March/April 2012
Risque‘ Teen Behavior Why Some Teens Decide To Smoke
Open Wide! Oral Health Reveals What?
Make Up Tips <3
The Briana Nino Story
Parenting • Health • Community • Education • Fashion
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March/April 2012
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Community
Parenting
Education
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24 Lighting Up Their First Cigarette 28 Finding Peace 30 Are Your Children Safe In The Car?
38 Craft 40 Help Me, Please, Someone! 44 Above the Grade/Teacher Spotlight
A Language That Breaks All Barriers 7 Wink 8 Freeway Art 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wiiâ&#x20AC;? 13 A Beautiful Nightmare 18 Snapshots
Future Buzz 20 21 22 23
An Amazing Friend My Best Friend The Dove That Cared Selfless
Health 32 Battle Of The Weights 34 Open Wide 36 Preparation
Fashion 46 Makeup Memos 47 Shiny and Healthy Hair Tips
Cover Model
Photo by Bryana Bettencourt
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Family First Magazine
9 - Month OLd Kevin Anthony LittleJohn Jr. is our cover model for the March/April issue! For a chance to have your child or family featured on the cover please send your submissions to info@familyfirstmagazine.com
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Future Buzz Contributors
Contributing Writers David Rallis Tamar Mekredijian Beth Warmerdam Joel Pflugrath Dominique Rose James Phyllis Scott Johnson Stephanie A. Avila Cambria Avedikian Linda Miller
Copy Editor Beth Warmerdam
Graphic Designer David Carrasco
Photographers Chance James Bryana Bettencourt Isabel Orduno GM Photography and Design What If Photography
Dalilah Rivas Thani Brant Katie Wyncoop Destiny Ferrua Special Thanks Jenny Toste John Russell Erik Traeger Cynthia Bruno Computer Guys Future Buzz Submissions If you have a child that would like to have their written work featured please email submissions to info@familyfirstmagazine. com Advertising If you’re interested in advertising with us, please contact info@familyfirstmagazine.com Contact Central California’s Family First Magazine P.O. Box 3147 Pinedale, CA 93650 www.familyfirstmagazine.com (559) 213-0632
Publisher Stephanie A. Avila
Central California’s Family First Magazine reserves the right to edit submissions which may be published or otherwise used in any medium. All submissions become the property of Central California’s Family First Magazine unless other arrangements have been documented. The opinions expressed by contributors and writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Central California’s Family First Magazine. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Neither the advertisers nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. herein contained. Copyright 2011 by Central California’s Family First Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any part of this magazine without written permission is prohibited. If you would like more information on how to obtain a copy of Central California’s Family First Magazine, please visit our website at www.familyfirstmagazine.com.
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A Language That Breaks All Barriers By Tamar Mekredijian
Some people claim that Fresno is the bellybutton of California. Drive two and a half hours in any direction, and you will come upon historic and beautiful California landmarks that millions buy expensive airline tickets to reach. Drive two and a half hours and you will reach beaches, snow peaks, go on a breathtaking hike in Yosemite, walk the streets of the great city of San Francisco, walk through Beverly Hills and run into movie stars, and much more. For this reason, countless people are attracted to Fresno, which has become a place where numerous ethnicities diverge. Because the Central Valley is bustling with so many different ethnic groups, it has come alive with culture. Fresno residents, if they choose to get out
and get involved, can be educated by the diversity of its community. It’s a place full of opportunity to try and learn new things. So it’s really up to us: do we want to open our minds and the minds of our children to the opportunity of a well-rounded education and knowledge? If so, cultural dance is a great place to start. If you have any doubt in your mind about the importance or popularity of dance here in the U.S., think again. Dancing With the Stars has long been a popular reality television show, showcasing professional and amateur talent. Celebrities paired up with professional dancers, it is a contest, the ultimate prize going to the celebrity who can learn to dance like the professionals. Dancing with the Stars just finished airing its thirteenth season; it is definitely a popular show. What is it about dance that gets our hearts pumping, gets us smiling, and gets our bodies moving? It’s a way to express ourselves, through movement, without words Dance is a language understood by all cultures, thus becoming a unifying communicative agent in a melting pot such as the Central Valley. This year, the Central Valley put on it’s sixth Dance Festival, “Where Dancers Unite,” coordinated by Cris MendozaHowell, dancer and teacher of dance. “Dance breaks all language barriers,” Howell says about the influence of dance on culture. She explains that when you hear music, you feel certain emotions and are able to convey those emotions to someone without words, through movement. In this way, it becomes a “language that transcends
belly movements would decrease pain. Zamora began dancing in 1953 when her mother took her to her first dance class as a toddler. She underwent ten years of operatic voice training, which helped her gain a deep understanding of music. For twelve years, she danced ballet, but she did not like dancing the set routine, “due to hearing the music in my own way,” she says. She turned to belly dancing because “true belly dancing is not choreographic.” During her dance classes, she encourages her students to let the music move them, rather than following a strict dancing routine. There is no choreography involved. Sometimes she calls the next move during the dance class. She teaches them middle eastern dance movements for the first few weeks, and then the students follow along as she dances to the music during class, each time a little bit different. She says that the dance depends on how you’re feeling that day, and that your emotions lead your body’s movement. Zamora describes America as a “melting pot,” believing that “fresno is the pot of gold when it comes to ethnic peoples.” She believes that dance transcends all barriers, and that to be able to live here, you must “jump into that pot and learn.” Her passion for dance is obvious not only through dance instruction but through her interaction with her students. She encourages them, no matter
all barriers,” she says. In an effort to promote the importance of dance education in the Central Valley, Cris has been coordinating the Central Valley Dance Festival for the past six years, in addition to teaching dance to all ages. In a place like Fresno, where so many different cultures collide, it is not a surprise that there are numerous dance groups and dance classes of all different cultures. The annual Central Valley Dance Festival is proof that cultural dance is alive and active in our community. It is up to us to choose to equip ourselves with this language that breaks barriers between cultures and to become educated about people who have different traditions and beliefs than our own. Cory Zamora has embraced dance as a lifestyle, both dancing and teaching middle eastern dance, especially belly dancing, believing that it is a form of communication. Belly Dancing was taught to girls at a very young age in order to strengthen their stomach muscles for childbirth. Because exercise reduces pain, they believed that practicing
what level they are in, to let their bodies move to the music, and express themselves according to the way they are feeling on that particular day. When Zamora is dancing, she is completely focused, yet relaxed. She takes her job very seriously, although she doesn’t view it as a job at all: “I am not a mom, not a sister or even a daughter...I am a dancer.” There is information about her classes at http://www.bellydancingbyzamoras.com Another dance studio that has become very popular in Fresno is the Polynesian Club of Fresno, specializing in teaching Polynesian dance to all ages, and participating in two recitals each year. Upon entering the dance studio, it becomes obvious that this is more than just a dance studio: it’s a family. The Polynesian Club of Fresno began in a garage, current dance instructor, Martha Kuma, explains. After he moved to Fresno with his wife, Linda, Martha’s father, Kolei Kuma became homesick, and was thrilled when he befriended a local Tongan man. Later, his cousin moved to Fresno from L.A.,
and legends of our past and also tell stories of today.” This form of communication is important to understand one another in terms of where we have come from and where we are going. “We dance to celebrate, we tell stories, we let the music move us,” she says. “The moves may be different across the cultures but the idea is the same: cultural pride, heritage and enjoyment of movement.” Kuma emphasizes that breaking barriers between cultures is important, and dance provides this opportunity. She conveys her love for our school districts’ Multicultural Day, which “promote[s] awareness, tolerance and appreciation for the differences between us.” With over 450 dancers, drummers and musicians participating in 35 classes each week, the Polynesian Club of Fresno charges low fees for classes, and provides costumes for the recitals for free. Linda, Kolei Kuma’s wife, makes all the costumes. She says there’s no other place she’d rather be, but sewing costumes in the studio. They set a maximum amount per family so that the cost stays low, and for dancers whose parents are deployed overseas, “we waive their fees until their parent[s] get home,” Martha Kuma says. “Taking care of each other is part of taking care of your family.” Indeed, the Polynesian Club of Dance accepts people of all cultures to participate in their dance classes and recitals, believing that the blending of and acceptance of different cultures is important.
The Central Valley is brimming with different cultures, and dance is a language that we can all learn to understand and use to appreciate one another and improve our well-being. We are always looking for ways to keep ourselves and our family members active for both physical and mental health. Dance is a great way to stay physically fit, and Photo Courtesy of California Arts Academy to learn about one another’s differencand the three of them began singing and play- es. Teach your kids to accept and appreciate those ing music in Kuma’s garage. As they met other who may be different from them in terms of belief, Polynesians in the area, they invited them to join traditions, and historical backgrounds. Learning to the group, which became like a “second fam- live with one another is not enough. We must learn ily of Polynesians.” Now, almost forty years later, to appreciate and to be educated about the culthe Kuma family continues to celebrate their cul- tures that are different than our own, especially in ture through teaching and performing Polynesian a place like Fresno, the bellybutton of California, dance in Fresno. the center of so many cultural landmarks. Martha Kuma believes that dance unites cultures because it reminds us about how similar we all are. Dance is “storytelling, a way to preserve the history
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Family First Magazine
Wink By David Rallis
Swings My twenty-five year old son announced to me, “Dad, I need to get out of Fresno.” He is mildly autistic and he is going through a difficult time in his life…so am I. His suggestion seemed like a great idea. I knew exactly where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do.
stop in at this one particular shop and buy their gigantic cookies and wash them down with a halfpint of milk. This was a great time with my son, but I knew that it was not what he meant when he said he needed to get out of Fresno. I knew exactly what he meant.
Like many residents of Fresno and the Central Valley our getaway meant a trip to the Central Coast and the Pacific Ocean. Many Central Valley residents go to Morro Bay to hear the crash of ocean waves or to lie out on the beach in the coastal sun at Avila Bay. Others go to take their three wheel motorcycles or dune buggies and challenge the dunes at Pismo Beach. Some go to sample the fine wines that are produced in the misty hills of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County.
