There are still tickets available for the fourth annual A Chocolate Affair to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring Program. Be sure to get your’s today!

A Chocolate Affair will be held on Saturday, May 11th at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge. Enjoy chocolate treats from eight local chefs, while tasting over twenty varieties of wine. Join us for our Mystery Wine Pull that will include over 80 different wines, gift basket drawings, and People’s Choice Awards.

Purchase your ticket on our website (www.bestfriendsnd.org), at our office, or at Town and Country Liquor. Tickets can also be purchased at the door the night of the event.

With the purchase of a ticket, you will also be entered into a drawing to win a chocolate diamond necklace (a value of $1000) or one of five gift baskets.

Announcing the 2013 ’A Chocolate Affair’ chefs and their creations:
Bake a’licious – White Chocolate Rasperry Cupcakes, Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, and Coffee Lovers Cupcakes
The BrickHouse Grille – Mini Marbled Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Clara’s Diner – “Quest for the Pied Piper” Chocolate Covered Cherry Covered Chocolate
Sara Paulson – Chocolate Covered Thin Mints and Homemade Oreo Cookies
Sharon Gegelmann – “To die for” German Chocolate Cheesecake
Spaghetti Western – Chocolate and Hazelnut Spring Rolls with Mango Salsa
Stix N’ Twigs Cafe – “Chocolate Bread Pudding” topped with Chocolate Fudge Sauce and Chocolate Whipped Crème
Target Logistics – Chocolate Truffles

Why not take your that special lady in your life to the fourth annual ’A Chocolate Affair?’ 

The 4th annual A Chocolate Affair to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring Program will be held on Saturday, May 11th, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsors, the Armstrong Corporation and Reichert Armstrong. A Chocolate Affair will be held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, starting at 7pm.
Enjoy chocolate treats from eight local chefs, while tasting over twenty varieties of wine. Join us for our Mystery Wine Pull that will include over 70 different wines, gift basket drawings, and People’s Choice Awards.
Purchase your ticket on our website (www.bestfriendsnd.org), at our office, or at Town and Country Liquor. With the purchase of a ticket, you will also be entered into a drawing to win a chocolate diamond necklace (a value of $1000) or one of five gift baskets.

Announcing the 2013 ’A Chocolate Affair’ chefs and their creations:
Bake a’licious – White Chocolate Rasperry Cupcakes, Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, and Coffee Lovers Cupcakes
The BrickHouse Grille – Mini Marbled Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Clara’s Diner – “Quest for the Pied Piper” Chocolate Covered Cherry Covered Chocolate
Sara Paulson – Chocolate Covered Thin Mints and Homemade Oreo Cookies
Sharon Gegelmann – “To die for” German Chocolate Cheesecake
Spaghetti Western – Chocolate and Hazelnut Spring Rolls with Mango Salsa
Stix N’ Twigs Cafe – “Chocolate Bread Pudding” topped with Chocolate Fudge Sauce and Chocolate Whipped Crème
Target Logistics – Chocolate Truffles

How will you say thank you? 

Open Letter to Teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day

Dear Teachers,

There is a Japanese proverb that says, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” By the time your students graduate from high school, they will have spent about 10,000 hours at school being instructed by more than 30 teachers. That’s why almost everyone has a story about a teacher who has touched his or her life.

Just like so many politicians, artists, astronauts, entrepreneurs and surgeons, I am who I am today partly because of a great teacher. After dropping out of school, I found my way back and landed in Herman Katz’s English class. Mr. Katz believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, and over 40 years later I sometimes still spot his kind smile and horn-rimmed glasses among the sea of faces at my speaking engagements.

Teachers devote their lives to giving our children the tools to succeed and inspire them to do it.

It is you who listen to our children, who challenge them, and who encourage them to stand up for their values. You will teach our future U.S. presidents the importance of the Constitution, show the next Carlos Santana how to strum a guitar, and demonstrate the Scientific Method to the bright young student who will cure cancer.

The simple truth is that, as a nation, we must invest in a strategy that places appropriate value on the contribution that you and your colleagues make to our collective future. Teacher attrition rates are far too high, and given that you are the builders of our future, losing even one good teacher is too many.

Working closely with the teachers at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, I have seen firsthand the inspiring effects of teachers leading their schools in shaping innovative district initiatives. We must continue to expand career and leadership opportunities like these, opportunities that allow you to develop your practice, foster a school culture that encourages collaboration with your colleagues, and empower you with the autonomy to innovate and thrive.

Moreover, any efforts to brighten our nation’s future must be built upon a deep appreciation for your incredibly important work. On this Teacher Appreciation Day, I’d like thank you for your countless hours, your sweat and tears, and your relentless commitment to our children. And I’d also like to thank you in advance for inspiring the next generation of amazing teachers.

Very truly yours,

Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Los Angeles Mayor

The 4th annual A Chocolate Affair to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring Program will be held on Saturday, May 11th, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsors, the Armstrong Corporation and Reichert Armstrong. A Chocolate Affair will be held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, starting at 7pm. 

Enjoy chocolate treats from eight local chefs, while tasting over twenty varieties of wine. Join us for our Mystery Wine Pull that will include over 70 different wines, gift basket drawings, and People’s Choice Awards. 

