REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, June 13, 2017 — Page A5 RPCOMMUNITY Mount Madonna students receive environmental award REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF REPORT WATSONVILLE — On June 8, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an- nounced that the 2015-16 fifth grade class at Mount Madonna School (MMS) in Watsonville will receive the President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) for their work to fight environmental threats faced by the Western Snowy Plover. The awards are presented each year to students and teachers who demonstrate creativity, innovation, and leadership to address difficult environmental challenges. “Through their year-long project, the students have both raised awareness about Contributed the threatened Western Snowy Mount Madonna Students will be honored for their work to Plover shorebird and inspired fight environmental threats faced by the Western Snowy Plover. the next generation of scien- tists,” said Jeff Scott, EPA’s Over the 2015-16 school year lation,” said sixth-grader Ronan Land Division Director for the the students created an educa- Keith, after learning of the PEYA Pacific Southwest. “By cleaning tional movie on the environ- recognition. “I am super excited up local beaches and preserving mental hazards faced by snowy that we are being recognized for critical habitat for threatened plovers; wrote letters to elected our work — and that what we did species, these students have representatives; cleaned up lo- is making a difference.” demonstrated dedication to cal beaches, replanted habitat “I am continually inspired protecting the environment.” at Moss Landing State Beach, by the passion of my students Students will be honored and prepared nesting habitat as they find their voice to cre- by an EPA representative in at the Elkhorn Slough National ate positive change within the a ceremony today at Mount Estuarine Research Reserve. world,” said Jessica Cambell, Madonna School. The class has Students collaborated with fifth grade teacher and project also been invited to Washington, California State Parks to create mentor. “These kids are so D.C. in late August for a national informational signs to protect dedicated to this cause and ceremony recognizing the 2016 wintering flocks at Seabright empowered as citizens. Dur- PEYA awardees. State Beach; and worked with the ing this project, for weekend “We are pleased to honor Last Plastic Straw organization to after weekend, recess after re- these impressive young leaders encourage a movement to have cess and hours and hours after who demonstrate the impact a restaurants voluntarily refrain school, they worked in so many few individuals can make to pro- from serving plastic straws. They ways to do all they could to pro- tect our environment,” said EPA also convinced school officials to tect this and other animals from administrator Scott Pruitt. “These switch to refillable whiteboard various environmental threats.” students are empowering their pens to reduce plastic waste. This is the second time Mount peers, educating their communi- The students created an Madonna School fifth grade stu- ties, and demonstrating the STEM educational video that was used dents have received this national skills needed for this country to to help educate the public, and recognition. In 2015, students thrive in the global economy.” presented at the Monterey Bay learned they were awarded the The fifth-graders (now sixth- Aquarium’s 2016 World Ocean PEYA for their 2013-14 work to graders) at Mount Madonna Day celebration and Plastic Pol- protect endangered sea turtles. won the 2016 President’s Envi- lution Summit. ”In the end, it’s not about ronmental Youth Award for their “As fifth-graders we really making the world completely year-long environmental educa- worked to educate the public about eco-friendly and fixing it all,” tion and stewardship campaign the environmental issues, and rais- said participating student Sam titled “Shore Wars: The Shore ing awareness about the dangers of Kaplan, “it’s about doing your Awakens.” plastic for the snowy plover popu- part or all you can.” Famous Cheezy Bavarian Sausage 8 Flavors Marinated Tri Tip & Skirt Steak 10 Flavors Marinated Chicken Breast Try Our Beef Hanging Tenderloin CORRALITOSCORRALITOS MARKETMARKET && SAUSAGESAUSAGE CO.CO. 569 Corralitos Road, Watsonville Call to Order 722-2633 Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm Sunday 9am-5pm OPEN FATHER’S DAY Page A6 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, June 13, 2017 Disappointing third act keeps ‘Wonder Building bit by bit Woman’ from greatness By BEK SABEDRA OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN here is a great story at LIVE OAK — Live Oak the core