December 2024

December 2024

Vol ume 11 Issue 01

Spark THE SPARK AT ASU

A Journalistic Collaboration of the Arizona State University Online Community

In This Issue Top 10 Thanksgiving Movies Brittany Christan

A Dog-Safe Thanksgiving

Gracy’s Guide to: self Care

Rise from the Ashes, Part 3

Kitiana Ford

Gracy Kirby

Billie Alderman

DECMEBER 2024 SUNDAY

MONDAY

1

8

Session C Study Day

15

22

29

2

Session B Finals Week

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

4

5

3

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6

7

End of B/C Classes

Session C Study Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

31

1

2

3

4

Calendar

02

Session C Finals Week

Grades due for B/C Session

30

New Year’s Eve

NOTES

2-6 9-14 16

Session B Finals Week!

Last push everyone, good luck.

Session C Finals Week!

Good luck, you’ve got this.

Winter Break begins, see you January 5th.

Happy holidays!

BY BRITTANY CHRISTIAN

As November pushes in, the next holiday we’ll be celebrating is Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is one of those times when families come together to spend time.

Whether that means gathering around the TV for football season, heading over to Grandma’s for some apple pie or cooking dinner for all your relatives. The most important thing about Thanksgiving is family.

Thanksgiving movies are hard to find. If you’re searching for some feel-good Thanksgiving films, here’s are some movies to watch:

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) *Streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video We’re going to start with the classics. If you’re familiar with The Peanuts then you’re aware of this Thanksgiving movie.

The basic plot of this movie is that Peppermint Patty has Thanksgiving at Charles' house even though he’ll be away at his grandmother’s. Snoopy makes an attempt to cook his own Thanksgiving meal without any help. Learn about the meaning of Thanksgiving with Snoopy and the gang.

Soul Food (1997) *Streaming on Tubi, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home This film is a Thanksgiving classic that teaches about the good of having family over. We all know that the family dinner tables aren't always as peaceful. With the Joseph family, they cope with losing their matriarch due to a surgery gone wrong.

This family has to learn to love and get along with each other. Sure old rivalries do come up between siblings; however, it’s important to understand that the good memories always outweigh the bad and that family traditions are always important.

Friendsgiving (2020) Thanksgiving (2023) *Streaming on Starz, Youtube TV, Hulu, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Fandango at Home and Apple TV Have you ever heard of Friendsgiving?

Are you closer to your friends than your family? This movie follows Molly and Abbey who attempt to host a Thanksgiving dinner with their friends.

Things take quite a turn when uninvited guests and their families decide to join the party. This movie has a lot of laughs and good cries for your heart.

* Streaming on Netflix, Youtube, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime Video In the need for more Halloween thrills?

Get ready for this Thanksgiving based horror film. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, a mysterious masked pilgrim is going around town killing people.

The mysterious killer has spurned on anger from a Black Friday riot gone wrong a year before. The senseless killings turn out to be a ceaseless plan for revenge.

Free Birds (2013) *Streaming on Tubi, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Hulu, FuboTV, The Roku Channel, Youtube TV, Apple TV and Fandango at Home A lucky turkey named Reggie is pardoned by the President from being cooked for Thanksgiving dinner. Before he gets a chance to live his carefree life, Jake, another turkey, comes along to recruit him for a history-changing mission. The two turkeys travel back in time to 1621 before the first Thanksgiving to prevent all turkeys from becoming a staple for Thanksgiving dinner.

A Family Thanksgiving (2010) *Streaming on Plex, Hallmark+, Philo, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home and Apple TV Claudia is a successful trial attorney who graduated as the top of her class from Harvard Law School. She’s working very hard to become the first female partner at a high-power law firm. She is asked to make an apple pie for dinner. The request annoys Claudia because her sister knows she’s not the homemaker type. The day before Thanksgiving, changes her life completely. She is warped into a life as a soccer mom with a husband and three kids. Will this woman learn to understand her sister?

