Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News: 'Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Rolls Out First Phase of Strategic Refocus...'

From the November 15 posting:

"In a strategic effort to refocus and strengthen its organization, the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has completed a regimen of planning to make adjustments in the direction, roles, responsibilities and allocation of resources going forward. The announcement is made by Denise Brown, FRA Interim Executive Director, who says, 'Our first tactic in refocus involves augmenting our board of directors with four of the area's most well-known and successful leaders in the bioscience industry.'

Joining the FRA Board are Donald M. Elliman, Jr., Executive Director of the Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology and current Director and former Chair of the Children's Hospital Colorado Board of Directors; William Freytag, PhD, former Chairman and CEO of Myogen, Inc.; James C. T. Linfield, Partner-in-Charge of the Colorado office of Cooley LLP; and David Perez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CaridianBCT, becoming TerumoBCT."

Link to GEN

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Rolls Out 1st Phase of Strategic Refocus With Appointment of Four Key Leaders in Bioscience Industry to Its Board

In a strategic effort to refocus and strengthen its organization, the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has completed a regimen of planning to make adjustments in the direction, roles, responsibilities and allocation of resources going forward. The announcement is made by Denise Brown, FRA Interim Executive Director, who says, "Our first tactic in refocus involves augmenting our board of directors with four of the area's most well-known and successful leaders in the bioscience industry to help build programs and services to attract bioscience companies to relocate to Colorado and keep growing Colorado-based bioscience companies here, adding to our employment base. Modifying the board accordingly was approved in a recent board action."

Joining the FRA Board are (pictured L-R above): Donald M. Elliman, Jr., Executive Director of the Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology and current Director and former Chair of the Children's Hospital Colorado Board of Directors; William Freytag, PhD, former Chairman and CEO of Myogen, Inc.; James C. T. Linfield, Partner-in-Charge of the Colorado office of Cooley LLP; and David Perez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CaridianBCT, becoming TerumoBCT.

Brown continues, "We're very pleased to welcome our new board members. These leaders are actively involved the bioscience community - locally, nationally and internationally - and maintain those critical relationships with entrepreneurs, companies and research groups required to guide the FRA through its next phase of growth. This is the first time the FRA has had bioscience executives on its board."

Link to the PR Web Newswire

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Photo Exhibit By Colorado Bioscience Awards Keynote Rick Guidotti Opens 11/18 At Santa Fe Arts District VSA Colorado/Access Gallery

Photos by Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) Awards Dinner Keynote Speaker Rick Guidotti will be on display for the general public beginning November 18 (through December 16) at the VSA Colorado/Access Gallery in Denver's Santa Fe Arts District. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President and CEO, who says: “We are very pleased that everyone in the community will have the opportunity to see Rick's powerful images about genetic difference."

View a video about Rick Guidotti's Positive Exposure and its mission:



http://youtu.be/_-cMu3UA4QE

Link to the Business Wire Release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Newswire

Colorado BioScience Association Launches Internship Program With Support of 11 Employers + Area Universities

The CBSA is launching its new Internship Program with the support of 11 founding employers in the Denver area. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President and CEO, who says: “Our education committee has been working diligently with our member companies and universities for the past six months to develop a program that will be valuable to both the student interns and participating companies as we go forward. We will begin intern recruitment immediately through early spring 2012 with the first interns expected to be placed in positions by summer 2012."

Participating employers, at program launch, include:

* Allosource
* Amgen
* Baxa Corporation
* CaridianBCT, Becoming TerumoBCT
* Colorado BioScience Association
* Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4)
* GlobeImmune
* Merck
* Sandhill Scientific
* Sharklet Technologies
* Tolmar

"In addition to these 'founding employers,' we've had interest from yet another six companies. Our team has been very pleased with the positive response from both employers and our universities," Mark Spiecker, President & CEO of Sharklet Technologies and Chair of the CBSA Education Committee, explains. "Now more than ever, there's an extreme need for university students to obtain real world experience, in addition to their time in the classroom."

Link to the Business Wire Release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Cat Care Society: 'Our own Suellen Scott took two of our Kitten Room cuties to 9News Petline9 this morning...'

Our own Suellen Scott took two of our Kitten Room cuties to 9News Petline9 this morning... on Twitpic

The Cat Care Society shelter is open today (Wednesday), noon to 5:30 p.m. Visit and pet our adorable residents...adoptions welcome!

November Is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month - Come Celebrate at Denver's Cat Care Society!

Cat Care Society and Petfinder.com are celebrating November as Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month. Petfinder.com hosts Cat Care's adoptable kitties online - click to view.

Three of CCS's adorable 'senior women' awaiting their forever home adoptions are pictured here: Krista, age 10 (left); Cotton, age 12 (top right); and Ellen, age 9 (bottom right). Here's more about each kitty:

Krista - "I have the softest fur. Have you ever seen a prettier cat? I'm very affectionate; I even give little kitty kisses but I have my moods sometime. Ill help you learn how to know when Im feeling loving and when I just want to have some me time. I don't like a lot of rowdiness. I'd rather have a more mature, quiet home. I'm just biding my time here at the shelter. In fact, Im not crazy about all the action in the main shelter, so now Im hanging out over at the business office. It's a very nice place to stay for awhile but it can't compare to a real home with a wonderful person like you."

Cotton - "Isn't that a good name to describe my fluffy, soft white fur? I was a stray kitty so it's pretty amazing that my fur coat is in such good shape. I'm just 12 years old but because of my age I'm on the CCS Perpet-U-Care program, which will pay for a portion of my health care for the rest of my life. That's a pretty good deal, don't you think? I really like people but I'm still a little wary. Being a stray kitty was a tough life, so it takes me awhile to get used to new people but Im very loyal to my friends. Won't you come visit me? I could be a really great pal."

Cotton is featured on Cat Care Society's new Cat Care Vineyards chardonnay. Take a look at the collection: http://www.benefitwines.com/catcare.

