Food, Music, & Art: Something For Everyone at the 5th Annual Appalachian Festival By Sam Manuel ENG 336

A clear blue sky, warm sun, and a light breeze made for a beautiful day on Frostburg’s campus as the 5^th Annual Appalachian Festival took place on Saturday. The festival boasted talents of various forms such as jewelry makers, basket weavers, wool spinners, homemade baked goods, musical varieties, and much more.

At 3:20 p.m. only a small crowd remained when Jeff Thomas and John Neral took seats at the center of Compton Stage. As the announcer introduced the duo he remarked, “If you’re not a fan of Irish music now, I’m sure these two will change your mind.” “Ladies and gentleman, Jeff Thomas on concertina and John Neral on guitar.” Lively music filled the air as they begin playing a fast paced tune. John’s fingers moved smoothly from chord to chord as Jeff’s fingers moved quickly, and fluently, over the small sound holes on either side of the concertina. As they played one audience member happily patted her legs to the beat. Other spectators made small talk amongst themselves, watched small children playing, or just simply sat quietly and enjoyed the performance. After a few songs Jeff, who does all the talking throughout the performance, takes to the microphone to tell more about their music before proceeding to introduce another song with a joke. The audience strains to hear, but either someone turned off Jeff’s microphone or he was talking to quietly to be heard as only a few audience members clap at what they presumed to be the end of the joke. One audience member asks his wife to repeat the joke but she states, “I only heard something about a doctor and carrots.” Luckily Jeff and John’s music needs no help from the sound system to be heard as the audience sat lazily in the shade and listened to the rest of the performance.

Further up the hill from the stage people gather in front of Jearbryo’s food trailer waiting for a chance to order a pulled pork sandwich, veggie wrap, or another of the menu’s selection. In the main tent area Tom Wilson explains his wife’s process for making the dichroic jewelry displayed at the booth along with the glass bottle cheese platters. Tom explains, “It’s all done with a kiln, usually about fourteen hours.” He also holds out two small square pieces of glass and explains that is the material in its raw form as he holds it up to the light he notes it is used because of its reflective properties. Another booth sells raffle tickets to raise money for the Appalachian Independent, an independent online newspaper with the tagline “dialogue for democracy.”

Just outside of the main tent of booths is Sunnyside Wools, ran by Darlene and Dave of Garrett County, MD. The booth displays handcrafted wool items (made from the wool of their own animals) such as stockings, old time Santa’s, hats, and various other handmade items. Dave and Darlene are lively in conversation, talking about the farm and their annual open house. Their open house, Christmas On the Farm and In the Barn, is held just after Thanksgiving on the 26^th and 27^th of November. This year it will be open from 10a.m. to 5p.m. according to the pink flyer there will be light refreshments, a chance to visit the animals, a meeting with farmer Santa, and of course a large display of Darlene’s crafts. Dave extends a warm invitation to come “weather permitting” and chuckles as he states, “We are in Garrett County.”

The Creative Arts are Alive at the Appalachian Festival

By Jessica Smith ENGL 336.003

The Appalachian Festival at Frostburg State University was brewing with creativity this year. Artists from every corner of the four-state region gathered to demonstrate and display their unique talents.

Artisans from every craft were congregated under a large tent, displaying and selling their work. Connie Stark was one of those artisans. Her line of herbal products, called “Herb Sampler,” provides a natural way to remedy sicknesses and promote relaxation. Stark has been offering herbal products through this line for 25 years. “I like working with herbs because they smell good and they are very useful plants. There are so many things you can do with them,” said Stark. One of her most popular products is a flax seed eye pillow. The herbs contained in this eye pillow help curb headaches and encourage relaxation. “People swear by these for migraines,” claims Stark. Stark also makes herbal body warmers that contain rice and an assortment of aromatic plants that, when heated, help soothe stiff joints. The “Herb Sampler” line also contains “Dream Pillows,” small lavender scented pouches that can be placed in a pillow to encourage sleep, and lavender scented bath salts. “Everybody seems to like lavender,” Stark said. Stark’s products are available at www.honeybugbears.com.

“Imagined,” a mother-daughter jewelry team, also had a station at the Appalachian Festival. Nancy and her daughter Avalon have been creating unique jewelry pieces for eight years. “I started out as a basket weaver and expanded from there. With jewelry making, I’m basically self-taught,” said Nancy. She creates wirework and craft wire pieces, hand beaded jewelry, and can even bend anyone’s name into a piece of wire, giving them a custom necklace. For $56, Nancy was selling antique shell portrait pendants from the 1920’s that she added her own touch to by attatching curlicues of wire in varying shapes and sizes around the pendants. There were also skull and pirate pendants for sale, which, Nancy said, “provide an unexpected twist.” Avalon makes more contemporary jewelry, geared toward a younger crowd. She makes wallets out of colored duct tape, and necklaces and earrings made from guitar picks. Avalon stated that she buys a case of assorted guitar picks and simply drills tiny holes in them to make the earrings and necklaces. Though it seems Avalon’s sector of “Imagined” would appeal to pre-teens, teens, and young adults, Avalon stated, “I do get quite a lot of older people. It’s really surprising. The more outrageous stuff is what older people buy.” “Imagined” is based in Accident, Maryland.

