Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) - February 2021

BGQ BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY february 2021 / / volume one hundred

CO N T E N T

MISSION STATEMENT

The Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) is Traverse City Central High School’s student-run magazine. Since its conception in 1886, our publication has evolved with the times, frequently changing in style, format, and even name. However, one factor has remained constant—our staff’s desire to capture the story of our community, to challenge the accepted, and to open our minds to perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered through investigation, research, and inquiry. We are constantly striving to improve our content and artistic elements; after all, the BGQ is a school publication, so educating both ourselves as well as our readers remains one of our primary goals.

Send information, advertising, and other inquiries to: Black & Gold Quarterly Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: (231) 933-6533 Email: roskellesu@tcaps.net 2 // BGQ // February 2021

Quarterly Showcase Escaping the Winter Blues The Cheese Touch 50 Questions Opinion Column Changes in the NBA Vinyl: Dead or Resurrected?

The Gallery The Bond of Brotherhood Uniquely Family Podcast Feature Identity in Traverse City Inside & Out Skiing Faces New Challenges The Recipe

5 6 8 12 14 16 18 20 22 25 28 30 32 36 38

B L A C K & G O L D Q U A R T E L Y : FEBRUARY TWO-THOUSAND TWENTY ONE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Josephine Baldyga Maria Linck CONTENT EDITOR Mallory Swope BUSINESS Niklas Fagerman PROOFING Ted Arnold GRAPHICS Sterling Goodwin STAFF WRITERS Collin Benedict Leland Brown Samuel Elkins Samuel Galoci-Sandin Sterling Goodwin Ethan Gremel Drew Johnsen Alejandro Lepczyk Evelyn Linck Averie McGraw Elizabeth Phillips Aiden Preston Trinity Whiteford COVER Josephine Baldyga CONTRIBUTORS Jazryel Freeland ADVISER Susan Roskelley

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Editors’ Note When we transitioned to online school at the tail end of the first issue, staff spirit was at an all time low. With little means of collaboration and the harsh reality of winter setting in, the staff was forced to become more independent during the seven weeks we spent apart. When we finally returned to school and were able to distribute the first issue, it felt untimely knowing that the second release date was only a few weeks away.

In order to combat the seasonal depression that was hitting everyone on the staff hard, we centered this issue around winter and all of the good things the season brings. Two recipes and a feature on a local cheese store will leave you hungry, while a highlight on Central’s boys hockey team showcases a community that shines during the winter. After this unique holiday season, we asked students to reflect on their favorite holiday traditions, which we share in our feature “Uniquely Family.” With so much changing in today’s world, mental health has been put on the backburner, yet takes more importance than ever. Students and psychology professionals share their experiences and opinions with mental health this year in “Inside & Out.” Looking towards the future, we can only hope that school stays open and we are able to continue working in person. Enjoy this flurry of stories!

From the Pub,

Josephine Baldyga & Maria Linck

Quarterly Showcase Photo: I. Coe

Photo: Courtesy of GT Ski Club

Escaping the Winter Blues

Ten things to get you out of the house (safely) during this winter season

by TRINITY WHITEFORD staff writer 6 // BGQ // February 2021

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inter means something different to each person. To some, winter may mean fruit cake and family time and to others it may mean staying home and cozying up by the fire with hot cocoa. Some people have a hard time deciding what to do to pass time in the winter. If you’re one of those people who can’t decide whether to stay inside and sing christmas songs in your jammies or to go bold and do everything winter, this list is for you.

1. Twilight Skate at Center Ice Arena: Ice skating may not be your forte, but it doesn’t hurt to try. Twilight skate is an open skate at night that goes for a few hours. They have two different time schedules depending on the night. It can go from seven to nine pm or eight to ten pm and costs only a couple dollars - five dollars for admission and three for skate rentals. There are disco-like lights that cover the room and music that plays throughout the night. It does get cold, so bring warm clothes and maybe a hat and gloves.

2. Ski Lodge trip: Why not take a resort trip! And I’m not talking about a resort with an indoor pool, I’m talking about a ski resort! Where you can ski, sled, go tubing and go snowboarding!

There are many ski lodges in Traverse City, including Crystal Mountain, Mt. Holiday, and Hickory Hills, just to name a few. Prices can vary depending on the place you visit. If you’re stumped on where to visit go to page 36 and have fun!

3. Regifting/Donating: We all have that one sweater that we got from our grandma or aunt that we don’t really want and never would wear. So why not regift it! Give it to your friend or your siblings. They might enjoy it more than you do! Another idea is to donate it! There are people in need every winter, so why not help them out! There are many great places you can donate to this winter season, a few of which being the TCAPS STEP program or the Central Student Food Pantry, they’re always accepting donations!

4. Shop til’ you drop: Being that we’re home for a while, instead of shopping in stores, why not cozy up by the fire and online shop! Treat yourself, you deserve it! Some of the things you could buy for this winter season are: fuzzy blankets, warm socks, clothes, or other things you enjoy! Maybe some sleds or snow gear for some outside fun!

5. Undecorating: You probably have left over decorations from the holidays and just December in general. A good thing to do is take it all down and get ready for the warmer weather that is soon to come. Unless you’re like me and leave up your christmas tree and decor all year round because you don’t feel like taking it down.

6. Baking: Baking is a great way to celebrate the season as well! There’s nothing more comforting than the smell of cookies and gingerbread during the winter season.

If you bake the cookies, you have an excuse to eat them all; it’s a reward for your hard work! Some winter classics are sugar cookies, fruit cake, and gingerbread. The recipe section has some amazing treats to try out this winter, visit page 38 and try some of these out.

7. Build a Snowman: This may seem outdated or cliche for high school students, but trust me, it’s fun! Grab a few of your friends and go outside in the fresh snow, but be sure to dress warm. Make a whole snowman family if you’d like!

8. Surprise your Friends: Since we are in the midst of a global pandemic why not give your friends a surprise drive by and gift them with some of their favorite candies, drinks, cookies, and anything else they may enjoy! If you’re not up for that you can always mail them the gifts! I can tell you they will appreciate it a lot!

9. Drink Eggnog: Even though the holidays are over it’s not a bad idea to finish up the leftover eggnog in your fridge.

If you’re out of eggnog and these stores are clearing out their shelves go buy as much as you can carry and drink up because you have to wait awhile for it to be in stores again! Unless you’re one of those weird people that doesn’t like eggnog.

