Saga. - East Lyme Public Schools

Saga
T H E
V I K I N G
Volume XLI
Edition 11
February 13, 2008
C S P A
G o l d
M e d a l i s t
The Student Newspaper of East Lyme High School
The Barack
Obama of L e t ’ s
Custodians
East Lyme, Connecticut
Dance!
I
N
New head custodian is already
implementing changes
by Emily Newton
“Change is good… It’s time for
improvements.”
It seems too often that
Presidential hopefuls offer quotes
like this, promising what they will
do if they are elected. But the fact
is, they will probably forget half
of the changes they promised.
Although politicians may not be
the best at keeping and following
through with promises, one man
truly is.
“Small changes make a big
difference… they are a long time
overdue,” says newly appointed
head custodian Michael Hewitt
with unwavering confidence.
Appointed only three months
ago, Mr. Hewitt says that he has
“turned in more work records
in the time I’ve been here than
people have done in a year.”
Not one to dawdle, Mr. Hewitt
went right to work trying to
implement changes.
Some areas, such as the ceiling
in the upstairs girls’ bathroom,
have already been fixed. Despite
the ceiling repairs, there is still
much to be done in the bathrooms,
including putting up new mirrors,
painting the stalls, new towel
dispensers and new toilet seats.
“It is slowly, but surely, coming
along,” says Mr. Hewitt.
(Custodian continued on page 5)
Fallen
Soldiers
Memorial
page 4
T
H
I
Valentine’s
Day Ideas
page 7
S
V.Ferdon/Saga
Can you spot the familiar faces? The Street Elite hip hop dance team of Eastern
Connecticut Ballet roars before the camera in their wild costumes. The team, with three
ELHS student members, will proceed to World Championships come April.
Flip to page 11 for more!
E
The Shack
page 10
Back to the Classroom
D
Scott Mahon resigns as athletic director at ELHS
by Ellie Kleinhans
I
As of February, East Lyme High School’s athletic director Scott Mahon has
announced that he will be stepping down from his position come June. This
resignation has been solely Mr. Mahon’s decision as the long hours of this on-call
job do not allow much flexibility for another career, never mind a personal life.
“I have a nine-year-old daughter and I’d kind of like to be there for her. I miss
teaching and being in the classroom all of the time. This is a full-time job, but it
gets in the way of what I really am—an English teacher,” said Mr. Mahon, who has
been teaching at ELHS longer than he has been the athletic director.
Mr. Mahon became the athletic director nine years ago, while continuing to
teach full-time. Over the years, the number of classes that he teaches has decreased
from eight blocks in the classroom to now only two. “My vision of an athletic
director is a full-time one. It should be a no teaching responsibility position,” said
Mr. Mahon. (Mahon continued on page 9)
T
A New Way to
Game
page 9
I
O
N
Hip Hop
page 10
The Viking Saga
Opinion
February 13, 2008
O u r Two C e n t s a r e F r e e
The date was February 5, 2008.
I arrived at the East Lyme Public
Library at 6:54 a.m. to cast my
vote for the presidential primary
of Election 2008. The volunteers
for the Democratic party must
have known it was my first time
as I eagerly whipped out my
driver’s license and declared
my street address, proving that I
was indeed a voter. After filling
out my ballot I headed to school,
where I was pleasantly surprised
to find that I was not the only
member of the youth population
ecstatic to be politically active on
Super Tuesday.
I could not walk down a
hallway at ELHS without spotting
an “I Voted Today” sticker on the
shirt of a fellow classmate. Every
class discussion was briefly
interrupted by a candidate’s
name or a prediction about the
evening’s results; even students
who were not eligible to vote
were voicing their picks.
This trend is true nationwide,
giving 2008 the title, “The Year
of the Youth Vote.” In the Iowa
caucus alone, the number of
young voters increased 135%
from the last election. Political
analysts are saying that such
record numbers have not been
seen since the election of 1972.
Whereas the reason for that
influx was the approval of the
26th Amendment which lowered
the voting age to 18, the reason
for the influx in 2008 is nothing
other than Barack Obama.
Many sources, such as Time
Magazine, hold Barack Obama
responsible for liberating of the
youth vote, explaining how the
Illinois senator provides a breath
of fresh air for students whose
only memories of politics include
a Clinton replacing a Bush, or
vice versa. And yes, his talk of
change has caused mobs of high
school and college students to
swarm in support, but the root
of this occurrence should not
be overlooked.
Aside from the actual day
of voting, youth all over the
country taken time out of their
busy schedules to watch the
debates and read articles in order
to be educated about what is
going on in our country. It is
What are student
voters saying?
I was really excited to vote for
the first time, and especially
because my candidate
won Connecticut.
strictly our initiative that
is getting us involved and
leading us to the polls.
The truth is that our
generation had the power
all along, they just needed
someone to strike the
match. By giving us attention
and adressing our needs, Barack
has achieved his greatest feat in
mobilizing the most overlooked
group of voters.
Youth are the reason for
Barack’s success in Iowa, for
they made up 17,000 of the
20,000 vote margin by which
he won.
Say what you will about the
youngest generation, but the fact
that when we want something we
reach out and grab it has led to this
monumental increase of political
activity. By merely exercising
our right as Americans we have
not only made a difference in the
election of 2008, but have proven
to the nation that we are here, and
that we want to be heard.
Page 2
-senior Aaron Kormos
V.Ferdon/Saga
V.Ferdon/Saga
Now that Edwards is not in the running, [voting] is not
as important to me.
-senior Alex Ulkus
V.Ferdon/Saga
I was obviously excited to vote...it was important to me
because I feel that young people’s opinions are often
overlooked. Also, you can’t complain about the government
unless you take the time to go out and vote.
-senior Hannah Formica
V.Ferdon/Saga
This election was my first
opportunity to vote, and it is an
important election because the
president will have to take over
Bush’s reponsibilities, handle
taking out the troops, and deal
with health care issues that middle
class people have.
