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Annika 11, Bethanyher 12, splashes Croton-on-Hudson, NY heart out on her pens a best-selling Staycation!
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January 2012 Vol 5, Issue 1
es & Pg 10 Brac g n i t t i s es Baby Scen e h T d 8 Behin tival Pg 1 s e Ar t F 22 g Pg n i n a e The m e BFF u r of a T
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Go to thebunkroom.com/Eduators to sign up for your FREE classroom subscription. Together we can build a stronger child. 4 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
Jonathan 15, works behind the scenes of a big box office movie set.
Annika 11, splashes her heart out on her Staycation!
Issue In Thto isEagle Scout:
y Rise Journe For The The Vision Dog Blind Write! mies! Roo Kids Bunk The
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Created by Kids
The Bunk Room is a magazine created by kids and read by all ages. Our goal is to inspire kids to love reading and writing. We have readers and contributors from all over the world. In addition to our online edition, our printed editions can be found throughout the United States. Print editions are provided without charge and can be picked up at participating local businesses and institutions. To locate your closest local provider, go to
wHAt*s uP tHis moNTh? a Bestseller! Bethany pens
Features 10 Brace Yourself Grace 10, Mount Dora, FL shares the ups and downs of new braces.
10 Babysitting Pro
page 14
Hannah 12, Mount Dora, FL brings her babysitting to a professional level.
14 Age is Just a Number Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY shares how at 10 years old, she took the advice of her teacher and wrote a book. A bestselling book that is!
28 My Future Life As an ongoing feature, we invite kids to share what they see in their crystal balls. Madison 12, Sorrento, FL and Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL share their Future Life.
Departments 6 Publisher’s Note
thebunkroom.com/locations
8 Contributors This Issue
The Bunk Room is owned by Dimples Media, Inc. No part of this publication may be used without written permission from Dimples Media, Inc.
8 Margo’s Musings
Please email permission requests to publisher@TheBunkRoom.com.
Liz 15, Tavares, FL shares her teenage day, from chores to the stage!
Local editions of The Bunk Room are licensed by Dimples Media and are independently owned and operated.
20 Poem! Poem!
For information about being a local publisher of The Bunk Room, contact Mark Slaby, Director of Licensing at mark@TheBunkRoom.com
30 Habilis Boy
250,000 p eople & lots of art .
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11 Pop Survey 12 Day-To-Day
26 Road Trip! The meaning of a true BFF.
page 22
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 5
The Bunk Room
™
Central Florida TheBunkRoomCF.com Publisher: Maria Slaby
Maria Slaby
Publisher, Central Florida
Whoa! A whole new year! I’m not sure
Editorial / Creative: Maria Slaby
what was more life-changing in the last
Editor in Chief: Margo Slaby
year: The expansion of The Bunk Room in
Advertising: ads@thebunkroomcf.com Advertising Design: Maria Slaby Distribution: The Slaby Family, Family Martial Arts Center - Mount Dora & Clermont The Bunk Roomies......................... Our loyal and diligent writers appearing in this issue: Becca Michaels 9, Concord, NC Grace Patterson 10, Mount Dora, FL Annika Slaby 11, Mount Dora, FL Hannah Patterson 12, Mount Dora, FL Madison Yates 12, Sorrento, FL Benjamin Slaby 14, Mount Dora, FL Liz Kliber 15, Tavares, FL Erik Slaby 16, Mount Dora, FL Margo Slaby 17, Mount Dora, FL Maria Chester 18, Eustis, FL Founders.................................... The Slaby Family, Mount Dora, FL Margo, Erik, Benjamin & Annika Mark & Maria .................................................. The Bunk Room: Central Florida, is published by Dimples Media, Inc 352-383-1456 .................................................. All content submissions are assumed to be for publication and become property Dimples Media, Inc., 1515 Old Eustis Road, Mount Dora, FL, provider of The Bunk Room trademark and editorial content. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used without written permission from Dimples Media Inc. Contact publisher@thebunkroom.com for permission requests. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If an error comes to your attention, please accept our apologies and notify us immediately. The Bunk Room is limited in liability to a correction in a future issue. All opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers or advertisers. The Bunk Room cannot be held responsible for the products, services or opinions herein.
6 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
communities throughout the country, or my 16-year old son surpassing me in height (and I’m tall). Yikes! With each issue we publish, I love The Bunk Room more and it’s all because of the amazing people I’ve come to know, including new writers, new advertisers and new publisehers. The response has been so fantastic both locally and nationwide. I’m truly humbled. Our goal is to inspire kids to love reading and writing, and I’m so proud to say we’re doing that! Thank you all!
