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As hydraulic fracturing continues its march as the darling of natural gas drilling here in the Ohio Valley, so does the evidence of its potential to induce harm to humans and the environment. The uncertainties of the health risks associated with horizontal drilling, using massive amounts of water, pressure and certain hazardous chemicals to break down shale formations for natural gas extraction, has pushed countries worldwide to proactively regulate the use of this technology, such as a temporary ban in Germany in 2012 and a ban in France in 2011. While industry mouthpieces continue to reassure the public that all is well and there's nothing to be concerned about, ongoing research continues to suggest that these countries' efforts are well-founded, and two recent studies provide mounting evidence that we all need to be concerned about the knock-on effects of the Ohio Valley's natural gas boom. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that looked at over 41,000 wells in Pennsylvania shows that newer and unconventional wells leak far more often than older and traditional ones. The results suggest that leaks of methane could be a problem for drilling across the nation. A team of four scientists analyzed more than 75,000 state inspections of gas wells done in Pennsylvania since 2000.?Overall "traditional", or vertical, wells drilled before 2009 had a leak rate of about 1 percent, while newer traditional wells drilled after 2009 had a leak rate of about 2 percent. However, the leak rate for "unconventional" wells - those being drilled horizontally in the Ohio Valley's fracking boom - was as high as 10 percent. Even more concerning is that the scientists don't know the size of the leaks or even their causes, but suspicion that companies are cutting corners amidst this drilling boom was strong enough to cause Pennsylvania to increase its efforts to stress proper cementing practices and make leak protection efforts on unconventional wells more stringent. Another recent study, examining the contents of the fluids involved in the fracking process, has raised additional concerns about hydraulic fracturing. The scientists recently presented their work at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society which revealed that out of nearly 200 commonly used frack fluid compounds, there's very little known about the potential health risks of about one-third, and eight are toxic to mammals. Although the companies that manufacture fracking fluids have strongly resisted efforts calling for transparency regarding the contents of these chemical mixtures, a team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of the Pacific scoured databases and reports to compile as comprehensive a list as possible of the substances industry is commonly using to fracture shale formations. The mix includes gelling agents to thicken the fracking fluids, biocides to keep microbes from growing, sand to prop open tiny cracks in the rocks and a number of compounds to prevent pipe corrosion. According to the researchers "here are a number of chemicals, like corrosion inhibitors and biocides in particular, that are being used in reasonably high concentrations that potentially could have adverse effects." "Biocides, for example, are designed to kill bacteria-it's not a benign material." In addition, for about one-third of the approximately 190 compounds the scientists have identified as in various fracking formulas, the scientists found very little information about the toxicity or physical and chemical properties of these. However, in looking at the environmental impact of the fracking fluids, the Berkeley team found that some have toxic effects on aquatic life. Although research into the environmental and public health blowback from the unprecedented drilling effort continues, the results of these studies leave little doubt regarding the need for a similarly unprecedented regulatory effort. Even if you don't have a well in your back yard, fracking still affects each and every one of us and impacts the quality of life we can expect to enjoy here in the Ohio Valley. If we are going to allow this process to continue, we must make certain that every effort is made to carefully scrutinize, catalog, regulate and track the manner in which these wells are drilled, and properly dispose of every drop of the chemicals that go in and come out of these wells. West Virginia and Ohio have a lot of catching up to do in both of these areas, and I urge you to contact your local congressman and speak out for enhanced regulation of the natural gas patch.

