Hope Black 2019 Spring Portfolio :)0))))))))))

Hope Black’s Portfolio

2019 Semester Two

Reflection #1

This semester I really learned how to write better. First semester, I had struggled with my writing style and how to actually write an article. My flow was off and I never knew what to write about.

But this semester I was given the opportunity to write more articles and writing so much has helped me know what to do for certain stories. I still sometimes struggle with finding enough information and sometimes I need help with what to write about. I also learned the importance of teamwork and not being afraid to ask for help from the staffers or editors. I can use these skills in the future to help other staffers and myself.

I have really learned the importance of deadlines this semester. The amount of stress it is to not get your work done on time is a suck-y feeling, and i’ve definitely had my fair share of sucky feelings.

Deadlines are a thing that need to be done as a staff or else the editors can’t get their work done on time, and all it does is create a bunch of stress and more stress. I personally am not the best with deadlines, and I always tend to procrastinate, but I really feel like I improved with getting my articles done on time and completed even though I still need help from time to time. Next year, since I am going to be an editor, i am going to focus harder on deadlines and making sure if I don’t get something finished, to finish it the day its due in class.

This semester, I think that I worked pretty well with the staff and editors. When I needed help, all I had to do was ask another staff member or an editor and they were there to guide me. I always helped my team members when they asked, which you should do. I would change how the staff and editors interact next year. I feel like in Newspaper we all came together by the second semester, but during the first semester, a lot of staff members were nervous to ask for help from the editors, even though we needed help. It’s important to work as a team, because things get done quicker and easier. I think having a deadline every day was very helpful. Although it was more crammed, I noticed us getting our work turned in faster. I don’t think that keeping the students in our class who did zero work every issue was the best thing, but I also don’t know how kicking kids out of a class works.

I learned that journalism ethics is needed to produce a well-written and designed newspaper. With no work ethic, our paper would be all over the place. Telling the truth is a journalism ethic I really believe in. If you tell the truth about why your work isn’t done, it’s better for you and the teacher. I felt like I was more of an asset to the staff this semester than last. In 2018, I was not doing good mentally, and it seriously affected the way I worked. This year, I have written more articles, helped other writers brainstorm with their articles, like when Emma had no idea what to write for a style article, I showed up to all production days but one, always brought breakfast, and if anybody needed help I was not hesitant to step in.

This semester was a lot easier for me than last semester. I was still going through things at home, mentally, and school was stressing me the freak out, but I managed to survive. In Newspaper, I think the problem I struggled with the most was letting my creativity come out. A lot of the times I would be stuck on how to write a certain lead or what else to include in my article. I learned that it is okay to ask for help, but to also do more research and go through the 5 W’s in my head. If I get stuck again, 12advice. If I can’t find anything, then I will ask for help. My greatest weakness is indesign and editing articles. Next year, and at the little training camp, I will practice with indesign and go over the stylebook some more.

Reflection #2

THE

PRESS

The newspaper of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona April 19, 2019 vol. 10, no.7

INSIDE

MEASLES IN ARIZONA

A movement of misinformation has led to old diseases coming back to infect people. Ryan Bartholomew writes about the dangers of not receiving vaccines.

See story on page 5

STUDENT’S WAGES SAVED HB 2523 would have given Arizona businesses the option to pay workers under the age of 22 less than the state minimum wage. Mia Brito critiques legislatures attempt to pass the bill.

See story on page 7

HITTING HOME RUNS

Peyton McGregor and the baseball team have been taking on the new season. Grant Richardson reports on the teams success and struggles for the year.

See story on page 22

THIS MUCH FENTANYL WILL KILL YOU Hope Black staff writer

Two times this year so far, border protection agents have seized large quantities of fentanyl at the Arizona-Mexico border, first in January and then in March. The January arrest alone resulted in the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history.

Fentanyl, a drug used to treat chronic pain, has become more commonly found in drugs across America and is extremely deadly. The number of fentanyl-related deaths have increased more than fivefold since 2013. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nationwide, nearly half of all opioid-related deaths in 2016 involved fentanyl.

“You’re putting your life into someone else's hands, and you’re saying ‘please don't kill me’ while you try and experiment with drugs. For the first time in my lifetime, not just my career, using or experimenting can be deadly,” said Brad Penner, the school’s Resource Officer.

The “third wave” strikes

For video coverage of the fentanyl problem scan the QR code above.

According to the CDC, fentanyl’s popularity did not skyrocket until 2013, which the agency calls the “third wave.” While a large portion of the drug comes from illegal stocks produced by Mexican cartels, according to the DEA, a portion of it also comes from legal pharmaceutical forms. Most medical experts cannot tell the difference between the two.

The deaths recorded revealed that 82 percent of the fatalities involved the illegal powder form of the synthetic, while only four percent of fatalities involved the prescription patch. In 14 percent of those cases, the form of the drug used was not known by the person.

The reason why fentanyl is as fatal as it is, is because of how potent the drug actually is. Compared to heroin that has a lethal dosage of 30 milligrams, a three milligram dose of fentanyl can kill an averagesized adult male.

“It’s very sad, I think people should make better decisions and if they do decide to take drugs have something to test it with. I feel sorry for the families and friends of the people who are dying,” said Greyson Sassman, a sophomore.

When fentanyl is quickly injected into the body, it can cause the diaphragm and the chest to seize, which leads to something called “Wood Chest Syndrome.” Muscle tone progresses to severe stiffness, which then leads to difficulty breathing.

During a fentanyl overdose, the body starts to slowly shut down.

The most common result is the person’s lips immediately turning

4BLAKE DORAME

blue. Then the breathing slows down, and then the heart. This can happen in a matter of minutes.

Overdose at Notre Dame Earlier this year, a student at Notre Dame student overdosed on fentanyl and was given Narcan nine times. Their heart went down to six beats per minute.

According to a student who was there at the time, but wishes to remain anonymous, the experience was frightening. “I was scared, I personally knew the kids who were involved. One of the kids ended up in the rehab program I was in. It kind of bothered me, because that could have been me.”

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid similar to morphine, but about 50 to 100 times more potent. It is mostly used to treat patients with severe pain after surgeries, although it can also be given to patients that have chronic pain if they are physically tolerant to other opiods. The drug works by acting on the brain’s opiate receptors to alter how the brain experiences and reacts to pain, while boosting the levels of dopamine as well.

Only a few minutes to live “The most frightening part of fentanyl is that it’s only about six to eight minutes before you need to be saved, and people won’t even know they ingested it,” said Penner.

In 2018, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention labeled fentanyl as the most commonly used drug involved in overdoses. Deaths tripled from 2015 to 2017 in Arizona alone. It is commonly found in heroin, cocaine, and “M-30” pills.

The presence of fentanyl was almost non-existent just four years ago. According to Doug Coleman, the special agent in charge of the Phoenix Division of the DEA, four years ago, law officials seized zero fentanyl. In comparison to this year, they have seized enough fentanyl to kill 70 million people.

The most common fentanyl-laced drug being spread around Arizona is the “Mexican Oxy.” The Mexican Oxy is a pill disguised to look like Percocet. At a party last year in Tucson, Aaron Francisco Chavez was given two pills stamped with a M-30. He passed away due to an overdose. The pills he was given were two of 1,000 smuggled across the border into Nogales by the Sinaloa Cartel.

See Fentanyl in Arizona on page 4

The front page article I did on fentanyl in Arizona is probably my best and my favorite article I have ever done. This was originally just a news article, but when it got bumped to the front page story all I wanted to do was just write and try the hardest I ever had with this article. It became my favorite story I was writing for the April issue. With this article, I kind of flip-flopped between easy and difficult. Structuring the whole story and doing the research and interviews was all easy stuff, even most of the writing. I think what was a little challenging for me was when I got stuck and didn’t know what else to write about. I had already written down chunks for sections of the article, but I was missing a few words and I needed more information. First, when the AZ Fentanyl article was made the front page article, It was shared between Brook and I. I was a little upset, but only because I felt like I wasn’t actually writing it anymore.

I wanted to prove that I could so I mentioned writing it by myself to Mrs Hart. I was very nervous, but I felt confident at the same time. I had only finished 500 words of the article when it was due. Gradually over the week I had gotten more interesting and longer interviews, and I finished the article. I really liked getting the interviews for this story. Doing an article about something fatal like fentanyl, I had some good interview-ees and questions. I interviewed a student who i’ve known since elementary school. Hearing what he had to share and his story stayed in my head for days. I really liked being able to have the heavy conversation I had with him. Before the article was completely finished, it had to be edited a little bit. My flow was good, but the article was not perfect. A front page story takes a lot of time to perfect as well, considering its the front page. My writing was a little choppy, so that had to be fixed. I learned the importance of teamwork and how to write such a hard story. I don’t think I would’ve gotten this done as good as it was without the help of Adamson, Brook or Mrs Hart.

The feeling I got when I saw my name on the front page was a feeling that I hope I get to experience again, because I have never been more proud of myself in something.

Spotlight

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

the impact of music

by Brendan Donaldson staff writer

I chose the article “Musicians In the Making” because I loved the way I wrote it, and the topic. I liked asking the multiple artists questions about their music. I also liked this article because it gives a couple of the artists at our school some coverage. Every artist I interviewed has really good music and they all work hard on it too. This article was pretty easy to write, and it was also kind of exciting. I would write an article like this again.

Throughout most - if not all of documented history, music has been around in some form or another.

Listening to music the human brain releases dopamine, which is a hormone that puts people in a better mood. Of course, this depends entirely on the type of music that is being listened to, if it is sad music it is more likely to put off a sadder mood or feeling than happier music.

“I don’t really listen to music very much, if I do it’s usually on the bus or while doing homework but not really much more than that.” said Alex Pissas, a sophomore.

There are people who listen to music religiously and there are those who barely listen to music and everywhere in between.

“I listen to music non-stop and it calms me down but it depends on the music that I’m listening to,” said Jackson Rea, sophomore and avid music listener.

