Fraser High School-34270 Garfield Road, Fraser, MI 48026 - Volume 54 - Issue 4- June 2014
Captive Breeding By: Josephine Morenski Happiness is... By: Laurel Kraus Behind Blue Band By: Starria Coppins
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Fairy Doors Leading to a Safe Place prohibit somebody’s whose handicapped: someone
Amy Weed Editors-in-Chief
If you see a miniature door hidden in the folds
of a tree’s roots, it’s probably home to a magical creature like a troll or a fairy. However, if you see a small, vibrantly painted door sitting at the base of your neighbor’s tree, it probably came from the Fraser First Booster Club’s “Art In the Garden’s Doorway To Play.” «There›s a project that Fraser›s First Booster Club, headed by President Vania Apps, has been working on, which is to build a barrier-free playground in the community. This is the third year Fraser High School has been involved; Emerson students have also been involved,” Art Teacher Mrs. Susan Dipace said. “Do you know what barrier free means? There’s nothing to
who’s blind, someone who is in a wheel chair, someone without limbs, someone with a diminished mental capacity. There’ll be something for everyone to do there.” The endeavor for the barrier free park has been going on eight years. For Fraser, every year Fraser
Photo Credit: Amy Weed
First Booster Club picks out a new art project to auction off. Year one was a garden tile auction. Year
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two was a fantastically decorated chairs auction. «This year we did doors. There are three different sizes of doors. The elementary kids did small fairy sized doors. High school kids did troll doors, and there are a couple of larger sized doors also,” Dipace said, “We’ve done 60 fairy doors, 22 troll doors, and two giant doors.”
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This years auction took place on Wednesday, April 22 and raised a whopping $2,500. After eight years of fundraising: grants, donations, and Fraser’s auctioning, they have raised over half the money to start building this year, a total of $300,000. The reason for the high cost is for the playground’s foundation, which will be a special blend to be durable and safe to take a fall on. «It›ll be built at the site of the old McKinley Park on Flint in Fraser,” student representative Robert Falenski said, “The project will cost $650,000. I think we raised $350,000, and we got a $300,000
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grant accounting for most of our funds. Total Fraser Public Schools raised $50,000.” Barrier free playgrounds throughout Michigan total to roughly 150. Fraser will soon add one more to that number and help 25,000 Macomb County children have a safe place to play. The new park will have incorporated elements of the fundraiser itself: garden tiles and doors that have been saved. «Between the mentoring and being involved in the project we hope it bonds them to this. We want them to be proud of this park, and know that they had a hand in creating it,» Mrs. Apps said. Soon on its way, the barrier free park will give an opportunity to play safely for thousands in Photo Credit: Amy Weed
Macomb County.
Visit The Flash online at: www.fhstheflash.com
Editors-in-Chief Laurel Kraus Amy Weed Former Editors Starria Coppins Savanna DiStefano Josephine Morenski Design Editors Laurel Kraus Amy Weed Flash Reporters Karoline Asdal Lauren Carbonara Ashley Derry
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Emily Drumn Rachel Moore Jessa Stallsmith Anna Stemmler Courtney Winnie Business Manager Erica Kloski
Adviser James Flanagan
The purpose of the Flash is to inform and entertain our audience, which includes the entire community, on subjects that may affect our readers. We also aim to be an open forum for the audience to be heard and make comments and observations. It is our intent that we provide this information in a clear, meaningful, and journalistic way. The Flash is a member of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA). Editorial Policy The editorial board is the decision-making group for the newspaper staff. It includes the editor-inchief, assistant editors, and all other writers, web editors, and photographers. The board is in charge of making the decisions on what will go into the newspaper. If a controversial issue arises, it is the common assumption that there will be nothing published in the newspaper that is libelous, obscene, copyrighted, disrupting, or advocating illegal activities. Contact Us At the Flash, we encourage letters to the editor so that our readers can cooperate with us to make a better newspaper. Any signed letter of which is not libelous, obscene, or regarding defamation or incitement may be accepted to be published. Letters are subject to edit for grammar and content if necessary. Please keep letters 250 words or less. Letters can also be submitted to the journalism room or in the main office, as well as via e-mail to theflash@ fraserk12.org Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: Letter to the Editor, The Flash 34270 Garfield, Fraser, MI 48026
Informative Feature 3 The Debated Drug: Caffeine
May 2014, Volume 54, Issue 3
Emily Drumm
Flash Reporter
Varsity soccer player Casey Denys
Bull, and Gatorade allow me to do
downs a five-hour energy and pops
that,” Conklin said.
