But what’s the best approach for preparing the soil and caring for plants? Do different varieties require special fertilizer blends or watering schedules? Scott Daigre, proprietor of Tomatomania!, will answer those questions and more at Cal State Northridge’s next CSUN-al Gardening Series, “Crazy for TOMATOES!,” scheduled for Saturday, March 6, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the university.

“Tomatoes are often the first food plant that children grow in school,” said Brenda Kanno, manager of CSUN’s Botanic Garden. “With the many varieties that are available in different colors, sizes and shapes, tomatoes offer tasty and nutritious rewards to the home gardener.”

Daigre is owner of PowerPlant Garden Design and the annual Tomatomania! event in Encino. His garden designs have been featured on DIY and HGTV programs.

Registration for the class began Saturday, Feb. 6. While the class is free, registration is required. To register, please e-mail botanicgarden@csun.edu to request a space in the class.

Driving and parking instructions, as well the classroom location, will be sent with confirmation of registration. The same e-mail address may also be used for questions about the class.

The Cal State Northridge Botanic Garden is operated by the Department of Biology and serves as a field site for botany, entomology, photography, painting and other classes. In addition to geographically themed plantings and a butterfly garden, there are greenhouses where noteworthy botanical specimens are grown.
The garden is open to the community. Visit the Botanic Garden Web site at www.csun.edu/botanicgarden for more information.

The event, hosted by the University Student Union (USU), is scheduled to take place on Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Northridge Center in the USU. The USU is located on the west side of campus located at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

Though the event is open to the public, priority seating will be given to CSUN faculty, staff and students.

“Michael Beckwith’s teachings have transformed millions of people’s lives around the world including my own,” said Piero Procida, former USU board of directors chair. “This inspired me to bring him to CSUN so that the students here can also find peace in a world that is consumed in money worries, turmoil, and stress.”

Michael Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles. He is the author of the award-winning “Spiritual Liberation - Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential,” “The Answer is You” and “A Manifesto of Peace.” Beckwith has received numerous humanitarian awards as well, including the 2004 African Peace Award, and the Humanitarian Award of the National Conference for Compassion and Justice.

“Beckwith could give a new perspective to students dealing with high tuition or anyone who is dealing with financial issues, and help teach them how to handle these situations in a new light,” said Hamid Jahangard, program coordinator for major events. “When you walk away from this lecture you should walk away motivated and inspired, and feel that you could overcome your challenges.”

Beckwith was a featured teacher in the best-selling book and film, “The Secret,” and has appeared on The Oprah Show and Larry King Live. His first PBS special, “The Answer is YOU,” is currently being aired nationally.

“After reading his book ‘Spiritual Liberation,’ I was able to take a step back and see life for what it really is,” Procida said. “I learned how well the Law of Attraction works and how the application of his teachings can make your life work for you and not against you.”

Tickets are free for CSUN students, faculty and staff with an ID at the Associated Students ticket office. There will be a stand-by line the night of the event for non-ticket holders and community members without a CSUN ID.

For more information call the USU at (818) 677-2491 or visit their Web site at usu.csun.edu/events.

The gift will be used to create the Scott M. Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Scott M. Weiss Memorial Scholarship Endowment in honor of a cinema and television arts alumnus and entertainment industry professional who was killed in an automobile accident in July 2008.

Cal State Northridge has received a $1 million pledge to honor alum Scott M. Weiss (above) who died in 2008.

“This gift is not only generous, but inspiring,” Willey said. “Scott Weiss’ memory will be both an encouragement and a standard for a talented, creative and enterprising student to cross the bridge from school to his or her professional life. The gift truly is wonderful.”

Scott M. Weiss Scholarships will be awarded to cinema and television arts students who meet the university’s financial need requirements and demonstrate promise in their major measured by their passion, commitment, creativity and effort. A recipient must be at least a sophomore and maintain a 2.5 or higher grade point average. The first scholarship is expected to be awarded later this year.

Karen Kearns, associate dean of CSUN’s Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communications, had Weiss as a student in fall 2000.

