January 2010 Bucs' Blade

BUCS’

BLADE

Page 13

Winter-tri Outdoor Education

January 15, 2010 17001 Ferris, Grand Haven, MI 49417 A student publication of community significance since 1927

“If families didn’t get along, it was hard because you’re right next door. All families have different rules but when you’re so close, you just have to put up with each other.”

--Antonio Alvarez on living in migrant housing Page 16

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2 Inside THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Volume 67, Issue 3

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BUCS’ BLADE STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Megan Birkett MANAGING EDITORS: Matt Deater Marisa Enos Madison Testy

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER: Junior Garret Swinton juggles school, social life, as well as his younger brother.

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ROLLING TRADITION:

Reenders family collects antique cars.

EDITORS: Haley Birkett Alida Boon Teal Champagne Cam Hewitt Zak Konarska Nate Niemerowicz Amy Potter Grace Sterenberg STAFF: Tyler Appel, Ethan Beswick, Dez Burley, Devin Chan, John Cherette, Chloe Dault, Scott Deater,Emily Francart, Mike Ginocchio, Camille Johnson, Mollie LaBeff, Riley Missel, Kali Rea, Greg Rokisky,Sam Soule, Ali Steggles, Noah Thelen, Sam VanHoef, Kailin Van Oordt, Lucas Wilder ADVISER: C.E. Sikkenga

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WRITING LAB: NHS writing lab now open for anyone during all lunches.

From the EDITOR

I hope everyone had a fantastic break and has had an easy time falling back into the groove of school (I know I haven’t). As always, I encourage everyone to page through, I promise there is something of some interest to everyone!

Some things I learned about in this issue are…when boys talk about COD they’re talking about the video game Call of Duty, not about the fish (page 25), that blueberry pie is 103 calories healthier than apple pie and Nestle hot chocolate is 90 calories

PUBLICATION POLICY: The Bucs’ Blade is a newspaper that publishes information relevant to the times as well as material that is essential to the overall well being of its readers. It is The Bucs’ Blade’s responsibility to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the concerns of its readers.

The Bucs’ Blade operates as an open or public forum. Essays and other non-fiction literary works are welcomed. All letters to the editor must include the writers’ name, signature and class or position and must be free of obscene or potentially libelous material.

Typed, double-spaced letters are preferred. Letters will not be edited except to prevent legal liability, edit material that is in poor taste or to fit space requirements. The Bucs’ Blade can only print as many letters as space will allow. Letters should be placed in adviser C.E. Sikkenga’s mailbox or addressed to the editor and mailed to: The Bucs’ Blade 17001 Ferris Grand Haven, MI 49417 The Bucs’ Blade strives for the highest standards of accuracy, completeness and careful research in its presentation of material. If an error merits correction, as determined by the Editorial Board or the Adviser, it will be promptly published in the news brief column or on the editorial page. All correction requests are subject to review.

During the school day The Bucs’ Blade can be reached at 616-850-6263 or by email at bucsblade@ gmail.com. The Blade staff meets from 11:30 to 1:20 p.m.

healthier than Hershey (page 23) and director and producer of Unsalted, Vince Deur, is a graduate of Grand Haven High School (page 7).

Any comments, questions, concerns and ideas are extremely encouraged and should be

addressed as a letter to the editor.

Thanks to everyone for reading and enjoy!

Sincerely, Megan Birkett

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE News 3

DOWNTOWN

D E L A Y

SLOWED BY THE SNOW: The delay in construction on Washington Ave downtown has some local business owners frustrated with lack of customers. The construction will bring heated sidewalks and street, changes in curbing to benefit pedestrians, as well as new street trees and planters. An ice rink has been made on the first block of Washington to try and draw people back downtown during winter months.Photo by Grace Sterenberg

Setbacks in road construction frustrate local business owners GREG ROKISKY Reporter As the holidays came to a close and 2009 neared its end, the fences of the construction site on Washington Ave in downtown Grand Haven remain. Originally scheduled to be completed before the winter season began, delays caused the city to be unable to lay down the pavement before asphalt companies closed for the season.

“We had hoped that from Labor Day 2009 to the time where the asphalt plates closed in late November that we would be able to complete the streets in block one,” Special Projects Manager Ken Shingledecker said. “But we were not able to.”

The construction process is to be taken in three phases, the overall project becoming a two-year process to be completed by spring of 2011.

The plan was to avoid using summer months for construction as they are primarily peak tourist months. The first block is due to be completed by June 11 of this year.

The construction will not only bring heated sidewalks and street, but also provide changes in the curbing to allow a shorter distance for pedestrians to cross. New street trees and planters will also be included in the additions.

Downtown businesses have felt some frustration with

the delay of the project.

“I was totally for the project at first,” Melissa Muskovin, one of the owners of the Pavilion Wharf and Deli said. “But the first part of the project was only originally supposed to last 55 days, not the 180 it’s currently taking. Right now, the construction is a bother. It just isn’t comfortable for people to come down with the construction and the fences.”

In order to provide an immediate benefit for the delay, an ice rink has been made where the construction currently is located.

“THE SKATING RINK WILL BE SAFE, FUN AND DIFFERENT. IT COULD REALLY BRING PEOPLE DOWN THERE AND IS SOMETHING I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.”

--Patrick McGinnis “The skating rink will be safe, fun and different,” City Manager Patrick McGinnis said. “It could really bring people down there and is something I am really looking forward to.”

Hopes are that the ice rink will bring people through to where the construction is and stimulate all the businesses who may be hurting.

The final date for the entire project to be completed will not be pushed farther back, so long as everything else goes according to plan.

“The only thing that has been pushed off schedule is block one,” Shingledecker said. “Everything else is still on the original schedule.”

MAKING THE BEST: The ice rink on Washington Ave is now open to the public. It was added in efforts to draw people back to downtown businesses. Photo by Grace Sterenberg

4 News THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

High school mentors assist middle school students with homework as part of after school program CHLOE DAULT Reporter

Just CHILL ASSISTING AMATEURS: Senior mentor Jeanne Sherman helps a middle school student with homework at the River Haven Village Clubhouse. Community CHILL helps students complete homework in a learning lab with the help of high schoool mentors. Photo by Grace Sterenberg

CHILL is a program where kids who don’t have help with their schoolwork will receive all the help they need. It gives students a chance to meet their potentials and work together with high school mentors.

Community CHILL program takes place at the clubhouse at River Haven and is coordinated by Kim Boersema, secretary to Lake Shore Middle School Principal Julia Houle. Their goal is to help struggling students who live in or near the River Haven Village trailer park complete their schoolwork in a learning lab.

“I gather kids’ homework for them,” Boersema said. “I assist kids with their homework and I help them to be organized.”

Boersema is not the only one who runs the CHILL program. Other high school

and request additional score reports with no added charge.

More information can be picked up about the ACT and other tests in Student Services.

BUC

Briefs ACT registration nears Registration packets for the ACT test are available to be picked up in Student Services, however Student Services does not accept completed packets. Students must mail the packets into registration. Be sure to mail your packet by the due date that is printed on the envelopes to avoid late fees. There is also an ACT website where students can become members.

“We encourage all students, even those who register by mail to create a free ACT web account,” Testing coordinator Daphine Weber said.

Online at actstudent.org you can make changes to your registration, look at your scores, print your admission ticket

Join chess club today Chess is a game of strategy and tactics, and what better to practice your chess skills and exercise your brain than with peers with similar interests? Chess Club is a meets every Tuesday after school in Mr. Evink’s room 7201. The club is open for all chess champs, as well as novices to the game. Junior Erik Johnson and friends started the club and have a real passion for the game.

“I’ve always loved chess,” Johnson said. “And I love getting to play it with all of my friends at school.”

Come to chess club any Tuesday and put your classmates into Check Mate!

Athletes begin winter season The winter sport season is now fully under way with all practices and competitions started. The Boys and Girls Basketball teams play at home against Rockford in a huge conference game tonight in the field house. Everyone is welcome to attend. On Saturday the Boys Varsity Bowling team plays at the Reeths Puffer Invitational. The Varsity Wrestling will be competing in the Williamson Invitational and the Varsity Hockey team plays at Forrest Hills Central on Saturday as well.

mentors help her make the program a success. Senior mentor Jeanne Sherman enjoys helping her younger peers “If I have knowledge, why can’t I share it with others?” Sherman said.

Sherman finds that she looks forward to CHILL almost as much as the students do. “[The kids] really teach you a lot,” Sherman said. “They are always happy to see you.”

Boersema is in charge of coordinating everyone involved in the program and is also in charge of getting grants for the program. Most of the money to run the program is funded by the Grand Haven Schools Foundation.

Sherman, like other mentors with the program, goes two or three times a week, and loves getting to be a positive influence on the kids she works with.

“No matter what you do or say they always think a lot of you because you’re older,” Sherman said with a laugh.

Along with helping students at River Haven complete their homework, CHILL also creates opportunities for the students and mentors to go out and do community service in the area, like ringing the Salvation Army bells during Christmas time and helping out at a program called Soup for All. “We’re trying to teach kids you don’t have to have a lot to give a lot,” Boersema said.

Wind turbines fight ordinance A Grand Rapids group is proposing the construction of two utility-size industrial wind turbines in Grand Haven Township. The group is seeking to be granted an exception from the current Grand Haven zoning ordinance, under which the proposed construction would be disallowed. If passed, the turbines would be constructed near the Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant at Lake Michigan Drive and Lakeshore Drive in the township.

“The reason we are proposing the turbines at the current location is that the city owns the LMFP property on which we might like to locate the WETS and could provide electricity directly on site,” Haris Alibasic, Grand Rapids Energy and Sustainability director, said. “We are also considering solar panels to accompany the wind turbines.”

Choir to go on field trip GHHS Choirs are taking an exciting field trip this month. The students in Chorale, Concert, and Chamber choirs were offered the opportunity to see one of the greatest choirs in the world, St. Olaf. This choir is the singing group from St. Olaf Lutheran College in Minnesota.

The students will have a choice of attending one of two different performances. One concert is on Sunday, January 31 in Kalamazoo, the other on Thursday, February 11 in Grand Rapids.

“The experience is simply life-changing,” Choir Director Shirley Lemon said.

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE News 5

NHS Writing lab helps underclassmen improve grades DEVIN CHAN Reporter It is often difficult for underclassmen to ask teachers for help, especially in a subject such as English, where there is no definite answer to each question. Thanks to National Honor Society, there is now a student-led writing lab during all three lunch periods.

“What we do in the writing lab is peer editing,” NHS advisor Karen Flanigan said. “Anybody can do peer editing, but the better writers sometimes really take the kid’s minds and give them stronger writing techniques, just some things to do.”

NHS officer Austin Langlois, who helped with the writing lab earlier this year, agrees. “[The students who need help] come in, we sit down and introduce ourselves. I read [the paper] and make corrections on it,” Langlois said. “Then we go through it together to tell them what they could improve on and what they did well. A lot of them did not understand how to do transitions or a topic sentence, so then we, the NHS students, guide them through the paper.”

The writing lab is also to help create a bond between students.

“The idea is that we want the students to build a relationship with each other over time,” Flanigan said. “The purpose of the writing lab is to establish more community between the upperclassmen and the underclassmen.”

Working at a school in Milwaukee gave Flanigan the idea, through their well-established writing lab.

“I always thought that was the coolest thing,” Flanigan

Second trimester PE rolling For the first time there are two yoga classes going on at the same time. During first hour teachers James Richardson and Derek Warner each have yoga classes, with 50 students per class. With one class in the auxiliary gym and the other in the wrestling room, there is no trouble with space.

“I like the class, but Fridays are the best,” said junior Jordan Hoogerhyde. “On Fridays, we get a free choice day and choose from different activities like: dodge ball, basketball, badminton, and volleyball. For those who just want to hang out with friends, they are able to walk around the track in the gym.”

Warner is also teaching Outdoor Education classes that just finished a lifeguard unit and had the chance to swim in the freezing, icy Lake Michigan in the winter. Now, they are on to sledding, skiing, and all other extreme winter activities.

Science Olympiad starts season Grand Haven’s Science Olympiad season has officially started.

The team is a few weeks into practices, and everything is running smoothly. The kids in brainy events are already studying, and the “techies” are getting back into the swing of building. Head coach Mike Reed wholeheartedly believes that this year the team will go very far.

“This year we have so many national medallists on the team that we can not legally compete them all,” Reed said.

“That’s truly amazing.”

WONDERFUL WRITING: Freshman Austin Schild gets help on his writing from NHS officers Austin Langlois and Nick Ackerson. The NHS writing lab is now open during all lunches for anyone who would like help with their writing from NHS members. Photo by Grace Sterenberg

said. “Anytime a paper was due, a class extension would be made and the kids had to go to the writing lab and have it stamped.”

The writing lab is not limited to only underclassmen.

“It’s open for anyone who wants help,” Flanigan said

Although Langlois’s job was to help correct novice mistakes, he added that the experience was more than just helping other students.

“I just like doing it,” Langlois said. “It’s fun and I get the satisfaction of helping others.”

