GoodLife Youth Journal

SUIMMER 2013

PRICE: FREE

* Secret Millionaire’s Club * 2-Row Wampum * School of Rock * Local Theatre

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

Publisher’s Letter

Big Mouth

I

happen to have a big mouth…so, yes, I am one of those people who at times has no idea what they are talking about, but thinks they do! I mean no harm, but thanks to Internet learning, I can now try to remedy that problem. I am grateful when a friend points out that what I am saying may not be right.

I head to the computer to do research right away and don’t take it personally. It may leave me a bit embarrassed, but that’s how one grows and most times your friends are just trying to help.

We are living in the golden age of random learning and I quite love it. I give thanks to my social media friends for intellectually broadening my horizons or just making me laugh! Media can now be shared at the touch of a “like” button. The idea that the cream rises to the top because people themselves are able to reflect their choice of good reading is a refreshing one. This new era gives a voice to who we are and what we stand for as people.

We are really promoting our Website in this issue so if you can hit the “Like” button on some of our stories at www.goodlifeyouth journal. com that would be cool!

In this summer issue we have a wide range of subjects: From the spirituality of nature to the ringing bell of Wall Street!

I think you will “like” reading the Native American Indian story “How the Birds Got Their Feathers,” as told by Kay Olan, Mohawk storyteller. For contrast read the Secret Millionaires Club, an online animation show that teaches kids how to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.

So practice “survival of the kindest”! Take care of each other and have a great summer! Catch some great outdoor concerts, like the Drum Street Boogie Fest Sept 7th or a Paul Green Rock Academy concerts in Woodstock, New Paltz and Hyde Park.

“Saving summer Rock ‘N Roll, one kid at a time”! Ultra Fantastic!

ON THE COVER: Pool Dive.

Photo by Emily Merritt, age 16

Fall issue coming next!

Deadline August 9th.

Send in stuff

• Back-to-School Fashion • Photography • Boxing History • Best Dress-Up Ideas for Halloween 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

TOC/MastheaD CONTENTS Interview: Paul Green...................................................... p. 6 Local Sports and Food..................................................... p. 7 Fiction Section...................................................... p. 8, 10-11 Dance.................................................................................. p. 9 Advice: Sushi................................................................... p. 12 Advice......................................................................... p. 14-15 Fiction: How The Birds Got Their Feathers......... p. 16-17 Cover Story: Secret Millionaire’s Club................... p. 18-19 History: 2-Row Wampum....................................... p. 20-21 History: Maritime Museum ......................................... p. 21 Interview: Bubblething.................................................. p. 22 Drum Boogie.................................................................... p.23 Performing Art / Movies .............................................. p. 24 The Wall...................................................................... p. 26-27 Poetry.......................................................................... p. 28-29 Charity.............................................................................. p. 30 Books / Reviews........................................................ p. 31-32 Awareness / In Memory................................................. p. 33

EDITORIAL

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

SALES

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

Sales................................................................................... Marie Shultis.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS! GOLD

Nick Alba CSP Images Joan Reynolds Marilyn Manning Maurice & Phyllis Tischler

SILVER Sam & Cathy Magarelli Pia Davis Stuart Schuenemann

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: • Permission: Need a parental email if you are younger than 16 (giving permission to publish your work & receive payment.) Need address.

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

• Writing strategies: Reflecting, Reporting, Explaining, Arguing, Opinion and Humor! Length 200 to 500 words Be CREATIVE and send work that you would be proud to have published All articles must be appropriate for ages 10 to 100! Work not used is stored for another issue.

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

DISTRIBUTION: 5000

Throughout the Hudson Valley, Published by GoodLife Publishing 20 Mountainview Avenue Woodstock, NY 12498

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 5

Interview

: An Interview With Paul Green, Founder Jonah Martindale: How do you like living in Woodstock in comparison to the other places you have lived?

PAUL GREEN: Well, I feel as though for this stage of my life, Woodstock is exactly the right place for me. When I lived in New York City, it was the right time for that. I moved to Connecticut from there because it was time for me to slow my life down, but that was the wrong place. Woodstock offers the best of all worlds: a country setting with great restaurants and amazing people who are liberal, but not lame. So many so-called liberal types can be so politically correct, but there is a certain blend of ambitious, uptight liberalism that I find very refreshing here.

by Jonah Martindale, age 14

“I wanted to be a rockstar when I was younger.”

JM: Is this life and where you currently are right now where you thought you would end up in life?

PG: No. I wanted to be a rock star when I was younger. When The School of Rock took off I was in college and on my way to being a lawyer. So go the best laid plans of mice and men. But that said, I wouldn’t change a thing. This wasn’t the exact destination I had in mind, but I’m glad I’m here because it’s a very good one.

JM: What inspired you to be a teacher?

PG: I mean, I’m the kind of teacher who backed into it. Meaning it’s more about the thing I’m teaching than my students . . . and I mean that in the best possible way. The slogan that School of Rock used to have (they’ve since changed it) used to be “Saving rock and roll, one kid at a time,” not inspiring kids through rock and roll. We definitely do that along the way, but I love rock music. And the opportunity to pass what I believe is true and wonderful about rock music on to a younger generation is what I believe to be a very important job.

JM: What captured your interest in music?

GP: Girls and music, ha ha ha ha. There is a slogan that you’ll see in a public service announcement commercial or a foundation for the arts where it says that kids who study music are better at math. Well, the way I would counter that is by saying kids who study music are better at music. They don’t need to be better at math. . . I mean if they happen to be, great . . . but music, I believe, is its own reward.

JM: Were there any role models in particular who inspired you to become involved in the music industry?

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Paul Green with Jonah Martindale.

PG: My mom played guitar and was a big music fan, so that definitely contributed to it. I had a lot of uncles around who were also very into it. I was drawn to it from an early age. Along the way there were as many negative role models as positive ones. Some guy who can play guitar better than you and lets you know about it will get you practicing in a hurry. So I was always putting myself in a lot of competitive environments. I hung out with a lot of established, great musicians and it really inspired me to be a certain type of musician and player, because even at my age peer pressure is a very strong thing.

JM: What is your opinion of modern music?

PG: It sucks. It’s poorly written, poorly rehearsed, poorly arranged, poorly recorded music for people who don’t really seem to like music very much. We should be ashamed of ourselves. We should put on “Let it Bleed” by the Rolling Stones and just really say we got lazy. Through a wide range of factors, modern music is terrible. I blame the 90’s. A lot of people view it as the golden age; I view it as the beginning of the end. Check out Paul Green’s latest at http://rockacademy.com/

Restaurant Review: The Red Onion

Local

By Finn Doering, age 10

W

e used to go to the Red Onion because they served the best brunch around. Thinking of their potato latke eggs benedict makes my mouth drool just writing this. Their slab bacon is also to die for.

But this review is for dinner.

For appetizers, I started with the White Bean Soup , flavored with carrots, celery, and bacon. The bacon overpowered the dish a bit too much for my taste. But my Caesar salad with avocado was absolutely delish.

For a main course, I ordered a juicy burger with fries. The fries,

Photo by Dylan McNamara

Summer Fun

I

“Stay hydrated, keep safe”

By Leo Lasdun, age 14

Enjoying an afternoon of sports at the Woodstock Soccer Club.

Photo by Dylan McNamara

f you want to add some joy to your Summer, you can always count on basketball, soccer, a bike ride, hike, or tubing adventure.

I personally love basketball. There’s bound to be a court near you. And where there’s a court, there’s bound to be a pickup game. A pickup game is an un-organized game of basketball, usually played between two small teams. People love to show off their skills in a pickup game, so don’t be afraid to ask to join.

If hoops aren’t really your thing, try soccer. You can practice your dribbling out in the yard or take your ball to a field such as the Como and hone your shot to perfection.

Tennis is also great fun to play with a friend or family member. It’s also a great workout. There are tennis courts all over. And you can find tennis equipment at your local sports store.

If you like to bike, there are plenty of bike trails to explore like the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail which runs from New Paltz to Gardener, or the Minnewaska trail which ends at a beautiful lake.

Summer is, in my opinion, the best season for hiking with all the lush greens, and stunning colors of the trees. My favorite trail is the Pecoy Notch trail. It’s not too difficult, and it ends at the top of a mountain with massive stone chairs to sit on and picnic while you enjoy the view.

Another thing I’d like to try this summer is tubing in Phoenicia. It sounds wild, awesome and exciting. To be safe go with a friend!

crispy to perfection, were served in a cool holder with a dipping attachment for the aioli, which is basically a garlicky mayo.

My sister tried the Pierogi with black truffle potato purée, melted onions, brown butter sage and sour cream. She also ordered a side of spinach, which had about as much taste as water.

The best dish, in my opinion, was Dad’s Vegetable Curry – seasonal veggies and shrimp in a Spicy Yellow Thai Curry Sauce over creamy, smooth lime basmati rice.

My Mom ate the cast iron mussels. I’m not a huge mussel fan, so I can’t tell you my thoughts. But she liked them.

For dessert we split the coffee ice cream sundae with brownies. Dessert went fast, not just because it was great, but because the portion was small.

The Red Onion is a nice warm place. It has nude photos on the walls which, of course, I noticed because I’m almost 11! The restaurant served lots of parents with their kids the night I ate there, so maybe they should consider doing a kids menu! Overall, I’d go back! http://sharpfinnsoup.wordpress.com

Remember to bring lots of water on your summer adventure. Stay hydrated, keep safe, and enjoy the wonders of Summer.

More Info Online!

For more about this subject, go to www.goodlifeyouthjournal www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 7

Fiction

“Smile for the camera!”

“S

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Photo by Dylan Jurusz

Photo by Megan Giantonio

mile for the camera!” They had only barely met when the picture was taken. It was at a party, a beach party.

