826LA Good Times

Alex likes the football field at John Marshall High School.

Q & A with Andy Moran, Varsity Football Coach

By Alex

I predicted that I would go to John Marshall High School and would join the football team. The reason why I think John Marshall High School football rocks is because I like their football field, which is big. I talked to Andy Moran, the coach of the varsity football team. I asked him some questions about what to do to get into the football team.

1. What do you need to do to get into the football team?
The first thing you need is to have and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. This is the minimum grade requirement; we want players that strive for higher grades than that.

2. How do you make the team win the championship?
Winning a championship requires more than anything I do. It takes dedication from every member of the team, and it requires everyone to work together for a common goal.

3. Who started the football team?
I don’t know who started the team at Marshall. Football has been a part of the school since it opened in 1931.

4. How and why did you become a coach?
I became a coach by going to college and volunteering my time as an assistant coach once I graduated. I became a coach because I really enjoyed football, and coaches always played a big part in my life, and I wanted to be like them.

5. Did you ever play football?
I did play football. I played in high school and college. I even got to tryout for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

6. How good do my grades have to be to be on the team?
Grades are important. You must have a 2.0 or C average, but the best teams I’ve had always have had great grades as a team.

The Good Times journalists predict robots will play a bigger role in the future.

For the seventh issue of Good Times, the 826LA journalists took a look at the future and the past. What’s in store for the future? Robots, perhaps. Here’s a sneak preview of the articles they are working on. The newest Good Times issue will be available soon at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart as well as Stories, Two Boots and Origami Vinyl.

I will ask questions to a scientist who studied about the Mayans. – Miguel

I am writing ideas for the future. Water machines maybe! – Nicki

What does a robot expert think about robots? – Josephine

I’m predicting the Super Bowl. – Jason

James Cameron must be filthy rich after Avatar. – Marsden

How scared I was when I got my ears pierced. – Lena

Pack, pack, pack for a fun trip. – Monica

You won’t have to pay to read it. – Oscar

I’m finding out why John Marshall High School is the best. – Alex

Ladies and gentlemen, we may be able to talk to our pets in 10 years. – Ruby

Would you like to have your own flying car? You may be able to in 15 years. – Alanis

The Food Edition has arrived -- online and in print!

Sorry it’s been a while since we’ve posted, but we promise to blog more often, so keep checking back for updates and comments.  The kids from the journalism workshop have been very busy behind the scenes, and they’ve worked really hard on this first issue of the Echo Park Good Times – The Food Edition. This inaugural print issue is dedicated to one of our favorite subjects: food.

In this food issue, the budding journalists interview the night manager from Rodeo Mexican Restaurant on Sunset (right across the street from 826LA Echo Park) and reviewed several of the restaurant’s items. They also had a chance to sample and write about the new hip and hot pizza place Two Boots. Other staff writers tackle subjects like the ice cream truck outside of the Eagle Rock Public Library, junk food and nutrition.

So may we suggest that you have a snack handy when you peruse the Food Edition…because if you’re not hungry before reading, we guarantee you will be after!