KIDDO! Helping Kids reach their potential through Art, Poetry, Music, Drama and Teacher Grants
Mill Valley Middle School— Kim Tran’s Art students
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Kiddo! is celebrating our 41st year. As the primary fundraising organization for the Mill Valley School District, Kiddo! provides 100% of the funding for district-wide art, music, dance, drama, poetry programs and teacher grants.
Mill Valley Middle School students share:
“Art is my way of expressing myself.” — Violet “Art is an escape and helps me relax.” — Logan “Art isn’t perfect- and that’s what makes it perfect.” — Areej “Art is an outlet for all our feelings.” — Hunter
“Art is freedom. There’s no limit to your imagination.” — Fisher “Art is the closest thing we all share for a universal language.” — Devin
“In art, I learn the freedom of creativity and I can turn it into anything.” — Donal
“The only limit to art is lack of confidence. Art classes help us gain confidence.” — Kate “Art is like people. It can show up in many different shapes and forms.” — Kiki
For our cover story, we visited Human Rights Watch in New York City where we interviewed a team of dedicated advocates, working tirelessly to create change. From local firemen to a 911 fireman we learned how much effort and dedication these people put into their work. Environmentalist Al Grumet offers a new perspective on climate change. Also with press passes, we visited Outside Lands and the Mill Valley Music Fest to get these stories while honing our journalism and photography skills.
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— high res jpegs or PDF’s Deadline: November 1st, 2023 winifred@fastforwardweb.com
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
OPINIONS: DOES SOCIETY SHAPE OUR DREAMS?
AN INTERVIEW WITH LT. STEVE CASQUARELLI— A FIREMAN AT 9/11
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SOUTHERN MARIN FIRE DISTRICT
AN INTERVIEW WITH SAG-AFTRA STRIKING ACTORS AND WRITERS
THE ART GALLERY — MARIN ACADEMY
OUTSIDE LANDS — GETTING THE STORY AS PRESS
GREEN CHANGE — AN INTERVIEW WITH ENVIRONMENTALIST AL GRUMMET
GARDEN PAGE — EDNA MAGUIRE SCHOOL GARDEN
TAMALPAIS HIGH SCHOOL — OUR PASSIONS
MILL VALLEY MUSIC FEST
ART PAGE — MILL VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Amici’s Pizza
Branson School
FrameCrafters Gallery
Headlands Preparatory School
La Ginestra
Marin Academy
Marin Catholic High
Marin Horizon School
Marin Humane Society
Marin Tutors
Marin Primary & Middle School
Marin Waves & Track Club
Montecito Plaza
Mount Tamalpais School
Mill Valley Film Festival
Mill Valley Market
Ongaro & Sons
PAAM-Performing Arts of Marin
Saint Hilary School
San Domenico School
Sloat Garden Centers
St. Isabella School
The Good Earth United Markets
, PUBLISHER: Winifred MacLeod winifred@fastforwardweb.com
Published by KidSpeak, Inc., Vol 33 #1 www.fastforwardweb.com
O: 415-256-8920 M: 415.272.3569
ADDRESS: FastForward 775 E.Blithedale Ave #388 Mill Valley, CA 94941
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mindy Cooper
STUDENT EDITORS: Semira Robinson and Emerson Swift
CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS/WRITERS: Chloe Bowman, Elsa Block, Hannah Bringard, Penelope Carroll, Emily Carisetti, Nicholas Chin, Cameron Colpitts, Kelsey Cook, Harper Dean, Keira Eisenbud, Lauren Felder, Ezra Trost-Goldhammer, Colette Hale, Josie Hayden-Smith, Caden BernsteinLawler, Claire Lawson, Haley Lefferts, Audrey Lowell, Juliette Lunder, Charlotte Martin, Amanda Mauzy, Finn McMullen, Lauren Olsen, Jude Paine, Jordan Potter, Semira Robinson, Finn Snekkevik, Gabe Schwartzman, Emerson Swift, Jenniffer Valiente, Brigitte Whittle and Callie Zimmerman.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Zoe Albukerk, Abigail Call, Miles Coley, Casey Rose Clemens, Finn Does, Alice Elegant, Kyra Ferguson, William Gracey, Addison Hayes. Ronan Mackay, Tasi Manchip, Hannah McIntosh, Selby Maynard, Hazel Paoletti, Nala Raitt, Oli Roth,Kayla Saxon, Jordan Thau, Alexander Ting, Scarlett Woodock-Kennedy and Geneveive Zeches.
At GreenPlay, we work on restoration projects that connect us with the place we live and strive to leave every place we visit better than the way we found it. This summer, we worked on projects close to home, such as maintaining our Meadow Garden at Terwilliger Marsh and litter clean-ups at Bothin Marsh in Mill Valley and many other locations. Every day is an opportunity to explore, make discoveries, and protect our local ecosystems.
Helping making our community better for us and the other creatures who live here is fun!
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— Select your favorite charity and we’ll donate 2% of your total grocery receipts.
MON-SAT 7am - 7:30pm SUN 9am-7pm
12 Corte Madera Avenue Mill Valley 415-388-3222
High up in the Empire State Building, in a conference room overlooking Manhattan’s bustling streets and sky nternational Campaign to Ban Landmines. Twenty-six years later, it remains a powerful example of how fighting for human rights is a team effort. Perhaps no one understands this more than the team at Human Rights Watch.
As an international human rights organization, Human Rights Watch investigates and pushes for the redressing of human rights abuses around the world. They make documentaries about local advocacy groups, write articles that investigate everything from deforestation to war, and more, all abiding by informational standards more stringent than many news organizations’. With each investigation they provide concrete and feasible recommendations for alleviating the problems at hand. But they aren’t journalists. They’re advocates. We sat down with Ifé Fatunase, James Ross, Sarah Grile, and Kathy Rose to learn more about how the organization operates and their commitment to humanity around the world.
“There is a difference between a news organization and a human rights organization,” says Kathy Rose, a senior editor who worked as a journalist before joining Human Rights Watch. “When you come to an advocacy organization, that’s your purpose.” This collective goal bonds Human Rights Watch employees together, across departments, countries, and oceans. Working in communications, Rose reviews short-form articles, web content, official news releases, and more to make sure every piece of writing they put out is accessible to the public, no matter how complex the jargon may be. But even before they get to Rose’s keen eye, more than 20 people have scrutinized the copy.
“The reality is that everything we put out goes through a rather extensive review process,” says Legal and Policy Director James Ross. “It’s the researcher who may gather the information, but then there’s a person who supervises them…We use satellite imagery,
By Semira Robinson Phillips Academy Andover
for example, that may support what we’re doing. The researcher on children’s rights may weigh in.” This vetting process ensures that no stone is left unturned as they gather foolproof visual, anecdotal, and legal evidence.
Not all of this work happens on the ground. While about a third of the organization is based in New York City, smaller offices are located in Berlin, Johannesburg, Amman, London, and other major centers, with many employees operating individually, reviewing fieldwork and completing projects around the globe. At the front lines of each conflict are roughly 60 researchers who specialize in either different countries or in one of 14 thematic divisions, like arms deals or LGBTQ+ rights. They uncover human rights abuses and forge partnerships with local organizations to help combat them.
