12/23 - Michael Oshman, Tony Hyde, NORAD, Daniel Mancini,

CEO and Founder Michael Oshman - Green Restaurant Assoc.

The Green Restaurant Association was founded in 1990. Since the beginning, the GRA has worked to provide convenient and cost-effective tools to help the restaurant industry reduce its harmful impact on the environment. The GRA founded the green restaurant movement and is one of the pioneering founders of the green business movement as well. With a humble beginning in San Diego almost two decades ago, the GRA set out to discover. The conversations about sustainability have begun, but the work is far from over. The GRA now partners with some of the largest distributors, manufacturers, and restaurant corporations to implement these changes on a larger scale. Recognized by government, environmental organizations, business, and the media, the GRA is helping the restaurant industry translate the excitement over “green” into tangible environmental change that will truly make a positive impact on vital issues, such as climate change, air pollution, energy security, safe food, and more. Humans put men on the moon; defeated tyranny during World War II; and created cures for devastating diseases. We can accomplish tremendous things when we put our mind and resources to the task. Environmental Sustainability is the issue of our time. It is the one issue that touches all humans. It is one that we can achieve together.

Tony Hyde - Owner - SATTDOWN JAMAICAN GRILL - Studio City, CA

I envisioned for many years a place that would have people coming back time and time again to enjoy. The vision has been transformed to reality and Sattdown has been created. Whether you wet you pallet with one of our delectable soups such as the curry garbanzo soup or the spiced sweet potato soup, or indulge in one of our main course meals we are sure you will be pleased. This is only the beginning of many new things! I will continue to think of innovative ideas for dishes customers and friends will enjoy. Chicken Meatloaf and many vegan dishes are available. Keep stopping in, or leaving your comments and witness the expansion in the future. There will be many new adds for lunch guests with limited time to ensure you are able to get great healthy meals minus the wait time.

NORAD Tracks Santa -

For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for children to call Santa misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born. In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa. Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to phone calls and emails from children all around the world. In addition, we now track Santa using the internet. Millions of people who want to know Santa’s whereabouts now visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website. Finally, media from all over the world rely on NORAD as a trusted source to provide updates on Santa’s journey.

Daniel Mancini - meatball entrepreneur - MamaMancini's Meatballs

Daniel brought a meatball cart in August to the Brooklyn Flea, which is a popular weekend market featuring many local purveyors of food and crafts. And in October, Daniel was invited to participate in the NY Food and Wine Festival's Meatball Madness event. Daniel’s are not just any meatballs but the recipe that he learned from his Grandma Anna when he was 15. Believing so much in the comfort food that simmered for hours every Sunday in his Grandma’s Brooklyn house, Daniel made one believer after another starting with his neighbor who used to run Alpine Lace to Whole Foods, even landing them in Martha Stewart's hands. Martha had a taste and then had him on her show. And little did he know that 2010 would be declared the Year of the Meatball. Today, the product called Mama Mancini’s Meatballs and Sunday Sauce is spreading nationwide and just experienced a 500% growth spurt this year.