January 2022 Norse Star Issue by The Norse Star

HELPING HELPING

JANUARY 20 22

Januar y, 20 22

THE NORSE STAR HelpingHands STOUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

Table of Cont ent s Cover by Laur en Amst adt and Anja Royko

TOC by Emma Phillips

news....................................................................... 3

spor t s..................................................................... 7

cover st or y............................................................. 10

ent er t ainment ....................................................... 15

opinions.................................................................. 18

feat ur es................................................................... 21 Editor-in-Chief - Anja Royko Cover Story Editor - Anja Royko

Opinions Editor - Delaney Gauthier Sports Editor - Gabe Rousseau

Associate Editor-in-Chief - Ava Parr

News Editor - Delaney Gauthier

Entertainment Editor - Emma Phillips

Head Artist - Emma Phillips

Graphics Editor - Madison Luick

Features Editor - Ava Parr

Copy Editor - Clare Borchardt

Business Manager - Lauren Amstadt

Distribution Manager - Autumn Evenson

Social Media Editor - Ava Parr

Staff Writers - Lauren Amstadt, Clare Borchardt, Autumn Evenson, Madison Luick, Madeline Monthie, Emma Farley, Bhoomi Patel Freelance Writers - Laura Perry, Sam Ross, Belinda Akale Adviser - Laura Streyle Editorial Policy: The Norse Star strives to present the news in a fair and unbiased manner. Any column, editorial, or letter to the editor expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the entire staff. The Norse Star is a public forum written and produced by the students at Stoughton High School, and they are solely responsible for its content. Students, staff, faculty, and members of the community are welcome to submit letters to the editor of 300 words or less. Letters may be edited due to space limitations, obscenities, or libel concerns. Norse Star will verify the authenticity of any letters sent on behalf of school organizations or groups. All letters must be signed and emailed to shsnorsestar@gmail.com.

news

Checking In With Forensics B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

or en si cs i s back an d r ead y f or an oth er su ccessf u l y ear at Stou gh ton H i gh sch ool . For en si cs i s a p u bl i c sp eak i n g cl u b th at i n cl u d es v ar i ou s cat egor i es, i n cl u d i n g p l ay acti n g, p oetr y, i n f or m ati ve sp eech es, an d m an y m or e. St u d en ts ar e abl e t o p i ck a categor y of t h ei r ch oosi n g, p r ep ar e th ei r p r esen tat i on , an d com p ete agai n st oth er sch ool s an d st u d en t s. W i t h t h e team s f i r st m eet bei n g Jan . 29, th e t eam i s w or k i n g h ar d to p r ep ar e t o com p ete

get ti n g u p i n f r on t of a gr ou p an d tal k i n g. ?T h er e is d em on str ati on , i n f or m at i ve sp eech es, p u bl i c ad d r ess, ex tem p or an eou s sp eak i n g, an d r ad i o br oad casti n g. W e h ave som e categor i es th at ar e r ead i n gs (p oet r y, n ovel s, ot h er l i ter at u r e gen r es) an d al so p l ay acti n g, sol o acti n g, an d stor y tel l i n g,? Ph i l l i p s say s. Ph i l l i p s sh ar es th at f or en si cs p r ov i d es ad v an t ages ou t si d e of ju st gai n i n g sk i l l s i n p u bl i c

photos b y ruth phillips T h e 20 19 - 20 20 f o r en si cs t eam at a m eet i n D eFo r est p r i o r t o t h e st ar t o f t h e p an d em i c. agai n st oth er t eam s acr oss t h e state. Fi r st, m eet t h e coach . Ru th Ph i l l i p s i s an ar t t each er an d t h e f or en si cs coach at SH S. Ph i l l i p s h as d ed i cated over t w o d ecad es of h er l i f e t o f or en si cs. Sh e w as i n volved i n f or en si cs h er sel f w h en sh e w as i n h i gh sch ool , ju d ged f or en si cs m eet s at th e col l egi ate l evel , an d h as been a coach f or t h e p ast t w en ty y ear s. Sh e i s a m em ber on t h e W i scon si n For en si cs A ssoci at i on boar d w h er e sh e com m u n i cat es w i th oth er sch ool s an d h el p s t h i n gs r u n sm oot h ly acr oss t h e state. Ph i l l i p s say s th at f or en si cs i s m u ch m or e com p l i cated t h an ju st the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

sp eak i n g. ?H av i n g [f or en si cs] on a col l ege ap p l i cat i on h ol d s a l ot of w ei gh t . T he com p et i t i ve n atu r e of f or en si cs p u t s an ed ge on som eon e w h o's ap p ly i n g f or a job or col l ege becau se i t d em on str ates th at y ou ar e abl e to get u p i n f r on t of a gr ou p , l ead a gr ou p , an d f eel com f or tabl e tal k i n g i n f r on t of ot h er p eop l e,? Ph i l l i p s say s. A ty p i cal w eek f or a m em ber of f or en si cs i n cl u d es p r acti ces on T u esd ay s an d T h u r sd ay s w h er e team m em ber s w or k on th ei r p r esen tat i on s i n d i v i d u al ly, i n f r on t of sm al l gr ou p s or i n f r on t of Ph i l l i p s. T h e f or en si cs team

h as p u bl i sh ed au th or Ly n n Per ez- H ew i tt w or k i n g w i th th em th i s y ear , w h i ch Ph i l l i p s say s h as been gr eat f or th e team . ?Sh e i s a gr eat r esou r ce f or u s. Sh e h as been assi st i n g p eop l e w i th th ei r cu tt i n gs an d cr eati n g th ei r i n t r od u cti on s to th ei r p r esen tat i on s,? Ph i l l i p s say s. O ver th e cou r se of th e season , th e team w i l l att en d ar ou n d si x m eets. A ty p i cal m eet h as ar ou n d 24 sch ool s an d each categor y h as an assi gn ed r oom f or p r esen tat i on s. T h er e i s on e ju d ge an d si x to ei gh t oth er p eop l e i n th er e l i sten i n g. Com p eti tor s com p ete i n th r ee r ou n d s, an d th en th e top p er f or m er s ar e sel ected f or th e f i n al ?p ow er ? r ou n d . A f ter th i s r ou n d th e w i n n er is sel ected . Ph i l l i p m en t i on s th at th ese m eets can get ver y com p eti ti ve. "T h e m or e p op u l ar m eet i s th e Fr i d ay N i gh t L i gh ts m eet in M i l ton becau se y ou can w i n a l i gh t u p tr op h y. W e al so h ave th e B ad ger Con f er en ce m eet w h i ch i s ver y com p eti ti ve,? Ph i l l i p s say s. T h e ?p ost season ? goes f r om a su b d i str i ct m eet, to a d i str i ct m eet, an d th en f i n al ly th e state m eet. Stou gh ton h as a h i st or y of su ccess at th e h i gh l evel f or en si cs m eets. M ost m em ber s qu al i f y f or state ever y y ear an d 20 21 SH S al u m Raven Jen sen r ecen tly w on th e cu m u l ai ve gol d aw ar d f or tak i n g gol d at th e state m eet al l f ou r y ear s. Ph i l l i p s say s th at th i s y ear h as a str on g cast of m em ber s r an gi n g f r om f r esh m an to sen i or s. W h i l e it is a com p eti ti ve en v i r on m en t , Ph i l l i p s say s th at f or en si cs is ver y f r i en d ly an d i n cl u si ve to al l i n volved . "I k n ow a l ot of stu d en ts i n th e p ast w h o h ad a f ear of p u bl i c sp eak i n g an d cam e ou t f or f or en si cs to over com e th at f ear . Ever y bod y i s i n t er ested i n ju st com i n g togeth er an d h el p i n g each oth er ou t,? Ph i l l i p s say s.

Ph i l l i p s ad d s t h at sh e i s l ook i n g f or w ar d t o seei n g w h at th i s y ear h ol d s i n st or e f or al l of th e com p et i t or s. O f th e cor e m em ber s i s sen i or Ky l i e N el son . N el son h as been com p et i n g si n ce 6t h gr ad e an d p ar t i ci p at es i n th e p l ay act i n g cat egor y al on gsi d e sen i or Pay ton Col l i n s. ?I h ave alw ay s l oved p er f or m i n g, so f or en si cs seem ed r i gh t u p m y al l ey. I tr i ed i t, an d h aven ?t stop p ed ,? N el son say s. W h i l e sh e say s sh e l oves th e p er f or m i n g asp ect of f or en si cs, sh e say s t h at t h e f am i ly asp ect i s h er f avor i t e. ?T h e sen se of com m u n i ty i s m y f avor i t e p ar t . At m eet s, ever y on e com p eti n g i s t h er e t o h ave a good ti m e. T h e p eop l e ar e ex tr em ely f r i en d ly an d ever y on e w an ts t o l i f t each oth er u p . I t cr eat es a r eal ly

Sen i o r s Pay t o n C o l l i n s an d Ky l i e N el so n sm i l e af t er t ak i n g go l d i n p l ay act i n g. C o l l i n s an d N el so n h av e b een p er f o r m i n g t o get h er si n ce t h ei r ear l y m i d d l e sch o o l y ear s. r el axed atm osp h er e, w h i ch m akes th e w h ol e ex p er i en ce m u ch m or e en joy abl e,? N el son say s. N el son of f er s w or d s of en cou r agem en t t o t h ose w h o m ay be t h i n k i n g abou t tr y i n g f or en si cs. ?I w ou l d t el l som eon e th at f or en si cs is on e h u n d r ed p er cen t w or t h i t . A n y on e w h o l i kes p u bl i c sp eak i n g w ou l d l ove f or en si cs,? N el son say s. ?T h er e ar e so m an y d i f f er en t cat egor i es. T h er e i s som eth i n g f or ever y on e. I t h el p s bu i l d con f i d en ce an d sp eak i n g abi l i t y an d i s ju st a l ot of f u n .? 3

news

O micron Goes Viral An Inside Glance on the Most Recent CO VID-19 Variant B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s H ead Artist & Entertainment Editor

i th t h e r ecen t an n ou ncem ent that M adison sch ool s w er e t o go v i r t u al f or a w eek an d an oth er an n ou n cem en t t h at th e or i gi n al d eci si on w as t o be r esci n d ed , st u d en t s an d staf f m em ber s w on d er al i ke: w h at?s r eal ly goi n g on w i t h t h e Stou gh t on d i st r i ct r i gh t n ow ? ?W e tr y t o bal an ce p r ot ecti n g th e p h y si cal h eal t h of ou r com m u n i t y, i n cl u d i n g st u d en ts an d st af f ; con ti n u i n g t o m eet ed u cat i on al goal s; an d p r ot ect i n g ever y on e's m en t al h eal t h ,? SH S sch ool boar d p r esi d en t Fr an k Su l l i van say s. Su l l i v an h as been t h e sch ool boar d p r esi d en t si n ce 20 18 as w el l th e A ssi stan t Att or n ey Gen er al f or t h e W i scon si n D ep ar tm en t of Ju st i ce. Su l l i van sh ar es som e of t h e acti on s t h e SH S sch ool boar d h as t aken agai n st th e sp i ke i n CO V I D - 19 n u m ber s t h r ou gh ou t t h e d i st r i ct d u e t o th e O m i cr on v ar i an t . ?W e gover n by p ol i cy. T h at m ean s t h at w e gi ve th e ad m i n i str at i on a br oad set of cr i ter i a t o w or k u n d er , t h en stan d back an d l et t h em m ake t h e d ay - t o- d ay d eci si on s. W e've gi ven th e ad m i n i str at i on t h e au th or i t y to t ake w h atever h eal th p r ecau t i on s ar e n ecessar y, i n cl u d i n g cl osi n g a sch ool d ow n or even cl osi n g th e en t i r e d i str i ct d ow n i f t h ey t h i n k i t 's n ecessar y. [...] W e st i l l m ay see oth er sch ool s cl ose i f th e [...] am ou n t of cl ose con tacts becom es t oo h i gh ,? Su l l i van say s. T h ou gh p eop l e m ay be u n su r e of t h e absol u te p r op er p r ot ocol s t o h el p st u d en ts an d st af f w h i l e al so p r eser v i n g t h ei r m en tal h eal th , th e sch ool boar d i s st ay i n g p osi t i ve i n goi n g f or w ar d s an d as Su l l i v an say s, w e?ve m ad e so m u ch p r ogr ess u p t o t h i s p oi n t . ?W e've l ear n ed a l ot abou t p r even t i on i n t h e p ast t w o y ear s, w h et h er y ou ar e t al k i n g abou t v acci n at i on s, m ask s, l av i sh u se of h an d san i ti zer , soci al d i st an ci n g, qu ar an ti n i n g, or p h y si cal 4

m od i f i cati on s to bu i l d i n gs. A l l of th ose th i n gs h el p to sl ow th e sp r ead an d l essen th e l i kel i h ood of i n f ecti on ,? Su l l i v an say s. ?I f p eop l e becom e i n f ect ed , i t seem s l i ke v acci n at i on s m ake th em l ess si ck f or l ess ti m e, bu t w e'r e sti l l l ear n i n g. W e ar e i n bett er sh ap e th an w e w er e tw o y ear s ago.? Su l l i v an ex p l ai n s th at w i t h th e r i se i n n u m ber s tak i n g over th e d i str i ct as w el l as n ei gh bor i n g d i str i cts, th e sch ool boar d h as d el egated PPE d eci si on - m ak i n g to ad m i n i st r ati on w i th i n th e sch ool s. H e r em ar k s th at h e w i sh es th i n gs cou l d be d i f f er en t, th at ci r cu m stan ces w er e si m p l er , bu t i n th i s w or l d , w e?r e f ar f r om i t. ?We do discuss COVID-19 at ou r m eeti n gs, an d w e get r egu l ar u p d at es f r om D r . O n sager . W e've tol d h i m th at w e ex p ect th e d i str i ct to

op er ate w i th i n CD C gu i d el i n es an d w i th i n th e gu i d el i n es establ i sh ed by D an e Cou n t y Pu bl i c H eal th ,? Su l l i van say s. ?[...] I w i sh ever y on e w as vacci n ated . I w i sh ever y on e w ou l d go al on g w i th m ask i n g r equ i r em en t s. I w i sh ever y on e w ou l d be m or e aggr essi ve abou t keep i n g th em selves an d th ei r com m u n i ty saf e. I th i n k th at m ost of th e com m u n i ty u n d er st an d s [th i s] n eed an d ar e d oi n g th e best th ey can .? I n ad d i ti on to gett i n g an i n si d e l ook at ou r sch ool boar d , D r . V i r gi n i a M att i s, A ssoci ate D i r ector of T h er ap eu ti cs R& D at a M ad i son - based bi otech com p an y, w as al so abl e to get a f i r st- h an d op i n i on f r om a sci en ti st, w h o h as a d eeper under standing of the r isks that CO VI D -19 displays. M att i s gave th e N or se Star an i n si d e gl an ce on th e w or k i n gs of th e O m i cr on var i an t as w el l as th e p r op er saf ety m easu r es to take agai n st th i s v i r u s. Fu r th er m or e, as a sci en ti st, M att i s i s al so a p ar en t of tw o y ou n g ch i l d r en an d sh ar es h er op i n i on s on how the M adison distr ict and neighbor ing distr icts are handling the r ise in infection. ?A l th ou gh I am n ot a p h y si ci an , I d o u n d er st an d th e bi ol ogi cal si d e of v i r al tr an sm i ssi on an d th e h eal th i m p l i cati on s,? M att i s say s. ?Sci en t i sts, p h y si ci an s an d ep i d em i ol ogi sts al l over th e w or l d ar e cu r r en tly stu d y i n g w h y th e O m i cr on ap p ear s to be m or e tr an sm i ssi bl e th an oth er var i an ts. [...] V i r u ses m u tate, th i s i s a n or m al p ar t of v i r al evol u ti on . T h i s i s w h y y ou get a d i f f er ent f lu vaccine ever y year. T he m ore we can control people getting sick, then the less oppor tunity for new var iants to ar ise.? M att i s r egar d s th e CD C gu i d el i n es, as w el l , tak i n g i n t o accou n t th e r ecen t ch an ge i n qu ar an ti n e ti m es f r om f i ve d ay s over to 10 d ay s w i th i n f ecti on . ?T h e CD C gu i d el i n es ar e ch an gi n g based u p on

r eal - t i m e i n f or m at i on . T h er e i s som e skep ti ci sm abou t w h y t h e gu i d el i n es keep ch an gi n g, bu t i t i s si m p ly becau se t h e CD C i s w or k i n g h ar d t o keep u p w i th cu r r en t k n ow l ed ge,? M att i s say s. Sh e al so of f er s ad v i ce on w h at t y p e of m ask i s m ost ef f ect i ve agai n st t h e v i r u s as accor d i n g t o t h e CD C, say i n g t h at i f p ossi bl e, p eop l e sh ou l d w ear N 95 or K N 95 m ask s. ?I t i s m ost i m p or t an t t o h ave sever al l ay er s t h at ar e w el l f i tt ed t o y ou r f ace, i f y ou can n ot get a N 95,? M att i s say s. A s a p ar en t of t w o ch i l d r en goi n g t o sch ool r i gh t n ow, M att i s h as a u n i qu e p oi n t of v i ew on h ow th e sch ool d i str i ct s ar e acti n g accor d i n g to CO V I D - 19 gu i d el i n es. ?T h er e ar e m an y t h i n gs to con si d er h er e, f r om t h e saf ety of t h e st af f an d t h e stu d en ts, t o t h e i m p or t an ce of ed u cat i on , t o t h e soci o- econ om i c i ssu es of f ood i n secu r i ty an d l ack of ch i l d car e. I feel that the school boar d is doing the best they can in a ver y dif f icult tim e,? M attis says.

W an t t o l ear n m o r e ab o u t t h e O m i cr o n v ar i an t an d C O V I D - 19 ? Scan t h e Q R co d e t o b e sen t t o "O m i cr o n Var i an t : W h at Yo u N eed T o K n ow " d i r ect l y o n t h e C D C w eb si t e.