“Scott was in my single-camera television class,” she said. “He and his group created a wonderful, five-minute piece called ‘Silver Lining.’ It was about a little girl who was hit by a car and killed. Her organs were donated and the family met the little girl who received their daughter’s heart. It was very touching. It also was the first time one of our television projects won a CSU Media Arts award. Scott was the editor on that team.

“He was a great student. He was funny and he worked really well with his group,” Kearns recalled. “He just added so much to the team and its ability to create this wonderful story.”

Kearns said she was “touched” that an endowment for cinema and television arts students was created in his honor.

“It is so difficult to think that a student this young has left us,” she said. “Yet, his legacy will live on in the work of these other students he is able to help.”

Scott Weiss transferred to Northridge in 1999 after having completed his general education requirements at Pierce and Valley Colleges. He enrolled in what was then the Radio-Television-Film Department with an eye on a career in the entertainment industry. During his final year at the university, Weiss obtained a much sought-after internship with a post-production company, earning credits toward his major at the same time. When he graduated in 2001, the company offered him a one-year contract to edit film coverage of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

In 2003, Weiss was hired by RIOT, a Santa Monica-based post-production company, to work exclusively on the company’s contract with the Fox Broadcasting Company. His editing skills were used to create promos for upcoming movies on the FX cable channel. Pleased with his work, Fox hired Weiss as an in-house editor in 2006 when it ended its contract with RIOT.

Two years later, on July 12, 2008, Weiss was killed in a automobile accident. He was 32.

Cal State Northridge’s Department of Cinema and Television Arts, housed in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication, is well respected by those in the entertainment industry, who frequently guest lecture and teach in the program and regularly hire its graduates. Alumni of the program have gone on to hold key positions in the entertainment industry-from writing and directing feature films to creating innovative shows for television and other media.

California State University, Northridge has more than 33,000 full- and part-time students and offers 66 bachelor’s and 53 master’s degrees as well as 28 teaching credential programs. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest single-campus universities in the nation and the only four-year public university in the San Fernando Valley. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.

University representatives have collected hundreds of pairs of shoes to donate to Sports Chalet’s “Soles 4 Souls” program. The campus’ Student-Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC) gathered dozens of their “gently” used athletic shoes for victims.

“We felt this was something Cal State Northridge Athletics should do,” said Cody Pearce, a member of the SAAC committee. “This was important to us.”

In addition, SAAC has pledged to donate its Big West Coin Drive winnings to the Children’s Hunger Fund Haitian Earthquake relief.

The campus is one of the nine Big West Conference institutions to participate in the annual Big West Coin Drive. The coin drive, which takes place during the month of February, helps raise money for charity. The school that raises the most money wins and the other member institutions must donate half of their proceeds to the winner’s charity of choice.

Finally, Cal State Northridge’s Associated Students, University Student Union and the campus’ volunteer program, Unified We Serve, are collaborating to host a benefit musical showcase for Haiti in February. Plans have not yet been finalized. For more information, contact Hamid Jahangard at hamid-reza.jahangard@csun.edu or call (818) 677-4171.

From Feb. 6 to April 1, the VITA program will provide free assistance with state and federal income tax preparation for low-income families and individuals, non-English speakers, senior citizens and the disabled. For dates, times and locations, visit the VITA Web site at www.csun.edu/vita/.

“We’re helping put money back in the community and in taxpayers’ pockets,” said Donna Watkins, VITA program coordinator.

Along with providing tax assistance, VITA gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in their field of study. It also combines academic study with community service, enhancing the relationship between the campus and community.

This year, 265 students underwent an intensive training program that provided information on handling federal and state tax returns. The program also gives the participating students course credit.

“Participating in VITA allows students to have hands-on experience, especially if they are in the accounting field and planning on doing taxes in the future,” Watkins said.

Due to the large number of individuals who require assistance, the maximum gross income limitation per income tax return has been set at $50,000.

Formed in 1971, the VITA center serves as a valued community partner that is responsive to the needs of the culturally diverse San Fernando Valley. For more information, call (818) 677-4519.