Written by young people for young-minded people

Transcription

Written by young people for young-minded people
Priceless
Spring 2016
GL Vol. 5, Issue 1
• Women’s Bike Race and Map!
• Political Perspective
• Traveling the World
• NEW Environmental Feature
in Collaboration with
Written by young people for young-minded people
-
845.679.6997 solargeneration.net
TOC/Masthead
Contents
Restaurant Review: Garden Cafe ................. p. 10
Advice: Ask Sushi............................................p. 12
Travel: University of the World............... p. 14-15
Travel: Schooling in Other Lands .......... p. 16-17
Book Reviews...................................................p. 18
Fashion....................................................... p. 20-21
Women’s Cycling Grand Prix ................. p. 22-25
Things to do in the Hudson Valley...........p.26-27
Acting Out .......................................................p. 28
Politics ..............................................................p. 30
Environmental: Earth Guardians ...........p. 31-33
Drug Addiction Awareness .................... p. 34-35
The Art of ..................................................p. 36-37
Poetry ........................................................ p. 38-39
Wisdom of Animals .......................................p. 40
Wrestling .......................................................... p.42
Memories................................................... p. 44-45
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher........................... Cathy McNamara
Art Director.....................................................Grey Ivor Morris
Executive Editor....................... Monique Winum Martindale
Senior Copy Editor............................................... Julie Schmidt
Editor.............................................................. Gabrielle Euvino
Sales
Marketing & Sales Director.............................Carolyn Handel
Advertising Sales ................................................. Marie Shultis
Sales & Distribution ................................................. Seth Allen
Distribution: 7,000 Copies. Throughout the Hudson
Valley and NYC. Published by GoodLife Publishing
34 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY 12498
Online version: GoodLifeYouthJournal.com
SUBMISSION INFO: GoodLife accepts work done by young people
aged 10 to 20 and pays $$ for accepted work.
Deadline: Winter: Nov 9th, Spring: Feb 9th,
Summer: May 9th, Fall: Aug 18th
• Permission: Need a parental email if you are younger than 16
(giving permission to publish your work & receive payment). Need
address.
• Topics Examples: Lifestyle, music, book & movie reviews, sports
& fitness, political & environmental.
• Writing strategies: Reflecting, Reporting, Explaining, Arguing,
Opinion and Humor! Length 200 to 500 words
Be CREATIVE and send work that you would be proud to have
published. All articles must be appropriate for ages 10 to 100!
Work not used is stored for possible future publication.
Send submissions as Word documents to:
[email protected]
Thanks, Cathy McNamara (Publisher) (845) 332-3353
Open Call for Young Writers, Photographers, Cartoonists and
Webmasters! Volunteer and learn more about publishing.
Page 4 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Publisher’s Letter
Board of Supporters
and Muses
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Cynthia Adler
Joan Reynolds
Mary Ann Place
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Mathias Zillmann
and FB Team
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Earth Guardians NY
Check out our Website
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Proven Ingenious Solutions
I
f you stop “over thinking” everything, and simply live in the
present, solutions come faster. Finding this zone reminds
me of my problem-solving days of youth. The most effective
solutions were simple and made in
haste…stream-lined to their most elemental state with a bit of risk! Here are
some proven winners:
Efficient waste removal of sandwiches:
When I was young, my reaction to lunch
was unenthusiastic because my mom
would serve the same old peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches everyday. In fact, it
turned into a bit of a battle where I was
told I could not leave the table until I had
finished. Well, who likes being told that?! So I would just sit there
waiting until she had to go do something. When the coast was clear,
I remember thinking, ‘How am I going to get rid of this sandwich?’
It was too big for the toilet. The best and nearest place I saw was a
crack of space behind the fridge...no one would ever look there. She
might return at any moment; I had to be quick. One swift toss of the
sandwich and I regained my freedom.
Some time later, the day came when I was told we were going to be
moving. For some reason, they had to move the refrigerator. There,
like a great archeological site, were my fossilized peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches, preserved by dehydration…a pyramid of artifacts
recording several months’ time.
Efficient waste removal of gum:
• Articles
• Photos Galleries
• Fiction
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• Adverising
Opportunities
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and so much more!
Also join us on Facebook and join our mailing list
to receive our Newsletter
Years later, I made a similar discovery when my two boys were about
the same age as I had been. It was payback time! We were moving,
and like with the fridge, our coffee table had a surprise when we
turned it over! Hundreds of differently colored used pieces of chewing gum plastered beneath it.
I was about to scold the boys, but they quickly came up with a very
logical explanation: “Mom, that’s where a person is supposed to dispose of gum! When we go to a restaurant that’s where all the other
people put their gum…under the table!”. Young thinking...it’s funny.
This issue has a map for hikes and bikes, including the 2016 Woman’s Woodstock Grand Cycling Grand Prix! Catch up with the Earth
Guardians protecting the earth. Special events not to be missed: the
Woodstock Writer’s Festival,Woodstock Fashion Night, Ride The
Ridge Cycling Event - benefiting High Meadow School
in Stone Ridge, NY.
On the cover:
Chloe Rovitz photo by
Becca White
Summer issue
coming next!
Deadline May 9th.
• Permaculture
• Art Interview
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this magazine do not reflect those of the
publishers, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.
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www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 9
Reviews
RestAurant Review
Garden Cafe
By Finn Doering, age 13 http://sharpfinnsoup.wordpress.com/
Photo by Bogdona of Leah Fridrich NEW owner
I
decided that even though it would be a first, I should do a
second review of one of my favorite restaurants, the Garden
Café, since it has recently been purchased by a new owner
and undergone a major renovation.
The Garden Café is now owned by Leah, a beloved longtime waitress from the area. She has been working as a waitress for 31 years,
and this is her dream come true, finally owning her own restaurant.
When I sat down with my family and spoke to her, she said she had
something great to work with since the former chef had a great menu
and loyal fans. The changes, though, are huge. There’s obviously a lot
of new space, since the restaurant has expanded into the clothing store
that used to be next door. But there are also changes in the menu. Leah
wanted to keep the favorites but also add some new dishes. She also
changed the cooking oils to healthier options like coconut, olive and
safflower, and made every last ingredient organic. She said it’s easy
when you’re working with an inspired chef like Christine Moss.
As for the space, it feels like you’re in a modernized country farmhouse. Leah loves everything old and vintage from the 1930’s and 40’s.
All the lighting is antique, and there are vintage mirrors on the walls,
gray-washed tables and benches, vintage metal chairs, and signs that
look old and say “good food.” She was inspired by the gray colors of
the sky. This makes the atmosphere
relaxing, like you’re floating on a
cloud. Billie Holiday was playing.
On top of all this, the café has one
of the best locations in town, overlooking the village green with giant windows and amazing natural
lighting.
I had a few of my old favorites and was introduced to some
new ones, starting with the best
smoothie ever made: Vivacious
Violet. It contains vanilla soy milk,
chocolate cashew ice cream, blueberry and banana. The best part is
that it came with a paper Eco straw!
Leah sent us a couple of her new
fave appetizers to try, and they were
amazing. One special was a whole
wheat baguette with homemade
herbed cashew brie cheese, served
with pomegranates and green apples. The tart green apples bring
out the flavor of the sweet creamy
cheese.
Next, we tried the Indian chickpea blini, which consists of a chut-
ney of dates, coconut, and cashews served on an Indian chickpea blini
with tomato and sour cream. Sweet and spicy . . . a great combo. The
chickpeas have great seasoning, and I loved the herbs in the pancake.
The tomato and sour cream on top balance the sweet chutney. They
make the dish refreshing and cool your palate.
Next, we tried the tofu Satay with peanut sauce and scallions, served
with orange ginger slaw. Another winning appetizer: golden brown
tofu with creamy thick peanut sauce that had a kick to it and a cold
refreshing slaw.
Then I went back to my favorite dish, the Macro Meal . . .
brown rice, sautéed greens, arame seaweed, tofu, and tahini. This is as
healthy as it is delicious. It’s an interesting combo which you normally
wouldn’t think would work, but it does in your mouth, and that’s what
I love about this place . . . how creative they are.
My dad tried the burger special made from red beans and sweet
potato rice served with chipotle
aioli. Definitely different . . . a bit
too pasty for me, but the chipotle
was delicious. I think the bun could
have been crispier to balance it.
We also tried the portobello Panini -- portobello mushrooms with
roasted red peppers, caramelized
onions, and garlic aioli on focaccia
with salad. The focaccia wasn’t too
thick, which I liked, and the aioli
was light and creamy. I loved the
flavor of the mushrooms.
According to Leah, the community made this happen. Customers
are her family, and they feel at
home when they’re at the restaurant, which she loves. The Garden Café is a family affair, and it’s
likely you will meet Leah’s daughter, True, working hard making
smoothies or serving tables with
a big smile.
All in all, this lovely place remains one of my favorites and is
even better than before!
“Customers are her family,
and they feel at home when
they’re at the restaurant”
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www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 11
Advice
Ask Sushi Fluffy Advice by Griffin Stewart, Brooklyn, age 15
Questions by Lisa Grandelli
Hello and welcome to another Ask Sushi with
me, Sushi.
