All the News

Movies

Will Harry Potter live up to the vivid images kids have built in their minds from reading J.K. Rowling's books?

That's the big question for the first film based on Rowling's books. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" opens in American movie theaters Friday, Nov. 16.

Young Saint Louis.com always has had a special interest in the Harry Potter book series. That's because Rowling has done so much to get kids interested in reading books again.

There are 110 million copies of the four Harry Potter books in print around the world. They are on sale in 200 countries and in 47 different languages.

Usually, this website focuses on local news and on reading. We don't pay much attention to national events or movies. But, we're making an exception for Harry Potter.

Remember, last March, people in Britain and Ireland packed 200 theaters just to see a 107-second trailer on the movie. That's a film of less than two minutes.

This article will give you some background on making of the movie.

For four years, the questions of what Harry Potter, his friends and Hogwarts School looked like were left up to each kid's imagination. And that's a lot of kids. A recent survey said two-thirds of all American kids and teenagers have read at least one Harry Potter book.

The survey also said most of them expected to see the movie. Everyone associated with the movie, including Rowling, want the film to be true to the books.

The first Harry Potter movie probably will be one of the most-attended movies in history. Just like the books are the most read in history. A second movie is in pre-production.

There's been a lot of pre-opening publicity and it hasn't been aimed only at kids. For instance, Entertainment Weekly had Harry Potter on its cover Sept. 14.

But, one indication of how much adults are involved was the 22-page spread--including the cover--in Vanity Fair magazine's October issue. That magazine is very adult. Usual content includes articles on high fashion, international society and serious political issues.

Here are a few of the interesting items from that coverage in Vanity Fair:

* Veteran film writer Steven Kloves did the screen play. He said, "I'd by lying if I said you're not aware that you're adapting the most beloved book in the world."

He won't reveal what parts of the first book he left out. "To completely adapt the book would result in a movie that was four or five hours long," he said.

* The director of the movie is Chris Columbus. He's the guy who directed the "Home Alone" movies. He said the movie makers have been true to the book's original story. Columbus said his young daughter, Eleanor, was among those who kept him on track.

"Eleanor would be the first person to say, 'That looks fake,' or 'That's the wrong color.' It was tough pleasing Eleanor," he said.

* Author Rowling said she was looking forward to seeing how a game of Quidditch is played. She said, "The thing I'm looking forward to is seeing Quidditch. I've been watching it in my head for years now-and finally I'll get to see it along with everybody else."

* The character of Harry Potter is played by Daniel Radcliffe. He was picked over thousands of kids who auditioned. He previously played David Copperfield in the BBC movie based on the Charles Dickens' book. He was 11 when filming started and turned 12 last summer.

* Harry's friend, Hermione Granger, is an 11-year-old British girl by the name of Emma Watson. Ron Weasley's character is 13-year-old Rupert Grint.

* Then there's Robbie Coltrane, who plays the half-giant Hagrid. He asked Rowling how to play Hagrid. "She said, 'Think of him as one of those really big Hell's Angels that gets off a motorbike and then starts talking about how his garden is coming," Coltrane said.

* Another problem of filming the movie was to find buildings that looked like the 1,000-year-old Hogwarts School would look. One building used was Glouster Cathedral, which was dedicated in 1100 A.D. Also used was Durham Cathedral, dedicated in 1093 A.D.

* And then there's how Dan Radcliffe felt while auditioning for the Harry Potter role. "It was so terrifying. You go in there with these really important people and you just kind of feel really small," he said. But, after he got the role, he said, "It was probably the single most exciting thing that's ever happened to me."

Everyone associated with the movie is hoping that you--the audience--feel the same way about "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." By the way, the movie has a different title in Britain. There, it's "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

 

News

 

St. Elizabeth students send
messages, gifts to NYC

Seventh grader Maureen Decker was among St. Elizabeth of Hungary School students who sent messages of sympathy to Catholic students in New York City.

Many Catholic schools in St. Louis "adopted" a school in New York in the wake of the World Trade Center disaster. Kids from the local schools sent messages, gifts and money to a specific school in New York City.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis provided names of New York schools that each St. Louis school could contact with gifts and messages.

The kids at St. Elizabeth school sent their package to kids at St. Joseph of the Holy Family School. The St. Elizabeth gifts included a check for $l,078.72, some teddy bears for kindergarten kids and dozens of messages.

Thirteen-year-old Maureen's message started by quoting two verses from the Bible's Book of Psalms. The Psalms 20:1-2 is known as the Prayer for the Kingdom in Time of War. It says: "I the Lord answer you in time of distress. The name of the God of Jacob defend you. May God send you help from the Temple, from Zion be your support."

Many of the letters included references from the Bible. But, they also included personal messages as well.

Twelve-year-old Tom Young wrote, "How could anyone in the world do something like that." The sixth grader added, "My sympathy goes out to you and I'm glad none of your parents were hurt."

Thirteen-year-old Melanie Finke wrote, "I hope this note will mean something to you." She had included a verse from the Psalms 4:8 that said, "In peace I shall lie down and sleep for you alone Lord make me secure."

Like most St. Louis students, the St. Elizabeth kids were in school on Sept. 11 at the time of the terrorist attack. Maureen said, "I was serving mass at the school so I didn't know what was going on."

Shortly after the attack, Principal Ken Weis came on the PA system and called the teachers and students to a school-wide prayer service. At the end of September, the school also held a combination prayer and patriotic rally in order to dedicate the New York gifts.

At that Prayer of Remembrance-Prayer for Peace rally, there was a candle-lighting ceremony. The assembly closed with everyone singing "God Bless America."

