Issue #4 December 2011 - Plainfield Public Schools

Plainfield Public
Schools
Inside this issue:
KKK Painting
2
Million Dollar 3
Smile
2011
11
Timeline
Fashion Do’s
and Don’ts
14
The Eight
Dirtiest Places
15
License
19
20
Tutorial
Christmas
Tree Safety
27
Special points of
interest:
Fun Pages
Winter Concert Review
Holiday Terms:
Is America going too far?
Gingerbread Build-off
Paperclip News
Layout Editors: Samantha Mason and Erin Desrosiers
The Panther Advocate
December 2011
Page 2
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Ignorance: “Will it Ever End?”
Commentary, Photograph, and Interviews by: Malorie Arsenault
November 29, 2011, marks the day that Katelyn Gervais’ misinterpreted oil painting, which reveals three Ku Klux Klan
members and powerful script, was discovered brutally mutilated. Katelyn’s painting sat among many others upon an easel in the hallway above the library. The powerful words of wisdom displayed include the KKK definition of prejudice as well as the quote “will it
ever end?” The individual involved is not only accountable for defacing personal property, but also going against our school’s mission
statement. How can we be expected to communicate artistically and creatively if our personal work has the chance of being demolished? The culprit certainly did not demonstrate respect for himself or herself others, diversity, or property.
We must, as a school community, pull together and maintain an atmosphere of open communication, as well as use our conflict resolution skills to work
through any differences that may surface. As a whole, we must also go against
previous advice of looking at the big picture. Many times, the finer details can
help to explain the true meaning lying within. The finer details in Katelyn’s painting would have been the words incorporated within the three KKK members. A
question many may be asking is why this happened? Potentially, there could be
various reasons lying behind the issue. The perpetrator could have been blind to
the real meaning of the painting, had a strong dislike for anyone pro-KKK, a
strong dislike for anyone anti- KKK, or simply pure ignorance. Because of the
ignorance that took over, we can no longer enjoy Katelyn’s artwork intact. However, could this piece now be more emblematic? With wise words from Mrs.
Dobrocki’s Draw/Paint class, we can get a better understanding as to why Katelyn’s art became more emblematic:
Caroline Taylor: Katelyn’s piece became more emblematic because the destruction of the painting evokes the destruction of the group of KKK members. It
Katelyn Gervais
shows the “destructive” downfall of a racist, ignorant group.
Ashley Burns: This artwork that Katelyn created is emblematic now. It has more of an impact…like the cut up canvas, it shows how
much hate or dislike the artwork evoked on a particular individual. The piece itself is now a symbol of how much hate people have
towards certain groups. The slash marks represent discontent with Katelyn’s social/political issue. This also goes to show that not everyone agrees with her standpoint on the pressing matter.
Ashleigh Clark-Miller: In my opinion, the KKK members were scary as they were, but the slashes on the canvas add to the piece.
Even though it was not right to destroy someone’s personal property that they worked hard on to make, they ended up adding more to
the artwork, giving it more symbolism.
Katelyn Gervais: My piece of artwork is more powerful than ever because the rips and tears signify the true problem in life. Also, the
person who did this could not handle the truth that art is not meant to be beautiful all the time. Painting flowers and rainbows is the not
reality of art. I wish the person w ho did this could understand.
As you can see, the same thought travels amongst all. No one person is happy with the outcome, but we all make the best of
the situation. Other unanswered questions to this situation do still withstand, however. With the help of Mr. Bitgood, a handful of these
questions have been answered;
Are there any leads on the culprit?
Mr. Bitgood: The approximate time.
Why do you think this happened?
Mr. Bitgood: No one understood the message the painting was displaying.
What is being done about the situation presented?
Mr. Bitgood: We are investigating the culprit.
Personally, how do you feel about the painting and situation?
Mr. Bitgood: Katelyn’s piece was powerful; and is now even more powerful with a much greater meaning. Art is the start of conversation, and this started a lot of conversation about racism and prejudice. It is healthy to have this conversation as a school community.
What are some ways to prevent future occurrences like this?
Mr. Bitgood: We have to have dialogue to reform and educate about the pieces of art displayed.
Out of the interview with Mr. Bitgood, I was also able to acquire news that a suspicions have been made, but no information
will be given out. With that said, the understanding that art work is not all in the beauty must be comprehended. Art is, under no
means, meant to be beautiful. The purpose is to display a message, a message to capture the viewer’s eyes. The world is filled with
more than unicorns and rainbows. The bad is highlighted as well. Often times, to the most famous artists, art is used as a type of journal to display true emotions. Instead of creatively expressing words on paper, the use of color, texture, and shading represent the true
meaning behind an underlying issue. It is a shame that our school was too ignorant to figure out the represented meaning behind Katelyn’s work before defacing her piece. Hopefully, one day we will be able to understand the demons in art work as well as the beauty.
Page 3
STUDENT INTERVIEW
Million Dollar Smile
Interview and Photograph by: Jenna Brown
An inspiring quote was once said by Michael Jordan: “Obstacles do not have to stop you. If you run into a wall, do not turn
around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” These meaningful words speak truth for Obie
Snorton, a student here at Plainfield High School, who at a very young age had to rise above a serious problem. Many are not aware
of what happened and so today I would like to share his story with you.
When Obie was just two years old, he had a medical operation. The operation brought several complications that in the end
caused Obie to be the way he is today. The complications have had several different affects on Obie. First of all, he cannot verbally
respond. Instead, he responds in other ways, such as smiling, laughing, and coughing. Also,
his brain development is more limited. Because of this, he works on functional life skills
such as writing his name, matching and sorting, and also pre-vocational skills like sweeping,
table washing, laundry, and washing dishes. Despite these differences, Obie continues to
show the world his shimmering smile, cute laugh, and wholehearted personality.
Obie is 19 years old and is a post-grad here at Plainfield High School. He officially
graduated with the class of 2011 but will remain here for the next two years. His schedule at
school is different than the other students. Instead of arriving at 7:30 a.m., Obie’s day begins
at 8:30 a.m. when he is dropped off by the school van. As he enters the building, he drops
his belongings off in his classroom and then proceeds to the weight room where he walks on
the treadmill for 15-20 minutes, lifts some weights, and completes some other small exercises. Later, Obie obtains his mail cart and delivers mail throughout the building to the administration and other faculty. Once he delivers all of the mail, he returns to his classroom for a
snack and then begins his schoolwork. Towards the end of the day, he is involved with the
band class where he can practice playing the drums. Overall, this is the basic schedule he
follows every day. After the two years come and go Obie will enter an adult program where
he can continue to work and improve on the functional and pre-vocational life skills that he is working on now.
Obie has a very loving nature. He has a big heart and is very caring for others. If he senses that the people around him are
upset, he becomes upset too. Obie is also very bright. He can notice the artwork when it changes. In addition, he notices if a person is
wearing a sweater in the morning and later takes it off. He will insist that he/she puts the sweater back on because he thinks it belongs there. Besides this, Obie enjoys being with others, especially the girls, because he is a huge flirt. In his spare time, he likes to
ride his bike, draw pictures, give high fives, and watch his favorite movies, which are “Aladdin” and “The Lion King.” Most importantly, though, Obie likes to be happy and flaunt his great smile.
Page 4
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Shiny Shink
Interview and Photographs by: Emily Hogue
Most of you have probably seen Nick Shinkewicz here at Plainfield High School. You couldn’t miss him; he’s one of the slowest walkers. But he can make just about anyone laugh, and he’ll always try to keep the optimism going around school. When I hang out with
Nick, he likes to tell me about his love for “The Notebook” and to look at his shiny fingernails. I got the chance to ask him a few questions so everyone can see how “chill” he is.
What’s your full name?
Nicholai Mikhail Shinkewicz.
How’s senior year so far?
Pretty interesting; unique, I guess.
What are your plans for after high school?
Go to college, hopefully.
Do you like your job at Eli’s Steakhouse?
No.
If you were a freshman, which upperclassman would you look up to the most?
Kevin Thoare, because he has a beard.
Who’s your favorite band?
Counting Crows.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can juggle.
Who’s your best friend?
Zak Nadeau.
Nick giving me a piggyback ride
What makes you different than everyone else?
I’m very understanding and realistic.
Why do you like “The Notebook” so much?
It’s a heartfelt movie. It touches my sensitive side.
What’s your favorite food?
Probably prime rib.
Why are your nails so shiny?
Sadie helped me out and put on some clear coat.
Describe yourself in three words.
Loveable.
Cuddly (Arika Floodine’s answer).
Sexii (Brayton LaRochelle’s answer).
What is one thing you want to do before you die?
Be on “The Price Is Right.” I wanna be that one old guy that doesn’t know where he is but
he’s still so pumped.
Cool kids got swag
STUDENT INTERVIEW
Page 5
Running With Ruffo
Article by: Michaela Chilcote
Kerri Ruffo is not your average girl. She happens to be one of the fastest girls in the state and she wins
almost every race she’s in. Her life is very busy with many practices and meets. Even with these events
going on in her everyday life she still has to go home and do all of her homework! Overall she is a pretty
interesting person.
Kerri! How has your day been so far?
Fantastic!
What classes do you have this quarter?
I have honors English II with Mrs. Maher, biology with Ms. Titus, algebra II with Mr. Adams, and chorus
with Mr. Stevenson.
Who would you say your favorite teacher is?
Mrs. Maher, because she’s young, so she’s fun and she’s pregnant!
So, indoor track just started, are you excited for the meets?
Soooo excited!
How many miles can you run before you have to stop?
Like probably eleven.
How did you feel when you read the Norwich bulletin article about how you won for the girls at
Eastern Connecticut Conference ( really good job, by the way)?
