2021 FOCUS Issue #1

A Blind Brook High School Student Publication

Administrators at Blind Brook’s King Street Campus Speak Out! - Page 5

In addition to the pandemic, so much else has happened in the district over the last 12 months. Beyond the impact of Covid and delays regarding construction of the Fab Lab and at Ridge Street, we have seen numerous administrative changes. To kick off our first published edition of the 2021-2022 school year, we decided to interview High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Chirles, Middle School Principal Mr. Seth Horowitz, High School Assistant Principal Mr. Mark Greenwald, and Middle School Assistant Principal Ms. Karen Chalif. We gathered information ranging from the district’s biggest strengths to their stances on the recent turnover in administration.

All administrators were asked the same questions, some of which were chosen by the student body. We hope you enjoy the interviews as you take a deep dive into the Administrators’ beliefs on what contributes to the success of the district. Additionally, we hope you learn more about the district you have been a part of for several years.

- FOCUS Team

Issue #1 December 2021

Inside Focus...

Features The latest in Blind Brook News.

Viewpoints College tuition, banning TikTok and junk food.

News School shooting threats, crashes on King Street and COVID-19.

Strategic Planning

By Sofia Padilla

Strategic planning is a strategy that is being implemented into school districts for students to prepare for life after school. It is meant to enhance the learning system such as the curriculum but also branches out to assessment and instruction.

One of the most significant comp-

Features..........................................1 Interviews....................................5 Viewpoints.....................................8 News...............................................11 Health and Science........................14 Arts and Entertainment................16 Politics..........................................19 Sports............................................22

onents of Strategic Planning is the leadership focus. Some of the factors that go into this large equation are learning goals, assessment, measurement, resource deployment, policy and regulation, and Continued on Page 2

Photo Courtesy of Equinet

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Features

Strategic Planning Continued from page 1

instructions for a deeper learning and a deeper education.

Learning goals is such an important part of the leadership focus. Taking learning to the next level is paired with the process of setting goals for those in Pre-K to 12th grade. The students and their families along with the staff are informed of the goals made for them to meet and will use the correct materials and resources provided by the district to achieve them. Another important aspect of the leadership’s focus is the instruction for deeper learning including unified vision of the characteristics involved in this deep learning process. Digital learning resources are also supportive to the difficult instructions.

Instruction for deeper learning also involves practicing for professional learning and equity strategies.

The board of education and superintendent came together to form a policy supporting the district and its mission, its Vision of the Graduate, and outcomes for the students. The stakeholders of the district are believed to be meaningfully involved and kept up to date with matters regarding the leadership and management of the district. This applies to all

By Lilly Kleinhandler

Steam, more specifically, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, is getting a makeover in the Blind Brook School District; this new approach is called DICE, which stands for Design, Innovation, Creation, and Expression. The DICE facilitator, Stephanie Peborde Burke, explained that “DICE is supposed to be an idea and a mindset that applies to all content areas”.

This exciting initiative will mainly

regardless of someone’s background and or privilege. Budgets and resources also have been developed so that they align with the district’s Vision of Graduate standards.

The board of education, superintendent, and administration are committed to and support the deeper learning for students, lining up the district systems, and developing the capacity and competencies through the systemic acquisition Vision of the Graduate. The outcome is meant to focus on resources and pay attention to the highest professional practices. A positive learning environment and higher order course content should create sustained and improved student learning.

There are some concerns that come along with the process such as inconsistency in using assessment in driving, defining and assessing with higher thinking skills, and lacking vertical and horizontal alignment in the curriculum for K-12. Another concern is the amount of systems that would be impacted such as School level data teams, assessment calendar, curriculum and development committees, and many more.

Four strategies will put

the plan in action and act in moving forward. The first strategy being defining, promoting, and consistently accessing the skills and knowledge that are most important for a successful life beyond schooling. The second strategy is about appropriately defining higher order thinking so that feedback systems can align teaching and learning to a higher level. The third strategy is based on updating the social and emotional learning curriculum resources to include critical

What is the Fab Lab? that the plan is to have ‘Fab Lab carts’ that teachers can sign out to bring DICE to their classrooms.

The DICE facilitator will work with teachers to find out what they are doing and give them some ideas about how they can use the space and the equipment, as well as how that may mesh with their lessons and projects. In

take place in the newly constructed Fab Lab - short for Fabrication Lab. The lab has 3d printers and CNC, or Computer Numerical Control machines. You can produce a design on the computer and then push it up to the machine that cuts it out. The lab’s SmartBoard will be mobile; therefore, have the ability to be moved to wherever the class sees fit and wherever the need is. Ms. Peborde Burke also shared

attributes or ethical behavior and self growth. Lastly the fourth strategy is meant to build or complete the vertical or horizontal alignment of the K-12 curriculum and involve integration for problem solving, communicating, and creative thinking.

The outcome of Strategic Planning should be an updated version of the education world today. These plans will all move forward to create a better district and also a higher operating educational system.

Photo Courtesy of Blind Brook PTA

Mrs. Gasparini’s class, Ms. Peborde Burke helped the class use floor planning software to have the students design a sustainable school.

They created a brochure and connected it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “With DICE, you are now taking it to the next level and taking STEAM and applying it to everyone who could do design”.

Photo Courtesy of Matt Shaw

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Features

What’s Going on at BMPRSS?: An Overview of the Construction Project

By Ben Messafi

A plan proposed and approved a few years before the start of construction, the Blind Brook community was excited and looking forward to the renovation of the 50-year-old Bruno M Ponterio Ridge Street School, as well as the extension of the Blind Brook High School to include a Fabrication (“Fab”) Lab and several new classrooms to boost the Blind Brook STEM and Engineering Programs.

Past Superintendent Patrick Brimstein cites that “The High School course catalog will be updated to promote new learning opportunities, and real-life challenges to encourage students to bring their ideas to fruition.” The Ridge Street School extension was set to include new classrooms, the elimination of an outdated wing of classrooms that were mostly used by kindergarten and first-grade students, along with a brand new “Cafetorium,” a large space that would be primarily used as a cafeteria, but would also contain bleachers and seating to convert the space into an auditorium to use for school assemblies, instead of using the upstairs Old Gym.

The project began in 2019, with the elementary school rearranging classroom assignments, but no major issues were reported by the district before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which suspended most construction operations for several months. When construction resumed, construction was moving along slowly in Ridge Street, but the Blind Brook High School extension was able to open halfway through the school year last year, and High School students are now attending classes in these new classrooms.

But for the Ridge Street school, the construction process and outcomes have been very different, and not what was predicted. When the plan first was released, the construction was expected to finish at the end of this school year, but that goal does not look promising. The former superintendent, Dr. Patrick Brimstein, released several letters to the district throughout this project, with most of them coming within the last 2 months, which is when the project began to cause the most problems for the district, and the Elementary School students.

While the construction had the biggest impact on students before the start of this school year, the district detected problems and con-

struction delays as early as July of 2020. Brimstein writes, “It became evident to us in July [from a letter written in December of 2020] that the project was unacceptably behind its original schedule.” Brimstein expressed optimism for the project in this December letter, writing that to resolve this delay, a construction company, School Construction Consultants, was hired to “replace the prior construction company. This company helped with the completion of dozens of school construction projects in Westchester and on Long Island, and we are confident in their ability to see our project through to the end.” This, however, was not the case. As school opened in the hybrid model for elementary school students in the Fall of 2020, they were still able to be placed comfortably in classrooms while the construction was continuing simultaneously, and the building was deemed safe for their entry.

The construction interfered with certain facilities and classrooms in the school, but it never once interfered with student attendance during the 2020-2021 school year.

But a new letter from the former superintendent, written on August 6th, 2021, created the first large issue involving student attendance from the construction project.

Brimstein writes in the letter to the community that “Construction at RSS is continuing and making substantial progress...but we have encountered asbestos-related obstacles and other difficulties...district administrators are also mapping out contingency plans if the construction delays interfere with our intended opening.” This message led to an uproar in the community from parents and other residents because the opening of Ridge Street School was put in doubt in the fall, and now parents are unsure if their kids would be able to attend school because of the construction. Soon after this letter was sent, the start date for the elementary school was pushed back from Thursday, September 9th, which was supposed to be the first day, to the next Monday, September 13th. This delay also involved 5th graders having to move into the Middle/High School temporarily to accommodate all Ridge Street students in person. The school was able to, as Brimstein Continued on page 4

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

Photo Courtesy of Seth Harrison/The Journal News

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Features

What’s Going on at BMPRSS?: An Overview of the Construction Project Continued from page 2 writes in a letter from August 12, “allow our custodians, teachers, staff, and administrators to fully prepare classrooms for learning and to get our campus completely ready for our students.” The problem for the district was that they had no alternative plans in place in case construction interfered with student attendance, and they would have to conduct in-person school at another location. And as it turns out, this is what happened after only 3 days of school at Ridge Street School.

On the night of September 15, 2021, the district announced that the State Education Department prohibited all students from attending in-person learning at the Ridge Street School because the school did not have a proper Certificate of Occupancy from the state that was required to be held after a large construction project to ensure student safety from asbestos and other harmful materials. Parents were furious, and they knew that it would take at least several weeks for this to be all sorted out, and it would take a long time to return to in-person learning. Several Board of Education meetings were held in September, with parents furious about the school situation asking questions, and some targeting the work of Board of Education members and the Superintendent.

The biggest question surrounding this construction situation was “Why was there no plan in place for in-person learning outside of the Ridge Street School building if something like this would happen?”

Parents were angry at the district for not getting the exact requirements to open up in person, and not having a backup plan. Community residents knew this would be a long process, and the board of education meetings consisted of newly hired contractors and

construction workers proposing solutions to help get the school inspected and ready to go. The only option for the school district now was to put elementary students on remote learning until some solution could emerge. At first, the district decided to put 6 classes into the elementary school: one class from each grade level that consisted of students who desperately needed school-related services, and could not conduct their learning remotely. It was announced during a later Board of Education meeting that an inspection date was set for October 1. This date could have gotten Ridge Street a Certification of Occupancy they desperately needed, or it could reveal more problems in the construction that would keep students on remote learning for at least a few more weeks, or whenever this issue got resolved. On October 5, 4 days after the inspection, the community received great news from the superintendent. On October 4th, Brimstein announced that all grades can return to BMPRSS for in-person learning after a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy was received. Shortly after, on October 8, superintendent Brimstein resigned for “personal reasons,” during the outrage from parents about the construction project.

Now, construction is progressing at Ridge Street, with hopes that it would be finished sometime prior to the start of the 20222023 school year. While students are in school now, the district will have inspections from the State Education Department to renew this temporary Certificate of Occupancy. The construction project is in a far better place than it was a month ago, but this goes to show that all members of the community must be informed about this project and future projects.

Photo Courtesy of DEI Club

DEI Partnering with ADL to Become a Certified “No place for hate” School

By Abby Goldstein

DEI is a diversion, equity, and inclusion club that was started this school year by two Blind Brook juniors, Ciella Angel-Lalanne and Anna Baker-Butler. This club focuses on promoting our school as a safe space for students to meaningfully discuss sexuality, accessibility, and race-related topics. The club meets after school on Fridays where the students converse and introduce their thoughts on how to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Blind Brook.

DEI has many goals for the upcoming school year. The club plans to host a multicultural awareness week, inviting students to bring in food representing their culture where they will hold a potluck.

Furthermore, DEI hopes to invite speakers to our school to speak to the pupils across all grades. The club looks forward to creating a broad guide for the future of DEI and improving it in years to come.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion club is going to form a partnership with the ADL, or the Anti-Defamation League, to turn Blind Brook into a certified “no place for hate” school. To do so, the DEI club has to plan three separate events that the entire high school will take part in. The occasions must have active learning, engage

the student body, be spread out throughout the 2021-2022 school year, involve discussions and reflections on the activities, and finally, address school based matters. The club should answer the question of: how does our bias inhibit inclusivity? In order to partner with the ADL, a committee between parents, students, and teachers needs to be created to review DEI matters.

The Anti Defamation League is an anti-hate organization that was created in 1913 after a rise in discrimination, antisemitism, and prejudice. ADL fights against hatred in efforts to terminate bigotry and injustice. In schools, the Anti-Defamation League teaches anti-bias, discusses bullying and cyberbullying prevention, and talks about interfaith and intergroup relations. They work to fight any type of inequity in our world and make society a better place overall.

Throughout the year, the DEI club will strive to ameliorate Blind Brook High School and make everyone feel welcomed.