Ellen - "I was abandoned at the front door of the Cat Care Society in a carrier with my two 12 week old kittens. Can you believe that?! My kittens have already been adopted; they are real cuties but then so am I. Im a brown and white tabby and my hair is mostly short but I have a big bushy tail. Im really playful and a real cuddler but a little shy at first. Im here waiting just for you. Come visit and I know you will fall in love with me."

Abbi Collins, Adoption Manager at Denver's CCS and Kim Saunders, Petfinder.com's Vice President of Shelter Outreach and Public Relations say: "Think of a pet that is already trained and doesn't chew or scratch everything in sight -- a pet who will love you unconditionally. That's what you get when you adopt a senior pet."

The Cat Care Society Shelter is open:
Tuesday through Friday Noon - 5:30 P.M.
Saturday 11 am - 4:30 P.M.
Sunday Noon – 3 P.M.
Closed Monday

Link to receive Cat Care Society's e-newsletter

Donate online to help our Cat Care Society kitties - every bit helps at the shelter!

New E-Newsletter for Denver Cat Lovers: Cat Care Society 'Mews'

Cat Care Society has launched its new e-newsletter publication, Cat Care Society Mews, via Constant Contact.

Link to an online version of the October 24th debut CCS Mews

Link to subscribe to the Cat Care Society Mews e-newsletter

We plan to distribute the newsletter every 2-3 weeks, so as not to overload your e-mail.

Donate online to help our Cat Care Society kitties - every bit helps at the shelter!

Thank you for your support!

Fall Cat Care Quarterly: Hot Off The Press and Soon, If Not Already, In Your Mailbox

Cat Rescue: Joplin Cats Find Their Way to CCS

Adoption Tips: Communicating With Your Cat (Part 2)

Dr. Lynne: Can Your Cat Say Cheese? (and look good at the same time?)

Tails of the Painted Cats 2012

Cupcakes for Cats Recap

Memorials

Scratching Post

And More...

Link to read the new Fall issue online

Link to receive Cat Care Society's e-newsletter

Donate online to help our Cat Care Society kitties - every bit helps at the shelter!

Love Wine? Love Cats? Now Indulge Both and Help Cat Care Society!

Just in time for Holiday gifting and gathering: Cat Care Society has partnered with Benefit Wines to raise funds with its new "Cat Care Vineyards" selection of wines:

Love Me Malbec - A medium bodied and soft Malbec will delight with plums, leather and chocolate overtones. With well balanced acidity it provides a juicy and easy drinking wine.

Prowlin' Pinot - Layers of ripe red fruit flavors are among the distinctive features of this elegant varietal. It's fresh on the palate, with a long, lingering finish.

Kitten Kabernet - Rich and ripe this Cabernet features ripe berry aromas and an intensely fruity character. Smooth and well structured, it has soft velvety tannins on the finish.

Cotton Chardonnay - Lively and unoaked, this crisp, medium-bodied wine has lovely straw-yellow hues and aromas of apricots, apples and tropical fruits.

Benny's Select Merlot - This estate grown, handcrafted merlot shows a deep red color with aromas of black pepper and ripe red fruit. Soft and well balanced this merlot displays all the characteristics of the varietal.

SHHH-auvignon Blanc - This crisp, mouth-watering wine captivates with refreshing tropical and citrus fruit flavors, and a clean, well-balanced finish.

All are certified organic and vegan friendly.

Link to learn more and order individual bottles or the Collector's and Sampler packages. A portion of each purchase benefits Cat Care Society - see product descriptions.

Ariel Pharma Only Colorado Life Science Company Presenting at Prestigious Silicon Valley Bank SVB Showcase Event

CBSA Board Chair Steve Orndorff, President & CEO of Ariel Pharmaceuticals, presented at Silicon Valley Bank's SVB Showcase, October 20 in Menlo Park, CA. Ariel was the only life science company from Colorado presenting to more than 200 investors at the conference. SVB Showcase 2011, hosted by the SVB Accelerator, featured three concurrent tracks with presentations from companies seeking a Series A, B or C round of financing in the life science, cleantech and technology sectors.

Here's video of Orndorff's SVB Showcase interview about Ariel Pharma:

http://youtu.be/iBqeHnRGvG0

Link to the Ariel Pharmaceuticals website

Link to the SVB - Silicon Valley Bank website

Interview: ValveXchange's Larry Blankenship and Dr. Ivan Vesely

w3w3's Larry Nelson:

"We're talking with Larry Blankenship, Chairman of the Board and CEO of ValveXchange and Ivan Vesely, Founder and Chief Science Officer. Dr. Vesely is a PhD. Bio Physicist who founded the company and invented this heart valve technology." Link to the w3w3.com interview

ValveXchange recently announced its successful First in Man procedures. Link to the related Business Wire release.

Lakewood Pet Examiner: Cajun's Closet Halloween Book Sale Saturday Oct 29, 9-5

Quoting from the 'Lakewood Pet Examiner' by Carrie Dow:

"The Cat Care Society of Lakewood is having their annual Halloween book sale this Saturday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the new remodeled Cajun's Closet Thrift Store. Get a great deal on books and even better deals for those brave enough to come in costume. The event features mass market books six for $1, hard covers for $1 each, trade paperbacks two for $1 and children's books for 10 cents.

Check out the newly remodeled store and library and then visit the Cat Care Society next door to find a new holiday feline friend."

Link to the examiner.com posting

Learn more about Carrie Dow and subscribe to her Lakewood Pet Examiner Feed

Note: Lakewood Pet Examiner is one of Cat Care Society's "Favorite Blogs" - see the list on the right hand column of our News Feed Blog

Lakewood/Edgewater Featured Event: Oct 29th Cajun's Closet Halloween Book Sale Benefiting Cat Care Society

Quoting from this morning's Lakewood/Edgewater print edition:

"Halloween Book Sale. Cajun's Closet Thrift Shop's annual Halloween Book Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the store, 5707 W. Sixth Ave., Lakewood. All proceeds benefit the Cat Care Society. For more information, call 303-202-0455."