“Researchers are the core of our organization,” says Multimedia Director Ifé Fatunase. “The rest of us are support staff in one way or another.” Human Rights Watch researchers are on the front line of all sorts of tenuous situations. They monitor political situations which could, and often do, change in a split second. For instance, Ross reflected on the
tenacity of Lama Fakih, who was the Syria researcher in 2011. “We hired her to work on Syria, which at the time was a bit of a backwater. She had no experience working on armed conflicts and then the civil war started, and she was suddenly thrust into reporting on a wartime situation, with levels of torture occurring that were just horrific. But she did great. And now she’s the head of our Middle East Division.”
With so many investigations going on at the same time, sometimes there’s no one on staff to work on a specific issue. In these cases, Human Right Watch partners with local advocacy groups. Fatunase’s multimedia team recently completed a project based in Kabwe, Zambia, where lead from local mines contaminates the city and surrounding towns. Partnering with Kabwe Youth Activists, their video features three young people interviewing a geologist and talking with local families about the pollution’s day-to-day effects. Mwelwa, Caleb, and Natalie tell us how children in their community suffer from cognitive impairments, are exposed to lead every day, and have no escape from the contaminants. They interviewed people in their
The Human Rights team, left to right: Ifé Fatunase, Kathy Rose, James Ross and Sarah Grile REPORTERS: CAMI COLPITTS, HARPER DEAN, HALEY LEFFERTS, AMANDA MAUZY, CHARLOTTE MARTIN, LAUREN OLSEN, JORDAN POTTER, SEMIRA ROBINSON, EMERSON SWIFT, JENNIFFER VALIENTE and YOGA WENG. FROM: Branson, Marin Academy, Marin Catholic, Tamalpais High, Urban High of San Francisco and Redwood Highown community, speaking their native language. By working with activists like these, Human Rights Watch maintains the integrity and authenticity of every story. Additionally, their documentary-style coverage and partnerships with youth activists lets them reach a different audience than a traditional dispatch might. Fatunase says one of her team’s goals is to tell young people, “‘This is the law, this is what your government needs to be doing.’ We aim to get them more mobilized.”
“We are pushing for change around the world,” says Ross. “We are not journalists… Journalists traditionally are going to be presenting the facts to get the information out. But we’re going to be making recommendations about what needs to be done.” His legal team analyzes the work of people on the ground and places it in the context of various international treaties and accords. “That’s different than people who are just offering opinions or research on a particular country,” he says.
Over the years, Human Rights Watch’s strategy has shifted, from targeting governments and key decision-makers to rallying the general public. Fatunase’s team makes short term videos that can be easily uploaded to social media, while Ross’s legal team avoids the specifics of international law in their news releases. Instead they try to frame the issue in a general legal context so people will focus on the impact of the law rather than the complex details. Their unique, evolving approach to human rights speaks to the organization’s dedication and flexibility, two qualities Ross says are vital for anyone working at Human Rights Watch.
At the center of their mission statement, Human Rights Watch “defends the rights of people worldwide.” Through an international network of researchers, legal professionals, regional advocates and more, they work together to advocate for the fair treatment of every human being, no matter who or where they are. As Rose says, “The story is important, but how you get the story and who might be harmed in the process is also something that we should think about.” Human Rights Watch makes sure to pay attention to just that.
By Josie Hayden-Smith Redwood High School
When I started out in journalism, there were pretty much no women,” says Kathy Rose to 12 novice FastForward journalists. “And I’m looking around the room and seeing all women, and it makes me feel really good.” The Human Rights Watch editor’s story began when she was a 16-year-old college freshman with a passion for journalism. She didn’t know that aside from the occasional exception like Martha Gellhorn and Helen Thomas, the field offered few opportunities to women and was classified as a “man’s job.”
But this attitude was beginning to change in the 1950s, and Rose was part of that change. “My father and I were close,” she says. “From a very young age, I thought I was going to be a journalist. My father kept telling me I could do anything, but I didn’t realize how hard it was for a woman to become a journalist in those days.” As she set her mind to her dream, the challenges didn’t stop her. “I felt that the most important thing that you can do for people is to give them information that they can use to meet their citizenship obligations and to make decisions for their lives. And I felt this was really important.”
Rose started looking for journalism work when she was still a young girl. But “it was actually after my freshman year when I managed to get my first reporting job with what were called The Economist newspapers. They were all older Hearst men, and I just called every week and asked if they had any jobs, and they finally hired me. I think the idea was to send me to a few fake fires and that I’d be discouraged and leave, but they became kind of surrogate grandfathers and taught me a whole lot about reporting.”
She’s carried this job experience with her throughout her career. And her presence helped expand the field to more women. “Eventually we had three or four younger women, but for a while I was the only one.” After she graduated from college and left The Economist, she interviewed for another newspaper job but encountered another barrier. “I’d gotten married and gotten pregnant. I went to his office, and he took one look at me and said, ‘I believe mothers should stay home with their children.’ So that was the end of that. I tried contacting other papers and got the same reaction.”
But she didn’t let their attitudes about what she should be doing define her. For years she had to take other jobs to get by, but journalism was always on her mind. She still believed in herself and her path, and the skepticism of others only encouraged her more. Eventually Rose’s determination paid off and she worked for different papers before joining The New York Times, where she was a mid-level foreign desk editor for over 15 years. Now she works at Human Rights Watch, an international advocacy organization.
Rose hit many bumps in the road as she pursued her dream, but she achieved the career she always wanted and helped change the narrative of women’s roles along the way. Today journalism is a more open, more diverse field of work, and Kathy Rose offers an inspiring message to women as they continue to combat sexism. “There’s been enormous change, and that doesn’t mean that there’s been enough change. But it’s very encouraging. I think women should always be aware of issues where sexism continues to exist and should be willing to speak out and to seek equal treatment without accepting inequality.”
s children, with little freedom or control over our lives, we dream big for the day we become a grown up. A movie star, NBA professional, famous musician, or an astronaut may be some of our answers to the question ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ We were taught to believe that anything is possible, and our aspirations could become our reality. The pursuit of dreams is a deeply personal and essential aspect of human life. It encompasses the desire to achieve personal goals, fulfill aspirations, and find purpose and meaning in our lives. While society plays a crucial role in shaping individuals’ beliefs and actions, its influence on this motivation can be both encouraging and discouraging. While tightly holding onto our hopeful futures, we become molded by a society that can both fuel and smother our higher ambitions. When we reach school-age, every child becomes a new addition to the clock-in clock-out lifestyle, beginning with kindergarten. Although we don’t get paid to be a student, we’re obligated to go without choice. It’s a taste of what a full day of work is like. Not only do we become accus-
Atomed to these long hours of focus, but our educational journey equips us with knowledge and skills necessary to pursue greater dreams. Formal education offers a platform for personal development and allows individuals to explore various fields of interest. We may grow to realize that becoming a famous actor may be a far- fetched dream, but education provides a foundation for discovering other more achievable dreams.