The emotions behind music itself is impactful in more ways than one, from the listeners, to the artist themselves, and even the producers.

“I listen to music all the time, but if I’m kind of down, I’ll put on my playlist and I get in a better mood,” said Jill Columbo, a school security guard. “My favorite right now is a rock band called The Revivalists, out of New Orleans, and I will be seeing them next week in Las Vegas, actually,” said Columbo.

While music can be touching for the listener, the actual artist’s perspective is overlooked. there has been a large amount of celebrities and artists in particular that struggle whether it is from drugs to simple anxiety that most people struggle with.

This generation has seen many artists who have risen up and amassed an incredibly large fanbase and following. In the past decades there have been artists who have had influence on the young and generation that is grow-

March 8, 2019 ● 9

Musicians in the making

Audiences continue to feel ...

“Soundcloud just emailed me and told me that I am ready to be monetized, so as soon as I start paying seven dollars a month, I will make money for each play I get on my songs. My plan is to get monetized, make money off my music, and then release an album,” said Molly Scaccia, a sophomore.

Equipment and beats can be expensive, so students have to learn how to work with what they have.

Ceejay Notice, a sophomore, puts his work together by using a microphone and a laptop. He also uses the FL Studio to sequence his music together. The FL studio is a digital audio work system that features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer.

Notice has been making music since the age of 12.

His favorite genre to work with is rap. His musical inspiration is eminem, and 4MIA BRITO depending on what he is doing in a year, he wants to continue working on music where. as a serious thing. When Students on campus he’s in a creative block, actively listen to the artists, Notice stops for a couple of and even some of the staff. days and continues when an “I think it is brilliant, and idea pops into his head. students should continue to “Always rap, because it make their own music. I think is really cool to put words it also helps spark their cretogether and make them ativity,” said Karen Dolezal, a sound better. I like this thing choir teacher. that I did where i was gathWith social media nowaering all sorts of beats and days, it is easy to have your stuff and writing to all of music spread through multhem. I just made it into this tiple platforms. collection of songs and it is

Hope Black staff writer

ing up during the time period and also even generations born after the artist had stopped creating music.

People still talk about the “greats back in the day,” artists like Queen, Journey, Green Day, AC DC, Eminem are just examples. These artists are still talked about, listened to, and some are still touring and making music.

Looking at the legacy and the impact that the bands or artists had on their generation.

A few of the large genres during the 1980’s and 1990’s were types of rock, early rap, and hip hop.

Nowadays the biggest genres are hip-hop/ rap and pop music.

One genre of music that has gathered a massively devoted fanbase is relatively new: emo rap.

The community of emo rap has lost huge names such as Lil Peep Jackson R ea a sophomre music lover (Gustav Elijah Åhr) and XXXTentacion (Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy) usually referred to as “X” who both have passed away. Merely a few days after X’s death a fellow hip-hop artist Juice WRLD released a song mourning the loss of the two fallen artists.

Their music had an impact on many lives with multiple memorials made by fans.

Emo rappers songs usually include substance abuse and battling with the rapper’s own personal mental illnesses or troubling times, bringing comfort to fans but also quite possibly creating a false image or representation of how substances help deal with troubling times which has the potential to turn a generation into struggling addicts.

This does not mean that any sort of music is wrong, bad, or shouldn’t be listened to. However, in the past the music that has blown up has an impact on society good or bad.

“

I listen to music non-stop and it calms me down but it depends on the music that I’m listening to.

Multiple students at Cactus Shadows are making music from all types of genres and styles. Some students are doing it just for fun, while others are taking it like a future career.

Apps like Bandcamp and Soundcloud make it simpler to upload music from any-

pretty cool,” Said Notice.

Molly Scaccia started making her own music around one or two months ago. Her music style is a bedroom pop genre and she likes to write mostly about love, because that is one of the only thing that interests her. Scaccia’s music inspirations are Clairo, Billie Eilish, and Mimi. The hardest thing for Scaccia is creating beats.

“I just randomly get inspired to make a song by literally anything. If I am listening to a good song i’ll be like, ‘Iwanna make something like that’ so i’ll just lay down on my bed with my computer and look for a beat that fits my mood and write lyrics for it,” Said Scaccia.

Devin Dorough, a junior, is in a band called Lip Service and also releases solo music as well. He started making music about two years ago when he realized he wanted to make music of his own instead of always playing other people’s. Their music is categorized as indie. His favorite piece of work his band has put together is their Valentine’s Day demo.

“My musical inspirations are Nick Rattigan, from Surf Curse and Current Joys. I love him. Travis Barker from Blink 182 as well ‘cause he shreds on the drums,” said Dorough.

These student’s music can be found on Soundcloud.

Their usernames are “Divichi”, “Lip Service”, and “c00chiegirl”.

ROCKING OUT AT BAND PRACTICE, Devin Dorough and

bandmate Walt Wilson run through a new song before recording it. The group is currently working on their second EP, following their first EP of acoustic singles. 4MIA BRITO

4 ● March 8, 2019

THE NEWS

Dolphinaris closes its doors STAND UP FOR JUSTICE Students Blaine Ashby, Anna Murphy, and Karli Miller show their support for the safety of the remaining dolphins. After the fourth death of a dolphin, many people started to use their voice to take a stand against the abuse. “Since the dolphins aren’t healthy, it’s not humane to keep them in Arizona for our own entertainment,” said Ashby. 4 MAJA PEIRCE

The article I wrote “Dolphinaris closes its doors” is my second favorite article i have written this semester. I believe in keeping animals out of captivity, so I chose this story. My news stories always come out the best, and this one I put a lot of work into. I am proud of myself for this one, because I got it done before the due date, and I didn’t need help with it. Even Brook told me I did a good job. This was an important article to me because of the topic. I would definitely write an article similar to this again.

Hope Black

S staff writer

INCE the opening in 2016, four

out of the eight dolphins under the care of Dolphinaris Arizona died in the OdySea Aquarium.

The 4th dolphin, Kai, died on January 31st. This prompted hundreds of people to protest Dolphinaris.

On Wednesday, February 20th, Dolphinaris closed and officials stated that they will reopen the facility as a new concept not involving dolphins. The remaining dolphins were shipped to a sanctuary in the U.S Virgin Islands.

“I think that it is very cruel and it should not be allowed. Especially in this heat, it is not the right environment for the dolphins,” said Lola Draper, a junior.

RELOCATING THE DOLPHINS

According to a statement from the Coral World Ocean Park, the four dolphins will spend time in a specialty area in the sanctuary while they adjust to their new home.

Now, they will then spend months building relationships with the other dolphins before they are reintroduced to the public.

“They are kind of being treated as an object that we can view, or, like treating them as a museum when they are like mammals. They are living and breathing and they need to be in their own environment rather than for our amusement,” said Lauren Sinani, a senior.

In October of 2017, a seven-year-old bottlenose named Bodie was the first dolphin to die under the care of Dolphinaris. He passed from of a rare muscle disease. Only seven months later, the 2nd dolphin named Alia died from a bacterial infection when she was only 10 years old. Then, 11-yearold Khloe died in December of 2018 after a six year struggle with a chronic illness.

UNDERSTANDING THE DEATH

Kai, the fourth dolphin, passed once his condition started to worsen. He was not eating, swimming, or breathing properly for two weeks.

“Our team made every effort to save his life, including blood-work testing, ultrasounds, x-rays, and engaging external specialists and submitting diagnostic samples to outside veterinary laboratories,” said Christian Schaeffer, the general manager at Dolphinaris.

After news spread about Kai dying, more than 200 people gathered saturday morning to push for a change. For two hours, protestors lined the intersection at East Via de Ventura and North Pima Road in Scottsdale with signs and chanting for the remaining dolphins to be released. Some people felt that dolphins do not belong in the desert because desert environments carry dust and fungal spores that make people sick. Yet, Stafford said it is unclear what the cause of the deaths were.

“I have mixed feelings about keep-

Water

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

continued from Water Reservation on page 1

Sinc the ope e of the aqu ning protestors ariu m, for the dolpfoug ht rights withhin’s tions and petiacti protests. ve

Due to the intense media pressure after the death of four dolphins, Dolphinaris Arizona at the OdySea Aquarium decided to close their doors and relocate the surviving dolphins.

ing intelligent mammals in captivity for amusement or entertainment purposes.

On the pro-side, it is an opportunity for people to get familiar with the animals and their plight in the wild. I, on the other hand, did feel a bit of guilt over having patronized a facility that keeps highly intelligent animals in captivity for profit,” said Mark Lauch, a zoology teacher.

Dolphins away from the ocean do not live as long as dolphins in their natural habitat. In SeaWorld, there have been many incidents of dolphins dying under their care. The most common problem were infections inside the body. They can live to be 40 years old or more in the wild, whilst a dolphin in captivity dies at age ten.

CAPTIVITY’S EFFECT ON DOLPHINS

When in captivity, the mammals are also exposed to illnesses, like “pox” which is caused from stress and poor general health. The stress and boredom is also likely to weaken their immune system and cause self-mutilation.

“I’m not sure what impact this will have on Scottsdale and the surrounding area. We survived a long time without Dolphinaris and I am sure we will survive beyond its closure,” said Lauch.

Due to the intense media pressure, Dolphinaris decided to close their doors and relocate the surviving dolphins.

“People are unaware this drought is even happening and if we let it go on for a really long time it can be very problematic like with what California going through,” said Melissa Rimz, a senior.

A more controversial part of this deal is who is going to take the water cutbacks if the drought continues to get worse. The first people to suffer cutbacks will be famers. This could be a problem, because farmers use that water for agriculture and livestock, which is necessary to contribute to feeding a population. However, it is also agreed on because farmers use up the most water, they should be the first ones to see some of the cuts in water usage. Most farmers are outraged because the government knew the whole time that this drought was progressively getting worse, so now the farmers have to pay the price since the government waited to take action. In order to save water, the government will ask for farmers to volunteer to fallow their land.

