Pirate Press_April 2022 (Vol. 8, Issue 4)

PIRATE PRESS othspiratepress.com

April 2022

Vol. 8, Issue 4

Fine Arts Edition

Gen FuZe drummer , Jake D, takes a selfie with the audience while performing at Fine Arts. Photo courtesy of Gen FuZe.

Ignite the FuZe Junior Isabella Montez

“You know you’re going hard when you break your pants zipper,” lead vocalist of the band Gen FuZe, Lindsay Kent said. Gen FuZe, based out of the Chicago Suburbs, has five members. Kent danced so hard that she broke her pants zipper.

“The energy in the air was thrilling,” sophomore Christian Grey said.

The members all had an amazing amount of energy, and they were surprised with how much the audience returned the energy.

“When I was your guy’s age I was still sleeping,” bass and vocalist Jackson Zimmerman said.

“There was no better feeling then letting music bring everyone together to have a really good time,” Gen FuZe said. OTHS is the first school Gen FuZe has performed at. Kent said that they were nervous because they play mainly classic rock.

They played familiar songs such as “Crazy Train”, “Sweet Child of Mine” and “Before He Cheats.”

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

PIRATE PRESS

2

Body is Back

Junior Emmalee Hill “You’ll never want to skip school again,” after listening to the Student Body Band. Dressed in cliché student costumes. The band performed a total of seven songs, including “Never Gonna Give You Up,” “Crazy Train” and “Party in the U.S.A.” They all fit their parts so well, ranging from a hippie to a cheerleader. Student Body Band had choreography, amazing chemistry and energy that engulfed the audience.

“The music was loud and sometimes the speaker would make weird noises, but even with technical difficulties, they were pretty awesome,” senior Nick Darling said.

Lettuce Relay

Senior Allison Shew Eat your greens, kids. During Fine Arts Club presents, seniors Kyle Thrush and Evelyn Ragan have a lettuce eating competition and seem neck and neck. In the end, both won due to nobody being tolerated as a loser in OTHS. “I loved the Fine Arts Club during first hour. Everything was so funny that I couldn’t stop laughing. It was a wonderful performance,” senior Tee Alnwick said.

It’s in the Cards

Junior Isabella Montez

“The Cheerleader” on “The Prom King’s” shoulders during their version of the song “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Photo courtesy of Allison Shew.

Now you see me, now you don’t. Magician and Mentalist, Wes Mathison, came to OTHS to blow our minds- or read them. “I’m pretty lucky this is my job,” Mathison said.

Taking a twist on an old trick, Mathison had three different audience members read his mind by picking three numbers. He then reached behind his back and pulled out a card with the numbers written on it.

Mathison performed many tricks, all with various ranges. Every trick ended with thundering applause.

Mathison used sophomore Packston Miller to help with a trick. “I thought it was a great experience and still have no clue how he did all of it,” Miller said.

Mathison is an LA native who resides in Chicago.

He is currently “The Mentalist” in the world’s biggest touring show.

Mathison pointing at the editor of the “Pirate Press” before calling on her to choose a number for his next trick. Photo Courtesy of Allison Shew.

Standing Ovation for Staff

3 PIRATE PRESS

Senior Allison Shew

One Woman for Show Senior Allison Shew

It’s time to put the bottle down. During the second day of Fine Arts, OTHS graduate Karly Swords performed a one-woman show. It consisted of the ending a play she wrote based on the life of Calamity Jane. After the performance, she answered questions from the audience.

While she included the crowd as the show was happening, some began to worry that it could be considered heckling. But in all actuality, the audience was enthralled, hanging on to her every word.

“It wasn’t what I expected, but she was an amazing actress, and it was great interacting with her,” junior Charlee Frazer said.

Drink up. Swords, as Calamity Jane chugging the rest of her bottle, a mixture of Coca Cola and water, while the crowd cheers her on.

HOME OF PIRATES BOWLING HOMEMADE TENDERLOINS

DETTORE’S Town Lanes LET US HOST YOUR NEXT PARTY!

