Garden City Echo Spring 2021

ECHO Spring 2021

Table of Contents Matthew Fiore, Editor-in-Chief World/National News: Page 4 Nick Ragas, Editor Student Spotlight: Page 13 Isabel Taveras, Editor Community/School News: Page 14 Mary Grlic, Editor Corinne Lafont, Editor Reviews: Page 16 Melissa Ng, Editor Ms. Skolnik, Faculty Advisor NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles do not represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

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A Note From the Editor Dear Readers,

This is the third publication of ECHO since the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are being administered at a faster rate than ever before, and now that all Americans age 16 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine, the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel is getting closer.

More than half of Nassau County adults, including myself, are now fully vaccinated and I could not be more excited and relieved for what this means for our future. I am looking forward to a return to normalcy and I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This edition of ECHO discusses the vaccine rollout, highlights the dangers of COVID variants, and features an interview with a vaccinated health care provider.

While the coronavirus continues to be a prominent headline, it is not the only major issue this country is facing right now. Since the start of the pandemic, many Asian Americans have increasingly been discriminated against and a recent wave of violence towards the AAPI community has brought this major problem to light. The United States is a country where we pledge to provide “liberty and justice for all,” yet hate towards Asian Americans and systemic racism towards African Americans and the BIPOC community continue to plague our nation. The murder of George Floyd last May was a tragedy that could have been easily avoided.

Yet, because Floyd was African American, he was treated differently. He was disturbingly suffocated for more than 9 minutes, even after he repeatedly told former Minneaplois police officer Derek Chauvin that he could not breathe. While the conviction of Chauvin was a major step in the right direction in the fight for racial justice, it was just one of the first steps in an uphill battle. Systemic racism and prejudice are major issues at the forefront of our nation and every single one of us needs to work to make our society inclusive and accepting of people of color so every member of society is treated fairly and equally.

An epidemic of gun violence is also plaguing our country. From Atlanta, Georgia to Boulder, Colorado to West Hempstead, New York, over the past few weeks, multiple people have been killed for absolutely no reason due to a surge in gun violence. Before recently, the problem may have seemed foreign; but the most recent shooting occurred less than half of a mile from Garden City’s southern border. Innocent people are being killed because guns are in the hands of others who are dangerous. It’s time our nation addresses this problem with legislation to protect all of us. A safer country, with a lower risk of being shot and killed, will provide us with the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” just as our Founding Fathers wished over 200 years ago.

On a lighter note, this edition of ECHO features articles about post-pandemic New York, the inauguration of President Biden, recent school updates and events, and a plethora of reviews, from movies and TV shows, to books and albums. I hope you enjoy this issue of ECHO; our writers and editors have worked extremely hard to produce this paper. Remember to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated so we can all stay healthy and leave this pandemic behind us as soon as possible.

Sincerely, Matthew Fiore, Editor-in-Chief

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World/National News

Presidential Inauguration By: Matthew Fiore

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated as 46th President and 49th Vice President, respectively. This year’s inauguration followed an insurrection at the United States Capitol by only two weeks, making it ever more significant. In order to protect the Capitol on Inauguration Day, over 20,000 National Guard members were deployed to Washington, DC. For over a week, these troops stood guard in DC to protect the capital and the peaceful transfer of power that would soon take place.

Luckily the inauguration went off without a hitch and President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in just before noon on January 20. Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez both performed patriotic songs at the ceremony. Twenty-two year old Amanda Gorman seemed to have stolen the show when she performed her poem, “The Hill We Climb”. She moved millions with her well-written and well-spoken piece. Soon after, the new President and Vice President visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia before heading

to the White House. When the two arrived, they each joined their families and walked down Pennsylvania Avenue into the driveway of the White House.

Within hours of the inauguration, Vice President Harris made her way back to the Capitol to swear in Senator Alex Padilla of California to replace the seat she resigned from and Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock who won in runoff elections in Georgia. Back in the White House, President Biden

Courtesy of The Indian Express

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signed executive orders to address the coronavirus pandemic, environmental issues, and immigration on his first day in office. With Kamala Harris being the first female, Asian American, and African American Vice President of the United States, the 2021 Presidential Inauguration made history. Although the former president was not in attendance and civilians were not present due to coronavirus precautions, it was a ringing success. Our cherished democratic republic lives on.

Courtesy of Architect of the Capitol

Courtesy of People.com

World/National News

Russian Cyberattack By: Evan Katradis

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, Russia and the United States used numerous tactics, such as alliances, espionage, propaganda, etc., to spread the influence of communism and capitalism, respectively. Although these two world powers competed in an arms race, there was never full-scale warfare with enormous amounts of casualties. These back-and- forth threats to the national security of two world powers were known as the Cold War. While the Cold War ended in 1991, there are still threats to the United States’ national security, similar to those in the Cold War, except this time the threats are in the form of cyberattacks.

Over the past few decades, Russia has been breaching U.S. systems and compromising the security and safety of the United States of America. Russia is able to conduct these cyberattacks through funding hacking groups, such as APT-28

and Turla, that have acquired data from the White House and were even a factor in the 2020 presidential election. How is the Russian government able to attack the United States and other countries’ security without receiving punishment?

The United States has lacked global leadership on cyber security within the United Nations for decades, whereas Russia has excelled. For example, Russia introduced a resolution in 1998, which the UN adopted into an international law, that ironically promoted cybersecurity and combatted terrorism. As a result, cyber security should be added as a pressing agenda item under the new Biden administration due to high levels of Russian cyber aggression.

The effects of the Russian government continuing these cyberattacks can be extremely harmful to the democracy and security of our nation. As already seen, Russia has

interfered with the 2020 presidential election based on U.S. investigation reports. As Russian cyber aggression increases, the less your vote matters in determining the leader of the “free world”. Furthermore, if our democracy continues to be damaged by the Russian government we may not even be able to be considered the “free world”. In addition to United States democracy, the security of the government’s data and the people’s data are at risk. Russia’s ability to hack into our servers gives them an extreme advantage in a possible war between the two world powers. Lacking funding for cyber security can also harm the everyday person, as Russian hackers may eventually be able to gather information from anyone in the U.S. The possible threats Russian cyberattacks pose on the stability of our nation should be considered and countered with proposals of international laws and investigations.

