September 2014 Issue

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SEPTEMBER 2014 15

National champion joins volleyball team

OPINION 4 <RXU WXUQ /HWWHUV VXUYH\V DQG PRUH 7 6HQLRUV 6RSKLH 'HPXUL 6DUD 3RUKDPPHU GLVFXVV SROLFH EUXWDOLW\ ORFDO HOHFWLRQV DQG WKH VFKRRO ERDUG

NEWS 8 6HFXULW\ FDPHUDV NHHS DQ H\H RYHU VWXGHQWV FDPSXV

FEATURES

9 Back in the Classroom +LVWRU\ WHDFKHU &KHU\O 7URXWPDQ MRLQV WKH IDFXOW\ DIWHU D ORQJ UHFRYHU\ _ E\ /L]]LH *XHUUD

10 The Evolution of Spirit Week $ ORRN DW 6SLULW :HHN WKURXJK WKH \HDU_ E\ +DQQDK %UXVFD

15 A Tall Order to Meet )UHVKPDQ *LDR +X\QK MRLQV YDUVLW\ YROOH\EDOO WHDP EULQJLQJ VNLOO DQG H[SHULHQFH WR WKH WDEOH _E\ (Y\ *XHUUD

SPORTS 12 )DOO DWKOHWHV JLYH LQVLJKW LQWR QHZ SOD\HUV DQG JRDOV 13 &ROXPQLVW %HQ 0HFKDFKRQLV LQWURGXFHV KLV QHZ FROXPQ

ENTERTAINMENT 14 6KHHUDQ¶V µ;¶ ZRZV OLVWHQHUV ZLWK QHZ VW\OH 15 &DW 7DON ZLWK WHQQLV HQWKXVLDVW $EDJDLO 2¶&RQQRU 15 µ*XDUGLDQV RI WKH *DOD[\¶ EULQJV DFWLRQ H[FLWHPHQW

OUR TURN

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Eastern Florida exodus greedy When you enter this school, you enter a community, a group of people who are dedicated to helping you achieve intellectually and academically, in a seemingly personal way. The flip-side of this mission statement is that, in order for those people to achieve that kind of a relationship with student body, this school needs to be a small community. And that’s not a bad thing. Communities are allowed to be small. But the smallness of this school makes a spot at this school valuable. Environments are important. And that’s not something you realize easily until you learn of the differences between the school and other schools in the county, some of which have day care centers for teenage mothers, bullying and, at the very least, rampant grinding at their dances it’s safe to say that the education you’ll receive here is a unique one. But here’s what’s not unique to West Shore: Eastern Florida State College and the dual enrollment and early admissions programs that it offers. Objectively, it’s cost effective to take advantage of those programs, but consider this: when you leave this school to do early admissions and when you’re gone those two, three class periods

in the morning, you don’t really leave and you’re not really gone. You’re still enrolled here. But instead of attending West Shore for West Shore, you’re off doing something that you could have done at any other school in the county. Dual Enrollment and Early Admissions programs are not exclusive to this school, but the competition and accelerated community that exists here is. And for every class period that you’re gone, and for that one year where you decide to “leave” completely, you’re occupying a spot that another student could have taken (another student, mind you, who would have been here). Actions like these question the legitimacy of choice schools: because if choice schools are “unable” to keep their students, are they really working? Choice schools, for all the good they do, are expensive. And when you take advantage of a common opportunity that isn’t exclusive to this school and prevent parents and students who actually want to be here from being here, you provide fodder for attacks against our schools, which is very selfish. Be here in full or don’t be here at all. And if you’re dual enrolled, or plan on pursuing dual enrollment, perhaps consider that maybe West Shore isn’t the school for you ,

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Powderpuff dances transphobic, insensitive September has arrived and the Wildcat Nation prepares to enter one of the exciting times of the year here at West Shore. Love is in the air as Homecoming approaches, wacky costumes and school pride is in full force during Spirit Week, and the juniors and seniors are making the final preparations for Powderpuff, the gender swapping event that every year seems to cause some sort of stir. For the few that are unaware, Powderpuff is the annual event right before Homecoming where the girls play a game of juniors vs. seniors flag football, while their male classmates cheer them on from the sidelines. What may sound like a harmless, rivalrous activity has evolved into something offensive. The boys’ Powderpuff dances in years past have been embarrassing examples of transphobia, sometimes reaching the point where the music has had to be shut off and the guys have been forced to stop dancing. Although some may complain that this is stifling one of the more fun events of the year, these stoppages are a step in the right direction. When the upperclassmen guys come out dressed as females and dance suggestively with one another, they are poking fun at trans-sexualism and making a mockery of those who don’t identify with traditional gender roles. These dances create a hostile and unwelcome atmosphere for closeted transsexuals, even though they may be popular among the student body. The steps administration and teachers have been taking to tone down these offensive performances are progress to improving our school’s tolerance for all types of people.

