Goodlife Youth Journal winter 2013

WINTER 2013

PRICE: FREE

A free journal written by young people for young-minded people

Publisher’s Letter

Goodbye2013

F

eeling sentimental about saying goodbye to 2013? What experiences will stand out from the old year? Those we most cherish turn into the timless stories we will tell for the rest of our lives.

I have one that I always like to tell over and over. It’s from a time when my sons were youngsters (ha, I was too!) It was the year that they were to get their first pet: to care for, to nurture and to learn the responsibility of caring for another living creature. This was the year we decided to buy them each a baby lizard. Two tiny cuties. Warning: the pet stores don’t tell you these cuties will become really big. As in, big as a cat, which (with caution) you can pet like a dog and are also very smart!

Well, one day “Luke” got out. Folks, it is bound to happen - these guys get around. We looked everywhere, but Luke was seriously lost. We were so sad. He was nowhere to be found: just gone! Days went by; then 2 weeks. We lived on the 25th floor of a high-rise in NYC at the time. The doorman was a sweet man and we told him about our loss. One day he buzzed us all excited saying, “A lady in an apartment on the 15th floor just called me screaming! She was cleaning and your iguana popped out of the heating vent!”

I like that story. Not only because I can imagine her screaming, but also because we got our beloved Luke back after he navigated 10 floors! He would only escape one more time as a full-grown adult of 15 years in Woodstock. All I can say is if your iguana decides to go on an adventure without your knowing it, look up, not down. Look way, way up high in the trees. Thanks to the birds that made a big fuss in a tree top, we looked up. There, on the very top branch of a very tall pine tree, was Luke with his nose pointed in the wind overlooking a view of Woodstock!

In this issue, we have a special interview with illustrator Bill Plymton talking about his latest film titled Cheatin. We also have an article for filmmakers and people who love to visit the majestic beauty of the Catskill Mountains called Shooting Upstate: The New Film Mecca! Lastly, there is a very cool Banskey art adventure to read called Chasing Bansky. Now bring on the Holidays!!! Let’s start off on the right foot and make new stories for a new year.

ON THE COVER: Child on Beach.

Photo by Pico Aulicino, age 16

Spring issue coming next!

Deadline Feb. 9th.

• Monarch Butterflies • Spring Steampunk Fest • Boxing History

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine do not reflect those of the publishers, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

TOC/Sponsors THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS! GOLD Nick Alba Joan Reynolds Marilyn Manning MountainView Studio

TOC/MastheaD CONTENTS Chasing Bansky................................................................. p. 6 Restaurant Review: Cucina............................................. p. 7 Advice: Sushi..................................................................... p. 8

SILVER Cathy & Sam Magarelli John & Janine Mower Stuart Schuenemann Tom Fletcher

Interview: Filming Upstate Interview................... p. 10-12 Fiction: New Years Karaoke.......................................... p. 14 WAAM Art Show........................................................... p. 17 The WALL: Art.......................................................... p. 18-19 Cover Story Interview: Bill Plympton .................. p. 20-21 Giving Back................................................................p.24

Maurice & Phyllis Tischler

Poetry.......................................................................... p. 26-27 Life Experience.......................................................... p. 28-29

Join our growing list of local Sponsors by donating whatever you can to help support the kids in their creative endeavors! Look for our newsletter and contribute via check or PayPal.

On Line Education.................................................... p.30-31 Holiday Shopping....................................................... p32-33 Writing & Library ........................................................... p.35 Awareness......................................................................... p. 36 Memories Final Words....................................................p37

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief........................................................ Cathy McNamara Art Director...............................................................Grey Ivor Morris Senior Copy Editor......................................................... Julie Schmidt Copy Editor..........................................Monique Winum Martindale Contributing Editor................................................... Nancy Panuccio

SALES

Marketing & Sales Director.......................................Carolyn Handel.

Marketing & Sales........................................................... Marie Shultis.

DISTRIBUTION: 5000 COPIES. Throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC, Published by GoodLife Publishing 20 Mountainview Avenue Woodstock, NY 12498 ONLINE VERSION: GoodLifeYouthJournal.com

SUBMISSION INFO: GoodLife accepts work done by young people aged 10 to 20 and pays for accepted work.

Deadline: Winter: Nov 9th, Spring: Feb 9th, Summer: May 9th, Fall: Aug 9th • Permission: Need a parental email if you are younger than 16 (giving permission to publish your work & receive payment.) Need address.

• Topics Examples: Lifestyle, music, book & movie reviews, sports & fitness, political & environmental.

• Writing strategies: Reflecting, Reporting, Explaining, Arguing, Opinion and Humor! Length 200 to 500 words Be CREATIVE and send work that you would be proud to have published. All articles must be appropriate for ages 10 to 100!

Work not used is stored for another issue.

Send to: Goodlifejournal@gmail.com or GoodLife Journal 20 Mountaiview Ave. Woodstock, NY 12498 Thanks, Cathy McNamara (Publisher) (845) 332-3353

Open Call for Young Photographers who want assignments!

Volunteer and learn more about publishing.

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Art on the Streets

Chasing Banksy

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By Finn Doering, age 10

y now everyone who knows anything about the street artist, Bansky knows that he just completed a month of doing his famous graffiti project, “Better Out Than In” in NYC. You could check into his website everyday to see the finished art project and figure out where each project was located.

It was a really exciting project to follow if you’re a Bansky fan like me. Before I go into what I think were the highlights, talk a bit about the man himself...BANSKY. First off, no one knows who he is! Recently there were claims of his identity with a picture, but it has never been proven that the picture was really him. I own a large book on his artwork and one of the things it says, again not confirmed, is that he grew up in a poor suburban part of England where there were no subways to do graffiti on. But because he was so smart and creative he just painted on farm animals.

Supposedly he started doing graffiti in Bristol England in the late 1980’s. Early on, his recognizable style of using stencils began popping up all over the world. His work often uses Finn Doering author, standing in front of New York City street artwork by an elusive Banksy art form monkeys, cops, and rats, poking fun of the art from the artists project named “Better Out Then In”. world, politics, and drawing attention to things that should be fixed in the world. He’s known for finding something through the meat market. The animals all had their heads sticking out, on a building we wouldn’t normally look twice at and using it in a dif- whimpering and screaming as if they were actually being taken to the ferent way. For instance, if he sees flowers or weeds sprouting out of a slaughterhouse. crack in a building, he’ll stencil a boy that looks like he is throwing up My personal favorite, which made me want a time machine more the weeds above it. In one project, than ever, was the booth of original he put a rat with steel cutters in its stenciled signed canvases he set up hands next to an existing padlock. outside Central Park. He employed I believe the project name, “Better an old man to sell them. ALL day out than In” refers to this quote by long from 11:30 am to 6pm, the old Cezanne which Bansky posted: “All man only sold 8. None of the people pictures painted inside, in the stuknew they were buying originals. dio, will never be as good as those Some even got a 50% discount after done outside”. haggling even though the canvasses Here are my favorite highlights of were only selling for $60 a piece. The the show: day’s total sales were $420. The real At the start of October, Bansky worth? $225,000!! I still want to kick painted a huge heart balloon with myself in the head for not being in Band-Aids on a wall in Red Hook, the right place at the right time! I Brooklyn. By the time we got to see was even near Central Park that it, the balloon literally had a giant day!!! I think the point he was trying metal board over it with huge metal to make is that people sometimes bolts. I read that people were trying only buy what’s famous instead of to ruin it and so the building tried what they just like. to protect it.

One day we did make it to a The Sphinx he made out of cinfreshly painted Bansky in Queens derblocks at a construction site. and a crowd had already formed. It A real life size grim reaper having was still really cool to be able to see a fun time on a bumper car moving at least one out of 29 in person. to music and laughing.

Overall this is my favorite artist He also sent a slaughter truck of all time and he really inspires me filled with moving animatronics to think outside the box and not alof cows, pigs, chickens and goats ways like the mainstream.

“It was a really exciting project to follow if you’re a Bansky fan like me”

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 7

Writing/Adventure

My Typewriter, Zelda Lang

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nfinite. That was the first word I typed on my new-old, 1960s, Smith Corona typewriter. I thought long and hard about what my first word would be, because I think first words are important. I picked “infinite” because it can mean anything. The definition of “infinite” is “to have no limit.” It’s one of my favorite words.

My typewriter is probably my most favorite thing I own. I saved up to buy it for a long time.

Its name is Zelda Lang. I thought long and hard about what I wanted my typewriter’s name to be. Finally, I chose the names of my two favorite people, people who inspire me to write. Those people are Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, and Michael Lang, the mind behind Woodstock. He came up with the whole idea and is truly a brilliant man. Therefore, I combined those two names to make Zelda Lang.

I can’t get over how much I love and am thankful for my typewriter. All I want to do is write…not that I didn’t before, but with

Take a Winter Hike!!

M

By Scarlet Disko, 16

the typewriter, I’m even more encouraged to write. Writing is one of my greatest joys in life. I feel I can express myself exactly how I want to through words and paper. I can make the words create anything I want…my thoughts, my dreams, me! I can create the world I dream of living in or the adventures I dream of going on just by using the beauty of words and putting them on paper to stick forever.

Now something I really think is special about a typewriter, but which most people find frustrating, is that a typewriter doesn’t highlight the mistakes or allow you to delete them. It allows the paper to live with them. A computer underlines mistakes in red and doesn’t let you forget about them, but a typewriter just ignores them and lets you move forward without reminding you of the mistakes.

And that to me is the beauty of a typewriter, as well as the fact that it makes your writing feel more permanent and real.

With a typewriter, it’s there to stay.

By Shannon Eccleston, age 10

any people come to the Catskill Mountains each fall to see the amazing colors, but winters in the Hudson Valley are also special. All around Woodstock you can see the snow-covered mountains, especially Overlook Mountain. Many people actually climb these beautiful white peaks for the amazing views from the top, even when it’s freezing outside!

