NEWS
Colleen’s Corner
THE STINGER
5
Februar y, 2014
US Sen. Toomey calls East Penn home
Colleen Grablick News Editor
mittees, with several subcommittees in each. Xoxo, Gossip Girl Although being a U.S. Senator has its Lehigh Valley resident and PennsylThe glow of the laptop illuminates the dark- vania Sen. Pat Toomey first involved perks, there are some negative aspects of ness in my room. Red flashes on the screen himself in politics in 1998, and hasn’t such a demanding job. “[The toughest part of the job] is as the word “Netflix” emerges in white. My stopped since. definitely being away from home,” said eyes strain to stay open. It’s one o’clock in the Toomey’s career began when he ran morning, and I’m starting my fifth consecutive for a seat in the House of Representa- Toomey. “That is the big unfortunate part episode of Gossip Girl. tives for Pennsylvania’s 15th congres- of the job.” Despite a constant commute to WashI can remember the day the addiction first sional district. He served three terms in ington, D.C., the job pays off, according started. On Christmas night, I curled up in that position. In 2004, Toomey ran for my bed with my Netflix account open on my the Pennsylvania Senate, and narrowly to Toomey. “[My favorite part of the job] is when phone. I didn’t think much of it, as my finger lost to Republican Senator Arlen Specwe do something to benefit the people of lightly tapped the button to play the first epitor. Toomey challenged Spector again in Pennsylvania”, said Toomey. sode of Gossip Girl. I just wanted something 2010, this time victorious. Having school age children definitely to entertain me for a few hours before I went A resident of Zionsville, Toomey deto bed. Little did I know that this decision cided to run for Senate due to President affects his decisions, according to Toomey. would spark an outrageous addiction, obsesObama’s actions. “Having kids changes your outlook sion, and infatuation with the series. “It was clear President Obama and the The show, which stopped airing on regular Democrats were doing enormous harm to on a lot of things,” said Toomey. “It retelevision in 2012 (thank God for Netflix), the country,” said Toomey. “It occurred newed my interest in education and rechronicles the lives of “Manhattan’s elite.” Set to me that we [Republicans] can do a lot newed my interest in education.” According to Toomey, the biggest isin the Upper East Side, the series follows a of great things for the country.” group of privileged New York teens who ride Toomey currently serves on the Fi- sues facing education is the lack of oparound the city in limos and attend galas every nance, Budget, Banking, Housing and tions for parents. “The biggest problem is that parents night. With various hook-ups, daddy issues, Urban Affairs, and Joint Economic comdon’t have enough choice,” said and scandals, the show is jam-packed with draToomey. “In many cases their ma. That’s where the title Gossip Girl comes Fast Facts only choice the local public in. An anonymous blog appropriately named school. Too often that public “Gossip Girl” exists in the show that somehow Height: 5’11” school might not be getting the manages to spill every secret or scandal to its job done for the student.” trusty followers. Needless to say, Gossip Girl Ice cream flavor: coffee flavored A firm believer in a strong causes many problems for the main characters. education, Toomey values readLiars and cheaters are revealed and friendships Hidden talent: “If I have one it’s ing and writing skills. are tried and tested. Sounds juicy right? “I’m a big believer that the However, it’s not the endless cat fights, so hidden it’s hidden from me.” more kids refine their comscandalous affairs, or attractive male roles munication skills the better that make the show impossible for me to stop watching (I might be lying a little about that last part.) It’s Chuck and Blair. Chuck Bass, son of Bart Bass, head of Bass Industries, is the show’s token “bad boy.” In the first episode, it is introduced that his best friend Nate Archibald has been dating Blair Waldorf, Queen B, since practically kindergarten. However, after their tragic breakup half way through the season, Chuck swoops in to comfort his hurt friend Blair. To put it nicely, one thing leads to another and things get pretty steamy between the two in the back of Chuck’s limo. After this epic scene the romance blossoms, and the addiction became oh so real to me. I never paid much attention to the show when it actually aired weekly on TV. No one in my grade really did. However, once the entire series became available for INSTANT streaming on Netflix, one can see how the Anticipating a long Easter break? could potentially save two to three days from being added. popularity grew. Recently, Gossip Girl has Scratch those