Link to the related online Denver Post YourHub story

Link for more information about the Cat Care Society's fundraising stores

Award-Winning Fashion Photograher Rick Guidotti To Keynote 2011 Colorado BioScience Awards Celebration

The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) Annual Awards Dinner is slated for Thursday, December 8, at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Denver. The event, celebrating the success of the bioscience industry in Colorado and its 2011 standout companies and individuals, will feature a keynote presentation by Rick Guidotti of Positive Exposure in New York. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President and CEO, who says: “CBSA is honored to partner with Positive Exposure in sharing Rick’s important message about genetic difference and dynamic images with our industry community.”

“CBSA is honored to partner with Positive Exposure in sharing Rick’s important message about genetic difference and dynamic images with our industry community.”

While in Denver on December 7th, Guidotti will photograph a select group of children in partnership with the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Mile High Down Syndrome Association, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and Colorado Children’s Hospital. An exhibit reception will also be held at VSA Colorado/Access Gallery, an inclusive nonprofit organization that engages people with disabilities to access and experience the arts, located at 909 Santa Fe Drive, in the Santa Fe Arts District. The Exhibition will be on display from November 18 – December 16, 2011.

Link to the Business Wire Release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Things to do in Denver - 'Cajuns Closet Halloween book sale: a Cat Care Society fundraiser'

Quoting from today's Denver Bucket List posting by Chrissy Morin:

"Cajun’s Closet Thrift Shop - 5707 W. 6th Avenue (on the Frontage Road west of Sheridan).

There will be 'creepy' but safe refreshments and special discounts for those who come in costume. Cajun’s was named Denver Westword’s Best Thrift Store for 2011."

Link to the Denver Bucket List

Coming Sat Oct 29: the Cat Care Society Cajun's Closet Halloween "Monster" Book Sale! Be there!

The Cat Care Society 'Cajun's Closet' Thrift Shop is holding its annual Halloween Book Sale on Saturday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be special deals on Cajun's wide selection of books, including mass market books, six for $1; hard back books, $1 each; trade paperback books, two for $1; and children's books: 10 cents each. Plus, Cajun's is offering additional discounts for those brave enough to come in costume to help raise funds for the CCS shelter cats and Cat Care Clinic.

Cajun's Closet, located at 5707 W. 6th Avenue (on the Frontage Road west of Sheridan), is Denver Westword's Best Thrift Store for 2011 and was recently renovated at the end of August by a dedicated team of Cat Care Society volunteers, customers and donors. Cajun's Closet Manager Dawn Risner recounts, "We pulled up carpet, painted floors and walls, took down window treatments, built new displays, rearranged the library, and last but not least, updated the front room just in time for fall shopping and our annual Halloween Book Sale."

Link to the PRWeb newswire

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News: 'Can the FDA Be a Catalyst for Innovation?'

Quoting Colorado's Dr. Tim Rodell (GlobeImmune) and Holli Riebel (CBSA) from the October 15 GEN:

"The products the FDA regulates represent 20% to 25% of every consumer dollar spent in the U.S., Dr. Hamburg pointed out. 'That’s a gigantic percent of the country’s gross domestic product,' Tim Rodell, M.D., CEO of GlobeImmune (www.globeimmune.com) and a member of the BIO board of directors, said. 'Given the FDA’s importance, it warrants being a cabinet-level agency.'

...Although FDA reviewers typically are trained in scientific research, applying that experience to the regulatory environment is learned on the job. 'That’s a significant deficit for the agency,' Dr. Rodell said. 'There’s no process to train the kinds of people the FDA needs.' Consequently, 'it takes one to two years for new reviewers to get up and running.'

Meanwhile, the FDA, in its determination to do no harm, risks being so cautious that it withholds live-saving therapies. Admittedly, it’s a delicate balance. 'Innovation occurs so quickly that FDA staff can’t keep up with new technology,' observed Holli Riebel, president and CEO of Colorado BioScience.

'Patients are waiting and—sometimes—dying, while amazing drugs aren’t released because of fears about potentially adverse reactions. Science isn’t perfect. We can’t push forward without some risks.'

...BIO also supports a progressive approval pathway so that even before final trials are completed, promising therapeutics could be released and monitored. Dr. Rodell suggested that could be accomplished safely and effectively by designing electronic medical records systems to accommodate retrospective, anonymous analysis of drug safety in real time. Therefore, drug developers could track adverse events associated with the commercial release of particular therapies more accurately than under the current system, which depends upon harried physicians taking the time to voluntarily report adverse events. Dr. Rodell added that the FDA is exploring this already with its pilot Sentinel initiative.

Link to the article at the GEN website

CBSA Pres/CEO Holli Riebel: Denver Business Journal 2011 Power Book Finalist, Technology Division

CBSA Pres/CEO Holli Riebel is a Finalist in the Denver Business Journal's 2011 Power Book/Newsmakers Awards Program.

Riebel was nominated in the Technology & Telecommunications Division. Quoting from the DBJ website: "The Colorado BioScience Association has managed to keep the state’s biotech drug and medical-device industries in the minds of public policy makers and national investors at a time of tight funding. CEO and President Holli Riebel (formerly Holli Baumunk) has maintained support for the industry during her first year leading the organization. CBSA organizes a regional conference that each year attracts investors from biotech hubs on the East and West Coasts, and it’s worked to keep state tax incentives and other support largely intact at a time when state funding has been cut for many other programs."

Learn more at the DBJ website.

Shop at King Soopers with your reloadable 'purchasing card' to benefit Cat Care Society

You can now buy a reloadable King Soopers card from Cat Care society for $25. Then simply start shopping at Kings and 5% of your purchases will go directly to Cat Care Society, as long as you use your card.

After you've spent the first $25, just reload your card at the King Soopers service desk for the amount of your choice and resume shopping.

This is an easy and absolutely great way to benefit the Cat Care Society!

Link to the King Soopers Website

Remember, you buy your CCS King Soopers card at the Cat Care Society adoption desk.