This issue brings several special features–some inspiring, some
interesting, and some profoundly moving. Tears come to me as I write this, thinking about the love inspired and multiplied by the spirit of two sweet boys. Nick Notes (page 22) and Ben’s Bells (page 20) show how loves lost are never truly lost, but rather, continually growing through the kindness of those left behind. A true example of the overwhelming power of goodness.
Not only will you be inspired by kindness from these boys’ spirits,
but you will be in awe at the accomplishment of our cover girl, Bethany Huang for publishing her first best-selling novel at the age of 10. Whoa! And according to Bunk Roomie Annika Slaby, The Eiffel Tower’s Daughter is a must read!
This issue is full of interesting things, from braces and babysitting
to future life predictions, it’s a page-turner! Make sure you catch up on the behind-the-scenes of the Mount Dora Art Festival where we’re excited to share Bunk Roomie A-Teamer Maria Chester’s first official assignment. Learn more about how to take your writing to the next level with The Bunk Roomies at www.TheBunkRoom.com/Bunk_Roomies. And remember! We welcome all kids’ writing! Imagine how cool it would feel to see your articles in print, not only here in Central Florida, but throughout the country!
Happy 2012 to all! I feel an amazing year comin’ on, don’t you?
WeÍre Growing! Wanted Writers!
Go to page 8 to learn how you can contribute your writing. Make sure you also subscribe to our email updates and “like” our Facebook page. Stay plugged in with writing ideas, events and more. Facebook.com/ TheBunkRoomCentralFlorida ............................ Facebook.com/TheBunkRoom
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January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 7
Contributors This Issue
Congratulations to all contributors.
Becca 9, Concord, NC
Mia 12, Apopka, FL
Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL
Grace 10, Mount Dora, FL
Cameron 13, Newburgh, IN
Eddie 17, Orlando, FL
Olivia 11, Altamonte Springs, FL
Madison 13, Eustis, FL
Emelie 17, Kearney, NE
Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL
Amy 13, Orlando, FL
Allison 17, Merrillville, IN
Christina 11, Orlando, FL
Brian 14, Medford, OR
Chris 17, Orlando, FL
Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Ryder 14, Eustis, FL
Carrie 17, Wheaton, IL
Hannah 12, Sorrento, FL
Benjamin 14, Mount Dora, FL
Ryan 17, Bellevue, WA
Madison 12, Sorrento, FL
Liz 15, Tavares, FL
Margo 17, Mount Dora, FL
Julia 12, Louisville KY
Megan 16, Lakeville, MN
Allison 18, Oregon, WI
Kayla 12, Umatilla, FL
Jessica 16, Sorrento, FL
Maria 18, Eustis, FL
Margo’s Musings
Isn't it amazing how a year can go by so quickly? I can't believe it's over! I’m super duper excited for 2012 though; there's a whole lot of stuff that will be going on for me and The Bunk Room! Make sure you keep up-to-date on all of our updates by subscribing to our email newsletters... you get updates and tips on all things Bunk Room!
hief
Editor-in-C
The holiday season really was great for me and I sincerely hope yours was too. I loved spending time with my family during the break... we went on bike rides together, decorated for Christmas together, and just had a great time.
My parents surprised me with a trip to Minnesota right before Christmas. I had wanted to go up there for a long time to see friends I had met over the summer and to see some snow! Unfortunately, the week I was up, there wasn't much snow at all. I had so much fun though... best Christmas present ever!
We have some really amazing articles in this issue. I’m really proud of the kids that participated… there are so many heartfelt articles with powerful messages in here that really moved me. I strongly suggest that you check all of them out and see what I mean!
Make sure you go to our website, www.TheBunkRoom.com to see videos, blogs and writing ideas for everyone to see. We also have some great surveys that are so much fun to participate in…. make sure to click on that link on the website! We love to get your input on things! I wish you the happiest new year of all time. I can just feel that 2012 is going to be awesome.
Smiles! ~Margo
8 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
The Bunk Room Needs You
Yes...this whole magazine is written entirely by kids, so come on kids, now’s your time to shine. See your work published!
Submission Guidelines All writing should be original work of the contributor and be considered wholesome and acceptable content for kids aged 8 to 18. All artwork must be original from the contributor. For photographs, please include names of persons in the photos.
Submit Online All work needs to be submitted via our Inbox at TheBunkRoom.com Remember, a parent or guardian’s electronic signature must accompany all submissions. All submissions are the property of The Bunk Room. The Bunk Room reserves the right to edit submissions. The Bunk Room content is published monthly by Dimples Media. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission from the publisher.
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Fun video! Scan me!
Brace Yourself!
