October 2021 Norse Star Issue

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T h e N o r se St ar

O v er 9 0 Year s o f St u d en t Vo i ces

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O ct o b er 20 21 St o u gh t o n H i gh Sch o o l


Table of Contents C ov er by Av a Par r T O C by Em m a Ph i l l i p s

News Pg . 3

Enterta inment Pg . 15

Sports Pg . 9

O pinions Pggs . 18 Headin

Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef - A n ja Roy ko Cover Stor y Ed i tor - A n ja Roy ko

Fea tures Pg . 21

A ssoci ate Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef - Ava Par r

N ew s Ed i tor - D el an ey Gau th i er

O p i n i on s Ed i tor - D el an ey Gau th i er Sp or ts Ed i tor - Gabe Rou sseau

Cover Story Pg . 10

En ter tai n m en t Ed i tor - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

H ead A r ti st - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

Gr ap h i cs Ed i tor - M ad i son L u i ck

Featu r es Ed i tor - Av a Par r

Cop y Ed i tor - Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t

Bu si n ess M an ager - L au r en A m stad t

D i str i bu ti on M an ager - Au tu m n Even son

Soci al M ed i a Ed i tor - Ava Par r

Staf f W r i ter s - L au r en A m stad t, Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t, Au tu m n Even son , M ad i son L u i ck , M ad el i n e M on th i e Fr eel an ce W r i ter s- Bh oom i Patel , L au r a Per r y, Sam Ross, Bel i n d a A k al e, Em m a Far l ey Ad v i ser - L au r a Str ey l e

Ed i tor i al Pol i cy : T h e N or se Star str i ves t o p r esen t t h e n ew s i n a f ai r an d u n bi ased m an n er . A n y col u m n , ed i t or i al , or l et t er t o th e ed i tor ex p r esses t h e op i n i on of t h e au t h or an d n ot n ecessar i ly th e en ti r e staf f . T h e N or se Star i s a p u bl i c f or u m w r i tt en an d p r od u ced by t h e stu d en t s at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool , an d th ey ar e sol ely r esp on si bl e f or i t s con t en t . Stu d en t s, staf f , f acu l ty, an d m em ber s of t h e com m u n i t y ar e w el com e t o su bm i t l etter s to th e ed i tor of 30 0 w or d s or l ess. L ett er s m ay be ed i t ed d u e to sp ace l i m i t at i on s, obscen i t i es, or l i bel con cer n s. N or se St ar w i l l ver i f y t h e au t h en t i ci t y of an y l et t er s sen t on beh al f of sch ool or gan i zat i on s or gr ou p s. A l l l et t er s m u st be si gn ed an d em ai l ed t o sh sn or sest ar @gm ai l .com .


news

A Little Shop Goes a Long Way B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

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he SH S t h eat r e d ep ar tm en t will be h ol d i n g an i n - p er son p r od u cti on f or t h e f i r st t i m e si n ce bef or e t h e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c. Ju st as m ost SH S acti v i ti es w er e f or ced t o h al t t o p r eser ve p u bl i c saf ety during th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c, t h e SH S t h eat r e d ep ar tm en t w as h i t qu i t e h ar d . A sch ool act i v i t y th at r el i es on si n gi n g, d an ci n g, acti n g, an d an i n - p er son t h eater ex p er i en ce h ad to f i n d w ay s t o ad ap t . I n sp r i n g 20 21, th ey p r esen ted "T h e Ad d am s Fam i ly ? m u si cal v i r t u al ly, an d th at su m m er , t h r ou gh A l i gn i n g St ar s T h eat r e, a p r ogr am t h at m an y SH S t h eatr e act or s ar e i n volved w i th , th ey p er f or m ed ?God sp el l ? t h e m u si cal i n Veter an s M em or i al Par k . H ow ever , as t h i n gs ar e sl ow ly r et u r n i n g to n or m al cy, th e t h eat r e d ep ar tm en t i s r ead y to r et u r n to t h e sp ot l i gh t T h ey w i l l be p er f or m i n g ?L i ttl e Sh op of H or r or s,? a d ar k com ed y m u si cal based l oosely on a f i l m of th e sam e n am e f r om t h e 60 s. A m agi cal p l an t p r om i ses h ap l ess f l or i st Sey m ou r th at h e w i l l gr an t h i m an y th i n g h e w an ts...i n r et u r n f or h u m an bl ood . N am i n g th e p l an t Au d r ey I I , af t er h i s cr u sh an d cow or ker , h e

p r ov i d es w h at th e p l an t w an t s. L i f e seem s to be goi n g gr eat f or Sey m ou r , u n t i l h e star t s to becom e su sp i ci ou s of th e p l an t?s i n ten ti on s. T h e p r od u cti on w i l l r u n O ct . 29 to 31, H al l ow een w eeken d . T he SH S th eatr e d ep ar tm en t 's d i r ector D eeD ee Bou zek teach es stage m ovem en t an d over sees a m ajor i ty of th e p r od u cti on . Sh e w or k s al on gsi d e ch or eogr ap h er N atal i e N or l i n , m u si c coor d i n ator Br y ce San v i l l i e, an d set d i r ect or Jack T r ott er . B ou zek el abor at es on th e p l ot an d h ow th e sh ow w i l l be p r od u ced . ?Com i n g i n to t h i s y ear , w e d i d n ?t k n ow w h at to ex p ect f or i n ter est ed actor s, so w e ch ose a sh ow th at cou l d be d on e w i th ei gh t p eop l e su ccessf u l ly. I l ove th i s sh ow. T h e m u si c i s f an tast i c an d I k n ew w e h ad th e si n ger s to d o a r ock m u si cal . O n ce w e k n ew th e sh ow w ou l d f al l on H al l ow een , w e k n ew th e sh ow w ou l d be p er f ect. [...] I t f avor s m ov i es l i ke th e 1950 s h or r or f i l m s l i ke ?Sw am p T h i n g? or ?Cr eatu r e f r om th e ?B l ack L agoon ,?" B ou zek say s. T he p l an t will be r ep r esen ted a l i ttl e d i f f er en tly th an m ost p r od u cti on s, B ou zek p r om i ses. ?T r ad i ti on al ly th e p l an t i s p l ay ed by a gi an t p u p p et . You on ly h ear th e actor ?s

(L ef t t o r i gh t) A n j a Roy k o (A u d r ey ), N o ah K l ei t sch (Sey m o u r ), an d D av i d St r acen er (M r . M u sh n i k ) r eh ear se o n e o f t h ei r scen es, w h er e Sey m o u r i n t r o d u ces a b aby A u d r ey I I t o A u d r ey an d M r . M u sh n i k . voi ce. I h ave op ted to ch an ge th at u p a bi t. I w an t ed to see th e p er son p l ay i n g th e p l an t, so w e h ave been ex p er i m en ti n g w i th w ay s to br i n g th e p l an t to l i f e w h i l e sti ck i n g to th e stor y. I h ave stage cr af t an d p u p p et r y ex p er i en ce, so i t h as been a f u n p r oject. I th i n k i t w i l l be u n l i ke an y t h i n g p eop l e h ave seen ," B ou zek say s. Ju n i or B el i n d a A k al e, w h o p l ay s th e on e an d on ly car n i vor ou s al i en p l an t, Au d r ey I I , sp eak s on h ow th e r ol e i n t er ests h er . ?Au d r ey I I sp eak s to m e as an ol d gosp el si n ger ,? A k al e say s. T h e cast h as been abl e to i n t er act m u ch m or e th an th ei r l ast cou p l e d i stan ced or v i r t u al sh ow s, an d r eh ear sal s h ave been goi n g w el l . ?I l ove gett i n g to con n ect w i th m y cast. W e ar e a ver y f u n an d u n i qu e gr ou p of p eop l e. I t's n ever bor i n g. Ever y d ay is d i f f er en t,? A k al e say s. B ou zek i s exci ted abou t h er actor s' op p or t u n i t y to h ave a l i ve au d i en ce agai n . ?W e sti l l h ave to f ol l ow p r ecau ti on s w i th m ask s an d d i stan ci n g, bu t h av i n g an au d i en ce w i l l be gr eat. L ast y ear w e d i d th r ee v i r t u al p r od u cti on s, tw o of w h i ch w e f i l m ed l i ve, bu t an au d i en ce p l ay s a v i tal r ol e i n th eatr e. I t f eed s th e actor s?

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T h e cast r eh ear ses "Sk i d Row ," o n e o f t h ei r f i r st n u m b er s. the norse sta r, octob er 2021

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en er gy an d en cou r agem en t . W e r eal ly m i ssed t h at,? B ou zek say s. Sen i or A n ja Roy ko, w h o p l ay s th e beau t i f u l an d cam p y l ove i n t er est Au d r ey, sp eak s on t h e i m p act t h e au d i en ce h as on h er p er f or m an ce. ?T h e en er gy f r om t h e cr ow d i s alw ay s som eth i n g to f eed of f of . Even t h ou gh th ey ar e si l en t f or a m ajor i t y of th e sh ow, y ou can st i l l f eel th ei r p r esen ce, an d i t ?s el ectr i f y i n g. I t 's ver y r ew ar d i n g to h ear th e au d i en ce l au gh at a ch oi ce y ou m ad e an d t o h ear t h e ap p l au se at t h e en d of y ou r son g,? Roy ko say s. B ou zek ap p r eci at es t h e cast's p assi on f or t h i s sh ow. ?I t?s a gr eat an d t al en ted cast. T h i s w as t h e f i r st sh ow I ever d i r ected at St ou gh ton tw en t y y ear s ago, an d i t ?s been gr eat cr eat i n g a n ew p r od u cti on . T h e w or d s an d son gs m ay be t h e sam e, bu t th i s cast h as br eat h ed n ew l i f e i n t o th em ,? Bou zek say s. T h e m u si cal w i l l be p er f or m ed i n t h e SH S Per f or m i n g A r t s Cen ter . A costu m e con test w i l l be h el d d u r i n g i n t er m i ssi on , so v i ew er s can com e i n costu m e. T i ckets ar e $12 f or ad u l ts an d $8 f or st u d en ts an d sen i or s. T i cket s t o t h e p r od u cti on ar e avai l abl e at th e d oor or on l i n e at sh ow ti x 4u .com . 3


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The Most Devious Lick Ba throoms Va nd a lized a t SHS B y Em m a Far l ey Freelance Writer

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i kTok , t h e w or l d ?s m ost d ow n l oad ed ap p in 20 20 accor d i n g t o BB C n ew s, h as t aken t h e w or l d by stor m over t h e p ast f ew y ear s. M an y t r en d s h ave com e f r om th e ap p , su ch as w h i p p ed cof f ee or th e ?Savage? d an ce, bu t n ot al l of th em ar e n ecessar i ly good . O n e of t h ese n ot- so gr eat tr en d s i s t h e ?d ev i ou s l i ck ? m ovem en t . I n th e or i gi n al v i d eo, t h e cr eator sh ow s a box of d i sp osabl e m ask s th ey al l eged ly stol e f r om th ei r sch ool w i t h th e cap ti on : ?A m on t h i n to sch ool ? d ev i ou s l i ck .? N u m er ou s st u d en ts in m i d d l e an d h i gh sch ool s acr oss th e w or l d h ave st ol en f r om th ei r sch ool or com m i tted v ar i ou s acts of van d al i sm to th e

i n st i tu ti on s as an att em p t to p ar t i ci p ate i n th i s tr en d . St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool i s n ot i m m u n e to th e ef f ects of T i kTok f ad s. ?Fr om th e begi n n i n g of th e y ear on w e?ve h ad som e v an d al i sm , i n w h i ch w e?ve h ad bi g tow el d i sp en ser s r i p p ed of f [t h e w al l s], w e?ve h ad toi l et s an d u r i n al s bei n g p l u gged , w e?ve h ad Gator ad e an d Kool - A i d th r ow n on th e w al l s [? ] w e h ad to get som e con tr ol over th at,? M i ke K r u se, p r i n ci p al of St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool , say s abou t th e si tu ati on . A w eek i n to th e star t of sch ool , th e jan i t or i al an d ad m i n i st r ati ve staf f began to n ot i ce d estr u cti on an d d ef acem en t of sch ool p r op er ty, p ar ti cu l ar ly i n th e boy s bath r oom s. Su sp ect i n g th at th i s w as i n sp i r ed by th e ?d ev i ou s l i ck ? tr en d , ad m i n i st r ati on sh u t d ow n tw o ou t of th r ee of th e

f u n ct i on i n g m en s r estr oom s, on ly op en i n g th em f or u se d u r i n g p assi n g p er i od s. K r u se d eci d ed to cl ose tw o of th e th r ee bath r oom s abou t a w eek af ter th e f i r st i n ci d en t occu r r ed , an d say s, ?Ad m i n i st r ati vely, th e d eci si on h ad to be m i n e.? T h e boy s bath r oom s r em ai n ed cl osed f or al m ost th r ee w eek s, u n ti l th e p at ter n of w r eck age began to d i e d ow n an d K r u se d et er m i n ed i t saf e to r eop en th em . ?T h er e h ave been som e i ssu es i n th e cou n sel i n g bath r oom , bu t [th ey w er e] ver y m i n or com p ar ed to w h at w e w er e d eal i n g w i th . H op ef u l ly, w e?r e al l d on e w i th th e gam e, an d w e can be back to n or m al ,? K r u se say s. K r u se sh ar ed h e w ou l d op t to take th e sam e ap p r oach i f th e d am age becam e a r ecu r r i n g even t.

a rt b y emma phillips

N u m er ou s m i d d l e an d h i gh sch ool s ar ou n d t h e cou n tr y h ave been u si n g a si m i l ar tacti c, w i th h u n d r ed s of i n sti tu ti on s cl osi n g m ost or al l of th ei r bat h r oom s i n an att em p t to sl ow th e van d al i sm d ow n an d r et u r n to a n or m al sch ool y ear . ?I d on ?t k n ow w h at el se to d o, an d I w i sh I w ou l d n ?t h ave to m ake t h ese d eci si on s [? ] H op ef u l ly, p eop l e can ju st go back t o d oi n g w h at t h ey n eed t o d o, an d go t o sch ool . T h at w ou l d be aw esom e,? K r u se say s.

Going Late-Fee Headin gs Free B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor

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ecen t ly, l at e r et u r n f ees h ave been m ak i n g h ead l i n es, as m an y l i br ar i es acr oss th e cou n t r y ar e r em ov i n g t h em com p l etely. T h i s i n cl u d es t h e St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool L i br ar y M ed i a Cen ter , w h i ch , begi n n i n g t h i s y ear , i s n o l on ger ch ar gi n g f or over d u e m ed i a. Cath y Gar gan o, th e St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool M ed i a Sp eci al i st , h ap p i ly d i scu sses th e r eason i n g beh i n d th i s n eed ed ch an ge. ?T h e tr u e m i ssi on of a l i br ar y i s t o h ave f r ee an d equ i tabl e access t o al l [? ] t h er e h ave been st u d en t s i n t h e p ast w h o h ave t ol d m e t o m y f ace, ?I 'm af r ai d to ch eck ou t a book becau se i f I h ave i t l at e w e can 't af f or d t o p ay th e f ee,?? Gar gan o say s. T h er e ar e m an y i n stan ces w h er e som ebod y w ou l d n eed t o keep a book l on ger th an t h e l oan p er i od . 4

M ay be th ey tr avel betw een h ou seh ol d s an d th e book can ?t tr avel w i t h th em . M ay be th ey d on ?t h ave m u ch ti m e to r ead . ?I d i d n 't f eel r i gh t abou t ch ar gi n g over d u e f ees f or som eth i n g n eed ed f or sch ool w h en i t 's su p p osed to be a f r ee ed u cat i on ,? Gar gan o say s. L i br ar i es acr oss th e cou n tr y w ou l d ar gu e th at th ey cou l d n 't el i m i n ate l ate f i n es becau se th ey n eed ed th e r even u e gai n ed f r om th em , bu t accor d i n g to Gar gan o, ?T h e r even u e i s so sm al l th at it d oesn 't ou t w ei gh th e n egati ve i m p act s of p eop l e [ bei n g] ban n ed f r om ch eck i n g ou t i t em s [...] it n egati vely af f ect s p eop l e th at can 't af f or d to p ay th e f i n es.? Joan M y szkow sk i , th e St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool L i br ar y M ed i a A i d e, w as al so h ap p y to h ear abou t th ese n ew ch an ges. Sh e bel i eves th at in i m p l em en t i n g th ese

ch an ges, stu d en ts w i l l f eel m or e com f or tabl e u si n g th e l i br ar y ser v i ces.

