CDC lists Trick or Treating as a high risk with Covid-19

John Devaney and Teddy Devaney 

Staff Writers
    
With Halloween right around the corner, and coronavirus still doing damage to the country, the CDC is now listing trick or treating as a high risk activity for catching the virus. The CDC has released a statement on their website to make sure people understand the risk they are accepting for parties. Obviously online parties for future holidays are fine and pose no risk that participants will contract the coronavirus, but for in-person parties the CDC wants people to check their local community coronavirus cases and make sure they are taking account of all possible risks.
  The statement includes more detailed information about avoiding increased risk of catching Covid-19. This includes choosing an outdoor gathering over an indoor, as the chance of spread is greatly decreased, shortening the total time of the gathering or party, and the behavior of guests at the gathering. If the party cannot be held outside for some reason, make sure to pick a room that has good ventilation and open windows.
  After the celebration, the CDC suggests that all commonly used surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned and that the people who were at the party should stay home as much as possible and should quarantine for two weeks to keep others safe.
  With regards to  Halloween, masks worn as part of costumes are not sufficient for coronavirus safety. The only exception would be a mask made with at least two or more layers of breathable fabric. Also keep in mind that candy handed out has a high risk of being touched by someone who has Covid-19 and the wrappers should be cleaned before they are open and the candy is consumed.
  Hopefully people will make the right decisions and keep everybody safe so we can have Halloween.
 

My strange, wondrous, and short trip to Ireland

Meryl Callaway
Editor-in-Chief

Although it seems like ages, I left for Ireland about a year ago. It seems like I was younger then, more naive maybe; however, I was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime and I would never want to turn back.
  While in Ireland, I would live in the small community of Oughterard. It was located just north of Galway and was settled on the shores of Lake Lough Corrib. It was a small agricultural community in which everyone knew everybody else and that was the way they liked it.
  I learned a lot from this community. How to talk to many different types of people, how to appreciate the little things in life and the importance of family. When I left I never thought that I would find myself chasing wild ponies through the untame fields of Ireland, sipping tea and painting in the kitchen of a local artist with other exchange students from Germany, India, and Japan or that, when I returned home, that I would be returning to a completely different world.
  Unfortunately, after having endured the first two and half months of my journey I received word from the exchange agency that, because of the novel coronavirus, all exchange students were to return back to their home countries effective immediately. And, just like that, I was on a plane within 24 hours, on my way back to the United States.
  It was an eerie experience, flying in the midst of a pandemic. I was flying home the day after flight sanctions to the United States were imposed and so the airport was desolate. Buses and trains were no longer running and my returning plane, home to over 200 seats, were filled with 30 measly Americans, desperately trying to return home.
  Upon arrival I was treated like I was radioactive. Even my family, understandably, did not want to come near me and I spent the next two weeks of my life in quarantine with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs. It was even stranger being home. Believe it or not, once you have been away for so long there is a bit of a culture shock upon your return. They call this reintroduction shock. It was weird because nothing had changed and yet everything. The world had begun to shut down shortly after I had left so, my house (which is under construction) still had the kitchen cabinets hanging, removed from the wall, the stores had the same inventory and nobody had any new stories to tell; however, I was different. I had changed
  So, all in all, my experience in Ireland was incredible despite its disappointing end. I got to adventure outside of my little bubble, became a little wiser and at least I can say that I have a good story to tell.  

2020 hosts myriad changes to technology in our lives

Ian Mendola
Staff Writer

There have been many technological advancements made or soon to be made this year. These are some of the largest advancements in history as we now have the machines and parts for the latest and greatest improvements. These improvements and developments are going to change the way we work our everyday routines.
  Some of these advancements have yet to be released and are still in the works with hopes of being released later this year. These include un-hackable internet servers, quantum supremacy, and tiny AI embedded in the most obscure places one can imagine. With artificial intelligence emerging over recent years with hit tech like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s HomePod. There is an industry push to minimize the size of the “assistant” so it can be included in your glasses or your smart watch in the near future.
  There is also an increase in digital currency as it is effective and easy to use. The only issue with this is finding a way to stabilize the market and keep the currency value from fluctuating. As we saw with Bitcoin, there is plenty of work to be done there. This will allow for one of the greatest technological advancements as money is constantly used every day for essential needs in your home and for yourself.
  Finally, there will be advancements in medicines with hopes of an anti-aging drug that will preserve your looks as you age. Even hyper-personalized medicines that use your genetic makeup to quickly and effectively treat illnesses you might develop.
  iPhones and smartwatches as well as Android devices have made significant improvements as the iPhone Xr and Xs as well as the 11 and 11 pros have come out with their dual and triple-camera setups. This is revolutionary for the quality and effectiveness of taking photos. There is no need for a Canon or Nikon camera as iPhone quality has greatly improved this year.
  Although we may be seeing a lot in terms of civil unrest and coronavirus, tech is still trying to march on into a brighter future.

