The Bruin- December 2007 by Wadsworth Bruin

Newspaper II/III

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

y p p a H s y a d i Hol

1870 - 2007 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 137 years of Excellence in Education” Wadsworth High School

Volume XXXII No. 3

December 2007

$1.00

Activities awaken holiday spirit BY TAYLOR SMITH

As the weather grows colder and the winter season progresses, the holiday season nears. Winter holidays are celebrated all around the world. It is a special time where people enjoy being with family and friends. Students and teachers here at Wadsworth High School have their own celebrations. There are many ways that we celebrate Christmas here, and it helps make the holiday season leading up to Christmas much more exciting. One major event that was created to promote Christmas spirit was called Smile with Santa. It was held on Tuesday, December 18, and was before school, during all study halls and during lunch time. Students and faculty paid two dollars to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. It was a fun event bringing back memories from our past shopping mall Christmases. “It’s a great opportunity to relive our childhood memories,” said senior Tyler Johnson. “Plus, I can’t wait to sit on Santa’s big warm lap.” Another holiday event is the Christmas Assembly, held the day before winter break. This fun

ﬁlled assembly usually excites the students for their two week break. There are many activities that will go on at the assembly. The show choir will perform, sing Christmas songs and dress up in their holiday gear. Appearances by Rudolph, Frosty, Santa and his elves are sure to be enjoyed by the students and teachers. Also, a special appearance by Alvin and the chipmunks will help the assembly to be very amusing. Several holiday songs will be performed, including “Deck the Halls,” “Let it Snow” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” The show choir never fails to impress when they perform for the school. “The Christmas assembly is always my favorite day of the year,” said senior Joe Goddard. “The school really helps us to get pumped up for our two week break. It also helps us get ready for the holidays!” Also to promote holiday spirit, several teachers have placed holiday decorations in their rooms. Winter time brings lots of joy as many different holidays are near. The school supplies events such as Smile with Santa and the winter assembly, guaranteeing a special holiday season.

Lights brighten the city

PHOTO BY ALYSSA HENRY

Wadsworth has been taken over by holiday spirit this year. Colorful lights adorn houses throughout the city, with snowman and reindeer in many front yards. Snow that fell early in December added to the atmosphere, and the holidays promise to be white this year.

Mrs. Hutchinson’s freshman class adds to the holiday spirit by decorating her room.

2007 events inﬂuence nation BY ALYSSA HENRY

The year 2007 is coming to a close, but the events that occurred during it will impact the world for years to come. While many look forward to the fresh new year, it is important to remember the past events that changed people’s lives and the way they live. The news this year has been monopolized by tragedies. On April 16, Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 students and himself at Virginia Tech in the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The shooting sparked concern over gun control and increased security in schools across the nation. Wildﬁres burned over parts of Southern California in late October and continued through the middle of November, destroying land and forcing evacuations. Eight people were killed in over 23 wildﬁres that burned throughout the area. Around the same time, a report-

ed 853 American military personnel deaths this year brought the war in Iraq to its deadliest annual toll since the war began in 2003. Closer to home, a highway bridge collapsed in Minneapolis, killing 13 people and injuring about 100. Many bridges in Ohio have since been inspected and found to be in need of repair. However, positive progress was made in the struggle against global warming. There has been a surge in people ﬁghting to counter its effects and go “green.” Al Gore received a Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy to stop global warming. Intense campaigning began this year for the 2008 presidential nominations. In a ﬁrst for women, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In sports, Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run on August 7, breaking the all-time home run record previously held by Hank Aaron. On November 27, the

Inside the Bruin

Our town comes to town

page 18

Goddard scores for team

page 8

PHOTO BY TAYLOR SMITH

Students start wish lists

page 7

Show choir performs holiday show

page 18

NFL lost a member of its league when Washington Redskins safety, Sean Taylor, was shot in an attempted burglary the day before and died from the wounds. Also, CBS fired radio host Don Imus for derogatory remarks directed toward Rutgers University women athletes. In a controversial decision, he returned to the radio this month on WABC-AM. Since the holidays have finally arrived, parents of young children may have difficulty choosing what to buy. In the past few months, millions of toys have been recalled. China’s export industry has been blamed for cases of toys, toothpaste and other products tainted with lead. As many begin to make New Year’s resolutions, some might recall the influential events of the year 2007. From impacting deaths to advances on issues, the world has experienced a year full of controversy and inspiring firsts that will be difficult to forget.

The best lights in city

page 15

Visit the Bruin Online at: http://ww2.wadsworth.k12.oh.us/whs/bruin/

2 Peace comes with respect editorial

December 2007 At this time of year, we recognize many different beliefs and traditions. In the last few months of the year, Ramadan, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated. Each of these holidays have different religious beliefs backing them and thus, have vastly different traditions. However, in our small suburban town, we are not exposed to the diverse cultures that are present throughout the world. This will change when we begin our adult lives and are members of a much larger community. Knowing this, we are forced to consider how we will accept others with fundamentally different principles. We must be able to show respect for others and their beliefs, while still holding our own values. The greatest conﬂicts in the history of the world can be traced back to disrespect between oppos-

ing parties. Tensions in the Middle East, that have been prevalent for centuries, are rooted in the differences between religious groups. Conﬂicts between Catholics and Protestants have created civil unrest in Northern Ireland for decades. Tribal wars in Africa are based on intolerance. Religious intolerance can be found all over the world. We must learn to respect others or peace will never be a possibility. As John F. Kennedy said, “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” We at The Bruin feel it is imperative to respect people with different beliefs and practices in order to have a prosperous community. If we cannot accomplish this simple task, our world will never be able to achieve the greatness that it potentially could.

Letters to the Editor... Dear Editor, The senior commons is a place of relaxations, and the jukebox contributes heavily in that regard. We should not have to pay $1.00 for 2 songs; the jukebox should be free. We should get a CD player or iPod or even a computer that has songs on it

The

Brewin’ Debate Has Christmas become too commercialized?

yes BY MATT SARLOUIS

Yes, when we were younger, it would seem like stores would wait until after Thanksgiving to put out their Christmas decorations, but this Christmas it seems like items were up two weeks before we ate Thanksgiving dinner. Before we know it we will have a true Christmas in July. This massive rush to start Christmas early can be traced back to big corporations who only look at Christmas as a way to pad the linings of there wallets. They bombard the public with radio and television messages that give the views the impression that they need to buy the biggest gifts possible. People have forgotten that Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It seems people are more concerned with gift giving than the celebration. People are willing to wake up at 3 am to stand out in front of a store for hours waiting to save ﬁfteen dollars on a doll for their child. The sad truth is that some of these same people might be shopping Christmas day.

instead of having to pay that much. The school tries to rip us off with everything we buy. We have had two brand new ﬂat screen TV’s in the commons within a year, but we are stuck with paying $1.00 for two songs in junky jukebox. -Nate Slota and Trevor Thoma, 12 Dear Editor, I think that we should bring back the music between classes. It was a fun thing to look forward to on Fridays. I am not real sure on why we stopped. The music would play after the bell and play until the next late bell. On game days there could be themed songs for the day. For instance, one game day would be a special band or artist. I really miss the music. -Stephanie Tanner, 11 Dear Editor, The holidays are a time of cheer, and we need to sing it loud for all to hear. Starting with our decorations, there needs to be a change. Along with school spirit, there needs to be holiday spirit. Decorations would

bruin staff Editor-in-chief: Aaron Krumheuer Managing Editor: Jill Edmonds Copy Editor: Brooke Babyak Marketing Editor: Erin Conley Front Page: Page Editor: Alyssa Henry Reporters: Taylor Smith Editorial: Page Editor: Sarah Fortner Reporter: Matt Sarlouis, Alan McPeek Music: Page Editor: Autumn Ellis Reporter: Kyle Davis Speakout: Page Editor: Brittani Peltz Reporter: Ben Dee Opinion 1: Page Editor: Caitlin Douglas Reporter: Erin Conley Opinion 2: Page Editor: Mike Hoover Reporter: Dan Mueller Features: Page Editor: Morgan Duta Reporter: Aaron Krumheuer News: Page Editor: Kat Saunders Reporters: Britt Busson Picture Page: Page Editor: Dave Sansonetti Reporter: Carly McNutt Entertainment: Page Editor: Tyler Jack Reporter: Jill Edmonds Variety Page: Page Editor: Aylassa Roberts Reporters: Aumaine Gruich Sports 1: Page Editor: Brett Cline Reporter: Laura Arch Sports 2: Page Editor: Anthony Lorubbio Reporter: Emily Hanna Health Page: Page Editor: Chad Taylor Reporter: Lindsey Otanicar Movies: Page Editor: Logan Kilbride Reporter: Ben White Arts and Clubs: Page Editor: David Kauffman Reporter: Rachel Hudson Holiday Spotlight: Page Reporter: Brooke Babyak Reporter: Matt Sarlouis Reporter: Justin Mesick Photography Editor: Justin Mesick Ads/Business Manager: Matt Sarlouis Asst.: Alan McPeek Adviser: John Gramuglia

E DITORIAL

THE BRUIN

NO BY ALAN MCPEEK

No, Christmas is not too commercialized. Who is to say if businesses trying to make money off of Christmas is wrong? Most businesses promote just about every holiday, and if it were not Christmas, it would have to be something. You could go on to say how people may over promote, but in my opinion Christmas is the biggest and most widely celebrated holiday of the year all over the world. It is looked forward to for many different reasons by many different people. Therefore, Christmas should be recognized by everyone in order to prepare for Christmas. Not to mention, half the fun of Christmas is being able to look forward to it until it actually comes. If you actually think about the meaning of Christmas would you think that it is something to be taken lightly? Absolutely not, that is why everyone is so willing to support it. So up until Christmas day I think there is no such thing as too commercialized, because that is just another way of preparing for it.

put the students in a better mood, and they could even possibly keep them awake during class! We think Christmas lights and Christmas music (nonreligious) would boost student moral. And to the Grinches in Wadsworth High School, with the help of Cindy Lou Who, we will all spice up our school with a little red and green! -Jackie Lowdermilk , 11 and Ali McNutt, 10 Dear Editor, I think that our school should have a dance team that performs during the half time of the basketball games. I know a couple girls that would love to be on a dance team just from watching other schools like Highland. This could get more people involved it school activities. I know I would appreciate something exciting during half time. Right now it is just a time to go get food and wait in a long line. - Rachel Motz, 10 Dear Editor, I do not think that seniors should be the only ones with privileges when it comes to study halls. Students with superior academics should have their own study hall, and the students who do not have highquality academics can have their own study hall. We could have the study halls in the cafeteria. The students who maintain

their work and grades could be on one side of the cafeteria and they could be able to talk quietly and sit where ever they want. The students who do not do as well could be on the other side of the cafeteria so they can work on their grades. -Allison Pallija, 11 Dear Editor, Otis Spunkmeyer cookies are a big inconvenience to any students that ride the bus. Busses drop off at the middle school now, so student have to enter the building through the back entrance, while the cookies are sold at the other side of the building in the senior commons. Anyone riding a bus has to walk all the way across the school to buy. Also, any left over cookies should be sold at lunch. - Josh Green, 11 and Joel Hlavaty, 10 Dear Editor, Our dress code needs to be re-evaluated. Holey jeans are not as bad as some of the skirts girls can wear or how much boys droop their pants during the school day. They are a popular style and more inexpensive then jeans without holes. It would be better for students if we were allowed to have a few holes. Having a few small holes in the knee or something is not a big deal. -Rachel Godin, 9

Correction: The photo of Different Living on page 12 of the November issue should have read: Photo By: D.J. Peddle.

Editorial Policy The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intraschool, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the advisor. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene, or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed, or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. Because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper, we must reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.

