MPJ
military photojournalism 2011
A
D E C A D Eof CHANGE
contents & storytellers
4 | Matthew Livin’ in America Freire | USA
40 | Educating a Green Tomorrow Jason Robertson | USAF
62 | Dating in a Digital Age Sean Harp | USA
12 | New Hope in the Near Westside 44 | Bringing Diversity Home Matthew Moeller | USA Robert Storm | USMC
68 | Strong is the New Skinny Joan Jennings | USAF
20 | Fit Past 50 Ken Melton | USMC
48 | An Unmanned Future Jason Robertson | USAF
72 | Daniel WOOF! Barker | USN
24 | Leah Operation Communication Stiles | USN
50 | Jesse Growing Changes Awalt | USN
78 | Better Brew in Big Demand Dan Love | USA
30 | One Child at a Time
54 | Wheels of Empowerment
82 | Land of Milk and Family
34 | I’m All In
58 | Room for a New Generation
Mark Morrow | USMC
Aj Parson | USM
Stephenie Wade | USAF
Chris Hubenthal | USAF
Joshua L. DeMotts | USAF
From left Mark Morrow, Sean Harp, Ken Melton, Jesse Awalt, Joan Jennings, Josh DeMotts, Dan Love, Matthew Freire, Matthew Moeller, Leah Stiles, Robert Storm, Stephenie Wade, Daniel Barker, Jason Robertson, Chris Hubenthal, Aj Parson
Livin’ in
AMERICA
By Matthew Freire
After a lifetime of wanting a place to call their own, the Koirala family has found home in Syracuse, N.Y.
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he Bhutanese government, in an effort to strengthen Bhutan’s identity as a nation, considered citizens of ethnic Nepal illegal immigrants, though ethnic Nepalese have been living in Bhutan since the 1900s. Rup Koirala was only 9-years-old and his sister Hema three, when the government of Bhutan removed citizenship status from its 107,000 Nepalese minority citizens, whom they labeled Lhotsampa, or ‘southerners.’ The Bhutan government made all their citizens conform to their rules or they were threatened and forced to leave the country. “We were not welcome in Bhutan anymore,” Rup said. “ ‘You are a Koirala. You have no right to stay in Bhutan. Go!’ The government would burn houses and tell us if we don’t leave in 24 hours we will kill you all. So we left Bhutan.” Women were raped, families were jailed and tortured, and their homes were burned to the ground. “The government burned our books. We weren’t allowed to speak Nepali, write Nepali or put on our Nepali dress,” said Rup. “If we did not do as the Bhutan government said, we would be imprisoned and some were killed.”
The Koirala family in their Syracuse, N.Y. home. Parents Uma and Soma 52 sit in front of their three children Danda 19, Rup 31, and Hema 23. Damber (far left) is married to Rup and holds their 16-month-old child Romus.
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Auther | MPJ 2011
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Hema serves food to Soma while Rup sings to him from a Hindu songbook. Soma had a stroke while in a refugee camp in Nepal in 2009, and the left side of his body is paralyzed. “It is very difficult because both my parents are disabled,” Rup said. In the camp, “We were given limited quantity of facilities that was not sufficient to support our life. We had a small place to live and not adequate medical facilities.” Stripped of their citizenship and afraid of worsening conditions, the Koiralas were forced to flee. They settled in Beldangi 1, one of seven refugee camps in neighboring Nepal. “It was not good conditions in the refugee camp,” said Rup Koirala, who spent most of his 31-year-old life in Beldangi 1. “It was very hard living.” In response to this displacement of persons, in 2008 the United Nations founded the Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement Program, arranging permanent resettlement in seven counties. The United States agreed to accept 60,000 refugees — more than half of the displaced persons — 800 of
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whom relocated to Syracuse, N.Y “I remember the foreign minister of America when he went to my refugee camp and told us we will get a chance to live as a human being in America,” Rup said. “I still remember those words spoken by him.” Finally in January 2011, 20 years after leaving their home, the surviving Koriala family members were granted asylum in Syracuse. Rup thought he could easily secure a teaching job in the United States based on six years of experience as a math and English instructor in the refugee camp. He found out once he moved here it wasn’t so easy.
Hema and Damber prepare food in their kitchen. While in a refugee camp in Nepal, “We got no meat, no fruit, no milk, no good food,” Rup said. The Nepal Red Cross Society supplied refugees a ‘food basket’ containing rice, lentils, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and some vegetables every 15 days. Adults and children were given the same amount, Rup said, and because of supply problems they would usually receive only rice and salt. ”We would be hungry all the time.” Every 15 days, each refugee would be rationed 5 kg of rice and 105 grams of salt. That’s about one and a half cups of rice a day.
Matthew Freire | MPJ 2011
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Sarah Hanson, one of the many teachers at the Syracuse City School District Refugee Assistances Program (RAP), helps Hema and other Bhutanese refugees learn English. RAP has been helping refugees resettle in Central New York since 1978. Roughly 12,000 new refugees arrive in the Syracuse area each year. The RAP offers refugees a place to learn American culture and basic English. Hanson has been teaching at RAP for more then 20 years. “I love teaching refugees and learning about all the different cultures that go through here,� Hanson said.
Matthew Freire | MPJ 2011
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Tiffany Turnbull, a human resources administrative assistant for Marquardt Switches Inc., helps Hema, Rup and Damber Korili fill out job applications. “I had a dream to have the same quality of job as a teacher because I have skills in teaching,” Rup said. “I move here and I have a hard time getting even low jobs as a laborer. I must learn better English and get better education for better jobs.” Rup’s sister, Hema, 23, spent almost her entire life in the camp and now faces similar challenges adjusting to her new home. “Learning English is the hardest part,” Hema said. “It’s hard to find a job or do anything if you can’t speak good English.” Hema attends school at the Syracuse City School District Refugee Assistances Program four times a week to learn
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English and American culture. Her lack of education and English skills are the only things preventing her from securing a job. “I go to the English class so I can communicate better in America and help provide for my family,” Hema said. The Koiralas decided to relocate to the United States because of greater opportunities for their future. Despite the difficulties he and his family are experiencing, Rup is still happy with their choice. “I wanted to move to America because I wanted a future for my kids,” Rup said. “There is no future in a refugee camp. There is a good future for us here in America. America is very nice. I am very happy to be here.”
Hema at Chatholic Charities imigrant school learning english from XXXX XXXXXX. XXXXX XXXXX has been teaching english for over 15 years.
Rup and Hema fill out job applications in the cafeteria at Marquardt Switches Inc. “We used to have high-quality education in refugee camp. We used to think we will get a good job when we move to America. We get here and find we can only get entry-level jobs as laborers,” said Rup. “We need to get educated training in different fields to get better jobs.” Rup taught math and English in the refugee camp for six years. “We speak good English but not perfect. Because of that we are facing problems finding jobs.”
Matthew Freire | MPJ 2011
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Kathy Miranda stands outside her 1,400-squarefoot, single-family home at 317 Marcellus Street. The house is one of three environmentally friendly homes built in the Near Westside.
New Hope in the
Near Westside By Matthew Moeller
What does it take to save a neighborhood? That’s the question residents of Syracuse’s Near Westside are asking themselves. Crossing under the railroad bridges that mark the entrance of Near Westside, visitors quickly realize that the neighborhood is literally on the wrong side of the tracks. Its abandoned homes and factories sit in stark contrast to its bording middleclass and upper middle class neighborhoods. One in three people live below the federal poverty line here, a rate three times higher than the national average. Half of the neighborhood’s residents never completed high school. According to city police, the neighborhood accounts for only six percent of Syracuse’s population, but more than 20 percent of all reported gunfire, as well as more than 10 percent of all violent felonies in 2010. But now community members, business leaders, nonprofit organizations and Syracuse University have joined together to help breathe new life into the neighborhood. Spending more than $44 million, the coalition hopes to transform the economically depressed area into a hub for art and culture in Central New York and beyond.
