SBWire

The economic recovery has arrived and is in full swing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of individuals filing for unemployment benefits has plummeted to the lowest level in more than four decades. In addition, private employers have added jobs to the workforce for seven straight years in a row.

It is extremely disturbing to know that Earth is directly in the path of about 500,000 asteroids and comets. Unfortunately, NASA and other space agencies don't know the location of 498,000 of them! Yet, these killer comets are capable of causing explosions far worse than the world's largest atomic bombs. Chelyabinsk, a small city in Russia, experienced such as incident in 2013 that seriously injured around fifteen hundred people. NASA warns that an asteroid named Bennu may hit Earth within a few decades. If so, the impact would be powerful enough to destroy any one of the world's largest cities.

Bayer CropScience (http://www.bayercropscience.us), one of the world’s top innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits, hosted two of the National FFA Organization’s officers on March 23 during their visit to Research Triangle Park (RTP). Jason Troendle, National FFA Secretary, and Seth Pratt, western region vice president, visited Bayer CropScience RTP headquarters discussions with several of Bayer’s current and developing leaders.

Douglas David, managing partner of Douglas Carroll Salon, a nationally and internationally recognized salon in the beauty industry, has announced the salon has received two 2012 Best of Downtowner Awards by Raleigh Downtowner Magazine, ranking second for Best Salon and Best Spa. Presented annually and typically open only to downtown Raleigh operations, voting for the 2012 Best of Downtowner Awards was opened to all of Wake County bringing in twice the number of total votes from 2011 and a broader range of entries. An annual award, the Best of Downtowner Awards recognizes the best that Raleigh has to offer in food, dining, goods and services, shopping and local personalities.

Robert Macia, PE, LEED AP, president of Stewart Engineering, has announced that Karen Lee has joined the firm as a marketing coordinator. In this role, Lee is responsible for researching and writing proposals to respond to new business opportunities. She also develops marketing packages and materials for the company and manages Stewart Engineering’s intranet. Prior to joining Stewart Engineering, Lee served as an administrative and communications assistant at the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina (ACEC/NC). She received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from N.C. State University and resides in Raleigh.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 locations throughout the Triangle, has announced that the Raleigh store located at 350 East Six Forks Road sold a winning lottery ticket worth $250,000 in the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, March 30. Only four tickets in North Carolina matched all five white balls to earn the quarter-million dollar prize. In addition to Raleigh, winning tickets were sold in Broadway, Jacksonville and Wendell. Smaller awards in the state will also be given to the owners of 369,594 tickets totaling $3 million in prizes.

TheeDesign is a web design agency in Raleigh and today are celebrating the launch of a recent web design project for the local party planner, Jennifer V.

ALIPAC is condemning congressional candidate David Rouzer's support for Amnesty for illegal aliens! He finally admitted to this during a public debate on WECT TV on April 4.

MMI Public Relations, a Raleigh-based, full-service public relations firm, has announced that Patty Briguglio, president of the firm, will give a presentation on public relations in the 21st century to members of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), a community of marketing and business development professionals working to secure profitable business for their architectural, engineering and construction firms.

Architectural Firm Marks Three Decades Of Innovation Through Setting Industry Standards For Educational Construction, High Performance Green Design

Sandy Abalos, managing partner of Abalos & Associates, PLLC, has announced the release of an audio podcast on the topic of debt cancellation and bankruptcy. In the podcast, Barry Friefield, partner at Abalos & Associates, discusses the 1099-C tax form and answers frequently asked questions about the form’s implications. For example, Friefield states precautions that every taxpayer should take when receiving a 1099-C form and discusses whether or not cancellation of debt can be excluded from income filings. He also clarifies the circumstances under which a couple can claim a loss on their tax return after losing money on a home foreclosure, and explains whether an individual will receive a 1099-C form after using a debt management company to settle debt.

Rachel Kendall, broker and team leader of The Rachel Kendall Team of Keller Williams Realty, a full-service real estate firm, has announced that Angie Cole, buyer’s specialist, will appear on an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters airing Friday, April 6 at 10 p.m. EST as the lead real estate agent for a Raleigh resident touring three potential homes in an episode of the series. Taped over five days, the show follows Cole as she and her client consider several residential communities in Wake County to review before narrowing the choices down to two homes in Raleigh and one in Wake Forest. The final home the client selected is located in downtown Raleigh.

The Chef’s Academy, the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 110-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers 40 degree programs in five schools of study, has announced Chef Rene J. Marquis, CEC, CCE, PCEC, CCA, AAC, as the 2012 commencement speaker. A military master chef, Marquis will provide the commencement address to the 48 graduates of the December 2011 and March 2012 classes on Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the University of Indianapolis’ Ransburg Auditorium, located in Esch Hall at 1400 East Hanna Ave. in Indianapolis. One of the highest certified chefs in the U.S. military, Marquis will address graduates on the topic of “What is in your future? You will never know!”

Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality, has announced that its brewery, The Mash House, will be one of the designated brewers on hand at the Brewgaloo beer festival on Saturday, April 28 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Raleigh’s City Plaza. Bringing together local craft brewers, the Brewgaloo festival encourages consumers to eat, drink, purchase and think with a local mindset. Sponsored by Shop Local Raleigh, an organization in support of locally-owned independent businesses, Brewgaloo will include local breweries as well as local food trucks and live music. Cost will be $5 per beer, and $1 per 3 oz. tasting.

The Chef’s Academy, the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 110-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers 40 degree programs in five schools of study, has announced that its first satellite campus in Morrisville was recognized by Triangle Business Journal’s SPACE awards in the category of Top Hospitality/Entertainment Development. An annual commercial real estate award, the SPACE awards recognizes the most innovative commercial real estate projects across the Raleigh-Durham market. Capital Associates, a commercial real estate development company, negotiated a build-to-suit agreement with The Chef’s Academy under a long-term lease for a 24,000 square-foot building located at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd.

Dan Fields, AIA, principal and CMO at BJAC, pa, an architectural firm offering professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects, has announced the release of a podcast on Chinese perceptions of U.S. health care design. In the podcast, Managing Principal Lou Jurkowski, FAIA, LEED AP, discusses U.S. and Chinese models of health care building and facility design. Jurkowski, who recently traveled with a delegation from North Carolina to foster trade and exchange between China and the state, reflects on the differences in design practices as well as what each nation can learn from the other for excelling in outcomes and standards while maintaining cutting-edge design.

HD Treatment Center, which offers a painless and permanent treatment option for patients with hemorrhoidal disease through a direct microcurrent technology cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, has announced the release of a podcast on hemorrhoid disease. In the podcast, Dr. Larry Fusco, lead physician at HD Treatment Center, discusses the causes, misconceptions and treatment options available for hemorrhoids, with a focus on the prevalence of hemorrhoid disease and the new treatment offered by HD Treatment Center.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Kelliann Miranda-Baltimore has joined the university as an admissions counselor and financial aid coordinator. In her position, she will monitor Institutional Student Information Records (ISIR), oversee student completion of FASFA forms and assist in the admissions recruitment process of prospective university students. A 2011 graduate, Miranda-Baltimore served in the admissions department for work study purposes for more than three years. She interned with InterAct of Wake County, a private nonprofit agency providing safety, support and awareness to victims and survivors of domestic violence.

BTC Electronic Components, Inc (BTC), a leading manufacturer franchised/authorized distributor of connectors and connector accessories to the aerospace, military, and commercial industries, is proud to announce the re-certification and approval of their International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration.

Spring is here and Carolina Yard Barns, an innovative custom shed builder in the Triangle, is excited to announce the return of their “Shed the Clutter” Giveaway Promotion on Facebook. The company is once again helping a local Triangle resident “shed” all their clutter this Spring by giving away a pre-built 8’ x 10’ Premium Statesman shed. The shed, valued at over $1,900, is a classic gable-style shed with faux overhang, a window and 30-year architectural shingles.

Candidates for Congress and US Senate are being asked to complete ALIPAC's 2012 federal candidate survey and pledge.

Peter Leeds, author of "Invest in Penny Stocks" and publisher of the Peter Leeds penny stocks newsletter, has filled the third and final spot on his "Tomorrow's Winners Today" penny stocks panel, which will take place this Tuesday at the World Money Show in Vancouver. Goldgroup Mining will be joining Victoria Gold and Passport Potash to present information about their companies, and answer questions from the attendees.

On Monday, April 2, the State Library of North Carolina will highlight the first-ever release of pivotal 1940 census data with period music, a 1940 current event quiz, a toy and clothing display from the N.C. Museum of History, films and a presentation by Kelly Karres of the U.S. Census Bureau.

"ALIPAC endorsed candidates represent the members of the US Congress and challengers who are aligned with the large majority of Americans who want more done to stop and reverse illegal immigration in our nation," said William Gheen, President of ALIPAC. "We are going to work hard to make sure that voters in these districts know that our endorsed candidates stand with them against illegal immigration and any sneaky form of Amnesty that would further erode America's sovereignty and stability."

CESI Debt Solutions, a national non-profit organization providing credit counseling and debt management services, is proud to announce that founder and CEO, Dr. Diane Chen has received an Enterprising Women of the Year award for 2012 by Enterprising Women magazine. This award honors women business owners who have demonstrated that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities. Many of the award recipients are also leaders in key organizations that support the growth of women’s entrepreneurship.

In recent years, there has been an incredible boom in the dancing industry, in part due to popular television shows such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” It seems people of all ages, from high school students to baby boomers, are once again falling in love with ballroom dancing.

A warning has been issued by the authority on penny stocks and author of "Invest in Penny Stocks," Peter Leeds, suggesting traders avoid the "easy" stock exchanges, like the over the counter and Pink Sheets markets. Penny stocks can get listed there much more easily, and price manipulation in their shares is often much easier, according to Leeds, which results in more numerous quantities of fundamentally weaker penny stocks, and fewer quality investment options.