spirit of the Olympics - Abington School District

abington.k12.pa.us
March 2010
Vol. LXXXIX, Issue 5
The Abingtonian
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA 19001
March 2010
In the spirit of the
Olympics?
By Esther Katro
Les Misérables
By Melissa Diamond
The recent school production of Les Misérables has been deemed one of
Abington Senior High’s best productions yet. The performances took place the
nights of Thursday the 4th, Friday the 5th, and Saturday the 6th. The success of this
year’s musical does not come solely from its teacher acclaim, which we have all
heard played over the announcements, but from its record-breaking ticket sales. For
the first time in Abington history, the musical sold out. On Saturday night, the final
performance of Les Misérables, every seat was sold about ten minutes before the
musical began. Not to say Thursday and Friday night did not also have massive
turnouts. Besides the wonderful music, there was immaculate attention to detail.
The choreography, the costumes, and even the lighting all contributed to make Les
Misérables seem completely real.
For those of you who were not among the masses of humanity that came to
watch the musical, Les Misérables is the theatrical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s
famous 1862 novel Les Misérables, meaning the miserable ones, the wretched ones,
or the poor ones in English. The musical version of Les Misérables follows the lives
of various individuals living in France between 1815, Napoleon’s final defeat at
waterloo, to shortly after the Paris Uprising of 1832. The main protagonist is an exconvict, named Jean Valjean, (played by Dan Safford), who flees from his parole and
looks for redemption throughout the remainder of the play. Valjean spends much of
the play fleeing from an ambitious and ruthless police chief, Javier (played by Tyler
Zimmerman). Next to appear on stage is Fantine (played by Maria Pfender), a factory
worker supporting her fatherless daughter Cosette, whom she keeps hidden with an
innkeeper and his wife (played by Zach Guendelsberger, and Maeve McDermott
respectively), whom she pays to raise Cossette. Later, young Cosette (Payton McGee
on the Thursday and Saturday performances; Alison Love on the Friday night
performance, both of whom are elementary school students), who is abused by the
innkeepers raising her, is saved when Jean Valjean comes to adopt her. The innkeepers themselves, two outrageously greedy and crass individuals, served as the only
comic relief in this otherwise very serious production. The story resumes ten years
later, when Cosette, (now played by Rachel Quinn) is all grown up. Marius (played
by Mike Zaharczuk, the only sophomore lead in the musical), bumps into her on the
street, and they fall in love immediately. Marius is also a student, taking part in the
upcoming revolution with the leader of the student revolutionaries Enjolras (Rich
Gonzalez), and a fearless peasant boy, Gavroche (Zoe Fox an elementary school
student). Eponine, (Julia Pfender) the Innkeepers’ actual daughter, is also in love
with Marius, and dies after taking a message to Cosette for Marius while the fighting
is going on. All of the students die in battle except Marius who is saved by Jean
Valjean. The play ends with Javier killing himself, for he is unable to deal with being
shown mercy by his enemy Jean Valjean, Marius and Cossette getting married, and
Jean Valjean dying having completely redeemed himself.
The directors, Mr. Auh, Mrs. Caiazzo, and, Mr. Myers, should take pride in
their phenomenal production of Hugo’s captivating story, Les Misérables.
The Olympic Games conjure an exciting spirit that is shared throughout the
world. Whether you are a sports fanatic or you just enjoy watching the out-of-thisworld Olympic phenomena, or you simply want to witness history, the Olympics
captivate people of every age in every nation. With the blazing snowstorm outside,
many families warmed up to the heat of the fireplace and the exciting chill of the 2010
winter Olympics. What many families did not expect to witness was the tragic death
of a 21-year-old Georgian Olympian.
On Feb. 12, Nodar Kumaritashvili, a luger from Georgia, lost control of his sled
during a practice run and was propelled into a pillar along the slide. Kumaritashvili
allegedly told his father he had concerns about
the safety of the track, falling victim to the
perilous ice hours later. Sven Romstad, International Luge Federation President, characterized the death of Kumaritashvili as an
“avoidable mistake.” Yet a much greater debate arose after the Olympian’s demise: how
should such graphic incidents be conveyed
to the public?
Through the taped execution of Nick
Berg, the beheading of Daniel Pearl, or even
the explosion of the Challenger, America
demonstrates its morbid fascination with macabre caught on video. How can the disturbing image of a human body crumpling against
an iron column appeal to so many Americans?
Human fascination with death has dated back
to the B.C. times of the Roman Empire and its
atrocious gladiator fights, as well as to France’s public guillotine executions. While
death has intrigued humans for centuries, is it ethical to just replay a respective
Olympian’s death? Certainly if the Olympian was an American, his death would not
have been publically displayed. For all intents and purposes, ABC, CBS, FOX and
NBC were certainly catering to the guilty whims of viewers by delivering the grisly
thrust of Kumaritashvili into an unincorporated guard rail along the slide.
While some athletes have died on camera before, the news has opted to be
more tasteful in broadcasting the coverage, if showing any at all. The Olympics are
believed to be the pinnacle of athletic splendor and integrity. Young athletes are
defending their nations through competitive sporting events, which makes preventable deaths like that of Kumaritashvili tragedies that the media should not display
carelessly.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Don’t Ask/Tell
Health Care
Girl Power
Lost
Star of Slopes
pg. 2
pg. 4
pg. 5
pg. 6
pg. 8
abington.k12.pa.us
2
The Abingtonian
March 2010
E d i t o r i a l s
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is no longer tolerated
By Madeline Bates
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs announced in January that the Obama administration fully intends to repeal the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy which has banned
homosexual and bisexual men and women from serving openly in the military for almost 17 years. The statement added fuel to a fire that has been growing within the military
community, and prompted some responses from both army leaders and politicians.
In February, Army chief of staff General George Casey responded to questioning regarding the controversial policy by stating, “I do have serious concerns about
the impact of a repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for 8 ½ years.” Although an unbiased observer could see why Casey may
have qualms with the repeal due to homophobia within the armed forces, the fact is that the policy has become an ignorant relic of a past generation. You’d think that after
the shame modern Americans have had to endure post-slavery and post-civil rights movement we would be eager to rid ourselves of discriminatory policies like “Don’t ask,
don’t tell,” but it seems that after years of heated debate, we still hold the bigoted and hatred-filled laws close to heart.
