¥ Mycologists promote 'morel valuesâ' contest: The sixth annual First Morel Contest has begun, sending fans of the edible fungi into Ithaca-area woods in search of fame and lunch. "We're expecting the first ones to be found around mid-April or early May," said Kathie Hodge, assistant professor of mycology, whose Cornell Plant Pathology Herbarium has run the contest every spring since 2000. A modest prize is awarded for the first yellow morel and the first black morel collected within 15 miles of Ithaca and brought to Hodge in Room 401 of the Plant Science Building. For more information, including contest rules and pointers on distinguishing false morels from the real ones, can be found at .

¥ Call for awards for May 26 publication: The Cornell Chronicle will publish, in the May 26 edition, the names of students and faculty members who have won Cornell college or department awards for the 2004-05 academic year. Send notices -- listing the names of the awards, the award winners and prizes (if applicable) -- to Robin Zifchock, Cornell News Service, 312 College Ave., or send e-mail to . The deadline is May 9.