Spanish households given minimum income guarantee

Olivia Hiriak
Staff Writer

The Spanish government approved an emergency relief package that provides around 850,000 households with a minimum income guarantee to lessen the economic blow caused by the coronavirus blockade. The poverty alleviation package, which will cost Spain around €3 billion or $3.3 billion annually, enables eligible households to receive between €62 and €1015 a month, or about $515 to $1,130 a year, which will be crucial for families if the country’s economy is expected to go into recession.
  Aid has been accelerated by the left coalition government, but is in line with the poverty reduction plans outlined by the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who committed to redistribute the tax burden when he took office in January. Iglesias leads the United We Can party, which is Sanchez’s coalition partner and is pushing for taxes for the rich to cover the high cost of Covid-19. The Bank of Spain recently predicted that the Spanish economy could shrink by up to 13 percent by 2020.
  The lines in the main food banks and social assistance centers in Spain have been accumulating since mid-March when Spain was closed. Raúl Flores, technical director of the Foessa Foundation, which is part of the aid organization Cáritas, told the New York Times that almost six million of the 47 million people living in Spain left “with a tightrope walk”. The minimum income guarantee is the first such system at national level in Spain, where most of the welfare programs have been managed by regional administrations.
  The program will be implemented next month and, according to the government, is expected to reach around 2.3 million people. The beneficiaries must be younger than 65, the age at which the Spaniards stop paying the pension system, and their eligibility is determined on the basis of recent tax returns and other assets. The daily cases in Israel are increasing and are calling for the possible reinstallation of a blockade.

Prime Day Postponed

Ian Mendola and Evan Menz
Staff Writers

Amazon’s Prime day has been a staple of online shopping days where tech giant Amazon releases hundreds of thousands of deals throughout the site. Usually, it happens in late July where shoppers can buy anything from a toothbrush to a boat. There are deals and discounts that many would love to come to buy.
  Amazon has been struggling for months to respond to a rush of customer orders during the public health crisis and had to institute many new safety protocols and shipping restrictions to be able to continue delivering food and basic needs.
  The world’s largest online store is only now starting to bring itself back to regular operations and faster shipping times.  Preparation for Prime Day and the holiday season takes months of planning so that work has taken a backseat to more immediate needs.
  The coming of Prime Day would likely be a huge benefit not just for Amazon but for retailers overall, many of which have been under serious pressure during the pandemic, with many forced to close stores and even lay off their employees.
  This year, Prime day is officially happening in September 2020. Since the outbreak many events and places have shut down and it would be best to help contain the disease to move it to a safer time for everyone.

Our fading 2020 summer

Delaney Cullura
Staff Writer

What’s happening with summer?
  No one really knows what summer 2020 will hold. Most of us hope that stuff starts opening up. Many summer classes for colleges are going to be online. Beaches are only open for some people, and only some food places are open for takeout. Vacations are getting cancelled everyday as borders close and air travel is limited due to health and safety concerns.
  I don’t think any of us thought that we would be in quarantine for so long. The seniors going away to college are starting to buy things for their dorm even though the fall semester might be online. All we want to do is to see our friends and family and head to college like every other graduating class. Unfortunately, we are going to have to make the best of what we get for the summer of 2020.

Japan’s economy in jeopardy

Olivia Hiriak
Staff Writer

For the first time in five years, Japan has fallen into a recession. It’s already weakened economy has been impacted by the effects of the coronavirus on companies both domestic and abroad.
  The world’s third economy shrank 3.4 percent annually after the United States and China in the first three months of the year. It is the largest economy officially entering a recession, often defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Other major economies around the world are expected to follow the stream of outbreaks around the world. The companies had already stalled before the outbreak of the coronavirus. Consumer spending declined after the Japanese government raised a tax on consumption from eight to 10 percent in October. According to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, this would help reduce public debt--the highest among industrialized nations--and the growing demand for social services to finance the country’s older workers.
  The efforts in the health sector seem to have paid off. COVID-19 cases rose shortly before the withdrawal. The total number of deaths due to the outbreak was under 750 on Sunday, which is lower than other large industrialized nations. However, each of these decisions had a keen economic impact.