A lot of stuff has been happening in my
world. I have been writing haikus and here
is one of them:
Chicken, I love you.
I who worship all of you,
May all feel chicken.
Also, I have been working on a new way of
eating chicken bones. I call it, “The Chicken
Bone Machine.” It’s a way to hold the bones
without the use of paws. It is especially helpful for me as I have to type on a computer to
get these columns out. Like I always say, eat
two birds with one stone. I know it’s probably my best invention since the dog pad. But
enough about me. Time to answer some Sushi
questions.
Question #1: What do you think about people who train their dogs to do tricks? What
tricks would you train people to do?
Well, I have thought about this for a very
long time. First, I would teach humans the
basics like sit, roll over, stay, stuff like that.
Then I would get into the more interesting
stuff like make chicken, give me chicken, and
do a somersault. And now my Sushi wisdom
to you. No one should have to do tricks for
you or for me because everyone has free will
and should not have to roll over for any one
person or dog. And that’s my Sushi wisdom
to you.
Question #2: I think my mom has a shopping
problem…she always brings home a lot of
stuff and it’s accumulating! What can I do?
Well according to an article written by Renee
Morad in the Huffington Post, there are seven
signs that a person is addicted to shopping.
“1. You have many unopened or tagged items
in your closet. 2. You often purchase things
you don’t need or didn’t plan to buy. 3. An argument or frustration sparks an urge to shop.
4. You experience a rush of excitement when
you buy. 5. Purchases are followed by feelings
of remorse. 6. You try to conceal your shopping habits. 7. You feel anxious on the days
Page 12 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
you don’t shop.” Does any of this sound like
your mom?
In my case, I have been confronted about
my eating of bones and some people even
say that it’s an addiction, which -- I can quit
whenever I want! But in general, it’s usually a
touchy subject when things like this come up.
If someone tries to take my bone away, I usu-
“When I was
name called, I figured
something out.
If you do something
out of spite it never
works”
think up a new nickname for his friend.
It was Gwenyth. Then he really stuck with
Gwenyth in a fun and silly way, never out of
spite. In the end, everyone had a great time.
After that, the name calling didn’t really
stick the same way. And sure, every once
and awhile he may still get called Sophia, but
when he does, he calls the friend Gwenyth
and the name caller having an equal name,
diffuses the whole situation almost every
time. My pack member told me this one
most important thing, “When I was name
called, I figured something out. If you do
something out of spite it never works. That’s
why when I used the name more as a game
or as a joke, then no one could touch me, because you have already made fun of yourself
by allowing the name, and given them one
too. What else is there to do?” And here is
my Sushi wisdom to you, it is always good to
have a sense of humor.
ally growl or howl or snarl, I mean,
the list goes on for different noises
I could make, like burble, grumble,
stuff like that; but basically let’s get
to the point. In general, if someone
is addicted to something, it’s good
to approach it with a level head and
know what you are talking about. If
your mom has these symptoms then
you could show her this article and
also recommend a 12 step program
or psychiatry to deal with it. And
here is my Sushi wisdom to you: remember to always love someone no
matter their flaws. Addiction is a
real thing. Real people get it and it’s
no one’s fault but there is actual help
for all kinds of addiction.
Question #3: Have you ever had
a friend who has given you a nickname that really makes you mad? I
have and when they call me it they
just laugh harder each time.
This is a great question. Now, I The author Sushi and his interpreter, Griffin.
haven’t personally had this experience, but
one of my pack members has, and I will tell Question #4: It’s an election year! Do you
you his story. One day, at his class one of his think a dog like yourself would make a good
friends called him, Sophia, and it made him president?
a little embarrassed. However, he didn’t take YES, a dog can run for president, and it
it to heart or deny it. Instead of being mad would be a funny joke.
or sad he decided to have a sense of humor Okay, dogs and dogettes! Sush-ya later
and waited until a little later when he could alligator.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 13
Travel
Special Travel Section
The University of the World
By Alexa Cappola, age 21
“This is a
journey of self-discovery”
2) Get a travel rewards card. This will help you gain travel points and
in an emergency situation, it may come in handy.
3) Call banks to inform them you will be traveling and the countries
you will visit.
8) Know that it’s not necessarily a vacation. Traveling is hard, and
you will get stressed. I have anxiety that worsened in the last few
months of college. Therefore, know before you travel that you will be
stressed and may get homesick in some situations. Always remember
to breathe and sleep on it before you make any rash decisions. Keep
9) You are never alone. There are so many groups and sites where you
can meet other travelers and locals, including couch surfing, Facebook,
and (dare I say it but, yes) Tinder. Hostels also have numerous events
and tours which are awesome for meeting people. I have made numer-
Photos coutesy of Alexa Cappola
A
pproximately four years ago I
4) Research cheap travel options. Some
was writing in this very magamay prefer to get a Eurail Pass, which is a
zine about going away to coltrain ticket package. There are numerous
lege, and now I find myself a
options for long durations of time. Dependgraduate, with a bachelor’s degree, on a
ing on where you want to go and the durafarm in the middle of Portugal.
tions, this may be a good option for you, but
How in the world did I get to this point
the pass must be mailed to you, so I suggest
in life? Well, I can tell you that it was not
getting it in advance (before traveling). I did
(and still is not) easy, but taking a break
not have a pass when I traveled, so in many
from work and school to travel the planet
cases I used EasyJet, RyanAir, or bus servicis worth it.
es. Flights are cheap and if you do not have
At 21 years old, I am still discovering mya strict itinerary, you can get really cheap
self every single day. Traveling has forced
flights on certain days. They were also cheap
me to realize that academic maturity is not
since I was traveling during off season, startalways comparable to personal discovery.
ing in January.
For some people, the two dovetail into one,
but this is not true for all. In America, we are
5) Have a plan, but know that plans change
programmed to believe that we must live to
frequently. You need to be able to go with
work, but if you’re brave enough to take the
the flow and expect plans will change. For
road less traveled, you may discover that you
example: I am in Portugal now and did not
want to work to live.
expect to be here until three weeks ago. It is
If you give adventure a chance, you may
also very common to miss buses or flights
in fact discover you are indeed a traveler at
because you are in a foreign country and
heart.
there may be language barriers, which will
Making the decision to put my academics
also cause you to change your plans.
and career on hold was difficult. Even now,
I question if what I am doing is the “right”
6) Have travel insurance. You are more likedecision. What I am learning is that what is
ly to get sick when traveling, because your
right for me is not necessarily right for evimmune system is very low. This happens
eryone. This trip is molding me into an inwhen you change environments frequently.
dividual, forcing me to contemplate my own The authoress suggests setting aside extra money to
Changes in climate, air, soil, insects, etc. are
sets of morals, wants, needs and dislikes.
live on when the journey is over.
all factors that may cause illness. Go to the
I am not just passively seeing the world
doctor straight away if your illness is not a
from a TV screen in America; I am actively
common cold. It sucks traveling sick, especially if symptoms worsen
seeing the world as an American Adventurer, making new connecin a non-English-speaking country.
tions with people from across the world every day through shared
philosophies, politics, and culture, and through similarities and of
7) Set aside extra money. If you are like me and want to travel after
course stark differences.
school, make sure you save not
Since I am still on this jouronly enough money to travel,
ney, I have decided to condense
but enough money to live on
my thoughts into a list of Ten
when you get back to the U.S.
(what I believe are important)
I put money in a separate acTips for you if you are considcount that I cannot touch until
ering traveling at any point in
I go back to the U.S. to prevent
your life.
me from using it, because traveling (if you enjoy it) can be a
1) Eliminate financial liabilibeautiful addiction. I have met
ties prior to departure. Basinumerous people who travel
cally, what I mean is pay all your bills on time. The only debts I had
until they run out of money. I myself have extended my trip already.
on this trip were student loans and a phone bill. This is not possible
This is perfectly all right . . . just make sure you will survive when you
for everyone, but try to pay off debts in advance so you do not have
get back home.
to worry about them continuously when you are outside of the U.S.
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a journal to vent and splurge on anything that will relax you in those
irritating moments (in the words of Aziz Ansari, “Treat yourself ”). It is
important to stay grounded and sane, especially when you are traveling
alone. This leads to my next point...
Exploring the back canals of Venice is an unforgettable experience.
ous friends that have kept in touch with me almost every week since I
began traveling in January. You are only alone when you want to be. So,
get out there and socialize!
10) This is a journey of self-discovery. You have a lot of time to think
when traveling for such a long time, so open your mind to new experiences and relationships.
I guarantee you will surprise yourself!
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 15
Special Travel Section
Noel’s Travels
M
By Noel Fletcher, age11
My name is Noel
Fletcher, and I usually live in Mount
Tremper, NY. I was
in fifth grade at Bennett School
in Onteora School District up until the end of December. But now
I’m spending 10 months traveling
around the world with my parents.
This may sound like we’re going
to every country ever (because that’s
how I always thought of the phrase
“around the world”), but we’re only
going to about 12 countries. So far,
we’ve been to Spain and Morocco.
Then we went to Tanzania for two
weeks, and now I’m in India. Next,
our plan is to go to Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Borneo, Australia, and New Zealand. I
am begging to go to Hawaii, but we
might not have enough money left.