Not only does our education contribute to either forming or dismantling our dreams, but our culture does the same. Society often celebrates individuals who have achieved their dreams and become role models who inspire others. Success stories offer hope and demonstrate that dreams can be realized with perseverance and dedication. On top of that, society’s recognition and promotion of entrepreneurship encourages individuals to take risks and pursue their dreams. Entrepreneurs are often seen as catalysts for innovation and economic growth, inspiring others to explore their own higher potential.
However, society often imposes expectations that prioritize stability and conformity over pursuing dreams. This pressure can discourage individuals from deviating from societal norms and following their own path. But when someone does choose
the road less taken, society’s emphasis on success and aversion to failure can instill fear and discourage them from moving forward. The fear of judgment and the potential consequences of failure may limit individuals’ willingness to step outside their comfort zones.
Aside from steering from societal pressures and expectations, socioeconomic factors can hinder one’s desired future. Limited access to financial resources, education, or opportunities can prevent individuals from fully realizing their aspirations, particularly in marginalized communities.
Everyone has had a dream at one time or another. But as we grow older, opinions and perspectives change as we experience the natural course of life and surrounding influences. At this point we eventually understand and accept the need to realign more realistic dreams depending on our life’s path.
To create a more encouraging environment, society needs to foster inclusivity, provide equal opportunities, and celebrate diverse paths to success. By embracing individual aspirations and nurturing a culture that values personal fulfillment, society can empower people to pursue their dreams with confidence and determination.
hether you’re walking along the breezy Lands End Trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean or skiing on a clear sunny day in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it is obvious why people are attracted to California. The Golden State has beautiful weather and diverse geography which allow for many outdoor activities. California has the world’s fifth largest economy with over 2,000 companies in several industries including media, agriculture and technology, which provide multiple employment opportunities. Additionally, California’s strongly democratic government aims to create equal opportunity for everyone and significant support for those less fortunate. Considering all of this, California seems like the perfect place to live. So why are so many people leaving or considering leaving the Golden State?
According to a recent LA Times poll, 40% of Californians have considered leaving the
Wstate in the last 12 months. California’s population dropped by 0.7% in 2021, the first time it has decreased in almost ten years. Many California residents are realizing they can have a better quality of life elsewhere. The most common reason people leave California is the cost of living. Almost 20% of those surveyed said they find it difficult to get by each month. While 46% of respondents said they are able to make ends meet, they struggle to save and plan for emergencies.
California’s government prides itself on its policies to create diversity and support for the less fortunate, but the LA Times survey tells a different story. Around 71% of residents who are Black or Asian are considering leaving California. So, while the services provided to these groups and the equality California strives for are commendable, it may be at a cost that has a larger negative impact on these groups than the benefits provided.
In addition to the public’s dissatisfaction with the cost of living in California, 30% of respondents said they considered leaving
because their political views don’t align with the state’s policies and laws. Some believe that California’s government has strayed too far left, resulting in unintended consequences such as the high cost of living and low quality of life. Examples from San Francisco include 35% vacancy rates in downtown office buildings, expensive and ineffective policies to help the homeless, and poor management of the public school system.
Government should provide the essentials of safety, food, shelter, health care, education, and employment. California’s government seems to fail to provide the highest quality of these basic services at the lowest possible cost. While California is praised for its liberal policies, it is clear that our government structure is not viable for the future. If California wants to keep its residents from leaving, especially the most vulnerable and diverse, it needs to seriously evaluate the priorities of its government. California needs to figure out how to become more efficient, lowering the cost while increasing the quality of government services.
Each photograph was a mirror reflecting my identity, woven together by experiences and cherished moments. With each click of my Canon’s shutter, a part of me was documented, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and nostalgia.
drop of green blades of grass. The camera’s viewfinder is like the camera’s window into the world, and the significance of these fleeting moments become crystal clear.
ways to express creativity can be challenging. However, I have found a secret weapon—an activity that has become my companion on a journey to slow down and truly experience the beauty of life.
One day, I cautiously opened my closet door. A gust of dust greeted my senses, carrying long whispers of nostalgia. Through the shadows, a glimmer of treasure caught my attention. There, nestled amidst other junk, lay a dormant time capsule. With gentle hands, I lifted the Canon from its resting place, feeling the weight of anticipation. The Canon told stories of countless adventures and frozen moments. A cascade of photographs appeared before my eyes; in that moment, I was transported to a realm where the past danced with the present, and I was met with the innocence of my childhood years. Every image told its own tale, encouraging me to unravel the rest of the memories the Canon held. I uncovered not just my past but fragments of who I had become.
One evening, months later, I set out to explore a nearby lookout. My attention was drawn to the sign reading “Bolinas Ridge,” a place flooded with memories. With my camera hanging from my neck, I began to leisurely stroll, feeling a sense of anticipation and wonder. The sky suddenly transformed into a canvas of pastel hues: delicate shades of pink, orange, and lilac. As the colors seamlessly blended, a breathtaking painting reflected upon the calm waters way down below; a scene captured by my mind and my camera.
As the golden sun dipped below the horizon, casting its final hues of gold, rose, and tangerine across the tranquil landscape, I glanced down at my Canon: a silent observer ready to capture the essence of a world filled with hidden treasure. With a gentle click, the lens blinked open, unveiling an image adorned with a delicate California Poppy. Each petal danced in harmony, its vibrant color a symphony against the back-
As I venture out into the world—camera in hand—I find myself attuned to details that often go unnoticed. With each click and release, my camera whispers its silent wisdom, teaching me to appreciate the beauty hidden within the mundane and to find happiness in the smallest of moments. It implores me to slow down the pace of life, embrace the dance of light and shadow, breathe in fragrances of nature, and savor everyday life. Through its lens, my Canon is a teacher, reminding me who dared to pause and look, that in this vast world, the most extraordinary value is often disguised as the simplest of pleasures.
Through first exploring childhood images that the Canon stored for me, I was reminded that change and growth over time is inevitable. Photography allows for the opportunity to document the tiny moments that remind me of the importance in embracing life’s journey. My Canon is something I will rediscover from time to time allowing me to feel enraptured by the memories that lay in my future today.
In a world that constantly spins faster and faster, finding
The collapse of the World Trade Center gave Manhattan’s air the texture of talcum powder. With clouds of debris spilling into the city and fire ravaging the remains of the sprawling building complex, first responders banded together to rescue as many survivors as possible and salvage what was left of the horrific mess.
Before their collapse, the Twin Towers were each 110 stories tall. Their unique open floor plan was supported by beams at each corner, as opposed to the middle of the structure like most mega-skyscrapers. When a hijacked commercial airplane smashed into the North Tower, destroying floors 93 through 99, the explosion of fuel and debris trapped workers on the 11 floors above. Shortly thereafter, a second plane hit the South Tower. Less than two hours later, both towers collapsed into piles of rubble. The country was stunned, New York was at a standstill, and first responders sprang into action.
Firefighter Steve Casquarelli says his unit “had a clear shot into the city, there was no one on the streets to deter us from getting down there.” When they arrived they received concise and clear orders, “pick a pile and start digging.” Per protocol, the 16-acre disaster site was immediately designated a rescue mission. The goal: find any and all survivors. The scene astounded Casquarelli. “I was absolutely stunned by how something so big could be reduced to something so little.”
But there was no time to dwell on the tragedy with all the death and destruction around him.
