Granite Bay Gazette » summer

Life is a highway

Jonathan Beach — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:20:52 +0000

Road trips are as part of American culture as apple pie, but, for some reason, students from Granite Bay High School just seem to be making those trips down the beaten road less and less as years go by.
Maybe, it’s because of money, perhaps fear of the unknown, but, whatever it is, here’s a guide to an exciting summer to discovers more about the United States.

The Parks
   Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest park in America and is located in three different states – Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
   It’s home to such icons as Old Faithful – the geyser that spouts regularly every half hour or so – and wildlife that seems nonexistent in a country that’s often run over by infrastructure and modernization.
   GBHS junior Anne Barton is one of those lucky few to have visited one of the most well-known locations in the United States – though the experience wasn’t perfect.
   “It’s a big national park with a lot of animals and geysers, which is cool,” Barton said, “But there were a lot of mosquitoes there, and the drive is really long.”
   Barton said the weather is “not cold, but colder than Granite Bay. It’s like perfect temperature.”
   But with a 14-hour drive on your hands, Yellowstone might not be the best option as a summer road trip for teenagers.
   National parks are still a viable option, however, with places like Yosemite National Park within the boundaries of the state. And just beyond the northern border of California lies Oregon and Washington, home to such aesthetic beauties as Crater Lake and Mt. Ranier.

The City
   As one of the most famously liberal cities in the world, San Francisco, a mere two-hour drive from one of the most conservative counties in the country, is a great place to discover a mindset not often possessed in “tiny town Granite Bay,” as GBHS senior Aleksandra Kordic said.
   “The city is kind of cool,” Kordic said. “And the people are interesting, and all really well-dressed, which is awesome.”
   But the contrast in political atmosphere between Granite Bay and San Francisco isn’t the only thing that separates them, but the city vs. suburban feel as well.
   “There are tons of people always on the street and a lot of buildings (in San Francisco),” Kordic said. “Whereas here, it’s mostly just houses and shopping centers.”
   With the ocean right next door, high quality shopping and the Rain Forest Café to boot, what’s not to love about the city by the bay?
   “Well, obviously shopping is pretty high up there (in San Francisco), but just walking around is nice too,” Kordic said. “There’s this cool place, the Metreon, and next to it is a pretty park called Yerba Buena Gardens where you can just sit, eat lunch and hang out.”
   But San Francisco isn’t the only big city in America, but it’s just the closest. There are others, like Los Angeles and New York, that definitely deserve mention.
   The Los Angeles area is host to seven professional sports teams and attractions from Disneyland to the Los Angeles Zoo to Magic Mountain.
   In fact, southern California in general may just be road trip central for us from the north. It’s far enough away to get out of suburbia, and close enough to keep from feeling completely lost and out of place.
   But for those of you with a little more of an adventurous nature, another city might be just the place to go. On the other side of the nation, arguably the most famous city in the world, lies the Big Apple. And it holds some of the most impressive arrangement of activities available to a tourist.
   Watching plays on Broadway, seeing the Statue of Liberty and touring the Metropolitan Museum are just a few of the things New York City life offers.
The Party
   And where some cities are known for their beauty, and others for their business, there are still the select few that are just known for being known. These cities are dubbed the “Party Cities,” and they do nothing short of live up to their name.
   GBHS freshman Alec Archuleta used to live in Las Vegas prior to the Granite Bay area and said Las Vegas did more than live up to its reputation.
   “It’s hectic,” Archuleta said. “There’s always something going on.”
   But that’s not always a bad thing. One of the best things, Archuleta said, is that it continues to grow and change as a city – even if there are not a lot of things to do for minors.
   “The strip is a street in Las Vegas where all the hotels are like the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor,” Archuleta said. “Eighteen-year-olds can go to the parties, and 17-year-olds try to do the things 18-year-olds can do. There are just parties everywhere.”
   But it doesn’t have to stop there. Instead of heading East, pointing the compass South can lead to college party central Santa Barbara and Tijuana, Mexico – known infamously for its careless attitude.
   But remember, if you do make the trip across the border, it is another country. Be careful.
   ***
   Road trips are all about innovation and experiencing the unknown, so feel free to mix it up, have fun. You don’t know when you’ll get the opportunity to make one again.