Fallowing land is when the farmer does not use a piece of land for farming for a whole season, this way the land can recover its fertility and water can be conserved. Because of the cutbacks some farmers are going to have to do it to survive. They cannot waste time working on land that they will not even have water to farm on it with. If farmers begin to fallow their land they will sell less crops which could hurt everyone economically. Farmers have proposed they just use groundwater. But using groundwater is not always an effective solution.

“I’m concerned, their answer is to pay the Pima county farmers to drill wells and pump water out. That is an aquifer that is not replaceable and can be a very dangerous position to get into. To start pulling water out of a limited resource just to solve the problem in the short term will only make it worse in the long term,” said Kim Wallis-Lindvig, a biology teacher.

Legislators are trying to come up with a way to get 50 million dollars for funding on wells and the resources necessary for it. They introduced a bill, HB 2590, that would give the farmers 20 million dollars for funding for the groundwater idea. The farmers said they would cover part of the funding. It might have to come down to them relying on groundwater.

The controversial part of the bill is using public money to fund the pumping of groundwater for farmers when using groundwater can be dangerous because of how it destroys the environment. It can be a positive thing because farmers need water now more than ever to grow things like food or cotton.

Farmers argue that they deserve that groundwater because they have no access to other water sources and they will need that water to farm with. Due to the Drought Contingency Plan. California has agreed to not take water that belongs to them while they already battle a huge drought. That will help Arizona avoid losing more water and help the water in the reservoirs replenish a little.

There are lots of ways people can help conserve water for their states. Water lawns once every three days instead of every day. Check for leaks. Install water efficient toilets, sinks and showers. Especially, just be smart with how water is used around the house, don’t let water run for long periods or excessive amounts of times.

Tear

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

february

staff writer

Hope Black staff writer

February 8, 2019 ● 7

COMMENT

Should artists be judged by their art or their actions?

Yes

NO

Evan Myers

staffand writer There is a lot of news today about artists doing bad things, many have lost their careers as a result. Kevin Spacey, Louis CK, R. Kelly and Bill Cosby come to There have been many celebrities, artists, and actors in the spotlight for doing serimind. The question is, should we judge someone’s art by their actions, or can we ous misdeeds. With so many coming to light, society’s moral folly seems to have been left enjoy their work even though they have done some bad things? The answer is that in the dark. Holding the powerful accountable is something that our world must start it is okay to like the art, even if you don’t like the artist. doing, and in the past few years, it seems that the United States, at least, has begun to This debate has been going on for ages. Picasso, one of the most famous artists of hold their celebrities to higher standards. If someone makes good artwork, movies, or all times, was known for the poor way he treated women and people in general. And music, their character should come before their artwork. yet, people to this day flock to museSexual misconduct, abuse, scandals, rape, sexual assault, and racism have been ums to appreciate his paintings. issues in the arts. Many allegations have been put against celebrities like Harvey For example, according to Ranker.

Weinstein, R.Kelly, XXXTentacion, and Bill Cosby that have ended up to com, William be true.

Golding In a day and age wrote where screens are Lord of everywhere, it is the Flies, nearly impossible to but was an avoid news involving actors, attempted rapist. musicians, and movie stars. In Anne Perry was a crime fact, Newport Academy, a series novelist who murdered her mother. of evidence-based healing centers Patricia Highsmith was also a crime for adolescents and families struggling with novelist… and a rapist. J.D Salinger addictions, disorders, and abuse, says that was the author of The Catcher in celebrities can have both a severely posithe Rye, yet he was a pedophile and tive or negative effect on teenagers. adulterer. All of these artists have Young people are always looking to find created work that is recognized their identity, and sometimes, they look to as good art, in spite of their bad celebrities for how to act, dress, and what behavior. to do. For example, Gwen Stefani began the Many famous artists, inlcuding Van Gogh, Goya, and Munch, suffered from punk-skater look in the early 2000s, Amy mental illness, which resulted in breakdowns, alcoholism and episodes of anger Winehouse began the trend of cat-eye liner, \KASSIDY WHEELER and violence. However, none of this lessens the impact of their art on the world. and Rihanna began hairstyle trends like shaving one Kanye West, for example, writes music that a lot of people enjoy, but he has compart of a woman’s hair and having choppy bangs. pared himself to others, has said racist/sexist things, this guy has even compared These are all positive or neutral influences, but a study done by the University of himself to God. That is pretty pathetic, yet his music is still enjoyed by many.

Pittsburgh School of Medicine states that if young people see a musician, celebrity, or The case with Kanye West is that he underwent a life changing experience: the movie star doing and talking about things like drugs or violence, they may view these death of his mother. In 2007 his mother passed, and in 2008 he released a soul actions as acceptable. grabbing, game changing album, called 808s and Heartbreaks. This piece of work Rappers like Wiz Khalifa and Pusha-T reference drug use and distribution in the majorfurther introduced autotune to rap, aside from what T-pain already did, and 808s ity of their songs. This is not a good thing, but if kids see popular R&B singers and rappers being the type of drum used in the album was spread wider throughout hip-hop. like R.Kelly and XXXTentacion’s music still being streamed and promoted, after they have The event of his mothers death changed his discography from a soulful upbeat rapbeen proven guilty for acts of domestic abuse and major sexual misconduct charges, the per, to a darker and corrupted musician. What some see as crazy, others see as youth may begin to think that their actions are acceptable. successful,and even though he has his controversies, he was made this way because Not only is there misconduct in the music industry, multiple actors, actresses, and of a tragedy that made him the way he is today, and his art should be appreciated directors have been accused of doing horrible things. For example, Roseanne Barr, a welldespite his past troubles. known actress had her tv show “Roseanne” canceled by ABC after Barr tweeted a racist Despite clear evidence that an artist’s work should be separated from the artist, comment about Valerie Jarett, a former adviser for Obama. there are many who choose to dislike an artist’s work because of things they have The law tends to give more privilege to people with power in court. For example, in done. Of course, people have the right to like or dislike anyone they want, but his2013 Chris Brown and his bodyguard were charged with felony assault for beating sometory has shown that art often outlives the artist, making it clear that art should be one up. When they showed up to court, their sentence was reduced to a single assault viewed for art’s sake alone. misdeameanor. The law not holding celebrities accountable sets a dangerous example to There are popular artists who can be major jerks but still create great art, and people, they will think that with power, fame, and money, comes no accountability. some people do not like their art because of that. While it is understandable that If society can punish the powerful accordingly the first time they do something out someone would think this way, it is important to still appreciate what these artists of poor judgement, or even worse, commit criminal acts, then younger generations will have created. begin to learn what is wrong and what is right faster than they would in the past.

The Report Card

From a poll taken on 1/31 of 100 students

A: 14%

D: 5% F: 3%

A: 9%

1

C: 34%

2 3

\KASSIDY WHEELER

C: 12%

B: 5%

F: 16%

1

1

F: 52%

D: 18%

2

A: 45 %

3

4

4

5

5

C: 16% B: 23% VALENTINES DAY

Kicking the competition

The Girls Golf team has won their third state title in a row, ending 2018 as State Champions. One of the golfers, Kylee Loewe, is nominated for the girls Golfer of the Year award.

The Golfer of the Year award is presented by AZCentral. Eight golfers from around the state are chosen by the azcentral high school sports reporters by using interviews and personal observations, as well as statistics and ratings.

The eight girls who are nominated will be invited to the azcentral sports awards held on June 9th at the fourth annual event at ASU Gammage. The event will have various awards, contests, and a special appearance from a celebrity guest.

Loewe has been playing golf for eight years. She realized golf was serious for her when she started competing at age 12. Loewe was the lowest scoring golfer on the team at the Division II tournament, and came in 3rd at the Roar Classic. She also finished in the top 10 at the Nightwalk Invitational.

“My family and I have a place in Flagstaff that’s like a golf community. My dad had me do the junior clinics so that I could play with him, and it kind of just built from there,” said Loewe, a sophomore.

Her biggest inspiration when it comes to golf is her dad.

Loewe and her dad golf together as much as they can.

“My dad is really big into golf, and so him and I have always played together. He’s kind of like, always been there,” said Loewe.

Loewe has also won about five titles. The best feeling on the green according to Loewe is when she finishes out the last put. Finishing the last put means that the game has ended.

“My job is to make sure my girls get better and develop and Kylee is definitely doing that,” said Mark O’Bryan, Geometry teacher and Girls Golf coach.

The worst feeling while out on the green for Loewe is the feeling when the ball goes out of bounds or hits the water. The consequences of hitting a ball out of bounds is a stroke-and-distance penalty. That means adding a penalty stroke to the score and putting another ball from the same location of your previous stroke.

“At State, on two different holes, I went in the water back to back, yeah that was bad,” said Izzy Cantwell, a senior member of the golf team.

“It is really stressful because the game fluctuates day by day so it kind of depends on your swing every day so it kind of just depends on your swing every day.

If there is one tiny thing, your whole game could be completely thrown away,” said Loewe.

Her favorite part is getting to play with the same people in the tournaments.

“Many famous artists, inlcuding Van Gogh, Goya, and Munch, suffered from mental illness, which resulted in breakdowns, alcoholism and episodes of anger and violence.

However, none of this lessens the impact of their art on the world.”

“A study done by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine states that if young people see a musician, celebrity, or movie star doing and talking about things like drugs or violence, they may view these actions as acceptable.”

D: 16%

February 8, 2019 ● 23

- Golfer Kylee Loewe is up for golfer of the year award Hope Black

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Sheets

GOOD SPORT

HOW EARLY SCHOOL STARTS

2 3 4 5

B: 38% HOW YOU DID DURING PREVIOUS SEMESTER

Tenured coach enjoys success Grant Richardson talks about Gaetano Gianni’s success as the baseball coach

By Grant Richardson staff writer

Gaetano Gianni is the head Varsity Baseball coach. He has been involved with baseball ever since he was a little kid. Gianni is entering his 22nd year of coaching baseball.

