3. Photo by Brynn Lantry
Smoke Signals
Volume2 Issue 3
Peters Township High School
264 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
Phone: 724-941-6250
www.ptmedia.net
4. Meet the Staff
Managing Editor-In-Chief: Mike Schuck
Online Editor-In-Chief: Katie Denning
Layout Editor-in-Chief: Matt Sikora
Period 1 Editor-In-Chief: Erin Masta
.
Period 3 Editor-In-Chief: Gabrielle Brinsky
Layout Editors: Val Gobao and Joe Grossi
Entertainment Editor: Conor Jackson
Life & Style Editor: Molly Doehring
Special Features Editor: Christine Manganas
Sports Editor: John Galatic
People Editor: McKenzie Fritz
PT Focus Editor: Amanda Moore
Staff Writers: Layout Staff:
Carly Beck
Lexi Miller
Melina Sopko
Jessica Kleja
Hardy Kern
Valerie Kotar
Madison Mincone
Sean Sickmund
Katie Shultz
Matt Lison
Julia Gauthier
Kenzie Stepanik
Jake Achenbach Katie Finn
Greg Marsh
Denee Renz
Savanna Schweitzer Kurt Werner
Steph Hammell
Nikki Happe
Allie Schlafman
Mission Statement:
Smoke Signals is produced five times a school year by the students of the Media II, III,
and IV Journalism staff at Peters Township High School. Staff Advisor is Mrs. N.
Sitler. Commentaries, reviews, and opinion columns are the express opinion of the author and not of Smoke Signals, its advisor, or the Peters Township School District.
Who would be your celebrity valentine?
“Steve Carell”
“Johnny Depp”
“Tina Fey”
-Katie Shultz
-Julia Gauthier
-Hardy Kern
5. -Nikki Happe
4-5
Table of Contents
“Jake Gyllenhall”
6-7
8-9
10-11
“Mila Kunis”
-Sean Sickmund
12-13
14-15
16-17
“Miles Austin”
-Savanna Schwiezer
18-19
20-21
“Matthew
McConaughey”
-Jess Kleja
22-23
24
PT Focus
Campus Connections
Sports
Lacrosse-Rip G’s Get V’s
Blurring the Lines
Relationships and the Media
Life & Style
Fashion Focus: Accessories
Special Features
How to Lose a Guy/Girl
People Features
New Teacher: Ms. Ingham
Seasonal
President’s Day
Entertainment
Simply Yogurt
News Features
Arizona Mass Shooting
Student Work
Focus: Media I
Voices
Worst Pick Up Lines
6. 4
February 2011
Preparing for Success
StephanieHammell.StaffWriter
Ready or not the
spring SAT’s are quickly approaching; it is crunch time.
Now is the time for signing up
for SAT tutoring classes, ordering The Official SAT Study
Guide book, and brushing up
on those vocabulary words. Do
not worry too much about what
will be on the SAT, because the
test only covers skills and topics previously learned in school.
With these few tips to help you
prepare, the SAT will not be a
problem.
First, sign up for SAT
tutoring because it will be extremely beneficial. Tutoring
ranges in cost from about $500
to $2,000, depending on location and length. Several local
businesses offer tutoring in
various forms such as, in person tutoring at their center, pri-
vate one on one tutoring at your
house, or online tutoring.
The Official SAT Study
Guide book is an essential tool.
This book includes ten official
SAT practice tests,
three recently
administered
tests, detailed descriptions
of math,
critical
reading,
and writing sections of
the SAT.
There are also targeted practice
questions for each SAT question
type, practice essay questions
along with sample essays, a review of math concepts tested in
the exam and free online score
reports plus exclusive access
to online answer explanations.
This book
c o s t s
$21.99
and
is
carried in
any local
bookstore
or online.
The practice tests
in
the
book are
set up exactly like
the real
SAT, each
with a time limit for each section. Each practice test takes a
few hours to complete and lists
the answers for each section at
the end. Once finished with the
test, scoring is similar the real
SAT allowing students to identify areas of weakness.
Finally, begin to brush
up on vocabulary. Author Brian
Leaf has created a SAT novel,
eliminating boring flashcards.
For example, Leaf took the popular Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and wrote a vocabulary workbook that goes along
with the book. Using context
clues from the novel, users are
able to decipher the meaning
of each vocabulary word listed.
There are a range of titles available to suit anyone’s interests.
The SAT takes many weeks to
prepare for, but remember the
SAT does not test intelligence.
It tests skills that were already
acquired in school.
What is your club going to do with the money
earned from the smoothie sales?
“We are planning on adding a
variety of plants and also putting some of the money towards
our project to install solar panels
and add some skylights in the
school.”
-Katie Rickman, SAFE
Winter 2011
“It is going towards our
state project, Teen Challenge.”
-Christina Dee, FBLA
“It is our substitute for muffin day
and we are planning on buying
new books.”
-Emily Madalena, Library Club
7. PT Focus
5
Campus Connections
KatieShultz.StaffWriter
Campus Connections
is a program run by members
of Students Against Drugs
(SAD) that unites high school
and elementary students. Twice
a month, these teens travel to
McMurray Elementary to meet
with their “buddies.”
“The high school SAD
members bless the McMurray
‘little buddies’ by sharing their
time, talents, and strong characters,” said Mrs. Gearhart, the
high school’s SAD sponsor.
High school students
are known as “Big Buddies” and
the elementary school students
are their “Little Buddies.” Each
high school student is assigned
a buddy to mentor. They hang
out together, play games, make
crafts, talk in small groups, all
while acting as a role model for
the younger students.
“It’s fun to help the
little kids,” said senior Laura
Bertoni. “I like the game ‘gym
on fire’ and playing with the
parachute.”