Murder Hornets are deadly but remain remote for now

Brendan O’Boyle
Staff Writer

While things are already not looking good for the country due to COVID-19, the world’s largest hornet, the “Murder Hornet” has now made an appearance in the Pacific Northwest.
  The Asian giant hornet, also known as the Vespa Mandarinia, are a fairly common species in parts of Asia and are known for their size and painful sting. These Hornets were recently discovered to be in North America as headlines about “murder hornets” began to surface across the web. They were discovered in Washington state near the Canadian border and are said to have somehow traveled from Asia.
  While the name sounds sinister, some researchers say that most of the headlines about these hornets are misleading. Like the average honey bee, the murder hornets sting can put someone in the hospital if they have an existing allergy. In very rare cases though these stings can be fatal if they are not treated correctly. Officials recommend that if you have a bee allergy you try your best to avoid the nests of these hornets because also like honey bees, they will disturb you if you disturb them. Even if the hornets don’t have a high chance of killing you, the sting is extremely painful.
  Sven-Erik Spichiger, the managing entomologist at the Washington state Agriculture Department, released a statement about the hornets:“What we’re told from the literature is that most people can survive one or two stings,” he told Reuters. “But if you sustain multiple stings, the necrosis and the venom will actually start getting into your bloodstream and will start working on your organs. And multiple stings could literally be fatal.”
  The majority of experts are surprised that these hornets have arrived in the United States. Back in 2019, a hornet colony was discovered in Canada after they were accidentally shipped in a container to the country. It is very unlikely officials say, for hornets to travel like this though. Right now it is best to just keep a safe distance and stay informed.

Students remain optimistic about summer despite COVID-19

Devon Beacham and Kyle Sullivan
Staff Writers

       With the year slowly coming to an end, in the least traditional way possible, students are holding onto hopes they will have at least a sliver of a normal summer given the circumstances. Regardless of grade, all students would give anything to have summer, especially seniors where it might be their last “normal” one.
       We asked students from each grade what their anticipated plans are for the warm season if all goes well in regards to the current pandemic.
  Freshman, Kiersten Marcello has set some positive and hopefully achievable goals for herself. Kiersten says: “If all goes well, and all of this coronavirus stuff goes away, I plan to make up for all the hours of doing nothing in my house. The first thing I would probably do is get my first job so I can start making my own money. Some of my friends won’t be staying in New Hope next year, so I will definitely be spending a lot of time with them. We will make the most of our summer by going out and biking every day and baking a bunch of brownies.”
  Unfortunately, sophomore Kennedy Fisher’s plans are going to need some alteration. “My plan was to go to Greece and Italy this summer, but that’s not possible anymore,” Kennedy said. With the coronavirus affecting the entire world, international travel is banned for the time being. Kennedy plans to make up for her overseas trip as soon as she can.
  Junior Samantha Finch seems to be somewhat sticking to her typical summer plans: “If everything that is going on continues, my plan is to head to my beach house in Stone Harbor. It is so peaceful there and I feel it will be a great place to pass the time in quarantine.”
  Finally, with seniors upset about the abrupt end to the best year of their high school career, Will Kelley shares wise words: “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are stacked against you.”

