Fresh Bites Summer Edition 2021

SUMMER 2021

2021 NYSNA Annual

Meet the Winners! 2021 NYSNA Election Results page 30 Conference Meet the Speakers page 26

LOOKING BACK ON ALL WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED SCHOOL YEAR!

Volume 70 Number 3 Published Quarterly

Contents

IN THIS ISSUE

Conference Info Meet the Speakers on Pages 26-27

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Meet the Winners! NYSNA Election Results on Pages 30-31

2 5 8 15 19 25 29 36 39 48 52

Tri-State Marketing Diversified Food The Perfect Granola American Dairy Association North East Sterling Steamer J&J Snack Foods Yang’s 5th Taste International Food Solutions National Food Group General Mills McCain

NYSNA Chapter Awards Learn More on Pages 46-47 NYSNA Shining Star Award Application on Page 49

Officers & Headquarters

FreshBites A NYSNA PUBLICATION Ashleigh Roche, MBA Membership & Communications Coordinator Ashleigh@nyschoolnutrition.org

Chapters

Committees

21 Executive Park Drive Clifton Park, NY 12065 (518) 446-9061

NYSNA Mission Statement

NYSNA UPCOMING EVENTS

To be the informational and professional resource for all NYSNA members who provide school meals that contribute to the improvement of the optimal health, nutrition, and education of school children to reduce food insecurity.

July 12

SNA Annual National Conference – Virtual

www.NYSchoolNutr i t ion.org

2020-2021 Board of Directors

CENTRAL AREA Nique Wilson Food Service Director Wayne CSD 6200 Ontario Center Road Ontario Center, NY 14520 (315) 524-1041 EASTERN AREA Katy Headwell, RD Director of Food Services Shenendehowa CSD 970 Route 146 Clifton Park, NY 12065 (518)881-0600 x68601 NEW YORK CITY AREA Nicole Bonica Training Developer NYC Central 44-46 Vernon Blvd Long Island City, NY 11101 NORTHEAST AREA Nicole Grandjean Manager St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES 320 Mechanic St Copenhagen, NY 13626 (315) 688-4034 SOUTHERN TIER AREA Patrick Walsh, SNS School Lunch Director Broome-Tioga BOCES 1 North Loder Ave Endicott, NY 13760 (607) 766-3926 SOUTH AREA NaimWalcott School Lunch Manager Westhampton Beach UFSD 29 Lilac Rd Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 (631) 288-3800x261

SOUTHEAST AREA Debra Donleavy Director of Food & Nutrition Services Enlarged CSD of Middletown 223 Wisner Avenue Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 774-6275 WESTERN AREA

August 11

Fresh Bites Deadline (2021 Fall Issue)

PRESIDENT Sue Bell Food Service Director Wilson Central School District 374 Lake Street Wilson, NY 14172 (716) 751-9341 x139 PRESIDENT ELECT Donna Riviello Food Service Director Clyde-Savannah CSD 215 Glasgow St Clyde, NY 14433 (315)902-3060 VICE PRESIDENT Caitlin Lazarski, MS, RD, SNS Food Service Director Newburgh City CSD 124 Grand Street Newburgh, NY 12550 (845) 863-3426 SECRETARY/TREASURER Joe Kilmer, MS. ED., SDBL Regional Director of Food Services Greater Southern Tier BOCES 950 Sing Sing Road Horseheads, NY 14845 (607) 739-6360 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Martin, MBA, CAE N 21 YS E N xe A cutive Park Drive Clifton Park, NY 12065 (518) 446-9061

September 15

NYSNA 2021 Annual Conference Launch – Virtual

Tracie Middleton, SNS Food Service Director Bolivar-Richburg CSD 100 School Street Bolivar, NY 14715 (585) 928-2561 x2902 At Large Director Bryan McCoy Food Service Supervisor Broome-Tioga BOCES 1 North Loder Ave Endicott, NY 13760 (607) 763-1216 At Large Director Sarah Keen, RD Food Service Manager Schuylerville CSD 14 Spring Street Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 695-3255x2290 At Large Director Megan Beck Food Service Director Guilderland CSD 8 School Road, PO Box 18 Guilderland Center, NY 12085 (518) 456-6200 At Large Director Craig Orvis, SNS Food Service Director St. Lawrence -Lewis BOCES 40 West Main St. Canton, NY 13617 (315)785-3717

NYSNA 2021 Conference – Exhibits – Rochester, NY – Saratoga, NY – Long Island, NY

October 27 October 28 November 3

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President’s Message

President Elect’s Message

OFFICERS

Happy Summer planning. By now, most of you probably have your summer plans ready to roll out as the school year comes to a close. Hopefully, you will be able to enjoy some time off before you roll right in to summer. I wanted to take a few minutes to do a re-cap of the lessons I learned over the past school year. For months I have been telling myself that I can’t wait till it’s over and hopefully get back to some sense of normalcy. What I’ve learned over the past year is this…the new normal is constant change. Are you ready to continue to roll the changes? With USDA extending the Summer Feeding Waivers, I can only assume that the next school year will be filled with it’s own set of changes. I am confident that we will meet them as we always have…with smiles on our faces taking care of the students we love to see everyday!