some Gatorade chews into her
Although studies have been
mouth while waiting on the side
inconclusive, many competitors
of the field. Her coach hands her
believe that caffeine intake also
a drink to replace electrolytes lost
increases mental stamina, reaction
in sweat. The referee blows his
time, and focus. In popular five-
whistle signaling Denys to go onto
hour energy commercials, the
the field. Facing her opponents,
product is said to make consumers
energy is surging through her
feels more awake and energized.
blood- shocking her veins on the
“I have never really had side
way to her brain- preparing her for
effects, well, bad ones,” Conklin
the game.
said. “It only helps me play a better
“The soccer season just started,”
game because I am more focused
Denys said. “So I just began
and have more energy to play
drinking five-hour energy again. It
harder and longer.”
has caffeine in it to keep me awake
That said, caffeine alters the
and energized.”
mind, which may be the reason
Caffeine for athletes is like a boost
it was originally banned in the
of energy. Supplements containing
Olympics; controversially, the
caffeine are used to enhance the
caffeine ban was later lifted due to
body’s roles, giving an edge and an
lacking results.
advantage over other challengers.
“It’s like a cycle for me. I
When caffeine enters the
don’t usually have extra energy
bloodstream, the body responses by increasing pulse rate and blood pressure. “I don’t think that caffeine affects me in a bad way, I think that athletes benefit from it,” Denys said. The frequency and dose of
supplements, but it’s important Photo Credit: Emily Drumm
for me to have them during the
supporting the link between
benefit users in endurance sports
North High School baseball and
season,” Denys said. “We have
caffeine and long-term heart
such as football, cycling, baseball,
football start Trevor Conklin thinks
practice or a game every day, so it
disease.
and soccer. Take appropriately,
otherwise. Conklin is preparing to
is hard for me to keep up- mentally
caffeine allows contestants to work
play college football, so he trains
just as much as physically. It is
harder for longer periods.
everyday and regularly attends
really straining on your body.
camps to ensure his spot on the
Caffeine helps me stick it out.”
“I do not know of any short term side effects brought on by strenuous caffeine intake except of course the
“I don’t support caffeine intake
caffeine use escalates after a while
“crash” the user may experience.
to enhance athletic performance
as users start to build tolerance
Once the stimulant (caffeine) starts
in high school. The combination
against it. For athletes using
to wear off, the user may start to
of proper nutrition and training
superstition to use energy drinks or
Athletic Director Brad Robinson
enrichment products every day, the
experience extreme fatigue,” Fraser
should be what all high school
chews to help me be on my game.
thinks student athletes should use
body can start to crave and even
Health and Physical Education
athletes need to successfully
I work really hard and play sports
caffine in moderation and look at
go through periods of withdraw;
teacher Lori Guolla said.
perform,” Guolla said.
year round, so I need to be able to
the reasearch. Athletes should know
keep up with the pace. Coffee, Red
what is going into their bodies.
however, there is no evidence
Caffeine has been known to
On the other hand, L’Anse Creuse
team. “As an athlete, it is sort of a
While there is no policy on caffine drinks or chews for athletes,
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Features Captive Breeding
Josephine Morenski Former Editor
Walking into the zoo on a sunny day, thousands of kids smile as they see their
Baltimore zoos are like a sanctuary for animals. “Sometimes the laws that are put into
favorite animals not knowing what goes on
play to protect people can also protect the
beyond the stonewalls. Captive breeding is
animals as well. They are unpredictable,
a huge part in today’s culture, many zoo’s,
strong, and they belong in the wild where
sanctuaries, and wildlife reserves use captive
they’re from. There are some zoo’s like the
breeding as a way to repopulate a specific
Detroit and Baltimore zoo’s where captive
animal whether it is endangered or not. So,
animals can go, kind of like a sanctuary.
what is captive breeding? Captive Breeding
They take in animals that have been
is the practice of breeding a species in
overbred,” Carron said.
a human controlled environment with
to be one for captive breeding. Having a
have the power to help the community
number of different breeding programs,
better understand and appreciate nature and
the Detroit zoo is also a part of cooperative
wildlife.
programs with other zoo’s being a part of a
“Zoos are apart of our culture, they’re
larger population, managed genetically and
apart of our community and many other
demographically. With that said, the Detroit
communities. We have an obligation to
zoo is home to 3,300 animals and 280
the people that come through our gates
different species.
to help them understand wildlife, to help
“Zoo’s used to exist just to entertain
them appreciate nature, and hopefully help
people and animals came from the wild
them change their attitudes and behaviors,
whenever we needed more animals, and
so that they are, like all of us, try to be less
now both because its just not possible to
impactful on the environment which is better
restrictions. While others may agree with this process, many do not. Daniel Carron, a PETA Outreach Coordinator, happens to be one of them. Carron’s job is to help others with coordinating protests on the East Coast
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an
“Something that misleads people into
Gorilla diverts his nostrils from a nasty smell. Photo Credit: Thaddeus Jurkowski
Research is the most important thing
thinking they are helping a species is by
someone can do. Daniel Carron encourages
breeding them into captivity when really it is
others to do the research on animals and
a way to make a profit,” Carron said.
captivity. It is easy to make a difference.