of “Wonder resident James Harkins always TWoman.” A story of an FOR THE knew he enjoyed playing surf outsider trying to find their LOVE OF music and garage rock, but way in a world they don’t finding synthesizers and cir- fully understand but feel F LICKS cuit bending has inspired him oddly attached to. A coming to take his playing in a new of age story with characters direction. that were not only dynamic Tony Nunez In essence, he integrates and but also likable. A story of recreates the most popular love and hate and the impact development. noises and sounds from older those two feelings have on That being said, “Wonder video games and consoles. humankind — why those two Woman” is without a doubt Some of the most popular are the yin and yang of the the best film to come from 8-bit chip tunes and noises are world. It is a story that we the DC Comics Extended recognized from games such can all relate to and get lost Universe. The bar is not set as Nintendo’s Super Mario and in for a couple of hours. very high — “Suicide Squad,” Zelda. Acquiring these sounds And that’s where I was. “Batman v Superman: Dawn requires “circuit bending” or I was blown away by Gal of Justice” and “Man of Steel” hacking into a console or de- Gadot (“Batman v Superman: being its three predecessors vice to pull out the music. Dawn of Justice”) and Chris — but Jenkins and Co. clear “I’ve always wanted to learn Pine’s (“Star Trek”) chemistry it with room to spare. how to circuit bend, and I also as Diana/Wonder Woman and Overall, Jenkins does an love Nintendo — it is what I Steve, respectively. I loved OK job in keeping the pieces grew up on,” he said. “8-bit the World War I setting and moving from the opening music — it just sounds awe- opening third of the film on scene until about the midway some and it is a certain kind of the Amazons’ home island point of the movie when sound.” drew me in, too, despite the rational thinking begins to The Atari Punk Console was lengthy exposition at the fall away. She masks Gadot’s the first one he used almost start. And then, sadly, the weaknesses and showcases five years ago, and according music started blaring … and her strengths beautifully in to Harkins, the sounds are the guns started firing … and every scene. Her action set almost identical to those used the bombs started falling … pieces in the first half of the in Nintendo systems. and Wonder Woman started film were well developed and “It’s the same exact chip flipping tanks for no reason. had enough stakes behind they used,” he said. “When The first half of “Wonder them to feel important. Jen- I heard it, I just wanted to Woman” is excellent. The kins also pulled out solid per- know, ‘how do they make that characters are deep, the formances from Pine, Connie sound?’” acting is believable, the set Nielsen and Robin Wright. Originally, he said people pieces are excellent and the Nielsen and Wright, playing would hack into the actual comedy is well written — high-ranking Amazonian offi- games to pull the music out. Pine kills every scene he’s in cials during the first third, are Now some people add guitar. Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian with his perfect delivery. But not in the movie very long but “There is a resurgence in James Harkins plays his small electric guitar on Friday. the second half devolves into both left a lasting impression DIY synthesizers,” Harkins a CGI fight fest with more that is wistfully thrown away said. “The sound modules I wished people knew how easy and make what you want.” and heavy chip tunes. slow-motion action than the in the finale. Saïd Taghmaoui, make are analog because I it can be. While he says he is still “If I can get something good entire “Matrix” trilogy com- Ewen Bremner and Eugene am working towards an ‘80s, “It’s way developing going, I will sample it to save bined. Director Patty Jenkins Brave Rock also turn in fine danceable kind of sound. If easier than any- his skills, and it and use that and layer it (“Monsters,” “The Killing”) showings as Pine and Gadot’s I could take Mario Brothers body thinks,” 8-bit music — the book he is through the whole song,” Har- and writer Allan Heinberg ragtag team of misfits but and play that all the time, that he said. “I it just sounds learning from is kins said. “Then have drums drive “Wonder Woman” off Danny Huston and Elena would be cool.” think every- already falling over it and play surf guitar. It the cliff with a whirlwind Anya felt like there were in Harkins, who writes his own body should awesome ... it apart, he says he will integrate all three things finale that throws common another movie as the film’s music, ideally wants to project try it — nor- is still amazed it — it is what I want to do.” sense out the window and 1-2 antagonistic punch.