The Appalachian Festival featured far more than just craftsmen. Music seemed to be the heart of the event. The Lickety Split Banjo Boys were one of the many talented bands to perform at the festival. This four man band performs classic bluegrass, gospel, and “honkey tonk” music. Frostburg State University alumni Frankie Revell sings and plays the banjo and guitar in the band. “I was seven when I started playing the banjo,” said Frankie. “My dad taught me string for string.” Frankie’s father, Fred, and his uncle, “Uncle Junior,” are members of the band. Frankie’s friend, Dennis Crolley, completes the Lickety Split Banjo Boys. Though the band only formed one year ago, Frankie says, “We’re beginning to develop a fan base of middle-aged people whose parents or grandparents would have listened to this type of music.” The Lickety Split Banjo Boys are based in Berkley Springs, West Virginia, but they perform all around the region. Frankie said, “We play in bars, churches, coffee houses.” “And strip clubs!” joked Dennis.

Since I had missed the chance to see their performance, the band was kind enough to play an impromptu show for me in a parking lot. They played an upbeat bluegrass song, “Trail of Sorrow,” a slow “honkey tonk” song, “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, Loud Music,” and many other bluegrass and gospel favorites. Frankie had the voice of a born country crooner, and the other band members were all incredibly talented in playing their given instruments and harmonizing. Any fan of this genre of music should not miss an opportunity to see these banjo boys play. The band’s schedule is available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lickety-Split-Banjo-Boys/181289677232.

The Appalachian Festival was a very enjoyable event. The crafts, music, food, and overall atmosphere of the festival all told of the history of Appalachia in an entertaining way.

Voices of the Past Heard at Appalachian Festival

By Amy Barkman

ENGL 336.003

Voices were heard mid-Saturday afternoon at Frostburg State University's Appalachian Festival. More specifically, the voices of Sparky and Rhonda Rucker were heard, singing and telling of "African-American Voices From Spirituals to Freedom," a combination of songs and stories from the time of the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights Movement.

The duo started their performance with a "plantation song," called "Cindy in the Spring Time, Cindy in the Fall," featuring lyrics such as "If I can't have Cindy girl, then I don't want none." Sparky played guitar, and Rhonda played the banjo. Following that song, Sparky spoke of "the horrors of slavery," such as not being able to control their own dreams or raise their own children, and how by the end of the Civil War, nearly 4,000,000 people had lost their lives. He said, "The only way to fix our country is to educate ourselves." He spoke of Thomas Jefferson and how, even in the Declaration of Independence; he said it was up to the citizens to change our nation.

Sparky spoke of Abolitionists, such as Abraham Lincoln, who when, at age 19, he saw babies "being carried away from their Mamas," said he would do anything he could to change this.

Sparky then began to sing "Children, Children, Get on Board" while playing the guitar and as Rhonda accompanied with the harmonica. He then spoke of how the slaves would come up with songs while they were working to get through days where the only thing they could look forward to was a few sips of water. They then sang "Bring a Little Water, Sylvie" acapella, encouraging the audience to participate in the sing-a-long type song.

Another famous person Sparky spoke of was Pirate Joe, who was known as the "Scourge of the Seven Seas," until he had his right leg blown off by a cannonball, thus becoming known as "Peg Leg Joe." The pirate later became a well-known Abolitionist preacher. Sparky also spoke of the Fugitive Slave Law and how it gave slave owners the right to come into the northern states to reclaim their stolen property. He also told of a conversation between Lincoln and the famous author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, in which Lincoln said, "So you're the little woman who started this big war."

The duo went on to sing several songs about the Civil Rights Movement, including "Hold On" and "My Dog Loves Your Dog," during which Rhonda played an old instrument known as the "bones," and Sparky played the spoons. Sparky also spoke about Jim Crowe laws, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., saying "It's okay to go to jail if the cause is good."

There were also many vendors at the festival, including the Sommers family and their apple butter and cider stand. According to Marita Sommers, this was their third year at the festival. She was using the Pioneer Method to make apple butter, which consists of constantly stirring apples and apple cider in a kettle over a fire for eight to ten hours. She said the family attends many festivals, and her father makes apple butter for a living at Sam Beachy and Sons, a large plant close to Springs, PA, though they don't use the Pioneer Method in their plant.

Darlene Terlizzi of Sunnyside Wools in Garrett County, MD, had a display of Christmas stockings and other crafts featuring her very own handcrafted wool. She said that from shearing the animals to making the craft, one item can take up to eight hours to complete. She enjoys weaving, felting, needle felting and sewing and has been to a few of the campus festivals, although missing the last couple of years. She said she was glad to be back and is now looking forward to visiting five different festivals in five weeks.

There was an assortment of activities available for visitors to the Appalachian Festival. From music and story telling to a large variety of food and crafts, there was something for everyone.

Home Sweet Home

By: John Robinson

It was a sunny and beautiful warm day. The blaring sounds of bagpipes and drums echo throughout the upper quad as the musical talents of the Garrett Highland Pipes & Drums play. They entice the crowd displayed in front of them, as myself and others enter into this year’s Appalachian festival on Saturday afternoon. Every fall, the school host the Appalachian Festival featuring a variety of events for the Frostburg students and local community; definitely one of the highlights of the year. This gives the new students an outlook on the history of the school and the people who travel from all over the country to bring their goods and talents to share. As you observe the variety of fun events to check out, it’s important to find out what parts of these events bring the festival to life; the answer is the homemade products. The arts are what make this festival so popular because it brings insight to so many aspects of art and food.