Junior class organizes prom

Spanish students to visit Spain

Prom is approaching quickly and junior senate members are ordering invitations, tickets and decorations. A midnight sky was chosen as the theme and members are searching for ideas pertaining to this.

“Students outside of senate can help senate members make decisions and come to meetings,” said Elizabeth Gervais, math teacher and junior senate advisor. “Anyone can come to meetings but they just can’t vote on the issues.”

Senate meetings are the second Thursday of every month and all students are encouraged to attend.

Senate improves classrooms The freshman Student Council is in the process of replacing and fixing broken pencil sharpeners. They will also be placing new, highly needed, tissue boxes in every single classroom.

“We should expect to see an improvement in classes soon,” said freshman senate member Madison Case.

Extra money donated to charity The Grand Haven Student Advisory Council has recently made a generous donation from the $2,000 they had left over from their budget last year. This past December, they bought a Love Incorporated Food truck and also donated additional money to Love Inc. and other local charities that were in need of help. They also bought $1,000 worth of fleece to make blankets for those less fortunate in the winter season so that they can be warm and happy.

This year for spring break Spanish students will have the opportunity to go on a school-organized trip to Spain. “ I am super excited about the opportunity to bring students to another country and watch them experience new places, new food, new people and practice language skills,” Spanish teacher Kirstan Jorgenson said.

For more information on this trip visit the Spanish department located in pod eight.

Book selected for community The community has selected A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson for its January reading.

“The community read is when everyone from Spring Lake to Grand Haven reads the same book,” Library Assistant, Mandy Miller said. “We have it displayed here in our library so students and staff can check it out.”

Vintage shop needs donations The Vintage shop is a new portion of the Buc Stop where students can buy highly discounted clothing, games, and other items that have been donated. While the shop has quite a few items already, mainly coming from the staff in our district, there is still in great need for items to get the store started and you can help!

“There is a massive red donation bin in the main office,” Social Studies teacher Mary Jane Evink said. “We are going to especially look for prom dresses in the next month and then we hope to have a prom dress sale.”

6 News THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Home of the Free and Reduced

Recent study indicating that 30 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunches may suprise many

HUNGRY HOOLIGANS: The cafeteria line is flooded with hungry students everyday. A recent study showed that 30 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Photo by Grace Sterenberg

provide the school breakfast program as well if at least 20 percent of the student body is eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Numerous studies show that it is vital especially for young adults and children to eat breakfast, as it helps their ability to learn and retain information.

MOLLIE LABEFF Funding for breakfast and lunch programs is based on Reporter the number of students who qualify. Since eating breakfast Grand Haven High School: the image in our heads is can be a struggle for low-income families, Michigan the stereotypical female junior, hauling her Algebra II schools are finding methods to increase breakfast program textbook in a new Vera Bradley bag. She’s clad in Hollister participation. merchandise, decked out in 14 karats and on her seventh “I’d like to see more students taking advantage of hair flip since leaving Pod Five. It may breakfast in their school,” not seem out of the ordinary, but this Darnton said.

“VOLUNTEERING IS SUCH AN upper-middle class image is hardly the The health value of IMPORTANT PART OF LEARNING. case. what the students are ONCE KIDS START HELPING PEOPLE, eating is important as well.

A recent study indicates that 30 percent of GHHS students are eligible Lunches served to students THEY GET THE BUG. THEY START for free and reduced lunches. The who qualify for free and GAINING GRATITUDE AND APPREMichigan Department of Education reduced must meet nutrition CICATION FOR WHAT THEY HAVE.” requirements such as calorie announced that in order to qualify for reduced lunches, the annual income in intake and protein amounts.

--Mary Jane Evink a family of four must be 40,793 dollars To ensure this, the student or less. must get a Type A lunch in “We don’t require proof of income,” Director of Food order for it to be free.

Services Mary Darnton said. “Families report their income Many families, even at Grand Haven need assistance on the honor system.” from the lunch program. Other volunteer food service Families are required to fill out an application form in programs such as can drives and the Thanksgiving food order to qualify, though not all choose to. drive at the middle schools also help.

“There are even more families that qualify but won’t “Volunteering is such an important part of learning,” take it because of pride.” volunteer coordinator Mary Jane Evink said. “Once kids start helping people, they get the Evink said. bug. They start gaining gratitude and appreciation for what Michigan school districts are also required by law to they have.”

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE News 7

New business helps Film maker rides wave of success students, parents Former GHHS graduate Vince Deur, is find cash for college most known for starting his own proALUMNUS OF THE MONTH

duction company, his movie “Unsalted” featuring surfing in the Great Lakes, and his film in progress, “Eco-Warrior”. He founded the Surfrider Foundation’s Lake Michigan chapter in 2007, and recently traveled to Washington DC with the Healing our Waters Coalition

KAILIN VANOORDT Reporter

GRACE STERENBERG News Editor What were your hobbies/accomplishments in high school?

Surfing, Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Music & Art. What did you do immediately following high school?

I went to college, but quickly decided that I wanted to work a year or so before doing so, I built seawalls along Lake Michigan. It was great pay for the moment and allowed me to surf, but the real lesson for me was that I needed an education if I really wanted to have choices in my life.

How did you get into surfing, and what made you have a passion for it?

I started around eighth grade, but it took a few years to get the hang of, since I did not have all the gear (board & wetsuit) and waves are more common in the fall/ winter/spring.

How did you get into videography, and what is your favorite thing about your job?

I started filming my friends skateboarding, snowboarding and eventually surfing. But I was really just inspired by the way sounds and pictures together told a larger story.

Any cool places you’ve traveled, and why you went there?

New Zealand is for sure one of my favorites, it was like going into the “wardrobe” and into Narnia for me... A childhood dream come true. I was shooting for a project

SURFER DUDE: Vince Deur in his surfing gear while enjoying one of his many hobbies. Find out more about Vince Deur Productions at www.vdpllc.com. Courtesy photo

called Eco-Warrior, that is being edited in California now. Very close 3 way tie for my second [favorite place] was Chile, Spain & Japan, all of which were visited for the same project.

How did you get the idea for “Unsalted”?

Describe the process of making the movie, the public reaction, etc..

Movies like Endless Summer & Big Wednesday inspired me, but I guess I just knew there was a story here that not many people knew about... And I was lucky enough to be right. I got the idea for the word Unsalted from a Land-O-Lakes butter package.

What advice do you have for current high school students?

Believe in your dreams but know that nothing comes without hard work and sacrifice. Although, it may seem sometimes that what you’re learning may not play a role in your future, remember you need to “learn how to learn...” And it does not stop after college, It’s a constant process. But keep an open mind, forgive yourself when you fail, and then get up and go for it again.

For many high school students and their parents, the prospect of paying for college is a terrifying one.

For one man with six children, this problem fueled the determination to find a solution.

Jon Dault along with Scott Tenhagen, who also teaches at Lake Shore Middle School, have made it their business to save college students and their parents hundreds, even thousands of dollars in college tuition. With their recently established business, College Planning Professionals (CPP), they hope to lighten the financial load of a college education in our current economic crisis.

“My main goal is to bring people peace of mind,” Dault said. “I have six children of my own, so I know how stressful it is. We had to figure out how to pay.”

CPP, located on Washington Street in downtown Grand Haven, has many services offered to students and parents looking for help applying to colleges and receiving financial aid. These services include ACT and SAT prep classes, admission essay reviews, counseling through college, student profiling and career interests to determine the best choice of colleges, help with filing FAFSA forms, and information about additional financial aid.

Dault reveals that the reason that many parents and students go broke going to college is simply because they do not have enough information about financial aid.

“If parents are informed of the real financial aid story every child should be able to go to college.” Dault said “Let’s get your child to the college that best fits their personal interests for the least amount of cost for the parents. It can be a simple process if you know how to navigate through it.”

Dault and Tenhagen held about 60 seminars in the state of Michigan last year, in order to raise awareness to their cause. They make visits to high schools to inform parents and students alike that there is still hope. Parents can send their children to college and not have to forgo their retirement fund to do so.

“We make the application and financial aid process stress free and hassle free,” Dault said. “My hope is that every child who wants to go to college can. “

Race to the top could bring much needed funding ZAK KONARSKA Editorial Editor The school board signed a resolution on Dec. 8 granting the Superintendent and the Board President power to sign a memo of understanding required by the Michigan Department of Education to potentially qualify for federal Race To The Top Funding (RTTT) which could bring the school $168,277. But before the state can dish out the RTTT funding it must first qualify and receive the money from the federal government.

The board voted nearly unanimously to approve the resolution. Joanne Query cast the only dissenting vote at the mid-day meeting, citing her dislike for the overall legislation. Critics of RTTT have expressed fear that the money could come with strings attached.

As the Michigan fights its way through an economic down turn it tries to keep its head out of the engulfing debt By law, the state must balance its budget. Many legislators have suggested school funding as an area where cuts can be made.

Since the public school system is a major avenue for taxpayer dollars, the state announced in October that they would cut the school foundation allowance by $165 per student for this school year. The announcement that they made a few weeks later added a “notice of proration” for an additional $127 per student has been halted, but funding remains uncertain. Although GHAPS has avoided major cuts and staff layoffs by dipping into its fund balance and making efficiencies, like many districts it could find the RTTT dollars crucial in the future.

About Obama’s Race to the Top Fund: Funding awards will go to states that lead the way with the best plans for education reform. States are asked to advance reforms around four specific areas: --Adopting standards that prepare students to succeed in college, the workplace, and the global economy --Building data systems to help teachers monitor students’ success and improve teaching strategies --Recruiting, developing and rewarding effective staff members where they are needed --Turning around lowest-achieving schools Find more at: www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop

8 News THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday January 15,2010

My Life

Can U TXT me the answer PLZ?

Grace Sterenberg

I’ll never put the bottle down...

When life gets hectic, crazy, stressful, or just gets to be too much, we all have our own way of dealing with it -- whether it’s taking a drive, talking it over with someone, or maybe just screaming into a pillow for a while. Oddly, what works for me is painting my nails. I could have an unimaginable pile of homework before me, a room to clean, and even college essays to write, yet my parents will often find me sitting over my books, fingers spread out, polish bottle in hand. In fact,right now I happen to be letting my bottom coat of “plum pudding” dry.

Now don’t get me wrong, just because I’ve had plenty of practice doesn’t make me an up and coming cosmetologist. My nails somehow still look like a six year-old painted them (not that I really care). At age six though, painting my nails was more of a hobby for me than a stress reliever.

The colors I started off with were the same any kid would pick to color themselves with. My nails were lime green, glittery purple, even yellow or silver. Life was good, and all I had to worry about were things I couldn’t even find the time to think about now. For example wondering when the next time I spontaneously just fell down while walking would be, or whether or not I’d get in trouble for sneaking that last piece of Halloween candy after I’d already brushed my teeth. I remember getting packs of cheap nail polish for birthdays that came with every color in the rainbow, and the comments from my relatives about the usefulness of all these options. Who would ever use all those crazy colors? This girl.

When I went off to middle school, I regrettably lost a large portion of my carefree attitude, regarding not only my nail polish preferences, but my actions and behaviors as well. The cool color then was hot pink, or in my case, “juicy watermelon”. Cute huh? Ew. Hot pink is arguably my least favorite color, sight, idea, anything. In my book it’s right there with vomit or maybe an oozing pus-filled wound. Don’t ask me why, it’s just not me. Unfortunately at this point in my life, what I liked didn’t seem to be quite as important as fitting in. Nobody noticed that my nails were hip, and nobody would have made fun of me if they weren’t, but I was willing to do anything it took to belong. I’m glad to say that my insatiable desire to be like everyone else was never able to take that part of me away.

Freshman year is nerve-wracking for most, exciting for many, and for some it’s a chance to start over. I won’t be all dramatic and say that starting high school was a chance for me to start over completely, seeing as I was around most of the exact same people, but it was an opportunity to make something new of myself. My colors then were anything I felt like, whether it was light blue, or the color I obsessed over, neon orange. For the first time in well, ever, I could relax, not having to worry about how to act or look or what I was going to do on the weekends. My thoughts at this point in my life were though still immature, becoming optimistic. Without the stress of fitting in, I was able to focus on much needed family relationships, school work, and so on. High school wouldn’t be all that bad…or so I thought.

Sadly however, it sucks. People change and eventually grow apart, finding new friends to talk bad about the old ones with. I had some friends, but no one knew me. In fact I don’t even know if I knew me.

My nails were never black. (My mother disapproved). I had anything I could find that was dark: navy blue, deep maroon, even brown. Not because I was “emo” or hated the world or anything, but because I was just in a phase where I didn’t really know what or who was important to me, or really care. All the while I knew in the back of my head that this attitude was temporary, and I’m happy to say that I think I’m ready to move on to a bigger, new life.

Growing up has molded and shaped me in different ways through different experiences and events, and the colors of my nails have reflected these changes. Always though, I move on to a new phase of life before each bottle of polish runs dry. I am left with a drawer full of lime green, juicy watermelon, neon orange, and maroon all mixed together in a symbolic heap, wondering if they’ll ever be touched again.