714 Columbus Street • Ottawa, IL 61350 • 815-433-0033 Mon-Fri 10AM-12AM • Sat 11AM-12AM • Sun 11AM-6PM

S. Cohen | Ralph Lauren Hart Schaffner Marx Zanetti and more!

Plus, expert tailoring & alterations.

SM-CL1921587

Downtown Ottawa | 815-434-4854

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

Give a hug, receive a hug. During Terrance Talley’s emotional show, he asked the staff to line up against the walls of the auditorium and, if they were comfortable with it, wait for students to give them a hug. After Talley counted to three, students rushed to staff members. For many, it was the one thing they needed to keep going. “I finally had that father-figure hug I’ve been needing for the past 17 years,” an anonymous senior said.

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

PIRATE PRESS

4

“Love is in Laredo”

Talley’s in Town

Senior Allison Shew

Junior Emmalee Hill

“There’s never been a better time to create something out of thin air,” 30-year-old country singer Angie Kelihauer said.

Standing there, relaxed but professional, Kelihauer was ready to perform as soon as the bell rang. She sang a total of 14 songs and had something substantial to say in between almost all of them.

She included the crowd, talked to us like people, not students, and recognized that we had been through hard things.

You could tell just by looking at her that she was world worn, but strong and had so much honesty and love in her heart. The audience loved her performances and how she thought of us.

“She was super good, and she surprised me by being fluent in Spanish,” senior Grace Hendrix said.

You deserve more than “garbage love.” Comedian/ motivational speaker Terrence Talley encouraged students “Don’t give up.”

He reminded students that we determine our self-worth.

Talley’s dad was an alcoholic, so he vowed to never be a father like him. He goes the extra mile to show his love towards his children and gives them “Dad Hugs.” When he visits schools, he gives anyone who asks a big “dad hug.”

“He was a funny, endearing, and kind. He was awesome to sponsor at fine arts, you would have real conversations with him.

One minute he had you laughing, then the next you were crying.

Just an all-around awesome guy!” junior Summer Blazys said.

Sing your heart out. Kelihauer singing and showing emotion during her song “Let it Ride.”

Talley screaming out, “My son!” while relaying a story that brought the audience to tears. Photo courtesy of Allison Shew.

Monthly Mental Health Topic

5

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

A steady decline? This month’s mental health topic is not noticing the signs.

Another high cause of horrible mental health leading to unwanted circumstances is not noticing, or caring, when someone needs help. According to https://jedfoundation.org, “Balancing all of life’s demands . . . could challenge any of us. As a friend, you are in a unique position to notice warning signs that someone you care about might be feeling more overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or sadness than is manageable.”

Scientists aren’t the only people who think so. “I think things can get worse for someone if they don’t feel seen. Feeling supported and validated are two very big factors in making us realize our value. It could make just a big enough difference,” Senior Counselor Melissa Basil said.

For example, senior Ryan Rudnicky lost a major loved one the day before senior year. As the year started, she had to end a close friendship around the same time. She says it was a rough start to her senior year, and it didn’t get better. Shortly after this, she began getting migraines, which caused her to miss school often. After finishing the first semester online, she planned to come back in January, but couldn’t because her mental health wasn’t getting any healthier.

Currently, she is working on herself and trying new therapists. During that time, she did have her parents and a few close friends, but nobody can last very long if they feel alone. Plus, if she believes she is a burden, like she says she does, she is going to need friends to fight for her.

“I think Ryan was brave reaching out before it got to the point of no return, and I think there needs to be more help available for people struggling with mental health,” her father Joshua Rudnicky said.

And even though all this has happened to her, she has something to say. “I’ve been down this road before, and yes. It does get better. It takes a while, and a good support system, but eventually it all fades, and you don’t feel so bad anymore,” Rudnicky said.

So no, it’s not a steady decline. Life is like any graph: it will have lows, and it will have highs. Keep going. Tomorrow is another day.

PIRATE PRESS

Senior Allison Shew

Up for coffee? A selfie of Rudnicky while waiting in line at Jeremiah Joe. Photo courtesy of Isabella Montez.

