STAFF
Back row (left to right): • Andrew Gavinet (Writer/ Phantom of the Opera/Knight Costume Cover Model) • Sophia Page (Magazine Editor/Cleopatra) • Cameron de Matteis (Business & Social Media Manager/Mai Mai) • Alex Stephenson (Writer/ Copy Editor) • Jeannie Gonzales (Writer) Middle row (left to right): • Eric Talamas (Writer), • Grace McKagan (Advertising OCTOBER 2013
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Manager) • Haley Wimmer (Writer) • Gabriela Avila (Writer/Copy Editor) • Kathryn Bracken (Writer/Pirate) • Veronica Huston (Writer) • Victoria Martinez (Writer) • Vaughn Himber (Editor-inChief/IRS Auditor) First row (left to right): • Nick Halaby (Blog Editor/ Baseball Fan Extraordinare) • Haley Gilford (Writer) • Janet Yeo (Writer)
contents OCTOBER 2013
HALLOWEEN
05 HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN 06 HALLOWEEN @ PIERCE COLLEGE 06 QUEEN MARY: NOT SO SCARY 07 TO PARTY OR TRICK-OR-TREAT? 08 ND’S SPINE-CHILLING STORIES 09 WACKO STORE 10 HALLOWEEN FUN FACTS 11 VISITING THE “SPYCHIC“ 12 MURDER MYSTERY IN BURBANK 13 HAUNTED HAYRIDE 14 PUMPKIN PATCHES 15 HALLOWEEN DOS & DON’TS 16 ND TEACHERS’ BIGGEST FEARS 17 INAPPROPRIATE COSTUMES 18 DO-IT-YOURSELF COSTUMES
HOMECOMING 19 STRIPES MONDAY 20 TWIN DAY TUESDAY: PART I 21 TWIN DAY TUESDAY: PART II 22 WACKY CLOWN WEDNESDAY I 23 WACKY CLOWN WEDNESDAY II 24 CIRCUS ANIMAL THURSDAY 25 SPIRIT DAY 26 THE HOMECOMING GAME 27 THE HOMECOMING DANCE
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SPECIAL HALLOWEEN/ HOMECOMING 22 EDITION
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History of Halloween Halloween is a holiday familiar to every student at Notre Dame. From the time we were children it meant dressing up in colorful costumes and hopping from house to house in search of candy. Halloween’s past, however, may not be as familiar to us. “It’s a very ancient tradition,” says AP European History teacher Dan Savage. “It started as a way of mocking death, as it was not the end.” The tradition has a name: Samhain, and has its origins in the Celtic culture on the Sabbath of one of the Great Witches. The festival not only marked the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year, but it was also believed to be the time of year when supernatural forces were the strongest. Souls of the dead were said to be able to pass into the world of the living, and the living themselves could also work their way into the supernatural world. People took the opportunity to try to predict their future, looking for things that several people look for in fortune telling today such as romance or death. How did this supernatural celebration morph into what we know today? Like several ancient holidays, things began to change when Christian missionaries arrived. “It went from pagan to Christian,” explained Savage. “As Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, Halloween became more of a Christian celebration of saints.” November 1st became All Saints day and October 31st was All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. Some ancient traditions continued, such as a focus on the supernatural. “A lot of the modern notions of frightening and ghosts and such came later,” says Savage, “but it’s all meant in a playfulness and a way to indulge in things that we would not normally do. It’s a time to mock what we would usually fear.” Today, Halloween is a time when children can have fun, dress up like their favorite superheroes or princesses, and culminate enough candy to last them until Christmas. Meanwhile, adults tend to forget themselves for one night and let loose with an alter ego.
By Gabriela Avila
Costumes of halloweenS past
“This was my [Link] costume from Halloween 2012 and it means a lot to me because it was completely homemade and helps me show off my love for my fandom.” -Nadia Kaspersky, 10th Grade
hidden halloween Facts
1. More candy is sold On October 28th than any other day of the year. The most popular candy is Snickers. 2. The first known in-print mention of trick-or-treating in North America was in 1927 in Canada. 3. Magician Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926. 4. The last full moon to occur on Halloween was in 2001, and the next one is predicted to be in 2020.
“I was 8 months old when I took this picture and looking at it makes me laugh every time.”
-Vaneza Paredes, 12th Grade OCTOBER 2013
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Halloween Festival at Pierce College By Haley Wimmer
Los Angeles is a very active town with lots of events to do during the Halloween season. One event that many may not know about is The Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. There are a variety of attractions at this event, for all ages. The Halloween Harvest Festival consists of a pumpkin patch, live concerts, food trucks selling kettle corn, candy apples, and funnel cake, the frightening corn maze, and two haunted houses. There are also kid activities, such as a petting zoo, carousel, cow train, and a big slide. Be aware, the corn maze is very dark and spooky, and the haunted houses are also pretty frightening. All are definitely intended to cause a fright! From left to right there are monsters hiding in the cornfields waiting for you to cross their path. The sound of chain saws going off and the grunts from the monsters help to increase the suspense. Think, you are walking down a dark row of cornfields, it is super quiet, the wind is blowing, you have no idea on which way to go, and your heart is pumping rapidly. The price is fairly reasonable, and is a great activity for those who like the Halloween spirit and a scare. Junior Kat Newton said, “I have never been here before and am really glad I came this year! There is so much to do other than just being frightened. I really wish I knew about this earlier. The festival overall is very cute and welcoming to all ages.” Lots of Halloween attractions are only for scaring, but this festival is about the Halloween spirit and the autumn season.
