the bunk room-7 rivers region jan. 2012

™7 Rivers Region

The meaning

of a True BFF

Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY pens a best-selling novel at only 10 years old!

The Bunk Room

Annika 11, splashes her heart out on her Staycation!

January2012

Vol 5, Issue 1

Pg 22Behind The Scenes

Art Festival Pg 18

Braces &

Babysitting Pg 10

TAKE ME HOME! I ’M FREE!

wHAt*s uP tHis moNTh?Created by Kids

The Bu

nk Ro

om™

Features10 Brace YourselfGrace 10, Mount Dora, FL shares the ups and downs of new braces.

Departments6 Publisher’s Note

8 Contributors This Issue

8 Margo’s Musings

11 Pop Survey

12 Day-To-DayLiz 15, Tavares, FL shares her teen-age day, from chores to the stage!

20 Poem! Poem!

26 Road Trip!

30 Habilis Boy

Bethany pens a Bestseller!

The meaning of a true BFF.

7 R

iver

s Re

gion

The Bunk Room is a magazinecreated by kids and read by allages. Our goal is to inspire kidsto love reading and writing.

We have readers andcontributors from all over theworld. In addition to our onlineedition, our printed editions canbe found throughout the UnitedStates. Print editions are providedwithout charge and can bepicked up at participating localbusinesses and institutions. Tolocate your closest local provider,go to

thebunkroom.com/locations

The Bunk Room is owned byDimples Media, Inc. No part ofthis publication may be usedwithout written permission fromDimples Media, Inc.

Please email permission requeststo [email protected].

Local editions of The BunkRoom are licensed by DimplesMedia and are independentlyowned and operated.

For information about beinga local publisher of The BunkRoom, contact Mark Slaby,Director of Licensing [email protected]

10 Babysitting ProHannah 12, Mount Dora, FL brings her ba-bysitting to a professional level.

14 Age is Just a NumberBethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY shares how at 10 years old, she took the advice of her teacher and wrote a book. A bestselling book that is!

28 My Future LifeAs an ongoing feature, we invite kids to share what they see in their crystal balls. Madison 12, Sorrento, FL and Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL share their Future Life.

250,000 people & lots of art.

page 22

page 18

page 14

January 2012 | TheBunkRoom.com | 5

Whoa! A whole new year! I’m not sure

what was more life-changing in the last

year: the expansion of The Bunk Room in

communities throughout the country, or

my 16-year old son surpassing me in height (and I’m tall). Yikes!

With each issue we publish, I love The Bunk Room more and it’s all

because of the amazing people I’ve come to know, including new writers,

new publishers and new advertisers. The response has been so fantastic

nationwide. I’m truly humbled. Our goal is to inspire kids to love reading

and writing, and I’m so proud to say we’re doing that! Thank you all!

Wow, the new year always brings hope

of the better tomorrow. Either through

renewed resolutions or the anticipation of

a new adventure. Here at The Bunk Room

7 Rivers Region, we are very excited about

what 2012 will bring. As The Bunk Room picks up steam in our area, I

am looking forward to the submissions by the youth that will showcase

our Wisconsin talent! I can’t wait to read all the stories from our area.

If you are interested in writing for The Bunk Room call us at

608-498-4474, email us at [email protected] or

follow the submission guidelines on page 8 of the magazine. Thank you

and have a Happy New Year! - Jeremy

The Bunk Room7 Rivers RegionTheBunkRoom.com/TBR_La_Crosse.html

™

Publisher: Jeremy Fisher

Editorial / Creative: Maria Slaby

Editor in Chief: Margo Slaby

Advertising: [email protected]

Advertising Design: The Good Life Media Group

Distribution: Mason & Xavier Palmer

The Bunk Roomies.........................Our loyal and diligent writers appearing in this issue:Becca Michaels 9, Concord, NCGrace Patterson 10, Mount Dora, FL Annika Slaby 11, Mount Dora, FLHannah Patterson 12, Mount Dora, FLMadison Yates 12, Sorrento, FL Benjamin Slaby 14, Mount Dora, FLLiz Kliber 15, Tavares, FLErik Slaby 16, Mount Dora, FLMargo Slaby 17, Mount Dora, FL Maria Chester 18, Eustis, FL

Founders....................................The Slaby Family, Mount Dora, FLMargo, Erik, Benjamin & AnnikaMark & Maria

The Bunk Room: 7 Rivers Region ispublished by The Good Life Media Group.

All content submissions are assumed to be for publication and becomeproperty Dimples Media, Inc., 1515Old Eustis Road, Mount Dora, FL,provider of The Bunk Room trademarkand editorial content. All rightsreserved. No part of this publicationmay be used without written permissionfrom Dimples Media Inc. [email protected] forpermission requests. Every effort ismade to avoid errors, misspellings andomissions. If an error comes to yourattention, please accept our apologiesand notify us immediately. The BunkRoom is limited in liability to acorrection in a future issue. All opinionsexpressed in these pages are those ofthe writers or advertisers. The BunkRoom cannot be held responsible forthe products, services or opinionsherein.

..................................................

..................................................