Courtesy of ABC News

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World/National News

New York: The N

Moynihan Train Hall By: Matthew Fiore

If you’ve ever been to Penn Station, you know just how dark, dirty, and dingy it is. Since 1963, when the original station was demolished, Penn has been housed in the basement of Madison Square Garden and an adjacent office building. With no natural light reaching the waiting areas and overcrowded corridors during rush hours, it was very clear that something needed to change. In the 1990s, New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan proposed that the James A. Farley Post Office across the street on Eighth Avenue be transformed into a world-class train hall. After years of political debate and lots of planning, the hall finally opened on January 1, 2021, giving New Yorkers a beautiful, modern station with tons of space and natural light.

The new train hall features a 92 foot tall skylight that covers over an acre and a concourse that is as large as that of Grand Central Terminal. It serves Tracks 5-16 at Penn Station, allowing Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road riders a nicer, new area to wait for and access their trains. Tracks 17-21 are also accessible in the adjacent West End Concourse just one level below, which opened in 2017. New ticket offices, bathrooms, and a ticketed waiting area are available for passengers to use; the new hall provides a much more comfortable experience than the old section of Penn Station.

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Moynihan also features a new, state of the art Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge where Amtrak Acela and sleeper car passengers can wait for their trains with additional amenities. While the train hall is fully functional and operational right now, only the eastern half of the building is currently open. This fall, the Ninth Avenue corridor is set to open with retail stores and restaurants; currently, the only restaurant open in the new hall is a Starbucks.

While the main attraction at Penn Station right now is Moynihan Train Hall, a new entrance to the old Long Island Rail Road 33rd Street Corridor also opened on December 31, 2020. The glass-enclosed entrance features three escalators and

a staircase up to Seventh Avenue, providing Long Island Rail Road riders direct access to Seventh Avenue for the first time. This new entrance is the first phase of construction on the already existing LIRR concourse. In early 2023, the old section of Penn Station is set to reopen with higher ceilings, wider passageways, and a modern look.

While the pandemic has taken its toll on New York City over the past year, there is a lot to look forward to when we can head back to work and cultural attractions in the greatest city in the world. Moynihan Train Hall provides us with hope that our city will rebound and come out of this pandemic better than ever before.

Courtesy of The New Yorker

World/National News

New and Changed

DMV and Driver’s Education By: Mary Grlic

Going to the Department of Motor Vehicles has always been an all-day affair: long lines early in the morning, hours of waiting to be called, long legal processes.

After the DMV’s closure during the pandemic, many New Yorkers were behind on official documents, needing to replace their expired driver’s license, take their permit test, get new license plates, etc.

The DMV has been very accommodating with expired legal documents. According to the DMV, all licenses and permits expired on or after March 1, 2020, are extended

by Executive Order through January 29, 2021. Federal REAL ID enforcement deadline is now extended until October 1, 2021. However, vehicle registrations, such as temporary auto dealer registrations and non-driver identification cards that expired on

or after March 1, 2020, were only extended until November 3, 2020.

These IDs can no longer be used.

In adherence to limited capacity and social distancing guidelines, more than 60 transactions can now be done online. Select services include renewing or replacing a license, vehicle transactions, requesting DMV records, address changes, paying for fines and fees, and pleading or paying NYC traffic tickets.

They also offer some mail-in and dropbox procedures, including all original vehicle registrations and plate transfers, license plate surrenders, and sales tax only transactions.

Luckily for many high school students, the DMV is now open for permit and driver’s tests.

If transactions cannot be done online, via mail, or in any other method that the DMV now offers,

a reservation must be made. Available transactions vary county by county, but many offices across the state offer car or motorcycle learner permit tests, road tests, and renewal of commercial driver’s licenses, among other services. The DMV’s website lists safety guidelines for anyone who makes in-person reservations. For example, only the customer is allowed in the office unless they need another person to assist them, such as minors and guardians. Face coverings and 6-feet social distancing are both mandatory. The site also suggests that people do not visit the office if they have traveled within 14 days to a restricted state or area, following the New York travel advisory.

Following the regulations made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, driver’s education is seeing huge changes. Typically, about four people would sit in a car together while each student takes a turn driving. In compliance with social distancing, this can no longer be done safely, so driver’s education does not include this in-car practice feature. Many courses are completely virtual, only offering instructional courses rather than actual practice for students. However, many auto schools continue to offer private lessons, which can be a great way to practice in place of typical driver’s education courses.

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World/National News

Stop Asian Hate By: Melissa Ng

Asian discrimination isn’t something new. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in Asian hate crimes; according to NBC Boston, there has been a 31% increase in those hate crimes, including racial slurs or jokes. Countless amounts of people blamed the pandemic on Asians, harmfully encouraging the spike in violent acts. On March 16, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long killed eight people at a massage salon in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the people killed were six Asian women: Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, and Delaina Yaun. Although it is clear this horrendous act was a hate crime, the blame was put on his “potential sexual addiction,” and that he was “having a bad day.”

Sadly, this is just reality for all peo-

ple of color; those who incite violence against people of color end up walking away with a punishment not justly fit for the crime.

Additionally, leading up to the attack in Georgia were multiple reported assaults against Asian elders, which already increased fears among the AAPI community. Similar to the murder of George Floyd, acts of violence against people of color are not a wake-up call that racism exists, rather a reminder of how we’ve all dealt with it in our lives, and it’s only gotten worse. People of the BIPOC community urge allies to educate themselves. The fact that some people can’t even imagine having a headline with their grandparents, parents, children, or anyone in their family killed because of hate is understandably frustrating.

Education and advocacy are key for

combatting racism. People should call out the microaggressions, inexcusable racist jokes and teach children along with adults about their privilege. Racism may be an uncomfortable topic, but white people should remember that POC have had conversations about being careful because of their ethnicity; white people have never known the feeling of fear for their lives because of their skin color. Some great resources to use are websites like stopaapihate.org and blacklivesmatter.com; for those who like to read, there are also many books that educate people on their own privilege and ways to support people of color. If everyone made an effort to learn about racism and ways to prevent it, there wouldn’t be a need for this conversation.

The Christmas Star By: Emma Rathgeber

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If you looked into the night sky on December 21st, 2020, you would have found something quite remarkable: two of our solar system’s largest planets aligned so closely that they appeared to be a double planet.