This past spring I took part in the School Nutrition Associations Virtual Leadership Conference and I was so thrilled to hear so many participants talk about how NYSNA is a leader across the country, how NYSNA is watched and followed by so many states. It was incredible!! I am so proud to be a part of such a phenomenal group. Our very own Joe Kilmer spoke about governance restructuring and how important it is to the future of every association. He spoke with such honesty and conviction it was so impressive. The spotlight was then put on Jennifer as so many want to question her on how NYSNA operates. When I began my leadership journey with NYSNA, I never imagined I would be part of such an incredible group. The most important things to me were being transparent and inclusive. I believe we have succeeded at both of these. Although they are ongoing, I think we are such a great association, in part, because of these two traits but mostly because of the people involved!

SUSAN BELL President

President Elect

DONNA RIVIELLO

“

What I’ve learned over the past year is this…the new normal is constant change.

I firmly believe we are doing great things here at NYSNA and that we are the go to resource for school nutrition professionals across the state. Although this past year and half has looked very different, I am thrilled with the manner that NYSNA rose to the challenge in keeping our members engaged. I recently participated in the School Nutrition Associations first Virtual Leadership Conference held in early April. It was illuminating and inspiring to see that many of the ideas and strategies being suggested for Associations to maneuver through this pandemic are already in place and being exercised here at NYSNA. There were several breakout sessions where we were placed in a (zoom) room with other members and when it came time to talk about what we are doing here in New York, everyone was astonished at what we have been able to accomplish. This is all on account of our wonderful headquarters staff. I can’t say enough about our headquarters staff and how forward thinking and motivated they are to ensure that each of our members continue to remain engaged. On any given day, you will find the three of them brainstorming on what new ideas they can come up with to not only stay focused with our membership but to ensure we are continuing to remain relevant in these very uncertain times. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it…we are very fortunate for this team that we have in our headquarters office. I hope this edition of Fresh Bites finds you well and that you are able to rest and rejuvenate before heading in to the new school year. If you haven’t completed your survey, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have or with ideas on how we here at NYSNA can support you, your employees and your district. I am truly interested in helping each of you become successful. I long for the days when I can see everyone in person once again. Until then, stay healthy.

As we close the books on the 2020-21 school year, I look back in awe at what we were able to overcome and what we were able to accomplish. The number of students that we were able to feed both in person and remotely was remarkable. The members of our NYSNA community really took child nutrition to the next level. There is hope that when we return in the fall the cafeterias will be full of our students enjoying breakfast and lunch meals at no charge. When this happens, we can breathe a sigh of relief that we made it through these unprecedented times. We will have to keep an eye out to see how things proceed with universal feeding. The time for this is definitely now. Let’s hope those who can make it happen are on the same page. Once again, I want to thank all of you for your hard work in child nutrition and for your support of NYSNA. I hope each of you has a chance to enjoy the summer months. Let us know if we can help you in any way. We are always here for you!!

- Susan -

- Donna -

SUSAN BELL NYSNA President Susan Bell is the Food Service Director for Wilson Central School District, located in Wilson, NY! She has been in Child Nutrition for 22 years and loves school meals. Sue’s goal is to make the Association inclusive to everyone! NY is full of amazing Child Nutrition personnel and they can always turn to NYSNA for all of their School Nutrition needs.

DONNA RIVIELLO NYSNA President Elect Donna Riviello has been a school Food Service Director for the past 11 years currently employed through Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES and working with the Clyde Savannah and North Rose Wolcott Central School Districts. She has been a NYSNAmember for all of my eleven years and she looks forward to serving this organization for the next two years as the current President Elect and future President.

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HEADQUARTERS Executive Director’s Message

HEADQUARTERS

Dear NYSNA Members, As we are nearing the end of the school year I just want to say Congratulations for making it through another unique and crazy year filled with ever-changing rules and meal service plans. I hope you are able to take some time for yourself this summer and just get some rest. You have been instrumental for children and their families and we are proud of your dedication and passion for this industry. ASBO Annual Conference In June I was invited to present at the Association for School Business Officials (ASBO) annual conference and participated on panels for two different workshops. The first was a Child Nutrition update program with NYSED focusing on what you need to know to operate over the summer and next school year. The second was geared towards strengthening your programs and how NYSNA can provide resources and support for food service departments. We encouraged business officials to support state and national membership and events for their school meal professionals, and reminded them how important it was to provide the same peer support and networking that they find beneficial within their association as well. We love partnering with ASBO and will continue to strengthen our relationship with them.