?I d i d n 't f eel r i gh t ab o u t ch ar gi n g ov er d u e f ees f o r so m et h i n g n eed ed f o r sch o o l w h en i t 's su p p o sed t o b e a f r ee ed u cat i o n .? - C at h y Gar gan o , L i b r ar y M ed i a Sp eci al i st ?You gu y s h ave so m u ch to ju ggl e an d r em em ber to d o, i t's easy f or som eth i n g l i ke a book 's d u e d at e to sl i p th r ou gh th e cr ack s. I f m or e ti m e i s n eed ed , a book can alw ay s be r en ew ed [? ] M s. Gar gan o an d I ar e alw ay s h ap p y to h el p . W h eth er i t's f i n d i n g a book y ou can 't w ai t to r ead or h el p i n g y ou

com e u p w i t h a p l an t o h el p get th e book s back ,? M y szkow sk i say s. H ow ever , n ot al l t y p es of f i n es w er e el i m i n at ed . L M C u ser s w i l l st i l l be ch ar ged i f i t em s ar e l ost or d am aged , an d st u d en ts w i t h l ate m ed i a w i l l r ecei ve over d u e n oti ces. Gar gan o h op es th at, by r em ov i n g over d u e f ees, ?stu d en ts f eel m or e com f or t abl e com i n g to th e l i br ar y. I h op e i t 's a p osi ti ve f eel i n g [? ] I w ou l d h ate to th i n k t h at st u d en ts h ad n egati ve f eel i n gs abou t th e l i br ar y. I t m akes m e sad to th i n k th at.?

photo b y ma d ison luick the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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Downtown Halloween Event Returns B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

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ach y ear , on th e Satu r d ay bef or e H al l ow een , t h e Stou gh ton ci ty Ch am ber of Com m er ce or gan i zes a d ow n t ow n St ou gh ton even t cel ebr at i n g H al l ow een . T h i s y ear , th e even t takes p l ace Sat u r d ay, O ct. 30 . T he t r i ck- or - tr eat i n g even t i s a p ar t of an oth er even t cal l ed D esti n ati on St ou gh t on : a N or w egi an W eeken d of Fu n . D esti n at i on St ou gh t on : a N or w egi an W eeken d of Fu n i n volves m an y N or w egi an act i v i t i es su ch as r osem al i n g an d l ef se an d i s sp on sor ed by t h e Son s of N or w ay. M an y act i v i t i es w i l l be t ak i n g p l ace th is y ear i n cl u d i n g a p er f or m an ce f r om th e N or w egi an d an cer s, t r i ck- or - t r eati n g al on g M ai n st r eet , an d a costu m e con t est . Ch i l d r en aged 0 - 12 an d t h ei r f am i l i es ar e i n v i ted t o cel ebr at e an d ex p r ess t h ei r H al l ow een sp i r i t an d en t h u si asm . Ch i l d r en d r essed u p i n col or f u l cost u m es ar e ex p ected to f l ood St ou gh ton ?s d ow n t ow n ar ea, can d y p ai l s in h an d . St ou gh ton ch i l d r en w i l l be gi ven th e ch an ce to com p ete i n a cost u m e con test an d ex p l or e th e st or es d ow n t ow n , al l w h i l e r ecei v i n g can d y an d en joy i n g t h e cr i sp , Fal l w eath er . W h i l e ot h er s m ay op t f or a m or e scar y H al l ow een act i v i t y, th i s even t i s m ean t f or t h e w h ol e f am i ly. T h e even t w i l l f ol l ow t h e D an e Cou n t y m ask m an d ate cu r r en tly i n p l ace. T h i s m ean s t h at ever y on e ages tw o an d ol d er w i l l be r equ i r ed to w ear f ace m ask s i n an y en cl osed ar ea (an d n o, costu m e H al l ow een m ask s d on ?t cou n t). M u ch of t h i s even t w i l l al so be t ak i n g p l ace ou t si d e, w h i ch w i l l h el p r ed u ce t h e sp r ead of CO V I D - 19. T h e f esti v i t i es t ake p l ace al on g M ai n St r eet f r om Fi f th Str eet t o Page St r eet . the norse sta r, octob er 2021

photo used with permission of ca llie la point O n O ct . 26 20 19, T h e N o r w egi an D an cer s an d ch i l d r en t r i ck - o r - t r eat ed i n d ow n t ow n St o u gh t o n , t h e l ast t i m e t h e ev en t o ccu r r ed d u e t o co n cer n s ov er t h e C O V I D - 19 p an d em i c. T h e r ou te h as gr ow n th i s y ear . ?Gen er al ly i t ?s been bu si n esses al on g M ai n St r eet f r om Fi f t h Str eet to Page St r eet [p ar t i ci p ati n g i n th e even t],? say s St ou gh ton ?s Even ts an d V i si tor Ser v i ces M an ager , Cal l i e L aPoi n t, th r ou gh em ai l . ?T h er e [h ave] been som e n ew bu si n esses r each i n g th e si d e str eets al on g For r est Str eet an d D i v i si on St r eet , so w e?r e exci ted to see th e r ou te gr ow [t h i s y ear ].? T he d ow n tow n St ou gh ton tr i ck- or - tr eati n g even t i s op en to an y bu si n ess w i sh i n g to be i n volved . Par t i ci p ati n g bu si n esses w i l l h ave a si gn d i sp l ay ed to w el com e th e tr i ck- or - t r eater s. ?Bu si n esses al so h ave th e op p or tu n i t y to si t ou t si d e an d gr eet th e ch i l d r en al on g th e r ou te, or i n v i te th em i n si d e to ex p l or e th ei r sh op ,? L aPoi n t say s. T h e Pol i ce D i sp atch , al on g w i t h th e St ou gh ton L i br ar y, ar e al so op en d u r i n g th e even t f or th e tr i ck- or - t r eater s to tr aver se. T h e f esti v i t i es w i l l begi n at 1 p .m . at th e St ou gh ton Com m u n i ty Bu i l d i n g. T h e N or w egi an D an cer s, an i con i c cel ebr ati on of

N or w egi an h er i tage in Stou gh ton , w i l l be h ol d i n g a costu m e con test w h er e th ey w i l l be th e ju d ges. Ch i l d r en can p ar t i ci p ate by sh ow i n g of f th ei r H al l ow een costu m es. T h e N or w egi an D an cer s will al so be p er f or m i n g at 2 p .m . T h e actu al tr i ck- or - tr eati n g w i l l take p l ace f r om 3 p .m . to 5 p .m . T he d ow n t ow n Stou gh ton tr i ck- or - tr eati n g i s a p ar t of D esti n ati on Stou gh ton : A N or w egi an W eeken d of Fu n , an an n u al even t r u n by th e Stou gh ton ci t y Ch am ber of Com m er ce. ?T h e en ti r e w eeken d i s cal l ed D esti n ati on Stou gh ton ,? say s Staci

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H ei m sot h , h ead d i r ect or of th e N or w egi an D an cer s. T he w eeken d t akes p l ace f r om O ct . 29- 31 an d h as m an y ot h er act i v i t i es th an ju st t h e d ow n t ow n tr i ck- or - t r eati n g even t, su ch as r osem al i n g on d i sp l ay, l ef se cl asses, an d m or e. ?T h er e ar e ot h er N or w egi an t h em ed acti v i ti es goi n g on as w el l [d u r i n g D est i n at i on Stou gh ton : A N or w egi an W eeken d of Fu n .] I t ?s cen ter ed ar ou n d t h e st ate r osem al i n g ex h i bi t ,? H ei m sot h say s on D esti n ati on St ou gh t on : a N or w egi an W eeken d of Fu n . ?W e?ve been i n volved i n D esti n ati on St ou gh ton si n ce i t began ,? H ei m soth say s abou t th e N or w egi an D an cer s' p ar t i ci p at i on . ?A f t er a f ew y ear s of d oi n g ou r p er f or m an ce i n t h e Com m u n i ty Bu i l d i n g an d k n ow i n g t h at k i d s w er e d ow n t ow n t r i ck- or - tr eat i n g, I ap p r oach ed t h e Ch am ber an d asked i f w e cou l d joi n f or ces f or t h e costu m e con test as a w ay t o get t h e D an cer s m or e i n volved i n th e Com m u n i t y.? Even t h ou gh t h e even t d i d n ot take p l ace l ast y ear , th i s y ear i t i s ex p ected t o r etu r n bet t er t h an ever . W i th th e costu m e con test, p er f or m an ce f r om th e N or w egi an d an cer s, th e tr i ck- or - t r eati n g d ow n M ai n Str eet, an d t h e N or w egi an cu l tu r al tr ad i t i on s occu r i n g, i t w i l l cer tai n ly be a d ay t o r em em ber .

a rt b y emma phillips 5


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tou gh ton boasts sever al cof f ee op t i on s, i n cl u d i n g both ch ai n s, su ch as M cD on al d ?s an d D u n k i n ?, an d sm al l bu si n esses su ch as W i l d w ood an d Au t u m n Pear l . Com i n g t o t ow n ver y soon i s y et an ot h er ch oi ce f or an y on e w h o?s l ook i n g f or th ei r d ai ly (or on ly - w h en - t h ey - f eel - l i ke- i t) caf f ei n e f i x . Star bu ck s i s op en i n g a n ew Stou gh t on l ocat i on on t h e cor n er of H W Y 138 an d K i n gs Ly n n Road . T h e p op u l ar ch ai n i s m ov i n g i n to w h at u sed t o be t h e O l d C o n st r u ct i o n co n t i n u es at t h e St o u gh t o n l o cat i o n .

photo b y cla re b orcha rd t

N ati on al Ban k bu i l d i n g by th e Pi ck ?n Save p ar k i n g l ot . A n y on e w h o h as d r i ven by th e ol d bu i l d i n g r ecen tly m i gh t h ave seen con str u ct i on an d ?Com i n g Soon !? si gn age. T h e p r oject h as been u n d er w ay in r ecen t m on t h s an d is n ear i n g com p l eti on w i th each com i n g d ay. Cor y H ovl an d i s th e stor e m an ager at th e n ew St ou gh ton Star bu ck s. H ovl an d h as been w i th St ar bu ck s f or f ou r teen y ear s. For n ear ly el even of th ose y ear s, h e h as been m an agi n g h i s ow n stor es an d col l ect i n g ex p er i en ce as a ?St ar bu ck s Par tn er ." ?I t h as alw ay s been a d r eam of m ine si n ce becom i n g a stor e m an ager to op en a stor e an d bu i l d i t f r om th e gr ou n d u p ,? H ovl an d say s. ?I am ju st r eal ly exci t ed [...] to be abl e to ser ve th e com m u n i ty [m y f am i ly an d I ] l i ve i n .? H ovl an d h as been p r ep ar i n g f or op en i n g d ay ever si n ce h e l ear n ed of a p ossi bl e St ou gh ton l ocat i on . For th e l ast m on t h or so, h i s

f ocu s h as been on h i r i n g. ?T h e bi ggest ch al l en ge i s th at v i r t u al ly 10 0 % of ou r team w i l l be n ew ly h i r ed bar i stas, so th er e i s a l ot of tr ai n i n g i n volved ,? H ovl an d say s. ?T h i s bei n g sai d , w e ar e op ti m i st i c th at w e w i l l be r ead y to op en ou r d oor s to sl i n g l attes al l d ay an d r ock n r ol l !? Accor d i n g to H ovl an d , Stou gh ton w i l l of f er caf e or d er i n g/ seat i n g an d d r i ve th r ou gh , al on g w i th m obi l e or d er i n g, so an y i n d i v i d u al w i th a bu sy sch ed u l e or si m p ly a p r ef er en ce f or m i n i m al i n t er acti on w i l l be abl e to or d er easi ly th r ou gh th e ap p . T h er e h as been w or d i n th e h al l s am on g stu d en ts an ti ci p ati n g th i s ad d i ti on to Stou gh ton ?s cof f ee op ti on s. Sen i or El i zabeth Tessi er i s l ook i n g f or w ar d to th e soon - p r esen ce of th i s w el l - l oved ch ai n . ?I ?m r eal ly exci ted to h ave a Star bu ck s i n tow n f or a qu i ck caf f ei n e boost d u r i n g th e d ay,? Tessi er say s. O th er stu d en ts sh ar e si m i l ar sen ti m en ts, bu t

p oi n t ou t a p ossi bl e d r aw back . Sen i or Ri an a Paqu ette sh ar es h er th ou gh ts. ?I th i n k i n t h e gr an d sch em e of t h i n gs, St ar bu ck s w i l l be a good asset f or Stou gh ton ,? Paqu et te say s. ?I d o th i n k i t p u t s ou r sm al l cof f ee sh op s i n t ow n at a bi t of a d i sad van t age [...] I h op e th at p eop l e w i l l con t i n u e t o en joy an d su p p or t ou r sm al l cof f ee sh op s w h i l e en joy i n g ou r n ew Star bu ck s.? T h e stor e h as a t en t ati ve op en i n g d ate of N ov. 18., an d in th e m ean t i m e, H ovl an d an d St ou gh ton ?s n ew bar i st as con ti n u e t o w or k tow ar d p r ep ar i n g th em selves an d t h e st or e f or an i n f l u x of exci t ed cof f ee, tea, an d sp eci al ty - d r i n k l over s. ?I am over t h e m oon abou t bei n g abl e t o op en th i s stor e i n St ou gh ton . I l ove th i s tow n an d h op e t o p r ov i d e a t r u ly gr eat ex p er i en ce f or ou r cu stom er s an d com m u n i t y. [...] I k n ow t h e t eam w e ar e bu i l d i n g f eel s t h e sam e w ay,? H ovl an d say s.

HeadinAmenities gs New School B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer

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h en st u d en ts r etu r n ed to f ull i n - p er son sch ool , St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool h ad been u p d ated i n a f ew w ay s. Accor d i n g to M i ke K r u se, SH S Pr i n ci p al , th ese ch an ges w er e m ad e t o m eet t h e com m u n i t y ?s n eed s an d to f ol l ow an n u al m ai n ten an ce p r ot ocol s. T h ese u p d at es r an ged f r om a n ew cam er a sy st em f or th e at h l eti c d ep ar t m en t t o th e n ew gy m f l oor . K r u se say s t h at th e sch ool n eed s an n u al u p d ates to cer t ai n f aci l i t i es. L ast y ear , accor d i n g to K r u se, i n ad d i t i on t o th e t y p i cal r em od el i n g, t h er e w as a d i f f er en t ven ti l ati on sy stem i m p l em en t ed . T h i s w as p u t i n p l ace t o cr eate a saf er en v i r on m en t , d u r i n g t h e p an d em i c. ?W e p u t i n a l ot of [d i f f er en t sy st em s] t h r ou gh CO V I D - 19 w i t h ven ti l ati on 6

an d [t h e n ew cam er a sy st em ],? K r u se say s. W i th th e n ew cam er a sy st em f or th e ath l et i cs d ep ar t m en t , p ar en ts an d com m u n i t y m em ber s can n ow h ave f r ee access to th e d i f f er en t sp or ti n g even ts f r om th e com f or t of th ei r ow n h om es. ?W e?ve h ad cam er as f or a cou p l e of y ear s, [ bu t] w e d i d get a n ew sy st em so th at w e cou l d sh ow acti v i ti es i n th e gy m , l i ke f or vol l ey bal l an d basket bal l acti v i ti es. [...] N ow i t i s op en an d f r ee to ever y bod y w h o w an ts to w at ch th ose acti v i ti es f r om h om e,? K r u se say s. St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool al so i n vested i n T Vs l ast y ear d u r i n g th e h ei gh t of CO V I D - 19. T h er e ar e T Vs l ocated by th e l i br ar y an d som e by th e at h l eti c h al l . K r u se say s th at th e T Vs by th e l i br ar y ar e th er e to h on or ou r acad em i c aw ar d ees, an d th e on es by th e at h l eti c h al l ar e to h on or th ose w h o ar e ath l et i c

aw ar d ees. ?W e w er e f or tu n ate en ou gh to p u t T Vs i n th e ath l et i c h al l , [an d ] even d ow n th e h al lw ay by th e l i br ar y. W e w an t ed to m ake su r e th at w e h on or ed ou r acad em i c aw ar d s, so w e p u t th e acad em i c aw ar d s on th e l i br ar y w al l an d th e ath l et i c aw ar d s i n th e ath l et i c h al l ,? K r u se say s. Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool h as m u ch bi gger p l an s f or th e u p com i n g f u tu r e. L u ke Bu t z, Stou gh ton A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct?s bu i l d i n gs an d gr ou n d s su p er v i sor , m en ti on s on e of th e m ajor p l an s f or th e H i gh Sch ool th r ou gh an em ai l . ?W e ar e cu r r en tly p l an n i n g f or a r ef er en d u m , an d I can ?t ex p an d f u r th er on w h at ou r [i m p r ovem en t p l an s] ar e at th i s ti m e. T h er e ar e too m an y u n k n ow n s, an d ou r sch ool boar d i s d evel op i n g th ei r p r ocess f or p r i or i ti zi n g i m p r ovem en t s,? Bu t z say s. Ad d i ti on al ly, K r u se

photo b y b hoomi pa tel A T V by t h e l i b r ar y i s o n e n ew ad d i t i o n . m en t i on ed n ew p l an s f or Col l i n s Fi el d , t h e St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool f oot bal l f i el d com p l ex . H e say s t h at m or e u p gr ad es w i l l en su r e t h at th e Stou gh t on com m u n i t y can u se th e f i el d f or ot h er acti v i ti es. ?W e h op e [...] w e can u se [com m u n i ty d on ati on s] f or al l k i n d s of t h i n gs l i ke m ar ch i n g ban d , soccer , f ootbal l , [et c.],? K r u se say s. ?T h e ben ef i t i s n ot , I w ou l d say, f or a sp eci f i c gr ou p . H ol i sti cal ly, t h e ben ef i t of th e n ew f aci l i t i es ar e f or an y bod y th at u ses i t ,? K r u se say s. the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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SHS Athletes Prepare For Winter Sports B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor A s th e f al l sp or t s season s w r ap u p , SH S at h l etes ar e tr an si t i on i n g i n t o th ei r w i n ter season s. T h ese season s i n cl u d e w r estl i n g, gi r l s/ boy s basket bal l , gi r l s/ boy s h ockey, d an ce, ch eer squ ad , an d boy s sw i m . T h i s m on t h , th e N or se Star r each ed ou t t o ath l etes of v ar i ou s sp or ts at SH S to l ear n m or e abou t h ow th ey h ave been p r ep ar i n g f or th i s u p com i n g w i n t er season an d w h at th ei r goal s ar e.

A t h l et e: Av a L of t u s (12) W i n t er Sp o r t : Gi r l s B asketbal l

H ow h av e y o u b een get t i n g p r ep ar ed f o r t h i s b ask et b al l seaso n ? ?I h ave been w ei gh t l i f ti n g abou t f ou r to f i ve ti m es a w eek . I u su al ly w or k on gam e sk i l l s or l i vep l ay si tu ati on s an d occasi on al ly l i ve 5v 5 basket bal l gam es. I h ave been goi n g on m or e r u n s an d d oi n g th i n gs l i ke sp r i n t s, p ly om et r i cs, ci r cu i t s, etc. to ju st i m p r ove m y over al l at h l eti ci sm .?