Demolition of Albania’s national theater causes widespread unrest

Olivia Harrison
Staff Writer

As Americans, the main focus in the news is mostly the spread of the Coronavirus and its devastating effects on everybody in the community, whether that be locally, nationally or internationally. Because of this, other news tends to be put on the back burner. However, one story that has recently been unearthed has caught some attention in the media anad is being reported worldwide.
  In Tirana, Albania, last Sunday, police intervened against opposition supporters who were protesting the demolition of the country’s National Theatre. Although it seems as if these protests are stemming from the loss of cultural resources, a main contributing factor is Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama. In Albania, the prime minister is head of government and the most powerful and influential person in Albanian politics. Many people oppose Rama, as he is a part of the Socialist political party in Albania.  Clashes of protestors against Rama and the socialist party have been going on for a couple months now, but have been on halt because of the Coronavirus. Although Albania has been on full lockdown, it did not stop oppositionists and theatre employees from coming out in mass numbers to protest the demolition of the National Theatre.
  Located in Tirana, Albania’s Capital, the National Theatre has been around since World War ll, when it was built by Italy when they occupied what is now modern-day Albania. Workers started building the theatre in 1938, and finished it the following year. In 1940, it opened as a cultural center. Over the decades, the theater has had many names. When it first opened the Italians named it Savoia, and then when the Germans occupied Albanian territory, they called it The Theater of Kosovo. Finally, in 1945, after World War ll, when Albania was a communist country, it was called the People’s Theatre. Most cultural institutions in post-war Albania would be established here and it played a huge role in Albania’s cultural and national identity.  Nowadays, it is known worldwide as the National Theatre.
  Since it has been around for ages, the building was very old, dilapidated and had begun to fall apart. However, that did not stop artists and actors from utilizing the theatre. In its place, a new 30 million euro ($32.4 USD), will be built in its place with a stark, new modern design. When artists, actors and activists heard about this plan, they decided to take a stand. They believe that the theatre is a symbol of Albanian culture and heritage. Albania’s current government has been talking about taking down the theatre for two years now but held off. But, on Sunday, May 17, they decided to finally go through the process and tear down the National Theatre.  Hundreds of oppositionists stood outside the area that the now demolished theatre once was and chanted “Down with the dictatorship!” Later that day, a group of students had to be moved away from the site and other demonstrators were detained by police, and even pepper sprayed. The police tried blocking local television crews from reporting the protests.
  I spoke to my friend Ergi Hysa, who lives in Tirana about what he thought of the loss of the theatre and the current political tensions in his country and he had a lot to say. Ergi says, “You see, Albania is a small country and things get done very fast. We usually know what the government is doing and what’s going on. However, if they’re doing something we think is wrong, it’s impossible to call them out about it. Before the theater was built, Albania had hardly any industry other than farming. The theatre represented advancement as a country. There were also many different regimes, such as the communist jurisdiction. There was art from that time period and so much more. The theatre symbolizes so much and it was also the birth of Albanian theatre. Furthermore, the costumes and video footage from 1945 were destroyed as well.
  Ergi explained: “We have lost hope in this system and I feel as if they broke the law by destroying the theatre and have this attitude of ‘well now it’s done, forget about the theatre.’” Because of the protests being aggressive and brutal, Ergi did not go to the protests. Instead, he is protesting online under the Instagram user @jemi.bashke which translates in English to “we are together”. On this account Ergi has made his own art about what he thinks of the situation and his posts have even gotten noticed by the Albanian news company, JOQ Albania.
  Besides tracking attention from everyday citizens, the demolition of the theatre has tracked attention from the European Union itself, opposition democratic party leader Lulzim Basha, Europa Nostra, and even the President Ilir Meta and his wife Monika Kryemadhi. Lulzim Basha said: “Authorities were crossing the red line between democracy and dictatorship in this country.”  Europa Nostra, a Europe-wide organization engaged in the protection of cultural heritage, protested against the decision on Twitter, calling it illegal.
  The European Union office in Tirana itself even released a statement saying that it deplored, or highly disliked the destruction of the National Theatre and wanted to negotiate things civilly, without major political parties escalating the situation.
  President Ilir Meta released a statement calling out Rama, calling the destruction of the theatre “a constitutional, legal and moral crime.” Rama fired back on Facebook stating: “They [oppositionists and protestors] cannot stop Tirana!!” Later that day, the president’s wife Monika Kryemadhi was seen being detained and put in a police van. She was later freed. The EU commissioner for culture Mariya Gabriel still urges both sides to talk things out before totally tearing down the theatre. She stated on Twitter: “Dialogue with civil society and experts of cultural heritage is necessary before taking an irreversible decision on #NationalTheatre #Tirana. We strongly encourage all relevant national institutions to engage now in a constructive dialogue with heritage stakeholders.”
  Although Albania has banned public gatherings because of Covid-19, Lulzim Basha still urges residents to speak out against the government’s plans. Basha urges all citizens to start nationwide protests “to get rid of this bandit and this great evil,” adding that demonstrations would be held “respecting hygienic conditions.”

Mountain scores new deadlift world record

John Devaney and Ted Devaney
Staff Writers

On May 2, the heaviest weight lifted from the ground ever belonged to a new person. Thor Bjornsson of Iceland, nicknamed The Mountain on the show Game of Thrones, pulled 501kg (1,104 pounds) from the ground to his waist.
  The event was broadcasted live on ESPN in Thor’s personal gym. The crew was sure to maintain social distancing guidelines and had the maximum number of people in the room, including Thor, his wife Kelsey Henson, his coach, his friends, and an ESPN crew.
The previous world record was set by Eddie Hall in 2016 at 500kg. Only a handful of people have ever deadlifted over 1,000 pounds and only two in history have deadlifted at least 1,100 pounds, Eddie and Thor.
  The day Thor pulled 501kg, the bar went up much faster than when Eddie Hall pulled 500kg. Many lifters thought he had much more left in him, but Thor opted out of a second lift because he felt content and did not want to risk injury.
  After the lift, Thor called out Eddie Hall for a boxing match. Both were offered a big contract by Core Sports and Thor made sure Eddie knew he had signed it.
  “Eddie Hall has been running his mouth for two weeks now and I know that he got the same deal. So Eddie, I just knocked out your record, and now I’m ready to knock you out in the ring. Time to put your fists where your big mouth is and sign the Core Sports contract. I’m ready. Are you ready, Eddie?”
  The fight is planned to take place in September of 2021. Both have signed the contract and it will be interesting to see the two strongest men in the world step into the ring.

