October 2019 Edition

Rogue

Volume XIII, Issue II

News October 23, 2019

In This Edition: A

by Cammie Pescetti

few weeks ago, students were asked to vote York and just the theme reminds me of sewer on four homecoming themes, three of rats. When I was three I got chased by a rat out them being the classics like Black and White, of the subway and that fear has haunted me my Bubbles and Hoedown. But the fourth choice, entire life so for the theme to be Party in the Party in the Sewer, had a much stronger re- Sewer, all I can think about is that sewer rat. [I] sponse. The halls were enveloped with students Love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles though.” talking of this crazy, out of the ordinary theme.

Regarding the controversy surrounding his It won in a landslide, and anyone who dared idea, Parowski being the accepting guy he is, not to vote for it was bombarded with ques- said, “Normally we come up with a neutral tions like “How could you?” and comments like theme because if people don’t like it then “It was by far the best theme.” All of this started well no one has really disliked any of the past with Tali Parowski, a senior in leadership here themes - but a lot of the people who haven’t at Ashland High School. Parowski explained, gone to dances in the past are really excited to “At winter formal last year, with go. I think there’s a lot of new the jungle theme - I loved it so and it’s a really distinct “I WANTED energy much. I was like Jungle 2.0? But theme so people can really get LIVE RATS, no one wanted Jungle 2.0, and into it.” And he’s not the only I was like what else would I reone who thinks so, Lilli Morrish, HOWEVER, ally like to see, and it just came this year’s Senior class president, to me! You know? Party in the commented, “I’m importing, like, WE WERE Sewer! I talked to people and kids from different schools TOLD EARLY four they loved it right away.” And who just want to go to Sewer he was right, all anyone heard ON THAT LIVE homecoming.” In spite of the few for a week after the theme had contrasting opinions, the majorbeen announced was talk about RATS WERE A ity seemed thrilled about this how excited everyone was beyear’s ingenious theme.

‘SAFETY cause no one could’ve come A few days went by and kids HAZARD.’’’ up with a theme that creative. started to circulate their ideas on Trinity Rutter and Novia Wetwhat they were planning to wear, zel, enthusiastically voted for Party in the Sewer with everything from trash bags to rat earrings. without hesitation. Rutter exclaimed, “I thought The real stars of the dance were the decorait would be absolutely hilarious and I love Teen- tions and projectors playing Teenage Mutant age Mutant Ninja Turtles.” When asked if she Ninja Turtles, since no one really dressed acvoted for it, Wetzel without a pause, responded, cordingly. Initially, Parowski seemed entirely “Hell yeah I did. It’s very creative and I think it’s unsure of how leadership would animate his going to be very cool!” idea. Post homecoming, Parowski explained, “I Still, after the initial loud positivity for the wanted live rats, however, we were told early on theme, an opposing side emerged, that wasn’t that live rats were a ‘safety hazard.’ But besides all for it. Former New Yorker, that, I would say people were quick on their Zakiyah Clark, feet when they were given the task to decorate spoke coura- for this dance.” Although Parowski had to settle geously, “I for no live rats, universally everyone undeniably was born and enjoyed the vivacious décor leadership had to raised in New offer for Party in the Sewer.

P2/3 Evolving Campus P4. Soccer and Juul P5. Halloween Myths P6/7. Haunted History P8. DIY Halloween P9. Student Features P10. Climate Walkout P11. Environments Near/Far P12. Horrorscopes

Parking Pandemonium AHS staff is cracking down on student parking with limited passes, painted parking spots, and the dreaded boot.

see page 3

Haunted History

Spooks, haunts, and unsolved murders.

Haunted History delves into the dark past of Ashland and its lingering spirits.

see pages 6-7

Climate Walkout Following in the steps of climate activist worldwide, students at AHS walk out to raise awareness and protest climate change. Read about the walkout, as well as teachers’ opposing views on UNX Absences.

see page 10

Horrorscopes

Which spooky Halloween monster are you based on your zodiac sign? Find out and read what this haunting month has in store for you in this edition’s Horrorscope.

see back page

art by Isabela Martinez Moore

Copy Fiasco

by Makenzie Hughes

A

t Ashland High School, staff and students are accuschines in the main office or library. Kate Kennedy, another science teacher, shares her account after the changes. “I tomed to seeing familiar faces when they walk into jammed one copy machine and then I jammed another the office. Now certain people are gone and changes have machine. I went out to ask others for help but there weren’t been made. These changes began in May of 2018 when some office staff was laid off or moved to neighboring people to help me [in the office].”

An anonymous staff member states, “We shouldn’t schools. The decision was made at the district level in orhave cut the three positions.... Everyone is der to give more support to Ashland’s suffering.” They continue, stating, “As for elementary schools. The result of this “WE SHOULDN’T teachers it’s affecting their teaching. They was that the copy room was left unattended. are having to do copies instead of creating HAVE CUT THE engaging lesson plans or being with the Mckael Kenfield a science teacher retells, “They let people know that students.” An anonymous student knew about the situation. They share, “There are they weren’t returning or that they’d THREE be moved around between jobs and papers missing in the packets and she [the buildings.... We were told the reason POSITIONS... teacher] is getting really mad since she has to keep reprinting, so we don’t have our for movement and 50 percent staff renotes.” duction [is] we were overstaffed in the On a positive note, Kenfield made a front office.” Michelle Supelana-Mix, EVERYONE IS the previous copy room manager, had statement regarding the progress the school is making to find a solution. “We have a already known of her layoff in the be- SUFFERING.” lot of work to support each other though. ginning of the year from an agreement I look forward to, and am hopeful that we embrace that between her and the district. Supelana-Mix said, “I spent a lot of time each day making copies, cutting and bindsoon. I don’t want to become like every other school in the Valley. We are unique, we excel, and I know we can do beting. I knew the teachers couldn’t spend their time on it. I ter than this to build a better place.” At the time of pubknew the students needed the copies, they had to have the lication, the District has added a full time position in the copies, and I was able to get those to them effectively and efficiently with a smile on my face.” Once school started office and a consistent sub in the copy room. again Supelana-Mix was gone and the 60 staff members would need to wait for one of three professional copy ma-

School Bond Updates

by Sophia Hartt

I

t’s been almost a year since the Ashland School District However, the majority of improvements will be made Bond passed and yet the improvements haven’t begun. at Helman Elementary, Walker Elementary, and Ashland While this might be frustrating for the Ashland High Middle School. Helman Elementary will get two new School (AHS) seniors who will never see the benefits of classroom wings (about 23,000 sq. feet), required tech inthe $109 million bond, it shouldn’t be all that shocking. frastructure, and a renovated quad. Walker will receive a According to the website of the HMK complete renovation, coupled with Company, the Ashland School Bond THERE WILL BE DISseismic updates. Improvements at project management provider, the projAshland Middle School include the ect is still in the preliminary process, TRICT-WIDE UPDATES replacement of what is referred to and is moving forward with the comas the “Sixth Grade Building,” tech missioning of designers, gathering of IN SECURITY, HEATING infrastructure, and climate resilpermits, and committee work. ience.

