The Bruin- January 2007 by Wadsworth Bruin

Wadsworth High School

Newspaper II/III

January 2007

The

BRUIN

1870 - 2006 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 136 years of Excellence in Education”

Volume XXXII No. 4

Senior Bowling night!! Sunday nights from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Great Oaks Lanes $1.00

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

Warm weather takes state by surprise BY ABIGAIL LEDMAN AND MICHELLE MCCUNE

Ohio’s typical winter weather consists of icy roads, snow-covered lawns and occasional snow days. Embraced by some and despised by others, this year’s strange early winter weather has been characterized by fifty degree temperatures, rainy days and a lot of mud. However, one significant aspect has been the distinct absence of snow. While the irregular temperatures this season began warm, a significant drop in temperature has occurred within

the past weeks. Global warming has been the main explanation for this year’s previously warm weather. It is caused by the sun’s rays penetrating through the ozone, a protective layer in the Earth’s atmosphere. These harmful rays cause the melting of the polar ice caps which, in turn, fail to cool the Earth’s surface as they previously did. “Winter is supposed to be cold, but this has been like spring!” said junior Craig Smith. The effects of the unseason-

al warm Since 1860 when temperaweather ture began to be accurately has been measured and recorded, a s t r o n g l y global trend was discovered: felt by the average yearly temperacommuni- ture of the earth has been slowly on the rise. Although ties. Local the change has been less than ski resorts two degrees, it is considered such as significant because the cause B r a n d y - has not been positively identified. wine and INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA Boston Mills have suffered through the snow. Average temperatures so 2005. Gas companies are typitraditional ski season. Tempera- far this winter have been an as- cally forced to put additives in tures must be at or below 28 de- tounding 38 degrees, making it petroleum to prepare it for winter grees in order to produce artificial impossible for skiers to make temperatures. These additives efficient use of their previously can drive up the price of gas; purchased season passes. Dis- however, because of the warmth, appointing for many, ski resorts they have not been required. Whether one decides to buy refuse to provide refunds due to into the global warming theory or inclimate weather. One positive aspect of the believe that the strangely warm unusual weather is the cost of weather was just a fluke, it is ingas. Recently, the price of oil disputable that the effects of the fell to $55.59 per barrel, the low- abnormal beginning of winter est amount since the summer of have been felt by all.

Marie’s makes move

Plans for recreation center stir controversy

BY LAURA MYERS

Marie’s has moved to its new location, a full-ﬂedged restaurant with a patio, bar, and banquet room. PHOTO BY BY RACHEL HUDSON AND RYAN RENACCI

For the past twenty years, the land next to Drug Mart has been at a standstill. After the success of Wal-Mart in Wadsworth, though, this dormant area has become one of the strongest and most valuable commodities. Following suit with many local businesses pursuing the success of that area, Marie’s ﬁnally opened doors on this location earlier in the week. The new Marie’s will accommodate 190 customers, as well as a banquet room which seats an additional 100 residents. During the summer, patrons can dine out on the patio, which contains another bar. To serve the clientele, manager Rick Hallett hired 107 employees. Several of these new employees are high school students who need extra cash. “The new building is beautiful and I am excited to begin working

JESSICA MOONEY

because now it will be closer to there,” said junior Lauren Jack. Marie’s hours will be Sunday- me, and I will eat there all the Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. time,” said sophomore Emily and Friday and Saturday from 11 Hanna. Marie’s has been a fama.m. to 11 p.m. Another aspect that separates ily owned restaurant since 1970, Marie’s from other restaurants is when it was established. Teacher Mrs. Lance has been the low prices for dinners, even after the increases in minimum anxiously waiting for Marie’s to open. She has “been a loyal cuswage. With a new building and group tomer since the early 70’s,” said of employees comes a new and Lance. Going with Marie’s motto, improved menu. New specialty dinners, side orders, soups and Hallett says that he and his emsalads, desserts and award win- ployees are “ladies and gentlemen ning pizza have made their way serving ladies and gentlemen.” into the restaurant. By opening Marie’s in town, Hallett is expecting to “keep the wonderful patrons in Wadsworth, rather than driving to Montrose or Fairlawn,” for high class food and friendly faces. “I’m really excited interior of Marie’s is spacious and comfortthat it’s opening there The able for customers. PHOTO BY BRADLEY MUELLER

News, 3

Jill reports on the recent hanging of Saddam Hussein

When City Council approved a $16 million budget for a new recreation center, it did not foresee the backlash the community would soon produce. Wadsworth has been voicing its need for a new rec center for many years; Steiner Youth Center, the current rec center, is more than 25 years old and its facilities are showing signs of aging. Many other communities, such as Medina and Cuyahoga Falls, have recently rebuilt or updated their rec centers, and the city feels it is time for Wadsworth to do the same. “Steiner’s is deﬁnitely getting old,” said sophomore Chelsie Palecek, a member of the high school swim team. “The pool is not nearly as nice as others we’ve been to.” After approving the budget, City Council appointed Larsen Architects to design the new center. Included in the new plans are an indoor track, a three-court gym for basketball and volley-

ball, an expanded ﬁtness center, family locker rooms and meeting rooms to be used for functions of both the rec center and the Center for Older Adults. Excluded from the plans are a six-lane competitive lap pool and an outdoor pool. The design is currently for a three-lane lap pool adjacent to a lesson pool with a beach entrance. Students and other members of the community have voiced concern about these plans. Without a six-lane pool, the boys and girls high school swim teams, along with the youth team, the Wadsworth Waves, would cease to exist. “They’re catering to the privileged,” said a Steiner employee who could not be named. “Kids will go through Level 5 (of swim lessons), which is when they would normally go to the Waves, and they would have nowhere to go.” Swim team coach Autumn Reeves and several swim team parents have voiced their dissent see Rec Center, page 17

Features, 5

Pictures, 8-9

Entertainment, 13

Learn more about the visiting Costa Rican students

Recap 2006 with photos of all the best events

Read about Zach review of Guitar Hero 2

Editorial

January 2007

The Brewin’ Debate Are Governor Bob Taft’s new standards for college-bound students beneﬁcial? YES

BY ALEX SERFASS

Students are stuggling in math and science during high school, and something has to be done about it. With Taft’s new requirements, students will widen their range of math and science skills.These new educational standards will help Ohio students to compete with other students from all over the country. As the college standards increase every year, more students are finding it harder to excel in math and science fields due to the requirements in high school. It raises the bar for high-school graduates, requiring four years of math, three years of labbased science and other academic benchmarks. There is an opt-out clause in the bill, but students who take that option will not be able to enroll in most four-year state universities. This bill will not be put into effect for another ten years, so current fifth graders will be the first class to feel the effect. The new bill will benefit students by preparing them for what college life will be like.

BY ZACK BUDINSCAK

Students in high school already have hard enough classes. A.P. Classes are in place to help kids test out of college classes. If those are not seen as challenging enough, then the state should not look at changing the high school standards but the college standards. As of right now high school students are required to take three science and three math classes some time in their high school career. In those science classes, either physics or chemistry is required. Math is not cut short either; students are required to take math classes up to Algebra II. After the completion of that class, they can further their education in mathematics in college. The current standards for high school students are perfectly ﬁne. The only problem is many students do not take advantage of the education available to them, thus making the entire system look like it is not up to par. Taft is trying to complete his dreams of maximizing education before he leaves ofﬁce, not doing what is best for the state now.

Letters to the Editor I do not like how we have to punch in our I.D. number in the computer every time we get our lunch. Nobody uses the system to keep money in their account. To me, it just slows down the lunch line. -Jake Hiltner, 9 I love the Bruin, everyone in the class does a great job writing their story each month. Rarely do I ﬁnd any errors or false information in the paper, unlike many school papers which lack fun and excitement. - Jake Palidar, 10 I have got a real bone to pick! When I am not hanging out with my friends on the weekend, I sit at home by myself all weekend and eat a lot of popcorn. When I eat popcorn, the butter and additives get stuck to the side of the bag and that really frustrates me. I was hoping some one could help me with this. -Dan Mueller, 10

I wish we had a wild animal petting zoo in the 800 hall, right next to Mr. Austin’s room. Some days they could let the animals roam the halls, while other times we could take care of them and learn about them. That would be so cool. - Tim Cavanaugh, 11 I believe The Bruin is doing a great job. The recent play coverage was awesome. Keep up the great work. -Bill Peters, 12 The school is too cold! They need to ﬁgure out a way to make the halls warmer. I think they should install heated ﬂoors and heated walls all over the school! -Hannah O’Brien, 11 I think that we should have more foreign language classes available to the students. I am very intrigued by the Hindi language and wish to travel to Trinidad

Editorial

Procrastination leads to stress

Time has always been a difﬁcult concept to comprehend fully, so we just accept it for what it is: constant. What is not constant is our perception of time and how much we have of it. In our fast-paced society, efﬁciency plays a big role, and “planning your time wisely” has never been more important. After Christmas Break, many peoples’ perceptions have been altered. More time is spent trying to avoid work rather than trying to complete it. Procrastination is prominent and apathy is apparent, but is it inevitable or in our hands? The third quarter tends to be a rough one, testing the endurance of each student, regardless of grade. As for the seniors, the annual epidemic has hit, and no one’s had their shots. Senioritis has yet to be recognized by the American Psychological Asso-

ciation as a distinct illness, but any teacher could point out the distinct symptoms. This is the ﬁnal stretch of your high school career, but unlike a race, you don’t give it all you got. People get lazy and no longer feel the need to make an effort, but who does that beneﬁt? Colleges have been known to refuse entrance to previously admitted students after seeing their senior year grades and for many students, end of the year AP tests mean saving thousands of dollars in college. Senior year is meant to be fun, but we at The Bruin want to remind you to get your priorities in the right order. All of the extra minutes throughout the school day are not perceived as much time, but if you take advantage of them, you can save yourself time and stress.

ing our sports teams win, so we need people to cheer them on as they play. Which brings me to my next point: more people need to show up to the after-game dances. People say that they are boring but if you go with your friends you are guaranteed to have a blast! -Sarah Fortner, 10