Most parties were beach parties when you lived on the beach.

It had been taken in the spring, when most of the tourists had left and local business had run as cold as the salt water. She had seen him alone, bathed in moonlight and ocean. No one ever dared approach the sub-ninety degree sea; it was an unspoken rule of beach parties.

He had a surfboard under arm, but his pallor did not suggest surfer.

A wave crested behind him. He spun around, dropped his board, and did some floppy jump thing that resembled the death throes of an epileptic lobster.

The water smashed in on itself as the pearly spray tickled her feet.

The surfer who did not know how to surf was gone.

Cassandra’s reaction matched the expanse in front of her. Uninterested calm. A rising lump of concern. A crest of realization. A crash of panic.

She ran, paying no attention to the waves and stomping out the riptide. She ran and the water moved for her, not the other way around.

She dove.

Darkness. Dark green darkness. Darker than night.

And then a flash. A star in urban sky. The face of a boy, with cheeks blown up like a puffer fish and eyes wider than sand dollars. They jerked toward her.

Cassandra and Nick broke the surface. He was laughing. Gasping for air, but laughing.

“Wow,” he said, “I think I’m gonna like it here.”

Once the surface was no higher than their knees, he tapped her shoulder. “So, uh, thanks for saving my life I guess.”

“No problem. Sorry I couldn’t get your board, too.” She kept her eyes trained on the shore. They had already drifted a couple hundred feet.

“Alas, my beloved board. His name was Winston. He was a partner in both life and love.”

This guy was definitely no surfer.

They walked in silence until the last of the foam pawed their heels. A few partygoers looked at them quickly and glanced away.

The weight of Cassandra’s saturated clothing felt like a second layer of skin. “I do have one question. What the hell inspired you to learn how to surf when the Atlantic was PMSing?”

He laughed. He seemed the type to do so as much as possible. “I figured you sort of just stood up on the board and balanced. I took a two-month gymnastics class!”

“There are literally four different things that could kill you out there,” Cassandra said, lying down on the sand. Nick followed her lead.

“Enlighten me, oh Mistress of Death.”

“One: Sharks. They are creatures of the night. Two: Rocks. Unlike

By Jack Warren, age 15

our toothy friends, they’re always out to get you, and they lurk in every shadow. Three: The Riptide. You’ll think you’re in the kiddie pool, and you’ll end up in Ireland. Four: The Night. You can’t see. Anything.

Swimming at Night: Bad plan.”

“Jeez. You a surfer?”

“If by surfer, you mean ripped, tan, and shredded sunlight for hair,” she ran a hand through her locks of red, “Then, no. But I can hold my own in the day time.”

“Shredded sunlight, huh? Never met a surfing poet before.” His eyes, focused on her own, were deep brown. They had almost seemed plain until they were pointed at her.

“I’m more a man of pictures than words,” he held up a small digital camera. “I find that the closest you can get to life, both in and out of the lens, is when you’re closest to death. Waterproof lenses help with that.” And there they lay, talking about life and death and poetry and pictures, with the echos of a blind party behind them.

“So, you’re moving here?”

“Yeah, at least for a little bit. My family moves around a lot. That’s why I took up photography: I can carry my travels on my back. Like a turtle.”

“Lucky. I’ve barely been out of Good ol’ Carolina Beach. Can’t exactly go on vacations when you live on one.”

Cassandra glanced toward her townsmen. There remained a single beach chair. A seagull buried its head in a red Solo cup.

“I’ve never been the last out one of these dumb parties before,” she said, “I better get going. Parents and such.”

“Ah. Wait!” He pushed her back into the sand, and for a few moments there was no noise but the roar of the ocean and the crackle of chemistry. A gust of wind brushed the hair out of his face. His eyes.

He dropped back down, held his camera up, and: “Smile for the camera!”

More info on line!

Check out Jack Warren’s witty You Tube Blogs and stories!

http://jackalopescripture.tumblr.com/sheissaved or http://www.youtube.com/JackalopeApocalypse

Dance

Points Well Taken

By Ursula Orr, age 19

I

’ve been dancing since I was old enough to walk. I guess because dance has always been part of my life.

I grew up in the dance studio. My mother was a ballet teacher.

In her earlier years, she danced as a soloist with the Ithaca Ballet.

Even when she was pregnant with me and my two sisters and brother, she still danced, performed and taught classes. So I danced inside her. In fact, she danced her last ballet performance while she was pregnant with me.

And when I was an infant, my mother would bring me to ballet classes and let me stand at the barre where I’d bounce. Her ballet students did not seem to mind. Constantly being with dancers has, no doubt, been a huge inspiration for me.

To achieve with dance, you have to be dedicated, disciplined and driven. There is no quick way to become a dancer, even if you have talent. It took me ten years of serious training before I was even moderately good.

In middle and high school, putting in time to dance became much harder for me. By then I was taking eight dance classes per week, including ballet, jazz, modern, tap and hip hop. There were also show rehearsals several hours every weekend. To keep up with my schoolwork, I had to drop a dance class. Believe me, dropping just one dance class was hard for me.

Learning how to balance all the extra schoolwork with dance classes was the most stressful time in my life. When I was in 7th grade, I developed a nervous blink. My parents worried that I had Tourettes!

Fortunately, I did not, and the blinking went away by the next year.

As hard as ballet is with all the competition, work, and dedication, if you really have a true passion for dance, you will stick with it. I’ve had a lot of rough times and disappointments. Three years ago, I sprained my ankle in ballet class and couldn’t dance for months.

I fell while doing a double pirouette on pointe the week before my company’s production of “A Christmas Carol” in which I had several of the main roles. I was on crutches and had therapy for weeks. I was devastated! I had been working months for this show. I was so upset that I did not even go the performance. Being out of the show, not being able to dance was one of the hardest points in my life. I’m not myself when I’m not dancing. But I got through this experience with an important lesson. I learned to accept that this happens to many dancers and, though it is terrible when it happens, you become stronger and come back to dance with even greater determination. saugertiesballet.com: Saugerties,NY845-246-4316 • npsballet.com: NewPaltz, NY• catkillballet.org: Kingston, NY 845-339-1629 * MtnView Studio.com: Woodstock, NY 845-679-0901. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 9

Fiction

On the Ferris Wheel

S

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Photo by Audrey Malloy

ighing, he followed his group of friends as they shoved through the large mass of people around them. They had forced him to join them on their trip to some amusement park, much to his annoyance. He didn’t understand their need to have him with them when he didn’t even do much! While they went on rides, he waited outside holding their bags like a mother does for her children while they go to rattle their brains. He did go on a couple of roller coasters, but each time, he was left unimpressed.

After complaining to his friends for about an hour, he was finally turning to leave when one of his female friends called out. “Wait!” He turned around, one of his brows raised. “Before you leave… um, would you like to go on the Ferris wheel with me?

“Like, just as friends. No one else will go on with me ‘cause they’re scared of heights!” she finished nervously, a tinge of pink coloring her cheeks.

He kept his eyebrow high on his forehead as all his friends stared at him. He knew for a fact that his friends were not afraid of heights, and was pretty sure she just wanted to go on it with him. He had always suspected that she liked him, and this could be proof of that. He nodded yes to her request.

“Thank you!” she said, delighted. She grabbed his arm and pulled him in the direction of the Ferris wheel. Approaching the line, she let go of him and looked up at the large metal ride. “Are you excited? I’ve always wanted to go on one!”

“Yeah, they’re pretty cool,” he said, shrugging. The line wasn’t too long… he was relieved about that.

Noticing that his shoelaces were untied, he bent down and started to tie them, unaware of the moving line. After he finished, he looked up to see his friend entering one of the gondolas, most likely thinking he was behind her. He got up, speed-walking up to the gondola, but stopped when the door closed in his face. As the gondola moved forward, he looked apologetically at the girl. She smiled and shrugged, looking a bit disappointed. It looked like she was sitting next to some guy with medium length black hair and green eyes. The guy didn’t seem happy, but he didn’t look mean or dangerous either, so he was sure that she would be okay. He started to walk out of the line, but the ride attendant pushed him abruptly into the next empty gondola, yelling rudely, “What are you doing? Get in!”

When he turned and glared at the attendant, another girl, whom he didn’t know, was nudged into the same gondola by her giggling

By Mimi Ngo, age 15

friends, and the door was immediately closed after she entered.

Apparently they were the last people getting on, since the Ferris wheel started to move after that. He sighed and sat down on one of the seats, while the other girl, who had dark amethyst eyes, sat on the seat opposite him. She kept fidgeting and seemed to be avoiding looking outside. She looked really uncomfortable.

“Hey, you okay there? Sorry you’re stuck with me, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said, leaning his elbow on the windowlike opening.

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I don’t like shaky rides like this that go really far above the ground.” She covered the sides of her face with her hands so that she didn’t have to see the world outside moving. “If anything, I’m glad you’re here. It distracts me. If I were alone, I would have freaked out by now.”

He frowned, watching as her hands shook. There was no doubt that she was still very uneasy, “Your friends forced you to go on a ride like this even though they know you don’t like it?”

“Yeah, but they said I should face my fears. Apparently this is one of the less ‘shaky’ rides. It shakes when we move, but not a lot.” She slowly lowered her hands, not turning her gaze away from him. “I think it’s okay now… I feel a little bett…eek!” she squeaked as the ride shook, moving upwards. She jumped in her spot, grabbing at the edge of her seat.

“It’s okay, it shook a little bit, nothing to freak out about,” he said calmly, moving towards her. He grabbed her arm and lightly brought her down to the floor of the gondola before sitting down next to her.

“You’re not claustrophobic, right?” he asked, to which she shook her head. “Good.”

He took off his sweater and draped it over both of them, like little kids would when they played house under the blankets. “Now you don’t have to look outside, and when you’re on the floor, you don’t feel the shaking as much. Just concentrate on me instead of the ride.”