The Ashland School District Bond The HMK Company’s, website AND COOLING, AND AN asserts passed in November of 2018 with a 69 that their heating, ventilapercent approval rate from Ashland tion, and air conditioning, electriresidents. The cost is similar to previous EMPHASIS ON MEETcal, and other upgrades “focus on bonds in the Ashland School District; green technology and renewable taxpayers will pay $2 or less per $1000 ING AMERICANS WITH energy.” Their partnership with of tax-assessed value for the first 12 Brightworks, a company promotyears, which will be reduced to $1 per DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ing sustainable building materials $1000 of tax-accessed value for another and efficient energy consumption, 13 years. proves that the bond project STANDARDS. At AHS, the scoping phase is comwill be handled up to plete, and a request for design firm proposals was released the standards of the Ashland community.

October 4. Proposal review should wrap up by early DeSteve Mitzel, the bond program excember, with the pre-design phase, a process where school ecutive, stated in a video interview necessities are analyzed, starting after the new year. Conon the Ashland School Bond webstruction at AHS will begin in May of 2021 and likely consite that, “we’ve actually identified tinue through August of 2022.

20 key strategies from the Climate The bond funds are distributed between District sites, Energy and Action plan from including the High School, Middle School, Walker Elthe City of Ashland. We ementary, and Helman Elementary. At AHS, accessibility, plan to incorporate those seismic, and flexibility upgrades will be made in the Huas a core standard for demanities and Science buildings. Additionally, there will be sign throughout the prodistrict-wide updates in security, heating and cooling, and cess.” an emphasis on meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. art by Charlotte Julian

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Parking Pandemonium!

by Lexi Taylor

T

he student parking at Ashland High School (AHS) has turned into all-out chaos and this year, the school administration has been cracking down on the wayward parking. Many student drivers have protested against the unfair ratio of AHS staff to student parking areas arguing that students shouldn’t have to scramble to find parking, and be late for class. On the other side of things, most students overlook the fact that while there are unbalanced parking spots in favor of the staff, they also dedicate more time to the school and put in longer hours than students.

Over the last couple years, the main issues with parking involved students without passes taking up spots which other students had paid for. Staff parking spots were being taken up which forced them to park in other staff spaces creating a chaotic domino effect. Guest speakers and volunteers were not able to park in the designated visitor spots. Another issue was having a surplus of permits and not enough spaces to go around, essentially being a waste of $20 for a spot students didn’t even have. Now there are a limited number of permits based on how many parking spaces there are in each lot and specific passes assigned to different lots. Overall, drivers parking wherever was most convenient for them created an uncontrollable situation administration didn’t know how to address until now.

In the case that there is a parking violation the following steps will be taken in response: First the student will receive a written warning sticker on their car. Second, the student will have a boot placed on the car that can only be removed with a parent

or guardian signature. After a third offence, the car will be towed. AHS Dean of students, Glenna Stiles, and staff aid, Christie Lawson, have been overseeing that students are following these rules by patrolling the lots at random times throughout the school days.

From what they have seen, they believe that the majority of students have been following the rules and they have not had a big issue with parking since they have been enforced. Lawson also stated that “We got real about it. We are following through with enforcing parking and I think students took it seriously”.

So far there have only been a few cars that have been booted, but it raises the question of whether or not the school is legally permitted to boot those cars and possibly keep overnight if a parent or guardian is not able to get to the school that day. A Senior at AHS Angel Valencia thinks that “it’s fair that teachers need to have their own spots, but I don’t think that it’s okay for administration to boot student’s cars and keep them overnight.” Overall, what booting cars comes down to is whether or not it’s legal. Stiles says that they have tried parking tickets in the past but they were never effective enough and stayed on the student’s account until they graduated. Booting and keeping cars overnight if necessary, is legal be-

photo by Parker Collins

cause the parking lots are on school property. If the car is parked on the street, the school cannot legally boot your car. In addition, Stiles stated that “students who paid for a pass sign a contract agreeing to these rules and those who do not have a pass do not have the right to park in the student lots.”

The school has not had many issues with parking since these rules have been put in place. The staff no longer have to worry about whether or not their parking spots will be open when they get to school and students don’t have to fight for spots in the student lots. Predominantly, the parking matter has been resolved for now and hopefully it will continue to be a peaceful parking paradise in the future.

Rec Area Revamp

by Mirandah Davis-Powell

E

ver since the beginning of this school year, both our administration and the geography of Ashland High School (AHS) has seen new changes in every direction. Most recently, a glance towards the Iowa Street parking lot will bring a view of the new changes to the grassy lot that students have nicknamed “The Rec Area.” This new development is a project that has taken off thanks to former Director of Facilities, David Sommer, and has now been taken over by head of maintenance, Dan Hardine. The project has also been supported by several others from the maintenance and grounds crew at AHS and some helpful input from the student body. Several concepts were discussed, with the main focuses on creating another area that could be used for outside learning, as well as forming a community area that encourages students to spend more time outside.

Not only has Leadership had a significant impact, but other areas of the student body have had an influence on the lot as well, including our alternative education programs; primarily Catalyst. The recreation area will hopefully provide for a more inclusive campus by allowing the alternative education programs to have more input in Ashland High School’s decisions. While we are still waiting on confirmation from these student groups about what features they would like to see present in the new area, we already see that the first phase of changes to the area has been completed.

In an interview with the I.T. director of the Ashland School District, Steve Mitzel, he reveals the beneficial changes that have already been made to the area.

Mitzel explains that the “first phase of construction is complete, setting down the framework and initial changes that needed to be made before we continue to expand.” The construction that has been done thus far serves initially as a beautification project to the lot, to promote an area that students will be en-

art by Charlotte Julian

couraged to spend more time in the area. Not only does the new grass look more aesthetically pleasing, but it also exemplifies a new approach to water conservation at our school. “What we’re executing is a drought-tolerant approach to landscaping.” Mitzel explains that the addition of new drought-tolerant sod encourages maintained plant growth without the issue of needing to frequently use water.

