November 2010 Volume 2 Issue 1

P T H S

Signalswww.ptmedia.net

Smoke

Peters Township High School 264 East McMurray Road

McMurray, PA 15317Phone: 724-941-6250

www.ptmedia.net

Smoke SignalsVolume2 Issue I

Emily Cocco

Name your best Halloween Costume.

Meet the Staff

“I was a watermelon when I was younger.”

-Gabby Brinsky

Managing Editor-In-Chief: Mike Schuck Online Editor-In-Chief: Katie Denning Layout Editor-in-Chief: Matt Sikora Period 1 Editor-In-Chief: Erin Masta Period 3 Editor-In-Chief: Gabrielle Brinsky

“Winnie the Pooh, it was so cute!”

-Christine Manganas

“A tuxedo with a white mask and a top hat.”

-John Galatic

Layout Editors: Val Gobao and Joe GrossiLife & Style Editor: Molly DoehringPeople Editor: McKenzie Fritz PT Focus Editor: Amanda Moore

Mission Statement:Smoke Signals is produced four times a school year by the students of the Media II, III, and IV Journalism staff at Peters Township High School. Staff Advisor is Mrs. N. Sitler. Commentaries, reviews, and opinion columns are the express opinion of the au-thor and not of Smoke Signals, its advisor, or the Peters Township School District.

.

Entertainment Editor: Conor JacksonSpecial Features Editor: Christine ManganasSports Editor: John Galatic

Staff Writers: Layout Staff:Carly Beck Lexi Miller Melina Sopko Jessica Kleja Hardy Kern Valerie Kotar Madison Mincone Sean SickmundKatie Shultz Matt Lison Julia Gauthier Kenzie StepanikJake Achenbach Katie Finn Greg Marsh Denee RenzSavanna Schweitzer Kurt Werner Steph Hammell Nikki Happe Allie Schlafman

4-5 PT Focus

6-7 Sports

8-9 Senior Servants

10-11 Life & Style

12-13 Homecoming

14-15 People Features

16-17 Seasonal

18-19 Entertainment

20-21 News Features

22-23 Student Work 24 Voices

“The red power ranger.”

-Matt Sikora

“Cinderella because I had a big ball gown with a hoop skirt.”

-Katie Denning

“A bumble bee when I was a baby.”

-Erin Masta

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f C

on

ten

ts

“One year I wore my sister’s red M&M costume; it was awe-some!”

-Amanda Moore Homecoming Dates

Long Live the King

Next Year Is Here

A Look Back

Fashion Forward Fall Shoes

Starry Night Extravaganza

Artwork of Eleni Manganas

Fall Festivities

Upcoming Concerts

Photography

Eco-Friendily Changes

4 November 2010

Fall 2010

Long Live the King KatieSchultz.StaffWriter

editoriaL:To Kill A Muffin-Bird

MikeSchuck.Editor-in-Chief

Mr. King passed away on July 7, 2010. Loved by both students and staff, he sadly lost his battle against cancer.

This past summer, PTHS lost a wonderful mentor and friend. Mr. Bri-an King, a social studies teacher, left a legacy for all future teachers. Numerous students had the privilege to know him through World Cultures and AP Law and Government. Mr. King engaged students through participatory learning and en-couraged them to reach their potential. His class discussions kept students en-gaged. “We had the most memorable discussions about Greenpeace to Balloon Boy to cake or pie,” said Joy Hou, a se-nior and one of King’s former students. “He was a brilliant educator as well as the most respectful man.” “Out of all of the teachers I’ve had, he was the most knowledgeable,” stated senior Kurt Werner, who had King for AP Law and Government. “He was the most interested when we showed we were the most interested.” King was respected by his stu-dents and was able to inspire others.“Every day he would go out of his way to try and make your day better,” said senior Doug Maronde, who had King for World

Cultures. “Even when fighting cancer, he still taught with energy and was devoted to his students.” Besides students, King left be-hind a great impression on teachers as well. “He impacted the school and the students more than anyone can know,” said Mr. Kevin Bastos, one of King’s closest friends. “What I respect about him most is his integrity, and he al-ways strived to make himself the best he can be. He made me better as a person.” Past and present students, along with friends and staff, have been able to reflect on the impact Mr. King made through Facebook groups. One group called “Remembering Mr. King” lets friends post their thoughts about him. Matt Sherwin, the page’s creator, start-ed the page so people could leave their memories and let King’s family see his importance to others. “His passion for his subject and his students were infectious,” said Sher-win. “He got all of his students to think productively.” Mr. King’s lectures kept students captivated throughout his thir-

teen years of teaching at the high school. He was recognized for his teaching talents when he received the Teacher Excellence Award, the Award for Educational Excel-lence from the University of Pittsburgh, and was included in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Mr. King never gave up his passion for teaching even in poor health. He passed away on July 7, 2010 at age 59, but the valuable lessons he instilled in PTHS will live forever.

To be brief, Muffin Days have been canceled. The given reason for ending the weekly breakfast was that the muffins were “too unhealthy.” Now students and teachers are voicing their dis-content in the wake of this tragedy. Muffin Day occurred each Friday morning. Every stu-dent surveyed said they disagreed with the cancellation: a credit to the event's popularity. The impact on the library is one of the main problems with the recent decision. Muffin Days were one of few fundrais-ers for the high school’s library, along with Library Arts Café, which is held each spring. However, money is not the real con-cern. “Muffin Days weren’t just about funding for the library, it was a way to bring students together,” said senior Emily Ma-dalena, who volunteers in the high school library. Nutrition, the reason for the muffins’ demise, is another point of discussion. Were the muffins healthy? No. They con-tained an average of 650 calories each. Attempting to encour-age healthy eating habits is surely a noble pursuit. However, the question is whether the current decision will move the student body toward this end.

High school is a place where adolescents become adults with the help of faculty and administration. This means that at some point during their four years of attendance, students must begin to make their own decisions. What to eat is one such de-cision. Additionally, many students skip breakfast all-together. Therefore, juice and a muffin are far better than nothing at all. In addition, this event helped PTHS feel more like a community. Otherwise, the high school is simply several hun-dred kids moving within their own separate cliques. As dramatic as it may sound, Muffin Days added the human element to an otherwise divided building. After all, what are more universal than muffins? If nothing else, Muffin Days were fun. Besides being a motivation to get up and go to school on Friday, it was a way to enjoy time with friends. Name five schools that sell ginormous chocolate muffins on Fridays. That's what I thought. A compromise can easily be reached. For example, healthy food and drinks could be offered, such as bagels and fruit. Moral of the story: there is no legitimate reason to elimi-nate Muffin Day. Period.

PT Focus 5

• Today, I decided that if I ever have a daughter, I will name her Stacy so I can listen to ‘Stacy’s Mom’ by Fountains of Wayne and feel good about myself.

• Today, I got a papercut while opening a band-aid box.

• Today, I successfully stole a Snack Shack cookie from my friend by pointing and saying, “Look! A distraction!”

• Today in World Cultures, we had a discussion about where people in China try to dig their holes to.

• The other day I was applying to colleges. One application gave me an essay prompt that said something like “Write what you want, but show you have a mastery of grammar, the English language, and writing structure.” I wrote my essay on how to properly cook Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. I think I’ll be accepted.

• Today I realized that a pack of gum lasts a lot longer if you don’t share.

