Because the opening of the Ratatouille to ride to Walt Disney World on October 1st is as good a reason as any, here now, a week of exploration the rat infested 2007 Pixar classic, Ratatouille.

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On my 18th birthday I was still a work in progress – not released yet, not really sure what my big plan was. But none of this stopped me, or any of my other friends in the midst of their own formative phases, from eagerly making all kinds of mature and adult decisions. By that I mean we got a lot of tattoos. My peers are permanently inking their bodies with graceful butterflies, snakes, crosses, and other random symbols that they will later assign meaning to. And I, too, showed up to my high school graduation beaming from ear to ear with a new tattoo: Remy the Disney-Pixar rat, wrapped around my left calf with a bunch of tiny carrots clutched in its paws.

Why should I decide to permanently sport my one precious body with a cartoon rat? Was it because of a deep passion for Disney, or because I thought rats were so cute? No, I just loved the 2007 movie Ratatouille. Too bad. Of course now, five years later, I admit it’s exactly the kind of tattoo one might regret, or that it might be a beginner’s first red flag Adult disney. But it turns out that the tattoo, and that bizarre blockbuster about a cook rat that inspired it, made more sense than I could fully comprehend at 18, as a still-locked gay baby dreaming of becoming a chef.

For those who are so cut off from reality that they have yet to see this most iconic film, the premise of Ratatouille that’s (roughly) this: Remy, a rat who loves to cook and has a weirdly good sense of taste and smell, is separated from his family when the woman they lived on on the roof tries to destroy their colony. He washes in the sewers of Paris and ends up befriending a young man who can not cook and is sort of desperate for everything else too, but Is have a job in one of the fanciest restaurants in town. Remy and the boy, Linguini, discover that when he is perched on top of Linguini’s head, hidden in his large chef’s hat and holding two tufts of hair, Remy can control Linguini’s limbs like a puppeteer, thus enabling him to cook behind a curtain while Linguini passes talent like his and climbs the ranks. A totally realistic scenario.

I saw the film for the first time when I was 9 years old and I was then, as I am now, both very cheerful and very much in love with the kitchen. But while my passion for food was fully visible throughout my childhood, my homosexuality was a part of me that I wouldn’t be willing to share until years later, when I left for college.

So was Ratatouille actually about a locked up gay boy browsing restaurant kitchens? Probably not. Is that how I interpreted it at the ripe age of 9? Definitely not. But as a young child, something about that movie buried itself and made a cozy little rat nest in my heart and never left.

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I was at school when I first started working in kitchens around Oakland, California where I grew up. These restaurants were run for the most part by extremely nice and talented women. But even in these spaces – the ones I still love, owned and operated by bosses I keep in touch with to this day – I was still on my toes, ready for the offhand, slightly homophobic jokes that were then tossed around. , or good-humored questions about why I hadn’t brought a girlfriend over for dinner.

If I had been outside, as I am now, these comments probably wouldn’t have bothered me more than. A rolling of eyes. Do you have nothing better to say? But at the time, all of these questions and remarks seemed like a threat to the paper-thin shell that I had spent years slowly building around my identity. As a result, I was so tense and anxious that I often could hardly remember the steps in a simple cooking process. I’m sure if I had just slammed my knife on my cutting board and screamed I’M GAY, no one would have even had time to look up from their station. But I never did. And while my knife work was solid and I quickly learned recipes and ticked off tasks from my morning to-do list, I had finally compartmentalized my life so well that when it came time to move up the ranks, I was not able to break down the walls I had created.

In the world of Ratatouille, however, things were different. Here, compartmentalization is not something you go to therapy to undo, but something that actually makes you stronger. Linguini didn’t know how to cook, but he was human. And Remy, that sweet little rat, couldn’t imagine being greeted in a kitchen because, you know, he was a rat. I recognize that in this metaphor my sexuality is the rat, which is an imperfect symbol of the glorious experience of homosexuality – something I wouldn’t trade for the world. But in this film, Remy was not portrayed as a dirty vermin. She is a gentle, gentle, and incredibly talented creature. He hides aspects of himself so that he can use his talents and, in turn, Linguini is vulnerable enough to let someone else control his body, as he pretends to be able to cook. No one dreams of hiding from the world, but the couple make it work the best they can.

Tucked away in Linguini’s hat, Rémy could unleash his full potential. He made magic in this bustling kitchen, directing Linguini around the corners like a racing driver and turning heaps of vegetables into velvety sauces and luxurious soups. In this busy world, not being able to share everything about yourself was a challenge, but not an insurmountable barrier. It was just another plot point in a character arc. For rat and man, it was this rambling and weird relationship that allowed the two to at least share rooms of themselves. My life wasn’t much like this movie, and I drank it.

But even in this made-up world where everything ultimately works, hiding such large parts of themselves ultimately took its toll on both characters. As Linguini fell in love with a fellow cook in the restaurant kitchen, he wondered whether or not to tell him that the talent he possessed was not really his. And from his perch above Linguini’s head, Remy watched the young man take credit for a culinary talent that wasn’t really his. Even in this modern fairy tale, relationships were strained as secrets grew bigger and more complicated to maintain. Now when I watch the movie it looks a lot like my experience floating through my high school years, never really living fully in my own life – more so a viewer experiencing the stories I had made up to make it seem like my life (and feel) believable.