Yep, you heard that right.

Saturn and Jupiter came closer together than they had in a while, and just in time for Christmas, hence the name “the Christmas Star.” While this phenomenon occurs about every two decades, it has been thousands of years since the planets have gotten this close - they were only separated by one-fifth of the diameter

of the full moon! In fact, you would have to travel all the way back to the dawn of March 4th in the year 1226 to see them any closer. Beginning in the summer of 2020, some may have noticed that the gap between the planets has been shortening ever so slightly. What’s a better way to finish off a year than to have had them finally meet up, and on the winter solstice too!

The further north a person was located, the less time they had to watch this amazing event before the planets fell below the horizon.

Jupiter was brightest and easily visible, while Saturn was slightly faint-

er. If one’s view of the skyline happened to be blocked by buildings or some other hindrance, many different facilities live-streamed the event for people to see. For example, the Lowell Observatory in Arizona and the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome hosted live programs showcasing the natural wonder through the lenses of their telescopes. Regardless, if you missed the opportunity to witness the Christmas Star, you aren’t completely out of luck. The phenomenon will happen again. You’ll just have to wait until… March 15th, 2080. That’s not too bad… right?

World/National News

Nashville Bomber By: Iyaa Kalra

On Christmas morning of 2020, a devastating event occurred in Nashville, Tennessee. An R.V. exploded disrupting telecommunications across the region. However, this was no mistake. Police said that the explosion that happened around 6:30 a.m. outside of 166 Second Avenue North was deliberate. Moments before the explosion, a voice through a speaker on the RV announced that a bomb would blast, following a countdown mixed with music. Though the bomb squad was on its way, it was too late and the RV exploded just as the recording warned moments before. The officers’ quick work in evacuating the area helped to prevent the blast from causing more harm and saved lives.

The blast left the road with black debris including charred trees and hulls of destroyed vehicles. Post explosion, the scene consisted of fire trucks and emergency vehicles gathered in downtown Nashville along with a distant fire alarm and sounds of a helicopter. The RV exploded right outside of the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, wrecking its windows and triggering the sprinkler system which flooded the restaurant for about eight hours. “Due to the explosion, about 115 people who used to work there, were now 115 people who now don’t have jobs,” said Mark Rosenthal, one of the restaurant’s owners. At least eight

people were injured and more than 40 buildings were damaged, including an AT&T transmission building.

Authorities say that the human remains found at the scene of the explosion match those of Anthony Quinn Warner, who was later officially named as the bomber from DNA reports at the scene, and a sample provided from a relative. Although Warner’s motive remains unclear, his bomb-making capability had previously been reported to the police. Last year, the authorities received a tip that the bomber was building explosives.

Some critics believe that Nashville Police could have done more with the tip they received. In addition, reports show that Warner’s girlfriend warned Nashville police that he was building bombs in the vehicle at his residence on August 21st 2019.

Raymond Throckmorton III, the girlfriend’s attorney, told officers that Warner frequently spoke about the military and also knew that he was capable of making a bomb. Police officers then went to Warner’s home and saw the R.V behind his home, but they had an unsuccessful attempt to look inside the RV or make contact with Warner. They had no authority to enter his home or fenced property. According to an officer, “There were several security cameras and wires attached to an alarm sign on the front door.” Metro

Nashville Police Chief John Drake believed that the officers did everything they could do legally, but could have followed up more. In addition, Warner’s neighbors had little to say about him but described him generally as a loner and a computer expert.

This caused a lot of devastation according to Mr. O’Connell, a city councilman who represents the affected area, in the New York Times, “2020 already had plenty of devastation. It’s hard to wake up on Christmas morning and see more of it in my town.” This was a popular area for many tourists in Nashville to gather. Thankfully, it was not very populated that Christmas morning.

Dozens of people were brought to a prioritized area so they could be checked for injuries and stay warm on the brisk dawn day. According to O’Connell, it is going to be a while until those who were displaced will be able to return to their residences. The destruction halted many flights and caused AT&T outages throughout parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. As if Nashville hadn’t suffered enough, some locals were reminded of the deadly tornado which occured last March by the havoc that happened this Christmas morning. One local stated, “It’s just sort of a terrible thing that it happened on a Christmas morning, you’re lucky that it happened at the time that it did.”

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World/National News

The Road to A New Norm COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout By: Brendan Staub

The development of multiple viable COVID-19 vaccines in the span of less than a year is a testament to the remarkable abilities of modern science and technology, along with a product of admirable international collaboration and cooperation. In our modern world, science clearly passed its test. Now it is the turn of our governments and institutions to show their merit.

Since the Pfizer vaccine was approved by the FDA on December 11th, the US government has been rolling out Covid vaccines. With the Moderna vaccine approved shortly after, we currently have two separate vaccines in our arsenal. Both of these vaccines require two shots and have to be kept at cold temperatures, complicating the logistics of rolling them out. Experts believe that the key to a nationwide immunity to Covid will come as a result of multiple vaccine options, so the fact that more vaccines are in the pipeline, including ones made by Johnson and Johnson and Astra-Zeneca, is welcome news. Although all of this news is welcome and provides hope, the US vaccine rollout has flaws and must be streamlined and improved in order to quash this virus within a short timeframe.

So far, the US government has decided to roll out the vaccine

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with the same strategy it has controlled the pandemic with - decentralized response centered around the states. The federal government has been giving vaccines to each state government based on the population of each state. It is then up to the state to administer these vaccines to their citizens. The order of the administration of vaccines has been determined by profession, age, and underlying conditions. The first priority in most states has been to immunize healthcare workers to ensure that hospitals can stand up to any new waves of COVID-19, and not be overwhelmed by workers getting sick. Then, most states have opted to vaccinate people based on advanced age, having tiered systems that drop the age required to get the vaccine based on supply, intending to vaccinate those at the highest risk first. Another high priority group is other essential workers, namely teachers, police officers, firefighters, bus drivers, and other jobs that keep our economy and society running, even in a lockdown. Finally, many states are opening the shots to those with underlying conditions, like heart problems, diabetes, or immunocompromising illnesses. After all of these groups have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, the US hopes to have widely available vac-

cines for all adults who want them by the summer.