• Today in History class, my teacher was telling a story about how a while back, Mr.Wood put in his lesson plans that the class was going sledding on the lunch trays down the PV hill. And they did. I will miss that man.

• Today in English, we were talking about compound words. A girl asked what they are and I said,”They’re words that can be broken into two words. Like airport or backdrop.” She responded, “Oh, so like chicken!” Yes, exactly like chicken.

• Today in class, me and my two best friends were discussing how steep the stair cases are in this school. We were complaining about the stairs from the Media Wing to the third floor Science wing when I asked, “What if they made vertical stairs that you would have to climb up?” They paused a bit before informing me that those are called ladders.

• Today at Cross Country practice when we were supposed to be stretching, some boys decided to wrap their shirts around their heads as bandanas. They then tied blankets (that they got from their cars) around their necks as capes. They started yelling “This is SPARTA,” and ran down to the trail and screamed the whole practice. This is now a normal occurance known as ‘Warrior Wednesday’.

• Today, my friend and I were in outdoor games. I was goofing around, so I told her, “Look, gullible is written on the ceiling!” She looked up. I’m worried for this girl.

• Today, I figured out that surprise is spelled with two r’s. This was a big, well you know, surprise...

My Life is Pt A Parody of www.MyLifeIsAverage.com

Compiled by AmandaMoore.Editor

gone fishin’JakeAchenbach.StaffWriter

Senior Nic Nee roasts a hotdog at lunchtime. “I roasted a dog because I get hungry when I fish,” recalled Nee.

Being an upperclassman def-initely has its benefits – such as having the first pick in gym class. This fall, juniors and seniors were offered fly fishing in PE and very few hesitated to sign up for the school year’s most hyped field trip. “Missing school to go fish-ing was a nice break from every-day stresses within the walls of the school,” stated senior Nic Nee. Many students used this trip as an excuse to get away from all of the hardwork but still stay within the curriculum. It’s fair to say that every student appreciated what the trip has to offer: a day out of school, a cook-out, and catching fish. “We roasted hotdogs and hamburgers for lunch, it was a thrill,” said senior Phil Ross, “I could have lived off of all the fish I was catching.”

Fish were not hard to come by and most students caught at least a few of them. However, some did not rejoice in their catch as much as oth-ers did. “All I caught was bluegill, and I’ve caught millions of those in my lifetime, so it didn’t really mean anything to me,” remarked senior Dan Milavec sarcastically. The trip took place at a pri-vately owned fish farm in Marriana, PA. Getting out of town only added more interest to taking the course. Many students enjoyed the change in scenery, especially on a Monday af-ternoon. “It was a nice area, very unpopulated and quiet. If I ever got the chance again I would be the first person to retake the trip,” said senior Brent Mueller.

PT Focus: VolunteersJunior Mike Sessa goes to Kentuckey

to help build houses. “I had fun while doing a good

thing for people who lost every-thing,” he said.

Sophomore Sar-ah Bowler helps clean up trash.

“Everything can be tons

better if people picked up after

themselves,” she said.

Freshman Rachel Moore proves you don’t have to do much to make a

change. “I love going on freerice.com. I can help people in

other countries while studying,” she said.

Hardy Kern,12, traveled to

Churchill, Canada to help polar bears. “It’s an absolutely life changing trip,”

said Kern.

Photo by Sean Sickmund

All photos submitted

6 November 2010

A leader, a mentor, and a teammate, Phil Ross is the epitome of a captain. Ross heads into his senior season commanding one of WPIAL’s biggest powerhouses as a captain of the Peters Township Indians soccer team, and there is no better person for the job. Some people are thrown into a position of such high responsibility. However, Ross seems to be a natural born leader. “Being a captain this year doesn’t really change the way I act. I’m still going to act the same as I always do: as a leader,” stated Ross.The Indians will need this type of in-fluence as they head into this season ranked third overall, behind only Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon. However, the seven returning starters make the Indians heavy favorites for a title run. “As a team, our expectations are the same every year: win a section title, WPIAL title, and state title,” says Ross. With their talent and experi-ence, the Indians should not expect anything less. As expectations run high, the Indians will face a number of challenges throughout the season. However, the biggest challenge they will face this year will not be an op-ponent, but injuries. “The main challenge we face as a team is staying healthy,” said Ross. With a healthy group of start-ers, game after game, the Indians will seem nearly impossible to beat.

PhiL ross: Chief of the tribeMattLison.StaffWriter

Senior captain Phil Ross gets loose before a game. “I love the game of soccer and because it’s my senior year it makes it even more special,” stated Ross.

next year is hereLexiMiller.StaffWriter

Fall 2010

“For us, the team to beat this year is USC. They are our section ri-val and we hate them with a passion,” Ross explained. The Indians will face the Panthers twice this year and most likely in the playoffs. Having such a talented and heavily favored team to go deep into the playoffs, the fans also have high expectations heading into the season. Senior outside midfielder, Dan Weyrick, said, “Expect a team that plays with pace and plays a physi-cal game. We have a lot of swag, but still have a lot to prove. There are no easy games in the WPIAL today.” For the fans of the Indians, Ross has an important message, “You can expect a show.”

“When we were little, we grew up saying next year, next year we’ll do better, but the time is now, and we came to win,” said senior quarterback Austin Hancock. Hancock echoed the football team’s theme this year, next year is here. Their major goal is to make the playoffs and ultimately win the conference. So far, the record looks promising and the team had an amaz-ing win against rival Bethel Park. The win was featured on the front page of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Almanac. In the past, the football team has struggled to find success, but things are about to change. They are working harder, playing tougher, and are more deter-mined to win than ever before. “We’re playing more as a team rather than as individu-als, which is a mistake we’ve made in the past,” said se-nior and center Boyd Jones. So far, the changes they’ve made this year have paid off. Some of the players believe that their team bonding sessions have contributed to their success on the field. They have dinners on Thursdays after their practice in preparation for their Friday night game. Also, the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams combine, so whoever does not get their playing time in the varsity game Friday night gets their turn on Saturday morn-ing, during the Junior Varsity game. “Football has taught me a lot about leadership and self-discipline. You have to work hard if you want to achieve your goals,” said sophomore wide receiver Joey Sala. On top of practicing every day, the team also had several successful training camps in August, which included camps at home as well as away. The away camps were attended at Pennsylvania State University and Michigan. In addition, the team also trained in a speed camp with camp coordinator Tony Mitchell ev-ery weekday morning over the summer to improve on agility and speed that contributed to their preparation for the season. Every Friday night the student section is completely filled, with some students having to stand along the fence, cheering on the Indians and celebrat-ing the team’s improvement. Next year is finally here.

Teammates junior Clayton Evans (56) and senior center Boyd Jones (64) fire each other up before a game . “This year has been special for me because this is my last year and I find myself enjoying football more than ever,” said Jones.

Which Athlete Would You Follow 24/7?

“Apolo Anton Ohno”

“Andrew Erenberg”“Ricky Bobby”

“Hines Ward”

Christina Soff, 2011

Nick Wells, 2014Marco Femiani, 2012

Sarah Kronket, 2013

Photo by Dan Tatman

Photo by Meredith Karavolis

Sports 7

raising the bannerMadisonMincone.StaffWriter

Senior Jess Crossman passes a ball to a teammate. “I love playing defense. It’s awesome whenever you dig a ball that looks nearly impossible to get,” reflected Cross-man.

