Congressman Cory Gardner Tours Amgen's Colorado Operations

Last week Colorado's 4th District Congressman Cory Gardner (second from right) toured Amgen facilities with (L-R) CBSA Board Chair Steve Orndorff, CBSA President/CEO Holli Riebel and Amgen's Kerry Ingalls, CBSA board members. They discussed industry policies as they toured Amgen's Colorado operations.

Link to Rep. Gardner's website

Link to learn more about CBSA's Federal Policy Priorities

OurLakewoodNews.com: 'Meow-velous fundraiser comes back to Lakewood'

Quoting from the May 14th article by Clarke Reader:

"The Lakewood Arts Council Co-op Gallery is being overrun by painted and decorated cats as part of the Cat Care Society’s “Tails of the Painted Cats” fundraising event.

Eighteen cat statues — some standing, others sitting, but all uniquely created and about three feet long or tall — are currently making the gallery, located at 85 S. Union Blvd., home as the first stop on a two-month bidding tour of the metro area.

'This is our second year doing this, and we’re planning on doing it again next year,' said the Cat Care Society’s director of development, Suellen Scott. After next year’s event, the program will become an every-other-year occurrence, switching off with the Denver Hospice Mask Project."

Link to the article

Cat Care Society's Abbi Collins: 'How To Foster A Cat"

May is Foster Cat Month and CCS's Abbi Collins was interviewed by Stacey Brecher for IAMS 'The Daily Cat' blog. Quoting from the posting:

"According to Abbi Collins, adoptions manager of the Cat Care Society in Lakewood, Colo., there are different types of cats that need fostering. Kittens that are too young to adopt out, feral kittens that need socializing, and injured cats that need time to heal may need to spend time in a foster home, says Collins. Depending on the individual cat’s needs, fostering can range from two to 10 weeks."

Link to read

Grow: 'FISH FERTILIZER - American Indian planting wisdom'

Quoting from the Denver Post Garden Center - 5/18/12:

"Feed your plants with an organic fertilizer inspired by generations who have lived off the land. The new Fish Rich Organic 2-2-2 Fertilizer is made from processing remains at one of the country's largest yellow perch farms — Bell Aquaculture in Indiana — and approved for organic crop production under the USDA National Organic Program. $8.95 for a quart or $25.95 for a gallon at bellaquaculture.com."

Link to the Product Spotlight

Fish Farming News (2012 - Volume 2): "Bell Aquaculture teams up for 'Future of Fish'"

Quoting from the current Fish Farming News:

"Bell Aquaculture recenlty teamed with Indiana Soybean Alliance, Virginia Cobia Farms, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, and The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute to present the 'Future of Fish' at Bell's operations" in Indiana.

Link to the Fish Farming News website

The Suburban Jungle: 'Organic Gardening with Fish Rich Fertilizer... Berries + Fish = Wow'

Quoting Angela Maas in her May 16th blogpost about Fish Rich Organic Fertilizer:

"Last year, I used Fish Rich fertilizer in my garden for the first time. You can read all about the origin of my Fish Rich experience here. I have been gardening for a long time, and I have to tell you that using Fish Rich has changed the productivity of my garden tremendously!

It's almost night and day. Actually, I'm embarrassed by how poorly my garden performed in the past. If you want to see proof - check out the post I wrote last fall titled 'Berries + Fish = Wow!!' Yes, that's a lame title, but it pretty much explains it all! I have never had so many berries. And it didn't stop with last year.

My black raspberries went wild! They multiplied like crazy and are full of flower buds. They basically sat there and did nothing for 4 years straight, now they are all over.

Link to the Suburban Jungle Blog

BCBR: 'Biotechs abuzz over high court rulings'

Quoting from the May 15th article by Beth Potter:

"In the high-stakes world of drug research, local biotechnology companies are asking how recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on drug patent issues may affect them in the future...

At the Colorado BioScience Association, executive director Holli Riebel also is taking a wait-and-see attitude about the recent court rulings.