NYSNA Executive Director

JENNIFER MARTIN MBA, CAE

THE GAME

Find this picture hidden in each issue.

Free School Meals Extension So speaking of next school year, we were thrilled when USDA announced that school meals would continue to be provided to all students for free through June 2022. It’s unfortunate that it took a pandemic to make this happen, but what an exciting opportunity to showcase how amazing school meals can be and to increase participation! It will be very difficult for them to go backwards after providing this for two years, but maybe by then everyone will have seen the value and benefits and it will not be something we need to fight for to keep. Maybe the time has come for school meals to be viewed as something necessary that is just part of the school day. Let’s turn all of the students into repeat customers and their parents into raving fans! I hope you are all enjoying the new digital magazine we have for you and all of the interactive features this platform provides. Be sure to share your amazing stories and successes with your peers and your family. These articles are simply amazing. As always, thank you for all that you do. - Jennifer -

Click on the picture and fill out this form.

The Game Video

Once your information is entered, you are entered in to a raffle to win a $25 gift card!

July 6th is the deadline for the summer game!

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE

IN THE NEWS As always, Ashleigh & Alyssa are here for YOU! Be sure to tune in! Videos are on social media and on our website. RECENT EPISODES Tips & Resources If you find the picture of Ashleigh and Alyssa in all 3 issues this year - spring, summer, & fall - you will be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a Free 2021 Conference Registration!!

2021 School Lunch Hero Day

JENNIFER MARTIN, MBA, CAE Jennifer has been in association management since 2011 and the Executive Director of NYSNA since 2014. Prior to working for NYSNA she was the Executive Director of the NYS Builders Association Research & Education Foundation. She is a national 40 under 40 award winner, an amazing talent scout and an expert in the areas of administration, governance, iced coffee, and Harry Potter. Her keys to success can be summarized by the following phrases: “Work smarter, not harder;” “Be intentional;” and “Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude”.

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It’s time to plan your SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS!

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Eastern Area

CHAPTERS

Eastern Area NATIONAL

Eastern Area Feature

“Insert Food of Choice Here” DAY

HAMILTON

WARREN

WASHINGTON

Mechanicville CSD has hit astronomical numbers!

SARATOGA

FULTON

HERKIMER

MONTGOMERY

OTSEGO

SCHOHARIE

ALBANY

RENSSELAER

GREENE

COLUMBIA

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EASTERN AREA

BY DEB MACKEY FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR MECHANICVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BY KATY HEADWELL, RD, EASTERN AREA DIRECTOR

September National Pizza Day October National Taco Day November National Sandwich Day December National Cookie/Brownie/ Cupcake Day January National Bagel Day Febru ry National Pancake Day March National Waffle Day April National Grilled Cheese Day May National Hamburger Day June National Donut Day

We made it through our ONE YEAR mark of serving students during the ever changing Covid school year. What seemed to be a monumental undertaking in the beginning, is now our daily norm. My team has conquered! Our food service staff has done a spectacular job of providing great school meals to the children in our community.

Did you know there is a national food day for almost every single food item on this planet? Schools in our area have been serving up these themed days to our students since September. Here is a list of days that would be a great addition to any menu for next year.

March 2020 - 9 service days 15,766 meals served April 2020 - 22 service days 17,720 meals served May 2020 - 20 service days 14,219 meals served June 2020 - 15 service days 9432 meals served September 2020 - 13 service days 5972 meals served October 21 service days 12, 549 meals served November 2020 - 21 service days 14,383 meals served December 2020 - 13 service days 9,269 meals served January 2021 - 19 service days 10,006 meals served February 2021 - 15 service days 7611 meals served March 2021 - 23 service days 17,755 meals served April 2021 - 16 service Days 12,849 meals served Last school year we served 57,137 meals under the Covid protocols in 66 school days. This year, so far, we have served 90,394 meals in 141 school days. GRAND TOTAL: 207 SERVICE DAYS & ~147,531 MEALS SERVED

KATY HEADWELL, RD • Eastern Area Director Katy Headwell is the Food Service Director at Shenendehowa Central Schools in Clifton Park, NY. She has been in her position for 9 years and loves being in school food service. She gets excited seeing students try new foods and working with great people. She enjoys spending time with her husband, son and 2 dogs.

