Spring 2013 Issue of the Circle Gazette

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE Volume 4, Issue 3

THE FULL EDITION

February/March 2013

A Newspaper by Children, of all Ages, from all Over the World

Astronomy: A Hobby for Everyone

by Kate Maier, Age 9 Sunrise, FL Clear, cool air, long nights and low humidity help make winter the best season to stargaze in South Florida. With the naked eye you can clearly see the giant hunter Orion roam through the forest with his dog Sirius trailing behind. Orion’s threestarred belt glitters in the sky. The god Zeus disguised as Taurus the Bull is secretly meeting his love Europa. There are many stories to see in our stars. You just need to know when and where to look to find them.

Astronomy is the study of the universe.

It comes from the Greek words “ástron” meaning “star” and “nemin” meaning “to name.” Introduced by early astronomers, 88 constellations have been mapped and named through the centuries. During that time, our understanding of the universe has come a long way. Knowing what we know today, it is hard to believe that humans once thought the Earth was in the center of a glass ball littered with holes for the light of heaven to shine through. Sixteenth century scientist Galileo Galilei smashed that glass ball to bits when he became the first scientist to closely observe the universe with the earliest telescopes. Sometimes referred to as the godfather of modern astronomy, Galileo believed only what he could see with his own eyes. He saw that the stars were different distances from the Earth, the moon was not perfectly round and Jupiter had moons. The last discovery was especially important because it proved that the Earth was not, in fact, the center of the solar system.

With few resources at his disposal, Galileo was able to make great progress in his findings. Likewise, you or I do not need much more than our eyes to become amateur astronomers. While a naked eye view of the sky will work well, you can also begin with a basic set of binoculars. Binoculars are just two telescopes, set side by side, one for each eye. A flashlight can be

Warm Bodies Page 6 Mary Poppins Page 7

by Sarah Thompson

Green Tip 2.

by Aaron J. Cross

Page 3 Living Healthy Drink a Toast to a Healthier Life!

by Sara Cross

Page 5

Conrad’s Career

is about to

“Takeoff”

by Yasmin Daiha, Age 14 Miramar, FL

KATE views the sun through a solar telescope at Buehler Planetarium and Observatory. very handy in the dark when finding a location or looking at your maps. You may want to cover the lens with red cellophane or paint it with red or pink nail polish to reduce the light pollution and glare. You will also need a planisphere, or star map, to help you find the different constellations. You can download a free map from www.skymaps.com. There are also many sky map applications available for download to your computer or mobile device.

Lastly, do not forget to dress appropriately for the weather and pack chairs, blankets and snacks to make the experience more enjoyable.

Now that the correct tools have been selected, you are ready to start exploring the sky. First things first, you will want to research the constellations and the stories behind them. Constellations got their names thousands of years ago when early stargazers noticed the stars formed familiar

shapes. Greeks and Romans named these familiar shapes after heroes, gods, animals and other important objects. Once you have a better understanding of the constellations, you are ready to scout out a location. Avoid places with excessive amounts of light pollution caused by artificial light.

Also remember the moon washes out the night sky. So unless you are planning to observe the moon, you may want to time your stargazing with a late moonrise or early set. Finally, it is time to get comfortable and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.

In “Nature and Selected Essays,” Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.” Whether you aspire to be an expert astronomer or a backyard stargazer, the universe has something for everyone. It can teach, inspire and nourish us.

Look up and enjoy its beauty.

Did you ever have a dream, but only had $40 in your wallet? Conrad, a breakout artist who wrote and produced his own CD “Takeoff” has been in that situation. When Conrad was seven years old, he claims he was an awkward child without a lot of friends. His music teacher took him under his wing and taught him how to play the piano during lunchtimes. Conrad says, “It was then that I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music.” Conrad’s biggest inspiration was Elvis. “Elvis made good music and he commanded the stage when he walked on it,” said Conrad.

Conrad moved to Los Angeles, at the young age of 18, to pursue a career in music. He was determined to make a name for himself in the music industry, no matter how hard it would be.

A One of a Kind Performance “At the end of the day everyone has a dream that they want to follow… Just believe in yourself”

by Ismail Ercan, Age 15 Coral Springs, FL This year the city of Coral Springs is celebrating its semi-centennial. That is, it’s turning 50.

Wait a second…..Coral Springs has been a city for 50 years?!

Well, the city certainly has a lot of history. Initially just swamp land acquired by Henry Lyons in the early 1900’s, Coral Springs was not exactly an ideal place to reside with its numerous pests, mosquitos, and blistering heat. After the land was drained and cleared, it was acquired by Coral Ridge Properties in 1961 and two years later was officially chartered as the city of Coral Springs. The new city was originally planned for 50,000 residents, however 50 years later Coral Springs has far exceeded that initial number and thrives with over 120,000 citizens.

Now back to the celebration. As one way to commemorate 50 years of Coral Springs existence, the Coral Springs Community Chest will present a musical parody entitled, “Once Upon a Dream: A Musical Performance of Coral Springs” on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. This one-of-a-kind musical will be featuring students from Coral Springs Charter, Coral Springs, Coral Glades, J.P. Taravella, and Stoneman Douglas High Schools. In addition, there will be special guest appearances by school principals, Coral Springs City Commissioners, the City Manager and

“This musical is the first collaboration of its kind in this city. None of us in Coral Springs knows of any other time that there has been a project involving all of the high school students and city officers; this project has really brought the community together.” ~ Caryl Fantel Deputy City Manager, rhe City Attorney and the Fire and Police Chiefs. The musical is recommended for all ages and will be presented at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts.

Please turn to page 8

Happy 50th Anniversary Coral Springs!

After setting foot in L.A., Conrad had nothing to do and nowhere to stay.

He called a friend and asked to stay with him for a while. With only $40 in his pocket, he did some “production work in movies and music videos.”

Pursuing his career definitely wasn’t a piece of cake. He worked four jobs to pay the rent just to stay in Los Angeles. Anxious to catapult his career, Conrad jumped at the first opportunity to work with another record label, but soon realized that it wasn’t for him because they didn’t have his best interests at heart. “It was a huge lesson about how the music industry works,” said Conrad. When Conrad created his own record label named Volumeline Entertainment, he then was able to make his own decisions that were in his best interests.

Everyone knows the music industry can be a lot to handle at some times.

“The music world is kind of like a

Please turn to page 3

PAGE

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

2

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE A Newspaper by Children for Children Independent print and online publication available to children of all ages.

This publication is an initiative of THE ENRICHMENT CIRCLE, INC. A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization for the Advancement of Education 7551 Normande Ct. Margate FL 33063 Phone: 954-918-2541 circlegazette@enrichmentcircle.com info@circlegazette.org

Editor in Chief Patty Gómez

Serena Serrano

Patty Gómez

Editorial Team

Sandra Wolkov Christie Voss

Sandra Wolkov

Pedro Gómez Lee Bruno

Production Lee Bruno

Robyn Rader

Serena Bruno

Christie Voss

Graphic Designers & Pre-press Dora Font

Christie Voss

Cartoonists and Illustrators

Arion Rashad Kate Maier Sofia Serrano Daniela Gómez

Regular Columnists

Sarah Thompson Aaron J. Cross

Daniela Gómez Lydia Szakacs

Emma Gómez

Sara I. Cross

Emma Gómez

Regular Contributors

Ismail Ercan, Aaron J. & Sara I. Cross, Sarah Thompson, Sofia Serrano, Kate Maier, Alizddair Ray, Aaron Organ, Nathalie Thelemaque, Reagan Olenick, Danny & Andy Hernandez, Elizabeth Abrams, Emily Greenfield, Daniela, Emma & Ellie Gómez

Proof Readers

Sandra Wolkov

Serena Bruno

Christie Voss

Robyn Rader

Web Page Master Victoria Martinez

Subscriptions available

1 year subscription: $40/year/12 issues 6 months subscription: $24/year/6 issues Individual copies: $4/each With the purchase of each copy you are supporting the printing of future issues and the creative work of young writers and artists.

Circulation

The Circle Gazette is available online and is distributed in paper via individual, classroom and library subscriptions. The Circle Gazette is distributed in more than 30 cities in South Florida and has subscribers and contributors from Ohio, Tennessee, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Virginia, California, Kentucky, Rivas-Nicaragua, San Jose-Costa Rica and Caracas-Venezuela

Free Copies Available at Community Partner Institutions

The Coral Springs Museum of Art - The Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre - The Northwest Broward County Library - The British School Caracas - Bricks For Kids, Coral Springs - Arts Alive, Coral Springs - Daggerwing Nature Center, Boca Raton - ArtWorks! New Bedford, MA

Sponsorships, Sales & Advertising Mindy Joseph Jodi Jaffe 954-684-9096 954-253-6584

TO SUBMIT WORK

The Circle Gazette is a publication available to public school, private school and homeschool students. Email a copy of your work, as a Word or text file, attach images as JPEG files, to submissions@circlegazette.org or submit your work online at www.circlegazette.org.

All entries should be accompanied by the parent/guardian consent to print form found online.

Information to contributors

The Circle Gazette reserves the right to edit, accept and refuse articles in the interest of brevity, clarity and the appropriateness of subject matter.

