Paw Print Issue 4

LEFT:

RIGHT:

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The Paw Print: past, present, and future

by Jackson Hall

The Paw Print has undergone massive changes within the last two years. By doubling our staff size, we happily present more printed issues, social media content, and an almost ready website. As the newspaper continues to grow, our readership does as well. I want to begin by thanking every reader of The Paw Print for their support as we enter a new era of student news at GHS.

Along with the readers of The Paw Print, I must thank our advisor, Mrs. Natalie Tannehill, for her impressive skill in somehow turning my far-fetched ideas into reality. It’s certain that the paper would not be as successful without her help; in fact, it probably wouldn’t even run. Speaking of not running the paper, without design editor Mckenzie Collinsworth, we also wouldn’t. If there is one person that The Paw Print could not live without, it’s Kenzie. Writing articles is only one part of the process. Designing is the last, but arguably most crucial step to our production process. Our writing is not always the best, but I promise that our layout and design are.

This year, the publication set a rigorous release schedule of biweekly printed issues. With this demand for news, we decided it was time for third-party printing. However, this comes with a price tag. Therefore, we started fundraising and raised beyond our goal. On behalf of the staff and myself, we want to thank everyone who contributed to The Paw Print fundraiser this past month. Their kindness did not go unnoticed by our staff, and we are very grateful. I must include a special thank you to Principal Cindy Brown for supporting student journalism and trusting our publication enough to loan us money for first-round printing and initial website fees.

As previously mentioned, we began taking to social media to post news and student culture. On Instagram and TikTok, our short segments have earned some school-wide fame. We hope to create more opportunities for our staff members to interact with their fellow students, teachers, and community members. And, if it attracts a couple of thousand likes on TikTok, we won’t be upset. Sophia Logsdon, our social media coordinator, is responsible for all things Instagram and TikTok. Coming into this year, we knew that prioritizing social media would result in additional readers as many GHS students utilize their cell phones to see news and media. Sophia certainly hasn’t disappointed with routine posts that our followers now look out for.

While the staff and I feel that The Paw Print is off to a successful year, there will always be more news to break, features to share, and columns to criticize. We cannot wait to release our special anniversary issue this December as The Paw Print celebrates 35 years. Please join us in celebration by reading and sharing our upcoming issue!

1474 Boettler Rd. Uniontown OH, 44685 (330) 896 7500

EDITORIAL POLICY

The newspaper staff will make every reasonable effort to verify quotations in final approved copy with the individual(s) quoted, in interest of accuracy. Copy in the newspaper will bear bylines when, in the opinion of the adviser with the editor’s approval, the writer has earned recognition and running the byline is acceptable journalistically If a newspaper editorial does not bear a byline, it reflects the opinion of the entire staff. A bylined editorial reflects only the opinion of the writer

Viewpoints expressed in newspaper editorials are not necessarily shared by any members of the faculty (including the adviser), the administration, or the board of education

All letters to the editor of the newspaper must be signed for verification purposes, but the staff may withhold names upon request. Because of space limitations letters of 300 words or less will receive preference, and longer letters may be subject to condensation with the cooperation of the writer. The final decision of whether to print a letter rests solely with the staff.

STAFF:

ERIC WOLFORD

VICTORIA SCHLUE

MARKO KULINA

HOPE HOFFMAN

VIENNA HORVATH

AIDEN MORGAN

AMBER BETZ

CATHERINE SMITH CHASE BORLAND

DANIELLA POTTS

ISABELLA PANDER

IZZY SCOTT

KAYLIE DUSKEY

KODY HUNTER

LAUREN LEEMASTER

LAUREN STEPHAN

LAYLA NICKOLAS

LILLIAN BAER

LINDSEY REY

OLIVIA PENNINGTON

PAYTON

RHIANA

MACESICH

BRUCE

RYAN MUELLER

SELENA SABBAGH

SKYLAR JOHNSON

SOPHIA BALDINGER

TAYLOR MCCARTY

IRANIAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS IRANIAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Iranian government limits women's rights

by Lindsey Rey

Mahsa Amini is the name of the woman who is the reason why women are filling the streets of Iran, screaming: “Woman. Life. Freedom.” Mahsa Amini died while in the custody of the country's “morality police,” Gast-e Ershad, for violating Iran’s hijab law. The law mandates veiling and modest dress for Iranian women. Despite the government insisting that Amini died of a pre-existing heart condition, many Iranians believe the morality police beat her to death. However, Amini’s death wasn’t the start of this brutality. The Islamic Republic has continued to oppress and treat women violently for four decades.

Women’s rights are extremely limited in Iran to the point where women are even prohibited from watching men’s sports in stadiums. Sports are a delicacy for the Iranian people, especially volleyball. The Human Rights Watch has launched a campaign, #Watch4Women, to support the women in Iran against this prejudice. What they’re asking for is straightforward - that the International Volleyball Federation, also known as the FIVB, does not allow Iran to host tournaments in the future unless women are allowed to attend. This ban is symbolic of the domination over women that is continuing to worsen every day. Discrimination is also faced on issues involving marriage, divorce, and child custody. Iran is considering to ban voluntary medical procedures women can partake in to avoid being pregnant because the government wants the population to rapidly increase.

While Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s government was in power from

1941 to 1979, women’s rights received massive gains. There was access to higher education, careers, the right to vote and hold office, equal pay laws, health care and reproductive rights, a cabinet-level position dedicated to women’s issues, and the right to choose how they dressed. However, in 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, fundamentalist Shiite cleric who was the symbolic leader of the revolution, believed that women’s rights would infringe on the harsh Islamic society he was determined to create. He stated that he wished to withdraw the Family Protection Law, which mandated more equitable marriage, divorce, and inheritance rights for women. He also declared that all women must wear the chador, the Iranian veil that covers a woman’s hair and body. After hearing this, tens of thousands of Iranian women marched in protest around the country for three consecutive days. This caused Khomeini to, for the time being, back down. However, in 1980, Khomeini consolidated power and demanded the following: compulsory veiling, all female judges to be fired, no improper dress, the raiding of people’s homes for alcohol, segregated universities by sex, female students banned from majoring in certain subjects, the lowering of the minimum age of marriage for girls, a lack of freedom of movement for women, and a male guardian’s permission to leave the country.

And still, in 21st century Iran, women are continuously faced with the burden of fighting for equal representation. Masha Amini’s situation wasn’t the beginning of this fight, and unfortunately wasn’t the end.

WORLD CUP SEASON

by Marko Kulina

There's nothing like the World Cup, football’s most prestigious tournament. 32 nations are drawn in eight groups of four with the host nation getting the party started on November 21, 2022. After 12 days of nonstop group stage show downs, the top two from each group will head into a roulette of the knockout stages. Then, the final 16 teams will battle as dark horses and dominant forces collide. Finally, the final two teams will book a date with destiny to battle on December 18, 2022 in hopes of winning the cup.

Finally, after four long waited years, the most anticipated sports event of all time is finally here. After being held in Russia in 2018, it will now be held in the Middle East for the first time ever in the country of Qatar. It is a very controversial take on whether Qatar should have been able to host the World Cup for many reasons.

Ex Fifa President, Sepp Blatter stated, ““It's too small a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for this.”

It has also been the deadliest World Cup ever. Qatar resorted to 30,000 foreign workers to build the stadiums but treated them like slaves (Rolling Stone). Among other practices were reported pay wages, confiscated passports, and long working hours under

the desert sun. An estimated 6,500 workers have died since Qatar was awarded the World Cup in 2010.

Former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, admits only weeks before the tournament started, “It was a bad choice, and I was responsible.”

It is going to be the most expensive World Cup ever. Because the average temperature in Qatar in November is 90°F, all stadiums were built with air conditioning. This is also why it is taking place during the winter rather than the summer. It ended up costing $300 billion. This surpasses the costs of all the previous World Cups combined. All for less stadiums. There will only be eight venues, seven of which are built brand new. But that's only for the infrastructure. Qatar paid FIFA $880 million to win the bid to host and a lot more for promotion of the event.

Stakes may be higher for some as we may see generational stars take center stage of the World Cup one final time. Big names like Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar all look to shine for their country one last time and lift the cup. Nations like France, Brazil, Spain, and England are leading the race in predictions to lift the cup while nations like Denmark, Serbia, and Senegal are named “dark horses” in hopes of unexpectedly succeeding.

"I'm excited to finally watch most of the games because I've never really had a reason to watch, but this year I can relate to it since I like the game a lot more than I did."

TAYLOR'S TICKETMASTER TAYLOR'S TICKETMASTER TERRORS TERRORS

disappointed fans unable to score Taylor Swift concert tickets

by Jackson Hall

presale access were required to join a waiting room until the presale officially started. Then, fans were ushered into a queue all on TicketMaster’s site. This is when problems started to become most prevalent. Fans reported that they spent hours waiting in the queue. Some fans made it all the way through the queue for their exclusive presale registration code to not even work.

“Being a Taylor fan ever since I was four, I was thrilled when I found out she was going on tour so obviously I tried to get tickets. After receiving a presale code and getting on at 8am to get in line, I did not receive tickets. We got in right away around 10:20, selected the tickets, and went to check out only to get told that our presale code was invalid. Those who got tickets should feel very lucky and grateful.” said Senior Ava Pulley.

sold out,” said Pulley.

Then, on Nov 17, TicketMaster canceled the public onsale that was expected to commence on Nov. 18. After a long week of upsets, fans felt shocked and disappointed with the way TicketMaster conducted this sale. Coalitions formed on social media platforms of TikTok and Twitter to discuss shared experiences with the failed ticket sales.

Receiving extreme backlash and disapproval, TicketMaster posted an official announcement and apology to fans and Taylor Swift for their ticket selling conduct.

“First, we want to apologize to Taylor and all of her fans – especially those who had a terrible experience trying to purchase tickets. Next, we feel we owe it to everyone to share some information to help explain what happened” said TicketMaster.

Pop star Taylor Swift announced her “Eras Tour” on Nov. 1 on Instagram two weeks after the release of her most recent album, 'Midnights'. Swift’s tour, which begins in late March and wraps up in August of 2023, will include music from all ten of her albums. As of now, her 52 shows all take place in the United States. However, she is expected to announce international performances soon.

Tickets for the tour were sold through TicketMaster, a third-party ticket distribution company. Expecting a high demand from Swift’s large fan base, the ticketing company kicked off the sale with a presale registration beginning in November for the actual presale date on November 15. In order to enter the presale, TicketMaster sent codes to only a percentage of fans that registered.