The main problem we are facing as a nation currently is a lack of sufficient supply. The new Biden administration aims to solve this problem and streamline the logistics of vaccinating a population of 320 million people. He recently announced that they are increasing the national supply and working with manufacturers to ensure that the states have ample vaccines for their populations. Additionally, they are giving more funding to states to allow them to spend more on their vaccination administration. Finally, the Biden team announced it is partnering with national pharmacy brands to begin a federal government retail option for the vaccine.

This plan is a public-private partnership in which high-priority people can be vaccinated at their local pharmacies.

COVID-19 has ravaged our communities, damaged our economy, and taken hundreds of thousands of Americans from us. The COVID-19 vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel, and promises to end this pandemic. We are all counting on an equitable, expedited, and competent roll out of this vaccine in order to deliver us from this nightmare.

World/National News

mal: COVID-19 Vaccines COVID-19 Vaccination Experience By: Isabel Taveras

This pandemic has surely created a lot of uncertainty when it comes to vaccines and their effectiveness. To rid you all of some doubts you may have, here are some frequently asked questions answered by a NYC health provider. Disclaimer, the health provider is not a COVID-19 professional. Besides facts, her responses also include opinions.

When will everyone get vaccinated? “ I think it will take a while, hopefully by the summer I would say. As we’ve heard on the news, now we have an issue because we don’t have enough vaccines. So, that’s prolonging the process and it’s difficult for people to get the appointments if we don’t have enough vaccines. But if they increase the production of the vaccines, hopefully we can get everyone vaccinated much quicker.”

For more information, visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions-0.

Does the vaccine make me get COVID? “No. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not contain SARS-CoV-2 and cannot give you COVID-19.”

Has the vaccine displayed any unintended side effects to those who took it?

“These vaccines are new, so the tests and observations are based on the

last few months. We do not know what’s going to happen in a year, or in five years or ten years because the vaccine has not been around for that long. So, what we have seen is that with the Moderna [vaccine], some people have gotten some allergic reactions. They had to stop administering it for a while but there is still research to be done for all vaccines.”

subject to having different reactions to the vaccine. If you feel any concerning side effects, consider contacting your doctor immediately.

For more information, visit https:// covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/what-youneed-know.

First Dose Experience “I got my first dose on 12/23/2020.

In December, many people were reAre common allergies an issue in or- fusing [the vaccine] so there were a lot of open appointment slots. der to get the vaccine?

“Common allergies are not a contra- For my first dose, I didn’t have any indication for the COVID-19 vac- symptoms. I didn’t have a fever, I cine. But if you had an anaphylactic didn’t have any pain in my arm. No reaction, which is a severe allergic symptoms whatsoever. Compared reaction to a previous vaccine, then to the flu shot, the first dose was you are at a higher risk for having an more or less the same.” anaphylactic reaction to the Covid vaccine. So [nurses] need to observe Second Dose Experience “My second dose was scheduled for you for a longer time.”

January 12th. At that time the waitAre there benefits that the Pfizer ing time was longer, there were a vaccine has that Moderna doesn’t lot more people getting the vaccine.

From what I could see, it was much have or vice versa?

“They both use messenger RNA, more difficult to get an appointment. but they have different components. For the second dose, I had pain in They are both about 95% effective, my arm that extended to my back so there is not much difference be- and neck. But I believe it was between one or the other.” For more cause the vaccine was injected a litinformation, visit https://covid19vac- tle too high in the muscle. The pain cine.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-ques- started about two or three hours after the injection. But the next day tions-0.

I decided to take pain medication Vaccination Experiences Here is a little bit of backstory about and in an hour I started to feel much the NYC health provider’s vaccina- better. I also had some swelling that tion experiences. DISCLAIMER: took a few days to subside. I didn’t everyone is different and everyone is have body aches or fever.”

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World/National News

U.K. COVID Strain By: Ana Gaztañaga

The coronavirus has not only altered the vivacious lifestyles everyone relies on, but has also physically mutated itself to impact other parts of the world. Over time, viruses are bound to change and revamp through mutations and develop new and diverse variants of itself. However, the real problem lies within the strain’s reaction to its environment: arise and dissipate or emerge and persevere? Although experts are still not fully aware of the strain’s effects or its capacity to harm others, day by day, they grow more confident in their research for both the strain’s potentials and cure.

What is it?

In the fall of 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) detected a strain called B.1.1.7 with several mutations (about 23). Since then, the variant has overtaken 50% of cases in the UK, officially becoming the most common strain in England.

The COVID variant spreads more easily than other English strains,

with a 50% to 70% more chance of transmission compared to the original coronavirus. B.1.1.7 shares similar symptoms to that of the original COVID-19, with the common cough proving to be the most prominent manifestation of the strain. Other typical symptoms include fatigue/weakness, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and fever. However, the probability of the loss of taste or smell is lower than that of the original coronavirus. In January of 2021, experts in the UK perceived the new strain as deadlier than the original virus, yet many more studies need to be conducted to confirm these findings.

Vaccine for the Strain

Vaccination for the current coronavirus is both essential and in high demand throughout the world, but will it work for this new strain?

Studies show that the vaccine is still effective towards the variant despite its mutations. According to the BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin, 99% of

Courtesy of CNBC

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the proteins on the new variant are identical to the strain that the vaccine targets. The variant itself does not have enough mutations to overpower the effects of the vaccine, relieving all Britons throughout the UK. Although it is possible for the new strain to evolve and evade the current vaccine, experts are ensuring frequent updates within the cure, continuing to guarantee safety and relief internationally.

The coronavirus has taken, and will continue to take, a toll on everyone, limiting our social lives and complicating our fight back towards normal. However, as new variants of the virus emerge, new resources and cures are discovered day by day. Everyone is encouraged to continue to social distance, wear a mask, and persistently apply disinfectant to further ensure the safety of others. Although the coronavirus evolves and mutates overtime, we are also able to adjust and improve conditions throughout the world.

Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Emma Nagler By: Isabel Taveras

Emma Nagler's junior year has become a platform for several accomplishments, including her perfect score on the SAT. According to prepscholar.com, out of the two million students that take the SATs, only 500 students achieve a perfect score!

