by Don Laird, contributing writer Polarization in our country is increasing. We are all frustrated, at times angry, with family, co-workers, neighbors, life-long friends, and complete strangers over masking and vaccines. This discord is quickly dividing our nation into distinct …
by Gina Catanzarite, Director, Teen Writer! I am probably one of the last persons on the planet who still subscribes to magazines. I delight when one turns up in my mailbox although, admittedly, over the years those periodicals have become …
by Beth Dolinar, Contributing writer Months after retreating to my writing cave, I finally emerged. It felt like I was walking into the sunlight after a long and dark winter. The cave is really just my office, a smallish …
by Beth Kurtz Taylor, Camp Delicious Co-Director Many teens have grown up watching cooking shows enticing them to experiment in the kitchen. From Gordon Ramsey to Cupcake Wars they witness food as a competitive event. With a group of eager …
by Heleyna Pentuk, 2021 Ambassador Alumna The summer of 2021, I was given the immense opportunity to be a part of the Luminari camp “I Want To Be An Ambassador!” I heard of the camp through my aunt, Beth Dolinar, …
by Don Laird, Psychotherapist and Contributor It’s that time of the year again. And yet, something isn’t right. Despite our best intentions, cautious optimism, and hopeful platitudes, the beginning of the 2021 school year is overshadowed by the specter of …
Managing Your Mental Health Throughout the School Year Read More »
by Gina Catanzarite According to the Oxford Dictionary, an aha moment is “a moment of sudden insight or discovery.” What I love so much about being part of the Luminari team is the organization’s unwavering commitment to creating aha moments. It’s right there in …
by Gina Catanzarite, Teen Writer! Director People ask me all the time what campers should expect if they attend the Teen Writer camp. Is it about formulas for plot development… guidelines for dialogue… tips for characterization… rules of grammar? Well, …
Anya: Social Media’s Effects on Mental Health in Teens According to the National Institutes of Health, anxiety disorders in teenagers and children increased by 20% between 2007 and 2012, and according to the Pew Research Center, the number of teens …
As the Pandemic cast a dangerous pall over 2020, we retreated to the safety of our homes. Cooking quickly became central to the suddenly constricted everyday lives of Americans. With our favorite restaurants’ dining rooms closed, we rediscovered our kitchens. …