-senior Rachel Carroll
Opinion
More than just a Bad Reputation
by Alex Addabbo
Regardless of whether I notice graffiti on the walls when I am walking in or read that “Tammy loves
Bobby” on the bathroom stall, it is easy to see that vandalism, in its various forms, has become a trend at
East Lyme High School. Recently, in East Lyme, this kind of vandalism has escalated to an extreme level.
The tools have morphed from sharpies and spray paint to wire cutters and duct tape. The consequences
have undergone an even more dramatic transformation, going from a detention to time behind bars.
I could not believe my ears when Ms. Michaud walked into my English class at 12:00 and said,
“School is ending at 12:30 today.” Just when I thought that we had run out of excuses to get time off
from school, the toilets overflowed and flooded the B-wing.
The reputation of ELHS was first tarnished by the writing of a bomb threat. The bomb threat was
followed by the destruction of buses, houses and finally, stuffing toilets with duct tape and Styrofoam. It
has taken years to build up the prestegious status of ELHS and the students are quickly tearing it down.
ELHS is currently known as the “silver medal school,” but is it truly deserving of the title? Recently,
Windham school buses had to undergo repairs after students vandalized them. A week later, another
school district encountered problems due to bus vandalism. Despite the fact that the incidents occurred in
other towns, no one will be able to forget where the idea of cutting the bus wires originated.
Because East Lyme is so competitive, stress is a factor in the lives of many of its students. It is
understandable for students to desire a day off to recuperate, but that desire should not be pursued through
the destruction of public or private property. This is a basic issue of right and wrong. To be clear, just
because you are not caught does not mean what you did was not wrong.
One of the worst parts about these offenses is that they do not only effect the reputation of the students.
When one student decided that they wanted to get out of school early, a team of workers were up all night
cleaning sewage water off the floors of the school to ensure that it would be safe enough for us to return
the next day. Just because the perpetrator did not receive any negative consequences does not mean that
no one did.
If ELHS wants to continue to be a positive example of today’s youth, we need to straighten up our act.
Most importantly, ELHS students have to prove that they are capable of making good judgments. In the
end, it is not about whether you get caught, it is about doing the right thing in the first place.
Page 3
Although February 14th is
known for flowers, chocolates
and romantic gestures, it is
often forgotten that the holiday
love can be shared between
friends. Some faculty have
already begun...
B. Welch/Saga
S t a f f
I am not a fan of forgetting the
past. ELHS has a lively history of
successful students and faculty
that deserve recognition, but
Valentine’s Day:
S a g a
East Lyme artifacts stare
at us from the displays
and wall hangings crying
out for help.
so do hundreds of more recent
students and alumni. ELHS has
graduated famous producers,
writers, actors, artists, fashion
designers, and is currently full
of hundreds more to-be-success
stories. I am not asking to dismiss
the history manifested in the halls
and showcases of ELHS, just
revitalize and update a bit.
Recently, we have had a
presidential scholar, a state
championship rowing team, and
a nationally recognized actress
come through ELHS as well
as many other students worthy
of a spot of immortality in the
building. Shouldn’t their faces
be featured among those of dusty
wrestlers, rusty football trophies
and aging art projects?
Students should know that,
when they graduate ELHS and
make something of themselves,
their greatness will too be
remembered in the building
where they got their foundation.
T h e
I love history. Regardless of
discovery or development, it
continues to build year after year.
Every year, pages are added to
the textbooks, portraits are added
to the white house corridors, yet
not much changes here at East
Lyme High School... well at least
not on the walls.
Strolling down the hallways is
like taking a walk down memory
lane… if you graduated 20
years ago.
The athletic wing features
paintings by former students,
where they all went to college,
and a slice of their creative minds.
You may also catch a glimpse of
some beautiful trophies buried
beneath years of forgotton
stories, or see the accolades of
the wrestling team in their prime,
sometime in the 80’s.
In the commons, there is a
collection of lovely artwork
suffering the consequences of
age including the infamous paper
machê ghosts peering down from
the ceiling and the once beautiful
art pieces in the glass case behind
Mrs. Jones’desk. Thousands of
February 13, 2008
Fe at ure d Wri t e rs
The Viking Saga
Stefanie Felitto &
Valerie Ferdon
Editors-in-Chief
Jeff Beale
Advisor
Ariel Nicolosi
Featured
Illustrator
John Kleinhans
News Editor
Mollie Teeter
Features Editor
Kate Eberle
Entertainment
Editor
Kyle Weiss
Sports and
Back Page Editor
Alex Addabbo
Hannah Barner
Kit Brown
Andrea Chrunyk
Ryann Foulke
Matthew Heath
Ellie Kleinhans
Amy Li
Emily Newton
Ramona
Ostrowski
Brendan Welch
The Viking Saga
News
February 13, 2007
Community Support For Our Troops
Teacher Swaps
Staff changes for the new semester
by Amy Li
waterfordct.org
google.com
A group of American Soldiers in Iraq protecting
our country
The Waterford community center is the host of the
‘Faces of Connecticut’s Fallen’ memorial
Students for Soldiers
Waterford’s Fallen Soldiers Memorial
by Ellie Kleinhans
by Brendan Welch
The clock strikes 10:31 on a Wednesday
morning. Rather than heading down to the
lunch room, why not wander over to room
A245? Here lies a great opportunity to make
new friends and support your soldiers over in
Iraq. Join junior Olivia Formica in her new
club, Students for Soldiers.
“Each student will be assigned a soldier
and they’ll write weekly letters to send to
them,” said Formica. “We will also be doing
fund raisers to raise money to be able to send
care packages.”
The pen-pal soldiers’ names are provided
to the club through Formica’s uncle, General
Richard Formica, who was in Iraq on and
off for three years. “I’m not for the war, or
against it. I wanted to make this club to update
students with what is going on in Iraq and to
give soldiers a morale boost,” said Formica.