From runway to summer day

Sarah Bertin — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:10:40 +0000

Seashore:

This is the summer of hats. As summer is just around the corner, it’s time for swim suits, day-time dresses and urban apparel. For the beach, the park or the city, you can dress uniquely for each part of the day with a classy hat to go along with your outfit.
While at the beach, you want to dress in vintage-looking clothing. Your swim suits have intricate patterns, some with dark colors, but mostly light ones. Before arriving at the beach, dress with loose, plain tops that match well and show your swim suit underneath. At the beach, your hat is a fedora – usually white, but will always match with the colors you are wearing. These styles are hot off the runway and perfect for any summer day.

On the model/ Crochet swim suit: Target, Shirt: Hobie, Hat: H&M, Ring: Cuffs, Necklace: Forever 21

Sunshine:

After the beach, dress in a bohemian style. Dresses are light and comfortable, especially in the sun. Your clothing can be elaborate or simple, but the colors have to match with the mood of the weather. Wear flats. Your hat is unadorned, but classy and made of straw. An antique necklace or ring also matches well.

On the model/ Dress: Urban Outfitters, Belt: Urban Outfitters, Bandeau: Heritage, Hat: Mexico, Ring: Denios, Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Moonlight:

The sun has set, and it’s your time to shine in the city. Now you want to darken your clothes, but always keep a hint of lively colors to accentuate your clothes at night. You are a classic retro twist. Your skirt is tough, and the body suit is also retro, but also chic and feminine. You mix and match, but also keep your style in mind. Boots, heels, gladiators and sandals – any shoe works well at night. Your hat does not evolve much, but becomes a little more sophisticated – still made of straw, but with a ribbon to draw attention to it in the dark. Borrow your mom’s purse from the ’70s or your grandma’s purse from the ’40s, and you are set for the night.

On the model/ Body suit: Urban Outfitters, High-wasted leather skirt: H&M, Hat: Urban Outfitters, Boots: Nordstrom Rack, Purse: Store in Sacramento in the 40’s

