YOU
I WANT TO EAT YOUR VEGETABLES What’s for lunch? Your government decides. p. 5 Vol. 91, No.3 January 2012 • Lakewood High School • 14100 Franklin Blvd. • Lakewood, OH 44107 • www.lakewoodtimes.net
Lakewood High School welcome a new fooseball table in the L-Room. Photo by Khalil Cormier
The Times thanks our Patrons: Silver Grant & Annette Gra-
Bronze
ber Kefah Suleiman
Your name could be here! See Times Staff about buying a Gold, Silver or Bronze Patron Ad
Bring in your school ID to recieve 10% off of a Claddagh ring for your Valentines Day sweetheart! THRU FEB. 17TH 15106 Detroit Ave Lakewood, OH, 44107 216-529-2328
2
Ads
The Lakewood Times
contents
Vol. 91 Issue 3 January 2012
Times staff 2011/2012 Managing Editors Cover art by Alain Mika
Learn about alternative sport BMX on page 23.
Focus
4. What is a veggie? 5. Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act
News
10. Overweight eight year old 11. Brewer becomes US citizen 12. The Laramie Project 14.Luma Mufla visits Lakewood
Lakewood Life
The Lakewood Times apologizes for mispelling the names of Health Teacher Jason Saksa and artist Alain Mika in our previous issue.
Julia Houska Gwen Stephen Lily Pollack Victoria Chesmar Juan Amador
Sports Editors
Jon Cropper Sabrina Suleiman
Business
Sabrina Suleiman
Adviser
Karen Ballash
Copy Editor
Bushra Harba
Staff Writers
Maddy Kane Brandy Davis Khalil Cormier Brandon Reid Dylan Dombroski Becca Houp
Illustrators Casey Miller Brett Brown Alain Mika
18. Diplomat brings the noise 20. The Doghouse 22. Pop Quiz 23. BMX: a way of life 26. Hat Fashion 28. Peng’s passion 29. Nick Kovach on the ice 30. A need for speed: speed skating 32. Final Word
Opinion
16. Faceoff How healthy is our school lunch? See page 8 for a breakdown of our lunches.
Times Editorial Policy
As preservers of democracy, our schools shall protect, encourage, and enhance free speech and the exchange of ideas as a means of protecting our American way of life. The Times and its staff are protected by, and bound to, the principles of the First Amendment and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions implementing those principles. It is the mission of The Lakewood Times, the official newsmagazine of Lakewood High School, to serve as a public forum that promotes the gathering and exchange of ideas, and uphold high journalistic standards for the purpose of enriching the lives of our readers. The Times is established as an open forum for student expression and as a voice in the uninhibited, free and open discussion of issues. The Times will not be reviewed or restrained prior to publication. Content of the Times, therefore, reflections only the views of the student staff or individual students and not school officials. Students may use online media to educate, inform, and entertain their readers. Both the school and the cyber community are entitled to the same protections and subject to the same freedoms and responsibilities, as all other student media outlined in this policy. Online media are forums for self-expression and are similar to traditional media, in their freedoms, responsibilities, and professional obligations. As such they will not be subject to prior review or restraint. Student journalists may use online media to report news and information, to communicate with other students and individuals, to question and consult with experts, and to locate material, to meet their newsgathering and research needs. The Times, and staff, will strive to avoid publishing any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is, material that is libelous, obscene, materially disruptive of the school process, an unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright laws or electronic manipulations changing the essential truth of the photo or illustrations. Other obligations can be found in the handbook available to each student. The Times adviser will not act as a censor. If questions arise over specific copy as defined within this policy, student journalists will seek the advice of the communications attorney from the Student Press Law Center. The Times editorial board as a whole will be responsible for determining editorial opinions, which represent the opinions of a majority of the editorial board. No single member of the Times can be held responsible for editorial content decisions. The Times is a tool in the learning process of journalism and operates as a learning laboratory. Any student may be a member of the staff, with or without prior journalism experience or enrollment on the staff for credit. As a forum for student expression, the Times will publish all letters to the editor, provided they are 300 words or less and contain the author’s name, house, and address. On occasion, we will publish letters using the “name withheld” providing the Times editor, or a team editor, knows the author’s identity. We reserve the right to withhold a letter or column and return it for more information if we determine it contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy. Letters will be edited for spelling and grammar. Should a letter contain errors in fact, excessive grammatical errors or be too long, it will be returned to the author for re submission. Deadlines for letters and columns will be no later than ten days before the next publication date. The Times may choose to report student, staff, faculty, and alumnus deaths as he editorial board is made aware of them. We reserve the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness and circumstances. In cases where the editorial board decided not to cover death, letters to the editor in regard to that death could be printed.
December 2011
Contents 3
Tamaydo, tamahhdo Congress works to balance school lunches By Gwen Stephen
Throughout the years there have been many discussions over what a vegetable is. Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Many schools across the country have a low food budget making decisions, such as what a vegetable is, difficult. On November 14th The United States Congress ruled tomato paste as a vegetable. This decision stemmed off the Obama administration initiative to make school lunch programs healthier. In November, New York Daily News said that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed new guidelines for school lunches. The USDA appointed Congress to work with them early in 2011, for the first time in 15 years. These guidelines affect certain items on lunch menus and in the food itself. Though the debating in Congress included the limit of potato usage in lunches and delaying the limit of sodium, and whole grains, the argument was centered around tomato-paste, which according to nutritional value, ½ of a cup has nearly the same amount of nutrients as ½ of a cup fresh apples. According to MSNBC’s website the new school
4
focus
lunch recommendation was proposed in 2009 by the Institute of Medicine. Professors were concerned for the wellbeing of children, and the growing rate of childhood obesity in America. An organization called the Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides statistics showing that the percentage of low-income families, most of which are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program, in the United States reached 42%, almost half of America’s children. In Lakewood the percentage of those eligible for free or reduced lunch is 49.3%. The students at Lakewood High are directly affected by the new regulations for school lunches. As many students’ lunches are provided through the free or reduced lunch pro-
gram, almost half of the students are given the school lunch each day. It is stated on the USDA’s website within the National School Lunch Program regulations that “it is declared in Congress...to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food.” Congress is supposed to follow their own standards by “assisting the States, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing adequate supply of food.” Though Congress was told by the USDA to regulate the national lunch program in a way that benefits consumers nutritionally, Congress created new regulations that fit their own financial needs. The new guidelines made by Congress are: -Prevent the limitation of starchy food to two times per week
-Allow two tablespoons of tomato paste to count as a vegetable, rather than the USDA’s original plan for ½ cup. (This amount has more nutrients, but ½ cup is too much to fit on a slice of pizza, blocking food companies’ plans to keep frozen pizza on the menu.) -Propose a long-term study on the reduced amount of sodium content from the USDA -Ask the USDA to redefine “whole grains” before requiring them in school lunches Congressmen made these revisions to the bill to ensure that the amount of money spent for school lunches was at a minimum. The original guidelines for the lunches were too costly according to many school districts nationwide, especially for schools with a significant number of those given lunch at a lower rate, such as LHS. The extra money needed to buy healthier food is not attainable, given that schools are allotted a certain amount of spending money for lunches. Food with less starch, more whole grains, and less sodium for instance, would cost an average of 14 cents per meal according to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. There are 5667 students enrolled in Lakewood City Schools as of 2011, calculated by the District Leadership Team in December. With approximately 49.3% of those students receiving free or reduced lunch, to feed each student the higher quality 14 cent meal would cost the district approximately $396 per week, $3564 per academic quarter, and $14,256 Art a year. by Brett Brown
The Lakewood Times
Bill passes for the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act By Julia Houska
On December 13th, President Barack Obama signed a new bill creating healthy choices and regulation of school lunches and vending machine choices. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is a bill costing $4.5 billion to provide healthy school lunches while also creating more free lunches for those who can’t afford them. Michelle Obama has been seen on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon endorsing healthy eating habits and exercise. She encourages healthy habits for young kids and challenges them to keep up a healthy lifestyle. She also has made it a priority to combat childhood obesity, which affects 17% of children and adolescents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As much as healthy eating is important to Obama, this bill also stresses the importance of no child going hungry at school. According to thinkquest.org, one out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night. The website also says that every 3.6 seconds someone in the world dies of starvation. This is the first step to feeding all those who are malnourished. Not only is feeding
Menu courtesy of whitehouse.gov
December 2011
Budget courtesy of whitehous.gov
the children of America important, but we must feed them healthy food. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Ohio alone has a 29.2% obesity rate. Others believe this is a waste of $4.5 billion. CNN.com states that one billion dollars
can buy a lifetime supply of disposable diapers for 666,000 children. One billion dollars also can buy two years’ worth of AIDS research for the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. To the average person four and a half billion dollars sounds like a lot. But in reality to the Presidents full budget, food and nutrition assistance, according to whitehouse.org, is only 2.83% of President Obama’s federal budget for 2011. During the signing ceremony, Mrs. Obama said that while the political parties have their differences, they both agree that “no child should go to school hungry.” This is a historic bill for the United States of America and more people are becoming aware of the
focus
5
Lakewood school lunches up?