This will be done through organizing events, hosting assemblies and speakers, simply discussing issues in the club, and most importantly, partnering with the Anti-Defamation League to free our school of hate in any way, shape, or form.

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Interviews

High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Chirles (Joined the district for the 2020-21 school year.)

By Lilly Kleinhandler

What brought you to the Blind Brook School District? I was looking for a principal position and I live in Connecticut, so I was looking in Westchester and I happened to see Blind Brook and it reminded me of where I went to highschool.

I went to a small high school that had about 600 students and was currently working at a school with 2,200 students, and I really wanted to be in a place that was smaller and where you have a good sense of community and you could really get to know a lot of the kids. And so that’s what brought me here.

What is Blind Brook’s greatest strength? Its greatest strength is the passion of our students to really get involved in the world around them. I see kids that are involved in sports, that are involved in clubs and activities, but they’re also out in the community doing things.

Every time I talk to a student, they all have a story to tell about what they’re doing, which I think is one of our strengths. Everybody here has their own story, in their own path of what they’re doing, which I find really interesting.

When you were considering coming to Blind Brook, were you at all concerned about the turnover in administration? I wasn’t concerned about it because I know who I am as a person that is an educator. I felt that I could be that stability that maybe the school district needed. So I didn’t see it as a concern. I saw it as an opportunity for me to provide that person or that position some stability that maybe you didn’t have before.

What are your ideas for making Blind Brook better? I have a lot of ideas and so it’s a matter of how I can kind of make those into fruition. I have ideas on how we can make the school a more welcoming, kinder place. I have ideas about how we can support students against mean-spiritedness, or, bullying, harassment, etc… I’m going to need support from students, parents and staff. So as we move forward I will be reaching out to the community to ask for volunteers to help me with some of these things.

So I think the best way we can make Blind Brook better is to make Blind Brook more welcoming and to make it less fearful of sometimes

that cliqueness and make it more of a friendship circle, like a horseshoe.

So that way everybody’s kind of welcome to it. If you make it like a circle, that kind of boxes things off, but if you make things like a horseshoe there’s always room for more people to add-on to the horse shoe.

What do you want to remain the same at Blind Brook? Things that I’d like to remain the same are the quality of education that we provide students. It may look different, like I want teachers and students to try new, innovative teaching strategies and new ways of learning, but I think the output of how; how, by the time students graduate from us, they’re ready for college, the workforce or whatever, they are prepared for it. That’s what I want to stay the same always and I never want that part to change.

If you could pinpoint one weakness in Blind Brook School District, what would it be? It’s hard, I mean, I don’t see things as weaknesses. I see things as opportunities. So I’ve never really thought about a weakness that the students at this school have, but I see things as I said before, the opportunity for the school to be more welcoming. I guess you could say that as a weakness where I feel that some students might feel that they can’t be fully themselves in school or they can’t advocate for those around them.

And so that is, I guess, a weakness, because you want students to be able to feel that they can be who they are. They can stand-up for others. If they need to, they can be an ally, they can be an upstander and an advocate, and if we don’t have an environment where students feel like they can do that in a safe way, then that is a weakness.

How would you address the previous challenge? So I have a couple of ideas that go along with working with our parent groups, like though the parent principal coffees, working with our shared decision-making committee, working with Ms. Tricarico and student assistance services, and trying to get some local organizations to bring in some outside programming into the school, but really make it something that’s embedded within the school. So one of the things that we’re doing that I helped bring into

we’re doing that I helped bring into the district is the RULER program, and it’s a social emotional learning program that gives students strategies on how to best adjust their emotions, how to recognize your emotions, and how to regulate them. But it also has things like when you’re feeling heated, how to take a break or if there’s a conflict between two people, how you resolve it. So it’s not just about learning about your emotions, but also learning how we can interact together and how we can make ourselves as a community much better. So I think as we roll that out,

we’re going to be looking for teacher volunteers to do that. We’re going to be doing some activities with students, and so the more we can kind of involve people in the process, I think the better it will be.

Anything else to add? I ​​just would like to say I like that we’re back in person this year. I like that we get to have a more typical experience this year than we did last year. Last year was so unusual and so disruptive that I really appreciate that we’re able to be here together and that I look forward to being able to do some fun things as time goes on.

High School Assistant Principal Mark Greenwald (Promoted to High School Assistant Principal for the 2018-19 school year.)

By Colin Funtleyder

What brought you to the Blind Brook School District? Back in the 90s after graduate school, I was originally certified and looking for an administrative position. I had been teaching for 10 years already before I came to Blind Brook. I looked at several Principal, Assistant Principal, and Dean positions, and I really did not find anyone that suited me. I came across Blind Brook as a fallback position, I took a social studies position in the middle school. And I’ve been here ever since. My children graduated from Blind Brook Schools and Blind Brook has been an integral place for my entire family What is Blind Brook’s greatest strength? I think Blind Brook’s greatest strength is the closeness and size of the community. I also think that this can be a challenge.

You can go through this school district K to 12 and in most cases, you’ll know every person’s name and grade. I think that’s a wonderful aspect of our community, and our town proudly recognizes that.

Students wonder why there has been so much turnover in administration over the past 10 years, why do you think that is? That’s a good question. I don’t blame the district. Change is inevitable.

There are changes from year to year. Changes in priorities, whether they originate from the Board of Education, administrators, classroom teachers, students, and families. Sometimes administrators are brought in, and they don’t always have a great understanding of the climate of Rye Brook. What people are thinking about, what they expect, what their sensibilities are.

Sometimes administrators are brought in, and they don’t always have a great understanding of the climate of Rye Brook. What people are thinking about, what they expect, what their sensibilities are.

We have something for our new teachers called the New Teacher University, where we help teachers with everything from how to compose an email, to how to communicate, to how to enter grades and how to work with the school.

Continued on page 6 5

Interviews

High School Assistant Principal Mark Greenwald What brought you to the Blind Brook School District?

Back in the 90s after graduate school, I was originally certified and looking for an administrative position. I had been teaching for 10 years already before I came to Blind Brook. I looked at several Principal, Assistant Principal, and Dean positions, and I really did not find anyone that suited me. I came across Blind Brook as a fallback position, I took a social studies position in the middle school. And I’ve been here ever since. My children graduated from Blind Brook Schools and Blind Brook has been an integral place for my entire family.

What is Blind Brook’s greatest strength? I think Blind Brook’s greatest strength is the closeness and size of the community. I also think that this can be a challenge.

You can go through this school district k to 12 and in most cases, you’ll know every person’s name and grade. I think that’s a wonderful aspect of our community, and our town proudly recognizes that.

Students wonder why there has been so much turnover in administration over the past 10 years, why do you think that is? That’s a good question. I don’t blame the district.

Change is inevitable. There are changes from year to year. Changes in priorities, whether they originate from the Board of Education, administrators, classroom teachers, students, and families. Sometimes

Continued from page 6

administrators are brought in, and they don’t always have a great understanding of the climate of Rye Brook. What people are thinking about, what they expect, what their sensibilities are. We have something for our new teachers called the New Teacher University, where we help teachers with everything from how to compose an email, to how to communicate, to how to enter grades and how to work with the school. But we don’t have one of those for administrators and I think we would be better off and better served with our administrators if we had a better training program when they come in. better served with our administrators if we had a better train ing program when they come in.

What are your ideas for making Blind Brook better? The Blind Brook of the late 90s and early 2000s is demographically different than today. We have always been comprised of middle and upper middle class families. Our family populations have become more diverse in recent years. In particular, we have seen noticeable growth of Asian, Indian, and Hispanic populations. I think one of the challenges, whether it’s curriculum-based or driven by social needs, is fostering a culture of inclusivity. I think we have to be very sensitive and aware that the homogeneityof Blind Brook has been evolving. If we don’t keep up meeting the demands of this changing di verse population, we’re going to

Middle School Principal Seth Horowitz

fall short. So I think that’s probably the number one goal that I would say to make Blind Brook a better place to be more inclusive.

What do you want to remain the same at Blind Brook? When I first started teaching here a long time ago before they built the whole new middle school wing, many high school classrooms didn’t even have doors or walls. They were literally connected by a little pass-through hallway. To get to the bathroom you would have to go through all the connecting rooms, a student would have to go through my room. I would always make the student answer a history question to allow them to pass through. That’s what I’m talking about when I refer to the closeness of the school. Some of the informality of those days is gone. It is important to note that we are still a small district. The elementary 5th grade teachers should take advantage of our closeness and collaborate with middle school teachers to arrive at shared learning goals.

The same holds true for 8th grade teachers engaging in healthy pedagogical discussions with high school teachers. If we can maintain a robust K-12 dialogue, we will continue to thrive as an educational institution. The closeness and camaraderie of a small school is something I value. I want to see those connections continue.

If you could pinpoint one weakness in Blind Brook School District, what would it be? One of the concerns that I have as we get into winter is the

efficient use of space. Right now we have the luxury of people eating outside for lunch. During lunch for example, we can count on some seniors to go out for lunch and we can spread out between the commons, the cafeteria or other areas. One weakness is the limited amount of large spaces we can utilize to spread out. Some schools have huge auditoriums where they can even section off areas or make use of multiple gyms. Another way to look at the spacing concern is evident during end of year testing.

I’m already working on planning the AP exams in May. For example, AP Spanish and AP Italian, everyone’s going to need a computer if I have thirty-five kids in AP Spanish. I can’t put them into one room, so I need to use more rooms, which requires more proctors, and more coverage. We want to provide our students with every advantage available to them. We should continue to explore ways to use our resources as efficiently as possible.

How would you address the previous challenge? I think that the district and the board of Education has already taken a huge step to address some of the district’s space issues. The Ridge Street construction project is a significant step to address this issue. The district has also had initial talks with architects to flesh out a “wish list”, from building level administrators, of updates and renovations for the middle/high school campus. While this is a long-term plan, the district has shown good judgement to examine this issue longitudinally.

(Promoted to Middle School Principal for the 2021-22 school year.)

By Abby Zahl

What brought you to the Blind Brook School District? About 22 years ago I was a young science teacher, [teaching] 6th grade at that time. I lived in Rockland County, my fiance lived on Long Island and we were looking to move to Westchester as it was half-way between our parents. There was an opening here, and I came in for a meeting...[I] had a great first impression and one thing led to another, and I’ve been here since.

Students wonder why there has been so much turnover in administration over the past 10 years, why do you think that is? Well

some due to retirement. Some due to where people were living and no longer wanting to commute. And then there have been a number of others who’ve left for various reasons. It’s something that I know that as a teacher at the time, we were always sort of very concerned about it because with turnover you lose consistency, and you need consistency to achieve long term

goals. And it is really challenging when people are coming and going. So yeah, the last 15-20 years there has been a lot of turnover, I think we are in a good place right now, knock on wood. We have a good team at the moment and there are some positions currently as you [the Blind Brook community] Continued on page 7 6

Interviews

Middle School Principal Seth Horowitz know that are not filled so we will be bringing on some more people, but I can’t speak to why individuals might have chosen to leave.

What are your ideas for making Blind Brook better? So my ideas of course are focused on middle school. So we have a lot of goals for this year and some of them are long term. I’m looking to create, really, a culture in this school where everybody feels valued and respected. That everyone together makes our school community. We are looking at having our own mas-

Continued from page 22

cot, we’re looking at perhaps creating our own identity. This is the first year the PTA is selling middle school clothing; we’ve never had middle school clothing before, it’s always just been Blind Brook. So we are working a lot on sort of our middle school community. What do we want that to look like? What experience do we want to give to students? To parents? We’re looking to provide opportunities for kids to come in in the evenings to have a safe space to engage in social activities. We had a matt ball tournament last week. We’re trying

Middle School Assistant Principal Karen Chalif

So really just enhancing the middle school and making it a true middle school. Following all of the philosophies and all of the best practices as to what students in this age group really need to thrive. sort of our middle school community. What do we want that to look like? What experience do we want to give to students? To parents?

We’re looking to provide opportunities for kids to come in in the evenings to have a safe space to engage in social activities. We had a matt ball tournament last week.

We’re trying to plan something for each month. So really just enhancing the middle school and making it a true middle school. Following all of the philosophies and all of the best practices as to what students in

this age group really need to thrive.

own connections in the high school and middle school is important.

our students so that when you go to away to college in a year or a year and a half from now are more prepared for the world outside of Rye Brook. Again, I’ve been here for a month so it’s not something that I’m sure Blind Brook does this right but I think that is something that we can continue to reflect on and build on overtime.