reCREATE: A look inside Roseville’s own ‘eco art’ center

Paul Doyle — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:10:20 +0000

   An old proverb says that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” With a bit of creativity and imagination, reCREATE is a goldmine of just that: trash waiting to be turned into treasure.
   The program was founded by Donna Sangwin, a local businesswoman who felt there was a better use for waste materials produced by people and corporations.
   The basic principle of the program is to use the leftover materials from companies and resell the products as arts and crafts supplies for children.
   Last October, the reCREATE Eco Art Center opened in downtown Roseville. Inside the store, there is a collection of assorted crafts materials, art kits, eco-friendly toys and an overstock of unneeded items businesses will donate.
   Among the random materials are baseboard and countertop materials, samples of fabric, samples of wallpaper, baby food jars, wood pieces, old vinyl banners, carpet samples, packing materials, store props, pieces of manikins and just about anything else imaginable.
   “ReCREATE makes art accessible to everybody,” Sangwin said, “because anyone can afford to get such inexpensive materials.”
   She said it speaks against the stereotypes of what is conventionally considered art. It encourages people to create things from materials that would otherwise be considered waste (packing foam, fabric samples, etc.).
   But reCREATE doesn’t stop there. The other part of its message is a focus on conservation.
   “We’re diverting all of this material from going into landfills,” Sangwin said. “Most of the materials in our art center are things someone would have thrown away.”
   Meredith Thompson, a program assistant, is largely responsible for running the store. Her job goes beyond just managing the retail side of reCREATE.
   “I book parties and Girl Scout visits, (and) I teach classes,” Thompson said, pointing out a pair of tables and several tall bins of basic recyclables (mainly foam, plastics and cardboard).
   ReCREATE offers “drop-in craft time,” during which anyone can come by without signing up beforehand for a class and fill a basket with materials which can then be made into something.
   For a more structured approach, Thompson also teaches, or rather directs, hour-long classes in which children use supplies to create something with a certain theme. Recently she held a class called “Ready, Jet – Go!” in which kids were shown how to make jet planes out of donated foam.
   What does it cost? A basket of drop-in craft supplies is $6, and classes generally range from about $8 to $12. Most of the items in the store are also very cheap.
   Thompson is also the volunteer coordinator.
   “We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, which means that in order to get some of the grants we rely on, we need a certain number of volunteers,” she said.
   Given the volume of material donations that reCREATE receives, volunteers are always in demand.
   “High school students are the perfect age,” Thompson said. “They can help me teach the classes if they want experience working with kids, or they can help me organize the donations.”
   Cigi Ranesbottom works for the architectural firm Williams + Paddon, one of the companies that donates excess materials.
   Williams + Paddon now donates leftover materials from architectural projects including tile samples, fabric samples and paint chips. ReCREATE also receives donations from Hewlett-Packard, Arizona Tile, Capital Public Radio and many other businesses.
   With such a wide variety of plentiful donated materials, the reCREATE store attracts artists in search of supplies or inspiration.
   Gabriel Garcia is a local artist and the director of arts and crafts at Camp Krem, a summer camp for developmentally disabled kids and adults. He just recently graduated from North Idaho College and moved back to Antelope. He sometimes visits the store for supplies but also likes to bring along his younger siblings (ages 9 and 11) for drop-in craft time.
   “Whether I have an idea before I walk in or not, the process is so fun,” Garcia said. “The ladies who work there are so encouraging and helpful; they are always ready to hunt for supplies if I describe something I need for a piece.”
   He said that though reCREATE most directly appeals to younger children, it can help anyone develop his or her inner artist.
   Garcia has great respect for Sangwin and the others who run the program.
   “You can’t help but appreciate what they are doing for the community, for the art scene, for the kids,” Garcia said.
   Of course, the most direct way to reach the children is through their schools. The other portion of Sangwin’s organization is the reCREATE school program.
   “It’s a hands-on environmental education and art education program,” Sangwin said. “We visit schools anywhere in the region.”
   The classes that sign up are visited by the Rolling reCREATE truck. The class is provided with a lesson on conservation and the principle of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”
   Afterwards, students are allowed to collect a basket full of recycled and donated material for their own recreated art project.
   Ranesbottom said that the school program had in fact recently visited her son’s and daughter’s school.
   “It’s amazing what kids’ imaginations come up with and what they can make,” Ranesbottom said. “My son made a slingshot and my daughter made a little pig figure; they were so excited about it.”
   With summer around the corner, the schedule is full of events and camps. These camps are good opportunities for kids to exercise their creativity in an environmentally friendly way and learn about conservation and recycling.
   For those too old or less artistic, volunteering is another option. “I can never have too many volunteers,” Thompson said.
   The reCREATE store is located at 414 Vernon Street, Suite 110 Roseville, CA 95678. Students interested in volunteer opportunities can contact Meredith Thompson at (916)749-3717. More information on classes, camps and events is available at www.recreate.org.

Getting high on trampolines

Sharonya Shrivastava — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Many students have their own trampolines, but for those who don’t , Sky High or Sky Zone are popular destinations for prospective jumpers.

