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Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc. to Host Annual TROPICAL FRUIT TREE & EDIBLE PLANT SALE At the South Florida Fairgrounds – May 14

Natty Kelly
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Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc. to Host Annual TROPICAL FRUIT TREE & EDIBLE PLANT SALE At the South Florida Fairgrounds – May 14

Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc. to Host Annual TROPICAL FRUIT TREE & EDIBLE PLANT SALE At the South Florida Fairgrounds – May 14 

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Both Admission & Parking are FREE
(West Palm Beach, FL – May 6, 2016) The Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc., which has been “promoting the progress of rare fruit “ since 1970, is hosting its annual Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale on Saturday, May 14. The popular event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Agriplex Building on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach.

This year’s Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale will offer numerous delightful and delicious fruit trees from which to choose, including Avocado, Banana, Barbados Cherry, Black Sapote, Canistel, Carambola, Citrus, Dragon Fruit, Figs, Guava, Grumichama, Jackfruit, Jaboticaba, Longan, Lychee, Macadamia, Mamey Sapote, Mango, Miracle Fruit, Mulberry, Papaya, Peach, Persimmon, Soursop, Sugar Apple, Star Apple, Tamarind, plus herbs & spices, specially formulated Fruitilizer and more.

Tree and plant fans should enter the South Florida Fairgrounds through Gate 5 on Southern Blvd. Both admission and parking are FREE.

About the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.
Established in 1970, the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council (RFC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and furthering the cultivation and use of tropical and rare fruit in south Florida and throughout the world. The organization includes several hundred members interested in learning about, growing and enjoying tropical fruits.

Monthy meetings are the second Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, directly across from the west side of Palm Beach International Airport. Each meeting has an educational lecture by a speaker in the field of fruit science or related field, a fruit tree auction, a seed & plant exchange, and the chapter’s famous “tasting table” – a chance to taste various tropical fruits grown by members.

Membership is $25 yearly, and benefits include:
+ Monthly newsletter – filled with informative articles about growing rare fruits and related topics.
+ Propagation classes – members learn how to graft & air-layer tropical fruit trees.
+ Annual Ice Cream Social – for members and their guests only; the ice cream is handmade with fruits grown by members.
+ Plant Sales – members can bring fruit trees tand edible plants to sell to the general public.
+ Organized field trips to regional fruit tree collections and plantings.
+ Monthly field trips to member yards and local orchards.
+ Volunteer opportunities for many interesting & exciting committees and events.

In addition, specially formulated fertilizer and pruning/grafting tools are offered at a discount for RFC members.

For more information about the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc., please visit www.pbrarefruitcouncil.org.

The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County To Host Six Events

Natty Kelly
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The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County To Host Six Events

The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County To Host Six Fun, Informative & Family-Friendly Events in June & July 2016

  • Book Discussion Series – June 10
  • Nature Camp: Pirates in the Garden – June 13-17
  • Orchid Trilogy – July 9, 16 & 23
  • Summer Evening Stroll with the Director – July 13

Mounts Botanical Garden 2

(West Palm Beach, FL – May 6, 2016) The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting six fun, horticulturally informative and family friendly public events in June and July, including Nature Camp for kids (June 13-17), a three-part class on orchid care, and the return of the popular Summer Evening Stroll with Garden Director Allen Sistrunk.

June

Nature Camp

Pirates in the Garden:

An Odyssey of Botanical Proportions

Monday through Friday, June 13-17 – 9 am to 2:30 pm

Throughout Mounts Botanical Garden

$175 for members; $200 for nonmembers

Under the guidance of the Mounts Education Department, children will discover the special places and magical spaces within the Garden. Nature Camp offers playful and creative opportunities for children to explore the world around them. Participating Pirates will learn to think like a horticulturist and observe like an artist as they gather garden materials for investigation and discovery, learn about engineering in nature, create art projects, explore a Bamboo Forest, and go birding. Each day will be filled with outdoor explorations, hands-on activities, and time to create art in the garden. This year’s lineup offers sessions for Kindergarteners through Fifth Graders. The Mounts Nature Camp balances curiosity-driven free time with garden science activities to instill a sense of awe and wonder in our subtropical botanical oasis.