Scary Mary is Not So Scary By Jeannie Gonzales
Everyone knows the Queen Mary in Long Beach has a dark and haunted past, so where better to throw a Halloween scare fest? The venerable ocean liner is transformed with spooky mazes, some on the ship, and some on land, and outdoor scare zones surrounded by food stands, music, and other entertainment. Lines can be long for both parking and to get into the mazes, so go early, but remember the harbor opens at 7 p.m. and closes at 12 a.m. A disorienting dense fog sets the tone at the entrance to the Dark Harbor Halloween attraction, so you are walking into the unknown. After getting past the fog, my brother and I turned around to see that we were being followed. The zombie sailor made a noise that sounded like a guinea pig, and that is when I assumed that night would be ridiculous. The harbor was a little under-populated, but the few monsters that were there targeted children the most, as everyone else was drunk from the many bars there. The first maze we went on was “Submerged”, which was located right on the ship. As we tried to escape the ‘sinking ship’, I got into many arguments with the zombies. I don’t get scared easily, and giving the monsters attitude when they try to scare you doesn’t get the best reaction. The only really exciting thing about this maze was that it leads you to the ship’s pool, supposedly one of its most haunted areas. “Scary Mary” haunted the area and chased a young boy until he crawled in a fetal position in tears. Overall, this maze was not scary, but it was fun walking through the ship’s creaking hallways and the old, steep stairs. The final maze of the three we went on was “Hellfire”. While OCTOBER 2013
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waiting in the extremely long line on the ship, I saw the “talent’s” break room. I was really turned off by this because I didn’t want to see what was supposed to be scaring me. Walking through the lines was Scary Mary, a few dead magicians, and a very flamboyant sailor. After the wait, you step into a burning ship, populated by charbroiled sailors in hell. This maze was under-populated, but when there was a monster, I was always the target. I told a man who was burnt to death that he was looking a little crispy, which upset him and the other monsters who heard. After that I was always followed by someone. At first, I thought I was being followed by my brother, but when I turned around and saw a crusty looking zombie in my face, I was definitely startled. Just like in “Submerged”, you have time to enjoy the scenery of the creepy ship and walk down staircases that look like they’re about to break at any moment. Right before we exited the maze, I was yelled at, very rudely, to get off the ship, and that was the end. This maze was my favorite because of the zombie sailors hunting me down, and the special effects were done very well. If you are not into mazes, make sure to check out the “Freak Show” or go zip lining down the harbor. Don’t forget to sink your teeth into the different food options, with names like Body Parts BBQ, Dracula’s Pizza, and Haunted Treats. The Queen Mary is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world, giving the Dark Harbor event an authentic atmosphere unlike any other. So face your fears and plunge into the harbor before November 2nd, with tickets starting at $20 online, with Fast Fright and VIP packages also available.
TRICK OR PARTY? By Kate Schooley, Guest Writer
Trick or treat? These magical words bring back memories of Halloween’s past filled with loads of candy, those itchy store-bought costumes in a plastic bag, and going from door-to-door attempting to avoid the scary props in the yard which might actually be people waiting to scare random passerbys. As teenagers we no longer fit into the easy category of a child and not yet fit the label of an adult. Some teenagers choose to hold on to the childhood tradition of trick or treating while others prefer going to Halloween parties. Sophmore Destiny Velasquez acknowledges both, “I do not mind going trick or treating as long as I’m with my friends, but I prefer going to a party” One advantage of Halloween parties is avoiding the potential judgmental stares of adults while on the trick or treating circuit surrounded by 6 year olds. Sophmore Martina Villar said, “I prefer going to Halloween parties because I simply outgrew trick or treating.” Halloween parties offer a way to still dress up on Halloween and hang out with friends, for those who feel they have outgrown trick or treating. “You know, I’m not one to judge, but I feel as though if you’re too old for trick or treating then you’re basically too old for being awesome,” shared Sophmore Justin Koochof, taking the opposite opinion. Koochof is an expert trick or treater, “I have been toting (that’s what the cool kids call it) since ’98 and have the cavities to prove it.” Alison Schooley, mother and official passer out of candy for
the Schooley household gives out candy to about 60-100 children a year. Schooley sees every age from infants being held by their parents to 16 and 17 year olds holding giant pillowcases hoping to receive as much free candy as possible. “As long as they’re respectful and seem to be having fun I don’t mind how old they are,” Schooley explained. She also says that younger children begin trick or treating as early as 6 p.m. while she spots more teenagers later, usually from 8:30-9:30 p.m. One downside of Halloween parties is the lack of the magic of trick or treating. “I prefer trick or treating because I think it’s a fun way to spend a night out on Halloween with friends rather than going to a party. Plus you get candy,” said Sophomore Julia Perez. However, trick or treating certainly has its drawbacks too. Concerned parents often worry of the possibility of unsavory characters being in close proximity to their children or the threat of poisoned candy. Vandalism is also often associated with trick or treating, with classic pranks of egging or wrapping toilet paper around an unfriendly neighbor’s house as some examples. No matter which way it is spent, Halloween is about embracing the supernatural, spookier side of life while taking on a new identity for the day. Koochof enthused, “It’s basically a break from your average life to just go to someone’s house and be a new persona; a new you. I mean it’s the one day you can be something you’re not!” This is the true magic of Halloween that can never be outgrown.