She blinked at him, and then smiled, “You’re really cute, you know that?”

He blushed, widening his eyes, “W-what?”

She laughed, “Your behavior is cute, not your appearance, although you’re pretty attractive, but that’s a story for another time,” she said humorously, laughing harder when he turned more red. “But thank you.”

Fiction “Uh, no problem at all. I want to be a doctor when I graduate, so I like to help,” he said, scratching the back of his head.

The two sat beside each other for what felt like years. She kept staring at him while he looked away awkwardly. “When is this ride going to be over? It feels like it’s been years,” he said, frowning.

“I kind of like it like this; it’s cozy,” she said, looking at the ground.

He nodded in agreement, fidgeting with his hands.

“You know, I think I’m healed of my fear,” she said, looking up at the ceiling of the gondola, inhaling heavily. He nodded his head at her and leaned on his arm.

“That’s good, then,” he whispered, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice down to a whisper. She had decided she liked this guy, this guy she had just met. She even considered trying to date him, which was really saying something, because she was a pretty stubborn person when it came to dating and trivial things like that.

As she opened her mouth to speak, she was interrupted by the opening of the gondola door, revealing a line of teenagers and children, staring at them with their eyebrows raised.

He could see his friends in the crowd too, holding in their laughter.

One of his friends started taking pictures. “This is so going on Facebook!”

This isn’t good…, he thought, mentally groaning.

“Kids! You leave ‘em alone for two seconds and they start playing fort,” complained the ride attendant. They both blinked, realizing they were still under his sweater, and that they did, indeed, looked like they were playing fort!

Instantly, they sprung up and left the ride, hiding their faces.

“This is the last time I go on a Ferris wheel…,” he muttered, glaring at his friends who were making kissy faces.

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 11

Advice

Ask Sushi

Fluffy Advice by Griffin Stewart, Brooklyn Age: 13

got to realize that on their own. It’s not your job to tell them what to do. And if they still bring you down every day and you can’t stand it any longer, then ask to not be friends anymore. But only if you can’t stand it any longer and every day it just brings you to the point of complete sadness. And that is my Sushi wisdom to you.

H

ello, my wonderful readers. It’s me, Sushi, with another “Ask Sushi.” I got a lot of great questions, but before that, let’s start with what I’ve been doing lately. I have been having a great time here in Brooklyn and the leaves are coming out and flowers are blossoming. My pack was working on these weird, bowl-like things. I heard one of them call it a pot and filling it up with dirt and planting seeds in it. I wonder what plants they are going to grow? Whatever it is, I hope some chicken flies into my mouth.

I wonder if there’s a chicken plant? I have to look into that. Mmm. Chicken. Anyhow, besides my pack working on some strange things, something amazing has happened.

My birthday! It was so much fun. I went to the park and I hung out with Higgins, one of my dog friends. I am now THREE! I feel like a new part of my soul has just opened up…mmm. Chicken. Sorry. Anyhow, time to get to those questions.

Question Number One: I have a friend who always sees the glass half empty and I always see it half full. It is frustrating and sometimes it creates an argument. Should I not react?

ANSWER: Well, if your friend is always bringing you down, then you shouldn’t ignore it. It’s not good for you to always have someone, when you say, “Oh, wow what a great day!” walk up to you and say, “Yeah, but it’s a school day. We’ll probably miss all the sun anyway.” Honestly, in dog land, we don’t even see the glass in general. But, I think I can give some pretty good wisdom to you. If that person always brings you down, maybe take him or her aside and say, “Listen, I can’t handle you always looking at the bad side of things.” And don’t discriminate. You can’t make someone see a glass your way. They’ve Page 12 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

dom to you.

Last, but not least, Question Number Four: When I get into a heated argument with my mom, I just can’t stop - even when I know I am wrong. I want to change, but how?”

Answer: Well, I go through that all the time.

Some stranger starts knocking on the door, I gallop to the rescue and my powerful barks echo through the house, warding off this evil.

Question Number Two: I went out on a date But then my mother and my other two pack and wanted to hold her hand but didn’t have members reprimand me. “No noise, Sushi!!” the courage. Now I have regrets and think I they say. But, I am like, “I was protecting the missed my chance to get to know her better. place!” But really, it was just the mailman, What should I do?” bringing a package. I keep barking anyway, ANSWER: Well, I actually have situations like mostly because it is fun. that all the time. An amazing, huge dog will Now, you might be wondering what does be walking towards me and I just can’t help it: this have to do with you. Well, overall, I was I start to bark and bark and bark. Then my actually the wrong one, even though at the owner has to take me away. And I never get moment I was sure I was right. And here’s to meet that beautiful, big dog! But now about my Sushi wisdom to you. I know sometimes you. Here’s my sushi you’re a bit prideful wisdom: First of all, you and you feel as though can ask to hang out with you were right. Someher more. It doesn’t have times, you’ve just got to be a date. It can be just to breathe and think, hanging out, unless she “She’s not trying to hurt lives in another country me, or be purely mean or something. Then you to me. She is just trying have a real problem. But to show me that what I if not, then when you are was doing wasn’t corhanging out, if you think rect and got frustrated it’s really a good idea to with me because I hold her hand, then you didn’t want to be shown Sushi in his swimming suit. should do it. Worst case I wasn’t correct.” scenario, she pulls her hand away and there’s But still I am talking about me. I wasn’t in a little awkward silence. But if that happens, your household, so I don’t know what was goyou can just go back to talking again. It doesn’t ing on. But whenever you feel like you are have to be a super big deal. Besides, no matter right, even when you know you are wrong, what, you can always talk to her again…un- stop talking, take a big breath, perhaps “Om” less she lives in another country or something. to yourself and then say, “Okay, how can we And that’s my Sushi wisdom to you. fix this?” From there, work it out with your mother - orderly and without fighting. If you Question Number Three: I hear that little feel like your are at the brink of yelling, take voice in my head telling me not to take more deep breaths. If you need to cry, you chances or try new things. Is that really can. It’s allowed! You could also go someme or is it just my inner fear bringing me where private, and feel truthfully and come down?” back relaxed and have new knowledge. And ANSWER: Thanks for sending in this ques- that is my Sushi wisdom to you. Best of luck. tion. It’s a really good one. Yes!!! That is just That was my Ask Sushi column to you, the your inner fear trying to bring you down. readers. Thank you for sending in your quesAnd you should always trust yourself, not tions. Please always send in more. I love you your inner fear. And that is my sushi wis- and good night.

More Info Online!

For more Sushi, go to www.goodlifeyouthjournal/ GL_Advice_Opinions_2013.html

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 13

Advice

Be Yourself

T

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always secretly wanted to meet a bully, because in movies and in books the victims of bullying are the intelligent, specially gifted children who win in the end. But in this world, unless you are Chris Colfer, those endings are hard to come by.

When I reached middle school, I exchanged the bus bully for more intense classroom bullies. I wasn’t teased for my weight. I was teased for my clothes, my long frizzy hair, my intense passion to save our planet, and my efforts to get other students to recycle.

Once I reached high school, I expected the bullying to stop, but it didn’t. It changed from verbal bullying to psychological bullying. It’s the psychological torment that makes you self- conscious.

But in 9th grade, something magical happened. My Global Studies teacher, Mr. Grady, held auditions for “Miracle Worker”. I tried out and prepped myself for disappointment as I made my way to the cast list. But I GOT THE PART!!! And my fretting about looking right for the part after my audition made no difference, because I was chosen purely because of my acting skill and how badly I wanted the role. In the end, your career is not based on how you look. I have had a lot of trouble accepting who I am. I occasionally worry that my singing voice may not be good enough to get me to Broadway. I think, from time to time, that I am FAT. And I am not a very good dancer. But you know what? I have found a place where I can act and totally be myself, and it’s amazing.

It’s Theater Club.

From my perspective, I believe that modern American society is harder on boys than it is on girls. Women can become astronauts or lawyers, and most mothers will send them on their way with a confident kiss. But if a boy tells his parents that he wants to be a ballet dancer or a male model, he may be met with less enthusiasm. Because so many aspects of our society have been given guidelines and shoved into pre – measured grids of how they should be, some people never realize that they already are exactly as they should be. You don’t need someone else to give you criticism for being who you are. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

Coming from an expert on trying to fit in and love yourself, I have some advice. Don’t fit in! I tried to hide from people, and it isn’t fun. I used to be sad all the time, because I thought I had no one else in the world. But once you forget about the people you’ve left behind, new friends will be attracted to your unique personality. I love my friends, my voice, and I am proud to say that I am NOT fat. I have a different body type, and that doesn’t make me ugly. You don’t have to be thin to be gorgeous. People have suggested that I try straightening my hair, but I love looking different. And curly hair is adorable.

After all, why would I want to look like other people? They aren’t me.

So girls, boys, land mammals and reptiles alike, ballerinas and ballerinos, whoever may be reading this article – you are really freaking fabulous. Go take your curves and your fabulous hair and your passions and skills and SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH!!!! The only thing stopping you is yourself.

And once you stand up for yourself, nothing can hold you back.

Photo by Sophie Corwin

his is an article that I have been wanting to write since the summer of 2012. It was inspired by an email conversation that ensued after I submitted a photo of me dancing to go with my sister’s article about… well, dancing. For the past 7 years I have been dancing tap, jazz, and ballet at NYCA. In the email, I described how my dancing career may be hindered by the way I look because I am not your typical ballerina size. I was asked to write more about this issue and about self-image in general. It’s something I feel strongly about.

I have been judged for my body size for as long as I can remember. My dad would question my weight constantly, wanting me to eat less and telling me not to get involved in acting, for fear that I would be stereotyped. My oldest sister would also pick on me for my weight, so I always thought I was fat. Even after my dad passed away, my oldest sister continued to tell me how fat and disgusting I was until she matured.