Ottawa Office Supplyy 209 W. Main St. Ottawa, IL 61350

(815) 433-0273 SM-CL1921703

www.lopofficesupply.com m FERNANDEZ LOCKAS GROUP, INC., IS AN INDEPENDENT JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISEE

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

PIRATE PRESS

6

Artist of the Month

Snooping on Spouses

Another month, another unique individual presents herself to the spotlight.

Junior Corinne Francis has been passionate about creating art since she was little. Her mom was a music teacher and she’s been drawing ever since she’s been able to pick up a crayon. After that, she joined a band in elementary school, started a choir in Family City Sound and participated in theatre since grade school.

Currently, she’s in band, jazz choir, concert choir, theatre and speech team. She’s attended ILMEA for both percussion and vocal jazz in her freshman, sophomore and junior years so far. She was selected for state her sophomore year, and she went to state for speech her sophomore and junior year.

She’s not planning to incorporate music or theatre into her future career, but she does want to include art in her future by illustrating children’s books. She intends to go to Northern Illinois University or Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, but she never wants to move on from song and art.

Her family, friends and teachers are proud of her and her accomplishments. “Corinne Francis is a kind and hardworking member of Concert Choir and Vocal Interflow. She is very empathetic towards her teammates, and has great power to set the tone for each rehearsal she’s in. She has a beautiful voice, and I am super proud of her and her accomplishments in her time at OTHS and in the choir department,” choir director Ali Stachowicz said.

“She puts in so much effort and thought into everything she does. She works super hard, and it always pays off because the results are amazing,” senior Frankie Merril said.

Francis is thankful that her parents are also always supporting her artistic decisions.

“The arts are everything to me. I would not be the same person at all without them, and I literally don’t know what I’d do with my life without them. My performing art inspires my visual art, and vice versa. They’re deeply ingrained in me,” Francis said. Many hope you keep reaching for the stars.

Love isn’t only in the air; it is also in the school.

Very few people work in the same place or have the opportunity to. Currently, there are several spouses who work together at OHS. Some people might think it would be annoying, but according to these spouses it’s not as bad as some might think.

English Teacher Matt and Math Teacher Ellen Gross are both positive and both enjoy it. Some advantages are sharing the same schedules and understanding one another’s jobs. A positive thing is they can easily contact each other if needed. A disadvantage is struggling to leave school at school and not bringing a lot of it home when they talk about their days together.

“We understand each other’s jobs. We have a built-in reminder for dress up days, meetings, potlucks etc,” Ellen Gross said.

Physical Education Teacher Brent Moore and Bookkeeper Kayla Moore also enjoy the advantages of working in the same place.

They appreciate how being together works well with both schedules.

They started working together in Spring of 2019. The Moores have no difficulties working together. “The fact that we rarely interact at work makes me forget that we are both here,” Kayla Moore said.

Senior Allison Shew

Junior Emmalee Hill

The Grosses standing on the track during the Homecoming game in the Fall. Photo courtesy of Ellen Gross.

Let your imagination run wild. Francis plays pretend with scarves as a child. She has always had a creative side to her. Photo courtesy of Heather Francis.

The Moores taking a selfie at their house. Photo courtesy of Kayla Moore.

Congrats, you decided to go on a date. Next choice, where are you going to go? The “Pirate Press” asked students for the best date locations in town. Tied for first place among our voters was Jeremiah Joe and B.A.S.H. Jeremiah Joe provides a quiet environment with calm music to allow conversation. Many say Jeremiah Joe has friendly baristas with good coffee and wonderful baked goods. They are open Monday through Friday 6a.m-6p.m, Saturday 7a.m.-6p.m. and Sunday 8a.m.-5p.m. The time that they are open is perfect for an after school or weekend date.

“I think the environment is really nice, and it’s something more chill and lowkey than dinner,” junior Ben Domoleczny said.

B.A.S.H presents a busier atmosphere than Jeremiah Joe. It is a bit louder but better if you want to eat more than a muffin.