Inspiration for this club came to Formica
in Henry Kydd’s Advanced Placement United
States History course last year. “Last May, I
put a number on the board. It was the number
of soldiers killed that month. The whole
class reacted, but Olivia seemed particularly
moved. She wanted to be active about this
issue,” said Mr. Kydd, who is now the faculty
advisor for the club.
Even physical education teacher Rudy
Bagos is getting his Freshman Academy
classes involved through having each student
write a letter to a soldier. “The soldiers are
doing a lot, so as much support we can give
them would be great,” said Mr. Bagos.
Oftentimes it is easy to get caught up in
all of the talk of the fighting in foreign lands,
but for most of us we feel a disconnect since
the fighting is so far away. We don’t have the
means to feel what is going on in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
A visit to an exhibit at the Waterford
community center, “Faces of Connecticut’s
Fallen,” will quickly change that feeling.
The exhibit, which opened on January
ninth, is displayed in the lobby of the
community center. The centerpiece is a video
that honors the forty-two Connecticut service
members that have died while serving in Iraq
and Afghanistan. A picture of each individual
appears along with their name, branch of
service, rank, hometown, date of death and
country of death.
Underneath each name appears the words
“honor, courage, bravery, sacrifice and duty.”
The video is set to Norah Jones’ “American
Anthem.” This tribute has brought many local
residents to see the exhibits featured.
Included is Salem resident and East Lyme
High School graduate Jason R. Hamill, who
was killed on November 26, 2006 in Baghdad.
This loss hit very close to home.
The exhibit will remain in Waterford for
90 days, after which it will go to a town in the
3rd Congressional District.
This exhibit is a dedication to the soldiers
that have lost their lives fighting for this
great nation.
Please Contact Olivia Formica if you are
interested in becoming a member.
With midterms out of the way,
students anxiously prepare for a new
semester of homework, tests and classes.
The second semester brings a fresh start
and a chance to experience new halfyear courses with different teachers,
but for some, it also means continuing a
full-year course with a different teacher.
During the second semester at East
Lyme High School, a few teachers will
be leaving, and others in the department
will be taking their place.
Math: Mathematics teacher
William Bonavita retired, causing a shift
in teachers for his former classes. Math
teacher Maggie Gross will be teaching
his Honors Geometry course, while
fellow math teacher Diane Condon
takes her place for another geometry
class scheduled during the same block.
In addition, Math teacher Lauren Brake
will be switching from an 8/10 teacher
to full-time in order to replace Mr.
Bonavita in some classes.
Spanish: In the global language
department, AP Spanish teacher Josh
Hibbard will be replaced for the new
semester. Mr. Hibbard resigned, taking
another position elsewhere, leaving
Spanish teacher Courtney Pray to teach
his AP classes. As far as his other classes
go, Ms. Harger will be filling in as a
substitute for the rest of the year.
English: English classes will also
be shifted around a bit for the second
half of the year because English teacher
Sally Cini was only assigned to teach
for one semester. As a result, Ms. Cini’s
senior English class will be taught by
English teacher Scott Mahon, and her
two junior World Literature classes will
be taught by new English teacher Leah
Cunningham for the remaining time.
Congratulations to National Merit
Scholarship Finalists:
For more information, contact the
Waterford community center located next
to the Friendship School.
Page 4
Kim Betts
Hannah Boettcher
Catherine Tang
Lisa Wang
The Viking Saga
News
http://elgop.com/
February 13, 2007
Paul Formica: Unwrapped
Extra! Extra!
An inside look on a day in the life of the new
First Selectman
by Ellie Kleinhans
by Kit Brown
8 a.m. Arrive at the office
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Budget meeting
12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. Luncheon with contest winners
2:30 p.m. Interview
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. “Celebrate East Lyme” meeting
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Board of Finance meeting
A schedule this packed belongs in the Blackberry of no one other than the new First
Selectman of East Lyme, Paul Formica.
“You get so busy doing the work, you don’t even think you’re the mayor,” said Formica,
who beat incumbent, Beth Hogan, by just about 1,000 votes last November. Nearly a month
later, when he was inaugurated, life as he knew it changed entirely.
Formica is a father of four and is very family oriented. With a workday that lasts well over
12 hours, he is hardly home on weekdays. “I see the kids a lot less now. That’s why it’s really
important for me to go to the basketball games,” said Formica whose daughter Hannah, a
senior at East Lyme High School, plays on the girls’ basketball team.
Not only has Formica’s new job altered his personal life, but it has redirected his career
as well. Before he was elected, Formica worked full-time at Flanders Fish Market, which he
also owns. After taking office, Formica promoted his kitchen manager to general manager,
allowing him to focus entirely on the town. “I’ve been doing the same thing for 25 years now.
It’s about time to do something new. It’s always good to stimulate the noodle,” said Formica.
“It’s always good to learn.”
Formica has advocated this message through establishing an organization, called Teen
Council, to give students from ELHS the opportunity of real world experience. “Paul’s desire is
to reach out to the kids in the community and turn them into confident leaders,” said Formica’s
advisor for the program, Amy Leigh. “He’s sincere about it. It’s not just a campaign tactic.”
One small part of Teen Council will involve 16 students from Mr. Manifold’s Career
Education class taking internships with local business leaders and government officials. Leigh
said that other branches of the organization create opportunities for teens to brainstorm and
“eventually implement more ways to respond to the community according to their interests.”
With Teen Council starting , Formica has made a mark on East Lyme in a new way. “I’ve
begun that process of creating efficiencies where I can, and making differences when I can,”
said Formica, who hopes to ensure a bright future for this town.
like to complete this project over February
(Custodian continued from front page)
break. This would certainly improve not
___Like politicians in the upcoming
only attitudes of students but the learning
election, Mr. Hewitt has some radical ideas
experience of students and teachers alike.
and hopes to remove one of the strangest
“ N e w
parts in East Lyme High School.
things feel
All of the green.
better…
Green doors, green trim, the
better
green that is basically, well,
attitudes
everywhere. He would like to
a b o u t
paint over all the green with
teaching
maroon and paint a maroon
and better
border on the walls (from four
attitudes
feet down to the floor) that
a b o u t
would be throughout the entire
learning,”
school. “It’s not for me, it’s
J.Kleinhans/Saga
he says.
for you and your friends,” Mr.
