23-24 The Whirlwind - Issue 4

Whirlwind WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2024 • ISSUE 4

20-21 WHAT IS “COQUETTE”

22-29

EMBRACING ALBANY

RECLAIMING SELF-CARE

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LESS 18-19 COMMON LOCALE

CONTENTS FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Big Picture: A debrief on world, nation, state and local news 04-05

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How to Expand: A five-step guide on how to grow your music taste 06 This One Time: Coaches and athletes share excuses for getting out of practice 07 By the Numbers: The rise of absenteeism in Oregon schools 08 From My Perspective: A student shares why taking risks is a good thing 09

EQUAL(ITY)

Math teachers and students share their thoughts about ‘de-tracking’ math 10-11

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FAN FAVORITES The different ways students express fandom 12-13

TEAMING TOGETHER How positive relationships between students fuels a healthy sports environment 14-15

FOCUSING ON MYSELF

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The growth and impact of the self care industry 16-17

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HIDDEN PASSIONS

The lesser known spaces where students participate in activites 18-19

FEMININE FASHION

The impact that social media is having on the way girls express themselves 20-21

KEEPING IT LOCAL

An exploration of Albany’s past and exploration of its future 22-29

KEEP IT THE SAME Staff Editorial on why students shouldn’t have to make up the days missed due to the ice storm 30-31

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Cover Illustration | Mollie Brown Back Cover Illustration | Gigi Roldan

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EDITORS’ NOTE

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s spring rolls in with sunshine and smiles, upperclassmen and seniors specifically have begun seriously looking out to the world, considering their futures. Like us, many have lived in Albany all their lives, growing up in our little corner of the world, rich with life and a culture of its own. Often overlooked, however, is the equally bountiful history of our very own hometown. Many of us have lived our entire lives, even up to the brink of adulthood, without knowing or wondering about the stories behind the stores we walk past daily, the monuments we cherish so dearly, or even the founding of our city itself.

Beyond the discussions in our history classes, each and every building, block, path, and park

BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK INTERESTED IN SPONSORING? The Whirlwind, West Albany High School’s student news publication, is seeking sponsors for this school year. Whirlwind provides a unique service to the school community, covering news and issues related to the WAHS student body.

Sponsoring The Whirlwind is a way to show your support for the civic engagement, open dialogue, critical thinking and free exercise of expression that good student journalism encourages. Any individual or business can sponsor The Whirlwind. Sponsorship does not indicate endorsement of the views or opinions expressed in The Whirlwind. Contact us at wahswhirlwind@gmail.com

STAFF Editors-In-Chief Mollie Brown Avneet Dhaliwal Gigi Roldan Helen Whiteside Ming Wong

Art Director Mika Winder

News

Mina Clower Kayla Stefan

Opinion

Julia Berg Emi Ludlow

Special has a story of its own, a chapter or history of the way in which it was formed, old or new. Though WAHS offers several well-taught and informative varieties of history and social studies classes, they lack conversations about our community, and the more localized version of those narratives. Aside from the textbook standards, there is extensive value in the education and understanding of the people and places we see daily.

The typical history of a city aside, Albany is full to the brim with traits and distinctions that make it unique, constantly blooming and evolving for the betterment of our community. Even up-and-coming businesses not yet opened have meaning and purpose behind their individual developments, each sprouting from someone’s ambition and dreams. In fact, our heads team meets at Margin Coffee (pictured above) almost every Saturday morning, one of our personal favorite historic locations. The cafe was established in 2018, located downtown in an original building from 1906. With warm tea, espresso, and scones, the coffee shop repurposes the building perfectly, an ideal environment for planning our next issues. As journalists, we carry the value of investigating the overlooked close to our hearts, and our reporters spent hours exploring the nuanced history hidden behind buildings like Margin’s, in between the cracks in the sidewalks, and rooted deep into our town.

No matter which trail an individual may choose for their walk of life, learning the past of our childhood holds an invaluable understanding of ourselves, and an appreciation for every little bit of our surroundings.

Within this issue, you’ll find stories looking into many of Albany’s most curious historical wonders. On page 23, you’ll find a by-thenumbers approach to our town’s population by special editor Bri White and staff writer Addi Winter, examining statistics on Albany’s demographics. On the next page, head editor Gigi Roldan and staff writer Jesus Cisneros-Obledo share a spread in which, delving into the historical establishment of WAHS, as well as the founding of the city as a whole. And finally, on pages 28-29, special editor Yesenia Rosas interviewed Albany’s Environmental Director Sophie Adams, Community Development Director Matthew Ruettgers, and Communications Officer Matt Harrington on current undertakings and future aspirations of Albany.

With this issue, we aim to educate and inspire appreciation in our readers for our very own hometown, however small it may be, as we venture further outward, onto new places with new goals.

Yesenia Rosas Bri White

Sports

Edson S. Conn Taylour Veith

Arts & Entertainment A’Shyia Swensen Mika Winder

Reader Engagement Director Arabella Autry

Staff

Adilynn Atchley Braxton Bullard Jesus Cisneros-Obledo Ariana Goettl Charley Harrington Zion Mollel Ayrianna Vanhoorebeke Addi Winter Chance Young

Adviser

Michelle Balmeo

CONTACT US

Corrections and Letters to the Editors Please send corrections or comments on this issue to: wahswhirlwind@gmail.com THE WHIRLWIND is a dedicated student forum. Content and editorial decisions are made by student staff members exercising their rights as protected by the First Amendment and the Oregon Student Free Expression Law (Ore. Rev. Stat. sec. 336.477 (2007)). Opinions are those of The Whirlwind staff and not West Albany High School or the Greater Albany Public School District.

Mollie Brown, Avneet Dhaliwal, Gigi Roldan, Helen Whiteside, Ming Wong The Whirlwind Editors in Chief

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MARCH 2024

THE BIG PICTURE

Presenter Nicole Patterson from Phagens’ Beauty, based in Corvallis, presented to a group of students on Career Day on Mar. 13.

Saying No to Exploitation

STUDENTS SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT OREGON’S NEW CHILD LABOR REGULATIONS

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Story and photo by Avneet Dhaliwal

ust two weeks ago, state headlines taunted the public about the possibility of new regulations around child labor in the state, which reawakened a conversation that has been rattling the country in recent years. House Bill 4004 was created with the intention of updating the processes around the enforcement of prevention of child labor laws.

HB 4004 is notable as it is updating the procedures and mobility authorized to the Bureau of Labor and Industries, which have not been altered since the 1980s. Some key clauses from the HB will allow the BLI to take stronger action involving reported cases of exploitative labor from minors as well as granting the Bureau the power to fine employers up to $10,000 in extreme cases. This is significantly different as under current law, the Bureau must defer to the U.S. Department of Labor when determining if they are allowed to investigate reports of child labor.

Work Experience Advisor, Accounting and Personal Finance Teacher Joey Running, is interested in the reasoning behind the need for the new regulations as we already have child labor laws in place. Has the Bureau and the government been placed in a position where they are seeing an increase in reports of people violating proper procedure? If this is the case, then a lengthy discussion may be needed instead of these new regulations.

“I’d hate for employers to be reactionary or for legislation to be reactionary when we c[an] look at what’s already in place [before] putting more regulation on something,” Running said.

As for how students here at West manage working long hours while being a full-time T H E W H I R LW I N D

student, ideally, they would have to have amazing time management skills to balance all that they may have on their plate. So, there is a strong possibility that their academic concentration may be affected by their ability to focus because they have so many other things demanding their attention. Then, if the violation of child labor laws is added to the equation, it is suffocating for the young people sacrificing their childhood and other wants for their job. For some students, there are a variety of reasons why they work which can involve having financial freedom, saving up for the goals they have for the future, or helping their family with the bills.

“I wake up. I go to school. I go to work. I go home. I go to bed,” senior Shay Slupe said. “I’m never at school, my attendance has fallen so hard…I work so much and I don’t have [time for] a social life.”

Slupe has worked for over a year now and feels like it can all be overwhelming as the routine can feel monotonous and stressful due to the hours that she is spending working and managing the schoolwork she has from her academically rigorous classes. “[I’m] constantly stressed about missing school and [wanting] to do better in all areas of my life. And not to mention my job is stressful sometimes,” Slupe said.

For junior Ashton Wusstig, the amount of hours he puts into working per week (approx. 20-25hrs.) doesn’t really have much of an impact on how he performs at school nor does it restrict his free time. One of the minor reasons Wusstig works as much as he does is to be able to have the financial freedom of making the purchases he wants to make. For Wusstig, working can also feel rewarding, as his values align with the kind of establishment he works at.

