A rainy day in Lugano

IWCL Charity Committee invites you to Make-A-Wish

"Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. "
Plato

Come and join the IWCL's Spring Party and dance with live music under the stars…
All this while supporting the work of Make-A-Wish ® Switzerland...
Help grant the most heartfelt wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Ticino...
It will be an unforgettable night for all...

The Int'l Womens' Club Lugano know how to throw a party, so you have no excuse not to show up.
The action starts at 19:30 at Lugano's Lido which opens its doors in new spleandour for the season 2013.

Entry of CHF 70.- covers cocktail dinner, 2 drinks, water&coffee/tea.
You may also buy lottery tickets at CHF 5.- each or CHF 20.- for 5 tickets.
There are fabulous prizes to win. Here is a sneak peek of some of the lottery prizes:

* A night and breakfast for two in Hotel residence Villa Sassa

* Dinner for two people at Villa Principe Leopoldo

* Voucher for stay for two people at Kurhaus Cademario Hotel&Spa

* Esthetic whole body massage with Aromatherapy at Nouvelle Beauté

For the ones deciding last minute, please don't forget to write to iwcl.charity@gmail.com so the Charity Committee can make sure to have enough food for everybody. Contact IWCL Charity Committee Victoria, Jinny or Esra: iwcl.charity@gmail.com

Let's raise the roof and with it make a wish come true for a child or two or more. It is up to you!

Venue: Support Make-A-Wish Foundation in Switzerland
Where: Al Lido, Viale Castagnola 6, 6900 Lugano
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: CHF 70.- p.p.
Contact: iwcl.charity@gmail.com
For more info click on: http://www.make-a-wish.ch/

Celebrating World Book Day in Lugano

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."
Charles W. Eliot

After last year's success, Lugano's nine children libraries and the intercultural libraries BISI (Biblioteca interculturale della Svizzera italiana) and RICCIOGIRAMONDO (Biblioteca interculturale per la prima infanzia) of Lugano will return to celebrate World Book Day and offer the "EXCHANGE OF USED BOOK" this Wednesday, April 24th, 2013.

You will find all the action going on at the Quartiere Maghetti from 12:00 to 17:00.

Participation is free and open to all: babies, children and adults. Just come along with one to five books (no comics) and you will receive the same number of tokens in return that allow you to pick (an)other book(s).

From 14:00 to 16:00, the theater Fioriecolori will be presenting an entertaining and imaginative play called ARTURO THE DRAGON in which the storyteller will involve the audience.

Don't miss it and ... Have fun!

Venue: "Exchange a used book"
Where: Quartiere Maghetti, via del Forte, 6900 Lugano
When: Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
time: 12:00 to 17:00

Swiss are preparing for the hiking season

We are still waiting for the warm spring temperatures to arrive. It actually snowed yesterday in some parts of Switzerland!

This video of Swiss mountain cleaners might make you smile until the sunshine comes out.

Open Days at the new Rega helicopter base in Ticino

If you grew up in Switzerland, you know the REGA is one of this country's institutions. Rega provides emergency medical assistance by air. It comes to the aid of people in distress, providing swift, professional medical assistance by air. In order to do this, it employs state-of-the-art operating resources, such as helicopters and air-ambulances. Rega’s workforce comprises qualified, experienced staff. It is a privately run, non-profit foundation, which operates independently of the State or of financial interests.

After a construction period of almost one and a half years, Rega is opening the doors of its new Ticino helicopter base to the public on April 20th & 21st, 2013 from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Come and have a look round the new modern building, admire their helicopter fleet and have a go in the flight simulator. Awaiting the youngest Rega fans is their highly popular bouncy helicopter.

If you have three minutes why don't you accompany a Rega paramedic on a mission? In this video, you can accompany Ruedi Güttinger, paramedic at the Rega base in St. Gallen, on a wintertime mission. He helps the emergency doctor to recover and attend to the casualties, supports the pilot during the flight and checks the helicopter. The paramedic is the all-rounder among Rega's three-strong helicopter rescue crew.



They are looking forward to your visit!

Venue: Open Days at REGA Ticino
Where: Locarno airport, 6596 Gordola, Tel: 091 745 37 37
Date: Saturday, April 20th & Sunday, April 21st, 2013
Time: 10:00 - 17:00

A US Ambassador's love for politics

Curious to hear from the US Ambassador in person? This is your chance. The Franklin College has invited the Ambassador of the United States of America to Switzerland to their Spring 2013 Lecture Series. The Honorable Donald S. Beyer, Jr. will inspire new perspectives and challenge previous opinions in his speech entitled "Why I love politics".