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

news

Red evelopment b y the Riversid e B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

om m unity gardens. W hitewater rafting. Affordable housing. H abitats for wildlife. T hese are only a few of the concepts that will soon becom e a reality in Stoughton, W isc. thanks to the Stoughton Riverfront Redevelopm ent. On D ec. 29, 20 21, St ou gh ton 's Ci t y Cou n ci l u n an i m ou sly ap p r oved th e d evel op m en t con cep t, al l ow i n g t h e p r ocess to begi n to go i n t o m oti on . M ay or of Stou gh ton T i m Sw ad l ey at tr i bu t es th i s con cep t becom i n g a r eal i ty t o m an y m em ber s of th e com m u n i t y. ?T he patience, persistence, and dedication of past and current RDA m em bers, city staff, engineers, architects, consultants and the city cou n ci l h as al l ow ed th e

p r oject to m ove f or w ar d ,? Sw ad l ey say s. O r i gi n al ly, th e con cep t of d evel op i n g th i s ar ea of St ou gh ton of f M ain Str eet was a plan called th e Railr oad Cor r idor N eigh bour h ood Plan , w h i ch w as ad op ted i n 20 0 9. H owever, it later changed into the Stoughton Riverfront Redevelopm ent. T his specific developm ent was initiated in 2019, by ima g e sub mitted b y tim swa d ley

W h i l e p r ov i d i n g h o u si n g, t h e d ev el o p m en t w i l l al so p ay h o m age t o St o u gh t o n 's h i st o r i c ar ch i t ect u r e.

d evel op er Cu r t B r i n k an d h i s team . H e r ecei ved i n p u t f r om th e Stou gh ton Red evel op m en t Au th or i t y an d com m u n i ty m em ber s to see w h at p eop l e i n Stou gh ton f el t l i ke th ey n eed ed . Sw ad l ey ex p l ai n s som e of th e el em en ts th at th i s p l an will p r ov i d e to Stou gh ton 's com m u n i ty. ?T h is pr oject w ill pr ovide h igh en d apar tm en ts in cludin g a tr ail system w ith com m un ity access. I n cludin g gr een space, electr ic ch ar gin g station s an d solar ligh tin g featur es alon g th e r iver, [it] cr eates a un ique developm en t in Stough ton ,? Swadley says. D al e Reeves, th e r ed evel op m en t ch ai r of Stou gh ton , ex p l ai n s w h at h e bel i eves w i l l be th e f i r st step s i n th i s p r ocess n ow th at th e p l an h as been ap p r oved . ?I th i n k th e f i r st

bu i l d i n g t o go u p w i l l r esem bl e th e ol d bl ack sm i th ?s sh op . I t w as sti l l on si t e, bu t so str u ctu r al ly u n sou n d t h at w e cou l d n ?t save i t . T h e RD A an d t h e d evel op er w en t th r ou gh m an y d esi gn s u n ti l th e ar ch i tect u sed t h e i m age of t h at ol d bl ack sm i th ?s sh op . I t w i l l be exci ti n g to see i t w h en i t i s f i n i sh ed ,? Reeves ex p l ai n s. Sw ad l ey sh ar es w h at h e i s p er son al ly exci t ed abou t f or th i s d evel op m en t. ?I am exci t ed abou t gett i n g cl osu r e on a p r oject i n a bl i gh t ed ar ea t h at i n cl u d es th e sh ar ed v i si on an d val u es of ou r com m u n i ty. Com bi n ed w i t h th e w ater p ar k , th e accessi bi l i ty t o M an d t Par k an d the downtown businesses, this developm ent will provide a destination area to m ake St ou gh ton a p l ace of ch oi ce,? Sw ad l ey say s.

Stoug hton to Hold Ma yora l Elections B y D el an ey Gau t h i er News & Opinions Editor

r i m ar y el ect i on s t o el ect ju d i ci al , ed u cat i on al , an d m u n i ci p al of f i cer s ar e set to be h el d i n Stou gh ton on Feb. 15 of t h i s y ear . M any positions are up for election, including the contested m ayoral office. Current m ayor T im Swadley is running for his second four-year term , and newcom er Sharon M ason-Boersm a has entered the race, as well. M ay or Sw ad l ey h as been i n volved in gover n m en t f or n ear ly tw o d ecad es, bu t w as el ect ed as m ay or i n 20 18, w h en h e r an on a p l at f or m of gover n m en t t r an sp ar en cy an d ef f i ci en t ci t y ser v i ces. H ow ever , h e h as been an acti ve m em ber of th e com m u n i t y f or m u ch l on ger . ?I n 1986, m y w i f e an d I bu i l t ou r h om es w i t h 12 ot h er f am i l i es. I t w as [...] a sw eat equ i t y p r oject, si m i l ar t o H abi tat f or H u m an i t y,? M ay or Sw ad l ey say s. ?W e w er en ?t i n a p osi t i on w h er e w e cou l d ju st bu y a h ou se, the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

so w e w er e abl e to bu i l d i t ou r selves. T h at r eal ly br ou gh t u s to St ou gh t on , an d [I w an t ed ] to gi ve back to th e com m u n i t y.? M ay or Sw ad l ey ad d s th at th er e ar e op p or t u n i ti es f or com m u n i t y m em ber s n ot on ly to get i n volved w i t h th e u p com i n g el ecti on , bu t to get i n volved w i th l ocal gover n m en t as w el l . ?O n e of th e th i n gs w e?ve d on e i s, l ast y ear , w e d eci d ed to i n cl u d e com m u n i ty m em ber s on ou r f i ve or si x stan d i n g com m i t tees,? M ay or Sw ad l ey say s. ?W e al l ow ed tw o m em ber s to ser ve on ou r com m i t tees, to be vot i n g m em ber s. W e al so f or m ed a su stai n abi l i ty com m i t tee, w h i ch i s m ostly com m u n i ty m em ber s.? M ay or Sw ad l ey ex p r esses gr ati t u d e f or th e op p or tu n i t i es h e?s h ad si n ce h e w as el ect ed m ay or i n 20 18 an d say s th at h i s goal i f r e- el ect ed i s to cr eate gr ow th f or th e sch ool d i st r i ct an d tow n th r ou gh n ew d evel op m en ts. ?B ei n g m ay or h as d ef i n i tely been a r ew ar d i n g

ex p er i en ce f or m y sel f . T h er e?s sti l l a l ot of th i n gs th at I w an t to accom p l i sh an d f i n i sh th at w e?r e w or k i n g on . A n d I bel i eve th at m y ex p er i en ce, n ot on ly i n l ocal p ol i t i cs, bu t as a bu si n ess ow n er an d m y p r ev i ou s p r of essi on al car eer , r eal ly p u t m y sel f i n a p osi ti on to com p l ete th ose i n i ti ati ves,? M ay or Sw ad l ey say s. M ay or al can d i d ate Sh ar on M ason - B oer sm a h as al so been a r esi d en t of Stou gh ton si n ce th e 1980 s. M ason - B oer sm a i s a r eti r ed soci al w or ker w i th 30 y ear s of ex p er i en ce u n d er h er bel t, an d sh e?s an gl i n g to u se th at ex p er i en ce to ben ef i t th e com m u n i ty. ?I ?ve d on e a l ot of r esear ch r egar d i n g w h at th i s ci t y n eed s, [...] an d I h ave f ou n d th at af f or d abl e h ou si n g i s r eal ly key,? M ason - B oer sm a say s. ?T h at w ou l d be h ou si n g th at is af f or d abl e f or ever y on e. T h at w ou l d n ?t be ju st f or l ow i n com e. I t w ou l d be f or al l i n com e br ackets.? A s w el l as af f or d abl e

h ou si n g, M ason - Boer sm a p l an s to f ocu s on ci ty gr ow th an d ed u cat i on . Sh e say s h er ex p er i en ce as a soci al w or ker an d h er vol u n teer w or k ar e w h at p u sh ed h er t o cam p ai gn f or m ay or , an d h er goal i s t o i m p r ove t h e com m u n i t y th r ou gh team w or k . ?I r eal ly got t o k n ow p eop l e i n t h e com m u n i t y, an d f r om t h at w or k , I w as a team l ead er [...] I ?ve w or ked a l ot w i th t h e m ay or , an d al so w i th t h e l i br ar y st af f an d l aw en f or cem en t , a l ot of d i f f er en t p eop l e to coor d i n ate gat h er i n g r esou r ces f or p eop l e i n n eed ,? M ason - Boer sm a say s.

I f i n t er est ed i n r egi st er i n g t o v o t e, scan t h i s co d e o r v i si t m y v o t e.w i .gov. 5

news

Hitting The Slopes

h e St ou gh t on Par k s an d Recr eat i on - r u n Sk i Cl u b h as r et u r n ed f or y et an oth er y ear of h i t t i n g th e sl op es. A f t er al l , t h e w or d ski or i gi n ates f r om t h e ol d N or se w or d ?sk i o,? w h i ch m ean s a sp l i t p i ece of w ood . T h e Sk i Cl u b r et u r n ed on Jan . 7, 20 22, an d an y on e ages 10 - 18 (gr ad es 5- 12) i s el i gi bl e to joi n t h ese t r i p s.

B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer Si n ce St ou gh ton sk i i n g. ?O n th e sl op es i n cu r r en t ly h as n o sk i i n g gen er al y ou stay p r ett y f ar ar eas, th e Sk i Cl u b t r avel s to ap ar t . A l so m ost p eop l e ju st T y r ol Basi n , w h i ch i s i n stay w i th th ei r f r i en d M ou n t H or eb, W i sc.. T y r ol gr ou p s, so y ou 'r e n ever Basi n is a sk i an d r eal ly i n a cr ow d of p eop l e. sn ow boar d i n g ar ea th at O n th e l i f ts y ou can al so op en ed i n 1958. soci al d i stan ce i f y ou w i sh

photos sub mitted b y elia na thomson

on th e sl op es. Par en ts ar e al so en cou r aged t o joi n th ei r ch i l d r en on t h ese t r i p s as ch ap er on es. I f a p ar en t ch ooses to vol u n teer , t h ey w i l l r ecei ve a f r ee t i cket an d bu s r i d e. Par en t s m u st al so com p l ete a m em ber sh i p f or m f or th e f i r st t r i p t h at th ei r ch i l d at ten d s. Stu d en t s ar e p i cked u p an d d r op p ed of f at Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool an d Ri ver B l u f f M i d d l e Sch ool to be taken t o sk i .

El i an a an d a f r i en d r i d e a sk i l i f t b ef o r e t h e p an d em i c. ?I d eci d ed t o st ar t goi n g on th e sk i t r i p s becau se i t w as an easy w ay f or m e to d o m y f avor i t e w i n t er sp or t w h i l e al so sp en d i n g ti m e w i th my best f r i en d ,? sop h om or e an d m em ber of t h e Sk i Cl u b f or f ou r y ear s, El i an a T h om son , say s. ?Goi n g on t h e t r i p s w i t h m y best f r i en d w as t h e best p ar t [of th e Sk i Cl u b] an d i t w as som eth i n g w e both l ooked f or w ar d to d oi n g ju st abou t each w eek . T h e m em or i es y ou get to keep f r om th e t r i p s ar e t h e best p ar t f or m e.? ?W e u su al ly t ake si x to seven tr i p s a y ear t o l ocal h i l l s,? Bill B r u e, a com m u n i t y l ead er of th e Sk i Cl u b, say s.

El i an a an d a f r i en d sk i b ef o r e t h e p an d em i c. El i an a T h o m so n an d h er f r i en d , a f el l ow sk i er , p o se o n t h e sl o p es. El i an a say s h er f av o r i t e p ar t o f Sk i C l u b i s b ei n g ab l e t o sp en d t i m e w i t h h er f r i en d s o n t h e sl o p es. ?I h ave been tak i n g th ese tr i p s si n ce 1979,? B r u e say s. ?T h e on ly br eak w as l ast y ear w h en n o tr i p s w er e taken [d u e to CO V I D - 19.]? T y r ol B asi n h as si x teen d i f f er en t sl op es an d seven teen tr ai l s w i th d i f f er en t l evel s of i n t en si ty f or al l sk i er s r egar d l ess of sk i i n g ex p er i en ce. T h ey h ave begi n n er sl op es su ch as Sh el l ey ?s W ay an d th e ap tly n am ed Gen tl e B en , bu t th ey al so h ave m or e com p l ex sl op es f or ad v an ced sk i er s su ch as th e Su n r i se Sl op e an d Tobel Sl op e. T y r ol B asi n h as sever al categor i es f or i ts sl op es: begi n n er , m or e d i f f i cu l t , m ost d i f f i cu l t, an d ex p er t. T y r ol B asi n al so h as ter r ai n p ar k s, tr ee sk i i n g, an d ch ai r l i f ts. ?O n th e bu s y ou m u st w ear a m ask th e w h ol e ti m e an d th er e can on ly be tw o p eop l e i n a seat. W h i l e sk i i n g y ou d o h ave to w ear a m ask an d w i l l get asked to w ear on e w h en y ou get on to th e l i f t . I n ter m s of soci al d i st an ci n g, i t 's p r ett y easy,? say s El i an a T h om son on CO V I D - 19 saf et y while

by p u tti n g m ay be abou t th r ee f eet i n betw een y ou an d an ot h er p er son .? T h ose w h o w an t to p ar ti ci p ate i n Sk i Cl u b m u st p ay a f ee of $40 f or each tr i p an d ar e r equ i r ed to take l esson s on th ei r f i r st tr i p u n l ess sp eci f i cal ly w ai ved on th e m em ber sh i p f or m . T h i s r u l e i s to en su r e saf ety

?W e l eave r i gh t af t er sch ool an d r et u r n ar ou n d m i d n i gh t,? Br u e say s. ?W e take th r ee t o f ou r p ar en t s t o ch ap er on e [each ] bu s.? ?Pl ease joi n t h e t r i p s!? T h om son u r ges. ?T h ey ar e alw ay s fun an d th e m em or i es y ou m ake w i l l be so w or th i t! I t d oesn 't m att er i f y ou h ave a t on of ex p er i en ce, n o ex p er i en ce, or som ew h er e i n bet w een , an y w ay, th e tr ip w i l l be w or th i t .?

El i an a T h o m so n f o l l ow s C O V I D - 19 p r o t o co l s w h i l e sk i i n g: p r o p er m ask w ear i n g an d so ci al d i st an ci n g o n t h e sl o p es.

a rt b y emma phillips 6

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

sports

Ballin' with the Bros B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s H ead Artist & Entertainment Editor

d y n am i c d u o, a p ow er d u o, B at m an an d Robi n , Sp i d er m an an d I r on - M an , n o m at t er w h at y ou cal l i t , sen i or L u ke (r i gh t) an d sop h om or e T y (l ef t) Fer n h ol z, h ave set an i n sp i r i n g ex am p l e f or w h at SH S sp or ts sh ou l d r eal ly be abou t . W i th bot h br oth er s n ow on t h e sam e basketbal l t eam t h i s 20 21- 22 season , t h e Fer n h ol z br ot h er s sh ar e w h at i t ?s been l i ke on an d of f t h e cou r t t ogeth er . ?I t's been r eal ly ey e op en i n g si n ce [L u ke]?s p l ay ed basket bal l a l ot m or e th an m e an d h as m or e ex p er i en ce. I t 's easi er t o l ear n an d t o t ake k n ow l ed ge f r om th e gam e f r om h i m ,? T y say s. ?I th i n k i t 's sp eci al ju st becau se i t d oesn 't h ap p en ver y of t en w h er e tw o si bl i n gs can p l ay toget h er . I m ean , h av i n g a br ot h er , y ou p l ay w i th t h em an d ever y th i n g, [an d ] y ou gr ow u p [t oget h er ]. T h en w e act u al ly get t o p l ay w i t h each ot h er ,? L u ke say s. A s f or on t h e cou r t, th e br ot h er s f eel th at th ey h ol d a com p eti ti ve ed ge on op p osi n g team s t h i s y ear . ?W e've h ad so m u ch tim e t ogeth er , an d w e al so know each other 's tendencies so well. It's kind of a bonus in a way,? L uke says. T y, th e y ou n ger of th e Fer n h ol z d u o ech oed h i s p oi n t, voi ci n g h ow as op p osed to p r ev i ou s y ear s, t h i s on e i s t h e m ost si gn i f i can t t o h i m . ?I f eel l i ke i t 's m or e p u r p osef u l [t h i s y ear ]. I t 's [L u ke]?s sen i or y ear . I w an t t o w i n m or e t h an u su al . I t 's ju st [a] m or e p u r p osef u l season ,? T y say s. A s f ar as t h i s season goes, th e Fer n h ol z br ot h er s sh ow th ei r p assi on f or the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

com p et i t i o n an d w i n n i n g as m an y g am es as p o ssi b l e t o g et h er . ?W e'r e r eal ly cl ose i n th e f act th at w e've l ost th r ee gam es by tw o p oi n t s, an d so [...] w e'r e r i gh t th er e. A n d h op ef u l ly i n th e secon d h al f [of th e season ], w e can get r i d of ou r cl ose l osses an d m ake w i n s,? L u ke say s. ?W e'r e both r eal ly com p eti ti ve p eop l e. So I th i n k both of u s, ever y th i n g w e d o, w e've alw ay s w an t ed to w i n , an d gr ow i n g up, w e'd p l ay gam es w i th ever y th i n g, w h eth er i t's on th e basketbal l cou r t , i f w e'r e p l ay i n g th e Pl ay Stati on , if w e'r e d oi n g an y th i n g, [w e] alw ay s w an t to win an d th at p r obably p u sh es u s to get better .? T y say s, ?You get on th e court an d obv i ou sly w an t to win gam es. [ W e] w an t to p l ay th e best that we can and hopefully m ake it far in the playoffs.? As br oth er s on th e cou r t toget h er , bot h L u ke an d T y u n d er stan d th e p er son al asp ect to th at com m i t m en t , an d as br oth er s, th ey h ave a sp eci al bon d . ?I 've seen al l of th e u n seen h ou r s th at p eop l e h aven 't, so i t 's r eal ly sp eci al to see h ow m u ch w or k [L u ke] p u t s i n an d w h at h e get s ou t of i t . So, i t's r eal ly m oti v ati on al ,? T y say s. ?Poi sed w ou l d be a good w or d to d escr i be T y w i th ju st th e w ay h e ap p r oach es com p et i t i on . I t 's som eth i n g th at I ad m i r e. H e's n ot goi n g

to back d ow n an d h e'l l step u p to w h atever com es h i s w ay,? L u ke say s. B ot h br oth er s sh ar e th ei r goal s f or th e f u tu r e w i th on e l eav i n g i n M ay an d th e oth er con ti n u i n g th e Fer n h ol z l egacy f or an ot h er cou p l e of y ear s. ?O f f the cour t [...] I want to leave these guys in the r ight way and give them good oppor tunity to grow. Just so th ey d on 't h ave to w or r y abou t th i n gs an d I can p ave th e w ay f or th em i n th ei r f u tu r e y ear s. K i n d of teach th em

ever y th i n g I k n ow,? L u ke say s. T y, on t h e ot h er h an d , voi ces h i s d et er m i n at i on t o stay a str on g m em ber of t h e team an d t o p l ay as best as h e can af ter h i s br ot h er gr ad u ates. ?I w an t t o m ake m y m ar k ,? T y say s. A s f or h i s br ot h er , T y sh ar es a h ear tw ar m i n g p i ece of i n f or m at i on , gr an t i n g h i m an en d ear i n g ?aw w ? f r om h i s br ot h er . ?M y r ol e m od el is actu al ly L u ke,? T y say s. ?Ju st w i th h ow h ar d w or k i n g h e i s, an d h e's alw ay s been t h er e f or m e. H e?s m or e of a best f r i en d th an a br ot h er .? W i th t h at bei n g sai d , th er e r eal ly w as n o bet ter w ay to su m u p t h ei r si bl i n g r el ati on sh i p . L u ke an d T y Fer n h ol z h ave d ef i n i t ely d i sti n gu i sh ed t h em selves th i s y ear an d con t i n u e t o better th em selves ever y d ay, i n an d ou t of p r acti ce an d basketbal l gam es. ?W e've got each ot h er 's back s.?

