Echo Summer 2019

ECHO Summer 2019

Table of Contents National News: (starts on p. 4) Brandon Noll, Editor

Sports: (Starts on p. 8) Julia Remick, Editor, Assistant Editor-in-Chief Mary Foxen, Editor Student Stoptlight: (starts on p. 10) Lana Hess, Editor Community News: (starts on p. 12) Julia Remick, Editor, Assistant Editor-in-Chief Mary Foxen, Editor Reviews: (Starts on p.15) Melissa Ng, Editor Matthew Fiore, Editor-in-Chief & Design Editor Ms. Skolnik, Faculty Advisor NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles DO NOT represnt the opinions of the administraive staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

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Dear Reader, Suddenly, my time as a member of the ECHO staff and as a student at Garden City High School has drawn to a close. I am so grateful for the time that I have spent in the library computer lab with my fellow writers and editors, for it has helped me grow. After each meeting, I left a little bit more inspired because of the passion for writing, world news, and community news that I saw in others. I have learned that documenting and expressing ideas and opinions is important since it sets the groundwork for change. I have learned the importance of patience and collaboration. This publication requires the ideas and creativity of many patient individuals to be as successful as it is. With each issue I learned something new, from musicals like The Prom to the recent college scandal.

I know I will never find a better way to fill my Tuesday afternoons, as there is nothing quite as fulfilling as putting the final touches on an issue or just laughing with the ECHO staff. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to be a part of the long lasting legacy that is ECHO. This newspaper fosters a community of journalists and writers who possess a unique drive and sensitivity to the world around them. To all of the writers that have come before me and all of those that will follow, thank you for fostering my love for writing. Of course a special thank you is owed to Ms. Skolnik. Thank you for your dedication to this publication and for believing in me. As I transition into college, I will take all that I have learned with me. I know that ECHO is in good hands.

Sincerely, Julia Remick Assistant Editor-in-Chief

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National News - Editorial

Editorial: College Scandals By: Emily Kerimian

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As many know, it is a great honor and accomplishment to be accepted into an Ivy League school, and often an accomplishment that young people devote years of strenuous work to achieving. Their acceptance symbolizes a culmination of excellent test scores, numerous extracurriculars, and impressive moral character, and is without a doubt a well deserved prize for the prior mentioned attributes. However, in the past couple of weeks, it has come to the public’s attention that some celebrity children and children of other notable, wealthy people have not earned their places in an honorable way. Instead, they and their parents have resorted to cheating to ensure their academic success. Some of the parents involved are well known actresses, such as Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Others who face charges occupy a large range of professions from doctors, like Gregory Colburn, to CEOs, such as Robert Flaxman, to Agustin Huneeus Jr., the owner of vineyards in Napa, California. Despite the obvious differences in occupation, all of these individuals have been accused of using unscrupulous methods to ensure their children’s spots in prestigious schools.

While the accusations themselves are fascinating, the strategies attempted are even more so. For example, Mark Riddell, a former graduate of Harvard, admits that he was hired to take SAT and ACT tests in place of students. He was often hired in particular because of his ability to score perfect scores effortlessly, according to USA Today. While Riddell does express remorse for his actions, his court date is scheduled to take place April 12, 2019.

Other “tutors” have been sought out to write exemplary college essays. This plan can backfire, as parents might become overconfident and accidentally instruct the writer to compose an essay that either doesn’t relate to the student,

or in one instance, predates the student’s birth. Another method, which was especially common, is bribing a coach or instructor from the desired university.

Professors changed scores or drafted fraudulent resumes. Similarly, coaches vouched for students’ athletic abilities, even if the applicants had never played the sport they claimed they deserved scholarships for. A headline-grabbing example of such was William Singer, a key behind-the-scene figure in the college scandal, projecting Lori Loughlin’s daughters, Bella and Olivia Jade, as superb, competitive crew rowers.

While the media has shamed privileged parents, the public disagrees on whether or not to place blame on the children who benefited from their parents’ schemes. The Atlantic reports that many “clients”, teenagers, were oblivious to the scandal, and attributed their success to natural talent and fortune. The truth, obviously, is that lying and wealth contributed to their success. The kids in question were born with tremendous advantages that few in America have access to: they can afford expensive tutors, private schooling, cutting edge technology, and more.

Hence, it is easier to sympathize with the middle class and those who live in

poverty, as they can’t afford the same privileges. Insult is added to injury when these scandals come to light. The injustice is infuriating, because the parents charged with conspiracy and bribery believe the college admission process is below them and they wrongfully seize places in competitive schools at which some have worked tirelessly for years to earn a spot. Even more infuriating is the fact that some of the children have the audacity to be ungrateful for the education that has been handed to them. For instance, Olivia Jade Loughlin, on her Youtube channel, has said, “I don’t really care about school” and “I don’t even know why I’m going to college.” It is hard not to criticize such an attitude.

