Press Release – My Co-Op Video Contest

9 03 2009

From a East Lansing Co-Op Press Release…..

LOVE YOUR CO-OP? SHOW IT! ELFCO JOINS CO-OPS NATIONWIDE FOR
“MY CO-OP ROCKS” VIDEO CONTEST

Co-ops across the nation encourage co-op fans to submit short videos
and compete for nearly $3,500 in prizes

East Lansing, Michigan:
Lights, camera…arugula! This spring in partnership with National
Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), the East Lansing Food Co-op
(ELFCO) invites shoppers to submit short, up-to-2-minute videos in the My
Co-op Rocks Video Contest, a nationwide contest where co-op fans get to
share the reasons their co-op rocks. Submissions will be accepted online
beginning March 1 at http://www.MyCoopRocks.coop with $3,500 in prizes to be
awarded to the nation’s best videos in “people’s choice” and “judges’
choice” categories.

My Co-op Rocks Video Contest is the first food cooperative contest that
asks shoppers across the country to share their favorite co-op moments,
memories and stories online. ELFCO and NCGA are hosting the contest in
celebration of all the qualities and quirks that make co ops integral
parts of communities. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : East Lansing, Food News, Michigan

Central Michigan University Breaks World Record

8 03 2009

From a press release…I got this late..apparently the attempt was yesterday during the women’s basketball game…turns out, they did break the world record…there’s more info in this release than there is in the post attempt story, so I’m going with this one.

MOUNT PLEASANT – Ice cream makes anything better. Even when you’re talking about one of the college basketball nation’s best turnarounds and highest scoring offenses.

Looking to set the world record for largest ice cream sundae, the Central Michigan women’s basketball team, CMU athletics and Doozie’s Ice Cream Parlor of Mount Pleasant are partnering up to create a very cool treat for women’s basketball fans following the Chippewas’ regular season finale against Eastern Michigan at Rose Arena on March 7. Guinness, the world’s authority on record-setting achievements, has already pre-approved the event and verified that the world record will be set with this attempt. Fans will also be able to take in the game for the cheapest rate of the season, as all tickets are just $4. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, Press Releases

Restaurant Rally 2009

5 03 2009

Got this press release about a pretty cool sounding event in Jackson….

Support Local Businesses and enjoy hours of entertainment, free transportation and great food at 9 local restaurants!

Jackson, Michigan – Tuesday, March 10th – Visit 9 Jackson Restaurants for only $10 per person! The 3rd Annual Restaurant Rally will take place Tuesday, March 10th, 6pm -9pm. Participants start at any of the participating restaurants where they can enjoy great food and jump on a shuttle bus to the next establishment.

Participating Restaurants: Bella Notte Ristorante, Cascades Manor House, Duffy’s Food & Spirits, Buffalo BBQ Wings, Steve’s Ranch Family Restaurant, New Country China Buffet, Culver’s, Ground Round and Olive Garden.

Each Restaurant will offer samples of signature and popular menu items and drink specials. Guests may start at any restaurant. Free parking for this event is available at Cascades Manor House. Six shuttle buses provided by Jackson Public Schools will run three different routes to each of the nine participating restaurants.

Tickets are now on sale at the Chamber (141 S. Jackson Street) $10 per person

For more information about Restaurant Rally 2009, contact the Chamber 517-782-7221 or www.gjcc.org.
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Categories : Food News, Jackson, Michigan, Press Releases

Another Peanut Butter Recal

4 03 2009

I thought we were done with these…

Spartan stores has issued a voluntary recall of spartan chocolate peanut clusters.

Spartan officials say they contain peanut ingredients from the Peanut Corporation of America’s Texas facility.

The FDA has recalled all items processed at that facility saying they may be linked to a salmonella outbreak.

There are no reported illnesses associated with this precautionary recall. 

Consumers should discard the product or take it back to the store for a refund.  The product pack size is 4.5 ounces, the order code is 099-523 and the UPC is 11213-04218.

The product best by dates are 2/27/09, 3/2/09, 4/6/09, 7/24/09, and 7/28/09.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

Press Release – Wines for Humanity

2 03 2009

From a press release…

Wines for Humanity: a unique approach to charity

It started to happen in Michigan last year, when a group of passionate people about wine and helping others from Chicago created a company with a new approach to charity fundraising.

Wines for Humanity’s mission is to raise funds for charities across the country in order to prevent homelessness in families with children. We believe that the funds raised locally should be applied locally- directly impacting the quality of our Wine Advisors’ neighborhoods nationwide.

WFH has been around for a while in other five states (Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina) pairing with different programs to put in motion our vision. As of January 1st, 2009, we have raised over $64,000 for the prevention of homelessness in families with children!

We are rapidly expanding in Michigan to help support the homelessness prevention program that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other charities have in place. We need wine advisors!

Mini Job Fair March 26, 2009

Training for wine advisors is extensive, and WFH provides the materials to start without upfront costs.

Team Michigan is having a Mini-Job Fair

at Gone Wired Café (www.gonewiredlansing.com)

2021 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing MI 48912

on March 26, 2009, from 4 pm to 7 pm

Applicants need to be 21 and older

A demonstration of a wine tasting will be presented at 5 pm.

We encourage interested individuals to call 517. 719. 8049 to reserve an interview time to become a wine advisor. We also encourage doing the same to reserve a seat in the mini tasting.