If that happens, we’re flying across
the Pacific back to New York!
We are not using suitcases. We’re
backpacking. My parents are carrying my stuff, and I’m carrying my With the students at St. Bernadette, just outside Arusha, Tanzania.
guitar. I’ve been playing guitar for
eight years.
When I do math, I do “quests.” The quests include video lessons
I’m doing roadschooling on eSpark. It was my mom’s idea to use that teach you a skill following the American curriculum, and eSpark
eSpark outside of a school district. I am the first kid to ever do this keeps track of my progress within my grade level. At the beginning
outside of a school district. I’m using eSpark for reading and math. I and end of a “quest”, I do a test to show what I know on the subject of
learn about other subjects, such as social studies, science, and music, the quest. If I don’t get at least 80% of it right, I can’t move on until I
from traveling. For example, I learned some music when I watched review and do another test. There are also games to play on separate
“Bob Esponja” (Spongebob Squarepants) singing the Campfire Song apps, and I record a video that gets submitted to eSpark.
Song in Spain. I also got to see a flamenco performance in Seville.
Reading is pretty much the same. I read texts, watch video lessons,
and write down some of what I have learned.
eSpark is somewhat hard, but I am enjoying it. I prefer
it to sitting in a classroom with teachers. It’s letting me
get my education while being able to travel and spend
most of my day out somewhere.
I am also keeping a daily journal, and learning a lot
of interesting things. For example, I visited a school in
Tanzania: St. Bernadette’s in Arusha. It is a private, poor
school. It needs people’s help. To go to a school that is
doing just fine would actually be boring. I am not exactly sure what makes this so, but I know.
The kids at the school were learning English, so I
could socialize with the students and teachers. The
school teaches both Swahili and English, even though
most private schools only teach English and leave Swahili for home.
When we got to St Bernadette’s, we walked through
the school quickly, getting a quick sample of each class’
lesson, then went outside. I saw kids about my age (or
even younger, possibly) doing complex math that I
would not be able to do. The kids in Tanzania are so
Lessons at St. Bernadette are taken seriously by both the teachers and the students.
Page 16 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
happy to go to school (some kids don’t even have the chance), so they
are very keen to learn.
Tons of kids surrounded me at break (recess), sometimes stroking
my hair, sometimes touching my interesting white skin.
“Five times five!” The boy in front of me said.
“Twenty-five!” I replied.
Later in the day, the school acted like we were the Royal Family, and
each class did a presentation for us. They did little plays (including
a “drugs-are-bad-for-you-they’ll-make-you-rob-people” thing, where
they used pieces of chalk as cigarettes), sang and danced, and even
played games. I showed them Duck Duck Goose. I also played two
guitar songs for them.
Then the kids asked me questions, from “What school do you go
to?” and “What is the national flag of America?” to “What tribes are
in America, and which tribe are you from?” (There are 120 tribes in
Tanzania, so for them that was a completely natural question, even
though I thought it was hilarious.)
One kid asked me, “Does the red in the American flag represent
bloodshed, because that’s why most countries have red in their flags?”
I rightly said “no” to that one, and explained that it probably just came
from the Union Jack from Britain. The same kid had misunderstood
earlier on, thinking that I live in England, not America. They probably
knew more about England, because England used to rule Tanzania
and only gave it up 50 or so years ago.
Another question was, “What punishments do you have at your
school?” I said that we sometimes lose recess and get suspended, but
We are taking Noel out of school, going “mobile school” with the help of an
Apple endorsed educational program we’re going to be guinea pigs for.
Of course the world will be his school as well.
he was actually wondering about physical punishment, like a “slipper”
or a “cane,” because they have that at St. Bernadette’s. (My dad says
they had it when he was at school in England as well, but it is now
against the law in both England and the U.S.)
The school said that they rarely had any guests, which might be why
they made us feel so special. We spent almost half a day there, and it
was very interesting for me to see how important school is for kids in
a poor country.
If you want to find out more about my travels, you can follow my vlog
on YouTube here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EwaZluLXhqQ,
and look out for more stories in GoodLife Youth Journal!
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 17
Book Reviews
By Hudson Fuller age 9 1/2
Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage
The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien
Photo by Edward Hutchinson
This book is a real cliffhanger.
I highly recommend it! The
change of events is wild. When
you think one thing is going
to happen, it doesn’t. Instead,
something totally unexpected
happens. The characters get
themselves into tight situations multiple times, including almost getting arrested for
inventing. This book includes
steampunk and dragons!
This book is very good because
it is like you are there when you
are reading it. It is an exciting
medieval fantasy. The book is
well-written and changes as
you read it because the setting is always changing as the characters
travel to Erebor to claim their home back from Smaug the dragon.
Finally, there are sequels that take place in the same world, called The
Lord of the Rings
“When you think
one thing is going
to happen,
it doesn’t.
Instead,
something totally
unexpected
happens.”
Trilogy.
Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan
This book is about birds having war
with each other with swords. The book
is written by a 12-year old and is really good! The birds need Swordbird
to restore peace because the hawks
were putting other birds in what was
like concentration camps. Then some
of the birds escaped. One of them was
named Milton, who then flew off and
searched for Leasorn Gems to summon Swordbird and restore the peace.
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www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 19
Art
by Starla Bolle, age 11
Casual Friday models: Eli Gallagher, Andie Langlois. Photo by Lucie Parker (stairs)
Fashion
Old Styles with a Twist
Statement from Nina Isabelle, Teacher
Fashion Trends
I
n 2014 The Hudson Valley Sudbury Photography Cooperative contacted me to
ask if I would teach their class. I readily agreed and we spent the better part of a
year learning about the camera as a machine and how the mechanical variables of
ISO, shutter speed, and aperture could be used and for what effects. We learned
how to determine and achieve correct exposure and began talking about color theory
and composition- all the while working to notice, develop, and articulate an authentic
visual language.
The Sudbury students always seem to approach projects with an attitude that’s eager and
dynamic. I’m continually amazed by how they push and question themselves and seem
motivated to inspect the larger context. But, in the midst of this process and search there
have been a few relentless questions that keep surfacing: What are the practical applications of photography and how can we best use photography to say and do what we mean?
What do we have to say that’s important and why should we choose photography as a
language?
In the spirit of
wanting to recognize the creative
process as a means
to envision and
shapen reality, and
really wanting that notion to sink in with the students, I gave them an
assignment to develop a concept and present twenty images that might
dictate or predict youth fashion trends for 2017. In the short span of
two-and-a-half weeks the students produced a publication that successfully integrated photos, design, and text expressing a concept that
challenged the complexities of traditional gender perceptions, beliefs,
and identities. They titled the publication “They,” and in their own
quirky, playful, and lighthearted way, They addressed socially and culturally relevant issues using an authentic language inherent to their
generation. If you ask me, they nailed it!
R
ight now, some classic styles from the past are coming
back, but this time, with a twist! One style that is really
in right now is goth. However, it’s not traditional goth.
There’s still hair extensions and chokers and chunky black
boots, but it’s not fully the whole 90s gothic thing.
Back then, people who dressedgGoth always acted sad and dreary,
because that’s what the look represented. But now it’s just a fashion
statement and you can have any personality you like, and have fun
with the look this time around. Like now, you don’t really do the pale
skin thing and instead of going full black with your clothing, you usually just maybe add a little maroon or
navy. It’s your choice really.
But the big thing you cannot forget, and the thing that represents
the goth look the most, is black lipstick. Dark purple is an okay substitute, but not the best. Remember, dark lipsticks smudge
a lot, so be careful. The
selfie camera can act
as a mirror, so make
sure to take lots of
selfies to make sure
your lipstick isn’t
smudged.
Plus,
you get a bunch of
amazing pictures to
share on your social
media or with your
friends!
Then you dot on the
eye shadow and rub
your lips together. If it
gets too dry to rub in,
you can put on more
lip balm. By the end,
the eye shadow should
have spread over your
whole lips. This will be
COMING EVENT!
matte, and if you want it to
be more glossy, you can apply
2016 FASHION NIGHT at THE
lip gloss over it.
BYRDCLIFFE BARN
For a really cool galaxy look, use
a layer of light purple eye shadow, April 30, 5:30 – 7:30pm | Byrdcliffe
followed by another layer of blue Barn, 485 Upper Byrdcliffe Road,
eye shadow. Just make sure not to
Woodstock, NY
completely blend them so that you
get a layered look.
Finally, an unforgettable thing that you must do to complete the
look, is to use black eyeliner. Put it on both lids, but don’t do a wing.
Eyeliner is essential!
My other current favorite trend that has come back is Heelys, at least
at my school. They are basically sneakers that have wheels in the heels
that are removable. If the wheels are in, you can basically skate around
like you are on roller skates – it’s really fun and I’m OBSESSED with
them. They come in multiple patterns and colors, and yes, they even
make them for adults! If you went to a grocery store a few months
ago, there would not be anything said about Heelys. Now there are
signs banning them. Because apparently (eyeroll) they’re dangerous
(not really). I just think they’re fun!
Jacket design, Makeup, modeling- All by Eden O’Clair
If you literally have no dark lipstick, a good trick is that you can
use eye shadow as a substitute by
first putting on Chapstick, and
then a base lipstick (and if you
have no good base lipstick, just
put on a whole bunch of lip balm).
