Page 9 - Reedley Exponent 1-25-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
Section | Thursday, January 25, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com Cadet dedication
The calming effect of adult coloring at the Reedley Library See Below
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
Annual inspection is just one activity in a busy year for RHS' NJROTC program
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
Anthony Lujan, a Reedley High School senior and battalion com- mander of the campus’ Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, had just overseen the public portion of the program’s demanding annual inspection.
The NJROTC’s 150 students stood for the public inspection ex- ercise on Jan. 17 on the field of the high school stadium. Parents and other supporters in the stands braved the cold morning weather as retired U.S. Navy officers observed the student cadets.
The stadium ceremony included presentation of the colors by the col- or guard and an exercise executed by an armed drill team.
After it was over, Lujan said he thought they had done “exception- ally well” as a whole.
It was announced at the cer- emony that the new battalion com- mander for 2018-19 will be Jami- lynne Gonzalez, who currently is a junior. In that role, she, like Lujan, will be in the top student position for the NJROTC program.
Reedley High’s program is the second largest Navy Junior ROTC in the Central Valley. Lemoore High School is the biggest.
Was Lujan sad that he would be stepping down later this year from his role?
“I’m extremely sad. I loved be- ing battalion commander,” said Lu-
jan, who also excels at shot put in track and field and is considering letters of interest from a variety of universities. “It had its moments when it was extremely stressful, but it was really fun.”
The RHS program began about 14 years ago. Its function isn’t to re- cruit students to the military. Rath- er, the NJROTC program seeks to instill skills that students will need to succeed in higher education insti- tutions and careers. The program includes academics, athletic events, other NJROTC activities, and com- munity appearances that include parades and special occasions.
“I want to teach them accountability, responsibility and leadership so that whatever they decide to do in life, they're successful.”
– Commander Christopher Bodine of RHS' NJROTC
Commander Christopher Bodine, who teaches the program with Chief Petty Officer Arlando Love, said they focus on citizenship development.
“I want to teach them account- ability, responsibility and leader- ship so that whatever they decide to do in life, they’re successful,”
See NJROTC page B8
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
The title alone on the Reedley Library’s schedule of activities should be a draw: “Color Me Calm, Cheaper than Therapy.”
For those who’ve noted the trend in recent years, they know this all about adult coloring. What once was viewed as only a child’s activity has grown into an industry. Bookstores and hobby stores are stocked with adult coloring books.
The appeal? Those who do it say it’s a blend of fun and relax- ation.
For the uninitiated, the Reed- ley Library sessions on Thursday evenings are a friendly, welcoming way to begin.
The activity took a break dur- ing the holiday season but now is back in session, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 1027 E St. Partici- pants, however, tend to stay until closing time at 8 p.m.
“It’s been a while, and I’ve missed it,” said Carolyn Leesch, who comes to the sessions with her friend, Yvonne Donaldson.
Leesch said “it’s really true” that coloring can be relaxing: “I’m always wound up. I come here with my coloring, and it’s ‘ahhh.’”
Both women were at the Jan. 18 session, with other participants. An array of coloring pencils and color gel pens lay in boxes on the long table as well as binders filled with completed artwork.
Kathy Thiessen, a library as-
sistant, leads the sessions and pro- vides the outline of designs that are printed on paper. She said it’s a no guilt-just fun-no judging activity. If you don’t like how a coloring design is turning out, just toss it and start over.
And, she said with a smile: “We all need therapy.”
The activity started in Septem-
ABOVE: Coloring done by Carolyn Leesch at the Reedley Library ses- sions.
RIGHT: Sue Ekberg shows a coloring project she had been working on.
Photos by Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
ber 2016. Thiessen said she and Kathy Sullivan, the senior library assistant, had been talking about starting an activity for adults that would be fairly easy to run and could be done for a long period of time. Sullivan knew that Thiessen had done adult coloring. Thies- sen said she would color with her grandson sometimes and then no-
ticed more and more coloring books for adults were being sold, “so I thought I would give it a try.”
Sullivan asked if she would be interested leading a program at the library. Since then, people such as Leesch and Donaldson have been
See COLORING page B7
ABOVE: From left, Adam Harris, Sebastian Rodriguez, Serena Hamilton and Andreya Cantu present the colors on Jan. 17 as part of the annual inspec- tion of Reedley High School's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. This part of the inspection was held in the school's stadium.
Cantu and Harris were named to the 2018-19 leadership staff: Cantu will be operations officer, and Harris will be athletic chief.
LEFT: Members of the armed drill unit performed a drill during the stadium ceremony on Jan. 17. They are (from left) Cesar Garcia-Medina, Mary Es- parza, Villado Hermenegildo and Gabriela Romero.
Garcia-Medina is credited with leading the effort last year to organize the armed drill team and other drill teams. Esparza learned on Jan. 17 that she will be part of the leadership staff for 2018-19. She will be the battalion executive officer.
Photos by Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
Auditions
on Feb. 6 for
'The Little
Mermaid Jr.'
Staff Report
Reedley High School’s spring musical will venture “under the sea” with a production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Auditions for the show will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the school’s Performing Arts Theatre.
Sarah Wiebe, who teaches Reed- ley High’s re-established drama class and now oversees the school’s productions, said she is looking for
See MERMAID page B5
The calm of adult coloring at the library
The View From Here
Felicia Cousart Matlosz's column will
return.