“My goal for this team is to put up a big 2010 on the volleyball banner in the gym,” said Coach Ashley Green.

The banner is a topic of frequent conversations. It helps to build team spirit and encourages the team to win. The team hasn’t won a section title since 2003, and Coach Green hopes to change that.

“This is a good team; they deserve so much more than they have been given. They de-serve to win and be champions, and that’s exactly what we plan to do,” said Green.

Coach Green’s fire and passion fu-els the girls on their road to victory along with strong leadership from the seniors.

The team’s defense is their best attribute, lead by the three senior co-captains, Nika

Simonson, Nicole Burkhardt, and Jess Crossman. Burkhardt and Simonson are both leaders for kills on the team. But the true anchor of the defense is Crossman. She is the true defensive specialist, who plays back row for Burkhardt. Crossman’s strong defense enables the team to earn offensive points by making digs. There are three essential juniors on varsity, the starting middle hitter Madison Mincone, another defensive specialist Alex McNally, and the libero, Gabriella Santa Lucia.

Santa Lucia’s official position is li-bero. Liberos can only play in the back row, and can remove themselves from the game without a substitution. A libero wears the opposite colored jersey on the court so she can be easily recognized. Santa Lucia’s de-fense earned her a spot on the South Fayette All Tournament team.

Sophomore setter Kelly Johnson is the quarterback of the team. She calls out the plays, and let the hitters know where to go. Johnson’s play has been flawless for this year.

Finally, sophomore Shiloh Simon-son is a powerful force on the court; she earned the MaxPreps.com “Player of the Week” for the week of 9/26 to 10/2. In one match alone, she compiled sixteen kills, five digs, two aces, and one block.

Under review

Which is more exciting: college football or the NFL?JG: What makes football exciting is the tradition, something that is more prevalent at the college level. Fans young and old travel to their team’s home site on Saturdays in the fall. The smell of barbecue permeates the air in the parking lot near the stadium. On the field, the band plays school fight songs and other exciting pregame numbers. Even fans watching the game on TV can enjoy the tradition that surrounds a college football game. Professional football simply cannot compare in this area.

JA: Tradition is for children, while the NFL is for big boys. In fact, the league has always been known for legacies and dy-nasties. Tradition is great for college but most people only spend about four years there. You can love an NFL team from before your college days until the day you die.

JG: You can still love a college football team as a kid. The bond between you and a school simply grows when you enroll there. As for dynasties, what makes the college level so exciting is its variety from year to year. A team becomes different every season when upperclassmen graduate or leave early and when new freshmen arrive on campus. Because of this, many teams do not usually suffer the same level of mediocrity each year (i.e. the Cleveland Browns). Boise State, for example, went from complete anonymity to being a serious National Championship contender. The NFL looks the same every year. It is the same athletes playing at the same level against the same teams season after season.

JA: What are you talking about? College football has vari-ety? When was the last time a team outside of the SEC won the national title? More specifically, when was the last time any-body other than Florida or Alabama won the BCS champion-ship? Granted, there are a number of “Cinderella” teams every year or so, but for the most part college football stays the same.

In the NFL there is no recruiting. Therefore the best players are distributed amongst all teams. It is fair to say that every team from the Saints to the Lions has more than a few stand outs. This is primarily the reason why repeat Super Bowl winners are so rare.

JG: You’re kidding, right? Out of the 44 Super Bowls, the Steelers, Cowboys, and 49ers have won sixteen. That’s more than a third. We’re not talking about a twelve team conference here. These are single teams. That’s more than a third of the entire league. Even third graders can tell you that these stats are lop-sided. Concerning the NFL draft, certain teams have histori-cally drafted better than others. This is what makes the Steelers so great. And most years, each team only has one or two players drafted that see any significant playing time. The others are re-leased to free agency. When you watch an NFL game, you always see the same names. Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, and Adrian Peterson are DYNASTY players. They are on a team for the long run.

JA: I’m sorry; I didn’t realize we were in math class. Want some real stats? In the past twenty years, there have been less than eleven teams that have won the national championship. Also, we hear those names constantly because those players are literally the best in the world at what they do. To prove you wrong once again, I can list four names off of the top of my head that were significant rookie starters in 08’-09’. Actu-ally, let me just name the quarterbacks: Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Matthew Ryan, and Mark Sanchez. They are all from different schools yet not quite standouts in the NFL. The only reason I consider them significant is because they are starters. It is undisputed that the NFL carries the better players and al-lows for various champions.

John Galatic.Sports Editor & Jake Achenbach.Staff Writer

Photo by Jenn Coffey

Fall 2010

8 November 2010

The 2010 edition of Senior Servant Day showcased a giant whoopie cushion, bananas, and even the beloved stars of Disney’s “Up” as part of a hectic day filled with hilarity. Hallways were a complete traffic jam as our seniors dragged their “masters” around in wagons and other ridiculous modes of transportation. People showed up to class five, maybe ten minutes late. Seniors had mixed feelings about the madness.

“I didn’t like my costume at all. I wish I had a bear cos-tume to wear. But I thought it was fun… I just wouldn’t do it again,” said Sean Sickmund, who was dressed as a girl.

Although a reduced amount of work was accomplished in the classroom, high school students enjoyed a well-deserved break from their every day routines. Smiles could be seen on just about every face, even those of the more solemn teachers. Not only does this day provide a great prelude to Homecoming weekend, it en-ables students to release stress that has been pent up since late Au-gust. Plus, seeing friends dressed up a like clowns is always a nice bonus.

Perhaps the best costumes were the girls dressed up as the blue Na’vi from the movie Avatar. The costumes were spot on, and the satire of the human race dominating the blue humanoids was hysterical.

The annual pep rally held at the end of the day capped off the madness, as the Homecoming Court was introduced, creating much anticipation for the crowning of the king and queen. Finally, all the senior servants played a slightly violent game of musical chairs, won by Conor Jackson. Jackson was far from finished with his antics in the assembly, winning a dance-off against fellow senior servant Jesse Scheirer. Complimenting Jackson’s dance moves was Assistant Principal Bergman’s surprise roundoff, which made the crowd go wild.

Succesful Senior

John Galatic.SportsEditor

Servant Day

Fall 9

Layout by Allie SchlafmanPhotos by Mrs. Sitler and Savanna Schwiezer

Fall 2010

10 November 2010

sweet dreaMsCarlyBeck.StaffWriter

Everyone has woken up one morn-ing puzzled by the dream that is still fresh in their minds. Whether it was a nightmare or a happily-ever-after dream, the dreamer is often left wondering “Why?” Dreams are a window into the subconscious of the dreamer. Each dream is filled with symbols represent-ing thoughts that our minds process as we sleep. “Usually I’m confused when I wake up, but picking out the symbols in my dreams makes them a lot simpler to figure out,” said senior Lindsay Smore. Learning to interpret these symbols is the key to understanding our dreams, which often seem illogical and bizarre. It is essential to remember that dreamare mainly based on the day before. “Knowing my dreams are about the previous day really limited the possible mean-ings they could have,” noted junior Nicole Celko. The symbols and complex mean-ing of the dream can become clearer when compared to real-life events.

Dreaming her troubles away is Junior Katie Finn. “My dreams usually seem strange at first, but after I break them down they make sense,” remarked Finn.