“
“
How do
We are proud of the breakfasts and lunches we serve. I think we’re doing an outstanding job.
By Lily Pollack
School lunches aren’t usually all they’re stacked up to be when it comes down to the nitty gritty. However, Lakewood City Schools recently won the Stellar Award for Best Nutrition Practices, apparently having one of the best school lunch and breakfast programs in all of Cuyahoga County. The guidelines for winning this title include efforts to make eating environments pleasant, the quality of meals served, and the implementation of nutrition education, according to the state’s website. Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools and Olmsted Falls City Schools have also received this award. “We are proud of the breakfasts and lunches we serve. I think we’re doing an outstanding job.” said supervisor of Nutrition Services in the Lakewood City Schools District, Nancy Early. But how does Lakewood really stack up? There are federal nutrition requirements that must be met daily when serving school lunch. Eight ounces of fluid milk, ¾ cup total of two different fruits and/or vegetables, two ounces of meat or meat alternate, and one serving of grain/bread must be served. “We have to correlate with the federal government.” said Early. If these nutrition requirements are met, then the school lunch is paid for through the National School Lunch Program, which is a federally funded program of the USDA. Schools can only be reim-
6
focus
bursed the money they spend on school lunches if they meet these federal nutrition requirements, according to Jamie Oliver’s School Food Basics pamphlet. Daily, teens need about two cups of fruit, two and a half cups of vegetables, three cups of dairy and five and a half ounces of protein, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. It is also suggested to limit salt consumption to only 2,300 milligrams per day. According to an email sent out by Dr. Wagner, 49.3% of Lakewood City Schools’ students are economically disadvantaged in the year of 2011. This means that over 2,466 students qualify for reduced price meals city wide. A student qualifies for a free meal if the income their family makes is at or below 130 percent of the poverty level. The goals of the Child Nutrition Programs are to 1) Safeguard the health and well being of the nation’s children 2) Encourage domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural foods and 3) Give children an understanding of the relationship between proper eating habits and good health. Lakewood High School offers little di-
- Nancy Early versity in terms of foods offered in the hot lunch line. For the month of January, 2012, meals are planned to be repeated two or three times each. Cheese pizza and Hamburgers are planned to be served three times, while Hot Dogs, Grilled chicken and Ravioli are planned to be served twice. Almost all of the food is delivered through Gordon Food Service. “The hot lunches are not good. That’s why I never buy. If I buy (because I have to), I buy pizza which isn’t even that amazing.
Overall out of a ten, I’d rate hot lunches and other stuff at our school a four.” said Maddie Listkowski, a freshman. “I think they’re so bad because they’re flavorless and dull. There’s nothing to them. I feel like our school just finds the easiest things to make under the cheapest price.”
The Lakewood Times
Students purchase their daily hot lunch. Photo by Khalil Cormier.
On the other side, Sarah Ghose, a senior, thinks that for what they’re worth the school lunches are pretty good. “They’re free and they taste fine! I hate when people complain about them. It’s like bring your own, you know?” Two years ago, all deep fryers had been removed from the school, and since then, everything has been baked. The only fresh foods that are prepared are salads- everything else is either frozen or canned. “I think getting rid of canned fruits and vegetables would be a good start in improving [school lunches].” said Giorgi DeVito, a junior. Even salads aren’t offered in the regular hot lunch line, meaning that they would have to be separately purchased in the a la carte line. Other foods offered in the a la carte line include Hungry Howie’s pizza and seasoned curly fries, along with vegetable wraps and other fast food delights. Lakewood City Schools only has so much money to work with though. “We are a self supporting, non-profit program,” said Early. “Our goal is that we are not a burden on the general fund.” “I think our school does well for what they are given. The budget doesn’t leave a lot of room for the lunches. But there are options,” said Rachel Ritter, a junior. “They always have a fruit or vegetable and milk, so given the circumstances, I think the lunches are pretty good.” Rocky River High School has only two
December 2011
meals planned to be repeated in the month of January, and even then they’re only being repeated twice. These include Taco Salad and Quesadillas. Other lunch menu items include BBG Ribs, Teriyaki Chicken, Chili, and Fish Sandwiches. They also have a Salad Bar feature, selling Tuna Salad, Pasta Vegetable Salad, Hard Boiled eggs, Three Bean Salads and Cottage Cheese. Not to mention, they have a soup of the day, every day.
The maximum a school can charge for a reduced price meal is forty cents, and schools set their own prices of meals served to students who pay the full meal price, according to a link on the school website. School lunch prices have increased twenty five cents for this school year, and now with even more possible changes in the federal nutrition requirements, prices could shift again.
Jamie Oliver’s strives to make change In an effort to totally revamp school lunch programs, British chef Jamie Oliver has been travelling the country to promote his healthy cooking ways and to teach people how to live healthier lifestyles in general. His popular television show, Food Revolution, has been created in an effort to make people aware of the ever increasing obesity occurring in the United States, and to halt the consumption
of over processed and preserved foods. According to his official website, today’s children will be the very first generation to live shorter than their parents. Part of this change is occurring in school cafeterias, and Oliver is trying to make a push for freshly cooked meals in school. 774,208 have signed the global petition already. The organization is trying to reach one million in an effort to bring healthier foods to schools to save the health of America’s next generation.
Photo courtesy of Oliver’s official website.
focus
7
Nutritional breakdown of foods Breakfast: General Mills Pastry Frudel
January 19th
210 calories, 6 grams of fat, 280 mg of sodium, 5 grams of protein, 11 grams of sugar
Cherry Pastry Frudel Orange Juice Milk
170 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 280 mg of sodium, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of sugar
Kellogg’s Cinnamon Nutrigrain Eggo Waffles
* These nutritional pieces of data are approxiamated from MyPlate on livestrong.com.
Beyond an apple a day keeps the doctor away Every day, teens need to consume the right stuff to stay healthy and fit.
2 cups of fruit
5 1/2 ounces of protein
2 1/2 cups of vegetables
3 cups of dairy
8
focus
Illustrations by Brett Brown
The Lakewood Times
offered throughout the month Lunch:
January 25th Hot Dog/Bun Baked Beans Carrots and Peas Mandarin Oranges Milk
GFS Hot Dog
Heinz Baked Beans 239 calories, .9 grams of fat, 871 mg of sodium, 12.1 grams of protein, 20.2 grams of sugar
Dairymen’s Chocolate Milk
GFS Bun 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 200 mg of sodium, 4 grams of protein
300 calories, 16 grams of fat, 620 mg of sodium, 12 grams of protein, 50 grams of cholesterol
GFS Macaroni and Cheese Hungry Howies Pizza: Pepperoni and Cheese
140 calories, 13 grams of fat, 5 gram of protein
191 calories, 5.8 grams of fat, 11 grams of sodium, 450 mg sodium, 16 grams of cholesterol
220 calories, 8 grams of fat, 35 grams of cholesterol, 8 grams of protein, 27 grams of sugar
GFS Dinner Roll 90 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 188 mg of sodium, 3 grams of protein
Heinz BBQ Sauce 25 calories, 350 mg of sodium Tyson Chicken Nuggets 270 calories, 17 grams of fat, 40 grams of cholesterol, 470 mg of sodium, 14 grams of protein
Photo taken by Khalil Cormier.