Of course, in the film, Remy was not a figment of Linguini’s imagination, nor a portrayal of a part of the young man he couldn’t reckon with. He was just a rat who knew how to cook very well. At the end of the film, their cover is blown away. Instead of ruining the lives of both rat and man, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Together, they open a small bistro. Linguini runs the downstairs restaurant and Remy cooks for his rat friends and family in a cute loft above. Neither have to hide who they are – or no longer are -, and because of that, they thrive in ways they couldn’t do when they were leading a secret life. . In this way, and maybe only in this way, the moral of this story is not that different from mine.

I quit working in the kitchens during my senior year of high school, right before I started dating other men and telling people, “Yeah, there’s no girlfriend coming over for dinner.” But my love of cooking stuck, and eventually I ended up, well, here: a food writer. It wasn’t the dream I had in mind when I was 9 and Ratatouille came out on the big screen, but it’s the one that kept my romantic relationship with food going. It also gave me a platform to be strong and vocal in my homosexuality and in my support of other homosexual people. It was a dream that I didn’t even know I could have when I first watched this animated film about a rat cooking in a French restaurant, or even when I chose to have it permanently drawn on my leg at 18. There was no magical creature sitting on my painfully chemically damaged blonde curls arrived at college, guiding me through the intimidating and bizarre experience of coming out. In the movie, the rat and the boy needed each other. I still remember that feeling, like I wasn’t going to survive without someone – or something – to guide me. Now glancing over my sock, this little rat tattoo is a constant reminder that in fact I was able to do it. All alone.

Carolyn Figel is a freelance artist living in Brooklyn.

“Oklahoma!” is not a series known for its self-awareness or its dark side. The Daniel Fish production, touring here for two weeks, is less evasive and turns down the Technicolor of the 1955 film and countless high school productions, placing him more in the world with audiences and actors. The public lights come on brightly. “Offstage†actors sit and watch when they are not on stage. “You get that feeling of presence,†says Sasha Hutchings, who plays Laurey. “Nothing matters except who is in the room. The obscurity of the production comes from within the show as Rodgers and Hammerstein created it – there’s the familiar sunshine from “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin ‘” and “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top” , but there’s also “Pore Jud Is Daid,†in which our hero suggests his romantic rival kill himself. “I think that adds depth,†Hutchings says. “I think you just get the full picture. things we struggle with every day. “This” Oklahoma! “you might say, resides in a whole different state CIBC Theater, Jan. 11-23.

A History of the New York Times of October entitled “Who is the bad friend of art?” Sparked a debate about water fountains, digital and literal, about the responsibilities of fiction writers to their actual sources, and when inspiration crosses the line of theft or defamation. The Redtwist Theater reminds us that playwright Donald Margulies explored these thorny terrains in his 1996 finalist play Pulitzer “Stories collected“, a two-part story about a short story writer who frames a young fan, who writes a novel based on the older writer’s affair with a poet. Fittingly, the play was inspired by an actual feud between a novelist and an autobiographer who claimed her own life had been fictionalized.Life mimics art mimics life, et cetera, and around it twists.Redtwist Theater.January 6 to February 13.

In addition to the Happier Against No Aging anthem he created in “Peter Pan,” JM Barrie wrote a more spooky play titled “Marie Rose,” where the main character disappears twice on a mysterious Scottish island – for many years the second time around – and reappears, ageless since the day she disappeared. Black Button Eyes Productions, a company dedicated to shows where magic appears in reality as a returning Mary Rose, adapted the show into a musical, developed during the pandemic by Ed Rutherford, who is the artistic director of Black Button, and Jeff Bouthiette. “We’re aiming for a weird, supernatural, supernatural feel,†says Rutherford, comparing the classical musical style to “The Secret Garden,†accompanied by a four-piece group of violin, cello, percussion and keyboard. Mary is rising in musical form for the world premiere this weekend. Black Button Eyes Productions at the Edge Theater. January 7-February 12.

Notable

Young recorder Tabea Debus plays from his album “Ohrwurm”, the German word for a tune that gets stuck in your head (which translates to “Wrath of Khan” -like “earworm”). 7:30 p.m., January 7. Logan Center Performance Hall, University of Chicago.

For George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra combines the greatest hits with a second work – “Rhapsody in Blue” and a suite “Porgy and Bess”, and “Bolero” and the Piano Concerto in G major. Inon Barnatan solos in piano display cases. January 6-8. Symphonic Center.

Opening

“Moors, “ a postmodern and absurd rhapsody evoking the life of the Brontë sisters. A red orchid theater. January 6-Feb. 27.

“The Virginian: a rider of the plains, “ an adaptation of the same archetypal cowboy novel that inspired the long-running western television series. Illuminated city theater. Jan 7-Feb 20.

After an early pandemic strategy of take-out and casual dining on the terrace, Robert and Son, a French restaurant in the Center-Nord region, launched in November in a fancification to a special occasion destination with a tasting menu at $ 205. Friday and Saturday only. (See other notable restaurant openings here.)

In addition to the 50/50 series, the Gene Siskel Film Center thrills Pedro!, a six-week paseo through the films of Pedro Almodóvar, starting this week with “Women on the verge of nervous breakdownâ€. Jan 5 Feb 5 12.

On Wednesday, we wear yellow, says the Music box theater, screening of a giallo – the Italian cinematic version of a cheap paperback – once a week at 7.15 p.m. January Giallo kicks off on January 5 with “Trauma,” by Dario Argento, director of the original “Suspiria”. January 5-26.