Despite the recent scandals, current high schoolers and their parents should not lose faith in the college admissions process. Many schools have become better at recognizing efforts to cheat, and these students risk facing rejection from the desired schools.

The string of scandals has intensified schools’ admissions processes and prevented would-be cheaters from being accepted.

College Scandal: The Numbers 33 parents were accused of paying more than $25 million be-

tween 2011 and 2018 to William Singer to artificially inflate grades and bribe university officials

750 families Singer now faces 65 years in prison and a $1.2 million fine A total of 50 parents have been charged in the investigation 11 universities were involved: Georgetown University, Harvard University, The scandal involved over

Northwestern University, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of San Diego, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, Wake Forest University, and Yale Univeresity

National News - Editorial

Editorial: Notre Dame Right at Home By: Alexandra Kucich

Hundreds of years of history lost in mere hours, a community mourning, and a holy site devastated– and no, this does not refer to Notre Dame.

St. Landry parish, just north of Lafayette, Louisiana, suffered three fires in the span of ten days; thankfully, no one was injured. Saint Mary Baptist Church was reduced to mere rubble on March 26th, followed by Greater Union Baptist Church on April 2nd and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on April 4th. The parish had been established in 1807, making it 212 years old. As a predominantly black center of worship, the parish community has endured centuries of American terror.

It has survived the horrors of racism, the struggles of African Americans yearning for rights under reconstruction, the lynchings of the 1950s, the indescribable, poignant fright incited by the shooting at Emanuel AME Church, which killed nine black parishioners in 2015, and so much more.

But now, for the first time, the parish faces the physical destruction of its places of worship in what police confirm to be a hate crime. While mo-

rale remains high, no amount of spirit is going to cause the devastated piles of rubble and ruins to spontaneously rebuild themselves into the three churches, where so many St. Landry parishioners shared so many formative memories. Recovery is going to be slow and grueling. Yet, the road to recovery does not seem so sluggish for every parish in mourning. The burning of the Notre Dame cathedral on April 15th seemed to have instantly attracted billions in donations to rebuild the historical structure. If we can contribute abroad for the conservation of history and the healing of the people of Paris, then why can’t we spare a thought or a dollar for a distressed community in our own backyard?

Thankfully, inspired by the influx of donations to Notre Dame, some kind hearted people did take note of the tragedy in St. Landry parish. The GoFundMe campaign for St. Landry has raised more than two million dollars, a sum that offers hope in this time of crushing doubt. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ church-fires-st-landry-parishmacedonia-ministry .

You may be wondering why, if this is truly such a massive tragedy, you haven’t heard anything about it in the news. But why would such an old, familiar story make headlines? Arson has been committed against nine other predominantly black churches in the U.S. since the turn of the century; thirty-six black church burnings occurred in the 1990s, and countless more in previous decades. After the age of Jim Crow, African American church burnings may have slowed, but they haven’t stopped.

Terrorism against African Americans persists with horrifying tenacity. This fact is so commonly known to us as Americans that it would seem to have become blasé. But we must constantly remind ourselves that this should not be our normal. We must remind ourselves that we need to do better to grant hate crimes in the 21st century the same attention and alarm as a crisis 3,625 miles away.

If you wept over Notre Dame, weep over St. Landry. Let this be a reminder to us all to remain uncomfortably aware of our past and our present as a nation.

St. Landry Parish in Lafayette, Louisiana Image courtesy of Wikipedia

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National News

2020 Presidential Campaigns Begin By: Brandon Noll

As November 2020 comes ever closer, both sides of the political spectrum have begun to make preparations. Record numbers of Democrats have announced they are running for president, riding the wake of Trump’s low approval rating and the high probability that any Democratic candidate can win in 2020. On the Republican side, only Trump and former governor of Massachusetts, William Weld, have announced that they are running.

William Weld has been a big critic of Trump’s policies and actions since 2016 and he represents the chunk of Republicans that are dissatisfied with Trump. He ran for the Libertarian Party in 2016 and has now stepped up to challenge Trump for the nomination in 2020. Trump, however, has an extremely sizable

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lead on William Weld with $100 million already raised for his 2020 campaign.

This election is historic for Democrats. As of June 4th, 2019, there are 24 Democrats running for the Democratic Primary, a number of them women. After Bernie Sanders made a large showing in the 2016 Democratic Primary, the Democratic Party has shifted further left than it has before and has taken on more progressive policies.