December 2011
GFS Mixed Vegetables 70 calories, 60 mg of sodium, 2 grams of protein
focus
9
County removes 2nd grader from home By Brandy Davis
In September, a debate was sparked on whether or not an 8-yearold (now 9) Cleveland Heights boy should have been taken away from his family and put into a foster home. He weighed more than 200 lbs. His mother had already been warned about his weight 20 months prior to this situation and the County Case Workers felt as if she wasn’t doing a good enough job with helping him maintain a healthier weight, so they decided to take him away. The mother was in compliance with some of the things she was told to do by his doctors in order to help her son become healthier, such as making sure his breathing machine was being monitored after he was diagnosed with sleep apnea, but ever since he was taken away from his mother, his breathing machine was not being used or monitored by his doctors. Government growth charts say most boys his age weigh about 60 lbs. They took him away because his health was at risk and he could encounter diseases such as Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Recent news reports say he was taken from the foster care and put with his uncle in Columbus to live there until at least February,
and that’s when the judge will review the case. His mom will have unrestricted visitation with him and he got to spend a week with her at Christmas. Since he’s been living with his uncle, he now weighs 192 lbs. He weighed a little over 200lbs when the county removed him from his home in mid-October. The question that’s being asked is whether the County made a wise decision by taking this 9-year-old boy away from him family or if they shouldn’t have. “The case generated international attention after it was reported in the Plain Dealer as the first time that anyone could recall a child in the state being removed from a parent because of health concerns related to obesity. The child has been an honor roll student and there were no allegations of neglect or abuse other than his obesity.” –Rachel Dissel of The Plain Dealer James Hardiman, the legal director for the Ohio ACLU said that the group’s intent was to get the boy out of the county’s custody. “Obviously, we would have preferred he go home with his mother,” Hardiman told The Plain Dealer.”However, recognizing that the judge was going to be somewhat cautious, the backup plan was to have [the boy] in the care of relatives.”
According to childhealthdata.org: *Ohio ranks 37th in overall prevalence with 33.3% of children considered either overweight or obese. *The Ohio prevalence of overweight and obese children has risen since 2003. *According to the 2008 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS), which assesses weight status of children from low-income families participating in WIC, 28.0% of low-income children age 2-5 are overweight or obese in Ohio.
10 news
The Lakewood Times
U.S citizenship for Lakewood Teacher By Ally Zingale
In 2003 when Andre Bruwer received the okay to pack up his belongings and head over to the United States, he felt excited beyond belief because from that moment on he knew his life would be different. His life IS different-- just a few months ago Bruwer a native South African became a U.S. Citizen. “We decided that getting a citizenship would be a lot easier than getting our Green Cards plus our passports and working visas renewed every few years, because they would have to go back to South Africa and it would just be a big mess,” says Bruwer. In order to become a citizen of the United States you have to take a test proving your knowledge of U.S. History. When you sign up or apply for your citizenship you’re handed a book of 100 questions about U.S. history and government that they ask on the test. Even though you’re given 100 questions to know, they only ask you ten on the test. You also have to take an English speaking, reading, and writing test along with the History test. When you get approved for citizenship you have to go in to get your picture taken and finger prints put on record. Your picture and finger prints are kept and used to conduct a background check. Finger printing and pictures are mandatory and so are background checks, to make sure that by making you a citizen they aren’t putting the country, or its citizens, in danger. It’s normal procedure. After you’ve passed your citizenship test, you turn in your Green Card. To some people turning in their Green Cards is a hard thing to do. “My Green Card was like my security blanky, I always had it with me everywhere I went, keeping it close for ‘protection’
December 2011
in case anything happened. Giving it up was difficult because it was the only thing saying I am allowed to be in this country. Now all I have is a certificate saying I passed my test,” said Bruwer. Bruwer had an interesting way of studying. He brought the question book everywhere with him, even to rugby practice and quizzed the girls on it. For every question they answered wrong the team had to run a lap. It was a good way of studying for Bruwer because he was learning the answers to the questions by hearing the answers over and over, plus it gave the girls some good conditioning as well as brushing up on simple history facts. When the time came to take the test that would determine if he could become a citizen or not, he was nervous. But he honestly had little to zero reason to be. Since Bruwer’s been able to speak English his whole life, the English speaking, writing and reading part must have been a piece of cake. The rugby team helped him with the history and government portion of the test at practices which helped him. Bruwer passed his test, and is now a proud citizen of the United States. An easy test this was, but others have been difficult for him, like his driving test. “When I took my driver’s test I answered the questions I knew and left the rest blank, I passed. After I was driving and had my blinker on to turn right, the light was red so I waited. A cop pulled me over and asked for my license, I gave it to him and said I just got my license. Now I know you’re allowed to turn right on red.” says Bruwer of a ‘foreign moment’.
“I went out to eat with my wife one time, and the waitress came by and refilled my soda. I told her I wasn’t paying for the refill because I didn’t ask for one; I was shocked when she
2. Get Fingerprinted Receive an acknowledgement letter from the USCIS that they received your application Go to the fingerprinting location specified in the letter from the USCIS on the scheduled date and time to get your fingerprints taken Send any additional documents to the USCIS that they may have 4. Take the Oath to Become a U.S. Citizen Receive a ceremony date letter from the USCIS Check in at the ceremony location specified in the letter from the USCIS on the scheduled date and time Return your Permanent Resident Card Answer questions about what you have done since your interview Take the Oath of Allegiance Receive your Certificate of Naturalization
told me refills are free because Submit Youryou Complete in 1. South Africa have toAppay forplication each refill. Another time I went to the movies with my Complete and print your U.S. brother whoapplication was visiting Citizenship form and on told him to go buy one large Immigration Direct popcorn andcustomized soda to share inFollow our filing instructions to: larges for each stead of buying approved passport-at of Obtain us. Hetwo didn’t understand sized first, butphotos after he bought them all required supporting heCollect understood.” documents Ensure each of these documents is properly completed and/or translated Mail your application package to the correct USCIS location
3. Attend USCIS Interview & Take Tests Receive an interview appointment letter from the USCIS Go to the interview location specified in the letter from the USCIS on the scheduled date and time for the interview Bring identification and any additional documents that the USCIS may have requested in the letter Answer interview questions about your application and background Take the English & Civics Tests (Receive the 100 sample questions and answers FREE when you purchase our service!) Await a decision from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services
news
11
The Laramie Project :
By Sabrina Suleiman
Gay rights has always been a sensitive topic. Each state contains it’s own level of sensitivity. On October 12 in 1998 Matthew Shepard was beaten brutally and left to die tied to a fence. At age 21 he died, while in a coma. The reason he was beaten was because he was “gay”. The tragedy took place in Laramie Wyoming, where protests followed Shepard’s death. An outrage broke out about gay rights. Lakewood High’s drama club director David Gannon directed this play in 2003. He was recognized for being the first to direct the play live in front of an audience. The play is now being reenacted in a modern version, more precisely ten years later. This play was founded by the Tectonic Theatre project, where they researched the whole murder scene and interviewed the criminals, Shepard’s family and friends. Then they act out what the city is like 10 years later and how this incident affected the community. According to the Laramie Project website, the play is based
on more than 400 interviews with about 100 Laramie residents, as well as journal entries from the members of Tectonic Theater Project and Moises Kaufman (writer and director), as they reflect on their own reactions to the crime and to the interviews they carried out. Structured as a documentary, it attempts to reenact the events that occurred on that fateful night. The drama club will be portraying what Laramie, Wyoming looks now and how that impact has affected the community as a whole. “The point is to look back on our history and see how much of an impact death affects a supposedly quiet state like this one, to see what changed.” said Gannon. The play takes a different angle. The audience is to watch for the little changes homophobia can cause. Ten years later and there are people changing the facts, denying this even happened. Stories are being changed into lies, fibs that aren’t even believable. “You want people to see the cruelty, and see that something like this can make a change.” Gannon said.
Will Crosby and Dylan Jakaopak take on the stage. Photos by Sabrina Suleiman
12 news
The Lakewood Times
10 years later
Will Crosby getting into character
When? 8 pm January 26th, 27th, 28th
December 2011
......................
Where? LHS Tryout Theater
Dylan Jakaopak and ..................