NEWS

THE BRUIN

December 2007

‘Tis the season to be scholarly Career-Technical programs hold fund raiser “Smile with Santa” to raise money for students of the year and scholarship funds

BY BRITT BUSSON

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Career-Technical programs held a special fund raiser in place of the previously held bake-sale in March. Pictures were taken, smiles were spread and money was raised for the CareerTech students. When informed that the annual bake-sale was not going to be allowed to take place, the coordinators met and discussed possible alternatives. One idea was to have a variety show, but they eventually decided that pictures with Santa was the best option. Students were encouraged to have their picture taken with either Mr. Shipley or Mr. Kibler, both posing as Santa Claus, for two dollars throughout the school day on Tuesday, December 18. The pictures were taken by various students in the career-tech programs. Marketing advisor, Mr. Kibler said, “I think it’s fun. It’s part of the Christmas spirit and I love

encouraging holiday and school spirit. I think this does both. Hopefully the kids enjoyed it. We [the coordinators] deﬁnitely enjoyed it.” The teachers and students are hoping to raise 300 to 500 dollars, which is the equivalent of 150 to 250 students participating in the event. The money earned is to be used for the funding of the senior of the year gifts and possible scholarship money. Every year, two career-tech students are chosen as students of the year and they are traditionally rewarded with technologically current items that they will be able to use in the future. Past gifts purchased have been palm pilots and other such devices. In attempt to make the event more realistic and fun, Mr. Kallai picked up a donated sleigh from Carrollton, Ohio. Carpentry students helped repair and ﬁx up the sleigh for operating condition and Kallai painted it red. Mr. Smith also contributed by making a background frame for the pic-

News Briefs •

In the School

The canned food drive ran from November 28 to December 3, a total of 4 school days, and 3,317 items were collected. These donations were sent to the Salvation Army and FISH. Both distribute the nonperishable items directly to needy families in Wadsworth. The entire district brought in a total of 29,987 items.

•

Career Day will once again bring various speakers to WHS on December 21 with the hope that students will bring enthusiastic and inquisitive attitudes for the experts in each career. There will be a new park ranger speaking.

•

Mr. Kibler and the Marketing class are in the process of working with food services to improve the cafeteria. They distributed a survey to the teachers, and the results will follow up in the next issue.

•

After serving eight years on the Board of Education, Mr. Chuck Pfeister has stepped down and we send out a special thanks from the Bruin Staff for all his hard work.

•

A Colorado man shot and killed four people at a missionary training center, as well as a church before killing himself.

•

Bush, concerned about steroid use in baseball, stresses the seriousness of the situation, but cautions jumping to conclusions about speciﬁc players mentioned.

•

A British school teacher in Sudan spent 15 days in jail and was deported after allowing students to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

•

Sixteen year old Canadian Aqsa Parvez was murdered by her father after refusing to wear a traditional head scarf.

•

Recent Intelligence Reports reveal that Iran never developed nuclear weapons, contradicting earlier ﬁndings.

In the Nation

In the World

From your Principal The Holiday season is the perfect opportunity to say thank you to all the staff and students who walk our halls at Wadsworth High School. WHS Students: I continue to be impressed with your positive attitudes, your generosity and your kindness toward each other and the staff. WHS Staff: You are professional and truly care for our students and community. WHS Families: We are very fortunate to have families that value and support the education of their children.

PHOTO BY BRITT BUSSON

Marketing coordinator Mr. Kibler gears up and puts on his Santa act in preparation for the career-tech fund raiser “Smile with Santa.”

tures. Kibler promoted “Smile with Santa” all day Monday, by dressing up in his Santa gear. Kibler said, “The other Santa [Mr. Shipley] obviously doesn’t need as much artiﬁcial padding as me, even though I’ll admit he’s got me beat in the hair department.” In anticipation of the special event, junior Tina Lungaro said, “I can’t wait to sit on Santa’s lap.

I know I’ll be getting what I ask for. I haven’t been naughty at all.” Each participant in the picture taking event received a holiday memory frame with the picture inside. Lungaro was most excited about the special keep-sake picture she’ll receive, “I’ll cherish that picture forever and always because I absolutely love Mr. Kibler. He’s my favorite!”

Lastly, I am thankful for the generosity of our staff and students as they provided a Merry Christmas for over twenty families and ﬁfteen individual children through our Share-a-Christmas Program. I am thankful for our WHS community who has donated many hours of community service to the non-proﬁt organizations of Wadsworth. On behalf of everyone at Wadsworth High School I wish everyone a joyful and happy holiday season! Mr. Magnacca

Mall shooting leaves 9 dead BY KAT SAUNDERS

On Wednesday, December 5, in Omaha, Nebraska, Robert Hawkins, a 19 year old young man, opened fire on patrons and employees of the Von Maur department store in Westroads mall, killing eight before turning the gun on himself. Hawkins arrived at the mall wearing a hooded sweatshirt, concealing the AK-47 he balled up inside. Though a security guard noted Hawkins’ suspicious behavior, the guard had no time to act before Hawkins began opening fire at 1:42 pm. From a third floor balcony, Hawkins was able to shoot 11 unsuspecting people. Those who heard the gunshots sought refuge in dressing rooms, restrooms, and storage rooms, fearing for their lives. After firing 30 rounds, Hawkins turned the gun on himself and was discovered by the customer service desk on the third floor. Police responded to the 911 call six minutes into the rampage and evacuated the mall. Many of the people emerged with their hands over their heads, still clutching shopping bags. Those who died included six store employees and two customers. Six people died on the scene, another died on the way to the hospital, and yet another passed

away in the emergency room of a hospital. Three others were injured and two remain in critical condition at local hospitals. As details of the crime spread, more information on the perpetrator, Hawkins, became clear. Born on May 17, 1988, Hawkins attended Papillion La Vista High School, and received his GED after dropping out. Hawkins had been in the system since the age of fourteen, when he threatened to kill his step mother. On November 24th, 2007, was arrested for underage possession of alcohol, with a court date set for December 19. Those who knew Hawkins described him as “troubled.” He took antidepressants to cope with severe depression. This depression took a turn for the worse when the girlfriend he had been living with ended their relationship. Two weeks later, Hawkins was ﬁred from his job at McDonald’s, when $17 from his till came up missing. The impact of the two events seem to have begun a downward spiral. Though friends had thought Hawkins was at last getting his life on track, the two setbacks undid the progress he made. Hawkins’ mother released his suicide note to the police, which expresses remorse for his actions. Hawkins claimed that he was at last going to be well known, even

if it was for a terrible crime. Parts of this note were leaked online by thesmokinggun.com. Still, some good came from the tragedy. The city of Omaha rounded around Westroads Mall, and more than 700 mourners were present at the ﬁrst funerals of the victims. Several people became heroes that day by preventing panic, and thus, saving more lives. One survivor was pushed out of the way of a bullet by mall worker Gary Joy who later died because of his brave sacriﬁce. In the aftermath of the massacre, there is a new outcry for mall safety, as well as tightened security in other public places. Americans remain on edge, wondering if similar events will take place in their hometown. While Westroads Mall reopened, Von Maur remains closed. The company extended its support and sympathy to the victims and survivors, offering funds and counseling in the wake of the shootings. The deadliest mall shooting since 1927, the events of December 5 shocked the nation and caused many to examine how safe they are in public places. Robert Hawkins’ shooting spree left innocent people dead and wounded, with countless more traumatized. Whether this shooting will deter some from venturing out of their homes remains to be seen.

THE BRUIN

December 2007

¡Hola de Chilé!

Hey Wadsworth High! For those who picked up a paper and are stuck in the commons or for those reading as you walk through the cold hallways, just know I am suffering here in 80° sunny weather. Well, I suppose that was low, but one of the interesting aspects of Chile is the opposite seasons; this week I ﬁnish my last day of school and summer is on its way. Yes, Christmas is in the summer. However, my host family says the holiday is still celebrated in its traditional manner; there are not any Christmas BBQs. The coolest part of my exchange is that I get to experience everyday life. Sure, a week’s vacation can give you the taste of life somewhere else but the most interesting discoveries that I have found have been in daily routine things. With that said, I thought I would outline an ordinary school day in Chile. School starts a bit later here than it does at Wadsworth. I get out of bed at 7:30 and leave my house by 8. School is run a lot differently here. Scheduling here is more along the lines of elementary school. Each class has its own room and the

teachers travel from class to class. Each class varies in length and we have different classes each day. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are longest with Wednesday and Friday being shorter. Each class is on hour and 30 minutes with a 15 minute break in between classes. There are two vendors with shops in the school that you can buy snacks or drinks from during the breaks. I take math, chemistry, biology, philosophy, language, music, phys. ed., sports, religion, history, and a special class called “jefatura” where my class and our head professor discuss issues about our class. School structure reminds me of southern states or west coast schools; it is a collection of buildings that contain classrooms and are centered on a court. There are also two futbol (soccer) ﬁelds. In school we play baby futbol. The difference between baby and regular soccer is that the goals and court are made of cement, and that the court is a lot smaller. There is a line at each end of the ﬁeld which offense has to cross before taking a shot. Those same lines serve as the boundary for where the goalie can use his hands to pick up the ball. The students here are very good soccer and almost everyone plays.

Lunch h o u r starts at 1 pm. M o s t k i d s , Andy 12, reports from Chile. Woods like me, is a Wadsworth stugo home dent who is currently for lunch. spending his senior studying abroad The big year in La Ligua, Chile. meal in South America is lunch; it is similar to dinner in the United States. I leave the school on a bus for my house to eat lunch and I return on a bus. At the end of the day I sometimes stay at school to practice music, play baby futbol or basketball or go to a friend’s house to study. From 7-9 we eat a special meal called “once.” It usually consists of a basket of fresh bread and whatever else is in the house. Often we eat the bread with jam, cheese, avocado, egg, sausage or a mix of those. Everything is later here in Chile. We go to bed later, eat later, and the night life on the weekend is a lot later- but that’s a whole ‘nother story! Well Wadsworth High, hang in there this winter season with the cold and have a great holiday! Until next time, Chao!

Myths, legends add charm to local community

Caitlin

Urban legends are those myths, rumors and stories that we all know and love even though very few of them end up being true. There have been collections of New York City urban legends, as well as Disney, Coca-Cola and White House compilations, but now, it is Wadsworth’s time to shine. Here are a few fun stories about Wadsworth to enjoy for your holiday break. Mr. Charles Parsons was the Superintendent for Wadsworth City Schools not too many years ago. One of his most memorable contributions, according to students, was his refusal to call any snow days. Some kids believed Mr. Parsons would personally go out and plow all of Wadsworth, just so the district would have school. This act earned him the nickname “Polar Bear Parsons.” One of Wadsworth’s oldest schools, Central Intermediate, more speciﬁcally, OJ Work, is

a source of mystery and legend for many students, especially for those who attended school there. Many drama students have reported mysterious elevator openings, which is bizarre for an elevator that is not normally turned on. Many students also believe that a pool is contained underneath the stage and that at times the smell of chlorine penetrates the air. Flashes of white light, ghosts and other intriguing occurrences have taken place in the theatre that is supposedly haunted. Haunted houses are in every town, and Wadsworth is no different. An elderly woman, who is said to reside in the attic of one house down town, supposedly haunts the home. Whenever the owner would pull out of the driveway, her image would appear through the windows. Their young son was also found talking to somebody in the attic, which was enough to make the owners sell the house. In another house down town, a

man who took his own life spooks residents. There is a bloodstain that can be temporarily removed. However, hours later, the red spot will show up again. Important objects, such as car keys and glasses, are constantly relocated. Isham is one of the older elementary schools Wadsworth has to offer. Once a women’s college that burnt down, it is said that some of the women who died in the ﬁre still haunt the school to this day. The school has an incredibly old basement that hosts books, furniture, and other things left over from the women’s college. Isham also contains a boiler room, once a place for teachers to smoke, where unexplained happenings and weird noises occurred. Many teachers deny these events, but it just adds to the allure of one of Wadsworth’s oldest buildings. While these stories are purely folklore, they certainly add character and charm to our everyday lives.