Jeremy Fisher

WeÍre Growing! Wanted Writers!Go to page 8 to learn how you can contribute your writing. Make sure you

also subscribe to our email updates and “like” our Facebook page. Stay

plugged in with writing ideas, events and more.

Maria Slaby

Facebook.com/7Rivers............................Facebook.com/thebunkroom

Director of Editorial & Creative

TheBunkRoom.com

Subscribe

Publisher, 7 Rivers Region

6 | TheBunkRoom.com | January 2012

branding.design.photographys e e p a g e 2 0 t o l e a r n m o r e

Isn't it amazing how a year can go by so quickly? I can't believe it's over! I’m super duper

excited for 2012 though; there's a whole lot of stuff that will be going on for me and The Bunk Room! Make sure you keep up-to-date on all of our updates by subscribing to our email newsletters... you get updates and tips on all things Bunk Room!

The holiday season really was great for me and I sincerely hope yours was too. I loved spending time with my family during the break... we went on bike rides together, decorated for

Christmas together, and just had a great time.

My parents surprised me with a trip to Minnesota right before Christmas. I had wanted to go up there for a long time to see friends I had met over the summer and to see some snow! Unfortunately, the week I was up, there wasn't much snow at all. I had so much fun though... best Christmas present ever!

We have some really amazing articles in this issue. I’m really proud of the kids that participated… there are so many heartfelt articles with powerful messages in here that really moved me. I strongly suggest that you check all of them out and see what I mean!

Make sure you go to our website, www.TheBunkRoom.com to see videos, blogs and writing ideas for everyone to see. We also have some great surveys that are so much fun to participate in…. make sure to click on that link on the website! We love to get your input on things!

I wish you the happiest new year of all time. I can just feel that 2012 is going to be awesome.

Smiles! ~Margo

Contributors This IssueBecca 9, Concord, NC

Grace 10, Mount Dora, FL

Olivia 11, Altamonte Springs, FL

Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL

Christina 11, Orlando, FL

Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Hannah 12, Sorrento, FL

Madison 12, Sorrento, FL

Julia 12, Louisville KY

Kayla 12, Umatilla, FL

Mia 12, Apopka, FL

Cameron 13, Newburgh, IN

Madison 13, Eustis, FL

Amy 13, Orlando, FL

Brian 14, Medford, OR

Ryder 14, Eustis, FL

Benjamin 14, Mount Dora, FL

Liz 15, Tavares, FL

Megan 16, Lakeville, MN

Jessica 16, Sorrento, FL

Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL

Eddie 17, Orlando, FL

Emelie 17, Kearney, NE

Allison 17, Merrillville, IN

Chris 17, Orlando, FL

Carrie 17, Wheaton, IL

Ryan 17, Bellevue, WA

Margo 17, Mount Dora, FL

Allison 18, Oregon, WI

Maria 18, Eustis, FL

The Bunk Room Needs YouYes...this whole magazine is written entirely by kids, so come on kids, now’s your time to shine. See your work published!

Submission GuidelinesAll writing should be original work of the contributor and be considered wholesome and acceptable content for kids aged 8 to 18. All artwork must be original from the contributor. For photographs, please include names of persons in the photos.

Submit OnlineAll work needs to be submitted via our Inbox at TheBunkRoom.com Remember, a parent or guardian’s electronic signature must accompany all submissions.

All submissions are the property of The Bunk Room. The Bunk Room reserves the right to edit submissions. The Bunk Room content is published monthly by Dimples Media. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission from the publisher.

Congratulations to all contributors.

Editor-in-Chief

Margo’s Musings



Our goal at Sarah Sateren Horsemanship is for both you and the horse to have a partnership, with you as the leader.

We focus on building a good foundation so that your horse will have that willing partnership. We also offer

clinics and private lessons to help the rider establish the communication needed to have the ride of your life!

Contact Sarah Sateren Horsemanship today!

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By Hannah 12, Mount Dora, FLBunk Roomie Writer

Last summer I took a babysitting course called BLAST. At BLAST we learned everything about babysitting including: how to diaper a baby, how to feed a baby, what kind of healthy snacks to feed the kids, CPR, how to

work an AED, how to put kids to bed, how to discipline (without hurting them), how to bandage their cuts, how to know when to call 911, and sooooo much more.

After I took that class I felt that I was ready to babysit. My first client was a family with a baby, a pre-schooler, and a first grader. It went really well! I love babysitting because it's practice for when I have my

own kids and also I just love kids. I love the way they think, and how they comprehend things.

I still don't feel comfortable babysitting past 9:30 pm because that's when my imagination runs away with me....

Here are my babysitting jobs right now: I babysit a three year old and a six year old every other Tuesday all day while their mom works. On Fridays I babysit a one year old for about an hour and a half while his mom goes out to coffee. Then I have a couple of other people that I babysit for periodically.

I think that babysitting is teaching me the skills that I need to know for when I grow up.

Brace Yourself!By Grace 10, Mount Dora, FLBunk Roomie Writer

I have needed braces for a long time but we hadn't really done anything. But, last year I went to an orthodontist and he said that I needed oral surgery because two of my teeth were pointing up toward my nose. He said they would either have to cut them out or use chains to pull them down!