I participated in the second of the three required Adopt-A-Highway clean ups for 2014 in memory of Stephanie K. Ward Stahl. I missed the first clean-up which was held on April 13, 2014 due to a prior commitment. I did chat with my friend, Sandra Ward Miller, Stephanie's Mom, at the clean-up. She mentioned that the April clean up only took an hour because there were so many volunteers. That truly shows the devotion of all the volunteers who consisted of family, friends, etc. It makes me very proud of the people in our little corner of the world. I'm just sorry that the reason that brings them all together is because a young person was taken away from her family and friends way too soon. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason in our lives. What that reason is in this particular incident, I do not know. In my previous Adopt-A-Highway blog, I explained that the State of West Virginia Adopt-A-Highway Rules require three scheduled clean-ups per year for the two Sandra mentioned to me that she catches herself getting ready to pick up the telephone to call Stephanie. I can relate to doing that exact same thing. My oldest brother, Lou, passed away at the young age of 42 on December 14, 1991. I shared with Sandra that I think that same way. You want to pick up the phone and call your loved one to discuss what took place that day. It is so hard. I think that this clean-up does help the family cope with Steph not being here physically, but she is definitely here in spirit. She would be so proud of each and every one of them. So, now, there is only one clean up left for 2014. If you see or hear that volunteers are needed for an Adopt-A-Highway clean up near you, go ahead and join in. Or, if you want to participate in the third clean-up for Stephanie K. Ward Stahl with me, just respond to my blog. I will let you know when the next clean-up is going to take place. Rest in Peace-Stephanie K. Ward Stahl.

A little over five years ago, my world changed. Allison Jo McGraw was born on July 2, 2009. While she wasn't born on the 4 th of July, she did come home from the hospital on Independence Day which is quite fitting. Allie, from early on, has been fiercely independent in her own thoughts and opinions. She is strong willed, beautiful and loving. Even though it is very cliché, I could never have imagined the effect she would have on my life. Allie was the first little girl born on my side of the McGraw family in 60 years. You can imagine the disbelief from my parents when we found out that she would be a girl. I will always remember my quiet and reserved mother screaming over the phone "MIKE, PICK UP THE PHONE," to get my Dad to hear the news. From that time forward our lives exploded into a blur of pinks and purples. We picked the name Allison very quickly and knew we wanted to call her Allie. Her middle name, Jo, was not selected so quickly. My wife wanted Allie's middle name to be Elizabeth and I preferred Jo. Jo is also Amanda's middle name. As we neared the due date Amanda told me I could go ahead and pick the middle name and whatever I chose would be fine. I now know, after telling the nurse to putAllison Jo on the birth certificate, that Amanda fully believed that I would pick Elizabeth after watching her go through labor.She was wrong. While Amanda has come around on the name Jo, I did not get the final choice for our second daughter, Lauren Elizabeth's name. Allie was a dream to bring home. Of course, that might be because my lovely wife allowed me to stay in bed as Allie woke up during the night. Allie didn't cry much at all and began to sleep through the night very early on. Through the learning curve of changing diapers, to slippery baths and weird spit up,my world grew into more than I could have ever imagined. Thatcurve continues to change. Today's biggest struggles are trying to pick out clothes and do Allie's hair when Mom isn't home. I have just come to the conclusion that I am just not cut out for such things, and Allie doesn't hesitate to tell me that her clothes don't match. Allie has also shown me that my plans don't always matter. I was the first to say that there would be no"princess stuff" in my house. Today, Disney princess figures, castles, carriages, and dress up clothes now fill our closets and I now know entirely too much about Merida, Elsa, Anna and Ariel. As Allison has grown older, her independent nature has shown through. I doubt that I will ever have to worry about Allison being the victim of peer pressure. Despite her short stature, she is her own girl and is often the ring leader in any group. Allie doesn't just take yes or no for an answer; she wants to have a complete explanation of why she can't do something."Because I'm your father, that's why," is just a losing argument.It's often exhausting, but leads to lots of interesting and oftenthought provoking discussions. If Allie thinks someone, myselfincluded, is doing something wrong, she has no hesitation in trying to explain how to do it right. Interestingly, about the only person in the world she doesn't correct is my father-in-law, Rick. He can do no wrong. It's frustrating, but funny, when Allie sees me struggling to fix something around the house, she tells me that I should just call Pap, because he can fix everything. The last five years have been amazingly fulfilling andheartwarming, but also a little sad. Each birthday, each milestone makes me remember the little baby that had me wrapped around her finger from the first moment I saw her.Allie starts kindergarten on August 20. While she has already gone to pre-school, there is something different about kindergarten. The first real step in her life is starting. All my prayers and hopes for her are still ahead. I can only imagine what the next few years will bring; new