Thursday, October 29, 2015

Top 5 Costumes for Halloween 2K15

Riley Smith
Staff Writer
Halloween is one of the greatest holidays in America. It gives everyone a chance to dress up in ways they have been dreaming of the whole year. People like to dress as ghouls, goblins, ghosts,  zombies, etc. or you could choose a funny costume like being a banana or a teletubby. WIth this being said, do you know what you want to be for Halloween? If the answer to that question is no, don’t worry, I will help you out with my top 5 costumes available for the 2015 Halloween season.

5. Netflix and Chill. This is a relatively easy costume to make and can be made in several different ways. You can find a friend and have him or her wear a shirt that says “Netflix” and you wear a shirt that says “Chill”. You could wear a red shirt and in Netflix styled font put “And Chill” on the front of your shirt. My personal favorite is wear a Netflix shirt and then carry around and ice bucket or tape fake ice cubes to your shirt. This is an easy and funny costume that will definitely get some laughs.

4. Dress as your friend. This is also a simple costume. You just have to wear the same clothes that your friend is known to wear. If you plan on doing this, don’t let anyone know because the surprise is the best part of the costume.

3. Caitlyn Jenner. Arguably the most talked about person in 2015, this is a great costume if you want to be the life of the party. You can either buy a costume or make it yourself. If you make it yourself, make sure you use her Vanity Fair photoshoot as your inspiration.

2. Black Kitten. This costume is a classic and although it sounds more for women, a man could easily pull this off. All you need is tight black clothes, some face paint, and a pair of cat ears. And remember nothing is scarier than a black cat on Halloween.

1. A Minion. The hottest topic of 2015 is also the best costume. Minions are cute, funny, and at some points maybe a little bit scary. All you need are some goggles, overalls and a yellow shirt. People love minions and there’s no doubt if you wear this costume, you’ll be the best dressed no matter where you go.

Don't forget the importance of safety on Halloweeen

Tommy Valletto
Staff Writer
Although Halloween is a fun time to spend running around doing mischief and gathering as much candy as you can hold; however, it cannot be emphasized enough on how important safety is this Halloween. Children especially, have to really take precaution on safety this halloween. Every parent worries about their child either getting in trouble, hurt, or abducted, so we really need to emphasize safety.
To start off, location is key. Young children should be monitored by parents and parents should know where their children are at all times. For prevention of injury make sure that the costume does not drag where you could trip and fall over it. Also, make sure you can see your surroundings if you are wearing a face mask. A common mistake many young kids do is not look both ways when crossing the street. They are so eager to go to the next house that they don't even remember to look when crossing the street. Even sometimes older kids and adults don't even look both ways before crossing the street because they are so distracted when talking to friends. Another major safety precaution is making sure the candy that you receive is fully wrapped up in its original factory sealed wrapper. For kids that do mischief, just remember it is illegal. Although many people are lenient about it you still can get charged for destruction of property, especially if the prank is taken too far.
So when you're out getting candy make sure you remember to be safe and beware of your surroundings. For the people that are contributing to the mischief just try not to make bad decisions and stay out of trouble.