“Honestly [for me], I just work because the employers I work for [are running] small businesses, [so] I’m just trying to help out and also I enjoy it,” Wusstig said.

Due to the lack of reporting on the news, many students were unaware of the new change of policy that directly has to do with the rights they are entitled to as an employee. Currently, the bill has been passed unanimously in the House with a vote of 20-to-6. All that is left before the bill is finalized is a signature from Governor Kotek.

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THE BIG PICTURE NATION A student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, 18-year old Darryl George was suspended in August of 2023 due to his locs. George and his family have been engaged in a legal dispute against the school district since the suspension. The final verdict from trial allowed the school district to continue punishing George, as the offense was not considered a violation of the Texas CROWN Act, which aimed to protect people against hate crimes and discrimination due to their cultural hairstyles.

LGBTQIA+ students across the nation have expressed fear for their safety in schools after a student in the LGBTQ+ community died on Feb. 8. Nex Benedict, a non-binary student in Owasso, Oklahoma, died a day after a physical fight broke out in the girls bathroom between them and three other classmates. The autopsy has shown no apparent reason behind their death, but it was determined the fight was not the reason behind their passing.

STATE

Downtown Portland’s population has slowly declined in the past four years due to the high cost of living and lack of no-experience-required jobs, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. The population has dropped from 652,388 in 2020 to 618,451 in 2024, a 33,937 person difference in just those four years. Along with the significant decrease in Portland’s population, there is a large homeless population in the metropolitan area. With the dwindling number of people living in these areas, what will become of the workforce in Portland?

Story by Charley Harrington

Photo by Lucy Rouse

AIR GUITAR This year’s Air Guitar competition ended in an upset, with the juniors beating the seniors. The juniors, with a “Barbie” theme, won this year, immersing the crowd completely in pink. Following in second, the seniors with a “Rio” theme, then, the sophomores in third place with “Pirates of the Caribbean”, and lastly, the freshman with “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

HORSES AND HUNTING On March 24th, there will be the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo at the Linn County Expo Center. On March 16th - 31st there will be an ongoing Easter Egg hunt in Downtown Albany.

PROM PRODUCTION

Photo from Northwest Horse Fair Website

The Albany Civic Theater will be putting on their performance of The Prom, directed

by Christi E. Sears and Mirinda Keeling from April 5th through the 27th.

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MARCH 2024

HOW TO. . .

Story and artwork by A’Shyia Swensen

FIND NEW MUSIC

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Music is how we decorate time. It can unfortunately be a bit daunting to find new songs or artists you actually enjoy. If you have this problem and find yourself “musically picky”, here are some ideas to shake up your playlist and find new hidden gems.

STEP ONE: START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

2 3 You already know what your taste is, so the first step is branching off of it. If you like the bass playing in a band, look up their independent work or similar bands.

You can also do the opposite and look for something completely different. Maybe it’d be refreshing.

STEP ONE: START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE You already know what your taste is, so the first step is branching off of it. If you like the bass playing in a band, look up their independent work or similar bands. You can also do the opposite and look for something completely different.

Maybe it’d be refreshing.

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STEP ONE: START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

You already know what your taste is, so the first step is branching off of it. If you like the bass playing in a band, look up their independent work or similar bands. You can also do the opposite and look for something completely different. Maybe it’d be refreshing.

STEP ONE: START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

T H E W H I R LW I N D

You already know what your taste is, so the first step is branching off of it. If you like the bass playing in a band, look up their independent work or similar bands. You can also do the opposite and look for something completely different.

Maybe it’d be refreshing.

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THIS ONE TIME. . .

I Can’t Make Practice Today Because...

STUDENTS AND COACHES RECOUNT STORIES OF WHY PRACTICE WAS MISSED

TRACK COACH BRYAN WADLOW

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I’VE ALWAYS BEEN SURPRISED WHEN PEOPLE MISS PRACTICE BECAUSE IT’S THEIR BIRTHDAY.

Story by Ariana Goettl and drawings by Grayson Goettl

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FRESHMAN BENJAMIN RIEKE PROBABLY FOR A HAIRCUT.

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SENIOR NATALIE MARTHALLER I SAID THAT MY TIRES EXPLODED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND I COULDN’T MAKE IT FOR A WEEK.

FOOTBALL COACH BRIAN MEHL

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hen you are playing a sport it is often that you might feel unmotivated to go and struggle getting yourself up to go to your practice.

According to Michigan State University, there are six criterias that a coach can incorporate into their practices to make players more motivated in the practice. Here I’m going to explain what the six criterias are and how they help players stay motivated.

Having a clear goal of what this practice is going to do for the players is the first one. The flow chart explains that when an activity has a clear goal it can make athletes feel more engaged.

Does the activity give the player clear and immediate feedback? Competence feedback tells a player how well they’re performing and that helps them stay engaged.

Is the activity difficult where they can fail but also succeed? The activity should be 50/50, where you can fail just as much as you can succeed, we tend to stay more focused when it’s like this. This can be very different for different players so it’s important for coaches to remember that.

The activity has to have room for self-improvement, how is a player supposed to want to play when they can’t see improvement in themselves?

“Choice and Voice” is the next one. The player should be able to have some control over decision making in an activity, this can stroke a students motivation to do better in the game.

The last one is having the players be able to connect and communicate with each other. Switching up the groups in which the players play in gives them opportunities to make a community and connect with each other.

HE COULDN’T PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN DRILLS AT PRACTICE BECAUSE HIS EYES WERE STILL HURTING FROM THE ONIONS THAT HIS MOM WAS CUTTING FOR SCHOOL.

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MARCH 2024

Absentminded

HOW WE PLAN TO GET STUDENTS ON TRACK IN THE FACE OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM Story by Kayla Stefan

The Oregon State Report Card shows how many students are chronically absent, meaning absent for more than 10% of school days.

2020-2021 28.1% chronically absent

2021-2022 36.1% chronically absent

2022-2023 38.1% chronically absent

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ver since COVID-19 impacted the world, several reports of increased school absences have occurred.

Many students who miss 10% or more of school days due to excused, unexcused, or suspended absences are considered chronically absent. According to the 2022-2023 Oregon State Report Card, 38.1% of students missed 10% or more of school last year.

This is different than truancy, which accounts for only unexcused absences and relies on legal and administrative solutions, which differs from chronic absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism relies on a community-based strat- IF WE’RE NOT GOING egy to impact the students TO HOLD KIDS positively.

ACCOUNTABLE, To combat the rise in absences, teachers and YEAH. THEN DOES IT administrators meet every MATTER? Tuesday to discuss absence data. This includes students who are recently getting on the radar for missing school, students who are getting off the radar, and those who are having consistent absences, as well as what admin can do to help.

“What’s causing them not to be able to get to school on time? We look at that and try to figure out what’s causing [absences]. We meet with the families, and we need to come up with a plan if need be,” assistant principal Jessica Smith said. There are many other resources used to help students understand better what they need to be successful in school.

One reason why students may not want to come to school is because they don’t feel a connection to what’s going on at school. This is one of the reasons why students have been asked to complete surveys given in Dog Teams so admin-

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T H E W H I R LW I N D

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JESSICA SMITH

istrators can better understand what students often caused an increase in tardies for upperclassmen need help with. because they would leave campus for lunch and not However, absences aren’t the only issue. make it back to school on time. “Most of them have Students often come in late to class throughout opens [at the end of the day], so they’re done for the the day. Staff members get together on the last day. They can leave campus and go get lunch and not blue day of every month to discuss patterns worry about being back on time,” Smith said. they see with tardiness.

In previous years, there have been truancy officers “If we have a student who’s just off the who have assisted with student absences. Truancy charts with tardies, that would usually signify officers would work with the entire family and would something’s going on, especially if it’s in the know the exact steps needed to help them be successful morning,” Smith said. However, not all tardies in school. and absences are due to not trying to get to “Administration here has really high expectations of school. “ It can range from mental health how we want this school to perform, so I feel like it’s struggles to lack of secure housing to apathy.” not going as fast as we’d like. But we understand that Before our recent schedule changes, lunch progress takes time,” Smith said. used to take place after third period, which The Oregon State Report Card compares student proficiency in Mathematics and English Language Arts with chronic absenteeism.

Rate of chronic absenteeism

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Language Arts Math proficiency proficiency levels levels

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE

The Third Wheel You Never Wanted

EMBRACE EMBARRASSMENT AND TAKE THE RISK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE Story by Emi Ludlow Photo by Edson S. Conn

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ed and blue lights flashing behind me, I pull over and roll down the window to see the scariest looking cop, staring straight into my eyes.

