Summer Edition 2021
Two Truths and a Lie
Mr. Rath
I’ve traveled to Tokyo.
I got married in my backyard.
My favorite movie of all time is Shawshank Redemption.
Ms. Robertson
My dad worked in the movie industry, so while growing up I met many actors and actresses and appeared on various shows and movies.
For my 21st birthday, I rode a donkey along the ridge of the Grand Canyon.
While dating, my husband and I went sky diving.
Mr. Cuebas
1. I have completed an Ironman Triathlon.
2. I ran in a 200 mile Relay Race with my best friends.
3. I Swam 4 miles across the Long Island Sound.
Mrs. Meehan
1. I am family friends with Alicia Keys.
2. I have been to four different continents.
3. I was the millionth fan at a New York Islanders game.
Mr. Shippos
1. I am the youngest of 3 siblings.
2. My college undergraduate degree is in Business Management.
3. I have a dog named Nittany.
Would You Rather?: Summer Edition
by Jackson Crudele
1. Would you rather spend the day on the beach or spend the day on a boat?
2. Would you rather walk in the hot sand on a really hot day or swim in the water on a really cold day?
3. Would you rather go to the beach or go to the pool?
4. Would you rather sleep on the sand at the beach or go in the water at the beach?
5. Would you rather play baseball at the beach or volleyball at the beach?
6. Would you rather go in the water at the beach or or just get your feet wet?
7. Would you rather go on a bike ride or go for a walk in the summer?
8. Would you rather drink Gatorade or iced tea during the summer?
9. Would you rather go to a sleep away summer camp or stay local for a summer camp?
10. Would you rather go away on vacation or go away to a sleep away camp?
11. Would you rather have a water balloon fight or a water gun fight?
12. Would you rather make hot dogs on the barbecue or have hamburgers/cheeseburgers on the barbecue?
13. Would you rather have ribs on the barbecue or make steak on the barbecue?
14. Would you rather eat breakfast inside or outside on a hot and sunny summer day?
15. Would you rather stay up late or go to bed early on a summer night?
Well that’s all of the "would you rather questions." How quickly were you able to answer these questions? Were there any questions where it was a hard decision for you to make? Well, either way I hope you enjoyed it!
Would You Rather? Part 2
by Aidan Sherwin
- Would you rather drive a full bus across the country to transport people, or drive a loaded truck across the country to transport goods?
- Would you rather have to listen to the same song over and over again, or constantly listen to a genre of music that you don’t like?
- Would you rather have your phone destroyed, or have your favorite gaming device be destroyed?
- Would you rather have free tickets to your favorite sports team all year, or meet all the players on that team?
- Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal maid?
- Would you rather have to travel by horse from now on, or travel by a car that is old and breaks down a lot from now on?
Summer
by Lillian Dooher
Hi everyone! I assume that all of the students at Berner are excited about summer!! School is finally over and you get to do so many outdoor activities! You can take a break from all of the stress and have some fun! You could make smores, swim in the pool, go to the beach, and so much more! The possibilities are endless!
This article is going to have a variety of different writings that are all about summer and summer activities. Let’s get started!
First, I know that so many people have all different plans, so I surveyed (15) people to see what their favorite summer activities were! Here are the results:
4/16 said that they liked swimming in the summer.
5/16 said that they liked spending time at the beach.
The other responses were:
Playing sports
Spending time with friends (which could be a variety of activities)
Going on vacation
Drawing or painting in nature
Bike riding
Sleeping with the windows open
Making smores and going camping
(Most of the people that I interviewed were just people from Long Island. I wonder if there are different opinions on the best summer activities from all around the world!)
Next, I thought that it would be fun to recommend some fun summer activities that my family and friends and I like to do during the summer. Here are some fun things to do if you’re ever bored or out of ideas on what to do with your time:
You could watercolor paint (or paint in any way you know of) and create a painting that represents you, something or someone that’s special to you, or really anything you want!
You can look up a snack recipe that you’ve never tried before or try new foods!
You can go for a long bike ride or take a relaxing walk in your neighborhood/vicinity.
You can have an outside picnic with a friend/friends or just by yourself.
You can have a dance party/listen to your favorite music! Music can always cure boredom.
You can make a craft, or just something from your imagination!
If you want to, you could re-decorate a place in your house, like your room!
You could make a lemonade stand, yard sale, etc. and make some money over the summer!
Those were just some of the many possibilities that you could have during summer. Most importantly, do whatever makes you happy and have fun! Summer break goes by quickly, so make sure that you spend it going out and doing whatever it is you want to do.
Lastly, I found a poem describing summer that I thought was very accurate and beautiful. Here it is!
June
by John Updike
The sun is rich
And gladly pays
In golden hours,
Silver days,
And long green weeks
That never end.
School’s out.
The time Is ours to spend.
There’s Little League,
Hopscotch, the creek,
And, after supper,
Hide-and-seek.
The live-long light
Is like a dream,
and freckles come
Like flies to cream.
I hope you enjoyed my article and I hope everyone has a great summer!!
Surfing
by Grace Hoffman
The sport of surfing has many benefits for your body and mind. Surfing can strengthen muscles, improve balance and flexibility. Surfing improves your mental health by dealing with stress, getting rid of tension, improving confidence, and getting better sleep. These benefits could be the reason why surfing is one of the world’s most popular sports.
Biggest Wave Ever Surfed
Garrett McNamara-Nazaré, Portugal
Garrett McNamara has the word record with a seventy eight foot wave.
Biggest Wave Destinations for Surfing
Nazaré, Portugal
Jaws, Maui
Teahupoo, Tahiti
Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania
Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California
Donegal Bay, Ireland
Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile
Dungeons, Cape Town South Africa
Pico Alto, Punta Hermosa, Perú
Cortez Bank, San Diego California
Famous Women Surfer: Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamiton was born in Hawaii, where she fell in love with surfing. At the age of eight she began competitive surfing. She was very successful, she earned a Ripcurl sponsorship at the age of nine and won multiple surfing competitions in Hawaii. Until one day, when Bethany went out to surf with her friend, a fourteen foot tiger shark tugged at her arm. Bethany's entire arm was off, from her fingertips to her shoulder. Bethany was hospitalized for a very long time. This time in the hospital did not make her give up, it made her become stronger. Shortly after her stitches came out Bethany got back on her board. She trained to get back to how she used to surf. This courage during a time of adversity caused Bethany Hamilton to inspire so many peopIe.
Shark Attacks
People make many misconceptions when it comes to shark attacks. Some people think that Surfing is a dangerous sport because of sharks. The percentage of unprovoked shark attacks is lower than 19.5%. In 2020 the U.S experienced 33 shark attacks in total. This makes up 58% of the worlds shark attack percentage. From the sharks point of view surfers do look similar to a shark's prey. The shape of a surfer in the ocean, and the shape of a seal or a sea turtle resemble the same figure.
Surfing is not only a difficult and competitive sport, it is a beautiful and beneficial sport. Surfing can be calming and soothing to peoples minds. When you go surfing you can experience beautiful scenery,and maybe see some sea animals too!
Fun in the Summer
by Matthew Costello
Summer is rolling around and schools are being let out. The first week or two of summer is fun, but then you run out of ideas and are bored. To prevent this from happening, I will give you a list of ideas that you may consider doing. This one is obvious, but going to the beach or pool. Even if you go once, that is one less day being wasted. Another idea is to learn a new talent (juggling, Rubik’s cube, skateboarding). Although I only listed three, there are many more.
You could also show your friends you are better than them by showing them you could do it and they can’t. Speaking of friends, another thing to do is to hang out with friends. Hanging out can be having a sleepover, talking on facetime, playing videogames with them, or even actually seeing them. Another obvious thing to do in summer is eat ice cream. “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” We also all scream for popsicles. Eat ice cream and popsicles. They keep you cool while tasting good. My last tip for not being bored in summer is to make your own list. Not a list like mine, but some specific to your own life, like rereading your favorite book series in a day. Or beating you high score in your favorite game.
Hershey, Pennsylvania: A Great Destination For Families' Summer Vacation
by Gianna DiLucci
Have you heard of Hershey's chocolate company? Many people know and love the great taste of Hershey chocolate bars. But did you know the place this company manufactures is actually called Hershey, Pennsylvania? And that there's much more to offer than just a chocolate factory? Well I'm here to tell you about why Hershey is a great spot for your next family vacation.
Hershey Hotel + Lodge
The Hershey Hotel and Lodges are definitely a go to hotel if you're wanting to visit Hershey. The Lodges are private or public houses where families could stay with multiple rooms and areas, and the Hotel is...well, a hotel! Most activities can be found at the Hershey Hotel, and there is lots to offer. Some features of the hotel include a pool area with two waterslides, volleyball courts, an arcade house, and a kids club. There is also a sort of plaza between the hotel and pool area that always has out games like cornhole and giant stacking cups. (Fun Fact: This area had also used to be an ice skating rink!). Some other things the hotel includes is a breakfast buffet, free rides from the hotel and lodge to the theme park, and free bars of chocolate given to you when you check in! I could go on and on about the hotel and its activities, but you will just have to check it out for yourself.
Hersheypark
Located not that far from the hotel (usually a 5-10 minute bus ride), is the one and only Hersheypark. It is home to 15 and a multitude of other attractions.The rides go on a basic measurement system, with heights being put into different categories (example: shortest is Minis, then Kisses, Reeses, Hersheys, Twizzlers, and finally Jolly Ranchers). Along with the rides, there are many great places to eat and chill out, and there is also a waterpark located in the park! If you are going to stay at the Hershey hotel or anywhere near Hershey Park, it definitely should be on your list of locations to go to.
Chocolate Factory
Located right at the entrance to the theme park, the chocolate factory is a great place to go nearing the end of your trip (or whenever you want, it doesn't matter!). There are a variety of things you can do and see there such as buy souvenirs and chocolate, create your own chocolate bars, see a 4D movie screening of Hershey's Chocolate Factory Mystery, and go on the popular Chocolate Factory tour ride. The tour ride seats up to 6 or7 people and takes you through all the processes in the making of chocolate, along with meeting some Hershey friends one the way. This tour ride and overall factory is a great stop on your trip and fun for kids (and even adults) of all ages.
My Personal Experience
Ah yes, my chance to ramble. *Ahem.* My family and I have been going to Hershey to celebrate the 4th of July for the past 8-9 years, and it has never lost it excitement. With all our friends and family coming with us and the locations Hershey offers, we never get bored and there is always something to do. From hanging out at the Hershey Hotel’s pool all morning, going to the park in the afternoon, and ordering dinner at a restaurant together at night. I believe Hershey is one of the best places to go for a great vacation experience.