Mounts Botanical Garden Book Discussion Series

Tuesday, June 10 – 7 to 8:30 pm

Mounts Exhibit Hall A

Featured Book: Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

FREE

In partnership with the Palm Beach County Library System, this new series provides an opportunity for book and garden enthusiasts to meet together to experience exciting fiction and non-fiction titles related to all aspects of gardening and horticulture.

July

Orchid Trilogy:

Orchid Basics:

Six Most Common Orchids in South Florida

Saturday, July 9 – 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Auditorium

For all three classes: $75 for members; $105 for nonmembers

Per class: $30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Newcomers to orchids will learn how to choose the correct orchids for their growing area and what they need to grow and flower beautifully. Jones will demonstrate basic repotting and choosing the correct container and materials. (Note: Growing supplies will be available for purchase at the class.)

Summer Evening Stroll with the Director

Wednesday, July 13 – 6 to 7:30 pm

Meet at the Garden Entrance on Military Trail

FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers

The best way to become acquainted with Mounts Botanical Garden is to take a walking tour with Garden Director Allen Sistrunk, who will share fascinating facts about the Garden’s history and exciting plans for its future. Along the way, he’ll stop to discuss rare and unusual specimens and to highlight plants that grow well in South Florida gardens.

Orchid Trilogy:

Advanced Orchid Repotting & Mounting

Saturday, July 16 – 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Auditorium

$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Sandi Jones will demonstrate repotting of an overgrown orchid, and mounting orchids on items such as tree tern and cork bark. She will address common questions like what type of potting media to use, what orchids are best for mounting, and when to use fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides.

Orchid Trilogy:

Prevention & Diagnosis of Orchid Pest and Disease

Saturday, July 23 – 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Exhibit Hall A

$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

As a fellow hobbyist who owns about 400 orchids, Jones understands how hard it can be to find necessary products for growing healthy, vigorous orchids. She’ll discuss how to diagnose orchid pests and diseases from bacterial and fungal rots to insects, such as thrips, scale and spider mites. Attendees will learn to identify the culprits, what products get ride of them, and how to prevent them from returning. (Note: Orchids may be brought in for diagnosis, but they must be places in plastic bags to prevent contaminating other plants.)

Note:

To register for any of the events and workshops at The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County, please call 561.233.1730.  Events at Mounts are accessible to people with disabilities.

 

 

 

About The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:

With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more. Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden. Mounts is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach.

 

Mounts Botanical Garden is open everyday (except Palm Beach County recognized holidays) from 10 am to 4 pm. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

Summer Specials at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Natty Kelly
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Summer Specials at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Summer Specials at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

EauPalmBeach

Florida Resident Summer Staycation Special

June 1-October 31
Rates starting at $199/night
Third night free in ocean-view or higher category rooms

Eau Spa
Eau Spa Summer Specials*
June 1-September 30, Sundays through Thursdays
Self-Centered Massage, 50 minutes for $105, or a Self-Centered Couples Massage for $120 per person (regularly $168 and $183)

Or go EAUver-the-top with “The Queen of Hearts” – a body scrub, massage, facial, bath champagne and sweets all in one! 155 minutes for $352 (regularly $475)

*Other summer specials available, please call 561-540-4960.

Summer Dining Specials

Angle
Angle Uncorked
Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., June 2-October 27
Complimentary wine tasting and class with Sommelier Tim White, by reservation. Guests of the wine tastings who stay for dinner in Angle receive 50 percent off select bottles of wine.
Please call 561-540-4924 for reservations.

Temple Orange Mediterranean Bistro
Prix Fixe Summer Dining
June 1-October 31
Three-course prix fixe lunch for $28; three-course prix fixe dinner for $55*
*Dinner will be priced at $45 during the month of September in celebration of Flavor Palm Beach
Please call 561-540-4924 for reservations.

Summer “Veuve RICH” Brunch
Sundays, Noon-2:30 p.m., June 5-October 30
$42 per person; $16 ages 4-12; children 4 and under complimentary
Temple Orange Mediterranean Bistro’s fabulous Sunday brunch adds a Veuve Clicquot “champagne garden” feauring Veuve RICH, a special type of the famed champagne perfect for mixology. Add flavors such as grapefruit zest, cucumber or pineapple and serve on the rocks for a unique cocktail experience. “Bottomless” glasses of Veuve RICH are an additional $18.
Please call 561-540-4924 for reservations.