About

The Circle Gazette is packed from cover to cover with the latest stories and creations of children as of all ages; about local affairs, the environment, art, sports, entertainment, stories, poems and puzzles that engage and inspire young minds!

YOUNG CHILDREN CAN PROVIDE A WEALTH OF WISDOM, FRESHNESS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES! The Circle Gazette is a one-of-a-kind publication because: • It transcends one school/homeschool community. It goes beyond a state or a country.

It’s about widening writer’s and reader’s horizons!

• It is addressed to children and the content is created by children • It involves a multiage/multilevel group of contributors • The editorial team keeps a holistic and nourishing quality on the selection of content and design • It’s a high quality mix of a variety of styles and topics • It offers valuable feedback to authors

Your Work can be Published too!

“How To Submit”

The Enrichment Circle 501(c)(3)

A Non-Profit Organization for the Advancement of Education

W

FEB/MAR 2013

hat Are You Thinking About? We Want to Know...A Word From The Editor

The Circle Gazette offers a unique opportunity for kids like you to publish their work. Young minds have a lot to say and there is a newspaper that wants to hear from you! It is important for children to know that their thoughts matter. Adults may have a tendency to think that what they have to say is more important than what kids have to say, but The Circle Gazette is listening.

We want to hear what is on your mind, whether it be in the form of a journal entry, a poem, short story, political piece, or a movie review. We think what you have to say is important and, aside from having your thoughts and opinions heard, you can exercise your writing skills. It’s fun to express yourself. It’s a great way to reach out to others. Whether you are texting, emailing, sending a greeting card, or writing a paper for school, the need to speak and be understood will never go away.

Writing is a form of communication that brings people closer to understanding each other. And, since The Circle Gazette is open to receiving your writing for review in our publication, your words will travel farther and be heard by more ears.

Take some time to write. Write about your hope for the world, what issues you face at school, what you think about your parents, your teachers. How can we do a better job, in your opinion?

Write about your perfect day and how close you have come to achieving it. Write about what you would do if you had a crush on a girl or boy. Write about how

you felt when your sports team won or lost a game. Write about some advice you think other kids could benefit from. Write about a current news feature, such as your feelings about gun control. Who is a good role model these days?

Just write and let us hear from you. We want to publish your words so others can benefit from your unique perspective. And… it never hurts to have a byline to start a portfolio of published pieces. This is the springboard to getting a paid freelance writing job!

In addition, The Circle Gazette offers opportunities in hands-on journalism. Send us a note and we will send you on assignment to cover an event or set up an interview. We have mentors who will help you get started and guide you through the writing and editing process. There is no better way to learn than by doing. I just mentored a new writer, Jasmine, who is 14 years old. She just completed her first interview with Conrad, a new break out artist who hit the music scene in Los Angeles.

Look for her article in this issue.

She said it was an amazing opportunity. I helped her prepare for the interview, articulate her notes and compose a well-written and interesting article. This was very new for Jasmine, but she cut her teeth on her first assignment and now she is better prepared for the next assignment. You can do this too!

The Circle Gazette is your paper. It is written by you and is read by you. We are just the facilitators to print your words. Take advantage of this opportunity and let us hear from you. Words are powerful so use them carefully.

And remember to edit. Then edit again. Nothing written well is ever written, but rewritten!

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

Keep Writing, Robyn Rader Editor

In the Tunnel: From Inspiration to Publication

by Lucille Gang Shulklapper Guest Editor My life would not be complete without love and friendship. To me, no poem is complete without poetry lovers and friends, known and unknown, who read and listen to them. Poetry is about connections…connections of images, ideas, emotions, and words, words, words.

Before I start to write a poem, those maddening images swirl around my head and heart, searching for a connection. Poems are inspired by every second of our existence…by the lives of those who lived before us…by the two possums that died that died in my neighbor’s yard…by the breath of infants…the throat of a frog…grass flattened by the wind …the banning of books… blood through veins.

It was in a workshop, called Sparking the Muse, that my own muse was sparked by Pablo Neruda’s The Book of Questions.

William Daly, the translator of Neruda’s The Book of Questions, published by Copper Canyon Press, wrote: “These brief poems, composed entirely of questions, coalesce in the realm of paradox; they take shape in the connection between the poet’s name for things and what lies beyond our ability to name.”

I love this book and the questions it poses. And my own muse, who has this doubting, nagging, anxious voice…hmmmm….she sounds like me….said, “I dare you to answer them.”

I started In the Tunnel by choosing a question that resonated with me. When I had written about 30 poetic responses, I realized I had a theme going for a collection. I sent the manuscript to March Street Press. In my query letter, I wrote: “In the Tunnel was inspired by Neruda’s The Book of Questions. In that inner quest for answers, still rattling despite advancing age, I began to believe that questions were inherent in every poem.

And that every poem begged for answers.”

The publisher’s response and acceptance came almost five months later. As I worked on the table of contents, I realized that Neruda’s couplets, complete poems, which I had seen printed in one line could not be used as titles of my poems. Titles are not copyrighted but poems are and may not be used as titles. I was distraught, told the publisher, and thought that was the end of two years of work.

The publisher, Robert Bixby, advised me to write to Copper Canyon Press to get copyright permission.

Michael Wiegers, Executive Editor of Copper Canyon Press, wrote an encouraging response to me. He also referred me to his copyright attorney, who advised me, free of charge, to get permission from Neruda’s heirs. I was stunned by their generosity and kindness. I am grateful to the heirs of Pablo Neruda for their assistance with the rights issue.

My pen name is Lucille Gang Shulklapper in honor of my father who encouraged me to write. He died when I was thirteen. He inspired this response to Neruda’s question “And Does the Father Who Lives in Your Dreams Die Again When You Awaken?”

Please turn to page 3

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

FEB/MAR 2013

ECO

FEATURE

Shining Light on Incandescent Bulbs

Green Tip 2.

by Aaron J. Cross, Age 15 Boca Raton, FL

At the start of 2007, the federal government passed a bill stating that the sale of high-wattage incandescent light bulbs will be illegal. This ‘Phase Out’ began in 2012. The wattage incandescent bulbs must be in order to legally sell them will decrease every year until the end of 2014, when only bulbs under 40 watts will be available. Many people are outraged that the government is taking away the option to buy cheap electric lighting, so in this column I am going to shine some light on the truth about incandescent bulbs and their alternatives.

Let’s look at the green aspects of this – both environmentally, and financially. Incandescent bulbs require a high amount of electricity to operate for not a lot of light.

This is one way in which they are bad for the environment. The cheapest alternative to incandescents is compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs use less electricity to run and can produce more light.

Why is it that incandescent bulbs use more power than CFLs and still produce less light? Because incandescent bulbs also generate a lot of heat that takes ener-

gy away from light production. If you have ever touched an incandescent bulb you know what I mean: they are HOT! CFL bulbs emit much less heat, thus putting forth more energy into light production. Because of this, CFL bulbs generally have a lower wattage to produce the same light, making them much more environmentally friendly.

On the other hand CFL bulbs are much more expensive, costing as much as six dollars a bulb. Incandescents usually only cost a few cents per bulb, which would explain why people hate the Phase-Out. However, my father and I did some calculations based on the amount we pay for electricity, and we found out that even if the incandescent bulbs were free at the checkout counter they would still cost more than CFLs over their life span. Let me explain: because incandescents use much more electricity to operate than CFLs, they cost a lot more to power. This price difference is more than enough to compensate for the pricey CFL bulb, so CFLs turn out to be the better choice regarding both kinds of green – making the Phase Out a good thing. Right?

Well, not necessarily. CFL bulbs contain mercury, which is a highly toxic chemical.

In the Tunnel: From Inspiration to Publication Continued from page 2

by Lucille Gang Shulklapper And Does the Father Who Lives in Your Dreams Die Again When You Awaken?

(After Neruda) I’m sitting on our red brick stoop, in the August sun, my father beside me, trying to learn the multiplication tables I skipped in 2B. The only numbers I remember are black, perched on our maple tree, a wobbly: 85-26 Kendrick Place, Jamaica, New York.

And every number times one is the same number.

The sand is hot between my toes, on the soles of my feet, blackened by tar near the ocean on Silverpoint Beach. My father’s feet sink into the shallow water, while he watches me plunge into the coiled waves.

On the shore, we find broken shells. A multitude of soft creatures lived inside of them.

That August, my father dies, and a crow flies into our chimney, trilling as he falls until silenced. I close his cracked and broken beak.

How it warms to my touch like my father’s multiplication…

Didn’t he say: Every life times itself is the same life, like the soul of crushed feathers in the heat of August?

Poets, editors, and publishers have different voices, and expectations. Some will inspire and some will not. We ask our own questions, many unanswerable, many answered in the wilderness of poetic imagination.

About Lucille Gang Shulklapper A prize-winning author of fiction and poetry, Lucille’s work appears in many publications as well as in four poetry chapbooks: What You Cannot Have, The Substance of Sunlight, Godd, It’s Not Hollywood, and In The Tunnel. She has led workshops facilitated through the Palm Beach Poetry Festival, taught reading K-college, made recordings for the blind, and raised a family.

