September 2021 Norse Star Issue

Back in Business

T he Nor se Star Stoughton H igh School September 2021

Table of Contents (C ov er an d T O C p h o t o by D el an ey Gu at h i er ) T O C by A n j a Roy k o

News Pg. 3

O pinions Pg. 7

Cover Story Pg. 10

Entertainment Pg. 14

Sports Pg. 17

Sports Pg. 21

Ed i t o r i al Po l i cy : T h e N o r se St ar st r i v es t o p r esen t t h e n ew s i n a f ai r an d u n b i ased m an n er . A n y co l u m n , ed i t o r i al , o r l et t er t o t h e ed i t o r ex p r esses t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e au t h o r an d n o t n ecessar i l y t h e en t i r e st af f . T h e N o r se St ar i s a p u b l i c f o r u m w r i t t en an d p r o d u ced by t h e st u d en t s at St o u gh t o n H i gh Sch o o l , an d t h ey ar e so l el y r esp o n si b l e f o r i t s co n t en t . St u d en t s, st af f , f acu l t y, an d m em b er s o f t h e co m m u n i t y ar e w el co m e t o su b m i t l et t er s t o t h e ed i t o r o f 30 0 w o r d s o r l ess. L et t er s m ay b e ed i t ed d u e t o sp ace l i m i t at i o n s, o b scen i t i es, o r l i b el co n cer n s. N o r se St ar w i l l v er i f y t h e au t h en t i ci t y o f an y l et t er s sen t o n b eh al f o f sch o o l o r gan i zat i o n s o r gr o u p s. A l l l et t er s m u st b e si gn ed an d em ai l ed t o sh sn o r sest ar @gm ai l .co m .

T h e N o r se St ar St af f A d v i ser : L au r a St r ey l e Ed i t o r - i n - C h i ef : A n j a Roy k o A sso ci at e Ed i t o r - Av a Par r C ov er St o r y Ed i t o r - A n j a Roy k o N ew s Ed i t o r - D el an ey Gau t h i er Feat u r es Ed i t o r : Av a Par r

O p i n i o n s Ed i t o r - D el an ey Gau t h i er En t er t ai n m en t Ed i t o r - Em m a Ph i l l i p s Sp o r t s Ed i t o r - Gab e Ro u sseau H ead A r t i st - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

C o p y Ed i t o r - C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Gr ap h i cs Ed i t o r - M ad i so n L u i ck B u si n ess M an ager - L au r en D i st r i b u t i o n M an ager - A u t u m n Ev en so n So ci al M ed i a Ed i t o r - Av a Par r

St af f / Fr eel an ce W r i t er s - B el i n d a A k al e, L au r en A m st ad t , C l ar e B o r ch ar d t , A u t u m n Ev en so n , Em m a Far l ey, M ad i so n L u i ck , M ad el i n e M o n t t h i e, B h o o m i Pat el , L au r a Per r y & Sam

The Future of Collins Field A

n ar t i f i ci al t u r f f i el d , n ew p r ess box , h an d i cap - f r i en d ly am en i ti es, an d m or e h ave al l been p l an s t h r ow n at Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s ath l et i c f aci l i t y. H ow ever , th e h i gh p r i ce t h at com es w i th su ch u p gr ad es h as been cau gh t t h r ou gh th e team ef f or t of Stou gh t on ?s Bu si n esses, cl u bs, al u m n i , an d su p p or ter s. Toget h er , th e Stou gh t on com m u n i ty h as r ai sed over 2 m i l l i on d ol l ar s f or su ch r en ov at i on s, l eav i n g on ly r ou gh ly $50 ,0 0 0 l ef t to r ai se f or t h e f i el d , k n ow n as ?p h ase on e? of th e p r oject.

O n e St ou gh t on cl u b th at h as w or ked t i r el essly w i th t h i s p r oject i s th e Stou gh t on Sp or ts Booster s Cl u b. L ed by Booster Pr esi d en t St eve Ly on s, t h e cl u b h as l ed f u n d r ai si n g even t s an d r ai sed t h ou san d s of d ol l ar s t o h el p t h e i d ea of

B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager T h e Col l i n s Fi el d Pr oject som eth i n g m u ch m or e. becom e a r eal i t y. ?I bel i eve Col l i n s ?O u r m i ssi on i s r eal ly Fi el d i n th e r en ov ati on s, to h el p [...] p r ov i d e n ot on ly w i th th e f i el d , at h l eti c equ i p m en t an d bu t w i th th e p r ess box , at h l eti c op p or tu n i t i es f or th e h an d i cap seat i n g, an d stu d en t at h l etes,? Ly on s a h ost of oth er th i n gs th at say s. w i l l go i n t o th i s p r oject A n d h el p th ey h ave. w i l l be a l egacy p r oject,?

M r . Ly on s?s p r ed ecessor , Ly on s say s.

El i se M cL au r y, w as th e T h e f i el d r en ov ati on on e to r each ou t to th e al on e will m ake a al u m n i f am i ly th at si gn i f i can t i m p act. Fi r st, d on at ed an ex t r a on e ath l et i cs an d acti v i ti es m i l l i on d ol l ar s to th e th at u se th e f i el d w i l l p r oject .

Kei t h an d h ave to f i n d al ter n ati ve Tam m y A n d er son ar e ar eas to p l ay on d u r i n g St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool th e p r oject?s r en ov ati on . sw eet h ear t s an d T he Col l i n s Fi el d su p p or t er s. T h ei r on e p r oject i s set to star t Ju n e m i l l i on d ol l ar d on ati on 1, 20 22 w i l l be goi n g tow ar d s photo b y molly shea w h at M r . Ly on s cal l s ?p h ase tw o an d th r ee? of th e Col l i n s Fi el d Pr oject.

T h i s i n cl u d es a n ew an d i m p r oved p r ess box an d am en i t i es sp eci al i zed f or th ose th at ar e h an d i cap p ed .

W h at star t ed as an ar t i f i ci al tu r f ad d i ti on h as tu r n ed i n t o

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an d to be com p l et ed by Sep t em ber 30 , 20 22.

A f ter th i s, accor d i n g to th e B ooster s, t h e f i el d w i l l be op en t o an esti m at ed 30 - 40 ad d i ti on al even ts p er y ear , att r act i n g m or e sp ectat or s th an ever t o even ts n ever seen bef or e on th e f i el d .

T his i n cl u d es n at i on al ban d com p eti ti on s an d m or e. ?I t's a l on g- ter m , ver y gr an d p l an , bu t a p osi ti ve on e, an d t h e su p p or t f r om booster s, i n d i v i d u al s, f am i l i es, an d th e bu si n ess com m u n i t y h as been over w h el m i n g,?

Ly on s say s.

K ei t h an d T am m y A n d er so n p r esen t a ch eck f o r $1,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 t o r ep r esen t at i v es o f t h e St o u gh t o n Sch o o l D i st r i ct an d St o u gh t o n Sp o r t s B o o st er s cl u b .

The Importance of Free School Meals B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

W

au kesh a?s r ecen t d eci si on t o op t ou t of th e f ed er al f r ee l u n ch p r ogr am m akes m an y w on d er abou t f r ee m eal s i n th ei r ow n t ow n an d th e r egu l ati on s t h at com e w i th i t . D u e t o CO V I D - 19, th e U n i t ed St at es D ep ar t m en t of A gr i cu l tu r e (U SD A ) an n ou n ced t h at ever y p u bl i c sch ool i n A m er i ca cou l d r ecei ve t w o f r ee m eal s f or st u d en ts. ?Ever y st u d en t can h ave on e f r ee br eak f ast an d on e f r ee l u n ch each d ay,? say s Stou gh t on ?s Food Ser v i ce D i r ect or , Jacob K l even , ?L ast y ear , w e h ad an y ch i l d u n d er th e age of 18 t h at l i ved i n Stou gh t on cou l d get f r ee l u n ch . N ow, t h i s y ear y ou h ave t o be i n K- 12 l ear n i n g i n a bu i l d i n g.?

A l t h ou gh y ou m u st be the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

l ear n i n g i n a Stou gh ton sch ool to r ecei ve f r ee m eal s, th er e ar e com m u n i t y - l ed op ti on s f or p r ov i d i n g f r ee m eal s d u r i n g th e su m m er . O n e p r ogr am th at h el p s stu d en t s gr ad e 12 an d u n d er r ecei ve f r ee f ood d u r i n g th e su m m er i s L u n ch es f or V i k i n gs, w h i ch i s vol u n teer - l ed an d d i st r i bu tes f r ee l u n ch es th r ou gh ou t th e su m m er . ?W e h ave a ver y gen er ou s com m u n i t y th at gi ves u s d on at i on s ever y y ear th at i t h el p s su p p or t stu d en t s w i t h , so I d on ?t k n ow th at w e?r e i n a p osi t i on w h er e w e w ou l d n eed to d o th at becau se even if y ou ?r e n ot ap p r oved f or f r ee or r ed u ced m eal s, t h er e ar e ot h er r esou r ces to h el p th ose stu d en t s,? say s

Stou gh ton ?s bu si n ess ser v i ces an d ad m i n i str ati ve assi st an t Jen n y M cKen n a.

A l th ou gh som e com m u n i ti es m ay n ot n ecessar i ly n eed th e f r ee m eal p r ogr am as m u ch as oth er com m u n i ti es, h av i n g f r ee m eal s f or al l al so h el p s en d th e sti gm a ar ou n d n eed i n g f r ee m eal s.

D esp i te th e f act th at br eak f ast an d l u n ch ar e n ow f r ee, th e n u m ber of stu d en ts tak i n g f r ee sch ool m eal s h asn ?t been gr eatly i m p acted , l i kely d u e to a l ack of aw ar en ess. ?W e?r e actu al ly abou t th e sam e r i gh t n ow. I ju st l ooked at 20 19 [? ] al l of th e sch ool s ar e at k i n d of a n or m al r u n n i n g l evel . So f ar i t h as n ot i n cr eased ou r p ar ti ci p ati on , bu t i t i s sti l l p r ett y ear ly i n th e

y ear , an d sti l l , p eop l e ar e f i n d i n g ou t t h at i t ?s f r ee, an d th at ou r f ood i s ver y good ,? say s K l even on t h e r ate of p ar t i ci p at i on .

Fr ee br eak f ast s an d l u n ch es ar e el i gi bl e t o an y stu d en ts i n gr ad es 12 an d u n d er w h o ar e cu r r en t ly l ear n i n g i n a St ou gh ton bu i l d i n g. St u d en t s can take ad van tage of t h e f r ee m eal s by stop p i n g by t h e caf eter i a f r om 8:15 a.m .- 8:30 a.m . bef or e cl asses or on y ou r l u n ch br eak .

a rt b y emma phillips 3

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Afghanistan Moving Forward B y L au r a Per r y Freelance Writer n O ct ober 7, 20 0 1, th e U n i ted St at es ar m y en ter ed A f gh an i st an .

N ow, 20 y ear s l at er , Pr esi d en t Bi d en h as of f i ci al ly w i th d r aw n ou r tr oop s, m ar k i n g th e en d of A m er i ca?s l on gest w ar . Bu t w h at con f l i ct s l i e at th e h ear t of t h i s on goi n g str u ggl e, an d w h at d o th ese n ew ch an ges m ean f or th e ci t i zen s of A f gh an i st an ?

Cu r r en tly, t h e Tal i ban , a gr ou p of I sl am i c ex tr em i st s w h o h ave h el d p ow er in A f gh an i st an m u l ti p l e t i m es i n r ecen t h i stor y, h ave on ce agai n sei zed con t r ol of th e cou n tr y af t er si gn i n g a d eal w i t h bot h f or m er Pr esi d en t Trum p an d Pr esi d en t B i d en to n egoti at e t h e U .S.?s ter m s of w i t h d r aw al . Accor d i n g to th ese agr eem en t s, th e U n i ted Stat es i s al l ow ed to evacu at e t h ei r ow n p er son n el i n p eace. A s th e d ead l i n e to do th i s ap p r oach es, h ow ever , th e Tal i ban h ave begu n to over r u n ci t i es. M ean w h i l e, ten s of t h ou san d s of A f gh an r ef u gees ar e attem p ti n g t o f l ee th e cou n tr y in h op es of escap i n g t h e n ot or i ou sly op p r essi ve an d v i ol en t r u l e of t h ei r n ew l ead er s.

N i co Pu sat er i , 23, h as been ser v i n g i n t h e U .S. A r m y f or al m ost f i ve y ear s.

He cu r r en tly atten d s col l ege i n St .

Cl ou d , M i n n . I n M ar ch , Pu sater i w as d ep l oy ed to ar eas of t h e M i d d l e East , an d en d ed up in A f gh an i st an in ear ly Au gu st .

D uring his i n ter v i ew on Sep tem ber 12, h e w as st at i on ed i n K u w ai t , w i t h f ou r m on t h s l ef t on h i s d ep l oy m en t bef or e r et u r n i n g h om e. ?T h e t r ai n i n g t h at w e get i s r eal ly good , bu t th ey d on 't r eal ly t r ai n y ou h ow to k i n d of h an d l e th e

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u n k n ow n [? ] an d th at r eal ly f r i gh t en ed m e,?

Pu sat er i say s.

A s a m em ber of th e gr ou n d tr oop s, Pu sater i ?s p r i m ar y d u t y w as to est abl i sh an d en f or ce secu r i ty. Pu sat er i an d h i s f el l ow ser v i cem en h ad to stop gr ou p s of 30 0 to 40 0 p eop l e d i sgu i sed as A f gh an ci ti zen s f r om tr y i n g to cl i m b over th r ee l ay er d eep w al l s. I n on e of th ese m om en t s of ch aos, m em ber s of th e Tal i ban ar r i ved i n tr u ck s, cau si n g i n ter p r eter s to sh ou t acr oss th e bar r en san d an d bar bed w i r e f en ces i n at tem p ts to com m u n i cate. ?[T h e Tal i ban ] star ted sh ooti n g at sp aces, r eal ly cl ose betw een p eop l e, an d th ey cl ear ed th at w h ol e th i n g ou t ,? Pu sater i say s.

sub mitted b y nico pusa teri Pu sat er i i n act i o n .

U .S. sol d i er s en d ed u p gi n ger ly step p i n g f oot i n to th e bar r en ar eas, h an d s aw ay f r om th ei r w eap on s i n or d er to r em ai n at p eace w i th th e Tal i ban , w h o sm i l ed an d at tem p ted to f i st bu m p th e sol d i er s, i n sti l l i n g a f eel i n g of u n easi n ess i n th e r oom . N ow th at th e w ar i s com i n g to a cl ose, at l east f or U .S. sol d i er s, th ese si tu ati on s of f ear an d u n cer t ai n ty w i l l l i kely sh r i n k .

For A f gh an ci ti zen s, h ow ever , th e ou t com es ar e f ar h azi er .

Som e ci ti zen s h ave set th ei r si gh t s on A m er i ca, an d th an k s to ef f or ts by th e U .S. A i r f or ce, th ei r d r eam s ar e becom i n g a r eal i t y. ?W e got over 50 ,0 0 0 p eop l e ou t i n th e th r ee w eek s th at w e w er e th er e.

11,0 0 0 w e got ou t i n on e d ay [...] I cou l d ju st h ear p l an es l an d i n g, tak i n g of f ,

an d tou ch i n g d ow n al m ost con stan tly th r ou gh ou t th e en ti r e d ay,? Pu sater i say s.

Pu sater i r ecal l s bei n g abl e to get to k n ow som e of th e r ef u gees bef or e th ey boar d ed th ese ai r cr af ts.

?[T h er e ar e] w ay s t h at y ou can d on ate, n ot on ly m on ey to n on p r of i t or gan i zati on s, bu t t h i n gs l i ke back p ack s an d n on - p er i sh abl es,? Pu sat er i say s. Som e or gan i zati on s to d on ate to i n cl u d e t h e Salv ati on A r m y, an d W el com e.u s.

M or e i n f or m ati on f or W i scon si n l ocati on s can be f ou n d th r ou gh t h i s Q R cod e.

photo b y nico pusa teri Ref u gees w ai t i n g t o b o ar d a U .S. p l an e. ?I actu al ly h ad th e ex tr em e p r i v i l ege to tal k to a y ou n g 16 y ear ol d k i d on th e ver y f i r st d ay I got to A f gh an i stan ,? h e states.

Pu sater i con ver sed w i th th e f am i l i es of m an y y ou n g A f gh an s abou t th ei r p l an s f or th e f u tu r e.

H e an d h i s f el l ow sol d i er s p l ay ed gam es w i th th e ch i l d r en w h i l e p assi n g ar ou n d sn ack s, gu m , an d toy s. H e car r i ed ci gar et tes i n h i s p ocket to gi ve to th e A f gh an s who sm oked th em , bu t cou l d n ot alw ay s get th em . A s m or e an d m or e r ef u gees f l ed th e ch an gi n g scen e, Pu sater i d escr i bed th e v i l l ages as gh ost tow n s. At f i r st, h e w as con f u sed . ?T h en I r eal i zed th ey got on a p l an e an d th ey m ad e i t ou t, w h i ch w as su p er gr eat,? h e say s.

A l th ou gh th ese d ep ar ti n g p l an es m ay ser ve as a beacon of h op e f or cu r r en t A f gh an i m m i gr an t s, th er e ar e sti l l m an y r esou r ces th at ar e n eed ed i n or d er f or th em to bu i l d n ew l i ves an d f u tu r es i n th e U n i ted States. A f ter sp eak i n g to m an y r ef u gees abou t th ei r asp i r ati on s, Pu sater i f el t h i s i d eas on i m m i gr ati on con cer n s sh i f ti n g. ?T h e m ost i m p or tan t r esou r ce th at w e h ave to of f er th em is ou r com p an i on sh i p ,? h e say s.