We stopped briefly in downtown San Luis Obispo and then it was on to Avila Beach, our ultimate destination for the trip. There is much to do at Avila, from walking on the pier and laying out on the beach to browsing in the many beachfront shops. My son’s idea of “getting away” was doing none of these. His formula for getting rid of his stress was simple…to swing on the swings on Avila Beach.
Our first stop was the embarcadero at Morro Bay. When my son and I go to Morro Bay we always
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FREEWAY ART By Phyllis Scott Johnson
Seven seconds. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the average length of time motorists have to observe roadside billboards. Advertising artists design those spaces with that in mind, creating bold, simple, brightly colored messages to grab viewers attention. In 1981 when the local Jaycees, a community service and leadership organization, encouraged its members to create ideas for the Fresno area, twenty-one year old Howard Growdon dreamed up a beautification project for the new Yosemite/ Eisenhower Freeway, California Highway 41. It runs north and south through the center of the city. At the time he was employed as a menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear sales person. His idea, geared to enhance the view along the corridor, was a series of murals depicting non-commercial images of the valley. Growdon visualized artworks the size of regular
billboards, 8 feet by 20 feet, showcasing unique regional attributes. These would be formed using tile mosaics, made into an assemblage of small pieces to create a unified whole. His hope was that tourism and economic development would be sparked by these visuals of community identity and culture. And maybe the traffic would slow down enough to allow more seconds to view the highway art gallery. A contest was held in which local artists submitted renderings of their ideas. Judges selected nine designs to be translated into freeway murals. These illustrated farm workers in the vineyards, hikers climbing in Yosemite, a sunrise over the mountains, hills of wildflowers, joggers running in the Huntington Boulevard neighborhood, cotton fields being harvested, an abstract design of
water on Millerton Lake, a cultural harmony scene with dancers, and one displaying the agri-business of Fresno with crops and a downtown silhouette. Seven designs were by adult artists and two by high school students in a separate contest. At that time it was the only highway beautification project in the nation. The important technical consideration was the installation method to be used on large vertical walls adjacent to the freeway. The small tiles, either ceramic or opaque glass, could not be attached individually to this vertical area. The murals had to be created by the ‘indirect method’, on a flat horizontal surface first. This process required that the design be enlarged to the actual size, reversed, and transferred to brown backing paper. The tiles were then glued face down individually on the paper. When the pattern was complete it was divided and cut into irregular sections, ready to be smashed onto the prepared mortar surface of the freeway cement block walls. When the mortar was dry the brown paper was peeled off, and grout was applied. Sounds easy! It’s not! I know. I know because one of the murals was mine. Fortunately, I had some experience with mosaic projects. Growdon had none until he assembled the first one on his grandparents’ patio, the grape harvest design by Marie Bickford. After the artists completed their tasks by choosing the correct color tiles for their individual artworks (Each one needed about 25,000 tiles) it was up to him to organize raising money, purchasing the tiles, getting the walls built, acquiring the volunteers to do the actual cutting and gluing, and making sure all parties were happy, including the City of Fresno and Cal-Trans. I volunteered to continue participating in the project. My artwork was titled “Agribusiness.” The design was divided into two areas, the bottom part depicting regional agriculture such as grapes and cotton, all in circular shapes. Above the horizon line was the silhouetted view of the downtown business skyline in geometric shapes. Superimposed over these two areas were large letters F R E S N O, with the O broken up into radiating
lines representing the sun, similar to the city’s logo at that time. It was located in the east-bound Tulare on-ramp circle. The arranging, cutting, and gluing of the tiles took forever. Volunteers from the Jaycees, schools and other organizations made it possible. I had the unique opportunity of assisting the students several times who were working on my design, spread out on a basketball court. This occurred at Wakefield School, the educational facility for those teenagers incarcerated in juvenile hall. This necessitated being “locked in” each time with fifty gang bangers. They loved it. Because the name of their school was on the marble signage under the mosaic image on the completed mural; I believe they still subliminally protect it from any graffiti. In addition, the marble strip includes my name as artist and that of the Downtown Lions Club who sponsored my particular piece. The artists were asked to select a matching color of marble for this label at a local tombstone supply establishment. Maybe I should be buried under the wall. My own children participated when the timeline narrowed. We completed several sections around the dining room table, and added the gold tiles at the end. It was discovered that the cost for the gold sun tiles were $500, not part of the original budget. I heard later that Cal-Trans didn’t really approve of my design because it contained the word ”FRESNO.” They thought it was too much like an advertisement. Oh, well. It took seven months to finish the murals and have them ready to install along Highway 41 from Tulare/Divisadero to Bullard Avenues.
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When the day came for the mosaics to be installed by the volunteer professional tile setters, they invited me to participate. The crew had prepared scaffolding 14 feet high next to the wall and adjacent to the busy traffic. I climbed up to the deck, almost blowing away in a strong wind. The two days I worked up high were the two windiest days of the year. The workers spread mortar on the cement block wall and then pressed the tile sections into the squishy surface, carefully matching the puzzle-like section edges. I just clung to the poles and smiled as they rubbed wooden blocks over the surface hammering away uneven spots. When the mortar had set my turn came to peel off the brown paper, clean up the residue, and expose the face of the design. The next day, after the cement was dry, the crew mixed two batches of grout, one sky blue for the top section, and one earth-colored for the bottom part. They applied it with spatulas into every space and crack between the tiles. The crew and I, using damp sponges, smeared the grout around to remove any excess on the surface of the tiles. It still stands almost 30 years later. Howard Growdon was obsessed and worked very
hard for the successful completion of the mural project. He eventually became an award-winning self-taught master craftsman in marble and granite construction. Additional murals have been created along Highways 168 and 99 throughout Fresno County, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Fresno. They are most often designed and assembled by regional high school art departments. Their efforts should be applauded, but without Growdonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for the first project, nothing else would have followed. I have always believed that the more you give to your community the more you will receive. The time spent working on the murals enriched pieces of my life and encouraged me to continue participating in making Fresno an even better place to live.
“Wii”
Changes Make a Big Difference By Jenny Toste As I’m getting ready to do a live weather update, I suddenly think, “Is my weight evenly distributed? Am I leaning back on my heels? Do I need to shift to the left?” Ever since my husband surprised me with a “Wii Fit Plus” for Christmas & the initial assessment told me I’m ten years older than I am, I’ve been
hooked. (I’m still trying to adjust to the fact that I’m 30 now… let alone some machine telling me I have the body of a 41-year-old!) I love how the Wii makes working out simple by focusing on balance and posture. Every time I step on, it measures my “center of balance,” and the cute little “board” character greets me with a tip like, “Good afternoon, Jenny. Did you know that a small shift in posture can lead to back pain?” Now I’m addicted to watching the little red ball wiggle around on the screen, tracing my every wobble as I try to “tighten my core muscles” (i.e. abs) and perfect whatever exercise I’m doing. It’s one thing to do lunges… and another thing to step forward while trying to keep the rest of your body perfectly still! I always thought I had good posture, since I stand up straight & can still hear the voice of my grandmother (in the sweetest yet most passively-manipulative Southern way) telling me how “So & So” had “such nice posture.” But I hadn’t realized how much I slouched when I’m not paying attention. Suddenly as I do the news, I’m pulled up a little straighter, remembering the imaginary string at the top of my head. While watching football crosslegged on the floor, I recall the yoga “candle watching” exercise and align my spine, instantly relieving the pressure on my neck and back. I’ve even adjusted the seat in my car (and wonder if I look as ridiculous as I feel, sitting up perfectly straight!). I don’t like when doctors treat the symptom instead of the problem, so
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when I started having back pain and “rotation in my hip,” I wanted to know why I suddenly required weekly trips to the chiropractor. Was it a lack of muscle to keep the bones in place? Was it how I slept, my heavy bag, or lugging around a threeyear-old? Or was I just getting old? On “CBS This Morning,” they mentioned how the average head weighs ten pounds. That can balance okay on top of your spine, but slouch forward just one inch, and you increase the pressure ten-fold. (One hundred pounds of pressure? No wonder my neck’s so messed up!) But now that I’m paying attention to my posture, everything seems to have improved. I remind myself not to tense up. I ask myself if it’s really worth getting mad over. I do neck stretches while sitting at my computer… and hope no one’s watching! (I wonder if Socrates was referring to posture when he mentioned living the “examined life”?) But there’s one area that hasn’t improved with this new awareness – my dancing. When I try to bust a move to get a smile out of my son, my husband laughs and says it looks like I’m twitching around a rod stuck down my spine! But given my recent
behavior in reaction to the stressors of career and motherhood, I’m just glad he didn’t say the rod was going the other way. Jenny Toste is the Morning Weather Anchor for CBS47 On Your Side. When she’s not super busy, she enjoys going to the mountains, watching scary ‘80s movies, and playing golf with her husband. They have a 3-year-old son and a rescue dog, Buster. Jenny just finished her Masters in English Literature at Fresno State and hopes to one day write a book. You can read more of Jenny’s stories and about her favorite places and upcoming events on her blog at www.CBS47.tv
A Beautiful Nightmare The Briana Nino Story By Stephanie A. Avila It eats at beauty, demolishes dreams, steals childhoods, and sets the scripts for dramatic movies that are sure to pull at your heart strings. Its name is Cancer and it is a nightmare for those it touches. Nobody knows this better than the parents of Kingsburg resident Briana Nino, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in September of 2010. “My parents were devastated,” Briana says. “They could not believe what they were hearing from the doctors – that their daughter had cancer. To them, the word was breaking. For a lot of people, that’s how it is.”
