FHS Telegraph - Fairfield Community Schools

FHS Telegraph
Volume I issue 1
What’s inside
Homecoming Highlights
Will the CC boys win districts?
Planet in peril?
Who is Sarah Palin?
We pick the president
Hot Fall Fashions
Ask Phoebe
News>>>2
Index
>news
>editorial
>politics >mini-features
>sports
>features
>health & lifestyle
>arts & entertainment
>advice
>back
Staff
Editors-in-Chief
Nikki Deol
Kiran Stallone
Raj Deol
News Editor
Raj Deol
Editorial Editor
Rachel Keller
Mini-Feature Editor
Susan Ayala
Feature Editor
Patrick Duffey(P.D)
Jayme Shelby
Lifestyle Editor
Shannon Cochran
A&E Co-Editors
Lindsey Higgins
Duncan Cochran
Jayme Shelby
Sports Co-Editors
Madhava Martin
Raj Deol
Back page Editor
Ashley Atwood
Photo Manager
Mitchell Andersen
Technology Director
Brian Danielson
Advertising Director
Tyler Emry
Business Manager
Candace Fisher
Photographers
Raj Deol
Nikki Deol
Susan Ayala
Advisor
Elizabeth Byers
World news briefs
2-3
4
5
6-8
9-12
13-14
15
16-17
18-19
20
Gas Prices Drop
The national average gas price has dropped roughly 35 cents in the
past two weeks; the biggest drop ever recorded in history. The average
price of gas is expected to drop below $3.00 per gallon by December.
However, Fairfield has seen prices as low as $2.04 a gallon and lower. Experts say the sudden fall in gas prices is
due to the demand of oil going down and the poor state of
the economy. Prices are not expected to spike anytime soon.
Turn Down the Tunes
New studies show that teens that listen to music or use cell phones
on a loud volume are at risk for hearing loss. Scientists say that young
people who listen to iPods and other mp3 players at a volume of 89 decibels, about as loud as a motorcycle or a car wash, for at least 5 hours a
week, or roughly 85 to 100 songs, are at risk to suffer hearing damage.
Elderly Nun Votes
One hundred and six year-old Cecilia Gaudette is now a minor
celebrity in Italy. Though she is a current resident of Italy, Gaudette is a citizen of the United States and plans to vote via Internet.
She recently appeared on CBS news and reported she was going to
cast a ballot for Barack Obama.
She has not voted since 1952, in which she voted for a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower. Gaudette is a bit shocked by all of the
media attention, but is coping well. Gaudette is reported as one
of the oldest Americans planning to vote in the 2008 election.
Our mission
FHS Telegraph formerly known as Troy Banner is
established as an open forum school-sponsored publication dedicated to informing its readers. It is published four times a year by student news staff at Fairfield High School, 605 E. Broadway, Fairfield,IA.
The staff will report accurately, fairly, and objectively as possible. All activities and news will
be covered to the best of the staff’s abilities.
FHS Telegraph accepts the canons of journalism as
the basis for good journalism ethics. Columns and reviews that appear under a byline are the opinions of
the writer, not necessarily of the staff, Fairfield High
School, or the Fairfield School District. Unsigned
editorials represent the majority of the editorial board.
Readers are encouraged to express viewpoints through
guest editorials. FHS Telegraph also welcomes any letter
to the editor, provided that (a) it is not libelous or obscene;
(b) it explains the material clearly, and (c) it is signed.
The Telegraph reserves the right to edit any letter
to the editor because of space limitations, copyright laws,
or journalism ethics.
Endangered Deer Rediscovered in Indonesia
The Sumantran muntjac, a species of deer thought to be few in numbers, has not been spotted in Indonesia for 80 years until officials confirmed sightings recently.
Happy Halloween!
A hunter’s snare photographed the deer two different times on a barren
mountainside in the island of Sumatra. Indonesian officials say the last
sighting was in 1930, only 16 years after its original discovery in 1914. The
deer, about the size of a large dog, is on the “Red List” of endangered animals.
fhs Telegraph>>>October 29,2008
Lindsey Higgins co-editor A & E
News>>>3
FHS Wall of Honor: Defining
moments, inspiring leadership
Local news briefs
Flying to Fairfield
Flying to the Sondheim Center is the
wonderful musical Peter Pan, starring Jenn Colella and Stephen DeRosa.
Jenn Colella, a star on Broadway, is
coming to Fairfield to be the lively and
cunning Peter Pan. Stephen DeRosa,
also a star on Broadway, will be seen
portraying the role of Captain Hook.
Three Fairfield High School students
will also be seen in this musical. Galen
Hawthorne, will be playing John, a welloff English boy. Shannon Cochran and
Sarah Flinspach will be playing the bratty lost boys that were sent to Neverland.
Peter Pan is a fun-filled, action-packed
musical drama that is a must see for this
season.
Shannon Cochran
Marching to Honors
On Oct. 4th, 2008 the marching band
traveled to Bloomfield for the Davis County
Marching Band Festival. The festival began
at 6pm and lasted until 10:30pm. It kicked
off with the 2A classification bands,and
finished with the 3A bands, including the
FHS band.
The FHS show was called “Cirque de
Soleil” whose repetoire consisted of four
music pieces. “Distorted”, “A La Lune”,
“Reve Rouge” and “Urban”. The show had
cool props which were a Drumbone, a torn
piano, and blue buckets. For “Urban” the
whold band jammed out to the buckets, and
sitcks.
Towards the end of the festival, the judges
announced that the FHS Marching Band
won fifth place. “We were half a point from
fourth and about two points away from
second place! We did better than last year by
10 points, and that’s pretty good” stated band
member Mitch Anderson.