— By Semira Robinson, Phillips Academy Andover BY Charlotte Martin, Redwood High SchoolREPORTERS: Cami Colpitts, Harper Dean, Haley Lefferts, Amanda Mauzy, Charlotte Martin, Lauren Olsen, Jordan Potter, Semira Robinson, Emerson Swift, Jenniffer Valiente And Yoga Weng.
FROM: Branson, Marin Academy, Marin Catholic, Tamalpais High, Urban High of San Francisco and Redwood High Schools
September 11, 2001, is etched in the collective consciousness — a day of unfathomable tragedy and uncounted heroes, among them a firefighter named Steve Casquarelli, whose experiences forged an abiding bond between sworn duty and emotional growth.
“It’s a willingness to serve your community,” he says. “You have to accept the fact that
you’re entering a very dangerous profession, one where the risks are a constant companion.”
Amid the chaos of that day, Casquarelli manned several radios, responding to urgent calls from all directions. “They were constantly going off, there was no downtime,” he remembers. He dealt with the overwhelming devastation around him by
‘It’s a willingness to serve your community’FastForward reporters, front, l to r: Haley Lefferts, Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes, Charlotte Martin, Josie Hayden-Smith and Emerson Swift. Back, l to r: Semira Robinson, Amanda Mauzy, Yoga Weng, Lt. Steve Casquarelli, Jordan Potter, Harper Dean, Cami Colpitts, Lauren Olsen and Jenniffer Valiente.
making himself emotionally numb. “I just tried to see the destruction, but not the death. I really tucked this away to the back of my head. And that’s how I was able to cope with it.”
This survival strategy proved to be a double-edged sword, however. “I was hurting myself, and I was hurting people around me.” As Casquarelli’s unprocessed emotions took their toll he realized that he had to confront his inner battles.
His journey towards emotional growth took an unexpected turn thanks to a chance encounter with a compassionate soul in the heart of the disaster zone. “She just showed me a little human compassion, which went a long way for me,” he recalls. “That was the moment where everything changed.” His suppressed emotions came to the surface and overcame the stoic façade he’d been clinging to.
Casquarelli learned the value of reaching out, seeking help, and sharing his burden. The fire department’s counseling services offered a lifeline from a psychologist who helped him discover that healing begins when emotions are acknowledged, shared, and embraced. “She was just great to talk to,” he says. “She helped make a lot of sense out of things and taught me how to deal with it.”
Steve Casquarelli’s transformation is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. “I don’t think it’s been difficult to move on,” he reflects. “It’s something I experienced, and I live with, but I’m able to cope with it a lot better.” His journey reminds us that while emotional scars may never fade, they can be navigated with grace and empathy. His story is a testament to the power of embracing one’s humanity in the face of unimaginable challenges.
High up in an office building in Lower Manhattan, a memorial of acrylic plaques hang on a white wall. Printed on each lies the name of a journalist who died on assignment while reporting from the The Associated Press.
Since 1846, the AP has acted as a news wire service, enlisted by large newspapers and stations to provide quick and reliable news. As the world of news distribution becomes complicated by social media, the AP works to modernize its digital practices while staying loyal to a legacy of journalism.
The AP office in New York is an homage to the past, present, and future.
On another floor is a wall of pictures, the most influential AP photographs taken since the organization’s founding.
These are pictures you’ve seen in textbooks — pictures of war, famine, tragedies and celebrities. Thirty-five of them have won Pulitzer Prizes. This is the AP’s colorful past from the front line of providing reliable breaking news for more than a century.
Beyond the pictures, the office has an open floor plan, with couches, cubicles, and standing desks. Here, members of the photography team edit pictures while the audience engagement team touches up the website or app. With questions asked over cubicle walls and cross-team collaboration, the AP newsroom comes to life.
The energy in the space is palpable; it’s that quiet unassuming dedication that speaks to a team bonded by respect for each other and a shared mission. It feels like proud smiles at well-written stories and an unfaltering belief in good journalism.
Glass conference rooms keep the space light and airy, and provide a peek at daily news meetings and coverage of long-range topics like the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Every day, between cubicles and conference rooms, the AP executes plams for it present and future plans for covering the world .
The Associated Press holds dear its motto: “advancing the power of facts.”
To find info on the wall of honor, visit: https://www.ap.org/about/our-people/wall-of-honor
“You have to accept the fact that you’re entering a very dangerous profession, one where the risks are a constant companion.”
by
Firefighting is a simple job at its core, but there’s more to it than the red helmets that save neighborhood cats from trees. When we got to the station, Firefighter Paramedic Will Sink and Engineer Kevin Freeman greeted us at the door and gave us a tour of the cubby-like cots that they sleep in during their night shifts, the family-size gym in the garage, and the antique fire engine they store for parades and special events - but we’d come to pick their brains. Their common room consisted of a worn, yet tidy kitchen, a large table, and a bunch of armchairs. In the far corner, a Giants game played quietly on a flatscreen. As we sat down, I noticed another TV that displayed an ever-changing list of emergencies. It counted in seconds, then minutes, showed a location and a short description of the situation. I watched an “unknown medical” turn into an “assumed stroke” in a matter of minutes. It became clear that our interview could’ve ended at any point, had the crew gotten a call. They plan their days so that they remain busy, even if nobody leaves any candles too close to their curtains. The firefighters fill their days with trainings, cleaning assignments, even the occasional interview - there is always room for improvement.
“I grew up playing sports, and just love the feeling of being part of a big group collectively working together,” said Freeman. On the job, you not only help the community, but make friends, stay in shape, and are learning new things on a day-to-day basis in the various tasks taken on both inside and outside the firehouse. To become a firefighter, Sink describes how everyone must go through the Firefighter One Academy, where you learn the basic skills: throwing ladders, pulling hoses, tying knots. After that, you usually get your EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) certification, and sometimes even a paramedic license. Your first academy training is then followed by a department specific academy that lasts between ten and twelve weeks long.
“We typically don’t get called to a happy situation, so just keeping the mental fortitude to process all that stuff day in and day out –I think that’s a challenge.”
~ Engineer Kevin FreemanLeft to right: Firefighter Paramedic Will Sink, Firefighter Andrew Rush, Penelope Carroll, Acting Captain/Engineer Mike Coleman, Haley Lefferts, Engineer Kevin Freeman Penelope Carroll Marin School of Environmental Leadership, Sophomore Reporters: Penelope Carroll and Haley Lefferts, Junior, Tamalapais High School
Unlike some stations, Station 7 has extra equipment, so you’re expected to take a week to learn to drive the fire truck (which has the big ladder and requires two people to drive) and the fire engine (which just carries water). In Marin, there’s a lot of extra skills that the firefighters learn given its mountainous and oceanic terrain. “There’s a rescue swimmer class that’s part of our academy,” said Freeman. “We’re out in the ocean for a week learning how to pick people out of the ocean and use jet skis and it’s in a fire boat.” They also learn how to build rope rescue systems to lower down to people who are caught on a cliff. Overall, it’s about adapting their technologies and practices to the type of environment they face, rather than just using the same tactics for every situation and hoping for the best.