Cocktail models: Lucie Parker, Wes Chaplin.
Photo by Donna Gordon (Elevator)
Red Carpet model: Andie Langlois.
Photo by Lucie Parker (overalls)
Page 20 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Lounge Wear model: Lucie Parker. Photo by Amelia Iaia
(cart and grey wall)
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 21
Cover Story
Interview by Scarlet Disko
Date: Saturday May 7th, 8:00 AM Woodstock, NY
T
Cycling to Win
he Catskill Mountains and the historic New York towns
of Saugerties, Phoenicia, and Woodstock are the magnificent setting for the Women’s Woodstock Cycling Grand
Prix (WWCGP). With over 50 miles of challenging and
stunning terrain, this race attracts women cyclists of all ages, from
around the country and Canada as well as locally. As it was created to highlight women’s skills and abilities, the event encourages
all women to participate. Up until the ‘90s, men dominated athletics, and race coordinator Martin Bruhn wanted to change that.
Through the WWCGP, he hopes to draw attention to the potential
that women have in cycling and sports in general.
Emma White, an 18-year-old local cyclist, already has ten years’
competitive experience and is the Silver Medal time travel world’s
champion of 2015. In the interview below, she shares her experiences
with cycling as well as her thoughts on the WWCGP.
SCARLET DISKO: How old were you when you started cycling?
EMMA WHITE: I first started riding a bike when I was six years
old. However, I didn’t start racing until I was nine.
SD: What inspired you to become a cyclist and start cycling competitively?
EW: My older brother, who’s two years older than me, inspired me.
I have been following his lead with the sport ever since.
SD: Can you explain the different types of bike racing and your favorite?
EW: Road racing is the most common type. Within road racing,
there are stage races, which are longer road races that can be 6080 miles. Circuit races are shorter and typically 50-60 miles long.
In circuit races, you constantly bike a loop that is around 10 miles
long. Crits or criteriums are even shorter loops that are about half
a mile. Typically, you have an hour to bike around the half-mile
loops which makes these races very fast, technical, and super fun.
The time trial races are my personal favorite. They can be anywhere
from 6 to 20+ miles long. In a time trial race, you are on your own
Champion cyclist Emma White conquers
another tough incline.
Page 22 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
and going as hard as you can with the most aerodynamic bike and
equipment. You are racing against the clock and the times are compared to determine the winner. There is also cyclocross, which are
usually shorter, usually about 40-50 minutes. Cyclocross is not
judged by mileage, and has a separate season in the fall, is off road
and more technical.
SD: Would you say the cycling seasons compare with track and field,
as you have a cross-country season in the fall and a track and field
season in the spring?
EW: Yeah, that is a good comparison. In cyclocross, you’re using
a lot more of your body as you’re carrying things and running as
well as biking. It’s more all-around, whereas track or road racing is
more straightforward.
SD: What are the challenges that come with longer distances and times?
EW: With any sport, endurance can certainly do a number on your
mind. It’s easy to believe that you cannot go any farther. Hydrating
and eating are hard to keep up with. Cycling is a mental game.
SD: How many races have you participated in, and which one was
your favorite?
EW: I don’t count. Between major and minor road races, I probably
participate in about 20 by the end of the season. During the cyclocross season, races are every weekend from September to January.
My favorite races are the local ones because I like when other people
in the country come to where I’m from. The Woodstock Grand Prix is
super cool because it’s right in my backyard. But I also love traveling
for the sport and seeing new places.
SD: How did you get involved in the U.S. National Team?
EW: I was under the coaches’ radar before I competed in the 2014
Nationals. I think my time trial was what clicked with them and
made them decide to put me on the team. Following that year, I
took home the silver medal in time trial at World’s. I have maintained a good relationship with the team and coaches as I continue
to improve my skills.
SD: Is it intimidating to be so young on such a competitive level?
EW: I wouldn’t call it intimidating, I find it more
encouraging. My coach, two-time Olympic gold
medalist Kristin Armstrong, has completely
enhanced my road racing experience. I can go
to her for anything and she is very supportive. The other professional women I know are
also helpful. Being at this level is a cool place
to be at a young age; I can see what I am capable of becoming. I am really encouraged by it.
SD: Is it hard to maintain a racing career in college? Are you a full-time or part time student?
EW: I’m a full-time student at Union College in
Schenectady, NY. It’s a small college, but I’m not living on campus, which has made a big difference for me.
The school is a 20-minute drive from my home. There are pros
and cons, but as far as cycling goes, living at home is the best option
for me. It allows me to go home and get a good night’s rest. Not to
mention, the food is much better.
SD: Where has your racing taken you?
EW: It has taken me to Spain for the world championships in 2014.
The racing experience was unique and much different from what
I’m used to. I have also been to Canada for multiple races. For cyclocross, I went to Belgium last fall. The rest of my races in cyclocross and road racing take me all over the United States, including
California, Colorado, and Texas. I enjoy the traveling.
SD: Gearing up for the Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix, what are you
expecting?
EW: If it’s anything like last year, it will be a great event and tough.
Last year, a lot of people from Canada and other parts of
the country came.
SD: How competitive is the race?
EW: Very competitive. The woman that won last
year had ridden for a long time. She was really
strong and it was cool to see her succeed, even
though I had a hard time keeping up with her.
SD: I’m not sure about the process for everything in regards to who competes in the Olympics, but do you think you would ever compete
in them?
EW: Especially because I have a coach who has
been in the Olympics, I could totally see myself doing it (obviously not this year, though). It
is a good goal to reach for. With cycling, the world
championships are more important than the Olympics.
However, when the Olympics happen they are such a big deal,
so yeah, I’d love to be in them one day!
Photo: Emma at last years WWCGP 2015 in Woodstock, NY
Coming Bike Event: Benefit for High
Meadow School, Stone Ridge. Ride through
the Shawangunk Mountains and Ashokan
Reservoit (5 to 80 mile rides) . Sunday, June
5, 2016 . 3643 Main St., Stone Ridge, NY
Call (845) 687-4855.
URL: ridetheridge.org on Facebook.
Local
Local
Bruce Edwards hikes and points of interest
Things in the Hudson
Valley You Didn’t Even Know About!
By Jacob Internicola, age 12
Local Hikes and Trails
A longtime hiker, outdoor enthusiast
and NYC musician. Bruce knows many
good hikes in the Woodstock area and
loves landscape photography.
H
ello, Goodlife! I’ll be starting a column called… well,
it’s in the title! There are many things in the Hudson Valley that I thought needed to be shared. Secret
things, awesome events, hidden things and much
more! Now, let’s get started!
Photos by Bruce Edwards and
Rachel Tricarico
Mt Tremper: Trail is a 5.7 mile out and back trail
located near Phoenicia, NY recommended for very
experienced adventurers. The trail is primarily used
for hiking, accessible from March until November.
s
We all know the Mid-Hudson Bridge as the bridge that lights up
at night. The one with the huge American flag, etc. But did you know
that in the middle of the bridge, the most beautiful music can be
heard?
The musician Joseph Bertolozzi is known for banging various
items against the bridge to create a complex, unique sound experience. In the middle of the split centers of the bridge, there are two
stations with different buttons that play some of Bertolozzi’s incredible music.
s
Bridge Music
Overlook Mountain: 4.82 miles round
trip from DEC parking lot to Fire Tower
on Overlook Mtn Peak and back.
Echo Lake is also accessible from
here. Note: Be sure to park in the
parking lot and not on the street
to avoid getting TICKETED!
Wing’s Castle
s
Platte Clove Preserve: Area is comprised of
Wing’s Castle
208 acres, with beautiful waterfalls and trails at
the head of the rugged and scenic Platte Clove
near the Town of Hunter in Greene County.
Wing’s Castle is an American marvel and found here in
the Hudson Valley. It has been featured on TV shows, movies, and backgrounds for album covers and fashion shoots.
The architecture is extraordinary and looks exactly like a
small medieval castle. Go and see it in Millbrook New York!
“Secret things, awesome
events, hidden things
and much more!”
Opus 40
Minnewaska-Awosting
Page 26 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Bridge Music: www.josephbertolozzi.
com/bridge-music/
Minnewaska: www.nysparks.com/
parks/127/details.aspx
Opus 40: www.opus40.org/about/
Lake Minnewaska
Wing’s Castle: www.wingscastle.com/
About-Us.html
s
Note, you have to walk across the bridge to hear the music. Except,
at the Highland entrance right before the bridge, there is a road on the
left leading to a parking lot and you can listen to it on a radio station
(95.3 FM) if you don’t want to cross the
bridge. The radio station only works by
the bridge, though. One more thing:
next to the parking lot there are stairs
down to a hiking trail! Have fun!
Opus 40 is a gigantic walkthrough sculpture park created
by professor Harvey Fite that took 37 years to create. It has
elaborate designs with many twists and arches and looks like a perfect place for inspiration. It is very peaceful, calming, and complex. I
could see someone getting a novel idea just from looking at it. It looks
like a scene from Alice in Wonderland.
Please go and see it in Saugerties, NY!