These are just some of the people helping make this change possible.
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Kathy Miranda
The Green Homeowner When Kathy Miranda and her husband John decided to leave their upscale condo in Syracuse’s upper middle class neighborhood of Armory Square in the beginning of 2011, they knew it would be a big change. “After seeing this house, we knew it was the right decision.” Her home, called “Live Work Home,” is one of three green houses built in the Near Westside. Made out of largely composite, recycled and reclaimed material, the 1,400 square foot, single-family home, “has a unique look, for sure,” Kathy said. “I can see myself 30 years from now living here,” Kathy said, “picking apples from my tree in my backyard and giving them out to the neighborhood kids.”
Matthew Moeller | MPJ 2011
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Forrest Williams P.E.A.C.E., Inc.
Helping struggling families get a new start in life might be too much for the average 20-year-old. But but not for Forrest Williams. “I help families get back on their feet and pursue their goals by developing an action plan,” said Williams, who is currently working with 15 families at P.E.A.C.E., Inc., an umbrella community action agency. “Some are looking for jobs. Some want to back to school and get their GED. Whatever they need, I try to do for them.” The life-long Near Westside resident knows how outsiders view his neighborhood, but to him, it’s mostly hype. “It’s not really that different here than [in the suburbs],” he said. “It’s just in the inner city, stuff gets more publicized.”
Forrest Williams helps Darmon Lyndsey with math homework at P.E.A.C.E., Inc. Besides helping neighborhood families get back on thier feet, Williams and P.E.A.C.E., Inc. work with local school children.
Forrest Williams supervises as P.E.A.C.E., Inc. volunteers Arturo Ortiz and Deborah Vega sort through a donation of houshold goods.
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“The Near Westside is a great place,” 20-year-old, life-long Near Westside resident Forrest Williams said. “I think the neighborhood is going to look beautiful when the revitalization is finished and more people are going to want to call it home.”
Matthew Moeller | MPJ 2011
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“In the last 20 years, the Near Westside was one of the most poverty stricken areas in the United States,” said Caroline Szozda-McGowan. “I know it still has a long way to go, but it’s so exciting to see it change.”
“People are noticing how it’s getting better here, and feel like it’s a safer neighborhood,” Caroline Szozda-McGowan said as she moved a painting displayed in her Near Westside gallery.
Caroline Szozda-McGowan shows Ray Trudell, a factory worker and photographer, around her 800-square-foot gallery. “We’re saving the neighborhood through art, culture and community,” she said.
Caroline Szozda-McGowan
Delavan Center and Szozda Gallery
When Caroline Szozda-McGowan opened Szozda Art Gallery in May 2010, she chose the Delavan Center on 501 West Fayette Street. Since opening in the 1970s, the 120-year-old building has been a hub for regional artists and craftsman, but it’s also been fighting the stigma of its Near Westside location.
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Maarten Jacobs stands near the main entrance of the more than 100-year-old Lincoln Supply Building, at 109 Otisco Street. “It looked a lot different before,” Jacobs remarked on the $4 million renovation. “I could show you a picture right now and you wouldn’t believe you were in the same place.”
Maarten Jacobs addresses members of the Syracuse police and neighborhood residents at the Spanish Action League, about the city’s decision to install security cameras in the Near Westside. The neighborhood accounted for more than 20 percent of all reported gunfire in 2010.
Maarten Jacobs speaks to members of the Westside Arts Council, “A lot of my job is just going out and meeting with people, and hearing their thoughts on how to improve their community,” Jacobs said.
Maarten Jacobs
Near Westside Initiative
Maarten Jacobs is the director of the Near Westside Initiative, a joint non-profit organization spearheaded by Syracuse University. Founded in 2007, the organization’s mission is to combine art, technology and innovation with neighborhood values to attract new residents, and to improve the lives of old ones.
Matthew Moeller | MPJ 2011
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Juan Cruz holds a 1970s portrait of himself in front of one of the many murals he has painted in the Near Westside. “The city made me paint over it. Too political, they said,” Cruz commented.
Juan Cruz paints in his studio home given to him for his role as the Near Westside’s Artist in Residence.
Juan Cruz
Artist in Residence “That should do it,” Juan Cruz said, as he dabbed blue paint onto the canvas in his 216 Tully Street home. “I think this is going to turn out nice.” Cruz was a 28-year resident of the Near Westside, until the early 2000s, when he moved back to his native Puerto Rico. In 2008, Cruz returned to retouch one of his “masterpieces,” a giant mural displayed across the outside walls of Onondaga Commons, less than a mile from the his current home. According to the 69-year-old Cruz, it was around this time that the Near Westside Initiative asked him to become the neighborhood’s first artist in residence. “How could I refuse,” he said. Cruz plans on fulfilling his five-year pledge to the community by opening up an art, music and fashion school in his first-floor workspace. “It’s all about the kids,” Cruz said. “That is the real future of this neighborhood. We need to teach them to do something other than get into trouble and roam the streets.”
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“This neighborhood is changing for the better,� said Juan Cruz, Artist in Residence for the Near Westside.
Matthew Moeller | MPJ 2011
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20 | MPJ 2011 | Fit Past Fifty
FIT
50
past
By Ken Melton
As baby boomers approach their senior years, many are dancing their way to fitness through new exercise techniques. Zumba, an exercise that combines music and dancing with fitness, has attracted many of them.
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ost people picture their parents and grandparents aging gracefully in their later years: relaxing on the couch with a book, enjoying a restful day on a front porch swing or doing relaxing hobbies. But most would be in shock to know that many in the baby boomer generation are not “going quietly into the night.” Baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964, the next generation of seniors or older adults are
Gina Rohde, 52, recently retired from being a hair stylist after 30 years to pursue her “calling” as a Zumba instructor, largely for senior citizens.
striving to remain healthy. The YMCA of Greater Syracuse currently has more than 2,500 members who are 62 years of age and older according to Lisa Paschmeyer, executive director of North Area Family YMCA, Liverpool, NY. Gina Rohde, 52, is one of many people in her generation who has adopted a more active lifestyle as she ages. The former hairstylist is now a Zumba instructor with a strong
Gina Rohde lost more than 100 pounds and has kept it off by doing Zumba. At age 52, she is now an instructor for this fun, Latin-inspired dance fitness craze. Ken Melton | MPJ 2011
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Many senior citizens are staying fit with Zumba. According to the AARP, in 2010 there were approximately 79 million baby boomers. Another person turns 50 every seven seconds and another person tuns 65 every eight seconds.
“I teach about seven, maybe nine classes a week,” Gina Rohde said. “I love teaching Zumba Gold. The older people love to move and dance. They are so excited.”
focus on the older Zumba Gold class, but she also teaches classes for other age groups. “I teach about seven, maybe nine classes a week,” Rohde said. “I love teaching Zumba Gold. The older people love to move and dance, they are so excited.” Zumba, is a Latin-inspired dance workout that was started in the early ’90s, but has recently gained popularity over the past few years, according to the Zumba website. Rohde admits she was not always this conscious of her fitness and one point she was “tired of being, sick and tired.” “I went hunting with my husband in Wyoming and it was five miles roundtrip with gear and rifles,” Rohde said. “I did that when I was 100 pounds more than I am now. When I got down to the bottom of the hill, that was the day I realized things have to change.” Rohde went on to lose those pounds and keep them off for over three years through diet, exercise and her faith in God. During her journey, she had another revelation. “I was a Zumba student for a year and it was the first aerobic exercise that I loved,” Rohde said. “All the constant energy and knowing you can’t do it wrong. I realized I could teach this.” Whether through sports, fitness groups or classes, seniors are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the health lifestyle.