When asked how they evaluate an emergency, Acting Captain/ Engineer Mike Coleman said “everything starts with that 911 dispatcher…and they never get enough credit for what they do… They take the calls from the people that are experiencing the worst part of their life at that very moment. And then they call us to fix it and mitigate it.” It’s a big unknown for them, but it’s an essential component of responding to an emergency in the most efficient way possible. The most important trait of a firefighter is adaptability. “Our job is our job dynamic, we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next five minutes,” said Coleman. For him and likely everyone in the room, adapting to those constant changes – whether that’s a call or just daily operations – and not getting frustrated when things don’t go a certain way, is key to the job. Living with one another for a minimum of 48 hours at a time applies this adaptability factor to both the emergency side and the non-emergency side of things, Coleman notes.
With technological advances - the invention of new machines (like the live TV dispatcher feed), or more intense seasonal wildfires (like we’ve seen these past few years), other changes have developed as well, like the approach to mental health. In the past, first responders have been met with “bottle it up” and “be a man!” - which is not good at all. When you see people on the worst days of their lives, on a regular basis, paying attention to your own mental health is vital. “We typically don’t get called to a happy situation,” said Freeman, “so just keeping the mental fortitude to process all that stuff day in and day out – I think that’s a challenge.” The fire district has also been trying to involve the dispatchers in mental health conversations, as they are the ones who rarely get the full outcome of what happened after the initial 911 call. Over the years, it’s become less of a stigma - to talk about emotions after years of incredibly stressful situations. Yet the core of a firefighter’s job has remained the same. To mitigate local disasters, and to save people’s lives. They’re an altogether knowledgeable and fascinating group of people — and a pleasure to talk to.
Learn more at SMFD.org
“I grew up playing sports, and just love the feeling of being part of big group collectively working together.”
~ Engineer Kevin Freeman
“Our job is dynamic, we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next five minutes.”
~ Acting Captain/Engineer Mike Coleman
The Mission of the Southern Marin Fire District is to contribute to Greater Southern Marin Community’s reputation as a safe, friendly, economically thriving community in which to live, work, learn, play and visit.
SAG-AFTRA STRIKES IN NEW YORK CITY
Rockefeller Plaza is alive with activity. Paparazzi point their long-range cameras towards the rhythmic chanting, searching for an errant star. The source of the chanting is a picket line of strikers in black shirts with bold yellow and white lettering. Most are performers from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); the rest are members of other unions, people with a day off from work, or even a group of young reporters from the Bay
Area looking to learn what it means to strike. Every day, people from all over come here to support SAG-AFTRA in their historic strike for fairer contracts and a brighter future in Hollywood.
On July 14, SAG-AFTRA officially joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their strike against the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade group representing big studios like Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, and Disney. This work stoppage has halted all US movie and television production. It’s the first time in 63 years that the unions have gone on strike together.
Enthusiastic chanting underscores New
York’s hustle and bustle. “On strike, shut ’em down, New York is a union town!” Each round starts with a megaphone, but the chorus of responding actors drowns it out. Passersby repeat the chant from surrounding streets and honk their horns in solidarity. “One day longer, one day stronger!”
“We are 170,000 strong of actors, singers, dancers, stunt performers, puppeteers, broadcasters,” says Stephanie Perry, National Director of Background in New York Entertainment Contracts for SAG-AFTRA. She’s just stepped out of a tent piled high with picket signs and Stand with SAG-AFTRA t-shirts. “We do collective bargaining, we do organizing, we do
contract enforcement with residuals, and we negotiate…Our negotiations this year did not go the way that we wanted.” They’re striking, Perry says, because “The wages we have are antiquated and working performers can’t make a living. They have families, they have mortgages, they have children, just like every other person in any industry.”
According to SAG-AFTRA’s strike website (sagaftrastrike.org), the AMPTP wants to use AI “to be able to scan a background performer’s image, pay them for a half a day’s labor, and then use an individual’s likeness for any purpose forever without their consent.” Perry emphasizes that it’s the human ability to evoke emotion that differentiates SAG-AFTRA members from these technologically produced replicas. “Our members make you laugh, they make you cry, they give you a different perspective. They can actually change your minds, and they can persuade you to look at things differently than you ever have before.”
The strike website lays out each of the union’s proposals to the AMPTP, including reevaluated regulations for self-taped auditions, singers’ contracts, on-set hair and makeup, and minimum wage. They describe not only what the union asked for, but the AMPTP’s response after delays and stonewalling made for turbulent negotiations. “We need transformative contracts, yet we remain far apart
[from AMPTP] on the most critical issues that affect the very survival of our profession,” says the website. “Specifically, we need fair compensation that accounts for inflation, revenue sharing on top of residuals, protection from AI technology, and updates to our pension and health contribution caps, which haven’t been changed in decades.”
The strike attracts SAG-AFTRA performers in all walks of life and both longtime and brandnew members. Actress Lola Tung, for example,
stars in the hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, but it’s only her first Hollywood acting job. “It’s important to stand together united and fight for what all the unions deserve,” she says, picketing outside Paramount+ with other union members. “Get out and picket and strike and support the people who are on strike because it’s really about sticking together.”
Perry shares in the sentiment. “I invite you to come sign up, get a t-shirt, get a picket sign, join the fight.” Many have taken that message to heart. Kayleigh Truman, a member of IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, shows up with flyers from Behind the Scenes Charity, a mental health initiative for entertainment professionals. She hopes to ease the stress the strike is having on union members. It’s this sort of solidarity that keeps the strike going. When workers from other unions, like stagehands and directors, refuse to cross picket lines and complete work for AMPTP, the industry screeches to a stop, bringing the strike closer to its goal: giving AMPTP no choice but to agree to fair contracts.
Perry is emboldened by this support. “When I wear my t-shirt and I’m walking through the streets, random people are raising their fist and saying ‘we support you.’ Our members love this industry and they want to continue to grow and be here, but that’s very hard to do when you don’t make fair wages.”
Saint Isabella K-8 School provides a wholesome nurturing environment that establishes a foundation for lifelong learning. We are a parent involved school located in Terra Linda on a private campus close to Hwy. 101. Our programs promote the academic, social, and spiritual development of our students.
School Tours are offered by Appointment
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1 Trinity Way Terra Linda – San Rafael www.stisabellaschool.org
Over a summer weekend, 75,000 music enthusiasts and festival lovers flooded Golden Gate Park in San Francisco each day to attend the much anticipated Outside Lands Festival 2023. With a multi-genre lineup of power-house artists including Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The 1975, ODESZA, and Megan Thee Stallion, it was fun and excitement for three straight days.
