The Broadcaster -- December 2013

A10

HHS students get inked

Issue 2- Volume LXXXXIV

B15

Delicious treats to make for the holidays

Online at: hersheybroadcaster.com

December 2013

Hershey lends a hand to Ecuador

BY DESTINY BUGG Editor

Students of HHS have completed their annual trip to Ecuador. After traveling with a team of specialists from Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, they met their goal in helping out children who were in need of heart surgery. For kids whose families would otherwise not be able to afford such surgeries, it was life changing. Apart from watching the surgeries and spending time with the patients, students were able to get a glimpse at what life is like for those in Ecuador. Spanish teacher and previous trip supervisor, Lynn Shirk, thinks that everyone should have an opportunity to take a trip like this.

On Oct. 25 the first group of students left, and the second group followed on Nov. 3. Both groups stayed for 10 days. Retired Spanish teacher from HHS Señora Gavelovich always goes on the first trip. This year HHS Spanish teacher Vanessa Rudzinski went on the second trip. She also went on the second trip last year and was excited to be going once again. The group consisted of doctors, PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) nurses, nursing students, residents, medical students, college students, surgery techs, anesthesiologists, the perfusion team, and high school students.

They traveled to Guayaquil, which is the largest city in Ecuador.

In that city they went to a hospital called the Hospital de los Niños where they not only performed heart surgeries, but also trained the local surgeons and clinics so that they would eventually be able to do those surgeries on their own. The teachers mainly served as the organizers on the trip so they did things like scheduling, planning meals, and setting up any sightseeing.

The students who went on the trip were selected by people at the Hershey Medical Center, and they take 10 kids a year. This year four students went on the first trip, and seven went on the second trip. HHS students Jake Cronin, Makenzie Neal, Annie Jastrzebski and Meghan Stapleton were chosen for the first trip this year. On the second trip, Gabi Broschard, Emma Wolfe, Sean Donegan, Matt Johnson, Rose Sisco, Britta Dieffenbach, and Meera Sinha. Both Shirk and Rudzinski shared that they have no

Submitted/Annie Jastrzebski Submitted/Meghan Stapleton

Submitted/ Sean Donegan

Submitted/ Sean Donegan

The series of pictures above show the groups of HHS students who traveled to Ecuador. These students interacted with familes whose children recieved heart surgery.

say in which students are chosen to go. However, sometimes they are asked for input about the students’ language ability. Any student is qualified to go on this trip as long as they are in an advanced Spanish level, which would be from level four to AP Spanish, and they must be a senior. They do not have to be in PYAP (Pennsylvania Youth Apprenticeship Program). “They have such good candidates,” Shirk said about the students who apply to go on the trip, which is why she thinks the selection is a difficult process for those who have to make the decision.

Students got to experiment with their interests and skills during the trip. For Gabi Broschard, getting to try out her Spanish skills was a big interest. Meghan Stapleton, also a senior at HHS, is interested in pediatrics as a possible career, so this was right up her alley. Students were with the kids before and after surgery, and they also served as translators for the nurses, patients, and the patients’ families. Many of

them established relationships with the kids during their experience. “I have definitely learned to appreciate the care that we have in this country,” said Stapleton. Just days after babies are born in the United States their heart problems are fixed, but in countries such as Ecuador that does not happen. She is now sure that she wants to work with kids as a profession. “It was a great experience,” said Stapleton, “I cannot be thankful enough for the opportunity.”

Shirk has only been on the Ecuador trip once, but she would like to go again. “I want everyone to have the opportunity to go,” said Shirk, who thinks the trip is very rewarding to both students and teachers. Rudzinski has similar thoughts; she would like to see some of the other teachers in her department go next year. “It feels good knowing that you are helping someone who needs it,” said Rudzinski, “all people should be able to experience it.”

Upcoming

Submitted/Britta Dieffenbach

Events

December 11- Hershey High School Holiday Concert December 23- January 3- Winter Recess - No School January 17- End of 2nd Marking Period January 20- In-Service-No School for Students February 17- President's Day - No School

THE BROADCASTER

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HERSHEY HIGH SCHOOL

PRINT CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Managing: Emma Hetrick, Jordan Holycross, Rachel Robertson News: Michaela Prescott, Ashley Reeb Editorial: Isabel Bergey, Lindsay Karli Feature: Hayley Karper, Kate Montgomery Sports: Rosie Andrews, Matt Burns Entertainment: Erika Hufford, Beckie Preston Life: Yanna Bekelja, Makenzie Neal Centerspread/Art: Levi Dillon Centerspread/Photography: Alex Shapiro

ONLINE CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Managing: Levi Dillon, Lindsay Karli

EDITORS

Operations Editor: Rachel Straw Business: Morgan Hocker Circulation: Noah West, John Voyles, Tia Smith Exchange: Leigha Nortier Advertising: Eden Light, Dee Dee Pulisic Public Relations: Mallory Royer, Nick Scheib, Courtney Wagner Copy: Julia Johns, Dahlia Chrosinksi, Melanie Sheehe, Felicia Stover, Angelina Olivas, Katie DeFiore, Makena Mordret, Sarah Williams, Grant Wicklem, Turo Boyiri, Marley Greene, Alyshia Moyer, Evan Sassaman, Brynn Frew Corrections: David McCurdy, Lindsay Powell, Mia Steele, Emily Lebo, Leah Umberger, Destiny Bugg Advertising: Eden Light, Dee Dee Pulisic

ADMINISTRATION Adviser: Kimberly Brown Assistant Principals: Peter Ebert, Dan Serfass, Laurie Wade Principal: Dale Reimann, Ed.D. Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction: Joseph McFarland Assistant to the Superintendent, Personnel and Student Services: Jason Reifsnyder Acting Superintendent: Joseph McFarland

The Broadcaster is a member of the Pennsylvania School Press Association, the Quill and Scroll Society, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

LETTERS AND EDITORIALS POLICY

Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of The Broadcaster staff. Signed editorials reflect the opinions of the individual author and not necessarily the opinions of The Broadcaster staff.

Students, faculty, and community members are encouraged to submit editorials and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed with the student’s name and grade or author’s name and phone number, and can be mailed to Editor: The Broadcaster, P.O. Box 898, Homestead Road, Hershey, PA, 17033; e-mailed to: kibrown@hershey.k12.pa.us; or turned into the box in the high school library. All letters and editorials submitted to The Broadcaster may be edited for length and content.

December 2013

LETTER TO THE READERS

Dear Readers, Congratulations on making it through 2013! With the weather turning colder and homework piling up, it will not be long now before the end of the calendar year is upon us. Although it may seem easy to lose motivation during this chilly time of year, remember to make the best of every day. For the seniors, stay focused. Do not fall into the trap of senioritis, even if you’ve already received an acceptance letter or two. To the juniors, even though graduation still seems so far away, keep in mind that senior year is quickly approaching, keep those grades up. To sophomores and freshmen, keep enjoying your high school experience and living up to your full potential. Don’t let your solid foundation falter in the second-half of the year. As a reminder to everyone, students and teachers alike, although school can seem stressful and overwhelming, remember to take some time to relax over this holiday break. Read that book that has been sitting on your nightstand for months, take that well deserved nap, go to Starbucks and get that peppermint hot chocolate you have been dying for. However, take this time to help others too. Whether it’s volunteering in the community, or even simply helping your parents prepare a holiday dinner, there’s nothing more gratifying than helping to make someone else’s holidays better.

Enjoy your well-deserved break and we’ll see you in 2014!

All the best, Emma Hetrick, Rachel Robertson and Jordan Holycross Print Managing Editors

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Courtyard access should be permitted during school

With the exception of gym class, students at HHS rarely get to go outside during the school week. While air conditioned and brightly lit class rooms help students focus on school work, a change of scenery is always appreciated.

Walking out of the cafeteria towards the English wing, there is a courtyard to the right.

Equipped with store benched and concrete paths, the courtyard seems like a hot spot for students to go during their study hall and lunch periods.

Unfortunately, students aren’t permitted to venture into the courtyard during school hours.

Students should be allowed to use the courtyard as a place to escape to during the day. By permitting students to use this courtyard, administration may find that students are more focused and willing to learn in the classroom.

Sincerely, Natalie Giovannello, ‘16 Open Art class would be beneficial to students

With access to plenty of paid for artistic resources, school is the perfect place to collaborate and experiment with any artistic activities the student wishes. Although plenty of art classes are provided, many students don’t appreciate the rigid structure. The only open art class is AP Art, and even that can be very stressful for the kids scrambling to construct a full portfolio. With an open art class, students would be supplied with proper resources, as well as a quiet work environment to communicate with other capable students. The class could be instated in place of a free period, similar to a study hall, so that the relaxed environment is maintained, and students don’t need to fret over grades.

Sincerely, Jacob Jastrzebski, ‘16 Sigma Gamma is a helpful club for freshmen girls

I want to recognize the club Sigma Gamma. Imagine the first day of school pacing

around having no clue where to start the day. This is what most freshman girls would be stressing about without Sigma Gamma. Last year, as a freshman, I was so thankful to have a “Big Sister.” If you’re ever clueless about where your next class is, you can always send a quick text to your “Big Sister” as to where you should go. The first day of school is hard enough on any student but having someone to ask any questions to be a stress reliever.

Sincerely, Greta Belsole, ‘16 Bathroom stalls limit privacy

The height of the bathroom stalls is a scary thing. I understand that they are short in order to prevent drug use, but I’m afraid to go into the bathroom because of this. Besides, if someone was getting high in the bathroom, wouldn’t it be noticed by others? And with the stall doors being so low, couldn’t someone peer over when you least want them to?

In my opinion, the stall doors should be raised so that nobody can see over them. This would allow students more privacy and the awkwardness of the school bathrooms would be alleviated, for the most part.

Sincerely, Alex Mara, ‘16 Bullying is a bigger issue than it seems

As I hustle through the hallways between classes, I don’t scout out to find bullying. But when I am sitting in class, I can hear and see it everywhere. When someone is trying to answer questions people snicker. When someone walks into the class and isn’t wearing the best outfit you hear giggles all around. And I know the person asking or answering questions or the person walking in the room can definitely hear and see these little laughs and snickers.

Teachers should definitely keep a close eye on this type of bullying. This type of bullying should not be permitted. If someone shot their hand up and you hear bickering or little laughs then the teacher would

hear this as well. This can hurt kids’ feelings when these types of things happen. It can make them feel self-conscious, or fearful that they will be made fun of. There should be an end to this type of bullying.

Sincerely, Nadia Mulder, ‘16 The Broadcaster praised by intrigued reader

As a faithful reader of the Broadcaster in my senior year, I’d like to thank you for always bestowing wonderful articles onto me. I’ve always admitted how the students could be given a published voice for what occurs in the halls of our school, and their pieces are always compelling in writing and in thought. When a new issue is announced, I’d always rush to the cafeteria and leave with a copy clutched tightly in my hands, ready to dive into the current events. Because I’m departing from this school at the end of this year to go on my voyage to college, I wanted to express my gratitude before it was too late. The Broadcaster always provided sustenance for my famished mind during many a dull day, as I’d often find myself enthralled by interesting stories that were published. I know for a fact that future students and readers will find themselves as captivated as I was, and I pray you keep striving for success.

With all due respect, Patrick Briotte, ‘14

If you have any concerns or comments about the high school or The B r o a d c a s t e r, please submit a letter to the editor in the box in the library.

Life Lion saves lives with new technology

BY MELANIE SHEEHE Editor

At the moment of any 911 call, any day or any time, the crew members of the Life Lion Critical Care Transport are completely ready to take the Penn State Life Lion helicopter into the air and provide medical care. This year the team of emergency care responders is celebrating its 26th year of service to Hershey and to many other surrounding areas.

Although this team of responders has been serving for over a quarter of a century, recent healthcare reforms in federal government and the high paced medical technology realm have begun to change the functions of Life Lion Critical Care Transport drastically.

According to Life Lion crew member and licensed paramedic Frank Ceresini, the policy and procedure of the crew changes almost on a daily basis. “New technology comes out with new and innovative ways to treat patients, which makes our job easier and gives us the ability to treat the patient the way we feel they need to be treated in an emergency or transport situation,” Ceresini stated. He also expanded by stating that new technology provides the team with the freedom to treat patients appropriately and in the best interest of their care.

As for the specifics, a few procedure-changing devices

have been implemented for the helicopter and for medical care.

Beth Cate-Freeman, a registered nurse and nine year Life Lion crew member, works with some of these new devices.

“We got an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).

This means that we are actually able to fly into our own helipad with a GPS approach,” she stated. This device allows the crew to land the Life Lion helicopter with increased accuracy and reliability.

Another recent change introduced to the Life Lion crew is the Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a type of heart bypass surgery used to treat heart disease, which patients would normally have administered to them in an operating room.

However, ECMO has been made portable for the Life Lion crew members so they are able to treat the sickest patients who need extra support immediately. This was made possible within the last three years.

As medical technology continues to change, new devices are introduced to the Life Lion crew. According to Cate-Freeman, an instrument called a Video Laryngoscope is a recent development in the medical field. If a medical professional needs to intubate a breathing tube into a patient, the process is now able to be viewed on a television screen to increase the simplicity and accuracy of the procedure.

Not only has technology altered the Life Lion crew’s daily procedures, but a recently inducted governmental regulation has made changes as well.

More specifically, the recent change to our country’s healthcare system, ObamaCare, has modified the way this team can function. “Because of this whole new ObamaCare and affordable health care, they may not utilize air medical service as much,” CateFreeman stated, adding that the necessity and validity of these

flights will be scrutinized more intensely than before. This is due to the increased involvement of the federal government in medical procedures.

ObamaCare serves to "expand affordability, quality and availability of insurance by opening the health insurance marketplace and enacting better regulations on the health insurance industry,” according to the ObamaCare 2013 website.

Because of ObamaCare, the members of the Life Lion crew have expressed that certain hel-

icopter flights may be deemed unnecessary or not covered by the newly introduced health care system.

Although the Life Lion crew has experienced many recent changes, there are a few values that withstand the test of time. Dale Maljevac, a registered nurse and member of the Life Lion crew, stated that one reality will always ring true. “It is not always about us, it is not always about the doctors, it is about teamwork, and that is for the whole of life.”

Staff / Melanie Sheehe

Google Glass hits the market

BY MORGAN HOCKER Editor

Google Glass is the newest and most exciting technology that, according to the Boston Globe’s website, could be a major breakthrough. According to Google‘s website, Google

Glass is a pair of glasses that have a video camera and camera built in so that you can take pictures of what is in front of you. One can also record a video and show other people what he or she is seeing right in front of his or her eyes. The glasses do more than just those

AP Images

Google Glass, shown above, was introduced by Google. Released in 2014, Google Glass will be the first high tech glasses.

The famous Life Lions sit in their garage. The garage is based near the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

basic features; they answer questions, show directions and can translate what people are saying. The features, according to Tech Radar’s website, include a 5mp camera, 720mp film roll for video, 16 GB of flash memory built in and bluetooth as well as wifi built in.

The glasses come in various colors including charcoal, tangerine, shale, cotton and sky.

The glasses cost $1,500 and will be released in 2014.

Doug Ruhl, the technology applications teacher at HHS, voiced his opinion on the Google Glass. “The glasses sound awesome, and I want them!” said Ruhl. Ruhl knew nothing about the glasses and seemed excited to hear all about them. With all the new technology that we see today, Ruhl thinks that the glasses could potentially affect it, and nothing would surprise him. He also mentioned that he does see some problems with the glasses in that they would affect every-

day acts on your cell phone.

“How would you be able to text or go on the internet?” said Ruhl.

Jeffrey Mummert, a social studies teacher at HHS, owns the Google Glass himself. He discussed the different things he likes and does not like about it. Some the neat features were that he can see everything on a tiny screen on the glass. He can take pictures and record videos, and everything he does is hands free. There is also a touch pad on the glass that can be used to control everything using your finger. Mummert showed how he can ask the glass questions, and a voice talks back to him.

The nice thing about the glasses, Mummert mentioned, is that they can connect to wifi and can save pictures to his Google Plus account that can later be tweeted, posted on Facebook, used in Evernote and much more. The only problem he has with the glasses is that the battery burns fast as compared to

his iPhone, which has a longer battery life. Outside of school, Mummert can use the glasses while driving. He can tell the glasses to call somebody, get directions home and even send a text. The glasses he said could eventually replace phones, but this is an early test and he gets an update every month of new features for the glasses.

According to Psychology Today, the most common problem with the glasses is privacy.

Due to the Glass’s capability of taking pictures, other people would never know if the glass wearer was taking a picture or video.

Senior Karolynna Robins at HHS also put in her thoughts about the new glasses. Robins did know somewhat about the new glasses but was interested to know more about them.

She does see the glasses affecting new technologies and thinks the glass could become something bigger.

Deadly hornets attack in Asia

December 2013

BY COURTNEY WAGNER Staff Writer

They swarm, buzz and most importantly, sting. But bees and hornets are not just stingers, they are also killers.

Giant killer hornets have been a prevailing issue in China, but more recently have been almost

an epidemic for many people in the Hong Kong area.

Since July, 42 people have been killed and 1500 were left injured from this type of insect.

The bug’s venomous sting can cause a deadly allergic reaction on the skin and also lead to organ failure. Justin O. Schmidt, an entomologist at the

Southwest Biological Institute in Tucson, Arizona said that the Asian giant hornet, known as Vespa Mandarinia, carries a strong venom that destroys red blood cells, leading to kidney failure and death.

The Asian giant hornet extends about 3.5 to 3.9 centimeters in length and is the

AP Images

The Asian giant hornet is sweeping through China with it’s deadly stinger. It extends about 3.5 to 3.9 centimeters in length and is the largest hornet species in the world.

largest hornet species in the world. The queen of the hive, however is even bigger, growing her body up to five centimeters in length. This particular species of hornets are mostly found throughout East and Southwest Asia, in countries such as China, Korea, Japan, India and Nepal.

