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The Newton Schools Foundation would like to thank all the wonderful people who helped make the 2008 Winter Dinners possible. We are proud to announce that over $74,283 was raised during this event to support the Newton Public Schools.As well, we are especially pleased to announce that we raised another $10,000 to found a new global education leadership fund to support travel opportunities for Newton South and Newton North High School students with limited means. A fabulous time was had by all and we cannot wait to see everybody next year at Winter Dinners 2009! Here are three ways you can help this fall to make the 2009 dinners a success:
Friday, February 1, 2008 One World: Local Neighborhoods Hi Everyone, I started last night with a short "pre-dinner" visit to Mandy and Jeff Bass' home during that quiet moment just before the guests arrive when the house is lit, the dinner is waiting for those final touches, the smells are drifting through the rooms, the wine is corked and the hor d'oeurves ready to go. Mandy - you will have to tell the rest of your story! Chryse Saturday, February 2, 2008 A Taste of Italy Hi Everyone, Tonight - I had quite the whirlwind tour! I started in Italy at a magnificent home loaned to Shawn and Marie Cunniff for their dinner featuring A Taste of Italy. The elegant table was set for 20; the theme was burgundy and white with soft Italian music gently playing in the background -- setting the mood for the meal to come. I spoke briefly on our behalf and slipped out as Day Italian teacher, Jennifer Barsamian took the floor. Una Fiesta Mexican at Acapulco’s I sped quickly south to Mexico to swing into a party on the move. Dave and Victor with spouses Gayle and Janet once again threw a great party! (Of course the famous Acapulco's margueritas may have had something to do with it.) The icebreaker - having to do with labels on everyone's backs (Victor and Dave - you will have to explain it...) - certainly met its objective - every single person was having a wonderful conversation. (Of course the famous Acapulco's margueritas may have had something to do with it.) Dinner arrived (it looked great!) but I had to miss Heather Garni’s wonderful presentation and take off and head for India. India Terry's spread of Indian food was incredible but I had to pass it up in order to catch the end of David Yoffie's powerful presentation on the Web 2.0 platform. The conversation was fascinating with thoughtful interventions by a group of people representing a number of industries and professions - all with a passion for creating the best conditions for our students to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We then moved back to the dining for rice pudding with pistachios and bananas - and this time I ate. A lot. Eastern Europe in the 21st Century at Café Polonia I am sad to say that I missed Eastern Europe especially after reading the following from Alison: "Just wanted to let you know that we had a great evening at Café Polonia tonight. The staff there were very interested in the work of the Foundation, and the programs were very well received. Both Sara Adelsheim and I got our speeches in. Delicious food, recorded polka music by the Eddie Foreman Band (Bob Pajak’s brother Charlie plays bass for the band…he joined us for dinner, too!)" The Foundation had a great evening supported by great hosts, great speakers, great food and a great committee. It is because (you know where this is going) a great community supports great schools! Sleep well friends. Chryse. Monday, February 4, 2008 The Life Examined: Greece at Ariadne Hi Everyone, I wish you all could have joined us tonight for a trip to Greece led by the extraordinary Jack O'Connor from Day Middle School. Jack's presentation took us from the Parthenon to the ballot box to theatre in the round and back to Ariadne where Chef Christos Tsardounis created a different tour - one of tastes for the palate which Kathleen, his wife and co-owner paired with a selection of excellent Greek wines. As I traveled through Greece I found myself thinking of the committee that pulled together this incredible adventure in global dining. What a wonderful job you have done! The combination of community restaurants with community hosts has created a variety of choices to delight a diversity of interests. You set the stage - and now all of us are having a great time. Thank you! Chryse. Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan Hello Everyone, We just returned from a steep climb to Bhutan where the takin roam, the GNH is high and the food is best eaten at 51 Lincoln on the plains of Newton Highlands. "Elegant" was the operative word in the ground floor library of 51 Lincoln as the inspirational photos of Peter Vanderwarker, full of the riotous colours of the Bhutanese, combined with animated conversation, excellent wines and a superb meal. As a result, party folk that we are, we closed the restaurant at a rather late hour. Rob - you should have been there. A deep bow to Dick, Rosemary, Laurie and David for hosting a lovely evening and to Rob for organizing it. Chryse. Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Save Our Oceans Hi Everyone, If Monday night was about the possibilities for students, tonight was about the students themselves - both those who were with us and those who weren't. The four Culinary Arts students, 3 from North and one from South acted like "pros" as their Legal Sea Foods supervisor proudly told me. And let me tell you it wasn't easy carrying those tall, delicate martini glasses perched on plates sprinkled with chocolate and filled with a heavenly custard topped with clouds of spun sugar. Barbara Gibson represented the many other students who, although not seated among us, were very much in our thoughts as we contemplated a world of rising oceans and dying seas. Our students have the potential to learn the skills to save our oceans through opportunities like the Oceanography course at Newton North and Project Aquarius at Newton South. As Kate Killerian Morrison from The Nature Conservancy pointed out, if these students don't develop the skills to make a difference, the fish we ate today won't exist tomorrow. And the fish we ate tonight represented a series of tantalizing, at times unexpected, waves across the palate. Chef Peter Doire is a young talent worth watching as he perfects his trade. I will be interested to see what he does next year. And Jennifer - I very much look forward to next year - because Legal Sea Foods' work with the students, with you and for the Foundation's guests sets the standard for our dinner series. Thank you and the Committee for all of your hard - and very successful - work. Chryse. Friday, February 8, 2008 China Hi Everyone, Gung hay fat choy and a warm welcome indeed to the Year of the Rat! Lucky red with splashes of gold dominated the decor at Rachelle and John Ross' home as Chef Andy Gluck created a magical meal that started in the kitchen, migrated through the foyer in the capable hands of the tiny tiger of Newton North and landed in the dining room set for 24. Host John was resplendent in a yellow silk robe (don't you think he should wear it to the March Board meeting?) - I look forward to co-host Kim Gluck's photographic record of this second day of the New Year. Under Rachelle's gracious eye, guests sat down to a beautiful soup (including bits of lucky red) and the promise of inspiring presentations by Donna Fong and Barbara Howard. Sadly my trip to China ended as I slipped out the door, on the street and into my car. John and Rachelle, Kim and Andy - xie xie. Chryse. Saturday, February 9, 2008 Hi Everyone, The further I traveled tonight, the sharper the focus on the Foundation's capacity to reach across a diversity of peoples, values and interests to significantly strengthen the private-public partnership that has been the overriding (no pun intended) theme of our conversations over the past several months. From last night's New Year's celebration to the 4 dinners tonight that started with an elegant wine tasting in Provence to a drive by of Paris followed by a tip of the wings to the European/South American history of wine to a final landing at an All-American kegger, my trip was a study in similarities - not differences. Over 120 people at these 5 dinners alone had joined the Newton Schools Foundation to support our public schools. I met grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, friends, principals, teachers, educators and the children themselves. I had the privilege of speaking with numbers of people. I came away with a strong sense of the high potential we have for building an organizational funnel into the future of Newton's public education - and beyond. Comparing Old World/New World Wines Parisian Potpourri Traveling the Vineyards of Provence The gracious and convivial ambience of hosts Rob and Anne Ames' home embraced their 22 guests as they surrounded sommelier Mark Leighton's glasses of wine. I had a special moment when I met the son of the first Executive Assistant of the Newton Schools Foundation. While the delicious hors d'oeuvres served expertly by their daughter were only an introduction to Chef Rob's culinary talents, I sighed deeply and left to continue my travels back to the USA - and right down memory lane. Alumni of the World Unite! From the red and white balloons that covered the entrance to the dozens of pennants to the kegs themselves, hosts Norm and Jen Shore and Scott and Ursula Steele (with the expert help of Heather) wove an educational fabric that included yesterday's memories, today's realities and tomorrow's vision. Perhaps speaker Kurt Kusiak said it best when he remarked that now is the time to take action - because our children's future depends on it. It was an interesting evening that will lead, I think, to sweet dreams. Good night friends - and thank you. Chryse. Monday, March 10, 2008 Today’s Students – Tomorrow’s Citizens Hi Everyone, Tonight I stayed in Waban - and instead of traveling myself, listened to our high school principals describe a trip of possibilities that our children should - and can - take, not tomorrow, but today - through our own schools in Newton. Costa Rica, Italy, France, China, Nicaragua, Prague, Guatemala - to name a few - to live, to study to see and taste and smell and feel their world of today in preparation for the global challenges of tomorrow. Kouzina's was packed. Chef Nelson Cognac outdid himself with 5 beautifully presented courses as Brian Salzer and Jen Price galloped around the globe of possibilities for our students. It was a tough call as whether my taste buds or imagination had the better trip this evening. Many thanks to Anne Larner and Gail Glick for hosting the evening - and Mandy for the perfect merge of theme, venue, speakers and menu. Only one problem. This time - I really did eat too much. Oh well. It was worth it. Sleep well friends. Chryse. Saturday, March 15, 2008 Global Trivial Pursuit Hi Everyone, Where in the world did Chryse go tonight? ... And may I say thank you Tom and Liz for joining together an extraordinary group of people in support of the Foundation's work - and that I look forward to opportunities to work with such a creative community in the future? Sleep well friends. Chryse. Save the Date!!
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