Quote To Live By:

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

Politics run deep in student body BY AARON KRUMHEUER

Although the 26th Amendment officially establishes the voting age as 18, political beliefs and opinions are present in people of all ages, especially high school students. Come election time, when the United States is swept up in the excitement of the campaigns, many students become vocal about their views on issues and candidates. Politics, a seemingly static atmosphere to teenagers during most of the year, becomes a new, fervent platform for self expression and an opportunity to try out what beliefs may fit their character. However, several studies suggest that political beliefs among young people, especially teenagers, derive not solely from inward speculation or original thinking but from outside forces. According to a Gallup Youth Survey, as much as 71% of teens claim their political views are the same as their parents. While it is not a surprising statistic given that most teens have been reared and thereby shaped by their parents, it still raises an interesting point about the origin of political thought in that some may simply adopt and carry on the beliefs of their parents in place of forming their own. If this idea were true for all individuals, ideologies would be merely legacies, passed down to each successive generation with no discernible source. Yet, in the same survey, 7% of teens say that they are more conservative than their parents, and 21% claim to be more liberal. Right or left, these numbers represent an obviously conscious change toward a different way of thinking. “I definitely consider myself more liberal because I feel that I can do what I want to do in this country and not be pushed around by some government telling me what is right and wrong. I feel I can make these decisions for myself,” said Scott McLean, 11. But the family is not the only influence on a young person’s beliefs. Religion, in terms of morality and political priority, also play a role in determining one’s point of view. A potential voter’s faith is often reflected in their stance on issues such as abortion, gay rights, and even education. “My religious beliefs or rather my morals determine my political beliefs because I find it wrong to support something I don’t believe in,” said Paige Vacha, 12. “Obviously, I wouldn’t vote for gay marriages, but I wouldn’t be outraged if it passed.” Some believe this influence has become too widespread. “I am an atheist and believe religion, especially Christianity, plays to large a role in conservative beliefs,” said Dan Cullman, 12. Education, as well, can shape a teen’s political identity. It is widely acknowledged that a college education will affect a student’s beliefs. While the reasons for this change are disputed, the amount of time spent in college is generally shown to make one more liberal. However, very few studies have examined the role of high school education towards a student’s ideology. “Figuring the majority of the students at Wadsworth are liberal, I just assume that the education at Wadsworth hasn’t affected my belief. This seems especially true figuring I’m the only conservative in my entire government class,” said Vacha. For the politically conscious, senior year means the chance to finally vote, yet almost all students, regardless of age, feel the need to express their beliefs.

TROPHIES, PLAQUES RIBBONS, MEDALS, CERTIFICATES AND ENGRAVING

Ph. & Fax (330) 336-0365 TOM & DORA KAUFMAN, OWNERS

7800 HARTMAN RD.

WADSWORTH, OH

Quote To Live By:

Tim

BY MORGAN DUTA

F EATURES

“One day your life will ﬂash before your eyes. Make it worth watching.”

H EALTH

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Organic foods prove beneﬁcial BY CHAD TAYLOR

Everyone knows that when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, diet is key. But how much does the average person know concerning organic foods compared to processed, chemically enhanced foods? The idea of eating organically is to put only pure, organic ingredients, void of chemicals, into your body. It is thought that organic foods provide a greater source of nutrition than chemically engineered foods. Organic foods are not only healthy, but they taste great too.

“I love the taste of organic foods, especially my protein filled cereal!” - Royce Vanderbilt, 12 It is obvious that when you have healthy, balanced soil growing your vegetables, they are going to taste much better than that of the processed food most people are used to buying. Studies have been performed testing taste and other aspects of organic apples to conventional apples. One such

study done by Washington State University yielded results stacking highly in the organic apple’s favor. The organic apple was considered much sweeter and firm. The tastes of organic food are great, but the majority of people that buy organic foods do so for health reasons. When you buy normal products that come from farms, you are putting yourself at risk of consuming cancer causing agents. Some of these agents include herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Non-organic farmers use these chemicals nearly all the time on their crops. However, certified organically grown crops are guaranteed to be chemical free. Another consequence that comes from non-organic farming is the chance that these chemicals may run into local water sources. Once again, organic farming helps to keep not only our food clean and healthy, but our air and water as well. Organic foods are important for the physically active as well. Studies show that certain organic foods can contain up to fifty-percent more nutrients than their altered alternatives. A portion of the extra nutrients found in organic foods are in the

form of antioxidants. Antioxidants can destroy harmful free radicals in the body, therefore creating a more balanced and healthy way of life. Today there is an organic alternative to almost any food option that you might be interested in. Obviously the most popular organic foods are fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas and tomatoes, but there is a large selection other than those. You can buy organic tortilla chips, organic cheddar cheese, organic crackers and pretty much anything else to satisfy your needs. “I love the taste of organic foods, especially my protein ﬁlled cereal!” said Royce Vanderbilt, senior. So the next time you are at the store, make the healthy choice, buy organic!

Chipotle among worst foods in America BY LINDSEY OTANICAR

Often times, foods that seem harmless can turn out to be the worst things to put into your body. Analyzing menus, nutrition labels and ingredient lists can be a very confusing task. In order to provide further enlightenment, the following are some of the least healthy foods in America and their healthier substitutes. This restaurant has seen quite a signiﬁcant rise in popularity among teenagers. Their reputation is one of healthy, fresh ingredients, but Chipotle’s gigantic burritos, humongous salads, and overstuffed tacos all lead to an enormous waistline. The Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito is the worst Mexican entree. It is packed with 1,179 calories, 47 grams of fat and 2,656 milligrams of sodium! Think twice before conquering this whole burrito yourself. It would be a good idea to either hold the rice and tortilla or bring a friend and saw the burrito in half. So it sounds like ordering from the kids menu would mean less food, less calories and a better overall meal, but think again. The Double Macaroni ‘n’ Cheese kids’ meal at Macaroni grill is packing

on the pounds. This portion contains a whopping 1,210 calories, 62 grams of fat and 3,450 milligrams of sodium. This meal would be equivalent to eating one and a half boxes of Kraft mac ‘n’ cheese. Steak is quite a popular entree, but watch out! The worst steak in America is Lonestar’s 20 ounce Tbone. It has nearly 1,540 calories and 124 grams of fat, and that is just the steak alone. Add sides, such as a baked potato, and you are pushing well over 2,000 calories! When it comes to breakfast, Bob Evans is a common place to go. It is also the home of America’s most unhealthy breakfast. Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes is the culprit of this title. This super sweet stack weighs in at a hefty one and a half pounds and contains 1,540 calories and 77 grams of fat. Now that is truly a heavy breakfast! You could consume five Egg McMuffins and receive the same caloric value. The spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce from Macaroni Grill is going a tad bit overboard. With 2,430 calories, 128 grams of fat and 5,290 milligrams of sodium, this meal satisfies your calorie requirements for an entire day! Downsize this devastation

PHOTO BY CHAD TAYLOR

Tortilla chips, apples and bananas are just a few of the organic foods available.

by asking for a lunch sized portion of this dinner dish. Also, ask for regular tomato sauce instead of meat sauce. By doing this, you will cut the calories in half! Finally, the worst food in all of America is the Aussie cheese fries with ranch dressing from Outback Steakhouse. No rules, just down right bad for you! This “starter” contains an overwhelming 2,900 calories and 182 grams of fat. Instead go with a high-protein appetizer. This helps diminish hunger without putting you into calorie overload. Another thing to remember is appetizers are meant to be shared. Do not attempt to tackle them on your own, share them around the table. “My friends and I order just one appetizer and share it. This way we do not eat too much before our actual meal,” said Jess Hensal, 10. Keep in mind that the average reasonable calorie intake is around 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. Most of these healthy alternatives put you just below or at level with the recommended amounts. Fight the expanding waistlines. Start paying attention to what and how much you are putting into your body. Remember, eat at your own risk.

10 ways to support your health during the holidays BY CHAD TAYLOR AND LINDSEY OTANICAR

Constant holiday celebrations bring the temptation of gluttonous consumption. These are 10 helpful hints to maintaining your healthy lifestyle.

1. PLAN AHEAD!

Know what ﬁtness routine you plan on doing during the holidays...before they arrive!

2. BE CONSISTENT!

Try and workout at the same time each day to maintain a healthy balance and do not skip workouts.

3. EAT IN MODERATION!

The delicious delicacies are endless during the holidays; decide which days you are going to splurge and stick to that plan!

4. MAKE EXCUSES!

There are going to be times during the holidays in which people are going to try and get you to eat things that are not so healthy. Try saying something like “I already had some of that,” in order to avoid those fatty foods.

5. MAKE IT A FAMILY EVENT!

Sometimes working out with your family can be the greatest source of motivation. This would also help any members that generally do not workout. It would be like a New Year’s resolution!

6. KEEP NOTES ON YOUR TRAINING!

The holidays can be an extremely hectic period of time in which many things are cycling through your head. One way to keep track of what is what is to keep notes on your workouts and what you eat. This will help you stay organized during the holidays.

7. SHOP!

Use your shopping time as a way to kill two birds with one stone. Buy gifts for your loved ones while walking off those extra calories.

8. SHOVEL THAT SNOW!

Try ditching the snow blower and using the shovel. This will incorporate several major muscle groups while being productive. 9. DRINK A LOT OF WATER! Water is one of the single best things you can do to improve your health, especially during the holidays when there are a lot of sugary drinks around.

10. SLEEP IN!

Sleep keeps you energized and burns calories at the same time.

Blooming Acres , Inc. Come and get your poinsettias in December!

PHOTO BY LINDSEY OTANICAR

Outback’s cheesefries (left) and Chipotle’s chicken burrito (right) are foods sure to pack on the pounds.

GEORGE HEHN, JR

7529 STATE ROAD WADSWORTH, OH 44281

December 2007

O PINION 1

THE BRUIN

Warring region’s cry for help goes unanswered Over the past several decades, the entire continent of Africa has been plagued ERIN with inOPINION STAFF cessant violence. Each year, hundreds of rebel coalitions are taking part in the brutal killing of thousands of innocent people while over a million women are sexually abused in the country of South Africa alone. Without fail, these horriﬁc conﬂicts are overshadowed on a daily basis by the war in the Middle East, inevitably concealing this vulnerable region’s desperate

cry for help. The early 1980s gave rise to a new, deadly weapon that has since become a dangerously familiar sight along the African countryside: the child soldier. Children as young as seven and eight years of age are being forced to participate in violent warfare. Because of their small stature, their abundant availability and their naivety, these children are utilized to commit unthinkable acts of war. “Children are supposed to be playing games with their friends not using guns,” said sophomore Senea Perkins. In 1994, a group of brainwashed children violently swept the nation of Rwanda using clubs and machetes to take the lives of nearly 10,000 people per day.

A mere ten years later, over two million Sudanese were the victims of torture, mutilation and slavery. According to the United

“Cruelty and violence is never the answer. Obviously, this region is in dire need of help.” - Megan Tanner Senior

Nations, an estimated two and a half million refugees were driven from their homes while a total of 200,000 were brutally murdered. Today, the death toll in Uganda has increased to nearly 150 deaths per week, which is triple that of Iraq’s. In recent years, the United Nations has tried desperately to set a minimum age of 18 for armed forces around the world,

yet groups of child rebels continue to viciously attack defenseless African villages. Unfortunately, these heinous conﬂicts are not the only crimes to affect the African people. According to the Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales, a non-governmental organization, one in every three African women are raped each year. Similarly, statistics from South Africa show that one in four men claim to have raped a woman before the age of 18. “Cruelty and violence is never the answer,” said senior Megan Tanner, “Obviously, this region is in dire need of help.” For most, it is easier to ignore the cruel actuality of these genocides than face the cold reality. It

has become increasingly apparent that little will be done by the United States in order to protect these suffering people. Although, over 80 million dollars has been sent in federal aid, an American soldier has yet to set foot on the soil of these warring lands in an effort to stop these continuous conﬂicts. The citizens of Africa are unable to defend themselves against these horrendous crimes. No child should have to live with this atrocious brutality. No woman should be forced to deal with these gruesome violations. As human beings, it is our duty to take urgent action against what is morally wrong. It is evident that something must be done before it is too late.

HUTCHINSON’S HEARSAY BRUIN: If you could eat anything right now what would it be? HUTCH: Dill pickle chips— I love dill pickles! B: What’s your pet peeve? H: In school- Kids that don’t work hard because they can slip by with C’s, Out of School- strangers giving unwanted advice on raising children B: What is the most embarrassing CD that you own? H: Bon Jovi’s Greatest Hits B: What’s your favorite memory from your childhood? H: My ﬁrst softball game— I struck out all three times and cried afterward when telling my dad about it. He hugged me and we practiced; every year after that I was on the All-Star team.