All in all, Hershey is a great family experience you won't want to turn down. From spending time at the hotel pool to enjoying the thrill of riding Hershey park's Farenheit coaster, there is never a dull moment in the sweetest part of Pennsylvania. Hershey is a great place to go for family vacation!
Inside Look: Student Council
by Shea Ringel and Vivienne West
Are you looking for a way to get involved in school activities or wanting to meet new students and teachers? Student Council is your opportunity to do just that! Some newcomers might think the process is intimidating, but we can assure you that it is totally doable. Since this year was a little bit different, Student Council found new ways to connect virtually, even if we were not all together at times.
All about the Student Council
There are nine members of the Student Council, three from each grade. The entire school votes on who they think would be a good representative at the beginning of the school year and those students move on to being part of the club. Each grade votes for the students running for Student Council that are in their grade. Instead of having meetings after school like other clubs, the Student Council meets every day during homeroom in the library, so members are free to enjoy any other activities or clubs offered at Berner.
Announcements and Responsibilities
Announcements are what all of Berner hears on a daily basis. They are what starts and ends the day. Announcements inform students and staff about important events, changes, and club details. Every member of the Student Council takes turns reading the announcements in the morning. The announcements generally consist of the pledge, the national day, and other announcements. The other announcements are usually dates that are changed, reminders to students and staff, or other important messages. The Student Council does not read the afternoon announcements, which consist of last minute reminders, cancellations, and other messages. Additionally, we rotate who reads the announcements daily based on who is at Berner early, how many announcements there are, and who wants to read them.
Drives and Fundraisers
The Student Council takes part in many drives and fundraisers to help the school raise money for deserving causes. For example, the Student Council helped with the Thanksgiving Food Drive in November. All of the food from the food drive was donated to St. Rose of Lima and was given to Massapequa families in need. This drive taught us about being grateful for what you are given on a daily basis like food, water, and other essentials. Another drive that the Student Council ran this year was the pet drive. The pet drive was hosted by Assemblyman Durso. The pet drive accepted unopened items like food, toys, and other objects for animals big and small. These animals included but were not limited to, dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, and ferrets. The proceeds of this drive were donated to Long Island Cares and Baxter’s pet pantry. This drive teaches the members of Student Council to care for everyone in the Massapequa community, even the pets!
In all, the Student Council has made our experience at school more positive and overall better. You can learn life skills, leadership skills, and have fun when participating in Student Council activities. This is also an experience that helps you connect to the school, as representatives of all ages come together to make the Massapequa community a better place.
The Science Behind Ice Cream
by Ava Chaikin
Trivia Time
What is the most popular ice cream flavor in America?
A) Chocolate B) Vanilla C) Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
(Look below the references for the answer!)
Introduction
Imagine you are sitting by the pool on the hottest day of summer. You feel the blazing heat of the sun on your skin. You look to your left and you see a beautiful brightly colored flower with a little bee hovering justs above the center. You look to your right to see families laughing and swimming in the pool. Look down to see an army of ants crawling along the ground. You smell sunscreen in the air. Then, you taste something sweet: vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. What is it? Ice cream, of course! “Hot fudge is the fairy prince, a knight in chocolate armor — the happily ever after of ice cream.”
The History of Ice Cream
Before “diving” (like in a pool) into the science behind ice cream, the history of ice cream is just as fascinating! Ice cream stems back as far as the second century B.C.E. During this time, some would flavor snow with honey, nectar, or other fruit juices. This is interesting as now ice cream is eaten mainly in summer (of course not exclusively), but other than the tops of high mountains, snow is mainly found in winter. (Eating snow back then was not really dangerous, but now with pollutants, eating snow is probably not a great idea.) Even during the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius Caesar would often send runners to mountains to fetch some snow to flavor for this frozen treat. Fast forward about one thousand years later, Italy and England joined the delicious world of ice cream. Jump across the Atlantic to America in 1744. This is the year in which ice cream was introduced to everyone here in the U.S by a guest governor of Maryland. Apparently, early United States presidents were quite the ice cream fanatics. President George Washington purchased $200 worth of ice cream in just one summer. After the death of this founding father, they also found two ice cream pewters in his residence. A pewter is a fancy metal tin, George Washington used one for his ice cream. President Madison had strawberry ice cream at his second inaugural banquet, and Thomas Jefferson also had his own eighteen step ice cream recipe. The ice cream loving population did not want the sailors to be left out, so it 1945, the first floating ice cream parlor was built in the western Pacific Ocean. 20 quarts of ice cream per person was consumed in 1946 and America alone. Now, on to the science behind ice cream!
The Science Behind Ice Cream
First, lets jump into the basic components of ice cream. These ingredients refer to plain and simple ice cream (also referred to as the base). These include ice crystals, fat, sweeteners, air, and other solids. Ice crystals occur when the water in the ice cream freezes. This is super important as it determines how smooth (or grainy) the ice cream may be. I think most people would agree that smooth ice cream is much better than grainy ice cream, so ice cream makers do their best to keep the size of these crystals down as much as possible. Another component that benefits the texture is the fat. Most of the time this is added with milk fat. It adds to the richness of the taste and ensures the stability of the base. The kind of milk that is used will effect the taste, but there are recipes using all kinds of milk, even buttermilk. Sweeteners are also included to maintain a delicious taste and again, stability of the base. However, it also lowers the freezing point. This means that instead of the normal 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), ice cream freezes at about 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius). Ice cream, being an amorphous solid should not be completely solid, so lowering the freezing point helps ensure that ice cream still has the ability to shape to its containers. Air is also a huge portion of the base of ice cream and its texture. Tiny pockets of air find their way into the base mix, the amount of air is known as “over-run.” The interesting part about this is the fact that air is matter meaning it has a volume. This means that if an ice cream has a very low over-run (or air content) it can equal multiple scoops of a high over-run ice cream. It is also true, that the fat from milk that was mentioned before breaks down when the ice cream is mixed, which actually stabilizes the air pockets, adding to the smooth texture of some (high fat) ice creams. If you have ever made ice cream from a bag and you are wondering how that works, keep on reading, but first let’s look into how these base components of ice cream actually help to ensure we all get delicious ice cream from professionals in the summer (scientifically, of course)!
As you know, liquids of different densities will not combine. Some examples of this are oil and water, or the interior of the Earth (which is not all liquid but since the layers alternate between solid and liquid it works pretty similarly). While ice cream theoretically should work this way, it does not. Think about it, no one would eat ice cream if the the components of the base were separated. The “combination of substances that would otherwise be separate” is called emulsion. To do this in ice cream emulsifiers are added. Oils such as Monoglycerides and Diglycerides are often used. Another item that is crucial to the texture of ice cream is a stabilizer. Typically, this is in the form of gelatin, but it can also be starch or agar agar. First, ice cream makers will prepare the ice cream bases with all of the ingredients listed above. The next step is called pasteurization, this is only necessary for ice cream that you would buy as it is simply to ensure bacteria is not present in the base. To do this, ice cream is heated to 185℉ (85℃), stirred, then frozen immediately. The next step is called homogenisation. This consists of the breaking up and distributing of fat to enhance the power of the emulsifiers. Ice cream is churned at high temperatures in this step. This will spread out the fat droplets, thus allowing the ice cream to form more air pockets, giving it a higher overrun and better texture. Fat droplets can get as small as a thousandth of a millimeter! So cool! The next step is referred to as ageing and maturing, where ice cream can just “nap before being so rudely awakened by the freezer or ice cream machine.” Despite the personification, that is basically what happens in this step. Each fat particle will now have the chance to partially solidify (amorphous solid) and gain a protein coat for 4-24 hours. Now for the fun part, freezing! In this step ice cream is churned in a commercial freezer or ice cream maker, ensuring more air is added into the mix while it is being frozen. This is also when solid flavoring is added into the mixture. This includes any kind of cookie, brownie, or chocolate chip. Yum! Liquid nitrogen is another freezing agent. This instantly freezes ice cream due to it is -320℉ (-192℃) temperature. It can literally boil things at room temperature because they are so much hotter than the freezing substance. Science is so cool! Finally, the last step is hardening. After the freezing portion the ice cream needs to simply sit in the freezer or ice cream maker to get it to the perfect temperature to serve to you on a hot summer day! In the next section, we are going to get into a fun (and delicious) science experiment you can do at home this summer, and more importantly get into the physics phenomena of freezing-point depression.
Freezing-Point Depression
In simple terms freezing-point depression is when a substance is added to a solution to lower its freezing point. The freezing-point depression phenomena shows a colligative property of matter. This means that the number of atoms in a substance is more important than type or mass. So, if a compound has 3 atoms (not necessarily different) it would have more of an effect on the freezing point than a compound with 2 atoms. This is very evident in the ocean, the waters freezing point is lowered due to the salt (NaCl) in it. In bag ice cream, you can also see this with the salt that is put in the bag lowering the freezing point of the ice. To melt, ice has to absorb quite a bit of energy, however if you were to not add the salt to the bag ice cream it would not be cold enough to freeze the ice cream. Adding the salt means the ice will have to absorb more energy thus ensuring the ice cream will freeze.
Bag Ice Cream Recipe (you earned it)
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup whipping cream (heavy cream)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or vanilla flavoring
1 (quart) zipper-top baggie
1 (gallon) zipper-top baggie
2 cups ice
Thermometer
1/2 to 3/4 cup sodium chloride (NaCl) as table salt or rock salt
Measuring cups and spoons
Cups and spoons for eating your treat
Steps:
Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup whipping cream, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla to the quart zipper bag. Seal the bag securely.
Put 2 cups of ice into the gallon plastic bag.
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup salt (sodium chloride or NaCl) to the bag of ice.
Place the sealed quart bag inside the gallon bag of ice and salt. Seal the gallon bag securely.
Gently rock the gallon bag from side to side. It is best to hold it by the top seal or to have gloves or a cloth between the bag and your hands.
Continue to rock the bag for 10-15 minutes or until the contents of the quart bag have solidified into ice cream.
Remove the quart bag, open it, serve the contents into cups with spoons.
Enjoy!
Conclusion
That’s it! Thank you so much for reading this article and learning all about ice cream today! Ice cream is a treat everyone loves, and now you can teach your friends and family all about it while enjoying the summer sun (and social distancing). Have a great summer!
References
https://www.icecreamnation.org/science-of-ice-cream (Science)
https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-ice-cream-in-a-bag-602195 (Recipe)
https://youtu.be/XbKHoCDwIOg (This is a really cool video that uses the same principle as bag ice cream does!)
Answer to trivia time- A (1 out of 5 Americans would pick chocolate out of any other flavor!)