Bernie Sanders has stood for policies like Medicare For All and free public college tuition for ages and he has been rock solid in his stances on social change, and now there are many other candidates adopting his supposed “radical” policies. Elizabeth Warren stands with Bernie on “fixing capitalism” and Medicare

For All. Though there has been a rise in more left leaning candidates for the primary like Warren and Sanders, there still remains many centrists that advocate for a more moderate approach to issues. The main centrist in this Democratic Primary is Joe Biden, former Vice President. Biden opposes Medicare for All and accepts a lot of campaign money from Super PACS, exactly what Warren and Sanders refuse to do. Biden also takes more of a “middle of the road” approach to social justice and change in American society. This primary will certainly become more and more extreme as candidates begin to drop out and coverage of certain candidates grows.

National News

Notre Dame Fire By: Lynnie Kiely

Notre Dame a Cathedral church located in Paris, France is a common tourist attraction and an architectural marvel. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the building had been standing for a shocking period of time. Unfortunately, the Cathedral caught flame on April 15, 2019, causing the building’s spire to collapse. Over 400 firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames, however considerable damage was done to the structure. Many now question how long and how expensive it will be to repair Notre Dame. French

president Emmanuel Macron has assured the public that the Cathedral will be rebuilt, however experts say the reconstruction will take at least 10 years. As for cost, over $800 million has already been donated to repair the landmark.

It’s interesting to inquire about buildings and their emotional and cultural importance. Whether a piece of architecture has religious importance, or is simply valued by a community for sentimental reasons, buildings can have a significant impact on an area. Take Saint Paul’s

right here in Garden City for example; the building, though beautiful, is difficult and expensive to keep up, yet the school still stands because it holds such high sentimental value in this community. Notre Dame, while on a significantly larger scale, has a similar effect on the people of Paris, and those of the Catholic faith.

Which is why news of the conflagration at Notre Dame affected many people worldwide. Thankfully though, the building will be returned to its former glory.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Image courtesy of ABC News

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Sports

Girls Lacrosse By: Lynnie Kiely

This year was a successful one for the Girls Varsity lacrosse team. The girls had an amazing performance this year with an impressive 12-5 record.

The County Championship game was a grueling loss against Garden City’s long time rival, Manhasset. The game ended 12-13, with a Manhasset victory. Although the season ended earlier than expected, it is still considered a successful one by many. Attackman

Claire McGuire reflected on the many triumphs of this past season, “It was good, we won a lot of games, did what we wanted to do, and made it to county’s”. An ambitious and positive team, led by Coach Diane Chapman, the girls varsity lacrosse team goes into every season with one goal in mind. When asked what the team hopes to accomplish in next year’s season McGuire responded, “ Well we set the same goal,

and it’s to make it to County’s, and I think as a senior on the team (next season) we have a strong class that could get there”. The team will be losing eight seniors next year, but the attitude is optimistic for next spring. This season has been a successful and memorable one, which will hopefully lead to many triumphs in the future.

Boys Lacrosse By: Mary Foxen

The 2019 season for Garden City Boys Lacrosse was quite a successful one. With only one loss in the regular season, they easily moved on to their first playoff game against Carey and won with a lead of 10-3. The win advanced them to the second round of playoffs against South Side. The team kept their stride, beating South Side 6-3. Getting past the two playoff games put Garden City in the county finals against Manhasset, the only team Garden City had lost to that regular season in a close 5-6 game. Garden City quickly put up five goals in the first quarter, but Manhasset adapted by enforcing a tight defense. Manhasset was able to score five goals in the second and third quarter, tying the game! No team scored in the entire fourth quarter so the close game continued into overtime. Scoreless again, it moved into the double overtime, and in the last minute a Manhasset freshman broke the stalemate with a goal. After the excruciating 5-6 loss to Manhasset in the county final on May 28, the Garden City Boys Lacrosse season was cut short. Midfielder Ford Carney reflects “it was nobody’s fault specifically. We left it all on the field for each other.”

The team finished with an overall record of 16-2, but the practically perfect

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record is not all they had to show for the season. Ford Carney explains “our team had so much colorful personality on and off the field this year, whether it be workouts, film, or eating after practice.” This mentality allowed every player to perform to the best of his ability and improve the team as a whole.

The positive yet challenging environment cultivated by head coach Steve Finnell, assistant coaches Joe Jacovina and Tim Holman, and captains Trevor Yeboah-Kodie, Colin Hart, Danny Boccafola, and Justin Coppola has been essential for this team’s success.

Carney also adds “I always felt like

I could have fun with anyone on the team as long as we were doing something in relation to lacrosse, and some of my best teammates became my best friends during that season and that is one of the best memories I’ll probably have.”

Twenty one seniors will graduate from the team this year so Garden City’s underclassmen have some pretty big shoes to fill. Despite the unexpected ending on this year’s team, the boys lacrosse team performed incredibly throughout the season, and the team will have great memories from playing together everyday on the field.

