, picked up in the second quarter.

Thirty-two states reported an increase in seasonally adjusted sales rates from the first quarter. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia reported slackening sales, while the pace was unchanged in three states. Nationally, existing homes sold at an annual rate of 3.99 million units in the second quarter, 9.3 percent higher than the first quarter but 0.5 percent lower than the same period a year earlier, "I think essentially what we have here is a case of interest rates being more moderate than expected along with demand being a little bit stronger," Tuccillo said. Where the economy is very, very good, we find that housing is very, very Likewise where housing is weak, sdisthe -economy' John Tuccillo, economist ported appreciation rates of 9.2 per-t cent: Tuccillo attributed the resurgence in "the Midwest to the comeback in the manufacturing sector which is -benefiting from strong export sales spurred by the devalued dollar. The steepest declines, in home prices from a year ago were in areas dependent on the oil industry.

The median resale price fell i 12.7 percent to $56,900 in Oklahoma City, 10.2 percent to $65,200 in San Antonio, Texas, and 6 percent to $64,000 in Baton Rouge, La. "The bad news is the oil price drop of a couple years ago is still having ramifications in real estate, a campground near Newville. "We always spend a lot of time on the lake," Kraft said. "We thought: Wouldn't it be nice if we also were making some money. It was my boyfriend's (Greene's) idea.

He's always thinking. He's always got to be doing something. "I just stand in the background and say, 'I'll go along with I wrap the food, bag it and take the money. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it," she added. Business gets better every weekend as more and more people discover they can buy food without leaving their boats.the two said.

"We have a lot of repeat business on weekends. We have no complaints," Greene said. "In the beginning, people were very surprised to see us," he added. "People go by and say, 'That's a great idea. We thought of I wasn't alone in the idea, but I did "Everybody we've met has been so friendly and encouraging.

It makes it enjoyable for us, too," he added. Pups Ahoy is afloat for business 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and will be on the water through Labor Day weekend. "We'll be very happy with our first year," Greene said.

"And we'll be out there again next summer." After all, he added: "This is the best way to get a tan and to get paid while doing it." JANESVILLE AP) Boaters on the Rock River who get a sudden case of the munchies can now grab a hot dog without going to shore, thanks to two Illinois entrepreneurs. Larry Greene and Joyce Kraft, of Bensenville, 111., cruise the river in a pontoon boat-restaurant they call Pups Ahoy. They say its Wisconsin's "first floating hot dog stand." Since Memorial Day, Greene and Kraft have sold Chicago-style hot dogs to famished boaters and swimmers. "Basically, there's no one in Wisconsin that serves the real Chicago hot dog," explained pure skinless Vienna beef hot dog, steamed and put on a poppy-seed bun with mustard, dark relish, onions, dill pickles, tomatoes and a dash of celery salt." But wieners are not the only specialty at the floating restaurant that's usually stationed near Newville Bridge on Lake Koshkonong. Authentic Mexican tamales, polish sausage, chips and soda complete the regular menu.

On holiday weekends, ice cream is added. When Greene, 44, isn't selling hot dogs, he is a sergeant on the Rosemont Police Department Auxiliary in the village of Rosemont, a Chicago suburb. He's been in police work for almost a decade. Kraft works in the service department of a typesetting company. For about four years, the couple have been visiting hill lTL11 jLjJ.

X- f' yT People "ainln 1 1 1 Business Kurt Kamm Franclne Mohrbacher Dr. Mukund Prabhu Dr. Maurice Chung HONORS AWARDS: Carlin L. Smittle, executive director of the Greater Racine Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been approved for membership in the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus. Board approval of Smittle was announced following the association' board of directors meeting July 23 in Amsterdam.

IACVB was founded in 1914 to promote sound professional practices in travel marketing and in the solicitation and servicing of meetings, conventions and visitors. The association is composed of 318 member bureaus in 24 countries. Rex Brown, vice president of St. Luke's Memorial Hospital of Racine, was advanced to membership status in the American College of Healthcare Executives at its 54th convocation ceremony Aug. 7 in New Orleans.

The college is a Chicago-based international professional i society representing more than 22,000 healthcare executives. Members' must successfully complete comprehensive oral and written examinations covering subjects related to health services management The Wisconsin Association of Directors of Volunteer Services also announced that Sylvia Hanson, director of volunteer services at St. "Luke's, has been appointed to the board as recognition chairman. She is responsible for establishing the association's criteria and procedures for providing recognition of members from leadership and program development 6 Dr. Mukand M.

Prabha and Dr. Maurice W. Chung have joined the staff of St Luke's Hospital in Racine. Both physicians are serving under the gastroenterology fellowship program sponsored by Gastroenterolgy Consultants Racine, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and St. Luke's Hospital.

Prabhu and Chung will be studying under Dr. Joseph' E. Geenen. a Prabhu received bis medical degree from the Kasturba Medical College in MangaJore, India. He served his internship at Booth Memorial Medical Center, affiliated with New York University School of Medicine, iris residency at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit and his fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago.

Chung received his medical degree from MCW where he also served his Internship and residency programs, He receivetl the resident of the company for seven years and most recently was the assistant to the president She replaces Terri Wosilait who was promoted to the position of branch manager of the Racine store. Merchant Network Arlington Heights, 111., creator of Chicago's premier electronic bill payment service, BILL, announced the appointment of Franclne K. Mohrbacher, formerly of Racine, as manager of customer relations. Mohrbacher, 38, will be responsible for maintaining Merchant Network's customer base and increasing customer usage by existing customers. In addition, Mohrbacher will serve as liaison to the 70 banks and merchants currently on the system.

Mohrbacher is a graduate of St Catherine's High School and her mother, Mrs. C.F. Mohrbacher, lives at 111 Uth St, Racine. Racine Vineyard Products Co. said it has named salesman Stevea David vice president.

David will be responsible for all sales in the Madison and Northern Wisconsin area. He also will direct all sales and marketing of the firms German wine division, the company said. ELECTED: Racine resident Kea Fetler, of 3652 Fenceline Road, supervisor of traffic at Rexnord In Milwaukee has been elected president of the Milwaukee Chapter No. 206, Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity for 1988-89. A year award at MCW in 1988.

APPONTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS: Steven L. Jenkins, C.P.A.; has joined Harmann and Crossett S.C., a certified public accounting firm, 6855 Mariner Drive, as a manager. Jenkins previously had been employed by Western Publishing Co. and the accounting firm of Ernst and Whinney. Former Racine Resident Dr.

Gregory T. PterangeU, has joined Dr. Larry E. Creek A Jonesboro, as a partner to form Creek-Pierangeli Eyecare. Pierangeli recently completed a four-year tour as a captain in the U.S.

Army. Kurt J. Kamm has been named operator of the Chick -Fil-A restaurant at Regency Mall. Kamm is a 1982 graduate of Horlick High School and earned a bachelor's degree business administration-finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is 1986. He was previously self-employed as the owner of Kamm Kompany, a real estate renovation firm.

wlfl assume full responsibilities as operator of the Chick-FU-A restaurant in Regency Mall this month. Chick-FU-A has over 370 restaurants in 31 states and 1987 sales exceeded $202 million. Headley Home Care, 505 Sixth St, announced the promotion of Mary Aaey as the director of internal operations. She has been with the.