Brooks Internet Software announces co-marketing agreement with OKI Data

Brooks Internet Software, Inc., an Idaho Falls company that has made a niche for more than a decade with online printing applications, announced on Wednesday a co-marketing agreement with OKI Data Americas, a subsidiary of OKI Data Corp. of Japan, a multi-national corporation that reported sales of nearly $5.2 billion in 2011.

The agreement ensures that OKI Data printer users will be able to easily access and deploy Brooks Internet Software applications for customized, end-to-end, enterprise printing systems.

"By offering Brooks Internet Software's printer management applications, OKI will be able to provide our enterprise customers with an array of solutions to manage all workgroup printing environments," said Keith Fenton, OKI's product planning manager for MFP Software and Solutions, in a joint press release issued on PR Newswire.

"Brooks Internet Software shares a number of enterprise customers with OKI Data Americas," said Dave Brooks, president of Brooks Internet Software. "Our co-marketing agreement with OKI Data expands the range of our joint support and systems, ensuring these customers can more easily manage and maintain their enterprise printing systems."

Headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J., OKI Data Americas markets PC peripheral equipment and customized solutions, including digital color and monochrome printers, color and monochrome multifunction products, serial impact dot matrix printers, thermal label printers and POS printers. The company also serves the graphic arts and production market with the OKI proColor series.

Brooks Internet Software
 (www.brooksnet.com) develops TCP/IP network printing solutions that allow Windows-based computers to receive print data from platforms such as Unix and IBM Power Systems. The data can then be transformed, processed, formatted and delivered to a single destination or multiple destinations simultaneously. Its RPM Remote Print Manager supports major print protocols and also modifies data on demand, including deletions, insertions and appends, and can drive many printers directly at higher speeds. RPM can simultaneously send a single print job to multiple printers, format and send emails and archive to disk.

Pace picks up on Idaho Falls construction projects

When there's a hole being dug, people want to know what it is going to be. On First Street, this will be Turtle & Crane's third assisted living unit.

Spring may be a month away, but since the weather warmed up (relatively speaking) the construction season is heating up around Idaho Falls. It might be hard to top the $83 million in project valuation that distinguished 2012, but with two new schools going up and a number of other projects being talked about it could be close.

If you've been out First Street past Woodruff Avenue, you might have noticed a big hole in the ground near Cardon's. It is going to be Turtle and Crane's third assisted living facility, and at 8,683 square feet it will also be the largest.

A foundation has also been poured at 2680 North Holmes, across from Vicker's, for The Gun Shop. Owner Casey Wheeler has laid plans for an 8,000 square foot store, with a valuation of $330,000, according to the city of Idaho Falls Building Department.

After a significant period of waiting, remodeling work is finally under way at 2196 Channing, behind Dixie's Diner, where the new Social Security Administration office will be going in. Morgan Construction is the contractor on the project, valued at $375,000 by the city.

Before they were awarded the bid, the Venture One commercial development company worked for three years with the General Services Administration to make a deal involving 6,100 square feet in the building that also houses the UPS Store and Batteries Plus. The space is being refitted to accommodate about 60 people.

For all the red tape, the upside is 10-year fixed lease with a five-year extension option, said Venture One owner Shane Murphy. The plan has been to have people moved in by April.

On the food front, a building plan has been filed for Carl's Jr. at the corner of West Broadway and Utah Avenue, where the Arctic Circle once stood. The architect on the project is Erstad Architects of Boise.

Last of all, Brian Tomsett of the city building department said he received a phone call from a sign company working with Panda Express, asking about regulations and height restrictions on Utah Avenue near Wal-Mart. Efforts to reach a person in the Panda Express real estate department were unsuccessful, but you can be sure we'll keep at it.

Tautphaus Park Zoo seeks vendor for cafe

The city of Idaho Falls' Tautphaus Park Zoo is looking for a vendor to operate the Kookaburra Kafe.

Copies of the request for proposals can be obtained at these locations:

• The zoo administrative office, 2725 Carnival Way
• The Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Division office, 520 Memorial Drive
• On-line at www.IFREC.org.

“The Kookaburra Kafe is a vitally important part of zoo operations and the guest experience.” said Beth Rich, zoo superintendent. “We want to find the right people to join our team.”

The deadline to submit proposals is Friday. Proposals need to be turned in at the Tautphaus Park Zoo administrative office by then.

Idaho Falls allergist, family donate $1 million to Museum of Idaho

Dr. Gene Petty of Idaho Falls announces his gift to the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls.

Dr. Wendell Gene Petty, his wife, Margaret, and their family have made a $1 million donation to the Museum of Idaho to help pay for expansion.

Museum Director David Pennock announced the gift Wednesday. Petty, an Idaho Falls allergist, told reporters he hopes his family's gift will inspire others to donate to the Idaho Falls museum.

Pennock said the expansion plans are not yet final, and that they don't yet know how much it will cost or how much space they will add. The museum as it is now came into being 10 years ago when two buildings, the old Carnegie Library (later the Bonneville Museum) and the Masonic Lodge were remodeled and connected by the glass-fronted edifice that visually dominates North Eastern Avenue.

That expansion ago was made possible by Greg Carr, an Idaho Falls native who made a fortune in telecommunications then turned his attention to philanthropy.

Pennock said the extra space will help eliminate the need to shut the museum down when the staff is changing out exhibits, and that it will also provide more space for permanent exhibits. The new wing will be named after the Pettys.

New cheese steak shop opens in Idaho Falls

The Franklin's Famous Cheese Steak I ate for lunch Wednesday. It was the real thing. 

Anything that purports to be a Philadelphia cheese steak needs to be careful around me.

I am a native of the Delaware Valley. In 1980-81 I worked in Center City within spitting distance of the legendary Charlie's Water Wheel on Sansom Street. In Wilmington, Del., my hometown, there is still Casapulla's, where I make a pilgrimage any time I go to see my mom.

I know cheese steaks, which is why when I saw the sign for Franklin's Famous Cheesesteaks at 170 Elm Street (where Hot Diggity Dog used to be) I entered with some degree of trepidation.

It is my duty to write about new restaurants, because it's what BizMojo Idaho readers expect. How can you write about a place without eating the food?

Cristine Garza and her partner Scott Lee opened Franklin's at the end of December, and have done little in the way of advertising other than their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FranklinsFamousCheesesteaks.

The verdict? Best cheesesteak I've had in Idaho Falls (other than the ones I've made for myself at home). The key is the roll, an amoroso, and the grill. Lee said he makes his steaks with provolone or cheddar, but not Cheez Whiz, which is what some Philadelphians swear by (but not me).

Anyway, it's nice to eat somewhere and have an altogether satisfactory experience. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 881-5170.