TECHIE TEACHER: Social studies teacher Rory Callendar uses his interactive white board to display the webside WIFFITI. This cost freewebsite allows students to text their answers to with the use of their cell phones. Photo by Grace Sterenberg

New technology allows teacher Rory Callendar to incorporate cellular phones into lessons

code was kind of annoying,” freshman Brittney Olds said.

Callendar also saw the negatives to this new use of technology because it is hard to monitor who every student is texting at once.

“I don’t know if they are [just] texting to my screen,” Callendar said.

CHLOE DAULT Another problem also arrived in this ‘trial run’.

Reporter What if students don’t have a cell phone? CallenMost teachers seem to be looking for an opdar says he called cell phone services around town portunity to snatch a not so secretly hidden cell to see if they could donate phones, programmed phone from under a desk to find the source of that for educational purposes to the school. annoying beeping. Social Studies teacher Rory “I also found out that there is a way to use the Callendar however has a different outlook on cell website from home as well, and answers can be phones. texted from either a cell phone or a computer,” “[The meeting] made me think how maybe cell Callendar said. “We still have to find a way to phones can be used in a positive solve this issue.” way in classes,” Callendar said.

Callendar sees a bright “I AM EXCITED TO He decided to do just that: infuture of cell phones in LOOK FOR NEW WAYS corporate cell phones in his lesson classes to come.

TO SHOW STUDENTS plan. He began looking into web “There are a million WE’RE ON THEIR applications, and found WIFFITI. different ways to teach This allows his students to text an and this is an exciting TEAM.” answer to a website and it shows one,” Callendar said.

--Rory Callendar up on his interactive white board.

Olds however does not “You texted the computer,” think it would be a good freshman George Austin said. “It idea to use the cell phones was pretty weird.” again.

For Callendar, the web application was very “I can’t think of any way that they could be that pleasing. productive,” Olds said.

“As far as technology is concerned, it’s the latAt the end of this new teaching technique est and greatest,” Callendar said.

Callendar was still pleased and interested to see This is one of the first ways that cell phones what will happen with technology in schools in the have been allowed and used in the classroom. The future. trial run went as most do, with a few kinks to work “For me, I am excited to look for new ways to out. show students we’re on their team,” Callendar “Just to get the website up and to type in the said.

10 Editorial THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Legislators leave MI smokers out in the cold and we couldn’t care less Starting in May 2010, Michigan’s smoking population will be left out in the cold as Michigan joins 37 other states that have signed the smoking ban. The law prohibits smoking in public places, including restaurants, hotels, and bars. This STAFF means that business owners EDITORIAL no longer have the power to regulate smoking within their own establishments, they can put it out or put up a fine.

The public smoking debate started over second hand smoke, the idea that we are all at risk of inhalation related illness because of a careless but currently legal smoker and the byproduct of his or her vice. Many legislators believe that most businesses will benefit due to an increase in non-smokers attendance at bars, bowling alleys, and other exhaust avenues.

We believe that although smoking is a right it becomes a negative presence in public places seeing as a single smoker can leave an entire restaurant of non-smokers uncomfortable and hacking up lungs.

In addition the non-smoker population out numbers the smokers, so businesses could easily be increasing there customer flow by prohibiting smoking, there is nothing worse, as a non-smoker, than walking into a diner and being confronted by a yellow haze that has already caked the walls. A lot of places would seem more welcoming if only it weren’t for the smoke.

In North Carolina you can throw a stick and hit a beach, a basketball, or a tobacco field. If North Carolina bans smoking then Michigan needs to atleast approach the idea.

Go online and search for the opinions of citizens in other smoking banned states. You will find many people praising the ban and its the freshness they seem to feel it brings. Starting in May go to a usual restaurant smoke house, take a deep breath and smell the difference.

Blade Staff

Tracy Wilson

Conner Lundeen

T.J. Roth

QUESTIONS

Keith Swets

FIVE problems we addressed for you the reader and the responses to those problems from FIVE of your peers, teachers and administrators

What would you think if the state put a ban on texting and driving?

“I would approve of that even though I’ve done it a few times myself. It’s an extreme distraction.”

“I think it’s a good idea from an overall perspective. But it would stink because I am in the car a lot, and it’s easy to text and drive.”

“Good idea.”

What do you think about the ban on smoking?

“Yes but only because most other states have already done it. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“When people go to places they don’t want to have to worry about smoking. Some people have health conditions.”

“It’s ridiculous that they are enforcing it everywhere. It takes away from the atmosphere of certain establishments. “

Are the heated sidewalks worth shutting down Washington Street?

“I can’t comment on that because I don’t live here in Grand Haven. But it doesn’t cause any inconvenience to me.”

“I think in the long run it’ll be worth it. It’s not realy that big of a deal now either.”

“As far as health is concerned, yes. [And it raises] the enjoyment factor of going out to [eat] and not having to worry about smelling like a smoke stack.”

“Yes. People still go downtown in “No. It’s not good for business the winter, like in the morning to owners. They struggle enough get coffee. They don’t want to slip during winter.” and fall.”

Smoking is a person’s right, however the effects of second hand smoke makes us belive that the state is right in limitting the posibility of that contact.

We won’t know until they’re needed, but right now its looking llike a pain for downtown business.

What are your thoughts on the school funding crisis?

How will the Bucs’ fare this year?

“I think we need to find a way to get the revenue needed for schools.”

“I think the state shouldn’t be making cuts in schools.

Schools should be the last thing to be cut.”

The only way the to justify cutting school funding is a communist invasion, period.

“I think they are going to be good. I think we will win regionals.”

“If Nate can really step out and lead then they can be really good.”

“It’s really bad. Education should It’s an issue. We have to come be priority of the states funding up with a way to fund schools because the ideas from education better, bottom line. . is where the future lies.”

“I think they’re going to finish “They’re number one!” strong in conference. They got off to such a fast start.”

“I think its great. I don’t think you should have that distraction while driving. I feel I have to be a defensive driver when people do that.”

Although we all do it on occasion something needed to be done and the roads are a lot safer for it.

The Bucs are bringing home honors and thats the truth.

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Opinion 11

Intexticated driving...over the (160 character) limit Opinion

With winter in full effect, the last thing a parent wants is to get a call saying that their kid lost their life in an accident. Texting and driving, not guns, not drugs, is the biggest reason those calls need to be made. The weather causes a big enough risk to teens on the road and cell phone use highly increases that risk.

A recent study by The Virginia John Cherette Tech Transportation Institute found Reporter texting makes driving 23 times more dangerous. The study found drunk driving is only 11 times more dangerous. Driving drunk can get you put in jail, but texting while driving isn’t against the law. We have to take it upon ourselves to be safer. No message is more important than your life.

In a 2007 study conducted by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) found that 21 percent of fatal crashes involving teens ages 16 thru 19 were caused by cell phone usage. The scariest part about that statistic is that it is expected to rise by four percent every year.

The state legislature recently passed a bill to ban texting while driving. It will be made a secondary offense, meaning a person would not be able to be pulled over just for texting, but if pulled over for another offense they would be given a $100 fine along with the consequences for which they were pulled over.

The SADD study also showed some shocking examples of teen’s judgment. Although 37 percent of teens surveyed rated texting while driving as “extremely distracting,” 50 percent of those surveyed said they texted while driving anyway.

Most people wouldn’t drive if they knew they were drunk, but wouldn’t think twice of driving while texting.

I think it’s because the average person doesn’t know how dangerous texting and driving really is. Until I read that

Photo illustration by Tyler Appel study, neither did I. Hopefully the new ban can open our eyes to how dangerous it really is. The roads are bad enough as it is. We don’t need to further increase the risk of getting into an accident.

It’s unfortunate that the state had to make a law to keep people from doing something that should just be common sense. The ban is here and people will probably keep texting and driving anyway. I just hope it helps people think before they decide to put themselves in danger. If it saves one person’s life, the law is worth it.

FAST FACTS --Drivers are six times more likely to become distracted and cause an accident if they are text messaging.

--Distracted drivers account for almost 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

--Michigan State Medical Society (www.msms.org)

School clubs deserve praise for bettering the community Opinion In a world where people need people, and not everyone can stand on their own, groups come together to become a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand. These groups are formed in all different communities, including Grand Haven High School. Interact and G.R.E.E.N are two examples of clubs at Grand Haven that help the Kali Rea community.

Reporter Interact Club, a volunteer group led by math teacher John Mauro, deals with events such as Box City (a homeless awareness event) and Elves and More (an event where bikes were donated to children in a needy area of Grand Rapids). They understand that there is work to be done outside of our local area and have worked with Women in Transition as well as Grand Rapids’ Degage.

Every spring the club takes a trip to a place in the states that has been hit by a natural disaster and volunteer

their services. Last year the trip was to North Dakota, and previous years have taken the club to places such as Tennessee and California.

The club also teamed up with G.R.E.E.N for events like the Beach Sweep, to take care of trash on the beach.

Junior and Interact president Carly LaVercombe is involved in most available volunteering opportunities the club offers. She keeps members informed with E-mails and texts of the latest club events and tries to inform people not involved of what’s going on as well to get them interested.

“It’s the one thing you can do that people won’t judge you for,” LaVercombe said. “It makes people happy.”

LaVercombe has been involved in interact for three years now, and says she could never picture herself without the club.

On the other hand teacher Dave Stader leads G.R.E.E.N club which focuses more on recycling and doing good work for the environment. The club recycles plastic bottles, paper, and ink cartridges.

G.R.E.E.N bought bins for the school to recycle paper and bottles that they empty a large amount of recycling out of every Thursday at the club meetings. They’ve made

efforts to encourage recycling in the cafeteria as well, but are still aiming for a bit better turn out.

They have been beginning the K-12 program, which tries to introduce recycling to kids at a younger age so that it may become a habit for them by the time they get to high school. In the spring they are going to try to run a hardware recycling program where people can bring any old hardware they have and recycle it.

Both of these groups have members who don’t simply care about their school, but also the whole world. Often time’s people think they are just one person, one group, one school...but they don’t see that they aren’t the only ones who feel this “IT’S THE ONE THING way; if they realized what a big difference YOU CAN DO THAT PEOPLE WON’T JUDGE just one person could make when they YOU FOR.” recycle or help out

-- Carly LaVercombe another in some way, then just imagine (as John Lennon would say) what a different world we could live in.

12 Opinion THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

A prickly situation in library

Seating ban in library caused by cacti stirs up students wishing to sit there Opinion

MARISA ENOS Managing Editor

The majority of my mornings in high school have been spent finishing up my homework from the night before, sleeping, or just relaxing before another long day at school.

My morning sanctuary hosted several others before and after my time is now blocked off for future students use: the place that I speak of being the floor by the giant window in the back of the library.

“The kids were goofing around and knocked one of the cacti over,” librarian Ann Guimond said.

“They knocked it over and it fell on

someone’s leg.”

I understand why administration blocked off this section of the library—the incident shows kids last year were irresponsible and careless. But we have started another school year—isn’t it time to forgive and forget?

Isn’t it time to give another chance to a new school year?

Isn’t it time for a fresh start? This year we should be given an opportunity to prove ourselves.

“It’s also an issue of safety,” Guimond said. “The cacti are heavy and also have prickers. I always tell kids not to sit back there because they have fallen over in the past.”

I completely understand why a school would be concerned about student safety. It’s understandable that the cacti are blocked off to students. But now there’s the question everyone should be asking now: Why would a school knowingly have something that is considered a threat to students? I’m not suggesting we get rid of them, just merely trying to prove a point. But in all seriousness, if it really is safety they’re concerned about, then maybe more than just rope barriers should be put up.

Every morning I watch on as a group of four girls

coming into the library and poking the cactus, laugh annoyingly and obnoxiously and scurrying away. What if one of these girls pokes the cactus a little too hard, with a little bit too much force, and it topples over, harming the student. This barrier is simply not stopping anyone who wants to touch the cacti or anyone who is goofying around

and heading toward a ‘History repeats itself’ situation.

Given the current situation and arrangement either the school needs to enhance the security around the cacti to “protect” students or they need to get over themselves and realize their rope barriers aren’t stopping anyone from venturing from the “safe” side.

Whether it’s the student who fights until the death for the extra point to perfection, or the one who takes public satisfaction of doing better than everyone else in the class, grades have become more a way of saying you’ve conformed to what the teacher wants out of you.

“I think grades represent what teachers want you to know and not necessarily what you should know,” senior Hannah Bodrie said.

Grades have become tainted and seem to solely measure status and defines the very caste system on which our school functions.

“Grades today serve as a label,” senior Erin Page said.

“Even though we have been taught to avoid labeling all our lives.”

What we fail to recognize is that it’s not a letter based on regurgitation talents that matter, but rather the amount we learn and grow from what we accomplish. Students should

not look for praise in their work but instead the criticism that will better improve and harness their abilities.

“People will take AP classes just to better their GPA,” Page said. “Taking 5 AP classes doesn’t allow you to learn the information. It just says how good you are at cramming and memorizing. You aren’t really providing anyone with an accurate representation of yourself.”