Closing

“Lighting.“ Morton Arboretum. Until January 8.

Neapolitan crib, the elaborate 18th century crib on the annual holiday exhibition. Chicago Institute of the Arts. Until January 9.

“Chicago: Where Comics Come To Life (1880-1960).“ Chicago Cultural Center. Until January 9.

“Serenity: winter flower show.“ Garfield Park Conservatory. Until January 9.

“The Holiday Inn of Irving Berlin,“ a musical featuring the standards “Cheek to Cheek”, “Blue Skies” and “White Christmas”. Drury Lane Theater. Until January 9.

Gilmore Girls is filled with moments that seem to repeat themselves or foreshadow an event in the future. For over 7 seasons, fans watched Rory Gilmore grow into a young woman, as her mother grew up with her as she hadn’t had the typical childhood. It was those moments in the early seasons that foreshadowed what might happen in the future.

RELATED: 10 Things The Gilmore Girls Characters Wanted In The First Season That Happened In The Finale

Whether intentional or not, some things have come to pass after a brief conversation or a moment that passes throughout Gilmore Girls. It was the continued connection from season 1 to subsequent seasons that came full circle in those forerunner moments.

ten Rory told Lorelai that she had pampered her

Even though Rory and Lorelai were incredibly close and loved spending time together, Lorelai pampered Rory. Lorelai has fought most of Rory’s battles and she has never had to go through any real adversity.

In the second season, Rory warned Lorelai that she pampered her too much and that she was never going to learn more about the real world because of it. It foreshadowed Rory’s future during his college days and beyond. Rory aged badly when she found herself struggling when things didn’t turn out the way she did and didn’t handle criticism well.

9 1, 2, 3, it’s yours

In one scene, Lorelai and Rory are at Luke’s Diner but Rory can barely stay awake. In order to keep her alert, the two played a game they called “1, 2, 3, it’s yours.” In the game, Lorelai had to choose the first, second, or third random guy that came her way. If she denied the first guy, she assumes the second guy would be better than the first, and so on.

RELATED: 10 Most Memorable Scenes From Gilmore Girls’ Luke’s Diner

Just when Lorelai turned down a chance with the second guy, Luke came along. Rory said, “Hey, Luke came to the table, does that make him number three?” This can be seen as a foreshadowing as Lorelai ended up choosing Luke at the end of the series.

8 Rory should have taken his own warning

Some of Rory’s biggest mistakes happened at Yale as she began to rebuild her friendship with Dean. To prove that the two were civilians, he delivered a library to Rory in his dormitory. It was there that they talked about their future and Rory found out that Dean was taking time off from college.

Rory was furious that Dean was choosing a life with Lindsay over education. She told him that those who took breaks from school never go back or find it difficult to return after too much time away. Ironically, it was Rory who took time off from college and found herself in a downward spiral. His warning to Dean foreshadowed his own future.

seven Paris was right …

Paris and Rory didn’t always get along, especially when they were in high school. In Chilton, Paris was too competitive with Rory to appreciate the friend she was. When the time came for Chilton to pick a promotion major, Rory won the honor instead of Paris.

Funny enough, one of the true quotes from Paris was when she told Rory that promotions don’t always end well. “Oh, yeah. Lots of business failures, broken marriages…†she said. And as fans saw in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Rory was one of the majors who had shaky relationships and a failed career.

6 Awkward dance partners

When fans first met Christopher, they weren’t sure how to perceive him because Lorelai was so wary of having him in Stars Hollow after so many years away.

They stopped at Miss Patty’s where Lorelai, Christopher, Rory and Dean got together roped up for a mini dance class. At that time, the series focused heavily on the timeline of Rory’s relationship with Dean, so it was surprising that they didn’t have rhythm or connection. Miss Patty commented on how well Christopher and Lorelai were in sync, but it wasn’t the same for Rory and Dean. This moment foreshadowed that Dean and Rory were never meant for each other and that they didn’t have the rhythm.

5 Rory’s Tell-All was announced in Season 1

As diehard fans know, Rory wanted to write a book about his life and relationship with his mother at the end of A year in the life. Lorelai didn’t like the idea of ​​having some sort of revealer in the world because her upbringing wasn’t pleasant. Oddly, however, Rory gave some idea of ​​his idea of ​​a revealer in the first season.

RELATED: Paris Geller’s 10 Most Badass Quotes From Gilmore Girls

Lorelai listened to a voicemail message so many times that it woke up sleeping Rory. When Lorelai apologized, Rory replied, “It’s okay, that’s fodder frankly.” Could this mean that Rory had this idea in mind since he was a teenager?

4 Pajama nights in the dorms

It wasn’t any nicer than Lorelai spending Rory’s first night at Yale with her in the dorm. Both women were nervous about their new start, so it was fitting that they spent their first night at Yale as a unit.

Adorably, Lorelai saw this happen in the early seasons. Lorelai didn’t want Rory to spend the night next door. Rory reminded Lorelai that someday she would have to go to college and Lorelai would have to get ready. Lorelai said to her daughter, “I will come with you, I will sleep on the floor in your dormitory, next to your bed.” Years later, Lorelai’s statement came true.

