Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • June 22, 2011 Glen Rock The Glen Rock-based Christopher Barron Live Life Foundation recently held the first of six weekly comic book writing workshops -- “Christopher’s Comic Book Inspirations” – at Paterson’s School 21 for a second year in a row. The foundation launched this program taught by Alex Simmons, comic book writer for Archie Comics and founder of Kids Comic Con, with the school’s fifth grade class as part of the school’s art curriculum. This year, due to state budget cuts, the school no longer has an art curriculum. To support the children, the foundation added the foundation seeks to empower children by encouraging them to earn such opportunities through dedication and hard work. With Christopher’s passion for creating and selling his own comic books in mind, the Foundation developed “Christopher’s Comic Book Inspirations” to be led by professional comic book writers and illustrators. “We are grateful for our kids to have this opportunity again this year as this may be the only creative outlet they receive all year. This year’s fifth grade class has been looking forward to learning about comics and working with Alex since they were in fourth grade,” said School 21 Principal Frank Puglise. The children learn all steps to create a four-panel comic strip, from creating a character to developing a plot and scripting a story, to penciling, lettering, and inking their stories on comic strip boards donated by Canson Paper Products. As inspiration, the students all receive a copy of the Archie graphic novel “The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton” written by Alex Simmons and donated by Archie Comics. This year, the workshops were held in the library so the children could make use of the books and computers to help them with their comic strip development. “We are giving the children exactly what two extra workshops and the series will they deserve: the opportunity to have fun, now be part of the main curriculum. In to be imaginative and creative and develop addition to art, the school also lost its vocal the kind of planning, problem solving, litand instrumental music, library, and world eracy and communication skills that they’ll need in school, and in their careers,” said language programs. The Christopher Barron Live Life Simmons. “Christopher’s own comic strip series, Foundation’s mission is to honor the life of Christopher Barron, who died in 2007 at ‘The Adventures of Ultimate Man,’ which the age of nine from leukemia, and to instill he developed at the age of eight, offered him his compassion and zest for life by provid- the chance to dream big and create a world ing children with unique opportunities to where everything is possible. We are excited live life and pursue interests about which to share Christopher’s love of comics again he was most passionate. Equally important, this year with School 21’s 92 fifth graders,” Foundation brings comic book inspirations to school Left: Suzanne Andora Barron, foundation president, poses with one of the winners of Christopher’s Comic Book Inspirations contest at the Kids Comic Con in New York City. All of the winners’ work was displayed at the event. Above: Alex Simmons, foundation advisor and workshop teacher, congratulates a School 21 fifth grader on her finished comic. said Suzanne Andora Barron, Christopher’s mother and foundation president. “It was inspiring to see how the development of plots, characters, and sequencing helped the children to develop stronger organiza- tional skills as well as greater confidence in themselves, and the realization that they can create something extraordinary out of nothing. We are excited to work with this (continued on page 14)