November, 2007 - Findlay High School

WEATHER
Senior
Eddie
Wooten
FRIDAY
Snow Shower
High 40, Low 23
SATURDAY
Mostly Cloudy
High 32, Low 29
&
BLUE GOLD
F i n d l a y
Volume 85, Issue 2
SUNDAY
Video
yearbook
comes to life
Scattered Showers
High 50, Low 29
EVENTS
H i g h
S c h o o l
Findlay High School’s Award Winning Newspaper
Friday, November 30, 2007
BE THE CHANGE
Staying
healthy
during the
holidays
See page 4
See page 5
See page 7
City council approves RiverPlace project
The final performance of Clue, the
Junior/Senior class
play will be Saturday
night at 7:30 p.m.
in the auditorium.
Tickets are available
at the door.
Plans include new
fields, arts center,
high-end stores
n By Emily Rivest
Hayden Christensen
and Jessica Alba
(above) star in
the thriller Awake,
opening tonight.
Mark your
calendars
Two hour delay
Dec. 4
FFE/VIP Holiday
Dinner Show
Dec. 15
Holiday choir concert
Dec. 18
WINTER
What’s your
favorite part
of winter?
City Council gave Mayor Tony Iriti
authorization to sign a lease to begin the
development of the proposed RiverPlace
on the corner of Cory St. and S. Defiance
Ave. where the Brandman Tire Dump and
Swale Park are now located.
RiverPlace will be a new development
with apartments for University of
Findlay students, a chiropractor’s office,
stores, baseball and softball fields and a
performing arts center.
The performing arts center will have
space for a Japanese cultural center and a
theater for local school performances and
professional shows, including traveling
Broadway shows. The Findlay-Hancock
County Public Library is also considering
relocating there.
“This community has been trying to
build a performing arts center for years.
There’s not a facility in town, including
Central Auditorium or the high school,
with the space required for performing
arts,” Iriti said. “The local schools’ ability
to use the performing arts center for
events will help the community.”
High-end and collegiate stores will
also be in the development, along with a
few restaurants. These businesses will be
aimed at attracting visitors to Findlay but
will also attempt to keep teens in the area.
New development
A proposed sketch of RiverPlace shows the buildings to be included, with the baseball stadium in the background. The development will be at the
corner of S. Defiance Ave. and Cory St. where the Brandman Tire Dump and Swale Park are now.
“It will help to retain young people and
college students by having more things
that they like to do,” president of the
development company, The Thayer Group,
Brad Burgess said.
Despite the benefits for local teens,
the development is aimed at helping the
University of Findlay gain more students
and new facilities.
“It’ll help attract employees for the
businesses and students for the University of
Blue & Gold earns fifth
Best of Show trophy
n By Emily Rivest
Sophomore
Lauren Supple
Senior
Chris Anderson
FUN FACTS
A loaded snowplow
weighs the same as
17 average sized cars.
all images courtesy of
www.google.com/images (fair use)
INDEX
2 Editorial
3 Entertainment
4 News/Feature
5 Feature
6 Useless Info.
7 Feature
8 Sports
photo by Katie Kehres
Radio show
Freshman Tim Sherman rehearses a scene from Youtheatre’s production of It’s a Wonderful
Life. The show opens tonight at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
It’s a Wonderful Life opens tonight
Youtheatre presents story as radio show
n By Chelsea Sherman
Think it’s cold now?
The lowest
temperature ever
recorded in Ohio is
-39 on Feb. 10, 1899.
“Many other events besides baseball,
like outdoor concerts, will take place in the
stadium, which teens will enjoy,” Iriti said.
The Thayer Group will lease the
land from the city and develop it using
private capital, so no cost will be passed to
the taxpayers.
“The only cost would be to do some
beautification of the area and we plan to do
that with grants we’ve received from the
state of Ohio,” Iriti said.
Paper wins national award
“My favorite thing
about winter is
Christmas and the
holidays. Spending
time with family and
getting a break off
school is a lot of fun.”
“My favorite thing
about winter is
sweaters. Wearing a
sweater is like being
wrapped up in a
blanket all day.”
Findlay. The whole idea is to provide more
facilities for the university to help attract
more students,” Burgess said.
The development’s 1,200-seat baseball
stadium will serve as the university’s home
field and will host an amateur wooden-bat
league during the summer. The league will
be made up of college students who are
likely to go pro, according to Burgess.
Besides baseball, the stadium will offer a
place for events in the city.
Blue & Gold placed first in the Best of
Show competition for the fifth time at the
Journalism Education Association/National
Scholastic Press Association’s (JEA/NSPA)
Fall Convention in Philadelphia.
The award is based on this year’s first
issue, which editors think was an extremely
strong one for the paper with the stories,
overall design and photography.
“Our first issue, we had really good
coverage of the flood and our layouts were
really good and visually pleasing. Our
new nameplate helped, too, because it is so
modern and unique looking,” editor in chief
Ashley Lazar said.
All of the strong visual elements
helped the paper stand out from the other
publications that were competing.
“It was a pretty competitive group. I saw
some of the other papers in our category and
they were really well done. The photo essay
had a lot to do with us winning and the
variety of stories was excellent,” adviser Jim
McGonnell said.
The main reason the first issue was so
strong is because of the good work ethic of
the staff.
“The first issue, even with all the
setbacks we had with flood problems,
computers and software issues, was good
because the staff worked really hard,
especially the week it came out with some
late nights put in,” McGonnell said.
At the JEA/NSPA Spring Convention in
Anaheim, Calif. next April, the paper will
submit another issue from this school year
Youtheatre, the Arts Partnership’s
youth drama program, will bring the
story It’s a Wonderful Life to the stage as a
radio show November 30 and December 1
at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
The cast is made up of grade school
through high school students. Other
than the producer and director, the show,
including the lights and other technical
responsibilities, is run by students. Freshmen Tim Sherman and Brandon
Barfell are cast members.
“This is the first radio show I’ve ever
done, but we have a great cast who will do a
good job,” Sherman said.
It’s a Wonderful Life is the classic holiday
tale about the importance of life.
“The show will be great,” Barfell said. “It
will appeal to older people and people who
enjoy older movies like It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Tickets are $5 and are available at the
door or by contacting the Arts Partnership at
(419) 422-4624.
HATS OFF
ONLINE GENIUS BAR
DeArment wins award
Senior Danielle DeArment was
awarded excellent in video feature
story in the Journalism Education
Association’s National
Write-off Contest at
the Fall Convention in
Philadelphia. “I was
shocked. I knew my
DeArment
work was pretty good
but everyone else in the contest did
so well. The judges must have seen
something in mine,” DeArment said.
strangereports.com
Want to prank
your friends? At
strangereports.
com you can put
their name onto
a fake website
that says they
lost a big lottery
payout, have
an outstanding
arrest warrant
or some other
unlucky event.
Planning time
photo by Ashley Sottoway
Photo Editor Katie Kehres and Editor in
chief Ashley Lazar plan a page layout for
the December issue of the Blue & Gold. The
newspaper staff won their fifth Best of Show
trophy at the Philadelphia convention and has
the chance to win a sixth this April in Anaheim.
for the opportunity to win its sixth Best of
Show trophy.
“We’re hoping to do just as well there.
We’ll try to have strong and creative layouts
and photos. It’s really important because
that’s what you see first when you open the
paper,” Lazar said.
things that make you look smart today
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins, 3-0, in the lowest scoring NFL
game since 1983.
McDonald’s sells more than 1/3 of all the french fries sold in the United
States each year.
The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza is 84 ft. tall and 48 ft. around
at the base. The star on top has 24,000 Swarovski crystals.
Verizon Wireless announced that they will now allow their customers to
use any brand of phone with their network.
A 17-year-old Michigan boy tried to sneak back into his home on Thanksgiving
through the chimney, but unfortunately, he got stuck in the middle.
www.google.com/images (fair use)
QUOTE ME
EDITORIAL
page 2
“I hate study hall now because the principals pretty much told us the only thing
we were allowed to do without asking permission is breathe.”
Friday, November 30, 2007
Senior Jared Laureano
how we see it
RiverPlace is positive
addition to community
Plans for RiverPlace came at just the right time,
several weeks after the flood just when the city needed
something positive, constructive and progressive.