The hornet is especially attracted to human sweat, sweet things and alcohol. In the midst of the scents, they are also sensitive to animals or people running. During breeding season, they can produce an average of 1,000 to 2,000 offspring. They also feast on other insects in the same family, such as wasps and bees.

The amounts of hornet attacks have increased due to the common arid, dry weather in certain parts of China. This type of climate makes the environment easier for hornets to breed. Urbanization could also be a factor, considering people moving into places where the hornets nests are located.

Hornets are now recently invading schools and also breached into farms and descended upon farm workers.

According to CNN a woman by the name of Mu Conghui was attacked in Ankang City and describes the pain as horrifying and the stings were every-

where. “Even now, my legs are covered with sting holes” said Conghui.

Many governments in Asian countries are encouraging people to wear long sleeves and to not be outside too often where the hornets roam. They are also warning people not to try to demolish hives or to spray the hornets away with harmful chemicals, but to instead stay within a certain distance from them. If they are close to you “don't flap or scream or freak out," said Schmidt. "Just calmly walk away."

tory” and would “limit their job prospects.”

Although each one is vastly different at the core, the opposing religions all find common

Conservative government will “fight the change in court” while “several former Quebec premiers have spoken out against their party’s [the PQ’s] intentions.”

With the growing opposition to the proposal, the PQ has lost a significant amount of support since the ban was first suggested. CBC News reported that an online poll conducted

by SOM, a survey company in Quebec, shortly after Drainville introduced the ban, revealed 66 percent of the Quebecois polltakers to be in favor of “a secular charter that would ban religious symbols for public employees.” In an effort to regain public support amidst the recent resistance to the potential ban, CBC News also stated that the PQ has posted “French language ads” throughout Quebec.

The PQ’s enactment of Charter of Values seems even more out of reach when the fact that it must win the support of its opposing political parties before being approved is considered.

In light of the heavy protesting and call for reform, the PQ is currently in the process of re-defining the charter and removing its fallacies, hoping to eliminate the divisiveness that is plaguing Quebec’s society.

Facts on Vespa mandarinia, or the Asian giant hornets:

•Killed 42 people •Injured 1,500 •About 3.5 mm •Found in East and Southwest Asia •Produce 1,000 to 2,000 offspring CNN News

Government proposal causes religious tension in Quebec

BY DAHLIA CHROSCINSKI Staff Writer

The culturally-charged city of Quebec may no longer reflect its religious diversity as government officials plan to pass legislation banning the display of religious symbols in public workplaces.

In early September, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), a minority government party advocating for Quebec’s secession from Canada, announced its plan to establish religious impartiality in the provincial government by banning religious garbs from public institutions. As part of the Charter of Values, a set of provisions aiming to secularize Quebec’s ruling body, the proposed ban would limit the religious rights of all government employees ranging from teachers to politicians across the province. With this legislation in place, religious symbols such as the Jewish Kippot, Muslim head scarves, and even large displays of the crucifix would be offlimits in the public workplace.

Impassioned opposition to the ban has been expressed by religious and political groups alike, both trying to preserve the freedoms of individuals amidst the government’s call for a more secularized society.

Initially proposed by PQ

minister Bernard Drainville, the ban’s primary goal is to establish a society in which personal religion is excluded from politics. According to The Huffington Post, Drainville claims that the “new rules will help unify society, ensuring the state’s neutrality and gender equality.” The Huffington Post noted that much of Drainville’s public support comes from the French-speaking population in Quebec, as France banned the “face-covering burqa and religious symbols in state schools” in 2010.

Furthermore, The Huffington Post disclosed that Drainville’s support also extends to another continent.

Algerian Akli Ourdja is part of a North African group that supports the charter, inspired by the adversity he witnessed in his country due to “the mixing of religion and politics.”

Apart from the French population and Ourdja, however, Drainville’s plan is lacking in supporters. Contrasting the few advocates of the charter are the many groups of Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs, all curbing their differences to secure their religious freedoms.

The Huffington Post states that “Quebec's leading Catholic bishop, Monsignor PierreAndre Fournier, has suggested the effort could create cultural

‘ghettos’ ” while the Jewish community was left “hurt and worried” by the proposed restriction on religious expression.

AP Images

There is a proposed bill in Quebec that would prohibit the display of religious symbols in public workplaces. Pictured above is a protest against a similar ban that was passed in France.

Sharing the same beliefs as the members of the Christian and Jewish communities, Muslims and Sikhs also joined forces to protest the charter, displaying signs and chants as they walked through Montreal.

According to The Canadian Press, protesters claimed the potential ban was “discrimina-

ground in resisting the charter, believing it is crossing political boundaries by violating their personal rights.

In addition to the protesting religious groups, some political parties have also expressed their disapproval of the ban. The Huffington Post reports that Canada’s federal

December 2013

United States lifts government shutdown

BY LEVI DILLON Online Managing Editor

The metaphorical “e-brake” pulled

by Congress, known as the Government Shutdown that put 7 thousand government employees on unpaid leave, closed national parks and any unessential function of the US government was lifted on Oct. 16 with President Obama’s signature on the 2014 budget.

The Oct. 1 halt was initiated by epic, partisan battles in the Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House, both of whom would have to agree on a budget, debt ceiling and address opposition to the Affordable Health Care Law, which went into effect one week prior.

This law requires all Americans to carry health insurance, the root of the Republican objection. One such opponent was Ted Cruz, the Texas Senator who staged a 21-hour talk-a-thon, known as a filibuster on Sep. 25 to de-fund the law, popularly known as Obamacare.

Cruz was one of many Republicans who believed that any expansion of our already sky-high debt ceiling of $17 trillion could not be approved unless

AP Images

President Obama signed the bill that would reopen the government as a temporary fix. The bill guaruntees an open government until Jan. 15 and the debt ceiling raise until Feb. 7.

Obamacare was de-funded. Pair that with an equal opposition by Democrats to ensure the law remained funded along with an approaching deadline to reach a deal, Congress achieved an ineffective

gridlock, and time ran out.

On Oct. 1, barricades were built around national monuments – gates were closed to national parks and unessential federal-offices were shut down, forcing

hundreds of thousands of government employees to take unpaid leave. Some were forced to work without pay.

For 15 days, the debates continued, filled with heated speeches from both sides in both houses as the clock continued to count down toward a worse fate: default, the concession by the government that it will be unable to pay its bills.

The night of Oct. 16 was a long one in the House, but it ended with a GOPconcession to a bill that would reopen the government, leaving the Affordable Healthcare Law intact.

According to CNBC, Speaker John Boehner had this to say: “I have made clear for months and months that the idea of default is wrong and we should not get anywhere close to it.”

The bill was immediately signed by President Obama, but its implementation only comes as a temporary fix.

The bill only guarantees the debt ceiling raise until Feb. 7 and only guarantees an open government until Jan. 15.

Despite this, Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell made clear in speaking with CBS' Face the Nation that “there would not be another government shutdown.”

Animal keychains in China cause controversy

BY JORDAN HOLYCROSS Print Managing Editor

The practice of Chinese vendors selling keychains with small, live animals such as turtles and salamanders trapped inside of them has become a controversial issue in western countries. One of the first public mentions of this practice was made by The Sun, a tabloid from the United Kingdom, when keychains containing goldfish were being sold outside of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

“In terms of law we haven’t seen any progress since 2009.”

Toby Zhang

In the piece, The Sun stated, “A cruel trader in China shows how he is cashing in on this summer's Olympics — by selling live goldfish as souvenir key fobs. The fish, sold in tiny sealed plastic bags which bear the Beijing Games mascot, have just hours to live before running out of air.” Since then, news of the keychains has spread via social media and blogging sites.

This has created a public outcry, with multiple petitions against it, such as one on Change.org which has 4,580 supports, and one on Avaaz, a website centered on bringing international politics to the people, with over 669,000 signatures.

Animal rights organizations have spoken against selling the small animals in keychains as well. David Neale, animal welfare director of Animals Asia, told CNN, “Lack of food and

diminishing oxygen concentrations within both the water and the small amount of air in these plastic pouches will cause the animals to die in a relatively short period of time after the pouches are sealed.” He added, "If a national animal protection law was enacted in China, such acts of cruelty could be prevented, and those who persist in causing harm and suffering to animals within their care could be prosecuted."

This is not the first time that China’s treatment of animals offended those on the western side of the world. Bear farming, the process of surgically removing bile from bears’ organs in order to use them in traditional Chinese medicine, had also caught the attention from animal welfare groups.

According to the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, the Animals Asia Foundation signed an agreement with Chinese officials to rescue 500 bears being farmed for bile in China.

With all the animal suffering controversy in China, legislation has been proposed to protect animal welfare. In 2009, the first draft of the animal protection law of the People's Republic of China was issued.

Although the draft has yet to become law in the country, this draft is China’s first comprehensive law concerning animal welfare. However, Toby Zhang of Animals Asia told the New York Times, “In terms of law we haven’t seen any progress since 2009.”

Animal activists and internet users continue to rally against suspected animal cruelty, such as the keychains sold by Chinese vendors.

AP Images

AP Images

The tiny animals are sealed in plastic, airtight bags. With no source of food and depleted oxygen, the creatures have only a few hours to live. Because of China’s lack of animal welfare laws, the business of selling these animal keychains is wholly legal.

Do music preferences reflect personality?

BY KATIE DEFIORE Editor __________________________ There are thousands of different musical groups in the United States, each with a different sound and style. Almost everyone has their favorites, and if not a favorite, at least some kind of musical preference. Your favorite artist might cause your best friend’s ears to bleed, whereas their top Pandora station may make you want to vomit. Why do people have these preferences and how do they come about?

One idea is that music preference develops alongside personality traits. Believe it or not, there has been a large amount of research done on this topic.

David M. Greenberg, a doctoral psychology researcher at the University of Cambridge, has been studying the links between personality traits and musical preferences. Although the relationship between the two is still a gray area, the experiments that have already been conducted, as well as completed research, may point towards some answers. “Currently, the general consensus is that traits are not formed based on the music listened to, but rather, that our musical preferences reflect and reinforce personality

traits that already exist,” stated Greenberg.

According to Greenberg, scientists have come up with a Five-Factor Model of Personality, which organizes personality into five broad categories: Open to New Experiences, Contentiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. As stated in an article entitled “Do Re Mi” by Psychologist Jason Rentfrow, these broad personality traits have proven to be connected to four musical preference dimensions. The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, “found that people higher in extraversion and agreeableness prefer to listen to music that is upbeat and conventional as well as energetic and rhythmic music. People higher in conscientiousness also prefer upbeat and conventional music, and those that are higher in openness to experience prefer reflective and complex music.”

Students in HHS may serve as further proof of this theory.

In a survey of students from all grade levels, 53% of the results showed a correlation between a student’s favorite music style and personality trait that best described them based on the five-factor model.

Another question that is

BY SARAH WILLIAMS Editor __________________________ Age may be just a number to some, but for others it determines the end of an era: one where the holidays are filled with mountains of presents from their parents. While some HHS students are still showered with gifts during Christmas and Hanukkah, many others do not receive as many presents as they once did.

Senior Millie Levin said she only gets one or two big presents for Hanukkah now. “I used to get one or two a night for eight nights,” she elaborated, “but that ended when I got into high school.”

Junior Dan Hamner said he only receives the necessities from his parents for Christmas.

“I get clothing mostly,” he said, adding that he used to get presents like Legos, video games and CDs.

Staff/Katie Defiore

There are many different types of music avaliable. Music preferences vary from person to person based on a variety of aspects.

still being researched is whether or not classically trained musicians develop their musical preferences differently from everyone else. The students surveyed that were classically trained tended to see themselves as quiet and intelligent, whereas those who were not trained either vocally or instrumentally were more outgoing and energetic. These results make you wonder which came first, the personality or the training?

Also, was their music preference the same before becoming musically involved?

Junior Maggie VanBrakle has been playing the saxophone

since fourth grade and the guitar since seventh. Before she started playing, she was into pop music. Now, VanBrakle’s preference has switched from the popular, upbeat tunes to jazz and more ‘thought provoking’ music. When asked if she listens to music just for pleasure less since she has learned an instrument, she stated, “I do both at the same time. It’s enjoyable but I also think about it from a musician’s standpoint.” VanBrakle also says that if she had not started playing an instrument, her taste in music would most definitely be completely different.

So, the remaining question is, what is the underlying reason people choose to listen to music in their day-to-day lives?

Everyone uses it differently.

“Evidence suggests that we often use music to help with mood regulation. Some use music to change their mood (for example from sad to happy) and others use music more as a catharsis (for example people will listen to sad music when feeling sad so that they can feel their emotions more deeply).

However, our results suggest that the majority use music as a way to amplify emotions that they are already feeling rather than changing them. People also use music in a variety of contexts and in general, listen to music that reflects the contexts and situations that they are in,” explained Greenberg.

Junior Natalie Ketner is an example of someone who surrounds herself with music throughout the day. She listens to her favorite alternative and classic rock bands to relax herself during daily activities, including taking the bus to school or doing homework.

“My music relaxes me, but then the energetic music at dances gets me hyper. Music is my everything...Silence is the enemy,” said Ketner with a smile.

Students value friends and family more than gifts

Flickr

Some HHS students are still showered with gifts during Christmas and Hanukkah, while others do not receive as many presents as they once did. Either way, the types of gifts are different from the ones received at a young age.

As for why Levin and her siblings stopped getting as many gifts as they did when they were younger, she said that her parents do not feel that they need to give big presents as much as they did when their children were younger. “We are older; we do not need material things to make us happy anymore,” said Levin.

Hamner gave similar explanations for the decrease in presents with age. “After that age, you probably do not want as much stuff,” he said, “You start to only get what you need.”

On the other hand, Sophomore Ashley Nicolo said she still gets about the same amount of presents at Christmas from her parents, but that the types of gifts she gets are different now. “I get a lot more of the stuff I need rather than toys and silly things that you get when you are younger,” she said.

Freshman Max Dadswell agreed, stating that he has not really noticed a difference in the number of gifts he receives during Hanukkah, but rather in the quality. “They have gotten more expensive and complex,” he explained.

Flickr

Students enjoy getting presents during the holdidays, but many agree that there are a few things that are more important. Junior Dan Hamner and Senior Millie Levin agree that their favorite part about the holidays is spending time with their friends and family.

Most of these students, however, agree that one can never be too old for presents.

“My parents still get presents!” said Dadswell.

Nicolo said, “I think that there will be less as you get older, but I do not think that you are ever too old to get presents.”

Although these students all enjoy getting presents during the holidays, they agree that there are a few things that are more important.

Both Hamner and Levin

stated that their favorite part about the holidays is spending time with their friends and family.

Nicolo agreed, saying her favorite part of the holidays is family time, as well. “[The holidays are] when all the cousins come home and it is just fun to see how we have all changed and grown, but at the same time it is bittersweet,” she said, “Just getting to do things as a family and all being together to make memories is awesome.”

December 2013

T EACHER P ROFILE : Nathan Erdman

BY ALYSHIA MOYER Editor _________________________ One miniature donkey, three pot belly pigs, three horses and four sheep are not the first things that come to mind when you first meet Nathan Erdman; the Physical Education, Driver’s Education, Football and Volleyball coach here at HHS. Erdman grew up on a farm in Lebanon and continues to live on one with his wife and two children, Kade and Kael.

From the time he was small Erdman knew he wanted to become a physical education teacher and coach. After all he grew up around it.

"I was inspired to become a physical education teacher because both of my parents were." said Erdman.

Erdman was also inspired to become a Phys. Ed. because he enjoyed it while he was in school.

"Physical education was always my favorite class," said Erdman, "I was always involved with sports and athletics and Phys. Ed. matches up with that."

To pursue his dream of teaching Erdman decided to commit to Lock Haven

University where he majored in Health/PE and minored in coaching.

As soon as Erdman finished college in 1998, HHS was the first place he sent an application to mainly because it was close to where he lived, Lebanon. Low and behold he got the job! Erdman started working here at HHS when he was 22 years old. In the 16 years Erdman has been working here he has never looked back; teaching and coaching was the perfect fit.

"I enjoy being around kids and being around my colleagues," said Erdman, "I like being able to coach as part of the job."

One of Erdman’s favorite parts of the job is how he gets to spend time with his athletes and students when school is not in session.

"Coaching is fun because I get to be with kids outside of the school setting," said Erdman, "I like seeing them set goals and helping them try to accomplish those goals."

Erdman also enjoys his job because of the connections he makes with his students and continuing those connections after his athletes and students graduate. He enjoys getting emails from his prior students

of teaching is trying to keep up with technology. I'm not real slick with computers so this gets very challenging for me," said Erdman.

Unfortunately Erdman’s teaching and coaching career cannot last forever, fortunately he has a plan for what to do next.

"When I'm done teaching

and coaching I will spend lots of time with my family hunting and fishing," said Erdman, "and running our families farms."

Erdman is a teacher known by many at HHS. Alicia Federico a current junior had Erdman as a teacher last year in Driver’s Ed. Federico always looked forward to going to his class not only because it was fun but she enjoyed having Erdman as a teacher.

"He is fun, nice and funny." said Federico Federico felt that his class always provided a variety of things to do so she never got bored. She liked how he was not strict and had fun with things. The atmosphere was very low key.

"He tries to keep people interested by making it fun," said Federico, "He has a bunch of activities to do to keep people engaged, like making personal license plates and allowing partner work."

It is clear Erdman cares about and enjoys what he does, which is very apparent when it comes to his teaching.

"Teaching has been the best career path for me. My love for sports and people makes teaching a perfect fit for me," said Erdman.

14 month old son or visiting his 21 year old daughter Melissa at Penn State.

He enjoys spending as much time as possible with family even though raising kids can be a lot of hard work.

Guarno also enjoys skiing during the winter and scuba diving in the summer where he can get away from the various stresses involved with his job. His current goal is to finish learning how to wake surf before summer 2014.

Guarno realized when he opened the two restaurants that

it was going to be a lot of hard work and time. However, he thought the risk was worth the reward and in the end he was right.

