The Buffalo News - NeXt http://www.buffalonews.com Latest stories from The Buffalo News en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:07:16 -0400 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:07:16 -0400 <![CDATA[ The annual Nichols General Information Test ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619642/1306
1. Who was the only U.S. president elected for two nonconsecutive four-year terms?



2. Of what country is Reykjavik the capital?



3. What 19th century French poet and novelist wrote the original fictional version of “Les Misérables”?

Honoré de Balzac

Gustave Flaubert

Andre Gide

Victor Hugo

Emile Zola

4. The Falkland Islands War of 1982 was fought between Great Britain and ___________________.



5. Sir Edmund Hillary, the 1953 conqueror of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain peak, has been pictured on the five-dollar bill of his native country. Name the country.



6. Pablo Casals gained worldwide musical fame as a master of what instrument?

Cello

Flute

Guitar

Piano

Violin

7. Perhaps the most popular singer, actor, radio and film personality of the 1930s and ’40s was Harry Lillis Crosby, better known by his nickname of ___________.



8. Of what state was Bill Clinton a four-term governor before he became U.S. president?



9. Which of these continents contains the largest Roman Catholic population?

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

South America

10. The father of Homer’s Odysseus and the son of Shakespeare’s Polonius have the same name. What is it?



11. Which Major League player won more batting championships (12) than any other?

Ty Cobb

Rogers Hornsby

Stan Musial

Honus Wagner

Ted Williams

12. Which U.S. president was once president of Princeton University?





13. Name the vampire who “hung out” in Transylvania and was played by Bela Lugosi in a “creepy” 1930 movie – Count _____________.



14. Name two of the three female justices now serving in the U.S. Supreme Court.



15. The protrusion of an organ or part of one through some opening in the walls of its natural cavity is called a _______________.



16. Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky and gained everlasting fame in Illinois; what third state did he reside in as a young man?



17. On what part of a military uniform is an epaulet worn?



18. In chess, an opening in which a pawn is sacrificed to gain an advantage in position is called a _________.



19. Laputa, found in Book 3 of Gulliver’s Travels is a flying ___________ peopled by “nutcase” scientists.



20. By what name was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov more familiarly known in Russian and world history?



21. Name the wife of Jacob and the mother of Benjamin and Joseph in the Old Testament.



22. The “__________ of the Opera” is a musical drama created by Andrew Lloyd Webber.



23. The rollicking and rousing tune, “Waltzing _________” is regarded by many as the national anthem of Australia.



24. “Milton! Thou shouldst be living at this hour!” and “The World is Too Much With Us, late and soon,” are the first lines of two sonnets written in 1802 by the Romantic Poet, William ____________.



25. Relying on the __________, a pitch very few have ever mastered, R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets compiled a record of 20–5 in 2012.



26. 1813 was the bicentennial of the birth of the two greatest opera composers of the 19th century (or perhaps any other), an Italian and a German: Giuseppi ___________ and Richard ____________.



27. How many other popes adopted the name of “Francis” upon ascending to the papacy?



28. In what Olympic sport did Don Schollander, Murray Rose and Mark Spitz each win multiple gold medals during the 20th century?



29. How many arms or tentacles does an octopus have?



30. Bucharest is the capital of what Eastern European country?

Albania

Hungary

Poland

Romania

31. A Northerner who sympathized with the South during the Civil War was given the label of which of these poisonous snakes?

Adder

Cobra

Copperhead

Rattlesnake

Viper

32. In what 19th century European war did the nurse Florence Nightengale gain fame?

Crimean

Franco-Prussian

Greek Independence

Napoleonic

33. “The slow, smokeless burning of decay” is the celebrated last line of “The Woodpile” by the American poet, __________ __________.





34. This year was the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s environmental classic, ________ _______, which warned against the toxic impact of chemical pesticides in nature.



35. After the Brooklyn Dodgers “broke the color line” and Jackie Robinson joined the team, they won six National League pennants in 10 years (1947–1956). How many pennants had they previously won between 1900 and 1946?



36. The Gallipoli peninsula, site of a British military disaster in World War I, is located in what country?

Egypt

Germany

Greece

Italy

Turkey

37. Haiku, a Japanese verse form consisting of three unrhymed lines, contains how many syllables?



38. Narcolepsy is a condition of frequent and uncontrollable desire for _____________.



39. For which of these famous Broadway musicals did Richard Rodgers not write the music?

“Carousel”

“The King and I”

“Oklahoma!”

“Showboat”

“The Sound of Music”

40. Elizabeth I’s immediate predecessor as English monarch was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Name her.



41. A reconfiguring of voting districts in order to achieve an advantage for a particular party is called a ________mander.



42. An angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees is an ___________ angle.



43. The French term hors d’oeuvre denotes a(n)

Appetizer

Literary masterpiece

Omelet

Show horse

44. A figure of speech in which seemingly opposite or contradictory ideas are combined (i.e. “sweet sorrow”) is called an ______________.



45. Na is the symbol for what chemical element?

Carbon

Lead

Neon

Sodium

Tin

46. With what god in Greek mythology does the Roman god Faunus correspond?



47. How many English kings were named Richard?



48. What present-day North African city stands closest to the site of ancient Carthage?

Algiers

Casablanca

Oran

Tripoli

Tusis

49. What actor plays the title role in the current film, “Lincoln”?



50. “All the News That’s Fit to Print” has long been the motto of what great American newspaper?



51. Tenerife, in the Atlantic Ocean, is the largest of the ___________ Islands.



52. Rangoon is the capital of what Asian nation?



53. The Maid of Orleans was another name for the French saint, _______ ___ __________.





54. The late piano virtuoso, Claudio Arrau, was a native of ____________________.

Brazil

Chile

Mexico

Portugal

Venezuela

55. “I feel as fit as a bull moose,” boasted ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, running as Progressive Party candidate in the election of ______________.

1920

1916

1924

1912

1908

56. “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of __________!” Fill in the final word of William Jennings Bryan’s sensational speech at the 1896 Democratic Convention.



57. What vice president (and former governor of Massachusetts) became president upon the death of Warren G. Harding?



58. What famous woman was the wife (and then the widow) of Prince Albert?



59. Where was the Boer War fought?



60. What western Plains state is the primary setting of Willa Cather’s novel, “My Antonia”?



61. Which of these 19th century U.S. presidents did not die while in office?

William H. Harrison

Zachary Taylor

Franklin Pierce

James Garfield

62. Abdullah II, king of ___________, is regarded as the most pro-American of Arab rulers.



63. “Fearful Symmetry,” the most celebrated oxymoron in English poetry occurs in the poem, “________ _______” by _________ ______________.



64. Which of these states (because of widespread oil deposits) prospered most during the recent recession?

Colorado

Louisiana

Minnesota

North Dakota

Utah

65. Which state (because of the collapse of the housing market and the construction industry) suffered most during the same recession?

California

Florida

Nevada

Tennessee

Wyoming

66. The stately waltz melody, “As Time Goes By,” played by pianist Dooley Wilson, was the theme of perhaps the most popular of all 20th century movies, 1942’s _________________.



67. For what important invention (c. 1450 A.D.) is Johannes Gutenberg responsible?



68. A toque is a kind of ___________.

Cape

Hat

Insect

Knife

Slipper

69. Which of these adjectives best denotes a SUPERCILIOUS person?

Clever

Haughty

Intuitive

Sympathetic

Wise



70. Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962) was a notable American ______________.