10. Christmas tree recycling: Believe it or not, there are ways to get rid of your old Christmas tree safely. The Parks and Recreations Division collects old Christmas trees for no cost and repurposes them for local parks trail surfacing. This service runs through January with no cost. Trees can be brought to the boat launch parking lot at Hull Park just at the west end of Hannah Street and west of Woodmere Avenue! If you happen to miss the deadline then keep your tree up until next year! //

The Cheese Touch

by LELAND BROWN & SAMUEL GALOCI-SANDIN staff writers

Photo: M. Swope

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The best cheeses in Traverse City ranked on a scale from one to ten

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heese is a delightful cuisine, good for any occasion. We had the privilege of talking to Sue Kurta, founder of Boss Mouse Cheese, in Kingsley. For Kurta, her experience in cheese is more than just a fun job, it is her passion.

After growing up in downstate Michigan, Kurta moved to New York City where she got a job in banking. She took some cooking classes and discovered her passion for cheesemaking. Kurta moved up to Kingsley and started Boss Mouse Cheese. Kurta often sells her cheese at farmers markets. “I started my cheese company just as a side thing. I never in a million years thought this could be my job.” She explained to us that different cheeses are made a variety of ways. For example, hard cheeses, like cheddar, have to be aged before they can be eaten, while soft cheeses, like mozzarella, can be made in 30 minutes. Kurta wasn’t always invested in cheese, “it came to me later in my life. Like when I was you guys’ age, I was just a normal kid . . . what it came more from, is when I got older and to my adulthood, I really enjoyed cooking.” Kurta gets her ingredients locally. She gets her milk from Moomers and the

cheese is made on her farm. Before COVID-19 hit, Kurta would go to schools and other places to teach people about cheesemaking.

We also interviewed Central High School student Henry Roeters ‘23. Roeters is the grandson of the owner of The Cheese Lady. “She sells cheese at farmer’s markets in Harbor Springs and Traverse City sometimes,” he explained. Roeters has only been helping around at farmer’s markets for three years, but he’s been surrounded by cheese for much longer. “I’ve been around cheese since I was really little, probably like eight years old.” From our two interviews, we noticed that cheese can be a very passionate profession.

After getting background information from Kurta and Roeter, we decided to see for ourselves. We went to The Cheese Lady after our interviews to try some of their best cheeses. We ended up trying seven different cheeses: smoked gouda, Fromager D’Affinois (just a brie), Barber’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar, Parmigiano Reggiano (made with raw milk), Aged Manchego, Honeybee, and Valdeo’n Blue. After tasting these scrumptious cheeses we unofficially ranked them by taste, texture, and smell. //

Cheese Prices (per one-half pound) • • • • • • •

Barber’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar: $8.50 Fromager D’Affinois: $8.50 Aged Manchego: $10.50 Honeybee: $12.50 Parmigiano Reggiano: $10.50 Smoked Gouda: $6.50 Valdeo’n Blue: $11.00

Graphic: S. Goodwin

Sam’s Ratings

Barber’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar

8.5/10

The Barber’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar had a strong flavor and a mild smell. Had a nice soft texture that wasn’t too crumbly.

Aged Manchego

The Aged Manchego is made from sheep’s milk.

It has a much more mild taste than the other cheeses we tried, but it is creamy and savory.

This cheese is kind of like the manchego, but less savory and a slightly different taste. It’s light and creamy and has a soft texture.

4.0/10

7.0/10

Strong cheddar smell and a thick dry taste, it was good.

Smoked Gouda

Smelled really good but overall didn’t taste that amazing. It was kind of bland. It smelled smoky, but didn’t really taste smoky.

2.0/10

8.0/10

Smells like a classic cheddar, had a good taste and nostalgic flavor.

Parmigiano Reggiano

Kind of cheddary flavor. Very flaky and dry. At first it was a little bland but then there was a huge burst of flavor in the aftertaste.

5.0/10

Soft creamy smell creamy flavor, it wasn’t my favorite.

Honeybee

7.0/10

6.0/10

7.5/10

I didn’t immediately like the smell, and it tastes a lot like the smell.

This cheese is a brie, so it’s a little difficult to compare a spreadable cheese to hard cheese, but it is so good. Has a nice aftertaste too.

7.5/10

8.0/10

There wasn’t a very strong smell, it melts in the mouth, it had a really good taste.

Fromager D’Affinois

8.0/10

3.0/10

Stronger smell than taste, it was not my favorite by any means.

Valdeo’n Blue

I am not a fan of blue cheeses. It’s a very selective taste. If you like blue cheeses, you’ll probably like this one, if you don’t, you probably don’t want to try it.

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Leland’s Ratings

5.5/10

It has the classic blue cheese smell and bitter taste. It made my throat burn, but I liked the experience.

Questions with Mr. Draper & Mrs. Boulanger

by EVELYN LINCK staff writer

In this 50 Questions With feature, we put the spotlight on two of Central’s very own Mrs. Boulanger and Mr. Draper. Here we reveal the more personal side of Central’s staff through questions ranging from favorite quotes to first jobs.

DRAPER Photo Courtesy of Marietta College

BOULANGER Photo Courtesy of M. Boulanger

DRAPER BGQ-What is your favorite quote from a past student?

Draper-“Mr. Draper, I’m sorry I missed the first half of class. I started making sandwiches for lunch and then just kept making and eating them.”

BGQ-Which famous person would you most like to have dinner with?

Draper- Roger Federer or Dave Chapelle.

BGQ-What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Draper-Missing free throws.

BGQ-If you could have any superpower what would it be?

Draper-Flying.

BGQ-If you could be an animal what would you be?

Draper-Elephant.

BGQ-What has been your favorite animal ever since you were a child?

Draper-Cheetahs.

BGQ-What movie would you want to be in?

Draper-If it can be a cartoon, probably Ice Age. BGQ-What has been your favorite memory from a student?

Draper-A former student was the first in his family to finish college and just finished his master’s in English!

BGQ-What is your favorite book?

Draper-The Karamazov Brothers.

BGQ-What makes you laugh?

Draper-Really dumb, physical comedy. Ace Ventura was one of my favorite movies for too long.

BGQ-What would you sing on karaoke night?

Draper-Goodbye Stranger.

BGQ-Who is your favorite author?

Draper-Mahmoud Darwish.

BGQ-If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Draper-Cape Town, South Africa.

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BGQ-Who is your hero?

Draper-James Baldwin.

BGQ-What motivates you to work hard?

Draper-Helping people challenge themselves and find out what they’re capable of.

