Spring 2014
Price: Free
Boxing Gyms • Jamel Shabazz NYC Urban Photographer • Portfolio Artwork • Pete Seeger Wisdom For Teens •
A free journal written by young people for young-minded people
Publisher’s Letter
We Need Both
Y
ou can be quiet and roar…Anyway, isn’t it always the quiet ones that surprise us once we get to know them?
We crave both stability and growth. Growth comes when we challenge ourselves by doing things that take us out of our comfort zone. The more we grow the more confident we become! This is what kickboxing did for me! I discovered that it helped me get to know myself more and increase my capabilities. That’s a picture of me and my excellent kickboxing trainer at Gleasons Gym Devon Cormack. I was a young mom back then that probably needed to blow off some steam and hit the punching bags. In this issue Caleb McNamara has written about the legendary Gleason’s Gym in DUMBO-Brooklyn and Gabe Martindale on Boxing upstate ! Our lives are full of contrasts. Is it not the cold of winter that makes us appreciate the sweet warmth of spring? I always tell the story about when we lived in NYC years ago and how my two sons decorated their bedroom walls with posters of forests and nature because we lived in a concrete jungle! When we moved upstate to Woodstock and got to live in the woods they hung up posters of cityscapes, cement stairs and rails for skate boarding on their walls. As the French say, “vive la différence!” You will enjoy GoodLife’s center feature that highlights Jamel Shabazz an acclaimed urban photographer of NYC by Shannon Meyers. We need both nature and resources to sustain ourselves. It is unfortunate we live in a time in which farming has become industrialized. Man has perfected sanitizing land by engineering genetically modified plants that can survive the herbicides and insecticides that kill everything else to optimise profit. Our lands have lost so many natural weeds, wild flowers and insects this way. Insects species like the Monarch butterflies and pollinators are in trouble. How will plants reproduce? What will become of us if they can’t? Reading the interview of Maraleen Manos Jones and the Monarch Butterfly story written by Tesa Ana Flores will make you want to plant or let the milkweeds grow and start a butterfly garden for Spring!
On the cover: Katia Michalopoulos. Photo by Eden O’Clair, age 17
Summer issue coming next! Deadline May 9th.
• • Summer Fashion • Art Galleries here and there • The Rail Trail Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine do not reflect those of the publishers, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.
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TOC/Sponsors thank you to our generous sponsors! GOLD Nick Alba Joan Reynolds Marilyn Manning Lydia Yeoung MountainView Studio
TOC/Masthead Contents Adventure........................................................................... p. 6 Restaurant Review: Cucina............................................. p. 7 Nature: LeafCutter Ants................................................... p. 8 Restaurant Review............................................................ p. 9
Silver Cathy & Sam Magarelli John & Janine Mower Stuart Schuenemann Tom Fletcher
Advice: Sushi............................................................. p. 10-11 Nature: Monarch Butterflies................................... p. 12-13 The Mind.......................................................................... p. 14 The Body........................................................................... p. 15
Maurice & Phyllis Tischler
Fiction......................................................................... p. 16-17 Events: Interview ...................................................... p. 18-19 Cover Story: Jamel Shabbaz.................................... p. 20-22 Politics............................................................................... p. 23
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.
Sports ............................................................................... p. 20 The WALL........................................................................ p. 21 Community............................................................... p. 26-27 Poetry.......................................................................... p. 28-29 Art............................................................................... p. 30-31 Sports: Boxing .......................................................... p. 32-33 Opinion............................................................................ p. 34 Business............................................................................ p. 35 Books................................................................................ p. 36 Memories/Final Words............................................ p. 38-39
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher..................................... Cathy McNamara Art Director...............................................................Grey Ivor Morris Executive Editor..................................Monique Winum Martindale Senior Copy Editor......................................................... Julie Schmidt Contributing Editor................................................... Nancy Panuccio
Sales
Marketing & Sales Director.......................................Carolyn Handel Marketing & Sales........................................................... Marie Shultis
Distribution: 7000 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 submissions as Word documents to: Goodlifejournal@gmail.com Thanks, Cathy McNamara (Publisher) (845) 332-3353
Open Call for Young Photographer and web masters! Volunteer and learn more about publishing. Page 6 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
The Wayfinder Experience (and Playing
Adventure
Pretend)
by Dante DeCecio Kanter, age 16
W
Photo courtesy of Windy Sharpe
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 7
Photo courtesy of Wayfinder Experience
e’ve all played pretend. As kids, we tend to love fairytales and we should, but stories become so much more when we can make them our own. That’s what pretend is for. It’s so we can be pirates and princesses and Han Solo and we can connect with the stories we make because they’re ours. When I was five, I used to put on plays for my parents. I’d call up all my friends, we’d cast ourselves (I was the bad guy), we’d write a script, and we’d come downstairs and perform. I always felt happy when I was preforming like that. That’s why now, I’m acting and directing. Because I always liked to play pretend. In kindergarten, my gym teacher’s name was Howard Moody. He created a program called Adventure Game Theatre. Instead of giving us basketballs and birdies, he gave us foam swords and fairy wings. I learned how to banish evil demons before I had learned basic arithmetic. Sometimes, he’d let us loose to make our own battles, places and characters. Sometimes - and these times A group of young Wayfinders in full regalia ready themselves for live-action theater and play! were special - the game would be written. When we came in for class, there would be a whole world that How- anymore. We were living, independently from ourselves, in a place ard had built for us, with its own rules and creatures, and we’d have where magic existed. And we didn’t have to go to Disneyland; we just to learn to become a part of it and help make the story unfold. We needed Howard and our school’s woods and we would feel like gods. were playing pretend, but on a scale so huge that we weren’t playing Another program was created by the children that had played with Howard in the 90‘s, called Wayfinder. With Howard’s help, it became one of the leading programs of its kind in upstate New York. I joined when I was six. There was a whole community behind this giant game of pretend that I’d never seen. I was small and nervous, so I didn’t make friends, but when we were in game I felt like I could know them all like brothers…and enemies…and best friends. I’ve made many friends from Wayfinder and one of the highlights of going to camp is seeing everyone again. There’s a kind of bond that forms with people when you are playing pretend. And for me at least, that’s special. There’s a place, and it’s filled up with happy people and monsters, and it has green fields and dark woods and weapons made of foam and plastic, and when you go there, you feel invincible and alive, and there are circles and times of song sharing and jokes, and it changes people for the better. It’s called The Wayfinder Experience.
Nature
Leafcutter Ants
By Jake Heenan, age 12
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Art courtesy of the British Library
Y
ou probably think that ants are gross things that steal food off of the picnic table, right? If not, gimme five! Well, I’m here to show you what amazing creatures they really are. The leaf cutter ant species is the second most civilized species on the planet, second only to humans. They are called leaf cutter ants because they cut down leaves, bring, or drag the leaves back to the nest, and then spit them out onto a pile of decomposing leaves. But the leaves are not their food. On those leaves grows a special type of fungus and that is what the ants eat. The ants farm the fungus. One of the reasons that leafcutter species is so civilized is because each ant has a specific role in keeping the nest alive. One role is a special cast of ants that tend the garden. Each of these ants has a special fertilizer that they spray on the fungus to keep the fungus healthy. They also weed the gardens of a bad fungus (called escovopsis) that can kill the good fungus (called basidiomycota). These ants will destroy old, unused gardens too. Another key part of ant society is communication. Without communication, ants could not survive. Ants communicate through a chemical substance called pheromones. The pheromones are sensed through the ants antenna and released through glands all across the ants’ body. When the leafcutter ants find food they release pheromones to tell other ants where the food is located. An ant will even release a pheromone when it dies that says, “I’m dead, you can get me out of the nest, now.” The other ants will drag the dead ant out of the nest. The nest of the leaf cutter ant is huge. It can reach up to 98 feet in length. Pretty big, huh? The nest is a network of tunnels and some lead to rooms where the gardens are. Ant nests are incredible places. Just imagine what it is like to be an ant! Overall, ants are amazing creatures. So next time you raise your foot to kill an ant, think twice about it. For more cool information about ants, check out these links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafcutter_ant http://www.antark.net/ant-life/ant-communication/pheromones.html
Food Resturant Review
Phoenicia Diner
By Finn Doering, age 12 http://sharpfinnsoup.wordpress.com/
T
he Phoenicia Diner is on Route 28 between Mt. Pleasant and Phoenicia, NY. It has the slogan, “Come for the mountains, stay for the food!” which is catchy…and true! I ordered an “Omelet Your Way,” served with incredible potatoes - they have a crusty skin and are tender inside. My omelet creation was: spinach, feta, bacon and peppers. It had an amazing flavor with smokey bacon and two kinds of delicious peppers, green and red. My mom had the “Arnold Bennett Skillet,” which is smoked trout, Parmesan cheese, creme fraiche and eggs. It comes in a classic cast iron skillet with wonderful trout and smooth eggs. The Parmesan gives it more meaning. My sister got the waffles: super sweet and light delicious waffles with lots of flavor, served with strawberries and local real maple syrup. My Dad and Yia Yia had the “Wild Hive Farm Polenta with Sautéed Greens.” It tastes like grits and is served with sunny-side up eggs. It is also served in a personal skillet. The cool part of this place is that it has the comfort of a diner, but better quality food. I like that many of the ingredients are sourced locally, like Ronnybrook farms (dairy), Bread Alone (bread, of course!), Sir William Angus Farms (grass fed beef), Feather Ridge Farm (free-range eggs), Hudson Valley Harvest (produce) and Catsmo, for the smoked fish. You should take some time to read about these farms and suppliers to appreciate what they are about and what you are eating. The owner is a nice man from Brooklyn, who worked in the film and theater industry as a set designer and owned a construction shop. It’s evident that he did that by all the amazing old antiques and his eye for modern diner furniture and design. There are wooden snowshoes, old picnic baskets and a big local map of the Catskills, which shows you where you are. I love the retro stools at the counter!