It is not safe to just throw them in the trash can like incandescent bulbs. To safely dispose of burned-out CFLs you must take them somewhere that collects used CFL bulbs and can dispose of them properly.

Most Home Depot stores have a drop-off bin at the front of the store, so if you live near a Home Depot, then this is an easy way to get rid of old CFLs. But if there is no local Home Depot in your area this could be a problem. Check around to see if there are any other places in your area that dispose of CFL bulbs, and if you find a place, you can take all your bulbs there.

If you cannot find anywhere to dispose of CFLs, there is another green alternative to incandescent bulbs. Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are becoming increasingly popular nowadays because they require even less electricity to operate and can last for extended lengths of time. During the time when one LED bulb is used you could go through two to three CFLs or 25 incandescents! This makes for a lot less trash going into the landfill, and a

PAGE

lot less of the inconvenience that changing light bulbs can cause. Plus LED bulbs contain no toxic chemicals, which makes them safe to throw in the garbage. This makes LEDs a practical choice considering environmental and practical aspects, but not financial. LEDs can cost as much as $25 per bulb! And the somewhat less wattage they require is not enough to make up for this huge price tag. Most people cannot afford to replace every bulb in their house for one that expensive, but I’m sure you could find room in your budget for one or two. Every small bit makes a difference. And if you truly cannot afford LEDs, CFLs are a fine choice, as long as you have a place to dispose of them.

Whether you choose CFL or LED bulbs as your incandescent alternative, please know that the government-initiated Phase Out is, in my opinion, a good step towards a cleaner future. Do not try to horde oldfashioned incandescent bulbs just because they are cheaper. They are actually not cheaper, and they are bad for the environment in two important ways: First, they use more electricity to operate; and second, they have a short life span meaning more trash in the landfills. If you have any questions about this column or suggestions for future columns, please send me an E-mail at heroicaajc@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading!

Breakout Artist is about to “Takeoff” Continued from page 1

by Yasmin Daiha skewed version of reality,” said Conrad. “It’s hard to have a relationship with music. Friends can’t relate.” Conrad tried one semester of college. He doesn’t regret not graduating college.

“It’s not the path for everyone,” he says. While he has no intention of leaving the music business, if his music career doesn’t work out, then he can just go back and study psychology.

Every artist has some accomplishment they consider their greatest. For Conrad, it was when he was playing his first real gig with his band. He said that, “I was able to show myself that like, yeah I am great enough to play in the big leagues with everyone else.” Family also has a big impact on Conrad’s rise to fame.

Although his family was scared, they mostly supported him in what he wanted to do and stuck with him all the way. He also joked, saying, “I think for them it was scary to have this weird kid that wanted to go out and conquer this huge shot at his music.” At the end of the day everyone has a dream that they want to follow.

“People are always going to tell you that you’re crazy and that your chances of making it are like one in a billion, not that big. You

have to practice, get as good as you can. When you feel it in your head just GO FOR IT! Just believe in yourself.”

Did You Know...

… that Circle Gazette reporters:  Attend community events as Press Correspondents?  Interview Hollywood stars and national personalities?  Attend the international sports tournaments?  Interview world class athletes?  Interview local and national politicians?  Attend national events (such as Presidential Debates)?  Receive original books, videos and movies for review

even before they are out on the market?  Attend TV and radio shows?

3

PAGE

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

4

FEB/MAR 2013

An Editor Came to Our School…

Patty Gómez, the Editor of the Circle Gazette, Came to Share About her Job

by Julia Cantore, Age 12 Pembroke Pines, FL Do you take interest in writing? On January 17, 2013, Patty Gómez, the editor of The Circle Gazette, came to Franklin Academy Charter School, in Pembroke Pines in order to share informa-

tion about her job and The Circle Gazette. She told us much about the world of writing.

She presented a very interesting Creative Writing Workshop to all middle school students. Each student in 6, 7, and 8 grades had a chance to participate in the assembly by adding some ideas to make our own example of building an

“Anyone, from kindergarten to 19 years old, can publish an article in The Circle Gazette.”

article. Patty Gómez showed us that anyone can write for a newspaper and it’s very easy.

Anyone, from kindergarten to 19 years old, can publish an article in The Circle Gazette.

You can submit anything from paintings to what you did over the weekend. The Circle Gazette is also a good way to find

“She presented a very interesting Creative Writing Workshop.”

out what’s happening in Florida coming from a person your age.

To publish articles in The Circle Gazette, Patty told us the few steps: Write the article, proofread it, then send it using their website, www.circlegazette.org.

What is The Circle Gazette?

It’s a newspaper written by kids for kids in Florida. You can read

articles, look at art, and see reviews of books and movies. The person behind it all, Patty Gómez, is the editor of the newspaper. An editor is a person who reviews articles such as submissions from you so they can be error-free before they’re published there.

We enjoyed her visit and hope she comes to talk to us again.

“We enjoyed her visit and hope she comes to talk to us again.”

A VACATION JOURNAL

by Sara Cross, Age 12 Boca Raton, FL Monday, November 26, 2012 Today we boarded the Carnival Cruise ship Imagination.

I have only been aboard for six hours, and already I’ve had many adventures. First, my passport didn’t go through the computer, and I almost didn’t get on the ship! Once it went through, we found out that they had accidentally associated my brother’s picture to my Cruise ID card instead of mine. I think that the funniest moment so far was when the lock jammed on me, and I got stuck in the bathroom in our cabin! It felt like I was in there for half an hour, but it was really only a few minutes. I have explored almost every inch of this ship, and it’s only the first half of a day! Tomorrow we visit Key West, on Wednesday we stop at Cozumel, and on Thursday we head home.

I’m having so much fun, and I’m really glad to have this opportunity.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Today we went to Key West and saw “The Southernmost Point.” Since the cruise ship docked on the north side, we had to walk all the way to the southern end of the key. On the way there and back, we saw the Wyland Art Galleria, the Oldest House in South Florida, and a lot of roosters. Yes, roosters.

They lined the streets, well not literally, but there were a lot of them! But Key West wasn’t

The highlight was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

The power of a Press Pass! even the highlight of my day!

First I scored an interview with the Captain of the ship. At first it was really exciting, but I only had a few questions for him, and he didn’t give me much in the way of answers. But that also wasn’t the highlight of this fine Tuesday! The highlight was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

The power of a Press Pass! Once I showed mine I not only got an interview with the Captain, but our Cruise Director Willie Lee signed me up with Pearl, a member of the ship’s entertainment staff! I was going to interview her on the ship’s TV! An hour later Pearl and I were walking around the ship, interviewing every passenger who would let us!

Pearl was so nice, and we had a great interview. Later that night I was walking around the ship with some girls I just met, when Willie Lee told me that I was on TV! This is probably going to be the best part of the cruise, I don’t know if it can get any better!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Today we went to the Mexican island of Cozumel. We actually didn’t stay on Cozumel very long, because then we took a ferry to the mainland to go to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. The ferry rocked back and forth like crazy, but I didn’t mind much.

My brother took a vomit bag as a souvenir. Once we arrived, I boarded an hour-long bus ride to Tulum. The tour guide was amazing, and kept everyone en-

Did You Know... … that Franklin Academy is a Charter School located in the heart of Pembroke Pines? This “A” school has been very successful in creating safe and productive learning environments for its students and there are currently 3 more schools of this kind planning to open doors to the communities of Cooper City, Deerfield Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. The inspiration for Franklin Academy is Ben Franklin, a founding father who personified the pursuit of excellence, discovery and creativity.

tertained for the whole trip. At least he kept me entertained, my brother slept the entire ride! The stuff that he told us about the Mayans was so interesting, and you could really tell that he was passionate about his work. When we got to Tulum he told us all about the Mayan Pyramid that was there. It was so cool to see all the thousand-year-old buildings still intact! We only had about two hours there, and soon it was time to go. Our Tour Guide didn’t talk to us on the way back, so mostly I just ate a snack and talked to my mom about the ruins. Then we boarded the ferry again for the return to Cozumel.

When I got back onto our ship I was exhausted, so I took it easy that evening.

Thursday, November 29, 2012 Today was just a day at sea.

Nothing exciting, but I intended to make the most of my last day aboard ship. I did many different things, and had loads of fun.

I hung out with my father on deck playing different variations of Connect Four. I hung around with my brother a lot, and did everything on the cruise ship that I could find to do. I spent most of this evening with my cruise ship friends. Oh, by the way, ever since my interview with Pearl, I have had people coming up to me saying they saw me on TV! Some even knew me by name, and some just called me “The Little Interview Lady.” Also, I had a VIP pass for any event Pearl was running! This has been an amazing cruise, I think that this has been a great last day.

Friday, November 30, 2012 Yesterday wasn’t technically my last day. That was today, but since we had to depart at 10:00 in the morning, it doesn’t really count as a day. I had packed up my stuff Thursday night, so I didn’t have to worry about packing up anything but what I used since then. Here is the list of what I did this morning: eat breakfast, debark, collect luggage, go to the parking garage, and board our car. My brother and I were so exhausted we almost fell asleep in the back seat. I guess nights of staying up till midnight (or past) took a toll on us. Right now, I’m just glad to be home.