Animals are unpredictable at all times
“I always encourage people to do the
and can put somebody in serious danger,
research. Animals that are born in captivity
people should not be interacting with exotic
are not doing anything normal to them,
animals whether it is in a circus or zoo,
and animals in zoos are not doing anything
there’s no telling what could happen, and
natural to them. We have the power to end
under no circumstances PETA does not
zoos, and roadside zoos. All we have to do is
support zoos, or anytime someone is trying
stop supporting them financially; it’s really
to make money off an animal. Supporters
that simple,” Carron said.
are encouraged to boycott zoos – but Carron believes that zoos such as the Detroit and
for animals in the long run. If we are going
the wild, and also
to do that, if we are going to be successful at
because ethically
this mission we have to be responsibly and
many of us believe
ethically breeding animals in captivity,” said
we shouldn’t be
Carter
taking animals
and Mexico. PETA, also known as People
animal rights organization.
get animals from
Scott Carter, Chief Life Sciences officer for the Detroit Zoological Society, happens
Breeding is a natural thing to do for
from the wild. “
animals but it is extremely easy for a species
Carter said “We
to become overpopulated, especially in the
have to rely on
wild. The Detroit Zoo uses birth control in
breeding animals in captivity to sustain zoo
their captive breeding program so it is easy
populations. For many species of animals,
to manage who is breeding and how often.
this is also necessary because some of these
Though some agree and some do not, Scott
species could go back to the wild, that’s not
Carter believes that captive breeding is
true for many species in captivity but for
important if done responsibly and ethically.
some species it could end up repopulating
But, it is always important to do the research
the wild,” said Carter.
before hand.
Not all zoos are bad; many of them play a vital role in conservation and saving a species that are at risk of extinction through captive breeding. Although zoos are not a natural home for exotic animals they
Photo Credit: Thaddeus Jurkowski
Features 5 Happiness Is...
May 2014, Volume 54, Issue 3
Laurel Kraus
Editor-in-Chief
is that we don’t spend enough time with our families so we lose touch with what a person is
Happiness is one of the most beautiful and complex concepts in the world. It is amazing
really going through like issues in their lives or other problems. When people have to deal
how much meaning one word can pack in. It is contagious giggles, peaceful contentment,
with things on their own it makes it much more difficult to fix,” Psychology teacher David
and pure bliss. It can be the simplest activity, lying lazily in the summer sun. Or the most
Kuppe said.
immense, like holding your child for the first time. It can be tears of joy, or small, shy smiles. “Happiness is self-acceptance,” English teacher Lauren Durkin (formerly known as Ms. Kuppe) said.
“The biggest issue in today’s world is that we don’t spend enough time with our families so we lose touch with what a person is really going through.”
There are about a million ways to bring people joy. Some are the beings around us, such as family, friends, and pets. Some are the items we possess, like books or movies. And finally, some are what we do. “We are a very selfish society. We look at ourselves all the time. The best way to find joy is through helping other people. It’s like a ripple effect,” Durkin said. Music is one of the major influences on moods with today’s teenagers. With lyrics that
“Rain makes me happy because it shows that the past can be washed away.” The vitamin D in sunshine is something else that has been proven to enhance people’s moods whether they are 12 or 72. In fact, lack of sun can even cause one to fall into a deep rut of sadness that is clinically called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It is also well known as “the winter blues” since it is most common during the season when people are rarely outside. “I have been diagnosed with SAD. When it comes to the seasons where it’s gloomy, I get very bummed out and my motivation is shot. When it comes to summer time, I swear, my happiness is at its peak,” Mikolowski said. It is a big debate whether people have the ability to create their own happiness or not. Major mental illnesses such as depression make it seem unlikely, but the human brain is a very powerful instrument. “I absolutely believe we have the power to create our own happiness. Whenever I get
many feel explain them in ways they are unable too, the songs draw the teens right in. In
down I simply look at my blessings, I look at what I do have and it changes things. Watching
times of hurt, sad music helps express their deeply felt pain. Music also has the power to
sloth videos on YouTube also helps,” Durkin said.
change that sorrow into delight. Some songs are so upbeat and catchy that even when one is in the worst of moods, they can’t help but to at least crack a smile. “Music is probably the one thing that brings me the most happiness because it manipulates
One’s outlook on life can certainly affect their cheerfulness level. Optimism is often wrongly associated as being happiness for just that reason. In reality, optimism leads to happiness, but it is possible for a person who sees the best in everything to still be miserable.
your emotions and I know it will always be there. Almost every song has an effect on
That being said, having the ability to look at something that is normally perceived as bad
me and it’s hard to pinpoint a song, but one that makes me happy for sure is “Skulls” by
and being able to pull out the positive points is a wonderful skill to have.