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 9
Advice
Ask Sushi
Fluffy Advice by Griffin Stewart, Brooklyn Age: 14
Also, when we got back home, I found a little green ball. It’s cool because I can put my mouth around it perfectly. All the other balls were too big to grasp, if you know what I mean. Alright, well, enough about me. Time for some amazing questions.
H
ello, my brave and wonderful readers and welcome to another Ask Sushi! Well, what to start out with? First, I went on a brave adventure. We went into one of those metal beasts with the weird things that roll and make us move faster than I could ever imagine. I heard my pack members call it a “car”. The car got filled up to where we could barely fit and with good reason - we went somewhere freezing cold. We went across this large stretch of land to an amazing place called Wisconsin! It was so cold that I could barely walk. Let me tell you, it’s tough being such an adventurous dog. Plus, on top of it all, the drive took forever. It took so long that I started to lose track of how long we were in there. I think it was a year or two, I am not sure. And when we
Question 1: Sushi, you are so confident and wise! What do you do to keep your healthy outlook and high self-esteem? A: For starters, I always see everything as one big adventure just waiting for me to go on, hard things and fun things. Also, carrots help. You might be wondering, “Sushi, why would carrots help?” Well, let me tell you, whenever I get upset or angry or worried or even happy, I usually eat a carrot. It kind of calms me down in a weird way. And it cleans my teeth. Maybe it’s kind of my hobby, eating carrots. Now for my Sushi wisdom to you. Whenever you’re sad, or mad and you just feel like nothing’s really going good for you, try to focus on the good, not the bad. What’s going well in your life? For instance, for me I get chicken almost every day. Isn’t that so amazing? I actually hadn’t thought about it. Wow, every day! Speaking of which, after this I think I am going to go get some chicken. Also, you asked how do I keep my high self-esteem. Well, I may have said this a million times, but I believe that being myself is the most amazing thing and that it’s great to be me. And for you, it’s great to be you. And
“Let me tell you, it’s tough being such an adventurous dog.” finally got there, we stayed for, who knows how long? Then again, I am not so good with the whole time thing. But it was really fun, because some of our old pack members that I haven’t seen for so long were there. And there were a lot of them, too. After that, we drove all the way back and that also took forever. Geez. It was long. The whole time all I could think of was chicken. Page 10 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
for everyone, you should just feel like you love yourself. To give you an example, an amazing big silky black dog walked by me and instead of being like, “Aw man, I wish I was that big and silky” I was like, “Cool, I am glad you are silky, but look at how fluffy I am. Pretty cool right?” And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you.
Question 2: In dog years how old are you? Do you ever worry about your looks and trying to stay young looking like other celebs? A: Well, right now I am in my prime. I guess in your years, I would be 21 maybe 30. Wait! You said I am a celebrity? Wow,
Advice
Griffin Stewart
Griff wants to be a sculptor. He also takes acting class at the Atlantic Theater Company and performed in his first Broadway play last year. He’s homeschooled and 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.
really? That’s so cool! Maybe I will be like Johnny Depp or Keanu Reeves. I mean, I consider myself a pretty good actor but that would be so cool. Now for my Sushi wisdom to you. I have actually never worried about my looks. And as for trying to stay young, it’s okay to grow old. Honestly, all I try to do is be myself. I think so far it is working. And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you.
Question 3: Did you ever get to know your parents before you were brought into your family tribe? What is your dog family history? A: Now that I think about it, no. I don’t remember who my parents were. Hmm. But then again, I was very young. Even if I did know them, I probably would not remember them. But, who I did know are my comrades that probably were brought into packs just as nice as my pack. You see, before we got our final names, we all decided to use numbers but we forgot them. So we decided in a meeting to each have temporary names. I chose Fox-trot! Then the second one was named, Beauteous Fox. As you could tell she was a girl. The third and fourth ones were named Flufflekins and Squishy. And the last one was, now, I never liked his name that much but, Bob. I think he wasn’t very creative or something. And now my Sushi wisdom to you: Always be creative. Question 4: What is a problem that you would like to see changed in the world for dogs or animals? A: I am not a very political dog. Still, I do think dogs should have voting rights. Maybe cats should have voting rights too, but they do get very grumpy. Every time I try to be one’s friend it scratches me - totally uncool, but I am getting off topic here. Well, I think all animals should be treated equally and I also think there should be more chicken. Mmm. Chicken. And here’s my Sushi wisdom to you: I may not be a very political dog and probably don’t know both sides of the conversation, but what I do know is that some animals get treated differently than others. Like, for instance, crocodiles get kept in small cages sometimes, I do know that. And animals go extinct all the time and that’s not good. And I know some animals are treated badly. That’s just not cool. And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you. Alright, my readers, that was another Ask Sushi. See you next time. Sushi, signing out! www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 11
Nature
Where Are the Monarchs Going?
Questions and Answers with Maraleen Manos Jones
M
By Tesa Ana Flores, age 16
araleen Manos Jones probably knows more about butterflies than anyone else in the world. She is known as the Butterfly Lady and has been known as that for more than 30 years. She is seemingly involved in every way in the butterfly world. Her love of butterflies has taken her many places in her life, literally and figuratively. She gives lectures on butterflies, and I have never learned more on a subject in an hour than I did during a lecture of hers that I attended. She was also the first non-native woman to find the monarchs’ mating place on the border of Michoacán and Mexico State in Mexico, where there are monarchs everywhere, thousands of them covering the ground. The first time I met the Butterfly Lady I was ten. My family went on one of her butterfly garden tours. It was a magical experience, and I remember it vividly even now. Her garden was whimsical, wild looking, and overgrown, full of butterfly bushes with little purple flowers and humming bird feeders. Some plants A monarch butterfly alights on a butterfly bush to find nectar. Monarch butterflies larvae eat ONLY were even taller than she was, and reached out milkweed so they are also dubbed the ‘milkweed butterfly’. in all directions. Her landscaping was like an artwork, and there were mosaics that she had made and put in her I recently interviewed Maraleen Manos Jones about monarch butgarden. The summer I visited her house was not a good summer for terflies and what we can do to help them. monarchs, so we didn’t see a lot of butterflies in the garden, but it was alive and buzzing with bees and other insects and wildlife. Inside her Tesa: Are the monarch butterfly numbers declining? house, she had caterpillars and cocoons that were all in different stages MMJ: Tremendously. The last time I went to [the monarch butterfly of the transformation into a butterfly. Maraleen wants people to plant mating ground in Mexico], I cried. Less than three million on about butterfly gardens because that is the one of the best ways to help them an acre. It’s that serious. I never thought I would say that. out. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milk weed. In her husky voice, Tesa: Why have their numbers gone down? she told us folklore and mythology MMJ: It is our use of pesticides. It’s GMO monoculture in the cenabout the butterfly. I remember ter of this country, which are the traditional breeding grounds of the one story in particular about how monarch butterfly. Traditionally, milkweed grows right next to cornbutterflies represented rebirth. I fields. Iowa has lost 98 percent of all its milkweed. There’s not a weed was fascinated to step into some- in sight, there are no bees, there are no butterflies, there are no frogs, one else’s world for a day and to see there are no birds, it’s dead. We have created a dead zone. Lawns, acsomeone living her dream and do- tually use more pesticide per acre than big agricultural fields. Equally ing something she was so passion- as important as the agricultural uses is the individual recreational use of pesticides. Lawns are killing 85 percent of all life on our planet ate about. Maraleen is willing to go to great and it’s only since the ‘50s that this has started. We don’t know what lengths to help butterflies. Once, a pesticide does to humans. Maybe it’s a neuron disrupter but we don’t late bloomer butterfly came out of know the science exactly. If you put a map of the breeding grounds of its cocoon too late, and Maraleen the monarch and you put a map of the GMO things it overlaps, and knew if she set it free at her Hud- that’s causing the precipitous decline of the monarchs. We’re losing Maraleen Manos Jones, the “Butson Valley home it would not get over two million acres of butterfly and bee habitats every year. What terfy Lady” is passionate about the to the Monarch mating ground in happens to those two million acres that are lost? Malls, roads, develenvironment and the Monarch. Mexico in time and would surely opments, housing developments that cut down every tree and they not live out its life cycle. So Mara- support no life. So we create dead zones in all the places that we live. leen called up Southwest Airlines and arranged to take the butterfly The pesticides are everywhere and they’re poisoning in our water. on an airplane. She took the butterfly to San Antonio, Texas and set it free. She enabled the monarch to have the life it was meant to live out. Page 12 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Nature Tesa: What can we do to help the monarchs?