Flying High Jumping, senior Alex Autenrieb performs in the 2013 Powderpuff dance. New WCTZ show a step in right direction With the addition of this new segment, I would like to encourage viewership of WCTZ news in all classes. The information is pertinent, but to reach its full potential it must be seen by the student population. Teachers: bear with the extended length. One day a week the news will be longer, but it is for the growth of the students. Students: be aware of the segment. All of the WCTZ news is produced for your benefit. This particular addition provides a new paradigm for your understanding of the world. Savor what you are given. (YD -RKQVRQ WK *UDGH

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The Roar recognizes itself as a public forum and encourages letters from West Shore students and members of the community. The Roar cannot print ads promoting activity illegal by Florida law, ads opposing any religious beliefs, ads written in poor taste, ads with racial or sexist comments, ads considered inappropriate by the staff, advocacy advertising or ads containing libel. The Roar is not responsible for web sites viewed through links found on pages mentioned in the publication. The Roar values letters from our readers: the maximum length for letters is 200 words. No more than one letter a semester will be published from a writer. Letters and columns are edited for length, content and clarity. The Roar maintains the right to edit all submissions for poor taste, length, grammar and libel. Views expressed in the “Opinions� section do not necessarily represent the views of the Brevard County School Board, the West Shore administrators, faculty, student body or The Roar staff.

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OPINION

Cat Fight

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I’m for education, but I don’t like taxes. They’re taking money from people that they could have had to buy more stuff to stimulate the economy.

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I don’t think the police should be militarized. I’m against police brutality. I mean they were just protesting. I’m pretty sure that’s a right, to protest. I don’t see why they would have to break it up if it’s nonviolent.

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They shouldn’t have gone in with like tear gas and smoke bombs, but the people shouldn’t have started rioting either.

Crist, Democrat; pro-choice, equal pay, medical marijuana.

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)HUJXVRQ After the shooting and death of 18 year-old Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson, protests led to riots and violence between officers and protesters extending for many days.

+DOI &HQW 6DOHV 7D[ A vote in November will determine whether or not a half-cent sales tax proposal will go into effect. If passed, the tax could raise over $30 million a year for up to 10 years. A similar proposal was rejected by voters in November 2012.

6FRWW Y &ULVW Current Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, is running against former Gov. Charlie Crist, a Democrat, in this year’s gubernatorial election. Issues in this election include education and the economy.

Crist was a Republican and switched to Democrat, and it’s like ‘OK, you’re either one party or the other.’ You shouldn’t switch parties. If you ran Republican, don’t run for Democrat.

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I think the tax is a good thing, because it brings more money in for our schools, and our schools need a lot more funding, especially for the arts. The science budget got cut by onethird, so we need a lot more funding.

NEWS

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Safety first

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By Autumn Scheer throughout.” Eighth grader Vance Cannon said that having security cameras on campus is not needed. “I think it’s a little unnecessary,” he said. “I mean, it’s a pretty good Eyes on you A security camera is seen on the corner school. There’s of building five overlooks the patio area. not a lot of people who would do something that bad that we would need security cameras, but it’s kind of unnerving.” Farrell said he wants to keep the campus as safe as possible. “In today’s day and age, it’s a necessity for security purposes for the students and the staff and everybody else that’s involved that comes to West Shore,” he said. , 6RXUFH 5RDU 6WDII

Due to the increase in school shootings nationwide, a new initiative has placed security cameras in middle and high schools across Brevard County. Assistant Principal of Facilities Robert Farrell led the newly completed project aimed at installing a total of 10 cameras around campus. School Resource Officer Chuck Landmesser said there are three initiatives in place to make schools safer, including gates around campus, locked doors and cameras accessible by administrators and district security. “It’s twofold. Students think ‘the cameras are watching us,’ but it’s not like that,” he said. “We have an open campus, so the cameras are a good way to monitor what’s going on.” Farrell said the project has been a work in progress for a few years. “It was a project that I took on when I came on board last year,’” he said. “[Former Assistant Principal Jim] Melia was working with different security camera vendors. He had started getting it going, and I just came in and took it and got it to the point that we are now.” The Parent Teacher Association, parking spot sales and a donation from the 2013 Senior Class paid for the cameras. There are cameras facing the entrance and exit of the middle school car loop, and one facing the exit of the high school car loop, as well as others. “My main goal was to get all the easy access points of people that would come on campus,” Farrell said. “So they’re strategically placed