So, about a month ago we went to a different orthodontist and he said that I just needed regular braces, no oral surgery. We also saw a third orthodontist and he said almost the exact same thing as the second orthodontist. So, now all we had to do was choose where to get my braces

We finally decided to go with the third orthodontist and scheduled the appointment. On the day of my appointment I was sick so we had to reschedule and wait another week. When the day came I went and I was so nervous.

When I got into the room the first thing the orthodontist did was make a mold of my mouth. Then he took some x-rays and then started putting the braces on my teeth. He put this red thing in my mouth to keep my mouth open and then he put tons of things on my teeth and then he finally started putting the brackets on!

He took the red thing out of my mouth and told me to wash my mouth. The brackets felt really

big! I sat back down and he put the wire on and he said to go get my mom so he could tell us some things.

When we were all in the room he gave me some things to make taking care of my braces easier. I got an electric toothbrush and a small kit to take with me when I am eating somewhere away from him so that it's easy to take care of my teeth.

My teeth were a little sore that day but not bad. When I woke up the next morning the inside of my cheeks were scraped up but they are feeling better now and everything is fine.

Babysitting Pro


Pop Survey!If you walked into a shoe store, what kind of shoes would grab your attention and why?Some ugly granny ones

Megan 16, Lakeville, MN

Converse, I love their look and they are my favorite kind of shoes!

Emelie 17, Kearney, NE

Flats! They are so cute and comfy! :)

Kayla 12, Umatilla, FL

Colorful Shoes, because I don't really care about shoes.

Cameron 13, Newburgh, IN

Any cute shoes!!!!!

Madison 13, Eustis, FL

Anything unusual because I'm an unusual person.


Slippers would definitely catch my attention because they're comfy.

Allison 17, Merrillville, IN

High Heels, because I hate high heels.

Ryan 17, Bellevue, WA

Toms and Slip-Ons; because I'm in a big need for either!

Jessica 16, Sorrento, FL

Sneakers, because they're cute and functional.

Allison 17, Oregon, WI

Those Barbie hot pink high heels that are like 10 inches tall. I wouldn't buy them of course, but they're funny to

imagine someone in.

Amy 13, Orlando, FL

Usually the weird shoes. The ones I'd never buy, but can

appreciate from afar.

Carrie 17, Wheaton, IL

Vans or DC shoes because they're the best made.

Chris 17, Orlando, FL

Tennis shoes because they are just comfy

Mia 12, Apopka, FL

Tennis shoes, because they are practical

Brian 14, Medford, OR

Uber high heels, as in 6” high. I love trying them on and wonder how awesome my life would be if I could actually get them. :)


What is your biggest pet peeve?Splinters are probably one of my pet peeves.

Madison 12, Sorrento, FL

Reptiles

Olivia 11, Altamonte Springs, FL

Sore losers and poor winners.

Julia 12, Louisville KY

Ringing the doorbell just to get my dog to come in.

Rebecca 9, Concord, NC

When my bracelets change position on my wrist


When I order a plain hamburger (no lettuce, tomato, ketchup, ect.) and they put everything on it.

Maria 18, Eustis, FL

When people don't knock on my door.

Christina 11, Orlando, FL

People who are camera shy.


When people make fun of ballet by lifting their arms over their heads and stand on their toes.

Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL

Long fingernails and when people don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom!

Erik 16, Mount Dora, FL


........................How does my day usually go? Well let’s just say it’s always different. My morning, however, has been exactly the same since I was about nine years old. I wake up at six a.m. and begin my

chores--- vacuum, cleaning dishes, the usual stuff. Then around seven, I begin to get ready for the day.

Now, comes the fun part, school. Here’s where my day changes dramatically. Being a teenager, my love for school is as big as any other teenager. As a homeschooler, my school schedule can change very easily. Maybe I’ll have to focus on one subject over another, or help my mom with my siblings. I may not enjoy all of the work I put forth, I know that it will all be worth it in the end.

When it comes to extra-curricular activities, my afternoon consists of singing, dancing, and acting at Baystreet Theater in Downtown Eustis. Learning more about theatre and having fun all at the same time is the only thing I need in order to have a great afternoon.

Like I mentioned, sometimes my day is normal, or sometimes my schedule can change easily, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Day-To-Day

What a regular day is like.

Liz with her siblings!

Tell us what your day is like! Submit your Day-to-Day article to us through our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com. About 200 to 300 words.

By Liz 15, Tavares, FL Bunk Roomie Writer Suduko!!!

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t o r w g n i d d e l s

e t a l o c o h c t o h

i c i c l e w a c e i o

i l r f d a l b o t a v

a a e w r p b f r o s e

o g t n e a r w p n a l

t w n r c e d s o w o w

n r i i e t c w o n o i

s f w z t a m i n w s h

g n i d r a o b w o n s

i n i f n s k i i n g s

g m i t t e n s e s p o

Find me!snowsnowmansleddingshovelskatingwinterscarfmittensfreezinghot chocolatesnowballskiingsnowboardingiciclefireplace

6

7

4 5

10

9

3

8

1 2

ACROSS 2. Frozen water 5. A sport where you go down a mountain on a board. 6. Downhill or slalom 7. Opposite of hot 8. Where you can skate 9. Shoes to walk on top of snow. 10. Popular winter sport.