For information on these places, go to:
s
Mid-Hudson Bridge
Located in New Paltz, NY, Minnewaska State Park Preserve is one of
the more known state parks in Ulster
County. It has beautiful scenery, great
hiking trails, cliffs, and many lakes to
cool down in spring and summer. It’s
a perfect place to take photos!
s McDaniel Road: 4.5 miles from
Woodstock Village and down the road from the
Tibetan KTD Monastery, Indian Head Mtn. is
pictured in distance.
Opus 40: is made from millions of pieces of
indigenous bluestone, laid by hand, creating a
labyrinthine world of finely fitted stone, with
ramps and terraces constructed around pools
and trees and fountains.
Thorn Preserve: 60 beautiful acres
with sweeping grassland habitat for birds,
butterflies and pollinators, wetland and
ponds, a profoundly peaceful area.
These attractions and many others can be
found on the Web at : http://parks.ny.gov/
recreation/trails/trails-in-new-york.aspx
Bruce Edwards is available for hikes and
tours. E-mail: [email protected] or
call Cell: (646) 661-0641.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 27
Performance
Advice
Acting Out
By Jack Warren, age 18
W
“Actors as young as seven
years old can be heard speaking
the words of fairies, gods, lords,
queens and other characters of the
Shakespeare canon. ”
Photo provided by New Genesis
New Genesis Productions, Wayfinder and Voice Theater are
three of the local groups who are letting kids explore all the
joys and challenges of live performance.
Photo provided by VoiceTheater
Page 28 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Photo by Matthew Wright
hy are so many teenagers drawn to acting? It
seems almost counterintuitive. When caught
in the throngs of adolescent awkwardness, convincing people that you’re a
real human being with thoughts and
emotions can be difficult enough, let
alone being in front of an audience.
Still, theater groups offer two treasured
resources of teenagerdom: friends and
an excuse to hang out with them. The
theater crowd is fantastically diverse,
featuring everyone from divas to dorks
to misfits, with tastes ranging from
Glee to Hamilton to Hamlet. Even
harder than finding friends, however,
is finding one’s identity, and theater
succeeds in that department, as well.
What better way is there to figure out
who you are than by pretending to be
someone else?
I have experience with two very different thespian communities. The first
is New Genesis Productions, a youth
Shakespeare troupe based in West Shokan, NY. New Genesis specializes in
workshopping Shakespeare’s dense language line by line so that it may be spoken with understanding and bravado.
The longer plays are sometimes cut to
fit rehearsal time and audience attention
span, but the Bard’s words are kept unchanged and intact. This is particularly
impressive in the summer intensives, in
which, after just two weeks of rehearsal,
actors as young as seven years old can be
heard speaking the words of fairies, gods,
lords, queens and other characters of the
Shakespeare canon. The more dramatic
plays are reserved for a master class, in
which actors spend months analyzing
the minutiae behind characters’ motivations and physical lives. Such devotion
to the text allows actors to better delve
into the minds of more simple-speaking,
less Elizabethan characters, as well as the
writers who begat them. Their last performance was a production of Romeo
& Juliet set in the seedy underworld of
1970s glam rock, directed by Phil Mansfield and accompanied by the Paul
Green Rock Academy show band. Coming soon is a Memorial Day weekend
performance of Richard III, directed by
Lesley Sawhill, as well as a collection of
scenes directed by Brandon Sawhill-Aja
to be performed at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice in August.
To sign up for workshops or learn more,
visit newgenesisproductions.org.
The Wayfinder Experience is on a very
different side of the drama spectrum.
Traditional components of the youth
theater group, such as the stage, the audience, and the script, are done away
with in favor of improvisation, character-building, and saving the realm.
Participants spend the week learning
about complex fantasy worlds, wielding
foam swords, casting spells, and playing a two-day live action role play game
in which monsters are slain and evil is
fought. But don’t mistake Wayfinder for
a plain and simple sword camp. “Improv” is taught in the style of the Upright Citizens Brigade, the improv comedy group that produced Amy Poehler
and recent Oscar-winner, Adam McKay.
(The Wayfinder staff has even included
a few UCB alums!) Additionally, the
live action role play component inspires
players to immerse themselves in their
characters and the world surrounding
them. Campers frequently joke about
telling out-of-touch relatives that they
go to “method acting camp,” but they’re
not half wrong. The high stakes of the
game world forces players to explore a
wide range of emotional situations from
defeating terrible foes, to negotiating alliances, to healing fallen comrades, to
watching friends eaten alive by demons.
This has the added benefit of attracting kids who wouldn’t normally touch
a stage with a forty-nine-and-a-halffoot-pole, and even has the potential to
change their minds. After all, if you’ve
faced down a necromancer, what’s an
audience going to do? To sign up for day
camps, overnights, and one-day events,
visit wayfinderexperience.com.
These are only two of the many theatrical opportunities available to young
folks in the area. If you’re less Shakespeare and more Broadway, check out
the New York Conservatory of the Arts,
or NYCA. For more general acting
workshops and modern theater productions, look up Voice Theater. Lastly, but
not leastly, there is the tried and true
institution of the Drama Club. Most
schools offer something akin to a theater program, and if yours doesn’t, well,
then you have a job to do. There are few
things more fun than playing pretend
with your friends, and theater kids know
that that doesn’t stop when you get older.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 29
Cover Story
1. Do you think you would make a good president? And what would
you do to make your presidency remembered?
A: I have strong ideas about what this country (and the world)
needs, and I feel I know how to express my ideas, so in theory, yes,
I think I would make a good president. But being the president
is a lot more work than many people know. It requires constant
attention and would leave hardly any time for my main passion:
animals. So I wouldn’t want to really be the president.
If I were president, the main principle for me would be “together.” I
would work to bring people together and create a vibrant country
and world that works for everyone. Where every being,
human and otherwise, can live the way that works
best for them, and do what makes them feel most
fulfilled, and live harmoniously and respectfully
with all the other beings of the country and the
world.
2. If you got into office what would you do to
improve the quality of school lunches?
A: Well, I would make sure kids get less
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
and more organic and local food. I would
want them to have bigger portions, and
more time to sit and eat. I would develop
school programs where kids get to grow
their own food. I would make sure lunch is
served outside on nice days, and I would make
lunch free.
By Miriam John, age 13
5. Do you think politics and voting will change in your lifetime?
A: Absolutely! Things are always changing; nothing stays the same. I am
positive that politics will change in my lifetime. I’m not sure how exactly
things will change, but this is what I hope for our political future:
First of all, I think having two parties has to go. We either need more
known parties, or no parties. I think when we divide people up into two
different political groups, all we are doing is causing unnecessary arguments. People say, “That person is from the other party. They aren’t like
me at all.” And more often than not, they either want nothing to do with
that person, or they start a conflict with them. It is rare when two
people of opposite parties can say, “Okay, you have opposite
beliefs from me, but that’s okay. We are still both wonderful people who only want the best for our country.”
This kind of talk is what we need more of.
I’ve also been wondering lately if having a
single president is really the best thing. With
the parties the way they are, half the people
in the country don’t get what they want for
up to eight years at a time! I think we need a
new political system. I think it’s time for the
people of this country to come together and
ask, “What kind of political system will work
for EVERYONE? How can we build a country, and a world, that is based on the needs and
wants of every single inhabitant of this earth?”
This is a very big question that will require a very
big answer, and a lot of working together, but families do this all the time, and all the inhabitants of the
earth are one big family. We just need to all realize that,
and then everything can come together.
3. What are the most important political issues for you
at this moment?
A: I think the refugee crisis is a really important issue. People are 6. Voter turnout is generally low. How could more people be persuadcoming into this country (and others) “illegally” because it’s not ed to vote?
safe where they live, and then the law forces them to leave! I strong- A: I think there are three main reasons why some people don’t vote:
ly believe that we should be welcoming to anyone who comes into
For one thing, a lot of people feel that they don’t have any power.
our country, instead of pushing them away and making them go “What can one person do in the midst of millions?” they think. And
back into dangerous places. We are all in life together, no matter so they don’t think it’s worth it to go through the trouble of voting if
where we come from. There is no such thing as a “foreigner.” We they won’t make a difference anyway. People need to know that they
are all each other’s family and I think we should start recognizing can indeed make a difference.
that more.
Secondly, if someone doesn’t like any of the candidates, they obviThere is also something I notice in general about this country, and ously won’t feel very motivated to vote. I think having a system that
although it’s not only a political issue, it certainly makes its way into allows more candidates to get into the general election would make it
politics a lot. What I notice is that people divide themselves from each likely that more people would vote.
other a lot. We have something inside us that tells us to make the disLastly, a lot of people have very busy lives and just don’t have
tinction between “us” and “them.” We make these divisions
time to vote. I’m not sure what can be done about that,
so many ways: racially, politically, gender-ally, etc. We
but if people feel especially inspired by a candidate,
You Got to Vote
notice just about everything that is different between
they are obviously more likely to make the time to
https://vimeo.com/156963153
people and often use that noticing of differences to
vote.