A 2009 CNN poll showed that 48% of Americans agree with DADT, while 8% believe it is too lenient on homosexuals. Considering that most of the individuals who
pertain to those percentages are most likely conservatives, it’s not hasty to assume they don’t have any problems with war. Why then, do they support the weakening of
our nation’s army? Taking a moment to look at the situation logically, anyone can realize that any trained soldier is a valuable soldier, regardless of sexual orientation. The
bottom line is that even if you still maintain that homosexuality is immoral, that opinion is not relevant to whether homosexuality is cohesive with military service. DADT
limits our military’s new recruits and limits the strong bonds of friendship and trust that our soldiers should be allowed to form.
Since the policy was initiated in 1993, over 13,000 troops have been discharged from the military under DADT. Taking into account that America no longer implements
the draft, the policy is certainly a debilitating force against our country’s defenses. As if all of the lost soldiers weren’t enough of a blow, the estimates of the monetary costs
of DADT are staggering to say the least. In 2005, The Government Accountability Office estimated the cost at $110.5 million. This money was needed to recruit soldiers to
replace those released under DADT and to then train the new troops. The GAO cautioned that these numbers were extremely conservative. A year later, a Blue Ribbon
Commission including Defense Secretary William Perry and professors from the military academy of West Point determined that the actual cost of DADT was nearer to $363
million. Not only does the policy stamp the U.S. with a homophobic label, but it depletes our military budget in the midst of our almost decade-spanning war.
How do you really know that DADT’s time has definitely passed? When Colin Powell endorses its repeal. Powell, who opposed gay and lesbians serving in the
military in the 90’s, said on February 3rd, “In the…years since the [DADT] legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed.” The former Secretary of
State now supports the attempts to review and repeal the act. America, take the hint that Gen. Powell has handed to you, and start moving to the other side of that CNN poll.
It is unacceptable to tolerate the discrimination our government still implements against the LGBT
community, and hopefully the Obama administration will repeal the policy and demonstrate that.
Walmart vs. Washington
Word Link
By Nikki Hess
By Jasmine Teich
Hey word puzzle-lovers! Frustrated by Sudoku?
Here’s a new labyrinth of letters to discover. You play
by creating a link of compound words from the first
word all the way to the last. The first and second words
link to make a compound word, like in the example:
Guitar and string connect to make guitar string. String
links with band to make string band; then band and
camp link to form band camp. Some of the words even
have letters filled in to help you out.
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
NK
K
DEEP
__I__
___C_E_
__N__R
_O__
__B_
__T_L_
CAP
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
NK
K
Is Walmart doing more for America than Washington during these tough times? Walmart is a
latifundia company; it is a mass production business that employs thousands of people at a low pay
rate, and during our recession, having a low paying job is better than being unemployed. In addition,
Walmart is also lending a helping hand to Americans who are being hit by the recession, for it sells its
goods at a much cheaper price than most places. Thus, Walmart is a haven for those families that are
suffering at the hands of the nation’s bleak economical status.
With such help coming from places like Walmart, it makes one wonder: what is Washington
doing? Barack Obama’s stimulus program for revival counts on individual tax credits, but temporary
tax credits and rebates affect the economy more slowly than government spending. Moreover, consumers do not spend the whole check at once, and some may use part of it to build up savings.
Nevertheless, the money steadily helps
revitalize private-sector demand.
Permanent tax cuts for businesses
and individuals take effect even more
slowly. On the plus side, they have a
longer-lasting, positive impact on the GDP
(Gross Domestic Product) and jobs. On
the harmful side, the long-term deficit
grows much larger than it would with temporary cuts. There is a similar result for a
permanent increase in transfer payments
such as food stamps.
So President Obama appears to
have it about right. His plan is to take
action with government spending, including state and local, for a quick fix. He is
also trying to incorporate temporary tax
reductions to help households pay down
debt and, eventually, spend the money to
strengthen the private sector. Lastly,
Obama is against permanent tax cuts that
would stick us with even worse deficits
than are projected now.
Currently, we are enduring the worst recession, for vigor and time, since the 1930’s, and the
broadest global recession since 1948. We do not want to repeat FDR’s mistake. By embedding
longer-term infrastructure programs in the stimulus package, Obama’s plan provides continuing
support for GDP and jobs.
The next challenge that the Obama administration has to face will be the shocking government
debt and deficits that are shaping up. But first, the policymakers have to get the economy moving
again.
Walmart vs. Washington: who is doing more? Though Walmart is employing thousands, it is
also closing down thousands, including small business owners, “ma and pa” shops, and private
companies. To most of us, it really does not seem like Washington is on the ball here because of the
leisurely pace at which they seem to be moving, but in reality, Washington is at least trying. So who
is actually dong more? Fellow readers: it is up to you to decide.
abington.k12.pa.us
March 2010
The Abingtonian
3
Point / Counterpoint
Olympics:
Only for amateurs
By Lydia Baxter
As the Winter Olympics of 2010 come to a close, the exceptional nature of the
competitors is immediately called to mind. American downhill skiier Lindsey Vonn
suffered from a painful shin injury that threatened to derail her dreams of medaling at
Vancouver, yet she won gold in the Women’s Downhill. Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age, but found success in swimming, and today
holds the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics.
These two American figures symbolize the strength of spirit and
skill of Olympic athletes. Though the Ancient Olympic Games in
Greece featured demi-gods and kings, the modern Olympics showcase the talents of normal citizens. If the International Olympics
Committee (IOC) permitted professional athletes to compete, the
hard work and dedication of athletes like Lindsey Vonn would be
devalued.
Pierre de Coubertin, best known as the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, believed in the principle of, “A sound mind in a
sound body.” In other words, Coubertin thought that humans are
better if they are well rounded, or skilled in many areas. He frowned
upon the notion of people focusing all of their energy on one aspect
of life. This principle inspired Coubertin (and consequently the IOC)
to value fairness in the training and actual competition of the Olympics, thus forbidding the involvement of professional athletes in
the Games. In accordance with Coubertin’s convictions, the IOC
has committed itself to preventing any competitors from gaining an
unfair advantage over others. When the pairs figure skating competition in the Salt Lake City Olympics became tainted with a judging
scandal, the International Skating Union performed a thorough investigation. Therefore, it would be hypocrisy to allow athletes who
have been specially trained and who have access to restricted opportunities.