“I feel like a big sister,”
said senior Sam Meyer. She and
the other big buddies assume
the role of “big brother” or “big
sister” when volunteering with
the students.
The Campus Connections program was introduced
last year by three seniors, Hannah Hobbs, Lauren Hobbs, and
Kaitlin Wiegmann.
“We created Campus
Connections because of the
increasing prevalence of children who need a positive role
model,” said Kaitlin
Wiegmann. “We felt it
was important for these
children to have someone they can talk to or
just to be a friend.”
The girls came
up with games and activities for the buddies to
do during the first meeting and the program
continued from there.
The initial
success of the program
inspired a second year.
Now, over 20 Little Buddies are involved with
Campus Connections.
“It’s fun to be a kid again,”
stated Kyle Sossi.
A favorite activity at Campus Connections is
playing with the parachute. Big and little buddies get to play games to gether as a way of
bonding.
Konnichiwa Ms. Ingham
AmandaMoore.StaffWriter
Ms. Ingham moved
here all the way from Okinawa,
Japan. She loves the fresh start
that she has gained from moving arriving in the US.
“I’m amazed by all
the opportunites I’ve gained by
moving here,” stated Ingham.
Ingham taught Social Studies
at a school in Japan, Mountain
View. Last year, she moved back
home to Pennsylvania and she
is loving teaching Social Studies
here.
“The students at Peters know how to get work done
while having fun,” said Ingham.
“This is my first time working
with seniors and they have been
nothing but fun.”
Ingham is trying to
become involved in school activites. She is the new advisor of
the popular club, FBLA (Future
Business Leaders of America).
“All of the kids are really inspired to do their best
and work hard,” stated Ingham.
Becoming involved with extra
curricular activities is one of
her most important goals. Ingham will attend the State Leadership Conference in Hersey,
PA with a select number of
FBLA students in early April.
Finally, Ms. Ingham
looks forward to becoming even
more involved in our school
and its activities. She loves being here at PT. The students
and teachers of Peters Township have welcomed her very
warmly so far and she hopes to
obtain a long career here teaching students Social Studies and
Economics.
Ms. Ingham, a new teacher, perpares a worksheet for her next class. “I love
the new start I’ve gotten from moving here,” stated Ingham.
8. 6
February 2011
Rip G’s Get V’s
MattLison.StaffWriter
The name “Sean Sickmund” conjures plenty of ideas:
cool t-shirts, beard, twin, media,
and of course, lacrosse. Sickmund, a senior captain of the
Peters Township Boy’s Lacrosse
Team, can most likely be found
on the lacrosse field. He heads
into his senior season with high
expectations.
“Coming into the
season with a lot of seniors
this year, I expect us to have a
big year and hopefully make it
deep into the playoffs,” stated
Sickmund.
Although the team has
seven returning starters, they
will be faced with a tough
challenge offensively because
their two leading scorers
graduated last year.
“This year we are
without our two leading scorers – Jimmy Cogley and Connor Mannion. Without them,
I think we will need to spread
the scoring out and have more
of a team-based offense,” said
Sickmund.
This may seem like
a great obstacle for any team
to get around, but Sickmund
knows what the remedy might
be for his team to get some
wins.
“Our team needs to not
underestimate ourselves and they
must have the confidence that we
can win no matter whom we are
playing,” Sickmund said.
With this type of leadership, it is no surprise that this
is his second year as one of the
team’s captains.This year, Sickmund not only has high expectations for his team, but for himself
as well.
“I hope to improve my
game this year and to rip G’s and
get V’s. After this season, I plan
on playing at Mercyhurst College,” said Sickmund
Being that it is his se-
nior year, Sickmund has plenty
of reasons why this year will be
special for him. However, there
is one thing that stands out.
“I have been playing
with most of these guys since
fifth grade and it is probably
my last time playing with
them,” Sickmund stated.
No matter what the
outcome is of this year, there
is no doubt that Sickmund has
had an impact on the lacrosse
field. Whether he is ripping
G’s and getting V’s or being a
leader off the lacrosse field, he
will always be remembered for
the work he has done.
How well do you know Sean Sickmund?
Food
Carlo
Summaria
Angelo
Toscano
Corey
Prykull
Curt
Sickmund
Sean
Sickmund
Winter 2011
Color
Artist
Spoon
(LAX Stick)
Red
Kid Cudi
Mid-Afternoon
Spoon
Eggrolls
Red
Wiz
Khalifa
Late Night Spoon
His
Sisters
Rice
Orange
Wale
Tea Time Spoon
Our
Magenta
Sisters Rice
Justin
Bieber
Morning
Spoon
Chicken
Lorenzo’s
Italian
Red
Kid Cudi
Morning Spoon
Pizza
Winner: Carlo Summaria
9. Sports
7
Under Review: Bigger Comeback
JohnGalatic.SportsEditor and ConorJackson.EntertainmentEditor
JG: Ben Roethlisberger success-
fully pulled off the biggest comeback of the NFL season. By digging
himself out of a deep, dark hole, he
was able to lead his team to a great
year. Roethlisberger has straightened out his life on and off the field.
Despite his four-game suspension,
Big Ben has enjoyed one of the best
statistical years of his career in both
passing and rushing. Even more
impressive is his uncanny ability
to extend plays, which is a huge attribute to the Steelers’ success. Outside the lines, Ben has improved
his lifestyle considerably. There are
rumors that he has finally stopped
chasing women and is engaged
to Ashley Harlan. While Ben has
made a huge personality change
for the better, Vick is still the arrogant narcissist he always was. Some
things never change…
CJ: Ben Roethlisberger digging
himself out of a deep hole? How
about Michael Vick spending 18
months in prison and coming
back better than ever? If it weren’t
for Tom Brady, Michael Vick
would have easily won the MVP
award this year. Roethlisberger’s
name would never have been
mentioned for such an award.
