DEC 2022

Harmonics sings their way to success; Choir performs at county inaugurations

GABRIELLE MOXHAM Reporter

Harford County’s fourteenth inaugural ceremony took place Dec. 5 at Harford Community College APG Federal Credit Union Arena in Bel Air.

According to sports.yahoo.com Michelle Karczeski entered as the Clerk of the Court, she was the first to be sworn in so that she could then swear in the other members. Bob Cassily was sworn in Monday, Dec. 5 as the Harford County executive. The Harford County Board of Education was sworn in during a public meeting also on the 5.

The Harmonics performed at the ceremony. Ms. Katelyn Hemling, the choir director, said she is very proud of how her Harmonics performed at the ceremony. “I think they did wonderfully, they were professional, they sounded great, and it was a beautiful song. They pulled it together so quickly, so I’m very proud of them.”

Hemling states that she was not nervous at all about her advanced chorus performing. She added, “performances are of

course high-stress and it was a high-profile event so we wanted to put our best foot forward but I always have full confidence in them that they will pull it off.”

Junior Caine Blosser comment-

ed that they were “not particularly” nervous to perform contradictory to Hemling’s thoughts. They commented this was because “I’ve been performing for a very long time and even though

it was a very formal event, the stakes were not very high for me. I wasn’t very nervous because I didn’t think it mattered too much considering it was a political event and I am not a very

political person.” The sophomore added, “ It obviously mattered to me whether or not we sounded good but the event itself wasn’t nerve-racking.”

Blosser is an avid performer throughout the community because they also participate in choir groups such as Chamber Choir, Majestics, and The Lilacs. Outside of school they have taken part in Deer Creek Youth Choir, and in multiple conventions of youth choir’s throughout the state and country.

For the inauguration Harmonics performed one song titled A Song of Peace. Blosser believes that they performed well and that the group is very “well-rounded” and takes performance very seriously.

Hemling thinks it is great for her students to get any time they can out in the community especially to see the way that people react to them, “they got to sing alongside other schools and the event was just great exposure so it’s always an exciting day when they get to go out and make their presence known.”

Students show appreciation for educators

LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor

Last year during Kindness Week, the staff at NH was given an opportunity to recognize students who inspire them to come to work each and every day. On Dec. 9, the tides have turned, and a random sampling of students were able to nominate educators in the building who inspire them.

Freshman Samuel Kleback gave a shout-out to German teacher Mr. Russel Blake, saying, “[He makes] learning German so fun. [His] class always makes [Kleback’s] day better and brighter.” Similarly, sophomore Sophie Deibler shouted-out art teacher Mrs. Lisa Campbell, saying that Campbell is, “always in a cheerful mood and it brightens up the whole mood of the classroom.”

Senior Mason Fried praised Mr. Bill Wardle and thanked him for “making [his] first [and last] year at this school enjoyable.” Junior Tristan Armiger appreciates math teacher Mrs. Emily Johnstone because, “She helps [Armiger] a lot and comes over when she sees [Armiger] struggling.” Armiger adds, “[Johnstone] always talks with us at the beginning of class to get us engaged, and lets us take lots of notes” that the class can use for quizzes and tests.

Similarly to last, teachers that were nominated this year also received shout-outs and t-shirts. Science teacher Mr. Robert Lamarr received a shirt and said, “Thank you [all] for the nominations. I am glad that I am able to make your school experience better.” He said this an especially nice treat, as it is his first year teaching at NHHS. Lamarr added, “It feels good to know that I am accepted as part of the North Harford community, and that I am making a difference to the students here.”

Similarly, French teacher Mrs. Larissa Arist received a shirt and said, “My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with my students, especially with those students that take French all four years;we get to see each other every other day for four years! I love what I do and I’m grateful that I come to a place where I can have fun and enjoy time with my students every day.” Arist, said she “can’t imagine teaching any other way.” Arist commented that she, “just wants to let all [her] students know that it’s because of them that makes teaching French so rewarding for [her].” Mrs. Jennifer Chandler’s advanced media students are in charge of kindness initiatives each year. According to the educator, the students polled random advisories comprised of every grade level to get a random sample of nominations. “There were 29 teacher recognized in over 10 departments,” said Chandler, who was happy her students could bring a little joy at this time of year. Secretary Barbara Matthews says “I think it is a great idea. It just makes the teacher feel more special and want them to do better for their students.”

Here the choir poses for a picture after their showing. They seemed to feel quite elevated after a wonderful performance.

PHOTO CREDIT: Edgewood High School student

The Nest continues the kindness initiative tradition for another year. 29 teachers were nominated for the You’re my Reason campaign.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nancy Green

United States makes promises it can’t keep

the foundation of lies, power, and wealth. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are left to eat off the very streets we painted with our patriotism.

of bankruptcy is medical bills. Many people believe this is because of those with no insurance “abusing the system” put in place to help them.

sistencies as a reason to not provide money to support you no matter how sick you are.

KENSINGTON BOYANICH Business Manager

With liberty and justice for all…

We recited these very words every morning in school before we even knew what they meant. And we wanted to believe they were true. Until it wasn’t.

Especially if you are disabled, poor, a person of color, a person in the LGBTQ+ community, or someone who is deemed in this country as, “out of the norm,” or a sociological person of deviance.

I was born and raised in the “great” country of America, where the streets are filled with red, white, and blue because we are so amazing, an inspiration to those around us and an example for developing democracies.

But, the system many praise, uphold, and honor is one built on

The government says your voice matters, that they will listen to their fellow American citizens and uphold this very idea of freedom for all. But I have never seen this demonstrated. The idea of our democratic government is one filled with corruption and lies.

I am not choosing sides; I do not identify as a political person. I am simply criticizing the blatant contradictory statements and ideas that our leaders spoonfeed us to get our votes. It was never about the well-being of the American people, but of the money that those same people can make for them.

This country is not one of equal opportunities, and especially not one of justice. Although I can recognize that I have many freedoms that other people may never get the chance to dream about, we cannot continue to preach our perfection when we are far from it.

People in the United States owe at least $88 billion in medical debt according to Consumer Finance. The leading cause

Even if you have health insurance, you are not safe.

The National Library of Medicine defines the healthcare sector as, “one of the most corrupt sectors in many countries.”

Driven by greed, those large corporations that are put in place to help alleviate the impact of medicine on the pockets of its beneficiaries are denying the needed support to its people, as this would lead to the loss of company money.

Healthcare companies can deny anyone coverage. Companies also can deny anyone applying to receive this insurance as well. The list containing reasons to not cover people is one that is long, ranging from the person having too high of a BMI to prior medical issues including mental health struggles. We preach accessibility for all and criticize those who do not have it when it is truly not a simple thing to receive.

Insurance companies can look through all the past medical records of their users.

They use their records against you. Finding the smallest incon-

The government does not care how you feel, and it never has. The rich have all the power in the country and control the very ideas and policies put in place today. The average American does not and will never have a say in their rights and liberties.

The ruling force of American politics is money and profit. How the rich can maintain their income and luxuries is the top thing on the agenda, not how to feed the people on the streets or provide better income for our workers. The total cost of living in Maryland is $2155 for one person according to livingcost.org. The minimum wage is $12.50. You would need to work a minimum of 172.4 hours per month to meet this amount. This, however, does not take into account the loss of income from taxes, cost of food, medical expenses, and many other personal factors.

This issue is deeply rooted, and without policies in place, it will never change.

These policies also fail to be implemented because it is also these very people pulling the strings that control the power in our democratic and capitalist nation.

The government isn't controlled by the people, nor will it ever be. The average citizen has no say in their rights and freedoms that are preached as guaranteed.

For a country that was built on the idea of freedom and “justice for all,” it seems that this is the last thing on our politicians' agendas. Do not claim the idea of us being the best country when there are countless people on the street being hate-crimed, discriminated against, and let down by the very systems put in place to help protect them.

Look around any big city you enter. Within a few blocks of each other, you see the disparity between the people with three Teslas and those who can't put food on the table.

You see the struggle of keeping the trash off the sidewalk of the fortunate only to dump it into Section 8 housing.

America was created on the principle of freedom and liberty. We continue to praise this about ourselves, deeming we are one of the few that allow our people to have rights.

The idea that everyone in this country is created equal is false. The single driving force in America is not the people, but rather the income they can create.

Influencers stuck living in false realities

Doing absurb things for views, likes, and money

to these videos is a nice little eye roll, pretty much every time.

Now, I am not saying there are not good people out there, because there definitely are, but seeing these people that aren’t even celebrities doing these things–let alone filming and uploading them–has me annoyed.

I believe in many conspiracy theories about these influencers, but let’s start with the difference between a celebrity and an influencer.

I don't want you who are reading this to think I'm talking about famous actors like Jennifer Aniston or Mila Kunis.

Who am I kidding? It was terrible.

There are many other things that can be said about these influencers, but the main point is how this is not only tiring to us, but you should also feel some sort of remorse for them.

I think her parents are forcing her to collaborate with all these brands just so she can stay famous and well-known so they can pay for their now very large and expensive house, and also buy many expensive things for themselves.

MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor/Studio Manager

I think everyone is familiar with social media, whether you have it or not. Many of us also know the concept of an influencer, but how much of it is real?

I’d guess pretty much none of it, and no one can tell me any different.

Think about it: how many times have you seen a famous “influencer” on TikTok or Instagram film themselves or have someone film them helping the homeless or doing something for “the good of humanity?” All I have to give

It’s not just this either. There is this guy on TikTok that I see all the time (you might have seen him, or you might not have) who wastes an absurd amount of food

. For example, one of his videos is him using a Starbucks cup and dumping an enormous amount of coffee, sugar, caramel, and ice to make fun of how some girls make their coffee.

He also has a video basically doing the same thing, but with spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce.

There are people out in the world who are hungry, very hungry, and these people decide to use their money to buy products and waste them.

Not even in normal quantities, but in abnormally large ones.

I'm talking about these people who “got famous” on TikTok such as Charli D’Amelio or Addison Rae.

Their lives are not real; they make videos of themselves dancing to random songs and get millions of likes and make a lot of money by just dancing.

Meanwhile, other people are working 9-5’s and making barely enough to get by.

They also think that just because they are now famous on this app, they should now do other things like make music.

I mean, have you heard the song that was written by Charli? Not to mention Addison Rae starring in the movie on Netflix He’s All That when the acting was not that good at all.

No, I am not a fan of these kinds of people. However, I do tend to feel bad for them sometimes because the kind of life they are living can be very draining.

People expect all this stuff out of them all at once to the point where they basically throw their old life away.

Charli is my age, only one year older, and she went to high school just like every normal person does. But, ever since she peaked in 2020 on TikTok,

She was expected to post all these videos because people wanted to see them. She also got bullied a lot online. She made a lot of money, and she and her family moved to a bigger house and now have their own reality show. Personally,

This is just one example of how this kind of life changed these people’s perspectives on the world and how it works.

Part of me wonders if it’s really all worth it to these people. Yeah, money is cool and all (sometimes I wish I was rich), but money changes people a lot, and that is something

I personally would hate to experience, so I do not know how these people do it.

Influencers are one of the world's greatest conspiracy theories to me. I want to know how much of it is real.

But, I am a firm believer that these people were created just to cheat the system and have their life handed to them on a silver platter, and I am not here for it.

News Editors: Alexa Falls, Kris Gray

Opinion/Editorial Editors: Noel Bailey, Mackenzie Scott Features Editor: Isabel Kropkowski

IDR Editor: Emily Johnson Society, Students & Culture Editor: Meghan Kalck Video Editor: Matthew Ledford Copy Editors: Ben Iampieri, Lily Corcoran Events Coordinator: Bella Arist

Health and Science Editor:

Mekenzie McCann

Entertainment Editor: Kimberly Edgar Sports Editors: Reese Showalter, Stella Manns Social Media Coordinator & Business Manager: Kensington Boyanich Reporters: Kimberly Allen, Bryn Cespedes, Emma Cornman, Alexis Gott, Riley Herold, Gabby Moxham, Jack O’Connor, Brookelyn Priebe, Brianna Seiser, Sarah Welzant

Announcements Tech: Meghan Kalck

The Cry of the Hawk newspaper is published 10 times a year by North Harford’s Journalism II/III class. All editorials and viewpoints express the feelings of those on the staff and not necessarily those of fellow students, administrators, or teachers. Please do not hesitate to submit letters to Advisor Jen Chandler in room D207. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, must be signed, and may not contain vulgarity.