Thinking Ahead: Fall Fest 2016

Catherine Danhue
Staff Writer
During its second year, Fall Fest proved its success for the second time by raising money for many school clubs which participated in the event. However, many of the volunteers from these clubs have suggestions which they believe could make the event more profitable in 2016.
In 2014, Fall Fest—a fundraising event for many of the clubs and sports teams at New Hope-Solebury including games and food—replaced the Homecoming parade as the event taking place during the day of the Homecoming dance, bringing the community together to welcome students back to school. In 2015, due to inclement weather, Fall Fest was pushed back to October 24th instead of October 3rd, when it was originally scheduled. Despite this delay, Fall Fest remained successful, but students still had suggestions.
Junior Kelly Hyland, who volunteered at the girl’s soccer stand at the event, had nothing but positive comments about the event. “There are so many times that girls’ soccer doesn’t get the same opportunity to fundraise as the boy’s team. Fall Fest is one of the times that we do get this opportunity,” she said.
The classes of 2018 and 2019 were also both excited to be participating in the event, stating that they had earned great amounts of money which they could put towards projects that will be taking place throughout the rest of the year. Girls’ tennis also made a significant amount of money, which will be going to their banquet and coaches’ gifts.
On the other hand, there were some clubs that still had suggestions for the event and believed that it could be improved in the upcoming year.
Bailey Hendricks, President of the Class of 2017, said, “the lack of the volleyball tournament took a toll on our earnings.” Although the Class of 2017 still had their pretzel sale to benefit from, but Bailey said she believed they could have been more lucrative if the volleyball tournament had not been cancelled due to lack of participation, and hopes that the student body is more willing to participate in the volleyball tournament next year to bring it back.
Mask & Zany also had suggestions, such as advertising the event to more than just the school. Members of the club agree that it may be beneficial to advertise to the entire New Hope-Solebury community instead of just students, staff, and parents of the school. These advertisements could be posted in local businesses, sent out in the mail, or spread through word-of-mouth.
Overall, almost everyone agreed that Fall Fest was a fun experience and something they hope will take place again next year. However, there are some suggestions for 2016’s Fall Fest, which could benefit clubs both money-wise and experience-wise.

What is new in the world of skiing

Alec Coburn
Staff Writer
I hope you are excited, ski season is just around the corner. All the new gear is coming out, skis are being tuned, and mountains are opening. Winter is coming quickly, but don’t worry because we are here to give you the low down on what is happening in the world of skiing and how to get ready for the new season.
 Most of us are still in fall mode, but Killington in Vermont has already opened up and is in full swing. This is the earliest they have opened up in recent memory. I am hoping to make it up there  before the month ends to check it out. Even though it is open, that does not mean the snow is good. According to recent reports, it is all fake snow, but is in fact skiable and folks are having a good time.
 If you are looking to start the season early like Killington has you can head over to Buckman’s, which opened up Oct. 1, to get your skis tuned up for $55. Make sure those boots still fit as well. The winter will be here before you know it.
 In terms of new gear coming out there are some promising new releases this year. In the area of all mountain skis the Volkl Montra is taking my pick for the top ski this year. It’s slightly fatter this year and all rocker. It’s an animal of a ski for hard charging riders. For the past couple years the Salomon X-Pros have been leading to boot market, but I think the Atomic Hawk 2.0 could overtake them with their new titanium backplate.
 We are early in the season so not much is happening right now, but look back often this winter to see what is new in the world of skiing.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Losing money quickly? The truth behind cafeteria prices & how you can save

Justin Fischetti
Staff Writer

If you have bought lunch from the school cafeteria, it is likely that at some point you thought that you were overpaying, especially over the past couple years. Maybe you saw your account money continue to tank quickly every school day. The truth is, you are right - partly.
  vWhile indeed the prices of the menu items from the cafeteria can get a bit pricey, there is a little trick that can help save you quite a bit of cash.
  The prices of lunch items vary from one another depending on their category. Side entrees, such as fries and rice, cost only 85 cents, but main entrees, such as pizza and chicken nuggets, cost $2.60. Many students in the past may have bought only a main entree and a side entree, but may have been surprised to see the price climb up to near $3.50.
  Since you will also probably buy a drink, you may be thinking that this is just unfair overpricing. However, there is a trick not all students are aware of that can help you save money: the discounts. There is a very helpful discount within the school lunch system. In order to get this discount, you must buy a full meal at lunch. This meal consists of a main and side entree, a drink, and (what students typically miss) a ½ cup of a fruit or vegetable. If you buy these four items, you will pay only $3.10 for the meal, saving well over a dollar as a result.
  Some students are unaware of this discount and assume a full meal will be too pricey. If you add just a few healthy fruits or vegetables on the side, you could be saving more money than you think. Even if you aren’t into that healthy stuff, you can easily ignore the fruits or vegetables and eat the rest of your meal at a lower cost.
  You may be wondering how the lunch management comes up with the lunch item prices. The school district’s Food Service Director Kim Keller explained: “School lunch prices are regulated through the state and federal government through something called school lunch equity. Prices are based on state averages and the economy's inflation.”
  This means that the school lunch prices are in a way controlled by the government, so not much can be done to change them. Only the snack items, such as cookies and ice cream, are determined by the school.
  By offering a discount for a full, healthy lunch with fruits or vegetables included, the program wants to encourage students to eat healthy.