Breeze Ocean Kitchen
Prix Fixe Summer Dining
June 1-October 31
Three-course prix fixe menu available for $28

“Veuve with a View”
Sundays, June 5-October 30, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
50 percent off select bottles of champagne

AquaNuts Kids Camps
Have you ever dreamed of spending your summer splashing in the waves, or learning how to paddle board and surf? At Camp AquaNuts, you can experience all this and more! Each week features a new theme to explore in the afternoon, and a morning full of fun in the ocean and pool! Coast Camp for Teens is also available with surfing, Science and more! Located in the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Manalapan. Call 561-540-4833 or visit www.aquanutskids.com to get more information about camp prices and to sign up!

Monday- Friday sessions
8 a.m. drop off – 5 p.m. pick up
Early drop off available

Ages 5 – 14
1 session – $350
4 session package -$1,200
Lunch package available for $45 per week

Session 1
June 6th – June 10th
Science

Session 2
June 13th – June 17th
Surf

Session 3
June 20th – June 24th
Hotel-Explorer

Session 4
June 27th – July 1st
Surf

Session 5
July 4th – July 8th
Photography

Session 6
July 11th – July 15th
Surf

Session 7
July 18th – July 22nd
Science

Session 8
July 25th – July 29th
Surf

Session 9
August 1st – August 5th
Luau

Hanley Center Foundation

Natty Kelly
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Hanley Center Foundation

Hanley Center Foundation

 

Hanley Center Foundation, a West Palm Beach-based nonprofit, is taking the lead to keep community conversations about substance abuse in the forefront. As a next step in its expanded mission, which includes a much greater focus on substance abuse prevention across the state of Florida, the Foundation is presenting a “Spring Symposia Series.” Industry experts will present and discuss hot topics across several counties, including Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River, in April, May and June. The symposia series is free and open to the public, and also provides six CEUs (Continuing Education Units) to professionals in attendance. The Spring Symposia Series is sponsored by Hanley Center Foundation and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network and the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. The May event is presented in partnership with Life of Purpose and FAU Jupiter.

MAY 2016 –
What: Prevention is POWERful
Effective prevention strategies are about achieving behavioral change, not just short-term impact. This training will challenge the participants to look at factors which prevent people from changing and will challenge them to provide a why and a how when working with the people they impact. If you want people to change their behavior, you need to give them a why and a how.

Who: guest speaker Andy Duran
Andy Duran is the Executive Director of both Linking Efforts Against Drugs (LEAD) and the SpeakUP! Prevention Coalition – a Drug Free Community coalition based in Lake Forest, IL on the North Shore of Chicago.

Andy blends his coalition and prevention work with more than 10 years of experience in youth leadership development. In addition to working for years in the Archdiocese of Chicago in various roles with youth, Andy also served as the Executive Director of the Peacebuilders Initiative – a dynamic and unique leadership development program that trains young leaders for the streets of Chicago. Over the past 2 years, Andy has spoken in more than 20 states in the areas of youth development, drug prevention, social media, coalition development and mobilization, prescription drug prevention strategies, medical marijuana and more.

Under Andy’s direction, LEAD has developed into a nationally recognized organization that offers trainings, workshops and technical assistance for organizations all over the country.

When and Where:
Thursday, May 19 at the Heritage Center
2140 14th Ave
Vero Beach, FL 32960
From 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (registration is at 8:30 a.m.)

Friday, May 20 at FAU Jupiter—AD119
5353 Parkside Dr.
Jupiter, FL 33548
From 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (registration is at 8:30 a.m.)

Public contact/registration info for both events: For more information, or to register, please visit call Martha Putnam, 561-841-1215 or email

Cultural Council Presents First Site-Specific Installations by Four Palm Beach County Artists “Call to Install” exhibition opens June 3

Natty Kelly
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Cultural Council Presents First Site-Specific Installations by Four Palm Beach County Artists “Call to Install” exhibition opens June 3

Cultural Council Presents First Site-Specific Installations by Four Palm Beach County Artists “Call to Install” exhibition opens June 3

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Lake Worth, May 9 – Four Palm Beach County artists will display new site-specific works at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County starting on June 3, in an exhibition entitled “Call to Install.” Through July 30, visitors to the Cultural Council’s main gallery in Lake Worth will experience the creativity of art that has been made especially for the space.