KRIS GRAY BROOKELYN PRIEBE

Now, I love Secret Santa, and I don’t know how a person couldn’t. It’s the perfect way to sled into the holiday spirit. There are so many jolly aspects that come with random gift exchange:

The element of surprise watching your person react to the gift sparks a sense of amazing anxiousness and excitement. It allows you to comprehend what your friends truly think about you.

Receiving a present from an unknown gifter makes you feel acknowledged. Secret Santa mimics the meaning of Christmas: the gift of giving. Everyone giggles like children on Christmas morning, waiting to see what’s under the wrapping paper.

The only instance where it couldn’t be enjoyable is if the participants aren’t involved. The entire essence of the game is to have dedicated, invested people who will try their best at fulfilling their recipient’s desire. But, when you come across a lazy, coal-hearted grinch, the supposed festivity becomes a burden.

What’s not to like about giving and receiving unknown gifts? Maybe you don’t like it because you can’t stand the concept of considering someone else. Or, maybe you’re too picky to enjoy what you might receive. Either way, you suck, non-Secret Santas.

For the record, in Secret Santa, you’re not supposed to give people specific things such as clothes or personal items. They are supposed to be gag gifts or stocking stuffers like fuzzy socks or a customized mug.

This is how it stays fun and simple. There’s no reason why a person would be unhappy with those gifts. So, you don’t have to worry if the person you’re giving to doesn’t like what they receive. It’s just a lighthearted game, not a competition.

The origins of the game are undecided, but it seems to stem from a specific event. According to Bustle, a philanthropist named Larry Dean Stewart is thought to be the “original Secret Santa.” He started the idea of giving anonymous gifts during the holiday season. He did this by anonymously donating $100 bills to people in the state of Kansas and $25,000 to New Yorkers after the 9/11 attacks. This is just an example of the meaning of Secret Santa and the blessing it can be to people who are suffering. It’s not about how much the gift costs or who is giving it, it is the principle. The sentiment, the thought. If that is not what Christmas is about, then I don’t know what is.

MATTHEW LEDFORD

If you are the type of person who finds going out on the hunt for a real Christmas tree better than going into your attic, we need to talk.

Maybe you haven’t heard the facts: according to studies, 63% of all people who put up Christmas trees will use a fake one. That alone should tell you something.

I want you to imagine that you go to the store and you need to buy a tree for your family. While there, you have the choice between those lame real trees and the amazing long-lasting artificial trees.

Inflation has caused a growth in tree prices across the U.S. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average cost of a natural Christmas tree last year was about $70. This year, the Real Christmas Tree Board says it's expected to climb to nearly $100 and with that being said, who's to say that it's not going to continue to climb in the years to come?

Real Christmas tree supporters will say, “but an artificial tree is more expensive,” and with that, they are half right. You can always buy down and up in quality, but the average price of a medium sized artificial tree is around $200. That’s a ONE time cost.

But where a real Christmas tree is only good to be used for just one use, your extravagant artificial Christmas tree can last anywhere from ten to 20 years if cared for properly

And don’t get me started about tree care; the list of things that needs to be done in order to keep those pesky real trees alive and not looking like it has a nasty cold goes on forever. That fake tree is like actors in your favorite movies who wake up looking perfectly polished.

Pesky real trees need to be watered every day, and unless you like your living room looking like it's a pine forest, these trees seem like a bad idea.

Even though some people enjoy going out and cutting down a Christmas tree for the so-called adventure, most people do not realize the harm that this has on the environment. Each year, there are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

That is the number of trees that are removed from the environment roughly each year. The way trees' make food is a process known as photosynthesis which involves absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in its wood.

Yes people, we need oxygen to survive. When we remove the trees, we make this process a lot harder. That makes artificial trees even more amazing by not only helping people save money and time but ultimately helping the world.

As if they could not get any better, unlike real trees, most artificial Christmas trees are made of flame retardant chemicals.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas; I love opening gifts and I love getting gifts on Christmas morning, but one of my least favorite things is doing a Secret Santa. I’m not the greatest at gift-giving to begin with, and if you are doing Secret Santa with a group of people -some who you aren’t too terribly close withit’s hard to get them a gift because you aren’t sure of what they like.

So, if you pick a name of someone you don’t know well (and you most likely will, because fate isn’t always in our favor... At all), the gift you get them isn’t going to be thoughtful or good. It’s going to be a waste of money, and why would you want to do that? Why would you spend your hard earned money that you’ve worked for on something that’s a waste, like a box of Bob Ross mints or a pair of socks (although fun, cute socks are an amazing gift)?

It’s not about laziness or carelessness or anything along those lines, it is simply just a waste of money to buy something meaningless for someone. It’s probably going to be given away or regifted anyways. Also, not to bring up the fact that it will bring “fun” amounts of stress.

If you really wanted to get someone a gift, then go ahead and buy it for them; you don’t need to do a Secret Santa to have an excuse to buy someone a gift, and while you’re buying that said gift, at least you’re doing it for someone you actually want to buy it for and spending your hard-earned money on someone of your own choice.

That sounds mean, but really, think about it; would you rather buy something for someone that you want to buy for, or buy something for someone that you aren’t close with and get a meaningless gift for them?

Not to mention the fact that it’s also awkward opening a gift from someone anonymously, because who are you going to thank? No one, because you don’t know who got you it. It is painfully awkward to receive a gift and sit there and be like, “OMG, I love it, thanks!” when that’s a complete lie. You don’t love it; it’s a pointless gift and it’s just dumb.

JENNIFER CHANDLER

This time of year can be challenging-- picking out the perfect presents, planning parties, and preparing to make and bake cookies- it’s no surprise that people want to cut corners when they can.

I could cave into convenience. Clearly, it would be easier to climb the attic or basement steps to retrieve an artificial tree from a box or a bag. It might even be considered a one-time investment with years and years of return.

So you might be wondering why I am anti-artificial. It’s actually pretty simple. Picking out the tree brings me joy. Sure we have to hop in the car, coordinate schedules, and traipse through the freezing cold to pick out the perfect tree, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We probably spend more time than we should searching for the ideal tree–and truth be told, we mark more than one, take pictures, and compare them from all different angles until we are satisfied with the one that will head home with us. We’re not super picky, really.

Honestly, I think our list of expectations isn’t unlike other fellow real-tree-lovers. If you end up taking residence with us, you need to be the ideal size. Your branches can’t be flimsy. You have a shape. And your smell, you must have that piney, woodsy scent that welcomes you into a room each and every time you enter it.

Yes, a real tree requires a little more effort… okay, a lot more, if we’re being honest. You’ve got to water it, there’s no guarantee it will fit perfectly into your tree stand or the spot you picked to put it, and there’s always a chance that it might fall over and crush years of memories made up of priceless ornaments you have carefully hung.

There’s always the possibility that you will spend a lot of time picking up needles ou Feelings lost in translation; Arguments over text do not work Feelings lost in translation; Arguments over text do not work t of your carpet long after Christmas is over, but those things are all small.

And when it comes down to it, there’s just one BIG reason that fake trees bother me most. Nothing is out of place. There are no empty spots.

Or holes. Or crooked trunks or misshaped branches. They’re perfect. And if you’re anything like me, perfection creates stress.

And even if it’s just a tree, I don’t want or need any more pressure in my life. Instead, I will take the gentle glow of a real tree, flawed as it may be, because it reminds me that what might look a little off-centered.

Misconceptions of believing victims; Not all victims are identical

Believing victims has seemed to become a concept that is extremely hard for some individuals to grasp, and it really shouldn’t be.

The number of times that multiple people have asked, “Well, what if the girl is lying, and the guy gets falsely accused and his life is ruined?” in response to a question not even specifying that the victim is a female or even a rape victim in the first place is absurd.

Although that is a very real possibility, false accusations of rape reports “are consistently very low, ranging from 2% to 10%,” according to Brown University.

The truth is, believing victims does not only come down to only believing female victims. The concept to believe all victims is a broad, overarching umbrella term.

And the fact that when this umbrella term is used - it seems to get a response focusing on women who’ve experienced sexual assault. This just sounds like people do understand one of the problems that occurs all over the world, but they jump to the conclusion that involves the victim being the bad guy? Interesting.

To believe all victims first means exactly what it says. To believe all victims, such as survivors of domestic violence, stalking,

theft, rape, sexual misconduct, and any other form of the multiple types of victimization that is seen in this world today. To believe any type of victim first. And because any of those things can happen to anyone, believing all victims doesn’t mean believing just women. It means believing men, too. A misunderstanding of believing victims is that it means to just believe women who were assaulted. But it doesn’t mean that at all.

Victims can be men and women. Both are very real and very relevant occurrences; victims can be different from each other.

When anyone comes to someone in search of them to be believed and helped because they are a victim, believe them, regardless of their sex and situation.

It takes so much courage to come to someone in hopes of being believed. There are so many misconceptions around what it is to believe victims and how to help. Helping someone in need does not consist of telling them they are overreacting, being dramatic, or saying that the person who did that to them would never do that. No one knows how someone could have treated a victim. If a survivor comes to you, it means that you’re important person. That is why the experience is being shared with you; because you are trusted, that survivor needs you. So give victims that chance to be believed and heard.

Stop ridiculing what makes people happy

depression? Concepts that are different to us are easy to ridicule since it’s pretty much our first reaction to everything before we stop to consider why people may like it so much.

LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor

As high schoolers, we all know the feeling of being so into something–whether that be a sport, a genre of music, a franchise, etc.–that it completely defines you. You go around wearing merch, you post about it constantly online, and you talk about it to all your friends...only for you to get brutally made fun of by the people around you.

What the heck is that about?

It’s not much of a surprise, to say the least–I’d guess that all of us have made fun of something another person likes at least once; we were all middle schoolers once, after all. However, now we’re in high school; it’s time to start being mature, act our ages, and stop criticizing the things that make people happy.

This most likely comes from a lack of understanding. How can someone enjoy something as childish as Netflix cartoons such as She-Ra? How can someone listen to metalcore music if all it is is screaming and lyrics about

Some people may find comfort in the characters of the shows they watch. People connect to music for many reasons, such as religion, nostalgia, or just because they like the way it sounds. It’s not your place to judge these people for enjoying the things they like just because you may not like it.

I’m not going to lie; I am very guilty of being a judgemental person. For example, my mother is one of those infamous Christmas fanatics. She plays the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack on loop, brings decorations out right after Thanksgiving, and gives me daily reminders of how close we are to Christmas. Usually, I’d just scoff at her and walk away, but then I took into consideration why I shouldn’t do that: my mom loves the holiday season because she loves being with her family. She loves the vibes, watching the movies from when she was a kid, and watching the snow fall on the ground.

Who am I to judge that? It makes her happy, so it wouldn’t kill me to just let her enjoy the season while it lasts.

I also have a friend that is super into K-Pop. She loves groups like Stray Kids, Twice, and Aespa. All she does is listen to and appreciate music, but she gets dunked

on all the time for it. She gets bombarded with questions like, “Why do you listen to it if you can’t speak Korean?” or “Why do you like those guys, anyway? They look like girls.”

First of all, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy something in a language you can’t understand. The fact that we can find solace in things that are foreign to us is truly something that we need to appreciate more. Plus, I didn’t see anyone worrying about that back in 2017 when literally everyone was dancing to Despacito. It makes you guys look like hypocrites, if you couldn’t tell.