L o f t u s i n a co m p et i t i o n d u r i n g h er so p h o m o r e seaso n .

A t h l et e: M att Ep p l er (12) W i n t er Sp o r t : B oy s Sw i m m i n g

W h at ar e y o u r go al s f o r t h i s u p co m i n g seaso n ?

"W i th i t bei n g m y l ast y ear , I r eal ly w an t to br i n g h om e a con f er en ce ch am p i on sh i p to en d th i n gs of f . I w ou l d al so r eal ly l i ke to see u s m ake a d eep p l ay of f r u n . O ver al l th ou gh I w an t to h ave f u n an d en joy m y l ast y ear w ear i n g a St ou gh ton jer sey.?

?To set as m an y p er son al r ecor d s as p ossi bl e an d as m an y team r el ay t i m es as p ossi bl e.?

Ep p l er co m p et i n g i n t h e b ack st r o k e d u r i n g a co m p et i t i o n h i s j u n i o r y ear .

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A t h l et e: K ad en Stok stad (12)

W i n t er Sp o r t : W r est l i n g H ow h av e y o u b een get t i n g p r ep ar ed f o r t h i s w r est l i n g seaso n ?

W i n t er Sp o r t: B oy s B asketbal l

W h at ar e y o u r go al s f o r t h i s u p co m i n g seaso n ? ?H ave a w i n n i n g r ecor d an d h el p th e team ou t i n an y w ay I can .

H ow h av e y o u b een get t i n g p r ep ar ed f o r t h i s b ask et b al l seaso n ? ?I h ave been r u n n i n g on t h e tr ead m i l l or ar ou n d m y n ei gh bor h ood an d f ocu si n g on m y en d u r an ce t o m ake su r e I am r ead y f or t h e h i gh - p aced n at u r e of t h e sp or t . I get sh ots u p ei t h er at th e sch ool or at m y h ou se t o i m p r ove m y sk i l l s.?

?I h ave been at Pr i m al St r en gt h an d Fi t n ess th r ee ti m es a w eek . I l i ke to f ocu s on con d i ti on i n g w h i l e al so d oi n g u p p er an d l ow er bod y str en gth tr ai n i n g as w el l to bu i l d m y str en gt h u p . I p r i m ar i ly l i ke to d o squ ats an d ben ch p r ess.?

the norse sta r, octob er 2021

?I 've been p r ep ar i n g f or t h e season by d oi n g cl u b sw i m m i n g h er e at t h e h i gh sch ool ever y w eek n i gh t w i th team m ates. A l on g w i t h th at, w e h ave been goi n g t o m or n i n g l i f ts t w i ce a w eek w i th Coach O 'Br i en [w h o i s] of f er i n g str en gth an d con d i ti on i n g f or of f season ath l et es.?

W h at ar e y o u r go al s f o r t h i s u p co m i n g seaso n ?

A t h l et e: Cael Stei n m et z (12)

St ei n m en t z go es f o r a m ov e i n a m at ch d u r i n g h i s so p h o m o r e y ear .

H ow h av e y o u b een get t i n g p r ep ar ed f o r t h i s sw i m seaso n ?

photos sub mitted b y a thletes St o k st ad go i n g f o r a j u m p sh o t i n a p r act i ce ear l i er t h i s f al l .

W h at ar e y o u r go al s f o r t h i s u p co m i n g seaso n ? ?M y p er son al goal i s t o h el p ou t th e team an y w ay I can an d ou r team goal i s t o w i n a con f er en ce ch am p i on sh i p an d m ake a d eep r u n i n t h e p l ay of f s.?

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sports

A Race Against Time Jayden Zywicki runs second fastest 5k in SHS history B y A n j a Roy k o Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor n Sep . 25, SH S sen i or an d cr oss cou n t r y cap tai n Jay d en Z y w i ck i r an t h e secon d - f ast est 5k i n SH S h i stor y. Com p l eti n g th e en ti r ety of t h e Jan esv i l l e cou r se i n a m er e 15 m i n u tes an d 44.6 secon d s, Z y w i ck i cam e w i th i n t h r ee secon d s of br eak i n g t h e cu r r en t r ecor d of 15 m i n u t es an d 42 secon d s w h i ch h as been h el d by A ar on Castl em ber g si n ce th e y ear 20 0 0 . Fr om a y ou n g age, Z y w i ck i h as sh ow n t h e t r ai t s an d d ed i cat i on of a n at u r al ath l ete. Z y w i ck i h as sei zed ever y op p or t u n i ty t o p u sh an d ch al l en ge h i s at h l eti c abi l i ti es, p ack i n g his sch ed u l e f u l l of p r act i ces an d m eet s an d p l ay i n g a sp or t f or al l t h r ee season s. H ow ever , f or t h e f i r st y ear of h i gh sch ool , Z y w i ck i p l ay ed f oot bal l i n t h e f al l , so i t w asn ?t u n ti l t h e en d of h i s f r esh m an y ear t h at h e even con si d er ed joi n i n g cr oss cou n tr y i n st ead . L ook i n g f or a sp or t to occu p y h i s sp r i n g season , Z y w i ck i joi n ed t h e tr ack t eam w h i ch , coi n ci d en t al ly, i n tr od u ced h i m t o m an y m em ber s of t h e cr oss cou n tr y team . M an y of th e m em ber s w er e ver y i m p r essed w i t h Z y w i ck i ?s abi l i ti es, so t h ey at tem p ted t o con v i n ce h i m t o joi n th e cr oss cou n t r y t eam . ?I d eci d ed t o t r y i t ou t , an d I w as p r et t y good , so I kep t goi n g,? Z y w i ck i say s. H ow ever , i t w asn ?t u n ti l his sop h om or e y ear con f er en ce m eet t h at h e r eal i zed h i s t r u e p ot en t i al . ?I w as p r oject ed t o get l i ke seven t h , an d I en d ed u p get ti n g th i r d ,? Z y w i ck i say s. ?I w as l i ke, ?I ?m act u al ly p r etty good at [t h i s],? an d t h at k i n d a sp ar ked t h e l ove f or th e sp or t .? Tal en t an d d r i ve can t ake y ou ver y f ar . H ow ever , Z y w i ck i r ecogn i zes th at t h er e ar e m an y p eop l e i n h i s l i f e th at h ave assi st ed

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h i m an d stood by h i s si d e th r ou gh ou t th i s w h ol e p r ocess, th e m ai n p er son bei n g v ar si ty cr oss cou n t r y coach Patr i ck Sch n ei d er . ?[Sch n ei d er ] p u sh es m e. H e en cou r ages m e. I d on 't th i n k I w ou l d be as f ast as I am i f h e w asn ?t th e coach becau se h e k n ow s h ow to tr ai n w i t h ou t getti n g i n ju r ed an d sti l l get y ou f ast er ,? Z y w i ck i say s. T he ad v i ce th at Sch n ei d er h as been abl e to of f er Z y w i ck i h as ch an ged

th e sam e ef f ect as goi n g a cou p l e of m i n u tes f aster .? Si n ce each ath l et e i s d i f f er en t, Coach Sch n ei d er n eed s to an aly ze each of th ei r qu al i ti es as r u n n er s to f i n d th e best str ategy f or th em . ?[ Jay d en ] ten d s to be a bi t m or e of a l ow m i l eage r u n n er , so w e d o n ot ty p i cal ly h ave h i m r u n as m an y total m i l es p er w eek as m an y r u n n er s of si m i l ar tal en t l evel s f r om oth er sch ool s,? Sch n ei d er say s.

photos sub mitted b y lind sey zywicki

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I n ad d i t i o n t o r u n n i n g t h e seco n d f ast est 5k i n SH S h i st o r y, Jay d en Z y w i ck i ear n ed f i r st p l ace i n t h e C r o ss C o u n t r y Var si t y C o n f er en ce o n O ct . 16 . W i t h a t i m e o f 15 m i n u t es an d 54 seco n d s, Z y w i ck i b ecam e t h e t h i r d m al e f r o m SH S t o w i n an i n d i v i d u al co n f er en ce t i t l e. Pi ct u r ed ab ov e ar e Z y w i ck i (l ef t) an d co ach Pat r i ck Sch n ei d er (r i gh t) af t er t h at r ace. th e w ay h e ap p r oach es th e sp or t en ti r ely. ?I f eel l i ke th e n oti on ar ou n d r u n n i n g i s th at y ou h ave to go f ast ever y r u n to get bett er , so I u sed to tr y to d o th at, an d I w ou l d get h u r t ,? Z y w i ck i say s. ?Sch n ei d er tol d m e th at I can go sl ow on m y sl ow r u n s an d th at w i l l sti l l gi ve m e

H av i n g coach ed cr oss cou n t r y si n ce 20 0 7, Sch n ei d er h as h ad th e op p or t u n i ty to obser ve an d coach m an y tal en ted i n d i v i d u al s, bu t h e cl ai m s th at Jay d en i s th e ?f astest m al e r u n n er ? h e h as ever coach ed . W h i l e th i s i s a cl ear p l u s, Jay d en ?s sp eed i s n ot th e on ly th i n g th at sets

him ap ar t f r om th e com p eti ti on . ?I h ave coach ed a f ai r am ou n t of f ast r u n n er s over th e y ear s, bu t som e of th em h ave n ot taken d i r ect i on ver y w el l . W h at takes Jay d en t o th e n ex t l evel is his w i l l i n gn ess t o d o w h at h e n eed s to d o d ay i n an d d ay ou t i n or d er t o becom e a better r u n n er ,? Sch n ei d er say s. ?Jay d en m i xes n at u r al tal en t w i th a su p er b w or k et h i c an d com p et i t i ve d r i ve. M an y r u n n er s l ack on e of th ese var i abl es.? Z y w i ck i h as been tr ai n i n g i n ten si vely t o beat th e sch ool r ecor d f or m on th s n ow. O n aver age, h e r u n s 30 to 35 m i l es p er w eek , al ter n at i n g bet w een sl ow an d f ast p aces. ?B ef or e t h i s y ear , I w as k i n d a ju st t r ai n i n g i n season becau se I w asn ?t r eal ly tak i n g i t ser i ou sly, bu t t h i s y ear , i t?s been y ear - r ou n d ,? Z y w i ck i say s. Z y w i ck i ?s jou r n ey h as been f ar f r om a w al k i n t h e p ar k . T h er e h ave been m an y i n ju r i es, m uddy p r acti ces, an d scor ch i n g su n n y d ay s in w h i ch r u n n i n g i s on e of t h e l ast th i n gs th at on e w ou l d w an t to d o. D esp i te t h ese occasi on al i r r i tat i on s, Z y w i ck i n ow f eel s as t h ou gh h e h as f ou n d som eth i n g th at h e gen u i n ely en joy s. ?Jay d en can som eti m es m ake r u n n i n g l ook easy,? Sch n ei d er say s. ?H ow ever , y ou h ave to r em em ber t h at ever y f ast r ace h as h u n d r ed s of m i l es, h ou r s of good sl eep , an d m on th s of good f ood beh i n d i t .? Z y w i ck i of f er s h i s best ad v i ce to cr oss cou n tr y m em ber s an d at h l etes al i ke. ?Ju st st ay f ocu sed . Eat i n g h eal t h y i s a bi g p ar t of i t, so y ou can get [t h e m ost] ou t of y ou r r u n s ever y ti m e,? Z y w i ck i say s. ?Ju st h ave f u n .? the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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Baby Got Backhand! B y Em m a Far l ey Freelance Writer

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h e en d of t h e f al l sp or t s season i s u p on u s, an d f or t h e gi r l s t en n i s t eam , th i s m ean s th e con cl u si on of a t r i u m p h an t p er i od of p r act i ces, m atch es, an d t ou r n am en ts. M an y gi r l s ap p r oach ed th e season with a bi t of t r ep i d ati on af t er th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c, bu t t h e ter m w as over al l a su ccessf u l on e i n t h e ey es of L ear n i n g Acad em y I n str u ctor an d Ten n i s Coach Jason M od el . photos b y ja son mod el

M em b er s o f t h e t en n i s t eam p o se si d e- by - si d e w i t h t eam m an ager C o n n o r L y o n s.

?T h ey h an d l ed [th i s season ] w el l . T h ey p er sever ed , d i d w h at th ey h ad to d o, p l ay ed h ar d , an d over al l h ad a r eal ly gr eat season ,? M od el say s. Sen i or Sh an n on Gi bbon s al so d escr i bed th e team as cl oser th an th ey h ad been i n p r ev i ou s y ear s. ?I ?ve m ad e a l ot of n ew f r i en d s. T h ese ar e p r obably p eop l e I w ou l d n ?t h ave been f r i en d s w i t h i f I d i d n ?t p l ay ten n i s,? Gi bbon s say s. H ow cl ose- k n i t th e team becam e th i s y ear i s a sp ot of p r i d e f or ever y on e i n volved i n th e SH S sp or t. H ow ever , th i s i sn ?t th e on ly n on - p h y si cal tr i u m p h f r om th e season . Fr esh m an Sam an t h a W eber cr ed i ts h er n ew f ou n d con f i d en ce an d i n d ep en d en ce to ten n i s. ?Ten n i s h as i m p acted m y l i f e [ by h el p i n g m e] gr ow to ju st p u t m y sel f ou t th er e an d be abl e to w or k bett er w i t h ot h er s [? ] I t ju st h el p ed m e becom e m or e m y sel f ,? W eber say s.

T h e sp or t i s on e th at p r om otes team w or k an d i n d i v i d u al i sm si m u l tan eou sly, som eth i n g th at i s h ar d to f i n d an d p u r su e af ter th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c?s ef f ect on stu d en ts. Yet on e of th e bi ggest ach i evem en ts f r om th i s p ast season w as th e ad m i ssi on of sen i or s M i k ay l a W h eel er an d Sh an n on Gi bbon s to th e State tou r n am en ts, w h i ch took p l ace O ct. 14, 20 21. ?I d ef i n i tely th i n k qu al i f y i n g f or State w as [? ] p r obably th e bi ggest accom p l i sh m en t th i s y ear ,? Gi bbon s say s. ?I t w as r eal ly exci ti n g an d a f u n m om en t to sh ar e w i th M i k ay l a.? T h e gi r l s l ost af ter a val i an t f i r st m at ch at State bu t cam e h om e to h i gh p r ai ses an d su p p or t. ?I t?s a d r eam of th ei r s, [? ] an d to be th er e to see i t, an d ex p er i en ce th e em oti on s an d f eel i n gs of th at, i s aw esom e,? M od el say s abou t th e r esu l ts of th e

M i k ay l a W h eel er (l ef t) an d Sh an n o n Gi b b o n s (r i gh t) b eam w i t h p r i d e af t er a t r i u m p h an t w i n at t h e B ad ger C o n f er en ce. B ad ger Con f er en ce. T h e season en d ed on a h i gh n ote f or t h e gi r l s, th ou gh m an y p l ay er s an d f an s al i ke seem t o m i ss i t al r ead y. Ten n i s h as p r ov i d ed m an y with a con n ecti on to ot h er s, becom i n g m u ch m or e t h an a si m p l e sp or t s t eam t o t h e p l ay er s. ?I t?s n ot ju st p l ay i n g ten n i s. I t?s cr eat i n g a bon d th at?s al m ost l i ke y ou r secon d f am i ly,? W eber say s. ?Ever y on e su p p or ts ever y on e.?

