DECEMBER REARVIEW

FLORIDA FIRM HOSTS CHARITY EVENT

ORLANDO — Several months ago, Middleton Lawn & Pest Control Inc. leapt into its "Summer of Giving." The event, which took place at Middleton’s corporate offices in Orlando, highlighted a number of local charities, including Charity Cars Inc., Central Florida Mentoring Network and Hi-Tech Tutoring Center Inc., among others. Highlights of the day included Middleton’s donation of computer equipment to the tutoring center and a giveaway of five donated vehicles to families in need.

"This event, we hope, will not only help make it a little easier for people in the community that have always wanted to get involved but will lay the groundwork for other local businesses to do their part as well," said Greg Clendenin, president of Middleton.

PPMA Hosts Presidential Race

LAS VEGAS — Millions of Americans voted for U.S. president last month, but in the pest world, the winner was announced in October at the National Pest Management Association’s annual convention by the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA).

During the convention in Las Vegas, PPMA sponsored a presidential cockroach derby that featured 2-inch long Madagascar hissing cockroaches "dressed" as presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush. A crowd of cheering convention-goers, along with local television affiliates, witnessed the Al Gore cockroach narrowly defeat George W. Bush in a photo finish. The race was covered beyond the Las Vegas area, with NBC television affiliates in more than 35 markets featuring the race on their news programs.

"Cockroach racing may not be the most scientific way to predict an election outcome, but it certainly is a lot of fun, especially when our ‘cockroach candidates’ battle it out right down to the wire like they did," said Bobby Jenkins, PPMA chairman.

The New Jersey State Pest Control Association started running a cockroach derby several years ago. The derby has successfully predicted the winner of the presidential election for the past three campaigns.

Olympic Star Got Buzz From Hornet Juice

TOKYO — According to a Reuters news report, a Japanese marathon star who won Olympic gold in Sydney got a crucial extra buzz by drinking the stomach juice of giant, killer hornets.

Naoko Takahashi, who became a national heroine by winning the women’s marathon, drank the unusual beverage before and during the race after Japanese scientists found it gave an astonishing boost to human performance.

Since the drink is 100 percent natural it does not fall afoul of Olympic laws that prohibit performance-enhancing drugs.

Scientists at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research near Tokyo found the juice helped the three-inch long hornets to fly the equivalent of more than two marathons in search of food. The juice had a similar effect on humans and reduced muscle fatigue and improved the body’s efficiency, scientists said.

IN JANUARY…

• The future of pest control

• 2001 termite market preview

• Industry Outlook 2001: What’s next?