Vick has achieved unprecedented
success this season. On November 15, 2010 Vick became the first
player in NFL history with 300
passing yards, 50 rushing yards,
four passing touchdowns and two
rushing touchdowns in a game.
There is no doubt that he should
be named offensive player of the
year. Vick has also changed off the
field. Obviously, he is not an “arrogant narcissist.” Vick has volunteered his time to travel to innercity schools and talk to students
about animal cruelty and peer
pressure. He has learned from his
mistakes and has worked hard to
improve himself not only in the
world of football, but as a person.
Michael Vick is clearly the better
comeback story. After spending
months in jail, he is close to being
named MVP of the National Football League, a feat Roethlisberger
could never achieve.
JG: Another poor sap falls prey to
Michael Vick’s incredible acting
job. Do you honestly think Vick
believes in any of the things he is
saying? The only reason Vick is
sorry for anything is because he got
caught. He would have kept putting
those innocent dogs in harm’s way
had he not been arrested. Also, of
course Michael Vick is self-conceited, he proclaimed himself deserving of the MVP award. The NFL’s
best player does not lose in the
first round of the playoffs. Speaking of which, Ben probably would
have been seriously considered for
MVP had he not been suspended
for 4 games at the beginning of the
season. Even after his suspension,
Roethlisberger immediately contributed to the Steelers’ success. It
took Michael Vick two whole years
to achieve his current overrated
status. I wouldn’t classify sitting behind Donovan McNabb for a year,
and then having to beat an injured
Kevin Kolb out of his starting job
as a “great comeback.” The best
comebacks take place immediately;
something Michael Vick has not
achieved at quarterback, nor will
you with your upcoming response.
CJ: Michael Vick is an actor? That’s
weird. I thought he was a football
player. I guess Ben Roethlisberger
does not feel sorry either, because
if he did not get caught, he would
still be allegedly raping people. His
crimes would continue just like every person in this world that does
something bad. Ben would not even
be named MVP of the Steelers, let
alone the entire football league.
Yeah, Roethlisberger might have
contributed to the Steelers success
this season. On the other hand, everyone and their mothers know the
Steelers defense wins the games,
not the quarterback. Remember
the Bengals game this season? The
mighty Ben Roethlisberger could
have been taken down by the 4-12
Bengals if it was not for two defensive touchdowns by Troy Polomalu
and Lamar Woodley. Yet again, the
Steelers’ defense won the football
game. That’s the only reason the
Steelers are at the top of the league.
Roethlisberger winning games because of his team’s defense does notshow much of a glorious comeback,
but this response does.
Best Sports Photos of 2010/2011
Photos By: Dan Tatman & Meredith Karavolis
10. :
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By: Hardy Kern & Katie Denning
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12. 10
February 2011
The “Clutch” Accessory
MollyDoehring.StyleEditor
Handbags and purses
have been staple style accessories for the last century.
Whether you need somewhere
to keep your on-the-go essentials or just want to accent your
ensemble, you need to be aware
of what is “in” and what is “out”.
In the past years,
handbag designers have focused
on east/west styled handbags,
which tend to have a horizontal shape and are very structured. The spring 2011 season
will bring a dramatic change
from the east/west silhouette
to what is now being called the
north/south trend, which, as
one could imagine, would be
of a more vertical shape. They
are made with soft leathers and
other stretchable fabrics. The
north/south bags have short,
handheld straps as opposed to
their shoulder strap counter-
parts of past seasons. This trend
in handbags is a casual one, but
don’t go home and immediately
throw out all your old purses.
The east/west style can still be
brought out for more serious
and dressy ensembles. Instead,
north/south bags are meant to
enhance your everyday outfits.
When looking for fabrics, colors, and patterns for
the new season, you also need
to keep a few things in mind.
Cotton, linen, canvas, and patent leather are always popular
choices for the spring season.
Stripes are very in. Also, bright
colors such as pink, green, yellow, and white look very cute
in patent leather styles. Even
though you might think that
you cannot go wrong with black
or brown because they are neutral, timeless colors, you would
be wrong. Black and brown are
Fresh Rides
MattSikora.LayoutEditor
This selection of cars provides you with the entire
lineup needed to transport you in a chilling style. Go with
the sleek coupe and have the speed to back you up or upgrade to a truck for some raw power. Either way you will be
sure to impress upon arrival. Come on, who wouldn’t want
to take these cars for a spin? They are just all around fun to
cruise around in. Take your lemon and trade it in for some
real lemonade, and transform into a stunner.
Winter 2011
so boring and overrated, especially for the warm, upbeat
seasons that are coming up. If
you don’t feel bold enough to
be able to pull off a bright color,
try a nude or pale pink palette.
They are very in right now and
go with almost anything. If
you’re feeling like you want to
stand out, try metallic leather,
in either silver or muted gold.
When shopping for
your prefect spring handbag, go
for something new and exciting. You might surprise yourself with what you actually like
and are capable of pulling off.
The handbag is one accessory
that is both stylish and practical, so don’t skimp on the price.
Chances are, if you find a style
the suits you and is well made,
you will be wearing it for years
to come.
13. Life & Style
11
Dating Do’s and Don’ts: 2011 Edition
CarlyBeck.StaffWriter
We’ve all sighed at the
classic romantic comedy story
line where the girl and the guy
have their relationship perfectly
fall into place. We’ve seen the
corny pick up line get the girl
on screen, but rarely in real life.
Gone are the days of calling the
house phone to propose a date.
And rarely do the parents meet
the special friend on the first
date anymore. With all these
standbys out the window and
technology taking over, what
are the new rules?