There were two main businesses that create homemade food products to display at the festival. One of them were Sambeachy & Sons. Melinda, who was an employee of this business, explained Sam Beachy. The employee attire was Amish with a bonnet upon their heads. She stated that their main creations are apple cider and apple butter. All of their products are homemade and their physical plant is located in Pennsylvania. Trying to insist if they were the people who churn the butter by hand, Melinda laughed and replied, “No we aren’t those people, but we have done it before.” Sugar & Spice Bakery also brought their presence into the Appalachian Festival, for the 5^th year. They hail all the way from Oakland. When mentioned what a big commitment to travel all this way once a year, Elise, who seemed to be the manager corrected me and said, “Well we actually come up to the County Club Mall every Friday for supplies.” They also wear Amish attire, but offer more of a variety of home cooked desserts. Their food looked so good it was hard for the arriving customers to choose. The bakery makes homemade pumpkin pies, cookies, and jam. What was really surprising was the variety of flavors in jelly, especially the Jalapeño. Elise stated, “This is actually one of my favorites, I put it on crackers or mix it with crème cheese.” In order to put out the jelly, they work with another company known as Grandma’s Jam House.

After observing the rest of the activities, it was time to stop by the arts and crafts section, and these works were beautiful. The color and detail of these baskets, wooden toys, and rollers shows the great talent of the carpenter. Mike & Judy, a married couple of Pleasant Valley Woodcrafts, gave the rundown of their business. Started in 1992, when they got married they combined their efforts in carpentry and worked together to build up their company. Mike also creates furniture and cabinetry as a side project. When you see the rollers (dough rollers), you would have thought it was a simple piece to make, this is false. Judy stated, “These actually are made out of 30 different pieces of wood.” They use some familiar nature such as red oak, popler, ash, and even some exotic woods from South America. As you make your way down to view the rest of their work, these amazing paintings on cabinetry and furniture catches your eye. You could easily tell that it took days, maybe even months for the outcome, and the colors were awesome. Hue Campbell, one of the owners struck up a conversation to inform about their business. He stated that his brother Dane Campbell is the mastermind behind the paintings. These paintings share different time periods throughout history. His brother wasn’t around at the time, but he mentioned that Dane actually uses a micro-scope to get the detail. As he was talking about the process he jokingly stated, “I actually have to pull the piece away from him so he won’t keep working on it non-stop.” They are from Cecil County, MD and were discovered by Kara Rogers Thomas, a Sociology Professor here at Frostburg State University. She found them at the Maryland Arts Council, loved their work, and invited them to join the festival a few years back. The paintings that the Campbell brothers create tell a story and bring you in to use your imagination to decipher what really happened.

A Blossoming Flower

A Blossoming Flower

By Tiphanie Handy, ENGL 336.002

On April 1, Conchita Giraud, also known as Chita, was born in the Bronx, New York. She was born with brown eyes and brown hair. Giraud was eager to make her mark in life. She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School until eighth grade and graduated from a boarding school.

During Giraud’s time at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School (For more information go to http://blessedsacramentnyc.com) she got into two fights. Her first quarrel was in fourth grade with a girl. Giraud says she, “hit a girl in her face with a tennis racket. ” The argument started when a female talked wrongly of her mother. Her second fight was with a boy in fifth grade, and she “kicked him in his nuts.” Giraud was not one to pick with during her youthful years. Despite her two fights in elementary school, in her high school year she was a role model, or as Giraud mentioned, “a good girl.” Giraud was considered an authority figure on campus. She played sports such as basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. She played on the varsity lacross team and she played extremely well (for more information go to http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/GW3bDE299k6xYyLf3Ph1MA/girls-basketball-winter-07-08/stats-conchita-giraud.htm). She was also an honorable student who made good grades. After Giraud’s high school year she attended Frostburg State University.

During Giraud's time at Frostburg State University she dated two men. Her first relationship was not the best. She dated someone for almost a year during her freshman year. This thought to be, fairytale relationship ended when she found out her male friend's true colors. Her male friend cheated on her and according to Giraud was a “compulsive liar.” Giraud notes,“He lied about where he worked! Almost everything that came out of his mouth was a lie. He was a dog.” Finding out this information was a sad moment in her life, because she trusted him completely. She introduced him to her parents and lost her virginity to him. He was her first love. Giraud dated her second male friend during her sophmore year. Giraud is a caring being. Instead of using her money for her own desires, she paid the way for her male friend to have a place to live. Giraud's male friend “ran into some finacial difficulties,”and being the person she is, she lended him a helping hand.

Giraud is currently attending Frostburg State University and is focused on school and completing her dreams. She hopes to be successful in every way possible. Giraud’s major in college is psychology. She has aspirations of being a psychologist and a sports analyst. In the future, Giraud hopes to have a loving family. She hopes to marry a husband, have three children, and live in Maryland or Virginia. She is a woman with a hard fist but a loving heart.