“Over 3.5 million people pre-registered for TaylorSwiftTix Presale powered by Verified Fan, which is the largest registration in history. Historically, around 40% of invited fans actually show up and buy tickets, and most purchase an average of 3 tickets. Around 1.5 million people were sent codes to join the onsale for all 52 show dates, including the 47 sold by Ticketmaster.” TicketMaster said in a recent statement regarding the Taylor Swift tour.

Therefore, the lucky fans who received

Ava Pulley and her family were not alone. Many fans took to social media to voice their frustrations. Though fans experienced different issues in the ticketing process from invalid codes to sold-out seating, one common notion aligned these Swifties: their hatred for TicketMaster.

At this point, fans had two more chances of receiving tickets through TicketMaster: a Capital One sale and the regular sale. The company partnered with Capital One, a bank holding company, to host a special ticket sale for cardholders the following day after the presale on Nov. 16. Giving TicketMaster another chance to make things right with these eager concert hopefuls, the same technical issues ensued.

“Then we gave up and tried with the Capital One card, but after getting kicked out many times we didn’t get in before tickets were

The announcement went on to explain how they had unprecedented amounts of fans interested. Despite obvious site issues, TicketMaster noted that they still managed to sell 2 million tickets, which is a new record of tickets sold for an artist in a single day.

Though almost all the hate was directed toward TicketMaster, some fans were upset that Taylor Swift remained quiet throughout the week. That was until she posted an Instagram story acknowledging the frustrations and voicing her own anger with TicketMaster.

“I’m not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could. It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them,” said Taylor Swift.

'MIDNIGHTS' BREAKS RECORDS

“Anti Hero” debuts at #1 on the Global Spotify chart with the biggest chart debut in history (17 39 million)

Swift became the first female artist to have 11 albums debut at #1 on the Billboard 200

She now holds the all time record for most single day streams for an artist catalog in global Spotify history (228 million)

10 songs from 'Midnights' occupied the top 10 spots on the Billboard charts at once

NEWS IN BRIEF

by Sophia Saley

LOCAL: MASSILLON ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The City of Green has been doing many construction projects throughout the past years. One of the biggest projects is the roundabouts on Massillon Road. Throughout the past year, Massillon Road has been altered all over and is being worked on at the moment. On November 1, 2022, the road patterns were changed for the construction of another roundabout. Policemen are helping direct the traffic during high traffic times to ensure car accidents and traffic buildups do not occur. The construction is supposed to conclude sometime in November 2023. The roundabouts are efficient in reducing traffic buildup and increasing safety. The City of Green said, "The project will improve the safety and efficiency of two intersections, at Boettler Road and Corporate Woods Circle." They will also be adding sidewalks on both sides of Massillon road and clear marked crosswalks throughout the area.

WHAT'S DRIVING THIS PROJECT?

25,000 vehicles travel 241 South each day and this number is expected to grow 20% by 2043

Traffic

signals "stack more cars" and create more vehicle congestion than roundabouts.

Currently, it's difficult to make a left turn across 241 South along the corridor.

STATE: WILD THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE CLEVELAND ART MUSEUM

At the Columbus Museum of Art, a new exhibit was added on October 21, 2022 and will be there until March 5, 2023. The exhibit's name is Wild Things are Happening and the artist of the exhibit is Maurice Sendak, the author and illustrator of many well known books such as Where the Wild Things Are. "Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak will be the first major retrospective of Sendak since his death in 2012," said the Columbus Museum of Art. The Maurice Sendak Foundation helped put together the exhibit with the museum and many other people. The exhibit consists of over 150 of Sendak's sketches from his many books such as: Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, etc. His art shows the influence of other artists he loved and art history. In addition to the exhibit, there will be days that have special events. On December 3, 2022, there will be a Wild Things Are Happening community day that will have tours, interactive story time, and more. On February 4, 2023, there will be a Where the Wild Things Are movie night that will include art activities, snacks, movie trivia, and so much more!

NATIONAL: SALTWATER CONTAMINATES THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Saltwater is flowing into the Mississippi River causing water supply to be contaminated. The Mississippi River is in a severe drought due to lack of rain and other issues. Since the river is in a drought causing limited flow of water, the Mississippi River isn't able to keep the saltwater away and out of the water supply. The saltwater in the water supply causes risks to the residents with health problems around the river. People with high blood pressure or heart issues are ones who are at greater risk. As of right now, it is not a risk to people without health conditions but the salt water "could affect the taste, odor and color of drinking water." The main hope for residents along the Mississippi River is a big rainstorm to try and reverse what occurred with the salt in the water supply.

NOTES FROM NINA

reviewing recent reads and sharing her thoughts

by Nina Mcannally

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover became a widely known author because of her many books that blew up on social media. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover is a sequel to It Ends with Us. It continues the story of Lily Bloom and Atlas Corrigan with chapters from both of their perspectives. The story picks up a year after Lily’s divorce from her abusive ex-husband, Ryle, and follows the rekindling of her relationship with Atlas. It also opens up a new perspective on Atlas’s life and his experiences with his mother. While I normally love a good Colleen Hoover book, this one highly disappointed me. It lacked important moments between Atlas and Lily, as well as more defense from Lily with Ryle, which I believe everyone desired. It was overall, a major letdown. Out of 5 stars, I would rate it about a 2.