This guy was 6’2, worked out at least 12 hours a day, and ate pure protein powder for breakfast. It’s 10 p.m. on a Saturday, and he’s approaching the passenger side of my car.

“You know why I pulled you over?” the cop asks.

I knew it. First date, and it was already going bad due to the chemical burn on my face while frantically getting ready, greasy hair as a result of a failed hair oil experiment, and now, to tie it all together, I was getting pulled over for the first time.

Thoughts raced through my mind as my sweaty hands gripped the steering wheel.

I thought of all the reasons it could have been: speeding, lights out, not using my blinker.

“You were impeding traffic by going five miles below the speed limit,” was his reply. After a verbal warning, I started the engine and drove back onto the highway.

That made the top 10 most embarrassing moments of my life quite easily because an already stressful situation was made worse by happening in front of someone I liked but didn’t know well. It added a whole new layer of embarrassment.

After, I pulled away swearing I would never drive anyone anywhere again, but of course I went out on another date the next week, me behind the wheel. Now, whenever the subject is brought up, both of us laugh at the memory and joke around at why I got pulled over in the first place. By laughing instead of remaining humiliated, I was able to move on from the embarrassment quickly and show no matter how embarrassing something is, instead of sulking and wallowing in selfpity, finding humor is the best way to get past it.

ARE KIDS TAKING FEWER RISKS COMPARED TO BEFORE? “IT DEPENDS. THEY TAKE MORE RISKS NOW IN REGARDS OF SPEAKING UP IN FRONT OF PEERS.” ­— CLERICAL SPECIALIST EILEEN MARTINEZ “NO, KIDS DON’T TAKE [RISKS] ANYMORE... IT’S A SHRINKING PERCENTAGE.” — SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER ERIK IHDE “IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF RISK... PUTTING THEMSELVES WHERE THEY HAVE THE RISK OF FAILURE, [WHERE THEY ARE] NOT WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING, [LIKE], RUNNING FOR CLASS OFFICE, GOING TO SPORTS WHERE CUTS MAY BE INVOLVED. [THEY FEAR] RISK OF CRITICISM FROM PEERS.” — SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER MARTY JOHNSTON

Throughout high school, moments like these pop up constantly.

Opportunities for humiliation by participating in air guitar in front of the entire student body, taking the risk of trying out for a sport with no experience, creating the chance of a relationship by asking someone out. Human life is full of experiences that could end in public embarrassment, but by participating in these we experience the most opportunity for growth. What seems to be impossible can turn actually end in friendships, character development, or life lessons that couldn’t be replicated through anything else.

A psychological study at Clark University found that kids in recent generations are taking less risks due to the influx of technology use and social

media. Children are spending more time looking at screens instead of expanding themselves to the outdoors and using the time they have to take a chance whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.

The fear of doing something that could end in embarrassment has grown as society negatively stereotypes those who put themselves out there. As a whole, teenagers are brought down with the fear of doing something wrong in front of a large crowd. In order to stop this pattern from worsening, we need to break out of it by doing risky activities. Instead of spending the night watching a movie alone, go out with friends and run around making a ruckus, ask someone on a date to go catch frogs, whatever comes to mind that may seem socially unacceptable to participate in. It is what makes high

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school a valuable experience, learning the consequences of doing reckless actions at a young age lessens temptation to go off and do something uncanny in the future.

Taking risks doesn’t end half bad at all.

The night of our first date, after driving off, when we were going our separate ways and I was ready for the awkward conversation of, “Yea, I don’t really think this is going to work out” or “You’re a bad driver, bye!” Instead, as we parted, he turned around and stated, “We should do this again.”

In the end, if the risk of a broken heart is worth the happiness of a few months, or being publicly embarrassed for a few hours ends with more friends than before, it’s worth it. There is always something to learn.

MARCH 2024

Switching Lanes

LOCAL SCHOOLS EXPERIMENT WITH ELIMINATING MATH TRACKS Story by Kayla Stefan and Illustration by Addi Winter

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ot everyone is on the same level,” sophomore Maddy Schosha said. “Different people need different things.” Recently, during a listening session at the Greater Albany Public Schools district office, there was a discussion of detracking math where students K-7th would all be learning the same content at the same time. This would limit opportunities for students to take advanced classes when they are ahead of their grade level. “Some different people are at different levels, and no one should have to feel like they’re not allowed to be at the level,” Schosha said.

The phrase “detracking” means that students will be detracted from their educational needs and will be put on a tracked path by schools. Being tracked means everyone is learning the same content at the same time. There are many theories on how detracking will be implemented. According to Sam Hartman, during a meeting with the Oregon Department of Education, the math curriculum would be changed, and every freshman would take Algebra I and Geometry, then break them off into separate pathways.

“One pathway is to take an integrated course—it’s basically one year of both Algebra I or Algebra II and Precalculus combined,” Math teacher Sam Hartman said. Merging Algebra II and Precalculus is the state’s current plan to get every student to high school with a possible pathway to Calculus in high school.”

One of the main goals of detracking is to ensure that all students can reach Calculus without having to be pushed ahead, whether that is taking Algebra I in seventh or eighth grade or being able to take Algebra I as a freshman and still reach Calculus without having to double up on math classes.

The Corvallis School District has detracted its math curriculum. Many classes are being removed because they are no longer obtainable or practical for students because of the rigorous pace required in class.

“Calculus BC is something that I created at Crescent Valley [High School],” Advanced YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO Mathematics instructor Paul DO BETTER AT SOMETHING AND Buchanan said. “That class will TO REALLY UTILIZE YOUR SKILLS exist for one more year, and then it’s gone.”

AND YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR Many students in the past INTELLIGENCE, I THINK IT IS SUCH have been given the opportunity to be on an advanced path in A WASTE IF I DIDN'T GET THE mathematics by taking Algebra CHANCE TO DO THAT. I in seventh grade, which has allowed them to pursue other

math courses such as AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. However, it wasn’t by chance that students got the chance to get ahead. It was often recommended by teachers and parents advocating for their children that they needed a more stimulating and rigorous education. Teachers have been able to identify certain students who appeared to be bored in class and would complete work faster than others because they were able to process the content quickly.

“In sixth grade, I went up to my teacher and asked, ‘Can I be in seventh-grade math?’ ‘She said, ‘ You have to do these, ‘ and she gave me probably about 15 assignments,” Sophomore Jakob Ylen said.

NOT EVERYONE IS ON THE “I had to complete that math by the end of that week.”

SAME LEVEL. DIFFERENT In some cases, students advocate PEOPLE NEED DIFFERENT for themselves, much like Ylen, to THINGS. take a challenging course at such a young age. However, Schosa said, “I did have my teacher at the time, who

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SPEAKING WITH PAUL BUCHANAN FROM CRESCENT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Paul Buchanan, an advanced mathematics instructor, teaches at Crescent Valley High School, where the math department has recently been detracted. “We’ve had three different versions of a class called geometry for a good solid decade. Next year, there will only be two, not three.”

Crescent Vally High School has had three geometry courses: informal geometry, regular geometry, and honors geometry.

Only one is being removed; however, many changes are being made to honors geometry. “It’s not the Honors Geometry that’s been taught at Crescent Valley for 30-plus years. It’s not it’s a completely different class. That will be having a title of honors.”

Geometry isn’t the only class at Crescent Valley that has been affected. Buchanan introduced AP Calculus BC to Crescent Valley, but the class will no longer exist next year because detracking has been implemented.

“There are other classes that people can take that aren’t calculus, but it feels like a different version now. The versions aren’t more advanced. They feel less advanced,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan explains that the advanced courses appear to no longer be taught at a rigorous

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Sophomore Maddy Schosha

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Sophomore Jakob Ylen

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pace, and the content isn’t the same as in previous years.

When a student is accelerated in math, they will often times get to calculus before their senior year, which can cause problems down the line. “When a kid finishes calculus as a sophomore versus a junior, they take a year off of math because there’s nothing else at their high school,” Buchanan said. “Then they try to be an engineer, but they haven’t seen math for a year or two. And it doesn’t always go great” “I don’t need students to hurry up—so much. I really want them to take the experiences and really get it at a deeper depth. I would prefer that they take a proof-based course partway through.” Buchanan would rather a student fully grasp math concepts than just look for answers. He wants students to be able to understand the content.

“If we want everyone to be in the same spot, we should try to find a way to boost the people who struggle rather than removing opportunities for people who are advanced,” Buchanan said.

“

IT HELPS WHEN YOU'RE WILLING TO SEEK OUT HELP recommended that I be allowed to do [advanced math].