“I believe they are a group of people who led active lifestyles in their younger years and want to maintain their physical health and wellness as they age,” Paschmeyer said. “As our nation also fights a health crisis with chronic disease on the rise, people who may not have lived a healthy lifestyle are now being encouraged to do so as they work to combat obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. ...that will in turn help them to live a longer, healthier life.” The average age in Rohde’s Zumba Gold is 60, but she also reaches out to those who are older and wheelchair bound, by teaching a half hour class at an assisted living facility. “Having someone come up to me after class and thank me, saying it was the best class ever, that makes it priceless,” said Rohde. “Even when I am having a bad day it all melts away once the music starts and the gold light up.” According to Rohde, while there are many other fitness classes, groups and events that active older adults take part in, she places her faith in Zumba. She hopes that at the end of every class, every person leaves with not only an “I did it” attitude but also an “I can do this” attitude. “I will continue keeping a healthy, strong positive attitude. Fitness is a part of my life forever,” Rohde said. “We are younger older people, not how our parents were at 50.” Ken Melton | MPJ 2011
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Amber Orr and son Camden chat on webcam with U.S. Army Captain Ethan Orr. “We are so lucky that we have been able to have amazing communication since he’s been gone,” said Amber. “We text all day, he can call, we can call him, we Skype with him, and we email every day.”
Operation Communication By Leah Stiles
Modern computers and phones help deployed military members stay in better contact with families more now than ever before. When Army Capt. Ethan Orr left for Afghanistan, his son was a baby. Through webcam, he formed a relationship with his little boy.
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Ethan watches his son eat breakfast on Skype. “The video calls were pretty much the only way I could have stayed connected,” said Ethan. Leah Stiles | MPJ 2011
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Amber takes a moment after putting her baby to bed to send an email to her deployed husband. “Night time is certainly the hardest,” said Amber. “Once the baby is in bed, and the toys are picked up, and the dishes are done, it’s like ‘Oh wow, I’m here by myself.’ ”
Amber receives a text from her husband in Afghanistan.
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he base gymnasium was filled with red, white and blue balloons, handpainted signs, and families anxiously awaiting their soldiers’ return. Amber Orr paced back and forth in the gym while pushing her 14-monthold son Camden around in a stroller. Finally, the soldiers marched in and
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lined up in long, straight lines where their families anticipated their dismissal. Amber cheered and waved as her tear-filled eyes scanned the group for her husband, U.S. Army Captain Ethan Orr. She had been without him for many missed holidays and occasions, including Camden’s first birthday during the six
months he was deployed out of Fort Drum to 1st Brigade Headquarters Battalion in Afghanistan. “I worry about Camden not recognizing him, or being afraid of him, and how that would make Ethan feel which breaks my heart,” said Amber. “With Skyping, and hearing his voice on
Amber and Camden play games on webcam with Ethan. They often use Skype during breakfast. the phone, or having pictures around the house, I’m hoping that will make the transition smoother for them.” The increased opportunities in staying connected are helping to pave the way for a smooth transition when returning home. “We are so lucky that wez have been
able to have amazing communication since he’s been gone,” she said. “We text all day, he can call, we can call him, we Skype with him, and we email every day.” According to a recent New York Times article, the Pentagon, which for years resisted allowing unfettered Internet access on government
computers because of cyber-security concerns, has now embraced the revolution, saying instant communication is a huge morale boost for troops and their families. Amber said having the ability to use the webcam has really helped Camden know who his father is.
Leah Stiles | MPJ 2011
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Amber takes a photo of Camden to send to his father before his homecoming.
Camden holds on to his mother. “I’m secretly happy that Camden isn’t walking yet. I feel like he is saving the special moment for when his father returns,” said Amber. “Camden doesn’t see the emails, he doesn’t see the texts, so being able to see his father’s face on that computer screen and hear his voice keeps him fresh in his mind,” said Amber. Amber bounced Camden on her hip to the beat of the Army Band’s drum, and told him, “You’re going to see dada!” The packed gymnasium was silent for only a moment before the U.S. Army General yelled “DISMISSED!” More than 200 soldiers rushed to the sidelines to reunite with their families. Through the vision of soldiers scattering, their eyes met and they ran
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through the crowd to each other. Suddenly, Amber and Camden were embraced in his arms again. Ethan kissed his wife then reached for his son. Camden was apprehensive to go immediately to his father’s arms. Within moments, Camden’s eyes locked on to his father’s and it became clear that he recognized the face that he had seen so many times on the computer. Ethan’s eyes lit up when he reached for his little boy. He excitedly grabbed Camden, lifted him over his head and held him in the air with pride.
It was vital to Amber to ensure that Ethan not leave his son as a tiny baby and suddenly come back to a toddler. She worked tirelessly to help him watch Camden grow so neither would be shocked with the other once reunited. “Initially there was a pause, and at first my heart started beating that he didn’t recognize me, and then I started seeing him crack a smile, and then after a couple seconds he let me hold him, and then I started realizing that he did get who I was,” said Ethan. “Webcam — that was my saving grace for having some kind of relationship with my son.”
Camden warms up to his father at the homecoming following a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.
“Webcam — that was my saving grace for having some kind of relationship with my son.” – Ethan Orr The Orrs stop for a family photo just following the homecoming. Leah Stiles | MPJ 2011
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ONE
CHiLD at a time
By Mark Morrow
A Syracuse psychiatrist uses modern technology to help children and their families learn to cope with behavioral issues.
Dr. Henry Roane observes as Nicole Barry flails in anger at Syracuse University student Christie McCarthy as she holds the 9-year-old autistic girl’s iPhone. Roane helps Barry develop better coping skills for her anger issues.
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Mark Morrow | MPJ 2011
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Dr. Henry Roane records the results of his session with Nicole Barry, a 9-year-old autistic girl. Roane is one of the only doctors in Central New York to use behavioral conditioning therapy to help treat autistic children.
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r. Henry Roane, an associate professor in the psychiatry department at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, prepares for each evaluation with a child the same way: he slides protective guards up his arms, in case his patient becomes violent. Roane has been working with children with autism since 1994. “I was at LSU as an undergrad and I took a course in the psychology of learning and my professor showed me a video of these adults engaging in self injury,” Roane, 38, said. “Then he talked
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about how he used his training to treat that problem. I had an aunt that was mentally retarded and after seeing the video I thought of her and volunteered to work with him. He specialized in working with children.” Working with autistic or mentally challenged children is a demanding job, and Roane depends on members of his staff to help him gather data on the sessions and monitor the results. Dr. Niamh Doyle, 34, is a psychologist who works with Roane during every session to assist in gathering data and
observing the sessions. Doyle is usually assisted by one college student, often seated outside the room on the other side of the glass during sessions, where they watch Roane work. Doyle also advises Roane of the data collected during sessions and talks to parents about their children and their behavior at home. Roane and Doyle have been working with Nicole Barry, 9, since January. They have been helping manage her aggression during each session using Applied Behavioral Analysis. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA),
Dr. Henry Roane sets his timer before taking away Nicole Barry’s laptop to see how long it will take the 9-year-old autustic girl to get angry, as part of a treatment to help her control her emotions.