This development will provide facilities that the
community is lacking, and create a better location for
existing and new businesses.
One of these facilities is the 40,000 sq. ft. performing
arts center. None of the local schools have an adequately
sized space for performing arts, and having a bigger one
will allow productions of a larger scale to be performed
with more seating capacity.
This gives high school students who participate in
concerts and the musical a chance to perform in front
of a larger audience and make the entire community
welcome at their shows.
High school students will not be the only ones
benefiting from these new facilities, RiverPlace will
draw more students to the University of Findlay (UF) by
providing nicer dormitories and apartment housing.
Since schools are often a representation of the city
they call home, it is important that UF maintains a
strong reputation with a high enrollment.
Some protestors of the plan claim that the August
flooding was caused by over-development of the
downtown area, so building an expensive Towne Center
in a flood plain will only worsen the situation.
However, the project planners guarantee that the new
development will remain neutral, neither increasing nor
decreasing flooding.
Furthermore, the site plan will be approved by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers before construction begins.
It is unreasonable to have objections to RiverPlace,
for it has no effect on flooding and can be built at no cost
to taxpayers.
With the Towne Center being beneficiary to all
community members, the only question that should be
raised, is why no one did this sooner.
Administration shows trust in hardworking students
n
By Emily Rivest
Juniors and seniors now have the
privilege of leaving school for one period
a day during a study hall, as long as they
have a 3.25 GPA.
This is a well-deserved reward for the
hardest working students who should be
allowed to have a break during the day.
The administration has always been
strict, especially recently with the new
study hall and library rules, so letting
students leave is an unexpected, yet good,
change in policy.
At a school where the students are not
trusted enough to whisper in study halls,
academically, that hard work can bring
unexpected privileges.
If they see that other students who earn
good grades get to spend 40 minutes of
their day doing whatever they want, it will
motivate them to do the same.
Many students flock to the library each
day in attempts to escape the cafeteria.
However, most of these students do not
come to study, but simply wish to spend
their study hall somewhere other than the
cafeteria.
Now, these students will be able to
leave and the library can be reserved for
those who wish to spend their time there
with academic interests
in mind
Not only will this act
as a reward for highachieving students, it
will be an incentive
to encourage others
to work towards
that goal.
Blue & Gold is a
monthly student
publication for the
students of Findlay
High School. Blue &
Gold is a public forum
which is funded by
advertising.
Letters to the editor
As an open forum for
students, letters to the
editor are welcomed
by the staff, but we
request that they be
300 words or less due
to lack of space. All
letters must be signed.
Blue & Gold staff
reserves the right to
edit letters without
changing the meaning.
Letters may be dropped
off in room 273.
Staff editorials
All editorials without
a byline reflect at least
two/thirds opinion of
the Blue & Gold staff
but are not necessarily the opinion of the
administration.
Contact us
Blue & Gold
1200 Broad Avenue
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 427-5474
About us
Blue & Gold is a
member of the
Columbia Scholastic
Press Association, the
National Scholastic
Press Association,
Quill & Scroll, the
Great Lakes
Interscholastic Press
Association, and the
Northeast Ohio
Scholastic Press
Association.
The staff
Ashley Lazar
Editor in Chief
Emily Rivest
News editor
ranting from
rivest
Ashley Sottoway
Sports editor
Katie Kehres
Photo editor
Matt Young
Advertising editor
letters to the
editor
Lazy students get too
many second chances
Dear Editor,
High school is supposed to prepare us
for the future, right? Then why are we given
so many second chances? I understand
some people cannot grasp concepts as well
as others, so I will leave the core classes out
and just talk about gym and communications.
In the “real world” if you were to get a
job and mess up there is almost no doubt
you will be fired. Then why is it that students can go through high school and are
able to take a class over and over?
All you have to do to pass a gym class
“If they have tennants
that will live in the
apartments, it will be
better than just having
empty land because it
will make money .”
Sophomore
Jake Sigler
the administration is showing incredible
faith in the upperclassmen that are allowed
to leave.
Often in our community, teenagers get
a bad reputation as trouble makers who
should not be trusted, no matter what that
individual teen is like.
By letting kids get out of a study hall,
the administration is showing that trust
can be earned by proving that you are a
trustworthy and responsible student. One
of the best ways to do this is by having
good grades.
This new policy shows other students,
who might not be achieving as much
Staff policy
is dress and participate. They don’t have to
be the super star player or even be good; all
they have to do is try. Yet, some do not even
do that much. Is the school teaching us to
be lazy?
I understand some are scared of speaking in public and I am one of those people.
But unfortunately, most jobs involve some
type of oral presentation. Even so, most
of the students that are retaking all these
classes are not the ones that are scared and
unable to speak, but those that chose not to
do anything.
A student has at least eight opportunities to pass a gym throughout their high
school career and for communications they
have at least four, not including summer
school. I am not saying eliminate all second
chances. But, it should be put intp consid-
eration the idea of limiting them. We won’t
always get these chances in the future so
don’t get used to them.
Junior Joanna Dunten
Study hall rules unfair
Dear Editor,
Last year we were given more freedom
during study hall. We could sit with our
friends, talk and eat. Maybe that was giving
us too much freedom.
I personally think not.
I had been getting help everyday with
my math from some of the kids in my class.
I appreciated hat my teacher allowed me to
do that. I did notice some kids around being
loud and even distracting.
After the first grading period Mr. Kupferberg came into my study hall and told us
the rules were going to change. From now
on our feet were to be under our desks at
all times and we could not do anything but
read, sleep and breathe. I felt like I was getting totally controlled. I felt degraded, as if I
didn’t matter.
Where does anyone come in having the
right to say I am not allowed to move? I did
not like that due to everyone else’s immaturity I had to pay. So I wonder why do I have
to pay for everyone else’s actions? How
is this anything like the real world? What
does this teach me? I don’t appreciate being
controlled and do not like that I have lost all
of my studying privileges in STUDY hall.
Sincerely,
Junior Alyssa Marshall
Megan Hayley
Alisha Riley
Ariel Waldman
Lynn Young
Photographers
Molly Corbin
Rich Costello
Hannah Nelson
Chelsea Sherman
Marc Wadsworth
Reporters
Brier Sterling
Artist
Jim McGonnell
Adviser
For the record
What do you
think of the
plans for the
new RiverPlace
being built at
the Brandman
Tire Dump and
Swale Park?
“It will bring economic
benefits to the city,
draw new students to
the university and help
clean up the tire dump.”
Senior
Phillip Runion
“It will be good for the
community because
it will give us more
things to do and more
places to go.”
Senior Elly Sankovich
Love it
Loathe It
“The money should be
spent in figuring out
the flood problem
instead of possibly
adding to the current
problem.”
Teacher Laura Julien
“There’s a lot of other
things in Findlay that
needs done, before a
$90 million building
project is built.”
Senior Elliot Olsen
“It’s not a good idea
because it isn’t
necessary. It is a
waste of space
and money.”
Sophomore
Courtney Lowery
QUOTE ME
“My favorite Christmas movie ever is Home Alone. It’s an all-around classic that never
gets old. You can watch it over and over without getting sick of it.”
Junior Adam Bachorik
Awake
Idol star’s first album
Tonight marks the release of the
psychological thriller Awake,
starring Hayden Christensen as
a man undergoing open heart
surgery. Unfortunately, he is not
given enough anesthesia and
remains awake and alert, though
paralyzed, thoughout the ordeal.
American Idol star Blake Lewis
releases his highly aniticpated
debut album Audio Day Dream
this Tuesday. The first single,
Break Anotha, has already
broken onto the Billboard Pop
100 chart at number 85.
Christensen
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, November 30, 2007
page 3
It’s a Trap
The makers of 40 Year Old Virgin
and Knocked Up score again with
the teen comedy Superbad. The
movie, about two high school
seniors preparing for graduation,
was a hit in theaters and comes
out in a two-disc special edition
this Tuesday.
Rev luti n
Apple leads the way again
with new touch screen ipods
The new
iPod nano
When the Beatles sang “Its
gonna be a revolution,” little did
they know Apple Inc. would
capitalize on the notion that there
was going to be a revolution… an
iPod revolution.