If we were Villains by M.L Rios

If We Were Villains by M.L Rio is by far one of the most interesting mystery novels I’ve read in a long time. It was the debut book of American author M.L Rio. The story is told from the perspective of Oliver Marks who, just recently, was released from prison. Oliver decides he wants to tell Detective Colborne, the man who put him in prison, about the truth of the events that occurred to have put him in jail. It flashes back to ten years before Oliver's arrest and follows seven Shakespearan actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, Oliver being one of them. In his fourth and final year there, things take a turn for the worst. This book definitely kept me anticipating what was going to happen next. It was psychologically twisted in such a delicate way and went in a direction that you would’ve never expected. I have to rate this book a 5 out of 5. It was a beautifully haunted story.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

An oldie but a goodie, Looking for Alaska by John Green was what got me into reading. It was published in 2005 and tells the story of Miles Halter, a high school junior who divides his perspective into before and after a lifealtering event. Miles decides to leave for a boarding school in order to seek what the poet Francois Rabelais called “The Great Perhaps.” There, he meets Alaska Young who alters his life forever. John Green did a wonderful job writing this book. It was attention grabbing and enticing throughout the entirety of it. Not only was it attention grabbing but it was painstakingly heartbreaking. I was so amazed by how well the story was told that it piqued my interest in reading completely. If you want a shocking, heartbreaking, and enlightening story, I by far, would recommend this book. It gets my seal of approval at a solid rating of 5/5.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a historical fiction novel. It tells the stories of Marie LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig, both from completely different backgrounds. The novel is set in the time period of World War 2 and follows Marie, a blind girl from Paris, and Werner, a German orphan boy turned Nazi soldier. After Paris is invaded by Nazi’s, she is forced to evacuate to Saint-Malo. Unexpectedly, Werner and Marie both end up there and must try to help each other in order to survive. Throughout the book, it flashes between the present and past of both their lives. While the story itself was wonderful, it was incredibly hard for me to finish the actual book. I’m not a huge fan of books written in third person, nor am I a fan of historical fiction, so the combination of both of those made it a little difficult to finish. On the other hand, if you like third person and historical fiction then you’d probably enjoy this book. It was overall a great and inspiring story. I just wasn’t a huge fan. This book gets a 3/5 from me.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

a gift guide to help check everyone off your shopping list

by Mckenzie Collinsworth

It’s that time of year again! The time when kids begin to write their wish lists to Santa and parents hint to their children what they desire most for the holiday season. The easiest part is telling others what’s on your wishlist, but when it comes to buying gifts for others, the struggle begins. With so many people and so many gifts, it becomes confusing what gifts would satisfy each person. Wouldn't it be helpful to have a holiday gift guide for struggles like this? Don’t worry! Below you will find a gift guide to everyone important in your life, and what might be on their wish list this holiday season.

TEENS TEENS

Teens are the most challenging gift receivers. The trends are constantly changing and they have no fear of sharing their opinions. The most important thing to keep in mind when buying for a teenager is to remember it should be practical as well as trendy. Everything is an option depending on the teen: clothes, shoes, smartphone, etc. It’s important to know what they need and what entertains them. Every teen is different, so it’s also important to find a special unique gift to encourage their character.

Any form of technology surely brings a smile to a teen's face. A new phone might not be practical at the moment, but smartwatches, Ipads, and even laptops help teens as they progress through school and move on to college. It’s difficult to buy clothes for teens, but knowing where they normally shop and gifting them a gift card that allows them to have a little shopping spree helps. Teenage girls, nowadays, find interest in making their room aesthetically pleasing and creating a long-extended skincare routine. Anything from tapestries, pixie lights, photo walls, and more satisfies an aesthetic room for a teen girl. Skincare products can be found everywhere, and a little input from the teen helps. For teen boys, gaming is the easiest way to go, but remember sometimes they need practicality as well. Clothes and shoes normally help because branching away from shorts and t-shirts is important. Xbox, Nintendo, VR headsets, etc. make great gifts for teen boys to keep them entertained, and it’s what most are interested in. All teens are different, so some of these gifts don’t apply to everyone. Gifts for teens should show the teen's character and what interests them. These are some options to start your shopping list.

PARENTS PARENTS

Shopping for parents is challenging, especially when what they ask for is too expensive or out of the ordinary. It’s always an option to stick with the typical boring gifts for dads: Home Depot gift card, shaving set, barbecue tools, outdoor equipment, etc. The same goes for gifts for moms: an apron, craft supplies, fancy teas, slippers, etc. Not all parents are alike, nor do they fall under the typical “mom” or “dad” things, but instead of buying a boring cliche gift, try something more personal.

Parents love anything with a personalized photo on it. Personalization on blankets, calendars, and even a simple picture can show affection toward parents. For moms, makeup and skincare products work wonders because they sometimes need a refresher on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the beauty industry. For dads, the newest outdoor equipment can go a long way. Maybe it’s time to replace that old grill or invest in some new gardening equipment for the upcoming season. When it comes to parents, you need to know what they do in their free time and what they can do together. Matching water bottles for both of them for when they watch your sporting events would keep them company on the sidelines. Each parent is different, so not all gift ideas will pertain to them, but these are some ideas to get you started.

