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How cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger became the scents of winter holidays

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

(The Conversation) - Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season.As a plant scientist, I was curious to know how these spices, grown in the tropics, became so closely associated with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter holidays. Just as cranberries’ fall harvest makes them a natural choice for Thanksgiving, I thought that perhaps the seasonality of spice harvest had something to do with their use during the winter months.However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. When it comes to growing spices, producers are playing the long game.Spices are prized commodities that have fueled global trade, exploration and conquest for centuries.Growing holiday spicesTake ginger, which features in both sweet and savory recipes in many cuisines worldwide...

Wil Trapp signs new contract with Minnesota United

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

Wil Trapp will return to Minnesota United for a fourth season in 2024.After entering free agency Wednesday, the defensive midfielder has signed a new contract with the Loons, a source told the Pioneer Press on Sunday.The deal is believed to be one-year term, with a one-year option for 2025.Trapp had a guaranteed compensation of $850,000 in 2023, according to the MLSPA, but is expected to earn less than that in 2024. The club was encouraged last week by contract negotiations to a lower salary figure for Trapp.Trapp wanted to remain in Minnesota for next season. The Ohio native and his young and growing family have established connections in the Twin Cities community; they wanted to continue to call it home.Trapp, who will turn 31 in January, has served as a Loons captain since he arrived in 2021 and has played 88 MLS matches with MNUFC across three seasons. Last season with MNUFC, Trapp played 2,419 minutes across 30 league matches, with above average passing statistics but average n...

Real World Economics: Fed has few laurels to rest on

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

Edward LottermanHubris can be defined as “excessive pride leading to one’s downfall.”Take, for example, Bob Woodward’s 2000 book “Maestro,” which lauds Alan Greenspan as an unparalleled manager of the U.S. economy. Not surprisingly, that author and book also serve as an example of hagiography — or “excessively flattering biography.”The definitions of hubris and hagiography are from a dictionary. The sniping at Woodward’s ridiculous book is mine. The public should keep all that in mind when reading about how well the U.S. economy is doing now and how Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is a genius who has achieved a “soft landing” of the economy — something as mythical as unicorns and “surgical air strikes.”Yes, by virtually all indicators — low unemployment rates, low inflation, good growth of output, good growth in job numbers, etc. — the U.S. economy is doing very well indeed — even as Republicans would like voters to think that things are worse now t...

SUNY Cobleskill and NYSDOT want to boost technician workforce

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

COBLESKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- SUNY Cobleskill and the New York State Department of Transportation are hoping to bolster the technician workforce through an internship program for students studying Agricultural Engineering and Diesel Technology. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Classrooms in the Curtis Mott building at SUNY Cobleskill aren’t your typical lecture halls. You’ll find students welding and doing hydraulic experiments.“We’ve got about 30 engines, and students go through and disassemble and rebuild them," said Kaden Marvin, SUNY Cobleskill Northeast Regional Technical Training Center Instructor."Pretty much all of our classes have a lecture component where there is a little bit of pen and paper testing, but just to kind of understand the theory of it," Marvin explained, "but then we get in, get our hands on it, they have to through and basically learn how to fix it when it’s broken, and how it operates.”Students are able to train...

Pomona church destroyed by fire Sunday morning

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

A Pomona church caught fire early Sunday morning, bringing out dozens of firefighters to battle the blaze.The fire at Victory Outreach Church Pomona at 177 W. Monterey Ave. broke out at about 2:45 a.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department said on X, formerly Twitter. The Rev. Robert Garcia and fire officials told KTLA that firefighters believe the 12,000-square-foot church, which was built in 1981, will be "a total loss.""It's a tough morning for us, because today we were getting ready to have our outreach for the whole community. We were going to give gifts; we had 500 people already registered," Garcia said.Garcia noted that Sunday is hard, but one congregant had a hopeful message."Pastor, when it's all said and done, the building is going to be burned down, but the church is still going to be standing, because we're the church," Garcia quoted the congregant as saying.No injuries have been reported and the causse is under investigation.