Not only does she strive for academic excellence, but she also dedicates thirty hours a week to ballet- a passion she took on at just two years old. Last summer, she participated in a 5-week intensive ballet program in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she met friends with the same interests. She was also a part of one of the first ballet programs, called Ballet West, that opened up after

the start of the pandemic. At these dance academies, several annual performances like Swan Lake take place. All the effort put into those rigorous hours are exhibited at classical shows such as the Nutcracker.

Emma says, “Another favorite experience is getting to perform in the Nutcracker every year because it is a really special tradition that I’ve been a part of since I was little”.

Along with ballet, Emma also has several musical interests.

She has played the clarinet since third grade and now tutors other clarinet players. She also enjoys playing the piano for leisure.

Emma’s love for science and inclination towards helping people

has led her to consider a career as an orthopedic surgeon. She states, “You can see the progress and impact you have made on the person’s life and I love that about orthopedics.” She also expresses her concern about the underrepresentation of women and other minority groups in the orthopedic field. Emma will surely be an inspiration for other women interested in the medical field and hopefully raise the average percentage of women and minorities in orthopedics.

Emma Nagler is undoubtedly a very well rounded student. With all her good work and effort, Emma is destined for success.

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Community/School News

School Sports vs. COVID-19 By: Victoria Ernst

One of the most drastic changes to extracurricular activities due to the coronavirus was the lack of school sports. Although school sports were unable to take place in New York this fall, students have been able to participate in modified athletic activities this spring.

In Fall 2020 Governor Cuomo announced that any form of interscholastic athletic competition would contribute to the rising number of coronavirus cases. He stated that all sports must be held off until 2021. Despite this unfortunate circumstance, the Garden City High School was able to hold pre-season practices, which revolved around the hybrid schedule and allowed for sports of all seasons to be practiced at different times each week.

The NYSPHSAA, which

guides all high school sporting events within NY, divided each sport into three categories: low risk, moderate risk, and high risk. Cuomo approved the beginning of low risk winter sports, including track and field, boys swimming, fencing, bowling, gymnastics, and rifle, on January 4th. These sports may have some competition between other schools; however, there is no championship season, which consists of Conference, County, and State-wide competition. Unprecedented frigid temperatures and lack of indoor training facilities made training difficult.

At the end of January, Cuomo announced that all sports may continue, if local regulations allow such activities to occur. Despite the delayed start, every sport will have a condensed season. Moderate and high risk winter

sports competed until March 1, when the fall season began. On April 22, the spring season is expected to begin. At the moment, the timeline for championship seasons is still unannounced.

At the moment, only students who are in school every day at GCHS are permitted to attend practice. However, senior athletes who have decided to continue to follow the hybrid schedule rather than attend daily in-person instruction may attend practice every day.

Although many athletes are still disappointed with these changes to their seasons, the athletic department at the High School and the Middle School are dedicating their time and doing everything within their power to getting them back on the field.

Midterm Updates By: Kate Gambino

Usually, midterms are 8% of students’ averages, but on January 8th, the school announced that we would not be having traditional midterms and there would be no days dedicated to administering exams. Also, there will not be a seperate midterm grade on report

cards, so the average of each of the four quarters will have a bigger impact on our final grades. As for the New York State Regents Examinations in June, there is still not a definitive answer whether they will still occur. Once the school is given an answer on the Re-

gents they will let the students know, and explain how final grades for transcripts will be registered. We should all continue to stay focused on the curriculum we are learning, despite the cancellation of midterms and the uncertainty of the Regents exams!

The Life of a Zoom Student By: Emma Harty

Many families, including mine, have decided to go fully remote during these last few months. It isn’t exactly the same as last year’s quarantine or as fun as everyone might think.

Having been fully remote now for three months, I can honestly say it has been like riding a rollercoaster. My teachers try to find ways for remote students to be included in the activities but there is no way we can look through a mi-

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croscope on Zoom and see what mitotic cells look like, or even participate without shouting over someone in class. These are just the basic struggles that have built a wall around those of us that are fully remote. When I talk to my friends who live in Brooklyn, they are dealing with the same things we all are and I have to remind myself that being in Garden City is a great place to be during this pandemic. In the city

everyone on the sidewalk is wearing masks at all times, the streets are often crowded and it is hard to stay apart from other people. I am sure we are going to have a lot of new students next year because everyone is rethinking living in the city. The good news is that we’ve hit our one year anniversary of surviving COVID-19 on March 13 and I don’t know about anyone else but I celebrated with a cake!

Community/School News

Intramural Quiz Bowl 2021 By: Nicolas Ragas

Garden City High School’s Intramural Quiz Bowl competition faced uncertainty in the 2021 season; a trivia match with an annual dozen or more participating teams, adjustments had to be made to preserve the tradition. In a normal year, teams of four would meet in a classroom to compete for the highest possible score. Teams consist of one teacher and three students, and a neutral moderator is responsible for asking questions and determining validity of answers. Two scorekeepers also remain present: one timekeeper, and one individual to tally points. With this roster on hand, it’s readily evident that Quiz Bowl prospects looked ever grimmer as CDC guidelines tightened. In a traditional year, teams sit closely together and often lean in to whisper answers and suggestions.

How would Quiz Bowl go on in a socially distanced setting? AP Government teacher Mister Kevin O’Hagan remains responsible for organizing the competition, and was responsible for coming up with a solution to this issue. To adhere to CDC guidelines, the dynamic was flipped upside down in 2021. Historically, there would be 60-120 questions in a round, and each team would take turns answering questions. If one team answered a question incorrectly, the question would go to the next team up, and the team after that if answered incorrectly once more. In the instance that a team answers correctly, a bonus question is given to that respective team.

It was tough to consider how this dynamic would remain: 15 individuals in a room, all of whom fail to remain socially distanced. To compensate, a new dynamic was introduced. This

year, teams would meet in individual classrooms, usually belonging to the teacher player. Questions would be answered on a Google Form, with time limits in place. These conditions allowed for social distancing to be honored, while also maintaining secrecy during team considerations.

2021’s Quiz Bowl finals round, (consisting of the top three ranked teams from the first four rounds), was as competitive as ever.

Team Foley entered the finals in the first place seat, with a team consisting of: Doctor Meredith Foley, Spencer Fair, Emilia Iudica, and Emily Kerimian. Team Slater placed second overall in the 2020 round, and came back with the same team in 2021, going into the finals in the second place seat. As students graduate, student players will often rotate in teams.