Apple began making devices
that could put thousands of songs
in to the palm of your hand.
Taking this a step further,
they are releasing two touch
screen products. The iPod touch
with a three and a half inch screen
and the iPhone, a cellular phone and
multitasking device, Apple is also
producing a new iPod nano, giving
the tiny device video capability.
“Having the old iPod nano was
great, I was happy that I could
do all the things I could with
it,” freshmen Jack Heminger
said. “But the new iPod touch
screen has loads of
new features and
you just can’t
compare it to any
of the old iPods.”
Some changes
to the new iPods
are lower prices,
larger screens,
new styling cues
and more space
to store music
and video.
The iPod nano has
been reshaped into a
square and the device
can now store and
play video on a two
inch screen. It is sold in
four and eight gigabyte
models, retailing from
$149 to $199.
The iPhone has a three
and a half inch touch screen
and is perfect for multitasking
as it can access the internet, send
emails and has other features that
were before unheard of on a cellular
phone. It is available with phone service
from AT&T, costs $399 and stores eight
gigabytes of media.
Touch screens also make an appearance
in the new iPod touch, which has all the
same features as the iPhone, minus the
cellular phone ability.
“The only thing that can be viewed as
bad about the touch screens is that it is easy
to hit the wrong button if your fingers are to
big,” Heminger said.
For those who still want style and
function without any extras or hefty price
tags, the tiny, screenless iPod shuffle is a
perfect match. It has a one gigabyte
capacity, new color options and a cool $75
price tag.
For those who are still loyal to their
iPod classic, it returns with a sleeker look
and from 80 to 160 gigabytes of memory,
retailing from $249 and $349.
Students review favorite new albums
As a guide to their taste in music, we asked each participant to pick out:
9
First pop song you memorized and can still perfectly recite every word.
Popular band or musician you find revolting and would not listen to for love or money.
Senior Jon Calmus
Freshman John Sissor
9
9

L
Burning Down the House by Talking Heads
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
by Neutral Milk Hotel
Carrie Underwood

L
My favorite CD is DeadlineSplit. The bands Leftover-Crack
and Citizen Fish each supplied
seven songs for album. It is one
of the few new punk CD’s to
have a political and message.
Calmus
Leftover-Crack features
amazing bass lines on nearly every track, while
Citizen Fish incorporates several horns.
This album helps bring punk back to the “inyour-face” attitude it was born with.
Blue (Daba Dee) by Eiffel 65
Recovering the Satellites by Counting Crows
Plain White T’s
My favorite CD at the moment is Fall Out
Boy’s Infinity on High (Deluxe
Limited Edition). I never liked their
older songs but when I got their
newer CD in March, I didn’t stop
listening to it until June. Their old
CD was obnoxious, but I like their
Sissor
new, smoother style.
The bonus songs are pretty good and they have
three songs that they performed live. I’m starting
to think they sound better live than on CD.
Junior Morgan Naugle
Sophomore Mark Wadsworth
9
9

L
Stop! by Spice Girls
L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani
Nelly Furtado

L
A new CD I love is The Spice
Girls Greatest Hits.
I love this CD because the
Spice Girls is pretty much my
favorite music group of all
time, and their music is always
fun to listen and dance
Naugle
around to.
They finally got back together as a group and
I’m so excited. This CD is a great choice for skating
practice, or just to blare in your car with friends.
Call on Me by Eric Prydz
Waters of Nazareth by Justice
Britney Spears
Don’t know what to ask for this year?
We compiled some of the
best new gadgets,
games and accessories
n By Alisha Riley
Sudoku Rubiks Cube
$9.99
Rock Band video game
$59.99 - $159.99
Senior Matt Duncan tells Santa
what he wants for Christmas.
Ex-Sensitive, singer/
songwriter Ben Jelen’s
second CD, is a wonderfully
sensitive album dripping
with feeling and depth.
The central theme of
Ex-Sensitive is the state of
the world and the effects of
people’s individual choices
on it. The music is a blend of
an older classic approach and
Jelen’s own unique style.
Ex-Sensitive begins with
the meditative call of an
Jelen
Indian instrument, a tribute to
the time Jelen spent learning in India to get ideas
for his album.
Pulse is a beautiful track about humanity
coming together as one, while Vulnerable is a
confessional ballad about Jelen’s struggle with
drug addiction.
Highly inspirational and creative, Ex-Sensitive
is an incredible contribution to the music world.
Download This: Where Do We Go
Drummer steps up to mike
Lately I have really enjoyed
listening to the album 5 Score
or 7 More by Relient K. It’s
different from their usual style.
The lyrics are better and
more advanced, and so are the
beats and music styles.
Wadsworth
What I like most about
the album is that every song on it has a powerful
meaning behind it, whether it is just a simple
lesson or an important life lesson.
Christmas List
photo by Katie Kehres
Jelen’s lastest CD
full of emotion
n By Chelsea Sherman
Album that most occupied your CD player last year.
L
“The
classic is
my favorite
iPod because
it holds so many
songs,” sophomore
Paige Madden said.
The release of these
products means holiday sales this
year will break previous records.
For the holidays, Apple is planning
on making record sales with the newly
styled iPods and the iPhone.
With this new assortment of iPods, Apple
ensures that every customer will find their
perfect match and help them get the most
out of their music.
n By Ashley Lazar
Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie steps
out from the drum kit and up to the mike in the
debut album Southern Weather by his side-project
band The Almost.
Southern Weather gives listeners a chance to
hear from the more melodic side of Gillespie,
as he sings songs full of raw emotion in a style
distinctively softer than that of Underoath.
The tracks have an enjoyably widespread
iTunes and Gas giftcards $15 and up
Pirates of the Caribbean:
At World’s End - $29.99
Bath & Body Beauty Bakery
$29.99
C.O. Bigelow Barber
Perfect Shave Kit
$42.50
www.google.com/images (fair use)
sound, ranging from the rock anthem title track
Southern Weather to the Amazing Grace-based song
Amazing, Because It Is, complete with
choir accompaniment.
Other tracks such as Dirty and Left Out, a
duet with former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman
Jeremy Enigk send a spiritual message to listeners
and show off the musicians’ acoustic talents.
Gillespie’s latest project allows for a wider
fan base with songs that address a broad range
of topics and a more melodic style, so be sure to
check out Southern Weather, in stores now.
Download this: Dirty and Left Out
Dirty, Sexy adds drama,
comedy to Wednesdays
n By Ashley Lazar
Not many television shows are able to blend
a mix of murder, money and love affairs into an
amusingly dramatic story.
However, Dirty Sexy Money, on ABC, happens
to be one of the shows that takes these somewhat
shallow topics and spins them into an
addictive story.
Viewers follow an attorney (Peter Krause)
after the sudden and mysterious death of his
father, who worked for the Darlings, one of the
richest families in New York.
While Krause takes over his father’s clients
with the intention of investigating his death, he
finds himself becoming increasingly wrapped up
in the family members’ personal lives.
While helping them out with both their legal
and illegal affairs, Krause begins to meet his goal
of gaining more information about his father’s
death. However, his life and the people he cares
about become affected by the Darlings.
Tune in Wednesdays at 10 p.m. to catch up on
the latest drama, tragedy and humor occurring in
this dark comedy.
Kodak M853 Camera
$149.95
Polaroid Digital Frame
$161.99
iPod Jaket
$9.99 - $31.99
Personalized
Converse Shoes
$60-$75
Taboo game
$22.99
www.google.com/images (fair use)
n By Rich Costello
The Goo Goo Dolls:
Greatest Hits, Volume I
$8.82
QUOTE ME
NEWS/FEATURE
page 4
“Donating to charities is a really good thing to do because they help people
who really need to be helped or help improve other people’s lives.”
Senior Devin Orpurt
Friday, November 30, 2007
FFE, VIP offer dinner show
n By Hannah Nelson
Findlay First Edition’s (FFE) Holiday
Dinner Show will be December 15.
There will be a matinee at 4 p.m., a
chicken dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a
dinner show at 7 p.m.