Music short by Cynthia Adler:
create conflict, even war. I believe we could create
such a better country, and a better world, if we turned that
7. Is voting an important responsibility of a citizen?
around and started noticing all the things that make us similar, and
Should it be legally required, as in some European countries?
all the things that bring us together. I think we are all one big American A: No, I do not think voting should be legally required. I believe a
family, and worldly family!
law like that would take away too much freedom. I believe that people should be free to make their own decision about whether voting
4. Do you enjoy debating with your friends? Do they agree with you is the right thing for them to do. Some people have beliefs against
or have arguments?
voting, and some people just don’t want to, and I think people have
A: Yes, at the weekly program I go to, called Earthwalk, there is the right not to vote if they don’t want to. But if people just don’t
a group of kids including me who talk a lot about politics. Those know that they can make a difference, or they just never thought of
kids agree with me. I haven’t talked about politics with many other voting, I think we might be able to do more to tell people that they
friends though.
might want to consider voting.
Page 30 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Egny Sigi Sage Mannino
Goes To Nepal:
O
Photo by Shiv Marabito
Politics
Interview
n March 8th, Earth Guardians New York co-founder and Programs Director,
Sigi Sage Mannino left for a two-week journey in Kathmandu, Nepal to help
rebuild, after the devastating 7.8 magnitude Earthquake that struck and killed
over 9,000 people and injured approximately 23,000 people a year ago. During this
Event thousands of houses were destroyed leaving entire villages in ruins while
archaic temples and buildings throughout Nepal were left as dust. Including the
presence of Karma Triyana
DharmaChakra
Tibetan
Buddhist
Monastery
in
Woodstock, NY, there are
many people in the Hudson
Valley who have strong ties
to Nepal, Tibetan Buddhism
and consider Kathmandu a
sister community. EGNY is
honored and excited that
Sigi has chosen to support
Nepali families in need, and
expect that he will find it
to be an invigorating and
enlightening
experience.
Working on the front lines,
with ALL Hands and Project
Nepal, to help the progress
within this beautiful nation
rebuilding and restoring
houses affected by the
Quake, he hopes to gain a
worldly perspective
on the damages
that influence their
everyday lives and
will share his many
experiences with
Sigi stands in front of the ancient Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath,
one of the largest in the world.
our
community,
upon his return.
Sigi will be sending updates about the work he is doing, so stay tuned to
our website and facebook page.
EARTH GUARDIANS ON THE WEB:
TWITTER: @earthguardianz WEBSITE: earthguardians.org
FACEBOOK:
facebook.com/EarthGuardiansTribe
CONNECT WITH CREWS:
earthguardians.ning.com
YouTube:
youtube.com/earthguardiankids
Do Your Part
As we approach the warmer weather, it’s time to break out our
walking shoes, bikes, roller blades, skateboards, unicycles, scooters, longboards etc. to get to the places we need to go! Not only
is it great exercise, but it is also a fantastic way of cutting down
your carbon footprint.
Driving a car is bad for the environment, your health and is
extremely expensive; here are a couple of facts:
1)By not driving just one day, you will reduce your CO2 emissions
by 26 lbs and save about $3.
2)The average person loses 13 pounds of body weight during their
first year of commuting by bike.
3) One quart of motor oil can contaminate 2 million gallons of fresh
water.
4)The United States sends other countries almost
$1 billion each day for oil to power our cars, trucks,
planes, trains, and ships.
5)The average car owner spends about $10,000 each year on carrelated expenses. A bike’s upkeep is almost nothing.
6)In Japan, 15% of commuters bicycle to work. In the Netherlands,
50% of commuters bicycle to work. Less than 2% of U.S. commuters bicycle to work.
Finding other ways to get around, other than driving, is great for
not only the planet, but also your mind, body and soul! This spring,
take action in your life to create a new healthy habit!
www.earthguardiansNY.org
www.facebook.com/EarthGuardiansNY
www.hands.org/projects/nepal-earthquake-response
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com •• Page
Page 31
31
By Forrest Tinney, age 14
D
o you spray your flower beds with pesticides? Do you plant or other foraging bees keep coming back to the flowers for the next two weeks,
eat GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)? If so, you are a filling the hive with nectar and pollen for the colony. Fast forward a month; it’s
part of a problem plaguing the entire world’s bee population: mid-summer and everything has bloomed and gone to seed. There is nothing
colony collapse disorder, or CCD. Last year, beekeepers lost to eat. Your colony starts eating the honey that was made out of the nectar
23.1% of their colonies over the winter, and for the first time the summer with neonicotinoids in it. The pesticides in the honey start messing with your
losses exceeded the winter losses at 42.1%! Obviously, this is a catastrophic senses, making it hard to remember where the hive is. After a while, all of the
foraging bees have lost their sense of
problem because more than 30% of
direction and are unable to return
the world’s fruits and vegetables are
to the hive. The loss of population
pollinated by honeybees!
has made the hive vulnerable to atYou may ask, “What is the mysteritack by other hives. It has also made
ous thing killing all of these bees?”
it impossible for the bees in the hive
Well, the answer to this question is:
to keep the brood warm on cold
a group of pesticides called neonicnights. The loss in population has
otinoids. These pesticides are sprayed
also doomed the hive for winter, beon just about every farm that sprays
cause they don’t have any foragers to
synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungather honey for winter and to raise
gicides, or fertilizers. These pesticides
a brood.
are also genetically engineered into
The catastrophe caused by neonicsome GMOs, including corn and soy
otinoids is immense, especially for
beans. You may ask, “What do these
people who rely on honeybees for a
pesticides have to do with bees?”
living, and, more importantly, those
Imagine a beehive with bees flying in
of us who eat food. A great movie
and out, looking for some nice tasty
about CCD is “The Vanishing of the
nectar. Now imagine you are a bee
Bees” on Netflix™; it goes into great
flying out of this hive and you find
Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicodetail on how CCD works and what
a flower bed bursting with flowers.
tine. Its use was linked in a range of studies to adverse ecological effects, including
causes it.
You grab as much nectar and pollen
honey-bee colony collapse disorder (CCD) and loss of birds due to a reduction in
Thank you for reading, and please
as you can and head back to the hive
insect populations.
to tell the other bees about the flowers. You fly back with other foraging bees don’t use neonicotinoids or any other synthetic pesticide.
and grab some more of this nectar and pollen, but what you don’t know is that To learn more about bees and beekeeping, visit the Website of Hudson Valley
yesterday all of the flowers were sprayed with neonicotinoids. You and the Bee Supply at www.hudsonvalleybeesupply.com
E
Protect Our Future:
arth Guardians all over the world are
taking local actions to create global
change every day. Beginning on each
equinox and solstice, thousands of Earth
Guardians, join each other in protecting the
earth, air, water and climate. In the Spring from
March 21st-June 21st, we Protect Our Earth-- this
season, focusing on soil regeneration. As science
begins to note that soil plays an important
role in climate stability, we will be working to
build healthy soil in our own communities.
With a Global Soil Sequestration Challenge,
Earth Guardians and those who protect the
earth are invited to build soil where you live, by
planting bio intensive gardens, planting trees,
regenerating soil and projects like that.
In Our Own Neighborhood:
rerilebuJ leinaD otohP
Bees and Pesticides
The Long Spoon Collective:
is asking all the tough questions and having fun too! I
By Julep Poort-Baucom 10 yrs old.
M
The world needs help...
e and my friend Izzy want
to do something we call
the Plastic Project. We will
look around the neighborhood for colored plastic and at the end
it will be a giant interactive rainbow!
Have you ever been under a rainbow?
Once we finish, we can tell everyone
we have been under a rainbow, because
technically we will have. Adults and kids
like me can walk right under it (except
the adults will need to bend down). This
world can change but the reason it isn’t
is because people don’t believe it can, it’s
true if we don’t work together we can’t
do anything but if we work together the
things we can make right exceeds farPage 32 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
ther than you can believe. Want to help
us? There are so many things you can
do (recycling etc.). We want to make
a change for everyone’s future. Adults
can change their future too -- it doesn’t
matter what your age is, you can do
ANYTHING.
EG Boulder Crew
The Earth Guardians Boulder crew will
(Above) Earth Guradians’ eco-village on Vancouver
be working on an exciting project called
Island, BC. (Below) Eco Artist Jennifer Zackin and
#SoilForLife that focuses on reinvigorating
others will create art out of soil and seed in a Saugerties,
the soil in order to reinvigorate the earth and the
NY location.
Beginning at the end of March, Eco Artist Jennifer
Zackin, (and Earth Guardians New York’s Art
Director) and the incredible Long Spoon Collective
will lead a permaculturally directed Nitrogen fixing
community art project called, “Re:Seed Saugerties”.
The mission is to regenerate a corner lot of land
and bring it back to fertile growing soil, while
learning from each other, sharing with each other
and beautifying the community. This project will include the Boys and
Girls Club, local schools, food growing community and anyone who
passes by.
Keep in touch with the EGNY crew to learn more about participating
in this project, there will be many ways to engage, from designing on up!
Plastic Project
Where does all our food come from? Who
should own land? What can we do with
recycled materials? What does it feel like to
work together? This year Long Spoon is finding the answers
by growing food, learning skills, teaching, and
connecting with neighbors. There is great
excitement about the Long Spoon teaming
up with Earth Guardians NY, to mentor young
people ready to take serious environmental
actions, in their lives, everyday!
community. Daniel Jubelirer, EG Boulder’s local
actions coordinator is heading this project that
includes aspects of art and education as well as
hands in the dirt activities for people of all ages.