These meals have been served at NO cost to the families in Mechanicville. The USDA is covering the cost of all school meals for anyone under the age of 18 in our community

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Eastern Area

CHAPTERS

Eastern Area Feature

Tri County hosts a send off lunch! Three very special ladies are retiring from the Tri-County Chapter this coming year.

Click the image above to access the cool new Summer Meals Toolkit.

we have the resources to help you make YOUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM AN EXCITING success.

Reach out to us anytime at schools@milk4u.org . And for other valuable tools, menu tips, recipes and more, explore our online resources at www.nutritionconnection.org

Melanie Howe Hartford Central School District

Amy Braun Cambridge Central School District

Margaret Sullivan Saratoga Springs Central School District

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Northeast Area THANK YOU to ALL School Lunch Heroes

CHAPTERS

South Area THE value of Together

CLINTON

FRANKLIN

SAINT LAWRENCE

SUFFOLK

SOUTH AREA

JEFFERSON

ESSEX

NASSAU

LEWIS

NORTHEAST AREA

BY NAIM WALCOTT SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR

BY NICOLE GRANDJEAN, NORTHEAST AREA DIRECTOR

I know many of us are more than likely pretty tired of the virtual meetings, emails and presentations. Perhaps it’s just me but now in May of 2021, it still feels like the sands are shifting. We started this year with the uncertainty of the waiver guidance going into the fall of SY20-21. Our program began in NSLP, then SSO and finally SFSP. I believe there is some universality to all our experiences whether from the partial to then full district openings, students and staff quarantines and the fact many of our programs now resemble Door Dash & Grub hub. We could also include that Zoom and Google Meets have become pervasive tools for peer collaboration. One conclusion I’ve observed is in less than a year, my entire way of doing business has changed. Managing people, claiming meals, serving students, menu options and conducting meetings with peers are all dynamically done differently. Maybe that’s you as well. NYSNA as a whole has shifted as well. Even this digital publication did not exist a year ago. Online collaboration has become part of our new normal. Going forward the new phrase of the “Hybrid Model” keeps emerging with both online and traditional ways of doing business. The natural world exemplifies what we can accomplish together. (I promise I won’t geek out on a wolf pack or wildebeest herd story) The business world does this as well. Working together we have the ability not only to insulate our programs but also keep them fiscally viable departments within our educational ecosystems. A new series of questions can be asked pertaining to what does any of this look like for programs like ours? Front line staffs remain essential; there are no humanoid robots to serve our children yet. What are we doing about POS systems, reliable distribution chains, food production that is both reliable and local to our areas? Where is the state leaning on claims, waivers and grants etc? The point I am simply bringing to a close here is things are continuing to evolve rapidly. It has been pretty easy to get lost or even swallowed. However together we stand a much better chance. The story of the Japanese bamboo forests during earthquakes comes to mind. It was said that the bamboo forest was the safest place to be because of how intertwined their root systems are. Being a part of the NYSNA organization

“

I would l ike to take this opportunity to thank each and every School Food Service worker. Whether you are in a school setting or industry. This year has been unprecedented and yet you ALL rocked it. I have never been more proud to be in the school food service industry. We kept our kids fed when odds were not on our side. We brainstormed, we adapted, we fed our kids. You all are heroes in my eyes. So again THANK YOU for all you do today and every day! You should be proud.

We kept our kids fed when odds were not on our side.

“

and allows us to share our strengths (roots) and protect, educate, encourage, inform, manage and most importantly in these times Adapt. Now it is great to be someone enjoying the content, but frommy experience it’s even better to get involved. As you go through our delicious “Fresh Bites”, I want to encourage you to jump in, share your strengths & join our wolf pack. (Sorry I couldn’t help myself. It was that or Stampede) Sincerely, Naim Walcott

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

Being a part of the NYSNA organization and allows us to share our strengths (roots) and protect, educate, encourage, inform, manage and most importantly in these times Adapt.

- Christopher Reeve

NaimWalcott is the Food Service Director for the Westhampton Beach UFSD in Westhampton Beach, NY. He has been in the foodservice industry for over 20 years. The last decade of which has been in school nutrition management and service programs. He currently serves on the Long Island School Nutrition Directors Association and LI Food Purchasing COOP. Some of his professional history includes banking as well as polysomnography. With a diverse background in service, Naim focuses on improving the food quality and the student’s experience from service to bite. He also does woodwork and hikes, citing Breakneck Ridge in Coldsprings, NY as one of his favorite trails. NaimWalcott • South Area Director