Set, Spike, Seniors! Headin gs B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer

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he Stou gh ton Vol l ey bal l t eam h as sp i ked th ei r w ay t h r ou gh a gr eat season t h i s y ear . T h ey 've h ad t h ei r u p s an d d ow n s th i s season , bu t th e t eam h as been w or k i n g h ar d an d h op es t o en d t h e season w i th a gr eat w i n . T h ey h ave been ai m i n g t o w i n a cou p l e of gam es an d t o keep h av i n g f u n . O livia A n d er son , a sen i or v ar si t y vol l ey bal l m i d d l e bl ocker an d h i tt er , h as p l ay ed f or th e St ou gh ton vol l ey bal l t eam f or al l f ou r y ear s of h i gh sch ool . Sh e h op es t o go to U W - M ad i son or Ed gew ood Col l ege to p u r su e n u r si n g. T h r ou gh an em ai l , A n d er son gi ves a gl i m p se of h ow th e season h as been l ook i n g so f ar . ?T h e season h as h ad i t s h i gh s an d l ow s bu t i t h as been su p er f u n so f ar , an d w e h ave com p eted w el l ,? A n d er son say s. A l th ou gh t h e t eam h as the norse sta r, octob er 2021

h ad a cou p l e l osses, th ey h ave been l ear n i n g an d i m p r ov i n g each an d ever y d ay. ?I h ave l ear n ed h ow m u ch th e r el ati on sh i p s I h ave w i t h ot h er s i m p acts m e. W i th ou t th e bon d ou r team h as, w e w ou l d n ot be abl e to su cceed as m u ch or h ave as m u ch f u n as w e d o,? A n d er son say s.

photo used with permission from the stoug hton sports b oosters O l i v i a A n d er so n h i t s t h e b al l t o t h e o p p o n en t 's co u r t . Sar a K r u eger i s th e team 's r i gh t si d e h i tter an d i s p l an n i n g to go to U W - O sh kosh to stu d y

p ol i t i cal sci en ce an d i n t er n at i on al bu si n ess. Sh e i s l ook i n g to f ocu s m or e on h er ed u cati on an d w i l l n ot be con ti n u i n g to p l ay vol l ey bal l i n th e u p com i n g y ear . K r eu ger states som e of h er ad v i ce f or th e u n d er cl assm en . ?En joy ever y secon d of i t. I t en d s a l ot soon er th an y ou ever i m agi n ed ,? K r u eger say s. Sen i or B r ooke T h r al l i s al so th e team 's r i gh t si d e h i tter . Sh e p l an s to go to U W - L acr osse an d tr y ou t f or th e vol l ey bal l team n ex t f al l . Sh e m en t i on s th e m ost i m p or tan t th i n gs sh e h as l ear n ed th u s f ar . ?I l ear n ed th at y ou r bi ggest m oti v ator h as to be y ou r sel f becau se oth er p eop l e can on ly d o so m u ch f or y ou ,? T h r al l say s. Rach el Gi er h ar t, h ead coach , l eaves a sh or t m essage f or th e vol l ey bal l sen i or s. ?Coach Ly n ch an d m y sel f w er e ver y f or tu n ate to h ave on e l ast r egu l ar

art by emma phillips season w i th t h i s gr ou p of sen i or s [...] Em m a br i n gs a sp ar k of l i f e t o ou r t eam . O l i v i a, w h o cal l ed h er sel f ?od d ?at th e begi n n i n g of t h e season , br i n gs t h e h u m or . K ay l a br i n gs t h e cal m . Sar a br i n gs th e i n t en si t y. Br ooke br i n gs th e su p p or t. A n n i e br i n gs com p et i t i ven ess an d of cou r se t h e h ei gh t [...] Each of th ese sen i or s w i l l be m i ssed i n a d i f f er en t ar ea, an d th at i s w h at m akes th em su ch a gr eat t eam ,? Gi er h ar t say s. A s th e season star ts t o wind d ow n f or t h ese vol l ey bal l p l ay er s, t h ey ar e d et er m i n ed t o m ake ever y secon d cou n t . 9


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O ver 90 Years of Student Voices B y Av a Par r an d D el an ey Gau t h i er Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor and News & Opinions Editor

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or over 90 y ear s, ?T h e N or se Star ? h as been a p u bl i cati on at Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool . T h r ou gh ou t t h ose 90 y ear s, t h e cu r r en t even ts an d sp eci f i c con tr over si es t h at ?T h e N or se Star ? cover ed m ay h ave ch an ged , bu t th e d ed i cati on t o p r ov i d i n g a st r on g stu d en t voi ce h as r em ai n ed con si st en t. Fr om sor t i n g t h r ou gh p ast i ssu es i n r oom 10 20 to r et r i ev i n g scan n ed ar t i cl es at th e St ou gh ton p u bl i c l i br ar y, si m i l ar t op i cs, i ssu es, an d t h em es began to sh ow u p i n ?T h e N or se Star ,? even th ou gh t h e i ssu es t h em selves w er e d ecad es ap ar t. Few p eop l e k n ow th at ?T h e N or se Star ? w as i n i ti al ly n am ed ?T h e H i gh Sch ool Par r ot .? T h e p ap er w as f ou n d ed i n 1925 i n St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool . H ow ever , a t em p or ar y f ou r - y ear h i at u s w as p l aced on th e p ap er u n t i l 1929, w h en i t cam e back i n f u l l f or ce. A qu ote f r om a p age d ed i cated t o t h e n ew sp ap er i n Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s 1930 y ear book r ead s, ?I n 1925 Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool h ad a sch ool p ap er of w h i ch i t w as ver y p r ou d . I t w as a n ew sy, i n d ep en d en t p u bl i cati on , f i tt i n gly ch r i sten ed ?T h e Par r ot .? I t w as gu ar an t eed by an en th u si asti c st af f t o ?h ear al l , see al l , an d t el l al l .? U n f or tu n at ely, T h e Par r ot?s ex i sten ce w as of sh or t d u r ati on . I t n ever su r v i ved t o gl ad d en t h e h ear t s of St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool st u d en ts i n 1926, 1927, an d 1928, bu t t h i s y ear a n ew n ew sp ap er w as or gan i zed . W e f eel su r e t h at th e m em ber s of t h e f or m er st af f w ou l d n ot con d em n u s

photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr

A d esi gn f o r t h e 19 6 8 sen i o r i ssu e o f t h e Par r o t , w h er e sen i o r st af f m em b er s w r i t e a p age r ef l ect i n g o n t h ei r l i v es. f or ou r ch oi ce of a n am e f or th e p ap er . A f ter al l , cou l d an y n am e su ggest i tsel f m or e r ead i ly to ou r r ever en t m i n d s th an th at of th e d eceased n obl e bi r d , T h e Par r ot? W e th i n k n ot.? Bef or e ?T h e Par r ot? w as p u bl i sh ed at sch ool , i t w as a col u m n p u bl i sh ed i n th e St ou gh t on Cou r i er H u b. O r i gi n al ly, th e p ap er w as p u bl i sh ed bi w eek ly an d cost on ly a n i ckel an i ssu e. I n 1942, th e staf f r ef or m att ed th e p ap er to h ave l ar ger tex t . Sm al l ch an ges l i ke

th ese ar e w h at m ad e ?T h e N or se Star ? i n t o th e p ap er th at i t i s tod ay. For m er SH S stu d en t an d M ar i n e Steve Gr ad y p r ov i d ed ?T h e N or se Star ? w i th tw o i ssu es f r om 1942. He r ecei ved th ese n ew sp ap er s f r om a f or m er N or se Star m em ber w h o h as si n ce p assed . A l th ou gh Gr ad y h i m sel f w as n ot on staf f , h e r em i n i sces abou t h i s h i gh sch ool d ay s an d th e l i ves of th e ver y f i r st N or se Star staf f m em ber s, m en ti on i n g

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A sect i o n o f t h e D ec. 19 4 2 H i gh Sch o o l Par r o t cal l ed "C an Yo u I m agi n e?" w h er e sp eci f i c st u d en t s ar e j o k i n gl y m ad e f u n o f f o r t h ei r b eh av i o r s.

T h e H i gh Sch o o l Par r o t i s cr eat ed

T h e H i gh Sch o o l Par r o t r et u r n s af t er a 4 y ear h i at u s

T h e H i gh Sch o o l Par r o t i s r ef o r m at t ed

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19 29

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w ar veter an s, f or m er teach er s, au t h or s, an d f r i en d s. Som e f or m er m em ber s h e m en t i on s ar e Cl ar en ce (a W or l d W ar I I veter an ), Bet sy A m u n d sen (a soci al w or ker ), an d D u an e T h or sen (a p u bl i sh ed au th or ). ?T h er e [ar e] so m an y i n t er esti n g p eop l e f r om Stou gh ton t h at cam e i n t h i s er a,? Gr ad y say s. ?I m et D u an e at a f u n er al , of al l p l aces, an d h e f ou n d ou t th at I w as i n t er est ed i n t h e Pau l K r aby m u r d er an d h e tol d m e h e w r ote t w o book s.? T h or sen ?s book abou t th e K r aby m u r d er i s cal l ed ?T h e Ch al k L i n e.? U n f or tu n ately, som e of th e ver y f i r st i ssu es of ?T h e N or se Star ? w er e n ot kep t an d seem t o be l ost t o t h e san d s of ti m e. T h e ear l i est scan n ed i ssu e f ou n d w as f r om 1934, an d t h e ear l i est p h y si cal cop y of t h e p ap er av ai l abl e w as f r om 1942. T h ou gh th er e?s n ot m u ch i n f or m ati on t o f i n d abou t th e th e f i r st i ssu es of ?T h e N or se Star ,? t h e avai l abl e h i st or y i s r i ch . D av i d W al l n er is a f or m er ad v i ser of ?T h e H i gh Sch ool Par r ot ? w h o over saw th e cl ass f or m or e th an 30 y ear s, f r om 1976 t o 20 10 . A s ad v i ser , h e m ad e m an y ch an ges to th e ou td ated sy st em s of ?T h e N or se Star ? t h at t h e p ap er sti l l r el i es on . W al l n er w as r esp on si bl e f or ch an gi n g t h e n am e f r om ?T h e Par r ot ? t o ?T h e N or se Star ,? w i th i n p u t f r om h i s stu d en ts, of cou r se. ?W h en I st ar ted , t h e p ap er w as cal l ed ?T h e Par r ot,? [...] an d t h e stu d en ts an d I th ou gh t t h e n am e su cked . [...] I f y ou p ar r ot, y ou y ou m i m i c som eth i n g.

the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr A car t o o n f r o m t h e Sep . 19 80 i ssu e, p r o m o t i n g t h e N o r se St ar co m i cs sect i o n , w h i ch n o l o n ger ex i st s.

O ct . 19 84 i ssu e o f t h e N o r se St ar h i gh l i gh t s t h e st af f at K EM PA , a j o u r n al i sm ev en t h o st ed at U W - W h i t ew at er .

u p w i t h a p ol i cy,? W al l n er r ecou n ts. ?O n e of th e key [p ar t s of th e p ol i cy ] w as th at th er e w ou l d be no cen sor sh i p . St u d en ts h ad th e r i gh t to cover con t r over si al i ssu es, [th e p ap er i s] op en f or u m , an d i t l ai d d ow n r esp on si bi l i t i es f or me an d th e ad m i n i str at i on .? T h i s p ol i cy p r om i ses f r eed om of p r ess an d l ack of p r i or r ev i ew, m ean i n g th at th e sch ool ?s ad m i n i st r ati on is p r oh i bi t ed f r om r ev i ew i n g th e p ap er p r i or to its p u bl i sh i n g, vetoi n g

cer tai n ar ti cl es. I t h as on ly been sl i gh tly ch an ged si n ce th en , al l ow i n g N or se Star stu d en ts to ex p l or e con tr over si al f i gu r es an d top i cs an d l ear n th e r esp on si bi l i t i es of cover i n g th ose su bjects. One ex am p l e, W al l n er ex p l ai n s, occu r r ed during th e ei gh ti es, w h en th e staf f d eci d ed to r u n a sp eci f i c ad . ?O u r staf f w as r u n n i n g an ed i tor i al abou t a gay su p p or t gr ou p at th e u n i ver si t y. [...] T h en p ar en ts cam e i n th at y ear , [...] an d th ey w er e ou tr aged . [...]

A I D S, h om osex u al i ty, an d [ bei n g] tr an sgen d er w er e p r ett y d i f f i cu l t [t op i cs t o cover becau se] a l ot of p eop l e get ver y t ou ch y, an d th ey d eci d ed t o boy cott ?T h e N or se St ar ?. T h ey w en t ar ou n d an d got t h e n am es of abou t 15 l ocal bu si n esses, m an y of t h em w h o w er e ad ver ti si n g w i t h u s t o say, ?W e'r e n ot goi n g t o su p p or t ?T h e N or se St ar ? f i n an ci al ly becau se of t h i s ad ,?? W al l n er ex p l ai n s. H ow ever , W al l n er say s th i s d i d n ot scar e t h e st af f . T h ey kep t on r u n n i n g t h e ad , an d al t h ou gh t h ey su f f er ed f i n an ci al ly at f i r st , th i n gs even t u al ly w en t back to n or m al . T h ei r val u es h ad been m ad e cl ear t o t h e com m u n i ty t h ou gh . ?T h e staf f sh ow ed al l k i n d s of cou r age an d sai d , ?W e ar e an i n d ep en d en t or gan i zati on . I f y ou w an t t o p r essu r e u s, t h at's y ou r ch oi ce, [...] bu t w e'r e gon n a d o w h at w e t h i n k i s r i gh t,?? W al l n er r ecou n ts. Stou gh ton au t o r ep ai r m an Joe Con an t f r om Con an t Au tom ot i ve w as a m em ber of ?T h e N or se Star ? w h en h e w as i n h i gh sch ool ...sor t of . Fr om 1987 to 1989, u n d er t h e f or m er pr in tin g ad v i ser M r. M cKen zi e (af f ecti on ately cal l ed ?M ac? by his stu d en ts), Con an t w as on

. I t 's a ver b. W e sai d ?W e'r e goi n g to get r i d of th at A n ad f o r an L GB T su p p o r t gr o u p p u b l i sh ed i n "T h e N o r se n am e, star t t h e p ap er al l St ar " cau sed co n t r ov er sy i n t h e co m m u n i t y d u r i n g t h e over , [an d gi ve i t] a n ew l ook ei gh t i es. an d a n ew ed ge,?? W al l n er say s. ?W e got t oget h er an d t h r ew n am es ar ou n d . W e photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr agr eed on ?T h e N or se St ar ,?a t ake of f N or w egi an an d T h e N or th Star , of cou r se.? photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr W al l n er w as al so r esp on si bl e f or d evel op i n g t h e p ol i cy t h at i s st i l l i n p l ace t od ay. W al l n er d escr i bes t h e p r ocess of m eeti n g with th e ad m i n i str at i on f or th at ch an ge. ?I sat d ow n w i t h th e p r i n ci p al an d sai d ?[...]L et 's get y ou of f t h e h ook . L et 's cr eate a p ol i cy t h at d ef i n es w h at can an d can n ot be p u bl i sh ed ,? an d so w e m et w i th stu d en t s, y ear book ad v i ser , an d l ocal n ew sp ap er ed i t or at th e Ph o t o o f C o n an t as a sen i o r [Stou gh ton Cou r i er ] H u b, w o r k i n g o n r est o r i n g a car . an d i n si x m on t h s w e cam e A n ed i t o r i al o n cen so r sh i p D av i d W al l n er b eco m es ad v i so r o f cal l ed "A d m i n i st r at i o n Pr o h i b i t s Jo e C o n an t j o i n s t h e T h e H i gh Sch o o l Par r o t an d Ro u n d ed Ed u cat i o n ???" i s p u b l i sh ed p r i n t i n g st af f r en am es t h e p ap er t o T h e N o r se St ar

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cover story on ce even th e su bject of a f eatu r e ar ti cl e i n 1989 w h en h e w as r estor i n g a car . ?I sti l l h ave th e car tod ay. T h ey d i d a stor y abou t m e an d m y p assi on , an d I gu ess m y p assi on car r i ed over i n t o op en i n g m y ow n sh op ,? Con an t say s. Con an t say s th at seei n g ?T h e N or se Star ? d i scu ss d i f f i cu l t top i cs i s n ot a n ew p h en om en on . M an y i ssu es of ?T h e N or se Star ? i n th e 1980 s d eal t w i th com p l ex top i cs, l i ke abor ti on , i m m i gr ati on , w om en ?s? r i gh ts, an d su i ci d e. T h ou gh th ese con ver sat i on s m ay h ave l essen ed in con tr over si al i ty over th e y ear s, th ey ar e sti l l

photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr

i m p or tan t i ssu es t h at ar e d i scu ssed t od ay, esp eci al ly i n ?T h e N or se St ar .? ?[?T h e N or se St ar ? i s] a r eal ly cool p ap er becau se th ey tack l e a l ot of st u f f . I t ?s k i n d of f u n n y, I ?ve sti l l got a cou p l e of cop i es t h at I f i n d ever y on ce i n a w h i l e, [an d ] th e stu f f t h at w e t al ked abou t i s basi cal ly t h e sam e stu f f y ou gu y s t al k abou t . T h e sam e p r obl em s, t h e sam e con cer n s. Ever y t h i n g i s th e sam e, n ot h i n g?s ch an ged ,?Con an t say s. A l ex a N el son , w h o w as h ead ar ti st an d a st af f w r i t er of ?T h e N or se St ar ? d u r i n g th e 20 17- 20 18 sch ool y ear , sp eak s on h ow th e en v i r on m en t of N or se St ar

A p age o f t h e Jan . 19 77 N o r se St ar i ssu e st r esses t h e i m p o r t an ce o f p r i n t i n g. t h e vocati on al p r i n ti n g staf f , as n ot ep ad s f or th e sch ool . a gr ou p t h at n o l on ger ?[Pr i n ti n g] w as r eal ly ex i sts. cool becau se i t w as a tw o For th e l ast si x y ear s h ou r cl ass, an d i t w as ?T h e N or se St ar ? h as been gen er al ly i n th e af ter n oon , p r i n ti n g w i t h t h e M ai n so [...] w e get ou r w or k d on e, photo sub mitted b y Jon netzler St r eet bu si n ess I n k w or k s, an d i t ?s ju st l i ke a job. You bu t bef or e t h at , cop i es of can ju st l eave. W e h ad a l ot t h e p ap er w er e p r i n ted at m or e f r eed om . Sch ool SH S i n th e r oom cu r r en tly seem s l i ke i t w as f or ever occu p i ed by t h e FabL ab. ago, bu t i t w asn ?t. You got Con an t say s t h e p r ocess f or y ou r job d on e, y ou d i d i t p r i n ti n g w as n ot too r i gh t , y ou tal ked to M ac f or d i f f er en t f r om t h e w ay w e a w h i l e, an d M ac w as a d o i t n ow. r eal ly cool teach er . H e w as ?W e h ad a cam er a. W e r eal ly cool . H e?d com e i n actu al ly h ad t o get f i l m th er e w i t h p op , w i th f ood . d evel op ed , bu t i t w asn ?t [...] [...] Peop l e w ou l d sk i p an d i n stan tan eou s. We h ad com e i n to tal k to y ou . I t com p u ter s, w e d i d a l ot on w as r eal ly l ai d - back an d t h e M aci n t osh ,? Con an t say s. cool ,? Con an t say s. A s stated by Con an t, th e B esi d es bei n g on th e Gr o u p p i ct u r e o f t h e 20 13- 20 14 N o r se St ar st af f , N et zl er p r i n ti n g st af f u sed to p r i n ti n g staf f , Con an t w as p i ct u r ed t o p r i gh t . d evel op ever y p i ct u r e u sed i n th e p ap er by h an d . al l ow ed h er t o be cr eat i ve i n ?W e u sed t o h ave a a w ay th at i m p acted h er d evel op i n g boot h [...] w e?d f u tu r e l i f e ch oi ces. go i n to th e d ar k r oom an d ?N or se St ar w as w h er e I w e?d d evel op t h e p l ates, an d d i scover ed I r eal ly l i ked , t h at w ou l d go on th e an d w as good at , cr eat i n g p r i n ti n g p r ess,? Con an t say s. cover gr ap h i cs an d d oi n g ?T h e [ed i t or i al] st af f w ou l d p age l ay ou t s. T h at set u p th e l ay ou t . T h ey ?d tr an sl ated i n t o m e d eci d i n g h ave al l th e p ages l ai d ou t i n to m ajor i n ar t w i t h an f r on t of th em , [...] an d w e?d em p h asi s i n gr ap h i c d esi gn ,? actu al ly f ol d [t h e p ap er s] N el son say s. ??T h e N or se becau se w e h ad a m ach i n e Star ? gave m e a l ot of sk i l l s t h at w ou l d f ol d .? th at I sti l l u se t od ay, su ch as A s w el l as p r i n ti n g ou t col l abor at i on , k n ow l ed ge of i ssu es of ?T h e N or se Star ? Ad obe Ph otosh op an d ever y m on t h , t h e p r i n t i n g I n D esi gn , an d h ow t o w or k st af f d i d sm al l jobs on th e u n d er ti m e con st r ai n t s an d si d e. Con an t say s th ey m eet d ead l i n es.? com p l eted p r i n t i n g jobs f or A n oth er f or m er ad v i ser photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr ar ea bu si n esses an d even of ?T h e N or se St ar ,? Jon p r i n ted l ogos on i t em s su ch Gr o u p p i ct u r e o f t h e 19 9 6 - 19 9 7 N o r se St ar st af f . N etzl er , r ef l ects on h i s t i m e