In addition, the Olympics serve as an opportunity for amateurs to gain exposure and notoriety, and to showcase their talents
on a world stage. Like college scouts who travel the country to
choose their school’s next quarterback, recruiters from professional
organizations watch the Olympics in order to identify whom they
want to hire. The Games improve the competitors’ chances of a
financially secure future and, for many, ensure a career in a certain
sport. Similarly, agents of companies in the sporting goods industry use the Olympics to select amateurs that would be appropriate as spokespersons. Other companies watch the Games to judge the success of their current investments in various
athletes. Snowboarder Shaun White shreds it up to advertise Red Bull, while Michael
Phelps serves as a spokesperson for Speedo and Mazda. Neither one of these
remarkable young men would have received these options if they had not been
successful in the Olympics.
Though the definition of “amateurism” in sports has transformed over the
years, the uniqueness of the Olympics would be belittled by the involvement of
professionals. The modern Olympics were formed to inspire international cooperation and fair athletic competitions. Small countries and territories proudly display
their flag during the Opening Ceremonies. Often, these miniscule countries will only
have a handful of competitors, but their pride and energy are exhilarating. Witnessing their valiant faces during the parade of nations trumps any image of Shaq dunking a basketball. The most awe-inspiring part of the Olympics is the display of the
amateurs’ athleticism. Sure, it is fun to watch Cole Hamels pitch during a Phillies
game, but how often do you get to see an average American citizen, rather than a
celebrity, triumph in his or her sport and win a medal? The answer - every two years.
Olympians:
Amateur in name only
Paul Tershakovec
Before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, all professional athletes were barred from
Olympic competition, but by the 1992 games, professionals were allowed to compete
in all Olympic events. Allowing professional athletes to participate in the Olympics
was extremely controversial, but with a rise in quasi-professional competitors sponsored by large corporations and the decades-long practice in Russia of Soviet sponsored professional athletes
competing as alleged amateurs,
the Olympic committee relented
and allowed professional athletes to compete. Despite ongoing controversy, professional
athletes should not be prohibited from Olympic competition.
While some may argue
that amateur athletes embody
the true spirit of the Olympics,
the fact is that the Olympics
were created to find the best
athletes in the Greek city-states.
As such, to find the best athletes in the world today, both
professional and amateur athletes should be considered. In
addition, in Ancient Greece,
Olympic participants competed
for the honor of being an Olympic champion. Along with glory,
these champions were regularly
honored guests in their community, and often received free
meals and were exempt from
taxes. Thus, it can be said that
even dating back to the times
of the ancient Olympics, winners could expect financial reward. Today, professional athletes in the Olympics compete for that same glory and corporate sponsorships,
which are no different than a lifetime of free food and tax exemption. Athletes in
sports like swimming and gymnastics, which do not have professional leagues or
teams, are able to support themselves through endorsements, performance tours
and speeches. The athletes of Ancient Greece and the present both competed for
identical things- honor and monetary gain.
More recently, in the twentieth century, true amateurs from western countries
were at a marked disadvantage when competing against athletes brought up by the
sports machine in the eastern-bloc countries. The magnitude of the disparity is
perfectly illustrated by the film “Miracle,” which illustrates how difficult and unlikely it was for the Americans to win a hockey game against the Soviet national
team. In allowing professionals to compete, one could argue that the International
Olympic committee simply leveled out what had been an extremely skewed playing
field.
In today’s world, all Olympic athletes can be called “professional” to some
degree. In this day and age, the term “amateur athlete” has become obsolete as all
competitors in the Olympics can truly be considered professional athletes.
Turkish military officers charged with “coup plot”
By Zach Baum
Seven senior military officers in Turkey have been formally charged with attempting to overthrow the government. The seven officers, which included four admirals,
a general, and two colonels, were seven of forty officers arrested last Monday for involvement in a 2003 plot to justify a military coup and overthrow the government.
Dozens of military officials have been arrested for similar allegations for the past several years, but not on such a big scale. It is becoming a significant test of Turkey’s
authority over its military forces, as tensions between the two powers continue to grow. According to the BBC, the men were charged for being part of the “sledgehammer
plot” from 2003, which was discovered when documents detailing plans to bomb two Istanbul mosques and goad Greece into shooting down a Turkish plane were
uncovered. The army claims that while the plans were discussed, it was only part of a military planning exercise.
Military coups are not totally unusual in Turkey, with the army overthrowing or forcing the resignation of four governments since 1960, the last one in 1997. However,
the army’s power has been reduced in recent years by the governing AK party. Most conflicts today stem from the fact that the AK Party is pro-Islamic, while the Turkish
army sees itself as a defender of a secular Turkish state. Turkey is currently a secular state with a Muslim majority, but many Turks believe the AK party to have secret plans
to make Turkey into an Islamic state. President Abdullah Gul denies this fact however, saying that their intent is to modernize Turkey and gain its EU membership.
4
Editorials/Features
Always an
American staple
Paul Tershakovec
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly more fashionable to enjoy high-end food served
in many gastro
pubs and modern
restaurants. With
this sudden popularity of international fare in full
swing, the staples
of American cuisine have begun
to lose their place
in the eyes (and
stomachs)
of
these fashionable
eaters. I must admit that I myself
was a bit skeptical
at first of Vincent’s
Pizza, the student-acclaimed Rockledge favorite, but
after hearing countless recommendations to review
Vincent’s, I decided to sample what some described as
“Rockledge’s best.”
Upon entering the restaurant, it was clear that
my family and I were one of the only, if not the only
“non-Rockledginians.” Surrounded by groups of diners cordially talking to waitresses as long-time friends,
debating whether to order their “usual” or try something new, I casually opened my menu. Looking through
Vincent’s menu, I did not notice any difference between
it and any other pizzeria menu I had seen before, so I
opted to order dishes from representative sections of
the menu. All together, to split, my family and I ordered
hot wings, barbecue wings, ziti in rosa sauce, gnocchi
in alfredo sauce, vegetarian pizza and the Vincent’s
Special pizza.
To start, I sampled Vincent’s wings. These wings
were baked perfectly, giving the surprisingly meaty
wings a thin, crisp layer, perfect for soaking up any
sauce. The barbecue wing sauce was sweet, smoky
and tangy and as such was sufficient on its own with
the wings without the help of blue cheese dressing.