Mitzel continues by explaining that the next portion of the new rec area, or “phase two,” is seeking input from the voice of the students before they take action. “What we’re looking at right now is mostly a blank slate. We’re hoping that we can work with students continually in order to move forward. Leadership and/or anybody who wants to have a voice, we want the student body to determine where we go from here.” Mitzel mentions that through collaboration with Mark Miller and the Woodshop class we might be able to see student-made benches and features in the new area. The maintenance crew is seeking to attain student input on the lot from more than just a select few people, or a confined group.

“This project should be a place where everyone feels as if they are represented adequately because we want our projects to fully reflect the student body.”

Mitzel ensures again that the new rec area is entirely a malleable project that is still in the works, but is highly open to suggestions from the student body. If you or someone you know wants to drop off a suggestion regarding an addition to the new student rec area, contact the main office and they will be sure to make your voice heard.

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Kickoff to the Playoffs

by David Johnson

A

fter a phenomenal season last year, the boys’ soccer team entered the season with high expectations. Off to a hot start, they’re living up to the hype. So far, they’ve won four conference games and tied one. In out-of-conference games, they’ve won four, lost two, and tied one. Both of their losses were very close. Their games have also had great turnouts, the most in the past five years according to student players.

Michael Holden, a junior and one of the team captains, had a lot to say about the big turnouts.

“Soccer is a growing sport here at [Ashland], and it means a lot to us that a lot of people are coming out to support us.” Holden also talked about how the soccer team likes to return the support. “We always try to support all the other teams. We go to all the volleyball games, all the girls’ soccer games. Since we go to all their games, they try to come to all of ours, and it means a lot.” Holden also expressed his feelings on the support from the community outside of school. “People from around town are showing up to these games, and that shows that soccer is growing in popularity, which truly means a lot to us as a team and a community.”

Senior team captain Scott Gustafson expressed his high hopes for the team this year. When asked what his goals for the team this season are, Gustafson responded without hesitation. “In the end it’s always State, but my first goal for the team right now is to win Conference.” Gustafson articulated another goal for the team that was a little more per-

sonal. “My main goal is to not lose in the first round of playoffs. Every year that I’ve been on this team in High School we’ve lost in the first round of playoffs, and I’m trying to break that.”

Gustafson also expressed that the bond between the team is always getting stronger. “We only lost one Senior [last year] and it was sad that we lost

Juuling: The Gruuling Truth

him, but to have all the boys come back and not see your family go is special,” he says. “It is like a family and we bond really well and the team chemistry, as in just on the field, is starting to really come together.” After an awesome end to the regular season, the soccer team will look to continue their great play into the playoffs.

photo by David Johnson

by Tyler Poland

S

tudents in America are, more often than not, used to going into a vapor filled bathroom during the school day, however this normalized experience may soon change. Juul and other E-cigarette companies are currently under scrutiny for recent health issues and deaths that have been linked to vape use.

Hospitals and emergency rooms have experienced a spike in patients coming in with an array of symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath or chest pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. These are often early stages of the illness and it can turn far more drastic very quickly.

Over 13 deaths have been connected to vaping.

The epidemic has spread quickly through the U.S. with illnesses being reported across 46 states and deaths occurring in 10. The exact cause of these issues remains unknown, as both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Federal Drug Administration are launching investigations into the illness. The Oregon Health Authorities(OHA) have issued a ban on all flavored vaping products. OHA states the bill will stay in effect for six months and will prohibit the

4

sale of flavored vaping products. The ban covers all tobacco and cannabis vaping products that contain natural or artificial flavors.

The recent news stories have left AHS students who have had a history of vape use concerned about their health. “It’s sketchy seeing these cases of people with use over a few years,’’ stated an anonymous Junior. “I’ve used vapes on and off throughout high school but with all the stuff that has been coming out, I doubt I’ll go back to using it”. When asked about the recent headlines, a senior made a case for Juul claiming “It’s not the vapes killing people its the fake THC carts.” These cartridges can be purchased legally but underage users often have to go through street dealers. “They’re huge. Everyone has one.” The student claimed that he had seen a rise in vapable cannabis oil use as opposed to other forms of cannabis use.

THC or tetrahydrocannabinol has been a common ingredient in a large number of cases investigated. Reports done in Wisconsin and Illinois revealed 87% of patients stated that they had been

vaping THC, the majority of responses being acquired from unofficial sources. However, the CDC has received data from over 514 cases and 16% of victims had reported using exclusively nicotine products. With numerous investigations and studies being done major health organizations hope to quickly come to a discovery of the sudden cause of the recent spike of hospital cases related to vape use.

Juul Labs has taken a defensive stance as they face federal review. The company’s previous CEO resigned September 25. Following this, the company stopped all product advertising and withdrew support for a ballot initiative aimed at overturning San Francisco’s anti vaping law. Juuls new CEO, K.C. Crosthwaite, a former chief growth officer of tobacco company Altria, stated, “We must strive to work with regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders, and earn the trust of the societies in which we operate.” With the recent crisis, it’s clear that vaping has developed into a concerning health issue within the U.S.

Halloween Myths, Traditions, and Origins

Witches

Jack-O-Lantern

by Isabella Ash

O

ne of the most common and traditional symbols we associate with Halloween is witches. When thinking of witches, you might visualize an old warty-nosed woman wearing a tall pointy black hat. Maybe she’s riding her broom stick, or brewing up some mysterious steaming potion. Did these mysterious creatures really once exist?

Before witches were seen as scary mythological entities, they were real women, some of the first to discover homemade herbal medicines. Witches learned the value of healing herbs, and homeopathic treatments. Witches were often times midwives who helped relieve pain induced by childbirth. While during this time little was known about medicines, the religion of Christianity was spreading.

Religious figureheads feared these women’s methods. As far as the church was concerned, all healing was meant to be done strictly by males in the church. They believed becoming ill was a punishment from God, and was not meant to be healed. Over time, witches were rumored to be anti-Christian, and eventually seen as Satan worshipers. As time progressed, so did the hysteria surrounding witches.

These women went into hiding and thus the superstition around witches ran wild.

D

uring the 1800s, carving pumpkins became a common practice in America. However, that is not where the tradition began. Carving faces into vegetables is in fact an ancient Celtic practice. Hundreds of years prior to Irish immigrants coming to America, Irish people were carving turnips, potatoes, rutabagas and beets and placing embers inside on All Hollow’s Eve. This carving was done to ward off evil spirits, one in specific—Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack, an old Celtic myth, was said to be a terrible man who spent his life causing misery to anyone he could. At one point, he lured the Devil himself out of Hell and convinced him to climb an apple tree. He put crosses all around the trunk, trapping the demon until he promised not to take Jack’s soul. When Jack died, neither Heaven nor Hell accepted his soul, leaving him to wander forever. He pleaded with the Devil who, out of pity, gave him a single ember to light his way through the endless nothing.

