Book bribery?

NOBLEJAS, SPAIN — The mayor of a small town in Spain figures he knows how to keep children in school: Pay them.

Agustin Jimenez, socialist mayor of the agricultural town of Noblejas in central Spain, is recommending the town’s children be given a euro – the equivalent of about $1.50 – for every hour they spend reading in their local or school library.

The sweetener is part of a string of measures to be voted on by the Noblejas council in March. Others include funds for apartments in university towns for students from Noblejas, teachers to give private lessons to struggling students and expert advice to parents on the virtues of keeping their children at school.

Celebrity chef takes show to Cactus Club

VANCOUVER – High-profile celebrity chef Rob Feenie said Tuesday he is back in the game, but he’s joining a Vancouver-based movement to offer high-end food in a casual atmosphere.

After leaving his position as executive chef of Lumiere and Feenie’s restaurants last November, Feenie said he’s signing on with the Cactus Club restaurant chain as “food concept architect.”

“I just signed the deal last night,” he said in an interview, sporting a broken right hand from a hockey injury. “It’s not just menu and concept development, I’ll be working with each one of the chefs in each of the locations.”