And if she hadn’t recommended me, I wouldn’t have been allowed to if she’d said no.”

However, in some cases, students who are placed on the advanced path may find themselves struggling as they get to Calculus because they learned the content so quickly.

“Sometimes the student gets accelerated, and then maybe they pass the class but don’t really have all the skills well developed. Maybe they get accelerated, but then they get a C in Algebra one, so they move on and get a C in Geometry, move on. They’re not really solving those skills.” Hartman said. In mathematics, every concept builds on one another, and pushing a student ahead before they are truly ready may cause problems for them in the future.

“I feel like [younger students] haven’t really grasped the depth of everything they’re doing,” Buchanan said.

“They focused on getting an answer, and they really haven’t appreciated all the other ins and outs of what’s happening with math.”

Although Ylen said, “The benefit is the kids will be pushing themselves.”

One benefit of detracting math is reducing the equity gap. The equity gap is the performance levels between

the lowest-achieving student and the highestachieving student. Detracting math will reduce that gap, making things equitable for all students.

However, when students aren’t learning what they need in class, the subject starts to get boring. “Being adequately challenged to continue learning is a really important thing for students,”Hartman said.

“Not giving that opportunity to some students. Math starts to get boring.” Hartman said. “[Students] should have the chance to prove themselves and show how developed their mind is. And if they don’t, it’ll be harder for them in the future to stay on track because they’re just going to be completely bored out of their minds.” Ylen said.

“I feel like when it comes to advocating for these kinds of things, at the end of the day, I’m not just advocating for myself alone, “Schosha said. “There’s this group of other people who benefit from this sort of thing, and to deny everyone this opportunity because it doesn’t work for everyone seems silly to me.”

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Sam Hartman Advanced Mathematics Teacher

Paul Buchanan Advanced Mathematics Teacher

MARCH 2024

...And The Crowd Goes Wild HOW FANS EXPRESS FANDOM IN MANY WAYS Story by Edson S. Conn and Photo by Taylour Veith

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their lungs. During Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” the andom is unmistakably one of the largest fandom was so loud, that it registered the equivalent hobbies in human history. When the adrenaline of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake in Seattle, Washington. rush kicks in and it’s nearly impossible to resist Sophomore Evan Rich explains this kind of human screaming and hopping up and down. The energy is behavior with, “I would say people are fans of the way put into the TV on a late Sunday with Sunday night we play the sport, how the team plays overall, and the football, crying because even the pros can’t make a effort the players put into the sports basic key tackle. Friday evening which makes them fans of it” in the stands of a high school For those that love to be pissed off football game, wondering why and hold grudges toward their teams, some kids do what they do. they are always in luck. Maybe their Sophomore Claysen Caswell SOME MAY LOSE THEIR energy isn’t high enough up in the said, “I have gotten mad at some stands, the athletes lose courage, and players before, but as a team, I FANHOOD BECAUSE SOME upsets happen, but somehow, fans have always been a fan. I have FANS WILL ONLY WANT TO think that they can do something never thought about switching SUPPORT A TEAM THAT about it. Maybe if they abandon the my favorite team.”

Saturday morning in the cool DOES GOOD AND NOT BAD. team or ditch their fanhood, things will turn out better for them. Sophbreeze watching lacrosse and omore Evan Rich said, “Some may cringing at every goal attempt lose their fanhood because some fans because when that ball hits skin, will only want to support a team that does good and it’s going to hurt, as Freshman Kade Barnes says, not bad.”

“People love others possibly get hit and hurt, it’s very This can be complicated for those fans who love fun to watch.” teams that are on and off with their winnings. Players Wednesday night screaming at the team that made can get hurt, sick, or disqualified; and this can anger a it to playoffs, wishing they were the ones out on that fan to the point of giving up. “Staying true to the team court, as Barnes says, “I’m not very much of a fan of even when they do bad will show you are a true down anything. I watch games but I would rather be playing honest fan,” Rich says. “I always liked the Seahawks the sport.” and I stay true to them. I liked them before we won the Junior Jarrad Kollaer describes the wide variety of Super Bowl, and we don’t play as well now but I still fan behaviors, “Some can be crazy, some are loud, and support them because I like them, and no matter how some are strange,” Kollaer said. That’s where fandom bad they do I will always support them.” comes in, whether it’s dressing up, painting faces, the older fans getting drunk, or screaming at the top of

“

The largest Stadium in the world, Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, can hold 150,000 people.

Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, USA holds the record for the loudest stadium of all time, reaching 142.2 decibels, while Husky Stadium, home of the University of Washington in Seattle Washington holds the college football record, with 133 decibels.

NUMBER ONE FANS We asked 306 students their favorite sport via Instagram. Here’s what they said.

The student section erupts in cheers during the West Albany varsity boys basketball game against the Thurston Colts in the first round of the playoffs on March 1.

The most watched event of all time was the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969; which landed some 150 million views.

New York has the most sports teams, ending with 11 professional sports teams.

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MARCH 2024

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Freshman Lana Hull

The Spirit of Sophomore Amelia Kidd

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Senior Chance Fullmer

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Freshman Caylee Rogers

Senior Ella Winter

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Sophomore Jose Jimenez

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A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WEST ALBANY ATHLETE’S ENCOURAGEMENT AND TEAMWORK CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENT WELL-BEING AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT. Story and photos by Taylour Veith

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s the spring sports season kicks off, WAHS athletes are filled with excitement by the crisp air and the scent of fresh-cut grass during practice sessions. Teammates exchange high-fives and cheers, while coaches offer words of encouragement fueling a wave of positivity. This spirited start shows not just the potential of a great season but, also, the beginning of a healthy environment for all involved.

At WAHS, school spirit is taken very seriously, and is a huge factor in determining whether a sports environment is healthy.

“The coaches are really good and the people are supportive,” sophomore wrestler Jose Jimenez said. “If you are falling behind in your classes or practice, they are there to help you.”

Therefore, if an athlete is stressed with their sport or schoolwork they know they have others to help them stay positive and on track. More beneficial thoughts when an athlete’s sport is both positive and negative is also can help keep the environment healthy.

“It is very difficult and it is very time-consuming, but it is very rewarding and fun,” freshman cheerleader Lana Hull said. Hull also talked about how others don’t view cheer as a sport, which is causing negativity from the students’ perspective.

While some coaches are more strict and stern, there are also the more laidback coaches who still have a demanding side. “My coaches are always peppy and messing around. They are never too serious, and they are not mean either,” sophomore softball player Amelia Kidd said. Coaches are a part of an athlete’s physical performance physically on how practices are laid out. They are also a big part of shaping the environment so, having an equal balance between easygoing and somewhat serious coaches is a more reassuring way to know that a sports environment is healthy.

How long an athlete has been doing their sport also can affect their mindset towards putting in the work because of how their teammates view them.

“The coaches were very welcoming, but the teammates were really against you if you were new to the sport or hadn’t played in a while,” senior baseball player Chance Fullmer said. Especially in team sports, supporting all team members and coaches is a helpful sign of a healthy environment.

Freshman volleyball player Caylee Rogers talks about how team energy can affect everyone positively and negatively. “[My teammates] are hyped up but some teammates, when they get mad, can take you down,” Rogers said. “Our coaches are nice, [although] sometimes they can be rude for your mental state.”

When a player on the WAHS volleyball team makes a mistake, they all huddle up and encourage each other to not let them think negatively or get the energy down, according to Rogers.

Yelling at one another could be taken the wrong way by the viewers, but some volleyball teams and tons of other sports keep the adrenaline going. While being supportive inside the sport, a lot of the players are also friends outside of it.

While not all people on teams are friends, there are a lot with great relationships. A bond from a sport isn’t required but shows that the sports environment is healthy. “We like a lot of inside jokes and you will hear them in the halls,” senior swimmer Ella Winter said. “It is the weirdest thing ever, but every single kid [on the team] will understand what we are talking about.”

“

WRESTLING TAKES A HUGE MENTAL TOLL ON PEOPLE. SOME THAT ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME MENTALLY GET TO A BETTER MENTAL STATE [DOING A SPORT].

-Senior Chance Fullmer

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PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE SPORT SERIIOUSLY, IT IS A VERY POSITIVE PLACE BECAUSE THEY GET BETTER AT WHAT THEY LIKE. -Sophomore Jose Jimenez

“

WE GET ALONG WITH OUR COACHES PRETTY WELL BECAUSE HOW CLOSE IN AGE WE ARE, AND DON’T SEE THEM AT SCHOOL. -Senior Ella Winter

4 IN 10 ATHLETES In an online survey of 185 WAHS students, 39 percent said their sports environment is toxic.

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MARCH 2024

What’s behind the buzz-word?