Jack was said to have carved out a turnip, his favorite food, and place the ember inside. The Celtic legend inspired many to do the same in hopes of warding off spirits like Jack who are lost beyond the veil.

Black Cats

Trick Or Treat

by Payden Swofford

H

alloween can be traced back to almost 2000 years ago. In the festival of Samhain, the villagers would dress up in animal skins to scare away their phantom visitors that would only come back to earth on Samhain. Samhain took place in an area that is now Ireland, northern France, and the United Kingdom. Just like the Celitics wore animal skins on the day of their festival to ward off the dead, children and many adults dress up to participate in our holiday. Around 1000 A.D., All Souls Day was made official to honor the dead. Wealthier families would give out pastries called “soul cakes” to the poor families in exchange for them to pray for their dead relatives. This tradition, “Souling,” would later turn to the children going from door to door asking for food, money, and even ale. In Ireland and Scotland, children would go to people’s doors and would tell jokes, sing a song, or perform a “trick” instead of praying for the dead to receive their treat. The treats were typically, fruits, nuts, or coins.

by Logan Knouse

by Logan Knouse

T

he origin of the Black Cat superstition varies from culture to culture. Much of the negative connotation in the U.S. originated with the pilgrims who ventured to America. The majority or Europe, especially Western Europe, was deeply superstitious - the pilgrims were no exception. Religion at the time encouraged shunning anything that could be linked to the devil. This fear was so potent, in fact, people were known to be hanged for even owning a black cat as they were thought to be in arms with Satan. The general consensus in Western Europe and the Americas was black cats are demons, witches or even the devil himself attempting to spy on humanity and reap souls.

Perhaps the most entertaining origin in folklore comes from the Irish and Scottish myth of the Cat Sìth. This cat, a fairy able to transform into a demonic black cat figure, was said to haunt the Scottish Highlands. Many Scottish myths ascribed him the ability to steal souls. It’s believed the fable was inspired by Kellas Cats, a unique hybrid of wild and domesticated cat found only in Scotland.

art by Isabela Martinez Moore

THE

RESTAURANT & BAKERY

744 N. Main St. Ashland, OR 97520 541-488-0295 5

It is no secret among the residents of Ashland t makes us feel safe, it can also make us shy away fr harbor the darkest secrets. Through the following unknown and dive deeper with us into paranor

Small Town Big Terrors

by Sam Austin

W

hen we think of East Main Street, the first thing that will come to mind for many of us is a flood of memories from our preteen years with flashes of our middle school alma mater and adventures at Science Works; but despite these awkward yet positive connotations, the street harbors a dark secret behind one of Jackson County’s most chilling unsolved murders.

What began as a seemingly ordinary day in 1960 turned to one of our town’s darkest when a husband came home to find the door of his home cracked open and his 40-year-old wife, Maria Stella Hamilton, dead on the rug with nine gunshot wounds spread across her body. Police immediately began searching for leads and settled on a male acquaintance which Hamilton had a rumored affair with as the prime suspect, but before they could question him, he died in a car crash, and the case went cold.

In 2000, nearly 40 years after the murder, new and sinister evidence reached the police through the account of a woman who was a teenager at the time of the murder living with her mother, as well as a foster child named Jack. The woman recalled how on that day after the murders, Jack returned home covered in blood and moments after aggressively arguing with her mother, left with his things and a wad of money. According to KDRV, the woman recalls her mother, horrified telling her that “Jack did a very bad thing... don’t tell anybody about him being here today or he’ll come back and do something to us.” This shocking account brought new life into the case but again, the culprit was dead before the police could find him, and Maria’s death remains a haunting mystery that East Main Street will long remember.

Spooks and Frights of SOU

by Gwyn Murphy-Cunningham

B

elow the surface of SOU’s bustling classrooms and wooded campus lurks dark paranormal energy. SOU has a reputation for “the haunts,” and many students have their own experiences.

The Suzanna Homes dormitories are home to many students, but also may harbor a few lost souls. In the 1930s, while the building was under construction, a young boy drowned on site. Multiple witnesses have seen him wandering the basement halls, dripping wet and begging for a towel.

From the outside, The Plunkett House’s white columns look charming yet almost foreboding. Originally built as a family home, the owner died before the house was finished. He supposedly has been seen in the attic, lurking in the darkness, and he doesn’t like swearing. Another spirit of the house is the wife of the previous owner. Often people report hearing soft music, talking and a distinct smell of rose perfume. A woman was once seen in a window accompanied by a small child whom she kissed on the head before retreating back into the home.

The Churchill building is another location with lots of activity. Although no apparitions have been spotted, the atmosphere is what’s off-putting. The building itself is always too cold, doors slam, and people report feeling scratches while they walk down the empty halls. It is rumored that the building is cursed because a student jumped to their death.

SOU even has its own paranormal club for investigating spooks on campus.

On one of these investigations of Churchill, the club was on the second floor when suddenly all the lights went out. In the darkness, a “mechanical clinking” began to move rapidly towards the group. They reportedly were alone in the building and the sound remains unexplained.

Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, it might be worth a trip to the haunted halls of SOU for a little spook or fright.

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art by Aubrey Reynolds

Heebies and Jeebies of the Mountain Avenue Theater

by Gwyn Murphy-Cunningham

T

he last place of haunted history we will explore is right here on our own campus. The theater building has been known to be home to a few strange phantoms.

As the legend goes, if you are by yourself in the theater with all of the lights off, you will see a red glow, followed by a soft barking that echoes around you.

And if you wait long enough you may catch a glimpse of a sparkling tiny flame of the firedog.

The second apparition is a bride who roams the theater. If you stand on catwalks high above the stage you could see her standing and singing silently out to an invisible audience. As soon as you begin to go towards her she will disappear, leaving you alone in the dark. Let the theater remind you that ghosts might be closer than you think- only a hop, crawl or hobble away.

Haunts and Jitters of Lithia Park

by Gwyn Murphy-Cunningham

I

n the heart of Ashland, another location harbors the unknown. Lithia Park has several spooky instances that are worth noting. The first is the apparition of a young girl who was killed in the park a hundred years ago. She often lurks in the shadows just off the path or appears as a blue mist over the duck pond. Many people have said that they feel her whisper in their ears as they pass by or see a flash of blue light out of the corner of their eyes.

The second is the ghost of a logger who was crushed by a falling tree above the park. There are reports of him whistling and drumming on his drinking jug.

So if you happen to be strolling by a duck pond or you hear a whistle on the wind, keep your eyes peeled. You may not be alone.

that we live in a bit of a bubble. Though this rom buried truths, and sometimes, small towns g stories we invite you to open your mind to the rmal tales of murder, apparitions and mystery.

