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A Future Singer

A conversation with Rakshitha Ashokkumar

By: Neha Ashokkumar

Here is Rakshitha Ashokkumar.

Introducing Rakshitha Rakshitha with her sister.

Rakshitha Ashokkumar is that girl who is loud About singing
to her family and friends but soft to other
people, like an angel. She likes to draw and 8-year-old Rakshitha Ashokkumar has a
game, but she has a bigger dream, to become a passion for singing. One day she wants to join
singer. the fame and become a singer but right now she
is just dreaming of becoming one. If you didn’t
“I like to sing a lot and it makes me happy,” know what singers are, they are males or
Exclaims Rakshitha females that use their voice to sing songs that
are made by them or by songwriter(s). Singers
She also wants to be famous to inspire people can make up to $50-$300 per song. Imagining
and make them happy. She does sing in front of this, if you sing songs and you get money for
her family and friends and they love her singing; every song you’d sing you can probably make a
even though she is nervous in front of them fortune. That's what singers are and Rakshitha
because she fears her voice might sound bad. wants to be one of them.

What Rakshitha thinks about singing

Songs matter for this 8-year-old girl.

“Singing makes me happy, and it gives good
vibes!” Says Rakshitha cheerfully.

Her singing experience is not as interesting as
a famous singer’s experience, but it’s pretty
interesting how her parents encourage her to
keep on singing. She loves to sing.

“It makes me proud of who I am. My parents A picture with Rakshitha’s parents.
keep on encouraging me to sing and improve.”
Says Rakshitha confidently.

Rakshitha’s experience with singing

Rakshitha has sung tamil songs before,
she loves singing hyper and melodies.
But she prefers hyper songs over
melodies because they are more active
and don't make her sad. In her words,
hyper songs are energetic songs.
Singing also makes her happy because
that’s her passion in life. She even sees
herself as a big proud singer; even
singing for movies. Even though she still
needs to improve her singing skills.

Rakshitha’s role-model singers
and what she likes about singing

We know that Rakshitha loves to
sing but she also has inspiration for
her hobby and passion for singing.

“I saw a lot of singers singing in videos
and movies.” Explains Rakshitha.

She also is inspired by two Indian
singers: A.R. Rahman and Sid Sriram
because of how they make music.

“Sid Sriram and A.R. Rahman have
passionate singing voices and add
feelings to their singing.” Says
Rakshitha.

What advice she would give to a
new singer

If you couldn’t tell, Rakshitha had
been singing since when she was five,
so she is going to give you her advice
to a new singer.

“To work hard, and listen to songs
that are your type so you can improve
and become a bigger singer.” -
Rakshitha Ashokkumar

Baking & Tasting
By Gabbie Crook

Boom! “Ahhhh” I screamed as a snow clump pelted my face knocking me over. Just
a couple of minutes ago I had been getting into my snowgear after Owen had come
to my door asking if I could come over. I opened our front door and stepped into
the snow outside. I was crunching through the snow until I had reached the road.
Finally I thought that took forever. I stepped onto the road and started walking
down towards Owen's house. When I reached his driveway I was pelted by a snow
clump. “Ahhh” I shrieked. I scraped my eyes to see Owen grinning above me “ Why
did you do that?????” “ Because I told you we were having a snowball fight.” “Two
things to say: 1)I think you mean a SNOW CLUMP fight and 2.)Who is ‘we’?” Boom,
another snow clump hit my face “I am ‘we’” Jayde laughed & I started laughing too.
Typical Jayde: always a fun mom, always joining in on her children’s fun. We
threw some more snow clumps at each other and then I went home. Jayde is a
really fun person and I’m glad that she joins in on her children’s fun, it just makes
it even more fun! I only wish that Jayde had sent me home with one of her
amazing cakes that she bakes all the time.

-Unknown The amazing Jayde
almost in the flesh!
And Now A Conversation
With Jayde!

The following is edited and condensed

What sparked your interest in baking?

I’ve been baking for a quite long time - since I was a kid. I started baking with my
family and we baked around holidays. They would involve me in their baking and I
really enjoyed spending the time with them all. During my college years, when I
came home I’d bake around special times like holidays and birthdays. Whilst
training to become a pharmacist, I didn’t really get to bake because my studies
were pretty intense. However, once I was working and married with a family, I
started baking cakes for them. From there I started getting interested in how other
people did their cake, after that I started exploring all kinds of different foods!

Tell me about a time when your baking didn’t go as planned?

I was trying to turn a key lime pie into a cake, so I got the flavors of the cake all
done and then I used the meringue to stick all of the layers of cake together and
I didn’t think about how it might not hold well. I got the cake all set up on the
platter and it was so pretty! I torched the outside so it looked nice and then took
a couple of pictures. When I turned back around my husband was like “oh my
gosh it’s going down” and all of the layers literally just slid off and plopped onto
the platter!

Tell me about your favorite creation?

One of my favorite creations was a
representation of Unikitty - a character from
Lego- and I have a coworker who reminds me
of her. I wanted to make her a cake. So I made
this really cool Unikitty shaped cake.

How long did it take you to get the hang of It’s the one and only
baking? Unikitty cake!

I mean it's all trial and error. I think the hardest
part for me is figuring out why a recipe works. I
still feel like there are things that I am trying to
get right that I still haven't gotten. For me it's
really about figuring out why something works
so I watch a lot of videos to learn all of the
science as to why the recipe works.

What advice would you give to people who want to become full time bakers?

One of the things people tell me is that I should open my own shop and I think
about that, and I’m always like “NO” because you are not baking on your own
time, you are baking what other people want you to bake not what you want to
bake. But if someone was interested in it full time then good luck! They”ll need it.
Starting your own bakery and maintaining it is pretty hard!

What advice would you give your younger self?