(Joined the district for the 2021-22 school year.)

By Melina Kohilakis

What brought you to the Blind Brook School District? Before Blind Brook I was in a school in Brooklyn, I was in a 6th through 12th grade school. And I grew up in a suburb like Rye Brook, but on Long Island. So I really wanted to move out of the city and I wanted to be in the middle school and so I was just really looking all over and I really honestly didn’t know anything about Blind Brook before I came here I was just applying to open position’s and I saw Blind Brook had an open position so then I applied for it but then through my research and my interviews I was really drawn to the sense of community here. It’s a small district and it’s close knit and everyone kind of just looks out for each other. I reached out to a “teacher” connection I had and I was talking to her about this process and she’s like where are you going and I go Blind Brook. And she ended up growing up there! That just made it feel like the right fit when that happened so I would be like that would be the moment where I was just like wow this seems like the right fit.

When you were considering coming to Blind Brook, were you at all concerned about the turnover in administration? When I was looking at a bunch of different schools and I was applying and it seemed like a lot of schools had the situation where they had turnover. Yes I mean the short answer is yes it was something I thought about, but what made me feel okay about that was the sense that there wasn’t that turnover in the faculty. So I looked

at the faculty and I saw teachers who were here for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. They’re staying for some reason. And that showed me more than that this is the place where people enjoy being because if there was that same turnover in the teachers and then that would have been more shocking, this is the place that people want to get away from. But that’s not what I saw. My boss Mr. Horowitz was a teacher here for so many years and then he was the assistant principal and now he’s the principal and so yes he’s new to that position, but this is because he grew up in this school. So did Mr. Greenwald in high school, so although they are newer in those roles, they were part of Blind Brook all along, so this helped quell my concerns.

What are your ideas for making Blind Brook better? Well I’ve only been here for four months and I have liked it so far. My focus is on getting to know the community I think one of the things that I focus on in my role is making sure that every student feels welcome in this building. And that is not to say that Blind Brook hasn’t been doing this already, it is just something that I am focused on.

And part of the way I want to do that is creating more district-wide things. But I think that we can do a lot of cross school things. Such as high schoolers to talk to middle schoolers about a topic. Because Blind Brook being one of the smaller districts, how we can build those cross school, cross grade connections as well as creating our

What do you want to remain the same at Blind Brook? I think the sense of loyalty is what I wouldn’t want to change at all. When I mentioned before about the teachers giving their careers to Blind Brook and families that have child after child come to school here, shows that this is a place that people want to be and that is something I do not want to change. I would like this loyalty and devotion to the community to remain.

If you could pinpoint one weakness in Blind Brook School District, what would it be? One of the things I think about a lot because I came from the school that I was working in before and even myhigh school, was a bigger school. I grew up in a school that had 250 students in a grade, So not super big, but bigger than Blind Brook. Part of what I think about is the balance of closeknit community, love the close-knit communities, but also give another perspective. Out of Rye Brook, out of New York perspective on life. That is something that I would encourage Blind Brook and my position in that conversation to help grow not just the conversations within the school but how come we build different perspectives in for

If you could pinpoint one weakness in Blind Brook School District, what would it be? So the weaknesses that I tend to think about are things that often are associated with being a small school. Because when you are a smaller school, there are limited opportunities to engage students in certain things.

For example, in the High School we offer just a few AP classes, whereas larger districts can offer many other different kinds. At the middle school, what happens is students have pretty much been together since kindergarten and as you mature and change sometimes you realize that your early friendships are maybe not working out anymore and I think it is challenging for students when it’s such a small community. How do I branch out? How do I make new friends?

How do I find people that are more interested in the things that I’m interested in? So I would say that that’s definitely a weakness.

How would you address the previous challenge? The biggest thing that I would say would be just to make connections and have conversation so a lot of what I do is look at what other schools do. A lot of what I do is reach out to other schools the same size and ask if they have programs where they are connected to other schools.

Can we partner with a sister school or brother school and do something whether it’s letter-writing or chat or a discussion. But coming up with those ideas that’s where I would start, I wouldn’t jump right into saying like we need to do this now it’s more seems what other schools are doing by collecting data, what would work for us, serving the students, is this something they would be involved with, surveying the parents to see if they would be interested. Then, making a plan to implement some of those ideas would be the next step.

7

Viewpoints

From Our Editor: Why Local News is so Important:

One of the reasons I wanted to become the Editor-in-Chief of FOCUS was to increase awareness about local news. A goal of mine as Editor-in-Chief is to demonstrate to the students, parents, faculty and staff of the Blind Brook School District, and to the other residents of Rye Brook, the importance of local news. Last year, as Politics Editor I decided to add to my editorial role and also write a political column for FOCUS. I interviewed local politicians that represent our village. From United States Congressman Mondaire Jones to County Executive George Latimer, I wanted our community to learn who their elected officials were and what they stood for. After these interviews were published I received feedback from people which surprised me. People did not know that these politicians existed, let alone knew anything about what they had done for the community in which they lived. This is a primary reason that I wanted to become Editor-in-Chief of FOCUS, to strengthen our community’s awareness of local issues, and I will continue to conduct interviews with Rye Brook resentatives.

I want FOCUS to become the resource for our community to learn about local issues, whether that be in Blind Brook High School, the Blind Brook School

District, or in Rye Brook. Our neighbors at the BMP Ridge Street elementary school have seen issue after issue over the past two years with the ongoing construction project. Up until just a few months ago there was no coverage of the issue by journalists. Local news organizations like FOCUS allow us to stay informed about local government and our schools. I hope to bring a new perspective to this newspaper, by keeping our community informed both about the issues going on as well as learning who makes the decisions that impact our daily lives. I hope you continue to read this great publication from a dedicated staff of 40 high school students, and share it with your friends and neighbors.

Should we ban junk food in the cafeteria? This is a topic that is frequently discussed within the school community.

Among the students, the popular opinion is no, but the majority of adults answer yes. I believe that junk food should not be banned in the cafeteria because there are many benefits to allowing children to consume this food.

Since we eat lunch so early in the morning, kids typically aren’t hungry enough to have a full meal, and sometimes a small snack is ideal. Although a healthy snack is rationally the best option, in reality, kids aren’t goingsire to buy an apple or a cup of fruit. Ultimately, with or without the school providing snacks most kids are going to bring their own.

By Katelyn Faustino

Josh Rosenblut Editor-in-Chief Photo Courtesy of Brad Penner/USA Today Sports

Should We Ban Junk Food From Cafeterias?

By Abby Meron

Should Vaccines be Required for All Professional Sports Players?

By providing these snacks at the school we can control to some extent what students consume. By having snacks that are slightly healthier but still considered junk food, students will be tempted to buy those instead. As said in an article by SchoolConnects, “Junk foods are craved more by kids of various schools when they are not permitted.” Banning junk food will have the opposite effect intended, only creating more problems.

These students will only want to junk food more. This proves that banning junk food from the cafeteria is not a solution to making kids eat healthier, and will more likely than not make them want to eat junk food even more abundantly.

Evidently, getting rid of junk food completely isn’t the

Pro-athletes: well under 1% of the population can claim they are one. In fact, only about 1 in 250 college athletes go on to play professionally. It’s pretty rare and extremely impressive to do what they do. That is why the health and safety of these players should be of utmost importance.

One of the most controversial medical debates in recent history has been over the coronavirus vaccine. At the moment, there is no federal mandate on needing to receive the vaccine although it is strongly recommended. Employers, universities and local governments can all issue some type of vaccination requirement…but what about national sports leagues?

In the National Football League, a mandate does not exist but there are certain protocols.

Those who didn’t get vaccinated are tested daily for COVID-19 while vaccinated players are only tested weekly. Vaccinated players who test positive for corona may also be able to rejoin their team sooner than unvaccinated tested players who test positive.

The National Basketball Association has not required vaccines either but will continue its strict regulations this season for unvaccinated players. Professionals like Bradley Beal and Kyrie Irving who entered training camp unvaccinated face salary and playing time threats. Those who are unvaccinated won’t be allowed to play in games per the vaccine mandates of of the host city, and they also risk not getting paid for every game they sit out.

right way to go. Lindsay Kenetman from Today’s Parent has said that “Rather than teaching kids that certain foods are bad or making decisions about what kids should eat... schools should take a more proactive approach.”

Schools should not take away the option but teach their students how to make the choice.

Banning junk food can cause ing disorders and food fears. Again, causing more harm than good.

I believe that schools should give students options but ensure that kids know the benefits of choosing the healthiest foods. Instead of trying to control students’ di-

ets, which is impossible to control considering their parents and individual wants, schools should inform students on the nutritional benefits of healthier foods and help them understand how to maintain a good balance between junk and healthier foods.

Letting kids make decisions about their school lunch will help them be able to tackle other choices that they will face later in life.

With everything said, clearly, the best choice would be to keep junk food in the cafeteria. Between the potential for

Continued on page 10

Continued on page 9 8

Viewpoints

Should TikTok Be Banned?

By Jenna Kamin & Emma Kron

Photo Courtesy of Nur Photo/Getty Images

Jenna:

Social media is a very big part of our daily lives, and has become an essential form of communication and pleasure. Picturing a day without social media seems virtually impossible for many since interacting with people online has become a way of life. Nowadays, there are over ten main social media platforms that many people use every day such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, and most recently, TikTok.

TikTok is a short-form, video-sharing app that allows users to create and share 15-second videos and now even up to 3-minute videos, on any topic. The app has amassed over 500 million monthly active users, the US being the most popular country where it has been downloaded over 80 million times. It was created to help people, bring entertainment, and bring people together. However, as time goes on, the inverse relationship between the number of hours spent on TikTok and the declining mental health of many has become exceedingly evident. The initial positives of TikTok are beginning to fade away while the negatives are simultaneously taking over.

Looking at the world around us makes me wonder, did TikTok tru-

ly intend to advance our society, or has making money always been their priority?

The issues with TikTok begin in their data. In 2019, TikTok was fined a record $5,700,000 by the US Federal Trade Commission for flouting US law by collecting data on children under 13 without their parents’ permission.

It is proven to be an unsafe platform for children to be using.

On top of that, this app is highly addicting due to its algorithm.

TikTok’s For You page is a curated feed of videos that they think the specific user will like based on past likes and searches.

This ultimately makes users never want to click away from it. Even the algorithm that determines this, like curation algorithms on other platforms, is a closely guarded secret. This is even scarier knowing that the Department of Justice released a memo to important military personnel stating, “Be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts ... and delete them immediately and uninstall TikTok to circumvent any exposure of personal information.” TikTok will ultimately do anything to keep you on their app, which proves it’s an unsafe app that should be banned.

Should We Ban Junk Food From Cafeterias?

Continued from page 8

food fears and/or dangerous eating disorders in teenagers and the loss of control the school will face when it comes to what kids consume, the answer to if junk food should be banned is a resounding no. There are many other solutions to this problem thatdon’t have to involve the complete ban of junk food. In the end, keeping junk food in cafeterias will improve the well-being of students and teach them how to make healthy decisions.

Emma:

No, TikTok should not be banned. This platform is a way for people ranging from adolescents to adults to express themselves, showcase their talents, and learn information about things they are passionate about. The constant flow of ideas between people teaches individuals more about themselves and introduces them to new ideas. People can now discover more about their interests and passions while surfing the internet by surrounding themselves with so many new ideas. There are plenty of different TikTok users: makeup artists, photographers, painters, singers, dancers, craft-creators, and so many more. These people could be running a small business, or feel unrecognized for their passions. As a result of TikTok, and it’s opportunity to give these deserving people spotlight, a large number of people are able to pursue their careers further on a more developed platform. There are also very informative people on the app about discussing current events, historical events, lifehacks, or school-related material.

I personally have followed teachers on TikTok for my AP courses, in preparation for the AP Exam.

I think that this aspect of TikTok could be helpful for students everywhere, and can be looked at as a free tutoring service in a way.

Furthermore, TikTok is a social media platform, meaning people all over the world can connect no matter how far away they are. Like all platforms, this is an opportunity for friends to stay in touch, or for people to make new relationships. Without the prevalent use of technology to remain in contact, people would lose touch and miss special milestones, among other things. The thing about TikTok that is set apart from the rest of social media platforms, however, is the algorithm of the app. People who may have only 50 followers and a total of 17 likes, have an equal chance of being fea

Photo Courtesy of Emily Tian

tured on the “For You Page” and having their talent be displayed to the entire world. This is far different than Instagram be cause on this app celebrities are receiving a consistent amount of attention and praise, much more than an average user gets. This concept fluctuates with TikTok, helping people who are trying to get noticed.