Susan Ayala
Mini feature editor
Every year the entire student
body gathers in the auditorium
to watch the Wall of Honor induction ceremony. Even though
anyone may nominate a graduate of Fairfield High School for
the honor, all inductees must
have achieved distinction in
their profession, and have had a
positive influence in the lives of
others.
After the induction, an engraved plaque with a picture,
biography and citation for each
inductee goes on permanent
display in the Fairfield High
School Commons. This year’s October 10th
event honored three new
nominees: David A. Despain,
Barry D. Harper, and Warren H.
Holmes. Each inductee gave a
speech about their accomplishments.
Prior to their speeches, a
poem written by Scott Slechta
was read for each nominee
that highlighted their life accomplishments. “I consider it
an honor to pay tribute to these
distinguished alumni,” Slechta
said. “It [writing the poems]
also serves as a unique teaching tool. English 10 students
also study poetry and create a
poem during this same time.
I can model the frustrations
and triumphs of poetry writing
along with my students. And we
both have real audiences for our
accomplishments – my poems
are a part of the Wall of Honor
and the students’ poems are
fhs Telegraph>>>October 29,2008
published in a student collection
of poems.” Mr. Slechta used autobiographical information of candidates as sources of inspiration to
capture true characters and spirits of the individuals involved.
The Wall of Honor gives
students the opportunity to see
the great things accomplished by
other former students of Fairfield
High School. Too often, students
do not know anything about
those who came before them. The Wall of Honor shows
students that there are no boundaries after graduating from high
school. David Despain went on
to become a host on NASCAR
Today and ESPN. Barry Harper
is currently the CEO of Harper
Brush Works Inc., which has
branched throughout the United
States due to his guidance. Warren Holmes served in the US Air
Force as Director of Logistics at
the Surgeon Generals Office in
Washington, DC. Although the Wall of Honor is
a relatively recent addition to our
high school, Mr. Voorhees aptly
captured its value: “It gives students a goal for which to reach
and helps them to see that their
behavior is no different from
those who went on before them
years previously.”
Kiran Stallone
Co-editor in chief
Editorials>>>4
Who is Sarah Palin ?
Many high school students will have
the opportunity to vote in the upcoming
election. It will be one of the most
significant elections in recent history. In
this election, African American Democrat
Barack Obama and running mate Joe
Biden will compete for the presidency
against Republican John McCain and
his newly selected running mate, Sarah
Palin. If something were to happen
and McCain were to unexpectedly
die, then Sarah Palin would become
president of the United States. With
the fate of our nation hanging in the
balance, conscientious voters should
stop and ask ‘who is Sarah Palinand
what does she have to offer our country?
Let’s begin with Palin’s voting record.
Sarah Palin supports drilling for oil
and pumping gas, not excluding from
Alaska’s protected wildlife regions. In
October 2007 she declared, “A gasline
will help shape our economic future
the same way that oil has shaped our
economic present.” However, she
still believes that global warming
is not caused by human activities. attention away from Barack Obama.
If this is his strategy then the election
She supports guns and openly displays of 2008 is not about political issues.
dead animals in her office and home while This is not about whether women are
often proudly describing her hunting capable of leading or not. The election
adventures. She agreed to put a bounty is about marketing a political candidate
on Alaskan wolves in order to bring for the second most important office in
about an increase in moose population. the entire world. Did McCain know this
During a publicity stunt, she was filmed when he chose her as his running mate?
shooting wolves from a helicopter. This seems to say more about what
he thinks of the American public than
Opponents contend that she blurs the anything he has already memorized for
distinction between church and state. In one of his public speeches. Just because
August 2008, she voted that creationism Sarah Palin is a woman does not mean
be taught along side of evolution in that she should have votes based on
schools. Is this positive for a country gender alone. Does John McCain
that states that religion is free choice and think a gender strategy will stand the
should be separate from government?? cards favor of securing an election to
She vetoed a bill denying benefits to the Office of the Presidency? Vote for
gays, declaring it unconstitutional. McCain/Palin because time has been
taken to understand what they represent.
Beyond these few but significant facts,
Palin has not been in public life long
Kiran Stallone
enough to have a comprehensive public
Co-editor-in chief
record history.
With no comprehensive public record
history, is John McCain gambling with
our country’s future? that Palin will bring
enough strength to his ticket so that he
will not lose the election. Does McCain
want to use Sarah Palin to divert public
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
Politics>>>>5
Decision 2008: we pick the president
Fairfield High School is given a voice this Election season
During the lunch shifts on October 14th through 17th, the students, teachers, and faculty
members were given the opportunity to voice their choice for the next President in a FHS
Telegraph poll in the cafeteria.
The two major parties, Republican and Democrat, were represented on the ballot: Republican candidates John McCain (President) and Sarah Palin (Vice-President), and Democratic
candidates Barack Obama (President) and Joe Biden (Vice-President). Voters were allowed
to write in a candidate of their choice.
Rachel Keller
Staff writer
Here are the results of the poll below.
45 % of student vote
29 % of student vote
26 % of student vote
Other
QUIZ:
Many Americans consider themselves to be very politically involved. Some more than others. Are you a political whiz?
Take the quiz below to find out.
1. Who is the controlling party in the U.S. House of Representatives?
2. Who is the U.S. Secretary of State?
3. Who is Great Britain’s Prime Minister?
ANSWERS:
3. Gordon Brown
2. Condoleezza Rice
1.