DOWN 1. Gliding on ice 2. These are formed by dripping water that freezes. 3. Going down a hill on plastic 4. Winter house 5. Pulled over snow by horses or dogs 9. Whiteflakesfromtheclouds

Crossword Craze!!!Crossword Craze!!!

Winter Word Search!!!Winter Word Search!!!

Age Is Just ABy Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

“Fight for it. You will come out on top.” “Fame and fortune are coming your way.” “A pleasant experience is ahead: don’t pass it by.” I’ve never believed in fortune cookies, but I never knew that these would actually be true. My story started with a blank white book halfway filled with poems, a 4th grade teacher, and a mini purple laptop.

“Bethany, try to write something other than poetry,” my fourth grade teacher Mr. Hill said to me. I didn’t listen. I handed in poetry anyway. By the time the year had ended, I hadn’t written anything besides that. I decided that poetry was much better (than stories). Mr. Hill’s words didn’t make an impression until the summer.

As my mom lugged the groceries up the stairs, she dropped a book on the table. “Here, I thought you might like it,” she said, putting a can of tomatoes away.

“Thanks,” I said, not really enthusiastically. I flipped open the cover and mindlessly turned the pages, not stopping to really read any facts. But that’s when I saw the Eiffel tower.

All of a sudden, an idea popped into my head...What if a girl ran across the country because her evil stepfather was a spy? I flashed back to an article I read about a ballet. I loved the name of the girl- Swanilde. It sounded strong but delicate, like porcelain and metal intertwined.

My first few drafts began in a navy notebook. Lined pages were filled with heartfelt words and ideas, and the notebook filled up immediately with private journal entries, notes, lists, graphs and anything that would let my ideas flow freely. Even when on vacation, I’d have to run to the car every once and so often because an experience would give me a huge idea, and I would have to let it flow on paper. And so a story was born- like a star in the sky, or like a newborn baby in a hospital.

My parents knew about my project, but although they did support me, later I found out that they actually didn’t really believe it would become a book. Each night after I finished my homework, I revisited my old friends: Swanilde, Acenath, Atemu and Dalila. I reread, fixed things, wrote, and moved on. Page after page was written, and by then, school was back.

Editor’s Note: I had the pleasure of meeting Bethany and not only is she an amazing writer, but she is also very successful outside of the notebook. As well as being extremely polite and courteous, Bethany participates in track, Girl Scouts and plays in band. It was an honor to meet her!

BOOK REVIEW..................................................................

I loved the book! I like how the characters speak from their own perspective. It kept me interested and made me want to turn the page. It’s also nice to have really short chapters! Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL

Number At 10 years old,Bethany Huang published her first book.

And, among other accolades, her book is placed No. 1 on SBEP Reading List 2011 at Boys Hope Girls Hope, a nonprofit organization to help children to meet their full potential. The book is also placed in the top 10% in Barnes & Noble List for Teen Fiction - Adventure.

The year zoomed by, and I felt ready to present my story to Mr. Hill. I had about seventy to ninety pages by now, and I felt like my story was developed enough for exhibition.

“Hey, Mr. Hill,” I said. “I wrote a story!”

Mr. Hill replied, incredulous, “Really?”

“Yeah- here’s a copy.”

From then on, I almost always went in during recess to type up my story and ask for feedback. I’d bring in my sparkly purple laptop, and my friends would ask me why I’d brought it in. I’d almost always reply,“Oh, it’s nothing- just something I’m doing.” They’d nod and leave the subject alone.

We found a few publishers, and finally, my parents approved one that they deemed reliable. We edited my book ourselves---I still have piles of drafts of my book in my closet to prove it. When my book arrived, glossed, with clean, sharp edges, 26 days before my 11th birthday, I went in about a week later to visit Mr. Hill, with a group of friends, to surprise him with my book.

So count on your dreams----because as long as you work hard for them, you’ll achieve whatever you aspire. Dreams really do come true.

Buy The Book


By Bethany 12, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

“Fight for it. You will come out on top.” “Fame and fortune are coming your way.” “A pleasant experience is ahead: don’t pass it by.” I’ve never believed in fortune cookies, but I never knew that these would actually be true. My story started with a blank white book halfway filled with poems, a 4th grade teacher, and a mini purple laptop.

“Bethany, try to write something other than poetry,” my fourth grade teacher Mr. Hill said to me. I didn’t listen. I handed in poetry anyway. By the time the year had ended, I hadn’t written anything besides that. I decided that poetry was much better (than stories). Mr. Hill’s words didn’t make an impression until the summer.

As my mom lugged the groceries up the stairs, she dropped a book on the table. “Here, I thought you might like it,” she said, putting a can of tomatoes away.

“Thanks,” I said, not really enthusiastically. I flipped open the cover and mindlessly turned the pages, not stopping to really read any facts. But that’s when I saw the Eiffel tower.