I’d like to tell you about some special mountains that I climb and all of them are taller than 3500 feet. They are known as the Catskill High Peaks. Many people who hike these are members of the “3500 Club”, like my dad. To be a member of this club you have to climb to the top of all 35 High Peaks and four of them have to be climbed again in the winter. These four mountains are called Blackhead, Panther, Balsam, and Slide. Slide is the biggest mountain in all of the Catskills at 4,180 feet.

I began hiking in the winter with my dad when I was 8 years old.

My first High Peak was Westkill Mountain. I can remember how excited I was as I climbed uphill wearing my snowshoes for the first time. I almost forgot to mention that snowshoes are needed in the Made it to the the summit! Auther and her brother hiking in the Catskill’s Catskills during the winter! Without those I would not have made it very far because of all the snow. My dad told me to be prepared by bringing extra clothes and water. He was right! It was much colder at the top of the mountain than when we first started climbing. We hiked for over three hours and several miles before finally reaching the summit. It felt like it took forever! Everyone was very tired and thirsty but it was worth it. We saw beautiful views and even some wildlife in the snow. But the best part was when we had lunch on a huge rock ledge sticking out over the mountain. Eating and resting made everyone feel better and gave us energy for the trip back down.

I continue to hike with my dad throughout the whole year, but winter is my favorite season. I still have a long way to go before I can become a member of the 3500 club, but I’m proud that I have finished 11 out of the 35. This winter I hope to get a little closer by reaching the top of a couple more peaks. My dad and I are even planning to sleep in a lean-to when we hike to Balsam Mountain in January. This will be the best hike yet!

The Catskills are beautiful all year long. So if you like hiking and exploring don’t wait for the warm weather. Take a winter hike!

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Food RESTAURANT REVIEW:

Cucina in Woodstock

By Finn Doering, age 10 http://sharpfinnsoup.wordpress.com/

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ne of the fancier places to go in Woodstock, Cucina is an Italian American restaurant right at the crossroads of 375 and 212, just as you enter town.

I like the airy calming energy and long communal table in the middle, hich makes it feel like a family reunion could happen here.

I started with the thick, rich, delish Ribolitta Soup made with Tuscan kale, bread, veggies and white beans. Loads of flavor, but not overpowering.

My Dad ordered the Warm Quinoa Salad with roasted shitake, baby spinach and crumbled feta. Quinoa can be very plain, but these flavors gave it a chewy kick.

I always order Cucina’s Margherita Pizza, a super thin crust with

“...right at the crossroads of 375 and 212 as you enter town.” amazing sauce, the perfect amount of cheese and basil. One bite and you’re hooked.

My mom loves the goat cheese fig rosemary pear arugula truffle oil pizza. If you have sophisticated taste buds, I suggest you try it.

My Dad ordered the linguine shrimp spicy tomato sauce and garlic pasta. Not too spicy and with great flavor. I’m not a big shrimp fan, so the final taste is fishy for me. My parents love it though.

I asked the chef to send out his favorite dessert. He chose the special - a Butterscotch Budino with toasted coconut crème fraiche.

Wow. Creamy, thick, sweet caramel, and the coconut gives the feeling you can fly. Gone in 3 seconds. Delish.

Overall Cucina is one of those places you feel special being taken to. http://www.cucinawoodstock.com www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 9

Advice

Ask Sushi

Fluffy Advice by Griffin Stewart, Brooklyn Age: 13

H

ello, my amazing and adorable readers! It’s time for another Ask Sushi, with the alwaysknowledgeable me, Sushi! Alright, there’ve been a lot of changes around here. For one, when I walk outside I feel a chilling breeze instead of the usual hot summer air. Well, I have been going out with my pack members a lot and it’s been great. I have been seeing new dogs in this exciting area, called a dog run. Also, I have been going on walks with the second smallest member of my pack. He’s been taking me to this park-like area. He plays a weird

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game with a ball and a wall. I think I heard him call it handball, but I am not sure. I don’t know how to explain it. Honestly, the only thing I can think about is chicken. Mmm. And then cold. Brrrr.

Also, there was a very tragic accident in the so-called dog run. I can’t even remember what happened; in fact my memory is a bit blurred. I do remember jumping up at this bench, but then my foot...it slipped and fell into a hole between the two slabs of wood that made the bench. My front paw got stuck and then the rest of me fell off the bench and was hanging there. One of my pack members, thank goodness, saved me from this tragic, tragic accident. Let me tell you, I think it was life-threatening.

Now that I think back to it...that’s right - a dog! He was a very crazy one! He kept running up to different dogs and he kept, well, I just can’t say, but just for the readers (and don’t tell Cathy I said this,) he was humping other dogs. I had to get away. So, I was frantically running away but when I leapt up, well, I think you know the rest.

But enough about me. Time to answer some Sushi questions.

Q: I’m 13, and my voice is starting to squeak

in the middle of when I am talking to someone. My voice is changing. Did that ever happen to you?

A: Well, my bark was always a little high pitched but that is just the way that I am bred. But for these taller, hairless ones, I did research and you are right: it is true. What happens is that when boy humans go through puberty, they get a large jump in testosterone. When that happens their larynx grows longer and that makes their voices deeper. But at certain points in the middle of the growth spurts it›s such a giant burst of growth that your brain isn’t used to the size of your larynx. So, at certain moments, your voice cracks. And now, here’s my Sushi wisdom to you: Don’t pay it any mind. Besides, it’s showing that you are becoming your adult form.

You should welcome it and not feel embarrassed. And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you.

Wow, that was one of my most factual answers yet. Let’s go on to question number two.

Q: My boyfriend broke up with me and I am having trouble getting over him.

A: Well, then. I have never had this question before. I am sorry I have never had a situation like this before. I take this wisdom from learning the answers to these questions from

Advice

Griffin Stewart

Griff wants to be a sculptor. he also takes acting class at the Atlantic Theater Company. He performed in his first broadway play last year. He’s homeschooled. He loves games of all kinds, anime, and melted cheese. He also makes games with his brother, for instance, “power chess”, where they combined power up moves with UNO cards to add an advanced layer to the game of chess.

myself and since there hasn’t been a Mrs. Sushi, I can only give you what I would imagine could be helpful. Hmmm... (Deep sigh.) Well, I am pretty stumped right now. But if I were next to you, I would give you all the love and support I could. I would sit by your side until you were happy as ever. But since I can’t be near you, since I am in the middle of Brooklyn, are there any friends or family that you could go to, to talk to, to let your feelings out? And if there is someone that you really trust that you can let your feelings out to, then it might help you feel better. And I guess, that is my Sushi wisdom to you. (Sigh.)

Q: My best friend is always giving me advice about my appearance, like she knows better.

Sometimes it hurts my feelings.

A: Well, then, another toughie, but I think I can answer this one. If your friend is always giving you advice to look better, or to act differently or to not slouch at the table and at certain points she takes it too far, pull her aside and tell her, “You are taking this a little too far. Just let me be who I am.” And, on that note, here is my Sushi wisdom to you. No one can change who you really are. If you are a girl no matter how much makeup you put on yourself and if you are a boy no matter how much you try to act tough or cool you can’t change who you really are, no matter how hard you try. I mean, can I change my love for chicken? That’s just impossible. That’s like trying to fly to the moon in a can of tuna fish. Ecch. I hate tuna fish. So just be yourself. Don’t try to change it. Just embrace it. And tell them, “Seriously, back off. Stop trying to change me.” Only you are allowed to decide, “I don’t like this hair cut” or “I don’t like this color.” You don’t need anyone else telling you what you don’t like. And that’s my Sushi wisdom. Next question.

Q: Do you think I should follow my dream of becoming a dancer, even if I don’t have the perfect dancer body?

A:Well, people told me I couldn›t become a sled dog. Did that stop me? No! No, it didn’t. My kind are bred to pull. We come from a long line of sled dogs, only we’ve gotten a bit smaller over time. Every day I train: pulling on my leash, pulling everybody. Personally - and don’t tell the other pack members - I think I am the best at pulling.

And here’s my Sushi wisdom to you: I think you should be a dancer, no matter what. And the only thing that could stop you is if you want to try a different route. Other than that, I think you should keep it up and keep it in high gear. And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you.

Alright readers, that was another session of Ask Sushi. Peace out dogs and doggettes. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 11

Film

Shooting Upstate: The New

D

avid Becker is a film maker who lives in Saugerties, New York. He currently works at the Woodstock Day School and teaches Media Arts, as well as other film classes. I have the pleasure of having him as my teacher. His most recent success was his movie To Be Forever Wild (TBFW) about the Catskill Mountains and many fantastic places and people in the Catskills. He is a great teacher and definitely one of my inspirations for getting into film.

JONAH MARTINDALE: David, where are you originally from?

DAVID BECKER: I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I lived there until I was 18; I then moved to New York City to go to NYU.

becoming a documentary filmmaker, but Twin Peaks was the initial spark!

JM: Did you always think your position in the film industry would be a director?

DB: I really like to do the cinematography, so a lot of the movies I direct and do the cinematography as well.

Or sometimes on other people’s films, I’m cinematographer. And I always wanted to be a director, and on some of the films I’ve worked I have also been a producer - which on documentaries there is a lot of crossover over between directing and producing. Directing is a little more creative usually and producing is about the logistics and the planning, but it’s nice to do a little of both.

JM: How long have you been interested in film?

DB: I have been interested in film pretty much my JM: Is it easy to shoot films upstate? whole life. I was in eighth DB: I would say it is easy to shoot upstate. People are regrade when I first decided ally friendly and welcoming and generally they are happy I wanted to be a filmmak- Jonah Martindale with filmmaker David Becker. to tell their stories. They also love this area; people who er. So I started watching live here appreciate it, so they were very happy to talk about more movies and the first it and share their own stories. They would also let us in on cool people thing that inspired me was the TV show, Twin Peaks. It was a whole to meet and places to go, so for TBFW we found it was very easy to new world - so engaging and exciting. I thought if I could be involved in making something like that, it would be incredible. So I ended up shoot here.