B.A.S.H. is more for a night out and offers a variety of burgers, sushi and mac and cheese. They are open Tuesday through Thursday 4p.m-9p.m. and Friday through Saturday 11a.m.-10p.m.

“The atmosphere at night sets the mood for the perfect date.

The servers are nice and very attentive to your needs. And the menu is the perfect combo of American vs foreign,” junior Summer Blazys said.

Ranking directly after the two first place finalists is Washington Park. Taking a stroll or eating lunch at the park is an extraordinary experience for many. The park offers one of the best outdoor experiences for a date if the weather is nice.

Allen Park was also mentioned in the student poll, along with The Roxy Theater and Allure. Allen Park is directly off the waterfront, and many enjoy sledding or even rolling down the park’s hills. The Roxy Theater is better for a follow-up date rather than a first date due to almost no conversation. Allure is a seafood restaurant with a stunning aquarium bar. The atmosphere is busy but not distractingly busy.

After hearing all this, hopefully your choice is easier to make than before, but do not forget to run it by your date.

Robert Pattinson is the most recent in a long line of actors who have been able to say “I am Batman.” In the most recent film Batman ventures into Gotham city’s underworld when a vicious killer leaves a trail of ambiguous clues.

The visuals in the movie were amazing, especially when Batman was standing in the rain and the drops of water ran rivulets down his suit. The actors really played their part well. They were all committed to do their part in the movie. The imagery was like no other everything was so realistic. The movie pulled viewers in Many agree that the movie was fantastic. At 175 minutes (about 3 hours) this was the longest Batman movie. Pattinson auditioned in George Clooney’s bat suit. It took four hours to get Colin Farrel’s makeup done for the movie.

The Batman movie debuted $128.5 million, marking the best opening weekend of 2022.

The Batman movie was dedicated to Dialect Coach Andrew Jack. Sadly, he passed away during filming. He contributed to productions across three decades including “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars.”

Junior Isabella Montez

The Best Date Locations in Ottawa

Junior Emmalee Hill

Robert Pattinson is wowing audiences with his portrayal of Batman. Photo Courtesy of koimoi.com

TINO’S Shoe & Boot Repair Quality Since 1970 Tino Rubio - Owner

And Antiques 217 W Main Street, Ottawa

815-434-0720

Tuesday - Friday 9:30-3:00 • Saturday 9:00-12:00 Closed for Lunch 11 to 12

7

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

“I Wear a Mask . . .”

PIRATE PRESS

Date Decisions

Treat Yourself

Ottawa High School Student Publication • April 2022

PIRATE PRESS

8

Junior Emmalee Hill place where students can go when they lose someone close to help them learn to cope with loss. Self-Care Group offers assistance and advice on how to take care of oneself better with methods such as meditation, coloring or music.

Senior Hannah Larsen has been attending the Self Care group. “Joining the Self-Care groups has helped me realize how important it is for me to take time to focus on myself. It has helped me to grow as a person, learn how I can control.”

Zorn’s goal for the groups is to create small communities for students to help them know that what they are feeling is normal and to help them cope with their stress.

Take a deep breath and close your eyes. The events of the past two years have made many people feel downcast. This year students now have a variety of suppor groups to help them cope Social Worker Haleigh Zorn is the director of the support groups. She began them because at a different school she saw that the groups there helped the students be successful and open.

There are a total of three different groups that people can attend when they need help. The Anxiety and Depression Management Group helps students realize that they are not alone and helps them understand what they are feeling. The Grief Group is a

Cudos to Fine Arts Club Junior Isabella Montez

Lights, camera, action. After two years off the Fine Arts Festival is back. Fine Arts Club members are smiling during the opening act of the festival: FAC Presents. “There was a lot of preparation leading up to the festival, and it definitely paid off,” junior Karcin Hagi said.

Fine Arts Club is behind much of the success. The 22 members of the club work together to put on the festival.

“Seeing how the audience reacted was a great experience,” junior Lily Nanouski said.