3 French cuisine and Lorelai

Right before Lorelai was supposed to marry Max, Luke delivered a chuppah for their outdoor wedding. As they sat there and talked about love, Luke said if she was lucky enough to find someone who wasn’t trying to change her or make her eat French food, then the wedding could be one. good thing.

Lorelai never ended up marrying Max, but she married Christopher, who tried to get her to eat French food. The two got married in France and when she craved a burger he brought her some French food. It was as if Luke had called him before it happened.

2 Rory and conflict

In Season 3, Paris and Rory were part-time enemies and fought at student body meetings because Paris didn’t trust Rory. Director Charleston had a meeting with the two of them and warned Rory about his future. He said, “I would advise you to think long and hard before accepting any responsibility if you intend to run away at the first sign of conflict. Her words bothered Rory because she didn’t see herself that way. But fast forward to his time at Yale, that’s exactly what happened.

After his internship with Mitchum Huntzberger ended, he told Rory that she didn’t have what it took to be a journalist. His words hurt her, she stole a yacht, was arrested and left Yale. Did Director Charleston foreshadow the future?

1 Luke’s character reference

When Lorelai and Christopher gave their relationship another chance, he handed her a letter he received from his ex-Sherry. Lorelai was surprised that Christopher was so open and showed her the letter. She asked him sarcastically, “You’re sure you don’t want to hide it somewhere and then I find it – accidentally, of course – in months, and I’m getting all weird and unsure of why you don’t. not shown to me earlier? “

Oddly enough, this is what happened a few episodes later when Christopher found Lorelai’s character reference for Luke. Just like she said, she kept Christoper’s letter and hid it in a drawer until he found it, making it insecure. This moment led to the divorce of Lorelai and Christopher.

NEXT: 10 Moments That Led To Lorelai & Christopher’s Divorce At Gilmore Girls

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The Nevada Union High School Chamber Choir, led by Rod Baggett, presents its Royal 2022 Madrigal Dinner on Friday, March 25 (7 p.m. seating) and Saturday, March 26 (5 p.m. seating) at the St. Joseph Cultural Center at 401 S. Church Street in Grass Valley.

Normally held during the holidays but delayed due to COVID-19 issues, the Madrigal Dinner is an event that defies description. It’s a concert, a history lesson, a dinner, a comedy and much more. But there is one thing that Madrigal Dinner is for sure: completely transportable not only to another place, but to another time: the 16th century. A time of knights and rogues, wizards and jesters, and kings and queens.

“The choir is so excited for this event! It’s been hard to see students not being able to perform live until this year. The Madrigal Dinner is something to look forward to as an incredible experience and also as a rite of passage when you are in the choir,” said choir director Rod Baggett. “Volunteers dust off costumes and props, shine dishes, and a lot of planning is underway for the big party. The singers rehearsed hard for the special dinner theater show – which includes both singing and acting. We are especially excited this year for our triumphant return.

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Enter the Great Hall and be announced to His Royal Majesty, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as you revel in all the pomp and splendor of a traditional English celebration – from the Wassail toast and presentation from the boar’s head to the theater and the song of the king’s royal court.

This fabulous costume dinner theater featuring our remarkable NUHS Chamber Choir is selling out fast, so don’t delay and buy your tickets online at NUChair.org.

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Tickets are $45 each. Each ticket includes a multi-course dinner of appetizers, beef or vegetable stew, French bread and dessert, plus splendid royal entertainment throughout the evening.

For attendees wishing to sit and dine together, all tickets must be purchased in one transaction. Wine will be available for sale by the glass or bottle to accompany your dinner. Additionally, limited sponsorship opportunities are also available; please email [email protected] for more information.

To purchase Madrigal Dinner tickets and to find out how to support the Nevada Union High School Choir, please visit http://www.NUChoir.org.

By the associated press

HOUSTON – U.S. Representative Troy Nehls from Texas said he tested positive for COVID-19 and is showing moderate symptoms.

Nehls, a Republican from the Houston area, said on Saturday he was fully vaccinated and hopes the symptoms will go away soon. “All Americans are free to make their own health decisions, but I strongly encourage getting vaccinated,” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “It is scientifically proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious illness and death from COVID. “

Nehls, the former Fort Bend County Sheriff who was elected to Congress last year, said Wednesday that a close family member tested positive. Nehls said he is in quarantine at home and will continue to do so for at least the next 10 days.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

– Containment or vaccines? 3 Pacific countries are trying different paths

– American mask, vaccine conflicts sink into violence and harassment

– Pandemic fiction: the fall books contain stories about the virus

– Reverend Jesse Jackson, wife Jacqueline, hospitalized with COVID

– Hurricane Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing New York virus rebound

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Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla .– The principal of the Florida capital school on Sunday announced that masks will be required for kindergarten to eighth graders, becoming the seventh district to defy Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on these COVID-19 warrants.

Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna said the district has seen positive tests for the coronavirus skyrocket since the school opened Aug. 11 in Tallahassee and its immediate suburbs. He said parents who don’t want their elementary or high school student to wear a mask will need to get a signed note from their child’s doctor or psychologist by Friday.

Leon, who has 32,000 students, initially backed down on such a mandate after DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said districts could only impose a mask mandate if parents could remove their children themselves. . They threatened to cut funding to districts that impose tighter mandates and impose sanctions on their elected officials.

Hanna said he was “totally in favor of individual rights and freedoms and the rights of parents,” but that does not include the right to endanger the health of others.