Bastille. I could listen to it for days on end because the band gives off such a positive vibe,” junior Madi Mikolowski said. Family is another area that largely affects people’s moods. There is something so comforting about having people in one’s life who they know will always love them no
“Rain makes me happy because it lets you see that beauty is everywhere and ongoing and it reminds you that life still moves forward. Rain shows that the past can be washed away,” junior Jaycob Yang said. Happiness means so many different things to so many different people. To some it is the
matter what. Sadly, this is not always the case. While some families are close-knit and
special times, and to some it is a way of life. The only thing we know for sure is that true
communicate often, others simply find themselves too busy to bother.
happiness, the kind that seems to radiate from one’s very core, is one of the absolute greatest
“In the true sense, a family is a support system. It’s being there for each other. It’s the one thing in your life you should be able to count on. I think the biggest issue in today’s world
joys in this world.
Photo Credit: Google
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Features
Behind Blue Band
www.fhstheflash.com
Starria Coppins
Former Editor
“When you’re finished with your work, put your heads down so I’ll know who’s finished.” Many teachers say this commonly used line, which leads most students to take a short nap or play on their phone afterwards. However, senior Andrew Sokolowski doesn’t take a nap or play on his phone. Instead, Sokolowski makes plans for his upcoming TV series called “Wayside Revolution.” When finished with his work, Sokolowski plans out shot lists and storyboards using different color highlighters to keep all of his characters organized. Sokolowski started making short films in fifth grade and his passion for filming and directing struck from there. “The first film I made, I would just take pictures and put a bunch of them on the screen: I would try to tell a story with just the pictures. I would set up action figures to tell the story and just put dialogue up under it, but it wasn’t actual film, it was still photography. I
Andrew smiles with his Award for Excellence from the NATAS. Photo Credit: Thaddeus Jurkowski
wants to send a new message out to people about how you don’t need super powers just
called the series Power Ups,” Sokolowski said. Not knowing that he would develop a passion for film, Sokolowski continued his still photography which later grew into broadcast. When Sokolowski started high school, he took a broadcast class and loved it. He realized that this was what he wanted to do, for it
to do the right thing. “The idea for blueband films stemmed from the idea of the show. So we thought about it and said that if we were going to do things right then we would need a production company so producers will be interested,” Sokolowski said.
was a more advanced version of still photography. “Filmmaking is a way for people to daydream and show people what they see in their head. It’s the only way that people can literally show their thoughts. Steven Spielberg once said, ‘I dream for a living.’ I believe that it’s so accurate because it’s basically just taking your dreams and putting them on a screen. It’s the ultimate way of
Sokolowski ran into people and started networking. He met Dylan Suel, a writer, at an MPI (Motion Picture Institute) workshop. They worked well together and grew an instant connection. “I always wanted to be a director. It’s amazing how everyone can come together to bring the directors dream to life. The director has the ability to take what they have in
communication,” Sokolowski said. Sokolowski started bringing his dreams to life in middle school, and didn’t want to stop. He continued making short films his freshman year, and started to grow from there. “I wanted to get a production company going. It was one day after I did a 48 hour film challenge, I thought about what I wanted to do next. It’s always been my dream to do a superhero movie. I talked to my writer and we decided that I should do something about a guy without superhero powers. I wanted this character to go out and try to save the world, but failed,” Sokolowski said. Adding a twist to the normal superhero stories will be a Andrew directs a shot at the zoo. Photo Credit: Thaddeus Jurkowski challenge for Sokolowski. He
their mind and show it to people: it’s so amazing to me,” Sokolowski said. Sokolowski’s passion is to turn his dreams into reality. With drive and dedication, he has already started his own company, Blueband Entertainment. He has set goals to air at least one short film a month with along with behind the scene clips throughout the month. “You have to have a story worth telling. You learn and you get better. I’ve made mistakes that I can’t do in the future because I’ve learned to not do them again,” Sokolowski said. Not everyone has the passion to go out and start living their dream; however, it’s never too early to start planning out what you want your future to be. “We all strive to feel like we’re benefiting the world in some way or we’re doing something to change the world: artist, musicians, all kinds of talented people. I guess I don’t want to be one of those people who, after I get out of high school, and by the time I die, is looking back and thinking that I didn’t do anything with my life. What I want in life is to make my dreams come true and everyone else’s,” Sokolowski said.