Who wants a lemon cake? Oh this question, hmm my younger self… I’ve made
I know I do! some mistakes in baking while I was growing up so
I guess I would tell myself don’t be afraid of making
mistakes because they are going to happen a lot

What would you say to younger people who
want to start baking for the first time?

Just don’t be scared to try it or to experiment and
don’t be sad if it doesn’t go well. I have definitely
added salt when I should have added sugar or
I’ve forgotten the sugar completely. So it's okay
we all make mistakes. It's great to get out there
and try and learn, you know, usually you make
something delicious in the end.

If you could go back to when your creations went wrong what would you
change?

I would definitely change the key lime pie cake. You know, stick the layers
together with a different kind of frosting and sometimes I’ve made something
with apples or figs and I haven’t used the right kind of apple so it turned out all
mushy.

Wow! Who knew there was so much to know about baking? When I start
baking again I am going to be seeing it from a new perspective! I can’t
wait to see what Jayde bakes next! I also heard that she is going to be
auditioning for the Great American Bake-Off! (a knockoff version of the
Great British Bake-Off )

By Brooke Furlong Picture: James and her twin
In their crib.

Keep Calm

And… Move

On?The Childhood Of An Army Brat

Army brat: In the United States, What were you like as a kid?
a military brat is the child of a I was a very good student; I
parent(s), adopted parent(s), or loved getting good grades. I was
legal guardian(s) serving a very nice person and I loved
full-time in the United States sports. I played softball, (which
Armed Forces, whether current I was not very good at).
or former. Basketball and track. I couldn't
play many sports as a kid
Imagine as a little girl, packing because of my brain surgery
up all your dolls in a little That I got in 6th grade because
cardboard box for the 4th time of a tumor in my head. So it
that year, leaving all your was too dangerous.
friends to move to an unknown
place with no one yog know What was it like growing up in
except your family, Going to many different houses and
school not knowing how long you paces?
might be there. I loved it, but only because my
That was my mom’s childhood twin was there with me. It was
from being born to grade hard for my older sister because
twelve. she had to make new friends.
The following has been edited While my sister was my best
and condensed for clarity. friend. So it was fun for us
because we got to experience
many different cultures, and
meet many different people.

James and her two sisters
On a playground in Germany

How did your childhood shape how you are today?
Now I don’t mind change. Some people hate change and have a
really hard time with change, so I really think moving made me
more adaptable to a situation.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would go back in time and tell myself to have more fun. No
matter how important grades are, you have to have fun, hang
out with your friends.But over all, I wouldn’t trade my
childhood for anything.

Left picture: The twins with their mother. Right: Twins eating
Fun Fact! In most of these pictures you see two children. In all of
her childhood photos no one is 100% sure which one is my mom
and which one is her twin sister

“6.2 is short”

Family height Being tall

So right now I am 5.6 and I hope to be really tall. My dad is about 6.2 I So this is something pretty
am not sure but one his side of the family, they are not a really tall family. But cool, in my Poppy's family being
we could come back to that later I am here to talk about my poppy, my mom’s 6.2 is short. You see, his mom was
dad and her side of the family. 6.2 and she was the shortest one in
the family. But the thing is that his
mom’s parents were 5.10 and 4.10
so her parents were very short.

By: Colin Hinnenkamp “Then comes my brother. He is 6.11
and he is the tallest in the family
and that is crazy because at the
time the average height of a male
was 5.6 so he was 17 inches over
the average height.”

If I was alive at that time I would be
the average height.

All of his family is tall, his
mom was 6.2, his dad was 6.6 and
his youngest brother is 6.6 . Poppy
is 6.7 and his other younger
brother is 6.10, the oldest of them
all is Bob. Oh yeah he is 6.11.

Something funny that
Poppy says is he is “5.19 not an
inch over.”

Easter everyone's But it really means that he is 6.7
favorite time of because 19 inches is 1.6 so he is
year really 6.7.

Benefits and struggles of being tall

Being tall is not always a good thing; it can be bad. Let's say in a job interview you and a smaller person want
People that are really tall have trouble finding clothes in the same job. You are more likely to get the job because the
their size. They also did not have that many tall clothes person naturally looks at you and thinks that you are fit for
back then in the styles that were going on. the job before even saying a word to them.

When Poppy bought clothes he said that they were The benefit of being tall is if you are in a crowd
bland and they did not have many styles. you can see everybody. In sports you are naturally fit for
the sport because most sports being tall means that you
Then there are some benefits too. more fit for the sport.

Like he said,“That I was looked up too” . The Truth

Whenever you see ancient drawings you can see The truth is that being tall comes with lots of benefits
that the people with more power is always drawn bigger in and lots of struggles. But I try to think about being tall as a
the picture because they are looked up to. really good thing. When I talk with people that are short they
keep saying that they want to be tall like me. In my opinion
being tall is a gift.

Business

woman: A

conversation

with shauna

horvath Best Business Woman and

mom out there!

I’m having the worst day ever and then I come home to my mom making me
popcorn and turning on my favorite show on TV. Shauna Horvath seems like your
regular amazing mom, but she is much, much more. Shauna became a partner of a
start-up marketing and commercial strategy company in her early 30’s which many
people don't accomplish until an older age. But while she was hard at work she also
had two kids to take care of at home.

The following interview has been edited and condensed.

What do you look forward to in life?

“Relaxing and hanging out with my family. I also look forward to adventures and
exploring new places and especially watching my kids grow. Because of my
children I’ve learned a lot of new things. For example taking care of a horse or
someone with a peanut allergy. And I look forward to learning more. ” she says with
a smile on her face.

Where has your work gotten you?

“I’ve learned a lot from my work. I learn about everything that goes into my job
while I'm working it. I enjoy interacting with ALS patients and their families, and
learning more about them.”