Santa Clara County’s responses to baby Phoenix investigation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

Here are statements from Santa Clara County and its officials to the Bay Area News Group in response to the news organization’s ongoing investigation into the fentanyl-related death of a 3-month-old Phoenix Castro.Date: Oct. 25Who said it: Statement from the County of Santa Clara Regarding the Death of Phoenix CastroIn response to: Bay Area News Group public records request for documents related to the county’s involvement with the family of Phoenix Castro prior to her death.Statement: “The County’s most important obligation is to protect the safety of any child who may be experiencing abuse or neglect. The family of 3-month-old Phoenix Castro had significant involvement with the County Department of Family and Children’s Services prior to her death. The Department is conducting a thorough internal review of every aspect of this case. The County is also requesting a complete external review of this case by the State Department of Social Services, which has oversigh...

Cupertino celebrates 45 years as Sister City of Toyokawa, Japan

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

On Dec. 19, 1978, Cupertino City Councilmember Daniel O’Keefe, vested with full powers authorized by then-Cupertino Mayor James E. Jackson, visited Toyokawa, Japan to sign the Sister City declaration in the office of Mayor Yoshio Yamamoto of Toyokawa.Cupertino and Toyokawa are celebrating 45 years as sister cities. A virtual 45th anniversary ceremony was held over Zoom, with the mayors of the two cities exchanging greetings, sharing videos and exchanging anniversary gifts. The ceremony was hosted from Toyokawa.Toyokawa sent a painting by artist Ayako Kabeya with cherry blossoms that symbolize the friendship between the two cities. The painting can be viewed in the lobby of Cupertino City Hall.Cupertino sent a 3-foot-tall rabbit statue painted by Janki Chokshi called “Bridges: Symbol of Love.” The statue, part of a community art project by Cupertino Rotary, pairs the Golden Gate and Toyokawa bridges, intermingles California redwood trees and poppies with Japanese cherry blossom trees...

Milpitas nonprofit holds Holiday Wish Drive

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

Holiday Wish DriveOperating from the belief that every child deserves a gift during the holidays, the Family Giving Tree (FGT) is well into its 2023 Holiday Wish Drive. For over 30 years, the Milpitas nonprofit has held its wish drive to help Bay Area families facing financial hardships during the holiday season.Before the pandemic, FGT’s Holiday Wish Drive delivered over 80,000 gifts annually, and the nonprofit is slowly working its way back to those numbers. For 2023, they aim to deliver 44,000 gifts.To contribute a gift, visit FGT’s Virtual Giving Tree at https://wishdrive.org and choose from thousands of requested gift options.Winter Warble FestKaraoke fans can step into the spotlight Dec. 28 at the Winter Warble Fest: A Holiday Sing-Off, set for 6-8 p.m. at the Milpitas Library.The audience will judge contestants in this all-ages sing-off on their vocal ability, stage presence, creativity and audience impact. The competition involves multiple rounds, the number of which will be...

List: Fentanyl has killed at least 5 Bay Area babies since 2020

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

At least five children younger than 2 have died from fentanyl overdoses since 2020, including three in the South Bay since May.Here is a look at the tragic death toll.Jasani KerryAGE: 2DEATH: On Sept. 20, 2020, Jasani died in his family’s Brentwood home after overdosing on fentanyl.CHARGE: His mom, Genesis Barrera-Galdamez, 22, was charged with second-degree murder but later pleaded to manslaughter. Francesca PittmanAGE: 1DEATH: On Aug. 1, 2022, Francesca died from apparent fentanyl poisoning after being rushed to a hospital from her home in Livermore.CHARGE: Her father, Justin Pittman, pleaded not guilty to murder charges, and is currently awaiting trial. Phoenix CastroBaby Phoenix Castro, who died May 13 of fentanyl poisoning at 3 months old while in the care of her father, has become a symbol of what went wrong with the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services as it implemented its “family preservation” plan. (Courtesy of Edward Morillo)&nbs...

Sunnyvale teen wins YoungArts award

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:12:24 GMT

YoungArts award winnerSunnyvale resident David Lin, a student at Homestead High School, has received a 2024 YoungArts award in classical music, joining nearly 700 of the most accomplished young visual, literary and performing artists from across the country.YoungArts award winners are selected through a competitive application, which is reviewed by panels of discipline-specific artists. All YoungArts award winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry and a commitment to developing their crafts. This year, winners were selected from more than 9,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines: classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. Each award winner will receive a monetary award of $250.For the duration of his career, Lin is eligible for exclusive creative and professional development support; microgrants and financial awards; presentation opportunities in collaboration with major venues and cult...