The trampoline has fascinated people of all ages by its ability to propel people to new heights, literally. The bounce created by the springs is an ingenious creation, one that has attracted many jumpers.
The perfect trampoline is above-ground and circular, but it can also be rectangular in shape and built into the ground.
Granite Bay High School sophomore Katie Gezi received a trampoline when she was eight years old, and she uses it everyday. Simularly, GBHS alumnus Brittany Burman received her first one as a surprise Christmas gift two years ago. She jumps before and after school, to feel the fresh air and relax.
For them, having a trampoline is especially handy during the summer.
“After (going) in the pool, (you) can just jump on it, and it feels really good,” Gezi said, “or you can lay on it and get really tan.”
Burman uses hers for these purposes and more.
“I sleep on it, use it to bathe my dog and talk with friends on (it),” Burman said. “I also use it as a table for eating, a tanning bed and a place to talk on the phone.”
Tricks are a favorite to perform on the trampoline. Gezi does acrobatics such as front flips, front hand springs and aerials.
The two have differing opinions on recreational centers such as Sky Zone and Sky High Sports.
Gezi said that there are so many trampolines that nets aren’t necessary.
Burman, however, doesn’t have as positive an outlook on these locations.
“I’m not a huge fan of either of these places because they are overpopulated, and (they) don’t let me do the things I’d like to,” Burman said. “You can’t do a front handspring (when) little kids are two feet away.”
Located in Rocklin, Sky Zone is one popular location to jump. It is open Tuesday through Sunday. During summer break hours, the facility will be open Monday through Sunday. Also, there will be a summer special on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, two hours for $12, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. This special and the summer hours start Tuesday, June 1.
Walk-ins are welcome, but they may not be available. If you know how many people are going to be jumping in your party, the best thing to do is make a reservation. The fee is $1.50 per person for a reservation. A completed waiver is required for any recreation at Sky Zone, and a parent must sign if his or her child is under 18.
At Sky Zone, people of all ages can participate in activities such as open jump, dodgeball and aerobics.
“We will shortly be getting be getting our basketball hoops up,” Sky Zone assistant manager Joshua Longest said.
Open jump is offered at all open hours, and people can jump for 30 minutes, 60 min, 90 min or 120 min sessions.
“We offer that for any age, as soon as you can walk all the way up to 84,” Longest said
Though birthdays at Sky Zone are mainly for younger kids, some high schoolers do have their parties here. However, most teenagers go to Sky Zone for dodgeball.
“Sometimes we’ll do dodgeball tournaments with cash prizes or free jump time as a prize for the winning team,” Longest said.
SkyRobics is another fun opportunity. For an hour, participants can do drills and exercises and use items such as medicine balls and exercise bands to get in shape. Each class is $8, (half-off for a first time visit) and is headed by an instructor.
“It’s fun to go with your friends and get a good workout at the same time,” GBHS senior Corie Cartano said. “It’s a really fun way to exercise while on the trampolines.”
Even though the fees “can really add up,” Cartano said “it’s worth the money.”
High schoolers can also enjoy special events at Sky Zone just for teenagers. Every Saturday night is Sky Jam, which takes place from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Teens can jump for an hour-and-a-half, enjoy pizza, soda, music and friends. The price is $15 and you must be 16 years or older to participate.
For those who are a little younger, between 11- and 15-years-old, SkyMania is open every Friday night from 9 to 11 p.m. You can receive the same deals for the same price of $15. Also, a prize raffle is held, and kids can win free jump passes, Sky Club memberships, free team entry to a Sky Zone 3-D Dodgeball tournament or Sky Zone gear.
These events are popular, and sometimes people come quite early, as much as 45 minutes.
“We usually end up getting sold out,” Longest said, “so it’s recommended you show up as early as you can.”
Normal pricing is $7 per hour for Tuesday through Thursday, and $9 per hour for Friday through Sunday. During summer hours, every day is $9 per hour. Also, a $2 shoe rental is required no matter the season.
Another great place with trampolines is Sky High Sports.
Located in Rancho Cordova, it is open seven days a week. Hours change on May 31 for summer break. Private groups can jump at Sky High from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Sky High has a dodgeball court, foam pit, large jump area, arcade and an upstairs lounge. Besides regular jumping, people can have birthdays, play dodgeball and participate in airobics.
“I recommend dodgeball,” supervisor at Sky High Sports Chris Kettmann said. “It’s really fun; a lot of people get into it.”
Dodgeball tournaments are held once a month and teams of six can sign up for $60. Prizes are awarded to first and second place winners if there are enough teams in the tournament, and prizes include a game and free jumping until the end of the tournament.
Sky High Sports makes most of its money through birthday parties, mainly for littler kids.
“We do get the occasional older kid in here for a birthday party, and they have a lot of fun,” Kettmann said.
A waiver is required to participate in any activity. Waivers must be signed by parents for those under 18-years-old.