His whole life he played baseball, and then went on to be a coach. He played professionally in the minors for the Cincinnati Reds organization. After playing for a long time, he decided to stay involved in the sport and started coaching at Martin Junior College in Chicago.

Gianni enjoys his time managing the program and trying to get it the best he can.

“Now that I have been doing it for so many years, it is a lot of fun. I love spending time and working with the kids,” said Gianni.

The players love that Gianni is always there for them.

“I like that he is always there for his players even when we are not on the baseball field,” said Dylan Skov, a senior on the baseball team.

He wants them to not only do good on the baseball field but also in the classroom.

“He really cares about all of the players and their improvement. He not only cares about us as baseball players but as students and young men as well,” said Jack Bishop, a senior on the baseball team.

There are experienced coaches along side with him throughout the program. The varsity pitching coach is Doug Ketchen. The JV coach is Steve Scarpulla and the freshman coach is David Fladhammer.

The first game of the season is Wednesday, February 20 against Saguaro. The team plays throughout the year, not only in spring. If the players are not playing for a club team, the high school has summer, fall, and winter ball that they can play in.

There are a couple players on the team that are going to play baseball in college. One of them is senior Peyton McGregor, who is committed to the University 4 ●Mead, February 8, 2019 of San Francisco. Tyler

“

Now that I have been doing it for so many years, it is a lot of fun, I love spending time and working with the kids”

KYLEE LOEWE, A SOPHOMORE,

takes a swing during practice. She is nominated for the AZCentral golfer of the year award. 4 MIA BRITO

THE NEWS THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Cactus Shadows’ newest addition

also a senior, is committed to Utah Valley University. The last one is Matthew Bohnert, who is going to South Mountain Gaetano Gianni Community College and is also Cactus Shadows base- a senior.

Gianni emphasizes being in ball coach the best shape that a player can be. He always is suggesting to the players to get in the gym and do something productive. While teaching the health class, he gets a lot of informaRichardson tion about health andGrant what is staff writer best for people.

Nicolas The seniors want to end off Stowers, the newest addition to the Math Department, started teachtheir high school career with a successful season. ing geometry at the beginning of the sec-

4 LOGAN MCDADE

ond semester, bringing relief to an understaffed department.

A Cactus Shadows alum, Stowers graduated with the class of 2014.

He then went to college at ASU to start his teaching career.

After college, Stowers decided he wanted to 4 LOGAN MCDADE come back to his hometown high school and see how things changed.

“I went onto college and realized I wanted to become a teacher. Then, I was like, ‘Why don’t I just go where I feel at home to teach,” said Stowers.

AS A NEW WAY TO PROMOTE ART AT SCHOOL, BLT

provides David Simmons, the founder of the UBU Project, a chance to entertain students with music. 4 LOGAN MCDADE

As schools find a new way to decrease student’s stress, art therapy becomes increasingly popular around the world.

Record shortage of teachers A report issued by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association found that the 178 school districts and charter schools who responded to a survey reported they needed to fill 6,227 slots this school year alone. Cactus Shadows is no stranger to this problem, especially with the Math Department. After losing a teacher in the early weeks of the school year, many Math teachers gave up their prep period and taught a full day of six classes. With Stowers coming to the rescue, it relieves some of the district’s stress.

“He is very nice and makes the class really easy to understand,” said Taylor Fitzmaurice, a freshman and student of Stowers.

New to the job Since it is his first teaching job, Stowers is slowly easing into things. He wants to see his students improve constantly.

“It is nice connecting to the students and seeing students who have passion for the same subject I do,” said Stowers.

Stowers enjoys playing the piano and guitar during his free time. He also enjoys spending time with his wife.

While teaching everything that needs to be taught, he hopes to make the class as fun as he can. Engaging with his students is something that is big for him because, when he was a student, he liked when the teachers helped him.

“He is really nice and makes the class fun,” said Carson Woods, a sophomore and a student of Stowers.

He wants to start off his teaching career in a good way and being here at his old school will help him.

Breakaway Leadership Team helps integrate art into school to create positive atmosphere

By Hope Black

B staff writer

REAKAWAY

Leadership Team (BLT) is a school-based club comprised of students who work together to build leadership skills to strengthen the sense of community on campus.

At the beginning of each year, the club picks a main goal to accomplish by the end of the year. Their goal this year is to spread positivity around the campus. During meetings, club members come up with ways to do so.

“The purpose of BLT is to have different students on your campus that are leaders that will help change the climate on your campus to a positive climate. Our particular BLT has chosen the message of kindness,” said Corrie Klinefelter, the advisor of BLT and a school counselor.

Understanding the UBU Project Recently, David Simmons, a musician and founder of the UBU Project, worked with BLT on ways to achieve their goal.

Simmons has been on campus during lunch this year, and wants to recruit stu-

dents for the UBU Project.

“I think the main reason why BLT has him at our school is because of the type of person he is. The message he wants to send is valuable to the age group here,” said Molly Scaccia, a sophomore and member of BLT.

Art healing student’s stress The UBU Project is an organization that provides arts integration for schools with students K-12 that allows them to create music, dance pieces, or theatre pieces to increases their metacognition, which is the ability to understand one’s own thought process.

The project holds prevention workshops after school at the Fine Arts Center.

During the workshops, students are able to find their voices in hands-on ways such as writing songs.

“I have been teaching arts integration most of my career. I am a survivor of my own suicide attempt and a recovering alcoholic. That came into play a little bit, but then about a year ago I heard the statistic that the leading cause of death in children 10 to 14 in Arizona is suicide.

That cemented my drive to create the UBU Project,” said Simmons.

As part of their work with the UBU Project, BLT members went on a field trip to a leadership conference at Grand Canyon University.

During the conference, members of BLT listened to speakers talk, and they discussed how to deal with negative forces and how to talk to someone who might be in danger.

“We went because we knew that mental health in our generation is a rising issue in our world and we wanted to be a part of the solution that could help save the lives of our peers,” said Riley Hearn, a sophomore and member of BLT.

Future projects in the works Currently, BLT is not working on any specific projects, but plans are in the work for future activities.

“We take field trips to better our community, like Feed My Starving Children,” said Hearn, a sophomore.

The club is run by Klinefelter and meetings are held every other Thursday in room 104.

March

Creeker

16 ● March 8, 2019

March

Frontier Town turns 50 staff writer

Spotlight

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Audiences continue to feel ...

the impact of music

by Brendan Donaldson staff writer

Throughout most - if not all of documented history, music has been around in some form or another.

Listening to music the human brain releases dopamine, which is a hormone that puts people in a better mood. Of course, this depends entirely on the type of music that is being listened to, if it is sad music it is more likely to put off a sadder mood or feeling than happier music.

“I don’t really listen to music very much, if I do it’s usually on the bus or while doing homework but not really much more than that.” said Alex Pissas, a sophomore.

There are people who listen to music religiously and there are those who barely listen to music and everywhere in between.

“I listen to music non-stop and it calms me down but it depends on the music that I’m listening to,” said Jackson Rea, sophomore and avid music listener.

The emotions behind music itself is impactful in more ways than one, from the listeners, to the artist themselves, and even the producers.

“I listen to music all the time, but if I’m kind of down, I’ll put on my playlist and I get in a better mood,” said Jill Columbo, a school security guard. “My favorite right now is a rock band called The Revivalists, out of New Orleans, and I will be seeing them next week in Las Vegas, actually,” said Columbo.

While music can be touching for the listener, the actual artist’s perspective is overlooked. there has been a large amount of celebrities and artists in particular that struggle whether it is from drugs to simple anxiety that most people struggle with.

This generation has seen many artists who have risen up and amassed an incredibly large fanbase and following. In the past decades there have been artists who have had influence on the young and generation that is grow-

ing up during the time period and also even generations born after the artist had stopped creating music.

People still talk about the “greats back in the day,” artists like Queen, Journey, Green Day, AC DC, Eminem are just examples. These artists are still talked about, listened to, and some are still touring and making music.

Looking at the legacy and the impact that the bands or artists had on their generation.

A few of the large genres during the 1980’s and 1990’s were types of rock, early rap, and hip hop.

Nowadays the biggest genres are hip-hop/ rap and pop music.

One genre of music that has gathered a massively devoted fanbase is relatively new: emo rap.

The community of emo rap has lost huge names such as Lil Peep Jackson R ea a sophomre music lover (Gustav Elijah Åhr) and XXXTentacion (Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy) usually referred to as “X” who both have passed away. Merely a few days after X’s death a fellow hip-hop artist Juice WRLD released a song mourning the loss of the two fallen artists.

Their music had an impact on many lives with multiple memorials made by fans.

Emo rappers songs usually include substance abuse and battling with the rapper’s own personal mental illnesses or troubling times, bringing comfort to fans but also quite possibly creating a false image or representation of how substances help deal with troubling times which has the potential to turn a generation into struggling addicts.

This does not mean that any sort of music is wrong, bad, or shouldn’t be listened to. However, in the past the music that has blown up has an impact on society good or bad.

“

I listen to music non-stop and it calms me down but it depends on the music that I’m listening to.

March 8, 2019 ● 9

Musicians in the making “Soundcloud just emailed me and told me that I am ready to be monetized, so as soon as I start paying seven Multiple students at Cactus dollars a month, I will make Shadows are making music money for each play I get on from all types of genres and my songs. My plan is to get styles. Some students are monetized, make money off doing it just for fun, while my music, and then release others are taking it like a an album,” said Molly future career.

Scaccia, a sophomore.

Apps like Bandcamp and Equipment and beats can Soundcloud make it simpler be expensive, so students to upload music from anyhave to learn how to work with what they have.

Ceejay Notice, a sophomore, puts his work together by using a microphone and a laptop. He also uses the FL Studio to sequence his music together. The FL studio is a digital audio work system that features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer.

Notice has been making music since the age of 12.

