Local businesses help students get cooking

Date: 4/4/2007

Ten members of the East Longmeadow/Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce were recently presented with kitchen trivets by Superintendent Ed Costa in recognition of their gift of 300 aprons for use in the Culinary Arts Department at East Longmeadow High School.



According to Dr. Costa, "This gift of the aprons is very much appreciated by the school. The Chamber of Commerce supports programs in the schools in several different ways and has been supporting the Culinary Arts program with aprons since the fall of 2000."



The colorful message on the aprons reads "Experiment with Food (Not Drugs)" explains Culinary Arts Teacher Mary Jane McMahon because we not only want to teach students a much needed life skill of cooking healthful foods but want to introduce them to cooking as an enjoyable hobby in which they can use their creativity as they experiment with new foods and tastes.



Culinary Arts students at the high school prepare lunch several times a month and run a lunch time bistro called Cafe East to serve teachers and guests.



Contributions to the apron fund were made by the Chamber itself and Acres Power Equipment Co., Carlin Combustion Engineering, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, First Baptist Church, Foy Miller & Associates, Hasbro, Maybury Material Handling, Reminder Publications, Robert Charles Photography, Veritech Corporations and Patient Edu.