General

Governor

Poet

Scientist

71. What is the modern name of the Pacific Island once known as Formosa until 1945?



72. An ocelot is a species of __________________.

Barracuda

Fox

Raccoon

Weasel

Wildcat

73. Louis Agassiz was a Swiss-born, American ___________________.



74. Name the American lake, 125 miles long, which separates New York State from Vermont.



75. The Indonesian Archipelago contains dozens of islands, the most heavily populated of these is __________.

Borneo

Celebes

Java

Sumatra

Timor

76. With a lifetime total of 660 home runs, he ranks third (after Henry Aaron and Babe Ruth) among those sluggers not tainted by suspicion of steroid use.

Lou Gehrig

Reggie Jackson

Willie Mays

Mike Schmidt

77. Civet, a primary ingredient in some perfumes is derived from the “uncleanly flux” of a ____________.

Cat

Goat

Lamb

Whale

Weasel

78. “The World Turned Upside Down” was a tune reputedly inspired by the decisive American defeat of Great Britain at _____________ in the Revolutionary War.



79. Rio de Janeiro, site of the 2016 Summer Olympics is Brazil’s second largest city. Name its largest.



80. Much of the music of the great composer, Jean Sibelius, was inspired by Kalevala, the epic of his native country ________________.



81. What American humorist observed that “Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.”?



82. Hillary Clinton is the third woman to serve as secretary of state during the last 20 years. Name the other two. (half-credit available)



83. In what eastern state is Acadia National Park located?



84. Which of these Greek deities did not dwell on Mount Olympus?

Athena

Dionysius

Hermes

Hera

Zeus

85. The first New Yorker to become U.S. president served a term as Andrew Jackson’s vice president before achieving the higher office. Name him.



86. By what name was the disease tuberculosis more familiarly known in the 19th century?



87. The mastodon, an extinct mammal, most closely resembles what still existing animal?



88. Polyandry is the practice of having more than one ____________ at a time.



89. The saguaro is a species of ___________, found in southwestern regions of the U.S. and Mexico.



90. Douglas Fairbanks gained fame in the early 20th century in which of these areas?

Athletics

Diplomacy

Journalism

Movies

Warfare

91. Perhaps the most celebrated and beloved musical work associated with the Christmas season is “Messiah.” Name the 18th century composer.

Bach

Beethoven

Handel

Haydn

Mozart

92. Meyer Wolfsheim, “The man who fixed the World Series of 1919” is a secondary character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the 1920’s. Name the novel.



93. Of what Middle Eastern country is Riyadh the capital?



94. Ferdinand de Lesseps, a 19th century French engineer, planned and promoted what gigantic construction project?



95. A panegyric is a speech consisting of high or hyperbolic _________.



96. One who hates or distrusts all people is called a mis___________.



90. Moby Dick, the great white whale hunted down by the maniacal Captain Ahab, belongs to what category of whale?

Blue

Fin-Back

Killer

“Pudding Headed”

Sperm

98. The scion of one of America’s most famous families, John D. _____________ IV, has just resigned after four terms as U.S. senator from West Virginia.



99. What was the surname of the famous late 19th and early 20th century Western American showman, Buffalo Bill?



100. In a long-running one-woman show, called “The Belle of Amherst,” the great American actress, Julie Harris, portrayed the great American poet ___________ ______________. ]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:57:51 -0400 <![CDATA[ Clarence students to participate in World Dwarf Games ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619758/1306
Patrick was born with dwarfism, which is a genetic condition that comes in hundreds of forms. Yet, Patrick doesn’t let anything hold him back. Not only does he frequently participate in dwarf sporting events, he also plays many sports with average-sized kids his age.

Although Patrick, a student at Casey Middle School, has shown he can compete with anybody, he says it’s “fun” to play with people his height. He has participated in soccer, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, badminton and track and field. Some events require slight variations to accommodate the height difference, but mostly, all the games are played by the same rules as when being played by people without dwarfism.

Patrick and his family became involved with the World Dwarf Games when Patrick was 5 years old through the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA), which “provides competition for people with dwarfism.” They discovered the DAAA through a separate group called Little People of America, an organization that “provides a social network for little people and [their parents] to support each other [and share] knowledge.”

Neal Jones said they found Little People of America through a “chance encounter with a child with dwarfism.” Little People of America has many local groups, but the nearest one to this area is in Syracuse.

The DAAA has provided opportunities for Patrick to participate in the annual National Dwarf Games on three separate occasions in Brooklyn, Nashville, Tenn., and Anaheim, Calif., but this will be the first World Dwarf Games for Patrick, as he was too young the last time this quadrennial event took place. Patrick has won several medals in the national events.

The World Dwarf Games will include participants from approximately 50 countries, according to Jones.

Patrick said going to events like this gives him an opportunity to see some of his friends.

“This is our first World Games,” said Maria Jones, “so we’re not 100 percent sure how it’s going to go.”

Patrick doesn’t train for these events in terms of a strict regimen, but he does participate in dwarf athletic competitions frequently, as well as participating in non-dwarf sports leagues. One of the dwarf athletic events he competes in is the annual Victory Games (formally known as the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged), which consists of various track and field events as well as swimming.

Patrick and his family do, however, expect him to be one of the better players this summer in the new hockey event, as Patrick has spent the past year playing with the Buffalo Warriors In-line Hockey League.

“For the first time the DAAA has hockey,” said Jones. “And training with the Warriors is definitely going to make him one of the better players there.”

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get money for events like these, both for participants and for the host organization.

“You … usually have to find people with some type of connection to a person with dwarfism,” Jones said.

Maria Jones added that because dwarfism isn’t that prevalent, it’s not a cause that many people feel the need to give to.

The DAAA encourages personal fundraising, said Maria Jones, adding, “money is tight all around.”

The Joneses did attempt to have a fundraiser for Patrick earlier in the year, but it only saw limited success.

The Joneses made sure to stress one thing. People should not refer to Patrick as a “dwarf” or a “midget,” but instead, just call him Patrick. After all, Patrick is just like any other kid and he wants to be an FBI agent when he grows up. Patrick said he rarely gets made fun of because of his condition, but his parents said, “We hear kids say things.”

“We get more upset than [Patrick] does,” said Maria Jones. “We try not to get overly upset, because it upsets him … he’s like, ‘Don’t worry about it, who cares what they say? ... It’s just words.’ ”

They did say, however, the kids Patrick goes to school with “are wonderful to him.”

Neal Jones emphasized that “midget” generally has a negative connotation, so the term “dwarf” should be used if necessary, although opinions can vary among individuals. Patrick’s mother said she doesn’t “like the word dwarf,” but Patrick said he’s “fine” with it.

The Joneses had a learning curve when it came to dwarfism, but they will never know what it’s like for Patrick.

“I can’t tell him what he’s going to experience,” said his dad, who is taller than 6 feet.

The Joneses said that when it comes to Patrick and dwarfs in general, people should know that they can do anything anyone else can do. They described Patrick as “small but mighty.”

“People with dwarfism are people,” said Neal Jones.

Patrick plans to continue participating in the Dwarf Games for years to come. He is also a candidate for a National Geographic series on excellence for people with dwarfism.