So next time you get an “A” on that English paper, Math test, or Bio project and “call it good” don’t overwhelm yourself with self pride. Instead, ask yourself: “What could I have done better?” and “How can this apply this to my future success or failures?” And everything you do in school can be applied to one of those questions.

Remember, when you’re out in the real world, it’s not simply a letter that will earn you money and keep a roof over your head. It is, however, the knowledge and skill you retain that measures true success.

The alphabet defines us as students

Grades drive students rather than knowledge needed for success

Opinion

GREG ROKISKY Reporter

Grades. A concept with such little meaning behind it seems to carry us students so far we are blinded from the more important foundation grades stem from: knowledge.

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Photo 13

IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS Popular course challenges boundaries, gives students chance to develop life skills

(clockwise from) POLAR PLUNGE: Derek Warner’s 5th hour Ed class strikes a pose after running into the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. The class took the challenge on the Friday before Christmas break. courtesy photo. TAKING A DIVE: Seniors Charlie Ainsworth and Tanner Schaap take a dive into the pool during a recent class. LEARNING TO SKI: Warner assists a student from Central high school down the bunny hill at the Ski Bowl. “it’s a great opportunity for seniors to try or find activities they can do for the rest of their lives, said Warner of the class’ emphasis on outdoor activities. SOARING: 5th hour Outdoor Ed students show off their skills on the jump at the Ski Bowl. the class regularly provides studens with a chance to get out of the normal school routine. “I enjoy teaching it because I get to spend half the day off campus with my students,” Warner said. FLOATING: Exchange student Niklas Haan tests the bouyancy of a flotation device he made from a pair of jeans. In addition to recreational activities, the course also emphasizes practical outdoor skills. photos by Teal Champagne.

14 Inside THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday January 15, 2010

Simply Life Teal Champagne

Epic Fail You know those days where nothing goes right? Those times where you’re like, “are you kidding me right now?”

Those things that happen that are so ridiculous they’re almost funny? These moments can only be classified as epic failures or in this case, my epic failures. However at the end.

I’m at the mall when I find the perfect sweater I’ve been looking for, for months. Naturally, I buy it, despite it costing my entire paycheck. I wear it once, wash it, run to the dryer to wear it again, only to find it shrunk to a size that would only fit the doll I had when I was five…epic fail.

It’s the night before a wedding, the first day of school, senior pictures, insert big special event of your choice here.

I have to look really good for this event. I have my whole outfit planned already. I wake up in the morning only to find a huge red pimple in the middle of my forehead, it’s like I have a whole other face…epic fail.

It’s my last night on vacation so my friend and I decide to pull an all-nighter and watch the sunrise over the ocean.

We’re so exhausted we almost fall asleep several times, but we fight the temptation to just “rest” our eyes for a few minutes. Before we know it, it begins to get light out. We race outside eager to see the magnificent sunrise only to find that it’s so cloudy we can’t see anything at all…epic fail.

I’d be lost without my cell phone. It’s like my child. I’d have no social life without it and be forced to spend… (long dramatic pause)…Saturday night at home alone (gasp). I suddenly can’t find said precious piece of technology. “But I just had it in my hand,” I say. My mind is racing. Where could it be? I’m frantically searching, tearing my house and car apart looking for it. I tell my friend about my dilemma only to find out seconds later that I have indeed been talking on my cell phone the entire time…epic fail.

I’ve just spent the evening hanging out with friends and watching movies. During the movie pretty much everyone, including myself, fell asleep. When the movie ends, around 2:00 am, someone wakes me up so that I can go home.

So groggily I sit up, wipe my eyes and begin walking home half-asleep. I don’t really know what’s going on, but repetition has engrained the route to my house in my mind, so it’s ok. I reach the walkway up to my house just in time for the sprinklers to come on and soak me from my knees down…epic fail.

I believe that in life you have moments you wish with all your might to forget, moments you cherish forever, and moments in between the two extremes when you just can’t help but have an “epic failure” every once in awhile. These in-between moments are sometimes the most important so I have found, for they give you the courage to laugh at yourself, funny stories to relive with your friends and the constant reminder that while life isn’t perfect we must make the most of whatever comes our way.

Actress and comedian Gilda Radner once said, “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.

Sarah

DEZ BURLEY Reporter

The G riffin Twins

FAVORITE COLORS: Black, gray, “blood” red FAVORITE MOVIE: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

FAVORITE COLORS: “Cooler Colors” like purple, green and blue FAVORITE MOVIE: “I don’t have a favorite, but I really like Monty Python and the Holy Grail a lot.”

FAVORITE MUSIC: Mostly rock and pop “I have like five to seven languages of music on my computer.”

FAVORITE MUSIC: J-rock (Japanese rock) and metal. “If it isn’t boy band, pop, country or rap, I’ll give it a try.”

PET PEEVE: “When people interrupt me.”

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE: Tokyo or Berlin, “I’ve never been out of the country.”

HOBBY: Drawing, video games.

BEING A TWIN: “Everyone thinks it’s special, but you just have someone there annoying you most of the time. ”We’re just slightly closer than normal sisters.”

DO YOU GET ALONG?: “We argue but we really don’t fight anymore.”

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE?: “I want to become a math teacher and go to GVSU.” Photo: Amy Potter

Laura

PET PEEVE: Spitting, “It’s gross.”

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE: Tokyo or England HOBBY: Video games.

BEING A TWIN: “It can be really annoying but when you want to do something she’s usually there.”

DO YOU GET ALONG?: “We get along a little more than we used to.”

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE?: GVSU, wants to major in math.

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE 15 Feature

A tradition keeps on r

lling

Reenders family share their stories behind their timeless collection of antique cars.

GREG ROKISKY Reporter Ken, Lawrence and Mark Reenders have a collection well worth knowing about. They have been acquiring antique cars over the past decade and the collection is still growing. The three brothers started the collection and the tradition continues within the family. The eldest of the three, Ken Reenders, began his collection with a car he used to haul around town in.

“I bought a 1930 Model A Pickup in 1957,” Ken Reenders said. “Then I bought a new car, kept the ’30 Model A and started fixing it up about 10 years ago.”

The Reenders’ collection, includes over 30 antique cars.

“We all had a passion for cars,” Reenders said. “That’s how it all started.”

The collecting began with Mark and his 1930 Model A. The passion and hobby continued with Ken and his 1930 Model A and then spread down the Reenders family line, to Ken’s daughter who owns an antique Mustang.

It has been several years since the cars have been driven around and displayed said Reenders.

“About three years ago we stopped bringing out the cars and running them in the parades,” Reenders said. “I’m hoping to possibly get mine out in the spring and continue working on them or let people see them again.”

The cars in the collection include a 1968 Firebird convertible, 1966 Mustang convertible, 1957 Firebird, 1965 Corvette Fastback and a 1972 Cougar Convertible. The cars can be found within each of the three brother’s separate sheds.

Ken doesn’t work much on his cars anymore but hopes for them to stay within the family. Ken’s future plan for his cars is

A TIMELESS COLLECTION: Ken Reenders uncovers the family’s timeless collection of antique cars, which he and his two brothers store in their own separate sheds. While the family stopped displaying the cars in parades three years ago, Ken hopes to start working on the cars this spring and possibly beginning to exhibit them once again. Photo by Teal Champagne

to leave them to his kids and then they will be free to do with them as they please.

“I’m going to keep handing them down to my kids,” Reenders said. “And they can keep handing them down until they are ready to part with them.”

One of the other Reenders brothers, Mark, also collects

Ford tractors. He spends some of his free time working on those and restoring them.

With over a decade of collecting and restoring these timeless antique vehicles, the Reenders family will have all the work and every memory to remind them just how special these cars and other vehicles are.

Interact club participates in Adopt-A-Family Interact club spends this holiday season bringing Christmas and festive joy to families in the community.

CAMILLE JOHNSON Reporter There is a square marked with tape. The number of one lucky anonymous family is inside that square. Slowly the square fills with gift cards, clothes, household items, toys and other presents for the children and parents, which will be picked up the following day.

Grand Haven Interact Club participated in many activities to help the community this past holiday season. Along with this year and in the past, Interact contributed in an event called Adopt-a-Family, hosted by the Salvation Army.

Adopt-a-Family is a program where impoverished families Interact President Carley LaVercombe was invited by a are matched with an individual or group of sponsors. When friend to join; it has been an “eye opening” experience for her. the match is made, the family information and wish lists are “It’s [being Interact club President] a lot of responsibility sent to the sponsor. Sponsors are asked to provide two or but I like putting things together, and being able to organize more new gifts for each member of the houseeverything and help decide what we get to do hold and to provide food for the family for four “... you feel like next. [I enjoy] getting to know the people that to seven days. we help, when we go on trips we get to know you are making Although the students of interact club their stories- its an eye opening experience. a big difference.” Interact is a great way to learn how to talk to never got to actually meet the family, Maggie -- Maggie Smith Smith says it is still a great feeling. “You get to people and get to know them, to just strike up meet a lot of cool people and you feel like you a conversation.” are making a big difference.”

Along with Adopt-a-Family, over the John Mauro, the head of Interact at Grand Haven, exholidays Interact also donated to the Grand Haven Center for plained that Interact club is a world wide community service Women in Transition. Students gathered necessities such as club. There are Interact clubs all around the globe like the toothbrushes, diapers, shampoo, etc. to provide for women one at Grand Haven High School. “It is really cool to see high and children dealing with life-changing situations. schoolers who are here to help others because they love it and “I am very passionate about the club. [Apart of] My style not to get community service hours.” and who I am [is that] I believe serving others is a very imThe club is open to all high schoolers. “My mom actually portant part of life,” Mauro said. “So having the opportunity forced me to go and ask him [Mauro] for the permission slip to do that with a bunch of motivated high schoolers, who also to join,” Smith said. “I hated my life but then as I got involved who want to serve just for the sake of others, is really cool. It I really started to enjoy it. I made my friends join too.” is a really important part of my life. I love it.”

16 Migrant THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday January,15 2010

Migrating his way toward success

After moving from Mexico, spending four years living in a migrant camp student moves his life in the right direction MEGAN BIRKETT positive sides.

Editor-in-chief “I liked that my mom’s friends’ kids and I could play soccer n 2005 Antonio Alvarez started eighth outside and we could hang out with each other, have barbecues and grade as a new student at Lakeshore Middle things,” Alvarez said. “But there were certain younger men that School, coming straight from Guanajuato, a city lived there that were causing lots of trouble, always smoking weed, in the heart of Mexico. As if trying to fit in and always wanting a fight, something I never want.” make friends throughout middle school isn’t Antonio remembers one specific time that he felt he had no difficult enough, he spoke no English. Alvarez choice but to step in. has come a long way since then. Now at 18, “I was in my house and I heard men outside being loud, he is fluent in English, has many friends I knew that they were probably high,” Alvarez said. “When I and plans on attaining his diploma and walked outside they were standing around my sister, saying attending college. [inappropriate] things to her and that really made me mad.”

Those first few months were not an There was one other thing that tended to get on his nerves. easy feat for Antonio.

“Little kids like me and lots of families that worked on the farm “When you come to a new place, would bring their small kids,” said Alvarez with a smile. “They were especially a new country and you always getting into my things.” don’t know anyone, you feel alone.

The Alvarez family’s journey to the U.S. was one with a purpose.

Lonely. Some people, even my Antonio Sr. and Yolanda Alvarez didn’t want their children to live teachers, would talk louder and the life they had seen so many friends and family members live in slower to me in English,” Alvarez said Mexico, one filled with gangs and violence. about his first days at school in the Much of the violence revolves around tensions between United States. “Of course I would Chicanos (American’s of Mexican descent) and native-born laugh, because I still couldn’t Mexicans. The two sides often have rival gangs that are constantly understand what they were fighting. saying to me. Someone would “Chicanos think that they are better than Mexicans,” Alvarez ask me how many brothers said. “Almost all of my cousins are involved [on the side of the and sisters I had and I Mexicans]. There is really only one rule, you see someone that is in would say ‘I’m good how the other gang, you kill them.” are you.’”

Once while taking their annual vacation back to Mexico, Antonio Before Antonio and had a terrifying experience involving a member of a Chicano gang. his three siblings moved here “I was riding in my cousin’s truck after a party our family was with their mother, their dad at,” Alvarez said. “The next thing I knew I heard gun shots and my worked to get their application cousin was bleeding everywhere. He ended up being okay, but that for residency approved. Once he was very scary.” did, they moved to A&L Blueberry Although he has been here for almost five years, high school still farms where his provides its fair share of cruelty. father worked.

“Not long ago a kid asked me during IN MEXICO WE ALL HAD OUR They lived lunch if I spoke English,” Alvarez said. “Just OWN ROOMS. HERE WE HAD to see what he would do, I said no. Then he in the migrant ONLY TWO BEDROOMS AND camp there for started talking about me and saying mean ONE BATHROOM FOR SIX four years. With things as if I wasn’t standing right by him.” terrible plumbing, ESL teacher Ben Lawrence has worked PEOPLE. THAT PART SUCKED. disgusting with Antonio since he moved here.