B: If you could go back to high school, what’s one thing you’d change? H: I would wax my eyebrows. B: When did you know you wanted to become a teacher? H: I used to set up a chalkboard and teach my stuffed animals. I was only about ﬁve years old, and I knew then. B: What’s on your Christmas list? H: A gift certiﬁcate for someone to clean my house for me! I need all my walls and woodwork washed soon. Any takers? B: What names are you considering for your future baby girl? H: Gertrude, Maude, Beatrice, Helga— just kidding, Keira! B: What was your favorite class in high school? H: Physics, Chemistry and Calculus

UK Curriculums wrongfully omit Holocaust, Crusades As Roman historian Tacitus said, “The study of history is the torch of truth CAITLIN and the witOPINION STAFF ness of the times.” In other words, history is taught in order to teach current generations the events of the past in order that they may have a better understanding and appreciation of the world today. Why, then, are some of the most notable events in human history, such as the Crusades and the Holocaust, being dropped from school curriculums in the United Kingdom? According to U.K. government research, teachers are omitting particularly controversial portions of history from their lessons with the notion that these subjects offend students of different races and religions. Teachers claim that lessons on the Holocaust may provoke antiSemitic reactions from Muslim students during class. The Crusades, as well, have the potential to create a feeling of alienation

among students of different religions and contradict what is taught in local mosques. Tension may be sparked between white and black students regarding slavery. Consequently, educators feel uncomfortable and fearful when it comes to teaching these signiﬁcant, emotionally-charged topics. What is the solution to this dilemma? Is anything solved by omitting these major historical events from classroom discussion? The answer is absolutely not, especially when the intention of doing so is strictly to pacify a particular group of people. In order to avoid offending one group, another group will inevitably be offended. By appeasing those in denial of the Holocaust or those with anti-Semitic opinions, for example, the horrors and suffering the victims endured during this dark period of history will have been in vain, causing uproar within their community. Freshman Steven Manning sheds light on this subject, “History happened. History classes are supposed to teach what occurred in the past, and that includes these controversial topics.” This more ‘convenient’ ap-

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM SNAPVILLAGE.

Neglecting to teach subjects such as the Holocaust leads to historical ignorance for future generations.

proach of political correctness will only cultivate a generation of ignorant people who cannot think for themselves. When an entire generation is not exposed to historical reality, harsh and otherwise, not only will students be uninformed, but also stiﬂed. They will not possess the base of knowledge that is essential in forming their own opinions in life or the ability to change and grow in their existing beliefs. Choosing to teach certain portions of history and not others does not make the neglected sec-

tions any less factual. However dark, horriﬁc or regrettable a certain period in history may have been, teachers, as well as governments, have no right to select what should and should not be taught in the classroom, despite the uneasiness it may arouse. Jason Knapp, History teacher, comments, “Teachers should not re-write history nor sugar coat the facts. The skill of the historian is to analyze evidence. The only way we can solve the great problems of the day is to discuss evaluate, and argue about the origins

of these problems. The reason the problems of race and religion continue is because of pure ignorance of history.” Striving for educated and informed youth will ultimately lessen tension between ethnic groups. Alternately, sweeping historical persecution under the rug will intensify these feelings. When choices are made that prevent our children from learning about controversial topics in history we are potentially dooming them to repeat these terrible times.

O PINION 2

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Finding perfect gifts takes much effort Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone will soon be rushing around, panicking and trying to ﬁnd the perfect gift for

PHOTO BY MIKE HOOVER

Kelly , 12, writes his letter to Santa as he thinks about everything he is going to ask for this year. Kelly is asking for an iPhone, expensive designer clothing and a 2008 Volvo.

Americans’ poor spending habits shine

during Christmas shopping season According to Forbes, Americans will spend around $170 billion this Christmas season. With that amount, MIKE OPINION STAFF you could buy 680 million video iPods, 5.3 million Hummer H3s or 113 million years worth of most students’ car insurance. Granted, not everyone buys those items for Christmas, but you get the idea as to how much we spend on Christmas gifts. The average American spends around $600 every Christmas. Taking into account that babies are not spending much, some people have to be dropping even more money on toys, tools and other presents to compensate for the young children’s lack of spending. Before writing your Christmas list to Santa this year, you should think about what you are asking for. Most people do not need an iPod that holds up to 20,000 or more songs. Why not downgrade your choice to a more practical iPod Nano and save your parents $100? Another popular Christmas item is the cell phone. Teenagers and young adults are the main groups targeted

by cell phone producers because of their impulsive spending habits. Do you really need a GPS system in your cell phone? Sadly, some people convince their parents that they do, and the $300 device is ordered quicker than a pepperoni pizza. As the future working generation of America, we need to revise our habits as consumers. Most of us will understand the concept of money management as soon as we leave Wadsworth High and start careers

“I do not believe Americans spend too much money on Christmas. If anything, our parents do not spend enough money on us.” - Tyler Smith, 11 or pay our way through college. Unfortunately, some will never realize that money does not grow on trees. In 15 years, these people will have kids running around asking THEM for the $200 basketball shoes they saw on television. A sad example of this is illustrated by junior Tyler Smith, who believes that “our parents do not spend enough money on us.” There is a ﬁne line between buying nice things for Christmas and overindulging in impractical consumerism. As Americans, we generally do

not understand the difference. The holidays should be about spending time with your family and friends. Nearly all parents would agree that they would rather receive a gift that expresses love and sentiment than a gift that simply costs a lot of money. We, too, should accept that value should have preference over quantity or cost. Christmas brings out the financial devils in most Americans simply because of the age-old tradition of giving gifts. This is true, but American consumers tend to be reckless year-round; it is just worse in December. Forbes says that the average U.S. household is more than $9000 in credit card debt. You cannot blame that all on Christmas! Careless spending and unmonitored finances have certainly become a burden on our country’s economy. Sadly, these problems can be traced back to Christmas. We buy everything we see on television and in newspaper ads without realizing that we still have to pay the utilities next month. Sloppy spending habits around Christmas time tend to snowball into bigger financial problems. If everyone would accept that we do not have to get every gadget and gizmo for Christmas, the holidays would be better enjoyed by everyone.

some stores that may be in mind, but they are among the most expensive stores so you might be spending more. On the other hand, you could go to Gabriel Brothers or TJ Maxx where the clothes are much cheaper. You never know, you might find the same thing. DAN OPINION “If I was going to buy a present STAFF for my girlfriend,” said sophomore Caleb Busson, “I’d try to find the their significant other. best thing for the cheapest price. No Have you ever you been stuck matter what, the girl is going to be with three days left until December happy with whatever you get her. 25 and not have a present for your Supposedly it is the thought that girlfriend or boyfriend? Whether or counts in the end.” not you want to spend a lot or a little Something also to think about on the girl/guy you ‘love,’ it always before you go out and buy a presseems to be so difficult to figure ent is whether or not you want to out what would make that person add something “homemade.” A happy. lot of girls think it is a necessity The first thing you have to think to give something made by them about before you purchase along with a purchased item to their anything drastic is how boyfriend. “You can’t put a much you want to spend. “Every time I It all depends on the perhad to get my boyprice on love; it just son, how much you can friend a present for has to come from afford and the item you Christmas, I always the heart. think would best suit the made something and occasion. However, you bought something - Chad Baughman, 11 always have to keep in for him,” said junior mind that relationships in Tina Lungaro. “It high school do not always shows that you care last forever, so make your decisions more for the person and that you wisely. The last thing you would want have a creative side.” to do is buy something really expenIn the end, there are a lot of things sive and have the girl or guy break up you have to take into perspective with you a week after Christmas. when buying a gift for your special “A guy buying a present for their someone. If you have trouble thinkgirlfriend should spend around 40 to ing of something, I always thought 50 dollars,” said sophomore Alyssa asking one of their friends helps out Johnson. “It’s just the right amount a ton. They know what they will like of money because your not spending or dislike, so why not just get their too much, but you can still get a great advice? Just make sure you think gift!” about your options before you do Other than deciding on how much anything! It will take a little bit of you want to take out of your wallet time and effort on your part in order or purse, you have to figure out what to find the perfect present. stores you plan on going to or what “You can’t put a price on love; items you are thinking about purchas- it just has to come from the heart,” ing. If you are thinking about buying said junior Chad Baughman. clothes, Hollister or Abercrombie are

Top Ten Christmas Gifts

1. Cell phone 2. New clothes 3. Digital camera 4. MP3 player 5. Gift cards

6. DVDs 7. Video games 8. Jewelry 9. Books 10. Candy

PHOTO BY DAN MUELLER

Chad , 11, presents this early Christmas gift, a necklace, to his girlfriend, Adrienne , 10. Jewelry is expected to be a hot Christmas item this year.

S PORTS 1

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Three is key for Goddard BY BRETT CLINE

As the boys basketball team marches on toward the postseason, many factors play into their success. One factor will lie on the shoulders of senior three-point specialist Joe Goddard. His marksmanship qualities from downtown, so to speak, can lead to points in bunches. Just ask Cuyahoga Falls. They left Goddard open, daring him to shoot, while he nailed ﬁve shots from behind the arc en route to a 22point performance and a seasonopening 63-47 win. “Joe really got us going in that game. He knocked down a few shots and didn’t stop. It’s a real nice feeling to pass the ball to Joe, knowing it’s most likely going in the hoop,” said senior Mitch White. Goddard looks to pick up right

SPORTS BRiEFS BOYS BASKETBALL Led by seniors Mitch White, Taylor Smith and Joe Goddard, the boys jump off to a 3-2 record in the quest for a Suburban League title.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Coming off a tough loss in their season opener to North Canton Hoover in OT, the girls have responded with key wins to improve their record to 5-2. They defeated Revere, a contender for the SLT, with help from Chrissy Pavlik, who made eight freethrows in the ﬁnal minutes.

GYMNASTICS

The team has vaulted to a 5-1 record, including a win in a quad meet over Austintown Fitch, Perry and Midview on December 10. Strong performances were put in by sophomores Amanda Steutzer and Ginny Gegick.

where he left off last season. In a junior year in which he led Medina County with ﬁfty-two three pointers and a 10.3 points per game scoring average, Goddard will be looked upon not only for scoring but for leadership as well. He, along with seniors Taylor Smith and Mitch White, will be expected to amass most of the points in order to keep the Grizzlies in contention. “I have to make sure I set an example by the way I play every day in practice and in games. I always try to keep the intensity high. It’s one of my duties as a senior,” Goddard said.

“I always try to keep the intensity high.” -Joe Goddard also has lofty goals and expectations for this season.

Last year, the boys had a dramatic run to the district final, where they suffered a loss at the hands of a very talented Firestone Falcons team. Even with a loss, Goddard believes that his team has the talent to get back to districts and win it this time. “I really think we can make it back to the district final game and win it this time around. All of our starters have a significant amount of varsity experience. If we do what we need to do, we will be successful,” Goddard said with enthusiasm. Goddard also said that he wants his team to have a winning record and to win the Suburban League title. If the boys accomplish their goals, it will be the first winning season and SLT since the 2003-04 season. Among other things, Goddard is also an obvious fan favorite.

PHOTO BY DAVID SANSONETTI

Goddard practices his long range shooting in practice. He has helped the Grizzlies get off to a fast start.

Whenever he spots up from the three-point line, it is almost guaranteed to fall in. Rival fans hate to see him get the ball, while Grizzly fans love it. He always acknowledges the fans adoration

and if there is any certainty about the 2007 boys basketball team, it is these three words: Goddard for threeeee! Opposing teams better be careful what they wish for.