Justin Smith is a senior at Williamsville North High School. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:47:53 -0400 By Justin Smith / NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Answers to the Nichols quiz ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619752/1306
2. Iceland

3. Victor Hugo

4. Argentina

5. New Zealand

6. Cello

7. Bing

8. Arkansas

9. South America

10. Laertes

11. Ty Cobb

12. Woodrow Wilson

13. Dracula

14. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor

15. Hernia or Rupture

16. Indiana

17. Shoulder

18. Gambit

19. Island

20. Lenin

21. Rachel

22. Phantom

23. Matilda

24. Wordsworth

25. Knuckleball

26. Verdi and Wagner

27. None

28. Swimming

29. 8

30. Romania

31. Copperhead

32. Crimean

33. Robert Frost

34. Silent Spring

35. 3

36. Turkey

37. 17

38. Sleep

39. Showboat

40. Mary I (Tudor)

41. Gerry

42. Obtuse

43. Appetizer

44. Oxymoron

45. Sodium

46. Pan

47. 3

48. Tunis

49. Daniel Day-Lewis

50. The New York Times

51. Canary

52. Myanmar (or Burma)

53. Joan of Arc

54. Chile

55. 1912

56. Gold

57. Calvin Coolidge

58. Great Britain’s Queen Victoria

59. South Africa

60. Nebraska

61. Franklin Pierce

62. Jordan

63. “The Tyger” by William Blake

64. North Dakota

65. Nevada

66. “Casablanca”

67. Printing from movable type

68. Hat

69. Haughty

70. Poet

71. Taiwan

72. Wildcat

73. Scientist or Naturalist

74. Champlain

75. Java

76. Willie Mays

77. Cat

78. Yorktown

79. São Paulo

80. Finland

81. Mark Twain

82. Madeline Albright, Condoleeza Rice

83. Maine

84. Dionysius

85. Martin Van Buren

86. Consumption

87. Elephant

88. Husband

89. Cactus

90. Movies

91. Handel

92. “The Great Gatsby”

93. Saudi Arabia

94. The Suez Canal

95. Praise

96. -anthrope

97. Sperm

98. Rockefeller

99. Cody

100. Emily Dickinson ]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:57:31 -0400 <![CDATA[ Commentary: Make a difference this summer ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619753/1306
Inspiring young adults to have a positive impact on the world, the Summer Institute is designed for students who are interested in politics, history, international relations or the social sciences. Students will have the opportunity to spend six days meeting present day heroes, not to mention meeting other teens from all over Western New York. Beginning with a study of the Holocaust, students will then learn about current human rights situations around the world.

“I came into this honestly knowing very little,” one student said. “But the knowledge I received changed me. I am different due to this experience. I may not have been loud and voiced my emotions, but honestly I could not have spent my week in a better way.”

The week also includes field trips and hands-on demonstrations.

The focus of this year’s institute is “Resistance: Our Time is Now.” Speakers such as Shabana Basij- Rasikh (a young woman promoting gender equality in Afghanistan), Allida Black (human rights expert and author), Jamel Bettaieb (Arab Spring Facebook activist), David Crane, Carl Wilkens, Holocaust survivor Joe Diamond and many other leaders will be sharing their stories.

The Summer Institute is a lot more than a way to spend six days of summer – it is about changing the way we see the world and our place in it. Go to www.summerinstituteofbuffalo.org to find out more.

Rainah Umlauf is a senior at Springville-Griffith Institute. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:48:21 -0400 By Rainah Umlauf

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Commentary: Guns should be regulated, not restricted ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619754/1306
Our Bill of Rights states that we have the right to bear arms. But under what circumstances did our forefathers condone that? Who has the right to own firearms exactly? Right-minded civilians, of course, but not every gun salesman does a customer evaluation to see if a person is mentally ill or a felon. Our government continues to debate the legality of having these weapons.

But wouldn’t that be unconstitutional?

The U.S. government has already violated the Constitution enough with its monitoring and restricting our freedoms.

But should guns be outlawed?

I say no. Instead, consumers should be evaluated for mental illness and/or felony charges against them before being allowed to purchase guns and ammunition.

In 2008, President Obama stated during his presidential campaign in Lebanon, Va.: “When you all go home and you’re talking to your buddies and you say, ah ‘He wants to take my gun away.’ You’ve heard it here; I’m on television so everybody knows it. I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe in people’s lawful right to bear arms. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won’t take your handgun away.”

Taking guns away is not the answer, but knowing who has the guns is.

Alexis Segarra is a junior at Frederick Law Olmsted School No. 156. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:48:18 -0400 By Alexis Segarra

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ News & Notes ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619755/1306
• Ellen E. Lutnick of Grand Island, Grand Island Senior High School

• Eileen R. Bennett of Clarence Center, Clarence High School

• Jessica E. Addesa of Depew, Depew High School

• Kimberly M. Potfora of Tonawanda, Kenmore East Senior High School

• Jacob W. Caldwell of Frewsburg, Frewsburg Central School

• Timothy L. Dubill of Hamburg, Hamburg High School

• James A. Corra of Clarence, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute

• Lauren E. Wager of Lockport, Lockport High School

• Pramod M. Rao of Almond, Alfred-Almond High School

• Natalia A. Alexandridi of Williamsville, Williamsville North High School.Kala Esposito, a senior at Pioneer High School, won Best of Show at the 2013 Helen P. Kelley Memorial Art Show of the Western New York Federation of Women’s Clubs held at the Holland Community Center. Kala’s winning entry was in ceramics and titled “Perforation Series #2.”

Other winners were Sam Schagel, grade 11, Pioneer, first place, ceramics, “Milkweed”; Gina Christopher, grade 11, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, first place, photography, “Contemporary Bubbles”; Michael Edington, grade 11, Gowanda, first place, watercolor, “Sea Turtle”; and Hadowas Barner, grade 12, first place, original craftwork, “Deep Sea.”

From Iroquois Central School: Camille Wutz, grade 11, first place, charcoal, “Stepping Out”; Justine Krzemien, first place, acrylic, “Red Rocks”; Paige Goerke, grade 12, first place, pastel, “Inner Reflections”; and Harley Kilian, grade 11, first place, pencil, “Me, Myself and I.”

Also, Ruth Robinson, grade 11, Attica Central School, first place, woodworking, “Dualism”; Keely Foster, grade nine, Medina, first place, miscellaneous for “Spider Love”; Ribiwna Mondragon, grade 10, Medina, first place, jewelry, “Untitled”; and Alex Marklel, grade 10, Medina, first place, oil, “In the Beginning.”The Houghton Academy Math League are the 2013 middle school champions. Under coach Keith Wiley, the team worked to compete and beat City Honors, which has held the trophy for more than five years. The team members are Lamont Senior, Zahoor Ali, Olivia Kaetzel, Mikaila Smith, Ariana Jones, Peter Newsham, Rico Smalls and Rafeek Thomas. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:48:16 -0400 <![CDATA[ Hype: What’s happening for teens ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619756/1306 MOVIES: Opening Friday, “Man of Steel” (PG-13), “20 Feet From Stardom” (PG-13).

CONCERTS: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, 5 p.m. today, Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf.

Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson, 6 p.m. Friday, Outer Harbor concert site, 325 Fuhrmann Blvd.

WYRK Taste of Country featuring Darius Rucker and guest Sheryl Crow with Rodney Atkins, Gloriana and Jana Kramer, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Coca-Cola Field, 275 Washington St.

Johnny Juarez’s Better Tour with Lina Panzica and the Rock Zone House Band, 8 p.m. Friday, Tralf, 622 Main St.

Marianas Trench with Air Dubai, 6 p.m. Saturday, Artpark, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston.