Eighth grader Nicki Hoffarth said she only had heard a brief mention of the attack before the all-school prayer meeting. She said, "Then, when we came back to class, we watched on TV during science class."

The thirteen-year-old said, "It was devastating; it was scary."

For the most part, St. Elizabeth kids didn't have any family connections with people killed in the terrorist attack.

However, Nicki's step-father is a St. Louis fireman. She said three of his co-workers had had special training and were sent to New York to help in search-and-rescue efforts. "My step-dad was on a list to go later but he didn't get called," she said.

Eleven-year-old Gaby Lor's message was one that looked with hope to the future.

The fifth grader said, "But, you can't let what happened put a halt to your life. You just have to stand strong and stand up for what you believe in. I hope you will take my advice. I think my advice will help a lot."

Even weeks after the collapse of the two World Trade Center towers, the memory lingers with the St. Elizabeth kids.

Tom Young said, "Whenever I see a plane flying through the sky, it makes me feel different."

Melanie Finke said, "I still can't understand why those people (the terrorists) would kill themselves like that. It still bothers me."

Nicki Hoffarth said, "I try not to think about it as much but it still makes me scared."

Maureen Decker said the memories still make her a little scared. However, she said, "I'm going to keep moving on."

That theme of "moving on" was repeated in many of the messages the St. Elizabeth kids sent to New York.

President George W. Bush has appealed to American kids to chip in $1 each to help Afghanistan children.

Bush said he's setting up an America's Fund for Afghan Children. He asked each American kid to send donations to a special office at the White House.

At a news conference, Bush said, "Wash a car. Do a yard for a neighbor. And I hope the adults will help them as well."

He said he hoped school classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops and other youth organizations would join together to help. But, he made a special appeal to individual kids to send their $1 contributions too.

He said one-third of all Afghan children are orphans and half of them are severely under-nourished. The American Red Cross will supervise the sending of supplies to the Afghan kids, Bush said.

The address:

America's Fund for Afghan Children The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, D.C. 20509-1600

 

Outdoors

Kids learn winter outdoor survival skills

Nine-year-old Jeremy Hayes said he likes to go camping. But, he wasn't so sure he wanted to try camping in cold winter weather in a hand-made lean-to.

Last month, the fourth grader from St. Charles took a free Outdoor Winter Survival class at the Busch Memorial Conservation Area. There, kids found out about ways to survive if they became lost outdoors in bitter winter weather.

Teacher Joel Lovelace said the first priority in such a case was to find--or build--shelter. He said that might mean making a lean-to out of tree limbs. He then showed the kids how to do that using only simple tools.

Jeremy said he likes camping but usually stays in a trailer or a cabin. "We went camping in a cabin for my birthday at a park across from Six Flags," he said.

Asked what he liked about camping, he said, "I liked to see the wild animals like squirrels and rabbits."

The kids attending the winter survival class got to see all sorts of lightweight equipment that can prepare them for a winter camping trip. There were blankets that folded down to the size of a deck of cards. There was fine steel wool that burns to let you start a fire.

Lovelace said the second survival priority, after shelter, is the ability to keep a fire going. The combination of a shelter and a fire for warmth are most important, he said. .

The third priority is having a way to signal so people can find you. Oftentimes, the fire can serve as a way to show your location.

But, he also showed a neat mirror with a sighting hole so you can reflect sunlight at a rescue team. The directional mirror was designed for the military.

Nine-year-old Natalie Altis of Ballwin said she'd been camping in winter. But, she wasn't lost and had a tent. "We also had a heater that made the tent really warm," she said.

The third grader said she's camped alot along the Cuiver River northwest of St. Louis.

She said her favorite food while camping is hot dogs. They were roasted over an open fire.

Natalie said she had eggs, sausage and biscuits for breakfast. She said she had to eat the biscuits plain because "I was supposed to bring the honey but I washed out the container."

At the survival class, the kids were told that water was more important than food when trying to survive in the winter weather. A person needs as much as three quarts of water a day to maintain health.

Lovelace said carrying that much water is too heavy a load. Therefore, he told about how to purify stream or lake water with tablets or by boiling it to kill germs. He said, "Don't drink raw, untreated water anywhere in the back country."

He also showed how to build a "solar still" to make freshwater with a plastic sheet and a hole in the ground.

Nine-year-old Therese O'Brien of St. Charles said she's been camping with her dad "on my uncle Bill's farm near Perryville." She also said she, her mom and dad and little sister, Mary, went camping in a tent this August.

As for winter camping, she said, "It might be too cold." But, she did "learn some good stuff" about winter camping. "I might be able to make a lean-to if I had to," the fourth grader said.

Nine-year-old Matthew Senter said he's never been camping. "But, I'd like to," the Defiance, Mo., fourth grader said. He lives in rural Missouri but his home is in a sub-division.

"I think I could make a lean-to if I could remember what they showed us," he said.

Teacher Lovelace showed the kids his survival kit which looked like a tool belt that workmen use on a construction job. But, it had a whole variety of things designed especially for helping you in the woods.

When building a lean-to, he suggested that it face the northeast. "The prevailing winds in this part of Missouri are from the southwest, so the smoke from your fire won't blow into the lean-to," he said.

Each kid also got a handbook, "The Art of Survival in Missouri." One of the things it showed was how to use your watch as a compass to show directions.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has three outdoor centers in the St. Louis area. In addition to the Busch Conservation area (636-441-4554), there is the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center (314-301-1500) and the Rockwoods Reservation (636-458-2236). Call for information for other interesting activities for kids and families.