Badminton: Serving Wins!

Sports

By: Claire Schick

Here at Garden City, every game for the badminton team is a grand ordeal, complete with music, crowds, and sometimes riots. Our accomplished team is full of friendly faces and good vibes, headed by the great Coach Leake. We try to heed his mantra of “treat everyone with kindness” when we annihilate the schools we play at our matches.

The top 11 teams at the end of each season have the chance to score in what we call “the national draw”.

If you get a chance next year, try to squeeze yourself through the sea of fans into the gym and catch us serving wins!

The GCHS Girls’ Badminton Team

Julia Peppard, captain of the Girls’ Badminton Team

Softball: Celebrating Sucess & Seniors By: Caroline Flanagan

This spring season, the Garden City Softball Team made great improvements on and off the field.

Each player tried new positions and diversified their skill set. Senior Emily Moody adds that each player did so, “while still having a positive and encouraging attitude.”

The team fought through injuries and adapted to fill missing positions. At practices, everyone constantly supported one another and the team had a strong bond off the field. Abby Cox, a senior, says, “It has given me the opportunity of meeting so many amazing teammates who inspire me to be the best version of myself possible.”

Aside from team accomplishments, the girls extended their

influence by raising money for the JED Foundation. The foundation works to prevent suicide and raise awareness about mental illness. The team put together raffles and food at the fundraiser game, as well as at a school bake sale. The final donation came out to around $1,000.

By pushing one another, the team powered through a tough season; despite losses, the players kept their heads up and learned from their mistakes. Jeanne Butler says that the team has made her, “not only a better athlete, but a better person.” The team quickly turned into a family; as Emily Olenik says, “The program has given me the opportunity to make some of my best friends and learn skills that will last

a lifetime.”

Each player made a difference on the team in their own way; at practices, everyone brought a unique energy that contributed to productivity. Jenna Ward says, “No matter what your skill level is, there is a place for you on the team which makes it a welcoming environment.”

The team is sad to say goodbye to its five seniors, but looks forward to even more improvement next year.

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Student Spotlight

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: 2019 CO-VA Co-Valedictorian: Cassidy Go By: Julia Remick

Cassidy Go is one of the co-valedictorians of the Garden City High School graduating class of 2019. In addition to her academic success, she is also an exceptional artist. Cassidy treats everyone with kindness and is always humble. Her sense of humor and positivity can make anyone smile. Next year, she will be attending SUNY Binghamton in the Decker School of Nursing.

In her free time, she is involved in both the visual arts and playing the piano. For four years, she played piano in the pit orchestra for the musicals. Throughout high school, she also took art classes.

Her beautiful work has been displayed in the Garden City Public Library periodically. She was also involved in the SADD Club and received a leadership role as Vice President. She described that her

proudest accomplishment has been completing and balancing the challenging courses she has taken, such as AP Chemistry and Honors Physics. She is happy to say these classes have helped her grow, helping her learn how to study and develop lifelong skills. All of her classes were sprinkled with moments of fun and laughter. However, her favorite high school memory dates back to her freshman year English class. Mrs. Arnone requested that they act out a scene from Othello, completed with props that Cassidy made. Cassidy said in this moment she truly enjoyed her English class, as every student became totally involved in the acting. With enthusiasm they acted out each scene, thrusting pool noodle swords at each other.

She says she enjoyed many of her classes, but the class that paid off the most was AP Chemistry. She de-

scribes the class as challenging, but when it was over and the fun experiments after the AP rolled around, she had a deeper understanding of chemistry. She was satisfied with all of the work that she put in paid off in the end.

For Cassidy, her biggest motivation was trying to improve herself and watching her older sisters as inspiration. In elementary school, she watched her sisters take rigorous classes that she later ended up taking. She says that her older siblings were huge role models for her. She wants to tell underclassmen, “Use the opportunities of your electives to explore yourself”. In her Intro to Visual Basics class, she had the opportunity to explore new things and unique fields.

Salutatorian:

By: Mary

After four years at Garden City High School, Aidan Padala graduated with a 100.18 GPA, making him the salutatorian of the class of 2019. This is one of the highest academic achievements awarded at Garden City, and Aidan thanks his friends, family, and teachers for helping him get there.

Throughout his years at Garden City High School, Aidan took

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the most rigorous courses available while also catering to his interest in engineering. Some of the special electives Aidan took part in included Project Lead The Way (PLTW)–a four year engineering course– AP Computer Science, and AP Physics.

He notes that AP Chemistry and AP Physics were the hardest courses he has taken at the high school, but he holds some of the best memories in

those very classes attend the Univers nia with a major the fall.