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B en T r i p p b eco m es ad v i ser o f T h e N o r se St ar

Jo n N et zl er b eco m es ad v i ser o f T h e N o r se St ar

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cover story photo illustra tion b y a va pa rr

Sep . 20 13 N o r se St ar i ssu e i n t r o d u ces Jo n N et zl er . at SH S as h e ex p er i en ces jou r n al i sm i n a n ew w ay. N etzl er w as i n volved w i t h ?T h e N or se St ar ? f r om 20 13 t o 20 16, even t u al ly m ov i n g on to t each jou r n al i sm abr oad i n Sau d i A r abi a. W h i l e teach i n g abr oad i n a cou n tr y with st r i ct er cen sor sh i p l aw s, N et zl er h as becom e h i gh ly aw ar e of th e i m p or tan ce of f r ee p r ess an d th e ty p e of p ol i cy ?T h e N or se Star ? h as. ?O n e m ajor d r aw back to

d oi n g jou r n al i sm h er e i n Sau d i A r abi a at m y p r i vate i n ter n at i on al sch ool i s [th at] w e'r e n ot d oi n g jou r n al i sm h er e, an d th at's al m ost w or se th an d oi n g n oth i n g at al l . [...] W e'r e n ot seek i n g th e tr u t h an d r ep or t i n g i t. [...] Ever y t h i n g w e'r e t r y i n g to d o i s PR to a cer tai n ex ten t, an d [...] i t 's u n f or tu n ate,? N etzl er say s. T h i s y ear i s th e f i r st y ear N etzl er w on 't be teach i n g a jou r n al i sm cl ass i n Sau d i A r abi a si n ce 20 12 due to his el ecti ve jou r n al i sm cl ass bei n g cu t th i s y ear . N etzl er str on gly bel i eves th at jou r n al i sm cl asses ar e on e of th e m ost ap p l i cabl e f or m s of ed u cati on . ?A r e th e stu d en ts d oi n g i m p or t an t w or k ? I f th e an sw er i s y es, th ey 'r e d oi n g good l ear n i n g. [...] I f th ey can m at ch th e vocabu l ar y on a test th at's gr eat bu t w h at i s i t al l l ead i n g u p to? W h at 's th e i m p or t an t th i n g th at th ey 'r e i n volved i n ? W h at 's th e bi g i m p or tan t

photo b y a nja royko

T h e M ay 20 21 N o r se St ar sen i o r i ssu e, t h e y ear w h er e t h e n ew sp ap er b egan t o p r i n t t h e f u l l n ew sp ap er i n co l o r . p r oject th at actu al ly h as r eal val u e? ?T h e N or se Star ? i s th at,? N etzl er say s. For m er Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef M egan M ow er y att r i bu tes h er car eer ch oi ce an d f u tu r e to h er ex p er i en ce on ?T h e N or se Star .? M ow er y w as on

T h e N o r se St ar st af f d i st r i b u t es t h ei r Sep . 20 21 i ssu e o n a h o m eco m i n g d r ess- u p d ay.

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staf f f r om 20 13 t o 20 15, an d w as Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef d u r i n g h er 20 14- 20 15 sch ool y ear . ?N or se St ar [...] h el p ed p r ep ar e m e f or m y cu r r en t car eer ? i t con v i n ced m e t o p u r su e a jou r n al i sm d egr ee i n col l ege an d t o joi n m y col l ege m agazi n e, al l w h i ch l ed to m e cu r r en t ly w or k i n g f or a m agazi n e p u bl i sh i n g com p an y as a sen i or ed i tor . I tr u ly w ou l d n 't h ave d on e an y of i t w i t h ou t N or se Star ,? M ow er y say s. T he gr at ef u l voi ces th r ou gh ou t ou r r ep or t i n g of th ose i n volved w i t h ?T h e N or se Star ? over t h e y ear s d em on str at e t h e l egacy of th e staf f an d st u d en ts f r om 1925 w h o d evel op ed a h i gh sch ool p ap er on gen er at i on s of Stou gh t on com m u n i t y m em ber s. ?T h e N or se St ar ? h as ser ved as both a voi ce f or Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool as w el l as a tool f or st u d en ts t o ex p l or e th e r esp on si bi l i ti es of jou r n al i sm . T i m es ch an ge, w r i t er s ch an ge, ad v i ser s ch an ge, an d even t h e p ap er 's n am e h as ch an ged , bu t i t 's cl ear t o see th at "T h e N or se St ar " h as i m m or t al i zed t h ose stu d en t voi ces f or over 90 y ear s.

A n j a Roy k o T h e N o r se St ar b eco m es b egi n s p r i n t i n g i n Ed i t o r - i n - C h i ef f u l l co l o r 20 21

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Ch eck u s ou t at t h en or sest ar .com Sen d u s a st or y pit ch . Wr it e a let t er t o t h e edit or . Valid 2021-22 School Year

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St u den t s! Do you w an t t o be on Th e Nor se St ar st af f ? M ak e r oom in you r sch edu le f or t h e year -lon g class an d apply t o be on st af f !

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Wan t y ou r bu si n ess t o be seen ? Adver t ise w it h Th e Nor se St ar ! Con t act sh sn or sest ar @gm ail.com f or m or e in f or m at ion abou t pr in t an d on lin e


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It's The Great Potluck, Charlie Brown! B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

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al l l eaves ar e ch an gi n g th ei r col or s, th e t em p er atu r e is getti n g cool er , an d p u m p k i n sp i ce i s al l th e r age. T h e N or se St ar staf f w an t ed t o t r y th e best f al l r eci p es, so w e got t ogeth er to d o ju st t h at . Si tti n g d ow n i n a staf f m em ber 's gar age, w e h ad ou r l i ttl e get t oget h er , f u l l of d el i ci ou s f ood , gr eat en ter tai n m en t, an d even better com p an y. W h i l e ?T h e Rock y H or r or Pi ct u r e Sh ow ? p l ay ed i n t h e back gr ou n d , t h e staf f m em ber s d u g i n to t h e d el i ci ou s sp r ead . T h er e w as a w on d er f u l bu tter n u t squ ash sou p , th e

m ai n d i sh wh ite ch i l i ch i cken ; bot h m ad e by sen i or A n ja Roy ko, an d of cou r se, p l en ty of d esser ts. Food w asn 't th e on ly m en u i t em avai l abl e; sen i or Em m a Far l ey m ad e a d el i ci ou s h ot ch ocol at e th at p ai r ed excel l en t ly w i th ou r bou n ty. T h r ou gh ou t th e n i gh t th e staf f kep t scor ecar d s th at l i sted al l of th e cou r ses. D i sh es w er e r at ed based on h ow th ey tast ed in com p ar i son to th e r est of th e f ood sam p l ed . T h e f ood th at w as r ated th e best w er e th e ci n n am on ap p l e m u f f i n s m ad e by

Pi ct u r ed b el ow i s t h e t ab l e set t i n g t h at w as set u p i n a st af f m em b er s gar age.

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sen i or D el an ey Gau th i er , w i th a 5 star r ati n g acr oss th e boar d . T h e l ow est r ated f ood w as th e p u m p k i n br ead m ad e by m y sel f , w i th an aver age r ati n g of 2.75 star s. Even i f som e r eci p es d i d n ?t r ecei ve a p er f ect scor e f or u s, th ey w er e al l w i n n er s f or th e r eci p e book . O ver al l th e n i gh t w as gol d en , an d even th ou gh som e d i sh es d i d n ?t tu r n ou t as w el l as w e h op ed th ey w ou l d , th e d i sap p oi n tm en t w as m ad e u p w i th th e p eop l e w h o sat ar ou n d th at tabl e.

Pi ct u r ed b el ow ar e d esser t s b r o u gh t by st af f m em b er s.

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T h e p u m p k i n b r ead r at ed a 2.75 o u t o f 5 aco r n s d u e t o t h e t ex t u r e.

T h e p i e r at es a 3.75 o u t o f 5 aco r n s d u e t o p er so n al t ex t u r e p r ef er en ces f r o m st af f m em b er s.

T h i s d r i n k r at es a 4 .25 o u t o f f i v e aco r n s.

W an t t o t r y y o u r h an d at t h ese r eci p es? Fo l l ow t h i s Q R co d e f o r t h e l i n k t o t h em ! T h i s so u p r at es 4 .5 o u t o f 5 aco r n s d u e t o so m e st af f d i sl i k i n g t h e f l av o r .

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T h i s d i sh r at es a 4 .75 o u t o f 5 aco r n s.

T h ese m u f f i n s r at e a 5 o u t o f 5 aco r n s.

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Homecoming Highlights B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

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om ecom i n g is a l on g- st an d i n g t r ad i t i on at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool , an d th i s y ear d i d n ot d i sap p oi n t . T h e f esti v i t i es, or gan i zed by St u d en t Sen ate, w er e m et w i t h en th u si asm f r om th e st u d en t bod y an d st af f al on g w i th l ots of p ar t i ci p at i on . T h i s y ear ?s d r ess- u p t h em es w er e d ecad es d ay, d y n am i c d u os, ti e- d y e, t ou r i st d ay, an d V i k i n g p r i d e. Act i v i ti es occu r r ed during l u n ch , al on g w i t h a p ep r al ly Fr i d ay at t h e en d of th e sch ool d ay i n p r ep ar at i on f or th e f oot bal l gam e an d d an ce. Stou gh t on ?s st u d en t s d i d n ot d i sap p oi n t w i t h t h em e d ay s f or H om ecom i n g th is y ear . M an y took t h e op p or t u n i t y t o go al l ou t , l i kely becau se of a sever e l ack of h om ecom i n g act i v i t i es l ast y ear d u e t o CO V I D - 19. M on d ay w as d ecad es d ay, th e Fr esh m en r ep r esen ti n g t h e 20 0 0 ?s, th e Sop h om or es t h e 1970 ?s, th e Ju n i or s th e 1990 ?s. Sen i or s h ad car eer d ay on M on d ay. M an y Sen i or s sh ow ed u p i n car eer cost u m es r an gi n g f r om f ar m er s t o n u r ses an d m u ch m or e. M an y H om ecom i n g even t s took p l ace d u r i n g l u n ch as w el l , al l or gan i zed by St u d en t Sen ate. O n M on d ay st u d en t s sai d good by e t o su m m er w i th th e l ast t ast e of su m m er d r i n k s sol d at th e sh ack .

T h e St o u gh t o n C h eer l ead er s p er f o r m ed at t h e p ep r al l y. 16

T u esd ay ?s h om ecom i n g d r ess- u p th em e w as D y n am i c D u os. M an y p ai r s of stu d en t s d r essed u p as i con i c d u os f r om f i l m s, book s, tel ev i si on , an d m or e. M an y Sen i or s p ar took i n Toga T u esd ay an d ad or n ed w h i t e sh eet s i n sp i r ed by th e cl ot h i n g of A n ci en t Rom e. T u esd ay ?s l u n ch t i m e even t w as w h at w ou l d y ou d o f or a K l on d i ke bar ? St u d en ts w er e p u sh ed to see w h at th ey w ou l d d o f or a K l on d i ke bar . St u d en ts d i d a v ar i ety of th i n gs, su ch as ju m p i n g jack s, h op p i n g on on e f oot, sp ew i n g ou t r an d om f acts, an d m or e. W ed n esd ay ?s H om ecom i n g d r ess- u p th em e w as ti e- d y e, cr eati n g a w ave of col or s i n th e h al lw ay s of St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool . St u d en ts w or e ever y th i n g ti e- d y e r an gi n g f r om sh i r t s, sock s, h ead ban d s, an d m or e. Sen i or s took th e n am e sen i or s to h ear t on W ed n esd ay as m an y sh ow ed up d r essed l i ke sen i or ci ti zen s. M an y of th e p ar t i ci p ati n g Sen i or s w or e w i gs an d str u tted th e h al lw ay s. St u d en ts at St ou gh ton on T h u r sd ay d r essed l i ke tou r i st s f or H om ecom i n g. A sea of H aw ai i an sh i r ts, l ei s, an d f an n y p ack s h i t th e h al lw ay s. T he Sen i or s h on or ed th ei r f avor i t e f i cti on al ch ar act er s on T h u r sd ay by d r essi n g u p as su p er h er oes. Col or f u l m ask s (ot h er th an th e d i sp osabl e k i n d ), cap es, an d ti gh ts w er e som e of th e i m p r essi ve i t em s Sen i or s i n cor p or at ed i n to th ei r cost u m es. St u d en ts w en t al l ou t on Fr i d ay, th e f i n al d r ess- u p d ay of th e w eek , an d f ol l ow ed th e sam e th em e to sh ow th ei r sch ool sp i r i t. M an y stu d en t s sh ow ed th ei r V i k i n g p r i d e an d sh ow ed u p i n a d i zzy i n g am ou n t of sh ad es of p u r p l e. All stu d en t s f ol l ow ed th e sam e th em e f or Fr i d ay to com e toget h er an d sh ow th ei r su p p or t f or th e p ep r al ly an d f ootbal l gam e. Sp i r i ts

photos b y ma d eline monthie

T h e St o u gh t o n d an ce t eam p er f o r m ed t h ei r an n u al d an ce w i t h t h e f o o t b al l p l ay er s. w er e h i gh on Fr i d ay i n an ti ci p ati on of th e u p com i n g f ootbal l gam e. Stu d en ts p ar t ook i n a gam e of V i k i n gs tr i v i a d u r i n g l u n ch . T h e f i r st p ep r al ly of th e 20 21- 22 sch ool y ear w as f i l l ed w i th en th u si asm an d l ot s of ch eer i n g. Stu d en ts f i l ed i n t o th e bl each er s ou tsi d e th e sch ool by th e f ootbal l f i el d to sh ow th ei r sch ool sp i r i t. T h e Stou gh ton ch eer l ead er s an d D an ce Team f oster ed al l th e exci tem en t by p er f or m i n g. T h e Stou gh ton D an ce Team p er f or m ed th ei r an n u al d an ce w i th th e f ootbal l p l ay er s, ear n i n g l ot s of l i vel i n ess f r om th e cr ow d . A l ack of en th u si asm w as d ef i n i tely n ot th e r eason Stou gh ton l ost to For t Atk i n son at th e Fr i d ay f ootbal l gam e. M an y stu d en ts att en d ed th e f ootbal l gam e to sh ow th ei r sch ool sp i r i t. T h e scor e w as 34- 28 i n f avor of For t Atk i n son , al th ou gh Stou gh ton d i d n ?t gi ve For t Atk i n son an easy f i gh t. T he an n u al H om ecom i n g d an ce w r ap p ed u p al l of th e H om ecom i n g f est i v i ti es. Fr om 7- 9 PM stu d en ts d an ced an d en d ed H om ecom i n g on an u p beat n ote. T h e d an ce w as h el d

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ou tsi d e on t h e t r ack ar ou n d th e f ootbal l f i el d t o h el p r ed u ce th e sp r ead of CO V I D - 19. St u d en t Sen at e?s p l an n i n g t h r ou gh ou t t h e w eek d i d n ot d i sap p oi n t, esp eci al ly t h ei r accom m od ati on s at th e d an ce. CO V I D - 19 cl ear ly d i d n ot sl ow d ow n an y on e?s H om ecom i n g sp i r i ts t h i s y ear . St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool st u d en ts ex p er i en ced t h ei r f i r st H om ecom i n g p ost on l i n e l ear n i n g, th e u n d er cl assm en ex p er i en ci n g t h ei r f i r st i n - p er son H om ecom i n g ever . T his y ear ?s h om ecom i n g w as d ef i n i t ely a y ear to r em em ber !

T h e st u d en t sect i o n sh ow ed t h ei r sch o o l sp i r i t at t h e p ep r al l y. the norse sta r, octob er 2021


a rts & enterta inment

Scents of the Season B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager

N ow th at f al l i s i n f u l l m oti on , i t i s easy to be over w h el m ed by al l of th e th i n gs th at m ake th e season so l ovely. Pu m p k i n s ar e p l aced on p or ch st ep s w i t h jagged sm i l es an d p oi n ty ey es. A p p l e O r ch ar d s f l ou r i sh w i th p r od u ce w or th y of p i ck i n g. H ot cof f ee cu p s col l ect sp r i n k l es of ci n n am on al on gsi d e sy r u p soaked squ ar es. To en su r e on e gets al l of th ese au t u m n ex p er i en ces, on e can w al k tow ar d s sm al l , f l i cker i n g f l am es th at en com p ass t h e scen ts of t h e season . N or se St ar I n st agr am f ol l ow er s (@sh sn or sestar ) d i d ju st th i s by p i ck i n g th ei r f avor i t e f al l can d l e an d can d l e br an d . T h e r esu l ts ar e sh ow n bel ow, al l ow i n g oth er s to f al l i n l ove w i th th ese p op u l ar scen ts an d br an d s t h e sam e.

of N or se Star I n stagr am f ol l ow er s vote B ath an d B od y w or k s h as better can d l es com p ar ed to Yan kee Can d l e.