Swim teams dive into promising season BY LAURA ARCH

The start of the boys and girls swimming season is deﬁnitely satisfying to say the least. The boys, battling from being mostly underclassmen, have fought hard to get their current record of 6-1. Leading the boys this season is senior Mike Courson, junior Logan Ware, sophomore Aaron Tipton and freshman Philip LaHue. Ware and Courson, along with junior Alex Gnap, are the only three upperclassman on the 200708 team roster. On Wednesday, December 12, Ware swam the 100-yard freestyle and broke the pool record with a time of 50.33 seconds. The rest of the team has to follow their swimming experience examples. “To help motivate the team, I tell them to imagine there is a shark behind them because that really helps. The bleached hair seems to help, too,” said senior Mike Courson. The last time the boys were crowned Suburban League champions was three years ago. The

Congratulations to Brad Squire, for winning the 130-pound weight class at the prestigious Ironman Invitational held at Walsh Jesuit High School. This win catapults him to the #1 ranking in the country at 130 pounds. Keep it up, Brad!

rest of the league needs to look out for their aggressive behavior this season because they are hungry for a championship win. “Even though our team is made up of mostly underclassmen, the freshmen are contributing really well. Freshman Phillip LaHue has started off really well for the team. In order for us to get the Suburban League title though, the whole team needs to work hard in practice and get personal records in meets. As a team we all need to swim our best,” said sophomore Aaron Tipton. The girls swimming season is equally as exciting as the boys with their current record of 5-1-1. The top performers this season are senior Mary Cargill, juniors Taylor Connolly and Allison Pallija, sophomore Amanda Pallija and

freshman surprise Elaina Lanson. On Friday, November 30, the date of Lanson’s first high school meet, she swam the 50-yard freestyle and broke the high school and pool record with a time of 25.13 seconds. She was featured on the front page of the Akron Beacon Journal as Girl’s Athlete of the Week. Wednesday, December 12 was a record breaking night for the girls team. Lanson, Cargill and Connolly came out strong for the team. Lanson improved on her first swim meet record with a time of 25.07 seconds, Cargill beat the 50-yard freestyle record and Connolly beat the pool record with a time of 1:05.57 in the 100-yard butterfly. “After that great win over Revere, our team goal now is to beat

Copley. If we beat Copley, it will be our first win against them in over three years and it will also help clinch our Suburban League title greatly. The girls team has yet to win the league in school’s history so it would be amazing to be on the first team ever to win the SLT for the school, ” said junior Taylor Connolly. On December 15, the boys and girls teams will compete in the Christmas Invitation at Canton McKinley. This season, the boys and girls teams will send the most qualifiers to the invitation than ever before. As a whole, both swim teams are off to a fantastic start for their 2007-08 season. Coach Autumn Reeves expects nothing less from the teams as they finish the season and enter into the postseason.

Athletes - Helped her team win a quad meet over Austintown Fitch, Perry and Midview with scores of 9.05 on ﬂoor, 8.4 on beam and 7.6 on vault - Consistency has been a key contributor to her success

GINNY

LOGAN - Broke the pool record in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.33 seconds, and he also won ﬁrst place in the 200-yard freestyle event - Has been a leader for the team as they jump out to a 6-1 record

THE MONTH

S PORTS 2

THE BRUIN

December 2007

BCS brings controversy again SPORTS OPINION BY ANTHONY LORUBBIO

It has been a year for upsets and heartbreaks in college football this season. Confusing to many, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) has done the best it can to organize the unpredictable, mixed up bowl games. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Louisiana State University Tigers will face off in the prestigious national championship game. On the other hand, unheard of teams like Kansas and Hawaii fill the spots of other BCS match ups. College football has been a confusing year to say the least. The only trend that seemed consistent throughout the season is that of upsets. The biggest upsets of the season include USC’s loss to Stanford and Michigan’s loss to Division II Appalachian State. Like years past, the BCS is the talk of controversy for the match ups of bowl games. One very unexpected occurrence was the absence of Missouri in a championship game. This particular team went from ranked first in the country in the last week of the season to without a BCS bid. The system seems to get worse every year. Following the pattern of unpredictability, this year marks the first year that a two-loss team will be part of the national championship game. The LSU Tigers lost to Kentucky and Arkansas, but still managed to sneak into the championship game. Ohio State also barely managed to get into

the national championship. In the eleventh week of the season, the Buckeyes fell to Illinois. Many felt their chances for a repeat appearance had faded away. Dropping to seventh in the polls, the Buckeyes began to crawl their way back to the top and by the last week of the season, they stood at third place. The only way for their national championship hopes to stay alive was to either have West Virginia or Missouri lose in their last games. As it turned out, both teams lost and the Buckeyes now top the rankings at number one. Other unexpected teams that will appear in BCS games include Kansas and Hawaii. Kansas entered the season unranked and not taken seriously. Slowly, this team won the respect of the BCS and earned their way to the FedEx Orange Bowl. Hawaii is the other unexpected team. Hawaii looks to turn heads in their match up against Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The team is led by quarterback Colt Brennan, who broke the all-time touchdown record in the NCAA. The number of critics for the BCS system is at an all-time high this year. It is confusing to many how a number one ranked team in week fourteen does not appear in a bowl championship game. This is the case for a Missouri team that went 11-2. After beating Kansas in the second to last week of the season, and earning a spot in the Big 12 championship game, they moved to number one in the rankings. Although they lost to Oklahoma in their next game, it does

BY THE NUMBERS

The LSU Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes are preparing for the BCS National Championship while critics voice their opinions about the shaky BCS system.

not make sense that Kansas got a BCS bid while Missouri did not. Who knows whether Kansas would have beat Oklahoma, but they did lose miserably to Missouri. The BCS has been on the hot seat for plenty of years now. Last year, many people

in their ﬁrst game without the safety.

dard has made in his varsity basketball career.

As a tribute to Sean Taylor, the Redskins only started ten players on defense

The number of three-pointers senior guard Joe God-

NFL star dies after being shot at home BY EMILY HANNA

Sean Taylor, a safety for the Washington Redskins, was shot in his Palmetto Bay home while being robbed on the night of November 27. Taylor’s girlfriend and daughter were both present while the intrusion was taking place. His girlfriend called 911 shortly after the shot. Taylor was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and died at 3:30 a.m. after undergoing seven hours of surgery. Eight days before the shooting, there was another break in where an intruder pried open a front window, dug through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed. Police are unsure as to whether or not the two break-ins can be related. Eric Rivera, 17, Charles Wardlow, 18, Jason Mitchell, 19, and Venjah Hunte, 20 who broke in were not expecting anyone to be present at the Taylor residence. They knew that Taylor traveled a lot because of his career and they expected him to be in Washington. The men were all a part of the break in, but Rivera has been identified as the person who shot him. On December 1, all four men were charged with second-degree murder, armed burglary and home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon. This could possibly end with a life sentence for the shooter. At the beginning of his career Taylor was known as the definition of a rookie and

was known as a arrogant player. After the birth of his child, Jackie, eighteen months ago, he was seen by a lot of family members as a person who seemed to be maturing. It seemed he had matured overnight from his year and a half of probation going and being fined for many things during football to being a respectable father. Taylor was a team player and was becoming a great leader for the team. Taylor’s death not only affected his team but other football teams around the country. During the first game without Taylor, the Redskins started with ten defensive players instead of the normal eleven. The NFL remembered the death of Taylor by putting a #21 sticker on the back of almost all of the NFL helmets during Week 13 and had a moment of silence before each game. They also created a trust fund for his girlfriend and daughter. Not only does the NFL recognize the death of Taylor but many kids in high school and people across the country recognized it as well. “It is unfortunate that such a good player was killed, he was really good and lead the pro-bowl in points,” said junior Zach Watts. The death of Taylor was recognized around the country and was mourned by many. Although his life was cut short, many will remember him for his great plays on the field.

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criticized their pick for Florida to be in the national championship. This year it seems every game is being questioned. What will the NCAA do to ﬁx this problem? This question will have to be answered in years to come.

Coach

Booth’s winning percentage in his three years as coach of the Lady Grizzlies basketball team.

Wrestler sophomore Bradley Squire’s number of consecutive wins without a loss in his young high school career.

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10 December 2007

P ICTURE P AGE 1

THE BRUIN

Happy Holidays! 1

1. Senior Sarah and Junior Nate act as Emily and George in Our Town. 2. Senior Dan narrates in the kitchen during this act. 3. Seniors Sarah and Kelsey string beans. 4. Part of the cast stares at the grave as they mourn on the death of Emily. 5. Freshman Steven and Senior Nate catch a glimpse of the audience during the play. 6. Sophomore Matt and Freshman Nick debate a particular topic during this scene.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YEARBOOK

PHOTO BY DAVID KAUFFMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF YEARBOOK

P ICTURE P AGE 2

THE BRUIN

W inter W

December 2007

nderland

PHOTO COURTESY OF YEARBOOK

Fall sports have come and gone as the sporting seasons are flying by. Fall sports will be missed, but there is plenty of other sports to watch during the winter season. Boys and girls basketball are both coming off successful seasons last year and look to make deep tournament runs. Boys basketball played in the District Final last year and competed in a very tough Suburban League. Wrestling looks to repeat its success in the Suburban League and win the league once again. They have set their goals high as they look to work hard and improve their 4th place state finish a year ago. Swimming started off their season with nine meets already completed and a good record started. Gymnastics has been perfecting their routines with a 5-1 record. The school play, Our Town, was a big hit throughout the town. “It was a good way too end senior year and get to meet underclassmen. It was fun to be the role model of the cast and have them look up to me,” said senior Sarah Pels. The community enjoyed it along with many of the students and staff. 1. Senior Mitch jumps for the opening tip in the first home game of the season. 2. The Wadsworth Swim Team beats rival Revere at home this past month. PHOTO BY DAVID SANSONETTI

PHOTO BY CARLY MCNUTT

PHOTO BY MR. MATT SHIRLA

3. Sophomore Brad stands on the winning podium last March as he accepts his state title. He was recently crowned Ironman champion at Walsh Jesuit. 4. Freshman Robin goes for the ball at their home game against Barberton. 5. Sophomore Kalee swings around the bar as the team competed at home against Perry, Austintown and Midview.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YEARBOOK

Movie ticket costs skyrocket while movie ratings drop

BY BEN WHITE

As the weekend draws to a close, you and your friends, or your sweetheart, decide to go to the movies, but are you spending more than your worth in seeing the latest box office hit or flop? Regal Cinemas, AMC, Lake 8 and Great Oaks are the closest and the popular places to see movies for teens and young adults. But as movie prices rose a dollar or more in the last year months, it is going to be harder for students to pay. Friday, November 30, I saw the movie Awake with my friends not realizing that one ticket at Regal Cinema in Montrose costs a 17year-old $9. Now this is not that a big deal, but it is one of those things that you have to put in perspective. The average cost for a DVD with tax on the first day it is released at Wal-Mart is about $15. Now if you see the same movie six months prior in theaters, you are paying anywhere between tw to two-thirds of the price to see it once instead comparred to owning it forever. Not to mention, movies lately have either been amazing or terrible, especially the horror genre. The Mist, a horror film based on a novel by Stephen King, was a flop with the movie not being scary and having a terrible ending. Awake, a suspense film about feeling and hearing everything during a surgery, turned out to flop in the critiques point of few. Finally, Fred Claus, a comedy about Santa’s little brother, turned out to be a disappointment for everyone. “If movies are going to continue to be terrible, students are not going to want to see them, and I don’t want to spend more on tickets than on gas,” says junior Jade Zito. All Hollywood has done is “redo” the same movie over again. Movies such as The Invasion, Halloween, and Alvin and the Chipmunks are some to name in perticular. Now if Hollywood wants to redo a movie put a little spike to it not just give it a more “up-to-date” feel.

M OVIES

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Current Movie Ticket Prices EVENING SHOWING Regal Cinema Montrose $9.00 AMC West Market Plaza $8.50 Lake Cinema 8 $7.50 Great Oaks $7.00

MATINEE SHOWING Regal Cinema Montrose $7.50 AMC West Market Plaza $7.00 Lake Cinema 8 $6.00 -Great Oaks$5.50

This ticket pictured from AMC has had a major effect on teens lately. Viewers are now beginning to notice the price, not just the theatre.

Not to mention, it is almost the same price to rent the movie when it comes out on DVD then it is to see it in theaters. At Blockbuster you may have a surprise charge or two when you rent a movie. In turn, it is getting ridiculous to go see movies in theaters when they are not getting any better in quality.

Christmas Movie Previews AVP 2 The exciting sequel to the popular Alien Vs. Predator movie comes out this Christmas break with more action than ever. I Am Legend This movie starring Will Smith, a biologist, is based on the novel. It is a science fiction piece that tells of a virus infecting the entire planet where only 2% of the entire population survives. Smith, along with a few others, group together to rebuild the universe during this time of distress. National Treasure 2 Another successful sequel is planned to come out this winter for adventurous viewers everywhere. Join Nicholas Cage for another quest through history. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street This horror film is about a vengeful barber that cuts people’s heads off and a diner cook serves them in her meat pies. P.S. I Love You This is a heart-filled story of a young widow, Hilary Swank, that discovers ten messages from her late husband encouraging her to live life to the fullest.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA

Lyra explores a fantastical world and encounters many adventures on her way.