Scan t o l ear n m o r e f r o m D C F W i sco n si n .

A s a ser v i ce m em ber , Pu sater i r ef l ect s on t h e i m p act h e w as abl e t o m ake during his d ep l oy m en t. ?I t's ju st been am azi n g,? h e say s. ?T h e p l aces th at I 've got ten t o see [? ] th e i m p act t h at I 've gotten t o h ave on so m an y d i f f er en t p eop l e's l i ves, esp eci al ly in A f gh an i stan .?

H e sp eak s f on d ly of th e op p or t u n i t i es an d w i sd om h e gai n ed f r om h i s ti m e i n th e m i l i tar y. ?You l ear n so m an y l i f e ex p er i en ces an d so m an y d i f f er en t sk i l l s,?

Pu sater i say s. ?You get t o go see th e w or l d f or t h e good an d th e bad , an d i t r eal ly i s an ey e op en i n g ex p er i en ce.?

photo b y nico pusa teri A y o u n g A f gh an sh ar es a f i st b u m p w i t h a U .S. So l d i er . the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

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Band and Choir Performances Return Full Forte B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor s l i f e sl ow ly star t s seep i n g back i n t o th e w or l d , m u si c stu d en t s st ar t m ak i n g th ei r w ay back to th e Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool m u si c w i n g. D u st h as been bl ow n of f of i n st r u m en t cases, p r act i ce r oom s h ave been u n l ocked , ban d u n i f or m s h an g n eatly i n th ei r l ocker s, an d f i n al ly, af ter m on t h s of si l en ce, voi ces an d i n st r u m en ts can be h ear d f r om al l cor n er s of t h e w i n g. M u si c i s back .

T h i s i s gr eat n ew s f or th e St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ban d an d ch oi r gr ou p s, w h o cou l d n ot p l ay as a f u l l gr ou p f or m on th s d u e t o CO V I D - 19 con cer n s an d cou n ty r estr i ct i on s.

T he l ast p er f or m an ce ch oi r h el d w as th e sol oi st - based Pop s Con cer t i n Febr u ar y 20 20 .

T he l ast ban d p er f or m an ce bef or e l ockd ow n w as a t r avel i n g p er f or m an ce at M i l ton H i gh Sch ool f or th e Con f er en ce B an d Fest i val .

L ater t h at sam e d ay, i t w as an n ou n ced t h at th e Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool d i str i ct w ou l d be sen d i n g al l stu d en t s h om e f or th e ti m e bei n g due to CO V I D - 19. L i t t l e d i d th ey k n ow t h at i t w ou l d be m on th s bef or e m u si ci an s f r om al l ar eas of th e

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photo b y rya n ca sey Ch oi r st u d en ts r eh ear se p h y si cal ly d i st an ced i n th e SH S au d i t or i u m . the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool M u si c Pr ogr am s cou l d p er f or m toget h er agai n .

Exci tem en t , al on g w i t h ch al l en ges, com es w i t h th e r etu r n of f u l l en sem bl e r eh ear sal s an d p er f or m an ces.

D an Sch m i d t, St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s ban d d i r ector , say s th at th e m ost f r u str ati n g th i n g abou t h av i n g a f u l l en sem bl e agai n i s h av i n g to take ex tr a ti m e to m ake su r e al l ban d stu d en t s ar e com p l i an t w i t h cou n t y CO V I D - 19 gu i d el i n es.

T h i s i n cl u d es m ak i n g su r e m u si ci an s ar e w ear i n g m ask s m od i f i ed w i th sl i ts to f i t m ou th p i eces. O n top of th at, ban d stu d en ts m u st m ake su r e th e bel l s of th ei r i n st r u m en t s h ave th e p r op er aer osol - r ed u ci n g cover i n gs an d th at th ey ar e p h y si cal ly d i stan ced f r om on e an oth er . ?I t 's su p er f r u str ati n g to n ot be abl e to w al k i n t o th e r oom an d a f ew m i n u t es l ater , ever y bod y 's p l ay i n g,? Sch m i d t say s.

Ry an Casey, th e St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool ch oi r d i r ect or , i s al so f aci n g som e ch al l en ges w i t h i n th e ch oi r . L i ke ban d stu d en t s, ch oi r stu d en t s i n r eh ear sal ar e r equ i r ed to sp r ead ou t to com p ly w ith soci al d i st an ci n g gu i d el i n es, w h i ch can cau se f l aw s i n p er f or m an ce. ?You 'r e n ot h ear i n g y ou r f u l l secti on ar ou n d y ou becau se y ou 'r e sp r ead ou t an d y ou 'r e w ear i n g a m ask . [I t ?s] r eal ly h ar d to si n g w i t h th e m ask ,? Casey say s.

Casey ex p l ai n s th i s d i st an ce h as an even bi gger i m p act on p eop l e w h o ar e n ew to ch oi r . N ot bei n g abl e to h ear th ei r p eer s p u t s th em at a d i sad v an tage. Casey i s al so str u ggl i n g w ith cl ass

sub mitted b y d a n schmid t V i k i n g M ar ch i n g ban d w ar m s u p bef or e p er f or m i n g th ei r 20 19 sh ow.

n u m ber s.

H is n on - au d i ti on ed Ch or al e cl ass u su al ly h as abou t 50 stu d en ts, th i s y ear i t on ly h as 28. ?T h er e's com f or t i n n u m ber s w h en i t com es to ch oi r , so i t's a d i f f er en t beast,? Casey ex p l ai n s.

H ow ever , w h er e th er e ar e str u ggl es, th er e ar e w ay s to ad ap t. B ot h Sch m i d t an d Casey h ave f ou n d w ay s to over com e th e ch al l en ges of th e p ast f ew y ear s. T h e m ost i m p or tan t th i n g f or Casey w as com m u n i cati on an d cl ass i n volvem en t .

B ecau se m an y stu d en ts w er e u n com f or tabl e r ecor d i n g th em selves si n gi n g, th e cl ass w or ked togeth er to com e u p w i th assi gn m en ts. ?I t w as u n i qu e, bu t i t w or ked .? Casey say s.

L i ke Casey, Sch m i d t w as f or ced to find al ter n ate w ay s to teach ban d stu d en ts w h en th ey cou l d n ?t p l ay togeth er .

D uring th e sp r i n g sem ester of 20 20 , h e sh i f ted th e cl asses? f ocu s tow ar d s th e tech n i cal si d e of p l ay i n g. T h i s i n cl u d ed u si n g on l i n e p l atf or m s su ch as Si gh tRead i n g Factor y to i m p r ove th e stu d en t?s si gh t r ead i n g

sk i l l s.

T h en in th e 20 20 - 20 21 sch ool y ear th at f ocu s sh i f t ed agai n . ?T h e str ategy l ast y ear w as h ow can w e p l ay togeth er , w h i l st n ot p l ay i n g toget h er ,? Sch m i d t ex p l ai n s. ?W h at can w e d o to h ave st u d en ts p l ay f r om th ei r h om e??

A ssu m i n g D an e Cou n t y gu i d el i n es r em ai n th e sam e, th e f i r st f or m al , i n - p er son ch oi r con cer t i n tw o y ear s i s sch ed u l ed t o take p l ace on N ov. 4. Ban d h as al r ead y h ad t h r ee p er f or m an ces, al l at Col l i n s Fi el d d u r i n g h om e f ootbal l gam es.

T he Sy m p h on i c ban d w i l l be p er f or m i n g t h ei r f i el d sh ow, Pi ctu r es at An Ex h i bi ti on , f or t h e f i r st ti m e at th e h om ecom i n g f ootbal l gam e on O ct . 1.

T h ei r f i r st f or m al ban d p er f or m an ce w i l l be h el d on D ec. 2.

I t h as been a d i f f i cu l t tw o y ear s i n t h e m u si c d ep ar tm en t, bu t h op es ar e h i gh an d exci t em en t d an ces i n th e ai r t o t h e sou n d s of d r u m s, w i n d s, voi ces, h or n s, an d st r i n gs.

Per f or m an ce d ates an d ti m es f or al l m u si c gr ou p s can be f ou n d u n d er t h e m u si c secti on on t h e d i str i ct w ebsi te.

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news

Bus Driver Shortage in SASD sh or t age of sch ool bu s d r i ver s i s f or ci n g m an y sch ool d i st r i ct s i n W i scon si n t o t ake m an y u r gen t m easu r es.

Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct (SA SD ) i s on e of th e m an y sch ool s i n D an e Cou n ty t h at i s goi n g th r ou gh a sh or t age.

Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct T r an sp or t at i on Coor d i n at or , K ar en Joh n son , sp eak s t o th i s m atter by ex p r essi n g h ow th ey h ave been t r y i n g to solve t h i s con f l i ct . Sh e ex p l ai n s h ow t h er e h ave been m u l ti p l e job p osti n gs i n m an y d i f f er en t l ocati on s, an d r ef er r al bon u s i n cen t i ves - i f th ey r ef er som ebod y to becom e a bu s d r i ver an d th ey get h i r ed , th e r ef er r i n g p er son gets a bon u s. A l so, p r i n ci p al s, teach er s, an d Joh n son h er sel f h ave gon e to p l aces t o sp r ead t h e w or d abou t h ow t h ey ar e h i r i n g bu s d r i ver s.

A

B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer Joh n son say s. k i n d of a d u al r ol e T h e sch ool d i str i ct h as p osi ti on .For ex am p l e, been p r om oti n g job m ay be w e'l l h ave a op p or tu n i t i es f or bu s cu stod i al job p ar t n er ed d r i ver s al l over D an e w i th a bu s dr iving Cou n ty. A l on g w i th w h at job[...]T h ese ar e i d eas th at th ey ar e d oi n g n ow, th ey ar e bei n g test ed ou t r i gh t h ave been p assi n g i d eas n ow. W e've ap p r oach ed

submitted by bhoomi patel

A St o u gh t o n Sch o o l b u s d r i v er d r i v es d ow n by S Page St r eet f o r t h ei r m o r n i n g r o u t e.

submitted by bhoomi patel SA SD p l aced p o st er s o u t t o sp r ead t h e w o r d r egar d i n g b u s d r i v er h i r i n g. T h ese si gn s ar e p u t o n t h e f i el d al o n g D ev o n sh i r e r o ad . ?For ex am p l e, d ow n i n th e p ar k , t h er e's p eop l e d ow n t h er e f or acti v i t i es th at w e've gon e d ow n th er e an d [w e] ju st i n tr od u ce ou r selves an d tr y to m ake p eop l e aw ar e th at w e'r e l ook i n g f or bu s d r i ver s, so an y th i n g w e can th i n k of , w e'r e p r et ty m u ch t r y i n g r i gh t n ow,?

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H i gh Sch ool . Accor d i n g t o Joh n son , th at w as becau se el em en tar y st u d en ts w ou l d h ave t o t r an sf er bu ses, bu t si n ce t h e bel l ti m es h ave ch an ged , t h ey can stay on t h e bu s t h ey r od e i n t o sch ool on , an d

back an d f or t h abou t h ow to r ep l ace th e d r i ver s.

Joh n son m en ti on s som e of th e m ajor i d eas th at sh e an d h er team h ave been con si d er i n g. ?W e ar e l ook i n g at d i f f er en t op ti on s, l i ke p ar t n er i n g w i t h var i ou s ot h er p osi t i on s w i th i n th e sch ool d i st r i ct to h ave

ou r coach i n g staf f to see i f th ey w an t to get l i cen sed as a bu s d r i ver . T h at w ay th ey cou l d d r i ve th ei r ow n tr i p s,? Joh n son say s.

M an y stu d en ts w i th y ou n ger si bl i n gs m ay h ave n oti ced th e d i f f er en t star ti n g ti m es at el em en tar y an d m i d d l e sch ool s com p ar ed to th e

SA SD d r i ver s w i l l h ave en ou gh ti m e t o get f r om th ei r sch ool to t h ei r stop . ?W e ar e r u n n i n g as n or m al ,? Joh n son say s. ?W e h ave a cou p l e on - cal l su bsti tu t e d r i ver s. W e'r e f i l l i n g n eed s r i gh t n ow, bu t al l of th e st u d en ts t h at ar e el i gi bl e t o r i d e a bu s ar e r i d i n g th e bu s. So, i t d oesn 't h ave as m u ch of an i m p act on ou r f am i l i es.?

Joh n son sh ar es t h at w e ar e on ly d ow n on e d r i ver r i gh t n ow an d t h at i t w as p r ogr ess com p ar ed to h ow th e sch ool d i str i ct w as sh or t th r ee d r i ver s t h e w eek bef or e sch ool star ted .

So w h at i s t h e cau se of th e Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct bu s d r i ver sh or tage? ?I t w as u n f or eseen even ts n ot n ecessar i ly CO V I D - 19 r el ated , bu t t h er e w er e th i n gs th at w er e n ot p l an n ed th at cau sed u s t o be sh or t,? Joh n son say s. the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

opinions

Reach O ut to the Norse Star Cal l i n g al l SH S staf f , stu d en t s, an d St ou gh ton com m u n i ty m em ber s! D o y ou h ave som eth i n g y ou w an t t o say t o t h e N or se St ar staf f ? H ave a bu r n i n g qu esti on abou t ou r sch ool y ou w an t u s to an sw er ? W an t to see a sp eci f i c st or y i n on e of ou r i ssu es? Sen d u s a L ett er to th e Ed i tor or com p l ete th e att ach ed Googl e f or m t o l et u s k n ow !

L et t er t o t h e Ed i t o r Po l i cy St u d en t s, st af f , f acu l t y, an d m em b er s o f t h e co m m u n i t y ar e w el co m e t o w r i t e a l et t er t o t h e ed i t o r p er t ai n i n g t o an ar t i cl e t h at w as p u b l i sh ed i n t h e l at est N o r se St ar i ssu e.

I f so m eo n e w i sh es t o h av e t h ei r l et t er t o t h e ed i t o r b e co n si d er ed f o r p r i n t i n t h e O p i n i o n s sect i o n o f t h e f o l l ow i n g N o r se St ar i ssu e, t h e N o r se St ar st af f m u st r ecei v e t h ei r l et t er f i v e d ay s (i n cl u d i n g w eek en d d ay s) af t er t h e d i st r i b u t i o n o f t h e l at est i ssu e. Fo r ex am p l e, i f t h e i ssu e i s d i st r i b u t ed o n Fr i d ay, t h e l et t er m u st b e r ecei v ed n o l at er t h an W ed n esd ay at 3:20 p .m . I f t h e i ssu e i s d i st r i b u t ed o n M o n d ay, t h e l et t er m u st b e r ecei v ed by 3:20 p .m . o n Sat u r d ay.

T o b e co n si d er ed f o r p u b l i cat i o n , al l l et t er s m u st b e 30 0 w o r d s o r l ess, an d t h ey m u st b e si gn ed by t h e l et t er w r i t er , so t h at t h e N o r se St ar St af f can v er i f y t h e au t h en t i ci t y o f t h e l et t er b ef o r e p r i n t i n g. L et t er s m ay b e ed i t ed by N o r se St ar st af f d u e t o o b scen i t i es o r l i b el co n cer n s.

C o n d i t i o n s f o r n o t h av i n g y o u r l et t er p r i n t ed i n t h e f o l l ow i n g i ssu e i t sel f i n cl u d e t h e f o l l ow i n g: 1. T h e N o r se St ar r ecei v es m o r e t h an t h r ee l et t er s t o t h e ed i t o r by t h e d ead l i n e. I n t h i s i n st an ce, al l l et t er s w i l l b e p r i n t ed as an i n ser t o r i n ser t s i n t h e i ssu e 2. I f r ecei v ed l at er t h an t h e h ar d d ead l i n e o f f i v e d ay s p o st d i st r i b u t i o n , t h e l et t er m ay b e p r i n t ed as an i n ser t O R t h e w r i t er can o p t t o h av e t h ei r l et t er p r i n t ed i n t h e f o l l ow i n g i ssu e.

I f y ou w an t to p i t ch a stor y to th e N or se St ar staf f , scan th i s cod e an d f i l l ou t th e f or m w i th y ou r i d ea!

Ed i t o r i al Po l i cy : T h e N or se Star str i ves to p r esen t th 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 tor i al , or l etter to th e ed i tor ex p r esses th e op i n i on of th e au th 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 tten an d p r od u ced by th e stu d en t s at Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool , an d t h ey ar e sol ely r esp on si bl e f or i ts con ten t. Stu d en ts, staf f , f acu l ty, an d m em ber s of th e com m u n i ty ar e w el com e to su bm i t l etter s to th e ed i tor of 30 0 w or d s or l ess. L etter s m ay be ed i ted d u e to sp ace l i m i tat i on s, obscen i ti es, or l i bel con cer n s. N or se Star w i l l ver i f y th e au th en ti ci ty of an y l etter s sen t on beh al f of sch ool or gan i zati on s or gr ou p s. A l l l etter s m u st be si gn ed an d em ai l ed to sh sn or sestar @gm ai l .com .

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

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opinions - pcp

Schoolwork Isn't Everything B y Gab e Ro u sseau

Staff Writer & Sports Editor or m an y h i gh sch ool stu d en t s, l i f e n ever seem s t o sl ow d ow n .