Overcoming Obstacles

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By Lizzie Guerra Three years ago, doctors told Cheryl Troutman she might never walk again. Troutman fell through the drywall in her ceiling at home while trying to help her husband check for a roof leak. As a result, she had to retire after 30 years in the classroom. With two years of physical therapy and recovery time, she’s returned to her passion: teaching. “I had a concussion, I had a pin Troutman and two screws in my right foot and I fractured my back,” Troutman said. Even after a debilitating injury, Troutman couldn’t stay away from school. “Almost three years later, I decided I needed to go back to work,” she said. She had worked at five other schools, including Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School where she met West Shore Principal Rick Fleming and English teacher Jeannie Griffin. “She has a genuine care and concern for her students,” Fleming said. “Her passion for teaching and learning truly shows.” Sophomore Logan Beard already is taking to Troutman’s

teaching methods. “My favorite part of her class is how she always finds way to talk about current events and gives her opinion,” he said. Troutman said she anticipates a positive experience this year. “I’m expecting for the students to do well, for them to stay grounded in getting a good education,” she said. “I hope they do well for themselves, not just for me.” Troutman notices a difference in the students here from other schools. “They’re more disciplined in terms of wanting to get an education and realizing that it’s not just going to come in there, you got to work at it,” she said. “They take notes, the students are great, the staff is great. It’s just a really nice environment.” Through all of her successes in her teaching career, there’s one that stands out. “The fact that I had a 98 percent pass rate in IB English [at Cocoa Beach], to me that meant my students not only had learned a lot, but that pass rate had helped colleges recognize they learned something in English,” Troutman said. “The fact that they had done so well was very satisfying to me. It wasn’t for my personal needs. It was for their personal achievement. That’s really why it became important.” Getting back on her feet after her injury was challenging but returning to the classroom was enough motivation. “My recovery process was wanting to get back to work,” she said. ,

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SPIRIT WEEK

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Feels like homecoming

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The year is 1998, before the majority of the current student body was born. The year the school opened, little thought was given to Homecoming, Spirit Week, or Powderpuff. Maybe that’s because the school did not yet have sophomores, juniors or seniors. The school opened with students in

grades seven through nine, and each year added one more until the first graduating class in 2002. The objective was to build a unique academic culture, de-emphasizing athletics in favor of scholarship. For this reason there is still no have a football team, and until the fall after the school’s founder Dr. Rita Galbraith left

in 2004, the annual Powderpuff event featured a girls’ soccer game instead of football. Various other traditions have evolved throughout the school’s short history. The first Spirit Week tradition kicked off in 2002 along with the birth of Powderpuff and the first Homecoming dance, whose theme was a classic:

1

2

Teacher time-travel

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Charge on Senior Casey Schauman drives down the field in the 2013 powderpuff game.

“The first two years of the school was filled with hoodlums. [Spirit Week] hasn’t changed that much, but there’s less hoodlums.” Greg Eller

“Spirit Week now is a lot more controlled than it was when it first started. Nicole Anagnostis

“The SADD group did a car smashing. We brought in a demolished car and then they got to take a sledgehammer to it.” Bonnie Bettis

“In 2007, the boys did some moves that surprised and shocked us. Ms. Ladd and I were called to the office. I thought we were going to be fired.” Sherie Jenkins

SPIRIT WEEK

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“Welcome to Paradise.” Current Spirit Week themes including Twin Day, College Day and Dress Like Them Day date back to those early days. Pajama Day also was introduced that year and continued for five more years. Pajama Day and Twin Day have been the most reused themes to date. ,

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2002 2003 2004

On Nov. 17, the school held its first Harvest Ball – that’s right, not Homecoming. The dance consisted of a court for each grade, mandated only a $20 entrance fee, and was held in the King Center. In the origins of the school’s Powderpuff, rather than playing football, juniors and seniors played soccer. Instead of wearing blue shirts, the seniors sported baby blue tops, while the juniors wore yellow. A student crams spongecake into her mouth during a Twinkie-eating contest. Other Spirit Week events included a karaoke contest during lunch and a fashion show on Tacky Tourist Day.