KIDS KIDS

Shopping for kids can be easy because most kids aren’t sure what their passions or interests are yet. It’s important to give kids something they can play with, something to distract them, and something for them to learn from. A smile normally appears on a child’s face when they see a wrapped gift with their name on it. It’s important to note what’s useful and lasts for a long time. The kids want fun and excitement so they stay entertained.

Clothes for kids are the easiest way to go. Most kids wear whatever you put them in, so if it’s coming down to the final day, a quick Target run to the children’s section for some cute clothes will provide everything for a perfect gift. It’s obvious kids want toys, so give them toys. For girls, American Girl Dolls are hot items for the holiday season, and a rectangle box is just what a little girl wants to unwrap. Along with American Girls Dolls, Barbie dolls are always a fan favorite for little girls. For boys, lego sets from their favorite movie are super fun and keep them busy for a while as they try to assemble them. Games for a Nintendo or Xbox are also great to keep them busy. For all children, board games are fun games to play with the family, knowing everyone enjoys them. Kids are easy to shop for once you know what you’re buying. Every kid is different, so find something to keep them entertained and happy. These are some options to start you off with.

What’s a basic gift you hate receiving? Do you have any family traditions?

What is your go to store for Black Friday deals?

"Gift Cards" Tess Peel '24

"I get together with my mom's side of the family and we make like 2000 perogies."

“Uptown Cheapskate” Alyssa Dorsey '24

GRANDPARENTS GRANDPARENTS

Grandparents are easy when it comes to gift buying. There is probably a little extra work that goes into it, but it’s worth it. Anything personal will brighten your grandparents' holiday. They love to see their grandchildren, so print a picture onto anything. Mugs, t-shirts, blankets, plates, you name it and you can put a picture on it. Something simple and personal shows a lot of love towards grandparents because they want to know you care.

Gifts reminding grandparents of their grandchildren are exactly what they want. They want to be sipping coffee in the morning and see your face. Not only do they love pictures, but they would appreciate merch. Spirit wear from sports teams so they know they are supporting even from a distance. What’s important when shopping for grandparents is making the gift personal because they only have so much time to spend with their grandchildren. Some of these gift ideas can give you a head start on the hectic shopping season.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Nothing is off-limits when it comes to your significant other. Sentimental and funny gifts bring joy every time. Material items like jewelry are big asks from girlfriends, but cute meaningful gifts will make her feel loved and special. Gifts for your significant other take time and thought because you want the perfect gift to impress them and show how much you care about them. Take time to look back on your time together and find something special to remind him/her of all the great times you two have spent together.

Simple DIYs are creative, cute, and fun. Put together something like a coupon book with free hugs, free kisses, a date night, etc. Add sections that hold meaning and things your significant other enjoys. Try to stay away from matching items because those can be tacky and could go to waste in the future. So why bother? Instead of gifts, take a trip together to have some time away from everyone else. Alone time with your partner is a gift that speaks more than words. Know what your partner enjoys and what makes them happy and then you will have an amazing gift. These are only a few ideas that could satisfy the holiday season and begin your shopping list.

FRIENDS FRIENDS

Your friends are the most important people in your life; therefore, it makes sense to give them something special. For friends, it’s all about what they are passionate about and ways to spend quality time together. Gifts to friends don’t need to be extravagant; instead, try simplistic. A small gift exchange is way more fun and personal. Personal items like pictures connect you to the gift more and then your friend would appreciate it more. Look for something simple and personal. Gifts completed together are creative and a fun quality time experience. Taking friends to activities like a spa day, football games, shopping sprees, etc give the impression that your gift is spending time together. Nothing better than time spent together. To keep things trendy, buy friends gifts that are “in.” Everyone wants to stay up on what all the styles are, so give your friends useful and trendy items to keep them in the loop. Water bottles, games, blankets, and decorations make great gifts for friends who need to stay with the trends. Look for what makes your friends different and correlate your gift to their personality. These are some general ideas to get you started.

S L E

shop the best Black Friday deals

Every year, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, stores have massive sales in an event known as Black Friday Black Friday marks the beginning of Christmas shopping in America. Stores put sales on clothes, technology, food, and more. The catch to Black Friday, however, is to receive good prices and good products, you have to be one of the first people there. Customers will line up the night before in order to be the first ones in. If this all sounds stressful and confusing, don’t worry because here is a list of some of the great deals happening during the upcoming Black Friday.

WALMART

TARGET

KOHL'S

JCPENNY

Walmart’s Black Friday event launches online on November 7 at 7 p.m EST and in stores on November 9th at 6 a.m local time. Sales include deep discounts on top gaming consoles, toys, TVs and more. Notable brands featured include LEGO, Nintendo, iRobot and PlayStation.

Target’s Black Friday event launches on November 20 and ends November 26. During this time, shoppers can find deals on toys, TVs, home decor, small kitchen appliances and more from top brands like KitchenAid, Apple, Samsung, Dyson and LEGO.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BEHIND THE SCENES WITH WHITNEY AND ARIETTA WHITNEY AND ARIETTA

by Nina Summers

Green High School athletes are held together with bandages and tape while they power through games during all seasons of the year. Behind the scenes, Green High School’s athletic trainers Whitney and Arietta handle all injuries from ankle sprains to an elbow dislocation. To make sure that all athletes are covered, Whitney and Arietta have had a system down at school now for around six years;

“Usually one of us comes in for lunch time and leaves early then the other comes in later and stays later. In the fall and spring we split. One stays at the high school and covers everyone there and the other goes to the stadium and covers there,” Whitney said.