The department also has a website at www.conservation.state.mo.us.

 

Books

 

This month's book reviews

 

A story about a Newfoundland dog
and the island with the same name

Newfoundland, a province of Canada today, was originally settled by Vikings, hundreds of years before Columbus "discovered" America. The land has hard winters and is battered by heavy winds. Many of its people are fishermen and make their livings from the sea. Their favorite dogs are Newfoundlands, big, black, heavy coated dogs that love the water and are great helpers to their owners.

"Star in the Storm" tells the story of Maggie, a young girl who lives in Newfoundland. The year is 1912. Maggie loves the big Newfoundland dog that is her family's pet. She named him Sirius, after the North Star. Sirius is much more than a pet, though. He is so big and strong, he is used to pull heavy loads in a cart. Still, he is gentle and playful and a great companion to Maggie.

Unfortunately, some dogs had been killing sheep on the island. A law was passed that all dogs except sheep herding dogs had to be destroyed. Even Sirius had been wrongly accused of killing a sheep. Maggie had to hide her dog and try to get people to change their minds about working dogs like Sirius.

The rest of the story involves a shipwreck and the need for a lifesaving dog to rescue people from the stormy sea before they are all drowned. Can you guess which dog turns out to be a hero and, because of his lifesaving skills, gets people to do away with the bad law?

 

A roller coaster ride of a story that
takes you up and down and all around

Alex Grindlay believed that he had an incurable disease. It was called "Hoodooitis." Its cause was a swollen hoodoo. The symptoms were simple - everything that could go wrong in your life does go wrong! For example, just in one morning before 8:30 he had stubbed his toe, banged his head, dropped his toothbrush in the toilet, torn his shirt, lost his homework, discovered cockroaches in his favorite box of cereal, and broken the fruit juicer. And that was just for openers!

Alex lived with his father. His mother had died when he was born. Ever since, Alex's dad just sat and watched game shows on TV. They ordered all their meals over the phone. On Alex's thirteenth birthday, a strange deliveryman delivered Chinese food. Neither Alex nor his dad had ordered it, and there was no charge. Later, when all the food was eaten, Alex opened one of the fortune cookies. It read "The Cookie Company. Established 1823." A second cookie read "Go there." A third cookie gave the address "1228 Geisel Lane." The fourth fortune cookie, when asked, "what's there for me," answered "Your fortune." Then he accidentally stepped on a fifth cookie, and when it broke into pieces, Alex was magically transported to 1228 Geisel Lane.

It was when he entered the Cookie Company factory, that Alex began his fantastic, roller coaster ride of an adventure. He believed he had to save the entire world, especially his father, from being taken over by televised game shows. Part of his adventure did involve trying to find a hoodoo and discover a cure for hoodooitis. Imagine flying through space, going through time warps, being miniaturized, meeting all kinds of unbelievable characters with some of them bad guys, and not knowing how all this would turn out. If you like this kind of fantasy, "The Cookie Company" is the book for you.

 

A young teen-ager gets caught up in the December 7th, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor

Adam Pelko has just started ninth grade at a new school in Hawaii. His dad was a naval officer and had just been assigned to a big battleship located in Pearl Harbor - the USS Arizona. As a military kid, Adam had moved around a lot - as much as four times in one year he could remember. It was hard getting used to new places with new teachers and all new kids in his classes. But Adam tried hard to be what his father expected him to be - as disciplined and neat as if he were in the U. S. navy himself.

His first real friend he made at his new school was Davi Mori. It turned out that Davi was from a Japanese family, one of the thousands of Japanese who lived in Hawaii. Adam's father had ordered Adam to stop doing things with Davi, because there was a threat of war between the U.S. and Japan. It just wasn't the right thing for a member of a U. S. naval family to run around with a Japanese friend, even one who had been born in America. The trouble was that Adam had promised to go fishing with Davi and another boy the next Sunday morning. They were going to ride to the shore on their bicycles and fish from the shore in the harbor. Adam figured he could do this one last thing with Davi before he broke off the friendship.

While fishing from the shore, the boys were looking at all the naval ships in the Harbor, one of which was the USS Arizona. They felt lucky when they discovered a small rowboat adrift along the shoreline. They decided to fish from the boat as they floated in the harbor. They had just started to fish when planes began flying overhead. Suddenly, explosions were heard and seen all around the harbor. Even their small boat was machined gunned from a plane diving down toward the harbor. The boys were caught up in the December 7th, 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that brought the United States into World War II.

Many of us today have grandparents who remember their shock and fear when they heard about the Pearl Harbor attack on the radio when they were kids. Reading the paperback, "A boy at War," would help us to have a better understanding of what happened on that historic Sunday morning.

 

The story of one of the greatest
of America's founding fathers

Everybody in America has heard about Benjamin Franklin. This little paperback in the "In Their Own Words" series of books tells all about Ben Franklin's childhood, his growing up, and the number of great things he did throughout his long life. It uses many quotes from his letters, pamphlets, and the book he wrote about his own life.

As a boy in Boston, Ben went to work for his older brother to learn about the printing trade. He was only twelve years old and was supposed to work for his brother until he was twenty-one. Because he thought his brother didn't treat him fairly, Ben ran away when he was seventeen years old. First, he went to New York, but soon moved to Philadelphia, intending to start his own printing business. He had to go to London to buy a new printing press. He ended up spending nearly two years there. Still, he was only twenty-one years old, when he returned to Philadelphia. It took a while, but he finally started his own successful printing business. He became famous as the publisher of "Poor Richard's Almanack." All his travels and adventures served him well when he was called on to serve in the government of the British colonies and, later, of the new nation, which was to become the United States of America.