Following Jogger John

F

ilming First Name: Jogger, Last Name: John was nothing short of an adventure. It took John quite some time to trust us and to let us into his world and his past. We started filming in February and finished in May. For such a short film, this is an unusually long time, but we were all going to school, working and volunteering our time and trying to coordinate with John’s irregular schedule. We did this totally independent of the film commission or any production company. We used a combination of our own personal equipment and SUNY New Paltz’s equipment. We had zero budget and actually spent quite a bit of money on transportation, equipment etc. The film wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the local support. Everyone in Woodstock really loves John and it showed! We had so many willing volunteers and interview subjects, it was really wonderful. We’re hoping to do a local screening at the Colony Cafe in Woodstock on the night of Woodstock Open House. The screening will be by donation, and free to those who can’t afford a contribution.

I really want everyone who helped us to be able to see the film.

The Film Jogger John Director Kaleigh Griffin will be shown at

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Directed by Kaleigh Griffin

the Colony Café in Woodstock ny 22 Rock City Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498 On Dec 6. For more on Kaleigh Griffin’s work visit: http://www.kaleighgriffin.com

Film

By Jonah Martindale, age 16

John Borroughs said “The beauty of natural religion is that you have it at all times. It is of today, it is now, here, it is everywhere.

It’s not a faith, it’s a love, an enthusiasm, a consecration to natural truth.”

JM: What inspired you to make TBFW? DB: I was inspired to make TBFW really by moving up here. I was living in New York City, in Brooklyn, for about ten years. I decided to move to the Woodstock area and when I got here, I kind of reconnected with nature. Where I grew up there was a fair amount of nature. So when I moved up here it was like getting back in touch with my early ideas and inspirations. One of my first inspirations was Henry David Thoreau and his book, Walden. His essay “Civil Disobedience” also meant a lot to me as a young person. So I re-read those things and reconnected with them. One thing led to another and I had an opportunity for an artist’s residency through Catskill Center. They provide cabins for artists in the Catskills to do their work. I was given a cabin and that kind of became the start of TBFW.

ple, you get to travel to new places, and you find yourself in situations that you never would have been in. For example, filming a housing project in the Bronx or a private concert with Billy Joel - I never would have had been in those situations and so many others - if I wasn’t there to make a film. All of sudden, you are kind of plopped down in this world and you have very little time to make everyone feel comfortable with the fact that you are going to film it...it’s actually a great way to kind of break down the walls that our society builds up. When you’re a documentary filmmaker, you have the opportunity to experience all sorts of cultures and people and learn so much - all while making what you feel is art. It’s a real privilege.

JM: What about film do you enjoy the most?

DB: Well, I enjoy so much of it, but mainly I enjoy the process of making documentary films. I have been involved in making fictional films - and that is interesting in its own way - but what I really love is the process of making documentaries because you meet incredible peo-

JM: What would you say is the best experience you have had while working in the film industry?

DB: I would say the making of TBFW. We had a unique situation with making that film: we had such a large group of friends all coming together to make it staying (continued on next page)

JM: Who is your favorite filmmaker?

DB: I definitely have to give more than one answer! David Lynch is my favorite filmmaker - he was my original inspiration and JM: How is it to find the money to fund your I have always loved his work. But as I bemovies? Is it a challenge? came a documentary filmmaker I started DB: It is always a challenge for filmmakreally appreciating a lot of documentary ers to raise money for their films, especially filmmakers, too. There is the filmmaker I documentary filmmakers. A big part of worked closely with for many years in New what we do is kind of struggling to get by York City. Her name is Barbara Kopple. She and get our films made. A lot of filmmakers “One of the best things I like about the Catskills is a great documentary filmmaker. Her I know, myself included, feel lucky just to be is cause in my opinion they have the best sticks films are always in the Woodstock Film Fesable to finish one film and have an opportu- ‘bout of every other place. The sticks at the Catskill tival and I consider her a friend, but I also nity to start the next. We’re not really in it Mountains are awesome!” consider her one of my favorite filmmakfor the money; it’s because we believe in the ers. I also have a third inspiration: Michael things that we’re talking about in our films and we want to share those Moore. His films are all great. I saw Roger and Me when I was in high stories. Generally speaking, it’s pretty difficult, but it is still very do- school. It was very inspiring. I have seen all of his films since then able. It’s never something that is impossible to overcome; it’s just one and I have been lucky enough to meet him a couple times and have of the challenges along the way. conversations with him.

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 13

Film (continued from previous page) in this cabin in the Catskills, while meeting so many fascinating people and learning about the Catskills along the way. Magical things happened that we never could have planned. All of this combined together made what was probably the most rewarding film experience I have ever had. Also, the “Work in Progress” screening we had at the Woodstock Film Festival was a really exciting time to bring people to the film screenings and bring the crew back together. All in all, I would say TBFW was my favorite film experience so far.

JM: Is there any message you would like to get across?

DB: Well, firstly, follow your dreams. I would encourage anyone who is interested in film to do it and don’t be afraid just because you don’t know how to do it. If you have any kind of camera that can record you can do it. You can go after the things that you find interesting and don’t let the fear of doing something you don’t know how to do get in the way of it! To see more or contact David Becker: https://www. facebook.com/ToBeForeverWild

The Visual Narrative Project

Zev Vel, Director of Photography | Director for VNP, age 18

GOODLIFE: What is the history behind your film?

ZEV VEL: The Visual Narrative Project began by collecting scripts from across the world through a competition. After receiving over 100 scripts from seven different countries, we anonymously judged and then chose a single script. We settled on a short drama written by Emilio Iasiello, which was then funded and filmed. At this time we are in post-production.

ZV: Iasiello’s THE DANCE is a compelling story about a young couple experiencing a rough patch in their relationship.

When they stumble upon Hank’s tag sale an elderly gentleman opens their eyes to the danger of letting life tumble through their hands.

GL: How did you fund your film?

ZV: The film was funded through donations from Indiegogo, a crowdsourced funding platform. We raised a budget of approximately $5,000 which was only about half of our “ideal” budget. As a result, we had to make very little money go a long distance. Because of this, the week leading up to production was by far the hardest of the entire production, as it was the time that many crew and equipment were pulled as they received better offers.

We had to keep several backup plans for everything from food to lighting and camera equipment just in case something fell through.

GL: Where was your film shot?

ZV: I knew that I wanted to shoot close to home and that I wanted to shoot in an older-style location. It was only after eating dinner at The Reservoir Inn with a friend of mine, that I realized I wanted to shoot there. Tony and Monique, who own the Reservoir Inn, were incredibly helpful and generous and really made the entire production possible.

We took over the restaurant for two full days and made use of every inch!

It was the perfect location in the end.

GL: What is the best part of filming upstate?

ZV: Filming upstate is an experiFortunately, most of our crew and ence of its own. It is a place where equipment were provided for incredthe majority of crew members are ibly low prices or worked for free and there because they want to be, they I cannot thank everyone enough for love filmmaking and want to be on what they made happen. any and every set in the area.

GL: Where did you go to find help to Everyone knows everyone and we begin filming? stick together, help each other and ZV: I have now worked for about A production still featuring Zev Vel (director), Stacy Whitesell (played work together. It is a very large famfour years in the industry and in that by January Janvier) and Mike Whitesell (played by Trev Stevens) ily and one that supports everyone time have made many connections. in it. We really owe a lot of thanks As a result, the majority of my crew to Laurent Rejto of the Hudson Valley Film Commission for bringing was people I had worked with on previous sets. I worked with my many of these filmmakers together and for supporting local independirector of photography, John Hudak, on four previous films and he dent filmmaking in the area. helped with VNP from beginning to end. He was one of the most supportive crew members I could have ever hoped to have and someone GL: What is the future for your movie?

I look forward to working with over and over again.

ZV: I am now in post-production which I expect to take somewhere I also put out casting and crew calls through the Hudson Valley between 4 and 8 months. After editing, color correction, sound mixFilm Commission. The casting call on HVFC brought our entire cast ing and composing are completed, we will submit to film festivals together. The way that they all meshed was incredible and having local across the United States and possibly internationally. talent makes filming a lot easier as we did not have to arrange pick-ups or accommodations. Our crew and cast were almost entirely from the If you would like to stay in touch, join our mailing list at visualnarrative.com/mail/ or follow us on Facebook fb.me/TheVisualNarNY area, and a significant portion was from upstate NY. rative. More details about the film are available on our website, visual-narrative.com GL: Give a description of the story.

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Don’t Beat Yourself Up

I

Advice

By Cassandra Hastie, age 17

t feels like yesterday was the first day of summer. I vividly remember walking out of school and dashing to the pool. Regardless of how recent this sweet memory seems, it is in the past and winter is well on its way. Luckily, there are many wonderful things about the frigid months to come. The holiday season is perfect for spending time with family and taking a minute to reflect on the past year. The new year is a popular time for reflection, but this reflection is often done with a negative frame of mind. Instead of just focusing on how to improve next year, you would greatly benefit by thinking or focusing on all the great things you did over the past year.

The way we view New Year’s resolutions can be changed.

Too many people spend time dwelling on what they did wrong, instead of what they did right. In the grand scheme of things, it is likely that most people did more things right than wrong, but they still beat themselves up for small things. A year is a long time and there are many things that happen that deserve celebration. Instead of thinking about what you need to do differently for the next year, think about all of your accomplishments. Appreciate yourself instead of beating yourself up. Once you are in the right state

“Luckily, there are many wonderful things about the frigid months to come.” of mind and have given yourself some credit, then it is appropriate to resolve to make improvements or changes for the upcoming year.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself, but it is important to go about it in a healthy way.

The holiday season is cheerful, but it is also cold and sometimes gloomy. This bitter environment can lead to harsh New Year’s resolutions. If you are going to make a dramatic New Year’s resolution, truly think about why you are making that decision. You may be melancholic because of the weather and not thinking about the repercussions of your choice. The most important thing to remember is that you deserve credit. Life is too short to focus on what you did wrong. Enjoy the time with your family and remind yourself that warm weather is on its way. Your self-love will create a bright and healthy future. *If you have any questions, comments, or article topics, please feel free to email me at creatinganewbeautiful@gmail.com. Also, check out my blog at anewbeautiful.weebly.com! www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 15

Fiction

New Year’s Karaoke!

O

By Mimi Ngo, age 16 their friends managed to pick a song for them to sing without them knowing.

