Thanksgiving is a time for giving back to the local community

By Krista Brooks

Published Tuesday, November 20, 2012 – The Daily 49er

http://www.daily49er.com/opinion/thanksgiving-is-a-time-for-giving-back-to-the-local-community-1.2796398#.ULEZ4oenKa8

Thanksgiving is almost here, a day of turkey, family appreciation and togetherness. It’s the transition into colder weather, finals and ultimately winter holidays and vacation. Thursday is the day when we celebrate what we are thankful for.

This year, don’t wait until the donation bins are around town as Santa rings his bell for petty change. The money you are planning to spend on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday could help provide support to those unfortunate enough to be missing out on the Thanksgiving feast tradition. Your money or time can help locals in your neighborhood, HurricaneSandy victims or the troops fighting for our country overseas.

There are several ways to help provide support. Your second plate or abundant leftovers each year could amount to feeding several in need.

Long Beach has been active this season in providing food around the city. Several churches have held food drives to collect dinners for others.

One church offered 1,000 residents and homeless women from shelters clothes, advice and free haircuts along with their meal. Another church distributed donated produce and turkey, feeding more than 700 locals.

A group of local hotels provided food to combine two large Thanksgiving feasts in the park. The Westin and Renaissance hotels joined with the Hilton, Hyatt and Hotel Maya to provide dinner in City Councilman Dee Andrew’s event “Serving With a Thankful Heart.”

Those who are in shape and want to help raise money can do so in the Turkey Trot.

Long Beach holds an annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning for all ages, ranging from a half-mile course to a10K. Run or walk, it doesn’t matter. It is just for a good cause.

The Community Action Team returns the money raised to the community and areas of need. This year will be the 10thannual trot, held in Belmont Shores.

In the Los Angeles area, there is a higher need for volunteers to meet the needs of the many shelters and kitchens.

Throughout this week and next, the LA Regional Food Bank is encouraging volunteers to assist assembling food packages of donated food.

For more ways to find out where and how you can help, visit volunteermatch.org.

Even if you don’t choose one of the aforementioned methods of helping, find it within you this holiday to spread love and support by any means that you can.

Krista Brooks is a junior journalism major and the assistant opinions editor for the Daily 49er.

 

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Southern California has many options for celebrating Halloween

By Krista Brooks

Published Wednesday, October 24, 2012 – The Daily 49er

http://www.daily49er.com/opinion/southern-california-has-many-options-for-celebrating-halloween-1.2783512#.UKnIZIenKa8

For the young generation in Southern California, Halloween isn’t just a one night celebration; it is spread out for a couple of weeks. From decorating the home to choosing the perfect costume, the occasion is fun for many.

There are a wide range of fall festivities to participate in, harvest festivals, haunted mazes, special showings of horror movies in theatres and trick-or-treating spotlight the wide range of characters and costumes. Last year, the psychology department set up a haunted asylum attraction on campus. This year they will follow up with a zombie-filled department.

Off-campus, theme parks like Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood transform into scary attractions filled with horror. This is meant for a particular audience that is into Halloween for the fright.

For another audience, dancing is the plan for this season. Halloween is one of the holidays where the rave scene goes all out. Spring break events don’t necessarily celebrate Easter, and summer raves aren’t particularly thrown for a holiday event.  Many Electronic Dance Music (EDM) lovers follow these raves around California as if they were following a band’s tour. Whether it be in March or August, these committed music lovers dress up in something different than their everyday clothing.

Sounds a lot like our annual Halloween traditions, huh? EDM enthusiasts go all out for festivals throughout the year but go the extra mile to stand out for this particular holiday. Going to a rave that is not Halloween-themed may not look any different than college parties. This season is for those dedicated attendees to show off their best rave outfits.

Southern California is a hot spot for these music festivals where people come from around the state to attend. Escape from Wonderland is held in San Bernadino at the NOS Events Center. To decipher the event from other festivals, there will be mazes, horror art installations and three haunted houses. This event attracts EDM lovers as well as horror lovers.

