Briefs

Apple project honored: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman presented the USDA's highest honor for research and development activities to the Northeast 183 (NE-183) program on June 4 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Veneman presented the award to Peter Hirst, NE-183 group leader, "for providing timely information to apple growers nationally about the likely success of establishing new cultivars in different regions while meeting consumers' desire for diverse and tasty apples." NE-183 is a research program that uniformly and fairly evaluates apple varieties throughout the Northeast and the country. The award recognizes efforts to expand economic and trade opportunities for United States agricultural producers and "could not have come at a better time," according to Robert Seem, the program's administrative adviser. "U.S. apple producers are reeling from low world market prices and they must strengthen their current production by providing a more diverse selection of apples to consumers domestically and internationally." At Cornell, where New York program activities are centered, Susan Brown and Cy Lee work with one of New York's three NE-183 test plots at the university's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. David Rosenberger, James Schupp and Richard Straub manage another plot at the Hudson Valley Laboratory in Highland, N.Y. Ian Merwin manages the third on Cornell's Ithaca campus.

Shoemobile: Famous Brands will be on campus Aug. 3 with its Red Wing shoemobile. The shoemobile, which provides a large selection of safety shoes with the convenience of on-campus shopping, will be at the Environmental Health and Safety Building, 201 Palm Road, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Environmental Health and Safety at 255-8200.

Chimesmasters reunion: The Cornell chimesmasters will be celebrating their second-ever all Chimesmaster Alumni Reunion on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28. The campus can expect to hear the music of the chimes throughout the weekend, except during previously identified special events near McGraw Tower. The chimesmasters are responsible for performing the daily campus bell concerts. The first chimesmaster reunion took place in 1991. There are approximately 100 living alumni chimesmasters. For more information about the event, contact Marisa Piliero in Student and Academic Services, 255-2373, mfp1@cornell.edu.