“There are so many
ways to keep in contact between
texting, Facebook, and Skype,”
stated junior Caroline Nixon.
In today’s world, communi-
cation never seemed so easy.
With endless options, it falsely
appears that dating has gotten
easier. Any message sent to a
girl starting with “I know we
don’t know each other but….”
is quickly labeled as creepy and
deleted. Even though it may be
less intimidating to shoot a girl
a text or an inbox message, the
gesture would be much more
respected in person.
“Not knowing every
detail about the other person
in a relationship keeps things
more exciting,” said sophomore
Trent McPherson. Although
face to face contact is encouraged for introductions, technology is of course going to be
a part of dating. Once the ice
has been broken and the texts,
pokes, and wall posts are flying,
another issue can arise. It may
not seem normal, but being
okay with not knowing every
detail of the significant other’s
day is important.
Two more rules to live
by in the digital dating world
are simple; tone and consistency play a major role.
“In person I can tell
what someone means by their
voice, but in a text it can be
tricky to figure out,” remarked
junior Kristen Jacobs.
The way you say something conveys as much as the
actual words. So although this
is easily lost in writing, a quick
emoticon or exclamation point
can sometimes do the trick.
Consistency is important because it builds trust. A flooded
inbox of texts for three days can
be exciting, but one message
everyday for a month is more
meaningful. Consistency or the
lack of can help discern a relationship from a fling.
In the end, words
are still cheap. Without a connection beyond the internet,
a relationship can never really
blossom. Human interaction is
essential. Hearing a laugh, noticing a blushing cheek, or simply hearing their voice goes a
long way past any LOL or <3.
Cutest Couples at Peters...
Breanna Ferchak 12 and
Josh Orr 12
Morgan Wyatt 10 and
Nick Esposito 12
Lexi Miller 10 and Joey
Sala 10
Hannah Foster 9 and
Cody Ruffing 9
Nikki Celko 11 and Trent
McPherson 10
Savannah Brooks 9 and
Dakota Erb 9
Eleni Coleman 11 and
Justin Miller 11
Maggie O’Hare 10 and
Greg Lippert 10
14. How to Lose a Date in Ten Days
For some, chocolate candy and flowers are a must, but for
others, Valentine’s Day is a bust! Forty Percent of Americans agree
that this day does not bring love, but quite the opposite (Listverse.
com). If you are feeling like your relationship is just not working out, there is a solution. Taking these ten easy steps will almost
guarantee that you will be single and worry free.
Always On The Phone
How to Lose a Guy
Mean Parents
Talking About Herself
Always With Friends
Overly Flirty
Talks Too Much
Too Competitive
Too Much Makeup
Mood Swings
15. How to Lose a Girl
Too Into Sports
Too Much Cologne
Spitting
Late For Dates
Obsession Wth His Car
Overly Obnoxious
Making The Girl Pay
Not Listening
16. 14
December 2010
Panama Mission Trip
JuliaGauthier.StaffWriter
People from all over
the world have been putting in
a lot of time and effort to help
others, whether it is sending
supplies to the victims of Haiti
or cleaning the animals and
oceans affected by the BP oil
spill. People commit random
acts of kindness all the time:
especially here in Peters Township.
Seniors at Kurt Werner and Alyssa Trier, decided
to accompany their church
group to Panama to volunteer
at a camp called “Word of Life.”
Their trip occurred from Janu-
ary 23 to January 30th.
At “Word of Life,” Kurt
and Alyssa counseled young orphans and lower-class children
between the ages of nine and
fourteen.
While
they
were
working with the children at
the camp, they also be learned
about their religion by reading
the Bible regularly. By the end
of the camp, both the counselors and campers should have an
understanding about what they
have to offer the world and what
their talents are. Though Kurt
and Alyssa will be working with
young children, this camp is
also offered for preschoolers
and teens up through high
school.
This trip helped out
many children who have not
been very fortunate in life,
whether it is because of financial troubles or other reasons.
It provided them with a sense
of hope and a feeling of belonging. The children gained
a wonderful experience, but
nothing can amount to the
awareness of knowing you
helped make someone’s life
better.
Ryan Crall:
Student Extra Effort Award
West Side Story
This year’s musical, West Side Story,
runs from April 7th-9th. This classic show tells a
modern, dancing version of Romeo and Juliet, a
timeless love story. Rehearsals have just begun,
and with such a heavy emphasis on dance, the
cast has a lot of work ahead of them. However,
they are more than ready for the challenge and
can’t wait to showcase their talent.
On Thursday, January
27th , Ryan Crall was awarded
the Student Extra Effort Award
by KDKA-TV. TV personality
Bob Pompeani presented the
award to Crall at an assembly.
Crall won the award due to his
achievement in both athletics
and acedemics.
Congressman Murphy Issues Proclamations
to Peters’ Sports Teams
Girl’s Soccer
Winter 2011
Boy’s Soccer
Boy’s Golf
17. People Features
15
Dance Team Hopes to Win Nationals
SavannaSchweizerStaffWriter
Photo by Savanna Schweizer
New Team,
New Year,
New Coaches
LexiMiller.StaffWriter
“This program means a lot to me,” said
Varsity cheer coach Chelsea Stockhausen. “I want the g9irls to improve from
past years.”
A 2004 Peters graduate, Stockhausen has completely reformed the cheerleading program as the new head coach. Assistant
varsity coach Alyssa Simmons and junior varsity coach Emily Sasso round
out the staff.
The cheerleaders have had a
new coach every year for the last five
years, and hope that the new coaches
will continue to guide them to success
as they have this year.
“I expect a lot more out of the
girls than previous coaches,” said Sasso.
“I want us to work hard but have fun
too!”
