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We’ve talked about the history of the airplane and how a few men gave their intelligent contributions to advance travel in the air. However, where do women fit into the picture of early aircraft travel? Well, one woman stands out as one of the most famous pilots of all time, and what makes this so great is that she was doing it during a time that women didn’t have many rights. They had just been given the right to vote in 1920, and by 1926, Amelia Earhart was flying planes and encouraging other women to do the same.

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If you heard the word “Muppet” would you know what it meant? If you heard the name “Kermit,” who would you think of? Do you associate these two words with cute puppets and a green frog? Most people do. Kermit and the whole Muppet gang have been a part of American culture since the 1950’s when their creator, Jim Henson, was given a chance to perform with his puppets in high school.

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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Do you recognize this line? This is just one line from one of William Shakespeare’s many plays. This particular line is from the romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliette. William Shakespeare, who is arguably the most famous and well-respected playwright in history, was born in April, 1564 in England. As was the case for many 16th century births, his exact birthdate was never recorded. Although we are not sure if this was his actual birthday, we celebrate his life and his birthday on April 23.

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Most of us know that we have a president who runs the United States of America. But do you know who the very first President was? In February we will commemorate his birth and remember the accomplishments of his life.

Actually, this holiday is to honor all of the past Presidents of the United States. It was started in 1971 when President Nixon declared that the third Monday of February would be a federal public holiday to remember the achievements of all the Presidents. But, this country started with one President who was a strong military commander and an astute political leader who is affectionately known as “the father of our country”.

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I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Why do we honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a holiday? Because he was one of the world’s leaders of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr., was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents taught him to treat all people with respect, and that the color of a person’s skin should not matter.

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Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” — Dr. Seuss

Like his quote says, Dr. Seuss seemed like a very nonsensical kind of man. His books have made a lasting impression on every generation since he began publishing them in 1937. His name is as common as a household appliance throughout the United States. But where did he get his ideas? How did he start writing? His life is as fascinating as his wonderful books.

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If you heard the word “Muppet” would you know what it meant? If you heard the name “Kermit,” who would you think of? Do you associate these two words with cute puppets and a green frog? Most people do. Kermit and the whole Muppet gang have been a part of American culture since the 1950’s when their creator, Jim Henson, was given a chance to perform with his puppets in high school.

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Stevie Wonder is considered to be one of the greatest musical talents of this century. Now, you might not know who he is, or you might not have heard any of his music, but after you read about him, you’ll probaby want to go pick up one of his CD’s. He’s funky, has soul, and makes you want to dance. But, why did we put him in our “Superstition” issue of the Tribune? For the simple reason that he wrote a body shakin’ tune called Superstition. Let’s explore the life of this extremely interesting living legend.

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Who has been a good influence in your life? Try to think of one person who has made a positive difference in the way you think and act. It can be anyone, a parent, a musician, an entertainer, an athlete, a friend or a relative. Throughout life, you’ll find that there’s at least one person that you look up to, and that person you can call your role model.

For this Father’s Day edition, we thought a good role model to mention would be someone who is a father himself. Not only is he a father, but he was also one of the best basketball players in the NBA, and has left a lasting and positive influence on children and adults alike. This great man that we’re referring to is none other than Michael Jordan. Here are some of the great things he’s done to earn the title of role model.

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Sally Ride is quite an amazing woman because she did something for the first time that no American woman had ever done before. Do you know what she did? Well, let’s just say that Ride took the ride of her life. In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to ever fly into space!

Let’s back up a little. In 1977, Ride decided to answer an ad in the newspaper placed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), which was looking for young scientists to serve on future space flights. In school she had studied astrophysics, and because of her excellent qualifications, she was one of 208 NASA finalists. After extensive psychiatric evaluations, physical tests, and many interviews, Ride became one of 35 people who were accepted into the program.

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One of the most important composers in American music is George Gershwin. His music is still used today in commercial advertising, such as United Airlines theme music. His works are played regularly by the symphonies and orchestras in the United States, and chances are if you play a musical instrument that you already have or soon will play his music. Probably his most famous work was his “Rhapsody in Blue”, although he wrote much, much more.

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Do you remember the song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”? You might not realize that its melody was written by a man considered by a great many scholars to be the world’s greatest composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

In his short life (1756-1791), Mozart accomplished many feats which may not ever be repeated. As a seven and eight year old, he began to compose his first music.

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