T y Fer n h o l z (l ef t) an d L u k e Fer n h o l z (r i gh t) b o t h gear u p t o m ak e a sh o t i n a m at ch agai n st O r ego n . T h e t eam ev en t u al l y w on w i th a sco r e o f 75- 59.

sports

All In This Tog ether An insid e look a t how CO VID-19 ha s impa cted a nd united Stoug hton a thletes. B y Em m a Far l ey Staff Writer

i ta I h m t akes a p l ay er 's tem p er at u r e bef or e sen d i n g t h em on t o th e cou r t. Jason B ecker , m asked , coach es f r om t h e si d el i n es, r egu l ati n g t h e m ask u sage of his at h l et es. Andie A l ex an d er p r esi d es over th e l i vestr eam of t h e gam e, w atch i n g at ten d an ce on l i n e sp i ke as t h e n u m ber of i n - p er son f an s sl ow ly begi n s t o d i e ou t. I t ?s n o secr et th at CO V I D - 19 h as t aken th e w or l d by st or m , w i t h w ave af ter w ave of t h e p an d em i c st r i k i n g th e w or l d . H ow ever , on e ar ea t h at h as been i m p acted m ost i s sp or ts? ever y th i n g f r om h ow th e ath l etes p ar t i ci p at e, t o w h at t h e gam es l ook l i ke f or sp or ts ju n k i es. ?I t gi ves u s an ot h er l ay er t h at w e h ave t o w or k ou t ,? A n d i e A l ex an d er , t h e ath l eti cs an d act i v i t i es d i r ector at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool , say s abou t t h e p an d em i c. Accor d i n g t o A l ex an d er i t ad d s an oth er ?i t em t o ch eck of f ? of th e l i st d et ai l i n g th e i n tr i caci es of Stou gh ton sp or ts. Pl ay er s an d f an s ar e r equ i r ed to m ask , san i ti ze, get test ed , an d be m on i tor ed m or e t h an ever bef or e, an d f or m an y, i t h as p osed a m ajor obst acl e. ?I th i n k on e of th e bi ggest ch an ges f or u s i s r eal ly bei n g f l ex i bl e. W e w er e ver y u sed t o h av i n g ver y r i gi d p r acti ce sch ed u l es an d ever y on e bei n g th er e [...] so i t 's r eal ly ju st ch an gi n g t h e i d ea th at w e h ave to be as f l ex i bl e as p ossi bl e to m eet t h e n eed s of al l of ou r st u d en t ath l etes,? Jason B ecker , h ead f ootbal l an d assi stan t w r estl i n g coach at St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool , say s. I n ad d i t i on t o p r acti ce t i m es an d f l ex i bi l i t y, p l ay er s h ave h ad t o ad ap t to m ask i n g, f r equ en t t est i n g, san i tati on , an d con t act t r aci n g, to n am e a f ew of th e m an y h u r d l es f aced . D u e to al l of t h ese ch an ges, p ar ti ci p ati on n u m ber s d r op p ed over t h e p ast f ew 8

y ear s si n ce CO V I D - 19 h i t, bu t ar e f i n al ly ed gi n g m or e tow ar d s r egu l ar i t y. ?T h i s y ear I th i n k ever y bod y is r eal ly sear ch i n g f or ?n or m al cy ? th er e. T h er e's m or e p ar t i ci p ati on an d n u m ber s h ave i n cr eased agai n , bu t th er e ar e sti l l i n d i v i d u al s w h o d on 't w an t to com p ete w i t h th e sch ool becau se of th e r estr i cti on s i n p l ace,? B ecker say s. photo b y b ob christofferson

Jo h n H ar m an , 12, w r est l es w i t h an o p p o si n g at h l et e w h i l e m ask ed . T h r ou gh ou t th e y ear s, on e con st an t asset to th e St ou gh ton Ath l et i cs D ep ar tm en t h as been Ri ta I h m , th e H eal th A ssi stan t an d N u r se at SH S. I h m h as been tasked w i t h testi n g, tak i n g car e of , an d ai d i n g stu d en t at h l etes over th e p ast tw o y ear s, bu t h as been abl e to excel an d ad ap t to th e d i f f i cu l t ci r cu m st an ces. ?Sh e's d on e an am azi n g job,? A l ex an d er say s abou t I h m . ?Sh e's been p r esen t an d sh e d ef i n i tely l ead s th e w ay an d gu i d es u s i n t o th at r i gh t d i r ect i on f or d eci si on m ak i n g.? I h m h as been w or k i n g at SH S f or f i ve y ear s, an d h er d ay - to- d ay r esp on si bi l i t i es h ave con si st ed of ad m i n i st er i n g m ed i cat i on , f ol l ow i n g up on i m m u n i zati on s an d h eal th con d i ti on s, an d car i n g f or ch i l d r en th at d o n ot f eel w el l . W i th th e ar r i val of CO V I D - 19, h ow ever , h er d u t i es h ave on ly ex p an d ed . ?I n th e l ast tw o y ear s, 90 % of m y d ay h as been

d evoted to al l th i n gs CO V I D ,? I h m say s. Ihm , B ecker , an d A l ex an d er h ave been h ar d at w or k to exer ci se cau t i on an d en su r e ever y on e i s as saf e as p ossi bl e. H ow ever , w i th seem i n gly - con stan t n ew str ai n s an d var i an ts of th e v i r u s, th er e?s on ly so m u ch th at can be d on e by th e ad u l ts- - esp eci al ly f or even ts th at take p l ace i n si d e. ?T h er e ar e m or e obstacl es f or i n d oor sp or t s. Ath l etes th at com p ete i n d oor s n eed to w ear a m ask d u r i n g p r acti ce an d gam es,? I h m say s. T h i s i n cl u d es h i gh ? con tact sp or t s su ch as w r estl i n g. ?[I n my op i n i on ] coach es n eed ed to r eth i n k p r acti ce d r i l l s to i n cor p or ate th e 6- f oot d i stan ce r ecom m en d at i on an d h ave l ess th an 15 m i n u tes of cl ose con tact.? A l ex an d er agr ees, say i n g ?B ot h w i n ter an d i n d oor sp or t s h ave n eed ed m or e ad ju stm en t s an d n av i gat i on [th an oth er acti v i ti es].? M ov i n g p ast ath l et es th em selves, even sp or t s f an s h ave ex p er i en ced th e i m p act of th e p an d em i c. O ver th e cou r se of th e p ast f ew y ear s, th er e h ave been a l ot of ch an ges i n r u l es r egar d i n g soci al d i stan ci n g, m ask i n g, an d even att en d an ce of th e l ocal sp or t s en th u si asts i n Stou gh ton . ?O u r stu d en t ath l et es h ave r eal ly ad ju sted to w ear i n g an d com p eti n g i n m ask s, bu t I th i n k ou r f an s str u ggl e w i th i t at ti m es [...] L ast y ear , w h en w e w er e com p eti n g w i th ou t f an s, i t w as a com p l etely d i f f er en t atm osp h er e. N ot h av i n g th ose f an s- - w h eth er th at be ou r stu d en t secti on , ou r p ar en ts, or ou r com m u n i ty m em ber s- - su p p or ti n g us m akes i t h ar d er to en joy th ose i n - gam e m om en ts,? B ecker say s. T he i m p acts of CO V I D - 19 h ave been gr u el i n g, bu t l u ck i ly, a br i gh t f u tu r e seem s to l i e ah ead f or sp or t s en joy er s

ever y w h er e. A l ex an d er , i n p ar t i cu l ar , seem s op t i m i st i c abou t p osi t i ve ch an ge com i n g soon f or St ou gh ton sp or t s an d act i v i t i es. ?I d ef i n i t ely con si d er m y sel f an op t i m i st , an d I w ou l d l ove t o see t h i n gs [r etu r n to n or m al]. I h ave h op e th at w e can r each t h at p oi n t th i s y ear [...] I w an t t o d o m y d u e d i l i gen ce as t h e ath l et i cs an d act i v i t i es d i r ector to en su r e t h at ou r stu d en ts, coach es, an d f an s ar e m ak i n g su r e t o f ol l ow th e p r ot ocol s t h at ar e ou tl i n ed ,? sh e say s. T h e ef f or t s of p eop l e l i ke A l ex an d er , Ihm , B ecker ? al on g with h u n d r ed s of ot h er sp or t s p ar t i ci p an ts, coach es, an d f an s? h ave m an aged to sh i n e a l i gh t on a p r ev i ou sly bl eak atm osp h er e, br i n gi n g h op e an d en joy m en t t o Stou gh ton d esp i te t h e od d s. I h m , h ow ever , gi ves som e f i n al w or d s of ad v i ce f or Stou gh ton at h l etes. ?At h l etes: Be aw ar e of w h at y ou r bod y i s t el l i n g y ou . I f y ou get f at i gu ed d u r i n g p r act i ce or a gam e easi er th an y ou n or m al ly d o, th at's a si gn . I f y ou r m u scl e ach es af t er a w or kou t or w r estl i n g m atch d on 't d ecr ease l i ke t h ey n or m al ly d o, t h at's a si gn . I f y ou h ave m or e h ead ach es th an u su al , t h at's a si gn . I f y ou h ave col d sy m p t om s, d on 't take i t f or gr an t ed t h at i t's ju st a col d . Get t est ed an d r u l e ou t CO V I D f or t h e sake of y ou r h eal t h an d t h e h eal th of y ou r t eam m ates.? M ask ed co ach es an d f an s en co u r age p l ay er s f r o m t h e si d el i n es.

photo b y b ob christofferson the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

sports

Streng th Cla ss Ma kes a Comeb a ck B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor i r st sem ester h as been a sem est er of l ear n i n g an d r el ear n i n g. W h et h er t h at i s r el ear n i n g h ow t o t ake a test w i th ou t n ot es or f or th i s y ear 's sop h om or e an d f r esh m an cl ass at l east , l ear n i n g w h at i t i s l i ke t o be a stu d en t at St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool . Str an gely en ou gh , st u d en ts ar en 't t h e on ly on es l ear n i n g t h i s sch ool y ear . Teach er s ar e t oo. A f t er abou t a y ear an d a h al f of zoom an d even t u al ly h y br i d l ear n i n g, i t w as a bi g ad ju stm en t br i n gi n g th e en ti r e SH S st u d en t bod y back i n to t h e bu i l d i n g. A r gu ably, t h e p an d em i c hit th e i n volvem en t based cl asses t h e h ar d est , as t h er e ar e som e cl asses y ou si m p ly h ave t o d o i n a gr ou p or u se sch ool p r ov i d ed r esou r ces f or . T h ese cl asses i n cl u d e m u si c cl asses, ar t cl asses, an d of cou r se, p h y si cal ed u cat i on cl asses, m or e sp eci f i cal ly st r en gth an d con d i t i on i n g. Bobby O ?B r i en , w h o h as been St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s st r en gt h an d con d i ti on i n g t each er f or f ou r y ear s n ow, h as a l ot on h i s p l ate. N ot on ly d oes h e t each th e st r en gt h an d con d i ti on i n g cl asses, bu t h e al so teach es t eam act i v i t i es an d ou td oor act i v i t i es. Accor d i n g t o O ?B r i en , t each i n g st r en gt h an d con d i ti on i n g? a ver y i n volved an d i n - p er son r el i an t cl ass? af ter a y ear an d a h al f of bei n g v i r t u al an d h y br i d i s qu i t e a f eat. Esp eci al ly af t er m on t h s of scr ol l i n g t h r ou gh soci al m ed i a, l ou n gi n g in sw eatp an ts, an d si n k i n g en d l essly i n t o y ou r cou ch . O th er cl asses m ad e i t w or k , so h ow h ar d cou l d v i r t u al st r en gth r eal ly be? ?I t w as al m ost i m p ossi bl e,? O ?B r i en say s. ?A l l w e cou l d d o w as m ake w or kou ts av ai l abl e an d en cou r age k i d s t o d o t h em an y w ay th at t h ey cou l d .? SH S?s st r en gt h r oom i s equ i p p ed with al l th e w ei gh ts, bar bel l s, an d d u m bbel l s n eed ed t o get th e f u l l str en gt h ex p er i en ce.

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

U n f or tu n ately, d u e to th e sch ool sh u t d ow n , th i s bel oved equ i p m en t w en t u n u sed f or m on t h s. M an y stu d en t s l acked h om e gy m equ i p m en t , an d p r i vate gy m s w er e of ten t i m es cl osed . ?W h at ever y ou cou l d accom p l i sh , y ou accom p l i sh ed . I t w as ver y, ver y d i f f i cu l t .? O ?B r i en say s. For str en gth cl ass, th e tr an si ti on back i n t o i n p er son cl asses w as a sl ow on e, accor d i n g to O ?Br i en . St u d en ts of al l d i f f er en t

O ?Br i en h as m an aged to get h i s str en gth stu d en ts back i n t o a r ou ti n e? an el abor ate on e at th at. A w eek in str en gt h cl ass ty p i cal ly con si st s of th r ee r esi st an ce tr ai n i n g d ay s, M on d ay, W ed n esd ay, an d Fr i d ay. T u esd ay s ar e ath l et i c d evel op m en t d ay s, w h i ch ar e set asi d e to w or k on sp eed an d agi l i ty. T h u r sd ay s ar e w el l d eser ved r ecover y d ay s to p r ep ar e th em f or Fr i d ay s an d Satu r d ay s, w h i ch ten d to be com p eti ti on h eav y d ay s.

photo b y g a b e roussea u T h e SH S w ei gh t r o o m eq u i p m en t aw ai t s eager st r en gt h an d co n d i t i o n i n g st u d en t s. T h e w ei gh t r o o m i s 8,0 0 0 sq u ar e f eet , so t h er e i s p l en t y o f r o o m f o r st u d en t s u si n g t h e sp ace t o p h y si cal l y d i st an ce f r o m o n e an o t h er . acti v i t y an d abi l i t y l evel s su d d en ly con ver ged i n on e sp ace, w h i ch h eav i ly com p l i cat ed th i n gs. ?[T h e tr an si ti on back] w as ap p r op r i at ely sl ow becau se th er e w er e a l ot of stu d en t s w h o w er e su p er exci ted abou t tr ai n i n g an d l i f ti n g an d p h y si cal acti v i t y an d th ey d i d a l ot of i t w h en th ey w er e ou t of sch ool . T h er e w er e a l ot th at f or on e r eason or an oth er , w h eth er th ey d i d n 't h ave th e avai l abi l i ty or w h at ever , got ou t of th e r ou ti n e. W h en w e cam e back , i t w as i m p or tan t th at w e star t ed r eal ly si m p l e as f ar as p r ogr am m i n g an d th at we bu i l d ever y bod y back u p to w h er e w e w an t ed to be,? O ?B r i en say s.