--Antonio Alvarez restroom facilities “The frustration at the beginning was and cold cinder overwhelming for him,” Lawrence said. block walls, migrant camps can be horror “It took him a good two years to gain enough confidence in his stories. Fortunately, Antonio’s family avoided academics and his language. As he has gained confidence in himself the worst of the conditions. he has only become a nicer person. He is helpful and empathetic to “It really wasn’t that bad,” Alvarez said. “One thing that was kids that need help because he himself has been through it.” hard though was that in Mexico we all had our own rooms. Here After four years of working, the Alvarez family moved off of the we had only two bedrooms and one bathroom for six people, that farm and into their first home in the United States. part sucked.”

While this is a huge accomplishment, it is far from Antonio’s The close proximity in a migrant camp can sometimes cause last step on his journey. Where just four years ago he could barely issues to arise, but Antonio kept a positive mindset. speak the language, today he has big plans for his future.

“If families didn’t get along, it was hard because you’re right “I want to go to college, but I think I will go back to Mexico next door,” Alvarez said. “All families have different rules but so I can do a two year program,” Alvarez said. “But I know that when you’re so close you just have to put up with each by moving away from Mexico while I was younger I have had a other.” better education and life than I would have had. For that I am very Having such tight quarters in the camp also had happy.”

I

1

Friday January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Migrant 17

This is

Megan Megan Birkett

I hope they don’t believe in karma

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND: (From top to bottom) “BLOQUES:” housing with community style bathrooms and cinder block walls inside and out. BROWN CAMP: Known in the past for its septic problems, a few years back this house was ordered to be re-done. Don’t be too quick to judge a book by its cover. “[Four or five years ago] I pulled up... and saw young kids playing around in a small pond sized puddle...It took a second before I realized that it was a pond of the raw sewage that had overflowed,” Lawrence said. A&L FARMS INC.: One of three identical duplexes, while housing is included with your job during the farming season, tenants may pay rent to stay year--round. Photos by Megan Birkett Note: Please look for more regarding migrant camps and housing in our later editions.

2

When we pulled out of the high school parking lot on that chilling, bleak, gray October day, I had no intention of going to sleep later that night appreciating, for the first time that I could remember, my small yet extremely comfortable twin bed. What we were driving to was roughly 10 minutes from my cookie-cutter suburban neighborhood. 10 minutes from perfectly cut lawns. 10 minutes from white picket fences and plenty of shiny new cars. 10 minutes from Grand Haven High School. 10 minutes away might as well have been a different country.

I was on my way to tour several migrant camps that provided housing for employed farm workers in Ottawa County. I had recently learned that some of our students have lived in these camps either seasonally or year-round.

Our first stop was at A&L Blueberry Farms, owned by Al and Miguel Ochoa since 1981. The apartments were very small, often only two bedrooms, a small kitchen, living room and one tiny bathroom, yet they sometimes housed up to nine people each. (Had I really been complaining that I don’t like my very own bathroom at home because it’s in the basement?) There were other houses of various sizes on different areas of the farm. There was even a tiny chapel that the Ochoas built as a place of worship for the migrating employees that didn’t have the means to attend church while working during the blueberry season.

Having heard horror stories about the camps, I was surprised to see that they didn’t look that bad.

“I think the housing for our employees is nicer than some places because my dad and uncle were both migrant workers at one point,” said senior David Ochoa, Al’s son. “Before they began this business, they worked for another farm nearby, working during the day and plowing their newly-owned land at night when they got out, slowly buying more land and building up the farm to where it’s at today. They know both sides.”

Unfortunately, this would be the last time on the tour that I’d have any sort of pleasant surprise.

After leaving A & L, we moved on to what was probably the closest thing to how I pictured the cotton plantations when I learned about them for the first time back in the third grade. Built practically on top of the blueberry fields was what the tenants called “Bloques.” Translation? “Blocks.” It took one glance to understand where they got the nickname. The long rectangular building was built from the ground up from cement cinder blocks, cinder blocks that looked about as cozy and comfortable as a jail cell. Doors separated the different “apartments” at very short distances. Inside were bunks, a table and chairs and maybe a small refrigerator.

As shocking as this was, it was entering the outdoor showers that really brought me to my knees—except not literally because had my knees touched the shower floor, they’d have been covered in a muddy, rusty brown colored, wet mess. The thought that any human being, maybe even some of my classmates, may have had to use these facilities made me feel physically sick to my stomach. It made me angry. As a woman I know what it feels like to want to look clean and beautiful. No one could feel that way about herself after showering there. Compared to what these farms earn in revenue each season, I’m sure it would be a small chunk of change to build a nicer place to shower.

On our way to our third camp, ESL teacher Ben Lawrence shared a horrifying story of one of his trips to visit a student at the camp nicknamed “brown camp” at a nursery.

“They have been notorious for sewage problems,” Lawrence said. “I pulled up and over to my right I saw young kids playing around in a small pond sized puddle on the ground, they had their little toy boats and things. It took a second before I realized that it was a pond of the raw sewage that had overflowed.”

Ironic to think it gets its nickname from the color of the building.

I admire the strength of the workers, that after long hours of hard labor, are forced to call some of these buildings home. Even if it is for only one season.

Many of these operations rake in millions of dollars annually and these are the places their employees, who make their businesses possible, have to live? To me it is sad and it is selfish. And I will never shake the images of those showers, forever burned into my memory.

18 Feature THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

“He teaches others tolerance and acceptance and he’s helped me to be...”

My Brother’s Keeper

“patient and understanding”

Junior Garret Swinton shares his stories on taking care of his younger brother while juggling his school schedule and social life.

DEZ BURLEY Reporter Roaming through the JC Penney aisles, junior Garret Swinton searches for colorful silk ties and matching button up shirts with his eighth grade brother Gatlin. While Garret appears to be like any other older sibling, helping his brother find something to wear for Christmas, there is one difference.

Garret has to push Gatlin in a wheelchair while shopping because he was born with a disability called cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a non-progressive abnormality of the brain resulting in any disorder of movement and posture (Brainpalsy.com).

Gatlin has Athetoid cerebral palsy, which means he has involuntary movements.

“During birth he was choking,” Garret said. “He wasn’t getting any oxygen and he didn’t have a heartbeat. We were living in Oklahoma at the time and [my mom] had to be flown to a bigger hospital to have an emergency C-section. [Gatlin] was in the hospital for another week before he could come home.”

Throughout his life, Garret has taken the responsibility of watching his brother after school and often on weekends.

“My parents work full time,” Garret said. “I take full responsibility of Gatlin when they are gone.”

When their mom started working again about a year ago, Garret agreed to take on this task alone, whereas before he split the time with his mom to make it easier on both of them.

Instead of seeing the many hardships of this job, Garret has grown closer to his brother. “[Taking care of Gatlin] can be frustrating at times, but we have a really tight bond,” Garret said.

An unbreakable brotherly bond: Junior Garret Swinton stands next to his younger brother Gatlin. Gatlin was born with a physical disability called cerebral palsy and faces many obstacles. Fortunately, Garret willingly tends to his brother’s needs. Spending more time together than most siblings, the two have grown close; creating an extraordinarily rare friendship that allows each to learn from the other. “He teaches others tolerance and acceptance,” Garret said. “And he’s helped me to be patient and understanding.” Photo by Alida Boon

According to Garret, the two are so close they have the summer]” Garret said. “He loves to go swimming. He never really fought. does what anyone else does; he just needs a little help.”

“He’ll get frustrated if I can’t bring him anywhere However, that help can often be trying. because I don’t have gas money,” Garret said, “but he gets “It’s physically demanding,” Garret said. “He’s thirteen over it.” so he’s like 100 pounds. I have to help him Garret’s close friend, junior Beth get on chairs, go to the bathroom and get LIFE IS WHAT YOU Vanderlaan notices the brothers’ in bed.”

CHOOSE TO MAKE OF IT. great relationship.

To make some of this easier, Gatlin has “They are insanely close,” WE CHOOSE TO LOOK AT recently received an electric wheelchair so Vanderlaan said. “His parents pay he can move around without help. He also him [to baby-sit] just to be nice, but THINGS POSITIVELY. speaks some sign language with his family -- Donica Swinton he would do it regardless.” and uses a portable computer, called a Garret loves being with his DynaVox, which speaks for him. brother, and tries to let him choose what they do when “He doesn’t like to use the DynaVox at home because they are together. he associates it with school so he just uses sign language,” “He likes to go to Starbucks,” he said. “He really likes Garret said. “It’s really cool and you can go on the Internet caramel frappuccinos. I don’t think we’ve ever gone inside; and change the voices.” we always go through the drive thru.”

While times are often challenging, the Swintons Along with watching his brother, Garret has many other maintain bright attitudes. things he has to balance in his life, including homework “Life is what you choose to make of it,” Donica Swinton and hanging out with friends. said. “We choose to look at things positively.” “[My friends] are understanding and supportive,” Like his mom, Garret likes to be optimistic.

Garret said. “They get along [with Gatlin] and sometimes “People ask me if I would change the fact that [Gatlin] he’ll come with us.” has cerebral palsy,” Garret said. “I wouldn’t. He’s happy Like any other middle school boy, Gatlin loves being with himself. He’s not depressed and he doesn’t let it get outdoors. him down. He teaches others tolerance and acceptance and “We go to my grandparents’ house on the weekends [in he’s helped me to be patient and understanding.”

“

”

20 Lunch THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

With the stress and hassles of the LUNCHROOM, many students are

HEADED FOR THE HALLS...

1

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Lunch 21

Reporter Noah Thelen discovers how students view the lunch room and the alternatives available to students

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Many students hang out on the benches in front “Everyone’s friends are there and they don’t of pods seven and eight during lunch. It is a quiet, know that they are [actually] allowed in the halls,” peaceful place that is as far from the craziness of Baker said. the lunchroom as possible. Both junior Andrew Currently it is against school rules to eat lunch Juodawlkis, and senior Emily Dean, eat with their in the hallways, but many students continue to friends in this spot at lunch. do it anyway simply because they find it more “It is quiet, peaceful enjoyable. and nice,” Juodawlkis “If they enforced the “[THE HALLWAY] IS QUIET, said. “There is no crazy rule you would probably PEACEFUL, AND NICE. THERE IS lunchroom noise. It’s fun have kids hanging out to just chill, sit, talk and NO CRAZY LUNCHROOM NOISE. under back stairwells socialize.” and hiding from Para IT’S FUN TO JUST CHILL, SIT, Dean however has Pros,” Baker said. another reason she sits He believes that TALK AND SOCIALIZE.” on the bench outside pod the school should not

-- Andrew Juodawlkis eight. discourage students “Half the time when from eating in the you go down [to the cafeteria] your friends don’t hallways but instead encourage kids to eat in other save you a seat,” Dean said. locations.

She credits that problem to the lack of available “I think they should encourage kids to eat in space in the lunchroom. places other than the cafeteria,” Baker said. “Like “There are too many people at lunch, and not teachers rooms [such as] Mrs. McLary’s room.” enough tables,” Dean said.

Dean claims the benches during lunch offer Even though the hallways are much more an asylum from the stress and hassles of the peaceful, people still crowd the lunchroom says lunchroom. junior Eli Baker who sits with Juodawlkis outside “It is just freedom from the awkward lunch of pod seven during C lunch. table,” Dean said.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE HECTIC LUNCH ROOM Not all students like the hectic nature of the through his freshman year. cafeteria, but where else is there to go? The busy “It’s quiet and I usually know everyone,” lunchroom is a place many students don’t want Semrinec said. “I can carry on general to be yet the hallways aren’t allowed. Fortunately conversations with all the people in here. It’s quiet for students, many teachers such as Rita McLary, enough so I can get homework done or study for a happily open up their rooms for people to eat in at quiz next hour too.” lunch.

He says he feels uncomfortable in the McLary says she has lunchroom.

“I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT an average of 20 kids on “There are a lot of most days, and even more people I don’t know that FOR THE KIDS TO CHOOSE THE when a big paper or test is sit by me,” Semrinec said.

ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR approaching.

“Next to that it’s really loud “If you want to come and it just doesn’t appeal DOWNTIME. WHETHER THEY and do homework, great,” to me.”

WANT IT [BUSY] WITH ALL McLary said. “If you want McLary acknowledges help, then we help. If you the fact that kids have the THEIR FRIENDS...OR JUST LESS don’t you just sit and be.” power to choose where PEOPLE...”

She gets a variety of they eat. Whether it is the students coming in to eat math lab, first priority or

-- Rita McLary lunch but almost none even her room, kids can of them are actually her choose to avoid the hectic students. lunchroom.

“It is just people that decide they would rather “I think it is important for the kids to choose be here than in the noisy lunchroom,” McLary said. the environment for their downtime,” McLary said.

One of the students who eats in McLary’s room “Whether they want it [busy] with all their friends, is junior Andrew Semrinec. He has found his eating great. If they want to be somewhere that is quiet or place in McLary’s room every day since half way friendly or just less people then that’s fine too.”

Question and answer with:

Principal Scott Grimes Q: Why is eating lunch in the hallways a problem?