Sparky and Rhonda Rucker Share Appalachian History through American Song and Folktale

By: Rita N. Peacock
Photo: fssgb.org

Frostburg's annual Appalachian Festival is all about Tradition. It explores the stories and roots of people along the Appalachian Mountains. The performers that participate in the festival share their heritage through mediums such as poetry, dance, song and story. For Sparky Rucker, of East Tennessee, and Rhonda Rucker, originally from Kentucky, this medium blends the best of song and story in the “American Folk tradition.” The couple sang many different songs in their set; each song had an accompanying story. Sparky explained, “I’ve been known to tell a 20 minute story to introduce a 3 minute song.” He continues, “That’s just what folk singers do!”
One of the duo’s featured songs was “Bound for the Promised Land.” Rhonda explained how the lyrics included code words for Blacks who sought to escape from slavery. Slaves couldn't just say they were planning to escape. She laughs, "slave owners weren't that dumb." Therefore, she explained that slaves would sing phrases such as "the Promised Land" or "Caanan Land" (Canada) to express their plan to escape to freedom. Further, she explained how these African American songs were adopted by Europeans in “Camp Meetings.” These meetings began as large assemblies of Presbyterians who met outdoors and listened to a “battery of preachers” give sermons to the masses. She said Europeans who attended theses meetings used to sing songs with “four verses and amen at the end.” She continued, African Americans in attendance sang Negro spirituals such as “Wade in the Water.” She states, “There was a trade back and forth of cultural songs.” These religious people began to blend and adapt their song traditions which eventually led to songs such as “Bound for the Promised Land” and many others.
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker also performed “Old Town River” and a blues song, originally performed by Blind Boy Fuller, entitled “Little Sweet Woman.” This song seemed to be a crowd favorite. Rhonda soulfully played the harmonica as Sparky led vocals. The duo ran out of time in their set and was kindly reminded that they could only perform one last tune. Sparky playfully stated “It’s best to leave before statute of limitations come to you.” He continued, “I was told one day I’d get in trouble for my mouth,” in a gesture to explain how folk singers easily run out of time due to the stories they love to tell. The duo closed their set with the song "Battle of Jericho." The Rucker’s offered copies of their CD and promised that they would return later in the evening to perform a new set of songs along with more stories.
Frostburg’s Appalachian festival is filled with family fun, crafts, foods, and souvenirs, most native to Appalachia. The fun only lasts for three days each year; this year the events occur September 16th-18th 2010. It is an outing that encourages those in attendance to learn about historical Appalachia while having a great time.

Toshiba recalls 41,000 T series laptops

Overheating of plug-in adapters from laptop cause plastic cases to melt. The company has recalled 41,000 Toshiba laptops. The specific laptops being recalled are Toshiba is recalling 41,000 Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite ProT130 Notebook Computers.

Brandon Kelly: From Childhood Driver to Future Athletic Trainer

By Amy Barkman, ENGL 336.003

Not many people can say they made the news as a child. Well, 19-year-old Brandon Jonathan Kelly did just that. When he was four or five years old, he was involved in a bad automobile accident, during which he shattered his left leg.

The young Kelly had just returned from the store with his family. As they took their purchases into the house, the child found his way into the driver's seat of the family car and began playing with the shifter, knocking the vehicle into gear and causing it to drift down a hill. As the car picked up speed, Kelly remembers being frightened and trying to get out, smashing his leg between the car and a curb. He wore a cast for about four months, but all that remains now of the accident is a scar under his left leg and the memories of that painful day.

Despite his once shattered leg, Kelly participated enthusiastically in track for four years, as well as football for a year at his local high school. The accident didn't affect his running skills. Sports have always been a huge part of this young adult's life. As a child, he also took karate classes.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Md., Kelly, now a sophomore at Frostburg State University, is majoring in athletic training. He hopes to work in rehabilitative sports medicine or as a high school athletic trainer. Kelly chose to attend Frostburg as an opportunity to branch out and see what life is like outside of Baltimore.

He also took part in the Baltimore Bear Plunge, a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, as a high school senior, in which he and a group of fellow students ran out into 40 degree water at an Eastern Shore beach in mid-January.

There's more to Kelly than sports, as he's spent some time volunteering for the American Red Cross, and was a manager at Rita's Italian Ice in Towson this past summer, both of which he says, "were good experiences." "I love helping people," Kelly said, smiling. he enjoys giving advice and feels he is a good listener. Kelly also has a passion for music, saying he enjoys all different types. "I'm an iPod fanatic, and Tupac is my favorite rapper. I love music because it eases my mind and helps me to relax. My iPod is pretty much my best friend, considering it's been there for me since the day I got it." he said, laughing.

When he's not in school, Kelly lives with his mother, their two pitbulls: Brutus and Tiger, and two cats. He enjoys trying new things, saying, "I try not to do the same thing all the time." In his free time, he likes bowling, seeing movies, taking day trips and hanging out with his long time best friend, Jeff. When asked if he has a girlfriend, Kelly replied enthusiastically, "Nope, I'm single as a dollar!" This bachelor also enjoys cooking, especially chicken parmesan, and writing poetry and short stories. Kelly describes his writing as, "whatever I'm feeling."

www.pandora.com

Shooting That Left Two People Dead

A man shot his mother, the doctor, and himself after hearing terrible news about his mother's condition in Johns Hopkins Hospital. Thursday, September 15, 2010, 50-year-old Paul Warren Pardus, was being briefed by a doctor about his mothers condition and became distraught. Pardus shot the doctor, his mother, and himself. Pardus killed himself and his mother leaving the doctor in critical condition.


http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/16/2229663/gunman-kills-own-mother-self-shoots.html