O HOW THE TERM ‘SELF-CARE’ HAS EVOLVED AND THE REFLECTS A DISINGENUOUS WELLNESS INDUSTRY

By Mollie Brown

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n any given Saturday, customers crowd Ulta Beauty, drawn by the corporation’s promise to ‘move beauty forward.’

The aisles of the store are flooded with dedicated patrons, all striving to find a cure-all or product that will solve their problems. Behind this tagline, however, lies a booming wellness and beauty industry.

The increased pressure online to conform to strict standards of beauty has caused the personal care sec-

You have to kind of step outside yourself. What are they really selling here? tor of the wellness industry’s worth to grow to $1,089 billion as of 2022, as cited by the Global Wellness Institute, which is a number that seems to continue to expand. The phrase selfcare seems to have become almost synonymous with consumerism and overconsumption, and many are feeling pressure from influencers,

Advisor Krissy Rasmussen leads the yoga club on Monday, Jan. 26. Photo taken

by Szammy Kitchen.

1950’s

The idea behind the now-popular term originated in the medical community, with the rise of “person or patient-centered medicine.” This new practice introduced patient autonomy in healthcare.

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1960’s

The Black Panther Party used the idea of “self-care” to fight against systemic racism, as black communities often lacked proportionate access to healthcare. Taking care of individuals and the community as a whole allowed for them to fight for important issues.

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peers, and brands to fix their habits and hygiene through expensive products.

In fact, the US Census and Simmons National Consumer survey estimated that the average American spends $322.88 on skin care annually.

This idea represents an enormous shift from the origin of the phrase ‘self-care,’ as coined in Audre Lorde’s ‘A Burst of Light,’ a collection of journals cataloging her experience with cancer that was published in 1988.

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare,” said Lorde. As explained by Lorde, the idea of self-care is meant to actively combat society’s expectations of hyper-productivity and performance. Marketers and brands have taken this idea and begun to use it as a way to sell products rather than to inspire people to take care of themselves, their bodies, and their minds.

“In the last five years, the advertising industry has really been pushing and selling us this message that self care is essentially cosmetics,” marketing teacher Morgan Wadlow said. “There’s definitely some conflict between what a lot of adults view self-care to be and what people—particularly young people—are being sold.”

1970’s

The Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program was released, fighting for justice in healthcare. The history of self-care is strongly related to black history and the civil rights movement, only adopted as a widespread practice and ideology later.

Wadlow speculates that this shift was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the growing prevalence and accessibility of social media to young people.

“Really smart marketers from the [wellness] industry have realized that people, especially pre-COVID, were overworked, overstressed, and tired,” Wadlow said. “If they call it self-care, those are magic words in advertising.”

Since platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have the capability to create hyper-specific feeds based on personal interest, advertisements can be incredibly targeted. Influencers and sponsorships also give companies a go-between that helps to build credibility and trust with its consumers.

“You can have an influencer that someone already follows,” Wadlow said. “They have a relationship with them and can trust them, and when they use [or endorse] a product, people are going to be so much more likely to buy it.”

Since there is an overwhelming amount of different brands and products advertised as ‘self-care’ available to purchase, it can be difficult to differentiate between items that are genuine, quality products and those that are just capitalizing on the trend.

Wadlow recommends that the public is aware of the tactics companies use to attract buyers, especially when purchasing products. “You have to kind of step back, almost outside yourself,” Wadlow said.

“What are they really selling here?”

She mainly categorizes these tactics in two ways.

“Some advertising is going to be really focused on the product and its benefits,” she said. “And some is going to be more focused on aspirational branding, where we’re going

1980’s

Carrying forward these ideas, Audre Lorde, notable black lesbian writer and activist wrote A Burst Of Light, expressing her ideas on the importance of daily self-reflection and health autonomy through her experience battling cancer.

West Albany’s Yoga Club Q&A WITH JUNIOR CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE YOGA CLUB MADISON MARTEENY AND BRIANNA WILLIAMS Q: What inspired you to start the yoga club?

Williams: We were in the stress management class, and one of the units we did was yoga. The Love Yoga studio instructor came over and did it for our class and we loved it.”

Marteeny: We got yoga mats and both started going [to Love Yoga]together.

Williams: Afterwards, we’d go to the Brim, right next door Q: Why is yoga important, especially for high schoolers?

Williams: It’s a good stress reliever, especially for teens.

Whenever I go to the yoga studio, it’s all adults— there’s no teens there.

Q: How would you define self-care?

Marteeny: Taking care of your mind and your body— whether it be a physical activity, destressing after a day

of school, or taking time to relax.

Williams: Your mindset takes a huge part in how you see life.”

Q: How do you practice self-care?

Marteeny: We make playlists in stress management, and I think listening to music is self care to me.” Williams: I like to take deep breaths. Yoga is all about breathing, so I also think it helped me to regulate my breathing patterns Q: Does yoga help to challenge the idea that products and consumerism are self-care?

Williams: Yoga is not consumerism at all. You have to pay for a membership at most places, but you can also do it at home.

There’s options Marteeny: A product isn’t going to give you the same relief of your mind and body that yoga might, or other things that are free.

Going on a walk can be a form of self care too.

Q: What advice would you give to someone

trying to start doing yoga?

Williams: Don’t give up on the first practice.

Marteeny: To start, you don’t have to have a yoga membership, you don’t need a yoga mat, you can just do it on your bedroom floor.

Williams: Also, it’s accessible anywhere. Sometimes in the back at work I stretch and do yoga [if] I need to breathe.”

Q: In what ways does yoga help foster growth?

Marteeny: I think it helps you take a step back from everything else in the world. You’re not on your phone, there’s peaceful music playing, and you’re just focusing on your breathing doing light movements.

Williams: I feel like you learn a little bit more about yourself, and more about what your body can do.

to see a lot less of the product being used and a lot more of someone living a lifestyle.”

Wadlow mentions that there isn’t one method that is worse than the other, since they are both incredibly effective; however, being aware of it

can help the audience to guard themselves from being manipulated too easily.

Another important thing to recognize is that for many, wellness is a very individual practice. “It might be going to bed at the right time, or tak-

ing a walk,” Wadlow said. “It might be eating well, it might be exercise, or it might be meditation or prayer—selfcare is looking at your own life and strategically addressing and identifying areas of weakness.”

2000’s

In the wake of 9/11, growing awareness of PTSD and mental health led to a new movement of trauma therapy, especially for veterans, victims, and first responders.

Self-care began to be used by psychiatrists and therapists to regain resiliency after such a drastic event

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2010’s

Self care grows to become a mainstream and encouraged practice, largely in response to the 2008 recession.

MARCH 2024

Unseen Spaces

A LOOK INTO PLACES AROUND WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL’S CAMPUS THAT ARE USED BY STUDENTS AND AREN’T AS WELL KNOWN

Storage shelves in the commercial kitchen that hold baking sheets, a microwave and other kitchen tools

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Story and Photos by Mina Clower and Chance Young

ost of the West Albany High School student body knows the bustling of the commons as students arrive in the mornings, eat breakfast and do homework in the new building before school and the quiet shelves of the library stacked with books as students study and read, but there are certain spots on campus that only select students see. Places like the “Hive” that is used by the Swarm Robotics team, the Commercial Kitchen the Bistro and Baking and Pastry classes use, and specialized art class rooms like pottery and jewelry are some of the spots on campus that are hidden in plain sight.

THE “HIVE” Swarm is a competitive robotics team in Albany. It has members from WAHS, SAHS, and other neighboring schools. From January to April/May the team prepares for competitions meeting in a space nicknamed the “Hive” behind the old stage multiple times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from six to nine and Saturdays from nine to five The team is split into four subsections: mechanical,electrical, software, and the media team.

POTTERY ROOM Pottery is one of the many art classes that are offered at WAHS. The class is taught by Babette Grunwald sixth and eighth period in the new building: room 135. The prerequisite for pottery is basic design. Students use pottery wheels and tools to create artwork out of clay, making several projects throughout the semester.

The digital design of Swarm’s robot “Bee Sharp” for the 2024 robotics season.

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR ACTIVITY?

Jerry Wang (10)

PROBABLY SEEING THE CODE I WROTE FOR THE ROBOT ACTUALLY WORK. I WROTE A SIMPLE PROGRAM TO MAKE THE BOT DRIVE FORWARD AND and Pastry is a semester-long class that is COMMERCIAL Baking offered at WAHS every other year. On the years it isn’t offered Culinary III is held in its place. Since KITCHEN being Baking and Pastry is every other year, it is a very

TURN AND IT DID WORK.

popular class with a long wait list. Similar to Bistro, the Baking and Pastry class is taught in the commercial kitchen during fourth and sixth period.