T h er e i s alw ay s an oth er assi gn m en t, an oth er p r oject , an ot h er sp or t, or an oth er act i v i t y t o go to ever y si n gl e d ay. I n a p er f ect w or l d , th er e w ou l d be en ou gh t i m e i n a d ay t o d o al l th ese th i n gs an d st i l l get a good ei gh t h ou r s of sl eep .

H ow ever , t h i s i s u su al ly n ot th e case.

M ost p eop l e w ou l d agr ee t h at h om ew or k su ck s. I t i s u su al ly bor i n g an d takes u p f r ee t i m e. I t u n d ou bt ed ly h as its ben ef i ts as i t al l ow s teen ager s t o l ear n h ow to

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m an age ti m e as w el l as p r ov i d i n g ex tr a p r acti ce to h el p stu d en t s excel i n th e cl assr oom . H ow ever , th er e i s a l i n e i n w h i ch i t becom es som eth i n g d etr i m en t al .

M an y stu d en t s f i n d th em selves sp en d i n g h ou r s a n i gh t on v ar i ou s h om ew or k assi gn m en ts an d p r ojects, l eav i n g l i tt l e ti m e f or soci al acti v i t i es, f am i ly ti m e, an d ti m e to d ecom p r ess f r om th e d ay.

T h i s can be h ar m f u l f or stu d en t s' m en t al h eal t h an d ou t l ook on th ei r sch ool i n g ex p er i en ce. I n a stu d y con d u ct ed by Stan f or d U n i ver si t y, i t w as f ou n d

th at too m u ch h om ew or k i s a p r i m ar y cau se of str ess i n n ear ly 99% of stu d en ts. T h i s str ess h as been con n ected to an i n cr ease i n an x i ety, sl eep d ep r i vati on , w ei gh t l oss, an d bu r n ou t i n stu d en ts.

Teen age y ear s ar e w h er e m ost p eop l e star t to f i n d th ei r p at h an d see w h er e th e f u tu r e m ay take th em . W h eth er y ou r life is f i l l ed w i th sch oolw or k , sp or t s, or oth er ex tr acu r r i cu l ar s, i t i s com p l etely n or m al to f eel over w h el m ed w h en y ou r p l ate i s f u l l . Getti n g an ed u cati on is i m p or tan t, h ow ever , y ou r m en t al h eal th i s m or e

a rt b y emma phillips i m p or tan t. You on ly h ave so l on g to be a k i d , so al l ow y ou r sel f t o be on e ever y on ce i n a w h i l e. A s m u ch as y ou can , t ake t h e ti m e to d o t h i n gs f or y ou r sel f th at m ake y ou h ap p y an d gi ve y ou t i m e to d ecom p r ess. I f y ou ar e f eel i n g over w h el m ed w i th sch ool or l i f e i n gen er al , d o n ot be af r ai d to com m u n i cate w i t h f r i en d s, f am i ly, an d y ou r teach er s an d ask f or h el p !

A Necessary Frustration B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t

Staff Writer & Copy Editor e al l l ear n ed th e cl i ch e excu se of ?m y d og at e my h om ew or k ? back in el em en t ar y sch ool . Ver y ear ly on i n ou r sch ool car eer s, we w er e i n tr od u ced t o t h e con cep t of n ot com p l et i n g ou r h om ew or k . I t ?s on e of th e f i r st t h i n gs y ou m i gh t m ake sm al l t al k abou t w i th y ou r p eer s bef or e cl ass st ar t s: ?d i d y ou d o th e h om ew or k ?? an d , ?n o, I d i d n ?t f i n i sh m i n e,? ar e tw o p h r ases com m on ly exch an ged ju st bef or e th e bel l .

I get i t . I am n o m or e of a f an of h om ew or k th an t h e n ex t k i d . T h i s bei n g sai d , I al so r ecogn i ze t h e i m p or t an ce of h om ew or k an d h ow n egati vely w e m i gh t be i m p act ed sh ou l d t each er s cease t o assi gn i t . O f cou r se, by w r i t i n g th i s ar gu m en t I con sen t to sh ou l d er i n g t h e bu r d en of bei n g t h e on e w i th an u n p op u l ar op i n i on , bu t i t sh ou l d be sai d : as m u ch as w e m i gh t n ot w i sh to ad m i t it, we n eed

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h om ew or k .

Fi r stly an d m ost obv i ou sly, h om ew or k h el p s stu d en t s to bu i l d good h abi ts. Yes, th i s i s qu i te th e gen er al stat em en t, bu t i t?s tr u e.

H av i n g d ead l i n es to m eet an d r esp on si bi l i ti es to u p h ol d h el p s stu d en ts bu i l d h eal t h y w or k et h i c an d h abi ts f or th e f u tu r e.

I f w e w er en ?t assi gn ed h om ew or k at l east ever y on ce i n a w h i l e, an d al l w or k w as com p l eted i n cl ass, m an y stu d en ts w ou l d be i n f or a su r p r i se d ow n th e l i n e w h en th ey ar e ex p ect ed to com p l et e w or k r el ated task s on th ei r ow n ti m e.

H om ew or k i s al so an i m p or t an t tool f or ed u cator s. I ?m su r e th at y ou som eti m es f eel y ou r teach er s h ave i t ou t f or y ou , esp eci al ly w h en y ou ?r e r ecei v i n g sever al h om ew or k assi gn m en ts a d ay, bu t i t ?s f or good r eason . H om ew or k h el p s ed u cator s gau ge h ow ef f i ci en t ly th ei r teach i n g m et h od s ar e gett i n g th r ou gh to stu d en ts. Ex tr a

w or k m i gh t be gi ven so th at teach er s can u n d er st an d th e p r ogr ess of th ei r stu d en ts an d ad ju st l esson s accor d i n gly.

Of cou r se, as u p setti n g as h ou r s of h om ew or k can be, i t h as been obser ved th at i n d i v i d u al s l ear n by r ep eti t i on an d p r acti ce, an d th i s i s a p u r p ose h om ew or k ser ves.

Of cou r se, i t can be ar gu ed th at al l n ecessar y m ater i al can an d sh ou l d be cover ed i n th e cl assr oom , bu t th e l evel of l ear n i n g an d u n d er stan d i n g of th e m ater i al w ou l d be f ar m or e su r f ace- l evel sh ou l d teach er s h ol d back on th e occasi on al r ei ter at i n g assi gn m en t.

Cl assr oom l ectu r es an d w or k sh eets al on e ar e n ot en ou gh to d evel op a d eep u n d er st an d i n g of top i cs cover ed acr oss var i ou s su bjects; th u s, h om ew or k i s assi gn ed .

I cer tai n ly u n d er st an d th at h om ew or k? h ow i t i s ad m i n i ster ed , h ow m u ch ti m e i t can take, an d th e sh eer vol u m e m an y

stu d en ts r ecei ve? can be a tr u e p ai n . Say i n g t h at h om ew or k i s essen ti al t o ef f ecti ve l ear n i n g d oes n ot m ean th at I bel i eve t h e cu r r en t stan d ar d s su r r ou n d i n g h om ew or k ar e f ai r or at som e t i m es, even et h i cal .

Teach er s sh ou l d con ti n u e to con si d er t h at m an y h i gh sch ool age stu d en ts w or k p ar t - t i m e, h ave f am i ly r esp on si bi l i t i es, an d n eed th e ei gh t h ou r s of sl eep th at ad u l ts so r ead i ly p r each to u s t h at w e sh ou l d be gett i n g.

N on eth el ess, h om ew or k , qu i te p l ai n ly, w or k s an d sh ou l d con t i n u e t o be i n cl u d ed i n p l aces of ed u cati on .

a rt b y emma phillips the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

opinions

Bring Back Backpacks?

B y Em m a Far l ey Freelance Writer

he top i c of back p ack u sage at SH S i s a w i d ely d ebated on e, esp eci al ly r ecen tly. I bel i eve th at back p ack s sh ou l d be kep t i n l ocker s al l d ay to p r om ote m ax i m u m saf ety an d secu r i ty f or th e m asses. O ver th e p ast f ew y ear s th er e h ave been a n u m ber of m ass sh ooti n gs, w h eth er th ey take p l ace in sch ool s, cl u bs, or w or k or gan i zati on s. M an y of th ese tr aged i es occu r r ed by th e p er p etr ator p u l l i n g a f i r ear m f r om a back p ack or tote bag, w h i ch i s h ow th ey sm u ggl ed th e w eap on i n u n seen . T h i s h as cau sed a d i scu ssi on abou t th e saf ety of back p ack s in cl assr oom s, an d w h eth er i t?s m or e d etr i m en tal or con ven i en t to al l ow th e u se of bags th r ou gh ou t th e d ay, r ath er th an ju st as a vessel f or br i n gi n g sch ool su p p l i es to an d f r om sch ool .

I ack n ow l ed ge th at car r y i n g ar ou n d bags h el p s r ed u ce str ess f or m an y stu d en ts, w h i l e al so p r even ti n g th e ti m e cr u n ch m an y p eop l e ex p er i en ce by goi n g to an d f r om th ei r l ocker s betw een cl asses.

H ow ever , m an y sh ooti n gs h ave been car r i ed ou t by sn eak i n g f i r ear m s i n to th e sch ool v i a back p ack s or d u f f el

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the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

bags. O n e ex am p l e of th i s occu r r ed in D eK al b Cou n ty, Geor gi a. A stu d en t br ou gh t a gu n to M cN ai r H i gh Sch ool , an d as a r esu l t, back p ack s w er e p r oh i bi ted on cam p u s excep t to car r y su p p l i es to an d f r om th e sch ool bu i l d i n g.

C o n t en t W ar n i n g: T h e f ol l ow i n g op i n i on ar t i cl e d i scu sses i n stan ces of u n l aw f u l gu n u sage i n sch ool s, as w el l as m ass sh ooti n gs. I f y ou ar e i n an y w ay u n abl e t o r ead abou t th ese even ts, p l ease sk i p th i s ar t i cl e, an d l ook ou t f or m e i n th e n ex t i ssu e!

l i f ti n g sch ool bags. I n ad d i ti on , it cou l d p oten ti al ly becom e a f i r e h azar d i n case of an em er gen cy. I f an

a rt b y emma phillips

Of cou r se, p r even ti n g tr aged i es su ch as sh ooti n gs i sn ?t th e on ly r eason to veto back p ack u sage i n cl assr oom s. I t can al so be a saf ety h azar d i n sm al l er w ay s, su ch as cau si n g tr i p s or f al l s to y ou r f el l ow cl assm ates or teach er s. D u r i n g th e 20 20 - 20 21 sch ool y ear , stu d en ts at SH S w er e p er m i tted to br i n g bags to cl ass, w h i ch r esu l ted i n a f ew scr ap ed k n ees, bash ed f or eh ead s, an d w ou n d ed egos.

A stu d y con d u cted by r esear ch er s at th e Ci n ci n n ati ?s Ch i l d r en H osp i tal sh ow s th at abou t 23% of i n ju r i es i n th e 247 k i d s stu d i ed w er e cau sed by w ear i n g, tak i n g of f , or

al ar m w en t of f an d stu d en ts an d staf f w er e f or ced to qu i ck ly evacu ate a sm al l ar ea su ch as a cl assr oom , tr i p p i n g over bags qu i ck ly ch an ges f r om bei n g i n con ven i en t to bei n g d an ger ou s.

Yet an oth er r eason to lim it back p ack u sage i s th e ef f ect i t can h ave on th e sp i n e of th e w ear er s.

Stu d i es h ave sh ow n th at th e p er cen tage of sch ool ch i l d r en w i th l ow er back p ai n can r an ge f r om 25% to 55%, esp eci al ly am on g ch i l d r en betw een th e ages of 10 an d 15. A n ex p er i m en t con d u cted by D av i d Si am ban es (D O of th e I n l an d Em p i r e Sp i n e Cen ter i n Ri ver si d e, Cal i f or n i a) r ep or ts

64% of stu d en ts r ep or ti n g back p ai n at som e p oi n t i n th ei r l i ves. I n cr easi n g th e ti m e al l otted to w ear back p ack s w i l l w or sen th e ef f ect on stu d en ts? back s, an d cou l d cau se i r r ever si bl e d am age.

"I b el i ev e t h at b ack p ack s sh o u l d b e k ep t i n l o ck er s al l d ay t o p r o m o t e m ax i m u m saf et y an d secu r i t y f o r t h e m asses."

T h er e ar e m an y r eason s to veto back p ack u sage i n cl assr oom s, an d th e on ly r ed eem i n g qu al i ty of br i n gi n g th em to cl ass seem s to be th e con ven i en ce.

I ?m al l f or er ad i cati n g th at ti m e cr u n ch as m y l ocker i s i n th e sci en ce w i n g, w h i ch i s a p ai n to get to an d f r om w i th ou t bei n g l ate f or m y n ex t cl ass.

H ow ever , th er e ar e n u m er ou s saf ety h azar d s an d h eal th con cer n s su r r ou n d i n g th e u sage of back p ack s th r ou gh ou t th e sch ool d ay, an d i f y ou ask m y op i n i on , th e r i sk si m p ly i sn ?t w or th th e r ew ar d .

9

cover story

Back in Business An In-Depth Look Into Three Local Businesses B y A n j a Roy k o & D el an ey Gau t h i er Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor, and Opinions & News Editor

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tou gh t on , W i sc. i s a tow n t h at r ead er s m ay f eel th ey k n ow al l t oo w el l .

T h e p ast 18 m on t h s h ave cau sed m an y st u d en t s, teach er s, an d f am i l i es to gr ow t i r ed of t h e sam e ol d p eop l e, t h e sam e ol d f ast f ood joi n t s, t h e sam e ol d h i gh sch ool , an d t h e sam e ol d M ai n Str eet i n th ei r sam e ol d t ow n . W h i l e i t m ay seem as t h ou gh ever y si n gl e n ook an d cr an n y h as been ex p l or ed , som eti m es y ou will stu m bl e u p on a gem ? or th r ee.

N ovem ber w i l l m ar k th e th r ee- y ear an n i ver sar y of th e op en i n g of D u n e Gi f t an d H om e, ow n ed an d op er at ed by Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool al u m n a Ci r e Rosen bau m - Cr oss.

Rosen bau m - Cr oss op en ed D u n e Gi f t an d H om e i n N ovem ber of 20 18 i n h op es t h at sh e w ou l d be abl e t o br i n g a n ew en er gy an d r esu r gen ce t o Stou gh ton ?s M ai n Str eet . ?I t h i n k I w an t t o gi ve ou r com m u n i ty som ep l ace t h at t h ey can sh op an d f eel good abou t w h at t h ey 'r e bu y i n g, an d k n ow t h at t h e p r od u ct s th at w e car r y ar e saf e an d [eco- f r i en d ly ] [an d th at] p eop l e ar e p ai d f ai r w ages,? Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s.

D u n e Gi f t an d H om e?s val u es ar e cen ter ed ar ou n d m ak i n g su r e th at th er e i s a l i t t l e som eth i n g f or ever y p r i ce r an ge an d th at t h e m at er i al s an d good s ar e et h i cal ly sou r ced , saf e, an d cl ean .

Rosen bau m - Cr oss h as ad d i ti on al r equ i r em en t s r egar d i n g t h e sou r ci n g of th e p r od u ct s t h at sh e sel l s i n h er st or e.

10

?Ever y t h i n g i n th e stor e i s ei th er h an d m ad e, v i n t age, [or ] f ai r tr ad e. A m ajor i ty of [t h e] m aker s

to th ose w i th ou t an y ex p er i en ce. ?I star ted m y jew el r y bu si n ess in 20 11,?

cou l d n ?t bear . I n th e f u tu r e, Rosen bau m - Cr oss h op es to be abl e t o i n sp i r e an d ed u cate ot h er h op ef u l

all photos by anja royko and delaney gauthier

D u n e Gi f t an d H o m e o f f er s w i d e r an ge o f i t em s t h at can ser v e as h o m e d eco r , a w ar d r o b e u p d at e, o r (as t h e st o r e's n am e w o u l d i m p l y ) a gi f t . W h i l e t h e st o r e sel l s a w i d e v ar i et y o f go o d s, Ro sen b au m - C r o ss en su r es t h at t h ey ar e saf e an d et h i cal . an d com p an i es th at w e bu y f r om ar e w om en ow n ed . T h ose ar e k i n d of ou r m ai n m i ssi on s,?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s.

W h en h er sch ed u l e al l ow s, Rosen bau m - Cr oss l i kes to sp en d som e of h er ti m e m ak i n g jew el r y f or h er stor e.

H av i n g a back gr ou n d i n jew el r y m ak i n g, Rosen bau m - Cr oss w as abl e to tr an si ti on i n t o ow n i n g a stor ef r on t r ath er sm oot h ly i n com p ar i son

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?I d i d th at f u l l ti m e u n ti l I op en ed th i s, so I k n ew h ow to r u n a bu si n ess, bu t a r etai l establ i sh m en t an d h av i n g staf f [...] w as al l n ew to m e.?

At th e star t of D u n e Gi f t an d H om e?s jou r n ey, Rosen bau m - Cr oss h ad n ever ow n ed a stor e.