Second, why do you care if male K-Pop idols supposedly look like girls? I think you’re just insecure that they have healthier-looking skin than you do. It’s all in the skincare, y’all.

Now, I’m not trying to say that people with certain interests are superior to those with others; we all have things that we love and find happiness in. Some people love football, some people like anime, some people like country music, and some people love Timothée Chalamet. We’re all different people with different interests. We all want to be happy and enjoy our lives while we can, so why do some people have to go and ruin it for others? As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, it shouldn’t be a problem.

It’s time to start worrying about your own problems, not the fact that someone likes something that you don’t vibe with.

Stop warping people’s reality; True crime is not for your theories

Multiple true crime cases have been brought to light, with people showing their condolences on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and more. However, there are so many negatives to be considered when people are making these stories into their true crime puzzle.

TikTok and YouTube have their fair share of true crime content creators. Most of them speak with respect towards the victims; but, some do not listen to their audience and the families. They post videos on cases where the family prefers it not be publicized and put a spin on a story of events to make a more entertaining video. Most recently, there has

been an uprising of creators onTikTok in which they create videos displaying the case but then giving the bias of their opinions on suspects, how the case went down, etc.

To explain this further, there are creators on TikTok that will post their opinions on suspects and say things such as “There’s no way this happened,” or, “It has to be [anyone related to the victims somehow], they were suspicious because…” This can be very damaging to the people that are trying to grieve for their lost family or friends. The added problem of the entire world thinking they are guilty of something burdens them, even though they have been cleared by the police. It is understandable to say that things can look suspicious, or that

some things “don’t add up,” but you, as an outsider, never know all of the information that forensic and police investigators know.

According to The New York Times, “Entire cable channels and an endless churn of documentaries and podcasts tackle every angle and flavor of crime and criminal, while social media offers fans a way to participate.” The world saw this happen last year with 22-yearold Gabrielle Petito. “[She] disappeared while on a road trip with her fiancé, prompting a torrent of media coverage that rarely happens for the hundreds of thousands of other people reported missing each year in the United States,” says The New York Times. People on TikTok and YouTube were

Teachers should not force students to present;

Every teen’s worst fear comes true when a teacher says the word “presentation.” Some teens have no worries about it, while others internally die with the fear of speaking and standing in front of the whole class.

Presentations aren’t for everyone. The concept itself is not that difficult, but for many teens, class presentations are some of the most nerve-wrack-

ing things to come in school. While it may seem insignificant to those who do not struggle to speak in front of others, the fear of standing in front of the class to present can be paralyzing to the rest.

What’s the point of all this stress just for a simple grade that isn’t fair? Teachers grade the presentations mostly on performance. This includes eye contact, tone of voice, and movements.

Many teens today have very bad anxiety about most things. But one factor that makes them have

Provide a

it really bad is public speaking. They can’t help to stutter, fidget a lot, and make no eye contact because they are so worried about messing up already and just being up there in front of everyone. The teachers put teens in this position of failure even though they are just trying to help. But the thing is, it’s not helping; it’s just giving teens more anxiety. Not only does the fear of public speaking come to play, but the fear of getting a good grade is also a huge factor. Most teens get more nervous because they want

creating videos describing all the public information on the case and including their opinions on what could have happened to her, and their suspicions on her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.

This is currently happening now with the murders of four Idaho University students: Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. They were all found in the rental home that was rented out by the three girls listed and two other roommates. Currently, people online are pointing fingers at the two other roommates as they were home and supposedly did not hear anything during the attacks during the night.

The two other girls are trying to grieve for the four friends

that they lost that night, while most of the internet is pointing suspicions on to them.

Others online have taken it to another extreme and are digging into the victims lives to give their theories on neighbors, ex-boyfriends, friends, and more.

Let these people grieve and let investigators do their work. They have been ruling people out for a reason. With the internet hounding the cases, it is hard for actual evidence to stay out there.

Keeping the case alive for people to come forward with information is the best people can do when making videos. Keep the suspicions and theories to yourself. Participating in theroies about real people is doing more harm than good.

separate option for class presentations

to get a good grade, but know they won’t because they aren’t good with public speaking. This isn’t their fault, as teens can’t control their nervousness, no matter how hard they try. This is why there should be an alternative to presentations.

Alternatives give students equal opportunities to shine in ways they can and feel more comfortable with. Students can learn the same information without having to go through the stress of presenting.

Yes, encouraging teens to

speak in front of the crowd may help them in the future, but forcing them to do it is just going to make them hate it more. Most teens in the future won’t choose to talk in front of big crowds, and if they do it's usually the people who come easier too.

Presentations are just unnecessary stressors on top of everything else going around. Alternatives should be an option for teens and will help relieve that unnecessary stress of presenting.

Holiday parades light up Harford County; Community comes together for holidays

REESE SHOWALTER Sports Editor

It is that time of year again when there are holiday parades taking place all throughout Harford County. There were multiple that took place in the last few weeks including the Highland Tractor, Bel Air, Havre de Grace, and Aberdeen's holiday parades. All of these took place over the first weekend in December.

The annual Highland Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade started here at North Harford High School and ended at Falling Branch Brewery. It took place on Saturday, Dec. 3. At the conclusion, there were pictures with Santa, music, food trucks, local vendors, and more after the event at the brewery. Senior Piper Wright said, “We [her family] saw the tractor parade. We live pretty close so we thought it would be nice to go see it as a family. It was really pretty and really unique to this area, you

don't see tractor parades happening all the time.”

There were about 50 pieces of equipment and in total, the event lasted about an hour from North Harford to Falling Branch. Many members of the community and members of the school attended

Bel Air.

The NH band was in the event this year. Senior Reilly Holmstrom said, “I went to the parade this year, it was really crowded this year. It kind of shocked me. I didn't know that our band was going to be a part of the parade this year. It was really cool to see some of my friends while watching. It was a nice surprise.”

JVFC spreads Christmas cheer

MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor/

Every year, different fire houses around the county drive around in different neighborhoods to bring some Christmas cheer to different kids and families. On different nights in December, these firehouses transport Santa Claus around in a parade of emergency vehicles.

Studio Manager they “clean all of the fire engines” so that they look nice, and they have to make sure they are lined up in the right order of vehicles before leaving that station for the night.

As for weather, the company still goes out if it rains or snows. However, if conditions get worse, such as icy roads and heavy downpours, they do not go out.

The Highland tractor parade took place the first weekend in December. Members of the community watch and attend the event.

PHOTO CREDIT: Heidi Skidmore Taylor

the event. Some students were a part of the parade and on the pieces of equipment.

Wright added, “It was really beautiful, all of the lights, and decorations for the holidays, it was just really pretty.” Bel Air celebrated the 40th anniversary of its holiday parade. It took place on Sunday, Dec. 4. The parade travels down Main Street in

FFA spreads holiday cheer; Students collect canned goods

STELLA MANNS Sports Editor

This holiday season, the FFA is making a difference in the community. Poinsettia sales and a holiday canned food donation are among those activities.

This year, according to FFA President James Ortt, junior, the club “decided to give a box for donations to all department chairs instead of per homeroom this year” for the canned food items. FFA will be collecting “up until the 16th of December,” says Ortt.

FFA vice president Cole Hellwig, junior, said that the FFA is planning to “use incentives for donations based on which department raises the most.”

According to Hellwig, agriculture and horticulture teacher Mrs. Hannah Schantz is giving her classes incentives for donating.

According to sophomore Grace Bauer, the canned food received in the donation “is being given to St. Mary’s Church.”

Along with the canned food donation, the poinsettia flower and wreath sale is happening in December. “Wreaths were made by all foundation and plant students,” according to Ortt.

The students have been “preparing for the poinsettia sale for a couple weeks,” according to Hellwig. Committee chairman Mia Coleman, junior, said that

since the event is so big, “they have to figure out where to order all the plants from” ahead of time.

This year, the FFA has sold around 613 poinsettias and about 314 wreaths.

For those who contribute the most by selling the most poinsettias and wreaths, “incentives will be given out,” says Hellwig. He adds that “half of the income money goes to the plant department.”

“On Black Friday this year,” some students from FFA “set up a stand to sell poinsettias and wreaths at Daily Crisis Farm,” in White Hall, MD, according to Bauer.

Looking ahead to the end of December, the FFA holiday bash/ December general meeting is planned for Dec. 16. There will be fun activities, similar to last year’s.” Ortt says that, “after the new year, we will branch out and expose new FFA members to what FFA really is.”

FFA buddies are planned to begin as well. “This means that new members can reach out to those with leadership positions for help,” says Ortt.

The buddy program is set to start after winter break so that once the new year begins, the club can “return and hit the ground running,” he says. Coleman says that “FFA buddies is a new way for the newer members to learn about FFA.”

At the end of the parade, there is a Christmas tree lighting. It takes place at the town hall. Holmstrom said, “I really love parades, every year I watch the Thanksgiving day parade and I always attend the Bel Air one. I really enjoyed all of it.” There were two others that took place in Harford County this year. They include both Havre de Grace and Aberdeen. The Havre de Grace parade took place on Dec. 2 with a tree lighting at the end. The Aberdeen parade took place on Dec. 3.

The Jarrettsville Fire Company traveled around the Jarrettsville area on Dec. 10, 17, 18, and 23 in the evening times around 6 p.m. each night. The fire company does their best to get to every road and court. However, some of the roads are not easily accessible in a non-emergency situation, according to the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page.

Fire chief Mr. John R. Simpson enjoys taking part in the runs because he enjoys “seeing the enjoyment of the kids” and parents when they come outside to see Santa.

The company tries to hit all the developments that they post on their Facebook. The company even has a “Santa Tracker” online where the parents can see where Santa is throughout the neighborhoods.

Senior Andrew Stanko is a firefighter who also helps with the Santa runs at the station, and he enjoys seeing the community and “having a good time” when they go out.

Every night before they go out,

So, what happens when an emergency occurs during a run? Well, the team has their gear with them on the engines in case that does happen. If an emergency occurs, Santa “breaks away,” from the other engines, Chief Simpson explains. The engines go respond to the following call while Santa keeps on going around the neighborhoods in the company’s ATV unit. No, they do not go to calls dressed as Santa but, “you never know,” adds Stanko.

The company does not just visit neighborhoods; they traveled to the Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli as well to visit the staff members.

On the nights the company goes out, they post the link to the Santa Tracker on their Facebook page for the parents. This is the company's way to help spread Christmas cheer throughout the area with this annual event for the community along with other events such as the Jarrettsville Train Garden that started at the end of November and is going through Jan. 15.

German club gets wrapped up in pretzel making fun

RILEY HEROLD Reporter

After many inconveniences throughout the years, the German club got to meet again to have some fun. During November German club got together to celebrate one of Germany’s festivals. This festival is called Oktoberfest, which is celebrated all around the world but mostly in Munich Germany. During this festival people snack on so many different treats. The most popular treat is large soft pretzels.

The German club decided to make these pretzels in order to be a part of the culture and celebrate it. Due to some scheduling issues they had to wait till November to celebrate but it was all worth it with these delicious pretzels.

These pretzels included ingredients such as flour, butter, salt, yeast, sugar, and egg wash. The process to make these pretzels didn’t take that long. It took about 10-15 minutes to set everything up, then about 30 minutes to make the pretzels, and then about 15 minutes for everything

to cook. Which rounds to about an hour.

Luke Dawson said “Getting started was kind of confusing as I had never made pretzels before but once I got into it, it was easy and really fun. The pretzels were so good. The bread was warm and so delicious to eat, especially

We were separated into groups of 3 so we had to learn how to work together while trying to figure out how to make pretzels.” He added “working in a kitchen together is sometimes hard but it was mostly entertaining. We'd joke with each other while making the food but overall it was a fun opportunity to have.”

Oktoberfest runs from Sept. 16 to the first Sunday in October. It normally runs for 16 days. This year’s Oktoberfest ran from Sept.16 to Oct. 3.