N oth i n g n ew h as stood i n th e w ay of O ?Br i en ?s sch ed u l e an d th e stu d en ts? su ccess i n th e w ei gh tr oom . H e i s th an k f u l th at th e on ly ch al l en ges h e h as f aced ar e ?n or m al ? on es, su ch as com m u n i cati n g an d sch ed u l i n g. "W e l i ke to d eal w i th n or m al ch al l en ges, r i gh t? So i t's been ver y f u n to d eal w i th n or m al sch ool an d i n tr ai n i n g ch al l en ges,? O ?Br i en say s. U n l i ke som e oth er cou r ses an d ex tr acu r r i cu l ar s ar ou n d th e sch ool , str en gth is n ot str u ggl i n g w i th n u m ber s. I n f act , en r ol l m en t in str en gt h an d con d i ti on i n g h as been stead i ly on th e r i se. ?W e've seen a con si sten t cl i m b an d con si st en t gr ow th

as f ar as p ar t i ci p at i on [i n ] th e n u m ber of stu d en ts w h o ar e a p ar t of ou r str en gth p r ogr am . I 'm exci t ed t o see th at con t i n u e to gr ow becau se i t h asn 't stop p ed gr ow i n g. I d on 't k n ow w h en i t w i l l or i f i t w i l l ,? O ?Br i en say s. T h e w ei gh t r oom h as n o p r er equ i si tes. O n e d oes n ot h ave to be ?str on g en ou gh ? or ?f ast en ou gh ? t o joi n , th ey ju st h ave t o h ave a gr ow th m i n d set . ?I f y ou 'r e n ot i n t o f u n , ch al l en gi n g en v i r on m en ts th en d on 't t ake t h e cl ass. You will absol u t ely be ch al l en ged , bu t i n a su p er p osi ti ve, h eal th y w ay, an d I th i n k th at's t h e f u n p ar t of i t,? O ?Br i en say s. B r ooke T h r al l , a sen i or th i s y ear , t ook str en gth an d con d i ti on i n g th is p ast sem ester . For h er , str en gth h as p l ay ed a l ar ge r ol e i n h er ch ar acter d evel op m en t . Sh e i s gr at ef u l f or al l t h e r esou r ces t h e cl ass h as gi ven h er an d i s l ook i n g f or w ar d to u si n g t h ese r esou r ces bey on d h i gh sch ool . ?I can easi ly say t h at str en gth h as sh ow n m e h ow to p r i or i ti ze m y sel f an d f i n d bal an ce i n m y d i et an d f i tn ess,? T h r al l say s. ?T h e atm osp h er e of t h e cl ass i s ver y r el axed , bu t i t ?s su p er cool to be su r r ou n d ed by k i d s th at ar e al l w or k i n g tow ar d s a si m i l ar goal .? Stu d en t s who ar e i n t er ested i n ex p er i en ci n g th e str en gt h r oom an d al l i t h as to of f er , bu t d on ?t h ave r oom f or str en gth i n t h ei r sch ed u l e, ar e en cou r aged t o v i si t on T u esd ay s, T h u r sd ay s, or Fr i d ay s af t er sch ool . T h er e, t h ey w i l l be gr eeted by O ?Br i en , w h o w i l l get to k n ow t h em an d r ecom m en d act i v i t i es t o h el p th em m eet t h ei r p er son al f i tn ess goal s. O ?Br i en str on gly p r om otes t h e str en gth an d con d i ti on i n g en v i r on m en t as bei n g an over w h el m i n gly i n cl u si ve, en gagi n g, an d p osi ti ve ex p er i en ce f or al l w h o ex p er i en ce i t . ?I w ou l d en cou r age [p eop l e] to t r y i t ,? O ?Br i en say s. ?You d on 't h ave t o be good at an y th i n g w e d o i n th e w ei gh t r oom . You ju st h ave to be w i l l i n g t o t r y.? 9

cover story

Helping Ha nd s Three Loca l Frontline Workers Sha re Why They Decid e to Help their Communities B y L au r en A m st ad t an d A n j a Roy k o Staff Writer & Business M anager, and Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor

W h en th e w h ol e w or l d com es to a scr eech i n g h al t, m an y m ay f i n d th em selves ask i n g th e qu est i on , ?w el l w h at d o w e d o n ow ?? A n d i n th e cu r r en t st at e of th e Pan d em i c, th e an sw er i s of ten n oth i n g. W h i l e a m ajor i ty of th e p op u l ati on w as stu ck at h om e, i t w as d i f f i cu l t t o i m agi n e w h at i t m i gh t h ave been l i ke ou t on th e f r on t l i n es, h el p i n g p eop l e. For a si gn i f i can t p er i od of t i m e m ost jobs w er e u n abl e to con ti n u e i n h op es of sl ow i n g th e v i r u s?sp r ead . H ow ever , f or sel ect i n d i v i d u al s, th ei r p r of essi on s w er e n ot sl ow ed d u e to th e p r esen ce of th e p an d em i c. T h ei r ser v i ces w er e cr u ci al to t h e su r v i val of ou r sp eci es an d som eti m es d i r ectly con tr i bu ted to er ad i cati n g th e v i r u s. I t?s u p to t h e br ave, sel f l ess i n d i v i d u al s t h at vol u n t eer th ei r ti m e an d ef f or ts to en su r e th at th e r est of th e p op u l at i on can con ti n u e to l i ve t h ei r n or m al (or as cl ose to n or m al as p ossi bl e) l i ves.

Emerg ency Med icine Physicia n Dr. And rew Dea n Describ es His Work a s a Med ica l Professiona l

n d r ew D ean f r om sou th er n W i scon si n h as been an Em er gen cy M ed i ci n e Ph y si ci an f or th e p ast nine y ear s. Si n ce att en d i n g m ed i cal sch ool at t h e M ed i cal Col l ege of W i scon si n i n M i lw au kee, D ean h as gon e on t o w or k at a n u m ber of h osp i tal s i n th e M i dwest. H e cu r r en tly wor k s i n th e em er gen cy r oom s at t h e Stou gh ton H osp i tal an d Bel oi t M em or i al H osp i tal . Som e d oct or s ch oose to p u r su e m ed i ci n e becau se i t r u n s i n th ei r f am i ly. O t h er s r eal i ze th ei r cal l i n g w h en t h ey ar e saved f r om a l i f e- th r eaten i n g i l l n ess i n t h ei r y ou th . For D ean , t h er e w as n o l i f e- th r eaten i n g i l l n ess or ep i p h an y. T h er e w as n o sp eci f i c m om en t t h at m ad e h i m r eal i ze t h at h eal t h car e w as th e p at h f or h i m , bu t h e alw ay s k n ew th at i t w as som eth i n g h e w an ted t o p u r su e. ?I d i d n ?t com e f r om a f am i ly of d oct or s or an y t h i n g l i ke t h at . I t ju st sor t of seem ed l i ke a good f i t f or t h e ty p es of t h i n gs I l i ked i n l i f e, an d i t ju st k i n d of kep t w or k i n g ou t ,? D ean say s. Fi n d i n g a gr eat d eal of en joy m en t i n both sci en ce an d th e com p an y of oth er p eop l e, D ean d eci d ed th at m ed i ci n e w as t h e p at h f or h i m . A s t h e st ar s al i gn ed an d al l of t h e p i eces of D ean ?s l i f e f el l i n t o p l ace, h e 10

w as abl e to bu i l d h i s car eer as an Em er gen cy M ed i ci n e Ph y si ci an . ?I l i ke w or k i n g w i t h p eop l e. I l i ke tak i n g car e of p eop l e. T h e sci en ce beh i n d i t i s in terestin g, so i t al l k i n d of m erged,? D ean say s. ?I t w as on e of th ose th i n gs th at I always kind of th ou gh t I wanted to d o, an d th en I ju st kep t tak i n g th e n ex t step , an d i t kep t w or ki n g ou t, an d i t kep t bei n g en joy abl e, so I ju st kep t d oi n g i t .? D ean ex p l ai n s th at th e r ol e of h i s p r of essi on i s to ev al u at e p ati en ts th at com e i n to th e ER an d h el p th em w ith th ei r u r gen t m ed i cal i ssu es. ?I ?m th e d oct or th at w or k s i n th e ER, so i f y ou com e i n to th e ER an d h ave an y

con cer n s, I ?m th e on e w h o takes car e of y ou an d eval u ates y ou .? I n th i s p ar ti cu l ar m ed i cal f i el d , i t i s n ot n ecessar y f or th ese d octor s to h ave th ei r ow n of f i ce or clinic. T hey work excl u si vely in th e ER w i th th e p at i en ts th at ar e i n n eed of em er gen cy car e. W h i l e a m ajor i ty of th e U n i ted States p op u l ati on w as tol d th at th ey w er e ?saf er at h om e,? D ean w as u n abl e to si t back an d r el ax at h om e. T h ose i n f ected w i th th e vir us directly depended on h i m an d th e task s th at h e w ou l d f ulf ill.

?W h en CO V I D h i t , I cou l d n ?t ju st si t i n m y of f i ce an d d o Z oom w or k ,? D ean say s. W h i l e D ean ?s job i s cr u ci al to t h e w el l - bei n g of th e i n d i v i d u al s ch eck i n g i n an d ou t of t h e ER ever y d ay, h e f i n d s t h at h i s sch ed u l e can be f ai r ly i n con si sten t an d th e n u m ber of h ou r s th at h e act u al ly w or k s i s su r p r i si n gly l ow. ?T h e p u r e n u m ber of h ou r s I w or k i sn ?t cr azy. I n a m on th , I w or k 130 t o 140 h ou r s cl i n i cal ly, bu t t h ose can be an y t i m e an y d ay of th e w eek , so t h ose can be d ay sh i f ts, t h ose can be even i n g sh i f t s, n i gh t sh i f t s, h ol i d ay s, [or ] w eeken d s,? D ean say s. ?W eek t o w eek m y sch ed u l e var i es.? I n addition to the schedule itself being r ather var iable, D ean explains that shif ts are always unpredictable. ?M ost d ay s or aver age d ay s, I p r obably t ake car e of betw een 10 an d 15 p at i en ts i n an 8 h ou r sh i f t on aver age. I t can be bu si er th an th at. I t can be sl ow er th an th at,? D ean say s. ?W e see th e w h ol e r an ge of m ed i cal i ssu es. I t can be sp l i n ter s or sp r ai n ed an k l es, to h ear t at tack s an d str okes an d al l of th at st u f f . W e t ake car e of i t al l .? T h er e i s a d ef i n i t e i n cr ease in r i sk of con tr acti n g t h e v i r u s the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

cover story

g ra phic b y la uren a msta d t

f or th ose w or k i n g i n d i r ect con tact w i t h i n d i v i d u al s th at ar e k n ow n or l i kely t o be car r y i n g th e v i r u s. H ow ever , t h ese i n d i v i d u al s ? an d t h ose w i th u n r el at ed h eal t h i ssu es ? m ay st i l l n eed car e i n or d er t o m ake a f u l l r ecover y. T h r ou gh ou t t h e cou r se of th e p an d em i c, h osp i tal s al l over t h e cou n t r y h ave m ad e m an y ad ju stm en ts i n t h ei r p ol i ci es an d p r act i ces i n an ef f or t t o r ed u ce th e r i sk s th at h eal t h car e w or ker s h ave t o f ace an d p at i en ts f al l v i ct i m t o. D ean d escr i bes t h e ch an ges th at h e h as en cou n ter ed during th e p an d em i c. ?W e w ear m ask s th e w h ol e the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

sh i f t. W h en w e th i n k w e ar e d eal i n g w i th som eon e w e ei th er k n ow h as CO V I D or w e?r e w or r i ed th ey m ay h ave CO V I D , w e w ear m or e i n volved PPE, so w e w ear th e N 95 m ask w i th a f ace sh i el d an d a gow n ,? D ean say s. ?M ost of th e ti m e ? p r i or to CO V I D ? I w ou l d al m ost n ever w ear a m ask . You on ly w or e a gow n if y ou th ou gh t

y ou w er e goi n g to get som eth i n g on y ou , n ot becau se y ou w er e n ecessar i ly w or r i ed abou t gett i n g si ck .? At th e star t, th ese ty p es of p r acti ces seem ed r ath er f or ei gn to th ose w or k i n g i n h eal th car e. ?I t cer tai n ly i n i ti al ly r eal ly sl ow ed u s d ow n becau se w e w er en ?t u sed to [w ear i n g so m u ch PPE],? D ean say s. ?Pr i or to CO V I D , w e ? f or th e m ost p ar t ? w er en ?t w or r i ed th at th e p at i en ts w er e goi n g to get u s si ck .? Even w i th al l of th ese d i f f i cu l ti es, tr au m at i c i n ju r i es, an d occasi on al ly l ate h ou r s, D ean say s th at h e d oes n ot r egr et p u r su i n g h i s car eer .

H ow ever , h e ad d s, ?I t d oes h ave i ts m om en t s.? ?You h ear p eop l e t al k abou t stor i es w i t h p at i en ts an d al l th at k i n d of st u f f an d h on estly t h at stu f f is m an ageabl e,? D ean say s. ?I h ad to w or k Ch r i st m as [...] af ter n oon t h i s y ear , an d I 've got tw o l i ttl er k i d s. T h at w as r eal ly h ar d on t h em . T h ey d i d n ?t r eal ly l i ke D ad goi n g to w or k on Ch r i st m as, an d i t d oesn ?t h ap p en ever y y ear , bu t i t sti n k s. [...] I t sti n k s m i ssi n g soccer gam es an d basketbal l gam es an d t h at k i n d of stu f f .? D ean ex p l ai n s t h at even th ou gh bei n g a d oct or i sn ?t easy, h e can 't i m agi n e h i m sel f d oi n g an y th i n g el se. ?I w ou l d n ?t w an t t o d o an y t h i n g el se. I r eal ly w ou l d n ?t. I r eal ly d o l ove i t ,? D ean say s. 11

cover story

Pha rma cy Technicia n SHS Senior Sa ma ntha Nelson O ffers Insig ht Into Her Job a t Wa lg reens

photo sub mitted b y nelson

r om f i l l i n g an d sel l i n g m ed i cat i on s t o ch eck i n g in an d sch ed u l i n g vacci n ati on s, Sen i or Sam ath a N el son d oes i t al l f or th e cu st om er s at St ou gh ton ?s W al gr een s. N el son h as w or ked t h er e f or al m ost tw o y ear s, f i r st as a cash i er , an d n ow as a p h ar m acy t ech n i ci an si n ce Au gu st 20 21.

A l ot h as ch an ged si n ce N el son f i r st st ar t ed , esp eci al ly d u e t o W al gr een s? i n volvem en t i n CO V I D - 19 vacci n ati on s. W h i l e N el son i s n ot cer t i f i ed t o d o th e actu al vacci n at i on , sh e sti l l sees al l of t h e act i on f i r st h an d an d get s i n volved to t h e best of h er abi l i t y d u r i n g h er n i n e t o f i ve Su n d ay sh i f t. ?W e h ave to gi ve vacci n es ever y 15 m i n u t es, so i t?s cr azy bu sy. Som eon e h as to d ed i cat e t h ei r en t i r e sh i f t ju st to gi v i n g v acci n es,? N el son say s. ?You ju st n eed t o be th er e f or t h em t o gi ve t h e i n f or m at i on t h ey n eed an d r u n th e t est s f or t h em .? N el son al so assi st s th e p h ar m aci sts at W al gr een s by t el l i n g

cu stom er s a br i ef d escr i p ti on of th e m ed i cati on th ey ar e r ecei v i n g, bu t an y f u r th er d etai l s or i n f or m ati on h as to be gi ven by th e p h ar m aci sts th em selves. ?Ph ar m aci sts l ook at ever y on e?s p r of i l es an d m ake su r e n o on e?s abu si n g th ei r m ed i cat i on s. T h ey 'r e l i ke th e back bon e of th e p h ar m acy,? N el son say s. W h i l e N el son ad m i r es th e h ar d w or k of th e p h ar m aci sts at h er job, sh e i sn ?t qu i t e su r e w h at sh e w an t s to p u r su e af ter gr ad u at i on . Sh e i s over al l l ook i n g to w or k i n th e h eal t h car e f i el d an d th i n k i n g abou t att en d i n g th e U n i ver si t y of M ad i son W i scon si n w i t h a m ajor i n bi och em i st r y. T h i s i s on e of th e r eason s N el son w an t ed to w or k as a p h ar m acy tech n i ci an becau se sh e f eel s i t w i l l gr eatly ben ef i t h er i n th e f u tu r e sh e i s w or k i n g tow ar d s. ?I ju st get tr ai n ed as I go an d w h en a n ew si t u at i on com es u p th at I d on ?t k n ow, I h ave som eon e h el p m e an d I l ear n i t as i t com es u p ,? N el son say s. ?I d ef i n i tely l ear n n ew stu f f ever y ti m e I go [t o w or k], w h i ch is a l i ttl e n er ve- w r ack i n g at f i r st.? N el son h as been abl e to ad ap t to h er qu i ck- p aced job by bel i ev i n g i n h er sel f an d k n ow i n g i t ?s ok ay to m ess u p ever y on ce i n a w h i l e. ?I t i s r eal ly scar y at f i r st bu t y ou r eal ly ju st n eed to sti ck w ith it.