Guarno makes sure to ask each customer how they are and if they need anything every time he goes into Fenicci’s or Phillip Arthurs. This kind of caring hometown restaurant is what makes people want to keep coming back.

“Running a business is not as easy as people think it is, but if it’s successful, it’s a veryfufilling job,” Guarno concluded.

Staff/Alyshia Moyer

Nathan Erdman grew up on a farm in Lebanon and continues to live on one with his wife and two children, Kade and Kael. Erdman enjoys teaching and coaching his many students at HHS.

and athletes sharing their lives with him.

"It's nice when you get a random email from someone from a while ago, especially thank you emails," said Erdman.

Although Erdman enjoys teaching it is not always a bed of roses.

"The most challenging part

C AREER P ROFILE : Phil Guarno

BY EMILY LEBO Editor __________________________ When you walk into Phillip Arthurs or Fenicci’s located in downtown Hershey the Italian music playing in the background and the hustle and bustle of the waiters creates the atmosphere you might find in little Italy. This is just what owner Phil Guarno wanted when he opened Fenicci’s in 2006 and Phillip Arthurs in 2007.

This Long Island, NY native attended Southside High School and then graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with his bachelors in hotel/restaurant management in 1985. He then went back to RIT and got his master’s in business.

As the owner of two restaurants and various apartments Guarno has different tasks that require his attention throughout the day. He has to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that his staff of 55 people are doing well during the work day.

In the morning and afternoon, he likes to focus on things such as paperwork and paying bills. Then during the evening, he likes to go make sure each restaurant is running

Staff/ Emily Lebo

Phill Guarno is a very busy man. Owning multiple busnesses is a stressful job, but Phil Guarno manages the stress well.

smoothly and check if things such as the kitchen need restocked.

Guarno explained there are various pros of owning such successful businesses. Not only do you get the freedom of deciding what you want to do and when you want to do it, but you also can make a good living. Owning your own business is a great career choice for anyone that wants to be their own boss. According to Guarno however there are also some cons.

“Your stress level definitely goes up when you own a business. In order to be suc-

cessful you have to make sure your [business] is profitable and that takes times,” said Guarno.

Owning and running your own business is also a very risky and scary thing to go into.

Guarno knew that there were chances the restaurants may not be successful but he realized the risk was hopefully worth the reward.

Even as the owner of two very successful restaurants Guarno enjoys relaxing with family and friends. When not Staff/ Emily Lebo paying bills or filling out paperwork you will probably Guarno explains how risky opening up your own busness really is. find him spending time with his “Running a business is not as easy as people think it is, but if it is successful, it is a very fufilling job,” he said.

15

Exceptional

Gifts

As the holidays are quickly approaching, many charities in the area are searching for volunteers to contribute to their causes. Local charities range from homelessness, presents for underprivileged children, crisis relief, and more.

Due to the multitude of charities to sift through, here is a guide to local charities looking for volunteers.

Ronald McDonald House

T

he Hershey Ronald McDonald house is located across the street from the Hershey Medical Center and provides a comfortable place for families with sick children receiving critical care at the med center.

American Red Cross

P

roviding a variety of critical services to the people of Central Pennsylvania.

Donate money online, fundraise, give blood and volunteer.

Toys For Tots

Your guide to local non-profits and charities

How to participate: Bring in new, unwrapped toys to our school, host a toys for tots event at your home or drop off toys at a local drop-off.

A

foundation run by the marines, Toys for tots collects new toys and monetary donations October through December to provide less fortunate American children with holiday gifts and hope.

Submitted: Caitlin’s Smiles

Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

T

he C-entral Pennsylvania Food Bank provides food and grocery products soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food pantries across the central PA region in an effort to end hunger. They have special programs including the ElderShare program designed specifically for seniors, the Fresh Produce Distribution program for people in need, Kid’s Cafe which provides free meals and healthy snacks as well as nutrition education to children of lower-income families and the BackPack program to provide children that rely on reduced priced school meals with food on weekends or school breaks.

How to help: Become a volunteer, do-

nate money or become a sponsor online at centralpafoodbank.org.

Submitted: Walmart

by Alex Shapiro

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Caitlin’s C Smiles

C

aitlin’s Smiles’ slogan is “Giving sick children laughs, hopes and smiles.” A non-profit organization based in Harrisburg, PA., created in memory of Caitlin Hornung, a girl with a passion for art who lost her battle to cancer in 2000 at the age of eight, “Caitlin’s Smiles” provides hospitals with “bag of smiles” kits (contain two arts and crafts kits, drawing, sculpting, and writing materials, a small book or toy and a homemade card), arts and crafts kits (placed in clinics or waiting rooms for kids dealing with chronic disease), and homemade cards (any shape or size, cannot say “get well soon,” and cannot contain any religious messages) to hospitals for distribution. Caitlin’s Smiles also distributes family care kits (contain various gift cards) to Ronald McDonald houses and social workers to distribute to the families of chronically ill children.

How to Help: Create a kit online at caitlins-smiles.org, donate money or art supplies such as drawing pads, coloring or activity books, play-doh or crayola model magic, etc.

ancer treatments are expensive. Many people that get diagnosed with cancer do not live in a convenient proximity to the facilities where they are getting treatment but cannot afford to get a hotel room for long stretches of time. The American Cancer Society created comfortable living spaces close to hospitals called “Hope Lodges,” where cancer patients and their caretakers/loved ones can live for free while receiving treatment. The Hope Lodge of center PA is located in Hershey near the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

How to help: Donate items or, if you are over 18, volunteer by cooking meals

Lion Care

L

ion Care: Lion Care is a free clinic located in Harrisburg run by Penn State Medical Students. Their goal is to provide underprivileged people, including the uninsured, in Har-

Submitted: American Cancer Society

for patients, helping with maintenance or plan a fun event such as a movie night or ice cream social. The items that the Central PA Hope Lodge currently needs the most are water based hand sanitizer, toilet paper, antibacterial, cleaning and hand wipes, 8 and 13 gallon trash bags, stainless steel cleaner and table napkins. Items that are currently overstocked that the Hope Lodge would not like to have donated are dish soap, dryer sheets, plastic wrap, anti-bacterial hand soap, pocket tissues, HE laundry detergent, zip lock bags, aluminum foil and paper towels. Gifts for guests include grocery/gas/pharmacy gift cards, restaurant gift cards and

postage stamps. For more information on items to purchase or how to get involved, contact the local Hope Lodge at 717-533-5111“one of the biggest struggles in healing is stress. Let’s see if you live in Gettysburg, chemo is like a shot to the gut and radiation is like a sunburn on your insides, you are not going to want to travel. Staying in Hershey can cost around $200 a night and if you are already spending thousands of dollars on your treatments, that is going to create a lot of stress. Hope lodge is a place where people don’t have to worry about the financial stress of finding a place to stay.”

risburg with medical, psychological and health needs.

How to help: Donate to help cover the costs of exam gloves, antibiotics, inhalers and various examinations online at pennstatehershey.org/web/lioncare/home/donate or by calling 717-531-8497 and mention that you are donating to lion care.

Submitted: Ellie O. Photography

HHS students get inked December 2013

BY HAYLEY KARPER Section Editor __________________________ The dictionary defines a tattoo as a form of body modification made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. But to some HHS students, a tattoo is so much more.

The PA state law states that you must be 18 years of age to get a tattoo alone and if you are under 18 you must have parental consent.

Senior Tricia Ezzo decided to get her first tattoo at 16 and her second tattoo at 17. The tattoo on her shoulder of a flower and dragon represents the good and the bad in her life and how it is balanced. Ezzo

also has a tattoo on the back of her neck that says “speranza” which means hope in Italian. She hopes to get more tattoos in the future that represent different stages in her life. “[I wanted] to have something meaningful permanently on me so it will always remind me,” said Ezzo.

Junior McKenna Donley says she got both of her tattoos at 16 to help her get through things that were happening in her life at the time and to give her strength.

Donley has a tattoo on her back of a hummingbird and the words “everyday has potential of beauty” on her left arm. Like Ezzo, Donley would love to get more tattoos in the future. “I love my tattoos. Most

Submitted/Keely Fickau

Keely Fickau’s “memento vivere” tattoo is on her side.

She got the tattoo after turning 16.

Submitted/Kenny Picardo

One of Kenny Picardo’s many tattoos, his Mother Mary chest piece. He got his first tattoo at age 14.

people are discouraged from getting any because it is there forever, but that is why I love it. Because no one can take it away from you,” explained Donley.

Unlike Donley and Ezzo, Senior Kenny Picardo got his first tattoo at 14 years old. Picardo’s tattoos include his mother’s name with roses and an Egyptian ankh with the date of one of his best friend’s death on his left arm, his grandmother’s and sister’s names under wings on his right arm, Mother Mary with angel wings on his chest and the words “solo dios me puede juzgar,” which means “only God can judge me” on his back. He is willing to get more tattoos but none past his elbow or on

his neck. “You gotta keep it semiprofessional,” said Picardo.

Possibly going against Picardo’s beliefs is Senior Josh Dalton who someday hopes to get flames running up his neck and onto his face. Dalton currently has a lotus flower tattoo on his forearm that he received shortly after turning 18. His tattoo represents impurity and imperfection. To Dalton, tattoos are “an awesome form of self expression.”

Sophomore Clare Piraino got her tattoo shortly after turning 16.

Piraino chose to place the phrase “live free” on the back of her neck because she liked the saying and it meant a lot to her. She is uncertain if she will ever get another tattoo in

Submitted/Clare Piraino

Clare Piraino’s “live free” tattoo on the back of her neck. She got this tattoo shortly after turning 16.

Submitted/Tricia Ezzo

Tricia Ezzo drew her shoulder tattoo herself. To Ezzo, this represents the balance between the good and the bad in her life.

the future, but says it is definitely a possibility.

Senior Keely Fickau, unlike Piraino, is certain she will be getting more tattoos in the future seeing as she will be getting another one sometime in November. Fickau was 16 when she got her first tattoo on her side with the words “memento vivere,” which means “remember to live” in Latin. She got her tattoo in remembrance of her close friend who passed away two years ago. “It’s meaningful and comforting at the same time,” said Fickau.

Each tattoo is a permanent memory for these HHS students, something not mentioned in a dictionary definition.

Submitted/Josh Dalton

Josh Dalton got his lotus flower after turning 18.

For him, it represents impurity and imperfection.

Submitted/McKenna Donely

McKenna Donley has a hummingbird on her back shoulder. She got the tattoo to give her strength.

Digital cameras transition to cell phones

BY RACHEL STRAW Operations Editor __________________________ Pictures capture many moments in our lives. Everyone has taken pictures, but the device used has changed over the years.

As technology has advanced so has the quality of these images.

According to NBC news cameras did not become popular until the early 2000’s and most people used disposable cameras. These cameras could take up to 30 photos and would be developed at convenience stores. The companies that made disposable cameras, such as Kodak, also came up with an underwater camera with the same principals.

The next big change our soci-

ety saw was digital cameras. These are somewhat popular today and are able to take hundreds of photos. They run off of a memory card that can be loaded and printed off of a computer. These cameras can have very high quality especially compared to phone cameras.

However, digital cameras are going down in popularity because of cell phones. Many cell phones have the technology of a computer, which has earned them the name, “smart phones.” Because so many people have smart phones it is easiest for them to capture a moment using what they always have on them, their phone. Since the difference in quality is so large, why do people prefer the camera on their phones?

Sophomore Caroline Cotton states her opinion as to why digital cameras have gone down in popularity, and why phone cameras became more popular. “I feel like this generation grew up with this technology and uses it more to their advantage,” Cotton explained, “almost everyone has their phone on them 24/7, so it is most convenient.”

A popular picture sharing website, Flickr, took a poll to see which device is most used to upload pictures to their site. The most popular camera used for uploaded pictures was from the iPhone. Because many pictures are taken with phones, they made a separate poll on what kinds of phones were used to take the pic-

tures.

Phone companies have realized how important the camera is to their product and have begun developing their phones around the quality of the image it produces. The Apple Company’s iPhone 5 advertised the new look of the phone but mostly the new camera quality. Apple advertised that its high quality camera takes better zoomed in pictures that print less pixelated. They also included a panoramic feature as well.

Camera companies such as Sony are making removable lenses for better quality phone pictures.

The new Sony smart phone accessories range from $200-500.

Dvice, a technology review website, states the pros and cons to this

new phone lens technology.

Companies like Sony are creating these products since the new generation is connected by their phone.

Senior Jimmy Marks prefers the camera phone and stated, “I use the camera on my phone because I don’t have a digital camera. I don’t need a digital camera because I have [a camera] on my phone.”

Technology will continue to progress and change our future.

With new products coming out and product accessories, it is hard to tell what the future holds. Both phone and digital cameras are increasing quality. The only difference between the two, according to HHS students, is convenience.

December 2013

Update: Gem transitions to HHS life

BY RACHEL ROBERTSON Print Managing Editor

For students who were new to the district last year, the beginning of this school year brought more familiarity with the faculty and students at HHS. With a full year and a little over a marking period behind them, the daily routine of a high school student in Hershey has become more comfortable to follow. The same sense of familiarity and comfort has reached another member of the Derry Township Community.

Whether she is eagerly waiting for visitors to enter the office or scampering after tennis balls in the gym, Gemma, a three year old Labrador Retriever, has become a fixture in the halls of the high school.

rent-a-dog program, where students can borrow a dog for a period of time if they are in need of a break from studying and a little pick-me-up. Stemming from this concept, Gem’s job is to “offer emotional support to students who feel stressed or iso-

lated,” says Wade.

While she is a friend to everyone, Gem has certain people that frequent her daily routine. “Gem only spends about 75% of the time with me. She has her own life and friends. She knows who gives her treats and

will throw her tennis ball,” says Wade.

Some of Gem’s day is structured like that of any other HHS faculty member; she attends scheduled class visits and IEP meetings, where she lends support and a helping “paw” to

“...she serves to be everyone’s friend.

She creates a common ground.”

Laurie Wade

Her transition into life at HHS has been a relatively easy one, explains Assistant Principal Laurie Wade. As a “prison pup”, Gem was able to acclimate to life in an institutional environment better than other assistance dogs would have; she handles loud noises, crowded hallways and differing floor surfaces very well because of her preliminary training in a prison.

Wade, Gem’s primary caretaker, got the idea to have a school therapy dog from a New York Times article describing Yale University’s Law Library

Submitted/Laurie Wade

HMS student interacts with Gem in the hallway. Gem can be seen roaming the halls at the elementary, middle and high school.

those who need her. At other times, Gem’s contribution to HHS is brought on quite suddenly.

A part of Gem’s job that she has acquired in her first year at HHS is responding to Code Oranges.

In a case where a student needs immediate emergency attention from staff members, Gem can often help to diffuse the situation.

Outside of helping the students at HHS, Gem serves to help the staff as well. “She is allowed me to get to know students better. She helps to open doors between the different levels of our school and community.

A lot of people were skeptical [at first], but she serves to be everyone’s friend. She creates a common ground.” says Wade.

Wade often has a hard time expressing what exactly Gem’s role is at HHS. She realizes that school is a “place of business” where teachers must teach and students must learn, but along with the business comes a sense of community. She feels that Gem’s value cannot be found through data or statistics. “Gem's value lies in a feeling about what it means to be a member of this place, at this time. She brings comfort, friendship, and fun to our Hershey family… Gem loves every single member of this school community and she reminds me of how proud I am to be a part of one of the best high schools in our state,” says Wade.

Wade would like to thank HHS Student Council, the Hershey Middle School and Samsung, who contributed monetarily to the training and purchase of Gem. Stay up to date with Gem by following her on Twitter, @gemhershey.

Teen drivers facing new restrictions

BY TURO BOYIRI Editor

A person’s 16th birthday is one of the most highly anticipated birthdays in his or her life.

Turning 16 makes one able to get a permit and become street legal! Six months from the time a permit is received, one can experience a bit more freedom by getting a junior license, and a year later the full level of driver’s freedom can be experienced, when the junior license becomes a senior license. But until then, there are some restrictions to his or her driving privileges.

According to PennDot, permit drivers must have a licensed driver 21 or older driving with them and cannot be on the road from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. except for special conditions.

Junior license drivers have the same time restraint along with a limitation on the number of passen-

gers allowed in the vehicle. For at most two years, teens in PA are not able to experience complete driver’s freedom. Students weigh in on the topic.

The road can be a dangerous place, and these restrictions were put in place with the teen drivers as well as surrounding drivers in mind.

Not everyone sees the purpose of these limitations.

“I think the driving restrictions are somewhat reasonable. I would take away the number of passengers restriction because I don’t think only one passenger other than a relative is fair,” stated HHS Senior and unrestricted license driver Blake Settle.

Teen passengers are one of the biggest distractions for teen drivers. Just one teen passenger raises a teen drivers fatal crash risk 44 percent, according to teen drivers safety’s website.

These restrictions raise the question of whether or not teens

actually abide by them.

“Some do follow the restrictions, but I know of people who both drive after the time they are allowed and have driven without an adult,” admits HHS Junior and permit driver Kara Dobrolsky in regards to fellow permit drivers.

Dobrolsky is not the only one who noticed this.

“I see people not following them,” said Settle.

National teen driver safety week is October 20-26.

“I don’t think all people will follow the restrictions just because it’s National teen driver safety week, maybe because they didn’t know when it is like me,” said Dobrolsky.

Driving is highly anticipated by many. Though it seems like it is all fun when that Staff/ Turo Boyiri license is attained, it is a lot of responsibility and restrictions Junior Cosette Gobat is one of many students who drive to school are needed to keep everyone every day. Gobat is a junior licensed driver who faces the junior license restrictions. safe.

Life decisions prove stressful to teens

BY MICHAELA PRESCOTT Section Editor

What do you want for dinner tonight? What do you want to be when you grow up? If you are a teen in high school, these are both questions that demand your attention almost daily. One however proves a tad bit harder to answer.

To say that there is a lot of pressure put on students in high school to determine their future is an understatement.