“The Holiday Dinner is a fun chance for
them to perform for their friends and family
and spread some holiday cheer at the same
time,” director Kevin Manley said.
FFE will perform several numbers along
with a few from the freshman show choir,
Voices in Perfection (VIP).
“Everyone will see the fun side to our
group when we perform our Christmas
numbers; it will be a really fun night,”
junior Bithia Ratnasamy said.
Choirs perform concert
n By Emily Rivest
Freshman, Concert and Symphonic
Choirs will perform in the annual Holiday
Choir Concert on December 18 at 7:30 p.m.
in R.L. Heminger Auditorium.
During the concert, all three of the
groups will be onstage at the same time
while each choir sings their own traditional
Christmas music.
“We try to do a lot of songs that the
audience will know. People like to hear
that traditional music,” choir director Kevin
Manley said.
In addition to the separate music, the
choirs will sing a few combined numbers,
including the Hallelujah Chorus.
“I love when we all sing together,
especially in the Hallelujah Chorus because
the audience stands up and it’s such a
special song with lots of tradition,” senior
Cassie Scherger said.
Friedmeyer places third
n By Emily Rivest
Senior Erika Friedmeyer won third
place in the original oratory category at
the Liberty-Benton Speech and Debate
Tournament November 17.
To do well, Freidmeyer practices by
practicing her speech once or twice a night.
“I have a lot of experience in this and
I practice a lot. It’s one of those activities
where it all depends on how much you
practice,” she said.
Before districts in February, the team,
with only two returning players, will
compete at Wauseon, December 15.
“Hopefully, it’ll go well. Wauseon is
a bigger and harder tournament. Even
though our team is so young, they’re all
very talented, so I expect we’ll do well”
Friedmeyer said.
Challenge Day changes lives
n By Emily Rivest
For sophomore Nick Taylor,
Challenge Day permanently changed
his views on other students and his
relationships with them.
It helped him to realize not only how
fortunate he is, but also how he has a
closer connection to other students than
he thought before.
“Everybody has problems and you’re
not the only one who has tough stuff
going on,” Taylor said. “But it made me
realize how lucky I am compared to other
people whose parents might be divorced
or even dead.
“It had a big impact on me and
helped me to learn not to judge others on
their appearance or what I thought their
attitude was like. There’s so much more
to people than meets the eye.”
Most participants felt the same as
Taylor, so to have a greater impact,
Challenge Day was expanded from one
day with 100 students to four days of
about 450 students. Students in health
classes or chosen by teachers from each
grade level are participating in this year’s
Challenge Days.
“Challenge Day is hard to describe,
because it leaves such a great impact on
the people that are involved,” Principal
Kelly Legg said, “Challenge Day founder
Yvonne St. John Dutra believes that
separation, isolation and loneliness
are the root causes of a wide range of
harmful teen issues such as teasing,
bullying, stereotyping and violence.
“We all need to be more
understanding and patient with each
other. All of us have similarities and we
can all get along if we try.”
By helping students be more
connected, Challenge Day can reduce
teen problems like teasing and violence.
After Challenge Day was held for
three consecutive years, the Natrona
County School District in Casper,
Wyo. saw suspension rates fall almost
Seven students will perform in the
Ohio Music Education Association District
III Honors Festival on January 20 at the
Veteran’s Memorial Civic and Convention
Center in Lima.
Seniors Chris Anderson, Kitanya
Murray, Samantha Searls and freshman
Emily Lentz will play in the band. Searls
will also be the first chair clarinet.
Senior Ashton Wingate will play in
the jazz band while sophomores Rachel
Rustemeyer and Anna Sankovitch will sing
in the choir.
“It’s such an honor to be chosen out
of so many people. The festival will be
exciting because everyone from all the
different schools will come together to
perform,” Sankovitch said.
Band and choir students from high
schools in eight counties auditioned to be a
part of the group.
Challenge Day
Leader Justin
Trahant addresses
the participants
during introductions
Tuesday. Challenge
Day tries to decrease
violence and bullying
by helping students
feel better connected
to each other.
photo by
Katie Kehres
75 percent. At Bret Harte High School
in Angels Camp, Calif., 78 percent less
students reported feeling unsafe after
Challenge Day compared to before.
Along with feeling more connected
to other students, participants learn to
accept diversity, which also helps to reduce
teenage issues such as bullying.
“Challenge Day helped me become more
accepting of diversity in our school and
more social when it comes to meeting new
people,” junior Grant Gannon said.
Through a carefully designed series of
group discussions, icebreakers and trustbuilding exercises, participants learn how
to break down the walls of separation
and create new levels of respect for peers,
teachers, parents and themselves. Legg says the main focus of Challenge
Day is to “help its participants learn
that everyone, no matter how different
they seem, experience the same sort of
difficulties in life.”
“One thing it did
was open my eyes
to what everyone
around me was
going through.
“It really made
me think and
want to treat
people with more
respect.
Sophomore
Mariah Stockard
Sophomore
Mikey Hoover
Senior Sarah Poehler and sophomore Zach Fornof get to know each
other during Wednesday’s morning session. From Tuesday through
today about 450 students participated in Challenge Day activities.
“Don’t be
judgemental. Get
to know a person
because you
really have no
idea about them.
“I realized that
you have to know
yourself before
you can judge
other people.
Sophomore
Eddie Treft
Sophomore
Carrie Lammers
Helping with charities perfect way to aid others
n By Chelsea Sherman
With the holiday rush of buying
presents, decorating the house and
finding the perfect tree, you might forget
about getting into the real Christmas
spirit and giving to others.
There are lots of ways to give during
the season, including helping with charity
work. Many charities do special things
during the holidays, and they always
welcome volunteers who want to help.
Coats for Christmas is one charity
that can use donations and help but
the deadline to give any coats is today,
November 30.
City Dry Cleaning, in conjunction
with Hancock Leadership, receives gently
used coats from residents in the area,
cleans them and the coats get distributed
to people around the area who need them.
Paul Kramer, the owner of City Dry
Cleaning, and his wife came up with the
idea for Coats for Christmas 20 years ago.
“It’s our way of saying thank you to the
community,” Kramer said. “We’ve been
delighted to be a part of the program.”
It takes place December 8 from 9 a.m. to
10 p.m. and December 9 from 1 to 3 p.m at
Washington Intermediate School.
City Mission is putting on an event
called Jesus’ Birthday Party that will be
held at St. Andrews Church December
8. Employees and volunteers have given
out presents and cake to the less fortunate
members of the community during this
event for the past 50 years.
“It’s a special event celebrating the
birth of Christ,” City Mission director Jim
happy holidays from...
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New DVD Releases
The Simpsons Movie
Underdog
Superbad
Arctic Tale
photo by Katie Kehres
Buddy chat
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What did you learn from Challenge Day?
Festival honors musicians
n By Emily Rivest
Challenge Day
Davison said. “I hope lots of people come
and have a great time!”
The youth group from St. Andrews helps
with the party. They buy and wrap gifts to
be given to needy children.
“We go as a group and get presents for
the kids,” sophomore Lexie Gary said. “It
feels good to help someone less fortunate.”
The Salvation Army is sponsoring a
holiday canned food drive. Schools in the
county are collecting food and workers at
Marathon pick it up. Then it is distributed
to families experiencing financial difficulty.
Salvation Army officer Sue Davies said
last year this program helped 1,129 people
who were in need and they hope it will be
just as successful this year.
Students can volunteer with these
activities by calling any of the organizations.
BG
LIST
n Coats for
Christmas
(419)422-3313
n Salvation Army
(419)422-8238
n City Mission
(419)423-9151
n Toys for Tots
(419)387-7263
n United Way
(419)423-1432
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QUOTE ME
FEATURE
“Admissions essays are a pain because it is already enough stress having to apply
to the colleges without the pressure of having to write a good essay. ”
Friday, November 30, 2007
Senior Kitanya Murray
page 5
2AToday staff creates
interactive yearbook
n
By Chelsea Sherman
Looking back on your school year
usually consists of flipping through the
pages of a yearbook, but this year you may
be watching it on your own TV.
The staff of 2aToday is putting together a
video yearbook for the first time.
The video yearbook will include a
combination of video footage, original music
videos, stories and photos. It will be on DVD
and the menu will be divided into sections
including events, student life and sports.