Murder Hornets try to share a piece of the stage with COVID-19 threatening more disaster

Samantha Curtis and Gabriella Vitelli
Staff Writers

As if the corona virus weren’t enough, now the US has discovered a new species of hornets infiltrating Washington state. These hornets are known as the murder hornets because they decapitate bees. Several stings from them can also kill a human.
  These hornets are native to east Asia and kill approximately 50 people each year in Japan. The hornet is around two inches long, about two times the size of a normal hornet. It possesses a set of jaws perfectly designed to snip the head off a honeybee. They have large orange-yellow heads, big prominent eyes, and their bodies have black and yellow stripes. They apparently made their way over to the United States in December, and there are four reported sightings.
  The hornets do not tend to go after humans, but if they do, a traditional beekeeping suit will not protect against their stings, which contain seven times the venom as honey bees. The USDA has ordered special reinforced suits from China. The effect on humans is minimal after hearing what they do to bees. When they find a honey bee hive they invade the hive using their large jaws to kill the bees at a very fast speed. The hornets can kill 30,000 bees within hours and then have the hive as their own. As bad as their hornets are, they are even hard to kill, in the United States beekeepers are doing many trials with hornet traps, but if the queen is alive the population will continue. If you see one, first report it and stay away!

How the other half studies: An interview with an Albanian teen, Ergi Hysa

Olivia Harrison
Staff Writer

As American teenagers, we do not really focus on what is going on in the world. We are very consumed with what is going on in our community, social media, classes, getting into college, and fitting in. But, we never really focus on what it would be like to not grow up in America. We rarely think about our European counterparts. To find out what it’s like to grow up in another country and the similarities they have with us, I interviewed my good friend Ergi Hysa from Tirana, Albania. Albania was established in 1912 and located in the Balkan’s of Europe.
  It has many cultural traditions, and a lot of people are still trying to keep those traditions alive. Ergi is fifteen years old and is in high school. His life is very similar  to ours with some important differences. While we might be worrying about how many views we get on a Tik Tok or what someone has said about how we look, they might be more focused on studying abroad and the future for their country.  They are also focused on preventing the earlier influences of communism from coming back in Albania. I had a few questions to ask my friend about his life in Albania and I was amazed to hear the answers.
  Ergi is growing up in the Albanian capital city, Tirana. He’s in tenth grade (or to us, a sophmore), which is his first year of high school. In Albania, the education system is very different and they use different terminology than Americans. As Ergi explained, school starts off as something called vjeçare or the “nine years”. The first five years of his schooling are elementary level education or fillore, and the other four years are what Americans call middle school. Then, you move onto high school. However, in Albania, what Americans call high school is actually considered college or university in Albania, and middle school to Albanians is considered high school. Unlike the American education system, elementary school and middle school are combined together. I was very confused on how this all worked and especially the names of things, but eventually I figured out how it works after some indepth research.
  Much like his American counterparts, Ergi says that school is very important to him and he plans to go to college after high school. He either plans to study technology and computers, diplomacy, or sociology. He knows for certain that if he goes into technology, he will study abroad at a university in Vienna, Austria. Since Ergi is getting ready to go to college, he explained how different the college process is from the U.S. He says, “It works like this:  To get into college, you need both good grades and social credits. They count 60% of the requirements as grades and state tests.  40%of the requirements are social credits (joining activities etc).  Having good grades is really important but a B student with great social credits and extracurriculars can win over an A student with no social credits. So even though having good extra curriculars is great, studying and getting good grades is important. Some branches (majors) and universities require lower scores but others require higher scores. There’s a lot of debate about this system, a lot of us don’t like it.” In conclusion, the college process in Albania is just as hard as the college process in the United States!
  When Ergi isn’t in school, he is involved in extracurriculars that most American teens would find familiar. Ergi is involved in an organization called Theatre Beyond Borders, in which actors from the  countries Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro perform plays together. Back in the day, there were a lot of border disputes in the Balkans, and this led to war between Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. Because of this, there is a lot of tension between Serbians and Albanians. “When people do theatre, they have to work together. This project and organization will help bring us more together after all the conflicts in the region,” Ergi said. Ergi also runs a popular history account on instagram called @Aint.Doing.History and a Youtube channel of the same name.  He quotes, “The Instagram account has been growing quite fast and it’s active and healthy. The Youtube channel is quite passive although I really want to make it more active. I have two videos coming up about Iran and the twentieth century US.”
  When asked about his thoughts of America, Ergi had a lot to say, “We here [in Albania] hold an image of ‘great America’, like that everything is easier. For example those from Albania who have the opportunity to come to America we call “shpetoi” or “i’a hodhi, which means he or she has a better life. Shepetoi literally means “got saved”. You all don’t know how much we idolize you. When I was little, I wanted to become President of the United States.  My mom crushed my dreams by saying you had to be born there.  But recently, my family and I are coming to our senses because having relatives in the U.S. tell us that it isn’t a fairy tale and it’s hard over there too.”
  Ergi and his family are planning to get visas to come to the US and eventually become citizens. It is a complex and very long process. “Right now, we are currently through the process of “family union”. If I go that way, it will take 4-6 years. There is another option which is through school. I’d stay with my uncle in Long Island and attend university before my parents and my brother Rajan arrive. My dad wanted me to go to high school in America, but my mom disapproved of that. She feared we were going to disconnect.”
  For now, Ergi is living life in Albania and hoping the best for the future of his country. I asked him if he saw himself and his generation as the future of Albania, but he had some concerns.
 “I don’t think so, but I do hope that maybe we can make a difference. Lots of the younger generation in Albania are starting to lose some of the traditions that we once held. After the fall of communism in Albania, we took all the modernization and western influence we could get. However, it hasn’t gone well and we have lost some traditions because of that. In My hometown, Tirana, the youth mainly follows these trends just to look cool. I’m not saying that trends are bad, it’s just that we are losing traditions and the culture we once had. And, I feel as people start following trends, they won’t be leaders and individuals. Being a follower instead of a leader is not good for a nation. At this time I feel as if some of our traditions may fade because of globalization and assimilation and because everyone is just following trends and such.”
  Ergi hopes to make a difference and keep the traditions and culture of Albania alive while keeping up with the rest of the world.  Although we may come from different countries, we are all still teenagers and we are the future of our countries and the world. Together, we can put the differences aside and maybe make an impact on our world and shape it for the next generation to come.