They probably picked the first cheesy song they saw on the little tablet-like control….or maybe they had been planning this for a while.

The song chosen: If I Were a Boy by Beyoncé.

Okay, he admitted, the song wasn’t as cheesy or romantic as he had expected, but it didn’t really apply to their “relationship,” which was actually a relief, considering the song’s lyrics and overall meaning.

She waited for her cue before opening her mouth and beginning to sing for the first time. He had expected her to be a bit out of tune, but

wanting to be at the party. Their friends had indiscreetly mentioned that he probably had “the hots” for her… which he couldn’t agree with nor deny.

Then the moment came when he was prodded by nearly everyone to go and sing karaoke with the “she-who-he-might-have-the-hotsfor.” At first, he found the idea of having to sing in general annoying.

The song was probably a cheesy pop love song; even a commercial song sounded more appealing. Unfortunately, before he could even open his mouth to answer, it was already too late, and he was forced to sing. With his face full of disdain, he stood in front of everyone and rolled his eyes at the amount of enthusiasm and excitement radiating off of all of the partygoers.

After successfully hiding for a good five minutes, she arose from her seat, a look of dread plastered across her features. She sighed heavily and gestured to him, I would rather choke eating the microphone than do this, with her usual crude humor, which he kind of liked.

During their two- second exchange of “wireless” communication,

surprisingly, she was a natural. He knew his singing was mediocre-not that he was actually trying--and knew that he would probably have to put a little effort in to make the song sound at least “hearable.”

Photo by Brandon Sawhill-Aja

h, New Year’s Eve, the time following Christmas: a big excuse to party and do nothing other than eat shrimp cocktail and play.

His dislike for parties and celebrations couldn’t have been more apparent when he was invited to go to a New Year’s karaoke outing with his friends before the annual ball drop. Scowling and sighing, he was surrounded by his loud friends and their annoying girlfriends. The only person he was able to have a decent conversation with was his best friend’s girlfriend’s best friend. They already knew each other fairly well as they had talked a few times at the other parties their friends had dragged them to, and they complained to each other about not

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If I were a boy I think I could understand How it feels to love a girl I swear I’d be a better man I’d listen to her ‘Cause I know how it hurts When you lose the one you wanted ‘Cause he’s taken you for granted And everything you had got destroyed Her voice gave him goose bumps. It actually sounded really nice to the ears. He hadn’t known if she could sing before, but he certainly knew she could now, for a fact. He practically forgot his part, listening.

Fiction Realizing it was his turn, he sang into the microphone, also surprising everyone that he wasn’t tone deaf. While his voice wasn’t as strong as hers, it fit with hers almost perfectly.

They sang each line together, their voices in sync. Neither his nor her voice overpowered the other; they were almost a perfect duo. It was strange how they slowly melded into the song, everyone disappearing into the background. With only them left.

[Him:] But you’re not a boy So you can’t understand You are not a perfect woman And I am not a perfect man [Her:] I’d listen to her ‘Cause I know how it hurts (And I know how you feel) When you lose the one you wanted ‘Cause he’s taken you for granted And everything you had got destroyed (Said I’m sorry) Finally, as the song neared its last several lines, he glanced towards her, only to find that she was already looking at him. She widened her eyes at being “caught” and turned away sharply, her heart skipping a beat for a moment. He blinked at her sudden turning away, genuinely surprised at her actions. Whenever they had looked each other in the eye before, she had never done that. Normally, when they made eye contact, she would stick her tongue out or smile. It wasn’t abnormal for her to look away, but this time, it was different. It wasn’t the normal looking away…

Although, he had to admit, he could kind of understand her actions, if she had felt what he had felt. For a second, there had been a flicker of something in his chest. Whatever it had been, he had never experienced it before. He blinked a few more times, looking back at the monitor. He impatiently tapped his finger against the microphone, waiting for the end of the song. To his annoyance, there were still more lines to come.

[Her:] It’s a little too late for you to come back [Him:] But I can’t let you go, ‘cause I’m too attached [Her:] If you thought I would wait for you You thought wrong [Him:] But you’re just a boy...

As the song came to an end, everyone in the room clapped and whistled, making him roll his eyes. Then he walked over to his singing partner and slapped her on the back lightly: “Hey, you’re not half bad.

Are you a singer?”

She blinked at him, and paused, “Me…? A singer? No way in the history of man!” she said, laughing jokingly, albeit a bit forced.

“Well, you should be one,” he said, a small grin making its way up to his face. “Oh, and Happy New Year,” he added, his grin widening a bit more.

“Happy New Year to you, too,” she said, a big fat smile on her face.

As awkward as awkward was, there was no doubt the awkwardness would only get worse. Like some people say, whatever you do on New Year’s, you end up doing for the rest of the year.

Joyous, right? www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 17

Local

May Your Days Be Merry…

T

he holidays are always my favorite time of year. But at the same time, they are also my least favorite time of year.

I associate a lot of cherished and wonderful memories with the holidays: being a child, sleeping by the Christmas tree with sisters, waking up to a big happy family that isn’t awake yet from spending late hours playing games and being merry, eating delicious food, enjoying great conversation, and a sense of overall happiness.

Yes, the holidays are a glorious time of year. They remind you of how thankful you should be to have your family and the ones you love around you.

Every time they come, I am always sure to count my blessings. And no matter how many I count it always comes down to the main rock that is my family. So, that’s what makes the holidays so wonderful: family.

Now, I also said that the holidays can also be my least favorite time of year.

It’s not because of how busy we all are, or the food intake that leaves your stomach full with no more room, or all the spending that takes place.

No, it’s because with the holidays come memories. Wonderful memories that remind us of the life we once knew as a child. When my sisters come home for the holidays it’s hard to not dream that we are kids again so that we could have even more time together. I miss being together constantly as a family.

The holidays remind me of those times as a kid. And while it seems that my sisters stay forever, they have to go back to their ordinary lives as I do. So, it’s always difficult saying that goodbye: the goodbye that

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By Scarlet Disko, age 16

signals the end of a great year; the goodbye that signals the end of

the holiday season and the beginning of a long wait for summer and future holidays to come.

I always hate to say goodbye.

I always cry on the inside because I know I have cried plenty of other times for them to know how much I miss them. And I know we shouldn’t be sad for things to end, but we should be thankful they happened. However, it’s still hard for me to let go of that hug goodbye and return to the ordinary life I live.

Overall, though, I will take any chance I can get to be surrounded by my family, even if it is shorter than I’d like.

Art

Show at WAAM Youth Gallery

by Katia Michalopoulos, age 17

Artist’s Statement: My name is Katia Michalopoulos. I am seventeen years old, and in my senior year at the Woodstock Day School.

I feel that every art form is a means of taking what is inside an individual and turning it into something incredible that can be shared with others. Art, in its purest form, is a piece of whoever created it. I feel that art helps us as humans to connect with each other and the world around us, and feel the things that others are feeling. It makes the world a more interesting and beautiful place. When we make art, we have the freedom to do anything. I want to try to use that extraordinary freedom to make the world more beautiful.

Photo by Dylan McNamara

it would pose and the meaning behind it. It was especially meaningful because the books that I used to make the piece came from the library at the Woodstock Day School, where I have been going since I was three years old. Being able to use materials with sentimental value gave even more personal meaning to the piece. The illustration style of the Petershams also contributed a lot to my vision of how I wanted the dress to look.

I would like to thank the WAAM and the Woodstock Day School for providing me with this opportunity, because I have enjoyed it more than I can express. I learned so much, and can safely say that I have come away from this experience with an increase in both confidence and excitement for what the future holds.

Katia Michalopoulos and Eden O’Clair with some of their artwork.

F

rom early September to early October, I was given the incredible opportunity to be featured in an art show at the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum (WAAM).

My classmate, Eden O’Clair, and I were given our own showroom space and displayed our pieces in the youth gallery. We spent the summer creating artwork and exploring the vaults and permanent collection of WAAM before our show opened. Then, after months of hard work, we were able to enjoy the fruits of our labor as hundreds of people came to see what we had done. This has been an incredible experience for me, and it has changed me for the better.

The theme of my work for the show revolved around childhood and the stages of life. The beginnings of this idea stemmed from a suggestion made by a good friend of mine when I first started to consider what I wanted my pieces to be about.

The second bit of inspiration came from the work of local illustrators Maud and Miska Petersham.

The third and final thing that inspired me to make art about children and growing older was my time spent working with five year olds at the Woodstock Day School Summer Camp. Spending so much time with them (both in camp and when I was babysitting) got me thinking about how quickly children grow. I thought about the changes that would be so evident to me when I saw them again this time next year, which caused me to think about the changes that people experience throughout the entirety of their lives.

I knew that I wanted to make an item of clothing out of some sort of unusual medium, as I am very interested in apparel design and converting materials. The idea of making a dress out of the pages of children’s storybooks really excited me, both because of the challenges www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 19

THE WALL

illustration * art *

The Artwork of Addison Cook, age 19

Bench 2 ft. in diameter, oil on canvas

A Small Cat 18 x 24 in. oil on canvas

Artist’s Statement: I’m reviving “rayism” in new work, on account of all the micro, gamma and other “rays”, slicing in to us everywhere we go. Rayism was a turn of the century short lived movement in art, comparable to cubism, but a result of the discovery of uranium and thus, RADIATION. rayism in its short life, was most commonly associated with the paintings of Mikhail Larionov and Natalia Goncharova. What I see in rayism is that the light itself is the subject matter. The original incarnations of rayism were like straight lines, jagged and sharp, piercing across a canvas. (I gave you the names, see for yourself) However, most of these paintings are purely abstract. While cubism beautifully shifted from abstraction into literal and recognizable form so well, rayism must have just been seen as a second rate rehash of cubism. Cubism and rayism break down form and motion, with similar intention that existed in art at this time.

Untitled 3 x 3 ft. oil on canvas To see more of Addison’s work, go to http://www.zhibit.org/acook/artwork/ Page 20 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

manga * photo * comics * digital * lifestyle * Satire

Can’t get enough of crustaceans? http://thecriticalcrustacean.blogspot.com/

Health

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 21

Cover Story

The Free-Flowing World

B

By Caleb McNamara, age 22

ill Plympton’s unique style of animation has captivated the public for over 30 years. Plympton has made over 40 short films, six feature films, and numerous commercials and music videos, including the video for “Hear ‘Em Say” by Kanye West.