But Riebel says the naturally occurring process issue is 'a really controversial issue' that appears to affect quite a bit of the research being done in Colorado.

'If you have spent a lot of time to develop a process or an understanding of how something works, and you use that as basic premise to understand something else and to develop a therapeutic around it, people want to patent that,' Riebel said.

The national court rulings may affect future investment in the biotech industry, Riebel believes.

'You’ve spent millions of dollars in investment to understand the way something works that nobody has understood before, and it’s used to help save human lives,' Riebel said. 'To say you can’t patent that — how are you going to get people to invest money into furthering innovation and science.'

Link to the article

CBSA Applauds Dr. Larry Gold & Team for Organizing Gold Labs Symposium 2012

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) applauds organizers of the third annual Gold Lab Symposium that will take place on the University of Colorado campus with over 400 attendees, on Friday and Saturday, May 18 - 19, 2012. The two-day event titled “Time: Tempus Fugit” brings 16 renown national and international scientists and healthcare experts together to discuss progress and issues in personalized medicine.

The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President & CEO, who says, “We are honored to assist the Gold Lab Symposium—the speakers are incredible visionaries from an array of diverse fields. Every year I am personally inspired and amazed by the groundbreaking thought leaders Dr. Gold is able to bring together in one room.”

The Gold Lab Symposia were initiated in 2010 to bring together an intelligent community of scientists, industry leaders and policy experts to foster discussion about biological innovations and the improvement of health care. “Each year our Colorado bioscience community looks forward to the Symposium. We have some of the top research institutions in the country and 600 bioscience companies—creating the vision and drive to tackle these huge global issues,” explains Riebel.

This year the sessions will cover the expanding scientific basis of personalized medicine; explore drug targets and development, and consider the impact of education, aging, chronic conditions, and immunology on the evolution of healthcare. Presentations on healthcare economics and efficiency and reflections on the future also are included. Visit to review the 2012 itinerary: http://www.cobioscience.com/Events/Symposium_flyer2012_4-5.pdf

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

May/June Hatchery International: 'Indiana perch farm expands production with new RAS'

Quoting from the Hatchery International article by David Scarratt (sidebar by Quentin Dodd):

"In May, 2008 Hatchery International reported on a new 40 t/year development for the culture of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Albany, Indiana. Since then, the company has completed the first phase of a major expansion, with yet more to come. It is already the largest producer of perch in the United States.

Yellow perch has been a traditional fresh water species harvested in the Great Lakes,but over-fishing and other problems have reduced the availability of wild-caught fish to something like 80% of historical landings, thus opening the door for their culture on a commercial scale. Bell Aquaculture has seized that opportunity with a new 450 tonne recirculating grow-out facility located at Albany.

In January of this year, Norman McCowan, President of Bell Aquaculture, teamed with Indiana Soybean Alliance, Virginia Cobia Farms, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and the Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to present the ‘Future of Fish’ at Bell Aquaculture’s facilities in Albany and Redkey. McCowan described the completion of their recent construction, which has added an additional 500 tonne expansion planned for 2012."

Link to the article pdf - posted with Hatchery International's permission

Cat Care Society Hosts a Benefit Brew, Thursday Evening, May 10th, at Wystone’s World Teas in Belmar

Cat Care Society (CCS) will receive 25% of the proceeds from a Benefit Brew at Wystone's World Teas, 7323 W. Alaska Dr. in the Belmar Shopping District, on Thursday, May 10, 5 – 9 p.m. The announcement is made by CCS President Diane Stoner, who says: "Our Society's supporters will learn about and celebrate the health benefits of black, green, white, and oolong teas, plus enjoy Wystone's delicious entree items, while benefiting our shelter cats and programs. Plus, 2% of online sales for the next year will also benefit Cat Care Society." Link here so your online purchases from Wystone's World Teas can benefit Cat Care Society: http://wystonestea.com?afid=22