From day one the plan has been simple: grades. Learning was the prima ry focus of school and of course grades.

For a long time while children were growing up, school was just that, school.

But somewhere along the line we hit high school, and the focus changes. School becomes the gateway to our future where every decision and test score is conditioned into our brain to be a vital part to the puzzle piece of our future.

Our future: two words behind every action. The reality that at the end of our high school career we need to make the ever daunting decision of

Creative Commons

Students become overwhelmed with the stress of having to decide their futures; their actions are starting to affect what lies ahead for them. It is getting closer to the time when students must choose their future paths.

what we want to be when we grow up reaches a new level of complicated. Those who know and have known what career they want since they have been children can confidently enter college with the mindset they know what they want to do with their life.

However according to NBC News 50 percent of college students change their major at least once during college. That means three out of the four high school students who graduated with a plan for their four years and a decided major changed their mind. According to the New York Times, 80 percent of Penn States incoming freshman are undecided on their majors.

So all that pressure that was put on the students in their high school years to find a major and to figure out that terribly daunting question of what to do with their lives was added stress that in end did nothing.

It’s okay. Okay not to know, and okay to change your mind. The pressure teens feel before graduation to decide their future is unwarranted and needs to be alleviated.

where to spend the next four years of our lives.

Another decision to add to the countless that seem to shadow every high schooler is the question of what major.

Selecting a college major while still in high school can be a significant advantage. I argue that while it can be beneficial it is okay to be undecided. Through observation I have noticed

the student is a fit for their school or not.

The SAT College Board says many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection.

Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take. All SAT Subject Tests are one-hour, multiple-choice tests. In any given sitting of the SAT Subject Tests, you can take one, two or three tests. You choose the tests that you want to take and how many you would like to take per sitting (up to three). Students

normally choose to take three tests to receive the best score.

But should colleges really look at one test score as one of the main qualifiers? Those tense and anxious hours spent in a classroom at seven in the morning are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the student’s work-ethic or ambition to succeed in life. A student who spends months studying for this test and receives a good score could be a student that does not even study for every other test of their high school career.

The morning of the SAT a student could be sick and not thinking clearly, causing their score to be less than what they are capable of.

Although students can retake the test if they do not receive a “good” test score, it does not seem fair to have this ability to do so. Retaking the SAT over and over again until satisfied does not truly show colleges what you’re capable of. Also, retaking the test costs AP Images money and some students are not able or willing to spend SATs have become a stressful test for students. Many stutheir money on the test. dents’ futures depend on how well they do on the test.

Also, even though there are colleges who do not ask for because students that receive when they know that these SAT test scores, most of the bad scores will not necessarily scores will determine their colleges do, and many students be able to go to their dream future, students do take it seriwould prefer to go to those school or a higher educated ously but they try their best, and if their best is not good schools rather than the other. institute.

SATs cause a lot of stress enough for colleges than that is This is another reason colleges should not look at scores for students in high school, and not a fair decision.

many of my friends who relalized they choose the wrong one.

We are only 17 or 18 years old; deciding what outfit to wear on our first date is challenging enough, but the decision of

SATs determine students’ future paths

BY FELICIA STOVER Editor

Juniors and seniors fret to receive their SAT scores in the mail, knowing how well they did will determine if they can get into their dream school.

According to the SAT College Board website, the SAT is the nation’s most widely used college admission exam. It tests students’ reading, writing, and math skills learned in school.

When students take the test, their score is required to be sent in with their college application. The college admissions department will then look at the score to help determine whether

AP Images

As students prepare for SATs they feel pressured to receive a good test score in order to get into college. SATs are the nation’s most widely used college admission exam.

December 2013

Law justifies police action at Washington shooting

BY LEAH UMBERGER Editor

Do not blame the agitator, but rather the responder. This seems to be the common theme of today’s society. The initial violence is never ridiculed, but ironically it is the police who are criticized.

On Oct. 3 a 34 year-old woman named Miriam Carey ran her car into a security barricade at the White House. She hit a police car, ran over a Secret Service Agent, and her actions caused a capitol police officer to be injured.

It was a hit and run which caused White House security and police to look at the situation with suspicion and as an act of terrorism.

Carey raced down Pennsylvania Ave. recklessly driving away from the scene with the police on her trail. She caused further disturbance when she stopped abruptly on Constitution Ave.’s median strip and put her car in reverse. Carey refused to yield to the police and would not stop her car. As a result, she was shot.

An uproar resulted from this shooting, and naturally the police are being criticized. Nothing is new there. When the public should be respecting the police for their response to a dangerous

thing.

Had the police not killed her, would Carey have eventually stopped? And if the police would have let her keep driving aggressively would she have injured more people? The woman had already driven this recklessly with her child in the car and injured two people; if that didn’t faze her would anything? Clearly she was danger to the public safety.

The law enforcement recognized that she was threatening and tried all they could in the heat of the moment to stop Carey peaceably, but there was no response.

Therefore, she was shot. It is that simple. It is not as though they did not give her a fair warning and killed her for no reason.

It is not as though they did Flickr not try to stop her car and carry out further legal obligations.

On Oct. 3, a woman ran her car into a restricted area around the White House. A shooting took place down She was asking for the consethe street from the White House, and police were criticized for their actions. quences. Granted, it is speculated that the woman had mental situation, they are instead claimAccording to the deadly force this, the police must have thought health issues, but she was still ing that it was entirely unneces- law in Washington D.C., any cir- this was an exception to the norm, threatening the public. sary to shoot Carey because she cumstance that is a threat to the and that there was no other choice.

Mental health issues is an was not firing a weapon. lives of others can be responded to It is not as though police are inhu- excuse anyone can use, but that That may be true, but she with deadly force. mane. What did they want to do, still does not change the facts. It was using her car as a weapon Therefore, the police had every wait until she did something more does not change her criminal which is more or less the same right to shoot her; people might not destructive? If the police would not behavior. It does not justify her thing. The job of the police is to like it, but it is legal. Even so, most have reacted fast enough, the public actions. Unfortunately for her, ensure the safety and security of police departments try to limit the would have criticized them for that justice had to be served the hard all people; she was hindering use of deadly force even if a car is as well. They cannot win; people way. their ability to perform their duty. being used as a weapon. Because of are always displeased with some-

New iOS7 software offers beneficial features

BY LINDSAY POWELL Editor

By the time you read this, millions will have updated their devices to iOS 7, the latest update of Apple’s mobile system.

Earlier this year, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook revealed iOS 7 as “the most significant overhaul of Apples’ mobile operating system since the company got into the smartphone business back in 2007.” Months later, on September 18, the world’s most advanced iOS was released. iOS updates are free and available to downgrade wirelessly the moment they are released.

Many were quick to download the new software and ended up disappointed with the outcome.

According to Apple, the update is “With an easy to use interface, amazing features, and security as it’s core, iOS 7 is the

“

foundation of iPhone, iPad, and iPad touch. It’s designed to look beautiful, so even the simplest tasks are more engaging.”

The new update introduces new features such as Control Center, AirDrop for iOS, and better multitasking which allows for faster and easier access.

The control center gives quicker access to the controls and apps we tend to need. Swiping up from any screen allows you to turn on airplane mode, turn on or off wifi, and adjust your brightness. You are able to play, pause, or skip songs while you have access to the flashlight, timer, and calculator.

The new notification center lets you be aware of new mail, missed calls, and reminders. The new feature “Today” gives you a summary of the day or a heads up on tomorrow. You can access this feature from sliding down from any screen, including the

R OVING

REPORTER :

”

It’s a little girly, but I think some of the newer effects are cool.

Britta Dieffenbach

“

AP Images

New iOS7 software update generates change. Many are less than enthusiastic.

lock screen. While multitasking has always been simple, now it’s even easier.

Now iOS 7 learns when you like to use your apps and can update them before you go to use them. The new update also schedules updates during power-efficient times. With many new advancements, apple states “ Nothing we’ve ever created has been designed just to look beautiful.” The purpose was to have a system that was simple, useful and more enjoyable.

The new look takes awhile to get used to, for some longer than others. Everything is new, from colors to fancy new icons.

Everyone has their own opinion.

An HHS Junior, Spencer Beckfield, currently only uses Android but has many opinions on iOS 7. He agrees with many that it’s a pretty modern system

with a lot of improvements, but it borrows a lot of its advancements from both Android and Windows Phone.

“For example,” Beckfield said. “the lock screen is extremely similar to what newer Android devices have had for years, and the minimalist design looks a lot like Windows Phone. So, while I think iOS 7 brings a lot of improvements, they mostly consist of features that Apple’s competitors have had for a long time.”

In a recent survey based off of 25 HHS students, 19 out of 25 were disappointed by the new look and would love to have their old software back.

Although competitors may have had something similar, it’s brand new for apple users and there are more than enough positives to take time and download the new software.

“

What is your opinion of iOS7?

”

They change it so regularly.

The iOS8 will be here soon.

Mr. Bucher

”

I definitely like the iOS6 more.

Sean Donegan

December 2013

Health value of new cafeteria food questioned

BY MARLEY GREENE Editor

Double chocolate brownies, giant cookies and deepfried everything.

HHS has always been strict about the health value of foods that are offered to students.

Along with the veggie burgers, salads and whole grains, however, HHS has also added french fries, wings and brownies to the menu for 2013-2014.

Schools across the country traditionally emphasize the importance of healthy eating, but with the new additions at HHS, that seems to be the last thing that comes to mind.

Spikes in childhood obesity in recent years brought about healthy changes to school lunches nationwide and have been successful. Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign has recorded a small drop of 2.07% in childhood obesity since 2010. With the calorieconscious trend falling to the back burner, will healthy foods

in

school go with it?

It seems that vital nutrients in school lunches now take a lower priority than in past years. New items at HHS include burrito bowls, loaded waffle fries, Italian pasta bakes and Trojan pan pizzas. The school also kept its old favorites such as tacos, breadsticks and chicken tenders.

In addition to the new entrees, sugary desserts have also become part of the menu.

HHS advertises its new giant cookies throughout the cafeteria, and they are very popular among students who purchase their lunch from the school.

These desserts are created with Hershey’s chocolate bars and Reese’s peanut butter cups in addition to the already high sugar content cookie itself.

Furthermore, new brownies available to students this year make the nutritional value of school food questionable.

Fruits and vegetables are an option in the HHS cafeteria, but more often than not, instead

staff/marlet greene

New lunch food items arrive at HHS as of this year, but the health value of these foods are questionable.

of being offered a fresh apple, students are given a small bag of pre-packaged thinly sliced

fruit. According to Food Services Director Greg Hummel, students were offered

fresh produce such as peaches in the beginning of this year; however, it has become harder for the school to offer such items because many fruits and vegetables have begun to go out of season. Hummel assures that most of the packaging seen on produce at HHS has been done by the school itself, not purchased from a store.

“All of the packaging is done in house,” he said.

Hummel explained that HHS has been making a point of offering students a wide variety of foods to choose from and has tried to expand its menu to accommodate all students. But when teens are given the option between a cookie and an apple, its easy to see why unhealthy foods become the most popular in the HHS cafeteria.

In the end it comes down to the students making wise decisions about what foods they buy and consume, but schools should keep student’s choices healthy.

HHS AP weight is to0 low

BY LEIGHA NORTIER Editor

AP courses. Advanced Placement. Challenging material, tons of homework, tests that seem impossible…and weights.

At HHS AP classes have a small weight that essentially rewards students for taking on the hard and challenging task of an advanced placement course, by giving them extra percentage points. As many may know, to find the weight that a student will receive on an AP class, all you have to do is multiply the overall grade by 1.05. This ends up giving students with a grade of 90-100% around a 5% curve, students with an 80-90% a 4% curve and so on. HHS Principal Dale Reimann said that the administration has kept the curve like this in order to “keep our GPAs as balanced as possible.” But what many may not know is that other high schools offer their students a surplus of weights compared to what is offered here at HHS. There is no standard for how schools weight their classes, each individual high school can do as they please and can weight any class -not just AP courses.

Take neighboring high school, Lower Dauphin, as an example. LD High School has a different course system entirely which causes an overall contrast on weights on the classes Lower Dauphin AP students receive a 12% weightand honor students receive a 10% weight.

Then at the end of the marking period the students are given a

When compared to other school districts the curve for AP credit classes at HHS is lacking. Students are overwhelmed with the workload and not rewarded for taking difficult classes.

weighted GPA, and then a nonweighted GPA. A system like this one is not uncommon throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

Even Central Bucks High School in Philadelphia, which is similar in academic standard to HHS, has a system which still ends up offering students with larger weights. Central Bucks

High School offers their students the same weight on AP courses as HHS, but they also give some weighting to honors courses. Its honors students are rewarded with 4.25 percent for a grade between 90-100%, 3.25% for an 80-90% and so on.

Now some may argue that these large weights are given to students in schools that still do

class rank which Hershey no longer takes part in. But HHS students still have to compete with those other students from other schools for potential scholarships and college acceptances which may depend solely on GPAs and do not or may not initially look into the fact that Hershey is a school district of higher academic

achievement and prestige.

Essentially HHS students as a whole are not getting the same “rewards” as students at other schools for taking classes that they know will challenge them. Students at Hershey could potentially be left in the dust by students from other schools who are enjoying extensive weights on their classes.

December 2013

Roving Reporter: Whats your New Year’s resolution?

BY HAYLEY KARPER AND ASHLEY REEB Section Editors

“Drink 3 bottles of SmartWater every day to make me smarter.”

“Get dreads.”

Senior Mitch Good

Junior Drew Loyd

“Take my license test and pass hopefully.”

“Get my permit and get all A’s.”

Junior Gabby Blackburn

Sophomore Jo Nicholson

“Improve in swimming and get my license.”

Sophomore Jack Kushner

“Make more friends and play ball every day.”

Gem the Dog

The conversation continues at...

- new for 2013-2014 - mobile support - video interviews - leave your comments Powered by:

December 2013

Trivia

Fill in the lyrics

1. What do people in Turkey call Santa Claus?

2. Which reindeer is not mentioned in the poem "The Night Before Christmas?"

3. Who is the mythical figure that was said to be responsible for winter’s icy and freezing conditions?

4. What holiday is also known as the festival of lights?

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Troll the ancient _____ ____carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la.

I don’t want a lot for Christmas There’s just one thing I need I don’t care about the presents Underneath the Christmas tree I don’t need to____ __ _______ There upon the fireplace

5. In what year was the New Years ball first dropped in Times Square, NYC

What’s the difference

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah Come light the ______ Let's have a party We'll all dance the Horah

Word Search

Bow New Years Christmas Present Gifts Ribbon Hanukkah Tree

1

3

4 5

6

7

8 9

Cross word

Answers: Q&A: Noel Baba, Rudolph, Jack Frost, Hanukkah, 1906 Scramble: Santa Clause, Tree Ornaments, Menorah, Snow Ball, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Bells Fill in the lyrics: Yule tide, hang my stockings, menorah What’s the difference: left knob on etch-a-sketch, Buddy’s hat, sign on left side, Jovi’s name tag, bolts on ladder Cross Word: Across: 2. Rudolph 5. candelabra 6.mistle toe 8. stooge 9.elfs 10. latkes Down 1 cranberries 3 eggnog 4 dreidel 7 frosty

2

10

Down Down redfruits fruitsare areoften oftenstrung strung 2.2.the reindeer of all 1.these the most most famous famous reindeer of all 1.these red from the tree 5.5.another word for menorah tree. another word for a menorah favorite Christmas Christmas drink drink 6. if you want to be kissed, stand 3.

3.aa favorite 6. if the you ________ want to be kissed, stand 4. spinning top used for Hanukkah under ______ 4.spinning top used for jewish 8. you will be called a ______ if games 8. they will humbug!” call you a ____ if you 7.____ 7. _____isisthe thesnowman snowmanthat thatcame cameto li you say “Bah humbug!" one day to life one day 9. name of Santa’s helpers 9. the of during Santa's helpers 10. foodname eaten Hanukkah f d d i kkah Across Across

S c r a m b l e

Hershey makes the holidays sweeter

BY BECKIE PRESTON Section Editor The time of the year is near for HERCO to bring out its Sweet Lights to the community.

This attraction allows families and friends to take a drivethrough tour of over 600 illuminated displays from the comfort

of their cars. They can drive through over two miles of wooded trails, according to the Herco website.

The scenic tour provides nine themed areas, including the 12 Days of Christmas, a Nostalgic Victorian Winter Village, an Enchanted Forest, Fairy Land and Frosty’s Wild Ride. HHS Senior Brianna Leonard said,

“[Sweet Lights] always brings in a lot of money and is a great event for families.”

Hershey Sweet Lights began Nov. 15 and will last until Jan. 1.

“[Sweet Lights] always brings in a lot of money and is a great event for families.”

Senior Brianna Leonard

Staff / Beckie Preston

The Sweet Lights in Hershey are featured every year during the holiday season; the drive-through experience features a variety of light displays.

Admission for this attraction varies. Passenger car pricing is for cars that seat up to eight passengers. The cost for passenger car pricing is $20 from Sunday through Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday the cost is $25. With a ticket to Christmas Candylane, there is a discounted price for the entrance to the Sweet Lights.

For vehicles with nine or more seats in the car, the price jumps up to $25 Sunday through Saturday. Tickets for Hershey Sweet Lights can be purchased

at the entrance to the Sweet Lights and also at the Hershey Park Season Pass Office.

Another popular attraction in Hershey is Christmas Candylane. Over two million twinkling lights illuminate Hersheypark while families can enjoy over 30 rides for all ages, festive decorations and meet and greets with the Hershey Characters decked out in their festive holiday wear.

There are also many more interactive events for families.

Christmas Candylane Story time provides an opportunity for children to enjoy a holiday story and the Music Box Theater. Also featured at the Music Box Theater, a talented cast will provide a holiday show filled with a rock and roll twist in this Christmas revue.

Breakfast and dinner with Santa will also be provided at the Hersheypark Place at Hersheypark. Families can join Santa, Mrs. Clause, and their friends as they tell stories, sing songs, and offer a candy cane filled treat for all children under 12 years old.

