Lexington conference to look at food safety issues
Since September 1, the Food and Drug Administration has issued nearly 20 food safety recalls for reasons ranging from undeclared allergens to salmonella contamination. Recognizing that it's difficult for consumers to wade through these recall notices, UK Cooperative Extension professionals are planning to bring together representatives of the food industry and various government agencies at a conference to better understand their roles in communicating to consumers.
Topics include how to effectively manage such challenges as a power outage or a disgruntled employee who tampers with the company's product. Participants will learn the proper steps to take in these situations and also how to develop a food protection plan and put it to use in their daily work.
The regional Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Food Protection Conference will include comprehensive food recall and risk communication exercises, food protection planning activities and networking opportunities.
The conference at the Hilton Hotel (formerly the Lexington Downtown Hotel and Conference Center) begins at 8 a.m. on November 18 with registration. Alltech is sponsoring a dinner that evening at the Lexington Brewery and Distilling Company. November 19 programming begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
Registration is $89 and includes five meals, all sessions and hotel parking.
The Lexington Downtown Hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.
For more information visit the EDEN Web site at http://www.EDEN.lsu.edu/FPCSouth.
Kentucky food prices rise in third quarter
Food prices in Kentucky rose slightly in the third quarter of this year, marking the first increase in 12 months, according to the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation's quarterly survey.
Driven by a sharp increase in the price of ice cream, butter and cheese, the October survey of 40 popular grocery items showed a nearly three percent rise from July, at $105.27 compared to $102.26. That ends a string of three consecutive quarters with a lower price average. The average has fallen, however, by about seven percent since October 2008.
The Kentucky statistics are contrary to American Farm Bureau's recent survey involving 66 communities in 29 states. AFBF reports a slight decline since July, plus a 10 percent drop over the past 12 months.
In the Kentucky survey, the average was higher for 25 of the 40 items. The big gainers were ice cream (up by 40 cents a gallon), cheddar cheese (94 cents higher per pound) and butter (up by 23 cents a pound).
Milk prices continue to fall, which is welcome news to dairy farmers who have seen farm milk prices plunge significantly this year in response to high inventories. For October, the average on a gallon of whole milk was $2.70, as compared to $2.86 in July. (The recent national survey has milk at $2.87.)
Among items that fell in price during the past three months were rib-eye steak, sausage, chicken breasts, potatoes and wheat bread.
Richmond and Berea chambers to visit Aiken, SC
In their sixth joint leadership trip, the Richmond and Berea Chambers of Commerce will visit the equestrian enclave of Aiken, S.C., from Oct. 21-23.
Usually boasting 50 to 55 attendees of the two Madison County chambers, this year's excursion will focus on health, education, industry and downtown in the city of around 150,000 in western South Carolina, less than 20 miles from Augusta, Ga.
Previous trips between the two chambers have visited Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Asheville, N.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Greenville, S.C.; and Charleston, W.V.
Business Lexington will join this year's trip and post updates to www.bizlex.com throughout the journey.
Blind food vendors program gets federal funds
Kentucky Business Enterprises (KBE), a vending and food service program operated by people who are blind or vision impaired, will receive $124,825 in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to purchase new vending equipment.
KBE will purchase 14 cold food vending machines and 17 snack vending machines to open new locations and replace old machines at Kentucky state government buildings and federal interstate rest areas. KBE is in the Kentucky Office for the Blind in the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
KBE has 56 operators in the vending and food service program. The program trains and places legally blind individuals as self-employed operator/managers of snack bars, cafeterias and automated vending facilities in public and private locations across the state.
Event connects young artists with colleges and careers
Your child is creative, loves to draw, sing, paint, play an instrument, sculpt, write, act and/or design. But should you encourage a career as an artist? How valid is the stereotype of the "starving artist?"
Less so in today's world.
The outlook is most favorable for multimedia artists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as demand increases for special effects in movies and television, animation and video games. Arts graduates find work with museums, galleries, schools, advertising agencies, magazines, newspapers and movie studios.
For a second year, Lexington Catholic and the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) will co-host a Performing and Visual Arts College Night on Thursday, October 22, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Lexington Catholic.
Representatives from at least 30 colleges and universities across the country will be on hand to talk with students and parents.
The event is open to high school students from all area public and private schools.
More details are available online at www.lexingtoncatholic.com.
Contest encourages businesses to tell their stories
Grab the video cam and get creative. The Lexington Film League is hosting a Do-ers Community Video Contest. The contest invites Kentucky filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike to create a five-minute (or less) video about interesting people, activities, and events happening in their Kentucky community. That includes businesses.
There is a cash prize to the winner, plus a people's choice prize that encourages the public to vote on their favorite video. The winner of the cash prize splits the sum with a non-profit organization of their choice.
Winning business videos will be posted on the Business Lexington Web site, www.bizlex.com.
State presents $1 million to KET for statewide GED initiatives
Noting that Kentucky has over 750,000 adults without a high school diploma, Gov. Steve Beshear awarded $1 million to Kentucky Educational Television (KET) for a statewide GED preparation program and professional development for adult educators who prepare students to take the GED. The programs are in response to new, more rigorous GED tests that will be launched in January 2012.
Stein Named Business Leader of the Year
Lexington Legends president Alan Stein is a very busy man. Also president of the Omaha Royals, Stein has been honored as the Sarpy County (Omaha) Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year. The honors were presented at the 2009 Annual Awards Kick-Off held at the La Vista Conference Center in Omaha.
Norm Nelson, chair of the Chamber of Commerce's 2008-2009 Board of Directors, presented the awards.
Announcing Stein as an award winner, Nelson said, "Alan has shown an incredible commitment to the economic development potential of Sarpy County. His leadership in the effort to retain the Omaha Royals in the metro area and his decision to look to Sarpy County will pay dividends for years to come.
Sarpy County will benefit from the new stadium, with new jobs and additional economic development that will add value to the entire metro area."
Royals attendance has exceeded 300,000 fans for 22
consecutive seasons.
The team's attendance was up more than six percent compared to 2008.
Popular Kentucky bourbon brand makes its mark
You know your product has made it big when it shows up in the annual Neiman-Marcus Christmas book, right there among the insanely pricey baubles marketed to the rich and famous. There on page 58 of this year's 83rd edition - along with the limited-edition Jaguar, the "his-and-hers" sports aircraft, and the "world's fastest electric motorcycle" - and described as "perfection in amber" is Kentucky's own Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey.
The package includes serving as Maker's Master Distiller for a day, luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Maker's top dog, Bill Samuels. Offered for two, it provides six standard bottles of the bourbon plus an additional pair of golden bottles, dipped in gold wax with 24 karat gold flecks and etched with the likenesses of the lucky couple. The price: $7,500.