Jessica Smith Is Going Places

By Skylar Taraborelli, ENGL 336.002

Hypnotized by Lady Gaga, Jessica Smith has been mesmerized by the theatrics of Gaga’s performances as well as her uniqueness. Like Gaga, Smith has found her niche. Since she was able to hold up a book, Jessica has been reading stories from all genres. Even though she was able to read at a young age, she convinced her parents to buy her Hooked on Phonics because it involved reading. Her love for the literary arts has deeply affected her life and the path she is following.
Smith grew up in Laurel, Maryland until age 12, where she then moved to Keedysville, Maryland. Jessica describes Keedysville as “the boonies.” Along with reading, Smith was a year-round competitive swimmer until high school, as well as a junior equestrian. She is also a seasoned traveler. She has been to thirty states, Canada, England, the Cayman Islands, and Cancun.
In 2009, she attended Towson University for a semester as a journalism major, but found the size of the campus as well as the number of people there to be less personal. She transferred in the spring semester to Frostburg, where she has found the people to be very friendly. She is now an English major. “I love reading. I eventually want to work for a publishing company,” says Smith. Jessica is drawn to authors who have unique and interesting twists to their stories. Her favorite author, Chuck Palahniuk (http://chuckpalahniuk.net/),appeals to her because he has “weird twists in his stories.”
As a fan of Gaga, Jessica is committed. She cut her bangs to emulate her icon. To her, Gaga is the most inspirational person in her life. “Everything she does is a performance. Even her walk is art…I bought a lipstick just because I knew she had it.” In Gaga-esque fashion, Jessica met her boyfriend at a hookah bar in Hagerstown, Maryland. She even has bright blonde hair and standout makeup that resembles the pop star. Although Gaga is known for her outlandish style, she is also timid and shy offstage. Jessica would love to be more outgoing. “It would be a lot easier to meet people. It takes awhile for me to let my personality out. I am a nice person,” she proclaims. She looks for loyalty in her friends.
The future of books may lie in the hands of a Frostburg student. Jessica Smith knows books, and she can spot a good one when she reads it.

New Leader in Video Game Sales

Halo Reach, the newest video game released by Microsoft has already surpassed any other Microsoft video game ever released and has only been on store shelves since Tuesday. The video game has already grossed 200 million dollars in the United States and Europe and is at the top of any other entertainment launch this year in regard to copies sold and money earned. This game features yet again, the world famous, futuristic soldier, Master Chief as he and his allies continue the war to save the human race against alien invaders. The first 'Halo' series debuted in 2001 and the trilogy continues to collect fans and support as the series continues.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/h/haloreach/

Skylar Taraborelli: Globe Trotter In Training

By Jessica Smith ENGL 336.003

Skylar Taraborelli is making her mark on cities across America. A Mass Communication major, Skylar has traveled to five different states in just the past eight months. It seems she is preparing for her dream job as a foreign correspondent at Time magazine.

Skylar grew up in Rising Sun, Maryland, located in Cecil County. From an early age, she loved horseback riding. “As soon as I could walk I was on a horse,” Skylar said. She has even won the Champion title in hunter shows. She is still a fan of outdoor activities. “I love going to Dan’s Rock. That’s my favorite place here,” said Skylar. In fact, the region’s beauty is what compelled her to apply to Frostburg State. After staying in Frostburg for a week with a group called Girl State that focuses on politics, she fell in love with the area and decided that this was the university for her.

Since January, Skylar has visited Arizona, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina. Though the weather and natural beauty of the area made Phoenix, Arizona, her favorite location that she visited, her biggest adventure occurred in D.C. There, she got lost and wandered on foot through the streets of Alexandria, Virginia, for eight straight hours before she found her way back.

Though her current job titles are restaurant hostess (http://www.bucksrestaurant.com) and catering waitress, Skylar has big dreams for her future. She plans to be a foreign correspondent focusing on political news. “It’s the perfect job,” she said. “You get paid to travel.” If she was sent out on a job right now, she’d love to be stationed in D.C., the center of the political world. But her dream travel destination is Egypt. Skylar stated that she is fascinated with anything dealing with ancient Egypt.

Skylar’s idol in the news industry is writer Joel Stein, a frequent contributor to Time magazine (http://www.thejoelstein.com). Her minor in Journalism may allow her to follow in Stein’s footsteps, but Skylar stated that she is also interested in becoming a news anchor on television. Skylar used to be shy, but she said, “I’ve opened up a lot since I’ve been at school.” If she did get a career in television, CNN would be her ideal workplace.

Whether Skylar ends up writing or reporting to a camera, she hopes to be in the midst of the action, wherever she is located. “I’m not scared to be right on the lines,” she said.

First Big Mac for Door to Door Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