Nicole Barry cries as her mother Michelle puts on her jacket after a difficult session. ”Sometimes, her sessions go well and sometimes she just has bad days,” Michelle said.
“Dr. Roane has an excellent way of turning on and off humor as needed, which both serves to lighten intense moments in the sessions as well as develop relationships with children and parents alike.” –Dr. Niamh Doyle
developed in the 1960s, is a mixture of psychology and education that are based on the needs of each individual child to measure behavior, teach functional skills and evaluate progress. “We have taught Nicole, at this point in her treatment, to take turns, which for her meant she couldn’t go two seconds without freaking out in the beginning,” Roane said. “Now she is up to about 112 seconds without freaking out.” However, Nicole is just one of the four children that Roane and his staff have seen every weekday for the past year.
Roane tries to help as many children as he can, since his is the only clinic of its kind using Applied Behavior Analysis in Syracuse. According to him, he is limited by the facility’s size and funding. “Right now I have a three-year wait list of parents with children waiting to see me. I see four kids at a time and I have 100 kids on my wait list,” Roane said. “I am not that much delusional to say we are changing America by what we do here, but we have some impact on training people like students and parents on how to help these kids.”
Mark Morrow | MPJ 2011
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‘I’M ALL IN’ A NEW GENERATION OF POKER PLAYERS By Aj Parson
Stephen Z. Gabriel plays poker for a living, and must continue to play every day to maintain his way of life. Poker players call this ‘The Grind.’ While online poker revenues continue to grow from $83 million in 2001 to $30 billion in 2010, Gabriel risks it all for the chance to cash in.
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Aj Parson MPJ 2011
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Gabriel glances at his cards, which turn out to be a reasonably large hand in Texas Hold ’em.
Gabriel and friends play a game of poker on a Wednesday night in Syracuse.
S
ince the World Series of Poker boosted the popularity of Texas Hold ‘em back in 2002, more than 50 million Americans have joined the action that full-time poker player Stephen Z. Gabriel is calling “the online poker generation.” Gabriel, 25, is a full-time poker player. The Syracuse native said his age group and the online poker community are the reasons for the sport’s growth. “Our generation absolutely revolutionized poker play simply by numbers,” Gabriel said. “Look at the
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simple number of people in the WSOP since 2001 to now. You are looking at about 2,300 people as opposed to the 700 or 800 that played a day.” Most poker players do not play poker as a way to make a living, however, they enjoy the connections and friends they meet during a live game as opposed to online. Gabriel and his friends meet every Wednesday night for a “friendly” poker game, but there is no friendship when money is on the table. Tommy DePasquale, Gabriel’s 24-yearold friend and fellow poker player, said
their routine live game has become the highlight of his week. “I look forward to Wednesday night because I get to get away from my girlfriend, and be around the guys in a social atmosphere,” DePasquale said. “Yeah, all these guys are my buddies, but ultimately I am trying to win their money. I will buy them a beer later.” The Poker Players Alliance, a nonprofit interest group that was formed to promote poker and players rights, has estimated that out of the 23 million people who play poker regularly, 15
Gabriel enjoys Texas Hold ‘em with his friends. He spends the majority of his day playing high stakes online poker, but live games give him social interaction that computers can’t. million play online for money. Of that 15 million, 58 percent of the players are under the age of 30. Gabriel, like many other players his age, said the amount of money he realized he could make is what ultimately influenced him into gambling full-time. “As I was watching the WSOP back in high school, it became more interesting to me that these doctors, lawyers and master’s degrees just gave it all up because they could make more money playing cards,” Gabriel said. “They were playing something you don’t even need a high
“Our generation absolutely revolutionized poker play simply by numbers.” school degree to do, and that is what became incredible to me. When I saw an out where I could make a thousand plus dollars a week without having a high school degree or a college degree and being able to use that money to progress myself
through college is the best opportunity in the world. I can’t not take that.” At the top of his game, Gabriel was making $1,000 a week on high-stakes online poker. His career took a downward swing, like most players experience, that caused him to move back into his father’s house in November. Gabriel said poker is full of ups and downs, but the players who have some type of financial backing are the ones who have a better chance of making it. “I was young and dumb with my money,” Gabriel said. “I was taking all my friends out to eat. I bought a new car. Aj Parson MPJ 2011
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Gabriel winces after a loss to an inferior hand. He knows all too well about the swings of professional gambling. I was just ridiculous. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I realized that I had no other money coming in, and I just lost the last of my money online.” Gabriel said that a job waiting tables was a good solution for financial backing while playing poker full-time online. He said the cash bankroll that people can receive from waiting tables is ideal for young inspiring players like him. In the last three years, an invasion of young poker players has emerged. Professional players like 21-year-old Joe
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Cada and 22-year-old Peter Eastgate have both taken home WSOP championships this year with combined earnings of over $17.6 million. Some consider these young phenomenons the face of the new generation of poker. Although Gabriel has not continued his education due to playing full-time, he advises his peers to continue their education no matter how early they experience success. He said he feels that an education is always a good thing to fall back on. “Some of these kids are going to Ivy
League schools,” Gabriel said in disbelief. “Some of them could be guaranteed seven plus figures, and they are giving it up for the ‘chance’ to be WSOP champion. You can do both!” As of April 18, 2011, all online players face major changes to their way of life. Federal authorities indicted the three biggest online poker sites on charges of bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling. The government shut down Gabriel’s online site PokerStars, along with Full Tilt
Gabriel plays online poker, run through his TV at his home in Manlius. Gabriel makes most of his money playing online. Gabriel’s zones in during a series of big money bets in an online game of poker. He played 18 hours straight, refusing to sleep, because of a slow- action night. “I probably made five cents an hour today.”
and Absolute Poker. Gabriel said this change in online gambling would both hurt and help him. He said that although he will loose the convenience of playing at home, more people will be forced to play live games in places like Turning Stone Casino, in Verona, N.Y. He considers live play the strong point of his game. “It is going to change the entire poker world,” Gabriel said. “It will be forcing people to adjust so much of their game to live play. This will be nice for players like me.”
Aj Parson MPJ 2011
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Educating a
Green Tomorrow
Morrisville State College trains students to install and maintain this generation’s energy systems. By Jason Robertson
T
he Renewable Energy Technology program at State University of New York Morrisville State College in Morrisville, N.Y. is leading the way in training students to become installation and service experts in many renewable energy platforms. “Our students graduate with an associates of applied science degree and the training they need to install and maintain an energy system,” said Morrisville Renewable Energy Professor Dr. Philip Hofmeyer. Two years after starting with
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a $2 million grant from the New York State Department of Labor, the energy program will see its first graduating class this May. The program offers the basic instruction for installing and servicing renewable energy systems such as small wind, solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, micro hydroelectric, and bio-fuels systems. Along the way, the 38 students enrolled in the progam also take courses that teach the safety aspects of installations. In the tower climbing class students learn to safely climb a
Working at the top of a 120-foot wind turbine tower on the SUNY Morrisville State College campus, renewable energy technology professor Dr. Ben Ballard helps Morrisville junior Tyler Palmer learn to safely climb, install and maintain renewable energy systems. Jason Robertson | MPJ 2011
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Renewable Energy Professor Dr. Philip Hofmeyer serves as a safety monitor as Steven Muller climbs a 120-foot tower on the Morrisville campus. The students learn to climb in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. 120-foot wind turbine tower according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. “The course is definitely hands-on,” said Josh Monroe, a 20-year-old junior from Norwich, N.Y. “I installed a wind turbine at my house that I use to power my garage where I run my auto mechanics business out of,” said Steven Muller, a 40-yearold car mechanic who is in his second year of the renewable energy program. After becoming interested
in an alternative way to power the tools in his garage, Muller enrolled in the Renewable Energy Technology program the first semester offered. “I always like tearing things apart and knowing how they work before I install something on a customer’s house or car,” said Muller, who hopes to one day be installing wind turbines as a part-time business. Hofmeyer said, “Starting from scratch I’m proud of where the program has gone in two years and am excited to see where it goes from here.”