However, Team Slater played with all juniors in 2020, so came back with all seniors in 2021. The team consisted of: Doctor John Slater, Ian Bailey and Nick Ragas. Team Durkin came into the finals in the third place seat, with a team consisting of: Magistra Kathleen Durkin, Ryan Padala, Cameron Yuen, Robbie Treanor, and Charles Iovino. As there were four students on this team, the team switched between student players each round, with the respective outstanding player acting as a timer and scorekeeper.

Just before the finals round kicked off, a mass quarantining of the junior class threw a wedge in Team Foley’s prospects. While Team Slater and Team Durkin were composed of all teachers and seniors, Team Foley had two juniors on their team.

Both juniors had to compete online, and technical difficulties posed chal-

lenges as the round progressed. Yet, at half time, the scores were about even, with Team Durkin in the lead, and Teams Slater and Foley lagging slightly behind, respectively. In the second half, Team Slater saw a pick up in pace, coming back from their three point lag with a nine point lead at the final question, known as the 12 point turn around. At this point, teams could bet up to 12 points on their score, with no teacher help allowed. Teams Durkin and Foley both estimated a heavy 12 point wager, as each team entered the final question with respective scores of 38 and 35.

Team Slater, going in with a score of 47, gave a more conservative wager of four points. Had all teams gotten the question correct, Team Slater still would have won by one point. Teams gave their wagers, and Mister O’Hagan asked the turnaround question: at the end of each stage of the Tour de France, the race leader is given a jersey to wear to symbolize his position in the race. What color is that jersey? Team Durkin answered incorrectly, claiming “blue”, while Teams Slater and Foley secured the answer, correctly claiming “yellow”. With a final score of 51 points, Team Slater secured the victory for Quiz Bowl 2021. To signify their victory, Doctor Slater, Ian Bailey, Jeffy Samuel, and Nick Ragas will have their names immortalized on a plaque dedicated to Quiz Bowl winners. The quartet also found their victory covered in the Garden City News, and honored on the Garden City Public Schools website: all well deserved honors for a hard fought victory.

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Reviews

World of Wonders: Nature Up Close By: Emily Kerimian

When I opened Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s World of Wonders, I had high expectations. After all, it had won the honor of being Barnes & Nobles Book of the Year.

I received the book as a Christmas present from my parents and I was immediately enamored with the beautiful illustrations on the cover.

You should, of course, never judge a book by its cover, but I admit to having a penchant for books with lovely cover designs.

Reading the book, I was not disappointed. Each chapter is dedicated to an animal or a plant. The

author, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, describes first her childhood, in which she was constantly moving around the U.S and the impact of often being the only Indian girl in her town. She reveals insights through the flora and fauna she encountered in various places, including Arizona, Kansas, upstate New York, and southern India. Later, she evokes the same imagery as she tells the story of becoming a writer and balancing her life as a writer with being a mother.

It is impossible not to feel the awe expressed by Nezhuku-

matathil as she paints a portrait of nature. This book will make you appreciate the world around you much more acutely and deeply. I feel this book is especially pertinent during these times of fear and uncertainty that drive us to shelter ourselves and embrace technology as a means of distraction, because it urges the reader to appreciate the natural world before it is too late to. This book and its lessons can apply to people of all ages and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy poetry, prose, linear storytelling, and nature.

The Hate U Give: A Must Read for Our Times By: Mary Grlic

Earlier this year, my peer Corinne Lafont and I started a book club at the high school. Our first book that we read was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It is both a social statement with a significant message about the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as a heart wrenching story following 16 year old Starr Carter. After seeing her childhood friend Khalil get shot by a policeman, her world turns upside down as she deals with the internal and external impacts of the shooting.

Starr is split between two worlds: her hometown, Garden Heights, and her life in her school, Williamson Prep. The Hate U Give follows her as she deals with Khalil’s shooting, but also emphasizes her youth, as she deals with a lot of unencountered territory when she is only in high school.

As a teenager from Garden City, I cannot even imagine going through

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what Starr endured. Despite being so distant from her experiences, I found her to be quite relatable: she’s a sixteen year old girl just like me. This intensified her story for me, making me realize this stuff is real, raw, and extremely traumatizing for a young girl. It’s something we always hear about, but we never believe it until it happens - Starr is a perfect example of that.

Her friend Khalil is subject to police brutality and shot by a white cop, despite being innocent, having no gun on hand, and not being resistant. The story follows the aftermath of the shooting and how it impacted Starr’s life. Despite being the witness to the crime, she has difficulty speaking up about the incident, silence becoming a theme throughout the book. The Hate U Give not only brings awareness to police brutality, but also exemplifies how it can impact the lives

of those who witness it. The book pushes teens to make positive changes, despite fears and pressures they may feel from society.

As the novel was written in 2017, The Hate U Give is extremely relevant to modern events concerning equality, police brutality, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Khalil was shot despite being innocent, having no gun on hand, and not showing any resistance towards the cop, who Starr calls by his number, One Fifteen. Khalil’s story exemplifies how unfair and cruel the world can be, and the way one person can impact an entire community. I think everyone should read this book to truly understand what is going on in our world, and how your voice can always be heard. The Hate U Give is one of my favorite contemporary books, and I definitely plan to watch the movie soon!

Reviews

The Nightingale: WW2 Secrets & Suspense By: Maria Gaztañaga

The Nightingale begins with an elderly woman reminiscing about her life during World War II in France. She brings us back to 1939 where we are introduced to Vianne, her loving husband, Antoine, and daughter, Sophie. News of the war began to spread through their lovely town of Carriveau, worrying everyone about what was to come. Their questions were answered when a draft took place forcing all the men to join the war, including Vianne’s husband. Vianne struggles to take care of her daughter Sophie, but she has the help of her best friend, Rachel, and her daughter, who just so happens to be the same age as Sophie. Readers are then brought to meet Isabelle, who we later learn is Vianne’s younger sister. Isabelle is being reprimanded for her behavior and is expelled from one of the many

boarding schools she has attended.