Have a Laugh (Science Style)
by Ava Chaikin
Did you know that laughing can actually increase your life expectancy by 8 years? It can actually regulate your blood pressure, reduce the effects of stress, and boost your immune system. There is no better way to have a laugh than a bunch of science jokes! Here are 10 of the funniest:
When scientists discovered that bananas have potassium, they said “K.”
When I heard that oxygen and magnesium were going on a date, I was like “OMg!”
One tectonic plate bumped into another and said “Sorry, my fault!”
I could tell you a science joke, but all the good ones argon!
I was going to tell you a joke about sodium but then I thought, “Na, no one will laugh at it.”
What do you call an acid with attitude? A-mean-oh- acid
What did one cell say to the other when she stepped on her toe? My-toe-sis
Never trust an atom, they make up everything.
Atom 1: “I think I lost an electron.”
Atom 2: “Are you sure?”
Atom 1: “I’m positive!”
10. When a plant is sad, what do other plants do? Photosympathize
Simple Daily Changes You Can Make to Help Our Planet
by Charlotte Focarazzo
The Earth is our home, and it is our responsibility to take care of it. Our planet faces many negative impacts on the environment. These issues include pollution of the land, water, and air, deforestation, over-expending of natural resources, and climate change. You may not think about these things often, or it may bother you that society ignores them. Although we cannot get rid of these problems alone, if you care enough to make a difference, you can work hard and achieve different ways to help the earth! This article will help you start small with some simple daily changes you can make to help our planet.
Positive Ways You Can Impact the Planet Everyday: Use Cloth Napkins: Using cloth napkins reduces the amount of paper that is thrown away. You can wash cloth napkins to reuse instead of buying many paper napkins that would be thrown away.
Use Reusable Shopping Bags: Your family can bring their own shopping bags to the store. This is a great alternative to plastic shopping bags, and less plastic bags will be discarded.
Keep Plants in your Home and Garden: By keeping plants in your home or garden, you can help improve the air quality. They are fun to plant because they will add decoration and look natural.
Conserve Paper: Conserving paper is beneficial to the environment. Trees are cut down to produce paper, so if you conserve what you use to write in, you won’t be wasting it.
Donate Clothes: Donating clothes helps our planet. Resources are used to create them, so by donating them, they will be recycled and reused by someone else. They will also be given to someone who needs them!
Use Reusable Plates, Straws, and Utensils: Many small pieces of trash add up in landfills or places they pollute. It is safer to use reusable straws, utensils, and plates instead of ones you only use once. Little pieces of garbage can also cause sicknesses for an animal if they eat them.
Carpool: Carpooling with your friends is fun, and it also reduces the amount of carbon emissions sent into the atmosphere.
Conserve Water: By using less water when washing up, showering, and washing plates, you will help conserve our natural resources.
Unplug Devices and Chargers: Unplugging devices and chargers will save energy.
Recycle and Reuse: If you want to help the environment, starting small is the easiest way to begin. Our well-being depends on the earth’s natural resources, and it is our responsibility to take care of it. Good luck and thank you for understanding how important our planet is!
Learn More! Check out these websites for more information:
Why Is It Important to Care About the Environment?
https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/sustainability/whycare.cfm
10 Things You Can Do to Help Save the Earth
The Plastic Problem
by Vivienne West
Try to spend a day not touching plastic and you find that plastic is everywhere: in cups, plates, packaging, toys, computers, phones, clothes, cars, bikes … the list goes on and on. So where does the plastic go when we are done with it? Some gets recycled, some goes to dumps, and some, unfortunately, ends up as litter on land and in the ocean. So how much plastic trash is actually in the ocean? The short answer is: a lot. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at our local beaches and have seen debris floating in the water or have laid my blanket in the sand next to discarded water bottles.
So, what’s the problem?
Our world has become a dumping ground for the plastic we throw away. Most importantly, plastic pollutes the water and harms sea creatures if they eat it. A simple walk on any beach, anywhere, and the plastic waste is present.
I recently read an article stating that marine plastic pollution affects 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals, and 40% of seabirds. Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed by ocean plastic every year. That is about 30% of the entire population of earth! Plastic stays in the environment for a very long time, so all this waste has created a big problem.
What can we do to keep our sea friends swimming?
Well, the choices we make everyday can make a big difference. Eat ice cream in a cone! Seriously, single-use plastic items like ice cream spoons account for more than 40 percent of plastic waste, and each year about 8.8 million tons of plastic trash flows into the ocean. And that waste endangers wildlife. But solving the plastic problem can be as easy as getting your sweet treat in a cone. One person can’t solve this problem alone, but together we can do it!
Kids vs Plastic
10 tips to reduce your plastic use:
Berner students: Say no to plastic straws!
Animals can get sick after mistaking them for food. Refuse straws: It’s as simple as adding, “No straw, please” when requesting beverages at restaurants or cafes. Instead, carry your own paper straw or reusable version. While you’re at it, refuse beverage tops too!
Fill up at a fountain
Drink out of a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic version. That way you won’t be buying one of the nearly one million plastic drink bottles sold every minute around the world.
Make a Better Bag
Pack sandwiches and snacks in reusable containers or cloth sacks instead of plastic bags. You can also make your own reusable cloth bags from old t-shirts, using basic sewing skills. Choose clothing and other personal items made from earth-friendly materials instead of microfibers and other synthetic fibers, which pollute our waters.
Snack on fruits
Pack an apple, banana, or orange instead of snack packs. Fruit fills you up in a healthy way, plus there’s no extra packaging. (Save the core, peels, and rinds for your compost bin.)
Build a GOOD goodie bag
Don’t fill your birthday goodie bags with plastic yo-yos and other trinkets for your friends. Instead, give them homemade treats or coupons to a local bakery.
Go for the cone
No matter your favorite ice-cream flavor, always choose to have it in a cone. Who needs plastic spoons and cups when you can eat the bowl?
Buy in bulk
Encourage your family to shop for snacks, cereal, and pasta in the bulk section of your grocery store or natural food shop to avoid waste from plastic packaging. Then store it all in reusable glass jars.
Ditch microbeads
Don't use face wash or toothpaste with microbeads. (If the ingredients label lists polyethylene or polypropylene, the item likely contains microbeads.) These tiny plastic beads go down the drain, eventually flowing to rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There they can be mistaken for food by fish and sea turtles - a dish that could be deadly.
Never litter
Sometimes you have to use plastic, and that's OK! But always recycle whatever plastic you can, and never leave it in the environment. Trash left on the ground often blows into creeks and rivers, eventually making its way to the ocean.
Pick up what you can
Grab a parent and pick up the trash that you find in your local creek or river. But be careful: just don't grab anything that looks sharp or dangerous. Try to host your own neighborhood cleanup!
The 6 R’s we can follow to make better decisions: reduce, reuse, refuse, remove, recycle, and rally. One person can’t solve this problem alone, but together we can do it!
Read about these Inspiring people
The Bye Bye Plastic Bags campaign (http://www.byebyeplasticbags.org) was set up by schoolgirls Melati and Isabel Wijsen from Bali, Indonesia. It led to single-use plastics being banned in Bali. Their mission is to empower people to do what is right through education, campaigns, and political meetings. BBPB raises awareness and educates others about the harmful impact of plastic on our environment, animals, and health while also sharing how to be part of the solution. Having spoken to over 20,000 youth and created 2 educational booklets aimed for elementary schools in Indonesia, education has a huge place in the BBPB community. They showcase a lot of these solutions through their fun hands - on projects such as the Pilot Village program, River BOOM toolkits, Mountain Mama’s Social Enterprise as well as their campaign, “One Island One Voice.” BBPB has become a national and international movement, inspiring the masses to act now. BBPB Teams have launched in over 50 locations across the globe and the founders continue to share their message on stages around the world in front of global leaders.
Closer to home
In August 2019, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society unveiled Jonesy, a 32-foot, 2,500 pound metal sculpture designed to educate the public to fight plastic pollution in our ocean at Jones Beach. Jonesy is filled with the plastic pollution collected. The end result is a large-scale sculpture of the whale, which symbolizes the hazards of marine debris and serves as a reminder for the public to never leave garbage on the beach!
So when the summer months finally roll around and we’re all busy and on the go, try choosing plastic-free products and recycle as much as possible.
The Ocean’s Weirdest Animals
by Charlotte Preall
There are some pretty strange animals in the ocean- shout out to the Blobfish, Anglerfish, and the Vampire Squid. But the ones that are going to be written about here are the weirdest of the weird, the strangest of them all: from a shark with 300 teeth to a fish with glowing green eyes. Have fun, because this is going to get interesting.