The hot wings, however, were well-accompanied by
blue cheese dressing, which cooled the palate from the
warm, but not overpowering hot wing spice. After the
wings, I continued on to the pasta dishes. For these
dishes, it was clearly evident that any health-conscious
person would have to put aside his or her diet and
enjoy moments in a cream-based sauce coma. Finally, I
reached the pièce de resistance of my meal: Vincent’s
pizza. These generous slices were piled high with fresh
toppings, which coupled with the crispy outside, soft
inside crust and flavorful tomato sauce, sent my taste
buds reeling.
Piece after delicious piece of pizza, I was still unable to choose my favorite. The Vincent’s Special, a pie
topped with mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, onions,
anchovies, sweet peppers and black olives, was an ideal
pizza because it included the best of both meat and
vegetable pizza toppings. The vegetarian pizza, however, topped with mushrooms, sweet peppers, onions,
broccoli and spinach, dominated in its offering of freshtasting, delicious vegetables. Due to my indecision, I
can conclude that no decision at Vincent’s Pizza is better than another, but a half Vincent’s Special, half vegetarian pizza may come close to the best.
To enjoy this local hub of good eating visit
Vincent’s Pizza at:
412 Huntingdon Pike
Rockledge, PA 19046
215-663-9963
A conservative view of
health care reform
By Matt Seydel
According to the recent Rasmussen reports (on Friday, March 5th), only 46% of the American
people approve of how President Obama is performing in office. Opposition to Obama’s proposals for
health care reform largely contributes to this low approval rating. The Obama administration and the
Democratic Party have been trying to sell the idea of a universal health care reform for quite some time
now. Let’s face the facts: this health care “reform” is not only socialistic, but also poorly reasoned.
First, many American people do not want any part of this bill; only 22% of people strongly favor
this plan. The American people’s opposition to the bill can be seen in the recent election in Massachusetts. Scott Brown, a Republican, was running for the open Senate seat. This election was important
because if Brown lost, the health care bill could pass more easily than if he won the election. Scott
Brown won the election in an two more weeks. Have fun swimming your way to bed.
The next flaw in the health care bill is that it will decrease competition in the health care industry.
If you have been paying attention in history class, you would know that when a universal market, or
“monopoly,” comes about, the quality of service goes down. Universal health care will take away any
competition and will also reduce the service that you will be receiving. For example, say you need to
buy groceries, but the only place to get them is at Acme. If Acme decides to remove your favorite
products from the shelves, then you can do nothing because Acme is the only option you have. The
same thing goes for universal health care. If doctors decide they do not want to stitch you all the way
back up, then too bad—you do not have a choice.
The government will do a poor job of controlling health care because they can barely run simple
things correctly. Just look at two of the things that the government controls: road maintenance and the
postal service. If you have driven lately, you have probably hit plenty of potholes and you know that
the roads are in awful shape. Still believe that the government can adequately handle your health care?
Currently, Obama is considering closing the post offices on Saturdays because they are not profitable.
What will happen if money becomes tight for health care reform? Will we lose some service, and instead
of getting your hand stitched back on, you only get it partially attached? If the government can barely
handle minor issues, it surely cannot run the health care program.
Right now, American citizens have the freedom to pick their insurance. If someone does not want
insurance, they are not forced to have to pay for it. With this new health care reform, Americans will not
have the freedom to choose. The people who cannot afford health insurance will now be forced to pay,
causing universal health care to have the inverse effect of what is intended to do.
My resolution to the health care dilemma is what is called a “health savings account.” With this
plan, participants pay the first $5000 and the insurance company pays the rest, and so the rate is much
cheaper. There are many positive aspects of this system. First, it stops unnecessary visits to the
doctor; people will not go for any reason simply because their insurance will cover it. Secondly, the
system creates competition among doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Since you are using your
own money, you will look for lower prices and better deals, thus making these industries compete for
your business. This system creates an incentive for people to maintain good health and try to save
money instead of being reckless. Participants will also save money because during many years, they
will not use all $5000 worth of health care. People will then use this money to pay off mortgages and
debts, thus boosting the banks and helping the economy. To me, it is clear that the health care reform
bill has many flaws. I can only hope that you too can see the obvious problems with it as well.
The root of it all:
Why Washington cannot move
By Benjamin Share
Anyone with a pulse and an internet connection this past year would agree that Washington D.C. is
incapable of making tangible progress on any meaningful issue. Barack Obama’s ambitious freshman year has
been met with roadblocks, brick walls, and even the occasional banana peel. Chief among these obstacles is an
(almost) politically neutered yet surprisingly effective Republican party, unified in its single goal of unyielding
opposition to any and all parts of Obama’s agenda. Not to be outdone by the Republicans in sabotaging the
President’s plans, the Democrats are an utterly divided mess. They do not have the stones or discipline to be able
to choose the location from which to order takeout for lunch, let alone be charged with overhauling the nation’s
healthcare and financial regulatory systems.
Should the government be trusted to administer healthcare to the average citizen, or are the American
people better off in the hands of the private sector? Similarly, should the government play a larger role in
regulating financial products, or should the doctrine of caveat emptor have the power to govern the market?
These two issues ignite much debate among both citizens and politicians in this country, and have ultimately
served as the basis of where the battle lines would be drawn over the last year. “Liberals” generally believe in the
government’s ability to provide for the public. “Conservatives,” on the other hand, usually view the government
as nothing more than a giant toddler: capable of naught but mismanagement and incompetence. Grossly oversimplified, this conflict is basically a question of what role government should play in our everyday lives.
This big, messy government issue has a long and storied history in American politics. It was the center of
the debate during the framing of the Constitution and has reared its ugly head numerous times throughout our
history, and will surely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Gun control, gay marriage and abortion are
among the most prominent issues in recent memory to spring from this common root, and they are by no means
alone. As President Obama kicks off his second year in office, he would do well to keep in mind that the crux of
Washington’s problem is not the “government takeover of healthcare,” or the “socialization of the banks,” but
rather whether or not people trust the government enough to accept its help.
5
F
e
a
t
A passion for fashion:
Spring trends
By Melanie Highbloom
As spring is quickly approaching, here is a sneak peek at some of the fabulous
trends to expect in the upcoming season!
-Number One: Nude Shoes – Look for a nude high heel or flat to be paired with
a fun and flirty floral dress for a daytime look that can easily be transformed into a
“going out” look with a few accessories. Do not forget that going out in the spring
and summer can have a more causal feel than when you are going out in the winter.