The Golden Compass sparks controversy REVIEW BY LOGAN KILBRIDE

Once again, a conflict of contrasting opinions is breaking out of the movie theatres this Christmas season. The battle between religion and atheism is at the heart of the issue for movie viewers this winter. The Golden Compass is the basis of this ideological controversy. This movie is based on Philip Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials. Lyra, an orphan played by Dakota Blue Richards, lives in a fantastical parallel universe in which the Magesterium threatens to dictate and dominate the entire region. This conflict is seen as a microcosm for the battle between good and evil, and Lyra is on a mission to “kill God.” Other stars in the movie include: Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. The Catholic League recently called for a boycott of the movie in October. They stated that the film portrayed anti-Catholic ideas and promoted atheist viewpoints. For these reasons, many people have seen a negative message sent by the film’s parallels. Many people tend to agree with the Catholic League. “I refuse to watch The Golden Compass because of its immoral message and unethical style,” said junior Olivia Kormushoff. Others, such as junior Jordyn Casey, disagree. “I’m not worried about the controversial message of the movie as long as the finished product is entertaining. One movie is not going to change my ideas on religion,” said Casey. The movie itself seems to counteract the Chronicles of Narnia series and starts off with Lyra entering a fantastical kingdom and engaging herself in a battle between worldwide oppression and a micro-

o SHOWING

scopic particle. She finds herself constantly scurrying from one adventure to the next. This fastpaced film leads to a lot of excitement yet confusion at the same time. There is a strong and experienced cast, but character development is lacking which takes away from the potential that this movie has. This could be viewed as an entertaining film for some, but there is little entertainment value found in this film for me. “I liked The Golden Compass because it was filled with fun and adventure,” said sophomore Brian Sarlouis. It seems as if the movie lacks an identity. The controversy of religion verses atheism is definitely evident in the media, but it seems as though the movie tries to hide this controversial theme that it once promoted. Also, the theme is one of mixed emotions and random adventure. Teenagers are the projected audience due to its PG-13 rating, but the fantastical elements of the movie infer a younger targeted audience. The movie has some good aspects that could be magnified, but overall it seemed like a let-down to me after all of the hype. There was little to be said about the message (however controversial it may be), and the action seemed scattered and varied. However, if you are looking for a magical film, this movie might work for you. Although, From an entertaining and ethical stance, I would recommend to steer clear from The Golden Compass.

LOG’s RATING 2 OUT OF 5 FAIR

E NTERTAINMENT What entertains you? The basketball games, and then the dance afterwards. So many students go and show how much we support our team. -Emma Webb, 9 I am entertained by magic. I am a member of the Youth Sorcery Association (YSA), and that takes up most of my time. I also enjoy air hockey and minesweeper. -Mike Vuona, 12 I definitely love going shopping when I’m in the mood. Other than that, hanging out with my friends and doing whatever we feel like. -Melissa Giebeler, 10 Music, as in going to shows. It’s just a place to go loose and crazy. The mosh pits and circle pits are also fun. Also, anything history related: books, games, and TV. I just like history. -Daniel Ciofani, 11 Hunting for Santa. I hate Santa. -Kevin Fitzgerald, 10 Music and movies without a doubt. Storytelling and music are the oldest forms of entertainment and speak to the soul the most. Music can radically alter your mood, emotions and attitude in seconds. Watching a movie has become one of the most popular activities around, and leaving a theater satisfied is the best feeling you can have. -Andrew Gipson, 11 Music, movies, games and shopping are all entertaining to me. They are even more fun with friends! -Ginny Gegick, 10 Going to the movies with friends or just going around town. Browsing for sound system-related things for cars on the internet. Working on cars and shopping at Summit Racing in Tallmadge. -Chase Carnes, 12 I love to make muffins and go shopping for shoes. -Sarah Jack, 10 I love to play sports, I am a huge sports fan. Baseball is my personal favorite. -Matt Fritz, 12

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Rocking around the Christmas tree BY TYLER JACK

Guitar Hero, a popular video game by Harmonix Music Systems, has recently released its fourth edition. The newest game, Guitar Hero Three: Legends of Rock (GH3), came out on October 28 and has made a huge impact on gamers around the globe and in our community. This game has many new features, and different styles of game play. Legends of Rock also has a new list of popular songs, 60 in all. “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones, “Rock and Roll All Night” by Kiss and “Slow Ride” by Fog Hat are among the songs. “I have Guitar Hero I, II, 80s edition and III. I can’t get enough of the game,” said Alex Tokar, 9. The newly added feature of this game is the cooperative mode; this feature allows you to play a song with a friend and to try to get a high score. There is a also a different setup with the view for when you are playing. GH3 still has all of the same playing modes as the old one. The creators of the game are

PHOTO BY TYLER JACK

Guitar Hero 3 and a wireless controller makes the perfect Christmas gift for any video game lover.

amazed at just how popular the game has become in the past year. GH3 was their highest selling game out of the four. The people of Harmonix are already planning on a new Guitar Hero with more

recent songs. In GH3, there is a battle mode in your career that allows you play real people from popular bands. The object is to try and beat them in a battle using a se-

ries of attacks. Slash from Guns and Roses and Tom Morello from Metallica, can both be unlocked. You can play as these characters also. With the controller for the game being in the shape of an actual guitar, it is easy to get yourself believing you are really playing. Sometimes the experience is so close to the real thing you can ﬁnd yourself rocking your head or even walking around. GH3 has made a variety of new easy to use wireless controllers. These new guitars are in the shape of actual guitars, such as the Gibson Les Paul. While playing GH3 you might see that the game play has became more difﬁcult than the previous three games. “It took some getting used to, but I am back to beating all of the expert songs,” said Brian Poetter, 11. He said that he can end up playing this game for two hours at a time on some days. GH3 is sure to be one of the most popular gifts for this Christmas. Have fun and rock on Wadsworth High.

Writers strike affects industry, students BY JILL EDMONDS

The Writers Guild of America strike is a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike began on November 5, after three months of intense contract negotiations. The end does not seem near. Writers are rallying for several key issues including DVD residuals, union jurisdiction over animation and reality program writers and, perhaps the biggest issue, monetary compensation for “new media” sources. These sources include contents such as videos on demand and episodes put on the Internet. This is the first strike since 1988. The 1988 strike lasted approximately five months and cost the entertainment industry 500 million dollars. The current strike is expected to last into the new year and cost much more than the previous strike. The strike affects over 12,000 writers and all television viewers across the nation. “The strike is really ruining my TV watching. I just want to be able to watch new episodes of The Office. All the programs

that are now playing are reality shows, and who wants to watch those?” said senior Justine Frase. Many television programs are affected by the strike. The ﬁrst shows to take a blow were talk shows such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Desperate to stay on air, many hosts have offered to pay employees from their own pockets. Leno has reportedly offered to pay nearly 80 staffers from his own salary to have the show continue. “I’m not even sure why the strike is going on,” said junior James Mosier. Many people are in the same boat; they do not understand why writers are seeking a higher pay. People have the idea that writers are well-paid, but the truth is that 48% of the members of the WGAW are unemployed. “The strike has gone on long enough. I hope they can reach an agreement soon so television can return to normal,” said sophomore Jessica Toth. The entertainment business is already a month into the strike, and negotiations are still heated. The strike seems like it will last quite a bit longer until the Writers Guilds and the AMPTP can reach an agreement.

Strikes of Yesteryear 1952: Actors strike, lasted two and a half months 1960: Actors strike, lasted six weeks 1980: Actors strike, lasted three months 1981: Writers strike, lasted three months 1985: Writers strike, lasted two weeks 1987: Directors strike, lasted three hours and ﬁve minutes 1988: Writers strike, lasted ﬁve months

PHOTO COURTESY OF THEMARCNORTONSHOW.NET

Marc Norton in his popular store, Norton Furniture. PHOTO COURTESY OF THEMARKNORTONSHOW.NET

Eccentric furniture salesman, local superstar makes mark BY JILL EDMONDS & TYLER JACK

Marc Norton, businessman, actor, or just your average everyday guy? Many people know Norton for his eccentric commercials that advertise Norton Furniture located in Cleveland. Others might have seen his show, The Marc Norton Show. Some may have even been lucky enough to have met Norton in real life. Norton, 46, has been an entrepreneur for a long time. “I’m very independent,” said Norton. He has carried this attitude throughout his life, which has led him to be the owner of his business. When Norton ﬁrst appeared on television, many thought it was a joke. He uses crazy outﬁts and scenes where he tells about his low prices. However, his creative commercials have worked in his favor. “About half of my business is generated from my commercials,” said Marc Norton. He has even made it onto national television; E!s Talk Soup featured one of his commercials. The Marc Norton Show is dedicated to Norton’s wacky mind

and humor. It is full of different skits and sitcoms that show his creative side. The episodes are available for purchase online. Norton attended Cleveland Heights High school and has grown up in Cleveland his whole life. He is not married, and he has no children. Marc Norton is most popular for his slogan, “Good news for people with credit problems: Marc Norton is here for you. Now seriously, if you can’t get credit in my store, you can’t get credit anywhere. My name is Marc and you can count on it.” Good news indeed, his store has gotten a lot of business from all of these commercials. “[It’s] terriﬁc,” said Norton. Next time one sees Marc Norton on the television, one will see more than just some crazy guy with a beard and a pony tail. One will be reminded that there is so much more to Norton than what is on the surface. You can count on it! For additional information on Norton, his show or business, please visit www.themarcnortonshow.net.

December 2007

THE BRUIN

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V ARIETY

December 2007

THE BRUIN

BEST DECORATED HOUSE BY AUMAINE GRUICH

This festive Grandview house shines with holiday spirit as the season of lights is in full swing.

Sounds of the Season Here are the best (and worst!) Christmas songs chosen by the students of Wadsworth High School:

Best

1. “Silent Night” 2. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” 3. “All I Want for Christmas is You” 4. “Christmas Time is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas 5. “Frosty the Snowman”

worst

1. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” 2. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” 3. “Jingle Bells” 4. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” 5. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

PHOTO BY AUMAINE GRUICH

Every year after Thanksgiving, many families in Wadsworth start putting up their Christmas decorations. Driving around town, one can see colored lights, nativity scenes, and wreathes. Wadsworth has seen it all. In some neighborhoods it seems like a contest for the best decorated house, and in others it would appear that they did not even know what Christmas was! This Christmas, The Bruin is giving credit to one of the most festive houses in Wadsworth. This house is on Grandview Street, which many Wadsworth residents drive on every day. Driving by this house in the daytime, it looks completely ordinary, and most would not expect that it would turn into a glittering Christmas wonderland when the sun goes down! Complete with colored lights, glowing figurines, a “Merry Christmas” sign on the roof, a shining Christmas tree glowing through the window, figurines in the yard, and a giant inflatable snowman, this house is about as decked out as it can get!

Owned by Bill Rager and Brenda Samaco, the house is decorated this elaborately every Christmas. The residents on Grandview street have been able to enjoy this Christmas display during the holiday season for the last seven years. Bill and Brenda especially enjoy the Christmas time and their house decorations are the main focus. Every year, no matter what the weather is, they are outside adding decoration after decoration to their yard and house. They especially enjoy decorating when other people on their street join in! While most people start decorating around the beginning of December, Bill and Brenda take out the lights and ornaments as early as Halloween because, as they say, it takes from 2-3 months to get their yard completely decorated. Congratualations to Bill and Brenda for their holiday spirit; it certainly lights up their street! The decorations around town are enough make anyone cheerful during the holiday season but this house certainly takes the cake! Hopefully it will inspire residents of Wadsworth to break out the Christmas decorations and let this house inspire Christmas spirit!

Helpful hints to get the girl SUBMITTED BY ANDREW GIPSON

All our lives, this poor race of men has been told by movies, television and media that finding romance is all about being confident. “You have to have a positive attitude,” Andrew is the anthem of those attempting to give advice on love. One might as well say “the key to happiness is being happy.” Confidence comes with knowledge; otherwise a man can go all his life using a hit-and-miss strategy, with each miss hacking off another chunk of his self-esteem. All you men out there unsuccessfully looking for love already know what to do; you need to learn how to do it. With these points in mind, you can develop a personal style all your own. Not only will you look good, but it will also tell women that you’re no longer an adolescent boy, but a mature, confident and interesting man who is worth taking a look at. Although doing this may seem like something the other guys would ridicule you for, don’t worry about it. You’re not trying to impress guys, you’re trying to attract women.

