Front Lines JNenline NOTEBOOK This Week JBlogs - Perspectives Helping Kids To Read Bottoms Up Sy Manello Editorial Assistant D rink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine. This lovely, poetic sentiment leads me to wonder about the whole aspect of drinking. What are some of the beverages we favor? What are some of the oddi- ties of the potable world? Well, let's consider: Children are perhaps the most adventurous when it comes to eat- ing and drinking things — that they shouldn't. HOW many have thought that their watercolor water would be refreshing and so downed some while being "artistic:' I recall a concoction that I was "forced" to drink as a child: hot milk and honey. My mother was convinced that this was the cure to a sore throat and cough. It was cloyingly sweet and, as I predicted to her if she made me drink it, it did not stay down long. In the "olden days',' almost • every family had a remedy called a "guggle-muggle." (Please do not send me your family recipes for this!) I recall that my dad's version from the guarana fizzed like a bicarbon- berry. It is pale yel- ated drink and had low in color (which other mystical proper- in a clear glass would ties that were a boon to turn me off right the upset stomach or there), has "light general malaise. fruity flavor" and is There are some mildly carbonated. among us who are Usually when the still adventurous as Sy Manello adult drinkers — er subject of beverages Editorial Assistant comes up, there is — imbibers (I do not concern about caf- care to limit myself to feine. You either crave it or avoid it the realm of alcoholic beverages). I understand that there are those at all costs. May .I present for your consideration Canfield's diet choc- who really enjoy swilling pickle juice. I do not mean that they sip olate fudge soda; the name alone gives me coffee nerves. Also there the bit that's left at the bottom of is a Jolt cola, which is marketed the pickle jar; they actually buy under that slogan "all the sugar bottles of the stuff. (The Goldin Pickle Co. touts it as a big seller.) and twice the caffeine Speaking of caffeine, if you are There are also those who like ,a tea lover and do not like the sauerkraut juice; said to be a real herbals, but want to avoid caffeine, lip smacker. On the market, you try this technique, which I read can find a drink called Beefamato — a blend of tomato juice and somewhere (I hope you appreciate the depth of research and attrib- beef broth. No, its not used as an additive to stew; it is a drink. utable sources I provide): Let your When researching strange bev- regular tea steep for 30 seconds; then pour it out and pour on more erages (there are no lengths that I will not go to provide my fan club hot water and let the bag steep for 1-2 minutes. with facts), I found that there is a drink call Bawls Guarana; it is L'chayim! a beverage that features extract ❑ Two grants totaling $9,500 will help the Detroit Jewish commu- nity fight illiteracy. The Jewish Community Council will apply the money to its Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy (DJCL). The DeRoy Testamentary Foundation has awarded $5,000 for a third year to help support tutoring programs for public school kindergartners through third-graders in Oakland County and Detroit. The grant also will cover tutoring workshops and staff support for DJCL volunteers. First Book and Borders has given $5,000 to buy new books for children from low income or Title 1 schools served.by the DJCL volunteers. The kids will get to keep the books. DJCL has more than 4,000 volunteers from 40 Jewish orga- nizations. These volunteers tutor as well as provide enrichment and book drives for students in nearly 40 Detroit and Oakland County public schools. To learn more about volun- teering, contact DJCL Project Coordinator Phyllis Jarvis: (248) 642-5393, ext. 8; jarvis@jfmd.org. - Robert A. Sklar, editor It's Kosher — Only At JCC After further talk Four non-kosher events scheduled at among Vaad members, the Jewish Community Center in West it was decided that only Bloomfield are the result of a temporary kosher parties would be agreement that has since been cancelled permitted inside the JCC — and are not the start of a new JCC building. policy. But in the meantime, A decision to book the parties came the JCC's caterer, Matt after a discussion between JCC adminis- Prentice Restaurant tration, catering staff and the Council of Group in Bingham Orthodox Rabbis of Metropolitan Detroit Farms, had scheduled (Vaad Harabonim) in Southfield. Ma tt Prentice the four parties. "The choice to allow the parties was "Between the time made as a source of income for the JCC I received permission and the caterer:' said the Vaad's kashrut director, Rabbi Joseph Krupnik. "It was meant from Rabbi Krupnik to hold the non-kosher parties and the time the Vaad refocused as a way to keep the kosher Milk & Honey and rescinded the permission, I had already restaurant (owned by the same group who entered into a contractual agreement with offer catering inside the JCC) in business:' four families and booked the four bar mitzvahs:' said Matt Prentice, CEO of Matt Prentice Restaurant Group. "These events will be catered by Morels [restaurant in Bingham Farms], with everything trucked to the JCC. At no time will we have access to (the kosher) Milk & Honey and there will be a mashgiach (kosher supervisor) from the Vaad there to make sure we don't." And after the four events take place, Prentice said, "we will no longer be allowed to hold non-kosher functions at the JCC." Prentice will continue to book kosher events at both Milk & Honey and in other areas of the JCC, including Handleman Hall. - Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer Deadline May 1 For Cap & Gown Are you a Jewish high school senior in Michigan Who is graduating in June? Do yoU have a 3.50 or higher unweighted GPA? • You can place a free listing of your accomplishments in our Cap & Gown section May 25. Go to our Web site – JNonline.us – and print out the information on how to be included. Deadline is May 1. • And if you want to place an advertisement in our Cap & Gown issue, see the ad on page 58 or call (248) 351-5100. 12 April 13 • 2006 by Stephen Maiseloff I have gone out on a lot of dates in my life. And, in the process, I have met a lot of really interesting and won- derful people. But 1 seem to have fallen into a bit of a rut lately. To read the rest, go to JNonline.us and click on "JEllog" on the left. Your Ticket to Win Win 2 free passes to Emagine Theatre in Novi. Last week's winner was Marcia Ribonson from Huntington Woods. You. can win, too! Enter to win by visiting JNonline.us and click on the "Win 2 Free Tickets..." but- ton on the right. Join the JN Race for Hunger Mark your.calendars for the first annual 2- & 5-Mile Run for Hungeron May 7, 2006, presented by the Jewish News! A portion of the pro- ceeds will benefit Yad Ezra and Gleaners food banks. Go to JNonline.us and click on the Hunger banner to learn more. You Voted Last week's survey question : "With the election of the Kadima Party, do you expect Israel to establish unilatral borders?" Yes - 67 % No - 33 % _ This week's question: Do you keep kosher for Passover? • No • At the seder(s) • The whole holiday To cast your vote, visit JNonline.us and click on "Opinion" on the left.