BGQ-What did you want to be when you grew up?

Draper-Professional basketball player.

BGQ- Have you ever had a nickname?

Draper-Drapes.

BGQ-Where do you see yourself in five years?

Draper-Hopefully teaching and winning a bunch of basketball games at Central.

BGQ-What would you do if you won the lottery?

Draper-I am currently teaching Personal Finance, so I feel a lot of pressure to answer this correctly. Pay off my college debt and support mental health programs for young people.

BGQ-What is your biggest fear?

Draper-Pouring salt into my coffee instead of sugar.

BGQ-How many pillows do you sleep with?

Draper-3.

BGQ-What is your favorite thing about your career?

Draper-I like the combination of teaching/learning different things each day with the consistency of building connections over the course of a year.

BGQ-What is the best gift you’ve ever given?

Draper-Took one of my mom’s old records she recorded when she was in a band and we framed it and turned it into a platinum.

BGQ-What is your favorite board game?

Draper-Settlers of Catan!

BGQ-What is something you couldn’t go a day without?

Draper-Coffee.

BOULANGER BGQ-How often do you buy clothes?

Boulanger-As often as I can! About once a month.

BGQ-Do you love or hate roller coasters?

Boulanger-LOVE! BGQ-Do you collect anything?

Boulanger-No. BGQ-What’s your favorite movie?

Boulanger-Goonies!

BGQ-What’s your favorite fast food restaurant?

Boulanger-Jimmy Johns because they are freaky fast!

BGQ-What is your favorite family recipe?

Boulanger-Kibbee (a lebanese dish).

BGQ-What is your favorite family recipe?

Boulanger-I was a tutor in college and really enjoyed helping people learn and understand science. I took my first education class and was assigned to a biology class at a local high school. I fell in love with it!

BGQ-What do you wish would come back into fashion?

Boulanger-Farrah Fawcett Hair.

BGQ-Who was your first celebrity crush?

Boulanger-Shaun Cassidy.

BGQ-What was your first job?

Boulanger-Cashier.

BGQ-Who knows you the best?

Boulanger-My husband.

BGQ-What is one thing you will never do again?

Boulanger-Taste a ghost pepper.

BGQ-What is your favorite family holiday tradition?

Boulanger-Cutting down a live christmas tree together and decorating it while listening to holiday music.

BGQ-If you could join any music group what would it be?

Boulanger-There are so many... Earth, Wind, and Fire was the first one that came to mind.

BGQ-What has been the biggest surprise in your life?

Boulanger-Good Surprise = a surprise birthday party.

Bad Surprise = finding out I had cancer when I was 16.

BGQ-What has been your favorite gift you have ever received?

Boulanger-My first video game system - Atari!

BGQ-How would your friends and family describe you?

Boulanger-Emotional, kind, loving.

BGQ-What TV show would you want to live in?

Boulanger-Big Bang Theory.

BGQ-If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?

Boulanger-I don’t want to go back. I only want to keep moving forward.

BGQ-If you could do anything with your life right now what would you do?

Boulanger-Travel to visit family. I miss seeing my family members who live far away.

BGQ-What is your proudest accomplishment?

Boulanger-Being a parent of two wonderful, caring adults.

BGQ-What has been the biggest challenge in your life?

Boulanger-Maintaining my health has been the biggest challenge in my life.

BGQ-What was your favorite book to read as a child?

Boulanger-As a young child, I loved Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. As a teen, I loved reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

BGQ-What is the biggest decision you have ever had to make?

Boulanger-To leave my former school and come to TC Central High School.

BGQ-What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?

Boulanger-It’s going to be a great day! //

The Disputed Assumptions on Sports Sports are tricky, everyone views them differently. There are two sides to every story.

by DREW JOHNSEN staff writer

S

ports are a pretty controversial topic. Plenty of people have their own opinions sur rounding whether a sport is truly a sport or not. Many of these same people acquire their certain assumptions based on their experience with the sport, like if they actually play it or if they just observe from the outside. I feel that all actions that take motivation and physical activity can be considered a sport, no matter what public opinion is.

A sport is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Knowing this, you can think back to all of the sports that you never actually considered being a sport. Skiing, bowling, competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, figure skating, curling, swimming, and even ping-pong can all be considered sports because of the specific qualities they all share—physical exertion, skill, and competitiveness.

If you’re from Michigan, you probably have some experience with skiing or snowboarding, and if you don’t, you definitely know what it is. Many people take part in skiing or snowboarding for fun; it is a hobby to them. Even being a hobby, however, it can still be considered a sport. You know an activity is a sport when it’s featured in the olympics. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are sports performed in the winter olympics every four years. They compete for themselves and for their team, they train, and they

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put their best foot forward, literally.

Cheerleading is a controversial topic within itself.

This activity receives more opinionated attention than any other sport. The question is, why? These types of responses may be a result of the entertainment purposes cheerleading provides at certain sporting events. Though this may be true, it doesn’t prove cheerleading not a sport. They have practices, they have a team, they work hard and push themselves physically and mentally, just like any other sport would and should.

Bowling is also a highly debated topic. People see bowling as that one activity you take part in on the weekends when it’s raining outside and there isn’t much else to do. Plenty of people miss the idea that bowling is more than an entertainment source, they don’t realize that some people do compete and participate in bowling as a sport. Bowling is viewed as a hobby to many people, but viewed as more to others.

Perspective controls opinion. Obviously if you play a sport, you are determined to believe that it is defined as a sport. If you stand by and observe, you strive to disagree and think for certain reasons, it cannot be seen as a sport. Remember, however, judgement and criticism have the ability to tear people down, but they also have the power to make people stronger. //

by AVERIE MCGRAW staff writer

W

hen it comes to sports, you may think of baseball, soccer, or football, while others think of cheerleading, bowling, and maybe even skiing. But are those really sports? A sport is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment,” according to MerriamWebster. For most sports there is both a competitive edge and an aspect of fun for the participants. Not all sports have the same elements that make them a sport.

In the sport of cheerleading there are fewer opportunities to compete against other opponents, and is used for entertainment purposes during a football or basketball game. When I look or think about cheerleading it’s just an activity, but there is a competitive aspect of cheerleading which most people don’t think about. Cheerleading is not televised like football or baseball. You don’t just say “hey, let’s watch cheerleading today”

Snowboarding is a solo activity, it’s similar to skateboarding, but do people consider that a real sport? Those aren’t really things people have a team for or do as a group. Ski teams are not publicized in the same way as traditional sports, similar to cheerleading. You also can’t participate in them year-round.