Everyday the trainers can treat as few as zero students or as many as 100; some days can be busier than others especially during football season. The sport with the most needed attention is football with multiple injuries that can go as far as needing to take a player out of the game. While there are many things the trainers can do, there are still injuries that are beyond their control of fixing.

“I have had some that I physically cannot help such as an elbow or ankle dislocation or I have had some that were just a mystery and I tried helping them get better and back to their sport but they needed more than what I could do.” Whitney said.

While the trainers main focus is treating injuries and performing evaluations, other day to day activities can include refilling ice, getting water ready, and taping anyone who needs taped On top of all these responsibilities, there are students right by their side who are studying to become a trainer of their own. The Portage Lakes Career Center (PLCC) offers an incredible sports medicine program that allows students to interact with Whitney and Arietta to get some on site training.

“We learn about taping ankles and open wound care; different injuries and ways to help treat them,” Alyssa Dorsey said, “I would 100% recommend working with them. It's an

amazing environment to learn in and to have fun at the same time!”

While the athletic trainers love teaching kids about injuries and wounds, it can still become overwhelming.

“Some days it can be stressful. You have to be able to multitask and answer a million questions all at once while taping or doing an evaluation.”

Taking a more personal look, Whitney attended Kent State University and has been a certified athletic trainer since 2014; she decided to become a trainer because she said,

“I had knee surgery and issues when I was in High School and saw my high school AT a lot. I also loved sports and medicine. I also was in the sports medicine program in high school at the PLCC. And being a high school AT is the most flexible when having a family of my own.”

Making connections with the players along with helping them in a medical sense is also very important to the athletic trainers.

“My favorite thing I do as an athletic trainer is knowing I am a safe place for my athletes whenever they need to vent, a shoulder to cry on or a snack provider.“

Not only do they bandage up athletes, but they also provide a safe space for everyone to go. The bond some students have with Greens athletic trainers is unbreakable and athletes tend to hang out in their room on days where they just want to have a fun conversation; unless they are kicked out of course. Whitney tells all students that her best advice is

“Listen to your athletic trainers! But honestly as a middle school or high school athlete the body goes through rapid changes and just having a good stretching routine is a good start to help prevent injuries.”

Green High Schools trainers strengthen players in all aspects of the game by providing support in physical injuries and mental friendships. Any and all students who seek out a friendly face to tape up an ankle or hand out a bag of ice are welcome to visit Whitney and Arietta in the athletic training room.

Whitney and Arietta do so much for so many athletes, myself included. I’ve never had a single bad experience with them, and they’re always willing to help. They deserve so much more recognition than they currently receive.

Emma Daniels '24

take a look at what happens when you need help with a sports injury

Airetta bandages a player's foot.

PHOTO BY: Vienna Horvath

Whitney and Arietta are very helpful and kind, they care about my well being very much Brady Rychlik '23

STUDENTS LOVE WHITNEY & ARIETTA STUDENTS LOVE WHITNEY & ARIETTA

MIGHTY DAWGS CHEER MIGHTY DAWGS CHEER ON THE CROWD ON THE CROWD

green cheer strides towards inclusion and adaptability

by Lillian Baer

Last year, community members alongside Green Local Schools decided to start a new cheer team. The Mighty Dawgs is an adaptive cheer team that includes all types of students. The team is open to students that live with different abilities. The Mighty Dawgs cheer alongside the varsity cheerleaders during the first quarter of the football games on Friday nights. This decision allowed all students to have a chance to be included.

The Mighty Dawgs had been an idea that the founders wanted to start for a while; unfortunately, the team could not receive the funds needed to get the team started. Senior Olivia Porter volunteered as a peer mentor for the team. A peer mentor is someone who helps the coaches by showing the team the cheers. The peer mentor also serves as an additional source of help for any type of problem. With the support and funding necessary, the team was finally able to start in the fall of 2021. The Mighty Dawgs quickly became loved by all of the football fans and hopefully will continue cheering on the Bulldogs for many more years.

Being a part of the Mighty Dawgs, either as a cheerleader, a coach, or a peer mentor can have a big impact on someone's life. For Porter, she got the opportunity to bond with all of the girls on the team. As the peer mentor, Porter realized that equal opportunity is important even though students with special needs are typically not seen playing a sport or cheering on the sidelines.

Porter says, "Being part of the Mighty Dawgs has definitely had such a positive impact on me. I've had the opportunity to bond with all of the cheerleaders while spending time with them for the past year. I am beyond grateful to get to experience something like the Mighty Dawgs."

It is hoped that this team will continue giving opportunities to all students and inspiring the community to bring attention to those with special abilities. It is expected that the team will only continue to grow through the years.

Porter says, "Hopefully the team continues to grow and get more and more experiences from being on the team. They already have some pretty awesome events for this season compared to last. I'm excited to see what they accomplish!"

HOOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN! HOOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN!

a sneak peak at what the Lady Bulldogs have planned for the new season

by Vienna Horvath

As the girls basketball season quickly approaches, the team comments on their expectations and hopes this winter. Last season, the girls took a total of 19 wins, as well as making it to regional semifinals for the first time in a while. With Alyssa Ziehler being the top point scorer in the previous season, the class of 2023 intensely prepares for this upcoming season in order to rise to the standards set last year. Alicia Manning, girls varsity coach, has high hopes for this season. She prepared the girls by, “Using a lot of their off season to get everyone around each other as often as possible and bond, while putting some work in on the court.”