Keeping Things Positive Briana, now 21, viewed her diagnosis differently. Like many people, she never believed cancer was something that would happen to her. But surprisingly, when it did happen to her, she didn’t cry or lash out. Instead, she reveled in the idea that she was chosen to deal with this situation for a reason. “My thought truly was, ‘Wow, how amazing this is, that out of all the people around me and all the people we know, God chose me!’ God knew no matter how hard it got, that I was going to continue to love Him more than ever and praise Him and continue to believe in Him and how great He truly is,” Briana says. “It is an incredible feeling to know that God believes in me.” Briana sat down and shared these feelings with her family, including her two older brothers, whom she describes as
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“amazing.” Briana told her family that even though being diagnosed with leukemia was going to completely change her life, she didn’t want them to worry. She told them that she was at peace with what lay ahead. One of the most important things she told her family was that she wanted to change people’s lives through her experience. “If God can reach just one person through all this and their life can be saved, then it is all worth it,” Briana says. Briana’s positive and faith-driven attitude when it comes to dealing with cancer comes as no surprise when looking at what she has done with her life so far. Briana began going to church and singing since she was a young child. “I was actually really good,” she says with a laugh about her singing. As Briana got older, she was able to combine her passions when she started singing in the church choir and began taking part in the plays at the church. She eventually became the youth lead worship singer at her church and traveled to different cities ministering. “You know how as a little kid, a lot of us say, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to be a movie star or a fireman?’ Since I was little, all I can remember saying is, ‘I was born to serve God.’ I knew God was going to use me in a special way,” Briana says.
Life With Cancer There’s no doubt that Briana herself is a special person. She is a beautiful young lady with an amazing smile. Looking at her, the only thing that sets her apart from other 21-year-olds is the smooth head where brown hair used to flow from. One of the side effects Briana suffered from chemotherapy treatments was losing all of her hair. Unfortunately, the side effects didn’t end there. “Chemo is an extremely strong drug they put through people’s bodies, and most people know it fogs the brain,” Briana says. “A lot of things are not clear. It
makes me very tired at times and it can happen at any time. So I have to be careful how far I push myself.” Her leukemia diagnosis and subsequent treatments have made her appreciate things that some people might take for granted. “Everything every single person is able to do in life should be seen as a blessing, from being able to eat on your own to having to wake up every morning to get ready,” Briana says. Briana has already seen the possibility of not being able to wake up the next morning as her life has been in danger more than one time. “My life was at risk through my last couple of treatments and I was put on life support for some time twice,” Briana recalls. “The first time, I encountered three strokes. I woke up not knowing people, not walking or even being capable of feeding myself. The second time, I couldn’t breathe without being in an incubator.” During this second incident, the doctors and her family were not sure if she was going to live. When Briana finally woke up, her life was completely different. “I felt like I was a different person, and it was like being in a coma for a while,” Briana says. The doctors weren’t sure how well Briana would recover or whether she would be the same person. She couldn’t eat or drink for awhile. She couldn’t even handle water. Over time, Briana had to learn how to relearn to do basic things like eating and drinking again. “I remember when they finally let me go home, it was the greatest feeling,” Briana says. “But I had to have lots of help from my mom and dad. It was like I was a baby again.” Briana had to have home therapy. She was very determined to be able to walk and do things on her own again. To this day, Briana still has a lot of memory loss and her brain doesn’t register like it used to, but she is doing much better. Before being diagnosed with leukemia, Briana was a student majoring in business and worked at her mother’s salon. She loved her job because it was in the fashion industry. After receiving the fateful news that she had cancer, things changed for Briana. For one thing, she wasn’t able to work in her mother’s salon anymore because of her long hospital stays.
Makeup by: Dollface Mua
“Because of the type of cancer I had, I would have to stay in the hospital during my entire treatments and for a while after each time,” Briana says. “Because of the cancer, unfortunately, I do not get to make a lot of plans in my life. From the very start of all of this, doctors have told me that my only focus should be my health and taking care of myself.”
A Shared Gift Briana has touched many people with her story and her positive outlook on life. One of those people is Suzie Garcia, a Fresno resident and professional makeup artist. Briana and Suzie first met through Briana’s mom, Vera Nino. Suzie was using Vera’s salon, Neo Dolce Salon, as she worked on one of her biggest projects to date, a “Doll Theme Collection Shoot.” “The whole concept was to turn my models into stylish, creative mannequin dolls and at the same time display all our talents as a team,” Suzie said. While this project was being brought to life, Vera mentioned to Suzie that Briana was interested in learning more about applying makeup. “I had no idea what Briana was going through,” Suzie said. “All I saw was a happy, smiley girl who was fascinated with the artistry aspect of makeup.” As Briana revealed her story, Suzie found herself fascinated by everything that Briana had gone through in the past two years with her illness. Suzie listened closely, and every time Briana mentioned the word
‘leukemia,’ Suzie felt pain in her heart. “I had this feeling inside me that somehow, some way, I want to help her in any way that I can,” Suzie said. That night, Suzie had a hard time falling asleep. Although she was excited about the completion and success of her doll theme collection shoot, it was Briana who was on her mind all night. Suzie couldn’t stop thinking about everything that Briana had shared with her. A few months went by when Suzie received a message from Briana asking for a special favor. The message said, “I want you to work your magic on me Christmas Eve so all my friends and family can see the real me and I can, for once, feel beautiful again.” Suzie was going to be out of town on Christmas Eve, and she felt her heart breaking as she told Briana that wouldn’t be able to do her makeup for Christmas. “It bothered me so much because I saw the struggles she went through with her chemotherapy and being in and out of recovery and the hospital, and I wanted to give her a gift,” Suzie said.
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wanted to give Briana hope and inspiration, and let her know that this time in her life doesn’t have to be horrible. “I want her attitude to stay positive and to rub off on other people. I don’t want to see that change,” Suzie says. The experience was not just meaningful for Briana. “I feel as though I learned a valuable lesson as well from this experience,” Suzie says. “I am finally able to use the talent and skills God gave me in a purposeful way – to serve other people, the biggest joy and accomplishment of all.” After getting glammed up, the next step for Briana was a photo shoot with Kevin Chavez, the owner of What If Photography, and no stranger to cancer himself. Cancer tried to take his father from him at an early age, he said, and every so often it threatens to revisit him. “In the time in between, cancer has tried to visit upon various members of my family in various forms. So far the visits have been brief and cancer hasn’t been successful in taking any of them,” Kevin says. “For the most part, cancer has fortunately just been a temporary annoyance in my life and the lives of those around me. This doesn’t seem to be the case for Briana; cancer seems to have become more of a constant in her life.”
Suzie was recently able to do something special for Briana. With the help of photographer Kevin Chavez, Suzie put together a professional photo shoot where Briana could display her beauty, both inside and out. Before the shoot, Suzie used her makeup talents to give Briana a whole new look as well as an emotional boost. “As a makeup artist, I know the transformative properties of makeup and its amazing healing abilities,” Suzie says. “While it might be just creams, powders, lotions, and potions to some, others can testify that one glance in a mirror, with beautiful makeup on, can do something to the soul that medicine can’t.” As Suzie began applying the makeup, Briana waited anxiously in the chair, nervous to see how it would turn out. After her stroke, Briana had been having a hard time learning how to do her own makeup again, so she was excited to see what a professional could do. “When she turned me around in the chair and I saw myself, I felt totally different – in an amazing way!” Briana says. “She did a fantastic job. I really felt brand new in a way.” This is exactly what Suzie hoped to accomplish. She
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Before the shoot, Kevin friended Briana on Facebook and began getting updates about her condition. The updates were heavy, and filled with important decisions and complications as the result of her bout with cancer. “These were not like the usual status updates you read on Facebook,” Kevin says. “Those are the types of complaints that people make that seem trivial in comparison to the kinds of things Briana has been going through.” Kevin didn’t let his knowledge of Briana’s struggles shade how he approached the shoot. He wanted to treat her and the shoot just like he would any other. On the day of the shoot, Briana and Kevin were essentially strangers and there was a warm up period as they got a feel for each other. As a photographer, Kevin tries to throw his subjects curves to take them off their guard and help them relax, but he found that this occasion was trickier than usual. “Everything seemed to lead back to the difficulties in her life,” he says. “Questions could turn the situation sour. A casual question like, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’… That’s a horrible question to ask someone who lives life from day to day.” Eventually, however, Kevin and Briana were able to find common ground during the shoot.
“I was in a car accident a few years ago and the symptoms that have lingered have complicated my future and the way I live,” Kevin says. “I felt like the commonalities brought us closer together.” As Briana got more comfortable, her inner model began to emerge, and she no longer needed any direction from Kevin. “We got some amazing photos as a result,” Kevin says.
“Having cancer doesn’t mean you’re not normal, it just means you’re incredibly strong,” she says. “And you’re fighting cancer, you’re not dead. So no matter where you’re at in your journey, live your life to the fullest. This is an opportunity to see how special each thing in your life really is. You can still make a difference in yours and someone else’s life. And most of all, love unconditionally and be happy!”
During the shoot at Neo Dolce Salon, passersby stopped to admire the beautiful girl in front of the camera. Many of the admirers were regular clientele of the salon and knew about Briana’s story. They gasped at her stunning transformation, and smiled, knowing that this girl deserved every ounce of her beauty treatment. For Briana, the day was something she will never forget. “The whole experience was phenomenal! I felt like a movie star with the camera and everyone looking, and when it was all done, I felt like I was going to the Oscars,” she says with a smile. “I loved every minute of it.”
A Beauty, Inside And Out On the day of the photo shoot, Suzie wanted to create a look for Briana that showed who she was as a person and how she felt about herself. She wanted to give Briana the image of a strong, glamorous, fun, and elegant girl who still had control over her life. In reality, Briana was already all of those things – with or without makeup. “I can tell you one thing, cancer or not, makeup or not, Briana is truly beautiful,” Suzie said. Briana’s beauty is more than just skin deep. It’s the kind that emanates from the inside and touches those around her through her strength, faith, and courage. “She’s really a sweet kid, and has a really positive outlook in spite of the situation,” Kevin says. “I truly am a better person for having met her.” To touch another person in this way is exactly what Briana hopes to do with her life. Most women Briana’s age have the world at their fingertips and are just beginning their life’s journey. For Briana, tomorrow is no guarantee, making every day a precious one. She hopes that other people will learn to have the appreciation, unconditional love, and joy that she now has every day of her life. Don’t think that Briana has given up on enjoying her own long life, though.“I also hope that I will be cured from cancer for the rest of my life and be able to enjoy many years with my family and friends,” she says. Briana wants other people who are forced to deal with cancer to remember that they are beautiful for who they are, and cancer doesn’t change that.