All of a sudden, an idea popped into my head...What if a girl ran across the country because her evil stepfather was a spy? I flashed back to an article I read about a ballet. I loved the name of the girl- Swanilde. It sounded strong but delicate, like porcelain and metal intertwined.

My first few drafts began in a navy notebook. Lined pages were filled with heartfelt words and ideas, and the notebook filled up immediately with private journal entries, notes, lists, graphs and anything that would let my ideas flow freely. Even when on vacation, I’d have to run to the car every once and so often because an experience would give me a huge idea, and I would have to let it flow on paper. And so a story was born- like a star in the sky, or like a newborn baby in a hospital.

My parents knew about my project, but although they did support me, later I found out that they actually didn’t really believe it would become a book. Each night after I finished my homework, I revisited my old friends: Swanilde, Acenath, Atemu and Dalila. I reread, fixed things, wrote, and moved on. Page after page was written, and by then, school was back.

Editor’s Note: I had the pleasure of meeting Bethany and not only is she an amazing writer, but she is also very successful outside of the notebook. As well as being extremely polite and courteous, Bethany participates in track, Girl Scouts and plays in band. It was an honor to meet her!

BOOK REVIEW..................................................................

I loved the book! I like how the characters speak from their own perspective. It kept me interested and made me want to turn the page. It’s also nice to have really short chapters! Annika 11, Mount Dora, FL

Number At 10 years old,Bethany Huang published her first book.

And, among other accolades, her book is placed No. 1 on SBEP Reading List 2011 at Boys Hope Girls Hope, a nonprofit organization to help children to meet their full potential. The book is also placed in the top 10% in Barnes & Noble List for Teen Fiction - Adventure.

The year zoomed by, and I felt ready to present my story to Mr. Hill. I had about seventy to ninety pages by now, and I felt like my story was developed enough for exhibition.

“Hey, Mr. Hill,” I said. “I wrote a story!”

Mr. Hill replied, incredulous, “Really?”

“Yeah- here’s a copy.”

From then on, I almost always went in during recess to type up my story and ask for feedback. I’d bring in my sparkly purple laptop, and my friends would ask me why I’d brought it in. I’d almost always reply,“Oh, it’s nothing- just something I’m doing.” They’d nod and leave the subject alone.

We found a few publishers, and finally, my parents approved one that they deemed reliable. We edited my book ourselves---I still have piles of drafts of my book in my closet to prove it. When my book arrived, glossed, with clean, sharp edges, 26 days before my 11th birthday, I went in about a week later to visit Mr. Hill, with a group of friends, to surprise him with my book.

So count on your dreams----because as long as you work hard for them, you’ll achieve whatever you aspire. Dreams really do come true.

Buy The Book


Look WhatÍs Happening!SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

15 16 17 18

24 25

3129 30

TRIVIAFirst right answer wins 10FREE Super Cool Bunk RoomPencils!

Email us your [email protected]

What waslegendary Green

Bay PackerQuarterback Bart

Starr’s birth name?

Where,specifically, did JK

Rowling writeHarry Potter and

the Sorcerer’sStone?

8 9

3 42

10 11

22 23

JanuaryFestival of Sleep DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/3rd to learn about this day.

Houseplant Appreciation DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/10th to learn about this day.

Ditch Your New Years Resolution DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/17th to learn about this day.

National Hat DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/15th to learn about this day.

National Blonde Brownie DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/22nd to learn about this day.

National Puzzle DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/29th to learn about this day.

Compliment DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/24th to learn about this day.

Backward DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/31st to learn about this day.

Trivia DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/4th to learn about this day.

Step in a Puddle and Splash your Friends DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/11th to learn about this day.

Winnie the Pooh DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/18th to learn about this day.

Martin Luther King Jr.BirthdayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/16th to learn about this day.

National Pie DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/23rd to learn about this day.

National Croissant DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/30th to learn about this day.

Opposite DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/25th to learn about this day.

TRIVIAFirst right answer wins 10FREE Super Cool Bunk RoomPencils!

Email us your [email protected]

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

19 20 21

2826 27

75 6

12 13 14

Congrats to our Trivia Winner Xavier, 7 from Holmen, WI

National Bird DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/5th to learn about this day.

National Pharmacist DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/12th to learn about this day.

National Popcorn DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/19th to learn about this day.

Bean DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/6th to learn about this day.

International Skeptics DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/13th to learn about this day.

National Buttercrunch DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/20th to learn about this day.

Chocolate Cake DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/27th to learn about this day.

Old Rock DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/7th to learn about this day.

Dress Up Your Pet DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/14th to learn about this day.

Squirrel Appreciation DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/21st to learn about this day.

National Kazoo DayGo to TheBunkRoom-7Rivers.com/calendar/28th to learn about this day.

300 Artists +

By Maria Chester 18, Eustis, FL

Bunk Roomie A-Team Writer

Each year they come like clockwork, 250,000 people circulating through the busy streets of the picturesque lakeside town. The Mount Dora Art Festival has given artists and patrons alike the opportunity to gather in celebration of the art they hold so dear. But how did it get started and what kind of work does it take to make this fantastic event happen? Take a look behind the scenes of the Mount Dora Arts Festival!