FHS Telegraph>>>October 29, 2008
The Democrats
Poll Information provided by Kiran Stallone
and Rachel Keller
Mini-feature>>>6
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
Mini-feature>>>7
Homecoming highlights:
memorable moments of spirit
Classes are finally in session and the excitement of summer is slowly fading. During the first week in October, FHS
students got into the Homecoming spirit. This year’s theme
was Lei out the Chiefs as we anticipate the thrill of the culminating week’s event and that was the football game. To
show support for our team and for our school, most people
eagerly embraced all of the week’s activities. We began our week with Color day which allowed students and faculty to show their support by wearing different colors: seniors wore black; juniors wore blue; sophomores wore red; freshmen wore, brown; and faculty wore
purple. There were a few students who made it their goal
to make this day memorable. Even some arrived wearing body paint to represent their color and their spirit.
Monday afternoon in the Fairfield High School Gym
brought anticipated excitement as students and staff met for a
brief assembly which announced all of the queen candidates
and their escorts. The looks on the senior girls’ faces were surprise and excitement. All candidates agreed that they knew that
no matter who won, it would be a good experience for them.
The rest of the day chatter among the students could be heard
as to who they were going to vote for and who was going to win.
Monday’s excitement carried over to Tuesdays events
as students arrived at school dressed as a stereotypical “hick” for “In the Sticks” day. Breaking with the
traditional dress code rules, Mr. Voorhees showed his
school spirit and went as far as to let the students wear
their hats in school in order to compliment their outfits.
On Wednesday, everyone showed their spirit in their own
way and which prepared everyone to dress in their favorite tropical attire for Thursday in honor of the homecoming theme Lei out the Chiefs. Many people enjoyed the
change because they got to wear crazy prints and even
bikinis,over their other outfits, of course. Even Mr. Becker
wore a grass skirt for the occasion to show his school spirit.
With spirits soaring on Thursday night, students and other
community members gathered at the high school for a jersey auction, “Kiss the Pig” contest, and the traditional
bonfire before the Homecoming Queen was announced.
While the jersey auction progressed well, the crowd eagerly
awaited the “Kiss the Pig” contest. While several new faculty
members were good sports, Dr. Dey had the honors. Afterward, he said, “The pig was sweet. It was very quiet and calm.”
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
As the noisy crowd gathered around the warm bonfire on
a chilly fall evening, a hush came over the area as people
strained to hear the name of this year’s Homecoming Queen.
Brittney Fry was elated to receive the crown and most
people agreed that no one could have been more deserving.
While Thursday night gave the community a chance
to come together in spirit with the school, the most
memorable day for all was Friday. Friday pulled it
all together. Students entered the school determined
to show their spirit for their school and their team.
The high school let out at 2:30 pm as the students walked
to the town square for a pep rally. The floats went by as
each class had their opportunity to show off their creativity.
Another way students showed their school spirit was
by the forum door decorating contest won by Mrs.Zihlman’s students.
On Friday night, football players showed their spirit by
playing hard on the field. Many people commented that
they had a great time in the crowd cheering on the team.
After the football game, the Homecoming dance
was the perfect ending to an exciting week. Though
the atmosphere was hot, the students enjoyed themselves. Even a few of the teachers made remarks
about how exciting it was to watch the students interact and some even got into the music themselves!
Homecoming week brought fun, pride and school spirit
to the high school. The fun of summer is distant, but
FHS students are using their time to inspire others and
make unforgettable memories.
Jayme Shelby
A&E editor
Feature editor
Senior Mini-Feature >>>8
Senior Snapshots
She has heart
Breanna P. Estle can be seen walking through the halls carrying a blue binder, or cruising around
campus in her blue ‘57 Chevy Bel Air.
When alone, she enjoys sewing and loves to read. She’s a huge fan of the Twilight series. Another
book she loves is Wuthering Heights. Breanna spends a lot of time listening to and playing music. She
can play the piano and the trombone. “I love Taylor Swift’s Love Story ,” said Breanna. “The music
video was good.”
Afterschool, Breanna works at the Veterinary Clinic. “I want to become a veterinarian,” she explained. Although she works every day, Breanna still finds time to participate in extracurricular activities, such as Band, Jazz Band, Spanish Club, and the Science Bowl team. She’s also the President of
Round Prairie Echoes 4-H club.
Breanna loves history and this past summer, she got a chance to learn a little more about some European history. Breanna went with the Spanish Club on a trip to Spain. They went to Madrid, Zaragozza, Toledo, and Barcelona. They also went to Rome and the Vatican City in Italy. “I had a lot of fun.
My favorite place was Toledo,” she exclaimed. “The cathedral was incredible!”
Breanna has some advice to offer to the underclassmen. “Life is all about choices,” she remarked.
“Life can be a lot easier if you plan ahead.” She’s all about planning ahead, and has applied to Iowa
State University. She’s already received her acceptance letter and will be majoring in Animal Science
to fulfill her dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Susan Ayala
FHS
Telegraph>>> October 29, 2008
Mini-features editor
Sports Feature>>>9
Drive, determination and a love of the game
Raj Deol
Photographer
The 2008 FHS Trojans are 3-5.
At the moment, the chance of
making the playoffs appears to be
out of the question. So, what motivates this team? The team has
drive, determination and commitment to a solid game of football.
Junior Jake Dunbar says “the
team works hard at every practice. We execute our plays, some
well, learn from our mistakes,
and spend practice time driving
it home. We love the game”.
Dunbar’s
and
his teammates’ commitment and ‘love
of the game are echoed on
the field during game nights
and in practice sessions.
But players and coaches agree
that the Trojans need experience. This season nine sophomores start for the team. “Never
before have we started more
than 2 sophomores in a season,” said Coach Schenck.
At practice and at moments in
their season games, this team
show it has great athleticism. It
is still important to play well.
Players that play well now,
could have an upper hand in executing winning plays next year.
The Trojans only have one game
left and it is against Mt. Pleasant. Even though Mt. Pleasant
is the district leader and ranked
3rd in state, expect the Trojans
to give them all they got. These
two teams have an intense rivalry in which all players play
hard, regardless of their records.
