The Italian Coffee Tradition You Need to Know The Coffee You Pay For but Never Drink Sarah at anana Jun 25, 2026

 https://cookwithanana.substack.com/p/the-italian-coffee-tradition-worth

Sink or Swim

 https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/2026/07/01/sink-or-swim

PERSONAL HISTORY

Sink or Swim

My anxious classmate in the next lane told me all I needed to know about Dartmouth’s most unusual graduation requirement.

JULY | AUGUST 2026 BOER DENG ’10

I never got his name, but the fellow ’10 in the lane next to me was visibly nervous, shakily paddling in the water with the help of the assistant administering his swim test. 

A swim of 50 yards is usually not a memorable event, unless the stakes are high—if you are racing for a medal, say, or if that swim stands between you and your expensive college diploma. 

The memory of my classmate’s anxiety came back to me recently when a news story in The Economist about the rather niche subject of college swim tests caught my eye. This year’s Dartmouth graduates, as the story put it, will be a class “fluent in literature, science, writing, and foreign languages—but for the first time in more than a century, not necessarily able to swim.” 

The College has phased out the requirement that graduates swim a lap to earn their diplomas, ending an unusual tradition that had its early 20th-century roots in preparing young men for military service. 

The test was a formality for most students, though certainly not for everyone. Almost every year, a small number of students who could not pass had to take swimming lessons to graduate. Getting into a swim class at the College could prove a challenge, too. Temporary closure of the Karl Michael Pool in 2014 sent those who still needed to fulfill the requirement scrambling. 

Most students take the test during their Dartmouth Outing Club first-year trips—an easy thing to get out of the way at a convenient time. 

I was one of the few who didn’t go on a first-year trip and never bothered to trot over to the pool to fulfill the requirement. 

I realized I’d neglected it about a week before graduation and had to book my swim test at the last minute. Friends teased me: Only people who couldn’t swim put it off that long! 

As it happens, I swim just fine. However, although I swam the lap without trouble, it was clear other students who showed up that day had delayed their tests because they could not. I surmised from snippets exchanged between the coach and the classmate in the next lane, as he unsteadily progressed through a crash course, that he was an international student. I wonder whether he found the day rather more memorable than I and if others through the years have shared his dread as they looked across the depths of the pool. 

The only other thing I remember from my swim test was the appalling earache that was still hanging around at Commencement. 

These days, that dip in the pool strikes me as a small window into an insidious kind of inequality. 

Other parents may be familiar with the particular—and expensive—rigmarole of teaching young children to swim: the struggle to convince a squirmy toddler to shimmy into swimwear; the packing of towels and goggles and snacks and extra changes of clothes that inevitably get wet when dropped into a puddle on the changing stall floor; the harried shuttling into the car to get to the pool, out of the pool for the showers, and then out of the swimsuit and into those already damp street clothes. 

In America, the price of swim lessons can be out of reach for those who don’t have friends or family with their own pool. The United States has 10 million private pools but only about 300,000 public ones, according to 2023 figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s probably why more than three-quarters of children from families earning less than $50,000 a year do not know how to swim or swim well, according to a 2017 USA Swimming Foundation survey. 

In China, my parents learned to swim in an estuary of the Yangtze River, a far cry from the schlep that many American parents of means go through to train their aqua-tots. For me in China a generation later, the communists let just about anyone into the public pool. When we moved to the States, there was a pool in our apartment block. I have no memory of swimming being out of reach. 

When the faculty voted in 2022 to dispense with the swim test, it cited inequity in wealth and access as the reason. The faculty noted that those who failed were “overwhelmingly students of color” and having to learn to swim to pass the test amounted to an extra graduation requirement for some students. When the class of ’26 arrived for its DOC trip later that year, the swim test was simply gone. 

The decision was controversial—at the time, alums denounced it in this magazine as a terrible idea and warned that swimming is a life skill needed to ward against the many water-related risks around campus. When the College committee deciding whether to keep the requirement formed in 2018, students polled by The Dartmouth were divided, with those in favor of the test citing similar reasons and those against noting unfairness for those with less opportunity to have learned to swim. 