Ellie Ritchey (11)

MAKING THE FINAL PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS A FREE PROJECT AND YOU DON’T HAVE ANY BASE.

The Swarm robotics team tests out a robot in the pit of the “Hive”

I’VE HAD TWO SO FAR ONE WAS TWO DRAGONS IN THE SHAPE OF A YINYANG AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ANOTHER DRAGON.

Azalea Romero (11)

I REALLY ENJOYED THE PIZZA CONTEST. Junior Brian RodriguezVillanueva uses a pottery wheel in Babette Grunwald’s eight period pottery class.

THAT WAS REALLY FUN, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT SHOWED CREATIVITY, AND WE GOT TO DECORATE AND MAKE LITTLE DESIGNS.

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MARCH 2024

Myst n o i i que h s F a e h T

THE RISE OF HYPER-FEMININE “COQUETTE” FASHION

and expressed however they see fit. “I feel like women should be able to express their femininity in any sort of way they can,” she said. “I think that really anything can be feminine…if you want to dress like a boy or masculine, do it. Go you.”

However, embracing personal expression isn’t always that simple. Senior Liv Kottre has played tug-ofwar with her self expression her whole life, both through fashion and personality.

Growing up surrounded predominantly by boys, Kottre and her one female friend felt surrounded by prejudice. According to the American Psychological Association, “in discussions of science and (hyper-) femininity, even potentially positive feminine attributes

Story and photos by Helen Whiteside

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internalized perceptions on the ways to t’s lace. It’s pastel colors. It’s “appropriately” express themselves as pearls. It’s Lana Del Rey’s music. well as their ideas of femininity through And most importantly, it’s bows. fashion. For junior Bethany Olufson, If you use TikTok or know anybody trends are meant to be followed. Inspired who does, you’re likely familiar with by celebrities, online influencers, and what’s known as the “coquette” trend. her family, she pulls her personal style Pulling inspiration from celebrity from the creativity of those around her. outfits, Victorian-era clothing, Japanese “I really like [singer] “kawaii” style, Olivia Rodrigo’s style and luxury high[as well as] my friends’, fashion designers like [Senior] Noel like Sandy Mayer, and of course Liang, the viral I THINK REALLY ANYTHING TikTokers online,” said fashion craze is CAN BE FEMININE...IF YOU Olufson. a culmination of Senior Hannah Joy pop culture from WANT TO DRESS LIKE A BOY likes to use social media around the world OR MASCULINE, DO IT. GO to stay updated with throughout recent YOU. current fads, but cares history.

Bows, less about implementing simple as they them into her outfits .“I may be, have like to go to Pinterest to keep up with become the staple of the trend, making the styles,” said Joy. “[But] I’m going anything “coquette”— including a to wear what I want to wear…I really bicep, a hamburger, or even a cigarette. don’t care.”

The trend has become massively Like Olufson, Joy looks up to her widespread, with #coquette racking up own celebrity fashion icons. For her, over 14 billion views on TikTok as of femininity is abstract, something more December 2023, according to Forbes. complex than bows and chunky heels.

The rise of hyper-femininity as a It’s whatever an individual defines it as, TikTok trend can come as a surprise to a piece of identity unique to each person some Gen-Z girls due to past trends and

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BETHANY OLUFSON GRADE 11

were denigrated.” And for Kottre, that has been exactly her experience. “[My friend and I] both felt the internalized misogyny of ‘well you wear dresses, you look girly, so you’re not strong,’” she said.

Living in that reality, she felt pressured to dress and present in a more masculine way in order to be seen as an equal to the men around her. ”I used to be a huge tomboy, and I didn’t know that you could wear pants and dresses,” Kottre said. “My style was not what I wanted to wear, but what I thought I had to wear to be taken seriously.”

Olufson feels similarly now, caught between her own selfesteem and the opinions of others based upon her style.

“I dress more feminine than the average person,” she said, explaining her average outfits as “comfortable, girly, and trend-

following.” Olufson presents as young people have shaped their very traditionally feminine, styling personal notions of expression that her hair to match her outfits and cannot so easily be tagged by a accessorizing with pieces like simple label. Both Kottre and Joy hair clips, cute tennis shoes, and have adapted and come around to jewelry. “I do wear dresses and their current style through years skirts, and that of trial, error, gives me a lot of growth, and confidence…[but] exploration.

I think [people] ”In 2020 I think I’m not as really idolized I CAN BE STRONG AND smart as I am, and Billie Eilish POWERFUL AND BE they judge my and her whole intelligence off of message of…I WEARING HEELS AND A my outfit.” don’t want SKIRT. Kottre shares people to have O l u f s o n ’s the option of sentiment, but judging me with a slightly different perspective. over my body,” Joy said. “Now I For her, the way she feels she’s go off of Lana Del Rey mixed with perceived is based not only on that…I’ve really changed my style what she’s wearing, but also on after every year of high school,” the person looking. She finds that she noted, describing her current those who express gender similarly style as “emo or edgy hippie.” to her tend to be more forgiving Every individual is bound to when making first impressions explore and change the way they and judge her less. In short, Kottre express themselves, through describes her style as comfortable, fashion or otherwise. Kottre’s sometimes feminine, occasionally personal journey has been more unconventional, and emotional in about breaking loose from the sense that her outfits change those preconceived notions she based upon her mood on any given developed when young than day. anything else. “My style has With the rise of the internet and adapted a lot in the past couple online world y e a r s – fads – like because the coquette I’ve looked trend, come at myself and go in and been a matter like ‘no, of months, I like to sometimes look cute, even weeks I like to or days. look frilly, I The biggest like to look o n l i n e girly, and crazes, such that doesn’t as the “clean make girl” and m e “mob wife” a n y aesthetics, l e s s are born and of a left to die on woman,” TikTok. With she said. the rapid rise “I can and fall of such trends, Gen Z has be strong and powerful and be changed the norm for the evolution wearing heels and a skirt…there’s of style. Due to the inaccessibility no real ‘winning’…just dress how of some of these fashions, many you feel confident.”

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LIV KOTTRE GRADE 12

HANNAH JOY

GRADE 12

Bow, pearls, and hamburger via Unsplash

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MARCH 2024

ALBANY, OR

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BEYOND THE BOUNDARY

Story by Addi Winter and Bri White

Many students in Albany have spent their whole lives here. It can be hard to realize how much different the rest of the world is from Albany. Here’s a snapshot showing how much bigger the world is beyond our small town.

Population 57,997 14,674

Population of Albany Oregon in 2023

Illa McCaulou (Class of 2018) Q: Do you have any advice for students currently in Albany?

A: I think Albany is a great place to raise a family, but I suggest that every young person tries living somewhere else just for the experience of it.

Population of Albany 50 years ago

63,894

Population of Idaho Falls in 2023

76,000

Population of Idaho Falls 50 years ago

Health Care Albany without health care

Percents of school enrollment in Albany, Oregon, and the U.S.

OREGON

8.2% 8.0% U.S without health care

Statistics from the U.S. Census Department

Tori Thorp (Class of 2022)

Q: Have you noticed any big differences between Albany and the East Coast?

A: Oregon is very accepting. It’s like fairly odd, and there’s a lot of like hippie culture and art culture.

And here, I mean specifically in Massachusetts and Boston, I haven’t really found that thing.

68.5%

ALBANY

70.7%

Patrick Spence (Class of 2019)

67.6% U.S 23

Q: Why did you decide to leave Albany?

A: I left Albany with the guess that if I moved to the nation’s capital, I would have opportunities I would never be able to have in Oregon or inAaRlarge M C H 2city.”

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FROM PROMISE TO PROSPERITY How two museums that are dedicated to preserving the history of Albany.

By Gigi Roldan

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loth covered wagons traveled along the Oregon Road, families vying for the promised land from the Donation Land Claim Act. Each white, adult, married male citizen had been promised eighteen 640 acres of land, something that enticed families to this land. Walter and Thomas Monteith, two brothers who had joined these masses, would eventually arrive upon their claimed land along the Willamette River. And, without knowing it, these two would begin what we now know as Albany Oregon.

The start of Albany was a frame house built by the Monteiths in 1849, which was quickly followed by the first post office on Jan 8, 1850. That same year, another settler, Abram Hackleman, designated 70 acres of land for the future development of Albany’s eastern side. As more began to arrive, soon it grew from few to many.