Photo by Sujata Gopalan
MMJ: On my website now, there’s a link to the pollinator-friendly towns initiative I have started. And the town of Olive is the first town in the state in the nation to proudly and enthusiastically vote unanimously to support this initiative. You can read the pledge: “I pledge not to use pesticides or herbicides. I pledge to plant some milkweed. I pledge to not use plant GMOs. I pledge to plant some native flowers, shrubs or trees.” That’s it. No one’s asking for money. Woodstock is going to vote on it on March 11th, and I’m speaking to Saugerties Town Board next Wednesday. I am speaking to all the towns in Ulster County, and I will get many of them to sign on. I want to make Ulster County the most pollinator-friendly county around and then go from there. And Tesa, it’s not just about monarchs, it is also about bees, butterflies, and bats. Everybody’s in the same boat, and they are all dying from the pesticides. If the bees die, 40 percent of our food will be gone, unequivocally. We need the pollinators, so this is not left, right, old, young, it’s everybody. We all have to take responsibility for the health of our planet. And that’s what this is all about. You can go to pollinatorfriendlytowns.org and you can sign the pledge, or you can go to my website, spiritofbutterflies.com and you can see the presentation I gave to the town board of Olive. It’s filmed and it’s up there. I need everybody to help sign people up. It’s about getting neighbors to talk to neighbors because people think, “Let me kill theses dandelions, and I want a perfect lawn and to get rid of these weeds.” I don’t think people want to be responsible for killing off everything on our planet. I think people would rather be part of the solution, and it’s not so difficult, just like recycling has come a long way. We must stop poisoning our planet now. This is so urgent. We cannot wait a year or two or three and talk about it in committee. Everyone has got to start taking action now. I have milkweed seeds locally, so if anyone needs milkweed seeds, get in touch with me (spiritofbutterflies.com). Milkweed seeds are available on the internet, but you want to get ones that are local and indigenous to your area.
This Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly enjoys a wild flower garden in Indiana. Butterflies love nectar, water and liquids of rotting fruits fallen from fruit trees.
Tesa: What would you like to see happen with the government of the United States and Mexico to protect monarchs? MMJ: Well, you know, artists, writers, scientists, and environmentalists from around the world wrote to President Obama, President Nieto, and the president of Canada about this issue, and they discussed protecting monarchs at their meeting last week. I have not heard any conclusion, but I actually wrote to President Obama myself and told him about this grass roots initiative. So who knows, you know? The bees are dying, the butterflies are dying. I don’t want to say that was the last one. So help me spread the world. On May 17th, Maraleen Manos Jones will be speaking about monarchs and other subjects at Central Park in New York City. I’d love for people to visit my gardens, my websites:
Creating a Butterfly Garden
Butterfly gardening not only adds immense beauty, serenity and joy to your life, it is vital in helping to save many species of butterflies, including the monarchs. Butterfly habitats are disappearing at an enormous rate, at least 2.3 million acres a year. In addition to habitat loss, the use of pesticides and herbicides kills caterpillars and butterflies. Butterfly Nectar Preferences and Larval Food Plants: Buckeye Butterfly Larval food plant: Snapdragon Nectar: Aster, Milkweed Chickory, Coreopsis Comma Larval food plant: Nettle, Elm Nectar: Rotting fruit & sap, Butterfly Bush, Dandelion Great Swallowtail Larval food plant: Citrus trees, Prickly Ash Nectar: Lantana, Japanese Honeysuckle, Milkweed, Lilac, Goldenrod, Azalea Great Spangled Fritillary Larval food plant: Violet
Nectar: Ironweed, Milkweed, Black-Eyed Susan, Verbena Monarch Larval food plant: Milkweed Nectar: Milkweed, Butterfly Bush, Goldenrod, Thistle, Ironweed, Mints
Mourning Cloak Larval food plant: Willow, Elm, Poplar, Aspen, Birch, Hackberry Nectar: Rotting fuit & sap, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Shasta Daisy Painted Lady Larval food plant: Daisy, Hollyhock Nectar: Goldenrod, Aster, Zinnia, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed Red Admiral Larval food plant: Nettle Nectar: Rotting fruit and sap, Daisy, Aster, Goldenrod, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed Tiger Swallowtail Larval food plant: Cherry, Ash, Birch, Tulip tree, Lilac Nectar: Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Japanese Honeysuckle, Phlox, Lilac, Ironweed Viceroy Larval food plant: Willow, Poplar, Apple Nectar: Rotting fruit, sap, Aster, Goldenrod, Milkweed http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef006.asp www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 13
The Mind
The Brain From Night to Day
Photo by Chloe Rovitz
By: Clara Griffin, age 16
E
very night when we go to sleep our subconscious minds awake to live out impossible ideas. But more often than not, we have no memory of these hours spent in a far off world. The average person has four to six dreams per night. We forget our dreams ninety percent of the time ten minutes after waking. Sounds peculiar, doesn’t it? Professors at Santa-Cruz agree, and have tried to work out the reasons why our mind evades our subconscious. One reason they mention is that while we are in a dream state we are not consciously trying to remember anything since dreaming does not require much concentration. It’s like driving on an open road; normally the driver does not pay very close attention because she’s not doing an intellectually stimulating activity. Earnest Hartmann, a professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, offers another perspective: a large part of why we forget vivid dreams so easily is due to the neurochemical balance inside our brain during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this phase of sleep, a key hormone, norepinephrine, whose main function is to aid consciousness, memory, thought and language, is not circulating in our cerebral cortex. Although norepinephrine may play a big role in keeping our memory in check, it cannot fully explain why we have memory gaps after we dream. Even while we are dreaming, we are still activating parts of our brain, just not the same parts we use while awake. Usually the brain functions in a state of focused, concentrated thought, but when we dream or let our minds wander, the mind switches gears into a more imaginative and abstract mode. According to Santa Cruz academics, when the mind is less consciously directed, it is harder to recollect memories. In general, people forget a lot of nonessential thoughts or insignificant details. Research has shown that we only remember things we think about often, or that have emotional significance. This may explain why many of us can remember dreams that involved high stress situations such as falling while other dreams vanish. We were not built to be aware of the full scope of our mind, but whether we realize it or not, there is an alter ego in our brain who comes out at night and lives out the most remarkable things imaginable.
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Wholesome Living
L
The Body
By Cassandra Hastie, age 17
iving a wholesome life involves combining a healthy mindset, clean diet, and regular exercise. Fortunately, once you have one of these in check, the others start to fall into place. Research has shown that the type of food we consume directly correlates to our mental health. But in this day and age, much of the food that Americans eat is processed and contains additives. An excessive intake of junk and processed food is linked to mental health issues. The problem with the plethora of processed food in our country is that it is the cheapest and easiest to access. While eating healthy, unprocessed, and organic foods can be expensive, there are ways to avoid eating foods that will contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. The first step to having a clear mind is eating clean foods. Money saved by eliminating sugary drinks and foods can be spent on clean foods. If organic food is still too expensive, you can buy regular fruits and vegetables and still get the vitamins and nutrients that are so good for you. Consuming the right amount of protein each day is also important for mental health. Research from the Mental Health foundation shows that the amino acid tryptophan, a component of protein, can posi-
“The excessive intake of junk and processed food is linked to mental health issues.â€? tively affect mood. Drinking enough fluid is also important for maintaining a balanced state of mind. If you do not drink enough fluid you may experience dehydration, which could result in irritability and loss of concentration. Some people do not drink enough water, but rather drink an excessive amount of caffeine. The problem with this is that large amounts of caffeine can cause increased blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep problems. Although many factors contribute to a clear and healthy mind, eating clean is a great place to start. Getting rid of processed foods and replacing them with fresh vegetables and protein will be very beneficial for your life. There is a lot of research on the correlation between the food we eat and mental health. I encourage everyone to decide which foods will contribute to living a long and healthy life. If you have any questions, comments, or article topics, please feel free to email me atcreatinganewbeautiful@gmail.com. Also, check out my blog at anewbeautiful.weebly.com! www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 15
Fiction
Au Contraire!
“A
By Mimi Ngo, age 16
h, it feels just like home,” she said, her words laced with the hint of a French accent. She closed her eyes as a cool breeze blew through the loose strands of her messy French bun. The view of the town from atop the hill was absolutely breath-taking! It was actually a popular spot among the older couples for romantic evening walks. Sitting on a bench, she admired the bright and alive feeling that the town gave off. Exhaling loudly, she looked up at the sky, “Well, isn’t this kind of sad? I’m sitting here in this romantic scenery. Alone,” she said humorously to herself. “Eh, it’s not like I need someone to say clichéd lines to me anyways. Love is so overrated,” she said, checking the time on her phone. “I better get going,” she muttered, picking up her suitcase and bag. She got up off the bench and began walking away, leaving her previous thoughts lingering behind. Despite having been away for nearly a decade, she still remembered many things about the town, like where the shops and restaurant were located or where her old friends’ houses were. However, it had been a long time, and she was sure things had changed. Hopefully, though, there hadn’t been too many changes, or she wouldn’t be able to make her way around. And that would not prove to be good. As she walked down the street, she did not notice all the looks the passing people gave her. Occasionally, guys glanced at her while girls sent her looks that said, “Why would a girl like that be here?” It wasn’t every day that one saw a girl with a very French style walking in an average neighborhood, especially in a small town such as this. After all, it wasn’t much of a hotspot.