In the grand scheme of things, eliminating the test was a small move to address the many problems of inequity found at any Ivy League campus. But at least future graduates won’t suffer from swimmer’s ear when collecting their diplomas.         

Boer Deng is supervising editor for enterprise reporting at CNN in Washington, D.C.

 The Coffee Ritual in Italy: How Italians Drink Espresso and Why It Matters

By Silvia Nanetti

November 08, 2024

Coffee Culture in Italy

Introduced in the 1500s, coffee has developed its own culture in Italy. Indeed, the day in Italy is defined by coffee rituals: a cappuccino with breakfast, a caffè macchiato—or two—as an afternoon pick-me-up, and an espresso after dinner.  You will likely find yourself overwhelmed the first time you enter a densely populated bar with Italians scrambling towards the counter waving their receipts in the air. Ordering coffee in Italy is like a ritual dance and if you don’t know the moves, you will be lost (with no coffee might I add)! Here are some tips on how to have a proper Italian coffee ritual. GOOD MORNING! – Buongiorno!

The Italian Breakfast

Start your day with a classic Italian breakfast: a pastry accompanied by a warm, creamy coffee: Cappuccino: Equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. Caffè Latte: Espresso with more steamed milk and just a touch of foam. Latte Macchiato: Steamed milk “marked” with a hint of espresso. Pro tip: Avoid ordering these drinks after 11 a.m. Italians believe milky coffee is strictly a morning indulgence, never for the afternoon, and definitely not after a meal.

Let's Get Coffee!

LET’S GET COFFEE! – Andiamo a prendere un caffè In Italy, “getting a coffee” usually means having an espresso, or simply a caffè—a small but intense shot of coffee. Italians might enjoy a caffè in the afternoon or after a meal as a quick pick-me-up. Asking for a “caffè doppio” (double espresso) is not very common in Italy, hence, if you need more coffee just stop by your favorite barista throughout the day. Italians do the same! SHAKE THINGS UP

Espresso Variations

Italy has perfected countless variations on the classic espresso. If you want to mix up your coffee routine, then you should try: Caffè Macchiato: For a softer touch, this espresso is “marked” with a splash of frothy milk. Unlike breakfast coffees, this lightly milky option is enjoyed at any time, like a regular espresso. Caffè Corretto: Literally “corrected coffee,” this espresso comes with a dash of alcohol, like grappa or sambuca. Caffè Americano: Inspired by American drip coffee, this espresso is diluted with plenty of hot water. Caffè Lungo: This “long coffee” is an espresso with a bit of hot water but still stronger than an Americano.

Savoring Coffee the Italian Way

A very important aspect about the coffee ritual in Italy is that coffee is usually enjoyed slowly in small cups, so there’s not usually a to-go option. AT THE BAR – Al banco In Italy, coffee is typically enjoyed al banco—at the bar, standing alongside friends. Each of Italy’s 20 regions has its own unique take on coffee. Though espresso is everywhere, each area brings something distinct to the table. In northern Le Marche, try caffè anisette, a subtly anise-flavored coffee; in Sicily, enjoy caffè d’un parrinu, flavored with spices like cloves, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Coffee as a Cultural Symbol

Italian coffee is much more than just a drink, it has become a cultural symbol that represents the art of Italian daily life. It is a moment of pleasure and pause, an opportunity to slow down and fully enjoy the pleasures of life. For more on Italian food culture and the rituals that make Italian daily life so special, explore our guide to Colazione Italiana, our post on Che Bello il Caffè: The History and Influence of the Moka Pot, and our article on The Italian Morning Ritual. After your morning espresso, wind down the evening with a glass of Gratsi White.

Afghan Style Eggplant

 https://www.elliekrieger.com/recipe/afghan-style-grilled-eggplant-with-tomato-sauce-yogurt-and-herbs/

Allergy Hell 365 Days and Nights a Year

 It’s rare for people to develop tolerance to allergy medication. But some people still have a stuffy nose or sneezing after taking it. This doesn’t always mean the allergy medication isn’t working. Allergies can change over time or worsen because of environmental changes, aging, or stress. 