Number one, the Barreleye fish: Another name for this fish is the Spookfish, and that is quite accurate! This fish has a transparent, dome shaped head with a pair of cylindrical, bright green eyes set deep inside- almost like two glowing passengers in the cockpit of an airplane. If that wasn’t enough to make it look like an alien already, it’s bioluminescent! They are usually found to be nearly motionless while sitting in the water near the mid-Atlantic ridge. Their small, flat fins help them make precise movements to get away from stinging tentacles of jellyfish. They can live up to 2,600 feet below the surface (where almost no surface light is found)! Scientists think that they eat small animals found in the deep sea, such as drifting jellyfish and small crustaceans. Scientists know very little about this weird creature but they hope to find out more soon! Barreleye Fish
Number two, the Australian ghost shark: Some other names for this creature are the elephant shark and elephant fish. Like its nickname, the Australian ghost shark has a snout that protrudes out with a small drop at the end, like a club. It has two pectoral fins (fins on the side of its body), a silvery-white color with randomly occurring dark spots, smooth skin, and big oval shaped eyes. This animal, despite the name, is not actually a shark. It’s actually a species of Chimera! One of the coolest things about this sea creature is that it’s considered a “living fossil”. Science shows that it hasn’t changed at all in over 400 million years! It lives in the Southeast Pacific Ocean near New Zealand and Australia. It lives at a depth of at least 650 feet and preys on small mollusks and crustaceans. This weird looking creature isn't endangered, so we can hope that this living fossil will stay that way for a long time! Australian Ghost Shark
Number Three, the Dumbo octopus: We’re taking a break from the scary stuff, because this little octopus is absolutely adorable. They’re a little bit larger than a guinea pig, but the largest one ever documented was 1.6 meters! They can camouflage themselves with their environment and they can be a variety of different colors and shapes, from dark purple to bright orange! The Dumbo octopus has large mantle fins (fin on the top of its head) that reminds people of Dumbo’s huge, flapping ears. They live 400-4,600 feet below the surface, making them one of the deepest living octopuses on the planet. Dumbo octopuses don’t have an ink sac because they live so deep that they don’t need the ink sac as a protection mechanism. They use their ear-like fins to steer and propel themselves through the water. Since they live at such a deep depth, scientists don’t know much about this little octopus. We hope they can find out more soon! Dumbo Octopus
Number four, the frilled shark: This shark is something straight out of your nightmares, with a long, eel-like body that can reach lengths of up to 7 feet and 25 rows (300 teeth!) of trident-shaped, backward facing teeth. The name “frilled shark” comes from it’s six gill flaps, which have a frilly look to them. Frilled sharks swim through the water in a snakelike fashion and they are naturally buoyant. Even though we have never seen a frilled shark hunting, scientists believe that they even attack their prey like a snake would. They will lunge forward and swallow their prey whole. Frilled sharks mainly eat squids, but they will also eat other fish and sharks. This shark is found all over the world, but there’s a really low chance that you will actually spot one (fortunately!). They live so deep underwater (390 to 4600 feet) that it’s very hard to catch a picture of them or see them at all. This shark is a mysterious creature that looks like the monster in a horror movie, but it’s interesting anyway- as long as I don’t see one when I’m swimming! Frilled Shark
Number five, the red lipped Batfish: Last but not least, this little fish has small legs, a grey and black body, a lure on its head, and its weird red lips. It is endemic (found there and nowhere else) to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. You can find them 30-60 feet below the surface of the water. Even though they can swim, it’s most common to see them walking or hopping along the rocks on their leg-like pectoral fins. They have a lure on their heads to attract prey, which is usually small crustaceans and fish. Fun fact- they’re a distant cousin of the terrifying Anglerfish, even though this little fish could not be less terrifying. Lastly, scientists have no idea why their lips are such a bright red. One possibility is that they use them to attract mates, but we can’t know for sure. With no natural predators, these fish are awkward, funny-looking, and well evolved for their habitat- a perfect example of a thriving species. Red-Lipped Batfish
Care for Hermit Crabs
by Gretchen Schweppe
If you want a pet hermit crabs here are some very important things that you should know before getting one and when you have gotten them.
The shells: When you think of a hermit crab you probably think about the cool designs on their shells like you see at the pet store but if you put those on your hermit crab it can be fatal for them the hermit crabs you see at the pet store are most likely sick from their shells so make sure that you are not getting a sick hermit crab. You can get them a shell with a natural design not using paint. Your hermit crabs are going to need to change their shells so make sure you buy a few shells that they can change into. When you see that your hermit crabs are changing their shells you can not clean out the cage because that will cause them a lot of stress. You can also get your hermit crabs shells from the beach but you need to make sure there are no holes in it because they store water in their shells so if it leaks that can be a danger to their health. When you get your hermit crabs, if they have paint on their shells there is nothing that you can do until they decide to change their shells. Do not take their shells off of them, they will do it themselves.
Food and water: Hermit crabs are also very high maintenance with their water, a hermit crab will need to have access to salt water and fresh water. They will need a sponge to drink out of because they prefer it and this is also to prevent accidental drowning. You can get them basic hermit crab food found at your local pet store or you can feed them many different foods such as spinach, carrots and romaine lettuce and for the fruits you can feed them mangos, coconut and papaya. Of course only these fruits and vegetables as a treat do not give your hermit crabs this only this for their food. Your hermit crabs will need to be fed once a day.
Tank set up: Your hermit crabs will need a 5 gallon tank for every 2 crabs. When your crabs are in the tank they are going to need things for them to climb on .Everything in your cage needs to be sturdy and not fall over because your hermit crabs will climb on everything and if they climb on something that is not sturdy they can hurt themselves. Your hermit crabs will need sand in the bottom of their tank all over the bottom like a rabbit would need bedding. I recommend getting the zoo med hermit crab starter kit. It comes with almost everything you will need. But there will be some other things you are going to need like a heat lamp. To get more information on what you need you can always go to a local pet store and ask someone if you do not want to ask someone. In all Petcos there are a bunch of small little care books that you can take for free that tell you what you can do for your hermit crabs.
Your crabs sponge: I was very stressed out about the hermit crabs sponge because it seemed so complicated and there were not many things really saying what I'm supposed to do with it but a quick Google search gave me all the answers I needed so if you need more information on this then you should do research. But for the sponge all you need to do is put it in the crab's water dish and then let it get wet. Using the sponge prevents the drowning of your hermit crabs and they prefer to drink from that.
And that's it, enjoy your hermit crabs and don't forget to take them out every day and when you are doing something and you are not sure what to do look it up it only takes 5 minutes and I could save your crab's life!
Chameleon Care
by Haylie Denis
Chameleons are great pets but they need a lot of work, they're one of the hardest reptiles to care for! Are you up for that challenge? If so then keep reading for important information about chameleons that you need to know!
There are many different types of chameleons but the most common ones that people get as pets are Panther chameleons and the Veiled chameleons.
Panther chameleons are more colorful than veiled chameleons. Their colors are very pretty and permanent. Chameleons do change colors when they are stressed, but panther chameleons colors are permanent since they are born with a blue, red, or white mix of colors. They are about the same size as the veiled chameleons. The females are always larger than the males. Females live 2-3 years after laying eggs while males live 6-8 year.
Veiled chameleons are not as colorful, but they are still so unique. Veiled chameleons do change colors if they are stressed like the Panther chameleons. Adult male Panthers tend to be a little bigger than the panther chameleons, however adult females are always bigger than the males. Veiled chameleons tend to need less care than the panthers, so if you're looking for a chameleon I recommend the veiled chameleons. They require less heat, and less humidity. Vailed chameleons live up to 6-8 years.
The most common death amongst the chameleons is stress. When stress hormones are higher than normal, the blood flow, growth and immune system is all put on hold and can take up to 7 days to reset. You can tell if your chameleon is stressed by the chameleon's colors darkening from the using colors, hissing or trying to bite you and puffing up. If your chameleon tries to bite you within the first few weeks of you getting the chameleon that's ok, the chameleons adjusting and are learning to trust you.
Getting a chameleon young is great! The chameleon can trust from the beginning. You have to have bonding time and that will grow for years. Chameleons are very shy so it's important to give them time to adjust and see the area.
Ok! Now that we have some background information lets begin on how to take care of your veiled chameleon!
Veiled chameleons are arboreal creatures, they need housing that's much different from most other reptiles. Chameleons spend their life living in the trees, and need a habitat to replicate it. Clean air is very important. To simulate the rain use water droppers to simulate the morning dew on the trees. Plants and hides are also important because we're trying to simulate the live rain forest. The height of the tank is better than the width. Chameleons feel more comfortable higher up, so no “predators” can get to them. A bigger tank is always better! For the adult female veiled chameleon the minimum enclosure should be 30 inches wide and deep. For the adult male veiled chameleon it should be 4 feet by 2 feet wide and deep. You can even make your own diy tank, I won't be talking about that here but it's great to do research on that! The ideal humidity should be 50%-65%, you can measure that with a hydrometer. Live plants can help with the humidity, so it's a good idea to have chameleon safe plants in the tank. You should lighty mist the chameleon tank several times a day if you don't have a drip system working. Chameleons will lick the water of the plants, and that's how they get their water intake so it's very crucial to mist the tank. The heat in the chameleons tank should be at 75-80 degrees fahrenheit on the cool side, and 80-85 degrees fahrenheit on the warm side. You should provide a 95 degrees fahrenheit basking area. They also need a UVB light to help them thrive. And on that note that wraps up the enclosure! Hopefully you're not bored already!
The diet of the veiled chameleons is quite simple. In the wild the veiled chameleons have access to many insects, and you have to try to replicate that in the enclosure. It's important to feed the insects really good food, and cover them in a tiny bit of calcium dust. Really the bugs become a vessel for the food to feed to the chameleon. If you feed the bugs good then you're feeding the chameleon good. You really want a rich nutrition and protein meal for them. Dont go get bugs from outside, that's really unsanitary and bad for any reptile. Who will know if that bug has been in a chemical from the lawn? Chameleons tend to really like crickets, cockroaches, zoophobia worms, and silkworms. It's a good idea to breed the insects at home by putting them in large bins, separating the different bugs from each other. It's also very cost effective! Some rich in protein insects that the chameleons love are waxworms, moths, stick insects, praying mantis (for adults) and house flies. There are most definitely more insects to add to this list. Veiled chameleons are known for becoming bored with their food, so be sure to switch it up. New prey will trigger their interest in appetite. The bugs should be no bigger than the size of between the chameleons' two eyes. It's very important that the food is small like that because then they won't have trouble eating it and catching it. An exception would be for silkworms or wax worms because they are very soft so they can be larger. An adult can handle a larger cockroach but smaller bugs make up most of the chameleons diet. IF you notice the chameleon looking for more food you should give the chameleon more. Clean water and making sure water is always provided. Chameleons drink a lot of water, so it's so important that the chameleon has all the water they need. Chameleons wont drink out of a dish or a bowl. Chameleons will only drink water if it's on the leaves, this is why it's important to spray the chameleons tank. Chameleons were meant to be in the trees so it helps create a more natural environment. If you don't want to spray the cage all day you can buy a dripper system. The dripper system will simulate the real atmosphere, and it's easier on you. I do suggest that you use both methods of spraying the tank and using the dripper system. Make sure every two days you switch out the old water and replace it with fresh, clean water. Misting should be done for 30 seconds to a minute multiple times a day. As you mist the tank you can spray the chameleon too, but make sure it's not directly on the chameleon.
Thanks for reading! Hopefully I didn't bore you to death! :)
Why You Should Learn About Your Family Roots
by Colleen Overzat
Have you ever heard stories about past relatives from your parents, grandparents, older siblings, or great grandparents? Have you ever thought that you wanted to know more stories, know more about them, and just know your history in general? Back during the beginning of quarantine, being my bored and kind of history nerd self, I decided to take it upon myself to put together a family tree back to the great great grandparents. I was able to find 43 out of the 44 names. It was a way to pass time, so why not? It gave me an excuse to call family members I don’t really know.
I was able to call my great grandma and my great uncle for help with the names, and I don’t see them very often. It’s also really interesting to know your roots, and it’s more accurate than using places like ancestry.com, because it’s from the family. You might not be able to go very far back though if you're relying on the family members alive, but the accuracy and knowing it’s still right is more reassuring. I actually was able to learn about one member of my family that was around during the Civil War a couple months back during a family gathering, so you might be able to go back really far in some cases, but I doubt you could go back that far for some a whole generation, or that it would fit. If you can get information generations back, well good for you, but if you're going realistically, you're probably going to get to great-great-grandparents IF YOU'RE LUCKY. Also, your parents might be concerned about where you send you DNA and what you give out to people you don’t know, and if you’re sending DNA to places like ancestry.com who claim to give you insight on your family history, one, they have your DNA, and are free to use it, and two, they might be terribly inaccurate. You should go with the safer, more accurate option, and figure out your family roots from family members. It gives you the ability to call family you barely see, gives you the safety of not sending personal information and your DNA to places you don’t know, and it’s just plain out interesting to learn. Please try to learn what your family roots are, because there are so many benefits to doing this.