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“One year we had a Mardi Gras theme, and homecoming was at the King Center.” Kirk Murphy

“They used to have a competition for the student with the most spirit, and the student who won would march in a parade at the pep rally.” Jennifer Walker

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2006

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2008

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2014

The senior boys’ Powderpuff cheerleaders had some creative moves, including tearing off their top layer of clothing to reveal suspenders and shorts that included handpainted flames on the bottom. Showing her school spirit on Spirit Day, math teacher Susan Orton watches the Homecoming pep rally wearing wildcat themed face paint. The 2014 Senior Class were the first to get their dance stopped; the music was cut before the cheerleaders had finished their routine. After a week principal Rick Fleming allowed the seniors to show their dance during the Homecoming pep rally.

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SPORTS

Fall Sports

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Casey Schauman, 12th

Austin Camps, 10th

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&URVV &RXQWU\ Q: What does last year’s success make you expect from this season? A: Last year I went to state, but I know I could have done a lot better if my team was there. I trained every single day this summer ... so I’m hoping for even better results this year. Q: What does your training consist of? A: I run every day, sometimes twice a day, and I run around 7-8 miles. Occasionally I’ll be injured with a pulled muscle or shin splints, but I just run through it.

Q: How has this year’s team changed from the years past? A: We only lost one senior, and many of the returning

players played club volleyball, so overall the team has improved a lot. New players like Giao Huynh are already becoming a huge asset. Q: What does that make you expect for this season? A: I think the team is really strong and everyone is working very hard. If we keep this up, I expect us to go far .

Cameron Yeutter, 8th

Kristina Youngson, 11th

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Q: How is the team this

season different from last year? A: We have a lot of guards. We have a new coach, too, who is really good. There are four new 7th graders on the team this year. Q: How do those changes impact the team? A: We work together really well; we see each other at school a lot, so we get to talk to each other a lot. We train with the 7th graders during practice so that we can get better and prepare for the games. Overall, we’re pretty good.

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Q: What are some of your goals for this season? A: The main is goal is definitely to drop time and become faster as

a team. We also had a lot of injuries last year, so avoiding that is something to strive for. Q: How do you plan on achieving these? A: The team is really coming closer together and everyone is swimming their hardest. We have several talented seniors, and lifeguards are helping with the training, especially for the younger kids.

SPOTLIGHT

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Blue-chipper

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Freshman Giao Huynh checks “It started in elementary out of school Friday afternoon school. We had a P.E. Day and begins the weekly 160 mile where we played volleyball drive to her gym, preparing and I really liked it,” Huynh mentally and physically for said. “So I kind of just a challenging weekend of looked up clinics and clubs, volleyball practice. and I did that over the Huynh started playing for summer.” Tampa Bay Volleyball Academy The Tampa Bay Volleyball last year, and soon became a Academy, coached by two two time national champion professional volleyball with the team, winning both players, sets extremely high Amateur Athletic Union standards for the girls. Nationals and Junior Olympic “They’re really strict on titles. She bypassed Brevard conditioning yourself so County travel teams because you’re in good shape, and she wanted compete with the then you start to work on best volleyball players in the skill, and then we actually state. start playing as a team,” Huynh’s dad, Vinh Huynh Huynh said. said making the six-hour round The coaches focus on trip drive paid off. all aspects of the game to “The first three or four months prepare the team for games she just observed, she was not a and long tournaments . main player,” he said. “But then “They really pushed when it came to the last two us mentally too during national championships, they conditioning,” Huynh said. rotated her around because “It was not only your body.” they realized she played really The Tampa Bay Volleyball well. She really picked up from Academy season will start there.” after the high school season, When Huynh arrived on which ends in October. campus last month after having Huynh can notice the attended Stone Middle School, differences between the two she was placed on the varsity teams. squad without hesitation. “High school volleyball Her high school coach, Bonnie in general is different from Priester, refers to Huynh as club because the coaches are a “blue chipper,” or someone super different and you’re who is a Division 1 caliber going to be trained different,” athlete and will receive several Huynh said. “High school scholarship offers. is a little bit easier because Tournament champs celebrate Junior Mary Grace Lally, seniors Casey “Giao is phenomenal. She Schauman, Kasondra West, Taylor Kelley and freshman Giao Huynh dis- you don’t have to condition is not an average volleyball as much because we have play the trophy after their victory in the St. Cloud tournament Sept. 20. player. She is 14 years old and school.” understands all aspects of the But the lighter volleyball player, I have to see what I usually game of volleyball,” Priester said. “Her skill conditioning does not comfort Huynh. call a spark,“ Coach Bonnie Priester said. level is amazing, she is an efficient volleyball “Not only was Tampa a new thing last “I’m [usually] looking for a spark that I can machine.” year, but now that we’re two-time national grow to be a fire. [But] she is ready to go. Huynh is one of two freshman on the championships everybody knows the club. She’s not the kid I was looking for with that team. It might be really hard to get into the team,” spark, her fire is already burning.” “It isn’t rare [to have freshmen on the Huynh said. “And then once you get on the Huynh’s flame ignited four years ago. team], but they have to be a special kind of team you’re going to have to work.” ,