Entertainment
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The Cross and the Light dressed as ancient Israelites, sing with joy. The excitement and wonder of
was given a gift to sing; however,
Blood streamed down his body.
the actors is genuine. Looking down onto the stage, I felt transported back in
voices of cast members Ashley
His face was contorted in pain. The
time. Every line was spoken naturally and effectively throughout each scene.
Rozanski (Mary Magdalene), Beth
recreation of this image of Jesus
Seeing Beth Lackey (Mary) weep at Jesus’ feet as he was nailed on the cross
Lackey, and Kenny Watson (Jesus)
and his death was illustrated in the
strangled my heart, urging me to run and comfort her.
were mesmerizing and unique from
Savanna DiStefano
Former Editor
the others. Every group number was
traveling play The Cross and the Light, which was brought to Detroit
Though the stage decorations remained unchanged a majority of the play,
smooth and harmonized.
Music Hall April 10-13. The Cross
colorful strobe lights and booming sound effects brought the theater to life.
and the Light was first performed in
The most powerful and realistic scene is of Jesus nailed to the cross. Streams
Joshua Gronlund (Peter), Tim
2002 with the passion to serve as an
of blood glaze over his skin from head to toe, and his agonizing voice springs
Bowman Jr. (Thomas), Tom
illustration of Jesus’ crucifixion. The
goose bumps on viewer’s arms and leads them to tears. This is the heart of
Shilakes (Pontius Pilate), Bradley
play reenacts the final days of Jesus
the play.
Ellison (Judas), and LaRonn Dolley
Other leading roles included
from the Passover feast through the
The play ends with the resurrection of Jesus. His empty tomb is found,
discovery of the empty tomb when
and the word is spread about his reappearance. The anecdote of Thomas is
was created by Kelly Nieto (former
he rose again.
visited, connecting with the audience as they relate to his doubt. The play
Miss Michigan) and co-directed by
closed with the ending number “He’s Alive,” which quickly gets trapped
Brian Leduc. For more information,
inside one’s head. Overall, the play remained true to the Bible.
visit crossandight.com.
The play opens with Jesus coming to Jerusalem. The townspeople,
Nearly every scene includes one to three musical numbers. Each performer
(soldier).The Cross and the Light
Photo Credit: Savanna DiStefano
Movie Review: Lone Survivor
Emily Drumm
Staff Reporter
I have never been a fan of war movies: the perspiring, grotesque men scurrying around a dense forests, marshes, or mountains firing guns and cursing at each other. However, when the first Lone Survivor preview came out, I was drawn to it. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel, this true account takes you through the failed covert mission in the eyes of four Navy SEALS officers. The assignment, given to SEAL team 10, was to take out al-Qaeda in enemy territory in Afghanistan. Not knowing what they were
getting themselves into, Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), and Matt ‘Axe’ Axelson (Ben Foster) found each other isolated and surrounded by Taliban. They had a choice to make: surrender or battle their way out. Outnumbered, out-gunned, and unable to receive help from their base, the four make a pact to stay together and overcome extraordinary odds. Through blood, tears, strength, and courage, they show their true American colors and tough it out to the end. These men lost their lives fighting for our country
and should be rewarded. Lone Survivor makes me proud to live in this country. This film is one that brought me to tears and stopped my heart all at once. Countless times I found my stomach full of metal butterflies; any movie that can do that to a person is worth seeing. This modern American war film was directed by Peter Berg and grossed over $118.4 million in North America alone on its premiere date in
January. Based on its ratings from IMDb, Lone Survivor received 7.8 out of 10 stars, and according to Rotten Tomatoes movie reviews, 90% of the audience liked the film. This is a classic must-see movie. Photo Credit: Google
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Sports Photo Story
Sarah Uddin stepping back to kill the ball.
“Not on my watch,” third-baseman said.
Tabitha Reamore hits it with her best shot.
Batter ready for the fast ball.
Angela Fiordilino winds up her arm for a strike. Dominic Mielke is ready for the ball.
Vincent Maiale jumps ahead of the competition.
Gravity doesn’t apply to vaulter Matis Elston.
Isiah Faraon isn’t listening to music: he’s throwing weights.
Jason Querro pitchs a fast ball.
Kane Walenciak soars over the bar.
Heather Maracle dashs for the ball.
She can go the distance~