Tornado Facts
Have you ever found yourself underneath a dark gray sky? Chances are you’ve seen a thunderstorm before. The convection inside the clouds can cause severe weather to suddenly strike. Many thunderstorms have strong winds and bright bolts of lightning. They can cause damage to roofs, power lines, and trees in the matter of minutes. Occasionally, a special kind of thunderstorm called a supercell can form a funnel cloud. When a funnel cloud touches the ground, it is called a tornado. Tornadoes can be extremely dangerous and destructive to property and life. If you are ever caught in a tornado warning, be sure to go to an interior room or basement as soon as possible. Be prepared and have a plan in place when severe weather hits. Tornadoes are rated on their ability to destroy property. The scale used to rate tornadoes in the United States and Canada is called the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF scale). After a tornado-warned storm passes, meteorologists from the National Weather Service assess the damage and determine the estimated wind speed of the tornado. The EF rating is then determined. Many severe weather have occurred in the U.S. While more common during the spring and summer months, tornadoes can strike at any time in any area. The most common place for tornadoes is the Southern Plains. This is because of the extremely unique meteorological conditions that occur there often. Many of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes and severe weather outbreaks have occured in the Southern Plains, including the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado of May 31, 2013. Winds reached up to 318 miles per hour, the fastest speed ever recorded. Make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts and warnings so that you can stay safe when extreme weather threatens. The bottom line is that we should all be prepared for these events to occur, even when we don’t expect it.
Why You Should Buy A Squishmallow
by Keira Cullinan
I love Squishmallows! But some people wonder, what is a Squishmallow? A Squishmallow is a cute plushie based on animals, flowers, Disney characters, fruits, and food. I own about 20, and love them all equally. If you have seen, Squishmallows have become popular on Tik Tok and Youtube and most people go what you’d call “Squishmallow hunting.” Even if they are hard to find now because of their popularity, here's the reasons why you should go Squishmallow hunting/buy one.
1. Pillow
Squishmallows are mostly used as pillows, depending on their size. Obviously you can’t use one that's the size of your hand, but maybe the size of your head.
2. The cuteness!!
I can’t even explain how cute they are. Sure, some of them, such as the Squishdoos, or the fairies, aren't as popular, but they are all cute in their own way.
3. Having ISO’s.
An ISO = in search of. Some people have tons, while some have 1 to 5. It's really fun to go out and look for them (sometimes in the worst conditions) All you have to do is have hope. If you end up not finding any, that's ok. Just try again when you want to.
4. Reselling
Sure, if you look on sites like Mercari or Depop, they are WAYYY overpriced. But I would recommend if you are reselling, make sure you have the tag. And depending on the size, at least up to $40. Anything over is kinda crazy.
Two things you should know is to watch out for scalpers. A scalper is someone who takes the whole shelf just to resell for obnoxious prices. Another thing is to watch out for scam websites. Most scam websites have deals on every item, and say no returns on sales. They also put up ones that don't even exist!
These are the reasons why you should buy a Squishmallow, so get one! It's so worth it!! 😚
How To Be Successful-Tips by Friedrich Nietzsche
by Sofia Sclafani
Biography
Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher, cultural critic, poet, and philologist. He is an eminent philosopher known for his uncommon ideas about morality and religion. Nietzsche was one of the main believers of existentialism. Existentialism is a philosophical theory that people are free agents who have control over their choices and actions. Existentialists believe that everyone is their own individual and have no one to follow or answer to. Although his uncommon ways of thinking he did thoroughly explain the basics of life and how people are able to shape their futures with independent thought. He has written books including “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” “Beyond Good and Evil,” and “Twilight of the Idols.”
Nietzsche’s overall understanding
Nietzsche’s guide to leading a successful life included the idea of “living life to the fullest,” and following your own omission and values without listening to anyone else’s.
Tips for success
1. Don’t follow the herd
Friedrich was very against following others and looking to them to gain success rather than trying to gain it on your own terms. He explains how it’s dangerous to possibly lose our free will while trying to fit into a specific part of society that may not be meant for you. Herd mentality causes people to go into situations based on a possible idea. It disables people from using their own instincts and figuring out what is best for them individually. People often lose any type of authenticity they originally had. Because people sometimes have different opinions than others they often treat the opinions different from theirs as wrong or invalid. However, although they feel this way, it may not be the case and cause you to doubt yourself.
2. Embrace your inner Dionysus
Friedrich believes that staying in touch with your chaotic side is much needed in order to brew creativity. Most situations in our lives are a form of chaos or something unknown that we’ll have to adapt to. Creativity is another word for our ability to become comfortable in new situations. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, religious ecstasy (spiritual awareness), and fertility shows morals and ideas in which we should embrace as believed by Friedirch. We should constantly develop our ability to steer through chaos which allows us to become spiritually healthy. Most people usually repeat the same routine daily. By living the same day over and over again, creativity is unable to take place because new situations and experiences don’t occur. The more time we spend on food, shopping, and mindlessly absorbing information on social media, the more our creativity is wasted and then we’ll look for a more pleasant way to avoid whatever chaotic situation we’re in. We then slip back into the comfort of scrolling through social media and forgetting about our troubles.
3. Find a father
Friedrich says, “Whoever does not have a good father should procure one.” His father had died when he was at a young age. He bonded very closely with his father and felt an immense loss when he passed. Friedrich came to the conclusion that in order to be successful having a strong, encouraging, and supportive guide in life is a must. This guide could be a mentor, a close friend, or anyone who you feel can meet these requirements. They’re someone who’s gone through life experiences and knows the right advice to inform you with. Their job is to inspire and guide you through life so you don’t have to go through it alone and can always have your own personal form of motivation to do better. For example, Mike Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, was mentored by Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was mentored by Mike Markkula, an investor and executive at Apple in the early days. The relationship between a mentor and a mentee can be one of the most powerful ones in your personal and professional lives.
4. Have a clear vision of the future
One of Friedrich’s most famous quotes states, “The future influences the present as much as the past.” The will to live is a big concept in his philosophy. The willingness to live is directed towards the future. A vision of the future shapes someone's present life as much as memories and experiences from the past do. The ideals you have for your future life impacts how much you enjoy life in the present and how much confidence you can carry in accomplishing your goals. The way you create your intentions and plans for the future, holding confidence that it is likely to happen will pave the way for the same ideas to take place in the future. After you’ve created these plans, the mistakes you make along the way won’t be seen as failures in your eyes but lessons learned in order to obtain the success you have now.
5. Get stronger
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Researchers from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management have established that early career failure in one’s career had led to greater success for people who never stopped trying. Friedrich encourages us to try again even after a huge failure in order for us to be able to become successful later in life.
Becoming a Sports Card Collector
by Alex Ornstein
Do you want to start collecting sports cards? Well, then this article is for you! I am going to tell you the basics of sports card collecting. Collecting cards involves buying, selling and trading them. The most popular cards to collect are Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey.
Buying Card Packs
You can buy packs of cards or boxes with multiple packs in them. Some of the places they are sold at are Target, Walmart, local card shops, and eBay. When buying boxes, they can have autographs or patch cards in them. An autograph card is a card with the player's autograph on it. The autograph is real and they can be numbered, meaning that there are only a certain amount of copies of that card printed. A patch card is a card with a piece of the player's game worn jersey. Baseball card brands include Topps, Panini, and Bowman. Generally, the Bowman cards are the most expensive.
Buying Individual Cards
You can also buy individual cards. They usually come in a protective case and can vary in price depending on how good the player is and what condition the card is in. For example, a Patrick Mahomes rookie card that is in top condition is selling for $350, but a Gleyber Torres rookie card is selling for $9.
Both sports packs and individual cards can also be purchased at card shows. A card show is when a bunch of people get together to sell their cards. Around Long Island, they are usually held in hotels about once a month.
Selling Cards
A popular place to sell cards is on Ebay. Once you have the card that you want to sell, you need to take pictures of it and write up a good description for it. If you have a good card, you can get the card graded. Grading the card involves sending it into a grading company such as PSA, BGS, GMA or SGC. They will inspect the condition of your card and give it a grade from 1 to 10. They base the grade on four things: centering, edges, corners and surface. The closer the grade is to 10, the more money the card is worth. Once you have the card ready and you have someone that wants to buy your card, you need to mail it in protective packaging so that the card does not get damaged.
Trading Cards
One fun thing to do when collecting sports cards is to trade them with your friends. You can pick out some of your best cards to trade, or just trade some cards that you are no longer interested in.
Sports card collecting is very popular right now. Cards can be very hard to find, and if you find them, they are usually priced higher than they should be. Since there are so many people that want the cards now, scalpers always take cards when they see them and buy them at retail prices and sell them for higher prices on eBay.
I just started collecting sports cards this year and I really enjoy it. I like researching about certain players and teams. My favorite cards to collect are baseball and football. If you enjoy sports and learning about certain players, then this could be a hobby that would be great for you.
Getting Ready For Football
by Jackson Crudele
Like many other people I like to play sports. One of the sports being football. I have been playing travel football since I was 8 years old and most of my teammates are still playing with me now. When you’ve known your teammates for a long time like I do with mine you’re good friends with them. You have each other’s backs, prank each other, pancake them at practice even (that means to push them to the point they fall). As you all know we are in a pandemic and everything has changed especially sports and even if you did get to play your sport it was very different than what it usually is.
I play for the Massapequa Mustangs travel team and play center. Fortunately, we got to play this season, but it was tough and different in many ways. First, we didn’t get to play really great rivals like Farmingdale and Bellmore (every age group really has a different rival town). Unfortunately, I hurt my knee during football and even worse I had to quarantine in the beginning of the year which both combined took me out for the season. It was tough watching my team out there while sitting on the sidelines. If you’ve been injured while your team is playing you probably know what I mean. Even though I was off my feet for about two months I was thankfully able to get through it.