Friday started off with a bang, featuring upcoming artists like Matt Hansen, Nation of Language, The Dip, and Evan Giia. While the day moved forward, fans had no end of activities to attend, whether it was high-fiving Ranger Ruth and Ranger Dave (the official OSL Mascots) or stopping by the palm reading stand — there was no shortage of things to see and music to hear. The weather was breezy with a high of 65 degrees, but within the packed crowd of the Twin Peaks stage, the weather bothered no one as Becky Hill stepped up following Evan Giia in the afternoon. Even with some technical sound issues during the beginning of her set, Becky Hill heated up the afternoon with heavy beat drops and amped-up dancing that stole the crowd’s hearts. Soon after, Diesel, better known as Shaquille O’Neal stepped on stage to perform a metallic and bass-boosted DJ set that quickly turned the crowd into a mosh pit. At the same time, J.I.D stepped on stage across the park at Lands End to showcase some of his hit songs like Enemy (a song with Imagine Dragons) and Surround Sound featuring 21 Savage. Artists such as Willow, and Janelle Monáe followed — splitting the crowd between The Sutro, Lands End, and Twin Peaks as the headliners drew nearer. Interpol, Zedd and Kendrick Lamar all stepped onto different stages to end the night — each artist creating highlights for each and every fan in the park. Kendrick Lamar, performing at the main stage, drew one of the biggest crowds of the weekend, performing with a group of dancers and wooing the crowd with his genius, lyrical rap, and unique flow. Fans left the park Friday night with a feeling of awe setting the tone for the days to come.
Saturday was far warmer, and there was a new spark of energy for the fans as they spectated midwxst, No Vacation, and Geographer early on in the day as the bulk of the festival goers began to arrive. Orion Sun stepped up to Twin Peaks, explaining how nervous she was to be on stage and expressing bewilderment to the amount of fans who had amassed to watch
her perform. Orion Sun also “tried out” some unreleased music for the crowd — it was a hit! At a similar time, Lovejoy and Zack Fox rocked their sets at Lands End and the Sutro stages respectively. The day progressed, and the warm weather convinced many fans to stop at the Monster Energy booth, an area that handed out free Monster Energy and the opportunity to watch graffiti artists perform their craft. Right next door, fans could fill up their water bottles at one of the many refilling stations — a huge success in Outside Lands’ attempt to promote environmental sustainability this year. The much anticipated Lana Del Rey stepped on stage at 8:40; many of the fans in the crowd had waited six to seven hours for the chance to see the melodic singer perform. While this was happening, the Foo Fighters took the main stage, rocking out with the rest of the
festival goers. The day came to a close with the gentle buzz of music lovers expressing their appreciation for many of their favorite artists of the weekend.
Sunday, UPSAHL took the stage at noon to start off the day with some pop — amassing a large crowd for such an early performance. The day progressed with Wild Child, Soccer Mommy, Holly Humberstone and ISOxo. As the festival rolled to a close, the fog rolled in, exciting fans for the effect it may have on ODESZA’s famous light shows. Many fans spent the whole day at Lands End, excited to stand around for POOLSIDE, Lil Yachty, Megan Thee Stallion, and ODESZA all back-toback! Some fans however, were far more excited for the activities at the Sutro, particularly the thrill of seeing Noah Kahan perform as one of the final acts of the night. Halfway through Kahan’s show, one could look around and see the majority of fans crying to the sad and melodic songs he is so famous for.
This year, Outside Lands offered more activities, food, fun and excitement than ever before, boasting new dance floors, food vendors, and even a curated cannabis attraction called Grasslands for those over the age of 21. The festival knocked it out of the park with their increased interest in sustainability - and safety for all fans. For the coming year, fans will hold close to their hearts the incredible experiences they had at the festival this year, and many loyal fans are already counting down the days until OSL24 in August!
For more info, visit: sfoutsidelands.com
Lana Del Rey Kendrick Lamar Noah Kahan
Climate change – We have all become acquainted with this term. It’s something most of us grew up thinking about, having stone after stone overturned for us as we got older, by our parents or our teachers, until we knew the whole unpleasant truth. It is an important topic, and for some a frightening one...however, most of all, it is undoubtedly broad. Climate change, and the way we deal with it, is riddled with countless strategies, ideas, and different ways of perceiving this situation we as a species have put ourselves in. Al Grumet shared how he would put things together and how he saw our planet in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Al Grumet is a climate change activist, and along with Executive Director Fabrice Florin, one of the original founders of Green Change, an organization dedicated to inspiring action and showcasing real solutions to our infamous problem. Having worked in both law and finance before embarking in his recent artistic and change oriented career, he perceives the issue in a unique light. Able to highlight the importance of all ways to approach the climate crisis, he brings together a very diverse perspective, packed with knowledge from various fields.
Q: What environmental campaigns are you involved in right now?
Q: What is the mission of Green Change as an organization and how did you get involved?
A: Green Change is a Climate Action Network, whose mission is to help community members be more effective in achieving their climate goals. We mobilize members of the public to join the climate movement and we amplify the work of other environmental organizations. For example, we create events in which changemakers can showcase what they do. We work with concerned citizens, to help them to become effective advocates for climate action. We also help youth activists by providing support, mentoring, and platforms for their advocacy campaigns.
Q: What inspired you to take on this cause? Where did you grow up and how did your childhood affect activities you pursued?
A: I’ve always been connected to nature, I grew up in Queens, New York, next to a large park that had a lot of wildlife and trees and ponds. I’m also a father; my son, just finished his freshman year in high school — and I am very concerned about the impact that climate change will have on his future. Through my work as an artist and an activist, I’ve been immersed in climate change research for a number of years. It is hard to unsee things once you’ve had an opportunity to dig into the science. As my concern about our current trajectory grew, I wanted to pivot to identifying hopeful solutions, and mobilizing people to join the climate movement. That was my main motivation for joining Green Change and numerous other climate organizations.
A: I recently was the vice chair of the City of Mill Valley’s Climate Action Plan Task Force. We updated the city’s Climate Action Plan and identified opportunities for our community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, we highlighted the need to clean up transportation, in our city by getting people out of cars and onto bikes. more recently, I worked with a team of students from Tam High, and Leslie Harlander from the Board of Trustees of the Tam Union High School District to launch a school electrification effort. This initiative would involve a commitment to electrify transportation, (by using electric school buses), and electrify buildings by swapping out gas powered furnaces and water heaters for electric heat pump solutions. I am also involved in a campaign to encourage the county of Marin to reopen Alto Tunnel, which is a tunnel that connects Mill Valley to Corte Madera. The entrance is near Edna Maguire school, and it will create a flat, bikeable and walkable route between Mill Valley and Corte Madera. This would really open up clean transportation options for a lot of members of the Mill Valley and Corte Madera communities, as well as connecting the North-South Greenway in Marin.
Q: What are things that we can do here in Marin to help the fight against climate change?
A: When people make the transition from concerned citizens, which most of us are, to people who are active in the climate movement, they typically start with personal actions, and then work their way up to actions at the scale of the problem. I actually prefer to flip that and direct people to start with the solutions at the scale of the problem. By supporting national climate policies, we can move the needle meaningfully. For example, one policy that I support calls for a national carbon fee and dividend. This policy would be transformative and is the foundational solution put forth by a great climate organization, called Citizens’ Climate Lobby. The policy is focused on changing our energy
choices by changing the price signals to businesses and consumers. today, unfortunately, we send the wrong price signals to people about the type of energy that they should use. We subsidize fossil fuel use every which way we can and that has to change. A carbon fee and dividend is a policy would impose a fee on fossil fuel production. As a result, businesses and consumers would begin to see pricing in their energy choices that reflects the true social cost of using polluting technologies. In response to these new price signals, we would see much greater demand for cleaner technologies like renewable energy (such as solar and wind power) and electric vehicles.
