WB Starlet and Former Waldick resident Bethany Joy Lenz recalls her favorite local haunts and the high school teacher who inspired her.

You'll never catch Bethany Joy Lenz with a copy of What Color is Your Parachute? The actress, best know for her role as Haley James on the WB's hit drama One Tree Hill, has always known that her career would lie in the arts. "I just knew that's what I was supposed to do with my life ever since I was a kid" she says. "It's been a struggle at times, but I've enjoyed it all."

In truth, the closet Lenz has come to an occupational crisis is deciding with artistic discipline to pursue. While TV audiences might recognize her as Michelle Bauer from Guiding Light or from her current WB gig, the 24-year-old is actually accomplished in a variety of fields: Trained by the director of The Brooklyn College of Opera, Lenz can sing, play guitar and piano and compose music.  She released the limited CD Preincarnate in 2002 and recently signed a recording contract with Epic Records.