I was wondering when they were going to ﬁx all the missing tiles in the hallways. I don’t think that there is a hallway with a full set of ceiling tiles! My locker is under one of the areas with no tiles, and I don’t like looking up and seeing pipes and darkness. -Sam Serfass, 9

and Tobago. I watched them on the World Cup and was so fascinated by their culture, I researched their country and tried to learn their language in hopes that one day I would travel there and see my people. -Andy O’Brien, 11 First off I would like to say that our school is way too cold! We need to have the same heat and air throughout the entire school. Sometimes my ﬁrst period class will be really warm, then I will walk into my second period class and it will be colder than it is outside. I think we need to keep the temperature the same throughout the school so students can be comfortable in class. A simple way to ﬁx this dilemma would be to check all of the heaters and put them at the same temperature! Also, I think that more students need to have school spirit. High school is about having fun and watch-

Bruin Staff Editor-in-chief: Brad Mueller Associate Editor-in-chief: Ryan Renacci Copy Editor: Laura Myers Marketing Editor: Kristi Havens Front Page: Page Editor: Michelle McCune Reporters: Abigail Ledman, Rachel Hudson Editorial: Page Editor: Zack Budinscak Reporter: Alex Serfass Music: Page Editor: Justin Mesick Reporter: Amanda Hoover Speakout: Page Editor: Nick Jack Reporter: Tom Kaminski Opinion 1: Page Editor: Simon Russell Reporter: Warren Bates, Dan Costello Opinion 2: Page Editor: Erin Conley Reporter: Brooke Babyak Features: Page Editor: Drew Knight Reporter: Aaron Krumheuer News: Page Editor: Jill Edmonds Reporters: Mike Hoover Picture Page: Page Editor: Dave Kipfer Reporter/Photographer: Brittani Peltz Entertainment: Page Editor: Kat Little Reporter: Ben Dee, Zach Berger Variety Page: Page Editor: Molly Brazier Reporters: Carly Mcnutt Sports 1: Page Editor: Jesse Mooney Reporter: Josh Snyder Sports 2: Page Editor: Britt Busson Reporter: Matt Snodgrasss Movie Page: Page Editor: Kristi Havens Community Spotlight: Page Editor- Jenny Harsh Reporter-Laura Arch Ads/ Business Manager: Garrett Weinecke, Matt Sarlouis Page Editors: Newspaper/Yearbook 1 Classes Advisor: John Gramuglia

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 intra-school, 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 From your principal

January 2007

Congress opens 2007 with new faces, leaders

BY MIKE HOOVER

Welcome to 2007! As the new year begins the students at WHS will soon begin a very important process. This process is scheduling. The decisions you make now regarding your schedule will follow you for many years to come. Students and parents often have questions regarding their schedule. Some examples of these questions are: How difﬁcult should I make my schedule? How will my schedule affect my future college and career choices? These and other questions are very important to answer; for this reason our counselors hold meetings with students to help guide them through the scheduling process. Along with the counselors, your current teachers will be instrumental in helping you make the most appropriate choices for next year. Please take this process seriously and allow the professional staff at WHS to help you make the most appropriate decisions for your schedule. Go Grizzlies!! Mr. Williams

Congress met on January 4 in its 110th meeting under the control of its first-ever female Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi, the newly-elected speaker, called the situation a “cause for celebration.” Pelosi is a Democrat from California. When minority leader John Boehner handed Pelosi the gavel, which symbolizes the speaker’s power, Pelosi was overcome with excitement and gave him a kiss. Along with the election of Pelosi as the first female House speaker, another milestone was reached. Keith Ellison, also a Democrat, became the first Muslim elected into Congress. Ellison was sworn in with a Quran borrowed from the Library of Congress. The Quran once belonged to Thomas Jefferson. Ellison’s family and the media were present as history was made when Pelosi delivered Ellison the House oath. Most people approved of the election of a Muslim with the exception of Republican Virgil Goode, who said that he does “not want the United States to become a Muslim nation.”

Little offense to this statement was taken by Ellison, and the men shook hands and talked. After this year’s inaugurations, there are now a record 90 women in Congress (74 in the House, 16 in the Senate). In this same meeting, Congress was under Democratic control for the ﬁrst time in 12 years. “The Democrats are back,” said Pelosi. Pelosi also pledged that the Democrats would try to bring reform to “Bush’s policy in Iraq.” President Bush’s newest plans for the war in Iraq were unveiled January 10 when he announced his plans to send more than 21,000 new troops into Iraq in upcoming months at a cost of over $5 billion. The total cost of the war is nearing $400 billion, roughly the amount of money necessary to build 35,000 schools in the U.S. Democratic Senator Barack Obama, a possible presidential candidate for 2008, said the Democrats would not immediately look to withdraw troops from Iraq, but instead look to stop Bush’s planned military expansion. Senator Chuck Hagel compared the situation in Iraq to the Vietnam War. Also, according to

Controversy hangs in air

life of an innocent. Sergio Pelico, 10, was found Many mixed emotions surdead by hanging in his bedroom. round the televised execution It is believed to be an accidental of Saddam Hussein, the former suicide. Pelico’s family thinks leader of Iraq. Hussein, at age 69, that after seeing Hussein’s death was hanged on Saturday, Decemin the news, he acted it out. They ber 30, 2006, in the early morning believe he did not think it was hours. real. The execution took place in According to the Chicago northern Baghdad. Sun-Times Julio Hussein was found Gustavo, Pelico’s guilty of crimes uncle, asked, “Why against humanshow that on televiity, specifically the sion?” slaughtering of the The family is now city of Dujail. He trying to raise was a dictator with enough money the intention of to send the body keeping his counto Guatemala for try divided by ethburial. nicity and religion, Cheers, predicted and was widely violence and the known for his crudeath of a young boy are not the elty to people of all ages. only problems that With the death surround this case. of Hussein, the Leaked videos of people of Iraq are the execution are in a state of congiving officials a flict. According to When Saddam was read his convictions of crimes against humanity, he handful of work. CNN, the Baath yelled out in court. Officials had to try to calm the irate former dictator. The videos were PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGES.GOOGLE.COM Party, which ruled taken via celluduring Hussein’s era, gave warn- Chanting, dancing around the lar phone and appeared on Aling to “grave consequences” if corpse and other celebratory cus- Jazeera television and the interthe leader was hanged. Now that toms were carried out. net later on the execution date. the deed has been done, many ciThe execution was photo- Three arrests have already been vilians are living in fear of violent graphed and videotaped exten- made. attacks. sively. Televisions around the Although the conflicts that Baathists are placing respon- globe tuned in to watch a broken still hang in the air are being sibility of Hussein’s death on Hussein finally fall, and news sta- sorted out, the death of Hussein America. They released their tions continually aired footage. has been a huge step forward for comments on albasrah.net, statEven Hussein’s death took the the young democracy of Iraq. BY JILL EDMONDS

ing, “The Baath and the resistance are determined to retaliate in all ways and all places that hurt America and its interests.” No comments from American ofﬁcials were given. On the other hand, as soon as Hussein’s body went limp, survivors and the families of victims of Hussein’s torture rejoiced.

Nancy Pelosi shows off her gavel after being sworn into Congress as the ﬁrst female Speaker of the House. PHOTO COURTESY OF YAHOO! NEWS.

a USA Today/ Gallup poll, President Bush’s approval rating is currently around 34 percent. However, with the majority of

Congress now being Democratic, the next two years will certainly bring changes in the country’s strategies in foreign affairs.

•

Recent ice storms have left 54 people dead and many others in disbelief. Much of the worst weather struck in southern states such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. Some parts of Oklahoma experienced up to 4 inches of ice, causing blackouts. In Michigan, 200,000 houses were without power during the storm. Even in California the effects were felt; sub-freezing temperatures destroyed nearly 75 percent of citrus crops.

•

The Bush Administration announced that it would allow an independent court to oversee its controversial surveillance program. This program has allowed the National Security Agency to electronically eavesdrop on Americans without receiving court warrants. The move was announced by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and was initiated after increasing criticism from members of Congress and the public.

•

Fifteen year old Shawn Hornbeck was found after being disappearing in October 2002. Hornbeck was found with another boy who was kidnapped in early January in Michael Devlin’s apartment in Michigan. Devlin proclaims his innocence.

•

Although ﬁnal approval of cloned animal byproducts for the food market is still months away, the FDA has said that the food from such animals is safe to consume. Some businesses will continue to label food as such, although it is not required.

News Briefs

Michael J. Boyer, D.P.M. Podiatrist Sports Medicine

119 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 Phone: (330) 334-1534

Speakout

January 2007

What are you most looking forward to in the year 2007? Why?

Speakout!

S T T U E D A E C N H T E S R S What aren’t I looking forward to in the year 2007 is the real question! -David Joseph, 11

I can’t wait to graduate from high school because then I will have all the free time in the world to spend with Shawny Shawny Bo Bawny Fe Fi Fo Fommy, Shawny! -Sara Bowen, 12

Senior trip!!! DUH!

-Britt Vaughan, 12

In 2007 I am looking forward to a state title, or at least ﬁnal four in football. My class has worked really hard since 8th grade. It would be so cool to have that experience. I want to be able to tell my kids and grandchildren about it. I think both players and coaches deserve it. I am looking forward to good grades, and for wrestling to place in the Top 10 in the state!

Sometime in the months of July or August, I leave on foreign exchange to Chile. I am most looking forward to this because it is going to be such a “cultureshock” experience in which my appreciation, knowledge and skills of Spanish will be greatly improved. Not to mention it’s all coastal land. -Andy Woods, 11

-J.J. Andrews, 11

The chicken cordon bleu!!! -Adam Zaleha

-Lauren Jack, 11

My New Year’s Resolution is not to ﬁll any more of these Speakout pages out. -Mr. Lynn

Spending time with friends and family, and, of course, turning sixteen!

Grow some hair on my head! -Mr. Schmeltzer Jr.

My resolution is to ﬁll out a survey for every Bruin this year! -Mrs. Baxley

I am really looking forward to being a senior because seniors own everyone!