50%

of N or se Star I n stagr am f ol l ow er s vote Yan kee Can d l e h as better can d l es com p ar ed to B ath an d B od y W or k s.

50% Headin gs

22%

of N or se St ar I n st agr am f ol l ow er s vot e Pu m p k i n Pecan W af f l es by B at h an d Bod y W or k s as t h ei r f avor i t e f al l can d l e.

36% 36%

of N or se St ar I n stagr am f ol l ow er s vot e Ci n n am on St i ck by Yan kee Can d l e as th ei r f avor i te f al l can d l e.

of N or se Star I n stagr am f ol l ow er s vote L eaves by B ath an d B od y W or k s as th ei r f avor i t e f al l can d l e.

The Scents of the Season a rt b y emma phillips

the norse sta r, octob er 2021

6%

of N or se Star I n stagr am f ol l ow er s vot e Au t u m n W r eath by Yan kee Can d l e as th ei r f avor i te f al l can d l e. 17


opinions

I Crown Thee...Homecoming Royalty! B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s Arts and Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist

T

he sound of applause envelops the football field, shouts can be heard in appreciation, a sea of purple, a storm of clapping hands and stomping shoes. A crown is placed upon your head as the rest of the student body vocalizes their appreciation. Yes, i t ?s h om ecom i n g cou r t, an d t h i s y ear w e m i ssed ou t . H om ecom i n g i s t h e on e w eek a y ear w h er e su ch a st r on g sen se of u n i t y f i l l s t h e h al lw ay s of SH S an d w h en th e sch ool t en d s to d r ow n i n t h e col or p u r p l e. T h e tr ad i t i on al p ep r al ly h el d th e Fr i d ay bef or e th e bi g h om ecom i n g gam e seem s to be t h e even t of th e season . T his p ast Sep tem ber , SH S h ad i t s f i r st h om ecom i n g si n ce th e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c. Bu t t h er e w as a n ot i ceabl e f eatu r e m i ssi n g f r om th e p ep r al ly agen d a t h i s y ear . T h er e w as n o h om ecom i n g r oy al ty ! W e ar e on ly i n h i gh sch ool f or f ou r y ear s, an d t h an k s to t h e p an d em i c, l ast y ear w e al l m i ssed ou r h om ecom i n g. H om ecom i n g i s th e on e even t t h r ou gh ou t th e y ear w h er e ever y st u d en t f r om ever y gr ad e can p ar ti ci p ate, h ave f u n , an d sh ow t h ei r sch ool sp i r i t . N ot h av i n g a h om ecom i n g cou r t th i s y ear u n d er m i n ed t h at stu d en t ex p er i en ce, an d SH S sh ou l d br i n g th e t r ad i ti on back . T w o y ear s ago, t h e SH S st u d en t bod y cr ow n ed Bu r ke M u r p h y an d M aggi e M cN u l ty as th ei r h om ecom i n g r oy al t y. A l on g w i th th ose t w o, w e cr ow n ed a f u l l h om ecom i n g cou r t f or SH S. Fast f or w ar d t o th i s y ear , h om ecom i n g w as i n f u l l ef f ect bu t l ack i n g ou r t r ad i ti on al h om ecom i n g cou r t. H om ecom i n g cou r t i s a l on g- stan d i n g t r ad i t i on h er e at SH S. So w h at ?s d i f f er en t t h i s y ear ? T h at ?s a qu esti on I st r u ggl ed t o f i n d an an sw er t o. Ju d gi n g f r om p r ev i ou s y ear s, th er e w as an i ssu e w i th th e h om ecom i n g 18

photo b y emma phillips

Pi ct u r ed i s t h e r ecen t 20 19 - 20 20 y ear b o o k i n w h i ch B u r k e M u r p h y an d M aggi e M cn u l t y w er e cr ow n ed . r oy al ty bei n g gen d er ed w i th on e boy an d on e gi r l , bu t stu d en t sen ate f i xed th i s i ssu e by cr ow n i n g a f u l l cou r t th at th e stu d en t bod y ch ose by a m ass vote, r egar d l ess of gen d er . D u e to th i s, i t p er p l exed m e as to w h y th i s y ear w as d i f f er en t. I ?m n ot say i n g ou r h om ecom i n g f or t h i s y ear w as n ot as good as i t cou l d h ave been , bu t qu i t e th e op p osi te. W e ju m p ed back i n to f u l l sw i n g w i th SH S p ep , col or s, an d sp i r i t. I ju st th i n k th at w h at w ou l d br i n g ou r sch ool togeth er th e m ost w ou l d be to ti e ou r w h ol e tr ad i t i on togeth er w i t h a h om ecom i n g cou r t. I say th i s on ly becau se i n m y en ti r e h i gh sch ool l i f e, I h ave n ever h ear d an oth er stu d en t ex p l i ci tly say th at th ey d o n ot w an t h om ecom i n g r oy al t y, r egar d l ess of w h o w ou l d be vot ed f or . I f eel th at, th ou gh I can n ot sp eak f or th e en ti r e stu d en t bod y, a l ot of p eop l e m ay agr ee w ith my v i ew. H om ecom i n g r oy al t y i s a ti m e- h on or ed tr ad i ti on d u r i n g ou r p ep r al ly an d p ar ad e th at, I bel i eve, h el p s to br i n g stu d en t s togeth er . I t al l ow s th e stu d en t s to vote f or th ei r best f r i en d s, to take ti m e tal k i n g abou t w h o th ey th i n k w i l l get ch osen , an d to f eel a u n i f i ed togeth er n ess w i t h th ei r p eer s.

I n m y ex p er i en ce, i t w as alw ay s exci ti n g to see p eop l e I k n ew an d w er e f r i en d s w i th get ch osen f or h om ecom i n g cou r t an d even stu d en ts w h o w er e n ew to m e. I t w as a f u l f i l l i n g acti v i ty to be abl e to p ar t i ci p ate i n , even as a sp ectat or , to ch eer on w h i ch ever stu d en t got th e cr ow n . I ?m su r e i t cer tai n ly en h an ces th e ex p er i en ce as w el l w h en y ou ?r e th e

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stu d en t th at gets vot ed f or , n ot to m en t i on th e com p l em en tar y t i ar a, cr ow n , sash , an d scep t er th at com es w i t h t h e t i t l e. I u n d er st an d t h at m an y bel i eve h om ecom i n g cou r t m ay act as a p op u l ar i ty con test , bu t in th e ex p er i en ce t h at I ?ve h ad , th at r u m or i s d ebu n ked . M ost ti m es t h ey ar e som e of th e n i cest p eop l e w e?ve ever m et an d t h e r eason t h ey w er e voted w as becau se of th i s, n ot becau se of t h ei r p op u l ar i ty st atu s i n sch ool . T h at ?s w h at t h e p oi n t of h om ecom i n g i s, to com m en d each an d ever y stu d en t th at u p h ol d s t h e sp i r i t of t h e V i k i n gs, t o ack n ow l ed ge h ow h ar d t h e stu d en ts w or k , an d t o l et t h e stu d en t bod y ch eer on t h ose al on gsi d e th em . I can ?t say as t o w h y t h i s y ear w as d i f f er en t t h an th ose p r i or , bu t I can say th at SH S sh ou l d absol u t ely br i n g back i t s h om ecom i n g cou r t, i f n ot f or t h e sch ool tr ad i ti on , t h en t o gi ve t h e stu d en ts an oth er ch an ce at th i s on ce i n a l i f et i m e m om en t. O r , f ou r t i m es i n a l i f eti m e, to be ex act .

SH S st u d en t s gat h er ed t o at t en d t h e 20 21 h o m eco m i n g p ep r al l y t o ch eer o n t h e f o o t b al l an d d an ce t eam . photo b y a utumn evenson

the norse sta r, octob er 2021


opinions

Take a Break B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

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e al l h ave of f d ay s. W e al l h ave d ay s w h er e ever y t h i n g i s w ay too st r essf u l . W e al l h ave d ay s w h er e goi n g t o sch ool seem s i m p ossi bl e, an d th e t h ou gh t of h av i n g t o step i n to th at bu i l d i n g m akes u s w an t to tu r n aw ay an d h i d e f or ever . I t ?s f or th ese r eason s th at m en t al h eal t h d ay s ar e so i m p or t an t . M en tal h eal t h d ay s, an d m en tal h eal t h i n gen er al , h ave a soci etal st i gm a att ach ed t o t h em . I n ou r soci ety w e l i ke t o ad op t th e ap p r oach t h at i t ?s n ot an i ssu e i f i t i sn ?t t al ked abou t. T h i s m en t al i t y i s th e p r obl em . Stu d en t s sh ou l d be al l ow ed t o ex p r ess th ei r n eed f or br eak s; t h ey n eed t o ex p r ess w h en i t get s too st r essf u l . W i th ou t t al k i n g abou t m en tal h eal t h d ay s, st u d en t s ar en ?t abl e t o ex p r ess w h at t h ey so d esp er at ely n eed . St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool sh ou l d l et st u d en ts take m en tal h eal t h d ay s, an d t h ose m en t al h eal t h d ay s sh ou l d be sep ar at e f r om si ck d ay s. T w o A P B i ol ogy cl asses w er e p ol l ed t o see w h at st u d en ts i n Stou gh t on t h i n k abou t th e t op i c. M an y st u d en ts sh ar e th e v i ew p oi n t t h at SH S sh ou l d h ave m en t al h eal t h d ay s. ?W e ar e gi ven ?si ck ?d ay s of f of sch ool , an d y et w h i l e m en tal h eal t h i s a v i t al f actor of ou r h eal t h , ou r sch ool d oesn ?t ack n ow l ed ge t h at. M en t al h eal t h i s ju st as i m p or tan t t o ou r bod i es [...] as p h y si cal h eal t h , an d i f th e m atter of on e t o t h r ee d ay s of f can h el p i t ?s w el l w or th i t ,? ju n i or Jor d an Pack ar d say s i n th e su r vey. T h er e is a h u ge r esp on si bi l i t y p l aced on h i gh sch ool st u d en t s, w h i ch f r an k ly is r i d i cu l ou s. St u d en ts ar e ex p ect ed at th e bar e m i n i m u m t o go to sch ool f or at l east seven h ou r s a d ay, an d af t er th at t h ey h ave sp or t s or oth er ex tr acu r r i cu l ar act i v i t i es f or t w o to th r ee m or e h ou r s. Teach er s al so ex p ect st u d en ts t o d o al l of th ei r the norse sta r, octob er 2021

h om ew or k w i t h ou t th i n k i n g abou t th e am ou n t of oth er th i n gs stu d en t s d o i n on e d ay. O n top of al l of th e ex tr a w or k th ey d o al l d ay, stu d en t s ar e ex p ected to h ave a soci al l i f e an d l i ve a h eal t h y l i f esty l e. N ot to m en t i on th at stu d en ts h ave jobs th at take aw ay a good ch u n k of th ei r f r ee ti m e af t er sch ool an d d u r i n g th e w eeken d s. St u d en ts d on ?t h ave ti m e f or a br eak , an d th ey w or k th em selves to th e p oi n t of n ear ex h au sti on bef or e th ey f i n al ly sn ap . M en tal h eal t h d ay s w on ?t solve th e p r obl em of stu d en t s bei n g over w or ked , bu t th ey su r e w ou l d h el p . M en tal h eal t h d ay s n eed to be u sed f or , as th e n am e i m p l i es, m en tal ti m e of f . W h en th e two AP B i ol ogy cl asses w er e p ol l ed , th ey w er e asked h ow m an y m en t al h eal t h d ay s th ey h ave taken . O n ly a h an d f u l of stu d en t s sai d th ey h ad taken a br eak f or th e sake of th ei r m en tal h eal t h . ?N on e becau se m i ssi n g sch ool m ean s m ak i n g u p w or k w h i ch su ck s,? sen i or A bby Gr ol eau w r i tes. ?I h aven ?t r eal ly taken an y. I t ?s been a gr i n d si n ce f r esh m an y ear ,? an ot h er sen i or , Br an d on K r eger , w r i tes. I t 's sad to k n ow th at stu d en t s, to u se K r eger ?s w or d s, h ave to ?gr i n d ? th ei r w ay th r ou gh f ou r y ear s of h i gh sch ool . M en tal h eal t h d ay s ar e f or ever y on e, stu d en ts an d staf f al i ke. I f eel f or th e staf f m em ber s at ou r sch ool , an d I can see h ow som e becom e f r u str ated w i t h th ei r jobs d u e to stu d en t s? beh av i or . I t ?s n ot an easy job to teach gr ou p s of k i d s w h o ar e tr an si ti on i n g in to ad u l t h ood . St af f m em ber s at SH S w er e al so p ol l ed to see w h at th ey th i n k abou t m en t al h eal t h d ay s an d i f th ey h ad taken som e th r ou gh ou t th ei r y ear s of teach i n g. T w en ty m em ber s of SH S staf f r esp on d ed . O f

th ose tw en t y, 35% sai d th ey h ad taken a m en t al h eal th d ay i n th e p ast. O n e teach er w r ote th e r eason th ey h aven ?t taken a m en t al h eal th d ay i n th e p ast i s ?becau se of th e w or k l oad f or a teach er f or m i ssi n g a d ay [su ch as] f i n d i n g a su b, su b p l an , con ten t m atter d i f f i cu l t f or ju st an y on e to f eel com f or tabl e teach i n g, et c.? Staf f m em ber s d eser ve a br eak ju st as m u ch as stu d en ts d o, an d if Stou gh ton w ou l d i n t r od u ce r est d ay s f or both stu d en ts an d teach er s, I th i n k ever y on e w ou l d ben ef i t. T h i s i sn ?t on ly on e staf f m em ber 's op i n i on ei th er , m an y sh ar ed th e sam e v i ew p oi n t . ?To su p p or t ou r stu d en ts, we n eed to su p p or t ou r teach er s as w el l . Teach er s as w el l as stu d en ts su f f er bu r n ou t an d on e d ay to r eset can m ake a w h ol e w or l d of d i f f er en ce,? on e SH S staf f m em ber w r i t es.

Teach er s h ave to m em or i ze t h e n am es an d f aces of over a h u n d r ed stu d en ts th at t h ey w ou l d see i n on e d ay. T h ey h ave t o cr eate en gagi n g l esson p l an s, gr ad e st u d en ts' h om ew or k , an d l ect u r e on th e sam e m at er i al m u l t i p l e ti m es th r ou gh ou t t h e d ay. O ur t each er s ar e acti vely m ol d i n g t h e m i n d s of stu d en t s ever y sch ool d ay. N ot t o m en t i on t h at teach er s h ave l i ves ou tsi d e of th ei r jobs l i ke an y ot h er p r of essi on al ad u l t . Teach er s h ave a l ot on t h ei r p l ate t h at w ou l d n ?t be r equ i r ed f or th em i n ot h er job sett i n gs. T h ey n eed t h ese br eak s to ben ef i t t h ei r stu d en ts. Stou gh ton sch ool s d on ?t h ave to ch an ge t h ei r w h ol e sy stem f or si ck d ay s, bu t i t n eed s a cou p l e of t w eak s. Stou gh ton sh ou l d car e; i t sh ou l d d o m or e f or t h e m en t al h eal t h of i t s st u d en ts an d staf f . W h at SH S h as i n p l ace n ow i sn ?t en ou gh an d it ben ef i t s no on e.

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Why Hour-Long Lunches Should Return B y Sam Ro ss Freelance Writer

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m p l em en t ed in th e 20 18- 20 19 sch ool y ear , Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool ad m i n i str at i on m ad e th e d eci si on t o ch an ge th e h ou r - l on g l u n ch t o 30 m i n u tes, w i t h t h e h u n gr y stu d en ts sp l i t u p i n t o A an d B l u n ch es. T h ese sh or t en ed l u n ch p er i od s d o n ot p r ov i d e m an y stu d en ts w i t h th e br eak th at t h ey m ay n eed i n t h ei r sch ed u l e, esp eci al ly f or t h ose w i th act i v i t i es r i gh t af t er sch ool , w h o m ay n ot get ti m e t o u n w i n d f r om su n r i se to su n set . I t al so d oes n ot gi ve t h ese st u d en ts t i m e to stop h om e m i d w ay t h r ou gh t h e d ay, i f th ey f or got som et h i n g, or th ey ju st n eed t o st op by. T h i s l u n ch sch ed u l e al so i m p ed es th e soci al i zat i on of stu d en ts d u r i n g l u n ch , as m an y f r i en d gr ou p s ar e sep ar ated by t h e d i v i si on of stu d en ts i n t o t w o gr ou p s. T h i s sep ar at i on n ot on ly h as i ssu es i n t h i s r egar d , bu t m i d w ay t h r ou gh f ou r th

h ou r , th e n oi se of th e oth er stu d en t s? squ eak i n g sh oes an d sl am m ed l ocker s ech o th r ou gh th e cl assr oom s, d i sr u p t i n g th e h ar d w or k i n g stu d en t s w i t h i n . O f cou r se, as w i th al l ch an ges, th er e ar e som e qu esti on s an d con cer n s th at ar i se i m m ed i ately.

Scan t h i s Q R co d e t o sh ar e y o u r o p i n i o n o n t h e t o p i c, an d t o see l i v e st at i st i cs o f o t h er r ead er s' t h o u gh t s!