So, was this a successful season?
Only hindsight will tell as fans
anxiously watch how the Trojans
do the next two or three years.
“If you were expecting an undefeated season, I think that’s a little
unrealistic,” Coach Schenck said.
Undaunted by this season’s outcome, the Trojans have a plan.
“The plan was for this year to
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
be a year of learning, to let the
players get their feet wet. If they
did bad it was okay, even if they
did well that was gravy. All of a
sudden if you look ahead to next
year, you have a senior group
who has played the majority of
time the last two years, a junior
group that got some valuable
playing time as sophomores and
suffered only 1 loss their freshmen year and a sophomore group
that is currently 5-1 as a freshmen
team” Coach Schenck stated.
As there were no seniors,
only juniors, sophomores and
freshman getting some play
time, showing experienced
leadership was challenging.
But with this team’s outlook
for next year, experienced leadership shouldn’t be a problem at
all. Look for the Trojans to play
hard next week and to try and
catapult some momentum going
into next season. All of a sudden the future looks promising.
Raj Deol
Co-Editor Sports
Sports Feature>>>10
NBA previews and predictions: will the
Lakers take the Celtics this year in the
ultimate final showdown?
Will a Shaqless Lakers team finally win
the Finals? Will Eddie House’s kid be sent
to the emergency room after being bitten
by Kevin Garnett in an inexplicable fit of
rage? Will Salim and Damon Stoudemire
combine to form the most formidable
brother-brother combo since Horace and
Harvey Grant? Is Luke Walton’s stalker
really just Doug Christie’s wife, coming back to perpetually haunt L.A.? Will
Ric Bucher’s breathless incompetence
continue to set aflame every NBA segment
ESPN airs?
And so, without any further adieu, here is
the 2008-2009 NBA Preview.
Eastern Conference
Let’s start with the Eastern Conference in
all of its offensively anemic brilliance. Although a few trades and the return of Larry
Brown offers some excitement, it’s hard to
see the East boasting more than five teams
above .500. Here’s how I know things will
shape out:
1. Boston Celtics- Hard to see
Boston not winning the East
again. The Big Three should be
destructive, point guard Rajon
Rondo is a year wiser and twice
more hood, and Kendrick Perkins is huge. The loss of Posey
could hurt come playoff time,
but the regular season should
see the Celtics ubuntu into first
place.
2. Detroit Pistons- The Pistons
seem as savvy and boring as
ever, which guarantees them
their usual spot at second. And
although they boast a bench that
could start for Oklahoma City,
one has to wonder about the closing window of opportunity for this
set of Pistons. Billups, Hamilton,
McDyess, and Rasheed are all getting old, as is Wallace’s temper and
bald spot.
3. Philadelphia 76ers- Yes, the
Sixers will finish in third. Adding Elton Brand is huge, and they
also re-signed key free agents
and traded for the effortless lefty
stroke of Kareem Rush, as well
as Theo Ratliff deltoids. Anything
is possible in the East, and with
an impressive performance in last
year’s playoffs and a rejuvenated
team, Philly should go far.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers- LeBron
James guarantees just about any
team a playoff spot, but this positioning relies heavily on if’s- if Mo
Williams is everything the Cavs
believe, if Ilgauskas’s feet don’t
fall off, if we see less of Danny
Ferry and more of Usher, then
perhaps fourth place is reasonable.
If not, don’t expect Cleveland to be
witnessing much more of Akron’s
Finest.
5. Orlando Magic- It’s hard to gauge
the limit for Orlando. Dwight
Howard is probably the best center.
Rashard Lewis is better at being
T-Mac than even T-Mac is, and
Jameer Nelson is capable of being
a great floor leader, but they have
yet to put the pieces together and
have a strong playoff run. Perhaps
this is the year, in which case they
should make some noise come
April and May.
6. Toronto Raptors- The Jermaine
O’Neal deal that the Raps swung
last June was scruntized, but the
potential is still huge for a Bosh-
FHS Telegraph October 29, 2008
O’Neal tandem. Jose Calderon
will play a big role in how far
Toronto goes, as the point guard
position belongs to him. The
Raptors seem full of role players, and thus need Bosh to play
out of his mind in order to do
some real damage.
7. Washington Wizards- On
paper, Washington seems to
have as much potential as
anyone; three potential All-Stars,
multiple young talents, and
DeShawn Stevenson still can’t
feel his face. However, recent
history shows potential doesn’t
necessarily mean regular and
post-season success. The fact
that Arenas figures to miss two
months doesn’t help things for
the Wiz, which all adds up to
them finishing a disappointing
seventh.
8. Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat,
Atlanta Hawks (Tie)- The East
is always unpredictable, a fact
personified by these teams. After
seeing what Dwyane Wade did
to the international competition in Beijing, let’s say that
the Heat should be guaranteed
a playoff spot, but then again,
they were last year’s worst
team. Indiana and Atlanta were
both right in the race for eighth
last year, but Atlanta took a big
hit when they lost Childress to
the Chicago Bulls of Europe.
Indiana has tremendous upside
because of the offseason moves
they pulled, landing at different times. T.J. Ford, Jarett Jack,
Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert,
and the swaggering inside play
of Rasho Nesterovic. They
remain pretty young, however,
so it remains too early to really
guarantee anything for them.
Photo KB.com
Sports Feature>>>11
Western Conference
Last year, the West ended up boasting ten teams with winning
percentages over .500. The 11th place team in the West last season
(Sacramento) would have been the fourth place team in the East.