Morrisville State College students practice climbing an 18-foot indoor mock wind turbine tower during winter in Upstate New York. Jason Robertson | MPJ 2011
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Bringing DIversity HOME
By Robert Storm
120,000 children are adopted each year. 10,000 of those are international adoptions.The Lydfords have adopted 13. It’s a cultural melting pot at the home of the Lydfords. Sonya and her husband Robert, of Vernon Center, have adopted 13 children who range in age from 4 to 30. The family has also grown with the addition of five grandchildren. While most families would be daunted with the adoption of so many children, the Lydfords are in the process of adopting three more. To make matters even more interesting, most of the children come from other countries. The oldest currently living in the house, Zeneida Lydford, 15, comes from Puerto Rico while the four younger children are from Liberia: Alice Yei Klembia, 12; Zack Konnah, 10; Rita Ann, 9; and Mark Konnah, 7. The youngest, Mateo Lydford, 4, was adopted at birth in the United States. “It was so cool. I got to cut his umbilical cord and name him, he’s the only one we’ve had since birth,” Sonya said. While most of the kids were shy upon their arrival to their home, they quickly adapted and are happy with their family and lives. In the beginning, the children were amazed at little things like toilets, indoor heating and other modern conveniences. They quickly adapted and enjoy all the normal amenities of everyday life. “It’s a good feeling, eating whenever you want and not having to worry about food, and to know that your family loves you even if you are bad,” Zack said. According to Sonya, all the children had a hard time adjusting to the normal American lifestyle. Sonya Lydford and her children read together every day, while the family dog rests. The children take turns reading pages from the story. “It’s one of my favorite times of the day,” said Rita Ann, 9.
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Robert Storm | MPJ 2011
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The children accompany Sonya as she does the grocery shopping. “The most children we’ve ever had in the house has been eight. We have six right now, but three more are coming, so we’ll have nine soon,” Sonya said. “A new record.” “I’ve caught every one of my kids stealing food at home,” Sonya said. “That seems to be one of the hardest things for my kids to adjust to – the fact that they can eat whenever they want.” Sonya home-schools the kids, and they get to choose some of the classes they take. In addition to normal math, writing and reading classes they take jewelry making and civil war history. The Lydfords take the
kids to soccer practice Monday through Thursday and also encourage them to play sports such as baseball and basketball. “When we first went to adopt, I was told they’d interview me and then select me from a group of candidates,” Sonya said. “I left immediately. I didn’t want kids that everyone else wanted, I wanted the kids that were forgotten, that needed someone to care for them.”
More than 30 pairs of shoes cover the floor of the family’s storage room.
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All of the children are home-schooled. A nearby Christian school accepts home-schooled children for sports teams. The children have been involved in soccer, basketball, baseball, karate and even a bowling team. “When I was a kid I used to baby-sit two kids for my neighbor and it was so boring, “ Sonya said. “I’ve always wanted a big family.”
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A U.S. Air Force Airman operates the camera sensor on an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned drone during a training mission flown from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long endurance unmanned aircraft system, with a primary mission of close air support, air interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
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an
Master Sgt. David Renfrew fills out a maintenance log for a MQ-9 Reaper in Syracuse, N.Y.
Unmanned
The 174th Fighter Wing has the technology needed to place ‘warheads on foreheads’ from a cockpit in Syracuse.
J
ust over a year has passed since the last two F-16 Fighting Falcons took off for their final mission from New York Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Wing. Today, the 174th transitioned to the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft and is supporting operations in Afghanistan. “Our mission is to support the president and any combatant commander’s request,” said Col. Greg Semmel, Vice Wing Commander of the 174th Fighter Wing. On a daily basis, the 174th provides ground commanders in theater with
future
full motion video surveillance of the battlefield. “It’s an amazing technology that we can sit here in Syracuse, New York and fly the airplane over in the Afghanistan theater,” said Col. Semmel. The 174th pilots go to combat every day, flying remote combat missions from Hancock Field, Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y. “Our pilots feel that they are making a difference every day,” said Col. Semmel. “If there is a need to deploy ordinance, the 174th can strike a target designated by the ground commander. The
By Jason Robertson
end goal is to save lives on the battlefield.” “The MQ-9 Reaper benefits us by giving us a very small footprint when we have to deploy forward into theater,” said Col. Semmel. Before, when operating the F-16, the 174th deployed with 12 aircraft and approximately 500 Airmen. Now, with the MQ-9, the 174th can deploy forward with a very small team of between 40 to 50 Airmen who launch, recover and maintain the aircraft. “This is the future of the Air Force, and the 174th is proud to be involved,” said Col. Semmel. Jason Robertson | MPJ 2011
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GROWING CHANGES By Jesse Awalt
Finger Lakes Fresh, a not-for-profit hydroponic greenhouse in Ithaca, N.Y., produces crops year-round to support its mission: employing people with work barriers.
I
thaca, N.Y. is not a place where vegetables have historically grown during winter months. The city endures frigid temperatures and an average of 67.3 inches of snowfall each year. But, the frigid cold doesn’t stop the staff at Finger Lakes Fresh, a greenhouse in Ithaca, from producing fresh, healthy vegetables 365 days a year. Production of leafy greens in year-round greenhouses is not a new business practice. What makes Finger Lakes Fresh unique is their staff: people with barriers to employment. The greenhouse is an operational extension of Challenge, a non-profit organization that was founded upon the idea of employing people with barriers to work. “It actually gives agriculture’s related said employment to individuals here year-round, and its consistent,” Challenge President Patrick McKee. “People can count on it every day; it’s not seasonal the way much of [agriculture] is.” Prospective employees come to Challenge to find work for a number of reasons. Most are referred by state-run agencies. Some employees are there because of mental disabilities. Other staff members find work there because of language barriers or financial trouble. A few employees are working to with out government welfare, support themselves. Finger Lakes Fresh earns income by selling the plants grown in the greenhouse in order to reduce Challenge’s reliance on state funding. The money earned is reinvested into the growing operation.
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Tee Hla uses a pole to reach arugula floating in the greenhouse’s computer-regulated pool of water.
(Left) Arugula spouts after being seeded in the greenhouse. (Center) Arugula roots dangle from a board after being pulled from the water. (Right) A head of lettuce sits on the production line before packaging. Jesse Awalt | MPJ 2011
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(Top) Gaw Tha Paw and Tee Hla remove vegetables from boards that held them in the greehouse’s hydroponic pool. (Center) Moo Lerh Paw pushes a cart full of arugula towards the greenhouse production line. (Bottom) Karen Hamilton assists Luke Schickel in organizing cleaned boards used to suspened vegetables in water.
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Pawteh Dee sorts arugula after bagging it at Finger Lakes Fresh. Produce bagged at the greenhouse distributed to grocery stores and restaraunts.