M ak i n g th e sw i tch f r om si m p ly ow n i n g a bu si n ess to ow n i n g a stor ef r on t al on g w i th i t w as d i f f i cu l t, bu t n oth i n g th at sh e

bu si n ess ow n er s abou t w h at sh e l ear n ed i n h er p r ocess. ?I th i n k m y n u m ber on e goal as a bu si n ess ow n er w ou l d be t o gr ow [...] an d teach p eop l e w h at I 've l ear n ed ,?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?I d i d n 't k n ow w h at I w as d oi n g w h en I op en ed a stor e; I ju st d eci d ed t o d o i t, so I 've l ear n ed a l ot al on g th e w ay, an d i f I cou l d h el p som eon e st ar t th ei r ow n bu si n ess [an d the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

cover story n ot h ave] t o go t h r ou gh al l th e bu m p s an d st u f f th at I w en t th r ou gh , I t h i n k th at w ou l d be m y n u m ber on e goal .?

Si n ce Rosen bau m - Cr oss w as ver y y ou n g, sh e alw ay s d r eam ed t h at on e d ay sh e w ou l d ow n h er ow n r etai l establ i sh m en t, an d w h en h er i n - l aw s bou gh t an d r en ov ated a bu i l d i n g on M ai n St r eet , t h at d r eam star ted t o becom e r eal i t y.

m aker s to see i f th ey w ou l d sen d m e th i n gs on con si gn m en t f i r st becau se I d i d n 't h ave a bu d get to bu y p r od u cts. So I w as l i ke, ?I w i l l sel l m y jew el r y an d th en I 'l l sel l som e ot h er h an d m ad e stu f f to com p l em en t i t ,? an d th en i t ju st k i n d of sn ow bal l ed .?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss is ecstat i c th at sh e h as been gi ven th e op p or tu n i ty to l i ve ou t h er d r eam , an d sh e h op es th at ot h er s w i l l

v i br an t com m u n i ty on M ai n Str eet, bu t i t h as alw ay s w axed an d w an ed .

I t's l i ke n ot ever y sh op h as alw ay s been f u l l at on e ti m e, an d th er e'l l be l i ke a l i ttl e Ren ai ssan ce an d th en i t'l l k i n d of d w i n d l e, an d so I w as l i ke, l et's ju st star t a n ew Ren ai ssan ce.

L et's [...] get M ai n Str eet h op p i n g agai n ,?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?I w as h op i n g th at I cou l d be l i ke th e f l agsh i p f or th at.

Ju st br eath e som e n ew l i gh t i n t o Stou gh ton . So i t w as k i n d of m y l i ttl e l ove l ett er to Stou gh ton .?

L ocat ed a m er e bl ock aw ay, O w n er an d op er ator of A RD U Cr y stal & Sage, Ch r i sti n e M cCr ed i e say s

sm al l bu si n ess ow n er f or al m ost tw elve y ear s n ow [...] an d t h at?s alw ay s br ou gh t m e joy, k n ow i n g th at i tem s ar e bei n g p u r ch ased as gi f t s [an d br i n gi n g] beau t y in to som ebod y ?s l i f e.?

Step p i n g f oot in to A RD U , a sm al l r ock sh op l ocat ed i n t h e stu d i o above W en d i go, on M ai n Str eet h er e i n St ou gh ton , on e i s m et w i t h t h e ear th y sm el l of sage an d sh elves of br i gh tly - l i t cr y st al s.

T h ou gh th e sp ace i s sm al l , i t?s br i gh tly - l i t an d op en , an d i s h om e t o var i et i es of h an d - p i cked r ock s, cr y stal s, an d even jew el r y. ?Som eh ow m y l ove of r ock s an d cr y stal s f r om

A sel ect i o n o f h an d - p i ck ed cr y st al s av ai l ab l e f o r sal e at A RD U . M cC r ed i e sel ect s p i eces t h at sh e f i n d s u n i q u e an d i n t er est i n g.

W h en sh e h as t i m e, Ro sen b au m - C r o ss m ak es an d sel l s h er ow n j ew el r y i n h er st o r e. ?T h at w as ju st l i ke alw ay s a d r eam , t h ou gh . I n ever t h ou gh t i t cou l d be an act u al t h i n g. So th ey r en ov ated th is w h ol e th i n g. M y m ot h er i n l aw w as l i ke, ?W h y d on 't y ou ju st r en t t h e w h ol e f i r st f l oor ? You cou l d ju st sel l y ou r jew el r y ou t of th e f r on t, m ake jew el r y i n th e back ,?? Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?I k i n d of star t ed d ev i si n g a p l an .?

Si n ce t h e begi n n i n g of D u n e, Rosen bau m - Cr oss h as kep t h er p l ate f u l l .

Betw een ju ggl i n g star ti n g u p a bu si n ess an d r ai si n g a n ew bor n , sh e alw ay s h ad som eth i n g on h er to- d o l i st. ?D u n e h ap p en ed l i ter al ly betw een n ap ti m es w i t h a n ew bor n , m ov i n g a st u d i o, an d r en ov ati n g,?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?I r each ed ou t t o a l ot of the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

be abl e to d o th e sam e.

Sh e of f er s a p i ece of ad v i ce to th ose th at h op e to becom e bu si n ess ow n er s som e d ay. ?M y [...] p er son al m an t r a i s f or t u n e f avor s th e br ave,?

Rosen bau m - Cr oss say s. ?A lw ay s tr y becau se y ou d on 't k n ow u n l ess y ou tr y. [...] B e r eal i sti c, bu t d on 't be af r ai d to d r eam an d h ave bi g goal s. I ju st say go f or i t , becau se n ow i s th e ti m e to be an en tr ep r en eu r .?

Gr ow i n g up in St ou gh ton , Rosen bau m - Cr oss d evel op ed a sof t sp ot f or th e sm al l tow n an d th ose w h o i n h abi t i t . Sh e h op es th at th r ou gh h er sh op , sh e w i l l be abl e to br i n g ou t th e beau t y th at sh e sees i n th e tow n . ?T h er e's alw ay s ju st been th i s l i ke, ar tsy, f u n ,

h er bi ggest goal as a bu si n ess ow n er i s to br i n g beau ty i n t o oth er p eop l e?s l i ves. ?I r eal ly en joy ju st m ak i n g p eop l e f eel good an d f eel h ap p y. I ?ve been a

m y ch i l d h ood t u r n ed i n t o th i s. I ?m a r ock h ou n d , I l i ke to get ou t t h er e an d l ook f or cool r ock s an d col l ect cool r ock s an d som eti m es p ol i sh t h em an d m ake t h em in to 11

cover story jew el r y. I ?m t h e t y p e to stop an d l ook at r ock s th at y ou f i n d i n a p ar k i n g l ot [...] an d som et i m es y ou f i n d f ossi l s an d i n t er esti n g stu f f . You d evel op an ey e [f or i t],? M cCr ed i e say s.

M ost of t h e cr y stal s sol d at A RD U ar e n ot of

l ook s of ston es,? M cCr ed i e say s.

A s M cCr ed i e stated , on e of h er n u m ber on e goal s as a bu si n ess ow n er i s to sh ar e th e joy th at sh e f i n d s i n h er i n ter ests w i th ot h er s; th i s i n cl u d es th e en v i r on m en t th at sh e

M cC r ed i e u ses h er e st o r ef r o n t as a w ay t o sh ar e t h e b eau t y t h at sh e f i n d s i n t h e w o r l d . M cC r ed i e h o p es h er cu st o m er s can f i n d t h e sam e b eau t y i n n at u r e t h at sh e d o es.

M cCr ed i e?s ow n f i n d i n g, th ou gh , an d ar e sou r ced f r om p eop l e ar ou n d th e U n i ted St at es, Ch i n a, A f r i ca, an d Pak i stan . H er su p p l i er s sen d h er v i d eos an d sh e or d er s based on w h at sh e t h i n k s p atr on s w ou l d l i ke best, r at h er th an or d er i n g d i f f er en t ty p es of r ock s an d cr y stal s i n bu l k . ?I t r y t o get u n i qu e [cr y stal s an d r ock s] th at r eal ly ap p eal t o m e. I t ?s al l h an d - p i cked , I k n ow w h at I ?m get t i n g. [...] I r eal ly l i ke to p i ck an d ch oose an d h op e t h at ot h er p eop l e see t h e beau t y th at I see i n t h e i n d i v i d u al p i eces,? M cCr ed i e say s.

I n ad d i t i on t o th e tr ad i ti on al cr y st al s an d p ol i sh ed r ock s, M cCr ed i e al so sel l s t h em i n ot h er f or m s. ?I al so t r y t o d o a n i ce m i x tu r e of car v i n gs an d tow er s, sp h er es as w el l as sp eci m en s f or m i n er al col l ect or s an d p eop l e w h o en joy t h e m or e n atu r al 12

cr eates i n th e sh op i tsel f . ?I w an t [m y sp ace] to f eel cal m i n g an d w el com i n g- - k i n d of an oasi s,? M cCr ed i e say s.

T h ou gh M cCr ed i e d i d n ot h ave an y bu si n ess ex p er i en ce w h en sh e began h er jou r n ey 11 y ear s ago, sh e d i d d o a l ot of r esear ch . ?T h e m ost h el p f u l ad v i ce th at I cou l d gi ve i s, bef or e even star ti n g y ou r bu si n ess, to r esear ch an d l ear n al l y ou can abou t bei n g a sm al l bu si n ess ow n er an d w h at i t takes, becau se i t d oes take a cer tai n p er son al i ty,?

M cCr ed i e say s.

Accor d i n g to M cCr ed i e, th e best p ar t abou t bei n g a sm al l bu si n ess ow n er i s th e i m p act h er stor e h as i n ot h er p eop l e?s l i ves. ?I th i n k th at goes back to br i n gi n g p eop l e joy [...] an d I ?m n ot n ecessar i ly a m et ap h y si cal - t y p e p er son , bu t I d o th i n k th at set ti n g i n ten ti on s i s ju st

good p r acti ce i n l i f e. I h ave w h at i s cal l ed a si n gi n g bow l [...] an d I set m y i n t en t i on s by r i n gi n g i t an d m ak i n g i t si n g ever y d ay w h en I com e i n , an d on e of m y i n t en t i on s f or th e sh op i s th at i t br i n gs joy an d p eop l e can see th e beau ty th at n atu r e h as gi ven u s,? M cCr ed i e say s.

M cCr ed i e cr ed i ts th e star t of h er bu si n ess to h er d esi r e to be a stay - at- h om e m om f or h er son , an d m en t i on ed th at h er bu si n ess star ted w h en sh e f ou n d th i n gs sh e en joy ed an d w as abl e to d o w h i l e at h om e. ?I t?s been a l ot of f u n .

I ?ve l ear n ed a l ot , an d i t?s ch an ged who I am tr em en d ou sly,? M cCr ed i e say s of th e w h ol e ex p er i en ce.

N o m or e th an a tw o m i n u te w al k aw ay is Stou gh ton ?s ow n W i l d w ood Caf e. L ocat ed f i tt i n gly en ou gh on For r est Str eet, W i l d w ood boasts an ex ten si ve br eak f ast an d l u n ch m en u . T h e caf e, d escr i bed by co- ow n er Step h an i e B au gh n as a ?sp eci al ty cof f ee sh op at h ear t,? i s w ar m an d w el com i n g, br i n gi n g i ts u n i qu e, w ood sy aesth eti c to d ow n t ow n Stou gh ton . ?I t?s k i n d of been a l on g- ter m d r eam ,?

B au gh n say s abou t ow n i n g a bu si n ess. ?A s an ei gh t een - y ear - ol d , af t er v i si ti n g cof f ee sh op s i n W ash i n gt on , D .C., an d th en w h en I w en t aw ay t o col l ege i n N or t h Car ol i n a, th at?s r eal ly my f i r st cof f ee sh op ex p er i en ce becau se w h er e I gr ew u p w as so r u r al , an d t h e sm al l tow n s th at I h ad access t o d i d n ?t h ave an y th i n g l i ke w h at I ex p er i en ced i n t h e ci t i es. I t w as su ch a n ovel i d ea. I ?m a vor aci ou s r ead er , I l oved t h at I cou l d go an d get a w on d er f u l d r i n k an d si t an d f eel l i ke I w as i n a cozy l i v i n g r oom th at w asn ?t m i n e, I cou l d take m y t i m e an d r ead an d en joy my bever age.?

B au gh n ?s h u sban d Ry an h as a back gr ou n d i n sp eci al ty cof f ee, an d com bi n ed w i t h h er bak i n g sk i l l s an d som e ol d f am i ly r eci p es, i t m ad e p er f ect sen se f or th em t o st ar t th ei r ow n bu si n ess. ?I t w as alw ay s k i n d of a d r eam , bu t som eth i n g w e n ever th ou gh t w ou l d h ap p en . I th i n k t h at w e saw oth er p eop l e d oi n g i t r eal ly w el l w i t h w h at w e f el t w er e ver y pure m oti ves, w i t h a si m i l ar d esi r e to be of ser v i ce t o th e com m u n i t y.

Back w h en w e l i ved i n Seat tl e, th er e w as a cou p l e t h at

T h e f o o d p i ck u p st at i o n at W i l d w o o d i s ad o r n ed w i t h p o t t ed p l an t s, an d o n t h e n ei gh b o r i n g w al l s l o cal ar t i s f eat u r ed .

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

cover story l ef t on e cof f ee sh op th at w e w er e r egu l ar s at an d star ted t h ei r ow n , an d i t w as ju st w on d er f u l . T h ey w er e a bu si n ess bu t th ey w er e al so i n volved i n ou tr each in th e com m u n i t y, an d i t ju st f el t l i ke a secon d h om e i n a l ot of w ay s. I k n ow w e?r e n ot al on e i n f eel i n g th at w ay, so t h at w as r eal ly i n sp i r i n g t o see.?

A l on g w i t h of f er i n g h osp i t al i t y an d k i n d n ess to al l of t h ei r cu st om er s, Bau gh n say s t h at an oth er on e of h er m ai n goal s w h en st ar t i n g t h e bu si n ess w i th h er h u sban d w as to cr eate a sp ace th at w el com ed ever y on e. ?[ W e w an t ed i t t o be] a con d u i t f or p eop l e con n ect i n g in th e com m u n i t y an d h av i n g con ver sat i on s [...] t o f oster

com m u n i ty an d be a p ar t of th e gr ow th of a sen se of con n ecti on f or ever y bod y,? B au gh n say s.

And con n ect th ey h ave. B au gh n say s on e of h er f avor i te p ar ts of ow n i n g th e bu si n ess i s al l th e p eop l e sh e?s m et an d f r i en d sh i p s sh e?s m ad e. ?I w i sh I h ad k n ow n th at an y of th e h ar d th i n gs th at w e?ve gon e th r ou gh w ou l d be total ly w or th i t f or al l of th e i n cr ed i bl e, am azi n g p eop l e th at w e?ve m et an d th e f r i en d sh i p s th at h ave been m ad e an d th e cam ar ad er i e w i th i n ou r staf f . I t ?s been su ch a gi f t to u s,? B au gh n say s. ?T h at w as alw ay s i m p or t an t to u s, bu t n o m or e so th an l ast y ear , an d th er e w er e d ay s w h en w e w er e r eal ly str essed an d h eav y - h ear ted an d

Feat u r ed o n t h e d i sp l ay sh el v es an d av ai l ab l e f o r p u r ch ase at t h e r egi st er ar e a v ar i et y o f sp eci al t y co f f ees, i n cl u d i n g esp r esso f r o m t h e b r an d Ru by.

T h e ch al k b o ar d si gn o u t si d e o f W i l d w o o d C af e d i sp l ay s a l i st o f i t em s t o b u y. T h e f u l l m en u d i sp l ay s a w i d e v ar i et y o f t h e cu st o m i zab l e co f f ee d r i n k s an d f r esh b ak er y i t em s. f eel i n g k i n d of d esp ai r i n g abou t th e state of th i n gs, an d I w ou l d r u n i n t o som ebod y, a r egu l ar cu stom er .

And th at f i ve- m i n u te i n t er acti on [...] it w as ju st so m ean i n gf u l , an d r eal ly kep t u s goi n g th r ou gh h ar d ti m es.?

D u r i n g th e begi n n i n g of th e p an d em i c, W i l d w ood w as n ot op en f or i n si d e d i n i n g, w h i ch l ed B au gh n to d o som e qu i ck th i n k i n g an d ad d som e n ew p r od u cts to th e caf e?s d ocket. ?At th at p oi n t f r om th i s ti m e ear ly Sep t em ber th r ou gh Jan u ar y, I got th e i d ea of , ?w e?r e n ot goi n g to be op en i n - p er son an y t i m e soon , bu t w e?ve got al l th i s sp ace, w h at i f w e k i n d of m ake i t a sp eci al ty gr ocer y an d br i n g i n a l ot of ou r the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

f avor i t e p r od u ct s???

B au gh n say s.

T h e i d ea w as t o get oth er p eop l e t o f al l i n l ove w i th som e of t h e Bau gh n s? f avor i t e th i n gs. T h ou gh th e sal e of sp eci al ty p r od u cts h as si n ce been scal ed back , t h er e w i l l alw ay s be a f ew st ap l es av ai l abl e f or p u r ch ase i n si d e th e caf e, l i ke B au gh n ?s f avor i t e can d l es an d W i scon si n m ap l e sy r u p .

B ei n g essen ti al ly con f i n ed to t h e l i m i ts of ou r ow n sm al l t ow n f or th e p ast 18 m on t h s m i gh t h ave l ef t y ou f eel i n g an t sy to ex p l or e t h at of t h e ci t i es ar ou n d y ou .

H ow ever , w e m u st n ot f or get th at ad ven t u r e m ay n ot be an y f u r t h er t h an y ou r ow n back y ar d , or i n th i s case, y ou r l ocal M ai n Str eet.

