Smart PJs get press on Fox, attention from Wal-Mart

Here's Leighton Johnson of Idaho Falls wearing a pair of Smart PJs, the world's first interactive pajamas and the inspiration of Juan Murdoch, an Idaho Falls real estate agent. (Photo by Melissa Bristol)

As feature stories go, Juan Murdoch's Smart PJ's are hard to resist. Just this week, his interactive pajamas for kids got another bit of national exposure, this time on Fox and Friends.

Here's a link to the video: 
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html#http://video.foxnews.com/v/2594547281001/best-gadgets-to-help-you-fall-asleep/?playlist_id=86912

Looking to post the actual video, I found this YouTube clip:

All in all, I'd have to say that things are going about as well as can be expected for Murdoch, an agent for Keller-Williams East Idaho who got the idea out of the blue during a sales meeting where QR tags were being explained.

Here's a link to the story we ran when he first rolled them out last Christmas:

http://www.bizmojoidaho.com/2012/12/bedtime-stories-for-digital-interactive.html

If you want to vote for them in Wal-Mart's "Get on the Shelf" competition, follow this link: getontheshelf.walmart.com

Battelle opens application process for two charitable donation campaigns

Battelle Energy Alliance, operator of Idaho National Laboratory, today announced the application period for its fiscal year 2014 charitable donation campaign and technology-based economic development charity. The campaign focuses on two programs, each with a distinct audience and aim. BEA is asking all requests for charitable donations related to each category be submitted by Sept. 15.

Community Giving
Through the INL Community Giving program, started in 2005, BEA provides corporate-funded donations in selected areas including human services, health, environment, arts and civic projects.

"We recognize the needs in our community are growing, so our selection process is very difficult," said Amy Lientz, director of INL communications and governmental affairs.

“Our first priority this year will be to give to organizations that support the basic needs and education of children and the underprivileged,” said Lori Priest, contributions administrator.

Technology-based Economic Development
The second program targets projects aimed at spurring economic development, technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

“High-impact projects that focus on connecting industry partners, universities, new business startups and economic development organizations in an effort to drive job growth and innovation in the region are at the top of our list to fund in 2014,” said Stephanie Cook of INL’s technology deployment team.

All requests for INL charitable donations need to be submitted on the 2014 donation request form by Sept. 15. Decisions will be made by Dec. 15 notifications will then be sent to requesting organizations informing them of funding awards. Funds will be for projects for the period of Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014.

Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities. A copy of the IRS tax-exempt letter must accompany the form. INL’s charitable donation program does not fund political or religious organizations, emergency response, courtesy advertisements, athletic programs or events, individuals, contests or extracurricular school activities. This funding does not include requests for K-12 education donations.

For further information on educational funding requests, contact Brenda Greenhalgh at brenda.greenhalgh@inl.gov.

For full details on both programs, or to download the 2014 request for donation form, follow these links:
Community Giving
Technology-based Economic Development

Press conference scheduled at site of new Scientech office complex

Detailed plans for the new Scientech office complex at Snake River Landing are set to be unveiled Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at a news conference at which Mayor Jared Fuhriman will speak.

The event will be at the building site, located off Whitewater Drive and Bluff Street. The project calls for construction of two interconnected office buildings, the first 53,300 square feet of space and the second 55,000 square feet. The project is one of many underway at Snake River Landing. Galusha Higgins & Galusha has a new office under construction, Bandon River Apartments is underway and a new restaurant and retail building on Milligan Road is expected to be open in the fall, with MacKenzie River Pizza as a major tenant.

A business unit of Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Co., Scientech engineers and designs high-tech nuclear and electrical-control instruments. The company employs about 200 people at its existing Idaho Falls facilities on South Woodruff Avenue.

INL division director receives prestigious fellowship from peers

Terry Todd

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers has named Terry Todd, director of the Idaho National Laboratory Fuel Cycle Science and Tech Division, as a fellow. Awarded to outstanding members of the profession who have been working for 25 years or more, it represents the highest degree of recognition by peers of outstanding professional achievements. Todd is the only current INL employee to be named a fellow of the AIChE, which has 45,000 members in 90 countries.

A chemical engineer for 33 years, Todd earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Montana State University. He has a Ph.D. in radiochemical engineering from the Khlopin Radium Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia.

At INL, where he has spent more than 30 years, Todd currently specializes in chemical separations methods to recycle nuclear fuel and reduce waste. He has held numerous leadership positions, and in 2008 earned the INL distinction of laboratory fellow.

In addition to authoring many peer-reviewed publications over his career, Todd has been awarded 29 patents. Some of these patents relate to the Nano-Composite Arsenic Sorbent, an affordable polymer particle that removes the toxic substance from drinking water. The technology received a prestigious R&D 100 Award in 2006.

"I really like what I do," says Todd, crediting his success to teams of collaborators from different disciplines which help foster innovation. "I've worked with some great people … you kind of play off each other."

Aunt Annie's to have ribbon cutting Wednesday at noon

There are 12 flavors of root beer at Aunt Annie's Kitchen, which opened Aug. 1 in the Teton Spectrum.

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce has six ribbon cuttings planned between now and the end of the month.

The first will be Wednesday at noon at Aunt Annie's Kitchen, 2631 S. 25th East, next to Cafe Sabor in the Teton Spectrum.

Visitors to the Snake River Roaring Youth Jam may have gotten a taste last week of their fudge and flavored popcorn when they were making samples available there. The business was opened Aug. 1 by John Crook, also the owner of Town and Country Gardens.

Crook said he got the idea from someone he met last year during a meeting in Chicago.

Two-thirds of the building's 1,200 square feet is devoted to kitchen space, the other third to retail space. There are close to 50 flavors of popcorn, 30 flavors of taffy, 12 flavors of fudge and 12 different brands of root beer. For more information, here is a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuntAnnies.

On Friday at 11 a.m. the Chamber Ambassadors will take their big scissors to The Boot Barn, 1961 S. 25th East, then go at noon to Eagle Home Mortgage, 3040 E. 17th Street. The following Wednesday, Aug. 21, there will be two ribbon cuttings, the first at 3 p.m. at Jacob Grant Property Management, 1075 S. Utah Avenue, the second at 4:30 at The Celt, 398 West Broadway. The latter may seem a little belated, as The Celt is celebrating its first anniversary this month, but better late than never, right?

The last ribbon cutting will be Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. at Reflections Academy of Dance, 680 W. Broadway. It is owned and operated by LaNae Surerus, who also teaches at Eastern Idaho Technical College. For more information and a full class schedule, follow this link: http://reflectionsacademy.com/