On TikTok, people don’t only have the opportunity to chat with one another but create things they are passionate about with one another. You can duet singing videos, dance combinations, acting skits, and other incredible creations. Companies can benefit from the immense amount of TikTok users across the globe. Companies use commercials, ads, and other platforms --like creators online-- to promote their products.

This benefits their income and their popularity in numerous ways. Seeing creators’ opinions on the products, and being a “credible” and “trustworthy” source, influences a lot of people to invest in said products. TikTok can also help change the world. With many accounts active on the app, this is a great way to promote good causes to society.

While scrolling through social media platforms, there are so many charitable organizations that people donate to on a daily basis. When on TikTok, there are people who speak about causes that may be personal to them or something they are passionate about. With this knowledge and newfound understanding of problems in our world, our society is more likely to give back.

It’s clear there are many benefits of TikTok that are needed in our society. Although there are aspects that are similar to Instagram or Facebook, TikTok is unique in many ways, allowing people to rise up from the average crowd and get the attention they deserve.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Short

9

Viewpoints

Should College Tuition be Free?

By Emily Tian

The average cost of tuition and fees at an all-state public college is over $10,000 per year. This has increased more than 200% since 1988 when the average was only $3,190. At a private college, the cost is now over $36,000 per year and some even have prices exceeding $50,000. Additionally, over 44 million Americans collectively hold more than 1.5 trillion dollars in student debt. A few decades ago, this amount of money to pay just to receive an education would sound absurd, but now it is astonishingly seen as normal.

“We have got to make sure that every qualified American in this country who wants to go to college can go to college regardless of income.” (Bernie Sanders) This statement demonstrates that free college would expand access to more education. The high cost of a degree would no longer be an obstacle, as all people would have an equal chance to pursue their future goals and intents. More so, this can create a larger educated workforce and a population that has better critical thinking skills. They would be able to get better college degrees and jobs, causing a positive ripple effect. Furthermore, the problem of student debt would not stand in the way of daily life and innovation. There would be more opportunities available to try new ideas, pursue interesting concepts, or explore new ways to use their talents.

Students would also be able to buy more houses, cars, spend more on healthy food, and travel more. In essence, they would even be contributing more to the economy.

Although promising support of higher education, some argue that free college would be too expensive to implement. If America were to move to a tuition-free college policy, where would the money come from?

It seems certain that the upper

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

class or even middle class will see increased taxes. In the end, someone will have to pay these dues through taxes, and the uncertainty of who makes many Americans uncomfortable. Additionally, if college was free, students might not take their education as seriously. They won’t value these ideals as much since it’s being handed to them on a silver platter. Students tend to work harder if the tuition is coming from their own pockets. Even worse, critics argue that a flood of mediocre graduates will be competing for limited jobs.

This can cause more students to attend graduate school in order to stand out. However, this also costs money leading to yet another potential problem of student debt.

Despite the political considerations, there are still many advantages and disadvantages to a college with free tuition. All students would be given an equal chance to live to their fullest potential, expanding their education to higher levels. More so, student debt would be out of the picture leading to a happier and healthier student population. However, as illustrated above, this could also lead to an increase in taxes to the upper and middle classes. If not directed to its citizens, the federal government would have to pull out money to help these schools, leading to yet another expensive situation to uphold. Additionally, the increased number of graduates would be held to compete against one another for limited job positions, which may actually cause a more depressed and workaholic population. However, at the end of the day, all students should take pride in who they are, regardless of their financial status or education level. One’s personality should not be derived from where they come from, but from how they bring themselves up to be.

Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Should Vaccines be Required for All Professional Sports Players?

Continued from page 8

Irving is ineligible to play any home games at the Barclays Center, which requires proof of vaccination for entry under New York City regulations, and it will cost him millions of dollars.

Without directly requiring players to be vaccinated, this league devised a plan to encourage or incentivize players to get it.

Public health vaccination guidelines are not as easily transferable to elite athletes as they are to the average person. On one hand, the potential side effects of any injection or procedure should be more heavily taken into consideration. However, the risk of infection is higher in athletes due to worldwide traveling. If an athlete has to travel to another country, they should consider how protected they are against endemic diseases. In addition, the close contact an athlete has with teammates, coaches, and even opponents is a further concern when it comes to spreading a virus.

I do not believe vaccines need to be required for all professional sports players. Although, it is fair and almost necessary to have different protocols for athletes who choose to remain unvaccinated. If a coach isn’t comfortable with playing that athlete, or state guidelines prohibit it, the athlete could be benched. It is also important to educate athletes on the most appropriate thing to do. When celebrities such as legendary athletes do something, it influences many. These professionals can become role

models for the general public, whether it’s wearing a certain shoe or promoting a certain brand, fans look up to them.

Athletes should definitely consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t already.

Corona is a respiratory disease that can affect your lungs and ability to breathe, one of the most crucial functions for a physically active career. It seems many pros are ahead of the game though - reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLS have vaccination rates greater than 90%, while the NHL and WNBA are at over 99%.

This is high above the national average and reassuring to see.

Getting the vaccine should not be a largely controversial issue. It is encouraged among the top scientists and researchers and could aid in our return to complete normalcy. I do believe that the COVID-19 vaccine should not be required for all professional sports athletes, to account for personal freedoms and the rare allergies or religious exemptions.

I am, though, a firm advocate for creating penalties and having protocols for unvaccinated players.

The National Leagues in the United States have successfully gotten players to receive the vaccine without mandates. I think everyone can agree that the health and safety of professional athletes are important as they train for our entertainment, but it is unethical to completely force them to get vaccinated.

10

News

Blind Brook Shocked After Recent Shooting Threat

By Sydney Anmuth

Last month, Blind Brook stood in unison as the community faced a shooting threat. Following the chatter amongst students, an announcement broke over the intercom “we are now going into a complete lockdown.” As the speaker fizzed off into the background, the effects of the loudspeaker of the shooting threat radiated in our school district for the next twenty-four hours. The news broke out on campus and echoed quickly throughout our entire community.

“Hey mom, by any chance can you pick me up from practice, it’s an emergency.” “Can anyone take me home by any chance if I live near… ?” “Does anyone know where my son is?” “I need a ride home.” exclaimed parents and students. Confusion and chaos occurred in front of their eyes as sirens pulled into school at 3:45 pm on this Wednesday afternoon. In a time where the community seemed like it could have been divided, it became closer than ever. Parents arrived at the school and fit as many kids into their car as possible, teachers calmed down students, and coaches put on a smile to show students that everything was going to be okay. Afternoon activities quickly came to a halt as a false threat was on the horizon of our district.

By Emily Tian

Photo Courtesy of Google Maps

Thursday morning the doors to Blind Brook Middle and High School were open as usual.

Students were greeted by the Rye Brook Police Department to provide reassurance to everyone entering the main building. Panic was alleviated as teachers checked in on students throughout the day and minimal people were allowed outside of the building. School shootings have become an anxiety inducing subject for students across America which is why Blind Brook practices lockdown drills regularly as a precautionary measure.

Westchester County has committed to creating safer schools along with a team of educators in order to prevent violence from spreading throughout our community. Our school participates in the Sandy Hook Promise Organization which advocates against gun violence in an effort to protect American children. Therefore, the county can decrease shootings by making itself aware of warning signs that indicate a potential school shooter and report that person if need be. In fact, every 4 out of 5 school shootings that occur have been discussed with another person who knew about the plan of attack, but failed to report their idea to authorities.

The school has emphasized the importance of mental health by highlighting available resources to help students as a result of the recent incident. Blind Brook guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators have reached out to students in an effort to dilute the fear running through the building. Junior Jordyn Shohet, a BBHS SAVE Promise Club leader said that she feels “even more confident coming into school every morning knowing that the Blind Brook faculty is supporting us.”

Anyone can make an imp-

Photo Courtesy of Greg Austin

act at Blind Brook High School which is why a wake up call like this one has united the district together. Students can take part in the Sandy Hook Promise by participating in the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Club which has a chapter at the school. Its goal is to keep friends, schools, and communities safe, and empower students to seek help in order to prevent them from hurting themselves or others.

The Blind Brook community was shocked by the recent threat, but it did not let fear get the best of it.

Progress Continues to Reduce Bridge Strikes on King Street

A truck recently hit the King Street Bridge, spilling thousands of cans across the parkway.

County police spent several hours investigating the crash, and several workers were even seen cleaning up the cans of energy drinks from the roadway. Furthermore, heavy traffic encircled the northbound side of the Hutchinson River Parkway and all lanes were closed in the morning and early afternoon due to the crash. This was no surprise as the bridge has suffered over 130 strikes from 2008 to 2018.

The King Street Bridge on the border of Greenwich and Rye Brook has been experiencing a rather strange occurrence. It has been hit by trucks more times than any other bridge in New York state, suffering over 20 strikes just in 2018.

Although the number of hits this year are becoming fewer and fewer, it is still a major issue that many officials and local resi

dents are concerned about. These bridge strikes have been causing serious traffic issues on King Street. Sometimes traffic is even diverted off of the parkway and onto local streets which causes a major inconvenience to motorists and other local residents.

This issue has also been affecting many students and teachers who drive near or on the Hutchinson River Parkway to get to school.

The bridge trouble is impacting students’ education. One Blind Brook student states, “Sometimes I’m late to school since I have to go under the bridge, and there’s lots of traffic.”. Many others are having similar experiences and have been struggling to get to school on time due to the traffic.

“As you can imagine it is very frustrating every time a truck hits the King Street Bridge,” says Mayor Paul S. Rosenberg.

Continued on page 13 11

News

By Jordan Escrow

COVID-19 Crisis Affects Blind Brook

In March of 2020 Blind Brook Students were told to take home 2 weeks worth of books and supplies.

Over a year and a half later, the world is still continuing to search for normalcy since the pandemic started. People were forced to slow down which some might say they enjoyed. This was a time for people to come together and unite, despite differences in views. But the world has become more divided than ever due to COVID-19: fighting variants, searching for treatments, hoping that everyone, including young children, will have the ability to be

vaccinated if they choose to do so.

Blind Brook has made a lot of progress since students returned to school after months of quarantine. In the 2020-2021 school year, they went to school for two days a week, and remote for two days each week. Although it was upsetting to some that classes were split into two cohorts, having small class sizes in person gave them a chance to be more engaged in learning.

The pandemic took a toll on many kids’ mental and physical health. Many chose to go to school online full time beecause

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Mustard/New York Times

By Kunjal Kothari

Families, teachers, bosses, hoarders, everyone: all Americans consume everyday. Deliveries aren’t made in time, COVID tests are unavailable in certain stores, and tension continues to build.

Unfortunately, the surge of orders during this new phase of the pandemic is difficult to maintain.

Individuals have experienced numerous instances where they’ve entered chain stores for a simple consumer good, yet instantly redirected to another location for a specific product. Same day delivery isn’t always possible anymore.

Essentially, there’s an “everything shortage” and an increased demand for limited supplies means that prices will dramatically increase. Such shortages may even continue to have an impact on the upcoming holiday season in November and December.

Many people have been pre-ordering their items as soon as possible, afraid of an extensive delay.

As pandemic checks rolled in, many Americans had the tendency to use the money to buy crucial home goods and essentials, such as furniture and kitchenware. People began new home

cause they felt unsafe at school, but as a result, they were struggling with virtual learning. Finally in April, the school allowed all Blind Brook students to return to school together. They ended off the year more normally, hoping the following year would resemble life before the pandemic.

This school year has been similar to pre-covid school years. If people are exposed to others with COVID but are fully vaccinated, they don’t have to be quarantined, which is a relief for many. Students can once again participate in extracurricular activities; the athletics program is back up and running, and so are many clubs, which give students the opportunity to socialize and explore areas of interest. Although these activities have resumed, the school has taken safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus. Students and staff are required to wear masks at all times when inside.

How do we know if being double vaccinated is enough? With the delta variant, even being double vacc-

Supply Chain Shortages Causing Problems

renovation projects, bought improved office wear to become comfortable in their homes, and even spent money on gym equipment. However, these products are often imported through East Asian countries which are heavily impacted by the Delta variant.

The variant is extremely dangerous and has caused shutdowns at semiconductor factors. The semiconductor shortage led to a shortage of chips which impacted large tech companies and made it increasingly difficult to produce high-quality vehicles without raising prices. Just recently, Apple lost the equivalent of 6 billion dollars due to these chip shortages.