Lakewood Pet Examiner: 'Miracle Marvell gets a second chance from the Cat Care Society'

Quoting from today's posting by Carrie Dow, Lakewood Pet Examiner:

"The Cat Care Society (CCS) is celebrating the success they have had saving little Marvell, a 10-week-old abandoned kitten.

'Marvell was brought to our shelter in July by a woman who had rescued him from several young boys severely torturing this helpless kitten. The boys were swinging the kitten by its tail and lighting the tips of his ears and whiskers on fire,' said Clyde Dawson, CCS Interim Executive Director...

This is just one of the many ways the Cat Care Society helps our community. Celebrating 30 years of serving Lakewood and the Denver West Metro area, the Cat Care Society, a cage-less shelter, needs support to continue another 30 years. You can help with cash donations by clicking on the Donate Now link. They also accept in-kind donations of the following items: Cat litter, bleach, paper towels, 5-inch paper plates, baby food (turkey and chicken), can cat food (no fish flavors please), dry cat food (Science Diet, Iams Original, Purina Kitten Chow) hooded cat beds and trash bags. To learn about upcoming events, visit the CCS blog at DenverCatCare or "like" their Facebook Page."

Link to the Posting

Cat Care Society Alum Bombay Featured as a Friday Feline on the ModCatLove Blog

Check out Cat Care Society Alum Kitty Bombay on the ModCatLove blog, posted earlier this month as a "Friday's Featured Feline" profile...

Quoting Bombay's person, Jeannie:

"I adopted Bombay from the Cat Care Society shelter in Lakewood, Colorado 4 years ago, about 6 months after we lost a cat that was 19 and had diabetes for 3 1/2 years...

When I saw him, it was love at first sight! His big blue eyes got me right away! He got his name Bombay because his eyes are so blue, they look like the Bombay Sapphire, so it is fitting...

Bombay is 4 now, a lynx point Siamese and the most special cat in more ways than one. He has a rare condition where he has suffered bone loss and all cartilage in his legs. Besides being on several meds and supplements everyday, he gets acupuncture and laser treatments once per week. These have helped him keep his mobility and get around; he can’t run and jump like other cats, but he can get in his favorite spots and gets around much better than before he started. It has worked wonders for him!"

Link to the posting and more great photos of Bombay

Halloween Book Sale Is Coming Oct 29th: Bigger, Better & Spookier Than Ever

The Cat Care Society 'Cajun's Closet' Thrift Shop is holding its annual Halloween Book Sale, Saturday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 5707 W. 6th Ave. (on the Frontage Road west of Sheridan). There will be "creepy" but safe refreshments and discounts for those who come in costume. Cajun's was named Denver Westword's 2011 Best Thrift Store.

"With Halloween right around the corner we're all thinking ghosts, ghouls and creepy crawlies. The new and improved library at Cajun’s Closet has a wonderful variety of Sci-fi and Fantasy books to choose from. As an avid reader myself, I can tell you that a good book about a killer clown will do a lot to creep you out on a dark night. Beyond that, Cajun's Closet offers vampires, werewolves, aliens, serial killers and a wide variety of other things that go bump in the night. If the imaginary and legendary don’t interest you, you can always find a really good true story of debauchery; we have true ghost stories, true crimes and biographies of politicians. If creepy isn’t on your list we also have a huge mystery section to choose from. Our mystery section has everything from cute light mysteries to the genuinely twisted. Even if you have never been a big reader we can find something to interest you in the thousands of books at Cajun's," Dawn Risner, Cajun's Closet Manager, says.

Cajun's Closet suggestions for good Halloween reading include:

• True Ghost Stories (1995) by Terry Deary

• The Zombie Survival Guide & World War Z by Max Brooks

• Anything by Stephen King, Dean Koontz and John Saul

• For Vampire introduction: Anne Rice for advanced readers and Charlaine Harris for those looking for something lighter.

• And wonderful year round reading: Jim Butcher & Simon R. Green

There will be special deals on Cajun's wide selection of books, including mass market books, six for $1; hard back books, $1 each; trade paperback books, two for $1; and children's books: 10 cents each.

Don't forget the other great shopping at Cajun's Closet while checking out the Halloween Book Sale. Cajun's has great collectibles, home items, jewelry, and a large inventory of clothes. Regular hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Questions? Call Cajun's Closet at 303-202-0455.

Your Contribution: 'Cat at center of cat society fundraising is a Marvell'

Quoting from the article in today's Lakewood/Edgewater YourHub:

"Lakewood's Cat Care Society recently launched its fall fundraising direct-mail campaign, focusing on the success story of the 10-week-old abandoned kitten fondly named Marvell by society staffers after the Colorado Rapid's player Marvell Wynne.

'Marvell was brought to our shelter in July by a woman who had rescued him from several young boys severely torturing this helpless kitten," said Clyde Dawson, CCS interim executive director. 'The boys were swinging the kitten by its tail and lighting the tips of his ears and whiskers on fire.'

Marvell is one kitten who was able to have a second chance at life because of the hard work of the medical team at CCS."

Link to YourHub.com

IAMS The Daily Cat: 'Preparing for a New Kitten'

Quoting from The Daily Cat blog by Kim Boatman:

"Kitten-proof your home. Kittens, like toddlers, can find trouble in an instant. Be wary of dangling cords, toxic plants and open toilet seats. A curious kitten might be able to crawl into a toilet, but not back out. Your kitten’s little razor-sharp teeth can bite into an electric cord. Understand that kittens can find their way into impossibly small spaces. “It’s surprising what tight hiding spaces a kitten can get into, so make sure there aren’t holes in walls,” says Shari Shiffer-Krieger, who has fostered hundreds of kittens as executive director of the Cat Care Society in Lakewood, Colo."

Link to The Daily Cat

Cat Care Society Kitten 'Marvell' Gets a Second Chance Because of Rescuer & CCS Services

Cat Care Society (CCS) recently launched its Fall Fundraising direct mail campaign, focusing on the success story of the 10-week-old abandoned kitten, fondly named Marvell by CCS staffers after the Colorado Rapid's player Marvell Wynne. The announcement is made by Clyde Dawson, CCS Interim Executive Director, who says: "Marvell was brought to our shelter in July by a woman who had rescued him from several young boys severely torturing this helpless kitten. The boys were swinging the kitten by its tail and lighting the tips of his ears and whiskers on fire."