When I reached a certain grade in elementary school, my sisters and I got a bully on our school bus. I had

By Sophie Crowin

Media Literacy: Be an Informed Observer

Advice

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By Cassandra Hastie, age 17 verybody knows that you can’t always believe what you hear. That being said, why do we tend to believe everything that we see? Training ourselves to become informed observers involves educating ourselves about media literacy and the distorted images that plague teens in the delicate time of adolescence. It is imperative that we not only understand the importance of media literacy, but that we take steps to change our culture. This includes questioning what is presented in media as “the truth” and deconstructing the images to disclose the real truth.

It has become evident over the years that advertising to children is a big business.

According to Global Issues, the average American child watches approximately 25,000 to 40,000 television commercials per year. What children don’t know is that the commercials they are looking at contain models who have been airbrushed so that no flaws are present. These images that plague the minds of adolescents and send them messages that they need to look a certain way do not reflect reality in any way, shape, or form. Most of the images of models that are presented in television ads and magazines portray bodies that are biologically impossible to achieve.

Although it has been proven that the media does not advertise with models who accurately portray healthy bodies, it can still be hard to wrap your head around the fact that the images are not “real”. In order to raise women’s self-esteem so that they can see through the artificial ads, Dove has launched the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Through their campaign, Dove surveyed over 1,000 women and results showed that 40% of the women were made to feel insecure by the models used

“Size is not everything and you don’t have to be flawless to be beautiful.” in beauty advertisements. Advertising can be damaging to a person’s self-esteem because airbrushing not only fixes blemishes but shrinks waists and makes legs appear to be longer.

As someone who has been affected by society’s portrayal of what is “beautiful”, I think it’s really important for teenagers to be aware of the misleading advertisements that infect magazine racks and fashion websites. Size is not everything, and you don’t have to be flawless to be beautiful. Beauty comes from within, and the faster our society realizes that, the healthier we will be.

Check out my website at www.anewbeautiful.weebly.com www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 15

Fiction

How the Birds Got

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ong, long ago the birds had no feathers and it came to be that one day there was a bird flying over the forest.

He looked down and he saw Okwari, the bear and he said, “Oh, that bear. He’s so lucky. He’s got a beautiful suit of clothes that looks so warm. I wish the birds had clothes.”

Illustration by Megan Stack Then he flew over a river and when he looked down he saw Kentsion, the fish swimming by and he said, “Look! That fish all covered with scales and those scales shine like diamonds when the sun shines on them. “I wish the birds had clothes.”

Then he flew over a village of the Onkwehonwe Onkwehonwe, the people. A man had just come out of his longhouse. He was dressed in buckskin and the bird thought, “Oh, even the people have clothes, too. I wish the birds had clothes.”

And that’s when he got an idea. So he called a meeting of all the bird people. When all of the birds were gathered together there were so many of them that you couldn’t even see the ground. There were so many of them that under the weight of all of the birds the limbs of the trees almost touched the ground.

When all the birds were finally gathered and quiet the bird said, “You know Okwari, the bear has clothes, Kentsion, the fish has clothes, and even the people - the Onkwehonwe Onkwehonwe - they have clothes, too, he said. “Why don’t we ask the Creator if we, the bird people, could have clothes, as well.”

Well, the birds thought that that was a wonderful idea and they all started to look at one another. They said, “You know, we’ll have to select somebody to make the long difficult journey to go see the

Creator and make this request. The one that we send is going to have to be someone who can fly a long distance. We’ll have to select somebody who’s big and strong and powerful to make that long, difficult journey.”

And so right away they all looked at Eagle. Eagle’s big. He’s powerful. He could fly that distance.

But Eagle knew what they were thinking and he said, “I wish I could go, but I’m the leader of the birds and so I have to stay here because I have responsibilities. Why don’t you ask Turkey Vulture. He’s big.

He’s powerful. He could make that journey.”

And so all of the birds looked at Turkey Vulture and he said, “I would be honored to go. I’ll go first thing in the morning.”

And so the next morning, Turkey Vulture waited for the first rays of sun to appear over the horizon. Then he spread out his powerful wings and flew up into the sky higher and higher and higher. In fact at one point he flew so close to the sun that the top of his head got sunburned. (Even to this day that’s how Turkey Vulture looks: it looks as though he’s sunburned on the top of his head and so you know this story is true.)

Well, that didn’t stop him. When you are on an important mission for your people you don’t let minor discomforts get in your way.

You keep going. And so he flew and he flew and he flew all morning. When the sun was directly overhead he heard a rumbling in the sky. He looked all around. He thought for sure that a storm was coming, but he didn’t see any clouds. The sky was clear and blue and so he realized that the rumbling wasn’t coming from the sky at all - it was coming from inside him. In his excitement that morning to start his journey he had forgotten to eat anything and so now he was hungry. He knew that if he didn’t eat something soon he wouldn’t have the energy to continue on. He needed to eat something and he didn’t want to waste a lot of time looking for food. He needed something quick and easy. So he looked down and saw a river and next to the river there happened to be some dead fish.

He thought, “That’s perfect! That’s what I’ll eat. It will be quick and easy.”

And so he flew down and he ate those dead fish. (And you know, even to this day that’s what turkey vultures do: they eat dead things, which we call carrion. That helps us because it keeps Mother Earth clean.)

Now he had the energy to continue his journey. He flew and he flew and he flew, higher and higher into the sky until he saw a hole in the sky. He flew up through that hole in the sky and there he saw a beautiful place covered with green grass and tall trees. There were rivers that ran crystal clear, the way our rivers used to run before we polluted them. And then he saw someone coming toward him. He knew this must be the Creator.

But before he could say anything, the Creator said to him, “She:kon, Turkey Vulture, I know why you’re here and I think it’s a wonderful idea. In fact, I’ve already filled this bag full of suits of clothing for all the birds. Now I know that some birds are large and some are small so I put a little bit of magic in each suit. If a large bird tries on a suit it will stretch to fit. If a small bird puts on a suit it will shrink to fit. One size fits all. And you, Vulture, since you are the one that made this long and difficult journey you get first pick. But remember, if you put a suit

In fact at one point he flew so close to the sun that the top of his head got sunburned.

Page 16 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

Fiction

Their Feathers on and you don’t like it and you take it off, you cannot put that suit on a second time. You can only try on each suit once.”

Turkey Vulture said, “Niawenko:wa. Thank you very much.”

And he took the bag full of suits of clothing and he flew down through the hole in the sky down, down, down to the Council Rock, where all of the bird people were waiting. He told them about his journey. He told them about eating the dead fish. He told them about getting sunburned on the top of his head. He told them about the hole in the sky and he told them about the bag full of suits of clothing that

Illustration by Caleb McNamara

the Creator had given to him.

He said, “You know what? Creator said I could have first pick.”

And all of the birds said, “That’s good.”

And they waited patiently as he opened the bag full of suits of clothing for the birds. He pulled out the first suit and he put it on and all of the birds said, “Ahh, you look wonderful.”

He was covered with blue feathers with a little bit of white and a little bit of black with a crest on top of his head.

But he said, “I don’t think that blue is my color.”

So he took it off and he gave it to Blue Jay. (You know, even to this day that’s how Blue Jay dresses, so you know the story is true.) He pulled out another suit. This one was covered with red feathers and it, too, had a crest on top of its head. But he didn’t think that that was the right color for him, either. So he took it off and gave it to Cardinal and to this day this is how cardinal dresses. (So you know this story is true!) One by one, he pulled out the suits of clothing.

“This one is too dark. That one is too light. This one has too many

Traditional Mohawk story told by Kay Olan (Ionatie:was) Mohawk Educator and Storyteller

colors. That one doesn’t have enough.”

So, one by one, he gave away all the suits of clothing until finally there was only one suit left. It was going to have to be his. He reached deep down into the bottom of that bag and he pulled out that last suit. He put it on. Now I don’t know if that suit had been in the bottom of that bag for too long, but I think it lost some of its magic. It didn’t stretch like the others. So his red, sunburned head stuck out from the top and his legs stuck out from the bottom. The feathers that were once lustrous and shiny were now ordinary and dull; some might even say ugly, but it was going to have to be his suit. But you know when Turkey Vulture flies through the sky and the other birds see him they don’t make fun of him.

They don’t say, “Oh, your suit is ugly.”

Instead, they remember what he did for his people: he brought them their suits of clothing. So they bow their heads and they say to Turkey Vulture, “Niawenko: wa. Thank you very much.”

So that’s how the birds got their feathers, but that also reminds us that rather than judging each other by the way we look or the way we dress, we should look deep into each other’s hearts to see what we have done for our people.

That’s where the true beauty lies. And that’s how that story goes.

Storytelling is a living tradition. The story bag is constantly growing fuller. It includes stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. We all have stories to tell. We need to make the time to tell them so they won’t be forgotten. We need to tell them in order to maintain our connections to one another. We need to stay connected so that we will remember that we are all related. When we take the time to sit together and tell our stories, we discover that we have more in common than we have differences. We find that we have similar hopes and dreams for the future generations. We remember that we can accomplish much more if we learn to communicate and work together. ~ Kay Olan (Iroquois Indian Museum) This story is not to be reproduced without permission. You can purchase a CD of Kay Olan’s, Ionataie:was “Mohawk Stories” at the Akwesasne Museum, Wolf Pack, or from Kay herself at ionataiewas14@ hotmail.com.

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 17

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magine this: You go downstairs on Christmas morning. You open a gift and inside is a kit that includes all of the necessary accessories to make your own light-up clothing.

Aria Eppinger, an aspiring math teacher, not only imagined it, but she put together a whole business plan.