While Aid forms incredibly i devotes his time to ricular activities club soccer games to a serious intern well Health. In his

Student Spotlight

ALEDICTORIANS & SALUTATORIAN Co-Valedictorian: Elsie Schaubeck By: Julia Remick

One day in April, Elsie Schaubeck was called into the principal's office for what she thought was a meeting about lollipop sales for German Club. As it turns out, it was Elsie’s crowning moment: she was named co-valedictorian of the class of 2019! “I was really shocked and definitely not expecting it. But after the news settled in I was just really happy and especially happy to share such an honor with Cassidy Go,” stated Elsie.

In reflecting on her time at Garden City High School, Elsie said, “All of the opportunities that the school has presented me with allowed me to grow and explore my interests. I’m grateful for all the good friends and memories that I’ve made here.” In particular,

Elsie loved working with her Latin teacher, Mrs. Durkin (aka Magistra). She said, “She always tries to make class more fun and exciting.

I love how much care and support she shows not only to her students but also to everyone around her. For the last four years she has inspired me to reach my goals and I’m so thankful to have had her as a teacher.” When asked which of her classes did she enjoy the most, Elsie replied that “Overall, all of my classes were made enjoyable because of my amazing teachers.” In offering advice to future students, Elsie advises “don’t stress too much about grades, know that they are important but don’t let them rule your life.

Take classes that you want to take and think that you will enjoy.”

Next fall, Elsie will be attending Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts and will be studying chemical engineering.

She is sure to find success there and would like to conclude with “Everyone I have interacted with has taught me something different and helped bring me to where I am now.” Congratulations Elsie, and good luck next year!

Aidan Padala

y Foxen

s. Aidan plans to at Northwell Health, Aidan works in sity of Pennsylva- the division of behavioral pediatrics in Engineering in by writing abstracts for the IRB and preparing presentations for internadan Padala per- tional medical conferences. He is in school, he also also the head of a charity which he o various extracur- founded in the seventh grade called from varsity and Linen Lift, donating used clothing s on the weekends to those in need.

Aidan Padala is beyond nship with Norths research position grateful for his experience at Gar-

den City High School, and he hopes to pass on some advice for any underclassmen hoping to make the best of their time here. He recommends “to always talk to older kids in the high school for pointers on specific teachers and classes.”

Aidan will certainly be remembered at the school by students and teachers alike. Congratulations Aidan Padala and good luck in the future!

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Community News

Long Island Math Fair By: Matthew Fiore

On Friday, March 1, 2019, all of the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in Honors Math Research attended the Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University.

Here, students presented their research from the papers they wrote during the school year in a competition against all other Long Island

math research students. From basic geometry to advanced calculus, students developed presentations to showcase their research in a mathematical topic of their choice. Once finished, students were ranked by judges who are current high school math teachers. Those who had particularly strong presentations moved

onto Round 2 which was held on Friday, April 12, and were guaranteed a medal in that round. In Round 2, seniors joined the winning Round 1 students. Below is a list of Garden City’s winners. All students enjoyed researching their topics throughout the school year and were happy to present what they learned.

Garden City’s Math Fair Winners Gold Medal Winners: Aidan Padala (12) Silver Winners: Ian Bailey (10), Robert Treanor (10), John Bensen (12), Michael Greco (12) Bronze Winners: Mary Grlic (9), Aidan Wu (9), Jenny Zheng (9), Ryan Padala (10), Andrew Riceman (10), Sarah Wu (11), Jillian Young (11), Jenny Ban (12), Alex Bensen (12), Iain Morrison (12)

Long Island Envirothon By: Matthew Fiore

On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, teams of three to five students from high schools across Long Island participated in the 21st Annual Long Island Envirothon. This regional competition involves students studying the five environmental areas: wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils, and a current issue.

This year’s current issue was sustainable farming. For each subject, students had 25 minutes to answer 25 multiple-choice questions. In addition, each team had to prepare an oral presentation about the current issue, between seven and ten minutes in length. Though it was held in the rain on relatively cold day,

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students especially enjoyed testing soils in the pit and examining animal furs as part of their examinations. After competing, students were welcomed to a catered lunch while watching the awards ceremony and finding out who won.

The winners from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties received scholarship money and will advance to the New York State competition. The Envirothon allows students who are interested in learning about the environment to do so, and have fun at the same time. Anyone interested in joining the competition next year should contact Mrs. Dubuke in Room 201 for more information.

Community News

AP Computer Science Principles By: Alexandra Kucich

Coming this fall, Garden City High School will be offering a new course to engage and educate future engineers, physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians, and more: AP Computer Science Principles. The course itself is not new for the College Board, but it is a special treat for Garden City.

At Garden City, as in 130 New York City schools, Amazon will be providing online materials for the course and promoting it in order to bring more advanced computer science programs to public schools. The goal is to improve the

quality of education everywhere by offering equally high quality programs in privileged and underprivileged areas alike. For students seeking a college level introduction to the field of computer science, this course is most helpful and exciting.