In his own lifetime, Benjamin Franklin was famous as the inventor of the Franklin heating stove, for his scientific experiments with electricity, for founding the first public library, for founding one of the first fire departments, and for founding a university and a hospital. He did all of these things before he began his duties as one of the greatest of the founding fathers of our nation.

The authors, Peter and Connie Roop, tell the story of Ben Franklin's life in a way that is interesting and entertaining.

 

Crafts

 

Fun in the snow, guaranteed

Do you like to play in the snow? Would you like to be guaranteed to have snow to play in?

If so, mark your calendar on Friday, Nov. 23. That's the day after Thanksgiving.

On that day, St. Louis County Parks will hold the first-ever Thanksgiving Snow Sculpture Contest. It will be from noon to 3 p.m. in Queeny Park in west St. Louis County.

There will be a division for kids 15 and under. All others go into an adult division. Park Director Don McCann said there will be first, second and third place prizes in both divisions. But, he added, "There will be a prize for everyone entered."

But, how can McCann guarantee the snow?

It's easy. The Greensfelder Recreation Complex at Queeny has an indoor ice rink. That opened on October 26. Zamboni machines sweep up ice shavings off the rink at least four times a day.

"That means we'll have a month of ice shavings from the rink stored up by the time of the Snow Sculpture Contest," he said.

"And, if we have to, we'll shave the ice more often to make sure there's plenty of snow for the contest," McCann said.

He plans to have a huge pile of shaved ice outside on the paved Swim Center Plaza. Teams then pick up as much snow as they need to make their individual sculptures.

There is a $10 charge for each team entered in the contest. But, your team can be as large as you want. "The teams can be from one to 20. The more the merrier," McCann said.

There are no residency requirements. Contestants can be from anywhere in the metro area.

Advanced registration is required. To enter, call (636) 391-0922.

McCann said he got the idea for the contest while on vacation in Florida last summer.

He and his family stayed at the Don Cesar Hotel in St. Petersburg. The hotel sponsored a sand sculpture contest for guests. His family did one sculpture of the hotel. They added a unique touch by spraying pink food coloring to match the hotel's actual color.

They also used his granddaughter in a mermaid sculpture. They buried her up to her head in sand and then attached a sand tail, he said.

Other contestants made sand castles. "One did a good Mickey Mouse," he said.

"I got to thinking, how can I reverse this process and make a program for my facilities at Queeny," he said.

That's when he thought of the ice shavings from the Greensfelder rink.

He said the contest also will give him a chance to introduce the rink to more people.

The Greensfelder rink opened Oct. 26 and will stay open until Feb. 28, 2002. There are open skating sessions and lessons for skaters from age 4 on up. There also are "stick and puck" sessions when hockey players can practice individually.

The Mid-States Hockey Leagues also play games at the rink.

Another rink feature is birthday skating parties. Families can rent an individual party room and then take part in the open skating times at the rink.

While you're at the Queeny Park rink, you might like to enter in another "guaranteed snow" event. That's the "Guaranteed White Christmas."

You enter a drawing. If you win, the Parks Department will dump a one-ton load of ice shavings in your front yard for a private snow sculpture party. Also included is an ice skating party for up to 15 at the Queeny rink. That includes free admission, skate rental, a party room and pizza.

Cecil Whitaker's Pizzeria co-sponsors this event. Entry forms can be obtained at Queeny Park or at the Cecil Whitaker restaurant at Weidman and Manchester Rds.

St. Louis County Parks has two other indoor skating facilities. The Kennedy Recreation Complex is in south county. The North County Recreation Complex in Veterans Memorial Park is in north county.

You can call for information at the Kennedy Complex at (314) 894-3089 or the North County Complex at (314) 721-8102.

For information about the total St. Louis County Parks program, visit the website at www.st-louiscountyparks.com.

 

Entertainment

Twelve-year-old Justin Knabach already holds down a music job usually handled by an adult. At least once a month, he's the organist at worship services at his north St. Louis County church.

And, he wants to become the head organist at Salem Lutheran Church in Black Jack. That would mean playing for up to five worship services every weekend.

That's not too bad for a kid who took up the organ only a year ago.

Of course, he had over five years of piano lessons before that.

Justin said, "I've always liked to play music. My dad played the piano a little. When I was young, I'd watch him and then try to finger the music like he did.

"I could play music before I learned how to read music."

Knabach's musical ability has earned him the designation as an AmerenUE Bright Star. That's an award program sponsored by the AmerenUE utility company and KFUO/Classic 99 radio station.

The awards are given to youngsters who show improvement in their musical efforts.

Justin definitely fits into that category. He's one of three organists who rotate playing at Salem Lutheran Church's regular worship services. He shares the organ rotation with the wife of a seminary student and a school teacher.

He said he'd very much like to be the church's only organist.

The church organist's job is more than just playing the hymns the minister selects. The organist has to select the prelude and postlude music. Then, there's deciding on what music is appropriate for other parts of the service.

"You get to plan a musical strategy for the church service. That's part of the fun of the organ," Justin said.

He also said the organ is a "stronger sounding" instrument than a piano and "more complex." He also likes the idea that the feet have an important--and sometimes independent--role in the music.

He said one of the important parts of his organ practices are working on foot exercises. Sometimes he plays whole melodies with his feet, not using his hands at all.

He said coordinating the feet and hands "isn't hard for me."