friends, school trips,report cards, dances and, unfortunately, the first boyfriend.While I would love to be the tough Dad that scares the young men that come over, I know that I will not have to be. Allie isand will forever be her own woman and she will be more than capable of keeping them in line. My father passed away in November of 2012. I try to think back to all the memories I had with him and the lessons that he taught me. I hope that my girls look back the same way in the future to the times we spend together. As Allison grows older, her goals and her dreams will develop and change, but I know that she will be able to meet anything that comes her way. Along the way there will be challenges and setbacks, but I know that Allie will remain undaunted. She is strong, independent, loves God and her family. Watching her continue to grow, I will be the one that suffers the growing pains. Graduations and weddings are in the future, and I am unfortunately already trying to save for both, but for the time being I wish I could just keep her little for a short time longer. Marianne Richmond wrote and illustrated a children's book we have at our house titled, "If I Could Keep You Little." The book ends with what I am sure arethe thoughts of all parents. "If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me. But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be." I love you Allie, I would wish you good luck, but I know you don't need it.

When my husband's job brought us to Wheeling, I thought we would be starting a new chapter in our lives. Little did I know what a big chapter it would turn out to be. At the time of our move, my grandmother, who was 86 years old, hadfallendown her steps and was in a Pittsburgh hospital. While in the hospital, she was diagnosed with dementia, and I was told she could not be in her home alone. So we did what any loving family would do; we brought Grandma with us to live in West Virginia. I had no idea how hard and how much fun it would turn out to be. Our two boys were eleven and six years old at the time, and having their great-grandma who was now acting like a child herself was very challenging. I'd be up half the night with her because she was very confused on where she was and would try to leave the house. When it was time to get the boys ready for school, and us ready for work in the morning, I would be a walking zombie. We tried to have people come to our home and stay with her, but they never worked out. I was blessed to find Family Service-Upper Ohio Valley in downtown Wheeling; a business that offered adult day care for dementia/alzheimer's adults. Now we all had to get up and get ready for work, school and adult day care. My mornings started at 3:30 a.m. to get everyone on the buses to their destinations and be at work by 7:30 a.m. This went on for nine years. Grandma was a big part of our family; she loved the dogs and the kids. The boys always included her in any activities that they had and all my sons' friends who came to the house would come in and talk with her. Sorting socks and folding laundry was what she loved to do. The socks were always miss-matched, but it kept her busy and for crying out loud it was only socks. We could always find a match, right? Grandma could be so mean to me at times, and I want you to know she was never mean to any children, the dogs or my husband. Her anger and confusion was directed only towards me because I was the one who made her take a shower, brush her teeth and make her take care of herself. It was very hard, but I always reminded myself that because of her illness, she was much like a child and just didn't want to do these things. Grandma would pitch a fit, hit me, throw things at me and spit in my face. After the episode was over, she would calm down, look at me and say "I love you Jeanne;" that always made things better. Just like a small child, she could only take one instruction at a time. If you gave her more than one, she would sit there with a blank look on her face. If you asked her why she wasn't doing what you needed her to do, she would say, "You told me to do something? Are you sure it was me and not someone else you asked to do that?" Most of the time she was funny and sweet, but other times it would turn into World War III with her. As time went on, Grandma got a lot worse. Adult diapers, waterproofing the bed and childproofing the house all had to be done. Our boys were now teenagers, and I still had a baby to take care of. Unfortunately, she broke her hip and we had to put her in nursing home. That decision almost killed me especially because I have seen so much negligence in nursing homes through my job. Lucky for me, I was blessed that her doctor found one of the best nursing homes in Wheeling for her. She was well taken care of, and was bed-ridden until she passed away at the ripe old age of 98 years old. She always wanted to live to be 100. Grandma is gone, but will never be forgotten in our home. She couldn't remember our names at times, but, boy oh boy, when she wanted something she knew who we all were! I miss hearing her yell out "telephone," when she heard it ring, "Where are the boys and what time will they be home?" or "Oreo (who was Otis the dog) come see Grandma." One of my favorites is when she would ask, "Where did you put all the food? The refrigerator is locked," when she was trying to open the wrong door. Grandma, you are missed and there is never a day that goes by in our home where you are not mentioned. If this story reminds you of something going on in your own life, please remember you are not alone in taking care of a loved one who has dementia/alzheimer's. There are so many places in the Ohio Valley that offer you help; don't be afraid to call. Rock on Wheeling, WV, rock on.