Oktoberfest began as a wedding celebration more than 200 years ago when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810.

with salt on top.”

During this fun activity, the club was split into groups of about 3 to try and work together. Each group made unique pretzels. Dawson’s group made Pepe Frog, another group made a mickey mouse one, and so many other cool fun ones.

Dawson said,“While making these pretzels I had lots of fun.

Oktoberfest celebrations can be found all over the world, but the main event is in Munich, Germany, where the first Oktoberfest was held.

The organization’s next activity was making German Christmas ornaments, held on Dec. 16th. But if you miss that, they usually do activities around the holidays like Oktoberfest, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter.

After a bit of twist and turns, the German club takes on a beloved snack in Germany during Oktoberfest.

PHOTO CREDIT: Riley Herold

Holiday events hosted by FFA, French Club New year brings new chances to join clubs

ALEXIS GOTT Reporter

As the new year approaches, students may be considering becoming more involved with their school and keeping up on grades for their new year’s resolution. And luckily for NH students, our school has many clubs to offer.

Some clubs are competitive, meaning there are end of the year events in which students can take home a well-earned title.

The academic team of NH, for example, contributes to a major event known as the County Academic Team Tournament, which is hosted at the end of the year. NH would be going against other high schools in Harford County. More details to be released as the year progresses.

The team is sponsored by Russel Blake, German teacher. The club focuses on having “fun with trivia” and gives students an opportunity to “expand their knowledge,” explains Blake.

“It is basically Jeopardy for high school students,” the teacher adds.

The club is open to all students interested and is an after-school activity. There are no strict requirements as the club meets throughout the year. Students involved in the club would be made aware before the events were to take place.

Any student who is interested in joining the club can “stop by room D307 Thursdays from 2:20 until 3 during [the club’s] practice sessions,” explained Blake.

Many clubs also host fun events for the members to attend to. In the month of December, many holiday parties begin to pop up for students to enjoy.

The FFA Club, for example, hosted their annual holiday bash on December 16.

In preparation for the event, sophomore Lilliana McGraw shared that she was “excited” for the bash. “It was a lot of fun last year, they had lots of games to play, and there was an ugliest Christmas sweater competition and a gingerbread house compe-

tition.”

If students are interested in participating in events like these hosted by the FFA, you can! McGraw shared that she joined FFA via “applications” which were found in Densmore’s and Schantz’s agriculture classrooms.

The French Club is another great club for students who are interested in learning more about the language, foods and culture and traditions of France.

Junior Sara Ford shares that she “is in French class as a pathway for school,” but she thinks that the class is “super fun.”

“I wanted a way to speak French and be with others who want to have fun with the language as well, which is why I joined the French club,” the junior adds.

Meetings are usually held during Hawks Soar according to Ford, and there are no requirements to join the club as well.

The French club plans to host holiday themed events the week before the school departs for winter break.

Chugging down holiday season tracks; JVFC opens seasonal train garden display

EMILY JOHNSON IDR Editor

Choo Choo! The Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company has opened their train garden, once again, for the holiday season. The

set up for the year, and then finishing touches are put on in late October and early November.

taining the displays.

Yearbook plans talent show

EMILY JOHNSON IDR Editor

Lights, camera, action! The yearbook team is hosting the annual student-teacher talent show, coming Friday, Feb. 10. The show will be held in the auditorium at 7pm, and admission is just five dollars ($5).

English teacher Mrs. Carla Harward, the yearbook adviser and varsity field hockey coach, explained that the show has been taking place “for at least five or six years” and that the yearbook class originally created the event.

The event has not taken place for two years, so the staff has been advertising and planning it

roles, like section editors and photographers.

The theme of the book this year has yet to be revealed, but the group can assure others that it would be worth it to purchase one. The cost is $75 per book, not including customization and add-ons.

It’s crucial to bring in enough profit in order to produce the books, hence the talent show and goal of high book sales. However, ads are also a large chunk of how the staff pays for the books.

According to Harward, “businesses in the past have been very gracious to sponsor our yearbook” when purchasing ads.

This display is set up as a small town, with a ski resort and railroad within it. The displays stayed up for most of the year, with finishing touches put on just a few weeks prior to opening.

CREDIT: APG News

experience is open from November 25 to January 15, and admission is free.

The garden has 5 separate areas, all with different looking layouts and interactive buttons. Many of the pieces are set up as small towns, with construction sites, trains, gas stations, carnivals, and even little FedEx trucks. There is even a small moving subway under one of the tables! The display stays almost completely

The garden has been open for 41 years and draws a crowd of 100-200 people each night. Aside from the actual train garden, JVFC members offer fire truck tours, and you can win a coupon to Jarrettsville Creamery by finding a specific small figurine hidden in the garden. Other community events also take place in the firehouse, such as a craft show, “Hump Day” food truck event, trunk or treat, and bingos. Any profit that the firehouse brings in from the holiday event is put back into the garden and main-

Freshman Charlie Rudolph visited the garden on November 26th, for the first time. He commented that “It was very creative, and you can tell a lot of work was put into it.” He also liked that it was interactive and found it fun to go around using the buttons to make pieces move. He personally liked the display with the tiniest trains the best.

This isn’t the only train garden around this time of year. The White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company also has displays that are open from November 25 to January 2, according to wmvfc. org.

The theme and cover of this years’ book has yet to be revealed. However, the 2021 book was themed “Bold, Bright, Beginnings.” PHOTO CREDIT: STAFF

since the end of November.

Junior Lilly Moody explained that the yearbook staff will be “doing an opening act and an actual act” in the show, along with the journalism staff. “Some teachers also plan on singing and dancing” as well, according to Moody. To sign up, visit Mrs. Harward’s room, E312, or complete the form that will be sent out via HCPS email to students.

The yearbook staff also has been hard at work creating the 2022-2023 yearbook since September. The staff’s goal this year is to sell at least 500 books. So far, they have sold over 200. The group of juniors and seniors have also split up responsibilities and assigned each other different

Local businesses and companies can opt to purchase an ad to support the class and their work, and any interested businesses can contact the school, or www. jostens.com.

Parents also have the opportunity to create a personal ad to congratulate their senior(s), and these ads can include pictures and words of encouragement for their kiddos.

Parents who are interested can go to www.jostens.com. After searching for NHHS, click on recognition ad to design an ad.

Pictures and messages can be added right on the website. “It’s like putting a Christmas card together on Shutterfly,” jokes Harward.

PHOTO

Local train garden brings community together; Display set up by Bel Air Armory

KIMBERLY ALLEN Reporter

Two years ago, local train enthusiast Mr. Joe Bragg created the train garden behind the Bel Air Armory. It is free and open to the public this holiday season on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am-5pm.

Bragg said, “I decided to start the train garden because of Winter Wonderland on Main Street. I live in Bel Air, so I thought that it would be nice to bring something like this to the community. I’m also part of the Train Club and the Circus Club, and we do similar setups during different seasons. One day I called someone and asked about possibly having the train garden. They thought that it was a great idea, and that’s how the train garden in Bel Air started.”

Local Business owner Mr. Mike Bertoldi commented, “Mr. Bragg has been one of my long-time customers at Splish & Splash Car Wash and M&J Auto. The train garden brings the people of our community together by showing how our community is always growing and how much it has grown over the years. It is also a very beautiful piece of artwork that people enjoy seeing every year. It instills pride in our accomplishments

over time and may inspire others to do things that will help contribute to the community in the future. If anything, it makes me feel proud to be a part of this community and happy to give people a good experience that they will remember for years to come.” The displays at the train garden present miniature models of local businesses in Bel Air decked up for the season. Bragg wants to support local businesses through the trains. This gives the train garden a hometown feel,

ments, “It’s important for small local businesses to get continued support from their communities. The train garden advertises businesses through its artistic models and the display might encourage more support for local businesses that might not have been noticed before.”

“I think that what makes what I do worth it is seeing the smiles on people’s faces. Everybody can enjoy the train garden, and that makes me happy. A lot of adults say that the trains bring back

New students join Hawks’ Nest

KRIS GRAY News Editor

North Harford High School received many new students, some of them entering after the first quarter. Three of the students are junior Lance Sunderhaus, who left Harford Technical High School, senior Boluwatife “Sam” Oje and sophomore Toluwanise “Tolu” Oje, who both left Loch Raven High School.

Sunderhaus explains that he left Harford Tech because he “lost interest” and “wasn’t exactly having fun doing three hours of carpentry every other day.” He doesn’t feel affected by starting late in the year because he knows “a lot of people that can help [him] get around the school.”

Sunderhaus thanks the office for “being super helpful with getting [him] transferred.” He is “taking [a lot] of the same classes,” so his education will not be affected.

The junior’s relationships haven’t been affected “since [he’s] still talking to much of the same people.” He is happy “to be back and see everyone again.” In regards to sports, he is hoping to get involved with football and lacrosse.

Sam and Tolu Oje are siblings that moved to North Harford together. Tolu thinks that, “it’s kind of nerve-wrack - ing because everyone has their own friend groups and [she is] just here.”

On the other hand, Sam “feels fine. [He] thinks [he’s] a lit- tle more mature, so [he’s] used to change.” The brother and sis- ter both did lots of research before coming to the school.

Sam believes NHHS is no different than “any high school” be- cause being a minority here “is no different than life in America.” According to Tolu, “everyone seems to be nice.”Sam was involved in wrestling but stopped “because he started working.” Also, Tolu wants to join the National Honor Society because she was in it at her old school. The student is also “thinking of doing track and volleyball since there is no badminton, because [she] did it at [her] old school.” She feels that the experience is easier, “because [she is] with her brother. [However], she misses her friends from Loch Raven.”

according to Bragg. People can look at the trains and recognize the businesses, which makes it feel more relatable. Bertoldi com-

positive memories,” adds Bragg. This season, visit the Bel Air Train Garden by the Armory with friends and family!

Changing schools can affect students in multiple ways. Acccording to effectivechildtherapy.org, a student may experience adjustments not just to education, but their social life. For example, in a new school, “there may be differences in the curriculum, as well as differences in teaching styles and expectations.” Another effect could be “new/different pressures related to social media, school activities, even riding the bus.” These could all be considered “anxiety-producing.”

Dungeons and Dragons coming ablaze; Students follow their story

KIMBERLY EDGAR ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“Meetings are largely chaotic because D&D [Dungeons and Dragons] is an improv game, so everyone is trying to get their point across without getting talked over in order to create the story in their own vision,” says junior Corbin Peacock. Peacock is new to D&D, but attends every meeting which lasts two hours. He adds that a D&D session could last six hours or more, it is all up to the players; some even dedicate an entire weekend to storytelling.

D&D is a role-playing board game, hosted by the Dungeon Master (DM), who is the game’s storyteller. According to dndwizards.com, in D&D, “the players form an adventuring party who explore fantasy worlds together as they embark on epic quests and level up in experience.”

The game is focused around creating a story and advancing through roleplay of different characters. There is no winning

or losing the game, the sole objective is to create and tell fantasy stories.

The meetings are held in Mr. Bill Wardle’s room (D206), typically on Thursdays from 2-4pm. Wardle provides a room and a space for students to enjoy the game, and more importantly, enjoy themselves.

According to Wardle, it wasn’t his idea to create the club. He personally didn’t know much about D&D, but when senior Koal Hohman brought the idea to him, he was more than willing to support his plans.

Hohman explains that he has been interested in D&D for so long that he doesn’t remember

when he first started to be. He heard about D&D clubs at other schools and wanted to know what it would take to make it happen here. “It [wasn’t as hard] as I expected, so I went through with [starting the club],” says Hohman.

The game can’t develop into storytelling without creating characters and sorting groups, adds Hohman. “After that, it is just chaotic fun.” There isn’t a universal winning element to D&D but several members of the club mention that there can be a sense of winning if players reach their individual goals or complete the story. “The DM decides the story essentially, but most [goals] include a final boss for [each player],” ex-

plains Hohman.