Adviser Jim McGonnell got the idea for
a video yearbook when he judged a contest
for the Florida Scholastic Press Association.
“I saw two different video yearbooks,”
McGonnell said. “I showed the 2aToday
producers and they liked the idea and it’s
just taken off from there.”
The video yearbook staff includes
students from each class. They will
videotape and take pictures of the different
clubs and events throughout the year.
“It’s a lot like a regular yearbook,” staff
member Rebekah Jones said. “But it will be
interactive and will capture personalities so
the memories will be more vivid.”
The staff is going to include interesting
features to make the yearbook interactive.
“There will be a lot of interactive
elements in the video yearbook,” producer
Danielle DeArment said. “We are going
to have music videos with highlights from
events during the year, as well as senior
pictures you can add video too.”
Seniors will have the option to make
their pictures interactive with a 10 second
video or audio clip, a farewell or shout-out
to their friends and teachers.
Ads will also be available for seniors.
“Parents can submit baby pictures
and include shout-outs. We might go to
the parents’ homes and interview them,”
producer Keirsten Smith said. “We can also
use pictures parents have and combine that
with footage to make really cool ads.”
The goal of the senior pictures and
parent ads is to raise money to fund the
video yearbook.
Other fundraisers for the video yearbook
may include a battle-of-the-bands concert
and a Film Fest.
“We hope to have a couple events
in the winter and spring that will be
competitions,” McGonnell said. “We want to
include the winners work in the yearbook,
along with some other prizes.”
The yearbook will be put together by
NCompass Media, a professional video
yearbook company.
“Our main goal is to offer something
new for students to remember their high
school years by,” DeArment said. “Video
yearbooks are sweeping the nation, and we
want our school to be involved.”
NCompass Media’s Jake Palenske is
coming from Dallas tomorrow, December 1,
to help teach the staff about making a video
yearbook. He will teach them storytelling
ideas, techniques for filming footage and
using the computer editing program.
“Jake is experienced in this field and his
company’s other video yearbooks have won
lots of national awards,” DeArment said.
“We’re hoping he’ll be able to help us to
make a product that everyone will enjoy.”
tie Kehres
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Seniors begin college selection, admissions process
Campus visit important in final choice
n
By Hannah Nelson
When choosing a college just right for
you, knowing some simple tips can help the
process go much easier.
There are many choices. Close or far
from home? Big or small campus? What to
major in?
“You need to look at many different
colleges and try to keep an open mind when
narrowing down your options,” guidance
counselor Mary Burget said.
On a broad horizon you need to look for
things that match your personality, interests
and lifestyle.
Think about the things you want
personally in a college such as, size,
religious affiliation, setting, distance from
home and type of city it’s located in.
“It’s important to know exactly what
you’re looking for when you do your college
visits and look at all the details on each
campus,” Burget said.
When doing college visits there are a few
key things to look for as well.
“Look at the program you want to major
in very closely, talk to professors as well
as students,” Burget said. “Ask if most
students from that program usually find jobs
quickly after graduating
“Walk the campus to make sure it’s
comfortable, eat cafeteria food, check out
the dorms, see activities and look at the
living space.”
You also need to make sure whatever
Essay could be key to acceptance
n
school you choose has a highly rated
department for whatever major you have
selected to go into.
“I am looking for a strong ballet program
and a campus with a variety of areas to
study,” Senior Kristen Marincic said. “I also
like a smaller campus that still provides
diverse opportunities for me to learn.”
How much you apply yourself in high
school affects what college you are able to
get accepted to.
“Take the right classes to prepare
yourself with college prep curriculum so
that when you get there, you’ll know what
you’re doing,” Burget said. “You can also
take AP or other higher level classes to be
exempt from taking them in college, which
will save time and money.”
However, admissions officers look at a
lot more then just your grades.
“A college loves to see that you’ve taken
leadership positions. They like to know
you’ve taken initiative in other ways then
strictly academics,” Carol Caley Huntington
University Indiana admissions officer said.
Overall, having a well-rounded mixture
of leadership positions, extra-curricular
activities and good grades will boost your
chances of getting accepted.
“They want to know that you can
enhance their campus. That you are an asset
to their community. So having impressive
grades and talents will boost your chances
of getting in to a good college,” Caley said.
By Megan Haley
In the final year of high school, seniors feel
some relief that the end is near.
But looming over their shoulders is the
college selection process. The stress of picking
the right school for them, which includes the
dreaded admissions essay.
While some seniors see this as no problem,
others think this could make or break their
chances of being admitted.
“We are told that the essay is not a deal
breaker, but that’s what it feels like when you
start writing it,” Senior Kayla Maroney said.
“It’s the only part of applying where you can
really express yourself and show that you are
different from other applicants.”
While not all colleges require an essay,
some give a choice to write one.
“If there is a choice, put time into an
essay,” Counselor Ray Elbin said. “If the
school is your number one choice then they
need to know that.
“Let them know you want to be on the
campus, and that will impress them.”
Colleges that require an essay are looking
for some way to see how you stand out. They
are also looking for a reason why they want
you as part of their student body.
They are looking for some way to admit
you, some way you stand out,” Elbin said.
“They are looking for different experiences,
the way you think and the way you write.”
Requirements for the essays are different
by college, although the idea is the same
“Mostly they had to be a certain number
of pages or a certain number of words. They
should be free of any grammar errors and
include basic things a senior English teacher
would expect,” 2007 graduate CJ Lee said.
Some schools give several topics.
“We require a personal statement with the
school application,” University of Findlay
Admission Counselor Lisa Ingram said. “You
can write any of these three things; a personal
biography about yourself, a story about what
has made you a stronger person, or why the
University of Findlay is right for you.”
The essay should bring out your
personality and show why you are a better
candidate for the school than others.
“Don’t be afraid to sell yourself to show
why you might be better than the other
applicants,” Ingram said.
For a senior writing an essay, the hardest
part is thinking up what to write about.
“For me the hardest part was coming up
with an idea that was original. After that, the
writing was easy,” Senior Leah Todd said.
“For one of the essays, the topic was what sets
you apart from others, and I wrote about my
motivation towards my activities.”
Though grades can be important, an essay
gives a chance to show who you are as a
person and can help you get acceptanced
“The point is to look at a student as a
whole. If the grades are not great, but the
essay is convincing and persuasive, that
can get you into the school,” Ohio Northern
University Admissions Counselor Emily
Buehler said.
USELESS INFO
WHAT YOU SAY:
“My favorite thing about Christmas would have to be having my family
around. It’s the one time of year that everyone is home.
Friday, November 30, 2007
page 6
Junior Matt Rarey
My Holiday
Elizabeth
Busch
Name a strange family holiday tradition.
“We open only one gift on Christmas Eve
and we have to wait to open the rest until
morning.”
World Aids
Awareness Day
Do you travel for Christmas?
“We don’t travel for Christmas
but if we could, I would want to
spend it at Anna Marie Island,
Fla. laying on the beach.”
Bathtub
Party Day
Who’s your favorite
Christmas movie
character?
“The super elves from The
Santa Claus because they
have sweet jet packs they
can fly around the world
in, plus they get to chill with
Santa.”
Ice Cream Day
What is the best present you
ever received?
“When I was 5, on Christmas
morning I went downstairs and found
a trail of candy canes leading to my
new Barbie Jeep, that was the best gift
ever.”
Bake
Cookies Day
Look on the
Bright Side Day
If you could get anything for
Christmas what would it be?
“It would definitely have to be a
yellow Ferrari F430 Spider. That car
is absolutely so beautiful and it is my
dream car.”
Christmas!
Have you ever caught mommy
kissing Santa?
Sudoku
Puzzle
Complete the grid so every row,
column and 3x3 box contains every
digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
Top five
Signs you know it is time to take
down the Christmas tree
1. ”The trick or treaters see the lights and assume you’re home.”
2. “Your turkey and leprechaun statues seem to clash with it.”
3. ”Tinsel rust.”
4. “The room is too crowded from this year and last year’s tree.”
5. “No matter how many times you turn off the garage light your electric bill is still high.”