The Mustangs usually have a spring workout program which is in the back shed of burns by the boat ramp. I usually do it along with my friends. I really need this now especially after quarantine and all of that time sitting inside but sadly with Covid we haven’t started yet but hopefully we will soon. These workouts are usually led by either the coaches for your team or coaches for the other teams but usually you will know the other coaches whether your sibling played for them, they’ve coached you before, or you’ve just seen them on the field. Some years they will do a linemen only session which is like blocking and tackling and some stances. They will also do a running back session which is like footwork and other speed drills. Most of the years though they just combine linemen and running back. These workouts are most likely a Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or a Thursday. I really enjoy them because you get to spend time with your friends and help get ready for the season. Some years at spring workouts we will have a leader board of who can do something for longer or do more reps. I don’t think I was ever up there because the kids there mean business. I don’t care though it’s just a lot of fun to participate in them.
The USS Intrepid: The Ship That Wouldn't Sink
by Michael Cunnane
Intrepid, what's in a name? Well, there have been 4 Intrepids, this one being the last, the original ship participated in the First Barbary War. I think when the 4th ship was named, it was a metaphor for how America had come from fighting wars against pirates in North Africa to defending the idea of democracy itself. In this article I will be covering the 4th Intrepid, its many battles and other memorable moments and also the museum of which the Intrepid and her legacy stands today, anchored in the Hudson River.
The Intrepid was converted into a museum in the 1980’s and there are 3 levels, the Air Hangar, Ready Room, and the Flight Deck. In the Air Hanga, you will find many planes, displays of several objects collected in the Intrepid, replicas of cockpits that you can go in and an interactive section where everything on display is something you can or mess around with. In the Ready Room you can see where the soldiers on the ship ate, slept, prepared for battle and you can also see places where they used to have fun and do stuff like dental and doctor appointments and haircuts. In the Flight Deck you can see many planes ranging from WW2-era Hellcats, to Soviet and North Vietnamese MIG’s and spy planes used in the Cold War.
The USS Intrepid was commissioned on August 8th, 1943 in Newport News, Virginia with the purpose of being a much-needed aircraft carrier in the war in the Pacific. At the time, she was one of the largest ships in the US naval fleet and although most estimates said it would take 3 years to build the Intrepid, it took only 1 year and 6 months to build. The first major battle she was involved in was the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. Here bombers sank the two largest battleships ever made, the Yamato and the Musashi. During the battle she was hit by two Japanese Zeros in a Kamikaze attack that sent her back to Pearl Harbor for repairs. The next battle she was in was the Battle of Okinawa, the last battle of WW2, where she was struck again by a Kamikaze attack that knocked her out for the entire duration of the war.
For 5 years, the Intrepid was decommissioned for updates like a vertical landing strip so planes could land and take off at the same time and certain weapon upgrades. When it came back it was used in the Space Race and the Cold War. At this time NASA had astronauts land on naval vessels and when Alan Shepard, the second man and first American to go into space who later would walk on the Moon landed from his rocket, he was rescued by a naval vessel in the same class as the Intrepid. When John Young and Gus Grisham came down from space in the Molly Brown capsule, they were rescued by the Intrepid. The Intrepid also made reports on spy planes and hunted Soviet nuclear submarines.
Then, Vietnam came, and the Intrepid was once again put into battle. She was sent to the Gulf of Tonkin to hit North Vietnamese targets and in the process recorded one of the fastest launching times ever recorded by an American aircraft carrier. Former presidential candidate and Senator John McCain flew from the Intrepid and when he was taken as a POW by North Vietnam he flew from the Intrepid. Then, on March 15th, 1974, the Intrepid was decommissioned for the final time. For almost a decade and a half, the Intrepid was abandoned and meant to go to a scrap yard, like the USS Enterprise, but two wealthy partners, Zackary and Elizabeth Fisher saved it and began renovations on it to turn it into a museum in New York, where it still stands today.
In conclusion, the Intrepid is a show of American resolve and the American story. Whether it is the fact that it took sacrifice to make liberty possible, or how the first Intrepid was a rag-tag wooden boat meant to fight pirates in North Africa, and how it went from that to an aircraft carrier meant to protect freedom and democracy itself. The Intrepid is a reminder of liberty and freedom that has required blood, sweat and tears to defend.
Sources:
Intrepid by Bill White and Robert Gandt, Story of the Intrepid: Documentary made by the History Channel, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86, West 46th Street, New York City.
Comic by Gianna DiLucci
The History of Playgrounds
by Elizabeth Terranova
When you think of a playground you probably think of a nice, safe, colorful place for children to play on and have fun. And you're absolutely right. That's just what they were built for: safety.
During the mid 1800’s many children were living in crowded city tenements. And they played outside on the dangerous city streets. Some streets were even called ‘’play streets’’ because it was a rare occurrence for cars to drive on those streets so they were seen as ‘’safe’’ to play on.
In 1848 the idea of playgrounds was developed in Germany by Henry Barnard. His first sketch portrayed children playing with wooden blocks, toy carts, and two rotary swings looked on by teachers sitting in a shaded area. And they were originally called ‘’sand gardens’’. Then in 1859 the first playground was built in Manchester England. The idea of the playground traveled all the way to America and one was built in the Golden Gate park of San Francisco. The playground growing popularity gained the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt who said, “City streets are unsatisfactory playgrounds for children because of the danger, because most good games are against the law, because they are too hot in summer, and because in crowded sections of the city they are apt to be schools of crime. Neither do small back yards nor ornamental grass plots meet the needs of any but the very small children. Older children who would play vigorous games must have places especially set aside for them; and, since play is a fundamental need, playgrounds should be provided for every child as much as schools. This means that they must be distributed over the cities in such a way as to be within walking distance of every boy and girl, as most children can not afford to pay carfare.”
And it wasn't only the president that thought the playground was a fun and safe necessity. Imagine walking into going on your first day of kindergarten only to find out there's no playground. Thanks to a New York law passed in 1895 it will only be your imagination. The law stated that any elementary school built had to also have a playground included, “Hereafter no school house shall be constructed in the City of New York without an open–air playground attached to or used in connection with the same.”
Fast forward about 7 years and you can watch the first government playground being built in 1903, then the cherry on top when the Official Playground association of America is formed in 1906.
Should They Bring It Back?
by Kaylah Hansen
Today we are here with the first addition of should they bring it back. Should they bring back the Talkboy? The Talkboy was very popular for a short amount of time. The product continued to be a best-seller in holiday shopping seasons. A pink version of the cassette recorder called Deluxe Talkgirl was released in 1995. Since they stopped making them, they have a resale value for over $200.
What is a talk boy?
A Talkboy is a handheld voice recorder and sound novelty toy made in the 1990s. The Talkboy was originally conceived as a cassette recorder and player prop for Home Alone 2 but it gained popularity and was made into a toy. In 1999 the toy was terminated. They made many different versions of the product because the original was flying off of the shelves.
Should they bring it back?
After watching Home Alone and seeing this voice recorder I thought that the Talkboy was really cool but just because it's cool doesn't mean it's worth a penny. On the Talkboy if you wanted to you can record your voice and slow it down or speed it up with the slider. There also was a headphone jack to plug in headphones, a play button, a record button, a rewind button, a forward button, and a microphone to record your voice. Overall, you can trick your friends and family and have lots of fun when doing it. Now if you ask me that would be a 100% yes to the big question should they bring it back.
Detective Buster: Final Chapter
by Matthew Costello
Refresher from part 1 and 2: I get this job at the TDA, The Detective Agency, and my office feels off. I look around the office for a little bit and find a knife in a drawer, Mr. Sneak would be mad if he sees that. After I put the knife back I turned on the computer and it showed information about John Adam, who died recently. When I get back home after my shift, I Google John Adam but only the president shows up. I go to bed and I have the day off because it is Wednesday. Then, I have a daydream. Since it is a Wednesday, I have work. I go to the TDA and say hi to Mr. Sneak. I then get ASSASSINATED. And the guy puts the knife he uses in the drawer.
Chapter 9: Daydreaming & Pizza Rolls
“Woah what the heck,” I say to myself. “Why did I have a daydream about the detective agency, and why did it seem so real?” I shrug it off, I mean it happens, even if it was too realistic. “WAIT THE PIZZA ROLLS!!!!” I get off from my bed and bolt to the kitchen. “These pizza rolls aren’t dying on me,” I say to myself “not until I eat them.” Thankfully they didn’t burn and I sighed a sigh of relief. Today is just one weird day.
Chapter 10: Back to the Grind
I wake up and it is a Thursday, and I have to go to work at the TDA. I make sure I’m not daydreaming (spoiler alert I’m not). I make some pancakes and go down to work. While I’m walking I wonder about two things, John Adams and that crazy and unusual daydream. I have thought that these might be connected. “They might be connected, but that sounds dumb.” I say in my head, “I mean the knife, the room number, Mr. Sneak”- I just walked past TDA. Now I feel dumb, but no one saw. I smell the smell of coffee beans and I’m kind of happy to be back, besides Mr. Sneak is being too weird.
Chapter 11: Weird
“What do you know?” Mr. Sneak asks me. “What do you mean,” I responded, “know about what?” “Ok, good.” Mr. Sneak says. I wonder what that was about, and I make a note of these two occurrences. I head to my office and continue working on the missing gumball machine. I then get an ad for things to do in summer, even though it is November 5th. Weird. I have to keep my mind focused on the mystery, and start connecting the dots. “if suspect A was here, then he must be here which disproves his, and solves hers.” I mumble to myself. “Attention all TDA workers,” I hear something from the speakers. “Come down to room 125 for a meeting.” I guess I’m going there.
Chapter 12: Room 125
“Oh my god,” I say in my mind, “What is that smell?” It was a combination of burnt rubber, McDonalds, and baked potatoes. “This meeting I feel will be horrible.” I say to myself. “Ok, everyone settle down, settle down.” Mr. Sneak says. “I have a feeling one of you has seen forbidden knowledge,” I look around and everyone is just as clueless as me. “All 5 of you are suspected to have access, or had access, to forbidden knowledge.” Mr. Sneak says. “What do you mean by forbidden knowledge, and why is it so important?” I ask Mr. Sneak. “Because it can get me fired, and I can’t get fired.” He responds, “The forbidden knowledge is bad because I COULD GET FIRED!” He says. I instantly know I have the forbidden knowledge, and I ain’t telling anyone.
Chapter 13: In and Out
After the meeting, I have to take a deep breath. “I have the forbidden knowledge,” I tell myself “but what if I get fired, what if he finds out?” I am on the fence about telling him or keeping it secret, I might get fired if I tell him though. I decide to not tell him because I can use it to my advantage. “What is that smell?” I ask myself, “it smells like peppermint but it is November, oh wait a second. What if it's Mr. Sneak trying to find out who has the knowledge.” If I want to hide the fact I have the knowledge, I have to run, now.