Photo by:What If Photography
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Snapshots
Still Hummingbird Photo by:Courtney Hill
Foggy Vines Photo by:Amber Schneider
Sunset in the Fields Photo by:Amber Schneider
Photo by:Paul Nichols
Mountain Sunset Photo by:Amber Schneider
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Photo by:Paul Nichols
Woodward Park Photo by:Jane Banks
Cornell Jr. & Jane Banks at Woodward Park
Photo by:Bryanna Bettencourt
Photo by:John Russell
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An Amazing Friend By: Dalilah A. Rivas
4th Grade Bakman Elementary of Fresno On the island of Hawaii lived a young lady by the name of Sandy. Sandy had long, sand colored hair and blue eyes. One day she was walking along the beach alone and feeling lonely when she spotted a beautiful Golden Retriever who was begging for food. She ran home and the Golden Retriever followed her. She ran into her kitchen and grabbed some bacon that her mom had cooked earlier that morning. She felt really sorry for the dog. The dog ate a lot and must not have eaten in a long time. Sandy told everyone she knew about the lost dog. She could not find the owner and was worried that her mom would not let her keep it. When she asked her mom if she could keep the dog her mom was hesitant. Her mom did not think she could be responsible for the dog. After hours of pleading with her mom and promising to keep up with her chores and the dog; her mom agreed to let her keep the dog! Sandy was so excited! She decided to call the dog Trina. Trina licked her face and wagged her tail and they were inseparable. The End
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Family First Magazine
My Best Friend By: Thani Brant
7th Grade Carden School of Fresno When I need someone to talk to, she is there. She is my best friend. Through everything I go through, she goes nowhere. She is my best friend. Our bond will never break, for she is always by my side. She is my best friend. Though there are many more friends to make, in her I will always confide. She is my best friend. We do everything together, she’ll tell me when I’m right. She is my best friend. She and I, forever, until there’s no more light. She is my best friend. She is my best friend, best friend.
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The Dove Who Cared By Katie Wyncoop
1st Grade, St. Anthony’s Once upon a time there was a magic white dove that could bring dead things back to life. One day the dove was flying over a field and she saw a dead flower. The dove flew down to the flower and sang her magic song, “Flower, Flower come to life.” The flower came back to life and became beautiful. Another day, the dove saw a rainbow that had lost its colors. The dove also had the magic power to put the color back into things. She decided to help the rainbow get its color back. To work her magic the dove had to find a color and sing her magic song, then the color would get on the dove and the dove would take the color where she needed. The dove went to look for colors for the rainbow. First, she looked for a red berry, but couldn’t find one. She saw a red rose and thought maybe that would work. The dove sat on the rose and sang her song, “Color, Color come to me” and the red went on to the dove’s left wing. The dove then looked for orange. She looked up and remembered the sun had some orange in it so she sang to the sun, “Color, Color come to me.” Both the orange and the yellow from the sun flew onto the dove’s right wing. The dove next looked for green. She looked down and saw a very, very green plant. The dove landed and sang, “Color, Color come to me” to the plant. Green went onto her left wing. Finally the dove saw a blue flower. The dove sang, “Color, Color come to me” and the blue went onto her right wing. The dove then flew back to the rainbow to give it the colors from her wings. When she reached the rainbow, the dove stopped and flapped its wings. The colors flew from her wings onto the rainbow. Once the rainbow had its colors back everyone was happy again and lived happily ever after.
THE END
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Student Athlete Spotlight Destiny Raeann Giles-Ferrua 5th Grade, Alvina Elementary
Selfless By Stephanie Avila
Eleven-year-old Destiny Ferrua is making huge strides on the court and in the classroom. She is a remarkable student, athlete, friend and daughter. Destiny’s mother, Shawna Ferrua says, “Her father and I could not be more proud of Destiny.” A student at Alvina Elementary in Caruthers; Destiny plays volleyball, soccer and basketball for the Alvina Warriors. She is the starter for the Caruthers Raiders AAU Basketball League, which is currently undefeated, and she will be playing for Clovis Chaos, the Valley Champion and an AAU basketball team, starting this March 2012. Destiny excels at basketball, playing all post positions and small forward. Selfless, Destiny doesn’t brag about herself. She gets really excited when she is asked about her awesome basketball team. She talks about team spirit and how it is the team itself that is responsible for the team’s success. Besides being an amazing athlete, Destiny strives to keep a 4.0 grade point average at all times. She doesn’t settle for anything less than A’s. Recently, Destiny was awarded the Principles Award of Excellence which her parents are very proud of her for. With a dream to become a nurse one day, Destiny really enjoys helping others. Shawna says, “My daughter Destiny loves to please everyone. I want her to know that her family is very proud of her.” There are not many kids out there that have accomplished what Destiny has at eleven-years old. This girl has dreams and goals and she is dunking her way to victory.
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Lighting Up Their First Cigarette Why Some Teens Make The Decision To Smoke By Beth Warmerdam When it comes to smoking, 16-year-old Matt Davis has held firm in his decision not to partake. He can’t imagine lighting up a cigarette and then trying to run up and down the soccer field. “I don’t want to have to stop halfway down to cough or catch my breath. I really like to play
sports and I do a lot of skateboarding, so my lungs are pretty important to me,” he said. “Plus, smoking gives you bad breath, and I kind of want a girlfriend.” It seems the decision to smoke or not smoke is not one that teenagers make without some thought. In fact, a study by UC Merced psychologist Anna
Song showed that teens weigh the pros and cons of smoking, and they do acknowledge the associated health risks. The question is then, why do some decide to light up while others don’t? Each day in the United States, more than 3,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke their first cigarette and more than 850 of them will become daily smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 17 percent of high school students are cigarette smokers. The question of why some teenagers smoke when they know the dangers involved is something Song has been trying to determine. Through her research and studies, Song discovered that it’s how the teens view the risks and benefits of smoking that ultimately leads them to make their decision one way or the other.
young person has peers who smoke, it gives them the impression that smoking is more common than it really is. “Moreover, smoking teens are an example that smoking doesn’t lead to all the bad things everyone says will happen,” Song said. “Well, of course horrible things aren’t happening yet; give it a couple of years and you’ll start seeing shortness of breath and other health issues.” Song said one of the risks that teens don’t have a good understanding of is the very real probability that they could become addicted to cigarettes. “Most teens believe that they can smoke, but they can stop if they want to,” she said. “In fact, most teens think that they won’t be smoking within five years. They neglect the fact that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances out there.
“Teens generally acknowledge health risks, both long term – heart disease, lung cancer, etc – and short term – getting into trouble, bad breath, shortness of breath,” Song said. “The question is, how strongly do they believe them and how likely do they think any of these things will happen to them? Those who think that there is a good chance bad things will happen to them if they smoke are less likely to smoke.” Song said that there are various factors that might influence a teen into smoking for the first time, such as having friends who smoke, having family members who smoke, and the belief that smoking will make them feel more relaxed. “The reason why these are influential, I think, is because many of these factors lead to the belief that smoking is accepted in society and that it’s an acceptable behavior,” Song said. “People generally don’t do things that are not acceptable or are bad or distasteful to them. That’s why most people don’t smoke and why it’s so interesting that about one in five people do.” Peer pressure in the traditional sense isn’t as big of a factor as many people may believe when it comes to teens and smoking. Instead, when a
”According to the American Lung Association, people who begin smoking early in life are more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine than those who start at a later age. It’s no wonder that statistics from the CDC show that 80 percent of adult smokers began smoking before they were 18 years old. Matt Davis’ mom, Eileen Davis, was a smoker when she was younger. She began smoking at 19 years old and spent much of her 20s trying to quit because she knew what a danger it was to her health and she wanted to be a good role model for her children as they grew up. She has
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now been cigarette free for nearly 15 years, and doesn’t want to see her son go through the struggles that she went through with nicotine addiction. “As he grew up and he would see people smoking, I would talk to him about what it could do to him and the experiences I had,” Davis said. “I don’t want him to fall into the same trap I did, so I make it a point to keep that conversation going.” Davis is doing exactly what she’s supposed to, both by not smoking and by talking to her son about the dangers of smoking. Song said that parents play a huge role in whether their child decides to smoke one day. “When parents smoke, there is a higher chance that their kids will smoke, even if the parents don’t smoke in the house or discourage their kids from smoking,” she said. A 2009 Harvard School of Public Health study determined that the longer a parent smoked, the more likely it became that an adolescent would start smoking. Whether or not the parent was actually dependent on nicotine didn’t affect the strength of the relationship. In addition to setting an example, parents also need to be firm on their stance against smoking, Song said. “One of the biggest factors that prevented kids from smoking was the belief that smoking would get them into trouble,” she said. “That basically says how important their parents’ reactions are in a teen’s decisions to smoke or not smoke.” When talking to their children about smoking, parents need to recognize that teens have a more complicated thought process than just thinking about lung cancer and emphysema, Song said. They are concerned with the short-term consequences, like smelling bad or being out of shape to play in sports. Another concern they have is how they will be perceived by other people, such as whether smoking will make them look like a burn out. “They are also aware that smoking can also be associated with benefits, like looking grown-up or bonding with a group of friends,” Song said. “Parents need to be aware of how teens think and talk to them about these issues.” Parents need to be on the lookout for signs that their child is smoking, because in most cases they
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will try to hide it. So how can parents be proactive in figuring out whether their teens are smoking? “’Spend time with your kids’ is such an easy thing to say, and it’s also too easy of an answer,” Song said. “It’s not just spending time with kids, but it’s also being aware of things while they are spending time with kids. The smell of smoke is extremely noticeable. Do your kids smell like smoke when they come home from school? They may blame their friends, but that in it of itself is something to monitor.” Other signs to look for include: physical signs like coughing and hoarseness; the presence of lighters or matches in the teen’s belongings; an increased secretiveness in the teen’s behaviors; and the teen asking for extra money, which could be used to buy cigarettes. For teens who have already started smoking and want to quit, there are resources to help. The American Lung Association Not On Tobacco program, found at http://www.notontobacco.com, can help 14- to 19-year-old smokers end their addiction to nicotine. Teen smokers can also get free telephone counseling through the Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA.