Other effects of the supply chain crisis can be noticed through the cargo container traffic jam near California ports. Items continue to pile up in these containers. Shipping parcels are much more expensive, as well. According to the New York Times, in 2000 it cost $2,000 to send a container ship from Shanghai to LA, however, this estimate soared to $25,000 by 2021. The shutdown of the Suez Canal after a ship got stuck doesn’t help the process either.

inated isn’t a fool proof way to prevent the spread of COVID. It is clear to most that many will need a booster shot in order to fight this very contagious virus. As of now, people who are 65 and older, have underlying medical conditions, live in long term care facilities, or work in high risk facilities are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna booster. In order to become eligible for the Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen booster, it is required that you are 18 years or older and have had the first dose at least two months prior.

Although this is true, the question still remains of when young children will become eligible to receive their first dose. On October 26, a panel of scientists met and agreed that for the 5-11 age group, the benefits outweigh the risk. The next step is for the FDA to consider extending emergency use authorization which will allow children in this age group to receive their first dose. When this is approved for children, it potentially will bring us one step closer toward living our pre-covid lives.

Photo Courtesy of Kyle Grillot/Getty Images

A lot of these container ships also are getting stuck in the wrong place. China supplied regions in West Africa and South Asia large amounts of pandemic gear like masks and hospital gowns since it was crucial they received them. However, some of these places don’t send a lot of products back to China, so the container ships kept on piling up.

A shortage of truck drivers also contributes to this traffic at different ports. The IMF itself downgraded the U.S.’s 2021 growth forecast by one percentage point, which is a significant

signal to show the supply and demand stress on the economy.

Factors cannot simply produce more since components of goods must be transported from other countries. In addition, the worsening relationship between the U.S. and China make it difficult to “ensure smooth operation,” according to Moody Analytics. This rivalry over security concerns is a threat to supply chain stability and structure. Many analysts believe that these shortages will pass, however it may not be anytime soon and it may dramatically change the way people view the economy.

12

Global Warming’s Correlation with Hurricane Ida

By Anna Vnenchak

Earth’s weather patterns are constantly changing due to the detrimental effects of global warming. Unfortunately, global warming is impacting Rye Brook, along with nearby towns and cities across the coast. This is especially evident after Hurricane Ida which caused damaging flooding for many Rye Brook residents.

Hurricanes pose a much larger threat in the 21st century than in others before. An excessive amount of greenhouse gas emissions have intoxicated our planet to an unimaginable extent, and many fear the drastic change in weather patterns. These changes will cause more violent and stronger storms in the near future.

Despite Earth’s rapid alterications, Rye Brook’s Mayor Paul Rosenburg is taking strides to solve these flooding problems. He is currently working with New York State and Suny Representatives to restore and improve the detention basin at the beginning of the Blind Brook. This detention basin was able to hold back one million gallons of water during flooding, but was recently damaged by Hurricane Ida. Not only did the storm damage the detention basin, but also caused pipes around it to explode.

The flawless timing of Hurricane Ida caught the ocean at high tide, which caused an immense amount of backup in the drainage system, making it the “perfect storm.” After Hurricane Ida,

News

Mayor Rosenburg and the Public Works Department began working to fix this problem straight away.

Mayor Rosenberg went about improving the detention basin with New York State, while the Public Works Department cleaned and blocked off roads to ensure the safety of all Rye Brook residents.

The Mayor discusses possible future storms: “We will absolutely be seeing more of these storms,” he said, “Global warming has probably changed our weather patterns for good.” Mayor Rosenburg went on to explain that the actions he is taking with the Public Works Department at this very moment are preparing Rye Brook for future storms.

One of the people directly affected by the storm is Rye Brook resident Catherine Vnenchak. Her home is located right next to the Blind Brook, which rose many feet and broke the house’s garage door.

Mrs. Vnenchak explains Hurricane Ida’s impacts on her house: “With five feet of water in our basement and garage, we suffered a great deal of damage to our utilities, electric, etc. Fortunately, we have flood insurance and most, if not all, of the loss will be recouped.”

Mrs. Vnenchak’s home was not the only one affected by the flooding. Freshman Natalie Carey experienced something very similar. Carey talks about her and her family’s reaction to the flooding: “I was panicking and

Progress Continues to Reduce Bridge Strikes on King Street Continued from page 11

He states that he has been working very closely with the state of New York to try to solve this problem. They have put up numerous electronic signs between Interstate 287 and the King Street exit. These signs inform drivers that low bridges are ahead and that trucks are urged to exit immediately. Moreover, the signs were an expensive project for the state and county totaling up to about $1.8 million. Although this project was quite costly, it paid off as there was a noticeable drop in bridge strikes this year.

“The state will continue to take aggressive action to reduce the frequency of these crashes and improve the safety and reliability of our roadways.”

Governor Cuomo said in a statement. These are also plans to take action on this pressing issue by installing over height vehicle detectors before the bridge. This detector system will include receiver sensors on either side of the highway, accompanied by infrared transmitters that will create an infrared beam on the road.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York is also urging GPS apps such as Google and other navigation systems to add information about vehicle restrictions, especially those that are free to the public.

Many other officials around the state are also trying to help reduce these crashes, and there’s no doubt that upcoming change will be brought to King Street.

Photo Courtesy of Frank Becerra/The Journal News

Photo Courtesy of John Macdougall/Getty Images

my family was very stressed out.”

Carey then states that her family did not seek outside help with reparations for the storm, but instead fixed it themselves. This is an example of the manual labor some had to go through because of the storm, and what may continue to happen in the future.

Global warming’s effect on people’s everyday lives is becoming more apparent as years go on. However, what is truly pressing are the potential repercussions of global warming in the future. More intense storms, frequent changes in weather patterns, and rising sea levels will

continue to progress if nothing is done about this phenomenon.

Although stopping or even slowing down the impacts of global warming seems like a hefty task, anyone can help. Using mass transit rather than individual cars, recycling to protect Earth’s biodiversity, or looking to support a utility company that uses renewable energy sources to reduce fuel emissions can reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses being released. These small actions can help people to reverse the impacts of global warming, like hurricanes of high intensity or rising sea levels, one step at a time.

13

Health and Science

The Dangers of Covid Variants and How Mutations Fuel Them

By Emily Tian

Around the world, Covid-19 has been affecting millions of people with its deadly symptoms. Although cases throughout the US have been declining, the rise of several other dangerous variants emerged. Most variants have similar Covid-19 symptoms and some, such as the Alpha and Delta variants, may cause even more severe conditions.

To monitor these variants, scientists are keeping records based on how easily they spread, how they are treated, and the severity of their symptoms. Most variants tend to spread more quickly than others. This may lead to more cases of Covid, more strain on healthcare resources, more hospitalization, and potentially more deaths.

Like any other virus, COVID-19 has been constantly mutating. Since its first appearance in China in 2019, it has gone through several minor variations that have made the virus more infectious and contagious. This was

first seen through the Alpha variant that spread globally, before it was mutated further into the even more infective Delta variant. In addition, a newly discovered mutation of the Delta has been investigated in the UK. Many scientists are worried that this could make the virus even more transmissible and undermine the Covid-19 vaccine further. However, there is still much unknown about this subtype of the Delta, which some people are even calling the new Delta Plus. More so, Stuart Ray, vice chair of medicine for data integrity and analytics, even stated, “There is evidence from laboratory studies that some immune responses driven by current vaccines could be less effective against some of these variants.” He warns everyone to watch for changes from the CDC and to continue with safety precautions, such as mask wearing and social distancing.

The pandemic’s trajectory in 2020 was fairly predict-

able, however “I think we’re going into an unpredictable phase now,” says Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert. Many other scientists agree with Farrar and want to use this time as an early alarm bell, and as a chance to get ahead of the variant. Scientists even hypothesize that more genetic changes could result in a more contagious mutation. These mutations are formed when the infection attaches to your cells, making copies of their RNA. If there’s a copying mistake, the RNA gets changed, and a mutation forms. In particular the Covid-19 variants are cre

ated when they first affect the virus’s spike protein. These proteins help the virus attach to human cells such as the nose and lungs, causing these new variants to bind more tightly onto our bodies.

As more researchers keep up with these new versions of the virus’s genetic sequencing and evolution, they encourage people to stand by the safety regulations set out by the CDC. Discoveries like these are just beginning and in the meantime, scientists are continuing their efforts to prevent viral transmissions and to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Photo Courtesy of Misha Friedman/Getty Images

Permanent Damage of Contact Sports

By Andrew Margolis

Photo Courtesy of Erin Locascio

It is a common misconception that there are no longterm repercussions of injuries after they have healed. However, it has been proven that some types of brain damage don’t disappear even after the patient feels back to normal. This idea is crucial to all those who play contact sports.

Sports are the leading cause of death from brain injury, and are responsible for nearly 21% of all traumatic brain injuries in general. So why do parents continuously let their children play contact sports if these sports are charged with statistics illustrating their capability to cause serious damage?

Well the answer is quite simple: parents, and even children, are unaware of how injuries impact individuals even after they are treated

Most brain damage sticks with a person even after treatment.

The culprit behind this occurrence is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, more commonly referred to as CTE. According to university professors, CTE is caused by repeated head injuries, which lead to a progressive loss in memory and other brain skills. This has been a recurring issue that is mostly due to a lack of proper skull protection. The primary sports associated with CTE are football, hockey,

boxing, and basketball. When the brain forcefully hits the skull, CTE can transpire. This is because specific proteins in the brain, called tau proteins, are more likely to malfunction after head trauma, leading to damaging alterations in behavior, thinking, and mood.

While the recovery process helps to minimize CTE, it can still have long-term if not permanent effects.

While CTE isn’t extremely common, traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs much more frequently. TBI is caused when the brain is injured once, while CTE occurs after repetitive brain injuries. The level of impact intensity on the brain also helps determine how quickly the brain begins to deteriorate.

For example, CTE can develop from one large hit or many small ones, but not everyone is affected the same way. Genetics, diet, even alcohol and drug consumption plays a role in how CTE emerges.

While CTE has become a growing problem for athletes in contact sports, it is very difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is mostly based on prediction, for example if the person has been playing sports for 10-15 years and sudden-

ly begins to act differently or exhibit abnormal emotions. Due to the diagnosis difficulty, scientists normally identify CTE after death when they can fully examine tau clusters. Researchers, however, are working to find innovative and efficient methods to diagnose CTE.

Lucas Montesano, a 16 year-old student attending Blind Brook High School has his own experience with the dangers of contact sports. Lucas plays for the Blind Brook football team and was recently diagnosed with a concussion after suffering a devastating blow from his opponents. While this injury wasn’t enough to end Lucas’ football career, it definitely helped shed light on the growing issue of brain injury and the threat of CTE. After recovering Lucas stated, “While my concussion was very unexpected, I just don’t see myself giving up the sport I love even if it means risking my health every time I step onto that field. However, this event shocked me, and while I refuse to give up football, I’ll definitely keep the danger in the back Continued on page 15 14

Health and Science

Social Distancing vs. Social Development

By Zoey Possick

Covid-19 has had devastating effects on all aspects of life, and adolescents especially have faced the harsh realities that the pandemic has created. At this time in their lives, adolescents are focused on finding their own identities and distinguishing themselves from their parents. This includes exploring gender identity, religion, political standpoints, values, and self-esteem. The pandemic, and the multiple lockdowns, has forced teens to be cooped up in their houses, creating an unideal environment for establishing independence.

Social deprivation due to the lockdown is predicted to have extensive effects on adolescent brains and behavior. However, the extent of detrimental effects may be mitigated due to widespread access to social media and technology. Teens have been able to interact with their peers, even if it is not face-to-face.

Social development has also been hindered through an increased hypersensitivity to social stimuli. The social brain structure develops substantially during adolescence, where teens are faced with increased hormones, including serotonin and dopamine, that intensify emotions and responses to events in their lives. This causes all reactions to the lockdown to be intensified in teens, in contrast with all other age groups. The lack of interaction has caused adolescents to be especially susceptible to peer pressure and exclusion, because they are not well adapted to social situations. This also correlates with increased anxiety in social situations. It has become increasingly difficult for teens to understand social cues and interact with peers when at their most crucial time of development, they have not been able to do so.