Did You Know... … that Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904 – September 23, 1973) was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda. In 1971 Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Neruda became known as a poet while still a teenager. He wrote in a variety of styles including surrealist poems, historical epics, overtly political manifestos and a prose autobiography. He often wrote in green ink colour as it was his personal symbol for desire and hope with his poetry.

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

FEB/MAR 2013

Skin Care Tips

by Samile Daiha, Age 12 Miramar, FL

Have you ever thought about how you treat your skin or what type of skincare products you need to use? There are plenty of tips that can help you resolve those questions. Imagine that you wake up one day and you look at your phone to see that you have overslept and you have to get ready as fast as you can. You realize that you still have to get your makeup done and hydrate your skin for that new day. Here are some tips on getting ready and certain advantages and disadvantages of taking care of your skin.

After you take a shower and your hair is still damp, it is better to use a comb rather than a hair brush because a comb will help prevent damage and breakage to your hair.

While your hair is drying, apply a hair serum. This helps the hair appear healthier and shiny. Once the hair is dry, put it in a nice high ponytail, grab the bangs to start twisting them in a circular motion, and when done secure with an accessory or a clip.

When using any kind of makeup first start with a fresh clean face. Make sure you drink plenty of water because this can help your skin look very nice and new. Apply a moisturizer on your skin, and if you will be spending lots of time outside in the sun I recommend putting on a moisturizer with at least SPF 15. After that, find the right foundation for your skin. If your skin

Living Healthy

Drink a Toast to a Healthier Life!

by Sara Cross, Age 12 Boca Raton, FL

“Make sure you drink plenty of water because this can help your skin look very nice and new.” want to add eye shadow, I recommend one that is very natural. Very light brown and champagne colors can really bring out your eyes. If your eyes are big, use black eyeliner, and if you have small eyes use white.

White eyeliner will look like it is another part of the white in your eyes, making your eyes look larger. When you are done, apply a rosy pink blush (it makes you look very sweet and natural). To finish off the look, apply whatever color lipstick, lip gloss or lip stain you like. Just don’t get crazy and use any of the darker colors.

Remember all the tips I gave you. And, most importantly, it’s important to wash your face every morning, afternoon and night to help your skin be very healthy and without acne or dirt.

Hi kids! And welcome to Living Healthy, a column that discusses how to keep your body healthy and energized.

Last month I wrote about the problems caused by arsenic, a toxin in white and brown rice. Rice is not the only thing that contains levels of arsenic. A recent report done by Consumer Reports in January 2012 shows that very low levels of arsenic can be found in apple and grape juice.

The question is, how does the arsenic get into the juice? Just as for rice, one of the many problems starts with cotton. The arsenic-rich pesticides and herbicides that are used in growing cotton soak into the cotton and its byproducts.

The growers separate out the byproducts and sell them to feed farm-raised chickens. The chickens become poisoned with arsenic, and the chickens’ waste products are then sold as fertilizer. The fertilizer is used on fruit trees and the arsenic leaches into the soil, only to be loosened up by rain and sprinklers. The arsenic reaches the water table and is pulled up by the roots of the trees. That contaminates the fruit from those trees, and then the fruit juice. Organic growers will often test the fertilizer that they buy for arsenic, so going organic can help reduce your intake.

Another way that arsenic can get into our juice is that it is made out of fruit that is grown in other countries. Arsenic-rich pesticides are legal in other places, so the farmers might spray it on their plants, including their fruit trees.

There is also a certain amount of arsenic that we cannot avoid because it is already in the ground. Arsenic pesticides were not always illegal and they were sprayed everywhere. Arsenic can still be found in the ground today. When it rains, or when plants are watered, the ground loosens up and arsenic is released and contaminates the water that the plants are

“It’s important to wash your face every morning, afternoon and night to help your skin be very healthy and without acne or dirt.” is oily it’s great to use an oil-free foundation and if your skin is medium to dry it’s good to use a normal foundation. Choosing the right color for your skin tone can be a challenge, but you can swipe a very little amount of the two shades you think are similar to your skin tone and pick. If you are feeling a bit pale, you can choose to use a bit of bronzer to contour and give you a bronzy sun-kissed look.

Sometimes, if it’s a special occasion, you may want to add more makeup. If you want to use mascara, apply two coats, one for length and the other for volume. If you

PAGE

sucking up. This then contaminates the plants, then the fruit, and then the fruit juice.

I already told you all about the dangers of arsenic in last month’s column, but I will go over it again in case you missed it. Arsenic poisoning has early symptoms of headaches, confusion, severe diarrhea and drowsiness. Long term exposure to arsenic can lead to cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder, and kidneys. It has also been known to cause diseases of the blood vessels in the limbs.

Fruit contains good vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body; but when the fruit is processed into juice, a lot of those nutrients are lost. The only other bad thing about juice is that it contains high levels of sugar. Not the white or raw sugars that you buy in the supermarket (sucrose), but natural fruit sugar (fructose). Just because it is all natural does not mean that it is healthy. Fruit sugar may be a lot better than most other sugars, but it is still sugar.

I recommend that you make fruit juice an occasional treat instead of an everyday drink. I also recommend tea and water to keep you hydrated instead of juice. If you like the taste of fruit, then I recommend eating whole fruit, preferably organic. If you eat an apple a day you get all the nutrients of the fruit without as much sugar and arsenic as a glass of juice. Chances are, you are not going to eat four apples at a time, whereas you might drink one glass of apple juice a day which could be equivalent to three or four apples. If you still want the fruit flavor to drink, you could dilute it about one part juice to two parts water, more or less depending upon your taste. Vegetable juice is also an option, having all the nutrients without the unwanted sugar. The bottom line is: eat fresh (and organic!) fruits, and I will see you in April!

Fasching in Germany

by Sofia Serrano, Age 7 Frankfurt, Germany

What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.” -Scott Westerfeld, Author of the ‘Uglies’ series.

Supporting your writers and artists… supporting the Circle Gazette

PLACE AN AD

Send your message to those whose work you appreciate For special Occasions ♦ birthdays ♦ graduations ♦ celebration of milestones ♦ achievements or SPONSOR AN ISSUE OF THE Circle Gazette Honor your writers and artists by supporting their favorite newspaper Deadline to submit your design/message is the 15th of every month

For details call 954-918-2541 or email us at info@enrichmentcircle.com

Fasching is a holiday near the end of winter here in Germany. In the old days, it was a time when people dressed up in scary costumes to scare away the winter so that their plants could grow sooner and they could harvest more food. Now it is just a fun party and parade in the city. At my school, we dressed up in costumes and celebrated all together. Most people just wore their Halloween costumes, but I wore a mask that we made in Girl Scouts especially for Fasching. It was a zebra head with feathers! We also made Papier-mache masks in art class. These were for decoration, not for wearing. Mine was a toucan with a beak and lots of colorful feathers.

The parade in the city is fun. Everybody dresses in costumes and the people in the parade throw lots

of candy. It didn’t scare away winter because it snowed three days after the holiday!

Toucan mask for Fasching, papier-mache.

5

PAGE

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

6

FEB/MAR 2013

My Pirate’s Tale, a book by B. L. Medeiros A BOOK REVIEW

by Sebastian Vargas, Age 14 Coconut Creek, FL

Lydia’s Book Corner

by Lydia Szakacs, Age 10 Coral Springs, FL The Invisible Army

by Michael Krymchantowski Junior Illustrated by Ricardo Antunes This realistic fiction book is about how the body fights off bacteria. This book is written in two languages, English and Portuguese, and is very educating. It starts out slow but gets better. It is a very entertaining book and teaches kids how a body fights off bacteria by telling a story of how bacteria gets into a boy’s body

and how the boy’s body fights them off. It loads the reader with facts in a very entertaining way.

The illustrations are very creative but didn’t always match the text.

I would recommend this book for grades 5 and up and I would rate this book a 9 out of 10 stars.

Blastoff

by Paul Adams This fiction book is a journey to the moon. It is a great interactive book for a Mom and her child. It is fun to use imagination with this book. It has no paper pages, just the hardcover. Inside the cover there are instructions on how to travel to the moon. I would recommend this book for children 1-5 years old. I rate this book a 10 out of 10 for children. Parent and child can take a trip to the moon!

Everyone loves a good book.

Books are fun to read. Kids love books and stories, especially stories that let their imagination run wild and free. Kids also love acting out their favorite characters from stories. Toys are one of many ways that a child can bring their thoughts to life. How about putting all those experiences in one book? That would be a great idea.

Well, that has already happened.

The book, My Pirate’s Tale by B. L. Medeiros, is, in my opinion, a unique and ingenious creation for children’s entertainment. The book tells a story about how a young boy’s birthday party turns into a pirate adventure searching for hidden treasure. Many, if not most, kids love pirates. This book, along with its treasure chest kit filled with props, will allow a child to release his or her inner buccaneer. The story is about a

boy named David. It’s his birthday and his friend Brian gives him a funny-shaped present. It is a cool treasure chest, and David already sees a telescope. When he looks into it, he suddenly finds himself on a pirate ship in the middle of the ocean, in search of hidden treasure. He meets a finefeathered friend named Captain Charlie, who gives him a treasure map. David finds an “X” and is sure that it is where the hidden treasure is located. They must pass an impenetrable wall of whales and land on an island to find the treasure. Will David find his treasure? Items included in the treasure chest that comes with the book are: the telescope, a treasure map, a compass, and other pirate stuff. You can even take lovely pictures of you with your friends and put them in the slots where the corresponding drawings are in the book. If you want to have lasting memories with a good story, this book is a perfect fit. I think it is a fabulous gift for any child - and their creativity.