Janton’s Must List
Holiday quiz
How well do you know Santa Claus?
Counting down the days untill you get to
open up all your presents? Take this quiz to
find out just how well you know the man
that leaves those goodies undernieth your
Christmas tree.
6. In some countries kids leave theese out
instead of stockings.
A. Baskets
B. Shoes
C. Bags
1. How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh
every christmas eve?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
7. Who helps Santa year round making toys
for the children?
A. Elves
B. Reindeer
C. Fairies
2. Where do Santa and Mrs. Claus live?
A. North Pole
B. South Pole
C. West Pole
8. What soda is famous for using Santa
Claus on their cans?
A. Pepsi
B. Mountain Dew
C. Coca-Cola
3. When was the idea of Santa Claus
brought to the Americas?
A. 1608
B. 1784
C. 1809
4. Where did the modern day version of
Santa Claus originate?
A. The Dutch
B. The French
C. The Russians
5. What other name is Santa Claus known
as to the world?
A. St. Michael
B. St. Nicholas
C. St. Francis
Teacher Mike Janton
Favorite
Christmas Movie
A Christmas Story
“Every male baby
boomer can find a
piece of their life in
this film.”
9. In other countries Santa gives gifts on
what date?
A. December 1
B. December 23
C. December 6
10. Santa Claus travels the world in what
type of vehicle?
A. Horse and buggy
B. Sleigh
C. Mercedes Benz
1-C; 2-A; 3-C; 4-A; 5-B; 6-B; 7-A; 8-C; 9-C; 10-A
“How else do you think I make the ‘nice list’
every year?”
7-10: You’re a Christmas junky. You know
your facts about Santa Claus and the
Favorite
Christmas Book
A Christmas Carol
www.google.com/images (fair use)
holiday season.
4-6: Not too shabby. You like Christmas but
could do some research and learn a little
more about Jolly Old St. Nick.
0-3: Do you know what Christmas is? Go
find some friends of family and ask them
about Father Christmas.
Step 2
Step 3
Cut off the
extra strip on
the bottom
of the paper.
Fold over one
corner to the
edge of the
paper.
Favorite
Christmas Present
Money
“I teach economics,
need I say more?”
How to make paper snowflakes
Step 1
“I like this story
because it is the story
of redemtion which is
what Christmas is all
about.”
Step 4
Fold in half
forming a
rectangle.
Now you should
have a square
piece of paper.
Favorite
Christmas Memory
Picking up my
grandmother at
the old Union
Station in
Columbus, Ohio
“I like the nostalgia
of a now long gone
landmark and time.”
Step 5
Fold in half then
again in fourths
to make a
smaller square.
Step 6
Then in half one
last time to make
a triangle.
Step 7
Sketch the
pattern shown on
the right to get
the snowman.
Step 8
Cut out design
and unfold the
paper to reveal
your snowflake.
Favorite
Christmas Song
Carol of the Bells
“I love the power the
song has.”
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A lot of small slices,
a lot of big taste!
1905 Tiffin Avenue • Findlay, OH • (419) 422-0070
QUOTE ME
DIETING
“To avoid gaining extra weight during the holidays try to exercies daily and limit the
amount of fatty food that you eat.”
Friday, November 30, 2007
Junior Kali Malloy
page 7
Holiday healthy eating guide
4
5
6
1
7
2
8
3
9
How to avoid gaining weight
during the Christmas season
n
Bring your own healthy dish. If you are weary
that there will be any low-fat selections at a
gathering, you can always bring a healthy dish to
share. A large tossed salad or steamed vegetables
are always a good choice.
By Ashley Lazar
Cold weather and mistletoe can only mean one
thing: the holiday season has arrived, bringing along
the seemingly endless string of celebrations, where
you can be sure to find an array of hi-calorie foods.
A study published in the New Journal of Medicine found that on average, people gain between
three and five pounds between Thanksgiving and
New Years from overindulging during the festivities.
If you don’t want to be the one loosening your
belt at the end of dinner, follow our holiday eating
guide to learn how to enjoy the holiday parties without packing on the pounds.
Don’t socialize by the buffet table. Chatting with
your cousins right by the food makes it more likely
that you will keep filling your plate. Instead, opt to
move the conversation into another, food-free room.
Watch the appetizers. These warm,
bite-sized treats are often the most
calorie-packed items on the menu.
For those who must snack before
their meal, go for the veggie platter
over the cheese and crackers. And
if you can’t resist, go for the harder
white cheese slices over the hi-fat
cheese ball or cubes of cheddar.
Don’t go to parties starving. Plan ahead
and eat a small meal about an hour before
the event starts. This will prevent you from
stuffing your face with everything in sight,
while still allowing you to enjoy a small bit
of party food.
Remember, darker is better. Creamy, white
sauces contain more fat than darker, thinner ones.
If you’re looking for an after dinner drink, coffee or
water are better options than eggnog or soda.
Beware of liquid calories in your drink. Regular
soda, eggnog and sugar-filled punch all contain
large amounts of calories. Healthier options
include diet soda, seltzer water with a splash of
fruit juice or even plain old tap water.
Don’t be unrealistic. Trying to hold off on any
desserts will just lead you to desperation, and
eventually eating a whole pie. Allow yourself
some indulgence, after all, it is the holidays.
Pick one item to splurge. If you know your
grandma’s famous pumpkin pie will be at
the dessert table, chose healthy options for
your entrée. This enables you to still enjoy
your favorite food while not consuming
large amounts of calories.
Use your spare time to burn extra calories.
You can always fire up the treadmill if you
overdo it at family Christmas parties. Even a
quick 15 minute jog can burn 150 calories.
Optifast program helps shed pounds
n
By Chelsea Sherman
For senior Alena Miller, being
overweight was a serious problem that
negatively affected her life and hindered her
from doing her best in her activities.
“Being overweight can affect your
everyday life,” Miller said. “I slacked on
things I knew I was good at, like school, and
it ultimately affected my grades.”
Miller tried a different diet program her
freshman year, but it was not successful.
Her weight loss was minimal, even after she
had completed the program.
“OPTIFAST worked for me because it’s
based on accountability,” Miller said. “I am
a very competitive person, and I knew I
didn’t want to fail so I stuck to it.”
The OPTIFAST diet helped her lose 80
pounds over six months and gave her the
positive encouragement to keep it off.
“I am very pleased with my results,”
Miller said. “I found a program that helped
me lose weight even with my busy lifestyle.
“I truly feel it has had a positive impact
on my life because of how much weight it’s
helped me lose.”
The diet works by completely replacing
the person’s meals for the first 12 weeks
of the diet and requiring weekly medical
monitoring to check the person’s progress.
The person is weighed each week to see
how well the program is working.
“OPTIFAST is so successful because it
eliminates the stress of having to make food
choices,” Bariatric Center physician Dr.
Catherine Carrigan said.
The meal-replacement product is low in
fats, carbohydrates and calories and high in
nutrients. People on the diet also drink 64
ounces of water everyday.
Carrigan said OPTIFAST works
differently than regular diets because it
causes you to step back from the foods in
your environment and re-evaluate them.
Miller said that although she was
successful through OPTIFAST, she will not
continue to rely on it for more weight loss.
“It was a great start to my change but I
can’t rely on the product for the rest of my
life. I have to use the lessons I’ve learned to
finish what I have started,” she said.
During the program the dietician
instructs you how to eat properly after
the first 12 weeks are over. The focus is on
eating whole foods that are low in fat and
avoiding sugar and refined sweets. The
program also stresses exercise, because it
takes a lot of activity to keep the weight off.
“After the initial 12 weeks, you start
with a clean slate,” Carrigan said. “You
have a different relationship with food and
it’s easier to make good decisions.”
The average weight loss for people on
OPTIFAST is 47 pounds. Carrigan said
knowing they’ve already lost so much helps
people keep the weight off.
“Obesity is as much a disease as
alcoholism,” Miller said. “I want teenagers
to realize in order to have a productive life
you have to make these years worth it and
change your lifestyle for the better.
“You may think being overweight
doesn’t affect everyday life but it does, so
make important decisions now because it
gets harder as you let it gets out of hand.”