AP Computer Science Principles differs from the better known AP Computer Science in that it is more of a sampler course in the field, rather than specific training in programming and problem solving using java, a popular programming language. Students in AP Computer Science Principles are exposed to

a wider array of computer science concepts, from web design to basic coding. The projects they complete throughout the year, in any language of the teacher’s or their choosing, accumulate into a final portfolio that displays creativity and personality.

A basic entrance into computer science for students interested in STEM fields, AP Computer Science Principles, especially with rich materials and funding from Amazon, is sure to be a course full of educational opportunity and engaging challenges.

Festa di Primavera By: Julia Remick

On May 31st the Italian Club and Italian Honor Society hosted Festa di Primavera. This event was a celebration of the coming of spring, as well as the Italian language and culture. This event took months of preparation and would not have been possible without the efforts of Signora Cardilicchia. The proceeds for this event are being used to fund scholarships for Garden City High School Italian language students.

Many language students, parents, teachers, and alumni took part in the various festivities. This included Italian food, drinks, desserts, and music. The Italian Club and Italian Honor Society also organized a modern rendition of the Tarantella and raffles.The theme of this year’s Festa di Primavera was lemons, as lemons are popular in southern Italy. Student of Italian Kimberly Ward said she “had so much fun at Festa”

and that she “can’t wait to help organize and attend Festa next year”.

Festa di Primavera is a Garden City High School tradition that will continue for many years to come.

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Community News

LIU Post Festival Band By: Mary Grlic and Corinne Lafont

This April, several students from Garden City High School participated in the LIU Post Festival Band, where they had the opportunity to perform with some of the best high school musicians in the area. Among these students were two reporters for ECHO, Mary Grlic and Corinne Lafont, as well as Daniel Vazquez. They had only two three-hour rehearsals to perfect four compositions, three of which were created by the composer-in-residence, Jack Stamp. The musicians performed “Salida Principio,” “Sophie,” and “Variations and Chorale,” all composed by Dr. Stamp. “Salida Principio” was commissioned by a Florida high school when their principal left the district. As a tribute to a truly amazing administrator, it is a lively piece with Latin influence that celebrates her time at the school.

“Sophie” is a heartfelt ballad for Dr. Stamp’s black labrador that passed

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away in 2014. It’s slow and very expressive with intense dynamics that convey how much his dog meant to him. Finally, “Variations and Chorale” is a play on the typical classic structure of a chorale. It usually starts with the theme, and then there are various changes on the melody.

He used this format backwards to create a fascinating new genre. The students had the pleasure of being conducted by Dr. Stamp for all three of his pieces, allowing them to truly understand and epitomize the composer’s emotions. They also played “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night,” a piece by Elliot del Borgo based on the Dylan Thomas poem published in 1951. Professor James McRoy, a band director at LIU Post, conducted the band in del Borgo’s piece. All of the hard work put in by the musicians paid off at the concert on April 12 at the Tilles Center at LIU Post. The performance began

with several pieces played by LIU’s own wind ensemble, conducted by James McRoy. Two Long Island high schools also performed alongside the ensembles at the concert.

The night culminated in the successful festival band’s performance.

In our opinion, it was a rewarding experience in more ways than one.

We got to meet new people that were just as dedicated to music as we are. Being surrounded by such an environment led to a beautiful performance and an experience that we could never forget.

Beetlejuice the Musical is amazing, thrilling and strange (as intended). The original Tim Burton film has been adapted into a musical, and it has definitely been done justice. Although the storyline has been changed, the musical is jam-packed with hilarious jokes, awesome special effects, and breathtaking set designs. Starring Alex Brightman, Sophia Anne Caruso, Rob McClure, Kerry Butler, Adam Dannheisser, and Leslie Kritzer, this musical takes you on a wild ride through the land of the dead and the living. Beetlejuice is directed by Alex Timbers and is about a strange and unusual young girl named Lydia Deetz. Her life takes a turn after the tragic death of her mother, leaving her heartbroken. However, things begin to seem strange as she encounters a recently deceased couple and a stripe-obsessed demon. The thing that stood out to me the most was the spectacular scenery. The eye-catching set was created by David Korins, who is also credited for “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen”. My personal favorite design was the opening graveyard background. I loved how it gave off the Tim Burton vibes of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with the iconic hill in the distance.

My praises also go to the actors, as they did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life onstage, and portraying them in such a brilliant way. I definitely recommend this musical as it will lead you on a fun ride of emotions.

By: Melissa Ng

Reviews

By: Alexandra Kucich Students nationwide are buying dresses, renting tuxes, choosing corsages, and getting swept up in the excitement of prom season.