This was especially seen with the First Methodist Church founded in 1850, a school established by the first physician in Albany in 1851, and the first courthouse in 1852, all contributing to the new town. Due to the rich history this began to foster, it helped the present day historians create something to remember our city’s roots.

The Albany Historic Museum and the preserved Monteith building act as time capsules for all, with dedicated staff and volunteers helping run the individual museums, with anybody being able to schedule tours or walk in during available times.

FROM THE ARCHIVES HISTORY OF HOW THE WHIRLWIND HAD EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS By: Jesus Cisneros Obledo

West Albany is a high school with many traditions that have been here since even before it was given the name West Albany. What is now known as the West Albany Pedigree was once known as the Whirlwind. The name was changed to the Pedigree roughly around 1986.

Here at West Albany, the oldest Whirlwind is from June 1909, which is Volume 4, Number 7. Volume 4 stands for the 4th year of Whirlwinds, and the seven means signifies it was the seventh issue of the school year. At this time, there was only one high school in Albany and it was called Albany Union High School.

Back then, the Whirlwind was similar to a yearbook but instead it was monthly and could be bought via a subscription, which would cost 75 cents yearly (around $25.42 today).

Back in the year 1909, the school board decided that there needed to be a new high school in the city as the population grew and demand for education grew as well. In February of 1909, there was a vote on whether a bond valued at $50,000 should be issued for the construction of a new building, and out of a total of 370 votes, there were only 34 votes cast ruling against the bonds.

The design for the building included three floors. At the basement level there would be a large gym, a

A chest filled with children’s clothing sits within one of two bedrooms in the Montieth House, which had been worn by children in the household. The room also has an old, worn bed, and items like soap that occupants had used.

The Albany Regional Museum, located at 136 ​​ SE Lyon St S, Albany, Oregon 97321 has a collection of information, relics, and stories regarding the history of Albany’s education. From old desks and yearbooks, an old South Albany band uniform that escaped a fire due to students forgetting it at home, and various photos of classes, there is much to see and learn.

The largest piece within the Albany Historic Museums collection is proudly on display next to the front doors: an aerial shot of Albany from 1946.

Originally shot in black and white, it had later been hand tinted to give it the color it has now. Looking closely at the map, details such as the field of Albany Union High School highlights the year this was taken.

Before being displayed in the Museum, it had originally been in places such as a restaurant or the Two Rivers market.

This bedframe, like multiple other expensive furniture items, had been shipped to Albany from New York City when the Monteith’s first built their home. Despite the decades that have passed, its ornate details have been preserved. Many items currently within the house are from the original family and had either been saved by descendents or found in storage facilities.

heating plant, rooms for manual training and domestic science, showers, baths, and toilets for boys and girls. On the first floor, there would be recital rooms, a director’s room, and the teacher restroom. For the third floor, there would be chemical and physical laboratories, a lecture room, a library, and either two or three recital rooms.

After a few years – in the year 1953 – the building which is currently West Albany was built and the old building, which was once Albany Union, is now Albany Christian School. After another 19 years, a second high school was built in 1972, which is what made what was once known as Albany Union to change its name to West Albany High School.

THE HISTORY OF ALBANY’S CAROUSEL Story and photos by Arabella Autry and Braxton Bullard

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n 2002, a creative woman named Wendy Kirbey went on a trip to Missoula, Montana. During the trip, as told by Marge Wright, a tour guide and volunteer at the carousel, Wendy visited “a Carousel for Missoula.” She rode the carousel four or five times and ended up getting four brass rings, three of which she gave to children so they could get a free ride.

After her visit, Kirbey decided that she wanted to build her own carousel, right here in Albany. Volunteers like Marge now tell this story about Wendy’s trip as a way to show how the idea of the carousel came to life.

Kirbey went to the Central Albany Revitalization Area in 2002 and asked for financial support to build a carousel; but was informed that Salem had another person asking for a similar request. Kirbey started a petition and got 2,000 signatures, as the citizens of Albany thought that a carousel would be a great addition to downtown. In September of 2002, 30 volunteers assembled as a board of directors. In 2003, they became a nonprofit known as the Brass Ring Carousel, which was later renamed the Historic Carousel & Museum.

After Kirbey’s research on the history of other carousels, she decided that she wanted to make hers different.

She wanted the Carousel of Albany to have less fancy and jeweled animals,

and instead have a more realistic (and in some cases, cartoony) take on the animals. One early sponsor decided that they wanted a fish to be their animal on the carousel, but people were hesitant; considering they have never seen a fish on a carousel. After debating which should make it on, a picture was found of an official Dentzel carousel with a fish on board, and carving began to the heaps of animals.

The original plan was to buy a new mechanical system that would consist of 32 animals, but the great-grandson of Gustav Dentzel, Bill Dentzel, donated an antique mechanical system that currently holds 41 of the 52 planned animals. These animals include a seven feet giraffe, a bulldog, and as the Albany Carousel website states, “even lions, tigers, and bears (Oh my!)” and many more.

On Aug. 15, 2017, the vision of Wendy Kirby and the effort of hundreds transpired. Aside from the animals, the carousel has many other fun and interesting things to offer, including a food court, party/conference rooms, a brick garden, a painting room, and even their museum where you can walk through the history of the carousel and see the highlights of the journey. Now you can experience the fruits of labor that Wendy Kirbey worked hard to bring to our town.

How long have you been volunteering at the carousel and what do you do?

“I’ve been a volunteer here since 2013.

I have two volunteer positions here. One is a tour guide. I love to give tours to people. I meet so many interesting people from all over the world. It’s really fun.

[The second position] is a carver and I come in on Saturday morning and carve for a couple of hours. We’ve got about 22 Animals yet to carve.”

VOLUNTEER MARGE WRIGHT

What is your favorite animal here?

“My favorite animal has not yet been carved. It’s a unicorn and the unicorn name is Kitty. My family is a sponsor wof that animal. Kitty is the name of a daughter who passed away from cancer a few years ago, and her name was Catherine but she went by Kitty,so that’s my favorite.”

1961

In 1961, many women in the Albany Union High School participated in Albany’s annual breast cancer walk and got the idea to represent Albany’s history because the bulldog was the first high school mascot. The bulldog’s name is Timber. It was named after a famous log roller “Tim Burr”. (Tim Burr is the symbol for the Albany Timber Carnival.)

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Story by Bri White and Addi Winter

3 14

On this day,

the Greyhound Tavern plans to open. Tyler Porter is one of the owners of this new business. Tyler and his friends originally owned the taphouse named “The Garage,” before coming up with the idea of a greater business. Growing up, Porter would listen to a lot of music, and knew from an early age that he wanted to own a place that was great for bands to come in and play music. This started the shared dream of a live music venue, and the owners of the Tavern were happy to find this perfect opportunity when this building was up for grabs. We are most excited to bring something new to the community,” Porter said.

So far, they provide for Albany by throwing their yearly downtown Photo used with permission of Jayme Fay block party. The party is on Labor Day weekend and involves a free, all ages event with kid zones, food trucks, and music artists. “We are taking that premise and going to work that into our business plan here,” Porter said. They hope to continue giving Albany their yearly tradition, with even better numbers with the addition of their Tavern.

Porter’s favorite part about running a business is being able to integrate in the community and get to know people.

“Going through what we are going through has taught me that no matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it,” he said.

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years in the jewelry business, half owner of Sid Stevens Jewelers uses his love for making jewelry to create beautiful and unique pieces for his customers at his shop, located at 140 W 1st Ave in downtown Albany. Sid says, “My dad and my grandfather had a store in downtown Salem called Steven and Sons Jewelers.”

Steven’s childhood was a big inspiration to his future goal of becoming a goldsmith. “I would go down with my mom to pick my dad up from work….she would sit up front with the sales people and talk, and I would go back into the back and watch the goldsmith work,” said Stevens.

Sometimes it’s not the lack of inspiration or desire to create something new, but the fear of failure or the fear of insuccess that can get in the way of following personal aspirations. “Money is important, but liking your job is more important,’ Stevens says. ¨You’re going to spend most of your life working, [so] you’d better like what you do… if you don’t, you’re throwing your life away.” Stevens advises.

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SMALLTOWN STORIES

AN INSIGHT ON SMALL BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND WHAT’S COMING.

MARCH 2024

PRESERVING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE

HOW ALBANY IS IMPROVING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS

WATERFRONT PROJECT Water Avenue recent construction has been due to the upcoming waterfront project. The project consists of making a space with lots of exposure to nature and entertainment alongside Water Avenue. “It's a really exciting project not only for Downtown but the whole community.” Adams, a lead on the project, said. The area will contain a stage for entertainment, lots of grass space and a repeated community request of a splash pad and playground all against the Willamette River.