Finding Peace
in Parenthood after Labor Woes By Dominique James I was getting anxious. My due date had come and gone. “It’s okay, Dominique. This is your first baby...lots of women are late with their first baby.” At least that’s what I heard time and time again. By my 8th month, I had already reached my breaking point. I was praying that my son, Major, would come early. Please, please, PLEASE, GOD! If he’s healthy and fully formed, let this baby come early. In a moment of weakness, I even said, “God, it is okay if he’s missing a fingernail or two...just get him out of me!” Of course I wasn’t serious. I wanted my baby to have ten fingers and toes, and for those fingers and toes to all be dressed with tiny, perfect fingernails. I was planning a home birth. “Planning” is a hilarious word when you’re referring to anything related to pregnancy, labor or motherhood. Am I right, ladies? I can feel you nod in agreement as you read this. “Amen,” we all say in unison. But there I was, trying to plan. Now, let me make something very clear; I didn’t go crazy with the idea of planning. I had educated myself on home births, water births, hospital births, c-sections, and ocean births. (Okay, I never considered an ocean birth although it’s a REAL THING. YES, YES, YES IT IS! I mean, like, what if a crab crawled up there? Whoa.) No, I didn’t go crazy with the planning. However, I knew what I wanted to experience. I knew the setting I wanted to be in, and I knew how I wanted to birth. So I made the decision of planning a home water birth. I hired an excellent midwife, an amazing doula and I took all the classes. This was the first parenthood decision I was making, and I felt great about it.
One night, after attending one of our birth classes, I started crying to my husband, “I don’t know if I can do this! DID YOU SEE HOW THAT WOMAN WAS CRYING IN THE BIRTH VIDEO?! WHY DOES IT HAVE TO HURT SO BAD?! Also, I hate you.” Being the good, kind husband that he is, he assured me that I CAN do this. We talked that night and I felt at ease. I made the decision in my mind that in any case, home birth, water birth or even transferring to the hospital, I would do this and I could do this. I started to think of my birth experience differently. I kept my confidence in birthing at home, but I left the pressure and fear of the unknown at the door. Home birth or no home birth, medication or no medication, I can do this... I can do this... I can do this. I watched natural labor videos, water labor videos, and epidural induced labor videos. Birth wasn’t so scary anymore. Instead, the more I changed my mind about it, the less scary it was, and the more beautiful it became. We arrived at (what I was hoping) would be my last appointment with my OB. She knew how I wanted to birth, and I felt comfortable telling her my plans. Like previous appointments, she would chat with me, check me and send me on my way. I loved my doctor. She was chill, to-the-point, and I never felt rushed. She walked in. We chatted She measured my stomach, and then she said, “Hmmm,” and checked again. “What is it?” I asked. “Well, you’re measuring big,” she said. “Oh” I said with relief, “Well, I’ve always measured big.” I looked at my husband, Chance, and shot him a smile, knowing that we were thinking the same thing. “He’s a big boy!” I giggled. “You’ve grown very quickly since last week. I need to send you to a specialist to have this baby checked out. I need to see how big he could be and we can discuss our options,” she said with concern. I looked at Chance, but this time with a different expression. I was worried. I felt the fear come over me, that same fear I felt months before when I was crying in the car questioning if I could even do this without freaking the heck out. We were sent to a specialist immediately. And after
the appointment with the specialist, we were sent immediately back to our doctor. Our doctor kindly, but seriously advised us to have a c-section. She said we shouldn’t wait another day because the baby was measuring very, very big. Great. Here come the tears. Tears were pouring down my face as if I were a broken faucet. During the next three minutes, I lost enough snot to fill 1,000 tissues. I called my midwife and then my parents. I was balling all the way home. WHY?! I kept thinking. Why!!!!!???!!! Some people will tell you that it doesn’t matter how you birth because the ending is still a baby. But I do believe it matters how you birth. I believe that certain life experiences help us grow and evolve. I was looking forward to birth and thought it would help me become the mother I hoped to be -- strong, confident, and determined. It was going to be the first thing that I could give my son. And I wanted him to have the best birth possible. My husband and I wrestled with the decision. Until a few minutes ago, a c-section was the last thing on our minds. I had read all about unnecessary c-sections and the reasons people have them. I thought I would never, EVER actually agree to one!! But suddenly a c-section was strongly recommended by my doctor. My head pounded as I frantically considered my limited options. I had to make this decision very quickly, but I didn’t know what the right decision was. Should I go through with this surgery to have my baby? I’d been having contractions for weeks prior and didn’t feel much pain at all. Should I try and go against my doctor’s advice and give my son another few days to make his appearance? The pros and cons of both options made my head spin. We made the decision to have a C-section. Was it the right decision? I still don’t know. It was such an odd experience. Instead of pushing, breathing, and feeling my baby being born, I walked into an operating room. Instead of being one of the first to see or hold my baby, I was the 4th or 5th. We all know how cesareans go. You listen to the nurses’ talk about where they’re going to go for dinner because this procedure is so common. After all was said and done, I had so many questions. Did I really earn this? Can I still talk about labor like other women and feel like I have something to share? What if I decided against the c-section? What if my labor would have gone perfectly? Will I regret this surgery later in life? And most importantly, was I a bad mother for copping out? Something was wrong. The downsides of the surgery were filling my mind. There I was, holding my brand new son and I
was still in shock over my labor. I didn’t transition well. My labor affected me more than I was prepared to admit. I was in love with this baby, but my “ending” wasn’t just my baby. It was how he was born, too. Did I rob him of something? I kept asking myself. Did I rob us of something? Will we not bond the same now? I came to the conclusion that the reason I was so concerned with my son’s birth is because I wanted him to have the very best. And as I realized that fact, I realized also how much I had already loved my son. I was already thinking about his well-being and his story. I was longing to connect to him in anyway I could. Later in the week, I was laying there holding my precious boy and pondering the last few months. In life, and as parents, we are forced to make decisions. Those decisions will shape us and our children. We don’t know if they were always the right ones. We wrestle and struggle with pros and cons, but in the end, we still have to choose a road. We are constantly asking ourselves, “Which road will be best?” The fact that I want to make the very best decision for my child brought me peace, because, you see, I already desired the best for him. Those insecurities I felt during my son’s birth aren’t lingering, because all I wanted from this was to be a good mom. Do I know if the c-section was my best option, medically speaking? No. Do I know if it was best for me emotionally? Nope. But I DO know that I love Major so much, and I don’t take parenthood lightly. In the end, my son’s birth story, as messy and confusing at it might be, was a blessing. It showed me that I was already a strong, confident and dedicated mother. It helped me take a very close look at my motives. And because of that, I’m going to be a damn good mom. Dominique is a Wife, Mother, Writer, Makeup Artist and Animal Lover from Fresno,Ca. Follow more of Dominique’s rants, raves and revelations on motherhood and the like at dominiquerose.blogspot.com Major William James Born December 9th 2011 9.9lbs 21.25 inches long
Are Your Children Safe In The Car? Statistics show car seat misuse is very high By Beth Warmerdam
You bought the best car seat that money could buy, secured it into the backseat, and buckled your precious child in. Now you’re ready to hit the road, feeling confident that your child is as safe and snug as can be. But wait. Nationally, the misuse rate of car seats hovers around 80 percent, which means eight out of 10 car seats are not actually being used properly. Is your child’s car seat one of those eight? Although you may be part of the 20 percent that has done everything correctly, it’s worth looking into to make sure you have not unintentionally put your child at risk in the car. Making the situation even scarier, the misuse of car seats locally seems to be higher than the national average. Ahmad Hebert, a health education specialist and a coordinator with the Child RideSafe Program for Fresno County, says that local car seat checks show a 90 percent misuse rate. “I think it’s all just ignorance,” Hebert said about why the misuse rate is so high. “Not ignorance in a bad way, but in a lack of knowledge.”
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fants weighing from 20 to 35 pounds and up to a year old ride in a rear-facing car seat in the backseat. Hebert advises parents to leave their babies in this position for even longer than the law requires.
Properly installing a car seat and correctly strapping in the child is not as simple as it may seem.“It’s a little more technical and complicated than you would think,” Hebert said. “Without the proper education, nobody would know that.”
“We want to advocate best practice, which is waiting until at least 2 years old to face them forward or until they reach the weight recommended by the car seat,” A properly installed rear-facing car seat can reduce an infant’s risk of death in the case of an accident by 71 percent. For children up to the age of four who are riding forward facing, a properly used car seat can reduce the risk of death by 54 percent.
It’s incredibly important for our children’s safety that they are secured the right way in a car or booster seat. California law requires that newborns and in-
A new California law that went into effect at the beginning of 2012 states that children less than 8 years age or less than 4’9” tall be buckled into a car seat
Family First Magazine
of or booster seat in the back seat of the car. This is a change to the law that formerly required children under the age of 6 to be in a car seat or booster seat. Research shows that children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old are 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries when riding in booster seats compared to using a vehicle’s safety belts alone. If these statistics aren’t enough to make you think about your own child’s safety while riding in a car, the next step is to look at a couple of sobering facts involving car accidents. First and foremost, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Of those children who were killed in a motor vehicle accident, 56 percent were not properly restrained. Nobody wants their child to be a part of this statistic. So while it may take a little extra effort, it’s worth every parent’s time to make sure their child’s car seat or booster seat is being used properly. First, make sure you are following all of the California safety laws. All children under 8 should be in the backseat. Also note that you are responsible for your older children being buckled up as well. Next, make sure each child is in the proper car seat or booster seat for their age and weight. Follow the weight guides on the seats and do not make exceptions. Don’t use old seats that are broken or have rusts or cracks in them, or seats that have been in an accident. One of the most common mistakes parents make with car seats comes during the actual installation of them. Hebert said that many parents have problems when it comes to using the car’s seatbelt to secure the car seat. “They thread the seatbelt through, but don’t understand how the locking mechanisms work for the car to get the car seat tight enough to where it doesn’t move more than an inch at the base,” he said. The car’s seatbelt should lock into place. If you are using a car seat with a latch, you also need to make sure it is locked tight enough. The car seat should not move more than one inch when pushed toward the front of the car or sideways. Do not use both the latch and the seatbelt together; it does not produce better results and could be dangerous. Both methods are safe, so pick the one that works better in your car. Another common mistake is not positioning the harness straps in the proper place. Whether in a rearfacing or forward-facing car seat, the harness should be snug against the child and should not be twisted. It should be securely positioned over the middle of the child’s shoulder, not on the edge. The harness should come up over the hips rather than the belly.