The girls are just starting their
winter season, which includes cheering for boys and girls basketball and
wrestling, and they are working harder
than ever before. Under the direction
of their new coaches, the cheerleaders
won several first place awards at the
UCA (Universal Cheer Association)
camp, held at Virginia Tech.
With only a few weeks remaining,
the dance team is undergoing intense practices accompanied with additional all-day
practices to prepare for the UDA (Universal
Dance Association) Nationals.
In the first week of February, both Varsity
and JV will be on their way to Walt Disney
World, Florida for the annual Nationals competition.
Danielle Debonis and Liz Egan, the
Varsity team’s captains, are responsible for
leading the team in practices and incorporating creative ideas in the routines.
“I do a lot of visualizing. I also
watch videos and try to find different tricks
to try, and also look for different clothes for
our costumes,” stated senior Liz Egan.
With weekend practices ranging
between 5-8 hours, the team is definitely utilizing that extra time to perfect and enhance
their routines.
“We add practices throughout the
week and on the weekends we will schedule all day practices,” stated senior Danielle
Debonis.
The competition at Nationals is very intense
this year. There are 44 teams in the Varsity
category and 11 teams in the JV division.
The dance team is putting in extra time and
practice in order to improve their score from
the previous year. They are determined to
bring home first, an aspiration that looks
quite promising.
Photo byMeredith Karavolis
18. President’s Day
“My favorite
president is
definitely the
original: George
Washington. After all,
he was the man who
wouldn’t be king.”
- Mrs.Pinto
G to the E-O-R-G-E I’m the number
one protector of democracy
The first president of the U.S.A
All the homies still know me today.
I have ivory teeth;
NOT wood
And was a member of the Virginia
colony hood
Fighting in the French and Indian and
Revolutionary battles too
I became the man, the myth, the legend
Now what you gonna do?
Never chopped down cherry trees
That’s a fake part of history
Valley Forge was pretty rough
From it I got completely jacked and
tough
That’s why Martha Curtis loved me
She thought I was a revolutionary hottie
Living it up at my house Mt. Vernon
with the grandkids in tow
Gangsters welcome to the George
Washington show
OH!
My name’s T. Jeffy Jeff that’s Mr. Jefferson to you
I’m a Mac Daddy from Virginia and,
oh yeah, I wrote the declaration too
I say laissez faire, let the homies do as
they choose
Hamilton can’t stop me from wearing
my leopard print shoes
I was the 3rd president of the U.S.A
Besties with John Adams, we hung out
every day
I was the Minister to France and the
Secretary of State
I always had smoking hot dates
I was quite the babe magnet, every
single day
But I liked my chicks darker; Sarah
“Sally” Hemings, get what I say
The Louisiana Purchase, that was me
But fellas I been a revolutionary since
1743
A politician, philosopher, and P-I-M-P
You all wish you were as cool as me
SNAP
Did You Know?
-President John Quincy Adams owned a pet alligator which he kept in the East Room of the White House.
-Martin Van Buren, the eighth President, is sometimes credited with creating the word “OK.”
-Woodrow Wilson kept sheep to trim the White House lawn.
-Thomas Jefferson is the most famous red head in American history and the only President to be a ginger.
-Ulysses S. Grant was given a traffic ticket while he was President. He was fined $20 for riding his horse too fast on
Washington street.
-George Washington loved to eat ice cream.
-President Taft, weighing 332 pounds, got stuck in the White House bathtub and had to have an oversized version brought in
All photos submitted
for his use.
19. One day, PT students will rule the country.
Here are our predictions for the future leaders
of America...
President
First Lady
Speaker of
the House
Vice
President
Secretary of
Defense
Secretary of
State
Secretary
of the
Interior
Mark
Seraly
Constantine
Politis
Jen
Rupprecht
Hardy
Kern
Melissa
Sarnicke
Chief Justice
Jake
Brown
Boyd
Jones
The PT
Bonnie
Strang
Government
20. 18
December 2010
Restaurant Review: Simply Yogurt
Attention all ice cream
lovers; say goodbye to the sugar
high and extra calories of ice
cream sundaes and say hello to
a low fat, delicious alternative.
For those who have planned a
weight-loss new year’s resolution but cannot seem to get rid
of their sweet tooth, this treat
will be sure to help and will not
ruin a diet.
Simply Yogurt is a
frozen yogurt shop with premium ingredients and a laid
back, Southern California feel.
The store in South Park is conveniently located in the parking lot of the T-station, along
Brownsville Road. The clean
atmosphere and friendly employees keep customers coming
back for more. A flat screen
TV and free Wi-Fi make it a
perfect place for students and
adults to come and complete
their work while sampling the
different types of yogurt. The
store does not only appeal to
the mature crowd, but also
children. The “build your own”
ErinMasta.Editor-In-Chief
toppings bar gives people of
all ages the chance to personally design the dessert however
they want.“I come to Simply
Yogurt all the time because I
never regret eating frozen yogurt as much as I would an ice
cream sundae. It’s a perfect way
to kill a sweet tooth or craving
and is relatively healthy,” stated
junior Danielle Rusnak.
Simply Yogurt has an
average of eight different kinds
of yogurt and a self-assembly toppings bar. The classic
French vanilla and chocolate
flavors are accompanied by
cheesecake, peanut butter, cake
batter, raspberry, and various
holiday flavors such as eggnog.
After dispensing the desired
amount of fro-yo, the toppings
bar makes the experience personal. Fresh cut fruits such
as strawberries, blueberries,
kiwis, pineapples, raspberries
and blackberries can make it
perfect. Granola, coconut, and
sprinkles can also be selected
to add flavor and crunch for
barely any calories.
For the health nuts that
cannot get enough smoothies,
the skinny smoothies made
with fresh fruit and yogurt
help people count calories and
watch fat intake. Protein powder and health supplements
can be added to strawberry, banana, and even mango smoothies to help those who are on a
diet or fitness plan.
