Briefs

Volunteer tutors needed: Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County is now seeking volunteer tutors. Volunteer tutors generally work with adult learners on either adult basic education (ABE) or English as a second language (ESL). At this time, Literacy Volunteers is especially in need of volunteers who would like to: tutor ESL learners; tutor in Groton or Newfield; or tutor at MacCormack Secure Center, a facility for male juvenile offenders. Volunteers meet with learners one to two hours per week based on their schedules and attend two Saturday training sessions. Upcoming training sessions will be held in early February. For more information, call Literacy Volunteers at 277-6442.

Event benefits Geneva lab: The fifth annual Gala Dinner and Wine Country Auction Friday, March 8, at Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport, N.Y., benefits the Cornell Vinification and Brewing Technology Laboratory, which opened at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva last March. A gourmet dinner is preceded by a reception at 6 p.m. featuring fine New York state sparkling wines and specialty beers. After dinner, auctioneer Harris Wilcox will put cases of premium New York state wine, delectable comestibles from local restaurants and overnight B&B packages from Finger Lakes establishments under the gavel. Susan A. Henry, the Ronald A. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will be the master of ceremonies. Dinner is $100 per reservation ($50 is tax deductible). Black tie is optional. Overnight accommodations are available at the premier Woodcliff Lodge nearby. Bus transportation will be provided to Casa Larga from Woodcliff throughout the evening. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Nancy Long, by mail at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Food Science and Technology, Geneva, N.Y. 14456, by phone at (315) 787-2288 or by e-mail at npl1@cornell.edu. The related web site is http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/vb/.