She had walked for a moderate amount of time before her heels started to become bothersome. Then something caught her eye from her peripheral vision. “It’s Adrian,” she said, grinning slightly. She knew it was him! No one else had that weird mixture of auburn and dark brown hair! Her pace quickened as she got closer. After all these years, they were meeting again. “Adrian!” Hearing his name, the male teen turned around in curiosity, only to be tackled to the ground in a lung-crushing bear hug. “It’s really you! You’ve changed so much!” She grinned as she looked down at her childhood friend, who was currently beneath her, dumbfounded. Adrian blinked several times, beyond confused. He looked at the tiny figure on top of him, bewildered. His dark amber eyes met her dark violet ones. He was quite sure he didn’t even know her! “Wait, who are you? How do you know my name?” he blurted, blinking several times. She was rather petite, as well as on the short side. She had dark brown hair that bordered on black, which was tied up in a messy French bun that had strands sticking out in all the right places. And then there were her weird, mysterious eyes. They were deep violet, an unusual color... they had to be contacts, or so he thought. He had to admit, she was pretty, but she wasn’t the most gorgeous girl he’s seen in all his 17 years. She was also abnormally short. She looked like she was his age. Despite that, she didn’t really look young at all. She had an air of maturity about her. Maybe she was a classmate in grade school or something? He was never really good at remembering faces and names, so… She raised one of her eyebrows as he stared intently at her. She then gave him a glare, and a yell for forgetting who she was. She re-
Photo by Laney Eccleston
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Fiction ally looked at his face and noted some changes: he was much taller and cute. “What’s with that scowl? It’s not the least bit attractive, if you think it makes you look ‘hot,’” she said, bluntly, still mad that he had forgotten her. She wouldn’t have said that to other people, but she knew him. He was a rock, and was just as good at attacking other people as she was. She stood up and patted invisible dirt off her skirt neatly, looking down at him. He raised his eyebrows too, and also stood up. “How do you know my name anyways, short stuff?” That earned him the pain of her hand smacking his head. “It’s impolite to say derogatory things to people, you know?” she glared, crossing her arms over her chest. He sent her the strongest glare he could muster, which didn’t even faze her at all. “You’re saying I am the one being impolite? You’re the one who attacked me out of nowhere like a gorilla and proceeded to smack me! That’s not very ‘lady-like.’” “Of course it is. When your childhood “best” friend doesn’t remember you or your face, you tend to get ticked! It’s completely justified! I don’t need to be polite to someone who doesn’t even remember that I moved to France and who still calls me rude names like ‘short stuff ’.”
“His dark amber eyes
met her dark violet ones. He was quite sure he didn’t even know her! ”
She turned her head to the side to look away from him and angrily muttered some French curses. Then she stated her name. He tilted his head to the side and furrowed his brow. “Wait, where have I heard that name before?” It took a while for her name to sink into his head before he widened his eyes as realization finally took hold. He blinked and stared at her dumbfounded, thanks to his “eureka” moment. “We were grade school friends” he said quietly. “Well, you’re actually kind of pretty now,...unlike before, and you stopped growing vertically, which is strange because you used to be only a little shorter than I was… that’s why I couldn’t recognize you.” Part of what he said may have sounded like a compliment, but the other part she considered an insult. He probably didn’t mean for it to sound that way, so she let it slide, as it probably wasn’t worth getting upset about. He casually stroked her head as though she was some sort of domestic pet, and grinned slightly when her eye started twitching, enjoying her annoyance. “Long time no see…how have you been?” “You know, you really don’t deserve a hug or proper greeting,” she spat out, her face similar to that of “Grumpy Cat.” He snorted, “Like I would want one from you now. You may change your mind later petite mademoiselle... Once you calm down!” www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 17
Events
Martha Frankel: Hilarious and Real Moments
by Jonah Martindale, age 15
L
ast winter, I had the opportunity to attend one of the events of the Woodstock Writers Festival. Philippe Petite talked about his latest book, Knots. It was a great experience to listen to someone who is both an entertainer and an author. He not only spoke about his book, but he also asked the members of the audience to help demonstrate some of his knots. It was a fun and informative event. My experience at the WWF led me to ask Martha Frankel, the executive director of the WWF, for an interview.
Partial lineup for Woodstock Writers Festival 2014! Koren Zailckas was twenty-three when she wrote The New York Times bestseller Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood , a candid and extremely controversial account of her experiences as an underage drinker. Gail Straub is the author of five books including the best selling Empowerment. A pioneer in the field of empowerment, she co-directs the Empowerment Institute, a school for transformative social change Abigail Thomas’s memoir is called A Three Dog Life was named one of the best books of 2006 by the Los Angeles Times Times and the Washington Post. Abigail has been working with writers in an Oncology Support Program Memoir Group in Kingston, NY. Page 18 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
television.
Famed character actor Stephen Tobolowsky (on Glee and Californication) was born in Dallas, Texas. Over the past three decades, Tobolowsky has chalked up an impressive and wide-ranging list of roles in movies and Holly George-Warren is the award-winning author of two biographies, A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton and Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry. Lily Koppel is The New York Times bestselling author of The Astronaut Wives Club and The Red Leather Diary. She has written for The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, and Glamour.
Photo by Monique Matindale
JM: What is your involvement with the Woodstock Writers Festival? MF: I’m the Executive Director, and I’m involved with everything, every part of it, because that’s what I’m comfortable with. I was one of the people who started the festival, and our idea was to bring writers and readers together in Woodstock and to keep the Golden Notebook Bookstore afloat. It’s been five years since then and nothing has changed; that’s still my ideal. And I love programming it - figuring out how to put people Jonah and Martha talk about the upcoming Woodstock Writers Festival. Authors, writers and readtogether. This year we have a biography panel: ers come to share their passion on one of the coolest towns with talks and workshops April 3-6 people who have written biographies, who are really excited about “Oh, I do!” Then she read it and said, “It’s from somebody named Vanthat. I would love to have a Young Adult panel. I have been reaching essa and it says, “I loved your piece. It made Johnny sound just the out to John Green, who wrote The Fault in Our Stars. I would love to way he is, and if you’re ever in France, please come stay with us.” It was from Johnny’s girlfriend! It was an OMG moment! But I’ve inget him some year! terviewed many people . . . Sean Penn, Julia Roberts . . . that was my JM: I know that you used to interview famous celebrities for maga- life for a long time. It was really fun and it was really kind of easy. My husband’s a woodworker and a sculptor. and he works really hard. I zines. Any particularly interesting stories from these interviews? MF: I’ve done thousands of interviews. I interviewed celebrities for would say, “Oh, I have to go home and watch movies…that’s my job!” magazines for about ten years. But one of my best interviews was with It was a lot of fun. Johnny Depp. He was so sweet and loving, and so funny and clever. A couple of weeks after it was published, I got a letter written in French. JM: Would you say that the place you grew up formed who you are? I said to a postal worker I knew, “I wish I spoke French,” and she said, MF: I grew up in New York, in the Bronx and in Queens. Definitely,
Events where you are from forms who you are. But if you want a break from that you can do that, too. I didn’t want a break from it! I came from a very loving family, you know, and my family was everything to me. In a lot of ways I’m still very close with my family. But I also have created a family up here in Woodstock. JM: From what age did you know you wanted to be a writer? MF: Well, I didn’t know what a writer was as a kid. First of all, I had almost only read work by men, so what did that have to do with me? I didn’t love the books that people wanted me to read, so I read all this deep stuff. It’s very funny because I loved the idea of being a writer. I just didn’t know what a writer might be. I always wrote, but I didn’t know how to find my own voice for a long time. One of the reasons I love working with kids is that I love going in wearing my leather jacket and my bad hat, and saying, “Look at me, I’m a writer. It’s not that hard. It’s not so mysterious.” Being a writer doesn’t separate you from the world.
“One of my best interviews was with Johnny Depp.” JM: What specifically inspired you to be a writer? MF: I was in love with James Baldwin and Herman Hesse, both serious, serious writers. And I used to write stories [in which the main character] grew up in the ghetto. Because I didn’t know who I was, I would try to emulate James Baldwin, who grew up in inner cities and fought racism. I loved James Baldwin; I thought that’s what writing was about. People like my mother and my teachers would read my writing. They would just look at me like, “What are you talking about? That’s not your experience.” But they didn’t realize that I could have an experience. And then I read Nora Ephron; she had a piece in Esquire magazine. It was the first time I realized that I could be a comedian and write stuff that was funny. I remember reading it and thinking, “OMG, maybe this is what I could do.” I’m not saying I’m like Nora Ephron or anything like that; she’s a great writer. But all of a sudden I wasn’t afraid to have a voice. I was really lucky in that I got to write what felt good for me and to be funny while doing it. Sometimes I write things on Facebook that are really off the wall and people say to me, ”You should take that down.” I say, “Why? I’m a comedian. I can do whatever I want.” So it’s sort of like that: if you tell me not to do something, I’m going to do it twice. My taste is really low brow. I love Louis C.K. I’m really into comedy: I watch a lot of it, I listen to a lot of it, I read a lot of it. I feel so lucky every day that I get to do this for a living. JM: What was your first big break in your career as a writer? MF: I met a woman in Puerto Rico named Annie Flanders. She was starting a magazine called Detail, which is still around. She used to send me the magazine and I would write to her, commenting on the great pieces in it. One day, she said, “Hey, do you want to be our book reviewer?” So I started writing for her and my career just took off. All these people would write to me and say, “Please review my book, please come to my reading, please come meet my author.” After I sent in the first thing I ever wrote for her, Annie called and said, “What’s your social security number so I can write you a check?” I said, “You’re paying me for this?” Because I felt so honored! She said, “Don’t ever say that again.” So I was like, “Okay, I get paid for this!” That first check was one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me. http://www.woodstockwriters.com www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 19
Cover Story
Jamel Shabaz Visions of New York
By Caleb
By Shannon Meyers, age 20
J
amel Shabazz is known all over the world, and not just for his street photographs. I discovered him (and those streets) by accident. While looking up information about a festival for work (at a daily newspaper), I came across some photos from an exhibit planned for the event. There was a sampling of the visual indulgences that are Jamel Shabazz’s photographs. Looking through pages of digitized photos, and reading some background about the photographer himself, I decided, on a whim, to send out an e-mail to the address listed on his website, asking if he’d like to be interviewed. Much to my excitement, he responded the same day, and I learned more about the mind behind the camera, and what he’s doing now. This is the result.
