OPINION: FACEBOOK VS. FACE-TO-FACE — THE FACEOFF PAGE 13
Coping with Autism With disease affecting three of five children, togetherness and theater program help family manage
LOCAL THEATER COMPANY // PAGE 8
BY SOPHIE HO Mosaic Staff Writer
FRIDAY // JUNE 24, 2011 HIGH SCHOOL URBAN JOURNALISM WORKSHOP MOSAICSANJOSE.TUMBLR.COM
For some parents, giving birth to one autistic child can be devastating. Imagine having three. Janet Heathcote doesn’t have to imagine.Three of her fivechildrenhavebeendiagnosedwiththedevelopmental disorder — a circumstance that is rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one child in 110 is diagnosed with autism. Heathcote’s first son, Christopher, now 22, was her first child to be diagnosed with autism. Nine years later, Heathcote’s second son, Jon, was diagnosed at age 2. Experts told Heathcote that autism does not normally run in families, and it is unusual to have more than one autistic child. They told her “it was just a fluke”— although, according to the CDC, if one child has autism, there is a two to eight percent chance that the next child also will have it. Five years after Jon was born, Janet gave birth to Katie, who also is autistic. By then, the Heathcote parents knew better. “I stopped listening to experts,” said Heathcote, with a laugh. She smiled as she held her granddaughter Sophie over her shoulder to be burped. AUTISM // PAGE 8
KRYSTAL JARA // Mosaic Staff Photographer Katie Heathcote is involved in the Angels on Stage program, which helps autistic children deal with their disorder. “It makes me feel strong, I learned everyone will be strong and helpful,” Katie said, in her San Jose home.
GOLDEN PARACHUTE A MORE RELAXED PHELPS TRAINS FOR LAST OLYMPICS
Michael Phelps swims the 100-meter butterfly at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix on June 17 in Santa Clara.
KEVIN TSUKII // Mosaic Staff Photographer
BY ISABELLE MONAHAN the Los Angeles Times. Phelps, in town for the Swim star Mosaic Staff Writer South Bay’s annual competition, competed in his first Olympics at age 15. A decade later he is won’t go Whether age 15 or 25, swimming at the history’smostaccomplishedswimmerandonhis Beijing games or the Santa Clara International way to his fourth Summer Olympics in London Prix, wearing swim caps or Orioles hats, next year. after eight Grand Michael Phelps never fails to attract attention. And for once, he plans to enjoy his experiThe crowd on a recent day at the George F. ences in and out of the pool. gold medals Haines Swim Center in Santa Clara included For once, Phelps, 25, doesn’t plan to try an some of the country’s prominent Olympic this time writers from Sports Illustrated, USA Today and PHELPS // PAGE 16
World is his stage
Regardless of backgrounds, S.F. performers are an integral part of city’s culture
BY CHRISTOPHE HAUBURSIN Mosaic Staff Writer
Mostdays,LarryJohnsonbeginsworking behind the cover of eucalyptus branches, clad in a thick pair of Timberland boots, a pair of sunglasses resting on his reversed pinstripe Giants cap. His stubble-ridden face is glazed with a cool sweat, his torso hunched over a plastic crate. He takes a moment to shuffle the tools of his trade and rattles the coins in his white tip bucket.
He’s waiting. When the time is right he’ll thrust the branches forward with a grunt, startle unsuspecting passers-by, and snicker as their screams ring through the docks. Larry is the son of David Johnson—the “World Famous Bushman,” as he’s more commonly known — and after 31 years of hard labor in what has become a family businessofstreet-performancescares,the PERFORMERS // PAGE 17
INSIDE
Sportsmanship in the age of Facebook PAGE 3
U.S. soccer legend Caligiuri visits San Jose PAGE 16
KEVIN TSUKII // Mosaic Staff Photographer Street-performer Larry Johnson waits on San Francisco sidewalk.