-Number Two: Lucite Jewelry – Clear lucite bangle bracelets and rings are very
popular for the spring. You might even opt for light pink or nude lucite matched with
a causal top and jeans or a mini dress and flip-flops. This type of jewelry is fun and
can be inexpensive, which is a great thing for an item so trendy that might not
sustain you for more than a few seasons.
-Number Three: Boyfriend Blazer – an oversized blazer or jacket in black is the
perfect topper for those cool spring nights. Throwing it over a pair of light wash
skinny jeans and a white tank top will complete the look. Also try cuffing the sleeves
while letting the inside fabric stick out; this gives the jacket more of a spring feel
while still being weather appropriate. Look for one with big buttons or lapel detail to
add a little glamour to your look. Additionally, aim for one where the fabric lining is
either a funky color or print because this offsets the harsh black of the jacket; when
cuffing the sleeves, the detail just adds interest to your outfit.
The massive amount of snow on the ground is not preventing the designers
from producing spring merchandise, so get in the mindset for spring, and have fun
with your look!
Check
out
my
blog
for
more
fashion
tips!
www.apassionforfashionphilly.blogspot.com
Girl power
By Gabrielle Noone
You know what March is not? It is not National Get Back to the
Kitchen, Woman, and Make Me a Sandwich Month. Nope, in fact, it is
the exact opposite - National Women’s History Month. I have compiled a list of some girls, fictional characters, and real women alike who
deserve recognition for their accomplishments, quirks, and bold personalities.
-Marie Curie
Not only was she the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, but she
was also the first person to win two prizes (one in chemistry, one in
physics). She also discovered radioactivity, and if that does not impress you, then I do not know what will. She is the reason Spiderman
exists for crying out loud!
-Liz Lemon
As the fictionalized, junk food-loving version of 30 Rock’s creator Tina Fey, Liz Lemon shows that a woman can be everything from
lonely and independent to wacky and hilarious all at once! Although
she would like the ideal setup of a husband and family, she does not
think that the former is necessary to achieve the latter, as seen in the
episode where she buys a wedding dress, despite not even having a
boyfriend. She says, “I’m gonna get the wedding dress, I’m gonna
have a baby, then I’m gonna die, and then I’ll meet a super cute guy in
heaven.”
-The Spice Girls
This iconic British pop group not only made the term “girl power”
famous, but with it, conveyed a message of empowerment to women
everywhere. The Spice Girls also proved that beauty comes in different forms (uh, Scary Spice’s outrageously spiked hairstyle, anyone?)
-Susan B. Anthony
She paved the way for women’s rights, which even meant being
arrested just for trying to vote before the 19th Amendment was passed.
(Side note: make your parents feel guilty the next time they complain
about voting).
History has provided us with plenty more inspirational women,
including your very own mothers and grandmothers. Take the time
this month to appreciate the awesome women in your life!
u
r
e
s
A tribute to Bryant Park
By Ana Cvetkovic
For fashion fanatics, two words are the epitome for all that is new and
next in the American style circles – Bryant Park. For those of you who do not
watch Project Runway, I am referring to New York City’s midtown oasis that has
been the host of New York Fashion Week for the past 16 years. For eight days,
twice a year, designer legends, such as Diane Von Furstenberg and Ralph Lauren,
and newcomers like Prabal Gurung and Christian Siriano, debut their latest
collections in front of a celebrity, editor, and clientele audience. Unfortunately,
the Fall/Winter 2010 collections, displayed in mid-February, were the last to be
shown at the beloved location of Bryant Park; the next event in September will
be held in the Lincoln Center.
However, before Bryant Park became synonymous with luxury and style,
it experienced several pitfalls and setbacks. In 1847, the park was known as
Reservoir Square because of the reservoir that stood in the spot where the New
York Public Library stands today. Approximately a decade later, the extravagant
iron-and-glass Crystal Palace was built on the site for New York’s first world
fair. People came from all over the world to witness the Palace’s beauty; it
actually set off the city’s first tourism influx. After the Crystal Palace burned
down in 1858, Reservoir Square was seen as New York’s most disreputable park
because of its new status as the storage bin for construction supplies during
the implementation of the subway system. Fortunately, one man saw potential
in this once-glorious park. Robert Moss, who was known as the king of public
works, chose architect Lusby Simpson to redesign the space during the Great
Depression. The square was renamed Bryant Park after William Cullen Bryant,
the recently deceased writer and civic reformer. During the late 20th century,
Bryant Park was again unpopular with locals because of high crime rates. Consequently, the Rockefeller brothers created the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, which has transformed the commons into the venue that attracts millions of visitors and events yearly. Although Bryant Park has had a long and
tumultuous history, it will never be forgotten by the fashion world.
Death Cab for Cutie:
The band that keeps on giving
By Kelsey Hughes
Fewer bands are more celebrated in the alternative/indie scene than Death
Cab for Cutie. A lot of this fame stems from the aura of awesomeness, which surrounds and engulfs Ben Gibbard. I have yet to find a critic of the band’s front man
and lyricist, with his flowing words, distinctive voice, and stylish wardrobe. Yet it is
the combination of Gibbard with the other members of the band that has enabled
them to continually turn out stunning and varied music since 1997. They are most
famous for their acoustic single, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” and more recently
for their contribution to the New Moon soundtrack, “Meet Me on the Equinox.” By
far, neither of these is their best
song; instead, this designation is
better suited for their simplest
song: “Styrofoam Plates,” the
story of a boy reminiscing about a
newly deceased father who left him
when he was a baby. The beauty
of the song lies in both Gibbard’s
word choice and his range of emotion. It begins slowly and innocently, with Gibbard sounding lost
as he describes the conditions of
his birth: “It’s no stretch to say you
were not quite a father, but a donor of seed to a poor single
mother that would raise us alone. We never saw the money, that went down your
throat through the hole in your belly.” Gibbard cleverly sneaks childish vocabulary
and grammar into the song as a way to remain in character. As the song develops, he
becomes more and more furious with the situation, and by the end, he is spitting
scathing words out over faster music: “You’re a disgrace to the concept of family.
The priest won’t divulge that fact in his homily. I’d stand up and scream if the
mourning remained quiet, ‘you can deck out a lie in a suit but I won’t buy it!’” The
amount of raw emotion Gibbard conjures up resonates, as he is not speaking from
personal experience but rather that of a friend.