People who are not exactly
watching their waistline may
take interest in Oreo cookies,
peanut butter M&M’s, Reese’s
Pieces, cookie dough chunks,
chocolate chips and many other sweet toppings. Hershey’s
chocolate and caramel sauce
along with Reese’s peanut butter topping can be put on top
to make it complete. The NotSo-Skinny smoothies have various options such as the Twix
smoothie that includes cookie
chunks, caramel, and chocolate
and also the Mocha smoothie
with coffee bits and chocolate
yogurt. Despite the name, the
yogurt along with all of its fixings is still a healthier option
than ice cream itself.
Simply Yogurt strives to
make itself different from runof-the-mill ice cream stores.
Paying by the ounce, makes
the customer feel in charge and
helps control portion size. The
friendly and clean environment
makes it the perfect place to
stop any time of day. It is open
every day of the week and accommodates any type of schedule.
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
KatieFinn.Staff Writer
If you like murder mystery novels, you
will definitely enjoy this book. Not only does
Mary Higgins Clark use mystery, but she uses
love and friendship to enhance the story as well.
This book is one of the best she has published
and it is one you will not want to miss out on.
When Kay meets Peter Carrington, she
automatically falls in love with him. Carrington
is a rich man with an influential company and
he has inherited millions from his father. Once
he and Kay wed, they move into the family mansion that they will share with Elaine, Peter’s stepmother, and the servants that have worked for
the family for years. The newlyweds have a lot
on their plate including their new marriage and
the unfortunate fact that Peter is being charged
with the murders of his late wife, Grace, and his
high school sweetheart, Susan.
Winter 2010
Kay knows her husband could never commit
these horrendous crimes. However, when her
father’s body is found on Peter’s land everyone except Kay becomes skeptical of Peter’s
innocence. Peter hires the best defense lawyer
money can but he is found guilty and put in
prison. Kay is not about to give up. She consistently visits with the lawyers and searches
through facts to find evidence that supports
Peter’s innocence.
As the story comes to a close, Kay begins to find bits and pieces of evidence that
lead to the real murderer of the three victims
and Peter is released from jail. In the last lines
of the novel, Kay finally puts the pieces together and realizes who the murderer really is. But
is it enough to save her life?
21. Entertainment
19
Off the Radar:
Florence + The Machine
MikeSchuck.Managing Editor-in-Chief
Take a brave step off the
beaten path and try listening to
songs that cannot be heard on the
radio. The music of Florence + the
Machine certainly falls under this
category. F+M’s bold sound has fueled their steady progression from
obscurity to the public square.
The band is centered on
24-year-old Florence Welch, an eccentric songwriter from London.
She is the only permanent member
of the band, while the “Machine” is
made up of various backing musicians who play based on necessity and availability.
Their first album, Lungs, was
released in 2009. It held the number one spot in the UK for a time,
and produced such songs as “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)”, “You’ve
Got the Love”, and “Dog Days Are
Over”, the last of which has been
used to promote movies such as
Slumdog Millionaire, and Eat, Pray,
Love. The song was also featured
on a 2010 episode of Glee.
The poppy and
bright overall sound of Florence
+ the Machine is made even more
complex by the dark and searching lyrics whose subjects can range
from love and romance to death
and coffin construction. Florence’s
voice itself is a force of nature that
lends itself well to her clear, passionate singing style.
The group received a
nomination for Best New Artist at
the 53rd Grammy Awards, held on
February 13th. They are currently
working in the studio on their next
album, which has yet to be named.
If nothing else, one can say that
Florence + the Machine put soul
into their music, a trait sorely lacking in today’s Top 40.
Trent McPherson and Nico
Summaria’s Romantic iPod List
“My Boo” By Usher & Alicia Keys
“Let Me Love You” By Mario
“Find Your Love” By Drake
“Today Was a Fairytale” By Taylor
Swift
“Baby” By Justin Beiber
Will You Join the Family?
Greg Marsh.StaffWriter
For those of us who have played
action/sandbox genre games such as
Grand Theft Auto IV and Saint’s Row 2,
we know that they are usually kick-butt
games. There’s freedom to roam about,
tons of cars to drive, and over-the-top action. However, with such expansive space
in open-world games, it’s important that
the environment feels full – living, breathing, alive. Fortunately, Mafia II fulfills that
necessity brilliantly.
Mafia II’s presentation is terrific.
You become engaged in the story, cinematics, characters, and the city itself within
the first 15 minutes. The detail is incred-
ible and the sense of realism is top-notch.
Graphically, it’s gorgeous, but there is one
flaw. While the photo-realistic design,
lighting effects, and textures are excellent,
there is a decent amount of screen-tearing.
This is relatively minor; most people will
get used to it, but it may irritate others.
Mafia II takes place in a fictional
city called Empire Bay, during the 1940s.
Therefore, the architecture, clothing styles,
and cars all take you back in time. On
foot, the controls are sharp and the button
layout provides a smooth experience. You
can walk, sprint, crouch, and aim down
your gun sights. There’s also a convenient
hand-to-hand fighting feature, and a simplistic covering system that’s similar to
Gears of War.
Overall, Mafia II is a good-looking, engrossing action/sandbox game that
delivers an especially fresh experience
thanks to the 1940s setting. The story is
interesting, the voice acting is as good as
it gets, and the soundtrack consists of a
wonderful mix of ‘40s and ‘50s music. The
game is slightly short (around 12 hours
long), but if you take it slowly and stop
to admire the detail of Empire Bay, Mafia
II will last long and satisfy you entirely.
Capiche?
