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Annette's brings Spaldings donuts downtown
A time-honored guilty pleasure of Lexington mornings will soon be available to downtown office workers. Spaldings Bakery is partnering with Annette's Cafè in the atrium of the Central Bank building to make its uniquely addicting donuts available to the easily tempted.
"They're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so they'll be available here Wednesdays through Fridays," said cafè owner Annette Jett.
Jett said a member of the Spalding family, Steve Barton, works in the building at 300 Vine Street and had been stopping by her eatery. They began talking and "we saw an opportunity," she said.
Jett said the donuts will be picked up fresh from Spaldings' Winchester Road bakery each morning. She plans to accept special orders from offices planning breakfast events. If, by some remote chance, there are leftovers, she will use them to make a bread pudding.
"There are so many people traveling who come our way from the Radisson or the Hyatt, from conventions in town, hopefully this will introduce the donut to markets outside of Lexington that haven't had it before," said Jett. She added that she anticipates developing an online market for Kentucky delicacies in time for the arrival of the World Equestrian Games in 2010.
In the meantime, Jett said she's just looking forward to the looks on the faces of first-time tasters. "It's the best donut I've ever had and I think most people would agree."
Tune in and tune in
A good old-fashioned radio debate is in the cards over who should own the water company.
WVLK-590 AM will broadcast live when Vice Mayor Mike Scanlon, an opponent of condemnation, squares off against Foster Ockerman Jr., an attorney for Blue Grass FLOW (For Local Ownership of Water). The debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the downtown Central Branch of Lexington Public Library.
A water ownership referendum will appear on the November 7 ballot.
WVLK will broadcast a debate between incumbent mayor Teresa Isaac and challenger Jim Newberry, live from Joseph-Beth Booksellers at 7 p.m. on November 1.
Pennsylvania greenlights slots at tracks
As the issue of expanded gaming simmers in Kentucky, gambling regulators in Pennsylvania have approved the state's first slot-machine licenses. Among racetracks expected to begin operating the machines by late 2006: Philadelphia Park in Bensalem; Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, near Wilkes-Barre; The Meadows in suburban Pittsburgh and Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack.
State's "insourced jobs" ranks in middle of pack
While more and more American jobs are outsourced overseas, a recent study of "insourced jobs" - foreign owned companies with American operations - by the Organization for International Investment, using statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, shows Kentucky has 84,700 citizens working for overseas companies here in the commonwealth.
That ranks Kentucky 20th overall in the nation, and means 6 percent of the state's workforce is employed by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies. Of the 84,700 jobs, 55 percent, or 47,400, are in manufacturing.
Foreign owned companies with a presence in Kentucky according to the Organization for International Investment include Arkema Inc., BASF, Bridgestone Americas, Denso US, E.ON North America, Inc., Food Lion, GlaxoSmithKline, L'Oreal, Michelin, Novelis Corp., Panasonic, Pernod Ricard USA, Siemens, Sodexho, Square D, Toyota, Unilever and Volvo.
DMD Data scores high ranking in Fast-Growth 100 List
Lexington-based DMD Data Systems has been ranked 15th in Computer Reseller News' (CRN) Fast-Growth 100 list of leading technology solutions providers. DMD Data's growth rate in excess of 300 percent and sales reaching nearly $7.5 million by the close of 2005 led to its significant ranking in the Fast-Growth 100 list.
CRN's Fast-Growth 100 identifies the 100 fastest growing solution providers across all specialty areas and business models. The profiles and data developed by CRN's editorial staff provide insights into which models and technology are proving to be the most lucrative.
Founded in 1996, DMD Data develops, deploys and supports hardware, software, and middleware solutions from IBM and Hitachi Data Systems. DMD Data serves more than 200 clients in the government, education, health care and small to medium business sectors. DMD Data is an IBM Partner and was awarded one of Arrow's Top Contributor Awards in 2005.
UK moves up in national research rankings
UK has moved up two spots in the national rankings used to measure research. UK is Kentucky's only university ranked in the top 50 for research expenditures.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) ranks UK 34th among all public universities and 50th among all private and public universities for R&D expenditures. The rankings are based on $297.6 million spent on research during the 2004 fiscal year, an increase of 9.4 percent over fiscal 2003.
Each year the NSF publishes a survey that ranks the top universities according to what they spend on research. The survey is considered to be the primary source of information on R&D expenditures within academia.
Host wins Nebraska rights by acquiring Pinnacle
Host Communications, Inc. has acquired Pinnacle Sports Productions, LLC, a sports marketing firm based in Gretna, NE that holds radio and multi-media rights to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Pinnacle Sports sells, produces and distributes radio broadcasts for Nebraska sports teams. It also produces a daily statewide radio program on Huskers' sports. Founded by Paul Aaron and Dale Jansen, Pinnacle is involved in marketing Nebraska's coaches' radio and television shows, game programs, and select television game broadcasts and events.
Host also holds marketing rights at the University of Arizona, Florida State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Michigan, Oklahoma State University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Texas and the Southeastern Conference. In addition, Host manages NCAA Football and sells, produces and distributes all championship souvenir programs for the NCAA.
Ky tech schools recommended for SACS accreditation
Kentucky's Office of Career and Technical Education's KY Tech System of schools has become the first state-wide career and technical education system in the United States to be recommended for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.
The recommendation for accreditation of the system of 55 ATCs will be made to SACS' Board of Directors.
A final report will be issued within 30 days with official notification forthcoming. The system will also be recognized in Atlanta, Ga., at the SACS national conference in December with official accreditation plaques.
Webasto joins environmental leadership program
Webasto Roof Systems Inc., a manufacturer of automotive sunroofs, convertible tops and complete roof systems, has been accepted as a Master member of KY EXCEL, the environmental leadership program of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
Master membership is the highest level of the program. To attain it, Webasto had to demonstrate comprehensive environmental management planning, submit to a third-party assessment of the plant's compliance and commit to and report on at least four voluntary projects that benefit Kentucky's environment.
The Lexington facility also is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track program.
New Yoga studio opens in Lexington
Kentucky native Sharon Tessandori has returned home to open Barefoot Works Yoga, Lexington's first "eco-friendly" yoga studio that features vinyasa, or "flow" yoga, as its major offering.
Tessandori, a Hazard native with a Master's Degree from Eastern Kentucky University, Sharon has spent the last four years practicing and studying yoga in North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
Vinyasa is an increasingly popular style of yoga that links breath and poses in a coordinated flow to improve strength, range of motion, balance and cardiovascular health for the participant. The style is appropriate for beginners to experts.
To maintain consistency with the philosophy of awareness that yoga embodies, Barefoot Works will promote awareness of the environment by maintaining an "eco-friendly" studio that includes cork floors, bamboo rugs, low-toxicity paint, recycled paper, natural cleaning products, and organic tea for after class.
Barefoot Works will offer student discounts, multi-class passes and monthly unlimited memberships. More information can be found by visiting the studio's Web site at www.barefootworks.com or calling (859) 433-7787."