Warrenbrook Seniors Help Craft Stories for 4H Writers Club

Written by Gwen Chalker

Tony Siniscalco, a leader within the 4-H Creative Writers Club, and his wife wanted to tell stories about other cultures, customs and language to help promote cooperation across these cultures and different generations.

So they created the character Tobyhanna, a young boy with a nugget that glows like a diamond—and can transport him to a different time and place when rubbed.

So far, Tobyhanna has traveled to Japan, 19thcentury Italy, Russian Amerika and the South Pacific Islands.  He always brings back one memento of his travels. 

Now, in collaboration with the members of the Warrenbrook Senior Center and the Somerset County 4-H Creative Writers Club on July 17, he has the opportunity to travel to India and to the American Wild West.

Members of the center and the Club broke into two groups and each group brainstormed what Tobyhanna would experience.  While in India, he is going to experience the India Independence Day parade, barter with street venders and spend the night with his new friend’s family in their one room house.  He will take a trip to the countryside and go to a clay pit and bring back clay to make a bowl.  The clay bowl he makes will be his memento of the trip.   

While going back in time to the American Wild West, Tobyhanna will ride in a train that is held up by bandits.  He will also sign up for a wagon train trip on the Oregon Trail where he will encounter American Indians.  Before Tobyhanna leaves on his wagon train journey, he will learn how to ride and take care of his horse.  He will bring back a horseshoe—a lucky horseshoe—as his memento of the trip.

The Creative Writers are now in the process of researching historical facts to support both journeys.  Once the story is complete, the Creative Writers will present copies of the book to the Warrenbook Senior Center.