This year, they appear to be even more loaded, with a collection of
talent more outrageous than Michael Phelps’s eating habits. The
West will be intensely wild, and here’s how the standings are ending up:
1. Los Angeles Lakers- The Lakers begin the season
absolutely teeming with talent: Kobe, Bynum, Gasol,
Odom, Fisher, Vujacic.....the list goes on., and the end
result could be devastating to the rest of the league. The
skeptics will spew pessimistic predictions about lack of
frontcourt chemistry, Kobe’s mileage, the ‘softness’ of
the team as a whole, but it is unlikely to manifest itself.
If anyone can solve those potential problems, it’s Phil
Jackson, who has to feel nothing but motivated after he
was outcoached by Doc Rivers last June. My projection:
70+ wins in the regular season.
2. Houston Rockets- The trade for Artest is huge, despite
his past and the possibility of chemistry issues on the
offensive end. Artest,will do nothing but good for the
Rockets; he adds much needed toughness and defensive prowess, he could carry the offensive burden when
McGrady or Yao inevitably become injured, and he is
finally on a team with a chance to win, which should all
result in the Rockets finishing very highly in the standings.
3. New Orleans Hornets- Most speak highly of the Hornets’ chances at a championship this season, but this year
will actually bring a decrease in the Hornets’ wins. They
took most teams by surprise last year, and although they
added James Posey to their roster, teams everywhere will
be looking for a chance to knock them off. The talent of
Paul, Chandler, and West is undeniable, but I don’t see
them doing as well as last year in a very tough Western
Conference.
4. San Antonio Spurs- Consider this: the Spurs ‘lackluster’
season last year consisted of 56 wins and a loss in the
Conference Finals. True, they are a team made up mostly
of foreign dinosaurs, but it’s hard to write them off
just yet. I say that Duncan has at least one more strong
playoff run in him, and the pattern of Spurs championships goes like this: ‘99, ‘03, ‘05, and ‘07. A title in ‘09
wouldn’t exactly be unbelievable.
5. Utah Jazz- Entering Jerry Sloan’s 500th year at the helm,
the Jazz seem destined for another second-round exit this
summer. Their team is basically the same as last year’s,
and with most in the West improving, the Jazz have done
little to help their cause. One encouraging sign is Utah’s
record last year after acquiring Kyle Korver from Philadelphia: 38-12. Should mean a decent season for the Jazz
with Korver presumably playing all year?
6. Portland Trail Blazers- Simply put, the sky is the limit
for Portland. Youth usually translates into unpredictability,
but if Portland puts all the pieces together for an entire
season, they’ll finish a lot better than sixth. With Oden,
Roy, Bayless, Webster, Aldridge, Blake, and Spanish
steed Rudy Fernandez, the Blazers should be able to
hang with anybody. Paul Allen must be so excited that he
should buy a yacht the size of Rhode Island.
7. Golden State Warriors- After barely missing the playoffs
last year, Golden State should be motivated to go all-out
this year. They did lose Baron Davis, as well as whatever
animals he was housing in his beard, but they added
Corey Maggette and the electricity of Ronny Turiaf. After
sitting in the shadow of Jason Kidd for a couple of years,
Marcus Williams should relish his chance at regular burn,
and will be more a more than adequate replacement for
Davis. THEY BELIEVE!
8. Phoenix Suns- My! How the tables have turned! This season should see another 1-8 playoff matchup of the Lakers
and Suns, just in the opposite order from only two years
ago. Structured chaos will rule no more at the West, as
an aging Shaq and Steve Nash will probably look to slow
it down and integrate a bit of ‘defense !’into their game
plan. They could finish higher than eighth, but the way
they fizzled out at the end of last year makes me wonder
how much they have left as a whole.
Finals Prediction:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
David Stern, while sitting at whatever office he has and reading
his copy of the FHS Telegraph must be beside himself with glee at
the prospect of a Celtics-Lakers rematch. Indeed, a sequel to last
year’s duel would be exciting to say the least, although if one more
person asks Kurt Rambis about the ‘84 Finals, I’m positive he’ll
clothesline them. The Celtics would love to add to their 17 championship banners, but the Lakers plus Bynum will equal too much for
Boston to handle, and I see them falling to the Lakers in five games.
Might as well schedule a parade in Los Angeles right now. It will be
a fitting end to what figures to be an amazing season in the NBA.
FHS Telegraph October 29, 2008
Madhava Martin
Co-Sports Editor
Photo KB.com
Sports Feature>>>12
UEFA CUP: Will Ronaldo lead his team to immortality?
In European Soccer, there are 15 prominent
leagues. They are the Spanish Primera Divison, Spanish
Segunda Division, Italian Serie A, Italian Serie B, German Bundesliga, German 2. Bundesliga, French Ligue
1, French Ligue 2, Scottish Premier League, Dutch Eredivisie, Dutch Ereste Divisie, Portuguese Liga, Russian
Premier League, Greek Super League, and the English
Premier League. Probably the two most notable leagues
are the Spanish Primera Division and the English Premier League. The Spanish league includes teams such
as Valencia, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. The English
Premier league includes Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea,
Arsenal In the standings. In stunning fashion, Arsenal
lost to Hull by the score of 2-1. 45,000 fans showed up
in attendance expecting an easy win. Arsenal played
sloppy, underestimating their opponent. Now, the
consequences can be severe. Arsenal is now 4-2 with
no ties. This puts them in a tie for fourth place, not a
position they want to be. For Hull, the magical victory puts them in 5th, very much alive in the standings.
One team that is underachieving is Manchester United.