Bowling is not popular like football. Like cheerleading, people don’t gather around their tvs to binge-watch bowling competitions. There’s Not much physical activity, it’s the only sport where you can eat chili cheese fries and play at the same time bowling is more of a leisure activity when you go to Lucky Jack’s or Incredible Mo’s with friends, you’re not competing, your just playing a game (not so much a competition).

You don’t really think about these “sports”/activities to compete, you do it mostly for your enjoyment and maybe even because you’re really good at it. I sure know i’d be sitting eating while bowling, not trying to get a trophy or title. //

Graphic: S. Goodwin

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COVID changed the process for many activities, but how did it affect a nationwide association of basketball teams?

by ETHAN GREMEL staff writer

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T

he National Basketball Association, or the NBA, is loved by millions of people just in America alone. The NBA is the world’s most popular organization for basketball by far, and the league is composed of 30 teams across North America featuring the best basketball players in the world. The NBA brings in almost 9 billion dollars annually, and in the 2019-2020 season, the organization managed to rack up 8.3 billion, despite the season being paused and resumed months later. With COVID striking the United States in early 2020, the NBA endured a brief pause, like the rest of the world. The NBA was closed temporarily on March 11th when the first player in the league tested positive. Upon hearing the news, the NBA released a statement saying they would suspend games “following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Adam Silver, the NBA’s current commissioner, was forced to take action once many players tested positive for the virus. The commissioner and team owners conducted a conference call to discuss their next steps considering the growing coronavirus outbreak. The league was hoping to finish out the season with just necessary management and team members with zero fans in attendance. However, there was a group of owners who pushed to suspend operations temporarily, whose wishes eventually became reality.

Jaden Clark ‘24 is a huge NBA fan. “I love the NBA because not only is it entertaining, it is also my favorite sport.” He added that he also tries to learn from watching “the best of the best”. Clark wasn’t happy when the season got cancelled in March, but he thinks it was necessary. He was “very upset” that his main source of entertainment was going to temporarily end and nobody knew how long the NBA would be gone.

The NBA did finally resume four months later, in early July. On July 7th, players started to arrive at the “bubble”. The bubble was a building in Disney Land in Florida. The players from the teams who made the playoffs were brought to

the bubble for a health screening. If they tested negative for COVID, they were allowed in. All 22 teams were checking in for a stay of at least six weeks and for many, the bubble would be the only place they’d be at for three months or even longer. A home was quickly created for these NBA players, and for everyone else involved.

The bubble had everything. Besides the players allowed to bring one guest if they made it to the semi-finals, there was no outside interaction. Another student at Central, Anthony Ribel ‘24 thought that the bubble overall was a great success, saying nobody got the virus from start to finish.

The NBA will also be affected for years to come by this pandemic. The season will start and end later, and without the league cutting games, the scheduling will never be the same. Even this year, the games had to be reduced a small amount. With the season starting in December, instead of September, the season will end late and start early for a long time to come.

Overall, Clark thinks that the actions that the NBA took were excellent, and almost flawless but he thinks masks should be worn in the new season, even if they have a bubble again. In the preseason so far, some teams have announced their plans to host a limited number of fans, who will have to wear masks and be subject to social-distancing rules, as well as the players. Ribel even gave a suggestion, stating that, “It was pretty flawless in terms of keeping the players safe, while having competitive games. Players did complain about the courts being slippery, so I don’t think it would’ve hurt to have more than one court they all play on.” Concluding last year’s season was very successful, and you can’t really argue with that. 322 players and staff took the test, and only two tested positive, less than one percent. They did not spread the virus to anyone else.

With the new season confirmed to start December 22nd, and the preseason started already, NBA fans everywhere are looking forward to an amazing season, and hopefully everyone can remain as safe as possible. //

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he year was 1931. RCA Victor had just made and released a spinning disc that played music known as vinyl. This would mark a historic year in music history.

Now it’s 2020, and you can ask several teenagers on the street and few would know what a vinyl is. So how did vinyl go from the best in the biz to outdated and unwanted? This is the rise and fall of vinyl records, and their recent return.

Back when music was all Teddy Boys playing Rock and Roll and the blues, no one had anything like Spotify or iPhones to play their music. It was all vinyl and live. You would record in a studio and it would be recorded onto two types of disc. For a single there were two songs onto a single which had an A and B side. Most people would buy the single for the A side and the B side was just an extra song that was usually a B rated song from the artist. Also there was an album/LP, consisting of several songs like what we know today. The sad thing about this type of music was, you had to buy either individual songs or an album if they didn’t have the single. Also some artists were one hit wonders such as the Kinks “Lola’’, or the Animals “House of the Rising Sun”. That means they wouldn’t get the fame the song would. Unless you were insanely popular or had several hits such as The Beatles or Billy Joel, you wouldn’t be remembered that well.

By the 80s or 90s vinyl had died. You’re probably wondering why we don’t have records anymore. The main answer? Cassette tapes, a tiny pocket sized rectangle you can put in a music player: either a Walkman with a headphone jack for on the go listening or a boombox that would be loud for multiple people’s use. They were a mobile, compact version of records with all the same music. Instead of going over to your friend’s house to listen to the new Rolling Stones or Elton John single you now could do it in your car or use a Walkman. The 18 // BGQ // February 2021

Graphic: S. Goodwin

Nowadays Spotify, Youtube, and other music streaming services play all your music for you, but for most of the twentieth century all they had was vinyl.

by SAMUEL ELKINS staff writer Walkman aspect was a direct hit to vinyl. They had no way to make it for headphone use or on the go use.

They didn’t have headphone jacks in vinyl players like they do now. This made records totally irrelevant compared to cassette tapes. Records had become a thing of the past and music kept evolving. Records had become something that you just threw away or sold at garage sales. No one appreciated records like they had in the past.