He said he definitely likes the organ better than the piano now. "I don't take piano lessons anymore although I continue to play the piano at home alot," he said.

"I like classical music but I don't have any special favorites. I just play alot," he said.

He began taking organ lessons in October, 2000. By last Christmas, he was playing for services at Salem Lutheran. His current organ teacher is Mark Bender of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Des Peres.

Justin said he gets to practice on the Salem Lutheran Church's organ, which he considers a very fine instrument. The organ was completely reworked a couple years ago as a part of the church's 150th anniversary celebration.

He said he usually practices two or three times week. But, on the weeks that he is scheduled to play at the worship services, he practices more often. He also has played music for funerals at the church and a nearby funeral home.

When an organist plays at Salem Lutheran, he or she is responsible for playing at one service on Saturday, two or three on Sunday and another on Monday.

The usual pattern calls for two Sunday services. But, once a month, a third service is added for shut-ins who get special transportation for an afternoon service.

Justin is one of eight Knabach children. The six of them who are of school age are all home-schooled.

Most of the children have an interest in music. From time to time, three or four of them, including Justin, will play music at the Delmar Gardens North Nursing Home while residents have lunch.

Justin also provides piano accompaniment for a choir at the Salem Lutheran School. Although he is home-schooled, he also gets to participate in the choir's singing.

 

Lifestyle

Eleven-year-old Cory Scott of Arnold wants to be either a painter or a designer of homes when he grows up. Last month, he got a taste of what it takes to be an architect.

The fifth grader was among kids attending the St. Louis Art Museum's Fall Classes for Young People. On four Saturdays, kids studied elements of architecture.

Cory was in the classes for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. There were three other classes: for pre-kindergarten, for kindergarten and first grade and for second and third grade.

The final Saturday activity for Cory's class fit his interests exactly. The kids learned how to make a model of a house.

Cory said, "We also are working on buildings in my art class at school. We are drawing buildings, using the 'vanishing point' to get perspective." One of the earlier exercises at the Art Museum also involved using perspective when drawing a building.

The Museum's Saturday classes for kids usually revolve around current museum exhibits. For instance, in October, the museum opened an exhibit featuring the noted Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Ando is the designer of the new Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts building in St. Louis. That building opened in October and is the first public building by Ando in the U.S.

(For other Museum activities for kids, see sidebar below.)

Not all the kids who attended the October classes expect to become artists when they grow up. But, they like art activities now.

Ten-year-old Alan Voss of Valley Park said his first artistic effort was when he was five. But, he admits it wasn't very good. "I made a mess on the kitchen floor, using spaghetti sauce and jelly," he said.

He said his more recent efforts have been better.

"My best picture was of a pot on the stove. It was so good," Alan said. He used pencil and crayon for that artwork. He also likes to make bracelets and necklaces. "I love art," he said. Voss received a special art scholarship so he could attend the museum classes.

Nine-year-old Bryan Peng of Ballwin takes part in a gifted art class one night a week at his school. He said he does a lot of drawings of cars and also makes origami designs. Origami involves making intricate designs by folding paper.

Nine-year-old Lauren Schneider of Kirkwood also said she does artwork at home.

"I drew a picture of my younger sister with markers," the fourth grader said. "She liked it and put it up on the refrigerator," she added. "I also made a felt hat. I wear it to school sometimes," she said.

Lauren said she's got an ambitious project in art class at school. "We're making a picture of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel," she said. The original ceiling was done by the famous Italian artist Michelangelo.

Ten-year-old Luke Branin of O'Fallon, Ill., also does pictures at home.

"I did a self-portrait of me standing out in a field. I used a picture of myself to draw from," he said. He did the picture with water-color paints.

"It's framed and hanging in our living room. My mother did the framing," the fifth grader said.

During the four October classes for the fourth, fifth and sixth graders, the kids took part in a range of activities. The first week, they learned ways to use perspective to draw buildings. The second week they made a water-color print of the Museum building.

In the third week, the kids worked on a model of a door, made in the form of a relief sculpture. They worked right in a museum gallery that had a display of a giant 16th century door from the Convent of St. Isabel. There also were examples of relief sculptures in marble hanging on the walls.

Of course, the kids were working with easier materials, such as paper, glue and a special modeling clay. But, their designs included doors that opened and many had elaborate decorations around the edges.

Cory Scott summed up the experience by saying, "I like art because you get to use your imagination."

 

An Architecture Free for All; More Saturdays for Kids The St. Louis Art Museum will hold a free Architecture Free for All program on Sunday, Nov. 4, from noon to 4 p.m. This program also features the exhibit for Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Admission to the Ando exhibit will be free that day. And, there's plenty more free events scheduled, including interactive activities for people of all ages. There will be demonstrations of origami architecture, haiku poetry, Japanese basket-making and a Japanese tea ceremony. Kids and others also will be able to help create a kinetic sculpture for the community art pool, an architectural sculpture for the Student Gallery and win prizes at a Japanese-style game show. The next series of Classes for Young People will be held the four Saturdays in February, 2002. These classes will be built around the work of famous artist John Singer Sargent. An exhibition of his paintings will be open at the Museum at that time. For information about these and other Museum activities, log on to the website: www.slam.org.

 

Sports

Granite City golfer looks
for tougher competition

Marissa Cook's start in golf five years ago certainly was very modest. It involved hitting a tennis ball in her front yard with a cut-down golf club.

But, the 11-year-old, the Granite City, IL., sixth grader is a real golfer now. And, she's planning to move into competition with much older players.

Next spring, Marissa will move into the Tour Division of the Junior PGA, which is for kids 14-to-18.