Marvell is one kitten who was able to have a second chance at life because of the hard work of the medical team at CCS.

Link to the PR Web newswire

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release - with video

PoliticalNews: 'Bennet Applauds FDA Commitment to Modernize, Foster Innovation, Drive Global Economy'

Quoting from Senator Bennet's release:

"Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new report 'Driving Biomedical Innovation: Initiatives to Improve Products for Patients,' which outlines initial efforts the FDA is undertaking to modernize its regulations and foster innovation in the bioscience industry, which accounts for 20,000 jobs in Colorado, according to the Colorado Bioscience Association...

In August, Bennet sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg pushing for reformed FDA regulations that foster innovation and competitiveness and position the FDA to serve as a driver of the global economy. Following the letter, Hamburg joined Bennet to hear about innovation and advances in the bioscience industry in Colorado while touring the Colorado Science and Technology Park at Anschutz Medical Campus."

Link to politicalnews.me

Denver's ValveXchange® Performs First In Man Surgeries of New Heart Valve System

Quoting from this morning's news release:

"ValveXchange, Inc., has performed successful First In Man (FIM) surgeries demonstrating the practicality and advantages of its novel Vitality™ two-part heart valve system.

The surgeries were performed by two highly renowned US cardiac surgeons, Lars Svensson, MD, PhD of The Cleveland Clinic and W. Randolph Chitwood, MD of The East Carolina Heart Institute, working with Adrian Ebner, MD at his facilities in Asuncion, Paraguay. The surgeries took place Sept. 26 and 27, 2011. Three men aged 49, 62 and 72 received the Vitality™ heart valves. All have been discharged and are recovering normally.

The mission of ValveXchange® is to bring the full, active lifestyle advantages of tissue heart valves to patients of all ages. Currently, tissue valves are recommended only for older patients because the leaflet sets wear out every 10-15 years, requiring repeated open-heart surgeries. Younger patients today receive mechanical heart valves that do not wear out, but require lifelong high doses of anticoagulation drugs that force a sedentary lifestyle with serious side effects."

ValveXchange is a former CBSA Venture Showcase winning company. Further, ValveXchange CEO Larry Blakenship is a CBSA board member, chair of its legislative committee and member of the executive committee.

Link to the Business Wire release

Mark your calendar: October 29th is the Annual Halloween Book Sale at Cajun's Closet Thrift Shop

Saturday, Oct 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cajun's Closet Thrift Shop, 5707 W. 6th Avenue, Lakewood, CO

Mass market books: 6 for $1.00

Hard back books: $1.00 each

Trade paper back books: 2 for $1.00

Children's books: 10 cents each

Plus there are additional discounts for those brave enough to come in costume!

Link to the Cat Care Society Website

Opinion by Dr. Scott Gottlieb: 'How the FDA Could Cost You Your Life'

Quoting from an opinion piece by Dr. Scott Gottlieb in this morning's WSJ:

"When the U.S. Congress crafted the modern device-review process, it envisioned an approval path structured much differently than drug reviews. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee are working on comprehensive legislation that would reinforce the FDA's mandate to be "least burdensome" when it comes to new devices. The measure would also prevent the FDA from jamming companies with draft 'guidance' documents that change the rules on innovators midstream, without advance notice or chance for comment. The bill will tell the FDA, with unusually explicit direction, how to use its existing rules to improve post-market monitoring to ensure patient safety. The FDA was recently upbraided by the Government Accountability Office for not effectively using its current recall tools even while asking for new post-market authority.

These ideas have broad bipartisan support. Congressional Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns that the FDA's regulatory slide could be harming innovation, job creation and patient care. Sen. Michael Bennet (D., Colo.) recently brought FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to Colorado for a public meeting with local entrepreneurs and health leaders to address these concerns. 'At a time when our nation's drug, biotechnology and medical device startup companies are struggling to access capital,' he said, 'we must strive to provide them with regulatory clarity and predictability.'"

The meeting in Colorado was arranged at Senator Bennet's request by the Colorado BioScience Association.

Link to wsj.com

Dr. Gottlieb, the deputy commissioner of the FDA from 2005-2007, is a practicing physician and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He invests in medical-device companies.

Cat Care Society's Mickie and Scooter - 'Please Adopt Us Both!'

Today's the last day of September and we wanted to give one last cyber shout out about lovable Mickie & Scooter - siblings, both brown/tabby mix.

Here's what Mickie (pictured left) has to say: "Hello, my name is Mickie – and that's Scooter, my kid sister, who’s bigger than me. We just turned one year old, and for our birthdays, the staff made us Cats of the Month. When we were kittens, we were found stray – at McDonald’s! My paw was crushed, and not in good shape at all, so the Cat Care clinic had to amputate it after we got here. After that we went to a really good home, but in a few months they had to give us up, so they brought us back to Cat Care Society. Now we are looking for a new home. I really don’t want to be separated from my sister! Please adopt us both!! But before you do, let me tell you about us. I am the calm one. I like to play, but I enjoy the finer things in life also, like being held and purring in someone’s lap. I will stand up on my hind legs for you to pick me up. My sister, Scooter, is a bit more… spirited. She loves to play, play, play – and run, don’t forget run! She also likes to interrupt."

Scooter chimes in: "Hey, I can’t help it if I’m bubbly. And I’m more talkative than Mickie, anyway. I should do the bio. Well I’m the intelligent one, so hush. It’s true, you know. I like books like Homer’s Odyssey while Scooter never made it past Curious George!"

They both say: "Come by and meet us. We promise it will be worth your while!"