Junior Justin Pritt has been involved with D&D for two years and he joined to play with more people that enjoyed it just like he did. “Personally, my goal is to have fun. You follow the motivation that you’ve decided for your character, and I suppose that can be considered [my goal],” says Pritt. Goals can be something like slaying a dragon or starting a successful business. The game changes depending on the player’s choices and every comment from players impacts the story heavily.

Pritt explains that he changes his character with the start of each campaign. A campaign is a series of linked adventures, “I make a new character for each campaign, and I make them all unique,” says Pritt. “The one I’m using for the club is a man burdened by the terrible secrets of his time, and he is a wizard.”

All members encourage people to join them because “we’re a bunch of cool people, so no pressure, ” adds Pritt.

One part of the train garden displays a miniature version of The Frozen Sandcastle, an ice cream and snowball shop in Bel Air. Many other references to Bel Air businesses are sprinkled throughout the garden.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Bragg

“It’s kind of nerve-wracking because everyone has their own friend groups and [she is] just here.”

- Tolu Oje, Sophomore

D&D club meets every Thursday after school. Members appreciated having a place to tell their stories.PHOTO CREDIT: STAFF

Rewind: Blast from the

Rewind: the Past

Celebrities under fire for anti-semitic comments

KRIS GRAY News Editor

In a matter of days, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has had his accounts on Instagram and Twitter suspended following a slew of antisemitic posts. The artist has a history of making controversial comments.

The most recent comments were posted on Twitter late November. One of them included him saying, “when I wake up, I’m going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE…The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semetic (SIC) because black people are actually Jew also… (SIC) You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball (SIC) anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

Ye’s antisemitic beliefs seem to stem from his conspiracy theory that “Jewish media '' and “zionists” are the cause of offenses against him. He believes “the Jewish community, especially in the music industry… they’ll take us and milk us till we die.” The rapper continues to take interviews bashing the Jewish community.

In an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, he references the “Jewish under-

ground media mafia” and claims that “every celebrity has Jewish people in their contract.” Ye continues by detailing how his life was “threatened” by his Jewish managers, lawyer, and accountant due to his political beliefs.

Junior Roger Carey believes that Ye “wanted [this] to happen.” Carey finds the artists’ ac-

According to Adidas, The comments have prompted the company to “terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products, and stop all payments to Ye and his companies.” The company finds Ye’s actions to “violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion.”

Other companies have parted ways with the artist including Balenciaga, Gap, and his own talent agency, CAA (Creative Artists Agency).

Professional Basketball player Kyrie Irving is also under fire for posting a link to an Anti-Semetic film on Twitter.

Teachers discusss books, finding joy in literature

KIMBERLY ALLEN Reporter

tions to be purposeful, opposing some peoples’ assertion that Ye is mentally unstable and in need of help. The student thinks Ye “knows what he’s doing.”

The artist posted a snippet of his future song, “Someday We’ll All Be Free” on Instagram which seems to be about the incident. A line in the song says, “tweeted def con, now we past three” in reference to his comment on Twitter.

According to the New York Times, Irving refused to apologize or acknowledge the controversy for a week, “prompting the Nets on November third to suspend him indefinitely.” The basketball player eventually apologized but this did not stop Nike from ending its relationship with the athlete.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, don’t think Irving is Anti-Semetic, but don’t think it excuses “the damage caused by the posting of hateful content.”

Avatar back for first time since 2009; Film projected to make billions

STELLA MANNS Sports Editor

Thirteen years ago, Avatar, the science fiction film, hit theaters. Now 4,746 days later, the second installment in the franchise is scheduled to do the same.

Avatar: The Way of Water is set to release Dec. 16 in theaters. The original movie is the highest-grossing film of all time according to cbr.com.

The original Avatar film had a large budget of $237 million, while the new film has an even greater budget of $250 million.

After this film comes out, it is expected that every other year a new installation will hit theaters until 2028.

That means there will be a total of five films in the franchise. To keep the storyline cohesive, “each film was written in tandem,” according to cbr.com. This means that all the films in the series have been written one after another since 2009.

According to cbr.com, the main actors in the film had to go through “free- diving training.” One actress in the film, Kate Winslet, learned to hold her breath for “seven and a half min-

utes.”

Most of the film takes place under water; the director, James Cameron, wanted a realistic look to the movie. Filming underwater was the easiest way to accomplish this.

ever, the second film must meet a certain goal for the movie to be profitable. At least $2 billion has to be brought in by Avatar: The Way of Water in order for the film to break even.

A reading club for teachers meets monthly to discuss novels that the group typically votes on.. This month, the teachers are reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

English teacher Mrs. Kathleen Lemke said, “My favorite thus far was the one that we just finished. It is called The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill.”

Teachers involved hav different processes for choosing a book.

When picking a new book to read, English teacher Mrs. Emilie Philips says, “Genre plays the

on the season. In fall, I read more thrillers, Christmas books in December, and beachy/vacation books in the summer. I also get a lot of suggestions from TikTok (#BookTok).”

"I think that it is important for students to read, because it will help them in their everyday life. Truly, it will,” commented Phillips, “Students who are efficient readers turn out to be more effective at writing, are able to have an easier time grasping difficult concepts and are better communicators. Reading only helps student success.”

Science teacher Mrs. Christine

Avatar: The Way of Water is set to hit theaters Dec. 16.

The movie has already begun a world premiere tour.

The original installment made a whopping $2.922 billion dollars according to collider.com. How-

In 2009, when the Avatar first showed, the millennials of today were teenagers. Gen Z was too young to watch the film and appreciate it. In the present day, Gen Z are teenagers, but this means that most Gen Z probably do not care about the second installment.

Out of 109 people polled, 40 said they were planning to watch Avatar: The Way of Water, and 69 said they were not planning to watch the sequel. This statistic could mean that Avatar: The Way of Water may not reach the needed $2 billion.

This poll supplies a worrisome idea that Avatar: The Way of Water will not reach the $2 billion goal.

Freshman Payton Dinbokowitz says that she “does like the first film” and she is planning to view the second one. She thinks that “forty percent” of the film is CGI, but in reality, sixty percent of the film is made with CGI technology.

biggest factor in what I decide to read. There are different genres that I have given a good shot at trying to like, and I just don't.”

Math teacher Mrs. Mikayla Corday mentioned, “There are a different things that determine my choice in what I read next. For example, last year I did Popsugar’s 2022 Reading Challenge, which helped me read books I wouldn’t normally go for. One of the challenges was to read a Hugo Award winning book, which is why I am reading The Fifth Season [by N.K. Jemisin] right now. Besides that, I like to read books based

Jestel states, “I became a better writer [and] communicator because of all the different styles of books that I have read.”

Reading is important for everyone,Corday states, “I think that reading is a great stress reliever and gives your eyes a break from screens. Reading also improves vocabulary and generally makes you a more knowledgeable person.”

Corday adds that she , “loves escaping into someone else’s story. It helps [her] wind down before bed and get a break from [her] phone and TV as well.”

Fans speculate why the artist recently changed his name. According to the Washington Post, his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian has openly condemned Ye’s actions saying, “hate speech is never OK or excusable.”

PHOTO CREDIT: MEGA/Getty

Lessons in Chemistry is the newest book read by the Teacher Book Club. The book is about a scientist who finds herself starring in a popular cooking show during the 1960s and is written by Bonnie Garmus.

Chorus hits the right notes

ALEXA FALLS News Editor

Earlier this month, students involved in music at the Nest tried out for all county chorus, band, and orchestra. Choir students share their experience with the auditions.

Senior and choir student Aiden Pistel shares that he “auditioned because after 3 years in choir I felt like I was ready for a more advanced choir.” He adds that he “already had a lot of friends who [had] great past experiences with all county.”

As for his experience with the audition, he says, “it had some challenges rhythmically, but otherwise our sheet music and sight reading challenges were not difficult.”

One of the two songs that choir students had to perform was German song ‘Waldesnacht’ by Johannes Brahams and Pistel says that he “spent 3-4 hours preparing that piece” and that song took him the longest to learn. He says his favorite part of his experience with the all county audition was when he overheard one of the instructors say “I like him.” He adds, “the experience was great as well, just learning about the other students’ choirs and experiences.”

Junior Kalyna Lloyd also made it to all county choir and she auditioned because “[she] wanted an opportunity to showcase my singing and to have a more advanced music

education.” She adds, “Plus you get to meet a lot of new people!”

Along with ‘Waldesnacht,’ Lloyd and all other students auditioning for all county choir were required to perform an excerpt from ‘I Am in Need of Music” by Elizabeth Bishop. It took her about 3 days to fully prepare and become familiar with the songs. Lloyd shares that “meeting the judges and realizing how kind they [are]. I also loved the feeling of doing well other than a few small things.”

Senior Julia Eakes who is also involved with choir says that all county is “a great musical opportunity to meet new people and work with really talented directors that I normally wouldn’t work with.” She said that she was “nervous because it was [her] first time auditioning.” Eakes ended up making it into all state choir rather than all county with her audition.

Senior Ethan Jourdan made it to all state choir along with Eakes. The reason Jourdan decided to audition was because “choir has been such a lovely and home-like experience for me, and I will always take up any opportunity I come across.”

He shares that with a lot of practice, he did very well at his audition and that learning both songs took him about two weeks. His favorite was “afterwards, when [he] got to talk with of [his] friends who were auditioning.”

New Netflix show surpasses Stranger Things 4

ALEXIS GOTT Reporter

SPOILER WARNING: Wednesday is a new buzzing coming of age comedy and mystery series directed and produced by Tim Burton. The show’s cast includes former Disney star Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, and Hunter Doohan.

The show follows the storyline of a teenage Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore, a school for outcasts. As her school career develops, she attempts to uncover the ongoing mystery of a killing spree which involved her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, 25 years ago.

The Netflix show has become a huge success with over 335 million hours watched, surpassing Netflix’s series Stranger Things 4 as the mostwatched English- language series in only a week of Wednesday being released, according to Netflix.

The Addams Family is an iconic, well-known, and loved story. Naturally, some fans had some nerves regarding if the Netflix show would live up to the standards of the original films and series.

Sophomore Mia Sbodio shared that she has “watched the original Addams family as a kid,” and

she “wasn’t too excited” about the show premiering. However, now that she has watched the show, she shared that “Jenna Ortega did a beautiful job playing Wednesday.”

Jenna Ortega is a Hispanic actress, who worked alongside other Hispanic actors like Isaac

do anything stereotypical or in a bad way,” she added.

Actress Christina Ricci, who portrayed the original Wednesday Addams in 1991 and 1993, was also casted in the Netflix production. Ricci played Marylin Thornhill, a teacher at Nevermore Academy, but ironically ended up being the mastermind killer of the show.

Ricci’s character had emotional ties to Hunter Doohan’s character, Tyler Gaplin.

Galpin provided a huge plot twist to the show, as his character was one of the two main love interests of Wednesday.

Ordonez (Pugsley Addams) and Luis Guzman (Gomez Addams) on the Wednesday series.

The creators of the show, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar as well as Tim Burton “made the decision to openly represent the character's [Wednesday Addams] Latine heritage.”

“As a Hispanic person myself, I was really excited and happy to see Hispanic representation in the media,” said Sbodio. “I’m glad [the creators of the series] didn’t

Romance was something that may have seemed abnormal for a character like Wednesday, but in past The Addams Family productions, her character usually had love interests!

The love triangle in the 2022 production consisted of Wednesday Addams, Tyler Gaplin, and Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White).

Due to this love triangle, different “teams” broke out amongst the fans of Wednesday.

“I’m team Xavier, but I would be team Tyler if he wasn’t the Hyde,” shared sophomore Emma Clayton.

Rush into Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane; Holiday attractions open for limited time

EMMA CORNMAN Reporter

Hersheypark is hosting its most merry event of the year! Park visitors now have the opportunity to enjoy their favorite rides and attractions, festive experiences, a visit with Santa, and much more.