plans. However, district superintendent Dr. dominated social networks, with various How about heading to the shore for quotes from the show circulating on Twitter. the third week of June? Think again— Thomas Seidenberger told parents at last week’s meeting that longer days probI can’t count how many times I’ve seen the unless, of course, you’re a senior. tweet “where can I buy a Chuck Bass?” (In Last week the East Penn School ably will not happen. The process would only be considfact, I may be guilty of tweeting it myself but Board unanimously agreed to revise the that’s besides the point.) All of this fuss over school calendar, thanks to the large num- ered if the district uses up all of its opthe show is said to have “set girls’ standards ber of snow days the district has taken. tions and available make-up days, he too high,” according to some guys. The board voted to add April 21, which said. However, some Emmaus students say Psh. is the day after Easter Sunday, as well as Do I sometimes wish I was a millionaire June 16 and 17, which are the Monday they would prefer to see days in March or April extended by up to 30 minutes. with a penthouse on the Upper East Side and and Tuesday after Father’s Day. “I’d rather go to school when it’s cold a closet filled with designer tags? Yes. Do I The district already added April 17, sometimes wish Chuck Bass would just appear commonly known as Holy Thursday, rather than when it’s warm outside,” said junior Emily Thomas. at my door wearing a suit with a limo waiting? and June 10 through 13 to the schedule. Thomas, like junior Taylor Schubert, Yes. Am I fully aware of the fact that I live in For the past week, students and staff suburban Pennsylvania, most of my clothes are discussed the possibility of extending says vacations will be interrupted by the from Target, and my main mode of transporta- the length of some school days in order additional June days. “I’m going to Alaska, so I don’t want tion is my mom’s Subaru? Yes. But a girl can to avoid adding additional days in June. dream, can’t she? Some students said they would agree to my trip to be messed up,” Schubert said. But some, like sophomore Sally I suppose that up until now my description adding 3 minutes to each class, which of the show is very materialistic. However, Gossip Girl is not just all about bratty teenage drama queens gossiping about the latest hookups. The series does include underlying messages of family, love, and friendship. ViewWhile some of us walers watch as best friends fall apart, but they lowed in the winter blues, also grow with the characters as they learn to forgive and move on. We witness marriages others took advantage of crumble, but we also join characters on the the days off and frolicked journey of finding new love and rebuilding a in the fluffy white powfamily. Gossip Girl gives it’s a viewers a taste of a fantasy that every girl sometimes, even der. Here is what some just for a moment, wishes she could live in. of your clasmates did on So to all my fellow GG watchers out there, their days off. it’s perfectly fine to watch Gossip Girl for hours on end or to retweet endless photos of Chuck Bass. Our parents should be happy that a TV show is the only thing we’re addicted to. Xoxo, Gossip Girl.
they are in life,” said Toomey. Although Toomey was not raised in the Lehigh Valley, the senator chose the Valley as his home. “It’s a fantastic place to live,” said Toomey.
Who: Patrick “Pat” Toomey
What: U.S. Senator (Republican-PA)
Where: Upper Milford Township When: Elected in 2010 for a 6-year term
Why you should care: He’s known as an advocate for conservative values, limited government, fiscal disciplineand he lives up the road from Emmaus High School while representing us in Washington.
Snow kidding, you just lost spring break
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Baer, prefer the June make-up days to staying longer than 2:25 p.m. “We should add days on to June because there are practices for sports that can’t be changed to accommodate later school days,” said Baer, who plays basketball. Sophomore Matt Fitzmaurice agrees. “Add on to June because there isn’t much to do in school at the end of the year and there’s too many things to do after school,” Fitzmaurice said. Freshman Clara Nebel also supports the board’s decision for more days in June. “I just don’t want the days extended,” Nebel said. “They’re already too long. I have things to do [after school].” The added days in June, however, don’t faze most seniors since graduation is currently still scheduled for June 8 at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena. Top left: Sophomores Victoria Mastroianni, Nolan Marcks, Laura Smerker Bottom Left: Sophomores Matt Renschen, Emily Quigg, Chinmay Mutter Right: Sophomores Emily Quigg, Colleen Grablick, Penny Stenroos