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Wheels of
Empowerment After being paralyzed in 2005, Greg Callen wanted to help the disabled community. Four years ago he created one of the only nonprofits in Central New York with the goal of improving lives of the physically disabled through sports.
By Stephenie Wade Stephenie Wade | MPJ 2011
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Participants get ready to throw orange ducks into the middle of a basketball court at Leighton Elemenary School during Move Along’s Inc. 3rd Annual “Shoot for the Stars” fundraiser in Oswego, N.Y. Move Along Inc. is a Central New York nonprofit founded by Greg Callen in 2009. When he created Move Along Inc. his goal was to bring families and friends of physically disabled individuals together to gain life skills and adapt to their conditions through participation in recreational activities. “Confined to a wheelchair.” Those are four words no one wants to hear after being in an accident. In 2005, Greg Callen fell off a secondstory balcony. His injuries left him a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. According to Callen, it was through his accident that a “hero’s tragedy” evolved into a new organization. In 2009 he started Central New York’s Move Along Inc., aimed at growing the confidence of disabled individuals through sports.
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“We don’t just provide athletics,” said Callen. “We provide life skills and values, which people can learn and carry throughout their life. It’s all about building their confidence in themselves.” Brittany Kaye, 7-years-old, has Spina Bifida, a congenital defect of the spine that left her paralyzed in her lower limbs. It forces her to use both a wheelchair and forearm crutches daily. She’s been an active participant in the organization since the program’s inception.
The first time Brittany participated in a activity she described it as being similiar to a Disney World experience. Brittany’s mother, Karen, has noticed not only a change in her daughter, but a change in the whole family. “Move Along offers our family a great support system, fun activities and more smiles than we could have ever possibly imagined,” Karen said. “Move Along members have taught our family that if you believe it, you can
Caleb Leonard, 8, Greg Callen and Jaden Wagner, 8, stretch before a game of wheelchair basketball at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse. The wheelchair basketball game is one of many recreational activities the nonprofit Move Along Inc. offers to its participants. In addition to basketball, Move Along Inc. offers tennis and sled hockey.
do it. There is always a way, you just need to make it happen,” Karen said. Callen hopes to expand his program across the region by going into the community. He does this by educating people about what his program provides. “With the sustainablitly of the programs we are progressing towards the ultimate goal of having Move Along Inc. in multiple destinations throughout the country,” Callen said.
After the 3rd annual “Shoot for the Stars” fundraising event for the nonprofit Move Along Inc., Greg Callen approaches Caleb Leonard, 8, to discuss his goals and encourages him to participate in upcoming activities.
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Imam Yaser Alkhooly conducts the Friday prayer known as Jumah to an overflow crowd at the Islamic Society of Central New York in Syracuse.
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Room for a new
Generation By Chris Hubenthal
In the past decade, the Muslim population is estimated to have doubled in the United States to 8 million. The Islamic Society of Central New York in Syracuse experienced similar growth and is overflowing with worshippers.
People wait to enter the Islamic Society of Central New York prior to a Friday prayer. Attendance at Friday prayer has more than doubled in the past 10 years, often reaching 800 worshippers.
W
hen Muslims go to the Islamic Society of Central New York, space to pray has become limited. The facility was built in 1981 to handle 300 people — considerably more than were attending at the time. According to Imam Yaser Alkhooly, Friday prayer often draws as many as 800, and the Muslim community has grown to approximately 15,000 in the area. Alkhooly, the Imam of the Islamic Society of Central New York, said the growth of the
Muslim community has made it difficult for the center to accommodate people’s needs. “Islam is now the second largest religion. It used to be the third largest,” Alkhooly said. The Islamic Society of Central New York is often packed during the Friday prayer known as Jumah. During Ramadan, tents are constructed outside the facility so Muslims unable to fit within the center can be shielded from the sun. Muslims attending will find seating where they can, but many are forced to pray outside
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After shoe racks get filled, worshippers put shoes in any available space in the main entrance of the Islamic Society of Central New York.
A child peeks above a praying crowd that fills all available space during the Friday prayer at the Islamic Society of Central New York. the main worship area near the facility’s main entrance. “You see how people are praying on the stairs sometimes and in the summer we have to have tents outside,” Alkhooly said. “We have to have people pray everywhere around here.” Magda Bayoumi, an Islamic Society of Central New York board member, remembers how the Muslim community was before its significant growth. “When we started the prayer we had two or three rows of men in the front, and three or four women in the back. There used to be a big gap in between,” Bayoumi said. “Day after day and year after year that gap closed and it was getting crowded.” “We built a balcony upstairs for the women, and after building the balcony we found out that the men still didn’t have enough space needed so we started to use the basement,” Bayoumi said. “So we are definitely growing.” Despite these upgrades to the Islamic
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Society of Central New York, the number of people showing up for events is still larger than the maximum capacity of the facility. Because of this increase in attendance, a new project to build a larger community center has been planned. According to Alkhooly, the Muslim community has raised approximately $500,000 through donations and has purchased a 45-acre tract to provide more space. The new community center is planned to cover 10,000 square feet. It will be built just off the East Seneca Turnpike opposite Nob Hill in Syracuse, New York. Although the plan is written on paper, raising money to build has been harder. Alkhooly doesn’t know when the new center will be completed. “The project is going to take some time and it’s going to cost a lot,” Alkhooly said. “We take it step by step until one day, maybe five, maybe ten, maybe in 15 years we can see it finished. We don’t know.”
After the main worship space overflows, Akhbar Muhammed directs Muslim worshippers to available seating in the upper and lower floors of the Islamic Society of Central New York during Friday prayer. In the last 10 years, Muslims have grown from 4 to 8 million in the United States.
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DATING in a
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age By Sean Harp
Shannon Lach is one of 40 million Americans testing the waters and diving into the online dating pool at the turn of the new decade.
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After a trip to The Fun Junction arcade, Shannon Lach and her blind date, Anthony McEarnen, drink cocktails during the second stop of their online date — dinner at Koto Japanese Steakhouse in Syracuse, N.Y. Sean Harp | MPJ 2011
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Shannon Lach and her friend Angelia Schroder scroll through text messages from potential online dates in Lach’s apartment kitchen.
Recently engaged couple Matt Campbell and Sarah Wood meet with Shannon Lach at her office at The Events Company in downtown Syracuse to discuss color schemes for the couple’s upcoming wedding. 0100011010010110111001100111001000000110100
0000100100000011001000110100101100111011010 10110000100000011000010110011101100101 0110 0110100101101110011001110010000001101001011 1001000000110010001101001011001110110100101 hen 26-year-old Buffalo native Shannon Lach landed 0000100000011000010110011101100101 01100100 1001011011100110011100100000011010010110111 her dream job as an event planner last summer, she 0000001100100011010010110011101101001011101 packed up her life 011001000110 and relocated to Syracuse, N.Y. But 100000011000010110011101100101 0110111001100111001000000110100101101110001 leaving her home for the job of her dreams meant meeting new 0011001000110100101100111011010010111010001
people, so she decided to try online dating. “I’m a very social person, but I knew because of how busy this job is that I wouldn’t have time to get a second job, like bartending or serving — which is how I’ve always met friends my age,” Lach said. “So I figured this would be easy enough; going online and meeting some new people.” As a wedding planner and event design director, Lach interacts with couples daily.