His favorite genre to work with is rap. His musical inspiration is eminem, and 4MIA BRITO depending on what he is doing in a year, he wants to continue working on music where. as a serious thing. When Students on campus he’s in a creative block, actively listen to the artists, Notice stops for a couple of and even some of the staff. days and continues when an “I think it is brilliant, and idea pops into his head. students should continue to “Always rap, because it make their own music. I think is really cool to put words it also helps spark their cretogether and make them ativity,” said Karen Dolezal, a sound better. I like this thing choir teacher. that I did where i was gathWith social media nowaering all sorts of beats and days, it is easy to have your stuff and writing to all of music spread through multhem. I just made it into this tiple platforms. collection of songs and it is

Hope Black staff writer

pretty cool,” Said Notice.

Molly Scaccia started making her own music around one or two months ago. Her music style is a bedroom pop genre and she likes to write mostly about love, because that is one of the only thing that interests her. Scaccia’s music inspirations are Clairo, Billie Eilish, and Mimi. The hardest thing for Scaccia is creating beats.

“I just randomly get inspired to make a song by literally anything. If I am listening to a good song i’ll be like, ‘Iwanna make something like that’ so i’ll just lay down on my bed with my computer and look for a beat that fits my mood and write lyrics for it,” Said Scaccia.

Devin Dorough, a junior, is in a band called Lip Service and also releases solo music as well. He started making music about two years ago when he realized he wanted to make music of his own instead of always playing other people’s. Their music is categorized as indie. His favorite piece of work his band has put together is their Valentine’s Day demo.

“My musical inspirations are Nick Rattigan, from Surf Curse and Current Joys. I love him. Travis Barker from Blink 182 as well ‘cause he shreds on the drums,” said Dorough.

These student’s music can be found on Soundcloud.

Their usernames are “Divichi”, “Lip Service”, and “c00chiegirl”.

Frontier Town down in Cave Creek is one of Arizona’s only remaining western town destinations. The area has undergone a massive property expansion that now makes Frontier Town the first western entertainment destination to be opened in Arizona in more than a decade.

The town is going to be one of a kind and will be booked with Western entertainment and stunt and action shows for visitors to enjoy. The expansion welcomes a new western theater called Greasewood. Along with the western theater, the expansion also includes a venue for western weddings, a new saloon that opens in Spring, a restaurant named Greasewood, and other Western entertainments.

“I like that Frontier Town is not something you can find everywhere, and I think cowboy themed stuff is weird so it makes it funny to go to,” said Greer Greenberg, a sophomore.

People from all over Arizona, and around the country come to this tourist site. Frontier Town has been around for 50 years, and some of the shops open have been in business for over 28 years. Some of the shops include the Cave Creek Mercantile, Glory Bee’s Too, Suzanne’s Hot Stuff, a jewelry shop named Debra Ortega’s, and more.

The oldest buildings in the area date back all the way to the 1930s when Bartlett Dam was under construction. The buildings were used by managers for the Depression-era Progress Works Administration watching over workers. The site is also known to be haunted. Some workers have reportedly seen a ghost they have nicknamed “Pee-Wee”.

“It’s a nice half-day thing. With the restaurants and the unique shopping up and down the street, it brings people up from the valley and from all over the world,” said Jim Heasley, the owner of the Cave Creek Mercantile.

A popular shop in the area is a clothing store called Glory Bee’s Too. The shop opened around 30 years ago, and the owner Glory started her business by selling men’s ties in a shopping mall. At one point, Glory owned seven shops around the valley, but it is down to the last four shops in Frontier Town.

“The businesses that are here are diverse. The clothing is different, there are candles, they have a mercantile, it is kind of western-y. My favorite parts of Frontier Town is the

What’s going on in Cave Creek in the month of March?

Calender of events

The historic town, located in the heart of Cave Creek, turns 50 years old this month and students find the time to spend their day appreciating it.

By Hope Black

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

March 9

candle shop and the wind chimes,” Said Barbara Lee, an employee.

Peager, the owner of Frontier Town, has stated that, along with the new entertainment complex, more enhancements are can be expected in 2019. Greasewood will also have Wild West stunt shows from Six Gun Entertainment on March 16.

Dr. Suess story times

March 16 March 23

Desert Foothills Library hosts Dr. Suess readings from an array of special guests.

March 30

10:20 a.m. - 11 a.m., every Saturday

March 16 March 22 March 23 March 24

9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cave Creek Road

March 29 April 7

HAPPY CUSTOMERS ONLY, Samantha Kuhn, a junior, leaves Cave Creek Candles and Gifts with a new purchase in hand, and a smile on her face. 4AVIANNA HOPPES

Rodeo Days The Rodeo Days Parade will be taking place in the center of town.

Attendees can expect to see horseback riders, rodeo royalty, live music, & more.

Bike Week The Hideaway/ Roadhouse hosts this free, annual event with live music, biker games, AZ bike builders, vendors, & more.

TAKE A HI

All day event (expect traffic delays)

3 Lauryn Stornelli

Spring Break: from going skiing to lying on the beach Devin Dorough goes into the history of the week-long break and explores some options Arizona students have.

S

By Devin Dorough staff writer

pring break is a week in late March or early April when students are off of school. Many places celebrate with parties and fun festivities, while plenty of families use this time to travel out of town. Spring break started in the 1930s in the United States, but has since been adopted by other countries.

A week long hiatus with warm weather on the west coast makes for the perfect opportunity to leave the house and travel. Locations such as California or Mexico are ideal destinations, providing beaches along the coast and beautiful weather that is

tival, you can find enjoyment in the and summit peaks, the mountain is 4 ● March 8, 2019 sure to leave you with a tan. vast majority of events The Valley one of the best options nearby for “During spring break I go to can offer. snow in March and is only a nine hour California, when I’m there I like to “I usually don’t go anywhere I like drive from Cave Creek. Some people go to the beach but I usually don’t to enjoy the week of from school have the opportunity to travel someswim in the ocean it’s cold, I also like here with all my friends that stay in where new every year during the to go to Disneyland and walk around town we have a lot of fun,” said Flynn break, and are likely to take advanthe park for a day, I usually go with Cook, a junior. tage of it. my friends and family so it’s a great Even if the entire week is spent “For the past four years I’ve time,” said Melanie Richardson, a in only Cave Creek, students are gone somewhere that I haven’t junior left with plenty of options to choose been before because I love to travel Another enjoyable activity to do STAND JUSTICE Students Blaine Ashby, Murphy, from.

Day Anna trips to Verde River and and seeUP newFOR things,” said Connor during spring break is to venture and Karli Miller show their support for the safety of the remaining Bartlett Lake require only a full tank Mycek, a student at Paradise Valley north towards the mountains to dolphins. After the fourth death of a dolphin, many people started gas and a carthe that is suitable for College. spend the week skiing and snowtoCommunity use their voice to take a stand against theof abuse.

“Since dolphinsIfaren’t humane them in Arizona for our roads with rocky conditions. you’rehealthy, lookingit’s tonot save your to keepdirt boarding. Though it’s not usually own entertainment,” 4 MAJA PEIRCE With a group of friends or family, a money and stay in said townAshby. this spring common for northern Arizona to day spent relaxing by the water is break, there is still an array of activibe slammed with snow during the right around the corner. ties to choose from. Things are conspring, Mammoth Mountain in As Arizona temperatures begin stantly going on downtown and Mammoth Lakes, California is an to rise in the coming months, March throughout the valley. Whether option to consider when travelling is one of the last chances hikers will there is a concert or a food truck fesout of state. Due to its high elevation

Dolphinaris closes its doors

have to safely hike throughout the day. When summer’s heat wave crashes into the valley, it is highly recommended to stray from the mountains during the day and stick to early morning hikes before the sun rises. Black mountain stands tall in the center of Cave Creek with a 360 degree view of The Valley, and has Since the openin g trails suitable for any hiker. of the aqu protestor arium, s fou “I don’t go hiking a lot but forsomethe dolphi ght n’s rights wit times me and my friends gotion upsto h petiand active pro tests. black Mountain because it’s an easy hike and it’s a beautiful view,” said Cook.

For those who have a Due thirst to the for thrill, The Birdcage Theatre in intense Tombstone is said to be haunted, cremedia presating the perfect opportunity for an sure exciting spook. It is open from 9 after a.m. until 6 p.m., seven days athe week.death

ROCKING OUT AT BAND

PRACTICE, Devin Dorough and bandmate Walt Wilson run through a new song before recording it. The group is currently working on their second EP, following their first EP of acoustic singles. 4MIA BRITO Hope Black

S staff writer

INCE the opening in 2016, four

out of the eight dolphins under the care of Dolphinaris Arizona died in the OdySea Aquarium.

The 4th dolphin, Kai, died on January 31st. This prompted hundreds of people to protest Dolphinaris.

On Wednesday, February 20th, Dolphinaris closed and officials stated that they will reopen the facility as a new concept not involving dolphins. The remaining dolphins were shipped to a sanctuary in the U.S Virgin Islands.

“I think that it is very cruel and it should not be allowed. Especially in this heat, it is not the right environment for the dolphins,” said Lola Draper, a junior.

RELOCATING THE DOLPHINS

According to a statement from the Coral World Ocean Park, the four dolphins will spend time in a specialty area in the sanctuary while they adjust to their new home.

Now, they will then spend months building relationships with the other dolphins before they are reintroduced to the public.

“They are kind of being treated as an object that we can view, or, like treating them as a museum when they are like mammals. They are living and breathing and they need to be in their own environment rather than for our amusement,” said Lauren Sinani, a senior.

In October of 2017, a seven-year-old bottlenose named Bodie was the first dolphin to die under the care of Dolphinaris. He passed from of a rare muscle disease. Only seven months later, the 2nd dolphin named Alia died from a bacterial infection when she was only 10 years old. Then, 11-yearold Khloe died in December of 2018 after a six year struggle with a chronic illness.

UNDERSTANDING THE DEATH

Kai, the fourth dolphin, passed once his condition started to worsen. He was not eating, swimming, or breathing properly for two weeks.