A Monthly Movie Review

by Sarah Thompson, Age 14 Boynton Beach, FL

Warm Bodies Rated: PG-13

Did You Know...  … that Circle Gazette writer Nathalie Thélémaque has published her first book?

Misconceptions - A Collection of Short Stories and Poems” was published last December

by Educa Vision, Inc., a Florida-based publisher that prints and distributes a broad range of multicultural and multilingual educational materials. Nathalie, a native of Coral Springs, Florida, was born in 1998. From a young age, Nathalie was always interested in reading and writing.

She has created countless short stories and novels over the years. She writes a Poetry column and also contributes short stories for The Circle Gazette.



The plot: R is a zombie; he can’t remember his name or anything about his past life. He lives in a zombie-infested airport where he and the rest of the zombies lead simple, mundane lives. They walk around, they bump into each other, they try to have conversations though all they can really do is grunt and form a few words. When they get hungry, they eat humans. R is unhappy… he eats people, but only to survive. He wants more. He wants to remember his old life. And when he meets Julie, a human survivor, he decides to smuggle her out and keep her safe from the other zombies. In doing so, he begins to feel again, and as he and Julie spend more time together, so do the other zombies.

Slowly, R and Julie’s relationship begins to change the course of the apocalypse.

The verdict: Let me start by saying that I don’t watch zombie movies. This was my first one. I think zombies are gross and I don’t like gore and guts…but in the case of Warm Bodies the zombies are not scary, the guts are kept to a minimum, and the whole thing

is meant to be campy, not taken seriously. I think I can safely say that R is definitely the most likable zombie that has ever been created. He narrates the film, and provides a good amount of humor in his observations. His fascination with Julie, his wanting to be alive again, and his slow but steady change back into a human (“he’s still dead but he’s getting warmer” as the tagline reads) make you root for him and the rest of the zombies too! In this particular portrayal, the zombies are not savage, but, rather, depressed and desperate. Really, the movie is just such a fresh take on the zombie genre! Who would ever think of zombies as being unhappy with their cannibalism or fighting to remember their past lives? Who would ever have sympathy for zombies or think to make them the heroes in a movie? It certainly never crossed my mind,

anyway. But this movie does a great job of making them sympathetic, likable characters - this other scenario becomes surprisingly believable. It’s consistently funny the whole way through… the entire audience was laughing from start to finish. It takes things often seen in zombie movies that are meant to be frightening, and instead pokes fun at them. It’s the kind of movie that doesn’t try and hide its ridiculousness - instead, it embraces it, and is truly funny as a result. I couldn’t leave out lead actor Nicholas Hoult - his performance is great!

He’s convincing as a zombie, is surprisingly charming as a zombie, and does a good job portraying R’s progress and character development throughout the movie. (The fact that he looks like a handsome zombie, despite the blood and scars on his face, deserves props…whether to the actor or to the makeup artist, I am not sure!)

I don’t think I will be seeing another zombie movie for a long time, because the traditional zombie movie doesn’t appeal to me. But this quirky, interesting twist on it is so wonderfully campy and unpredictable, that it managed to change my entire view of zombies for the full 2 hours. I highly recommend it to teenagers who don’t mind a little blood with their crazy humor. A quick warning: the zombie violence and bad language are inappropriate for younger viewers.

FEB/MAR 2013

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

PAGE

Mr. President, Can You Hear Us? one should have to go hungry?” said an unnamed teenager in one of the videos. Another teen addressed his family’s struggles paying for his college education.

“Families should be able to pay for college but not have to drain money from other funds such as mortgage payments, health insurance, etc.”

In addition, at the end of each video the person asks the president to give the nation’s youth “a seat at the table” by creating a Presidential Youth Council. This council would “give young peo-

ple…opportunities to bring the issues they care about directly to policymakers in Washington, and help shape the policies and programs that affect their lives,” according to the CLC. Alan Houseman, the chairman of the CLC, the nation’s largest coalition of child and youth organizations, is pleased to find that many of America’s future voters are just as concerned with the nation’s issues as current voters are. “You can see in the video that they are very concerned not only about their own future but also about the future of their friends and families.”

Bottom line, if you, as a future voter and citizen of this nation would like to be more active in expressing your opinion about our nation’s issues visit www. sparkaction.org or www.childrensleadershipcouncil.org.

which Mary melodically sings a slow, calming tune but with lyrics encouraging the stubborn Banks’ children to stay awake.

Which, of course, causes them to fall asleep immediately!

The songs I love the most are “Jolly Holiday,” “Chim-ChimCheree,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.” While I find all the songs to be charming and catchy, the ones I listed above are the ones that are especially beloved to me. I highly doubt anyone could keep from cracking a smile at least once during “Jolly Holiday,” which is as happy and cheesy and pleasant a song as a person can find.

“Let’s Go Fly a Kite” is the last song of the movie, and a most appropriate one. The ending is a bittersweet one, but the song is one about unbridled fun and excitement and seems to wrap the whole thing up in the simple lyrics: “Let’s go fly a kite/ Up to the

highest height / Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring!”

I am a dancer, so I couldn’t leave out my compliments to the actors for their wonderful dancing! Dick Van Dyke in particular was a fantastic dancer here. Most of the dancing is tap, a dance style requiring tons of energy and stamina, and clearly the actors had to be in great shape to perform with such gusto. In one scene, Bert dances with a group of lively animated penguins and attempts to mimic their “waddle.”

In another, the chimneysweep mates sing the high-energy song “Step in Time” while tapping on the rooftops. Even Mary Poppins gets in on the dancing in a few numbers.

All in all, Mary Poppins is a movie about childhood. It’s about the joy of childhood: the lessons learned and the fun experienced. About staying a child on the inside, even after growing up.

by Ismail Ercan, Age 15 Coral Springs, FL As a young person in this nation, it can be difficult to speak out publicly about national issues. We are often too young, inexperienced, or simply don’t possess the knowledge to discuss major issues in the nation such as political elections, health care, gun control, taxes, etc. We are influenced by our parents’ political views, as well as what is shown in the media every day. In addition, we are too young to vote and we can tarnish close friendships with friends who have different political views. So what exactly do we do, if we want to be heard?

That’s exactly what “Spark Action” and Children’s Leadership Council (CLC) thought of, prior to the 2nd inauguration of Presi-

dent Obama in January. They created a project entitled “2013 Children’s/Youth Inaugural Address: Mr. President, Can you hear us?” in which young people ages 5-25 create an unscripted video where they address what issue they want the president to focus on in his second term of office. Several of the response videos were shown at the inauguration festivities in Washington D.C. in mid-January.

The response to the project was incredible; hundreds of videos from young people all across the nation were submitted, with

a wide range of issues being addressed. Some of these topics included: the obesity epidemic, hunger in America, the rising debt ceiling, Obamacare, gun control, teachers and education in America, illegal immigration and the DREAM Act, and college affordability.

“Mr. President, 1 in 5 Americans go hungry every day. I feel that no one should have to go hungry. Do you feel like any-

My Day at the Beasley Radio Station

by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 9 Hope Mills, NC I was very excited to be able to tour the Beasley radio station, WKML 95.7. The first part of the tour, given by the promotions manager, Mr. Johnson, was learning Radio 101. He was very knowledgeable about the history of radio. He should be because he’s been in the business for over 20 years. I really enjoyed learn-

ing about radio waves. I asked Mr. Johnson about the first radio station. He told me that on Nov. 2, 1920, the world’s first commercial radio station was born. The second part of the tour was watching the DJs at work on the air. I was lucky to be on the air for my 2 minutes of fame. It was strange speaking into a big microphone, but it was fun. A lady won concert tickets and I asked her one simple question: What is your favorite radio station? I couldn’t believe

Mary Poppins

by Sarah Thompson, Age 14 Boynton Beach, FL One of my absolute favorite movies when I was younger was Disney’s Mary Poppins. I have very fond memories of watching it with my mother and my sister over and over again, so often in fact that our original VHS tape could hardly play anymore.

Then, about two Christmases ago, I received the movie on a re-mastered DVD as a present.

A few days later, my mother, sister and I were gathered on the couch, watching it with the same fondness and pleasure that we did all those years before.

Indeed, the movie feels just as magical and heartfelt to me now as it did when I was five. In fact, I think I appreciate it more now.

I regard Mary Poppins as my go-to “feel good” movie. If I’ve got some spare time on my hands and need a pick-me-up, this is the movie I would watch. Not just because it’s nostalgic for me, but because it has a surprising amount of wisdom and heart.