Christmas Candylane also provides an assortment of festive foods. Seasonal Christmas items can be found at all concession stands. Foods include toasted sandwiches, soups, cookie decorating, seasonal baked goods, and seasonal funnel cakes. And of course there will be an assortment of chocolate desserts as well. S’mores, Santa’s Candy Cottage, Simply Chocolate, and Sweet Mine at Minetown Restaurant are just a few holiday delights families can treat themselves with.

Christmas Candylane is open November 15 to December 31. The times for this attraction may vary day by day. On weekends the park is open 12 pm. to 10 pm, while Sundays the park is open only until 9 pm.

Hershey Sweet Lights and Christmas and Candylane are two of many attractions Hershey provides during the Christmas holiday season. HHS senior Marykate Starner stated, “You can tell how much work they put into these attractions.

It really pays off in the end.”

New Years Eve in the Sweetest Place on Earth

BY MAKENA MORDRET Editor The countdown to the beginning of 2014 has begun!

Many Hershey residents will be kicking off the New Year at the Hershey Square New Year's Eve celebration. For the past nine years, Derry Township has hosted festivities to transition into the new year. Coordinators and spectators alike are getting ready for yet another crowdpleasing event.

"I find a group of friends to hang out with, and we walk around Chocolate Town Square waiting for midnight."

Junior Sara Gensemer Located at the intersection of Chocolate Avenue and Cocoa Avenue, the New Year's Eve festivities are open to the public for free. Various vendors are set up along the streets to provide food and drink for everyone who attends.

There are multiple restaurants within walking distance for attendees to purchase full meals and get out of the cold for a while. In prior years, the roads all around the square

have been blocked off by the Derry Township Police, when people begin to arrive at 7:30 p.m.

For Sara Gensemer, New Year's Eve is a day full of time spent with friends and family.

In fact, she stated that she cannot see any other way of ringing in the New Year than being surrounded by people she loves.

The hours leading up to midnight are filled with musical lineups that appeal to all ages.

The format of the performances is consistent throughout the years. A local band opens at nine, after which a national opener plays. At approximately eleven at night, the national headliner takes the stage to perform.

"A lot of people come to watch, so I am sure they[the bands] are decent," said junior Samuel McQuillen. To start off 2011, Cody Simpson opened for All-Star Weekend.

"Ariana Grande came two years ago, and she was excellent," said Gensemer. Grande's performance was followed by the headliner, We the Kings.

Last year, the Ready Set played before Boys Like Girls.

In order to represent the town's sweet background, a giant kiss replica is raised up to the top of the Hershey Press Building. Other surrounding towns have object raising and dropping traditions as well.

Staff/ Makena Mordret

On Dec. 31, a Hershey kiss will be raised at the front of the Hershey Press Building, pictured above. The kiss raising is just one component of the New Year’s Eve festivities held in Hershey.

Nearest to Hershey is the raising of a lollipop in Hummelstown. Cleona raises a pretzel each year.

In Harrisburg, a strawberry is dropped. Lancaster strays from the nearby edible route and raises a red rose. Hershey's neighbor, Palmyra, drops a giant shoe. While the kiss raising is a unique spin on the iconic ball drop of Times Square, New York City, the state of Pennsylvania has dozens of towns that either raise or drop an object at midnight. In fact, the keystone state has the most in the country.

Both McQuillen and

Gensemer go to the square every year with a group of friends, but not all HHS students make an appearance at Hershey's central celebrations throughout the night.

Senior Ben Folts spends the night with his family, playing games and watching movies. Some years, Stephanie Carlin, junior, and her family make a trip to a ski resort for the holiday. Other years, they stay home and enjoy each other’s company while baking cookies.

No matter where they celebrate this night, students seem to have a shared favorite

moment: the countdown. In the square, a large countdown clock sponsored by the Hershey Federal Credit Union is set up.

A fireworks display is set up behind the performance stage, next to the Hershey Press Building. In order to keep everyone safe, the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department remains ready to be called into action. As the night of celebrating draws near to the end, the series of dazzling explosives are set off into the night sky as soon as the clock strikes midnight. "It is fun to see everyone's reactions when a new year finally starts," said Gensemer.

A RTIST P ROFILE : Carmen Marcucci December 2013

BY ANGELINA OLIVAS Editor

Many students at HHS know Carmen Marcucci as a great friend and student. But do many students know about her passionate art life inside and outside of school? Marcucci is a senior at HHS. She takes art very seriously and is currently taking AP art classes. Marcucci plans on majoring in art history in college.

Marcucci has made realistic art her life. She started to take

her artwork seriously when she began taking AP art class her junior year. “There was more freedom in projects and got to work within your own styles, you could do any type of project you wanted,” stated Marcucci.

Marcucci finds herself intrigued by art for several reasons. One reason she enjoys it is because art does not just allow the artist to explain how they are feeling, but it also allows the viewers to take in what they feel like the art piece is showing them. She likes the idea that it is

Staff / Angelina Olivas

another medium through which people could express themselves. “It’s another way of capturing emotions and events,” stated Marcucci.

Marcucci’s favorite art creation was a spray paint project of her and her boyfriend that she worked on during the summer of 2013. “It was a piece that I could tell a story about, and it had more meaning to it,” stated Marcucci. It wasn’t the typical “aw” picture that is usually affiliated with a girl and a boy. Marcucci created this art piece to represent good moments in life. The piece was distorted and blurred to represent that good moments can come and go by fast. “She puts thought behind everything and has meaning for every mark she makes,” stated Mackenzie Klinger, HHS senior.

Banksy, a political and street artist, is one of Marcucci’s inspirations. Marcucci finds his art interesting because he is abrupt and political, and he does controversial art and puts it all over cities. Marcucci finds how he made a name for himself interesting. Banksy broke into museums and replaced his artwork for the art pieces there or

Staff / Angelina Olivas

Marcucci makes an art piece that would look like something her favorite artist would draw. Marcucci’s friends have noticed how much thought she puts into every piece of her artwork and takes the time to give each piece its own meaning.

he would spray paint over the art pieces. Marcucci favors his style and likes how he was anonymous for a while.

Marcucci’s style is realistic art. She has experimented in abstract art but it is not her strongest point. She enjoys trying to work with different materials, and that is what makes her artwork stand out. “She is always thinking outside the box in terms of her materials,” stated Naomi Brought, an art teacher at

HHS. Although art is Marcucci’s focus at this moment, she also enjoys running in her free time.

Going on runs is not what she is very passionate about, but she likes to run to stay in shape.

Marcucci is so passionate about art that she has chosen next fall semester to major in Art History at Temple University.

She is excited for the future of her career in art and is excited to start her new journey next fall.

kids who have speech disorders and are not at the developmental level for speech for their age.” At the high school she works with teens who have a variety of special needs. “We work more on behavioral and conversation skills...It is awesome to just create friendships with them,” said Gardner. She added, “I am so blessed to have this internship...it has truly been the cherry on top of my senior year.” Her work at the elementary and high school has influenced what Gardner hopes to pursue outside of high school. “I plan on either going to Pitt or Penn State,” she said.

Gardner hopes to major in speech pathology and sign language interpretation, and although she does not have any current intentions of doing so, she would consider participating in her future school’s marching band if she finds the time.

band. Gardner became drum major her junior year, a big title with big responsibilities. Drum majors are in charge of leading the band during practice as well as conducting the band during performances. She said, “I have been taught a lot more than I thought I would be taught,” adding that she has become “more self-disciplined, a more responsible person and a musical role model.” The role of drum major has also changed Blumling, who received the position her senior year. She said, “[It has] stretched me and taught me lessons that I would not have learned any [other] place...It has been a great opportunity to get to know and help people. I love getting to know the underclassmen that I would not have met otherwise if I was a part of marching band.” Her favorite music memory, also related to marching band, is the band bus.

Although Gardner and Blumling are following very different careers paths outside of high school, both have been shaped by their leadership position as drum major. From little fourth graders to accomplished seniors, both girls have had many enjoyable experiences, in regards to music. Blumling said, “It [music] is present in almost all aspects of my life, and that is the way I like it. I love all of the opportunities that being involved with music gives you.”

MUSICIAN PROFILE: Drum Majors Carmen Marcucci has made realisitc art her life. She started to take her artwork seriously when she began taking AP art class her junior year.

BY EMMA HETRICK Print Managing Editor

For Ann Marie Gardner and Erin Blumling, having a couple hundred pairs of eyes on them is just another Friday night.

Gardner and Blumling, both HHS seniors, are this year’s HHS marching band drum majors. Both have been involved in Derry Township School District’s music program since fourth grade.

Currently, Blumling and Gardner play their respective instruments, clarinet and saxophone, in HHS’s audition band,

Wind Symphony, as well as in marching band.

Blumling does not limit herself to just concert or marching band. She has participated in choir from 5th-11th grade and also plays the piano.

Throughout the years, Blumling has been a part of marching band, pit orchestra, Hershey Youth Symphony Orchestra, hand bells and band competitions.

She has made districts every year since freshman year, and regionals and states her sophomore and junior year. But Blumling is not just a musician; she is involved in many other

Submitted / Tanya Krushinsky

Gardner and Bluming performing at a Friday night football game.

Their position as drum majors plays a major role in band.

activities both in and out of HHS. She is a member of Matthew 5:16, National Honor Society and her church’s youth group. Her interests vary from kayaking to cooking, an activity she has in common with her fellow drum major.

Gardner has also participated in a variety of musical ensembles over the years. Her credentials include jazz band, marching band, concert band, pit orchestra, county band and district band.

She also is a member of Key Club, SADD, Spanish National Honor Society and National Honor Society.

Gardner became interested in music because her older brother of two years played the trumpet. “He would not let me play trumpet with him so I had to choose the next best thing [the saxophone],” said Gardner.

Both Gardner and Blumling intern at the elementary school. Blumling helps out with general music classes. Her internship has exposed her to a potential career path. “I want to be a music teacher. I am not sure yet what age or if general or instrumental yet,” said Blumling. Every day she works with two first grade classes.

She explained, “Right now we are working on singing, rhythm and movement.

I help lead activities and work with the kids...It is a lot of singing and dancing.” Gardner works on “speech sounds with

“[Music has] given me something I can always go to, especially when things get stressful.”

Senior Ann Marie Gardener

Looking back on her high school career, Gardner stated that her favorite music related memory has been her time as drum major in the marching

Reeb and Bergey review Catching Fire December 2013

BY ISABEL BERGEY Section Editor

Waiting in line at 7:30 for the 8:45 showing of Catching Fire, I was excited and hoping it would be as good as the book, but also thinking it would probably be terrible like the first movie.

Thankfully I was wrong. With the director changing, Catching Fire, 146 minutes long, managed to only mess up a few minor details in the story it told.

First off, Katniss’s wedding dress was all wrong. She was supposed to have sleeves that touched the ground, but instead her dress was strapless. And along with that, why did Katniss kiss Gale in the woods before going back into the games? It makes it seem as though she will end up with Gale when in reality that will never occur. Even though these meticulous details were not correct Catching Fire, unlike The Hunger Games, stuck to the book and delivered a great production.

I only wish they would not have cut out so many important pieces of the story. I wanted to see when Katniss met the pair from District Eight who escaped into the woods in hopes of reaching District 13. It connects to the ending of the movie, and without it, you lose something. I was also disappointed that they did not include the head game maker showing Katniss his golden pocket watch with the disappearing mocking jay on it. It would have taken 20 seconds to show, but instead they cut it, and with it went all foreshadowing of Plutarch Heavensbee’s alliance

BY ASHLEY REEB Section Editor

graphics were also definitely improved from the first attempt at creating a futuristic version of Take a book with 300 pages, America.

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh a twisted plot line, and action in every chapter then try making it Hutcherson return to the big into a two-hour movie. The end screen playing roles as Katniss result may not be as good as you Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, hoped. But Catching Fire, the sec- where their home in District 12 ond installment of The Hunger of the future North America, Games Trilogy, based off the Panem, is facing a spur of revobooks with the same name, lution like the other Districts. checked off everything on my Katniss and Peeta, both winners list. As an avid fan from day one, of the 74th Annual Hunger Catching Fire was undoubtedly Games the previous year, now better than the first attempt to find themselves under the spotconvert the book into a movie. light, faced with touring through The familiar actors became more the other Districts with their loveable and the new actors like newfound responsibilities to Sam Claflin, who plays steamy keep peace in Panem. But the Finnick Odair, came out and Capitol and President Snow, impressed me, as well as the fel- played by Donald Sutherland, low ladies in the audience. The the dictator of Panem, know that Katniss and Peeta have no ability to stop the rebellion that was indirectly caused by their defiance shown in the arena the year before. President Snow uses the upcoming anniversary of the Hunger Games to pull Katniss and Peeta back into the arena for another set of games known as the Quarter Quell. Catching Fire however spends most of the time focusing on the tour, not the Games. This allowed letting Katniss and Peeta’s characters develop to pull the heartstrings of the audience as they both go through the struggles of a love triangle and deciding to be used

by President Snow to stop the revolution or become a part of it AP Images like they are destined to. When Stars of Catching Fire, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer the Quarter Quell does start, the Lawrence, and Josh Hutcherson, line up on the red carpet for the pregraphics involved with the setmiere of the much-anticipated second part of the Hunger Games ting are a beautiful actionTrilogy. The movie came out in theaters on November 22, 2013 and packed twist. Set in a tropical had overall better reviews than the first movie in the trilogy with the revolutionaries. But then again, if they had left everything I wanted in the movie, it probably would have been six hours long.

Regardless of what they cut, what they kept made up for it.

The outfits worn for the chariot ride, which were a big disappointment the first time around, vastly improved and lived up to the high expectation the book created. The force fields and all of the special effects were much better this time around. Instead of the unrealistic mutts we saw in the first Hunger Games movie, the monkeys that appeared in the games this time looked real and scary. And overall the actors had all improved. All in all, the movie was a success, and I cannot wait to see it again.

location with blue waters and palm trees, the colorful world and characters Suzanne Collins created on paper come to life through Francis Lawrence’s skillful directing. With the second film, Panem is beginning to feel more like something real; more expansive, more believable, and more compelling than what director Gary Ross did for The Hunger Games a year ago.

Compared to the last film, Catching Fire followed the book almost completely, but the few things director Lawrence did change didn’t take away from the movie, unlike what happened for The Hunger Games. In a scene where Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, should have shown Katniss a watch with the revolutionary symbol embossed, it was replaced with him saying that he took the job as Gamemaker knowing Katniss would be playing in the games, hinting that he was a part of the rebellion after all. Even with the changes, for someone who didn’t read the books the movie would make sense and flow perfectly, which I think was a great decision by director Lawrence. Yes, the movie is made for the fans too, but mostly for money, right? The fans that have been with The Hungers Games from the beginning shouldn’t have a problem with director Lawrence trying to get the franchise a couple more bucks. And getting the movie tickets sold is something Catching Fire won’t have a problem with, as it entertains book readers and non-book readers alike.

Students weigh in on celebrity behavior

BY GRANT WICKLEM Editor

As this year’s Video Music Awards (VMA’s) came to a close, many of its viewers were left baffled by what they had just witnessed: a bizarre, debatably inappropriate performance by Miley Cyrus, with her engaging in the trending dance ‘twerking.’ Cyrus garnered a lot of attention for that showing, but not necessarily positive attention.

Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and countless others have recently taken the limelight for their outlandish behavior, on display for the whole world to see.

From getting into fights, to unseemly music videos, to their peculiar choice in fashion, celebrities continue to make headlines. But the true cause behind this out-of-character conduct remains relatively unknown.

Justin Bieber has made headlines for his newfound eccentric fashion style, and his recent outbursts at other artists’ concerts, allegedly engaging in fights.

Miley Cyrus has drawn attention to herself with her questionably inappropriate performance at the

VMA’s, as well as her new song and music video “Wrecking Ball,” which depicts Cyrus posing

causes these formerly ‘model children’ to act so unruly?

HHS sophomore Sarah Fox

AP Images

rather uncharacteristic for many of these stars, it makes one wonder if this holds deeper roots in

AP Images

Former child-star Justin Bieber, before and after his drastic change in appearance. Bieber has made headlines recently for his sporatic behavior.

almost-naked on a wrecking ball.

Former child-star Amanda Bynes has reportedly checked into a mental health institution after a series of unanticipated actions, including lighting fires in a neighbor’s driveway, per The Washington Times. What truly

believes that this disorderly conduct is nothing more than a ploy for attention. “[Celebrities] do it to draw attention to themselves,” said Fox. She added, “They just want the spotlight.”

Although these actions seem

their lives. What changes these celebrities’ personality so quickly? Cosette Gobat, a musician and junior at HHS, believes this radical behavior to be more prevalent in ones who started their career earlier in their childhood.

“They didn’t get to find out

who they were the hard way,” said Gobat. “They missed out on some of the most important years of their lives,” she said.

Gobat believes this extreme behavior to be a direct result of the lack of self-discovery among younger stars. But the question still remains, why are celebrities not allowed to do what they want?

Is it fair to hold them to a different standard than anyone else? This drummed up varying opinions. “[The] average person is no different than a celebrity. It’s just a label,” said Makayla Windsor, sophomore at HHS. “People and society shouldn’t set their expectations to something so perfect, that no one, not even celebrities, are capable of meeting.”

Gobat’s opinion differs.

While she believes it to be unfair, she also believes it necessary and simply part of the job.

“If you want to start in that type of career, you will have to be a role model,” said Gobat.

For unknown reasons, today’s stars are catching the attention of millions, for better or for worse. But one thing remains clear: celebrities do not necessarily have the best of both worlds.

December 2013

Tis’ the season for holiday movies

BY ERIKA HUFFORD Section Editor 1. A Christmas Story - Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself.

This movie is a classic; the film runs all Christmas day on ABC Family. The 24-hour marathon gives all fans of the movie a chance to watch it at least once during the busy holiday.