-Lauren Steidel, 10

I resolve to retire this year, so that I will never have to answer “Speak your Mind” questions again. I think you should bug Mr. Postak to answer these! -Mrs. Haskins

To organize my life... Have you seen my classroom? It’s a work in progress, but I’ll get there! -Ms. Chase

I have resolved to wake up early and work out 4-5 mornings a week for a half an hour. So far, I have averaged 4 mornings a week, and I feel better! I hope I can keep it up. These old muscles aren’t as ﬂexible as they once were! I give myself another week before I break this resolution.

-Mrs. Baxley

-Mrs. Mathews

My New Year’s Resolution for 2007 is to cook my children an actual dinner every night--no more peanut butter, cracker and lemonade I’m too lazy for the effort it picnics on the family room takes to make and commit to a resolution. ﬂoor. -Mrs. Greenlees

-Mrs. Hutchinson

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? Yes or No, Explain.

Features

January 2007

Costa Rican students visit school BY AARON KRUMHEUER

Two Costa Rican students perform an authentic dance at a Spanish club outing. PHOTO BY AARON KRUMHEUER

Spanish-speaking students and teachers from Costa Rica are attending classes and staying in Wadsworth this month as part of a foreign exchange program. The group, consisting of ﬁve adults and 12 students, is being housed with the families of different foreign language students and will be sightseeing around Ohio on days they are away from school. A few weeks before they were expected to come, it seemed there would not be enough places for them to stay. Spanish teachers asked their students if any had extra space in their homes to house them. A few students volunteered their spare rooms and accepted guests. These students

feed and take care of their visitors and show them around the school. Recently, the students from Costa Rica took a day off from school to travel around Ohio. They visited the Harry London chocolate factory and other locations in the state. The Costa Rican guests attend the classes of their hosts, and get an opportunity to see what it is like inside an English speaking classroom. In many Spanish classes, these guests are submitted to question and answer sessions and consulted about different translations of Spanish words. The visitors can also take part in class activities, although in many cases they require a translator, as some are not ﬂuent in English. “It’s been extremely fun,” said junior Amy Messer, who is housing a student from Costa Rica, “but also very challenging since she doesn’t speak English. But she can explain it another way or

we just use a translator.” Ohio seems to have been a drastic change from Costa Rica for the students. Many of them had never seen snow before, and the cold Ohio weather was a shock compared to the typical balmy temperatures of Costa Rica One particular student even told of how she lived near the beach and could surf and swim right outside of her house. Their first day in the high school, some could be seen wearing knit hats and winter coats. The guests from Costa Rica have provided the school and their host families with an opportunity to find out about foreign culture and language from a first-hand account. In turn, they have had a chance to witness another country that is unlike their own. One visitor says she enjoys the United States very much so far. She also said she would like the snow in Ohio if it was not for the cold.

StudentS of the month Laura

Favorite TEACHER: mrs. Barlow Mrs. Zagar

Favorite Quote: “Without dreams there is no need to work, without work, there is no need to dream.”

David

Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Khoury Favorite H.S. Memory: Cross Country Summer camps

Alumni return to teach, keep tradition alive BY DREW KNIGHT

When students at Wadsworth are asked where they attend high school, they all proudly echo “Wadsworth High School.” This in large part is due to alumni returning to their Alma Mater to teach and uphold the tradition of excellence founded in 1869. Alumni returning to teach shows how tight-knit the community is, and assists in creating relationships that will last a lifetime. “I have fond memories, and I want to pass those on to current students,” said 1987 class President Sandy Kurt, now a math teacher. It is the great students such as Kurt that pass on the tradition of excellence throughout the Wadsworth School System. She was in National Honor Society, President of Latin Club, and a cheerleader. Kurt even cheered for fellow 1987 class members and teachers Scott Callaghan and Mark Postak. “I had wonderful teachers and a great high school experience,” said 1987 graduate and current English teacher Scott Callaghan (failing to mention cheerleaders as a highlight in his high school tenure). When teachers come back to their former high school to teach, they are more personable in a sense that they went through the same situations as current stu-

dents. “I was frustrated in geometry; now I can help [my students] because I went through the same situation,” said Kurt. When teachers and students have a greater understanding for each other, it is inevitable that learning will be at a maximum. This is easier when educators are teaching in a comfortable environment. “I love the safety and security and Wadsworth has always been a place of great comfort to me,” said former player and current head basketball coach Callaghan. “Anyone coming back to Wadsworth knows the high expectations and tradition that go along with the Wadsworth School District,” said math teacher Mike Schmeltzer Jr., Class of 1997. It is this aura that keeps graduates returning, and in turn passing on the excellence which has been intertwined into the community. It is a great cycle that makes Wadsworth Schools, staff, and students the best they can be.

See if you can identify the former Grizzly great cheerleader Mrs. Kurt in with her 1986 cheerleading team. PHOTO COURTESY OF 1986 YEARBOOK

Opinion 1

January 2007

Ask Patty

It’s that t i m e again! G e t pumped to read the wild and crazy answers f r o m MRS. HASKINS one of OPINION STAFF our high schools’ most loved teachers. So throw on your bifocals and get ready because here it is! SR: If you were a superhero, what would be your name and power? PH: Since you are obviously unaware of my secret identity, Wonder Woman, you do not realize what a thrill it is to have an invisible plane. The only power I wish I had is to be able to make people I do not like disappear.

SR: If you owned a professional sports team, what would be its name? PH: I would call them Patty’s Plunderers as we would decimate any team we played. SR: What is your dream job other than teaching? PH: How could there be any better job than teaching? Now do not laugh, it has been a rewarding profession for 36 years. My dream job would be a famous chef. I love cooking (Could you not tell by my weight?). SR: What is your all-time favorite song? PH: I do not really have one song in particular, but my favorite genre has to be Motown. My favorite artists have to be The Temptations, the Ronettes and Smokey Robinson.

Intense resolutions too radical for most Every year someone makes a promise to themselves that they will try to lose weight. Others will compromise to try to exercise more, eat right and to spend SIMON OPINION more time STAFF with their families. About three or four days into the resolutions, one thing or another comes up and the so called changes abruptly stop. Why make resolutions if you are not going to follow through? I know this sounds harsh, and some people actually follow through on their resolutions, but the majority of people who attempt to follow through on these changes give up if it is not easy. “Every year I try to make resolutions, but they never work out. I am too busy with everything else,” said senior Eric Nied. This is why we should just quit making resolutions once a year, and make small manageable changes throughout the year that are easy to follow through on. That way,

we can make resolutions without the fear of doing something all at once. Other people try their hardest to follow through on these decisions but have way too much stuff going on in their lives already, and have to give it up. Work, school, family and other things cause people to give up hope. They should not even have to worry about resolutions since they already have enough stuff going on in their lives to make a change. Abraham Maslow’s theory on self-fulﬁllment states that selfsatisfaction is the highest level on the pyramid of psychology and should only be achieved if all the others are in line. These include being loved, not being hungry or thirsty, and being where you want to be. “I think we should get rid of resolutions. It would take a load off my shoulders thinking of new ones every year.” said freshman Spencer Shreve. I believe New Year’s resolutions are the represents of American society. Americans are becoming more hypocritical by the day. If we took each thing slowly and more I believe we could all make a change for the better.

Students mixed up by college-style classes Some high school teachers are altering their class structure in order to make their classes more like WARREN OPINION a college STAFF course, with the intention of preparing their students for the rigors of higher level education. But why not let a high school class be a high school class? Seventh and eighth graders are conditioned for high school classes, but what happens when those high school classes they have been trained for are now college classes? Should middle schoolers start preparing for a college-style class? I suppose it would just be best to have kindergarteners listen to lectures and write dissertations on the color red or a thesis on kittens and glitter. Colleges are so competitive and students need every advantage, sure, but the ultimate goal of obtaining an education is NOT to get ready for college. It is to prepare for the work world. The educational system is designed to wean students slowly off their dependence on others, and to shift the responsibility onto themselves. When a teacher jumps straight into a college-like class, it disrupts that process. One teacher who, for the beneﬁt of his seniors, has made his class more like a college course is Mr.

BY SIMON RUSSELL

Austin. The physics teacher has structured his class so that each student must be more accountable. Students don’t have daily homework checks, or quizzes. There are maybe ten large grades for the whole grading period. “It’s not really like a college course, but the idea is to get students used to the responsibility,” said Austin. This kind of variation is reasonable, especially for a class of seniors bound for college. But there should be some sort of regulation in the schools to make sure teachers follow the natural progression. This adaptation follows the formula of shifting the responsibility onto the students.

Costello’s BeeF

OPINION BY DAN

PDA, a botheration that occurs in every high school, is maybe more of a problem than we think. Now, I know that everyone has a high school sweet-heart sometime in their lives, and it is so cute to see how happy they are together. But it is not cute to see these lusting individuals locking tongues in open areas, and I am sure any other person in their right mind would agree with me. Stop kissing in the hallways because it almost makes me throw up in my palate. Many people will stress the fact that drugs are bad, but I say hallway groping is the true problem these

Teachers and students alike face mass amounts of stress. Mr. Recupero and Mr. Knapp both have kids, schooling, and learning of their own to worry about, leaving almost no time to attempt a New Year’s resolution. PHOTO BY SIMON RUSSELL

Mr. Austin grades tests for his conceptual physics class. The class is geared more toward preparing students for the rigors of college education. PHOTO

days. I know that there are people reading this article right now and thinking, “What the heck is this Costello kid talking about?” Well, if you’re saying this to yourself right now then its probably because you are one of the guilty face-suckers in the hallways. Yes, you are the person that everyone sees everyday in the halls necking with your signiﬁcant other. I have seen teachers try to make these disgusting adolescents embarrassed by screaming in the halls “Quit making-out!” But for some reason they are never affected by it. I guess that when they are in the heat of the moment nothing else can deter

The problem comes when teachers leap head ﬁrst into college style teaching, cutting grades down to a monstrous test over the entire year’s curriculum. AP and Honors teachers can push the boundaries a little more, knowing that their students are supposed to be “the best and the brightest.” Ultimately, a teacher questioning the structure of his class should think about what effect it will have on the students. If adapted responsibly, those taking the class can greatly beneﬁt from them. But when classes are changed without consideration, the entire system can be disrupted.

them from doing the deed. “I do not mind seeing people make-out in the halls. . . as long as they are a good looking couple that is. Otherwise, I contemplate the thought of performing Chinese nose torture on myself,” said senior Jimmy Miller. In India the seat of highest authority has described public affection to be in bad taste and a despicable act. It is considered to be indecent and you may be labeled a public nuisance. Currently there is a law in Indonesia pending the right to kiss someone in public. Maybe our school should follow these conditions and outlaw public affection. If you do not like it, I don’t care because what Costello says, goes!