It’s the story of the Banks family - Mr. Banks, who happens to be a banker, Mrs. Banks, his cheery wife, and their two sweet

(and mischievous) children, Jane and Michael. The kids have run through a large number of nannies, and the latest one has just jumped ship. As the Banks family prepares to hire yet another nanny, Mary Poppins enters the picture and ultimately wins the job. She is unlike any other nanny the kids have had; she knows how to handle the children and keep them out of trouble, yet she is nice and smart and witty. Jane and Michael adore her. Mary has some other tricks up her sleeve too: in the form of magic!

All of the characters are likable in their own way. Mary Poppins, of course, is “practically perfect in every way,” as the story goes.

Jane and Michael are adorable.

Bert the chimney sweep is my favorite character; he’s friendly, with a light-hearted sense of humor and a Cockney accent.

Over the course of their magi-

how weird it was to hear myself because it didn’t sound like me at all. It was unbelievable to meet the DJ face to face, after listening to them all this time! I really appreciate all the work they do to make our listening enjoyable every day. If you get a chance, you need to tour a radio station. I want to go back again.

Pictured right: Alizdair Ray and DJ Bob (WKML 95.7) cal adventures, there are plenty of lessons learned. Jane and Michael learn a lot, but so does their father, who is reminded how short childhood is, and finds that he needs to spend more time with them. The end of the film is a lesson in family, saying goodbye, and growing up. There’s a good amount of depth and wisdom, which is incredible considering how fun the movie is. It’s so full of humor and fantasy and spirit that it never feels preachy.

The music only adds to the magical feeling which surrounds Mary Poppins. It is a well-known fact that Julie Andrews has a beautiful voice, so it should come as no surprise that her lovely vocals add a lot to the movie and to her character as well. Choosing a favorite song feels near impossible to me, as each and every one is special in its own right. “Feed the Birds” is certainly the most chilling song in the movie, or in most any musical I can think of.

It is a haunting lullaby with sad lyrics, but so beautifully sung and such a great scene.

Songs like “Sister Suffragette” (song by Mrs. Banks) and “The Life I Lead” (sung by Mr. Banks) show the social conditions of the time in a light, if ironic, cheerfulness. While Mrs. Banks and her maids sing vehemently about women’s rights and independence (this is used as a humorous subplot…Mrs. Banks feels most strongly about “the cause“), her husband sings a somewhat chauvinistic tune about how he runs his household. “Stay Awake” is a sweet backwards-lullaby in

7

PAGE

8

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

A One of a Kind Performance Continued from page 1

by Ismail Ercan, Age 15 Accomplished musician Caryl Fantel, current choir director of Nova Southeastern University and co-founder of the Coral Springs Community Arts School “Arts Alive,” has been hired to direct the musical. Putting together such a project is no easy task and required a lot of effort and preparation.

“I have a wonderful friend who is a part time lyricist who helped me write the musical,” says Fantel. “In order to put this [musical] together I had help from him and from the city’s historian Wendy Wangberg. We discussed music from the last five decades and we came up with songs that lent themselves to the style of the decade-as well as lyrics that we could write about events that happened in Coral Springs in those decades.”

Mrs. Fantel also described how the musical is set up. “It will be going chronologically from the 1960’s, when Coral Springs was founded, to the present. Each high school will be presenting a decade with Coral Springs High School starting with the 60’s and so on. We will be using videos and photos to string the decade

segments together. There will be appropriate costumes for each decade and it should be great! What should be noted though, is that this musical doesn’t really have a plot, it’s more of small different snapshots of events in Coral Springs history.”

As for the special guest appearances, Fantel was thoughtful to leave some of the roles by the school principals as a surprise.

But she did reveal that the city officials (listed above) have a number in the performance. In addition, several senior citizens (longtime residents of Coral Springs) will share some of their favorite anecdotes with the audience as well.

The members of the musical have been rehearsing for several weeks now and Mrs. Fantel discussed some of the challenges faced so far. “We have several performers who have never performed before on stage and, of course, they can experience stage fright. We had to get them to believe that they themselves are capable of performing, that they won’t look foolish, and to be confident. But honestly, after the first few rehearsals, they have gotten over their fears and are having so much fun.”

“This musical is the first collaboration of its kind in this city.

None of us in Coral Springs knows of any other time that there has been a project involving all of the high school students and city officers; this project has really brought the community together.”

Mrs. Fantel encourages everyone to attend the performance.

“We really would like everyone to come. It will really be a true celebration of our community and all the wonderful things that have gone on in this city over the past 50 years.”

This 50th Anniversary Signature Event is presented by Golden Anniversary Sponsor Al Hendrickson Toyota along with Baptist Medical Plaza at Coral Springs, Advanced Cable Communications, Forum Publishing Group, Broward Health Coral Springs and Scott J. Brook, P.A. All proceeds will benefit the Coral Springs Community Chest and tickets (which are $10) can be purchased at the Center for the Arts box office, City Hall in the Mall, Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Saveology.com Iceplex (Incredible Ice).

Bring everyone you know, it will be a wonderful night!

FEB/MAR 2013

Did You Know... … that in 2011, the City of Coral Springs, population 126,000, was recognized as the top-ranked Florida city to live based on job opportunities, fiscal strength, top-notch schools, low crime, good health care, leisure activities and many other things that make a city great for raising a family. This year (2013) Coral Springs Celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

Did You Know... … that the three longest running columns of the Circle Gazette are Green Tip of the Month by A.J. Cross, Sarah’s Cinema by Sarah Thompson and Living Healthy by Sara Cross?

A.J. Cross

Sara Cross

Did You Know... ...that Circle Gazette writers can participate as freelancers and only contribute when they have something ready? They can also become columnists and write regularly about the topics they care most about.

Easy or Difficult: Teens Steering in the Right Direction

by Ryan D. Pearson Author of Green Hope Teens, who have experienced life only as children, suddenly find themselves in very adult circumstances in high school – that last step toward adulthood, Ryan Pearson says. For many gifted, talented, sensitive or otherwise misunderstood teens, Pearson offers tips for surviving this last step toward independence: • Embrace what makes you different: Perhaps the most important struggle a teenager faces

is self-acceptance. Many may believe that that straight-A, allstar jock with a perfect complexion has it made. Meanwhile, that boy may be experiencing his own inner turmoil. If you care about things no one else seems to care about; if you’re better at chess than football; if you think you don’t fit the mold of “pretty” or “handsome” – you might just be on the path to happiness. A great example receiving plenty of attention is the It Gets Better project, which encourages gay teens to embrace their sexuality.

However, the concept can be applied to anyone who feels like an outsider. “There is only one you; don’t be afraid of who you are,” Pearson says.

• Perhaps the greatest commencement address: While life is just beginning after high school and college, it’s rarely easy – that’s the thrust of George Foster Wallace’s 2005 speech to the graduates of Kenyon College.

Wallace, a giant of contemporary literature, touches on some of the most important adult challenges: the potential loneliness of adult life, the importance of being well-adjusted and the difficulty of empathy – “Think about it: There is no experience you’ve had that you were not at the absolute center of.” Truthful, unflinching and humorous, the speech has since resonated online.

• You can change!: A depress-

She Walks Alone

by Caitlyn Juroviesky, Age 15 Boca Raton, FL

On a cold winter night oh so long ago, the wind whistled through the leaves and the snow sailed down from the sky, touching the concrete below in a soft flurry of excitement. The schools were cancelled, the roads were closed and through all of the happiness no one saw the girl, standing on the edge of the street all

alone. She walked alone through the snow, her feet making no sound, leaving a soft imprint in the fresh snowy mounds. Her breath was a whisper, her hair was gold; she walked alone on the sidewalk beside the road. Her skin was the color of ivory, her frame small and skinny. She was a girl that no one knew, a girl of humble piety.

And on this cold winter night was a boy who walked on the

street beside the side walk, all alone. His hair was brown, his eyes a glistening green. He had a walk that seemed to command, a talk that brought people to their knees. His teeth were a blinding white, the same color as clean snow; he was the kind of boy that every girl wanted to get to know.

Upon one glance at the girl on a cold winter’s night, his heart skipped a beat; his soul became full of light. He saw an angel,

ing mindset for unhappy high school students involves the idea that nothing about one’s experience will change. “Everything changes – this is the one rule of life you can count on,” says Pearson. “Teens who go the villainous route often have an attitude that nothing about them or the world is going to be different unless they intervene with extreme behavior.” In reality, one or two key shifts in thinking can change the course of a young person’s life trajectory. Friends, parents and educators have the best access for helping a troubled teen to “see the light.”

Precocious in high school, Pearson earned his law degree at age 21 and went on to write “The Element Series,” (www.theelementsseries.com), which follows a teenager blessed with wealth and fame who discovers he has the added responsibility of super powers.

“One aspect I love about comic books and fiction is that the character arcs show how some become the villains, and those who stand by their values – the heroes.” a girl who was just as beautiful as a Goddess; and wherever she walked, he followed, his feet carrying him in the same path as the girl who walks alone. He walked for miles; he walked for days, the skip in his footstep never leaving, his wide smile never fading.

He reached for a hand and spun her around; she looked up with a startled expression, the gears in her head spinning with a clattering din. She tried to walk away, she tried to be alone, but he had a firm grip on her hand and on her heart and her feet became as heavy as stone.