Plympton was born in Portland, Oregon. Ever since he was a boy, Plympton has been fascinated with animation. At the age of 14, he sent Disney a sample of his cartoons and offered to work as an animator for them. After moving to New York City as an adult, he successfully worked as an illustrator for 15 years. Then he was approached to direct and animate his first video, for the Jules Feiffer song “Boomtown”. After completing this project, Plympton began creating his own animated shorts. One of them was Your Face, which received an Oscar nomination for best animated short. Next, Plympton embarked on a very profitable commercial career, working with companies like AT&T, Nike, Geico, and United Airlines. Then he set his sights on a bigger challenge, funding and creating his first feature film, The Tune. The Tune ended up being extremely successful and even won the prestigious Houston WorldFest Gold Jury Special Award as well as a Spirit Award nomination for Best Film Score.

Throughout his career, Plympton has redefined what animation can be. He has shown that animation can be more than the kindhearted plot

lines of Pixar and Disney. Plympton has managed to contain relatable themes of real life in his work, while still holding on to the surreal humor of classic animation. This is a style of animation that he has fought to preserve. Plympton has never compromised his style by “selling out.” He is one of the only animators that works on every frame of his work himself, whether it be a short or a feature film.

Plympton continues to make award-winning shorts and films. In his latest film, Cheatin’, he explores the love and the jealousy that go hand in hand with relationships. This much anticipated feature is set to release next fall. I got the chance to sit down with Bill in his New York City studio to discuss his legendary career as an animator.

CALEB MCNAMARA: Let me just start by saying how much of an honor it is to meet you. Ever since I was old enough to go to my first film festival I’ve been inspired by your work. I guess my first question would be: Did you have any artists that really impacted you as a child?

BILL PLYMPTON: Yeah, well, there were a lot of them. Most important is Disney. I think Disney really inspired everybody. He really created the whole concept of an animated feature film and made a market out of it, so that was really inspiring.

Then of course there’s Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones. And artists such as Charles Addams who did the

“Yes, I was drawing since I was two or three, mom says I was drawing on the walls in the crib”

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Cover Story

of Addams Family, and Art Crumb. Windsor McKay was another one. I love his drawing style and his surrealism. So there’s a lot of artists out there who inspired me: NC Wyeth, Goya and so on.

CM: So as a child, were you immediately drawn to animation?

BP: Yes, I started drawing when I was two or three. Mom says I was drawing on the walls in the crib. There was always something very natural about having a pencil in my hand and drawing. So I was obsessed with drawing, and then once I saw the animation on TV, I knew that that was what I wanted to do. I think when I was around 12 years old, I got that Preston Blair book How to Animate, so that was a big boost. It showed me a lot of things I had to know about design and mouth positions, movement, and how to draw different parts of the anatomy and stuff like that.

CM: Were there any animations in particular that really inspired you as a kid?

BP: Yellow Submarine, although I was in college then. It was a real mind blower because up until then I had only really seen Disney, which was very traditional, and Yellow Submarine broke all the rules. It showed that you

can do a lot of visuals other than traditional anatomically correct animations. Another film that’s a little more recent and is one of my favorite films is called Mind Game. It came out in Japan about six or seven years ago and was not well received for whatever reason, maybe because it’s so strange. But that film was a big eye opener for me in terms of what the possibilities of animation can be. Windsor McKay is another big influence. His films are really brilliant. I love Song of the South and Dumbo; those are two of my favorite Disney features. Then there’s some short films that I really love. Beverly Meets Godzilla is a great film, and another one is the Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit by Bob Godfrey, which opened me up to the idea that you don’t need to work for Disney to make an animated film. You can do it on your own. It was done very simply, just a bunch of pictures moving around, not that much animation in it, and it showed me how you can make a low budget film by yourself and make a really funny film.

CM: You were approached by Disney, weren’t you? What was that like?

BP: Well, you gotta realize that when I was a kid, I would have died for a chance to work with Disney, so that was a childhood dream.

And I love Disney. They really make great stuff and I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without Disney. But they wanted basically to own everything I did, so I had to say no. They offered me a lot of money, too, but I would have had to close down my studio here in New York. I was working on a feature film at the time, too, and I would have had to move out to LA. Who knows, maybe I would have gotten bored with it after a month and started drawing sexy drawings in the animation and gotten fired. So it’s a wonderful “what if,” but I just don’t think it would have worked out.

CM: One of the aspects that always stood out to me in your animations was that sense of freedom in your style, the free-flowing sense of movement. I’ve always really admired that.

Have you always had that sense of freedom in your style or was that something you developed over time?

BP: I actually have a book out called Independently Animated: Bill Plympton, and I talk about this. When I was in art school in my life drawing class, I would do really nice drawings, but they would be very photographic, realistic, like super realistic, and I found them to be really boring. The drawings didn’t have any character or style, so I

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 23

Cover Story started experimenting and trying new things. Eventually my mind was opened up to new looks and styles, and I realized that my drawings had become much more stylized and extravagant and bizarre and surreal, and I loved that. So ever since then I’ve been doing drawings that are a little more free form, more exaggerated, and a little more surreal.

When I started doing animation, I just kept up with that style.

though. I’ve tried doing live action films. They were very expensive and pressure filled. You have to get all your shots in and something is always going wrong. The sun won’t be out enough or a siren will go off in the background and it gets so frustrating. But with animation, it’s much more relaxed. I do it when I do it, and there’s nobody telling me what to do.

CM: So you’ve done a lot of commercial animation. What was it like animating for advertising?

BP: I loved it. I still love it. It’s really easy work. It takes about a week or two weeks to do the spot, it pays a lot of money, and it’s shown all over the world. In the 90s, I was very popular with advertising agencies. I must have done 20 or 30 different spots, and eventually they moved on to other artists because I sort of saturated the market for Plympton stuff. But I still do the occasional music video. I’m working on something with Salma Hayek right now. I still do some commercial work and I really enjoy it, but my true love has always been the shorts and the feature films that I do.

CM: Where do you find inspiration for new projects?

BP: Well, New York City is a great city for inspiration. Just walking down the street I see so many crazy people, interesting people, and I have a little notebook that I carry around to write down ideas. Also, I travel a lot. When you go to film festivals in different countries, you get a different perspective on where you’re from. You see the foibles of America and the crazy things that people do. But I also like to lay in bed in the morning and let my mind wander. It will take me to places where I find a lot of interesting concepts.

"Yellow Submarine broke all the rules"

CM: Do you think in some ways you were drawn to animation because of your love of film?

BP: Nope, it’s because of my love of cartoons. My dad was a very funny guy. Whenever there was a social gathering, he was always the center of attention because he was so funny. He was always telling jokes, and I was always so jealous. I used to think, “Ah, I wish I could do that.” I can’t, but I can do drawings that make people laugh, and I think that’s a very valuable talent to have, to make people feel good. That’s really what I want to do with my films. I want to make people enjoy life and see the humor in life and, you know, just feel good. I do love film,

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CM: What do you think of the influence of technology in animation these days?

BP: It’s huge. When I started out, the technology of filmmaking was very complex. I didn’t understand how the camera worked, the lights, the voice recording, getting the obstacle track….every step is a very important part of it, and I was really bad at that.

Now you can just do it all on a mac. It’s all there in Final Cut Pro and Photoshop and everything, and it’s so much easier, so much cheaper, and so much faster. Also, I don’t have to make the big bulky prints that used to have to get shipped out to festivals, so the budget for making a film, for me, has come way down because of all that. So I’m happy with the new technology. I do like Pixar films and the Dreamworks films. I think they’re wonderful. But they’re not the kind of films I want to make.

I want to make something that no one has ever seen. So I make hand-drawn animations with adult content, dealing with things like love and lust and revenge and adult emotions. That’s what my new film, Cheatin’, is all about.

It’s something that’s much more sophisticated, for a more sophisticated audience. The problem is that Hollywood has no faith that there’s a market for something like that. I’m hoping Cheatin’ will show Hollywood that there is an audience and a market for this kind of animation.

For all those interested, news and clips of Cheatin’ can be found at www.plymptoons.com

Advice

PROCRASTINATION

By Helen Schauffler, age 12

Photo by Rchel Schackne

S

o you spent your morning cutting up paper, folding paper cranes, and gluing your fingers together. What is going on?! If you’re me, you were probably procrastinating.

Everyone has dealt with procrastination in the past, and writers are especially known for it. Procrastination is prolonging the time you put off working on an important project or other thing (like writing your Goodlife submission). Different people have different methods of procrastinating, whether the procrastination is related to Writers’ Block or something else.

There are two parts of the brain that are involved in procrastination. May I present to you the prefrontal cortex, located near your forehead. The prefrontal cortex does the “The Goodlife deadline is in two days and I haven’t written anything yet. I should write today” kind of thinking. It focuses on trying to do things that have long-term benefits, even if it means postponing what you want to do immediately to get the project done. Unfortunately, the prefrontal cortex doesn’t have a lot of stamina when it is doing this kind of thinking.

Exhibit B, the limbic system, is pretty much the exact opposite of the prefrontal cortex. It is buried in your brain, and is a bit more random and scattered in its thinking. The limbic system is more interested in short term happiness, and is connected directly

writing… OOH! A COOKIE! You can see that with these two battling against each other, it’s a pretty unfair contest.

There is a way to make your limbic system less likely to procrastinate, however. The limbic system is more powerful when the short-term reward is tangible, for example, if your cell phone indicates that you have a text message.

If the short-term reward (the start of the procrastination) is something that you know is there and are being reminded of, the limbic system will become stronger and therefore more likely to overpower the prefrontal cortex. So, the logical conclusion would be that if you cut off the way your brain is being told about the distraction, such as turning off your cell phone, your limbic system won’t be as tempted to do its sporadic thinking. This will let the prefrontal cortex get to work, and let you finish what you’re supposed to do!