Nicole Grandjean is a food service director for St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES. She was born and raised on the Tug Hill Plateau. After college Nicole worked in a long-term care facility as a dietetic technician. She then decided to take a job as a school food service director closer to her hometown. She has been in school food service for almost 8 years and has loved every moment of her journey! NICOLE GRANDJEAN • Northeast Area Director

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Western Area

CHAPTERS

AchIEving & Setting Your Goals

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we had actually completed more than necessary for the Bronze. In 2019 we were awarded the President’s Gold Award. During all this time I had one goal that I had been “secretly” working towards. I wanted to earn my SNA Certificate. I knew in my head I wanted that Level 4 certificate. I attended many fun and educational NYSNA events and took many courses through ICN (Institute of Child Nutrition) to earn those valuable CEU’s. I am proud to say this April another goal was accomplished when I turned in all my paperwork and earned that Level 4 Certificate. Through all of this the NYSNA Board of Directors, State Members and Headquarter staff have been awesome. They have been a resource center, cheerleaders and like proud family members all rolled into one. Their encouragement and help have pushed me farther than I ever thought I could go. If you have ever looked at these goals, or anything else and thought they were out of your grasp please reach out to me or another NYSNA member. I would LOVE to help others reach their goals. At this point you may be wondering what my next goal is…100% district membership at the National SNA level. After that, hmm…the sky is the limit.

Setting a goal and achieving it is one of the most rewarding accomplishments. Recognizing your goal, learning about it, working towards it and then the satisfaction of reaching it is so empowering. A few years ago, I discovered the many opportunities through SNA and NYSNA to set goals within our chapter, my district and personally. I have had so much fun learning about these goals and achieving them that I would like to share them with you. The first goal I set was for all my staff to become NYSNA members. I was a new manager in a district that was currently “in the red” financially. I thought there was no way that the district would pay for all of us to join NYSNA. At the time Scott Ziobrowski was the Western Area Director and he gave me the push to ask for it. Without hesitation my district saw the benefits and fortunately we have had 100% district paid membership ever since. That achieved goal was so awesome it let me to investigate other professional goals. The SNS Credentialing…a BIG one! After researching it and discussing it with my supervisor I decided to go for it. I studied for it and I mean studied HARD. It had been 20 years since I had been in college. In the fall of 2016 I took the exam and passed. The sense of accomplishment I get every time I write SNS after my name never goes away. By now I was on a roll. I am a member of the Allegany- Cattaraugus SNA and I discussed the possibility of working towards one of the NYSNA Chapter Awards. We decided we would strive for it; hoping to at least achieve the Bronze Award. By the deadline for the application

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“No matter how many goals you have achieved, you must set your sights on a higher one.” - Jessica Savitch

Tracie Middleton, SNS is the Food Service Director at Bolivar-Richburg Central School, she has been in child nutrition for 24 years! Tracie loves what she does and is currently the Vice-President of Allegany- Cattaraugus SNA along with service on the NYSNA board of directors. She is honored to work with so many dedicated individuals to serve our students each and every day. TRACIE MIDDLETON, SNS • Western Area Director

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Western Area

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Western Area Feature

2021 MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP SUBMITTED BY KIRK ADERMAN CONTRIBUTION BY NICOLE VANDERMEID

Renee Burslem (Mom), Alex Burslem and Scott Burslem (Dad)

For over the past fifteen years, the Monroe County School Nutrition Association has annually awarded $500.00 scholarships to local high school seniors who would be continuing their education in the related fields of Nutrition, Culinary, or Food Service Management. The 2021 Scholarship winner is Mr. Alex Burslem of Honeoye Falls-Lima CSD. Alex has been accepted to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Alex intends to study Advanced Culinary Arts and Food Service Management. Congratulations Alex, we wish you the best of luck.

Here’s what is happening in erie county BY MARY LOU GROFF, PUBLICITY CHAIR

DuringApril, theMonroe County Chapter held their annual “BINGO” event and fundraiser. However, due to COVID restrictions, the BINGO games were conduct virtually this year. Over thirty chapter member participated by buying BINGO boards for three separate games. Each weekday morning three numbers were drawn and then e-mailed to all participants. When a participant had a “BINGO”, they contacted Chapter President Nicole VanDerMeid, who confirmed their winning numbers. BINGO game winners received gift cards for area restaurants and businesses. The funds from BINGO board sales help to fund various Monroe County Chapter professional, educational, and social events. There were three winners from the first game — Patty Batista and Janice Phillips---both of Gates Chili CSD and Dele Akinniyi of Rochester City SD. Game two Winners were----Cedrick Perkins of Rochester City, and Lisa Freer of East Irondequoit. The winner of the third BINGO gamewas Tenisha Raby of the Rochester City School District. Congratulations to all our winners. MONROE COUNTY CHAPTER ANNUAL BINGO FUNDRAISER SUBMITTED BY KIRK ADERMAN CONTRIBUTION BY NICOLE VANDERMEID

The Erie County School Nutrition Association Leadership has been meeting virtually through Zoom throughout the pandemic. At the present time, no in- person functions have taken place. Some school districts have moved to in-person learning 4 or 5 days a week, while other districts or grade levels remain in the hybrid model or some families choose to remain remote. No matter the model, one thing is for certain, the students are being fed with nutritious meals in person or bagged! The lunch lines are gradually growing and our food service heroes are happy to see the student’s smiling eyes!