The Ohio Valley is filled with a variety of different people, all of whom have unique personalities. We all have different careers, stories and experiences. Although many of us may not know each other, there is one thing that we may have in common; a love for animals. Last year, an announcement was made that the city of Wheeling had formed an association with hopes to open a dog park. Sure there are plenty of parks throughout the valley, but not all dogs like being on a leash, and the bigger the dog the more they want to run. People may wonder what the difference is between a park, like Oglebay, and a dog park. Although our local parks are all dog friendly, the dog park will have a different set of rules. At the Wheeling Dog Park, pets will be allowed to run and play in an environment where they will be allowed off of the leash. The park will have an area for both large and small dogs to sniff and play. Pets need to socialize just like humans and at the dog park, both pets and humans can associate with one another. The canine park not only benefits our four legged friends, but it is also good for the elderly and disabled citizens who need a service dog by their side when exercising. It also builds tourism for people driving through the area and allows for the community to be more open to animals. Many states have become pet friendly, allowing dogs in restaurants, clothing stores, and even car dealerships. This summer, I went to Florida to visit my family and I was amazed by how animal friendly the state is. My aunt's Doberman Pinscher, Mya, has been inside many public places from a Mercedes dealership to an Outback Steakhouse. Yes, she took a nap on the dealerships couch and had the chefs cook her dinner at the restaurant. I thought that southern states were more accepting of animals than northern until I did a little research. Other states like California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Texas are the most dog friendly states in the country. I think that a dog park in Wheeling could possibly open the doors for the Ohio Valley to be more canine friendly. Let's be honest, we all hate backing out of the driveway and seeing our pup staring at us through the window. Each time the Wheeling Dog Park posts an update on their Facebook page, I get more and more excited for the new establishment. The association recently announced that they have exciting news to deliver. I am hoping that it is the grand opening date. I plan on attending the dog park on a regular basis and I encourage all pet owners to go over and check it out when it opens.

October 19, 2014, will mark the second time that I will be running in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon/Half Marathon. When I decided to run the half marathon last year, I knew it was going to be both a physical and mental challenge. To be honest, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to accomplish it. My only goal for the 2013 race was to cross the finish line on my own two feet, which I managed to do in a time of 2:19:46. This year, I thought I should make my goal a little more challenging. Of course I want to beat my previous time, but I also wanted to make my run meaningful. Participants in the race are given the option to become a Children's Champion, which is a participant who chooses to run, walk or cheer for the marathon or half marathon while fundraising for Nationwide Children's Hospital. By becoming a Children's Champion, my family, friends and community can support me in the race, but also make a donation to Nationwide Children's Hospital to support the Miracle Mile Patient Champions. These children are a true inspiration and I hope that by becoming a Children's Champion, I'll be able to make a difference in their lives or the lives of other patients because their daily fight is far more challenging than running 13.1 miles. Please visit my fundraising page to donate.