They are 2-1 with 2 ties. Manchester United is a very
powerful team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet for some
reason the team isn’t meeting expectations. One reason
Aston Villa, and Manchester United.
is that , Ronaldo hasn’t been healthy all season, but is
is still a force to be reckoned with. Chelsea and them
Let’s take a look at the Spanish Primera Divi-
finally progressing. Nonetheless Manchester United
sion. So far, Villereal is on top in the standings. They
have dominated this league the past few years. Each
have four wins, 1 tie, and no losses. In close second, is
year they constantly fight for the division title, with
Real Madrid. Real Madrid had a close match with Real
Manchester Untd. usually ending up on top. This year
Betis but they hung on and won. Next, in order are
however, the teams played and the game ended in a 1-1
Barcelona, Valencia, and Atletico Madrid. This league
tie. Chelsea right now has the upper hand as they are
will play on until June. In past years, this league has
leading the division.
been dominated by three teams. Those teams are, Real
Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. Of the last eight division titles, Real Madrid has won four, and Barcelona
and Valencia have won two each. Real Madrid has won
Teams are also competing for the UEFA Cup.
Teams that do well in their leagues get to compete in
this. Some teams in it so far are Real Madrid, Arsenal,
the last two years.
Villarreal, Liverpool, and others. They are all catego-
cer is off to a great start!
Next, let’s see the English Premier League. On
top of this league is Chelsea. They have four wins, 2
ties, and no losses. They just leapfrogged
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
rized into 8 groups. Group A through H. European Soc-
Raj Deol
Co-Sports & Editor in Chief
Feature>>>13
Planet in peril?
The days are getting warmer and a nation powers itself with more non renewable fossil fuels. Over 40% of the US’
total CO2 output comes from electric
power plants, most of which burn coal.
Global warming has invaded the
heartland of America. Yet it is estimated
thousands Americans jump in their
large SUVs and cruise through cities of
America. If everybody’s car got only 3
more miles per gallon, it would conserve 1 millions barrels of oil a day, and
almost 25 billion dollars in fuel costs.
Moreover, a study in Los Angeles.
found that half the cars burned their gas
in traffic jams going nowhere.
Unforunately, Iowa is a major coal
burning polluter. Most people in Fairfield know the train that goes through
town is usually laden with heaps of
coal. Coal is one of the worst, most
carbon-producing fuels, and at a rising
count of 384 parts per million, CO2 is
the most abundant greenhouse gas.
But if we look beyond the nation’s
heartland, we find that war contributes
to global warming. More bombs turn
up the heat! Two wars on “terror” that
have nearly consumed a decade, not to
mention the lives that have been lost,
and we have dropped more bombs that
have saturated the desert with massive
amounts of carbon that is unprecedented. Over half the U.S. government’s
budget goes to defense, a ‘wapping 30
billion’ was spent on contracts for more
bombs and tanks. If America is going to
become a ‘green’ nation, then we must
stop senseless wars. Not only are high
explosives rich in CO2, but unexploded
ordinance pollutes for years.
The time has come for change. In
many places around the world, global
warming is already in overdrive. Over
the last 3 years from 2005-2008, an
ice sleet equivalent to Texas, Missouri,
Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama combined melted in the North Pole. Massive deforestation in the Amazon and
Borneo rain forests has contributed to
extinct species and rising carbon levels.
The Greenhouse effect is multiplying
stored heat and causing cataclysmic
disasters. As more carbon enters the
atmosphere, less heat is radiated out to
space, and more moisture remains in our
upper atmosphere. This directly affects
weather on the ground, such as hurricanes. Furthermore, Cedar Rapids Iowa
experienced enough water to flood the
500-year plain.
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
We have had abnormal weather from
our abnormal climate pollution. Furthermore, this trend will only get worse.
Scientists now predict we will hit a
‘tipping point’ at which massive climate
change will happen in a matter of days.
Each coming year the rainy areas will
become saturated and the arid regions
will only get drier! The simple fact is
global change is happening right now
and we’ve done very little to stop it.
The hope does lie in renewable energy,
such as solar, wind and biofuels. New
and old technologies are coming about
that are lessening our impact on the
world. Solar power and biofuels are
now readily available, electric cars are
being sold at dealerships, and many
people bike rather than drive. Many new
buildings strive to get ‘green status’ as
an environmentally friendly business.
Solar panels can be rented for houses
to lower electricity bills. There are
many opportunities waiting to be utilized. The windswept plains of Iowa
is a prime example. Our state has
amazing potential for wind energy.
This unseen force can turn massive
windmill turbines and create renewable energy with no pollutants.
Feature >>>14
Planet in peril?
Many people have, my neighbor included, erected a small windmill that powers their houses! Why pay hun-
dreds for unclean electricity when a 10-foot wide wintdmill could provide cheap, clean power yearlong! In the coming future wind farms will cover the landscape replacing thousands of power plants
and refineries.
In France a new car company is producing the AirCar! A vehicle that runs completely off compressed air! Hard times have spurred inspiration and new ideas are helping solve climate problems.
We have much to learn from the world around us. Nature has survived for eons longer than our short
existence and we can learn from their example. A movement out of California is picking up steam. It
involves ‘Earth-homes’ which are homes built out of the ground and are part of the earth.
We must make a lifestyle-change. Our planet is melting and changing our environment. New possibilities our available to curb our addiction on fossil fuels. The world is warming, is everyone ready?
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
Health & Lifestyles>>>15
Hot fall fashion: steals and great deals
Happy Halloween
from the cat walk!
Byers photo
Being in style doesn’t necessarily mean following all the trends, but
sticking to an individual style. Looking
good this fall is in, but over spending to
look good is not worth it. Most people
don’t want to spend $60 on a t-shirt or
a tank top if there are bargains for sale.
But if there are no sales in sight,
there are still ways to look good and
save money. Here are some helpful
tips for the conscientious consumer.
Vogue and other fashion forward
magazines such as Harper’s or Marie
Claire state that the new color for
women this fall is purple.Everything
this fall revolves around the color
purple. Purple pants, shirts, coats,
sweaters, shoes, and accessories!
Purple is a flattering color for the
majority of women, but most need
to be careful when picking the right
outfits.