She currently is ranked No. 1 in the 8-to-11 age classification by the Plantation Junior Golf Tour. That's a leading winter tour for junior golfers.

This fall, Marissa also got her first hole-in-one. She used a 9-iron on the 109-yard hole at the Legacy Golf Course in Granite City.

"I couldn't see the ball go into the hole because it went over a bunker sand trap. But, I think it hit about 10 yards in front of the hole and rolled right in," she said.

Since she started tournament golf at age 8, Marissa has entered 56 junior golf tournaments and has won 39 of them. She won her first meet at 8 when she shot 70 for 9 holes.

As a 10-year-old, she earned medalist honors in the 8-to-11 age class--among both boys and girls--in a tournament at the Rail Golf Club in Springfield, IL. She shot a 77-73 and also got her first eagle (that's two strokes under par on a hole).

Her days of competing in 9-hole tournaments are pretty much over. As she moves up to compete with older players, the tournaments involve playing 18 holes for each round.

Asked about the biggest difference between the 9- and 18-hole tournaments, she said, "The distance and the walk."

As the players get older, the courses they play involve holes that are longer and, of course, they also have to walk much farther each round.

But, she's getting stronger and hitting the ball farther. She's now 5'9" tall and last spring she won a longest drive competition with a drive of over 250 yards. "And, it was uphill and into the wind," she added.

One problem with her success is that none of her girl friends want to play golf with her. Most of her golfing partners are boys. She plays most often with Adam Spiroff, a 14-year-old who is her best girl friend's brother.

He made the high school varsity golf team as a freshman.

Also, Marissa said her family plans to move to Edwardsville when it's time for her to enter high school. The reason: Edwardsville High School has a "really good golf team," she said.

She's now an honor student at Holy Family Elementary School in Granite City. She plays volleyball and basketball at school and competes in a softball league.

Marissa would like to be a professional golfer after school. Her favorite women's pro is Karrie Webb. Asked why she likes Webb, Marissa said, "I guess it's because of her short game."

Marissa admits that her driving and long irons are the strength of her game now. As for putting, she said, "It's not that great, but it's fair." Concerning her play from sand traps, she thinks she's "pretty good."

Her overall favorite golfer is Tiger Woods. She got a chance to see him recently at the World Championship of Golf. That's the tournament that was planned for St. Louis but was canceled after the Sept. 11 disaster in New York.

"I got to see him during a practice round," Marissa said.

Marissa played three tournaments during September, placing first in the 8-to-11-age grouping in each one. She also won her first tournament in October. All of them were 36-hole tournaments.

Last summer, she was invited to the Junior World Golf Tournament in San Diego, CA. There were players from all over the world. The champion was from Japan. Marissa finished 22nd by shooting 69-71 on a par 62 course.

She practices about three times a week. She is being coached by PGA pro Jim Knott at the Far Oaks Golf Course in Caseyville, IL. She also considers that course her favorite.

Asked why she likes Far Oaks, Marissa said, "They have the best fairways. The rough is kind of rough and I like that. And the greens are fast; I like that too."

 

Music

 

Girl and her violin both grow up

When Holly Carrell was four years old, she got her first violin for Christmas. "It was about 1/16th the size of a regular violin," she said.

But, 10 years later, the 9th grader at Crossroads School has grown as a musician and her violin has grown in size. The full-sized violin she now has is a 200-year-old instrument made in Germany.

She's going to put it to good use on Saturday, Nov. 17. She will be one of the soloists at the Young Heroes in Music concert. The live concert will be at 10 a.m. at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It also will be broadcast live on KFUO, Classic 99 radio (FM99.1).

The Young Heroes in Music concerts are held twice a year to showcase talents of young African-American classical musicians. Holly is the youngest of the musicians on the Nov. 17 program.

"This is the biggest concert I've ever done," the 14-year-old said. She expects to be a little nervous before she plays. "But, I'm not nervous while I'm playing," she said.

She's already picked the pieces she'll play. They are "Praeludium and Allegro" by Fritz Kreisler and "La Folia" by Vivaldi. She considers the Vivaldi piece her favorite.

"It's pretty long but I like it. There are crescendos all through the piece. It's really fun," Holly said.

Her first introduction to music came when her parents took her to a Suzuki demonstration.

"I didn't know if I was going to like music or not. But, after I got my first violin and played it, I liked it alot," Holly said.

She's been taking lessons for 10 years. Her teacher since the beginning is Twinda Murry.

She even likes to practice. Well, most of the time anyway.

Holly said, "I can practice for 2 1/2 or 3 hours and the time flies if I'm playing well." Other times, it can seem much longer and harder, she said.

When she practices, she knows she should stop when she makes a mistake. Then, she's supposed to go back and practice that part until she gets it right, she said. "Sometimes, I have to force myself to stop and go back," she added.

She has lessons once a week and then tries to practice at least 1 1/2 hours every day.

She said her best experience so far in music came last summer. She had the opportunity to go to the famed Interlochen Summer Music Camp in Michigan. That was four weeks of intense musical training and includes concerts every Sunday.

"There were a lot of people there who were really good," she said.

Asked about her worst experience, she said it came during an audition for an orchestra position. "I messed up all my scales. That was pretty bad. But, I still got into the orchestra," she said.

Holly has played with a number of musical groups and orchestras in St. Louis. She said she liked to play with smaller groups better than full orchestras.

"With quartets and small ensembles, you feel like you're doing something with the music," she said. "With orchestras, there are so many musicians, sometimes you feel like it doesn't matter whether you're there or not," she added.