Nichole M. Hickey, manager of artist services at the Cultural Council, said, “Visual artists in The Palm Beaches are not limited to just creating art that hangs on the walls. They also think outside the frame to create site-specific artwork — an art-making process that has been prevalent in the art world since the mid-1970s. The Cultural Council’s unique gallery space challenged artists to create work that is specifically molded to the layout and architecture of the building.”

Proposals for site-specific installations were received from professional artists in the area and vetted for the Council’s main gallery space. Artists include Birds are Nice, Katelyn Spinelli, Nicole Galluccio, and the Viridis Collective. Environmental, nostalgic and conceptual themes will be represented.

“Call to Install” is free and open to the public beginning June 3. Admission to the preview party on Thursday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. is free for Cultural Council members and $20 for non-members. To reserve your ticket, call (561) 472-3341 or email [email protected].

Note to Editors:
Interviews with the featured artists, as well as photo opportunities, can be arranged in advance of the exhibition opening or during the preview event. A high-resolution image of Take me to Church: The preaching of Steven Seagal by Birds Are Nice, is available for the media to download at http://tinyurl.com/Call-to-Install-BirdsAreNice.

About the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, serving non-profit organizations, artists and arts districts. The Cultural Council administers $4.5 million in grants annually, supports arts and cultural education, provides capacity-building training, and advocates for arts funding and arts-friendly policies. The Council promotes Palm Beach County’s cultural experiences to visitors and residents through multi-platform marketing and public information programs, including its one-of-a-kind Cultural Concierge service.

The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building, an iconic Streamline Moderne former movie theater in Downtown Lake Worth. Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA designated Florida Certified Tourism information Center.

The Cultural Council galleries, visitor information center and store are open
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Connect with the Council at palmbeachculture.com or (561) 471-2901.

Local Teen Entrepreneurs Compete in National College Scholarship Competition in DC

Natty Kelly
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Local Teen Entrepreneurs Compete in National College Scholarship Competition in DC

Local Teen Entrepreneurs Compete in National College Scholarship Competition in DC

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Palm Beach County, FL, – The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Palm Beach County. This past week, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a national program that delivers its curriculum to middle and high school students through various Chambers of Commerce across the country, hosted the National Semi-Finals in Rochester, New York.

Ninety businesses representing thirty-three states competed for only six spots in the National Finals to be held this June during the America’s Small Business Summit in Washington DC. Snap’d In, a customizable cellphone case company represented by Ethan Shapiro (American Heritage School Boca Delray) and Ryan Shnider (Palm Beach Central High School), took first place in the Southeast Region. The students were selected to compete in the 6th Annual Saunders Scholars Competition.

Hundreds of business and education leaders, students and parents will gather to hear America’s top six young entrepreneurs aged 11-18 pitch their business plans. The students will compete to win college scholarships ranging from $25,000 – $50,000 during an all-expenses paid trip to America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC, and, the opportunity to be on ABC Television’s hit show Shark Tank!

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce runs the YEA! program locally though its non-profit arm, the Central Palm Beach County Community Foundation. As part of the YEA! program, students are introduced to all facets of the business world including, but not limited to, advertising, attorneys, graphic designers and web developers.

During the course of the nine-month program, more than 20 local businesses become involved with YEA! at various levels. Students work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that create economic and social value for a better world. By the time the students graduate, they are CEOs of their own real business or social movement. Applications are now available for 2016-2017. For more information on how to get involved, please call 561.790.6200 or visit www.cpbchamberyea.org.

The Central Palm Beach County YEA! program would not be possible without the support and generosity of the co-presenting sponsors, Florida Power & Light and the School District of Palm Beach County, as well as all of the program sponsors, volunteers, and amazing students.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting yearlong class that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy today serves thousands of students in communities across America. For more information, please call 561.790.6200 or visit www.cpbchamberyea.org

About the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
The geographic footprint of the Chamber extends from the sugar cane fields near Lake Okeechobee to the coral reefs of the Atlantic Ocean, encompassing 15 municipalities and serving a population of more than 490,000 residents, roughly 36% of the population of Palm Beach County. The communities located within the chamber’s footprint are: Acreage, Atlantis, Belle Glade, Greenacres, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Wellington and West Palm Beach. Visit www.cpbchamber.com.

Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

Natty Kelly
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Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

Wellington Art Society Showcasing Local Art at Village Hall

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The Wellington Art Society will host an artist reception on Tuesday, May 24th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the second floor Art Gallery at Village Hall. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the local art on display. Artists selected to participate in the rotating gallery exhibit will be recognized at the informal reception. The Wellington Art Society will be displaying the original works of art as well as books and prints for sale and have offered to provide light refreshments and door prizes for this event.

As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.

For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch Channel 18 for the latest happenings.

 

 

Wellington Garden Club Awards Scholarships to Local Students at Spring Luncheon

Twig Morris
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Wellington Garden Club Awards Scholarships to Local Students at Spring Luncheon

The Wellington Garden Club (WGC) in keeping with its mission to serve the community, inspire and instruct its members and youth in environmental/ horticultural sciences and ecology, awarded academic scholarships to four outstanding students at its Spring Luncheon on May 2 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Scholarship recipients were: Sandy Smith, an environmental science major at Palm Beach State College; Amy Polen, a Palm Beach Central High School senior entering the University of South Florida as an Environmental Science & Policy major; Julie Morell, a Palm Beach Central High School senior entering the University of Central Florida as an Environmental Science & Education major; and David S. Fisher, a Wellington High School senior entering the University of Florida as a Botany major. These students were selected for their outstanding academic and civic records, vetted by the WGC scholarship committee, and recommended by their professors and educators.

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WGC President Kathy Siena presided over the luncheon, recognizing Barbara Hadsell and Twig Morris, co-chairs of the club’s recent event, the “Glorious Gardens” Garden Tour which provided funds for the scholarships and for youth garden clubs, as well as for environmental summer camp sponsorships, landscaping of Habitat for Humanity homes, and numerous community beautification projects, native plant installations and other civic and educational programs. This array of projects garnered the club numerous state and regional Garden Club awards, which also were announced.

WGC-sponsored Youth Garden Clubs claimed eight wins at the National Garden Club level. The competitions were in language and visual arts with themes related to conservation and ecology. During the past year WGC sponsored Youth Garden Clubs at Binks Forest Elementary School, Girl Scout Troop 22222, Olympia Jr. Garden Club, Palm Beach Central High School, Pine Jog Elementary School, Wellington High School, Wellington Landings Middle School, and Wynnebrook Elementary School.

The Spring Luncheon was the final event of the 2015-16 season; the club takes a break from June through August. The Luncheon co-chairs were Bobbi Ziegler, Barbara Zenker and Judy Schweitzer. In addition to the awards and scholarship presentations, guests enjoyed a fashion show of “Hats Through the Ages” organized by member Dee Rolfe who showed many of the hats in her personal collection with the help of members modeling them.

There are approximately 165 active members of WGC, including both men and women from Wellington and surrounding communities. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month from September through May. All interested citizens are invited to visit the Wellington Garden Club website (wellingtongardenclub.org) to learn more about the club’s activities, and to become members, attend monthly meetings, and participate in ongoing projects and continued learning opportunities.

On Bullying

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On Bullying

On Bullying

By Ryan Donovan of Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, 8th Grade

My name is Ryan Donovan and this is my true story of how I have been bullied early on and it has affected me. It has not been easy for me. Telling my story is hard for me because it is embarrassing and I don’t want to think about it. It makes me very angry and sad at the same time. I have always been a little different. I don’t do and say the same things that other kids do. Sometimes that is the reason why I get picked on. It you are not accepted by others, it can lead to kids teasing you, kids being mean or just being left out.

DTWT Ryan Donovan - 2016

It all started back in my third grade year. I was eight or nine years old at the time and I was the quiet kid. This maybe made me a prime target for bullies. I had little to no friends back then compared to now. But, otherwise I was alone for being bullied. I really try to be everyone’s friend. I also try to forgive those who are mean to me. It doesn’t work being the good guy. At first, I would not say anything. Then, I would tell teachers, guidance counselors, and even the principal. The kids would be talked to and they would just kept going and going.

My parents told me the same thing… “Tell the teacher.” My parents saw that it was not working either. They would call but the same things would happen. But, one day, one of the kids started to constantly call me names. It really was too much for me to understand. One day, he told me why he bullied me. He said that he did it because when he was younger he had bikes and scooters thrown at him. After I learned that, when other kids called me names, I learned to block it out because they may have been through the same thing.