Starry Night in the Garden featuring Sara Bareilles with Youngblood Hawke and Ginny Blackmore, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 S. Park Ave.

MGMT, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston.

West of the Mark, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Buffalo River Fest Park, 249 Ohio St.

Lower, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Tralf, 622 Main St.“The Testing” by Joelle Charbonneau; Houghton Mifflin, 325 pages, $17.99. Ages 12 and up.

Fans of “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” and “Legend”: This one’s for you. On an Earth laid waste by the Seven Stages War, humans in scattered outposts are struggling to rebuild. The one chance for a college education and a role in future leadership lies with the Testing, an opportunity given to only a few through a highly secretive process. Cia Vale, 17, is thrilled to be chosen as a candidate for the Testing until her father warns her: Trust no one. Although candidates’ minds are wiped clean of any memories afterward, Cia’s father remembers enough to put her on her guard. She will need every talent, every aptitude for science and mechanics, every instinct for survival before the Testing is through. But what are the judges looking for? The will to survive, a dedication to the greater good or the willingness to do anything to eliminate the competition? This debut author, who trained as an opera singer, offers a thrilling dystopian novel, with nonstop action and a hint of romance. The few pages included at the end of the book of the next installment, titled “Independent Study,” whet the appetite for what comes next, in the fall.

– Jean Westmoore“He’s dashing with just a hint of danger.”

– Amy Adams, on her “Man of Steel” co-star Henry Cavill, to Details magazine ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:01:56 -0400 <![CDATA[ Kidbits: For the younger set ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619757/1306 “Twerp” by Mark Goldblatt; Random House Books for Young Readers, 228 pages, $16.99 Ages 9 to 12.

There’s a new awareness of bullying and the lasting harm it can do, and this fascinating book examines bullying through the mind of a bully who doesn’t really believe he IS a bully. Sixth-grader Julian Twerski has been suspended from school for a week, and when he returns, his English teacher offers him a deal: He can skip the class assignment of writing a report about Shakespeare and instead keep a journal and write about the incident that got him and his friends suspended from school.

Julian offers his account of what it’s like to be in sixth grade, worried sick he is no longer the fastest runner in school, the mess he gets himself into writing a love letter for his goofball friend Lonnie and the homemade fireworks that burn his friend’s eyebrows right off his face. This all sets the stage for the final confession of the ugly incident involving a defenseless neighbor and Julian’s growing awareness of the wrongness of the whole affair. This book was inspired by the author’s own childhood growing up in Queens in the 1960s.

– Jean WestmooreCelebrate Dad from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda. The Father’s Day event will feature an old-fashioned family concert at 1:30 p.m., crafts, activities and rides on the carousel. Cost is $3-$6. For more information, call 693-1885 or visit www.carrouselmuseum.org.Deep in the ocean, some bioluminescent fish turn on the lights to attract their next meal. Other animals use light to blind predators that try to stalk and eat them. Some species create light to blend in with their surroundings. Scientists really don’t know why some animals give off their own light. Some worms spit out glowing ooze, although no one can figure out why. It’s a mystery why tiny plankton glow when disturbed by storms, waves and passing boats.

– Time for Kids: Big Book of Why ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:47:56 -0400 <![CDATA[ Commentary: Adopt a pet from a rescue shelter ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130613/LIFE04/130619759/1306
So why adopt a pet rather than buy that cute little face in the pet store window or from a breeder found in the classified ads? There are many reasons.

First, there are already so many homeless, unwanted pets.

Peggy Kelley-Albers, of Open Arms Rescue in Akron, said, “It’s good to get a dog from a shelter because many pet store puppies come from puppy mills or irresponsible breeders.”

Pets land in shelters and rescue groups through no fault of their own. They are dumped, abused, get too expensive, too big, take too much time or just aren’t that cute little puppy any more.

Something else potential pet owners should consider is that animals from most shelters come spayed/neutered, immunized and checked by a veterinarian for any medical issues. Some shelters charge a small adoption fee to help cover these costs.

Dogs have a special place in my heart. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood had to do with my family’s dogs, our “pound puppies” as we fondly refer to them. From the time when I was very young I would “read” books to my dog Kessler and feed him Cheerios. He would sit with me for hours. Kessler came from the Erie County SPCA. My parents took a chance on a senior dog and we were always amazed at his calm, laid-back nature. My dog Abby was with me for most of my life. We got her when I was 3. She was with me from my first day of kindergarten to my first day of high school. We played in the sprinkler, played zoo and house. We were devastated when she suddenly became ill. It was heartbreaking to have to say goodbye to my lifelong pal. It was a long time before we could even begin to look for another dog. Our newest addition to the family is Maddie, who came from Open Arms Rescue. She is always there to brighten even the worst days. People stop me to tell me what a happy dog she is when we take walks. When her tail wags, her whole backside turns in circles. It is hard to believe anyone could give up such a kind-hearted, sweet dog.

If you are looking to add a new member to your family, you’ve recently lost a pet or are trying to fill an empty hole in your life, consider the adoption option.

“For every animal we save, there are just as many that we can’t save,” said Kelley-Albers.

Remember, you can also find more than dogs and cats to adopt. There are rescue organizations the can help you adopt barnyard animals like sheep and pigs, small house pets like gerbils and guinea pigs, and reptiles like snakes, turtles/tortoises and even iguanas. Visit www.petfinder.com or call some of the area shelters.

Can’t adopt a pet? There are many other ways to help.

• Donate to a local animal shelter; monetary donations are always needed, but they take food, toys, crates, collars, leashes, bowls and blankets. These donations can be new or gently used.

• Volunteer to provide a foster home. “The more fosters we have, the more dogs we can take out of shelters and find homes for,” Kelley-Albers said.

• Volunteer to help at one of the many of adoption events in your area. These events can get busy, and the organizers need as much help as they can get.

• Following Open Arms Rescue on Facebook and sharing its posts can help spread information about adoptable pets, lost pets and events, and can help educate others.

To contact Open Arms Rescue, email oarwny@gmail or visit www.oarwny.org.

Emma Retzlaff is a freshman at Alden High School. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:47:49 -0400 By Emma Retzlaff

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Countdown to College By Lee Bierer, McClatchy Newspapers Securing solid letters of recommendation ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130612/LIFE04/130619744/1306
There are three types:

1. The counselor recommendation is prepared by a student’s guidance counselor and is a basic component of every college application.

2. The teacher recommendation is typically requested from a core subject teacher, preferably from the student’s junior year.

3. The recommendation from a noncore subject teacher (art, music, etc.), coach, club adviser or employer.

The teacher recommendation carries the most weight. Deciding whom to ask, how to ask and when to ask can definitely have an impact.

What’s the purpose of the letter of recommendation? A strong one will offer the admissions officer a good sense of a student’s personality, beyond the letter grade received in their class. So it’s important to think about which teacher knows the student best. Simply because the student received an “A” in a class is not a sufficient reason. Some of the best letters are from teachers who witnessed a student struggling with course material, persevering and demonstrating commitment, drive and other qualities that a college wants to see.

If a college requests two letters of recommendation, then make sure that each letter reflects a different sphere of the student’s life. In other words, don’t ask both chemistry and physics teachers. A student needs to demonstrate strengths as well as varied interests.

The best thing a student can do besides asking early is to provide the recommender with information about extracurricular activities, any honors, scholarships or awards, employment, what the student has done over their summers and the student’s commitment to community service.