A: There are two main reasons. The biggest reason is disrupting classes that are going on. The second reason is the mess that goes along with the kids eating lunch in unauthorized places.

Q: If the students eat lunch in the hallways outside of the pods, disrupting classes wouldn’t be a problem. So why can’t students do it?

A: There wouldn’t be enough room if we opened it up for everybody. Now people are getting away with it probably because they are not getting checked like they should be. If you opened lunch school wide then you wouldn’t be able to have students in just one area where you can monitor and make sure things go well. They would be scattered across the building and it would be much harder to monitor. And you can’t [eat] in the media center because of the carpet and all the books and stuff.

Q: Would you say that availability of seating in the lunchroom is a problem?

A: Nope. It’s great we have open seats and tables everyday, each lunch. If you look in the cafeteria there is always open seats and open tables. And in the spring and fall it’s even better because you can use the picnic tables outside.

Q: How are students eating in the halls supposed to be monitored?

A: Sweeps. Para pro sweeps and just kind of walking around.

“A FEW OF THE KIDS DO LEAVE A MESS BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY CLEAN UP THEIR MESS. IT IS GOOD TO KEEP ALL THE FOOD IN ONE AREA THOUGH.”

-- Custodian Laurie Houghton

22 Bucket List THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

’ SAMANTHA VANHOEF

SCOTT STANLEY

Reporter

Science teacher, Scott Stanley had a dream. By having a plan and a goal for his life, he had reached his best moment, the moment he graduated from college.

Stanley enjoyed campus life at the University of Maryland. Dorm life began sophomore year, but ended his junior year, when he ran out of money.

“I loved living in the dorms because I loved to roll out of bed and roll to the cafeteria and down the hill; lots of rolling went on.” Stanley said. “I just liked campus life. ” Studying could not always be put first, because of his ongoing employment. Stanley wasn’t the top of his class, but made what he had work for him.

“I remember thinking I don’t want to be working and going to school but it was the only way, if I stopped working I couldn’t go to school” Stanley said. “There were stressful times.”

After receiving a scholarship, Stanley attended Pennsylvania State for a master’s degree in hydrogeology.

“What’s the goal? What do you really want to do? What do you want out of life?” Stanley asked. “Have some kind of an idea what you want to do with your life. That doesn’t mean you can’t change, but just have a goal, because if you don’t have a goal, you go in circles. So find what you want to do and go after it.”

Despite having no family members who attended college, Big Stan set his mind on doing something different; something better than others around him thought was possible.

“I always wanted to do something better than what my circumstances were. I like marching to a different drummer,” Stanley said. “If nobody went this way, I was going that way.”

What’s On Your Bucket List?

Matt Deater “Having a bucket list helps you realize your goals and gives you added confidence to attain them.”

1. Sit courtside at the Men’s NCAA Basketball Finals 2. Work for ESPN 3. Run the Boston Marathon 4. Be an extra on one of my favorite TV shows (Entourage or The Office) 5. Scuba Dive on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

TEAL CHAMPAGNE Photo/Design Editor

Mary Jane Evink Married with kids Social Studies teacher Mary Jane Evink always wanted a family but wasn’t sure if she would be mature enough to handle it.

“I didn’t know that I would be big enough of a person to give what a person should give to be a good spouse or mother,” Evink said.

Despite these doubts she’s very happy about her decision to have a family.

“Relationships are the most important thing in life and I am happy with my marriage and ecstatic that I have two children,” Evink said, “I love them. They’re the best part of my life.”

Evink and her husband have been married for over 12 years and enjoy raising their six year old son Miles and their three year old daughter, Johanna.

“Miles and Johanna are hilarious and they make us laugh,” Evink said, “Actually often they teach us how to be good parents. In the back of my mind I always wanted a family but who knew it would be this great”

“IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY.” 1

Friday January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Health 23

Eat this not that ALIDA BOON Associate News Editor

J

ust like clothes, activities and everything else, foods are seasonal. There is a time for popsicles and a time for candy canes, a time for iced tea and a time for scalding hot cocoa. The trick is to get the best and healthiest winter foods in order to ensure staying well and also cut back on calories and fats in order to not gain weight over the months where sluggish turns into half the population’s middle name. With help from Holistic Health Practitioner Annette Hardy and research done on calorie and fat levels, it is genuinely safe to say that you should eat THIS, not THAT. Eat: whole wheat flour cookies.

Not: white flour cookies.

This will tremendously cut back on the calorie intake. Also, the closer ingredients are to nature, the healthier they are for your body because, they are less processed.

Eat: chicken noodle soup.

Not: broccoli cheese soup.

While one serving broccoli cheese soup has 170 calories, chicken noodle soup comes in at less than half of that with only 60 calories. Chicken noodle is also better because it does not contain dairy products which cause an inflammatory effect on the body.

Eat: candy canes.

Not: candy orange slices.

While candy canes are sometimes viewed as specifically a holiday treat, they are wonderful to have throughout the season containing just eight grams of sugar and 45 calories. Where as orange slices have 160 calories and 30 grams of sugar. To top it all off, candy canes have zero grams of fat, making them an excellent winter treat.

Eat: blueberry pie.

Not: apple pie.

One glorious slice of warm apple pie has a whopping 280 calories where as blueberry only has 177. As a bonus, the “rule of thumb” for darker pies including blueberry, says that they are more antioxidant rich causing them to help keep you healthy.

Drink: Nestle hot cocoa.

Not: Hershey’s hot cocoa.

Hot cocoa is simply the best thing to come into after a long day in this icy winter weather. So make the divine drink healthy! Nestle hot cocoa has only 55 calories compared to Hershey’s 145 and, it has less than one gram of fat making it splendid.

Ways to a worth it winter workout

Feature Editor Haley Birkett interviews local personal trainer Matt Dempsey on ways to stay fit during winter months 1. Winter weather shouldn’t be thought of as a barrier for working out, but an advantage, a nice change from the regular morning jog.

“Many of my clients prefer to be outside,” local Personal Trainer, Matt Dempsey said. “So we do many outdoor exercises like snow shoeing.”

Snowshoeing is a fun change for working out and can burn around 485 calories per hour.

4. Grand Haven has many locations for hiking like Kirk Park and the Rosy Mound trail.

“For my clients that favor outdoor exercises,” Dempsey said. “We bundle up and go for long hikes through trails.”

The up and down hills can actually be quite a workout and can burn up to 400 calories an hour.

3. The winter often drives people inside, thus abandoning their workout routines. To avoid this, try exercising with a partner.

“It all really depends on the kind of person you are,” Dempsey said. “But all of my clients prefer to workout with another person because it’s a motivating factor and having a partner keeps you accountable.”

2. If big mountains and chairlifts aren’t your thing, try cross-country skiing. Local areas like Pigeon Creek Park offer 10 miles of groomed trails for cross-country skis. The trails are free and if you don’t have a set of skis, rentals are available.

“When I go with my friends it usually takes about a half a day,” Junior Amanda Bennick said. “It’s definitely a work out, you really have to use your legs with all of the hills.”

Cross-country skiing is an alternative for exercise and enjoying nature, while burning an average of 450 calories per hour (depending on weight).

5. The frigid winter weather often becomes a regular excuse for letting daily exercise routines slip away.

“Working out in the winter is really the same as working out in the summer,” Dempsey said. “As long as you dress warm, there should be no excuse for not exercising.”

Dempsey explains that many activities like jogging and biking can be done the same on plowed streets. illustrations by Teal Champagne

24 Vibe THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Upcoming releases

A 5 week list of upcoming releases, dates for movies, music, video games

WEEKS: Week of

Jan. 17-23

Week of

Jan. 24-30

Week of

Jan. 31-Feb.6

Week of Feb. 7-13

VIDEO GAMES:

MOVIES: Jan. 22 The Tooth Fairy

Jan.29 When in Rome

Feb. 5 Dear John

Feb. 12 The Wolf Man

Jan. 18: Fast Food Panic

Jan. 26: Shadow of Destiny

Feb. 2: Dawn of Heroes

Feb. 9: Scene it: Twilight

ALBUMS: Jan. 19 My Dinosaur Life— Motion City Soundtrack

DVD RELEASE: Jan. 19 Across the Hall

Jan. 26 Need You

Jan. 26

Now—

Bright

Lady

Star

Antebellum Feb. 2 Smoke and Mirrors— Lifehouse Feb. 9 Thug Motivation 103— Young Jeezy

Feb. 2 Love Happens

Feb. 9 The Time Traveler’s Wife

Feb. 16 A

Week of

Feb. 14-20

Feb. 19 Shutter Island

Woman

Feb. 16

Feb. 15:

Needs—

The Private

Blur

Jessica

Lives of

Harp

Pippa Lee

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Tech 25

Grand Haven gamers immerse themselves in the newest game in the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 2 LUCAS WILDER Reporter

“When I get home I play from 3-4 p.m. eat, do homework, and then Three words: Call of Duty. The play for another two hours.” newest installment in the Call of Martin’s still managing Duty video game saga, Modern to complete all his Warfare 2, is finally out and it is homework on time. sweeping the “My grades nation, addicting “MY FAVORITE PART haven’t been people to Call OF THE GAME IS affected so far, and I of Duty all over don’t think they will TO PLAY WITH A again. Does it be,” Martin said. live up to all BUNCH OF FRIENDS “Luckily, it seems the hype? Many AT THE SAME TIME. like no matter how students think much I play, my IT CAN GET REALLY so. grades stay the Thousands of INTENSE, BUT IT’S same. people camped SO MUCH FUN” In the game, outside of stores Martin has reaped

--Mitch Borchers waiting to the benefits of buy the highly his obsession. anticipated game. After the game His kill to death ratio number is was released, hardcore gamers even an impressive 1.67, and steadily stayed home to play, neglecting getting better. their studies.

Junior Mitch Borchers’ passion The game counts your time for the game has taken its toll on played in days and hours. his grades.

Sophomore Eric Martin has already “I didn’t study as much as I lost 5 days and 20 hours of his life should have for exams,” Borchers to Call of Duty. said. “My exam grades definitely “I skipped one day of school suffered from Call of Duty.” after it came out,” Martin said.

Borchers didn’t skip any days

“When it came out i was one of the first to buy it at Gamestop. I played that night when I got home from 12:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Unfortunately I had to get ready for school.

Until 8:00 a.m. I was first in the world. There were a few kids that were close to me, but I was ahead of them by a little bit. I had to go to school and not play so I lost my number

one ranking. I have played many shooter games and Modern Warfare 2 is the best.

On weekends it can be up to almost a full day of playing to only ten minutes, depending on what my friends are doing. I play video games because it takes my mind off all of the real world drama.”

--Junior Connor Davis

like Martin did, but he plays as much as he can.

“My favorite part of the game is to play with a bunch of friends at the same time,” Borchers said. “It can get really intense, but it’s so much fun.”

Borchers’ game time is somewhere around three days.

While Borchers and Martin are spending as much time as possible playing the game, English teacher Jared Kram, is blowing off grading papers in order to play.

“I probably have one full day played,” Kram said. “I play once or twice a week online with my friends.”

Kram approves of the game overall.

“It’s definitely worth the hype,” Kram said. “I can’t imagine playing as much as some, but I can understand where they’re coming from. The game is amazing technology-wise, it’s truely outstandining. My favorite thing about the game is the opportunity to talk to with my friends that live all over the country.”

GAME ON: Junior Connor Davis watches the screen intently as he plays the newest addition to the Call of Duty franchise: Modern Warfare 2. Davis was at one time ranked number one in the world. illustration

by Teal Champagne

“I PLAYED FOR 24 HOURS STRAIGHT. IT WAS INTERESTING, BUT OVERALL DEFINEITLY WORTH IT” --Liam Latanowich “THE NIGHT IT CAME OUT, I BOUGHT IT, MADE COFFEE, AND PLAYED UNTIL 7:30 A.M.”

--Ian VanHall

26 Vibe THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Potter’s Playlist

istening to upe

January’s theme: Happy songs to beat the mid-winter blues.

No Rain by Blind Melon. It’s foot tapping, finger snapping, good.

You Are My Sunshine by Bing Crosby.

This song makes you think of that person who can put a smile on your face even on the worst days.

Joy To The World by Three Dog Night.

The lyrics say it all.. “Joy to the world, all the boys and girls. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me.”

I Believe In a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. It’s the perfect song to break out the air guitar or drums, whichever you’ve mastered, and make a complete fool of yourself.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious by Julie Andrews from Marry Poppins. I have found it virtually impossible to sing the entire song without laughing.

Sunshine Of Your Love by Eric Clapton.

The bass and guitar are hypnotic.

A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash. This is a change of pace from some of the more popular, yet depressing songs from Johnny Cash. It has creative rhyming and a funny storyline.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Johnny Mathis. Some might think its too late for Christmas music but when so much cheer is packed into one holiday it tends to bleed into other months of the year as a great pick-me-up music choice.

Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees.Reminds me of those summer days where instead of a 6’o clock alarm, the sun slowly and peacefully wakes you up.

We’re Going to be Friends by The White Stripes. It’s a soft, serene song.