How? Advance tickets $3 & door sale $5
news
13
Charity begins By Becca Houp
People give money, some people give clothes or food, but Luma Mufleh donates her time and effort to the less fortunate. On Tuesday, December 6th, Garfield’s small gym was packed with middle and high schools students, teachers and parents all waiting to hear the featured speaker. Luma Mufleh is a coach of the children’s Fugees soccer team, short for refugees. Her players are an inspiration to her and she learns new things from them every day as she teaches. Luma Mufleh grew up in Jordan and lived as a Muslim like the rest of her family. She led a very privileged life. Luma’s great grandfathers were self-made millionaires, and her family continued to reap the benefits. Luma grew up with maids, butlers, chauffeurs and nannies. She attended private schools because her parents wanted her to have the best education so she could pick a promising career and make them proud. She attended British-American schools and she learned to count to 10 in 6 different languages, as well as swear in them. Grades were so important to her parent, she was once even grounded for a month for receiving a “C”. Luma was always close to her grandmother, and when Luma was young, around holidays or birthdays, she and her grandmother would play the wishing game. It wasn’t exactly a game, but Luma would ask her grandmother if she could have one wish in the world and have it come true, what would it be? Her grandmother would ask the same of her. Yet when Luma asked her grandmother, her wish was always the same: for everyone to have clean drinking water. Because Luma never really thought about something like that, she never understood why her grandmother would make such a dumb wish. Why would she waste her wish on something like that? When Luma was 16, her family took a trip to Thailand. She thought it was beautiful and enjoyed taking rides on the boats. But one boat ride changed her outlook on many things. Passing some locals, she witnessed the poverty that people lived in. She saw children and families washing their teeth and clothes in filthy water. It was then when she realized what her grandmother’s wish meant. There were many less fortunate than she, and she started noticing what
14 news
Junior Bilal Shah asks Mufleh questions. All photos by Victoria Chesmar.
she could do about it. In 1997, Luma attended college in the United States. She opened a small café in Atlanta, Georgia shortly after, and her family did not approve. They would ask her things like, “Is this really what you want to do with your life?” or “What am I going to tell my friends you do?” Luma was content at the time with what she was doing, although she felt she was still looking for something more. One day, Luma traveled a familiar path to a grocery store that she frequented. She claims fate took a turn for her on this day. Luma had taken the same path to the store many times, and for some reason, she missed a turn and had to go back around, and she found herself on a side of town in Atlanta she had never been to. She came across some boys playing soccer in an apartment complex. She sat and watched them for quite some time. Luma came back the next day and approached them. She brought her new soccer ball, and they asked if they could play with it. Luma argued under one conditionshe wanted to play, too. The boys had to do some deliberating, and they reluctantly said yes. Luma returned to play with these boys several times a week. She would put them in her small car, and go around the
neighborhood trying to recruit new players. Luma’s goal was to recruit enough for a team so they could play more often. When more kids started to show up at the park to practice and play soccer, Luma realized the variety of children around her. There were boys from Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The languages among the group were very colorful. Luma started an “English only” rule. She wanted the children to know that they should appreciate their culture, but they would never be successful in America unless they began to speak English. Luma tried to coach all the kids individually but she did not always know their names at first. One day, Luma was trying to get a player’s attention, but she didn’t now his name. She asked another boy what his name was, and the boy replied, “Oh him? That’s ‘One Shoe’.” Luma was puzzled. One Shoe? she thought, what the heck kind of name is one shoe? The boy got his name because he showed up to every practice only wearing one shoe. One day after practice, Luma noticed One Shoe was holding his stomach. “What’s wrong?” she asked him. “I’m hungry,” he replied. She thought it was an attempt for him to make her get him fast food. “You can eat
The Lakewood Times
on the soccer field at home, there must be something you can eat there,” Luma answered. “It’s the end of the month, there is no food.” Luma then realized the situation her player was dealing with. She took One Shoe home and searched his home for some kind of food, but there was nothing to be found. She found his mother in a corner crying, saying that she worked so hard, and she still couldn’t provide for her family. Luma became closer to the families of the players, trying to help them with any financial instabilities that she could. She closed her café 7 months later, and began a cleaning business where she hired the families of her players. Even with the progress she was making with the families, the team still had some barriers they were unable to break. They noticed their differences and thought it set them apart. During stretching one day, Luma had them go around in a circle and state their favorite food. Pizza and hamburgers were very common. But when it was Luma’s turn, she said that her favorite food was Mensa. It was a dish that she ate in Jordan, and it was eaten with your hands. Another boy from Afghanistan admitted he had a favorite dish that his family ate with their hands. More of the children started to open up
Mufleh speaks to her audience in Garfield’s gym.
December 2011
about their backgrounds and cultures. Many of the children had single mothers, and fathers that were in war back home. She was getting closer to her players, but they still didn’t know if they could listen to a female coach. How could a girl be good at soccer? Luma needed to gain respect from her players and wanted them to have faith in her ability as a coach. She picked a boy that thought he could out-play her and put him in the goalie position. He grinned and said, “You’ll never kick past me.” Luma kicked off her shoes, and booted the ball right past him and into the goal. The boys looked at her in dismay, and the goalie turned red. Luma then learned she should always lead by example. She taught her players not to be ashamed of their accents, or the fact that they didn’t have fathers. She wanted them to be proud of who they were and appreciate being unique. Luma recalls how she almost became a lawyer, and she claimed she could never do it. She said she could never do it because she wouldn’t be able to get to the field by 5:00 on weeknights and wouldn’t have time to go to games. Luma loves coaching and claims it is the best decision she ever made. Two summers ago, Luma began a nonprofit cleaning business that would employ the families of her players. The business started out very slow, but with a little patience and work, the business became stable enough, and she passed the business down to her employees. She claims she trusts them with the business, “they know what they’re doing.” Mufleh explained her definition of an MVP. At the end of every game, the award of MVP, or most valuable play-
Senior Annalisa Perez presents Luma Mufleh with a gift bag.
er of the match is awarded. She claims that the MVP has to be the one who stands out by stepping up, gives more than 100%, stays positive throughout the game and uses their full potential. Luma claims it is important to consider these things because it might not always be the most talented, fastest or strongest player, but the one who has the most heart and dedication for the game. Over time, Luma realized the importance of education for her team and others like them. She established a small school for refugees to learn in an environment that would be conducive to their learning. Luma went on to describe the situation she wants for the refugees who attend the Fugees Academy. She wants all of her players to receive a quality education. The academy is not very large. As of right now it holds only about
news
15
FACEOFF
By Victoria Chesmar
If you pick one, then you must pick them all. An 8 year old boy from Cleveland Heights was taken away from his home by Family Services because of his weight. The boy weighs over 200 pounds and is currently living with a foster family. The case of the overweight child has been going on for a few years. Before the child was taken away, he began to lose weight for a little while until kids from his school and his siblings were sneaking extra food for him. So he rapidly began to gain weight again. The mother tried her best to keep track of her son’s diet and exercise. I don’t think it’s fair for the mother to receive complete fault for her son’s weight issue. People need to understand that there are other reasons why he was taken away. According to The Cleveland Plain Dealer the mother said, “They are trying to make it seem like I am unfit, like I don’t love my child.” The mother set her son up to join a program at Rainbow hospital program for kids and families. According to Rainbow Hospital they has evaluated more than 900 overweight and an obese child from age’s 4-8. So out of all those 900 kids why was THIS boy selected to be removed from his family? If you pick one than you have to pick all of them. “Of course I love him. Of course I want him to lose weight. It’s a lifestyle change,
and they are trying to make it seem like I am not embracing that. It is very hard, but I am trying.” I don’t believe that the child had enough courage at home but I do believe that mother had hope for him. The boy should have not been taken away from his family because of how much he weighs. I don’t think an 8 year old can handle being away from his family and try to lose weight on his own. It’s difficult to lose weight and I’m only 17 years old. Imagine that for an 8 year old. According to The Plain Dealer, the boy was involved with after school activities and earned honor roll and he had lots of friends at school. I’m sure the boy was happy where he lived but when you take something away from him that makes him happy then you’re destroying his self esteem and his life. How is this child supposed to lose weight when he’s clearly unhappy? If I were the boy all I would want to do is cry and eat a bag of Oreos. The only way I see the boy losing weight is if gets the opportunity to go back home. It actually makes me mad how other people can take control of someone else’s pride and joy. Whatever happened to minding your own business? It’s not like the mother was neglecting him or forcing him to eat fattening foods. If the child wants to weigh 200 pounds and understands the consequences then let it be. I don’t think
that a parent should force their child to play a sport just to be fit, only if the child wants to. There are other ways to stay fit. People may think that the removal of the boy was for the best but what about his decision? Yeah, he’s an 8 year old but I’m sure he can handle this decision. It’s not like he’s choosing which parent to live with during a divorce, now that’s harsh. I don’t care what child services say about the boy and his family, it’s not their responsibility to take care of the child. It’s the mother’s responsibility. If the mother wants to raise their child like that then let
them. I believe that the should stay home with family and deal with ality. If you want to weight 40 pounds or pounds that’s your choice because your life, not worlds.
boy h i s re200 i t ’s the
What are the health effects of being overweight or obese? Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of: Heart disease Stroke Type 2 diabetes High blood pressure Breathing problems Arthritis Gallbladder disease
16 opinion
Art by Casey Miller Information courtesy of womenshealth.org
The Lakewood Times
Should a 200 lb, 8 year old boy be taken away from his family due to his weight? By Brandon Reed
Recently a 200 pound eight year old was taken from his parents by the county and put in foster care. The third grader is seriously overweight to the point where his health is in jeapordy. He is being raised by a single mother and has 2 siblings. At present, approximately nine million children over 6 years of age are considered obese. His weight for his age is unacceptable and has to be dealt with to get his weight under control. The county says that the mother wasn’t doing enough to help get his weight down and they are right. To get his weight down the county has to give this kid all around care and monitoring so he doesn’t gain any more but lose considerably. Once the child gets to his
who should be trained in how to keep his weight down with healthy food and exercise. He needs to be in the care of doctors and physicans because they can tend to his needs that his family couldn’t. With his friends feeding him snacks he needs a break from his family because would you rather lose weight and become healthier or have your health get worse and worse with your family? If the county wants to get his weight down then they have to have this child on a diet and workout sessions every week a couple times a day for maximum effort and in a reasonable time so he can return back to
to his goal. This is the way things should be done. To make him feel more at home the county can put him with other kids so that he’s not lonely while losing weight and he can have fun while doing it to.