Soil for life is a community initiative to harness the
power of soil to sequester carbon, simultaneously
building healthy food systems and directly reducing
the amount of climate disrupting greenhouse gasses
in the atmosphere, while building community.
Techniques such as bio char, perennial food forests, organic composting
and holistic animal grazing, all of which build soil and help sequester
CO2 into the land.
Both projects will be bringing art, music, community engagement
together to educate about soil regeneration and collaborative effort.
If you want to get involved, or register your project with Protect Our
Future, visit www.earthguardians.org/pof
Solar Alternative
recently took a trip to Germany with my family. We started our journey in Frankfurt and explored the Rhine and Mosel river valleys. I
noticed much stronger infrastructure for solar panels and wind turbines. The U.S. could learn a lot from Germany, mainly to use much
more green energy.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Global warming is already having significant and costly effects – and these consequences
will only intensify as the planet’s temperature
continues to rise.”
There is a limited amount of coal and natural gas to power the world. For example, with
coal, you burn it once and it’s gone. However,
the world will never run out of sunlight. If we
switch to solar power or another alternative, we
aren’t going to lose our source of energy over
time. With solar power, you use it once and then
you use it again and again because it’s renewable.
I also believe that renewable energy sources such as solar energy are
Lyle Bicking, age 13
more efficient. We need to move fossil fuels from the places they are
mined to the places they are converted into electricity, which means we
are spending money on gas to get the fuel to the place it needs to be.
Whereas with solar power, we don’t need to move it because it’s collected
and generated in the same place.
In 2014, Germany generated 27.3 percent of
electricity from renewable sources such as wind,
solar, hydroelectric and biomass, compared to
only 13 percent in the United States. On July 25,
2015, Germany got 78 percent of its electricity
from renewable sources, setting a new world record.
To adopt these greater energy alternatives in
the U.S., we first need to raise awareness on the
issue. There is no question Earth is warming and
that dirty energy is a cause of it. These cleaner
alternative power sources are desperately needed
to reduce the amount of gas escaping into the atmosphere. We need to
pay attention to Germany’s energy plan because ours is not enough.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 33
Community
Community
RT 212 Coalition: INTERVIEW
on Drug abuse
Drug abuse is never an easy topic
to discuss but it is becoming a growing issue within the community. The
Rt. 212 Coalition is a grassroots organization that was founded by Shayna
Micucci and Kasandra Quednau. The
aim of the group is to raise awareness
about drugs/drug addiction and to
link resources to alleviate the damage
of drug abuse. I got the chance to sit
down and speak with them a little
further.
Interview by Ryan Goetz
Subject: Addiction
Question: In your opinion does having
a significant other or sober partner help
in the rehabilitation process?
Kas: You mean having a boyfriend
or a girlfriend? Not if they’re using!
There’s a huge aspect of aspect of codependency that happens in addiction.
Shayna: Another challenging aspect
to having a relationship when one per- Ryan Goetz interviews Kasandra Quednau and Shayna Micucci, founders of the Rt. 212 Coalition as Caleb McNason is using is that the other person is mara listens at Yum Yum Cafe, Woodstock.
always walking a fine line because the
Ryan: So you’re saying that giving but not buying them food is okay.
other person is not totally themselves when they are using. It can Do you think you should ask to see their wallet? And if they do have
be a really tricky thing to navigate. If they can stick it out, you have money, do you choose not to buy them [groceries] because if they’re
to wonder where they’re at. Are they on the enabling side or pro- going to eat a meal, [what if they] then use the money to get drugs?
moting healthy living? It can be very difficult to find the balance.
Kas: That’s a good point. If you’re in the position to do so, it holds
them accountable and makes them more aware of what they’re
Ryan: Would you agree that offering food and housing enables the doing, and how they’re manipulating you. It’s important to make
addict to have more money to feed his or her addiction?
them aware that you’re not going to allow them to manipulate you.
Kas: It’s hard. I would never suggest leaving a person hungry or If they’re working and making money and not using, they would
be able to afford to cover those things for themselves. Part of leaving it up to that person is teaching them ‘Okay, you have ability, so
take charge.’
“Some people may view the
experience of getting arrested
as rock bottom, but some
people might not.”
homeless but if you are giving them money, know it’s probably going to be used to buy drugs. Enabling is a slippery slope; if you love
the person you don’t want them to be in danger
Shayna: Yes and there are ways to assist with food unless someone
is selling food for drugs…which I don’t think is typical. If you want
to buy someone groceries and show them how to cook, you’re not
enabling—you’re making sure your loved one has something to eat.
The homeless factor is tricky because housing someone that is using
is enabling. If there are agreed-upon terms. like ‘You can’t live here
if you’re going to be using,’ they still have a safe place to turn in. I do
think it walks a slippery slope. Giving money is enabeling in every way
Page 34 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Ryan: Would you agree that an addict is not going to get clean until
he or she is ready?
Kas: Absolutely! One hundred percent I think that the best way
to encourage someone to get clean is by letting them know that
you are there when they want to reach out for support. Before my
friend passed away, we took a long ride and I told him I’d bring him
to the detox right then and there. Even though he said he wasn’t
ready, I still contacted him every day. I told him, ‘If you want to get
help, I’m here to help you help yourself.’ I’m an addict in recovery.
No one was going to help me until I was ready to help myself.
Kas: Yes.
Shayna: Some people may view the experience of getting arrested
as rock bottom, but some people might not. Coming from a lens of
never personally struggling with addiction, but knowing and loving people that have, I think that going to jail–while maybe not
their bottom–may enable them to get clean if they’re around long
enough. Everyone’s bottom might be different.
I don’t know if everyone has to be ready. There are people that aren’t
ready but end up getting help and are on the road to recovery. There
are people that won’t do anything and won’t let anything help them
until they believe they are ready. I think it could work both ways.
Ryan: What is the mission or purpose of the Route 212 Coalition?
Kas: Well, Ryan, we looked at it as, What would make the biggest
impact on the community? What is the most realistic way that we
can make that impact?
We got down to discussing how to help an addict; and how you really are going to have a hard time unless they’re ready and ask for help.
Concentrating our efforts there would not be as effective as concentrating our efforts on prevention, education, support, and awareness
and ending the stigma.
Ryan: Kind of like a community awareness program?
Shayna: We do some education for the community; we offer support groups because there are a lot of people such as family and
friends who need support. Anyone is welcome to come. In addition, we also connect with other resources that are in our county
and try to collaborate and bring more awareness for the county as a
whole and see what other projects we can help with or take on. We
need to help people that are struggling; the families also need help.
Insurance is a big issue too, and we’ve been talking with people in
the county about that.
There are a lot of different things that come into play. More than
anything, by the two of us working really hard to network and establish relationships with other organizations such as the town board, the
local police department, and the County Executive’s office, we are now
able to voice what the community lets us know they need. We are a
liaison to bridge the gaps between what the community needs and
how we can get it done.
Shayna: Now we can go to those places and say, ‘These resources
don’t exist and people need them. How can we make this happen?’
Check out the Rt. 212 Coalition at http://www.rt212coalition.org.
To Be Continued...
Photos by Dylan McNamara
Ryan: Do you mind if I ask you a question? When did you realize,
and what helped it get into your head that you needed to change?
Kas: I got arrested and sentenced to two and a third to seven years
in prison. I had tried numerous times to get clean before that, without any success. The only way I was able to get clean was by being forced…to be locked and put away…from friends, the people,
places and things. I couldn’t get to the drug; I couldn’t get to the
people; I was isolated. That’s why I’m so proud of those who try to
do it on their own because, I don’t know if I could have.
Ryan: So you’re saying that cutting ties from past friends is a big part
of getting clean?
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 35
Art
Art
The Art of...
Jenna Papageorgantis
Jonathan Rowan
I am a fifteen year old artist operating in Saugerties, N.Y. I prefer to work with cut paper
and/or watercolor, and I enjoy depicting and the human form. I am influenced largely by
Arthur Rackham, Lotte Reiniger, and Alphonse Mucha, and I have a fascination with line and
contour.
“The purpose of art is
washing the dust of daily
life off our souls.”
—Pablo Picasso
Muhammed
Kashan Mahmood
Age 13. This work is part of the Woodstock Artist Association and Museum (WAAM) Outreach program
in conjuction with the J. Watson Bailey Middle School
in Kingston, NY.
Page 36 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com odlifeyouth-
Phoebe Eis
Age 12
Unicorns do normal things too!
Jospehine Internicola
Age 10, from a series of comics I made called Jet Pack Kitty
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 37
Poetry
Poetry
New Beginnings
By Kyiah Giannelli, age 13
The wind blows the field
violently
Piece by piece it engulfs
everything in its path
Creating uncertainty
Ripping its prey apart
About what is to come,
One by one
The sky lets out an
enormous clap of thunder
Every gust of wind
Drop of rain
Making the ground
tremble
The heavens open up
to release a beam of
lightning
Of hope for better times
The raindrops fall
One by one creating a
glistening pool of
silvery elixir
The beast, a swirling
churning funnel of debris,
is out of control
An Untold
Story
by Laura Van Aken, age 13
Everyone has an interesting story.