Link to information about Mickie

Link to information about Scooter

Link to Cat Care Society Adoption Information

LifeScience Aurora: 'Anschutz community among those angling for venture funds'

Quoting from LifeScience Aurora:

"Of the more than 30 bioscience companies who presented their business plans to venture capitalists at a conference in Denver last week, several had some connection to the Anschutz Medical Campus. The 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference stretched over two days last week and local officials say it helped some local start-up companies connect with the venture capitalists they will need funding from to get their companies off the ground. 'The purpose is to get them out in front of venture capitalists from all over the country,' said Vicki Jenings, manager of business development at the Fitzsimons Life Science District."

Link to LifeScience Aurora

CID4 Blog: 'Important Takeaways from a Successful RMLIPC'

Quoting from the CID4 Blog posting by Adam Rubenstein about the recent Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference (RMLIPC):

"The success metric for an investor and partnering conference is unambiguous, a company must achieve either an initial inquiry of interest or secure a follow-on meeting. Using such a performance metric illuminated a very satisfactory grade for the presenting CID4 portfolio companies. The Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference was more than simply a CID4 showcase, what transpired at the historic Brown Palace Hotel was the culmination of a biocluster clearly on the rise. Colorado had an important opportunity to spotlight their diverse array of high-impact technologies and high-quality intellectual capital, and put a stamp on the Rocky Mountain region as a bioscience node that demands the attention of industry and investors. A quick scan of attendees validates that the Front Range deal flow ranks on par with any other cluster across the U.S."

Link to the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) Blog posting

Rocky Radar: '31 Companies Present at 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference'

Quoting from Rocky Radar:

"The second Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference brought together a diverse group of 31 companies and investors at the Brown Palace hotel on Friday. The program included discussion of the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes and The Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology at the University of Colorado along with a lunchtime presentation from Roy Davis of Johnson & Johnson, who urged new companies to stay focused on value creation. The focus of the day, however, was on the presenting companies who each presented for 15 minutes and answered 10 minutes of questions. The companies, 23 of whom hailed from Colorado, spanned the life science spectrum including drugs, devices and diagnostics. The companies also represented a wide variety of stages of development from companies with currently marketed to products to those just getting of the ground."

Link to RockyRadar.com

GEN on Fort Collins-based VetDC: 'Firm Finds New Uses for Drugs, Diagnostics, and Devices in Companion Animals'

Quoting from the Biobusiness Profile in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News by Carol Potera:

"Companies spend billions of dollars annually on the development of human drugs, devices, and diagnostics. Yet many promising products fail to reach the marketplace and their value is never realized. VetDC was started in Fort Collins, CO, last year to repurpose discarded and shelved technologies for veterinary use. The company in-licenses emerging, underexploited technologies from human biotechnology companies, then develops and commercializes them for dogs, cats, and other companion animals."

Link to genengnews.com

VetDC is a portfolio company of the Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) in Aurora, CO. Link to learn more.

VetDC was a presenting company at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor & Partnering Conference (RMLIPC) in Denver. Link to the RMLIPC presenting company list.

Business: 'Colorado biotechs court financing by showing off inventions'

Quoting from the Denver Post article by Steve Raabe:

"Saving lives with battlefield triage tools. Diagnosing cancer long before it spreads. Installing heart valves without open-heart surgery. Inventors of those technologies, and more, presented their best attributes Thursday in 20-minute pitches designed to entice venture capital. Thirty-one companies — many based at the Bioscience Park Center at Fitzsimons in Aurora — showed off their potential to prospective financiers at the Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor & Partnering Conference at the Brown Palace Hotel. The session was especially timely, officials said, because a struggling economy and volatile stock market have added competitiveness to biotech financing."

Link to denverpost.com

BCBR: 'Bioscience firms to make pitches for VC'

Quoting from the Boulder County Business Report website:

"Boulder County companies and investors feature prominently in the Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference slated for Wednesday and Thursday in Denver.

More than 30 bioscience companies from across the Rocky Mountain region will make 15-minute pitches to potential investors at the conference at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. Bioscience companies in the region have garnered more than $11.5 billion in financing and acquisition since the end of 2007, according to statistics compiled by the Colorado BioScience Association, an industry trade group."

Link to bcbr.com

Innovative Thought Leaders Address the 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference in Denver

Three renowned speakers will present the most innovative research, collaborations and partnerships within the bioscience industry today at the Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference (RMLIPC), Thursday, September 22, at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel (formerly Baumunk), President and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), who says: "The conference will be attended by leaders of early-stage private and public life science, bioscience investors and strategic partners."

The RMLIPC is the region’s only bioscience conference of its kind. This year’s speakers will discuss new innovative business models to bring emerging technologies to market and develop partnerships for success. “The keynote presenters are crucial thought leaders shaping the future of the bioscience industry,” Riebel said.

The breakfast keynote on Thursday will feature Peter A. Gottlieb, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver and Center Director at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, and Dennis R. Roop, Ph.D., Director of The Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. According to Riebel, the CBSA is honored to present these two thought leaders in the clinical world and the stem cell research arena. Drs. Gottlieb and Roop will share how they look at research philanthropy as a growing model for creating and sustaining university initiatives, including Centers of Excellence, that address critical research needs and potential commercializable opportunities.

The luncheon keynote will feature Roy Davis, President, Johnson & Johnson Corporate Development. Mr. Davis is a returning expert presenter at the conference and will share his presentation “Strategic Value Creation: A Corporate Investor’s View,” including his vision for new partnering research and development strategies and expert insight into current issues affecting the biotechnology industry.

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

w3w3.com Interviews Holli Riebel: 'Challenges and solutions for the Bio and Life Sciences industry'

Quoting from CBSA Pres/CEO's recent interview with w3w3.com's Larry Nelson on the upcoming Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference (RMLIPC) in Denver:

"The Bio and Life Sciences industry faces huge challenges raising venture capital in a difficult economy. Investing in an industry that takes ten to twelve years and over $1.3 Billion to bring a drug to market just might shift the action to some widget or a software program that can be flipped to realize a return in just six months. That's the challenge facing the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) and president/CEO, Holli Riebel. 'Also,' she said, 'venture capitalists reside more on the coasts, and so we're always having a more difficult time attracting venture capital out here in the middle of the country.'"