"Different people have different methods of procrastinating, whether the procrastination is related to Writers’ Block or something else.” to the brain’s pleasure center. The limbic system is stronger than the prefrontal cortex, and unless you know how to inhibit it, the limbic system will usually overpower the prefrontal cortex.

You can imagine a dialogue between these two parts of the brain: I should write today… then I’ll have the rest of the weekend to do other things… I MIGHT HAVE AN EMAIL. I THINK I HAVE AN EMAIL. I SHOULD CHECK MY EMAIL. But I should be writing…

A PIECE OF PAPER! I WANT TO MAKE A PAPER CRANE! But www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 25

Charity

Bard Palestinian Youth Initiative

By Marley Alford, age 18

T

he Bard Palestinian Youth Initiative is a student-run club in its fifth year at Bard College. Members of the BPYI go to Mas’ha, a small village on the border between Israel and Palestine, to run a summer camp for young children, perform community service for the village, and create intercultural dialogue. I interviewed sophomore Zelda May Bas, one of the club’s leaders, to find out more.

MARLEY ALFORD: Why did you decide to join the BPYI? ZELDA MAY BASS: Well, first you need to understand why the club was created. Five years ago, a former Bard student from Mas’ha, Mujahid Sarsur, was feeling deeply moved by the rigorous contact with literature and philosophic thought that he Zelda and one of the Palestinian children that participate in the Bard Palestinian Youth Initiative making a cross was getting at Bard. He wanted, cultural connection. therefore, to “gift” his village ZMB: This past summer, we completed the Youth Center and we with a taste of his experience, started and verified the sustainability of past projects, such as the playand this desire of his laid the foundations for the BPYI. As a Politiground.

Before I joined, the BPYI built the first Children’s Library in cal Studies major with a vivid interest in the Middle East and a great lover of learning, the BPYI was extremely appealing to me. I walked Palestine. We were also the first Palestinian intellectual group to visit into the Student Activism office as a freshman, sat down and told Yad Vashem, the Holocaust history museum in West Jerusalem, Israel.

Paul Marienthal (Dean of Social Action at Bard), “I am tired of ritu- This year we have big plans! We want to develop a Green initiative ally closing the newspaper in the morning and just going on with my by planting trees and raising awareness, strengthen the Science proeveryday life. I want to do something!” and he answered, “I think you gram at the girl’s high school by providing new computers and other should sit in on the first BPYI meeting.” This conversation, my past lab materials, and lay the groundwork for the year-long workshops to be in the Youth Center for the entire work in teaching, and my studies made community—including Drug Awarethe BPYI a natural calling for me. ness, First Aid, Leadership Workshops for Women, Chess Club, Cinema Club, MA: And were your parents okay with and Sports Club. your going?

ZMB: Not at first. Most of the BPYI MA: What is your favorite memory members will tell you this. But now that from your time in Mas’ha? we’ve all gone to Palestine, our parents ZMB: Having 100 children run can see how safe the village is, and how up to me every morning when I much we’ve changed from the experiwould get to the school; seeing the light go on in my Palestinence. My parents have become the biggest supporters of the cause! ian English students’ eyes when they understood a word; laughMA: How did it feel to go to Palestine for the first time, last year? Was ing over hummus and pita in the morning with my peers; floating in the Dead Sea; seeing the BPYI library full of children… it at all what you expected?

ZMB: Yes and no. My experience there was life-changing. Of course, these are moments and interactions that will stay with me forever. like all volunteer experiences, it was hard work. It was particularly To learn more about BPYI, watch a video or donate, please visit BPYI. hard because the West Bank is a world immensely different from org. Also, don’t miss one of BPYI’s biggest events, which is coming France, where I was raised, and America, where I am studying; be- up soon: the BPYI’s Palestinian Film Series! Travel to the West Bank cause of the language barrier; because of the scarce resources on the without leaving the Hudson Valley. Film and documentary projection ground; because of the political conflict taking place there. Nothing will take place over the course of two weekends at Bard College, in the Preston Hall Movie Theater. Saturday, November 30th and Sunday, can prepare you for that except actually going!

December 1st, 7 - 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, DeMA: What did you do when you got there? cember 8th from 7 - 9:30 p.m.

“Mas’ha, a small village on the border between Israel and Palestine”

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www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 27

Poetry

Black and White

By Laney Eccleston, 17

Lipstick smears on mirrors and ash faces Red through the eyes of some Black in the lack of color A pocket watch sits open on the desk Releasing time into the silent room Each tick moving the air Fluttering the papers on the desk Still wet with ink And snow white envelopes With drying wax, a pressed heart Sealing secrets shut

In the audience waits a girl She sits alone, with folded hands The Curtains have closed for one last time And this is her one last chance With her mediocre curls And her skies worth of freckles And a raindrop gem hanging at her throat The awe inspired tears still glisten in her eyes And make her lashes look so long She doesn’t even need makeup

Now enter a woman, with pearls in her ears And lace around her neck Smooth white skin and shaded cheeks That could have been colored in with pencils

to be beautiful But she will never know it Because no one ever told her That she could be just like them Outside the theatre sits a boy

And lips like black paint

Waiting with a flower on a bench

She picks up her lipstick from the vanity

And a bow-tie of his own around his neck

And carefully twists the cap back on

Because he knew she admires them

Pulls a frosty handkerchief from her blouse

And two tiny pearls

And wipes it from her lips

Like the girl in the show

Staining it, like blood

Who looked so happy to be so beautiful Whose life was so perfect

Outside the door stands a man

And he wished he could make her life perfect

Tall and handsome

The girl with curls

With dark stubble and dark eyes Pinstripes makes his lanky limbs look longer still He wears a bow-tie of silk around his neck And tugs on it nervously as he leans Against the doorframe as he listens For a sob Photo by Kennah Taylor Robertson

Or a laugh Or anything to make him understand But all that he hears Is silence

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With just two pearls And a flower And kiss If she would only come outside And see the proof She never knew she was waiting for ter smile, perfectly content to wait awhile for all that once was to disintegrate to dust, and ritualistically combust But then renews so again this chase ensues, in brilliant hues of red and blue

Photo by Leah Kilb

Ironic

By Maya Fischer, age19

how you told me that I was beautiful in Spanish and I whispered I love you in French but the one language we share from our mothers failed us when I tried to explain that just because my breath doesn’t sporadically linger on the edge of my tongue I don’t feel faint everytime I see you I am sorry even though my words give away disinterest in your poorly worded jokes, it doesn’t mean that I don’t catch myself falling and folding eternity onto infinity when I watch you sleep and even though I never told you that I was afraid too didn’t mean that I wouldn’t silently thank the constellations in the sky everytime you asked me how my day was see, I am the one who couldn’t convince you that I wanted every sigh to be yours you caressed me in French and I seduced you in Spanish but you forgot to trust me in English.

The pining away of boys

by Kennah Taylor Robertson, age 16 She reminded me of the sea; the way she came dancing towards the edge of the stage, making you wonder if you’d get a chance to touch her but then she’d rush away again. She teased us, and played with us.She came and she went. Even though others replaced her, you always anticipated her arrival. She was wild, beautiful, and untamable.

Title Here

Over The Rainbow

By Kaitlana Viglielmo, age 16

Some people say that to live over the rainbow you have to get the recognition you deserve or go somewhere far off, travel and return with a story. But you can be an outcast or a nobody and live over the rainbow. I know I am. People that you’ve known become distant, far off and vague. You lose who you used to talk to. But on the other side everything is better. You don’t need others to tell you who you are and who you are not. The rainbow does that for you.

By Hannah Corwin, age 18

A rainy day of silver drops

And so the sun is hid from sight

Like bells of tales of garden snails

Thunder echoes

Or worms of earthen sorrow Which won’t be seen tomorrow A cloudy sky of mist and fog Of silver silk and sour milk The gray of day is light of night

Echoes Echoes A bright new day is on its way To rid us of the stormy seas For sun to shine through glittering trees

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 29

Commentary

BULLYING (and its Consequences)

ullying is a sure way to make someone feel bad. It’s big reason some people cut themselves or commit suicide. People who get bullied think that hurting themselves is the only way to get over it.

Well, I’m here to tell you that hurting yourself is not a good thing. You shouldn’t have to “get over” being bullied. It should never happen in the first place.

Unfortunately it happens every day, all around the world.

Thankfully, despite being bullied, I’m not one of those people who hurts himself. There are many meaningful and effective ways to rise above. There’s no need for violence or anger. All you need are meaningful and effective strategies to rise above. I will help you learn these strategies because bullying is something I’ve had to deal with my whole life.

Here’s my story: I grew up in a private Christian school named Good Shepherd. In

Good Shepherd you were taught to be nice all the time and not use violence. There was no problem with making friends. I was never bullied. I was always happy and smiling. When we moved, I had to go to a public school. That’s where everything changed. I was the “kind kid” who always tried to be nice to everyone. I just wanted to have fun and make friends. But instead, I was talked about and made fun of because of food I brought to school and every little thing that was different. I felt alone with no friends to help.

In third grade, I moved to Mt. Marion Elementary. I hoped it would be different but it wasn’t.

I had a few friends, more than I had in Zena. I was still bullied.

I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Dealing with the pain of no love hurt really badly.

Though only I had a few friends, they were always there for me. I could tell them what hurt and what didn’t. I could tell them big secrets and they would not laugh at me. This is what helped me through the struggle of being bullied. The friend who helped me most was Elijah P-Z. I knew him since third grade, but we didn’t really talk or become friends until I was in eighth grade. He taught me how to fight and protect myself, and still does. Out of all my friends, he was the best. He is a big reason why I could get over getting bullied so easily.

Even though friends were a big part of helping me survive, there is also another important factor. Music has always been my passion.

Photo by Courtney Stannard

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By James Fisher, age 15

“It’s big reason some people cut themselves or commit suicide.

Back then it helped me through every bad thing that happened.

I’ve been singing in chorus since 3rd grade. My grandma, a member of a chorus group hooked me up with group called “Hudson Valley Youth Choral (HVYC)”. Now whenever I am mad, upset or experiencing any other emotion, I throw it into the type of music I enjoy listening to. Music has always been there for me and I plan on continuing in the chorus, to always use music to help me deal with my problems.