To go on the OPTIFAST diet you have to
be considered obese with a body mass index
of greater than 30. If you are interested
in the program, there are informational
sessions at Bariatric Solutions or you can
call (419) 429-7901.
Portion control prevents
seasonal weight gain
n
By Ashley Lazar
In case the holiday season has already
caught up with you and those jeans are
feeling a little snug, here’s some tips to lose
five lbs. the quick and healthy way.
Do the math. There are 3500 calories in
one pound, which adds up to 17,500 in five
lbs. This may seem like a lot, but if you cut
out 500 calories every day you will drop
those five lbs. in around a month with no
other effort.
However, cutting calories does not
mean skipping meals. In order to keep your
metabolism running it is important to eat all
three meals a day, especially breakfast.
Eating healthy in the morning gets you
in the routine of consuming nutritious foods
throughout the day, while jumpstarting
your metabolism.
“People probably gain around five or
six pounds during the last few months of
the year,” Physicians Weight Loss Center
Owner Darlene Elchert said. “To prevent
this weight gain you still have to eat three
nutritious meals each day.
“Breakfast is extremely important, it’s
best to eat one with a lot of fiber so it keeps
you full through the day.”
Adding some exercise will help you
happy holidays from...
drop the weight even faster
than dieting alone.
“Walking is a great way
to burn calories during the
holiday season,” Elchert
said. “You can go before or
after you eat, any time of the
day. Getting exercise helps
work off extra weight you may
have gained.
“It’s safe to lose up to three
or four pounds in a week, as long
as you monitor yourself and still
get the nutrition you need.”
Portion control is important in
managing how many calories you
consume, as is picking the healthiest
foods available.
“Using a smaller plate keeps you
from eating excessive portions. Load up
on the good veggies, and eat the breast
of the turkey because it has the least
amount of fat,” Elchert said. “Have
fresh fruit for dessert, and drink lots of
water throughout the day to flush out
your body.”
Following these tips will help you
bounce back from any diet-slip ups that
may have already occurred.
Come visit us at:
112 E. Sandusky St.
Findlay, OH 45840
Contact us at:
(419) 422-4193
fax (567) 525-4420
Stop in today and receive a 10% discount with this coupon!
Before - January 2007
After- October 2007
Looking Good
Senior Alena Miller lost 80 pounds doing the medically-monitored
OPTIFAST diet. The program focuses on teaching patients how to eat
correctly for the rest of their lives, with emphasis on the importance of
physical activity.
100 calorie packs latest diet fad
n
By Ashley Lazar
Diet fads come and go faster
than you can say “Supersize me”,
but companies have found a
way to make once high calorie
foods seem diet-friendly by
packaging them into portions
of 100 calories.
These packages of bitesized treats aim at letting
consumers eat their favorite
snack foods without guilt.
Some of those who
count calories rely on the
packages for portion
control, so it makes it
easier to limit how much
you eat.
“The more food
you have in front of
you, the more you
are going to eat,”
Dietician Renee
Wolford said. “The
100 calorie packs
are helpful for
people who
have problems
controlling how
much they eat.”
Others simply like
the convenience of having a snack to throw
into lunches or grab on the go, as most
popular snack foods now come in the 100
calorie variety.
“I eat the 100 calorie packs on the bus
on the way to games,” Senior Amanda
Peterman said. “It’s just the right amount of
food to give you energy without the risk of
eating too much and getting sick.”
However, what many do not consider is
that the packages do not contain
healthier versions of the food, simply
smaller portions.
“Most of the foods in the packs do
not have high levels of protein or fiber so
they will not keep you full for very long,”
Wolford said. “If you are going to snack
on cookies or chips it is wise to eat them in
controlled portions like this, but they are
not nutritious. It is best to pick something
healthier to eat.”
More nutritious choices, such as fresh
fruit, will keep you full longer and give
your body the nutrients it needs.
“When choosing a snack, look for what
your diet is lacking and eat from that
category,” Wolford said. “Most Americans
do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and
low-fat dairy products.
“The best choice would be some fresh
fruit with low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt.”
Make Stately Raven Bookstore Your
Give books as gifts this Christmas.
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Most unique in northwest Ohio.
1315 N. Main Str. • Findlay, OH • (419) 427-2814
M-Sat. 10-9, Sun. 1-6 • statelyraven.com
BGSPORTS
ock
ams
In a random
survey, 50
athletes named the
most popular music
played to get pumped
up before the big game.
Here are the results.
What’s your
pregame genre?
Rap: 40%
Techno: 20%
Rock: 14%
Heavy metal: 10%
Country: 8%
None: 6%
Alternative: 2%
IN THE EYES OF
5th GRADERS
at St. Michael’s
What should
Barry Bonds’
punishment be for
taking steroids?
“His muscles should
all be cut off and then
try to set the record.”
Peter Campbell
“He should have to
prove that he can set
records again.”
Luke Taylor
“I believe that he
didn’t know he took
steroids, but he should
not be able to hold
any records.”
Hope Taylor
“I know nothing
about Barry Bonds.
Obviously it’s just not
that important.”
Casey Peters
“I hate getting in
trouble when I didn’t
know I was doing
anything bad. He
shouldn’t be in
trouble, that’s unfair. I
know how that feels.”
Justin Ludwig
M V P
awards
Three fall sports teams
name season’s Most
Valuable Players
Soccer
Seniors Jon Bowman
and Jillian Birchmeier
Cross country
Senior Alison Leckrone
Junior Shoayb Bascal
Golf
Senior Kaitlyn VanGunten
Life without Carlee
Graduates’ legacy
sets the bar high
for current team
n Ashley Sottoway
Possibly … probably … O.K. definitely
some of the biggest shoes to fill this winter
season will be the size 11’s of 2007 Graduate
Carlee Roethlisberger, who a year ago
helped lead the girls’ basketball team to
their first state tournament appearance in
the history of the program.
Granted there were two other seniors
that were major contributers, but let’s face
the facts, it was Roethelisberger that most
people wanted to see.
“Carlee had a kind of presence on the
court that made everyone love the game of
basketball,” Coach Connie Lyon said. “She
made teammates around her better and
always kept spirits high and kept the game
fun and alive.
“Opponents knew and respected her for
her composure and talent on the floor. It’s
not something you could miss from any
aspect of the gym, whether you are a player
or a fan.”
Setting the bar high for the team the last
four years was Roethlisberger, a two-time
all-Ohio player and the high school’s alltime leading scorer with 1,612 points.
While Roethlisberger is now in
Oklahoma playing for the Sooners, the
Trojans may be tested to see whether they
can build upon past successes.
“The test is up to the experienced
upperclassman players, whether they step
up and make the younger players and
everyone around them better,” Lyon said.
“We want to see them filling the leadership
roles and creating a positive environment
where we can create success.”
In order to reach similar goals as in
previous years, the girls are choosing not
to mourn their losses of some talented and
key players, but instead continue right
where they left off.
“Our seniors last year added so much
to our team,” senior Ashley Petersen said.
“They brought a lot of talent, leadership
and many of the strengths we had as a team
came from them.
“Rather than looking at it as a loss,
we are taking hold of the legacy they left
behind and using it to help us this year and
in years to come. The statistics they brought
aren’t as important to our success so much
as the personality and leadership they left
us with.”
Learning lessons from last years’ leaders,
this season’s seniors look to provide similar
qualities in showing leadership and keeping
expectations high.
And of course, following up a state
appearance will add a bit of extra stress on
the team.
“It’s a lot of pressure coming off of a
state appearance,” senior Jonette McQueen
said. “We have to stay focused and positive
so that the whole team can pick up on that
attitude too.
“We have to be confident in our abilities
and not let the negative attention from the
newspapers and some fans get to us. If no
one wants to believe in our team, that’s fine
with us, wait for us to prove you wrong.”
Although three players have been
Girls eye conference title
n Ashley Sottoway
n Ashley Sottoway
Sport: Guys’ swimming
Swimmers to watch for: seniors Chris Price and Jeff Karhof; junior
Greg Shrader; sophomores Jonathon Sheaffer and Logan Benjamin
Returning lettermen: 3 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophomores
Team captains: Price, Karhof
Predicted league champs: Napoleon
Practice makes perfect: “We have a small group of guys this season
and a lot of them are inexperienced,” Karhof said. “In practice we
have split into blue and gold groups.
