The Witches' Brew
February 2021 Edition
Gold Award Equals Outdoor Classroom
by Molly Morse-Belcher
Lauren Marci, a junior at Greenwich, has recently undertaken the task of achieving her Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, and is gained through a large project to help one’s community. Marci plans to create outdoor classrooms that the school and community can take advantage of.
Marci has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, keeping her passion for the group even after she moved from New Jersey to Greenwich. She has completed both her Bronze and Silver awards on her way to the Gold Award. Her love for what she does is plain. Marci says, “I love being a Girl Scout and even without knowing every Girl Scout in the world, there is a sense of community whenever you say you’re part of the group.”
Fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts annually earn their Gold Award, but the stories of those who have made a difference through winning the prestigious award inspired Marci to make a difference in her community. With the persistence of COVID and the mental health of adults and teens deteriorating rapidly, it was clear to her that something had to be done. Marci says that she “turned to the outdoors because everyone has access to it.” She has experienced first hand how her stress levels have been reduced through the rejuvenation of being out in nature, and wanted to bring that same clarity to learners in the Greenwich school community.
Projects usually take 1-2 years to complete, and although the path to a Gold Award is mainly an individual one, more people from the community will aid Marci as the project progresses. Ms. Carner is currently working as Marci’s advisor and helps her with everything from advice to planning. Marci comments, “She is a huge help and I enjoy working with her!”
Marci’s research and planning for such an important project will help her community for years after Marci leaves Greenwich Central. Watch her progress in the upcoming months, and be sure to be on a lookout for more information or ways to help!
The COVID-19 Vaccine
by Bruce Gregg
The coronavirus pandemic hit an all time high throughout the month of January, claiming over 90,000 lives in the United States. Alongside the death toll reaching its new peak, new dangers posed by dozens of new variant strains have begun to appear in South Africa, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Luckily, the distribution of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines have begun to reach the first wave of recipients.
As variants of the novel coronavirus have emerged, the urgency for the vaccination has increased exponentially. The UK variant is expected to surge within the next month, potentially bringing the country’s progress back to where we were in early fall in terms of vaccination progress. Although the potential spike in cases from new variants is daunting, the United States’ rate of vaccination has been gradually increasing over recent weeks. President Biden has stated that our country will eventually be averaging over one million shots a day, soon to reach recipients further down the priority line, including teenagers and non-essential working class citizens.
Small businesses are consistently taking devastating blows as their revenue decreases during the pandemic, and business loans are becoming scarcer as days go on. The potential positive impact the vaccine could have on the small businesses of America could be huge, as major cities like New York and Los Angeles struggle with the loss of revenue from small businesses and travel, coupled with heightened health concerns as LA becomes a COVID hot spot. As the need for a vaccine intensifies, the urgency to save the country’s small businesses has heightened just as rapidly.
Small businesses across the country are on the verge of decimation, the amount of cases have skyrocketed in the first few weeks of 2021, and variants of the virus are appearing left and right. Although our country seems to be in the hardest stage of the race to end the pandemic, the production and distribution of the vaccine is improving, with hopes of bringing our country back to a state of normalcy within the next few months.
Photo Credit for Vaccine Bottle
A New Year
by Lola Davidson
This year has already hosted several incredibly historical events that are sure to be hallmarks in American history. From insurrection and illness to inauguration and illustrious glimpses into the future of the United States, this month has looked different to everyone. On January 6th the integrity of the nation was trifled with as a mob of violent people armed with ignorance stormed the United States Capitol building.
According to the National Public Radio (NPR), the cause of this riot was the will to halt the announcement and authorization of then president-elect Joe Biden’s win of the Electoral College. Far-right groups such as QAnon, the Proud Boys, and other figures plagued with hardcore nativist and white nationalist ideologies were present, after having planned and instigated the violation of the Capitol. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the “president” of the white supremacy group known as the Proud Boys was arrested on January 4th on the charges of destruction of property and possession of high capacity firearm magazines, but was released the next day.
On January 5th, the FBI field office in Norfolk, VA issued a warning of premeditated violence at the hands of extremist groups. Their findings included specific threats towards members of Congress, “an exchange of maps of the tunnel system under the Capitol complex and organizational plans like setting up gathering places in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina so extremists can meet to convoy to Washington” (NPR). This information was shared with numerous other law enforcement agencies including, but not limited to, the Capitol Police, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Park Police.
Despite the awareness of the possibility of violence, people were still able to break into the Capitol building and since then over 100 arrests have been made and over 200 case files have been opened by the FBI. According to the FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director Steven D’Antuono and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael R. Sherwin, these cases are being treated “ just like a significant international counter-terrorism or counter-intelligence operation” and they are pursuing felony cases connected to sedition and conspiracy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been actively investigating hundreds of names of people linked to the Capitol riots that will be considered for a no-fly list based on domestic terrorism.