Thank you, and I could tell you how I felt, but you wouldn’t be able to write it in the paper.
So, would you say it was a really negative feeling?
Let’s just say I cried that morning… I cried when I woke up…yeah.
Is there anything you are really looking forward to right now?
Going home, because it’s the weekend!
I never realized how hard it must be to get your homework done when you have sports all year long.
Do you find it challenging?
Yeah. Especially Mr. Adams, because he gives like two tons of homework.
I hear you have a pretty big obsession with Justin Beiber?
Biggest fan.
Have you ever been to any of his concerts?
Yeah, on June 22, 2010, I saw him.
What would you do if you got the chance to meet him, but you could only be with him for 5 minutes?
I would probably just see him and I’d pass out, so I wouldn’t be able to spend any time with him anyway.
Are you following Justin Beiber on Twitter?
Yeah, he’s the only person I follow.
Well thank you Kerri, bye!
You’re welcome, bye!
Kerri Ruffo Showing off her love
for Justin Beiber, with her nicely
decorated shirt that reads, “Kerri
Beiber.”
Page 6
STUDENT INTERVIEW
Entering the Wolf Pack
Interview and Photograph by: Earl Davis
Ever wonder who that G walking down the hallway is? Well if you don’t know Wolfgang Barlik, you are missing out. His full name is Wolfgang Quinn Ireland Barlik (which is interesting because I’ve never heard anyone with that name before). Many people will go up to
Wolfgang and ask him why his parents named him Wolfgang; he’ll just say because they did.
He’s from a little place known as Bartlett, New Hampshire, in case you’re wondering, that’s
where the cool kids come from. He loves civics because he gets to talk about the government and
that just fascinates him. His favorite teacher here at Plainfield High is definitely Mr. Craig, can
you really disagree with him? Everybody loves Jolly Ranchers, but not like Wolfgang does; they
are his favorite food!
“Plainfield is a pretty nice town for the most part.” Wolfgang quoted. Yes there are actually some people that like this town and appreciate the school! He does however feel there
could be some changes made to the school because at his old school the kids were given more
freedom than here. He said it was funny at his old school because one day the seniors did a prank
on the teachers, and they actually brought in a goat and walked it around to all the classrooms.
The goat ended up defecating on one of the teacher’s floors. His biggest pet peeve at this school though is the fact that he doesn’t
like some of the teachers and how they do business.
Think you’re a Kanye West fan? Well think again because Wolfgang keeps it real with the rap genre and his dog Kanye
West. His biggest passion in life is long boarding; it is legit his life. When he’s not busy long boarding though, he prefers to relax,
play X-box, and hang-out. Something you may not know is that Wolfgang can in fact fly, true story. His average day is full of excitement, he literally wakes up, puts his clothes on, and walks out the door. Some of his all time favorite movies are: “Inception”,
“The Hangover”, “The Men Who Stare at Goats”, “Oceans 11,” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” I’d say these are some good
choices for movies. Wolfgang also prefers mixing his Pepsi and Coke together. One thing that is pretty cool is that if he had a billion
dollars he would give it to everyone and buy a house. I like money so that’s not a problem!
So you think you’re funny? I asked him to tell me a joke; he said “I don’t know one.” That’s alright man, not everyone can
be funny (laughing). Moving on, he thinks the school should allow students to listen to their music freely when walking through the
halls before class. At his old school he was given more slack because the students were able to do what they pleased without a teacher yelling at them. Wolfgang is not quite sure what he wants to do after high school, but that’s alright because he still has two more
years after this.
Connecticut the New Hollywood?
Commentary by: Samantha DelRusso
edogo.com
Has West Hartford become the most popular place for crimes to occur? There is caution tape and
police officers are closing down roads in West Hartford, such as South Main Street, but it is not because of a
crime, although that’s what some people thought. This is because it’s the new site for a movie being filmed.
It is called “Pawn”, and will be out sometime in 2013. Some of the actors include Forest Whitaker, which
you may know from the movie “Panic Room”, and Ray Liotta, which you may know from “The Goodfella’s”, or the comedy “Wild Hogs.” It is also rumored that actress Nikki Reed, who you may know from
the “Twilight” series, could be in the movie as well. The movie is about a restaurant robbery that gets out of
hand, and turns into a hostage situation. This scene and many other scenes are being filmed in and outside of
an old Friendly’s restaurant on South Main Street. Members of the
West Hartford police SWAT team will be playing as extras in the
movie. Also, six of the West Hartford police cars will be used, but the
Forest Whitaker
names will be covered up and changed for the movie. Filming should
be completed by December 22, 2011.
Are you wondering what other movies or scenes for movies that have also been filmed
in Connecticut? Well, besides “Pawn” there is “Old Dogs” starring John Travolta and Robin Williams. Some scenes for “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” were filmed in
Twilightersanonymous.com
New Haven. Rob Zombie, Connecticut resident, filmed his remake of “Halloween 2” in state.
The movie “Banshee!” had scenes filmed on an old farm in Moosup. “Mystic Pizza” starring
Julia Roberts was filmed in Mystic. I bet you thought Connecticut has never been famous for
Nikki Reed
movie making.
STUDENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Page 7
A New Year Brings New Decisions
Interview by: Marissa Dube
Every January 1, people have New Year’s resolutions to start the new year off fresh to make good changes in their lives. The top ten
New Year’s resolutions are; quit smoking, spend more time with family & friends, get fit,, quit drinking, save more, find a soul mate,
get married, get a better job, and learn something new. My New Year’s resolution is to actually save some money from my pay checks.
My goal is to ask teachers and students around the school what their New Year resolution is for 2012..
Mr. Worth’s New Year resolution is to be more organized with his professional and personal life.
Mr. Bitgood’s new year’s resolution he would like to make his sideburns thicker.
Mr. Emmi’s New Years resolution is to practice being more at peace with himself.
Dana Lariviere, a student helper here at Plainfield High School, wants to spend more time with her kids as her New Year resolution.
Mrs. Nagel wants to eat healthier for her New Years resolution.
Mrs. Desrosiers’s resolution is to make today better than yesterday and make
tomorrow better than today.
Mrs. Turenne wants to try to be nicer to people.
Mrs. Lussier would like to get healthier.
Tim Colli’s New Years resolution is to not get in trouble.
Brittnay Parker’s New Years resolution is to lose 10 pounds.
Tyler Bowerman’s New Year resolution it to be more like Mr. Parkinson.
Mrs. Aubin’s New Year resolution it to eat healthier.
Mr. Melchior’s New Year resolution is to save more money.
Mrs. Holmy’s New Year resolution is to have good thoughts.
Ms. Desrosiers’ New Year resolution is to go to the gym.
Corrina Thompson’s New Year resolution is to be more responsible.
Mr. Schiffner’s New Year resolution is to lose weight.
HOLIDAY NEWS
Spread The Holiday Cheer
Article By: Erin Desrosiers
Every year around the holiday season we all rush to the mall to do our annual holiday shopping, but have you ever stopped to
think about all the children who won’t be receiving gifts? Toys for Tots is an organization created by the United States Marine Corps
Reserves that allows people to donate toys for kids who can’t afford presents. The mission of the organization is to collect new, unwrapped toys in October, November and December so they have plenty of gifts to share. It all started in 1947 by a woman named Diane Hendricks; she created Raggedy Anne dolls for the children in her neighborhood who didn’t receive presents on Christmas. Her
husband Major William L. Hendricks was inspired by his wife so he tried to find an organization to donate more gifts at but he couldn’t find any so he created his own. Toys for Tots became a national hit, with over 501 charity locations, it became one of the top charities in the world. Plainfield High School is even participating in the charity. NHS is allowing students to donate new, unwrapped gifts
to make a difference this holiday season. This event ends December 20th, see Mrs. Noble for more information.
Page 8
HOLIDAY CONCERT REVIEW
Choir Conquers Christmas Concert
Review and Pictures by: Suzie Arpin
On Tuesday, December 6, an immense crowd of
people piled into the Plainfield High School auditorium to
watch the bands and choruses put on their annual Winter
Concert. The show consisted of performances by our three
chorus groups (concert choir, chorale, and chamber choir),
along with the symphonic and concert bands. Concert
choir’s “Longest Time” and chamber choir’s “Fields of
Gold” were two pieces that I especially liked, and I was
impressed by the concert
band’s rendition of “The Nutcracker Suite”. A grand finale
joined nearly our entire music
department together for the
“Hallelujah Chorus”, which
the audience responded to
with a standing ovation. The
Mr. Stevenson and the choir
room was filled with proud
families and friends of the talented students of Plainfield’s music department.
Prior to the event, I was unaware that the Griswold chamber choir would be performing, too.
Their visit was concluded with a jazzy, a capella version of Vicki Sue Robinson’s “Turn the Beat
Around”, which also received a standing ovation. It was an excellent addition to the Plainfield show, and
it was a pleasant reminder that even the worst of rivals can come together at times.
Mrs. Howard was “very excited for the students” and claims that the show was the best they
have had in two years. “The overall sound is much better,” said Mr. Stevenson. He went on to mention
the “huge positive growth” in the students and the band and choir as a whole. Both Mr. Stevenson and
Mrs. Howard were pleased by the size of the audience; a crowd of around 500 people (the largest in four
years) attended the concert, which was definitely “encouraging” to the performers.
Nicole Yon and Breanna
Palazzo
“Mr. Stevenson, Mrs. Howard, and everybody involved in the show did a great job,” says Danielle Willard. Thomas Linevitch
described it as “exquisite” and “wonderful.” Ultimately, the 2011 Plainfield High School Winter Concert was extremely wellpresented, and I am looking forward to attending the next concert to support and enjoy the talented music department.
Good luck at Eastern Regionals!