Unfortunately, students frequently wait until right before the applications are due to ask, and many teachers, especially the most popular ones, are already booked up. They apologize, but missing out on having your favorite teacher write your letter of recommendation will only make the college application process more stressful. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:01:57 -0400 <![CDATA[ 2013 News Editorial Cartoon Contest Winners ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609551/1306
“This year’s contest was a big success,” Zyglis said. “The most popular topics seemed to be North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, gun control and the prevalence of texting and social media. Perennial issues such as the Peace Bridge and our woebegone sports teams maintained their usual presence among the entries.

“On a positive note for Buffalo, this marked the first year with no waterfront-themed cartoons,” he added. “I was particularly impressed by many students’ ability to critically analyze dry complicated issues like the IDA reform and Social Security. They really did their homework.”

A reception to honor the winners will be held tonight at the Central Library, where the winning cartoons will remain on display.

On the Web: To view all the winning cartoons, visit www.galleries.buffalonews.comSecond Place: Julia Beck, Nardin Academy

Third Place: Angela Mangione, Mill Middle School

Honorable Mention: Scott Buchnowski, Mill Middle School

Division II, Grades 6-8

H.O. Brumsted Elementary School (Holland)



Second Place: Miranda Roberson, Mill Middle School

Third Place: Nick Filipowicz, Ambrose Catholic Academy

Honorable Mention: Julianna Passarelli, Veronica E. Connor Middle School (Grand Island)

Second Place: Danny Colucci, Amherst High School

Third Place: Matt Bartone, Frontier High School

Honorable Mention: Jack Nelson, Amherst High School

Second Place: Jarrett Willett, Amherst High School

Third Place: Makenna Weaver, Mill Middle School

Honorable Mention: Grace Dietrich, Nardin Academy ]]> Thu, 6 Jun 2013 06:49:47 -0400 <![CDATA[ Kidbits: For the younger set ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609544/1306 “Sugar” by Jewell Parker Rhodes; Little Brown, $16.99. 272 pages. Ages 8 to 12.

Sugar is a 10-year-old freed slave living on a sugar plantation in Louisiana five years after the Civil War and there’s nothing she hates more than sugar. Her mother died two years earlier. Her only friend, Lizzie, has gone North with her family. And the plantation owner doesn’t like his 10-year-old son Billy to be hanging around with Sugar.

The sugar workers are free now, but they are still living in their slave huts and still cutting their hands and breaking their backs working in the cane fields. Sugar, too, works in the cane fields. The younger freed slaves have gone North; only the older ones – and Sugar – are left. So the plantation owner brings workers from China to help with the harvest. Will these hard-working, younger newcomers steal the jobs? This is a fascinating look at a little-known fact of U.S. history, that plantation owners brought in workers from China. Parker Rhodes is author of Coretta Scott Honor Book, “Ninth Ward.”

– Jean WestmooreVisit the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, for its “Path Through History” weekend featuring exhibits and wood carvers at work. Activities will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $3-$6. For information, call 693-1885 or visit www.carrouselmuseum.org.If you were to dive to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world’s oceans located in the western Pacific, you would be squished like a bug. The pressure at the trench’s deepest point is 8 tons (7,252 kg) per square inch.

– Time for Kids: Big Book of Why ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:47:09 -0400 <![CDATA[ Diversity Prom will welcome LGBT teens ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609546/1306
Each spring, high schoolers across Western New York delight in freshly pressed tuxedos and ball gowns, sweet-smelling corsages and boutonnieres, delicious buffet dinners and loud music blasting from the DJ booth. And best of all, each boy is guaranteed several slow dances with his female date.

But what about the kids who don’t fit the typical prom mold? What happens if the boy wants to take another boy? Or a girl wants to go with another girl, clad in a tuxedo? Although many schools are accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples during prom events, prom can still be an uncomfortable, lonely or anxiety-ridden event for “out” couples, as my friends and I have experienced firsthand. Furthermore, even if LGBT teens are allowed to attend their schools’ proms with same-sex dates, these couples and even their allies are still sometimes subject to bullying and stereotyping, which frequently escapes chaperones’ notice.

All that is about to change.

LGBT teenagers will be able to attend prom without any fear of harassment or discrimination this year. On Friday, Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York (GLYS) will host what is believed to be the area’s first LGBT-friendly prom from 7 to 11 p.m.

Marvin Henchbarger, executive director of GLYS, is thrilled to be hosting a “safe yet fun” LGBT event.

“At our Diversity Prom, you can come and relax,”Henchbarger said. “You don’t have to worry about who you are. We know that not every LGBT student has the luxury of being out and feeling safe.”

Aside from one minor off-color comment at last year’s senior prom, I felt welcomed by my student body once I arrived at the event.

Still, as an LGBT student, I have sometimes felt anxious about attending school events with same-sex dates.

Williamsville North student Alexa Gardner shares my sentiment.

“I’m excited to not feel afraid of being bullied at the Diversity Prom,” she said. “Plus, I’ll get to meet lots of LGBT teens in Western New York.”

I am excited about attending GLYS’ prom because this time the situation will be radically different. I will no longer be the awkward minority.

In fact, GLYS has gone to great lengths to protect its promgoers. Since rabble-rousers armed with bullhorns and offensive signs have invaded LGBT Pride events in the past, GLYS has hired an LGBT-friendly security team to monitor the dance and ensure everyone’s safety. Not only is the security team LGBT-friendly, but the team is comprised of diverse workers who have screened similar events in the past.

Aside from the extensive security team, the Diversity Prom, which will take place at Asbury Hall, will still encompass the best parts of typical proms: food and fun. For only $10 at the door, students ages 14-19 will be able to enjoy food, dancing and dressing up. A photo booth also will be set up for guests.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this event,” Henchbarger said. She is extremely grateful for the community’s support.

And on behalf of LGBT teens all over Western New York, so am I.

...

For more information about the Diversity Prom, visit www.glyswny.org or call 855-0221.

Cari Hurley is a junior at Williamsville North High School. ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:46:45 -0400 By Cari Hurley

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Commentary: City Honors proud to host Babel series ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609547/1306
The intimacy of this setting, though, pales in comparison to that with which some of these writers have interacted with students at City Honors. Over the course of the last few years, it has been a distinct pleasure and privilege for students at City Honors to play host to some of these worldly writers in our school building.

In light of the special appreciation Just Buffalo Literary Center and Babel have displayed for the City Honors community, students and faculty participated in a dedication ceremony last month in which we attempted to reciprocate. In the school’s library, a shelf has been dedicated in the name of the Babel series and the people who make it possible.

In addition to the symbolic gesture of gratitude, the new bookshelf will serve another purpose. City Honors students will now find it easier than ever to access the books that are chosen as part of the Babel series.

The partnership with Just Buffalo and Babel is a partnership that City Honors values deeply and hopes to keep for many years to come. I encourage the rest of the Western New York community, young and old the same, to engage in the lecture series at every opportunity available.

Joseph Nathanson is a junior at City Honors. ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:46:35 -0400 By Joseph Nathanson

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ A community theater for kids of all ages ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609548/1306
Anyone can get involved with this community theater group. Kids as young as 2 and adults in their 60s have performed in In Good Company’s musicals, which are presented at the David Miller Bandshell in the City of Tonawanda.

The ultimate goal of the company is to help kids gain confidence through theater.

Melissa Durfey, director and president of the board of directors, said she and her siblings were involved with theater while growing up, but lost interest in their teens.