Everyone from the woman in the military suit,
magine a house white, clean, classic. Simple but amazing. It
cleans, cooks, warms your bed, and makes your life simple but
amazingly easy. You can relax.
Now imagine that same house realizes what it’s doing. It’s tired
of doing all the work you once complained of. Tick-tock seven o’clock,
time to get up C. Bradbury 877. Tick-tock-tock-tock-tock…stop, why
am I doing this? Why do I do this for you? Why am I the maid and
not you? Are you don’t even say thanks, the house begins to think. It
shifts its’ body to the right pushing, pushing. At last your advanced
The person who doesn’t leave the house,
The person who walks with their head down,
Slowly dies out
The person who walks around with a smile,
Creating a new beginning
I
By Sarah Perry, age 7
To the baby who is just leaving the hospital.
Spark of lightning
Only to be reborn again in
the future
The House
Poetry
The person who insists they aren’t that
interesting….
They all have a story.
They all are interesting people,
And so are you.
It always seems that the people who we
Ignore day in and day out
Once had an interesting life.
It could have been good or bad,
Whichever Way You
Choose
Happy or sad,
It could build you up
It’s just looking back.
That’s all it really is.
All this time I’ve just been looking back.
I can’t live in the past,
I can’t live in the future,
So why do I keep doing this?
This living in the past?
Worrying about the future?
The present is where we’re at
And no one needs to know
What you think,
What you want...
Page 38 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Photo by Chloe Rovitz
By Kaitlana Viglielmo, age 15
Only time will tell us where we’re going
to be tomorrow,
And nothing is going to change where
we were yesterday.
Here’s life.
Its right here in front of you.
Take it.
Don’t look back.
Don’t think ahead.
Live.
Or knock you down.
We all need to stop and listen.
Pay attention to those who
“Aren’t anything out of the ordinary.”
Because I bet that they have
An untold story
That’s waiting to be heard.
house feels movement. It tries to speak again.
“Tick-tock-stop hello Mr. Featherstone, Mrs. Featherstone, Amber,
Max…why don’t you answer me anymore? Do you love me? Do you?”
The house wants you to need it, because it does not need you. All
of a sudden, the house feels something hot and warm. It can’t decide
what it is…is it the sun? The house doesn’t know, so it begins to make
breakfast, your eggs, toast, and bacon. Then it remembers you hadn’t
eaten your dinner last night; they must of gone out for dinner. So the
house resumes making breakfast and again feels a flash of something
hot. The house now knows what the hot and warm thing is – a fire.
The house burned and burned and burned. As it did, it cursed you
for not being there, for what it had done for you.
Then it begins to rain, and the house stops burning. The house is
thankful for the rain. As the house slowly gets up, it forgets about it
all, and begins to cook breakfast, lunch, plus dinner.
Imagine a house white, clean, classic. Simple but amazing.
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 39
Philosophy
The Wisdom of Animals
By Miriam John age:13
O
ver the three years I’ve kept mice and fish (and the many
years I’ve had a cat), I have learned a lot about animals,
and about life in general. Animals are very wise and like
to share their wisdom with you telepathically, if you can
quiet your inner
chatter enough
to hear them.
Here are some
of my favorite
quotes from my
animals:
“This I want to
say to all of humanity: let love
take over.”
-Yin (betta fish)
“Cats purr to filter the four purposes of life: to love others, to receive love
from others, to find yourself, and to gain experience about life.”
-Kiwi (cat)
“We each have our own pieces of wisdom. Together with the universe,
our wisdom comes together to create a beautiful future. Through our
thoughts and feelings, we express and share our wisdom.”
-Yin (betta fish)
“Every moment in the past was a now at some point, so you can be in the
past and have it be now.”
-Raindrop (mouse), responding to my question on
how to remember her when she dies.
I once asked my coldwater minnow, Neora, if she wanted me to release her into the wild.
Neora: No.
Me: Why not? You would be so free!
Neora: I am free here in my aquarium. I chose to be with you. That is
freedom of choice, and that is the best kind of freedom.
“If you aren’t sure whether you want to get into a new relationship with
someone, ask your heart. If you have a heart connection with them (like
your heart is merging with theirs; like there is an energetic cord between
you) then the relationship is right.”
-Raindrop (mouse)
I want you to think about what would happen, if every time you could
fight (without causing harm to you or those you love), you did fight.”
-Dolphin (betta fish)
“Everything that happens has do to with love shifting our bodies to
whatever form is right.”
-Yin (betta fish)
“Goodnight, it’s alright, don’t fight the night.”
-Yin (betta fish) responding to my worry that he wouldn’t make it
through the night (he was sick).
“[When someone dies] the light is not less strong; rather, it is intent less
on one thing and more on the whole of beingness.”
-Dolphin (betta fish)
Page 40 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 41
Sports
Recalling My Wrestling
Tournament Holidays
By Adam Perry
age 11
A
s the buzzer
ends
the match
before
mine, my heart rate
increases dramatically. I feel the adrenaline. I go to the desk
to check in, saying
my last name, Perry,
loudly. I glance to
my left, making eye
contact briefly with
my opponent. I walk
onto the mat in my
shoes, feeling the
sticky soap and water solution. Placing
my foot on the side
of the rectangle, I
wait for the referee
to blow his whistle.
Sounding
almost
like a train whistle, it
blows, and the match
has begun.
I circle, maintain
eye contact, and
shuffle my feet, all
while keeping a low
center of gravity. I
wait for him to make
the first move. Finally, he shoots for a
double leg, but just barely saving myself, I sprawl in time. Kicking
my legs out, I catch him with my right arm under his left arm and
my left around his neck. I run right, trying to flip him over onto his
back to pin him, but he manages to bridge and escape as if he were a
cheetah. We are both back in the
neutral position. The score:
I have two points, he has
one. I decide to shoot.
I manage to catch his
left leg, picking him
up and slamming
him down. “Take
down Green, two
points Green,” the
ref shouts at me.
Being Green, I finish him off with
the head and arm
or headlock, pinning him on his back.
I stand up, jumping,
happy. I win my match.
“I finish him off with
the head and arm or
headlock, pinning him
on his back. ”
Page 42 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com • Page 43
Memories
Memories
Harold Reilly
In Memory of Maya Gold
F
I
rom the time she was a toddler Maya was a regular and enthusiastic audience
member at our Hudson River Playback Theatre shows where people are invited
to tell their personal stories and see them enacted on the spot. Maya always sat
in the front row, always spoke up, always with a huge Maya-smile on her face.
When she was seven she and Elise came to a performance for Human Rights Day. It
opened with readings from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After the readings, Maya raised her hand. She was not smiling. “I heard a lot of ‘he’ and ‘him’,” she said.
“But no ‘she’ and ‘her’.”
She was absolutely right. Visionary though the Declaration is, its language is completely
sexist. And seven-year-old Maya was affronted. She understood the relationship between
language and justice. We reflected her comment in action, to her satisfaction.
Blog http://mayasgifts.elisegold.org “Maya’s Declaration”, a story from Jo Salas.
t is a month today that I received the news that
every parent of an addict dreads. I just wanted
to take the time to say thank you to everyone
who sent cards, love, hugs and prayers. Also for
the churches all over the world that held masses for
Harold. The community center for giving us the beautiful new space to honor my beautiful young man.
The Woodstock Reformed Church for allowing their
wonderful father Josh Bode to conduct the memorial.
All who helped out, all who spoke and all who came.
It’s not easy but I have hope we will make progress
in this horrible epidemic of heroin raging through
our youth. Harold, you are in my thoughts and in my
prayers forever and a day.
—Mummy (Sanchia Playfair)
“Harold Reilly (had)...
a great head on his shoulders
and a sense of humor that could
brighten anyone’s day at
any moment”
The Maya Gold Foundation was
created in response to the tragic death of 15-year
old Maya Gold, a New Paltz High School student
who took her own life in October of 2015. A loving
daughter, sister, and friend, Maya was a social activist, an inspired student, and creatively engaged in
many aspects of life. She loved to travel and dreamed
of working with children in Nepal, and the Maya
Gold Foundation will help carry out her vision.
(September 1, 2000-October 2, 2015)
Page 44 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
The mission of the Maya Gold Foundation
is to empower youth to access their inner
wisdom and realize their dreams.
http://www.mayagoldfoundation.org
Photo by Dylan McNamara
Pictured: two works of watercolor art by Maya from 2011. Portrait of Maya June 1, 2015
Harold and Rocky
Photo by Dylan McNamara
Life is such a mystery. You never know when you’ll encounter
someone who moves you or makes you laugh or simply just makes the
best of the worst situations.. Harold Figureda was particularly good at
all of that. With a great head on his shoulders and a sense of humor
that could brighten anyone’s day at any moment, he had so much potential. It’s a real shame that he was taken from us so soon. Much love
goes out to you, Harold. Much love to you too, Henry Figureda, and
anyone else who has been affected. I know there’s not much I can do
to help, but I’m here if you need me... I love all my friends and family
so much. I hope you all know that, and if any of you need help in any
way, just know there’s no shame in asking.. RIP Harold... You’ll be
deeply missed, my man...
—Joda Hoffman