Small Spooks Helm’s Horrors

by Sam Austin

N

estled between light forestry and scattered bushes in Jacksonville’s historic district lies a seemingly unassuming yellow house with dark green window panes, all topped off with a full-sized American flag. Though many heedless passersby could easily overlook the Helms House in the ocean of other monuments to late 1800s architecture that stands near it, those with an eye for the unknown and an appetite for the paranormal can find an array of secrets waiting to be found through its cracked plaster walls and in the very foundation itself.

The house was originally owned by German immigrant Herman Helms and his wife, August. Helms owned and operated the go-to local watering hole, the Table Rock Saloon and Bakery which, according to the Oregon Sentinel earned high praise as “the finest saloon in Jackson County if not all of the state.” But this success did not prevent the couple’s life from being plagued with tragedy.

In 1862, before the house was built, the Helms family resided in a cabin on the same plot of land; it was there that tragedy struck the family for the first time as their daughter, Minnie, fell ill with smallpox and died at the mere age of two years old. The Helms buried her aside the cabin, but Minnie was not one to rest easy. In 1878 with the sales at the saloon booming, Helms commissioned the construction of his new house as we know it today, destroying the cabin and building on top of the plot- as well as Minnie’s infant grave. Though the new house was built, Minnie wasn’t going anywhere and her ghost can still be heard wailing as she sits at the bottom of the staircase, her presence refusing to leave. Minnie, however, is not the only metaphysical presence who occupies the house: mourning the death of 4 of her daughters, 3 of which (including Minnie) died from various diseases and a fourth who was mysteriously murdered by her estranged husband, the ghost of an elderly woman who many assume to be August Helms can be heard crying as she slowly and aimlessly roams the house searching for her children. So, the next time you find yourself wandering through rows of houses or city streets, don’t be so quick to dismiss any seemingly innocent house that catches your eye - it may in fact be haunted.

A ghost named Amelia frequents the Peerless Hotel.

She enjoys the top floor and rolls marbles under doors to spook patrons. Classic Amelia.

The McCully House Inn in Jacksonville is not only the oldest home in Oregon, it is also reportedly haunted by a female apparition which roams the hallways.

The lower level of Paddington Station once served as the City Morgue, with the main floor being a furniture store that built coffins.

Ashland Springs Hotel is home to two spirits: a little boy who fell from a high window and an old gentleman who sports a bowler hat.

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DIY Halloween

by Mitchell McCleary

Wallets and purses beware! Halloween’s just around the corner and rather than shelling out big bucks for an elaborate costume, we have come up with three easy do-ityourself designs you can rock this October.

Moms Boyfriend Geoff (NOT dad) If you really want to give your friends a fright, I can’t think of a better costume than my mom’s boyfriend, (who is definitely NOT my dad), Geoff. It’s a simple fit. Just slap on khakis three sizes too big and a Hawaiian shirt three sizes too small and bam, you’re ready to tell me I’m not allowed to swear in the house (even though my mom used to let me all the time… what the f-, I mean heck Geoff?). Add stubble dots for his goatee (did anyone tell him that those died out with Rage Against the Machine, let them go Geoff). If you’re going for 100% accuracy, the goatee is dripping all of MY Sprite that he took out of the fridge without even asking. I mean come on… who does that? Anyway, Geoff thinks he’s SO cool with his high ponytail, (who does he think he is, Ariana Grande?), so don’t forget to include one of your own. If you think you’ll get hungry flexing this horrific outfit, maybe bring some homemade granola because Geoff seems to think his is so good, but let’s be honest, store bought is better. Calm down Geoff. Get a real job. For the more adventurous dressers, you can ditch the khakis and slip into some overalls, and strut your stuff like it’s 2003. So strap on those toe shoes, start calling everyone “pal” and you’re ready to take this monster to the streets!

Disgruntled Orange Cat & Layered Pasta Dish Maybe you’re in the market for a more well-known character, and boy do we have the thing for you! Everyone’s favorite Sunday comic character, Disgruntled Orange Cat with a love for Layered Italian Pasta Dish! We start with a basic orange hoodie, soft enough to mimic that silky tabby fur. You want to give off a very authentic look - sharpie whiskers won’t do - so all I’m saying is does your neighbor’s cat really need all of their whiskers? I guess if that isn’t an option then some fishing line would do the trick as well. To really give off the plump nature of this jaded feline, slide one of your mom’s throw pillows over your stomach under the orange hoodie to make sure this baby’s got back… or I guess front. The best part of this plus sized kitty is we have the perfect companion piece for couples looking to get Fancy Feast-ive this Halloween: sexy Layered Pasta Dish. Hear me out. This perfect counterpart is just as simple as our fat four-legged friend. All you need is a plain red shirt, a glue gun and about one torso’s worth of lasagna sheets. If you’re feeling extra Friskies, no lasagna costume is complete without fishnet leggings. Me-ow! This spooky season you and your partner will be catching jealous glances from all around while showing off this clawless look!

Teeth Chief Okay, I get it. Maybe you’re in the market for a costume unlike any other: something that’s never been seen before. Lucky for you we’ve brewed up a creation unmatched in terror and utmost fear-inducing existence. Introducing the Teeth Chief. Ever wonder “What if the Tooth Fairy was kicked out of military school?” Well, we finally have an answer to your yearning questions. This strapping lad is here to enforce dentistry unlike anyone before. Sorry Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, your character in the 2010 cult classic “Tooth Fairy” has nothing on our handlebar mustache clad hero, (or villain - we are too afraid to ask). This outfit requires a bit more effort than the previous. To start out, we need to find some teeth. If you’re from Ashland, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem here. There’s a pretty high chance your parents have your baby teeth stored in a jar in the attic, you know, for safekeeping. Sprinkle those onto a military jacket found at a Goodwill or maybe the back of your uncle’s closet (it’s not stealing if you give it back… eventually) and you’re almost ready. No tooth stealing creature is complete without a set of sparkly wings, and since butterflies aren’t in season your best bet is probably just glitter glue and cardboard. And there you have it: the perfect costume to haunt children and adults alike.

