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Newberry challenges Forum to expand its role
In a speech before the Lexington Forum two days after his election, Mayor-elect Jim Newberry challenged the business networking organization to serve a more significant role in hosting important civic discussions.
"We need a place where we can really hash out some of these big challenges that are coming down the pike," he told the group. With apologies to the Lafayette Club, site of the forum's current series of monthly breakfast meetings, Newberry said he hoped to see the organization boost its membership enough to fill one of the more spacious meeting spaces at the Lexington Center.
While calling on the Forum to expand its membership, Newberry also urged the group to become more diverse, citing the increasingly cosmopolitan nature of Lexington's population.
Asked by member Jamie Clark to consider returning the mayor's annual state of the merged government address to the Forum, Newberry promised to do so. The Forum had hosted the address for 18 years. Mayor Teresa Isaac had moved host duties for the heavily attended annual event to other groups.
Alltech opens aquaculture research center
Nicholasville-based Alltech has expanded its research capacity with the opening of the new Alltech Aquaculture Research Center. The new facility is 7,500 sq. feet with 10 independent re-circulating systems of varying sizes, allowing the global animal health company to keep pace increasing demand for aquaculture products.
David Wood was named as the new Aquaculture Facilities Manager. Wood comes to Alltech from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Florida, where he was a research technician. He has previously worked at the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation in Cordova, Alaska, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pomeroy, Washington. Wood graduated cum laude from Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, with a degree in Marine Science.
The Alltech Aquaculture Research Center will conduct research on a variety of species, including tilapia, catfish, salmon, cobia, perch, shrimp, and many others. All research will be conducted in closed recirculating systems. The systems will include tank sizes in the range of 100 gallon nursery tanks to 1,500 gallon grow-out tanks. This facility enables Alltech to complete in excess of 10 experiments per year with the possibility for further expansion.
Alltech will also be working closely with the leading aquaculture research universities in the U.S. and abroad. Some of the potential projects include a student training center and the hosting of visiting scientists. This is similar to the Alltech-University of Kentucky (UK) Nutrition Research Alliance at Coldstream Research Park, a partnership in which Alltech aligns with UK students to conduct poultry research. That collaboration produced more than 35 experiments in 2005.
Ozone pollution down in Kentucky
The Kentucky Division for Air Quality reports a significant decline in ozone pollution in the commonwealth.
According to a press release from the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, data from DAQ monitors indicated eight occasions in which ozone levels exceeded the federal eight-hour ozone standard. Three of the eight "exceedances" occurred in Oldham County, with one each in Jefferson, Hancock, Daviess, Boyd, and Greenup counties. In 2002, Kentucky monitors measured 229 exceedances, and every monitor in the state recorded at least one. The annual monitoring season is March 1 through Oct. 31.
Ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of heat and strong sunlight.
One third of Americans are said to be at a higher risk of health problems from ground-level ozone, which can inflame and damage the lining of the lungs. Research indicates repeated, long-term exposure to ozone can permanently scar lung tissue and cause loss of lung function.
In November 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted an eight-hour ozone standard based on research indicating that extended exposure to lower levels of ozone might be as harmful as short-term exposure to elevated levels.
Mileage deduction rate edges up in '07
The 2007 optional standard mileage rates used by the IRS to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes have been established.
As of Jan. 1, 2007, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
48.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
20 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes;
14 cents per mile driven in service to a charitable organization.
The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 44.5 cents per mile for 2006. The new rate for medical and moving purposes compares to 18 cents in 2006.
(Thanks for the heads-up to Dwayne Huff, Corporate Sales Manager, Enterprise Rent-a-Car.)
Local business supports Habitat home for exiled family
Thomas and King and nine diverse area faith-based organizations joined forces to build a home for a family of eight exiled from their native country due to political unrest.
The Kaindu's are originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent nine years as refugees in Zambia before coming to the United States. Yvon and Betty have six children, three boys and three girls: Sarah (12), Elijohn (10), Dorcas (8), Jimmy (6), Benedict (4), and Barbara (10 months). The family attends the Wesley United Methodist Church.
Their new five-bedroom home, Thomas and King's seventh Habitat project, is the largest LHFH has ever built. Wayne Wesley, a member of Central Baptist Church and a multiple year build leader said, "Although this home was challenging for our volunteers, we understand fully why LHFH insisted on this size home. Given the age and gender differences of their children, this design and size makes perfect sense."
The Kaindu's are expected to move into their new home, located on Withers Avenue near Applebee's Park, in time for Thanksgiving.
KAM unveils list of branded initiatives
The Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (formerly Associated Industries of Kentucky) has launched a plan to "protect and grow manufacturing in Kentucky" through seven branded initiatives:
The CleanKentucky® initiative will help KAM members balance sustainable growth with the environment and their communities.
SmartKentucky® will be geared to preparing Kentucky students for well-paying jobs in manufacturing. This initiative will encourage better math scores and help produce more high school graduates.
ProductiveKentucky® is to support Kentucky manufacturers in their efforts to address intense global competition by training Kentucky manufacturing employees to out-produce workers in low-wage countries such as China, India and Mexico.
HealthyKentucky® will aim to reduce Kentucky's health care costs by encouraging workplace safety and general health.
HonestKentucky® will encourage honesty and integrity in the manufacturing workplace.
ProsperousKentucky® aims to raise the standard of living for all Kentuckians by keeping manufacturers in Kentucky and attracting new manufacturers to the state.
Health department gets final shipment of flu vaccine
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has received its final shipment of flu vaccine. The recent shipment of 10,000 doses of vaccine has allowed the department to continue distributing vaccine to local physician practices and to hold several clinics at community locations in November.
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
The fee for a clinic flu shot is $20. The fee for homebound shots is $40. The department also accepts Medicare, Medicaid and third party insurance. Pneumococcal vaccines are also available for eligible individuals for $25.
To learn more about the Health Department's flu activities, call the flu hotline 288-2312. This line will be updated weekly with community clinic information. The clinic schedule is posted on the department's Web site www.lexingtonhealthdepartment.org.
New restaurant arriving in Victorian Square
Positioning to catch crowds from Rupp Arena sporting events as well as newly arriving downtown residents, Robert Spicuzza and Bradford Schooler are working feverishly to get Brooklyn Sports Grill and Pizzeria up and running by early December.
The restaurant will be located in the Victorian Square space previously occupied by Fusion, directly across Short Street from the Opera House.
Chandler Foundation renamed
The A.B. "Happy" Chandler Foundation has been renamed the Kentucky Future Leaders Foundation. Founded in 1992, shortly after the death of two-time governor Happy Chandler, the foundation awards scholarships of up to $4,000 per year with the possibility of $16,000 over four years to attend any college, public or private, within Kentucky.