In Los Angeles, there is HARD Haunted Mansion’s Day of the Dead. This festival is focused more on the Dia de losMuertos side of Halloween and not about glitzy and flashy glamour. This event is held Nov. 3, the Saturday after Halloween.

Monster Massive was once a very popular Halloween rave until 2010 when 40 people were arrested and 16 were hospitalized. The following year, the event was cancelled last minute, but thankfully most were reimbursed for tickets. This year, the event is the same day as Escape from Wonderland, at Downtown Los Angeles Center Studios.

Whether it be trick-or-treating or raving, be safe this Halloween. EDM enthusiasts, you’ve had plenty of practice dressing up don’t fall short on the day it counts.

Krista Brooks is a junior journalism major and the assistant opinions editor for the Daily 49er.

The Next Step in Evolution (Origami Style)

Following the story of evolution and how humans have impacted their environment.
A student project at Cal State Long Beach, (made with paper puppets by journalism students with little to no origami skills.)

‘Mystery Team’ comedians to offer laughs for leukemia on campus

By Krista Brooks

Published Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 – The Daily 49er

http://www.daily49er.com/news/mystery-team-comedians-to-offer-laughs-for-leukemia-on-campus-1.2681467#.TuFi4dWwWhM

Actors and writers from the comedy “Mystery Team” will contribute to “Comedy for the Cure,” a variety show at Cal State Long Beach, to raise benefits and awareness to find a cure for leukemia.

“Comedy for the Cure” will take place in the Beach Auditorium from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission.

“This is a great way to get people involved for a good cause,” Zach McAnany, a sophomore business major, said. “Everyone can connect with comedy on some level.”

Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn will host their comedy podcast “Jordan, Jesse Go!” on MaximumFun.org.

According to the website, the show is frequently among the top comedy podcasts in the iTunes directory, and has been chosen as “Best of iTunes.”

The duo will be presenting comedians such as DC Pierson and Dominic Dirkes, two of the writers and actors in the “Mystery Team” trio.

Comedians Joe Wengert, Eliza Skinner, Daniel Eachus and Andy Kneis will also be featured.

These performers are not new to the comedy scene.

Wegnert is an academic supervisor and a regular performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theatre in Los Angeles. He is a former writer of the Onion News Network and he currently performs improvisational shows weekly.

Skinner also performs in the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles and New York. She is part of several comedy videos from College Humor and Funny or Die.

Eachus is the student host of “The Really Really Good Comedy Show,” held monthly in CSULB’s Golden Nugget.

Kneis, former editor of CSULB’s Union Weekly, is now a comedian at Flappers.

All tickets purchased will benefit leukemia and the Lymphoma Society. Tickets are available at the USU or at the door on the night of the event.

Holocaust exhibit opens in University Library

By Krista Brooks

Published Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 – The Daily 49er

http://www.daily49er.com/news/holocaust-exhibit-opens-in-university-library-1.2630816#.TqtAIrLa6uI

After 20 years of traveling the world, “The Courage to Remember” Holocaust exhibit has returned to California, and will make a special debut in the Cal State Long Beach University Library today at 3 p.m.

Funded by the Foundation for California, the third floor will have a free public display of more than 200 original photographs from 1933-45.

The exhibit is from the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, and it shows a series of 10 stories that have been viewed by more than 20 million people in more than 35 different countries.

There will be speakers from the community at the opening, including Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Rabbi Adlerstein and Holocaust survivor Gerda Seifer.

The 42 panels were chosen to be in the school library rather than at the art museum on campus, so that the displays were more interactive with the public — not just pictures on the wall.

“The message is still very timely, hate crimes are still happening today,” Foundation President Rod Wilson said.

In addition to the full-color visual series of “The Courage to Remember” exhibit, three identical series will be traveling the state for the next 12 months.

The stories told will be focused on four major themes: Nazi Germany (1933-38), moving toward the “final solution” (1939-45), annihilation in Nazi-occupied Europe (1941-45) and liberation — building new lives.

“This exhibit serves as a reminder that the power is in all of us to make a difference in our community, school and city,” Wilson said.

The exhibit is free of charge and will be on display until Oct. 16.