Ambassador Beyer was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein on August 5, 2009. A nationally recognized political, business and philanthropic leader, he built up a strong reputation in Virginia over 30 years. In addition to spending eight years as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, in 2008 he chaired the Transportation and Land Use working group of the Governor’s Virginia Commission on Climate Change. Before his nomination as Ambassador, he was asked by President-elect Barack Obama to lead the United States Department of Commerce Transition Team. Drawing on his personal involvement and experiences over many years, Ambassador Beyer will share with us his fascination with the challenging world of politics.

After the lecture there will be a small reception where the audience can meet the speaker and discuss the evening’s topic. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public.

Venue: Spring lecture by the Ambassador of the United States of America
Where: Franklin College, Via Ponte Tresa 29, 6924 Sorengo
When: Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Time: 18:30 to 19:30 followed by a small reception

When we were young....

“A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself.”
Unknown

I am not sure if today's youth would still go through such trouble as to head south on a moped to spend a weekend in the Ticino but this video certainly made me smile.

I actually remember friends taking off from Zurich heading towards the sunshine over the Gotthard pass on their motorcycles. It was the early 80's. We were rebels supporting Radio 24, the first "free radio" which was broadcasting illegally from Monte Ceneri and Zürich's youngster were their biggest fan group.

Are their any other vintage Radio 24 fans out there?

Lessons for my kids

Here is a list I came across and wanted to share with you. We spend so much time running around making sure we are on schedule and trying to catch up with ourselves, we sometimes forget to mention the important facts in life.

Here are some lessons I will make sure my kids have ingrained in them. Did you know that Marshall Duke, a colorful psychologist at Emory University in the mid-1990s, claimed that “The children who know a lot about their families tend to do better when they face challenges."? So keep talking to your kids and be an example, if not always in practice (nobody's perfect) at least in theory.

Ready, Steady, Move - an active body is a learning body

Recognising the need to broaden educational options for young children in the Canton of Ticino, two entrepreneurial women have decided to offer an innovative movement with language course called “Ready Steady Move!”. It is a unique programme of fitness through movement, combined with an introduction to a new language, which enhances whole-brain learning and better physical health.

Ready Steady Move! gives children ages 3-8 several important advantages in one comprehensive course. They learn a fun, healthy movement routine, they receive a strong introduction to an additional language, and their self-confidence and self-esteem increases as they succeed at both.
Peeked your interest? Why not give it a try? You can choose between German and English. Following is the programme schedule:

Mondays (German) at 16.30 - Scuola Bertaccio, Via Galli 5, 6900 Lugano
Wednesdays (English) at 14.30 and 15.30 - Scuola Viganello, Via Sara Frontini 1, 6962 Viganello
Saturdays (English) at 10.00 - Scuola Viganello, Via Sara Frontini 1, 6962 Viganello

For more information contact the Ticino team at 091 930 8975 or Joany at 076/512'35'67 or Esther at 076/525'25'69 or e-mail them at: ticino@ready-steady-move.com

Parents and kids are invited to come and see ongoing classes. Seeing and doing says more than 1000 words!!! And who knows ... maybe this method could work for adults as well?

How well do you know Lugano?

How well do you know Lugano? If you had a friend come to visit how much could you really tell them about Lugano? Why not find out a bit more about the city you live in?

This week Lugano Turismo has published the 2013 catalogue of guided tours. They are offering a variety of outings such as the Unexpected Classic tour (Mondays) or Lugano yesterday and today tour (Thursdays). You can also take a plunge into the city’s green areas on the Parks and Gardens tour (Tuesdays) or ascend Lugano's landmark on the Monté Bré tour (Fridays).

The tours will be held in the two prevalent languages. The first three tours are morning tours starting at 10:00 and last two hours. The Monte Bré tour will be offered as of May 31st, 2013 from 13: 00 to 17:45.

There is much more to discover, just download Lugano Turismo's Guided Excursion leaflet here and get cracking: http://www.luganoturismo.ch.

Oh, I nearly forgot the best part ...  the tours are all free of charge!

Meeting point and arrival for first three tours:
Informations office, Ente Turistico del Luganese-Palazzo Civico at 10:00
Meeting point for Monté Bré tour:
Central Navigation Debarcadero at 13:00

Registration at the following sites:
Info Points Ente Turistico del Luganese-Palazzo Civico
Airport Lugano-Agno
Tesserete
Morcote
and most hotel receptions

Telephonic Reservation Center:
Tel. +41(0)91 605 12 26

Open House at Franklin College in Lugano

If you live in Lugano, you have surely heard of the Frankling College. It was founded in 1969 as a nonprofit, independent, post-secondary institution and named after the United States' first and most illustrious ambassador to Europe.

