Meet the Staff: Mary Ann

This week's opportunity to learn more about the ReNU staff includes questions answered by Mary Ann, the Office Manager at ReNU Niagara. 

Q:  Say something about your favorite pet.

A:  Mellow. Toby was originally my mom’s cat. I took her in when my mom could no longer care for her due to a stroke.  She was a tortoise shell or “tortie”.   Toby was a gentle, loving, old fat cat—probably the best cat I ever owned, or should I say owned me.

Q:  What is your favorite childhood past time?

A:  Playing outside. I guess I liked making mud pies—now I enjoy feeding the birds and pulling weeds.

Q:  What is your favorite vacation/vacation spot?

A:  Jamaica

Q:  What is someplace you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?

A:  Europe—it’s on my bucket list.

Q:  What is your biggest pet peeve?

A:  Cell phones

Q:  What is your favorite month?

A:  It’s a season—spring.  I know winter is finally over when I can hear the frogs chirping.

Q:  What is your earliest family car?

A:  A “Lark”

Q:  What is your favorite TV show of all time?

A:  Hard to say, I have had several, i.e. I Love Lucy, Mash, Cheers, and Seinfeld.

Q:  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A:  Broadway star

Summer 2012 at the Highland Community Vegetable Garden: Brought to you by John

The Henry J. Kalfas Magnet School, the Highland neighborhood, and ReNU Niagara are proud to announce the opening of the Highland Community Vegetable Garden for Summer 2012. As a new Vista member for the summer I am excited to be a part of the team!

Although the temperatures have been continually warming up these past few weeks, it is safe to say with the help of the excited and wonderful children from Mount Sinai, New Jerusalem, Kalfas Elementary and Center Court our vegetable garden is doing very well. With input from the community members, we feel we have been able to plant and grow a variety of vegetables. They include: tomatoes, collards, eggplant, parsley, beets, white onions, peppers, radishes, carrots, zucchini, cabbage, and cucumbers.

During the summer there are going to be workshops held during the watering times thanks to the help of the staff from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. These workshops will range from cooking tips, healthy food and nutrition, composting and other garden focused areas.

If you are interested in helping with garden maintenance and some fun in the sun, please feel free to contact the office at 205-0287and ask for John. Or email us at johnnewcomb.renu@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all out there this summer!!!!!

Meet the Staff: Tom

This week's opportunity to learn more about our staff includes questions answered by Tom Lowe, the Program Coordinator at ReNU Niagara.

Q: What is your favorite vegetable?

A: Broccoli.  Yeah, I'm weird like that.

Q: What is your favorite saying/quote/phrase?

A: "Be the change..." Ghandi

Q: Name something healthy you did this week.

A: Walked by dog along the river.

Q: Say something about your favorite pet.

A: She's a white boxer named Moxy.

Q: How many people in your family?

A: I have a HUGE extended family, too many to list.

Q: What is your favorite childhood past time?

A: Baseball.

Q: What is your favorite vacation/vacation spot?

A: Keywest, Fl.

Q: What is someplace you've always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?

A: New Zealand or Scotland.

Q: Do you have a mentor/someone you look up to? What do you admire about them?

A: Jill Shuey has taught me a lot--and I'm not just sucking up to the boss!

Q: What was your first job? Good? Bad? Ugly?

A: Bowling alley kitchen--ugly!

Q: What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?

A: The natural landscapes of the Niagara Region, obviously!

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: General ignorance.

Q: What is your favorite board game?

A: Guess Who.

Q: What sitcom character reminds you of yourself?

A: JD from Scrubs.

Q: What is your favorite month?

A: December.

Q: Where is your favorite place to eat?

A: NY Fish Market on Fridays.

Q: Do you have any phobias/fears?

A: Don't like snakes much...

Q: What is your earliest family car?

A: Ford Bronco.

Q: Do you side with a political party?

A: I do.

Q: How old do you hope to live to be?

A: Not too old--but old enough.

Q: What is your favorite TV show of all time?

A: Seinfeld.

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: A teacher.