 It’s the birthday of the Dalai Lama born in Taktser, Tibet (1935). When the 13th Dalai Lama died in 1933, monks from the city of Lhasa set out to find a child who would prove to be the reincarnation of the Buddhist leader. They eventually found him in the village of Taktser, in a three-year-old boy named Lhamo, whom they took back to Lhasa and installed as the 14th Dalai Lama. Since 1960, the Dalai Lama has lived in India and worked to bring a nonviolent resolution to the conflict in Tibet. He received the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

 Louis Pasteur successfully tested his rabies vaccine on this day in 1885. Pasteur had begun work on a vaccine in 1882, using a weakened form of the virus taken from the spinal cords of infected animals. The research was time-consuming because it took several weeks for the virus to reach his test animals’ brains after they were infected, but Pasteur soon realized that people didn’t need to have the vaccine on board before they were bitten, as with other diseases. The delay between the rabid animal’s bite and the outbreak of the disease meant the vaccine could be given only when needed, and it would have plenty of time to work.

 In 1885, a nine-year-old boy named Joseph Meister was bitten by a rabid dog. He was brought to Pasteur, and though Pasteur didn’t feel his vaccine was sufficiently tested yet, he knew the boy would certainly die otherwise, so he took a chance. It was a tense few weeks waiting to see if Meister would come down with the disease, but the boy recovered, and three months later was pronounced in good health. Pasteur’s fame spread quickly, and the era of preventive medicine had begun.

Make Your Own Sauerkraut

 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-sauerkraut

8 Health Benefits of Sauerkraut (Plus How to Make It)

Key takeaways

• Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage rich in probiotics, fiber, and nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K2, iron, and manganese.
• Eating sauerkraut may help improve digestion, boost immune health, support weight management, and reduce the risk of certain cancers. It may also promote heart and bone health.
• To get the most health benefits, choose raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut from the refrigerated section without added preservatives or sugar. You can also make your own using just cabbage and non-iodized salt.

Sauerkraut is a type of fermented cabbage. It may have originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. Back then, fermentation was one of the methods used to keep foods from spoiling quickly.

Sauerkraut is now a popular side dish and condiment in many cultures. It’s especially appreciated in Germany, where its name originated.

Due to the fermentation it undergoes, sauerkraut offers a wide range of nutrition and health benefits beyond those of fresh cabbage. It’s a rich source of probiotics and vitamins that may aid digestion, boost immunity, and provide other health benefits.

Keep reading to learn more about eight health benefits of sauerkraut and how to make your own with a step-by-step guide.

1. Sauerkraut is very nutritious

Sauerkraut contains many nutrients important for optimal health. One cup (142 grams [g]) provides:

• Calories: 27
• Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbs: 6.1 g
• Fiber: 4.1 g
• Protein: 1.3 g

Sauerkraut also provides a significant portion of your recommended daily value of:

• sodium
• vitamin C
• vitamin K1
• iron
• manganese
• vitamin B6
• folate
• copper
• potassium

Sauerkraut is particularly nutritious because it undergoes fermentation, a process in which microorganisms on the cabbage digest its natural sugars, converting them into carbon dioxide and organic acids.

Sauerkraut fermentation creates conditions that promote the growth of beneficial probiotics, bacteria that provide powerful health benefits. Probiotics also help make foods more digestible, which increases your gut’s ability to absorb the vitamins and minerals they contain.

However, unlike cabbage, sauerkraut can be high in sodium. Keep this in mind if you’re watching your salt intake.

2. Improves your digestion

Older research suggests that your gut contains over 38 trillion microorganisms or “gut flora,” which is more than the total number of human cells in your body. These bacteria play a key role in your digestion.

Like some other fermented foods, sauerkraut promotes healthy gut flora. The probiotic bacteria in unpasteurized sauerkraut can act as a first line of defense against toxins and harmful bacteria.

