Writers Learn to Put Their Passion in Romance Genre By Frances Halpern, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES; Frances Halpern is co-host with Jon O'Brien of "Beyond Words" at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU 88.3 FM, Ventura County's National Public Radio station
An Ethnic Take on Classic Sides By Abby Mandel, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES; Mandel's latest book is "Celebrating the Midwestern Table" (Doubleday & Co., 1996)
In Santa Fe, It's the Cheese By Bev Bennett, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES; Bennett is the author of four cookbooks, including "Dinner for Two" (Barron's, 1994)
Salmon in a Spinach Sea By Betty Rosbottom, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES; Rosbottom is author of "American Favorites" (Chapters)
Marvelous Mush By Michael Roberts, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES: Roberts is corporate chef of the Twin Palms restaurants in Southern California
Cut Some Slack for Our New Teachers By Karen Clarke, Karen Clarke, a teacher at Challenger Memorial Youth Center in Lancaster, is a member of the Lancaster City Council's Task Force on Education
The Tigers Must Decentralize to Innovate By John Sendell Suits, John Sendell Suits, an American, heads a Toronto-based investment firm that specializes in emerging international markets. E-mail: jssuits@aol.com