ECSNA President, Ruth Conner, will take on her second year as president for the 2021- 2022 School Year. She will be confirming her board at the June meeting. The ECSNA board will be planning fall and spring banquets and holding a membership drive. They are planning an in-person summer continuing education workshop, socially distanced of course! Scholarships are being looked into for directors for Conferences. Also, a new directors meet and greet are being planned.

Janice Phillips and Patty Batista Gates Chili School District

Cedrick Perkins, Tenisha Raby and Dele Akinniyi Rochester City School District

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Western Area

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Western Area Feature

Brighton Central Schools won $500 for their school!

Brighton Central Schools shared a new breakfast menu item that was a success with students and staff

Our March winner was Nicole VanDerMeid, Food Service director for the Brighton Central School District. In Nicole’s submission, she shared a photo of a breakfast dish that has the perfect combination of being loved by kids, easy to put together

Cargill’s Sunny Fresh® is committed to providing students with nutritious meals that’ll help them thrive. The COVID pandemic challenged so many in foodservice, but those challengeswere even greater for school nutrition programs. Early in the pandemic, we recognized the heroic efforts being performed to provide nutrition to their kids despite many of the students not physically at the schools. Schools needed to recreate their programs while balancing staff safety and complicated budgets. As we worked through these uncertain times, we began looking for newways to help our schools create success in their meal programs. In November, we launched a program to allow schools to share with each other how our products have brought success to their meal program. Schools can not only help each other by sharing great ideas but will also be entered into a monthly drawing for a $500 donation to their school district. The program so far has garnered many innovative ideas and five districts have supplemented their budgets with an additional donation.

BUFFALO SCHOOLS CELEBRATE!

and travels well for parents. She calls it their Country Breakfast Bowl. Nicole described the dish as a great comfort food meal. She said, “The kids love a hot breakfast with Bacon & Cheese Eggstravaganza with tater tots and the extra sprinkle of cheddar makes it a win-win. It’s easy to

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put together during busy mornings and transports well for parent pick-up.” Thanks, Nicole for sharing! To keep your menus fun and tasty check out other school districts’ ideas highlighted on our Twitter account.

Country Breakfast Bowl at Brighton Central Schools

FreshBites

SUMMER 2021

FreshBites

SUMMER 2021

Western Area

CHAPTERS

Western Area Feature

SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY at Wi lson Central School Distr i ct

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Readi-Bake ® BeneFIT ® Bars Give kids all the benefits of great-tasting 51% Whole Grain

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Meets whole grain rich criteria • 1-2 grain servings • Great source of fiber Exact Portion Count • Thaw & Serve • Perfect Grab-N-Go Option

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SUMMER 2021

SUMMER 2021 6000 Central Highway, Pennsauken, NJ 08109 • 800.989.9534 x6140 • www.jjsnackfoodservice.com FreshBites

2021 NYSNA ANNUAL CONFERENCE M E E T T H E S P E A K E R S

Josh Diekman, CEC, CCA Corporate Executive Chef/ Culinary Sales Manager, Land O’Lakes, Inc.

CHEF JERNARD WELLS Award Winning Celebrity Chef/Host

Cooking Demo Sponsored by American Dairy Association North East Chef Jenard Wells will conduct a cooking demonstration using kid-tested and approved quick & easy grab and go recipes that will work for all serving models. Attendees can incorporate these recipes into their meal services, which can lead to increased meal participation, while also continuing to feed our students, families, and communities.