Mr. Hewitt never takes a break from the job.
Although
Hewitt explained.
the project may be pricey, Mr. Hewitt says,
The tasks of changing from green to maroon
“I don’t look at the money spent, I look
is in the works, as the custodial staff would
Page 5
East Lyme, Connecticut–ELHS swim
coach Jack Stabach and lacrosse coach
Gary Wight are both winners of the
Connecticut High School Coaches
Association’s 2008 “Outstanding Coach
of the Year” award. They will be honored
at a ceremony May 15 at the Aqua Turf
Club in Southington.
Port Washington, New York–Three
chihuahua puppies formerly in a shelter
can now freely wheel about their
newfound home. That’s right, wheel.
The puppies, named Pablo, Venus and
Carmen were born with a genetic defect
that left them without front legs. The
wheels were designed by Eddie Wheels
of Shelburne, Massachusetts.
Rockville,Maryland–Scientists
announced this past month that they
have synthetically manufactured an
entire genome, (the genetic material of
an organism) by using DNA from the
smallest living bacterium, Mycoplasma
genitalium. This is a gigantic step for
what may eventually lead to cloning
people of some sort.
New York, New York – Questions
about the safety of sushi arose recently
after reports of high mercury levels
were found in both tuna and swordfish.
The New York Times performed a test
that found so much mercury in over 15
Manhattan restaurants that eating six
pieces a week could raise one’s mercury
level over those set by the EPA.
at the change.” And the change would be
drastic. One may even start to think that
our school colors are actually maroon and
white!
A man who truly just wants what is best
for the school, Mr. Hewitt brings much
hope to our school’s improvement, without
a doubt. “He’s done a lot of good for us…
he really has. He’s a good man,” says coworker Joe Garrison. The positive reaction
whenever his name is mentioned really
shows what he is capable of.
Hewitt also wants the students and
faculty to vote on his new plan of painting
over green. “ First, we will paint the
athletics section with the color choices and
then let the students and faculty voice their
opinion,” comments Hewitt.
The Viking Saga
Shack Attack
New location, same great food
by Andrea Chrunyk
Having never been to The Shack before, I
was eager to make my maiden voyage. I was
bombarded at the door by a slew of classmates;
owner Russell Han says that this crowded
environment has been common since moving
to the new location.“We are definitely getting
more families and kids,” he explains.
After quickly getting a booth, I decided to
order the item with the biggest range of food:
the “Waffle Mountain.” It was a Belgian waffle
with eggs and bacon, something I was looking
forward to after a long day of exams.
My friends and fellow critics junior Laura
Brooks and fellow staff member junior Emily
Newton ordered 2 eggs and chocolate chip
pancakes, respectively.
Looking around the room while waiting for
my order, I noticed that the The Shack is no
longer a literal shack. It is a larger restaurant,
and Mr. Han is excited about that “We’re
appealing to more people who like the nice
new look,” he says.
I noted that the décor was very interesting.
There was a wagon wheel hanging from the
center of the ceiling, and a Casablanca poster
peeking out from the top of a shelf. Mr. Han
has made a conscious effort to change the
atmosphere of the restaurant. “The Shack has
evolved to be a real restaurant; people have to
wait to be seated now,” he says excitedly.
The food came quickly, and I have to say,
it was pretty tasty. The scrambled eggs were
standard, but still tasted good. In addition, the
waffle was cooked to perfection and tasted
delicious with the maple syrup.
Both of my fellow critics agreed, finding
their meals enjoyable. “I thought that the food
was excellent,” says Brooks. “The chocolate
chip pancakes were very chocolaty.”
Newton agreed that the food was delicious.
“I thought the eggs were quite runny, but that’s
how I ordered it, so they did a top-notch job,”
she says.
In fact, the food is so good that it is even
attracting celebrities. Rumors have been
circulating about Wentworth Miller eating at
The Shack, and are now confirmed by Mr.
Han. “He comes in here,” he says with a smile.
“We see him every so often.”
Evidently, the rumors are true. Luckily for
this Prison Break star and everyone else, the
menu has not changed. It is still the same great
food that you know and love, in a new location
with a slightly different demographic.
Features
February 13, 2008
The Great Debate
The real differences between the Mac and the PC
by Amy Li
Two men stand side by side: one portrays a PC while the other portrays a Mac. The
PC is wearing a medical gown and preparing for a “surgical upgrade,” but the Mac is
working smoothly and dressed in everyday garb. Everyone is familiar with the Apple
commercials advertising the Mac’s quality, but is Apple’s product really superior?
The Mac: With a shiny, sleek screen, the
Mac’s unique appearance definitely adds
a sense of appeal to the product. Beyond
its pretty face, this computer also
offers multiple programs
designated for
filmmaking
and graphic
designing
that make
the editing
process
quicker
a n d
smoother.
Apple.com
Technology
teacher Ray Campbell explains
that various professional graphic
designers prefer the Mac because
the technology is younger and the programs
are more high-tech. The Mac is also less
prone to Spam and viruses, but it is
not without flaws.
Technology Director Jill Curioso
says that certain software used for
organizing data and word processing
cannot be used on the Mac. This
is because these programs are not
supported by Apple’s operating
system. Various applications, including
Adobe, have created operating problems
for Mac models such as the recent Mac OS
X 10.5.
Overall, the Mac is perfect for web design
and image graphics, but as far as program
compatibility goes, it is a bit lacking.