Fun Pastimes to Enjoy While At Home

Kaylee Lynch & Lucie MacGillvray
Staff Writers

During times like these, it is really important to look around and think about what is important to you. For most of us, not being in a school was a shock and somewhat of a surprise, but there are definitely positives to this way of life and we just have to look at them. Here are some ideas and activities you can do to keep occupied and enjoy during this time away from being in school.
  Number one is to get cleaning! It is true that activities after school take time away from house chores. So now that we have the time, it is important to help our parents out! Try doing the dishes for a change or folding laundry. It will truly help you in the future when you have to do these things on your own. Also cleaning the windows with windex, or cleaning out your room will be a way to use your time productively and it really makes a difference! So get to it!
  Another great idea is to play games. Try playing real life games instead of the ones on the computer and phones. Maybe break out Monopoly or the boardgame Life.  It is also fun to play trivia or do something you used to when you were younger like hide and seek. Time is ticking away, so get moving!
  If you’d rather devote your time into something creative, try picking up a new hobby, such as drawing, learning card tricks or maybe even cooking! Different activities are always a blast to do. So ask your family to join in on the fun!
  Those who have homework during this time, listen up!  Now is the perfect time to get caught up on homework and other make-up work. Make sure to attend your online classes and zoom sessions!
  If you’re looking for a relaxing activity to do, consider starting to watch a new show or reading a new book while staying inside! If you’re looking for a funny show, try the Impractical Jokers or Brooklyn Nine-Nine! There are a boat load of choices to rewatch or begin watching. Ever hear of The Office? The main character Michael Scott is a riot and you are sure to have a good time!
    Even though we aren’t supposed to go outside and travel it is always nice to go for a bike ride or play frisbee. There are nearby parks that offer activities like these, for instance Peace Valley Park, Tyler Park, and Tinicum. If those places are not an option for you, you always have sidewalks and roadways to go walking or biking! Or even in your own backyard! So go fly a kite or take a walk while this warm weather is taking place!
  Most importantly, during this time, make sure you’re staying safe! Try to stay away from large groups and practice healthy habits. Also, wash your hands! Spend some time having fun and getting organized. We hope to see everyone back in school as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy your time at home with your family!

Baby Yoda Steals the Show

Ian Mendola

Staff Writer

As the launch of Disney Plus has arrived, there have been many fan favorites that have been released, including instant classics such as the marvel movies and thirty seasons of The Simpsons. However, there has been one show in particular that has attracted more attention than anything else on the platform. 

The Mandolorian is a new spin-off series from the Star Wars universe. After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another Mandalorian armor-wearing warrior emerged in the Star Wars galaxy. The Mandalorian setting is after the fall of the Empire, and before the emergence of the First Order. It follows the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.