Learn how to use a kitchen knife correctly and which knife to use inwhich application. Learn proper ways to cut onions, peppers and more! Knife Skills This session will review maintenance of records for the Child Nutrition Programs. Production records, product formulation statements, and record retention timeframes are some of the topics that will be discussed. Record Maintenance

Director of Nutrition Services, South Madison Community School Corporation Lindsey Hill, RD, SNS

K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R

Breanna Gustafson

JOE GERSTANDT

Not every school nutrition program is required to have a budget, so many times this concept gets forgotten or put on the “someday to-do” list. This session will provide ideas and tools to help districts get started, while helping other districts refine their processes so everyone can have a successful (financial) school nutrition program. School Nutrition Finance: A Different Approach to Budgets, Projections, and High Impact Decisions

Joe Gerstandt Speaker, Author, Advisor

New York Policy Coordinator, FINYS / American Farmland Trust Mikaela Ruiz-Ramón

Your brand defines who you are as a school foodservice program. This speaker will help you discover your brand voice, colors, logo and overall brand identity. Staff will learn what they can do in their kitchens and cafeterias to get your foodservice brand in front of students. Branding your School Nutrition Program

K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R Inclusive Work Environment: Making it Real Creating an inclusive work environment requires more than a statement of commitment. In this thought provoking keynote, learn how to bring greater clarity, action and impact to your organizational diversity and inclusion efforts by making inclusion an active practice. This session introduces you to that practice. Anchored in a practical model of what inclusion is, Joe will introduce you to a set of competencies and commitments to ensure that your team is, in fact, inclusive. You will leave this session with work to do, tools to use and things that you can act on immediately.

Published in December 2020, “Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Farm to School to Strengthen the Economy, Support New York Farms, and Improve Student Health in the Face of New Challenges”, encourages action by state and local governments to achieve the full economic and public health potential of this and other farm to school programs in New York to build back better. This session will provide a high-level overview of the report’s findings and recommendations for food service directors and staff. Growing Resilience: The Future of Farm to School in 30 Minutes

Stefanie Giannini, MA, SNS Owner, IVATI

Sponsored by American Dairy Association North East NYS STUDENT PANEL

With how easy it is to communicate in today’s digital world, communication should be a breeze right? Wrong! Many of the issues within organizations stem from poor communication. Join this session to better understand yourself as a communicator, how to effectively communicate with those around you, and how to move forward after a communication breakdown. Communication Breakdown

This session will be led by a student panel to discuss the realities they are currently facing and how we can make school lunch fun again. We will dive into conversation about how to get meals remotely as well as the effects of COVID-19 on school lunch. Understanding Your Customer

CHEF JERNARD WELLS Chef Jernard Wells Award Winning Celebrity Chef/Host

Supervisor of Child Nutrition, Buffalo City School District Ruth Conner

Yoga Instructor, Be Healthy Institute Elizabeth Coffey, E-RYT 500

FreshBites Do you have childhood memories of eating a favorite food? Maybe you remember how you eagerly anticipated ending each holiday meal with your grandmother’s sensational Peach Cobbler? Or how your Dad made Saturday mornings extra special by serving up his famous banana and whip cream pancakes? Food is an important part of cultural heritage and national identity. It can connect us to people and places, bringing friends and families together, and food habit, such as whether you should eat all the food on your plate, vary across the world. If you stop and think about it, you probably associate some of your favorite foods with family memories. Well, guess what! The students that you feed each and every day associate the food they eat at school with you. Bridging the Gap Between Food & Student: What I Cook Can Impact Your Life

Renate Durham Segment Leader-Education, Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc.

Don’t wait for your program to be noticed! Make people notice your program. Speak about your staff and program with the pride and recognition it deserves. How to respond to the negative connotations about the “lunch lady” and “food service”. The speaker will share her personal experiences in addition to what worked to make a positive impact during a pandemic school year. Make Your Mark on Your District & Be the Voice of Your Program

This session will offer the benefits of yoga in a safe, approachable way and provide you with the tools you need to help relieve common body pains, while sitting on a chair and/or standing. Learn basic stretches and breathing techniques for you to use during your workday and after. No flexibility required... just humans wanting to feel better! Yoga in Any Space (Chair Yoga)

This session will discuss current menu challenges as well as solution opportunities to address national menu fatigue to increase student participation. Fighting Menu Fatigue

SUMMER 2021 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE CLICK HERE! FreshBites

SUMMER 2021

In Loving Memory of

Quality you can taste… ...Consistency you can trust.