?W h er e w o u l d t h e ex t r a 30 m i n u t es co m e f r o m ?? T h i s i ssu e cou l d easi ly be r esolved by star ti n g sch ool at 7:55 a.m . i n stead of 8:25 a.m . A n ear l i er star t w ou l d n ot be n ew to stu d en ts, an d si n ce Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool u sed to star t cl asses ar ou n d th i s ti m e, it w ou l d n ?t be too d i f f i cu l t to tr an si t i on back . I bel i eve th at th e h ou r - l on g l u n ch sh ou l d r etu r n to Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool , as i t w ou l d p r ov i d e stu d en ts an op p or t u n i ty to unwind, som eth i n g th at m an y stu d en ts str u ggl e to f i t i n t o th ei r sch ed u l e. B esi d es, l u n ch f or h i gh sch ool er s i s so m u ch m or e th an a ti m e to eat : I t i s a ti m e to r el ax , r ef ocu s, an d r eju ven ate f or th e cl asses ah ead .

?I f ev er y o n e eat s at t h e sam e t i m e, w h er e w o u l d al l o f t h e st u d en t s si t ?? W i th th e cu r r en t soci al d i stan ci n g r u l es at l u n ch , th i s w ou l d be a f ai r qu est i on t o ask . T his is p ar t i al ly r esolved by on e ben ef i t of a l on ger l u n ch : I t w ou l d be m u ch easi er to l eave cam p u s f or l u n ch an d com e back i n ti m e f or y ou r n ex t cl ass. H av i n g a l on ger l u n ch p er i od w ou l d m ake i t m u ch easi er t o get som et h i n g t o eat of f cam p u s, m ay be eat at a p ar k , an d r et u r n t o sch ool w i t h t i m e t o sp ar e. A n oth er p ossi bl e sol u ti on i s t o al l ow stu d en ts t o eat i n t h e gy m .

gs Bring Headin Back Halloween B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

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u m m er h as com e an d gon e, an d f al l h as t aken i t s p l ace. A s t h e l eaves star t t o ch an ge col or s an d f al l to t h e gr ou n d , t h e r et u r n of p u m p k i n sp i ce l at t es, cor n m azes, an d t h e r ev i val of sw eatsh i r ts an d sw eat p an t s ar e i n f u l l ef f ect . M ost i m p or tan t ly t h ou gh , it m ean s th at H al l ow een i s cr eep i n g u p on u s. W i th th e con cer n s su r r ou n d i n g CO V I D - 19 i n t h e f al l of 20 20 , H al l ow een i n Stou gh t on w as p u t t o th e si d e to keep f am i l i es an d r esi d en ts saf e. D ecor at i on s st i l l w er e h u n g u p ar ou n d t ow n , bu t com e t h e n i gh t of H al l ow een , m ost f am i l i es ch ose to en joy t h e h ol i d ay f r om th e com f or t of th ei r h om es. Com e a y ear l ater , t h ose con cer n s ar e st i l l ver y m u ch r eal , bu t I bel i eve th at p ar ti ci p ati n g i n t r i ck or t r eati n g an d ot h er H al l ow een f est i v i t i es ar e

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com p l etely saf e. A m I say i n g th at p eop l e sh ou l d gr ou p u p an d th r ow p ar t i es w i t h h u n d r ed s of p eop l e? A bsol u t ely n ot . I am say i n g th ou gh , th at w i th th e p r ogr ess th at h as been m ad e i n th e l ast y ear , i t w i l l be absol u tely ok ay as l on g as p eop l e d o th e r i gh t th i n gs to keep ot h er s saf e. St ou gh ton i s h ol d i n g th ei r an n u al d ow n tow n tr i ck or tr eat on Sat u r d ay, O ct. 30 f r om 1- 5 p .m ., an d h ol d i n g r esi d en t i al tr i ck or tr eat i n g H al l ow een n i gh t f r om 6- 8 p .m . M ask s an d soci al d i st an ci n g ar e str on gly en cou r aged bu t n ot m an d at or y. H al l ow een w as th e h ol i d ay gr ow i n g u p th at I alw ay s l ooked f or w ar d to m ost . I r em em ber m ak i n g d ecor ati on s w i t h m y d ad th at r an ged f r om cor p ses, sk u l l s, gr avest on es, an d m or e. T h e h ol i d ay al l ow ed

m e to sh ow n ot on ly m y cr eati ve si d e, bu t al so sh ow m y d ar ker an d sp ook i er si d e. Som e of th e costu m es I u sed to com e u p w i th w er e n ot p ar ti cu l ar ly n or m al f or an el em en tar y an d ear ly m i d d l e sch ool aged k i d , bu t I alw ay s en joy ed th at I cou l d ex p r ess m y sel f i n a w ay th at m ad e oth er p eop l e a tad u n com f or tabl e. For k i d s to p oten ti al ly m i ss ou t on i t f or an ot h er y ear w ou l d be d i sap p oi n t i n g an d I f eel i s n ot n ecessar y. I am ecstat i c f or al l of th e p eop l e th at get to ex p er i en ce H al l ow een an d al l i t i s th i s y ear . H av i n g a sem i - n or m al

H al l ow een i s a p er f ect w ay f or p eop l e t o r el ax an d l et l oose of al l t h e t h i n gs goi n g on . W h eth er y ou ?r e a t r i ck or tr eat er , a can d y p asser ou ter , or a h or r or m ov i e en joy er , m ake su r e t o st ay saf e an d h ave f u n t h i s y ear ! a rt b y emma phillips

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Getting Inspired at Grand Inspired B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor

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f ter y ear s of si t ti n g cl osed up an d aban d on ed , th e gar age d oor s of 50 1 E. M ai n Str eet h ave been l i f t ed , t h e m ol d y boar d s h ave been r em oved f r om th e w i n d ow s, an d a f r esh f al l br eeze bl ow s t h r ou gh th e h i st or i c bu i l d i n g. Bu i l t i n 1927, t h e n ear ly 10 0 y ear ol d bu i l d i n g h as seen i ts f ai r sh ar e of bu si n esses. Fr om an au tom oti ve d eal er sh i p i n i t s ear ly d ay s t o t h e H on ey W agon h ead qu ar t er s m ost r ecen tly, i t ?s w el l u sed . T h e bu i l d i n g?s ex t er i or cu r ved br i ck w or k an d w i n d ow s m ake i t stan d ou t f r om th e st r u ctu r es ar ou n d i t , a sty l e cal l ed A r t M od er n e. Bu t at t h e m om en t , t h e ex t er i or i s abou t al l t h at i t h as goi n g f or i t. T h e i n t er i or i s tor n ap ar t, w i t h p i l es of scr ap m ater i al s an d ol d w ood en boar d s scat t er ed abou t . Bu t beau t y i s i n t h e ey e of th e beh ol d er . T h at's w h er e Joan n a Gr assm an com es i n . Gr assm an i s n ot on ly br i n gi n g a f r esh l ook to t h e bu i l d i n g, sh e i s br i n gi n g l i f e to i t t h r ou gh h er n ew bu si n ess, Gr an d I n sp i r ed . U n l i ke ot h er bu si n esses cu r r en tly in d ow n tow n St ou gh ton , Gr an d I n sp i r ed i s set to be a w ood w or k i n g m aker sp ace an d gal l er y. T h e m aker sp ace w i l l be a p l ace w h er e p eop l e of th e

photo sub mitted b y joa nne g ra ssma n T h e i con i c beam s (bow str i n g t r u sses) an d cu r ved br i ck w or k t h at can be seen t h r ou gh ou t t h e i n si d e of t h e bu i l d i n g. a rt b y emma phillips the norse sta r, octob er 2021

photo b y ma d ison luick 50 1 E. M ai n St r eet i s th e f u tu r e h om e of Gr an d I n sp i r ed .

St ou gh ton com m u n i ty an d su r r ou n d i n g ar ea can gath er to w or k i n d ep en d en tly or toget h er on w ood - based p r oject s, u si n g equ i p m en t th at w i l l be p r ov i d ed by Gr an d I n sp i r ed . ?T h e m aker sp ace i s l i ke [h av i n g] a gy m m em ber sh i p . O n ly th i s i s a m em ber sh i p in w ood w or k i n g [? ] You p ay a m on t h ly f ee an d th en y ou can com e i n an d u se th e w ood w or k i n g equ i p m en t w h en ever y ou w an t,? Gr assm an say s. Gr an d I n sp i r ed w i l l be d i v i d ed i n to f ou r d i f f er en t ar eas. T h er e w i l l be an en cl osed ?d i r ty si d e? w h er e n oi se an d saw d u st ar e al l ow ed . T h e w ood w or k i n g equ i p m en t w i l l be i n th i s p ar t of th e bu i l d i n g. T h e n ex t ar ea i s a f i n i sh i n g ar ea, or a ?n o saw d u st? zon e, as Gr assm an d escr i bes i t. T h i s si d e w i l l be equ i p p ed w i th f u m e ven ts to br i n g th e sm el l s an d f u m es of w ood f i n i sh es ou t si d e. T h e th i r d ar ea will be an ot h er w or k sp ace, w h er e t h er e w i l l be w or k tabl es an d n ecessar y tool s to f u r th er bu i l d an d f i n i sh p r ojects. T h ese th r ee ar eas ar e th e ?m aker sp ace,? w h er e p eop l e can com e i n an d u t i l i ze th e equ i p m en t as n eed ed to cr eate th ei r ar t .

T h e f ou r th sp ace w i l l be th e gal l er y. Gr assm an ex p l ai n s w i th a sm i l e th at i t i s h er e th at p eop l e can p r esen t an d sel l th ei r cr eati on s, w h et h er th ey m ad e th em i n th e Gr an d I n sp i r ed M aker sp ace or ou tsi d e of i t. Gr assm an , w h o r eti r ed th i s Ju n e, h as w or ked i n ed u cati on f or m ost of h er l i f e. Sh e ex p l ai n s th e d r i ve an d p assi on th at br ou gh t h er to th i s p oi n t an d w h at br ou gh t h er f r om ed u cati on to ar t an d w ood w or k i n g. ?[I ] l ove to p l ay ar ou n d w i th w ood , an d I 've alw ay s d r eam ed of r en ov ati n g an ol d bu i l d i n g f or a l on g l on g ti m e. I gr ew u p i n an ol d f ar m h ou se an d I w ou l d h ave d r eam s of r estor i n g [i t]. [...]T h e sen se of w an t i n g to keep [qu al i ty str u ctu r es] an d bu i l d i n gs an d [p r eser ve] th e th i n gs th at [h ap p en ed ] i n th em - th at's on e of th e th i n gs th at m oti vates m e,? Gr assm an say s. Sh e i s al so i n sp i r ed by th e val u e of h an d m ad e i tem s. ?You h ave a h an d m ad e tabl e f or ex am p l e. I t's n ot som eth i n g th at y ou 'r e goi n g to th r ow aw ay an d get som eth i n g d i f f er en t i n a cou p l e m or e y ear s. You ?r e goi n g to keep i t f or ever ,? Gr assm an say s.

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Gr assm an n ot on ly val u es th e sat i sf acti on of h av i n g h om em ad e ar t an d f u r n i tu r e, bu t sh e al so val u es th e p r ocess i t t ook t o p r od u ce t h at f i n al p i ece. Sh e h op es t o p r ov i d e an i n v i ti n g, com f or tabl e, an d i n sp i r i n g ex p er i en ce f or m aker sp ace u ser s. ?Peop l e, cu stom er s, [an d ] cl i en ts w an t ex p er i en ce, so ou r ex p er i en ce i s t h at p eop l e com e to see beau t i f u l t h i n gs th at p eop l e h ave m ad e, bu t th ey al so get t o ex p er i en ce w h at i t's l i ke t o act u al ly m ake th e p r od u ct [? ] I w ou l d ju st l ove t o see p eop l e [w h o ar e] star ti n g ou t, an d bu i l d som et h i n g r eal ly su p er sp eci al w i t h th ei r ar t,? Gr assm an say s. Gr assm an al so h op es t o p r ov i d e a saf e an d i n cl u si ve sp ace f or t h e St ou gh ton com m u n i t y an d bey on d . W i th th e h el p of Gr assm an 's team , con si st i n g p r i m ar i ly of h er f am i ly, sh e h op es t o d r aw i n p eop l e w h o ar e n ot u su al ly r ep r esen t ed in w ood w or k i n g su ch as w om en , p eop l e of col or , an d th ose w i t h d i sabi l i t i es. ?[I w an t t o] h ave t h i s sp ace r eal ly be a ver y i n cl u si ve, f r i en d ly sp ace f or p eop l e w h o ar e ju st gett i n g i n t o i t to p eop l e w h o ar e ju st d oi n g t h i s as a p ar t of th ei r r ou ti n e an d h ave d on e i t f or y ear s,? Gr assm an say s. T h e m aker sp ace al on g w i th a ten t ati ve on l i n e sh op ar e set to op en by D ecem ber . T h e gal l er y w i l l be op en in M ar ch . Gr assm an h op es t h at by br i n gi n g th is kind of ex p er i en ce t o St ou gh ton sh e can p r om ote car eer s i n ar ti str y an d w ood w or k i n g. ?T h e bi ggest t h i n g t h at I see f or m y sel f r i gh t n ow i s br i n gi n g t h i s t o f r u i ti on , y ou k n ow, seei n g i t t h r ou gh , gett i n g i t goi n g [? ] M y goal at th i s p oi n t w i t h t h i s bu i l d i n g i s t o su p p or t t h e p eop l e w h o ar e i n h er e,? Gr assm an say s. Gr assm an sh ar es t h at p eop l e can stay u p t o d ate w i th Gr an d I n sp i r ed by f ol l ow i n g t h em on I n stagr am an d Facebook @gr an d i n sp i r ed . 21


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Payton Collins' Clay-m to Fame B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

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h e step s of a y ou n g en tr ep r en eu r ech o t h r ou gh Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s gr i d d ed h al l s. Pay ton Col l i n s w al k s t o h er l ocker , p i n k an d or an ge ar ch - sh ap ed ear r i n gs (a f avor i te of h er s) sw i n gi n g i n sy n c w i th h er st r i d e. O n h er w ay, a p eer com p l i m en ts t h e jew el r y. Sh e t h an k s t h em an d sm i l es t o h er sel f , k n ow i n g t h at sh e?s t h e on e w h o cr eated t h em . T h i s St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool sen i or i s t h e ow n er of a jew el r y bu si n ess, cl ever ly n am ed Cl ay by Pay. Each d ay, h er w or k can be obser ved d an gl i n g f r om th e ear s of m an y SH S st u d en t s. N eed l ess t o say, seei n g t r aces of t h e bu si n ess al l ar ou n d th e sch ool n ever f ai l s to m ake Pay t on Col l i n s' d ay. ?I t m akes m e so h ap p y,? say s Col l i n s. ?I t ju st m akes m e sm i l e so m u ch . I alw ay s h ave to go u p t o [p eop l e w ear i n g m y ear r i n gs] an d t h an k th em .? M ak i n g cl ay ear r i n gs st ar ted of f as a h obby f or Col l i n s, who w asn ?t con f i d en t t h at p eop l e

w ou l d w an t to w ear h er ar t, so w h en sh e k i ck- star t ed h er bu si n ess an d i t began to take of f , sh e w as equ al ly stu n n ed an d ap p r eci at i ve. ?Ever y on e ar ou n d m e w as ask i n g [w h y I d i d n ?t tr y sel l i n g m y ear r i n gs to m ake som e m on ey ] an d I ju st th ou gh t, ?I d on 't k n ow i f p eop l e w ou l d bu y th em [...] I ju st w asn 't ver y con f i d en t i n m y sel f , bu t i t 's actu al ly goi n g [ bett er th an ex p ect ed ],? Col l i n s say s. Col l i n s, l i ke m an y, f ou n d qu ar an ti n e a p r i m e ti m e f or p i ck i n g u p a n ew sk i l l . W h i l e m an y sp en t th ei r ti m e ad ju sti n g to a n ew n or m al , Col l i n s w as begi n n i n g th e jou r n ey w i th cl ay th at w ou l d u l ti m ately l ead to h er col or f u l bu si n ess. ?I star t ed m ak i n g [th e ear r i n gs] at th e begi n n i n g of th e p an d em i c, ju st becau se I w as alw ay s h om e, an d I th ou gh t I m i gh t as w el l d o som eth i n g w i t h m y ti m e,? say s Col l i n s. ?T h en I star ted to h ave so m an y l ay i n g ar ou n d m y h ou se th at I th ou gh t I m i gh t as w el l f i n d a w ay to get r i d of som e." A l i tt l e over a y ear l ater , Cl ay by Pay w as bor n . Col l i n s cr eates h er cr af t

Headin gs

photos sub mitted b y pa yton collins C o l l i n s cr eat es a w i d e v ar i et y o f cl ay ear r i n gs, sh ow casi n g m an y co l o r s an d sh ap es. 22

u si n g var i ou s col or s of p oly m er cl ay, sten ci l ed cu tt er s, an d an oven . Sh e p r od u ces m an y or gan i c sh ap es, i n cl u d i n g ar ch es an d cr escen t s. Col l i n s al so en joy s ad d i n g cl ay f l ow er d et ai l s to var i ou s p ai r s. A f ter sh e m i xes, cu ts ou t, an d em bel l i sh es h er accessor i es, sh e l ay s th em ou t an d bakes th em u n ti l th ey ?r e ju st r i gh t? or at l east, cl ose en ou gh . ?I d ef i n i tely w an t ever y th i n g to be p er f ect, w h i ch i s r eal ly som eth i n g th at I 've tr i ed to l et go of . T h e th i n g i s, th ey ar e h an d m ad e. T h ey ?r e som eth i n g th at i sn ?t r eal ly m ean t to be p er f ect al l th e ti m e,? Col l i n s say s. T h e easi est w ay to p u r ch ase th ese h an d m ad e accessor i es is th r ou gh I n stagr am . A l l on e h as to d o i s D M @Pay by cl ay i f a p ai r catch es th ei r ey e. Col l i n s' ear r i n gs gen er al ly r an ge f r om $10 to $20 d ep en d i n g on th e d esi gn . H ow ever , Col l i n s i s m or e th an h ap p y to f i n d a p r i ce p oi n t th at w or k s f or th e bu y er . T he m ost com m on f or m of p ay m en t Col l i n s takes i s Ven m o, bu t sh e i s abl e to accom m od ate oth er op ti on s i n cl u d i n g cash an d oth er on l i n e cu r r en cy exch an ges. Sh e si m p ly w an t s to get th e ear r i n gs to th e bu y er as soon as p ossi bl e an d p u t a sm i l e on th ei r f ace. Pr od u cti on can take an y w h er e f r om th i r ty m i n u tes to tw o h ou r s, accor d i n g to Col l i n s. Each p ai r i s u n i qu e an d h as i ts ow n i n t r i caci es, l eav i n g th e p r od u cti on ti m e r el ati vely u p i n th e ai r . Ret u r n i n g to sch ool h as h i n d er ed Col l i n s' abi l i ty to p r od u ce m an y p ai r s, bu t sh e ex p l ai n s th at h er sol u ti on i s to p er i od i cal ly d ed i cat e ti m e to f ocu s on th e bu si n ess. T h er e?s cer tai n ly a l ot th at com es w i th r u n n i n g Cl ay by Pay, som e f r u str ati on s, bu t al so m an y w on d er f u l ben ef i ts. Col l i n s? f ace l i gh ts u p as sh e m en t i on s th e m an y con n ecti on s i t h as al l ow ed h er to m ake. ?I 've m et so m an y