This show has released seven chapters of its first season so far, and the craze has all been about one certain character. The unexpected baby Yoda has entered the series as a bounty prize by being captured by the Mandalorian. He works for the guild and takes these jobs as his source of income. But this little green guy has won the hearts of millions as the show revolves around protecting him. 

This is a fantastic show to binge watch in one sitting or watch over a long period of time, with its episodes being around thirty to forty minutes long each.  Each episode consists of captivating scenes and plenty of action that will leave you on the edge of your seat for the entire screening.

Trying to keep his life in order, while simultaneously taking care of his “kid,” lead him to go on plenty of unsuspected journeys throughout the galaxy.  As he keeps baby Yoda from all harm, who knows where the next episode will take him? 

Exploring a Better Approach to Manage Your New Year’s resolutions

Devon Beacham

Staff Writer 

The New Year is approaching, ideas for resolutions are lurking, and maybe even surrendered by now, and if not now, then probably sometime soon. New Year's resolutions always seem to last temporarily. Of course, it is nice to think of improvement and act on it, but the unfortunate truth is not everyone can always follow through with those intentions! Some cliché resolutions usually are regarding one’s health, such as eating healthier and finally joining the gym. Why are New Year's resolutions yearly? Because they never follow through the entire year! Individuals can maintain their goals and overall create a better lifestyle for themselves. But, what is the difference between the successful goals and those that often ultimately lead to failure?

  It seems the most efficient and achievable resolutions are by making measurable ones. Rather than creating a goal such as “being more active,” one could make their resolution “exercise for one hour every day.” Instead of saying “make healthier choices,” have a goal of “eating at least one vegetable at every meal.” Instead of “lose weight,” one could plan to “lose 10 pounds.” By setting a target that people can make sure they can achieve, it is simpler for them to push themselves to complete it and mentally check it off when they’re done and further their goals after the first are achieved. If someone is trying to structure a goal that they are able to accomplish, the best choice is to make it measurable. A goal that one can look back on after many days have passed and know for sure whether or not he or she has fulfilled is more likely to end in success.

Mustang Enters New Era with the “Mach E”

AJ Oaks and Mike Janora

Staff Writers

On Nov. 17, 2019 The Ford Motor Co. announced the new 2020 Ford Mach E Mustang. The “E” standing for electric. Ford announced the vehicle at an event live-streamed by more than 140,000. The night of the event, Ford said that they would start taking $500 reservations for the vehicle. “Unlike a lot of the electric competition from automakers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, or Jaguar, the Mustang Mach-E will be offered in a slew of variants and trims, to an almost dizzying degree. Ford will sell versions of the five-seater SUV that can travel 210 miles on a full battery, and also ones that go 300 miles. One of the Mustang Mach-E options will beat most sports cars from 0 to 60 miles per hour, while others will just barely edge out a Chevy Bolt. Some ship in late 2020, and some in Spring 2021,” said The Verge. The prices vary for the different configurations. The base model will start at $43,895, also dubbed as the “Select” model, and will start shipping in Spring 2021.

  The other models get more expensive as you add more options to the car. The next level up is the “Premium” model that starts to ship in late 2020. The base price of the “Premium” model is $50,600. That’s a $6,705 increase in one model change that offers the same bells and whistles, but offers a 30-mile range increase on a single charge. There is also the option of paying more and adding the 98.8kWh extended range pack. The maximum range is 300 miles with the “extended range pack” option with the standard RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) transmission.

“Both AWD versions of the Premium Mustang Mach-E are supposed to be able to get from 0 to 60 mph in the mid-five second range, while the RWD versions sit in the mid sixes. (Horsepower varies throughout between 255HP and 333HP.) Again, customers will be presented  ,with the same basic tradeoffs: would you rather have a little more performance at the expense of range? Or would you rather have a bit more range at the expense of performance?”The Verge. 

  The California Route 1 Mustang Mach-E will ship in early 2021, it starts at $52,400, and only comes in the RWD configuration with the extended range battery pack. Ford estimates it will get 300 miles of range and put out 282 horsepower. The $59,900 First Edition is a limited production initial run version of the Mustang Mach-E coming in late 2020, alongside the Premium model. The First Edition comes with the AWD configuration, and also with the extended range pack for 270 miles of range and 333 horsepower. It will come with special “First Edition” labels, brushed aluminum pedals, red brake calipers, and be available in a bright blue paint job that is exclusive to the “First Edition” Model. 