“I don’t believe masks are necessarily the end, but we know they make the difference. The vast majority of healthcare experts tell us they’re making a difference, â€Hanna said in a statement posted on Facebook.

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WASHINGTON – US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says he wouldn’t be surprised if the full Food and Drug Administration approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is coming soon and he expects this to further encourage schools and companies to mandate vaccines.

Murthy said on Sunday he did not want to preempt the FDA’s announcement, but disagreed that it could happen this week. He cited a wealth of data showing that the two-dose regimen of Pfizer is safe and effective.

Currently, the vaccine is being distributed under emergency use clearance from the FDA. Murthy said he believed that once the agency completed its full review and issued its approval, more Americans would be persuaded to get the vaccine.

He also planned for more vaccines, including for teachers and staff, describing the mandates as a “reasonable” thing to do to create a safe environment for children and others.

Murthy said that given the highly transmissible delta variant, “We have to take all we can” when health and well-being is “at stake”.

He has appeared on CNN’s “State of the Unionâ€, ABC’s “This Week†and “Fox News Sundayâ€.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he tested negative for COVID-19 just four days after testing positive.

“I was told my infection was brief and mild from the vaccination I received,†Abbott said in a video clip posted on his Twitter account Saturday. “So I encourage others who have not yet been vaccinated to consider getting vaccinated. “

When the Republican governor announced on Tuesday that he had tested positive for the virus, his office said he was in good health and showed no symptoms. Abbott said on Saturday he would continue to self-quarantine as medics recommended.

Abbott, who was vaccinated in December, has refused calls to reinstate mask warrants as the highly contagious delta variant increases in Texas. He tested positive for the virus a day after appearing indoors near Dallas without a mask while speaking to a room crowded with GOP supporters, most of whom were older and unmasked.

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TEHRAN – Iran has reported its highest COVID-19 death toll in a single day from the pandemic, according to state media.

The official IRNA news agency said on Sunday that 684 people had died from the disease since Saturday, while more than 36,400 new cases were confirmed in the same 24-hour period.

Iran’s previous daily record for deaths from COVID-19 was recorded on August 16. The country reported its highest number of daily cases the next day, with more than 50,000.

A five-day lockdown in the country ended on Saturday.

The current wave of infections is the fifth in the pandemic in Iran and is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. The country is also struggling to vaccinate its population against the coronavirus. Some 7% of Iranians have been fully immunized.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Japan, Australia and New Zealand all got through the first year of the coronavirus pandemic in relatively good shape, but are taking divergent paths to deal with new outbreaks of the spreading delta variant fast.

The discovery of a single local case of COVID-19 in New Zealand was enough for the government to put the entire country in strict containment last week.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, however, Japan is resisting such measures in the face of a record wave, focusing instead on accelerating its vaccination program. And Australia fell somewhere in the middle.

The different approaches could have far-reaching consequences for the economies of these nations and the health of their citizens.

Professor Michael Baker, an epidemiologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said countries around the world are struggling to adapt to the highly contagious variant.

“With the delta variant, the old rules just don’t work,†he said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A conservative Tennessee talk radio host who was skeptical of vaccines until hospitalized with COVID-19 has died. He was 61 years old.

Nashville radio station SuperTalk 99.7 WTN confirmed Phil Valentine’s death in a tweet on Saturday.

Valentine was skeptical of the coronavirus vaccines. But after testing positive for COVID-19, and before his hospitalization, he told his listeners to consider, “If I get this COVID thing, do I have a chance of dying from it?” If so, he advised them to get the vaccine. He said he chose not to get the vaccine because he thought he probably wouldn’t die.

After Valentine was transferred to an intensive care unit, his brother Mark said the radio host regretted that “he was not a more vocal advocate for vaccination.”

“I know if he was able to tell you, he would say, ‘Go get the vaccine. Stop worrying about politics. Stop worrying about all the conspiracy theories, â€Mark Valentine told the Tennessean on July 25.

“He regrets not having been more adamant about getting vaccinated. Look at the dadgum data, â€said Mark Valentine.

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CHICAGO – Civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released on Saturday.

Reverend Jackson, 79, is vaccinated against the coronavirus and received his first dose in January in a high profile event as he urged others to receive the inoculation as soon as possible. He and his wife, 77, are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

“Doctors are currently monitoring the condition of both,” according to a statement from Jesse Jackson’s nonprofit, the Rainbow / PUSH Coalition.

“There are no further updates at this time,” the statement read. “We will provide updates as they become available.”

Protected by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jackson has played a key role in guiding the modern civil rights movement on many issues, including voting rights.

Although he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he remained active and advocated for COVID-19 vaccines for blacks, who lag behind whites in the US vaccination campaign.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky governor’s efforts to fight COVID-19 have suffered historic legal defeat.

The state’s High Court on Saturday paved the way for laws restricting its emergency powers to come into force. The state’s Supreme Court ordered a lower court to dissolve an injunction blocking new Republican-backed laws limiting the emergency powers of Democratic Governor Andy Beshear.

The decision revolves around a dispute between Beshear and the GOP-led legislature over the scope of the governor’s executive authority in an emergency. It comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase in Kentucky.

The governor lifted most of his pandemic restrictions in June. But with the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant, he signed a recent executive order imposing an indoor mask mandate on K-12 schools, daycares and preschool programs across Kentucky.

One of the contested laws limits the governor’s decrees for emergencies to 30 days, unless they are extended by lawmakers.