Probiotics like those found in sauerkraut can also help reduce or prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics and reduce digestive symptoms linked to inflammatory bowel disease, though research is limited.

Different probiotic strains may provide varying advantages. Some research suggests that one serving of sauerkraut may contain up to 30 distinct bacterial strains. Consuming a wide variety of strains may offer a broader range of health benefits.

Like most other fermented foods, sauerkraut also contains various enzymes that help break down nutrients into smaller, more easily digestible molecules.

»Learn more:Foods high in probiotics

3. Boosts your immune system

Sauerkraut is a source of probiotics and nutrients that support your immune system.

The probiotics found in sauerkraut may help improve the balance of bacteria in your gut, which helps keep your gut lining healthy. A stronger gut lining helps prevent unwanted substances from “leaking” into your body and causing an immune response.

Maintaining a healthy gut flora also helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and may even boost the production of natural antibodies.

Regularly consuming probiotic foods may reduce your risk of developing viral infections, such as the common cold, gastroenteritis, and the flu, among others.

Sauerkraut is also rich in vitamin C and iron, both of which contribute to a healthy immune system.

4. May help you lose weight

Regularly consuming sauerkraut may help you lose weight and keep it off. That’s partly because sauerkraut, like most vegetables, is low in calories and high in fiber.

High fiber diets keep you fuller for longer, which may help you naturally reduce your daily calorie intake.

Sauerkraut’s probiotic content may also contribute to a trimmer waistline.

The exact reasons aren’t yet fully understood, but scientists believe that certain probiotics may have the ability to reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs from your diet.

But more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of sauerkraut-specific probiotic strains on weight loss.

»Learn more:Probiotics and weight loss

5. Helps reduce stress and maintain brain health

A healthy gut flora may boost your mood and brain function. This is due to an intimate connection between your gut and brain, in which gut bacteria can send signals to your brain, influencing its function and perception of the world.

Fermented, probiotic foods like sauerkraut support the development of a healthy gut flora, which can help boost cognitive function and brain health. Some research suggests that probiotics may help regulate mood, stress, and anxiety symptoms while supporting memory and language.

That said, other studies warn that compounds in sauerkraut may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a type of medication prescribed to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and Parkinson’s disease.

People taking these medications should consult a healthcare professional before adding sauerkraut to their diet.

6. May reduce the risk of certain cancers

Cabbage, the main ingredient in sauerkraut, contains antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that may help reduce the risk of certain cancers. The cabbage fermentation process may also create particular plant compounds that suppress the growth of precancerous cells.

Research from 2020 found that the beneficial compounds in cabbage may protect against colon, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer.

However, the number of studies is limited, and not all studies found the same results. Thus, more are needed before strong conclusions can be made.

7. May promote heart health

Sauerkraut may contribute to a healthier heart. It contains a good amount of fiber and probiotics, both of which may help reduce cholesterol levels.

Probiotics such as those found in sauerkraut may also help lower blood pressure slightly in people with hypertension.

Moreover, sauerkraut is one of the rare plant sources of menaquinone, more commonly known as vitamin K2, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease by preventing calcium deposits from accumulating in your arteries.

8. Contributes to stronger bones

The vitamin K2 in sauerkraut also plays an important role in bone health. Vitamin K2 activates proteins that bind to calcium, the main mineral found in bones.

Experts believe this contributes to stronger, healthier bones. In fact, several studies have shown that vitamin K2 may benefit bone health.

However, it’s unclear whether the vitamin K2 of sauerkraut is enough to provide a significant benefit. More research is needed.

How to shop for sauerkraut

You can find sauerkraut easily in most supermarkets, but not all types are the same. To ensure you get the most out of store-bought sauerkraut, keep these simple tips in mind:

• Avoid pasteurized varieties: Off-the-shelf sauerkraut is typically pasteurized, a process that kills the beneficial probiotics. Refrigerated varieties are less likely to be pasteurized, but check the label to be sure.
• Avoid preservatives: Many store-bought sauerkraut brands contain preservatives, which may lower the probiotic count.
• Avoid added sugar: Sauerkraut should contain only two ingredients: cabbage and salt. Some varieties may also add extra vegetables, but avoid those that add sugar or anything else to the mix.

