Restaurant sponsors writing contest

Restaurant sponsorswriting contest
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Has your life changed because of a specific person or experience? Olive Garden wants to know. As part of its 10th-annual Pasta Tales national writing contest, Olive Garden is asking students to: "Describe how a person or experience has made an important impact on your life."
"The people, places and moments that fill our lives each day help define who we are as individuals," said Steve Coe, spokesperson for Olive Garden. "This year's Pasta Tales question allows students to reflect upon someone or something that has had a profound influence on their life."
Olive Garden will accept essays through Dec. 5 of 50 to 250 words from writers in first through 12th grade addressing this topic. Entry forms and complete rules will be available at local Olive Garden restaurants or by logging on to www.olivegarden.com/ourcommunity/pastatales.
The grand prize is a trip to New York, dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square and a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond. A winner also will be chosen in each grade category and will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and dinner with their family at their local Olive Garden.
Entries must include the writer's name, full address, phone number with area code, grade, date of birth including year, and a statement that the work is their own. Entries must be submitted either online or postmarked by Dec. 5 and sent to Pasta Tales, PMB 2000, 6278 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33308-1916.
Submissions are judged based on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling by the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa.
For more information about Pasta Tales, call (954) 776-1999.
Quote/Unquote
"I'd rather be naked." -- The Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik, on Justin Timberlake's forthcoming clothing line, William Rast, in People magazine.
"I was a Girl Scout. I sold lots of cookies. I got a lot of badges, but I was not that focused on them -- I was really into those cookies. Our house (in Columbia, S.C.) was the depot for the cookies for my troop, so the whole living room would be stacked with them. We were a very successful troop!" -- Actress Kristin Davis, in InStyle.
"I know some people see me as a blond ditz. I don't care, though. I know who I am, and I'm really comfortable with that." -- Hilary Duff, on ellegirl.com.
In Oct., think pink for a good cause
This month you may notice stores seem overwhelming pink. But it's all in the name of a good cause: breast cancer awareness. For October, many companies have created special products and are donating some portion of the proceeds to charitable groups that support the fight against breast cancer.
Among such items are two classically "pink" fragrances, Love's Baby Soft and Chantilly, which have been specially packaged just for this month. Intended to celebrate the special bond between mothers and daughters, the Scents of Promise gift packs ($12.99) each include a limited edition pink ribbon charm bracelet. Also included is information on the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Breast Care Helpline (800-I'M-AWARE) and a breast self-examination guide.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fragrance company will donate $125,000 to the foundation. Get the gift packs at stores like Target and major drug stores through December.
Paparazzi didn'tcause accident
LOS ANGELES -- Authorities investigating a car crash involving actress Lindsay Lohan said this week that contrary to reports from some witnesses, paparazzi had nothing to do with the collision.
Lohan, 19, and a female passenger sustained minor injuries Tuesday after the actress's black Mercedes-Benz convertible collided with a van on a busy West Hollywood street.
The crash occurred because the driver of the van made a U-turn in front of Lohan, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The van's driver may be cited, he added.
"She happens to be an innocent victim in all of this," Whitmore said. "The paparazzi, as far as we can tell, have nothing to do in terms of the accident."
Witnesses said Lohan was shopping at a clothing store and was confronted by dozens of photographers who swarmed her car a short time before the crash.