The Mount Dora Art Festival was started 37 years ago by a group of merchants from downtown Mount Dora, according to longtime resident and Mount Dora Historian, Brandon Wald. “They wanted to create a recurring event that would bring more visitors to the fair city of Mount Dora, and at the same time a little more business,” Wald explained.

Drawing upon the artistic community of Lake County the merchants hosted the First Annual Mount Dora Art Festival in 1974, Wald said. Local artists and kids from the high school displayed their artwork, the Lion’s Club sold hamburgers and hotdogs, and about 300 people came. From 15 artists and a handful of attendees, the Mount Dora Art Festival has grown into a prestigious event that draws

artists and art lovers from all over the country; increasing the number of attendees by nearly a hundredfold.

About 300 artisans participate in the festival each year, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the volunteers, all of their needs are met with lighting-fast efficiency. “We have over two hundred people that volunteer to put the show on,” explained Krysta Smith, Volunteer

Coordinator for the Mount Dora Center for the Arts (MDCA). “We have everything from parking attendants to booth sitters that go and babysit an artist’s booth if they want to go get something to eat, or just take a break, go walk around, maybe visit some of their friends.”


1 Rockin’ aRt fEsTiVaL 250,000 Visitors

An annual event that takes over the tiny town of Mount Dora, FL

Kids Experience The BoothBy Maria Chester 18, Eustis FL, Bunk Roomie A-Team Writer

The Young Emerging Artists is a new program which gives kids the opportunity to experience being artisans in the Mount Dora Arts Festival. The youth have their own designated section where they display their art, as well as a special judging of their work.

Jacob Hinman, one of the fifteen artists to sign up, became involved in the program last year when representatives from the Mount Dora Center for the Arts came and spoke to his class about the program. Although somewhat skeptical at first, Jacob decided to give it a try.

As a participant in the program, Jacob

learned what it takes to be an artist. He set up his own display, got to take part in a juried showing of his work, and even sold one of his paintings. Although he didn’t win a ribbon, Jacob learned quite a bit. “It was just neat to be a part of it.” he said.

However, the most interesting part of the experience was sharing it with kids his age. “It was nice to have people around your age to talk to and relate to,” said Jacob

Jacob’s main focus is photography, but he does painting and mixed media as well, and has been recently been accepted to the Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia. Congratulations Jacob.

Not to be forgotten are the kids in all this excitement. A special children’s area is provided for hands-on creative adventures. “Whenever you’re exposed to art, it’s mind expanding, and I think that children are restricted to what they get in schools, so it’s really important for them to get it wherever they can,” said Beth Miller, executive co-chair of the MDCA.

“I think we are all born creative in some way. There’s creativity in everybody . . . whether in writing,

singing, dancing, or cooking. That’s what brings kids to the arts festival,” added Nancy Zinkofsky, executive co-chair.


poEM pOEm

SnowBy Becca 9, Concord, NC

Bunk Roomie Writer

...................................................

The snow lightly dances its way down

Blanketing the ground with an icy layer

We run to the creek and jump from the tree

Our feet shout at us Brrrr! We are too numb!

We dash back inside where Mother is waiting

With cups of hot cocoa and marshmallows galore

That snow day was fun!

Do you think you’re the next Edgar Alan Poe? We’d like to see it! Submit your poems through our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com.

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What if every child was sent on the right path? What if every child stayed in school? Graduated college? Got a job? Gave back to his or her community? What could that start? It could be the start of something BIG. Every time you donate money or time to Big Brothers Big Sisters to help a child reach his or her potential,

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By sharing a few hours each week and involving a child in the activities that you already enjoy, you can help a child succeed. Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking caring, responsible volunteers who are committed and consistent to be matched one-to-one with children in our community. Professional staff are there to work with you, the child, and the family throughout the course of the match to provide training and support. Studies have shown that by getting together and having fun with their “Littles” once a week our “Bigs” are helping them gain greater self-confidence, build better relationships, avoid risky behaviors, and achieve academically. Contact us today to find out how you can get involved!

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poEM pOEm

SnowBy Becca 9, Concord, NC

Bunk Roomie Writer

...................................................

The snow lightly dances its way down

Blanketing the ground with an icy layer

We run to the creek and jump from the tree

Our feet shout at us Brrrr! We are too numb!

We dash back inside where Mother is waiting

With cups of hot cocoa and marshmallows galore

That snow day was fun!

Do you think you’re the next Edgar Alan Poe? We’d like to see it! Submit your poems through our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com.


BFF’sBy Ryder 14, Mount Dora, FL

What does it mean to have a best friend? For a young child, it could be someone who shares a cracker with you or gives you his toy. For a teen, it could be someone who “gets” you, comes over and is just happy to hang out, and always supports you. I remember Nick would be glad to buy me a drink and chips at the convenience store if I was short of cash that day, and I’d do the same for him. He had a smile that was absolutely contagious. He always had the perfect, witty comment to make, but never at anyone’s expense.

We were always begging our parents to let us sleep over. In fact, my mom “hand-picked” him as a friend for me when we were kids because he loved to read, and was so polite. I wasn’t sure she’d be right until I met him and realized he was like my double. We loved the same video games, foods, jokes, TV shows, and on and on.