When a child is rear-facing, the harness straps should be set so that they come out of the car seat at or below shoulder level. When a child sits facing forward, the harness straps should be at or above shoulder level. When it comes to booster seats, one of the most often seen mistakes is using the incorrect seat belt route. Read the directions to determine where the seat belt is supposed to go. Many booster seats have arm rests that need the lap belt routed under them instead of over them. These are only some of the areas in which parents make mistakes when putting their child in a safety seat. Most parents are guilty of one misuse or another, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many resources available to help parents keep their kids safe while riding in the car. The California Highway Patrol, Fresno Police Department, Clovis Police Department, and many other local police departments have car seat fitting stations. “If you’re not sure how to secure car seats in place in the car, you can go there and they will assist you for free,” Hebert said. “Contact the individual location for an appointment and they’d be happy to assist you. It usually takes about 30 minutes.” The Fresno County Child RideSafe Program also has classes around three times per month that are free to the public. “Everyone’s welcome, no cost,” Hebert said. “Show up, participate, and leave better than what you came.” To find out more information about the classes or about car seat safety, the Child RideSafe Program can be reached at (559) 600-3281. Is your child ready to transition into a seat belt?
The 5-Step Test 1. Can the child sit all the way back against the automobile seat? 2. Do the child’s knees bend naturally at the automobile seat cushion edge? 3. Does the shoulder belt cross on the center of the child’s shoulder and chest? 4. Does the lap belt cross the hips and thighs, not the stomach? 5. Can the child stay seated in this position during the whole trip? If you answered “No” to any of these questions, then your child must remain in a car seat or booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. In addition, a new California law states that children under the age of 8 years old must be properly buckled into a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. (Source: Fresno County Department of Public Health)
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Battle Of The Weights! Machines vs. Barbells vs. Dumbbells vs. Kettlebells By Erik Traeger Ever wonder what the difference is between machine weights and free weights? Safety Many people believe that machines are safer than free weights. This may be true if the free weight exercises are performed incorrectly or under improper supervision, but even machine exercises can be unsafe if the person does not know how to do the exercise or adjust the machine properly.
cises. However, an athlete with bilateral strength imbalances can still utilize the stronger limb more than the weaker limb, thus maintaining or even worsening the strength imbalance. A better choice is dumbbell training. Dumbbell exercises require even more coordination, balance, stabilizer muscle strength and core strength than barbells. Dumbbells require the weaker limbs to
People sometimes get a false sense of security with machines and push themselves beyond their capabilities and get injured. Free weight exercises are actually very safe when performed properly under the direct supervision of a qualified expert. Additionally, most machines are designed for adults, not children. Very few gyms may have machines designed for children.
Natural Movement and Coordination Unfortunately, machines do not improve a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s balance, coordination, bilateral strength imbalances, stabilizer muscle strength, or core strength. Most machine exercises are performed in a sitting or lying position. In contrast, most sports and daily activities are performed in a standing position. Barbells are a great choice for strength training as long as most of the exercises are performed in a standing position. They also require more balance, coordination, core strength, and stabilizing muscle strength than machine exer-
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Photo by GM Photography and Design
do just as much work as the stronger limbs. Similarly, unilateral leg exercises such as lunges, stepups, split squats, single-leg RDLs, etc., should be used at least as much or more than bilateral leg exercises such as squats, dead lifts, and good mornings, especially when the athlete (or non-athlete) has a large bilateral strength imbalance or is recovering from a leg injury. Kettlebells are a unique tool for strength training and conditioning. There are some very unique exercises that are performed best with a kettlebell, or that are performed differently with a kettlebell than with a dumbbell or barbell. Doing a dumbbell workout with a kettlebell isn’t really “kettlebell training”. True kettlebell training includes swings, cleans, snatches, tactical lunges, Viking push presses, jerks, windmills, and bent presses among others, including variations of some of these exercises. Kettlebells are awesome for cardio conditioning as well. Performing high-repetition swings, snatches or jerks will totally smoke you.
Expense and Space Requirements Most machines are designed exclusively for one exercise, take up a lot of room, and are very expensive. On the other hand, literally hundreds of exercises can be performed with a single barbell set and/or a set of dumbbells, or even a few kettlebells at about the same cost as one single-use machine. The machine weight industry has done a good job over the years of convincing people that machines are better than free weights. In reality, free weight training provides more benefits and less cost than machines with a smaller space requirement. In addition, you will see better results if you start training with barbells, dumbbells or even kettlebells rather than machine weights. If you aren’t sure how to perform a free weight exercise correctly, consult a degreed and certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Photo by GM Photography and Design
Open Wide! Oral health can reveal a lot about your overall health By Beth Warmerdam Looking inside your mouth, a dentist can tell more about you than how man cavities you have or whether you’ve been telling the truth about flossing those teeth. Your mouth actually offers a lot of clues as to how the rest of your body is functioning, and how healthy your mouth is, in some cases, can affect how healthy your body is.
associations between severe gum disease and systemic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Researchers don’t know exactly what the nature of the association is, Kohn said, but ongoing research is studying those relationships. A large number of these infectious and systematic diseases can be detected by your dentist through oral signs.
“The mouth is connected to the rest of the body, so diseases in your mouth may be associated with what is occurring elsewhere in the body,” said William Kohn, DDS, former director of the division of oral health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and current vice president of dental science and policy at the Delta Dental Plans Association.
“Some examples are gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease, blood disorders like leukemia, Sjogren’s disease - an autoimmune disorder primarily seen in women - and dozens of other diseases, conditions and syndromes, which can manifest in the mouth,” Kohn said.
Studies over the past 10 to 15 years have found
One common feature of gum infections and many of these other diseases is the presence of inflammation, which is the body’s response to infection. If scientists are able to discover how these diseases relate to each other, they can determine whether treating the inflammation caused by gum disease can help improve the other diseases. Some of the diseases and conditions that may be linked to oral health include: Cardiovascular Disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary heart disease. Studies have also shown that people with gum disease have a higher prevalence of strokes and clogged arteries. However, no cause-effect relationship between gum disease and these cardiovascular diseases has been proven and more studies are needed to confirm the link. Diabetes. The connection between diabetes and gum disease is a two-way street. “Diabetics seem to be more susceptible to gum diseases,” Kohn said.
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“When persons with diabetes have severe gum disease, it also may make it more difficult for them to properly control their diabetes.” Researchers believe that people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease because diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection. Conversely, gum disease makes diabetes more difficult to control because the infection can cause the body’s blood sugar to rise. HIV/AIDS. Problems in the mouth caused by HIV come from viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. “Individuals with HIV often get a fungal infection called candidiasis in their mouths that can eventually spread to the rest of their body,” Kohn said. Common oral symptoms that show up in people who have HIV include dry mouth, ulcers, and mucosal lesions. “The mouth is normally full of germs that can cause disease,” Kohn said. “For someone with a healthy immune system, this is not usually a problem.” However, people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, are more susceptible to those germs.
bloodstream or directly to other areas of the body,” Kohn explained. Once the infection destroys the bone that supports the tooth, it then has access to vital nearby structures like the brain and airway, which can be fatal. “Regular check-ups can prevent dental disease from ever reaching this stage,” Kohn said. “If pain or swelling persists, get it checked out immediately as early treatment of mouth problems is almost always easier and more successful.” Taking care of your teeth should be a vital part of everyone’s daily routine, not only for aesthetic purposes, but also for general health reasons. Signs of poor oral health or dental problems can include pain in the teeth or mouth, difficulty chewing without discomfort or pain, sensitivity to hot or cold, bad breath, swelling, and redness or bleeding of the gums or other soft tissues in the mouth.
Pregnancy and Preterm Labor. The hormonal changes caused by a woman’s pregnancy increase her risk for gingivitis and gum disease. In addition, several studies have shown a link between gum disease and preterm labor.
“Loose, discolored or broken teeth are obvious signs, but teeth that start to feel loose or have shifted in the mouth may be less obvious,” Kohn said. “Changes in the color of the gums or other soft tissues may also signal a problem. Dry mouth can indicate a susceptibility to tooth decay.”
Other Conditions. Dentists can detect many other conditions and diseases, many of them life-threatening, through an examination of the mouth. Some of them include osteoporosis, bulimia, kidney disease, sleep and breathing disorders, high anxiety, measles, herpes, strep throat, and certain cancers.
A good oral health regimen should include eating nutritionally, using fluoridated water, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly. However, some people have to take more care than others with their mouths.
It’s clear that good oral health is important, especially if you already suffer from a disease or condition that can trigger problems in the mouth. But did you know that keeping your teeth and gums clean can also save your life? Although very rare in today’s age of antibiotics and advanced dental and medical care, cases of toothaches leading to death do occur, Kohn said.
“Appropriate dental care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people are at greater risk of dental diseases,” Kohn said. “This may be because of personal habits, physical or intellectual disabilities, oral or systemic diseases, drug use (prescription and non-), or other reasons. People at higher risk for dental disease should be seen by a dentist more frequently.”
“Tooth decay and gum diseases are caused by bacteria. When these infections are allowed to persist, they can sometimes spread through the
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Preparation By John Russell
The very essence of the fast food industry’s existence is based on convenience. Everything from breakfast, lunch, dinner and those tempting late night urges for a fast food drive thru run, in a car of course, is based on convenience. Soon fast food begins to have a fast effect on our health and appearance. The convenience of instant gratification and dollar menus has taken a devastating toll on American society. Many fast food restaurants have begun to cater to the more health conscious consumer. Though these options are better choices than the super sized menu option, simple at home meal preparation may help you take greater charge of your daily nutritional choices and help you escape the pitfall of choosing fries instead of fruit. The more you take charge of your meal planning and exercise preparation, the more you will own your success. Preparing your own meals and starting your day eating healthy helps set the stage for the rest of your day. Preparation begins with menu planning. In order for your menu planning to be successful, it has to be catered to your individual lifestyle. Unfortunately, what we read in the health magazines regarding six small meals a day is not always a realistic goal to achieve, unless we have a very understanding boss who will allow one to stop working in order to eat their fourth meal of the day. Here are some simple tips to help you successfully plan ahead and stay focused on your nutritional and fitness goals.