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PARIS – Thousands of protesters once again marched through towns and villages across France against a COVID-19 health pass required to enter restaurants and cafes, cultural and sporting venues.

For a sixth consecutive Saturday, opponents denounced what they consider a restriction of their freedom. Many criticized the measure, saying the French government implicitly made vaccines mandatory.

In Paris, four events were organized by different groups. Elsewhere in the country, more than 200 protests took place.

Despite the protests, polls have shown that the majority of French people support the health pass. More than 40.5 million people in France, or 60%, are fully vaccinated.

Since last month, France has recorded a high number of infections – around 22,000 every day.

The new owners of Woodett’s Diner signed the lease for the popular Carson Valley breakfast just before receiving the Best Breakfast award at the 26^e The best of the Carson Valley.

Carson Valley businesses were recognized at a luncheon sponsored by The Record-Courier at the Carson Valley Inn on Wednesday.

“Over the past year, our country has faced some challenges,†RC associate editor Tara Addeo said over lunch. “But despite these challenges, you were successful, so congratulations. We are here to honor your accomplishments.

Woodett’s has been a Gardnerville staple for as long as the newspaper hosted the Best of Carson Valley, winning year one for Best Breakfast.

Marie and Edgar Arceo have owned it for 16 years, handing the spatula to Remon and Christelle Zamalis, who introduced themselves to the community at lunch on Wednesday.

“We are very grateful to everyone for welcoming us into the community,†said Christelle. “I know the previous owners were very involved in the community, we want to continue to do the same and we are very happy to be a part of it. “

Originally from France, the couple moved to northern Nevada in June after spending 22 years in Houston, Texas, where Remon was a private catering chef.

“Covid kind of pushed us out, and we just wanted to do something different,†Christelle said.

Shortly after moving to Reno, they learned that the small town restaurant was in the market and jumped at the chance.

“We loved the ambiance of the dinner and the view,†said Christelle. “It will remain the same Woodett’s, but we will add a new flavor.”

They said they expected additions to their culture, including French and Greek cuisine on the menu.

“I’ll take what you like and adjust my cooking to what you like,†Remon said.

You cannot have breakfast without coffee and take the first place for the best coffee was Coffee on Main.

Coffee on Main is a local, family-owned business operated by the Hoppes. It has been a longtime city favorite, receiving the best coffee in the Carson Valley for 11 consecutive years.

Co-owner Lauren Hoppe said she worked in the store as a teenager and after hearing the owners were retiring she immediately called her parents.

“I wanted it to stay the same,†Lauren said. “I think if an outside person had come in it wouldn’t have had the same community vibe and I really wanted him to stay as close to that same feeling as possible and I think the customers really appreciated that.”

Adele Hoppe said that because Coffee on Main is a local business and not a business, customers can have a personal relationship with the baristas.

“Girls love their customers,†Adele said. “We get closer to them and everyone is treated like family.”

Coffee on Main serves Alpen Sierra’s locally roasted organic coffee, Nitro Cold brew, 51 Fifty Energy Drinks, smoothies, baked goods and more.

Speaking of family, Carson Valley Medical Center also treats its patients like family which is why they were voted Carson Valley’s Best Doctor and Customer Service.

“When you’re the best customer service it says a lot and to get it for many years in a row you know you’re doing something right,†Addeo said.

Dr. Colleen Kriss received the title of Best Doctor of Family Medicine for the second year in a row.

“I really enjoy the votes, I really like my patients,†Kriss said.

Senior Development and Outreach Coordinator Courtney Moore represented the medical center for the best customer service title at the luncheon.

“We have a great community and we would like to thank them for their continued support,†said Moore. “We treat our patients like friends and family and everyone who comes in for this kind of treatment. “

Carson Valley Medical Center has been awarded the title for Best Customer Service for four consecutive years. The center is located at 1107 Highway 395 and offers urgent and emergency care, family, primary and senior care, specialist, behavioral, intensive care and more.

New and growing business owner Taylor Lynch, who also provides positive service, received third place for customer service along with four other awards.

The 22-year-old opened Minden’s men’s grooming salon, Taylor’s Scissors & Clippers, in September 2020, amid the pandemic.

During this year’s Best of Carson Valley, she was voted Best Hairstylist, Second Best Hair and Beauty Salon, Third Best New Business and Second Best Community Volunteer.

“I love to see the entrepreneurial spirit of the young people in the community,†Addeo said. “She has a lot of followers, that’s an impressive ranking.”

Lynch’s services extend outside of her store with gift baskets for the Douglas High School football and basketball teams, fundraisers and community events. She said she loved being part of the community and was honored for this recognition.

“Keep setting goals and dreams for yourself so you don’t stagnate in life and do everything with a smile,†Lynch said.

Best of Carson Valley has been showcasing Carson Valley businesses and community since 1995.

“It gives you a sense of how your business is viewed in the Valley, and it’s huge,†Addeo said.

In January, several Montgomery County Council members proposed a new “healthy meals for kids” mandate for restaurants. In an effort to instill healthy eating habits in young people, the bill would legally require restaurants to offer a meal that meets specific nutritional goals.

The proposal is well intentioned. But realistically, it’s unlikely to work, an overreach of county government and — focusing on punishing local businesses instead of supporting families — fundamentally wrong.

The policy proposal absolutely addresses a legitimate public health concern for our community.

