You are cordially invited to a Japanese cuisine and sake-tasting event on Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. at Campus House. Chef and restaurant owner Mike Andrzejewski (Seabar and Mike A's at the Hotel Lafayette) will offer a rare opportunity to learn about his interpretations of Japanese cuisine. Rob Kohout, Buffalo State alumnus and sales representative (Empire Merchants North Fine Wine and Spirits), will lead discussions about the rice wines of Japan.

An offering of special green tea by Buffalo Tea Ceremony instructor Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell, also a Buffalo State alumna, will take place before the tasting.

The cost is $50 per person; VIP reservations are $100 per person. Space is limited. Purchase tickets online or contact Trudy Stern, nurse practitioner in the Weigel Health Center, (716) 445-4446.

A sale of Japanese scrolls, pottery bowls, and fine prints will also be held to benefit the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Great Lakes Center is pleased to release the fourth issue of its newsletter, Spring 2014 (PDF). The main goal of these newsletters is to give an update on our activities for the past six months to our friends, colleagues, and campus community.

This issue focuses on changes in our staff, including three new additions, and a tribute to a colleague we lost this January. It also features articles on the record levels of ice on the Great Lakes this winter, a PSM designation for our Great Lakes ecosystem science program, and an invasive species management technique.

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for future editions of the newsletter, please send an e-mail to greatlakes@buffalostate.edu with the subject "Newsletter mailing list add." The newsletter is also always posted on our website.

The Burchfield Penney will host Artists in Buffalo's second annual Spring Show on Friday, April 25, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The work of more than 30 artisans will be featured as well as specials in the Museum Store—and who knows what Jerry will cook up in Burchfield's Café!

Featured artists are Sarah Blackman, Annie Brierly, Tom Burns, Kenia Ceraulo, Linda Collignon, Kathy Cummings, Mary Czjakowski, Dawn DiGesare, Roz and Mike Duflo, Eileen Graetz, Barbara Hart, Ani Hoover, Alison Kurek, Robin Lenhard, Jackie LoVullo, Junko McGee, Ronna Mink, Paul Morgan, Catherine O’Connor, Cheryl Perez, Dan Predmore, Amy Melton Prentiss, Chary Robbins, Eta Rottenberg, Shaun Silverwood, Evette Slaughter, Dana Banka Slone, Pat Sorbini, Darlene Stry, Roy Ticen, and Sarah Woodman.

All artists will donate a percentage of their sales to support the mission of the Burchfield Penney.

A wide variety of functional and decorative art and artisan goods will be available for sale including textiles, pottery, jewelry, handmade journals, wreaths, glassware, purses, art prints, bath and body products, photography, note cards, and more. More information is available at www.burchfieldpenney.org.

Online course development training for faculty members who are developing online courses for fall 2014 will begin in May. The training is a hybrid, or blended, learning experience that includes

• face-to-face workshops,
• online learning experiences in Blackboard Learn,
• Blackboard Learn workshops,
• one-on-one meetings with campus instructional designers.

The training involves five workshops; each workshop will be offered at two different times. If you are interested in online course development training, please e-mail bidellgm@buffalostate.edu. More information can be found on the Instructional Design website. The fall online course development training workshop schedule is also available on the Workshop Registration System website.

Buffalo State presents this year's Runway event, "Chrysalis," on Saturday, May 10, for two shows—at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.—in the Campbell Student Union. Runway features more than 20 student designers, a purse auction, and more. All proceeds go to the Fashion and Textile Technology Scholarship Fund.

Both shows have general seating. Prices for the afternoon show are $15 for general admission and $10 for students with valid ID. Prices for the evening show are $25 for general admission and $100 for VIP reserved seating. Tim Hortons will serve complimentary cups of its new frozen hot chocolate, along with an array of tasty toppings, at both show.

VIP tickets include

• access to the private VIP lounge,
• a swag bag filled with goodies from local merchants,
• beer provided by Flying Bison,
• hors d'oeuvres provided by Buffalo State's Hospitality and Tourism Department.

This year’s VIP reception will be hosted by students of the Buffalo State chapter of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), a group of motivated individuals who come together to cater and fundraise in order to attend conferences and further their careers.

Purchase your tickets online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Sponsors of this year's fashion show:

Presenting Sponsor
The Eastman Foundation

Gold Sponsors
Tim Hortons
Block Club

Silver Sponsors
New Era
M&T Bank

Bronze Sponsor
Buffalo Spree Magazine

The 2013–2014 "Conversations in and out of the Disciplines" series concludes Friday, April 25, as James Cercone, assistant professor of English and coordinator of the English education program, presents “Community-Based Participatory Teacher Education: Lessons from the Digital Writing Workshop” at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Everyone is welcome.

The Buffalo State dance program will present its spring concert, “Seeds: Dance Experiments in Exponential Expressions,” choreographed by members of the dance faculty, April 23–25 at 8:00 p.m. and April 26 at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. in Warren Enters Theatre. Tickets are available through the Campbell Student Union and Rockwell Hall Box Offices: call ext. 3005.

Join alumni and friends for the Buffalo State Alumni Association's next Wine Club event on Tuesday, May 6, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Bing's Restaurant in Amherst.

Register on the Alumni Association website.

Price is $40 per person. Feel free to register friends and family to join in on the fun. Space is limited, so register promptly. Registration closes Thursday, May 1.

Menu Courses:

• Artichokes gratinée, paired with Beringer chardonnay
• Risotto Milano asparagus with Asiago cheese, paired with pinot grigio
• Baby arugula with a lemon pepper white balsamic dressing
• Sorbet
• Entrée: Nona's manicotti and eggplant mozzarella with a tomato basil sauce, paired with Remoli
• Dessert: Cassata – white cake lightly soaked in rum with a berry and light ricotta cheese filling, paired with Peller Estates ice wine.

Buffalo State will hold a weeklong Youth Soccer Camp for 8- to 16-year-old boys and girls from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. July 21 to 25 on Coyer Field.

The camp is for both experienced and beginner soccer players. Players will be divided into groups based on their age and skill levels. Experienced coaches and current Buffalo State soccer players who are involved and enthusiastic about the game will provide camp instruction. The camp will focus on technical ability and instruction as to off-the-ball responsibilities. The camp is designed to be a fun experience for the players while helping them improve their game.

Sign up before Thursday, May 1, to receive the early bird special price of $100. Please make checks payable to "Buffalo State Men’s Soccer." Contact camp director Tom Karanas, ext. 4099 or (716) 310-9122, with questions.

For more information and a registration form, download the Youth Soccer Camp brochure (PDF).

A campus memorial celebrating the life of Dr. William B. Bennett, retired professor of economics and finance, will be held from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in Classroom Building C122.

Dr. Bennett was the chair of the Economics and Finance Department and a faculty member for 26 years at Buffalo State. He passed away March 1, 2014, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 77. He was responsible for establishing the department, and he created the Stock Market Game, which is used in high schools across New York State and beyond.

Please feel free to invite friends and colleagues of Dr. Bennett's who may wish to attend. Contributions for the Dr. William B. Bennett Memorial Fund can be received in care of the Buffalo State College Foundation, Cleveland Hall 319.