Finding comfort in the pop

Haley Massara — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:47:13 +0000

I was herded into the room with a few hundred others of my kind, my new uniform draping over my jeans. The psychotic screams of my captors rang in the air, and they chanted and howled as we entered.
They had formed a sort of human tunnel around us, and they reached out to us, clawing and poking with cruel curiosity. I shielded my head with my forearms, placidly following the mob, and simply did as they asked, wishing only for a moment of my former solitude.
They forced us onto bleachers, cheering wildly, before commanding us to salute their leader. I was all but frozen with terror, despising this nightmarish new world.
This place of horror is not a prison, nor a concentration camp. I am not held because of my beliefs, nor my culture.
The leader of their clan isn’t a dictator – rather, he is seen as an inspirational, benevolent man, who has touched the lives of many.
I speak of our own Granite Bay High School.
Now, I may be a newbie, a greenhorn, naught but a lowly freshman. But even I know that I am attending an exceptional school. Awards and plaques seem commonplace on classroom walls, and, for the first time in my life, I am not ashamed to admit, ‘Why, yes, I do go to Granite Bay.’
Dare I say it? I may actually have school spirit.
Things are different at the innocuously-named Grizzly Retreat.
I was torn abruptly from my summer (which consisted of Japanese classes, video games, and a shameless addiction to Diet Coke) and left to fend for myself, mingling with six hundred of my peers after adjusting to endless solitude.
I was scared, and lost, my few friends vanishing amongst the predatory upperclassmen.
And I was going to spend the majority of the next four years of my life in Granite Bay’s cavernous passageways, just barely surviving.
By the end of the pep rally, which consisted of a lot of hand-raising and applause, I was ready to smother myself with my new Grizzly Retreat T-shirt.
Then I met my tour guide, Erin Salinas, sister to my best friend, and through association, an ally. She, along with a companion named Jordan Schultz, let a pleasant, if low-intensity tour. I was sleepy by that point, already suffering from caffeine withdrawals, but salvation was in sight.
Pizza arrived. With Diet Coke.
I could live through this four-year horror, I decided, my favorite beverage now icy and crisp in my hand. I was ready to face all challenges, conquer all that opposed me. I was ready for high school. I could succeed.
But, as became apparent only minutes later, I will never, ever, ever be able to dance.
I was quickly thrown to the sides of the amoebic clot of close-dancing freshman, left to shuffle awkwardly in step with my friends. Dances, for me, were better ideas on paper than in practice.
That said, the evening concluded well enough. What had begun as a crazed onslaught of information and pep ended like any other school dance before it: with a vague and unearned sense of accomplishment.
Though I am still just barely keeping my head above water, things have worked out far better than I expected. The fact that you’re even reading my words is testament to that. I’ve at least somewhat recovered from the shellshock of week one and have yet to make a public idiot of myself. So far, I’m a success.
And, as for my dancing ability (or lack thereof)? Well, I figure that I have four long years to improve.