Link to w3w3.com

Link to download the podcast

Medivance® Inc. Arctic Sun® Products Are the Preferred Choice of the top-10 of the U.S. News & World Report 2011-12 Honor Roll Hospitals

Building on a track record of serving the nation's top ranked hospitals, Medivance® Inc. is pleased to announce the top-10 of U.S. News & World Report 2011-12 Honor Roll Hospitals are all users of its Targeted Temperature Management™ product, the Arctic Sun®. The announcement was made by Robert Kline, President & CEO, who stated, "It is often said that you are known by the company you keep, and we are honored to be affiliated with the top tier of the U.S. News 2011-12 Honor Roll Hospitals. The Medivance Team is very proud of this achievement."

Body temperature, systematically measured and reported as a vital sign, contributes to maintenance of normal physiology and affects the processes leading to recovery after illness. Intentional manipulation of body temperature has therefore emerged as a key treatment strategy for hospitals. The Medivance® Arctic Sun® brings precision Targeted Temperature Management™ to the highest level of performance available today for intentionally manipulating body temperature as a treatment strategy.

"Our Arctic Sun® 5000 is really the only product in the market that can achieve, with precision, a prescribed order set for temperature management with consistency for each patient. This is of particular importance in the hospital environment for Continuous Quality Improvement , thus it's not surprising the top-10 Honor Roll hospitals make use of our technology," Kline explained.

Link to the PR Newswire

Link to the PRWeb Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

9News Interview: "Conference brings together local innovative life-science companies"

CBSA Pres/CEO Holli Reibel interviewed with 9News Business Reporter Gregg Moss this morning about the upcoming Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference in Denver. Presenting companies featured in the interview included PeptiVir, VetDC and Flashback Technologies.

Link to information about the RMLIPC, being held Sept 21-22 at the Brown Palace

Link to the related 9News.com posting

NCBR: 'Biotech firms lead healthy innovation'

Quoting CBSA's Pres/CEO perspective from the Northern Colorado Business Report article by Josh Zaffos covering Inviragen, Senator Bennet/FDA Commissioner Hamburg CEO Roundtable and the RMLIPC:

"Bringing a drug or device to market has its challenges, said Holli Riebel, president of the Colorado BioScience Association: 'What makes it difficult right now is the regulatory market.'...

'There's a really large concern we're hurting (biotechnology) innovation in this country by not getting to market' within a reasonable timeframe, Riebel said...

Riebel said the FDA has struggled to keep up with developing technologies, while also suffering through the ubiquitous federal-agency problems of understaffing and restricted budgets. The agency is currently hiring new reviewers, but bringing inexperienced staff up to speed is a concern...

Riebel said one of the major interests from biotech boosters is for a fast-track process for regulatory approval of certain products. Officials have also pushed for reviewers to get training and certification in certain areas to speed along processing in some cases.

'How can we develop more predictability and consistency?' Riebel said. 'How do you start putting benefits into the analysis and not just look at what is the risk.'...

Much of the funding for biotech ventures is based on the East and West coasts, so the investor conference enables regional bioscience firms to make connections and prove they're equal to competitors from around the country, Riebel said.

The time is particularly ripe for such opportunities, she added, since many big pharmaceutical corporations have trimmed down in-house research and development in recent years, partly because of the costs and the regulatory environment. Companies are more willing to invest in small biotech firms that can focus on developing a few product lines from research programs to marketable drugs and devices.

Inviragen is a prime example, Riebel said, having developed vaccines that originated from the local labs of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and CSU and now targeting them for populations in developing countries.

'We're feeling better about some of the financial opportunities,' Riebel said, 'because we're turning out fantastic companies.'"

Link to the complete article

Cat Care Society 'Cajun's Closet' Thrift Shop, Denver Westword's 2011 Best, Reopens After Renovation Project

The Cat Care Society's 'Cajun's Closet' Thrift Shop reopened Saturday, September 3, after several weeks of renovation, including painting, new flooring and plenty of TLC from the Cajun's team. The announcement is made by Shari Shiffer-Krieger, CCS Executive Director, who says the shop is better than ever with great collectibles, home items, jewelry, clothes (and more clothes), books (and more books) all at Cajun's great low prices. Regular hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"It was time for a freshening up at Cajun's, so our entire team did the job during the past few weeks," Shiffer-Krieger says. "Our shop was named Denver Westword's Best Thrift Store 2011 and we wanted to keep it up to the standards shoppers expect from the Cat Care Society."

Link to the PRweb Newswire

LifeScience Aurora: 'All CID4 portfolio companies presenting at upcoming RMLIPC in Denver'

Quoting from LifeScience Aurora:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) will have all four of its portfolio companies — Sophono, PeptiVir, VetDC and Flashback Technologies — presenting and participating in discussions at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference Sept. 21-23 in Denver.

The four CID4 companies were announced in mid-August as part of 30 from the across the country that were hand-selected by a national committee of life science investors and business development executives for the three-day RMSLIPC conference at the Brown Palace Hotel, which draws venture capital funds, corporate venture funds and business development leaders from the largest global biopharmaceutical and medical device companies."

Link to the article

CBSA's Pres/CEO Holli Riebel Joins CU Tech Transfer Advisory Board

Quoting from the Boulder County Business Report:

"BOULDER - Eleven new members have been added to the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office's Business Advisory Board.

The tech transfer office facilitates the movement of CU technologies from the research lab to the marketplace. The Business Advisory Board plays an important part in assessing the tech transfer office's performance, advising on new initiatives, providing access to the technology business community and advocating for resources needed to build a world-class technology transfer operation at CU.

New board members include:

Shannon Golden-Shubert, partner and co-founder at Life + Tech Law.

Doug Henston, renewable energy entrepreneur.

Paul Nelson, managing director at Clean Range Ventures.

Rex R. O'Neal, partner at Faegre & Benson LLP; co-chairman of the firm's emerging companies practice and new energy, clean technology and climate initiative.