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art by Claire Glassford

F R E A K Y

Dillan Anway

by Ani Farmer

16 year old AHS student, Dillan Anway, is looking forward to his junior year ahead of him. Outside of school, he spends his free time fishing and hunting. He shares this passion with his grandfather, David Reinhold, and like most grandparents, Reinhold has his fair share of scary stories. When Anway was seven years old, he and his family were visiting his grandparents in Portland, Oregon. They gathered around the fire, and his grandfather told them his famous story, “Fire in the Sky.” Reinhold used to fight fires alongside the Apache Indians in Arizona. On November 5, 1975, Reinhold sent three of his men to check on some dangerous fires. On their way to the fire sites, they were driving up a hill and saw a bright red light. It was getting close to the main road, so they assumed that it was a massive fire. As they continued to drive up the road, the light grew closer, and they realized that the bright light wasn’t a fire. It was a beam shining down from the sky. One of Reinhold’s men went to investigate what the light was, but he did not return. The other two men reported that he became paralyzed, and was promptly sucked up by the red light. The men drove off in a panic and called the police. Lie detector tests were conducted and the results were shocking. These men were not lying. Five days later, the police were called from a random telephone booth. The caller was the man who got sucked up. He was naked, scarred, and disoriented. When asked what happened, all he said was, “they know we’re here.”

Leah Aaronson

by Mitchell McCleary

Leah Aaronson seems to be experiencing it all in her senior year of high school, including possible encounters with the supernatural.

Aaronson has been enjoying her senior year so far, taking classes with friends, making good relationships with her teachers and not worrying too much about college. She is currently involved in a wide variety of activities, including student leadership, speech and debate, and clubs such as Young Democrats and Interact Club. Outside of school, Aaronson was eager to talk about her involvement with the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO), an international Jewish youth program. As a leader in the organization, Aaronson has talked about her work to “cement this chapter here in Ashland,” mentioning that this is the south most chapter in the Pacific Northwest.

Part of BBYO is BB Camp which Aaronson has labeled as a hot spot for spooky occurrences.

An urban legend at the camp is the story of Alex Miller, who, depending on the storyteller, has been either a camper or counselor that slit the throats of an entire group of campers residing in cabin S6. The cabin from the story no longer exist, but there are currently are two cabins built over the land it once resided, including one that Aaronson was assigned to. She never thought much of the stories until weird things started happening to half of her cabin, from everyone losing their voices, hearing weird tapping, to even waking up with unexplained bruises on the campers’ legs. An explanation of the weird events of her cabin was never found, other than the Aaronson’s startling discovery that the half of the cabin experiencing these mysterious things was the half once belonging to the infamous cabin S6. When asked if these experiences hindered her experience, Aaronson said, “Not all, I was having too much fun to be scared.”

Jerry Roscher

by Makenzie Hughes

art by Charlotte Julian

Gerald Roscher, a Humanities and AP Psychology teacher here at Ashland High School, has a spooky story from his time in Sciota, Pennsylvania. “None of what I’m going to tell you is exaggerated, everything is just as I remember it,” Roscher claims.

In 2010, the Roscher family moved into a house from the late 18th century in Scotia, Pennsylvania. Roscher describes the house as being empty and desolate before moving in, so he wanted to make small adjustments to make it feel livable. One day, as Roscher was making fixes to the house, the air grew cold and he felt that he wasn’t alone. Although he is “deeply skeptical of these kinds of things,” throughout the upcoming months, the occurrences escalated. Mainly, a bright red colored door in their house continually opened by itself. Roscher explains that “my kids were 8 or 9 and they couldn’t open it; they couldn’t unlock it. My wife assumed I was messing with her and vice versa. We’d come home from work and the door would be wide open, always open.” Roscher continues, saying that he “tore apart the wall and reframed the entire door, installed a new deadbolt, and it keeps opening.” Once the Roschers had moved in, the issue with their door became part of the family’s routine and they stopped questioning it until two policemen showed up at the Roscher’s house. “They flashed a badge...asked if I lived here, and said they were investigating a murder,” says Roscher. The police were exploring an unresolved murder of one child who lived in that very house 120 years before the Roschers moved in. “The story is that on Halloween night she was walking to a neighboring farm and she never made it.” Her name was Etna Bittenbender, and the only suspect to this day was taken to the penitentiary where he died from eating broken glass.

However, Roscher remains adamant, “To this day I’m a skeptic, I still believe that there has to be an explanation for that red door.”

F E A T U R E S 9

The Policy Reacts

The People Act

by Jackson Rice

by Rachel Davis

O

n September 20, at 10:30 AM, students at Ashland High School walked out of their classes and onto the quad to protest the inaction around climate change. From the quad, they walked to the plaza, chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, climate change has got to go” and “Climate change is not a lie, do not let our planet die.”

When they reached the plaza, there were around 150 adults carrying signs with slogans like “Global Warming is not cool” and “There is no Planet B,” waiting to support the students during the rally that was planned. “We’re really proud of the students, and anytime they need old fossils, we’re here,” said community member Janie Burcart. During the rally there were several planned speakers, and later there was an open mic for youth. Several students made angry but empowering speeches, calling on politicians and our state representatives to take a stand. Others used the platform to promote their own political views, using school-inappropriate language to make a point.

The walkout was a part of a larger global movement that around 4 million people participated in. “[People are walking out] to let politicians know, and people in power know that students support Greta Thunberg,” said Anya Moore, one of the organizers of the walkout and a freshman at Ashland High School. Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who called for these walkouts, has been walking out of her school every Friday to raise awareness about climate change.

Moore called the Ashland walkouts an opportunity for students and kids to let their voices be heard. She was right; voices were heard. There were speakers from SOU, speakers from the high school, and even speakers from the fourth grade. However, not everyone walked out. According to the attendance office, about 60 percent of students were still in school during the walkouts. On that Moore said, “I do get that school’s really important, but personally…

I think that this should be way more important to everyone.”

Walking out of class can be difficult, though. With certain teachers, missed classwork cannot be made up, and each teacher has a different opinion on walking out of school. Paul Huard, the AP U.S. History teacher is strongly opposed to walking out, no matter what the cause. “I support student activism,” said Huard, “I don’t support unexcused absences.” Huard went on to discuss safety concerns, bringing up the point that the school has no way to monitor student’s safety when they walk out. Missing an AP class is hard, and Mr. Huard won’t accommodate students who walk out: “I would hope students understand that if they walk out of my class… my class moves forward.” Jim Hartman, the Climate and Environmental Science teacher, has a different point of view. Hartman said, “I think it’s great, because school’s all about us caring about the future of the students, and it’s all about their future.” Not only does Hartman support the walkout, he took a personal day in order to be present at the rally. He even went as far as to ask for a policy change to allow athletes who walked out of class to participate in their weekend events. “I would love it if some students would go to the superintendent and get a policy change… so there’s a special kind of excused absence.”

Right: Students and community members gather on the plaza to protest climate change.

art by Zea Mindling Werling 10

photo by Parker Collins

I

n 2016 an ordinance was passed, one of the first major steps taken by the City of Ashland to combat the city’s effect on our climate. Zander Jake Huston, currently a senior at Ashland High School (AHS), was one of the many youth activists involved in passing that climate ordinance. Now, Huston is a participant in the Climate Policy Commission in Ashland.

