Salt Shakes

Paperback Rider
The newest addition to recycling blue bins—paperbacks—are probably gathering dust on a bookshelf in your home. But before you decide to chuck that book, consider donating it to a local library or retirement home. If it’s truly beyond its useful life, toss it into your blue bin. If it has a binding, remove the binding first. Unfortunately, says the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, hardcover books still can’t be recycled. Consider donating them as well, once you’re done reading them, of course. For a list of all the items that can be recycled, go to www.ocrra.org.
In other recycling news, OCRRA invites residents to register for its Earth Day Litter Cleanup, taking place Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. Each year, volunteer groups composed of families, friends, neighbors or co-workers, get together to help clean up the mess that receding snow always seems to uncover. Register by April 15 at www.ocrra.org, or call 453-2866. OCCRA will send special stickers to place on the bags of litter you collect, which will enable you to dispose of those bags free of charge.

Cortland Cooks
Cortland’s East End Community Center is developing a second cookbook featuring recipes from that city’s residents. If there is a story behind the recipe, or a related historical photo, include that as well. Send your recipes to: Cortland Youth Bureau, 35 Port Watson St., Cortland 13045; fax them to: (607) 753-3023; or email them to: ceclie@cortland.org. Deadline for submissions is April 29.

McTeach Your McChildren
Area teachers are invited to apply for a McDonald’s MAC Grant until June 29. The program is available to teachers in grades three through eight and funds can be used to finance in-class projects. “McDonald’s recognizes how hard teachers work to create meaningful, hands-on projects to inspire their students,” said Mike McLaughlin, president of the Central New York/Northern Pennsylvania McDonald’s Owner/Operators Association. “We’re thrilled to be able to help provide these deserving teachers with the resources to implement their creative projects.” Grants of up to $500 are available. Obtain an application form at www.mcdtoday.com or by calling 445-2491.

Face of the Nation
Volunteers to help plan the Sept. 18 Westcott Street Cultural Fair are invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 7 p.m. Folks are needed for planning, fundraising and helping the day of the fair. The meeting takes place at the Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave. For more information, visit www.westcottfair.org or call 703-6848.

On the Vend
Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery seeks vendors for some of the 2011 events, including Farmers Market Fridays, June 17 to Sept. 2 from 3 to 7 p.m.; Wildflowers & Wine, June 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Harvest Hoedown, Sept. 17, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Donna Lahr at 568-8190 or email: info@montezumawinery.com. The winery is located at 2981 Auburn Road, Seneca Falls.