How to make sauerkraut

Making sauerkraut is easy, simple, and inexpensive. Here’s how:

Basic sauerkraut

Ingredients

• 1 medium green cabbage
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of non-iodized salt
• 2 to 3 carrots, shredded (optional)
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (optional)

Have a 1-quart (1-L) jar ready to keep the sauerkraut in, a 4-ounce (120-mL) smaller jar to press it down, and a kitchen scale to weigh your cabbage mixture.

Directions

1. If you wish to add carrots and garlic, start by placing them in a large bowl.
2. Discard the outer leaves of your cabbage, setting aside one nicer leaf. Then, slice the cabbage into quarters, leaving the core in. This makes shredding easier.
3. Shred the cabbage quarters into the large bowl with the carrot and garlic mix. Incorporate enough cabbage to bring the total weight up to 28 ounces (800 grams), which will fit a 1-quart (1-L) jar.
4. Add salt and massage it into the cabbage mixture for a few minutes, until brine starts to accumulate at the bottom of your bowl.
5. Pack the cabbage mixture into a clean, 1-quart (1-L) jar, pressing down to get rid of air pockets. Pour the remaining brine into the jar. Air in the jar enables harmful bacteria to grow, so make sure the mixture is completely submerged.
6. Trim the cabbage leaf you set aside earlier to fit the opening of your jar. Place it in the jar on top of the mixture to prevent veggies from floating to the surface.
7. Place a 4-ounce (120-mL) jelly jar with no lid inside the larger jar, on top of the mixture. This will hold your veggie mixture below the brine during fermentation.
8. Screw the lid onto your 1-quart (1-L) jar. It will press the jelly jar down, keeping your cabbage mixture below the brine. Leave the lid slightly loose to allow gases to escape during fermentation.
9. Keep it at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 1 to 4 weeks.

Keep in mind that the larger the head of cabbage you start with, the sweeter and better your sauerkraut will taste.

If you’re impatient to taste your creation, you can do so after 7 days. The longer you let it ferment, the stronger the flavor will be.

Sauerkraut makes a great addition to dishes. Consider trying Healthline’s turkey sausage with sauerkraut and mustard sauce recipe.

Frequently asked questions

Sauerkraut contains probiotics, which can help support digestion by improving your gut flora. Sauerkraut also contains fiber, which can help reduce your risk of constipation and regulate your bowel movements.

Sauerkraut is considered safe to eat every day for most people. However, you may wish to consider eating other fermented foods to benefit your gut bacteria, such as kombucha and kimchi. Yogurt also contains beneficial probiotics.

Each product may contain different strains of bacteria, each with varying benefits.

Raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut contains beneficial probiotics that generally don’t survive pasteurization. You can typically find these in the refrigerated sections of some grocery stores, but it’s best to check the label to make sure your sauerkraut has not been pasteurized.

The bottom line

Sauerkraut is incredibly nutritious and healthy. It provides probiotics and vitamin K2, known for their health benefits, along with many other nutrients.

Eating sauerkraut may help strengthen your immune system, improve your digestion, reduce your risk of certain diseases, and even help you lose weight.

To reap the greatest benefits, try eating a little bit of sauerkraut each day.

After years of cuts, GBH touts growth in donors and launches statewide show

 

GBH has been resilient in the face of public funding challenges. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

For the past few years, the news out of GBH’s Brighton studios has been bleak. Layoffs, suspended shows, and the loss of federal funding have concerned staff and supporters about the viability of the Boston public media giant.

But a string of recent updates shows that the organization has, at least for now, stabilized itself.

Although the public funding cuts have cost the NPR and PBS station an estimated $20 million per year, chief executive Susan Goldberg said in an interview last week, the station has brought on more than 57,000 new paying members since the start of last year. During the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, GBH raised $10 million more than it normally does. A year prior, it generated just over $50 million in revenue from member donations.