The environments teens

have been locked in has further intensified the effects of the pandemic. LumenLearning quotes, “Even within the same country, adolescents’ gender, ethnicity, immigrant status, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and personality can shape both how adolescents behave and how others respond to them, creating diverse developmental contexts for different adolescents.” Without exposure to diversity of peer groups and opportunities to meet new people, adolescents will not get the exposure they need in order to shape who they will be in the future.

Marginalized communities have faced even harsher circumstances. Stress levels, food insecurity, housing instability, loss of family income, and rates of illness have all increased in these communities, making it especially difficult for adolescents. Also, a lack of internet access cut teens off from their peers completely. Positive versus negative familial environments can also greatly impact a teen’s development. Adolescents in lockdown in a negative family environment can be especially traumatized, and their mental health and wellbeing can be affected greatly.

While the long term developmental effects of the pandemic on social development cannot be determined now, rodent studies have shown that rodents that were isolated were seen to have hindered neurobiological development, increased anxiety, hyperactivity, and heightened sensitivity to rewards.

The applicability of these studies to teens today may not be proportional, but the data suggests that teens will suffer similar consequences.

Senior neuropsychologist Brittany LeMonda states, “Teenage years are filled with physical, emotional, and cognitive changes.

There are also hormonal shifts,

Photo Courtesy of Michael S. Helfenbein

more independence and responsibility, and peer challenges. It is therefore not surprising that teens have been more susceptible to declines in psychological health over the last year.” LeMonda reports that one in three girls and one in five boys have experienced new or worsening anxiety as a result of the lockdowns

Returning to school has been difficult for teens across the globe. They not only are burdened with educational setbacks, but mental setbacks, as well. It is therefore crucial to recognize how adolescents have struggled due to the pandemic, but continue to struggle with readapting to their new normals in school.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

Permanent Damage of Contact Sports Continued from page 14

Photo Courtesy of Seth Wenig

of my mind and be a little more cautious next time.” While Lucas won’t develop CTE as a result of this injury, any more brain damage could be detrimental to his health.

Based on scientific data and Lucas’ response, it is evident that brain injury is a

huge issue that looms over all those who participate in contact sports.

While not many are aware of this matter, it is important that parents and administrators learn more about this growing concern in order to establish a safe environment for athletes.

15

Arts and Entertainment

By Hailey Mallah

Fall Show

Photo Courtesy of Jonah Mayer

This year’s fall production was Clue! Many of you are most likely familiar with this popular board game in which this show is going to be based off of. The plot of this play follows almost verbatim to that of the game, with a few changes- extra characters and interesting touches here and there. The play follows the mystery of a recent murder, taking unexpected turns on the journey to find out who the killer is. Blind Brook High School’s production of the show will take place

on Friday November 19 as well as Saturday November 20. There will be two separate casts for each of these shows, showcasing a bunch of different talents! While there are a good amount of freshmen and sophomores taking part in the play, the cast mainly consists of juniors and seniors. This year’s cast consists of 23 actors along with the helpful crew members. Playing one of the lead roles of Wadsworth is Kyle Grindstaff. He walks the audience through the story and acts

as a narrator. Wadsworth is a butler in this production. This year’s fall show will not contain any songs, or as stated in previous years, “There will be no music in this production, simply just a play.” (Aviella Kibel Grade 9) The entire cast and crew have been working extremely hard to make this play happen. Everyone in this production is extremely passionate about the play and has been devoting their hard work and time into this masterpiece. During the month of October practice was typically two days a week after school, yet moving into November the cast will be beginning to practice three days a week, plus every day during tech week. The props in this show are slightly different to other plays in previous years. While it is typical that the props be put on and off the stage, this year’s props stay on the stage entirely and act as the different rooms like in the original board game. These props will be highlighted with lighting, which is

a key component to this set. There will be different portions of the stage that act as the rooms typically seen in the board game. This makes that set unusual and excit ing because instead of the changing set, different parts are brought focus to. As for COVID protocols, the play has returned almost back to normal this year, apart from the standard mask wearing in practices. There were allowed to be the typical auditioning process, along with call backs. The pl-ay will be in person and students and parents alike will be able to attend. The play is also the same time of year it normally is and did not need to be pushed back at all. Later this year in the spring the actors will be producing a musical as usual. The students and teachers alike have put in so much work to make this show incredible, and I’m sure it will be truly amazing. We are so excited to see this year’s annual fall show and know it will be spectacular!

Squid Game: Transformation Through Dubbing

By Olivia Zahl

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Squid Game, a Korean TV series, started streaming on September 17, 2021. Just 4 days later, it hit the number 1 spot on Netflix.

Squid Game follows a group of extremely poor and indebted people in South Korea. They are suddenly given a mysterious opportunity to win money. With this, they enter a tournament where they have to play childhood games. What they do not know is that losing a game equates to death. These people are desperate, however, and they continue in the tournament at all costs to win the prize money in the end.

It is strange to think that a non-English language series has become so popular. Why has Squid Game become such a hit? Audiences are captivated by the thrill and violence within the show. Also, audiences become quickly connected with the characters. We learn the ins and outs of their lives and sym

pathize with them. Watching them participate in the games and face death at every corner is extremely entertaining and nail-biting. Moreover, this series presents many prevalent social issues. It implements problems such as poverty, debt, social-class differences, and violence. These are problems that we face and deal with in our everyday lives, so, when portrayed in the show, it grips and engages the audience. However, since Squid Game was dubbed to English, the way we perceive the show may not be totally authentic. A lot of controversy has sparked over the fact that there are clear misinterpretations in our English version from the initial Korean version of Squid Game. For example, there is an instance in the show where a character is trying to prove her intelligence. She says, “I’m not a genius, but I still got it worked

Photo Courtesy of Emily Tian

out. Huh.” This is the English translation, which is close but not one hundred percent. The real line is, “I am very smart. I just never got a chance to study.” The translation is similar if you pick apart the line word for word, but the meanings of these lines are completely different and portray unequal ideas. The issue with this alteration is that the English-speaking audience is misunderstanding Korean culture.

The initial intent was to explain the unfortunate circumstances for poor Koreans. They may have a lot of potential for success, but without any money they are incapable of taking next steps. The English version of this line does not illustrate that idea whatsoever.

There are many other instances like this one,

where the English translation is slightly tweaked from the original dialogue. Our perception of characters and their personalities, our understanding of Korean culture, and the significance behind the show itself has all been altered. Due to dubbing, the Netflix series has triggered a lot of debate and disagreement.

Squid Game has been transformed as there are countless ways to interpret the show.

Squid Game is definitely a bit disturbing, but it is engaging and compelling. I would absolutely recommend this show. But, in order to get the real and full Squid Game experience, look out for erroneous dubbing and do not believe something just because it is what the subtitle says.

16

Arts and Entertainment

Supply and Demand in the Art Industry

By Andrew Margolis

Imagine you are going to the movies and your favorite theater announces that all movie tickets are going to cost half of their normal price. This cutting in price will theoretically cause people to see movies until they have seen enough to their satisfaction. After people are satisfied with the number of movies they’ve seen, movie theaters will gain less societal traction, causing overall interest for movies to decrease. This is a perfect example of the concept of supply and demand. In simple words, the supply and demand law signifies the number of goods or services available compared to the amount needed. So how is the art market affected by supply and demand? Supply and demand dominates this industry due to the fluctuation regarding the necessity of art compared to the desire of it.

Supply and demand in the

art market all revolves around pricing. If artwork isn’t properly priced, no one will purchase it.

One major factor that contributes to the pricing of artwork is where it is being sold. There are two types of markets in which art is sold: the primary market and the secondary market. The primary market refers to “initial sales” such as consignment to galleries or selling directly to a collector. The secondary market refers to the resale of artwork such as auctions. When it comes to the secondary market, the artist makes no profit off sales, and for the reseller to make a profit, they jack up the prices. This is why buying resale for art is much more expensive than getting it from a gallery firsthand except for auctions. Now that pricing of artwork has been established, it is necessary to look directly at how supply and demand are illustrated in the world of art.

Demand is just another word for desire. As more people desire art the price of art increases. While the desire for art in general never really terminates, the reputation of an artist plays a key role in how much their art is desired. In other words, the art of big-named artists is typically more valued than smaller artists. However, as these smaller artists gain a reputation, their art inadvertently increases in value and is marked up in price. This just goes to show how pricing and demand correlate.

In other words, artists begin to gain a reputation, the desire for their artwork increases and therefore so does the cost of the art.

Supply also plays an immense role in the art market. If there is only one kind of painting available, demand for that particular art piece increases along with its price.

However, if there are multiple copies or editions of an artwork, demand decreases along with the value. This is very interesting because it illustrates a strategy utilized by many artists. Sometimes they will make many editions of art or only release one original piece depending on margin for profit.

This is why some artists release thousands of pieces of art a year while others only produce a few.

Supply and demand plays a crucial role in the art industry due to how it impacts the price of the product: art. As more art is produced, demand decreases along with price, and while production drops, demand increases along with cost. Using this law of supply and demand, artists can adjust their selling strategy to maximize profit.

No wonder some artwork sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How is Blind Brook Promoting Arts Education?

By Jacob Moore

Like many other high schools in America, Blind Brook takes part in having opportunities for its students to learn and practice various aspects of the arts.

There are classes, after school programs, and clubs. Blind Brook has its options for students to pursue learning in the arts of their choice, and in this article I will be discussing some of the ways Blind Brook promotes arts education.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

Firstly, Blind Brook has educational opportunities implemented into the curriculum. It starts with classes like art or photography, and expands into more advanced understandings and studies of said mediums. I myself am taking an advanced photography option called portfolio. The photography route has you start with film, an older style of photography, having students understand the

Photo Courtesy of Casey Kelbaugh

basics of lighting and framing. It then expands into digital working, understanding more intricate attributes of photography. It is very similar to the arts (painting, drawing, etc), though instead of building up skill in the medium, it allows students to express their dynamic creativity and imagination. Blind Brook allows students to initiate and start their understanding of certain art mediums, and expand upon them as they progress through grades.

Blind Brook also has after school programs for those interested in the arts, particularly the performing arts. As tradition has it, Blind Brook has the option for students to perform or work backstage on the school play. The production takes a couple months, but both the middle school and high school have a yearly play.

The middle school begins to find the skills of the performing arts in students, so once they get to high school, if they continue to pursue the medium, they begin partaking

in more advanced dramas, more mature productions. Blind Brook has an emphasis for the performing arts, it’s a staple of the school year for there to be a production.

This promotes stagecraft and performing education for students.

Lastly, Blind Brook allows for artistic clubs to be formed and to function for its students. Students are allowed to choose clubs they want to partake in, and clubs have a variety of subjects that one could cover. Some artistic clubs can include the newly introduced Blind Brook video broadcasting club, as it has students experiment and practice with cameras. It is a newly formed club, so the details of how it functions are sparse, but the goal is to allow students to use video and photography to document the school and other current events.

Mainly though, clubs oriented to more other forms of practice and experience, like debate or model UN, but that doesn’t mean it is Continued on page 18 17

Arts and Entertainment

How is Blind Brook Promoting Arts Education?

How is Technolgy Affecting Artistic Creation and Entertainment?

Continued from page 17

By Josh Dweck

In the last century or so, new technology has produced some of the most important inventions humanity has seen. Phones, computers, and televisions are things that seem impossible to live without because of how often we use them in our daily lives.

This is no different in the world of art, where new technology has completely revolutionized so many areas and genres of art.

The music industry has completely transformed due to new technology. Applications on computers have allowed for artists to create songs practically all in their basement. Artists like Daft Punk were huge inspirations for this new movement during the early 2000’s with their innovative digitized dance music, leading to a revolution during this decade. Currently, most-to-all songs in genres such as hip-hop are made digitally. Producers such as Pi’erre Bourne are able to make beats on their computers and sell them to rappers to rap over.

Music production as a whole has had a massive increase in interest because of digital music. Students here at Blind Brook are able to take music production classes where they use Garageband, an app for making music. At the end of the day, digital music comes down to preference. Some people love how it sounds and the new genres in music that it created, while others prefer the sound of live-recorded music. Music is subjective, and no one has the same taste.

New technology has created a rift in animation. Since its inception and up until around the 90’s, shows and movies were animated by drawing every individual frame of animation and playing the frames sequentially at a rapid pace. Shows such as the original Looney Toons and Animaniacs are examples of this. Due to new technology in the 90’s, however, a new technique was developed that companies quickly realized to be more efficient and cheaper to produce than frame-byframe. This technique is called rigged, or skeleton animation.