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) *Philo, Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle, Plex, The Roku Channel, Youtube TV, and Amazon Prime Video A recently widowed woman struggles to feed her three children after her husband’s death. Tilly is the oldest daughter and an aspiring writer. She uses her writing skills to write to her wealthy, estranged grandmother on her mother’s side for help. There are some grievances between them that they have to get over for the family to mend.

Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow (2015) *Streaming on Disney+, Amazon prime video, Sling TV and Fandango at Home As part of the Thanksgiving holiday, Ron Emmerson takes his two children to his Aunt Cly’s farm in Turkey Hollow. The town has no technology which irks his two children. While being in the town, the children have found themselves in the mystery of the Howling Hoodoo, a 10-foot monster that’s considered a legend by the people of Turkey Hollow. Follow the two children in this epic adventure to save Turkey Hollow.

The Thanksgiving Movie (2023)

*Streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home, Fubo TV, Youtube TV and Amazon Prime Video Butterball, the turkey and Missy, the dodo go on an adventure to save Thanksgiving. They have to save the holiday by the time dinner starts. This animated movie is for kids and adults.

Grab the family and join in this Thanksgiving adventure.

These are some Thanksgiving movies that you can enjoy at home. Streaming Services have been provided for where to watch. Be advised that some of these movies require a paid subscription.

The Turkey Bowl (2019)

*Streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube TV, Apple TV and Fandango at Home

Patrick Hodges is a former high school quarterback turned businessman. He is tricked into coming back to his hometown after his high school buddy’s death. His mission for this Thanksgiving is to win The Turkey Bowl. This is a condition by his former coach and judge to make up for being arrested in the town. He also finds his high school sweetheart still lingering with feelings.

Will this businessman relive his glory days on the football field or be pulled back to being busy?

A Dog-Safe Thanksgiving: What to Share and What to Skip for Your Furry Friend’s Health Article & Infographics by: Kitana Ford

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s essential to keep our furry friends’ health in mind. As we gather around the table with plates full of delicious dishes like brown sugar sweet potatoes, buttery mashed potatoes, and turkey, we may notice some hopeful eyes looking up from below. While those puppy eyes are hard to resist, it’s important to consider the ingredients before sharing any food with our pets.

Some foods, like onions and desserts, are widely known to be unsafe for dogs. However, items like turkey and mashed potatoes might not be as obvious. Although the list of foods to avoid is longer than the list of safe treats, there are still plenty of foods your dog can enjoy this holiday season.

Here’s a quick guide on what’s safe and what to avoid when sharing Thanksgiving treats with your furry friend.

Wondering which Thanksgiving treats are safe to share with your dog? Stick to plain options like sweet potatoes, potatoes, apples, green beans, peas, and pumpkin puree. Remember, turkey is safe only if unseasoned, with no skin or bones.

Safe Foods for Dogs: Plain Mashed Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are a nutritious option if they’re served plain, without added sugar or spices (American Kennel Club).

Plain, Boiled, or Baked Potatoes Regular potatoes are safe as long as they’re unseasoned and free of butter, cream, garlic, or onions (American Kennel Club) Sliced Fresh Apples Apples are a tasty treat, but remember to remove the core and seeds (American Kennel Club).

Plain Green Beans Green beans are a good vegetable choice when served plain, without butter or seasoning (American Kennel Club).

Plain Peas Fresh or steamed peas can be offered, but avoid adding salt or butter (American Kennel Club).

Pure Pumpkin Puree Pumpkin is excellent for digestion, but make sure it’s plain puree, not pie filling (American Kennel Club).

Turkey is also safe for dogs if it’s served plain, with the skin and bones removed. Avoid giving your dog any seasoned or spiced turkey, which can be harmful (American Kennel Club).

Not all Thanksgiving dishes are dog-friendly! Avoid giving your pet sides like stuffing and casseroles, certain fruits and vegetables, turkey bones, and any sugary or alcoholic beverages. Protect your furry friend’s health this holiday by keeping these foods off their plate.