Opinion 2

January 2007

Censorship hindering educational experience In 1953, Ray Bradbury wrote the book Fahrenheit 451, which h i g h lighted the negative effects ERIN OPINION of cenSTAFF sorship. More than half a century later, Bradbury’s worst fear is quickly becoming a reality. Books are being taken off classroom shelves all over the nation because of violence, sexual content, drug use and explicit language. Although the purpose of banning books is to limit students’ exposure to harmful subjects, it is essentially hindering their educational experience. By prohibiting these books in schools, students are ultimately missing out on valuable life lessons. J.D. Salinger wrote the coming-of-the-age novel Catcher in the Rye with the intention of documenting the difficult transformation from adolescence to adulthood. With its abundant use of crude language, references to alcohol and drugs and sexual content, critics began questioning the moral issues discussed in the book. Catcher in the Rye was immediately banned in schools. Although several of the accounts in the novel seem unrealistic, the teenage reader cannot help but feel a connection with Salinger’s main character, Holden Caulfield. Throughout the narrative, the 16year-old protagonist encounters situations comparable to what the average teen experiences every day. The reader witnesses Holden’s successes and failures as he attempts to understand growing up. He discovers the meaning of friendship, how to interact with adults and the importance of love. Even though the novel made its first appearance in 1951, the pressure Holden receives to conform and his constant frustrations with the outside world make him easy to understand, even for today’s youth. Three decades after its publication, Catcher captured an interesting phenomenon. Despite its place as the most banned book of its time, Salinger’s masterpiece simultaneously earned the title of the second most taught book in the classrooms across America. So in the end, one must ask themselves what is more important, the actual content of the work or the meaning behind it? With the book’s huge popularity in schools everywhere, the correct answer is completely obvious. “At one time or another everyone is going to be exposed to things they don’t want to hear or see, no matter how hard they try to prevent it,” said junior Mary Cargill. “It’s part of life in the 21st century.” Eleven years after Catcher

came out, Harper Lee wrote the well-known novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Although equally controversial, her work discussed entirely different touchy subjects. As the story unfolds, the reader finds himself listening to the story of a young girl who goes through more life-changing experiences in her sixth year than most do in an entire lifetime. Themes like incest, rape and racism are only a few of the factors that contributed to the controversial nature of To Kill a Mockingbird. In 2006, Lee’s work was challenged for “racial hatred, racial division and racial separation.” Ironically, the main purpose of the novel was to describe the impact of discrimination on civilization. Is the reason for banning this novel to conceal what really happened in our nation’s history? Can we just ignore the fact that social inequality still exists even today? Literature of the past is not the only thing being prohibited in classrooms. More recently, British author J.K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter has also found itself on the list being banned from schools. Throughout the novel, Harry is seen lying, breaking school rules and disobeying his teachers. Because the young wizard appears to be praised for his unruliness, parents and teachers fear that Harry’s disorderly behavior will influence their children to mimic his actions. Others argue that the novel’s use of witchcraft and magic promotes evil. With Harry Potter revolving around major themes of friendship, loyalty and courage, it is perfectly clear that Rowling’s intentions were far from evil. The plot seems to be as innocent as the stories found in the fairytale books of young children. When does censorship go too far? Should classics like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty be banned in nurseries for featuring fairy godmothers and fire-breathing dragons? No matter how hard critics try to protect the youth from harmful exposure, their efforts seem to be a lost cause. It is highly unlikely that they will not ever hear a swear word. Throughout their lifetime it is improbable that they will not witness the harmful actions of others. By banning books because of their contents rather than their meaning, students are essentially missing out on what really matters.

When the new Substitute House Bill 343 goes into effect, drivers under 17, like this one will not be permitted to drive with more than 1 passenger. PHOTO BY BROOKE BABYAK

New drivers face new law Teenagers are infamously known for being bad drivers. You always seem to hear, “Now that BROOKE OPINION you have STAFF you’re license, I’m staying off the road.” While staying off the road is an exaggeration, there is some wisdom behind the saying. Teenagers are bad drivers. It is a fact of life. We aren’t bad drivers because driver’s education does not work or our parents don’t teach us well enough. We are bad drivers because we suffer from lack of experience. The lack of experience in operating an automobile contributes to the leading cause of death for teenagers-car crashes. From 1995-2004, 1,173 lives were lost due to crashes involving teenage drivers. Of those deaths, 428 were 15-17 year old drivers and 386 were their passengers. Also, 289 deaths were from vehicles where the driver was 18 or older and 70 deaths were those of nonmotorists. New drivers are not as familiar with conditions of the roads or as comfortable when the weather changes. The can also become easily distracted, whether it be from talking on a cell phone, changing the radio or paying attention to other passengers in the car. With 40 percent of teen-

Rebound Property For all your Residential Property Needs Rehabilitation Repairs-Large to small Property Rentals

Additions Decks Management

Jim Little

(330) 352-0310

age deaths resulting from car crashes, the Ohio State Legislature recently passed and former Governor Bob Taft signed the Substitute House Bill 343. The new law will limit the number of passengers allowed in a vehicle driven by a driver younger than 17. “The law will prevent approximately 20 percent of the fatalities that would have occurred,” said Brian Newbacher, AAA director of public affairs for Northeast Ohio. The law will permit only one other person in a car that isn’t in the driver’s immediate family. It also restricts 16-year olds from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. Also, people between the ages of 4 and 15 must be restrained in a car seat or seat belt. The law goes into effect in April. Losing a loved one or a friend is the most horriﬁc event that anyone could ever go through. The law was written with extremely good intentions of saving people’s lives; however, some parts of the law seen like it won’t be that effective. Police would only be able to pull a car over if another violation was cited ﬁrst. That means,

for example, a car would have to be speeding or run a trafﬁc light. “I’m not going to follow that law because it’ll only affect me for a short time. It’d be a waste of my time” said a junior who frequently gives rides to underclassmen. Tim Phillips, a sophomore who recently got his license, said it should be the parents’ responsibility to enforce the rules of how many passengers in the car, rather than the government, because they know their own teenager’s maturity level better than the government does. “I guarantee I drive safer when I have friends in the car,” Phillips said. Many parents already set rules for new drivers and now they will be the ones who will be responsible for making sure teenagers are following the law. “It will be primarily up to parents to make sure their teen complies with the law,” said Newbacher. Although the law may seem impractical because some of its standards, hopefully new drivers will realize the importance of being responsible and tragedies will not be as prevalent.

January 2007

The year 2006 was great for many. Beginning a brand new year is always an exciting experience, and the students at Wadsworth sure made it a great one. Not only was this a great year to make new friends and meet new teachers, it was also a good year to start over with grades. It was also great to join a club, try out for a play, or even try out for a new sport. Whether it be giving blood, helping with the Veterans Day Assembly, or helping out with raking leaves, 2006 was the year to make a difference in our community. There is no doubt that 2006 was an awesome year, but this upcoming year can be even better!

Picture Page

The Bes

Picture Page

st of 2006

January 2007

Sports 1

January 2007

Snow sports fall off map with disappearance of winter

BY JOSH SNYDER

With unusually high temperatures this winter, many snow sports have become almost extinct. Thousands of disappointed skiers and snowboarders are even beginning to leave the state in search for fresh powder. With average temperatures around 50 degrees and less than ten inches of snow this winter, local resorts have had trouble staying open. Brandywine and Boston Mills, a popular local ski resort in Peninsula, Ohio is running into a few problems this winter. With hardly any snowfall and warm temperatures halting artiﬁcial snowmaking, they have been shut down for most of the season. Even though they are expecting to reopen soon, they continue to receive complaints from local season pass holders. Northeast Ohio usually has a decent amount of snow throughout the winter which provides for good skiing and snowboarding conditions. Averaging around

Pictured here is Aspen, CO. local, Gretchen Bleiler, at Copper Mountain pulling a backside air on the quarterpipe. PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPN.COM

60 inches of natural snowfall per year, Ohio is deﬁnitely not a top destination for outsiders. When the snow is falling, you can also count on local riders to head to the slopes on any given weekend. Needless to say, this has not been a typical Ohio winter. This abnormally warm winter weather has plenty of locals ﬂeeing to sur-

rounding areas to ride. Resorts like Holiday Valley and Peek’n Peak, located in New York, have both been popular destinations throughout this early winter season. “This winter has been horrible for my friends and me. We all have season passes to Brandywine and we can’t use them.

This recently added “sport” has attracted many students in the school. There are fourteen teams in the Junior and Senior League and fourteen teams in the Freshman and Sophomore Leagues. All

Teams pick names and many make shirts to represent themselves. Showing their team pride, the teams play every Saturday for ten weeks, until ultimately, there is one winner. However, while playing the game, there are no yelling coaches and no consequences for missing a shot. Intramural basketball has given students who do not participate in school sports the chance to get in shape, have fun and interact with other students. “Intramurals are fun and I think more people will be involved in upcoming years,” said sophmore Sarah Fortner. It has also given them a chance to experience basketball without the amount of dedication and pressure of a real high school sport. Intramural basketball may not be the newest fad in high schools, but it has given students a chance to change their high school experience.

Intramurals keep students active

BY JESS MOONEY

There are many sports that are available at Wadsworth, but many students choose not to participate in them. During the winter months, there are four sports to play for those who make the team; however, a recently added trend has come around for anyone who wants to join. Intramural basketball was brought to the students several years ago. Many thought that it would disappear in a year or two, but students Team Chaos huddles together to create a play during one of have proven that the- their games. PHOTO BY NICK JACK ory wrong. Students, from freshman to senior, athlete of whom get up bright and early or not, have come out every year on Saturday mornings, come to to play. As the years have passed, the high school, and play basketmore and more students have ball - just for fun. signed up.

Cassie

-Broke the single season scoring record. - Signed with Eastern Michigan to continue education and her basketball career.