It is the true passion in Gibbard’s voice and words that make “Styrofoam
Plates” the best song that the band has written to date. However, Death Cab for
Cutie has been around for over a decade and will continue to steadily produce
amazing music. It is quite possible they may come out with a song that tops “Styrofoam
Plates.” Until then, it will continue to be a testament to the pure talent of the band.
abington.k12.pa.us
6
F
e
The Abingtonian
a
t
u
March 2010
r
e
s
Spread the LOVE
By Matt Wilfred
“Now that this is the future, it can’t just be different, it has to be better. I want to change how music is made,
I want to change how music is marketed, I want to change how music is delivered – and I’m gonna do it,” declared
guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and up to this point, he has been correct.
Tom DeLonge of the bands Angels & Airwaves and Blink-182 reached a milestone in his life this past
Valentine’s Day, spending over half a million dollars of his own money to release, with Angels & Airwaves, their
new and long-awaited album LOVE. To spread the love, the album was released for free and thus remains to be so.
In the first 48 hours of its release, it was downloaded nearly 300,000 times1.
DeLonge later said, “If you really believe that you can see yourself differently, then you can affect the
world around you. And if you can affect the world around you, you can affect the world itself,” which is exactly
how this album is. The first track, “Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce,” is an instrumental piece that translates from Latin
into And he leads the world by light. It is a powerful, moving song, and it confirms that Angels & Airwaves has
a style of music like no other. DeLonge says the album’s sound is like that of U2 and Pink Floyd, and I could not
agree more.
LOVE also contains the hit single “Hallucinations,” which is in the midst of obtaining a music video. More
mature than Blink-182 and more coherent than DeLonge’s past attempt with the band Box Car Racer, Angels &
Airwaves is a band reaching new levels in the music industry. LOVE, their third album, deviates from the theme
of space and war from their previous two: We Don’t Need To Whisper and I-Empire. The sole theme found in every
song of LOVE is quite obviously love - a powerful force that lacks in many parts of the world. Personally, (and I
realize this is a stretch) I think it could be called the best record of all time.
The track listing is as follows: “Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce,” “The Flight of Apollo,” “Young London,” “Shove,” “Epic Holiday,” “Hallucinations,” “The MoonAtomic (…Fragments & Fictions),” “Clever Love,” “Soul Survivor (…2012),” “Letters to God Part II,” and “Some Origins of Fire.”
Angels & Airwaves has partnered with sponsors that will probably notify close to 55 million about the album’s release2. Though it is available for free from http://
modlife.com/angelsandairwaves/love, DeLonge says a physical copy will be available for sale and will contain thirty minutes of extra music. In addition to LOVE, a movie
entitled LOVE, which takes after the album, is to be released in May. It “tells a story of human life and destiny but at the same time really makes usual moments of life
extraordinary. It’s a circular narrative in many ways, where it kind of sums up the human race in a time capsule.”
Although Tom is a part of two active bands, he has not neglected either one; after an impressive reunion tour with Blink-182, he worked on LOVE. There will now be
two tours for this record, and Blink-182 will start producing an album that they hope will be out in 2011. As for DeLonge, he is just taking it one day at a time.
DeLonge told SPIN Magazine that Angels & Airwaves “will come out with a big epic production of the movie and a concert together. And that will be something
really, really exciting.” It truly will be, and it would be great for more and more people to hear about the band and give them a listen. Even though Valentine’s Day is over,
think of the album as a special present. Please listen to and spread the LOVE. You will be amazed by what you hear.
Statistic Sources:
1.http://www.billboard.com/news/angels-airwaves-delonge-talks-love-tour-1004070450.story?tag=hpfeed#/news/angels-airwaves-delonge-talks-love-tour1004070450.story?tag=hpfeed
2. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wirestory?id=9640799&page=2
“We Are the
World”...take two
By Natalia Fallas
In 1985, the late Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie penned the
famous song, “We Are the World” to be sung by many artists of the
day, and the song’s proceeds went to famine relief in Africa. The song
featured the likes of everyone from Ray Charles to the popular Cyndi
Lauper. Twenty-five years later, the song was commemorated, but this
time all proceeds would go to earthquake relief in Haiti. There was a
fairly broad range of acts included in this new version, covering a
myriad of celebrities, like actors Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn; tween
superstars the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber; and
artists from every end of the musical spectrum. As homage to the original, Michael Jackson was still featured in the same part as before. Along
with new acts came improvisations to adhere to popular music styles of
today, such as a hip-hop bridge by LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Will.i.am.,
Nipsey Hussle, Lyaz, and Swizz Beatz. This was a welcome addition
that delivered a dose of modernism to the already perfect song.
What was not so appealing to the sensitive ear were the guttural
cries by Wyclef Jean throughout most of the chorus in the song. Although he holds the issue very dear to his heart, and he should therefore have some sort of solo in the project, there was no reason for this
assailment to the world’s ears. Additionally, it was reported that Miley
Cyrus was the only artist to show up late to the recording. She may be
living high and mighty now as an indulgent teenager, but a little more
respect for the project and what it means would have been appreciated.
Nonetheless, at the end of the day, all that matters is the effort, that the
world takes a stand in helping this defenseless country rise from the
ashes. To be a part of this great cause with a little reward in return, log
onto your iTunes and download “We Are the World 25 for Haiti.”
With Lost on its final
voyage, a look at its past
By Eli Brenna
At the time I am writing this, 108
(a number any fan of the show should
recognize) episodes of Lost will have
aired, and only 13 will remain. By the
time this is printed, there will be even
fewer left. Lost has evolved into something more than a television show; it is
an example of the epic, in-depth type of
storytelling that can take place on TV a concept that has become less popular
and harder to accomplish since it first aired. While ABC desperately tries to find a
replacement for it with shows like FlashForward and V, both of which have some of
the same actors as Lost, I would still like to hold on to my final few months of not
knowing how things will turn out for my favorite plane crash survivors, and remember its history as well.
Six years ago, Lost was a crazy concept ABC was tossing around in an attempt
to boost ratings. Then, in stepped JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof (and later Carlton
Cuse), who turned it into the multi-layered, baffling, and beloved work it is today.
Dealing with complex issues like time, fate, redemption, and polar bears, this show
became a fixture in fans’ minds, spawning websites like Lostpedia, which devotes
over 6,000 articles to the show and its universe alone. The mysteries and endless
stream of questions presented to the show’s viewers are major parts of the appeal.
Half the fun of this show is trying to guess where things will go next; the other half
is finding out just how wrong you were.