Photo Courtesy of Impulse

is used in most modern cartoons ranging from Rick and Morty to Regular Show. The way it works is by importing a character into a computer, outlining specific body parts such as arms and legs, and then telling the computer when and where to move these parts. The result tends to appear stiffer than frame-by-frame animation, and this is because animation is typically exaggerated. For example, when a frame-by-frame character like Spongebob is shocked, his eyes bulge out. Obviously this is unnatural, but this more exaggerated direction is what makes animation so appealing, as cartoons are not meant to be natural. It is a lot harder to do this in skeleton animation, so most shows tend to leave this out.

With all of that being said, technology has done amazing things for animation and art as a whole. Studios like Pixar are able to use CGI, or computer-generated imagery. CGI is a tool that is used for and outside of animation. Studios like Pixar use it to create 3D animated movies such as Toy Story, while studios such as Marvel Studios use CGI to create special effects like super-powers in their movies.

The combination of technology and art has opened so many doors of possibilities for aspiring creators in places like high school. Aspiring photographers

impossible for a student to form a club with artistic intention. While this form of meeting and practice has the least options and promotion for arts education, it still offers the possibility to students to take action themselves, and learn about the arts they want to learn about.

While Blind Brook does follow a more typical high school formula, they do offer many possibilities for one to partake in an artistic learning experience. They have classes, after school programs, and clubs that allow students to grow their knowledge and skill in a multitude of artistic mediums. This is how Blind Brook promotes arts education.

Photo Courtesy of Adult Swim

can spend hours in applications such as Photoshop or Lightroom where they perfect their pictures.

Aspiring artists can use iPad apps like Procreate to be able to draw with the added benefits of undoing mistakes and working in multiple layers. It has never been easier to get

creative with something as simple as a school-provided iPad. Animators and Editors can work on projects in apps like After Effects. While technology and art can sometimes be divisive, the medium of art has never been more accessible, and that is the most important thing.

18

Politics

All Politics are Local: Interview with Shelley Mayer

By Josh Rosenblut

In this column I will be interviewing different politicians that represent Rye Brook. I will be asking each politician many of the same questions. I hope that these interviews will help you learn about the people who represent us in government. For this interview, I spoke with Shelley Mayer, State Senator for the 37th District of New York.

Prior to being elected State Senator for the 37th District, Mayer was a member of the New York State Senate, beginning in 2012. Mayer previously served as a Senior Advisor in the office of New York Attorney General Bob Abrams. Mayer resides in Yonkers, her hometown.

Mayer was elected to the Senate in 2013 after winning a special election for the seat previously occupied by current Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Below are selected excerpts from our 30 minute interview: What or who inspired you to get involved with politics? “My father ran for office and I grew up really understanding the value of speaking with your own voice and standing up for what you think and believing in this system of elections and not being deterred whether you won or lost. I mean, obviously you hope to win, he didn’t win, but I learned from him and I would say that he inspired me. My mother also inspired me because she was a person who grew up very poor and did not have an education, but she was the most empathetic, people-interested person I’ve ever met and she really encouraged me to listen to people. I think that’s been a big part of my success.”

What was your career before going into politics? “There is a funny line between government and politics. I was always involved in politics, I was always involved in community activity that was political because I am a believer in American democracy, really it is in my core. I became a lawyer and I started bringing cases on behalf of people who had lost their jobs, and then I went to work in the Attorney General’s office. I spent twelve years in the Attorney General’s office doing government work, but I also did politics on my own time and I’ve always been engaged in both politics and government.”

What is your favorite part of the job? “Really being able to help people, whether it’s helping them on unemployment claims, for example, I was able to help the people who lost their jobs after the Doral Arrowwood hotel in Rye Brook closed, I helped them get money they were owed, 2.7 million dollars. Also, I was able to help schools. All the schools in New York were able to get the money they deserved, which took fifteen years to get.”

What Surprised You The Most About The Job? “Well I was in the Assembly before I was in the Senate, so I’ve been around Albany legislative politics for a long time.

I was the counsel to the Senate Democrats for a while as well. At the very beginning I was surprised that partisanship was really a bar to considering good ideas and I represented the Attorney General’s legislative program and I asked the people in charge (the Republicans) how come they never considered the AG’s bills. They said we just do not work with the other side.

That was my introduction that they don’t just do it on the merits.

That was a surprise to me a long time ago and I’ve learned along the way and I’ve learned to make my way around the obstacles.”

My understanding as Chair of the Education Committee in the Senate your intervention was instrumental in helping Ridge Street School reopen, can you elaborate on this experience? “Well it was very difficult for everyone, all the students particularly. I have a very good relationship with the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Betty Rosa, who has oversight over all the physical parts about schools, so when there seemed to be a real conflict and miscommunication between the District and the State Education Department I went directly to Dr. Rosa and pushed them [the Education Department] to put a lot of resources into resolving the conflicts with the school district, with the board, with the prior superintendent, with the current superintendent and even though it took two and a half weeks, I worked on it every day to try to push it ahead and get a resolution because I knew kids weren’t in

school. I tried to get away from the personalities and focus on getting that school reopened and I’m glad we were able to help in that regard.”

Advice For Future Public Servants? “Get involved, I had lots of people working on my campaign when I ran in the special election for George Latimer’s seat in 2018, many, many young people couldn’t vote, but they cared about gun violence, which we couldn’t do anything about until the Democrats became the Majority in the Senate. Young people helped lead to the Democrats’ control in the Senate. I think there is so much opportunity for young people to care about something, get involved whatever it may be, the food pantry in their neighborhood, a club

in their school, running for school president, or working on someone’s campaign. I say jump in, have the confidence not to second guess yourself, and take a leap.”

Anything else you would like to share with the readers at Blind Brook? “I think people should know that myself and Steve Otis, your Assembly member, we’re both very dogged, serious legislators, we care about trying to take the problems we hear about and make a difference to change the result.

He and I work every day together like we did for the Ridge Street School. I work with my colleagues to sort of force change and that’s what you have to do, I’m never rude, but I’m strong and opinionated and that’s what you have to do.”

Photo Courtesy of NYS Senate Media Services

19

Politics

States’ Political Leanings Coincide with College Choice

By Abby Zahl

New year, new seniors; the college process is starting all over again! Figuring out which school is best fit for you takes many factors into consideration. Do you want to go to a big school or a small school?

Which college fits your educational and financial needs? Where in the world do you want to be for the next potential four years of your life? These days, another question has been added to the checklist: Which school would put you in an environment where your political beliefs are shared by others?

Colleges need to be diverse with what they offer and in their own unique culture so students can find the establishment best suited for them. Listed in Accredited Schools Online, are the top ten liberal schools and top ten conservative schools in the country. These colleges vary in size and acceptance rates, as well as location. Compared side by side to the 2020 presidential election map, nine out of the ten most liberal schools are located in blue, Democratic states, while seven

out of the ten most conservative schools are located in red, Republican states. As commented in Accredited Schools Online, “Many students choose the college or university they attend based at least in part on their personal politics.”

With the United States having apparently become a politically divided country, many colleges are indeed influenced. Teacher and blogger, Anne Babson, explained one of her own firsthand experiences, “I often tell students in my classroom that I am a committed Christian. In the North, the room of students is usually slightly tense.

Arms gently fold across chests.

They wonder if I will judge them for not being Christians...or because they live a wild and reckless life...When I say the same words in the South, I hear an audible sigh of relief.” Most southern states are conservative, while northern states are liberal. Within this political bisect, there is also a split in faith and religion. As exemplified through the preceding quote, most northerners are often either not as de-

voted, follow a different religion, or not religious at all. On the contrary, many southerners are ardent Christians. An example of why this prominent divide matters relates to the timely issue of abortion. In southern states, for example Texas, political leaders are banning a woman from getting an abortion.

In contrast, most northern states allow abortion to take place and their laws are not as strict. Depending on a person’s moral and political beliefs, one may feel more comfortable in the north over the south and vice versa. It is reassuring to be around people who have similar morals to you. This influences where students want to apply to college because like everyone else, they want to fit in.

After interviewing Blind Brook senior Lucy Rosenblut about whether she took the color of the states into consider

ation when applying to colleges, she stated, “For me, my political beliefs are a part of [who I am], and as much as I love debating with people, I do understand a person better when I align with them politically...I also want to go into public service for my future and I feel that in the northeast, which is mostly blue and where I have mainly applied to, I can get the best options out of that. It’s also something I’m more comfortable with, and since college is such a big transition already, some things I wanted to be simple.”

The extent to which a state’s “color” will matter to a prospective college applicant will depend on each individual student.

But in these times of extreme political polarization, college bound students may want to consider the political atmosphere in the state where they attend college.

Are Judges Elected or Appointed in NY State?

By Kunjal Kothari

Judicial selection in the U.S. varies not only at state level, but also within court types.

There are six standards of selection: partisan, nonpartisan, Michigan-Ohio, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. In New York, depending on the court, the method for selecting judges varies.

Contrary to popular belief, New York’s Supreme Court is not the highest court in the state, but is instead the lowest court in the state, with general jurisdiction in civil cases. The Supreme Court of New York uses partisan elections when electing justices to 14-year terms.

These candidates are chosen by the people at partisan nomination conventions. Partisan elections allow citizens to view a candidate’s political affiliation adjacent to their name on a ballet. In non-partisan elections, people cannot view a person’s political party alongside their name. These rules can be different in other states. In order to qualify for a position on New York’s Supreme Court, one must be a resident of New York and have practiced law in the state for ten years.

Supreme Court judges, called “justices,” begin their term on January 1st after their election. New York County Courts elect judges in a similar process for 10-year terms.

One must live in the correlating county and state, be at least 18 years of age, and have studied law in the area for at least five years.

There is an extensive process to figure out who will be the representatives in New York Supreme Court elections. Supreme court candidates compete in primary elections to determine the representative of the general party.

Then, these candidates are chosen through the general election. Primary voters elect convention delegates, who later choose candidates for judgeships. Some believe this process is unconstitutional since it can become unpromising for party outsiders to obtain these positions.

In 2008, the United States Supreme Court defended this system in a unanimous decision (New York Board of Elections v. Lopez Torres).

Giving people privilege and accountability is an advantage of the partisan election. People believe that this method upholds the

Photo Courtesy of Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union

true beliefs of democracy, since it allows people to have some say in the candidates chosen to be justices for New York. However, there are numerous reasons as to why this judicial system has been criticized due to political fundraisers and tactics candidates use to get noticed. Some believe this system calls for more change and transparency to ensure only qualified candidates get the role, especially in New York’s Supreme Court.

At the appellate level, there is a different method for selecting judges. Assisted appointment occurs through the use of a nomination committee and a judicial screening panel that qualifies candidates, to later be reviewed by a governor for appointment. The New York

Supreme Court Appellate Division, the intermediate appellate court, also has justices appointed by the governor, using candidates recommended from committees. Similar to New York’s Supreme Court, judges serve 14-year terms in the New York Court of Appeals, our state’s highest court. As the highest court, candidates must be confirmed by the New York State Senate and renominated to remain on the Court. In addition, New York has several limited jurisdiction courts including New York District Courts, New York Family Courts, and more. Thus, a person has to know what kind of state judgeship an individual judge holds to be able to determine whether that person was elected or appointed.

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Politics

How Have Mask Mandates and Vaccination Status Become Such Political Battlegrounds?

By Anna Vnenchak

Ever since COVID-19 first reached the United States, it has wreaked havoc amongst the population. It has caused countless issues in health, numerous problems in the economy, and strangely enough, political division. In a crisis, the best way for a nation to stay strong is by maintaining unity. Unfortunately, despite scientific advice, the United States did the exact opposite when COVID-19 struck.

Mask mandates soon became political battlegrounds, and later on, vaccination status followed.

In early 2020, around the time when the Coronavirus reached the U.S., former president Donald Trump expressed that he wouldn’t go out in public with a mask on.

This caused his large platform of supporters to follow his lead, despite the fact that masks had already been scientifically proven effective at reducing the number of respiratory viruses emitted in aerosols.

Trump’s action was harmful to the United States as a whole because without masks, the population was at a far higher risk of contracting the virus from those refusing to wear one. Due to an increase in the spread of COVID-19 after Trump’s statement, it is evident that before turning to politics, the public must listen to science first.

The Crisis Continues

By Zoey Possick

Haiti has seen endless crises for the last ten years, including a 2010 earthquake that killed 200,000 Haitians. A year after the disaster, over 1,000,000 Haitians continued to live in tents, making Haiti one of the poorest countries today. The Covid-19 pandemic has had further devastating effects on their economy, only giving desperate Haitians more of a reason to make the perilous journey to the United States.