2. Elf - Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole. Buddy is raised with Elves until he is an adult when Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father. Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s father, is on Santa's naughty list for being a “heartless jerk” who is constantly consumed by his work, and has no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences New York City and normal human culture for the first time and gets himself into multiple sticky situations.

Elf, the comedy of any Will Ferrell movie combined with plenty of Christmas spirit and a little romance, has become a holiday favorite for many of its viewers.

The movie has humor and other components and characteristics that make it enjoyable for older viewers and a storyline that keeps children entertained also.

3. The Santa Claus- The Santa Claus trilogy, which features Tim Allen, follows the story of a dad who is losing his life for his career and his path to getting back on track. As Scott begins to lose his relationship with his son, an unexpected occurance bonds them like

no other. The Trilogy follows Scott in his journey to become Santa, defend his position, reconnect with his son and find love.

The Santa Clause movies made the idea of Santa's workshop a reality through film. Every component; the elves, the reindeer, the toy factory, the sleigh and many more, has the magic touch that makes the stories that so many kids grow up with a reality. All of the films also show the struggles of any normal family and the power of good conquering evil.

4. Home Alone - It is Christmas time, and the McCallister family is preparing for a vacation. However, the youngest in the family, Kevin, ends up alone in the house after his family leaves him behind in the rush to be on time for their flight.

Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents' bed, making a mess and trying “adult things.” Then, Kevin discovers that two burglars, Harry and Marv, are looking to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and save the day for his family.

This film is a classic during the holiday season. The high school generation has grown up watching this movie.

5. The Polar Express - This is the story of a boy on Christmas Eve who boards a magical train that is headed to the North Pole. What unfolds is an adventure which follows this doubting boy who, through his unusual train ride to the North Pole, learns how to believe again.

This animated classic has all the components of the holidays put together in a fun and theatrical film.

The story of believing switches up

from the typical story when a kid stops believing in Santa.

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss, the Grinch has absolutely no tolerance for anything Christmas. However, all the Whos love Christmas and celebrating the holidays. The Grinch plots a way to steal Christmas and is almost successful until a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try to befriend the Grinch and ends up saving Christmas.

This story has the same unusual quirks of any Dr. Seuss story, but also incorporates a holiday twist.

The animated version is a shorter cartoon of the story; however, the version that came out more recently features real people. The newer version has made the tale more friendly for all ages.

7. A Christmas Carol - Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who show him how miserable and selfish of a person he is, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties and the fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways.

Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness, and is forced to decide whether he wants to die a bitter man or redeem himself.

This holiday movie has had countless renditions done; modern, animated, even Disney. The films always combines the Christmas spirit with the important lesson of thankfulness and learning to appreciate what you have.

8. It's a Wonderful Life - George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest build-

ing and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy.

When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town.

Thinking that his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of George’s loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence , in order for him to recieve his wings, coming to earth to help George.

Clarence shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.

9. Rudolph - The animated television special of Rudolph tells the story of the red-nosed reindeer. Just as the song goes, his shiny nose caused the other reindeer to "laugh and call him names." That is, until, Rudolph comes in and saves the day for Santa when his nose leads the way for the other reindeer to get all of the presents delivered in the foggy weather.

This shorter classic has been the inspiration for sequels, costumes, songs and more. The "underdog" story of how a bullied reindeer saves the day takes a holiday twist and incorporates the important lesson of being unique.

Rudolph is a classic for the holidays, the same version has been out

Roving Reporter: What holiday movies do HHS students like and why?

BY ERIKA HUFFORD Section Editor

“Home Alone. Its a classic holiday movie and it’s funny.”

Senior Petar Georgiev

“It’s a Wonderful Life. It has a really good story line.”

Senior Mikie Klucker

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. My little sister really enjoys it and I like watching movies with her.”

Senior Rachel Sheffy

“Elf. I like it because it is cute.”

Senior Jenna Nelson

since high schoolers were in pre-k and is a little piece of childhood.

10. Miracle on 34th Street - When the Santa in the Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade quickly becomes a hit with people all over, he is immediately assigned to continue working in the 34th street store in New York. However, the store managers become concerned when they learn that the old man calls himself Kris Kringle and claims to be the actual Santa Claus.

Despite reassurances by Kringle's doctor that he is harmless, Doris, the store manager, still has misgivings because she has cynically trained herself to reject all notions of belief and fantasy. And yet, people begin to notice there is something special about Kris and his determination to advance the true spirit of Christmas amidst the rampant commercialism around him and succeeding in improbable ways. When a conflict with the store's psychologist erupts, Kris finds himself at a hospital and, in despair, he deliberately fails a mental examination to ensure his commitment. All seems lost until Kris is reassured of his worth by a friend who agrees to represent him in the fight to secure his release. To achieve that, his friend must argue that Kris is sane because he, is in fact, Santa Claus. What ensues is a bizarre hearing in which people's beliefs are reexamined and put to the test, but even so, it is going to take a miracle for Kris to win This older movie has become a tradition and classic through generations. The story shows a community coming together and fighting for the people they believe in. In the true fashion of the holiday spirit, a little bit of Christmas magic creates a miracle in the story. The true lesson is the power of believing.

Crossfit helps individuals cross over to success

BY NOAH WEST Editor

Agility, strength, endurance and speed. Four factors Crossfit incorporates to help a person form into a well-rounded fit individual.

Surrounded by a world of information overload it’s hard for people to achieve goals, especially physical fitness goals. Too often people make a mistake of purchasing a gym membership and workout without knowing much about their body. They do not know enough about how the human body works and what they need to follow to achieve their goals.

Amongst them are others who don’t know exactly what they need to do to get stronger, feel healthier, and build the fit body they have always desired. Lack of understanding, goals and guidance with training are common faults that a person can overcome with a program called Crossfit.

Crossfit is a fitness system that almost anyone can use. It can be helpful to a young athlete, the average non-athletic person, or a middle aged person who is looking to get into excellent shape. It’s structured so that just about anyone can develop a better understanding of their individual health and fitness while also being guided by certified trainers who will

Staff/ Noah West

Tim Steel, Crossfit Hershey Owner and trainer (left), and Shannaon Bahadoor, trainer and nutritionist (right), have provided professional training for several years.

out,” said Steel. People who join a Crossfit gym can receive help from a team of trainers who look at a broader range of goals that include strength and endurance as well as nutrition and health. Standard gyms charge a fee with additional, often costly, charges for personal training. Crossfit monthly membership automatically includes WOD’s that involve training with other members and so that when you consider the cost in comparison to a gym that charges separate for individual training Crossfit is much better value for the money.

Many people join a gym with good intentions but without enough knowledge and direction to turn that gym experience into a well-balanced fitness program that gives them solid goals and supportive trainers to help attain those goals.

Crossift provides a proven system to achieve this, all with the support of a team of trainers who are included in one monthly membership fee.

Understanding, goals and guidance are the key to success that Crossfit Hershey is providing to people looking for a positive fitness experience that also takes into account nutrition, flexibility and endurance.

“I guarantee results, although you have to make sacrifices to be good at Crossfit,” said Steel.

help them develop and achieve goals that include workouts as well as nutritional guidance.

Someone cannot just leap into a lift or exercise without knowing how to perform it.

Crossfit Hershey emphasizes safety and proper form during workouts. Beginners are usually taught the basics of lifting and how equipment is used during workouts. Crossfit includes high intensity WOD’s (Workout of the day) which last from 30- 60 minutes. Within the WOD trainers help the person address mul-

tiple areas of fitness including speed, endurance, strength and various other groups. Specific exercises include running, lifting, kettle bells, rope climbing, resistance running, bodyweight exercises, box jumps and endless other exercises. Since Crossfit can be very intense, trainers are very careful to help people take safety measures to prevent injuries and balance the exercises so that they work various muscle groups without over doing the workout.

“Be patient with learning”

first at Districts and third at States in the 500 freestyle event. His favorite swim meet is States, because everyone in the stands is cheering. “No other swim meet has that kind of energy,” he explained.

Luttrell also likes doing open water swims. For the past couple of years, he has traveled to Atlantic City to compete in a 5k bridge-to-bridge swim in the bay area. In previous years, he has placed first out of 100 competitors.

Luttrell owes his success and love for swimming to the team.

“Without those guys, I probably wouldn’t still be swimming,” Luttrell said, “The team is my family.”

Next year he will become part of a new team. Luttrell has been on recruiting trips to University of Kentucky, Penn State University, University of North Carolina, Georgia Tech and University of Arizona.

He explained that it was hard narrowing down which school he liked the most, but has decided on the University of Arizona, which

has the second fastest male swim team in the country.

Luttrell plans on majoring in computer science - a subject he has been interested in for years.

“It [computer science] allows me to see the world in new ways, and I love the idea of translating phenomena in my life into something a computer can simulate,” he said.

When Luttrell is not swimming, he uses the knowledge he has gained from Visual Basic and AP Computer Science classes, along with years of independent learning, to create programs of his own. He also spends time browsing Reddit, playing video games, listening to music and watching movies.

Some of Luttrell’s favorite bands are Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Daft Punk and Justice, and his favorite movies include The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men and Requiem for a Dream.

While Luttrell likes the Submitted/Zach Luttrellll downtime he has with his computer, he will always put one Zach Luttrell started swimming when he was five years old. He thing first: swimming. now spends 16 hours per week with the Hershey Swim Team.

said Steel and remember “the more mobile and flexible you are, the less injuries you will have.”

Crossfit is very different from a typical gym like Gold’s or Planet Fitness where people usually train on their own with the occasional help of single trainer who is focused on simple goals for strength or body sculpting.

“You can arrive at Gold’s and end up leaving the gym.

Crossfit is group-oriented, and people encourage you to work-

A THLETE P ROFILE : Zach Luttrell

BY KATE MONTGOMERY Section Editor

Senior Zach Luttrell started swimming at the age of five.

“When I was in swimming lessons, I would take off my floaties and swim to the bottom of the pool,” Luttrell explained. He now spends 16 hours a week training with the either the Hershey Aquatic Club or the Hershey Swim Team, depending on the season.

Although he has known many of his teammates since elementary school, Luttrell has not always been a Hershey resident.

He was born in Mesa, Arizona and moved to Palmyra when he was two years old. In 2008, the Luttrells moved to Hershey to be close to family and the wellknown swim team.

Luttrell has the fastest 500 and 200 freestyle times on the team; they are 4:30:81 and 1:40:14 respectively. His distance swimming success has given him the opportunity to compete in the top heat of the state finals 9th12th grade. Last year, he placed

December 2013

ATHLETE PROFILE: Meaghan Raab

BY LINDSAY KARLI

Online Managing Editor “I swim because I love everything about the sport. The thrill of getting in the pool and working hard is absolutely amazing.” HHS Senior Meaghan Raab has been swimming for as long as she can remember and has been competing for 11 years. She loves the thrill and excitement surrounding the sport at the highest level.

As a freshman, Raab enjoyed working hard with her team and quickly used her determination and commitment to reserve her a place at States. In fact, one of her most memorable moments as a swimmer occurred as a freshman at her first State meet when she looked up at the scoreboard and saw her name as the winner of the event.

Continuing into sophomore year, Raab won States in both of her individual events, the 100m and 200m freestyle and was also

Submitted/ Meaghan Raab

(named Left to Right) Colette Robinson, Maddy Veith, Vivian Tafuto and Meaghan Raab were all on a relay together at the 2013 States swim meet. They won the gold medal in the 200 meter free.

named PIAA Class AAA Swimmer of the Meet. Later, she competed at the USA Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

As a junior, she won the 100m freestyle at States and was runner-up in the 200m free. In total, Raab has placed first at the State level five times individually in her career. In addition, she placed first at Junior Nationals last December in the 200m freestyle.

“I want to win a gold medal at the Olympics, and that inspires me to work hard and do my best in everything,” said Raab.

As the season rolls around, Raab also looks forward to team dinners, sleepovers and movie nights.

Submitted/ Meaghan Raab HHS Senior Sara Spicer has also been a part of the HHS swim team and has been swimming Senior swim team member Meaghan Raab recently commited to the with Raab since freshman year. University of Georgia. She is excited to start college and swimming as “She is absolutely dedicated to a Bull Dog in the fall . the team and sport, and everyone Recently, Raab decided to further Going to her final season of looks up to her for her leaderher education and swimming swimming at HHS, Raab hopes to ship,”said Spicer. career at the University of not only place first in both of her When Raab does have free Georgia. events at States, but also wants to time between morning lifts and “I picked Georgia because break State records. In addition, after school practices, she enjoys when I went on my trip, it just felt she plans to defend her title in the reading, watching movies, right. I love everything about the 200m freestyle as Junior National watching football and hanging school and the swim program,” Champion. out with her friends.

Raab said.

Excitement grows for annual volleyball tournament

BY DAVID McCURDY Editor It’s that time of year again!

Winter break is once more returning to HHS. Holiday presents, gifts, and goodies are being shared among friends and family members. Many people have many different traditions when it comes to celebrating before the holiday break. As for HHS, there’s no better way to celebrate than by having an annual volleyball tournament.

For the past two years, HHS has had an annual volleyball tournament before school lets out for break. Students in HHS sign up and coordinate teams and sign up to participate in the tournament.

The tournament is located in the HHS gym. The blue screen is put up and spread across the gymnasium, from the ground to the ceiling, to separate multiple games going on at a time. The volleyball tournament is right before the school break starts. Teachers and students are able to have fun watching and playing the tournament, as a way to relax before the holiday break.

Arthur Cronin, a junior at HHS, feels the tournament is a ton of fun. He gets to unleash his excitement by playing in the tournament before the break.

“I’m excited to get together with a bunch of friends and play volleyball,” Cronin said, “it makes everyone more excited about the break, puts them in a

Submitted/ Choclatier

With the last years volleyball tournament being such a success, HHS hopes that this years will be just as great if not better. Students are able to have a day filled with fun and competitive volleyball while raising money for a good cause.

better mood.”

Junior Brad Gehman and Sophomore J’michael Wedderburn both agree that the tournament is a great way to celebrate right before the break.

“Everyone has tests and quizzes right before the break,” said Cronin, “it lets students unwind with the tournament.”

According to students, the school comes together during the volleyball tournament. Gehman stated that the tournament helps develop and create friendships.

“You get to work with other people,” Gehman said, “problem solving and working together.”

Wedderburn agrees that the tournament has many benefits.

setting is always great to get people together and just have fun and be competitive at the same time.

The tournament is run by teachers and gym teachers. A team needs at least two girls on the team. There is also a limit on how many people are allowed to sign up per team. Only a certain number of teams are able to par-

ticipate in the tournament. The tournament is on a first come first serve basis. The players and teams choose with their own team names and team jerseys.

Some using markers and paint to match their team with color and style, and some teams are even willing to pay for custom shirts made by stores or companies.

Teams are guaranteed at least a few games before they are eliminated. If a team continues to win, they advance to finals, which are played in front of the whole school.

Gehman only wants one thing for his team this year: the championship title. Some students are in it for the championship, some are in it for the fun, but in the end, it brings the whole school together, according to students. With the whole school at the end of the day watching the finals and watching the championship, things get pretty crazy in the school. “The whole atmosphere was fun and competitive,” Wedderburn said.

Students feel that there is nothing really wrong with the tournament. They feel that everything has been going very smoothly the past couple years.

The students also hope and think that the tournament is here to stay for a while now. Having the tournament is great for the school and students, according Wedderburn, Gehman, and Cronin.“There hasn’t been a reason not to do it, Gehman said, “knock on wood.”

December 2013

The hitting debate: new rules and regulations are changing the game

BY NICK SCHEIB Editor

Bam! The crunching of the pads can be heard all around the stadium. The “oohh’s" from fans immediately after the hit sound like that of a fearful child.

Then, a long silence from the fans similar to a Sunday church service. We've all seen this before. A dirty hit causing a football player serious head trauma.

All levels of football have put an emphasis on hitting with the proper

form as of late. The target zone for tackling opponents is between knees to shoulder. Anything higher is illegal and could result in a 15 yard penalty, or in extreme cases, ejection. In the NFL an illegal hit can result in fines/suspension as well.

Many fans may be wondering “What's with the sudden emphasis on tackling?” and, “Why such an outpour over following the rules?” To answer these questions, flash back to June 7, 2012. Two thousand former NFL play-

AP Images

The new tackling rules are changing football players everywhere. Football players everywhere must learn the new guidelines for the tackling rules.

Many have criticized the new rules repeatedly.

ers filed a lawsuit against the league for covering up the harmful effects of concussions since the 1920s and claiming that playing football has caused them serious lifelong injuries to the head.

Concussions can cause CTE, Alzheimer's, ALS, memory loss, brain damage and, in some cases death. NFL great Junior Seau died last year at 43 by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. La t e r brain scans stated he had been suffering from CTE, a brain disease similar to Alzheimer’s. CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Facing a big case, all levels of football decided to be much stricter with the rules for hitting.

Targeting players, as well as hits to the head can lead to penalty, ejection, suspension and major fines.

Colby Murray, a junior and football player at HHS, said, “I haven’t followed the lawsuit closely, but from what I’ve heard, the former NFL players are really struggling with their mental health once their football careers are over.” He went on to say, “The NFL hasn’t helped the matter until recently.” Now from the player’s point of view these new rules are challenging. Many players have been tackling wrong their entire careers; now they must change the way they’ve been playing their entire careers to avoid negative repercussions.

Football is a very fast game; many times you have less than a couple seconds to react.

Players feel that the target zone is impossible to hit perfectly every time and that they must change how they play to adapt to the new rules, thus

leaving players negatively affecting their teams. Junior Drew Lloyd, a linebacker for HHS football team, had some strong opinions on the matter stating, “Hitting another player perfectly every time is unrealistic, and with the speed of the game, concussions are hard to avoid.” Offering a different opinion was senior Chris Stauch, a lineman for the HHS football team, saying “Safety needs to be a top priority for everyone.

Football is a physical sport. We must protect the players for the prosperity of their futures.” The referees also are making adjustments. They ultimately decide if the hit is legal or not. Being such a fast game, these referres must make quick decisions on if the play is legal or not.