“Yes, I was drawing since I was two or three, mom says I was drawing on the walls in the crib”
Shannon Myers: So, why photography? Why not painting? Or writing? Or anything else? What is your major connection with photography? How do you feel when you’re behind the camera? Jamel Shabbaz: In my early stages of development I wanted to be
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an illustrator like Norman Rockwell. Unfortunately the resources were not available to me at the time. Gravitating towards the craft of photography came easier, because my father was a professional photographer who was very serious about the craft. He possessed a massive library at home with a wide range of great photography books. They ranged from documentary to fine art photography and a host of technical manuals, giving me more insight into the craft. I would experience a great delight as a child looking at the countless
Cover Story
compelling images and studying the various textbooks. Unbeknownst to me at the time, seeds were being planted in my subconscious mind that would cultivate my creativity years later. Once I got behind the camera for the first time, I immediately started to see beauty with my third eye and realized that I was about to embark upon a unique journey. SM: If you could choose to document New York City at any point in history, what would your choice be? Do you think people’s attitudes toward being photographed on the street at “random” has changed over the years, generally speaking? JS: I would love to have documented the 1960’s due to all the strife that was going on both in the city and around the country. In addition, the anti war movement and the countless protests that were going on, as well as the military personnel on their journey to and returning from Vietnam would have been appealing to me. Being born during that era, I was fed a constant visual diet of images from local news and publications like LIFE Magazine and National Geographic that stimulated my curiosity. In this day and time, I can still effectively photograph random people on the street. What complicates the process is that people today are caught up on technology. When you find an interesting subject, they are oftentimes on cell phones, talking or texting, or they may be fully engaged in listening to their music on their IPODs. Back in the day, the average person was fully aware of their surroundings and easy to approach; however, those days are long gone. SM: Your father was a professional photographer and you’ve said that you would look at these books that were lying around your house as a child and that was your greatest influence to pursue photography. Do you think that if your father hadn’t been a photographer, you still would’ve pursued it? JS: If my father hadn’t had those dynamic photography books in the house, I probably would have not developed an interest for photography, but instead would have focused on my second love, which is music. I most likely would have directed all of my time and energy playing the bass guitar. SM: As a native, what is your favorite thing about New York City?
And, also as a native, what is your most despised aspect of the concrete jungle? What do you think of when you hear “NYC”? JS: What I love most about NYC is the diversity of the people and the rich heritage each group brings. What I despise about the city is the lack of affordable housing for the average hard working person trying to survive in this concrete jungle. When I hear the term NYC, I think of my birthplace and a city like no other in the world. SM: How does music (or other forms of art) influence/inspire your creative process? JS: Music has always played a major part in my creativity since my single digits, coming of age. I grew up listening to a lot of recording artists that sang songs about love and the conditions of the world. Some of the first groups I was exposed to were The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, and Marvin Gaye. Not only were their songs prolific, but the photographs on the various album covers showed well dressed and sharply posed subjects, and it was largely that type of imagery that inspired me to pose my subjects years later. SM: Who are some of your favorite photographers? JS: My favorite photographers are Edward S Curtis, Leonard Freed, James Van Der Zee, Gordon Parks, Joseph Rodriguez, Tyler Hicks, Eve Arnold, Philip Jones Griffiths, Roy Decarava, Steven McCurry and James Nachtway. SM: Do you feel that, in order to be a street photographer, you have to have a certain aura? Which is to say, do you think that some people do not give off the right ‘vibes’ to approach people on the street for a photograph? JS: The key to being a successful street photographer is that you have to have respect for the people you intend to photograph. In my opinion, if you are only concerned with capturing the image and www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 21
Cover Story not having respect for your subject, you may likely run into problems. Sincerity and respect are essential tools. SM: What has been the most defining point of your artistic career? And, if you choose to interpret this differently than the previous question, what has been the proudest moment? (Personally, I believe that “defining” means it can be something great or something not-so-great, and if it is the latter, you learn something from it; you grow from it. That’s what makes it defining. It gives you definition you couldn’t find without the struggle. You know?) JS: The most defining point in my artistic career has been being selected to be in the book 100 New York Photographers by Cynthia Dantzic. It is an honor to have my images showcased with so many talented photographers; many whose work I have admired over the years. SM: What is one piece of advice you would give to the youth of today? And does that advice differ from what you would’ve said to the youth of, say, 1990? 1980? JS: The best advice that I can give a young person today is to have goals and objectives. During the course of my travels, I would often say to young people I encountered back in the day, “Everything you do today will reflect upon your future.” That still applies today.
"Once I got behind the camera for the first time, I immediately started to see beauty with my third eye and realized that I was about to embark upon a unique journey." Page 22 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Politics
The State of the Union Address Through the Eyes of a University Student
Photo by Rchel Schackne
G
By Rachel Schackne, age 19
rowing up in the small liberal town of Woodstock, NY, I was never truly immersed in government affairs. I never heard my parents debate on civility in bipartisan compromise or policies prioritizing closed tax loopholes. However, as I acquired independence from the nest by moving completely across the country to the state of Hawaii to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I have begun to understand my place as a citizen of the United States and to see how important it is to be an active participant in the governmental policies that dictate our lives.
“I was hit by how truly interconnected I am to the issues he discussed.” Watching President Obama deliver the State of the Union address on January 28, 2014 I was hit by how truly interconnected I am to the issues he discussed. When he spoke on raised minimum wage I thought about what it would be like to have no struggle making tuition payments. When he discussed the importance of more women in leadership roles I was inspired to maybe run for student government. And when he touched upon capturing the activism and energy of young people I realized that this is our time, our life, and our prospective future living in the United States of America. We have the choice to either be passive in our citizenship, allowing others to radically change our day-to-day life through their interpretation of what policy should be, or we can be active players in determining what guidelines we need with regard to the institutions we live in and regulations we live by. With the knowledge and understanding we get by listening to things like the State of the Union address and keeping up with the latest policy makers we can remain educated individuals and make sure our society caters to what we need as citizens as we progress into our future. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 23
Sports
Roller Derby Dreams
By Scarlet Disko, age 16
R
days later. When you first join the Rosebuds, you are a Seedling as you spend several months learning how to play, how to fall, how to hit hard, and skate fast so that you can be prepared before joining the actual team and skating in bouts. (Bouts are roller derby games.) Joining the Rosebuds will always be something I remember. I have been playing roller derby for almost four years under the name of Scrapalicious #15. Within the Rosebuds are four separate home teams that play each other (they are recreational teams vs. the competitive Rosebud team that travel to play other cities.) I am proud to say that I have been the captain of my home team, the Rainbow Bites, for about a year now and it is an honor. I have made many amazing and lifelong friends through roller derby and have learned to look at things differently. Every fall to the ground, whistle blown, bruise created, and hit taken has been a glorious moment. Each little fragment of a jam or practice means so much to me and I have always felt welcomed and encouraged by my team. I love the rush you get as you race around the track, skate up to the jammer line for the first time, and hear your name called by the commentators in an animated voice. No one could keep me from playing roller derby because it is something I treasure and really enjoy. All the accepting vibes and colorfulness of roller derby have influenced my life in a huge way and have helped me to stay true to who I am. In roller derby, everyone is wild and crazy, you learn not to care what others think or about judgments, you just do what you do and people love you for it. Because of roller derby I learned to be who I want to be and not try as hard to be who I am not. Most importantly, I learned how to dance my pants off, skate like the floor is on fire, and to always get back up no matter how big or hard the fall was.
Photo by Masonite Burn
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Photo by Thomas Stinger
oller derby is an intense, fast, and exciting sport that is full of surprises that never fail to keep people on the edge of their seats. I play roller derby, and am very grateful I play because I do not know what kind of person I would be today if I did not. From the first time I laced up my roller skates and fitted my roller derby padding, I knew that I had found something I really loved and something that I was going to enjoy for a long time. My inspiration for playing roller derby came from watching the movie “Whip It.” The second I saw Ellen Page put on her roller skates and race around the track, I knew at that I had to play. It was a dream that I was determined to make come true; however, I didn’t know how to go about playing and getting involved so I was quickly losing hope. One evening, a family friend and I were discussing roller derby and how I wanted to play. He mentioned that he had seen the Portland Rose City Rollers, Portland’s adult roller derby team, at a roller derby bout and learned that they have a junior team, too. I was thrilled by this information and began to practice roller skating up and down my street with my dad’s two-sizes-too-big roller skates from the 70’s. The next tryouts/signups to join Portland’s junior roller derby team were quickly approaching. It was then that my parents realized that this was something I truly wanted to do. My dad took me to the roller rink on the day of the tryouts/signups (Portland’s junior roller derby team, the Rosebuds, had recently formed so basically everyone who showed up was on the team; as the sport became more popular, they have had to make cuts.) It was there that he bought me my first pair of skates. When you get your very first pair of skates it is like winning the lottery; it just feels that amazing. I was signed up to join the team and went to my first practice a few
the wall
Can’t get enough of crustaceans? http://thecriticalcrustacean.blogspot.com/
Health
illustration * art *
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 25
Community
The TLS Upbeats: A Student-Run Music Program for Hudson Valley Youth
by Marley Alford, age 18
M
usic lessons are a wonderful addition to any child’s education. Unfortunately, many children cannot afford private lessons. I was glad to learn, therefore, that a student at Bard College was doing something to solve this problem. I interviewed senior, Samantha Burke, about the TLS Upbeats, a free music program that she runs on Sundays.
