1978

Last issue recognized Jake Manheimer for professional prowess. Now I’d like to salute him for his snowboarding abilities, and more importantly because Jake e-mailed me to “submit real news: My wife, Jane, and I are celebrating the conclusion of our first year as empty-nesters. Ben is about to graduate from UC Boulder and Micki is completing her freshman year at Goucher. I serve with Bill Dexter on the board of WinterKids Foundation, a Maine nonprofit organization, the mission of which is to help children develop healthy lifelong habits through fun outdoor winter activity, and I recently spent a weekend riding at Sunday River with David Shoemaker and his son Peter, who drove over from Ithaca for some fantastic spring conditions.”

Alessandra Gelmi just published her second book, Ring of Fire, which should be appearing in Shelf Life soon. Her first book, the novel Who’s Afraid of Red, a chronicle of love set against the Rwandan genocide, was recognized for Excellence in Arts and Letters by the National Association of Women for Progress in Africa. In addition Who’s Afraid of Red won Alessandra the 2008 Bronze Medal in Adult Multicultural Fiction in the 12th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards. She also won a first place ranking in her genre in the 2008 National Federation of Press Women’s At-Large Competition, later the silver award for Who’s Afraid of Red in the National Communications Contest. Topping it off, Alessandra was an award-winning finalist in the multicultural fiction category of the National Best Books 2008 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. Whew, she’s going to need another bookshelf just to store the trophies.

Fr. Myles N. Sheehan has been appointed as the next provincial of the New England Province of Jesuits and is expected to take office on July 31. Since 1995 Myles has served as a professor of medicine at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine. In 2000 he added the administrative duties of senior associate dean to his teaching and research responsibilities.

Even if you don’t live in Delaware, please consider this note from John Carney: “I wanted to share the news that I have made the decision to run for U.S. Congress. I have launched a new Web site www.johncarneyforcongress. com, where you can find out more about my campaign and get involved.” And on the other side of the aisle, former Ohio Rep. Rob Portman announced that he will run to replace retiring Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, in the U.S. Senate. In announcing his candidacy Rob stressed his 12-year stint in the U.S. House of Representatives and said that, if elected, he will follow Voinovich’s example of working across the aisle to pass important legislation. Best of luck to both candidates.

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