According to the late Sigmund Freud, an expert on dream analysis, common symbols involved in dreams can be colors, people cur-rently present in the dreamer’s life, or animals. The colors involved in a dream can often be overlooked; however, many agree that the com-mon connotations of colors have meanings in dreams. For example, white represents purity and innocence, gray conveys indecisiveness, and black represents power. “I realized my dream full of gray rooms was about deciding between saving my money or spending it,” stated Celko. Other colors such as pink, purple, and blue symbolize love, loyalty and calm. Another common symbol in dreams is the people pres-ent in the dreamer’s life. “My dream about my English teacher reminded me I was worried about the test that I took in class yesterday,” remarked junior Drew Reis. Obviously, the dreamer should inter-pret these kinds of symbols personally, depend-ing on what role the person plays in their life.

Animals are a third common symbol present in dreams. An animal has certain physical qualities that we associate with emotional traits. When animals are present in dreams this can indicate the fight or flight instinct taking over confron-tational situations. For example, a cheetah may mean you are quick and graceful with your actions, while a lamb signifies a sacri-fice. A puppy can represent a carefree and happy attitude.

“With these things on you”ll be running the streets!”

-Matt Sikora

Sikora’s Stunna Fresh KicksCorner

The pictures don’t do them justice; you have to get yourself a pair. The theme for these was simple color schemes. Nothing to flashy, but at the same time all business. You can rock black, white, or grey with just about anything and you’ll look like a stunner.

Photo by Carly Beck

zLife & Style 11

MollyDoehring.LifeandStyleEditor Sadly, the cold weather of au-tumn and winter is fast approaching. It’s time to pack away the strappy sandals, wedges, and flip-flops, and embrace some styles that keep your feet a little warmer. The fall 2010 fashion season has brought back some classics, as well as added some new trends too. Shoes styles this season are very much inspired by the military look. We will be seeing many lace up looks, as well as buckles, buttons, and straps. Animal prints, particularly leop-ard, are big this season. They have been seen on everything from boots to flats. Also, many new textures have been fill-ing the runways this year. Patent leather, glitter, and even fur have been spotted. The hottest shoes on the run-way now are clogs. We are seeing them everywhere. Some of the most expen-sive designers, like Christian Loubou-tin, all the way down to stores like Aldo are supporting this classic look. They vary in color, but are most commonly seen in neutrals such as black, tan, and brown. Clogs can be worn with flared or skinny pants, and even skirts or dresses. They have been the go- to fall shoe since the 1960’s, and for now, are here to stay. Another hot shoe trend this season is thigh-high boots. If going for a dramatic look, thigh high’s are the shoes for you. They come in a wide range of heel heights, from flats to some that top out at five-plus inches! This season boots are tending to be lace up, or in-clude a large amount of fur, almost re-sembling Eskimos. Skirt-length boots can be worn with either skinny pants or dresses to elongate your legs, making

faLL shoe trends

you look thinner. If not a fan of the super high boots, try ankle boots this fall. They were a popular trend last season and will continue into 2010. Ankle boots work best with skirts, shorts, or dresses, and can be found in open and closed-toe vari-eties. Platform heels are going to be huge this winter. A classic look since the 40’s, you cannot go wrong with a pair of pumps. It would be a good idea to invest in a pair of neu-tral pumps, whether they are peep-toed or close-toed. Pumps have al-ways been in and will never go out. Again, higher heeled shoes will give the illusion of longer legs, making a skinnier, more flattering figure. Pumps can be worn with any type of outfit. They can be dressed up for a formal ensemble, or can be worn with jeans for a more casual feel. On the contrary, kitten heels, most popular in the 50’s, are making a comeback this season. Pointed toes are the way to go, and can give anyone the look of a tall-er, smaller leg. Animal prints look great on this style, but solids are ac-ceptable too. Whether you are sport-ing clogs, boots, or pumps this fall be sure to not fall victim to a fash-ion no-no. Be practical. Don’t try to over-do the ensemble with too many trends; you’ll end up looking worse. When in doubt, keep it sim-ple. If you follow these tips, you’ll look like the fashionista you know you are.

Sleep is the brain’s way of feeding itself. Sleep fuels your brain so that you can get through your day with-out feeling tired, drowsy, or distracted. The average teenager requires 8 hours of sleep a night, sometimes more, but 60% of teens do not have this. “I have gotten around five and a half hours of sleep each night [for] the past week.” said Junior Cassie Pfeuffer. Most teen lifestyles are busy because of extra-curricular activities, sports, and other commitments. That being said, sleep is no longer a priority. After just two nights of inad-equate sleep, the body starts to send distress signals, such as dizziness and headaches, telling the body that it is being deprived of sleep. Lack of sleep effects concentration, listening, and at-tention span. It contributes to aggres-sive, impatient behavior and illnesses. Studies have also shown that lack of sleep leads to more acne and skin problems. Teens who sleep for a half-hour more than the average amount perform better in school and increase their academic achievements. The solution to these prob-lems is to simply sleep more, but we all know this is not as easy as it sounds. With most schools starting at around 7:30, students are forced to wake up by at least 6:30 to fit into the tight sched-ule of the school day. These early-morning wake-up calls lead to drowsiness and a bad mood throughout the school day. In-stead of hoping for school schedules to be changed, there are measures you can take to improve your sleeping hab-its. For example, when going to sleep at night, keep your room cool and dark because this helps to have a deeper and better sleep. In the morning, let bright light into your room to signal your body to wake up. Avoid caffeine by staying away from coffee and chocolate at the end of the day before you go to sleep. Limit your naps to about thirty minutes during the day. Any longer will interfere with your sleeping pat-terns and make falling asleep at night more difficult. Finally, establish a con-sistent sleeping pattern.

sLeeP yoUr way to an a

KatieFinn.StaffWriter

Clogs have made a comeback and can be found in almost any department store.

Flashy Fall Footwear

Pumps and peep toe heels are classics for a dressy attire.

Ankle boots look great with any outfit and are perfect for the cold weather.

Photos by Molly Doehring

Photo by Carly Beck

Layout by Sean SickmundPhotos by Alexis Scheller, Stephanie Hammell, Meredith Karavolis, Shannon Galloway, Lexi Miller

Fall 2010

14 November 2010

drawing the fUtUre ChristineManganas.FeaturesEditor

stirring UP the draMaJuliaGauthier.StaffWriter

Being a new teacher here, Mr. Kuharcik (pronounced car-check) has been trying to direct his way in his latest role as an English and Drama teacher. Mr. Kuharcik has always en-joyed theater. He began his acting career in high school, starring in numerous plays including Grease, as Danny Zuko, and Sweeney Todd, as Judge Turpin. Af-ter high school, he attended Penn State University, where he double majored in Broadcast Journalism and English. After graduating, Mr. Ku-harcik worked in television and radio broadcasting for two years, then moved to teach seventh grade at Canon-Mac. After working there for several years, he applied for his current position. “I knew Peters had a good repu-tation for their theater program, and want-ed to get involved here,” said Kuharcik. Only a blind person would not notice Mr. Kuharcik’s sophisti-

In her free time senior Eleni Manganas creates various art. “I enjoyed drawing this owl due to the unique texture and shading.”