Me: Hi Samantha! First of all, what is the TLS Upbeats? Samantha Burke: The TLS Upbeats is a music mentoring program for students ages 5-18 in the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas. This program provides free lessons for families that otherwise could not afford it. It also gives teaching experience to college students. We meet each Sunday for 40-minute lessons in Blum, the music building. The entire program usually does not grow larger than 20 students, which helps to keep an intimate feel between the Samantha Burke with a young TLS student. The Trustee Leader–Scholar Program at Bard College provides teachers and their individual students. opportunities for motivated College students like Samatha to develop their organization and leadership skills. MA: What made you decide to lead this program? SB: I really love music and teaching/helping kids. I, myself, did not come from money and was not able to take violin lessons until I started working, at age 15. I have always wondered how good I could have become had there been a rigorous program like this where I lived. I feel truly blessed that I am able to be the head of the program. I have watched many students and teachers alike blossom and become more proficient as musicians. It is truly gratifying. MA: What is one of your fondest moments with with a student? SB: I had a five-year old piano student and she was very serious about her playing, although her hands were so little and her feet were way too short to reach the pedals. This did not stop this little girl. She remembered everything that I told her about scales and when the time came to perform in the recital, she took her bows like a pro, and was so focused on her playing that she kept repeating her song until I signaled for her to jump down and take her last bow!
MA: What are your plans for your Senior project? SB: Last semester I did a lecture-recital concert where my main focus was on demystifying opera for a common audience. I performed and spoke about some composers and works that are well known and others that are not well known. This semester, I am writing on Otello, the Verdian opera versus Othello, the Shakespearean play and I will be giving another recital (without lecture.) MA: How has music influenced your life? SB: Music has been in each aspect of my life. It is like my religion... almost. It has taught me discipline, love, joy, sadness, empathy, etc. Through music, I have been granted so many opportunities to perform, travel, and further my education. For me, music allows me to express who I am without even having to speak. It is my way of being immortal, in that if I compose something or make a recording, or performance... if only for a while I might have reached someone, or made someone feel something, or even later I might be remembered for the recording. It is so ingrained in me to be a musician that so long as I am doing something with music in my career, I will never “work” a day in my life.
“I feel truly blessed that I was able to be the head of the program”
MA: What is your biggest success story with a student? SB: I had a violin student for 2 years in Upbeats who was very smart and focused when she chose to be, but would not practice despite all my efforts of persuasion and begging. By the time of the recital I had almost given up on her, but when I explained to her that she would be all alone on the stage having to play in the recital, she did a 180! I was even able to give her a Bach Sonata to work on and she played very well in the recital with tons of focus. Page 26 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
MA: Who should join TLS Upbeats and how can parents sign their kids up? SB: Kids who have a keen interest in music should join with the expectation to learn and have fun. Parents should either contact me sb7561@bard.edu or the director of the TLS office, Paul Marienthal marienth@bard.edu to schedule an interview with their child.
Community
Boy Scouting with Troop 131
By Kyiah Giannelli, age 11
B
oy scouting was first introduced in London. Scouting was brought to America after a Scout in London helped a man cross the road and would not accept a tip; this man’s name was W. D. Boyce. With the help of two men named Edward S. Stanley and Stanley D Wills, Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on February 8, 1910. Boy Scout groups are called troops. There are many troops throughout the country and in each troop there are anywhere from 1-5 sub-groups called patrols. Troop 131 is located in Saugerties NY and operates out of the Saxton Fire House. It has Saugerties and Catskill attendees. Troop 131 was started over 10 years ago and has been going strong ever since. The boys in troop 131 have gone on more camping trips in a year than some adults have gone on in their whole life. The boys go on camping trips up in the BSA camp called Camp Tri-Mount. In the summer of 2013 they went on an awesomely fun camping trip to Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. They stayed for 4 nights 5 days and paddled across the lake in canoes to get to their camp site. Some of the boys went swimming and others fishing, but all in all the boys loved it. The troop participates in many other events such as the annual Scout show in the Hudson Valley Mall the annual Klondike Derby at Camp Tri-Mount and the Saugerties Garlic Festival. Troop 131 has many fundraisers such as selling chocolate and popcorn to raise money to help support the troop and offset the cost for camping and other activities. A certain percent of the money goes in the boy’s accounts, which can then be used to buy scouting items and gear from the scout store. Troop 131 is often involved in community service projects around Saugerties and Catskill. Anyone who is interested in joining Troop 131 should call: 845-532-8275 Troop Assistant scout master Joe Giannelli’s cell number. The troop is boy run and fully supervised by adults over 18 years of age. To learn more about scouting go to: http://www.scouting.org/.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 27
Poetry
New Year’s Eve by Maya Fisher age 19
I sat on the train my fingers brushing my lips
memorizing you.
Infinitely
Ode to Springtide
By Courtney Vanleuvan, age 17
By Eliza Siegel, age 16
A love like this is powerful, Inevitable
If dawn brought with it promise of the spring
Incredible
I think, perhaps, the birds would trill at last
A secret bliss that unravels slowly
And even the most sedentary thing
And fills the air with its potency.
Would sigh and stir, the colder solstice passed A breeze, untainted by once-frigid winds
A remarkable, timely wisp of kisses
Would dance amongst the honeyed verdant blooms
Sweeten the atmosphere.
Already fractal memories have thinned
Sending tingles rippling under my skin,
In yearning for the springtide to consume
Just by having you near.
So freed from glacial air, the sun would blush Its spindly beams whispering through the wood
Baby you set my world ablaze
whose gilded branches cast a shadowed flush
Every time you whisper my name.
Upon remains of that which had withstood
With a warm lingering glow
The darkest and the bleakest, dusk and day
That keeps me enticed
Have, for warmth and newness, given way
On those cold winter nights With those blankets of ice.
Cuddling into your chest,
Your body matching mine. Wishing if only we could have more time. Photo by Kyra Lynn Helgers
Photo by Kyra Lynn Helgers
We curve together effortlessly,
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Poetry
Hello Spring
By Annabella Vicari age 12
Be prepared As ice thaws And flowers begin to spring This is the life that most enjoy If we can just see
And nice all day There’s no rain No pain
The Rhythm of the World
by Jayla Kai Smith, age 10
There are no delays
It’s the buzz of bee’s The song of birds That makes us sing With great delight
None is upset Or angered at this time It’s the season of warmth The season of songs As we watch the clouds run Across the sky And all people gather and say, Hello Spring
The clock¹s second hand ticking On the offbeat of the song you¹re singing quietly In your head The sand, grain by grain Falling from upper to lower half of the hourglass And the leaves dropping from the lifeless tree Rattling in the empty night All rhythmic beats equal to the marching of ants Or the crashing of gigantic waves on the beach The metronome of time Heard in all of nature If you listen beyond the hum of the refrigerator Or the whoosh of cars on a nearby road You will hear a beat, a rhythmic pounding Matched by the thud of your heartbeat And the in and out of your breath
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 29
Photo by Kyra Lynn Helgers
It’s warm and sunny
Art
The Art of Madeline Friedman, age 17
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s people become more and more dependent on technology, many people are desperate for a way to reconnect with others in a more personal way; which is why I believe art will always continue to thrive. By creating artwork and sharing it with the world you are not only sharing your creations to be visually enjoyed by people, you are sharing your personal expression and there
is simply no way of replacing that. I plan to continue experimenting with art letting it take me where it desires; because, art is about accepting flaws, despising perfection and loving to work with your hands.
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Art
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The Art of Megan Stack, age 20
s an illustration major at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design I’ve had the opportunity to explore a range of materials, but I’ve found that nearly 90% of the time the quality of work being produced is reliant on the drawing regardless of media. Growing up in Upstate New York I was encouraged to gain a traditional artistic background developing technical skills from still-life and figure drawing. I soon realized that once you can draw from life you’ll be able to draw anything of fantasy that your imagination allows. Drawing to me provides an alternate translation of reality. I once heard from a teacher, “if it doesn’t disturb you, it’s not art.” I firmly believe “good” art produces a feeling for the viewer, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — Cesar A. Cruz
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 31
Education
Legendary
Gleason’s Gym to everything he said he was going to do, and it’s only been positive for Gleason’s gym. CM: Are people allowed to drop in off the street, or does one have to set up a membership to work out here? BS: Well, we have a monthly membership. It’s only monthly, there are no long term contracts. However, we get quite a few drop-ins from all over the world. I have bus tours for people who want to come out and take lessons. We have tours every single day. People come to visit us from all over the world. Any one can drop in and work out or train at Gleason’s Gym. CM: Do you have programs for kids? BS: Yes, we do. We have one trainer who teaches lessons for kids. That’s four times a week and age-wise we start as young as six. There are two groups for kids, one is from six to 10 and the other is from 11 to 15 year olds. However, the majority of the people that train here, including the kids, take private lessons. I’ve got 83 trainers. All the trainers give lessons to pros, amateur, champions, businesspeople, whoever comes in. So most people do private lessons, but we also offer the group lessons.
Caleb adjusts his boxing wraps at Mountainview Studio. Woodstock, NY
http://mtnviewstudio.com
G
By Caleb McNamara, age 22
leason’s gym is one of the most historic boxing gyms in the country. It was started in 1937 and has been majorly involved in the sport ever since. Over the years, Gleason’s has been host to legendary fighters such as Muhammad Ali and Jake LaMotta. It has also provided the setting for many historic movies, such as Raging Bull and Rocky. One of the reasons Gleason’s has remained a landmark in the boxing world is the extremely skilled trainers that the gym offers. I got to witness this firsthand when I sat down with the owner of Gleason’s, Bruce Silverglade.