Shauna What are some challenges of being a mom and
has been businesswoman
married
to Brian “Sometimes work is super busy and you have to miss
Horvath out on things at home, and sometimes home needs
for your attention and you need to take a step back at
almost work. It is when they both are busy that things get truly
16 years! stressful. In those moments, all you can do is your
best in both parts of your job. I have been lucky to
“Working have been at companies and working for bosses that
is a understand that I have a family and need to do things
with them/take care of them. Balance is always hard
balance” so it is never perfect - some days are better than
others but overall yes. I enjoy working from home
. more since the pandemic which allows me more time
with my family. It has brought a better balance to work
Shauna is also a big workaholic! and life.”

What's something you enjoy about your work?

“I really enjoy getting to meet the community that we
are developing a treatment for. Right now I am
working with the ALS community. I have met so many
wonderful, strong people that are going through
something horrible but still have hope for a better path
for people that come after them. They are all amazing
and inspiring. “

Is traveling for work hard with having two kids? If
so, what are some challenges?

“Sometimes yes but mostly because I miss them so
much while I am gone. The biggest challenges are
logistics of two kids with only 1 parent home, that
takes some juggling. Luckily we have family close by
that can help out as well. But I also really enjoy
traveling for work. One of my favorite trips was when
My husband and I had the opportunity to go to Prague
a number of years ago for a management meeting that
I needed to attend and spouses were invited to come
along. It was a wonderful trip and is such a great city.
We had some great work meetings but they had also
planned tours of the city, great dinners, etc.”

Shauna is definitely not your average mom,
and she sure shows it, in many ways.

jEFF jOHNSON
AND THE

sELECTMAN’S
STONE : aN

INTERVIEW WITH
jEFF jOHNSON

“As long as we listen and treat each
other with respect, we can learn and
be a strong team, and the people of
Plainville can all feel represented.”

Have you ever thought about how your town is run? Like how the schools function? Or how
the streets get paved and plowed? Well I pondered those very questions too. Luckily, my
Uncle, Jeff Johnson, is one of three selectmen of Plainville. He helps make decisions that
will affect the entire town. The following interview has been edited and condensed for
clarity.

1. Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to a new selectman?
A: You have to understand that you will never make everybody happy. And you have to accept
that.

2. Q: What was a time when things didn't go as planned?
A: Major budget problems bigger than revenue which was good short term but bad long term
because we either had to raise taxes or cut costs. There was too much extra, and we couldn’t
afford it.

3. Q: What is being a selectman all about?
A: Being a selectman is about what to spend money on, how to grow, what land to protect, and
making recommendations.

4. Q: What was the least popular decision you ever made?
A: When we cut the budget by 17%. The people got mad, and wanted to know why we changed a
decision made 5 years ago.

Jeff Johnson and the selectman’s stone : an
interview with Jeff Johnson (Continued)

5. Q: What is your favorite part of being a selectman?
A: “When people ask questions, it makes me feel really good.”

6. Q: What is your least favorite part of being a selectman?
A: “Can’t fix everything immediately, I want to bring the band back, but the budget is too tight
so I can’t do it for a few more years.”

7. Q: How many selectmen does your town have including you?
A: “Our town has three. Most towns have three or five. The advantage of having three
selectmen is that we make decisions fast.”

8. Q: What inspired you to run for selectman?
A: Part of the inspiration was the example of my father, who spent many years in various
roles of public service, including multiple terms on the School Committee and the City
Council. Another part was the desire to make the world a better place. I firmly believe that
if you want the world to be a better place, it starts right where you live. Think globally, act
locally.

9. Q: What is your vision for the future of Plainville?
A: I want Plainville to retain all of the small town charm it has, even as we grow into a
bigger community and add the services our citizens need. So that means balanced
growth - businesses where appropriate, but also new housing, and protection of our
traditional open spaces. And to do that while not becoming unaffordable to our long time
residents. It is a tall order and will involve choices and priorities - both of which need to
be shared with all the people.

10. Q: Do you think your town has a good team of selectmen, and why?
A: I think we have a fairly good team. We have 3 people of different backgrounds,
education, careers, and priorities. As long as we listen and treat each other with respect,
we can learn and be a strong team, and the people of Plainville can all feel represented.
It doesn't mean we always agree - and that is fine. Our visions are slightly different, but
each vision starts with a genuine love of Plainville and the desire for what is best for the
people of our town.

11. Q: Do you think it is important for young people to be involved in the government, and
why?
A: Absolutely. The easy answer is to say the youth are the world of tomorrow, and we will
need them involved tomorrow, making decisions tomorrow, and leading tomorrow. But I
say that youth are the world of today, and now. The rest of us need to be thinking of them
now, and learning from them now. So be involved now!

Table Tennis National
Qualifier

A conversation with Arshia Tharakabhushanam Q: What sparked your
interest in Table Tennis
Arshia Tharakabhushanam, a 13-year-old girl from and pushed you to
Hopkinton Middle School, is in her basement training for continue?
her upcoming Table Tennis tournament; she has nationals
coming up soon and is determined to win something. She A: The fact that I was
has won many awards and other than Table Tennis, she able to get better and
pursues art, dance, and multiple other sports, while improve in such a short
managing schoolwork and robotics which both also play a amount of time increased
large part in her life. She makes sure to make time every my passion for it and I was
week to also spend some time with her friends and with her surrounded by a very
brother and dog. I got the chance to interview Arshia about supportive community. For
Table Tennis. The following interview has been edited and example, just last year
condensed for clarity. when I was just starting my
first tournament, last year’s
Arshia after a competition national qualifiers. I had no
experience and I was just
getting started. I hadn’t
even played a game so I
was kind of lost the whole
time. Now, just last week,
after a lot of hard work and
training I made it to
nationals. It has only been
a year and I am really
proud that I have come this
far.

PORTRAIT OF
ARSHIA

Arshia standing with her bronze medal at a competition.