Asked about any favorite musicians, she said she likes Itzhak Perlman, the violinist. But, she added, "I like certain types of music but I don't really have favorite musicians."

Although music is a big part of her life now, Holly said she doesn't want to be a professional musician. "I like playing but I'd want it to be a sideline," she said.

Her career goal is to become an archeologist. She wants to go to Oakwood College in Alabama for your undergraduate degree. That is a Seventh Day Adventist school and she and her family belong to that denomination.

"Then, I want to go to the New York School of Archeology for graduate studies," she said.

Holly is the daughter of Lee and LaKetia Carrell. Both had some musical background and introduced their daughter to it at a young age.

For information on the KFUO music programs, you can check the station's website at www.classic99.com. Or you can call Tricia Oates, the station's director of educational initiatives at (314) 505-7814.

 

Math Puzzler

 

Find Puzzler answers; Win a prize

We're into the third month of Young Saint Louis.com's Math Puzzler contest. Entries have been going up, but we're still looking for our first winner to answer all six Puzzlers correctly.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com publishes a series of Math Puzzlers. These are primarily for your entertainment and let you have some fun with various math concepts. But, this is not a class assignment.

This month, Wayne Hesse, our Mr. Math Puzzler, reminds kids that Question 6 again will be the toughest one. He said you can solve the Puzzler by using algebra. But, you also can solve it with simple arithmetic--and some good guessing.

He said math books call that sort of educated guessing: "Guess, Check and Revise." Even math teachers recognize educated guessing as a good math tool. It might take a little longer but maybe it will be more fun.

And that's what our Math Puzzlers are for: Fun. The more fun you get out of math, the more you'll learn about this very important subject.

You can submit your answers to the November contest by using the form below. We'll publish next month the names of those who answered all these questions correctly. We'll also get an explanation of the correct answers. (For answers to the October Math Puzzlers, click here.)

We're offering an ADDED BONUS for entries. Each month, we'll put all entries that answer correctly all six Puzzlers into a hat and draw for up to three $10 gift certificates from Borders Book Stores.

A note: We've made these Math Puzzlers quite challenging, especially for younger kids. But, we don't mind if you solicit help from a parent or older brother or sister. In fact, you might want to make this a family activity.

Here's how to enter:

1. Print out the following entry form.
2. Fill out your name, address and telephone number.
3. Give your answers to the six Math Puzzlers.
4. Put your completed entry into a stamped envelope.
5. Mail your entry to:
   Math Puzzler Contest
   Young Saint Louis.com
   7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 1450
   Clayton, MO 63105
6. All entries must be postmarked by the 15th of the month to be eligible for a book prize.

----------Clip here to make entry----------

Entry for November, 2001, Math Puzzler Contest:

Name: _____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

City:_____________________, State:______ ZIP________

Contact phone no.(____)____________________

 

The Math Puzzlers
(Nov. 2001)

 

1. If six boys drink 12 malteds in 90 minutes, how many malteds could four boys drink in three hours?

Answer:___________

 

2. What three-digit whole number can be divided evenly by 32 different whole numbers?

Answer:___________

 

3. Which cube can't be made from the flattened plan?

Answer:___________

 

4. Marian bought four oranges and three lemons for 90 cents on Tuesday. She bought three oranges and four lemons for 85 cents on Wednesday. What is the cost of each orange and each lemon?

Answer:___________

 

5. Bill, Alice, Dave, Ellen and Frank were in a math contest. Bill was neither first or last. Alice beat Bill. Frank was beaten by Dave. Ellen beat Dave and Frank. Bill beat Ellen. Who was first?

Answer: ___________

 

6. Each different symbol represents a different number. The sum of each column and each row is shown, except for the extreme right vertical column (marked with a ?). Supply the missing number for that column.

 

Answer:__________

 

The number of entries in Young Saint Louis.com's Math Puzzler contest increased during October. But, Question 6 proved to be too much.

All but one of the entrants answered that question incorrectly. And, the one kid with the correct answer to Question 6 missed other answers.

Several entrants got five of the six Puzzlers correct.

At first glance, Question 6 looked pretty easy. But, it turned out to be a toughie.

Wayne Hesse of Green Park Lutheran School is our website's Mr. Math Puzzler. When asked about Question 6, he suggests each contestant look for a general principle of math before answering a question.

In this case the math principle says: "You can't average averages."

Question 6 gave the average speed per hour for each trip segment. But, you needed to go back to find the time it took the biker to cover the distance of each segment before giving the answer. (Look below to see two different ways to answer Question 6. The answer is 10 kilometers per hour.)

Remember, all those answering all six Puzzlers correctly will have their names published the following month. Also, all winning entries will be put into a hat and up to three $10 Borders book certificates will be awarded.

Answers to October, 2001, Math Puzzlers

1. What is the sum of the spots on the left side of the stack of dice?

Answer: 11

Explanation: You look at the hidden left side of the dice to find the number of spots. For future reference, remember the opposite faces of a six-sided die always add up to seven.

 

2. What is x?

1+2=5
2+3=13
4+5=41
5+6=61
6+7= x

Answer: 85

Explanation: The relationship of the other numbers is that both numbers on the left side of the = signs have been squared first before they are added.

 

3. What is the total of these six fractions?

1/3 + 3/1 + 3/6 + 6/3 + 4/8 + 8/4 = ?

Answer: 8 1/3

Explanation: You need to express these fractions with a common denominator before adding them. The common denominator is 24 and the numerators then add to 200. When that is divided by 24, you get 8 1/3.