Q: What is the importance of organizing volunteer efforts?
A: My formula for being an effective changemaker is pretty simple: you need to ask a person in a position of power to do something specific that is impactful. And, if you can mobilize community members to join you in this effort, then you can create the political will to tackle complex issues, such as climate change. For example, if we mobilize 30 people from the community to show up at a city council meeting and say, “We would like you to pass an ordinance to electrify new
buildings,” we will get the attention of our elected representatives. Even if you are too young to vote, you are still a constituent, they care about what you have to say. In light of this fact, community mobilization is a critical part of the environmental movement and lobbying for specific, impactful policies is at the heart of effective activism.
Q: How does art tie into your mission as an organization?
A: In my view, a great role for art in activism is to help you mobilize as many people as possible. Art allows you to reach people in ways that more direct forms of communication do not. The climate crisis is a trigger for many people. For some, it triggers anxiety and fear; they want to shut out unpleasant visions of a future that might be difficult and uncomfortable. Others may be skeptical about climate messaging; in their mind, when you’re talking about climate change, it is connected to some other agenda that they reject. But art allows you to show up on level terms with people in ways that open them up to hearing things and listening to things that they might otherwise want to shut out. When advising other artists about combining art and activism, I often recommend that they come up with a plan for turning inspiration into action. It is not enough to inspire. We should be connecting people with campaigns and organizations. We should have a specific ask and we should know whom we’re going to ask. Make a plan for the energy that you want to create through your art.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to young journalists?
A: My main advice is to appreciate how powerful you are. With a modest amount of effort, you can actually be really effective changemakers by employing the approaches that I described. I think it’s very common, not only for young people, but for all people, to underestimate their ability to make a difference. Young people have a powerful voice because you are the people who are affected by these decisions, and adults respect that. Young generations will have to live with the consequences of our choices. If the youth voice is directed in an intentional way to accomplish specific objectives, then it can move mountains.
Each month Sloat Garden Center offers a $250 garden grant to a new Marin County school.
4th Grade Students of Garden educators
Reesha Katcher and Megan Griffith share why they love the garden:
The garden is an amazing place with amazing fruits and vegetables. There are tomatoes, and fruit trees so we can make apple sauce, salsa, pear bread, and all sorts of yummy foods. All the extra food goes to a food bank. I enjoy collecting sunflower seeds, picking dead marigolds and dusting potatoes. There even chickens! — Ella
We love our garden because it is outside! Our garden is helpful and healthy. Our garden is a beautiful paradise. Our garden has yummy delicious amazing fruit. We love our Garden! — Liam
Our Edna Garden is a place where we can be with nature and eat delicious food. I love making bread and apple sauce. Sometimes we even make salsa out of delicious tomatoes. I love our garden. If there was not garden, I would not go to school.
— TeddyWe love our garden! Our garden has all types of food and some of our food goes to the food bank! It has plants, fruits, vegetables, and more. Our garden is so beautiful. The garden makes me happy and makes me smile. To our garden! — Juliet
To learn more about our work with Bay Area school gardens, visit www.sloatgardens.com
Sound Studio
Gabe Schwartzman
Entering the studio, my bandmates are already there, setting up. I greet them, smiles on all our faces. The drummer tests his snare, checking the tone, while the other guitarist tunes his high E string. I head for the back wall and grab the yellow Stratocaster. I dap up our bass player as he practices a new riff. Moving to my position in front of a microphone, I grab my respective cable that’s already plugged into the vox amp and insert it into the guitar in my hands. Flicking on the standby and on switch on the amp, I finger around a few scales to ensure my levels and tone are good. Now that the full band is in place, a hush falls over our instruments and we decide to warm up with a jam. My fingers move up and down the fretboard as I start up a groovy chord progression. Then the bass comes in, following my lead. Next, the drums, keeping a solid beat. Lastly, the lead guitar enters, and we reach serendipity. Each sound meshing with such ease and unity that they flow through the room like water down a stream.
Mystery Can
Jude Paine
I peel back the golden-toned lid and lay my eyes on the exciting obstacle ahead. Atop the plastic canister sits a sharp metallic cover. It reminds me of the top of a can of tomatoes, and the object intrigues me. It has sharp edges, uninviting to the human touch, so I know my next move must be a careful one. My point of entry makes itself known, a silver latch that could fit maybe two fingers, folds upwards on the cover. Feeling risky, I insert one fin-
ger into the latch. I tug once, then twice, take a deep breath, and as I begin to pull my hand away the third time, the canister pops like a gunshot. I slowly peel away the lid, its metallic edges slide out of its slot, and the can is open. My eyes are attacked by the shade of green that does not exist in nature, and on cue my nostrils flood with a smell of the same origin. This rainbow of smells both scares and excited me, knowing it came from a factory but loving it all the same. I flip the can and the tennis balls fall out.
Goalie
Chloe Bowman
The ball soars through the sky, and I run toward it, my heart pounding. I feel the weight of the ball as it safely sinks into the net of my stick. Calculating my next move, I see an opening between two defenders. I plant my feet, pretending to go left, then switching directions and sprinting left. With my stick in my left hand, I’m only feet away from the goal. I lock eyes with the goalie and point my stick at the upper right corner of the goal. Just as planned, she instinctively moves her stick to the top of the goal while I release the ball, heading for the lower left corner. For what feels like ten seconds but lasts less than two, the ball bounces off the artificial grass and into the back of the goal, creating a ripple as it meets the net. My heart swells as I look over and see my teammates run towards me, their sticks waving in the air and smiles from ear to ear.
Mountain Biking
Caden Bernstein-Lawler
My heavy breathing begins to slow as I
gaze into the setting sun, casting the green valley in a golden glow as it falls behind the ocean. Thrilling and fast, my mind needs to focus on what’s in front of me. A dangerous game that can go wrong so easily as I weave through rocks and try to fly above the bushes guiding me through the rough terrain. It’s been a grueling climb in the warm, late afternoon sun. Pushing hard to get the reward of a fun way down the mountain. But before I begin, I pause. I turn off the music I’m listening to and take a moment. The sun slips closer to the ocean and warms my soul. Even in nature, there’s silence. In a day that had felt chaotic, loud, stressful, I had found peace.
Last Sunday
Lauren Felder
A sweater that smells of camp smoke warms my arms against the soft breeze, spring grass ticking my neck. The week ahead is one of deadlines, deprived sleep, and haste. But in this one small moment, as the sun warms my sea-salt dry skin, something heavy peels off. I close my eyes without the usual velvet grasp of sleep taking me, my body content for once to let me remain conscious.
Silent Water
Claire Lawson
I dive in the water and feel like I’ve been transported to a new world. Cool emptiness surrounds me, and I feel like I’m floating. The world goes quiet and all I can hear is the water and my thoughts – in a distance realm I can hear whistles blowing and people talking and wind roaring, but underwater it’s silent. There’s nothing like moving through the water, sailing down a
FastForward visited SJ Black’s students at Tamalapis High School to conduct a writing workshop. Oli Rothstill pool with bubbles at your feet and out your nose.
