editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
July 2015 The Award Winning Blueprint
Serving the Lafayette Community Operation Swingtime
work on the school’s award-winning newspaper was meaningful. Serving as Blueprint’s co print editor-in-chief this past year, and having previously been a staff writer and news section editor, Blake was well aware of his responsibility in covering subjects both controversial and routine. But a letter written to the Acalanes principal by an angry parent accusing Blake of bias caused him to reevaluate the importance of the newspaper and his role. “That letter was when it hit me that the work we do really does make a large impact.” says Blake. Acalanes’ Blueprint, published monthly during the school year, is consistently ranked by the American Scholastic Press Association as among the top high school newspapers in the country. This year, The Dean Lesher Scholastic Journalism Awards, which celebrate student journalistic talent in Contra Costa County, awarded Blueprint its top award of First Place in “Overall Excellence,” recognizing Blueprint as the best high school newspaper in the County. In addition, Quill and Scroll, a national organization Megan Yee, Adam Blake (seated) and Sam Fraser were the that honors individual journalistic tight-knit 2014/2015 editorial team behind Acalanes High talent, recognized seven Acalanes School's award-winning student newspaper, Blueprint. Blueprint journalists. The year’s surfeit of awards can be credited to the editorial team of Blake, his co print editor-in-chief Megan Yee, and managing editor Sam Fraser, whose group dedication to excellence motivated an entire staff. “I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that we were one of the most cohesive editor groups Blueprint has had in a long time,” says Yee, who is headed to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University this fall. “We all have very different personalities, but we're all very close friends and were dedicated to making Blueprint the best it could possibly be,” says Blake, who will attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut in the fall. Though not majoring in journalism, he plans to write for The Wesleyan Argus. “There were countless times we were very close to missing deadlines or had to make a tough call at the last minute, but we were always able to keep our cool and figure things out. It’s crazy to think about the amount of hours we spent at school on the weekends or at home editing stories late into the night, but it was honestly a blast, even though that probably sounds very nerdy. We made enough memories and inside jokes to last a lifetime.” Blueprint offers comprehensive coverage of school activities, school sports, trending topics, and local and national issues. Editors and staff writers have never been afraid of tough subject matter, covering for instance this year’s District sexual education
There was a day when veterans came home to their community which had their arms wide open. Communities would organize, have a parade, and celebrate their return. In the spirit of remembering our veterans, five local Rotary clubs will honor veterans of all wars including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as those in the reserves. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free event.
Twilight Concert and Picnic Honoring our Veterans and Recent Acalanes graduate Adam Blake remembers exactly when he realized that his Saluting our Troops ~ Saturday, July 18th, 5pm
By Fran Miller
Local Postal Customer
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Lafayette Joins National Night Out on August 4th Neighbors Knowing Neighbors is Critical By Carol Yates, Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commissioner
Organize your block or neighborhood for a gathering on August 4th, and join the millions across our country who are celebrating the 32nd National Night Out (NNO). Lafayette joined the national movement last year and put ourselves on the map for this event. Your friends across the country have built their neighborhood strength and camaraderie on this annual date. Let’s join the movement. Call your friends from here to the East Coast, ask for ideas on their neighborhood gatherings, and then implement one of your own. Enlist the help of one or two of your neighbors for the organizing.
Senior Symposium
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The 7th Annual Senior Symposium “Aging by Design,” sponsored by the Lafayette Community Foundation (LCF), will be held on Saturday, August 1, from 8 AM to noon. This free event is a most informative resource fair for seniors in the Lamorinda community, with more than 40 booths sponsored by local vendors of services to seniors, as well as many nonprofit organizations that serve seniors in the community. Volume IX - Number 7 This year the event will be 3000F Danville Blvd #117 See Blueprint continued on page 18 held in downtown Lafayette, at Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Lafayette Elementary School, PRSRT STD Fax (925) 406-0547 U.S. Postage 950 Moraga Road. There is editor@yourmonthlypaper.com PAID plenty of parking in the back of Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Permit 21 the school on the black top in the The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and Lafayette, CA not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette play-area, across the street in the do Today is not responsible for the content of any of the adECRWSS vertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
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