b'and pigs would follow if chickens werepier for it. It is not lost on her that for giventhegreenlight.Thetrusteesevery moment her kids are exploring voted to run a two-year pilot program,their world they are not in front of a andsoonafterPhoebebecamethescreen. TRAVELING "THIS LAND"proud owner of three chickens.TendingchickenshasmadeLindaWITH DAN BARRYIntheyearssincetheordinancesrealize that the average person knows passed,chickenownershiphasnotlittle about biology. She says, I cant tellMARCH 18, 7:30PMtaken off as the critics feared. Just fiveyou how often I get the question. SoColumbia High Schoolfamiliesineachtownhaveappliedwhat happens if one of these eggs turns for chicken licenses. And as far as theinto a chick? And I have to say, Well,Black Box Theatrehealth officers knowJohn Festa inhang on a second. You know that theres SouthOrangeandCandiceDaven- no rooster involved, right? Travel back with Pulitzer Prize-port in Maplewoodresidential lifewinning New York Times writerhasbeencalmamongstthosewhoDAN BARRY on his decade-longhave chicken neighbors. Periodic giftsroad trip, searching for stories thatof fresh eggs may help as well. reflected the shared and complicatedAmerican experience.somadultschool.org973.378.7620MEET LINDA BECK:South Orange, 5 chickensAlthough Linda grew up on a farm in Virginia, she is new to chicken rais- Michael Carrico and Kate Dial with Ada, ing. She got her hens almost two yearsnow two years old.ago from a family in Maplewood whoMAPLEWOOD AUTHORwas moving away. Her tidy coop fits inKATE DIAL:the rear of her small back yard, whichMaplewood, 5 chickens RELEASES HER MEMOIRsheviewsasanoutdoorclassroom.An Irreverent Take on the JourneyLinda happily welcomes her childrensWhen Kate decided to add chickens friendstolearnaboutherchickensto her back yard, she drafted the coopfrom Disability to Distinction(each one is named after an Avenger)onthecomputerandherhusband, in their cheery green coop.Michael,Bornwithbothfeetupside-downand While Lindas career is in television,builtit,backwards,KatharineHouston-Voss chronicles the hilarious, excruciating, hu-she has a natural affinity for scientificfactoringmiliating, and joyous moments that come learning,inspiredbyagrandfatherinallsortswithgrowingupphysicallydifferent.In andgreatunclewhowerescientists.of elementsLoving Every Awkward Step, this memoir Her homeindoor and outis filledtomakespeaks to those who struggle to fit in and withspecimenssuchasskullsandthecoopprovides insight to those working with or bones, plants, and a few animals thatfunctionraising a child or young adult with special needs. With honest reflection and humor, serveasop- wellforhumansandchickensalike,Houston-Vosss book challenges societys portunitiesand even matching its design to theirdefinition of what it means to be normal. forteachinghouse.SinceAvailableinprintandebook,onlineat m o m e n t sbothKateAmazon and Barnes & Noble. foranyoneandMichael v i s i t i n g .are tall, theyJOIN US AT OUR BOOK LAUNCH Shesays,ImadetheApril 4, 1 - 3 p.m. at The Snug,thinkthatcooptobe19 Valley Street in South Orange.themoreand conversation wehighenoughAda watches as the Read this story: it will be the friend who communicationso they could can have right here in the back yardeasilyk cleanhens climb up her backteaches and inspires you without ever being condescending or judgmental.about things that are living here.anditandthe Pam Bachorz, author ofrelate [that] to our lives, I think werec h i c e n sCandor and Droughtall healthier for it, and were all hap- couldhavestairs.feature story /23'