Photo By Julia Gauthier

Photo by Christine Manganas

cated taste in clothing. Buckle, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Banana Republic are just a few of the stores that sup-ply Mr. Kuharcik’s vast Wardrobe. “It is always exciting to see what he is going to wear next,” said sophomore Hannah Jacobs. In addition to great fashion taste, Mr. Kuharcik taste extends to the plays he has chosen for this year. West Side Story and Mousetrap will be challenging, but the Thespians will draw huge audiences. “I am excited to begin work-ing with the entire creative team of faculty members to bring the pro-duction together,” said Mr. Kuharcik. So for those of you who do not know Mr. Kuharcik, he is the stylish True Blood and Reese Witherspoon-loving, teacher walking through the hallways, making a difference in the world of dra-ma one step at a time.

Dreams can paint and color the future. The past and present of Eleni Manganas tells a story of how passion and love for something can alter an entire life. “I have always been passionate about art, and ever since I could remember I have doodled on everything around me like napkins, notebooks, and even on the back of my tests,” said Manganas. From the time she was in third grade, her desire for art has represented who she is. At age 8, she won second in the nation for a poster contest of Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl. Later that year, it was dis-played in Washington D.C for all to see. Five years later, Eleni was asked to design and paint a background for the dance of the graduating eighth graders. During high school, she became a member of the Zine Magazine created solely by high school students, where she had the privilege to create the front cover. This magazine was produced in the South Side and distributed to surrounding areas. “I really enjoyed being a member because I felt like I was a part of something impor-

tant. It also gave me an outlook on what my future may consist of,” stated Manga-nas. Most recently, she has used her talents to do good for the surrounding communities. Kids have lined up on Community Day in Dormont for Eleni to paint their faces and bring their per-sonalities to life. Looking toward her future, Manganas plans to pursue a career in art. Columbia College in Chicago and the Cleveland Art Institute are at the top of her list. Although she enjoys all genres

of art, Manganas excels most in painting and drawing and hopes to find a career that suits these aspects. “I’m looking forward to attending an art school, because having a career doing some-thing I love will be something extraordi-nary.” Eleni Manganas has made one thing clear, that she is pursuing art not be-cause she is a spectacular artist, but because it is what she loves. In her words, dreams should be something desired, not something expected from everyone else.

People Features 15

Martial arts have existed for centuries, consisting of countless styles and denominations. One of the most balanced, useful, and ancient martial arts is Tae Kwon Do. The American Tae Kwon Do Association (ATA) is the largest single-system martial arts organization in the United States, with over one million members. Karate teaches students how to utilize the body and mind in a wide variety of ways. It also develops defensive and potentially life-saving skills. Tae Kwon Do utilizes the body evenly with hand and foot techniques. However, the art also branches into close-combat self defense, combat sparring, and exposure to various weapons. “ATA is by far the best martial arts school you can find,” said Cameron Statfeld, a fourteen year student and instructor. When a student embarks on becoming a martial artist within the ATA, they begin as the classic white belt and advance through eight more colored belts. After one has completed the colored belt requirements, they advance to First Degree Black Belt. Herein lies where the training truly begins; earning certification to instruct, training for higher degrees of black belt rank, and competing in tournaments nationwide. ATA Karate is a local school in Peters Township, stationed at Waterdam Plaza, McMurray, and owned by Mr. Stephen Reeve, Fourth Degree Black Belt & Certified Instructor. ATA Karate is a phenomenal school that offers a broad yet focused

Tae Kwon Do Experience GregMarsh.StaffWriter

Photo by Greg Marsh

WPIALS: Here We Come

curriculum, expert training, and a high quality, professional grade studio. “Not only do you become good at martial arts, you also become good at other things because of the dedication and perseverance of being a martial artist,” Mr. Reeve said. ATA Karate is perfect for all ages and skill levels. It is an activity where anyone can comfortably fit in and benefit in many ways. Those who are interested may visit the school’s website www.atamcmurray.com, or visit to meet with Mr. Reeve during evening hours.

The key to the girl’s varsity soccer team’s success is the senior leadership. Senior captains Shannon O’Connor, Shelli Spamer, Hannah Caso, and Dani Hume are close friends and that helps them feed off each others’ energy during games and practices. As captains, they provide the team with discipline and leadership. Their goals for their senior year are to win states and ultimately compete in WPIALS.

Frequent bonding activities have brought the team closer together and increased teamwork. The girls will often have pasta dinners before their games, and they sometimes have team sleepovers to grow closer as a team.

“Hanging out with each other outside of practice makes us more of a team on

SavannaSchweizer.StaffWriter

the field,” stated senior captain Shannon O’Connor.

Many of these girls have been playing soccer since they were little and their love for the sport has grown with age.

“I love the competition and atmosphere that the sport brings,” said senior goalie Brittany Hoffman. Soccer is their passion and some hope to continue their soccer career outside of high school.

The girls feel that they are well prepared to compete in WPIALS this year and make their mark. They have made it to states before but WPIALS is their most important goal this year.

“Our team is going to work a lot harder this year and we are going to try improving as much as we can,” stated captain Shelly Spamer.

Photo by Allie Schlafman Sophomore Alex Alavi takes a shot on goal during a girl’s varsity soccer game against Mercyhurst. “This year was special for me because I got closer with all the girls on the team,” said Alavi.

16 November 2010

Fall 2010

PhantoM fright night: a sCary good tiMeGabrielleBrinsky.Editor-In-Chief

Every fall, when the Kennywood Park gates close for the change in seasons, someone or something continues to lurk in the park. Kennywood’s staff tries to warn visitors of the horrifying happenings, but people insist on witnessing with their own eyes. Next October will be the tenth year for Phantom Fright Night at Kennywood Park. This attraction is open to all ages, although not intended for children under thirteen. The rides continue to work but the staff cannot figure out how the fun goes on through the season changes. Phantom Fright Nights are held Fridays and Saturdays during Octo-ber, from the first until the thirtieth; the screams and cries begin at seven o’clock and slowly fade away at one o’clock in the morning. Within these hours, visitors ex-perience scare zones. Some haunted areas include Mortem Manor, Villa of the Vam-pires, Ghostwood Estate, and many

300 costumed actors roam the park as vampires, pirates, monsters, clowns, and ghosts. Fog blinds the visitors while different colored light bulbs distract them, making them vulnerable to a good scare. Although the actors wear costumes, it is prohibited that visitors do the same. There are approximately 100 tomb stones, 3,000 corn stalks, 50 fog machines, and 64 gallons of colored dye for the fountains. Along with 10,479 colored light bulbs, 2,500 square feet of gel lights, and 50 strobe lights. “The fog machines are over-whelming. You can barely see, so it’s easier to be scared in the walk through paths,” stated senior Justin Feeney. Kennywood’s transformation is surprisingly different than the typical sum-mer amusement park to provide a little Halloween spirit to all. Kennywood hopes to scare you next year.

Ghostwood Estate is one of the many rides open during Phantom Fright Nights which is in the same place as the Gold Rush ride.

The man riding the skeleton greets the guests as they enter the park, on their quest to enjoy Kennywood.

more. Scream-inducing thrills include the new Sky Rocket, Swing Shot, Jack Rabbit, Phantom’s Revenge, The Exter-minator, and others. “This year they changed the mazes and had more rides open, the rides are more exciting in the dark. They say next year will be even better,” commented senior Bethany Seibel. Tickets are affordable and give you the spending money for freaky foods. This may include Fright Fries, Brain Freezes, Grave Yard Pizza, Monster Dogs, and Cotton Cobwebs. Although the names are quite explana-tory, trying the food will test even the bravest of visitors. Fright Night, named “One of the Best Halloween Events” by the annual Golden Ticket Awards readers’ poll consists of the ultimate Halloween spirit.

