Cobblestone articles from May 2005

Cobblestone archives from May 2005

Editor's note.(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... From St. Petersburg, Florida, to Brighton Beach, New York, to Fort Ross State Historic Park near San Francisco, California, Russian Americans have a strong presence in the United States today. In this issue, COBBLESTONE explores Russian...

Alaska's Russian roots.(history)
May 1, 2005... Shortly before his death in 1725, Russian czar Peter the Great told Danish-born Vitus Bering to travel north to find Gamaland, which was thought to be part of North America. The czar hoped to find new lands with rich assets to claim for Russia....

California, here we come.(immigration of Russian Americans)
May 1, 2005... At first they saw only sails. Out on the horizon, the Russian ship Chirikov appeared to be rising out of the water. The native Kashaya people watched in wonder as the "undersea people" came ashore. Ivan Kuskov of the Russian-American...

Deal of the century.(acquisition of Alaska by United States)
May 1, 2005... Instead of praise, U.S. secretary of state William H. Seward heard laughter. On March 30, 1867, he organized the plan that allowed the United States to purchase Alaska from Russia for just over $7 million. To those who did not support the...

Escaping the empire.(immigration of Russian Americans)
May 1, 2005... Russia's ruling class lived in luxury during the 19th century, but poverty defined the lives of most Russians. For a long time, even if they wanted to, many Russians were not allowed to leave the country. When the government finally lifted its...

A taste of Russia.(recipe of Borscht)
May 1, 2005... Like other ethnic groups, Russians brought their cuisine to the United States when they immigrated here. Traditional desserts include pies, tarts, cakes, and cookies. One sweet dessert, pashka, is made for Russian Orthodox Easter. Another,...

Baba Yaga: a Russian folktale: in traditional Russian folktales, Baba Yaga is a witchlike character. Her evil nature often is pitted against the good and kind behavior of a young girl or boy.
May 1, 2005... Just follow this path through the forest until you reach a little cottage in the woods. Now, go!" Petrushka's stepmother yelled as she pointed toward the edge of the trees. Petrushka stood frozen at the door. "M-m-must I?" she asked, eyes...

Did you know?(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... The sea otter's fur (first brought to Russia by, early explorers) is very thick and warm. The hair on just one square inch of a sea otter could cover an entire average-size dog. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1841, John Sutter's purchase of...

Brighton Beach: America's little Odessa by the sea.(demographic aspects)
May 1, 2005... Over the past 30 years, Brighton Beach, New York, has become a place of welcome, reassurance, and acceptance for Russian immigrants. It was not always that way, however. After the first wave of Russian immigrants settled there in the early...

Siberia to San Francisco: bridging the (cultural) distance.(Elina Kudryavtsev and Mark Kudryavtsev)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... Is it difficult to be comfortable in two different cultures, especially when those two cultures are as diverse as Russian and American? As we discovered in an interview with nine-year-old twins Elina and Mark Kudryavtsev, embracing both is not...

Famous Russian Americans.
May 1, 2005... Russian Americans have made contributions to their adopted country in many arenas--from the arts and sciences to business, sports, and politics. Artist Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) (see the activity on pages 38-39), composer Igor Stravinsky...

Art with form.(design and construction of monochromatic sculpture)
May 1, 2005... Art and creation are a place to live in, and breathe in," said sculptor Louise Nevelson (1899-1988). Nevelson was born Leah Berliawsky, in a small town near Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Her Jewish family immigrated to the United States when...

Coming together.(immigration to the United States)
May 1, 2005... Like the Russians, people from all over the world have immigrated to America during the past four centuries. Their reasons for coming are many--from fleeing religious persecution or war to simply seeking better economic opportunity. Others,...

Bad day.(YOUR LETTERS)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... BAD DAY My friend called me at 8:02. Her name is Sallie Boo. She asked if I could "come and play." My mama said, "Another day." I asked, "Why?" She said, "Homework first." It made me so mad, I almost burst....

Rain.(YOUR LETTERS)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... RAIN Rain-- it's like life. It goes really fast. Gold at the end of the rainbow. Dancing in the rain without an umbrella. Hopping in puddles, Sticking out your tongue in the hope of catching...