CAROL BEEBE Carol Anne Beebe 1947 – 2021 On May 6th, 2021, Carol Anne Lynch Beebe passed peacefully into heaven surrounded by her family at her Little Brown Jug cottage in Bolton Landing. Carol was born in Albany, New York on August 10th, 1947, the daughter of Edmund T. Lynch and Katherine Dishaw Lynch. Carol attended the Milne School in Albany and then went on to St. Lawrence University. She spent her summers on the shores of Lake George at what is now known as the Rainbow Beach Association. The Lake became a favorite place and is also where she met her husband Robert, whom she married in June of 1967. The following August, Carol and Robert took up residence in Washington D.C., and a year later, the couple was blessed with the birth of their first child, Michelle. While Robert attended Georgetown Law School, Carol balanced the challenges of motherhood while continuing her education at night at the University of Maryland at College Park. After graduation, the family moved to New York, and, in 1969, Carol gave birth to their second child, Matthew. In 1972, Clifton Park became their permanent home. Carol and Robert’s 53-year marriage was one of mutual love and devotion in which they continuously supported each other in all of their endeavors. Carol continued to pursue her education while working nights and weekends as the head bridal consultant at the Linen Chest in Latham. Her persistence and hard work culminated in 1977 with her graduation from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in English. From that day forward, she assumed the role of chief of the “grammar police.” She never missed an opportunity, solicited or not, to make sure her family was practicing the King’s English. In 1990, Carol volunteered to work as a data collector for the Federal census, ending each day by reviewing her records at the Saratoga Springs McDonalds, which she dubbed her “McOffice.” Soon after concluding her census duties, Carol accepted a part- time position as the Executive Director of the New York School Food Service Association. Given her diligence and enthusiasm, the part time job soon became a full-time position. During her 24 years of service, Carol traveled throughout the State and country representing the organization and advocating for childhood nutrition. She took great but quiet pride in her many accomplishments. Notwithstanding the demands of her career, Carol’s life was anchored by her faith. As a parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park, Carol never missed weekly mass, at which she often served as a lector and eucharistic minister. When traveling, the first order of business was to locate the Catholic church and determine the mass schedule. She embraced her local church community and made everyone feel that they were part of her family, including strangers in need of a holiday dinner. Carol’s children, Michelle Mylod (Jim) and Matthew Beebe (Julie) could depend on the presence of their mother at every school and community event, including numerous musical performances and sporting contests. Ever the proud parent, not only did Carol cheer on her own children but every other member of the team as well. With the birth of her grandchildren, Carol became “Mem”, and her favorite times were those spent with her “Memlings”, Gabriella, Madeline, Maxwell, and Jacob. She was enormously proud of her

Carol Photo Slideshow

Memlings’ accomplishments as they obtained their education and moved into the workforce. Carol learned to cook from Robert’s mother, Evelyn. She and Evelyn developed a special bond, the cornerstone of which was the kitchen. She loved to try new dishes and still has stacks and boxes of recipes that she was planning to showcase. She hosted family dinner every Thursday - an event not to be missed. Holidays presented yet another opportunity to bring the family together, and Carol was certain to do whatever was necessary to ensure not only a festive occasion, but an opportunity to nurture the bond and love within her family, and of course, correct their grammar. Carol’s passion for cooking and entertaining is shared by her children and will remain as part of her legacy. Carol was an active and social person. She loved to play tennis and was a regular on the RBA tennis courts. Her cheering and laughter can still be heard down Rainbow Beach Road. She especially loved playing with her family, as well as with her girlfriends in the USTA. The ladies even reached the regional final of the national tournament one year. Carol was an exceptional bridge player and thoroughly enjoyed a full evening of playing cards with friends and family. She and Robert were a formidable pair at the bridge table and they taught their children the tricks of the trade. Carol’s most recent project was teaching her daughter-in-law, Julie, to be her protege. On a number of occasions, Carol and Robert traveled together with friends and family visiting the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Italy, England, Spain, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Aruba. More recently, Carol and Robert loved spending the month of March in Naples, Florida, where they would sit on the beach, reading and tackling their daily crossword puzzles. Evenings were spent dining and socializing with their friends and family, who delighted in visiting. No matter the location, Carol’s adventures were always filled with her laughter and singing. She once joined Mary Wilson on stage in Las Vegas in a rousing rendition of a Supremes’ classic. While Carol immensely enjoyed all of her travels and experiences, her favorite place always remained Lake George. Carol’s interest and genuine caring for other people invariably drew both new acquaintances and old friends to her. She was intensely interested in what people were doing in their lives and listened intently to every detail. She was a sounding board and confidant for all of the friends brought home by her Memlings over the years, along with nieces and nephews of the extended family. With her vibrant personality and infectious spirit, Carol made an instant and powerful impression on everyone she met. She was truly a “force of nature.” The sudden and deadly onset of the illness has taken this beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend far too soon. While we grieve so deeply, we know that she is now in the care of her Lord and never far from those she loved here on Earth. In addition to her husband, children, and grandchildren, Carol is survived by her brother, Thomas Lynch, and her cousins, Janet Hellmann and James Lynch.

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For additional information please contact: Cassie Miller-Leone ~ cmillerleone@ajletizio.com ~ 603-505-1344 Cindy Marschke ~ cindy@yangs5thtaste.com ~ 414-333-5578

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