The 2016 ordinance replaced the Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP), which was not legally binding. The main goal of the original CEAP was to reduce Ashland’s carbon emissions by 8% every year until net zero emissions by 2050. As Huston puts it, “There’s two things that we want to do. We want to mitigate climate change and we also want to adapt to climate change. So, climate mitigation is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adapting to climate change is improving emergency preparedness and changing infrastructure.” The issue with the original plan, however, was a lack of enforcement; without any legal accountability, the plan was more symbolic than anything else. Huston, along with the Ashland Youth Climate Action group, helped to codify the plan into an ordinance, which would be legally binding and enforce real accountability. Huston then advocated for the CEAP to take the form of the legally binding ordinance in 2016 during a public forum in front of the Climate and Energy Plan Committee. “I remember being very nervous,” Huston recalls.

The plan was passed by unanimous vote in the form of an ordinance, making the efforts of the Ashland Youth Climate Action group ultimately successful.

Huston is involved with the ordinance in the present day to an even larger degree than he was before. “I’m on the Climate Policy Commission for the city of Ashland, and what we’re doing is we’re taking that Climate and Energy Action Plan and revising it, and most importantly, making recommendations to the city council on how to best implement it.” Huston continues, “one of the big challenges that we’re facing is how to measure progress, because we don’t have very direct ways to measure, for example, how much greenhouse gasses are caused from residential consumption, which makes up the vast majority of… emissions.” The plan includes specific provisions for each different form of emission, from reducing those caused by transportation by implementing a local fuel tax to getting rid of plastic materials and promoting recycling. As a member of the Climate Policy Commission, Huston plays a part in determining how useful these measures are in achieving the overarching goals, as well as whether they are being implemented correctly in the first place.

When asked what he would tell people who wanted to be more involved, Huston says that “I want people to talk to me about it and tell me things that they think the city of Ashland should do. They should also come to the Committee meetings, because at almost every meeting there will be a time where people can testify.” Finally, and perhaps most importantly, he leaves us with the number one thing you can do in your life to mitigate climate impact: “Try to use less stuff.

Please.”

What You Can Do To Help

by Malia Lucero and Gahl Falkner

With the global temperature on the rise and our Earth deteriorating, people are looking for more ways to help the environment than just posting on their social medias. Here are a few tips and tricks that YOU can do locally to help improve our Earth.

Meat Consumption

Compost

Currently, the livestock industry produces more greenhouse emissions than all the emissions put out by cars, planes and ships combined, making it one of the leading causes for our deteriorating environment. Committing to reduce your meat and dairy intake by just a few meals per week can have a significant impact on our planet! This was proven by the Natural Resource Defense Council when they discovered that if one person cut a quarter pound of beef a week from their diet, it would be equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road for a year!

Like recycling, composting reduces your trash generation along with creating rich soil for your yard or garden! Almost any food waste, besides meat, can go into the compost. Examples include: eggshells, fruit, banana peels and even tea bags. Once you have collected a sizeable amount of food in a small bucket or bowl, the next step is to dump it into a designated pile of soil in your yard or garden. Turn periodically. Now you have your own organic, homemade soil to make your ever-blossoming garden even more beautiful!

Second Hand

Recycle

Fourteen percent of landfills are composed of paper and paperboard material, which are recyclable. A large amount of everyday objects can be recycled, but many simply do not know what to look for. For example, cereal boxes, junk mail, glass and metal containers are all commonly discarded materials, which can and should be recycled. Look for anything that is cardboard or paper and see if it can be recycled. This could reduce the estimated four pounds of trash you generate every day by about 34 percent. Check out www.recology.com for more details on what can be recycled.

Bicycle Benefits

To discourage driving, the Ashland Food Co-op has joined a nationwide movement called Bicycle Benefits, which they have been active in for the past few years. Although you have to spend $5 for a helmet sticker, it is well worth it as every future purchase at the Co-op is five percent off with your Bicycle Benefit!

Did you know the United States of America, alone, throws away 10.5 million tons of clothing each year? Shopping at your local thrift stores provides an easy option for each of us to make a more positive impact on the environment. Specifically, thrifting lowers your carbon footprint, aids in water preservation, reduces chemical pollution, and inspires green living. Utilizing our local second-hand stores (of which include: The Goodwill, Avant Garb, Deja Vu and Get ‘N Gear) as well as limiting purchases of mass-produced clothing will have a significant impact on our world. Thrifting is a step in the right direction towards creating a more environmentally conscious and proactive society.

More Than Just a Fire T

he expansive natural carbon sink, also known as “the planet’s lungs,” is under a growing threat as hundreds of species and ethnic groups are under threat from the burning fires in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Faced with this reality, there is no better time to educate ourselves on the issue and ways to help.

The Amazon rainforest has long faced farmers and cattle ranchers clearing land. However, deforestation has increased by 80% this past year according to INPE, a national institute for space research in Brazil that conducts satellite imaging. IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) is Brazil’s main environmental agency and, since Jair Bolsonaro took the presidential office in January, deforestation has increased at a significant rate. During Bolsonaro’s campaign, he declared that Brazil’s vast protected lands were an obstacle for the country’s economic growth and promised to open the land for commercial usage, allowing those who wish to exploit the land easier access to a license for clearing (via controlled burning), without the fear of being punished by law enforcement and environmental protection agencies. Bolsonaro has restricted IBAMA from enforcing climate safety regulations, such as issuing fines and using their most effective tool of environmental protection: destroying the equipment and vehicles of people caught working in protected areas

editorial by Jordan Trunnell

such as indigenous territories. IBAMA has had to stop operations as they are no longer supported by the police and national guard under Bolsonaro’s Presidency. In addition, organizations similar to IBAMA have had their Environmental Agency budget cut by 25% to allow commercial land usage to expand more quickly.

The Amazon rainforest absorbs about two million tons of CO2 per year through its 2.1 million square acres, which is about 5% of global annual emissions. These recent humancaused fires not only reduce the amount of CO2 that the rainforest is absorbing, but millions of tons of carbon are being released every day from the flames of the fires, creating a potential tipping point in the climate that would turn the beloved rainforest into a tropical savanna. Unlike boreal forests that are “adapted to fire,” meaning that their structures are built in ways to withstand fires, the burning Amazonian jungle may take centuries to regain its variety of indigenous trees, wildlife, and carbon-storing capacities.

The rainforest maintains a balance, sustaining both its variety of species and global climate. It’s time to start aiding and ensuring this balance stays intact.

There are multiple ways to aid and help ensure a better environmental future for this indispensable jungle aside from fiscal aid to environmental organizations.