By Ed Custer, ENGL 336

“I actually ate a Big Mac for the first time this summer, and it was good…. I thought, why hadn’t I tried one of these before?” These are the words of Frostburg State University sophomore, Shafiyq Hinton. It is clear from this quote that Shafiyq had more important tasks at hand than ordering fast food at his local burger joint. He was awarded All County First Team honors and All State Honorable Mention awards as a high school football player at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore, Maryland. During high school, as a Maverick, Shafiyq and his team made it to two State Championship games during his high school years. Although neither of those two games resulted in a victory, Shafiyq had his sights set on playing college ball, and McDonald’s popular menu items were the least of his worries. The high school class president’s first choices for higher education were Virginia Tech or Temple University, but Frostburg became his ultimate choice because he wanted to continue playing football.
During his first year as a Frostburg Bobcat and outside linebacker, Shafiyq damaged his shoulder during a practice. The unexpected injury is beyond repair and he is unfortunately not able to return to the gridiron. Even though his time underneath a pair of shoulder pads has withered away, Shafiyq is an optimistic mass communication major, with a minor in marketing and journalism.
Aside from sports, this old-fashioned, door to door vacuum cleaner salesman said, “People say I have the gift of gab. Traveling to make a sale wasn’t discouraging for him and negative remarks about his summer occupation weren’t mentioned. He hopes that his friendly nature, way with words and academic success will lead him to a position in pharmaceutical sales, and if that doesn’t pan out, working as a news anchor or a sports writer are also very strong career possibilities that interest him.
Although marriage wasn’t in the cards for Shafiyq’s kind parents, they both show supreme care for him as they continue their separate but, big-hearted lifestyles. Shafiyq has one brother and sister who he is very close with as well. Although he spent more of his childhood under his mother’s roof, Shafiyq and his father are very close as well and battle back and forth over the National Football League matchups because Shafiyq is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan, and his father is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. However; despite the rivalry, Shafiyq’s father bought him a 2009 Pontiac G6 GT which Shafiyq T-boned after not recognizing a stop sign during a ride after just getting the dealer tags off, having a haircut and going through a car wash. Luckily nobody was hurt, but the unlucky $8,000 bill to repair the vehicle left a sting.
Shafiyq’s hobbies include simply “chilling out,” spending time with his girlfriend, and watching reality television shows. Rick Ross, Drake, Chris Daughtry, and The Script are among his favorite music artists, and he stated, “If you ride with me you will probably hear them.” Even though video games and flashy devices aren’t a big part of his life, he added, “I probably rely too much on my phone.” So, if you happen to see this friendly, focused, fellow Bobcat of ours around campus, be sure to make a point to say hello, and maybe you could possibly squeeze out a few of his entertaining stories about the city life.


http://www.pontiac.com/g6/

Johns Hopkins Hospital Shooting: Doctor Wounded, Gunman Barricaded, Say Reports

Shooting occurs at Baltimore's own, John Hopkins Hospital today around 11:15 am. Armed gunman shoots a doctor because he was unhappy with the way they were treating his mother who is a patient at the hospital. Investigators say the wounded doctor is expected to survive.

Dismissing the Unfimilar or Trying to Define Religion: Girl suspended over 'religious' nose ring

A fourteen year old girl of Raleigh, N.C. is suspended after violating the schools dress code.
The girl and her family report that the piercing is a part of their religious beliefs, the school sees it as a dress code violation. So who is in the wrong?

Briana Bronson: A Spazztastic Writer By Sam Manuel, ENGL 336

Briana Bronson, better known as Bri, sits at the picnic table looking out at the world through wide silver-framed sunglasses. At twenty years of age Bri has been inspired by her time at Frostburg State University (FSU) to write. What exactly is she writing, you may ask? Bri Bronson is writing a book, a book fictionalizing her own college experiences. “I love to write,” she exclaims, and this should come as no surprise as Bri is majoring in the English field of Professional Writing while also working on a minor in Journalism and Sociology. As of today, the book is a few chapters long and Bri is hoping the finished product will be around ten chapters “but length really doesn’t matter.” Bri states that the book’s title is going to be something different, “a play off of words, something that catches the reader’s eye.” Bri also mentions, “Writing this book has really helped me realize what type of person I was and who I am now; I have grown a lot and my book has taught me a lot about people.”

When not writing, Bri spends her time dreaming of moving to New York and becoming an established member of a book publishing company. As her pink tipped manicured nails reach for a small silver pendant on her necklace that displays the letters KBΓ, Bri also mentions she is a part of one of FSU’s recognized sorority’s, Kappa Beta Gamma. Bri describes herself as being “spazztastic and friendly.” Spazztastic, Bri exclaims, “is a person who is full of excitement and gets excited for their friends and loved ones.” Bri later mentions, “I have random but funny outbursts.” Because of the many daily activities in her life Bri said that if she had an extra hour to spend in a day she would spend it sleeping. She laughs as she points out “there’s a lot of reading” as an English major and many events to attend as a sorority member “I feel I don’t sleep enough.”

When on breaks from FSU Bri likes to go on vacation. A smile spreads across her face and laughs abound as she recalls her summer vacation to Florida where she spent time jet skiing. “I was so afraid if I fell off, like, a shark would get me!” A brief pause for more laughter, “But it was so much fun!” As the interview draws to an end Bri’s voice turns somewhat quiet and dreamy as she also mentions she would love to visit Alaska and spend the night in an ice hotel such as those she has seen many times on TV.
Best of luck to you Bri as you continue to write your book and achieve your dreams.

Why Frostburg: Featuring Rita Peacock

Why Frostburg: Featuring Rita Peacock
By Shana Knight Eng 336.003

Frostburg State University holds a strongly diverse campus that is full of students with diverse reasons for choosing this college. Many people claim that Frostburg was not their first choice, and they could have gone other places. What is interesting is the deciding factor that brought them here today. For some people it was the free laundry, the omelets, the cost of tuition, or the pretty view of the mountains. For Rita Peacock, that deciding factor was a boyfriend.