Since I know what bullying feels like, I would never do it to anyone else. Anybody can confide in me about a problem or tell me a secret. I can’t imagine ever doing anything to hurt anyone. That is what I have learned after all of the years of bullying.

You can see how bullying has affected me. We all know many more people affected by it. I hope you take my feelings and my behavior for your use in helping other people with their problems. Bullying is a way to cause harm, not peace. Please, rise against all the bullying and join a more peaceful and united way of life.

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Commentary

Love is Patient, Love is Kind

By Laney Eccleston, age 17

Photo by Laney Eccleston

Love is unselfish. “If you love someone, let them go,” is a phrase that is as true as it is painful. Love gives you the strength to watch your favorite person get on a plane to follow their dreams or buy a ticket and join them. Love lets you say goodbye without letting the other person know how much it hurts.

Love is laughing and crying because something has changed your life and writing songs to express the feelings you can’t put into words.

True love is not divided by on-the-surface traits such as race and gender. Love is a war you don’t mind fighting because the reward is worth the battle. Whether it is love for a man or a woman, an animal, book or color, it does not need to be defended or explained. Love is infinite.

Love is patient. Love is kind.

W

hen we hear the word love, we think we know what it means. It is defined simply as a profound affection towards another person such as a significant other, or a child. But it is so much more than that. We use the word love both offhand and thoughtfully; it is lighthearted and intense. It is mutual and one-sided, planned and unplanned. Love is a feeling, a series of actions, a declaration and a secret.

Love is not necessarily romantic. You can love someone simply because they make your day so much better. They don’t even need to know you love them. Love is following your favorite celebrity on Twitter, and crying tears of joy when they reply to your question.

Love can be related to anything you have a strong affection for. It’s watching TV all night because the world the characters live in is more appealing than yours, and your desire to be there is so strong that love is the only word you can use to describe it. It is a feeling of happiness, longing, and pain, all at once.

Love is your favorite book, whispering stories to you from under your pillow as you fall asleep. It is the characters in those stories, taking you away from your problems by introducing you to their own fears and obstacles. Love is folded corners and tear drop stains left on the pages, worn down from years of car rides and beach trips and all-nighters.

In real life and stories, love can be foolish. It is Juliet plunging Romeo’s dagger into her heart so they can be together. It’s Sherlock Holmes leaping from a rooftop to save his only friends. Love is the ultimate sacrifice. Love saved Harry Potter when his parents died protecting him. Although made up characters often portray love in the extreme, they can reflect real life feelings and actions.

Love is more than fiction. It swirls in the cups of coffee you drink to avoid crying yourself to sleep because you miss someone so much you think you might collapse. Love is the smell of your best friend’s shirt as he lets you cry into his chest, and the song he hums into your hair until you relax. It is wedding cake and honeymoon suites and kissing in front of the Eiffel tower. When you go years without seeing someone, love makes it easy to fall back into their arms. It is holding your baby for the first time and crying because you know they are yours. It can be found in kisses on a child’s scraped up knees, and in the dinosaur Band-Aids they were allowed to pick out all by themselves.

Love is the feeling you get when you look into someone’s eyes and your heart breaks because you know you can’t be with them forever.

Love is when she touches your neck and your whole body feels warm, or he holds your hand and you believe you can fly. It is caring about something or someone so much you would do anything for them.

And it’s the pain of realizing they wouldn’t do the same for you. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 31

Education

Online Education: The Future

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Photo by Serafina Mallon-Breiman

hroughout history learning has tak- Intro By Caleb McNamara, age 22 & with students from Italy, Lebanon and Brazil. en place in the classroom. With the Interview by Shannon Meyers, age 20 SUNY Ulster›s online course system has not ever-evolving technology of presonly helped those who want to continue their ent day society this is beginning to change. Students now education, but it has bridged an intellectual gap between motivated have the option of taking college courses in the privacy of their students from around the world. Ulster is partnering with Faculdade own home. This new way of taking courses has its advantages as de Tecnologia de Americana, in São Paulo Brazil on entrepreneurial well as its disadvantages, but ultimately it is revolutionizing the way studies. Through Facebook, local students are engaging in cross-culpeople can continue their education. tural conversations using translator programs to exchange thoughts Going to college used to in both English and Porbe a life-consuming decituguese. sion. Many people lost the Although online coursopportunity due to varies have been utilized for ous factors of life (parentthe past few years, it is still ing, housing, work, etc.) a relatively new platform Now with online courses of education and its full anyone can continue their potential is still unknown. education. The prospect So much new educational of taking a class online potential begs the quesmay appear to lack the tion, what does online fundamental aspects of a education mean for the course in a classroom, but future? Online courses are it actually holds all of the changing the educational same opportunities. Ongrowth of society by inline students not only have cluding those who might the ability to correspond not have had the opporwith their professor, but tunity. With such easy also to discuss aspects of and stress-free accessibilthe course with their felity to college courses, the low online students. Many percentage of people who of the students enrolled want to continue their in SUNY Ulster are cureducation is destined to rently taking advantage of grow.

Martha Howe taking a course in the comfort of her own space.

SUNY›s online courses.

With such a boost in SUNY Ulster offers a wide the transference of knowlvariety of online courses each semester, ranging from required cours- edge, who knows how much online college courses will benefit our soes in English and math to more specialized courses for degrees and ciety? We had the opportunity to speak with a SUNY Ulster professor certificates in areas such as veterinary technology and nursing. who teaches online courses to find out more about this new method SUNY Ulster’s online courses don›t just benefit people who don›t of education. have the luxury of physically attending school, they also are a means for students enrolled in other schools to gain extra credits while they An interview with SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge Dr. William are away or on a break. The innovation of online courses is even ben- Sheldon efitting people in foreign countries. Through SUNY’s Center for ColIt seems that online education is becoming more easily accessible laborative Online International Learning (COIL), SUNY Ulster is us- every day. To find out more about what it’s doing to the traditional ing Internet-based tools to develop meaningful learning connections education system (and more!), I interviewed Dr. William Sheldon, a

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Education microeconomics professor at SUNY Ulster with experience in teaching online classes.

SHANNON M: First, do you teach any online classes?

WILLIAM SHELDON: Yes, I teach a microeconomics class and designed and taught an accounting class in the past.

SM: What has your experience been in doing so?

WS: Generally, pretty good. They’re certainly different. There are things that you can’t do online that you can do in a classroom and vice versa. There is a nation-wide, statistical trend showing that results are very bi-furcated: people either do really well or don’t complete the course. I think it is a 50 percent rate. Students taking online courses need to be self-motivated, disciplined, hard-working...Those people will succeed no matter what they do! Others will fall behind. It begins with missing work and becomes a downward spiral.

the things I see is that we are starving higher education in many ways. When I was going to school in the ‘60s and ‘70s, community college was free, and public universities were almost free. Now, nearly everyone graduates with debt, and when they have to start paying, it’s almost like a house payment. I am concerned about how many adjunct professors are being hired, often teaching at 3 or 4 colleges just to hold things together at a minimal level. These things are undermining what we have established as a national competitive advantage in the past: our investment in the higher education system. What does the future hold? Probably more of the same. I think online education will be a piece of education but not a dominant answer to these problems.

Currently, SUNY Ulster offers 3-, 6-, 7-, and 10-week online courses to help people get degrees with ease, even with the busy lives people lead these days. Visit sunyulster.edu to find out more.

SM: In the past, did you ever imagine that online classes would exist?

WS: When they first showed up, with the University of Phoenix, I thought we were missing out by not being involved. They are helpful for returning and working students. They have a place. But the truth is, online classes are essentially glorified correspondence courses.

SM: A fundamental question: are online courses 100 percent necessary?

WS: I think they serve a purpose. For many students, it’s difficult to get to class. They’re far away from campus, working, have complicated lives, children, etc. Online classes are great for them! They can also be a way to fit in a class that may not fit into the lives of students otherwise.

SM: Are there any disadvantages, either for the student or teacher, to participating in online courses through a college/university?

WS: Yes, it is very difficult to replicate the back and forth you get in a classroom. There is more interaction and more one-on-one. When one student asks a question in class, it can encourage others in the class to speak up. It’s difficult doing that online.

SM: Do you think cheating is prevalent in online classes?

WS: Yes, but it’s hard to know because there is no proof. I set up classes so there is a fair volume of submissions. I also use programs that have algorithmic questions so that the same people don’t get the same problem so it diverts the possibility a little bit. I’ve been hearing about professionals writing essays online for money, though, and ultimately there isn’t as much control as in the traditional classroom.

SM: Is there a difference between a student taking an online class (for tuition) through a university and a learner progressing through online courses, which are available for free on the internet? (such as MIT OpenCourseWare).

WS: Yes, there is a huge difference. First of all: assessments. You don’t get any from free courses. They’re great for getting information, and great courses exist, but there is no feedback. One of the things I find with online courses is that you don’t need a classroom or many other things, but you can’t handle a huge roster because you have so many e-mails to respond to.

SM: Do universities need to charge to offer online courses?

WS: Yes. They need to charge for credits, time for instructors to give feedback and the kind of evaluation that goes on in a verifiable college experience.

SM: What do you think the future of learning looks like?

WS: I am concerned about the future of higher education. One of www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 33

Commerce

Holiday Open House!

By Arianna White, age 19

B

Phoo by Dylan McNamara

oth Woodstock and New Paltz are well known for their in front of stores, and the most beautiful decorations. The biggest, of “small town” atmospheres. The Hudson Valley is so beauti- course, being the Christmas tree on the Village Green, whose lighting ful this time of year, so I spoke to Helen Gutfreund from ceremony gathers people from all over in a wonderful celebration of the New Paltz Chamber of Commerce, and Woodstock’s the holiday spirit.