Chapter 14: JUST RUN, RUN
I grab my things and walk out, AND THEN RUN I’M NOT GETTING CAUGHT. While I’m running the peppermint smell fades away and I see a bagel shop. “Might as well get a bagel, I’m already here.” I say to myself. I grab an everything bagel with butter and find a seat for myself. “But what if they catch me,” I think, “Then I’d be dead.” *Ring ding ding* I’M OUT OF THERE FASTER THEN I GOT IN THEY AREN’T CATCHING ME TODAY! I run all the way to my apartment complex, and I think I’m safe until…
Chapter 15: They caught me...
I think I’m safe until a tarantula comes. You really thought they caught me, I ran at the speed of light they won't catch me. I then come to my senses and realize AAH A TARANTULA! I go up the stairs and go to my apartment and lie down on my bed. “That tarantula looked off,” I tell myself, “Aren’t they orange and black, not grey?” “OH WAIT A SECOND,” I realized a huge thing, “THAT WAS A TDA TRACKER!” So they did catch me.
Chapter 16: The True Story
Hello, my name is @#$@&*and I am the !@#$%)of this story. What you have learned in the past 15 chapters have been illusions by the TDA for a cover up of what happened all those years ago. However, one person can see past the illusion and gas, which is (named blurred for privacy reasons). They saw what happened, they sensed the bad feeling the moment they walked in, they smelled the gas. In 25 years, a new person will come around to stop the TDA in its tracks.
The Girl with the Locket
by Aleyna Saygili
This is a story that I created because I love books! I have read books about mystery, sadness, happiness, historical fiction, and much more! I also want to say that I dedicate this story to my friends and my family for always being there for me.
Hi! My name is Charlotte. Charlotte Hollow. And this is my story of how I found my grandmother's special locket . . .
“Yes!” I yelled.
It was finally the first day of summer vacation. Don’t get me wrong, I do like school . . . but I like summer better! Who doesn’t like summer! I immediately jumped out of bed, got changed, and went downstairs to have breakfast. “Morning mom!” I said just as the smell of waffles went up my nose. Oh no. Mom always makes waffles when she has bad news. I better be prepared.
“Hi sweetie! Ummmm. Charlotte, we have to talk.”
“Ok…...:” I say as I take a bite out of a waffle. I won't let good food go to waste!
“How should I say this . . .”
“Say what?”
“Sweetie, Nana died.”
“Wait . . . WHAT!”
I don’t believe it! Nana couldn’t have died, no!
“YOUR LYING MOM, YOUR LYING!”
“Sweetie, wait!” my mom said as I ran up the stairs. My day was already taking a turn. I was downstairs for only 5 minutes and my day was going bad. 5 minutes! My Nana’s real name was Alice Abbett, no, not like Leon Abbett, two time governor of New Jersey. She had the same last name, but were not related. Sadly. Me and Nana are, well, were very close. Nana took care of me from the day I was born, since my parents were always working in the city. She was the one that showed me how to ride a bike, read a book, and so much more! Oh! There was a time when I was 6 years old and . . .
“Sweety! Can I come in?” mom said.
“Mom, just leave me alone!”
“Ok then, but so you know, I am going to Nana's house to get some of her things. Want to come with me?”
“Fine! I will come!”
I mean might as well.
I quickly change into black clothes, run down stairs, and hop into mom and dad’s old truck. They work at our farm, so it makes sense to have a car like this, but I hate their car! It is just so . . . so . . . old!
1 hour later . . .
We are finally here! Uh! One more minute in that car and I'm going to die! And there's Nana’s house. Small, a little old, but amazing. All the memories suddenly flood back to me, and I wish I didn't come. Once me and mom stepped into the house, it felt like Grandma was here again. The house smelled just like her, and now I really wish I didn't come!
“Sweetie, you can go into her bedroom and collect some of her stuff. I'll be right there. I'm going to handle the kitchen first.”
“Okay.” I said in a sad voice.
After collecting something's, I got two boxes full of things that I know Mom will want to bring home and some things I like, and obviously things that are special. Then, I lay eyes on a weird part of her wall, (probably all of you guys have been waiting for this part!) thinking it must be a crack, but definitely wasn't! It was like somebody inserted a box that was painted the same color as the wall, but you could see the blackout lining. So I pulled out obviously! I ain't just going to sit there! And then I find grandmother's locket . . .
What will happen next? What happened when she found it? AHHH!
Well, I don’t know! It is up to you to figure out what happens next. Write what you think should happen next and how the rest of the story should go! Then, you may share it with as many people as you like! Or, join the Berner Beacon next year for everyone to know what happens next! I hope you enjoyed!
From the Bottom to the Top
by Aidan Sherwin
Old and Rickety
Liam lives in a small apartment with his mom and two brothers. He lives in a lower class small city that isn’t the brightest and definitely not the cleanest. He’s always wanted to move out, but his mom has never had a good amount of money. Liam wishes to move out by the time he's an adult so he could flee from the city.
Liam woke up early on Monday morning to go to school. He had to step around his brothers’ beds to not wake them up so he could make his way to the bedroom door. Once he walked out, he went to the kitchen where his mom was heating up some waffles in the toaster. He said good morning and sat down to wait for the waffles to be ready.
After Liam finished, he thanked his mom and started getting his things together for school. His school had a lot of bullies and teachers that go hard on students that also don’t care much about the students’ grades. The school can’t afford to hire quality teachers as they are on a low budget.
Liam left his apartment and headed to the bus stop around the corner. He waited and waited and the bus finally arrived. It was an old rickety bus that makes a knocking sound as it drives as most of the busses are. He sat down next to a friend and started a conversation.
“You know what would be funny? If I become a millionaire someday. Like, me. Boring old me living in a poor family. Just imagine I invent this, crazy good product that everyone seems to need. Again, me. Boring old me who doesn’t have a very creative mind,” said Liam. He had a crazy random idea that he was willing to share with his friend Shawn. Shawn then chuckled and replied, “Never in a million years will that ever happen. As a matter of fact nobody in this neighborhood will ever become a millionaire. This whole town is filled with people who barely make a living.” Liam then replied, “Yea, you’re right. I just have these random thoughts, you know? I’ve done that for years.” “Yea, you’re right,” Shawn said.
Liam walked into his first class of the day and sat in his rickety, wobbly chair at his rusty desk. The teacher walked around with pieces of paper with information that was never brought up in class. When someone in the class brought up the fact that they were never taught this, the teacher demanded them to finish it, no matter the grade they get.
After a long and tedious day at school, Liam made his way home and slumped down onto the worn down couch. He didn’t realize it until an hour later until he woke up, but he had fallen asleep. His mother and brothers had decided not to wake him up. So he decided he’d do his homework. An hour later, Liam went to the kitchen to see what his mom was cooking. He found out that it was just a frozen pizza. The pizza only had two servings, but she didn’t want to have to waste any food for the week.
All Down South
A week later, Liam found himself sleeping on the couch again. This time, he woke up an hour and a half later. But it was silent. There was no sound in the apartment besides his footsteps. Maybe they were all in the boys’ bedrooms playing board games. It was something they liked to do, so he just assumed that’s what they were doing and walked to the desk in the living room to do his homework.
When Liam finished his homework, he still hadn’t heard anything from his mom and brothers. He went to look for them in the apartment, but couldn’t find them anywhere. He started getting worried, but tried to flood his mind with pure positive thoughts. Maybe they were just going to one of the boys’ friends house and Liam just wasn’t friends with them. Or maybe they went out to grab a snack and they’d return soon with one for him. That’s what Liam hoped was occurring, anyay.
Liam decided to watch some TV until his family got back. After a while, he checked the time. It was already eight o’clock. His family had never been anywhere this late before without everyone there.
Liam’s heart was pounding out of his chest. He had no idea what to do or expect. He walked back and forth trying to figure out what to do. Had they been at a sleepover without him? Did they go on a vacation without him? Liam’s thoughts were flowing right in and out of his head. But he didn’t want to think of the worst; If they had been in a critical condition at the hospital right now, or worse, they were dead! Liam was typically a positive person so he was trying to steer away from thoughts like that.
Liam had decided to call Shawn on the phone to see if he knows anything. “Oh, you didn’t hear about it…” Shawn said. “W-what,” Liam responded in shock. “Yeah… I didn’t think I’d have to be the one to tell you this… but…” Shawn paused and sighed, “Just come to Twelfth Street.” “Uhh… Ok…” Liam responded in a sad voice. “I’ll be there waiting for you. We could talk about it when you get there,” Shawn said.
As soon as Liam got to Twelfth Street, he saw Shawn on the sidewalk standing there and sirens in the distance.. He walked up to him and asked what was going on. “Just follow me,” Shawn told Liam. The two boys walked up the street and saw the car. It had crashed and flipped upside down. “It looks like they got T-boned by another car and fell into a ditch,” Liam said. “Yeah,” Shawn responded. “The car that T-boned them was going way over the speed limit and ran the red light. There’s a lot of damage.”
Liam was still confused as to why Shawn called him over to the car accident, until they got closer. He realized that the car that got hit was the same color as his mom’s. He began to panic on the inside as he got even closer to the accident. “No no no no!” Laim kept shouting as he began to recognize the car. It was all damaged up, but he still recognized it.
Shawn kept quiet because he didn’t want to make anything worse for Liam, but Liam could tell that he was truly sorry for him. The only thing they didn’t know was how many, if there were any, survivors in the crash. Through all his tears, Liam decided to ask one of the paramedics for information.
“Hey kid, it’s not looking very good. Looks like they’re not gonna make it. I’m sorry,” the paramedic said. “I’ll let ya stay til we figure it all out.” Liam nodded his head and then dropped into his hands to cry. He walked to the sidewalk where he sat up against a building with his head in his arms and his knees up. “Hey, I’m really sorry bro,” Shawn said to him trying his best to comfort Liam. Liam didn’t move or say anything. He was too hurt by the situation.
A New Chapter
Liam enrolled in a college to study business. He wanted to be an entrepreneur. He has gotten over the loss of his family, but the thought still looms in his head. Liam was excited for a new beginning of his life, at least he hoped it would be successful.
Liam walked into class the first day and got to meet his professor, Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson was pretty easy going, but made sure his students succeeded. That was Liam’s favorite type of teacher. He took his seat and looked up at the professor so he could teach the first lesson.
The first day of classes for Liam went well, and he could tell that choosing to be an entrepreneur was a great choice for him. Once he arrived at the front office in his dorm building, he was informed that he’d have two roommates named Anthony and James. Anthony was a freshman just like Liam and Anthony was a sophomore. Liam was hoping Anthony had good information for him about the college. He also hoped he could share his experiences with the two, and they could share theirs.