ABC by Jackson Five. Stuck home alone and bored on a dreary winter day? Crank some Jackson five and dance around.

Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root.

Great for a sunny winter day drive.

I’m Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves. this u pbeat song will have you feel like youre “walking on sunshine” even on sunless days.

Shout It Out Loud by Kiss. Let loose and live life.

Devin Chan says The Cool is anything but a fiasco.

DEVIN CHAN Reporter In a day where rap is a major music genre worldwide, more and more artists begin to appear on the scene, sharing “hit songs” that people can listen to over and over 24/7.

Some even include dance moves that take about as much skill as the Jabbawockeez doing the Hokey-Pokey (Soulja Boy).

Yes, apparently all it takes nowadays to have a number one hit is to have a lisp like Gucci Mane, look like a ‘G’, and rap about the usual money-cash-hoes, Bapes and Gucci Bandanas. Because of this, haters, who are clueless in their rap knowledge, are given a chance to complain that rap is nothing more than these shallow lyrics.

These days, people truly don’t know what to look for in rap music, only listening to what everyone else wants to listen to. They try to convince themselves that they like the

Supergroup delivers on debut disc MIKE GINOCCHIO Reporter There have been, over the course of musical history, many attempts at the formation of a “supergroup”, where several musicians of varying fame get together to record as a new band, and hope that their success as individuals result in success as a whole. While some have achieved success, most of the time the group will break up after the recording, and the supergroup fades from memory as nothing more than a cute gimmick.

song, even if it means listening to Lil’ Wayne rap about himself and how he owns women twenty different times throughout each track.

While some of this may be good for pump-up/dance music, I encourage you to add a variety to your collection.

But for myself, I enjoy rap that doesn’t get as much exposure as those other songs that constantly repeat the same old lyrics.

Yes, what I look for in rap are lyrics that send a message to your soul, complimented by sick beats and rhyming, a modern Golden Age Rap, I guess you could say.

With that, I fully recommend you check out one of my personal favorites, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool.

This album contains all the above (no pun intended to Maino), with soundtracks that flow with his rhyming and versing. But when you look deeper into his lyrics, you feel as if you can relate to his messages on personal struggles of “making it alive out of the streets

of the West Side”, to being aware of what’s going on around the world, illustrating how there are people starving and being recruited in armies at an early age (“Little Weapon”).

Part of his album also includes chill tracks, like “Paris Tokyo”, to help you just roll on with life, while some tell you to overcome all your obstacles and give you music to push through hard times with.

In his second album after his debut Food & Liquor, Lupe is just as good, if not better, with each track unique in its own background music, and unmatched delivery in lyrics.

Yes, Lupe is basically the Messiah of rap in a CD, with an originality that MC Hammer can’t touch. Even for those who don’t really listen to the actual lyrics, the rapping and beats just sound cool.

Seriously though, “YOUUUUU” need to get Soulja Boy out of your head and listen to some real rap, like Lupe.

While Them Crooked Vultures may end up following the same path that all supergroups take after their debut album, in the end they won’t be forgotten by any stretch of the imagination. For once, a rock supergroup has produced an album that actually, well, rocks.

Composed of Josh Homme (Guitarist/Singer, Queens of the Stone Age fame), Dave Grohl (Drummer, Nirvana and Foo Fighters), and John Paul Jones (Bassist, Led Zeppelin), the Vultures have composed an album that, to be summed up succinctly, is pure unabashed fun. Playing off of Grohl’s drum beats that have the consistency and power of a freight train, the multi-instrumentally talented Jones on everything from bass to keyboard to slide guitar, and Homme’s powerful, almost hypnotic guitar riffs, Them Crooked Vultures is non-stop action from song to song. Whether it’s partying like it’s

a southern-blues rockfest (“New Fang”), to channeling Hendrix-like psychedelia (“Dead End Friends”), there’s something for everyone.

But what makes the album continually memorable is the underlying influences from each of the bands of that made these musicians famous. Fans of Queens of the Stone Age will recognize the power tool-like sound that Homme employs in “Mind Eraser No Chaser”. The loud, fast-paced beats from Grohl in “Elephants” draw back memories from Nirvana, and the ever-present John Paul Jones is the glue that keeps each song going.

Although it is highly unlikely that Them Crooked Vultures will remain together beyond their debut, the trio of musicians has left behind an album that is fun, hardcore, and worth listening over and over again. And in the end, that’s really all that matters.

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Vibe

STAFF PICKS TELEVISION: TELEVISION “If a TV show has action or comedy in it, I consider it a good show. Nitro Circus gives the double dosage, with the multi-talented Travis Pastrana and crew performing nothing-short-of-impossible stunts, and participating in other [crazy] activities to get a laugh out of you.”

Devin ChanOVIE

MOVIES: MOVIES: “Let me drop this knowledge on you.

After seeing “Avatar” you are up for a good two to three days of mind-blowing numbness. Every time you close your eyes you will see the movie playing in your head and every dream will be of Pandora. After that time a sinking depression will settle in for at least a day because you will finally realize that you are not and never will be an avatar.”

Zak Konarska

MUSIC: “Amputechture” by the Mars Volta is a phenomenal compilation of radical drumbeats, complicated guitar lines and astounding vocals. Although it’s a far cry from Weezer or Lady GaGa, anyone with a passion for music would be amazed by this intricate album.”

Kailin VanOornt

BOOKS: “I have been reading a lot of Nicholas Sparks books lately but “Dear John” is by far one of my favorites. I literally could not put the book down till I finished it. It starts out as the classic boy meets girl, they fall in love, etc. but don’t be fooled this book takes you on a journey of love, loss, and in the end being a good person and doing the right thing no matter how hard it may be.”

Teal Champagne

VIDEO GAMES: “NCAA Basketball 10. It was a major step up from 09, and gives the gamer a great look at what is inside an actual college basketball season like: recruiting, tournaments, training, and dealing with alumni.”

Cam Hewitt

Turning the tables on Guitar Hero You’re a champ at Guitar Hero…now what?

The latest music game from Activision: DJ Hero.

Don’t worry if you’ve never touched a turntable before- playing DJ Hero has about as much in common with really using a turntable and mixer as playing Guitar Hero does with playing a guitar.

RILEY MISSEL Reporter The Basics: DJ Hero has a pretty simple design. You play through the songs and unlock new mixes, characters (including DJs like Daft Punk and Z-trip) and costumes by earning stars. You don’t have to worry about world tours or fans to earn and when they say Beginner and Easy Levels, they really mean it. The easiest settings and songs will allow even the rhythmically challenged to jump in, but you ought to get some practice in before you give the Expert Level a shot.

Whatever difficulty you’re playing on you won’t ever fail a song, but like Guitar Hero, the more notes you hit on higher level difficulties, the higher your score.

What DJ Hero is lacking is a practice mode that lets you slow down the music and practice at a slower pace, like you can with Guitar Hero.

The Controller: DJ Hero comes with a turntable controller- the record platter with three face buttons, a mixer with a cross fader, an effects knob, a euphoria button (which gives you DJ Hero’s version of star power), and the native controls for whichever system you’re playing on.

The controller is in two halves that can be switched around if you’re a lefty. You work through levels of songs by tapping the face buttons on the turntable according to the colored symbols coming toward you on the screen, and holding down the button and moving the turntable back and forth to “scratch.” On lower difficulty settings

move the turntable however you want, but for higher levels you have to follow onscreen arrows that tell you whether to push or pull back on the turntable.

The Music: DJ Hero puts most of the focus on the music. It has one of the most diverse track lists of any music game. Unless you listen exclusivly to country music, you will like these mixes.

DJ Hero has 102 licensed tracks (by artists including Queen, 2Pac, Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, MC Hammer, MIA, and Grandmaster Flash) that have been mixed down into 93 original songs just for the game. If you just want to hear the music you can set it to Party Play and the mix will take care of itself.

The Features: There is a freestyle mode that lets you play pre-made samples during specified parts of a mix. Before you start a song you can pick a sample set from a list and play them back during a mix. But these samples aren’t scored, so the feature isn’t very helpful in gaining points. For multiplayer you can play with two turntables or you can add a guitar to certain tracks. If you excel at other music games or have a good sense of rhythm, you should pick it up pretty quickly. DJ Hero also includes a helpful tutorial to walk you through everything before you get started.

QUICK FACTS · Www.gamespot.com gives DJ Hero four out of five stars · Includes songs by artists Queen, 2Pac, Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, MIA,MC Hammer, and Grandmaster Flash · Ranked #245 out of 2325 Xbox 360 rated games, according to xbox360.ign.com

27

28 Sports THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Junior thirsts for greatness MATT DEATER Managing Editor Junior wrestler Colin Bertucci has spent a lifetime preparing for this season.

When he was eight year’s old, his dad brought him to a few practices to watch and he has been wrestling ever since.

“It is the one sport I love and couldn’t live without,” Bertucci said.

Bertucci has had many memorable wrestling experiences in his life but his trip to the state finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills last year tops them all.

“At first it was scary because there was so many people and no one told me not to look up,” Bertucci said. “I got more comfortable as the tournament went on. After I won the first match in the first round against a kid who was ranked ahead of me, I felt like I belonged there.”

With a current record of 19-1 this year and placing fourth at the MHSAA State Finals last year, he has taken his game to the next level.

For Bertucci preparing for the close matches he might encounter during the season or at the state finals is very important.

“I put pressure on myself in practice to make sure that when I’m in a pressure situation I have been there before and know what I am doing,” Bertucci said Junior Jerry Westerman thinks that the reason Bertucci is so successful is because of his attitude.

“He has the whole mental attitude of I’m going to be successful and he goes about it in his own way both on the mat and in the classroom,” Westerman said.

Senior Tyler Kaffenberger believes that Bertucci is a great role model for the young wrestlers on the team.

“He makes smart choices on what he eats and drinks before matches and he just sets a good example on how to act,” Kaffenberger said.

10

ON THE MOVE: Junior Colin Bertucci executes a move on an opponent in a recent match. This past weekend he placed first in the Adam Provencal Invitational. He wrestles in the 141 pound weight class, has a 19-1 record and is ranked fifth in Michigan. Photo by Ali Steggles

Bertucci credits coach James Richardson for much of his success.

“He has helped in my ability in wrestling, he just made me an all around better athletic scholar,” Bertucci said.

Richardson loves that Bertucci’s leadership skills have grown immensely through his Grand Haven High School

wrestling career.

“He leads mostly by example with the choices he makes on and off the mat,” Richardson said.

Wrestling has made a great impact on him as a person.

“I have goals and nothing is going to stop me from obtaining those goals,” Bertucci said.

things to know about the Buc Wrestling team

1.Good students 2.Young team

3.Great program 4.A unified team 5.Team strength

- “Our team has been academic All State two of the last three years and senior CJ Stock got a 32 on the ACT.”

-“We are giving more kids more experience and in the end it will pay off.”

- “Going into this year we have 11 straight district titles , we are going for our twelfth this year.”

- Coach James Richardson

- junior Jack Dempsey

-junior Jerry Westerman

6.Seniors

7.All State teams 8.Improvement 9. Early season 10.

End of the year goal

- “They will determine how the season will progress. They bring a broad range of experience and leadership.”

- Coach Richardson

- “We have had 31 All State wrestlers and 18 honorable mentions this decade.”

- “We need to continue to work on our technique and continue to encourage and help each other out.”

- Coach Richardson

- senior Kaffenberger

-”We cheer, help and motivate each other.”

- senior Tyler Kaffenberger

“It’s going pretty good we are starting to fix the rustiness.”

-junior Dempsey

- “A number of talented wrestlers and being able to change our lineup to expose weaknesses in other teams.”

- Coach Richardson

- “To be top three in the OK Red as well as defend their district title.”

- Coach Richardson

Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Sports 29

All grown up

STICKING TOGETHER: Matt VanZytveld, Jake Carter, Nate VanArendonk, Isiah Law, and Cam Hewitt are in their final year of their Grand Haven Basketball careers. After playing together since fourth grade they have developed great chemistry and respect for one another and the game. Boys’ varsity basketball coach,Steve Hewitt, was also their coach when they were young, making this season even more special. Photo by Scott Deater

Seniors reach final year of basketball together after an exceptional travel team career that started at a young age where they placed first and second at national tournaments NATE NIEMEROWICZ Technology Editor This years Boy’s varsity basketball team includes six seniors, five of which have been on the same team far longer than just high school. Isiah Law, Nate VanArendonk, Jake Carter, Matt VanZytveld, and Cam Hewitt have been playing together since fourth grade. The team that began as the eight and nine-year-old Grand Haven Pirates is now the varsity Grand Haven Buccaneers.

“In the beginning, Jake and I were on a separate team,” senior Isiah Law said. “Coach Hewitt had a team with Cam, Nate and Matt, but then he asked Jake and I to play with them. We knew it was a good opportunity, since we would all be going to the same high school so, we joined.”

YOUNG BUCS: The GH Pirates smile after a summer tournament Law credits his friendships with his teammates to their in 2002. The team includes six current varsity players. Courtesy Photo time spent with each other in AYBT. “When we first started we weren’t really friends at all,” excitement growing.