Fern Suess from Creating Healthy Places in Ulster County, about Each year, for the past 32 years, Woodstock has hosted the Holiwhat their towns’ plans day Open House on the first were for the holidays. If Friday of December. It is an you’re near Woodstock or evening when almost all the New Paltz, you’ve got to shops stay open late, introcheck out these events! duce their special Holiday New Paltz is a cute, hiswindows, and serve refreshtoric college town where ments. There are several people from all walks of musical talents, including life have flocked to. It is carolers, acoustic players, a charming and inviting and others who perform in environment that really various spots throughout makes you feel at home. The the town. This particular tratownspeople are very condition began in 1981. Much nected to each other, and like New Paltz’s Downtown that is even more evident Unwrapped, one of the most when winter arrives. Helen fun aspects of Woodstock’s Last year Santa surprised hundreds of families and children who had gathered at the Gutfreund says that what Holiday Open House is the Woodstock green by arriving in a plane! she loves most about being window judging. Most merin New Paltz during the holidays is the camaraderie that blooms. “See- chants go out of their way to create their best, eye catching windows ing people giving of themselves, in whatever way that may be, always for the holiday season.. The same day you can look forward to, like warms my heart. You can really see the good in people then.”

Mrs. Claus in the window of Houst and Sons, face painting for the New Paltz has a number of long-standing holiday traditions that the youth, and Frosty walking the sidewalks greeting the kids and giving town always comes out to support and participate in. The most popu- out treats. And each year, there are wonderful new events. lar event is the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. It’s a 5K run, sponsored by Lastly you must not miss Santas arrival on Christmas Eve in WoodFAMILY of New Paltz, and this year marks its tenth anniversary! Over stock ! Hundreds of towns people gather at the Village Green (cen1,000 runners come out, dressed up as turkeys, Santas, elves, etc and ter of town) at 5:00pm to witness the wierd and wacky way Santa has make their way around the town Nov 29 cooked up in his head to enter town. Santas unconventional arrival Another classic tradition is Downtown Unwrapped. All the store- is always kept a big surprise each year. Past years he has come in by fronts on Main Street decorate their shop windows with a variety of Rocket, Camel, a space ship, a Vw Hippie bus or like last year in a themes, wrap them up, and they are all unveiled, one by one. Busi- plane. Once he gets out and all the children line up and have their nesses usually have hot cider or hot chocolate, activities for kids, and chance to talk to him. He also brings lots of goodies for all. These sometimes entertainment inside or outside of the store. This event re- Holiday rituals make the holidays filled with love and cheer. It will ally encourages people to come out and support their small local busi- truly be a magical night. nesses. This year’s event will be held on Friday, November 29, from For more information about Holiday Events visit Town Chambers: 6-9pm.

(New Paltz) www.newpaltzchamber.org Another creative, tight-knit community that really shines through (Woodstock) woodstockchamber.com during the holiday season is Woodstock. You will see children walking (Kingston) www.ulsterchamber.org up to Sled Hill with their toboggans, bell-ringers and donation stands (Rhinebeck) rhinebeckchamber.com

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Commerce

The tea shop of woodstock

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hree years ago, I wandered into the tea shop of woodstock, desperate for a job, wearing my mother’s antique blue and white pin striped dress and a blazer that didn’t fit quite right. Too tight around the arms, it nearly inhibited me from passing my first test: reaching the top shelf. I knew nothing

“You walk in oblivious and you walk out full of knowledge…and full of tea.”

By MaryKate Marley, age 23 Photos by Dylan McNamara ments that decorate the shelves. Time almost becomes that of another world, if you let it.

Some customers fly in and out of the shop with facial expressions that insist they know what they want. And then there are customers who leisurely take their time, in search of a tea accessory, a browse, or a long look at our menu— whether they desire a cup of tea, or tea in bulk to take and enjoy in the comfort of their own home, perhaps with a friend. Each customer has a special place at our counter. One of the perks of the job is the privilege of opening each container of tea and getting a quick inhale before laying out the leaves for the curious patron on the other side of the counter. There are over 150 teas in the shop, and from our most delicate, unflavored, white tea to our most popular, chocolate puerh, an aged black tea with chocolate curls that melt into your cup, there is something for everyone.

Amanda Depew and some of the lovely, pretty things at the tea shop of woodstock..... where a world of tea awaits...

about tea except that it was what I drank when I was sick. I was sure that I wasn’t the right fit for the job, but some greater power guided my feet through the front door to the owner, Amanda Depew. Today, after three years of working at the tea shop, my knowledge of tea is quite expansive. And that’s just how the tea shop is. You walk in oblivious and you walk out full of knowledge…and full of tea.

To be in the tea shop is to be in a peaceful state in which one can’t help but be lost in the savory smells and strikingly colorful accoutre-

The tea shop is a little piece of Woodstock, where the big windows are reminiscent of a fish bowl, and the colorful tea shop accoutrements resemble a coral reef. It’s a magical, rare place. Is it any wonder that the tea shop has become one of my greatest pleasures? http://www.woodstockteashop.com

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 35

Books

The Saugerties Public Library

By Kyiah Giannelli, Age 11

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he Saugerties Public Library is a fun place full of books (hence the word library which means a place to set apart books and other reading material.) The 1915 Carnegie library building has been renovated and expanded and is now open at its 91 Washington Avenue, Saugerties. The Saugerties Public Library was restored and redone in 2011 and ever since has been a giant world of imagination and books. The library has a

“The library is appropriate for ages 0 to 99” number of programs offered, such as the summer reading program, the Lego club, and the Ulster County library-wide Battle of the Books competition. The Saugerties Public Library sometimes also hosts photo contests where if you win, you get a prize.

The Saugerties Library consists of the kids’ and teen rooms downstairs and the

The Saugerties Public Library

adult section upstairs. When you walk into the library from the main entrance there is an elevator that you can take upstairs or downstairs, if you do not want to walk up or down the few steps. Kids have to be 13 or older to access the teen room without parent permission. In the kids’ room there is

a garden gnome hidden in a different spot each time somebody finds him. If you find the gnome, you get to pick a prize!

The library is appropriate for ages 0 to 99+. So come and get the book you are looking for at the Saugerties Public Library: a place of imagination and books.

Library Calendar Gardiner Library: 133 Farmers Turnpike Tue: 9:30-1045 & Wed: 1:30-2:30 Story, Th: 5-6 Group Guitar Th: 5-7 Teen Tech Tutors Th: 7-8:30 Knitters 845-255-1255 or gardnerlibrary.org

olivefreelibrary.org

Kingston Library: 55 Franklin St. Mon: 4-5 Bookmaking club Tues: , 10:30 Toddler Story hour Wed: 10:30 Story Hour Thur: 3:30-5 Teen Art Club Call 845-331-0507 x7 or kingstonlibrary.org

Poughkeepsie Library: 504 Haight Av.Teen Room Open: Mon/Tue2-6, W/Th 2-8 Fri/ Sat 2-5. Reading Buddy Program. 845-4549308 or poklib.org

New Paltz Elting Memorial Library: 93 Main St. : Mon 6:30 pm Chess. Wed 4:00 Knitting kids Fri 6:30-7:30 Movies call 845-255-5030 or eltinglibrary.org Olive Free Library: 4033 Rt 28 Shokan Mon: 5-6 4-H Girls,Tues: 10-11 Story Hour. Activities for children, teens call 845-657-2482 or

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Phoenicia Library: 9 Ava Maria dr. Mon 3-5 Homework help, Sat: 10:30-12:00 Event programs, Sat 1-2:30 Art hour. call 845-6887811/ or phonecialibrary.org

Poughkeepsie: Adriance Memorial Library: 93 Market St. 845-485-3445 or poklib.org Rosendale Library: 264 Main st Wed evening events 7:00. sept 14 Freedom Gardner Horticulture, Oct 17 The American Crow, Nov 14 Climate Change at Mohonk. 845658-9013 or rosendalelibrary.org

Saugerties Library: 91 Washington Ave. Mon: 6:30-7:30 Lego Club, Tue & Wed 3:304:30 Teen Club (video & crafts). call 845246-4317 Ann Van Damm Stone Ridge Library: 3700 Main st. Sat: 1012 Knitters, Film Fridays call 845-687-7023 or stoneridgelibrary.org West Hurley Library: 42 Clover st. Mon: Pre-school story hour 10:30, Weds: Knitting Group 6:00-830, Movie every 4th Monday Call 845-679-6405 or westhurleylibrary.org Woodstock Library: Tue: 4:00 Story time Wed: 10:30 story time.Thur: 4:00 Lilliput Players Sat: 10:30 Family (stories/performers). Call Lesley Sawhill 845-679-2213 or email: Woodstock.org

Memories

Herbie

By Herbie Doan, Jr. Terre Haute, IN, age 53

F

our years ago today, my Father passed away...which left a permanent void in my life. In spite of the fact I miss him terribly, each and every day, I am so very fortunate to have countless memories of 49 years shared together. These memories make me smile, laugh, or, shake my head as I recall some of the “life experiences” we survived. He taught me many things, including how to be a “True Packer Fan,” how to shoot a basketball (he would tell you that he did the best that he could in

He taught me that I could play an entire basketball game with a fractured wrist), to work hard regardless of our chosen profession, and, to be positive role models for our children. He was always there for my siblings and I, and made many personal sacrifices, to make sure he was able to spend as much time with us as he possibly could.

I had, and still have, the utmost respect for him...how hard he worked...and for how he treated people. He could be very tough and demanding at times, but I understood “why” he did it. I also saw his gentler side, how he loved his family, his love for animals, and his compassion for those he considered to be less fortunate than this regard), the importance of “family,” to rehimself. He was an Top: My Father, Herbert Doan Sr. - Navy Photo - USS Boxer spect our Mother, to respect all women, to give amazing, selfless man, 1953-1956, Bottom: Dad and me a few years back. our best effort in any task we were involved in, who never asked for to treat people the same way we would like to be treated, to over- anything for himself. I am proud to share his name... Thank you for come injuries and pain (yep, I had a lot of experience with this one! allowing me to share these thoughts of my Dad.

“I am so very fortunate to have countless memories of 49 years shared together.”

Missing Tom

By Finn Alvaro

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herish your relationships with the people around you. Even if you aren’t near your friends, it doesn’t mean they don’t have a special place in your heart. We are lucky to be here, so make the most of every moment and be thankful for the greatest gift of all, life.

Miss ya big guy.

RIP — with Tom Alba. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 37