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By Eric Talamas
Freshman Sam Wiser claimed that his favorite ghost story was none other than the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, also known as the Legend of the Headless Horseman, a classic story that, frankly is just too well-known for it to need a description. “I like the story because it’s a lot different from other ghost stories. It’s direct and it has a great plotline, not to mention that the writing is fantastic,” said Wiser. He then commented that the new series Sleepy Hollow, based on the original story, is “absolutely disgusting; it’s horrific,” a common response to the cinema or TV remake of a classic story (it is as if Hollywood loves to ruin stories). As we concluded the interview, Sam stated that the story is more preferable for “people who don’t necessarily believe in ghosts; I mean I wouldn’t say that it’s completely convincing, but it does have some good points in it, which are pretty-spark-upthe-nerves-a-little-bit, get that eerie-feeling-on-the-back-of-your-neck.” All in all, if you are looking to read a real classic ghost story, I would say that this is the place to go. Sophomore Maria Rossi said her personal favorite scary movie is Dead Silence, a horror film revolving around a number of ventriloquist dolls that have come alive and begin to kill people and steal their tongues in the processof taking their voices (if you think that is creepy, believe me: you are not alone). When asked what she liked about it, she responded saying, “I like how it scares you, and the suspense that’s in the movie, I really like it, and other horror movies that I’ve seen recently, they’re not as scary so I don’t enjoy it as much, and I had liked that one because I was really scared when I saw it.” She followed up by stating that, after watching this movie she remembers that she was feeling really scared. “I probably couldn’t sleep very well for a couple nights, and the dolls I had in my room, the porcelain dolls, I was scared of them… I was just scared in general,” adds Rossi. And she would have every reason to be, with this movie being loaded with back-to-back suspense and a premise that would scare even Edgar Allan Poe. Suffice to say, this movie is for the basic horror movie fan and not for the faint of heart, because the trailer alone will leave you sleepless for a day or two. Junior Nick Dejohn describes his favorite horror story as The Ring, a classic psychological horror film detailing the events involving a cursed video-tape that causes numerous people to die seven days after watching it. Nick stated that he first watched the movie while he was in the fifth grade, saying that “I was definitely trying to act not afraid ‘cause I was watching with my big brother so I didn’t want to seem afraid but inside I was freaking out. I was really paranoid after I finished.” He also stated that what really got his attention was how realistic it was, commenting that “it seems very real the characters just seem like they’re going through their normal day and then all of a sudden this crazy stuff happens this seemingly harmless thing and it’s really this dangerous thing.” Nick then went on to say that what scared him the most were how the “little things have a big effect.” Nick ended the interview by saying that he suggests the movie to people who are new to scary movies. Bottom line, if you are new to scary movies, then this is definitely a place to start. Senior Courtney Medina stated that her favorite horror story is the infamous Saw IV, an installment of the wellknown Saw franchise, detailing a madman who teaches others about the value of their own lives by means of both physical and psychological torture. When asked what she loved about this movie, she responded, “I love that it has a lot of gore but also a lot of psychological torture and it tests human ability to overcome their problems.” She commented that the scariest part was the psychological aspect, because “anyone can gut somebody but no one can really find what your innermost fear is and make you have to basically overcome it and use it in order to survive. No one makes you find the deepest part of yourself that you don’t want to look at and face it and shine a bright stage-light on it.” When looking back to when she first watched the movie, she stated that “I was really interested ‘cause I was wondering why; I thought horror movies were usually just gore but seeing that they had to face their fears and had to work together really made me think, so I think it was the thoughtful aspect that got me.” She ended on the comment that this movie is NOT for everyone, and that it is more for “people who can stand gore and people who can recognize that it’s not real; people who can appreciate the value of cinematic writer-ship; people who are looking more for the plot than the visual.”
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Wacky Wacko: Bizarre Bazaar By Veronica Huston
Unusual shops and oddities are no strangers to Hollywood Boulevard. What makes the store Wacko stand out isn’t just its yellow exterior and large windows, but its massive size and immense inventory that is as diverse as it is weird. Everything from books on black magic to Haitian voodoo rugs to a giant red sombrero covers every surface in the store. There is jewelry, books, costumes, oils, candles, stones, wigs, taxidermy animals, and even an art gallery, filled with work that is as disturbing as it is intriguing. With so many incredible products, there’s hardly room for the customers to shuffle about the overflowing corridors. What I liked most about Wacko were the books. There were about a dozen rows filled with topics ranging from art to politics to magic to novels to arcane symbols. There was even a collection by an eclectic Victorian doctor who theorized that man descended from humanoid mythical creatures and drew detailed anatomical illustrations of the musculature and skeletal systems of these miraculous beings. One of the most
dedicated to choosing the right tattoo. No more intriguing was the jewelry. Imprisoned behind glass cases that were in turn covered with stuffed animals, crocodile skulls, scented oils, masks, and candles, they shone, not simply because most were made out of gleaming silver, but because each piece was different. One that stood out to me in particular was a necklace of varying sizes of pale pink coral, though I would much rather have one of the turquoise rings. If you venture to Wacko, which I highly recommend you do, make sure you bring unique was a book on food that was made a lot of money because this store is not cheap but incredibly interesting. It is imfrom an egg carton. However, it paled possible to go in and not find an item you in comparison to the large and heavily decorated fairy tale books, like Cinderella desire. There is quite literally something for everyone, whether your interest is in cars, and The Collected Tales of Hans Chrishistory, voodoo, or giant gun statues. It is tian Anderson, all twice the normal size the perfect place to find a birthday present and with three times the usual amount of or a Halloween costume, because if there ornamentation. Each book was unique and more elaborate than the next, explor- is one thing they are not lacking in, it is ing obscure cultures, artists, symbols and weird costumes that will definitely be the topic of discussion for the night. creatures,with a whole section of shelf
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HALLOWEEN FUN FACTS
By Gabriela Avila, Alex Stephenson, and Janet Yeo
TOP HORROR MOVIES 1. Insidious 2. Paranormal Activity Theatre 3. Silence of the Lambs
of Terror
TOP 3 HALLOWEEN CANDIES* *ACCORDING TO SENORA MADDEN’S 6TH PERIOD CLASS.
1. Twix 2. Kit-Kat 3. Snickers Top 3 Scary Monsters Poll
-Janet Yeo
Taken by Senora Madden’s Fifth Period Spanish III Class (Out of 23 Students)
-Gabriela Avila
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1.
Vampires (13)
The Theatre of Terror, located in South Pasadena’s Fremont Centre Theatre on 1000 Fremont Ave. could be “the show” of the season. The building used to be a mortuary and the theatre previously was used for mourning family members to come and see their deceased. Opening night is Saturday, Oct. 19 and runs from Oct. 24-26, Halloween night, and Nov. 1st and 2nd from 6:30-11:00. Tickets are $10.00 online and $12.00 at the door. So hurry up and buy them now, if you missed Horror Nights, Theatre of Terror is a great alternative! For more information, watch out for NDTV’s broadcast.
-Alex Stephenson
2.