Maryland has the 10^and-the highest childhood obesity rate in the nation and 8.6% of high school students in our county were overweight in 2018-2019. Studies show that children who grow up with obesity are more likely to become obese adults and experience even worse health problems, such as disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers.

Addressing this challenge by forcing restaurants to offer only one “healthy” meal for children is a casual response to this serious and deadly problem.

First of all, it just won’t work. It’s unclear how requiring only one “healthy” option on menus achieves the policy’s goal of “creating healthy habits throughout life.” A healthy item on a menu certainly doesn’t mean that anyone will order that option or that it will be affordable.

A restaurant could simply offer a $100 lettuce sandwich with a glass of milk that no one will ever order and that will have no impact on a child’s healthy habits, while respecting the policy.

The guidelines set by the board do not even guarantee that the new option will be sound. A McDonald’s “Happy Meal” – with a burger and fries on the side – plus toast on the side would significantly exceed the policy’s proposed nutritional thresholds. (See the nutritional breakdown at the end of this article).

This almost certainly unproductive policy will come at the cost of a disconcerting excess of county government.

Restaurants in our community are struggling. The pandemic has been overwhelming for every business in the county, but especially for family restaurants that have struggled to stay open, hire and bounce back. To place an additional bureaucratic burden on these small businesses with the threat of financial penalties is, to say the least, deaf.

Even in normal times, our county should not meddle in what private companies choose to offer on their menus, and certainly not with the force of law and fines.

Then there is the matter of application. Will county health inspectors be equipped with calorimeter bombs to enter restaurants, ask which menu item is the “healthy option,” then measure its percentage of calories from fat?

Or, more likely, will it become another soon-to-be-forgotten law that was great for optics when it was passed, but isn’t enforced until needed to warrant punishment from someone ?

Obesity in our county will not be solved by restaurant menu changes, not even a little. To truly make progress on healthy eating in Montgomery County, our county leaders should focus on the real issue: access to healthy food.

The faulty assumption at the heart of the proposed law is that too many children are not eating healthy, when the real challenge facing our community is that too many children cannot.

Healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, are expensive. Processed and unhealthy foods with preservatives are cheap and don’t spoil as quickly.

Instead of attacking restaurants, the county council should directly subsidize families to buy the fresh produce needed to eat healthy at home.

The county government should work with our community’s incredible network of farmers’ markets to make sure every vendor accepts government food assistance in an easy way, then invest in public service announcements promoting these markets.

Our county could also work with these local farms and with schools to send produce home with the children at the end of each week.

And if the county is serious about instilling healthy eating habits in young people, it should start with the meals students actually eat every day in our county’s public schools. With all of our access to local agricultural producers, our county can do so much better to provide food that is both nutritious and appealing.

The County Board should commit to eating the same breakfast and lunch as MCPS students every day until students agree that the meals are not only healthy, but good enough to inspire excitement. love for healthy food which is supposed to be the goal of the council’s proposed restaurant mandate.

With limited time and resources, our county government should focus on policies that won’t burden already struggling businesses, that will uplift families, and that actually work.

Review of a Happy Meal

Here’s how a McDonald’s Happy Meal with a side of bread qualifies as “healthy” under the nutrition requirements proposed by the Montgomery County Healthy Meals Act:

• The law limits healthy meals to 600 calories. A Happy Meal has 475 and the slice of bread has 70, making the total meal 545 calories — in accordance with legal requirements.
• The law limits healthy meals to 700 milligrams of sodium. A Happy Meal has 695 and the slice of bread has 0, making the total meal 695 milligrams of sodium — in accordance with legal requirements.
• The law limits healthy meals to 35% of calories from fat. A Happy Meal has 144 calories from fat, and the slice of bread has 15. Together, the meal has 159 calories from fat. Divided by the 545 total calories of the meal, the total meal has 29% of calories from fat — in accordance with legal requirements
• The law limits healthy meals to 10% of calories from saturated fat. A Happy Meal has 5 grams of saturated fat and the slice of bread has 0, so the total meal has 5 grams of saturated fat. To determine the calories from saturated fat in the total meal, multiply the amount of saturated fat by 9, or 45 calories, then divide by the meal’s total 545 calories. The total is 2% calories from saturated fat — in accordance with legal requirements.
• The law limits healthy meals to 0.5 grams of trans fat. A Happy Meal and a piece of bread have 0 grams of trans fat — in accordance with legal requirements.
• The law limits healthy meals to 35% of calories from total sugars. A Happy Meal contains 21 grams of sugar and the slice of bread contains 0. Together, the meal contains 21 grams of sugar. To determine the calories of sugar, multiply the amount of sugar by 4, or 84 calories. Divide that by the total 545 meal calories to get 4% calories from sugar — in accordance with legal requirements.
• The law requires healthy meals to contain 1% milk, which is included with a Happy Meal
• The law requires healthy meals to include half a cup of unfried fruit. A Happy Meal includes a bag of sliced ​​apples.
• The law requires healthy meals to include a whole grain product, which would be covered by whole wheat bread.
• The law requires healthy meals to include lean protein, including 1% milk, which is included with a Happy Meal.

***

Rising Voices is an occasional column by John F. Kennedy High School graduate Nate Tinbite; Ananya Tadikonda, a graduate of Richard Montgomery High School; and Matt Post, a graduate of Sherwood High School. All three are recent student members of the Montgomery County School Board.