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•
Remove all the foods in your kitchen that are not on your nutritional plan. This will help alleviate the temptation to snack or lose focus of your plan.
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Pick a day of the week to do your grocery shopping for the week. If you purchase your food and prepare your meals ahead of time, it will help keep you away from inappropriate food choices when you are hungry.
• Prepare a grocery list ahead of time. Preparing a grocery list ahead of time will help keep you focused when you go shopping. Do not deviate from the shopping list. • DO NOT GO SHOPPING WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY! Going shopping when you are hungry can lead to impulse buying and you may find yourself with a pantry full of snacks that normaly you would not have purchased had you not gone shopping hungry. • When planning your eating schedule for the day, be realistic and have a backup plan. If you are not sure if you are able to have a meal at a certain time due to work scheduling, pack a pre-made protein drink or protein bar. This meal replacement will help keep your energy level up and you won’t find yourself with that starving feeling when leaving work that often leads to a trip through the drive thru. The more you plan ahead and prepare, you will soon find that it becomes a part of your daily routine and lifestyle. Do not expect that in one week of implementing a daily/weekly nutritional over-haul that you will be successful. It is a lot of trial and error. If you stay focused, consistent and prepared, you will find that nutritional preparedness will work for you. John Russell is a certified personal fitness trainer and published fitness author. Get more tips on fitness and nutrition at www.fittrainer1on1.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/fittrainer1on1
Family Sticks Together Designed by Suzie Shinseki, courtesy of iLoveToCreate速
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Instructions These friendly family refrigerator magnets are so easy and fun to make thanks to Aleene’s® Tacky Glue® and Tulip® Fashion Art. You’ll have so much fun making one for every family member; you’ll wish you had a bigger family!
1. Measure 1/2 cup of Tacky Glue and scoop into gallon plastic bag. Add one cup cornstarch into bag. Seal and begin combining ingredients into a ball by manipulating with fingers. Once the mixture is combined, remove and knead until dough is smooth and pliable. 2. Add a drop or two of Petal Pink paint into the dough and knead until dough has turned into a soft flesh color.
Materials List Tulip® Fabric Markers™ Multi 12 Pack Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ Primary Tulip Soft® Fabric Paint Petal Pink Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ 300 Multi-color Pack Tulip® Fashion Glitter Bond™ Aleene’s® Magnetic Tacky Dots™ Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue™ Miscellaneous Scissors Ribbon of choice Floral cookie cutter of choice, approximately 2 ½” diameter (If larger, increase recipe) Measuring cups Cornstarch 1-2cups Plastic bag- gallon size Paintbrush Rolling pin Light blue colored pencil Plastic circle template
3. Roll out dough to approximately 1/4” thick and cut out shapes with cookie cutter. 4. Using circle template, select the 1 1/4” circle and place in center of cookie cut out. Press gently along the circle edges of template to create a raised circle in center of shape. 5. Let dry until hard (about 24 hours). 6. Using light blue pencil lightly make dots for eyes and draw in nose and mouth. Go over features using Tulip® Fabric Markers. Draw in hair. Have fun drawing portraits of family members. 7. Add a spot of glue on the dot for eyes. Place crystal on top. HINT: For ease in picking up crystal, gently press tip of crayon on crystal and place on dot for eyes. 8. Brush Glitter Bond to petal portion of flower. Generously sprinkle desired color of glitter on glue. Gently press and let dry. Shake and brush off excess glitter. 9. Cut a piece of ribbon approximately 6” long. Loop over center area and glue to back of dough. 10. Affix Aleene’s® Magnetic Tacky Dot to center of back. 11. Using Tulip® Fabric Marker, write name on ribbon www.ilovetocreate.com
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“Help Me, Please, Someone” By Joel Pflugrath
Author’s Note: I wrote this piece to be “kid friendly”. I am hoping that even if it helped one victim of bullying, it would be worth the effort. Guidance counselors are desperately needed in our schools to help the 1 out of every 7 students caught up in this madness. Read along as 7th grader Jerald Pierce tells first how he struggled to write about freeing himself from his bully and then how he actually did it. He also offers some tips!
Jerald stared in total despair at the blank piece of lined paper that lay ominously before him. Writing had always been so effortless. Now it seemed all but impossible. Gathered on the floor next to his desk lay the lonely, crumpled, oddly shaped snowballs of paper futility that represented several earlier attempts at simply writing the first sentence. The wads of paper seemed to gaze back at him with a total lack of sympathy. “Don’t blame us, or the pencil, or the desk,” they silently complained.
Photo by GM Photography and Design
“But who, or what, DO I blame?” Jerald thought, “Most likely myself!” He had recounted the story about his “run in” with the school bully a dozen times to friends, but writing it for everyone to read in the school newspaper seemed almost too personal. Maybe he should have been less honest when Mrs. Zimmerman asked him to contribute a story on bullying from a “personal perspective.” In truth, it wasn’t his first “run in”. He had been a victim of this particular bully for over a year. Many bullies and their victims seem to form strange, almost business-like, partnerships. They are drawn together in a kind of predestined way. Jerald was eventually able to leave that “relationship” simply because he realized it was his choice to do so. But break-ups are never easy, and they’re often messy. This one was no exception.
The second rejected wad confirmed his suspicions. It began “Hello, My name is Jerald Pierce, and I’m going to write a story about bullying. I hope you like it. I did.” The only reason he had written that was to tease poor Mrs. Zimmerman with some REALLY bad writing. He immediately wadded the paper back as tightly as he could, and carefully stuffed it in the bottom of his trashcan. Humor just seemed so out of place. But wasn’t it humor that made life more tolerable when things got difficult? It sure helped him when his parents divorced. When he examined the third crumpled attempt, he barely recognized the simple random pencil marks as his own words. “Help me, please, someone!” was scrawled carelessly across the middle of the page.
Mrs. Zimmerman was right when she urged him not to give up on the writing project after he sheepishly attempted to back out only a week after he confidently promised her that his “masterpiece on bullying” would be ready in time for the March issue. This new found “confidence” was already getting him in trouble. It made him feel out of control, confused, and scared; but powerful all at the same time.
The words he had scribbled out of the shear frustration with his inability to write suddenly jumped out at him with a whole new meaning. “Yes, THAT’S how it feels to be bullied,” he thought. Bullies make you feel absolutely helpless and alone. They want to control you by using your own lack of self-confidence, and fear, in order to make you feel as miserable as possible. It’s almost like that’s their job…their mission in life.
“Jerald, I really think this could be the final step in moving beyond that part of your life. Why don’t you look at this as a kind of a final “purging.” “Besides, other kids could learn from your experience. The wisdom you have to share is more important than any “anti-bullying” program could offer.”
Thoughts suddenly began to cascade through his mind. A million neurons were furiously snapping in unison. The title for his article magically appeared at the top of the blank page. It read, “The Day I Set My Bully Free.” (The article follows).
“Boy, have I created some big expectations!” Jerald muttered to himself. Finally, more out of desperation than anything else, he picked the discarded wads of paper off the floor and began to unfold them. The first of the crumpled rejects began with “It was a dark and stormy night”. But in reality, it wasn’t a dark and stormy night. In fact, that infamous day at the park…the last day he would ever be a victim…had been a beautiful, early fall day. He wasn’t really sure why he’d written those words. Maybe it was just an awkward attempt at humor. Now he wasn’t sure if the words connected to humor in any form. He knew there was certainly nothing funny about bullying. Maybe THAT’S the problem! Bullying is a sad, painful reality for a lot of kids. Was he trying to find humor in that? No wonder he couldn’t write!
“Bobby” (not his real name) had been my own personal bully since the start of the last school year, and I was kind of starting to feel sorry for him. He worked very hard to make my life totally miserable, but I could tell that the effects of all the negative energy were starting to take a toll on him. Recently, the bullying behavior just didn’t have the same edge of meanness to it. It seemed almost rehearsed. It was like we were actors in a play in which everyone had lost interest. Being a school bully is not a way to become well liked, or popular at school. Most kids get into it without a lot of thought. “Experts” try to make excuses for the behavior. Their favorite is that the bully has a bad home life. But in reality there are as many reasons as there are bullies. Like most human behavior, it’s VERY complex. That’s why there are no easy answers. That is also why antibullying programs have been proven to be so unsuccessful. These programs try to treat the bullying problem with a “whole school” zero tolerance
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Photo by GM Photography and Design
approach. But that is kind of like treating a concussion by putting a band aid on your forehead. Schools need guidance counselors. Behavioral problems take time to sort out. In most schools, bullies are universally despised. The bullies know that. The victims know that. Parents and educators play along by trying to demonize the bully. They think that they can somehow control the social dynamic by making the victim “innocent”, and the bully “evil”. But all of the psychological research points in a totally different direction. The hard truth research reveals is that the victim and the bully are engaged in an unhealthy social dynamic in which BOTH share responsibility. Both need help. Then why are schools wasting time and resources on programs that are proven to have no effect? And who is it hurting the most? It’s not just the victim. While schools waste vast resources on ineffectively combating bullying, kids are needlessly suffering; victims, bullies, kids who witness bullying, can all have lasting emotional scars because of this behavior. People often carry these childhood traumas into adulthood causing clinical depression, and sometimes even suicide. Around 30% of bullies end up in the criminal justice system, many of them for life! Is there a problem here? Look, I’m not trying to defend bullies at
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all. But can you solve a problem without somehow dealing with all those involved? The day I set my bully free was one of the most extraordinary days of my life. It was the culmination of a lot of soul-searching on my part. After my parents divorce, I believed that I was a “poor innocent” victim. I wallowed in self-pity. I blamed others, especially my bully, for my miserable life. I never thought about why “Bobby” entered my life at that particular time. No doubt I carried my selfpity around like a banner over my head. It would have been hard to miss. Self-pity and weakness attract bullies like bees to honey. Bullies are usually powerless to resist the impulse to react. After all, what healthy, normal kid would want to be a bully? It would be like volunteering to be Darth Vader. The Principal is probably the only person at school who deals with more negativity than the bully. Bobby was mostly verbally abusive. He would often threaten severe physical abuse, but never followed through; other than with a small shove, or a push. As he approached me that day at the park, it seemed “business as usual”. I was listening to music on my ipod. I didn’t even look up as he approached.