Rita Peacock, a senior at Frostburg and an English major with a minor in Business Administration, was always academically successful. She graduated from Suitland High School, in Prince Georges County, with a 4.3 GPA. She was always getting involved. She was a part of the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program of Cumberland Maryland, and was a big sister to a girl whose mother was on drugs at the time. She also wrote monthly newsletters for a church. Rita had the potential to get into pretty much any school she wanted, which surprised me when she told me she only applied to two schools. Rita applied to the University of Maryland and of course, Frostburg State University and got accepted into both. But why did she choose Frostburg? Rita said she would have liked to go to school somewhere far from home, like in the South. However didn’t bother to apply because of the cost of out of state schools. She explained that the University of Maryland was too close to home, and that Frostburg was farther away. But her real deciding factor was her boyfriend at the time who was a year older than her and was attending Frostburg during her senior year. She explained that “going to Frostburg was my idea; it just so happened that he was a year older and went before me.” Rita’s boyfriend at that time is now her ex-boyfriend, but they are good friends and he still goes to Frostburg.

At Frostburg State University Rita continues to be academically successful. She says she has been on the dean’s list all 3 years so far. She continues to stay involved as a writing tutor and is part of the dance company. When Rita first came to Frostburg she wanted to teach, but she said she realized teaching wasn’t for her. After asking Rita what she thought about Frostburg State University overall, she said “it is a nice get away from the city, and the people here are nicer.”

Amy's Extraordinary Life

By:Brandon Kelly, ENGL 336.003

Amy Barkman is the oldest of nine siblings and took on many responsibilities of the family at a young age. Amy grew up on a farm in an area called Cumberland, Valley, Bedford, PA. Amy currently lives in Everett, Pennsylvania which she describes as "probably one of the smallest towns in the world." Amy was raised by her parents, who both had been married three times. Amy's dad was married to her biological mother, who walked out on her and her younger sister at a very young age, as Amy sighed, "I don't really count her as my mother."Her father then married the woman Amy calls "mom,". They were married for sixteen years and had two more children, which were a son and daughter. Amy's "stepmother" had been married one time previous to marrying her dad. After sixteen years of marriage, her parents divorced and are both now married to other people. Amy's dad's current wife had two kids while her mom's husband has two children of his own, plus they had one together. Amy's mom has been the Bedford/County register/recorder for about sixteen years and has to re-run every four years. Amy's dad is a farmer, and her mother is a politician. In her early childhood, growing up on a farm required a great deal of outdoor work. Amy considers herself an "outside girl" explaining that she still loves "doing outdoor things." Living in Everett now, she enjoys hunting, farming, boating, and anything else that involves the outdoor life.

Amy moved out of her parent's house and into an apartment just one month after graduating high school. Not having a license at the time, Amy walked across town to work everyday until she earned her license. Amy got a job working with a local newspaper and worked in just about every department for over five years. Amy left there to take a job in a local fed mill. Years after graduating high school, Amy decided that she wanted to be a high school English teach and attended Allegheny College of Maryland "ACM". After graduating from ACM, Amy transferred to Frostburg State University and is currently a junior. She commutes everyday, spending more than two hours on the road three days a week. According to Amy, it has been about ten years since she graduated from high school and considers herself a bit older than the crowd, chuckling, "I guess I'm old." About the time Amy graduated high school, at the age of eighteen, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After dealing with it over time, she has learned to cope with the cancer. Throughout the course of her life Amy has had three surgeries pertaining to the cancer. Amy says that her last surgery was in May of this year. She had a number of cancerous lymph nodes removed. Amy is due now for another cancer scan, called a PET CT, but her doctor continuously reschedules her appointments. At the moment Amy does not have an idea of her cancer. This is a very difficult situation for Amy considering she is terrified of needles. Her family has been very supportive along with with a great group of friends who's helped her through the entire situation. Smiling graciously, "My husband, though, had been my knight in shining armor. Not to sound dopey or anything, but he has."

Amy has been married for two years and highly recommends that a couple live together before marriage. She suggests, "Everyone live together before marriage" and speaks from experience. She and her husband lived together before marrying. They own two pugs and a cat. Amy enjoys traveling and would love to travel outside of the United States, declaring, "I want to see Ireland really bad." Amy and her husband are hoping to buy a condo in Ocean City someday. Amy excitedly shouts, "Considering they're so expensive, it'll most likely be waaaay down the road, but we love it so much there." Amy believes that couples should live together until know each other well enough to decide whether or not they're compatible enough for marriage. Softly, she says, "You don't truly know someone until you've lived with them, and there is no set number of months or years, it's just knowing you can put up with each other at their very best and very worst."

Amy has traveled as far as Texas to visit her cousin whose husband is in the Air Force. Amy and her husband are planning to buy a condo someday for future summer trips. Amy would like to travel out west with her husband and the pugs.