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3150 S. Babcock St. Melbourne, FL 32904

2549 W. New Haven Ave. West Melbourne, FL 32904

1515 Palm Bay Rd. Melbourne, FL 32905

814 W. New Haven Ave. Melbourne, FL 32901 Tel : 321-221-7222 Fax: 321-221-7222

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SPORTS

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Questionable Coverage

/RFDO UHSRUWLQJ RI KLJK VFKRRO VSRUWV VFUHDPV DPDWHXU By Ben Mechachonis Fact: West Shore sports teams receive little to no recognition when it comes to outside reporting. Now I’m not going to name any names, but it’s Florida Today and their total lack of interest in keeping a balance of all schools in their sports coverage. If you were to go onto their website or Twitter page a normal, unaware person would think that our humble Brevard County contains only a few schools as opposed to the 20-plus actively participating. Now, this is not to say that these few select schools that are so specially picked are not deserving of all the coverage they receive, but there are a vast majority of great players from all over the county that are due their time in the spotlight. For example, here at West Shore most people probably do not know that junior Chris McCarthy is the best bowler in the school and next year will begin receiving scholarships to bowl in college. No newspaper has or probably ever will cover

that story which is sad because this is one of numerous instances of neglect by sports reporters in this county. The point of high school sports is camaraderie and the freedom that comes with playing with kids you see everyday, and by only covering a select few schools outside reporters miss that. The point is most certainly not to pick out the few good teams that surface every year and flower them in news articles, video clips and whatever else the “professional writers� of the newspaper’s high school sports writing staff want to throw in at their leisure. This is why most West Shore students do not know about who is on our sports teams, how they are doing or any sort of specifics of the sport because our county paper is too busy blessing their favorite high school football players with glorious articles about how their season is going. One thing that comes with the title of reporter is the unwritten rule to be unbiased in all reporting. Report scores, write accurate articles, provide fact-based statements and above all do not give opinionated comments about teams based solely on what you think. As a high school sports enthusiast I love

learning about all sports. I like knowing about the local stars of our county. What I do not love is repeatedly hearing about some quarterback and every single thing he does, whether it be the school he expects to be the most challenging, what he feels before and after every single game, or even, perhaps, the types of shoes he’s wearing. If the you, as a newspaper, do decide to go that route and cover those things then do it for all teams and all important players. Do not limit your coverage to only the people and teams that you as a newspaper want to cover. Please cover everyone equally and fairly. Covering the players who are expected to play college sports is very interesting but it is not the only thing happening in the realm of high school sports. After the sixth story about the same player it gets old and it gets annoying. All schools have other sports programs and a plethora of players as well as stories that would be interesting for readers to know. If the Florida Today high school sports writers didn’t spend so much time texting and calling the star quarterback of the county maybe they would know what those other stories are. ,

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘X’ hits the spot

‘Shadow and Bone’

By Ana Rosal

By Roba Sabawi

6KHHUDQ DGGV QHZ VW\OH WR DOEXP %DUGXJR FDSWXUHV DXGLHQFH ZLWK VXUSULVLQJ WDOH Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran burst into the music scene this summer stronger than ever with his second album, “X” (pronounced “multiply”). The album has everything from sincere romantic ballads to angsty beats and everyone from Snow Patrol to Rick Rubin and Pharrell Williams. As with his last album, “+”, Sheeran has shrugged off mainstream pop conventions and added his own flare. The album includes songs based on Sheeran’s real-life experiences like “Don’t” and “Runaway”, which tackle what it’s like to be cheated on and leave home at the age of 16, respectively. Further, in contrast to the falsetto-tone featured in “Sing,” the album brings out emotion with a timeless ballad, “Photograph.” A personal favorite of mine is “Afire Love,” which was written about Sheeran’s grandfather, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. On his second album, Sheeran lays everything on the table. This “singer with a flow” has delivered above and beyond people’s expectations. What was anticipated to be another acoustic album turns out to be a neo-soul-funk record that’s filled with deeply personal and emotional themes. ,