Zombies (11)
WORST
“HORROR” MOVIES
1. Paranormal Activity (Again?) 2. Paranormal Activity 4 3. Charlotte’s Web (What, how this is a horror movie?)
3.
Werewolves (8)
Visiting the “Spychic” By Veronica Huston
FOUR FAMous psychics ~ The famous Lakota chief, Sitting Bull, had premonitions about victory and even of his own death. ~ The Norse God Odin tortured himself for nine days and nights to prove himself worthy of the ability to read runes, which show the future and fabric of all being. ~ Joan of Arc claimed to be able to speak with God and to have visions to inspire the French in their fight against the English. ~ Abraham Lincoln had dreams of his own death days before it occurred.
The sign in front should have been an omen. A psychic that spells it “spychic” obviously is not a very good sign. Doesn’t the spirit world have spellcheck? It didn’t get much better when I ascended the Dark Staircase of Doom and was assaulted by a wall of cigarette smoke. It was a sparsely furnished white room with two white couches dressed up with golden plaster swirls and covered in plastic slips. There was a table a few feet away and a hallway leading to what I assume was an apartment, but either way it was all pretty empty and dull. The first thought in my mind after “Why is there a psychic over an Indian restaurant?” was “This is definitely a scam.” And what happened next did nothing to persuade me otherwise. My psychic was named Gigi and she wore pink PJ pants with teddy bears on them. She told me that the Third Eye ran in her family and that she had known she possessed it ever since eighth grade when she said a girl’s crush out loud. Scandalous! Gigi does tarot cards, palm readings, and can even connect with the spirits of the dead. She gave me a palm reading that lasted approximately five minutes and glanced only twice at my palm. Instead, she looked me dead in the eyes and told me that everyone was jealous of me and trying to get in my way, but that I would succeed in everything that I hoped to accomplish in my lifetime as long as I worked hard and stayed true to myself. Okay, first of all, is she actively trying to make me paranoid? Second, I’m pretty sure my guidance counselor, parents, sister, teachers, and MacDuff the Crime Dog
have all given me the same speech, though in MacDuff’s case, he sounded much more realistic. And of course, true to form, she brought up love and said that I would find someone. Not who, not when, not an initial, not even a gender or a hair color. Just someone. So I guess that’s a good thing? Gigi didn’t bother putting up much of a show either. She looked me straight in the eyes and stated in a monotone a stereotypical reading with no flair, style, or posh. Like a human fortune cookie, she gave me generalized statements that could apply to anyone. This does not mean that all psychics are frauds. For centuries, they have guided civilization through politics, cultural movements, religious upheavals, and even medical studies. In Ancient Egypt, the pharaoh relied heavily on his magicians to guide him on the path of the gods. There were few held in higher esteem than the shamans of preChristian Europe. In most places, it was the only role for women besides that of wife and mother. Even the ever-wise ancient Greeks consulted oracles who interpreted the will of the gods from fire or the wind blowing through the leaves of the sacred trees. But before you go around blindly trusting some person in a turban with a crystal ball, look at the place. If it is all plaster and plastic wrap and the psychic does not even bother to get dressed or double check the spelling on her sign, you’re about to get ripped off. If the Third Eye or Second Sight truly does exist, then it is not going to be found above an Indian restaurant on Ventura Boulevard and Cedros.
Do You Believe in Psychics? Freshman, Erika Agbabian: “It seems impossible for psychics to actually be able to tell your future. They are just good at making stuff up.”
Sophomore, Jeremy Libang: “I don’t believe in psychics. I’ve never seen one of them before so I don’t think they’re real.”
Junior, Eric Babajanian: “I believe in a world of spirits, but I don’t believe that we can contact them as Senior, Joe Gordon: easily as psy“I think they’re stupid. chics say they Most of them are scary can.” and the rest are crazy.” OCTOBER 2013
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Murder Mystery in Burbank By Victoria Martinez
Halloween is a time for ghosts, ghouls, and frights. Many seek to be frightened by going to terrifying ghost tours and horrifying fright fests at major theme parks. Throughout the country, especially Los Angeles, people go through great lengths to put up a good scare. One group doing so can be found in Burbank, California. Every year St. Finbar’s Youth Ministry preforms a ghastly skit for the people in and around the Burbank area. Y.U.T. (Youth United Together in Christ) is a ministry for teens and their friends to come be in a community amongst other teens. The annual Halloween Show times: Saturday October performance is a great way to carry out their mission of educating, serving, and showing 19th and Sunday October 20th God’s transforming love to others. This is also 6:30-8:30 p.m. a great way for teens to come and connect with Ages 12 & above one another while enjoying a fright. Admission $8.00 “Every year we have a different theme 2121W. Olive Street Burbank, and style of performance. Throughout the years the audience was able to interact with CA 91506 For tickets or additional informa- the characters, follow them through different rooms, or simply just sit and watch,” explained tion contact: 1(818) 845-0294 or find Tory Martinez (Jr.), Sean Youth Minister, Paula Robin. Robin knows that people, teens especially, love Halloween and Gallagher (Sr.), Ian Cruz (Sr.) being scared, and therefore created this tradi-
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tion eleven years ago. This year, Y.U.T’s core team is putting on a murder mystery called “A Clueless Mansion”. Here the audience will be able to follow each character in and out of the rooms of a mansion. At the same time they will be able to connect the clues and guess who the murderer was and what was used as the murder weapon, just like the board game! “The core team has worked extremely hard on A Clueless Mansion. We’ve all put in many hours of rehearsal and prop making,” said Nikki Jew, Core Team Leader and Senior at Burroughs High School. Indeed the team has worked very hard for this performance. They would meet every Wednesday to rehearse their lines and act out scenes to perfect them. The team also took their time out of their weekends to paint portraits to hang on the wall and build sets. “I feel really good [about this skit]. I’m very excited for it and I’m really hopeful to see how it would turn out,” stated Sean Gallagher, who is on the core team and Senior here at Notre Dame. So if you would like a thrill and a spooky experience be sure to watch A Clueless Mansion!