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a rts & enterta inment

Welcoming the Class of 2025 to SHS B y Gab e Ro u sseau Staff Writer & Sports Editor

Fr esh m an y ear i s a y ear f u l l of ch an ges an d n ew jou r n ey s. I n w el com i n g t h e cl ass of 20 25 t h r ou gh th i s n ew y ear , th e N or se St ar r each ed ou t t o t h e u p p er cl assm en at SH S v i a a Googl e f or m an d asked f or th ei r ad v i ce to u n d er cl assm en . H er e ar e som e of t h e w i se w or d s f r om t h e u p p er cl assm an of SH S!

"B e y o u r sel f . T r y n o t t o car e ab o u t w h at p eo p l e t h i n k ."

- B r ad l ey Gar ci a (12 )

"Go to sp or ti n g even ts an d ch eer l ou d i n th e stu d en t secti on !"

- Cately n Jask u l ke (12)

"Car e abou t y ou r GPA ."

"En joy i t . You on ly h ave f ou r y ear s an d y ou d on ?t w an t t o l ook back say i n g ?I w i sh I d i d t h at or t h i s."

- B ar r et t N el son (12)

- Gr i f f i n Em p ey (11)

"T i m e f l i es - m ak e t h e m o st o f ev er y o p p o r t u n i t y."

- L u k e Fer n h o l z (12)

"Take el ect i ves y ou actu al ly l i ke an d will tr y in . T h e p oi n t of t h ose cl asses i s t o br an ch ou t y ou r i n t er ests."

- L an d on Ly n ch (12)

"Get i n v o l v ed w i t h as m an y ex t r a cu r r i cu l ar act i v i t i es as p o ssi b l e."

- Pey t o n Sm i t h (12)

"St ay or gan i zed ."

- Jay d en Z y w i ck i (12)

a rt b y emma phillips

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a rts & enterta inment

Norse Star Summer Favorites B y Av a Par r Associate Editor in- Chief & Features Editor A l th ou gh su m m er h as com e to an en d , w i t h a n ew season com e n ew op p or t u n i t i es. H ow ever , as w e r ef l ect on t h e p ast , t h e N or se St ar staf f sh ar es som e of th ei r f avor i t e m ed i a th ey d i scover ed an d en joy ed over th e su m m er .

Pr i d e an d Pr ej u d i ce (20 0 5) 2h 8 m i n , 89% au d i en ce r ati n g on Rot ten Tom atoes Based on t h e 1813 n ovel by Jan e Au sten , th i s m ov i e i s set i n th e En gl i sh cou n t r y si d e d u r i n g th e ti m e Au st en w as al i ve. El i zabet h Ben n et m eets w eal th y M r . D ar cy an d th ey sl ow ly f al l i n l ove d esp i te f i n d i n g each oth er i n su f f er abl e at f i r st.

Avai l abl e on H u l u an d H B O m ax , r ated PG Recom m en d ed by Em m a Far l ey (Fr eel an ce w r i t er , sen i or )

M y t h i c Q u est 2 season s, 84% au d i en ce r ati n g on Rot ten Tom atoes A si tcom set i n a v i d eo gam e stu d i o, w h er e cr eati ve con f l i cts an d com ed i c si t u at i on s betw een th e em p l oy ees en su e th r ou gh ou t th e tw o season s.

Av ai l abl e on A p p l e T V, r ated T V- M A Recom m en d ed by D el an ey Gau th i er (N ew s & O p i n i on s ed i tor , sen i or )

T h e Pr i o r y o f t h e O r an ge T r ee by Sam an t h a Sh an n o n 848 p ages, 4.21/ 5 on Good r ead s T h i s book f ol l ow s ch ar act er s i n d i f f er en t si tu ati on s i n th e sam e f an t asy w or l d , str u ggl i n g to u n d er st an d t h ei r p l ace i n l i f e as th e l oom i n g th r eat of th e en d of th e w or l d h an gs over th ei r h ead s.

Recom m en d ed by Cl ar e B or ch ar d t (Staf f w r i t er , sen i or )

B o B u r n h am : I n si d e 1h 27 m i n , 94% au d i en ce r ati n g on Rot ten Tom atoes Com ed y sp eci al cr eat ed by com ed i an an d m u si ci an B o Bu r n h am d u r i n g th e p eak of th e Cov i d - 19 p an d em i c. T h e w h ol e m ov i e i s set i n si d e of Bu r n h am 's h om e, an d h e i s th e on ly actor . T h e m ov i e tou ch es on th em es of l on el i n ess, th e i n t er n et, an d p er son al gr ow th .

Av ai l abl e on N etf l i x , r ated T V- M A Recom m en d ed by A n ja Roy ko (Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef , sen i or )

T h e So n g o f A ch i l l es by M ad el i n e M i l l er 378 p ages, 4.41/ 5 on Good r ead s A r et el l i n g of th e Gr eek m y t h th e I l i ad , tol d th r ou gh th e p er sp ect i ve of Pat r ocl u s.

T h r ou gh ou t th e book , M i l l er sh ow s th e beau ty of r om an ce an d th e h or r or of w ar .

M i l l er i s al so k n ow n f or w r i t i n g Ci r ce (20 18) Recom m en d ed by M ad el i n e M on th i e (Staf f w r i t er , sop h om or e)

T h e A d v en t u r e Z o n e by t h e M cEl r oy s A p od cast i n sp i r ed by th e gam e D u n geon s an d D r agon s, th r ee br oth er s an d th ei r f at h er p l ay as d i f f er en t ch ar acter s i n a f an t asy w or l d .

Av ai l abl e on Sp oti f y, A p p l e Pod cast s, an d M ax i m u m Fu n .com Recom m en d ed by Au tu m n Even son (Staf f w r i t er , sen i or ) the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

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a rts & enterta inment

Fall Bucket List B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer

F

al l h as ar r i ved i n f u l l f or ce, br i n gi n g w i t h i t ch i l l ai r , f esti ve sp i r i t s, an d H al l ow een d ecor ati on s. W h y n ot take ad van t age of t h ese f r esh , cr i sp f al l d ay s? T h er e ar e var i ou s f u n , saf e, an d f al l - th em ed act i v i t i es th i s

photos b y ma d eline monthie A l p i n e Ri d ge O r ch ar d 's ap p l e ci d er d o n u t s an d sl u sh i e.

y ear in an d ar ou n d St ou gh ton to p ar take i n .

W i th CO V I D - 19 n u m ber s si gn i f i can t ly l ow er th an l ast y ear , i t ?s th e p er f ect ti m e to get ou t th er e an d com p l ete y ou r f al l bu cket l i st!

A br i sk tw en t y m i n u t es aw ay f r om St ou gh ton i n B r ook ly n , W i sc., i s A l p i n e Ri d ge O r ch ar d , a qu ai n t ap p l e or ch ar d . T h e or ch ar d n ot on ly h as scen i c v i ew s, bu t th ey al so of f er a cor n m aze, w h i ch th ey ch an ge y ear ly, a p u m p k i n p at ch , f ar m an i m al s su ch as goat s an d ch i cken s, an d p i ck y ou r ow n ap p l es i n m an y d i f f er en t sel ecti on s.

If p i ck i n g y ou r ow n ap p l es d oesn ?t sou n d ap p eal i n g, th ey al so h ave a stor e stocked w i th a v ar i ety of ap p l es an d ap p l e p r od u cts su ch as ci d er , d on u ts, car am el

ap p l es, an d ap p l e sl u sh i es.

I f y ou ar e l ook i n g f or a f al l - th em ed l ocat i on p er f ect f or aest h eti c p h otos, Sh ad y N ook Pu m p k i n Pat ch i s th e p er f ect p l ace f or y ou .

Fr om m i d - Sep tem ber th r ou gh al l of O ctober , th i s p i ctu r e- esqu e f al l m ar ket sel l s p u m p k i n s an d oth er sp eci al ty cr op s.

Eu gster ?s Far m , a stap l e of Stou gh ton , h as m an y f al l - th em ed acti v i ti es, i n cl u d i n g f al l m ar ket s, pum pkin p at ch es, p et ti n g f ar m s, or ch ar d d ay s, an d m u ch m or e. Eu gster ?s i s al so m ak i n g th ei r f al l acti v i ti es cov i d saf e th r ou gh al l on l i n e ti ckets to l i m i t con tact an d h el p con tai n th e sp r ead of CO V I D - 19.

Far m er s m ar ket s ar e an ot h er cl assi c f al l acti v i ty.

T he f ar m er ?s m ar ket s i n Stou gh ton an d

T h e scen i c v i ew s at Sh ad y N o o k Pu m p k i n Pat ch .

M ad i son n ever d i sap p oi n t, esp eci al ly n ow th at th ey ?r e stocked w i t h f r esh f al l good s su ch as p u m p k i n s, ap p l es, an d m u ch m or e.

N ow th at w e ar e begi n n i n g to r et u r n back to a n or m al w or l d , i t ?s ti m e to get back ou t t h er e while r em ai n i n g saf e.

Creation, Interpretation, Imagination B y Em m a Far l ey Freelance Writer

A

r t. I t ?s a beau ti f u l th i n g- - on e t h at can be i n ter p r et ed i n i n f i n i te d i f f er en t w ay s. Ever y on e h as cr eat ed a p i ece at som e p oi n t i n t h ei r l i ves, n o m at t er h ow si m p l e or gr an d i ose. I t can sp ar k joy, ser ve as a m essage, or si m p ly be an ou t l et an d d i str act i on f r om t h e tr i al s an d t r i bu l ati on s of ever y d ay l i f e.

At SH S, m an y

stu d en t s p ar t i ci p ate i n som e f or m of ar t cl ass or ex tr acu r r i cu l ar . W i t h th e v ar i et y of cou r ses th e sch ool of f er s, th er e tr u ly seem s to be a p l ace f or ever y on e.

One ar ea St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool p ar t i cu l ar ly sh i n es i n i s th ei r ad v an ced ar t cl ass.

Ju n i or El i Gom ez i s en r ol l ed i n th i s cl ass, an d h as been i n a n u m ber of ar t cou r ses th r ou gh ou t h i gh sch ool . ?[I ?ve been cr eati n g ar t] si n ce f ou r t h or f i f th gr ad e [? ] I saw a bu n ch of p eop l e d r aw i n g on l i n e an d I w as l i ke ?H u h , th at sh ou l d be m e.? T h en I ju st star t ed d r aw i n g an d n ever r eal ly stop p ed ,? Gom ez say s.

Gom ez cr eat ed a su r r eal i st i c p i ece d etai l i n g a gr ou p of an i m al s i n a d u sk y w ood . T h e an i m al s ar e scat t er ed on var i ou s

ou tcr op p i n gs, an d i n th e cen ter i s an ey e th at al l of th e cr eatu r es seem to sh ar e. H e u sed a m ed i u m of col or ed p en ci l s on th i ck bl ack p ap er . ?I d i d n ?t r eal ly cr eate it w i th an i n t en d ed m ean i n g; I d on ?t k n ow h ow oth er p eop l e w ou l d i n t er p r et i t,?

Gom ez cl ai m s.

Sen i or A l ex H ef t er say s th e sam e abou t h i s w or k . ?I r el i sh i n th e f eel i n g w h er e p eop l e l ook at m y ar t an d can ?t r eal ly tel l w h at i t?s su p p osed to m ean ,? H ef t er ad m i t s. ?A l ot of p eop l e seem to en joy seei n g i t- en joy i n t er p r eti n g i t i n d i f f er en t w ay s.? H ef t er al so h as an ex ten si ve back gr ou n d i n ar t cl asses. ?I ?ve alw ay s been r eal ly cr eati ve an d d r ew a l ot i n cl ass. I gu ess ar ou n d

A r t an d p h o t o by El l i Go m ez, j u n i o r (11). f ou r th or f i f th gr ad e I [r eal i zed ] ?H ey, I r eal ly l i ke th i s; I w an t t o keep d oi n g i t,? H ef t er say s.

H ef t er cr eat ed a p i ece over th e su m m er of h i s d og, Pen n y, u si n g a p al et te k n i f e w i th acr y l i c p ai n t on a can v as. ?A n y on e can m ake ar t,? H ef t er say s. ?T h er e r eal ly i s n o d evolv i n g [...]

I t ju st takes a l ot of h ar d w or k an d d ed i cati on .?

A r t an d p h o t o by A l ex H ef t er , sen i o r (12).

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the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

Celly-brating the Student Section B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

B

oom - Ch i ck a- Boom .

W e A r e t h e M i gh ty V i k i n gs. Gi ve M e an ?O ?.

T h ese ar e on ly t h r ee of th e m an y ch eer s y ou m i gh t h ear i n Stou gh ton ?s ver y ow n Cel ly Sect i on at m ajor sp or ti n g even t s.

SH S sen i or s Cately n Jask u l ke an d Ad am Sl ager ar e t h e f aces of th e 20 21- 20 22 st u d en t secti on , an d t h ey ?r e r ead y to k i ck of f a y ear of m em or abl e gam es. ?W e get t h e n am e ?Cel ly ? f r om ?cel ebr ati on ??

Jask u l ke say s. ?[T h e Cel ly Secti on ] i s ju st a w ay to en cou r age st u d en t s to com e ch eer an d sp r ead sch ool sp i r i t at sp or ti n g even ts.?

Jask u l ke an d Sl ager h ave al r ead y h ad th e ch an ce t o l ead t h e Cel ly Secti on at a f ew f ootbal l an d vol l ey bal l gam es th i s y ear . Fal l sp or t s st ar t ed u p i n Au gu st an d t h e tw o l ead i n g sen i or s ar e sh ow i n g u p an d sh ow i n g ou t at ever y gam e, eager to m ake t h i s y ear cou n t.

Bei n g p ar t of t h e st u d en t secti on is a m at t er Jask u l ke an d Sl ager take pride in. ?You can ex p ect to ch an t, an d y ou can ex p ect to w i n , obv i ou sly,? Sl ager say s. ?You can d ef i n i t ely ex p ect t o get som e w i n s.?

O f cou r se, t h er e ar e som e u n i qu e ch al l en ges th at Jask u l ke an d Sl ager f ace t h i s y ear af t er th e even ts of t h e l ast 18 m on th s. T h e 20 20 - 20 21 sch ool y ear w as u n con ven t i on al , t o say th e l east, an d while th e d i str i ct m an aged t o get m ost sp or ts u p an d r u n n i n g, SH S's r ow d y stu d en t sect i on w as n ot p er m i tt ed at sp or ti n g even ts, w h er e each ath l et e w as al l ow ed a m ax i m u m of f ou r gu est s as sp ectat or s. ?T h i s y ear , I f eel l i ke w e sh ou l d h ave h ad [a p ep the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

r al ly ] ear l i er w i th th e f r esh m en . A l ot of th e f r esh m en an d th e sop h om or es d on 't k n ow th e ch eer s.? Sl ager say s.

Sl ager m akes a p oi n t th at r eson at es w i t h n ear ly h al f of th e stu d en t bod y th i s sch ool y ear . I t?s easy to f eel ou t of p l ace i n th e stu d en t secti on , esp eci al ly af t er n ear ly an en ti r e v i r tu al y ear due to CO V I D - 19.

N ot on ly ar e f r esh m en n ew to th e sch ool , bu t m an y n ow - sop h om or es h ave on ly ex p er i en ced a f ew m on t h s i n - p er son , an d f or m er V i r t u al V i k i n gs, n on e at al l . For stu d en ts w h o ar e n ot w el l - ver sed i n th e ch eer s or d on 't k n ow m u ch abou t sp or t s, goi n g to a sp or ti n g even t can be d au n t i n g.

H ow ever , Jask u l ke w ou l d l i ke to p u t th ose f ear s to r est. ?I t ?s ju st a r eal ly f u n p l ace to l et l oose an d n ot h ave an y on e car e or ju d ge. You can be l ou d an d th at?s th e p oi n t [...] I f y ou ?r e n ot i n sp or t s, or even i f y ou ?r e i n a sp or t [...] i t ?s a r eal ly good w ay to ju st go an d sti l l be i n volved ,? Jask u l ke say s.

Accor d i n g to th e l ead er s, th i s ?l et- l oose? m en t al i t y is v i tal at sp or ti n g even t s. Stu d en ts w h o h ave p ar t i ci p ated i n th e stu d en t secti on k n ow bett er th an an y on e: y ou ?r e m or e ou t of p l ace w h en qu i et th an y ou ar e w h en l ou d . T h e Cel ly Secti on i s al l abou t h av i n g sch ool

sp i r i t, p r i d e, an d a good ti m e. O n e w ay Jask u l ke an d Sl ager f oster th i s en er gy is by d oi n g i n t er acti ve ch eer s. M ost com m on ar e ?r ep eat af ter m e? ch eer s, on e of th e m ost w el l - l oved bei n g B oom - Ch i ck a- B oom , w h er e th e l ead er of th e ch an t i s n ot Jask u l ke or Sl ager , bu t an ot h er stu d en t, p i cked at r an d om . ?[I f y ou get ch osen to l ead B oom - Ch i ck a- B oom ] y ou h ave got to sh ow n o f ear , D o n ot be ti m i d , ju st go f or i t,? Sl ager say s. ?A n d th e m or e y ou m ake i t y ou r ow n ,? Jask u l ke ad d s, ?th e f u n n i er i t i s.?

T h e Cel ly Secti on h as h ad som e m em or abl e m om en ts al r ead y i n th e 20 21- 20 22 sch ool y ear . ., an d i ts p r esen ce is i m p ossi bl e to m i ss at SH S sp or t i n g even ts. ?I th i n k m y f avor i t e th i n g th at ?s h ap p en ed al l y ear w as i n th e f i r st f ootbal l gam e agai n st O r egon , ?Jask u l ke say s, ?w e r u sh ed l i ke 80 y ar d s an d th e stu d en t secti on w as gett i n g r eal ly l ou d [...]

