It’s Sabrina Strach, back with the Heck a Cool column! In this issue I am talking about how to start your own business. With school almost over, we are all looking for ways to make money and do something fun this summer. More and more kids are launching their own businesses. You can, too.

Starting your own business is easy. First figure out something you can do or make that people will want. I started a business called Sabrina’s Sensational Scented Soaps, and I have been selling my products for about a year. I branched out into new shapes and designs and scents, and have sold them to friends and family and at school. Lots of kids start with a lemonade stand in the summer, but that is just the beginning. Be creative. In the winter you could sell hot chocolate or wrap presents for people if you’re good at it. What about spring? Offer a basic gardening service for people or hold a garage sale. In the fall you could rake leaves or if you have a fruit tree or two, you can sell fruit.

Whether you are a tween or teen, there are all kinds of helpful resources out there. Here are two websites to check out, SCORE at http://www.score.org/resources_young.html and Teen Business Link at http://www.sba.gov/teens/. They are both packed with ideas and tips.

One of my favorites is www.hotshotbusiness.com, a super fun, award-winning online entrepreneurship game. Kids also get a chance to run a business at Disney.com. It has guides for kids, parents, and teachers, too!

Another great site is www.mindyourownbiz.com. It’s more for older teens and takes you through five easy steps to launching your own business. There are lots of ideas for businesses too. The website at www.teachingkidsbusiness.com/ is pretty good too. It’s for kids in grades k-12. At http://www.themint.org/kids/be-your-own-boss.html, you can take a fun Entrepreneurs Challenge quiz online.

There are also some cool books on the subject too. One is Business Kit for Kids: A Complete Start Your Own Business Kit for Kids. You might even want to suggest setting up a young entrepreneur club at your school.

So what are you waiting for?

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HI! I’M SABRINA STRACH AND I’M WRITING THE HECKACOOL COLUMN. I LOVE TO SING — I’M IN CASTRO VALLEY’S CANYON MIDDLE SCHOOL SIXTH GRADE CHOIR. I ALSO LIKE TO SURF ON THE COMPUTER, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO USE MY CREATIVITY TO MAKE THINGS. IN THIS COLUMN I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT MAKING GOOD CHOICES, TIPS ON HOW TO GO GREEN, AND FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND THE BAY AREA. IT’D BE GREAT IF YOU COULD SEND ME IDEAS FOR THE COLUMN AT: HECKACOOL@TRIVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM.

HEALTHY CHOICES
Making good choices is the easiest thing to do ever!Like eating healthy. Why do so many kids eat junk food? We know it’s not good for us. Take your family to your local farmer’s market and load up on healthy choices. Remember: Make it a great day or not, the choice is always yours!

GO GREEN
Have you ever heard of global warming? You probably have because there are specials on T.V. and people talking about this huge environmental problem all the time. These tips will help you and your family go green. You have to make sure that when you aren’t in a room to keep the lights off. When taking a shower, get in right away so you don’t waste water waiting for the perfect temperature. Recycle, reuse, reduce, and compost. Reuse all those plastic bags or recycle them. (Target plastic bags tell you right on the bag 10 ways to reuse their plastic bags.) There are lots of fun green activities for kids in our area.

At the Chabot Space & Science Center
in Oakland girls can take a workshop and learn to construct their own green dollhouse. Brainstorm an idea and create your own digital floor plan. Then build it with real green resources! Saturdays, March 15, 22, & 29 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more at: www.chabotspace.org

For more good green tips go to www.kidsrgreen.org. It’s full of fun games and ideas for living a green life, just in time for Earth Day on Saturday April 12.

One way to celebrate Earth Day on April 12 is at the Oakland Zoo from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Bring your family for Earth Games, Creek Hikes, Earth Stations, Beautiful Animals, and Opportunities to Connect with the Planet! All Earth Day activities are free with Zoo admission. Visit www.oaklandzoo.org

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The AVHS Fashion Club is putting on their annual Spring Fashion Show on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 4:00 pm in the AVHS Library.  It’s at 1155 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton CA 94566.

The fashion show is a school event/fundraiser, the profits from ticket sales going to the Tide Loads of Hope foundation, which cleans clothes for Hurricane Katrina and Southern California fire victims. It costs $8 for tickets in advance, $15 front row seats, and $12 at the door. The number to call to order, or for more information about the show is (925) 931 - 0628.

Everybody should come and see the show!

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MY NAME IS CALLIE AND I’VE GOT A NEW COLUMN IN TRI VALLEY MAGAZINE CALLED  “HECKA COOL!” I WANNA OPEN IT UP TO YOU, THE KIDS OF THE TRI VALLEY, TO GIVE US YOUR IDEAS OF WHAT IS HECKA COOL RIGHT HERE IN OUR AREA.

To start us off I wanted to share some stuff I’ve found for us to do here. My brother’s stoked about the awesome new Sunken Gardens Bicycle Stunt Course in Livermore at 3800 Pacific Ave. It’s a 6,500 square foot course with a six-foot half-pipe, quarter-pipes, a street spine and a concrete barrier. They say it’s good for everyone, beginners to expert, and it is right next to the existing skateboard park.

Looking for something to do on a Saturday night with your family? How about the Harlem Globetrotters basketball show? They are playing in San Jose this month. While you are down in San Jose, maybe check out Kooza Cirque du Soleil. It’s a really wild circus type show. If you have a little sister you can take her to the Disney on Ice Princess Show that’s playing too. Major points! Or hey, ever been to a Chinese New Year Parade? Well, you can check it out in San Fran on Feb. 23. Betcha didn’t know 2008 is the Year of the Rat!

And, of course, right here in the TriValley we’ve got tons of sports. Soccer, football, baseball, and hey, rumor has it we may even be getting a huge new ice skating rink right here in Pleasanton! I want to try curling. How cool would that be? If you are looking to try something totally new, why not try doing a triathlon at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park in Pleasanton? Start training now and you will be more than ready when theTri-For-Funseries kicks off in June.

If your homework’s finally done and you’ve got some down time, you should hit one of our awesome local libraries and check out the “Maximum Ride” series by James Patterson. It’s a book about this group of kids who actually have wings and can fly. Now that’s heckacool! Or try the new series by Scott Westerfeld. “Uglies” is the first book in the trilogy and it is awesome!

Well, thanks for reading my journalistic debut. Next issue, I’ll cover more hecka cool trends in the Tri Valley. Cool places to shop, where to find some bling, you get the idea. Don’t forget, tell your friends, and send us an email to tell us what you think is Hecka Cool!! So shoot me an email at heckacool@trivalleymagazine.com and tell me what you think is Hecka Cool!

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