Law said. “But, as we played over the years we learned what “You could tell that they were enjoying themselves,” each other was like and discovered that we Hewitt said. “I kept encouraging it and had quite a bit in common. We all get along added a new tournament every year. It great today and still hang out.” grew into a fun experience for everyone.”

These newly formed bonds led the team to Now the past AYBT Pirates team, are travel to the AYBT National Championship playing at the varsity level, where they Tournament, where they came in second in are coached by Hewitt once again, as 2004. And took home first place two years Buccaneers. later.

“Obviously there has been a lot of physical “We really worked hard during those growth that I’ve seen in the players,” Hewitt years,” Law said. “It was a fun experience said. “But even more evident is the growth for all of us to go there and do well. We in game play. Some matured earlier than made great strides as basketball players others and some matured late. It’s been an through those experiences.” interesting dynamic to watch.”

However, the team didn’t gain success Hewitt’s noticed the respect and bonds Coach Steve Hewitt overnight. Starting out at as fourth graders, that the player’s have formed. they had a lot to work on. The squad’s first coach, and current “It’s helped in their chemistry,” Hewitt said. “They varsity coach Steve Hewitt, brought them all together. have developed friendships and have learned each others “They all had an interest in basketball,” Hewitt said. “We strength.” [the parents] wanted to get them involved at a young age, Hewitt incorporated his philosophy into the plays and and as time went on it became a yearly thing. strategies that the team used.

As the team played, Hewitt noticed the player’s “All along we’ve used bits and pieces of our current

basketball scheme,” Hewitt said. “The goal initially was to kind of get them comfortable with what buccaneer basketball is all about.”

Hewitt eventually became the varsity coach and had to stop coaching the AYBT team, but felt very confident with the team’s new coach, Grand Haven Alumni and former basketball star, Josh Walters.

“I think Josh tried to pick up on what we were doing,” Hewitt said. “It’s great to have a different perspective and he’s an excellent coach in his own respect. I think that his younger age was good to help develop a different kind of relationship with the kids.”

Walters took over the coaching role when they were in seventh grade. Walters, like Hewitt, quickly noticed the player’s true talent.

“They all have their roles that they fell into,” Walters said.

“Nate provides leadership and is very level headed, Isiah brings a remarkable ability to shoot and can offer a nice spark to an offense, Cam also brings leadership and good decision making, Jake shows calmness and intelligence, and Matt’s a defensive specialist who can make plays on defense to spark your offense.”

As Walters saw the team progress he had a bigger hope for the squad.

“I wanted to instill in them what Grand Haven basketball is all about,” Walters said. “I recognized that this was a special class, and I wanted to give them a look at what basketball was in the 90s.”

Senior Jake Carter saw Walters as a nice new face to learn under.

“He was younger so we could relate well to him,” Carter said. “He had just finished his basketball career and still had plenty of fresh ideas to compliment coach Hewitt’s previous philosophy.”

The group has helped start a trend in Grand Haven basketball that focuses on AYBT emphasis.

“AYBT has grown in popularity,” Hewitt said. “It’s gone from having roughly one team per grade to multiple teams.

They didn’t start the movement themselves but they did influence the younger kids and helped the program.”

30 Sports THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January15, 2010

Well worth the pain Senior captain Paige Wilds leads Lady Bucs despite tearing her ACL going in for a lay- up while playing with her team this past summer

is a little bit different for every kid but Paige has been patient and is doing well.”

Wilds has the talent to go Division I, but with this setback she has to see how things go.

“Before I tore my ACL, I was speaking to a Division I school in Ohio,” Wilds said. “They had offered me a scholarship but I hadn’t signed yet. When I told her about my ACL, they said that they couldn’t offer anything to me until they saw me play after the ETHAN BESWICK surgery.”

Reporter Although Wilds has a serious injury she is ready for Senior Paige Wilds has had a very successful basketball career. Wilds was pulled up to the challenges that lie ahead. varsity as a sophomore and has been a key player on the team ever since. Unfortunately, “It hasn’t really changed my role [on the team],” this summer when Wilds was playing basketball she injured Wilds said. “I’m still considered herself, threatening her senior year.

“It’s my senior season and I a leader and I’m a captain this “I was going up for a lay-up and a teammate undercut my year. I get frustrated with myself legs,” Wilds said. “When I landed, I heard something pop and felt that I would be letting my because I can’t do some things knew that it wasn’t good.” that I’m used to doing, but I The sound she heard was the tearing of her anterior team down [if I didn’t play].” try not to show my negativity cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the ligaments in the knee. towards my teammates.”

Her doctor gave her the choice to play or not to play.

-- Senior Paige Wilds Coach K admires Wilds for “I can’t really do any further damage,” Wilds said. “We making the decision to play her weren’t even sure if I was going to be able to play. I had to final year. work really hard at strengthening the muscles surrounding “It shows you who Paige my knee before I could even try to play.” really is,” Coach K said. “She doesn’t want to let her Coach Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer believes Wilds is handling the situation well. team down and I’m proud of her for sacrificing a little “The doctor told me it can’t get any worse,” Coach K said. “He said the pain tolerance pain to help the team.”

Going hard: Senior Paige Wilds goes up for a shot against Jenison earlier this season. She is playing with a torn ACL and picking up right where she left off with last year’s team. Courtesy Photo

Junior skier to be sponsored NOAH THELEN Reporter Watch the skiers at the ski bowl and junior Dan Arnolds’ style will probably stick out.

Odds are you’ll catch him executing seemingly impossible tricks with his favorite Nordica Ace of Spades skis.

It’s not just the casual fans that notice. This winter, he is living his dream, being sponsored by three different skiing companies, Nordica, Orage and Giro.

“I just became good friends with the shop owner of Mountain Soul, Dave Shepard, and he ended up seeing me ski in a few competitions and he knew the owners of those companies,” Arnold said. “Then I guess it just happened through friendships, and knowing the right people.”

Getting the sponsorships meant a lot.

“I was excited because I kept breaking skis all the time,” Arnold said. “Last year I broke like four pairs of skis and now I don’t have to buy all sorts of skis. The sponsorship covers skis, goggles and gloves and they really help me out when I need it.”

Thanks to the sponsorship opportunity, he has big events ahead for him this winter such as the Aspen Open and the Gatorade Free-Flow Tour.

In order to allow more time for his busy skiing schedule, he is taking the second trimester “off” from school and is taking online classes.

“I am going to be traveling a lot for skiing and I would’ve missed like 21 school days if I was in school,” Arnold said. “It just wouldn’t have worked for me to not do it this way. This way I can still get all the credits so I can graduate on time.”

Senior Harley Crabbe, who frequently skis with Arnold believes that he brings more to the sport than just a bag of tricks.

“I think tricks are really important in skiing but style is even more important,” Crabbe said. “If you can spin really fast in the air and you don’t have any style I don’t think that looks good at all. But he has style.”

Friends like junior Nick Mendels, support his decision.

“It’s really smart of him, not having to deal with all that missed time from school,” Mendels said. “And he gets a lot more time to focus on what he really wants to do.”

Also supporting him, every step of the way are his parents.

“His success is really has a lot to do with his parents,” Shepard said. “His parents are so behind him its ridiculous. I think that is a big factor too.”

However, more than his style or the vast amount of tricks that he can pull off, he brings a true love of the sport.

“With his personality and his drive, if your watching him in the X-Games, it won’t be a luck scenario, it will be something that he earned,” Shepard said. “Everything that he has done is 100 percent completely earned through work. He puts in the effort and he puts in the time.”

AIR UP THERE: Junior Dan Arnold hits a jump at a ski competition this winter. He is being sponsored this winter by Nordica, Orage and Giro to compete in competitions around the United States. Courtesy Photo

Sports scoreboard Friday, January 15, 2010 THE BUCS’ BLADE Sports 31

Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Wrestling

Swimming

Hockey

Key Games: Wins

Key Games: Win

Key Games: Adam

Key Games: 161 to

Key Games: 4-2 win vs.

against Grandville and Muskegon.

Top Player: Senior Nate VanArendonk is averaging a double double.

Upcoming Games:

Today vs. Rockford at home

Quote: “We are playing

good defense and that’s the reason for our success.”

-Senior Isiah Law

Forward- Isiah Law

against East Kentwood.

Top Player: Sophomore

Alex Law is the leading scorer this season.

Upcoming Games:

Today vs. Rockford at home

Quote: “We are starting

to play more as a team. We need to work hard in practice and stay focused.”

-Senior Kelle Boers

Guard- Alex Merz

Provencal Invite where they had two first place finishers.

Top Player: Senior Tyler Kaffenberger is 17-3 and ranked ninth in the state.

Upcoming Games: January 20 @ Hudsonville

Quote: “The team is do-

ing good, we have a lot to improve on.”

-Junior Jerry Westerman

133 dual meet loss to East Kentwood.

Top Player: Senior Tyler Kaffenberger is 17-3 and ranked ninth in the state.

January 21 vs. West Ottawa

Quote: “We have a very small team but we are still holding strong.”

-Junior Alex Clark

Alex Clark

Top Player: Senior

Conor Fredricks had two goals when the team beat West Catholic 8-2.

Upcoming Games:

Colin Bertucci

Jenison

Upcoming Games: January 16 @ Forest Hills Central

Quote: “We have some

good momentum and are confident and beating good teams.”

-Senior Josh Kooi

Goalie- TJ Roth

Boys Skiing

Girls Skiing

Key Games: Varsity

Key Games: Varsity race one

THE VINTAGE SHOP

Top Player: Senior

Top Player: Sophomore

is now accepting DONATIONS for

Upcoming Games:

Upcoming Games:

Quote: “There are a lot

Quote: “We’re practicing

race one

Brody Coval is a captain and a top skier.

January 19 @ Cannonsburg

of people who need to step up with only two returning varsity skiers.”

- Senior Brody Coval

Hannah Rymal is the fastest returning skier.

January 19 @ Cannonsburg

really hard and I think we are going to have a really good team this year.”

- Soph. Paige Reirson

PROM DRESSES and CRAZY CLOTHES suitable for SPIRIT DAYS Donations may be brought to the main office or rooms 4108, 5212, or 3113

Coach Tim Graham

Hannah Rymal

Students making a prom dress donation can receive a coupon for a discount at the prom dress sale

32 Amp THE BUCS’ BLADE Friday, January 15, 2010

Hollywood vs. Real world

There are some things on television that we wish were true, some things that we don’t, the amp breaks down the contrasts between Hollywood High and Grand Haven High

Hollywood

GHHS

Mean Girls depicts high school as a jungle where everyone has one motive: to survive. Whether this means spreading crude rumors, or stealing boyfriends, life in high school is something that needs to be taken a day at a time. Shy, innocent Cady Heron finds this out the hard way when she ventures into the scary world of public school for the first time after being home schooled in Africa her whole life.

The two best looking, most talented people in the school (Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens) date each other. The students of East High deal with their problems by randomly exploding into amazingly synchronized pieces of song and dance.

The sports teams are good, and the drama program is even better.

In an actual high school, the students don’t scatter to avoid make-up covered Barbie dolls as they walk in slow motion through the hallways. Teenagers of all cliques treat these goddesses as untouchable mascara pasted versions of Adolph Hitler. How a few 17 year old girls can single handedly take over a high school and inspire fear and awe in the local townsfolk is truly uncomprehensible. This is the case for Hollywood, but not this school.

Students

As much as everyone loves a sudden outbreak into song and dance, it doesn’t happen nearly as much as in High School Musical. And since when does the captain of the basketball team have the time to star in the school play? As much as every teenage boy would love dating Vanessa Hudgens, it just isn’t realistic.

Boy Meets World is the high school experience that everyone wishes they had. The story of Cory Matthews and his high school sweetheart Topanga, his best friend Shawn Hunter, and their roller coaster of a life are depicted as they grow, laugh, cry and make it through each day. The life of these three are the happily ever scenario that every high-schooler wishes they could live.

Students don’t have the same teacher for their entire teenage lives. And entire groups of friends don’t miraculously end up at the same college, with the same hours of free time. And most sixth grade couples don’t end up being happily married. Most sixth grade couples don’t even hardly talk to each other! And what’s up with Shawn’s hair? Sadly, that isn’t the real world.

“HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL’S ARE EITHER OVERLY DRAMATIC OR TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.”

-- Greg Rokisky

“HOLLYWOOD GLAMORIZES HIGH SCHOOL, INCORRECTLY PORTRAYING HOW IT REALLY IS.”

-- Marisa Enos

“HOLLYWOOD PLAYS UP ClIQUES, SUCH AS THE POPULAR KIDS. THEY ALWAYS MAKE CHEERLEADERS SEEM AWESOME.”

-- Megan Birkett

January 27

January 28-30

February 3

Today is parent-teacher conferences. No school for students so enjoy your brief vacation from because tomorrow it’s back to the same old, same old.

The theatre department presents Picnic at 7 p.m.in the Performing Arts Center so make sure you get your tickets before they’re all gone.

A Financial Aid meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

JoAnn Litton, of the GVSU Financial Aid Office will walk attendees through the online FAFSA application.