Sunset over the sea.(YOUR LETTERS)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... SUNSET OVER THE SEA It was before dusk when the sky became brilliant with all different types and shades of colors. I walked on the trail that led to the silent sands of the oceanfront. The golden...

Eighth graders.(YOUR LETTERS)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... EIGHTH GRADERS They call you a nerd, and really, it's absurd. Or they say, "Watch it, geek." "Move away, you freak." They stick out their legs, just like pegs, hoping you will trip like a sinking...

Have you?(YOUR LETTERS)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... HAVE YOU? Have you ever met someone going to get a bike and take it on a hike? Someone who is mean, and a fool swimming in a pool in the middle of October? Have you ever seen a bell with someone...

Lady.(YOUR LETTERS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emily Krieg Livonia, Michigan

Dear Cobblestonians.(YOUR LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... Most people who hear the words "Ellis Island" immediately think of immigrants coming to America at the turn of the 20th century. But was this spot always a gateway for people emigrating from their native countries? How did Ellis Island get its...

Books to read.(DiGGinG DEEPER)
May 1, 2005... The Russian Americans by Paul R. Magocsi (New York: Chelsea House, 1995, www .chelseahouse.com) focuses on Russian American history, culture, and religion and explores the reasons for Russian immigration. Grades 3 to 6. Russian America:...

On the web.(DiGGinG DEEPER)(www.parks.sonoma.net/rosshist.html/)
May 1, 2005... For a history of the Russian settlement at Fort Ross Historic Park, with information concerning Russian movement into the Americas, life at the colony, and the reasons for the Russian departure, go to www.parks.sonoma.net/rosshist.html/. ...

Three cheers for Cannon!(Fort Ross State Historic Park, California)
May 1, 2005... California's Russian history has not been forgotten. Today, Fort Ross State Historic Park preserves the memory of the Russians, native Alaskans, and native Californians who lived at the Ross settlement. People, time, shifting earth, and...

Places to visit.(DiGGinG DEEPER)(Fort Ross State Historic Park, California)
May 1, 2005... Fort Ross State Historic Park, Jenner, California. Fort Ross (see the sidebar below) welcomes more than 5,000 children each school year. The students encounter various history programs with a costumed staff. For a closer look at what Fort Ross...

Embry's review.(Dear Emma)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... DEAR EMMA by Johanna Hurwitz (New York: HarperCollins, 2002, www.harpercollins.com/) focuses on the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911, which was a devastating tragedy for immigrant workers in New York City. This fictional book is a...

From the archives.
May 1, 2005... Here are some COBBLESTONE issues that offer a look at a few of the many cultures that are part of America's heritage: Mexican Americans (COB0405), Arab Americans (COB0205), Armenian Americans (COB0005), The Story of American Jews (COB9111),...

Americas Russian connections.(FLASHBACK ... TO COBBLESTONE'S THE U.S. AND THE U.S.S.R. iSSUE)
May 1, 2005... When is Moscow not the capital of Russia? When it is a town in Idaho or a village in Kansas, Michigan, or Vermont, or any of the several other communities that boast this name. In fact, there are at least 15 towns and villages called Moscow in...

Brain ticklers.
May 1, 2005... GIVE YOUR BRAIN A LITTLE TICKLE TO SEE HOW WELL YOU READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS ISSUE ON RUSSIAN AMERICANS. IF YOU BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO BE FALSE, GIVE YOURSELF THE ULTIMATE TEST AND SEE WHETHER YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHY IT IS FALSE. ANSWERS BELOW. ...

A final word.
May 1, 2005... IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE IMMIGRATED TO RUSSIA WITH YOUR FAMILY. WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE YOUR BIGGEST "CULTURE SHOCK"? HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH IT?

Cartoon connection with Ebenezer & The Colonel.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2005... LOOK! I got a Russian SAMOVAR * to make our tea! KAK 3,110POBO! (how cool!) I didn't know you spoke RUSSIAN! Hy KOHEZHO! (But of course!) We crows are VERY GOOD with languages. In fact, one of my great-great- GREAT-uncles came...