Ways to exercise Bicycling A person weighing 160 lbs. who rides a bicycle at a leisurely pace of less than 10 miles per hour will burn approximately 292 calories in an hour. Hilly terrain and greater intensity of bicycling will ultimately burn more calories and help an obese child reach a healthy body weight.
Swimming
weight goal or comes significantly close then he could return to his mother
his family and friends. The county can keep him in foster care while the foster parents or people from county reguhis checkand keep track to
If your child weighs close to 160 lbs., he might burn more than 500 calories in an hour by swimming laps in a pool. t h e late u p s him on getting
Hiking An hour-long hike burns nearly 440 calories for a 160-lb. person
Sports An hour-long game of football, basketball or tennis burns more than 580 calories for a 160 lb. person, while a softball or baseball game of the same duration burns 365 calories. For your own calorie burned calculator visit http://www. healthstatus.com/calculate/ cbc
December 2011
Information courtesy of Livestrong.com
opinion
17
Diplomat brings the noise By Khalil Cormier
Residents of Lakewood may have noticed an increase in creative minds and talents. Kids are growing up and becoming adults, choosing their lives and making decisions. They’re teaching themselves the things they need to know if they’re going to live the way they want to on their own. A highlight of this progression is a very loud and growing band named Diplomat. Peter Quigley (Junior), Jacob Kirkwood (Senior), and Bram Myers (Senior) take the show with their intricate chord progressions, intense noises, and immense vibes that are one in a million. Not to mention the amazing talent and experience each player has. Jacob (a.k.a. Cob) has been playing drums for 8 years, Peter on the guitar for 9 years, and Bram with the bass for 5 years. But the experience isn’t the source of their
sound - it’s the diversity of style and how they mix. Each band member also writes music on their own and each has their distinct taste. Cob is influenced by Animal Collective which can be heard in his own music. But his drumming takes influence from a band named Tortoise, a very rhythmic jazz fusion based band. “I really like the classic jazz drummers, like the cats who played with Coltrane and Davis. I kind of like mixing the subtle detail of jazz with the power of punk rock drumming with some latin and African influences as well,” said Cob. Cob still does his solo stuff, playing it live at the Root’s “open mic nights”, an open night when any one can sign up to play something. He also opens up with it for shows before he plays with Diplomat.
The band laughs it up after a good joke and a good practice
18 opinion
To explain it a little, Cob has a sampler, a device that can store and play prerecorded or sampled sounds and alter them in ways to create a looped pattern. Cob also sings through a mixer, where he can alter the sound of his voice, and from time to time he’ll use pieces from his drum set to add simple (or rather complex) rhythms. Cob is also in another band called “Nonneaut”, consisting of Fransisco Malina, Khlalil Cormier, and Lakewood alumni Wilson Sackett. They and Diplomat often play shows together. Quigley is a fan of indie rock and punk rock, punk rock being his favorite. He writes his own music on acoustic guitar, and usually ends up with very traditional indie pop-orientated songs. He recently stopped playing his own music to focus on Diplomat. “I’ve been taking a nice long break, I was doing stuff last year by myself since I wasn’t with a group, but now that I’m with Diplomat I like to focus on that.” said Quigley. His favorite band is Deerhunter, he likes them for the mix of punk rock, experimentation with samples and loops, and pop melodies. “I also listen to a lot of older stuff, I like a lot of Velvet Underground, the Beatles, and stuff like that. And recently I’ve been getting into Elliot Smith.” said Quigley. He has also been seen to play with a screwdriver during shows. “I listen to a lot of music that most people wouldn’t really want to stomach.” Myers is the modern side of the band, a huge fan of glitch electronica and dubstep, two rising music genres. He’s in it for the intricate patterns and the relationship to visual arts, not surprising since he is one of the highly accredited visual art students at Lakewood High. “I submitted a piece to the Scholastic art competition and it could possibly be on display in New York very soon,” said Myers. “What I love about humans is the ability to deliberate and to be decisive and to not succumb to the animal instinct of listening to a pop tune and enjoying it thoroughly.
The Lakewood Times
Although there’s nothing wrong with that, I worship music in general, but I really like abstract and self conscious music,” said Myers. Although he has a huge interest in the modern music he also has a taste for classical music and in general has an appreciation for all music. Myers’ most interesting contribution to the band is his bass playing, where he usually plays in the highest register of the bass. “I play through guitar amps, and in extremely high registers for the instrument. My ‘style’ was basically born out of the fact that I was never able to afford bass amplifiers,” said Myers. Sometimes his bass playing is so incredibly similar to that of a guitar it’s easy to miss the bass completely. His bass is a jazz bass. It has extra frets so it can be played higher, very fitting for his style. His main influence for playing is Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. “I take more influence from guitarists like Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine, and Thurston Moore alongside Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth. Really I admire any musician brave enough to approach his craft from a distinctly nonmusical direction,” said Myers. The band will be competing in this year’s high school Rock Off at the House of Blues. This is a large opportunity for all bands as it is very cheap to compete and is in a well known area with a decent reputation. “I
Myers and his bass indulge in musical conversation
A cello bow rests on a set of bells Myers and Quigley break out in song
Cob contemplates his existence
December 2011
Myers and Quigley take a break.
8
The audience
opinion
19
The Doghouse becomes a By Brandy Davis
When you think of the word “hotdog”, what comes to mind? Is it something that gets your mouth watery and your taste buds jumping? Well, if you’re talking about The Doghouse, which makes one of the best kinds of hotdogs, you might be able to relate. Larry & Addie Gipson are the owners of The Doghouse. They are originally from Chicago, but moved to Cleveland 17 years ago, to start their hot dog businesses, which are located on the west side (LakeThe best part about The Doghouse is that you get to put your own toppings on your dog. “I enjoy eating at The Doghouse. One of my favorite things to get is the Polish Boy”, said Crystal Williams a senior. “I became a fan after “Free Hotdog Mondays” and ever since, I’ve been going every Monday”, said Jessica Harrison, senior. Your choice of toppings include: Ketchup, mustard, Relish, Onion, Mayo,
If you like what you see, check out The Doghouse at 14877 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107. Or call at (216) 221-9781.
Chicago Style dog-Relish, Onion, Tomato, Pickle, Mustard, Peppers, Dash of Celery Salt
Cincinnati dog-Cheese, Onion, Chili, Mustard New York dog-Brown Mustard, Sauerkraut, Polish Sausage Polish Boy- Coleslaw, Fries, BBQ Sauce Super Polish Boy-Chili, Coleslaw, Fries, BBQ Sauce Houston dog-Pepper, Cheese, Relish, Chili Long Island dog- Ketchup, Onion, Slaw All American- Mustard, Ketchup, Pickle, Onion North Carolina-Mustard, Onion, Chili, Slaw Conventry or Detroit dog- Ketchup, Mustard, Onion, Pickle, Cheese Cleveland Heights or Lakewood dog- Cheese, Onion, Chili Tri C- Cheese, Chili, Cheese John Carroll- Onion Ring, Chili, Pepper, Cheese, Hot Pepper Tomato, Pepper, Pickles, BBQ Sauce,
The top 2 dogs ordered are: Cheese, Chili, Coleslaw, Bacon, Sauerkraut
1
2
Chicago Style Hot Dog-Decorated Chicago Style Italian Beef-Always with more junk than a Brown’s fan’s trailer: onion, tomato, pickle, pepper, mustard, relish, celery, salt all on a poppy seed bun.
made with Prime Cut Italian cooked in au just until it takes on the tenderness of pudding, then loaded onto a steak bun and smothered with hot or mild pepper.
Art by Casey Miller
20 lkwd life
The Lakewood Times
hot commodity
The locations and numbers of both Doghouses in Ohio.