D on ?t be af r ai d to ask qu est i on s,? N el son say s. ?You ?r e n ot goi n g to get better u n l ess y ou tr y.? T h e cow or ker s N el son w or k s si d e- by - si d e w i th as w el l as th e cu stom er s sh e m eets al so m oti vate h er to p u sh p ast th e obstacl es th at com e w i th bei n g a p h ar m acy tech n i ci an . ?I r eal ly l i ke w or k i n g i n cu stom er ser v i ce an d m ak i n g p eop l e h ap p y, esp eci al ly becau se m ed i cati on s can be r eal ly ex p en si ve an d i n su r an ce can be r eal ly con f u si n g,? N el son say s. N el son h er sel f ad m i t s sh e som eti m es str u ggles w i th u n d er stan d i n g h ow i n su r an ce w or k s an d w h y cer tai n m ed i cati on s ar e so ex p en si ve. Sh e, like all oth er p h ar m acy tech n i ci an s, h ad to take cl asses bef or e goi n g back i n t o th e p h ar m acy, bu t oth er w i se, i t?s ju st on - th e- job tr ai n i n g. O n e u p si d e N el son h as taken aw ay f r om h er occasi on al con f u si on i s th at sh e can

u n d er st an d h er cu stom er s better , even t h ose w h o ar e n ot th e n i cest t o h er . ?I t sh ock s me som eti m es h ow m u ch p eop l e h ave t o p ay f or t h ei r m ed i cati on s an d i t m akes m e r eal ly sad ,? N el son say s. ?I tr y m y best t o t h i n k abou t h ow i t i s r eal ly st r essf u l gett i n g m ed i cati on s

an d p ay i n g r eal ly h i gh costs f or t h em . I t r y t o u n d er st an d w h er e [t h e cu stom er s] ar e com i n g f r om an d t r y t o h el p th em .? B ef or e r eal i zi n g h er l ove f or h el p i n g ot h er s i n th e h eal th car e f i el d , N el son took th e job of a p h ar m acy tech n i ci an at W al gr een s becau se t h at?s w h at h er si ster d i d . Sh e soon f ou n d ou t t h at sh e m u ch p r ef er r ed t h e atm osp h er e in th e p h ar m acy com p ar ed t o t h e on e u p f r on t as a cash i er . H ow ever , som eti m es N el son d oes m i ss bei n g a cash i er becau se i t w as easi er f or h er to com e t o af t er a str essf u l d ay at sch ool . O ver al l th ou gh , sh e f i n d s h er w or k i n t h e p h ar m acy ?m or e r ew ar d i n g t h an str essf u l .? I t i s th e h ar d w or k an d sacr i f i ces m ad e by N el son , an d all oth er p h ar m aceu ti cal w or ker s, th at h as al l ow ed Stou gh ton t o saf ely an d ef f i ci en t ly vacci n at e m or e p eop l e th an ever bef or e. N el son ?s con st an t d ed i cati on t o h el p i n g ot h er s i s n ot on ly r ew ar d i n g t o h er sel f bu t t o al l of t h ose sh e h as assi sted over t h e m on th s. the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

cover story

Emerg ency Med ica l Service Driver Bob Christofferson Sha res His Experiences a s a Volunteer EMS Driver ver a d ecad e ago, B ob Ch r i st of f er son joked abou t th e d i f f er en ces betw een th e Sem i t r u ck h e d r ove an d dr iving an am bu l an ce d u r i n g a CPR t r ai n i n g cl ass. N ever d i d h e ex p ect th at h i s l i gh t h ear ted r em ar k s w ou l d ear n h i m a volunteer em er gency m edical ser v i ce d r i ver ap p l i cati on . Even m or e sh ock i n g t o h i m w as th at h e f i l l ed i t ou t an d t ook th e p osi t i on . Ch r i st of f er son h as been a vol u n teer EM S d r i ver i n St ou gh ton f or al m ost 11 y ear s an d h as n ever r egr etted t h e ch oi ce. A s a d r i ver , h e t akes on th e r esp on si bi l i t y of r each i n g t h ose i n n eed an d t r an sp or t i n g th em t o w h er e th ey n eed to go. H e i s al so i n

ch ar ge of tr an sp or ti n g al l equ i p m en t n eed ed f or p ati en t car e. In th e am bu l an ce, h e w or k s w i th tw o ot h er s, cal l ed a Cr ew Ch i ef an d an EM T . T h e Cr ew Ch i ef over sees al l op er at i on s, w h i l e t h e EM T d oes th e assessm en t . ?M ost p eop l e d on ?t r eal i ze th e com m i t m en t EM S vol u n teer s h ave to m ake to keep th e am bu lan ce r ead y,? Ch r i stof f er son say s. ?You n eed th r ee p eop l e, 24 h ou r s a d ay, seven d ay s a w eek .? For Ch r i stof f er son , h i s w eek as a EM S d r i ver i n cl u d es w or k i n g on M on d ay s. H e al so w or k s on th e w eeken d s i f i t?s h i s cr ew ?s tu r n i n th e f i ve- w eek w eeken d r ot at i on . B esi d es bei n g an EM S d r i ver ,

Ch r i stof f er son w or k s f u l l ti m e f or Atl as L ogi sti cs, a com p an y th at d eal s w i th th e tr an sp or t ati on of good s. Ad d i ti on al ly, h e vol u n tar i ly takes p i ctu r es at Stou gh ton ath l et i c even ts. H e f i r st star ted tak i n g p i ctu r es of ju st h i s d au gh t er ?s sp or t i n g even ts w h en sh e w as i n h i gh sch ool , bu t a y ear l ater i t tu r n ed in to som eth i n g m u ch l ar ger . ?I star ted p u tti n g th em [th e p i ctu r es] on th e Sp or ts B ooster s? Facebook p age,? Ch r i stof f er son say s. ?I take an y w h er e betw een 40 0 to 80 0 [p i ct u r es] on aver age p er gam e an d i t can take u p to tw o to th r ee h ou r s to go th r ou gh th em .? Ch r i stof f er son en joy s tak i n g p i ctu r es i n h i s f r ee

ti m e, bu t h e esp eci al ly ch er i sh es h i s w or k as an EM S d r i ver becau se h e gets to be a p ar t of a cr ew t h at h el p s oth er s. H ow ever , h e, l i ke al l oth er m em ber s of Stou gh ton A r ea EM S, h ad t o get CPR cer t i f i ed an d Em er gen cy Veh icle O per ator tr ai n ed bef or e th is r ew ar d i n g ex p er i en ce w as p ossi ble. Fr om Ch r i st of f er son ?s f i r st tr ai n i n g sessi on t o n ow, h e h as vol u n teer ed t o h el p p eop l e t h r ou gh t er r i bl e w eath er, a d ead ly p an d em i c, an d m an y m or e obst acl es, an d y et h e con ti n u es t o gi ve back . ?H el p i n g p eop l e l eaves y ou w i th a gr eat f eel i n g [...] y ou l ear n t h at t h er e ar e a l ot of sp eci al p eop l e ou t t h er e,? Ch r i stof f er son say s.

photo sub mitted b y b ob christofferson

Wra pping it Up W h eth er t h ey ar e d i st r i bu ti n g m ed i cati on , p r ov i d i n g em er gen cy m ed i cal car e to th ose i n n eed , or tr an sp or ti n g t h ose i n d i v i d u al s t o a p l ace w h er e th ey can r ecei ve sai d car e, i t goes w i th ou t say i n g th at th e ef f or ts th ese i n d i v i d u al s p u t i n t o m ake soci ety a h ap p i er , h eal th i er , an d saf er p l ace (som eti m es at th e ex p en se of th ei r ow n saf ety ) d o n ot go u n n oti ced . T h ei r at ten ti on an d car e t o t h ose i n n eed i s esp eci al ly i m p or tan t d u r i n g su ch u n cer tai n ti m es. I t i s becau se of th em t h at t h e w or l d i s abl e to keep m ov i n g f or w ar d even w h en i t seem s l i ke ever y th i n g i s f al l i n g ap ar t . Som eh ow, ever y si n gl e ti m e, t h ey m an age t o gl u e ou r soci et y back togeth er , ju st by l en d i n g a h el p i n g h an d . the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

enterta inment

2021 Movie Recap B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

a rt b y emma phillips L ook i n g back , 20 21 w as a y ear f u l l of ch aos, n ew tech n ol ogy, n ew i n n ovati on s, CO V I D - 19 var i an ts, an d , th an k f u l ly, a r et u r n t o m ov i e th eat er s. M ost l i kely d u e to a l ack of m ov i es l ast y ear , cr azed f an s m asked u p an d w en t ou t to cel ebr ate t h e r el eases of sever al n ew m ov i es. M an y bi g ti tl es w er e r el eased th i s p ast y ear , bu t som e, su ch as ?D u n e,? ?Sp i d er - M an : N o W ay H om e,? ?H ou se of Gu cci ,? an d ?En can to," ear n ed th e m ost att en ti on f r om th e f an s an d th e m ost m on ey at th e box of f i ce.

"Sp i d er - M an : N o W ay H o m e" Rel ease D at e: D ec. 17, 20 21 D o m est i c B ox O f f i ce Ear n i n g: $572,984,769 Ro t t en T o m at o es Rat i n g: 90 % Su m m ar y : "Sp i d er - M an : N o W ay H om e" i s th e th i r d i n stal l m en t of Tom H ol l an d ?s Sp i d er - M an ser i es. T h i s i s th e th i r d ser i es ad ap tati on of M ar vel ?s Sp i d er - M an . Peter Par ker , p or tr ay ed by Tom H ol l an d , h as n ow h ad h i s su p er h er o i d en ti ty as Sp i d er - M an r el eased to th e p u bl i c, t h r ow i n g h i s l i f e i n to ch aos. W h en h i s acti on s h ave r ep er cu ssi on s on h i s gi r l f r i en d , M J, p or t r ay ed by Z en d ay a, an d h i s best f r i en d , N ed , p or tr ay ed by Jacob B atal on , Peter seek s th e h el p of an ot h er f el l ow su p er h er o, D oct or Str an ge, p or tr ay ed by B en ed i ct Cu m ber batch . W h en D octor St r an ge?s at tem p ts go w r on g, Pet er i s f aced w i th n ew, f or ei gn , an d d an ger ou s v i l l ai n s an d h e al so r ecei ves h el p f r om f el l ow h er oes. Peter m u st l ear n w h at i t tr u ly m ean s to be a h er o an d t h e sacr i f i ces t h at com e w i t h i t .

"D u n e" Rel ease D at e: O ct . 22, 20 21 D o m est i c B ox O f f i ce Ear n i n g: $99,244,744 Ro t t en T o m at o es Rat i n g: 83% Su m m ar y : B ased on t h e 1965 sci en ce f i cti on n ovel by Fr an k H er ber t , "D u n e" f ol l ow s th e stor y of Pau l Atr ei d es, p or t r ay ed by T i m oth ee Ch al am et. Pau l , bor n i n t o a n obl e f am i ly, m u st n av i gat e l i f e on a n ew p l an et cal l ed A r r ak i s, or D u n e, k n ow n as th e m ost d an ger ou s p l an et i n th e u n i ver se. D u n e f ol l ow s n ot on ly Pau l ?s stor y, bu t al so th e stor y of h i s p ar en ts D u ke L eto, p or tr ay ed by O scar I saac, an d L ad y Jessi ca, p or t r ay ed by Rebecca Fu r gu son , w h o h el p h i m on h i s jou r n ey. H ost i l e f or ces ex p l od e i n to con f l i ct over a p r eci ou s r esou r ce on D u n e cal l ed sp i ce an d Pau l i s f or ced t o f i n al ly f ace h i s d esti n y.

"En can t o" Rel ease D at e: N ov. 24th 20 21 D o m est i c B ox O f f i ce Ear n i n g: $93,149,389 Ro t t en T o m at o es Rat i n g: 93% Su m m ar y : "En can to" i s th e n ew est an i m ated f i l m r el eased by D i sn ey w h i ch f ol l ow s th e l i f e of a m agi cal f am i ly i n Col om bi a. T h e M ad r i gal f am i ly l i ve i n a m agi cal h ou se an d each ch i l d i s gi ven a u n i qu e gi f t su ch as com m u n i cati n g w i th an i m al s, h eal i n g w i th f ood , su p er str en gth , an d m or e. A l l of th e f am i ly m em ber s h ave a gi f t excep t f or th e p r otagon i st, M i r abel , voi ced by Step h an i e Beatr i z. A f ter sp en d i n g th e m ajor i ty of h er l i f e f eel i n g a bi t too n or m al , M i r abel l ear n s th at sh e m i gh t be h er f am i ly ?s l ast h op e. W h en M i r abel d i scover s th at h er f am i ly m em ber s m ay be l osi n g th ei r p ow er s, sh e goes on a jou r n ey to f i n d ou t w h at i s h ap p en i n g an d w h at sh e can d o to save h er h ou se an d h er f am i ly ?s m i r acl e.

"H o u se o f Gu cci " Rel ease D at e: N ov. 24, 20 21 D o m est i c B ox O f f i ce Ear n i n g: $48,417,498 Ro t t en T o m at o es Rat i n g: 63% Su m m ar y : "H ou se of Gu cci " i s n ot on ly based on a tr u e stor y, bu t al so th e book "T h e H ou se of Gu cci : A Sen sat i on al St or y of M u r d er , M ad n ess, Gl am ou r , an d Gr eed ", w h i ch w as w r i t ten i n 20 0 1 by Sar a Gay Fad en . T h e f i l m f ol l ow s Patr i zi a Reggi an i , p or tr ay ed by L ad y Gaga, an I tal i an ou tsi d er f r om h u m bl e begi n n i n gs. Sh e m u st n av i gate m ar r y i n g M au r i zi o Gu cci , p or tr ay ed by Ad am D r i ver , an d al so m ar r y i n g i n to a p r esti gi ou s f am i ly, k n ow n as th e h ou se of Gu cci . Sh e m u st ad ap t to h er n ew f ou n d f am i ly l egacy an d th e r esp on si bi l i ti es th at com e w i th i t. T h i s n ew l i f e n ot on ly br i n gs h er r i ch es an d n ew op p or tu n i t i es, bu t al so betr ay al , tr aged y, r even ge, an d m u r d er .

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

enterta inment

A Bla st From the Pa st B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff writer & D istribution M anager 20 21 cam e an d w en t an d n ow i t 's ti m e to r i n g i n th e n ew y ear , an d w h at better w ay i s th er e th en to l ook back at som e of t h e t h i n gs w e gr ew u p w i t h ? Ten y ear s ago m ar k s th e star t of 20 12, a ver y su ccessf u l y ear f or m ov i e stu d i os, au th or s, an d si n ger s al i ke. L et ?s t ake a l ook back an d ju m p h ead - f i r st i n t o a w or l d f u l l of n eon an d gl i tt er ju st to m ake ou r selves f eel a l i tt l e bi t ol d er . 20 12 w as t h e y ear t h at br ou gh t m an y cl assi c m ov i es i n t o ou r gen er at i on . Acti on an d ad ven t u r e m ov i es w er e m ost p op u l ar d u r i n g th i s t i m e f r am e, m ak i n g w ay f or th e h i gh est gr ossi n g m ov i e th at y ear to be ?T h e Aven ger s.? ?T h e H u n ger Gam es? an d ?T h e A m azi n g Sp i d er M an al so cam e ou t d u r i n g th i s y ear , sol i d i f y i n g ou r l ove f or acti on m ov i es. D i sn ey h i t bi g w i t h ?Br ave? bei n g r el eased , gar n er i n g l ove f r om m an y p eop l e, ch i l d r en an d ad u l ts al i ke. T h e ?T w i l i gh t? ser i es h ad al so com e t o an en d i n 20 12 w i th t h e r el ease of th e f i f t h an d f i n al m ov i e, ?T w i l i gh t B r eak i n g D aw n ; Par t. 2.? I t's saf e to say th at 10 y ear s ago, w e r eal ly l oved d r am ati c acti on m ov i es.

poop

Con ti n u i n g ou r l ove f or d r am a, w e see m an y of th e book s th at cam e ou t i n 20 12 th at l ean ed to th e m or e d r am at i c si d e. T h e m ost p op u l ar book f r om 20 12 w as Joh n Gr een ?s h i t cl assi c, "T h e Fau l t i n O u r Star s." O th er book s th at gr aced t h e m ar ket i n cl u d e "T h e Sel ect i on " by K i er a Cass, th e f i r st book i n "T h e Sh ad ow an d B on e T r i l ogy " - "Sh ad ow an d Bon e" by L ei gh B ar d u go, "Gon e Gi r l " by Gi l l i an Fly n n , an d "W on d er " by R.J. Pal aci o.

M an y son gs t h at w e jam ou t to d u r i n g Pr om an d ot h er sch ool d an ces cam e ou t i n 20 12. Rock , Pop an d R& B/ H i p H op w er e cou n ted as t h e t op gen r es, w h i ch i s r ef l ected i n som e of th e m ost p op u l ar son gs f r om th at y ear . B i l l boar d ?s en d - of - th e- y ear t op 10 0 son gs cou n t ed Goy te an d K i m br a?s, ?Som ebod y T h at I U sed to K n ow ? at th e top . Som e son gs f r om ar ou n d t h e w or l d al so d om i n at ed t h e ch ar ts su ch as Psy ?s ?Gan gn am Sty l e? w h i ch h i t bi g i n A m er i ca i n 20 12. O th er p op u l ar son gs f r om t h at y ear w er e ?Cal l m e M ay be? by Car ly Rea Jep son , ?Star sh i p s? by N i ck i M i n aj, an d ever y on e?s f avor i t e, ?W h at M akes You B eau ti f u l ? by O n e D i r ecti on .

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

enterta inment

Feeling '22 B y Em m a Far l ey Staff Writer

N ew y ear , n ew? an y th i n g? 20 22 br i n gs tr ep i d ati on , exci tem en t, an d p er h ap s even a bi t of f ear f or m an y. W h at w i l l h ap p en ? W i l l th er e be an u n ex p ected m ajor even t? H ow abou t a cel ebr i ty scan d al ? I t?s bou n d to h ap p en soon . W i l l Fosd al s com e u p w i th a w ay to m ake th ei r d on u t s som eh ow, i m p ossi bly, bet ter ? N obod y k n ow s. H ow ever , a f ew stu d en t s ar e w i l l i n g to take a gu ess as to h ow th i s n ew y ear w i l l go.

?T h er e?s goi n g to be ten n ew var i an ts of CO V I D - 19, p r obably. A l so a n ew Pokém on gam e.? - L ogan H ef ter (10 ) ?I d on ?t k n ow w h at 20 22 w i l l br i n g, bu t a good w ay to star t th e y ear of f w ou l d be to d el et e T w i tter .? - Car son Sm i t h (12) ?I h on estly th i n k i t m i gh t br i n g ou t th e best i n p eop l e.? - L an d en O d egaar d (9) ?I ?m n ot say i n g th e w or l d ?s goi n g to en d , bu t i f i t h ap p en s, I tol d y ou so.? - Ky an n a W i l l i am son (11) ?I bel i eve w e w i l l al l get th r ou gh th i s, togeth er bu t sep ar ate f r om each oth er i n ou r ow n l i tt l e bu bbl es, d ay by d ay.? - Jad e Gar f oot (11) ?I th i n k th at i t w i l l h ave som e si m i l ar ef f ects to w h at ever y n ew y ear h as br ou gh t, w i th p eop l e bei n g m oti vated to su cceed an d h ave better h abi ts, bu t of cou r se th i s y ear i s al so d i f f er en t becau se i t?s th e th i r d y ear of CO V I D - 19 bei n g p r eval en t [? ] I n gen er al , i t?s u p to p eop l e w h o w an t th i n gs to ch an ge to m ake th at ch an ge i n th e n ew y ear .? - M i l es H er i tsch (9) ?20 22 w i l l p r obably br i n g a l ot m or e ch al l en ges [? ] I d o h ave h op e th at 20 22 w i l l br i n g u s p er sever an ce an d str en gth , bu t of cou r se th e n egat i ves can ?t be i gn or ed .? - A l l i K r cm a (12) ?I bel i eve 20 22 w i l l br i n g a l ot of con f u si on [? ] bu t on th e br i gh t si d e, p eop l e ar e goi n g to f i gu r e ou t w h o th ey r eal ly ar e i n th i s cr azy w or l d , an d r eal i ze th ey on ly n eed th em selves an d f am i ly i n th e en d .? - Jam es M ah i eu (11) ?I th i n k I taly w i l l si n k i n to th e ocean . I ju st th i n k th e w h ol e cou n tr y w i l l f al l of f of Eu r op e, Atl an ti s st y l e.? - M i ch ael A n sch u t z (10 )

?I th i n k i t w i l l be a tu r n i n g p oi n t an d th i n gs w i l l star t to r etu r n back to n or m al .?

