PRO BONO Legal Clinic for Arts Organizations On May 15, 2012

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) will be partnering with the New York State Bar Association's Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Committee (EASL) for a free legal clinic for those who qualify for pro bono legal consultation. The event will take place at NYFA on Tuesday, May 15th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. The pro bono attorneys can offer advice on various arts-related issues such as intellectual property, nonprofit, and contract questions.

In order to qualify for a pro bono consultation, you or your organization must meet one of the following requirements by producing your most recent tax return demonstrating that you are:

- An individual earning an adjusted gross income of less than $30,000
- A married couple earning an adjusted gross income of less than $40,000
- A married couple with children earning an adjusted income of less than $50,000
- An organization earning less than $40,000. Note: You will need to verify that your organization pays taxes.

If you or anyone interested have any questions or would like to take advantage of this opportunity and meet the requirements above, please fill out the following form by May 11, 2012, by clicking on this link to the NYFA-EASL Legal Clinic Registration Form.

Any additional questions should be addressed to mrunyan@nyfa.org. Please keep in mind that you will need to bring a recent tax return in order to verify your income. NYFA strongly encourages all arts organizations to take advantage of this opportunity.

Museum Integrates Exhibits w/ School Curriculums to Take Education Further

The Science Museum of Minnesota's Engineering Explorations program,  is an educational program designed to access the museum's exisiting engineering exhibits to enhance students understanding of the engineering concepts they are learning in school.


Sponsored by refining and chemicals company, Flint Hills Resources, this program is a great example of how businesses and museums can work together to give students relevent, real-world educational experiences. Helping kids put science and math into context can get them excited about working in these fields and inspire them to focus on their education and take it seriously. Here's a press release on the project:

ENGINEERING FIELD DAYS PROGRAM HELPS MINNESOTA

SCHOOLS MEET NEW CURRICULUM STANDARDS

Flint Hills Resources and the Science Museum of Minnesota partner

to engage students in engineering through hands-on learning

Hastings, Minn. – Fourth and fifth grade students from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Kennedy, St. John’s the Baptist, and Christa McAuliffe schools will learn how to think like engineers when they take a field trip to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Students will visit the museum on various dates in April and May (see schedule below) for Engineering Explorations, a new interactive program sponsored by Flint Hills Resources that is designed to enhance student interest in engineering and fulfill new academic standards. The program is an example of business and education working together to meet requirements set by the Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota schools are now required to incorporate specific engineering material into curricula to prepare students for jobs of the future. The standards are new this school year and reflect the state’s commitment to educate students about the modern scientific world. Engineering Field Days help schools fulfill the standards in a way that is fun and engaging for students.

“We are thrilled and grateful that we are able to partner with Flint Hills Resources to make this initiative possible,” said Dr. Eric J. Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. “It promises to equip a new generation with the tools to compete and innovate in a world where scientific literacy is critical to a successful workforce.”

During their trips to the museum, students from more than 30 elementary schools in the Twin Cities will learn how to combine math, science, creativity and curiosity to effectively think like engineers. While the typical museum visitor focuses on the exhibit and its significance, students will be challenged to consider how the exhibits were made, what materials were used to build them, and what problems were likely solved along the way. For example, students will observe dinosaur skeletons, learn what holds the bones together, and determine what keeps them from falling down. Students will also view live theater programs that explain why all people are engineers to some extent.

Engineering Field Days are designed to help spark kids’ imaginations in science and engineering,” said Jake Reint, director of public affairs at Flint Hills Resources. “As a high-tech manufacturer that employs hundreds of engineers and skilled workers, we know how important it is to encourage young people to take an interest in science.”

Engineering Field Days schedule

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (4/24)

Kennedy (4/24 & 5/23)

St. John’s the Baptist (5/1)

Christa McAuliffe (5/25)

About the Science Museum of Minnesota

The Science Museum of Minnesota serves more than one million visitors each year with its hands-on exhibits, breathtaking giant screen films, special events, and unparalleled education programs. It is located at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard in downtown Saint Paul. For specific directions, parking information, hours, show times, and ticket information, call 651-221-9444 or visit www.smm.org.

About Flint Hills Resources

Flint Hills Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, is a leading refining and chemicals company. Its subsidiaries market products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, olefins, polymers and intermediate chemicals, as well as base oils and asphalt. The refining business operates refineries in Alaska (North Pole), Minnesota (Rosemount) and Texas (Corpus Christi), with a combined crude oil processing capacity of more than 800,000 barrels per day. The petrochemical business includes production facilities in Illinois, Michigan and Texas. The renewables business operates ethanol plants in Iowa, a biodiesel plant in Texas, and has made equity investments in bioenergy companies. The asphalt business produces and markets product in the Midwest and Alaska. A subsidiary owns an interest in a lubricants base oil facility in Louisiana.

Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend in Rosemount, Minn., has a crude oil processing capacity of about 320,000 barrels per day. Pine Bend employs about 900 people full-time; an additional 200-2,000 contractors work at the refinery daily on construction and maintenance projects. More information about the company is available at www

Non-Profit News: Horses Helping Soldiers W/PTSD

Rainier Therapeutic Riding in Yelm, WA is a great program near Seattle which is using horses to help veterans suffering from Suicidal tendencies, Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Here's a video showing a vet's personal experience with the program.

Rainier Therapeutic Riding provides basic horsemanship lessons to injured military personnel and is the largest provider of equine therapy to military personnel in the country. The group works directly with medical military personnel to select active duty soldiers and teach them basic horsemanship skills. Through the relationship they build with “their” horses soldiers connect and rediscover the value of living.

Rainier Therapeutic Riding is currently serving 48 soldiers weekly, and relies on the support of local farm owners for indoor riding space and the help of over 50 active volunteers, 3 certified instructors, and 14 privately owned/leased horses.

To find out more about Rainier Therapeutic's Riding Program visit http://www.rtriding.org/.

Dunkin’ Donuts gets High-Falutin' w/Artisan Bagels

DD isn't just for plebeian bagels anymore. The company is launching a new line of artisan bagels and other fancy stuff. Finally!!! Reduced-fat artichoke spinach cream cheese - because that's what I expect from a classy establishment such as Dunkin' Donuts.  Here's the news:

Trust us this is all artisan and junk

The chain will roll out a new “artisan” line of bagels this spring to its shops nationwide. It first started carrying bagels in 1996, and now has “reinvented” its recipe, the company said in a press release. Existing varieties such as sesame, poppy seed and cinnamon raisin will be joined by sun-dried tomato and pumpernickel. Also added to the menu: reduced-fat artichoke spinach cream cheese.

Fabulous Beef Stew & Sweet Potato Recipe

I had to share this crazy delectable beef stew recipe. I love the fact that it has Sweet Potato rather than white potatoes - it's a great twist. This dish freezes well and looks great on the table, so if you're looking for a make ahead recipe for a dinner party this is a great choice.

Thanks to Joy the Baker for this great beef stew recipe and if you're looking for more inventive and tasty recipes I definitely recommend you check out her site regularly.

Beef and Sweet Potato Stew (adapted from Epicurious.com)

makes a big pot.  serves 6.

(Note: One of the last steps calls for sugar. I found that the sweet potatoes and tomato paste made it sweet enough and so I felt it didn’t need the sugar at all, so I would definitely taste before you add any.)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour with a big pinch of salt and pepper

1 1/4 pound stew beef, cut into 1-inch chunks

about 1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, coarsely diced

2 cups peeled and thickly sliced carrots

3/4 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and cut in half

6 cloves of garlic, minced

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup light beer

1 pound sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1-inch chunks

4 cups beef broth (more if you’d like it more soupy)

1 bay leaf

3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1-2 tablespoons sugar

salt and pepper to taste

couscous and parsley to serve

In a large brown paper bag, place flour, salt, and pepper.  Add diced beef.  Close the bag.  Hold it tight and shake.  Open bag and make sure that all of the beef is lightly coated in flour and seasoning.  Set aside.

In a large dutch oven (or giant soup pot), heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.  Add as much beef as will fit along the bottom of the pan in a single layer.  Cook, browning on all sides.  The beef doesn’t need to be cooked through, just browned.  Once all of the beef is cooked, remove from the pan and place on a plate.  Set aside.

In the same dutch oven, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Add onions and carrots and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add mushrooms and garlic, and cook for another 3 minutes.  Add tomato paste and heat through.  

Deglaze the pan with the beer, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the beer steams.

Add the sweet potatoes, and cover with beef broth. Add bay leaf, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce.  Add beef.  Turn heat to low and let gently simmer for 45 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through,

Taste and add sugar (this helps the acidity), salt, and pepper as necessary.

Serve over couscous or rice with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

International Children's Book Day / Hans Christian Anderson's Birthday

April 2nd is Hans Christian Anderson's Birthday, therefore it's only fitting that it also happens to be the date of International Children's Book Day this year.


Each year a theme is chosen and a prominent author writes a message to the children of the world. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading for children internationally. Activities include writing competitions, announcements of book awards and events with authors of children's literature.


The sponsor for this year's ICBD is the Mexico branch of the International Board on Books for Young People. IBBYP Mexico chose the them "Once upon a time, there was a story that the whole world told". Artist Juan Gedovius created a gorgeous poster for the event.


For information on International Children's Book Day events near you check out http://www.usbby.org/icbd.html.

Read On Little Ones, Read On!!!!

World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd

ASD affects an estimated 3 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 110 American children as on the autism spectrum. In fact, more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes or pediatric AIDS combined.

On World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd, organizations around the world celebrate with fundraising and awareness-raising events. To share your events, please "Like" the World Autism Awareness Day page on Facebook and submit your events by posting the information on the wall.

For more information on Autism and World Autism Awareness Day visit  http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/waad .