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Show The Emery County Review, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 B1 VOICES Celebrating the People and Lifestyle of the San Rafael Swell Area EARTH AIM Finding Some Sustainable Summer Shoes Denise Reid The change from winter shoes to summer shoes offers the opportunity to step into some new sustainable footwear. Increased demand for shoes that use non-toxic glues, recycled components, and plant materials that grow quickly without pesticides, offers a wide variety of styles. Consider researching a favorite shoe in the closet, to find out the manufacture’s philosophy. Check out Charmone. com for proof one can buy environmentally friendly shoes and still participate in high fashion. On the casual side, Nomadic State of Mind offers sandals made out of soft, washable rope. The leftover pieces of rope are woven into other products available on their website, nomadicstate.com, where you can read more about their manufacturing policies and future plans. Simple offers a variety of shoes made from recycled plastics, cotton grown without pesticides, cork (antimicrobial tree), recycled tires, jute shrub, bamboo (grows easily without pesticides), and water based glue. You can find all this information as well as local retailers at simpleshoes.com. Another shoe company, Terra Plana, uses vegetable tanned leather and avoids chromium that is used to soften some leathers. They have also developed what they call E-leather, a blend of leather by-product and other textile fibers re-woven to be comparable to good quality leather. Visit terraplana.com to review their ethical policy and attractive shoes. There are numerous shoe and clothing companies with positive earth practices. Some companies even offer to receive the items once they are discarded, and handle the recycling themselves. Visit Patagonia.com to find out about Common Threads Garment Recycling, where you will find mailing and drop off locations. Through this program, Patagonia will take back their fleece, that of other companies, and any of the other items they offer marked by the Common Threads tag. There are other ways to avoid filling up landfills with shoes and clothing: make meaningful purchases that will last, pay a little extra for high quality, organically grown, classic styles, and donate to local thrift stores. Printed Dreams New author finds success with first children’s book James L. Davis F rom a casual thought that he might like to try his hand at writing a children’s book to printed dreams, an Emery County native suddenly finds himself an author. Bevan Olsen, 26, the son of Wayne and Kelly Olsen of Orangeville, said he had toyed with the idea of writing a children’s book but didn’t really know when he would get around to doing anything about, until one day he did. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Bevan’s idea was to create a character named the Littlest Nephite, a Nephite who stopped growing at 3’9” and was there throughout all that transpires in the Book of Mormon. From that kernel of an idea Bevan created his first book, The Littlest Nephite in Nephi and the Brass Plates. A fan of Dr. Seuss, Bevan wrote his book in rhyme as the Littlest Nephite tells the tale of the Brass Plates. The book, published by Cedar Fort, Inc., the second largest publisher of LDS books, Bevan’s book became available at bookstores in April and after a little more than a month Bevan said he was surprised at how well received the book has been. “It was just a surprise to even become an author,” he said with a smile. With his book printed, Bevan suddenly found himself in the world of the author, complete with book signings. His first book signing was at a women’s conference at BYU, where he found himself hoping for one particular visitor. “I thought ‘maybe the prophet would stop by’,” he said. He didn’t, but plenty of other people did, so many that Bevan found he was a little overwhelmed by the experience, but happily so. “It’s nice to know that it’s noticed. It’s been interesting to see who is looking at it.” The father of two small boys, Jaigen, 3, and Calahan, 9 months, his book is understandably popular in their house. Bevan and his wife Cyndee and sons call Lehi home. The experience of writing and having his first book published has proven to be a rewarding experience for Bevan, and he admitted that when it Bevan Olsen with his first book, The Littlest Nephite in Nephi and the Brass Plates. came to understanding the complexities of getting a book published, he had a little help because of where he works. The warehouse manager at Cedar Fort, Bevan said he knew who to talk to about getting his book into the right hands. “Being inside the publishing company, I let an editor friend review the book even before I submitted it just so the acquisition editor wouldn’t be distracted by mistakes,” Bevan said. From the time he submitted the book for consideration to seeing the first copy in his hands took a year and from the time it was accepted to the time it was printed, a search was underway for an illustrator to bring the book to life with pictures. Bevan said he considered hiring his own illustrator for the book and even submitted the work of one illustrator who had created drawings interpreting his book, but Cedar Fort chose Rebecca Miller to illustrate his first children’s book. Bevan said he was very happy with the work of the artist. With the first adven- ture of the Littlest Nephite in bookstores, Bevan said he hopes to continue writing books that tell the Book of Mormon story to young readers. He has already penned the second adventure of the Littlest Nephite that tells the story of Lehi and the Tree of Life and if that book is also published, then he hopes to continue the series. Locally, The Littlest Nephite in Nephi and the Brass Plates is available for sale at Jones Ace Hardware in Castle Dale. J.B. Mounteer prepares for release of second children’s book Local children’s book author and illustrator, J.B. Mounteer will have his second book released June 17. Published by Tate Publishing, Mounteer’s second book is entitled Franky Frankinstain, a fun-filled story about making new friends, challenges at school and trying to win first place. J.B. will be available at Star Grill and Fun Center on June 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. to autograph copies of his book and the grill will offer a lunch special for children to help in the book celebration. J.B.’s first book, Camp Were Wolf has been sold internationally. Both of his books will be on sale at the book signing at Star Grill. J.B. Mounteer reads to Dakota Wetherington at the Green River Community Center. CASEY’S WORLD The Pros and Cons of Networking Websites Casey Wood In the past few years you have undoubtedly heard of Bebo, Myspace, Flixter, Myyearbook, Facebook, Twitter, Tagged, or any number of other online networking websites. Chances are you have heard a lot of negative comments on such sites as well, so for those of you who are unsure what to believe, and of what such sites are for and what they do, here is a small overview. Networking sites were created for two major purposes, keeping in touch and meeting new people. These websites give you the opportunity to communicate with the people you care about, and to possibly find and re-establish communication with those people who have moved out of your life. They also give you the opportunity to meet new people, whether they are local, or live thousands of miles away. You have the ability to decide what kind of people you would like to meet, and search for qualities you would like them to have. There are both pros and cons to these websites. It is important to learn the good things and the bad before diving into such sites. The pros are the ability you are given to find those who you have lost contact with, or to meet those who share interests with you. Most of these websites allow you to customize a profile with pictures, backgrounds, music, information about yourself, etc. Some allow you to share things you enjoy, such as music you have written, poetry, videos, art or any other number of things you may want to share. Each website has a specific catch that makes it unique from its competitors to convince you to use their networking site. The cons can seem dangerous. The most advertised and important con to recognize is the possibilities of pedophiles using such sites, and there have been occasions in which these fears were justified. Due to safety and security measures now being taken by a majority of these networking sites, the possibility is decreasing to be little more than the possibility of meet- ing these pedophiles by a visit to the park, or being featured in a yearbook. Many of these websites offer the ability to keep the information on a profile hidden from those who aren’t on your friends list, and to further protect you, it is possible to prohibit the types of people who can attempt to add you to their friends list, such as requiring certain personal information that only friends would know to send a request to be on your friends list. Of course risks will always remain in any communication with those met online. The main uses of these sites in our community are limited to friends talking with one another, blogging out their feelings and opinions and publicly showing who you do and do not consider a friend. |