“One goal is to remove invasive species and add native plants that should thrive there.” Ruettgers said. “Part of the other thing we do is not just facilitating development, it is also the preservation of our natural spaces.” Their hopes are to bring more entertainment to downtown for all of the community.

Story by Yesenia Rosas

A

A crucial development currently lbany is currently listed in being worked on is a main the top 10 fastest growing sewer line, called the Cox Creek cities in Oregon, but this Iinterceptor, as it is undersized and is comes with the constant need to limiting the sewer service running to improve and develop the city. The the east side of the I-5. This project, community has many wants and and only three to five years of the needs, many want the city to expand Capital Improvement project has while others want new restaurants funds, leaving a whole decade of like Olive Garden to come into work with no money. The city heard town, Communications Officer Matt the community loud and clear when Harrington says. Many rely on the they were upset with the intersection city to help with these wants and on Century Drive and Knox Butte. needs, but they can only do so much.

The city reached out to the Oregon Developments like new Department of Transportation) businesses and brand new residential about the issue, suggesting putting streets all come from private a temporary signal on the street to developers, while the city develops help drivers be less confused aton more important matters that keep the the intersection. “We asked ODOT city running. if we can add “Those a temporary private projects signal.,” still have to be Ruettgers said. coordinated “We were going heavily with the NOT A LOT OF THE PROJECTS to pay [for] it on city to make sure our own and they that they fit in THAT YOU’LL SEE AREN’T said no.” with the zoning ODOT’s and the plans SUPER EXCITING, YET THEY’RE decision stopped for that area,” CRUCIAL FOR THE OPERATION the city from Environmental resolving a real Director Sophie OF OUR CITY issue and helping Adams said. their community.

The Capital Problems like Improvement funds, private development, and the Project is a six hundred page state’s approval can be key factors document of a 20 year look at in why these developments for the everything the city knows needs to community aren’t getting done. The be done. city workers who are in charge of “Not a lot of the projects that economic development work hard you’ll see aren’t super exciting, yet to push past these issues to continue they’re crucial for the operation of to develop critical infrastructure to our city,” Community Development grow towards the future of Albany.

Director Matthew Ruettgers said.

“

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CLIMATE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES A mandate passed down from former Governor Kate Brown that tasked cities in Oregon to create climate friendly areas.

In Albany, the city is planning on making climate-friendly communities. Ruettgers describes the communities as, “ Higher density which means moving away from just single family housing.” These areas will include less need to use automobiles because your home, work, and health care providers are all in the same close knit community. This will also eliminate single housing and develop more apartments and commercial and residential mixed buildings.” We hadn't seen new apartments and those are desperately needed. Most people getting their first start don't move right into a brand new house because they're working and can't afford one right away,” Ruettgers said.,“This will be adding to Albany but also preserving all the things we love about Albany.”

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URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT The Urban Renewal project Adams describes as, “Economic development, especially at a city government level, is trying to remove barriers to make successful business and development.” This is where the city can play in the private development side of things.”Our Enterprise Zone program, that provides short term tax abatement for businesses that are investing a lot in their buildings and infrastructure in Albany that helps with their journey to success.” This project is being used mainly downtown as it is currently restoring old buildings and helping businesses get their start.

EAST ALBANY PLAN

“It's a vision of what could be.” Harrington said about the development of East Albany. Currently, East Albany is just a hope – a hope of expanding our city.

“A goal is how does East Albany connect with itself, connectivity was a major topic of discussion,” Ruettgers said, describing the vision. The idea for the zoning of East Albany is similar to a small city to create a close atmosphere like a climate-friendly community.

Ruettger uses a quote from the Mayor of Albany to bring emphasis on the impact this development can bring to the future of Albany. “The work we were doing today and the questions we are asking, Were not creating visions for us or our kids but for our grandkids' kids,” Ruettgers said, quoting Albany’s Mayor Alex Johnson II.

TRANSPORTATION VARIETY

Constant problem brought to the city’s attention is the traffic congestion in Albany. Traffic flows from North Albany into downtown on any day, especially between 4-5:30 p.m., according to Ruettgers. People from ODOT were hired to come down to Albany to help with the problem. “ODOT was here to tell us some suggestions we could make that wouldn't involve construction,” Harrington said. “ Like adding a second turning lane to spring hill that goes over the bridge.” The reason for them bringing only ideas involving no construction is to try to keep money out of the solution. A project Harrington thinks worth mentioning is the growth of Albany’s bus transit system. “Providing a wide variety of options for people,” Harrington said, describing the effect of the system growing for people in order to give residents options.

70%

Of housing in Albany is in the form of single family homes

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MARCH 2024

Sophomore Counselor 10 years ago after the blizzard that happened the Corvallis school district lost two weeks of school because of this the union voted to add the time from the two weeks missed on to the end of the day instead of at the end of the year.

No School Days

Ian Van Der Zwan

S-no-w Make Up Days

THE THINKING BEHIND MAKE UP DAYS AND WHY WE SHOULDN’T HAVE THEM Opinion of The Whirlwind Editorial Board and Illustration by Julia Berg

T

he news that President’s Day would be changed to a school day instead of a holiday was one that was unwelcome and surprising for many students. But in the calendar, it can be seen that President’s Day is a built-in make up day. This means that even though we have a day off, if there were any school days missed in the months before it would be changed into a school day.

These missed days are important to make up as there is a number of hours a percentage of students have to reach for the school year.

Around 1,250 students are enrolled at West Albany High School. Out of these students, 80% of them every year need to have the mandated number of school provided instructional hours. This

Sean Saxton Assistant Principal A Texas school district considered adding Saturdays to the school week because of losing ten days of school around April. This proposition was vetoed and instead they added time at the end of the school day and some more days in June.

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means that if the school is open even if the student is not at school, those hours are still counted. 990 hours is how many hours that freshmen, sophomores, and juniors need and 966 hours are needed for seniors.

The few extra hours gained over the school year are enough to go without school for two days, creating the idea that the choice of making up days is easy, but this isn’t the case.

The school board had a choice to take a waiver for two days missed as a result of the ice storm. However, the Greater Albany Public Schools school board dismissed the waiver of the missed school days in favor of making up the snow days. This was an unnecessary choice when the days that were canceled happened in the first semester and the make-up days are in the second semester.

School Days The choice that the school board made was one that did not help the mental workload of students and teachers alike. Instead of having an extra day of break, especially before the long months that have little to no breaks, the teachers and students had to have a normal weekend when some were expecting a longer weekend. This made the weekend seem even smaller and the week longer.

Although the school days did not extend more into the summer than is normal, having an abrupt end to the school year, by having a finals day last, will be like a sentence ended too soon. The last half day is still used by some as their goodbye before the school year officially ends.

However, many people skip school in favor of not going to school as it

is unnecessary to go to school as no homework is assigned.

This new schedule can not be changed, however, what can happen the next time a discussion like this is brought up is the inclusion of student voices, such as the ability to send in comments to the superintendent’s secretary and the board so they can be read at the meeting. Another thing that students can do is go to the meetings themselves as a majority of them are open to the public.

This adding of unnecessary school days is something that shouldn’t happen, especially when there aren’t many breaks scheduled in the calendar. These days should only be made up when they are being needed so as to not create more stress on teachers and students for a less demanding school schedule.

Jan Rasmussen Junior Counselor When he was in high school at lake Tahoe unified school district school went until July 2nd because of lost school days to snow.

Rich Engel Principal The Albany school district added five days at the end of the year after two different snowstorms, one being in February and another in December. This made school get out either the Thursday or Friday of the next week of June.

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MARCH 2024

ACROSS

5. The school the Whirlwind is from 7. The town this issue is focused on 9. The family who built the first house in Albany 11. One of the main things Albany is known for 12. A building housing over 50 hand-carved pieces of art 14. This place is represented by Knights

Across and Down Town

A CROSSWORD BASED OFF ALBANY OR

DOWN

1. FarmersMarket 2. HeritageMall 3. Bridge 4. WillametteValley 5. WestAlbayHighSchool 6. SouthAlbanyHighSchool 7. Albany 8. Rain 9. Monteith 10. Oregon 11. Farming 12. Carousel 13. Downtown 14. AlbanyOptions 15. Pix

1. During all seasons but winter, this event allows locals to sell their goods 2. The local building with a food court, multiple stores, and more 3. Something that connects two parts of Albany 4. Where Albany is located 6. The main rival to West Albany 8. Something Oregonians put up with constantly 10. The state the Whirlwind is based in 13. One of the primary reasons to visit Albany 15. A local, popular small business