Watch open house set for Thursday

A communications firm is reaching out to the community.

Jay County Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Watch Communications at 11 a.m. Thursday at Community Resource Center in Portland and the company will host an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. the same day at John Jay Center for Learning.

Watch was awarded a federal contract to expand broadband access in rural areas, including Jay County. During the open house, Watch representatives will discuss how the company is expanding service in Jay County and the surrounding areas. They will cover plans for the region, internet packages and services, assistance programs and career opportunities.

The chamber will also a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday for Wildflower Beauty Lounge. The business is located at 119 E. Lincoln St., Portland.



Ardagh announces

Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America announced this week that four of its customers were awarded Clear Choice Awards by the Glass Packaging Institute.

Ardagh customers earning awards were Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser Dream, Newell Brands’ Ball® Flute Jars, King Estate Winery’s King Estate Vineyard Designate and Heritage Distilling Company’s Hand Sanitizer. Clear Choice Awards honor manufacturers who find “unique ways to use glass packaging to tell the story of brands, create glass packaging designs that stand out on the shelf and demonstrate novel glass packaging looks.”

“Ardagh Glass Packaging is honored to have these exceptional products recognized with 2021 Clear Choice Awards,” said Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America chief commercial officer John T Shaddox.

Ardagh operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.



Trick or treating set

Jay County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its Merchant Trick-or-Treat for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29.

All Jay County businesses are invited to participate. Those that are not located in downtown Portland will be able to set up in the Community Resource Center Parking lot at 118. S. Meridian St.

Businesses that intend to participate should RSVP with the chamber by Oct. 22.

For more information, email [email protected] or call (260) 726-4481.



Purchasing

Motherson Sumi Systems Limited approved the acquisition of a majority stake in CIM Tools Private Limited, Reuters reported this week.

Motherson Sumi, parent company of MSSL Wiring in Portland, gains access to a customer base for aerospace components with the acquisition. It will acquired 55% of CIM Tools.

It is expected to be closed within three months, according to the Reuters report.



Algorithm created

Purdue University researchers have created an algorithm to ward off hacking attempts.

Hany Abdel-Khalik of Purdue University has created a system that makes computer systems “self-aware and self-healing” by embedding “invisible, ever-changing, one-time-use signals that turn passive components into active watchers.” The goal is that attempts to introduce falsified data will be immediately detected and rejected by the computer system without the need for a human response.

“We call it covert cognizance,” said Abdel-Khalik, an associate professor of nuclear engineering and researcher with Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security. “Imagine having a bunch of bees hovering around you. Once you move a little bit, the whole network of bees responds …”



Lilly recalls

Eli Lilly recently recalled a batch of diabetes drugs.

Reuters reported Monday that Lilly recalled a batch of Glucagon Emergency Kits that were manufactured at an Indiana factory that had been cited earlier this year for quality-control violations. The voluntary recall was issued Sept. 24. There was also a recall in Canada the following day.

“Lilly is deeply committed to manufacturing high-quality medicines for patients who need them — nothing is more important to us,” the company said in a statement. “We take our obligations seriously and have rigorous quality systems in place to ensure compliance with stringent regulatory requirements.”



DG giving

Dollar General and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced Tuesday that it is investing $4.5 million “to support students, teachers and nonprofit organizations working to support and improve youth literacy across the country.”

The donations include more than $3 million in youth literacy grants. There will also be a new $1.45 million partnership with education nonprofit DonorsChoose.

“The urgency to support youth literacy has never been greater, and we are honored to support the teachers, school officials, library staff and a network of nonprofits working every day to ensure the next generation is able to build the skills necessary to thrive and achieve their ambitions,” said Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos in a press release.