This sixth and final season mirrors the first in many ways. The producers have
even commented on the show’s “reflective quality.” This provides the opportunity
to revisit locations, mysteries, old characters, and the order of the character-centric
episodes. These blasts-from-the-past not only help to wrap up storylines, but they
are also a form of fan appreciation. Homage to the show’s beginnings is not only a
tribute to fans who have watched loyally all along but is a way to remind us how far
the characters (and we) have come.
In honor of the show and its fanbase, I am in the process of creating a club for
Abington Senior High entirely dedicated to the analysis and appreciation of Lost.
Stay tuned for more information. And to all fans, may you enjoy the rest of season
six as much as I have enjoyed the beginning of it, which is quite a lot!
abington.k12.pa.us
March 2010
F
e
The Abingtonian
a
t
u
7
r
e
s
Frank Lloyd got it “Wright” at Beth Sholom
By Max Glass
The two Hebrew words, “Beth Sholom” translate as, “a House of Peace.” The world-famous architect of the synagogue known as Beth Sholom, Frank Lloyd Wright,
did not just construct a building, or a synagogue, but a true piece of artistic expertise. Beth Sholom has quickly become a worldwide center of architectural genius that has
been beloved not only by Jews but by architects and many others as well. (It is also more commonly known as that really big, cool-looking synagogue on Old York Road,
for those of you who do not know what I am talking about.) One of its latest accomplishments is that it has recently been declared a national historic landmark, which makes
it all the more special.
Since Beth Sholom was built in 1954, it has been serving the Jewish people as a holy place and as a beacon for who they are, who they can be, and the peace that can
and will come. If you would like to learn even more about Beth Sholom, the building, or the congregation, tours are given on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour costs $8, a fee that goes towards preserving the building. Also, if you need service learning hours and would like to learn
about either this architectural beauty or its history (and the history of the Jewish people,) then you can participate in student-led tours and become an official tour guide
of the synagogue. Contact either Mrs. Hauger, the head of the Social Studies department, or me, Max Glass. Also, you can learn more about Beth Sholom by going to their
website at:
http://www.bethsholomcongregation.org/ or http://www.bethsholompreservation.org/
A “brief” outline of the U.S. census
By Nikki Hess
Some of the most controversial topics in America right now include “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell,” Obama’s health care bill, and, oddly enough, the 2010 Census.
Believe it or not, the simple concept of counting how many people currently reside
in the United States is an issue that is stirring all sorts of drama. For those who are
unaware of how the census works and why it is so controversial, here is a little cheat
sheet to understanding the United States Census.
When did it begin?
The first census was conducted in 1790. It inquired about the head of a family
and its white males, the number of slaves a man possessed, and the free persons as
well as white women who resided in a household. Since 1790, questions have been
removed and added to and from the form. For example, the 1830 census counted the
number of deaf and blind persons living in a household, as well as the non-naturalized foreigners who were living within the borders of the United States at that time.
What does the 2010 census ask?
The 2010 census is comprised of two forms: the long and short forms. Every
American will receive the short form, which asks only ten questions, while 1 in 6
Americans will receive the much lengthier long form. The short form asks the following questions:
1.) How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile
home on April 1, 2010?
2.) Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did
not include in Question 1?
3.) Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned
without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
4.) What is your telephone number?
5.) Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person
here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter
lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is
Person 1’s name?
6.) What is Person 1’s sex?
7.) What is Person 1’s age and Date of Birth?
8.) Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
9.) What is Person 1’s race?
10.)Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
Why is the census important?
Plain and simple, the census impacts the number of representatives a state has
in the U.S. House of Representatives. In mathematical terms, more people = more of
a say in the government. With an accurate count, federal funding can be allotted to
states and given to hospitals, schools, public works projects like bridges and tunnels, senior centers, and emergency services. These are the institutions and services that affect our everyday lives, and accuracy in counting the number of U.S.
inhabitants is crucial to providing neighborhoods with their necessary resources.
So why is the census so controversial?
An easier question to answer would be why it isn’t controversial. The form,
for starters, is abundant in hot topics. While it asks about race, it fails to address
religion. It specifically asks about those of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin, but
many other minorities are ignored in Question #9, which is the question that asks
about race. Another issue with Question #9 is the inclusion of the term “Negro.”
Someone who is black or African American is forced to check the box that also lists
“Negro” as a description of one’s race. Many believe that the inclusion of the
offensive term demonstrates just how little America has progressed in terms of
racism and discrimination. In addition, Question #6 asks about a person’s sex, but
some people do not identify with a particular sex. These are merely a few of the
issues that are argued about the ten-question form.
The “biggie” that is driving politicians insane is the counting of illegal immigrants in the census. There are politicians who are infuriated by this decision, for
they feel that the inclusion of undocumented inhabitants tampers with the House of
Reps spots and that illegal aliens should not be allowed to reap the benefits of
American programs. Other politicians believe that illegal immigrants should continue to be counted, for they are utilizing American facilities and funding regardless.
Yet the system of counting illegal immigrants is flawed due to the fact that many of
these undocumented Americans are distrustful towards the government and simply
do not believe that their information will not be relayed to another governmental
institution or to government personnel. They feel this way despite the insistent
statements released by the Census Bureau that explain that the census form does
not ask about a person’s citizenship.
In all honestly, information on the census does not stop with this article.
There are so many controversies and interesting facts that the census reveals that it
is impossible to cover in such little space. If any of this is appealing, feel free to visit
the census’s website, http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php. Remember that
every family needs to fill out the census forms, and that speaking another language
is no excuse for shirking one’s duties, for the form is available in 59 languages. With
all of this in mind, get ready for the 2010 nationwide count!
Valleys of Neptune
By Robbie Rozansky
Jimi Hendrix, named by Rolling Stone as the greatest guitarist of all
time, has returned, although unfortunately not from the dead. On March 9th,
Legacy Recordings released a posthumous studio album, Valleys of Neptune, featuring twelve of Hendrix’s previously unreleased recordings. The
tracks date back to 1969, shortly after he had made history with his third,
most adventurous album, Electric Ladyland, and right before the split of his
original trio, known as The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
For those unfamiliar with Jimi Hendrix, he was an artist from the late
sixties who revolutionized the sound of the electric guitar with his psychedelic bluesy rock. He speak-sings in a low, soulful tone, but his true voice is
that of his signature Fender Stratocaster; its notes are sometimes warm and
sweet, sometimes harsh and cutting, but always roughened with a bit of
distortion. Hendrix masterfully combines rhythm and lead guitar, shredding
blistering solos in between gorgeously discordant chords.