There are a few things that the cover-gazers can judge cliché about the first installment of The Grisha Trilogy, ‘Shadow and Bone,’ by Leigh Bardugo. From the dark, fantastical title, to the main character Alina Starkov’s exceptional powers that turn her life of poverty and anonymity around to one of glory and duty, there isn’t much about this book that is not cliché. The story follows Alina, an orphan, who lives in the once-great nation of Ravka, which has been geographically torn in two across the ‘Shadow Fold.” While struggling to protect her injured best friend, Malyen, Alina inadvertently reveals her abilities and discovers that she is a Grisha, or a child gifted with powers. And when a map-maker instigates the feverish brewing of new attention that begins to surround the messiah, Alina is promptly wrenched away from her life into one of luxury

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at Ravka’s royal court. Soon, sinister secrets emerge and the uncanny way others seem to know them before she does shows Alina that she can only trust the new allusion she now lives in so much, lest it swallow her whole. The brooding, compelling leader of the Grisha, the Darkling, only flummoxes her more. After all, she is the elite star and envy of the Grisha army, blessed with unprecedented, formidably potent capabilities, the potential heroine of her country and holds the coveted position of being the special favorite of the handsome Darkling, to whose awful power nobody can compare: What more could Alina possibly dare to want? Bardugo’s rich writing crafts a masterpiece with riveting descriptions and thrilling suspense. The protagonist’s stubborn, fiery attitude makes her such an enjoyable character to read about and her sarcasm adds an entertaining depth to her personality. I also enjoyed how easy it is to grasp each concept of Bardugo’s fictional world, without it being explained at all. The story of Alina is unpredictable and gut-wrenching, and for book fanatics it is definitely not one to miss. ,

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

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By Joey Crown I haven’t been excited for a Marvel movie since “The Avengers,â€? but “Guardians of the Galaxy,â€? directed by James Gunn, was a film I eagerly awaited. Seeing Marvel expand into a more obscure series was a breath of fresh air, and I was relieved to see this instead of another Avenger’s backstory. Not that I have anything against the Marvel All-stars, but the over-saturation of superhero movies was beginning to tire, and will continue to tire until Hollywood finds another cash cow. “Guardiansâ€? was a unique property from Marvel and a pretty risky moveone that I hope pays off. The main character, Peter “Starlordâ€? Quill, is played by Chris Pratt. Pratt is a funny man; his work on the TV show “Parks and Recreationâ€? is awesome and he quickly became one of my favorite personalities on the show. He has the look of a goofy guy and it was quite a surprise to see him transform from the hefty, lovable, clueless character he is on TV to the ripped, loveable, clueless character he is on the big screen. Starlord is a space burglar who attempts to steal artifacts from around the galaxy in order to make a quick buck. The film starts with Starlord’s backstory. His mom dies, he runs out of the hospital and is almost immediately abducted by aliens. The scene is so ridiculous that you just kind of accept it. This is one of the few times you’ll hear me use the excuse “it’s just a comic book movie,â€? because this actually feels like something that would happen in a comic book. Being a comic book doesn’t excuse plot holes, but it does excuse campiness, especially considering that campiness is central to the mood. In prison, Starlord meets a crew of ragtag space cowboys and