Then she presented it to billionaire businessman, Warren Buffett, and a panel of judges for the Secret Millionaires Club “Grow Your Own Business” contest. Buffet, 82, is one of the richest people in the world. Buffet’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. is known for its expertise in investment. Investment is identifying good business ideas and companies and giving them money to put their plan to action. The Secret Millionaires Club is an animated show, mainly online, that features Buffet sharing his expertise with four entrepreneurial kids, the members of the Secret Millionaires Club. The idea of the show is to teach viewers to make good financial decisions and a few basic lessons on how to start a business. In March 2013, Secret Millionaires Club launched a 22-episode series on the HUB cable. On April 19th, Aria rang the “Opening Bell” of the New York Stock Exchange on TV and announced this year’s new winner. I had a chance to speak with Aria for a quick phone interview. As the contest’s grand prize, Aria received a $5,000 check and 10 Class B shares of stock from Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. worth (as of May 2) $1,073. I highley recommend visiting the Secret Millionaire’s Club web site to see the episodes. www.SMCKids.com. The voice of Warren Buffett’s character is really his voice. Here is my interview with Aria!

Photo’s by Emanuel J. Eppinger, age 14

Cover Story

By Laila Smith, age 10 Page 18 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

Cover Story Aria rang the “Opening Bell” of the New York Stock Exchange on TV and announced this year’s new winner.

Laila Smith: How old were you when you won the Secret Millionaires Club contest?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, that was last year. So, I was ten.

Laila Smith: When you first entered the contest, were you confident that you would win?

ARIA EPPINGER: No way! I definitely wasn’t confident I would get even close to winning!

Laila Smith: So what was the inspiration of your idea?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, a few years ago, my family was making light-up sweatshirts, and the old method was using soldering and wire. It took forever and it was dangerous. The kids couldn’t do it, so my inspiration was I wanted to make something easier to use, and “Shine So Bright” was my solution.

Laila Smith: Can you tell me a little bit about your idea?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, “Shine So Bright” is a craft book kit that includes everything needed to transform old clothes, like t-shirts, into extraordinary light-up pieces of clothing.

Laila Smith: Is your family involved with business at all?

ARIA EPPINGER: Not really, no. I don’t really come from a business background.

Laila Smith: How long have you been watching the Secret Millionaires Club?

ARIA EPPINGER: I’ve just been watching it since the contest. I didn’t really know about it before I entered.

Laila Smith: Would you consider yourself to be like any of the characters?

ARIA EPPINGER: I don’t really think any of them in particular. I guess I’m sort of like Elena.

Laila Smith: Why? ARIA EPPINGER: Because she always has problems, but ends up solving them (with help.)

Laila Smith: Do you have a favorite episode of the show?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, I haven’t watched much of the show, but I guess my favorite episode is the pizza one!

Laila Smith: What are some of the lessons that you learned from watching the Secret Millionaires Club?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, one of the things that I really thought was interesting was that, sometimes in business you have to think of things in the perspective of a buyer.

S

ECRET MILLIONAIRES CLUB is an American animated television series on the pay television channel The Hub, and on a dedicated website. The series features Warren Buffett as a secret mentor to a group of kids who learn practical life lessons during fun-filled adventures in business.

The show teaches kids valuable lessons such as: • The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself.

• Parents should help develop good right financial habits from an early age. The best teacher I had was my Dad. • The more you learn, the more you’ll earn • Find something you like to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.

• Great partnerships will make any job easier.

• The value of saving, even when they are making money. Save responsibly to be truly successful.

• Smart spending and shopping, making them aware that there are some tricksters online, and that they should always do research.

Laila Smith: What do you want to be when you grow up?

ARIA EPPINGER: I don’t really know, but most likely a math teacher.

Laila Smith: How did it feel to fly out to Omaha and meet Warren Buffet?

ARIA EPPINGER: It was really cool and a lot of fun. It felt pretty awesome just flying on the airplane to go there! I don’t know about you, but I really like flying. Mr. Buffet was very kind and generous.

He gave us advice that we should start early in business so we can learn from our mistakes. He gave all of us some of his stock, which was very generous. He was also funny. He told me that if my product was available when he was a kid, maybe he would have had better luck with girls! It was nice of him to spend the day with us. I will always remember his kindness and generosity. I hope I can be like him when I am a grownup.

Laila Smith: What did you do with the prize money after you won the contest?

ARIA EPPINGER: Well, some of it went to charity and I still have some of it that I’m using to try to start my own business. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 19

History

Woven Treaties

by Caleb McNamara, age 20

2-Row Wampum Renewal Campaign and Dakota Unity Riders Unite for Peace and Reconciliation

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“We ride for healing for every nation... for all living beings” Chief Gus High Eagle. THE DAKOTA NATION UNITY RIDE Page 20 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

Photos by Sage Sigi Mannio

n the midst of the fierce colonization of America dur- ed friendship, peace, and respect between the two nations. I ing the 1600s, a Dutch group of traders settled in what was able to speak with Sally Bernabzohn, of the Ulster Counis now Albany and its surrounding area. The native ty to New York City Outreach for Two Row Wampum. people of the land the Haudenosaunee saw this new culture settling CALEB: So, can you give us a brief in their home and knew they had to history of the Two Row wampum call a meeting to asses the situation. belt?

The leaders of the Haudenosaunee SALLY: Sure, the Two Row Wampum meaning “people of the Longhouse” Treaty is a treaty that the Haudeno(called the Iroquois by the French or saunee people, or the Iroquois as we the 6 Nations by the English Coloknow them, signed with the Dutch nists) sent chosen delegates to speak 400 years ago. The cool thing about with the leaders of the Dutch settlers the belt is that it lasts for a long time, in hopes of conveying the concerns The Hiawatha Wampum belt: 6 nations agree to where as paper can disintegrate or fade of the native people in regards to the away. The Haudenosaunee still have live under the tree of peace. settlers arrival. The Haudenosaunee and the Dutch lead- these The agreement of the Two Row Wampum Treaty was ers were able to strike an agreement which stated that they to share the land, the forests of what we now know as upstate would both live together in peace, share the earth, and re- New York, with the Dutch. It was also an agreement to refer to each other as brothers. spect each other’s cultures and customs and to both take care While the Dutch went about docuof Mother Earth. This is a treaty that menting the agreement on paper, the the Haudenosaunee people still abide Haudenosaunee had a different methby: they want to live in peace with us od of recording that they had used and they respect the traditions, cussince their founding. The tribe used toms and laws of the United States. At wampum beads made of quahog shells the same time, they want the United to create a wampum belt signifying States to respect their traditions and the agreement. The designs and the customs. They also want all of us to colors of the beads used in wampum take care of the earth, which is becombelts had meaning so the belts theming a very big problem with pollution selves were devices of carrying inforand the way industries have made the mation from history. The Two Row air and the water in some places very Wampum belt consists of two rows of unhealthy. purple wampum beads set on a backCALEB: Who began the Two Row Jake Edwards of the Onandaga ground of white wampum beads. The Nation Council of Chiefs holds the Two RowWampum Renewal Campaign? purple beads represented the course SALLY: It is something that has Wampum of two ships, a Haudenosaunee canoe and a non-native ship. been developed through the work of the Onondaga NaEach row of purple beads travelled down the white parallel tion, which is part of the Haudenosaunee and the neighto one another signifying each ship sailing down the river of bors of the Onondaga Nation, or NOON for short. Those life side by side. The fact that each row of purple beads never two groups have been the leaders of the Two Row Wamintersected represents that both cultures, although different, pum Renewal Campaign. The idea of the campaign is would not interfere with each-others customs, laws, religion, to renew this working relationship between the Haudeor sovereignty. The additional three white stripes represent- nosaunee people and the people of New York State.

History CALEB: Can you tell us about some of the major stops on the canoe trip to the UN? SALLY: Sure, there will be two rows of people paddling in canoes, one of the rows will be the people of the Native American nations, the other row will be allies of the native people. So, for example, I will be paddling in the second row with the people who are not indigenous, but are there as supporters. ,The Haudenosaunee people will be starting the trip from as far north as Syracuse and will join the supporters in Albany, where there will be a festival and program on Saturday, July 27th. Then the paddlers are going to start their trip down the Hudson on Sunday. After that the biggest stop will be in Beacon on August 3rd, where there will be a big festival in support of the Two Row Wampum Campaign. After that, the last major stop will be at the United Nations on August 9th, which is the UN’s Day of Indigenous People.

So the Haudenosaunee will be joining many different cultures who will be converging at the UN that day.

CALEB: Are there ways the public can participate in this event?

SALLY: Oh, yes, absolutely! It’s open to the public. What I would recommend is for people interested in participating to go on the website http://honorthetworow.org/

CALEB: Can you tell us a little bit about the environmental goals the Haudenosaunee people hope to address at the UN on August 9th?

SALLY: There are many, but the main goals they want to address in regard to New York State, are the many threats of hydrofracking, which is something the Haudenosaunee people have opposed for a long time.

The Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, more than anything, seeks to achieve environmental cleanup and preservation. Now, on the 400th anniversary of the Two Row Wampum agreement, the people of the Onondaga nation, with the support of the Two Wampum Renewal Campaign, are embarking on an epic 13-day canoe trip down the Hudson River to the UN in New York City. They will be joined at different points along the river by the Dakota Unity Riders coming from Manitoba, Canada. The Dakota Nation Unity Ride will be embarking on their own epic 1,800-mile journey on horseback. The purpose of the ride is for the Dakota people to join with the six nations (Seneca, Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida and Tuscarora) and converge with the Haudenosaunee at the United Nations in August 9th. Both the Two Row and The Unity Riders will come to Saugerties Aug, 1 Meritime Museum then Woodstock August 4 for the International Walk for World Peace hosted by Live Peace International. 845-750-9303. theunityride.com or Livepeaceinternational.org

A Portal to Hudson River History

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yet again.