The organization has also launched a new statewide radio show following its merger with New England Public Media of Western Massachusetts and received new funding from Beacon Hill.

“As much as I dreaded where we were a year ago, right before defunding, what I think we’ve seen is that we are innovating our way through a crisis,” Goldberg said. “Our staff has just done a really good job in tackling the situation and taken a lot of lemons and made a lot of lemonade.”

As one of the largest public media organizations in the country, GBH had a cushion that some smaller stations lacked. But its resilience following the loss of federal funding will be a relief in other corners of the industry because of GBH’s outsized role in public media.

“The success of GBH as a national content producer really is critical to the system overall,” said Marc Hand, chief executive of Public Media Venture Group, a consortium of 32 stations that includes GBH.

Leaders across public media feared the worst when President Trump signed a law rescinding federal funding for public media a year ago. Stations in rural areas that benefited most from public funding were most vulnerable, and leaders worried those problems could cascade because of how reliant stations are on their peers for funding.

Donors, however, have stepped up with funding to keep stations small and large afloat.

GBH‘s fund-raising gains, which give the organization a total of 250,000 members, aren’t enough to make up the $20 million of lost revenue on their own, said Goldberg, who added those losses could expand if the recent surges in fund-raising don’t hold up. But she added that the organization is experimenting with new revenue streams to help fill the rest of the gap.

GBH headquarters in 2024.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff

One such gambit is advertising sales on YouTube. While that’s hardly a new revenue stream for media outlets, Federal Communications Commission guidelines have restricted NPR and PBS stations from airing ads during broadcasts. But those rules don’t apply to digital.

That does come with some risk to the trust that noncommercial stations have built up with audiences, Hand said. He added that one way to responsibly tap into digital revenue is to exert some control over the types of companies that can advertise in its content.

And so far at GBH, “people don’t seem to mind the advertising” on YouTube because they’re used to seeing ads on the platform, Goldberg said.

GBH is still trying to keep expenses in check: It’s looking to bring on staff for some roles, but it’s not making a big hiring push. It gave 3 percent raises to staff, following similar raises in the previous two years, a spokesperson said.

WBUR, Boston’s other NPR news station, has also seen a jump in donors. Its membership has increased nearly 19 percent from a year ago and the station met its $1.1 million spring fund-raising goal in just four and a half days, a WBUR spokesperson told the Globe. Additionally, the station held its second annual WBUR Festival, which sold 2,500 tickets — nearly half of which were sold to people who were not previously in the station’s database.

“We’ve been blown away by the outpouring of support and WBUR is on a roll,” WBUR chief executive Margaret Low said in a statement. “We’re staying true to our principles, adapting our business to support the high-quality journalism that we produce, and expanding the audiences who count on us.”

WBUR is one of the most prominent NPR news stations in the country, with national shows such as “Here & Now” and “On Point.” But as both a PBS and NPR station, GBH is a larger organization and has more ties to broader public media networks.

In the wake of the public funding cuts, GBH has also found other government revenue — though this income is much closer to home.

Last month, Governor Maura Healey signed into law a supplemental budget that included funding for some educational programs from revenue generated by the Commonwealth’s “millionaire’s tax.” The Legislature appropriated $500,000 of the $1.35 billion surtax revenue for “educational public media resources” at GBH, which Axios first reported in early June.

The Massachusetts State House.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

The funding will go toward children’s educational programming — GBH is a significant producer of children’s shows such as “Work It Out Wombats” and “Molly of Denali” — that was previously funded by Ready to Learn grants, one of the federal programs canceled by the Trump administration.

“We at GBH had never received state funding before,” Goldberg said. “That boost from the state really helped us.”

Beyond funding, GBH is also expanding its programming. After launching radio program “The Curiosity Desk” earlier this year, the organization will begin airing the statewide radio show “In Common” on July 4 in partnership with two of its other owned stations, New England Public Media and CAI, the latter of which covers Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the South Coast.