Kennywood’s staff dresses up to play the part of all scary things that may be roaming the park when it closes for winter.

Lexi Miller & Savanna Schwiezer Staff Writers

toP 10 sCary Movie List what’s yoUr best sCary faCe?

Nika Simonson, 2012 Mrs. Frick

Angelo Toscano, 2012 Tyler Santo, 2011

Photo by Gabrielle Brinsky Photo by Gabrielle BrinskyPhoto by Gabrielle Brinsky

1. Mirrors (2008) 2. Shutter Island (2010)3. Strangers (2008)4. Bloody Mary (2006)5. Splice (2010)6. The Crazies (2010)7. Paranormal Activity (2007)8. Chucky (1988)9. Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)10. The Halloween Series (Beginning in 1978)

Seasonal 17

Senior, Katie Levine, ventures to Trax Farm every fall to pick her pumpkins. “I love going to Trax because they have the best apple cider and pumpkins. It really gets me excited for the holidays,” stated Levine.

For the faint of heart who cannot venture to haunted houses this season, there are many fall festivals that accommo-date all ages. Massive corn mazes, pumpkin patches and friendly hay rides are great substitutes for the thrills and chills of Hallow-een. Simmons Farm is a place to celebrate the season. Although this is not a festival, fall activities are held here from the beginning of September through Thanksgiving. Hay rides, apple picking, and an adventure trail create a fun atmosphere at this farm. People of all ages come to pick their own pumpkins and interact with goats, chickens, and pigs at the petting zoo. Simmons is the tra-ditional fall celebration for those who are looking for a fun day on the farm. “I used to go to Simmons Farm when I was little and I still love going there now to pick my pumpkin,” commented ju-nior Mandy Nerone. If hot cider and caramel apples are what you are looking for, Trax Farm Fall Festival is the place to be. Held every weekend from mid-September to the end of October, Trax Farm hosts this event and welcomes everyone from young to old. Aside from entertaining games and decorations, the homemade baked goods keep the crowds coming back every weekend. “My mom and I go to Trax farm all the time because I love the apples and the fall decorations. It makes me excited for the holidays,” stated senior Jenna Burg. Venturing a little further from PT, Seven Springs Four Seasons Mountain Resort holds AutumnFest Oktoberfest Week-ends. This festival displays fall foliage at its best; red, orange, and yellow leaves cove the mountainside and set the perfect autumn scene for this event. Craft and artisan shows, accompanied by live music and entertainment attract visitors from all over Pennsylvania. There

fright-free faLLErinMasta.CoEditor-In-Chief

HardyKern.StaffWriter Though Halloween is known for being creepy and scary, the spookiest thing of all is how much energy people waste. Just like any other day of the year, Halloween can be turned into a much greener day without sacrificing any of the traditional trick-or-treating fun. Here are a few tips to help:

Costumes:Store bought Halloween costumes are usually made of very cheap, very polluting plastics, most of which will not break down in a landfill. Try making your own costume this year, especially using objects you already have laying around. Clown – Mismatch colorful and ragged clothing Mother Nature – Use green body suits and weave leaves, flowers, and other natural objects through your hair. Wizard – Using leftover cardboard and tinfoil, make a wand or a staff to go with a cape made out of an old pillowcase or blanket.

Decorations: The beauty of fall doesn’t need to be captured in lots of cheap, plastic decorations from the Halloween store. Instead, use leaves, gourds, natural beeswax candles, and other outside items for your autumn and Halloween decorating.

Candy: There are tons of organic Halloween candy stores online, such as: -College Farm Organic Nature Pops – collegefarms.com -Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops – LuckyVitamin.com -Fair Trade Trick Or Treat – fairtrade.org/halloween

These tips will help you have a safe, happy, and earth friendly Halloween!

an eCo-friendLy haLLoweenHardyKern.StaffWriter

Photo by Erin Masta

are even hiking and biking trails all over for tourists to explore the resort and work off those extra Halloween candy calories. For the teens that don’t have any desire to pet goats, West Virginia University holds a unique fall festival filled with music and more. This past year, Ludacris, Maroon 5, Kris Allen, and W Brown all performed at WVU. This celebration welcomes students back to the campus and gets everyone excited for the school year. Fall is a time for festivities and being with friends and fam-ily. For the people that hate Scarehouse, Fright Night, and Hundred Acres Manor, but want to welcome the upcoming holidays, there are many other ways to have a good time and enjoy Autumn. Fall festi-vals are going on in every community, so be sure to check them out.

Photo by Hardy Kern

Fall 2010

18 November 2010

With the release of NHL 2011 on September 7, EA Sports added yet an-other fantastic upgrade to its NHL series. Released for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the game is one of the most popular on the market. EA sports can boast its legitimacy with phenomenal ratings for the game, receiv-ing a 9.0/10 from Gamespot and Game Informer, and an 8.5/10 from IGN. Although major game play improvements have been made in the last few years, NHL 2011 has certainly stolen the spotlight with a noticeable amount of upgrades. New features include the ability to break and drop sticks, a physics-based engine causing hits and falls to appear more life-like, an entirely new face-off system that makes older games appear obsolete, and modified dangles (stick movements). When playing NHL ‘11, the gamer is not restricted to playing only in the National Hockey League. In fact, eight additional leagues are available for play, a few of which include the American Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League and National Teams. Exciting multiplayer modes are definitely the way to go. However, Be a Pro, Season, and General Manager modes enable the gamer to play with a single team through a full season, as a professional or as the GM; responsible for organiz-ing a team roster. All game types are certainly worth trying if you are interested enough. NHL, like many other games has established a following for itself. “I really enjoy the game; playing with friends is a lot of fun,” said Senior Nick Full.

KurtWerner.StaffWriterNHL 20ll Sets High Standards

The world has been taken over, not by stink bugs or swine flu, but rather a sixteen year old Canadian named Justin Bieber. From celebrities to hordes of screaming teenage girls and soccer moms, the planet is being swept away by this pop sensation; Peters Township is no exception. While walking the halls, students and teachers often see Bieber look-a-likes. With their golden, flowing tresses and oversized, neon hoodies, they are hard to miss. Although the entire township appears to be “Bieberized,” I am personally baffled by the trend. In order to understand why anyone would want to emulate such a disturbing style, I tracked down two Bieber doppelgangers. Junior Zach Mauser and freshman Teddy Elattrache explained their inside view on what it is like to have “Bieber fever”. Elattrache was the first to admit that though he

McKenzieFritz.PeopleFeaturesEditorBieber Feverdoesn’t see the resemblance, he receives frequent catcalls in the hallways due to his Bieber-like appearance. “The secret to achieving my Justin Bieber look is really all in the hair,” said Elattrache. With a little time, a lot of gel, and frequent trips to Steven’s Salon, Elattrache swaggers down the halls with a head of luscious locks that Bieber himself would be proud of. “All the work is worth is worth it because it gets so many girls,” stated Elattrache. Though, I found it difficult to believe that artfully blow dried hair is every teenage girl’s dream. “I just reel in the ladies with my hair,” said Elattrache. Apparently, it works for him. Despite the fact that Elattrache is basically Justin Bieber’s long- lost twin, he admitted that he does not have his singing

talents and is not a fan of Justin Bieber’s music. Contradictory to Elattrache, who seems to revel in the attention from his Bieber-like appearance, Junior Zach Mauser finds it annoying to be compared to Justin Bieber. “Justin Bieber needs to get a life,” said Mauser. He seems to shudder at any similarities he and Bieber share. Unfortunately for Mauser, there are many. Mauser has a faultless swoop of Bieber- approved hair, and uncanny similarity. That being said, it is surprising that Mauser has not been mauled by a pack of rabid Bieber fanatics. “My hair just happens…and no I don’t blow-dry it,” he stated. “There is absolutely nothing good about looking like Justin Bieber,” said Mauser. Despising Bieber’s music, dancing, and over the top personality, Mauser is definitely not a “Belieber.”