Q: What are some obstacles Q: If you could do it all again what would you
you faced and what steps did you change and advise people just starting to do
take to overcome them? Table Tennis?

A: Sometimes the boys in the A: I would change the number of times I trained
gym would be sexist and not play with at first because I feel like If I had more time at
me because I was a girl which the gym I could have been even better today. I
definitely affected my passion would tell younger people just starting to never
because I felt that no one was on my give up. It’s difficult even though it seems easy
side and supported me. Once they from the outside. It does take a lot of skill and
saw my improvement, their behavior practice that will come over time and it is
changed for the better and I was more important to have grit and never give up on
accepted. I ignored them and focused yourself. Practice hard and you will get better
on what I was doing because I was so even when you feel like you won’t.
passionate about playing.

Q: Who are your heroes/role models?
A: Maybe different Table Tennis players that I see. More specifically, people like Adam Bobrow who
has many YouTube videos and makes a difference in people’s lives. There are many more players that I
admire though.
Q: How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
A: Umm... I think training more, working harder, and getting better in shots at games. Basically,
having more game practice. I want to at some point in the next 5 years be competing at an international
level where I get to travel to different countries and meet different people with new ideas and ways for

me to get better at Table Tennis.

Arshia says, “My dream in the next 5 years is to be competing at an international level where I get
to travel to different countries.” I can’t wait until the day that her dream comes true!

Making Connections (while also fixing the light!)

A conversation with Panduranga Chary Q: How did you feel when you
became an engineer?
By Kaarthika Motukuri A: I was happy! I loved the job so much
that I worked for atleast 36 years!
There are people in our life, but Giving people light in their houses was
sometimes distance can prevent really enjoyable. They thanked us for
communication. But, that doesn’t giving them electricity and welcomed
mean you can’t create connections us.
with one another. This is how I am
with my grandfather. Q: What was the process of working
A majority of his life was working in as an engineer?
the field of engineering, a father of A: We receive the applications for
three, a big brother of seven, electric connections, with suggestions,
husband, and a grandfather. estimates, we’ll exhibit the lights and
I was lucky enough to talk to him and the inspectors will check the work.
ask a few questions about his old job
as an electrical engineer. Q: If you could become an engineer
all over again, what would you
The following has been translated, change?
edited and condensed for clarity. A: Certainly, I would try to fix the
mistakes I did as engineer and would
Q: Where and when were you born, do you try to make the company better and
have any hobbies? Tell us more about your follow rules better. I’d also make
family. electricity board (company) more
A: I was born in India in Suryapet on November profitable . There were many hardships
4th, 1941. I had 7 siblings, 6 brothers and a sister. on the job, so I would try to ease some
My mother was a housewife and my father was a of them for fellow workers. The
goldsmith. The school I went to was a government customers had direct connections to the
run public school. I did not have many hobbies field, sometimes customers will try to
since I was the eldest child of my parents, so I had blame us if something went wrong and
to help them at work and only got a chance to play put us in tough spots. There's a lot of
games like Kabadi, and not on the playground with problems with managing others and
the other children. helping people.

Q: What sparked your interest in engineering? Q: What advice would you give to
A: The livelihood. I actually used to be a teacher, anyone who wants to be an engineer?
but I could not continue teaching. I became A: Try to be honest, be loyal, do hard
interested in engineering after. work, and do the work in the correct
spirit, and thus bring more revenue to the
Q: Did you want to be an engineer when you company.
were a kid?
A: Yes, but due to financial problems I could not
study engineering at first. I got accepted to do
statistics and got my diploma in 1965.

Q: Can you tell me what an electrical engineer
is like?
A: We work with electrical lines, power distrubuton,
electricity boards, etc. I supervised the work
happening in the areas that we worked in.

By cole Patterson

Repair and Repeat

A conversation with My Papa, Dave Bruso

(His favorite car) Have you heard of it? Well, this
is the favorite car of Dave Bruso and he’s a lifelong
mechanic. He’s always loved cars. Even since
childhood.

"I had matchbox cars," he said "I would use
ropes to make roads on my grandma's maroon rug
and play with them all the time". When he got old
enough, he used to work and save up money just for
those model cars to build and play with. And slowly
as he got older the cars got more detailed, with cool
decals and motor boosts. He always had a big spark
for the older cars. In fact, his cousin had a sweet
older car and he used to play in it until his cousin
sold it. But later, Dave found the guy who had his
cousins car and bought it off him. He drove in that
car all the time until it basically became scrap metal,
too old for anything.

Cars were always Dave's The Hardships of a
passion and joy, and he's Mechanic
never lost his inspiration to

work on cars because "I set A big step he had to overcome

the bar low so when I fail it was school. "I didn't like the school

doesn't crush me" he says. teaching style," he remarked, "I

And now he's been able to get didn't think it would help me". But he

up to being a full-time didn't realize that it was actually

mechanic, where he even gets super important for his career.

to fix the internal systems on School was necessary, just not all of

cars to make them run. He it. English was good to know so you

also does the basic things like don't sound like a neanderthal but

tire changes and oil changes. for Dave the thing he really needed

The fun ones are when he was math. Knowing the dimensions

does a racing car. To start, you and shapes of things helps, well,

have to over pump the tires, build a car. And knowing how to

and then he has to adjust the reverse engineer a car would allow

wheel until he gets a neutral him to know the ins and outs of a

steering axis which basically car. And cars have millions of

means the back of the car will important pieces no matter how big

be able to swing around with or tiny and even more in the

the front because of the systems, so knowing everything

sudden turns on racecar about them is basically necessary.

courses. If you wish to be a mechanic,

don't expect dream pay, but expect

enough to live happily. You don't

need to be rich to be happy. Some

advice from Dave he would give to

anybody coming into the mechanic

field would be to pay attention in

school. "Learn as much as you can

as early as you can, because young

minds hold on to more information,

older minds aren’t as good for

retaining information".