They often make the players angry over their ruling. There is no fine line, when it comes to if a hit is legal or not.

These are judgment calls that are controversial but must be made to protect the players. A settlement in the lawsuit was reached on August 29, 2013. A grand total of $765 million will be paid to the NFLPA to distribute among the roughly 20,000 retired players.

In conclusion, the NFL has done a great thing in protecting the future of the players. But the league cannot stop here. For real change, the league must strictly enforce these rules and get the players to buy into their cause.

Ultimately, the players must embrace this change for the league to have a prosperous game. If the players do not change, the game might.

MLB players accused of using performance enhancing drugs

BY MATTHEW BURNS Section Editor

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez were two big names among many accused in the Biogenesis scandal this baseball season.

On July 23, 2013, MLB suspended Ryan Braun for the remainder of the 2013 season, without pay. Ryan Braun was the first of twelve others suspended for 50 games each. The other major players in the scandal were Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, and Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

However, Braun was the only player to receive no pay. The ESPN website says that Braun’s total loss was 65 games and, $3.25 million. Braun will not contest the suspension, which was meted out for "violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," according to a statement released by MLB. This is not the first time Braun’s name has come up in a PED scandal. In spring training of 2012, Braun was accused of failing a random drug test.

Braun accused MLB of losing his sample and that they got his [Braun’s] sample

confused with someone elses.

Braun’s allegations were dropped.

"I’ve always stood up for what is right, today is about everybody who’s been

wrongly accused, and everybody who’s ever had to stand up for what is actually right. Today isn’t about me, it isn’t just about one player – it’s about all players.

It’s about all current players, all future players and everybody who plays the game of baseball,” Braun said in his conference in 2012. In 2011, Braun won the National League Most Valuable Player award.

After these statements Braun made in 2012, this is why Braun was hit harder in a sense then the other 12 players, because he was failing tests since 2011.

“I can’t stand it. It (PED use) needs to be eliminated from the game. I have an autographed Ryan Braun jersey hanging in my baseball room at home that I’ll be taking down now because I don’t want my son connecting this with what I had to do to get to to where I am and to have what I have.” Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Skip Schumaker was not the only player to stand up to the suspensions.

Like Ryan Braun, this is not Alex Rodriguez’s first time having his name involved with PED’s. In 2003 when Rodriguez was with the Texas Rangers, he tested positive for using PED’s. This has made Rodriguez a villain among baseball. Currently, Rodriguez is accused of not only using PED’s, but attempting to pay off Tony Boesch, the Biogenesis Clinic owner. The baseball

AP Images

Alex Rodriguez, pictured above, was a New York Yankees baseball player accused of using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). This is not his first accusation of using PEDs.

news website says that Rodriguez bribed Boesch with $150,000 to throw away all evidence of using PED’s.

Braun, Rodriguez and the 12 others

suspended have sparked a debate throughout all of baseball. Lifetime suspensions could be the outcome if PED use still exists in the near future.

TEENAGE SUICIDE: A

BY JULIA JOHNS Editor

T R A G I C

T R E N D

A lover of fishing, snowboarding and gaming, Christopher Floyd Allan was your average teenage boy. He was an incredible artist and member of the Civil Air Patrol, with a genuinely kind heart and amazing wit. At 18, Chris had just graduated from HHS alongside his twin brother, Kurdt, and was about to embark on his first summer as an adult. However, his summer came to an abrupt end. On June 16th Chris committed suicide. Chris was one of the 5,000+ teens who take their lives every year within the U.S. However, suicide extends much farther than these 50 states. It has become a heartbreaking phenomenon that has swept the globe. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly one million people take their lives every year, with one suicide taking place every 40 seconds. It has become the third leading cause of death for teenagers, and the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. alone. One of the biggest struggles for us to wrap our heads around is why. What makes someone feel so terribly about his or her life that he or she believes the only solution is to end it? For many of us, taking this extreme way out seems unimaginable. But for thosewho deal with suicidal thoughts, it is all they can imagine.

WARNING SIGNS IN TEENS

w Change in eating and sleeping habits

w Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities

w Violent or rebellious behavior, running away w Drug and alcohol use

w Unusual neglect of personal appearance

w Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork w Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc. w Not tolerating praise or rewards

DO be alert and aware.

When dealing with Learn the warning signs.

DON’Ts someone DO encourage your friend to who is seek professional help. suicidal, DON'T keep DO immediately talk to an adult you it’s imporsomeone's suicidal trust, if you feel the risk is imminent. tant to feelings a secret to protect DO talk with your friend and ask if they are consider your relationship. thinking about suicide. the DON'T lecture on the value of life.

DO get involved. Become available. Show following : DON'T dare him or her to do it. interest and support.

DON'T act shocked. This will put dis- (ACCORDING TO Dr. phil) DO listen openly and without judging. Allow tance between the two of you. expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.

DON'T try to minimize problems or shame a person into changing his or her mind.

DON'T give up.

DON’T ever be afraid to speak out.

THECHILDRENSTRUST.ORG

Four out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs sUICIDE AWARENESS VOICES OF EDUCATION

DO’s

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, CONTACT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING HOTLINES/WEBSITES

:

DO take ANY suicidal talk or behavior seriously...it’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide, it’s a cry for help.

SAVE

YOUTH AMERICA HOT(Suicide Awareness LINE

Voices of Education) Phone: 952-946-7998 Web site: www.save.org

Counseling for Teens by Teens 1-877-YOUTHLINE 1-877-968-8454

Inside the head of someone who is suicidal

We have all heard it a million times; the first step in trying to understand someone else’s situation is to put yourself in his or her’s shoes.

One thing to keep in mind is that the judgement of those who are suicidal is extremely clouded, and he or she are not able to think clearly or even logically. It's the mental illness which is controlling their thoughts. Although people who are suicidal feel a plethora of constantly changing emotions, the one prevailing emotion within him or her is misery. At the brink of suicide, all he or she can think about is that they need a way to end the pain. The agony they feel becomes so severe, that the only solution he or she can think of is the only permanent one there is: ending their life. Adolescents are most at risk for suicide due to the fact that they are inherently impulsive.

Patrick Schnerch, diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 13, wrote about coping with suicidal thoughts in an online diary entitled “Inside My Suicidal Mind.” Patrick stated, “When I'm in my depression, darkness is my life. Thoughts swirl around me, and I am engulfed by despair. My battered mind and soul are confused and weakened, unable to fight off dark thoughts. The only glimmer of hope is that death will finally bring the peace I so desperately seek.

I'm supposed to be able to wipe these thoughts out of my mind just by ignoring them—but this is not as easy as it sounds, when suicide feels like the only option for relief.”

Suicide CAN be prevented

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, scientific evidence has shown that almost all people who take their own lives have a diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder. In other words, the feelings that often lead to suicide are highly treatable.

Patrick Schnerch wrote about his own recovery from being highly suicidal online. Patrick stated, “I have been sober for four months now and my mental health is stabilized. I have walked through the threshold to a whole new world. For the first time in 30 years, I've started to discover things that have been buried inside me. I now have goals and dreams to conquer, but most of all, I have hope. I feel my life is important enough to fight for. My fight for survival has been a very long one, and I am willing to continue the fight.”

A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn't mean that help isn't wanted. Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—they just want the hurting to stop. Suicide prevention begins with recognizing the warning signs and reaching out to help, in any form that may be. Although approaching someone who you think is at risk to suicide may seem impossible...talking openly with them about it can save a life.

CRISISCHAT.org

Online Emotional Support Hours vary- Approx 12 hrs daily

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

Phone: 303-429-3530 Fax: 303-426-4496 Web site: www.yellowribbon.org

December 2013

Girls volleyball team makes Districts

12-3.

Hershey however has four of those seniors who played last year on the court, and six juniors on the team, some of whom have been practicing with varsity since last year. All of the players have been playing for a while and know volleyball inside and out.

Hershey also has the sophomores practicing with the varsity team as they prepare for Districts.

They do this because they hope to make the younger athletes better so they can compete in Districts next year, for the third time.

BY JOHN VOYLES Editor

This year, the girls Varsity Volleyball team has earned the chance to compete in Districts.

With a 12-4 record, the Trojans look to play against Governor MIfflin in their first game of the tournament.

At the beginning of the year, Hershey’s volleyball team started off with a loss to Trinity. The trojans, however, responded in their next four games where they swept through Middletown, Mechanicsburg, Milton Hershey, and Steel High. All of these matches lasted about three games. In volleyball there are three to five games that can be played. Both teams compete, and the first to win three games wins the over all meet. Having beat these teams, the Trojans were 41.

After beating these teams the Trojans traveled to Gettysburg where they get first place in the tournament.

Staff/John Voyles

This years girls volleyball team made it to districts with a 12-4 record, they pose together as a team.

They beat Gettysburg to win the tournament. Gettysburg was favored to win, so this was an upset by Hershey.

Their next game was against Palmyra. Palmyra was undefeated and beat Hershey.

They put up a fight, and made the match last until the fifth game, which is the longest a game can last. “ We played our best, and we did a really good job, but it is always intimidating when you are expected to beat an undefeated

team,” said Savanna Laflamme, a senior on the team.

After playing Palmyra, Hershey again beat all their others teams except Trinity and Palmyra, leaving them at 12-4, whereas last year they ended at

rival. It reflected his relief and excitement at survival. The words that they chant, “ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora” translate to “I die, I die, I live, I live.”

Even the sports teams here at HHS have their own traditions.

Before every game and practice, the girls soccer team at HHS hold hands on the sideline and step on the field at once.

“We do this to show that we’re one team and that we’re all connected,” said senior Karli Bollinger. Many of the players also have handshakes that they do with each other before each

game. “This is just something we do for good luck. Many of us made handshakes with other teamates when we were freshman and did them before every game all the way through senior year” said Bollinger.

A tradition of the HHS girls field hockey team is painting the bricks. Each year the players get their own block that they get to paint and decorate. “Each block represents who the person that made it is, and together those blocks build a pyramid which is representing how we are together as a team,” said senior Bridget Kilgallen.

HHS football team is

another sport that has many of its own traditions. The “ring of fire” is something they do before every game, where the players and coaches come together and talk about what needs to happen in the game.

“These traditions are what help us come together as a single unit. Football is a sport which relies on each one of the 11 guys on the field, and if we’re not working together, we can’t be successful. The traditions help hold us together as one,” said Senior Patrick Kilgallen.

While doing the ring of fire, the team always has a pregame prayer. “We pray because it

“If we play like we have been all season, we should be able to pull out the win against Mifflin,” said John Zitko, the head coach at Hershey.

If the Trojans win, then they will have to play against the number one team in the district.

"We have the experience to win; it's just a matter of whether or not we can all come together and play as a team," said Junior Rachel Robino, a two year member of the team.

Sports traditions brings teams together

BY TIA SMITH Staff Writer

Whether it’s listening to some pump up song or all yelling the same cheer, each sports team has it’s own unique tradition that it does every game.

There are many common traditions that you see often such as the exchanging of jerseys, rushing the field after your team wins, dumping the gatorade jug on the coach’s head after a win, and shaking hands with the opponent after the game.

One very common tradition used all over America is the playing of the national anthem before a sporting event.

According to bleacher report, a sports informational website, it was first started by being played at baseball games then later spread to other sports.

Playing the song before many games nowadays shows the patriotism we have in our country, and it brings all the fans and players together as one.

Many of the teams have their own unique traditions that only they do. The haka dance is native tradition in New Zealand. As said in the article “The Origins of Haka” on the BBC website, haka is a victory dance done by the national New Zealand rugby union team before each game. It is a traditional Maori dance full of chest slaps, stomping, and yelling. It has been performed at every local and international match since 1905. The haka comes from a warrior chief named Te Raupahara who had just escaped capture by a tribal

gives us a sense of togetherness. It’s important to feel united,” said Senior Dallas Ricker.

The cross country team also has traditions of its own.

One thing they do before every meet is pray. “I think it centers us,” said Senior Gabi Broschard.

“It brings us closer as a team.”

“Tradition and rituals also have the power to strengthen us through shared experiences,” said David Geller, a writer from the Huffington Post. As agreed by the many senior athletes, the traditions bring their team closer together and help them feel united as one.

Staff/Tia Smith

Every team has its own traditions. The HHS girls soccer team holds hands as they step onto the field. This unique tradition is something they do before every game and practice.

December 2013

Catching up with HHS alumni athletes Zach Drayer-2013

Zach Drayer graduated in 2013 and headed off to play Division I football at St. F r a n c i s University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

Last year, when Drayer was a senior at Hershey, he helped lead the football team to a 6-5 seaSt. Francis University Website son. He threw 1,684 yards with 14 touchdowns and ran over 600 yards to score 13 touchdowns.

Drayer is a quarterback and in St. Francis’s accelerated Physical Therapy program. Drayer starts as a freshman at St. Francis University At this point St. Francis has faced Georgia Southern, James Madison, Lincoln, Fordham, Central Connecticut and Monmouth. They have

BY ROSIE ANDREWS Section Editor

earned four losses and two wins. So far this season, Drayer has only had the opportunity to punt, which has scored his team 1,503 yards over six games, with an average long punt of 51 yards.

Drayer is proud of his performance and his team.

“Still Submitted/Choclatier adjusting to the speed of play,” He said, “I am pleased with how I have been performing athletically, and our team is contending for our conference championship. Hoping to win the conference for the first time in school history.”

Submitted/Zach Drayer

Sarah Cole-2013

Sarah Cole graduated alongside Drayer in 2013, and she signed to be a Red Devil on Dickinson University’s womens field hockey team. Cole plays midfield defense and loves playing for their team.

Dickinson’s womens field hockey team has gone undefeated in their conference. They have won 11 of their 14 games so far and have defeated teams such as Wilson, Swarthmore, Muhlenberg, Washington College and Johns Hopkins.

While Cole has not had any opportunities to show her skill solo, she still has four more years.

“I don’t necessarily have any special achievements yet. I am just very proud of my team, and it is truly amazing that we are undefeated,” Cole explained, “We work so hard, and we have such a strong chemistry on the team; I am simply honored to be surrounded by such fun and confident teammates.”

Submitted/Sarah Cole

Submitted/Choclatier

Submitted/Sarah Cole

Top right, Drayer watching his team as senior quarterback of the HHS Football team. Bottom, Drayer, (second from left) with friends and family after a game.

Top, Cole playing her senior year against Susquehanna. Middle, Cole with fellow HHS alumna Kelley Hancock, who plays field hockey at Haverford. Bottom, Cole (bottom row, second from left) with teammates.

Lauren D’Amico graduated in 2011, and signed to Colgate University in New York. When D’Amico was still at Hershey, she started all four years on the varsity soccer team and was captain her senior year where she had the team record of nine goals with eight assists. That year the team also won the AAA state and District Championship, as well as the Mid Penn Championship, and the Keystone Division Championships. She had also helped HHS girls soccer to Mid Penns and beyond as an underclassman.

Along with playing at Hershey, she played on club teams and the US national team. Her club team won the US Region 1 Championship, as well as the EPYSA state championship and the US Youth National League Region. She participated nationwide in events and tournaments and went all the way to the 2012 under 17 regional Pool in Rio De Janerio. She was also selected as a top drawer 100-player, and a Top

Casey Boyer graduated in 2010 and signed to University of Central Florida to play women’s soccer. Boyer transferred, however, to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she plays as a center back on the women’s soccer team.

While at Hershey, she was team captain of the girls’ soccer team, earned a total of 12 varsity letters, and helped to lead her team to the state semifinals in 2009.

While she is still at school, Boyer is helping to lead her team to victory.

She is starting center and has been for Submitted/Casey Boyer the past two years, despite knee injuries that prevented her from playing in her freshman year. Even though Boyer has undergone five surgeries on her knee, she still fights to play the game she loves. Last year she and her team mates held a defensive line that produced a 12-55 record and protected the goal for a total of 10 shutouts that season.

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams have an incredible season. They are undefeated in the Atlantic 10 conference, with an overall record of 74-2. Boyer is hopeful for the rest of the season.

“With only five games left in regular season, we hope to win our conference tournament and get a bid in the NCAA tour-

Lauren D’Amico-2012

Drawer 4-star player.

D’Amico, #4, plays outside back at Colgate. She will graduate with a double major in Economics and Environmental Science.

“I chose my school for the great academics but also for the competitive athletic program,” she said.

Colgate so far this year has faced tough Submitted/Choclatier opponents like Syracuse, Cornell, Bucknell, Lehigh and Loyola and has a record of 9-5-1. D’Amico has had 351 minutes of play so far in the season, and had two opportunities to shoot even though she is a defender.

Colgate University Athletics Website

Top, D’Amico playing Middletown while still in high school. Above, D’Amico (second row, second from left) with team.

Casey Boyer-2010

nament,” Boyer explained, “For the past two seasons, we have unfortunately lost in the championship game of the conference tournament, so we are out for revenge.”

Boyer shines both on the playing field and in the classroom.

She is on track to graduate this spring with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry with the intent to head onto pharmacy school.

Submitted/Casey Boyer

Submitted/Choclatier

Top right: Boyer playing against Fordham. Above: Boyer celebrating with a teammate her senior year while still at HHS.

Students share Christmas break travel plans

BY EDEN LIGHT Editor Beaches, ski trips, amusement parks, and secluded islands seem to spark some interest for HHS students this Christmas break. A time to kick back and relax, students are taking full advantage of their time off this upcoming break. Whether it is lying on a beach or spending

her Christmas break in St. Kitts, a small island off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Oggero spends most of her time in the warm weather and enjoying time with her family over Christmas, a tradition their family has carried on for many years. “We go on a vacation every year somewhere south especially,” Oggero said. Oggero spends Christmas Eve and

Submitted /Jacqueline Oggero

Jacqueline Oggero spends her previous winter vacation with her family. This has been a tradition that has been kept for many years.

good quality time with the family, Christmas break is different for every student this season. Senior Jacqueline Oggero intends to spend

Christmas day in the warm sunny island, “I like the family time and getting away from the cold, but it is nice to come back to Hershey in

time for the kiss drop,” Oggero said.