The show, hosted by Jeremy Siegel, will “take listeners on a sonic road trip across the state” in the format of a one-hour program, according to the announcement, which builds on efforts to expand coverage across Massachusetts.

“There are a lot of these corners of the Commonwealth that we only go to — and we, I say broadly speaking, the media — whenever there’s a big breaking news story,” said Dan Lothian, editor in chief and general manager of local news at GBH. “As we look to where we want to be with the statewide effort, I think we’re just touching on the tip of the iceberg here.”

The show’s launch also follows a May announcement that GBH was fully merging with New England Public Media. GBH has owned NEPM since 2019, but the two entities have operated with independent boards and filed separate taxes. The merger is expected to go through this month, Goldberg said Monday.

New England Public Media's headquarters in Springfield.Courtesy of NEPM

Earlier this year, Goldberg floated the idea of merging with WBUR, a prospect that WBUR chief executive Margaret Low firmly shut down. While Goldberg wants to focus on the merger with NEPM and other recent efforts, she noted that there are other merger efforts across the country in states including Texas and Colorado.

“I want to get our own house in order, and then we’ll see where we are,” Goldberg said.

---

Aidan Ryan can be reached at aidan.ryan@globe.com. Follow him @aidanfitzryan.

1958 Staffordshire Gallery of Champs

 

Blackstone Quilting in Cumberland is AWESOME

 

The Secret to Creaminess: Never throw away all your pasta water! The starchy water acts as a natural binder that merges the zucchini cream and olive oil together, preventing the sauce from becoming dry or separating.

 https://ricetteperfette.substack.com/p/creamy-zucchini-and-sea-bass-pasta

Raccoons: Japan’s iconic Buddhist temples have been plagued by raccoon infestations and they’re causing major structural damage.

 https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/mini-stories-volume-7/3/

How much water should you drink?

 https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/how-much-water-should-you-drink

You’ve Never Seen Easy Eggplant Like This Before! A Delicious Twist on Spaghetti!

https://ricetteperfette.substack.com/p/youve-never-seen-easy-eggplant-like?r=7x6rda&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true 

Ingredients

• 3 Eggplants

• Salt and Pepper (to taste)

• 2 tablespoons of Cornstarch

• Olive oil

• 1 clove of Garlic

• 1 tablespoon of Tomato Paste (diluted with a little water)

• Chili pepper (optional, for a spicy kick)

• Fresh Parsley

• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl9m954Lakg 

 

I added 8x the garlic and wine vinegar Chianti and a whole can of tomato paste. Delicious!! 

 

physical activity can ease stress and improve mood

Art isn’t in the tools, material, and equipment you use. It’s in the way you see the world. Rick Rubin

 

North Shore communities mourn death of beloved Nigerian priest who was ordered to return home

The Rev. Benjamin Madu, who served at Salem Hospital and churches on Cape Ann for several years, was preparing to return to Nigeria due to expiring visa

The Rev. Ben Madu, a Nigerian national who had served at Salem Hospital and ministered at three Cape Ann churches, died Thursday night following an order to return home, Boston’s archbishop told fellow priests early Friday. Madu’s visa was expiring after having served on the North Shore since 2021.

Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning told fellow priests that Madu had taken his own life, according to two copies of the message viewed by a reporter.

Madu had expressed fears about going back during remarks to parishioners last month at St. Joachim Church in Rockport. In Nigeria, many priests have been abducted for ransom, and some have been murdered by their kidnappers, or have died during captivity.

In a blog post last weekend, Madu said he did not want to return to Nigeria, “but circumstances beyond my control have warranted that my time in the United States come to an end.”

“My heart is broken, yet my joy remains. If I am ever given the chance to minister again to the people of Gloucester and Rockport, I would gladly do it all over again,” Madu wrote. “I will miss the home I found away from home, a mother far from my mother, a father far from my father, and a people far from my own people.”

