Press Release – Crosby Mint Farm To Be Evacuated Immediately

25 08 2009

The following comes from a Crosby Mint Farm press release…

JUDGE SIGNS EVICTION NOTICE, CROSBY MINT FARM TO BE EVACUATED IMMEDIATELY.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI) August 24, 2009. 29th Judicial Circuit Court Judge, the Hon. Randy L. Tahvonen signed an order this afternoon to allow the eviction of Peppermint Jim Crosby from his property known as The Crosby Mint Farm. Neither the Crosbys nor their attorney were aware that the hearing was scheduled to be held this afternoon and was most unexpected. There had been no motion of hearing sent out, the Crosbys and their attorney found out about the scheduled hearing this morning while personally filing an objection with the court to the Writ of Eviction that was filed last Thursday by Greenstone Farm Credit Services.

Eviction
The Crosby Mint Farm has been in foreclosure for a year and was unable to raise the $330,000 needed to redeem the property back from Greenstone Farm Credit Services by August 14th 2009. Before an eviction takes place, the owners have the right to refuse and, according to Greenstone, should be receiving a 30 day Right of Refusal with the price set by Greenstone. However, since judge Tehvonen signed the eviction notice, this goes into immediate effect before the Crosbys receive their 30 days to raise the money to buy back the property before it will be auctioned off and processed by the bank. The latter has yet to step forward and appraise the farm with a set amount.

Government support
Peppermint Jim Crosby states that even with the series of events that have occurred, he will keep supporting and helping the local Michigan businesses he has been working with through the Get Mint Trading Company. He will continue the fight for farm preservation with the company’s growing costumer base, because of all the support he and his family have received since the beginning of this foreclosure process. “There is no need to liquidate this farm”, he proclaims.
Lack of support from the state and federal government demonstrates a true injustice towards the small American farm. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office was contacted in 2007, but the promised follow up did not come until 2008, when Jim Crosby received a form letter. The letter stated that there were no violations by the Farm Service Agency, which is contradictory to the borrower rights for restructuring and mediation. Other offices that were contacted in 2008, were Senator Crospsey’s, Congressman Rogers’ and Congressman Levin’s, and Senator Garcia’s. The responses that came back were that the situation is “unfortunate”. “As a constituent of these leaders I am disappointed that I have to talk them into supporting and acknowledging us and the value of the farm to Michigan,” Crosby states. “I am not asking for a bail-out, just the time and opportunity to restructure and grow the business to preserve the farm.”
In the mean time, the business, the Get Mint Trading Company remains in operation. Orders are still coming in over the phone and through the website and they are being processed and shipped to costumers throughout the nation.

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Press Release – BWL Chili Cook-Off Sees Record Crowd

5 06 2009

I guess this is why the lines were ridiculously long.  Great for the charities, but it made for an unpleasant experience.  From a press release….

 Sunny Skies Bring Record Crowd to 14th Annual Chili Cook-Off
More than 12,000 attendants and 2,000 gallons of chili served

LANSING, Mich. – Superb weather and an true love of chili attracted thousands of chiliheads to Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing this evening for the 14th Annual BWL Chili Cook-Off. More than 12,000 people attended the annual event, which benefits the Sparrow Foundation, the Hope Scholars Connections Program and Impression 5 Science Center/Adopt-A-River.

“A combination of perfect weather, fabulous turnout and the fact that there were more vendors than ever before made this year’s Cook-Off one of the best yet,” said BWL Communications Director Mark Nixon. “It was really great to see so many people come out to support three great charities.”

Fifty different Lansing-area restaurants, non-profits, businesses and amateur chefs combined to make approximately 2,000 gallons of chili. Vendors competed in nine different categories in hopes of being awarded “People’s Choice Best Overall Chili.” The People’s Choice award is determined via ballots given to event attendees. For all other chili categories, local celebrity judges determined the winners.

This year’s judges included: Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley, Lansing City Council Member Kathie Dunbar and City Council President Derrick Quinney, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, radio personality Walt Sorg, Impression 5 Science Center Board President Jeff Maloney, as well as Andrea Price and Elizabeth Hernandez of Sparrow Healthcare.

This year’s winners are as follows:

People’s Choice – Best Overall Chili
Gold Ladle: Lansing Lugnuts

Silver Ladle: Lansing Fire Department

Bronze Ladle: Harrison Road House

Best Restaurant Chili
Gold Ladle: Red Robin

Silver Ladle: Harrison Road House

Bronze Ladle: Applebee’s

Best Corporate Chili
Gold Ladle: The Gallery at MSU

Silver Ladle: Balloon’s Galore

Bronze Ladle: Marine Corps League

Best Meatless Chili
Gold Ladle: Soup to Nuts Bistro

Silver Ladle: Texas Road House

Bronze Ladle: The Firm

Best Amateur Chili
Gold Ladle: Shannon Shavers

Mo’ Hotter, Mo’ Better – Hottest Chili Award
Gold Ladle: Mayfair Bar

Silver Ladle: Lansing Teen Challenge

Bronze Ladle: Paramount Coffee

The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded the Red Hot Hospitality Award to the CVB member organization that was most fun and welcoming.

Red Hot Hospitality Award:

Gold Ladle: Dublin Square

Silver Ladle: Jackson National Life

Bronze Ladle: Beggar’s Banquet

Most Creative Chili Booth
Gold Ladle: Jackson National Life

Silver Ladle: Harrison Road House

Bronze Ladle: The State Room

Most Creative Chili Name
Gold Ladle: The Firm

Silver Ladle: Radisson Hotel

Bronze Ladle: The State Room

In addition to the chili, this year’s Cook-Off included live performances from Lansing bands 496 West and La Inspiracion. Attendees were also able to burn off their chili calories on a mechanical bull and an inflatable obstacle course and climbing wall.

The BWL would like to thank participating restaurants, businesses, sponsors and thousands of Chili Cook-Off attendees for another great year!





Press Release – Stopping Bottle Fraud

13 11 2008

From a press release….

Legislature begins work to stop bottle return fraud

LANSING – A bipartisan, bicameral package of legislation designed to upgrade reverse vending machines to prevent fraud from illegal bottle returns saw action this week as the bills passed out of House and Senate committees.

“Michigan is losing millions of dollars annually due to out-of-state bottles and cans being returned in exchange for the 10-cent deposit,” said bill sponsor Sen. Ron Jelinek. “In a time of economic crisis, we need to do what we can to keep this money in the state.”

In addition to committee action, a bill was introduced by Sen. Cameron Brown that would establish a fund to help reimburse the costs of the machine upgrades.

“We want to assist our manufacturers and retailers with the costs to comply with the new law,” Brown said. “As a legislator representing four counties that border two different states, I know how simple it is for redemption fraud to occur. This legislation will help bring an end to this criminal activity.” Read the rest of this entry »