They stood there for an hour;

About Ryan D. Pearson After completing a Bachelor of Laws degree at age 21, Ryan D. Pearson took a leap of faith by leaving the beautiful beaches of Australia to travel the world. He eventually landed in Montreal, where he lived for several years before returning home to write about his adventures. He overcame many challenging personal experiences and now embraces an audacious new lifestyle. Pearson writes about his own character arc – involving a supernatural and overzealous way of life – via character Reagan Jameson.

they stood for an eternity, the two just staring longingly at something they could never leave. The boy asked in a soft whisper, “What do you want to be?” And in that moment the girl had decided, her heart skipped a beat and her cheeks turned red at the thought of what she might say. “I no longer want to be alone,” she replied, her voice coming out soft, like the song of an angel. And with a soft touch and through a twisted land, the two walked together, holding each other’s hands.

And she never walked alone again.

FEB/MAR 2013

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

PAGE

9

The Day of the Goblins

by Michael Weinberg, Age 12 Pembroke Pines, FL

Andy and I were walking to the local park by the lake on a Saturday morning. The sun beat down on us as if we were baking in a giant oven. There was a slight breeze and the air was fresh. The tree branches swayed and the leaves made a crinkling sound as we walked. There was a black metal bench bolted to the asphalt in front of a bush. I sat down and sighed. Andy followed.

“What do you want to do?” I asked, squinting from the glaring sun.

“I dunno,” he said. He went over to a large oak tree that seemed like it had been growing for centuries. He grabbed onto the low hanging branches and started to climb.

I joined him and he hooked his legs around a horizontal branch so that he was looking at me upside-down. Grasping the rough bark, I pulled myself upward so that I could sit on the branch like a chair with no back.

“I’m bored,” Andy said, sitting upright again. “Why did we come here anyway?”

“Because we were bored!” I answered.

He groaned and leaned back.

He forgot he was sitting on a branch and plunged backwards.

He gasped and fell into the leafscattered ground. I leaped down and helped him get up. His elbow and knee were scraped and bleeding and he had leaves in his long hair. Andy cringed and touched his back.

“I think I fell on a rock or something.”

I was curious, so I looked at the spot where Andy had fallen and a round golden locket with strange symbols rested in the dead grass.

I picked it up in amazement, the golden chain dangling.

Andy came up from behind with bulging eyes.

“What is that?”

“Looks like some sort of ancient necklace,” I mused, turning it over. A name was engraved in the back. Grantfur S. “Who’s Grantfur S.?” he asked with his back arched.

“How should I know?” I answered. “If I can, I want to find out who this Grantfur guy is.”

Suddenly, we heard the sound of a truck engine and the noisy honking of a horn. I turned in the direction of the sound. A huge truck, miles away from the park, was speeding towards us.

The broad logo on the side of the truck displayed a lumberjack cutting down a tree with a chainsaw.

“Looks like they’re gonna cut down a tree in the park,” Andy muttered, sounding uninterested.

“So what do you wanna do?”

Before I could answer, a blur of orange and brown whizzed passed me. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked around me, although nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

There were several people at the park, but none of them were looking in my direction. I thought I was being stupid and saw a squirrel or bird. But sure enough, the orange blur dashed around me a second time.

This time, the necklace with the strange symbols was pulled out of my hand.

“Where’d it go?” I shouted, frustrated.

“Where’d what go?” Andy said.

“The necklace!” I said irritably.

“You lost it already?”

“No, some orange thing stole it from me!”

Andy looked at me as I searched for it. His eyes rested on me and then he grabbed my shoulders and slapped my cheek hard. I rubbed my red skin.

“What was that for?”

“You’re going crazy, man, I can see it.”

“Oh, be quiet. I know what I saw. Something’s not right.”

The blur of orange and brown dashed up the tree we had previously climbed and disappeared into an opening in the trunk of the tree that I hadn’t seen earlier. I observed the tree for a while to see if the blurry object would resurface. It did not.

“There’s an opening in the tree,” I said. “Come on.”

As I started up the tree a second time, Andy didn’t follow.

“No way,” he said. “There’re probably ants and spiders in there!”

“Well I’m going,” I told him.

“If you want to be a big baby, suit yourself.”

I grabbed the branch I had previously sat on and ascended. I waited for Andy to give in.

“Wait for me,” he said at last.

I grinned.

I got a good grip on a knot in the tree trunk and pushed myself high enough to get a view inside the opening in the tree. The lumberjack’s truck was getting closer now.

The inside of the hole smelled like rotting wood and it was pitch-black like a small, filthy abyss. I was hesitant to go inside, but curiosity got the better of me.

As I shifted into position to descend down the hole, Andy grabbed my arm.

“We can’t go in there!”

I ignored him and continued.

I breathed through my mouth, but it did not make a noticeable difference. No light from above reached the hole. The sound of Andy’s short breaths gave me confidence that he was following.

I was holding onto the top of the hole and then I jumped and closed my eyes, although closing them made no difference in the blackness of the pit. Closer than I had imagined, my sneakers made contact with solid ground. I slowly opened my eyes and there was an entire sanctuary with abundance of light. Andy was next to me, his eyebrows wrinkled.

Scented candles and incense burned and the fragrance was very appealing after the revolting smell above. The ground was barren but had pine needles scattered about in a certain fashion. In the back of the impossibly large sanctuary was a stone coffin with the engraving King Simon on its side. Standing next to the surprisingly small casket was a small man in orange overalls with his back facing us.

I gasped and pointed at the small man and Andy looked.

The little man turned around with his eyes bulging.

“I guess you weren’t lying after all,” whispered Andy, gazing at the little man.

“What are you doing here?” the man bellowed in a scratchy voice.

“Out, out, OUT!” He started to push us away and up a wooden roped ladder near where we had fallen down. As he shoved us, I noticed he had pointed ears, like an elf, and an

elongated nose.

“No wait!” I yelled, and the small man stopped. A golden chain hung from his overall pocket. “Are you Grantfur?”

“How do you know my name?” said the strange man. He backed away in shock.

“We found your golden locket and we saw your name engraved on the back. I’m guessing it was you who stole it back?”

The man nodded.

“You shouldn’t be here. This is sacred grounds. You are not permitted here!” he shouted.

“What is this place, anyway?”

Andy asked.

“It is the burial ground of the king,” he said. “The king of the goblins.”

Confusion hit me like a train.

“Goblins?”

“Yes, goblins, you stupid human. I am a goblin and the being inside that coffin is King Simon of the goblins, a goblin himself.”

“What does the S in your name stand for?” I inquired.

“Simon,” the goblin answered.

“I am a distant relative of the king himself.”

“But why is the burial ground in this tree?” Andy asked. “Why not underground?”

The goblin motioned for us to sit down in three ancient chairs with splintery wood. Once we sat down and made ourselves comfortable, the goblin began to speak.

Centuries ago, there was a civilization of goblins as big as a city of humans today. There were goblin children, goblin women, and goblin men. We had everything we could ever ask for. Food, water, and shelter were plentiful.

But on this day, all those hundreds of years ago, something changed our life forever.

A strong and powerful Cyclops was sent from the mountains in a distant land where all the Cyclops lived to conquer any civilization it could find. With one giant eye in the middle of its forehead and four colossal limbs, the Cyclops searched for us. Weeks went by before any of us knew about the beast.

But the day before he arrived, panic spread through the village.

Babies were crying and goblins screamed. Havoc reached us before the Cyclops ever struck. Exactly one day later, a thundering stomp broke through the silence of waiting goblins. One thundering step after another made the ground vibrate as if it had a life of its own.

The Cyclops had found us.

Grantfur wiped away a small tear from his completely black eyes and then continued.

We didn’t know what to do; there wasn’t anything to do. We all just sat there, frightened. Then the giant reached us with his only eye looking over the village. He had a wooden club clutched between his beefy hands. He took a few steps toward our village, and buildings tumbled to the ground.

He was heading for the palace of King Simon, my great-greatgrandfather.

Hundreds of goblins raced toward the palace to protect the king, but they were too late; the Cyclops had already broken through the mighty walls of the grand palace. The king was brave, and with great courage he raised his bejeweled staff over his head and started chanting the magical words of an ancient language. There was a surge of energy and light and the Cyclops

fell to the ground, causing the Earth to rumble. As the crowd of goblin citizens cheered, King Simon dropped to the ground with his black eyes closed. His magical staff rolled out of his hands and the royal guards gasped and ran to our king.

About an hour later a messenger was sent from the palace to the heart of the village. He announced that the king was dead.

The powerful force of energy used by our king was all the energy he had. He gave his life for all of us.

That happened hundreds of years ago today.

Goblins live for centuries unless killed by someone or something else. I was a young goblin on that day, years younger than either of you.

I shifted in the uncomfortable chair.

“But what are you doing here?”

I asked the small man.

“Because I am the only male relative of the king still alive, for my father died years ago, the royal palace decided to allow me to help preserve the king’s body.

Without me spreading the pine needles, the king’s body would disintegrate into powder. Every year since the tragedy, I come here on this day, the Day of the Goblins. It is a goblin holiday.

Although we have lost many beloved family members, friends, and the king himself, we still cherish that day of our freedom from the Cyclopes nation.”