But for Broadway fans, the phrase “prom” carries a new, more thrilling meaning as the Tony Awards quickly approach. The Broadway musical The Prom took the musical theatre community by storm this past year with an energetic score that has theatregoers dancing in their seats, jokes that earn a nightly cackle from the audience, and choreography that’ll leave you with your jaw on the floor. The plot centers around a high school aged lesbian from Indiana who simply wants to attend prom with her girlfriend, and the arrogant but hilarious Broadway stars who come to her aid with gaudy performances and a whole lot of heart.

The musical earned so much acclaim with its ever expanding fan base and seven Tony Award nominations that producer Ryan Murphy claimed it as his new undertaking.

Murphy plans to adapt The Prom to film so its bubbly, uplifting story can be preserved and shared. The film will premiere on Netflix in 2020. If you’re in need of a night in, a heartwarming story, laughter, tears, and infectious smiles and beats, then watch out for The Prom! Soon, you won’t need to snatch a Broadway ticket to enjoy the phenomenon that revived musical comedy.

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Reviews

Little Fires Everywhere By: Isabel Taveras

The novel Little Fires Everywhere, written by Celeste Ng, takes place in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where the author was raised.

The Richardson family is a typical middle-class family in the ’90s with four children named Lexie, Trip, Moody, and Izzy. When they meet their new neighbors, the Warren family, they realize that not everyone lives in the same comfortable conditions as them. Mia Warren is a single mother who moves often to sell her paintings as an artist. When her daughter, Pearl, enters her freshman year of high school in a new school, she befriends the Richardson kids and adapts to their ways of talking, dressing, and acting. She begins to attach herself to this family regardless of whether she stays in town or not. However, Mia’s past stirs up the present, which forces both her and Pearl to return to their usual nomadic routine. It’s up to both of them to pretend the Richardsons never existed and to reverse the changes that have been made in their lives.

The Warren family has a story behind all their mysteries. Noticing that Pearl does not live with her father, the Richardsons investigate Mia’s past and quickly realize how twisted and intricate their situation is. Mia was a surrogate mother for a rich couple in New York. Instead

of giving the baby to the family, she kept the baby and left the city in order to avoid being caught. This story is used against Mia after a series of dramatic events. After a senior party, Lexie becomes pregnant which leads her to resort to having an abortion. Since her father is a famous lawyer with a conservative reputa-

Author Celeste Ng

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tion to protect, she uses Pearl’s full name when signing in at the clinic.

Later on, Mrs. Richardson finds the abortion papers under Pearl’s name and assumes that she had been with her son. This causes Mrs. Richardson to confront Mia and blackmail her with details of her past. Keeping this secret from Pearl becomes more difficult once numerous people are aware of what Mia had done. This leads them to move out of town once again. However, Mia still tries to be the most perfect mother she can be even if that means risking losing her daughter to another parent.

This book acknowledges the American stereotype of intolerance towards anything different from what one personally experiences; true to this theme of prejudice and intolerance, the Richardsons treat the Warrens differently because of the Warrens’ lifestyle. The novel also touches upon how single mothers lived in the ‘90s. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, regardless of age, because of the way the author slowly reveals the characters’ secrets that culminate in the major dramatic plot points.

I without a doubt would share this heart-felt book with others.

Reviews

The Avengers: Endgame By: Isabel Taveras

The finale is here! Marvel fans have long awaited the conclusion to the Infinity Saga, and it was worth the wait! The movie delivers in all areas— storyline, character development, excitement, emotional impact, and a satisfying end that will not be revealed here. The epic saga started in 2008 with Iron Man and is wrapped up now with Endgame. Endgame encompasses stories from twenty-one different movies, including Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, and others. This was an extraordinary feat to pull off .

Directors Anthony and Joseph Russo accomplished this with the help and co-operation of numerous stars,

such as Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Paul Rudd (Ant Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and many others. Just assembling all these stars in one room at the same time is an accomplishment!

The Story begins shortly after Avengers: Infinity Wars, where Thanos, the main antagonist first introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy, wipes out half the universe.

The remaining Avengers need to come together and try to reverse his actions. In an effort to avoid spoilers, there will be no further details described. Suffice it to say that the directors expertly manage to weave

all the different past movies into this epic three hour adventure. In fairness, I am a Marvel movie fan and I have watched all the movies leading up to this point so every little detail, nuance, and reference is not lost on me. However, I feel that the casual watcher, who has only seen a few Marvel movies, will still be able to follow the plot and enjoy the action.

Overall, if you have the time this summer, I highly recommend binge-watching all the previous films and then topping it off with this highly satisfactory, edgeof-your-seat, earth shattering finale.

You will not be disappointed!