The event is open now until Jan. 1, 2023, although it is worth mentioning that Hersheypark is closed on Christmas Day and open the days surrounding.

This year, Hersheypark is displaying more lights than ever. According to an article on the Hersheypark website titled Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, “more than 5 million twinkling lights deck the halls of Hersheypark® in celebration of the season! Get in the holiday spirit with our guests' favorite show, NOEL, featuring more than 250,000 lights dancing to classic holiday tunes. Then, stop by the Kissmas Tree display, see [their] iconic Kisses Fountain decked out in its holiday best, take a festive photo with your favorite Hershey Characters, and more.”

Junior Cara Dyke, says that she went to the light show and Hershey’s theme park last year and that she enjoyed her experience. Dyke states “[she doesn’t] really have a favorite part, just all the lights combined are nice.” And she mentions that seeing how “they decorated the trees”, is definitely something you don’t want to miss. Dyke recommends this experience to others.

In Hershey’s Chocolatetown, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy rides on their “biggest

coasters ever, Candymonium, delicious eats at [their] 3 dining experiences including The Chocolatier Restaurant Bar + Patia, sweet souvenirs from [their] retail shops, selfies in front of the iconic Kisses Fountain, and more!”

Park-goers can also see Hershey’s other attraction, TREEville, at the boardwalk. The boardwalk will be “decked with a festive trial of more than a dozen trees that share the stories of The Sweetest Place On Earth.”

For a 1-Day Ticket, visitors who are three years or older cost $52.95 (previously $76.95), and for a two-day Ticket, ages three and up cost $43 per day (previously $56 per day). Children who are two years and younger are free to enter.

Jim Cheney, from an article on Uncovering PA, mentioned that, “without a doubt, there's a lot of festive fun to be had at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane.” He highly reccommended it for its many features.

Wednesday Addams breaks out into late 80s goth dance moves to The Cramps “Goo Goo Muck.” Fans began replicating the dance on TikTok.

PHOTO CREDIT: Netflix

Sweet Lights and attractions at Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane holiday attraction. It is open from now to January 1st.

PHOTO CREDIT: HersheyPark.com

Hawks Happenings

Jan. 4

Girls basketball @ Edgewood @ 5 p.m.

Isaac Brown donates hair to charity

Q: Why did you decide to cut off your hair?

A: The reason I cut it off is because during wres tling practice and matches, it got in the way.

Q: What charity did you donate to?

A: Wigs for Kids. It’s a charity for cancer patients.

Q: How long did you grow out your hair for?

A: I think it was almost 3 years.

Q: Are you used to having shorter hair?

A: Not yet, it’s been too long since it’s been this short.

Q: How does having short hair feel different?

A: Sometimes I forget that it’s short and showering takes a lot less

Q: Was committing to the decision hard?

A: It was at first, but then after the first few wrestling practices, I was glad I was done with it.

Q: What feelings did you feel when getting your haircut?

A: My dad felt more emotional than I did [...] I think he almost cried.

Q: Are you happy about your decision?

A: Yeah, I think I am so far. I think it looks better.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about this experience?

A: I actually lost two pounds.

Jan. 6 Free to Be from 6-8 p.m. 120 S. Hays St, Bel Air

Jan. 11 Wrestling meet @ Rising Sun @ 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 Schools closed

New shop on Main Street in Bel Air; Only Irish, Scottish shop in Harco

NOEL BAILEY Op/Ed Editor

The Fabulous Shamrock is a new pop-up shop that is located on 52N Main Street, Bel Air. It opened on Nov. 4 and will only stay open until Dec. 25.

The shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Mrs. Susan Patti and her daughter, Mrs. Cristina Browe, run the shop together. They also run the shop next door called the Pink Silhouette, which has been in business for 16 years.

The pair used the space that The Fabulous Shamrock is in from their previous boutique, Be Fabulous. They had two different boutiques next to each other, but then merged the boutiques into one during Covid, then making space for the pop-up shop now.

If the pop-up shop does well, Patty and Browe plan on opening the shop more frequently so more people get the chance to view the inventory. They also might consider the idea of making a website for people as well. Their second boutique, Pink Silhouette ships worldwide to people.

Browe has Irish and Scottish roots. She did Irish dancing for five years when she was younger. “My mom's grandmother is from County Cork, Ireland, so we’ve always had a love for Ireland,” said Browe.

people from as far as York, PA, come to the shop on opening day.

They get “a huge majority” of their products straight from Ireland, according to Browe. They carry “Erin bowls, which are well known; it's the fisherman's wall from Ireland,” said Browe. They have “very authentic” Irish and Scottish candy from the UK, according to Browe.

The shop has purses from the Irish brand Harris Tweed.

The purses have to be marked with the emblem that's in the middle of the purse to know if they are “made in the Isle of Harris,” said Browe.

The Isle of Harris is in Scotland and is famous for its beautiful mountains, beaches, and wildlife.

The mother and daughter made the shop because there are no other shops like the one they have. “There is nothing like this in Northern Maryland, an Irish Celtic shop,” said Browe.

The opening day “was really busy...we got people from all over Maryland,” said Browe. They had

The shop sells jewelry that is made from heather in Scotland. The jewelry is made by “the heather, and then they dye it and rough it down,” to the part they need for the jewelry.

They have earrings, bangles, necklaces, and rings.

All the different pieces don’t have the same designs, they are all individually unique from each other.

Creating festive fun in Bel Air

BROOKELYN PRIEBE Reporter

From November 26 through January 2, Bel Air Main Street will have its own little winter wonderland. The downtown light displays run nightly from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m.. The horse drawn carriage rides are on Saturdays from 5:00 to 9:00 and they last approximately 10 minutes, and the visits with Santa are 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.. The armory isn’t the only place people can visit while they are downtown. There are plenty of shops or restaurants to stop in as well.

Junior Reese Carroll says, “I go to the armory with my parents to see the lights and we just walk around, and sometimes afterwards we’ll get food afterwards, but I don’t know where we usually go but I like it.” Carroll continues, “I didn’t even know there was a horse drawn carriage ride, but if I am able to, I want to do that. “Me and a few of my other friends were talking about going

to see the lights soon, so I might see if they will do that with me because it seems really fun.”

In addition to Bel Air Christmas Wonderland, there are a lot of other light displays around the county. Visitors who go to these light displays sit in the car, tune to the radio station indicated, and then sit and enjoy while the lights dance around along with the music.

According to a poll done by 158 students, 87% of students drive around with their family to go see the dancing Christmas lights and 13% don’t. Junior Bella Brockmeyer says, “my favorite part about driving around to see the lights is how excited everyone gets, it’s so precious.”

She continues, “there isn’t anywhere specific that we go, we just drive around to see lights or sometimes we’ll be driving and stop randomly if the lights are pretty.” Carroll says, “I love seeing Christmas lights so my family and I sometimes will just drive

around until we see somewhere that has dancing lights and then we tune to the radio and sit there to watch until we all get bored.”

He continues, “there is this one house on, I think either Knopp Road or Rockridge Road and they always have dancing lights, and then if you drive a little further, there is a house that says “’Santa’s workshop’ and I just think it’s cool but I live far from there so I don’t go there a lot to see the lights.” Saturday, December 10, freshmen Julianna D’Alto and Angie Ramos went for a drive to see some beautiful Christmas lights. D’Alto says, “we went to St. Matthews church, a house on Cedar Lane, and Brad’s christmas light show”

She continued, “we watched the lights and then there was one on 165 and it was like a walk through but Brads was definitely my favorite.

Ramos said, “I think the one with the grinch music was my favorite, it was really good.

Inside view of The Fabulous Shamrock. The purses on the wall (in the top right) are the famous Harris Tweed purses.

PHOTO CREDIT: Noel Bailey

Compiled by: Alexa Falls

Jan. 23

Girls basketball VS. Havre de Grace @ 5:15 p.m.

Jan. 25

Wrestling meet @ Harford Tech @ 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 Boys basketball VS. Perryville @ 5 p.m.

Jan. 27 Second quarter ends

Jan. 30 Third quarter starts

In the foundations of technology (FOT) classes, students had the opportunity to create new projects related to Christmas. This year, there are several new ideas that the classes get to toy around with

Carving out new gifts; FOT creates holiday presents

BELLA ARIST Reporter

For the past couple of years, FOT teacher Mr. Timothy Pistel has been finding more fun ways to teach a specific computer software that is a requirement to teach. CAD stands for computer aided drafting, and students use a specific app called Alt Shape.

for the planning, preparation, and building.

Explaning safe health benifits; Misinformation, myths disproved GMO’s:

BEN IAMPIERI Copy Editor

Centerforfoodsafety.org falsely claims that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are unregulated and unhealthy.

Why would scientists create GMOs if there were no benefits to them?

This website explains how GMOs have “been genetically altered so that it can withstand more pesticides or produce its own.”

While this is true, a Harvard study explains how crops that produce their own pesticides are significantly safer than synthetic pesticides.

Websites with misinformation shroud the facts from the U.S. Federal Drug Association (FDA) and scientists alike. In a recent poll, 47% of North Harford students said they do not trust GMOs.

“The U.S. FDA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health,” according to the FDA.

“FDA’s voluntary Plant Biotechnology Consultation Program evaluates the safety of food from new GMOs before they enter the market.”

Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Standley Cohen made the first GMOs in 1973 by inserting DNA from one bacteria into another, according to the FDA.

About twenty years later, GMOs were being used to improve the foods we eat and make them last longer.

“In 1994, the transgenic ‘Flavour Saver tomato’ was approved

by the FDA for marketing in the USA. The modification allowed the tomato to delay ripening after picking.” The U.S. National Institute of Health explains. “In 1995, few transgenic crops received marketing approval.”

Another accusation against GMOs is that they cause allergic reactions.

In 2000, “a California woman named Grace Booth went into anaphylactic shock after eating three corn tacos,” according to Harvard University biologist Charles Xu.

The allergic reaction came from a protein in the corn, Cry9C, which was used to make the tortillas.

“The StarLink corn had only been approved for animal feeding and was never intended for human consumption because of concerns that Cry9C would be difficult to digest and cause an allergic reaction,” the article states.

“However, it still entered the human supply due to cross-pollination when the GMO corn was planted too close to unmodified crops.”

This incident led to people doubting the safety of GMOs.

However, “If you are allergic to foods made with traditional (non-GMO) soy, you will be allergic to foods made with GMO soy,” the FDA explains.

“If you’re not allergic to foods made with traditional soy, you won’t be allergic to foods made with GMO soy.”

Booth had a reaction to the unapproved protein, which she would not have known because it is not intended for human consumption.

The last common argument

against GMOs is how it loses nutritional value. This is false. Studies at the FDA show “GMOs are as safe and nutritious as their non-GMO counterparts and that GMOs do not affect our health any differently than nonGMOs.”

In fact, some GMOs provide greater nutritional value.

High oleic crops such as soybeans are “a GMO crop that delivers oil with lower saturated fat than conventional soybean oil and contributes no trans fats to products,” according to Hungry for Truth.

Senior Kaitlyn Oswald does not trust GMOs “because they basically alter the DNA,” she says. “It doesn’t seem natural to me.”

On the other hand, senior Riley Stewart trusts them.

“They were created by scientists to provide more nutritional value to consumers,” she explains.

“Also, I did some research in a Bio class and genetically modifying something really solely focuses on manipulating the genome of the organism, so I feel like I trust that level of science.”

GMOs have been around for decades. “GMO has become a hot word. In today’s GMOs, we have carefully constructed vetting processes that examine the modified genes (usually via the FDA),” a biology major at the University of North Texas, Matthew Wallace, says.

“Additionally, I work to genetically modify organisms for the purpose of making biofuels and bioplastics. Point being: we do not eat every GMO that we modify–plants help us out more than just food.”