My parents always told me that if someone hurt me, I was allowed to fight back. That didn’t happen for a while. Then came the beginning of Sixth grade when it happened. I was at the bus stop like every day. A group of us were teasing each other and I guess it went too far. We were joking around and don’t get me wrong we were doing it for fun. We were making fun of each other and then it went too far and I ended up getting punched three times in the face. Once in the eye, once in the forehead, then the final blow was in the chin. I was just bruised but I was the only one touched. The principal was involved and my parents were called. I later found out that he had left with his grandmother and they had left to another state. He has been bounced from home to home. I am sure he was sad.

Now, I’m thirteen and in eighth grade. I’ve been helping my friends giving advice to them about bullying and other problems. I’m not the quiet kid any more. I’ve made many more friends now. I have not had any more problems with bullying. I hope to put it behind me. It was a tough time. I learned a lot about others and myself. Ryan Donovan Grade 8 1.11.16 Emerald Cove Middle School.

I want kids to know that there is a real reason bullying happens. We should find out why and try to fix it. From my story, these guys had something they were going through and were acting out. If the parents, teachers, guidance counselors and principals would change their way of dealing with the bullies, maybe they can make a difference. Most bullies have a past that you may not know of where they have been a victim of bullying or abuse and they take their anger out on you. The way to maybe prevent bullying is to see what their problem is and give them someone to talk to. It was good for me to be able to talk to someone when it happened to me. I think they may like that too.

Youth Violence

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Youth Violence

DTWT 16 Devin LockeYouth Violence 

By Devon Locke

7th Grade

Western Pines Middle School

Youth violence has affected my life as recent as October 2015. With that said, I will tell you a story of my own experience with youth violence, how it has affected my life and what I think can be done about it.

 

One of my closest aunts is thankfully now a breast cancer survivor. When she was first diagnosed, I worried that she might lose her fight against this deadly disease. Being that October is breast cancer awareness month, I decided to dye my hair pink to help spread awareness, in honor of her.

 

The first day of school after I dyed my hair, I got out of my mother’s car with my best friend, and an 8th grader rudely asked, “Is that your boyfriend?”  Throughout the day, I was called “homo,” “gay” and “fag,” all because my hair was pink. I was literally tormented in the halls while people laughed and pointed at me.  It made me feel awful about myself. Out of everyone in the school, only two people said something positive about what I had done and other than that, the replies were all negative. The next few days, the name-calling continued and I was called “strawberry shortcake” and “pinkie,” along with other derogatory comments that were thrown in my direction, some of which I cannot even write in this challenge because of the vulgarity. I found it interesting that one of the 8th graders that made fun of me, dyed his hair the next day and nobody had anything negative to say. This made no sense to me and actually made me enraged. Was it because I am quiet and shy? Does that make me an easy target?

 

Thankfully, my parents taught me that the cause of youth violence is because the bully doesn’t feel good about themselves and takes it out on other people. Maybe they, themselves, have been neglected, abused or bullied and now this is how they deal with others. A bully tends to target people that have something they want which I think can be something that is concrete or a certain behavioral trait that the bully wishes they had. I also believe that a bully will pick his or her “victim” by race, religion, physical features, disabilities and personality. In my case, maybe it was that I have the personality that doesn’t care if I stand out because I was doing something that means a lot to me.

 

I have tried to think of ways to stop youth violence and I think we should start with each school having a “Bully Drop Box” that a student would be able to put the name of a bully without having to approach a teacher or administrator.

 

Another idea is to bring peer counseling back into schools because sometimes it’s easier to talk to a peer instead of an adult. It may also help because if others know what is going on, and just one person sticks up for you, the bully may stop.

 

My last idea is to hold parents accountable along with their child. Make them take classes on anger management and how to treat others if their child is not treating others right. If my parents had to sit through a class because I was not treating a peer with respect, it would only happen once. It would also maybe help parents hold their own children accountable for their decisions and actions instead of the parents putting the responsibility on the teachers and schools when their own child has done something wrong.

 

In conclusion, I believe youth violence is not something that just happens. It is something that is learned and taught first at home. Ask yourself if parents teach their children to be kind and caring, would this continue to happen? However, as in a lot of cases, parents tend to be too busy to teach their children how to behave.  So, it is up to us students to work together and change the youth of today to be more compassionate, and a more compassionate child will be a more successful adult.

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