While many fires in the Amazon have been lit for agricultural purposes and building homes, fires are also a tool of extracting timber as large areas are frequently burned to access trees for felling or to make paths to other areas of the forest. If we all reduce the amount of paper and wood we use, we can help reduce commercial pressures on the Amazon as well as other forests around the world. Although this is the ideal route, many may not have the ability to reduce consumption, so turning to rainforest safe products with the guidance of the Rainforest Alliance (an international non-governmental agency) can

lessen the demand of the destructive industries.

Bolsonaro is on record stating “If I become president, there will not be a centimeter more of indigenous land,” then later correcting himself to say “not one millimeter” in his interview with Globo News. By lobbying and exposing destructive corporations and helping spread awareness of indigenous land being taken by corporations, we can help combat negative outcomes. This work will continue to be effective long after the fires are out.

Researching your future political candidates’ environmental records and avoiding giving support to politicians who support deregulation, extraction and subsidy of fossil fuel resources and a lenience in corporate interest will have massive impacts in attacking this issue. Most of us can’t vote in Brazil; however, our own politicians have proven themselves guilty though lack of international engagements regarding climate concern.

These tragic fires were not a natural, wild phenomenon but an outcome due to the lack of citizens and leaders regard for environmental sustainability. With awareness, conscious actions and more political engagements, we can start to identify how to prevent further disasters by example, maybe even steering the earth on the path to climate redemption. art by Isabela Martinez Moore

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art by Charlotte Julian

by Siena Wand

Leo- Creepy Doll Jul 23 - Aug 22

Aquarius- Alien Jan 20 - Feb 18

This spooky season, your “out of this world” self will be pulling some energy from outside planets in order to take on new challenges philosophically and academically. Take this month to expand your mind, whether that be through picking up a new activity or traveling to a foreign country! You may find yourself to be quite emotionally invested in your future plans and goals this fall, and although this is a very good thing, make sure to take time to be kind to yourself and others throughout the galaxy young Alien!

Pisces- Swamp Monster Feb 19 - Mar 20

Explore the murky waters of your spiritual side this October! You will begin to analyze life’s greater meaning and reevaluate what spirituality truly means to you. These past summer months you’ve been in a deep personal hibernation, but it’s time to arise from the dark abyss. Although you may seem a bit withdrawn from others during this transformation, by the end of the month you’ll be craving human connection and thinking of ways to push yourself towards creating a new you!

It’s time to pull yourself up by your horns Demon, because this is your month. You’ll be taking time to fulfill your independent needs and create healthy dialogue in your relationships. Watch your usual tendency to raid Hades wallet to treat yourself to black charcoal lattes and children’s souls. By the end of the month, you may find yourself craving romantic attention from someone you once viewed as only a friend. Be careful of your intense emotions this spooky season, Demon.

Taurus- Zombie Apr 20 - May 20

You are being tested this month, Zombie. Brains on brains are being piled upon you and your productivity skills are being put through the ringer. You may feel your flesh crawling with romance by month’s end, this is also a good time to begin new projects, whether it be eating your loved ones noggins or looking for your lost body parts.

Take this time to emerge from your grave and truly find your life’s calling.

Gemini- Gremlin

Halloween season will be filled with revolving doors in your life and intense transformation Cancer. Who knows, your head may even grow back! You need to connect your mind to your body this month (literally)!. You have a tendency to over communicate your emotions with others, for the sake of yourself and the people around you, please chill. Even though you’ll be drawn to exploring the hidden aspects of the universe this month, just remember to stop overthinking and take time to review your dreams and aspirations on a deeper level.

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This month, your tomb will be filled to the brim with healthy communication! You’ll be taking advantage of your natural analytical skills, using them to find new ways to function efficiently both in your work and personal life. Keep your romantic troubles under wraps this October, and make sure to keep up healthy dialogue with yourself. Take time to heighten your own self awareness and pay close attention to your needs.

Happy Birthday Witch, this is your month! Extra opportunities and luck are being added to your already fabulous boiling cauldron this October, bringing you spells full of energy to move you through the wintertime. During Libra season, you’ll find yourself reexamining your values both intellectually and spiritually. Hold that broom tight towards the end of the month, because your love life is about to get real bumpy real quick. Make an effort to keep your powerful magic under control, especially when it comes to relationship issues, otherwise some unnecessary drama is sure to begin brewing. Just don’t forget to own this season like the Bad Witch you are!

Scorpio- Vampire Oct 23- Nov 21

Tension is rising this spooky season for you, Vampire. Lack of blood this month will most likely send you into a frenzy of irritation and aggravation, creating issues in your personal life. Make sure to engage in some sort of emotional outlet, whether that be practicing your transformation skills or brushing up on your hypnotizing abilities. Spend some time sinking your teeth into your greatest goals and aspirations in life, and explore new passions and hobbies. Although you’ll be spending this month finding clarity and opening new doors, don’t forget to work through your current issues at hand.

Sagittarius- Warewolf

This month, you’ll find yourself battling between your two sides. One side, being naturally charismatic, wants to get fun and funky during all of the spooky celebrations while your other side will be busy cleaning up your life and enhancing your overall feng shui. You must keep a balance between these sides Gremlin, otherwise you may lose control. Make sure to stick to your gut and make good decisions this Halloween season Gemini.

Jun 21 - Jul 20

Aug 23 - Sep 23

Sep 23- Oct 22

Mar 21 - Apr 19

Cancer- Headless Horseman

Virgo- Mummy

Libra- Witch

Aries- Demon

May 21 - Jun 20

You’re ripping at the seams with creativity this October! Your future plans are becoming more clear and expanding to lengths you can’t even comprehend. Daily routines may feel like they are moving faster than usual, so just make sure to keep grounded and sew those feet to the ground! Try and keep away from your usual habits of intensely staring at people around you, and blink for once!

Nov 22 - Dec 21

This is the perfect time for you to use that moon to transform into the best version of yourself! Use that energy to continue strengthening your current friendships as well as building new connections.

Meditation will be very useful after the 15th to help you connect will both yourself and your home pack. Try to harness your strength and train yourself to feel without losing complete control of your body. End of the month will bring intense revelations for you, so make sure to keep your transformations under control during the full moon.

Capricorn- Ghost Dec 22 - Jan 19

Alright Ghost, your career/public image are receiving a LOT of universal energy this month and you need to keep your head out of the clouds. All of this energy will make transparency a tough challenge for you and your boo, as you will be reevaluating what you truly want in life, which may not include your partner. Mid month you’ll most likely be expressing your emotions and opinions in a more straight up way, but don’t forget that although honesty is the best policy, you need to be empathetic to other people’s emotions.