To host a wine Tasting Party

Our in-home wine tastings entertain and educate the hosts and guests on the joy of fine wines. We discuss how to taste the wine, how to pair wine with food, and how wine can be an integral part of a meaningful life, –all while sampling seven fine wine selections.

To host a party at your home or office please contact

Sabina Texido stexido@winesforhumanity.com or 517.719.8049


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Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

The Venue Live Grand Opening

27 02 2009

I drove by The Venue Live tonight on my way to dinner and noticed the parking lot was packed.  On my way home, I noticed the searchlights.  I’m guessing tonight was a preview.  I found this info about the Grand Opening…

Time: Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 9:00pm
Location: “The Venue Live” ~ (the old L.A. Globe)
Street: 6810 S. Cedar St.
Lansing, MI~ VIP Available

Come Eat, Drink and Dance

Special Celebrity Guest


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Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

McDonald’s Outsources Jobs

26 02 2009

You know the economy is in the crapper when McDonald’s is outsourcing minimum wage jobs.

I ordered a cup of coffee today from a woman in North Dakota. It was in my hands within about 10 seconds, and was plenty hot enough to scorch a lap.

The process went like this: I pulled up to the drive-through squawk box at the Charlotte McDonald’s.

[snip]

After thanking me for my “persistence,” Scott confirmed that the Charlotte McDonald’s is, indeed, a test site for an experimental “call center” approach, and that drive-through orders went “out of state

Go to the LSJ’s website and read the whole article.  Great job by LSJ columnist John Schnieder for digging this up.  A few weeks ago, there was a storyline on King of the Hill where Bill fell in love with the drive thru lady who worked for a call center out of state and went on a road trip to find her.  I thought it was all a joke.  I never imagined that someone would actually outsource their drive thru operation.  I laughed out loud when J pointed out this article to me.  Seriously?  They’re outsourcing minimum wage jobs? 

I hate drive thrus as it is.  This is even more incentive to stay the hell away.  I can never understand the person on the other end.  What if the call center is in the south or New England and the person on the other end has an unfamiliar accent.  I’ll never get my food.  I’m at a loss for words.  Outsourcing drive thrus.  Wow.


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Categories : Chains, Fast Food, Food News, Michigan

Flatts Grille Closed by State Treasury

24 02 2009

Whoops.

Flats Grille, 551 E. Grand River Ave., was closed Tuesday, with a sign on the locked door announcing that the restaurant had been seized by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

The sign announced a tax warrant against the business and explained that “it is in the best interest of all concerned parties (owner and state) to sell the perishable property.”

Ingham County Register of Deeds Curtis Hertel Jr. said a state tax lien was filed on Dec. 10 against Flats owner Paul O’Connor, for $8,864.75 in unpaid taxes.

Damn.  Never got a chance to eat there.  I considered it last time I worked at MSU, but opted for McDonald’s instead.  That’s what I get for picking a chain over a local place.


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Categories : East Lansing, Food News, Michigan

Gatorade Drops “Propel With Calcium” Line

24 02 2009

I got bad news in my inbox today.   Earlier this week, we made our weekly trip to Walmart to pick up a few six packs of Propel.  J likes Lemon.  I like the Mandarin Orange which is part of the Propel With Calcium line.  We noticed a change in bottles which is a welcome change, but we couldn’t find the Mandarin Orange flavor.  Walmart was about the only place we could even find Mandarin Orange anyway, so not seeing it on the shelf caused some alarm.  I e-mailed customer service to see what was up.  I got the following reply….

We’re sorry to tell you that Propel with calcium, including the mandarin orange flavor, has been discontinued.

As you may know, there are many reasons why a product may be discontinued, but it is usually because sales expectations have not been met. When too many stores discontinue a product, it becomes difficult to continue making and selling the product.

We’ve been listening to consumer feedback and have decided to take action on the most popular requests. As a result, we’ve made some changes to our current Propel line-up. Propel Fit Water will be transitioned to Nutrient Enhanced Water. This new line now offers the following flavors:

* Lemon
* Berry
* Grape
* Kiwi-Strawberry
* Peach Mango Body (with fiber)
* Black cherry Mind
* Blueberry Pomegranate

(Any flavor not mentioned above has been discontinued.)

DAMN!  I guess I’ll just have drink Lemon from now on.


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Could Liquor License Renewal Fees Increase?

24 02 2009

That’s one of Jennifer Granholm’s proposal’s for balancing the budget.  I saw this story in the Jackson Citizen-Patriot late last week.

Local bar owners are not happy with what Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants to serve up in 2010 — a doubling of their annual liquor license renewal fees.

Granholm is seeking to raise the fees — which haven’t been increased since 1976 — as a way to help solve the state’s massive budget deficit.

“It’s a 100 percent tax increase,” said Jeff Veach, owner of Veach’s Office Bar in downtown Jackson.

So, it’s been 30 years since there’s been an increase in liquor license renewal fees.  30 years!  That seems like a long time.  With the rate of inflation, a doubling of the fees seems cheap.  It sucks that it could happen now when everyone is struggling.  It’s kind of a vicious cycle.  If business fees aren’t increased, then they’ll have to find another stream of revenue such as property or income tax hikes, but it just seems like doing business in Michigan is getting harder and harder.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

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