Being old enough to take care of herself, Isabelle heads for Paris in hopes of convincing her father to let her live with him. As the Nazis begin to invade Paris, Isabelle’s father believes it is no longer safe for her and sends her to live with Vianne. On her way to Cariveau, Isabelle meets a young man and falls in love with him, but he does not feel the same way about her. After a long journey, Isabelle finally makes it to Vianne, but the two aren’t on the best terms due to their traumatic childhood. As the war worsens, German soldiers begin to billet at people’s homes.

Unfortunately, Vianne and Isabelle are forced to open their home to a Nazi. Isabelle, being the outspoken person that she is, continually stirs up trouble because she despises the Nazis. As time passes, Isabelle

is given the opportunity to help by joining a resistance movement and she gratefully accepts. This new job brings her back to Paris where she takes on the alias of The Nightingale. Isabelle’s new job requires her to help the Allies, causing her to be wanted by the Nazis. At the end of the novel, readers are brought back to 1995 and it is revealed who the older woman truly is. The Nightingale is a mesmerizing tale about two sisters and their efforts to help out during the war. Although they choose different paths, they are always brought back to each other. The novel is rightfully a number-one New York Times bestseller, promising audiences a compelling experience.

Song of Achilles: A New Twist on Old Tales By: Emily Kerimian

If you enjoy mythology, then Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is right for you. Miller, a classics major, writes her novels with a twist; her protagonists are not the traditional heroes of epics like Achilles and Odesseus in the Iliad and the Odyssey, respectively, but rather characters that are frequently overlooked or vilified. Song of Achilles is told from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ closest friend and lover.

The plot of the book is both recognizable to mythology fans and accessible to those new to the genre.

The novel is centered around the Trojan War, however it begins with Patroclus’s childhood until the time he meets Achilles. Even if you know the ending of the story, you can’t help but continue reading. Miller’s knowledge of Greek mythology is legendary in its own right and her writing is equally prodigious. One of the most striking features of her writing is her ability to foster empathy for her characters. The flaws and insecurities of her characters are likely those that any reader can relate to; for instance, the desire to fit in, or the desire to live up to ex-

pectations.

I highly recommend this novel, because it combined all the elements of a story that I enjoy, such as romance, adventure, and destiny.

The only aspect of the novel that I did not enjoy was the fact that it ended. This is a book that I could see easily being made into a movie.

If you enjoy this story, I also recommend Miller’s novel, Circe, which reveals the past of the mystical sea witch, Circe, and the circumstances that led her to cross paths with Odesseus.

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Reviews

Benji: A Movie to Warm Your Heart By: Caroline Crouchley

Trying to find a way to beat the pandemic blues? Running out of things to do? Look no further than the movie Benji airing now on NETFLIX. If you are not a pet lover already prepare to have a change of heart because this movie takes friendship to a new level. Let us just say a furry one!

Benji is the perfect movie to watch alone and with your entire family. I give the movie a fivestar review for adorable and heart wrenching dog moments, emotional ups and downs and the possible need for a box of tissues. The movie starts with a threatening dog catcher who captures Benji’s mother and siblings while he was still a puppy.

Alone in the world Benji tries to make do finding any morsal he can in dumpsters and nearby hot dog carts. One day he meets eyes with a likeable boy named Carter who sees how food deprived Benji is. He immediately becomes enamored with the dog and feeds him strawberries which becomes an important theme

running throughout the story. From here on the relationship begins as Benji follows the boy home to meet his sister Frankie. Both Carter and Frankie fall in love with the dog and finally decide to name him Benji.

They hide the dog from their mother, a single mom who works as an ambulance driver. When the mom finds out about the dog, she is very upset. She does not want the responsibility of having a dog to take care of as she is already struggling mentally with her bills, job, and the raising of her children alone.

Carter and Frankie’s father is gone in the story and the children miss their father very much. Having Benji to love and take care of helps to fill the void that is in their hearts about their Dad. Unfortunately, they must abandon their newfound friend Benji, leaving him outside in the rain without a family once again.

In the meantime, a horrible misfortune happens to the young brother and sister. The story takes

a long and scary turn as the visit to the local pawn shop turns into a criminal investigation. Carter and Frankie find themselves in a very dangerous and frightening situation. What will happen to Carter and Frankie? Can anyone help or save them? Tears of fear and tears of joy envelop the audience as the story unfolds.

If you are not a pet owner yet, you might start thinking about that quarantine furry friend you and your family have been longing for.

Hint-if your parents do not think getting a dog is a good idea make certain you prepare the popcorn and the drinks and watch alongside your parents! Maybe a dog is in your future! If you already have a dog it is the perfect movie to watch with them to show your appreciation and affection for. Enjoy!

Soul: A Movie to Make You Laugh By: Alexandra Burke

The new movie Soul on Disney Plus is truly one to watch.

Not only does it have a beautiful message and comedy at the right moments, but it is extremely heartwarming. With a killer lineup of actors and actresses including Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, this movie is 100% worth the hype. Joe Gardner, a Jazz musician, finally gets his big

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break playing for the Jazz legend Dorothea Williams. He lands a role performing in her band, but unfortunately falls into a giant manhole in the sidewalk. While trying to get back to Earth he has to help lead 22, an unborn soul, in finding her spark or passion in life. 22, who was practically unteachable, goes through an amazing journey and changes in

many ways. Soul teaches that life is a blessing, even if it doesn't go as planned. It will have us asking the question we have asked since we were 5, ¨What is my purpose?¨ or ¨ Why am I here?¨ This movie is not one to miss and if you haven't watched it yet I definitely recommend it.

Reviews

Dark: A Sci-Fi TV Series By: Kate Pappas

When the first season of Dark was released on Netflix on December 1st, 2017, it made history as the streaming service’s first German-language original series and it didn’t disappoint. After two children go missing in a quaint German town, the show follows four families and their twisted involvement with each other as they search for the missing kids. Although the sci-fi mystery series initially presents itself as a wicked drama through its

intricate web of affairs and deceit, the story introduces supernatural elements that quickly spark inquisitive curiosity in its viewers. With many plot twists, the series utilizes its characters to mislead viewers, making even seemingly predictable story turns surprising. As a result, the show’s driving force seems to be its elaborately confusing plot rather than its characters, who act as pawns of one of the series’s overarching themes: the idea that no one truly

has free will-- we just think we do.

Things happen because they have to happen, simply because our fate is inevitable and predetermined.