Mrs. Howard conducting the bands and choirs in the Grand Finale
X-Treme X-Mas Word Search
Page 9
Created by: Malorie Arsenault.
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Miracle Model
Commentary by: Samantha DelRusso
Lauren Scruggs of Dallas, Texas, is a model, a fashion blogger, and one heck of a
lucky girl. On Saturday December 3, 2011, she walked into an airplane propeller. She was in
the passenger’s seat of the plane flying with her friend who was the pilot. They were taking
an aerial view to look at all the Christmas lights around parts of Dallas. When they landed at
9:30 p.m. to pick up another passenger, Scruggs walked right into the spinning propeller.
Her parents think that she was going to thank the pilot for the ride. The propeller hit her left
side, cutting up the side of her face. It nearly severed her left hand, it fractured her skull,
which caused a minor brain injury, and it broke her left collarbone. Also, she cannot see out
of her left eye. It was damaged very badly, so there is still a possibility that she could lose it.
Scruggs is only 23 years old. It is a miracle that she survived.
When she arrived at the hospital, she was immediately admitted into surgery. The
doctors had to amputate her left hand. There are still many more surgeries to come. Her recovery has been slow, but successful. She is able to communicate again by saying things like
her name “Lauren” and “I love you” to her parents. On Wednesday, she walked down a hallway in the hospital (with aids at her side),
and said the number 30. She then said the word “steps”. Scruggs mother and father are very proud of what their daughter has accomplished so far in recovery, and feel very blessed. “She’s got her spunk back, her personality,” her father Jeff said. Scruggs mother
Cheryl said, “She really shouldn’t be alive, so we feel blessed in that. And although she has some challenges ahead, and we do too,
we’re lucky to have her.”
Now for the first time since the accident, Scruggs has looked in the mirror and her response was, “That’s not that bad.” Now
Scruggs has no recollection of what happened, but knows that she “was in a bad accident.” Her mother has called her daughter a
“fighter” and says that “she will fight through this.” Scruggs will need additional surgeries, so to help pay off all the medical bills, her
parents have set up the Lauren Scruggs Hope Fund.
Although it is great that Scruggs is making progress on her road to recovery, there are still some questions that are unanswered. Why didn’t the pilot turn the propeller off as soon as they were done landing? If this had happened, she wouldn’t have been so
severely hurt. If it was off, maybe the worst that could have happened was just bumping into the propeller and hitting your head or
something. Also, why was it so hard for Scruggs to hear the propeller when it was on? It may not be that loud, but you should still be
able to partially hear it. The lights for the airport also should have been bright enough for her to at least see the part of the propeller.
Why didn’t the pilot also take pre-caution to make sure that no one was in harm’s way? They are supposed to make sure that anything
dangerous be off, so that way accidents like this don’t happen.
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 10
Could You Be Any Less Professional?
Commentary By: Rachel Hodges
In the news lately all you hear about is nothing but sexual harassments and abuse by some of the suppose to be most professional
people. Within the past month, there has been three sexual harassment cases all over the news. Being extremely curious to why
these men are doing such things I had to look into it and to find out why.
Herman Cain:
“I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt caused on me and my
family. Not because we are not fighters.” Former Republican runner-up for the 2012 Presidential Election, Herman Cain drops out
of the presidential race but says it’s only a suspension due to the stress of the sexual harassment cases over his head.
Cain is accused by four women of sexually harassing them in the 1990s. Two out of the four women that are accusing
him are anonymous sources that worked with him in the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Karen Kraushaar, worked at the
NRA when Cain was in charge at the time. She wanted to keep everything anonymous but when other women came out with their
stories she decided to come up to the plate. Sharon Bialek says that Cain was offering her a job and after dinner and drinks he said
that he would have gotten her a job if he did what he wanted her to do. But the most interesting story of his accusers is Ginger
White who not only accuses Cain of sexual harassment, but she says that she had a 13-year long affair with Cain. White is an Atlanta businesswoman who said she met Cain in Atlanta in the late ‘90s. Since then she says that it was an “on and off” affair until
before he announced his presidential campaign. White says it was a 13 year long affair but Cain says it was only a friendship. Both
White and Cain said that he gave her money to help her financially. White has shown evidence of 61 text messages and cellular
telephone calls between her and Cain on his private cellular phone. Some of the records show that there were
phone calls made between the two of them at four in the morning.
After this scandal started coming out, Cain’s numbers decreased. With a lack of faith and major con“I am suspending
fusion himself and his campaign managers didn’t know what to do so in doubt they dropped out of the race
my presidential
thinking it would be the best decision right now to just suspend the campaign for this election.
campaign because
Syracuse:
of the continued
Former assistant basketball coach, Bernie Fine, was accused by three men, two of them who are
former Syracuse basketball players of molesting them as children. Fine denied the allegations and was fired distraction, the
from the University on Sunday after the third accuser went public. On November 17, 2011, the two former
continued hurt
Syracuse basketball players, Bobby Davis and Mike Lang went on ESPN and explained how they were play- caused on me and
ers for the team in the 1980s and 1990s and how Fine inappropriately touched them.
my family. Not
The latest accuser, Zach Tomaselli, 23 had an interview on the Anderson Cooper show. In his interbecause we are not
view he was explaining his story. Tomaselli himself is facing sexual assault charges in Maine involving a 14fighters.”
year-old boy. Tomaselli says that he isn’t saying he touched anybody but he is saying that the reason behind
why he put himself in the situation he is in is because he had a great disconnect in his mind between appropriate relationships between adults and children.
Penn State:
Assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, 67 is accused of molesting eight boys in a 15 year time period. He was arrested
on November 5, 2011 for sex abuse charges. He is charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse. Not only was he arrested and fired in
November, but this entire situation got the Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno and the university president, Graham Spainer
fired on November 10, 2011 for not trying enough to stop the abuse happening around them.
Sandusky has started his coaching career in 1969 as an defensive line coach at Penn State University. After 30 years of
coaching, he made an early retirement in 1999(which after his retirement he would still have access to the school locker rooms and
school houses) to continue on with his non-profit organization called The Second Mile(TSM) which is an organization for children
in need. Sandusky has met most of his victims through this organization.
All eight boys accusing Sandusky planned to testify against him at the hearing of December 13 but instead Sandusky
waived the hearing. This means that the victims will not have to testify or be crossed examined at the hearing, it also means that
the charges moved to the trial stage. The boys were glad that Sandusky made this decision even though they were ready to testify
against him, but Sandusky arraigned on January 11.
Page 11
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Monthly Memories of 2011
Commentary by: Marissa Dube
Knowing that 2012 is less than a week away, many people feel as if the year 2011 went by in the blink of an eye. During the year
many events have happened around the world and I found it remarkable how so much can happen in just 365 days. I want to share
with you some of the attention-grabbing events from each month of the year.
On January 24 2011, there was a bombing in Moscow, the most populous city in Russia. The bombing happened at the
Moscow Airport. It killed at least 35 people, and wounded 168. The person behind the bombing was suicide bomber. The blast occurred in the international arrivals section of the airport. Authorities are as yet unsure who masterminded the bombing.
On February 6 2011, the Packers beat Steelers in the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers take the championship back to
Titletown after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 in the most-watched television broadcast ever. An estimated 111 million people
tune in to see quarterback Aaron Rogers lead the Packers to their 13th league championship, more than any other team in the NFL.
On March 24 2011, a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake strikes northeastern Myanmar, toppling homes and killing more
than 70 people. Tremors from the earthquake are felt hundreds of miles away.
On April 29 2011, three billion people watch Prince William marry Kate Middleton. A million people line the streets, half a
million gather in front of Buckingham Palace, and two billion tune in by the use of television or computer to see Kate Middleton
marry Prince William. Middleton receives rave reviews for wearing a modern, but restrained wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director for the late Alexander McQueen.
On May 2 2011, was the best day, eternally! U.S. troops and CIA operatives shot and killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city of 500,000 people that houses a military base and a military academy. A gun battle broke out when the troops
descended upon the building in which bin Laden was located, and bin Laden was shot in the head. News of bin Laden's death
brought cheers and a sense of relief worldwide.
On June 24 2011, New York passes a law to allow same-sex marriage. New York is now the largest state that allows gay
and lesbian couples to marry. The vote comes on the eve of the city's annual Gay Pride Parade and gives new momentum to the national gay-rights movement. The marriage bill is approved with a 33 to 29 vote. Cheering supporters greet Gov. Andrew Cuomo as
he arrives on the Senate floor to sign the measure at 11:55 PM, just moments after the vote. After making same-sex marriage one of
his top priorities, Cuomo emerges as a true champion of gay rights.
On July 23 2011, the award-winning, internationally known singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse is found dead in her apartment in London. The cause of death is not immediately known. Although her musical talents and influence were eclipsed in later
years by her public battle with drugs and alcohol, Winehouse's success is undeniable, selling five million records and becoming the
first British female artist to win five Grammys.
Also, on July 5 Casey Anthony, the young mother whose seeming heartlessness at the disappearance of her daughter transfixed America for three years,
was found not guilty
On August 27 2011, beginning as a category 3 with 115-mile-per hour
winds, Hurricane Irene moves up the eastern seaboard. Irene moves at about 14
miles an hour, which is half the speed of a typical hurricane. At least 44 people are
killed in 13 states. New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston shut down
mass transit systems. Airlines cancel flights and Amtrak cancels train service.
Evacuations were ordered for about 2.3 million people. An estimated at $7 billion
worth of damage has been done.
On September 8 2011, as the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks approached, a bomb threat surfaced. Counterterrorism officials were
investigating the threat of an attack, in the form of a car or truck bomb and timed
for the 10th anniversary in Washington DC or New York City. In a statement, the
Department of Homeland Security called the threat "specific, credible, but unconfirmed."