Freshmen get acquainted with high school life and love it

Jane Weinseimer and Julia Coburn
Staff Writers

Freshmen feel that being unprepared for the school year was not an issue.
  “Middle school teachers over prepared us and the teachers make it out to be more than it really is,” Ally Mangano said.
  Freshmen entering high school often expect upperclassmen to be intimidating, but fortunately this was not the case.
  “Making friends was easy and social status is not as important anymore,” Nick Fest said. “Everyone does their own thing.”
  Even new students such as Maggie Burmester and Aidan Lear said that they felt very welcome and that the environment is very friendly.
  One of the most prominent concerns in high school is the workload compared to middle school. However Julianna Slominski said: “It is the same amount given by [middle school] teachers, but it just requires more effort.”
  Regarding getting involved outside the classroom, freshmen could not sign up for sports fast enough, able to take their favorite sports more seriously and meet new people who have the same interests.
  “I met so many upperclassmen through playing football,” Gavin Grondahl said. “Many are some of my really good friends now,” 
  Although the class of 2019 attended some events in middle school such as Friday night football games, Brooke Walsh summed up the difference: “Feeling a part of the student section is a whole different feeling.”

The pleasures of early dismissal

Lindsay Park
Staff Writer

Early dismissal is a privilege longed for by underclassmen who await their senior year when they may be able to leave school at 1:45 p.m. As someone who enjoys this privilege, I can say that it was definitely worth the wait.
  Leaving early is the highlight of my day. I no longer have to push through eight periods in the day, but instead I get to leave after seventh period. It might not seem like much, but after three years in high school, not having that extra period makes a difference, and I am reminded of that difference every time there is a 7/8 switch.
  The dreaded 7/8 switch is honestly the death to all who have an early dismissal. We have to sit around in the library or cafeteria and act like we are doing something when in reality we are ranting to each other about how mad we are that we can’t leave. Although we understand why we cannot leave (for safety reasons and whatnot), that doesn’t comfort us one bit.
  Besides those days, early dismissal is my savior. When I leave, the parking lot is calm and not filled with traffic. There isn’t a school zone speed limit at 1:45, so there is not any traffic on West Bridge Street. What more could a person that is trying to get away from school as quickly as possible ask for?
  While rising seniors wait for their schedules over the summer hoping for an early dismissal, they are also praying for their friends to get it as well. And if you are lucky, like me, your friends have early dismissal with you. Leaving early is great without your friends with you, but it is absolutely amazing when they are there with you. My friends and I are able to do whatever our hearts desire together at 1:45, but whatever we choose to do, it is so much better when doing it together.