Related: As visa expires, a beloved Nigerian priest leaves North Shore ministry for perils at home

Henning, whose email to priests Friday morning was addressed “Dear Brothers,” requested his colleagues to pray for Madu in “asking the Lord to bring comfort and healing to all who mourn his passing.”

“We extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to his family, brother priests and friends in Nigeria as well as the many people he ministered to here in Cape Ann and at Salem Hospital,” Henning said in the message.

A mass for Madu will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester.

Madu was born in Abor, Nigeria, on May 15, 1972, and was 54, according to the Boston archdiocese. He had served as a chaplain principally at Salem Hospital since May 2021, and also at three churches on Cape Ann.

Madu would have celebrated his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on July 7, the archdiocese said. He had been ordained at St. Theresa Cathedral Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in Nigeria.

In a separate statement released by the Archdiocese Friday afternoon, Madu was initially scheduled to depart for Nigeria at the end of July, but was instructed by the bishop in the Diocese of Abakaliki to return home early. The Archdiocese statement does not refer to Madu’s death as a suicide.

The Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker confirmed Madu’s death is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Tucker’s office and the Lynn Police Department.

Madu had worked for the archdiocese for nearly six years, mostly under two consecutive R-1 visas for religious workers. Madu’s current visa was set to expire July 29.

The US Department of Homeland Security requires religious workers seeking another visa to leave the country before obtaining a new one.

But the department has also suspended the processing of some immigration cases for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria. The Trump administration has deemed people from those countries likely to require public assistance while living in the US, the AP reported.

The Globe does not normally report on suicides, but Madu had become a public figure and was a longtime religious leader on the North Shore.

Henning, in the archdiocese statement, said officials are working with the Catholic communities of Gloucester and Rockport, and their pastor, the Rev. Jim Achadinha, “during this difficult time and period of mourning.”

Achadinha, in a blog post on the church’s website, said Madu had served Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish “with true joy, kindness, and generosity for more than four years,” Achadinha said, calling Madu a “good man and holy priest.”

Achadinha asked for prayers. “We are all heartbroken,” he said.

Arlene Lesch, a parishioner with Holy Family Church, said Madu’s death was devasting. “It shouldn’t have happened,” Lesch said in an interview.

He seemed to love his job, she said. He was always smiling. Madu, who was known as “Father Ben,” would chat with anyone who wanted a word with him after Mass, she said.

Lesch said she was among those who made calls to political leaders, pleading with officials to find a way for Madu to remain in the US.

When Madu announced during Mass he had to leave the country, she said, he stood before parishioners, bowed, and asked for their prayers.

“He was always a sweet man,” Lesch said. “He was such an asset to our community.”

Madu, in his blog post, talked about his experiences celebrating Mass for the first time in a predominately white community. His presence could prompt an initial reaction of “curiosity, fixed stares, and guarded expressions,” he wrote.

After Mass, he would often receive praise for his homilies, some parishioners would feel like he was speaking directly to them, he wrote. But he wasn’t doing anything extraordinary, he said, beyond the care he put into his work.

“I do not simply prepare it. I absorb it fully. And then through stories, life experiences, humor and reflection, I try to offer something nourishing to myself and to the faithful,” Madu wrote.

He thanked community members for the love and hospitality he received from Saint Joachim Church in Rockport, as well as Gloucester’s Saint Ann Church and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, where he held Mass each weekend.

He said he’d miss the North Shore, and the seaside, where he’d call his family after Mass.

Where the ocean meets the rocks and its endless rhythm, he said, became “the music of my post–Mass peace." He found comfort and serenity there, he said.

The message was signed, “Goodbye from my heart. — Father Ben Okwy Madu."

Brian MacQuarrie of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

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John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com or on Signal at john_hilliard.70. Follow him on Bluesky at iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social.

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the composition is so simple that it seems inevitable.

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Any first rate novel or story must have in it the strength of a dozen fairly good stories that have been sacrificed to it. A good workman can’t be a cheap workman; he can’t be stingy about wasting material, and he cannot compromise.

WILLA CATHER