On October 28 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6–2 in game seven to win the World Series. It was the
Cardinals' 11 championship, the most of any National League team. It is the second straight World Series defeat for the Texas Rangers.
On November 5 2011, former Penn State defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, is arrested on charges of 40 counts of sexual abuse over a 15-year period. Senior vice president for finance and business, Gary Schultz, and the athletic director, Tim Curley,
are charged with perjury and failure to report what they knew to the authorities. Schultz resigns from the university and Curley is
placed on administrative leave.
On December 3, Herman Cain suspends his campaign for the U.S. presidency. Cain announces his decision after a new Des
Moines Register poll showed a sharp drop of support for him and after a fifth woman, Ginger White, came forward with accusations
of sexual misconduct.
Let’s hope to have good quality events happened in 2012, and let’s make it a remarkable year.
Information taken from http://www.infoplease.com/news/2011/current-events/ ,r:0,s:77&biw=1024&bih=571
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 12
Attention: Calling All Teenagers
Commentary by: Sydney Ball
High school is a time to be free, grow as a person, learn to be independent and have a remarkable time. High school relationships are alright, but some can end badly. If your boyfriend/girlfriend is telling you that you aren’t allowed to talk to other people, it could be a sign of an abusive relationship. Almost 1.5 million high school students, nationwide, have experienced abuse in a
relationship, which is nearly one in every ten high school students. Twenty five percent of high school girls have admitted to being in
an abusive relationship, which means it is more common for girls to be abused than guys.
How do you know if your partner is going to be abusive? “Healthy relationships involve trust, respect, and consideration for the other person.” Sometimes jealous partners can seem caring, but in fact, excessive jealousy and controlling characteristics aren’t signs of affection, they are signs of an abusive relationship. If your partner is
telling you that you aren’t allowed to talk to or see certain friends or they are constantly
putting you down and making you feel worthless, it could be a sign that he or she is
going to be abusive. Another sign is that they are constantly worrying about whom you
are talking to, where you are or where you are going. Some obvious signs include
threatening, violent words or harming you in any physical way. If you are feeling insecure about the end of your relationship, talk to your significant other about how you are
feeling, without trying to be controlling or influential on his or her behaviors. That is the
right way to handle the situation.
The long-term effects of an abusive relationship can range from anywhere between substance abuse or trust issues. Being abused could result in substance abuse, such as alcohttp://www.examiner.com
hol or using various types of drugs. Eating disorders, domestic violence, or violent and
promiscuous behavior is also common among people who suffered from abuse. It is more
common for teenage girls in an abusive relationship to get pregnant or an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and about half of teenagers who are or were in an abusive relationship attempt suicide.
An important sign you should look for if you think your friends are being sexually, physically or emotionally abused by
their partners would be a withdrawal from school activities, friends, family, and any other type of isolation. Another sign would be
being quiet and not open to talk about things they are normally open to share. Also, look for signs of physical abuse, such as bruising
or any other sign of physical injury.
If you have been a victim of physical or emotional abuse in a relationship, the best thing to do would be talk to a parent, a
friend or a close adult who can help you make the right decisions. If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship, tell him or
her to end the relationship, and be supportive and understanding towards anything that he or she is telling you, not judgmental and
neglectful. Also, people who have been victims of abuse in a relationship think it’s their fault, and that they deserved it, tell your
friend that it wasn’t them, they didn’t do anything wrong and that it wasn’t their fault.
February has been assigned “Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month”; be aware of the violence and abuse
in teen relationships.
Information taken from:
http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/dating-violence-statistics?gclid=CPDGmfa066wCFUKo4AodLUF2OA
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/abuse.html
http://www.byparents-forparents.com/parenting/teen-dating-violence-what-you-should-know.htm
Page 13
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Have a Happy Jolly Holiday?
Editorial by Nate Duval; Information taken from ABC.com
America, we have gotten soft. We have no rights and no power over anything anymore. You know why? It all comes down to the
fact that we lost our First Amendment rights. We don’t stand up for ourselves; we are controlled by current topics. Brainwashing,
my friends, brainwashing. Once December comes around we are controlled to watch diamond jeweler commercials and $40,000
Lexus SUV’s with a bow on it. We are brainwashed into thinking that we are doing the right thing. But one common term has been
changed. The term “Merry Christmas” has been taken out of advertisements and stores, replaced with a simple “Happy Holidays.” This two-worded phrase has brought my jolly emotions down and brought my “Frosty the Snowman” mind to a screeching
halt. I want to fight the power. I want to bring jolliness back into December. I am Nate Duval, and I will save Christmas….Sorry Rudolph.
The term “rebel” gets thrown out into the world a lot, but my
personal opinions makes me one. I have fought in numerous discussions and common topics which would make my fellow students
speechless. The topic which literally pushes me to the limits is the
phrase “Merry Christmas” being erased from common advertisements
or shopping malls. The United States has become “Politically Correct”
since 1980. We don’t want to offend any race, religion or any other
belief; it is a definite shame on this nation. Our nation has become….sensitive of some sorts. Now, President Obama has referred
his pine tree at the White House as a “Holiday Tree.” Really Obama?
Let’s “change” it back to Christmas and get over it Liberals.
Now, back before this controversy was even an issue (let’s
http://
say 1970), you walk into a park. There are decorations everywhere,
tvtropes.org
including the nativity scene and the menorah. In today’s life, we are
too afraid to stand up for ourselves. People fight the government and
want to remove those objects just because they find it “offending.” Well…too bad, the court case Capitol Square Review & Advisory Bd v. Pinette (1995) explains that WE ARE allowed to display religious figures and monuments during holidays. Don’t believe me? Look at the American Center Law and Justice’s website. Some people think that you can’t support religion on public
property. Sorry, you can, so people who believe in separation between church and state, leave us alone.
The American Civil Liberties Union is public enemy number one for any Christmas loving Catholic. These people are
able to destroy the name and terrorize the communities. These are the same people who want to take out the statement “under
God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and now they are replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays.” Catholic League president Bill Donohue is trying to fight to bring the name back on December 25. “Elvis didn't sing about 'Blue Holiday,' " he said.
“Nobody says 'I'll be home for the holiday.' It's, 'I'll be home for Christmas.' If you can't say Christmas at Christmas time, when 85
percent of the population is Christian and 96 percent of the population celebrates Christmas, something's wrong."
Frankly, the little name nobodies have stepped up to the plate and are eliminating our Christmas spirit. They literally kick
us when we’re down, throwing their “religious righteous” at us. We have been saying “Merry Christmas” for 2000 years, why stop
now? We don’t want to offend the group of religious leaders who could protest. I’m sorry, but did “Occupy Wall Street” work? I
think that pepper spray did the right deal on the protesters. America, stop worrying about what the little man thinks and deals with
the big issues. I don’t really care if you are Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Atheist or Buddhist: celebrate your own holiday. If Target
has to put up the “Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Chinese New Year and Black Friday Sale,” go right ahead, as long as Christmas
is still added in. Every single religious holiday is on the calendar and people celebrate it, so why does “Christmas” have to be removed from advertisements and commercials? Bill Donohue can back me up on concluding this debate. "I think we can say,
'Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year,' "he said."That covers it both."
STUDENT EDITORIAL
2012 Fashion Do’s and Don'ts: The Fashion Guru
Commentary and Photographs By: Erin Desrosiers
DO’S
Try something that’s not you once in a while: stand out.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes, in soft, draped fabrics; you’ll be happy you did.
Upgrade your outfit with a scarf; they are always in style.
Sweater vests for guys are trendy; they make you appear smarter.
Short girls wear high wasted skirts; they make your legs look longer.
Guys, don’t be afraid to wear more than a graphic tee and jeans; change it up a little.
Button ups and jeans for guys are stylish, without the tie.
A lot
of color
DON’TS:
Small fuzzy animals on your feet; definitely don’t
Leggings; one size fits MOST. Enough said.
Wearing a jogging outfit when you have no intention of jogging.
Show your underwear; seriously we could care less what pattern your boxers are.
Over accessorizing is just tacky, accessories help your outfit, not make your outfit.
Wearing sunglasses indoors, or at night; there’s no sun.
Athletic shorts with high socks; you look like a tool.
Muscle shirts in December, you are a tool!
Socks with sandals; shoe bee!
When it comes to jeans, buy a pair that fits.
Heels should only be worn on a formal occasion; cute sandals are more casual.
Guys, let the girls wear the scarves.
Shoe lace belts are a fine, but real belts are classier and intelligent looking.
Page 14
Page 15
STUDENT EDITORIAL
The Eight Dirtiest Places When Shopping
Commentary and Photographs by: Haley Ames
Many people are getting sick, not only all year around, but more so towards the holidays. More people go out shopping around the
holidays, touching everything and spreading germs. One of the main places that people spread around germs and viruses are the
malls. You can get germs almost anywhere in the mall. This is only to inform you about the places in the mall that you can get germs.
Using hand sanitizer and washing your hands more often than you normally do, can help prevent germs and viruses from being spread
around from one person to another.
One of the main places that germs linger around is the escalator railings. I’m sure
everyone knows how disgusting they are. Almost every person who goes to the mall
touches the railing at least one time, every time they go there. Personally, I don’t like
touching them so I just attempt to balance; that’s why we have two feet.
I’m assuming a lot of people think that the bathroom toilets are full of diseases
and viruses; but nope, it’s not the toilets, it’s the bathroom sinks. People touch the handles
after using the bathroom which isn’t smart. After washing your hands, in order, to turn the
water off, you use the same handle that you touched right after you and a million other
people used the bathroom. Most malls have motion sensor sinks which is good, but some
still don’t. The food court tables are gross, too. The people who wash the tables don’t
wash their rag. After they wash down one table, they use the same rag to wipe down ten
others. They sometimes don’t wash their rags all day. Don’t you think they would realize
how nasty it is, and how they’re causing people to get sick? Well, apparently not.