1) HAIR: Not greasy or out of control. Go to a hair stylist and “get a look.” 2) GLASSES: Proper prescription. Good frames can be expensive, but shopping around can yield results. 3) BAD HABITS: Break them. Get a self-help book, therapy, intervention, whatever. A man not in control of his habits is not in control of himself. 4. FACIAL HAIR: Most guys do not look good with beards. Some do not look good without them. But no one looks good with a bushy Grizzly Adams sitting on their face. 5. LIPS: If you plan on kissing anyone, your lips can’t resemble an old alligator-skin purse. A simple container of lip balm can fix this. 6. SMELLS: Do not fart. Carry breath mints, but don’t take them in front of a possible date. Be very clean. 7. POCKETS: Do not overload. The huge tumor on the seat of your pants that is your wallet must be cleaned out and slimmed down. 8. BELT: If overweight, don’t get a flashy belt. 9. SHOES: Buy more shoes. Take care of them. Odds are, you don’t have any more than four pairs of shoes, and probably don’t keep them clean. Try buying a few good pairs and maintain them. You can have a rugged look without mud on your boots. 10. POSTURE: If you slouch, you look like a slob. End of story. Although some of you may need a chiropractor, most can start today. Back straight, shoulders back, feet flat, and cheeks clenched (not your face; that looks weird.) Leaning back in your chair can also encourage bad posture, so sit straight as much as possible. You will get used to it.

New innovations affect year in science BY ALYSSA ROBERTS

From batteries that run on sugar to light-emitting wallpaper, 2007 has been a year of scientiﬁc innovation. As the threats of global warming become impossible to ignore, the scientiﬁc world is intent on creating realistic alternative energy sources. The PowerSheet, Popular Science’s “Innovation of the Year,” is a solar panel without the panel: just a coating, thin as a layer of paint, that takes light and converts it to electricity. The PowerSheet’s biggest draws are its inexpensiveness and how easily it can be manufactured. Scientists believe the PowerSheet has the potential to coat the roofs of buildings around the world, continuing the worldwide push to combat climate change. According to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery,

50% of people with permanent body art seek to have it removed at some point in their lives, and Freedom-2 ink is making this possible. Using biodegradable, bioabsorbable dyes, tattoos can easily be removed with a single laser treatment. As tattoos become more popular than ever, Freedom-2 ink is becoming the safe, regret-free way to express yourself. This year, neuroscientists at MIT have discovered a scientific explanation for déjà vu, the odd sensation of already having experienced something. Studies of an area of the brain where rapid recognition takes place revealed neural firing that suggests old and new experiences were running together, creating the eerie overlap of different times. The theory is that encountering a new location causes a set of neurons to fire, creating a map of the experience. Afterwards, visiting another place with a similar

map can cause us to unconsciously recognize the resemblance, creating the feeling of familiarity. Until a few weeks ago, the only way to create stem-cells, the undifferentiated cells that can develop into any of the 220 cell types of the human body, was by making and destroying human embryos. This method provoked an ethical debate that has slowed research that could drastically change the treatment of conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. On November 20, two teams of scientists announced that they had found a way to create stem cells without the use of an embryo. Although radio-frequency identiﬁcation (RFID) technology has been around since WWII, RFID tags have become much more useful in 2007. An RFID tag is a tiny device consisting of a very small chip attached to an even smaller antenna. The only purpose of RFID

is to store a very large number that can track inventory, animals, and potentially even people. Because the tags can be read by computers at a distance, they resemble barcodes on steroids, and because they are so cheap, manufacturers are looking for reasons not to put them in products. Potentially, RFID could be implanted in humans to provide easy access to emergency medical information or track kidnap victims. This year, motion pictures such as Beowulf have beneﬁted from innovations in digital 3-D. The iPhone has changed the way we interact with mobile devices. The Chicago Spire is a seven-sided spiral skyscraper that directs wind upward along the spiral, reducing street-level winds. The inventions and innovations of 2007 have changed the world, and the incredible science of 2008 is just around the corner.

December 2007

Upcoming EVENts Avril Lavigne 3/26/2008 $58-$253

R Kelly 12/23/2007 $175- $565

Motion City Soundtrack 12/14/2007 $48- $153

Ozzy Osbourne

12/20/2007 $90- $442

George Strait 3/1/2007 $129- $300

Bone Thugs N Harmony 12/22/2007 $75- $183

Hawthorne Heights loses guitarist, friend BY KYLE DAVIS

Hawthorne Heights’ guitarist Casey Calvert was found dead on Saturday, November 25. Police found him unconscious after they were called to the group’s tour bus around 2:30 pm. Autopsy results are still awaiting, although many think that his death may have been stemmed from a pre-existing condition related to acute-asthma. Although originally named, A Day in the Life, the band Hawthorne Heights was formed in 2001. Hawthorne Heights stormed onto the scene in 2004 with the release of their first album, The Silence of Black and White. Even though the sales started off slow at first, they soon skyrocketed when MTV began to air the music video for the song, “Ohio is for Lovers.” As the song increased in radio and TV airtime, Hawthorne Heights enjoyed a nationwide fan base as well as having the highest selling debut album for Victory Records. In 2006, the band released its second album, If Only You Were Lonely. Although it did not have as much success as the band’s first record still went gold. Currently, Hawthorne Heights has 21 songs for their upcoming album, but has to settle some legal disputes before they can start recording. Although the recording of their new album is important, it is not

12/30/2007 $220 - $1589

Chris Brown 12/26/ 2007 $115 - $499

Angels and Airwaves

2/26/2008 $69 - $165

The Spice Girls have ﬁnally overcome their differences and agreed to bring out the high fashion wardrobes, glitter boots, and gold accessories for a world tour. According to BBC News, the tour has been put together by Fuller’s company and 19 Entertainment. It is slated to kick off in Los Angeles and move to Las Vegas and New York. To top it off, they have planned to travel to Europe, South Africa, Argentina and Asia in early 2008 with tickets selling out quickly. “Imagine you get divorced

Groban releases

album, fans ecstatic

REVIEW BY AUTUMN ELLIS

PHOTO BY JEFF SHULTZ

Casey and the rest of Hawthorne Heights rock out during a concert.

as important as the tragic event that happened to the group just a few weeks ago. While Hawthorne Heights was touring in Washington D.C., guitarist Casey Calvert was found dead on the band’s tour bus. Hawthorne Heights had just started their U.S. tour in Detroit, Michigan, the day before, and tragedy struck. Although the exact cause for Calvert’s death is still unknown, initial reports indicated that his death may have been stemmed from a condition called acute-asthma. The band reported that Calvert died in his sleep and was found just before the band was about to do a sound check on the morning of November 24. Reports from Billboard Magazine say that Calvert died of a pulmonary embolism, which could be from a blood clot that broke loose and traveled into his lungs. “He was the silliest, most ridicu-

lous person I’ve ever met. You’d look at him and smile,” Hawthorne Heights lead singer JT Woodruff said. The band says it has taken them forever to “come to grips and ﬁgure out the whole situation.” The other group members paid tribute to Calvert through his favorite charity and by getting tattoos that remind them of him. Calvert was remembered as one who was kind-hearted and loving, always wanting to make people laugh. “I can’t believe that he died so young,” said junior Tina Lungaro. “It’s horrible that a person that young had his life taken away from him.” As you can see, the death of Casey Calvert not only affected that people in close relation with him, but many fans around the country.

Spice Girls back on track, touring globe BY AUTUMN ELLIS

Beyonce

M USIC

THE BRUIN

and get back together with your ex-husband.” said Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell), “Obviously it’s nostalgic, but it happens.” The Spice Girl’s fans are elated about the recent coming together as a group again, as well as the Spice Girls themselves. They are bringing back memories for everyone to share. “The Spice Girls getting back together was the best Christmas present I could ever ask for!” said junior Emily McMillan when hearing the exciting news. Remembering their past as singers has certainly motivated them for the future, but they are still the same old Spice Girls. “Our priorities have changed,

and that’s why when we’re onstage, we have even more fun,” Baby Spice (Emma Bunton) said. “Because we know that after that, we have to go home and feed children. We love being onstage together.” Spice Girls tour merchandise is ﬂying off of the shelves at the shows, which is fantastic news. To make sure that no-one misses out, the Spice Girls’ official website is excited to offer the fans a chance to buy the ofﬁcial merchandise online, www.spicegirls.com. “The Spice Girls are the hottest things that ever dropped down from a UFO.” said junior Olivia Kormushoff.

The tables turned when Josh Groban released his first Christmas album recently. Being a young, talented singer, he is trying to make it to the top with his Grammy-nomination as an American singer with his admired vocals. That is exactly what he has accomplished during the big week his album was released.When the selling of his album did not meet his expectations, he made an entrance on Oprah Winfrey’s show and surprisingly the sales increased to twice the amount, making it the number one album this month with a grand total of 539,000 copies sold. Groban’s first sales mark above 500,000 brings his holiday album sales total to above 1.5 million copies in its 8th week on the chart. After recording his first, spectacular Christmas album, titled “Noël,” it quickly became the most desired CD this holiday season. “Noël,” is titled to all audiences of all age groups, with a variety of languages including French, Spanish and Italian. “Josh Groban’s music is so empowering when you listen to his musical words,” said senior Nate Leeson. Groban’s voice truly is one of a kind, he is known for his mature and lyrical baritone voice. Born in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish-American father and a Norwegian-American mother, his accent is rare. “I was not really a big fan of Groban until his Christmas CD because it has showed his range and talent as an American Singer.,” said junior Bre Casalinova. Groban’s voice has a warm and breathtaking tone to it that fans are to die for. His simply heart breaking voice and heart breaking talent are adored by many. After listening to “Noël”, Groban’s widely popular new Christmas album, we can tell many have an ear for talent. Groban can certainly sing. “Josh Groban is a singer; a really amazing singer. If God had a singing voice, he would sound like Josh Groban.,” said senior Eric Thomas.

MRS. LANCE’S TOP 10 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS: 1. Merry Christmas Darling - Karen Carpenter 2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby 3.It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Johnny Mathis 4. It’s the most wonderful time of the year - Andy Williams 5. Christmas Time is Here - The Chipmunks 6. Silver Bells - Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby 7. Count Your Blessings - Bing Crosby 8. Jingle Bell Rock - Brena Lee 9. Little Drummer Boy -Rosemary Clooney 10. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - Burl Ives

Happy Holidays!

S PEAKOUT

December 2007

THE BRUIN

what gets you into the holiday spirit?

I get into the holiday spirit by ﬁlling out holiday spirit forms for The Bruin. Also, standing in long lines at the airport, freezing to death in the cold Ohio weather, and being exposed to cheesy holiday music in the shopping mall while being forced to purchase gifts for people I don’t even care about.

As soon as the tree is up and the lights are lit, that automatically puts me in the Christmas Spirit. That’s when I start playing my Christmas music and start my Holiday shopping! On top of all that, I really love when it snows!

I get into the holiday spirit by drinking hot chocolate and watching “Elf” with Taylor Robinson and Mike Carps! Dan Hayes, 10

Kaycee Erwin, 11

Sitting around the ﬁreplace, drinking hot chocolate and Christmas in general!

Aly Stano, 12

Lanie Povirk and Sarah Evans, 12

I love it when it snows! Putting decorations on the tree with my family. Watching snow fall and sitting around the ﬁreplace puts me into the Christmas spirit the most! Steph Gilbert, 10

I love listening to Christmas music in my Senior Comp. class! Sam Pecnik, 12

I like putting up the Christmas tree! It always makes me smile!

It’s awesome knowing that Santa’s coming to give us presents! We love it when Santa says ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’

Amanda Pallija, 10

Chelsie Palecek and Kristin Packer, 11

Hearing Christmas music and setting up for Christmas gets me into spirit! Also going and cutting down a Christmas tree and making cookies puts me into the Christmas spirit!

Snow! Deﬁnitely snow. Christmas trees and ahhh...snow!

Tara Wilkey, 11

PHOTO BY BRITTANI PELTZ

Tyler Chaney, 9

Seniors Lanie and Sarah get into the holiday spirit by decorating a Christmas tree.

The snow and gathering with my family around the tree on Christmas day! I get so curious wondering what I’m going to get. I love holiday food!

Cool lights, awesome sweets and gifts. Enough said.

Mistletoe! I adore smooching under the mistletoe!

Angela Cole, 10

Tyler O’Brien, 10

Ryan Ladu, 10

T E A C H E R S

S T U D E N T S

What was the best present you’ve ever received? The best present I ever received was a doll house my dad built for my sister and I when I was about ten years old. It was an exact replica of our own home, and it meant the world to me that he put so much time and effort into it. We still have it, and I plan to give it to my little girl when she gets older.