Be sure to purchase your tickets to this event soon, tickets are limited. Tickets can be purchased at the Best Friends office, Town and Country Liquor, or online at www.bestfriendsnd.org. 

For questions, please call 701-483-8615.

Tickets for the fourth annual ‘A Chocolate Affair’ are now on sale! Purchase your tickets today to be entered into an Early Bird chocolate and wine gift basket raffle.

The 4th annual A Chocolate Affair to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring Program will be held on Saturday, May 11th, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsors, the Armstrong Corporation and Reichert Armstrong. A Chocolate Affair will be held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, starting at 7pm.

Enjoy chocolate treats from eight local chefs, while tasting over twenty varieties of wine. Join us for our Mystery Wine Pull that will include over 70 different wines, gift basket drawings, and People’s Choice Awards.

Purchase your tickets on our website (www.bestfriendsnd.org), at our office, and at Town and Country Liquor. With the purchase of a ticket, you will also be entered into a drawing to win a chocolate diamond necklace (a value of $1000) or one of five gift baskets.

• Did you know the most commonly forgotten item for travelers is their toothbrush?
• Did you know apples are more effective at waking you up in the morning than coffee?
• Did you know room temperature is defined as between 68 and77°F?
• Did you know the hyoid bone in your throat is the only bone in your body not attached to any other?
• Did you know there are only 4 words in the English language which end in ‘dous’ (they are: hazardous, horrendous, stupendous and tremendous)?
• Did you know the oldest word in the English language is ‘town’?
• Did you know your most sensitive finger is your index finger?
• Did you know the average golf ball has 336 dimples?
• Did you know the word ‘Strengths’ is the longest word in the English language with just one vowel?
• Did you know the Amazon rainforest produces half the world’s oxygen supply?
• Did you know Brazil covers 50% of the South American continent?
• Did you know Hilton was the first international hotel chain?
• Did you know Monopoly is the most played board game in the world?
• Did you know the average person laughs 10 times a day?
• Did you know the Atlantic Ocean is saltier than the Pacific?
• Did you know the average hen lays 228 eggs a year?
• Did you know the Eiffel Tower has 1,792 steps?
• Did you know there are 70 million sheep in New Zealand (with 4 million people)
• Did you know sharks are immune to all known diseases?
• Did you know the worlds smallest bird is the ‘bee hummingbird’ found in Cuba?
• Did you know hot water freezes quicker than cold water?
• Did you know sound travels 3 times faster through water than in air?
• Did you know soccer is the most followed sport?
• Did you know sponges hold more cold water than hot?
• Did you know a flea can jump 350 times its body length?
• Did you know cucumbers are 96% water?
• Did you know a full moon is 9 times brighter than a half moon?
• Did you know a jellyfish is 95% water?
• Did you know bats are the only mammals that fly?

We at Best Friends would like to send out a heartfelt “thank you!” to all of our wonderful volunteers! We greatly appreciate all that you do for our program!

Join Best Friends for their Pizza Ranch Tip Night on Earth Day, Monday, April 22nd from 5pm to 8pm. Mention Best Friends (or bring in attached flyer) and Pizza Ranch will donate 10% to BFMP.

Don’t forget to bring your old ink cartridges, toners, and cell phones to be recycled! Aluminum cans, cell phones, used printer ink jets and laser jets can all be recycled with Best Friends Mentoring Program!
Recycling…
*Saves space in our landfill.
*Gives back to our community.
*Helps the Best Friends Mentoring Program.

For more information, please call Best Friends at 701.483.8615.

Join the Best Friends Mentoring Program at their fourth annual ‘A Chocolate Affair’ on Saturday, May 11th. ‘A Chocolate Affair,’ held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, will feature eight local chefs and twenty varieties of wine. 

Purchase of a ticket includes this chocolate and wine taste, and also a chance to win one of five gift baskets. Thanks to Britton Jewelers, this year Best Friends will also be giving away a Chocolate Diamond Necklace, a value of $1000. 

Join us for this night of chocolate, wine, and friends! Purchase your ticket on our website (www.bestfriendsnd.org), at our office (135 W. Villard), or at Town and Country Liquor (1218 W. Villard). 

Be sure to purchase your tickets for ‘A Chocolate Affair’ early this year. Each person who purchases tickets before April 26th will be entered into a chocolate and wine gift basket drawing. Tickets are limited; cost is $40 per ticket.

The 4th annual ‘A Chocolate Affair’ to benefit the Best Friends Mentoring Program will be held on Saturday, May 11th, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsors, the Armstrong Corporation and Reichert Armstrong. ‘A Chocolate Affair’ will be held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, starting at 7pm. Enjoy chocolate treats from eight local chefs, while tasting over twenty varieties of wine. Join us for our Mystery Wine Pull that will include over 70 different wines, gift basket drawings, and People’s Choice Awards. You will be able to purchase your ticket on our website (www.bestfriendsnd.org), at our office (135 W. Villard), and at Town and Country Liquor (1218 W. Villard). With the purchase of a ticket, you will also be entered into a drawing to win a chocolate diamond necklace (a value of $1000) or one of five gift baskets.

For more information, please call Best Friends at 701-483-8615.