22. 20
February 2011
Apple Meets Verizon
Melina Sopko.StaffWriter
A year ago, Verizon launched
its newest phone, the Droid. They advertised the mobile phone using the slogan
“Droid Does,” which implies that other
phones, such as the iPhone, don’t.
Surprisingly, Droid did. In the
first year, Android-based cell phones
outsold iPhones drastically. AT&T then
lost its privileged deal to sell iPhones
when Apple announced that the device
will now be available through the Verizon Wireless Network, allowing U.S.
iPhone buyers a choice of carriers for the
very first time.
Android, the Google operating system, allowed Samsung, Motorola
and many other cell phone companies to
create iPhone-like devices (Droid, Droid
Aries, and Incredible). Since Verizon
Smartphone’s began to overrule their
competition, Apple became frightened.
Since Apple’s 2007 debut
of the iPhone, it has been sold exclusively
to AT&T customer. AT&T activated 11.1
million iPhones in the first nine months
of 2010. Verizon Wireless has 91 million
subscribers, many of whom are aching
for the iPhone.
AT&T’s contract with Apple is
demanding and completely in favor of
the iPhone. The Verizon Wirless contract
seems to be more evenly handed. Now
when cell phone problems occur it will
be more difficult for Apple to blame it on
Verizon like they have been able to do to
AT&T. This may mean Apple will have to
take full responsibility for faulty iPhones.
Also, Verizon uses Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology while AT&T uses the Global System
for Mobile Communications (GSM) Network. One limitation of CDMA is that,
unlike GSM, it does not support simultaneous voice and data. People who want
to be online while talking on the phone
will have to wait for Verizon to come out
with an upgrade for its CDMA Network
that will allow voice and data to run simultaneously (This is not promised to
happen). Another factor is, despite initial
hopes, Verizon’s first iPhone will strictly
be a 3G, not a 4G device. A plus for Verizon iPhone carriers is that the phone can
serve as a hotspot, meaning subscribers
will be able to connect five different devices to share the iPhones 3G connection
to hop online. This company is confident
and it is clear that it can handle the workload of the iPhone newcomers because it
believes that Verizon is the nation’s most
reliable network.
Verizon’s rendition of the iPhone
4 makes its retail debut on February 10,
2011, although pre-existing customers
have the opportunity to pre-order the
phone starting February 2, 2011. With
a standard 2- year contract, the Verizon
iPhone will cost $199.99 for a 16GB model, and $299.99 for the 32GB model.
A Media Massacre
individuals, like Sarah Palin, to inappro-
On January 8th, America was
burdened with the news of another tragic
shooting, carried out in a suburban grocery
store in Tucson, Arizona. Almost immediately it was identified as a failed political
assassination that ultimately resulted in the
death of six individuals and the wounding
of thirteen others. During the attack, the
accused gunman, Jared Loughner, attempted to end the life of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (who was holding a small
community political forum). Following
detainment, it became clear to investigators and the public that Loughner is a potentially deranged individual, mainly from
the release of his eerie arrest photo and
demeanor during early legal proceedings.
The conclusion was that Loughner feels an
irrational resentment toward the American
political process, Congresswoman Giffords,
and other symbols of authority and leader
ship within the country.
It is unfortunate that such slayings, with their increasing frequency and
Winter 2011
KurtWerner.StaffWriter
regrettably similar circumstances, seem to
surprise the American culture less and less.
Now it seems they occur consistently (almost annually) and that the repercussions
are also consistent: grievance, confusion,
anger, political tension, and eventually a
departure from the headlines and our conscience.
Another unfortunate aspect of the
shooting was the reaction of our alwayswatchful media, who exploit these events in
an attempt to fit a faulty agenda. Obviously,
people from the left and the right used this
tragedy to push their own political beliefs.
However, Loughner’s reasoning was more
fogged and sporadic that the politically
inclined media is willing to stress. This behavior of our media ignores the seriously
flawed action of the criminal and incites
accusations at a time when our country
is coping with the effects of extreme hate
and trying to understand its essence. Such
counteraction then opens the doors for
priately defend her inappropriate use of
crosshairs on a political map, and ironically
complain that she has been unfairly “targeted.” Is it impossible to ignore one’s self image rather than let the issue go in the wake
of such events? Clearly, for some it is not.
Is this how to treat death? Certainly not,
but some give politics priority over respect.
Ideally, for the sake of our country, biased
media and outspoken politicians should
have joined the rest of the country and allowed for a much needed time of mourning, rather than press upon the public their
familiar complaints, accusations, and suggestions for our society. President Obama
saw a need to address this idea in his memorial speech, stating:
“At a time when we are far to eager
to lay the blame for all that ails the world
at the feet of those who happen to think
differently than we do, it’s important for us
to pause for a moment, and make sure that
we are talking with each other in a way that
heals… not in a way that wounds.”
23. News Features
McDonald’s Super Sizes Obesity
GabrielleBrinsky.Editor-in-Chief
The Golden Arches are the ultimate American icon, but also the main
cause of our country’s obesity problem.
The media has made many attempts to try
and turn the people away from this type
of food with articles, books, and videos
like Food Inc. and Super Size Me.
Food Inc. was hailed by Peter Travers
from Rolling Stone as “an essential, indelible documentary.”
Super Size Me is an American
documentary film created after an overweight lawsuit against McDonald’s failed.
It’s premise was to tape a man eating McDonald’s for 30 days
while showing the
side effects. After
the film concluded,
the man worked for
fourteen months to
lose the weight he
put on, which was
over 24 pounds.
Unfor tunately, people continue to consume
this
unhealthy
food that has been
proven to not decay.
Karen Hanrahan, a
McDonald’s buyer
saved a burger and
French fries from 1996, and to this day it
still looks just as appetizing as it did the
day she bought it.