Back to the Canvas

A conversation with There I am at a random tourist
Balu Ayyasamy destination Surrounded by a
By: Akhil R Amudhan bunch of little shops, food
trucks, ice cream trucks, and
A drawing by Balu people playing music, But one of
Ayyasamy the most interesting attraction
is the figure drawings. The place
where you have to sit down for
like 10 minutes while someone
draws a super detailed life-like
image of you. That's the one I
went to. It was kinda of nice I
got an epic drawing of myself.
The artists who make these
types of drawings are cool and
good at what they do, But one of
those artists is nice, fun and
interesting, One of those people
is my grandfather.

Balu Ayyasamy My In his school, he had an art
Grandfather 69, has been class where he would learn
creating art his whole life. He step-by-step drawings. He
started when he was just 8 used that art class to learn
years old. He grew up in a small the basics. He evn wished to
village in India, and he didn't go into an art competition
have the art supplies we have to try it out. But it was too
today like markers or crayons. far away and it was
He created art with just a expensive to go to it. So he
single pencil. He didn't have the started drawing art at
highest quality erasers either. home. Now he even helps
All he used to create art was kids with drawing.
one pencil, an eraser, and a
piece of paper. He would create
art with whatever he had, as
he didn’t have the privilege to
get other drawing supplies

Fun Fact

Mr.Ayyasamy has won multiple
awards for his engineering
drawings

Balu Ayyasamy, my grandfather, has drawings that are even
used and referred to in different places. Originally it was
showcased at his school and then later, during his
professional career, it was primarily used at his workplace for
manufacturing structural components.

His favorite kind of AdrdarwaiwnignsgaBrye BNaalutuAryayl ascseanmeryies, and
animals. He would attempt to draw people, but he didn't have
that much experience. Later, he tried to draw perspective
drawing. He would draw places like it was in 3D first-person;
this included rooms, or buildings. He would draw them like you
were standing there. After high school, he got way better at
drawing, as an Engineering Technician and he would have to
draw and design a whole lot of things. After a long day he goes
back to the canvas.

The First CD player

In New England A conversation
with Michael
By: May Shade

A CD PLAYER JUST LIKE THE Early Days
ONE MICHAEL HAD
It was 6:00 on a Sunday evening in 1953. Althea
Meet Michael was in the kitchen, cooking dinner for her 4 boys.
The chicken was steaming, the potatoes were
Michael in his office warm in the oven, and her fresh apple pie was
at Tufts University making the kitchen smell like heaven. “Boys!
Dinner!” she called. 3 of her 4 children came
tumbling in the front door. But where was the
other one? 8-year-old Michael was in his dull,
bleak bedroom which he was forced to share with
his brothers, practicing his clarinet. Michael had
always been different from the other 3 and
despite their teasing, he pursued his passion for
music and found what he loved most.

Michael, now 75, is living happily with his wife.
He leads a normal life. His children, Kate (42),
and Sam (39), each live less than an hour away
from him. When you walk into his house, you will
usually smell something baking or a candle
burning and everything will seem normal. That is,
until you take a closer look around. In every room
of this ordinary-seeming house, there are
hundreds of CDs. Whether stacked against the
wall, scattered on the floor, or on a display shelf,
Michael owns over 12,000 CDs and the same
amount of LPs. Even the two, jam-packed music
rooms aren't enough to contain the music
madness! I recently had the chance to chat with
Michael (my grandpa) and what I found out with
shock you. The following has been edited and
condensed for clarity.

INTEREST SPARKS

Q: What sparked your interest in music? Charles Mingus, it was a lot of shouting and yelling and guys
A: When I was 8 I started taking clarinet lessons. I playing together. It was so much fun; just thrilling. So, in high
don’t really know why I chose the clarinet over any school, I was still doing all that stuff. The other person I liked so
other instrument but people came and played at our much was Ray Charles, and I liked his early rhythmic blues things
school and I liked the sound, so I kept playing. When like “What Did I Say” and “Yes Indeed” and, “Sticks and Stones will
I was 13 or so I heard Louis Armstrong on TV, I think Break my Bones but Talk don't Bother Me” and “People Talking
on the Ed Sullivan Show, and it just seemed thrilling ‘bout Trying to Break us up Why Won't They Let Us Be” so that was
to me and exciting; it just spoke to me as if, you another person, but anyways. When I was 15, I took the T to Tufts
know this is what I’ve always wanted to hear. So I University where Ray Charles was singing and Rays cousin Jim. It
went and I bought what was my first LP I think (a was one of the most exciting concerts I’ve ever gone to I just
record on vinyl). And It was Louis Armstrong playing loved hearing everybody yelling and it just was thrilling. He was
his WC Handy. I played that record a thousand young then, he was probably 19 because I was 16, he was young,
times, over and over and over again. I borrowed his voice was fresh and he put a lot into the concert. That and
records that specifically had blues in them and one being exposed to classical music at home from my dad was how I
of the ones I bought was called blues and roots by got interested in music and started collecting. I could only afford
to buy a few records at first, but now I have probably 12,000 LPs
and probably that many CDs.