The best present that I have ever received (besides my two children) is a satellite Dish (Direct TV) from my wife. We were not married at the time and the Dish won my heart over.

My husband went to the hospital for surgery on December 12, ten years ago. He passed away there a few weeks later. As I was cleaning up around our Christmas tree I discovered a package pushed to the back of the tree. In the Mr. Moore package was a bracelet I had earlier admired. He had disguised it by putMy mother’s ring my husband bought ting it in between two pieces of wood me two years ago. to make the package bigger. On each Mrs. Ake piece of wood he had written “I love Mrs. Hutchinson you.” I had the wood on a stand to remind me every day that I was loved. The best present I ever received was a When I was ten years old, I received This was not the most expensive presmy dog ‘Schotzy’ (means little sweet G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip! one in German). She never failed to ent I have ever received, but it was deﬁnetly the most memorable. Mr. Booth show her love for me!

The best present I ever received was the gift of life. I was born on Christmas day. My mom brought me home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking which I still have. It has my birth weight and length written inside of it. Mr. Bivens

Mrs. Bock

Mrs. Carrie Knapp

The best present I ever received was having my son home for Christmas from Iraq.

Mr. Kibler

Every year, our children must follow clues to ﬁnd their last gift from Santa. Last year, along with our children’s gifts, there were two small boxes (from Jareds!) for me! Being the one who does most of the shopping in the house, I was shocked. The surprise made the gift all the more special.

Mrs. Nedoh The best present I ever received was a left-handed hunting bow when I was eleven. Mrs. Thompson

A 1975 Ford Mustang. It was nothing fancy but it was nice not to have to ride the bus to school or to bum a ride my senior year of high school. Mr. Berlin

Fifth row Tom Petty tickets! Wahoo! Mrs. Trausch

The best present I ever received was when I was nine years old, it was the G.I. Joe aircraft carrier, it was six feet long and three feet wide, AWESOME!!! Mr. Jones

PHOTO BY MIKE HOOVER

Mrs. Trausch reenacts her celebration when she received her Tom Petty tickets.

A RTS & C LUBS THE BRUIN 18 Our Town delivers brilliant production December 2007

BY DAVID KAUFFMAN

A masterful performance was put on by the drama department the ﬁrst weekend of December. They had a total of three showings at O.J. Work Auditorium, culminating on Saturday, December 1. Opening night had a crowd in the theatre’s lobby waiting to get the best seats. Everyone on the cast and crew did their best in putting on Our Town. “Everyone had so much energy and amazing line delivery!” said Sarah Bradford. “It was a great performance.” For those of you who did not get to go see Our Town, you missed out on witnessing a wonderful drama production. Our Town is set in Grovers Corners, New Hampshire, a small American town in the beginning of the twentieth century. Grovers Corners is an average town with normal, everyday activities. It represents any small town, allowing everyone to see Grovers Corners as their own town. As the play progresses, events of everyday life are depicted on stage. There are two main families in Our Town: the Gibbs family, played by Drew Cline (Dr.

Gibbs), Kelsey Hill (Mrs. Gibbs), Nate Ott (George Gibbs) and Katie Collins (Rebecca Gibbs). The Webb family is played by Nate Leeson (Mr. Webb), Sarah Pels (Mrs. Webb), Spencer Csaky (Wally Webb) and Sarah Bradford (Emily Webb). The daily lives of these two families and the relations between them are lived out on stage. Life goes on and the town grows. New family members are born and others are joined in marriage. In fact, George Gibbs and Emily Webb fall in love and are to wed each other. Their marriage brings the two families closer together. With life, of course, comes death. Our Town takes a morbid turn in the end with the death of Emily Webb. The way the drama department portrayed the after life was unique and creative. The lighting and the emotionless faces on the actors and actresses sent a chill down the audience’s spines. This act of the play really made the viewers think about their life and what they have done. In the end, the drama department’s production of Our Town was a pleasant reminder of how life goes on. Life continues in

a similar pattern year after year: birth, life, death. Everyone goes through these stages, some quicker than others. Sarah Bradford also said, “The play is about realizing life as you live it. There are so many truisms

strewn throughout the play that really make people think. I think anybody who was paying attention to not only the plot but the words as well can take something from this play and relate it to their own life.”

All of the cast and crew need to be congratulated for a job well down and a great performance. Hopefully their next drama production will be just as great as this one or better.

PHOTO BY DAVID KAUFFMAN

Nate and Sarah discuss their feelings in the soda shop scene of Our Town. This scene was Bradford’s favorite scene because of the challenge it presented them. The drama department hit it big once again.

Speech and Debate Choir performs for community SPEECH: Competitions thus far: Perry, Wadsworth, Copley, Canton South, Glenoak, Canton McKinley and CVCA/Stow

Competitions won thus far: Placed fifth at Canton McKinley

Competitors who placed: -Sarah Brazier placed fifth at Wadsworth, sixth at Canton McKinley -John grimm placed sixth at Wadsworth -Rachael Albor placed fourth at Copley, second at Wadsworth -Chrissy Copeland placed second at Canton McKinley, fourth at Canton South -Katie Bauer and Katie Hasenyager placed sixth at Wadsworth, Canton South -Jessica Walker placed fifth at Canton South, sixth at Canton McKinley

DEBATE: Competitions thus far: Perry, Glenoak, Wadsworth, Copley and Stow

Competitions won thus far: Perry and Wadsworth

Competitors who placed:

-Sultan Ahmed placed first at Perry, Wadsworth, fourth at Copley, Canton South, fifth at Glenoak -Nick Peterson placed third at Copley -Nabil Darwich placed fifth at Perry

Wadsworth High School Marketing Education “Learn to earn and earn to learn”

BY RACHEL HUDSON

The joyful spirit of the holidays has been shown throughout our community by a young and talented group of singers and dancers. During the holiday season, the show choir has been staying busy with performances at the high school, Galaxy, First Christian Church, O.J. Auditorium and many more locations close by. Linda McNamara, the director, has put a lot of time and effort into this Christmas routine. “Every year we have new personalities in the mix of show choir and they have become their own team,” said McNamara. With the help of choreographers, Nathan Justice, Kelsey Hill, Maria Puglisi and Brian Mesick, McNamara has put together the splendid holiday melody, “Once Upon A Christmas.” The melody contains excerpts from “Here We Come a Caroling,” “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” The show choir sings “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” after their melody. Because of the shorten length of the musical arrangement, they end their performance

PHOTO BY RACHEL HUDSON

The show choir prepared before their performance at the Senior Center. Frosty, Rudolph, Santa and his elves make appearances throughout the show.

with elite choir music when traveling. The most anticipated show this month is the Christmas concert at O.J. Auditorium. The show choir will be performing their entertaining melody. Rudolph and Frosty make appearances along side Santa Claus and his elves. Frosty and the Chipmunks also surprise the audience with their presence. Jamie Arnold, Chet Elliot, Luke Kelley, Marah Tavanello, Eric Thomas, Matt Taylor, Matt O’Brien and Krista Winterseller dress to impress in their holiday costumes for the enjoyment of the young and old audience. “I like dressing up as Santa because I like to make the kids believe I’m the real Santa Claus,” said Thomas. The high school performance is the most exciting performance of all for some of the show choir members. “This performance is always the most exciting, it’s a fun PHOTO BY RACHEL HUDSON Show choir students show off their dance way to start the holiday break,” moves. said senior Katie Lukens.

“We are a performance class and it is fun to go out and perform for the public,” said McNamara, “The town really appreciates it.”

Winter SHOWS 12/17-Christmas Concert

at O.J. @ 8:00 p.m.

12/18-Boys Village

@ 6:30 p.m.

12/20-Lion’s Club

@ 12:30 p.m.

12/20-Isham

@1:30 p.m.

12/21-Christmas Assembly @ 2:00 p.m.

A DS

THE BRUIN

December 2007

Patrons 2007-2008 Al and Donna Whitacre Amy Broadhurst Barb McConnel Babyak Family The Barlow Family The Barnett Family The Baxley Family The Beavers Family The Benya Family Bill and Sharon Powell Brad and Sue Fisher Brian Madigan The Booth Family Crystal Ake The Casalinova Family The Croyle Family The Csaky Family Dave and Nancie Smith Debbie and Gary Lake Denise Russo Doug and Laurie Mobley Dwain Kibler The Duckworth Family Elizabeth Khoury Eric and Diane Smith Frank and Michelle Stuchal The Fortner Family Greg and Ann Dennison The Goddard Family The Henry Family The Hlavaty Family The Hudson Family The Iles Family Jesse and Cathy Smith Jim and Jane Douglas Jim and Julie Winkleman Jim and Robbie Hoover Joe and Wendy Gains John and Julie Saunders Joseph Magnacca

Trish and Dave Swanson Joyce Bock The Tenyak Family The Jack Family Valerie White The Jones Family The Valentine Family Kathy Bergen The Wintersteller Family Kevin and Diane Conley The Keener Family Leslie North The Lumsden Family The Lance Family The Lanson Family The Bruin The Larry Kaufman Family Marian Kauffman still welcomes Marilyn Babyak Jones and Matt and Kristin Hutchinson Melanie Heppell appreciates Melissa Eaton all Patrons. Michelle Farr Mike and Karen Gospodinski Go to Room Mike and Katie Recupero 17 for a form Mike Moser or visit our Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert The Mendel Family website at: The Mcilvaine Family www. The McPeek Family wadsworth. Mr. Shepherd The Snodgrass Family k12.oh.us/whs Patricia Bathurst The Pallija Family The Prechtel Family Randy and Robin Kilbride Rebecca Dills Rich Berlin Rod and Wendy Kaufman The Richards Family Scott and Kathy Mesick Steve Moore The Seifert Family Thompson Excavating Tim and Judi McNutt Tom and Stephanie Stitzel Tom Evans

The Bruin thanks you for your

support!

4bwood@4bwood.com

Proud supporters of the

Wadsworth Grizzlies

(330)334-8400

December 2007

Holiday Spotlight

THE BRUIN

Happy Holidays

o Priecigus Ziemassvetkus Linksmu Kaledu Sreken Bozhik Meri Kirihimete Bon Pasco Maligayan Pasko Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi Sarbatori vesele Buorrit Juovllat Hristos se rodi

from The Bruin

The staff of The Bruin would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday and a joyful New Year. Please enjoy this holiday activity page and your well-deserved break. We ask you to remember to be thankful for the good fortune you have as you celebrate and to remember those who are without. -The Bruin

Holiday Fun Facts Christmas is a contraction of Christ’s Mass from Old English. Franklin Pierce was the first president to decorate the White House Christmas Tree. Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895. The first Christmas cards were invented in 1843. “Jingle Bells” was first written for Thanksgiving.

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH MINI MARSHMALLOWS SERVED DAILY SNOW DAYS NO HOMEWORK HOUR LONG NAP TIME

AN EVERLASTING VENDING MACHINE WINDOWS TO SEE SANTA COMING

CELL PHONE RECEPTION (FOR AFTER SCHOOL PURPOSES OF COURSE) ~ WHS STUDENTS

“It’s a Wonderful Life” appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie. You would receive 364 presents if you received all the gifts in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.’

Christmas Crossword

Across 2. Left for Santa 4. Needed to have school off 5. He led Santa’s sleigh 6. Used to decorate tree 7. Roasted on an open ﬁre 9. Used to remove snow 11. Big bird served on holiday 13. Songs of the season 14. Famous snowman 15. Decoration found on a gift 16. Happy_______!

Down 1. Santa’s helpers 2. How Santa gets in house 3. Found on top of tree 4. Santa’s form of transportation 8. Round decoration found on doors 10. Seasonal drink 12. ______ Christmas!

Winter Word Search

candycane santa frosty mistletoe sled snowball snowman tree chimney chestnuts stocking eggnog

seleVanoce Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun Glædelig Jul Joyeux Noel Kala Christouyenna Froehliche Weihnacten Jwaye Nowel Mele Kalikimaka Mo’adim Lesimkha Shub Nay

Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad Milad Majid Gezur Krilinjden Selamat Hari Natal Shuvo Naba Barsha Ve

a Baras Gledileg Jol Selamat Hari Natal Idah Saidan Wa Sana Jadidah Buone Feste Natalizie Shinnen omedet