INL researcher takes part in cybersecurity task force

Rita Wells of the Idaho National Laboratory

Rita Wells, a cyber and control systems security researcher at the Idaho National Laboratory, has been appointed to a 15-member cyberskills task force.

The group was formed to help the Department of Homeland Security and the federal government recruit and retain talented cybersecurity professionals. Among the recommendations in a report it presented this month to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the group called for a two-year, community college-based program to identify and train people for critical cybersecurity jobs. It also recommended establishing a cyber-reserve program that would allow cybersecurity professionals from outside government to assist DHS in times of need, and a sustained effort to train and hire veterans for critical cybersecurity positions.

Wells, an INL employee for 22 years, is currently leads the lab’s electric sector security programs. She is the recipient of numerous cybersecurity awards including the SANS Institute’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) security leadership award. She often speaks at national cybersecurity conferences and has provided testimony to Congress on the challenges of cybersecurity in the electric utility sector.

For nearly a decade, INL has been internationally recognized for its research in critical infrastructure protection, cyber and control systems security, and electric grid reliability. The laboratory manages several multi-year security programs, including the DHS Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) and the Department of Energy’s National SCADA Test Bed.

Idaho Falls featured in AAA's Via magazine

Idaho Falls is the cover story of the current Northwest edition of Via magazine.

Idaho and Oregon AAA members are getting their November/December 2012 issue of Via magazine, featuring a cover story on Idaho Falls.

The magazine goes to about 440,000 homes and offices in the two states, said Marie Dodds, director of government and public affairs in AAA's Portland office.

Editors in different regions decide what goes in the magazine and on the cover, she said. "What we're trying to do is offer useful travel information to people in the Northwest, so they might decide to drive or take a flight to a place like Idaho Falls," she said. "We do run some features on international travel, but for the most part we're more focused on travel tips and realistic places to go."

As stated on its Web site, www.viamagazine.com, Via's mission is "to excite, to inform, and to entertain Western travelers; to lay bare the secrets of destinations around the globe, across the country, and, most often, just down the road; to satiate and gratify the armchair traveler and, especially, to spark active travelers to pick up the phone, grab a mouse, or trek to the nearest AAA travel agency and begin making plans for their next trip."

Dodds said they decided on a story about Idaho Falls at their 2011 editorial scheduling meeting, and that the copy was turned in earlier this year.

More ruminations on fast food burgers ... Fuddruckers, anyone?

A juicy burger from Fuddruckers, recently rated No. 5 in a Best Burger survey.

Given the insatiable appetite for news about fast food hamburgers, I did a little digging this morning to see whether I might be missing anything.

You see, I've been intrigued by the re-emergence of a post from October 2011 about In-N-Out Burger, one in which I opined that the Irvine, Calif.-based chain would create excitement in Idaho Falls equal to that which preceded Olive Garden.

I still believe that, but it appears In-N-Out is focused on Texas at the moment, and Texas is a big state. So what are the alternatives?

We already have Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and going by customer satisfaction surveys I'd say we are lucky. Last month, Zagat.com released its annual "America's Best Burgers, Fries, Coffee and More" results and Five Guys ranked Number One. Read about it here: http://blog.zagat.com/2012/09/americas-best-burgers-fries-coffee-and.html.

In-N-Out ranked No. 4, followed by Fuddruckers. I can't imagine Fuddruckers' following is as passionate, but I could be wrong.

Going to its Web site, what I did find interesting is that it has two locations in Boise, not to mention stores in Montana (Billings and Bozeman) and Utah. Could this be Idaho Falls' next great fast food hamburger hope? If I were a betting man, this is a chain I'd put money on.

Love at First Bite expands into new, bigger location

Vats of olive oil at Love At First Bite. Samples are available.

Love at First Bite is now open in its new suite at 901 Pier View Drive, Suite 101, across from The Pier at Snake River Landing. The new space, roughly 3,000 square feet, is double the size of the previous location, which opened in the fall of 2010. It has allowed owners Juli Richards and Madeline Luthy to expand product lines, including a new specialty olive oil and vinegar line known as Twig and Vine. The store is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

David's Bridal eyes early December opening in Idaho Falls

Electrical contractors were busy Monday at the Idaho Falls David's Bridal store.

David's Bridal is looking at an opening date on or around Dec. 7, a spokesman for the company said Monday.

The store is in the Sagewood Shopping Center next door to Kiwi Loco, on the Idaho Falls side of Hitt Road.

With a square-footage of 5,470, it is one of the Conshohocken, Pa.-based chain's smaller stores, but Idaho Falls is one of their smaller markets, said Jim Neilland, a real estate executive for the company.

David's Bridal has had a store in Boise for 12 years, and several in Utah. With more than 300 stores in 45 states, plus stores in Canada and Puerto Rico, it is the largest American bridal store chain. It also carrries prom gowns and other formal wear.

For a look at its Web site, go to http://www.davidsbridal.com/HomeView.