Another talent he excelled in was acting. He was an excellent performer at the Lady of the Lake Renaissance Faire. His step-dad, Michael Dempsey, founded the Faire several years ago.

Nicholas Charles Polk7/6/97 - 11/27/11


Welcome to “Nick Notes”Nicholas Polk was a kind, loving boy with a sweet, contagious smile who always tried to make everyone around him feel good. In honor of his memory, we have created this website and the “Nick Note” concept so his legacy of love will live on.! What is a “Nick Note”? It’s a special message of love and appreciation that you give to another person.! This message can be given to someone in writing or pasted on their Facebook page. Don’t forget to include the address of this website at the bottom of your note! www.nicknotes.org! Then, after the person you’ve chosen to receive a Nick Note receives it, they should leave a comment here telling the world how that “Nick Note” made them feel! Over time, we believe this website will become a beautiful testimony to the power of positive words in a person’s life!Who can you lift up with a Nick Note today?

Nick had a fantastic family. When the bus picked him up to go to Milestones Community School, he was never embarrassed to kiss his mom, Jennifer, good-bye.

He was also so patient with his little brothers, even when they were pesky. He was a great little brother, too, to his big bro, Marc. And I can only imagine how his two sisters will miss him in the years to come.

On November 27, 2011, Nick and I were having the time of our lives. In fact, the last thing we did together was laugh and whoop with joy. We were on our jet ski. It was a beautiful, sunny day on Lake Joanna, and we were having a blast. Then, around a bend in the lake, another jet ski loomed. We both turned toward shore to miss each other but we collided. The other two boys and I popped up out of the water and looked at each other, amazed we were alive. But not my best friend. Not Nick. He was killed instantly.

Why did God want him back right then? Why did it have to be me with him? Why am I alive and not him?

No one can answer these questions for me. But I do know this. All of my life, I will dedicate everything I do to him. My future wife, my children and my chosen profession: he will influence it all, and be a part of it all. I will always be aware of him looking over my shoulder, and I want to make him proud.

Nick . . . . .I will love you forever.

Best Friends Forever

I like / love ________________ because

_________________________________

_________________________________

Date_______From__________________

You’ve Been

Nicked!

Inspired by the sweet spirit of Nicholas Polk. 1997-2011

I’veBeenNickedPlease share this note with us and watch the joy multiply!NickNotes.org


Every 6 seconds a child dies of starvation.Help us help feed the children. For less than the cost of dinner out with your family, you can join The Bunk Room in being part of this world-wide effort to end childhood hunger.

Help others. Help yourself.By participating in the social entrepreneur program of Nourish The Children, you not only help stomp out world hunger, you also help fund your own local cause. Learn how helping feed children worldwide can help your family and your community as well.

For more information, call The Bunk Room at 352-383-1456.Or email [email protected]

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The Bunk Room is proudly partnered with an international corporation in an award-winning effort to end world hunger. Since 2003, over 200 million meals have been provided to children throughout the world, including the United States.


By Brian 14, Medford, ORThis summer, my family and I took a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. My mom bought the tickets online, and we had only 2 hours to pack and get on the plane. Personally, I was completely excited because I've always wanted to go see Las Vegas. I am a huge Elvis Presley fan, and I wanted to see the bright lights and eat the fabulous foods.

We arrived at midnight to a city that was alive and stayed at the New York, New York hotel. I thought I would never sleep because of so much excitement, but I did. The next morning Vegas looked very different than it did when we arrived. It was quiet and hot! We visited the nearby casinos to see all the sites. We went to the MGM Grand and had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. It was amazing to sit in a restaurant that felt like you were literally sitting in a real rainforest. Then it was off to the Excalibur where we won huge alien

blow-up toys at the 'Dungeon Arcade". Everything was medieval themed at the Excalibur. Our next stop was the Luxor where we went to an exhibit called 'Bodies'. We saw the inner working and interesting facts about how human bodies work. My parents treated us to the Cirque Du Soleil show called “KA.” It was a mighty grand show, if I do say so myself. I've never seen anything like it. The people in the show wore bizarre costumes and did amazing acrobatics and flips in the air. There was a lot of martial arts in it, but in a mysterious sort of way. It's a show that I will never forget. We spent a lot of time walking down what is called 'The Strip'. This is where all of the fancy hotels are. Each one was unique in their own way. They all had different kinds of attraction for the tourists. We saw things like the Eiffel Tower, gondola's in Venice, Caesar's Palace, an egyptian pyramid, the Statue of Liberty, live white tigers and pirates. We ate tons of pizza, Krispy Kreme donuts, gelato, and more. It was like we traveled the world over on foot. My most favorite part was when my mom and I went to “Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum” filled with famous figures from history, music, sports, entertainment and more. We saw George Washington, Neil Armstrong, Michael Jackson,

Spiderman, Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Needless to say, I finally stood next to “The King” himself, Elvis Presley. He was taller than I thought he would be, but I loved his hair. The wax figures looks completely real, and we were able to get up close to them for pictures. Overall, our grand surprise summer trip turned out to be the rustling and bustling of a city along with all of it's treasures and delights. We had a blast but were all glad to get home to our plain and simple home in Medford, Oregon.

rOAd tRIpViva Las Vegas!