But you’re probably wondering why I’ve told you all this. What was the point? Just tell you about records and that’s that? No. If you go to your local Target or Walmart you’ll probably notice a humongous album cover with a big spinning disc inside. A vinyl. A record. There is one shop downtown with an insane collection of records awaiting for someone to buy. RPM Records is a local business that sells vinyl records specifically. They have a large selection of everything from ACDC to The Zippers. I interviewed the owner of this shop, Greg Walton, about teens buying records from them. “The age of our patrons has been increasingly expanding to include young teens and seniors who want to get into vinyl,” He explained. I asked him what bands teenagers were buying more of. “Obviously the standards like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and the Who, but also Billie Eillish, Taylor Swift, Tyler the Creator, etc.” Walton thinks records aren’t going away

anytime soon. “Vinyl sounds better than any other format and the whole experience of flipping through record stores racks and finding gems can’t be duplicated.” He told me. Not everyone who shops at RPM lives in Traverse City. “We’ve seen a steady increase from visitors who have heard of our vast collection and make a point to come to Traverse City.” I asked him if he thought he could expand his store to more areas seeing as more teens and people in general were buying records. “I have about 2,000 albums at the Elk Rapids Antique Market and soon we will have about 1,000 albums at The Blue Vase book store in Interlochen. So growth is inevitable.” I finally asked him why he opened RPM, “I’ve worked in record stores since the 80’s and I saw the growth and need locally.” Unfortunately, Walton passed away on November 29, 2020, after this interview was conducted.

Now vinyl is rising from the ashes like a phoenix; once forgotten it has proved to be an amazing source of music listening. This means we can bring back other sources of music like CDs and the Walkman! We can go back and use any source of music listening we’ve ever made and it won’t be temporary; even as we improve our music listening technology, we can still use things like vinyl and boomboxes!

And as we improve we shouldn’t ever forget where our music playing originated from and how it has evolved for the better. //

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The Gallery a student showcase

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The Bond of

All Photos: TCC Hockey Team

Brotherhood 22 // BGQ // February 2021

An inside look on the TCC Hockey Team, conquering this season as a family.

by DREW JOHNSEN & EVELYN LINCK staff writers

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he Traverse City Central Hockey Team is heading into their 2020-2021 season with motivation and persistence.

Last year, the TCC Hockey Team strived and succeeded in achieving 22 wins out of 28 games, earning them the title of Big North Conference Champions. Just like previous and upcoming sports this year, the TCC Hockey Team is going to have to face the restrictions and delays from the effects of COVID-19. This will be difficult, but the team is fixed on overcoming this obstacle as a family.

The TCC Hockey Team practices at Howe Arena Monday through Wednesday before school, and Thursdays and Fridays after school.

Practices consist of skill training and drills that benefit the different positions being played. “Normally, we start with a goalie warmup, then go into skill work, whole team, then end with 3 on 3,” explains Owen Dawson ‘23.

COVID-19 has impacted practice routines, but they have put proper precautions in place to avoid spreading the virus amongst their team. The team is separated into different locker rooms to create “bubbles;” this ensures that if someone were to get sick, only the players in their bubble would have to quarantine. In order to keep an advancing season, the team must do anything and everything they can to stay healthy.

Just like any other sport, putting the effort in at practice will contribute to achieving success. The TCC Hockey Team values and displays this as they push each other to accomplish what their best efforts can fulfill. “Hockey is a team sport because no one player can define a game alone,” recalls Ethan VanderRoest ‘21. VanderRoest is a defensive player and has been playing for almost his whole life. Many factors go into winning a game, and because hockey has such a strong team aspect, every position is important and every

“You learn very quickly you’ve got new ‘brothers’ who will always have your back.” player needs to do their part.. “...we all need to do our part to win the game, whether it comes from shot-blocking, good passing, goals, good defense, or good goaltending,” implies Grant Neuhardt ‘22.

Grant is one of two goalies and has been playing for many years as well. He is determined to continue hockey after high school and to do this, he works his hardest to get noticed. “Outside of the season, we have summer workouts with Coach Gle in the weight room, and I go to camps with junior teams to develop my skills and to try and get noticed, so I can continue hockey after high school, many of my teammates do the same thing.”

Home games take place at Howe Arena, however, locations of away games may vary as the team travels around the region and state. After every game the TCC Hockey Team makes sure to take time to reflect and elaborate on what they accomplished and what they could improve or work on. “We discuss positives and things we need to bring into our next game. We also talk about things we need to work on and improve in practice,” discloses TCC Hockey Coach Chris Givens. The team also distributes certain awards after each game. One being the “Hard Hat Award” which is given to the player who put out their best effort during the game, another being the “Shield Award” given to the player who blocked the most shots. A game puck is also given to a player who accomplished any special achievements during that game.

Joining hockey takes a lot of commitment. Learning how to skate, understanding the rules of the 24 // BGQ // February 2021

game, and being able to shoot and pass with a hockey stick all take time and effort. “You don’t have to be the most skilled player. There will always be someone bigger, faster, and stronger than you. But even so, you can always be the hardest worker,” explains Givens. “We do need players with skill, but we also need players who are willing to block shots; players who will be aggressive penalty killers; players who can be tenacious on the forecheck; players who are gritty and never stop moving their feet.”

Over the many years the team has spent together, they have developed a family. “Yes, they’re family.

They’re the boys,” states Scott Barnhart ‘22. Each player is held accountable for their best efforts and together they share a special bond from the days on end that they are playing a sport that they dedicate themselves to. “Off the ice, pre-COVID, we had pasta dinners the night before games at someone’s house where we would all hang out and bond for hours on end,” says VanderRoest. It’s not just the hard practices, the team meetings, or even the multiple successes in games that creates a strong and skilled team; it is the constant building of new and old team bonds, and family bonds. “You have to have a strong bond to have a good team,” mentions Dawson.

This is what brings the Traverse City Central Hockey Team together, it is this that makes them powerful on and off the ice. As Coach Givens mentions, “You go through tough times together, celebrate successes together, and family-like bonds are developed.

You learn very quickly you’ve got new ‘brothers’ who will always have your back.” //

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olidays are known as a time of joy and giving all around the world whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or any other. While these holidays may not look the same, the intentions are fairly consistent: be with the ones you love and love the ones you’re with. For students, a two week break from the stress and exhaustion of school accompanied by all of the celebrations makes the holidays even more enjoyable until everyone comes back after break just in time for exams, of course.

Up until a few weeks ago, I was under the impression that we were all basically living through the same scene of a Hallmark movie when it came to Christmas celebrations: everyone in the family circled together in the family room bright and early on Christmas morning opening each gift one by one. My friends and I were talking about holiday plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas a while back when we started talking about our Christmas traditions, and they didn’t hesitate to point out how strange my family was in that department. At the time, I was completely oblivious to other traditions. I was under the impression that everyone did the same things and had the same experiences.