  Then there’s the GT. This model is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive model out of all of the Mach-E Mustangs. It only comes in AWD (All Wheel Drive) and starts at $60,500, it also comes with special GT badging and a metallic-looking front grille. It only squeezes about 250 miles out of the extended range battery pack, but that’s because it’s tuned for performance. In fact, while the other AWD versions use different motors for the rear, 210 kW, and front, 50kW, axles, the GT uses the bigger electric motor on both, giving this version 459 total horsepower, allowing the GT model to go from 0 to 60mph in a little under four seconds. If that’s still not enough, a GT Performance trim will make the car go from 0 to 60 in just over three seconds.

Exploring a Better Approach to Manage Your New Year’s resolutions

Devon Beacham

Staff Writers 

The New Year is approaching, ideas for resolutions are lurking, and maybe even surrendered by now, and if not now, then probably sometime soon. New Year's resolutions always seem to last temporarily. Of course, it is nice to think of improvement and act on it, but the unfortunate truth is not everyone can always follow through with those intentions! Some cliché resolutions usually are regarding one’s health, such as eating healthier and finally joining the gym. Why are New Year's resolutions yearly? Because they never follow through the entire year! Individuals can maintain their goals and overall create a better lifestyle for themselves. But, what is the difference between the successful goals and those that often ultimately lead to failure?

It seems the most efficient and achievable resolutions are by making measurable ones. Rather than creating a goal such as “being more active,” one could make their resolution “exercise for one hour every day.” Instead of saying “make healthier choices,” have a goal of “eating at least one vegetable at every meal.” Instead of “lose weight,” one could plan to “lose 10 pounds.” By setting a target that people can make sure they can achieve, it is simpler for them to push themselves to complete it and mentally check it off when they’re done and further their goals after the first are achieved. If someone is trying to structure a goal that they are able to accomplish, the best choice is to make it measurable.

A goal that one can look back on after many days have passed and know for sure whether or not he or she has fulfilled is more likely to end in success.

Mustang Enters New Era with the “Mach E”

AJ Oakes & Mike Janora

Staff Writers

On Nov. 17, 2019 The Ford Motor Co. announced the new 2020 Ford Mach E Mustang. The “E” standing for electric. Ford announced the vehicle at an event live-streamed by more than 140,000. The night of the event, Ford said that they would start taking $500 reservations for the vehicle. “Unlike a lot of the electric competition from automakers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, or Jaguar, the Mustang Mach-E will be offered in a slew of variants and trims, to an almost dizzying degree. Ford will sell versions of the five-seater SUV that can travel 210 miles on a full battery, and also ones that go 300 miles. One of the Mustang Mach-E options will beat most sports cars from 0 to 60 miles per hour, while others will just barely edge out a Chevy Bolt. Some ship in late 2020, and some in Spring 2021,” said The Verge. The prices vary for the different configurations. The base model will start at $43,895, also dubbed as the “Select” model, and will start shipping in Spring 2021.

  The other models get more expensive as you add more options to the car. The next level up is the “Premium” model that starts to ship in late 2020. The base price of the “Premium” model is $50,600. That’s a $6,705 increase in one model change that offers the same bells and whistles, but offers a 30-mile range increase on a single charge. There is also the option of paying more and adding the 98.8kWh extended range pack. The maximum range is 300 miles with the “extended range pack” option with the standard RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) transmission.

“Both AWD versions of the Premium Mustang Mach-E are supposed to be able to get from 0 to 60 mph in the mid-five second range, while the RWD versions sit in the mid sixes. (Horsepower varies throughout between 255HP and 333HP.) Again, customers will be presented  ,with the same basic tradeoffs: would you rather have a little more performance at the expense of range? Or would you rather have a bit more range at the expense of performance?”The Verge. 

  The California Route 1 Mustang Mach-E will ship in early 2021, it starts at $52,400, and only comes in the RWD configuration with the extended range battery pack. Ford estimates it will get 300 miles of range and put out 282 horsepower. The $59,900 First Edition is a limited production initial run version of the Mustang Mach-E coming in late 2020, alongside the Premium model. The First Edition comes with the AWD configuration, and also with the extended range pack for 270 miles of range and 333 horsepower. It will come with special “First Edition” labels, brushed aluminum pedals, red brake calipers, and be available in a bright blue paint job that is exclusive to the “First Edition” Model. 

  Then there’s the GT. This model is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive model out of all of the Mach-E Mustangs. It only comes in AWD (All Wheel Drive) and starts at $60,500, it also comes with special GT badging and a metallic-looking front grille. It only squeezes about 250 miles out of the extended range battery pack, but that’s because it’s tuned for performance. In fact, while the other AWD versions use different motors for the rear, 210 kW, and front, 50kW, axles, the GT uses the bigger electric motor on both, giving this version 459 total horsepower, allowing the GT model to go from 0 to 60mph in a little under four seconds. If that’s still not enough, a GT Performance trim will make the car go from 0 to 60 in just over three seconds.