Seeking stability and an escape from endless political turmoil, poverty, and conflict, Haitians are making the incredibly dangerous journey to ports of entry

The majority of Trump’s anti-mask followers were of the Republican party, causing Democrats to begin to resent the Republican party altogether, even if a lot of Republicans believed in wearing masks. Polarization between political parties became more and more of an issue as COVID-19 progressed, causing a strong sense of division in the United States during a time when unity was necessary.

Of course, there were other reasons as to why some people refused to wear masks. A popular

belief was that masks could cause blood oxygen levels to drop, which was proven false soon after. Although people expressed this concern, mask wearing was centered much more around political parties.

Influential Republican leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell looked to encourage his fellow Republicans to wear masks. The idea was that anti-mask Republicans would listen to Republican leaders better than they would Democratic leaders telling them to mask-up. This strategy was successful in many ways, but some individuals still stuck to their early-quarantine beliefs. People protested and argued, COVID-19 progressed, and so did scientific discoveries. This scientific advancement led to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The politics centered around the COVID-19 vaccine are different from those that have to

do with mask mandates. Although Donald Trump was outwardly an anti-masker, he was in support of the vaccine. Trump even went on to say, “If we didn’t have a vaccine, it would have been just like the 1918 Spanish Flu.” Interestingly, a large portion of the people who were anti-mask because of Trump, are also against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. His followers trust what he says without question, so it was surprising that they were not following him on this. There are many different reasons this could be the case, but it is most likely because of the unfortunate need these anti-vaxxers and anti-mask Republicans have to contradict Democrats and claim that they are incorrect in all instances.

Ultimately, mask mandates and vaccination statuses have become highly political due to assumptions, immature decisions, and division in a time that necessitates unity.

Photo Courtesy of Robyn Beck/Getty Images

Photo Courtesy of Erin Clark/The Boston Globe

at the U.S. border. Five years ago, Haitians flocked to Brazil to accept job opportunities building the 2016 Olympic Stadium. However, the jobs provided only temporary support, and citizens of Haiti were left with few options. Therefore, most Haitians are trekking from other countries, some traveling for years, clinging to hope of entry.

In 2018, 126,000 visas were issued to Haitian citizens through the Haitian government. In the past year, approximately 3,000 have been granted. The sharp decrease in numbers accentuated already high tensions, prompting many to abandon their lives and travel to the United States. Many Haitians were under the false impression that they would be welcomed. Guerline M. Jozef, the executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance states, “False information, misinformation, and misunderstanding might have created a false sense of hope.” This

misinformation also included false rumors on social media, claiming the Biden administration was handing out humanitarian visas to Haitians. Others traveled with the belief that those who have suffered persecution are eligible for asylum at a port of entry. Many of these rumors have been met with the Title 42 decree, which allows U.S. authorities to automatically expel almost all undocumented migrants seeking entry. This bypasses normal immigration laws and protections, as it attempts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In the current fiscal year, 28,000 Haitians have been intercepted at border control in the United States. In prior years, numbers were less than a quarter of today’s, reaching 4,395 in 2020. Today’s numbers have reached a 21-year high, coinciding with Biden’s presidency. In recent weeks, migrants have camped under the Del Rio International Bridge at the border of Texas, desperately awaiting the possibility of entry.

President Biden condemns the Border Patrol treatment of Haitian migran-

ts. Many migrants were mistreated by officials who were supposed to be aiding them. Biden stated, “I promise you, those people will pay. There is an investigation underway right now and there will be consequences.” The Department of Homeland Security is conducting an investigation into the events that unfolded at the current holding camp.

Eventually, 12,400 migrants will eventually have their cases heard by an immigration judge, many of whom hope to obtain temporary visas and asylum.

Biden has also enacted a reunification task force to reunite refugee children with their families. However, many migrants have been deported back to Haiti, where they will be met with the same dire circumstances they fought so hard to escape. Thousands still continue to flock to the U.S., despite not qualifying for protected status programs.

These protection programs only apply to migrants who are already in the U.S. Haitians are collectively looking for a better life, and have turned to the U.S. as their last resort, but with disappointing results.

21

Sports

A Successful Fall Sports Season at Blind Brook

By Jonny Hamburger

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

As November is now upon us many fall sports at Blind Brook are coming to an end. Many of the sports that were played this fall started practicing during the week of August 23rd to make sure they would be in shape for the start of the season. All of the varsity sports that take place in the fall are: Cross Country, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Volleyball, Football and Girls Tennis.

Blind Brook Football started this season feeling very good with the way they prepared over the summer. They started out with 2 losses against Dobbs Ferry and Valhalla but they bounced back to go 3-2 in their first 5 games.

Blind Brook was able to pick up wins against Rye Neck, Croton Harmon and then Woodlands; all of these were double figure win margins, giving Blind Brook great confidence and momentum for the future. Senior Captain Blake Sloves said “Our hard work these past years have finally resulted in some wins. We hope that what our seniors helped build will continue on in the future.”

Blind Brook ended the season 3-6, with a loss on November 5th against Irvington under the lights.

Boys Varsity Soccer also had high expectations heading into the 2021 fall season. They had great depth in their roster including 11 seniors. Blind Brook went 7-9 in the regular season and was ranked #10 going into the playoffs.

In the first round of the playoffs they were able to advance on the

road against the #7 seed Pleasantville. Goals by Matias Otero and Jack Sassower lead Blind Brook to a huge first round road win in the playoffs. Senior Captain Damian Otero said “After the first round win against Pleasantville we all felt great because they beat us in the regular season, but we pulled out a huge win giving us momentum to the next round”. Blind Brook then faced #2 seed Westlake in the quarterfinals; Westlake finished their season with only one loss which was against Blind Brook on Blind Brook’s homecoming night. Westlake was able to win in the quarterfinals 3-1 ending the season for Blind Brook Boys Varsity Soccer.

Damian Otero said “the loss was heartbreaking but I am extremely proud of how we all worked

during the season and the many great wins we accomplished”.

Towards the end of October, Blind Brook’s 2021 Volleyball season came to an end. After many games, the team ended with a 2-17 record. The Trojans were assigned a very tough schedule and they lost many key players to injuries during the season. Senior Captain Oliva Zahl stated “throughout the season our team trust and chemistry grew but we had a tough schedule so it was difficult to show how hard we worked all season”.

Blind Brook Girls Varsity Tennis also wrapped up their season midway through October.

They finished with an approximate record of 2-10. Although they had a tough schedule, 3 girls on the team were able to make it to Sec-

tionals. Senior Jenna Kamin commented “We had a difficult season but we were all able to have fun while facing tough competition”.

Blind Brook Cross Country is coming to an end and many of the runners will begin indoor track in the winter. Senior Captain Johnny Ramirez described the season as “very successful”.

He said “We had a great mix of runners of all ages and grades, which really helped contribute to the team’s performance. We also stayed consistent throughout the season and had very few injuries, which helped us win many meets and ultimately get second at the conference meet.” Johnny along with many other senior runners are confident that the team will continue to dominate in the future.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

22

Sports

The NBA is Back!

By Jacob Moore

Per tradition, the National Basketball Association’s yearly Regular Season has returned. After a short offseason, players and fans alike are eager to watch their favorite teams compete for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

The season is about a month in, with surprising teams making their names heard, and players’ drama between them and their teams. The season is only a month in, but the excitement is back like it never left.

Prior to the season, Kyrie Iriving was prohibited from playing for the Brooklyn Nets, due to his refusal to get vaccinated. Kyrie Irving has always been known to be a very independent person, to say the least. He has had controversial situations in the past, whether it be in Cleveland, or on the Celtics, it seems that he puts

himself over the team, at base value. When you dig a little deeper, Kyrie is a very “spiritual” and individualistic person, and his reasons for missing games come from his own personal beliefs. The skill is there, as Kyrie has always been a top point guard in the league. The debate on whether or not he is worth the money he is being paid to him stems from the way he balances his personal life with his participation with his team. Another controversial situation is with Ben Simmons, and his reluctance to play with the Philadelphia 76ers. After a very disappointing performance by Ben Simmons in the second round of the playoffs, Ben Simmons began his isolation from the team. Reports kept coming out that he was unhappy with the organization, and he wanted to be traded. Things

Recap: The MLB Playoffs

By Benjamin Messafi

After a shortened season last year, and an extended playoff format, the league is back to its normal season format: 162 regular-season games, and 10 team playoffs, 6 of the division winners, and 4 of the Wild Card teams.

The first round consisted of the 4 Wild Card teams: the teams that did not win their division but were the two best non-division winners from the American and National League. The Yankees and Red Sox played in a win-or-go-home Wild Card game in the American League, and the LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves played in the National League Wild Card game. The Red Sox won 6-2, and the Dodgers won 3-1, meaning they would move on to play in the Division Series.

The Division Series is a best of 5, so the team to

Photo Courtesy of Nick Laterza

win 3 games first in the series would move on to the next round.

The Red Sox went on to play the Tampa Bay Rays, who had the best regular-season record in the American League this year. The Red Sox pulled off a big upset, winning the series 3-1, led by a memorable series performance by Enrique Hernandez, who set an ALDS record with hits in 7 straight at-bats. In the other ALDS series, the Houston Astros, the American League West Division Champion, played the Chicago White Sox, the American League Central Division Champion. The Astros defeated the White Sox easily in this series, by a score of 3 games to 1.

In the National League Division Series, the Wild Card winner, Los Angeles Dodgers, played the team with the best record in the National League, the San Fran-

got so bad that Ben wouldn’t even meet with his teammates. It wasn’t until recently where Ben sporadically returned to the Sixers. It didn’t stop there though, as Ben was reportedly lazy in practice, and ultimately it was decided that he would not be playing for the Sixers at the start of their season.

It remains to be seen if Ben Simmons will play for the 76ers this season, or if he will be traded.

The NBA wouldn’t be the NBA without its surprises, and already there have been many. The two first seed teams, at the moment, are the Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors, both teams who missed out on the playoffs last year. The Bulls had an eventful offseason, signing many big name free agents, such as Lonzo Ball, Demar Derozan, and Alex Caruso. The team is building off Zach Lavine and recently acquired Nikola Vucevic. Zach Lavine is a young all star, and surrounding him by a veteran all star, creates a situation where the Bulls are destined to succeed. Time will tell how the chemistry amongst this team develops. Another team surprising a lot of fans are the Golden State Warriors. Last year,

they missed the playoffs, despite point guard Stephen Curry’s amazing season. They were critiqued, many saying that their infamous dynasty was over. While that may be true, the Warriors made strides to improve their team this offseason. They added consisten shooters, such as Otto Porter Jr, developed young talent like Jordan Poole, and drafted prospects such as Johnathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. This team, fronted

by Steph Curry, arguably the best point guard in the league, has been able to take down some playoff teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Warriors and Bulls both sit at a record at the top of their respective conferences, and the best is yet to come for these teams.

The NBA is a worldwide sport. The love for the game has no bounds. As the league celebrates its 75th Anniversary, fans are in store for another eventful season.

It’s just the beginning of what will be an intense season, as teams get better, while good teams stay good.

Not many teams will be an easy win for any team, so get ready for close wins, monstrous performances, buzzer beaters, and so much more.

Photo Courtesy of Josh Rosenblut

cisco Giants, in what was supposed to be the most anticipated postseason matchup this season.

The two teams were only separated by one game and had the two best records in the league. Since the Giants were ahead, the Dodgers were forced to play in the winor-go-home Wild Card game. The two played a competitive and entertaining series, with the Dodgers coming back down from 2 games to 1, to win game 5, by a score of 2-1. In the other NLDS series, the National League East Division Champion, the Atlanta Braves, played the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves beat the Brewers 3 games to 1, after a star relief pitcher for the Brewers, Devin Williams, got injured only a few days prior to the start of the Postseason.

The next round is the

Championship Series, which is a best of 7 series between the winners of the Division Series. The Dodgers and Braves in the National League, with the Astros and Red Sox in the American League. The Braves pulled off the upset against the defending World Series Champion Dodgers 4 games to 2, to get to their first World Series since 1999, and the Astros defeated the Red Sox, to move on to their 3rd world series in the last 5 seasons.

The World Series between the Astros and Braves recently finished with the Atlanta Braves winning the World Series! The two star-studded lineups each fought to get their team a World Series Title. The Braves, without their star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr due to a torn ACL, made an unexpected run this Postseason.

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