“Our team made every effort to save his life, including blood-work testing, ultrasounds, x-rays, and engaging external specialists and submitting diagnostic samples to outside veterinary laboratories,” said Christian Schaeffer, the general manager at Dolphinaris.

After news spread about Kai dying, more than 200 people gathered saturday morning to push for a change. For two hours, protestors lined the intersection at East Via de Ventura and North Pima Road in Scottsdale with signs and chanting for the remaining dolphins to be released. Some people felt that dolphins do not belong in the desert because desert environments carry dust and fungal spores that make people sick. Yet, Stafford said it is unclear what the cause of the deaths were.

“I have mixed feelings about keep-

of four dolphins, Dolphinaris Arizona at the OdySea Aquarium decided to close their doors and relocate the surviving dolphins.

ing intelligent mammals in captivity for amusement or entertainment purposes.

On the pro-side, it is an opportunity for people to get familiar with the animals and their plight in the wild. I, on the other hand, did feel a bit of guilt over having patronized a facility that keeps highly intelligent animals in captivity for profit,” said Mark Lauch, a zoology teacher.

Dolphins away from the ocean do not live as long as dolphins in their natural habitat. In SeaWorld, there have been many incidents of dolphins dying under their care. The most common problem were infections inside the body. They can live to be 40 years old or more in the wild, whilst a dolphin in captivity dies at age ten.

CAPTIVITY’S EFFECT ON DOLPHINS

When in captivity, the mammals are also exposed to illnesses, like “pox” which is caused from stress and poor general health. The stress and boredom is also likely to weaken their immune system and cause self-mutilation.

“I’m not sure what impact this will have on Scottsdale and the surrounding area. We survived a long time without Dolphinaris and I am sure we will survive beyond its closure,” said Lauch.

Due to the intense media pressure, Dolphinaris decided to close their doors and relocate the surviving dolphins.

THE NEWS THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Water

continued from Water Reservation on page 1 “People are unaware this drought is even happening and if we let it go on for a really long time it can be very problematic like with what California going through,” said Melissa Rimz, a senior.

A more controversial part of this deal is who is going to take the water cutbacks if the drought continues to get worse. The first people to suffer cutbacks will be famers. This could be a problem, because farmers use that water for agriculture and livestock, which is necessary to contribute to feeding a population. However, it is also agreed on because farmers use up the most water, they should be the first ones to see some of the cuts in water usage. Most farmers are outraged because the government knew the whole time that this drought was progressively getting worse, so now the farmers have to pay the price since the government waited to take action. In order to save water, the government will ask for farmers to volunteer to fallow their land.

Fallowing land is when the farmer does not use a piece of land for farming for a whole season, this way the land can recover its fertility and water can be conserved. Because of the cutbacks some farmers are going to have to do it to survive. They cannot waste time working on land that they will not even have water to farm on it with. If farmers begin to fallow their land they will sell less crops which could hurt everyone economically. Farmers have proposed they just use groundwater. But using groundwater is not always an effective solution.

“I’m concerned, their answer is to pay the Pima county farmers to drill wells and pump water out. That is an aquifer that is not replaceable and can be a very dangerous position to get into. To start pulling water out of a limited resource just to solve the problem in the short term will only make it worse in the long term,” said Kim Wallis-Lindvig, a biology teacher.

Legislators are trying to come up with a way to get 50 million dollars for funding on wells and the resources necessary for it. They introduced a bill, HB 2590, that would give the farmers 20 million dollars for funding for the groundwater idea. The farmers said they would cover part of the funding. It might have to come down to them relying on groundwater.

The controversial part of the bill is using public money to fund the pumping of groundwater for farmers when using groundwater can be dangerous because of how it destroys the environment. It can be a positive thing because farmers need water now more than ever to grow things like food or cotton.

Farmers argue that they deserve that groundwater because they have no access to other water sources and they will need that water to farm with. Due to the Drought Contingency Plan. California has agreed to not take water that belongs to them while they already battle a huge drought. That will help Arizona avoid losing more water and help the water in the reservoirs replenish a little.

There are lots of ways people can help conserve water for their states. Water lawns once every three days instead of every day. Check for leaks. Install water efficient toilets, sinks and showers. Especially, just be smart with how water is used around the house, don’t let water run for long periods or excessive amounts of times.

April

April

THE

Creeker

16 ● April 19, 2019

PRESS

The newspaper of Cactus Shadows High School 4 in●Cave April 19, Arizona 2019 Creek, April 19, 2019 vol. 10, no.7

INSIDE

MEASLES IN ARIZONA

A movement of misinformation has led to old diseases coming back to infect people. Ryan Bartholomew writes about the dangers of not receiving vaccines.

See story on page 5

STUDENT’S WAGES SAVED HB 2523 would have given Arizona businesses the option to pay workers under the age of 22 less than the state minimum wage. Mia Brito critiques legislatures attempt to pass the bill.

See story on page 7

HITTING HOME RUNS

Peyton McGregor and the baseball team have been taking on the new season. Grant Richardson reports on the teams success and struggles for the year.

See story on page 22

Z’s House of Thai serves up a fine meal in western setting

THIS MUCH FENTANYL WILL KILL YOU Hope Black

staff writer

Two times this year so far, border protection agents have seized large quantities of fentanyl at the Arizona-Mexico border, first in January and then in March. The January arrest alone resulted in the largest fentanyl bust in U.S. history.

Fentanyl, a drug used to treat chronic pain, has become more commonly found in drugs across America and is extremely deadly. The number of fentanyl-related deaths have increased more than fivefold since 2013. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nationwide, nearly half of all opioid-related deaths in 2016 involved fentanyl.

“You’re putting your life into someone else's hands, and you’re saying ‘please don't kill me’ while you try and experiment with drugs. For the first time in my lifetime, not just my career, using or experimenting can be deadly,” said Brad Penner, the school’s Resource Officer.

The “third wave” strikes

For video coverage of the fentanyl problem scan the QR code above.

According to the CDC, fentanyl’s popularity did not skyrocket until 2013, which the agency calls the “third wave.” While a large portion of the drug comes from illegal stocks produced by Mexican cartels, according to the DEA, a portion of it also comes from legal pharmaceutical forms. Most medical experts cannot tell the difference between the two.

The deaths recorded revealed that 82 percent of the fatalities involved the illegal powder form of the synthetic, while only four percent of fatalities involved the prescription patch. In 14 percent of those cases, the form of the drug used was not known by the person.

The reason why fentanyl is as fatal as it is, is because of how potent the drug actually is. Compared to heroin that has a lethal dosage of 30 milligrams, a three milligram dose of fentanyl can kill an averagesized adult male.

“It’s very sad, I think people should make better decisions and if they do decide to take drugs have something to test it with. I feel sorry for the families and friends of the people who are dying,” said Greyson Sassman, a sophomore.

When fentanyl is quickly injected into the body, it can cause the diaphragm and the chest to seize, which leads to something called “Wood Chest Syndrome.” Muscle tone progresses to severe stiffness, which then leads to difficulty breathing.

During a fentanyl overdose, the body starts to slowly shut down.

The most common result is the person’s lips immediately turning

By Frida Alvarado

THE NEWS THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Last minute rush leads to the ...

Yearbook being printed Devin Dorough staff writer

Every year, students in the yearbook class are tasked 4BLAKE DORAME with putting together a book that showcases Cactus Shadows. After blue. Then the breathing slows down, and then the heart. This can four month of planning happen in a matter of minutes. and eight months of hard Overdose at Notre Dame work, theoverdosed 2019 yearbook Earlier this year, a student at Notre Dame student on fentanyl and was given Narcan nine times. Their heart went down to is finished. six beats per minute. thebut yearbook According to a student who was there at theIntime, wishes to class, remain anonymous, the experience was frightening.

FOCUSING “I was scared, I there are staff members, personally knew the kids who were involved. One of the kids ended up HARD, Flynn team leaders, editors. in the rehab program I was in. It kind of bothered me, becauseand that Cook, a junior, could have been me.”

Team leaders are in charge Fentanyl is a synthetic but about 50 to practices differ- opioid similar to morphine, of managing a fourth of 100 times more potent. It is mostly used to treat patients with severe ent chords during pain after surgeries, although it can also be given patients that have Their the to staff members. class.

This is are Cook’s chronic pain if they physically tolerant to other opiods. The drug job is making sure that works actingtaking on the brain’s firstbyyear the opiate receptors to alter how the brain experiences and reacts to pain, while boosting everyone staying on the levels ofisdopamine “I thought as class. well. track with work, keeping it would be a fun Only a fewand minutes to live up with their grade, and class, I could “The most frightening part of fentanyl is that it’s only about six to doing the work that needs learn something eight minutes before you need to be saved, and people won’t even new and possibly know they to get done. In addition, ingested it,” said Penner.

In 2018, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention useful,” said Cook. they helplabeled with fengetting pictanyl as the most commonly used drug involved in overdoses. Deaths 4 LOGAN MCDADE and adding tripled from 2015 to 2017 in Arizona alone. tures It is commonly found indesigning heroin, cocaine, and “M-30” pills. the pages.

The presence of fentanyl was almost non-existent just four years “Wein have take picago. According to Doug Coleman, the special agent chargeto of the Phoenix Division of the DEA, four years ago,tures law officials seized zero at almost every fentanyl. In comparison to this year, they have seized enough fentanyl event and design pages in to kill 70 million people.

The most common fentanyl-laced drugthe being spread book.

Wearound put everyArizona is the “Mexican Oxy.” The Mexican Oxy is a pill disguised to thing on the spreads which look like Percocet. At a party last year in Tucson, Aaron Francisco Chavez was given two pills stamped with a M-30.

He passed away due include photos, mods, main to an overdose. The pills he was given were two of 1,000 smuggled and other content,” across the border into Nogales by the Sinaloastories Cartel. said Blaine Ashby, a sophomore and See Fentanyl in Arizona on pageteam 4 leader.

