Briefs

Extension first-timers:The annual on-campus meeting of the Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension Employees (ACCEE), Oct. 15-17, also will be the first get-together for some 30 extension professionals who have formed a new organization -- the New York chapter of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (NY ANREP). "We finally have a home organization for those of us doing natural-resources extension work, such as forestry, fisheries, water quality and environmental education," explained Robert J. Kent, coordinator of New York Sea Grant's Marine District Program and president of NY ANREP. The state chapter is a co-sponsor of the ACCEE meeting this year and will give awards to extension professionals doing outstanding work in natural resources and environmental outreach.

Free flu shots:Flu shots are being provided for free to faculty and staff members as an employee benefit from the university (Cornell ID required). Faculty and staff should make sure they don't miss this opportunity to reduce their risk of coming down with the flu this winter. No appointment is needed to get a shot; people can stop by any one of Gannett: Cornell Health Services' many outreach clinics. (The Web site http://www.gannett.cornell.edu can direct people to the flu clinic nearest to them.) Those who can't make it to an outreach clinic can visit Gannett Health Center, on Ho Plaza, between 9 and 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call Gannett at 255-5155.

Light in Winter festival:Ithaca's Light in Winter 2004 festival, planned for January, promises a fusion of music, art and science with exciting new collaborations from members of the Ithaca, Cornell and Ithaca College communities, organizers say. This kaleidoscope of events has been planned to brighten Ithaca's midwinter during the weekend of Jan. 23-25. Among the internationally renowned performers will be Mamadou Diabate of Mali and Samite of Uganda (Jan. 23) and Paul Winter and the Paul Winter Consort (Jan. 24). Other presenters/performers include Cornellians Xak Bjerken, David Borden, Christopher Clark, Thomas Eisner, Roald Hoffmann, Ronald Hoy, Katy Payne, Steven Strogatz and Yervant Terzian. Light in Winter 2004 will feature music, poetry, ice climbing, performance art, and more, all over town -- from the State Theatre to Cornell Plantations -- plus special exhibits and programs along Ithaca's Discovery Trail. Tickets go on sale beginning today at the ticket center at the Clinton House in downtown Ithaca, 273-4492. For general information on Light in Winter, visit this Web site:http://www.lightinwinter.com or call 272-1313.