Pl ay af ter p l ay th e boy s got a f i r st d ow n , an d i t en d ed up bei n g a tou ch d ow n !?

Sl ager h as n oti ced th e sam e ef f ect. ?You can tel l [th e p l ay er s] f eed of f of i t f or su r e. T h e gu y s on th e si d el i n e ar e [h y p i n g u p th e cr ow d ] too,? H e say s.

T h e en er gy d oesn ?t en d w h en w e l eave h om e

used with permission from steve lyons

Sen i o r A d am Sl ager l ead s SH S st u d en t s i n t h e Ro l l er co ast er ch eer b ef o r e t h e st ar t o f t h e t h i r d q u ar t er .

sports

tu r f . Aw ay gam es ar e h om e to th e sam e ch eer s, ex p ectati on s, an d v i t al i ty.

I t's ju st as i m p or t an t t o sh ow u p at aw ay gam es as i t i s to sh ow ou t at h om e.

Aw ay gam es ar e bet ter w h en w el l at ten d ed , accor d i n g to t h e sect i on l ead er s. ?T h e m or e p eop l e y ou can get at an aw ay gam e, th e m or e f u n i t i s. I th i n k I h ad t h e m ost f u n at th e D ef or est gam e, even th ou gh w e w er e [l osi n g]. I t w as r eal ly f u n becau se w e w en t back an d f or th w i th t h e ot h er stu d en t secti on ,? Jask u l ke say s.

U n d er stan d ably, m an y u n d er cl assm en att en d l ess aw ay gam es th an h om e due to tr an sp or t ati on i ssu es.

Gam es ou t of t ow n can of ten be a t h i r ty m i n u t e d r i ve or gr eat er , an d m an y f r esh m en an d sop h om or es d on 't h ave a l i cen se. L u ck i ly, t h er e?s a sol u ti on to th i s p r obl em . ?For aw ay gam es, r each ou t to u p p er cl assm en .

T h ey ?ll take y ou f or su r e. I w ou l d take som ebod y I d on 't k n ow i f th ey w an t t o com e to th e gam e.? Sl ager say s.

Jask u l ke say s t h e sam e.

U n d er cl assm en ar e w el com e i n t h e car s of ol d er stu d en ts.

Coor d i n ate w i t h f r i en d s an d sh ow u p r ead y t o ch eer !

L ead er s Jask u l ke an d Ad am can ?t w ai t f or a l on g y ear of p acked sp or t i n g even ts. A f ter l ast y ear ?s com p l i cati on s, t h e h i gh sch ool an d i ts st u d en ts ar e r ead y to star t f r esh . Com e to as m an y gam es as p ossi bl e, ch eer l ou d ly, an d ex p ect ou r st u d en ts t o win!

A s Sl ager say s, ?You d on 't n eed to f eel l i ke y ou sh ou l d n ?t go ju st becau se y ou d on 't p l ay sp or t s [...]

Peop l e r eal ly d on 't car e h ow y ou act t h er e, so be r ow d y an d h ave a good ti m e.?

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Diving Into a New Season B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

T

h e sw i m team 's ol d cap s an d goggl es ar e bei n g d u sted of f as both Stou gh ton Sw i m team s star t th ei r n ew season s.

Gi r l 's sw i m star ted th ei r 20 21- 20 22 season of f i n Au gu st, an d th e team m em ber s ar e eager to d i ve back i n to th e p ool .

Team cap tai n , sen i or Cor a Bor r ou gh s, i s exci ted to get back i n to th e p ool an d be su r r ou n d ed by h er team m ates agai n . ?T h e team th i s y ear i s r eal ly f u n an d f u l l of en er gy,? Bor r ou gh s say s.

Bor r ou gh s r em ar k s th at w h i l e th i s season h as been p osi ti ve so f ar , th er e ar e som e y ou n ger ath l etes th at ar e sti l l l ear n i n g to ad ju st to a n ew sw i m m i n g en v i r on m en t. ?T h e season so f ar i s goi n g w el l . I th i n k th at m an y p eop l e h ave al r ead y i m p r oved si n ce th e star t of th e season ,? Bor r ou gh s say s. ?T h i s season is r eal ly

d i f f er en t f r om p ast y ear s becau se w e h ave m an y n ew sw i m m er s w h o ar e n ot u sed to th e sw i m m i n g en v i r on m en t an d d eal i n g w i th CO V I D .?

N ow th at f al l sp or ts ar e abl e to k i ck of f th i s season , th ou gh ts tu r n to th e saf ety p r ecau ti on s th e sch ool h as i n p l ace. ?W e w ear m ask s on th e w ay to th e p ool an d take th em of f w h en w e get i n , bu t w h en w e get ou t w e h ave to p u t th em back on agai n ,? Bor r ou gh s say s.

Sw i m m i n g i s on e of th e sp or ts w h er e ath l etes h ave th e l u x u r y to be d i stan ced ju st by th e n atu r e of th e acti v i ty. W i th m ask s i n p l ace an d th e d i stan ce betw een th e sw i m m er s, th e p r op er saf ety p r ecau ti on s ar e bei n g taken to en su r e th e saf ety of ever y on e i n an d ou t of th e p ool .

CO V I D - 19 p r ecau ti on s ar e n ot th e on ly th i n g th at h as ch an ged on th e sw i m

team . T h e gi r l s sw i m team i s cu r r en tly w or k i n g on r ebu i l d i n g th ei r n u m ber s d u e to a l ar ge am ou n t of sen i or s gr ad u ati n g l ast y ear .

Team cap tai n , sen i or M el an i e Regan , ex p r esses som e of th e team 's goal s f or th e y ear . ?I th i n k ou r m ai n goal s ar e ju st getti n g m or e p eop l e to joi n an d en cou r agi n g th e n ew er p eop l e to keep sw i m m i n g n ex t y ear ,? Regan say s.

Gai n i n g n ew team m em ber s i s n ot th e on ly th i n g on th e team ?s m i n d .

Per son al ly i m p r ov i n g i s al so h i gh on th e l i st.

Regan say s, ?W e d on 't h ave a l ot of m or e ex p er i en ced sw i m m er s, so w e'r e n ot d oi n g so gr eat r ecor d w i se, [? ] bu t ever y on e p er son al ly is d oi n g r eal ly w el l .?

D esp i te an y of th e ch al l en ges th e team m i gh t f ace th i s y ear , th ey ar e al l ver y exci ted to com p ete

Regan t ak es a p h o t o o f t h e t eam b ef o r e t h ei r M cFar l an d m eet .

photo b y mela nie reg a n agai n .

Both team cap tai n s sh ar e th ei r ad v i ce f or al l bu d d i n g ath l etes ou t th er e. ?M y ad v i ce w ou l d be to h ave f u n an d take ad van tage of y ou r ti m e i n h i gh sch ool sp or ts becau se ti m e goes by r eal ly f ast,? Bor r ou gh s say s.

Regan ad d s, ?Keep y ou r m en tal i ty u p an d ju st keep tr y i n g y ou r ver y h ar d est an d y ou 'l l see y ou r r esu l ts.?

Shoes O n, Masks O ff B y L au r a Per r y

O

n y ou r m ar k s, get set , go! A f t er over a y ear of set back s, t h e Boy s Cr oss Cou n tr y t eam i s f i n al ly gear i n g u p f or a ?n or m al ? season . H ead Coach Patr i ck Sch n ei d er h as m an y goal s f or th e team as t h ey r et u r n to r u n n i n g i n w h at th ey h op e w i l l be a su ccessf u l n ex t f ew m on t h s. ?W e'd l i ke t o w i n [at] con f er en ce. W e cer t ai n ly h ave a sh ot at i t ,?

Sch n ei d er say s.

In ad d i ti on , h e p r ed i ct s th at i n d i v i d u al at h l et es h ave a good ch an ce of m ak i n g i t to stat e. ?O u r goal i s to keep get t i n g bet t er [an d ] i m p r ov i n g ou r ti m es,?

Sch n ei d er say s. ?Act u al ly, I 'd say m ost of m y boy s so f ar h ave set t h ei r l i f et i m e f astest 5K t i m es.?

Var si t y Cr oss Cou n tr y

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Freelance Writer r u n n er an d sen i or K ai to m atch n am es to Sor en sen r ef l ects on h ow ?u n m asked ? sm i l es. ?I t's com p et i t i on s ser ve as ju st n i ce to get togeth er op p or tu n i t i es f or th e an d see p eop l e's f aces? i t at h l etes. f eel s m u ch m or e n or m al ,? ?H av i n g th ese bi g h e say s. m eets al l ow s f or u s to r ace T h e ath l et es sh ar e a agai n st som e of th e top si m i l ar ou tl ook on w h at team s i n th e state an d aw ai ts. p u sh es u s to r u n better ?I l ook f or w ar d to ever y w eek ,? h e say s. br eak i n g my l i f eti m e Fol l ow i n g D an e p er son al r ecor d an d Cou n ty ?s n ew p u bl i c gett i n g to run r aces h eal t h m an d ates, i t i s n ow w i th ou t m ask s on !? sen i or p ossi bl e f or ou td oor Tom U n i tan say s. sch ool acti v i t i es to occu r C r o ss C o u n t r y 's Var si t y B oy s u n m asked , w i t h p r op er t eam p l aced seco n d i n D I I at d i st an ci n g. Accor d i n g to Ver o n a I n v i t at i o n al .

Sch n ei d er , i t h as been an en or m ou s r el i ef f or th e at h l etes. ?Ru n n i n g w i t h a m ask on , even d u r i n g p r acti ce, i s ju st br u tal ,? Sch n ei d er r ep or t s. H e f i n d s i t m u ch easi er to i n ter act w i th photo b y pa t schneid er stu d en t s w h i l e bei n g abl e

?T h e JV r u n n er s ar e h av i n g a gr eat t i m e [...] an d ar e h av i n g f u n d oi n g som eth i n g th ey l ove,? say s sen i or B r an d on K r eger . ?I f y ou ?r e l ook i n g f or a f r i en d ly, i n v i t i n g, an d h ar d w or k i n g ex p er i en ce, I w ou l d h i gh ly r ecom m en d joi n i n g Cr oss Cou n t r y. I joi n ed l at er i n m y h i gh sch ool car eer an d I w i sh th at I w ou l d ?ve joi n ed soon er !?

Coach Sch n ei d er al so sen ses th at h i s t eam i s w el l equ i p p ed f or t h e season . ?I f eel l i ke I 've got a r eal ly gr eat gr ou p of gu y s, th ey w or k h ar d ? [an d ] th ey get al on g,? h e say s. ?W e m ay be abl e t o get a f ew of th em t h r ou gh [t o] state, an d I 'm ju st exci t ed abou t th e season ; i t 's n i ce to h ave som et h i n g n or m al goi n g on .?

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

sports

Moving the Ball Forward How SHS's Athletes are Dealing with the New Year B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist

photo b y isa a c knutson (12) T h e SH S Fo o t b al l t eam t ak es t h e f i el d p r i o r t o a co m p et i t i o n w i t h B ar ab o o .

A

f ter an u n u su al y ear of h i gh sch ool at h l eti cs, SH S sp or t s ar e back an d r u n n i n g on a n or m al sch ed u l e. Fal l sp or ts ar e al r ead y u n d er w ay w i t h p r acti ces, com p eti ti on s, an d sch ool sp i r i t . Som e of th e team cap tai n s an d p l ay er s h ave gi ven th ei r statem en ts t h r ou gh v i r tu al an d i n - p er son i n ter v i ew s on h ow th e y ear h as been goi n g so f ar w i th i n t h ei r t eam s.

Sen i or an d v ar si ty vol l ey bal l p l ay er B r ooke T h r al l sh ar es h er op i n i on on th e d i f f er en ces i n p r acti ces bet w een th i s y ear an d l ast . ?I h aven 't n ot i ced a h u ge sh i f t i n p r act i ces f r om qu ar an t i n e sl ash p r e- CO V I D . T h e on ly d i f f er en ce I 've n ot i ced i s th at th e coach es ar e m or e u n d er st an d i n g of br eak s an d su ch ju st becau se i t i s a l ot h ar d er t o br eat h e

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

w i t h m ask s,? T h r al l say s.

"W e d on 't d o as m an y car d i o- i n t en si ve d r i l l s, bu t th ose w er en 't a h u ge f ocu s i n p r acti ce p r i or to th e p an d em i c an y w ay s.?

T he cr azi n ess of qu ar an ti n e seem ed to take a tol l on th e stu d en ts, esp eci al ly th e stu d en t at h l etes.

Pr acti ces ar e d i f f er en t th an p r ev i ou s y ear s n ow d u e to th e n ew m ask m an d at e, an d th e stat e of th e team s can on ly be d eter m i n ed by th e at h l etes w i t h i n th em .

O n e of th e m ajor con cer n s am on g th e u p p er cl assm en ath l et es w as h ow th e u n d er cl assm en w er e goi n g to ad ju st. For th e f r esh m en an d sop h om or es, th ese ar e th ei r f i r st y ear s of h i gh sch ool an d as m an y k n ow, th at can be ver y d au n ti n g.

T h e ad ju stm en t f r om v i r tu al to i n - p er son can

be scar y, w h i ch i s w h y th ese u p p er cl assm en w an t th e stu d en ts to k n ow th at th ey see good th i n gs i n th e f u tu r e of SH S. ?I 'm w or r i ed th at th ose w h o ar en 't seei n g th e cou r t m u ch th i s season ar e gett i n g d i scou r aged to th e p oi n t th at th ey f eel l i ke th ey sh ou l d n 't even be on th e team . I t i s su ch a d i f f i cu l t th i n g to go th r ou gh an d i t i s a h u ge m en t al battl e al l - i n - al l . I t can be h ar d to r em em ber th at th ey m ad e th e team f or a r eason , an d I h op e so str on gly th at th ey can sti ck i t ou t an d keep better i n g th em selves i n p r acti ce an d ever y oth er op p or t u n i t y th at th ey get,? T h r al l say s.

CO V I D p r ot ocol s f or th e team s th i s y ear ar e a bi t sof ter th an th ey w er e l ast y ear as th e n u m ber s of cases w er e h i gh er l ast y ear , bu t th at d oesn ?t

m ean th at ever y th i n g i s back to n or m al . Sen i or an d co- cap t ai n of t h e Footbal l t eam I saac K n u tson sh ar es his th ou gh ts on t h e m an d at e. ?W e d o ou r job [t o keep m ask s on ]. I m ean , m ost p eop l e. O f cou r se w e d on ?t n eed t o w ear th em ou tsi d e [f or p r acti ce], bu t w e h ave t o w ear th em i n t h e l ocker r oom ,? K n u tson say s.

T h e team s t h i s y ear h ave been goi n g over a l ar ge h u r d l e. T h e st u d en ts h ave f aced , an d con ti n u e to f ace, obstacl es t h at can be over com e t ogeth er . ?O u r team i s so gr atef u l to be abl e t o h ave a f u l l season t h i s y ear . I t 's been i m p actf u l i n both p osi ti ve an d n egat i ve w ay s, bu t I th i n k t h e t eam as a w h ol e w ou l d agr ee th at th e p osi ti ves si gn i f i can tly ou tw ei gh t h e n egati ves,? T h r al l say s.

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New Coaches at SHS B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor h i s y ear , w e w el com e th r ee n ew coach es to St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool . Au d r a Jen son w i l l coach t h e D an ce team , Jason M od el w i l l coach Gi r l s Ten n i s, an d Jacob Bon set t -Veal w i l l coach Gi r l s H ockey. Get t o k n ow al l th r ee of t h em an d th ei r goal s f or coach i n g i n th i s ar ti cl e!

Au d r a Jen son is cu r r en t ly at t en d i n g M ad i son A r ea Tech n i cal Col l ege t o becom e a n u r se. Jen son d an ced an d r an tr ack & f i el d w h i l e sh e w as a h i gh sch ool er at L akesi d e L u th er an H i gh Sch ool . Jen son sp eak s of a coach w h o i m p act ed h er i n h i gh sch ool .

"T h e coach w h o i n sp i r ed m e, an d i s w h y I coach t od ay, w as m y ol d ch eer coach . Sh e alw ay s tau gh t m e t h at i f y ou p u t in th e w or k f or som eth i n g, y ou 'l l f i n al ly get th e r esu l t s t h at y ou d eser ve,? Jen son sai d .

Est abl i sh ed at SH S i n 20 11, t h e D an ce t eam i s k n ow n f or th ei r ch or eogr ap h ed r ou t i n es at f ootbal l an d basket bal l gam es, as w el l as f or p ar ti ci p at i n g in com p et i t i on s.

Jen son bel i eves th at on e of t h e r eason s p eop l e en joy w atch i n g d an ce i s h ow ef f or t l essly i t com es acr oss.

"Peop l e ar e d r aw n to w atch i n g d an ce becau se w e m ake i t l ook easy. M y d an cer s h ave been t r ai n ed th r ou gh m ost of th ei r l i ves t o d o h i gh k i ck s, d r op i n t o t h e sp l i t s, or sp i n on on e f oot . W h en th e gi r l s d o f u n st u f f l i ke th at, i t m akes p eop l e w an t to com e back an d w at ch u s agai n ," Jen son say s.

Sh e w as d r aw n to coach i n g t h e d an ce team becau se of t h e d an cer s th em selves.