Despite the show’s appropriately dark themes and elements, it stands out as a well done, beautiful, and puzzling supernatural mystery series that’s worth having to endure watching it with English subtitles.

Wandavsion: A Marvel TV Series By: Melissa Ng

Everyone knows Marvel always finds a way to impress audiences with complex yet entertaining movies and TV shows. Among the new Marvel releases of 2021 is the series WandaVision, now streaming on Disney+. This new show gives a story to two well-known avengers: Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Following both characters’ significant roles in Marvel’s Infinity War and Endgame movies, the two get to shine in their new series. The show began airing January 15th, each episode containing classic sitcom tropes of different eras. The first episode is ‘50s black and white, husband and wife shenanigans with, of course, studio laugh tracks at appropriate times, giving viewers some I Love Lucy vibes. Moving onto the

next episodes, we progress into later eras, including my personal favorite, episode 3 in the ‘70s, based on the classic Brady Bunch sitcom.

However, the show isn’t just a homage to familiar comedies of different times; moreover, it wouldn’t be a Marvel show without the complicated meanings layered throughout.

The show is unique as it doesn’t even reveal any main plot in its first episode, other than little blips if you’re very attentive, only making it seem like an innocent storyline with references to decade classics. The Marvel Universe is very complicated and there are many layers to each story involved. WandaVision is another example of the intelligence of Marvel writers and creators, successively making yet another project

with endless twists and turns. Without any spoilers, all I can say is this: when it comes to Marvel, nothing is ever what it seems. Marvel notoriously puts Easter eggs in all of their works, sometimes hinting at the plot’s future. They also like to put hidden meaning into seemingly simple things to make fans conspire about the story’s end. Fan theories are fascinating to hear when trying to analyze the plot yourself. If you’re looking for a new series to watch that’ll constantly have you playing detective, this is the show for you. There are endless amounts of guesses people can make about the show’s direction, leaving the end product an exciting “edge of your seat” viewing experience.

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Reviews

Dangerous: A Controversial New Album By: Nicole Russo

After much anticipation, Morgan Wallen released his second album, Dangerous: The Double Album on January 8th. Wallen started teasing this album back on November 19 when he released three singles, “Still Goin Down”, “Livin’ The Dream”, and “Somebody’s Problem”. The songs were hits, and fans could not wait for his new country album to be released.

As the album title reveals, his new album was a double album consisting of 30 songs he started writing in 2018. With all the work Wallen, Big Loud Records, and Republic Records put into this album, Wallen was furious when the album was accidently leaked. A week before the planned release date, some Walmart stores mistakenly sold his album

early. Upset that years of his work were being released by some retail company, Wallen decided to leak a couple tracks from his new album, saying “I’ve been working on this album for three years and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let Walmart do the leaking like that. So just keep up with me on here, and I’m gonna start doing the leaking of the songs myself. It’s kind of messed up, but I don’t shop at Walmart anyway”.

Fast-forward a couple of days to January 8, when the album was officially released and fans instantly fell in love. Some of the top tracks included the song the album was named after, “Dangerous”, “Wasted On You”, and the classic country romance song, “Sand In My Boots”.

Personal favorites of mine include

Courtesy of Amazon

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“This Bar” and “Me On Whiskey”.

All was looking great for this young country star until a video of him under the influence using a racial slur went viral in early February. In response to the video, Big Loud Records suspended his contract indefinitely, and the Academy of Country Music Awards declared him ineligible for this year’s awards. Despite also being removed from playlists and radio stations, Wallen’s sales continue to skyrocket. Wallen has publicly apologized for his actions and hopes to learn from his mistake.

So what’s next for this album and this artist? Many say his career is over and rightly so. Except his fans, who are buying up this album in record numbers. Only time

Reviews

Evermore: A Surprise Pandemic Album By: Maria Santos

Evermore, Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album, was released on December 11, 2020, not even five months after the release of her eighth studio album, Folklore. Evermore is an extension of Folklore and is called a “sister record” by Swift due to the similarities in music videos, photoshoots, and genre.

Unlike Swift’s previous albums, Lover, Reputation, and 1989, which are all pop, Folklore, and Evermore are both alternative/indie. Swift is once again shifting genres just as she did when she made the revolutionary switch from country to pop.

Swift amazed fans with the following tweet on December 10, three days before her birthday: “ever since I was 13, I’ve been excited about turning 31 because it’s my lucky number backwards, which is why I wanted to surprise you with this now. You’ve all been so caring, supportive, and thoughtful on my birthdays and so this time I thought I would give you something!” The positive feedback and reviews of her album must have been quite the

birthday present for her.

The internet was particularly impressed with Swift’s productivity during the pandemic. Although most people, including myself, find it difficult to stay motivated while stuck at home, Swift has been more motivated than ever. She had a brilliant team, including Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Jack Antonoff, to help produce her album, but people are still astounded by her energy and drive. Comedian Blake Erskine asked, “what kind of vitamins is Taylor Swift taking to be so productive, and can my doctor legally prescribe them to me?”

Swift’s hard work has definitely paid off. Evermore sold over one million copies in the first week of its release and was streamed more than 220 million times, making it the fifth-biggest U.S. album of the year 2020. However, the feedback for Evermore hasn’t been all positive. A Utah theme park is suing Swift over rights to the album name. Evermore Park in Pleasant Grove, Utah, claims that Swift’s

merchandise bearing the album name violates its “Evermore” trademark. They argue that her merchandise is affecting their sales and that their Google search traffic took a hit after the album’s release. They are demanding $2 million as recompense.

A spokesperson for Swift responded, saying, “The fact is, this frivolous claim is coming from Ken Bretschneider, founder, and CEO of an experience park and according to Utah Business, ‘As of June 2020, at least five lawsuits have been filed against Bretschneider and the Evermore group by major construction companies like Sunroc, AGC Drywall and Construction, Geneva Rock, Mountain Point Landscaping, EME Mechanical, Kreativ Woodworks, and NFH Distributing (Beehive Brick and Stone).’ The companies claim ‘they are owed between $28,000 and $400,000.’ “ I wouldn’t confuse a Taylor Swift album with a Utah theme park, but that’s just me.

Regardless, I expect Evermore will continue generating headlines.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

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ECHO