EU responds to refugee crisis

Oren Depp
Staff Writer

In the wake of the Arab Spring and emerging terrorist organizations, refugees from war torn countries, namely Syria, have fled their respective homelands in the hopes of a better future in Europe. But as the number of refugees rise, countries across Europe are quickly being overwhelmed by the 11 million Syrians displaced by the country’s bloody civil war.
 The vast majority of refugees reside in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, with about 4 million scattered across each of the countries. But this is not the end of the trek for some refugees. A large number seek to escape the general vicinity of the violence revolving around Syria. With the quickly expanding Islamic state terrorizing the Middle East, many middle-class Syrians believe Europe could be their only hope for asylum.
 Germany is expected to receive upwards of 800,000 refugees this year, but immediately faced a housing shortage as the numbers climbed, forcing the country to enforce border limitations and rethink its approach.
  Hungary has faced harsh criticism for blocking refugees from entering the country and the rest of Europe, forcing refugees to either attempt a treacherous sneak across its border or turn back.
 The crisis comes at a time when Europe’s sensitivity to immigrants is reaching new heights. Xenophobia, driven by the key term “islamification,” is prominent in these countries where Middle Eastern immigrants most often seek respite. However, studies are continually showing xenophobia to be based on political rhetoric rather than statistics. For example, citizens of European countries, when shown statistics on immigrant population and not shown such statistics, repeatedly say there is in an immigrant problem more when not shown the statistics, according to a study done by the German Marshall Fund. Even so, a large factor that is playing a role in the refugee crisis is this xenophobia.
  The refugee crisis is a complex issue, whose variables and factors cannot be summarized in a single article. But one fact that is for certain is that these refugees need someone’s help.
  If you wish to donate to help these refugees, go to https://donate.unrefugees.org/.

Ms. El-Turkey shares advice and deadlines

Alexandra Buchler
Staff Writer

Before being a high school counselor at New Hope-Solebury, Hebat El-Turkey worked at a middle school as a counselor. She aspires to help the students everyday, as she sees the potential in all of us. It is hard enough coming to school as a student, but having the dedication to come to school, again, and enjoy teaching, guiding, and supporting the students is truly remarkable. Her motivation? The kids.
  “Seeing the success, talent, and ambition of my students is incredibly motivating,” Ms. El-Turkey said.
  Some important upcoming dates that you should know about early so there are no surprises include PSAT’s for 10th and 11th graders on October 15, Keystones and AP exams in May, and for freshman especially, keep in mind that the end of the first marking period is approaching fast! Nov. 6 is just around the corner so it's time to get your grades up.
  Finally, seniors should start working or already be working on college applications which will be submitted up until March. Some advice for the seniors would include not becoming too stressed, you will get into a good college of your choice, and to simply enjoy the ride because next year will be a whole new chapter of your life.
  “I love working with teens. I would definitely never change my job because it is just so awarding,” El-Turkey said.

Fall fashion frenzy spices up hallways

Kelsey Iverson and Talia Wolf
Staff Writers

As fall quickly approaches, we see a dramatic transition in everyone’s fashion statements. As we kiss the sandals goodbye, we witness the transformation into boots beginning to kick in. Boots and cozy sweaters are always a go-to staple for the chillier months. This year, we are expecting to see earthy tones, plaid and skirts. Adding red plaid to our wardrobes this season will add a nice pop of color to balance out the usual black and gray while raising the hemline of our mini skirts is a must this season.
   Over the knee boots will spice up the usual basic boot and transform your look into a masterpiece. By taking the usual fall fashion and adding accents from this year's go to looks, you will dominate the fall fashion scene this year at New Hope.
  Many of these styles are generated through inspiring outfits and new trends driven from many diverse forms of social media. For example, the apps Instagram and Twitter, allows generations of app-savvy millennials to follow powerful figures in the fashion industry. Companies such as Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and publishers like Vogue have accounts to highlight their fashion statements. Individuals can base their outfits on what they come across while scrolling through outfit inspirations and turn it into their everyday looks. Overall, people have the opportunity to explore fall fashion through many different outlets and make it their own. Having these tools can help you be the best dressed in the school. Let’s see what your trendy fall fashion look will be!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Mobile Apps threaten Web Innovation