Franklin College, located on a hillside above Lugano, is a American liberal arts institution in an International environment and fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (US) and by the Swiss University Conference (CH).

The Open House (Porte Aperte) is a community programme opening Franklin College’s doors to Sorengo and Lugano. Once a year they invite their local neighbours to have a peep inside their wonderful campus. They have set up a string of activities and encourage you to join them on Wednesday, April 10th, 2013.

The action starts at noon and ends with a community BBQ at 20:00. This is your chance to live the American side of Lugano for half a day. Have fun!

Venue: Porte Aperte at Franklin College
Where: Via Ponte Tresa 29, 6924 Sorengo
Date: Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
Time: 12:00 to 20:00

Programme:
12:00–14:00 Burrito Bonanza - North Campus Dining Hall

12:00–13:00 Student-faculty outdoor volleyball match - North Campus soccer field

14:00–15:00 Children and young people activities with ELT students - North Campus (soccer field/Tone Athletic Center)

14:15–15:00 Guided tour of Franklin College

15:00–16:00 Roundtable discussion (in English and Italian): Learning Differences/Learning Languages - Auditorium, Kaletsch Campus

16:00–17:00 Guided tour of Franklin College

16:00-19:00 Visitor’s Center open, with students on hand for questions - Kaletsch Campus Conference Room

18:00–20:00 Community Barbeque - Grotto, Kaletsch Campus

Mamma Fit in Lugano

Listen up Mummy. MammaFit has come to town. NothingPersonal, a company that propose excercise courses at home, are offering a MammaFit fitness course around the lake of Muzzano.

MammaFit is a training programme dedicated to new mothers who can practice in the company of their children. It consists of gym-based exercises, stretching and toning with the help of the pram, stroller or baby carrier which is an integral part of the lesson. Excercise no longer means separating from yourself from your little ones but spending a fun hour together in the fresh air!

Further benefits are improved blood circulation, increased body awareness, stress reduction and weight control.

The meeting point is the round-about next to the car park at Via al Laghetto in Muzzano (train stop Cappella-Agnuzzo). The excercise course will follow the path around the lake of Muzzano.

The sports instructor, Natasha, will be easily recognizable by wearing a MammaFit t-shirt.

The first lesson starts on Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 at 9:45.

Natasha will be guiding you every Wednesday until Wednesday, June 12th, 2013. The cost for 10 lessons is CHF 220.-

For information, please write to info@nothingpersonal.ch or telephone 076/527'89'55.

Walking Lugano 2013

If you love sport or hate the excercise, if you 86 or 6 years old, if you are local or come from a far, Sunday is the day ALL of Lugano will gather for a walk in the sunshine. Hopefully!!!!

Walking Lugano is a healthy, dynamic and funny way to learn about the city while exercising. The city proposes five different itineraries for walking/strolling or the more energetic Nordic walking. Several secondary activities will be happening around Piazza Riforma providing a lot of sport and fun for everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to be healthy and have a different day, in movement!

Online inscriptions are open until tonight under this link: http://www.walkinglugano.ch/.
You can also register Saturday, April 6th at Piazza Manzoni from 3 to 5pm and Sunday, April 7th at Piazza Manzoni from 9.00am onwards.

Below you'll find the various itineraries from a comfy 5.0 km to a heafty 18.6km:

Lake & Walking: 5km
Registration fee: CHF 40.-
Departure time: 10:50

Relax: 6.6 km
Registration fee: CHF 25.-
Departure time: 11:00 (Walking), 11:05 (Nodic Walking)

Panorama: 10.6 km
Registration fee: CHF 30
Departure time: 10:30 (Walking), 10:35/10:40 (Nordic Walking)

Fitness: 15.6 km
Registration fee: CHF 32.-
Departure time: 10:15 (Walking), 10:20 (Nordic Walking)

Challenge: 18.6 km
Registration fee: CHF 33.-
Departure time: 10:00 (Walking), 10:05 (Nordic Walking)

Children under the age of 12 pay CHF 12.- for any race.
All details can be found on www.walkinglugano.ch

Spaghetti Harvest in Switzerland

Just wondering if you have come across this vintage video before? Sit back and enjoy!