Sylvania boy finalist in rice contest

Ben Tucker flips the rice pancakes he and his mother, Lisa, created for the Uncle Ben's contest. The Highland Elementary student is among 500 finalists in the contest. The recipe called for cooked white rice, two teaspoons milk, two eggs, a dash of salt, and a handful of fruit.

Here's a look at last week's headlines on OurTownSylvania.com:

Sylvania kindergartner, with rice pancake recipe, is finalist in Uncle Ben's contest: A Highland elementary kindergartner is among 500 other finalists in the "Uncle Ben's: Ben's Beginners" contest for creating an original fruit and rice pancake recipe.

Ben Tucker, 6, and his mother, Lisa modified a few recipes found on the Internet. The recipe uses ⅔ cup of cooked white rice, two teaspoons of milk, two eggs, a dash of salt, and a handful of fresh fruit.

Ben's video and recipe will be judged after the voting ends on March 11. A panel of Mars Food US employees will judge. Four children will win a trip to New York to appear on the Rachael Ray Show. The grand prize winner will win $10,000 and a $50,000 makeover for their school's cafeteria.

"I really hope I win," said Ben. "I want to get new tables for my school."

Sylvania veterinarian for Alaska's Iditarod dog-sled race wows Highland Elementary School third graders: More than 100 third graders at Highland elementary watched and listened as Paul Pifer, a veterinarian at Countryside Animal Hospital in Sylvania, gave a presentation on Feb. 29 about his time spent caring for sled dogs during the annual, 1,000-mile Iditarod sled race in Alaska.

Mr. Pifer has worked the race 13 times and is leaving for his next trip on Wednesday.

Sylvania backs continuing regional water study, by Mayor Craig Stough: On Feb. 21, Sylvania City Council voted to approve a continuing water study performed by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments that is funded with the help of a state grant.

TMACOG requested Sylvania's participation in the second phase of its regional water study as a "nonfinancial contributing partner" in a $100,000 grant application to the State of Ohio Local Government Innovation Fund, said Mayor Craig Stough in his column.

The City of Toledo and Lucas County have committed $50,000 each to the study as the necessary local match for the state grant. The study began in 2010. During Phase I of that TMACOG study, interested participants were requested to contribute $5,000 each toward the cost of the study, and many communities did, including Sylvania.

Phase II of the TMACOG study will investigate the legal requirements and feasibility of forming a public regional water authority to purchase or lease Toledo's water treatment facilities.

Lourdes names provost to interim president position, by Lourdes University: On Feb. 28, Lourdes University announced that Janet H. Robinson, appointed provost at the university on Feb. 17 by the board of trustees, will serve as interim president during a nationwide search to find a permanent replacement for current president, Robert C. Helmer. Mr. Helmer was hired to lead Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and plans to leave Lourdes at the end of the school year.

Ms. Robinson will begin her position at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

Associate provost Keith Schlender will serve as interim provost while Ms. Robinson helms the university.

Contact Ashley Streichert at: astreichert@theblade.com or 419-206-0356.