Female Athlete of

- Best game in high school career: Hitting the game winning basket verses Stow. -Scored over 1,000 points in career

the Month

Over winter break we decided to make a trip to Holiday Valley instead,” said junior Matt Pifer. While an increasing amount of local skiers and snowboarders leave the area in search for a place to ride, some riders stick around and hope for a heavy snowstorm to come through. Snowboarding and other winter sports have taken a huge leap over the past ﬁve years. Some of the credit is due to the Winter X-Games, which is an array of competitions for extreme winter sports. These competitions are watched by millions of people across the nation and bring in good amount of supporters. The Winter X-Games in-

clude 15 extreme winter sports in which athletes are scored by a panel of judges. Some of the contests include Snowboard best trick showdown, Snowboard Superpipe Men’s, and even Snowmobile Freestyle. The events are scheduled to air on ESPN and ABC, January 25-28. Colder weather is expected to return to Ohio and local resorts are planning to reopen for business. Questions will remain about the lack of snow and the increase in temperatures this winter, but there is no reasonable explanation. Local riders should soon be able to return to the slopes for the second time this winter.

Derek

- A returning state placer who has wrestled his way to a 20 - 1 record this season. - Took ﬁrst at the Grizzly Invitational Tournament and at the North Canton Holiday Invitational. -Looking forward to leading the team to the State tournament in March. -Signed with Eastern Michigan, to continue his education in Nursing and to continue his wrestling career.

Male A t h l e t e of the M o n t h

Sports 2

January 2007

BY BRITT BUSSON

The gymnastics team flipped into the new year with a record of 9-0, and now looks forward to finishing just as strong. They defeated Sandy Valley, Timken, Glen Oak, Triway, Massillon,Wooster and Green. Many of the athletes are working to compete at the state level. On January 10, the team competed against Green with a final score of 138-134.5. This being the closest meet so far this season, the girls were challenged to remain focused, and they stepped up to the challenge with great enthusiasm. “My greatest accomplishment with the team this year is that there are 17 girls having fun while working toward the state tournament with no fighting or bad-mouthing!” said Coach Bethany Kovacevich. Kovacevich has done an excellent job of utilizing the team’s assets and leading the team to success. “I feel our team is doing great as a whole. We have a larger team than usual and we use that to our advantage to give everyone a chance to compete, letter and keep everyone healthy,” said Kovacevich. Though the gymnasts are taking it one meet at a time, focusing

on remaining undefeated, many of them are also looking forward to competing at a higher level. “A really great team goal would be to make it past districts and sectionals, and qualify to state as a team,” said junior Aly Stano. Aside from the obvious success of the gymnastics team being undefeated this season, the girls feel confident in their own skills and, more importantly, they have confidence in each other. “We all come together, and when you’re ready to compete you can always count on the team to cheer you on,” said freshman Brenna Magnuson. Mooney agreed, saying, “The 17 girls are doing a great job working together, supporting each other, and pulling their teammates through when they need that extra boost of confidence.” Kovacevich also feels that great senior leadership, depth, and enthusiasm have been keys to their success. The team celebrated senior night at their last home meet on Monday. Seniors and 4-year letter winners Jen Thomas, Jessie Mooney, and Kat Little were honored for their commitment to the program and outstanding achievements over the past 4 years. The whole team is looking to end their season with a chance at competing at the state tournament in March.

p S

B s t r r i ef o Wrestling

Gymnasts surpass expectations, remain undefeated at 9-0

Over the break the Grapplers ﬁnished 5th at the North Canton Tournament with four place winners: Derek Foore 1st, Danny Foore 2nd, Matt Snodgrass 5th and Alex Gray 5th. They also won the 21st annual Grizzly Invitational by 32 points and had six place winners: Bradley Squire 1st, Matt Snodgrass 1st, Derek Foore 1st, Danny Foore 2nd, Alex Gray 7th and Caleb Busson 7th. Their dual meet record is 9-2 overall, 5-1 league, and they are tied for the ﬁrst place spot in the Suburban League. They are on the right path to claim their 15th straight League championship at home Feb. 10.

Girls Basketball

In the history of Wadsworth High School, the girls basketball team has never been ranked number 1 in the state in the AP polls. For the past two weeks, though, the team can proudly announce themselves as the predicted best Division I team in the state. To receive this ranking, the team defeated the Stow Bulldogs over Christmas break with a last second shot by Cassie Schrock to pull them ahead 52-51. The girls also defeated defending state champs for Division IV, Berlin Hiland Lady Hawks, at the Classic in the Country on January 15 with a ﬁnal score of 55-36. Seniors Cassie Schrock and Jen Uhl led the team in scoring. The team has a record of 13-1, their only loss to North Canton Hoover.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team has a record of 5-4. Though they’ve had a couple close games where they’ve come up short, they’ve been pulling together as a team, and they are gaining more conﬁdence. Senior Jeremiah is the leading scorer for the Grizzlies with help from senior Mike Barlow, juniors Joe Goddard and Taylor Smith, and sophomore Chad Baughman.

Swimming

The swimming teams are both having successful seasons. The boys are 8-4-1 while the girls have posted a 9-4 record. At January 12’s Northeast Classic meet, sophomore Logan Ware broke the 100-yard butterﬂy school record, which had stood since 1983. The Suburban League Tournament is this Friday as the teams hope to beat rival Copley. The boys have a chance to earn their second straight league title while the girls are striving for their ﬁrst.

Disappointment in the desert

BY MATT SNODGRASS

The Ohio State football team came into the National Championship game with confidence. However, this confidence was shattered quickly as the team lost 41-14 to the Florida Gators on January 8. Who would not be confident when you went undefeated, have the most potent offense in college football, the defensive player of the year, and the Heisman winner? Before the game started, coach Jim Tressel was already drawing comparisons to legendary coach Woody Hayes, some even offering the opinion that he deserved his own street on campus. It seemed like Ohio State was on top and nobody could knock them off, but they had a tough task ahead of them with a Florida team that always seemed just to get by. They met finally on that fateful Monday, which was supposed to be a night of celebration for all of Ohio and its fans, but turned sour and left the Buckeye state disappointed and hanging their heads. The game had all the hype you could ask for: Big Ten strength vs. SEC speed. Both teams wanted to prove that these notions were false and they were just as strong or as fast as the other. Possibly the biggest question was whether

the Florida defense would be able to keep up with Ohio State’s deep receiving core while still being able to stop the highly underrated Antonio Pittman. Another situation that worried all Ohio State fans was the Heisman curse. Four of the last five Heisman winners to line up in the championship game had left the field in defeat. At the coin toss, Florida won and deferred to Ohio State until the second half. Troy Smith then confidently said, “We want the ball.” The kickoff came and the game everybody had been waiting for was finally here. As the ball was sent downfield, it held ominously short considering arguably the fastest players in college football were recieving it. Kicking short proved to be fatal as within a matter of seconds Ted Ginn Jr. was celebrating a 93yard kickoff return touchdown. Just like that, sixteen seconds into the game, the Buckeyes had the

lead and it seemed as if a rout was to follow. Now came the part of the game that Tressel was most worried about: defending the unpredictable and quick Florida offense at the helm of senior Chris Leak. Their offense proved to be too much as they marched down the field for a quick score to tie the game up, leaving the Ohio State defense in shambles. For the rest of the first quarter, Ohio State’s offensive woes continued as they failed to put up any points while the defense struggled more and Florida held onto a 14-7 lead. The second quarter opened with a Gator touchdown by way of DeShawn Wynn, an Ohio native. Ohio State showed its only form of life on the following drive while trailing 21-7. They marched down the field on the back of Pittman to bring his team within a one-touchdown deficit. This would be the last thing a

Buckeye fan would have to cheer about. Late in the second quarter, after a Florida ﬁeld goal, the Buckeyes chose to go for it on a fourth-andone play at their own 29 yard line. The ball was given to freshman tailback Chris Wells, and he was put down short of the ﬁrst down. This marked the end of the game for Ohio State as Florida took complete control of the game and had a commanding 34-14 lead at halftime. The second half was uneventful; no team could do much. However, Florida did come up with a touchdown with ten minutes left to close the deal. The rest of the game, fans everywhere looked for answers to what had happened to Ohio State. Some would look directly at the Heisman winner, Troy Smith, and show that he completed only four passes for 35 yards. Others defending the

quarterback will point out that the offensive line had many blown assignments and did not contain the Florida defensive line and its blitz packages. Had the line been able to protect Smith, who was sacked five times, he may have developed a rhythm and been able to bring his team out of the ditch it was in. Another reason was the seemingly unstoppable Florida offense. In the first half, it seemed like the Ohio State defense gave the Gator speed too much respect, but once they realized they were not that fast, it was too late. To Buckeye fans everywhere, January 8 is one day that they would like to forget soon. It has been the biggest disappointment in recent history and leaves a bad tarnish on an almost perfect season. All that is left is to try to figure out what really happened that Monday night and hope next year Ohio State can finish it off.

Ads

January 2007

GRAVES DESIGN SOLUTIONS Now Offers Installation!

Make Your Dreams a Reality

Let our design specialists and qualified installers complete your project from start to finish! We Guarantee all labor and materials.