Foods to Avoid: Other Sides: Foods like stuffing, casseroles, all desserts, and any dish labeled “sugar-free” (which may contain xylitol) are unsafe. These foods often contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs, such as onions, garlic, sugar, and spices (American Kennel Club).

Certain Vegetables and Fruits: Be cautious with mashed potatoes, creamed peas, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, and scallions, as these can be harmful to pets (American Kennel Club).

Meats: Avoid turkey bones, skin, gravy, seasoned turkey, and ham, all of which are unsafe due to fat content, bones, and spices (American Kennel Club).

Drinks: Alcoholic and sugary beverages should never be given to dogs (American Kennel Club).

Warning: These foods can lead to serious health issues, including pancreatitis, and they may even be toxic. If your dog accidentally consumes any of the unsafe foods, contact the Pet Poison Helpline or your local emergency vet (American Kennel Club).

Reference: American Kennel Club. “Thanksgiving Foods for Dogs: What’s Safe and What’s Not.” https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/thanksgiving-foods-for-dogs/

Rise from the Ashes: Stella’s Story, Part 3 Billie Alderman

Stella bolted from the garage and jumped into her Ford pickup. She peeled out of the house as if the cops were chasing her. What she just saw could not be true. The chief did not kill my family. He couldn’t have. Could he?

But how could she rationalize nail polish remover and 9-volt batteries stockpiled like they were used daily? She hit the on-ramp to the Long Island Expressway and steered over to the furthest lane, stepping down on the gas pedal.

Question after question flew through her mind, and she didn’t know where she was headed until she absentmindedly pulled up to Jimbo’s Bar. She thought about sitting down and playing nice with Stevens and Jess, but she wasn’t in the mood; she was sure her lunch would evacuate her body at any minute. Hopping out of her car, she swayed over to the front door before halting. She wasn’t up for this. She couldn’t take Jess tonight. She loved her best friend but didn’t have the strength for her carefree, boy-thirsty attitude. Grabbing her phone out of her pocket, she texted Jess, apologizing for blowing her off. She wasn’t feeling well and needed to go home and rest. Stella turned around to head back to her car and walked right into Stevens.

“Oh shoot, I’m so sorry,” Stella said when she realized who it was.

“Don’t worry about it,” Stevens responded before his brows raised in surprise. “Hey, you okay?

You look pale.”

“I’m fine.”

His hand instinctively went to her shoulder to steady her when she stumbled as she tried to walk past him.

“You don’t look fine. Let me drive you home.”

“No, please, I’m okay. Besides, my car is here.”

“I can take care of that for you. I’m a little worried; you really don’t look well. I’m afraid you’re gonna pass out behind the wheel.”

Her hand went straight to her stomach, and she tried to speak but couldn’t find any words.

“That’s it; I’m taking you home. Let’s go.”

He guided her toward his car, and she astonishingly followed without a fight. She knew she was in shock if she was letting a guy she just met earlier take her home. After helping her into the car, he got behind the wheel.

“Where am I headed?”

She laid it all out in one swoop and figured if he got scared off, then it was for the better.

“When I was 12, I lost my entire family in a fire.”

His jaw dropped, but she didn’t give him a chance to interrupt her.

“My mom, dad, brother, and sister were all sleeping. I was having a sleepover, but she woke me up, saying she was going home. That her mom was picking her up; she wasn’t feeling well and just wanted to be in her bed. I walked her downstairs and watched her leave. I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I played in my room. I guess I was hoping to tire myself out. Before I knew it, smoke was seeping through the door cracks, and a fire was blazing outside my room. I ran and hid in the closet until a fireman found me and carried me outside.”

“Wow, Stella, I’m sorry. That’s awful,” Jake said.