Immediate outcomes of this disturbance include four deaths and the second impeachment of Donald J. Trump. As of January 13th, 2021, Mr. Trump became the first president to ever be impeached twice. He was impeached on the article of inciting insurrection. This article was passed 232 to 197 after the Democrats attempt to invoke the 25th Amendment was unsuccessful. As of right now, it is unclear when a Senate trial will take place or what it will look like.
The former President has been indefinitely banned from numerous social media platforms including, but not limited to: Twitter, Pinterest, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Amazon Web Services, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Liquid Web, and Shopify. These bans were conducted primarily on the premises of spreading false information about the 2020 election and COVID-19, as well as inciting violence.
On January 20th Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and many Congress members were sworn into office. For the first time in United States history, a woman will be serving as Vice President. Even more monumentally Harris is of black and East-Indian descent and has set the stage for future women to hold higher offices. On the first day of his presidency, Biden signed seventeen executive orders, the most notable including:
Rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, repealing the travel ban that primarily affected Muslim countries
Repealing the ban of transgender people in the military
Stopping the U.S from withdrawing from the World Health Organization
Extending the eviction and foreclosure deadline to March 31
Extending the pause on student loan payments to at least September 30, 2021
Canceling the Keystone Pipeline and reversing more than 100 Trump actions on the environment
Preventing workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity
Fortifying DACA after Trump's efforts to undo protections for undocumented people brought into the country as children
Halting construction of the border wall by terminating the national emergency declaration used to fund it
Requiring executive branch appointees to sign an ethics pledge barring them from acting in personal interest and requiring them to uphold the independence of the Department of Justice
The new president is also pushing for another 1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package where eligible Americans would receive 1,400 dollars. Additionally, the Senate is in the process of confirming Biden’s Cabinet picks. His Cabinet nominees, if all confirmed, will be the most diverse and inclusive group to date.
January has been an eventful beginning of 2021, however, many good things have occurred. The development and distribution of vaccines give us hope for a newer, better normal. This year is expected to be the height of American involvement in the climate crisis thus far. The rules regarding financial aid and student loans have already been adapted to dilute the cost of college. To continually be informed on current events check out reliable sources such as NPR, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, or The Hill.
Ideas to Combat Mental Illness
Many people in the world suffer from mental illness. Long-term and short-term depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and more have taken a large toll on peoples’ lives, especially this past year. Unfortunately, mental illness cannot disappear and be fully cured. Mental illnesses, like long term depression (also known as clinical depression), short term depression (also known as situational depression), bipolarism, and anxiety cannot be cured, but these mental illnesses can be overthrown and reduced to minimal problems and controlled.
A tip on helping someone with a mental illness could be to become a hobbyist. Hobbies such as drawing or even learning how to play an instrument like a guitar, can help with reducing the effects of mental illness and stress. Another hobby or activity you can engage in is working out. Working out at your local gym has two benefits: it helps with mental health but also with your physical health, which is very important. Another tip on how to control your mental health is to write your thoughts out and create a journal. This method helps to clear your mind, sort out and clarify thoughts, and also shows your development. As you keep record of your thoughts, you will notice a development in yourself which will help you and encourage you to write down more. In addition, your mentality can be controlled by talking to someone.
Talking to a trusted person could provide a good support system to controlling your mental health. Talking to a professional like a therapist or a counselor will also help. Both of these professionals can listen and find the right treatment and solution for your mental illness. A final tip on controlling your mental illness is listening to your favorite music. Music can calm you and help with your emotions. Music can help with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. Music is a powerful tool that can also provide a great support system to helping and controlling your mental illness.
Depression and other mental illnesses are a serious problem that should be controlled. After finding a hobby, talking to someone or even just listening to your favorite music, your goal should be to maintain the self-control you have over your mental illness. If your depression gets out of control you should seek help via a counselor, a therapist, or contact the suicide prevention hotline (800-273-8255, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/). Mental illness like depression and bipolarism are scary, but the illnesses are totally controllable and manageable, and with these tips controlling mental illness will be less difficult.
Community Events & Announcements
POPS Concert-- The Greenwich high schools’ chorus and band are each recording a song for the 2021 POPS Concert under COVID restrictions. Solo performances are also encouraged. This will take place in March/April of this year.
Junior/Senior Prom-- Greenwich still plans to hold a prom this spring with possible variations due to COVID. Forms were sent out to each junior and senior, and should be returned by February 12th. Visit the main office if an extra copy is needed.
Email Ms. Carner, Mrs. Bristol, Molly Morse-Belcher or Bruce Gregg to put an announcement or community event in the next issue.
About Us
Molly Morse-Belcher
Bruce Gregg
Contributors
Molly Morse-Belcher
Lola Davidson
Bruce Gregg
Jeremy Kilburn
Advisors
Robin Bristol
Nicole Carner
Email: ncarner@greenwichcsd.org
Website: http://wps.greenwichcsd.org/hswebsite/
Location: 10 Gray Avenue, Greenwich, NY, USA
Phone: (518) 692-9542