Q: When did your collection start? player, “no one has them yet” Q: What made you stick with
Well records I started when I was and the only disks that were collecting CDs and records?
13, but I could only buy a few. But being made then were in Japan. A: I’m very curious, I’ve always
really the difference was about been that way. I remember the
1974, when I was in my late 20’s I And so they asked me if I wanted moment I heard Charles
started writing about music and to review some of them so I Mingus' great tuition. We were
jazz and I wrote an article for probably had the first CD player in in Dartmouth visiting some
Boston Magazine, which was my New England, they weren’t even in friends of my dad and it was
first jazz publication. I started stores yet. After that, they started on the radio and I said “I gotta
writing a series for this magazine sending me CDs. I don't remember hear that”. So then I went
called “The New Boston Review” what year that was. I rather liked it back and I went to the record
and then in 1976, I started with in some ways. The sound was very store and I didn’t know
my own column in the Republic. It clean, no scratches, no pops, but anything about it but I found a
was just called Michael Ullman: sometimes it was too separate, record with a cool cover and it
Jazz. So what happened was, you know the left and the right said “Blues and Roots” and I
companies started sending me channels were too separate. They knew I liked blues so I bought
stuff for free. All this stuff I’d been had to learn how to do it. That was that record, and once I liked
buying but then every day I’d have the beginning and even now, most something, I would keep
a package of a couple LP’s and days I get some free CDs. pursuing it, I would try to hear
that's when the collection really Sometimes I still buy them more of it, I would try to find
started. When it came to CDs, I because if I’m writing an article more of it so it's just really
was writing for a magazine called about someone, then I want to hear curiosity.
“High Fidelity”. It doesn't exist everything they did and a lot of
anymore.” High Fidelity” called me what they did so if I don’t have
up and said “there's this new something, I buy it anyways.
machine in Japan called a cd
player”, a compact disk

Famous In Boston, I once met him and we Basically, I've interviewed hundreds of
went shoe shopping. He had to buy musicians and so some of them I
Friends?! some shoes. He was a big guy, he knew pretty well and some of them I
was like 6’ 6 or something and just talked to a few times. There have
I suppose I do and I have. As friends, there were only a few places in been some funny things like, Miles
some of them have passed away I'm every town that he could get shoes Davis is very very very famous but,
afraid because they were older than so he loved those ones in Boston, once I was early at a club, I went by
me but I became pretty good friends so I was friends with him. Then myself because a lot of my friends
with Dexter Burtons, a saxophonist there was a great guitarist named weren’t very interested in this, but I
who started in the ‘40s and he was Jim Hall and I interviewed him in went myself, I went really early to it at
one of the early bebop tenor his apartment in the village in NYC a mattene concert, club thing at a
saxophonists and he starred in a and we hit it off really well. He place called Linny's on the turnpike
movie called brown midnight but would call me every once in a while and the only people who were there
before that, I saw him a lot, I went to and we talked. So I think I was when I showed up were the bartender,
his office, I went to his agents' office friends with him, There was also a Lenny himself, and Miles Davis, he was
and it was a woman he later married, great guy named Garrison Fuel who early too and so, he did something
but I used to hang with her and he was a youngish guy, not really on funny, he crept up behind Lenny and
would show up. the level of those guys but he was picked him up around the waist and
a guitarist and unfortunately he had carried his around because Leny was a
a rare form of cancer and he little round guy. Then he sat down and
passed away but we were good he and I watched the baseball game
friends. for a while. He later kissed your
grandma on the cheek. So I’ve known
quite a few musicians.

Joy Ride With Joe

A conversation with Joe My grandfather Joe,
Spavento we call him papa,
always had a need for
My grandfather Grew up in Milton speed and he’s not
right near Boston he moved to Naples afraid to show it, one
Florida in 2020 right before covid hit. time I was on his
Papa is super funny and has a great motorcycle in his gated
taste in movies and cars. community in florida
I'm going to be interviewing papa on and we were going 80
his job, his job is to drive cars to down this back road
people's houses from the dealership. for construction and I
remember thinking it's
gonna flip over.

Q&A: A Convo With Joe

1. Can you tell me more about the cars you

drive?

a. I drive many different types of rare

and expensive cars. On most days the

cars I drive are worth $250k or more.

Since I have started this job I have

driven so many amazing cars. A few

examples are Bentley’s, McLarens,

Porsche’, Ferrari’s and Lambo’s. My

favorite car was a rare Ferrari

Testarossa that I dropped off locally in

Naples.

2. Can you walk me through the type of cars

you drive?

a. The type of cars I drive are very

expensive and rare cars. Some feel

like race cars like the Ferrari’s,

Lamborghini’s and McLaren’s. Others

feel very luxurious like the Bentley’s

and Maybach’s I often get to drive.

3. What is your understanding of your job?

4. What hapap.ens aIftuenr ydoeurstand my job to be important
found out what carsfyoorutgheet tdoealership
drive? I work for. Being

a. After I find out theacbalretoto deliver the cars from the

drive, I take it to the dcuesatolemresrh'sip to the customer’s homes

house to drop off. Thpersoevairdees a good level of service that
very expensive cars wswoheiIlnhl akveeetpo
pay close attention them happy with the

driving the cars. I kedepetahleership. My job is to make sure

radio off so I am nottdhisetraccatersd.are delivered safely and on
dI aolsnoodt rhiavevethfoeosdpeinedtthilemimceiatr.atondtIhe customers. I treat the

cars like they are my own when I am

driving them to the customer’s

house. I am very careful and make

sure I am not distracted on the road.

Sam

5. How did you feel

Riding Through Life

A conversation with Steve
Spinelli

If you walked into my poppy's
house you would smell the
bacon sizzling on the stove
and you would get a warm
welcome from him. You would
also notice the tattoos on his
knuckles of each of his
grandchild's initials. His house
is a good place to gather
around with all of my cousins,
uncles, and aunts.

My Poppy was born on April
22, 1951 on Earth day. He
was born, raised and went to
school in Bristol, Connecticut.

I wanted to learn more about
my poppy, so I recently asked
him a few questions about his
life. The following has been
edited and condensed for
clarity.

Lucca Spinelli

How did you become interested in
motorcycles?

I have always liked motorcycles from the time I
was 16 years old. My mother and father wouldn’t
let me get my license to ride or get a motorcycle
until I was 18. I used to go to my friend's house
and ride his brother's motorcycle behind my
parents' back. When I turned 18 I had a job (8th
grade worked for my father at his restaurant and
then I had a construction job and made more
money but harder physical work) and bought my
first motorcycle, a BSA 441 Victor. When I was a
senior in high school, my parents weren't too
happy about it.