Christmas in my family has always been a huge deal. Wish lists MUST be done no later than October 31st, otherwise there will be a very, very long message about how important it is to have a list completed in a timely manner to account for online shopping and shipping. All decorations are in place the day after Thanksgiving with no exceptions, and gifts start appearing under the tree on December 1st. December turns into a month-long marathon of frantic shopping, cookie baking, and Hallmark movie watching. None of us really like the movies at this point, Reflect on the holidays and discover different traditions but it’s tradition. It’s been a running joke in our family that Christfrom the families of Central students and staff mas always comes early with the

by MALLORY SWOPE deadlines on wish lists and premacontent editor ture decorating, but even that isn’t enough. Ever since I can remember, Christmas has always come on December 24th. Yes, December 24th, not the 25th. The Christmas excitement has always happened on what is actually Christmas Eve, and I never knew why. I have a relatively small family (there’s only six of us who celebrate together), so it was hard for me to understand why we couldn’t wait just one more day before celebrating the holiday.

It wasn’t until recently when I discovered that an early Christmas has been routine in my family since my grandma was a kid. Coming from a big family, Christmas was always a hassle. My grandma was one of four children, but that number increased exponentially as other family members were factored in. To make everyone’s lives a little bit easier -- and the gift-opening process a lot quicker -- the big family would get together on Christmas Eve to do a gift exchange between everybody. Then, each individual family would celebrate their own Christmas on Christmas Day. The tradition carried through my dad and aunt’s childhood and now through mine. We don’t celebrate as a big family as much anymore because everyone lives in different areas of the state, so Christmas Day is all about food and relaxation for us. //

Uniquely Family

What is a holiday tradition your family has now or had at some point?

We always read The Night Before Christmas as a family right before we go to bed. My dad & grandpa have read it to my brother and sister and now me, no matter how old we are. We also watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

-Sophie Nickel ‘21

Either annually or semi-annually, we’d go up to a piece of private property. Activities could consist of cooking, swimming, hiking, and your occasional board game or card game.

Braedan Timmers ‘21

Every night we hide a pickle ornament in our tree. And on Christmas Eve my four cousins and I always get matching pajamas to wear on Christmas morning.

Rachel Raniszewski ‘21 Every year we make these one cookies, the only cookies we make. It’s super fun but the kitchen becomes a giant mess afterwards. Then of course we set out milk for “Santa” but it has to be almond milk for some reason, it’s weird if it’s not, for my family anyway. Then every Christmas Eve we get to open one gift. We can never go a Christmas Eve without opening one gift.

-Nevaeh Wharton ‘23

We always have a seven fish dinner at my grandparents because of their Italian heritage.

Simon Hegg ‘24

My little brother and I make a fort on Christmas Eve in my room and sleep in it. We stuff it with pillows, blankets and lights.

Gwen Schmitz ‘24

All Graphics: S. Goodwin

26 // BGQ // February 2021

What do you enjoy most about this tradition?

It’s just nice that we do it every year and I can remember enjoying it as a younger child so it’s very nostalgic. And Charlie Brown is just my favorite, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. He’s awesome all seasons.

-Nickel ‘21

The pajamas are a fun way to connect with each other and take fun family pictures. The pickle is a way my mom gets me to wake up in the morning, because we are racing to find it and want to be the first to open up a present.

-Raniszewski ‘21

Everything.

The time I get to spend with my family, and the moments of peace I have to reflect back on myself.

-Timmers ‘21

I like food.

-Hegg ‘24

My brother and I have fun, and it brings us closer.

-Schmitz ‘24

-Wharton ‘23

Music Review Reviews of music trends and the BGQ’s first ever podcast episode Listen to the BGQ’s first ever podcast episode here:

by ALEJANDRO LEPCZYK & NIK FAGERMAN staff writer & business

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his quarter, Nik Fagerman (my editor) and I decided to take an unorthodox approach towards our BGQ article - we chose to record a podcast. Our topic was music, an art form we both very much enjoy. Although we do not always share the same open-mindedness and opinions, Nik and I have relatively similar tastes. In our podcast, we discuss music we’ve enjoyed, and music we’re looking forward to. Additional topics include: the effect TikTok has had on music, and artists on websites like Soundcloud or Youtube where just about anyone can upload a song.

We’ve decided to bring forth what, in our opinion, were the takeaways from our conversation.

TikTok: Nik and I both found it very upsetting that there were songs like “Ultralight Beam” and “Money Trees” becoming trends on a video sharing platform. When we dove deeper into why we felt this way, we concluded that it’s degrading. It’s degrading to make jokes out of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, who is presenting testimony on the troubles of life in poverty, the struggles with substance abuse and gang violence, and the impact of institutionalized racism.

To us, it seems inappropriate for caucasian youth to use this music for playful entertainment and jokes when it’s supposed to promote awareness of how 28 // BGQ // February 2021

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the other side of America lives. It’s supposed to give you concepts to think on.

Female hip-hop artists: Disclaimer: Neither Nik nor I identify as females nor do we have much of a platform to speak on this matter. This is just our view.

In the past we’ve seen respectable female artists such as Lauryn Hill, who do not allow themselves to be characterized by sexism. Lauryn Hill is an artist who has a beautiful voice and not only that, she also writes her own music and did all of this without allowing the media to objectify her. In contrast, we have artists like Doja Cat, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Minaj who are marketing themselves and their music by using their image and physical appearance. This is upsetting to see, obviously there are talented female artists but they’re outshone by women who promote lust as opposed to art. Personally I think both Rihanna and Beyonce had two of the best projects coming from the 2010’s those being Anti and Lemonade. These albums showed us both the talent these artists had, and gave us perspective on their stories. We can also see the pop artist Lizzo promoting body positivity which is very good to see in a time where some female artists allow themselves to be objectified to be successful. //

Songs we’d recommend listening to from 2020: “Posthumous Forgiveness” - Tame Impala: The psychedelic guitars and atmospheric vocals give this song a very relaxing feeling. The chaotic transition it goes through midsong is similar to “Nights” by Frank Ocean gives the listener a two part piece presenting different emotions held together by a guitar line. This was a personal favorite song of mine this summer, and I’d highly recommend listening to the entire album.

“Heartless” & “Blinding Lights” - The Weeknd: Heartless is a cross somewhere between neo soul and modern rap. Although The Weeknd does not have the strongest meaning or lyricism behind the song, it is well produced and The Weeknd’s vocals come off as angelic in certain sections of the song. The outro is also a very strong part of this song. Blinding Lights samples an 80’s synth line and layers it with rich percussion and a bright bass line. However contrary to the pop flavored synth lines the song has a dark tone to it as The Weeknd sings about the troubles he has in life and hints at a gambling addiction. Personally this song leaves me speechless, the instrumentation and vocals are truly beautiful. I find the concept of the song peaceful. I recommend you not only listen to this song but look into the lyrics as it tells a story of love.