Haunted Hayride
Top Coolest Facts:
1. One of the coolest things about the Haunted Hayride was this year’s theme—events that have happened in the Griffith Park area in the past. 2. “Death Row” is a room full of cool, scary scenes for perfect photo ops! 3. The specialized Halloween merry-go-round is very cool! It is made of skeleton horses, goes backwards and, is accompanied by spooky music.
By Simone Schwartz Driving down the city streets— dusk closing in, we follow the flashing arrows directing us towards our scary destination. Turning down a darker street we cruise past tall trees with only blackness filling the in-between. Off in the short distance, dim carnival lights sparkle, slightly canopied by the elongated tree limbs of autumn. Pulling in the parking lot, we simultaneously see families heading out with crying children in toe. After paying our fee we are immediately met by a ten-foot tall Clown of Death. Skating past him we run into an elegant man dressed in an old fashioned suit holding an ancient book. After asking him to tell us a story, he explains phantom photography and tells us to look for a lady in white during the Hayride. Frantically searching around, our eyes rolling like spooked horses, we look for the least threatening adventure to behold. Fixating on the psychic booths, we meekly saunter over attempting to suppress our pulsating fear of the unknown. We sit down at an empty booth with an older man wearing a top hat awaiting our arrival. Dealing tarot cards out to me, I am told to break the deck into three piles. Once done, he explains the piles represent past, present, and future respectively. Curiosity knotting my stomach as he flips over the first card to display “The Fool”. Immediately chucking at my expected reaction, he goes on to explain that The Fool is actually the best card in the deck. It symbolizes freedom and the carelessness that stems from true happiness. Delighted by the unexpected meaning, I await the second pile to behold my present, my expectations heightened. Our physic cocks an eyebrow as he turns my pile over to discover “The Magician”. He informs me that the magician symbolizes speaking out and people listening. He expands upon that, telling
me, “the magician uses allusion to show truth and truth to show allusion.” As we turn our attention to the final deck, anticipation gnaws at me. The last pile gives us “Judgment”. I immediately mutter that “this can’t be good” and the psychic just smiles and shakes his head. Once again, as common misconceptions come up plentifully in his profession, he tells me that Judgment just means making a critical change. He explained that I would make an important decision soon that will cause me to distinguish my true friends from “the users and the losers.” With our futures in mind we head over to the Hayride line. Once we reach the gate, our group is piled onto a wagon full of hay pulled by a real tractor. Everyone bunching in the middle, as to not lose any limbs to the hungry actors, we begin our ride. All is silent except for the crunching of hay beneath our nervous, shifting bodies. Each mystery scene lends fear to our hearts as monsters, devils, and ghosts jump out at us, screams filling the air. With beautiful sets and talented actors, true terror fills our bodies as hay fills our pants and shoes. By the end of the ride, our adrenaline is pumping and we’ve each created our own crater amongst the hay as we shakily step off the wagon. Next, we set off to the maze, stopping for some three dollar popcorn on the way. The maze was dark, enclosed, and terror-filled! This is not suggested for people that are claustrophobic. After the maze, we make our way down to the restrooms (just between you and me—I suggest you take care of that before you come). Finally we head over to the souvenir tent, filled with a variety of t-shirts, hats, and stickers. With our goodies in hand we make our way back to the parking lot, waving goodbye to our new monster friends and giving the new arrivals sympathetic looks for their terror filled night to come.
Cost: $30 for general admission and $39 for double attraction Hours: 7-12 Fridays & Saturdays; 7-10:30 Thursdays & Sundays Where: Griffith Park When it ends: October 31 OCTOBER 2013
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Patch Perfect Pumpkin Patches In Los Angeles:
1. Pierce College: September 27thNovember 3rd (818) 999-6300 10 AM 10 PM Sun - Thurs 10 AM - 12 AM Fri - Sat Discounted tickets online at: (http://www. halloweenharvestfestival.com) 20800 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
By Lauren Crittenden, Guest Writer Among the pumpkin patches in Southern California, Pierce College’s Halloween festival blew me away. Throughout the day, one can experience more tame activities ranging from picking out a pumpkin and riding the carousel to milking a cow. In addition to a huge bounce house and mini train, the sweets are delicious. There is freshly made lemonade, caramel apples, funnel cakes, kettle corn, and other carnival goodies. I personally recommend the candy corn caramel apple. It is awesome! Then, once it gets dark, the mazes and haunted houses open up for business. I enjoyed the original “Corn Maze” the most and recommend it for all ages. This maze is just plain, wholesome fun. It includes various checkpoints at different regions of the maze where you can collect stamps and continuously lose your way. The best part of this maze is that you can make your own fun and scare your friends or other random participants from within the many lines of corn. On the other hand there are three larger and scarier haunts. They include the “Insane Reaction”, “Factory of Nightmares”, and “Creatures of the Corn”. My friends and I went in the latter, which was an extremely bad idea since we are easily frightened. Since the maze is in the corn, the “creatures” hide between the stalks and follow you discreetly throughout the attraction. The worst parts, like in every haunted maze, were the chainsaws and random “freaks” popping out at you. Another issue with the maze is finding your way. I turned the wrong way and ended up tripping over a prop rock, corn stalks, and landing in the muddy corn field. Not a fun experience. Now I will not only be haunted by the creatures of my nightmares but the fact that I ended up being assisted by the psychotic wielding chainsaw master after my fall. Just my luck.