Hearing the news yesterday about Robin Williams (who, to me, will always be Mork) hit me right square in the face hard. Some of you may never understand what it is like to fight addictions or depression, and thank your lucky stars for that, but if you have ever watched someone go through these events you can understand how lonely one can be, even when they are not alone. Robin fought hard to stay on the right path, getting cleaned up, staying in programs throughout his life. With mental illness, it's one day at a time and you take each and every day minute by minute. I'm not going to go into all of Robin's accomplishments, because the news has done this and, by God, the list is way too long for a very short blog. I'm just going to say to anyone who struggles with addictions or depression, you are not alone. You can find help for these feelings and there are people willing to help you. Judging others who deal daily with mental illness is very hard to watch, and shockingly, it is one of the least diagnosed illnesses that we know about. You do not have to have two personalities or be banging your head against a wall to be struggling. You can be a happy person on the outside and look fine to others, but on the inside you fight everyday just to keep it together. Please, please find help. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Go and talk to someone or try to get yourself cleaned up. Yes, there will be times when you feel like you are going to "fall off the wagon," but just know you can call someone or go to a rehab center to help you stay focused and help you through these feelings. Suicide is not the coward's way out as many say- most of the time it's a last ditch effort to get help- because a lot of times people really don't know how bad you are feeling inside. For those who die from the attempt, God will take care of them with no more pain and suffering in silence. Please keep in mind we are not put here to judge others. We are here to help others get through the darkest hours of their lives. Remember, you never know what someone else is going through. Robin, all I can say to you is "NaNu, NaNu" and thank you for the outstanding acting over the years. Rest in Peace.

Bordas & Bordas has announced an attorney's recent appointment to the Board of Directors of Harmony House Children's Advocacy Center. John Artimez, who assists with complex personal injury and insurance bad faith litigation at the firm, has been selected to serve on the Board. Harmony House offers a comprehensive, child-focused program based in a facility that allows prosecutors, law enforcement, child protective service workers, medical and mental health professionals and victim advocates to work together to strengthen the community's response to child abuse. Harmony House exists to ensure that no child is further victimized by systems intended to protect her or him. Located in both Wheeling and St. Clairsville, Harmony House has been helping children for the past 11 years. Artimez demonstrates a longstanding and fervent interest in the protection of children. He has worked with Harmony House for many years in his capacity as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children, and also in the prosecution of sexual offenders during his time as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Marshall County. Artimez, who also serves on the board of directors for the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network, feels extremely fortunate to have received the chance to help victimized children again. "Being selected to serve on the board of directors for Harmony House is a tremendous honor," Artimez said. "I can't think of a more important responsibility than helping to protect the children of the Ohio Valley. I am proud and humbled to be a part of such a great organization." Jamie Bordas, managing partner of the firm, said he is pleased with Artimez's opportunity. "John will be a significant asset for the Harmony House," Bordas said. "His past experiences and present dedication to the well-being of child victims will be beneficial to the association's goal and message."

Sunday, August 10, 2014, marks the annual Mahrajan, an event held at Oglebay Park's Site One. The Mahrajan celebrates the heritage and tradition of the members of Wheeling's Our Lady of Lebanon Church. Now in its eighty-first year, the Wheeling Mahrajan began in 1933 as an effort to raise funds to rebuild the church which had burned to the ground in 1932. Though the major restoration efforts were completed years ago, the church's steeple was not replaced until 2013, more than eighty years after it was destroyed by the fire. Today, the Mahrajan continues as a major fund raising event for the church and is an event anticipated by many throughout West Virginia and its surrounding states. More importantly, it's a way for families to come together and celebrate their heritage. When I was a child, I would go to the Mahrajan with my grandfather. Back then, most, if not all, of the food was prepared by the ladies of the church and was simply amazing. While you are still able to partake in traditional dishes like kibbee, tabbouli, laham mishwee (lamb shish kabobs), falafel, rice, stuffed grape leaves, baklava and other lebanese pastries, the majority of the food is no longer made by church members and their families as age has slowed and reduced the numbers of cooks and the popularity of the festival requires ever increasing amounts of food. You will, however, still be able to see several generations of families, including mine, working to preserve the church which has been so important in the lives of our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. When I moved back to Wheeling a few years ago, I went to the Mahrajan to have lunch and possibly visit with some of my extended family for a little while. That intended one or two hour excursion turned into an all-day event as my cousins quickly put me to work. I looked around me that day and saw my cousins, some of whom had traveled from Virginia and Columbus, just to work for the church that meant