By Grace 10, Mount Dora, FL Bunk Roomie Writer
I have needed braces for a long time but we hadn't really done anything. But, last year I went to an orthodontist and he said that I needed oral surgery because two of my teeth were pointing up toward my nose. He said they would either have to cut them out or use chains to pull them down! So, about a month ago we went to a different orthodontist and he said that I just needed regular braces, no oral surgery. We also saw a third orthodontist and he said almost the exact same thing as the second orthodontist. So, now all we had to do was choose where to get my braces We finally decided to go with the third orthodontist and scheduled the appointment. On the day of my appointment I was sick so we had to reschedule and wait another week. When the day came I went and I was so nervous.
When I got into the room the first thing the orthodontist did was make a mold of my mouth. Then he took some x-rays and then started putting the braces on my teeth. He put this red thing in my mouth to keep my mouth open and then he put tons of things on my teeth and then he finally started putting the brackets on!
He took the red thing out of my mouth and told me to wash my mouth. The brackets felt really big! I sat back down and he put the wire on and he said to go get my mom so he could tell us some things. When we were all in the room he gave me some things to make taking care of my braces easier. I got an electric toothbrush and a small kit to take with me when I am eating somewhere away from him so that it's easy to take care of my teeth. My teeth were a little sore that day but not bad. When I woke up the next morning the inside of my cheeks were scraped up but they are feeling better now and everything is fine.
Babysitting Pro By Hannah 12, Mount Dora, FL Bunk Roomie Writer Last summer I took a babysitting course called BLAST. At BLAST we learned everything about babysitting including: how to diaper a baby, how to feed a baby, what kind of healthy snacks to feed the kids, CPR, how to work an AED, how to put kids to bed, how to discipline (without hurting them), how to bandage their cuts, how to know when to call 911, and sooooo much more. After I took that class I felt that I was ready to babysit. My first client was a family with a baby, a preschooler, and a first grader. It went really well! I love babysitting because it's practice for when I have my
10 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
own kids and also I just love kids. I love the way they think, and how they comprehend things. I still don't feel comfortable babysitting past 9:30 pm because that's when my imagination runs away with me.... Here are my babysitting jobs right now: I babysit a three year old and a six year old every other Tuesday all day while their mom works. On Fridays I babysit a one year old for about an hour and a half while his mom goes out to coffee. Then I have a couple of other people that I babysit for periodically. I think that babysitting is teaching me the skills that I need to know for when I grow up.
Pop Survey! If you walked into a shoe store, what kind of shoes would grab your attention and why? Some ugly granny ones Megan 16, Lakeville, MN Converse, I love their look and they are my favorite kind of shoes!
Anything unusual because I'm an unusual person. Eddie 17, Orlando, FL
Emelie 17, Kearney, NE
Slippers would definitely catch my attention because they're comfy.
Flats! They are so cute and comfy! :)
Allison 17, Merrillville, IN
Kayla 12, Umatilla, FL
High Heels, because I hate high heels.
Colorful Shoes, because I don't really care about shoes. Cameron 13, Newburgh, IN Any cute shoes!!!!! Madison 13, Eustis, FL
Ryan 17, Bellevue, WA Toms and Slip-Ons; because I'm in a big need for either!
Carrie 17, Wheaton, IL Vans or DC shoes because they're the best made. Chris 17, Orlando, FL Tennis shoes because they are just comfy Mia 12, Apopka, FL Tennis shoes, because they are practical Brian 14, Medford, OR
Sneakers, because they're cute and functional.
Uber high heels, as in 6â&#x20AC;? high. I love trying them on and wonder how awesome my life would be if I could actually get them. :)
Allison 17, Oregon, WI
Margo 17, Mount Dora, FL
Jessica 16, Sorrento, FL
Those Barbie hot pink high heels that are like 10 inches tall. I wouldn't buy them of course, but they're funny to imagine someone in. Amy 13, Orlando, FL Usually the weird shoes. The ones I'd never buy, but can appreciate from afar.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Splinters are probably one of my pet peeves. Madison 12, Sorrento, FL
When I order a plain hamburger (no lettuce, tomato, ketchup, ect.) and they put everything on it.
Long fingernails and when people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wash their hands after using the bathroom!
Reptiles
Maria 18, Eustis, FL
Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL
Olivia 11, Altamonte Springs, FL
When people don't knock on my door.
Sore losers and poor winners. Julia 12, Louisville KY Ringing the doorbell just to get my dog to come in. Rebecca 9, Concord, NC When my bracelets change position on my wrist Eddie 17, Orlando, FL
Christina 11, Orlando, FL People who are camera shy. Margo 17, Mount Dora, FL When people make fun of ballet by lifting their arms over their heads and stand on their toes. Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 11
Day-To-Day
By Liz 15, Tavares, FL Bunk Roomie Writer ........................