The “Chicago Style Hot Dog� is the most popular hot dog ordered at The Doghouse.
December 2011
lkwd life
21
PopQuiz: By Gwen Stephen
All-nighters, religiously reading books and noisy work environments are all related to a student’s study regimen. There are numerous ways to study for every test, from a math quiz, to midterms, and standardized testing. Simple routine breakfasts or even changing the room in which you study can help improve scores. It was reported in The Wall Street Journal in October 2011 that test preparation is most successful when repeatedly testing and quizzing yourself, rather than just reading the book and or notes over and over. Testing yourself makes you more aware of test material, surprise questions, test format and pacing. Dan Taylor, director of a sleep and health research lab at the University of North Texas, said to study the hardest and most significant material right before you go to bed. This triggers your memory to capture the information in the brain while sleeping. Before going to bed, “you want to review your notes really quickly, and then go to sleep,” said psychology teacher, Mrs. Scheer. “It allows you to try to consolidate or to create that physical memory.” Research shows that waking up to study for an exam early in the morning interrupts rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and can
“Memory Palace”
According to AcademicTips.com, this technique is easy, effective and powerful. To begin imagine a well known room, such as your kitchen or bedroom. The subjects you are trying to remember will be associated with the objects in the room you already know. Imagine the object in the room, such as where the TV, lamp, couch, shelves, table, and fireplace are, etc. The website gave an example of remembering WWI poets, such as Robert Brooke. To remember the name Robert Brooke, the author of the article on the website said he could visualize walking into his living room. He would imagine his table in the room, and on top of the table, RUPERT the bear sits on top of a trickling BROOK. This then reminds him of the name. The idea is to create abnormal objects and ideas in a place that you remember every part about, in order to sustain the
22 lkwd life
How to study
in fact prevent you from taking in every piece of information. Scheer said that in order to properly store the memory it takes about two hours, which is why sleep is important in the study process. Another important reminder is that an all-nighter can disrupt cognitive thinking throughout the rest of your day. A study held in 2008 at St. Lawrence University proved that sleep-deprivation due to studying impairs the student’s logical reasoning and memory for up to four whole days. This shows that multiple tests in one week and late-night study sessions can cause interruption of a normal sleep pattern and alertness for weeks. There are many tactics to boost memory. One that is commonly used among students without even realizing it is the “Memory Palace” technique, or the “Roman Room.” This creates interesting and unforgettable ways to remember just about everything. The technique is used for subjects such as memorizing equations to speeches, to even 20 decks of shuffled cards in order. The technique allows the studier to derive meaning from mnemonics for various subjects by using visuals imagined in a house or building. Caffeine also promotes memory, said Scheer. “I always tell kids to study with a cup of coffee, or a can of Pepsi.” “Caffeine is a neural stimulant. When you are creating memories, you’re creating protein molecules. If you speed up the rate at which your neurons fire you will create more of the protein that holds the memories. So, you actually just have more of the biological substance that creates the memories,” she said.
Auditory Learners: Those who retain the most information by listening or talking, are auditory learners. They relate information back to lectures and explanations given the teacher itself rather than the book or notes. Visual Learners: These learners are benefitted by handouts of graphs, or by visualizing
Peppermint is also said to “create alertness,” said Scheer. Which is why many test sites and teachers provide test-takers with mints before the test. Limiting distractions is also important while studying. Limiting electrical devices such as TV, iPods, phones, and computers will ensure a greater success of memorizing subjects. The Wall Street Journal also mentioned that Trinity College assistant professor of psychology, Nicole Dudukovic, researched students’ memory. They were to remember 100 pictures of different things and place them into categories. Half of the students were subjected to various sounds and rhythms. The students were to remember what the pictures were and the categories they were in. Dudukovic proved that the students who were not subject to the sounds did better on memorizing the photos and categories. As she said to the Denver Post, “the sounds may make them feel more relaxed, [but] they won’t help them ace the test.” On the contrary, recent research published on HealthCareColleges.net, by the Stanford School of Medicine, claims that 18th-century styled and instrumental chamber music activates areas of the brain that are tied to making predictions, storing memories, and staying alert. Senior Jalyn Marcott believes that “[music] helps [her] relax and that enables [her] to concentrate better” when studying. Another part of studying and test taking that seems like a fluff, but certainly is not, is eating breakfast. According to pediatrician, Dr. William Sears on Livestrong.com, breakfast benefits one’s performance in school much more than those who skip the meal. Foods that are high in fiber, and carbs that are slow-digesting are wor the best choice. pictures or numbers, even drawn on Food, suchThese as oatmeal, a stable the board. learnerssupplies remember the information by visualizing what was written or drawn during notes, on tests. Kinaesthic Learners: These learners understand concepts and ideas while performing them. By doing what they are learning, these types of learners benefit from physically performing the lesson. Tactile Learners: The learners of this kind are under-
The Lakewood Times
Need for speed: biking
By Maddy Kane
Felts shows his passion for BMX with a lop tattoo.
All photos taken by Maddy Kane
The smell of dirt fills the air. Engines are revving. Beads of sweat roll down the crowd’s face. The gun goes off. The fans are yelling. The movement around the track hypnotizes them. The eyes of the adults and children radiate brighter than the stadium lights. Lap 1. Lap 2. Lap 3. The winner. No one hangs their head in disappointment because what they just saw is still sending shivers down their spine. Motocross, the mother of BMX. A Schwinn Stingray and kids’ imaginations were all it took to create Bicycle Motocross. In the early 1970’s in California kids took Stingray bicycles and used them to imitate their Motocross heroes. This inspired bikers all over the nation to jump on their bikes to try to master new stunts and tricks. In the mid 70’s BMX-specific bikes began to emerge. As bikes got lighter and easier to use for technical and advanced tricks, biking rode to the streets and off of the dirt tracks. BMX has evolved over the years in ways that no one could have imagined. Magazines and You Tube help spread news about BMX like never before. This alternative sport is growing and can be seen all over the world, including the students of Lakewood. “Eighth grade year, after I started biking, I would come home from school and bike until 11 o’clock or later every night,” said junior Jake Felts. He was thirteen when he first heard about biking and is still gripped by the intensity of the sport. Risks of injuries may decrease the desire to do BMX for some people, but not for Felts. “ One summer between 8th and 9th grade, I couldn’t stand up without using my arms because my knees hurt so bad from smashing my knee caps over and over again.” Along with this, Felts has busted his face open from hitting it against his handlebars.
“ The day I can’t physically ride a bike anymore is the day I will stop biking.”
December 2011
lkwd life
23
becomes a way of life “I love everything about [BMX] even if you aren’t doing tricks, you get out, you get exercise, and you meet new people. I can’t even count how many people I’ve met through BMX,” said Felts. The fact that he could end up in the hospital from broken bones or smashed teeth could never influence him not to ride. “It comes naturally once you start riding,” Felts said. When he started the sport Felts said, “I had about six months of trial and error.” The skills and patience it takes to do BMX definitely evolves with time. It took Felts three and a half dedicated years to master a “foot jam tail whip.” This was one of his favorite stunts he ever learned because of the time he put into it. “I watched other people doing tricks and I knew I wanted to do it,” said Felts. After whipping out a calculator and punching
in numbers, Jake calculated that he has spent over $5,000 dollars on parts for custom bikes alone. “The freedom you get on a bike I feel you just can’t get with any other sport,” Jake said. The excitement that radiates off of Felts, even when he’s just talking about BMX, is outrageous. “ As you get better, and learn more and more stuff you get excited and it just sucks you in.” Along with the knowledge of tricks and stunts, Jake and other skaters learn mechanics through the process of BMX. “I think I was always mechanically-inclined but BMX definitely pushed me to want to go into auto. You are constantly taking things apart and putting them back together,” Felts said. This biker’s favorite place to ride is RAY’S
Indoor Skate Park. “ [ Ray’s] is the best , you can’t beat it. It feels like you are riding street, and there is just so many things you can do there.” Felts said. “ Lakewood is extremely unsupportive of bikers, they don’t have a place for us to ride. We aren’t allowed at the skate park, then the police yell at us for riding street too,” said Felts.
The boys of BMX
Vinnie Berardi “ It’s a whole montage of failure,” said Vinnie Berardi recalling his early years of biking. A rough start to BMX didn’t stop him. This LHS student has been biking for three years. “My favorite part about biking is meeting new people,” Vinnie said with no hesitation. His favorite place to bike is RAY’S MTB (indoor skate park), located in Cleveland. “ It feels like you’re street skating,” Berardi said. This passionate biker plans on sticking with biking for many years to come. “ I can’t just grow out of it, it’s a big part of my life.”