Recently, Sally Davies recreated
the experiment. On day 180, the only
change was that the food hardened. Real
food is supposed to be perishable, beef is
to rot, and bread should mold. However,
many families turn to this unhealthy food
for a quick and inexpensive meal.
Americans eat over 1 million animals.The cows slaughtered for hamburger meat are from several different farms
and sent to the six main processing plants
McDonald’s owns. In each of the six
plants, approximately 500,000 pounds of
beef are produced daily. The average cow
weighs 1,150 pounds which means 2,609
cows a day are turned into burgers. In the
end, that’s 952,285 cows a year in each of
these production plants. This is according
to the producers of Food Inc.
The chance of obtaining and spreading
the contamination of salmonella or E.
coli to any processing plant or onto any
burger is very risky.
Additionally, McDonald’s cooks
their French fries in vegetable oil that
contains beef extract in addition to milk
and wheat. For years, McDonalds refused
to release this information in order to appeal to all
types of appetites
and of people.
Whether its goal is
to target children
or adults, McDonald’s has succeeded with both. John
Robbins of WN
Network proved
children are able
to recognize the
golden arches before they are able
to speak. They are
fascinated with
the toys that come with the Happy Meal.
Nutritionists don’t recommend
eating McDonald’s more than once a
month, because eating a Big Mac and
a large fry takes roughly seven straight
hours to work off. People may be short
on cash, but fast food is not the answer.
Despite what the advertisements say, only
seven items on the menu completely lack
sugar.
Basically, the human body does
not want foods that refuse to decompose,
raise your blood pressure, or jeopardize
your health. McDonald’s is obviously hiding many things from their customers and
when revealed, people refuse to believe it.
Americans eat
over 1 million animals
an hour.
21
What In The
World?
Valerie Gobao.Section Editor
A 33-year-old Indian farmer, Selvakumar, recently gave new meaning to the term “hot dog”
when he married Selvi, a local stray female
dog. But do not worry; it was only to break a
curse. After stoning two dogs to death fifteen
years ago, Selvakumar experienced paralysis
of the legs and blindness in one eye. With the
help of an astrologer, he found the true cause:
a curse by the souls of the wronged mutts. To
atone for his sin, he had to marry and live with
a dog. However, the union will not be a happy
one, as “the dog is only for lifting the curse and
after that, he plans to get a real bride.”
Who needs pants? According to “Improv
Everywhere,” a comedy group based in New
York City, no one does. On January 10, they
held the ninth annual Pants-Free Commute,
where people were encouraged to ride the
subway in their underwear. To partake in this
liberating event, all you had to do was arrive
at a subway, walk in, and ditch your pants.
To increase comedic effect, participants were
instructed not to speak to each other, and to
act naturally until they got off the train. One
woman described it as “a wonderful thing
to do.”
The North Korean government has created a
“super brain juice” that is supposed to multiply brain cells with its special blend of “60
different microelements.” According to the
Central Korean News agency, it “protects skin
from wrinkles and black spots, and prevents
such geriatric diseases as cerebral haemorrhage [sic], myocardium and brain infarction.”
Well, doesn’t that sound delicious? At least
we now know why Kim Jong Il’s regime is
so secretive.
24. Media I’s Flashy Photography
’Hare, 10
Maggie O
Kruppa
D
Layout Design by Denée Renz
Nina Leven
, 10
9
cPeek,
Jake M
esai, 10
0
insky, 1
end Kam
Ar
Mike E
re
nberg,
9
25. Emily
ellini, 9
Rachel C
Collin
s, 9
Gagi
Georgia
anas, 9
Andrea
Sa
Broo
ke
Lini
nger
,9
lizzoni
,9
a, 9
iBattist
abby D
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Media I is the class where students are taught the basics of Photography,
Journalism, Yearbook, and Broadcasting. Here are just a few examples of
exceptional work created during the Journalism unit.
26. Roxanne
Chalifoux
“Is it hot in here,
or is it just you?”
JUNIORS
“Excuse me, but I’m new in
town. Can I have directions
to your place?”
SOPHOMORES
Olivia
Roberson
“If you were a sandwich
at McDonald’s you would
be called McGorgeous.”
“I lost my number.
Can I have yours?”
“If you were a book, I’d
check you out.”
Jake
Wilhelm
Carlee
Wickstrom
“Do your legs hurt from
running through my dreams
all night?”
“Fat penguin... I
needed something
to break the ice.”
“You must be a Windows
’95 because you’ve got
me so unstable.”
Jon
Radolec
Cole
Snyder
“If I could rearrange the
alphabet, I’d put U and I
together.”
Camilia
Younes
Courtney
Golembiewski
“I was so enchanted by
your beauty that I ran
into that wall over there.
So I’m going to need your
name and number for
insurance purposes.”
FRESHMEN
TEACHERS
“Don’t tell me
you’re alone.”
Tony
Ritacco
“Do you have a map
because I am lost in
your eyes?”
“Are you a speeding ticket because
you have fine written all over you?”
Mrs. Canfield
“I thought you liked my
walrus impression.”
“I was planning to eat
those breadsticks.”
“Did it hurt when you
fell from heaven?”
Kayla
Lewis
“Do I know you? Because
you look a lot like my
next girlfriend.”
Mr. Walsh
Jason
Achenbach
“Do you know where the Dippin
Dots are? I don’t want Dippin
Dots, I just wanted to talk to you.”
Mrs. Fox
Trevor
Rectenwald
Rachel
Windmueler
Mr. Perrotte
“Are you from Tennessee because you’re the only 10 I see?”
Nick
Wible
“I lost my teddy bear.
Can I snuggle with you?”
Katie
Levine
Greg
Kuzy
SENIORS
“Has anyone ever
told you you look
like___?”