Pistel explained, “students have a lot of options on what they can make. In the past, there have been Christmas trees, snowflakes, ornaments, and anything else they would want to make that is holiday related.” Designers plan out their projects using CAD, then make the physical structure after they’re finished designing.

If students are able to pay for the materials provided, they are allowed to take their creation home. Pistel explained, “there are a lot of projects that have mistakes in them, and that is okay. The ones that are good enough to sell, we put them up for sale for about 20% more than the materials to make profit or even break even.”

The money earned from the projects is put back in the funding account for the class, so if tools or materials break, there will be money to help pay for more. Overall, the whole experience takes at least three weeks

Pistel said, “usually students more look forward to the actually building part, but not so much the planning part, because it is a lot more challenging.” Mr. Andrew Thomson adds, “as a teacher, I enjoy when students have a sense of accomplishment after they’re done with their project. Some think it’s cool to have used bigger tools that are used in the real world, not usually used at school,”

This year, the teens are picking a project they would want to design, then going back from there and creating a 3-D model to base the design off of. Pistel mentioned, “we, as teachers, wanted to make this a fun process, but also have there be a pay-off in the end after the class is finished the lesson.”

During December, Thomson explained they, “are going to start creating a Christmas village out of wood using the laser cutter.” He explained the purpose of this is to, “show the design process and show what people go through to produce/sell different items, but then also at the same time, demonstrate how the skills we learn in class can be applied to the real world and a possible future career.”

Unwrapped and Exposed

Serotonin: Our key to happiness; Making joy of holidays

MEKENZIE MCCANN H/S Edior

December is a time for family, friends, and the holidays. Everyone knows that in December, it is time for happiness. But what is really behind this happiness that we all express?

Serotonin is the answer. This hormone, “is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body,” according to Cleveland Clinic.

The hormone is produced in the gut and can act in two different ways: “a neurotransmitter that communicates via the enteric nervous system in the gut, and [the hormone can be] released into the bloodstream where it operates as a hormone on the body’s tissues,” says Atlas Bio-Med.

“Serotonin plays several roles on your body including influencing learning, memory, happiness as well as regulating body temperature, sleep...and hunger. Lack of enough serotonin is thought to play a role in depression, anxiety, mania, and other health conditions,” states Cleveland Clinic.

Serotonin can be found in your brain and it regulates your mood. The hormone is “often

called your body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemical. When serotonin is at normal levels, you [can] feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier[,] and calm. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression,” adds Cleveland Clinic. Ac- cording to

ing accepted into society, feeling content with your situation and not comparing yourself unfavorably to others, [etc.],” according to Samitive J Hospitals

To boost your serotonin levels, you can also spend more time outside in the sunlight. According to Healthline, “exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can increase the production” of the hormone.

New path to medical innovations

SARAH WELZANT Reporter

Company by the name of Neuralink shared information about a new brain implant tech. The company was founded by Elon Musk in 2016. Musk has stated that he plans on getting this implant once it is ready.

According to Cnbc.com, the chip is fabled to restore vision “even for people who were born blind”. The article explains that “a third application will focus on the motor cortex by restoring ‘full body functionality’ for people with severed spinal cords”. This means that with this new chip, they can help people who may have certain disabilities.

Happy Feed, “serotonin can help build both sides of social dynamics. Serotonin is what motivates a leader to excel and grow their influence.”

Many things can contribute to happiness but can differentiate for every person. Some include: “doing the things you want to do and having the freedom to choose your own path in life, maintaining positive relationships and be-

Serotonin can also be brought into your body to boost your serotonin happiness within the foods that you eat. You can do this due to the foods that “add more probiotic foods to your diet that support the good bacteria who produce short-chain fatty acids. [Some foods include:] apples, onions, wheat, pasta, [etc.],” according to Atlas Bio-Med.

During the holiday season, lots of happiness is present. Senior Braiden Crow comments that during the holidays “getting off of school, being with family, and possibly being with friends” makes him happy.

Senior Kian Pucher states that when he “gets off of school” during the holidays, it makes him happy.

Volcanoes are an important part of the Earth’s ecosystem, and they play a crucial role in shaping the landscape and providing important resources, providing valuable nutrients for plants and animals, and the lava flows can create new land formations, according to National Geographic.

Volcanoes heating up in Hawaii

MATTHEW LEDFORD Video Editor

According to National Geographic, volcanoes are an important part of the Earth’s ecosystem, and they play a crucial role in shaping the landscape and providing important resources, providing valuable nutrients for plants and animals, and the lava flows can create new land formations.

Senior Corbon Rowley states, “Volcanoes are one of the coolest things in the world. They are basically a rupture in the crust of Earth that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and other gasses to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.” He adds that they are most often found “where tectonic plates are diverging or converging, and most are found underwater”.

over 10 percent—sit within the boundaries of the United States.”

Around 11:30 a.m. on November 27, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported that one of the 161 potentially active volcanoes in the United States has erupted after being dormant for 38 years.

Senior Alex Tobias comments, “Volcanoes are one of the most intriguing things on our planet. The fact that there is magma just sitting beneath us, with the possibility of erupting through a huge hole in our earth at any time is crazy. Although rare, they’re very dangerous but are also extremely fascinating.”

National Geographic also states, “Volcanoes are found on both land and the ocean floor. When they erupt on the ocean floor, they often create underwater mountains and mountain ranges as the released lava cools and hardens. Volcanoes on the ocean floor become islands when the mountains become so large they rise above the surface of the ocean.”

Health teacher Mrs. Jacquelyn Williams, appreciates the steps moving forward to trying to make such technology. Williams stated, “Anything to improve someone’s quality of life should be seen as a positive thing.”

There is not much that is known about this product yet. Williams believes that in the future “they should manipulate that technology to be used to make medical advances and improve lives.” If this device works, there could be different ways that this can impact our world and medical improvements. Williams explains that medical advancements like these “can and will continue to have a positive impact on the world of health.”

The tech hasn’t yet been tested on a human. Cnbc wrote that Musk said, “Obviously, we want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device inside a human, but we’ve submitted, I think, most of our paperwork to the FDA”.

The project is a bit skeptical and will need time to be able to fully develop. Psychology teacher Mrs. Melissa Winter states, “It will probably take a few years before it’s officially ready and put to work, but the concept idea is good. I wouldn’t trust it, say, if it came out next year or so.”

Previously, they have developed devices like “telepathic video games” that debuted a year ago. The goal was to be able to “control a computer mouse, or their phone, or really any device just by thinking” Musk states.

With this type of tech, the company decided to use animal testing to enable safe use for humans. Animal testing is cruelty towards animals. Winter states, “I hate that it is tested on animals but I know that it has to be used. But if the test works on them then that goes towards the progression towards the use on humans.”

That device hadn’t worked as well as they had hoped. According to cnbc Neuralink had started to test the past device on monkeys. The treatment resulted in many terrible side effects and deaths.

Hopefully, with the development of this new technology, Neuralink will be able to solve any of the problems that they may have had in the past and are able to successfully construct this treatment in the future.

Preparing for flu season; Protect yourself from sickness

KIMBERLY ALLEN Reporter

According to a recent poll, 61% of students have not gotten a flu shot this season. A common misconception is that getting the flu shot will give you the flu, but this is false, according to the CDC. If you feel sick after getting the shot, your body is just producing antibodies to help ward off the potential chance of getting the flu. Of course, people who get the shot can still get the flu, but overall, the shot will ensure your symptoms are only minor.

sneezing. It can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces. Mrs. Jacquelyn Williams, health educator, said, “This season it is extremely important to stay healthy, especially with the flu and common cold passing around. To stay healthy during this season, you can eat healthy, get enough sleep, deal with stress levels, and wash your hands. Doing things like eating healthy and getting enough sleep can help you build your immune system to protect you from any potential harmful germs.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN STANMEYER, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

National Geographic reports “There are volcanoes on every continent, even Antarctica. Around 1,500 are still considered potentially active around the world today; 161 of those—

The last time this volcano erupted was in 1984 according to gohawaii.com.

Currently, 14 percent (276 square miles) of the volcano’s surface was covered in lava, reports USGS

Senior Julia Eakes states, “Volcanoes are fascinating and complex geological features that continue to fascinate and captivate people around the world. Despite the potential for destruction, they are an important part of our planet, and they provide valuable insights into the inner workings of the Earth.”

When you get a flu shot, you are not only protecting yourself, but people around you. People who have other health issues are more likely to get symptoms that will be dangerous if they contract the flu. This includes groups of people such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with heart disease, and many others.

The fall and winter are the prime seasons for the flu. However, flu is not the only illness that is rampant around this time. There are also many respiratory viruses circulating. The flu spreads through coughing and

The flu is contagious, but the symptoms don’t show up until a couple days after being exposed. Symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, chills, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, tiredness, and nausea, according to MayoClinic. It is important to get the flu shot because it can prevent extreme symptoms of the flu, hospitalization, or even death.

Williams adds, “[...] the best thing for you to do if you catch something this season is to get a lot of rest. Give your body time to fight off what you caught. Drink lots of water. You really want to flush it out of your system. [...]”

“Serotonin plays several roles on your body including influencing learning, memory, happiness as well as regulating body temperature, sleep...and hunger.”

~ Cleveland Clinic

Mount Semeru, seen here with an ash plume, is the highest volcano on the Indonesian island of Java. It has been in constant eruption since 1967.

Wrestling matches commence

BELLA ARIST Reporter

With wrestling started up, athletes have been conditioning, lifting, and working to improve their skills. Students have been getting more experience with tournaments and meets starting up.

Junior Clay Lawrence is the varsity heavyweight for the team. The first match was at Patterson Mill where the hawks were defeated by two points. Lawrence says, “as a team, there were some strong matches but some people didn’t know where they were on the mat. There definitely needs to be improvement.” He explains how the team's “wrestling IQ needs to be improved.”

Lawrence got a pin in the first round during the match, which is good for the team. To get ready for the match, he “paces and listens to music to get in the right mindset.” Rap music gets him

“hyped because it is fast-paced and 21 Savage is really good.”

The junior athlete says “I am excited for the season because I think we have a lot of potential and can go far as a team. We have a lot of new wrestlers that are learning quickly and improving fast.”

Wrestler Lawrence says, “if I could thank anyone for my success it would be assistant coach Mike Adkins, he keeps me working at practice and he’s an 8-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion. He is very dedicated to making everyone on the team better which is a positive trait to have at practice.”

Sophomore Cody Deak is also on varsity and says his “favorite part of the season has been being on varsity because of the team bonding.” He explains, “practices are difficult because they are hard to keep up with and remember all of the moves on the mat.”

Deak says, “practices help

me learn moves because head Coach Tim Ryan is a very thorough teacher.” Since last year, the most improved wrestler in Deak’s opinion is “Bode Evans.” He states, “wrestling requires lots of practice and dedication.”

Sophomore wrestler Diego Gonzalez, claims he “loves wrestling, it’s a positive outlet for [his] mental health.” So far he has lost twice and won twice, and “Ryan Frank helped [him] improve the most.”

Gonzalez explains, “I have improved so much since the beginning of the season by practicing and getting the techniques tied in my brain to help me in future matches.”

He says, “the best but hardest part of wrestling is winning. It takes so much effort, skill, and mental energy to win a single match.” He claims it says a lot of “mental fortitude” to get through practices and matches.

World Cup: Countries compete for title Hawks watch in excitement

SARAH WELZANT Reporter

The 2022 FIFA World Cup has been getting people excited across the globe. The tournament contains 32 different men’s national teams. This year was sure to be exciting.

Every four years, the World Cup is hosted. According to foxsports.com, the first competition for the cup was held in 1930, where Uruguay was the first team to bring home the cup. Fox Sports claims the World Cup to be the biggest sporting event on the planet.