• 
  
  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid


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  www.thyroid.com/patitentinformation.html


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  www.policource.com/agencies-offices.html

He's James Knapp and You're Not

Don’t get too happy ladies, he’s “happily” single. A twenty-year old English student at Frostburg State University, James Knapp is focused on becoming a creative writer. “Writing has always been a hobby for me,” Knapp says. However, when asked where he saw himself in five years, Knapp simply replied, “Batman,” and slightly smiled, showcasing his sense of humor. It is clear that Knapp wants to save his country from the villains of Gotham City. He’s a true patriot. Although Knapp was born in Japan, he is very proud to be an American. He was born in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, but is “by no means Japanese,” he said in his interview. He resides in Bel Air, MD, and he has lived in Ohio and Connecticut.
When asked “What do you like to do,” Knapp replied that he reads a lot and plays softball/baseball, hockey, and Frisbee. His talents include playing the bass guitar. When asked why that instrument, Knapp replied, “It just makes sense to me.” If there was one thing Knapp could do, it would be deep sea diving. He says that there is something about the “seclusion and being under water” that appeals to him. But Knapp is no loner, he’s a true believer in simply having fun.
Knapp never ceases to amuse the media. When asked what his favorite quote is, he thought for a few seconds and said, “I’m Chevy Chase, and you’re not,” and chuckled a bit. He said, “It’s just funny.” One person he admires is Ronald Reagan for being “insane and yet that powerful”, “It gives me hope,” he says.
Knapp doesn’t consider himself to be religious. Instead, he is openminded for any religious beliefs. He was sure to separate himself from the ideologies of atheism, saying that atheists can be a bit close-minded. He would like to visit Burma, in southeast Asia, where he believes is a safe haven for different religions.”

http://www.allthesea.com/Deep-Sea-Diving.html

Ed Custer: If it's not local, it's not me

"No one goes to UPJ (University of Pittsburgh Johnstown) from my high school." Ed Custer, a 19-year-old transfer student from Meyersdale PA, believes that there is a curse placed upon every student from his high school who goes on to attend UPJ. Almost everyone has either transferred or dropped out for one reason or another within just two years of attendance. For Custer, he left UPJ after just one year after getting sick and seeing a major decline in his grades. "Frostburg is gold compared to UPJ. It was just an all-around bad situation at UPJ."

Ed Custer is truly a local guy. In 19 years Ed has been to only four different states, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Ed likes to stay close to home. Some say home is where the heart is, but, for Ed, that's where he is most comfortable. Ed has only been to Virginia and West Virginia because he drove through the states a few times on his way home. However, for Pennsylvania, Ed did more than just driving across state lines. Ed has spent his entire life in Meyersdale PA and then eventually to Johnstown to attend the dreaded UPJ where he became a steelers fan.

Ed played on his local high school football team, Meyersdale area Junior-Senior High. He was a very good, decorated player. Custer led his team to two district championships, all the while grabbing all-county and all-conference honors as an offensive tackle and defensive nose guard, Although he experienced a lot of winning throughout his high school career, during Ed's senior year his football team had a losing record. "It's still a burning flame. I wish things turned out better. It's your Senior year, and no one wants to go out as losers." That was the last time Ed Custer has played organized football. He had been playing since the 7th grade. After six years of football, Ed Custer walked away with one last thought, "Football gave me drive. It taught me never to give up. It shaped me and helped me become the man I am today." Ed has contemplated playing football for Frostburg State University, but, with a busy schedule and the unfavorable direction of the Bobcat program, Ed has decided to refrain from try outs at FSU.

Today, you can find Ed riding to Frostburg on his classic, 1980 Honda 400 bike. Although Ed may not be able to play his favorite music on his bike, if he were, he would be listening to his favorite bands Death Cab For Cutie, The Doors, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles. Custer has gone on record stating, "I'm a peaceful guy, I even consider myself to be a hippie." But do not be mislead, Custer is a dare-devil and has had his fair share of near death experiences. "I like to chances if I'm the only one that I am putting in harms way." So next time you see someone blur past you on a red bike, catch and say hello. It's our local hippie, Ed Custer

SPAZZTASTIC MOTIVATION: FUN BUT FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE by Devon Hill, English 336.003

             “Why would I want to go back to that after all this?”

            That is what Briana Bronson had to say about a recent breakup with her boyfriend who sought to, as she explained it, go back to the beginning of their relationship. But it could easily apply to Briana herself who seems focused on what tomorrow rather than yesterday.

Now a junior, she entered Frostburg State University as a member of the GOLD program, so it is only natural that since then she has held leadership posts on campus. She has written for The Bottom Line as a Greek columnist and Sports Editor, spent a year as the RHA Spirit Chair, and is now a member of Kappa Beta Gamma. She enjoys it but laments that “it takes all of my time.”

She does not seem like someone who dwells on the past too much, though she does – like many of us – have ways of recording memorable moments.

“I used to keep a journal but stopped because it seemed emo,” she notes about her own writing. Since coming to Frostburg, however, she has not kept a journal but has been writing a book that fictionalizes her own college experience. She herself describes it as “not quite an autobiography.”

Drawn to writing, Briana is an English major concentrating in professional writing, and hopes to minor in sociology and journalism. Her goal is to complete a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia before moving onto her dream job of being a book publisher. Asked why, she says she wants to help writers develop and spread their ideas. Her passion for the profession is obvious.

With a laugh Briana Bronson describes herself as “spazztastic,” a slang term used to describe something so fantastic that you have to spazz, or “freak out, about it. This belies the focus she exudes when it comes to so many aspects of her life.

            Briana is a straight-forward young woman and wants others to be as well. 

“Don’t commit to something then not do it.” It is a notion she seems to adhere to herself having already accomplished so much at Frostburg. But the concept may be born of what she says is a lack of trust in others, especially men. Her unexpected breakup left her in what she felt was an untenable situation. Her boyfriend wanted to go back to the beginning of their relationship which, for someone so focused on her future, left her emotionally unfulfilled. 

For someone who says she wants to be a front and center driving force, she has likely already moved on and is looking to more important pursuits.