The Michigan Daily-Friday, July 28, 1978-Page 3
Private library holds
host of tasty delights
By ELISA ISAACSON
Even for those who, when asked by a
television commercial narrator if they
can recall what they ate for dinner that
night within five seconds, do not even
muster an attempt, Jan Longone's
Wine and Food Library contains a
gpldmine of goodies that can't help but
make the mouth water.
The shop, which houses books from
all over the world, is one of only about
five libraries of its kind, according to
Longone. It contains 7-8,000 volumes,
which range in price from $2.50 to over
$1,000, and cover such topics as herbs
and spices, wine tasting, tobacco and
the lives of famous chefs.
"I'M VERY PROUD of the collec-
tion," Longone said as she moved
slowly along the wine-bottle-bedecked
shelves, pointing out such unusual
volumes as a cookbook by Salvador
Dali, illustrated with his own drawings,
a dusty-covered work by a well-known
French chef dating from 1893 and a
treatise written in the pioneering days
of Ann Arbor, giving not only cooking
tips, but information on birthing babies
and mending horses' broken legs.
Longone said that when people learn
she collects books on food and wine,
"they think of it as a housewifey thing,
but to me it's important."
Both Longone and her husband, Dan,
a Chemistry professor, teach adult
education courses at the University on
such topics as "The Regional Wines and
Foods of France." They began
seriously collecting for their library 15
years ago when they found their per-
sonal book collection could not provide
answers to students' culinary
questions.
LONGONE started marketing her
books five years ago'and now receives
mail orders from a clientele spread all
over the United States and Europe.
But she finds no need for extensive
publicizing. "I've thought of adver-
tising," she said, "but the shop is nice
the way it is. It's not too big, and the
customers and clients become friends."
As a result of her library's fame in
the food world, Longone said, she and
her husband have been wined and dined
by chefs and connoisseurs wherever
they travel.
ALTHOUGH gastronomy is part of
See WINE, Page8
Daily Photo by JOHN KNOX
JAN LONGONE points to a few of the 7-8,000 volumes of books from all over the
world at her Wine and Food Library.
Postal workers attack contract
By MICHAEL ARKUSH
Local members of a nationwide
postal union yesterday unanimously
rejected on a voice vote the new ten-
tative postal contract, attacking its
cost-of-living allowance and first year
pay hike, a union official reported.
Official ratification ballots are expec-
ted to be distributed within two weeks.
JIM SCHAEFER, vice president of
the local branch of the National
Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
said yesterday's voice vote, taken
during a union meeting, demonstrates
overwhelming opposition to the three-
year pact and indicates members will
likely reject the contract when they
receive their ballots.
The controversial cost-of-living
allowance, which totals $1,518,
r toda)4
represents an increase of ap-
proximately 9.5 per cent from the last
pact, which officially expired July 20.
Leaders of the nation's largest postal
union yesterday voted down a proposed
new labor contract, but left it to the
rank-and-file workers to decide
whether to accept the settlement and
head off a possible nationwide strike.
See story, Page S.
Schaefer indicated workers want a
larger benefit, but he would not release
a specific figure.
Another point of dispute is the
workers' progression of pay increases.
The tentative contract would entitle
postal workers to a 10 per cent wage
hike in base pay, money not allotted for
cost-of-living allowance, during the
next three years. The raises would be
distributed by increases of two per cent
the first year, three per cent the second
year, and five per cent the third.
SCHAEFER SAID union members
prefer the reverse order, opting for a
larger initial raise.
Schaefer added workers were bitter
over the lack of improvements in
seniority rules, health benefits, over-
time laws and number of holidays.
"Members are angry because there
are no benefits of seniority. It doesn't
matter if you've been on the job more
years than somebody else," he said.
REGARDING health benefits, the
new agreement would force the Postal
Service to pay for 75 per cent of the
worker's health costs. Schaefer said
workers want the management to pay
for nearly all of the costs.
Schaefer indicated members support
a provision providing for voluntary
overtime and excluding the clause
demanding mandatory overtime.
The union leader said local officials
had only received an outlined version of
the new pact and not the complete text.
BUT HE discounted any notion the
total text would sway members to vote
for ratification.
"Based on this meeting, it became so
emphatically unanimous that workers
opposed the contract and its whole
package won't persuade members to
vote for passage," said Schaefer.
NALC, which has nearly 170,000
members, will hold its annual conven-
tion in Chicago this weekend.
"It will be pretty intense and
anything can happen," he said.
woolk
Blumenthal to speak
Secretary of the Treasury W. Michael Blumenthal
will deliver the keynote address at the University's
summer commencement exercises August 20.
Blumenthal, who resided in Ann Arbor before
assuming the cabinet post, will be awarded an
honorary doctor of laws degree. Also receiving
honorary degrees will be social scientists Herbert
Simon and social leader Stella Brunt Osborn.
Cancel that complaint
We suspected a letter we received at our offices
yesterday might have been sent Pony Express. At
first we thought the letter took 30 years to
arrive-that is, until we took a closer look. The
stamps were circa 1948, saluting the Armed
Forces Reserve, the Wisconsin Centennial,;Oregon'
Territory Centennial, Youth Month (Sept. 1-30, 1948).
and military chaplains. But the letter was post-
marked July 23, 1978, so it actually took four days to
travel here.from Springfield, Mass., not 30 years
(better, but still a little slow). The clever sender
was Jim Louden, staff astronomer at the University
Exhibit Museum's Planetarium. Where he got the
vintage 1948 stamps, we don't know. We do know,
however, that he had to use five of the three-cen-
ters, instead of the one that would have been suf-
ficient 30 years ago.
The name's the same
Robert Griffin appears headed for dismissal, in
the wake of a series of scandals at the Government
Services Administration (GSA). But our senator in
Washington isn't likely to pack his bags and head
home just yet. The man reportedly on his way out is
GSA Deputy Administrator Robert T. Griffin, not
Michigan Sen. Robert P. The Republican senator
can breath easily-at least until the Aug. 8 primary.
Happenings.. .
... get off to a suspense-filled start at 2, when
Alfred Hitchcock's Suspicion is shown in the
meeting room of the Ann Arbor Public Library, Fif-
th and William... meet at the International Center
at 3 for a peach picking outing, and bring a car if
you can. Peach pickers will return to the Center
around 6 ... the Aether Gallery provides a music
and comedy revue from 6:30-9 at the Liber-
ty/Division St, park ... a Community Assembly on
Health will be held at 8under the sponsorship on the
International Meditation Society in the Communiity
Room of the Ann Arbor Public Library.
Hot seat
Kansas Gov. Robert Bennett was involved in a
cover-up the other day, but instead of demanding
his ouster from office the folks in the Sunflower
State are laughing. The cover-up was revealed
during a public appearance Wednesday afternoon.
It seems Bennett refused to take off his suit coat
despite the stifling 90-degree heat. But he had good
reason. He later confided the seam in the back of his
trousers had split.
On the outside ...
It looks like good weather has reaached us just in
time for the weekend. It will be mostly sunny today
with a high near 80; tomorrow, sunny as well with
the temperatures reaching 81.
L