Photo by Kurt Werner

Photo by McKenzie Fritz

Photo by McKenzie Fritz

Teddy Elattrache stares adoringly at his twin. “My hair is perfect like Bieber’s,” said Elattrache.

Zach Mauser reluctently strikes a pose with Justin Bieber. “There is absolutely nothing good about looking like Justin Bieber,” said Mauser.

zEntertainment 19

Imagine living a life lacking common necessities, and every-day being a constant struggle. Jeannette Walls takes you into her own true story of poverty. Her father coined her nickname, “Mountain Goat,” which suited her well, seeing that she has navigated a towering cliff all her life. The book consists of fond memories of her irrespon-sible parents, rough times she spent hunting for food and shelter with her siblings, and the overwhelming outcome of their lifestyle. A typi-cal day begins with Jeannette waking up to her ranting mother, who was an aspiring artist with no hope. Later, she watched her brilliant father down a bottle of Jack Daniel’s while listening to her younger siblings cry out for attention. At the books beginning, Jeannette is three years old living in a trailer in Arizona. While cooking hotdogs for herself on the stove, she gets severely burned with the boiling wa-ter. Jeannette is hospitalized after the incident but only for a short time because her father arrived at the hospital and checked Jeannette out immediately. Jeannette’s father believed hospitals were overrated and that she would heal better at home, so he unhooked her arm from the sling, lifted her from the hospital bed, and headed down the hall-way. The nurse yelled for them to stop but her dad began to run until they reach the car that was already idling outside the hospital doors. He called this typical routine the “skedaddle.” Now it’s up to Jeannette, her brother, and her sisters to find a way out of this unfit upbringing. Anyone who reads this book will be both stunned by the tragic cir-cumstances of Jeanette’s childhood and awed by her strength.

Over the next three months, the city of Pittsburgh will be filled with talent and new music. Numerous bands are traveling to Pittsburgh, and you will not want to miss out on all the fun and excitement of their concerts. From clas-sic country, to alternative to rock, there is a concert for everyone. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to see country mu-sic’s “king and queen” performing live. On October 14, 2010, George Strait and Reba McEntire will be performing at the Consol Energy Center at 7:00 p.m. You can purchase your tickets at Reba McEn-tire’s official website, www.reba.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets start around $30.00 and the price increases as the quality of your seats improve. The infamous Goo Goo Dolls will be performing at St. Vincent College on October 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. At this concert, you will also be able to check out the up and coming opening band, Spill Canvas, who will be opening for the Goo Goo Dolls. Buy your tickets now at www.ticketinventory.com before the prices rise and you miss out on this ex-cellent alternative rock band. Prices vary, but the general admission fee is $30.65.

About a year ago, the band 3OH!3 became famous from their hit single, “Don’t Trust Me.” Now, they have become one of the most popular punk rock bands in the country. You can purchase tickets to see them live on October 30, 2010 at the Ches-a-Rena Roller Rink in Cheswick, PA. The concert begins at 12:00 a.m. Tickets for this show are not yet available. How-ever, you can visit www.eventful.com to be notified when they are being of-fered. This December, one of the most famous pop culture icons will be performing in Pittsburgh. On De-cember 13, 2010, just in time for the holiday season, Justin Bieber will be stopping at the Consol Energy Center. Bieber will be featuring his most pop-ular album, My World, which features smash hits “Baby” and “Somebody to Love.” This album has reached number one in over ten countries and promises to be a performance you will not want to miss. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or www.ticketinven-tory.com. As of now, the tickets are staring at about $80, but range in price up to #1000.

Rocking out in the ‘BurghKatieFinn.StaffWriter

The Glass Castle Book Review

MelinaSopko.StaffWriter

Grade: A-

Director Gary Winick’s Letters to Juliet is easily the most appealing romantic film of the season. I was pleasantly surprised that this film was a noticeable cut above the rest. I enjoyed it a lot, and judging from the audience so did everyone else. The movie begins with an American girl on vacation in Italy who finds an unanswered “Letter to Ju-liet.” One of thousands of letters left at the fictional lover’s Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by the “secretaries of Juliet”. She then goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the let-ter. Most of the weight of the plot was on actress Amanda Seyfried who handled the role very well, and made the story come alive. It was a great film with many twists and conflicts. This story was not your typical Chick flick. Two thumbs up for Letters to Juliet.

Movie Review:Letters to

JulietConorJackson.EntertainmentEditor

Stereo Love by Edward MayaSombody to Love by Jus-tin BieberShe Wolf by ShakiraCuando Me Enamoro by Enrique IglesiasCheck it Out by Will-I-Am and Nicki Minaj

Señora Degnan’s Top 5

For teenagers, texting is a necessity. It’s as if they cannot survive a day without texting every second, even while driving. Nationwide Insurance Agency compiled information about this dangerous habit from studies conducted throughout the country. These studies provided statistical evidence that should make every driver think twice about texting while behind the wheel. Texting is a disastrous distraction while driving. In fact, use of a cell phone while behind the wheel creates the same dimin-ishing effect on reaction time as having a blood alcohol concentra-tion at the legal limit. In other words, texting while driving inhibits the driver just as much as driving drunk. “Driving is too complicated [even] without texting. I would never be able to focus if I were distracted by my phone,” said junior Bri Deer. The primary source of distraction behind the wheel is the use of a cell phone. Conversely, one student admitted that there are situations where texting while driving should be allowed. “If you’re going straight and there’s minimal traffic,” stated senior Doug Maronde. However, the study found that drivers who text are four times more likely to get in a crash that has serious injuries involved. Additionally, according to Edgar Snyder’s Law Firm, twenty-one percent of fatal car accidents among teenagers are the result of tex-ting. “My mom texts while driving, but I would rather not damage my car,” commented junior Prit Roy. His mindset is one that other young drivers should consider. One out of every ten young adults, aged sixteen to

twenty-four, uses their cell phone while driving. Moreover, twenty eight states have banned inexperienced drivers from using their cell phone while behind the wheel.

20 November 2010

Fall 2010

Code Green is in EffectHardy Kern.Staff Writer

Driving with DeathKatie Denning.Co-Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Melina Sopko

A “green makeover” took place this past summer, making the high school more environmentally friendly without interrupt-ing the flow of everyday school life.