Automatic Teller Machine keyboards are a germ source, too, especially the enter
button. Every time someone uses the ATM, he or she has to use the enter key. A lot of
times, people don’t wash their hands. They stick them in their mouths, or play with their
hair and now all of those germs and feces are on the enter key, along with your finger.
Toy stores are a big one. Little kids go around touching everything in sight. They chew on
toys, play with them, and most of the time the parents don’t buy the toy; they just put it
back on the shelf. Tons of kids go to day care, and touch things all day and the adults never wash the toys. Fitting rooms are another one. Sometimes girls who try on bathing suits
don’t wear underwear and don’t usually end up buying them. So the next girl who tries
them on could have anything you have. This goes for regular clothing as well. They can
Megan Gudeahn and Jacob Still sharing
try on pants and sit down to take them off, and so can the next person. Gadget shops conhand sanitizer.
tain many types of electronics that people are interested in. They go in the store to try
them out and see if they like them, and a lot of them aren’t bought. Sometimes people go
into random gadget shops because they have nothing better to do, so they might as well go play with
stupid toys that they are never going to play with again. Make-up samples are really disgusting. I don’t
understand what girl would just go to a store and play with loose make up, which anyone could have
used. You can get pink eye and all different types of diseases and viruses that you could never imagine.
It’s probably a good idea to bring hand sanitizer or hand wipes with you , so that after you
use the restroom, or touch anything that could be infested with germs, you most likely won’t get sick.
If you use hand sanitizer too often, it could be bad for you. A lot of people don’t know, but you can
get alcohol poisoning from hand sanitizer. In my opinion, I’d rather be safe than sorry by using hand
sanitizer when I need it. Sometimes, I think some schools should not have hand sanitizer just hanging
around; because, on Thursday September 29, a second grade girl named Christy from Virginia was
rushed to the hospital from drinking hand sanitizer, after someone dared her to. She had alcohol poisoning. She was found unconscious and unresponsive, and then rushed from her school to the hospital;
at one point in time she had stopped breathing. This didn’t only happen to this one girl, this happened
to a various amounts of children, and sometimes adults. In some cases, they don’t even drink the hand
sanitizer, they just use it consistently. This just shows how careful you have to be when using hand
sanitizer and taking precautions. You should always be prepared when going to somewhere with a lot
of people because you never know when you’ll find yourself in one of these dirty places.
Megan Gudeahn keeping
clean!
Page 16
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Glancing At Great Gifts!
Commentary by: Mikey Zheng
Christmas is right around the corner. Don’t stop at every store on the street just to the perfect gift. We all know it can be stressful trying to find the perfect gift. With a little bit of research and experience, I’ve found multiple gifts fun for everyone.
1.) Apple iPad 2– What’s better than having the whole world and thousands of songs and apps at the power of your fingertips? This
9.7 size screen displays perfection through its retina display. This 1.33 lb tablet can run multiple apps with its A5 dual core processor.
With the two cameras, you can video call your friends, take pictures and upload them to social medias. The iPad 2 has many multiple
attachments such as, piano, keyboard, electronic airplane, old school arcade, etc. The fun never ends! $499-$599
2.) Apple iPhone 4S– Slimmer, faster, more intense version of the iPad. The most anticipated phone in America! The iPhone 4S sold
over 4 million devices the first day. Tcahe 8 mega-pixel mera records in 1080p high definition with a front camera for FaceTime with
your friends. The new iPhone is the most advanced phone to date with Siri. If you don’t have any friends to talk to, or your just trying
to get a task done without swiping and tapping, you can talk to your phone which will fulfill your needs...to an extent. The new iPhone
4S uses the new iCloud, the first iPhone that can synchronies your music, videos, and apps from your home iTunes account, straight off
the mobile internet. One of Steve Jobs’ last creations was worth the wait. $199-$849
3.) Just Dance 3– The party just got bigger and better with Just Dance 3 for the Wii, Xbox Kinect, and Playstation Move. The revolutionary dancing game anyone can play. Just Dance 3 was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 99 Amazon reviewers. This new Just Dance includes top hits from Katy Perry, Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, Taio Cruz, etc. With the ability to purchase more songs
online, the game never gets old! $39.99
4.) Xbox 360 Kinect– Winter season limits your ability to do outside activities. The Xbox Kinect takes those restrictions away. Now
you can play any sports in your house! Kinect’s camera scans your body as your avatar copies every movement you make. Games for
the Kinect include: Kinect Sports Season 1 and 2, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Dance Central 1 and 2, Kinectimals, etc. Kinect now has apps
you can download from the Xbox marketplace. Kinect can use voice to control movies, music, videos, and games. $99.99
5.) Sony Bravia HX Series– From 46 to 65 inches of eye candy with Dynamic Edge Led backlight and a full 1080p HD display. The
Bravia Engine 3 digital video processor enhancing any video and compliments Blu-ray movies. The TV contains more than just the
ability to watch TV. The Bravia HX Series is Wi-Fi enabled to use Netflix, Pandora Radio, Youtube, MyPlay, Epicurious, etc. This TV
has an easy-to-use xross media bar navigation system which can wirelessly stream videos, photos, and music from your computer. To
top it all off, this TV also has the feature of 3D viewing experience. $1899.99-$4499.99
6.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3– Bloooooooood!!!! The best selling first person action series of all time has released the best
shooting game of the year. Modern Warfare three was a door buster, as dedicated fans camped outside retail stores for the release of
the game at 12:00AM November 8. Within 24 hours, the game sold 6.5 million copies in the U.S. and UK alone. Rated 4 out of 5 stars
by Amazon reviewers, 5 out of 5 stars by The Daily Telegraph, and 9 out of 10 by the famous IGN.
Modern Warfare 3 has easy to learn game play and has taken away days upon days from gamers’ lives.
There’s nothing better than turning to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on the Nintendo DS, Wii,
Playstation 3, and Xbox 360 during the holiday break! $29.99-$135
7.) Chicco Fun Travel Activity Nest– Babies can’t tell you what they want for a gift, but the Chicco
Fun Travel Activity Nest is the answer to enlighten the baby. This 5 pound, foldable, play nest turns
into a bag for easy transportation. The soft cushion will give the child top comfort when playing. $60
8.) Harry Potter: Limited Edition Complete 1-8 Films (Blu-Ray + DVD)- This limited edition, 19
http://www.gifts.com/search/
discs set Harry Potter saga will make your special wizard flipping for the fantasy. This complete set
comes with over 5 hours of extra content. It also includes one of few collectible retrospective photo album. Each box is numbered from
1-1000, any Harry Potter fan will love this gift! $180
SCHOOL NEWS
Page 17
Gingerbread Extravaganza!
Commentary and Photographs by: Emily Hogue
The Tri-M Music Honor Society held a gingerbread house contest to see who could create the best one. The music department, as
well as some other groups such as Student Council and Mrs. Howard’s second block piano class, participated in the fundraiser. Students voted for their favorite one by placing money in a jar in front of their choice. Half of the money raised went to Tri-M for putting the whole event on, and the other half went to the winner, which is yet to be determined. The money that went to Tri-M will eventually be combined with the money raised from the variety show, and will be donated to a charity of their choice.
On December 14, 2011, Tri-M stayed after school to make their gingerbread house. There were a lot of ideas floating
around on what exactly we should create, but as a group, we finally decided on a village with a North Pole theme. Everyone worked
in groups of 3 or more to build their own houses, and they decorated them as they pleased. Some made cottages, others made your
typical gingerbread houses, and one group made a train; even a garage for Santa was created when a roof wouldn’t stay in place. All
of these wonderful creations were put together to resemble a village fashion, and little things were added like trees, an igloo, and the
North Pole itself.
Page 18
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Are You a Believer?
Commentary by: Megan Gudeahn
With the holidays closing in, many are thinking of Santa Claus. As a little girl, Santa was always the first person I thought of when the
topic of Christmas came up. I remember writing letters to Santa and then sending them to the North Pole. I remember baking him
cookies, leaving him a cup of milk, and leaving out some carrots for his reindeer. On Christmas morning, I’d wake up and go straight
to the kitchen to see if he actually ate his cookies and drank his milk. However, as I grew older I started to believe in Santa less and
less. I began to wonder why Santa was such a big deal when we were younger,
but now not a single person believes in him anymore. Since Christmas is near, the
history of Santa came across my mind. Why is he so famous?
Who is Santa Claus? He is the legendary patron saint of children, an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas. The true
story of Santa Claus starts with St. Nicholas; he was born in the third century, in
the village of Patara, which is now Demre, Turkey. Both of his parents passed
while he was still young. He used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the
sick, and the suffering. St. Nicholas dedicated his life to serving God and was
made into the Bishop of Myra. He soon became known across the land for his
generosity to those in need, and for his love for children.
In the 19th century, Christmas was not images of families gathered cozily
around the tree exchanging pretty gifts and singing carols while smiling at children, as it is today. It was raucous, with drunken mobs roaming streets, damaging
property, threatening and frightening the upper classes. At the same time, a new
understanding of family life and the place of children was emerging. Childhood
was being seen as a stage of life in which greater protection, sheltering, training
and education were needed. The season came to be tamed, turning toward shops
and home. St. Nicholas also took on new attributes to fit the changing times.
http://
In the 1920s, a standard American Santa (life-sized in a red, fur-trimmed
upload.wikimedia.org
suit) had emerged from the work of N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell and other
popular illustrators. This Santa was life-sized, jolly, and wore the red suit, like in
the illustrations. He appeared in magazines, on billboards, and shop counters, encouraging Americans to see Coca-Cola as the solution
to "a thirst for all seasons." By the 1950s, Santa was turning up everywhere as a source of greatness, supporting an amazing range of
consumer products. This commercial success led to the North American Santa Claus being dispersed around the world.