"I h ave a ver y r esp ect abl e an d aw esom e gr ou p t h i s y ear . I t i s n ot ju st w h at w e d o th at

T

20

br i n gs p eop l e back . I t's th e k i d s.

T h ey cr eate r el ati on sh i p s w i t h p eop l e, an d i t sh ow s ou r p r ogr am i n a p osi t i ve l i gh t," Jen son say s. "I w an t to i m p act m y team by bu i l d i n g str on g at h l etes an d str on ger y ou n g ad u l t s."

D u r i n g h er ti m e as th e d an ce team 's coach , sh e w an t s to d evel op an en v i r on m en t w h er e d an cer s f eel saf e.

"T h e ty p e of en v i r on m en t th at I str i ve to h ave i s a saf e on e. I alw ay s w an t m y d an cer s to f eel l i ke d an ce i s th ei r saf e p l ace. N o m at ter w h at i s h ap p en i n g ou tsi d e of p r acti ce, I alw ay s w an t m y at h l etes to f eel l i ke th ey bel on g, an d th ey can ex p r ess th ei r f eel i n gs an d com e to m e w i th th i n gs th at bot h er th em ," Jen son say s.

becau se of h i s d au gh t er , w h o joi n ed th e ten n i s team h er f r esh m an y ear .

"W e p l ay ed togeth er , an d th ey d i d n 't h ave an ot h er coach f or th i s y ear , so I en d ed u p bei n g th e l u ck y on e th at got i t,?

M od el say s.

M od el bel i eves th at d i f f er en t ty p es of p eop l e ar e d r aw n to ten n i s by ei th er w atch i n g or p l ay i n g.

"I th i n k i t can be f or ver y com p eti ti ve an d n ot com p eti ti ve p eop l e. Som e p eop l e com e ou t ju st becau se th ey en joy goi n g to th ei r p r acti ce; th ey l i ke gett i n g a l i ttl e exer ci se- som e l i ke th e com p eti ti ve asp ect of i t. I al so th i n k m an y p eop l e w h o com e to w atch th i n k i t's p r ett y en ter t ai n i n g or th ey 'r e w atch i n g som eon e th ey k n ow," M od el say s.

W h at i s essen ti al to M od el i s m ak i n g su r e th at th e p eop l e on h i s team en joy th ei r ti m e th er e.

"W h at's key f or m e i s ju st to be p osi ti ve an d m ake i t a gr eat ex p er i en ce f or th ose p l ay er s th at h ave been ar ou n d f or a w h i l e an d ar e h av i n g a n ew coach ," M od el say s. photo by jason model

photo submitted by audra jenson Jen so n p o ses w i t h h er p ar t n er an d ch i l d r en .

M od el w en t to sch ool at SH S an d w as i n volved i n f ootbal l , w r est l i n g, an d N or w egi an D an cer s d u r i n g h i s ti m e. H e w or k s i n th e SH S L ear n i n g Acad em y as an al t er n ati ve ed u cati on teach er , an d h e got his al t er n ati ve ed u cati on cer ti f i cate f r om U W M i lw au kee.

M od el h as h ad p r ev i ou s coach i n g ex p er i en ce coach i n g w r est l i n g i n D ef or est an d coach i n g w r estl i n g at Ri ver B l u f f M i d d l e Sch ool f or 15 y ear s.

M od el got i n to ten n i s

M o d el t ak es a p h o t o w i t h t h e Gi r l s T en n i s t eam .

B on sett-Veal w en t to O r egon H i gh Sch ool , w h er e h e p l ay ed soccer an d h ockey.

He att en d ed th e U n i ver si ty of W i scon si n - Pl att ev i l l e, an d i s n ow an op tom etr i c/ l ab tech n i ci an .

He star ted his coach i n g car eer w i th th e O r egon You t h H ockey Sy stem , an d h e sp en t th e

l ast tw o h ockey season s as th e I ceber g?s A ssi st an t Coach .

Bon set t -Veal r ef l ect s on h ow t h ese ex p er i en ces h ave i m p acted h ow he i n str u ct s.

"T h r ou gh ou t m y t i m e i n ath l et i cs, t h er e w er e m an y coach es t h at i m p acted th e w ay I coach .

I w as abl e t o see w h at th i n gs w or ked an d w h at d i d n 't w or k ," Bon set t -Veal say s.

Stou gh ton gi r l s h ockey i s i n volved w i t h th e I ceber gs, a h ockey p r ogr am th r ou gh th e B ad ger Con f er en ce.

Stou gh ton , M on on a Gr ove, O r egon , M cFar l an d , an d Ed ger t on al l con tr i bu te p l ay er s t o th e team .

B on sett-Veal i s d r aw n to th i s sp or t becau se of th e com m u n i t y asp ect .

"I t al l ow s i n d i v i d u al s to com e toget h er , p l ay t h e sp or t th ey l ove, an d becom e p ar t of a f am i ly," B on sett-Veal say s.

He w an t s a w el com i n g en v i r on m en t d u r i n g h i s ti m e as a coach .

"I w an t th e p l ay er s t o f eel com f or tabl e bei n g at t h e r i n k d u r i n g p r act i ce an d gam es w h i l e bei n g abl e t o ex p r ess th em selves. I w an t th em to be accou n t abl e f or th ei r act i on s both on an d of f th e i ce. I al so w an t th em to be abl e t o gr ow as i n d i v i d u al s an d h el p p r ep ar e th em f or t h ei r f u tu r e,? B on set t-Veal say s.

Ph o t o o f B o n set t -Veal

photo submitted by jacob bonsett-veal the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

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Who is...

Ms. Ross

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

Meet Ms. Ross

M s. Ro ss w i t h h er d au gh t er , Pay t o n , an d h er n ew r escu e p u p p y, Pi p p i n .

M s. Ross' t w o d ogs, H en r y an d Gr ace (t op) M s. Ross p oses w i t h h er m om at an El t on Joh n con cer t i n M i lw au kee (bot t om )

photos b y ms. ross the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

s.

Ross f i n i sh es w r i ti n g th e secon d cu r si ve S on h er n ew cl assr oom ?s ch al k boar d i n sy n c w i th th e bel l . D i n g, d i n g, d i n g. ?H el l o stu d en t s, m y n am e i s M s. Ross an d ?- sh e begi n s, as sh e scan s th e f aces of A p p l eton W est?s stu d en t s w i t h a sm i l e. Sh e th en stop s sh or t on on e k i d 's f ace an d w on d er s w h y h e l ook s so f am i l i ar .

L on g l ost r el ati ve? N o.

D og si tt er ? N o. K i d I ar r ested on ly m on t h s ago?

Yes! A l on g w ith bei n g St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s n ew bu si n ess teach er an d N or se St ar ?s f i r st W h o I s? f eatu r e, A n n Ross i s an ex p er i en ced l ead er of th e m ar keti n g an d bu si n ess cl u b D ECA an d a r eti r ed p ol i ce of f i cer an d d etect i ve. Sh e r ecei ved h er u n d er gr ad u at e d egr ee at U n i ver si t y of W i scon si n - Stou t in m ar keti n g ed u cati on an d h er m ast er 's d egr ee i n or gan i zati on al l ead er sh i p th r ou gh M ar i an U n i ver si t y. Sh e f i r st began h er car eer in l aw en f or cem en t , h op i n g to m ove up r an k s to l i eu ten an t over ti m e; th i s w as, u n t i l f at e took h er an oth er w ay. ?I w as of f er ed an op p or tu n i ty to get i n t o teach i n g [...] at th e sam e sch ool w i t h m y f ath er at A p p l eton W est [? ] an d at th at m om en t, m y d ad w as ex p er i en ci n g ser i ou s m ed i cal i ssu es, an d h e w as even tu al ly d i agn osed as ter m i n al ly i l l an d I r eal ly th ou gh t ?th i s i s w h at I 'm su p p osed to be d oi n g?,? Ross say s.

A p p l eton W est H i gh Sch ool w as Ross?s f i r st sch ool d i st r i ct th at sh e tau gh t at , an d Stou gh ton i s n ow h er f ou r th an d h op ef u l ly f i n al on e, sh e sh ar es. Each teach i n g job w as sl i gh tly d i f f er en t f or h er , en v i r on m en t ,

M

l ocat i on , an d cl ass- w i se.

A l th ou gh , al l i n al l , sh e r em ai n ed a bu si n ess an d m ar ket i n g teach er w h o l oves h er stu d en ts. ?Peop l e w i l l say, ?H ow can y ou teach h i gh sch ool k i d s?? A n d I 'm l i ke, y ou h ave n o i d ea w h at y ou 'r e m i ssi n g. I t's ever y d ay th ey m ake m e l au gh ,?

Ross say s.

At SH S, Ross can f i n d h er sel f l au gh i n g w i th stu d en ts i n r oom 20 2, w h er e sh e teach es bu si n ess l aw, p er son al f i n an ce, sp or t s an d en ter t ai n m en t m ar ket i n g, as w el l as i n t r o to bu si n ess, accou n t i n g, an d m ar ket i n g cl asses.

A l th ou gh n ew to teach i n g i n th e 60 8, sh e h as p l en ty of k n ow l ed ge an d con f i d en ce w i th h ow sh e l i kes to r u n h er cl assr oom f r om h er p r ev i ou s jobs, su ch as th ose sh e h ad i n l aw en f or cem en t. ?I f y ou 'r e goi n g to be a good cop , y ou h ave to u n d er stan d th at th i s i s ou r w or l d , n ot m i n e. T h i s i s th e sam e in th e cl assr oom . I f y ou w an t to be an ef f ecti ve teach er , a good teach er th at m akes a d i f f er en ce, y ou h ave to u n d er stan d th i s i s ou r cl assr oom , n ot m i n e. I d on 't m ake th e r u l es.

T h er e sh ou l d n 't be r u l es p er se. I t's com m on sen se, or con sequ en ce,? Ross say s.

A l on g w i th th i s, th e n ew bu si n ess teach er sh ar es h er h op es f or h er cl asses an d th e stu d en ts w i th i n th em . ?M y n u m ber on e goal i s [th at] I n ever w an t m y stu d en ts to w al k i n th i s r oom d r ead i n g cl ass, af r ai d of an y assessm en t [...] I w an t m y k i d s to be exci ted abou t com i n g to cl ass. T h i s i s a saf e p l ace f or al l stu d en ts,? Ross say s. ?Secon d ly, I 'm alw ay s tr y i n g to m ake w h atever w e'r e d oi n g ap p l i cabl e to r eal l i f e si t u at i on s. I n stead

of gi v i n g a w or k sh eet w i t h p r eten d stu f f , I w i l l cal l a com p an y.?

N ot on ly d oes Ross br i n g i n r eal l i f e si t u at i on s f r om com p an i es t o h el p h er stu d en ts l ear n , bu t sh e r em em ber s h er ow n l i f e ex p er i en ces to h el p h er sel f teach .

W h en CO V I D - 19 cam e d ow n on th e w or l d 18 m on th s ago, Ross f aced th e bat t l e of br east can cer . Sh e h ad t o w or k th r ou gh both h ar d sh i p s at t h e sam e ti m e, bu t Ross say s sh e i s gr atef u l f or t h ose ch al l en ges becau se it ch an ged th e w ay sh e teach es an d r eact s n ow. ?I u sed t o be ver y u p ti gh t an d r egi m en ted , an d I h ave becom e a l ot m or e em p ath eti c, an d i t 's easi er f or m e t o h ave gr ace w i th p eop l e- t o u n d er st an d th at w e al l ar e goi n g th r ou gh ch al l en ges, an d m ay be i t 's n ot excu ses so m u ch as t r y i n g to u n d er stan d t h e w h y beh i n d w h en som ebod y d oesn 't m ake i t t o sch ool , d oesn 't get an assi gn m en t , or d oesn 't r et u r n an em ai l . I ?ve ju st becom e m or e p at i en t,? Ross say s.

T h r ou gh ever y cu r ve an d bl ock i n Ross?s r oad of l i f e, sh e h as been abl e to f i n d h er p assi on of teach i n g an d p u r su e i t at Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool .

N ow f or y ou r sake, l et ?s h op e sh e d oesn ?t r ecogn i ze y ou r f ace an d w on d er w h y w h en sh e sees y ou i n cl ass or ar ou n d tow n .

M s. Ross' Favor i te Q u ot e "Peop l e w i l l f or get w h at y ou sai d , p eop l e w i l l f or get w h at y ou d i d , bu t p eop l e w i l l n ever f or get h ow y ou m ad e th em f eel .?

- M ay a A n gel ou 21

fea tures

For the Love of All Thing s Loca l B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor sub mitted b y keri murphy

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f y ou take a str ol l th r ou gh d ow n tow n Stou gh t on , t h er e i s n o d ou bt y ou ?ve n ot i ced th e sm al l p ar k i n g l ot on t h e cor n er of For r est an d M ai n Str eet. I f an y t h i n g, y ou ?ll ju st see som e f ad ed bl ack top an d som e sp or ad i cal ly p ar ked car s.

M ay be y ou ?ll see a m ai l t r u ck p u l l i n g i n to th e p ost of f i ce, or som ebod y w al k i n g ou t of W i l d w ood Caf é acr oss t h e str eet w i th a d r i n k i n h an d .

You p r obably w on ?t t h i n k t oo m u ch of i t, bu t ar e y ou aw ar e th at th e seem i n gly i n si gn i f i can t sl ab of bl ack t op i s th e setti n g f or a w eek ly even t w i th a si gn i f i can t i m p act?

I n 20 15, a d ed i cat ed gr ou p of vol u n teer s p l an t ed t h e seed s of th i s i d ea h er e i n Stou gh ton . Fr om th ose seed s gr ew th e Stou gh t on Com m u n i ty Far m er s M ar ket , a Satu r d ay tr ad i ti on t h at h i gh l i gh ts l ocal f ar m er s, baker s, ar ti san s, m u si ci an s an d m or e, al l ow i n g th em t o sh ow th e Stou gh t on com m u n i ty w h at th ey d o best.

Ter r y Par i si , ow n er of Par i si Fam i ly Far m , i s a r egu l ar at th e Stou gh t on Far m er s m ar ket an d h as been sel l i n g th er e si n ce i t st ar t ed .

T h r ou gh em ai l , sh e ex p l ai n ed th at sh e sel l s a var i et y of f r esh p r od u ce, as w el l as goat m i l k soap , beef , eggs, an d som eti m es f l ow er s. ?I l ove tal k i n g t o t h e p eop l e, th e cu stom er s, t h e ven d or s an d th e h el p er s.

Ever y on e i s alw ay s so n i ce an d h el p f u l an d w h en w e h ave m u si c i t r eal ly h el p s t h e t i m e go by f ast,? Par i si say s.

M an y th i n gs d r aw Par i si t o St ou gh ton , su ch as, ?A d ow n tow n th at seem s t o h ave su r v i ved th e su p er cen t er , t h e O p er a H ou se r en ovati on an d su ccess at br i n gi n g am azi n g m u si c to Stou gh ton , t h e sch ool d i str i ct an d al l t h ey h ave to of f er stu d en ts,? Par i si say s.

I n r etu r n , sh e h op es t h at by p r ov i d i n g tasty, l ocal , or gan i c f ood to th e com m u n i ty th at sh e w i l l be abl e to h el p i m p r ove t h e p h y si cal an d em oti on al w el l bei n g of th e Stou gh t on com m u n i ty. ?I l ove to gr ow good f ood

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f or p eop l e w h o l ove eat i n g good f ood ,? Par i si say s.

Par i si i s al so a cl i m at e act i v i st , w h o h op es t o be an ex am p l e an d sh ow ot h er s h ow i m p or t an t p r ot ect i n g ou r p l an et i s. ?I am p r ou d t o be abl e t o sp en d m y d ay s t ou ch i n g t h e Ear t h gen t ly an d d oi n g m y p ar t t o f i gh t cl i m at e ch an ge,?

Par i si say s.

A n ot h er ven d or at t h e f ar m er s m ar ket , Ker i M u r p h y, sel l s sou r d ou gh br ead , f ocacci a, d ecor at ed su gar cook i es, an d oth er h om em ad e baked good s. Sh e began Ri n d e H ou se B ak i n g af t er bei n g l ai d of f f r om h er i n t er i or d esi gn job at t h e begi n n i n g of t h e CO V I D - 19 p an d em i c. ?St ar t i n g Ri n d e H ou se Bak i n g w as h ow I cop ed w i t h n ot h av i n g a job,? M u r p h y ex p l ai n s t h r ou gh an em ai l i n t er v i ew.

I t w as a d r eam f or M u r p h y t o sel l h er baked good s at m ar ket s, so w h en t h e St ou gh t on Com m u n i t y Far m er s m ar ket coor d i n at or ex p r essed th e n eed f or ar t i san br ead , M u r p h y ?f el t

sub mitted b y keri murphy

l i ke i t w as a si gn .? W i t h t h e h el p of h er 7t h gr ad e d au gh t er Ad d i e, t h e Far m er s M ar ket becam e a d r eam com e t r u e.

At f i r st , sh e w asn 't su r e i f sh e w an t ed t o accep t t h e of f er . ?I w en t back an d f or t h f or a l on g t i m e d eci d i n g i f I w as goi n g t o d o i t . I w asn 't su r e I cou l d h an d l e i t .

H ow ever , I f el t t h at i f I t u r n ed i t d ow n , I 'd n ever k n ow,?

M u r p h y say s.