Some women would never wear all purple
together unless all the shades matched. So
a key tip is to integrate into the fall wardrobe slowly with a cool t-shirt and skinny
jeans or a purple sweater and denim skirt.
However, women can not go wrong with
wearing purple dresses. At a bargain department store, it is easy to purchase a simple fitting purple dress for $40 or lower.
But what will go well with that purple dress?
Accessories make the outfit and necklaces
that are twisted, mixed, and long aremust
haves for fall. Jewelry can be a little tricky to
pick out, because no one wants to look cheap.
There is a wide range of great accessories
for reasonable prices. But as with any purchase look for quality. It is relatively easy
to find quality products at reasonable prices, and if bargain hunting is important, it is
easy to find quality accessories for under
$20 at most major department store chains.
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
With color and accessories purchase, what makes the ultimate fashion statement? One hot look this
fall is Rocker Chic, according to Fall
2008 Vogue magazine. To get that
Rocker Chic look, grab any t-shirt,
vest, skinny jeans, and converse.
These items can be a bit pricy,
so shop the major department store
chains and buy a cool band t-shirt
for $15, a pair of slimming skinny
jeans would cost $25 , a nice vest
at department stores for $15, and
a purple pair of converse $45, to
complete the rockin’ outfit.
This look adds up to style and
savings.So conscientious consumers, there is hope! Being in style no
longer equals spending an large sum
of money. Be a unique individual.
Start a trend today.
Shannon Cochran
Fashion Editor
Arts and Entertainment>>>16
Eagle Eye delivers
Shia LeBeouf (Transformers, Disturbia) is a veritable jack
of all trades when it comes to the genre of movies in which
he appears. Sci-fi, fantasy, family, mystery, he’s done them
all. This year after the disappointment (in my opinion) that
was Indiana Jones 4, LeBeouf tries his hand once again at the
thriller genre with his new film Eagle Eye. Though it is not
a terrible movie, after a while it becomes apparent that this
movie is a bit less than meets the eye.
LeBeouf plays Jerry Shaw, a stereotypical disappointing
son who could never live up to his twin brother Ethan.
While Ethan joined the military and quickly rose through
the ranks thanks to his genius IQ, Jerry dropped out of Stanford, traveled the world, and now works at an office supply
store. To further the stereotype, Jerry is also low on money
and can barely afford his rent.
Though it may seem the Jerry’s life could not get any
worse, the unexpected death of his twin brother proves the
contrary. After a tearful ceremony and a hostile confrontation
with his father, Jerry returns to his apartment to find the cache
of weapons and other assorted items that are shown in every
a seemingly unconnected series of commands while also
trying to outrun fate.
In the dull movie gap between summer and the
holidays, Eagle Eye tries to give the people something
to look forward to seeing. The movie accomplishes this
goal, but does little to establish itself as a hot new item.
Cliche story elements and rewashed plot aside, it is
still a decent movie worth watching.
trailer. From here on out, Jerry’s life gets hectic as he is
captured by the FBI and miraculously escapes thanks
to the help of a mysterious woman who now plans his
every step on a dangerous mission with an unknown
outcome.
Jerry is joined on this adventure by Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan, Made of Honor), a divorcee
trying to protect her son from the same omniscient
woman who has control of any and all networked
electronics. Together, these two are forced to complete
-
Sales Photo
Fridays in Fairfield
-
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his door
step.” Paul Strand’s words capture the spirit of authentic artists that brings excitement, anticipation and generally pleasurable
meanderings of docile crowds that incessantly gather to the Fairfield Square on the first Friday of the month for the art walk. Italian music fills the background as people converse over paintings, sketches, and window displays located in the many shops and
businesses that make up the square unique cultural and political diversities
-
People from all over the United States have stories to tell about Art Walks, which have been going strong for nearly three years. A
California native, attending the National Peace Conference expresses the view “Fairfield has a lot to offer in terms of interest and
enthusiasm for artists. It is a wonder to see amazing talents grouped in one small space for one moment in time”.
-
As artists from all corners of the world explain their art to interested patrons, children have the opportunity to practice their
art skills, to be artists in training, with free finger paint sessions, letting imaginations wander across endless canvases, while adult
patrons browse through the endless array of art galleries in numerous locations spread across the Square.
-
Visual arts infuses the square with a rich texture of art making and bohemian artistic spirit. The studios move into the streets
where art makers and art admirers share in the romance of creation and construction. We invite everyone to explore the diverse,
creative energy and meet some undiscovered masters. It is an open accepting space.
FHS
Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
Cameron Sales
Staff writer
Arts and Entertainment>>>17
The dramatic education of a teacher
As the audience pushes through the doors of the FHS Auditorium, they are greeted by a vast stage and fifties music playing in the background. Empty seats start to fill; anticipation rises. The lights dim and actors take their places and
the fast paced action begins.
“Up the Down Staircase” is about Sylvia
by Kahlise Rotondi. On her first day as
Sylvia thinks she is prepared. However,
Barrett, a first year teacher impressively portrayed
an English teacher at Calvin Coolidge High,
after a talk with her unofficial mentor, B.
“Mom” Schachter, she starts to lose
confidence and begins to spiral down-
ward as her students enter excitedly
whispering, rummaging around their
desks, and obnoxiously greeting the
well-mannered Ms. Barrett with “Hi
Teach!” Distraught, she attempts to
take attendance, but she is constantly
interrupted by messages from the
stern assistant principal, Mrs. McH-
abe, played by Kaitlyn Uber, and
the concerned school nurse, Elizabeth
Gevock. This is just one of the many
she learns to deal with the wild times at
With a peculiar principal, played
played by Rachel Keller, twin secretaries, played by
times Sylvia is thrown into chaos as
Calvin Coolidge High (CCHS).
by Duncan Cochran, the uninspired librarian,
Danae and Joy Oliver, analytical counselor, played by
Brittany Baldozier, and super-smart chair of the English department, played by Shannon Cochran, the rest of the staff at
CCHS give truly genuine performances that inspire the audience to reflect on how first year teachers are forcibly endoctrinated into teaching. Sylvia learns that teachers can never be completely ready for anything; wisdom comes with experience, and boy does she need experience when she encounters her worst case yet: Joe Ferone, a hostile kid with lots of
potential, played by Sebastian Sheehan.
