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The Advance’s Best Writer
I mentioned once before that my “little cousin” Allison is now a big, bad reporter [intern] for the Staten Island Advance, and that her first published article ever was: an obituary. Go Allison! (Sorry, family of Mrs. K.)
Anyway, I follow her bylines every week, and considering that there’s basically no real news on Staten Island, the stuff she’s working on is priceless. Here, a composite mini-article for your reading pleasure:
The Staten Island Children’s Museum, Livingston, will be giving away 100 child-sized helmets this Saturday in an effort to educate children on how to be “head smart.”
“It’s probably one of the most useful things you’ll learn as young people,” [State Sen. Diane Savino] said, referring to the leadership skills [underprivileged kids] are acquiring in the program. “That’s really the role of an organizer — to agitate and educate.” *
There are 31 Universal Pre-Kindergarten sites on Staten Island. Both half-day and full-day programs are available. Parents may select morning or afternoon sessions for the half-day program. All programs are free of charge.
See what I learned? I can get a free bike helmet, participate in some Senator-backed program that supposedly helps raise kids’ GPAs, and enroll my [nonexistent] kid in any of 31 flavors of pre-kindergarten.
Allison also “contributed reporting” (Thanks, NY Times! Just love this phrase!) to a really fun, heartwarming story about a 90 year old veteran who was mauled by dogs.
And! She did her work that day on the very street where the attack occurred, BEFORE the dogs had been caught and subdued. No matter, interns are pretty disposable.
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*This helpful definition comes right after the Senator compares herself with Obamamamam:
Meeting with two students yesterday, Ms. Savino noted that both she and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama began their careers as community organizers.
Ah, Staten Island, I don’t miss you.