“Then once we all had kids we decided to start up a new community theater group because we wanted our kids to have the same experience we did growing up,” Durfey said. “When we did our very first musical, we had 35 people in the show. Then the next year we had more than 100 people audition because everyone came back and brought their friends and family. One of the things that makes our company special is that it is free and everyone that auditions gets a part in the show.”

Parents and children alike spend their summers with In Good Company Productions.

“In Good Company is great because I get to see my friends that I don’t usually see all year except during the summer,” says Grace Firzak, a sixth-grader at Edward Town Middle School. “I would recommend it to everyone because it’s a great way to make friends, gain confidence, and it gives you something productive to do over summer.”

“The Disney endorsement is huge for us,” said volunteer Deborah Wanecski. “A lot of kids have gone on to study theater in college or at least to enjoy it for the rest of their lives after they did In Good Company. This money is really going to help us change even more lives.”

This summer, In Good Company Productions will be performing “Back to the ’80s.”

Shannon Stienmiller, a parent of a child in In Good Company, said, “My son has learned confidence, family values and how to work with others while having fun!”

For audition and show dates, visit www.ingoodcompanyproductions.net.

Olivia Tober is a freshman at Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School. ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:46:32 -0400 By Olivia Tober

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ News & Notes ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609549/1306
The top fundraising school was Clarence High School, which raised a total of $4,648.88. In second place was Tonawanda High School, with a total of $2,778.25.The Guitar Factory will host Summer Jam 2013 from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Tralf, 622 Main St. The event, which features music students ages 8 to 18, raises funds for local music education and other local charities. Tickets are $8 presale, $10 at the door. For information, call 677-0908.The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild will hold auditions for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Little Women” at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 530 Ellicott Creek Road, Tonawanda. Bring a song; an accompanist will be provided. For more information, call 284-6358 or visit www.niagaratheatre.com.An evening astronomy program will be held beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday at Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg. Telescopes will be available. Cost is $3. For information, call 627-4560 or visit www.penndixie.org.The Buffalo History Museum, Elmwood Avenue and Nottingham Terrace, will hold its Family History Club from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The meeting will include crafts, tours and a scavenger hunt. This week’s theme is “The Pan Am: Buffalo in 1901.” Cost is $5-$10 for children; free for adults. For more information, call 873-9644, Ext. 0, or visit www.buffalohistory.org.Lancaster native Kate Karyus Quinn will be at B Is For Books, 6562 E. Quaker St., Orchard Park, to launch her new novel, “Another Little Piece.” The event will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, visit katekaryusquinn.com.Area theater students were recently honored by the Rochester Broadway Theater League. Tom Follman from Lyndonville Central School District received an award for best supporting actor for his role in “Anything Goes.” Also from Lyndonville, Joy Follman received special recognition and Tip of the Hat awards. The production, a collaboration between Lyndonville and Medina schools, also received outstanding singing ensemble and outstanding pit orchestra awards.

Awards were also given to Medina students Madison Holland (rising star), Joe Mangiola (Tip of the Hat) and Regan Stacey (best supporting actress, Tip of the Hat for her choregraphy). For a full list of awards, visit www.rbtl.org/award-recipients.aspx. ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:46:30 -0400 <![CDATA[ Wrestle-mania comes to Canisius ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/LIFE04/130609550/1306
“I had no idea that it would turn into anything productive; we just thought that it was funny at the time,” Michael said.

He did know that students found the idea of two of their teachers arm-wrestling each other very amusing. To test the waters, he made a Facebook group and used the polling feature to run a mini-tournament. There was a bracket for the women’s and men’s divisions, and the outcomes were based purely on student opinion. The teacher who received more votes in a given match would advance to the next imaginary round. He was shocked by how much traffic the tournament page received; students were very passionate about which teachers would win these make-believe bouts.

It seemed like Michael wasn’t the only one who had entertained this idea before. In fact, the test run received so much attention that he realized there was an opportunity for him to turn it into something more, something that could even help others.

“I was a patient at BryLin hospital over the summer for a few weeks, and I knew that they were really in need of funds,” Michael said.

BryLin is on Delaware Avenue, a minute or so away from Canisius High School. Michael thought that perhaps he could spin the arm-wrestling idea to help out the hospital. He went to the administration at Canisius to see if he could turn his imaginary arm-wrestling tournament into a reality in order to raise money for the hospital. In keeping with Canisius High School’s motto of “Men For Others,” he was given the green light to do what he could to implement his idea and raise money.

“Although the administration was initially hesitant to support such a unique idea, they were very responsive once I explained my story to them,” Michael said.

But first, he needed to get as many teachers on board as he could for the tournament. Michael and his friends spoke with all of the faculty and staff at Canisius, explaining what they were doing and asking them to participate. One of them was Dave Isbrandt, a guidance counselor at Canisius who helped to referee the tournament.

“Michael caught me off guard when he asked me, yet at the same time I smiled and thought ‘what a neat and creative thing to do,’ ” Isbrandt said.

“I thought it was an amazing undertaking for a student to promote and get the entire community behind such a good cause,” Isbrandt added. “It really became a collective effort at Canisius.”

Michael received many strange looks and was often asked if he was joking, but for the most part the teachers were very receptive to the idea and willing to compete for the cause.

“Over 60 faculty and staff members participated or helped organize the tournament,” Michael said. “Mr. [Thomas] Coppola, our director of student activities, was especially helpful,” Michael said.

They began to advertise the event as the “Brawl for Brylin.” The rules of the tournament were simple: Two teachers would meet in the guidance office to face off in a best-of-three arm-wrestling match. To raise money for the hospital, students were charged an admission fee to view the matches. Inevitably, the room was jampacked, standing-room only, with students and administrators craning their necks to see the two teachers grapple over a desk.

“During one of the matches, there wasn’t even room for everyone in the office,” Michael said.

Students were also able to place bets on the teachers they thought were most likely to win, raising more money and competing for prizes in the process.

Over the course of a month and a half, Michael organized and facilitated matches for all of the faculty and staff involved in the tournament. Between the men’s and women’s brackets, there was a lot of arm-wrestling that needed to be done around many complicated schedules.

The matches were often amusing, and the students found it interesting to watching teachers square off in a purely physical and non-academic environment.

“It was unusual to see them in that kind of setting because you never think of them competing against one another or doing anything athletic,” said Josh Veronica, a junior at Canisius.

A crowd of cheering students topped off the bizarre spectacles that went on in the guidance office.

“I was really amazed by the incredible student support for the tournament,” Michael said. “All the kids were really excited to see the teachers out of their element, competing against each other.”

Even students who didn’t attend the matches were interested to view videos of the particularly competitive matches.

The tournament culminated in a championship event, which was held in the auditorium to accommodate more students.

In the end, the Brawl for BryLin raised about $2,500 for the hospital.

Staci Shick, a math teacher at Canisius who competed in the tournament, said, “In the 11 years that I have been at Canisius High School, this was the first arm-wrestling tournament, and I thought it was a very creative idea. I liked that it was original.”

Michael was pleased with how smoothly the tournament ran, and even more excited with how much money it was able to raise.

“Ultimately, I couldn’t have been happier with the tournament,” he said. “There were some times when organizing got difficult, but if some of the money raised buys a game or a new TV or anything that makes a child’s time in the hospital a little more bearable, then it will all have been worth it.”