so much to their parents and grandparents. I saw an old high school/college friend working with his family, frying the Kibbee that my family was serving. Before that day, I had no idea he or his family were affiliated with Our Lady of Lebanon in any way. It dawned on me that day. The Mahrajan is more than a church festival; it's an event which brings together families and attempts to preserve the traditions of now-fading generations. Needless to say, I have worked at each Mahrajan since that day. This year's Mahrajan will be a hard one for my family because it will be the first without Aunt Evelyn, also known as "Josie," who passed rather suddenly earlier this year. Aunt Evelyn was a strong, but mighty woman who faced, in my opinion, unspeakable and unfair hardships in her life. However, instead of becoming bitter and resentful, she was the epitome of kindness and forgiveness. Don't get me wrong, she could put you in your place in an instant if you needed it, but never did so in a cruel or unfair manner. Her "zingers" were legendary, but you never, ever doubted that she loved you immensely and was only doing what she thought was best for you. Hers is not my story to tell. I wish I could because I think it would provide a lesson to so many on what is important in life. However, I was fortunate to gain her as my confidant when I moved back to Wheeling, often stopping by her workplace to chat and, more often than not, pick up a little life advice. Although well past retirement age, she worked full-time until her death. On one of my last visits with her, I was the recipient of one of her "interventions." After telling me in the way only she could what she thought I needed to do with my life, she added on the priceless and cherished, "And if anyone has a problem with that, you tell them to come and talk to me! I will deal with them!" Anyone who knew her would know that was a threat to be reckoned with. I wish she was still here to make good on that threat. Sometimes we need the sanity of someone else's experience to place things into perspective. Her generation's ability to provide needed guidance without being cruel or demeaning is something that I fear is getting lost in today's society. To me, the Mahrajan is a way to preserve the value, teachings and traditions of generations gone by. I will be working at the Mahrajan this coming Sunday alongside my extended family in memory of Aunt Evelyn, my grandfather, my sita and countless other family members. We will be there acting as cashiers at the food line, working at the pastry table and likely at several other booths. So if you are looking for something to do on Sunday, come join us at the Mahrajan. Not only will you be able to enjoy some terrific food, traditional music and dance, but you might learn about the heritage of so many generations of Wheeling residents as well.

The Intelligencer recently reported on a poll finding that many Americans do not know how to tell if their doctor will provide high-quality care. Unfortunately, the article does not provide many solutions to help its readers discover the information that they need when it comes to making an informed decision on selecting a health care provider. Obviously, choosing the right doctor is very important. Some studies estimate that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients die each year from preventable harm in our health care institutions. Unlike nursing homes, where safety data is relatively more accessible, it can be difficult to determine whether or not your doctor is the type of physician who is likely to provide high-quality care. Having represented the victims of medical malpractice and having gained some experience in finding and retaining expert witnesses in such cases, I can tell you some of the things that I look for when trying to determine whether or not I am dealing with a physician who puts his or her patient's safety at the forefront. Perhaps asking some of these questions in advance of treatment could help patients make an informed decision about which doctor to choose. One of the things that I look for is a list of hospitals where the physician is credentialed to practice medicine. All hospitals have a legal and ethical obligation to make sure that the physicians who practice at that facility are not putting their patients in danger. This process, called the credentialing process, has its own flaws, but it can be a useful starting point. It may be worth asking whether your doctor has privileges at any healthcare facilities. If a reputable hospital has granted privileges to your doctor in his or her area of expertise, you may at least assume that the hospital has satisfied itself concerning the basic competency of the physician. Board certification is another important factor. For most medical specialists, there is a specific test that the physician can take in order to demonstrate competency. If the physician passes the exam, they are able to hold themselves out as being Board Certified. It may be worth asking your physician if he or she is board certified and to discover which organization provided the certification. Most medical specialties have a web site that will allow members of the public to verify certification status. Both the West Virginia and Ohio Boards of Medicine also have web sites that will allow a member of the public to obtain licensure data on a physician. In some circumstances, there may even be information on those sites regarding whether or not the physician in question has ever been subject to any sort of formal discipline. Of course, I would encourage people to trust their own instincts and ask questions. Certainly, it is every doctor's obligation to provide safe and competent medical care and it is the obligation of every hospital to make sure that only competent and qualified physicians practice at the facility. However, as in many walks of life, information is power and none of us should hesitate to ask tough questions of a prospective doctor. Doctors who are confident in their abilities will understand and welcome a few important questions.