See Mount Dora up close . . .with the wind on your face!
How does my day usually go? Well letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always different. My morning, however, has been exactly the same since I was about nine years old. I wake up at six a.m. and begin my chores--- vacuum, cleaning dishes, the usual stuff. Then around seven, I begin to get ready for the day.
What a regular day is like.
Now, comes the fun part, school. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where my day changes dramatically. Being a teenager, my love for school is as big as any other teenager. As a homeschooler, my school schedule can change very easily. Maybe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to focus on one subject over another, or help my mom with my siblings. I may not enjoy all of the work I put forth, I know that it will all be worth it in the end. When it comes to extracurricular activities, my afternoon consists of singing, dancing, and acting at Baystreet Theater in Downtown Eustis. Learning more about theatre and having fun all at the same time is the only thing I need in order to have a great afternoon. Like I mentioned, sometimes my day is normal, or sometimes my schedule can change easily, but I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it any other way.
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12 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
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Number By Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
“Fight for it. You will come out on top.” “Fame and fortune are coming your way.” “A pleasant experience is ahead: don’t pass it by.” I’ve never believed in fortune cookies, but I never knew that these would actually be true. My story started with a blank white book halfway filled with poems, a 4th grade teacher, and a mini purple laptop. “Bethany, try to write something other than poetry,” my fourth grade teacher Mr. Hill said to me. I didn’t listen. I handed in poetry anyway. By the time the year had ended, I hadn’t written anything besides that. I decided that poetry was much better (than stories). Mr. Hill’s words didn’t make an impression until the summer.
“Hey, Mr. Hill,” I said. “I wrote a story!”
Mr. Hill replied, incredulous, “Really?”
“Yeah- here’s a copy.” From then on, I almost always went in during recess to type up my story and ask for feedback. I’d bring in my sparkly purple laptop, and my friends would ask me why I’d brought it in. I’d almost always reply,“Oh, it’s nothing- just something I’m doing.” They’d nod and leave the subject alone.
As my mom lugged the groceries up the stairs, she dropped a book on the table. “Here, I thought you might like it,” she said, putting a can of tomatoes away.
“Thanks,” I said, not really enthusiastically. I flipped open the cover and mindlessly turned the pages, not stopping to really read any facts. But that’s when I saw the Eiffel tower.
My first few drafts began in a navy notebook. Lined pages were filled with heartfelt words and ideas, and the notebook filled up immediately with private journal entries, notes, lists, graphs and anything that would let my ideas flow freely. Even when on vacation, I’d have to run to the car every once and so often because an experience would give me a huge idea, and I would have to let it flow on paper. And so a story was born- like a star in the sky, or like a newborn baby in a hospital.
My parents knew about my project, but although they did support me, later I found out that they actually didn’t really believe it would become a book. Each night after I finished my homework, I revisited my old friends: Swanilde, Acenath, Atemu and Dalila. I reread, fixed things, wrote, and moved on. Page after page was written, and by then, school was back.
And, among other accolades, her book is placed No. 1 on SBEP Reading List 2011 at Boys Hope Girls Hope, a nonprofit organization to help children to meet their full potential. The book is also placed in the top 10% in Barnes & Noble List for Teen Fiction - Adventure.
The year zoomed by, and I felt ready to present my story to Mr. Hill. I had about seventy to ninety pages by now, and I felt like my story was developed enough for exhibition.
All of a sudden, an idea popped into my head...What if a girl ran across the country because her evil stepfather was a spy? I flashed back to an article I read about a ballet. I loved the name of the girl- Swanilde. It sounded strong but delicate, like porcelain and metal intertwined.
At 10 years old, Bethany Huang published her first book.
We found a few publishers, and finally, my parents approved one that they deemed reliable. We edited my book ourselves---I still have piles of drafts of my book in my closet to prove it. When my book arrived, glossed, with clean, sharp edges, 26 days before my 11th birthday, I went in about a week later to visit Mr. Hill, with a group of friends, to surprise him with my book.