Today, Santa is well known by everyone. Not everyone believes in him, but everyone has at one point in time. Most high
school students do not believe in him anymore, but I thought it would be interesting to ask a few people what their views on the almighty man are. However, many students take Santa as a joke. Therefore, these are the answers that I received on my journey to determine whether high school students believe in Santa Claus or not.
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
Earl Davis: Are you kidding me, is that even a question!?
Malorie Arsenault: Definitely! I caught him stealing my cookies and sneaking up my chimney.
Haley Ames: He’s my best friend.
Tanya Webster: He left his hat in my chimney!
Xavier Laporte: Of course I believe in Santa, I talk to him all the time.
Skyla Young: I met him once. I scared him and he fell off my roof, and then he turned into Tim Allen!
Ariel Roy: Uhmm YEAH! Brittany and I are vacationing with him in the Bahamas.
Kendra Curran: Yes.
Brandon Rufo: Yes.
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 19
Obtaining Your License
Commentary by: Ryan Dumais
Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, you are going to obtain your driver’s license sooner or later. Do
yourself a favor and make the first move of your freedom in life; This is very vital and should not be postponed. Emotions may
get in the way of your tasks to start your journey on the road but there is help to get you by. Obtaining your driver’s license isn’t
an easy job, but when you are prepared it makes it much easier.
Preparing: Firstly, you must decided if you are ready to get your license. Are you ready to start taking on the responsibilities of the road? Do you have a plan? You will have to accept not only success, but failure as well. There are many classes
and advice available from certified instructors in our part of Connecticut. For example, signing up for driver’s education would
be a perfect start to your journey. Glenn of Northeast Driving Academy of Dayville, Connecticut, offers drivers education and I
can vouch for him. Driver’s education may not be cheap, as the average cost is around $500, but it is well worth the price. You
will learn many things you may have never known otherwise. Although it is not required to get your license, it is very beneficial
for your knowledge, your safety, and it even lowers your future car insurance significantly!
Obtaining your Learner’s Permit: A learner’s permit allows a student the ability to drive with an adult who has had
their license for four consecutive years. The State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles requires you to be between the
ages of 16 and 18 to have a learner’s permit. Before applying for your learner’s permit, the student must be able to pass a twenty-five on-screen test at the
www.ct.gov/dmv
DMV. This test isn’t always easy and some serious studying is involved. You
may receive a Connection Driver’s Manual at state buildings or even your
local DMV to study from. There is also an online version and available pretests for students to learn and test their readiness.
You must have a parent or legal guardian’s permission in order to
apply for the learner’s permit by having them attend the DMV with you having or having complete a notarized consent form. You do not need to schedule
an appointment as permit tests are on a walk in basis. When you arrive at the
DMV, you must present the person behind the counter two forms of identification to prove such things as your Social Security
Number and your residency in Connecticut. Two most common forms that you should bring is your Social Security Card and a
piece of mail with your name and address listed on it. You will also need to pay a nonrefundable fee of $40, before the exam.
The DMV will have you fill out an application for your learner’s permit and have you return it once finished.
After all the paper work is complete, you will have to take a vision test. Basically, you look into a small projector and
tell the instructor which signs are in 3D and read a few letters from the list. If you failed this, you must have your eyes corrected
by a professional and retake it. If you pass, you will need to take the on-screen knowledge test. The test is composed of semicommon sense questions, but not always. You must receive an 80% (20 out of the 25 available questions) correct grade or higher to pass and obtain your license. If failed, you will have to repay the fee, but you may skip questions and come back to them,
which is highly recommended because once you answer 20 questions correctly you are finished. Another tip learned in driver’s
education is that the instructors in the room are willing to help you, describe the question in a more understandable form, or may
even hint you in the right direction! What do you have to lose by asking? If everything went successful you will have your picture taken at the DMV. You will have to pay another fee of $19 before you have your permit. You will receive your permit
within the same day of testing. Congratulations on your progress so far!
Driving Training: Now that you have your learner’s permit, grab an eligible adult to drive with you! The CT DMV
requires you have at least 40 hours of behind the wheel training and held a permit for 120 days if you went through a commercial driver’s education program or 180 days if you were home trained before you can apply for your license. The CT law also
requires parents to attend a two hour course along with the students.
It is important to focus on what you need to know for the driver’s test. These include but are not limited to: three-point
turns (K-turns), backing in to a parking space, pulling into a parking space, lane positioning, using signals, giving right of way,
and even following basic road signs. They have many videos, information, and classes on how to do the listed objectives if you
are unsure.
.It is important to find your weaknesses with your driving ability. These are the things you should focus on most, because most likely, you will be tested on these. Learning reference points are crucial to proper execution of parking and knowing
where objects are around you. It is very common for students to struggle with backing in; learning how to do things step by step
will allow you to understand how to do them afterwards. Practice makes perfect!
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE….
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 20
Obtaining your Driver’s License: The most dreadful moment for every student. Clear your mind, focus, and relax. Make sure you
received a refreshing night’s sleep and have a hearty breakfast before your appointment. You have been training for this! It is suggested that you cram some extra driving in the last few days before the test to get some regularity. Also, a new law was recently
passed that enables permit holders to skip the written exam, so all you need to focus on is the regular road test. You will need to
schedule an appointment at a DMV that does on-road testing. If you have attended driver’s education you will most likely already
have an appointment set-up, but contrary to belief, you will not be taking the test with your instructor. Also, you do not have to parallel park during the test, so don’t sweat it.
Before getting into the car, you must make sure you have your permit with you.. Do not do anything unless instructed.
Make sure the seat and mirrors are adjusted correctly, you are buckled safely, the car is started, and pull down the parking break
before shifting into drive. Make sure you are signaling every turn; when in doubt, signal out! Listen to the instructor who is testing
you, for your safety, his or her safety, and if you are listening and reacting appropriately, you will do fine. If you notice you have
messed up on something on the test do not automatically believe you have failed. The test is designed to have certain parts weighted
more than others, meaning you can fail objects but still pass. It may sound sneaky, but the instructor may have not even noticed it!
If you fail the driver’s test, you must wait 14 days, or two weeks, before making another appointment. Many students fail as
they are unsure of what the experience is, nervous, or just were unlucky as the traffic and weather conditions vary everyday. Stay
positive and keep your head up for the next time.
If you pass, congratulation! You will receive a form, signed by the instructor that you will need to hand in at the DMV
along with a certificate of completion for driver’s education (if taken) with two proof of identifications once again. You will be able
to receive your driver’s license within 48 hours of the paperwork being handed in. You will not need to take another picture as they
will use your previous picture on your learner’s permit. The total fee for your driver’s license will be $84.
Restrictions: After obtaining your license, you will have some restrictions on the passengers and times you are able to
drive for a lengthy amount of time. 16 and 17 year old license holders will not be allow to driver with anyone with the exception of
an adult who held a license for four years without any suspensions for the first six months. For the following six months, you are
able to drive with an adult, and a sibling. After one year of holding your license you are able to driver without anyone you’d like but
must be equal to the amount of seatbelts in the car, or less. Also, until the student is the age of 18 they’re unable to driver between
the times of 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m., unless it is for the reasons of: school, religious practices, employment, or medical necessities.
Breaking these rules will result in suspension of your license and all your hard work is gone to waste for some time.
Information taken from: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/
Page 21
PAPERCLIP NEWS
One Red Paperclip
Article by: Brandon Wisniewski
Could you ever imagine trading a paperclip for a pen? Imagine you trade the pen for something else and continue trading objects until you have a house. Well one man has already
done this. Kyle MacDonald is a Canadian blogger who decided one day to barter his way
from a red paperclip to a house and then write a book about his inspirational story. Kyle has
proven to many that anything is truly possible if you set your mind to it.
http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/
MacDonald’s story begins in July of 2005, where he posted a picture of a red paperclip on his blog and on the barter section of Craigslist. MacDonald posted with the picture that he wanted to trade the paperclip for
something bigger. A few days later MacDonald traded the paperclip for a fish shaped pen. That same day he traded the fish shaped
pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob from Seattle, Washington. About a week later on July 25, he traded the door knob for a Coleman
camp stove with fuel. MacDonald then searched two months for another trade until he traveled to San Clemente, California. In California, MacDonald traded the camp stove for a Honda generator on September 24, 2005. MacDonald then traveled to New York City
to trade the generator for an “Instant Party.” The “Instant Party” consisted of an empty keg, an IOU for filling the keg with beer of
the holder’s choice, and a neon Budweiser sign. MacDonald then traded the “Instant Party” with Quebec comedian and radio personality Michel Barrette. MacDonald traded the “Instant Party” with Michel for two Ski-doo snowmobiles on December 8, 2005. Within
the week of that happening MacDonald then traded the two snowmobiles for a two person trip to Yahk, British Columbia. After the
holidays passed MacDonald managed to trade his position on the trip for a cube van. A month later
he traded the cube van for a recording contract with Metal Works in Toronto. Around April 11,
2006, MacDonald traded the recording contract for a year’s worth of rent with Jody Gnant. Although a year’s worth of rent is a significant trade it wasn't good enough for MacDonald. Instead of
keeping the years worth of rent MacDonald traded it on April 26, 2006, for an afternoon with Alice
Cooper. Exactly a month later MacDonald traded the afternoon with Alice Cooper for a KISS motorized snow globe. MacDonald then traded the snow globe with Corbin Bernsen for a role in his
film “Donna on Demand.” MacDonald then made his final trade on July 5, 2006. MacDonald traded the role in the film for a house in Kipling, Saskatchewan.