?I th i n k p eop l e w i l l i n ven t a n ew w ay to m ake m ac an d ch eese.?

- Au tu m n Bon ti (9)

- G Gi bson (12)

a rt b y emma phillips the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

opinions

Not "Mea t"ing Expecta tions B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

t ?s h ar d ly a con t r over si al i d ea th at al l st u d en ts sh ou l d h ave access t o a h ot l u n ch w h en t h ey ?r e at sch ool . Ch i l d h u n ger i n i ti ati ves p r each n ou r i sh m en t w h en i t com es to f oster i n g p r od u ct i ve ed u cati on . B ecau se of th i s an d oth er f act or s, som e sch ool s, i n cl u d i n g ou r ow n , h ave even t aken st ep s to m ake h ot l u n ch m or e accessi bl e to al l by p r ov i d i n g each st u d en t w i t h o n e ser v i n g o f h o t l u n ch p er d ay, com p l et ely f r ee of ch ar ge. T h e ben evolen t in ten tion to keep all studen ts well-fed is cer tain ly th er e. H owever, on e studen t dem ogr aph ic still f in ds it quite ch al l en gi n g to cash i n th ei r ch eck f or a f r ee sch ool lu n ch m ost d ay s d u e to a lack of v i able lu n ch op ti on s, d esp i te th ei r d i etar y r estr i cti on bei n g on e of th e m ost com m on i n bot h th e cou n tr y an d w or l d . Sch ool l u n ch es ar e n ot accessi bl e f or vegetar i an st u d en t s, or t h ose of a veget ar i an v ar i ati on , an d t h i s can n ot r eason ably con t i n u e. T h i s i s a n u an ced con ver sati on , no d ou bt. Fi r stly, i t?s i m p or t an t to r ecogn i ze t h e am ou n t of ef f or t th at i s gi ven by t h ose w h o w or k i n ou r sch ool k i tch en s each d ay, n ot on ly f eed i n g h u n d r ed s of h u n gr y stu d en ts w h o com e t h r ou gh t h ei r l i n e bu t cl ean i n g u p af t er th em an d p r ep ar i n g f or th e n ex t d ay ?s r u sh . T h e am ou n t of ef f or t t h ey gi ve to keep the school fed is im m ense. T his is not a

problem to be attributed to our wonderful m eal staff. Secon d ly, i t m u st be ack n ow l ed ged t h at p u bl i c sch ool s i n gen er al ar e u n d er f u n d ed , an d i t i s u n r eal i sti c t o ex p ect t h at th e l u n ch l i n e be equ i p p ed w i t h a m eal op t i on t o cover each d i etar y r est r i ct i on i n th e book . Fu r t h er m or e, I am n ot ask i n g f or t h e sch ool to begi n bu d geti n g f or th e p u r ch ase of I m p ossi bl e Bu r ger s an d B ey on d M eat m eatbal l s. T h i s i s n ot a f ai r ex p ectati on t o p l ace on ou r sch ool . I n stead , w e can p u t 18

i n th e ef f or t to m ake sm al l , r eason abl e ch an ges. I am a p escetar i an . T h i s m ean s th at th e on ly ty p e of m eat I con su m e f al l s i n t o th e seaf ood categor y, an d even th en , I l i m i t m y con su m p t i on of i t. T h i s ch oi ce m ean s a l ot to m e, w h i ch i s l ar gely w h y I car e so m u ch abou t keep i n g l u n ch accessi bl e to al l . I eat l u n ch w i t h sever al i n d i v i d u al s who ar e vegetar i an s, too. W h en ou r sm al l gr ou p f i r st ven t u r ed to th e caf et er i a an d f aced th e h ot l u n ch sel ecti on s th i s y ear , we w er e a bi t d i sap p oi n t ed an d h ar d p r essed to f i n d ou r m eal s. For a w eek str ai gh t, each of us took our pick bet w een a sl i ce of ch eese p i zza (i f th e su p p ly h ad n ?t al r ead y been d ep l eted ) an d a cu p of p l ai n l et tu ce, because, to our disappointm ent, the p r em ad e sal ad s al l i n cl u d e m eat. N atu r al ly, bei n g h u n gr y an d w an t i n g m or e su sten an ce, w e al l ch ose th e ch eese p i zza.

acr oss i n th e l u n ch l i n e w h er e m eat i s m i xed i n w i th a v i tal el em en t of th e d i sh r ath er th an bei n g set asi d e as an ot h er step . M an y of th e m eal s p r ep ar ed f or stu d en ts cou l d be m ad e accessi bl e to vegetar i an (an d vegan ) stu d en ts by si m p ly h av i n g th e m eat i n an ad jacen t tr ay, m ak i n g i t an ?ad d - on ? op ti on f or stu d en ts r ath er th an a d ef au l t. A n oth er sm al l ch an ge th at cou l d be m ad e to h el p vegetar i an stu d en ts h ave l u n ch op ti on s i s to alw ay s i n cl u d e a m eatl ess op ti on on th e h ot bar . T h e h ot bar , of ten equ i p p ed w i th p r e- w r ap p ed h am bu r ger s, h ot d ogs, an d th e l i ke, som eti m es h ol d s a m eatl ess op ti on , bu t u n f or tu n ately sai d i n cl u si on s ar e sp or ad i c. Fr om p i zza d i p p er s to ch eese qu esad i l l as an d m or e, th er e ar e cer tai n ly vegetar i an h ot bar op ti on s th at ou r sch ool of f er s. T h e on ly p r obl em i s th at th ey ar e i n f r equ en tly i n cl u d ed i n th e d ai ly l i n eu p . I f a p oi n t

th ese l u n ch op t i on s ar e n ot i n cl u d ed i n t h e sch ool ?s ?f r ee l u n ch ? p r om i se. Ex p ecti n g a veget ar i an stu d en t to cr af t a f i l l i n g, n ou r i sh i n g sch ool l u n ch f r om à l a car t e i t em s d ay af ter d ay i s i n equ i tabl e. I t i s n ot th e sol u t i on . I t ?s h ar d ly a stu d en t?s f au l t t h at t h e h ot l u n ch m i gh t n ot y i el d an y op ti on s w h i ch t h ey can , w i th ou t bet r ay i n g t h ei r d i et, eat , an d th at t h ey h ave t o p i ck f r om à l a car t e op t i on s i n stead . A stu d en t sh ou l d n ot be p u n i sh ed , f i n an ci al ly, f or th i s over si gh t. N ot ever y bod y i s so f or t u n ate as to be able to p ay f or ap p r oxim ately $6 wor th of à la car te item s each day, w h ich m ust be r em em ber ed. I, p er son al ly, am f or tu n ate. I h ave m y ow n car , a l i cen se, an d a w el l - en ou gh - p ay i n g job f or a teen ager . T h ese f actor s al l ow m e t o l eave cam p u s f or l u n ch w h en ever I ?d l i ke an d bu y m y ow n m eal som ew h er e t h at I k n ow h as op ti on s f or m e. T h i s i s w h at

cou l d be m ad e to i n cl u d e a si n gl e m eatl ess op ti on each d ay al on g w i th th e al r ead y - p r esen t sp r ead of m eat- i n cl u si ve p i ck s, vegetar i an stu d en ts w ou l d h ave an easi er ti m e f i n d i n g a l u n ch th ey can eat . T h i s i ssu e m ay seem r el ati vely m en i al to som e. A f ter al l , p ast th e h ot l u n ch l i n e, th er e ar e al so m an y ch i p op ti on s, a f r u i t an d veggi e bar , an d som e m eatl ess i tem s f ou n d i n th e cool er su ch as y ogu r t s. W h i l e th i s i s tr u e, w e m u st r em em ber th at each of th ese ex tr a i tem s ar e con si d er ed ?à l a car te,? m ean i n g a stu d en t m u st p ay f or th em ou t of th ei r accou n t , w h i ch r ai ses an ot h er con cer n en ti r ely :

I ?ve r esor t ed t o d oi n g m ost d ay s n ow, af t er on e t oo m an y sch ool l u n ch es w h er e I l ef t f eel i n g sti l l - h u n gr y an d d i sap p oi n ted . W i th m y r esou r ces, I ?m abl e to go t o a d r i ve- th r u or even h om e t o m y ow n vegetar i an - f r i en d ly p an t r y an d m ake m y sel f a f u l f i l l i n g m eal . I h ave ch oi ces. H ow ever , i n r eal i ty, t h i s i s a p r i v i l ege h ar d ly sh ar ed by each stu d en t at SH S, an d i t i s f or th ese st u d en ts t h at w e m u st m ake var i ou s sm al l ch an ges. T h er e sh ou l d n ever be a d ay w h er e t h er e i s n ot a si n gl e m eat l ess op ti on i n th e h ot l u n ch ar ea. N o stu d en t sh ou l d f i n d th em selves h u n gr y at sch ool w h en equ i tabl e m easu r es can be taken t o p r even t i t .

a rt b y emma phillips A s ti m e h as p r ogr essed , w e?ve h ad th e occasi on al op p or tu n i t y to eat som eth i n g f r om th e actu al d ai ly - p r ep ar i n gs, su ch as n ach os (can I h ave th at w i t h ou t th e m eat, p l ease?) an d p ast a w i t h sau ce (ju st th e sau ce p l ease, no m eatbal l s). Som e d ay s th ou gh , th e l att er op ti on w as n ot v i abl e, becau se th e m eatbal l s h ad al r ead y been i n cor p or at ed i n to th e sau ce an d th er e w as n on e to be f ou n d w i t h ou t . H er ei n l i es on e of th e gr eatest ch an ges th at I can see bei n g m ad e to h el p vegetar i an stu d en ts h ave r eason abl e l u n ch op ti on s: w h en p ossi bl e, keep th e m eat sep ar ate. T h er e h ave been m an y d i sh es I ?ve com e

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

opinions

Put Your Phone Down B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

am n ot som eon e w h o f eel s st r on gly abou t m an y th i n gs. I t en d t o d o m y best to keep t o m y sel f an d h ave p eace w i t h th e t h i n gs th at I can n ot con t r ol . Bu t l ately, I h ave been i n cr easi n gly f r u st r at ed w i t h t h e h ar m t h at soci al m ed i a d oes to y ou n g ch i l d r en an d t een ager s. T h e gr asp t h at soci al m ed i a an d ot h er on l i n e p l atf or m s h ave on th i s gen er ati on is t r u ly t er r i f y i n g. T h e em ot i on al d am age th at soci al m ed i a cau ses ever y d ay i s, i n m y ey es, a p an d em i c. So m an y p eop l e p u t t h ei r sel f w or t h i n th e h an d s of st r an ger s t h at l i ke t h ei r soci al m ed i a p osts. T h e r eal i t y i s, soci al m ed i a an d t ech n ol ogy ar e n ot goi n g aw ay. I k n ow th at an d I w ou l d h op e th at ever y on e el se k n ow s th at. H ow ever , t h at d oes n ot m ean th at th e sy st em sh ou l d n ot be cr i ti qu ed an d cr i ti ci zed . Soci al m ed i a n eed s to be l i m i t ed an d i t n eed s to be m on i t or ed f r om ou r y ou t h as m u ch as p ossi bl e. Som e of t h e ear l i est m em or i es I h ave ar e sp en t star i n g at t h e scr een of m y f am i ly 's ol d com p u t er . For as l on g as I can r em em ber , I h ave l oved w at ch i n g v i d eos. Ran gi n g f r om m y f avor i t e m u si c to com ed y sk i ts, I w ou l d sp en d h ou r s br ow si n g con t en t . T h i s ex p osu r e t o t h e bl ack h ol e t h at i s th e i n t er n et l ed to me d i scover i n g som e t h i n gs t h at I p r obably sh ou l d n ?t h ave been seei n g at si x or seven y ear s ol d . W h eth er t h at be v i ol en ce, p r of an i t y, sex u al an d drug r ef er en ces, br ow si n g th e i n t er n et alw ay s seem ed t o l ead f r om on e th i n g t o t h e ot h er . I t cou l d take m e a m at t er of t h r ee cl i ck s t o go f r om t h e A n n oy i n g O r an ge v i d eos I u sed t o w atch t o som eth i n g l i ke t h e con ten t m en ti on ed . And gr an t ed , t h i s w as d u r i n g t h e t i m e bef or e soci al 19

m ed i a becam e p r om i n en t an d bef or e ever y f i ve- y ear - ol d k i d h ad th ei r ow n sm ar t p h on e. W h at th i s d i d w as ex p ose m e to a bu n ch of th i n gs th at w er e w ay too m u ch f or m e to h an d l e w h en I w as gr ow i n g u p . I t af f ect ed th e w ay I th ou gh t abou t th i n gs, h ow I beh aved , an d th e w ay I i n ter act ed w i t h m y p eer s. A n d f or m e, i t f el t l i ke I w as tr y i n g to gr ow u p an d act l i ke an ad u l t w ay too y ou n g. O n ce I h i t m y ear ly h i gh sch ool y ear s, m y m em or y of th e th i n gs I w as ex p osed to began to f ad e an d I began to m at u r e a bi t m or e. Bu t f or th e l on gest ti m e, w h at I saw on th e i n ter n et w as w h at I em u l at ed , i n ter n al ly an d ex ter n al ly. W h y i s an y of th at i m p or t an t ? I k n ow th at my ex p er i en ce i s n ot on e I sh ar e al on e. Si n ce th e begi n n i n g of th e i n ter n et , y ou n g k i d s h ave h ad access to a ton of th i n gs th ey d i d n ?t n eed access to. W h at ?s d i f f er en t in tod ay 's w or l d th an th e on e I ex p er i en ced i s ex p osu r e an d access to ex p l i ci t con ten t i s at an al l ti m e h i gh . W h et h er i t be p l at f or m s l i ke T i k t ok , Sn ap ch at, or I n stagr am , m or e an d m or e y ou n g ch i l d r en ar e joi n i n g on l i n e p l at f or m s ever y y ear . T h er e i s a sp eci f i c p r obl em i n th e am ou n t of con t en t th at i s r el ated to sex , v i ol en ce, an d oth er top i cs th at I can ?t ex p l i ci tly m en t i on in a stu d en t n ew sp ap er . T h e m or e ex p osu r e th at k i d s h ave to th i s k i n d of con ten t , th e m or e l i kely th ey ar e to w an t to r ep l i cat e i t an d tr y th e

th i n gs th ey see. T h i s l ead s to a gi an t r abbi t h ol e of gett i n g in to d an ger ou s si t u at i on s. W h i l e I m ay be gett i n g ah ead of m y sel f , f ar too m an y ti m es I h ave seen th i s h ap p en to m y ow n p eer s an d i n th e y ou n ger gen er at i on s as w el l . W h at w e ar e ex p osed to at a y ou n g age i s of ten w h at w e su r r ou n d ou r selves w i th . Ex p osu r e to over ly m atu r e con ten t i s n ot th e on ly p r obl em th at I h ave w i th soci al m ed i a. W h i l e som eti m es i t i s l ooked at as a joke, cy ber bu l ly i n g i s a ser i ou s

p r obl em th at h as a ter r i bl e ef f ect on m en tal h eal th . I n a stu d y d on e by th e U S N ati on al L i br ar y of M ed i ci n e, i t w as f ou n d th at ?ch i l d r en w h o ar e bu l l i ed ar e m or e l i kely to ex p er i en ce sy m p tom s of m en t al h eal th d i sor d er s, su ch as d ep r essi on an d an x i ety. Cy ber bu l ly i n g v i ct i m s r ep or t sel f - i n ju r i ou s beh av i or , su i ci d al i d eat i on , an d ex h i bi t su i ci d al beh av i or s." Soci al m ed i a i s th e r oot of cy ber bu l ly i n g an d i s th e r oot of a l ot of r ecen t m en t al h eal th p r obl em s th at h ave d evel op ed ar ou n d th e w or l d . Soci al m ed i a cr eates al l of th i s p r essu r e to l ook an d act a cer tai n w ay. I k n ow I am n ot al on e w h en I say

th at I h ave p u t w ay t oo m u ch stock i n t o t h e am ou n t of l i kes I get on a p ost , or w h at p eop l e t h i n k abou t m e. So h ow ar e w e su p p osed to solve th i s gr an d p r obl em ? T h e h on est t r u th i s, th er e i s n o sol u ti on . T h e i n t er n et i sn ?t goi n g aw ay, soci al m ed i a i sn ?t goi n g aw ay, an d t ech n ol ogy cer tai n ly i sn ?t goi n g t o go aw ay. T h e on ly sol u ti on I cou l d of f er ar e th e f ol l ow i n g: Rem em ber t h at y ou r w or th i s m or e t h an w h at str an ger s on t h e i n t er n et m ay p er cei ve y ou t o be. Pu t d ow n y ou r p h on e an d i n t er act w i t h t h e w or l d ar ou n d y ou . Pl ay a boar d gam e w i th y ou r f am i ly, d r aw a p i ctu r e of y ou r cat or d og, go f or a w al k , t h e op t i on s ar e en d l ess. M ay be y ou cou l d t ake a m om en t to r ef l ect on h ow soci al m ed i a h as af f ect ed ei t h er y ou or som eon e y ou car e abou t . L ook , I u se soci al m ed i a ju st as m u ch as t h e n ex t p er son . I t i s a p r i m ar y w ay f or m e t o com m u n i cate w i th m y f r i en d s an d f am i ly an d stay i n t h e l oop w i t h w h at i s goi n g on ar ou n d m e. W i th t h at, r ecen tly I h ave tr i ed t o t ake t h e t i m e to r ef l ect on h ow soci al m ed i a h as h ar m ed m e an d th e p eop l e ar ou n d m e. O n e of t h e i m p or t an t th i n gs I h ave t r i ed t o r em i n d m y sel f i s t h at t h e beau ty of t h i s w or l d i s on ly seen w h en y ou f i r st- h an d ed ly i n t er act w i t h i t. You r p h on e w i l l sti l l be th er e at th e en d of t h e d ay. You r soci al m ed i a accou n t s w i l l sti l l be t h er e. I t i s p er f ectly ok ay f or y ou t o take a d eep br eat h , an d u n d er stan d t h at t h er e i s so m u ch m or e t o l i f e t h an w h at w e see beh i n d t h e scr een . the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