CM: So I understand there have been some very famous films shot here. BS: We’ve had 26 full length movies filmed here. Four of the movies have won Academy Awards. The first one to win the Academy Award was Raging Bull about Jake LaMotta. It starred Robert DeNiro, who also won the Academy Award. The next one that won the Academy Award was the first Rocky movie. We were involved with Rocky and did training for Sylvester Stallone. Then the third one to win an Academy Award was done by Woody Allen. It was called Mighty Aphrodite and it was more of a mystery love story. However, there were a lot of boxing scenes that were filmed here. Most recently was Million Dollar Baby with Hillary Swank, and both the movie and Hillary won Academy Awards. Currently we have a director by the name of Ang Lee who just won the Academy Award last year for Life of Pi. He’s training here for a boxing movie that he’s going to do.
CM: What made you decide to start running a gym? BS: Well actually, I didn’t start this one, I’m the third owner. Gleason’s started in 1937. It’s currently the oldest active boxing gym in the Caleb McNamara: So DUMBO has seen some United States and as I said, I’m the third owner. major changes developmental changes in the I’ve owned it for the last 35 years, but after I past ten years. Have these changes had any graduated from college, I started out with Sears effect on Gleason’s? Roebuck and Company in the management Bruce Silverglade: It’s had a considerable ef- Cus D’Amato’s Gym in Catskill, NY where program, and I ended up running a school out fect. It’s been very positive. Gleason’s has been Heavyweight Boxers Floyd Patterson and Mike in Long Island. After 16 years I just realized I here for the past 28 years. When we first came Tyson trained with Cus in the “peekaboo” style. hated what I was doing, wearing a suit and tie here, it was a very desolate area. There were http://catskillboxinggym.moonfruit.com every day and running this big operation. My very few people living here, and there were a few squatters in the buildings. When we talked to the landlord, he told hobby was boxing and one day my hobby brought me into Gleason’s us he was going to do nice things with the area soon and he lived up Gym. The owner mentioned to me that he was looking for a partner and I immediately went back to Sears and resigned and became a Page 32 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Sports 50 percent owner of the gym. Then in 1994 my partner passed away, so I’ve been the sole owner since 1994. CM: What do you think the most important thing your parents ever taught you was? BS: To respect other people.
Esquire Network. Last year was the first season and it was a short season with only six episodes. They used this gym and a gym out in Pittsburgh and it was highly successful, got a lot of good ratings for Esquire. So they renewed it and there’s going to be 10 episodes this year and all ten will be done at Gleason’s. It’s a fun series called White Collar Brawlers and it’s going to be coming soon, so tune in.
Photo by Caleb McNamara
CM: So Gleason’s offers a summer workshop upstate. Can you tell us a little about that? BS: Yeah, it’s a camp. It’s called “Fantasy Boxing Camp” and it’s located in CM: I will, it sounds the Catskills. The trainers great. for the camp are Hall of Famers, current world Gleason’s Gym has champions, and people lasted for 77 years and Two Boxers train at the famous Boxing institution Gleason’s Gym in DUMBO - Brooklyn that are well known in will undoubtedly conthe sport and that, along with the reputation of Gleason’s Gym, attracts tinue to last because it has been a center for those who are passionate people from around the world and people from all over the states, to enough about boxing to dedicate their lives to the sport. As time goes come and work with our trainers. We conclude the program with a box- on, Gleason’s Gym only seems to become more popular, and it is no ing competition for all the people that have attended the camp. So they wonder why. It is full of people who love what they do, and it is an come and they learn and then they have a little contest before they go amazing place to get some exercise and learn a thing or two. home. Everyone’s usually very satisfied. Visit them in DUMBO (Down Under The Brooklyn Bridge) 77 Front St. CM: So is there anything new and exciting happening at Gleason’s? BS: Well, right now we’re doing a reality show out of Gleason’s Gym. The first one we did last year was called White Collar Brawlers on the
Boxing Workout
**Gleason’s Fantasy Camp is August 14-17 Held at Honor’s Haven Resort & Spa Honor’s Haven Ellenville, NY contact Bruce Silverglade at 718-7797-2872 or email bruce@gleasonsgym.net
By Gabe Martindale, Age 13
• Did you know that Joe Louis held the world heavyweight boxing cham Did you know that boxing used to be called “pugilism?” And that pionship for 12 years? it began as bare fist fighting between two opponents, willing or not? There were no rules, no refs, and fighters sometimes died. Eventually The reason I think boxing is a great sport is because not only do I fighters wrapped leather around their hands for get an intense work out, but I also learn how protection. to defend myself. Through my boxing class, I In the mid 1700’s, some rules were created. If have learned how to do pull-ups, chin-ups, sita fighter could not get back up after 30 seconds, ups, crunches and push-ups and have gotten the match was over. Fighters were not allowed very good at all of them. I have also mastered to hit the opponent while they were down and all of the punches: jab, cross, hook, and upper they would be disqualified for hitting below the cut. I enjoy training with the heavy and speed waist. Headbutting, eye gouging, and chokes bags, but the one-on-one training with Tom, my were still permitted, but this changed in the teacher, is my favorite. I go weekly to Mounta1800s. Padded gloves were also invented and inview Studio in Woodstock on Tuesday afterencouraged for the first time. noons at 4:30. Tom Pignone, a certified boxing Boxing these days has come a long way. trainer, is an excellent teacher. There are many rules now and protective gear I had a chance to meet and train with a prois also worn. fessional boxer; everybody calls him Big Foot. Here are some interesting facts I found about I met with him at The Bill Costello Gym P.A.L. famous boxers: in midtown Kingston, NY, where young people • Did you know that Muhammad Ali is over 6’ train 3 days a week M-F 5-7, Sat 10-12. When I tall? was in the ring with Big Foot, I was nervous at • Did you know that Joe Frazier was legally blind first, but it turned out to be a great experience! in his left eye? Visit http://www.kingstonpal.com Me and Big Foot at the Billy Costello Gym at PAL in Kingston,NY
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 33
Opinion
AMERICAN FLAWS
By Mikey Shultis, age 18
Phoo by Genna Guglietta
T
here is a plague ravaging our youth, inspiring laziness and leading to destructive decisions. Kids are abandoning their scholarly aspirations and striving for a life of partying. Fashion trends have made bikinis year-round attire. People blame everything that is happening on celebrities, who are role models for kids. But I think parents need to take more responsibility. Around 60% of parents questioned do not monitor their child’s cell phone use. Now, normally this wouldn’t be a very interesting statistic, but the 2,000 parents who were questioned had children of ages ten and under (Mail Online). Whether children aged ten or under should even have a cell phone is another issue. Parents need to realize what children are capable of doing on such devices. With this stunning statistic in mind, we can only guess how many parents don’t monitor their child’s online use, which TV shows they watch, or even what they’re doing away from the dinner table and outside of car rides. They think their sweet little children couldn’t be bullying anyone or acting in any way that will be detrimental to their futures, but with the consumption of all these uncensored sources, how can they be so sure? Parents are neglecting to monitor what their children watch or listen to, then are surprised to find what they have turned into, scrambling to find a rewind switch. They don’t want to admit that they might be at fault, so they focus all of their efforts on attacking what the celebrities are doing and how horribly they’re acting in front of the children. Parents cannot change the fact that these famous celebrities will be hitting bars and slacking off all day. They can only show their children that these people shouldn’t be examples for them to follow. Obviously something is wrong in America, and not much is being done about it. Somebody needs to start taking responsibility and at least try to save the future of this country. Right now, everyone is just spinning around in place, pointing fingers at whatever they can see. Wake up, America--integrity is dying.
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Business
60 Main Has Gone Upstairs
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By Shannon Meyers, 20
Phoo by Dylan McNamara
ith the warm weather of spring arriving, Alan and Lynn Fliegel decided to make a big change and move their store, 60 Main, which features their clothing line, BabyToes, comic books, and more, into the space of the Arts Upstairs, a gallery the duo helped found in the 80s with a group of creators they’d met along the way. This move has been a “homecoming” for the couple, allotting freedom to travel for crafts shows along the east coast, which they attend approximately 30 of throughout the year. In addition, the move has made it easier to focus on music, arts shows, and the Arts Upstairs as a community center and gathering place for creatives from all walks of life. Lynn now has a beautiful windowed studio for painting. She tries to include some of her work in each art opening at the gallery, all of which she and Alan plan to attend. There is a new opening on the 3rd Saturday of every month, in which anyone can display their artwork for a small fee. Spaces in group shows and solo rooms are available for showing paintings, drawings, sculptures, and/ or mixed media. There is no jury and all artists are welcome. The Arts Upstairs follows the philosophy of being a community asset -- “for the people, by the people”. The intention is to promote the arts in Phoenicia and get as many people involved as possible. Many community members have taught classes and held events at 60 Main, such as Anique and Sparrow’s poetry class on Monday nights, which anyone can be a part of. Young artists, musicians, writers, and actors are especially encouraged to get involved. The goal of the Arts Upstairs is to be a reliable forum for artists as well as a place to stage music and art events that the community can be a part of. 60 Main is open when the Arts Upstairs is open -- Friday, 3-6; Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, 10-4. They stay open thanks to contribution fees and donations. Events are by donation and profits will be split between musicians (at musical events) and the gallery equally. Anyone in the community who would like to share an idea for a musical event, class, etc, at the Arts Upstairs, contact Alan at info@artsupstairs.com.