“Wash Us In The Blood” - Kanye West & Travis Scott: From the preacher sampled in the beginning, to Travis Scott debating the morality of the death sentence there is not a dull moment in this record. Lyrics speak on modern day slavery, genocide, and false media. The song is incomplete without the music video, the video shows us footage of BLM protests, COVID-19 patients on respirators, mass incarceration, footage of Breonna Taylor, and a video of Ahmaud Arbery jogging moments before he was shot. This is a powerful piece which promotes thought and serves as Kanye’s call to a higher life to cleanse our culture of it’s sins and to right the wrongs that have been done.

Ron Jolly, maybe a more well known figure here in TC, has worked at seven different radio stations and one TV station in the past 37 years. He has spent the last 26 years at WTCM in downtown TC. Every day is different being a talk show host at a radio station. “Each day is dictated by the news, changed by the news, and by callers.”

Throughout Jolly’s career, he has interviewed more than 10 thousand people, with a few well known names in that mix. “George W. Bush, every Michigan governor since James Blanchard (excluding Whitmer), Ray Price, Lee Child, Donald Trump in 2012, Scott Turow” were some of the names Jolly listed. When asked why he chose radio as his destined career choice Jolly responded, “it’s not in visual public light, I’ve always liked music, and I’ve always liked knowing what’s behind the scenes.” Jolly attended Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield, Michigan. In preparation for his shows he looks at news websites, relevant stories, audio, researches the story, and looks for guests on the story that could come on. His live talk shows air from seven to 10 a.m. on 580 AM. // All Photos: C. Benedict

identityin

traverse city

by COLLIN BENEDICT staff writer

In our spin-off of Humans of New York, the Black & Gold Quarterly went into the Central High School community in search of uniquity. Our mission was to find inspiring stories and share them to encourage self-expression. Through a variety of randomly selected people, we were about to find one commonality: passion.

Stories like theirs are what makes us believe in the power that comes from expression through journalism. People are art. We feel combining their words with a visual story, a unique and inspiring message is created. Members of our community have conveyed their identities and inspired us through their words and sense of passion. To us, this is the truest kind of journalism— finding moving stories and sharing them.

30 // BGQ // February 2021

Sue Freed, at age 75, is still working here in Traverse City. She is a hair stylist who works at Style’s Inn in the Old Town district of Traverse City. She grew up in Arizona, then California, and then moved to Marion, Michigan at the age of 13. She then went on to graduate from Marion High School. “I moved here in ‘67. I have been working as a hairstylist since ‘66, one year in Grand Rapids, and five different places in TC.” Freed’s career choice doesn’t require college so she attended the Chic University of Cosmetology in Grand Rapids. Freed resides on the Peninsula, so walking, biking, and kayaking are her main hobbies.

She has two kids who are now grown up, but still living in TC. They attended Central when they were growing up.

Freed and her husband own a condo in Florida, where they go on vacation a few times every winter. But most of the year she’s here in TC, either working or making the most of it. //

Drew Rokos ‘24 is a freshman here at Central.

He has lived in Traverse City his entire life and has enjoyed it pleasantly. Drew’s dad is a Central alumni, who has lived here in TC his entire life. “I’ve liked high school so far. Mostly because there’s more people I know,” Drew says. Drew’s favorite subject is math, because it’s easiest for him. Drew’s least favorite subject is history, because it’s hardest for him.

Drew’s hobbies are dirt biking, baseball, fishing, and snowboarding. “I play on the Blue Stars baseball team. My dad’s a coach and a few of my friends are on the team.” Drew’s biggest hobby, dirt biking, is something he does almost every chance he gets.

“Every weekend I try to go riding,” he says. He rides with a few of his friends here at Central. Drew’s winter hobby, snowboarding, is also big. This year he’s made a mini snow ramp in his backyard for him and his friends to hit. In the Winter you can find Drew snowboarding at Mt. Holiday here in TC. //

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How the pandemic has changed the minds of many

by ELIZABETH PHILLIPS staff writer

January 2021 32 // BGQ // February 2021

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his is how some of the students at Central described their current mental health state. Avery Vaughn ‘22 is one of them. “[My mental health] is really low, and it’s really hard to get myself up and out of bed, especially when there’s so much going on in the world [and] so much going on with myself,” she explained.

This year has been tough on a lot of us. Some people felt as if they started off with a strong mental state, but as the months went on, that state began to weaken; others felt as if “I just don’t feel they started out weak and just got weaker. motivated or All of the unexpected happy anymore. twists and turns throughout the year, It feels like such as the multiple nothing matters unexpected lockdowns, school closures, and like it used to not being able to see prior to the family have made it hard to stay happy. pandemic.”

I started off the year pretty well. Then, the pandemic started to become more of a real thing. I tried not to stress myself out over it when we went into lockdown. But as those months went on, I began to get sadder. I tried to deny this fact, believing that if I told myself I was happy I would be happy. But I wasn’t. With more negativity flooding in through social media and the news, and the lockdown getting pushed further and further back, my mental state declined even more. I felt lazy and hopeless. It was as if nothing felt like it needed to be done anymore.

Still, I tried to deny it. I pushed myself to shower every morning, read, write, and do things that made me feel somewhat happier. Once summer came and we were out of school, things started to look up. I finally got to see some family and friends. It felt like everything was going to be okay. But it didn’t stay that way.

It’s not uncommon to feel this way. Diane Burden, the CHS social worker, explained how teens’ men-

tal health has been affected by the pandemic. “This has changed everything because it’s increased the anxiety that a lot of us feel, and that’s something that we refer to as situational,” Burden explained. It’s based on a situation that is causing us to have an increase in anxiety because so much is unknown, and we don’t know what’s going to happen. Typically, during the school year, we can pretty much expect that Monday through Friday we’re going to school, [that] Thanksgiving is going to happen, [that] spring break will probably happen, prom is probably going to happen. So there are so many things that we just can’t predict, [which] has increased the anxiety, I think, in most of us.”

Other health professionals say the same. Christi Lovik, a therapist at Lakeview Counseling, delved into the idea of isolation, and the constant changes surrounding this year. “The pandemic has caused so many changes for individuals, children, teens, and families. School and work life have changed and have become increasingly unpredictable. Humans are naturally quite adaptable, but the ever-changing rules and recommendations to maximize social distancing, while also still trying to maximize productivity, have undoubtedly taken a toll on overall mental health,” Lovik said.