“The gold group has been working harder than ever on speed,
technique and endurance and getting ready for some tough teams.
The blue guys have been working very hard on learning the strokes
and perfecting technique.”
Toughest competition: St. Francis and St. Johns
Team goal: “We obviously want to win league and feel some of the
rewards of our hard work we put in all year,” coach Jeff Wobser
said. “We also hope to return Chris Price to the state meet and also
look to send some other swimmers and relays there too.”
Next home meet: December 3 against Lima Shawnee at 6:30 p.m.
Sport: Girls’ swimming
Swimmers to watch for: seniors Annie
Donovan, Alli Church, Amy Zelinski,
Diedra Weber; junior Jess Braddock and
sophomore Jenna Suech
Team Captains: Donovan, Church, Weber
Practice makes perfect: “We began core
training back in April and continued
through the summer and fall as well,” coach
Jeff Wobser said. “We had 62 swimmers
this year, so in practices we’ve divided into
two groups and those who have already
had experience swimming are working to
aerobically get in the best shape we can.”
Toughest competition: Lima Shawnee
Predicted league champs: Napoleon
Team Goal: “Our big focus will be the
league and districts,” Donovan said. “We
also want to be undefeated in the duals.”
Sandusky: 20
Lima Senior: 12
Pressure is on for the
winter sports with the
Wildcats close behind
the Trojans by only
four points.
EVENTS
Tonight the guys’
basketball team
plays Sandusky at
home at 7:30 p.m.,
Tonight the hockey
team will face-off
against Toledo St.
Francis, at 7 p.m. at
The Cube.
Saturday the
wrestlers host a
season preview
against Wauseon at
11 a.m. in the gym.
photo by Katie Kehres
Butterfly
State Qualifier Jenna Suech practices her butterfly in hopes to return
their 200m and 400m free relays to the state meet. Both swim teams
are working to get in the shape by practicing two times a day.
Teamwork is key for both basketball squads
n Ashley Sottoway
Findlay: 45
Marion: 22.5
8
Swimmers return eight lettermen
The race to lead the
Greater Buckeye
Conference All-Sports
standings is under
way. Here are the total
points for each team at
the conclusion of the
fall seasons.
Fremont: 27
4
Winter sports gear up for heated competition
Race is on
Napoleon: 41
subtracted from the equation, the
team still has options with several
guards and a few tall post players.
“Our girls were aware at the end
of last season that they were going
to have some big shoes to fill,” Lyon
said. “During the offseason we
really started to see some girls get
in the gym and work on their
weak areas of their game.
Numbers
“We have a lot of quickness
and athleticism in our guards,
from the
so transition is going to be
books
a key for us this year. Some
Roethlisberger’s
teams will want to slow the
statistics after the first
game down too and that’s
four games of the season
when our tall posts inside and
points,
our guards will work together.
13 Total
five baskets and
Many teams will also guard
three free throws
down heavily on our posts, and
in that case we’ve got to have
36 Minutes played
our guards ready to shoot. Our
mix of players is great, we’ve
2 Total assists
got to use it to our advantage
and capitalize on that now
2 Total blocks
against other teams that don’t
have that.”
Aside from the showcases
in the hallways of her
record-breaking achievements
Roethlisberger left behind, her
friends have many memories and
pictures to hold on to.
“It’s definitely different without
her around,” Petersen said. “Carlee
still has time to text and e-mail us
Sooner
when she’s not busy with basketball
of her own.”
2007 Graduate Carlee Roethlisberger takes a shot
“We’re all really excited to see
in one of her first games at Oklahoma. She has
so far contributed 11 total points. The team is 2-2.
her when she finally finds some
time where she has a break and can
come home! ”
photo by Katie Kehres
Perfecting technique
Senior Matt Alexander practices his takedowns against freshman Jordan Fenton to prepare for
their first match December 5. The guys are pinpointing their conditioning as a key to success.
Wrestlers open season with home invitational
n Ashley Sottoway
Sport: Wrestling
Players to watch for: seniors Ben Perrone,
Dustin Powell, Tom Miller and Matt
Alexander; juniors Gage Mathias, Wade
Arredondo, Jordan Jackson and David Sery;
sophomores Max Gladstone and Michael
Alexander
Returning letterman: three seniors, two
juniors, one sophomores
Team captain: Matt Alexander
Practice makes perfect: “We are doing a
lot of conditioning and drilling moves,”
coach Ben Kirian said. “Practices are going
well due to the wrestlers knowing what is
expected of them.”
Toughest competition: Napoleon
Predicted league champs: Napoleon
Team goal: “Our goal is reach the end of the
season and not have any regrets,” Perrone
said. “We want to do well in the league and
hopefully get some of us to qualify farther
into the tournament than in other years.”
First home meet: Trojan Dual Invitational,
Sport: Guys’ basketball
Players to watch for: juniors Luke Kraus
and Kevin Krucki
Returning letterman: two juniors
Team captain: Kraus
Predicted league champs: up for grabs
Practice makes perfect: “We work very well
as a team this year,” coach Jim Rucki said.
“We are working hard at practice, trying to
get better every day.”
Toughest competition: Lima Senior
Team goal: “It starts in practice,” junior
Luke Kraus said. “We’d like to do well in
the league and also work to make it back to
regionals, but we know we are young and
we are going to have to work at it.”
Next home game: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
against Sandusky .
n Marc Wadsworth
Team: Girls’ basketball
Returning upper classmen: Five Seniors,
Four Juniors, and Three Sophomores
Team Captains: Seniors
Practice Techniques: “Within our practices
we put our girls in game-like situations, and
focus on the fundamentals of the game,”
Coach Connie Lyon said.
Toughest competition: Anthony Wayne
Team strengths: “The experience from our
returning seniors and the bonding on the
Defense
photo by Lynn Young
Junior Luke Kraus brings the ball up the court
as junior Kevin Krucki plays defense. The
team tries to even its record at, 1-1, against
Sandusky tonight at home.
team will help us succeed,” Senior Ashley
Petersen said.
Predicted league champs: “As long as
we have a strong defense we can win the
league championship,” sophomore Kelsi
Romatouski said.
Next home game: January 10 at 7:30 p.m.
against Marion Harding
Tennis is second in GBC
Bowling Green will challenge young hockey team
n Marc Wadsworth
n Rich Costello
Team: Girls’ tennis
Overall record: 10-9
League placing: Second
League champions: Napoleon
Returning varsity players: 1 junior, 1
sophomore, and 1 freshman
A look ahead: “I hope the loss of the
Greater Buckeye Conference this year will
create more motivation to work on winning
the title next year,” second singles player,
junior Brittany Barlett said.
Off-season training: “I will dedicate my
free time to practicing at the YMCA and try
my best to get better,” Sophomore Kelsi
Wurm said.
Sport: Hockey
Players to watch for: seniors Chris Atkins,
Ben Bjorling, Mario Campos, Mike Nichols;
juniors Ryan Chance and freshmen Layne
Martin and Jo-Jo Brigadoi
Returning letterman: 3 seniors, 7 juniors
Team captains: Atkins, Bjorling and Chance;
juniors Nolyn Croy and Tyler Thines
Practice makes perfect: ”Players are young,
energetic and ready to fight for the team,”
coach Dan St. Jean said “Young players are
changing levels of play (switching from
middle school to high school) so they are
getting familiar with the high school play.”
Toughest competition: “The toughest
Keep away
photo by Katie Kehres
Senior Mario Campos keeps the puck away
from his St. Benedictine defender at the Bowling Green (BG) Holiday Tournament. The guys
finshed third at BG.
competition is one of the Toledo teams,
with a larger population than Findlay and
that is a big factor in how many guys and
the skill level of the team,” St. Jean said
“Our biggest rival has been Bowling Green
we look for a very competitive physical
game with them.”
Predicted league champs: Toledo St. Johns
Team goal: “We would like to be league
champs. To do that we need to make
rookies more comfortable so they can get
the feeling of the speed and concept of high
school play,” St. Jean said.
Next home game: Tonight at 7 p.m. against
Toledo St. Francis