C o l l i n s st ar t ed m ak i n g h er ear r i n gs d u r i n g q u ar an t i n e. p eop l e t h r ou gh it, [i n cl u d i n g] ot h er sm al l bu si n ess ow n er s. I 've m ad e a l ot of n ew f r i en d s t h r ou gh [th e bu si n ess]," Col l i n s say s. N ew con n ect i on s h ave cer tai n ly m ad e t h e bu si n ess even m or e r ew ar d i n g an d en joy abl e, t h ou gh t h at?s n ot to d i scou n t t h e su p p or t of ol d er con n ect i on s. To h er h u m bl e am azem en t , Col l i n s' f r i en d s an d f am i ly h ave h ap p i ly su p p or ted h er w i th u n w aver i n g l oy al t y. ?[M y f am i ly an d f r i en d s] h ave been r eal ly n i ce abou t i t al l . A l ot of t h em w er e t h e on es w h o r eal ly p u sh ed m e to star t t h e bu si n ess [...] th ey 've been su p er su p p or ti ve t h e w h ol e w ay,? Col l i n s say s w i t h a sm i l e. SH S Sen i or El i se Car t er , a cl assm ate an d good f r i en d of Col l i n s', h as been f ol l ow i n g Cl ay by Pay si n ce i ts ver y f i r st sal e. ?I am bey on d p r ou d of Pay ton an d h er bu si n ess,? Car ter say s. ?I p r obably em bar r ass h er by h ow m u ch p r ai se I gi ve h er f or h er ear r i n gs. I w ear t h em ever y w eek an d get com p l i m en t s on th em ever y si n gl e t i m e I h ave th em on .? I t?s cl ear Cl ay by Pay 's ow n er p u ts an abu n d an ce of car e i n t o h er p r od u ct s. Fr om w ar m - t on ed ar ch es t o cool - ton ed f l ow er sh ap es, Col l i n s h as som eth i n g f or ever y on e. Col l i n s w ear s t h e bi ggest sm i l e as sh e sp eak s abou t h er w or k ; i t seem s sh e h as an en d l ess w el l of p assi on . ?I t?s n ot even a m on ey th i n g,? Col l i n s say s. ?I ju st l i ke seei n g p eop l e w ear th em . I r eal ly l ove bei n g abl e to sh ar e t h at w i t h p eop l e.? the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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Key Club Unlocks O pportunities B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager

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o bu i l d m y h om e, sch ool an d com m u n i t y ; t o ser ve m y n at i on an d w or l d ; an d com bat al l f or ces w h i ch ten d t o u n d er m i n e t h ese i n st i t u ti on s." T he gr ou p r ep eat s i n u n i son w i th th ei r r i gh t h an d h el d u p , p ar al l el t o t h ei r bod y. T h i s p l ed ge i s n ot sai d w h i l e l ook i n g at a w av i n g f l ag w i t h 13 str i p es an d 50 st ar s, bu t r ath er at Key Cl u b co- p r esi d en t , SH S sen i or Kor tn ey Toso d u r i n g th e m on th ly Key Cl u b m eeti n g. H er e, m em ber s an d of f i cer s u se th e Key Cl u b p l ed ge to u n i te an d m ot i vat e each ot h er to m ake p osi t i ve ch an ge i n t h e com m u n i t y. Toso, al on g w ith co- p r esi d en t , SH S sen i or Br ooke T h r al l an d Ad v i sor Beth A n d er son h ave t aken on or gan i zi n g, p l an n i n g, an d l ead i n g St ou gh t on H i gh

Sch ool ?s Key Cl u b th r ou gh th e 20 21- 20 22 sch ool y ear . T h e cl u b i s th e stu d en t- l ed ver si on of K i w an i s Cl u b, bot h ser v i ce or gan i zati on s th at gi ve m em ber s th e ch an ce to h el p th ose i n th e com m u n i ty an d t o bu i l d l ead er sh i p sk i l l s al on g th e w ay. ?[Key Cl u b] h as th e v al u es th at I bel i eve ever y on e sh ou l d l i ve th ei r l i f e by, an d th at's h el p i n g ot h er s an d bei n g k i n d an d vol u n teer i n g an d ser v i n g,? A n d er son say s. A l r ead y th i s y ear , Key Cl u b h as p ar ti ci p ated i n sever al acti v i t i es th at h el p ou t th e com m u n i ty, su ch as p i ck i n g u p tr ash al on g H i gh w ay B an d tak i n g p ar t i n a k i te- f ly i n g even t f or k i d s at San d h i l l El em en tar y Sch ool . L ast y ear , th e cl u b p u t on k i n d n ess w eek w h er e good d eed s w er e d on e d ai ly. Toso h as l ear n ed th r ou gh p ar t i ci p ati n g i n an d l ead i n g th ese even ts th at

photo submitted by kortney toso

A d d y M cC o n v i l l e (l ef t), K o r t n ey T o so (m i d d l e), an d L aci M cp h ee (r i gh t) p o se t o get h er i n f r o n t o f n ew l y cl ean ed H i gh w ay B . an y good d eed or ti m e gi ven to th e cl u b w i l l teach m em ber s a l ot becau se th ey ar e gi v i n g back . ?[Key Cl u b] d ef i n i tely m ad e m e better at h el p i n g p eop l e ou t an d n ot ex p ecti n g an y t h i n g in r etu r n . I 'm ju st gi v i n g as m u ch as I can to h el p oth er p eop l e. I t's gi ven m e a l ot of

l ead er sh i p sk i l l s, even as a m em ber , becau se m em ber s can find vol u n teer op p or t u n i ti es an d p r op ose th em to th e of f i cer s,? Toso say s. Key Cl u b u n l ock s m an y op p or t u n i ti es f or its m em ber s, bu t i t d oes cost $15 an n u al ly t o of f i ci al ly be a p ar t of t h e i n t er n at i on al or gan i zati on . A l th ou gh , Toso p oi n ts ou t t h at p ay i n g th i s p r i ce i s an i n vest m en t f or on e?s f u tu r e d u e t o Key Cl u b's p osi ti ve p r esen ce on p ages f r om job r esu m es t o col l ege an d n at i on al h on or soci ety ap p l i cati on s. N o m at t er t h e d eci si on a stu d en t m akes abou t joi n i n g Key Cl u b, A n d er son w i l l su p p or t th em t h r ou gh i t . ?I t's m y h op e an d d r eam th at ever y st u d en t f i n d s som eth i n g t h ey 'r e p assi on ate abou t . You d on 't h ave to joi n Key Cl u b [...] ? A n d er son say s, ?Ju st m ake th e m ost of y ou r h i gh sch ool car eer .?

Diving Into SHS's Male A Cappella Group Headin gs B y A n j a Roy k o Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor

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i ke m an y of t h e cl u bs an d cl asses i n t h e m u si c d ep ar tm en t , SH S?s m al e a cap p el l a gr ou p , D i ve I n , h ad t o take a l en gt h y h i atu s f r om p r act i ces as t h ey k n ew t h em . U n f or t u n at ely, th i s cau sed a f ew m i n or set back s f or r ecr u i t i n g n ew m em ber s. Si n ce 20 18, sen i or N oah K l ei tsch h as been a d ed i cated m em ber of D i ve I n , an d al t h ou gh h i s gr ou p i s a bi t sm al l er th an n or m al th i s y ear , h e h op es t o m ake t h i s y ear on e to r em em ber . Co- l ead i n g al on gsi d e ju n i or Sam Ross, on e of K l ei tsch ?s m ai n r esp on si bi l i t i es i s t each i n g t h e gr ou p t h ei r p ar t s, bu t h e w an ts to m ake su r e th at ever y bod y i s h av i n g f u n w h i l e d oi n g so. ?O u r f i r st p r act i ce, w e p l ay ed Q u i p l ash on Jack box w h en w e w er e su p p osed to be p i ck i n g a son g,? K l ei t sch say s. ?W e h ave fun t ogeth er .? the norse sta r, octob er 2021

K l ei tsch w or k s so h ar d to en su r e th at each m em ber en joy s th em selves w h i l e th ey ar e at p r act i ce becau se h e k n ow s th ei r en joy m en t p l ay s a m ajor r ol e i n th e qu al i ty of th ei r p er f or m an ces. ?I th i n k i t ?s a l ot better to l ear n m u si c w h en y ou actu al ly l i ke th e p eop l e y ou ?r e w i t h , an d I l i ke al l m y m em ber s of D i ve I n ,? K l ei tsch say s. T his y ear will be K l ei tsch ?s f ou r t h an d f i n al y ear p ar t i ci p ati n g i n D i ve I n . O ver th e p ast th r ee y ear s, K l ei tsch h as been abl e to ex p er i en ce D i ve I n u n d er th r ee d i f f er en t l ead er s. H e ex p r esses th at th e m ost i m p act f u l l ead er an d m en t or w as th e l ead er of th e gr ou p during his f r esh m an y ear . ?I star t ed ou t w i th a gr eat teach er . H i s n am e w as M at th ew Gi l l e,? K l ei t sch say s. ?I r eal ly th ou gh t h e i n cor p or at ed h av i n g a f u n ti m e an d h av i n g i n str u ct or ti m e. I th ou gh t h e r eal ly m i xed th ose tw o togeth er , an d I k i n d a w an t to [ base m y teach i n g sty l e] of f of h i s

photo by anja royko K l ei t sch (f o u r t h f r o m r i gh t) h o st s w eek l y r eh ear sal s i n w h i ch t h e gr o u p l ear n s an d r ev i ew s t h ei r m at er i al . becau se i t r eal ly w as on e of th e gr eatest gr ou p s th at I ?ve h ad d u r i n g m y h i gh sch ool car eer .? K l ei stch f eel s as th ou gh th er e i s a m i scon cep ti on as to w h at D i ve I n tr u ly i s an d h e h op es to cl ear th at u p . ?I th i n k a l ot of p eop l e th i n k th at i t?s ju st l i ke an ot h er cl ass th at th ey w i l l h ave to go to on on e of th ei r d ay s of f ,? K l ei t sch say s. ?D i ve i n i s a p l ace w h er e I can k i n d a bu i l d th i s sor t of com m u n i ty th at w ou l d n ?t h ave been cr eated , bu i l d a gr ou p of f r i en d s th at

p r obably w ou l d n ?t h ave tal ked to each ot h er bef or e.? K l ei t sch w as ver y ad am an t abou t of f er i n g h i m sel f up f or an y qu est i on s t o t h ose cu r i ou s abou t th e gr ou p an d p ossi bly joi n i n g. H e say s t o em ai l h i m w i th an y qu est i on s at k l ei tn o@stou gh ton .k 12.w i .u s an d to f ol l ow t h e D i ve I n I n stagr am accou n t at sh sd i vei n f or m or e i n f or m ati on an d u p d at es. ?I ?m h op i n g t o see y ou soon ,? K l ei tsch say s. ?I t?s a r eal ly f u n gr ou p .? 23


fea tures - food review

pa a av

ap p eal w as th at th e bow l s w er en ?t ju st n ood l es an d br oth , bu t h ad ex tr a gar n i sh es th at gave th e f ood m or e f l avor an d tex tu r e. A f ter th e m ai n cou r se, th e staf f d eci d ed to or d er gr een tea an d van i l l a m och i f or th e tabl e as d esser t. Each or d er cam e w i th tw o m och i , an d al l f ou r ser v i n gs w er e gar n i sh ed w i th w h i p p ed cr eam an d a d el i cate d r i zzl e of ch ocol ate sau ce. T h e m och i w er e al so cl ean ly d i v i d ed i n t o f ou r p i eces each , w h i ch m ad e sh ar i n g am on g th e tabl e easy. T h e on ly n oti ceabl e d r aw back to th e m en u w as th e l ack of vegetar i an op ti on s. T he on ly vegetar i an r am en of f er ed w as n ot even a tr u e r am en , bu t d escr i bed on th e m en u to be a bow l of n ood l es ser ved i n a sou p m ad e of w h eat an d soy, an d al th ou gh i t sou n d s d el i ci ou s, i t w as a bi t d i sap p oi n ti n g to see th e l ack of op ti on s f or th ose w i th d i etar y r estr i ct i on s. H ow ever , th e f ood th at w as or d er ed w as r i ch an d f l avor f u l , an d each bow l w as on ly ar ou n d $10 , w h i ch w as

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T h e N o r se St ar st af f en j oy ed t h e am b i en t l i gh t i n g, d el i ci o u s f o o d , an d p l easan t en v i r o n m en t o f t h e r est au r an t . photo b y d ela ney g a uthier

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f y ou ?r e cr av i n g a bow l of r am en , l ook n o f u r th er t h an Ram en Stat i on on Par k St r eet. T h e r est au r an t i s a w ar m , w el com i n g st op f or an y on e w h o?s l ook i n g f or som e d el i ci ou s, au t h en ti c Jap an ese cu i si n e, al l f or a r eason abl e p r i ce. A f ter a 30 - m i n u t e d r i ve, som e of th e N or se St ar staf f ar r i ved at t h e r est au r an t . T h e i n ter i or of Ram en St ati on w as w ar m ly - l i t, p r ov i d i n g a com f or t abl e atm osp h er e f or d i n i n g, as w el l as bei n g m u ch bi gger on th e i n si d e t h an or i gi n al ly ex p ected . A qu i et W ed n esd ay n i gh t at th e r estau r an t m ean t th e atm osp h er e w as cal m an d r el ax i n g, a m u ch - n eed ed r ep r i eve f r om t h e h u stl e an d bu stl e of t h e m i d d l e of t h e w eek . T h e st af f sat at a t abl e i n t h e back of t h e r est au r an t , bu t th e l ocat i on of ou r tabl e d i d n ?t d eter t h e ser v i ce at al l . T h e w ai t st af f w as ver y att en ti ve t h r ou gh ou t th e n i gh t. Each p l ace at th e t abl e w as set w i t h a p ai r of

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ch op st i ck s th at w e u sed (w h i l e a f ew of u s str u ggl ed ) as w el l as som e si lver w ar e i f we gr ew w ear y of m an h an d l i n g th e ch op st i ck s. T h e m en u of f er ed a w i d e sel ecti on of en tr ees, f r om r am en to d u m p l i n gs to ter i y ak i . T he staf f or d er ed ch i cken f r i ed r i ce f or th e tabl e, w h i ch w as ser ved i n a l ar ge sl an t ed bow l al on gsi d e f i ve p l ates. Sp oon i n g th e r i ce on to ou r p l at es p r oved to be a l i ttl e tr i ck y, bu t th e r i ce w as so good th at th e cl ean - u p w as easi ly w or t h i t . T w o staf f m em ber s got th e Sh i o Ram en , w h i ch con si st ed of r am en i n a cl ear ch i cken br oth , ser ved w i t h p or k an d a sof t- boi l ed egg. O n e staf f er got th e M i so Ram en , w h i ch w as si m i l ar to th e Sh i o Ram en , bu t th e br oth w as m i so- based . T w o ot h er staf f m em ber s bot h or d er ed th e Sh oy u Ram en , w h i ch i n cl u d ed a soy - based ch i cken br oth . Each of ou r or d er s w as top p ed of f w i th seaw eed , scal l i on s, bam boo sh oots, bean sp r ou ts, an d f i sh cake - a l ar ge p ar t of th e

ph ot

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w or t h it con si d er i n g th e l ar ge ser v i n gs an d qu al i ty of t h e m eal . W h en p eop l e t h i n k of r am en , ty p i cal ly t h ey t h i n k of a ch eap , easi ly - accessi bl e m eal th at?s l oved by ever y on e, f r om p i ck y eater s to br oke col l ege stu d en ts. Ram en Stat i on p r oves t h at, as d el i ci ou s as i n st an t r am en m ay be, y ou can ?t beat a w el l - cr af t ed bow l of th at tr ad i ti on al com f or t f ood . Ram en St ati on ?s af f or d abl e p r i ces an d com f or ti n g at m osp h er e on ly ad d t o t h e ap p eal . I f y ou ?r e w i l l i n g t o sp ar e t h e ex tr a $10 f or an ex p er i en ce - an d m eal - t h at?s m u ch m or e w or th y ou r w h i l e, t h e N or se Star staf f su ggest s tak i n g a tr ip to th is r estau r an t an d f or egoi n g th e sam e ol d p ack age of i n stan t r am en . O ver al l , t h e N or se St ar ?s tr i p to Ram en St ati on w as a su ccess. T h an k s t o t h e l ar ge p or ti on s of f l avor f u l f ood , th e att en ti ve st af f , an d t h e tr an qu i l en v i r on m en t, t h e N or se Star st af f r at es Ram en Stati on a f ou r an d h al f bow l s of r am en ou t of f i ve.

a rt b y emma phillips

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the norse sta r, octob er 2021


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