When Manning was asked about rumors of the team recruiting players, she said this was a result of the team excelling while also pointing out that, “establishing ourselves as having a good program, this attracts more attention to us.”

In addition to this, Manning mentioned, “Anytime a team is winning it seems like there's a lot of chirping that they can’t just put in the work, get better, and improve, it has to be they are cheating.”

The work ethic of the players and coaching staff result in their improvement, overall allowing for a great season. Mallory Oddo, senior and leader of the team on and off the court, earned an average of 3.3 points per game last season. Freshman, Ava Kouri, says, “The most helpful senior is Mallory, because if you do something wrong she won't be mean about it, she’ll help you

through it, and she’ll correct you. Mallory just makes you a better person and player.”

This ties into Oddo’s leadership skills, even saying basketball influenced her as a person by, “making her become a leader.” In preparation for the quickly approaching season, Oddo and senior Nina Shaffer worked extensive hours and training. This was essential because Oddo and Shaffer’s hopes for the season are to advance as far as possible. Shaffer’s return to Green from CVCA allows her to lead with the girls she grew up playing with, while her biggest fear is playing her last game with her teammates of many years. In order to continue as far as possible, Shaffer says the team is, “Working to make it to states, and preparing our underclassmen. Because there's six seniors, this is taking a lot of commitment from everyone.”

With six seniors leaving at the end of this season, Ava Kouri states that her goal this season is to, “Earn a starting position on varsity.” Working towards this, Kouri is, “putting in the work, she goes to extra training, shoots on her own a lot, and just puts in so much time,” according to Coach Manning. Overall, the 2022-23 season is predicted to go well.

As a result of the girls strong work ethic and setting a good precedent for the season, they have already pulled out their first win in their scrimmage against Walsh and Westbranch on Wednesday.

Mallory Oddo '23

Nina Shaffer '23

Cameron Crosten '23

Paige Miller '23

DIVING INTO THE SEASON DIVING INTO THE SEASON DIVING INTO THE SEASON

The Green High School swim team recently started their season with their first practice on October 28. Swimming is a winter sport with the season lasting approximately 3 months. The team is led by coaches Mike Lazor, Bev Poletta, and Mike Griggs, who are all very excited for the upcoming season. The entire team works hard at practices held every day both before and after school. These practices are a big commitment and consist of several intense workouts, including lots of lifting and breathing exercises to help them get in shape for their season. Their practices are normally 2 hours long, starting at 5:30am. Therefore, you have to have a lot of motivation to be a swimmer. Senior Jakob Bowman said his biggest motivation is, “lifting other swimmers up who are down or not feeling up to it.”

The swim season contains about 15 meets throughout the season that average around 2 hours in length that include many different events. These include 50 free, 50 fly, 50 breast, 500 free, 200 free, 100 back, and 200 breast. Bowman participates

in several of the different swim events: the 100 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM. “I’ve been swimming since I was 4 years old, but I joined the Green swimming program my freshman year of high school. I started because I’ve always enjoyed swimming and hanging out with all of my friends.” Bowman said when asked why he joined, “The best thing about being on the swim team is getting to hang out with all of my friends every day.”

Although they each swim their own relays, they believe that a huge part of team spirit is cheering on their teammates and keeping everyone motivated to do their best. There will first be a scrimmage on Wednesday, November 23rd and then their first meet is Wednesday, November 30 away against McKinley Relays. Last year, the team went to states and are hoping to do the same again this year Going to state competitions is much more challenging due to the fact they face much more competitive swimmers. However, it's a great reward for all their hard work and dedication during the season.

by Amber Betz & Daniella Potts

Sydney Peterson '24 swims the 100 meter butterfly at Wooster High School

COMMERCIALIZING CHRISTMAS

the over commercialization of the holiday season

by Payton Macesich

As the weather cools off, the joyous holiday season brings us warmth and comfort. The holidays bring us an almost indescribable feeling of anticipation every year without fail. I always look forward to the time because no matter what I have going on in my life, I can count on the holidays to lift my spirits. But, these past few years the season just hasn’t felt quite as special as the years before. At first, I came to the conclusion that this lack of the magical feeling I had grown so accustomed to when I was younger was just a part of growing up. As this year’s holiday season approached, I discovered that maybe my nostalgia wasn’t clouding my judgment as much as I had originally thought. The over commercialization of the holidays, Christmas in particular, is beginning to kill the wholesome spirit of the season.

The day after Halloween, sometimes even before, stores are already bringing out their various kinds of Christmas decorations and holiday specialties. I understand that we all get excited for that special time of year, but there is a difference between pleasant anticipation and a clear attempt at trying to sell as many Christmas-themed items as possible. When I walk around stores like Target or Kohl’s, I feel like Christmas is being sold, rather than celebrated. I know that in some ways this is how it’s always been, and I just didn’t notice it as much when I was a little kid. Since I’ve gotten older and earned my own money to spend,

I can see the way stores have used the whimsical excitement of Christmas to encourage people to buy yet another useless knick-knack just because it says “Let it Snow” on it. The lights and decor are brought out in October to advertise their upcoming products, not to promote holiday joy. For me, this practice almost forces the holidays down my throat, opposed to urging me to get in the Christmas spirit. It takes away from all that late-fall has to offer. There’s still leaves changing, pumpkin spice lattes to drink, and Thanksgiving to celebrate.