I sold my BSA 441 Victor and got the best
motorcycle, the Harley Davidson Sportster 1000.
I rode that for 2 years and then wanted
something bigger and more powerful so I bought
a 1972 Harley Davidson Super Glide. I still own
that bike today.

I used to ride with my high school friends but now
most of my riding is with my three brothers, we
all have Harley Davidson’s.

What was your What made you
favorite thing to do decide to become a
as a kid? science teacher?

My favorite thing to do At that time I liked to
as a kid was ride my coach. I coached a few
bike. I used to go with teams (wrestling team,
my kids sports teams) I
knew that I wanted to

Did anyone influence your love for
cooking?

Three people actually. First my grandmother,
when I was a kid she used to show me how she
made stuff. She used to make homemade
pasta by hand. She was a really good cook.
Second, my mother showed me so many
different things in the kitchen. Lastly, since my
father owned a restaurant, he showed me how
to make meatballs and sauce and breakfast
foods. I really love cooking. Most of the Italian
foods that I make now I learned how to cook
from my mom and grandmother.

Why did you decide to get tattoos on your
knuckles for each grandchild you have?

I had so many grandchildren that I was afraid I
wasn't going to remember their names, no just
kidding! I did it for two reasons. I never had
tattoos when I was younger. As a teacher, it
was frowned upon to have tattoos. When I
retired, I really wanted to get tattoos. My
nephew VInnie is a tattoo artist. I thought about
what kind of tattoo to get ; I really thought about
it. I decided to get the initials of my grandkids
on my knuckles. I have 10 grandkids, so one
initial for each grandchild, along with a heart on
each knuckle. Then I got familia on the back of
my hand and a skull on the back of the other
hand. The skull relates to my love for
motorcycles.

Did you play any sports when you were
a kid? If so, what was your favorite and
why?

I wrestled in high school and a few years in
college, and I played football in high school. I
also did track in high school, and I did shot put.
Wrestling was my favorite sport. I was good at
wrestling so that motivated me to keep with this
sport.

I was one of the youngest college wrestling
referees at the age of 22. I became a referee for
high school and college wrestling and did that for
25-30 years. The first time I was picked to
referee for the CT state tournament (this was a
big deal to get picked), but I had to cancel
because my son Gino was born. When my
oldest son Gino wrestled in high school, I quit so
I could watch his matches. After that, I refereed
the state tournament every year until I retired.

Did anyone in your Is there any advice
family influence you would give to
you to do anything someone my age?
in your life?
A lot of advice, but I will
My mom was a very pick out the best I have.
good artist, and she You need to really work
saw that skill in her 5 hard your whole life no
children. My brother matter what you do.
Dom makes knives, he Nothing is easy, but you
makes them from a can work hard and do
rough piece of steel anything. If you work
and carves them into hard, you get a lot of
knives. My brother
Jimmy is an amazing

What are you most proud of
accomplishing in your life?

My most proud accomplishment is my family.
Three boys and one girl that are smart,
intelligent, people that I am so proud of.

What makes you unique? What do you
love to learn about?

I still love to learn about science and nature.
How things work, space, planets, stars.
I don’t think I’m really that unique, but I think my
parents taught me how to work hard and that
there is not anything that I can’t do. If I don’t
know how to do something I teach myself.

The

Trail

Runner

-A Conversation With
Sreejesh Chethil-

By: Sian Sreejesh

(Sreejesh at the finish line of the Baystate (The BayState and New York State
Marathon) Marathon Medals that Sreejesh has)

Running Experience Every week, Sreejesh runs
My dad, Sreejesh Chethil, has around 30-40 miles in total and
runs 5 days a week. Sometimes,
developed a love for running ever he does feel like he wants to skip
since he started it. He has run running on specific days, but he
numerous marathons, including powers through, remembering
the New York State and BayState why he had started it in the first
Marathon. Sreejesh loves to trail place. Weight loss. Sreejesh
run with his two running started running in 2013 to lose
partners. Every morning at 5:30 weight and be healthy.
am, all three of them go running
together. Now, running feels like
a part of his life, Sreejesh says.

First Time Running

Sreejesh had first started running

with his friends, just like he does

today. He describes running for him at

that time as tiring. Although Sreejesh

was excited to run, he was not that

confident to do long runs. But, as he

kept on running more and more,

running long distances had become

easier for Sreejesh. He and his friends

had run on a trail near Chauncy Lake in

Westborough. At first, running on the

trail was challenging for Sreejesh, but

he got used to it over time. (Sreejesh running at Baystate Marathon)

First Marathon

Sreejesh’s first full marathon was the

New York State marathon in 2020. It was

a virtual marathon due to the covid

pandemic. To run a virtual marathon, you

have to track how many miles you are

running on the website for the marathon.

Once you have run the specific number of

miles to complete the marathon, you will

be eligible to get a medal. Sreejesh had

run in Chauncy Lake with his two other

friends to record the miles he ran. Once he

had completed the marathon, Sreejesh felt

(Chauncy Lake Trail in the Winter)

proud of himself and felt inspired to run

more marathons.

Motivation and Inspiration
Sreejesh and his two

other running friends always
try to challenge their running
record every year. Sreejesh
says breaking personal records
is always motivating for him
and his friends. But, for
Sreejesh, running itself is
encouraging for him. “Running
helps you to achieve a healthy
life and it makes you physically
fit. Not only that, but running
is so motivating and
inspirational for me. ”-Sreejesh
Chethil.

(Sreejesh in the trail during summer)

The Air-Force

engineer

A conversation with Balaji
Chintamaneni

By: Sruthi Vasireddy

Balaji Chintamaneni is not the ordinary person

that works at in Software Solutions. He is a

retired Air force engineer in India.