The Personal Computer: Even though
Apple commercials degrade a PC’s quality, its
problems tend to be a bit exaggerated. When
it comes to software compatibility, the PC
supports a wide variety of programs, while
the Mac’s options are a bit more limited. This
convenience makes the PC a good tool for
word processing and organizing data.
“It is just a regular computer and it’s
simpler,” comments junior Susan Long, who
frequently uses the this type of computer for
her assignments. The PCs sold by companies
like Dell are also less expensive, giving more
people easier access.
Despite its software
compatibility and affordability,
the PC also has some
imperfections. Unfortunately,
film and graphic design
programs for the computer do
not work as well as
they do
for the
Mac,
making
t h e
editing
process
longer
and more
tedious.
“ T h e
PC has
Dell.com
fewer
options
for editing movies, pictures and films, which
makes it harder to edit with,” says junior
Sheen Kamal.
VS.
The Verdict: In this case, superiority cannot be judged soley based on which
computer is more enhanced, but rather by a user’s personal choice. The decision between
the two depends on what a person is more accustomed to. The better computer, just as
Mrs. Curioso explained, is “all a matter of personal preference.”
When thinking of purchasing a computer, especially for college, take into account your
interests and what type of software you will be needing for your future plans. You may
also want to consider what computer is most compatible with your college “geek squad.”
Many schools have both Mac and PC experts; however, the PC seems to be the more wellknown technology on the average college campuse. Chances are, though, that your future
institution will be able to accomodate your technical needs no matter what you choose.
Page 6
The Viking Saga
Features
Fehruary 13, 2008
For the Benefit of the Animals
Animal Welfare Activist Group
attempts to promote awareness
by Emily Newton
It all started with a simple click. A click
that opened a horrific video spewing images
of animals receiving inhumane treatment
onto the computer screen. The click also
opened the eyes of a skeptic; someone who
never really believed that animal cruelty
existed. And this click will undoubtedly
make a difference in the lives of students at
East Lyme High School.
Realizing the type of treatment animals are
subjected to all around the world, sophomore
Kelly Connell started to research animal
cruelty. After a year of preparation, and
with the help of history teacher Rosamund
Downing, she started the Animal Cruelty
Activist Group.
“I created this group to bring people in my
community together who believe in achieving
the common goal of giving animals the rights
they deserve as free living creatures,” Connell
says. In order to achieve this goal, the
everyday life.”
Even though the group is in its early
group plans on traveling to animal shelters, days, the inevitability of controversy is
creating a newsletter that highlights animal already apparent. “Students don’t know that
activist’s gains, participating in letter writing companies genetically engineer animals to be
campaigns, and educating others. “There slaughtered, and rightfully so,” states senior
Jesse Sweeney. He
is so much we
says students only
can do…we want
watch videos that
to get people’s
PETA (People for the
attention…make
Ethical Treatment of
them
aware
Animals) wants them
of
cruelty,”
to watch.
Connell says.
Many students
“It is definitely
agree with Sweeney,
a student-directed
claiming there would
group with strong
be detrimental results
personal interests,”
if everyone were
explains advisor
V. Ferdon/Saga
an animal activist.
Ms.
Downing.
“We would all be
Activities are to be The animal welfare activist smiles for the camera
chosen depending on what students want to vegetarian and mess up the food chain,” says
freshman Elizabeth Miller.
do, and feel will make the biggest impact.
Though there are critics, Connell explains
The group already has grown a strong
student following. A new member, sophomore that the point of the group is “to get people
Karen Chen, says, “It is important to know who believe in helping animals together to do
about animal welfare because students don’t something.” And if that means controversy,
know what animal products are used in then so be it.
Saint Valentine Would be Proud...
Find the perfect gift for your sweetheart
by Kit Brown
For Her:
and is available at Apple stores and Apple.com.
A picture is worth a thousand words: One of the cheapest, yet
Take a hint of advice from Dad: There is nothing wrong with
most thoughtful gift ideas is a collage. Piece together old favorite
being traditional: give roses. Valentine’s Day is
photos, funny words and phrases, or even
historically a day of flower-giving, so you
sentimental memorabilia like concert
can never go wrong with being classy.
tickets to make it as personal as
Give one for each day, week, or month
possible. To finish it off, purchase a
you have been together, and do not
frame or add a border. A collage
forget one for good luck!
will not only show a lot of effort,
but prove that you really enjoy
alentine’s Day can be tough
For Him:
your time together.
enough if you do not have a special someone
Mix it up: Making a mix tape, or
It will bring music to her ears,
more commonly known today as a mix
to spend it with, but it can be even harder
literally: Many of us thought
CD, can be one of the most original
if you have someone to please. As the
Apple, who recently released
gift ideas. Be sure to include any of
day approaches, the same mind-boggling
the iPhone and iPod touch,
his favorite songs or those which hold
questions linger. ‘What should I get him?’
could get no more inventive,
special meaning, like the song in the
or ‘Will she like it?’ are common sentiments
but alas, we were wrong. On
background during your first kiss. Best
around this time of year. To help those in
January 22, Apple added the
of all, this gift will not burn a hole in
need, the Viking Saga has devised a list of
newest iPod to their collection: an
your
pocket.
surefire gifts for any teenage love interest.
eight gigabyte iPod Nano in pink,
His dream date: Let’s face it: fact is that
perfect for Valentine’s Day! Make
most guys like to be catered to. Prepare his
it truly unique by taking advantage of
favorite meal and watch a special flick, or bake
Apple’s free engraving service and etching
him cookies and take him to do something that he
rt
a personal message into the back. Or, add some
pA
enjoys, even though you may not. This shows your
Cli
of her favorite movies or songs before giving it to her.
dedication to his happiness. This way, the only limit to
The player, which holds approximately 2,000 songs, costs $199
your gift’s perfection is your imagination!