Student government under time crunch this year

Matt Veneman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:47:08 +0000

   For Granite Bay High School students involved in student government, the last few weeks leading up to Winter Break were possibly some of the most challenging and stressful weeks student leaders have experienced.
   “The difficulty was it was finals too,” GBHS student government teacher Tamara Givens said. “That plus Winter Ball made it overwhelming.
   “(Most of my students) either didn’t study very much or they didn’t sleep very much. I had several kids who pulled all-nighters.”
   During this time, GBHS students were under constant pressure – the late nights and early mornings were a consequence of the new calendar that GBHS and the Roseville Joint Union High School District adopted for the 2009-10 school year.
   This new calendar has hit student government harder than any other program at GBHS.
   “(During December), we had only two weeks to do what we normally take six weeks to do,” Givens said.
During those weeks, elections were held, interviews for the new class were completed, a new ASB cabinet was selected and class meetings took place.
   “I felt a lot more pressure,” said sophomore Kyle Pawlak, a student government member. “I was having trouble sleeping at times because I was stressed out about everything that was going on (like) how we were going to get everything done on time.”
   Pawlak said he and his peers were so stressed out because “(we) were worried (we) weren’t going to be able to get all (our) homework done on time, study for finals and be able to run a smooth event at the same time.”
   The new calendar made life for student government students very difficult and stressful even during the summer months back in July and August. Givens and her students, because of the new schedule were forced to come do their retreat in mid-July. This change impacted the so-called “sacred month of July” in which no students or teachers have to worry about school.
   Because of the difficulty of adapting to the new schedule, Givens said she would rather go back to the old schedule.   But not all students dreaded the July class retreat.
   “It’s actually a lot of fun,” Pawlak said. “It’s an interesting break from the rest of the summer.”
   While last summer’s retreat might have provided a nice break from the heat of mid-July, students were not near as thrilled for their spring-term retreat.
   “We had to do our class retreat for spring over Winter Break,” Givens said. “That impacted kids because Winter Break should be family time.”
   During the months of November and December, the major ASB events were Homecoming and Winter Ball.
   “Even with all the stuff going on, I would not go back to the old schedule,” Pawlak said. “Just having (finals) done was such a relief … it made it much more relaxing.”
   Student government will have to alter its programs next year in order to allow students more time to prepare events.
   “We’re thinking about maybe even cutting out a couple of events next year,” said Kimi Enneking, the senior class president.
   Whether this means Winter Ball, Homecoming or something else, events that students at GBHS have grown to love might have to go.
   So how did this change come about?
   In 1994, Woodcreek High adopted the early start calendar. Since then, the Timberwolves have never gone back.
   “I am sure it was tough to rearrange long-standing retreat timelines and the traditions of early or late-year dances and activities,” activities director Kim Bair said in an e-mail. “But at this point, we are all adjusted.”
   For a decade and a half, Woodcreek was on the early-start calendar.
   The faculty at the rest of the district’s schools, however, continued to vote for a late-start calendar – the district allows teachers to choose the calendar at each site.
   But a year ago, district officials, in the interest of reducing costs, decided there would only be one calendar for the district. Teachers narrowly chose the early-start calendar.
   Teachers have already voted for next year’s calendar, and the early-start option won by a much wider margin.
   GBHS math teacher Duane Blomquist said one of the goals for those who supported the early-start calendar was to be able to finish finals before the break, which would also result in the GBHS schedule more closely aligning with colleges. Also, Blomquist said, students will get a jump on summer jobs and will have an advantage over other students who are still in school.
   GBHS students and teachers have just now begun to experience the positive effects of the schedule and almost everyone is enjoying it.
   With this new schedule, GBHS starts two weeks earlier, in the beginning of August. To many students, this is the biggest disadvantage of the new calendar.
   But, because school starts so early, finals now finish before winter break and students will finish the school year in late May.
   Before this year, students were forced to go to winter vacation with finals and projects looming over them. Now, this year, students went to break with nothing to worry about and nothing to do for school. Finals were over and with it, the first semester.
   Immediately following winter break, students went back to a new semester and new classes. The second semester and the year will come to an end on May 27, a full two weeks earlier than last year.
   These two weeks will make up for the shortened summer students have been complaining about.
   But in the meantime, the greatest immediate benefit of the new calendar was perhaps the most relaxing and refreshing Winter Break students at GBHS have ever experienced.
   It was, Pawlak said, a “great bonus.”