Max Charney
Staff Writer

The World Wide Web is becoming a battleground. It’s Google vs. Apple vs. Facebook for control.
  The Web is used everyday by millions of people from all over the word, but is dying a slow death. It should be made clear that  this is not about the Internet. The World Wide Web and the Internet are two different things. The Web is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) where documents are stored by hyperlinks. It is a fancy way to describe a web page like Google, Youtube, or Reddit. The Internet is the global system that connects all computers and phones too. The Web is inside the Internet.
  Recently Google began to crack down on users that use the popular software AdBlock on Youtube,  meaning viewers could no longer skip ads as they had done previously. This caused huge backlash, but people quickly discovered how to once again get around the ads.
  So why did Google decide to start cracking down? It is simple: money. YouTube generates money from having ads on its site (Google bought Youtube for twenty-nine billion dollars in 2011), but with more people using AdBlock and other software to stop ads, Google is losing money. Almost all ads on the Internet come from Google.
  Apple is the third competitor. They are dominating the market with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. With Firefox, Apple allows users to block ads, but only Google’s ads. This is driving a stake right into Google’s revenue. Apple is getting money from their products and their apps. Users can not block ads from Apple on Apple’s aps.
  And guess who else is doing this...
  Facebook does not allow you to block ads on their site either, including the app version. This is because mobile is roaring ahead; there is an app for nearly everything. If someone makes an app for Apple some of the revenue is cut, but hosting apps on Android (Google) is free. You can do and make whatever you want.
  If companies cannot make money, the Web will become a lot less active and innovative than it is today. The tech titans will battle it out for control as long as they have money, but technology is trending towards mobile.

The Late Show Breakdown

Jonah Slominski
Staff Writer

On Sept. 8, 2015, a new era of the The Late Show kicked off, with Stephen Colbert taking over for the recently retired David Letterman. How Colbert can fill Letterman’s shoes remains to be seen, but so far, Colbert has taken the challenge in stride. This is still like any other late night variety show, with Colbert doing an opening monologue, interviewing celebrities and interesting people, and a guest musical act. We have just started to see what Colbert can do with an entire hour time slot. He has been known best for being entertaining while addressing current events.
 After the opening monologue and commercial break,  Colbert is seen sitting behind the desk, reporting on the day’s news, in traditional Colbert Report style. This was an excellent move on Colbert’s part, as it allows him to go to a comfort zone of sorts while the rest of the show looks to find its groove. However, this is not The Colbert Report 2.0, as his super-righteous and conservative character is not seen here. Instead, viewers see the actual Colbert, who is still sharp, quick-witted, and more informed than the character he used to play.
  Colbert seems able to strike a good balance between entertainment and information with his guest interviews. In comparison on The Tonight Show, host Jimmy Fallon rarely has an interview that can be viewed as informative or thoughtful, as it has become mostly a platform for celebrities to advertise their next movie or TV show, while playing fun games with Fallon. Viewers will see how long Fallon can keep it up.
 Colbert has had guests on such as presidential hopefuls Jeb Bush and Bernie Sanders, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, as well as popular celebrities like George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson. He also has the ability to switch between taking a backseat to the guest and letting the guest take over, like when he had new Daily Show host Trevor Noah on, and when to take control and keep the interview from stalling, like with GOP hopeful Jeb Bush.
 Once Colbert and The Late Show find their identity and style, I believe that The Late Show could be the late night show to watch. Colbert is not only willing to have popular celebrities but also lesser-known guests.. He also has experience on TV, as he spent much time working with late night legend Jon Stewart of The Daily Show as a correspondent, then transitioning to his own show, The Colbert Report which was wildly successful during its nine-year run on TV.
 With all this coming together, Colbert looks primed to dominate the late night viewers and become the new face of late night TV.

Thoughts on Snapchat Update

Riley Smith
Staff Writer

Throwing up rainbows? Making your face look like a demon? Are these things that you have always wanted to do while taking a picture? Well Snapchat has done this and has completely stepped up the selfie game.
  Last week Snapchat released an update that allows one to take selfies that project a special effect on one’s face.
  Within the first few hours of the new update being released to the public, kids were sending these new and improved selfies to everyone on their contacts list.
  Senior Oren Depp believes the update is “revolutionary” and senior Jonah Slominski can only describe the way it works as “magic.”
  While some people are in complete awe of the update, Junior Alexa Ghiz thinks it is “pointless and annoying.”
  Even though there are some haters, most people love the update.