CABINETRY FLOORING COUNTERTOPS The showroom is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call ahead to schedule your appointment

1315 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road Copley, Ohio 44321 Phone: 800-996-1115 Fax: 330-670-2970

Entertainment

January 2007

What TV has in store for 2007 BY KAT LITTLE

American Idol, Donald Trump, and pick the next Grease star? Year 2007 looks to be another year of reality television. People all over the world are tuning in to watch the new seasons of reality television. Reality TV is not the only thing making a comeback in 2007; sitcoms and drama shows are bringing excitement to people throughout the world. Donald Trump aired the premiere to his sixth season of The Apprentice on NBC January 7. This season, 18 new candidates fight for a coveted position with Trump. This season is filled with twists. The show has moved to Los Angeles, and the week’s winning team will live in a mansion while the losers will live outside in tents. These tents are complete with outdoor showers and toilets. On January 22, Heroes returned to NBC with the much anticipated questions from the episodes before being answered. The show’s tagline before the break was “Save the cheerleader, save the world;” after saving the cheerleader, they are now asking, ”Are you on the List?” On NBC this upcoming season, grease is the word. On January 7, NBC launched the new reality show Grease: You’re the One that I Want. The show i s a talent contest to find one guy to play Danny Zuco and one girl to play Sandy

Dumbrowski on broadway. Some of the most powerful music producers in Hollywood are coming out to help ﬁnd the new stars of Grease: The Musical. On FX this year, one of our favorite Friends, Courteney Cox, is starring and producing the new drama Dirt. The series follows the exploits of Lucy Spiller, an executive editor at two tabloid magazines. Lucy possesses the power to manipulate the lives of celebrities through the articles she prints in the magazine. The hit show 24 has come back for its sixth season on the FOX network. Season six picks up twenty months after last season’s shocking season ﬁnale, when Jack Bauer was captured by Chinese government agents battered, and headed for points unknown. Also on FOX this year is season six of American Idol. Shows began with a four hour premiere episode split between January 16 and January 17. It started off as usual, with the audition stage of the show, this time in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other auditions take place in such places as Los Angeles, Seattle, Memphis and New York. “I love American Idol! I can’t wait to see who wins this year. My favorite part of the show is the audition stage,” said senior Courtney Norton. With all the new shows out this season there is something for everyone. Whether you like reality, comedy or drama there is something for you.

Gaming with Zberg REVIEW BY ZACH BERGER

Hello fellow gamers. I am here today to rate some of the new games that have come out recently. This month I will be rating Guitar Hero 2. Guitar Hero 2 is a continuation of Playstation’s challenging, yet addicting Guitar Hero. Players watch the television screen as colored notes appear, and as the notes pass by, the player must hit the color of the note on the guitar with one hand, and, using the other hand, they must ﬂick the strum bar. These three things must be done simult a n e o u s l y, making it very difﬁcult. For those still confused, it is the same genre as Dance Dance Revolution; except you have a guitar controller instead of a dance mat. Guitar Hero 2 has a new lineup of songs to jam with. Classic hits like Message In A Bottle by The Police and Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas are just a few of the dozens to rock with. Also, there is a new version of multiplayer. In the original, players could play the same note together on a song, earning points for each note hit. The goal was to have the highest score by the end of the song. In Guitar Hero 2, players can still rock out that

TOP TV SHOWS 1. CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

6.COLD CASE

2. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

7.LAW AND ORDER:CRIMINAL INTENT

3. LAW AND ORDER:SVU

8.NCIS

4.WITHOUT A TRACE

9.BROTHERS & SISTERS

5. SHARK

10. CRIMINAL MINDS

way, but there is a new way to jam. They can choose cooperative mode, where each player picks a “different” guitar. One person can choose to play lead guitar, bass guitar or rhythmic guitar. The next player then chooses one of the two remaining. Each player then plays as one unit, earning points as a whole. At the same time they a r e

playing different notes that go with the guitar they chose to play. Another great feature of the game is that it can be played on High Deﬁnition televisions. One can go into the options and change the setting to have the game adjusted to their HD television. Another fun feature to the game is the difﬁculty settings. For those who are new to jamming out on the guitar, they can choose

4.6 / 5

With new shows continuing to come out, television reality shows become unreal BY BEN DEE

Reality television shows have become a huge hit in the United States. Shows like Survivor, The Real World, Road Rules and Laguna Beach have become very popular with teenagers throughout the years. People love watching these shows, but how real is “reality?” According to Baltimoresun. com, reality television shows are becoming more unreal than ever. “You can now watch people struggle through jungles, sing badly, and try to make it in the “real world,” said Baltimoresun. com But the question again is how real is “reality?” Every year there are more reality television shows that premiere on primetime television and become very popular with the American public. Shows such as Laguna Beach, a very popular “reality” show on MTV, show teenagers dealing with drama that is sometimes mistaken as “unrealistic.” “They are ridiculous, they act like everything is for real when really it is all a big act so they

Blooming Acres , Inc.

GEORGE HEHN, JR

Zberg’s Rating:

Reality television out of control

(330)336-1410 Fax: (330)3346243

Open 7 Days A Week 9:00-5:00

easy difficulty. On easy, the players only use the top three colored buttons: green, red, and yellow. The next difficulty is medium. The notes here come at a quicker pace a n d t h e blue button is added as well. The last two difficulties are what make the game so challenging. On hard and expert, the notes come at lighting-fast speed, along with all five buttons being used. This means that the players have to reach to hit the last key. With the tunes coming so fast, unless one is a well-seasoned expert, it is nearly impossible to complete a song. Overall, Guitar Hero 2 is a great game. It is one of the latest fads in reality gaming. With its different controller and “handson” approach, the game is one of a kind. It is just as fun playing single player as it is multiplayer.

POINSETTIAS WREATHS Grave Pillows Evergreen Crosses & Swags Christmas Cactus

CHOOSE FROM OVER 8,000

Prices Starting At $3.49 7529 STATE ROAD WADSWORTH, OH 44281

can get on tv!” said senior Ashley Currens. It’s so obvious who randomly show up to parties and start arguments are acting from a script. The Real World, also commonly known as “The Unreal World,” has always been a very popular show on MTV. Many sites on the internet have said that The Real World is one of the most “unreal” reality TV show on the television network. New shows, such as David E. Kelley’s The Law Firm, are planning to debut in a few weeks on primetime television. But this show is already getting reviews. “Is The Law Firm going to be life as a lawyer, or something like it?” said Findlaw.com. Reality television has grown out of control. There are many reality television shows on the network today, and they don’t show any sign of going away any time soon. More reality television shows are being planned and brought to CBS, ABC and FOX to see if they can land a deal . Reality shows, even though they may be fake, continue to bring millions of dollars into the television business. On average, there are 3.5 million people that watch a reality show three times a week. The amount of money that has been brought into the reality television business is only fueling its ﬁre. Even though people love reality television shows, there is always the question of, how real is “reality” and will it ever get better?

Music

January 2007

Television shows boost bands popularity

Top Albums of 2006 Gnarls Barkley “St. Elsewhere”

Many bands are gaining popularity due to appearances on television shows BY JUSTIN MESICK

Television directors are doing their research and discovering new music artists to put in their shows. Many of these artists are making it big in the music industry due to the large amount of people watching the shows on TV and they have the music supervisors to thank. Bands like The Fray, Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, Modest Mouse and Snow Patrol hit it big when their songs were played on popular television shows. Snow Patrol, the most recent band to make it big off of a television show, has become so big largely due to Grey’s Anatomy playing “Chasing Cars” on the

My Chemical Romance “The Black Parade”

Pink “I’m Not Dead”

Justin Timberlake “FutureSex/LoveSounds”

Nelly Furtado “Loose”

‘Godfather of Soul’ passes away BY AMANDA HOOVER

Well-known musician James Brown passed away at 73. Brown was hospitilazied and died without any certain cause. Although he was born in poverty in Barnwell, South Carolina, his musical career as a funk, rap and disco phenomena started when he was young. By eighth grade, Brown’s life had already taken its steps to downfall. He had already spent three and a half years in Alto Reform School for breaking into cars. While Brown was there, he met Bobby Bryd. Soon after, Bryd’s family took Brown into their home. Other than just ﬁnding a place to stay, Bryd took Brown into his group, The Gospel Starlighters. Other than living with alcohol and drug problems, no family and no home, James Brown was known as the “Godfather of Soul.” His rasping vocals and rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco. Throughout the past 50 years, Brown was one of the most inﬂuential musicians along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of many other talented musicians. Not only did Brown have the voice and the fame, he had the dance moves to go along with it. His dancing inspired people such as Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. A few of David Bowie’s songs, such as “Fame” and “Prince’s Kiss” are based upon Brown’s rhythms and vocal style. Brown won a Grammy for lifetime achievement and Grammy’s for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. He was also one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

show. The indie rock group from Northern Ireland teamed with ABC and released the Grey’s Anatomy version of “Chasing Cars.” The new music video features scenes from episodes of the program. “I love Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Shepherd is my fav,” said junior Rose Kilker. “When I ﬁrst heard Snow Patrol on the show I fell in love with them. My favorite songs from them would have to be ‘Chasing Cars’ and ‘Run.’” Already on the rise, The Fray gathered up more fans by having their song appear on numerous medical dramas. The single “How to Save a Life” caught the ears of directors of Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy. This song ﬁt into the two shows, adding more impact to the dramatic scenes where lives were on the line. “I get dragged into watching this show every week,” said junior Kevin Taylor, “but I have to admit they do incorporate The Fray into many of the most dramatic scenes. ‘How to save a life’ has become one of my favorite songs.” Death Cab for Cutie, Mod-

est Mouse and The Killers came under “The O.C. Effect” when they were featured on the much enjoyed television show The O.C. Death Cab, the most affected band of the three, was featured on the show while two characters were arguing about the band while listening to a Death Cab for Cutie song. One of the individuals said not to diss the Death Cab, which in the end many of the people watching at home agreed with. The Killers and Modest Mouse also gained record sales after being featured in the show. As more new artists are coming out, television directors are ﬁnding out ways to excite viewers at home with this new music. These new bands are increasing their reputation in the music industry and rapidly catching the attention of viewers at home. Of the bands that are not new, they are going from near obscurity to having singles that are becoming record topping hits. All of this fame in the end comes down to the television directors who are giving the bands the chance to gain the fame that they have always dreamed of.

ss t r e c n o oming gCConcert s

UpUcpcoUmpcionming Concert Justin Timberlake

Saturday, February 3 Quicken Loans Arena,Cleveland 7:30 PM

Incubus

Saturday, February 3 Agora, Cleveland 8:00 PM

A.F.I.

Friday, February 9 Newport Music Hall,Columbus 7:30 PM

John Mayer

Friday, February 23 Nationwide Arena, Columbus 8:00 PM

My Chemical Romance

Monday, February 26 Wolstein Center at CSU, Cleveland 7:00 PM

James Brown shows why he was nicknamed the “Godfather of Soul” and said to be founder of rap, disco and funk. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

along with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers. Some of Brown’s classic hit singles include “Out of Sight,” “Sex Machine,” “I Got You” and “Say it Out Loud, I’m Black and Proud,” a 1968 landmark statement of racial pride. “I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black,” Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. “The song showed even peo-

ple to that day that lyrics, music and a song can change society.” If Brown’s claim to the invention of soul can be challenged, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are out of the question. “James presented the best grooves, and to this day, there has been no one near as funky,” said rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy. Although James Brown is no longer with us anymore, his soul, music and funk are still alive.