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2. Griffith Park: (OLD ZOO) 4730 Crystal Springs Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 General Admission: $30; other tickets online at: (http://www. losangeleshauntedhayride.com) 7PM - 10PM Sun-Thurs 7PM - 12 AM Fri-Sat 3. Tapia Bros (Encino): (818) 9056155 5251 Hayvenhurst Ave, Encino, CA 91436 9 AM - 6 PM
4. Pasadena: (http://www.pasadenapumpkinpatch.com) Pony Rides: $7 Petting Zoo: $5 900 N. Lake ave. Pasadena, CA. 91104 October 1st-31st; 10 AM - 9 PM
Patches’ Haunting Past
Throughout recent generations, the celebration of Halloween has changed. Less carving of pumpkins and trick-or-treating and more of going to “Halloween Horror Nights” with groups of friends. Halloween nowadays is extremely commercialized with serial killers and truckloads of candy. It is hard to believe this celebration did not always end in sugar rushes and high-pitched screams. Halloween originated in the British Isles and portions of Northern Europe, deriving from the Celtic end of the year harvest festival. They believed that, on October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, thus making it easier for those alive to contact their dead loved ones. In addition to communicating with the dead, a key element to the holiday of Halloween is the jacko-lantern. The carving of objects came from an Irish folklore about a man named “Stingy Jack” who tricked the devil on multiple occasions. Ultimately when Jack died neither God nor Satan wanted Jack so he was banished to purgatory. He was left to roam for eternity with a candle inside of a turnip as a lantern. His nickname in folklore then became “Jack of the Lantern” which is where we get our phrase “Jack O’ Lantern”. In response to the folklore about “Stingy Jack”, families placed carved turnips or potatoes on their windowsills or doorsteps to scare away Jack and other evil spirits. Then as Europeans migrated to America they found pumpkins to be more efficient jack-o-lanterns and made the switch. Over the decades, pumpkin carving has been integrated into an American pastime.
DOs & DON’Ts
of Halloween Costumes
Keep these tips in mind when searching for your oncea-year outfit. By Cameron de Matteis
DOs
Be Original
Be Creative
Have Fun
Gone are the days of Twilight and Dracula. Vampires were a fad for what seems like forever and it is finally time to move on.
Dressing up as reality stars, such as Snooki, will guarentee that you will get people’s attention, but not in a good way. Stear clear of these Halloween-gone-wrong costumes.
DON’Ts
Each year billions of girls resort to the ‘black cat’ costume. It is boring and expected.
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Our Teachers’
Biggest
By Nick Halaby
Mr. Good Mr. Good, everyone’s favorite Geography teacher, said that his biggest fear is that, “… I would get to my favorite place, Big Sur, and my favorite campsite would not be available. That’s a fear that almost every outdoorsman can relate to.
Mr. Brough Mr. Brough said that his biggest fear is drowning. “When I was a child, my biggest fear was sharks, so I guess that I’ve always had some sort of fear of the ocean.” Whether it is man-eating sharks or suffocating salt water, it probably is not a good idea to take this sacraments teacher to the beach.
Mr. Hamilton
Mr. Hamilton says that his biggest fear is reptiles. “If I was in a room with reptiles, I think that I would be pretty nervous.” How ever scary a snake, lizard, or crocodile might seem, a fear of reptiles is nothing compared to his childhood fear. “As a kid, my biggest fear was not being successful. Whether it was in a career, sports or life, I just wanted success.”
Mme. Feeney Madame Feeney is not only a French enthusiast but also a good housekeeper. There for, her biggest fear is the ominous dust bunny.
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Fears
Hot or Horrifying? By Alex Stephenson
There are many things in life that should be enjoyed, and dressing up for Halloween is definitely one of them. But all things in moderation, and with the rise of what some may deem as inappropriate costumes, that rule may be hard to follow. Freshman Erika Agbabian believes Halloween costumes “should be something allowed on a regular free dress day.” While Agbabian personally does not care what others wear, she feels other people might. Lily Edwards, Junior, knows there is a modesty issue at school. “As long as your rear is not showing and you can’t see anything when you bend over, that’s fine with me.” According to Edwards, the farthest one could go is “crop tops and booty shorts.” Edwards also agrees that it could bother others. “You don’t want other people seeing that at school.” However, “outside school, it’s your body, your choices,” Edwards admits. Sophomore Andrea Carvajal takes a similar stance on inappropriate costumes. “I draw the line for inappropriateness when there’s
hardly any costume to cover the girl’s butt or her chest.” For example, the two piece costumes that are basically bathing suit tops and bottoms. Carvajal states, “when people wear those costumes around little kids,” that’s when it’s not okay. Although costuming does involve, in some cases, parental approval, “in the end, it’s their choice on what they wear,” says Carvajal. The Halloween Store in Tarzana, on Ventura and Wilbur, has a different opinion. Sandy Perkins, employee, noticed that this year, “[girls] like [their costumes] a little longer. They don’t want to go for slutty, they just want to be really sexy.” On a general basis, “we do sell more regular costumes,” Perkins remarks of the day-to-day sales. Perkins says there is 1:3 ratio of sexy versus regular costumes. “We do sell a lot more regular costumes. Generally, it’s the 20-30 something’s that buy the sexy costumes.” Perkins remembers a time when she sold an inappropriate wonder woman costume to a girl and her mother. “The mother wanted her to have it,” proving that parental guidance does have a lot to do with
how their children are perceived. High-school aged kids “tend to be a little more self-conscious,” Perkins adds. “Society is getting a little more open… everything is acceptable.” Perkins does recognize that “society, movies, T.V, etc. are out there, so [the industry] does sell to that because it’s what’s in front of people.” However, Perkins believes “the average person doesn’t really go in that direction,” which is always good to hear. Senior Hayley Friedmann has a good rule to judge inappropriateness. “Personally, if I feel uncomfortable, that’s generally where I draw the line.” And with all kinds of varying opinions at Notre Dame, it can be very easy to offend. “When someone is doing or wearing something that offends another person,” comments Friedmann, is when one oversteps his or her boundaries. However, Friedmann feels, “If someone feels confident with wearing something inappropriate, that is their decision.” Lesson learned Knights, keep the costumes modest and appropriate. Wouldn’t want to be giving the wrong impression! OCTOBER 2013
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Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes
By Grace McKagan
If you find yourself struggling to come up with a clever and fashionable costume on a low budget, or a lack of time, here are a few simple yet chic Halloween costume ideas. Whether you want to be snuggly and warm, or timelesslooking, here are a few ideas to help you pull something together. I mixed and matched some of my favorite clothing items from my closet and this is what I came up with.