Wystone’s offers a full menu, such as pitzas, pulled pork and salmon sliders, soups, paninis, wraps, sandwiches and quiche for an evening meal (gluten-free items are available). Plus, there are the traditional scones with Devonshire cream and fresh fruit preserves, cucumber tea sandwiches and egg salad expected at a tea cafe. Don’t forget dessert – for instance, try the African Rooibos tea-infused carrot cake, cherry cheese cake, pudding cake or the gelato bar. To make reservations or view Wystone's World Teas' menus, visit: http://www.wystonestea.com/Cafe.aspx

Claudia Monette - one of Cat Care Society's 2012 Painted Cats will be at the Wystone World Teas Benefit Brew on May 10th. Claudia is part of the CCS Tails of the Painted Cats fundraiser currently going on through July 28th. Local artist Jane McFadden Dorsey has again created the project's official 'drawing kitty' this year, Claudia Monette. For a $10.00 donation per ticket, names are entered in a drawing to take her home the evening of the Gala Dinner Auction at Lakewood Country Club in July. To view all of the 2012 Painted Cats, visit: http://www.catcaresociety.org/paintedcatsgallery.html

Link to the PR Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

The Wystone's World Teas Story http://youtu.be/N8s3vwwDEA4

Cat Care Society's Public Service Announcement http://youtu.be/2mX8IFi6wMM

Aurora Sentinel: 'Venture contest a capital idea for local bioscience start-ups looking for cash'

Quoting from the May 1st article by Brandon Johansson:

"It’s no secret that finding investors is one of the biggest challenges bioscience start-up companies face.

But a contest this fall is aiming to help some local start-ups land a little extra money and advice on how to make their business more enticing to investors.

The Colorado BioScience Association announced last week it is accepting nominations from emerging bioscience companies for the Venture Showcase Competition at BioWest 2012 conference this September. The deadline for nominations is May 11."

Special note: the 2012 Venture Showcase sponsors include Dorsey & Whitney LLP, EKS&H - Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC, and the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.

Link to the article

CBSA Event Coverage: 'Tax on medical devices threatens profits, exec says'

Quoting from the April 27th article by Wayne Heilman:

"A tax on medical devices approved in 2010 as part of federal health care reform legislation would wipe out all of the profits Colorado Springs-based Spectranetics Corp. expects to make this year when the tax takes effect next year, a top company executive said...

...'We aren’t going to cut back on product development or clinical research, but as we think about investing in the future we will probably think twice and be able to do less of it,' Childs [Guy Childs, chief financial officer of Spectranetics] told about 120 business and civic leaders attending a panel discussion during a lunch hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. “This tax is another variable that detracts from our ability to invest in innovation because it comes right off the top line of our revenue. It impedes further investment and makes it more difficult.'"

Link to the article

Bell Aquaculture launches Fish Rich™ 2-2-2 Organic & Fish Rich+ 6-3-3 Fertilizers

Bell Aquaculture, the nation's largest yellow perch (Perca flavescens) farm and pioneer in sustainable fish farming operations, is formally launching its new OMRI Listed 'Fish Rich Organic 2-2-2 Fertilizer' and 'Fish Rich+ 6-3-3 Fertilizer' products at the 2012 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, May 1-3, Booth #8951 in the Central Hall's Lawn & Garden/Outdoor Living Pavilion for new exhibitors.

The announcement is made by Norman McCowan, president of Bell Aquaculture, who says, "Fish have been used as soil fertilizer since the Native Americans first began farming our nearby land centuries ago. Our natural plant fertilizers, marketed as the Fish Rich brand, are made from the remains of the Bell Perch processed at our aquaculture facility in Indiana."

Fish Rich 2-2-2 (Organic) - Fish Rich is OMRI Listed and is allowed for use in organic crop production under the USDA National Organic Program rules. It is completely garden and human safe.

Fish Rich+ 6-3-3 - Fish Rich+ is a natural based fertilizer, just “plussed up” with some nitrogen and potassium. This formula will offer your plants faster greening, swifter root establishment and more brilliant, longer lasting blooms.

Both products are available for purchase online at the company website: http://www.bellaquaculture.com

Link to the PR Web newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release