Anonymous
The rush of adrenaline from the crowd. The sound of the ball pounding and the net swishing. The ticking of the clock. The squeaking of shoes on the shiny wooden floor. The feeling of not knowing the outcome of the game. The feeling of my wrist hitting the rim and hearing the ball go through the net as I dunk. The feeling of floating when dunking a shot. The feeling of the leather on the ball when blocking a shot. The perfect motion when shooting the ball, knowing it’s going in. The feeling of relief when the final buzzer goes off after a tough win.
Hannah Bringard
Sweat drips down my forehead from the body heat of the hundreds of individuals cramming together in hope of getting closer to the stage. My friends laugh as we try not to get pushed around by the crowd. Finally loud music blasts from the speakers as the opening artist runs on stage. There’s an immediate surge of the crowd as everyone shoves each other inward. And the music floods my ears.
Kelsey Cook
I get in my car and drive to Point Richmond. I look for the closest parking spot as I hear hundreds of dogs barking. I can hear the sadness in their barks, each one longing the simplicity of being loved. As I walk in, I feel the cold, dull air in the shelter. I grab the closest leash and look for a special dog that needs an adventure. I slowly open a small cage and pet Ember the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier. She warms up and jumps on me, happy it was her turn. I wrap the leash around her as I guide her toward the outdoors. She doesn’t stop smiling, every little thing outside of that kennel filling her with joy. I throw an orange tennis ball across the grass, and she leaps up and away like nothing in the world could ever stop her.
Sunset
Juliette Lunder
I slowly crouch down until all my weight is rested on the colorful picnic blanket. The gentle summer breeze makes the grass and leaves sway back and forth. There is still time before the sun will be out of view. As we sit in silence looking ahead at the horizon, we can hear music play as cars drive by on the windy road. I look to the right, and I can see more people walking to the top of the hill. It’s usually busy on Mt. Tam during sunset, but tonight it is serene. My friend begins to unwrap the food we had picked up. She peels off the tinfoil from her burrito and takes a huge bite. I lean back on the blanket and soon my view of the horizon switches to the baby blue sky. One or two birds fly by, and it is clear.
Concert
Colette Hale
Salty drops slide down my face as the sun beats against my sunburned back. The sound coming from the speakers rings in my ears as bodies move and press together. I am pushed and shoved, and my throat is so dry I can’t even speak, but the adrenaline of being caught up in the crowd keeps me dancing and singing as loud as I can. When the first concert ends, my friends and I weave through the crowd to find the next stage and push our way to the front. We’ve gotten close enough to touch the stage, surrounded by people so caught up in the music, whether diehard fans or first-time listeners. People pass water back to the crowd and makes sure everyone is okay. Everyone is hot and tired, but once the music gets going, they mouth the lyrics and block everything else out.
Unpredictable is the answer.
There is no such thing as time travel. One wrong choice is a mistake, two is intentional.
You get two families in life: the one you are born with and the one you find.
Giving back to people who may need it more than you is a good thing to do.
You get what you make of it.
People often just want validation. Our world is not fully united. Tomorrow is not promised. Exercise stimulates the brain. Kindness can save lives.
Your life will look different than a year ago.
Learning is a privilege.
We learn better with an example. Women’s healthcare rights are being taken away.
Our galaxy is not the only one. Good things don’t always happen to good people.
No amount of money can buy a second of time. Patience is key.
Hannah MacIntosh Ms. SJ Black’sThe Mill Valley Music Fest 2023 transformed downtown Mill Valley into a bustling and joyful gathering of more than 10,000 Marin County residents over one weekend.
Boasting headliners such as Michael Franti and CAKE, MVMF hosted a two-day extravaganza with local food and merchant booths keeping upbeat Festival goers busy between acts. The organizers cultivated a line-up of talented musicians between two stages: the main stage and the Sweetwater Music Hall stage which featured local and up and coming bands. The Festival opened its gates to a diverse crowd of music lovers of all ages, hosting elderly people, parents, children, and everyone in between. With
blue skies and Mt. Tamalpais in the background, kites were soaring in the wind and giant bubbles rose over the stage dotting the sky. There was a myriad of activities for everyone including an arcade for kids and teens.
As photographers, everyone was welcoming and offering to move out of the way to help us get closer to the stage highlighting the community nature of the Festival. Saturday’s line-up featured Orchestra Gold, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, and The Dip. Tank and The Bangas closed the evening with Michael Franti & Spearhead. Each performance brought its own unique tone, with the lead singer of The Dip sharing “I went to high school over there at Tam. I played little league baseball right here” pointing to the baseball field in the back of the venue full of hula hoopers anda swath of balloon animals. As the day ended, a buzz began as Michael Franti began playing hit after hit, pulling spectators on stage to sing, and walking into
the crowd for hugs and high-fives. Franti’s combination of upbeat, feel-good music was spot on with these concert goers.
The Sunday crowd swept in, ready for more. They met the energetic and young band, The Alive, only to be blown away further — literally, as the infamous Mill Valley fog rolled in — by Valerie June with her trademark cape and good vibes. Durand Jones danced the night away, falling to his knees and singing the fog away, just in time for the big names like Remain in Light with Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew and Cake.
All around there was plenty to do and eat — Humphry Slocomb and Johnny’s Donuts treated everyone’s sweet cravings while a variety of food trucks had more savory options. The entertainment didn’t stop there, as performers wearing stilts, jugglers with chainsaws, and DJs cruised around the Festival grounds.
The Festival was a huge success creating fun memories for everyone— we’re all counting the days until next year!
For info: www.millvalleymusicfest.com
Art teacher Kim Tran
Scarlett Woodcock-Kennedy, 7th Grade
Alexander Ting, 7th Grade
Casey Rose Clemens, 7th Grade
Miles Coley, 7th Grade
Addison Hayes, 7th Grade
Selby Maynard, 7th Grade
William Gracey, 8th Grade
3rd
2nd
United Markets congratulates all the actors, teaching artists, and parents who make it possible for students to grow their confidence and creativity through performing Shakespeare. Year-round classes for youth, teenagers, and adults at local schools and at Marin Shakespeare Company’s new theatre at 514 Fourth Street in San Rafael provide instruction in a variety of performing arts skills. Camps and classes are taught by professional actors and directors, often seen in our professional productions.
At Marin Shakespeare Company, our students make theatre and make friends. We make Shakespeare FUN!
Marin Shakespeare students share:
“I like Marin Shakespeare camps because they help me improve my acting skills and build on what I know. Our teachers Zen and Jamin were so amazing at helping us learn how to put on a show. I also enjoy making new friends at camp and learning from them.” — Izze Dinardi
“Throughout the camp, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people, build on my acting technique and perform such an entertaining and crowd-pleasing role such as Autolycus. The ability to play a new type of character that grants respite from the tragic start of the play felt great to me because I enjoy making others laugh, or at least feel happy. I liked how whimsical this character feels. I enjoyed the experience as a whole.” — Jason Pashalides
“Marin Shakespeare Company has created such a supportive and welcoming community and I always looked forward to going to rehearsal.” — Hyacinth Taylor
“My favorite part was all the games that we played. I especially enjoyed Mafia, but some of my other favorite games were the improv games like Freeze and ‘What Are You Doing?’. The thing that really sticks out to me were the other kids. I liked getting to know them.” — Taylor Pashalides