On the other hand,

each editors have different jobs whether it’s coming up with a theme, picking the perfect fonts, adding design elements to make everything fit, or editing the stories. Additionally, editors have the final say in what goes into the yearbook.

Lastly, staff members create the content for the yearbook like writing stories or taking photos.

Each staff members have a team leader to help them with what they need to get done. Also, staff members planning to return the next year are learning to understand what is expected in hopes of becoming a Team Leader, an Editor, or Editor-in-Chief Now, that the yearbook is over that does not mean there’s no work to do.

“Staffers are working on indesign to create mini yearbooks for an end of the year project,” said Devon Molina, a senior and editor-in-chief.

The editors and staff leaders are helping the staffers that plan to return next year learn how to

design and learn all the techniques they use in Yearbook. Editors have also started brainstorming for next years yearbook.

“We have to pick a theme both verbal and visual and start designing the ladder that will eventually be the pages of next years yearbook,” said Ashby, The yearbook class is very excited for the book to release. They added a lot this year and made sure to add a lot of student coverage.

“I am very excited about seeing how the yearbook looks given it was done by a class of editors we recruited last year. I dont think many members of my senior editor team would have envisioned themselves accomplishing this much two years ago, so I am really looking forward to seeing the final product of their hard work,” said Scott LaVigne, the yearbook advisor.

This year, the staff hints the blue theme, giving a preview of the closing to the book.

Fentanyl problem grows in Arizona continued from the Front Page

Guitar classes are...

Strumming away

by Max Sotelo

G video editor

UITAR class at Cactus Shadows

is not quite like the other music courses offered here. Unlike choir and band, the guitar classes do not spend time learning and rehearsing pieces to be performed at concerts.

Instead, the classes focus more on practicing their technique and improving skills on the guitar.

“We don't put on performances for a few reasons. First, many of [the students] do not want to be in the spotlight, and just want to get better. It also allows me time to truly introduce and delve into styles that they may not have played before and not worry about having it concert ready,” said Karen Dolezal, the intermediate and advanced guitar teacher.

Guitars are available for students to use during class, but they are welcome to bring their own. The cirriculum for the guitar classes is all developed by Dolezal and Kevin Brady themselves, who both respectively teach intermediate/advanced and beginner guitar. For the beginner classes, the material comes from the same guitar method book series as taught at Sonoran Trails.

“We’re learning a style of guitar called Flamenco, it’s more of a Spanish influenced type of guitar,” said Grace Gramling, a junior.

As for the intermediate and advanced guitar class, they concentrate on on the different styles of guitar. They learn blues, classical, and flamenco. For their final exam, students choose a challenge piece to present.

Dolezal can be found at Cactus Shadows teaching two choir classes and one guitar class in the early morning hours. She travels to Sonoran Trails Middle School to teach guitar after third period.

“I’ve been playing guitar for the past five years, and I actually started at Sonoran Trails, in the guitar class there,” said Tory Johnson, a junior.

The beginning of guitar class at Cactus Shadows traces back to about five years ago, when Dolezal was hired to teach at Sonoran Trails. She and another music teacher, Cindy Puschak, who now teaches at Black Mountain Elementary, created a guitar class for middle schoolers. While there was already a single, multileveled guitar class here, Dolezal realized that the high school needed a class that would be able to support the students playing guitar at a higher level.

By Hope Black

staff writer

“It’s a tragedy. We in law enforcement are looking for the people who are doing this so we can put them where they belong.

Unfortunately, you’re in that age group where you’re experimenting with drugs, but for the first time, the drugs you ingest, even flowered marijuana, is being laced with fentanyl. Now, you may overdose and not even really know that you took something,” said Penner.

Nogales is one of the main entry points the Sinaloa Cartel uses. The cartel was formed by multiple criminal leaders in Mexico, who all have political and military influence. They are known as one of the largest drug traffickers in the world.

Another incident occured in February, when a student from Notre Dame Preparatory

School was arrested for selling fentanyl-laced opiods to other students.

The arrest was made after an investigation began when officers responded to a dispatch call explaining one of the students overdosed. The student was taken to the hospital and given Narcan, so he was able to make a full recovery.

“Honestly, it’s kinda sad that the deaths here is what it took for people to be aware of it in North Scottsdale and North Phoenix. It’s been a growing problem throughout the country. It hasn’t really reached Scottsdale, but now that it is, I’m happy that people are doing something about it, but at the same time I wish it would have happened earlier,” said Ryland Davidson, a sophomore.

In January, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol had their largest

fentanyl bust ever, finding 254 pounds of the deadly opioid inside a truck full of cucumbers and other produce going into Arizona. The amount of fentanyl was reportedly enough to kill 57 million people in total.

“What I believe is that fentanyl is probably cheap. It’s easy to get, but it’s killing people.

Why are they doing it and why are they continuing to do it? I don’t know, it’s not normal. Most people want to make money so they would make more for less,” said Penner.

People addicted to fentanyl who stop using it can have severe withdrawals.

Symptoms can happen as early as a couple of hours.

These symptoms include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goosebumps, uncontrollable leg movements, and severe cravings.

C Staff Writer

Z’s House of Thai is one of the best Thai cuisines in the Cave Creek area.

Located on 6602 E Cave Creek Road, Z’s house of Thai is owned by Sirikorn Rungboonkong, who also has a few other businesses around Cave Creek. They are open from 11-10 pm and closed on Sundays. The restaurant offers reservations, take out and outdoor seating.

Its exterior matches the rest of Cave Creek’s Old Western theme but has a very simple and modern interior. The place is tinier than a typical restruant but it has a roomy and breathable feeling. They have indoor and outdoor seating as well.

When walking in, a very friendly waiter greets you and allows you to pick where you want to be seated. Depending on what time you come in, you are given a certain menu.

During lunch, they have a $9 menu of their most popular and requested meals. They also give you their regular menu that has prices that range from $4.50 to $15.00.

I decided to get something from each category, the appetizers, lunch, and desert. We decided on the drunk noodles, that came with a deep fried veggie role on the side, a small serving of green curry with no eggplant and pork that also came with a side of fried veggie role, and for desert a chopped mango with sweet rice. The bill in total was $40.40.

The food took a little while to come out, but they did all come out at once very warm.

Starting with the drunken noodles, I have never been so pleased to be eating noodles in my entire life. All the vegetables that Frida Alvarado they put in made a delicious flavor that satisfied my reviews Z’s House of Thai taste buds. I did not even know they put mushrooms in it and I thought it was some sort of meat.

The curry was honestly my least favorite dish of them all. It had a weird greyish color that terrified me. The paste was a little to liquidy for me and the pork did not go well with it. If we had used a chicken and maybe even the jumbo shrimp, I feel like it would have been a little better, but still I did not enjoy this.

The veggie rolls that came on the sides of both dishes were absolutely delicious. It was crunch all around, making that satisfying crunch noise that I love, and not to soft on the inside. The vegetables were soft but not mushy, so it was not a pain to eat. They were my favorite second food that I ate.

Lastly, the dessert. At first when the plate came out, I was a little confused. a half-of-a-mango was cut and neatly placed over soft rice and had a white sweet sauce drizzled over it. I have never eaten something like this before and I thought it was amazing. I did not really enjoy the rice because I thought that it was a little undercooked and still a little hard but the combination of both the rice and mango was definitely an experience. It was very weird but very good.

I had lots of fun trying out new food that I did not think I would enjoy at all, especially the noodles.

I rate this resturant 5 out of 5 stars because I loved all of it.

“

Its exterior matches the rest of Cave Creeks Old Western theme but has a very simple and modern interior.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

Chai it out

Restaurant Review:

hai Tea Lattes are a flavored tea beverage usually made with steamed milk and spices like cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, and cardamom seeds. Chai originated in India, and the type of tea used in the latte is called masala chai.

The first cafe on the list is Janey’s. Janey’s is a local cafe down in Cave Creek that is pretty well-known by our town’s residents. At Janey’s the atmosphere and staff are friendly, with places to enjoy your food and drink inside and outside.

The chai latte from Janey’s was a lot thicker than the chais I have had from other places. Instead of just adding the powder they use, I added vanilla syrup as well. The vanilla syrup made the beverage sweeter than normal, but I could still taste the spices from the Chai. It was a little watery, but overall the price was cheap, it was not grainy, and it tasted really good.

After Janey’s, the second place we stopped at was The Grotto. This restaurant also serves as a cafe down in Cave Creek. The service is a tiny bit of a wait, but the staff are interactive and friendly. The atmosphere is sort of similar to Janey’s, with self-seating everywhere around the area.

I ordered an iced chai with normal milk, and it was a fair amount of sweetness and spice.

It was not as heavy as the one from Janey’s which could serve better for someone looking for a quick drink. I did not add anything into this one, yet it still had a lot of flavor and was not watered down at all.

For the price, it was pretty cheap for their sizes.

For the last place, we went to AJ’s on Lone Mountain. AJ’s is a grocery store slash buffet, with a cafe, catering, and multiple different types of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The service is not high-speed but the workers were flexible but also rushing to get to the next customer. On the plus side, their drinks and snacks are more on the cheaper side.

Taste-wise, their chai was way too strong. Usually the beverage is sweet but not too sweet where it is not drinkable.

There was too much chai tea

added that it looked almost dark brown. The consistency was good, but the taste is what people are looking for, and AJ’s was lacking in that department.

The Best Chai Award for this smackdown goes to The Grotto. When it comes to smackdowns, quality is the most important part. Their beverage had the best consistency, it tasted like an actual chai, and even though it was not the cheapest drink bought out of the three, it was worth the price.

THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS CREEKER

April 19, 2019 ● 17

Sonoran Arts League offers art scholarship

CHEERS TO CHAI, Aubrie Gilling, a sophomore, poses Hope Black with her freshly steamed Chai By staff writer Latte at Janey’s Coffeehouse The Sonoran Arts League is a nonand Bodega in Cave Creek. profit, volunteer-based, art service 4LAURYN STORNELLI organization dedicated to advancing art, artists, and art education. The league began in 1975 as an informal gathering of local artists who put on art shows under the Tamarisk Groves in Cave Creek.