Perfect Picture Photography Family Portraits Sports Events Senior Pictures 330.336.1029 linda@pictureperfectphotography.net

Weddings Bridal Pictures Special Occasions Linda E. Csatlos 110 1/2 High Street, Suite 207 Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

Movies Highest Grossing Movies of 2006

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest $423,315,812

January 2007

‘Freedom Writers’ dig deep to ﬁnd common ground BY KRISTI HAVENS

Freedom Writers is a movie based on a true story about the impact one teacher can have on the lives of many. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) is an idealistic first year teacher who does not let the school system beat her down. Her students come from terrible circumstances, but she is able to capitalize on the difficulties in their lives and help them develop a sense of unity. Gruwell finds common ground in the pain of each of her students by giving them a chance to tell their own life story. She knows they have all been through so much, and that they need to get it all out before they can move

2. Cars $244,082,982 3. X-Men $234,362,462 4. The Da Vinci Code $217,536,138 5. Superman Returns $200,081,192 6. Ice Age: The Meltdown $195,330,621

forward. Gruwell purchases a notebook for each of her students to write in. Their heartbreaking stories compel her to take desperate measures. Gruwell makes many selﬂess sacriﬁces for her job. The school is not well funded and the staff has become hardened due to student apathy. Gruwell picks up two extra jobs so that she can pay for the materials she needs to educate the class. She even goes to businesses and raises additional money to fund her dreams. Her dedication comes with a cost, her own marriage, but nothing will stop her from reaching out to her students. Gruwell uses the Holocaust to show the students how hatred can overrule all logic. During one of the trips, she took her class to a Holocaust Museum. They learn that the hated Jews were real people with feelings and families of their

Up c Mo om vie ing s

Dedicated teacher ﬁnds similarities between students to bring them together. PHOTO COURTESY OF YAHOO.COM

own. They realize then for maybe the ﬁrst time that no matter what race, black, Latino or Asian, each person was really human, and that humanity deserves respect. Eva (April Lee Hernandez) is one of these students who witnesses hardship and cruelty starting at a very young age. At nine years old she witnesses her cousin getting gunned down, and her innocent father being unjustly incarcerated because of his Latino skin color. From this point on she hates everyone, especially her new white teacher. She eventually comes around due to her teach-

Hostel: Part II Austin Powers 4

9. Over the Hedge $155,019,340

Elf 2

Epic Movie

Catch and Release

Jan 26th Jan 26th

‘Alpha Dog’ has both bark, bite Let’s just say you owe someone more money than what you have in your back pocket. As a result of your debt, your younger brother is kidnapped as bait to get what is owed. To top that off, the person you are dealing with becomes one of the youngest criminals to appear on the FBI’s most wanted list. It sounds like you have yourself a story. Alpha Dog has both bark and bite with a small hint of a Pulp Fiction vibe to it. Based on the true story of alleged drug dealing Jess James Hollywood, writerdirector Nick Cassavetes takes viewers back six years to the three fateful days where a group of Californians teenagers get a strong dose of reality. What started out as a $1,200 debt lead to the

Sequels and Prequels for 2007 Hannibal Rising

8. Casino Royale $159,935,000

BY NICK BURTON

er’s persistence and love. Even in a great community like Wadsworth, many students come to school with tremendous issues. This movie is a great example of what can happen if everyone reaches out to the needs around. Great things can happen if people look at the differences between them, and dig deep to ﬁnd common ground.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

7. Happy Feet $185,410,000

10. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby $148,213,377

compelling true story of 38 witnesses and the murder of ﬁfteenyear-old Nicholas Markowitz. Cassavetes offers viewers a strong bite of reality on the subject of neglectful parenting; proving some parents are either “cool” with everything or just don’t have a clue in the world. Idolized by rap music videos and video games, the group of young suburban teenagers expose themselves to the life of drugs, sex, alcohol and violence as they try to imitate the gangster lifestyle depicted in movies. The ﬁlm is far from another made up Hollywood script cooked up to save some starving actor’s career. The young cast surprisingly does an excellent job as they are led by small roles from Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone throughout the movie. Pop star

Justin Timberlake’s acting debut adds a little spice as he proves to everyone that he has more to do on his “to-do-list” than just bring sexy back. His role as Frankie Ballenbacher, a tattoo-covered wannabe gang banger, displays his natural acting talent and a promising future as far as a possible acting career is concerned. “I thought it was a dark script, but I also thought it was a great statement,” Timberlake said of taking the role. “I like to make statements.” Overall, Alpha Dog tries to draw an audience with its pretty boy cast of actors and action packed theatrical trailers. Although their acting attempts fall short of Al Pacino in Scarface, dazzling performances from an out-of-control Ben Foster and a surprising debut from Justin Tim-

berlake help save the ﬁlm. Cassavetes estimated that Alpha Dog is about “95 percent accurate” on its depiction of kidnapping and murder of Nick Markowitz but it almost seems they missed the whole reason they even made this movie. Alpha Dog may come off as a sort of dark grim movie packed with explicit content but thanks to the young cast they are able to spark some moments of humor. The movie is rated R for pervasive drug use and language, strong violence, sexuality and nudity but the worst part of the movie is it is actually based on the almost impossible to believe true story. You can blame bad parenting or rap music videos but this movie just proves that if you life your life without any consequences, anything can happen.

The Goonies 2 Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam The Butterﬂy Effect 2 The Hills Have Eyes 2 AVP 2: Alien vs. Predator 2 Daredevil 2 The Bourne Ultimatum Spiderman 3 Boogeyman 2 Shrek the Third

Variety

January 2007

Aussies give hit series American Idol big competition BY CARLY MCNUTT

Damien Leith, new Australian Idol poses during the ﬁnale on November 26. PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.smh.com.au

Everyone always looks forward to the American Idol auditions. There are always those who really can sing, and those who maybe think they can but really cannot. On Tuesday January 16, American Idol began. The show starts off with a two day, four hour premiere on FOX. However, a rarely known fact is that American Idol is just a branch off of many other Idol’s from across the world. One in particular, is the Australian Idol. Australian Idol is the latest search for a musical superstar. It is a 17 week reality show that searches for the next best singing superstar. Australian Idol held auditions during May and June. Almost 50,000 people auditioned for the show. Australian Idol consists of three judges, which know a lot about music. The three judges are

things you didn’t (and maybe didn’t need to) know about Wadsworth 1. It is against the law to own poisonous snakes, tigers, lions, crocodiles or other exotic species within city limits 2. There is a required fee of 50 cents per year which can be paid at the police department to register all bicycles. 3. The sanity department will not pick up rocks, flammable liquids or explosive substances or dead animals if left on the curb. 4. During its peak, the Blue Tip Match Company was the single largest match manufacturing plant in the world. The blue tip matches were former president FDR’s favorite matches. 5. John Holmes, a trader from Montreal, and his Indian wife were the first settlers in Wadsworth. They lived in a hut somewhere in the premises. 6. Elijah Wadsworth, the person for whom Wadsworth (and the Grizzly bear in the lobby) is named, never actually lived in Wadsworth. 7. Blue-sky Drive in is one of about three running drive-in theaters in Ohio.

C R E A M

OF THE

C R O P

singer Marcia Hines, producer Mark Holden, and BMG record label rep Ian Dickson. They do the same exact things that the judges for American Idol do. James Mathison covers the role of hosting Australian Idol. However, he does not do it alone; he has a co-host Andrew D. They work very well together and make the show lively and worth watching. The season ﬁnale was on November 26. An older man and very young lady competed against each other for the title of Australian Idol. Damien Leith, 30, was originally from Ireland but then moved to Australia. He is married with a son and as an occupation is a chemist. Jessica Mauboy, however, is only 17 years old and is from Darwin, Northern Territory. “She had a very natural and smooth voice,” said judge Marcia Hines. Throughout the season, the

two always competed against each other and had outstanding performances with challenging songs. However, in the end, Damien beat out Jessica. Judges said that Damien impressed them with his extensive range and outstanding falsetto. He is now working on his album that is supposed to come out sometime this year. Many people believe that the U.S. is the only country to have an American Idol, but really there are over 27 other countries that have something similar if not the same. Each country has their own rendition of the show and competes with every other country yearly. The countries try and ﬁnd the most popular superstar that they can ﬁnd that year to prove one another wrong. Australia has been just as successful with their show as we have here in the U.S. It is a worldwide show that changes the lives of many.

This 2006 Mustang, SeniorDan Houston’s, is one of the nicest cars in the high school parking lot. PHOTO BY CARLY MCNUTT

BY MOLLY BRAZIER

We are all familiar with the high school parking lot scenario; there are the junkers, the 199some used Fords, Mercuries and SUVs, the mini-vans and rusted trucks - all typical rides for any high school student. But then of course, there are the rare coveted rides we all wish we could have. We watch them pulling into the parking lot each morning with a jealous glare. Senior Dan Houston’s 2006 Mustang is no exception. “I still haven’t maxed out on speed - yet,” said Houston during track conditioning about his V6, ﬁve speed automatic, two door 2006 Mustang. “It’s my parents but I drive it and as soon as I am ﬁnancially stable we will be putting it under my name,” he said. The car includes coveted features such as a Bose six disk stereo build into the dash board, leather interior and top of the line heating. However, Dan did not always have the luxury of this sweet ride.

Before the mustang he drove his Dad’s 1999 white Sport Explorer. However, when Dan’s dad, an Iraqi war Veteran and retired Wadsworth police officer, came back from Iraq this summer, the family was in need of another vehicle. “It was my turn to get the new car,” said Houston. “Originally I was looking for a Ranger but when I saw it in the parking of the dealership lot I knew I had to at least test drive it. When I did I of course fell in love and thankfully it just worked out financially we could afford it,” Houston said. Life has had its little changes since that status-symbol perking purchase. “Well, I can’t fit a cooler in the trunk due to its size, but I want to be able to find a way to tailgate with it like I did with the Explorer,” he said. After getting a Dodge Neon from her parents, his sister Marsha Houston was just a little jealous but still happy to see her younger brother enjoying such a cool new car. And the reaction from his peers? “I’ve had girls say they would date me just to ride in it” he sarcastically commented. Also, Houston said, he hopes to get “best car” in the senior class votes this spring. Pulling into the school in his coveted 2006 Silver Mustang, there is no denying he will have a pretty good shot.