Role Models Not Runway Models

Hannah Mui
Editor-in-Chief
Fashion Designer Carrie Hammer revolutionized fashion during her New York Fashion Week show. Hammer has taken it to NYFW to empower women and diversify the fashion world. In Hammer’s most recent fashion show in New York she debuted her new line of clothing on role models instead of runway models.
  The role models she chose included CEOs, editors, producers, and directors of various different companies. 21 successful business women walked down the runway, showing off Hammer’s custom fit designs. Women like Kristen Morrissey, the head of business development at Google Fiber, and Lizz Winstead, the co-creator of The Daily Show, are inspiring young girls on and off the runway to pursue their own careers and encouraging fashion.
  Unlike other designers, Hammer embraces difference among the role models she selects for fashion shows. Recently, she was the first designer ever to have a model with down syndrome walk the NYFW runway as well as a model in a wheelchair. Jamie Brewer, 30, an actress on American Horror Story with down syndrome, inspired the audience when she defied social standards by modeling for Carrie Hammer Clothing during NYFW.
  Hammer is also expanding her business to offer a free educational course for people which includes daily business tips from the company’s role models. She is partnering with PopExpert to bring fans and viewers the advice and empowerment needed to be successful in their careers.
  Carrie Hammer is transcending not only the fashion world but also the business world with her passion for fashion.

Freshmen Reflect on their First Few Weeks

Jane Weinseimer and Julia Coburn
Staff Writers

Freshmen feel that being unprepared for the school year was not an issue. “Middle school teachers over prepared us and the teachers make it out to be more than it really is,” Ally Mangano said. Freshmen entering high school often expect upperclassmen to be intimidating, but this was not the case.
 “Making friends was easy and social status is not as important anymore,” Nick Fest said. “Everyone does their own thing.”
 Even new students such as Maggie Burmester and Aidan Lear say that they felt very welcome and that the environment is very friendly.
 One of the most prominent concerns in high school is the workload compared to middle school. However Julianna Slominski said“it is the same amount given by [middle school] teachers but it just requires more effort.”
 Regarding getting involved outside the classroom, freshmen could not sign up for sports fast enough, able to take their favorite sports more seriously and meet new people who have the same interests.
 “I met so many upperclassmen through playing football that are some of my really good friends now,” Gavin Grondahl said.
 Although the class of 2019 attended some events in middle school such as Friday night football games, “feeling a part of the student section is a whole different feeling,” Brooke Walsh said.

Fall Fashion Frenzy

Kelsey Iverson & Talia Wolf
Staff Writers

As fall quickly approaches, we see a dramatic transition in everyone’s fashion statements. As we kiss the sandals goodbye, we witness the transformation into boots beginning to kick in. Boots and cozy sweaters are always a go-to staple for the chillier months. This year, we are expecting to see earthy tones, plaid and skirts. Adding red plaid to our wardrobes this season will add a nice pop of color to balance out the usual black and gray while raising the hemline of our mini skirts is a must this season. Some students seem to disagree.
 Nikia Beavers stated, “If I see someone walking down the hall in a plaid mini skirt, I will tell them to go change, because they look stupid.”
 She may be a minority though here at New Hope. Over the knee boots will spice up the usual basic boot and transform your look into a masterpiece. By taking the usual fall fashion and adding accents from this year's go to looks, you will dominate the fall fashion scene this year at New Hope.
 Many of these styles are generated through inspiring outfits and new trends driven from many diverse forms of social media. For example, the apps Instagram and Twitter, allows generations of app-savvy millennials to follow powerful figures in the fashion industry. Companies such as Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and publishers like Vogue have accounts to highlight their fashion statements. Individuals can base their outfits on what they come across while scrolling through outfit inspirations and turn it into their everyday looks. Overall, people have the opportunity to explore fall fashion through many different outlets and make it their own. Having these tools can help you be the best dressed in the school. Let’s see what your trendy fall fashion look will be!