Will Deuschle is a junior at Canisius High School. ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:46:27 -0400 By Will Deuschle / NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ Hype: What’s happening for teens ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130605/LIFE04/130609545/1306 MOVIES: Opening Friday, “Much Ado About Nothing” (PG-13); “Tiger Eyes” (PG-13); coming June 14, “Man of Steel” (PG-13).

CONCERTS: Thursday at Canalside Concert Series with the Hold Steady and Hollerado, 5 p.m. today, Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf.

This is Fiction with the Composure, the Odd Times and Dan Erickson, 8 p.m. Friday, Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave.

Royal Teeth with American Authors, 8 p.m. Friday, Tralf, 622 Main St.

B.B. King, 7 p.m. Saturday, Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center, 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd., Salamanca.

Charlie Thomas’ Drifters, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.

Cornerstone’s Niagara River Rocks Concert Series with Primus, 5 p.m. Sunday, Gratwick Riverside Park, River Road, North Tonawanda.

Mates of State, 8 p.m. Monday, Tralf, 622 Main St.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston.

Adolescents with DJ set by Ruben and the Chosen Ones, 10 p.m. Tuesday, Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave.

Crash Cadillac, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Buffalo River Fest Park, 249 Ohio St.

Portugal, the Man with Skaters, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Town Ballroom, 681 Main St.

Gov’t Mule, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston.

EXHIBIT: “Body Worlds Vital,” Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway.Have you been torn over whether to get a tattoo?

Poppy Drops offers Lady-Like Tattoos for $6.95. They are temporary so you can try them out and see if a tattoo is really for you.

For more information, or to order, visit www.PoppyDrops.com.“Obviously, for gay Scouts like me, this vote is life-changing.”

– 16-year-old Pascal Tessier, after local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time ]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2013 16:47:06 -0400 <![CDATA[ Choosing a different path ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130530/LIFE04/130539991/1306 Dale Dersam of Williamsville was 18 years old when he decided to enlist in the Army in 1966.

Dersam, who was a Spec 4 or E4 soldier, went to Vietnam seven months into his Army career, after spending four months in Germany.

“I spent a year in Vietnam,” Dersam said. “Vietnam was really different. Really, really different. People who live in this country have no clue how good they’ve got it. People living in mud huts, no electricity, no running water. That’s their existence. Unbelievable. And bombs going off everywhere, and it’s just unbelievable.”

That was the experience of a young man in the Vietnam War, back when rebelliousness at home raged through college campuses across the nation, when a single country could consume itself with the hatred of war, but when the veterans themselves were scarcely acknowledged at all. That was when local music and commercials served as the only glue to hold a soldier’s sense of culture together.

“Everybody had reel-to-reel tape decks,” Dersam said. “I guess they used to use them in the newsroom when they’d splice the tapes together, and they’d write to your hometown radio stations and they’d send you an hourlong show with all the music.” Dersam welled up with tears at the memories. “That was the way you stayed connected.”

It isn’t hard to see that the Armed Forces have changed a good deal since then, but it has always been a solid organization of determination and passion. With strong moral ethics and diverse opportunities, the U.S. military has proven to provide a generous career.

“The financial stability of it is pretty much unparalleled,” said Amherst native Staff Sgt. Joseph Derringer, a local recruiter for the Marines, on the plethora of opportunities and benefits provided by joining the Armed Forces. “You’re guaranteed a paycheck, every single month, you’re going to have housing benefits, medical and dental benefits.”

He also mentioned that the personal gains are infinite.

“The kind of pride and confidence you get out of that experience is something I can’t just explain easily,” Derringer said.

But taking the road less traveled often proves to be quite a challenge. Many teenagers leave that last bell of high school thinking about college, wondering whether the upcoming academic explorations will carry them well into the next phase of their lives. But for those who desire a different kind of life, the military awaits.

Pfc. David Suchyna, 19, a 2012 Williamsville South High School graduate, found himself in a Marine recruiting station on a whim of curiosity in the spring of 2012.

“I wanted to go to the recruiting center just to see what it was like,” he said about his early interest in joining the Marines. “I loved how the Marine Corps carried itself. It seemed like a great organization.”

Suchyna, who completed boot camp training in April, became involved in physical training sessions with the Marine Corps every Thursday and every second Saturday of the month during his senior year of high school.

“It was pretty cool. It was pretty motivating,” Suchyna said about the training sessions, which were held locally.

Derringer said that it all starts with personal analysis.

“Very first step is just to come into the office and talk to us about it, if they’re qualified, what they’re really looking for,” he said. “We sit down and we get kind of personal with people, and we kind of want to see where they’re headed.”

“Poolees,” as recruits are often called in the pre-boot camp condition, are encouraged to go to a Delayed Entry Program, a program for those not yet ready for boot camp in order to mentally and physically reach their peak before shipping out.

The Delayed Entry Program is specifically designed for high school seniors or high school graduates who can’t ship right away,” Derringer said. “My job is to go out and find people that are qualified and interested, and that’s to help them prepare for the mental and physical challenge of recruit training.”

Dylan Abbey, a senior at Williamsville South High School and a future Marine, said he has developed a true fellowship with the poolees he has gotten to know through the program.

“I was like a fish dropped into a new tank,” he said. “But they all welcomed me and they made me feel so comfortable. They’re like your second family.”

Derringer noted the effects of the Delayed Entry Program on the poolees.

“It’s like magic; it’s really something to experience,” he said. “I watch them develop from essentially children into young men and women. They start to really embody what our institution stands for.”

All of the work, sweat and resulting friendship during those last months is designed to prepare the poolees for boot camp.

Suchyna, who is in the School of Infantry in North Carolina for more training, said it was “not fun.”

“Mentally it was a struggle the entire time I was there. It was being away from my family for the first time,” he said. “It molded me into a person that was more appreciative, more respectful, disciplined, gracious.”

The Marine boot camp, which is held at Parris Island, S.C., is a grueling three-month experience that involves extreme discipline, tremendous mental and physical obstacles, and learning about the history of the Marine Corps, and it concludes with a two-day crucible that serves as the ultimate challenge.

When he graduated in April, Suchyna was ecstatic beyond measure.

“When I got the eagle, globe and anchor, they hand it to you, and it’s just a piece of metal, you know it has no value, but to every Marine it’s priceless. You hold it in your hand and you realize, wow, the hell is over,” he said. “There are tears everywhere, and people just realize it’s finally done. And it’s an experience like no other, when you finally know you’re a United States Marine. It’s amazing. It really is.

“It’s great to have this other family, if you will,” he continued. “It’s always with you, you know they’re always looking after you. Overall it developed me into a better man, a better person, a better brother, a friend. The Marine Corps transformed me into the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

Dersam, who joined the Army only eight months after graduating from high school, is a strong advocate for military service from all.

“I really think everybody should be forced to do two years of service, whatever it is,” Dersam said. “Just to give something back.”

When asked what it takes to be a Marine, Derringer said, “Determination, probably more than anything. People use the word heart a lot, I would say that’s all you need to succeed in the Marine Corps is heart. As long as you can allow yourself to be pushed past a little bit of pain, a little bit of suffering from time to time, which is something we‘re all going to have to deal with in life, you can get through boot camp.”

Suchyna agreed.

“I’d say one of the best parts is just knowing what you’ve accomplished,” Suchyna said. “Knowing that you can push yourself to those limits and succeed. You know what kind of person you are because you know yourself better. You know you can really accomplish any difficult task because of what you’ve done. It’s a learning experience.”

Dylan is eager to become a Marine himself.