His latest compilation, Valleys of Neptune is exactly as one would
expect. It is a fresh dose of the legendary musician’s material, satisfying the
thirst of avid Hendrix fans who have hoarded his original three albums and
live recordings. Yet, even if the tracks have been “unreleased” until now,
Valleys of Neptune lacks that spark of novelty. The experimentation that
imbued each successive studio album with a different personality does not
exist; time is frozen in 1969. This posthumous work is quality Hendrix but
nothing new.
The album opens with “Stone Free,” a piece played by the original
Experience but performed here with bassist Billy Cox. This version has a
more raw and unrestrained feel than the former - a quality that is generally
more prevalent in his live recordings (oh, yes, and they cut out the cowbell).
Hendrix covers Elmore James’ classic blues song “Bleeding Heart” with
power and funk, as well as the British supergroup Cream’s “Sunshine of
Your Love,” in which his Stratocaster both rips through Eric Clapton’s guitar
licks and wails out Jack Bruce’s vocals. On the title track, “Valleys of Neptune,” released as a single last month, Jimi’s tone is mellow, light, and reminiscent of Are You Experienced’s “The Wind Cries Mary.”
Valleys of Neptune is sure to please any Hendrix fan, and it provides a
nice sampling for those who have not yet heard his music. While the album
contains nothing that has not been heard before, it is a welcome gift from
one of rock’s greatest musicians, forty years after his death.
abington.k12.pa.us
The Abingtonian
8
S
p
o
r
March 2010
t
s
Inside Ghosts’ Baseball
By: Brendan Bellomo
Star of the Slopes
By: Graham Lyman
Every sport has its superstars. From Wayne Gretzky to Michael Jordan to Babe
Ruth, there are one or two athletes who stick out as the faces of their respective
sports. These elite competitors have shown dominance that has ever been rivaled.
With the results of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics this winter, one name should stick
out to viewers as another star to keep in mind: snowboarder Shaun White.
At the age of 23, “The Flying Tomato,” as he is affectionately called because of
his trademark red hair, has already accumulated quite the résumé. He has won a medal
at every Winter X Games since 2002, when he was only 15 years old. Since those
Games, White has earned nine golds, three silvers, and two bronzes at the X Games,
the world’s premier competition for strictly action sports. After winning the gold
medal in the snowboard slopestyle from 2003-2006, he became the first athlete to
four-peat any event in Winter X Games history. He has also competed in two Winter
Olympics (Torino in 2006 and Vancouver), winning the gold medal in the half pipe in
Torino with an impressive score of 46.8 out of 50 points. White added to his medal
collection just recently, by winning the same event in Vancouver with a score of 48.4,
breaking the record that he had previously set himself.
White has also accomplished numerous feats outside of competitions. During
his second run at the 2010 Olympics (an irrelevant victory run having already clinched
gold), he unveiled a trick that no one in snowboarding history—except for him—has
successfully completed. The trick, which White refers to as “The Tomahawk,” is a
double McTwist with a rotation of 1260 degrees (Side note: If you have not yet seen
him complete this trick, check it out on Youtube. It is inhuman.). This snowboarding
sensation is an extreme sports superstar; White is not only a champion snowboarder,
but one of the best skateboarders in the world. He has been featured countless times
in magazines of high esteem such as Rolling Stone, has launched his own clothing
line, and even has his own video game called Shaun White Snowboarding, released
in 2008.
Whenever you get the chance, be it the next Winter X Games, the U.S. Open
Snowboarding Championships, or the 2014 Winter Olympics, be sure to watch Shaun
White and his utter dominance of the snowboarding world. This new face of
snowboarding is one of the most dominant athletes in the world and will surely be
talked about for many years to come.
Congratulations to
the Girls Basketball
Team for an
outstanding season!
February. When you think of this past month in terms of sports, several
things in particular must come to mind: the Phillies begin their spring training, two
teams clash in the Super
Bowl, and other sports like
NASCAR and professional
golf commence their respective seasons.
One Abington team in
particular has been participating in their own “spring training” workouts since the beginning of January: the
Ghosts’ baseball team. Led
by Coaches David Torresani,
Ryan Sweeney, Sam Smith, Jim
Rossi, and Tim Archer, the
Ghosts will enter into a brand
new season full of spirit and pride. The varsity team is hoping to earn a playoff birth
for the first time since the 1980’s, while the junior varsity team is looking to construct baseball building blocks that will provide depth to the varsity team for years
to come. The varsity team is comprised of the following returning seniors: Jake
Ruch, Phil Sabella, Scott Schwartz, Kyle Dougherty, Andrew Parkinson, and Jeremy D’Elia.
Unfortunately, the varsity Ghosts fell short of their goal of reaching the
playoffs last season with a 7-13 record. The junior varsity squad did not fair any
better finishing with a record of 1-15.
However, this year our Ghosts appear to be loaded with enthusiasm and
boldness, ready to turn their playoff draught around and show Abington that the
2010 team will be one to be remembered. With the new year brings new faces,
enhanced playing abilities, and wiser, more tenacious baseball players; our Ghosts
are geared to rock the Suburban One League as they set their sights on opening
day as well as a well-deserved post-season birth.
ABINGTONIAN
2009-2010
Published by:
Abington Senior High School; Abington, Pennsylvania
Editors-in-Chief: Nikki Hess & Robbie Rozansky
News Editor: Esther Katro
Editorial Editor: Maeve McDermott
Features Editor: Allie Baurer
Sports Editor: Chris Gerhardt
Writers:
Melissa Diamond, Esther Katro, Madeline Bates, Jasmine Teich,
Lydia Baxter, Paul Tershakovec, Matt Seydel, Benjamin Share,
Melanie Highbloom, Ana Cvetkovic, Gabrielle Noone, Kelsey
Hughes, Matt Wilfred, Natalia Fallas, Eli Brenna, Max Glass, Nikki
Hess, Robbie Rozansky, Graham Lyman, Brendan Bellomo
Advisors:
Mr. A. Saylor, Mr. R. Wrigley
Administration:
Dr. J. Fecher, Mr. R. McCuen, Ms. D. Heaven, Mr. E. Johnson