So count on your dreams----because as long as you work hard for them, you’ll achieve whatever you aspire. Dreams really do come true. Editor’s Note: I had the pleasure of meeting Bethany and not only is she an amazing writer, but she is also very successful outside of the notebook. As well as being extremely polite and courteous, Bethany participates in track, Girl Scouts and plays in band. It was an honor to meet her! BOOK REVIEW.................................................................. Buy The I loved the book! I like how the characters Book speak from their own perspective. It kept me interested and made me want to turn the page. It’s also nice to have really short chapters! Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 15
TRIVIA
Where, specifically, did JK Rowling First right answer wins 10 write Harry FREE Super Cool pencils Potter and the from The Bunk Room! Sorcerer’s Stone? Email answers to trivia@thebunkroomcf.com
January
Church Bulletin Nights Mondays - ongoing / 5-8 pm Trade your Church bulletin for a FREE Chick-fil-A Sandwich (Original or Spicy) with the purchase of a Medium Waffle Fry and Medium Drink Family Night
Chick-Fil-A Hunt Club
Family Night
Tues, Jan 24 / 5:30-7:30 pm Chick-Fil-A Hunt Club
Color Scratch Door Hangers Family Night
HelpHOPELive to benefit Charmaine Selby Wed, Jan 25 / 5:30-7:30 pm
Peace Ornament
Family Night
Tues, Jan 3 / 5:30-7:30 pm Chick-Fil-A Mount Dora
Chick-Fil-A Hunt Club
Toddler Time Fri, Jan 27/9:30-11:00 am
Family Night
Tues, Jan 10 / 5:30-7:30 pm Chick-Fil-A Hunt Club
Moo-Wiches
Natl’ Heart with Art Day
Chick-Fil-A Mount Dora
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Rock Springs Elementary Thurs, Jan 12 / 5-8 pm
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Balloon Art by Mercedes 2nd Sat, Jan & Feb 1 / 1-3 pm
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300 Artists +
By Maria Chester 18, Eustis, FL Bunk Roomie A-Team Writer Each year they come like clockwork, 250,000 people circulating through the busy streets of the picturesque lakeside town. The Mount Dora Art Festival has given artists and patrons alike the opportunity to gather in celebration of the art they hold so dear. But how did it get started and what kind of work does it take to make this fantastic event happen? Take a look behind the scenes of the Mount Dora Arts Festival!
The Mount Dora Art Festival was started 37 years ago by a group of merchants from downtown Mount Dora, according to longtime resident and Mount Dora Historian, Brandon Wald. “They wanted to create a recurring event that would bring more visitors to the fair city of Mount Dora, and at the same time a little more business,” Wald explained.
18 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
Drawing upon the artistic community of Lake County the merchants hosted the First Annual Mount Dora Art Festival in 1974, Wald said. Local artists and kids from the high school displayed their artwork, the Lion’s Club sold hamburgers and hotdogs, and about 300 people came. From 15 artists and a handful of attendees, the Mount Dora Art Festival has grown into a prestigious event that draws artists and art lovers from all over the country; increasing the number of attendees by nearly a hundredfold. About 300 artisans participate in the festival each year, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the volunteers, all of their needs are met with lighting-fast efficiency. “We have over two hundred people that volunteer to put the show on,” explained Krysta Smith, Volunteer Coordinator for the Mount Dora Center for the Arts (MDCA). “We have everything from parking attendants to booth sitters that go and babysit an artist’s booth if they want to go get something to eat, or just take a break, go walk around, maybe visit some of their friends.”
250,000 Visitors
1 Rockin’ aRt fEsTiVaL An annual event that takes over the tiny town of Mount Dora, FL Not to be forgotten are the kids in all this excitement. A special children’s area is provided for hands-on creative adventures. “Whenever you’re exposed to art, it’s mind expanding, and I think that children are restricted to what they get in schools, so it’s really important for them to get it wherever they can,” said Beth Miller, executive co-chair of the MDCA.
“I think we are all born creative in some way. There’s creativity in everybody . . . whether in writing, singing, dancing, or cooking. That’s what brings kids to the arts festival,” added Nancy Zinkofsky, executive co-chair.
Kids Experience The Booth By Maria Chester 18, Eustis FL, Bunk Roomie A-Team Writer The Young Emerging Artists is a new program which gives kids the opportunity to experience being artisans in the Mount Dora Arts Festival. The youth have their own designated section where they display their art, as well as a special judging of their work. Jacob Hinman, one of the fifteen artists to sign up, became involved in the program last year when representatives from the Mount Dora Center for the Arts came and spoke to his class about the program. Although somewhat skeptical at first, Jacob decided to give it a try. As a participant in the program, Jacob learned what it takes to be an artist. He set up his own display, got to take part in a juried showing of his work, and even sold one of his paintings. Although he didn’t win a ribbon, Jacob learned quite a bit. “It was just neat to be a part of it.” he said. However, the most interesting part of the experience was sharing it with kids his age. “It was nice to have people around your age to talk to and relate to,” said Jacob Jacob’s main focus is photography, but he does painting and mixed media as well, and has been recently been accepted to the Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia. Congratulations Jacob.