24 lkwd life
Michael Todaro Michael Todaro, a senior at Lakewood, got into biking this summer through close friends and hasn’t let go of the handlebars since. “ I realized how much fun BMX was so I decided to give it a try,” said Todaro, a previous skateboarder. When the weather permits, Todaro bikes five out of seven days of the week. “Riding in Rocky River down Detroit is my favorite place,” Todaro said. “ If you can picture ways to do tricks in your head, if you are imaginative, there are so many things you can do.”
Bryan Keenan Senior Bryan Keenan got hooked on BMX two years ago. “ I saw my friends doing tricks and it looked like so much fun, that’s when I knew I wanted to try it,” said Keenan. Although work occasionally gets in the way of biking, Keenan bikes everyday it’s nice outside. “[BMX] has more of a rush than other sports, and my close friends do it,” Keenan said. He plans on keeping BMX as hobby for life.
The Lakewood Times
Felts catches air going over a “spine.”
Jake is ready to ride.
Felts picks up speed.
December 2011
Jake flies up the ramp at RAYS and perfectly performs a “tire tap.”
A glimpse into RAYS Indoor Skatepark.
lkwd life
25
Hat fashion for bros By Dylan Dom-
As the sky becomes darker and the temperature keeps dropping, people everywhere are running around their house to find a hat to keep their head warm. It’s easier for girls because they worry about messing up their hair. But for guys, it’s hard to look cool but stay warm while doing it. Every winter, new styles pop up out of nowhere and disappear as quickly as they came. Some hat styles are never out of style and are sometimes worn almost all year round. Hats are reflections of our personalities. They can be loud and vibrant as a multi-colored Mohawk or quiet and subtle like a white beanie. Or if you’re a funny person, you may end up with the beard beanie. Be expressive with your winter “Bro” hats this winter season! Here are some fashionable “bro” hats that will keep your head warm during the dark days of winter. So don’t wear your snapback and think you’re cool when its negative 3 degrees with wind chill.
Junior Aaron Kovach gets ready to leave the Mods into the cold with his Russian Hat.
The Russian Hat or the Ushanka: The Russian hat has some similar qualities to the Bomber Hat, but it is a completely different hat. Ushanka literally means “ear hat” in Russian. The Ushanka is made up of a thick and dense fur that protects the head from blunt impacts to the head. This would be a good hat for skiers and snowboarders because of the better protection than the Beanie, but it is never The Flat Cap or the Newspaper Boy Hat :The Flat Cap is like a baseball hat, but the front and back is smashed together. This hat is associated with Scotsmen, cab drivers, and little news boys, screaming out the news. This was even worn by the US Olympic team during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Since the 2008 Olympics, the Flat Cap has been making a comeback all over Europe and in coffee houses too. The Mohawk Hat: This is the hat to look rebellious without shaving your head. Based off the punk hairstyle, the Mohawk hat can be found in a variety of colors and different shapes of Mohawks. Some even have different designs on the side of the head, like skull and crossbones. This is a very comfortable hat and allows you to show off your punk chic.
26 lkwd life
Bial Shah, junior, is showing off how much a Runner he is with his Beanie.
The Beanie: This hat is very popular and can be found anywhere. The beanie hat can have your favorite team logos, rock band, movie, or sometimes even your favorite restaurant. This hat can be fashioned to your favorite interests and can be as extensive as your imagination. The beanie is very popular on college campuses and high schools everywhere. This isn’t the Beanie; it’s
The Lakewood Times
The Bomber Hat or the Aviator Hat: This hat is worn by a lot of people already because it’s warm and also looks casual. Worn by pilots in WWI and WWII, this hat got its popularity from keeping the pilots warm while in the air. Worn regularly, the earflaps hang down to keep your ears warm. When it’s buckled or tied, the hat looks like a Russian hat.
Sophomore Shawn Lopez shows off his Chullo hat.
The Ski Mask or the Balaclava: This hat is infamous for being used in bank robberies and other crimes because it can easily conceal the person’s identity. But besides that, the Balaclava keeps the wearer’s face and neck warm. It can also be rolled up into a hat to cover the crown of the head like a Beanie hat. It’s generally knitted from wool or polar fleece because
The Trilby: A close cousin to the Fedora, but the brim is narrower. This hat is mostly seen in coffee shops around the world and it’s slowly making a comeback. The inside of the Trilby is usually silk and wool to keep the head warm.
The Peruvian Hat or the Chullo- Known for being snug and stylish, this hat is made of alpaca wool, which has the same texture as normal wool. They have earflaps to keep ears hot and can be tied under the chin to keep the wearer’s head insulated. This hat was made popular by snowboarding in the late 2000’s. There are many patterns for the Chullo and, like a snowflake, its pattern is never the same
The Beard Beanie: For those who don’t have the ability to grow a beard or don’t have the time to, this is the perfect hat for you. It comes in many colors and styles, like the Viking beard or the Ginger beard. This is the perfect hat for those who like to
December 2011
The Fedora: The classic hat of Frank Sinatra, Indiana Jones, the Green Hornet, and many other macho men, this hat is the symbol of manliness. The style of the wide brim hat can keep snow out of your eyes and can make you look like a 40s detective or
Photos by Dylan Dombroski
Junior George Mcclellan wonders why everyone doesn’t have a Panda Hat.
lkwd life
27
Peng’s passion for playing
Peng concentrates while playing the violin. Photo courtesy of Nora Varcho.
By Maggy Horn
The strong passion for violin grew within Andy Peng ever since the fifth grade. He picked it up like any other new orchestra student in Lakewood City Schools. However, there’s something different about him than any other LHS violinist. His passion for playing exceeds them all. Peng started with a high school private tudor, much like most 5th grade orchestra students. “I started playing better. He was very motivational and always told me I was doing well and congratulating me on improvement.” This motivation gave Peng a jump-start to greatness. “In 7th grade, I got a new violin and
28 lkwd life
my teacher said it was the best he’d ever seen. I wanted to be a better violinist because of him. His story starts in Lakewood but it does not end in Lakewood. His home is the Civic Auditorium where he has stared in countless concerts. Peng has broadened his horizons to other music groups such as Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, Lakeland Civic Orchestra, weekly private lessons, theory lessons, and of course the Lakewood Orchestras and Lakewood Project. “I feel euphoric and confident up on stage,” said Peng. Great Talent does not come naturally. “The more you do
something, the better you are at it.” Peng explains. The countless practice hours of practice add up, but he enjoys every minute of it. The 7-8 hours a day of practicing are the backbone of a good performance on stage. “Practicing teaches me discipline and time management.” Peng says. In the future Peng has one goal, to be a violinist. He hopes to become a classical musician and a great soloist. All of his hard work pays off. On stage he feels confident that he will give a good show and he always strives for improvement. Not only improvement for himself, but for other peers as well. He tries to make better
musicians out of the students he teaches. Every week, he believes, they should have improved than the last week. “I try to have a positive attitude everyday on my peers and students. Hard work goes along way. “I think anyone can be a good musician. Some have more talent than others but what defines you is your work ethic.” Peng says. “Music is about self expression. It’s about completely loosing yourself in it.” Andy Peng’s passion for violin will take him to great places.
The Lakewood Times
Kovach kicks it on the ice By Mason Gilbert
Dedication, mental and physical toughness, speed, strength, vision and heart. These are all qualities senior hockey player Nick Kovach shows on the ice. Nick is 17 years old and weighs 200 pounds. He stands at 6’2” and he is a defensemen on the ice. Kovach has grown up addicted to hockey, he has played since age three when his dad got him started with skating lessons. He has loved it ever since. “I just want to be as good as my dad was”, said Kovach. His dad played back
when he was younger and was a force to be reckoned with. He had size speed and talent, just like Kovach. Throughout his hockey career, he has seen a lot of success such as winning the state championship in 8th grade with his travel team. Last year he led the team with 20 goals as a junior. His favorite part of the game is winning, as he mentioned this he went on the recollect about he game winning score in the previous season. When he made that goal Ko-
Photo courtesy of Woodard Photography
December 2011
vach said “it felt like Christmas morning when he sees all the presents under the tree”. Kovach leaves it all out on the ice every game. He sacrifices his body for every win. Senior hockey player Brendan Scheel says “ Nick is a train on the ice, either move or get ran over.” Last year Kovach suffered a spleen rupturing blow and refused to come off the ice. He later passed out and had to be taken to the hospital. “Hockey is a dangerous, you just have to go out and do what has to be
8
done.” Kovach says. Nick plans to play Juniors which is a league for adults in their twenties. Kovach hopes to get recruited by a division 1 college. Nick is most interested in going to Miami of Ohio University to play at the collegiate level and maybe go to the NHL someday. Nick knows one thing, and that it’s going to take dedication, devotion and passion to make his dreams come true.
