Welcome to my little corner of The Times. Hope you enjoy your stay.

“Business Casual” will be a new, recurring column focusing on local business/consumer/technology/anything-I-find-interesting issues and tidbits.

Finally, escaping from the rigors of straight-up news reporting, I plan to take a stream of consciousness approach here. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

I was at a local photo center to get some pictures developed this weekend, which I had to have finished for Sunday. My lovely wife dropped them off for the one-hour service. After an evening movie, I swung by to pick them up. I was told they wouldn’t be ready until the next day. When did “one hour” start meaning “one weekend”? I left photo-less (and highly annoyed).

After checking around a bit I found that a personal photo printer can be purchased for as little as $35 (albeit a basic one) at many local retail establishments. While ink and photo paper raise that price a bit more, the bonus is that the only person who can screw things up is ... well... yourself. So, for all you DIY folk with the time and drive, remember that the price of basic photo printing equipment has dropped considerably in the past few years. As the old adage goes: If you need it done right, you may want to do it yourself.

Something else to look into: Online photo printing services, such as Mpix.com, or a plethora of similar services. If you’re into using online services, it’s tough to beat the convenience of your finished photos being mailed to you.

But, on the flip side, it’s also important to give local businesses a chance. Whether or not they get your repeat business is up to the quality of their service.

Like milkshakes?

With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, Chick-Fil-A is having a deal for children who come with their father (or male guardian) and say “My dad is a peach of a dad.” The child and dad will both receive a free, small peach milkshake. It may sound a little cheesy, but those peach milkshakes are very tasty.

Now, onto groceries...

The local Food World, in the Cullman Shopping Center, was closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for some “restructuring” business. Luckily, it will be back open today. Many grocery buyers in Alabama were not so lucky. Food World and Brunos Supermarkets across the Southeast are being liquidated and shut down, due to some bankruptcy business that ended with a mass asset auction. Luckily, the Cullman location was profitable enough to stave off a shut down.

On the topic of delicious chicken...

The Guthrie’s location in Cullman recently re-opened with an expanded menu. Fellow Times reporter Patrick McCreless adds: “The chicken pita equals awesome.”

Want to support a good cause?

The local CVS Pharmacy is selling balloons for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. Balloons are $1. Call 352-5779 for more information.

If you have any tidbits of interest to pass on for future issues of the column, feel free to drop me a line at trentm@cullmantimes.com.