Students are excited to be watching such a big event. Sophomore Jamail Holmes has been an avid watcher of the tournament so far. Holmes states, “It’s not really going the way I thought it would. It’s pretty entertaining though because all these small teams that you wouldn’t expect to be up so far are there, like Morocco beat Portugal 1-0.”

nament is being held in the winter since 1930.

To accommodate their hot weather, Qatar has put in a lot of effort to be able to ensure that the tournament will be successful. Theglobeandmail.com states that Qatar has put air conditioning in their stadiums to ensure the com-

The first match took place November 20, 2022, and was between Qatar and Ecuador. Ecuador had kicked it off with a 2-0 win to start the tournament. The games conclude on Dec. 18. 32 teams from different countries participate. For the tournament's format, teams are divided into eight groups. Each group has four teams that compete in a round robin format. The top two teams from that group move on to the knockout stage where depending on the game's result, eliminates a team.

Sprinting away from cold weather; Indoor track prepares for first meet

EMILY JOHNSON IDR Editor

3,2,1, go! The indoor track season has begun, and team members are pumped up.

The group of almost 50 students will face their first meet on December 17th, at Bel Air High School.

Practices

“about

This is the trophy to be awarded to the winning team of the 2022 World Cup. Out of 32 teams, only one will be able to take home the cup.

This year, the 2022 World Cup is taking place in Qatar, making this the first World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East. Fox Sports explains that this is the first time the tour-

fort of the players with the addition of most stadiums being built from scratch for the tournament to take place.

Viewers will see the tournament feature the best teams from different countries with some of the world’s best players. Holmes believes that Argentina is doing very well.

With the 2022 World Cup coming to a compelling close, fans stay at the edge of their seat in excitement. The World Cup is able to bring people together from around the world.

Smith. Smith began indoor track last year and decided tow return for another season. He stated that “It’s fun” and they perform lots of different workouts. Some include but aren’t limited to sprinting workouts (shorter distance with longer breaks) and long distances practices (longer distance with shorter breaks; running with lower intensity). The athletes also practice their hurtling skills and techniques.

Another junior, Mia Coleman, is also part of the team. She participates in shot put, which is a throwing event. She added that “[they’re] all really excited.” for the first official meet.

Freshman Kendall Chandler, while being part of the

team, also participates on the swim team, with swim as her main sport. Chandler “ does a lot of running on [her] own, either before or after swim practices.” At most meets, she will run the 3200. She commented that being a dual athlete is “somewhat challenging with figuring out practices” and taxing on her body. However,she says she is incredibly thankful that she is able to participate in both sports, because it’s all worth it. While she likes swimming, running “definitely has [her] heart.” She looks forward to the first meet, as it will be her first race since the cross country season this fall.

She is very glad that she chose to be a part of both sports, because “There is something so special about running and racing and the amazing people that come with the sport.”

The coach, Jimmy Cachola, has been coaching for 16 years, and coached track and field for 4-5 years as well. He stated that “new people are trying different events.” at practice, and that the team has 4 huge meets this season that they must prepare for.

The team will travel to four different locations for their meets this winter. However, the cross country team had a few meets at the NHHS track this past fall.

PHOTO CREDIT: CASEY SMITH

are held

3 days a week, after school from 3 to 4:30, or sometimes 4.” according to junior Casey

PHOTO CREDIT: FIFA

Diving into first meet; Starting off swim season

BEN IAMPIERI Copy Editor

The Hawks’ swim team’s first meet was on Dec. 7, against CMW and Harford Tech.

For combined scores, NH placed third. However, the girls tied for second with Harford Tech.

Junior captain Michael O’Leary placed first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:08.60.

Senior captain Ben Iampieri placed second in the Boys 50 freestyle with a 25:40.

Junior Val Angulo placed second in the Girls 50 freestyle with a 30.39.

“It was a boost of adrenaline for the rest of the season because I was a little nervous when I got to the meet, but it went away after my first race,” Angulo says. “My muscle memory took over [and] it gave me a boost of confidence for the rest of my races.”

The Boys 200 freestyle relay (sophomore James Cassidy, junior Kyle Difilippo, Iampieri, and Michael) placed second with a 1:44.44, less than half a second behind first place.

The Girls 200 freestyle relay (Angulo, senior captain Jenna Reed, freshman Sophia Bonincontri, and junior captain Anna O’Leary) placed third with a time of 2:01.36.

Michael placed first in the Boys 100 breaststroke with a 1:06.25. Despite winning, he did not PR and was not happy with his performance.

Anna placed second in the Girls 100 breaststroke coming in at 1:26.33. “I wanted to do better on my breaststroke,” she says. “But it went fine.”

Anna has no complaints about the team’s performance.

“It was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. We did pretty well,” she explains.

She is most excited about team bonding this year. She wants to “go to [Iampieri]’s house and play Just Dance.” She also urges people to try out for swimming next year.

Michael is excited about the swim season.

He is most looking forward to “doing the chants with [Iampieri].” He also adds, “people should join swimming next year.”

“I was super nervous and was shaking the whole time,” freshman Kendall Walter says.

“It was my first meet ever in my life, so I was super scared for it. I was scared I was going to be slow and let down my team, but it turns out I did pretty well!”

“I was satisfied with my performance considering it was the first meet of the season and I am starting better than I left off last season, breaking two of my individual PRs,” Angulo explains.

The swim team will have seven multi team meets for the 2022 season.

Girls basketball wins games; Shooting baskets, racking up points

MEKENZIE MCCANN H/S Editor

The varsity girl's basketball team is currently 3-1 in the regular season. The team will be looking for many more wins over the next couple of weeks.

Coach Mr. Wayne Huller Jr. comments that the “season has gotten off to a good start. Tryouts were competitive and [the coaching staff] had to make some tough decisions to complete the final team selections.”

Freshman Olivia Tucker says she is “excited for the friendships and overall just see how [she] is going to develop as a player.”

Co-captain senior Marissa Struhar adds that she is “looking forward to the development of the team by the end of the season, and how [the team] as a family have overcome [their] challenges and learn to adapt to them.”

work on and to spot out everyone’s specific talents they can bring to the court,” says Struhar.

Tucker comments that at the team's first scrimmage there were, “some things that [the team] needs to work on, but [their] hearts were there and [they] never gave up. The team [they] played was one of the best teams, [but the team] has so much potential, and [they] are only going to get better as time goes on.”

Students skate for fun

STELLA MANNS Sports Editor

In the winter season, many indoor sports open for tryouts at the Nest. At the same time other students are preparing to play sports on ice instead.

Ice hockey and figure skating are among those sports. Many Hawks have reached out to join these teams.

wrist strength.

Ice hockey is not the only sport Hawks play on ice; some students branch out to figure skating.

The varsity girl’s basketball team poses for a picture after their 43-23 win against Fallston High School. The team is currently 3-1.

Huller states that at the team's first two scrimmages the team “did better than [they] expected” to, and he feels that the “season will be very exciting and both [JV and varsity] teams should do well.”

“Both teams are very strong athletically and their ability to learn on the fly,” however, “both teams just need to keep working on learning and running [their] offenses and defenses,” says Huller.

Senior Xander Dove has been playing ice hockey for North Stars for four years. Dove thinks that even though having ice hockey as a sport sponsored by school would be nice, “it is a very expensive sport.” He enjoys the sport, but does not plan to play in college.

For ten years, freshman Camden Pietrowski has played ice hockey. He plans to play lacrosse as a Hawk in the spring, but in the meantime, Pietrowski is a member of the York Devils team. He thinks that “everyone should experience the sport.”

Freshman Jake Geary also plays ice hockey. He started “playing ice hockey because [he] just grew up around it.” Geary encourages others to learn the sport as well. When he goes to play, the equipment he has to wear is, “a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, leg pads, and skates. To keep himself fit for the sport, Geary focuses on specific areas when training. He works his legs out the most and uses arm workouts to maintain

Junior Reece Hinkle has skated for 13 years. She plans to attend, “University of Delaware for the sport.” Even though not many people figure skate, she thinks that it would be interesting to have “ as a high school sport” because of “how competitive the sport is.”

A mere 10,080 of 6.165 million people who inhabit Maryland participate in ice hockey. Ice hockey is gaining popularity in Maryland.

According to nationwidechildrens.org, common injuries from ice hockey are, “cuts, scrapes, bruises, broken bones, sprains and strains.”

Under the age of 18 players “are twice as likely to be hospitalized” with injuries, according to webmd.com.

Concussions are somewhat common in ice hockey, too. They are a result of falling on the ice or “falling on another player.” While talking about the face, about one in four adolescents injuries ``are to the face or mouth,” according to webmd.com.

Nationwidechildrens.org recommends that adolescents “use full face shields, mouth guards, and neck guards games and practices” to achieve maximum protection in the sport.

Tucker enjoys being a freshman on varsity “because [she] has such amazing role models on [her] team, and the coaching is amazing.”

Co-captain senior Jenna Amrhein states that the team is, “a young team, with about half the team being freshman, which is really cool and everyone gets along great. It should be a very fun season.”

“The scrimmages were a great starting point for us to see what exactly [the team] needed to

Freshman Peyton Dawson says that “it feels great to be on varsity since [she] has the older girls to look up to. The games and scrimmages were good, [and the team has] improved a lot since the scrimmages.”

Struhar states that the “first game was a great start to [their] official season with wins secured by both [their] JV and varsity teams, and with this win secured, [Struhar] feels that it gave [the team] a great running start to [their] season, and [she] can not wait for what’s next!”

Boys basketball season has rough start

NOEL BAILEY Op/Ed Editor

The boys' varsity basketball team is just starting their season. They have a total of 21 games for the 2022 season.

The season is off to a rough start right now. They have lost their first three games against C. Milton Wright, Joppatowne, and North East. However, the boys have all season to turn it around. Mr. Nick Panos is the coach of the team, with Mr. Mitch Vocke being the assistant coach.

This is Panos’s 28th season coaching a sport at the Hawk's Nest. Panos and Vocke, “worked with JV girls’ basketball for 17 seasons,” according to Panos. They have also coached JV boys basketball for four seasons. This is only the coach's second season coaching the varsity team, while he has coached the varsity golf

team for the past 28 seasons.

Panos’s goal “is to help our players become one team committed to improvement.” The team is heavy with eight juniors. “We have a young team this year and are looking forward to steady improvement throughout the season,” said Panos.

Panos looks at the game as an “important challenge and hope[s] to be competitive in as many as possible.” Panos is “most excited about the future of the program because of all the fine players entering the program.”

The team has 13 boys, with only two seniors on the team: Connor Ballard and TJ Berger, the captains of the team.

Ballard feels “privileged about being captain.” Berger says being captain comes with responsibilities and “as a senior, it is my job to help out coach and keep every-

one on task.” The team doesn’t have the best record right now but “the group of guys on this team is good at finding positives even in the negatives,” according to Berger.

CJ Nimmo and Elijah Piccirilli are the only two freshmen on the team. The team as of now “doesn’t have a starting five,” picked out, according to Nimmo. Once they pick the starters, Nimmo thinks they will be a “talented” team.

The team played Harford Tech in a scrimmage before the season officially started, and they lost the game. Nimmo is most excited to play against Tech “because in the scrimmage they blew us out.” Nimmo was not at the game and wanted “to see what the Harford Tech team is about.”

Junior athlete Preston Miller feels “if we all work together at practice… I think we can really

come together as a team.” Miller thinks “the team has a lot of potential,” and wants the team to want to work hard. Miller wishes to beat Edgewood and Aberdeen. “I think we can put up a good fight against them,” he says.

Bel Air and Fallston games are coming up in the season. Miller thinks “they will be pretty interesting games,” since he believes “we play better when we play those teams.”

Junior Ivan Juarez is an athlete on the team as well. “We are starting off the season kind [of] a little rough but I think we have all the pieces to be great,” said Juarez. The team has time to turn it around. Juarez thinks “we’ll have a winning season, [having] more wins than losses.” He thinks the team just needs to “work together,” to get a winning streak.

PHOTO CREDIT: Debbie Craten Dawson