One of the high school’s new envi-ronmental changes is the lunch trays. Pre-viously, PTHS used styrofoam trays. It takes over one million years for Styrofoam to break down, especially in the massive quantities that our high school alone uses. The new trays are made of recycled cardboard from a local fac-tory. They are completely biodegradable and only take about two months to decompose. When a cafeteria such as ours uses roughly 500 lunch trays a day, (Nutrition Inc.), this switch is going to have a huge impact in re-ducing the carbon footprint.

Another change students will see is the new recycling bins in the cafeteria. While the bins are unfortunately disguised as regular garbage cans, the green and white recycling arrows set them apart. These bins are specifi-cally for glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and any other plastic recyclables stu-dents may have in their lunches. Instead of being thrown away, these items will be taken to a recycling center in Pittsburgh, sorted through, and turned into other products.

While the program is new at the high school, it is not new for the district. In fact, Bower Hill and Pleasant Valley Elemen-tary Schools have had recycling programs for the past 3 years.

“We are thrilled to finally have a recycling program in all of the lunches, like the elementary schools,” said Mr. Compeggie, SAFE sponsor.

These little changes are bound to have a huge impact in our cafeteria and have already been well received by students and faculty alike. Short glances toward the bins during lunch reveal that students are embrac-ing the idea by sorting their trash.

“It’s sad that it took our school that long to get a recycling program. In today’s green trend, easy little things like recycling bins in the cafeteria are going to have a huge impact,” stated senior Kevin Corrigan.

Keep your eyes open for more Code Green changes in the near future and remem-ber, ask not what recycling bins can do for you, but what you can put in recycling bins.

Senior Mike Shuck demonstrates the dangerous habit of texting while driv-ing. “For the record, I don’t own a cellphone or car and therefore don’t text while I drive,” stated Shuck.

Valerie Kotar

News Features 21

As high school students begin to get a taste of what the real world has in-store for us the number one focus is necessities. Clothing and food all have a price that parents might not always be willing to pay, not to mention college, which is around the corner for many of us. To cope with the big bills, we take any and all jobs available. Whether it is mowing countless lawns or watching a neighbor’s six cats for the week, it is all worth it . . . right? Well, with a little extra effort, you could afford to say no to the next cat-sitting job that comes your way.

These tips are simple, but can have a large impact. Take a second to think of all the things you can do with some extra cash in your pocket. No more strange jobs you have to take or borrowing money you cannot pay back. Money may not buy happiness, but using it wisely can put your mind at ease.

Tip 1: Coupons Are Your Best Friend.

You may not think that you have the time or attention span to hunt down deals, but make the effort. The best part about coupons is that they are everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, emails, and websites all provide coupons. For example, www.retailmenot.com contains deals from an enormous variety of stores. Everything from Macys to Pizza Hut can be found here. A word of caution: read the fine print. Some deals may require you to spend twenty dollars or more, and some expire after a single weekend.

Smarter Shopping: Five Smart Money TipsValerie Kotar.Staff Writer

Tip 2: Cut Back.

This may not be the most enjoyable advice, but you may find that it is possible to live without certain things. Do you really need that coffee from Starbucks every day of the week? Try only making three Starbucks trips each week. You could save at least seven dollars. That might not sound like a whole lot to trade your morning energy for, but think long term: there are 43 weeks in a school year. That’s a grand total of $301.

Tip 3: Do You Need the Brand Name?

If you desperately need that morning pick-me-up, try some cheaper options. For example, a fall favorite at Starbucks is Pumpkin Spice Lattes. If you buy a tall size it will cost $3.45. However, if you are willing to forfeit the brand name and get something similar from somewhere like Sheetz, it would only be $2.29.

Tip 4: Every Penny Counts.

A lot of people hate carrying change around because it is heavy and jingles with every step. Some helpful advice is to designate a place to dump any kind of change you have. Then, when it fills up, take it to the bank. Most banks have coin counting machines. If you have an account there you might be able to use it for free. You’ll be surprised how much money you can accumulate by saving those pennies.

Tip 5: Unexpected Places Can Have Better Prices.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a certain brand of clothing. What is wrong is spending outrageous amounts of money to get it. Name brand stores might not have the best deals for what you want. Retail stores like T.J. Maxx are great places to look if you are willing to search through the racks. If not, outlet malls such as Tanger Outlets have deals that you wouldn’t normally find anywhere else. Consignment stores such as Plato’s closet feature gently-used clothing where you can find some great pieces. Extra tip: stores like Plato’s Closet pay in cash if you want to get rid of some clothes that are still in good condition.

With the economy these days everyone is looking for ways to save. Some great cou-pon websites to look at are www.coupons.com and www.smart-source.com

What In The World?ValerieGobao.PhotographyEditor

An unemployed British man found a new way to get a job: selling himself on eBay. Tris-tam Rossin, a graphic designer, put his design skills on sale for forty hours a week, for one year without a minimum bid. Ac-cording to Rossin it was, “a very serious venture,” an attempt to support his family. Unfortu-nately, after reaching a bid of €3100, eBay removed the ad-vertisement stating that it was “in breach with their policies.”

Who said that underwear can’t be multifunctional? Dr. Elena Bodnar took the meaning of “Wonder Bra” to new heights, by creating a bra that can dou-ble as a chemical face mask. In twenty-five seconds, the bright red “emergency bra” can be transformed into two masks that will filter out dangerous chemicals in the air. Bodnar won the Ig Nobel prize (a spoof of the original) for her inven-tion, which is on sale now for $29.99.

Fifty four year old Wang Xian-jun of China has done just that, having eaten at least 1,500 bulbs since the age of twelve. The peculiar habit started after accidentally swallowing a fish bone without any ill effects. Eager for more, he tried, “sev-eral pieces of broken glasses,” and then moved on to one light bulb, broken into pieces, every morning. Annual hospi-tal checkups indicate that this “light” diet has not damaged his health.

After a whirlwind romance, two horses recently tied the knot in England. Their marriage, also Britain’s first horse wedding, was performed by pub owner and “animal marriage expert,” Jeremy Wescott . According to their owner, Ali Blowfield, the two love-beasts, Zippy and Magic, met five months ago. Blowfield said that they had an, “instant attraction,” and that they “are inseparable…It’s defi-nitely love.”

Photo by Valerie Kotar

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Chelsea Chen, Grade 12

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Meaghan Hrzic, Grade 12 Juliet Leon, Grade 12

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Photography is one of our most popular media classes. Students are taught different techniques of using a camera and Photoshop, while having the freedom to take pictures that express themselves and display their style. Above are just a few examples of the talent that can be found in our Photography department.

Allie Schlafman, Grade 11

Melissa Sarnicke, Grade 12

Alyssa Trier, Grade 12

Michelle Getto, Grade 11

Dyllan Nathanson, Grade 12

Amanda Sherwin, Grade 12

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“Megan Fox” “Diane Lane”

“Gerard Butler”

“Katy Perry”

“Superman”

“Troy Polamalu”

“Kool-Aid Man”

“Patrick Dempsey”

“Sidney Crosby”

“Beyoncé”

“Taylor Lautner”

“Megan Fox”

“Carmen Electra”

“Miley Cyrus”

“Enrique Iglesias”

“David Beckham”

“Kim Kardashian”“Megan Fox”

“Ryan Sheckler”

“Johnny Depp”

“Ryan Reynolds” “Justin

Bieber”

“Orlando Bloom”

“Megan Fox”“Megan Fox”

SENIORS

JUNIORS

TEACHERS

SOPHOMORES

FRESHMEN