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 19
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Snow By Becca 9, Concord, NC Bunk Roomie Writer ................................................... The snow lightly dances its way down Blanketing the ground with an icy layer We run to the creek and jump from the tree Our feet shout at us Brrrr! We are too numb! We dash back inside where Mother is waiting With cups of hot cocoa and marshmallows galore That snow day was fun!
“Kindness deepens the spirit and produces rewards that cannot be completely explained. It is an experience more powerful than words.” ~ Robert J. Furey
Do you think you’re the next Edgar Alan Poe? We’d like to see it! Submit your poems through our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com.
20 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
Ben’s Spirit
Swings In The Wind
By Matthew 14, Tuscon, AZ
Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted from our December 2011, La Crosse, WI edition of The Bunk Room. Enjoy!
My little brother, Ben, was born on my third birthday and died exactly two months before my sixth. He was a really funny kid who loved to dance naked to “I’m a Believer”. He died suddenly and unexpectedly of the croup virus on what started out to be an ordinary day in my life. He was playing a game with me one minute, and was being whisked to the hospital the next.
them – about the excitement and surprise of finding a Ben’s Bell and what it meant the Bell meant to them. Our local newspaper printed the story - front page - next to fast breaking news of the war in Iraq. School groups, businesses and individuals began calling to see how they could get involved and in no time, hundreds and hundreds of Tucsonans were involved in making Ben’s Bells.
My memories of that morning are mostly fuzzy but some moments are crystal clear. I remember friends of my parents sitting on the floor in the hospital crying and later, dripping candle wax on my fingers at Ben’s memorial service. There was no way I could have known at that point how his death would change my family and the course of my life.
It has been nine years since Ben’s death and our little project has grown exponentially! We have distributed 23,000 bells so far. We are about to open our second public studio, we have a staff of 8 employees and we deal with tens of thousands of volunteers.
Slowly, my parents began incorporating coping strategies into our lives. We came up with the idea for Ben’s Bells and started making them in our garage with friends.
I feel lucky to be working at Ben’s Bells and hope to eventually follow in my mom’s footsteps as Executive Director. I hope Ben’s Bells will inspire you to be more intentional about kindness in your community, and who knows? Maybe you’ll find a Ben’s Bell one day!
We decided to make hundreds of the Bells and hang them randomly in our community to encourage the kindness that everyone so craves and needs. Since Ben’s death, it had been the kindness of others, strangers and friends, that had helped my family begin to heal. We wanted to find a way to pass on that kindness and to help others in the process.
On the first anniversary of his death, 400 Ben’s Bells were distributed around Tucson, hung randomly in trees, on bike paths, and in parks with a note to take it home and pass on the kindness.
The ripple effect that followed was amazing! People finding the Bells had stories to tell - lots of
Meet Matthew & Ben’s Mom, Jeannette Mare. Scan with your smart phone.
bensbells.org
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 21
BFF’s By Ryder 14, Mount Dora, FL
Nicholas Charles Polk 7/6/97 - 11/27/11
What does it mean to have a best friend? For a young child, it could be someone who shares a cracker with you or gives you his toy. For a teen, it could be someone who “gets” you, comes over and is just happy to hang out, and always supports you. I remember Nick would be glad to buy me a drink and chips at the convenience store if I was short of cash that day, and I’d do the same for him. He had a smile that was absolutely contagious. He always had the perfect, witty comment to make, but never at anyone’s expense.
22 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
We were always begging our parents to let us sleep over. In fact, my mom “hand-picked” him as a friend for me when we were kids because he loved to read, and was so polite. I wasn’t sure she’d be right until I met him and realized he was like my double. We loved the same video games, foods, jokes, TV shows, and on and on.
Another talent he excelled in was acting. He was an excellent performer at the Lady of the Lake Renaissance Faire. His step-dad, Michael Dempsey, founded the Faire several years ago.
Welcome to “Nick Notes”
Nick had a fantastic family. When the bus picked him up to go to Milestones Community School, he was never embarrassed to kiss his mom, Jennifer, good-bye.
Nicholas Polk wa s a kind, loving bo y with a sweet, contagiou s smile who alw ays tried to make everyone aro und him feel good . In honor of his memory, we have created this website and the “Nick Note” concept so his legacy of love will live on.
He was also so patient with his little brothers, even when they were pesky. He was a great little brother, too, to his big bro, Marc. And I can only imagine how his two sisters will miss him in the years to come.
On November 27, 2011, Nick and I were having the time of our lives. In fact, the last thing we did together was laugh and whoop with joy. We were on our jet ski. It was a beautiful, sunny day on Lake Joanna, and we were having a blast. Then, around a bend in the lake, another jet ski loomed. We both turned toward shore to miss each other but we collided. The other two boys and I popped up out of the water and looked at each other, amazed we were alive. But not my best friend. Not Nick. He was killed instantly. Why did God want him back right then? Why did it have to be me with him? Why am I alive and not him?