Unfortunately, over the years, businesses along the Hudson River, began dumping toxic waste into the river, killing so much of its marine life, and spoiling the purity of this great landmark.

Thankfully, people have started to take notice, and the government has begun enforcing new laws which ensure the cleanup of the river by the very companies who had polluted it in its first place. The Hudson River has been very important in American history, and thanks to places like the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY as well as not-for-profit groups like Riverkeeper, and the Hudson River sloop Clearwater organization , who have partnered with the Muse-

Exective Director of Hudson River Maritime Museum Patrick McDonough

Photo by Dylan McNamara

recently went to the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY, located in downtown Kingston along the historic Rondout waterfront. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the Executive Director, Patrick McDonough, who gave us a tour of the museum. He showed us a wide variety of historical artifacts and photographs. Leading the way through the galleries, he explained all the stories that went hand-in-hand with each exhibit.

In the first gallery, there was a replica of a Native American dugout canoe. Patrick explained to us that the river was used by the native tribes for travel and sustenance. To them, the river was known as “Mahicantuck” – the river that flows both ways – because, it in fact, flows north and south, affected by the tides and by where it meets the ocean. The tribes also enjoyed the river’s unusually dense marine life, making it a reliable source for food.

We then moved into an interior replica of Henry Hudson’s aft cabin on the “Half Moon”. Patrick mentioned that one of Hudson’s crew members, Robert Juet, kept a written log or journal of each day on the journey, and from that journal, we can get a good idea of what Hudson and his crew encountered as they sailed up the river. Roughly, there were about 10,000 native or indigenous peoples that lived on the banks of the Hudson River. Juet wrote they were “a people with friendly attitudes, a complex social organization, ample food supplies, a peaceful lifestyle, and extensive territory”.

While many already know that Hudson explored this historic river in 1609 while being hired by the Dutch East India Company to find the fabled Northwest passage, you may not know that as he and his crew pushed north on a subsequent trip, they came to no longer trust him. Patrick told us how they finally mutinied in this 1611 voyage because harsh winter conditions had set in for the season. The crew put Hudson, his young son and seven other faithful crew into a small boat and set it adrift. Hudson was never heard from again.

Lastly, Patrick led us to the large exhibit hall which opened up into large space, housing exhibits focused on historic vessels from the early Dutch-built sloops (similar to the ones from Holland) to the first commercially successful steamboat, which was named the “Clermont”, invented in the 1800s by Robert Fulton. These new steamers opened up the era of pleasure cruises. Thousands of socialites would come and enjoy these luxurious floating palaces. I found myself intrigued

By Joda Hoffman, age 19

um. They have all helped to educate us and promote the restoration of this great river back to better health.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum hosts a number of educational programs like the Wednesday evening “Follow the River” Lecture Series; On August 1“Two Row Wampum” Renewal Campaign (canoeists from Albany to the United Nations in NYC) and the Unity Riders (riding horseback from Albany to Washington, DC)The Museum Courtyard Complex, 50 Rondout Landing, will be the meeting venue for both groups as well as providing a stopping point along their journey. For more information, visit www.hrmm.org or call 845.338.0071, ext. 15 www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 21

Interview

The Bubblething

By Helen Schauffler, age 12

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interviewed my father, David Stein, about his invention, the Bubblething. The Bubblething is a toy that can be found in most toy stores. It is a red plastic rod with a red cloth loop underneath it. The Bubblething was the first giant bubble toy, practically created the giant bubble sport, and is easy to work and fun to play with at any age.

Helen Schauffler: What exactly is the Bubblething?

DAVID STEIN: The Bubblething is a toy that makes gigantic bubbles 20 feet or even 50 feet long.

HS: What inspired you to make the Bubblething?

DS: My baby daughter, Kayla, was crazy about bubbles and I started wondering how you could maximize the size.

HS: How did you do that?

DS: I used to be an architect, and I realized that if you tried to use a regular bubble hoop, you’d need a little swimming pool full of bubble soap to get the giant hoop in. So I made a flexible, collapsible hoop that could fold down into a bucket.

HS: When and where was the Bubblething invented?

DS: In August, 1984 on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. We used to go there on vacation.

HS: Who besides you was at the first “appearance” of the Bubblething?

DS: My daughter Kayla, age one and a half, my ex-wife Mary, my friend Bill, and a whole lot of people who suddenly drove up in

Page 22 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

their cars and pickups, attracted by the giant bubbles sailing over the town.

HS: Do you think that you would have become an inventor without creating the Bubblething, or would you have continued to be an architect?

DS: I would keep trying to invent things.

HS: What other things have you invented besides the Bubblething?

DS: A disposable baby bib, a multi-directional pacifier, a better way to eat lobster, a songbook that sticks on the wall of the shower, a better way to floss your teeth, an anti-headlight glare thing for your windshield, a flying bubble disk, an apple picking method for high branches and so on. Oh, a combination wrist rest and exercise ball for computer users. Almost all of them are not yet in production.

HS: How many models did the Bubblething go through before you arrived at the red plastic model that we see today?

DS: Oh my. The first one was a dowel with a loop of jack chain on it, and a couple washers. That was too dangerous to sell to kids. The second one was a loop of nylon fringe on a plastic pipe with a cork in it.

I tested hundreds of fabrics for the loop from the Garment District in New York to get the one I use today.

HS: Was there a specific reason that you choose red to be the Bubblething color?

DS: Most people like red, and it stands out best against the green grass in the foreground.

HS: Do you think that the Bubblething would have happened without your daughter being interested in bubbles?

DS: No. HS: Did you have any prior knowledge or interest in bubbles before making the Bubblething?

DS: No. I was interested in Zen and painting.

HS: Do you consider giant bubble making a sport?

DS: I think it’s a sport because it’s outdoors and it’s physical. If you work at it, you can achieve amazing results. I think it’s an art also, kind of like Cristo. Whatever it is, there’s thousands of giant bubble people around the world. Millions, even. All using my method, more or less. There’s a guy in New Zealand, Allan McKay, who beat my world record 50 footer with a bubble 114 feet long. He makes bubbles like ships in the sky.

HS: Do you have any advice for aspiring inventors?

DS: People always say that necessity is the mother of invention, but I say that fooling around is the father of invention. Most major inventions are not really necessary. That includes cars, planes, computers, they didn’t even exist a century ago, and they probably won’t exist in a few hundred years. I think those people were just fooling around, having a good time. I think what we need to do nowadays is to deinvent a lot of that stuff and ride horses, grow our own tomatoes, go back 200 years. Except for computers.

If you would like to find out more about the Bubblething, visit bubblething.com or facebook.com/bubblething.

Summer Music Event

Woodstock Chimes presents

Festival

M

by Audrey Malloy age 18

year, including NEXUS, The Jack DeJohnette Trio, Mandara, POOK and Energy Dance Company, COBU, Native American Music, NYU Steel Drum Ensemble, Beatbox Guitar, Giri Mekar, The Great American Fife & Drum Band, and The Midnight Ramble Band. This year, Nexus will be honoring the legendary George Hamilton Green, who was known for his extraordinary talent on the xylophone during the 1920s. Green is buried at the Artists Cemetery in Woodstock, where the festival will actually commence. Green’s granddaughter and her son will be attending the festival along with other Green family mem-

Garry and Audrey discuss the legendary George Hamilton Green.

Garry Kvistad with jazz great Jack Dejohnette.

at the dump...”). Many people aren’t aware that each set of chimes he makes has its own unique sound, song, and story. “There are two kinds of people,” Kvistad explains. “One who reads labels, the other who doesn’t.” Each set of chimes comes with a brief summary and history regarding the musical origin of the sound that the chimes produce.

Although he is internationally known for his successful and innovative wind chimes company, Kvistad also strikes a chord with percussion enthusiasts and players alike.

He is a member of the percussion ensemble NEXUS. This fall, NEXUS, along with seven other percussion-based groups, will be performing at Woodstock’s own Andy Lee Field as a part of Kvistad’s 3rd biennial Drum Boogie Festival. The festival draws a large number of people, locals and out-of-towners alike. Admission is free, and incredible groups will be performing this

bers. From the cemetery, the event will move to Andy Lee Field, for a celebration of music, culture and a passion for percussion.

“We’re lucky to have hooked up with such important people,” Kvistad says, adding with a smile that their fame will “make [him] look good.” Among the “important people” attending this year will be performers from SNL, the Broadway production of The Lion King, and SO Percussion.

Locals of our area are fortunate to experience such renowned musical culture, and Kvistad is proud to celebrate that. It’s an honor to have a man of so many talents representing the culture of our area. The Drum Boogie Fest is making a substantial grant to Family of Woodstock for the Youth. If you are interested in helping a good cause and hearing some great tunes, go to www.drumboogiefestival.com for more information.

Photo by Garland Berenzy

any people indulge in quirky passions in the Woodstock area, but Garry Kvistad’s passion is particularly unique. Founder and owner of the locally-based but world-famous Woodstock Chimes, Kvistad has taken his love for music and instruments and turned it into a marketable success, producing creative, beautiful, and innovative wind chimes.

Kvistad knew from an early age that he loved to build instruments.

