Osher programs reach more than 400 The spring schedule of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programs, geared to people 50 and older, concludes with a bus tour Wednesday, April 5, to the Getty Museum in Malibu. During its first year at Fresno State, the programs were attended by more than 400 people. Plans are being made for the 2006-7 Osher schedule. Already signed for Sept. 13 is Dan Walter, a political analyst for the Sacramento Bee, whose columns appear in the Fresno Bee. More...

Echo restaurant first to feature Fresno State Wines and other products
Award winning Fresno State wines, student-produced olive oil, broccoli, almonds, raisins and citrus are on the menu of the new Echo restaurant, which earned national recognition at its former location in Fresno’s Tower District. Several other restaurants in the area serve Fresno State wines, but Echo’s is the first partnership with the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology involving use of wine and other food products on a regular basis. More...

University bids for global gourmet attention with new olive oil
Fresno State made a powerful statement for American-made extra virgin olive oil when it released Estate Reserve, the university’s first full release from its “olives-for-oil” project launched last fall. Half-liter bottles of the pungent blend of oils from three kinds of olives are available at the Farm Market (Chestnut and Barstow avenues) for $10.95. The student-produced oil comes from 22 acres of olive trees, part of the Fresno State Agricultural Laboratory. The university-industry collaboration is a response to an effort to produce more high-quality American-made oils to compete globally. More...

Community leaders learn how to solve Valley health challenges
The second cohort of the Central Valley health Policy Institute’s Leadership Program will give 30 more people from local government, advocacy groups, public health, education, business and media training to help solve regional health issues. The new group will begin classes May 12, following in the footsteps of program participants now working on a variety of challenges that include disparity of services, attracting more health professionals and meeting needs of the uninsured. More...

Reed asks continued legislative support to advance CSU progress
California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed appealed for strong state legislative support of budget proposals to continue progress made during the first three months of 2006. Speaking to Assembly and Senate members on CSU Legislative Day in Sacramento, Reed said holding the line on fees will allow more students to attend Fresno State and the CSU system’s other 22 campuses. The prospect is good “to make some headway in closing the employee compensation gap,” he said, and to start making up for deficiencies because of recent tight budgets. More...