Editor’s note: Bethesda Beat encourages readers to send us their thoughts on the local topics we’ve covered in the form of a letter to the editor or an opinion piece in our Saturday newsletter. Email them to [email protected]. Here are our guidelines. We need a name and hometown for posting. We also need a phone number (not intended for publication) to verify who wrote the letter. Please provide a source for any facts contained in your letter that were not part of our coverage; if they cannot be verified, they will probably be omitted. We do not accept third party submissions; it must come directly from the writer. We do not accept any piece that has been published or submitted elsewhere.

Macron told France-Inter radio that world powers should tell the Taliban: “You absolutely have to give young girls in your country a future, and that is one of the things we will look at before we recognize you.”

He said allowing all the girls to return to school was one of his concerns.

Macron also told France-Inter radio that he would raise the issue at the upcoming G20 summit in Rome later this month. Among other conditions of recognition, he said, should be that the Taliban allow humanitarian operations to continue, and condemn and refuse to cooperate with “Islamist terrorist groups” in the region.

Macron said that the Western powers should not set such conditions, but should also “convince the regional powers, powers that do not necessarily have the same values ​​as us on all matters, to Act together”.

At a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last month, the G20 powers discussed sending a unified message to the Taliban before granting them global legitimacy.

Zia Wesley

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Breakfast is a big part of the day in Mount Kisco, and these restaurants, cafes, and bakeries are killing the game early in the morning.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and in Mount Kisco, New York, it is especially popular. Small towns are known for many things, but this small Westchester village cooks up great early-morning meals that are popular with visitors and locals alike. Whether it’s a plate full of Belgian waffles you’re looking for or something a little more modern and chic, this small town is sure to offer just that.

Also included here are bakeries and restaurants specializing in desserts, because when it comes to breakfast, the more options, the better! Plus, who are we to deny anyone a well-deserved sweet treat?

Related: Breakfast at Tiffany’s: What It’s Really To Eat At Blue Box Cafe In New York City

The best places for breakfast at Mount Kisco

Mimi’s coffee

With a whopping 4.8 out of five stars on Google reviews, it’s no surprise that Mimi’s Coffee House lives up to the early morning hype. It might not look like much from the outside, but Mimi is warm, cozy, and everything one would imagine in a small town cafe. With a variety of seating options ranging from boots to tables and outdoor seating, plus an open cafe bar, this is a staple in this city. The food, which includes baked goods, breakfast wraps, and small plates, offers plenty of options for small snacks as well as hearty meals.

• Dishes to try: Match latte, cappuccino, any coffee specialty, scones, muffins and breakfast wraps
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mount. Kisco dinner

New York is famous for its diners and when it comes to small town diners, Mount Kisco has visitors covered. Mount. The Kisco Diner is the perfect place to enjoy a full American breakfast, accompanied by a good, simple cup of coffee and a friendly atmosphere. It’s the locals’ choice when it comes to a sit-down breakfast, and the options for lunch and dinner are just as tasty. The proportions are hearty and the flavors comforting and fresh, making this another breakfast staple for early risers. Plus, with menu items like a milkshake with a whole ice cream bar sticking out from the top, or a Doritos mac and cheese, how could a dinner party go wrong?

• Dishes to try: Any of the loaded Belgian waffles, specialty omelets, cinnamon french toast, cinnamon milkshake, fruity pebble french toast
• Hours: Every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Bagel and Bean Coffee

Are you in a hurry, but fancy something delicious for breakfast? Don’t hesitate to stop by the Bagel and Bean Cafe. This cafe serves delicious coffee with a simple but well-done menu with that classic New York breakfast twist. Anyone who likes to receive a hot sandwich for breakfast only to unwrap it and find cheese and eggs oozing from the center will surely fall in love. The coffee is great, but the food – and the quick service – only makes it ten times better.

• Dishes to try: Bacon, egg and cheese (or one of the breakfast sandwiches)
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sofia Deli & Cafe

There is one meet again that sums up the Sofia Deli & Cafe on the main street of Mount Kisco perfectly, and it doesn’t get much better than that. “What strikes me most about this place is the love of the craft. They love the food they cook for you, and it shows. Everything is carefully prepared with fresh and tasty ingredients. staff are always warm, helpful and extremely accommodating. I cannot recommend eating here more highly. ”

• Dishes to try: Avocado salad, Maya
• Hours: Every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bakeries and other restaurants

Starting the day off right is very important to many people, in which case Skinny Buddha is here to serve you. With still a 4.8 out of five star rating on Google, it’s easy to see how this restaurant has gained such a beloved reputation among locals and visitors alike. One of the best Comments included, “delicious nourishing foods for soul, body and planet!” And fans of this all-natural, plant-based, gluten-free restaurant could not but agree.

• Dishes to try: Burgers, smoothies, all vegan baked goods
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed on Sunday

La Tulipe Desserts

Tulip Desserts might not be the first thing that comes to mind in the morning, but with a 4.8 star rating and a list of delicious pastries, who would want to dispute it? It’s the kind of bakery one walks in and is immediately stunned by the quality and visual appeal of everything inside the display case, and it’s almost too pretty to eat. However, we highly recommend that you do just that – because these candies are not to be missed.

• Dishes to try: Croissants, cookies, muffins, macaroons, any of the gourmet cupcakes
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., closed on Monday

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