(his name tag from The following has been edited
when he was in the
and condensed
Air force)

Why and where did you join the Airforce?

The Air force was my first opportunity to work and I had heard
about the possible exposure to new technologies, people,
places, and circumstances. And I had worked in the Air force for
about 38 years in India everywhere but the south.

What part of the air force were you part of?

I have worked on Electric Instruments like Radar, Electronic
communication devices, Airborne weapons, avionics, and
Navigation.

Did you enlist before going to
college? if so why? Why did you
choose the Airforce instead of
Army or Marines?

Yes, I was enrolled in National cadet

Corps (for students starting at early

age) and was in Air Force wing by

choice. Reasons were many …

Passion towards knowing more

about flying machines, excitement in (his badge from when he was
experiencing it and of course a great in the Air force)

team work. I did not know much helping each other,
about marines and i knew army team spirit,
activities buy flying machines have cleanliness and all
definitely pulled me to know more that helps to
and experience more. achieve team

Tell me about your training? success with
desired individual

Training during initial periods was contribution.
rigorous but methodical. Proven Overall it is a rich
processes and methods are used to experience one
impart discipline, Team building, can get only
Awareness, responsiveness and through that
loyalty. People learn survival skills, phase.

(Indian Air force airplane up in the air)

What were the best part and least favorite of your job?

I had the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art
technologies which was the best part of life in the Air Force.
The Least interesting and most boring thing was the
Generic night duties and when we had to be alert all the
time.

Can you give me examples of ‘generic night duties’?

These are not related to your technical skills. It is more to
do with watch and ward with highest alertness during

(people in the Air force saluting)

What do you think are the qualities of a good
leader?

Think, plan, Listen, Delegate and Lead. Control and
mould human behaviour to achieve a planned goal.

Did you have a mentor or anyone you looked up to
while serving?

In different capacities, locations, situations and
circumstances there would always be number of
seniors and some times juniors from whom we learn. It
is a previous opportunity to learn from very many
people and personalities.

How did this help you find a job after the air force?

Yes, it has helped me to find, succeed and grow
through out my career. (It is a wholesome experience

If you could give a piece of advice to a
young person who is considering entering
the military, what would you tell them?

Go for it. Believe in learning, listening and
practicing. Armed forces would always provide
a great oppurtunity, to mould personality within
and outside, with ever lasting impact on life.

(The Air force carrying the
indian flag)

From mom to accountant:
A conversation with Yanping.

Yanping Zeng, 42, prepares her bag for the next day ahead of her. In her mind,
she’s saying: “I can’t be late, I can’t be late” because, if she’s late, she will miss her
train to get to her office.

Yanping was living her life to the fullest at a young age. She spent her days
outside and only came into the house to shower, eat, and sleep. “I had a very happy
childhood,” she says. The other time she spent with her sisters or friends. She
moved to the U.S. in 2008 for her master's degree, and to have a balance between
life and work. “It’s tough to have that balance in China” she states.

And today, she’s a parent of 2 children that can be very annoying at times. But we
are sometimes the DREAM TEAM for our house. During the hot summer days, me
and my mom worked tirelessly to clean the house for guests. “We haven’t had
guests for years” she states because our house is so messy. Cleaning the house
like this was normal for her. Growing up in China, one of three children, she did it
with her sisters. But she didn’t get ice cream (foreshadowing). After we were all
done, all sweaty, we went out for some ice cream. Even though she loves to cook, it
was VERY HOT, and who can resist ice cream?

The image above shows Yanping at the University
of Delaware with her child(aka me.)

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN CONDENSED
FOR CLARITY

1. What were the dreams of your job? And what sparked your interest in it?
I would say being a professor at a University, I wanted to do my Ph.D. in education.
Being a professor, you have very flexible time schedules, and I’m very interested in
research.

2. What made you change your mind and work at a bank?
Even though I wanted to carry on as a professor, my younger sister was still in college and
since my mother already spent the money for me and my older sister, we two had to pay for her,
and we had to support the family, so I couldn’t go for my Ph.D.--How did that make you feel?

3 . How did you feel when you couldn’t go for your Ph.D.?
Very pitiful, and I regret doing it. It didn’t go as planned, but that’s life sometimes, and you
have to deal with it, no matter whether you like it or not.

4. Did you like working at the bank? Why did you quit?
Nope. I didn’t think I got paid enough, and the conditions also weren’t too great. The only part
I liked about it was the space, it was big. All I did was process customer requests(Ex. Processing
checks) it was a very boring job, and so, I decided to quit.

5. What was your major?
My major was accounting and management of information systems. It was my second option
after being a professor.

6. Why did you get your master, but not your Ph.D.?
I already had children of my own, and now I thought that it was more
important to support them and take care of them, and I don’t regret doing
that.

7. Tell me about what you do as an accountant.
So, We book our cash receipts every day, then you have to book the company pash
payment every week, analyze financial reports every month, and have to get
along with google drive, excel, and lots of other technical software, and
handle lots of numbers. That’s why I love these jobs, it challenges me with the
numbers, it’s more suited to me, and it’s a very decent pay, so I like it a lot.
That’s why I’ve been an accountant for the last 5 or so years.

8. If you could do it all again, what would you change?
I would have continued four more years of school to finish my Ph.D., and
then continued my dream job as a professor, and not given up on such a
golden opportunity.

9. Is there anything that you would like to say?
Nothing. But, I think that I’m so lucky to be a mom of 2 children.

10. What advice would you give to someone new to the job.?
I would say you have to be patient with the numbers, and to children,
work hard, play hard, and get a balance of life and work.

PICTURE TIME!

The following
image shows
Yanping in her
office. Pretty nice
huh?

This image
shows
Yanping
graduating
with her
master’s
degree and
taking a
picture with
her parents.
WOO-HOO!
Time to
celebrate!!!