Sophomore Kiguru Njoroge and brother Junior Mbito Njoroge plan to spend their Christmas break someplace a little colder in Ontario, Canada, a tradition that has been kept in their family for the past five years. “Most of the time we just play in the snow, go sledding on big hills, and go skiing,” Kiguru Njoroge said. “I’m excited to eat these amazing maple leaf cookies,” Mbito Njoroge said. These brothers enjoy the cold that comes along with Canada and continuing on the tradition that their parents enjoy. All the winter activities and snowy nights that Canada offers will keep these brothers busy over the holiday season.

Junior Molly Luderitz is not all about fun and games, as much as hard work over this Christmas break. Luderitz intends to make a trip out to Palm Springs, California with her club lacrosse team.

“Usually my family takes vacations to the same places that we have already been to, so I’m excited to explore a region of the world I’ve never been too,” Luderitz said.

Luderitz is flying over with her whole team and can not wait to

Submitted / Molly Luderitz

Molly Luderitz enjoys her time soaking up the sun last Christmas break in her off time from her busy lacrosse schedule.

spend some time in the sun over the December month. “I’m playing in a lacrosse tournament over there, so hopefully the team will be able to drive down to the beach one day,” Luderitz said.

Other students plan to stay local this break, spend their time catching up with friends, and spend all their holiday money. Whether it’s seeing Sweet Lights, a Christmas light attraction for all families, or taking a trip to Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark, Hershey rolls out the red carpet for upcoming visitors to get the sweet taste of Hershey.

Sophomore Kiguru Njoroge

not only enjoys the maple cookies, but all the other activities that come along with Christmas break, “We love playing in the snow and singing Christmas carols too,” Njoroge said. Along with Njoroge, many students are sending out a Christmas wish in hope that there will be a snowfall and good music this winter.

Whether it is flying to a sunny destination or taking a trip to cold spot, students at HHS will not be bored this winter. From all the vacations, to activities that can be done, students are gearing up for what they hope will be the best Christmas break yet.

Roving Reporter: What are your plans for over Christmas break?

“Visit Hershey Park’s Christmas Candylane.”

BY MIA STEELE Editor

Senior Beth Llewellyn

“Spend time with my family and celebrate Kwanzaa with my neighbors.”

“I like participating in secret Santa with my sisters.”

Junior Sienna Proctor

Sophomore Ally Palutis

“Sledding with the boys and cuddling with my dog.”

“My friends and I are going to hangout and watch Christmas movies.”

Senior Dave Sickler

Freshman Lindsay Abel

December 2013

Mixies and Sweet Frog offer different froyo options

BY EVAN SASSAMAN Editor

You have had a long day.

Too many tests, quizzes, and responsibilities. But you know there’s a sweet treat that can make all the pain disappear.

You’ve got that itch that can only be cured by a delicious, tangy treat: frozen yogurt. But then you face your biggest dilemma of the day, where to get it from? Mixies and Sweet Frog are two frozen yogurt shops in the Hershey area that specialize in providing people will a pleasurable froyo (short for frozen yogurt) experience. Mixies is a small, local business owned by Antonia and Greg Mangione, a husband and wife who live within the Hershey area. Sweet Frog is a chain frozen yogurt shop which was founded by Derek Cha and Annah Kim out of Richmond, VA. Mixies is located on 247 West Chocolate Avenue in downtown Hershey. Started in fall of 2012, this self serve frozen yogurt store has been in operation for about one year now.

Over the last year, Mixies has become a recent hotspot for HHS students, as well as other community members. People from the Hershey area find Mixies to be a convenient stop to get a froyo fix; with Mixies being

right on one of the main roads in town and only 1.27 miles away from HHS, it makes it an easy commute. Chris Deflitch, HHS

yogurt experience.The slideshow is just one of many different ways that Mixies showcases its customers. With a large chalk-

ounce costs a person .46 cents.

Sweet Frog is located on 265 Hershey Road in Hummelstown.

This business originally started in Richmond Va in 2009. Since 2009, Sweet Frog now has 215 stores in 25 U.S. states. Sweet Frog’s theme colors are white, lime green and light pink. All stores feature these bright colors.

Ann Marie Gardner, an HHS senior enjoys Sweet Frog because of its color scheme “Sweet Frog is so cute,” she said. According to Chad Krick, an employee of

their flavors according to the season. Sweet Frog’s most popular flavors among the fall and holiday seasons include: eggnog, gingerbread, peppermint, and pumpkin pie. Although Sweet Frog is four miles farther away from HHS compared to Mixies, some say the more flavor and topping options are worth the commute. James Suminski, an HHS junior, says that Sweet Frog “has better flavors and a bigger variety.” Although Mixies has 10 different froyo flavors at a time,

Staff / Evan Sassaman

Sweet Frog shown above is just one of the frozen yogurt places in Hershey that students go to.

junior, said that “Mixies is closer, so it’s more convenient for those that can’t drive.” Some HHS students are even employed at the shop, including Taylor Dinello, a senior at HHS. Dinello says she enjoys working for Mixies because of “the friendly environment.” Dinello also goes onto say that she likes “how we [employees] interact with customers by taking their pictures and placing them on our slideshow.” The slideshow Dinello is referring to is a projector screen inside the shop which constantly plays photos of customers indulging in the frozen

board to draw on, and glass tables to write notes on, the frozen yogurt shop provides the customers with the ability to express themselves.

Staff / Evan Sassaman The frozen yogurt shop features 10 different froyo dis- Mixies is another frozen yogurt shop in Hershey, shown above. It is a pensers, as well as over 40 differ- popular spot that students at HHS go to as well. ent toppings to choose from.

Throughout the year, Mixies Sweet Frog in Hershey, the some are still looking for more rotates their flavors according to frozen yogurt is priced by its from Mixies. In a random survey season. Specifically for the fall weight, which is in ounces. The out of five boys and five girls, and winter seasons, they feature- price per ounce for this sweet nine out of ten voted for Sweet flavors like pumpkin for treat is .42 cents. The Hershey Frog, solely because they preThanksgiving, and eggnog and location features 14 different ferred Sweet Frog’s flavor choiccandy cane for Christmas. The froyo dispensers, as well as over es, as well as the fact that Sweet price of frozen yogurt at Mixies 62 different topping choices. Frog offers more flavors on a is done by the ounce, and each Like Mixies, Sweet Frog rotates regular basis.

Local bakeries create festive treats

BY YANNA BEKELJA Section Editor The holidays are a time of family, joy, laughter, and giving. Worrying about making desserts from scratch can be stressful and time consuming when time could be more appropriately spent on gift ideas and decorating rooms for spreading holiday cheer.

Bakeries in and around Hershey can lend a hand this holiday season with the sweets sure to impress at any Christmas soiree or family gathering, and even cookies to leave out for Santa!

Desserts etc., located just down the street from the Hershey Pantry, on East Chocolate Ave. is home to delicious cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, and more. You name it, they have it. They even have flourless items on their menu for those who have gluten allergies and would otherwise miss out on the holiday treats. Cupcakes and other treats at the bakery are decorated with everything from Santa to snowmen to Christmas trees.

Desserts etc. also holds scrumptious holiday drinks for the season for those feeling festive and craving a small holiday party in their mouth to wake them up during a long day of gift wrapping. The bakery is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and also accepts orders online. Check out this sweet stop for a little help in the hustle and bustle that is the holiday season.

Getting out of the cold can seem impossible during this time of year. But a quick stop at Sweets at the Hershey Hotel for a festive warm drink is sure to help with that. Sweets offers three holiday drinks: peppermint hot chocolate, the gingerbread latte, and the eggnog latte.

These drinks will keep you full of holiday cheer and your belly full of tasty warmth. Sweets is open Sunday through Thursday: 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. as well as Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. through 10 p.m. This holiday season head out in our community and ‘treat’ yourself to a festive and delicious holiday dessert.

Shown on this page: festive holiday treats from Desserts Etc. in Hershey.

All photos: Desserts Etc.

December 2013

Christmas carols have deep roots in history

BY MAKENZIE NEAL Section Editor “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Sleigh Ride,” and 'It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” are just a few Christmas carols that were heard being played as early as last November to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Christmas carols are defined as “joyful religious song celebrating the

enjoyed by many because Latin was a language not understood by the normal people. It was not until 1223 when St. Francis of Assisi started creating Nativity Plays in Italy, that the language the songs were written in changed. The songs sung in the language of the people began to spread to other European countries.

Mary Dawson told The Muse’s Muse about how these

As time went on, Christmas carols and music became more popular.

Radios played Christmas songs to help get the community into the holiday spirit. Radios would begin playing music after the Thanksgiving holiday and have been responsible for broadcasting a lot of Christmas music and making different songs popular. They try to keep listeners so they will play Christmas

religious aspect of Christmas, which was more in the traditional hymns. Kristi Oloffson told TIME World that these popular songs were mainly written from the 1930s to present and were ways to describe Christmas activities such as building a snowman, caroling, or giving presents. The songs talk about the mythical Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In 2006, the top three most-performed Christmas song according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, were “The Christmas Song” by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, which is a

more traditional song; “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin, which is a celebratory song; and “Winter Wonderland” by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, which is a seasonal song. These songs are just the top three of 25 songs played the most during the first five years of the 21st century. Although Christmas music has changed from the traditional 1426 hymns, the purpose of the songs is still the same. They are still used to help get people in the holiday spirit and celebrate the Christmas holiday.

AP Images

Holiday concerts are one of many Christmas celebrations along with caroling. HHS students perform many holiday songs to get in the holiday spirit.

birth of Christ,” according to Dictionary.com, but they were not always called Christmas carols.

Whychristmas?com states that thousands of years ago, carols were sung in Europe as pagan songs that were sung at Winter Solstice celebrations.

These pagan songs were soon changed to Christian songs when the early Christians took over the solstice celebrations.

These songs were originally written in Latin which was not

carols or songs were sung by wassailers or people who went from door to door singing carols. During the 18th, 19th, 20th centuries, the act of singing Christmas songs and celebrating Christmas started to recur more in Europe and the United States. Traditional carols such as “Away in a Manger,” “Hark!

The Herald Angles Sing,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and many others were the types of carols that were first heard during Christmas celebrations.

music 24/7. Along with radio stations, stores typically begin to display their Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving.

These decorations and music playing has started to appear earlier and earlier as the decades pass.

Christmas songs have changed over the years, from the traditional hymns to popular songs introduced through films. These songs introduced through entertainment media tend to stray away from the

AP Images

Around this time of year it’s common to hear many celebrating the holiday with caroling. The joyful mood is spread through caroling for all to see.

The holidays bring stress to HHS students

BY DEE DEE PULISIC Editor Unrealistic expectations can cause stress levels over the holidays to hit sky high.

People across the globe may experience anxiety over the holiday season.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years or whatever the holiday celebrated can cause pressure on many. Others believe the holiday season can be a stress reliever. Opinions from many vary depending on each individual's responsibilities for the holiday season.

According to National Mental Health Association, over 80% of psychologists have said that “doing too much” over the holidays is a large cause for many of the holiday blues.

Running around for gifts, having family over, and dealing with regular activities can be a lot for many at the same time.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, sadness or depression at holiday

time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season. In other cases, people may feel depressed around the winter holidays because of a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes referred to as seasonal depression. This type of depression occurs when the days grow shorter in the fall and winter.

“Society’s pressure to get the newest and greatest toys can cause pressure [during the holiday season],” said Jose Ortiz, a psychology teacher at HHS. According to Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research center, the advertising pressures us to buy more and more expensive gifts during this holiday season, the retail industry’s prime shopping season. This can become a challenge whether the family will have enough money and time to have the perfect holiday without running up credit card debt.

“I think holiday stress depends on a person's age. For kids, it's almost universally a

stress reliever, probably because they get off from school, most of them open gifts, have free time with friends, and generally have zero responsibilities,” said Pete Steelman, another psychology teacher at HHS. Those with less responsibilities often say the holiday season is almost a stress-reliever.

“I volunteer my time serving meals or doing some sort of community service. Getting a different p e r -

spective of someone else's holiday season always serves as a way to de-stress,” said Ortiz.

Steelman takes another approach at managing holiday stress. “I eat lots of cookies, enjoy immediate family, watch as much football as possible,”

he said.

According to the NMHA, Making a plan may help relieve some anxiety during the holidays. Making a spending plan and sticking to it can eliminate much of the stress that comes with holiday shopping making the whole season and the following months less stressful.

“I will make sure to listen to Christmas carols on the radio to and from work. I may or may not sing along as well. Singing is a great avenue to relieve stress.” said Ortiz.

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Around this time of year, we tend to see people stressed. The holiday season can cause problems for everyone.

December 2013

Holiday Treats are simple to complete

BY MALLORY ROYER Editor

The moment Thanksgiving is over, Americans tune into the holiday radio station, fill their ovens with cookies, and pump hot chocolate through their veins. Although the holidays are not for everyone, there is not one person I know who can deny a holiday goody. Some tend to go a little overboard with the treats around this time, but that is just because people like to pretend they are Betty Crocker. You do

Peppermint Bark WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • One bag of white chocolate chips • One package of candy canes • A handful of green spearmint candies • Wax paper • Peppermint extract

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Ritz crackers • Semi-sweet chocolate chips • Wax paper • Peppermint extract • Sprinkles if desired

THE PROCESS: Crush three or four candy canes as well as five to six mints in a plastic bag, set aside.

Melt white chocolate in a glass bowl according to melting directions on the back of the bag.

Staff / Mallory Royer Add 1/4 tsp of peppermint extract to the bowl for every one and 1/2 cups of chocolate you melt. Stir melted white chocolate with the peppermint extract, add candy canes/mints. After evenly mixed, pour chocolate onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Spread chocolate evenly so it is only one-half inch thick or less. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Take the tray out of the freezer and chop the chocolate bark into desired serving sizes. Place finished product in fridge.

THE PROCESS: Line baking sheet with wax paper.

Staff / Mallory Royer Melt two cups of chocolate chips according to melting directions found on bag.

Mix in 1tsp of peppermint extract for every two cups of chocolate. Dip Ritz crackers into chocolate until fully covered (can get messy!) and place on wax paper. Add sprinkles on top of chocolate now if wanted. Place baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes. Thin Mints can stay in an airtight container in or out of the refrigerator.

not have to be a Betty Crocker, though, if you want to indulge and create delectable holiday sweets.

Some people think that baking is a complicated task. I’m here to tell you that it is not. For those who are still a little uneasy about the idea of strapping on an apron and chef hat, I have included very simplistic yet delicious recipes to wow your holiday guests. If you have a bowl, a few ingredients and an oven, you are set.

Homemade Thin Mints

Nutella Croissants WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 1 can of croissant dough found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store • Nutella THE PROCESS: Simply roll Staff / Mallory Royer out the entire sheet of dough without separating each croissant. Plop two heaping spoonfuls of Nutella on top of the dough and spread evenly across the dough with a spatula. Separate dough into each croissant and roll the doughy triangles from big end to small. Bake according to directions found on dough container.

Oreo Balls WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • One full package of regular Oreos • One 18 oz. package of cream cheese • 1 bag of white chocolate chips • Wax paper, and sprinkles if you want to be festive

Staff / Mallory Royer

THE PROCESS: Crush the Oreos until they appear dusty and have no large chunks. Mix with cream cheese until smooth. Roll quarter-sized balls of the dough until you are out of dough. Place the balls in the freezer for one to two hours or until firm. Melt white chocolate according to melting directions found on bag.

After laying out a sheet of wax paper, stick a toothpick in one Oreo Ball and dip in the chocolate. Place the chocolate covered ball on wax paper and let cool. Continue the same process with all balls. Place in the fridge when finished.

Ugly Christmas sweaters: do’s and don’ts

BY BRYNN FREW Editor Christmas is one of the only times of the year when it is okay to do certain things that would normally grant you more than a few bad looks. For example, at any other time of year, going from door to door singing tunes would likely lead to the cops being called.

Sticking a waving blowup of an old man, along with numerous red nosed reindeer on your lawn now means you are “in the spirit” instead of crazy. And that multi-colored sweater with a snowman on the front suddenly goes from being hideous to totally in style.

Here are some do’s and don’ts for wearing that ugly Christmas sweater.

DO have or go to an ugly Christmas sweater party.

So where are you going to wear these ugly Christmas sweaters?

H o w

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about to an ugly Christmas sweater party! Having a Christmas party has always

been popular, but lately ugly Christmas sweater parties are becoming more and more common. All guests are asked to wear their wackiest and most outrageous Christmas sweaters to the party. Often there are even prizes awarded to whoever has the “best ugly sweater.”

DO NOT be afraid to get an over-the-top sweater.

The point of wearing an ugly Christmas sweater is to go a little crazy.

The more “out there” the sweater is, the better. You can even get a sweater that lights up!

DO check out thrift shops for cheap, vintage, ugly Christmas sweaters.

One of the best places to find ugly sweaters is at thrift shops.

Junior Julieanne Stanley finds her eccentric Christmas sweaters at

Wears Like New. “It’s a great store to get cheap stuff,” said Stanley. Usually the Salvation Army and Goodwill have some great sweaters for only a few bucks also.

DO NOT spend money on sweaters when you can get them for free.

Before you spend any money, try asking your friends or family members if they have any stuffed into the backs of their closets that they’d be willing to let you borrow.

DO check out some of your favorite stores for newer Christmas sweaters.

If you’re not comfortable wearing previously worn clothing, lots of chic stores are now adding Christmas sweaters to their options. This includes stores like Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Macy’s, and Gap. DO NOT wear crazy bottoms or other “out there” accessories with your sweater.

The colorful sweater itself is

fashionably unfashionable; adding more to it can make it just unfashionable. Wearing a nice pair of blue jeans or black bottoms compliments the sweater best.

Be sure to show your fun side with a crazy ugly Christmas sweater this season!

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Pose in front of your Christmas tree with your funky sweater. Or host a party and have everyone come festive!