SALISBURY — Eric Chin’s initial reaction to the idea of having a clone was “that would be so cool.”“It could do all my homework and chores while I’m on the computer.”But Eric became a little less sanguine after doing some research.Eric, along with fellow Salisbury Central School eighth-graders Ethan Marshall and Colin May presented their eight-grade projects at the Scoville Memorial Library Saturday, May 21.Eric said that while Dolly the sheep, the first successfully cloned mammal, was born in 1996 with no apparent abnormalities, she developed obesity and arthritis and was euthanized at age 6 — roughly half the typical life span of a sheep.Eric speculated that the genetic age (as opposed to the chronological age) of Dolly’s cells was a factor. He also noted that there have yet to be any successfully cloned primates.Asked about ethical issues in cloning, Eric replied, “I didn’t go deep into it because human cloning is so far in the future. But it wouldn’t be fair to the clone. There would be so much pressure, he wouldn’t have a life.”Colin May, whose project was about cyberbullying, got to the heart of the matter when he pointed out that there isn’t a standard definition to work with, so he came up with this: “Harassment transmitted through electronic methods such as email, chat and text messaging.”Colin said cyberbullying can have devastating psychological effects on its victims, including suicide.Cyberbullying differs from typical bullying because the bully and the victim are not face-to-face (although they frequently attend the same school).“The cyberbully doesn’t know how the victim reacts, which is why some people don’t think they are doing anything wrong.”Colin cited statistics claiming that half of American adolescents report being cyberbullied, and, oddly enough, about the same number engage in the behavior.A quarter of those bullied report multiple instances; only 10 percent tell their parents, and under 20 percent of incidents are reported to law enforcement officials.Colin recommended taking basic Internet safety precautions, such as using password protection, and being wary of putting personal information online.“The Internet’s a big place, and once it’s on there, you can’t take it back.”He said ignoring the cyberbully works up to a point, but because the effects of the cyberbullying are likely to show up in school, a coordinated response from schools and parents is necessaryHe suggested establishing an Internet safety course along the same lines as the DARE anti-drug program.Ethan Marshall, speaking about teen suicide, said many teens at risk for suicide never seek help, but that 80 percent of those who do successfully complete treatment.He said that “successful” suicides only make up a fraction of attempted suicides — and that while women make more attempts, men succeed more often (by a ratio of four to one).A majority of suicides have one or more the following problems: depression or bipolar disorder, a substance abuse problem, schizophrenia, a personality disorder, an eating disorder or an anxiety disorder. Three quarters of suicides have an alcohol or drug problem, he added, and about 11 percent of people with addictions give serious consideraion to suicide, as compared to just 3 precent of the general population — a sobering thought when half of all teens at the very least experiment with drugs or alcohol.Ethan said parents and friends should watch for mood swings; being bullied; cutting; a loss of interest; erratic changes in behavior; and a sudden interest in weapons.On the way out, the audience was asked to respond to a one-question survey on cloning. “And leave a small tissue sample,” quipped Dr. Eugene Chin, Eric’s father.
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Greg Fricke and James Boehmer, co-owners of Peggy Mercury in Kent, recently launched their first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts.”
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Fricke and Boehmer are not there to stock their shelves with the same products customers find at standard makeup retailers. They’re there to help customers find what works for them. That usually means asking customers about themselves and learning about their beauty habits, skin, style and the way they like to present themselves. Fricke and Boehmer believe it’s their job to help customers bring out the qualities that suit them and determine what works best for their look.
So much of the Peggy Mercury world is about emboldening people to become more creative, and possibly bolder, versions of themselves. Some of this comes through the store’s creative collaborations with artists, designers and stylists.
It’s part of an ethos that encourages them and their friends to use the shop as a kind of laboratory, trying out new creative experiments without knowing how they might turn out. Whether in fashion, painting, fiber arts or photography, the projects almost always turn out marvelously.
A line of sterling silver charms they sell started as a small project by their friend Nolan Percival. In the beginning, the pieces were for close friends and loved ones. But Boehmer and Fricke encouraged Percival to get a little more serious about the project and create a whole line for the store. Today, it’s one of their top-selling collections.
Classic styles, bold colors, and creative concerts make up the “Imaginary Concerts” line at Peggy Mercury.Provided
“Imaginary Concerts” has the duo taking their own advice.
The project started as a way for Boehmer to connect with his mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Taking old concert shirts from his own collection, Boehmer and his mother began cutting out the graphics with the idea that they would make a quilt together. Unfortunately, she died before they could complete the project in 2025. The pieces, which were ready for production, were put on the back burner as Boehmer and Fricke dealt with their loss and the whirlwind of projects that never seemed to cease at Peggy Mercury.
But the harsh winter of 2026 presented an opportunity to take some time and focus on themselves. Part of that meant revisiting and redefining the concert T-shirt project. This time, instead of looking to the warmth and comfort of a quilt, they turned to another passion — fashion.
Taking a page from their own book, they wanted to create something that felt comfortable to them. They took two disparate loves — one rooted in simple preppy style, with clean lines and classic silhouettes, and the other in the nitty gritty worlds of punk rock and pop — and blended them together to create something entirely new. Pulling from the staples of vintage Brooks Brothers and Charvet collections, they applied the graphic elements with bold stitching reminiscent of punk jackets of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but with a much more sophisticated air.
But the remixing isn’t just the pairing of prep and punk. The pieces are not canon. They take liberties with the realities of concert tours, combining one band’s dates with another band’s logos, mixing them all up until the reality is lost and imagination is the only truth.
Shirts from Peggy Mercury’s first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts,” hang on display.Provided
Adding to the mix is an element of perpetual creativity. Art can be messy, both figuratively and literally, and many of Fricke and Boehmer’s artist friends carry evidence of their work on them at all times. As a nod to these tireless creatives, the duo added haphazard splashes of bright color, giving the line an even more distinctive feel.
For them, “Imaginary Concerts” passes the “Peggy Test.” The mythical Peggy Mercury is a fictional figurehead for the company, a character who thrives on creativity and change. The name, much like the clothing line, is a mixture of interests: Mercury is a planet, a deity and an elusive, transformative element, while Peggy is the wonderfully stylish and boundary-pushing Peggy Guggenheim.
Everything Fricke and Boehmer put in their store has to pass this test: Would Peggy Mercury approve? For their first collection, the answer is a resounding yes.
Peggy Mercury is at 9 Maple St., Unit 2, Kent.
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