 

4. Suppose you have two egg timers, a five-minute and a three-minute. How can you use these two measuring devices to time an egg that would be boiled for exactly two minutes?

Answer: Start both timers at the same time and, when the three-minute timer goes off, put the egg in boiling water. Then, when the five-minute timer goes off, it will have been two minutes.

 

5. Add arithmetical symbols (+, -, x, (divide symbol) between the numbers on the left side of the equals sign to make the equation true.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 = 100

Answer: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 x 9 =100

Explanation: Some of you found other combinations using +, - and x to get to 100.

 

6. Timothy is riding a bicycle on a road that can be thought of as having four equal parts. On the first fourth, which is level, he pedals at 10 kilometers per hour. On the second fourth, which is on an upslope, he pedals 5 kilometers per hour. On the third fourth, a downward slope, he goes 30 kilometers per hour. On the final fourth, which is level again but with a tailwind, he goes 15 kilometers per hour. What is Timothy's average speed?

Answer: 10 kilometers per hour

Explanation: You can figure this either with arithmetic or with algebra.

With arithmetic reasoning, pick a common distance for each segment, such as 10 kilometers. Thus, the first segment at an average of 10 kpr takes 1 hour or 60 minutes. The second segment at 5 kpr takes two hours or 120 minutes. The third segment at 30 kpr takes just 20 minutes. The fourth segment at 15 kpr takes 40 minutes. That's a total of 240 minutes or four hours. The number of minutes divided by four (representing the four segments) is 60 minutes, or 10 kilometers per hour.

With algebra reasoning, you express that as:

Distance is L.

Total time is 

   L     L     L     L
  --- + --- + --- + ---
   10    5     30    15


  3L   6L   L    2L 
  -- + -- + -- + --
  30   30   30   30


  12L
  ---
   30


   2L
   --
    5
                     

       distance
Rate = --------
         time
                     

        (4L) 
Rate = ------
       (2L/5)
                     

       (20L)
Rate = -----
       (2L)
                     

Rate = 10
                     

Fun & Games

 

Fun & Games

Note that the words used in Young Saint Louis.com crossword puzzles are all taken from the articles appearing in this months issue. When you have completed the puzzles, you can find the answers below!

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #1

Across	Down
6. play sports for pay 8. central message 10. love of country	1. one who terrorizes 2. sources of ideas 3. level of competition 4. a terrible event 5. take turns 7. winner of medals 9. caring feeling

 

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #2

Across	Down
2. music ending service 5. emerging tunes 7. a specified religion 8. support with music	1. musical emphasis 3. a classification 4. purposeful plan 6. service for deceased

 

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #3

Across	Down
4. plans buildings 6. staying alive 7. competitors in game 8. unlike any other 9. paper folded art	1. intricate design 2. desire to excel 3. fishlike girl 5. helps with direction 6. long, thin pasta

 

Turkey Day

Across	Down
1. feeling after meal 3. served with butter 8. turkey day - formal 9. center of the meal 10. pull to get wish	2. turkey's leg 4. served mashed 5. also called stuffing 6. add red color 7. used in pies

 

Thanksgiving Jokes

Why did the Pilgrim shoot the turkey?
     Because he was in a fowl mood!

What did the Indians call the Pilgrim with a bucket over his head?
     Pail face!

What's the key to a great Thanksgiving?
     Tur-key, of course!

Why was the monster tickled when he ate the turkey?
     Because he forgot to pluck the feathers!

Why did the Pilgrims eat turkey on the first Thanksgiving?
     Because they couldn't get the moose in the oven!

What's the best way to stuff a turkey?
     Take him out for pizza and ice cream!

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys in the super market, but couldn't find one big enough for her large family. She asked a stock boy, "Don't these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy replied, "No, ma'am, they're all dead."

 

More Monster Book Titles (I know; Halloween's over!)

"Creature from Mars" by A. Lee-En
"Dracula's Mission" by Pierce D. Nex
"In the Monster's Jaws" by Mandy Ceased
"Ghosts and Ghouls" by Sue Pernatural
"Terrible Spells" by Bea Witches

 

Plays on Words

Have you heard about the restaurant on the moon?
     Yeah, great food but no atmosphere!

Why did the fat woman wear a helmet to the dinner table?
     Because she was on a crash diet!

Why didn't the hotdog star in the movies?
     Because the rolls weren't good enough!

Why are teddy bears never hungry?
     Because they're always stuffed!

What did Noah say as he was loading the ark?
     Now I herd everything!

Why couldn't they play cards on the ark?
     Because Noah was sitting on the deck!

Why weren't there any worms on the ark?
     Because worms come in apples, not in pairs!

Why is Dracula so unpopular?
     Because he's a pain in the neck!

 

 

Answers to Fun & Games

Note that the words used in Young Saint Louis.com crossword puzzles are all taken from the articles appearing in this months issue.

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #1

Across	Down
6. play sports for pay 8. central message 10. love of country	1. one who terrorizes 2. sources of ideas 3. level of competition 4. a terrible event 5. take turns 7. winner of medals 9. caring feeling

 

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #2

Across	Down
2. music ending service 5. emerging tunes 7. a specified religion 8. support with music	1. musical emphasis 3. a classification 4. purposeful plan 6. service for deceased

 

Young Saint Louis.com - Nov. #3

Across	Down
4. plans buildings 6. staying alive 7. competitors in game 8. unlike any other 9. paper folded art	1. intricate design 2. desire to excel 3. fishlike girl 5. helps with direction 6. long, thin pasta

 

<