“I feel that there’s a lot that a person can learn and become from being in the military,” Dylan said.

“I’m choosing to go into the Armed Forces right out of high school because I’m a more hands-on person. ... I feel that with the discipline the Marines can provide through my future career, I will become a better person,” he added. “I feel that there’s a lot that a person can learn and become from being in the military.”

“The people you meet, the friends you make, the places you see, I think it’s a great opportunity,” Dersam said. “I have a lot of respect for people who join the service now … I think it’s a good experience, and it sets you up for the rest of your life.”

Pride, passion, dedication and a whole lot of heart. From veterans looking back on their experience to young men just signing up, the United States military changes lives.

“I think the service makes you a better person,” Dersam said. “I think the service gives you a sense of responsibility, a sense of loyalty, a general sense of how lucky we were to be born in the United States and not born someplace else.”



Rachel Whalen is a sophomore at Williamsville South High School.
]]> Thu, 30 May 2013 00:15:52 -0400 By Rachel Whalen

NeXt Correspondent

]]> <![CDATA[ News & Notes ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130530/LIFE04/130539992/1306 www.sciencebuff.org.The Alden Christian Theatre Society, 1470 Church St., Alden, will hold auditions for its August production of “Cinderella” from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. A memorized one-minute monologue and song are required (if possible, bring prerecorded accompaniment CD). For more information, call 937-7770.Young Audiences of Western New York will present a variety of programs for kids and teens throughout the summer, including free family events from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Canalside beginning next week and an eight-week Curators of Culture program for teens. For more information, visit www.yawny.org or call 881-0917.The Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association will sponsor its annual Spring All-County Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the amphitheater at Chautauqua Institution. Students from 20 school districts will participate. Scholarships will be awarded to the following students:

Kathleen Mosier, Fredonia High School; Shelby Maberry, Southwestern; Brianne Ihasz, Fredonia; Jade Ferneza, Forestville; Adam Girts, Southwestern; Taylor Latour, Southwestern; Emma Mason, Westfield Academy; Mateo Mendez, Forestville; Heather Yeager, Panama; Daniel Milliman, Pine Valley; Haileigh Pawlak, Dunkirk Middle School; Sarah Tilley, Westfield Academy; Maverick Tomczak, Jefferson Middle School.• Springville-Griffith Institute, 290 N. Buffalo St., Springville, will present “The Outsiders” at 7 p.m. today and Friday. Tickets are $3-$5.

• The Park Players will present “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”at 4:30 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Helen Long Building, Park School, 4625 Harlem Road, Snyder. Tickets are $5-8.

DIVERSITY PROM

Gay and Lesbian Youth Services will host a Diversity Prom for LGBT students ages 14 to 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. June 7 at Asbury Hall @ Babeville, 371 Delaware Ave. Cost is $10. For more information, call 855-0221 or visit www.glyswny.org.The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, will hold the Brass Ring Thing XIII: A Renaissance Festival Event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $8. For information, call 693-1885 or visit www.carrouselmuseum.org.The Sew What?? Sewing Class for Teens by Darellyn McKnight will begin with the basics of hand sewing. Classes will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays beginning Friday through June 21 at Hobby Lobby, 2090 George Urban Blvd., Depew. Cost is $27.50 a week, which includes all sewing supplies except fabric (coupons will be provided). Space is limited to 10 students. To register, call 986-7099 or email darellynm@gmail.com. ]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 16:34:05 -0400 <![CDATA[ Hype: What’s happening for teens ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130530/LIFE04/130539993/1306 MOVIES: Opening Friday, “After Earth” (PG-13); coming June 7, “Much Ado About Nothing” (PG-13) and “Tiger Eyes” (PG-13); coming June 14, “Man of Steel” (PG-13).

NEW ON DVD: “Beautiful Creatures” (PG-13).

CONCERTS: Billy Currington, 8 p.m. Friday, Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.

Shawn Phillips, 8 p.m. Friday, Tralf, 622 Main St.

Dru Hill with Shirley Murdock and D’mott, 8 p.m. Saturday, Tralf, 622 Main St.

Roy Clark and Mel Tillis, 8 p.m. Saturday, Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.

Bloc Party with Bear Mountain, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.

Billy Idol, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, Lewiston.

Swingin’ Utters with the Chosen Ones and more, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave.

Bleeding Hearts, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Buffalo River Fest Park, 249 Ohio St.

Organist Nathan Avakian, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.

Guns N Roses, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Outer Harbor Concerts, Fuhrmann Boulevard.

THEATER: “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley,” 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (Ice cream social to follow.)Hurry, the deadline is tomorrow to submit a design for Diet Coke’s T-shirt contest. Go to DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge to submit your idea, and also check out a video featuring Taylor Swift’s thoughts on personal style and how she approaches fashion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3heblmOC6TU. The winner will receive $10,000, a trip to meet Swift at a concert in Nashville, Tenn., and his or her design will be featured in all Target stories in the United States in the fall.“It can absolutely feel like one big popularity contest, and you know what? I can’t be bothered.”

– Nicki Minaj, comparing the music business to high school, to Teen Vogue ]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 16:34:02 -0400 <![CDATA[ Commentary: ‘Arrested Development’ comes back to life ]]> http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130530/LIFE04/130539994/1306 heard of “Arrested Development.”

And why should you have heard about it? The TV show has been off the air for seven years.

“Arrested Development” was first released on Nov. 2, 2003. The show earned good ratings. The off-beat comedy mixed with dry-humored narration made the show unique. It was one of the most unusual shows on air, following probably the world’s most dysfunctional family and their numerous quirks, which included chicken dances, never-nudes and bumbling magicians, so it should have been a success.

But the show lasted only three seasons. It was never able to garner a large enough fan base, and so Fox was forced to cancel it much too early.

Then, something strange happened. The show became popular after its cancellation. The fan base grew both in size and in strength, and soon, Fox realized that it “had made a huge mistake,” as one of the characters, Gob Bluth, would say.

So on Oct. 2, 2011, the “Arrested Development” actors gathered, and show creator Mitchell Hurwitz announced what loyal fans had dreamed of: a fourth season.

But rather than the fourth season airing on Fox, Netflix would be creating and releasing the show.

On Sunday, Netflix released 15 new episodes.

I binge-watched the whole season in one day.

The newest season takes place seven years from when the third season left off.

It has A-list actors galore, including Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig and Seth Rogen.

Inside jokes continue on. There is more magic, more plot twists and more birds, for some strange reason.

Season Four is good, not great like the first three seasons, but good.

But it is almost sad. The characters’ lives have gotten even worse (who knew that was possible?) and they are almost all estranged from each other.

So that leaves me with my biggest complaint: There was not enough character interaction.

Each new episode focuses on one of the main characters. In the original series, there were often several characters with different conflicts, but they would still be together in the end, one big happy(ish) family. Now, the characters bump into each other from time to time, argue a little, but are only all together for two scenes in the whole season.

Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the new season. But trust me when I say, watch the original seasons first. Actually, that is the summer homework that I shall bestow upon you. On a rainy day or if you have nothing better to do, watch “Arrested Development.” You will have to start from the beginning to understand anything that happens, but let me assure you that you will not regret it.

Viewers can see the entire series on Netflix, or see the first three seasons on Amazon Prime.



Alissa Roy is a senior at Springville-Griffith Institute. ]]> Wed, 29 May 2013 16:33:58 -0400 By Alissa Roy

NeXt Correspondent

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