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- Written by: Editor
COBB, Calif. – More California school children will have access to healthy snacks, nutrition education and information about where their food comes from thanks to the Western Growers Foundation (WGF).
This week, the foundation awarded $15,000 in garden grants along with educator resources to 10 California schools, including Cobb Mountain Elementary.
Bi-annually, WGF awards $1,500 and other resources to California schools that submit applications.
These grants are made possible through funding provided by Monsanto Fund. WGF offered grants to both after school programs and schools, as a way to reach an even broader group of children throughout the state.
“We are committed to raising a garden in every school throughout California,” said WGF Administrator Briana Lewis. “These ten schools demonstrated effective and sustainable garden programs, and we are proud to support them in bringing hands-on nutrition education to students.”
In addition to Cobb Mountain Elementary, WGF awarded grants to:
Alcott Elementary, Riverside
Appleby Elementary, Blythe
JFK High School, Fremont
Marblehead Elementary, San Clemente
Maria Montessori Charter School, Rocklin
Montessori de Terra Linda, San Raphael
Palm Middle School, Lemon Grove
Roseland Elementary, Santa Rosa
Stone Bridge School, Napa
WGF provides financial support to garden-enhanced nutrition education programs. These programs serve to connect students to the source of their food and to encourage the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables – one remedy to the epidemic of childhood obesity.
Current research provides strong evidence that garden-enhanced nutrition education increases academic achievement, improves test scores, and increases children’s consumption of and preference for fruits and vegetables.
These gardens become outdoor classrooms where teachers enrich the curriculum in more than a dozen subjects with hands-on, real world learning.
WGF has funded more than 400 schools to date in California and Arizona. The Foundation is a 501(c) (3) public charity that supports innovative nutrition education projects and programs to create healthy individuals and communities.
These projects include online consumer education through Producepedia.com, school-age outreach with the School Garden Program, and efforts that increase access to fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Western Growers is an 85-year-old agricultural trade association whose members from Arizona and California grow, pack and ship about half of the nation’s fresh produce.
Visit Western Growers Foundation at http://www.wga.com/wgf for more information.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Under a provision of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, gifts to charitable organizations during the month of January 2011 may qualify as 2010 tax savings for certain individuals.
The act allows for a charitable distribution made from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in January 2011 to be declared as a 2010 gift.
Individuals thinking about distributions from their IRAs in time to qualify for the tax break may want to consider making tax-free donations to the Mendocino College Foundation, says Katie Wojcieszak, executive director of the Foundation. Contributions will fulfill all or part of the IRA requirement.
“The IRA charitable gift provision under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 is a unique opportunity for individuals to take advantage of reducing their taxable income while supporting their favorite charities,” said Wojcieszak. “We encourage individuals to contact their financial advisors quickly to arrange the transfer of funds before the end of January.
“It’s a great opportunity to give to the College Foundation or any charity,” she added. “The Foundation would be very appreciative of such a gift.”
Monetary gifts help the foundation in its efforts to support Mendocino College students and programs. The foundation provides student scholarships, supports staff development at the college district’s campuses in Mendocino and Lake counties, funds improvements to educational programs such as nursing, culinary arts and automotive, and works to cultivate additional backing for the College.
Originally established as a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, an IRA charitable distribution allows an individual at age 70 ½ or older to withdraw up to $100,000 from an IRA and donate it to a qualified nonprofit charity, school, or organization.
The allowance was extended in 2008 as a bonus of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
The donation will reduce the individual’s taxable income for the year and must be done as a direct transfer from the IRA to the charity, either by the individual’s financial advisor or by working with the IRA custodian.
Wojcieszak suggests consulting personal, legal and financial advisors to obtain additional details before making a gift.
For more information about contributing to the Mendocino College Foundation, call the foundation office at 707-467-1018 or email
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – Mendocino College – like other community colleges around the state – expects full classes and an increase in the number of students attending.
The semester starts Jan. 24, and as of Jan. 5 many classes were already full, said Vice President of Education and Student Services Meridith Randall.
“However, new students can still enroll and start taking math, English and other classes needed for most majors and for transfer,” Randall said. “There is also still time to apply for financial aid for spring 2011.”
Because of the increased demand, the college is in the process of hiring new full-time faculty in culinary arts management, business office technology, music and mathematics.
“We are particularly excited about the culinary arts position – there is a lot of student interest in the program and finally having a full-time instructor will allow us to expand and improve our offerings,” said Sue Goff, dean of Career and Technical Education.
Other popular career programs are business, child development, automotive technology and nursing.
In fall 2011, the college anticipates launching a Sustainable Technologies program, which will focus on sustainable practices in construction and other areas.
New state legislation was passed recently to increase the ability of students to transfer easily to the CSU system after two years at the community college.
Mendocino College is in the process of implementing these new, streamlined transfer programs, and interested students should make an appointment with a counselor to learn about this opportunity.
Students can also visit the Career and Transfer Center in MacMillan Hall to get assistance.
On the main campus in Ukiah, the framework for the new Library/Learning Center is complete; that building will open in late 2012. The new Student Center will be finished a year or two later.
In Willits and Lakeport, plans for permanent campuses are underway and those are expected to be completed over the next three years.
For more information, visit www.mendocino.edu or call 707-468-3048.
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- Written by: Karalena Cole
This is the time of year most students begin to think about what's next after high school. Carlé High School students continue to prepare for colleges and other opportunities that await then in the “real” world.
James Fairless, a wonderful representative for UTI, came to Carlé High School on Jan. 5 with a great attitude and outlook of the potential all of our students have.
“He had a really great Power Point presentation for the students,” said Verna Rogers.
“Jobs in technology is our future,” he said, “and working on cars will never be outsourced.”
At Carlé High School we have a fabulous media and design group, but with this passion quality tools are essential. That is why the media students and Carlé High School would like to thank Mike Boyce for fixing our media room's cutting blade. This is a tool used for various projects such as cutting metal for plaques.
“Thanks to Clearlake Machine Shop, dull edges are a thing of the past,” said Stevie Cook, one of media's head designers.
We take pride in our school, that is why on Monday, Jan. 10, Carlé High School will break into teams to clean up our campus. We like to frequently come together to ensure the quality of not only the campus itself but also our students. We have learned to take pride in the very thing we take care of, our school.
This week's student of the week was Bianca Frias.
“Bianca has a really creative mind and uses it to her fullest extent,” said teacher Verna Rogers.
Bianca completed and presented her portfolio and will graduate within the next two weeks. Congratulations to this wonderful artist and person.
New students include Ashlee Ables, Shannika Chandler, Steven Fogg, Monica Jackson, Nick Padnessa, Tyler Stroup, Dennis Warner, Austin Weldon and Christina Green. We welcome the new students to enjoy the Carlé way and hope they find great success here.
Upcoming events consist of:
Jan. 14: Team DUI will gather the students to talk about drunk drivers and the dangers that come along with it.
Jan. 17: Paintball, thanks again to Michael and Renee Skidmore the students will enjoy another Saturday together paintballing.
Karalena Cole is a student at Carle Continuation High School in Lower Lake, Calif.