Nancy Drew
Teddy Bear
LEFT: Junior, Jessie Manos, is wearing a Nancy Drew inspired outfit. Nancy Drew was a book series written by Carolyn Keene, based on a teenage girl in the 1930’s who solved crimes, while looking effortlessly stylish. Manos is wearing Drew’s infamous brown loafers, paired with black knee high’s, a black tennis skirt with pleats, a Notre Dame white polo, under a plaid shirt. To tie the look together, Jessie is wearing glasses and caries around a notepad and pencil with her to “take notes”, according to her detective duties. Polo- Notre Dame Plaid Shirt- Top Shop Skirt- American Apparel Knee Highs- American Apparel Shoes- Sperys Top Siders OCTOBER 2013
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Manos sported a “teddy-bear” inspired outfit. This costume is for those who want to remain cozy on the cold October nights. I paired an old brown beanie with ears, with an oversized faux-fur brown jacket, black jeans, and black boots. A fun way to make this costume a little more obvious is to carry around a small bear with you, to match the hat and the coat. Can you say adorable? Beanie- Forever 21 Jacket- Thrift Store T-Shirt- James Perse Jeans- American Apparel Boots- Top Shop
American Girl Manos rocks the most accessible DIY costume, which is the all-American girl inspired look. Not only are overall dresses super trendy right now, but they work wonders for the “farm girl” ensemble. In order to pull the look together, Jessie wears a flannel tied around her waist and fun pig tails in her hair. Crop Top- Top Shop Overalls- Top Shop Flannel- Urban Outfitters Boots- Top Shop
Now go out there and make your own costumes, Knights!
STRIPES MONDAY By Victoria Martinez
Stripes here! Stripes there! Stripes everywhere! Notre Dame commenced its annual Spirit Week on Monday, October 7th with a BOOM! Students arrived bright and early Monday morning adorned in stripes of all kinds. “Stripes Day was fun! I just kind of looked in my closest and grabbed whatever was striped, but I ended up having to ask my mom to borrow my grandfather’s old shirt- it was the only striped thing I could find,” explained Senior Jonathan Luna. Vertical, horizontal, and even diagonal stripes in all colors filled the campus. “I thought it was a good theme to start the week off. It was simple so that everyone could participate. Some people went all out,” states Junior Casey Anderson. Monday truly was a great way to kick off the countdown to Homecoming, bring spirit and a sense of school pride, and give everyone a look into what other great events are to come in the days ahead.
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Twins, Twins, Twins!!! By Janet Yeo
Notre Dame was invaded by twins: short twins, tall twins, silly twins, and serious twins. Students from all grade levels went above and beyond to look exactly like their best friends with their outfits, hair, and accessories. With their twins right next to them, all the students had a great time with all the activities and eating booths around. There were bounce houses and the famous sumo wrestling on the baseball field during the extended lunch. The dunking booth got everyone’s attention for dunking Seniors into the ice-cold water. Various clubs sold ice cream, candy, and much more to raise money, like the Hispanic Food Club, the TV Production class, and the ND Grillers. Everyone had a great time and the best part was experiencing it with their twin.
“We are best friends that look alike and we were going for the geek chic look.” Sophomores Fredrique Pineda, Danielle Romasanta, and Tori Santo Tomas.
From left to right: Juniors Austin Swanson, Aaron Haigler, Justin Jun, and Ian Jost.
to be e just had r, ks and w ila these soc hew Agu iors Matt “ We saw campo. tles.” Sen bastian O Ninja Tur s, and Se Matthew Samara
Juniors Sammy Winchester and Eva Shoemaker.
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creative, easy, “We wanted something t it with ever yand funny. And we ea atthew Lemus, thing,” said Seniors M Tommy Wilson. Graham Mekjian, and
Junior Zana Muno and Seniors Katie Kidder and Sydney Borowski.
Juniors Gracie Wilson and Emmy Hughes.
“I love Where ’s Waldo? and we have known each other for 12 years,” sa id Seniors Matthew Me redith and Taylor Ohr t.
Seniors Alex Withers, Raven Small, and Brooke Oldaker.
The BOUNCEHOUSE OCTOBER 2013
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Wacky Clown Dress Day By: Kathryn Bracken
Wacky Clown Wednesday – a day when students at Notre Dame High School can dress up in their craziest, most random, and creative apparel. Students went all out on this Spirit Day, wearing the wackiest clothes they could find in their closets. From tutus to mixed matched socks, everyone truly reflected their crazy side on this crazy day. Brandon Warfield, ASB president, who has gone over the top on each Spirit Day, left no exception to this day with his Goofy hat and neon tutu. Aside from the students, even the teachers got into this dress-up occasion! Mr. Toner was a huge hit to the students, making students laugh at his costume and others terrified of his presence as a scary clown. Wacky Clown Wednesday as a whole was a huge hit to the students, who really enjoyed getting dressed up in clothes that they wouldn’t normally wear.
“I love tha t I ca n p ic k ra n d o m stuff out of my closet and wear it aro u n d sc h o o l. ” ~ P ayton Hare
“I like that I can wear random clothes and not be looked at funny.” ~Cristina Kamagowa OCTOBER 2013
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and o out there “It ’s fun to g onica Ir win rself.” ~Ver express you
“I love being wa cky!” ~Sarah Wetzel
I love to dress in comfortable clothing and still have school spirit.” ~Molly Goss
ool while my own clothes to sch “I like that I can wear ueta l spirit.” ~Maciel Arg showing off my schoo OCTOBER 2013
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By: Haley Gilford
The Notre Dame Knights went all out for Circus Animal Spirit Day, once again. It was truly what Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy would call “lions,tigers and bears, oh my!” Add some leopards, elephants, fish, an angry bird, giraffes, zebras... a true circus show. All these creatures roamed our campus on Thursday, October 10th. ASB has put in numerous hours of work to make homecoming week memorable. “This theme just came out of trying to have something that would be fun and would involve the most amount of people,” said ASB President Brandon Warfield. This day allowed everyone to find those old ears in the back of their closet and connect with that family circus memory. Overall, participation was high in all the grades and some extra fur on the student body made for a better gold day.
