As preparation, Mr. Baca conducted one workshop at Manhattan's Washington Irving and Gramercy Arts high schools in February.

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The Washington Irving students had recently found out that their school was slated to close, so the mood was heavy.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: You've heard the story and seen the movie, but have you ever actually read the Washington Irving classic?

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Just up the Hudson river is Headless Horseman, where Washington Irving's fictional and famously decapitated equestrian has returned with dozens of creepy friends in tow.

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Washington Irving's most famous literary creation (with apologies to Ichabod Crane, who might have benefited from today's ban on helmet-to-helmet hits) snoozed for 20 years, plum missing the Revolutionary War.

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The tale of Ponce de Leon's quixotic quest for the fountain of youth, Mr. Allman points out, was concocted in the 1820s by Washington Irving, the creator of Rip Van Winkle.

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