Some upcoming events:
On Friday, March 7th, the first jazz and blues music night will be held at TAU. It will feature a trio of local musicians: Bruce Katz (keyboardist, pianist extraordinaire), John Coghill (bass guitar legend), and T. Xiques (master of percussion). This is to be a regular event. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., music begins at 8. Quality of music is to be superb. Long-time jazz pianist Robert Rizzo will be playing at nearly every opening. He is a Phoenicia local who plays all over New York City and Upstate. Anyone who plays an instrument or sings may join in. This is to be an inclusive occasion! You can find more information about The Arts Upstairs at www. artsupstairs.com. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 35
Books
Read
A
s I roll into my 4th year as a part-part time employee at Woodstock’s own Golden Notebook, and my 16th as a frequent patron, I like to think I’ve developed some sense of the hundreds of books adorning our beloved bookstore’s shelves. As the Writers’ Festival approaches and masses of bibliophiles flock to Tinker Street, I thought I’d offer some suggestions for the YA reader.
Books!
Reviews by Jack Warren, age 16
bility or reliability. Funny, smart, and exhilarating Paper Towns manages to fit every niche, and like the madcap road trips it portrays, will leave you adrenalized and a bit wiser.
2. The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
(Not for young’uns. Much more than just talk of unsavory activities. Teens and up. Find it either in YA or literary fiction. It migrates.) The Magicians has been described by countless literary publications as “adult Harry
(There could not be a more universal book. Find it in middle grade or classics. It also migrates, although I half suspect it hops up and moves itself at night) My dad read The Phantom Tollbooth to me when I was too young to remember much more than the bright blue cover and the big old dog that sat in the middle of it. I reread it under the recommendation of a dear friend, and grew to love it even more now than when I was its target audience. Tollbooth is a unique delight. Its upside-down world is like a Wonderland written by Dahl, and spattered with School House Rock. Its mind bending sto-
“My dad read The Phantom Tollbooth to me” 1. Paper Towns, by John Green
(Probably more for teenagers and up. There’s talk of unsavory activities. Find it in the YA section!) With a film adaptation due out in June, John Green’s latest novel, The Fault In Our Stars, is at the top of the cultural stratosphere. However, dwelling at lower altitudes are Green’s other works, each its own piece of awesome wit. Sharp dialogue, complex characters, and heart shattering motion are present in all John Green’s books, but none are as well plotted as Paper Towns. Walking a perfect tightrope of teenage hijinks and mystery, this story keeps you thinking and formulating without ever leaving plausi-
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Potter” or “Harry Potter for Grown-Ups”. Although this is a fantastic hook, it is only part true. It’s true; a sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll Potter would be a fantastic piece of prose on its own, but The Magicians transcends that. Its self aware, genre-bending narrative deconstructs the very escapism it employs. And protagonist Quentin’s clever if sometimes whiny voice guides you through a romp of debauchery, depression, and magic. Whether you escaped into the worlds of Narnia, Middle Earth, or Hogwarts as a kid, or you’re still doing it today, The Magicians is definitely for you.
3. The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
ryline, hilarious characters, and beautiful puns do not cloud its massive heart, and more than one teenager I know (me, me, and me, for sure) can relate to reluctant hero Milo’s lostness and listlessness. Until a map to The Lands Beyond arrives, The Phantom Tollbooth will take up your time briefly and lovingly, leaving you marveling at Juster’s brilliance and illustrator Jules Feiffer’s simplistic but splendid drawings. This book might only take an afternoon of your time, but it’ll live in your mind for eons.
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 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 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 olivefreelibrary.org 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 845-688-7811/ or phonecialibrary.org Poughkeepsie Library: 504 Haight Av.Teen Room Open: Mon/Tue2-6, W/Th 2-8 Fri/Sat 2-5. Reading Buddy Program. 845-454-9308 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. 845-658-9013 or rosendalelibrary.org Saugerties Library: 91 Washington Ave. Mon: 6:30-7:30 Lego Club, Tue & Wed 3:30-4:30 Teen Club (video & crafts). call 845-246-4317 Ann Van Damm Stone Ridge Library: 3700 Main st. Sat: 10-12 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 Early Readers Story time Wed: 10:30 story time w/ Plumflower Thur: 4:00 Lilliput Players Sat: 10:30 Family special guest storytellers & performers. Call Lesley Sawhill 845-679-2213 or email: Woodstock.org
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 37
Memories
Messages to Tom & Wojtek Nick J Alba posted to Tom Alba February 22
missing you every day Tom Alba, three years ago today. RIP — feeling sad.
Thomas Alba July 14, 1991- Feb. 22, 2011. You left us far too soon, and so abruptly, exactly 3 years ago today. You will always be loved and remembered my son.
Colleen Arsenault near North Syracuse, NY
Hearing about deaths and seeing posts down my news feed brings a lot of feelings back to me, everyone deals with Tom Alba and his it there own way and brother Nick I just live of the memories and who I think they would be today, to many young fallen angels we all have out there see you all again someday — with Tom Alba and 2 others.
Kerstyn Shultis Miss you tom.
Tara Brannigan
miss you everyday
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Erin Crotty
Dylan Mcnamara
Rest In Peace Tom... you were the funniest person i ever knew and always put people in a good mood. Love you man
Emmett Smith
Party in peace my dude Tom Alba I’ll see ya when I’m up there.
Wassap Wassa
Man it’s 3 years already? Seems like we were chillin yesterday. Rest in peace my bro. One love.
Ryan Molnar
Miss you buddy
Kito Snow Wojtek Grabowski #44 “ridin”
much love tom
Heidi Verna Thorbjornsen Lennox February 25 Love you always, Dear Thomas.
Pete Seeger and the Future Generation
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Memories
By Scarlet Disko, age 16
any will remember Pete Seeger for his legendary gifts as a folk singer, songwriter, banjo player, and peace activist who knew how to engage his audience through his music. But few may not be aware of the environmental and educational work he began on the Hudson River 45 years ago when he founded The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. In 1965, the Hudson River was polluted by excessive waste, sewage, toxic chemicals and more. Fish were disappearing and the mighty river was losing its charm. Seeger had a dream to build more awareness to the river’s deep need of
“Clearwater is carrying forward Pete Seeger’s Legacy” help. So he built a replica of the noble sloops that once sailed Pete surrounded by the next generation of supporters on board the sloop Clearwater. the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries and sailed down the Hudson. This grabbed the attention of many, encouraging them Clearwater is carrying forward Pete Seeger’s legacy and providing into preserve the beautiful river. Seeger’s dream began as an idea, one novative educational programs, environmental advocacy and musical he believed would only remain a pipe dream as he wrote in the letter celebrations. This year’s 2014 Clear Water Festival is being held the in 1965 to his friend Vic Schwarz. But Seeger, a man like no other, weekend of June 21-22 at the Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudmanaged to create something that would last for generations. Today son Westchester County, NY starting at 9:00. PETE you are with us!!!
Pete’s Words of wisdom were published in Seventeen Magazine’s long running “Talk to Teens” column 1963. They can also be found in Pete Seeger: In My Own Words published by Paradigm in 2012 Dear Fellow Humans: I usually mistrust older people’s giving advice to younger, because while often their advice is very good (the values of foresight, temperance, persistence, etc.), they forget that younger people usually know one of the most important things of all: the value of enthusiasm and enjoyment of life. Twenty-five years ago, Franklin Roosevelt spoke to my generation. “Youth: hold fast to your dream,” he said. In other words don’t give up your ideals of peace, freedom, justice, truth – the way as many adults do. When you come down to it, more people die from discouragement than any disease. And why do people get discouraged? Because they feel that life’s a joyless struggle; because they feel they’re on a dead-end street. So here are a few of my own recipes for avoiding this kind of discouragement. They may or may not apply to you. Only you can decide. 1. It’s better to take a job you want at less pay than a job you don’t want for more pay. But you can learn from any job. 2. It’s okay to suffer intense temporary discomforts in order to reach a longer-range goal. But make sure it is only temporary. 3. Debts can be chains, best used when they can haul you to new heights, rather than entangle your legs. It’s the same with possessions. “Man doesn’t possess possessions: they possess us”. 4. Travel while you are young, and still are free of responsibilities. See what a big, broad, beautiful land we have here, then maybe a foreign land or two. See that there are honest, hard-working people in every corner of the globe, all quite certain that their own way of living, their local geography, their music, etc. is most beautiful.
5. Keep your health. It’s easy while you are young. But our fine, tempting, modern civilization can erode it easily too. Many a man or woman has finally worked himself into a position where he could do something, and then found he no longer had the health to do it or enjoy it. 5½. In view of the fact that good health and energy don’t last forever, it’s worth doing some things earlier than later. When my wife and I were about thirty and very broke, we built own our house, inch by inch, on a mountainside. Glad we did; doubt we’d have energy enough to do it now. And I’ve known too many people who put off such projects “until we have the money” or “until we have the time” – and if they eventually did get the money or the time, they no longer had the energy. 6. A happy love life may take years to achieve, but it’s worth it in the long run. Worth the time, the thought – or rather, the thoughtfulness – and, often, the waiting. 7. A few short ones: Prestige is much overrated. The celebrity business is for the birds. Respectability is nice, but consider: whom do you most want to respect you? Money is like air or water. You need a certain amount to live. Beyond that, who wants to be a dog in the manger? And now I’ll stop before I rattle on any longer, like any old graybeard. All the foregoing applies to the one central thing I mentioned at the beginning: how to keep discouragement from withering the priceless enthusiasm which most young people have. GoodLife would like to extend our gratitute to Tinya Seeger for her help and guidance. For more info: http://www.clearwater.org