Another aspect of the holiday season that has lost its magic is the practice of decorating. People seem to put up their decorations earlier and earlier each year just to get it over with. Personally, my family always waits until after Thanksgiving to put the decorations up together, and we make a day of it. Our decor is simple and partially homemade, but to me, it's perfect. Some people’s decorations are so elaborate and extreme, that it looks ridiculous. It’s now just another example of the constant competition between Americans over who can do the most. There is too much focus on having the best light display, the biggest blowups, and the most decorations. It’s very disappointing that a holiday that values giving to others, being thankful, and cherishing your family has evolved into yet another way for people to show off.

Not only does the celebration of Christmas beginning as early as October negatively impact people’s appreciation of the fall, it also lessens how special Christmas itself is. What is so unique about a time that now takes up almost a fourth of the year? It’s getting worn-out and exhausted. Even the Christmas movies that have come out in the past few years have just been one cliche after the next. I’d like to know who’s family will be watching The Christmas Chronicles, or Holidate every year instead of Christmas Vacation or A Christmas Story. It’s hard to feel the Christmas spirit when I see Santacovered bags and wrapping paper sitting out next to bags of Halloween candy or eating Thanksgiving dinner next to a fully decorated tree. The whole month of November might as well be called “December Eve” at this point. By the time Thanksgiving is over, I’ve already done my fair share of Christmas-related activities, leaving me without the same excitement heading into December.

If it has already escalated this far, what will Christmas become when we are adults? Sometimes, I worry I will start seeing candy canes and elves as early as September. I think we can all stand to have a little less Christmas in our lives, and enjoy the time before it for exactly what it is. That way, we can preserve the incomparable Christmas magic for the generations to come.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SWIMMER

the rigorous schedule of a swim athlete in the winter

It’s undeniable that all athletes require an immense dedication and a tireless work ethic in order to succeed in their sport, but my experience with swimming leads me to believe that it’s one of the most challenging displays of athleticism in the sporting world. I hold this opinion due to my exposure with other sports throughout my life; specifically I have a long career with soccer, a brief experience with football, a newfound appreciation for tennis, and a few seasons of track and field under my belt. Compared to swimming, it’s apparent that all these sports require their own unique skills and dedication, but I argue that swimming demands all of these things over a long period of time in order to thrive and succeed.

Throughout my career, I learned that swimming is a very competitive sport, and with Ohio being ranked in the top 20 fastest states in competitive swimming, their times are much lower and tougher to beat. Furthermore, the competitive nature embedded within the sport requires swimmers to be active almost all year long which can cause fatigue for those less committed.

To give an example of the time I spend in the water per year, we’ll start from the beginning of the school year. When school starts, there’s only a few weeks that I don’t have to worry about straining my body because practices don't start until mid to late September. These are

our pre-season practices that last around an hour and a half, and we don’t usually do any training outside of the water including weightlifting or running. Overall, this season has 1 practice a day for 5 days, and the pre-season doesn’t ramp up until getting to high school swim.

Every aspect of our training is significantly amplified during the high school season, and not to mention we increase the amount of our practices from 5 per week to 9. Looking back on it now, it’s hard to believe I woke up at 5:00 am 3 times a week for almost 4 years now in order to get to practice, and during each of the 3 mornings, we train from 5:30 to 6:30, receiving roughly an hour to get ready for school after practice ends. For the varsity men’s team, we are in the water every Monday and Thursday mornings; while every Wednesday morning, we are in the high school weight room. It’s definitely one way to start your day, and despite having sore muscles, I realize that I’m much more productive after a successful morning practice.

Once school ends, I have to drive over to the rear Akron General parking in order to wait for one of the coaches to open the doors to the pool deck, and I find it important to get inside early in order to stretch. Stretching is a vital part of swimming, and regarding my own routine, I try to stretch before practice which can help maximize my

by Riley Sumption

performance during practice, hopefully leading to more muscle gain. We swim from 3 to 5 pm, and during these long practices, it helps me to have a song in my head for when we do hard sets, allowing me to better focus and stay motivated. I tend to have iconic 70’s and 80’s classics like “Love isn’t always on time” by TOTO or “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson stuck in my head all practice long, but it’s more likely that Coach Lazor is just playing some of these on his speaker that he often brings to practice.

In all my 4 years of swimming, I realize how inclusive the atmosphere of my team is; not to mention, there’s never a practice where we don’t high five each other, building each other up to be the best version of ourselves that we can be both physically and mentally. Every year, Coach Lazor not only tries to train us to be ready for states in February, but he also tries to teach us important skills to have in order to be successful when we graduate. Specifically, these last two years he stressed the importance of commitment, and that’s especially helpful to me because it’s made me realize the responsibilities that I need to prioritize in life. For this reason, I know that the swim team has one of the best communities in Green, and the things that I learned will help me to transition to the next stage of my life.

Aiden Brueck '24 Lela Isakov '23 and Paige Sitko '23 Sophia Futo '23

Noelle Bates '23 and Parker Green '24 Nadia Otterstetter '24 and Lela Isakov '23 Josh Hesse '24