opinions

Let Snow Da ys Be Snow Da ys B y D el an ey Gau t h i er News & Opinions Editor

i ctu r e t h i s: i t ?s a col d , ot h er w i se be r el ax i n g. To bl u ster y m or n i n g i n ex p ect teach er s to h ave to m i d - Jan u ar y. You w ake u p do su ch a th i n g is ear ly to y ou r u su al al ar m u n r eason abl e an d an d tr u d ge d ow n st ai r s to u n r eal i st i c. see a sp ar k l i n g l ay er of Even i f teach er s ar e p r i sti n e w h i t e sn ow on th e m an d at ed to assi gn w or k , gr ou n d . Exci t ed ly, y ou r u n m ost w ou l d ju st assi gn t o ch eck t h e n ew s, an d i t ?s bu sy w or k , an d w h at?s th e ju st as y ou su sp ect ed : a p oi n t i n th at? I t ?s n ot a sn ow d ay. v al u abl e u se of an y on e?s N obod y w an t s t o sp en d ti m e. a sn ow d ay i n f r on t of t h ei r s com p u ter , w or k i n g on ma p hillip a rt b y em asy n ch r on ou s assi gn m en t s. T h ose d ay s ar e su p p osed t o be d ay s of f , d ay s f or u s to r el ax w i th ou t w or r y i n g abou t m i ssi n g a cl ass or an assi gn m en t . D ue to th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c, we w er e f or ced to do sch ool t h r ou gh Z oom an d Sch ool ogy assi gn m en ts. Yes, th is w as i m p or tan t f or t h e saf et y of ever y on e i n t h e sch ool d i st r i ct , bu t I an d m an y ot h er s can at t est t o th e f act t h at on l i n e sch ool w as m u ch To m or e d i f f i cu l t th an ad d i n su l t to i n - p er son sch ool i n g. Ju st i n ju r y, th ose w h o ar en ?t becau se w e n ow h ave th e bei n g tested on ACT an d t ech n ol ogy an d ex p er i en ce A sp i r e test d ay s w i l l h ave to t o h an d ou t assi gn m en t s d o v i r tu al l ear n i n g. T h i s an d h ol d cl asses f r om h om e d oesn ?t m ake sen se f or a d oesn ?t m ean w e sh ou l d u se n u m ber of r eason s. i t ever y t i m e sch ool get s Pr i m ar i ly, i t r ai ses th e can cel ed f or th e bad con cer n th at stu d en ts w h o w eath er . w i l l be testi n g on th ose d ay s N ot on ly i s v i r tu al w i l l f al l beh i n d becau se of sch ool i n g on sn ow d ay s a th e ex tr a w or k assi gn ed . I t d etr i m en t t o t h e m en tal d oesn ?t m ake sen se to h ave h eal th of t i r ed h i gh sch ool a v i r tu al l ear n i n g d ay d u r i n g st u d en ts w h o ju st n eed a th ose testi n g p er i od s. I t?s br eak , i t?s an i n con ven i en ce al so a l on g- st an d i n g t o teach er s t o h ave t o p l an tr ad i t i on th at stu d en ts, ou t, assi gn , an d gr ad e esp eci al ly u p p er cl assm en som eth i n g w h en t h ey cou l d w h o h ave al r ead y taken

th ese stan d ar d i zed test s, get th e d ay of f to r el ax w h en oth er s ar e test i n g. Stu d en ts an d f acu l ty al i ke d eser ve th ose covet ed d ay s of f . O n sn ow d ay s, w e sh ou l d be abl e to k i ck back , r el ax , an d take a m u ch - d eser ved br eak f r om ou r bu sy sch ed u l es. T h e w i n ter m on th s ar e a str essf u l ti m e f or al m ost ever y

h i gh sch ool stu d en t, w h at w i th th e en d of th e sem ester an d ex tr acu r r i cu l ar acti v i ti es l i ke w i n ter sp or t s star ti n g u p agai n . A sn ow d ay cou l d p r ove to be a n eed ed br eak f r om th e str ess of ever y d ay l i f e, an d h av i n g to w or r y abou t sch ool ju st i sn ?t f ai r . U n p r eced en ted w eath er cou l d al so cr eate i ssu es w i th i n t er n et con n ecti on . I t?s n ot an i ssu e m an y p eop l e th i n k abou t, bu t as an SH S stu d en t who l i ves 15 m i n u tes f r om tow n , m y W i Fi si gn al i s a bi t l ack l u ster m ost of th e ti m e. W eath er

l i ke w i n d an d sn ow on ly m ake m y con n ect i on w or se, an d I ?m su r e m an y st u d en ts can r el ate. I t ?s f r u st r at i n g en ou gh t o t r y an d d o assi gn m en t s at h om e, an d d oi n g v i r t u al sch ool on a sn ow d ay w ou l d m ake i t m u ch m or e d i f f i cu l t . T h e m ai n ar gu m en t f or asy n ch r on ou s w or k on sn ow d ay s i s th at i t w i l l keep t h e d i str i ct f r om h av i n g t o ex t en d th e sch ool y ear i n Ju n e. T h i s si m p ly d oesn ?t h ol d u p , as w e ar e al l ow ed a cer t ai n num ber of d ay s f or sch ool to be can cel ed r egar d l ess, an d sn ow d ay s ar e so r ar e t h at i t ?s n ot l i kely th e d i str i ct w i l l n eed t o ex t en d t h e y ear an y w ay. I can on ly sp eak f or m y sel f , bu t I w ou l d n ?t m i n d goi n g an ex t r a d ay or two tow ar d s t h e en d of th e y ear an y w ay, as l on g as I got to sl eep i n , m ay be cu r l u p w i th a m u g of h ot cocoa an d a good book , an d ap p r eci at e an ever - el u si ve sn ow d ay i n t h e m i d d l e of w i n ter . Stu d en ts d on ?t w an t t o h ave to d o w or k on sn ow d ay s. Teach er s d on ?t w an t t o assi gn w or k on sn ow d ay s, ei th er . Som e t h i n gs ar e sacr ed , an d i n t h e r ar e even t of a sch ool can cel l at i on becau se of t h e sn ow, w e sh ou l d be en t i t l ed t o ou r p r eci ou s d ay of f . T h er e?s n o gett i n g ar ou n d i t , a sn ow d ay sh ou l d be a sn ow d ay. the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

fea tures

An End Meets A Beg inning B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

h e en d of a sem est er i s job i n Febr u ar y to save u p a ch an ge f or al l SH S m on ey f or an ap ar t m en t, so st u d en ts. Sch ed u l es ar e I ?ll h ave en ou gh sav i n gs sh aken u p , gr ad es ar e p u t i n during my tat too t h e gr ad ebook , an d , f i n ger s ap p r en t i cesh i p [w h i ch i s] cr ossed , y ou st i l l h ave th e of f i ci al ly star t i n g i n O ctober sam e l u n ch as y ou r f r i en d s. [20 22],? L aw r en ce say s. St u d en ts w i l l be t r an sf er r i n g L aw r en ce w i sh es to p u r su e i n to an d ou t of cl asses, an d an ar t i sti c car eer i n th e y ou h ave t o r el i ve t h at r u sh tatt oo i n d u str y, tak i n g ar t of w al k i n g i n t o a cl assr oom cl asses r an gi n g f r om f u l l of n ew p eop l e. p ai n t i n g to cer am i cs at SH S. W el l , m ost of u s w i l l L aw r en ce el abor at es on ex p er i en ce al l of t h i s. w h at d r ew h er to th e T h i s sem est er i s al so an tatt ooi n g: ?T h e f act th at i t op p or tu n i t y f or sen i or s w h o al l ow s y ou to ex p r ess h ave ear n ed al l of th ei r y ou r sel f n ot by d ecor ati n g cr ed i ts to gr ad u ate ear ly. y ou r h om e or w ear i n g f u n A l togeth er , SH S cl ot h es bu t p h y si cal ly r equ i r es 24 f u l l cr ed i ts i n d ecor ati n g y ou r bod y, each or d er to gr ad u at e, w i t h n ew tatt oo tel l i n g a stor y of r equ i r ed cl asses r an gi n g w h er e y ou w er e, w h en y ou f r om Econ om i cs t o a CT E got i t . I t ?s a r eal ly cool ar t cl ass. f or m w i t h a gr eat an d SH S Sen i or H an n ah gr ow i n g com m u n i ty,? L aw r en ce m ad e th e L aw r en ce say s. d eci si on to gr ad u at e ear ly For L awrence, graduating l at e i n h er ju n i or y ear , bu t i t early was not as hard as it w as som et h i n g sh e h ad m ay seem . been th i n k i n g abou t si n ce ?I t w as ver y easy to h er f r esh m an y ear . r ecei ve al l th e n ecessar y L aw r en ce ex p l ai n s th e cr ed i t s as I h ave on ly taken r eason s w h y sh e d eci d ed on e stu d y h al l . By tal k i n g t h at gr ad u at i n g ear ly w ou l d w i t h M r s. A sh , th e sch ool be th e best t h i n g f or h er . cou n sel or , sh e l et m e k n ow ph?m ?I u tte at i dn g ear ly so w h at el se I n eed ed . Bu t ot ogrsuad b mi b na tha n va g I can w or k at m y cu r yr en t job [si ce I h ad ] been th i n k i n g a dnes an d star t w or k i n g at m y n ew abou t i t f or a l on g ti m e, [i t] w as r eal ly easy,? L aw r en ce say s.

SH S varsity f ootbal l p l ay er N ate Vaged es al so gr ad u ated ear ly to p u r su e nc e an ap p r en t i cena h la wre d b y ha n te sh i p as an it m b su p ho to el ectr i ci an . Vaged es ex p l ai n s w h at exp er i en ces m oti vated him to gr ad u ate ear ly. ?[I ] m ad e th e d eci si on to gr ad u ate af ter al l m y f r i en d s f r om [th e] cl ass of 20 21 gr ad u ated . I w an t ed to be w i th al l of th em an d be abl e to v i si t th em at col l ege,? Vaged es say s. L i f e p u l l s p eop l e i n d i r ecti on s w h i ch th ey m ay h ave n ot i n i ti al ly ex p ected . T h ose w ay s m ay n ot ad h er e to w h at oth er s ar e d oi n g, bu t th at d oesn 't h ave to l i m i t y ou . Alter n ative option s ar e th er e, an d som etim es takin g th em can be m or e ben ef icial th an takin g th e I ?d n or m al r oute, as sh ow n by r ecom m en d w or k i n g m or e m er i f y ou L aw r en ce an d Vagedes. n ga- tjob og of ten r or get til n awL eanwc e's ec o m e a To th ose i n t er ested i n dLon ? t h ave on e [...] I w ou l d b r e o t n s c e sk e g o aldi ihste.s tan o aitrnct g gr ad u ati n g ear ly, L aw r en ce at d r ecom m enen too siggdtnast t fosav i l e o v r a r h t e r f unteed ad v i ses, ?I f y ou d on ?t k n ow ure acqu i r i n g t h i nc a gs y ou re w h at y ou ?r e goi n g to d o, to m ove an d t h i n keirn. g abou t con ti n u e sch ool . D on ?t l eave col l ege.? ear ly. T h er e i s n o p oi n t u n l ess y ou n eed m on ey f or col l ege an d al r ead y h ave th e cr ed i ts y ou n eed f or th e m ajor y ou w an t,? L aw r en ce say s, ?I f y ou k n ow w h at y ou ?r e d oi n g,

la wre ha nna h y b d te ub mit p ho to s

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

nc e

fea tures

Cura ting Artistic Curiosities a t Ab el B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor

s th e bl ack d oor cl oses beh i n d a cu r i ou s gu est, t h e ou tsi d e w or l d becom es m u f f l ed . H er e, t h e r u m bl e of car s cr ossi n g t h e tr ai n t r ack s i s si l en ced an d th e st i n g of t h e bi t t er w i n t er br eeze becom es a l i n ger i n g t i n gl e. I t i s t h r ou gh th i s d oor th at th e dull, d i r ty, sal t cover ed cem en t si d ew al k m or p h s i n to i n v i ti n g w ood en f l oor s th at en cou r age each v i si t or to joi n th e m an y p eop l e w h o h ave w al ked t h em bef or e. T he su n l i gh t gen tly gu i d es th e ey e t o an ex p an si ve d i sp l ay t h at i s car ef u l ly cu r at ed to m ake u p St ou gh ton ?s ow n A bel Con t em p or ar y Gal l er y. I t s br i gh t an d ai r y sp ace is p acked with p i eces con cei ved f r om u n i qu e m i n d s, cr af ted w ith d i f f er en t h an d s, al l w i t h st or i es ar t i sts ar e eager to w h i sp er to y ou . L au r en M i l l er , A bel Po t t er y, A b el 's m o st p o p u l ar m ed i u m i s d i sp l ay ed am o n g o t h er p ai n t i n gs.

photo b y ma d ison luick

Con tem p or ar y Gal l er y ?s assi st an t d i r ect or , h as an ey e f or th e beau ti f u l , th ou gh t p r ovok i n g, an d tr an scen d en t p i eces th at cover al m ost al l su r f aces of th e gal l er y. Sh e en cou r ages ever y on e to com e i n an d m ake con n ect i on s w i th th ei r col l ecti on , ju st as sh e h as. ?M y f avor i te th i n g abou t w or k i n g h er e i s gett i n g to tal k to p eop l e abou t ar t, esp eci al ly p eop l e who m i gh t n ot h ave a back gr ou n d i n th e ar ts or get ti n g to tal k to p eop l e w h o com e i n to th i s p l ace an d m ay be f eel a l i ttl e bi t i n ti m i d ated ,? M i l l er say s. ?I l i ke to f i n d w ay s to con n ect w i t h th em becau se i f y ou can see an d tel l me w h at y ou 'r e seei n g, or i n an y w ay ex p er i en ce som eth i n g, w e can h ave a good con ver sat i on .? W h en th ei r l ease r an ou t , th e gal l er y, w h i ch w as star t ed over 30 y ear s ago i n an ex- cr eam er y i n Paol i , W i sc., m ad e i t s w ay to 524 East M ai n St r eet in St ou gh ton . T h ei r n ew h om e, an ex tobacco w ar eh ou se tu r n ed an ti qu e sh op w as i n r ou gh sh ap e. W h en r en ov ati on s began i n 20 18, th e A bel team qu i ck ly l ear n ed th at r en ov ati n g th e 131 y ear ol d bu i l d i n g w ou l d be n o easy task . ?I t w as gu t r en ovat i on ,? M i l l er say s. ?W e w er e get ti n g ever y t h i n g back to th e r oots an d tr y i n g to u se th e sp ace to ju st r eal ly sh ow of f th e bon es of th e bu i l d i n g bu t al so gi ve u s a l ot of r oom to p l ay w i th th e sp ace.? A f ter a r en ov ati on p r ocess th at sp an n ed ju st

photo b y ma d ison luick Pi ct u r ed ab ov e i s a l o o k i n t o H el en H aw l ey 's "D r ai n ed L ak e," w h i ch cu r r en t l y o ccu p i es t h e N o . 5 sp ace at A b el . T o p r i gh t co r n er : T h e r ab b i t - l i k e cr eat u r e i s a w al l m o u n t ed p i ece by K el l y C o n n o l e w h i ch i s p ar t o f t h e "B eau t i f u l Fi ct i o n " gr o u p sh ow . Ph o t o su b m i t t ed by A b el C o n t em p o r ar y Gal l er y. 22

sh or t of a y ear , th e gal l er y of f i ci al ly m oved i n t o th ei r n ew sp ace i n M ay 20 19 an d op en ed f or th e p u bl i c l ater th at m on th . W h en l ook i n g f or a n ew gal l er y sp ace, ow n er T h er esa A bel w as n ot p u r p osely l ook i n g f or a p l ace i n Stou gh ton ? at l east n ot at f i r st. ?W e k n ew w e w an ted to be cl ose to M ad i son becau se a l ot of ou r cl i en ts com e f r om th e M i lw au kee an d Ch i cago ar ea. W e l ooked at M ad i son , bu t th i n gs w er e w ay too ex p en si ve th er e,? M i l l er say s. ?B ei n g i n an ar ea th at h as a l ot of h i st or i cal si gn i f i can ce w as a p oi n t th at w e w er e k i n d of l ook i n g f or , esp eci al ly becau se ou r ol d h om e w as [a h i st or i c] bu i l d i n g. So w e m oved i n t o th e ar ts d i str i ct, w h i ch w e d i d n 't even k n ow Stou gh ton h ad .? N ow, i n th ei r n ew sp ace, A bel can am aze i ts v i si tor s w i th i ts u n i qu ely cu r at ed col l ecti on . ?W e ar e p r obably best k n ow n f or ou r cer am i cs [...] i n th e con n ecti on s th r ou gh [th e Paol i l ocat i on ] an d th e con n ecti on s w i th ar ti sts w e al r ead y h ad , w e en d ed u p bu i l d i n g a r eal ly bi g an d n ati on al ly r en ow n ed cer am i cs base,? M i l l er say s. N ot on ly d oes th e gal l er y h ou se a p l eth or a of cer am i c p i eces, th ey f eatu r e betw een 90 to 10 0 ar ti sts th at ar e r ep r esen ted i n th e gal l er y con stan tly. A bou t ever y seven w eek s, th ose ar ti sts ar e h i gh l i gh ted i n sol o an d gr ou p sh ow s, as w el l as i n th e N o. 5 sp ace. To k i ck of f th ese ex h i bi ts, A bel h ost s a r ecep ti on th at i s op en to th e p u bl i c on th e f i r st Fr i d ay th e sh ow op en s. T h e N o. 5 sp ace, a sm al l r oom tu cked i n th e back cor n er of A bel ?s secon d f l oor , p r ov i d es y et an ot h er u n i qu e op p or t u n i ty f or an ar ti st to be f eatu r ed . ?D r ai n ed L ake,? an i n stal l ati on by H el en H aw l ey, cu r r en tly occu p i es th e sp ace. T h r ou gh p ai n ti n gs, a p oem , an d on e h u n d r ed u n i qu e, r ock l i ke sh ap es, H aw l ey ex p l or es th e p sy ch ol ogi cal state of a d r ai n ed l ake. I n th e ex h i bi ti on statem en t,