SENIOR SHEEP
MASKED MENAGERIE A group of a seniors with a lion-like appetite enjoying lunch in the jungle-colored cafeteria.
“I think I could have done better but my wardrobe was lacking.” -Chris Fabrizio, Senior
e “As Seniors w ne all out. No o deserve to go t.” should be a ca ,
ett-Crespo -Marlina Barn Senior
Junior James Conroy goes all-out with a lion suit.
Surprise! Clifford is actually Junior Henry Terrell.
SOPHOMORE CHEETAHS OCTOBER 2013
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Spirit Day By Andrew Gavinet
A day in which school pride hits its fever pitch and the distinctions between classes are as evident as ever. Blue, Gold, Black, and White clashed against the cold morning of Friday, October 11th into a frenzy of spirit and yells that rip at the heart of every Notre Dame student. Music, cheers, and teachers dressed like angry birds. Seniors, for some strange reason, dominanted the field games like every single year. This year’s Spirit Day was as good as ever. Just ask any Notre Dame student who was cheering their heart out for their class during the tug-of-war. Starting out like any other Spirit Day, the classes walked into the stands of the field dressed, painted, and excited to begin one of the best days of the year. As said by Sophomore Preston Vaughn, “ I’m excited, got my face paint on and everything, I’m really excited. “ Going along with Vaughn, Sophomore Matthew Arias said “ I’m pumped up, that’s all I can say, I’m pumped-up.” I’m pretty sure they were saying exactly what all the other Notre Dame students were thinking. Tension starts slowly and ends with a bang. This year that bang was the field games. Kicking off the field game activities was the football throw followed by the obstacle course, and tug-of-war. Which despite valiant efforts from the Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior classes were all won by the Seniors. What followed was a long nutrition fitted with a DJ booth and food for everyone to enjoy. Good times soon followed as the students began to form a circle in which people began to dance. To cap off the day was a circus-themed pep-rally, which included magic tricks, homecoming proposals, and cheers from all four of the classes. It was a truly great day for all involved. To cap it all off Sophomore Jeremy Libang put it simply “ I can’t wait for next year.”
Let’s go Knights!
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Friday, Football, & Fireworks By Sophia Page
Anyone who went to Notre Dame’s Homecoming game on October 11th can tell you it was a blast! The Football Team took home an amazing 31-21 win over Bishop Amat, making this Homecoming game a success. With a packed stadium the Knights did not disappoint. The Knights’ win was no easy work. Bishop Amat, ranked number twenty five in California, definitely posed a great challenge to our Football team. The spectacular football game consisted of some great plays by Grant Kraemer who had a 45 yard run. Koa Farmer, who scored a touchdown, stepped in Kraemer’s place as quarterback after Kraemer had an apparent injury. In the last quarter, Farmer reached the end zone with a 24 yard run touchdown, contributing to the Knights’ win over Bishop Amat. The Knights played a great game which gave them a record of 5-2 in the season and a spot atop the league standings. What is Homecoming without a half-time show? This year’s half-time show consisted of fireworks, a performance from the Dance Flag Team and the amazing band. As always, there was the crowning of the Homecoming Queen. The Dance Flag Team’s performance was circus themed and involved many props such as ribbons and hula hoops. The cheer team’s stunt-filled performance left the crowd in awe and pumped them up for the second half of the game. Clarinet player Sarah Verin said, “For the band, it was a hard piece to pull off. We practiced for about two weeks. It all came together in the end.” Nominated for Homecoming Queen this year were Sarah Bush, Katie Kelly, Michelle Rockey, Raven Small, and Malin Smith. The five ladies were accompanied by their fathers and despite the chilly weather, wore long, elegant gowns. Last year’s Homecoming Queen, Stephanie La Face, made a special appearance to crown this year’s Queen who ended up being Raven Small. Notre Dame’s Homecoming victory over Bishop Amat was a total success and will be embedded in the memories of the Notre Dame community for a long time. OCTOBER 2013
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HOMECOMING DANCE
By Janet Yeo
Every Knight enjoyed their evening under the Big Top during the circusthemed Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 12, 2013. With Spirit Week building up to this exciting event, all the students were anticipating the second dance of the year. The rally pumped up the students with its exciting performances, and the win against Bishop Amat contributed to the dance’s fun atmosphere. Thus, all the students were already in good spirit for the dance. The circus theme was evident around the whole campus. The gym was filled with banners of different circus acts and the ceilings were draped to make it like we were really under the Big Top. The cafeteria also had a tent entrance with a ticket booth
to complement it. Junior Erin Kimble said, “The dance was a lot of fun and I’m glad I went!” This year, the music was a variety of current songs and old favorites like “Big Butts”, “I Cannot Lie”, and “Souja Boy”. DJ Gross Cos did a great job and made the night even more memorable. “I thought it started off slow but then got better as the night progressed,” Kimble said. However, the highlight of the dance was the crowning of the Homecoming King. The nominees were Deion Dayao, Gabriel Rudolph, Brett Schaeffer, Jad Totah, and Brandon Warfield. And your 2013 Homecoming King is… (drum roll please), Gabriel Rudolph! As Homecoming Queen Raven Small crowns Rudolph, he is amazed by the results. “It was one of the last
things I had on my mind. I have no idea [how and why I got nominated]. I honestly thought it was a joke at first,” said Rudolph. His speech started off with, “This is so high school,” coaxing laughs from the audience. Then he thanked his parents and friends and accepted the title. With the king crowned, everyone had a great time with more songs reminiscing old memories. The famous Jason Mraz song “I’m Yours” was played as a slower song for the couples at the dance. The best part got the whole gym dancing along in rhytym and unison when “Cha Cha Slide” came on. With the whole school dancing together, it was the perfect way to end the memorable night under the Big Top. OCTOBER 2013
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