Page 7
V
The Viking Saga
Sports
February 13, 2008
Waterford:White-Washed Away
The white-out crew returns in full force as
East Lyme wallops Waterford 61-48
by Brendan Welch
Blame it on the Winter Ball DJ, who
repeatedly spewed shout-outs to the boys’
basketball team and urged those
present to attend the WaterfordEast Lyme game that took place on
February 1st. Blame it on Ashwin
Maheshwari, who announced the two
immortal words of “white out” on the
Day 1 Morning Show for the entire
school to hear. Or blame it on simple
coincidence. No matter how you play
the blame game, one fact cannot be
denied.
The White-Out Crew, East Lyme
High School’s formidable student
supporters, has made a phoenix-like
rise from the ashes of the volleyball
season to liven the boys’ basketball
team.
With a contingent of Waterford fans taking
over the other side of the East Lyme Middle
School bleachers, the Crew found themselves
in part of their own competition, repeatedly
heckling “Lancer Nation” as well as the
Waterford team.
Rugby 101
The need-to-know basics about an
underexposed sport
by Hannah Barner
Where can you find a sport that condones
tackling and roughness, and the ever-present
fear of having your ear bitten is lurking just
around the corner? There is no other sport
that could compare to the brutality of rugby.
Though similarities exist between rugby
and football, several things are different. For
instance, throwing the ball forward is illegal.
Yes, it is illegal to move the ball forward
unless you run it or kick it. A team is made up
of 15 players, consisting of forwards (players
that help move the team forward on the field)
and the defense (faster ball-handlers that
move the ball up the field).
The pitch, or the field, is 100 meters
long with two goal posts, similar to that of
football. Also, there are areas at the two
ends of the field where goals or a try can be
scored. These areas are the equivalent of end
The game was over as soon as it started,
as the Vikings put on a defensive show to
score a 16-0 start. In one particularly exciting
moment, a Lancer player was on a fast break
when junior Ned Drew sprinted past and
had worked so hard on defending, so it was
great to see all that work finally pay off.”
As the White-Out Crew roared its earsplitting support with the assistance of an
air-horn, the Vikings rolled. Junior Kevin
Bartlett proved to be a fan-favorite,
especially after he dove to the
floor, leapt to his feet and blocked
a Lancer shot.
“That was definitely the best
play of the game,” said Sheehan.
Arguably one of the most
intense members of the White-Out
Crew, senior Ryan Donahue was
exhilarated by the game’s end.
“We need to keep this comin’,
every day, every week!” he said.
“That’s why I’m here. This needs
to keep happening.”
Sheehan agreed.
B.Welch/Saga
“The crowd was fantastic,” he
The White Out Crew muffling the Prancer Nation.
said. “We’ve never had anything
blocked the shot with authority. Sophomore like that at our games. The DJ didn’t do
Jon Nazarko and junior Mark Sheehan anything compared to the fans.”
So move aside, Cameron Crazies. Tell
were particularly impressive defending and
Cleveland’s Dawg Pound to watch their
rebounding.
“It was all defense,” said Sheehan. “It’s the backs. The White-Out Crew just might be
reason we had lost a lot of our games, and we here to stay.
zones. A try is worth five points and can be
scored if your team touches the ball down on
the opponent’s end of the pitch. After a try is
scored, your team can attempt to kick the ball
through the crossbars, which would make a
conversion, worth two extra points. Three
points will also be awarded if a dropkick or a
penalty kick is performed in regular play.
Another important rule in rugby is if a
player is tackled to the ground while holding
the ball, they must release the ball. This
usually leads to a ruck or a maul. In a ruck,
players from each team must come and bind
to each other over the ball. Then the players
must push each other out of the way so that
they can kick the ball into their possession,
without using their hands. In a maul, players
bind to the ball carrier and must force each
other in the direction of which they wish
to score.
After a foul or a minor infringement, a
scrum would occur where the forwards from
each team push against each other in order to
gain control of the ball placed between them.
If the ball goes out of bounds, then a linein occurs, which is where again the forwards
from each team competes to gain possession
Page 8
of the ball. During a line-in, the players align
across from the touch line, out of bounds line,
and do anything to catch the ball after the
referee throws it into the air between the two
teams. Players will often hoist or boost other
players into the air in order to catch it.
Though
rugby is an
international
sport, popularity
in America is
still
waning;
local programs in
both Cheshire and
Montville make it
possible for youth
to experience the
sport. If playing is
not your game, then go watch the Hartford
Wanderers Rugby team play at Colt Park
in Hartford.
The Viking Saga
Sports
January 30, 2008
Br o
d
cor s
n Re
e
k
How the Nintendo Wii can help you stay fit
by Matt Heath
Nothing proves you are a true gamer like the game daily by checking your statistics,
a sweaty controller. But now everyone can calculated by the game based on how well
sweat when it comes to playing videogames you played.
“My family got Wii Sports for Christmas
thanks to Wii fitness.
Nintendo Wii has many games that can and we love it,” says professional Wii bowler
help people of all ages to stay physically fit. Nicole Fulinello.
Wii has also released the Wii Health Pack
The game most well-known for its workout
in Japan which will be available in the
is Wii Sports.
U.S. in early 2008. The reason for
“The boxing is intense, probably
the delay is that one of the included
10 minutes of it will equal a whole
accessories, called the Wii Balance
crew workout,” says hard-core gamer,
Board, holds up to a 300lb Japanese
junior Dan Smith.
person, while the American version is
The Wii’s motion-sensor technology
being designed to hold up to 330lbs.
is designed to make you feel like you
The board measures a player’s weight
are actually playing the sport. While
and finds their center of gravity.
you simulate a motion using your Wii
By using the Wii Balance Board
controller stick, your Mii character
you’re able to play 40 different
mimics the same move on screen
activities on Wii Fit including
,giving you great game play and an
soccer, yoga, pushups, skienjoyable workout.
jumping and tightrope-walking.