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“Couples come in all the time and they’ll tell me their sappy story of how the guy proposed,” she said frowning. With online dating, she hopes to find her own “sappy story.” Although Lach said she hasn’t found ‘the one’ for herself yet, she has acquired a wealth of knowledge about couples and said now she can usually tell which ones are going to last. Lach said one of the first things she looks for when sifting through the thousands of online profiles is the people she is attracted to physically. Then she reads a man’s self-descriptive profile to get an idea of what kind of personality he has. “You have to be physically attracted to someone if you’re going to date them,” Lach said.
On the rare evenings when Shannon Lach gets an opportunity to relax at home, she sorts through emails from potential dates, or works on new posts for her online dating blog, “A Girl’s Gotta Eat!” She said the idea to start a blog came from her sister after Lach shared stories about the interesting characters she met on her blind dates. “I can really read into what they’re writing and see what kind of photos they post to see what kind of person they are,” Lach said. “They don’t have to be beautiful, but as long as I’m attracted to them, then obviously it’s worth a shot.” Lach’s career-focused lifestyle leaves less time for traditional barstool games. She said online dating is a great way to meet new people more conveniently. But she’s not the only one doing the hunting. “I would say that if I go online right now, I’ll probably have between 8 to 14 messages from guys,” Lach said. In comparison, Lach said men that appeal to her are few and far between, so she only messages one or two guys in a week.
“Sometimes I may not respond to people who contact me online because I’m too busy with work,” Lach said. “So the people I have gone on dates with, more than likely, were persistent or they really caught my interest specifically.” Lach said another perk of online dating is having an opportunity to meet men with different types of personalities and date totally different types of men than she has in the past — a reason she gets nervous before going on blind dates. “I never know what to expect,” she said. “Maybe that’s why I like going on blind dates; I like the adrenaline rush I get from it.” Before going on her dates, Lach said she tries to convince herself that whatever’s going to happen is going to happen. Sean Harp | MPJ 2011
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For the first stop on their date, Shannon Lach and her blind date, Anthony McEarnen, shoot basketballs, while waiting for their turn to play laser tag at The Fun Junction arcade in the Shoppingtown Mall in Syracuse. McEarnen planned multiple events for his date with Lach. “He didn’t tell me what we were going to do on our date — only that I should bring a pair of tennis shoes for the first part of our date and something to throw on later for dinner and drinks after,” she said.
Shannon Lach unwinds at home after a blind date failed to strike her interest. “I think the reason I’m single isn’t about the other person. It’s about myself,” she said. “Once I get there, I figure I might as well make the best of it, and get free dinner and drinks!” Lach said, with a laugh. Lach said during the first couple of months she started her online dating adventure, she was going on blind dates almost every other day. After the first three weeks of going on dates with all types of characters and getting lots of free dinners, her sister suggested that she start a blog to share her stories. Her online dating experience has been fruitful for producing entertaining stories for her blog, Lach said. “The things some people do…it’s no wonder these people are still single,” she said. Lach recalled a date she had with a guy she really wasn’t into. At the end of the date she said she thought she’d be polite and
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give her date a friendly goodbye hug. But her date misconstrued this friendly gesture and went for a sloppy kiss. “I tried to say ‘ok, good night; I have to go,’ but he just kept holding my head to his face,” she said. “I tried desperately to get away. And when I did, I literally had to run away to my car.” The experience Lach has had with online dating has taught her to apply certain safety precautions. She warned that the first thing people should do is make a separate email address for registering on dating sites. “Make a fake email address, because guys will want to send you pictures of themselves and you do not want them sending them to your personal and work emails,” she advised. Lach said a girl can never be too cautious. She makes sure to
After coming home from a blind date, Shannon Lach crawls into her bed with her clothes still on and stares at the ceiling fan in her bedroom. “Of the 35 or so dates I’ve been on from that site, none of them I liked enough to bring home with me,” she said. tell her sister or a friend about where she is going for her date and texts them throughout the night and when she is leaving. “Make sure you meet your date for the first time somewhere public,” Lach added. “And do not get into somebody’s car because they might try to eat your face!” Although she uses very modern ways to meet men, Lach said she was raised very old fashioned, and her expectations are realistic when it comes to the men she meets. “I don’t expect men to be perfect,” Lach said. “But ideally, the guy will at least attempt to be some kind of gentleman; maybe open a door for me, buy my first drink, ask me questions about myself and share stuff about himself.” Having these standards is one reason Lach said she is still
single. For her, being polite and treating a woman well is not an unreasonable expectation. “Unfortunately, from my experience, I’ve found that some guys don’t keep themselves in great shape, some have no life experiences and are uncultured, and some use online dating as a means to fake a lifestyle that appeals to women,” Lach said. Lach admitted online dating isn’t her first choice for meeting guys, but until ‘the one’ comes along, she is going to keep having fun with it. Although, after several years, her confidence is starting to wane. “If I’ve learned anything from my online dating experience, it’s that I was right when I was 12 years old and I told my mother that I will probably be single for the rest of my life,” she said.
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Strong
is the
NewSkinny By Joan Jennings
In the last ten years, millions of Americans, including Marsha Tieken and Adam Farrah, have come to live by this motto.
T
he two are the founders of the new concept on a healthier body image for society to embrace. Farrah is a kettlebell instructor as well as the author of “The Paleo Dieter’s Missing Link.” Tieken is a CrossFit instructor. Farrah and Tieken’s new way of thinking aids women in being comfortable with having a fit body and breaks down society’s perception of the perfect body. Most of society’s view has changed over the last 10 years, from thinking beautiful is thin to beautiful is fit. “Strong is the new skinny is about women being strong and training hard,” Farrah said. “There’s nothing stopping us from tearing down outdated ideals.” Joe Commisso, who co-owns CrossFit Dewitt in East Syracuse, said CrossFit is a broad fitness program designed for universal scalability,. Tieken believes that women can be strong and still feminine. “When I hear the term, ‘strong is the new skinny,’ ” said Andrea Leonard, a CrossFitter. “I am filled with hope that the girls growing up today will never feel pressured to measure their worth based on what size jeans they wear.” According to Commisso, CrossFit is highly beneficial to both men and women, but also helps women with their self-image. CrossFit’s training style minimizes the primary goal of working out to look good and it creates an emphasis on becoming fit and healthy. “CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that’s basis is training methodologies on constantly varied functional movements,” Commisso said. According to James Wagner of The Wall Street Journal, CrossFit was created in 1995, but it has recently become more popular over the past five years. The number of affiliated gyms grew from 18 in 2005 to almost 1,700 in 2010. “I think CrossFit develops amazing bodies,” Commisso said, “however, our primary goal is not to look good in front of the mirror. We desire functional, strong and well-rounded individuals.” According to Tieken, women were nervous about becoming too muscular because they thought it was unattractive. “I don’t want muscles to be confused with CrossFit women,” Commisso said. “CrossFit women do not look like body builders, they look like athletes.” Farrah said, this new way of thinking is that a muscular, fit body is the way we should think that a healthy body should look.
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During a tabata workout, Andrea Leonard sumo high pulls 45 pounds. A tabata workout combines intervals of 20 seconds of concentrated work followed by 10 seconds of resting.
