Three openings in three states – it was a first for the fast growing Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers or Monday.
Two of the franchise sites, Bradenton, Fla., and St. George, Utah, represented the first Freddy’s in those states. The third site was in Katy, Texas, according to a news release from the company.
“We didn’t plan to open three stores in a single day but it is an exciting milestone for us,” COO Scott Redler said in a statement. “We are prepared logistically with training teams in three states today and are very appreciative of the loyal guests who continue to fuel our nationwide expansion.”
The openings Monday brought the nationwide total number of Freddy’s restaurants to 92 across 16 states. The Wichita-based company plans to add at least 18 more sites this year, according to the release.
Co-founded by Redler and Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon, Freddy’s opened its first location in Wichita during 2002.
Even though this week’s weather seems intent on defying the calendar, we’re well into spring. That’s tree-planting time.
According to a news release from Associated Integrated Marketing, Wichita’s seventh annual Care-A-Ton tree giveaway will take place Friday morning, starting at 6:30 a.m.
Area residents who stop by will get a Brandywine maple, along with tips for the care of the tree. The event is at Old Town Square, at Second and Mead, directly in front of the Warren Old Town Theatre.
Over the years, about 6,500 trees have been given away by Care-A-Ton, according to the release.
Care-A-Ton, an Arbor Day celebration, is a partnership of Associated Integrating Marketing, Westar Energy, Johnson’s Garden Centers, KFDI-FM Radio, Airbus Americas and Exhibit Arts.
United Airlines will begin its nonstop service from Wichita to to Los Angeles on May 1, a day earlier than previously announced, according to a news release from Wichita city officials.
The change is a result of internal scheduling changes at United.
The new United Airlines flight will be operated by SkyWest, using a 66-seat CRJ-700, according to the news release.
The flight from Wichita Mid-Continent Airport leaves at 6 a.m. and arrives at LAX at 7:25 a.m.
The flight from Los Angeles will leave at 6:46 p.m. and arrive in Wichita at 11:35 p.m.
David Koch has made a gift of $100 million to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, according to a news release from the hospital.
The donation is the first lead gift in a $2 billion capital campaign and will support the construction of its new ambulatory care center at the hospital’s Upper East Side location in New York City, on York Avenue between 68th and 69th Streets, according to the release.
Koch, executive vice president and board member of Wichita-based Koch Industries, has been a member of the hospital’s board of trustees since 1988. The new center, which will be called the David H. Koch Center, is to be a 450,000-square-foot facility that will open in 2018.
A workshop that aims to help people focus is planned for Thursday evening at Newman University.
Sponsored by the Master of Social Work program, Mindfulness 101 will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Dugan Gorges Conference Center inside the Dugan Library and Campus Center on the Newman campus.
The workshop is free and reservations are not necessary. Donations of soap, toothpaste, shampoo and other hygiene products for the Center of Hope would be appreciated.
The workshop will be led by Grove Burnett, who, according to a news release, is a mindfulness trainer and renowned environmental attorney. He also is co-founder of Vallecitos Mountain Ranch, a learning and retreat center in northern New Mexico.
Mindfulness 101 is designed to help calm the mind. According to the release, “by practicing mindfulness – defined as the art of self-awareness – people can learn to live consciously and fully present and relate directly to whatever is happening in their lives.”
During the workshop, Grove will introduce participants to the basics of mindfulness sitting and walking meditation, and guide them through specific mindfulness teachings and practices.
Warren Theatres plans to remodel its Director’s Suite, a premium viewing room at Wichita Old Town Theatre.
To allow for the work, the Director’s Suite will close after the last show on Sunday. It will re-open in about a week.
According to a news release from the company, work will include adding seating risers for the back two rows to improve the sight line and reducing the number of seating rows from six to five. New electrically operated lounger seats will be installed as well.
The room provides a more upscale and comfortable movie-going experience, according to the release, and is open to those older than 21.
