Fire hits Universal back lot Sections of Universal Studios' famed back lot--including the "town square" from the 1985 hit movie "Back to the Future" and part of "New York Street"--burned in a fire on Sunday. The back lot is a popular venue for special events. The theme park, also used for private events, was not affected. Universal event staff tells Special Events that it will issue an update on the venues later today; check our Web site for details …
Scammers still love you Bogus brides keep trying to prey on event pros with check scams. Mary Litzsinger, president of Westlake Village, Calif.-based VP Events, tells Special Events that she was recently contacted via e-mail by a "bride" who signed contracts and sent in a cashier's check. The check was an overpayment, and the "bride" asked VP Events to wire-transfer the excess to her "band." "Lucky for us, we did our due diligence and found out all of this before we acted upon this," Litzsinger says. The scam uses the same techniques that Special Events reported on in September in the article "Beware the Cashier's Check" by Carolyn Arthurs …
Raw tomatoes linked to foodborne illness The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is investigating outbreaks of salmonella poisoning linked to raw Roma and red round tomatoes. Nearly 80 cases have cropped up in Texas and New Mexico since late April. Another 30 have been reported in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Utah. The CDC advises anyone in Texas and New Mexico at increased risk--such as the elderly and those with impaired immune systems--to avoid raw Roma and red round tomatoes unless the tomatoes are sold attached to the vine or are grown at home. Further, all raw tomatoes should be thoroughly washed under running water. Cut, peeled and cooked tomatoes should be refrigerated within two hours. Raw tomatoes should be stored away from raw meats, raw seafood and raw produce, the CDC says, and all prep tools and surfaces must be cleaned regularly. For more information, click here.