He greeted me with, “Hey loser, total wusses like you shouldn’t be allowed out in public. Get the “bleep” outta here before I beat you senseless, ya little creep!”
Here’s some “demon slayers” that worked for me. Remember, it’s OK to kick demons when they’re down.
I continued to ignore him. “Hey, I’m talking to you retard!” Bobby’s voice became harsh and threatening. He moved closer. I forced myself to at least appear calm.
Jerald’s Five (not so) Easy Steps to Losing Your Bully
“Listen Bobby, I’m done with all this crap from you. You can do what you want, but most people think that we’re both losers.” I had given him no choice. He had to attack. The initial shove knocked me to the ground. My ipod headphones flew off my head. He immediately jumped on top of me, and began to try to slap me. He screamed, “Don’t ever call me a loser!” Surprisingly, his attack was having little effect. Bobby soon tired, and his anger dissipated. He got up, called me “scum”, and left. That was my last encounter with him. The Bully contract had been broken; our “business” was over. I picked up the ipod, put the headphones back on my head, and smiled. The Beatles tune “All You Need is Love” had just started to play. As it turned out, freeing myself from my bully was actually the easy part. The difficult part was facing my own demons.
1. DON’T keep the bully problem to yourself. DO talk to anybody that will listen. Be a pest if need be. 2. DON’T isolate. DO join in any group that involves you in positive and healthy activities. 3. DON’T blame others for your problems. Remember you are your own best “demon slayer”. 4. DO act confident, even if you don’t feel confident. Bullies are easily bluffed. 5. DO use your sense of humor. Humor is to bullies as kryptonite is to Superman.
Above the Grade â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Right Personâ&#x20AC;? Tom Cassanova, Caruthers High School By David Rallis
Photo by Isabel Orduno
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Teachers set the bar for our children’s academic future. They have a strong influence over whether or not our children love school or shy away from it. Some teachers go above and beyond and we love to spotlight those teachers in Family First Magazine.
What he said after he told me this was even more unforgettable. “I want to make everything seem like a passion, and not make it seem like work for the student.” He says, “I do this in what I am teaching and when I am coaching. I want students to feel like what they learn, they can get better at and use later in life. Teach kids the fundamentals and then create a passion.”
When I talked to Caruthers High School principal, Orin Hirschkorn, about spotlighting Tom Cassanova in Family First Magazine; his answer was quick, “Tom is just the right person.” I taught at Caruthers High School for a short time with Tom. I know what Mr. Hirschkorn is talking about.
His advice for someone that is considering a career in teaching or that was just coming into the profession is that “You want to be open and give back. I am reminded of a quote that says that what you do today, you want to pass on. Be patient, teaching takes a lot of patience and not all kids are going to like what you like.”
If you ask Tom what his title is at Caruthers, he will answer, “I am a teacher.” It is clear that being a teacher is what Tom values the most but his duties are varied at the school, and he wears many hats. He is the high school’s art teacher and he is also the schools winning football coach, with a record of 185 wins and 91 losses. Tom has been the head football coach for 27 years, through thick and thin. Tom is also the high school’s full time Athletic Director, and he does this on top of his full time classroom teaching.
Tom’s advice to parents, as far as what parents can do to insure the scholastic success of their children, is for them to be there for them. He suggests that parents talk to their children around the kitchen table, or wherever, “and make sure you are there for them.” He says, “Spend time with them and find out what is going on in their lives. Time is the most important thing we can give to our children. Most importantly, read to them. Give them a love for reading.”
Tom grew up in Florida and made his way to California while serving in the Air Force stationed at the old Castle Air Force Base after serving overseas. He left the Air Force and attended Merced Junior College. After Merced College he then went on to C.S.U. Fresno to graduate with a B.A. in Industrial Arts, wanting a career in graphics arts design. Tom decided, after an internship at a local graphic arts company, that graphic arts was not the career path that he wanted to take. So he went back to C.S.U. Fresno and enrolled in the teacher program.
I think Mr. Hirschkorn summed up Tom and what he has accomplished at Caruthers best, “Tom has been here for 27 years, doing a fantastic job. He is into his second generation in coaching and teaching and he is a rock! We have been so fortunate!” Mr. Hirshchkorn says, “He has been the right person for the school and for the community; and he has stuck around for those 27 years. Tom does not shy away from the academic or the athletic pressures. That is very, very rare.” Mr. Hirschkorn pretty much said it all.
The military influenced Tom’s decision to go into teaching. He said, “The teaching came about through the military because as you become higher in rank, you have to become a leader and teach those under you their job.” He explained that it was a natural step for him to go into teaching. As far as coaching is concerned, he also credits the discipline of the military as part of the way he coaches. His involvement in sports in the Air Force really set the hook for him as far as his desire to coach and teach. Most teachers know that once that hook is set, it is hard to spit out.
“You want to be open and give back. I am reminded of a quote that says that what you do today, you want to pass on. Be patient, teaching takes a lot of patience and not all kids are going to like what you like.”
Tom’s teaching philosophy begins with breaking what he is teaching down into learnable parts.
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“The mole, ed in ingly
beauty of a woman is not in a facial but true beauty in a woman is reflecther soul. It is the caring that she lovgives, the passion that she knows.”
-Audrey Hepburn It’s important to remember that outward appearance shouldn’t be the only definition of beauty. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with celebrating glamour and having a little fun putting on your lipstick. Being a lifelong makeup connoisseur, I’ve had my fun putting on blush and lipstick since the ripe old age of three. Digging through my grandmother’s makeup drawer was one of my favorite pastimes. Now, at 27, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to makeup application.
How to Make Your Blush Last Longer Cream Blush! I LOVE this stuff! To give your face that extra colorful glow, grab your favorite shade in a cream-based blush and apply to cheekbones for a dewy look. To make your color last all day, take a matching powder blush and lightly dust over the already-applied cream blush. Whenever you use a liquid or a cream makeup; always set it with a powder. This will seal the deal and keep your makeup from sliding off. Having trouble finding a cream blush you enjoy? NYX is a great, inexpensive brand with a beautiful range in colors. Grab your favorite shade and celebrate beauty! (NYX can be found at Fresno Ulta or nyxcosmetics.com) Dominique is a freelance Makeup Artist based in Fresno, CA. To book an appointment with Dominique or view her portfolio visit www.dominiquerosejames.com
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Shiny and Healthy Hair Tips! By Linda Miller
Take charge with these tips: Strong-adj. Elastic, resilient, resistant to breakage Hair is made of a protein called keratin plus amino acids, and each strand is like a power cord: It has an outer sheath, or cuticle, that encases the inner cortex. The cuticle can withstand abuse such as heat and brushing — to a point. Even durable strands can use a jolt of support.
Handle with care: Hair can be stretched 30 percent of its length before it breaks. Water makes it swell, so vigorously combing damp strands will cause them to snap. In the shower, saturate hair with conditioner, then detangle to help knots slide out easily. Cool it: Heated tools deliver great looks, but they can also burn hair. Before wielding your flatiron, apply a styling product that uses cuticle coaters like silicone to protect. Once a week, clean tools with alcohol to remove product residue, which can sear into hair, making it brittle. Be salon smart: The ends of your hair split as they age (strands can be up to two years old, depending on their length). Get a trim every 10 weeks, and wait about the same amount of time between color visits, especially for highlights. For root touch-ups (which you can do more frequently), ask for dye with less ammonia, a chemical which can make hair wiry over time. Soft-adj. Silky to the touch, swingy, bouncy Smooth cuticles are the ticket to irresistibly sexy hair, and there’s no better polisher than conditioner. It’s chockablock with fatty alcohols, oils and other sleekifiers. But don’t slap on any cream rinse and call it a day. Use these hair-quenching ideas: Seal the deal. You may not shampoo every day (it strips hair’s oils), but you should condition each time hair is wet, to lock in moisture. When water evaporates, it draws moisture from inside the shaft, drying it out.
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Shiny-adj. Glossy, bright, reflects light Ruffles may be a big fashion trend this spring, but hair looks best when its’ cuticles — which are composed of cells that overlap like shingles on a roof — remain flat. If they’re on an even plane, light bounces off, creating a high sheen. These tricks will keep hair in prime-shine condition. Go gently. Wet cuticles lift easily, putting out the welcome mat for frizz and dullness. Frantic towel-drying can rough up the cuticle, too. Try patting strands with a superabsorbent towel. Start at roots, soaking up water, then slide down to the tips. Gleam on. The ideal shine-enhancing duo: a blow-dryer and boar-bristle brush. After tousle-drying with fingers, go through sections with the brush. The bristles are slightly textured to smooth the cuticle delicately. Dry hair downward, in the direction the cuticle lies, for a mirror like luster. Finish up. Tame errant flyaway’s by spritzing a paddle brush with shine spray and lightly brushing from roots to ends; this will deposit enough product to calm frizz without making hair oilier, To touch up dull, frayed ends quickly — necessary the day after a blowout — wring out an aloe-infused baby wipe and slide it down the bottom 3 inches of hair.
Start with strokes. Before stepping into the shower, gently comb dry hair to dissolve product buildup, dirt and oil. The gunk will quickly rinse out, leaving a clean surface for conditioner to penetrate. Squeeze out excess water before applying conditioner. Hair is like a sponge — if it’s saturated with water, it can’t soak up anything else. Go deep. Coping with coarse, straw like hair that rivals Raggedy Ann’s mop top? Rather than hide under a hat, try a supercharged treatment that contains amino acids and natural oils. Massage into scalp with fingertips, then comb through hair. Next, wet a towel, wring out water and microwave it for a few seconds. Wrap the warm towel around your head and wait 20 minutes before rinsing. The towel traps heat, increasing absorption
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