No one can answer these questions for me. But I do know this. All of my life, I will dedicate everything I do to him. My future wife, my children and my chosen profession: he will influence it all, and be a part of it all. I will always be aware of him looking over my shoulder, and I want to make him proud.
Nick . . . . .I will love you forever.
Best Friends
Forever
! What is a “Nick Note”? It’s a sp ecial message of love and appreciation th at yo u give to another person.
!
This message ca n be given to so meone in writing or pasted on their Facebo ok pa ge. Don’t forget to include the address of th is we bsite at the bottom of yo ur note! www.nic knotes.org ! Then, after the person you’ve ch osen to receive a Nick No te receives it, th ey should leave a comment here telling the world how that “Nick Note” made them feel! Over time, we believe this website will beco me a beautiful tes timony to the power of po sitive words in a person’s life! Who can you lif t up with a Nick Note today?
You’ve Been Nicked!
I like / love ________________ because _________________________________ _________________________________ Date_______From__________________
Inspired by the Please share this note with us and watch the joy sweet spirit of Nicholas Polk. multiply! NickNotes.org 1997-2011
I’veBeenNicked
January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 23
For less than the cost of a pizza dinner, you can feed a child for a month. The Bunk Room is proudly partnered with an international corporation in an awardwinning effort to end world hunger. Since 2003, over
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Every 6 seconds a child dies of starvation. Help us help feed the children. For less than the cost of dinner out with your family, you can join The Bunk Room in being part of this world-wide effort to end childhood hunger. Help others. Help yourself. By participating in the social entrepreneur program of Nourish The Children, you not only help stomp out world hunger, you also help fund your own local cause. Learn how helping feed children worldwide can help your family and your community as well. For more information, call The Bunk Room at 352-383-1456. Or email publisher@thebunkroom.com
24 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
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January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 25 ImageAd_sm Ad.indd 1
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Viva Las Vegas! By Brian 14, Medford, OR
This summer, my family and I took a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. My mom bought the tickets online, and we had only 2 hours to pack and get on the plane. Personally, I was completely excited because I've always wanted to go see Las Vegas. I am a huge Elvis Presley fan, and I wanted to see the bright lights and eat the fabulous foods.
rOAd tR
Ip
We arrived at midnight to a city that was alive and stayed at the New York, New York hotel. I thought I would never sleep because of so much excitement, but I did. The next morning Vegas looked very different than it did when we arrived. It was quiet and hot! We visited the nearby casinos to see all the sites. We went to the MGM Grand and had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. It was amazing to sit in a restaurant that felt like you were literally sitting in a real rainforest. Then it was off to the Excalibur where we won huge alien blow-up toys at the 'Dungeon Arcade". Everything was medieval themed at the Excalibur. Our next stop was the Luxor where we went to an exhibit called 'Bodies'. We saw the inner working and interesting facts about how human bodies work. My parents treated us to the Cirque Du Soleil show called “KA.” It was a mighty grand show, if I do say so myself. I've never seen anything like it. The people in the show wore bizarre costumes and did amazing acrobatics and flips in the air. There was a lot of martial arts in it, but in a mysterious sort of way. It's a show that I will never forget. We spent a lot of time walking down what is called 'The Strip'. This is where all of the fancy hotels are. Each one was unique in their own way. They all had different kinds of attraction for the tourists. We saw things like the Eiffel Tower, gondola's in Venice, Caesar's Palace, an egyptian pyramid, the Statue of Liberty, live white tigers and pirates. We ate tons of pizza, Krispy Kreme donuts, gelato, and more. It was like we traveled the world over on foot. My most favorite part was when my mom and I went to “Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum” filled with famous figures from history, music, sports, entertainment and more. We saw George Washington, Neil Armstrong, Michael Jackson, Spiderman, Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Needless to say, I finally stood next to “The King” himself, Elvis Presley. He was taller than I thought he would be, but I loved his hair. The wax figures looks completely real, and we were able to get up close to them for pictures.
Want to sponsor this page? All proceeds go toward The Bunk Room Apprenticeship Program. Call 352-383-1456 or email publisher@thebunkroom.com.
26 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
Overall, our grand surprise summer trip turned out to be the rustling and bustling of a city along with all of it's treasures and delights. We had a blast but were all glad to get home to our plain and simple home in Medford, Oregon.