Soon, Sylvia has become her students’ favorite teacher and finds that no matter what she’s going through her-
self, there is always a student who is experiencing worse. Dedicated, caring, and hard-working, Sylvia blossoms into a
truly memorable character, winning the hearts of her students, fellow staff members, and the audience. Though the cast
is young, the students and staff of Calvin Coolidge High School are terrifically portrayed by the FHS Broadway Players.
Everyone is certain to be interested in the next production will be the spring play, M*A*S*H.
FHS
Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
Lindsey Higgins
A& E Co-Editor
Advice>>>18
Have questions?
Want real answers?
Then...
Ask Phoebe
Photo
free clip
art.com
Dear Phoebe,
Dear Phoebe,
What do teachers discuss at their Wednesday
morning meetings? I love the fact that teachers
have their meetings at that time because that
means it’s a late start for the students, but what
do the teachers actually get done in those 90
minutes? Do they discuss plans for the future
or do they share ideas with each other? Or is it
just another excuse to eat doughnuts and drink
coffee with each other? Don’t get me wrong, I
do love late starts. I’m just curious about what
teachers discuss.
If Physical Education isn’t worth credits, why is it required? The
administrators make us take P.E., yet they don’t give us credits.
It’s unfair the way they force us to take P.E. for all four years
without credits.
- Curious in Fairfield
Dear Curious,
While you are busy sleeping, Fairfield High
School teachers are hard at work, planning your
educational future.
After interviewing several teachers, I found out
that they are busy working on district curriculum in collaborative teams to help improve the
education of every single student who attends
the high school.
So when next Wednesday arrives, relax, and
sleep in a little longer, knowing that FHS teachers have your best interests at heart.
- P.E. Critic in Fairfield
Dear P.E. Critic,
Get real!! If I must answer a call from the “cry baby hotline”, I
might feign empathy when I state that it must be hard to imagine
why the school administration would want the students to be
healthy and physically fit.
But sarcasm aside, if you could get credits for physical education,
then some students wouldn’t take useful electives, and would use
like six credits of P.E. toward the forty credits of basic graduation
requirements.
If you really think about it, you don’t actually take P.E. for four
years. Instead, you take one semester of Health during freshman
year, and it is possible to opt out of P.E. for one semester during
senior year, if you’re in a sport.
So stay active!! Enjoy exercise!!
Best Regards,
Phoebe
Best Regards,
Phoebe
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
To submit letters to Phoebe, look for
her mailboxes around the school. Only
letters that contain school appropriate
materials will be published.
Advice>>>19
Have questions?
Want real answers?
Then...
Ask Phoebe
Dear Phoebe,
Photo
free clip
art.com
Healthy Lunch Quiz
1. When you eat lunch, do you include
fresh fruit? Y/ N
2. Do you drink milk with your lunch?
Y/N
3. Do you skip sugary desserts with
lunch? Y/ N
4. Do you eat at least two vegetables at
lunch? Y/N
5. Do you avoid potato chips and other
starchy foods at lunch? Y/N
If you answered yes to at least three of
these questions, then change your eating
habits immediately. Remember that
good eating habits help you concentrate
in school and actually help your brain
to function properly. By eating enough
fruits, vegetables and simple proteins,
you will not only look hot but you will
feel great and make the grade. So eat
smart! Eat right! Stay active ! Let everyone see your smart, hot inner child.
How healthy is school lunch? Have you ever wondered how healthy
your lunch is at school? I have. I do not believe that our lunches at school are very
healthy. For example, today’s lunch was French toast sticks, very greasy sausage,
greasy potato fires, syrup, ½ apple, and chocolate milk. The only healthy thing
in our lunch today was the apple. Many Americans wonder why younger generations are obese. Why don’t they start figuring it out by taking a look of what their
children are eating at school.
Health Conscious in Fairfield
Dear Health Conscious,
The following message was paraphrased from http://healthyschoollunches.org.
The Healthy School Lunch Campaign is sponsored by the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and works hard to improve school lunches by
educating everyone about the food choices best able to promote children’s current
and long-term health.
The Healthy School Lunch Campaign encourages schools to offer more healthy
low-fat, cholesterol-free options, including “reimbursable meals and beverages,
a la carte items, and vending machine items”. The PCRM Healthy School Lunch
Team works with school districts’ across the country organizes meetings and
presentations for school boards, parents, and student groups.
If you are interested in working with the PCRM Healthy School Lunch Team,
please fill out a form online.
Best Regards,
Phoebe
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008
To submit letters to Phoebe, look for
her mailboxes around the school. Only
letters that contain school appropriate
materials will be published.
Backpage>>20
Reflections on Autumn
“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch
the leaves turn.”
- Elizabeth Lawrence
“In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the
fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in
Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as
from August to November.”
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a
mosaic of them all.”
- Stanley Horowitz
“The leaves are falling, falling as from way off,
as though far gardens withered in the skies;
they are falling with denying gestures.
And in the nights the heavy earth is falling
from all the stars down into loneliness.
We all are falling. This hand falls.
And look at others: it is in them all.
And yet there is one who holds this falling
endlessly gently in his hands.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Autumn
FHS Telegraph>>October 29, 2008