His first instrument was constructed from a rejected stack of lawn chairs he found one day at the dump (“...back when you could shop

“The Drum Boogie Fest is making a substantial grant to Family of Woodstock for the Youth”

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 23

Performing Arts

An Overview of Local Youth Theater

U

By Jazmin Kay age 15

Page 24 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

Photo by Brandon Sawhill-Aja

pstate New York is a place highly associated with the Boys and Hello Dolly. Neverland and the Lost Boys was an original muarts. From artists with paint brushes, to artists with sical produced entirely by the collaborative talents of the Woodstock words, the Hudson Valley Day School. The fresh score written by both produces all sorts of creative music teachers at the Woodstock Day School, mediums for people of all ages to express Cassandra Mahoney on lyrics and music by themselves. One of these forms of expresPeter Dougan , was based on the beloved chilsion is through theater. Youth Theater dren’s story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. The around the Hudson Valley has been buzzensemble of the show consisted of vast youthing with Spring Musicals as the culminafulness, using the kids from 3rd grade to the tion of many agonizing winter rehearsals elders of the school, the seniors. As a part of finally pay off and result in a show case that show, I can say it was full of merriment of eager young talent. I will be discussing and cheer, as we all debuted this project that some of the recent shows that have been began as a few scraps of dialogue and song. performed around the Hudson Valley by New Genesis Production’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Coleman Catholic School’s Hello Dolly, adolescents in high school productions. based on the 1955 Thornton Wilder book Pictured here Ihor Shuhan and Jack Warren.

In mid-March, Kingston High School put with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, on a breathtaking production of Les Miserables, based on the novel by follows the hilarious and rousing journey of Dolly Levi, an outspoVictor Hugo. Set in the early 19th Century France, it tells the heroic ken young woman who takes a trip to Yonkers, New York to visit the story of Jean Valjean and his struggle to persist among both social almost-millionaire, Horace Vandergelder. Coleman did a boisterous injustices and fledging revolution. The strong cast of Kingston High and enjoyable rendition of this classic. Also in April was The Music School, brought an admirable take to this classic making the produc- Man by Onteora High School and Middle School which I did not get tion very memorable, especially in reference to the recent release of the pleasure to see. the motion picture.

Youth theater is a great outlet to express and expand innovative Later in that same month, New Paltz High School put on a produc- minds and I highly encourage all kids, teens, and adults to experience tion of the beloved show, Grease. Grease, the 1971 musical explores the participating in a show or exposing yourself as an audience member intricacy of a group of working class youth, called greasers who were an to the exhilaration of live theater. influential part of social culture in the 1950’s. New Paltz focused on the Youth Theatre groups: Woodstock Youth Theater 845-338-8700 fun of the show, sticking close to its authentic form with little expansion. info bspinfo.net/programs/youth-theater • New Genesis Productions, April brought two other high school shows Neverland and the Lost West Shokan 845-657-5867 newgenesisproductions.org

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 25

THE WALL

Page 26 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

illustration * art *

Artwork by Monty Stewart, age 17

manga * photo * comics * digital * lifestyle * Satire

Art by Madeline Friedman. This piece was cut freehand utilizing the unique line created by the curved blade of cuticle scissors and the detailed tip of an X-Acto knife. The most gratifying aspect of working with simple black paper is the beauty one can create simply with the use of positive and negative space. As the saying goes, the Earth without art is eh.

Drawing by Gabe Martindale, age 12 and Chase Bundschuh, age 12

Drawings by Will Lytle All artwork 20” x 32” price $250.00. Contact thorneater comics on FB *If you have 4 pieces of your artwork for sale, submit them to goodlifejournal@gmail.com

Drawing by Madeline Friedman, age 16

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 27

Poetry

molasses roots

The Untold Departure

Poem and photo by Chloe Rovitz,age 18

i.

dad picked a blackberry

what was he supposed to do, stop

on tuesday evening

his angel, his harvester? no

it was too dark to see how

he was a good dad and had good

black the black

good good sweet maple fluids and

berries were he thought he was just going out for raspberries but

a responsibility to the perseverance of future generations

opened his hands to [the mrs.]

to reveal a black hole and she

one day boy tried to crack an egg

was eaten

And you are gone Noting your absence Is an eruption of unease Nocturnal restlessness That rustles like old paper Time is measured in Voicemails and disapproving glances

and never seen again

didn’t break he threw it

Diluted comfort

on the ground and that

And trances broken by

was a mistake because this time it cracked

ii. boy went up to dad tapped

he cracked and tears

on him because it was maple sugaring season dad didn’t like that but it was too late he was too tired and getting drained

came out and step-mom came out of her room and cracked and blood came out and sound came out and someone

more by the moment his son

had turned it up to 10 and

his sweet son whose fingers Photo by Leah Kilb

Phones ring in empty rooms

In forgotten boxes

iii.

didn’t want to be rude so she ate

By Eliza Siegel, age 16

slaps came out and

added up to ten because dad counted when he was born and kissed and kissed 10 times and cried more than

went in and boy went in and in and in in and in in in and in and in in and in and didn’t come out

photos cost to get developed so

There Is A Time

Photo by Laney Nicole Eccleston

Or perhaps only ignorant Queries go unanswered Of an untold departure Where have your wings taken you?

They are weighted with your own disquiet You cannot have traveled far But through this anguished turmoil Of the mind and soul I hope Return baring only the absence Of fear

By Beth Uptegrove, age 18

All will be well

There is a time to love

And there’s a time to hide behind a mask

And there’s a time to let go

A time to change

A time to find faults

And a time to stay the same

A time to only see perfection

And then there’s a time to let yourself loose

Times to laugh And times to cry To let what matters most die A time to hang on with all your might There’s a time to be yourself Page 28 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

The unconcerned

To leave the busy life behind Show the world who you are ready to become

Poetry

The Innocent Night

A Universe Far Away From Reality

Illustration and poem by Theresa Morreale, age 15

I watched the water tickle me As the fireflies floated by.

A light-year

The innocence is uncanny

A century

But never have I felt so alive.

Summer breezes meet me in the most delightful way On this wonderful night.

Shadows dart out of the corner of my eye As I see the moon rise

An eternity It has no meaning for me I drift through the stars and empty space like a long forgotten sleepwalker Never waking up

So full of potential.

Caught in the inferno of my nightmare

With the rising of the moon

Twisting and bending my mind

I can feel the ocean tides slip to and fro.

Catapulted from one end of the universe to the other

The moon, the strength of it all

In a few seconds time as I am falling into an abyss

Plays with the water in the uncanny innocence of it all.

A hush falls in the land

That ends even when it begins It consumes me

As the stars show themselves.

Tantalizing the darkest regions of my soul

The secrets of the universe is at hand

Appealing to my most malicious wishes

But the innocence that marks this night

Figure skating in my brain

Stops us from finding them.

Except it never stumbles or even smiles

The universe is full of secrets And who are we to make it tell us?

It executes its job flawlessly with no pause No moment of pity

I smile uncertainly as a laugh escapes my lips.

It is ice

I feel a presence behind me

Until it will crack and become broken

And I swear someone is there But I know no one is.

I feel myself slipping away as the innocence of the night envelopes me.

I look out to her, so innocent and care free Standing there with the fireflies As the moon reaches its full potential.

She is too laid back, she needs discipline.

But I know that will never come.

Frozen to the core As the first rays of light penetrate the surface Slowly fighting for life And as this happens I must remain an automaton Not moving, not thinking, not existing For if I do I will be thrust into a new dimension of it One in which I suffocate from the inside Devastatingly surrounded by its force until I exist in a place where time and reality flee shaken As I watch a million galaxies flash a trillion colors toward me as I fly by In sympathy? In anger? In sorrow?

And no one really wants to stop her anyhow.

That will always remain a mystery

I envy her freedom, but also fear it As exciting as it sounds

By Clara Griffin

I know the dangers that await those who are not careful. www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 29

Photo by Dylan McNamra

She is too free a spirit to be tied down

Charity

Crossroads Springs Institute

By Agnes Anderson, age 13

Education, Boarding, and Support for AIDS orphans

H

ere is a story about a devastating disease, amazing people, and some very happy children.

You’ve probably heard about the deadly disease of AIDS. It is particularly prevalent in African countries like Kenya.

The death toll of this ruthless epidemic is heartbreaking. In 2003, an estimated 150,000 Kenyans died of AIDs. Now if you think that’s sad, imagine all the orphaned children left behind. In 2003, the number of kids orphaned by AIDS was about 650,000. Maybe after hearing this, next time you think your life is over because you have a couple of zits or your dad is making you pay for the dent you put in his car, you’ll think twice about complaining.

In 2003, my grandmother’s sister, Alison, read an article about orphans of the AIDs epidemic in Africa. She wondered if AIDS was a problem in Hamisi, Kenya where she had worked years before. Alison sent a letter to Meschack Isiaho, the sub-chief in Hamisi. He told her, “Right now I have a list of two hundred desperate children on my

“In 2003, the number of kids orphaned

by AIDS was about 650,000”

Page 30 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

Photo by Alison Hyde

desk.” He wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to helping these orphans, but he was going to need help. After talking to Meschack, Alison sprung into action. In 2004, she and her husband Arthur got some volunteers together and headed to Kenya. Despite the varied ages of the volunteers, they all shared a common goal: to help Meschack finish a school building for AIDS orphans. He named the school Crossroads Springs Institute, after a 1962 group (including Alison and Arthur) called Operation Crossroads that worked in Kenya. One of the volunteers was my grandmother, Eleanor, who says this of the school: “If this building was in America it would have been torn right down, but the African people don’t stop to think if they can do it or not, they just do it.” When the volunteers got there, there were about fifty kids in the school. They had no desks, just one plastic chair for each child.

There was no well, so young women walked to a nearby water source and brought back jugs of water on their heads. The volunteer group stayed for three weeks and worked with the Kenyan people to fix up the school that so many children badly needed.

Lots of people have organized fundraisers for Crossroads Springs.

Recently at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock, the Sunday School kids put on a wonderful musical based on the letters of children from the school. To Crossroads Springs kids, knowing that peo-

ple love and want to help them is invaluable. One eleven year old child wrote, “It makes me as pea as a peacock.”

The small school founded in 2004 has grown quite a bit since then.