The three got along very well and enjoyed living with each other through the first week of college. Anthony had told them the things they needed to know about certain classes and they had been sharing information about the school. Liam probably got into the best dorm he could’ve.
Liam found himself needing a little extra cash for little things, so he decided to get his first job. He didn’t want to do anything major while still in college, so he looked for jobs at local restaurants. He was looking for something that wasn’t as generic as a diner, and not very fancy either. Liam went online and searched for restaurants that are hiring. He found a website that contained all of the local restaurants near the college that needed employees. He was pleased by the results.
When Liam filled out an application for the jobs he liked, he thought it’d be pretty convincing that he should be hired. He made sure to include that he could learn how to do things pretty well, and that he could think positively in tough situations. Liam submitted his applications, and waited.
It only took a day for someone to accept him. “Nice,” He said to himself. He applied for a job as a waiter, and that’s what he got. Liam checked his emails and saw one from the restaurant. He opened it and read that his first day was in two days.
A Job!
Liam had a good first day at the restaurant and received many tips from customers. Today, Liam had to go to his manager’s office so they could have a talk. “Welcome Mr. Thompson,” the manager said. “Good morning, Mr. Hickson,” Liam replied. “So I wanted to talk about your work performance,” the manager started, “I’ve seen that you’ve worked extremely hard. Quite Frankly, harder than the other employees here.” “Thank you, sir,” said Liam, happy with himself. “I wanted to give you a raise.” This made Liam smile. “How does an extra,” the manager paused for a second, “Let’s say five to eight dollars an hour sound?” “That’s great,” Liam responded. “Thank you very much.” He got up to leave, and right as he got to the door, he heard his manager say, “I want you to know that I see a bright future for you young man, keep it up.”
Those words had been stuck in Liam’s head for the rest of the day. They were unforgettable. Liam knew that they will probably have a huge impact on his future.
Liam had a great time working at the restaurant. His life had gone nothing but amazingly during his first year of college. He already had a great starting job, and he had plans for his future. He wanted to start a company selling goods around houses that people could just buy and put them in their house. He hadn’t seen many companies that do this, so he thought it’d be successful.
An Amazing New Beginning
Liam had graduated college and was already looking into a business. He had ideas for inventions in mind, he just needed to build and sell them. Some ideas were a cup dispenser that automatically dispenses cups, another was a disc holder that displays all the discs for games. He also wanted to construct a picture frame that could swap pictures by the press of a button.
He experimented with several designs for these things, and settled on one for each. The next thing he had to do was to sell them. He already had plans to start a business, which he’d named “House Suppliams’.” He thought it would be a good pun. He started to look into buildings where he could sell his goods.
Liam found a small building, and renamed it to “House Suppliams.” He stocked the place up with his first three inventions that he built. He had to buy a few 3D printers to have enough stock. Liam also bought rights to make a commercial, and had to hire actors to make it good. He still had his restaurant job where he’d made a good amount of money to start his business, but he’d quit it to start fresh.
Liam's commercial and stock were successful. He was officially open! Within a day, Liam already got his first customer. They bought one of the cup dispensers and a disc holder. After they left, there were already four new customers coming in.
Liam’s business had been very successful. He sold many products per day, and money was rolling in. Liam had been hiring new employees, and looking into bigger and better buildings. He knew that his mother would be proud of him for finally getting to move out of his childhood home. He knew that she would always be there for him, in spirit.
Percy Jackson: A Fantastic Book Series
by Colleen Overzat
Percy Jackson is godly. No pun intended. It’s the best series I’ve ever read in my life, and I’m the one with three bookshelves. If you haven’t heard of it, Percy Jackson is a book series about the modern-day Greek (and eventually roman) demigods. There are multiple spin off series of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus and Trials of Apollo, where the Roman demigods are featured. There are multiple reasons you should read this series. The book series is good partially because it’s educational. You learn about Greek and/or Roman mythology while reading a great book series. I can now name the 12 Olympian gods and goddesses and their Roman forms, and a couple of Roman and Greek gods and goddesses in there too, just from the books. Another reason is character diversity. There are so many different kinds of people in this. It doesn’t mark one group of people good or bad. There are good and bad monsters, good and bad gods/goddesses, and good and bad demigods. Another thing is, it’s relatable to an extent. You can find AT LEAST one character you relate to, and it doesn’t have to be your favorite. You're obviously not going to relate to being in battle with a bunch of Greek mythology monsters, but still. It also has a lot of different genres in one book. There’s canonically dating couples for romance, a whole lot of battles for thrillers, it’s educational in the sense of Greek and roman mythology, and obviously fantasy because the mythology is fantasy . It’s also really addictive to read. It’s really interesting, and you have to keep reading more, like your brain doesn’t have an option. There’s other things I could get into, but that’s for you to find out if you read it. Please read this book series and all of the series after, you will not regret it I promise you!
Universal Yums: A Review
by Michael Mark
Have you ever wanted to experience another country’s food without having the hassle of buying plane tickets and going there? Universal Yums is a subscription service that does just that!
Description: Universal Yums is a monthly snack subscription service featuring unique snacks and candy from a different country each month. Each box also comes with a guidebook for the country with recipes, games, culture and more!
Features: When purchasing a box you can customize its size. The smallest size is the cheapest and includes 5 to 7 snacks in the box while the biggest size is more expensive and includes 18 - 20 snacks. The small size box is a great way to sample the subscription but It’s up to you to decide what suits you best!
Activities: This box comes with tons of fun activities to do, especially with loved ones. Some games included in the box are word puzzles, trivia, and a special area to rate the snacks that you tried! There are also recipes and fun facts about the country and a teaser for next month’s box.
Snacks: The snacks you get all depend on the country! South Korea might have more candies and cookies while France could have more chips and chocolates! If you're wondering what country it is for that specific month, you’ll know at the checkout! Sometimes a specific box sells out but there's always another option, usually an older box! My favorite countries for snacks so far have been from France, Turkey, and Brazil.
Link to the site: https://www.universalyums.com/
Edible Cookie Dough Recipe
by Michael Mark
Don’t you just LOVEEE cookie dough? If so, this recipe is for you! Enjoy the taste of fresh (edible) cookie dough without any of the hassle of baking it! Here’s the link to the original recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/edible-cookie-dough-4-ways
Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Preheat your oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
Bake the flour for 5 minutes to kill any bacteria.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, milk, and salt until combined evenly.
Refrigerate mix for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Now that you’ve made the base, feel free to add in ingredients of your choosing! I recommend chocolate chips! Simply put the ingredient of your choosing into the bowl and mix!
I hope you enjoy this no-bake edible cookie dough recipe!
*(Note: This recipe was completely made by Tasty, I’m just sharing it because it’s a great recipe that more people should know about!)*
S'mores Cup Recipe
by Jackson Crudele
Have you ever made nice ooey-gooey s’mores on a hot day outside over a fire and it felt like the best thing ever, I bet you have gotten pretty messy while eating them but, honestly sometimes I don’t like getting dirty when eating food especially when it gets sticky and I bet other people feel the same way. However there is an even more delicious alternative to regular s’mores that is way cleaner (for the most part). They are called s’mores cups and you might be wondering what these are, but they are exactly what they sound like, a s’mores in the form of a cup.
Ingredients
. 1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
. ¼ cup powdered sugar
. 6 tablespoons butter, melted
. 2 Hershey Bars (regular size)
. 12 large marshmallows
Yields: 24 S’mores cups
Directions
Just to start, you're gonna want to preheat the oven to 350 degrees. First, you’re gonna make the graham cracker crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, the powdered sugar, and your melted butter in a small bowl. Place 1 tablespoon of the graham cracker mixture into each cup of a mini muffin pan. Firmly press crumbs to form a nice shallow cup and also make sure there are no cracks so be very careful. Next, bake the graham cracker mixture for about 4 minutes or until the edges are bubbling. Then Break the two Hershey bars into those rectangles that are kinda already formed. Remove the pan from the oven; place one rectangle in each of the graham cracker cups. Cut marshmallows in half and then place one half of the marshmallow onto each cup. Then back in the oven it goes for 2-3 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly softened. Remove pans from the oven; cool for 15 minutes. Now this is the most tricky part: be extremely careful. Carefully remove the cups from the pan with a toothpick. Finally, the last step ( my favorite step of all) is to eat them.
Conclusion
Overall this recipe is completely amazing. It is served for dessert a lot of the time I have family gatherings. When my older cousin first had one it was literally like love at first sight. Every time we had S’mores cups for dessert he must’ve wiped like half of them. Me and my family really enjoy this recipe so I hope you get the opportunity to try it too. If you do make this recipe I hope you enjoy it!
Restaurant Review: Butterfields
by Colleen Overzat
On my father’s side of the family, ever since my dad was in 2nd grade, my dad’s family would rent a house up in the mountains in a town called Deposit. Recently, a restaurant named Butterfields, which had been closed down for a while, reopened under new ownership. The place is great! It’s open 4 days a week, 2 of the 4 days, during the weekend, the chef, who I won’t name for privacy purposes, is there. She’s AMAZING! The other 2 days, there are pastries sold instead. The 1st time my family went was for lunch on a Saturday at around 12:00 pm, and we had a snack for dinner with how full we were. They also change their menu weekly to save money and food, which I find very resourceful, and the chef, like I said, is fantastic at putting together meals with excess food. There’s something called "kitchen bread" she makes with leftover muffins and other pastries molded together into a bread pan that’s kind of like French toast, kind of not, but it’s delicious. You should definitely try going up to Deposit sometime. There are other nice places there like the library (you can buy books there for $0.50-$1.00) and a thrift store called Deposits Closet. There are a bunch of lakes you could either rent or buy a house on, and I encourage you to do so.
A peek at our journalists working hard "behind" the scenes!
THANK YOU JOURNALISTS!
Huge thank you to all of the journalists who worked tirelessly to produce such thought provoking articles, beautiful creative writing, and fun comics this year! We continue to be amazed by your tenacious attitudes and commitment even during these unusual times! We look forward to working with you again next year! Wishing all 8th graders the best of luck moving on to AMES! We will miss you!
Best wishes,
Mrs. Cangiano and Ms. Waterman
ANSWERS: Two Truths and a Lie
Mr. Rath’s Lie: I’ve traveled to Tokyo.
Ms. Robertson’s Lie: For my 21st birthday, I rode a donkey along the ridge of the Grand Canyon.
Mr. Cueba's Lie: I Swam 4 miles across the Long Island Sound.
Mrs. Meehan's Lie: I have been to four different continents.
Mr. Shippos' Lie: I have a dog named Nittany.