Their mission is to give to the community by promoting art,artists, and art education through leadership and service. They produce several events that do so. For example, the Hidden in The Hills art show. More events the league throw include Sonoran Small Works, Sonoran Festival of Art, April for the Arts, Holiday Artisan markets, and partnering with the Foothills Food Bank “I joined the league in 1995 when I moved to Cave Creek. I also decided at that time to volunteer in the art studio with the students at Cactus Shadows, which had about 300 students. I wanted to join the sonoran arts league because they give back to their community,” said Deborah Wales, Art teacher and League member.

About 95 percent of the League are artists practicing in occupations like sculptors, painters, potters, weavers, sketchers, jewelers, and other lines of work. They create with materials like glass, batik,mosaic,gourds, pastel, pencil, and photography, and multiple other artistic mediums.

“Maybe middle school is when I was introduced to the league, by Mr. Lazo. Its always kind of been

apart of the whole art thing. My art teachers have been really supportive and just explaining all the community stuff to me so that I can get my art out there,” said Samantha Holmes, a senior.

Every year, the League hosts an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. They also have an award ceremony where artists can accept the scholarships they have won. In order to apply, applicants must be a graduating senior with a GPA higher than a 2.5 and plan on attending either full time or part time college while being enrolled in a Visual Arts elective their freshman year.

“I applied for the scholarship that they recently had, and you bring your art in and then a portfolio and they would judge it. I ended up getting one for like 1500 dollars. There is a celebration of the arts where I’m going to be accepting the scholarship,” said Holmes.

Workshops and weekly art classes are also available to enroll in. On Tuesdays, the League hosts painting and drawing classes, Wednesdays it is watercolor, and Thursday it is a free Veteran’s class.

“Yeah, I would apply for the scholarship. I love art and it could help advance my skills,” said Lexi Horner, a sophomore.

The bikes are back

BIKE WEEK RETURNED TO THE CREEK from March 29 through April 7, filling the streets with bikers and their bikes. This annual event, hosted by The Hideaway, brings hundred of people to Cave Creek each year. Bikes crowded the sidewalk outside of the Hideaway, whose famous slogan helps lure people to the Creek: There are no strangers here, just friends you haven’t met. 4LOGAN MCDADE

Prom eats and more available in Cave Creek Get inspired for an unforgettable prom spent in Cave Creek

By Makenna French staff writer

`LAURYN STORNELLI

For students who plan on buying and staying local during prom night, plenty of accommodations are available to choose from.

There are many restaurant options in Cave Creek for students to consider making prom night reservations at. According to Tripadvisor, affordably priced places are Tonto Bar and Grill, Local Johnny’s, Indigo Crow, The Creek Patio Grill, and Harold’s Cave Creek Corral.

“Tonto Bar and Grill is a really good choice for good food in Cave Creek. Not only that, but it is a really good venue for pictures due to the golf course being right there,” said Hannah Bryant, a senior.

If people are looking for more open and nature type prom pictures, there are many trails and parks like Spur Cross Ranch and Pinnacle Peak Park. Stagecoach Village is also a place that might come in handy for some. Stagecoach Village has a few restaurants along with mountain views and a courtyard that pictures could be taken at.

“The Boulders are really good place for pictures. Golf courses around Cave creek are also very pretty places to get good pictures for prom.

When I was in high school, my junior year we

were all at somebody’s house and did our pictures there,” said Elissa Ericson, a Dance teacher.

With a little bit of luck, a few of the consignment and vintage stores might have affordable prom dresses that have barely been worn. Places like Kiwanis Marketplace, Infinite Finds, and Gold Mine Thrift Shop are just a few of the thrift stores in Cave Creek that have quite a bit of clothing. Cave Creek also has quite a bit of boutiques like Etania Jewelry and Boutique, The Mason Jar Boutique, and Glory Bee’s for accessories like jewelry, shoes, and hair pieces. “Cave Creek has so many cute boutiques and stores where you can find tiny accessories like necklaces and bracelets that might come in handy for prom. There’s also quite a few hair salons as well. I have a lot of friends who got their hair done in Cave Creek for prom last year for a good price,” said Jenna England, a senior.

There are also places that will cater to the cosmetics of prom, including L Skincare, Sonoran Beauty, Great Clips, Bellazza Salon, and Sherries Hair Salon.

Cave Creek has many activities that can be done for prom all in a close and familiar proximity, this way students are comfortable and feel at home on a night they’ll never forget.

May THE CACTUS SHADOWS PRESS

May 17, 2019 ● 14

ButterflyWonderland offers a view of a world of small beauty

By Hope Black

B staff writer

UTTERFLY Wonderland

TEN-YEAR-OLD EBEN THIRION , accompanied by sophomore Miah Thirion, enjoyed an up-close shot of a butterfly in the special Butterfly Wonder pavilion.

4 MIAH THIRION

is a rainforest pavilion filled with 3,000 butterflies and plants from all over the world. Not only are there butterflies, but attached to the pavillion is an insect and reptile exhibit, along with a small aquarium.

The entire place is family-friendly, and there are many activities.

Butterfly Wonderland is the largest butterfly pavillion in America, and it opened in May of 2013. Their butterflies come from places all over the world, like Costa Rica and the Philippines. There are about 30 species, and since butterflies only live for about two weeks, butterfly chrysalis are shipped every Friday from tropical areas.

Before entering the pavillion, visitors are sent to watch a three dimensional video about the life of a butterfly. Afterward, people are taken to a room called the Emergence Room. wIn the room, people can watch butterflies and moths hatch from their cocoons.

“I only thought there was one type of butterfly. I think the coolest thing is that you get to let them land on you,” said Madi Docktor, a sophomore.

Attached to the butterfly garden is a reptile and aquatic exhibit. Inside the reptile exhibit, visitors are sent through a U-shaped path of creatures.

In the aquatic exhibit, people are able to see stingrays and groupers swimming around in an open tank. There is also a vending machine filled with edible bugs to munch on.

However, inside the Butterfly

Garden, the glass building is home to several plants, butterflies, koi fish, and chickens. There is also a side exhibit called the Honey Bee Extravaganza.

The extravaganza is a glass beehive with an opening to another section of the garden that is closed off. The bees are welcome to come and go.

“I didn’t expect to see that many butterflies. Like, there were a lot of butterflies flying around. It was sad to see the dead butterflies though,” said Andrew Barab Shedd, a sophomore.

Along with the additional exhibits, comes a gift shop and a cafe. The gift shop has merchandise from local Arizona items to things like butterfly earrings. There are also multiple bugthemed items to choose from.

According to fhtimes.com, Dana Cooper, the curator, said “It is a living, sensory experience. The scottsdale setting is a dramatic choice, as it juxtaposes two distinct ecosystems, allowing visitors to step from the arid Arizona desert directly into a tropical rainforest environment.”

Next to Butterfly Wonderland is the Odysea Aquarium. Visitors are only allowed to go in the Aquarium if they have a ticket, but the open court with food and other activities is open to all guests.

“The movie showing the life cycle was absolutely fantastic, and I learned a lot from that. The diversity of the different butterflies that would land on you and the colors was just amazing.

It was humid and buggy, but a great experience,” said Robert Reisener, a physics teacher.

Tickets are available at butterflywonderland.com, and a child ticket is $15.95, and an adult ticket is $23.95.

The El Encantos: a battle for the best local burritos

By Grant Richardson

E staff writer

L Encanto is a Mexican restau-

rant that started in Cave Creek, and expanded to include a total of three restaurants. The first one in Cave Creek is El Encanto, the second one is on Carefree Highway and is called El Encanto Dos, and the third one is in Fountain Hills and called El Encanto Restaurant.

The original owner, Bill Nelson, purchased a vacant building in Cave Creek. He had a passion for Mexico and Mexican food, so he opened the first El Encanto in the center of Cave Creek. Nelson brought a chef from Mexico to cook for his restaurant.

Quickly after it opened, people started to

call it, “The Best Mexican food in the Valley.”

One of Nelson’s goals about the restaurant was to have a nice patio where people could eat and enjoy the ambiance.

After lots of success, Nelson and his family decided to expand the franchise of El Encanto. The second location, called El Encanto Dos, opened in January of 2006. It is located in Desert Hills.

El Encanto is a mission style Mexican cantina that features a menu of classic dishes, and a patio with a duck pond. El Encanto Dos is a home-like Mexican restaurant with gourmet accents, and is an elegant, colorful hacienda-like restaurant.

El Encanto’s food took longer to come out from the kitchen than El Encanto Dos’s did.

Even though it took longer, the food came

out hotter and tasted better. At El Encanto Dos, the food came out very quickly, which was nice, but it was not as hot or as good compared to El Encanto.

The chips that came out as an appetizer were different at both restaurants. At El Encanto, the chips took a little bit of time to come out, but they were extremely hot, and so were the sauces they provided. At El Encanto Dos, the chips were at the table upon arrival.

The carne asada quesadilla at El Encanto was bigger, featuring more guacamole. El Encanto Dos’s carne asada was still a good size, but it was not as big or cooked the same as El Encanto.

First walking into the restaurant, the smell of food is very strong, and gives customers a

Mexican feeling right away.

El Encanto Dos is on Carefree Highway.

Looking at the restaurant, it looks like a regular building. Walking into the restaurant, a patio with seating is featured on both sides. It had a pleasant ambiance with stairs walking up to the restaurant, and trees surrounding them.

Each restaurant has a uniquely designed indoor and outdoor Cantinas, with a nice view. Intricate handcrafted details include a bar top made of Mexican stone. El Encanto Dos includes a sports bar that has five large plasma TV’s. All of the El Encanto restaurants are high quality, but the original El Encanto is the best out of the three. Although, all three restaurants are a great place to get Mexican food.

dat DO make cents luv!