H aw l ey states, ?M y w or k con si d er s h ow l an gu age i s m u d d y an d h y p n ot i c, h ow i t can sh ap e i n cr ed i bl e p at ter n s, as w el l as th e d r egs of th ou gh t.? A bel al so h osts a y ear ly Cer am i cs I n v i tati on al w h er e cer am i ci st s f r om al l over th e cou n t r y ar e i n v i t ed to sh ow of f t h ei r w or k . A bove al l , t h e gal l er y ten d s to sou r ce t h ei r ar t l ocal ly, w i th m u ch of t h ei r ar t com i n g f r om cr eat i ves i n th e M ad i son ar ea. M i l l er i s h op i n g t h at A bel can sp r ead an i m p or tan t m essage w h en i t com es to su p p or ti n g ar t i sts an d th ei r cr eat i on s. ?H u m an s h ave con si sten tly d eci d ed ar t is i m p or tan t [...] I th in k cr eati ves h ave been d egr ad ed a l i tt l e bi t i n ou r soci ety,? M i l l er say s. ?[I t i s bel i eved th at] al l ar t t h at i s gett i n g f u n d ed h as t o h ave a soci al m essage or act i v i st m essage. T h i n gs can ju st ex i st becau se t h ey 'r e beau ti f u l , an d t h ey 'r e f u n ct i on al i n t h at t h ey 'r e good to l ook at .? Ever y th i n g on d i sp l ay at A bel i s f or sal e. Bu y i n g p i eces i s t h e best w ay t h e com m u n i ty can su p p or t n ot on ly th e gal l er y bu t t h e l ocal ar ti sts f eatu r ed t h er e. Bu t th i s i sn 't t h e on ly w ay t h e com m u n i ty can sh ow t h ei r su p p or t. A bel i s a f r ee cr eati ve h u b i n St ou gh t on w h er e al l ar e i n v i t ed t o com e ex p er i en ce th e w on d er s of ar t i st s. ?Ph y si cal ly com i n g i n t o th e gal l er y l et s u s k n ow t h at p eop l e ar e i n t er est ed i n an d w h at w e'r e d oi n g. Even i f y ou can n ot sp en d a si n gl e p en n y on an y th i n g, com e i n l ook at th i s st u f f becau se i t 's h er e," M i l l er say s. M i l l er en cou r ages th e com m u n i t y t o f ol l ow A bel on I n stagr am @abel con tem p or ar y or v i si t th ei r w ebsi t e abel con tem p or ar y.com to stay u p to d ate w i t h cu r r en t ex h i bi ts, ar t i sts, an d u p com i n g even ts. the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

fea tures

The New "Sun" In Town B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer

f y ou ?ve t aken a str ol l d ow n d ow n t ow n St ou gh ton over t h e p ast m on th s, y ou p r obably h ave n oti ced a sm al l sh op w i t h gi an t cr y st al cl ear w i n d ow s d i sp l ay i n g t h ei r beau ti f u l p r od u cts. Su n an d L ace, l ocated r i gh t on 160 E M ai n St r eet, Stou gh t on , W i sc., i s on e of th e n ew est sh op s i n d ow n tow n St ou gh t on . L i v i n g i n St ou gh t on f or r ou gh ly si x y ear s an d a m om of t h r ee, B r i an a Rad ay, i s th e f ou n d er of Su n an d L ace. Sh e f i r st st ar t ed h er stor e on l i n e i n 20 16, an d w i th h er h ar d w or k an d d ed i cati on , sh e m ad e i t i n to a p h y si cal st or e. Rad ay cou l d n ot f i n d an y com f or t abl e an d su stai n abl e sh oes f or h er f i r st ch i l d . So, sh e en d ed u p d esi gn i n g sh oes h er sel f f or h er son . H er f r i en d s p r op el l ed h er to st ar t cr eati n g an d d esi gn i n g baby

photo b y b eth skog en photog ra phy B r i an a Rad ay, t h e f o u n d er o f Su n an d L ace. sh oes f or ot h er s, an d w i th th e su p p or t f r om h er f am i ly an d f r i en d s, Su n an d L ace w as bor n . N ot on ly d oes th e sh op h ave a stor y beh i n d i t, even th e n am e d oes too. ?O n e d ay [i n ] Au gu st I step p ed ou t on t o m y f r on t p or ch , an d i t w as su n n y, an d ou r f i el d s w er e f u l l of Q u een A n n e's l ace [? ], an d n ow i t ?s tr ad em ar ked ," Rad ay say s. Fr om l eath er sh oes to l eath er bags, Rad ay h as a w i d e r an ge of p r od u ct s at h er si gn atu r e sh op . A l l h er f abr i c i s ch osen w i th th e u tm ost car e an d atten ti on .

Sh e h as a var i et y of l eat h er baby sh oes, w h i ch ar e th e star s of Su n an d L ace. M ar y Jan es, B el l aJan es, B oots, an d O x f or d s ar e som e of th e ty p es of sh oes th at sh e sel l s. A n oth er u n i qu e asp ect of Su n an d L ace i s th e n eu t r al col or s an d th em es th at ar e f ou n d th r ou gh ou t Rad ay 's sh op . Col or s r an ge f r om w h i te to br ow n to som e y el l ow an d p i n k . "[Si n ce] th ey 'r e n eu t r al col or s, an d m ostly n eu t r al sty l es, th ey can be h an d ed d ow n f r om si ster to br oth er an d f r om br oth er to si ster . [T h ey ?r e] l i ke h ei r l oom qu al i ty, an d d ef i n i tely easy to see," Rad ay say s. N ot on ly h as Su n an d L ace r each ed th e h ear ts of th ose i n th e M i d w est bu t al so th ose l i v i n g i n Eu r op e, Au str al i a, an d Can ad a. ?[Su n an d L ace] h as been gai n i n g p op u l ar i ty an d [...] som e bi g d ep ar tm en t stor es [ar e] r each i n g ou t to bu y [m y p r od u cts]. T h er e's

som e stor es i n Au st r al i a t h at h ave m y stu f f , t h er e [ar e] stor es in Can ad a an d Eu r op e th at h ave ou r stu f f . So [th er e h as been ] a l ot of br an ch i n g ou t r i gh t n ow,? Rad ay say s. Rad ay an d h er co- w or ker s w an t k i d s t o h ave f u n w i t h ou t f eel i n g con str i ct ed an d f or p ar en t s to h ave a p h y si cal m em or y to l ook back on t o. ?T h an k y ou f or h av i n g t h e l i t tl e sh oes w e m ake be a l i t tl e p ar t of y ou r l i f e," Rad ay say s. photo b y b hoomi pa tel

H an d m ad e M o ccs cal l ed "T at es" ar e d i sp l ay ed at Su n an d L ace.

"Bea d "ing Competition B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

estl ed above M ai n Street?s com m unity-loved Cheesers lives an oth er St ou gh ton - based sm al l bu si n ess. Ju st u p t h e stai r s l i es th e 187 E M ai n St r eet cr eati ve st u d i o an d st or e by t h e n am e of D i akon os D esi gn s. ?D i akon os i s a Gr eek w or d ; i t m ean s ser v an t of t h e K i n g, an d w e ser ve by cr eati n g u n i qu e jew el r y th at al l ow s th e w ear er t o st ar t a con ver sati on abou t th ei r f ai th ,? say s Ed Gu zm an ,

photo sub mitted b y ed g uzma n D i ak o n o s D esi gn s st ar t ed i n 20 0 7 an d f o u n d t h ei r cu r r en t l o cat i o n i n 20 0 8. the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022

CFO / CI O of D i akon os D esi gn s an d h u sban d of th e ow n er , B eck y Gu zm an . T h e bu si n ess sp eci al i zes i n bead ed jew el r y, n ot on ly sel l i n g f i n i sh ed jew el r y p i eces an d i n d i v i d u al bead s, bu t of f er i n g cl asses an d cr eati ve w or k sh op s, too. ?Beck y h ad been i n volved i n a m ean i n gf u l jewelr y m ak i n g p r oject at ou r ch u r ch p r i or to [op en i n g th e sh op] w h i ch , com bi n ed w i t h h er i n ter est i n m ak i n g th i n gs w i t h cl ay, i n sp i r ed h er to star t D i akon os D esi gn s? Gu zm an say s. T his sm al l bu si n ess takes car e to u p l i f t th e com m u n i ty. B ot h on l i n e an d i n th e stor e, a cu stom er w i l l f i n d i t em s sou r ced f r om l ocal i n d i v i d u al s. ?[O u r bead s an d p r od u cts ar e sou r ced f r om ] al l over th e w or l d ? Gu zm an say s, ?[an d ] w e cu r r en tly col l abor at e w i t h a d ozen l ocal ar t i sts [...] including SH S?s own Jason Br abender .? B r aben d er , th e cer am i cs teach er h er e at SH S, h as

been w or k i n g w i th th e Gu zm an s f or sever al y ear s an d say s h e h as en joy ed th e ex p er i en ce. ?I star ted sel l i n g m y cer am i c m u gs at D i akon os a n u m ber of y ear s ago. W e m et w h i l e I w as sel l i n g m y p otter y at th e Sy tt en d e M ai ar t f ai r , ? say s B r aben d er . ?I l ove w or k i n g w i th B eck y an d Ed [...] W e ar e alw ay s tal k i n g abou t ar t sh ow s or ou r n ex t ar ti sti c ad ven t u r es w h en I com e i n t o th e sh op .? D i akon os D esi gn s, l i ke m an y oth er bu si n esses over th e p an d em i c, h as n oti ced a sh i f t f r om f oot tr af f i c to w ebsi te tr af f i c. ?A s a n ati on w e?ve becom e sh i p p er s i n stead of sh op p er s,? Gu zm an p oi n ts ou t. L u ck i ly th ou gh , n ot ever y th i n g abou t th ese od d ti m es h as been n egati ve. I t h as al so of f er ed op p or tu n i ti es f or gr ow th . ?T h e p an d em i c gave u s ti m e to p i vot to n ew w ay s of con tactl ess com m er ce, l i ke m od er n i zi n g ou r w ebsi te,

d oin g [Facebook] live sh ow s, [an d m or e],? Guzm an say s. D i akon os D esi gn s h as m ad e som e gr ow t h i n t h e on l i n e w or l d , bu t exci t i n gly, ex p an si on f or t h i s sm al l bu si n ess d oes n ot st op w i t h on es an d zer os. Pr et ty soon , th e bu si n ess w i l l d on som e n ew n u m ber s on i t s d oor . ?W e will m ove som etim e i n th e n ex t 6 m on th s t o a f i r st f l oor M ai n St r eet l ocat i on th at i s st i l l i n t h e d ow n t ow n h i st or i c d i str i ct . [...] W e th i n k ou r cu stom er s w i l l l ove i t? Gu zm an say s. L ocat ed above Ch eeser s bu t soon t o h ave t h ei r ow n sp eci al l ocat i on , D i akon os D esi gn s i s y et an ot h er wonder ful leaf on Stoughton?s tree of ch ar m i n g, l ocal bu si n esses. A d d i t i o n al N o t e: Ed Gu zm an p r ov i d ed th e com m u n i ty w i th a tem p or ar y d i scou n t: ?N ow [th r ou gh ] th e en d of M ar ch , u se cou p on cod e N O RSEST A R20 to save 20 % on ou r w ebsi te [d i akon osd esi gn s.com ], or br i n g a cop y of th i s ar ti cl e to ou r stu d i o f or 20 % sav i n gs i n p er son .?

fea tures

Who is... Mr. Lod a hl? B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff writer & D istribution M anager

h i s y ear St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool w el com ed D av i d L od ah l as a n ew t each er i n th e soci al st u d i es d ep ar tm en t . Com i n g f r om t h e Bel oi t sch ool d i str i ct w i th a d egr ee i n B r oad f i el d Soci al Stu d i es w i t h a f ocu s i n H i stor y an d Econ om i cs an d a m i n or i n Sp eci al Ed u cati on , h e i s St ou gh ton 's n ew m od er n U S h i st or y an d econ om i cs t each er . L od ah l h asn ?t alw ay s w an ted to be a h i stor y t each er . I n col l ege, h e d ebated m an y car eer p at h s, i n cl u d i n g cr i m i n al ju st i ce. ?[I ] tr i ed cr i m i n al ju sti ce f or a l i ttl e bi t , w en t on a p ol i ce ride al on g an d d eci d ed th at w asn ?t f or m e.? L od ah l say s, ?I w an t ed to be a sci en ce t each er f or a l i tt l e bi t , an d r eal i zed I w asn ?t too good at sci en ce. [? ] I r eal i zed I r eal ly en joy ed soci al stu d i es an d i t w as ju st t h e r i gh t f i t.? D esp i t e h i s st r u ggl e i n col l ege an d t h e ch an ges i n

h i s car eer p ath , L od ah l say s h e en joy s h i s cu r r en t job. H i s f avor i te p ar t h as been w or k i n g w i t h h i s stu d en ts. ?I ?ll be h on est , f or a l on g ti m e I d i d n ?t w an t to be a teach er [? ] bu t I got a job w or k i n g w i t h k i d s w h en I w as i n col l ege an d r eal ly en joy ed i t . [I ] en d ed u p ch an gi n g m y m ajor ,? L od ah l say s, ?M y f avor i te p ar t of th e y ear h as been ju st get ti n g to k n ow al l of th e d i f f er en t k i d s h er e. Star t i n g i n a br an d n ew bu i l d i n g y ou n ever k n ow w h at y ou ?r e com i n g i n to, bu t th e stu d en t s h ave been gr eat. Ever y on e's been ver y f r i en d ly.? L od ah l gi ves som e i n si gh t on h i s p er son al goal s i n r egar d s to teach i n g h i s stu d en t s. ?I w an t m y cl assr oom to be a p l ace th at k i d s w an t to be. You f eel w el com e h er e, y ou en joy bei n g h er e. A n d i n ter m s of m y goal , or f or [st u d en ts] bey on d th at, [I ]

L o d ah l an d h i s f i an cée, C ai t , go f o r a l ei su r el y h i k e at D ev i l s L ak e. photos sub mitted b y d a vid lod a hl

ju st w an t th em to be abl e to l ook cr i t i cal ly at th e w or l d ar ou n d th em [an d ] r eal i ze k i n d of h ow w e got to th i s p oi n t i n th e con ti n u i ty of h i st or y,? L od ah l say s. Teach i n g h i s stu d en ts al l abou t Rom an con qu est s an d th e stock m ar ket i sn ?t th e on ly p l ace y ou can f i n d L od ah l . Com e sp r i n g h e w i l l be coach i n g Stou gh ton ?s boy s tr ack team al on g w i th N ath an N el son . ?I ?m r eal ly l ook i n g f or w ar d to [th e] tr ack season , i t's com i n g u p an d I ?m goi n g to h el p coach i t. I f an y on e i s l ook i n g f or som eth i n g to d o i n th e sp r i n g, si gn u p f or tr ack ,? L od ah l say s. I f teach i n g Stou gh ton ?s y ou th abou t h i st or y w asn ?t w h at L od ah l d eci d ed h e w an t ed to d o, h e say s h e w ou l d be w or k i n g f or th e W i scon si n D ep ar tm en t of N atu r al Resou r ces (D N R). ?I f I cou l d h ave an y oth er job I ?d p r obably w or k f or th e D N R. I ?m f r om n or th er n W i scon si n , I ?d h ead u p th er e, cou n t f i sh , w or k i n th e w ood s, ju st d i sap p ear f or a bi t,? L od ah l say s. K aty M u l l en , a f el l ow teach er f r om th e soci al stu d i es d ep ar tm en t, sp eak s abou t h er ex p er i en ce w or k i n g w i th L od ah l . ?M r . L od ah l h as been an excel l en t ad d i ti on to ou r d ep ar tm en t. I r eal ly l i ke h i m - w e?ve k i n d a becom e f r i en d s,? M u l l en say s. A s a teach er w i th som e ex p er i en ce u n d er h i s bel t, L od ah l h as som e w or d s of w i sd om to sh ar e w i th th ose who ar e con si d er i n g teach i n g i n th e f u tu r e. ?I w ou l d say m ake su r e y ou ?r e aw ar e of w h at y ou ?r e gett i n g i n t o. I t?s an i n cr ed i bly d i f f i cu l t job, bu t i t's so r ew ar d i n g. Esp eci al ly [...] i f y ou can be a h i gh sch ool teach er , w or k w i th th e f r esh m an ,? L od ah l say s. ?I t's aw esom e w atch i n g f r esh m en com e i n . You see th em w h en th ey 'r e f r esh i n h i gh sch ool an d th en y ou

a rt b y e mma p h illip s

f ol l ow th em t h r ou gh ou t t h e y ear s. You ?r e abl e t o see th em w h en t h ey ?r e a sen i or an d th ey ?r e r ead y an d can go ou t i n t o t h e w or l d an d th at i s su p er r ew ar d i n g,? L od ah l say s. I t?s cl ear t h at L od ah l h ol d s a d eep r esp ect an d ad m i r ati on f or h i s stu d en ts. T he soci al st u d i es d ep ar tm en t h as gai n ed n ot on ly a val u abl e m em ber , bu t al so a cl ose f r i en d .

L o d ah l co m p et es i n St o u gh t o n 's V i k i n g C o m p et i t i o n t h at t ak es p l ace d u r i n g Sy t t en d e M ai . T h e V i k i n g C o m p et i t i o n i s a co n t est sp o n so r ed by t h e U n i t ed St at es St r o n gm an I n c. M en an d w o m en co m p et e f o r a ch an ce t o q u al i f y f o r U .S.S.C . N at i o n al s.

the norse sta r, ja nua ry 2022