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Every 6 seconds a child dies of hunger. “I don’t see any reason why children have to be hungry. There are so many other issues in this world, but this is one I think we can tackle.” --Sandie Tillotson Sr. Vice President and Founding Partner of Nu Skin Enterprises.
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January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 27
My Future Life As an ongoing feature, we invite kids to tell us what their Future Life looks like. Submit articles to our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com 200-400 words.
By Erik Slaby 16, Mount Dora, FL Bunk Roomie A-Team Wrirter I have given some thought to where I want to be in ten or so years, but not a lot. Writing this article has helped me figure out where I would like to be in five or ten years.
For the last three years I’ve been taking college courses. When I am 17, I will have finished my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and will be starting law school at the University of Florida, with study emphasizing business law as well as sports law. I will finish law school by the time I’m 20 and very soon after, I will take the Bar Exam for the state of Florida and I will pass, which means I will be licensed to practice law in Florida. After passing the Bar, I will be hired by a law firm and I will work there for a while so that I can learn more about the daily life in a law firm and what goes into preparing for cases. After learning more about being a lawyer, I would like to become part of the business side of professional football.
By Madison 12, Sorrento, FL Bunk Roomie Writer I never really planned out my life, but I have been thinking about it lately and when I grow up, I want to be a professional ballerina. I possibly want to be a ballet teacher and a Godly wife. I want to go to Bible college and marry a man who is a very strong Christian, and I want to get married in a church like my parents did.
I have always enjoyed football and I’m very interested in the business aspect of it. I would like to work for the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay Packers are my favorite team but I wouldn’t mind working with the Jaguars because they are close to home. At some point while working with one of these teams I would like to eventually become the Vice President of Operations or the General Manager.
After I have been married a little while, I want to have about three kids. If I can't have kids I would possibly like to adopt some kids.
My mum is doing a fabulous job homeschooling me, and if my husband agrees with me, I would not like my kids to have the public school experience. I would like to homeschool them.
28 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
Depending on how well I do in either one of these jobs I could have it for the rest of my life or I not. If I don’t have either one of these jobs for the rest of my life, I would like to open my own law firm. I would have a partner who specializes in criminal law while I specialize in business and sports law.
From a personal standpoint on where I want to be in the future, I would like to find someone nice to marry and have two to four kids. I don’t know what they will look like or what their names will be but I want to have kids. I hope that my life will definitely turn out the way I hope it to be and I will work very hard to achieve this goal. It will be very interesting to see if my life is like this in 10 years or more.
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January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 29
Reality Check By Benjamin 14, Mount Dora, FL
Habilis Boy
Excerpt from Habilis Boy Blog. Restoring a ’77 VW Beetle.
Habilis means “handyman” and dates back to the classification of early man, known as Homo habilis. That’s when man started using tools and becoming pretty handy around the house. We have our own resident Habilis man, in boy size: Benjamin.
Day 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I haven’t worked on the bug in awhile but I did buy the 1972 baja bug that I looked at. I paid $450 and I got a bunch of parts thrown in too. The guy even delivered it. I will soon be interchanging parts between the bugs in order to speed up the build. Day 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I did a considerable amount of work on the bug. I decided that I don’t need to make this car perfect; I just need to get it done. I ditched my plans of doing a body-off restoration* and am now going to just patch it together. I cut out the floor pans that were really bad and I also removed some of the fiberglass that the previous owner used for the back window. I also removed the dashboard cover and instead of installing a new one, I’m just going to leave it as metal. I also steam-cleaned the seats and I am going to be putting covers on instead of paying $400 to get them reupholstered. I picked out a paint scheme that I think will look awesome. The color will be . . .
* Body-off restoration is where you separate the body from the frame of the car. Scan Me With Your Smart Phone and watch Benjʼs latest video.
Keep up with Benjamin’s blog. Go to thebunkroom.com and click on Habilis Boy.
READ MORE at TheBunkRoom.com Click on Habilis Boy
TheMeet BunkoneRoomies! of us!
Being a Bunk Roomie takes kids writing to the next level. We learn the art of the interview as well as how to turn it into an interesting article. Plus we have a front row seat behind-the-scenes of the publishing business. To learn more go to thebunkroom.com/Bunk_Roomies
Annika’s Back Pocket By Madison 12, Sorrento, FL Annika, age 11 of Mount Dora, FL is a musician and ballerina. Annika says that when playing the violin "You have to really work every day." Annika also plays the piano. "You have to know the notes," she says. "I love making music and you just wanna keep on playing," added Annika. She got into playing these instruments because her mom thought it would be cool for her to play a musical instrument. The name of the orchestra that Annika is a part of is the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO). "I think I will always play an instrument. It is something to have in my back pocket if my ballet career doesn't work out," Annika said.
30 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012
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