Log
The Northmen’s Cast make dreams come true. p. 6
Oak Park High School
Friday, November 20, 2009
Issue 4, Volume 45
Shopping center tenants disperse by Gabrielle Young and Courtney Kelley editorial editor, lifestyles editor Taking a stroll through Antioch Center and Metro North malls, one can notice the vast emptiness within them. Much of the parking lot and many of the stores remain vacant. In the last few years with the opening of Zona Rosa, students look to other places to do their shopping. “If there were more stores there I would have more faith in it, now there is Zona and the Legends,” said senior Jared Malone. Many students have also turned to thrift stores to mix up styles for lower costs.
News Briefs Cheer takes third in State
After taking third at Regionals, the squad qualified for the state competition. This year cheer took third place at state in their division. They were beaten out by Nixa High School, first place, and Lee Summit North High School, second place. This competition took place at the University of Missouri-Columbia. They have been working on this one routine since summer. Each week the squad would do a 7 to 9:30 p.m. practice. “Our routine wasn’t as difficult as everyone else’s,” said varsity senior Caity Strohm. They are holding tryouts for additional members for the winter season on Friday, Nov. 20.
“Occasionally, I go to Metro North but there really isn’t anything there,” said junior Abbey Schoenrade. According to Antioch Center property manager Lori Cogan, malls across the country have struggled to keep customers. She claims this outbreak has just recently hit the Midwest. In order to gain income, properties have had to stretch their uses as more than shopping centers alone. Zona Rosa utilizes this idea, mixing shops with residential buildings. The vacant stores in the two malls can be related to tenants not wanting operate in a closed mall anymore. Tenant owners want to set their own hours but, in a closed mall that stays open
seven days a week and sets operating hours, they’re not given that freedom. According to Cogan, stores have cut back on inventory. Last year during the Christmas season, stores had an overflow of merchandise. As a result, they’ve decided to carry fewer inventories. Once the current state of the economy turns around, Antioch Center aims to reinvent itself into an outdoor shopping center. “We expect it to be better than before; the new mall will look like Shops at Boardwalk; with a walking trail and fountains,” Cogan said. Vacant of customers, Metro North Mall sits mostly empty on Friday, Oct. 30. by Courtney Kelley, lifestyles editor
Legacy continues, team studies science Science Olympiad strives for another strong season by Gabrielle Young editorial editor Following in the foot steps of past years, the Science Olympiad club hopes to qualify again for nationals. During competitions, students compete against other schools in different science related tests and building events, with competitions up to eight times a year. The categories include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, physics, building and engineering. “I enjoy the competitions, they are hectic and the events can be difficult but you have a lot of fun, especially in building events,” said vice president senior Andrew Danielson. The competitions can also bring challenges at times. “When you’re at a competition you are up against people who have been working hard on their events and there is always the chance there is someone who knows more,” said spirit coordina-
tor sophomore Janet Meier. “Also with the building events you never know what might go wrong at the competition or on the way there.” A science Olympiad team usually has a makeup of about 15; currently they have about 12 to 14 students. “In years past 40 or 50 kids were in Science Olympiad that was pre-Staley…I’ll recruit, recruit what I’ve got and use them the best I can,” said and head coach Chris Goll. Although smaller, the team still finds Science Olympiad enjoyable. “The things that I enjoy the most are all the team movie nights and crazy bus rides out to the competitions,” said president senior Stephanie Woodke. Science Olympiad has set some goals for the team this year. They plan on qualifying for state,
““I’ll recruit, re-
cruit what I’ve got and use them the best I can.”
‘Breakfast Club’ improvs theatre by Kim Shields writer A blast from the past hit school this year when a hit 80s movie became a morning improv group called the Breakfast Club. This club started last year during a competition against Staley High School’s theater department, which theater teacher Stephanie Siers and her students won. Staley held this last minute contest at their school, each team performed improv skits, then at the end whoever did the best skits won. When this chance arose the theater department had to put a team together. Since last year the team wanted to keep going so they created the Breakfast Club. “It’s enjoyable, we get together to play a bunch of games and make a lot of
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“We get together to play a bunch of games and make a lot of jokes.” senior Taylor Weatherly
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jokes,” said senior Taylor Weatherly. Each meeting consists of games in which the people who attend can play games and become better at improv. There are many returners from last year’s team, including senior Taylor Weatherly, junior Schyler Tate and sophomore Alex Stompoly. They lead the games helping the attendees
which means ranking within the top four at regionals, top 10 at the state tournament, $1000 in fund raising and the recruitment of new team members. On Saturday, Nov. 22 at Barnes and Noble in Zona Rosa, they’ll have several science demonstrations from 1-6 p.m. 10 percent of the proceeds will go to Science Olympiad, if mentioned at the register. Goll appreciates the students. “They’re awesome kids, I’m head coach blessed with fantastic kids, there Chris Goll are no better group of kids in the school, I’m lucky to have them,” Goll said. If any students has an interest in joining Science Olympiad, they have the opportunity to do so until February, when the team heads to regionals.
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Journalism travels to D.C.
understand the meaning of improv. Members play many games, but some find the learning experience a bit of an inconvenience because of the early time. Since many of the people in the club also contributed to the musical, they had late nights at the school. “It’s really hard to wake up,” said senior Ryan Drapela. “We just try to practice certain improv techniques.” At the end of the year another improv competition may occur, however this time Winnetonka and Northtown may also compete. Each meeting the group tries to get better and learn more, to prepare for the possible competition. The meetings take place at 6:30 a.m. every Tuesday in the Little Theater.
Senior Kim Shields, juniors Derek Byrne and Chelsea Troutner, grandmother DeAnn Troutner, and sophomore Chelsie Yokum joined senior Brittany Parker on the journalism staff conference trip to Washington D.C., from Wednesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 15. The students visited the Newseum, the Capitol, the National Archives and attended classes and competitions offered at the JEA/ NSPA fall national high school journalism convention which had a record attendance of more than 6,300 students from across the country. by Brittany Parker, special to the Log
Clubs fund future events by Kayla Smith writer
Extra-curricular activities like sports and clubs need funding for things like equipment, trips and competitions. The AFS club participates in such fundraising. In order to pay for some of the activities members and exchange students participate in, the club has attempted various fundraising options. “It’s very important,” said AFS co-sponsor Nicole King. “For most of our trips and activities, we pay for bus transportation with fundraising.” Each year, members sell boxes of candy to put a dent in the costs associated with membership. In previous
years, this development has started in October. “If we can afford it,” King said, “We also try to cover the entry fees for things like ice skating or bowling, so that the exchange students don’t have to pay them.” Not all fundraisers bring profits. Over the years, AFS has tried many fundraisers, including wrapping gifts at Barnes & Noble for Christmas and teaming up with the restaurant Carlito’s to earn a percentage of their sales on a specific set of nights. Unlike the selling of candy bars and Valentine candy grams, these fundraisers didn’t make as large a profit. Like AFS, band does their fair share of fundraising. This year individ-
uals in the band program raise money primarily for this year’s trip. During spring break, the band will take a three day trip to Texas. So far this year, band members have had multiple fundraising opportunities to pay for this trip. “It’s a great opportunity to travel,” said sophomore Leah Frisby. “I want to have every opportunity I can.” The variety of fundraisers the band has participated in include many things from selling coupon books to selling citrus fruit from Florida. “I think it’s important because I don’t want my parents to pay for the trip when I have the opportunity myself,” Frisby said.
Faculty and students support AFS and other clubs by participating in candy bar fundraisers. by Ally Sansone, photographer