they form a team in order to escape. Starlord has a bounty on his head for stealing a precious artifact and the audience quickly learns that this relic has immense power and Ronan, the most evil villain in the Galaxy. Now the fate of the galaxy is in the hands of a racoon, a tree, Starlord, a Brute, and one of Thanos’s. Ronan also has his ties with Thanos, who will most likely be an antagonist in “The Avengers 2�, so he functions as a link between the two films. Groot, the tree, is voiced by Vin Diesel, in what is his most difficult role, in which his every line is “I am Groot.� Groot was probably my favorite character. He’s incredibly charming and the comedic element he adds to the group works splendidly. All of the characters are great and the dynamic among the group was on par with the Avengers, even without well-established characters. This is probably the first movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that doesn’t feel like a Marvel movie. “Guardians� instead creates the vibe of a solid sci-fi action film with a novel, interesting and well-developed world. The devil is in the details, and the amount of effort put into making this world believable is astounding. Every other Marvel movie has had its roots in our own universe and even though earth still exists in this one, everything feels so foreign that it’s tough to believe everything is happening in the same universe as the Avengers. My hopes are that these franchises will only have small connections to one another: Starlord really doesn’t need to be in the �Avengers 2.� “Guardians of the Galaxy� is a film I had a great time watching, and will have just as good of a time when I watch it again. , )RU &URZQ V IXOO UHYLHZ YLVLW ZHVWVKRUHURDU FRP

Cat Tales

6HYHQWK JUDGHU $ELJDLO &RQQRU NHHSV H\HV RQ WHQQLV EDOO Q: What are some of your biggest influences? A: One of the biggest influences in my life would be tennis. I’ve been playing for the Space Coast for five years now and I plan on trying out for the West Shore team.

Q: How do you de-stress? A: Tennis helps me blow off steam from school and other stress. Q: What is your dream for the future? A: I hope to become a professional tennis player one day because it’s my favorite thing to do.

Q: Who are your role models? A: My role models are Serena and Venus Williams. They are dedicated players and have been playing tennis since they were young. I can relate to them and I hope to be like them one day.

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BBN Vol. 31 No. 24

June 17, 2013

Brevard

Business

News

$1.00 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse establishes a foundation By Ken Datzman COCOA VILLAGE — The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, a cultural pillar of the community for more than two decades, has established a fund–raising vehicle for the organization as it prepares to position itself for the future. The facility was recently renovated increasing seating capacity to 595 people, and those seats were all filled for the world–premier performances of Tony Macaulay’s “Build Me Up Buttercup — The Musical.” Now, the Cocoa Village Playhouse is looking to build on its successes and is reaching out to the business community and to individuals in support of its mission. The new “Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation” has been set up to provide long–term funding for operating expenses and special programs that the Cocoa Village Playhouse hosts and runs on a yearly basis. With grants being sliced and other arts resources dwindling, a group of community leaders decided it was the perfect time to rally around the Cocoa Village Playhouse and create a foundation that would help ensure its longevity in the community. “The launch of the Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation I think is one of the most exciting things to happen for the Cocoa Village Playhouse,” said area businesswoman Susie Wasdin, the founder and chairperson of the Legacy Foundation and a longtime supporter of the Cocoa Village Playhouse. “We’ve had a successful year. We’ve completed the renovation of the facility and we’ve made the ownership transition from Brevard Community College to the City of Cocoa. Now, through this foundation, we are focusing on keeping the funds flowing long–term for the Cocoa Village Playhouse. We have come together as a group and stepped up to the plate to create this foundation.” Wasdin singled out the City of Cocoa for its leadership during the transition phase and for its ongoing support of the Cocoa Village Playhouse. The Legacy Foundation hosted a kick–off party on May 19 at the Merritt Island home of Mike and Rashmi Shah, local entrepreneurs. “We had this unbelievable recognition event and introduction to the foundation at the Shahs,” said Wasdin, who sits on the Cocoa Village Playhouse board. The host committee for “An Evening in Paradise” included Guy and Delores Spearman, Tom and Susie Wasdin, Barbara Halgren, Jerry and Dixie Sansom, Harry and Dee Dee Sheffield, and Charlotte Houser. Rashmi Shah said she attended a fund–raising event last year at Rockledge Gardens and was invited to become a member of the Cocoa Village Playhouse board. “Our family has always enjoyed the performances at the Cocoa Village Playhouse,” said Rashmi Shah. “It’s an outstanding organization. I told Staci (Hawkins–Smith, the Cocoa Please see The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, page 19

BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse has established the ‘Broadway on Brevard Legacy Foundation’ to help ensure the long–term future of the organization that presents a range of arts and cultural entertainment for the community. The Legacy Foundation is seeking pledges from businesses and individuals. From left: Staci Hawkins–Smith, executive director, Cocoa Village Playhouse; Susie Wasdin, founder, Legacy Foundation; Delores Spearman, founding member; Dee Dee Sheffield, founding member; Rashmi Shah, founding member; and Charlotte Houser, founding member.

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