Barbecue and music, as well as a report on agricultural markets, are planned as part of the 66th Annual Beef Barbeque at the Kansas State Extension and Research unit on Monday.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the extension education center, 7001 W 21st St N, with dinner served starting at 7 p.m.
The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children aged 5 to 12. Reservations are requested by Friday. Those who plan to attend are asked to call Jackie at 316-660-0143, or go to www2013beefbbq.eventbrite.com
The Jammin Biscuits will be playing blue grass music. And Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities will give the market report.
Sponsors include Andale Farmers Cooperative, Farmers Coop Elevator Company, Heartland Veterinary Services, Woods Cattle Company, and Prairieland Partners.
Combining fun and support for locally owned businesses, some local residents are planning a second Cash Mob in Wichita.
The first Cash Mob was held last spring in the Delano district.
This year’s event is planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn. According to a news release from organizer Jill Miller, participating businesses are Best of Times, Twizted Confections and Whole Foods Association.
To make an impact on the businesses being mobbed, shoppers are asked to make a minimum purchase of $10 in at least one of the Mob locations. To make it more fun and create a community atmosphere, shoppers are also encouraged to meet at least one new person while they’re out, according to a news release.
Miller, the founder of Wichita Cash Mob and a business development consultant, said she was inspired by stories about how small businesses were being impacted by Cash Mobs in other cities.
Cash mobs were started by Buffalo, N.Y., blogger and engineer Chris Smith in August 2011, according to the release.
A study sponsored by the National Beer Wholesalers Association shows the economic impact of beer distribution companies nationally and by individual states.
The report said that Kansas beer distributors employ 1,116 people and generate $396 million in total economic impacts.
According to a news release from the association, the report was produced by Bill Latham and Ken Lewis at the Center for Applied Business and Economic Research at the University of Delaware.
Nationally, beer distribution companies are responsible for 345,000 “direct and indirect jobs,” Latham said in a statement, and “add $54 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.”
“America’s 3,300 independent beer distributors are proud to directly employ more than 130,000 hard-working men and women in communities across the country, providing significant economic value at many levels,” said the association’s president Craig Purser in a statement.
Barton Community College will be offering classes in Wichita to train people in the handling of natural gas measurement devices.
Gas Measurement Core Skills is a week-long class that is intended to give job candidates basic skills to work with and handle various equipment used in jobs in the natural gas industry.
The class will be held 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1-5, and the cost is $831 for the three-credit class. The deadline for signing up is March 26.
For information about the location of the Wichita classes or if you have other questions, call 620-792-9332 or 1-866-813-2462 or e-mail training@bartonccc.edu.
George Halama has been named chief financial officer at McPherson Hospital, according to a news release from Via Christi Health.
Halama, who has more than 25 years of experience in health care finance, has been serving as interim CFO since joining the hospital in August.
“During this time, George has proven to be an effective leader and a good fit for our community and our hospital,” Rob Monical, president and chief executive officer for the 49-bed hospital, said in a statement.
Via Christi Health has managed the hospital since January 2011.
Halama’s earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., and his master’s degree in health administration with a concentration in finance from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
A new grain-loading facility will be developed in Canton, with construction to begin this spring.
CHS Inc. and Mid-Kansas Cooperative are partners in the high-speed shuttle loading project, which will allow up to 110-car trains bound for export facilities to quickly be loaded with grain.
Constructed on the Union Pacific line, the shuttle will be able to load trains headed for the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf Coast and Mexico, according to a news release issued by the companies.
Construction is expected to take about a year, and the project will include on-site storage of more than 3 million bushels.
The facility, which is east of McPherson, will operate under a newly formed company that will become a member of Team Marketing Alliance, which will handle grain marketing services.
TMA is a limited liability company wholly owned by four central Kansas cooperatives: MKC; Cooperative Grain & Supply in Hillsboro; Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Halstead; and the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Nickerson.