Over 300 children, eager to learn, walkup to five miles on Kenya’s rough dirt roads to Crossroads Springs Institute. There they find welcoming teachers (some are orphans themselves) who have a big pot of porridge, doled out into mugs, for the children’s breakfast. They get two meals a day plus a snack, and some children live at the school. The kids at Crossroads Springs are hardworking, ambitious, and have a genuine love for learning. The fifth grade class said in a poem, “I want to make a difference on earth; I want to leave a mark before I depart.”

If you want to learn more about Crossroads springs Institute, make a donation, or sponsor a child, check out their website at www.crossroadssprings.org.

Books

Rosendale Library –more than just BOOKS!

By Nick Plumeri, age 12

V

Photo by Dylan McNamara

isit the historic Rosenand is still the library›s director dale Library located today. at 264 Main Street, Kids can participate in the Rosendale!

Rosendale Library’s Summer This library was originally Reading Program. Grab some built by the family of Andrew J. books and enjoy reading while Snyder in 1876, as a small chaearning a prize or certificate. pel called, “All Saints Episcopal Rosendale residents at least 7 Chapel.” Andrew Snyder was years old may apply for a library the president of the Rosendale card that works at any of the MidCentury Cement Co. Rosendale Hudson Libraries. Want a book cement was used in this building they don’t have? They will have it as well as the Brooklyn Bridge, sent from another library! the Statue of Liberty and other Summer activity programs are buildings and sites, as well. offered. You can check their webIn 1955, the chapel was desite for these programs by clickstroyed and abandoned due to ing the KIDS or PROGRAM link. hurricane flooding. The Rosen(Top of Main Website Page.) dale Women’s Club wanted to Rosendale Public Library’s theme this summer is Dream Big, Read. Join in You can also visit their genbuy it for a library, but a lack of their effort to read 2,500 books this summer and go visit them! tly used books in the Bookcellar, funds prevented that. Andrew Snyder bought 1976, it was repaired as well as a new wing for where a dollar goes a long way. Or, check out and refurbished it for use as a public library. a kid’s room, an office and more. the upstairs “Booktique Bookcase.”

But, in 1975, a fire destroyed most of the inIn 1977, Wendy Alexander, a MLS librarFor more info on the Rosendale library, terior and books. Money was raised and in ian, was named Rosendale Library Director please visit: www.rosendalelibrary.org

Library Calendar Phoenicia Library: Sats: Story time- 11:0012:00 Visit the new Teen Room too! call 845688-7811/ or visit on the web Olive Library: Tues: Story Hour 10:00-11:00 Tue:Home School Study 1:00 Mon:4-H 5:00 activities for children, teens call 845-657-2482 Woodstock Library: Tue: Story Time 4:00 Wednesday: Toddler story time 10:30. Thur: Lilliput Players 4:00 Fri: Story 4:00 Saturday: Family (stories/performers) 10:30. Call Lesley Sawhill 845-679-7149 or woodstocklibrarykids@gmail.com West Hurley Library: .Mon: Pre-school story hour 10:30, Weds: Knitting Group 6:00830, Movie every 4th monday Call 845-6796405 or mailbox@westhurleylibrary.org Kingston Library: Tues: Toddler Story hour,

10:30 Wed: Story Hour 10:30 Thur: Teen Art Club 3:30 Sat: Super Saturdays March 16-Music,20-Magic May 18 Juggler. Call 845-331-0507 x7 Stephanie Morgan/or Web Poughkeepsie Library: Teen Room Open: Mon/Tue2-6, W/Th 2-8 Fri/Sat 2-5. Reading Buddy Program. 845-485-3445 Gardiner Library: Tue: Story 9:30-1045, Wed: story 1:30-2:30, Thur: Group Guitar 5:00, Sat: Young writers 11:30 845-255-1255 Stone Ridge Library: Story Hour Tue/Thurs 2:30-3:30, Tween Book vs. Movie Club, Mar 11, 3-5 April 8, 3-5. 845-687-7023

Saugerties Library: Teen Club Tue & Wed 3:30-4:30. Fitness hour Mon & thur 4:005:00 info call 845-246-4317 Ann Van Damm Rosendale Library: all held at the Rosendale Recreation Center/ Pavilion. Rosendale, NY call 845-658-8955/ rosendalelibrary@hvi.net June 27th, Dogs and Fleas....evening filled with music and fun. All ages.

July 3rd, Summer Writing Club 2:30 to 3:30 July 9th, Make survival Bracelet 2:30 to 4:00 July 17th, Birds of Prey demonstration by Brian Bradley: Sky Hunters in Flight

Elting Memorial Library: New Paltz: Chess Mon 6:30 pm. Knitting for kids Wed’s 4:00.

July 31st, NYC & Rondout Watershed. Kate Roosa

call 845-255-5030

Aug 22nd, End of Summer Celebration for Dream Big, Read. 7:00 to 8:00

www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 31

Reviews

Book Review Me: Konichiwa! I’m here with Alan Brooks, local author of the new young adult novel Indigo: Ink to Blood. This novel tells the story of a girl, Indigo, who wakes up with no memory of her past. Her only clues are a mysterious hand-written note and the intricate tattoos covering her entire body. For those people unfamiliar with the book, could you give a more in depth summary?

ALAN BROOKS: It’s about transformation, and finding yourself. Indigo has escaped an ancient cult with their main weapon, a transformational ink, tattooed all over her body. Now she must figure out who she is and figure out what it is she’s supposed to be doing with her life, while running away from these trained killers!

M: How did you come up with the idea for this story?

AB: I think the main reason was that tattoos have become so popular.

People get tattoos of strong animals, or things that are really beautiful because they want to take part in that beauty and that strength. And I thought the logical extension of that is that you actually become your tattoos.

M: They say “write what you know”… but Indigo, is a teenage Japanese girl, and you aren’t any of those things. How do you relate to her?

Page 32 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com

By Marley Alford, age 17 AB: Yeah, I don’t know. (laughs) I don’t think I share anything with her, she’s a real mystery to me!

Well, my daughter’s a teenage girl; so that helped.

And I enjoy writing fantasy, so when I started writing I just wrote about a character that I thought was really interesting. So it was more, that she was the person I started with.

M: Can you describe your creative process?

AB: I have one rule about writing and that is: Sit down and write one page every day. Which sounds like I’ve set the bar very low. But that’s the point; if you set the bar very low you can’t fail!

M: Does your writing ever go off in it’s own direction?

AB: Well I do tend to write myself into corners, because I just want things to become more interesting and I don’t have a solution for what will happen as the character gets into trouble… Once your character’s in trouble, you can’t even go to sleep at night because you have to figure out how to help them. And you lie, in bed thinking “Oh no, what have I done!?”

Indigo: Ink to Blood is available in print form on Amazon and createspace.com. You can get the ebook on Smashwords.com, the iTunes store, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.com. Visit Alan’s blog at www.butenoughaboutyou.com

Awareness / In Memory

Harm Reduction Psychotherapy

S

ometimes we indulge in behaviors that are extremely detrimental to our lives. More often than not we don’t even realize that we’ve developed these negative habits and are headed toward our own demise until we’ve gone too far. I’ve been there. And in a program I recently volunteered in called AWARENESS, I witnessed far too many teens in this same predicament.

Whether you’re drinking too much, have developed a pill addiction, an eating disorder, a sex issue, or any other form of abuse, realizing you have a problem when you’re a teenager is extremely important.

But it can be very scary to deal with. While you have the support of your parents, you also have the daily pressure from them to get better ASAP! This whole idea of “struggle today, get better tomorrow,” or as some refer to as “the quick fix,” can be destructive for some people.

Some teens can quit their harmful behavior immediately. Others need to take small steps to get to a big place, and that is perfectly fine!

Just ask specialist, Andrew Tatarski.

Having worked for over 30 years with substance abusers he has come to realize that encouraging change rather than abstinence, is a much more successful route to recovery. He calls this process, “harm reduction.”

Harm reduction is a form of therapy that influences people with problems to get better by giving them time and space to make the right choices. People are encouraged to reduce their harmful behavior step by step, not cold turkey. This means cutting down how much you drink gradually. Or, instead of drinking in the woods or other unsafe areas, drinking where you can be monitored and out of an environ-

People are encouraged to reduce their harmful behavior step by step, not cold turkey

Wojtek and Nick Hoit race their bikes through an obstacle course.

Tom Alba at grandmas house.

By Marykate Marley

ment that could potentially kill you.

Andrew Tatarski does a six step series called The Abstinence Alternative on his website, andrewtatarski.com. The six steps provide guidance on how to get better using Harm Reduction.

On the success of Harm Reduction and what he’s learned from working with this form of therapy, Tatarski states, “We need to listen to the patient and start from where the patient is motivated to seek help, which becomes the starting point of treatment.”

Nobody has faced the same exact difficulties as you. Everyone’s struggle is different. And no one heals the same way. Maybe you want to quit whatever it is you are doing today. Maybe you need to take it slow. The important thing is to listen to yourself and know that you have options to get better. Make a positive goal for yourself. The best decision you’ll ever make is to take action.

“Healing yourself is connected with healing others.” –Yoko Ono

Nick Hoit Life is the longest moto you will ever ride and when you cross the finish line all you have are the memories you made and the smiles that you gave. Wojtek and I raced for many years and shared many good times.

Happy Birthday Wojtek Grabowski..I think about rippin it up with you at open practice on Wednesdays, race days, and our trips down to NC during the winter all the time..Hope your still rippin up there buddy. Miss you —Nick Hoit http://youtu.be/yikzq6SV2Yk we put you in the ground but i see you in the stars♥ .. rest easy still ALWAYS thinking about you mr.bartons ♥ — Colleen Arsenault

This journal is dedicated to the memory of our friend Tom Alba www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 33

This journal is dedicated to the memory of our friend Tom Alba