Tesla’s Model 3 Car By: Nick Ragas

Tesla's line of vehicles may be most famous for the car’s fully electric motor system. The Model 3’s Motor lies in its wheels. Not only is electricity much cheaper than gas, but it is also environmentally friendly, a growing concern in today’s society. According to the U.S. Auto Safety Agency, the car has a general 5 star rating, which is exceptional for what the vehicle is worth, as the car's price range sits

between $35,000 to $50,000. Because of the unique nature of the Tesla, many people have been interested in its capabilities. It even has its own in depth video reviews online. If you’re interested in checking one out, visit Tech Lions on YouTube.

Recently I had the opportunity to ask a fellow student about his Tesla, Model 3 car. The student commented on how he enjoys the

car’s sleek design and front-way trunk, as it makes it much easier to unload the car. This means that the trunk takes the place of where the engine would sit in the average, oil motorized automobile. As I sat inside the car there was a noticeably minimalistic, yet comfortable interior; the buttons on the touch screen are easy access, and the seats are a dream, as they are heated and provide an excessive level of comfort.

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CLASS OF 2019 COLLEGE LIST

KARA ACINAPURO ALEXANDRA ADAMS CHRISTIAN AHREM JENNIFER ALDEN THOMAS ALLEN LUCY AMBACH BRIDGET ANDERSON SYDNEY ANTIC CAMERON ARIES OWEN ASCHER VINCENT AVERSA JENNA AVERSANO WILLIAM BAHLKE JARED BAKER RUDOLPH BALDEO YUEXUAN BAN NINFA BARON NICOLETTA BARTON ROBERT BASCHNAGEL JAMES BASILE KISHAN BATRA STEPHEN BAYMACK GRACE BELT CHRISTINA BENNETT ALEX BENSEN JOHN BENSEN GABRIELLA BEVIL TRAVIS BHARUCHA RYAN BICE BRYANT BILY TRENT BISCONE JOHN BLUME DANIEL BOCCAFOLA RAJ BRAHMBHATT ABIGAIL BRITA GREGORY BUCKMAN JOLIE BUGGY GUNNAR BURPEE JEANNE BUTLER DONALD BYRNE GIANNI CANALETICH JAMES CASHWELL

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KIERA FOLEY MICHAEL FONTANETTA KAYLA FOSBECK JAKE FRAHER KEVIN FREDDO EVA GABERLAVAGE LIAM GAFFNEY LINDSEY GAMBINO EMILY GAVEN LAUREN GEORGE MADISON GEORGE MARY GIBBONS LEIGH GILLAN CHASE GLADD CASSIDY GO SPENCER GORMAN MICHAEL GRECO MICHAEL GREENE MIRANDA GRIFFITH WILLIAM GRIFFITH JULIA GRIMES CONNOR GUNN STEVEN HAASS MILES HANSON JOSELYN HARRIS COLIN HART ERIN HEALY ELLA HEANEY ZOE HEATH PATRICK HEAVEY ALEXANDRA HEBER JULIANNE HEGARTY ISABEL HENKE ISABELLA HERRERA JUSTIN HESSLER LAUREN HILL KELLY HOLLIS NICOLE HUGHES THERESA HUGHES DIANA HUMBERT HANNAH HWANG ELIZABETH IRAJ SEAN JAEGER CHLOE JANICKE HOPE JANICKE NICHOLAS KATOS MICHAELA KEATING GRACE KELLY CAITLIN KENNA JOHN KENNY

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IAIN MORRISON STEVEN MOSCATIELLO KRISTEN MOTTO ERIC MUELLER JOHN MULDOON GRACE MULLAHEY KATHLEEN MULLINS HARRY MURPHY LISA MURPHY MARIA NEUHEDEL CATHERINE O'CONNOR EMILY OLENIK AIDAN PADALA ZARA PAHLAVI ANNA PAISLEY JEFFREY PAPAZIAN STEPHEN PAPPACENA GAVIN PAPPAS JULIA PEPPARD AIDAN PFAFF ALEXIS PHILIPPIDES ANGELICA PIETROMONACO COLLIN PLUNKETT JESSICA PRICE JOHN PROTANO WILLIAM PUCCIO GILBERT PUENTES EMILY QUINN OLIVIA RAGUSA MICHAEL RASQUIN THOMAS REIFLER PATRICK REILLY JULIA REMICK DANIEL ROCHA CHLOE ROGERS ERIKA ROONEY NICHOLAS ROSATO HELENA ROUKIS EMMA RUBINO LARA SALSBERG SHANIA SANASIE LELIA SANTOS MATTHEW SAVINO DANIELLE SBEGLIA JOSEPH SCATTAREGGIA ELSIE SCHAUBECK TIMOTHY SCHMITT MARIYAM SHAMI MICHAEL SHIRLEY THOMAS SILER

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