Community Spotlight

Donations needed for new skate park BY LAURA ARCH

The city of Wadsworth has ﬁnally noticed the rising concern of skateboarders not having anywhere to skateboard freely. Many skateboarders have been causing an uproar by skating on private property and basically all around the city. The site for Wadsworth’s own skate park has ﬁnally been decided. It will be placed between the playground and basketball court at Steiner Youth Center. The skate park is expected to be about two tennis courts in length and made of permanent concrete so the skate park will last as long as possible. The Wadsworth Recreation Commission Skate Park Subcommittee needs everyone interested in helping build the new skate park to start getting involved. The subcommittee is starting to collect names and contact information from people who wish to give their input on what they want to see in the new skate park. Mike Smith, the Director of Recreation for the city of Wadsworth and leader of the skate park committee, said, “The city of Wadsworth is currently in a fund raising mode. The city has given us the ability to spend $75,000, but we still need another $25,000. Currently, we have raised around $10,000.” All the money the skate park

committee has raised so far is from various organizations and generous businesses who donate money. Even an elder, who wishes to not have her name mentioned, has donated an ample amount of $1,000! So far Smith has organized a fundraiser at Cleat’s and at the Gus Macker Tournament over the summer. There are currently skate park T-shirts for sale at Steiner’s, if anyone is interested, and people may also buy bricks with something engraved in them to help support the skate park. Smith said that, unfortunately, the skate park fund raising is taking longer than wished for, but said that the committee does not want to settle for anything cheap. “I want the best for the skaters who will skate there. I do not want anything less than the best. The city, and myself, believe that soccer, basketball, tennis, and other various sport players have their own place to play what they love, now it’s the skateboarders’ turn. We believe that skateboarding is a great outlet for creativity and a great way for people to exercise. Please help us out,” said Smith. If anyone is interested in donating money or joining the committee to help design the new skate park, you can contact Mike Smith at (330) 335-2859.

January 2007

Local School News Briefs New babies in the house Amelia Mary Jane Knapp was born to Mr. and Mrs. Knapp on December 15, weighing 6 lbs. and 19” long. Emma Grace Linn was born to Mr. Linn on Monday December 11, weighing 7 lbs. and 20” long. Riley Paul VanDyke was born to Mrs. VanDyke on January 16 at 2:52 weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz. and 21” long. Claire Margaret Harig was born to Mrs. Harig, weighing 6 lbs, 14 oz., and 20” long.

New Housing Just south of Reimer Road and east of Hinkle Drive, the city is considering building roughly 100 to 225 housing units.

Job Opportunities Our community is in need of volunteer firefighters. If you are interested in being a part of this association, you could make $11.21 per hour. Martin Luther King On January 14, we celebrated Martin Luther King day. It was a time to remember how he fought for equality and dignity for all man kind. With his famous “I have a dream” speech, it helps us remember his massage of change. Renovate or rebuild? Wadsworth High School is in definite need of some renovations. Louis Perry and Associates explored a few options to either help renovate or rebuild the high school.

Senior Bowling Wadsworth’s new skate park is going to be located between the basketball court and playground at Steiner Youth Center. PHOTO BY JENNY HARSH AND LAURA ARCH

Rec Center

continued from page 1

Voters will decide fate of plans dissent at meetings of the Recreation Committee, Planning Committee, Booster Club and School Board. They are upset that the swim team, which won its ﬁrst Suburban League Title last year, and which received Kudos from the U.S. Generals Council for adopting a school in Kosovo this Christmas, might cease to exist. A City Council meeting to discuss the plans was held Tuesday at at City Hall. It was not open for public discussion, but concerned swimmers, parents, coaches and lifeguards attended the meeting to show their support for continuing the swim program.

Senior bowling takes place Sunday nights at Great Oaks Lanes from 8 to 10 PM. Please come out and join if you are a senior.

Once the plans have been passed by City Council, the issue will be placed as a levy on the May ballot.

Red Box, Netﬂix make way into community

BY JENNY HARSH

Taking the time to rent a movie can be an enormous hassle to many people. Buehler’s has taken this into consideration and is participating in the idea of the “dollar movie,” known as Red Box. All you need is a credit card and to be 18 years of age and you can use this new device. Just outside the doors sits a machine that carries all the rental movies. With a press of a button, your preferred movie will emerge from the machine. For a dollar a night with no late fees, you can rent whichever movie you wish. Having started at McDonalds fast food, Red Box has grown to grocery stores as well. Along with Wadsworth’s Buehler’s, Medina and Delaware Buehler’s also carry this contraption. “It is very easy and does not require any work from us,” said Jim Fox, manager of Buehler’s. “ We make a small proﬁt from every movie that sells.” As well as going to a Red Box nearby, you can also rent a movie online. After ordering a movie,

you can then pick it up knowing it will be there waiting for you. A free trial can be tested by going to www.redbox.com and signing up for a free rental. Just like the dollar movie, Netflix has a similar idea. Netflix delivers DVD rentals straight to your home with free shipping. After signing up and requesting a movie, it will be received in one business day. Having no late fees, the company gives you a prepaid return envelope when you interchange movies. Much like Red Box, Netflix has a trial period to test out their convenient service. The trial lasts two weeks and if you decide you do not like it you can cancel your account. To sign up for Netflix, you can choose from a few different plans such as: -4 DVDs at a time for $23.99 -3 DVDs at a time (most popular) for $17.99 -2 DVDs at a time for $14.99 -2 DVDs at a time (only four rentals per month) for $11.99 -1 DVD at a time for $9.99 -1 DVD at a time (only two rentals per month) for $5.99 With many different options to choose from, this is a great way to relax and spend an evening with family and friends. The new Red Box is a very convenient way to rent movies. PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.GOOGLE.COM

Wadsworth High School Marketing Education PROUD TO BE A BRUIN SPONSOR

GOOD LUCK GRIZZLIES!!

“Learn to earn and earn to learn”

Ads

January 2007

Patrons 2006-2007 Tony Accordino Bill and Nancy Adams Crystal Ake Ms. Allison The Babyak Family Monica Bandura The Barlow Family The Barnett Family Mike and Pepper Bates Patricia Bathurst Mr. and Mrs. Baxley The Beavers Family The Benyn Family The Berger Family Marla Bianco Joyce Bock The Booth Family Linda and Steve Borsani Amy Broadhurst Mike and Sue Buckson Buck and Kathy Budinscak Kathy Burton Richard Burton Casalinova Family Jeff Collins The Conley’s Ralph and Ellie Constantine Coudriet Family The Croyle Family The Csaky Family Dana’s Mom The Dee Family Shannon DeMita Greg and Ann Dennison Rebecca Dills Jim and Jane Douglas The Duta Family Anita and Dennis Duhon Melissa Eaton Bob and Kathie Engler Brad and Angie Ferguson Fernholz Family Frank and Laura Figliomeni Denise Forsyth David Fowler Joe and Wendy Gains Mark and Cheryl Gilbert Mr. Bill Goddard and Family Kim Goodson James J. Hamelic The Hamilton Family

Ron and Pam Hammel The Hanna Family Roger L. Havens The Henry Family Joel Hlavaty Debbie Hoover Jim and Robbie Hoover Todd and Amy Hoover The Hudson Family Matt and Kristin Hutchinson Dr. Michael A. Jack and Family Tim Jack Dave and Sandy Johnson Dick and Judi Jones Tim and Mary Jones David Justice Christopher and Marian Kauffman Mr. Larry Kaufman and Family Bruce and Sharon Keener Elizabeth Khoury Dwain Kibler Michael and Dawn Kovack Debbie and Gary Lake Amy LaMonica Jim and Karen Little Rich and Cheri Long Mr. and Mrs. Lumsden Paul and Kathy Macko John and Lynn Martin Mrs. Mathews Barbara McConnell The McCourt Family Steve and Sarah McIlvaine Tim and Judi McNutt Dan and Ann McPeek Ron Mendel Scott and Kathy Mesick Doug and Laurie Mobley Bethany Mooney Bob and Pat Mooney Steve Moore Nancy Mueller Ralph and Karen Myers Mrs. Nedoh Kay Nied The O’Neil Family Todd and Kelly Osborn John Osolin Anthony and Wendy Pallija Ellery Patterson The Pavlik Family

Edward Peltz Mike and Lisa Peyakov; Owners Wadsworth Whitehouse Chicken Bill and Sharon Powell Mike and Katie Recupero Ken Richards Don and Alice Robinson The Rodrigo Family Denise Russo The Sarlouis Family Carl and Harue Scarbrough Mike Schmeltzer Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Seifert Keith and Michelle Serfass Mr. Shepherd Eric and Diane Smith Dan and Karen Snyder John and Eleanor Snyder Stano Family The Stoner Family Trish and Dave Swanson Bonnie and Kevin Sypolt Karen Taylor David and Laura Tenyak Curt and Nancy Thompson Tom Tucker Bev Valentine The Van Dyke Family Al and Donna Whitacre The Wienecke Family Brian Williams and Family Andy Wintersteller Gerry and Ann Wright Dave and Barbara Zuchniak

The Bruin thanks you for your support!

SUMMER IS OVER AND YOU STILL WANT TO BE TAN... THEN VISIT THE ZONE. Tanning starts at: Students $25.00 Adults $30.00 Plus Tax

Walk-ins just $2.00 per visit Call approximately 1 hour before.

201Great Oaks Trail

330.334.8300 M-F 5:30 A.M.- 9:00 P.M. Sat- 8:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. Sun- 8:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.

Located in the Great Oaks Shopping Plaza

WalMart Subway

Wadsworth Subway

330-334-8325 222 Smokerise Dr Located inside Wadsworth WalMart

330-334-0044 991 High Street Located inside the Drug Mart Plaza