“I like how it’s more active than
With all of these sports that can be
the average game,” says sophomore
brought to the comfort of your home,
Jacob Mauthe.
why not put away your PS3s and 360s
Wii Sports has a variety of games such
to try out the Wii? What do you have to
as bowling, tennis, golf and baseball. You
lose, besides a couple extra pounds?
can also check your Mii’s progression in
(...Mahon continued from page 1)
This ideal job is currently unrealistic
because the job only pays between
$10,000 and $11,000 per year. “The
athletic director job is a stipend position,
not a full-time salary. If the description
and pay scale stayed the same, I do not
think someone from outside the school
could afford to take it unless they also
taught here,” said Mr. Mahon.
Both physical education teacher
Jack Biggs and chemistry teacher Carl
Reichard have shown interest. “Once they
post the job, I definitely will be looking
for a position of that nature, whether it
be here or at another school,” said Mr.
Biggs, who is also the varsity volleyball
and baseball coach at ELHS.
Regardless of who becomes the new
athletic director, Mr. Mahon will be back
in the classroom and no longer next to the
North Gym. “I’ll really miss him down here
next year,” said P.E. teacher Rudy Bagos.
Compiled by Amy Li
Hard work and dedication
paid off for the East Lyme
High School boys’ and girls’
sports teams, as new records
have been set. These new
records set new standards
of achievement and show
the results of another
successful winter.
Girls’ Track:
•Senior Leah Clement set the new
record for the 600-meter run at 1:37.22,
breaking the previous record by .33
seconds.
•In the pole vault, senior Lauren
Bennett broke the original record of 10
feet 6 inches with a height of 11 feet.
Boys’ Track:
•In the 4x720 meter relay, seniors Matt
Ridley, Mike Swenson, John Quatroche
and junior Tommy Adams set a new
record of 7:33, breaking the 1999 record
of 7:50.39.
•The previous boy’s 600-meter run
record of 1:27.6 was broken by senior
John Quatroche who ran his race
in 1:27.4.
Diving:
K.Weiss/Saga
Mr. Mahon parts a solomn farewell with his
position as Athletic Director, but will still remain
an english teacher.
Page 9
•Marcus Giansanti broke the school
record for the highest score for six
dives on a one-meter board with a score
of 196.15
*Above pictures from google images
The Viking Saga
End of All Lost Remotes
Development of technology allows
control without hand-held devices
by Hannah Barner
Addicted to Wii? Can’t get
enough of the personal connection
between you and your video game
console? Well, prepare yourself
for a revolution - a technology
revolution, that is.
JVC Company and 3DV
Systems have recently shown off
their new technology involving
tiny motion sensing cameras and
imaging technology that eliminates
the use of remote controls for
televisions or computer mouses.
The camera senses objects in
its field of view and uses high
speed and high resolution to
project the images in real time
to video games, televisions and
video conferences.
3DV Systems have already
created a boxing game where the
boxer in the game mimics all your
upper body movements, instead of
using a traditional control. JVC
has also produced televisions that
can change the channel or volume
according to your movements.
This technology is already
implemented in Sony’s Eye Toy for
Playstation 2, though only simple
games can be played. GestureTek,
a company that also develops and
markets programs like this, is
teaming up with phone companies
around the world so this technology
can be portable. Verizon is already
using GestureTek software on
some of their phones where you tilt
the phone to move a ball through
a maze.
Without having to search for
a lost remote, you’ll have a lot
of extra time on your hands to
spend practicing hand gestures
in order to get channel changing
down pat. When these products
come out, make sure to get
your hands (or no hands) on
them, for they are sure to be a
hot commodity.
Entertainment
February 13, 2008
The Top of Hip-Hop
Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s Street Elite
by Ramona Ostrowski
On a Tuesday nights, the studios at Eastern
Connecticut Ballet echoes with a strong beat
and animalistic growls. The source of these
noises was hip-hop dance team Street Elite
practicing their jungle-animal themed routine
for an upcoming competition.
“Faces!” Street Elite founder and head coach
Beth Newton-Girard kept telling the dancers,
reminding them to keep up their fierce, snarling
expressions as they danced.
Despite the intensity of the rehearsal,
everyone seemed to be having a good time.
“It’s fun being with a bunch of people who
all like to dance,” says East Lyme High School
junior Gina Fergione. Sophomore Adrea Dunn
and senior Libby Brovero are the only other
East Lyme students on the team of 16.
Variation is an important characteristic of
the team. “Everyone’s different, so they bring
something unique,” Brovero says. As well as
being from many different towns, they all have
different dance backgrounds. Many have done
cheerleading or gymnastics, which help them
with the routine’s jumps and lifts.
“The goal is to make them all look the same,”
says Newton-Girard. Before starting the team
this past August, she had been coaching dance
and cheerleading for 14 years. She came to
ECB to start an all-star hip-hop team because
they are the top dance studio on the shoreline,
and she knew that it would attract teens with
solid dancing skills.
“Our coach is amazing. She’s so good that it
reflects on us,” Brovero says.
Though Street Elite was founded recently,
the team already has an impressive record.
It’s the Same Old Song
The music that lasts forever
by Brendan Welch
Before Hannah Montana was a rock star,
before the American Idols dominated the charts,
and before Bob Marley wailed his way to
international success, there was a man named
Johann Pachelbel who, over 300 years ago,
single-handedly altered the face of the musical
world with a certain “Canon in D.”
You probably heard the “Canon in D” at
your cousin’s wedding, your little sister’s
orchestra concert, or perhaps while you were
browsing through classical radio. But let us face
Because they came in first out of 27 teams at
a recent competition in North Carolina, they
received a bid for World Championships.
Bids, amounts of money awarded by the
competition judges, partially pay for hotel
and travel expenses, and allow teams to travel
and compete in a world-wide competition.
Because of this, Street Elite will be traveling
to Disneyworld in late April to compete.
“This is a big deal,” Fergione says, adding,
“A lot of people pay attention to Worlds.”
Despite the glory of recognition, the real
pay-off is being a part of the team. Dunn
says her favorite part about being on the
team is “the people – they’re really fun to
be around.”