MacDonald may seem like an extraordinary guy but in reality he is only an average human being. MacDonald does not possess some magical trading skill. He just had a goal and
achieved it through dedication. MacDonald’s successful trades were also aided by luck. MacDonald got lucky with many of his trades. His trade with Corbin Bersen only depended on luck. Machttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/
Donald managed to get the one snow globe that Corbin Bersern wanted. Corbin is an American
Kyle MacDonald acting casual. actor and director, he also collects snow globes as a hobby. He has approximately seven thousand
snow globes. For MacDonald trading with Corbin was just another step closer to getting a house.
Humor also played a role in MacDonald’s long adventure because some of his first trades were based on pure fun. His first trade of a
paperclip for a pen was basically just a joke between two people. Yet to MacDonald this was his most important trade because without this trade he wouldn't have been able to create the trading chain, which lead him to gaining his own house. MacDonald’s story is
an example of making dreams a reality and turning the impossible into possible.
Even after MacDonald ended his trading adventure he did not stop using his creative mind. MacDonald then wrote a book about his adventure titled “One Red Paperclip.” His book is published and available in fourteen different languages. MacDonald also does motivational speaking; he has told his story at many conferences
all around the world.
Once MacDonald’s story became well known he began receiving
acknowledgement in several different ways. MacDonald was made mayor of Kipling, Saskatchewan for a day and he was also given the key to the city. He was
also made an honorary resident of Kipling for life. MacDonald’s story helped base
a Volkswagen commercial in Spain. Kyle starred in a Mastercard commercial.
MacDonald also received a Guinness World Record for the most successful internet trade. MacDonald also has his own website which has bits and pieces of his
story, contact information, pictures, and things that he is doing now.
MacDonald’s story is inspiring, funny, and unbelievable. The things that
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
he traded and the places he went. It may have taken MacDonald a year to achieve
Kyle’s house in Kipling, Saskatchewan.
his goal, but a years worth of time was worth it for him. Before his adventure,
MacDonald was stressed out about finding a job and providing for himself as well as his wife. MacDonald now can relax and live a
peaceful life in his home. Instead of finding a job he created one for himself and he actually enjoys his job. Everyone needs to read
MacDonald’s book or at least hear his story. MacDonald proved that dreams do come true. Even if they do involve red paperclips.
Information taken from:
http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_red_paperclip
SPORTS EDITORIAL
Page 22
Packers Plunge to the Top
Article by: Rich Orsini
The Green Bay Packers have been holding it down this season. Heading into December, the
Packers are undefeated with a record of 12-0. This team is looking marvelously well this season,
which doesn’t surprise most of us. The Packers never disappoint their fans. They made the playoffs
three years in a row, in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The Packers had a disappointing season back in 2005,
Rodgers’ first year on the team, where they had a record of 4-12. Last year was nothing but a wonderful year for Green Bay, as they took home the championship for Super Bowl XLV (Super Bowl 45).
Their opponent had a total of six Super Bowl wins, while the Packers had four wins out of five appearances at the Super Bowl. The Packers strongly deserved the win in the Super Bowl. It was a great
game to watch, as all of them are.
With a minute left in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons on November 28thThe
starting quarterback for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers, made the most ‘eye popping’ throw last season to
Jordy Nelson. Rodgers has come a long way since his debut for Green Bay in 2005, and earned a spot
in the Pro Bowl of 2009. Rodgers was the 24 pick in the first round in the draft of 2005. He eventually
took over the starting quarterback position after Brett Favre went to the Minnesota Vikings, and retired.
Aaron Rodgers, without a doubt, has put the team on his back this season. He has helped the team
have an incredible and entertaining season. There is no doubt that Rodgers is the top quarterback in the
NFL right now, and it doesn’t look like that is going to change.
I guess that the big question right now is: Will the Packers win another
Super Bowl? Will they go all the way? It sure does look like it, and I sure hope
they do. So far this season, the Packers have beat the Saints, Bears, Panthers, Broncos, Falcons, Rams, Chargers, Vikings (twice), Bucs, and the Giants. The question
this far along still remains; What team will beat Green Bay? That is, if any team
can actually do it. Green Bay deserves all of the credit they can possibly get, for the
great season they have played. But it’s not over yet, the Packers still have three
games left. The next game will be Sunday, home against the Chicago Bears who
have a record of 7-5. Will the Packers hold their spot, and make it an undefeated
season? We shall see what happens.
Below is a chart of the three top quarterbacks in the NFL for the 2011
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/
Aaron Rodgers doing his famous ‘belt’ move.
http://web.hurriyetdailynews.com/
Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews with the Super Bowl trophy.
season.
Attempts
Completions
Percentage
Yards
Aaron Rodgers
438
305
69.6%
4,125
Tom Brady
496
328
66.1%
4,273
Drew Brees
543
385
70.9%
4,358
Statistics from: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/quarterbackRating
SPORTS EDITORIAL
Page 23
Commentary by: Jake Still
The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2011-2012 season with the nickname, “Dream Team.”
They didn’t have many changes from the last season except for some big signings. The Eagles’
signed: defensive end Jason Babin, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, cornerback Dominique Rodgers
-Cromartie, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, quarterback Vince Young, and running back Ronnie
Brown. In the preseason, the Eagles were ranked third in the power rankings just behind the defending super bowl champion Packers and the almighty Patriots.
The “Dream Team” obviously isn’t too much of a dream as they are currently 5-8. The
Eagles have struggled all season long, trying to find the chemistry throughout the team. The Eagles
biggest loss of a player this season was Michael Vick and all of the injuries he’s dealt with this year.
Michael Vick had a concussion week three of the season, an injured right hand week four, a broken
left finger week five, and broken ribs from week 11-week 13 so far. Michael Vick has 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season with a QB rating of 79.8. He also has only thrown for 2,193
yards this season.
http://profootballzone.com/nfl/michael-vick
What Happened To The “Dream Team?”
Andy Reid, the Eagles head coach, may possibly be fired for this downfall. Reid has been the head coach for the Eagles since
1999 and has only had two losing seasons. In 1999, Reid led his Eagles to a 5-11 record being his first losing season. In 2005 the Eagles went 6-10 being only his second losing season in his career. Only two losing seasons in his twelve year career and you would
think Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles’ owner, wouldn’t even consider getting rid of Reid. But this season, Andy Reid hasn’t lived up to expectations. The six year, $100 million contract wasn’t a good enough deal to get Vick to live up to expectations and that is all falling on
Andy Reid’s shoulders.
Defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo may be fired after this season. The Eagles defense is ranked 11th in the league. They are
18th in the league allowing 115.1 rushing yards per game and 12th in the league allowing 218.9 yards per game. 11th in the league
doesn’t sound too bad but when they are 5-8, you know its bad. The Eagles were suppose to have a great defense, that’s what their
team was based on but they can’t seem to have a good enough defense to win. Juan Castillo was once an offensive line coach but was
moved to defensive coordinator. The job was not for him and now it makes him look bad.
What does a losing record show of a supposed “Dream Team?” It shows that they obviously were over their heads about that
title and didn’t live up to the name. The Eagles can join the recent “Dream Teams” playing golf, such as the 2011 Boston Red Sox and
the Miami Heat. The Red Sox were 90-72 and didn’t make the playoffs and the Miami Heat had a record of 58-24 but choked in the
NBA Finals and lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks. The Eagles hold, right now, a record of 4-8 and have no shot of making it to
the playoffs. Maybe the chemistry is off or maybe they need a new coach but either way, they don’t deserve the nickname.
Opponent
Score
St.Louis Rams
Atlanta Falcons
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills
Washington Redskins
Dallas Cowboys
Chicago Bears
Arizona Cardinals
New York Giants
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins
W 31-13
L 35-31
L 29-16
L 24-23
L 31-24
W 20-13
W 34-7
L 30-24
L 21-17
W 17-10
L 38-20
L 31-14
W 26-10
W 45-19
Didn’t play yet
Didn’t play yet
Page 24
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Occupy… America?
Commentary by: Suzie Arpin
Today, one in three Americans are or will soon be living in poverty. The statistics seem fabricated when we realize that we
live in the most economically advanced country in the world. However, as millions of people gather together in “civil disobedience”,
the enigmatic truths behind our nation’s economy concerning its citizens are revealed and fought against. From picket signs to mace
wars, the “Occupy Movement” occurring throughout our country is growing, and the people involved are clearly not willing to stop.
From New York to California, groups of people all over
the country are protesting economic and social inequality. Since
mid-September 2011, occupy movements have been springing up
all over the nation. The most commonly known of those is
“Occupy Wall Street”, a protest taking place in New York City,
where thousands of people have come together in an attempt to
express the need of economical change. Across the country, Occupy San Francisco, Occupy Orange County, Occupy Los Angeles
are just a few of the many occupy movements currently going on
in California.
There are countless posts on the Occupy Wall Street blog
(http://occupywallst.org), one of them being titled, “Occupy will
never die; evict us, we multiply!” This post explains that despite
the arrests and threats, hundreds of protests are springing up nationwide. Both this site and the website for Occupy California
(http://occupyca.wordpress.com) feature photo, video, and text
posts concerning upcoming events for the protesters to attend.
I do not want to say that I agree with the people sitting on
the streets being angry, but they do make valid points. Many of
“The 99 Percent” write about their problems and why their situations are unfair. They sign each letter with “I am the 99%.” While
scrolling through pictures of these signs, I was surprised by what I
read. People are not being treated fairly. It would definitely be
preferable for them to find another way to speak out against the
inequalities in America, but it seems that this may be one of the
most impacting revolutions this country has seen.