lkwd life
29
Speed skating to the max
By Evelyn Thomas
Sophomore Maggie Dever has to balance to friends and family with her linguistic, adrenalline pumping, racing sport of speed skating. Nine years ago Maggie Diver’s father was close friends with a local speed skating coach. “He simply told my dad ‘give it a try’” responds Dever. That significant day changed Maggie Dever’s life. “Ever since I started, I loved it. Once I set foot on the ice, I knew skating was my passion, “says Dever. Dever’s success has grown as a result of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. She possesses over thirty awards, trophies, and medals. “It just came naturally”, says Maggie. She skates at Winterhurst and Cleveland Heights’ rinks 5 days a week, for 2-3 hours. During those hours, Dever works on technique and endurance. During offseason training, Maggie does vigorous workouts that consist of squats, wall sits, core, and mile runs. Maggie ran cross country this year for LHS. “It built my endurance” says Dever. She plans on running cross country this fall. During the summer, Dever had to sacrifice another sport for skating. She had to hang up her basketball shoes for a pair of ice skates. “It was very hard because I loved all the girls and
30 lkwd life
Dever competes with other componiants at Sarah Toga Springs New York.
the sport but, I had a tough decision to make. I don’t regret giving up basketball; it’ll be worth it in the long run.” Dever spent over a month of her summer in Marquette, Michigan for an elite invitational skating camp. In order to be fully accepted, you had to skate 1000 m in a specific time and be nationally ranked. Maggie has been state champion for the past eight years and ranked in the top 5 nationally. “I was thrilled when I got in. My family took me to Malley’s and told me the good news,” Dever said. Maggie’s intention at camp was “improve my skating abilities, experience training and college life first hand.” The camp consisted of 8 hour training sessions, 6 times a week. Campers also skated, swam, completed mile runs on sand dunes, biked, and accomplished run up Mount Marquette. Her most memorable moment was watching the “Tough Mudder”. The Tough Mudder is a 10-mile obstacle course that is often referred to as “the toughest event in the world” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “I had a lot of fun bonding with my teammates and meeting people from all over the country”, says Dever. Her position is lower (which means she has a 90-degree knee bend and chest is down). “The lower and more compacted you are, the more energy you have” says Maggie. Her time is faster as a result of the camp. She plans to go back to Marquette for
The Lakewood Times
the summer next year. “I’m so pumped for this season” exclaims Dever. Her goal this year is to get her 1000 m time down to 1m 42s. This will qualify Dever for the group 1 America’s Cup team. Amongst making the team, Dever wants to rank in the top 5. She drives towards this goal because it will strengthen her opportunity to qualify for the Olympics someday. “A few weeks ago I participated in a meet in Midland Michigan. My number one goal for the weekend was to get my Group 1 time for America’s Cup 3 which was 3 seconds faster than what I normally raced. This meet was a little different than the normal set up; I had four chances to get that 1m42.5s in the 1000m race. The first three races, I saw literally no improvement, my time stayed at a 1.45 and I was pretty upset,” Dever said.. Next rest she looked to improve. “I was up against four boys who looked pretty tough. The starter announced “go to start….ready…”and then the gun went off. Right off the line I was thrown into third position, I was determined to get that time, so I kept skating as fast I could. “ As the race went on, Dever made her move. “My heart raced as I came around the corner and heard 3 laps to go. I’m not exactly sure what happened but I started full out sprinting even though I was exhausted,” she said. “I heard the crowd cheering me on, especially my Dad, which gave me even more motivation. I gave every ounce of energy I had and crossed the finish line feeling great. I was so eager to find out what my time was so I skated over to my coaches and they all said they had gotten 1m42.1s. I was so happy. I hurried off the ice and ran over to check the official times only to find out that I skated a 1m 42.6s. Moments like these are really upsetting but you just deal with it and try harder next time, I tried my hardest and I PRed so I couldn’t complain,” she said. Dever looks up to Olympic speed skater, Apolo Uhno. She says he influences her to strive to be the best. “I’ve met Apolo Uhno multiple times. The first time was at Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, and I was shocked. I couldn’t believe I was getting ready to get on the ice next to an Olympian.” In the future, Maggie Dever wants to attend Northern Michigan University to continue training for speed skating and study in the medical field.
December 2011
Skaters practice running up hills for more endurance at Mt. Msrquette in Michigan.
Dever concentrates throuoghly during a meet.
Photos courtesy of Maggie Dever
lkwd life
31
Final Word By Victoria Chesmar
Never bite the hand that feeds you, but go ahead and present yourself maturely. America has a lot of issues including the economy, health care plan, war, and American diets. Today, 1 in every 3 children is considered overweight or obese. There are multiple reasons why a child may be considered overweight or obese. It could be the parent’s purchases at the grocery store, diseases and health problems, low exercise in and out of school, school lunches, advertisement, and I’m sure there are other reasons why too. The government gives public schools a budget on school lunches and the lunches at LHS are clearly unhealthy. A basic lunch of chicken nuggets, a bread roll, milk, orange juice, and mixed vegetables is over 600 calories. Let’s not forget that we have breakfast and dinner too. Depending on what a student eats for breakfast they could possibly be over their average amount of calories after lunch. I would not recommend feeding my child these type of lunches at all. Lakewood City Schools has 49.3% of students who can’t afford a lunch so they have only one option of lunch for the day. I honestly feel bad for these students because the lunches aren’t appetizing and they are not healthy. The only way we can ask for change for school lunches is for the government to help make that change. Changing a vending machine wont help our health problems. In the vending machines at LHS there are Rice Krispie Treats, Fruit Roll Ups, and Baked Lay’s Chips. There are still calories that are unneeded in these vending machines. Also, how can you eat healthy at lunch? The wraps in the A La Carte line are filled with ranch dressing which adds up. The salads are absolutely disgusting and the available dressings have a ton of sugar in them. Let’s not forget we are old enough to make our decisions wisely. As a child growing up, I remember going through the McDonald’s drive through to get a happy meal. I don’t know if I was more excited to see what toy I got or the chicken mcnuggets.
Advertisement has a huge affect on children these days and it’s an awesome trick. It seems like a child going to McDonald’s for a happy meal and they get to play on the indoor playground is like a trip to Cedar Point for a teenager. According to www. myfitnesspal.com, a Happy Meal with a cheese burger, small Sprite, and a small fry is 640 calories. I know for sure in the future I will not let my children eat this crap. The only way this would ever happen in my life if every restaurant was instantly burned down and all there was left was Mickey D’s. Also, I love how they try to change the Happy Meal with milk and apple dippers. A four piece chicken mcnugget meal with apple dippers, low fat caramel dip, and 1% chocolate milk is 450 calories. I still wouldn’t let my kids eat a Happy Meal. It’s not so happy after all when it adds to your belly. Excuses can be such an annoyance to some people. The tomato and tomato paste debate seems like complete stupidity to me. I don’t see how tomato paste is considered healthy and is available for school lunches. It seems like it’s just a good looking pass for the government. It’s not pretty at all to understand that 1 in 3 children are considered so fat. The government will be helping to pay higher health care bills for those kids
Art by Brett Brown
who become adults. Our future looks like there will be extremely high hospital bills if we continue to eat unhealthy. We need to start now because it’s better to begin now than never. Our school lunches need to have less salt, sugar, and calories. We should also have fresh fruits and vegetables that are more delicious than a can of mixed vegetables. The lunch meats should also be fresh too because most of the frozen foods are infested with preservatives. Another issue that needs to be covered is for students that have diabetes that cannot consume tons of sugar and lactose intolerant students too. Orange juice is not available every day and their only option is milk unless they want to run back and forth to the water fountain. What about cheese pizza or macaroni and cheese for lunch? These students don’t have any other option but to starve themselves until they get home. Anyone can send letters concerning our congressman or the school board about how unhealthy these lunches are. Starting a petition throughout the city and the schools about the school lunches is an appropriate approach. Visualize healthy teenagers. They will live longer, learn more, and be happy.
December 2011
focus
33
34 news
The Lakewood Times
December 2011
news
35
36 opinion
The Lakewood Times
December 2011
opinion
37
38 lkwd life
The Lakewood Times
December 2011
lkwd life
39
40
The Lakewood Times
December 2011
41