Just weeks after the school year ended, I found myself back in the classroom a little sooner than I had expected. This year I decided that I was going to take advantage of my position on the Wheeling Park High School speech and debate team, and the time to prepare for the upcoming season was now. Last year, I did make the team, but my priorities were focused more on sports over speaking. With my other activities like cheerleading, track, and dance, filing economist articles and learning how to pronounce world leaders' names were not in my top interests whatsoever. Entering my junior year, I know that my performance on standardized tests, sporting events and community activism will play a big role in determining my college selection. I hate to admit that my mom was right when she said that colleges love club involvement, but I never realized the weight some colleges placed on being a member of a speech team- not to mention one that has won the state tournament for the last 35 years. Unfortunately, I was not a big team contributor to that 35 th state title; I wasn't even selected to compete at the state level. This year my goal is to not only compete at states, but to place in my signature event as well. Extemporaneous speaking. I know, it sounds intimidating already. Having only 30 minutes to prepare a seven minute speech about an international political topic and referencing popular news sources isn't for everyone. Although I didn't have much of a choice, I grew to love learning the ins and outs of the Chinese economy and how German chancellor, Angela Merkel is guiding Europe out of the Eurozone crisis. I was trained by two talented veterans from the speech world, but I knew going into the upcoming year, both would be in college; leaving me to train a few new brave rookies. Instead of jumping right into the "extemp world" as we call it, I decided to revamp our entire system and basically start from scratch. Not until I watched the two "newbies" perform their first speech did I realize how great it felt to know that my few hours a day was already placing our team a step above the rest. From my experiences on the speech team, I've learned more than just what's going on in the world. One of the biggest lessons that I continue to encounter as I progress through high school is that my mom is usually right, even though I always have to figure it out myself first. Secondly, public speaking on your feet may be one of the biggest attributes a person can gain. Whether it is an admissions interview, a graduation speech, or even in a casual conversation, the ability to clearly annunciate words and formulate sentences is a skill some wish they would've invested time into at my age. Lastly, one year on the speech team has taught me that sometimes it takes a while to catch your footing before you can be successful. I was on the brink of quitting the team until I realized how much I had already learned within a few weeks. Sometimes all it takes is a little "TLC," time, leadership, and charisma of course to learn the ropes and find a new passion. Hopefully my dedication will pay off as my teammates and I continue on our journey to state title number 36.

Summer is a great time for trying new things and starting new projects. Recently I decided that I wanted to turn my small front patio into a cozier place to spend some time. Ideally, I wanted to have lots of greenery and flowers to give the patio some privacy since I live on a busy street. Only one problem - I know absolutely nothing about gardening, except that I'm really good at letting healthy plants die. Regardless, I decided to try to make my brick porch in the city a little bit more like the green haven I imagined. Over the course of two weekends, I installed lattices on one side of the porch to help block some of the noise and views of the busy streets nearby. I cleaned up some old patio furniture with a fresh coat of paint and new cushions to make it more inviting. Finally, I potted several plants to create the beginnings of a "container garden." I have no idea what the names of any of these plants are or exactly what sort of care I should be giving them, but I figure that it must be really difficult to kill outdoor potted plants as long as I give them plenty of water every day. Please keep your fingers crossed for my container garden and its completely inept caretaker! What new projects have you tried this summer, or what tips do you green thumbs have for this novice gardener?