T he St ou gh t on com m u n i t y t ook a l i k i n g t o h er p r od u ct s, as M u r p h y h as r ecei ved m an y com p l i m en t s at t h e m ar ket . ?Peop l e l ove my sou r d ou gh br ead an d m y d i f f er en t v ar i et i es of f ocacci a,? sh e say s. ?I 've been t ol d m y br ow n i es ar e t h e best ever by m u l t i p l e p eop l e.?

T h ose ver y com m en t s p ai r ed w i t h t h e soci al asp ect s of sel l i n g at t h e m ar ket ar e h er f avor i t e p ar t of t h e St ou gh t on Far m er s M ar ket . ?I d on 't th in k my bu si n ess w ou l d h ave t aken of f t h e w ay i t d i d i f i t w er en 't f or St ou gh t on ,? M u r p h y say s.

sub mitted b y keri murphy

sub mitted b y terry pa risi A r ai n bow ap p ear s over Par i si 's f ar m .

?T h e sm al l tow n f eel s l i ke ever y on e k n ow s ever y on e.

You alw ay s f eel l i ke y ou h ave a com m on t h r ead w h er ever y ou go.?

Gr ace L i n k i s a 20 18 St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool gr ad u at e w h o sel l s A n gu s beef at t h e f ar m er s m ar ket d i r ect ly f r om h er f am i ly 's f ar m i n D eer f i el d , W i sc. Sh e car r i es a l ar ge var i ety of i t em s, i n cl u d i n g th e su m m er cl assi cs, st eak s, bu r ger p atti es, br at s, r oast s, an d jer k y.

L i n k began h er bu si n ess i n M ay w h en sh e m oved back h om e af t er gr ad u ati n g f r om I ow a St at e U n i ver si ty, sh e ex p l ai n s over an em ai l i n t er v i ew. Sh e bel i eves i n st ay i n g l ocal so h er beef i s n ever sh i p p ed . ?I bel i eve th er e ar e so m an y gr eat p eop l e w h o h ave gr eat f ood p r od u cts to of f er t h at ar e r i gh t h er e i n ou r l ocal com m u n i ty,? L i n k say s.

L i n k n ot on ly l oves th e f act t h at t h e f ar m er s m ar ket i s l ocal , bu t sh e al so l oves th e at m osp h er e. ?T h e p eop l e ar e so gr eat to be ar ou n d an d th e d ow n t ow n at m osp h er e on a Sat u r d ay m or n i n g i s so qu ai n t , y ou 'd n ever gu ess y ou w er e on ly 30 m i n u tes f r om M ad i son ,? sh e say s. ?I t br i n gs m e so m u ch joy w h en I h ave r et u r n i n g cu stom er s w al k u p t o m y st an d an d w an t m or e beef , or d i scu ss som eth i n g t h ey saw on ou r soci al m ed i a, or ask qu est i on s abou t th e i n d u st r y,? L i n k say s.

L i n k ?s m i ssi on i s to n ot on ly p r ov i d e l ocal , h eal th y f ood , bu t t o al so ?sh ow p eop l e t h e i m p or tan ce of su p p or t i n g l ocal bu si n esses an d en t r ep r en eu r s al on g w i th t h e agr i cu l t u r e i n d u str y as a w h ol e, becau se w i th ou t i t w e w ou l d n 't h ave m u ch ,? L i n k say s.

T h e f ar m er s m ar ket i s op en f r om 8:30 a.m . to n oon ever y Sat u r d ay f r om M ay to l at e Sep t em ber , r ai n or sh i n e.

So t ake a w al k d ow n tow n , St ou gh t on !

You m i gh t ju st catch L i n k , Par i si , or M urphy sh ow i n g of f th ei r h ar d w or k al on gsi d e m an y oth er h ar d w or k i n g an d d ed i cated ven d or s w h o ar e su r e to h ave som et h i n g f r esh th at y ou d i d n ?t r eal i ze y ou n eed ed .

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

fea tures

Alexander, the Director B y B el i n d a A k al e Freelance Writer

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h e n ew sch ool y ear h as br ou gh t m an y ch an ges an d n ew begi n n i n gs t o ou r SH S com m u n i t y. A m on g th ese ch an ges com es ou r n ew acti v i ti es an d at h l eti c d i r ector , M r s. A l ex an d er .

O r i gi n al ly f r om M ar sh f i el d , W i sc., sof tbal l star A n d i e A l ex an d er i s h er e t o m ake i m p actf u l p r ogr ess at SH S. ?I w as f or t u n at e en ou gh to get a sch ol ar sh i p t o go p l ay sof tbal l at Pu r d u e U n i ver si t y in I n d i an a, w h i ch i s i n t h e B i g 10 , an d th en I w en t on an d p l ay ed p r of essi on al sof tbal l f or a y ear , an d n ow I 'm d oi n g th i s,? A l ex an d er say s.

W i t h a basebal l p l ay er f or a f at h er an d a basket bal l p l ay er f or a m oth er , A l ex an d er i n i ti al ly sh ow ed m or e of an i n t er est i n m u si c an d si n gi n g, r at h er th an sp or ts. ?I l ove si n gi n g. I ?ve san g si n ce I p r obably cou l d t al k w h en I w as y ou n ger , an d I t h i n k m y p ar en t s w er e l i ke, ?You k n ow w h at , i f sh e's gon n a si n g th i s m u ch w e m i gh t as w el l m ake h er sou n d good .? So t h ey p u t m e i n p i an o an d si n gi n g l esson s, an d I d i d t h at f or a w h i l e,?

A l ex an d er say s.

I t w asn ?t u n t i l l ater th at sh e began t o d evel op i n ter est s i n sp or t s an d oth er act i v i t i es. ?I p l ay ed t en n i s. T h at w as p r et t y m u ch m y f i r st sp or t [...] M y d ad w as su p er i n volved i n basebal l w h en I w as bor n . So h e w as a m ajor l eagu e basebal l p l ay er an d coach th r ou gh ou t my ch i l d h ood . So I p r et ty m u ch h ad basebal l i n m y bl ood . Bu t m y m om p l ay ed [ basket bal l] in h i gh sch ool so I ju st l oved sp or ts. I t r i ed ever y t h i n g an d w h at ever k i n d of stu ck i s w h at I k i n d of stu ck with t h r ou gh ou t h i gh sch ool ,? A l ex an d er the norse sta r, septemb er 2021

say s.

A l m ost p r ed i cti n g th at sh e w ou l d even tu al ly be an acti v i t i es an d ath l et i c d i r ect or , A l ex an d er w as a bu sy stu d en t i n h i gh sch ool . Sh e p ar ti ci p ated i n sol o an d en sem bl e, ten n i s, an d basket bal l , al l w h i l e w or k i n g h ar d to excel at sof tbal l . Sh e w as f or tu n ate en ou gh to r ecei ve a sch ol ar sh i p to Pu r d u e U n i ver si t y i n I n d i an a an d gr ad u at ed w i t h a d egr ee in O r gan i zat i on al L ead er sh i p an d Su p er v i si on i n 20 14. Sh e th en w en t on to p l ay p r of essi on al sof tbal l f or a y ear bef or e set tl i n g d ow n i n Ev an sv i l l e, W i sc. to star t h er car eer in d i r ect i n g acti v i t i es i n h i gh sch ool . photo by andie alexander

A l ex an d er p o ses w i t h h er h u sb an d C al eb an d t h ei r so n Gar r et t . ?I get to en joy a w h ol e bu n ch of ot h er sp or t s an d a w h ol e bu n ch of oth er acti v i t i es [...] I th i n k h i gh sch ool i s a r eal ly gr eat aven u e to h ave kids i n volved in m u l ti p l e th i n gs. T h at ?s w h y I w an t to be h er e,? A l ex an d er say s.

H av i n g d eal t w i th ti gh t sch ed u l es an d m an agi n g m u l ti p l e acti v i t i es, A l ex an d er h ad som e ad v i ce f or stu d en ts w an t i n g to con ti n u e d oi n g an acti v i t y th r ou gh

submitted by andie alexander

A l ex an d er p l ay s so f t b al l at Pu r d u e U n i v er si t y. col l ege an d i n l i f e. ?T h i s [h i gh sch ool] i s a r eal ly saf e en v i r on m en t to tr y ever y th i n g an d to k i n d of f i n d y ou r n i ch e... f i n d w h at m akes y ou ti ck , an d th at w ay y ou can f u r th er th at i n t o col l ege. I f eel f or th e stu d en ts th at d on 't tr y ever y th i n g u n ti l col l ege, an d i t's al so a l i ttl e bi t too l ate becau se col l ege i s h u ge com p ar ed to h i gh sch ool . You k n ow, I w an t th em to tr y i t h er e, or [w h er e] th er e's a saf e p l ace [...] f i n d w h er e th ei r p at h i s goi n g to take th em on th ei r jou r n ey,?

A l ex an d er say s.

A l ex an d er is p assi on ate abou t gett i n g i n volved an d str on gly r ecom m en d s ju m p i n g i n t o an acti v i ty to al l stu d en ts becau se i t sets y ou u p w i th th e sk i l l y ou n eed to be su ccessf u l i n l i f e. ?I t teach es y ou l i f e sk i l l s - - teach es y ou h ow to com bat ch al l en ges, teach es y ou h ow to w or k as a team . I t teach es y ou h ow to p er f or m in p r essu r e si t u at i on s. I th i n k th e bi ggest [th i n g] i s ju st f i gu r i n g ou t, can y ou w or k i n a team ? A r e th er e op p or t u n i ti es f or y ou to be an i n d i v i d u al , bu t al so w or k w i th a gr ou p of stu d en ts, as w el l ? T h er e's a l ot of th ese d i f f er en t gr ou p s or even d i f f er en t sp or t s th at y ou gu y s cou l d ex p er i en ce to say, ?N o, I 'm m or e of an i n d i v i d u al

ath l et e or am I m or e of a team p l ay er ,? or ?I w ou l d w an t to go i n to D ECA an d d o ei th er a gr ou p s f eat u r e an i n d i v i d u al sp eech ? - cer tai n th i n gs l i ke t h at th at can r eal ly t ai l or w h o y ou ar e, an d I f eel l i ke th at's r eal ly i m p or t an t t o u n d er st an d ,?

A l ex an d er ex p l ai n s.

A l ex an d er str essed h er p oi n t on m ak i n g a p osi ti ve i m p act on SH S. A f ter w el com i n g h er f i r st ch i l d l ast M ay, sh e sh ar es th at h er p at i en ce an d com p assi on h as i n cr eased gr eat ly.

Sh e y ear n s to see al l t y p es of stu d en ts becom e su ccessf u l . ?M y f avor i t e p ar t [of m y job] i s th at I 'm abl e t o see m u l ti p l e gr ou p s of stu d en ts su cceed in d i f f er en t ar eas [...] I can set th e stage f or an atm osp h er e i n at h l eti cs r ath er th an ju st on e sp or t , or on e acti v i ty. I w an t t o m ake su r e t h at I 'm over seei n g an d m ak i n g su r e th at stu d en t s h ave a r eal ly gr eat ch an ce of su cceed i n g, w h atever t h at l ook s l i ke, an d ju st h ave f u n h er e. T h i s i s, l i ke I sai d , a r eal ly gr eat en v i r on m en t to ex p er i en ce ever y t h i n g,?

A l ex an d er say s.

A s f or ad v i ce f or SH S stu d en ts, A l ex an d er of f er th i s p i ece of w i sd om : ?D on ?t l ook back on h i gh sch ool an d h ave r egr et s [...] tr y ever y t h i n g.?

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fea tures - food review

Short Stack Measures Up B y A n j a Roy ko Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Edit or

B

r eak f ast of ten get s a bad r ap , esp eci al ly con si d er i n g i t i s ?t h e m ost i m p or t an t m eal of th e d ay.? Som e i n si st t h at th ey d on ?t h ave t i m e; ot h er s ar e f l at ou t agai n st br eak f ast f ood s as a w h ol e.

W el l , T h e N or se St ar h as ju st th e p l ace t h at w i l l ch an ge t h ei r m i n d .

Sh or t St ack Eater y, l ocated on t h e cor n er of W est Joh n son Str eet an d N or th H en r y St r eet i n M ad i son , h as ever y t h i n g th at a br eak f ast en t h u si ast cou l d d r eam of an d m or e th an en ou gh t o ch an ge a br eak f ast h at er ?s m i n d .

T h e m en u i s sp l i t i n to tw o sect i on s: sw eet an d savor y. Each sect i on of f er s a w i d e v ar i et y of d i sh es, each of w h i ch can be p ai r ed w i t h on e of th ei r m an y m ou th w at er i n g si d es. T h e m en u al so i n cl u d es a l i st of sp eci al t y cof f ee d r i n k s, f l avor ed l em on ad es, an d Coke p r od u cts.

T h ei r sp eci al ty d i sh , ?T h e B l i n d ,? can ch an ge at an y gi ven t i m e. Patr on s can ask w h et h er t h e d i sh i s sw eet or savor y, bu t ask i n g an y th i n g el se w i l l cost t h em . T h ose w h o or d er t h e d i sh ?bl i n d ? w i l l p ay a m er e $8.50 . I f on e ask s w h at t h e d i sh i s, th ey m u st p ay an ad d i ti on al $2.50 .

I m m ed i ately u p on en ter i n g t h e r est au r an t , th er e i s a ver y str on g ?l ocal caf e? f eel . T h e sen sati on is equ al ly com f or t i n g an d exci t i n g.

T h er e ar e m an y w i n d ow s, al l ow i n g l ot s of su n l i gh t to p ass t h r ou gh an d con tr i bu ti n g to th e al r ead y cozy en v i r on m en t

an d m ak i n g th e r oom f eel m or e op en .

T h r ou gh ou t th e r estau r an t, p r i d e f l ags an d si gn s p r om oti n g equ al i t y d ecor ate th e w al l s an d w i n d ow s, m ak i n g i t cl ear th at al l ar e w el com e an d en cou r aged to si t d ow n an d en joy som e of th ei r d el i ci ou s br eak f ast f ood .

each on e com p l em en ti n g th e oth er i n a su r p r i si n g bu t p l easan t w ay. I t w as a san d w i ch th at cou l d be en joy ed at an y p oi n t i n th e d ay.

Sh or t Stack Eat er y m akes an ef f or t to accom m od ate d i etar y r estr i ct i on s. T h e m en u i n cl u d es m an y op ti on s

photos by anja royko T h e su b t l e l i gh t i n g an d co o l co l o r s t h r o u gh o u t t h e r est au r an t f o st er ed an en v i r o n m en t t h at t h e N o r se St ar St af f f o u n d v er y p l easan t .

O n ce seat ed , p at r on s ar e gi ven th e op p or tu n i ty to take th ei r ti m e d eci d i n g w h at th ey w ou l d l i ke to or d er . To access th e m en u , gu ests can ei th er ask f or a p ap er m en u or scan th e Q R cod e l ocat ed i n f r on t of th e r estau r an t .

O n ce each i n d i v i d u al h as m ad e th ei r d eci si on , th ey ap p r oach th e r egi ster , or d er th ei r m eal , an d p ay r i gh t aw ay.

O n e staf f m em ber got th e B r eak f ast San d w i ch f r om th e savor y secti on .

T h e san d w i ch con si sted of a f r i ed egg, bacon , ch ed d ar ch eese, tom at o, car am el i zed on i on s,an d r h u bar b jam , al l ser ved on ei th er a p r et zel or sp i cy ch eese r ol l . T h e san d w i ch w as a p er f ect bl en d of a bu n ch of d i f f er en t br eak f ast com p on en t s,

th at ar e gl u ten f r ee, vegetar i an , an d vegan .

O n e m en u i tem th at can cater to th e vegetar i an cu stom er s i s th e tr i o, w h i ch gi ves th e cu stom er a ch an ce to p i ck th r ee d i f f er en t m en u i tem s,

ei th er savor y, sw eet , or a com bi n ati on t h er eof .

O n e staf f m em ber or d er ed a sh or t stack of th e ch ocol at e ch i p p an cakes, br eak f ast p otatoes, an d f r esh f r u i t.

T h e br eak f ast p ot at oes w er e p er f ect ly f l ak y an d p ai r ed w i th a h ou se- m ad e sr i r ach a sau ce t h at assi st ed th em i n stan d i n g ou t f r om th at of ot h er r estau r an t s. T h e p an cakes w er e p er f ectly cooked an d n ot over ly sw eet, an d t h e fruit w as? as p r om i sed ? ver y f r esh .

O ver al l , t h e m eal w as sati sf y i n g an d f u l f i l l i n g f or m eat eater s an d vegetar i an s al i ke.

To m ake a l on g st or y ?sh or t,? Sh or t St ack Eat er y i s a gr eat p l ace t o en joy som e top - t i er br eak f ast f ood at an y t i m e of d ay.

I ts con ven i en t l ocat i on , d el i ci ou s f ood , an d en ti r ely w el com i n g atm osp h er e al l com e togeth er to cr eat e a gr eat ex p er i en ce f or f r i en d s an d f am i ly.

W i th al l of t h i s i n m i n d , Sh or t St ack Eat er y r ecei ves f i ve ou t of f i ve p an cakes an d a str on g r ecom m en d at i on f r om T h e N or se St ar St af f t o stop by.

Fo r p at r o n s t h at st r u ggl e t o co m m i t t o ch o o si n g a si n gl e d i sh , "T h e T r i o" o f f er s cu st o m er s a ch o i ce o f t h r ee sep ar at e, d el i ci o u s m en u i t em s.

art by emma phillips 24

the norse sta r, septemb er 2021