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Andrea Leonard, a CrossFitter, runs laps with a 14-pound weighted ball during a workout, at CrossFit Dewitt, in East Syracuse, N.Y. “CrossFit helps me to take back me,” she said. “I like the implication that a strong, athletic body is a healthier body image than the ‘heroin chic’ look of the skinny print and runway models,” said Mary Beth Vasiloff, a CrossFitter. Vasiloff believes that body image is personal and should not be what society believes to be OK. “Body image is how I perceive myself when I look in the mirror,” Vasiloff said. “If I look in the mirror and I’m happy with what I see, then it doesn’t matter what anyone says to me about how I ‘should’ look.” Leonard has advice for the young girls growing up now, and advice for her younger self. “Your body is going to be with you for the rest of your life,“ Leonard said. “Feed it well, exercise often and take pride in the beauty of its accomplishments — it is an amazing machine.” CrossFit gyms and the paleolithic way of eating have helped form this concept. Paleolithic is the concept of eating meats, vegetables, fruits and nuts, which is known as the ‘caveman diet.’ “I have many friends and know people at CrossFit,” Tieken said, “that follow paleo and have great results in performance and with weight loss.” According to Farrah, a practical paleo diet is an effort to get back to foods we evolved on as a species. He says that an average American diet contains virtually nothing our bodies would actually recognize as food from our evolution. “Our diet needs to be a living, breathing and evolving thing,” Farrah said. “Paleo is more of a movement and a lifestyle than it is a “diet.” Farrah said society has an obligation to inspire future generations to create a better world, and old stereotypes need to be broken. “Strong is the New Skinny is about increasing everyone’s awareness,” Farrah said. “We as individuals, have a serious level of control over stereotypes and norms and what is accepted and what future generations see.” Since beginning CrossFit two years ago, Andrea Leonard has lost more than nine percent of her body fat. “My body since CrossFit has become a marvel to me,” she said. “It performs like a machine, it’s capable, dependable, beautiful in both form and function.” Joan Jennings | MPJ 2011
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Mocha, a female Papillon, jumps in order to reach a treat provided by Gul Cevikoglu as they spend time in Astoria Park, Queens on a sunny day.
Dogs and their owners are dressed up as they participate in the Big City Little Dog Fashion Show in New York City to benefit Angel on a Leash, a charity that trains therapy dogs to work in health care facilities and other institutions nationwide.
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Dogs Leap into the Hearts of American Families ore American households have dogs than have children, and the pet dog population in the United States is more than twice that of any other country. The growing influence and importance of dogs on the family structure is quickly becoming a phenomenon in America, with an estimated 1 million dogs being named
By Daniel Barker
as the primary beneficiary in their owner’s will and approximately $6.4 billion being spent on birthday and holiday presents for dogs in a single calendar year. The images on the following pages offer a brief glimpse at just a few of the many millions of pet dogs in the United States and the families they live with. Daniel Barker MPJ 2011
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“
I realized… there’s all kinds of good things that happen when Schmitty is with me.” -Ron Trotta
Ron Trotta | Schmitty Meteoroligist Ron Trotta spends time with his Yorkshire Terriers, wearing dog clothing by the New Yorkie design label. “Schmitty The Weather Dog “ has been featured on television and media outlets nationwide and she even has her own website, twitter account and blog.
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“
There’s always somebody to come home to. He just makes me smile.” -Susan Wahl
Susan Wahl | Buddy Buddy, a male 4-year-old Apricot Pug, joins his two-legged mom Susan Wahl on all her adventures in the Big Apple, including to the dog park, shopping at Bloomingdales and to the local beauty salon for a haircut and style. He even joined her on vacation in Aspen, Colorado. Daniel Barker MPJ 2011
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Gul Cevikoglu | Mocha Mocha, a 2-year-old Papillon, joins her part-time boyfriend Papillon, Levie, and together they all walk to the nearby Astoria Park. Cevikoglu, who works at the International Center of Photography in midtown Manhattan, goes to the park with Mocha almost every day.
“
Life is beautiful... �
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-Gul Cevikoglu
Daniel Barker MPJ 2011
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of
land milk and
family
With a rise in all-natural farming in the last decade, Bruce and Meg Schader’s commitment to producing the highest quality dairy products is more than a job – it’s their family’s way of life. By Joshua L. DeMotts
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Hugh Schader, 11, puts his dirty dishes in the sink before heading out to help his parents with the morning chores. The Schaders start their chores at 6:30 a.m. every morning except Sunday when they sleep in a half hour later.
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Meg, Hugh, 11, and Bruce Schader own and operate Wake Robin Family Farm. Bruce grew up on a dairy farm less than a mile from his family’s dairy.
I
t’s no secret farming is hard work, and that farmers must possess an immeasurable amount of perseverance to succeed. But that drive is being put to the test as a growing trend to “go big” is threatening the small family farm. According to a March 2010 report by the New York state comptroller’s office, most farms in the state are family owned and operated, but the trend for more than the last decade has been toward fewer, larger corporate farms. Bucking that trend, Meg, Bruce, and their 11-year-old son Hugh Schader own and operate Wake Robin Farm which sits
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about 20 miles west of Syracuse, in Jordan, N.Y. The Schaders started their dairy five years ago with four Jersey cows and haven’t taken a day off as a family since. Making the decision to operate a small farm “was really hard and emotional because it wasn’t just a decision that came off a spread sheet. It was a decision that had to do with our health, and our happiness,” Meg said. “It’s our way of life. It’s not just a career, it’s not just a job,” said Meg Schader. Fortunately, the emergence of a healthy, natural, grass-fed dairy food culture may be the savior for the small
family farms according to an article in The New York Times. The Schaders produce high-quality, allnatural dairy products that have enabled them to succeed in a competitive market. The Schader’s farm consists of 45 acres of rolling farmland, 12 milking cows and 13 heifers according to their website. “Our farm is different because it’s so small,” Meg said. “We actually do all the work ourselves, and because we do everything start to finish, from making the hay, to milking the cows, to making the cheese, to taking it to market.” Melissa Young, Chair of Slow Food
Meg feeds one of their new Jersey calfs fresh, raw, milk in order to wean it from its mother.
The Schaders sell their products at the Central New York Regional Market on Saturdays in Syracuse, N.Y. Sales at the market account for most of their income.
“It’s our way of life, it’s not just a career, it’s not just a job.” –Meg Schader
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Meg prepares the 1950’s era equipment her family uses to operate their small dairy farm.
Bruce hauls his 100 pound milk cans from the barn to the creamery.
“I like to think that our quiet, steady, honest approach is going to win the consumers over in the end.” –Meg Schader
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The Schaders read the morning paper with breakfast before heading out to do the morning chores. Central New York said, “I think people are wanting to be closer to the products they buy. I think it’s exciting to know who makes your food, and how it is made, or even grow it yourself.” The Schaders sell all their products locally, most at the Central New York Regional Market every Saturday in Syracuse, near Carousel Mall. As reported in a dairy farming study by the University of Minnesota, the dairy farming lifestyle has clear rewards, but those rewards don’t come easy. “My parents love that we’re now
running a dairy farm because they just got out of the dairy business 15 years ago, and they still like seeing the cows,” Bruce said. “But I think it’s more of the marketing and processing end of it they find interesting, because we are a small dairy compared to what my folks had.” “I really hate to see Meg and Bruce working so hard. The work is endless and exhausting,” said Mary Beth Withy, Meg’s mother. “It’s a lifestyle that has required a huge commitment, but it’s been great for them to be able to work together. They’re both
creative so it’s been a great artistic outlet for them, and they’ve been able to touch a lot of people,” said Mary Beth. There’s no doubt farmers make sacrifices when committing to a lifestyle where so much time and physical labor is demanded, but most farmers say the benefits outweigh any cons. “It’s almost all hard. It’s really, really hard work. It’s always a struggle if you’re a small business and you want to stay small, but there are rewards to that,” said Carl Withy, Meg’s father. “It’s a healthy lifestyle.” Joshua L. DeMotts | MPJ 2011
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MPJ
military photojournalism 2011