City struggles to complete wind cleanup By Natalie McLain Staff Writer
Siria Medina
VOCAL MUSIC SHOWCASE Choral director Mr. Michael Gray led the Arroyo Seco Ensemble in the Winter Festival on January 17. ASE and the Oneonta Choir sang modern and classical pieces.
Choir presents Winter Festival By Anne Kitchens Staff Writer The SPHS choir hosted its Winter Festival on January 17. Choral director Mr. Michael Gray organized the annual performance that showcased the Arroyo Seco Ensemble and Oneonta Choir, the two SPHS vocal music programs. The Oneonta Choir, an elective class, boasts 50 singers. Twenty student voices make up the Arroyo Seco Ensemble. ASE is a voluntary program that takes place during zero period each day. The Winter Festival lasted
for just over an hour and featured a variety of songs, such as “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “In Te, Domine, Sperari,” a 17th century German classic by Dietrich Buxtehude, and “God Have Heart” from the 1955 Broadway musical, Damn Yankees. “My favorite part is right when we’re first introduced to a song and the harmonies start coming together and we sound like a unified choir,” said senior Audrey Ford, a member of the ASE. The vocal music department has been preparing for this performance for months, and the
LGBTQ advocates to hold assembly in February By Clair Fuller Assoc. Opinion Editor Senior Joyce Alexander has booked LGBTQ advocates and speakers Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo to address SPHS in an assembly about accepting one’s self and others on February 22. Alexander, the current Commissioner of Noontime Activities, discovered Owens-Reid and Russo through their website, everyoneisgay.com. The ASB class first discussed the possibility of SPHS hosting such an assembly with advisor Casey Shotwell. “He said we’d have to get administration approval, so I made an appointment with Ms (Janet) Anderson and basically just told her what it was going to be about, and she thought it was a great thing for our school,” said Alexander. Owens-Reid’s first claim to
fame was the creation of website “Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber,” and Russo is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies. The pair has offered advice and encouragement on everyoneisgay.com since April of 2010 to “those who are confused about sexuality, gender identity, dating, falling in love, or even dressing up like Super Woman,” according to their website. The duo tours the country visiting colleges and high schools to give what Alexander describes as presentations about “acceptance and being good people… and getting involved in community on a larger scale, not just the gay community.” “‘Everyone is Gay’ isn’t necessarily everyone is homosexual…it’s more so taking problems that are in the gay community with kids who are struggling and See “LGBTQ ” on Page 2
Winter Festival doubles as a final for students in the class. Supportive family members, friends and teachers attended the performance to support the choirs. While no date is set for the next choir performance, it is expected to take place in the next couple of months and will be a cabaret. The performers will choose music theater songs that they like and perform scenes along with the tunes. It will be a strictly invitation-only event. Senior Naomi Krieger felt that the work the choir put into the concert had been well worth it. “We had a wide variety of musical pieces and it was beautiful to finally be able to hear it put together in our winter concert. We’ve put a lot of work into this and it finally paid off.”
More than a month after the November 30 windstorm, debris is still scattered across the City of South Pasadena. The SP Public Works Department has pointed to citizens putting private debris onto public roads as the main reason for the delay. Many South Pasadena citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and progress of the city cleanup thus far and have raised questions at council meetings and other public forums questioning the speed of the city’s response. “There is a city tree that fell onto a house and damaged the roof and balcony. City workers cut it up and left it in the street and have not picked it up,” said junior Carolyn Magistrale of debris on Hope Street. “I think the city has not done a sufficient job in cleaning up.” Commissioner of Clubs senior Michelle Ozaki is working to organize campus clubs to act as secondary cleanup crews to help remove the remaining debris in public streets. Ozaki hoped to start by concentrating on areas closest to the high school, but has encountered difficulties getting the program started. “The person I contacted said that we are welcome to clean up the streets on our own, but the city said that they could not associate itself with us and that the school would have to take liability for all the club members who help. I then asked if the city would let us use the dumpsters for free, since we would be doing the city a favor. They said they
would look into it but most likely we would be charged,” said Ozaki. Local Boy Scout troops also attempted to volunteer their time to assist in clean up. After several calls to the city, the group was turned away in a similar manner, primarily due to liability issues. The Public Works Department was unavailable for comment on the subject. “I believe people should have an outlet for volunteering,” said Tony Bell, Communications Deputy for Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “But city officials need to know before they can address the problem. Citizens can let their local officials know where the debris is accumulating.” Citizens are currently allowed to clean up debris, placing leaves and branches into “green bins.” But no volunteer or individual action may be associated with Public Works or the City of South Pasadena.
Katie Whitworth
Branches from last month’s storm remain on Diamond Avenue.
ASB plans for Winter Formal By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer Winter Formal will take place this year at the California Science Center on January 28. ASB commissioners chose the location to put a twist on the classic dance and cater to students who usually would not at-
tend the event. “There are multiple levels, and there are tons of options for people who might not want to go to a dance,” said Commissioner of Activities Kelsey Nakamura. Students will be able to explore the museum and view a number of interactive displays, including the “1000 Inventions”
Amber Laird
Senior Kevyn Fox hangs a poster detailing the Winter Formal ticket prices. The dance will be held at the California Science Center on Jan. 28.
special exhibit and the museum’s permanent installations. Nakamura and commissioners Kimberlin Low and Erica Trinh researched site ideas last summer through an event planning service and narrowed their options down to the Science Center earlier this school year. Around 500 students are expected to attend, according to ASB director Mr. Casey Shotwell. “That’s how many have come in past years, and it’s what we’re hoping for, if not more,” said Nakamura. “But dances are less about making a profit, and more about breaking even and providing a fun night for the student body,” she continued. “Winter formal last year was great, and I’m really excited for this year too,” said sophomore Danielle Krieger.