Misha Plam, founder of BiOptix and AmideBio.

Holli Riebel, president and chief executive of the Colorado BioScience Association.

John Ryan, partner at medical technology firm Onset Ventures.

Chris Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association.

Laura Simon, director of UC Denver's Office of BioPharma Alliances.

Fintan R. Steele, associate director at CU-Boulder's Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology.

Trent Yang, director of entrepreneurship and business development at the CU-Boulder Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute.

Link to bcbr.com

'Love cats? Love cupcakes? Live in Denver?...'

Quoting from the All Things Cupcake blog:

"Love cats? Love cupcakes? Live in Denver? Boy, have I got an opportunity for you! Cupcakes for Cats!

On Friday, September 16th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there will be a cupcake sale in downtown Denver, at the 16th Street Mall, 16th and California. But this is no ordinary cupcake sale. Funds raised will go to the Cat Care Society in Lakewood."

Link to the posting

LifeScience Aurora: 'Sen. Michael Bennet, FDA commissioner hold roundtable discussion with CEOs'

Quoting from the new LifeScience Aurora publication:

"The dialogue was what the CBSA needed according to President and CEO Holli Riebel.

'The session today is a positive next step to work CBSA has already contributed to Sen. Bennet’s Coloradoans For An Innovation Economy (CFAIE), and speaks strongly to the work the Senator is doing on our industry’s behalf,' Riebel said in a statement."

Link to the article

30+ Life Science Investors/Partners Headed to Denver Sept 21-22

More than thirty of the industry’s leading investors and strategic partners will attend presentations by the region’s most innovative life science companies at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference (RMLIPC), September 21-22 at the Brown Palace Hotel, Denver. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel (formerly Baumunk), President and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) who says, “Leading biotech, device, diagnostic and pharma investors from across the country and world will be coming to Denver to create the newest deals and shape the future landscape of the life science industry.”

The conference will present a strong slate of Rocky Mountain region companies to the investors. Thirty-one companies were selected to present from over fifty applicants spanning a range of sectors within the industry.

Apposite Capital, London, England - http://www.appositecapital.com
BioVentures, Wellesley, MA - http://www.bioventuresinvestors.com
Boston Equity Advisors, Canton, MA - http://www.boston-equity.com
Boulder Ventures, Boulder, CO - http://www.boulderventures.com
Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York, NY - http://www.bms.com
Canaan Partners, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.canaan.com
Charter Life Sciences, Santa Clara, CA - http://www.clsvc.com
Covidien, Mansfield, MA - http://www.covidien.com
CSU Ventures, Fort Collins, CO - http://www.csurf.org/tto
Delphi Ventures, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.delphiventures.com
Doremus Advisory Services, New York, NY
Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.dfj.com
Frontier Angels, Polson, MT - http://angelsoft.net/angel-group/frontier-angel-fund
High Country Venture, Boulder, CO - http://highcountryventure.com
Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ - http://www.jnj.com
Longitude Capital, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.longitudecapital.com
Lumira Capital, Palo Alto, CA - http://www.lumiracapital.com
MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD - http://www.medimmune.com
Merck Ventures, Montvale, NJ - http://www.merckcapitalventures.com
Morgenthaler Ventures, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.morgenthaler.com
OK Life Sciences Fund, Tulsa, OK - http://olsfventures.com
OnSet Ventures, Menlo Park, CA - http://www.onset.com
Red Script Ventures, Brunswick, NJ - http://www.redscriptventures.com
Research Corp BioVentures, Tucson, AZ - http://www.rctech.com
Sanderling Ventures, San Mateo, CA - http://www.sanderling.com
Sevin Rosen Funds, Palo Alto, CA - http://www.srfunds.com
Sun Mountain Capital, Santa Fe, NM - http://www.sunmountaincapital.com
Takeda Ventures, Palo Alto, CA - http://www.tri-takeda.com
TPG Biotech, San Francisco, CA - http://www.tpgbiotech.com
Volcano Capital, New York, NY - http://www.volcanocap.com
vSpring Capital, Salt Lake City, UT - http://www.vspring.us

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Feature: 'Venture capital drought affecting Colorado's crop of medical inventions'

Quoting from the Aurora Sentinel:

"Kevin Smith, who runs CID4, said the organization looks similar to a grant-writing agency that might fund research or some early-stage investment in a bioscience company. But that’s not really their goal, he said.

'Our mission is not just to give the money to a researcher and hope he or she comes up with something interesting, but to actually take an already identified or discovered technology and get it developed,' he said.

Smith said CID4 works with start-ups that are often in a phase of their development known is the industry as the 'valley of death.'"

Link to AuroraSentinel.com

Cajun's Closet - All Spruced Up After Renovation & Ready for Shoppers

The Cat Care Society's "Cajun's Closet" Thrift Shop is newly renovated and ready for shoppers to explore - Wed through Sat, 9-5. Cajun's is Denver Westword's 2011 Best Thrift Store. We're located at 5707 W. 6th Ave - the red brick building next to the Cat Care Society shelter with the huge "Thrift Shop" banner on the roof. Check us out online: http://www.westword.com/bestof/2011/award/best-thrift-store-1770550/

We took a sneak peek at the better, brighter Cajun's today:


http://youtu.be/GaMH7P7-U7Q

Picasa slideshow option

Denver and the West: 'Job-growth ideas for Colorado sent to Obama'

Quoting from yesterday's Denver Post coverage: "After hustling together a group of business leaders to figure out what it would take to spur job growth in Colorado, Democrat Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall​ and Gov. John Hickenlooper shipped the findings to President Barack Obama on Wednesday, a week before he is set to unveil his jobs plan...

Those who participated included Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems, and Holli Riebel, president of the Colorado Bioscience Association. The business leaders held a series of meetings in the past several months to compile their recommendations."

Link to denverpost.com

Link to similar coverage in The Colorado Independent

Link to similar coverage by the Denver Business Journal

Link to the DBJ pdf posting of the “Colorado Competes” report