Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ October 18, 2016 ■ Volume XXXII, Issue 2
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CITY COUNCIL ENACTS MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Amy Goymerac: Aspiring Opera Singer SANA KHADER Staff Writer
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AT LOS ALTOS The new engineering class, headed by Teresa Dunlap, has advanced the school’s STEM curriculum by creating a unique hands-on experience. News, 2
The growing epidemic of fear-mongering Read junior Danny Vesurai’s opinion on how modern media has led to an unsettling culture of fear-mongering. Opinions, 6
Meet the 2016 STEM speakers Learn all about this year’s STEM speakers before they arrive on campus during STEM week. Features, 9
LAHS junior publishes poetry collection Meet Jia Seow, junior and author of “Return,” a selfpublished collection of 99 poems. Arts & Culture, 14
YOLANDA SPURA
Senior Mikayla Marrin works at Tin Pot Creamery in Los Altos downtown for 15 to 20 hours a week. The new minimum wage increase will benefit her and other employees in Los Altos starting January 1, 2017. The increase will cause a shift in income from $11.00 per hour to $12.00 per hour.
CAMERON AVERY ROSS AVERY Business Manager Staff Writer
Starting next year, minimum wage workers in Los Altos will have a little more to bring home each day. On September 27, the Los Altos City Council voted 4-1 to pass an ordinance that will result in a substantial, city-wide increase on the minimum wage from the current $11.00 per hour. Starting on January 1, 2017, the minimum wage will increase to $12.00 per hour. That amount will be raised incrementally for the next several years, reaching $13.50 by 2018 and
$15.00 by 2019. Come 2020, the minimum wage will see a yearly increase based on the Bay Area Consumer Price Index (CPI) not exceeding a 5 percent raise each year. The CPI is a statistic that is generated based on the changing prices of goods and services and reflects inflation. A significant factor in the decision was the desire to further align the city with its counterparts in Santa Clara County, following a recommendation by the Cities Association of Santa Clara County. “We discussed [the minimum wage] at the regional level and came to the conclusion that it made sense for all of the cities here to try to have
the same minimum wage so that we would all be working a level playing field,” City Council member Jeannie Bruins said at a public forum for prospective council members seeking election. “I’m proud that the City Council did make the decision [to implement the minimum wage increase].” The ordinance discussed by the Cities Association, comprised of the 15 cities in the county, will raise the minimum wage at a faster rate than the April bill signed by Governor Jerry Brown that mandated a $15.00 per hour rate by 2022 for California.
“Minimum”
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In the already jovial atmosphere cultivated by College and Career Center coordinator Andrea Gorman, new assistant Amy Goymerac has come to make her mark. Most, however, do not know that Goymerac has been training in classical singing for the past six years and is currently auditioning for opera companies. The auditioning process can take months and even years, and Goymerac needed a job to support herself in the meantime. Her familiarity with office jobs and appreciation of a school environment led her to her current position at Los Altos. As a small child, Goymerac already showed signs of musical talent. “Even before I was saying words, I would hum along and bounce along to songs when they would come on,” Goymerac said. In high school, Goymerac joined choir and musical theatre. When it came time to plan for college, Goymerac, to the surprise of her teachers and parents, decided not to study music.
“Goymerac”
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Why foreign films matter Seniors Hanna Khosravi and Jaclyn Saik shed light on the personal growth and broader knowledge students can gain by becoming consumers of foreign films. Arts & Culture, 15
Diving double-take
Juniors and twins Evan and Trevor Labuda have dedicated much of their adolescence to the advancement of their greatest passion: diving. Sports, 19
Dafna’s Delights The Talon bakes school counselor Dafna Adler’s blog recipes
‘TRUMP’EDUP CLAIMS?
UPCOMING EVENTS October 19
PSAT Day Seniors - No School October 20-21
Parent Teacher Conferences October 21
Homecoming Parade October 22
Arts & Culture P.16
Stay updated on the football team’s progress
Homecoming Dance October 24
STEM Week Begins October 31
Winter Sports Begin
News Editorial Opinions
2 5 6
Features 9, 12 In-Depth 10 Arts & Culture 14 Sports 18
In-Depth P.10 Sports P.19
CROOKED LIES?
THE MEDIA’S PORTRAYAL OF THE ELECTION