I heard the sound of a running motor right outside the tree sanctuary. I climbed up the hanging ladder and saw a huge truck right beside the tree. Climbing back down as quickly as I could, I rushed to tell Grantfur and Andy.

“You guys have to get out of here,” I said, my heart racing. “They’re going to cut down this tree.”

Grantfur’s expression changed from glum to shock in a second.

“But the king’s body!” he cried.

“We don’t have time!” I yelled.

“We’ll help you,” Andy said.

“We promise.”

“You will?” Grantfur said.

Before anyone could answer, the sound of a chainsaw started.

“We have to go!” I screamed.

The three of us raced up the steps, Grantfur climbing faster than both of us. Once we reached daylight, I shouted out, “STOP!” The man with the chainsaw looked over to me with a dull expression.

“Get outta that tree, son!” the middle-aged man said. “We’re cuttin’ it down!”

“You can’t cut down this tree!”

I yelled. I jumped down from the opening and stared at the man and his chainsaw. Grantfur climbed onto my back without being noticed. “My friend and I have used this tree for climbing and the base of our made-up adventures since we were four! You can’t cut this tree down!”

“Look, we gotta cut this here tree down ‘cause it’s the boss’s orders,” the man said. “I ain’t taking no orders from some kid.”

I was in panic and shock. What to do, what to do?

“I’m not moving until you leave.”

I felt courageous, but half of me felt scared. I stood defiantly in my spot.

“Then we’ll just have to move ya’ outta the way,” the meaty man said. “Tuck, Rufus, help me move these here kids.”

Two large men with prickly beards popped out of the back of the truck. I gulped but stood with importance in my position.

As the men started toward me, I yelled “We have rights! We will not give in!”

“That’s right!” Andy barked.

“You either go back to where you came from or go through us!”

The three men huddled and started whispering. At one point, I heard something about giving up. I had a small ray of hope.

“OK you stubborn little kid, we’ll make a deal,” the man said. “If you step outta our way and let us do our jobs, we’ll give you a quarter of the money we make. Deal?”

“No deal,” I said confidently.

“I’m not moving an inch.”

The man sighed. “I give up. He’s too darn stubborn. We’ll have to find another tree to cut down.”

The three brawny men went back into their truck and drove away.

Grantfur jumped off of my back and I smiled. I held out my hand.

He shook it with great thanks.

“Thank you so much!” he said with a grin large enough to fit a watermelon in it. “Both of you! I couldn’t have asked for anything more than to have met you two!

Here, take these.”

He reached into his front pocket and held something in his fist.

He dropped a golden coin into each of our hands. On it was the etching of a goblin, and at the top of the goblin’s head, curved around the border of the coin it read, King Simon.

“Thank you,” Andy and I said.

“We won’t forget you, Grantfur.”

“And I won’t soon forget you either!” he said. Then he dashed up the tree like a squirrel who hit the acorn jackpot and into the sanctuary of King Simon.

The Adventures of Super Cat:

All Journeys End Series Finale!

by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 9 Hope Mills, NC The brave hero Super Cat knew what to do. He had to contact his friends Super Snake and Mystery Mouse. Those heroes were the only hope for the world. Fluffy was gone in a blink of a second.

When Super Cat went outside, Monsters were everywhere. Super Cat had to find Super Snake and Mystery Mouse fast. When he found them, they made a plan. They created a gas that would destroy all the monsters. The heroes fought bravely. By the time they reached the main power core, Super Cat made a hole and dropped the gas inside. It worked, but Super Cat was gone. Mystery Mouse said, “The world won’t know who saved them.” Super Snake said, “They’ll know it was the Super Cat.”

PAGE

10

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

FEB/MAR 2013

Origin

by Nico Morales, Age 15 Davie, FL

I am from seashells and oranges, more specifically the annoying kind.

I am from a repetitive Asperger’s Syndrome dinner of spinach spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and 3 baby carrots.

I am from the moment I realized I was a big brother.

I am from the moment my youngest brother, whose diamond skull shattered my ankle so badly that to this day it hasn’t fully healed, crippled me on a trampoline.

I am from the mangoes that hawks, horses, and bobcats feast upon.

I am from the melodies of Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch” and Rihanna’s “Disturbia.”

I am from the Jewish Star and the Christian Cross, two Charms on the same necklace.

I am from “9:59!” and “Family Movie Night!”

I am from my Grammy, who passed away when I was 5, but lives in my heart to this day.

I am from the late Juan “Pipo” Morales, the anti-Castro rebel who bravely escaped to Florida with his family following close behind.

The people and experiences in my life are phoenixes in my cerebral nest.

When one is set ablaze, another rises from the ashes.

No matter where or when I meet my past, present, or future, I welcome them all with open arms, because I am from accepting what I am given.

“Free Birds” Watercolors

by Emma Gómez, Age 9, Margate, FL

Abuela, Abuelo

by Daniela Gómez, Age 12 Margate, FL

The day I was born, in February, Was the day you got the names I call you.

Abuela, watch me climbing up that tree, Abuelo, I love playing games with you.

Knit a sweater of love for all to wear, Go and play golf all day, for great you are.

Abuela, teach me to knit clothes to share, Abuelo, your golf club waits from quite far.

Show me how to play the game Caída, Correct my golf swing when I do it wrong.

Abuela, you call me Amor Chiquito, Abuelo, you sure can sing a good song.

This poem is yours, but one thing is due: Abuela, Abuelo, I love, love you!

Sisters

by Ellie and Emma Gómez, Ages 7 and 9 Margate, FL

They They They They They They

run and jump, help you when you are hurt, always cheer you up, help you if you need it, do what they do best: are always there for you.

“My sister Dani” Color pencils on paper, by Emma Gómez, Age 9, Margate, FL

What it means to me…

Poem

by Alizdair Sebastien Ray, Age 9 Hope Mills, NC

FREEDOM

We take for granted That we get to do Whatever we want.

We should be appreciative For what we can do.

This is what freedom Means to me.

F a m i l y

by Gabby Lusskin, Age 9 Coral Springs, FL

Family is what every person should have; Families provide loving care to children.

They always look out for each other; And they always know what’s right for each other.

“Sunset in My Yard” Watercolors on paper

by Ellie Gómez, Age 7, Margate, FL

FEB/MAR 2013

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

PAGE

11

A Bunny

Dolphin

by Teresa Gonzalez, Age 8 Coral Springs, FL

by Aidyn Little, Age 9 Fort Lauderdale, FL

Dolphins are a type of whale, Dolphins are often light gray.

Bottlenose dolphins are the most popular, Orcas are the biggest ones!

Dolphins are very friendly I would sure like to meet a dolphin.

Dogs

by Ellie and Emma Gómez, Ages 7 and 9 Margate, FL

Always so frisky, Running at your side, Saying Hi! When you come home from school.

Never losing faith in you, Loving you forever, “Best Friend” - Illustration by Kate Maier Dogs.

“Spring” A bunny hops Sand art

by Emma Gómez, Age 9 All over the meadow.

Margate, FL He goes all over the grass and flowers.

A fox found the bunny in the meadow.

When the bunny saw the fox, He sped off into the woods.

He saw his den up ahead.

He ran into his den.

The fox tried to dig it out.

But the bunny went deeper, deeper, and deeper.

The big fox got tired, tired and tired, So he gave up.

The bunny lived happily ever after.

Did You Know... … that Circle Gazette artists and illustrators: Contribute visual art, including cartoons and photography anytime? Receive assignments to illustrate stories written by other children?

Attend community events as photographers?

Poems written as a present to our sister for her 13th Birthday

The Clowny Clown Fish

by Aaron Organ, Age 14 Coral Springs, FL

The Clownfish lives in an anemone; He thinks it is a home that stings away predators.

But the anemone knows that he lives there To keep him clean.

Dolphin

by Durshan Radadia, Age 7 Coral Springs, FL

Dolphin, Dolphin How fast are you?

“I might be fast as a shark you know,” said the dolphin.

“So big as a whale.”

“Pacific Paradise” Multimedia on Canvas

by Danielle Schwartz, Age 11, Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Purple Mountain Majesties” Watercolors

By Andrew Maier, Age 5, Sunrise, FL

“Nature” Soft pastels on paper

by Teresa González, Age 8 Coral Springs, FL

PAGE

THE CIRCLE GAZETTE

12

JUNE 2012

“Very Visual” Watercolors on paper

by Danielle Schwartz, Age 11 Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Lights of the Shabbat” Oil pastels and multimedia elements

by Jillian Prever, Age 8 Davie, FL

Charcoal. Kate Maier, Age 8, Sunrise, FL Created at AutoNation Academy of Art+ Design under the direction of Natty Loth

“Powerful Tree” Charcoal on paper

By Dmari Rashad, Age 11 Pembroke Pines, FL

“Happy Bird” Soft pastels on paper

by Ellie Gómez, Age 7, Margate, FL

“Lollipop Land”Acrylics on Canvas

by Danielle Schwartz, Age 11, Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Eye”Pencil on paper

by Allen Yang, Age 11, Coral Springs, FL

“Starlight Starbright” Acrylics on Canvas

by Danielle Schwartz, Age 11 Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Butterflies” Soft pastels on paper

by Ellie Gómez, Age 7, Margate, FL