“Yesterday, I found the incident in the arson cases we all chose from. All these years, I thought it was an electrical fire. Turns out it was a damn arsonist. Someone murdered my family.”

“I see why you look like all the blood in your body vanished.”

“That’s not even the worst part. The firefighter who saved me also raised me as his own. Chief Brighton. I just came from his house. He wasn’t there, and it looked like his garage had been rummaged through. I found nail polish remover and 9-volt batteries stockpiled in a cabinet.”

“What does that have to do with the arson case?” Jake asked, but had a feeling he knew what Stella was about to say.

“That was the arsonist’s M.O. when he burnt my house to the ground along with my family.”

Stella downed the rest of her beer and grabbed another one. “Is it crazy for me to think that the chief killed my family?”

“Anything is possible, but if he was the arsonist, I doubt he would have left evidence out for you to find, especially since you grew up in that house. Doesn’t make any sense to me. If he wanted you close to keep an eye out, make sure you didn’t know anything, that would be a stupid and risky mistake. Now, he’s missing. It’s just not smart.”

Stella shook her head, taking in Jake’s words, trying to think logically. She sat quietly, contemplating.

Outside, someone stood watching the scene through the window. Fury burned within them, and rational thought left their brain. They grabbed a canister from the trunk of their car, walked around to the front and back of the house, and doused it in gasoline. They lit a match, tossed it, and drove away.

She laid it all out in one swoop and figured if he got scared off, then it was for the better.

“When I was 12, I lost my entire family in a fire.”

His jaw dropped, but she didn’t give him a chance to interrupt her.

“My mom, dad, brother, and sister were all sleeping. I was having a sleepover, but she woke me up, saying she was going home. That her mom was picking her up; she wasn’t feeling well and just wanted to be in her bed. I walked her downstairs and watched her leave. I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I played in my room. I guess I was hoping to tire myself out. Before I knew it, smoke was seeping through the door cracks, and a fire was blazing outside my room. I ran and hid in the closet until a fireman found me and carried me outside.”

“Wow, Stella, I’m sorry. That’s awful,” Jake said.

“Yesterday, I found the incident in the arson cases we all chose from. All these years, I thought it was an electrical fire. Turns out it was a damn arsonist. Someone murdered my family.”

“I see why you look like all the blood in your body vanished.”

“That’s not even the worst part. The firefighter who saved me also raised me as his own. Chief Brighton. I just came from his house. He wasn’t there, and it looked like his garage had been rummaged through. I found nail polish remover and 9-volt batteries stockpiled in a cabinet.”

“What does that have to do with the arson case?” Jake asked, but had a feeling he knew what Stella was about to say.

“That was the arsonist’s M.O. when he burnt my house to the ground along with my family.”

Stella downed the rest of her beer and grabbed another one. “Is it crazy for me to think that the chief killed my family?”

“Anything is possible, but if he was the arsonist, I doubt he would have left evidence out for you to find, especially since you grew up in that house. Doesn’t make any sense to me. If he wanted you close to keep an eye out, make sure you didn’t know anything, that would be a stupid and risky mistake. Now, he’s missing. It’s just not smart.”

Stella shook her head, taking in Jake’s words, trying to think logically. She sat quietly, contemplating.

Outside, someone stood watching the scene through the window. Fury burned within them, and rational thought left their brain. They grabbed a canister from the trunk of their car, walked around to the front and back of the house, and doused it in gasoline. They lit a match, tossed it, and drove away.

Meet the Team

WRITERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brittany Christian Kitiana Ford Billie Alderman Gracy Kirby

Ruby S. Editor in Chief

EDITORS

JJ Nsumners Jessica Mason Mackenzie Keene

Ruby S. Director of Editing Brittany Christian Director of Writing Elena Mitchell Director of Graphic Design

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Sydne Ware Star Taie Lauren Spangl Alana Arcano Elena Mitchell

ADVISORY TEAM Kristian LaCroix-McDaniel Roxanne Wilcox

Director of Communications