As well as the uncertainty surrounding this year, news and social media can play a big role in happiness as well. “When it looks like every“Every single day body else is having a perfect life, and feels the same.” they have beautiful everything, and wonderful friends, and having fun all of the time, it makes us feel negative about ourselves. And I think if we had less social media and more interacting, it would be a lot healthier,” Burden said.

Vaughn also thinks that online school contributes to a decline in mental health. “Online school is difficult, it’s a lot different than being in person and actually seeing people. You don’t get a lot of social activity except for your parents, or maybe if you have siblings, and sometimes you don’t even want to talk

Photo: O. Hale

A “wall” honors the lives of those who lost their battles with mental health disorders.

to your siblings.”

Lovik finds that “It’s basically teens struggle anxiety constantly with motivation because I never when their learning has know what’s going environment changed. “What to come next, and makes things hard is the expectation I don’t really know that teens should what my future continue to stay on top of their school holds anymore.” work, despite the fast-paced changes in learning platforms. When teens feel like they’re falling short and not meeting the expectations of the adults in their lives, happiness ultimately decreases.”

Lovik explained.

As tough as things get, there are ways to help yourself. “Focus on the positive things that have happened, or that you might want to make happen 34 // BGQ // February 2021

tomorrow. I mean, if I had a cruddy day today, and I’m in bed, getting ready to go to sleep, I can perseverate all that negativity that happened. Or, I can think about what the possibilities could be tomorrow, for having a much better day,” Burden recommends. Vaughn suggests trying something new while at home. “Pick up some hobbies that you can try and do. Drawing is something that I’ve been doing for a while, and it’s always helped me feel better. And some people aren’t artistic, and some people are not creative in a way like some others are, but you could pick up a book that you haven’t read and you can read that, and you could try writing, you could try cooking with the ingredients you have. There are a multitude of things that you could do,” Lovik says to not be too tough on yourself. “Most importantly, be gentle with and forgiving of yourself. Hard days are ok and it doesn’t mean you’re failing! Keep reminding yourself that you’re doing the best you can. You are surviving a pandemic!” //

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36 // BGQ // February 2021

Skiing Faces New Challenges How ski resorts in Northern Michigan are adapting to unusual conditions

by TED ARNOLD proofing

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very year, thousands of Michiganders head to local ski resorts and hit the slopes, making use of the, on average, 11 feet of snow we receive every year in Northern Michigan. Skiing draws thousands of tourists to Northern Michigan, and fuels local clubs and ski racing teams. This year, however, ski resorts could not escape the reach of the Coronavirus. Across the country, many ski resorts were forced to implement social distancing and exposure limiting policies. Here in Traverse City, our two local hills, Hickory Hills and Mt. Holiday, as well as the closest major resort, Crystal Mountain, have put a number of policies in place designed to keep skiers and snowboarders safe, while still maintaining an enjoyable experience.

Crystal Mountain reopened its operations this summer with a new “Crystal Clean” policy, requiring all visitors to be masked while indoors and when in close proximity outdoors. This policy extends to ski lift queues, where riders of those lifts must ride with those who they arrived with. Crystal is encouraging guests to use their cars for storage and setup, as indoor common areas will be closed to prevent virus spread. Crystal’s size and reach in the region mean that their policies give direction to smaller ski areas.

Hickory Hills, owned and operated by the Traverse City Parks and Recreation Division, is reopening with mask wearing and social distancing being required.

Their lodge will also be open only in a limited capacity for bathrooms and pass sales. Hickory is focusing on expanding their outdoor space, having installed two fire pits for skiers to warm up at, and will not be

selling their own food, instead encouraging skiers to bring their food from home. Derek Melville, the Parks and Recreation Superintendent for the city of Traverse City is optimistic that memories can still be made this season, having “added outdoor fire pits and some tables to help provide some opportunities for connecting,” but social distancing rules will still be in place in these areas. Melville’s main focus is on maintaining the energy that local ski hills have, and their ability to do “the little things, like laughing with friends.”

Mt. Holiday is also implementing an outdoor-focused response, featuring expanded patio space and more outdoor areas for visitors to rest and eat. Their indoor areas will still be open, but at limited capacity, and with masks required. Holiday is a popular ski spot for Central students, like Nick Caruso, who skis at Mt. Holiday, and is on Central’s Alpine ski team.

Caruso says that this year’s changes have had little impact on the slopes, “it’s not very imposing [on skiing].” However, the ski team has felt the impact in other ways, “normally we would have dryland practice for a couple weeks in the school, but this year that didn’t happen.”

Coronavirus has changed how we ski here in Northern Michigan, but not always for the worse.

Some changes will stick around for years to come, like online pass sales, a change that makes life that much easier for everyone involved. Additionally, expanded outdoor seating means skiers can quickly eat, rest, and warm up, reducing the time they spend off the hill, and allowing for more time spent enjoying the winter weather. //

The Recipe Ingredients 4 ¾ Cups flour 2 Tablespoons baking soda ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¾ lb. (3 sticks) unsalted butter 1 2/4 Cup sugar 2 Large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ Cup Molasses Royal Icing All Photos: J. Baldyga

1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger in a large bowl 2. With paddle attachment on mixer, combine butter and sugar. Beat starting on low and increasing to high until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add eggs in one at a time, mixing in between each addition. Add vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined.

3. Turn off the mixer and add molasses. Mix until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix again until combined.

4. Transfer the dough to a clean work surface, sprinkled with flour. Roll into 4 1 ½ inch diameter logs. Wrap in parchment and refrigerate 1-2 hours.

5. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap rolls and slice dough into ⅜ inch thick rounds. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheets for 12-15 minutes or until surfaces crack lightly.

6. Allow to cool and then ice with Royal Icing

Pumpkin Spice Cookies 38 // BGQ // February 2021

Ingredients

4 eggs 1 cup milk 1cup flour Âź teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon butter Powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Beat eggs with wire whisk until foamy. Add milk and beat again until well blended. Add flour and salt, and whisk until smooth.

3. Put the butter into a deep glass pie pan or a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, and put it in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until it melts.

4. Remove the dish from the oven and pour in the batter. Return it to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the pancake is puffy.

5. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar. Serve immediately with warm applesauce, jam, or maple syrup

German Oven Pancake

40 // BGQ // November 2020