Want to sponsor this page? All proceeds go toward The Bunk Room Apprenticeship Program. Call 352-383-1456 or email [email protected].


Whether protecting your Home, Auto, Business, Heath or Assets, The Insurance Center is in the busi-ness of insuring you.

CoverageAt The Insurance Center, we talk with you to make sure we know what you need, recommend the proper coverage and explain how it protects you.

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My Future LifeAs an ongoing feature, we invite kids to tell us what their Future Life looks like. Submit articles to our InBox at TheBunkRoom.com 200-400 words.

By Erik Slaby 16, Mount Dora, FL Bunk Roomie A-Team WrirterI have given some thought to where I want to be in ten or so years, but not a lot. Writing this article has helped me figure out where I would like to be in five or ten years.

For the last three years I’ve been taking college courses. When I am 17, I will have finished my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and will be starting law school at the University of Florida, with study emphasizing business law as well as sports law. I will finish law school by the time I’m 20 and very soon after, I will take the Bar Exam for the state of Florida and I will pass, which means I will be licensed to practice law in Florida.

After passing the Bar, I will be hired by a law firm and I will work there for a while so that I can learn more about the daily life in a law firm and what goes into preparing for cases. After learning more about being a lawyer, I would like to become part of the business side of professional football.

I have always enjoyed football and I’m very interested in the business aspect of it. I would like to work for the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay Packers are my favorite team but I wouldn’t mind working with the Jaguars because they are close to home. At some point while working with one of these teams I would like to eventually become the Vice President of Operations or the General Manager.

Depending on how well I do in either one of these jobs I could have it for the rest of my life or I not. If I don’t have either one of these jobs for the rest of my life, I would like to open my own law firm. I would have a partner who specializes in criminal law while I specialize in business and sports law.

From a personal standpoint on where I want to be in the future, I would like to find someone nice to marry and have two to four kids. I don’t know what they will look like or what their names will be but I want to have kids.

I hope that my life will definitely turn out the way I hope it to be and I will work very hard to achieve this goal. It will be very interesting to see if my life is like this in 10 years or more.

By Madison 12, Sorrento, FL Bunk Roomie Writer

I never really planned out my life, but I have been thinking about it lately and when I grow up, I want to be a professional ballerina. I possibly want to be a ballet teacher and a Godly wife.

I want to go to Bible college and marry a man who is a very strong Christian, and I want to get married in a church like my parents did.

After I have been married a little while, I want to have about three kids. If I can't have kids I would possibly like to adopt some kids.

My mum is doing a fabulous job homeschooling me, and if my husband agrees with me, I would not like my kids to have the public school experience. I would like to homeschool them.



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Keep up with Benjamin’s blog. Go to thebunkroom.com and click on Habilis Boy.

Scan Me With Your Smart Phone and watch Benjʼs latest video.

Habilis BoyHabilis means “handyman” and dates back to the classification of early man, known as Homo habilis. That’s when man started using tools and becoming pretty handy around the house. We have our own resident Habilis man, in boy size: Benjamin.

Reality CheckBy Benjamin 14, Mount Dora, FL

Excerpt from Habilis Boy Blog. Restoring a ’77 VW Beetle.Day 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I haven’t worked on the bug in awhile but I did buy the 1972 baja bug that I looked at. I paid $450 and I got a bunch of parts thrown in too. The guy even delivered it. I will soon be interchanging parts between the bugs in order to speed up the build.

Day 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I did a considerable amount of work on the bug. I decided that I don’t need to make this car perfect; I just need to get it done. I ditched my plans of doing a body-off restoration* and am now going to just patch it together. I cut out the floor pans that were really bad and I also removed some of the fiberglass that the previous owner used for the back window. I also removed the dashboard cover and instead of installing a new one, I’m just going to leave it as metal. I also steam-cleaned the seats and I am going to be putting covers on instead of paying $400 to get them reupholstered. I picked out a paint scheme that I think will look awesome. The color will be . . .

READ MORE at TheBunkRoom.com Click on Habilis Boy

By Madison 12, Sorrento, FL

Annika, age 11 of Mount Dora, FL is a musician and ballerina. Annika says that when playing the violin "You have to really work every day."

Annika also plays the piano. "You have to know the notes," she says. "I love making music and you just wanna keep on playing," added Annika.

She got into playing these instruments because her mom thought it would be cool for her to play a musical instrument. The name of the orchestra that Annika is a part of is the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO).

"I think I will always play an instrument. It is something to have in my back pocket if my ballet career doesn't work out," Annika said.

Being a Bunk Roomie takes kids writing to the next level. We learn the art of the interview as well as how to turn it into an interesting article. Plus we have a front row seat behind-the-scenes of the publishing business. To learn more go to thebunkroom.com/Bunk_Roomies

Annika’s Back Pocket

The Bunk Roomies!Meet one of us!

AnnikaMadison

The BUnk Roomies!

* Body-off restoration is where you separate the body from the frame of the car.


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