However, there are certain concepts that the occupiers
seem to be overlooking. With their Freedom of Speech, they complain about the lack of freedom. With their Freedom of Religion,
they pray for more freedom. With their Freedom of the Press, they
write how the country is not providing liberty and justice for all.
http://occupyca.wordpress.com
http://occupywallst.org
“Occupy will never die; evict us, we multiply!”
But what is “The 99 Percent”?
Both “The 1 Percent” and “The 99 Percent” refer to opposite groups of people in today’s economical world. “The 1 Percent” refers to the very small amount of the nation that collectively
receives more than the rest of the nation, which is referred to as “The 99 “With their Freedom of
Percent.” The people who strived to
Speech, they complain
achieve the American Dream are being
about the lack of
deprived of the perks of life that they
freedom. With their
have worked towards for so long.
But why should I care?
Freedom of Religion,
The Occupy Movement is
they pray for more
taking over the country; protests are
freedom. With their
starting in major cities all over as more
of “The 99 percent” learns that they Freedom of the Press,
they write about the
need to take a stand. Shops are closed
down because their entrances are
country not providing
blocked by protesters while sidewalks
liberty and justice to
and highways are swarmed with occuall.”
piers. It’s like that part in “Fight Club”
when Tyler Durden realizes that he has
set up franchises everywhere. Angry people who feel neglect from
the government are everywhere. It’s not just a protest on Wall
Street anymore. It’s no longer just a few hundred people who have
a problem with the economy. It’s a cry for change and equality.
What will happen if all of “The 99 Percent” joins together
in protest? That’s millions of angry people trying to overthrow the
government. The only way to end these protests would be for the
government to give in. For this reason, the 2012 presidential elections will play a vital role in finding a solution to this nationwide
dilemma.
Information and pictures from:
http://occupywallst.org, http://www.zreportage.com,
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 25
Top Ten Things Stolen During Christmas!
Commentary by: Nicole Yon
The month of December is when the Christmas spirit fills the air. The Thanksgiving thanks is over and now we have moved on to the
month of giving. It’s a time to spend time with family and friends and maybe touch the life of someone you don't even know. But to
some individuals, these things don't matter; they only think of themselves and get caught up in the realm of self centeredness. People
should stop and think before they act, the five finger discount is not the way to go. The top things being stolen during the holiday
season are as followed. Lets not be the Grinch who stole Christmas, instead put a smile on someone's face, have some Christmas spirit
and make a difference.
1.) Filet Mignon– Unbelievably enough, yes! A meat product from grocery stores are being stolen. How
this idea is being done is being stuffed either in pants or in large jackets. Desperate times, call for
desperate measures I guess. The one place you wouldn't think would get anything stolen from is a grocery
store. Think again!
2.) Movies\Video Games- Do people not realize that movies and
video games are kept in protective glass cases or are in enclosed
security gadgets for a reason? Long story short: just don't do it. If
you are that person that would rather just have the disk, by the time
www.omahasteaks.com you get it home its going to be scratched, its going to skip and it
just wont be a fun time. Probably better of saving time and just buying the movie.
flickr.com
3.) Electric Tools– When you think power tools, the first things that come
to mind would be a drill or a chainsaw. Usually another thing that comes to mind is men, but in this case both
ideas are wrong. An electric tool such as electric tooth brushes, it’s a great stocking stuffer. As much as you
think it wouldn't be a top stolen item, it falls in that category. At least you know those pearly whites will be nice
and clean.
Bigw.com
4.) IPhone 4– The hottest phone out on the
market, up on the charts and a high risk
item. Also along with laptops, according to
statistics over 100,000 laptops are stolen
Besportier.com
annually from major stores. How does a
person manage to steal a laptop without
pocketnow.com
anyone seeing?
5.) Gillette Mach 4– Also along with food products you wouldn't think something as small
as a razor would be confiscated from stores, but when it comes
to this $8-9 razor, it is easily slipped into pockets or purses.
Most individuals who purchase disposable razors know how
costly they are.
Gawker.com
6.) Axe-Yes, the body spray that most teenage boys use is one
of the top ten Christmas thefts. My suggestion is just take a shower, water is free, don’t
steal merchandise. Makes a great stocker stuffer.
7.) Polo Ralph Lauren-Clothing theft has gone up 31% since 2009; this economy is terrible
and people will do anything when it comes to apparel. Ralph Lauren is huge in the fashion
industry and extremely high in price. Hey, everyone wants to look good during the holidays,
right?
“Let’s not be
the Grinch
who stole
Christmas…”
8.) Let’s Rock Elmo-The Let’s Rock Elmo seems to big a big hit in all toy stores. In every
child's eyes he is loved; you can choose from three instruments he can play from and
interacts with voice and sound. Way to be a great role model parents, stealing your children's toys from the Shoppingblog.com
store. Awesome!
Logok.org
Continues on next page...
STUDENT EDITORIAL CONTINUED
Page 26
9.) Chanel No. 5- Do you need a great gift for your girlfriend or mom? Then go to any JcPenny’s or Macy’s and steal some of this extremely expensive Chanel perfume. No, I think not! No matter how thoughtful
or if it was someone's last dyeing wish you shouldn't slip this bottle into your pocket. You wouldn't think
that perfume would be a high theft item but its almost as common as IPhones or laptops.
10.) Nikes– The most popular name brand sneakers on the
market. They run anywhere from $97-$139.99; they range from
basketball/running sneakers to some real stylish kicks. Some
people like to use the whole “let’s trade shoes” method in
stores, and walk out with a pair they didn't come in with. Nikes’
motto is “Just Do It.” Don't do it; it’s a crime.
Www.nordstrom.com
Www.Jackygalichon.co
You would think during the holiday season people
would have a heart and do what's right, but in this case it only gets worse...much worse.
The month of December needs to be filled with holiday spirit, joy, and snow. Not out committing felonies and spending Christmas in a
jail cell, that’s just not a fun time, don't be that guy. So think twice before you act and make the right decisions. Remember: Santa's
watching you.
LOCAL NEWS
Hope in the Darkness
Article and Photographs by: Nicole Yon
Once again the Christmas season is right around the corner and for
some individuals this can be a happy or lonely time. There are families that
have parted with loved ones that makes this time of year extremely difficult
to enjoy, and that’s why there is a thing called Hospice and Palliative Care
of Northeast Connecticut, at the Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Plainfield,
Connecticut. On December 11, 2011 there were two ceremonies that were
held, Blue Christmas Mass and the Third Annual Hospice and Palliative
Care of Northeast Connecticut’s Tree Lighting. For those who don't know
exactly what hospice is, its an
organization that helps families
that have a loved one who has
an estimated time to live. It
makes sure that the hospital
bills, funeral arrangements, and
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
takes care of anything else this
person may need in order to feel comfortable during this time.
The Plainfield High School Chamber Choir got together in partnership with the
church and sang at both events. The Blue Christmas Mass at 3 p.m. was a regular church
service; there were songs sang while parish members wrote on stars as to why they were
here, if they had lost a loved one, a wish, an ambition, or anything as to why they were
there. There were also candles lit and placed in sand that were handed from the deacon of
the church. The hospice tree lighting at 5 p.m. was a half hour long event, there were readings from members of the church and a sing-a-long of a few classic Christmas carols. Once
the singing was over everyone gathered outside for the lighting of the tree of life. Afterwards there was a potluck dinner hosted by the church parish immediately after the ceremoTree of Life
ny in the church basement.
STUDENT EDITORIAL
Page 27
Christmas Tree Safety
Commentary by: Nate Duval
The holiday season is full of spirit and jolliness, but once tragedy
strikes, people’s morals drop. A Christmas tree is the main key of Christmas, but once a heat source is placed near the tree, it is like adding fuel to
a fire. A dry Christmas tree causes one out of every five fires during December. Yes, this type of fire is not common, but can be easily prevented.
It takes eight seconds for a family’s spirit during Christmas to
collapse. A raging fire bursts from the living room and spreads across the
ceiling onto the nearby furniture, leaving destruction in its path. When you
wake up to realize what is occurring, it is already too late, Christmas is
ruined. Since I am a volunteer firefighter, I hate seeing house fires, but
when Christmas comes along, a Christmas tree fire really breaks my heart.
Here are some easy tips to help you be safe and protected for the Christmas season.
11 seconds into the fire.
coquille-today.com
FACTS

One out of every three home Christmas tree fires
are caused by electrical problems.

Christmas tree fires have a high chance to turn out
deadly.

A heat source too close to a tree causes one of every five of the fires.
WHEN PICKING A CHRISTMAS TREE:

Choose a tree that is healthy. This would mean the tree would have
green needles that don’t fall off when you touch a branch.
WHEN PLACING THE TREE:

Cut one-two inches off the base of the trunk. Removing the “dry” end
of the tree keeps the tree fresh to add water.

Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat sources.
(Examples: fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.)

The tree should not block an exit.

Add water every day to the tree so it won’t die.
WHEN LIGHTING THE TREE:

Use lights for indoor use only, these expose less heat than outside
lights.

Replace any worn out or broken cords or loose bulb connection.

Use no more than three strands of light on one tree.

NEVER light candles and place them on the tree.

Always TURN OFF lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
Information taken from: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
AFTER CHRISTMAS
After December 25 passes, dispose of your
Christmas tree in a proper manor. Do not stand it up in
front of your house or garage; any little spark will set off
the tree in no time. Instead, hang it up in the backyard or
in a wood pile so it can rot. Another solution is to bring
the tree to your local recycling plant so the tree can rot
there. Bring in your outdoor Christmas lights inside to
prevent any hazard from happening and to make them last
longer.
Have a safe and Merry Christmas.
-Your friend,
Nate “The Pirate” Duval
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