Newton-Girard comments on the
closeness of the team, saying, “They are
like a family, which helps them on the
floor.” Hopefully their close bond will be
recognized and all their hard work will pay
off this April!
Photo Submitted
The Street Elite dance team celebrating the win
that will take them to the World Championships
it - you probably do not find yourself at many
weddings, orchestra performances, or classical
music marathons.
What about when you feel like rocking to
stations like 105.5? Believe it or not, when
Jordin Sparks is belting out the chorus to
“Tattoo,” or Alicia Keys is crooning her way
through “No One,” you are also jamming
to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. When Chris
Brown makes your heart sing in “With You,”
it is Pachelbel that makes up the backing
harmonies.
Because Pachelbel’s masterpiece is
considered one of the most popular musical
works in the entire (See Pachelbel page 11)
www.uniquevents.com
page 10
The Viking Saga
www.kelso.wednet.edu
Entertainment
Not Your Average Films
Documentaries that won’t put you to sleep
by Andrea Chrunyk
The word “documentary” might strike fear into any teenager who hears it. While it might be tempting to
watch a movie like Meet the Spartans, REFRAIN! Here are some must-see documentaries.
Mad Hot Ballroom - This documentary follows
New
York
City Schools
on their quest
to becoming
ballroom dance
champions.
The director,
Mary Agrelo,
chose schools in
vastly different
neighborhoods,
one
from
the
wealthy
www.imdb.com
Tribeca
and
another from
Washington Heights, an area where the vast majority
of residents live below the poverty line. The
differences in living arrangements not only makes for
an in-depth look into kids’ ballroom dancing, but also
a comparison of how kids grow up when exposed to
different situations.
The most interesting part is how these kids from
different walks of life react to dancing. While they
all are hesitant at first, they end up not only enjoying
learning this new skill but also becoming fiercely
competitive. Mad Hot Ballroom is one of the best and
most entertaining films, but gets little to no credit.
Wordplay - “I’ve always been intrigued by the letter
‘Q,’” says Trip Payne, a crossword puzzle junkie who
actually had to move away from New York because
the crossword puzzle scene was starting to take a toll
on him.
The movie follows crossword-philes who are gearing
up for the annual crossword puzzle championship held
in Stamford, Connecticut.
The personalities included in the film were neurotic,
which inevitably equaled hilarity. A previous champion,
Ellen Ripstein told her story about an old boyfriend who
made fun of her for being the crossword tournament
champion. She said that she bluntly asked him what he
was the best in the country at.
With cameos
from crossword
enthusiasts like
Jon Stewart, Bill
Clinton, and Ken
Burns, what’s not
to love? Even
the most skeptical
viewers
will
be surprised at
how fascinating
a
crossword
competition
www.moviesonline.ca
can be.
February 13, 2008
(Pachelbel continued from page 10) world,
many modern performers incorporate some
of its elements into their own smashing
hits. The chord progression of the “Canon
in D” is the basis of such hits as Green
Day’s “Basket Case,” Dispatch’s “The
General,” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”
Referring to an older and incredibly popular
piece of music is an often used formula in the
realm of pop music. Back in the sixties, a
group called the Toys topped the charts with
“A Lover’s Concerto,” which was completely
based off of Bach’s acclaimed “Minuet in G
Major.” Everyone loves Billy Joel’s “Uptown
Girl,” and it bears an uncanny resemblance
to Ravel’s classical mainstay, “Bolero.” Sean
Kingston did not need to look back quite so
far, ripping the bass line from “Stand By Me”
for his recent hit, “Beautiful Girls.”
Apparently, genres do not have such unique
qualities after all. What is good for one is
good for all. If disco greats the Village People
can even do Pachelbel in their hit “Go West,”
and if Deodato can write a funk version of
“Also Sprach Zarathustra” (the piece made
famous by 2001: A Space Odyssey), then the
lines between musical styles must be thinner
than they seem.
So when Hannah Montana sings and
dances to “Rockstar” and Bob Marley beats
and bops through “No Woman No Cry,”
take a moment to give a special thank you to
Johann Pachelbel for making music centuries
after his death.
Pachelbel, we salute you.
The Junk
Drawer
by Kate Eberle
Few people can deny that songs such as The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” are catchy – but
lyrics such as “I drive these brothers crazy/ I do it on the daily/ they treat me really nicely/ they buy
me all these ices” don’t exactly ooze profound significance. So, where can one look to escape such
addicting yet shallow music? Try the top of Billboard’s Latin charts, where Colombian singer Juanes
has been featured consistently for a great deal of his career. Juanes’s music is a mind-bogglingly brilliant
combination of ear-pleasing rhythm and brain-pleasing lyrics. For instance, the song “Sueños” on his
www.upload.wikimedia.org
third album, Mi Sangre, is about his hope for peace in his native country, but also has a compelling rock
sound to it. Don’t understand Spanish? Translating the lyrics would be well worth the time, but Juanes’s musical style alone can also make
anyone an instantaneous fan. His music takes inspiration from several different genres, including rock, pop, and traditional LatinAmerican
music – his song “NadaValgo SinTuAmor” even includes traces of 1960’s pop. Juanes’s extraordinary most recent album, La Vida… Es Un
Ratico, was released in October 2007, and its first single, “Me Enamora,” is currently at number one on Billboard’s “Hot Latin Songs” chart.
Check it out for some incredible music that you can dance to without letting your brain turn to jello!
www.lostandfoundangels.com
page 11
The Viking Saga
The Back Page
February 13, 2008
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman recently
compiled a list of things they would do before they
kicked the bucket. What about you? The Saga asks,
“What is at the top of your ‘bucket list?’”
“Drive around in the Oscar Meyer Wiener-Mobile.”
-junior Matt Sangster
“To come up with something
funny enough to be on the
back page of the Saga.”
-history teacher Mr. Kydd
“Climb the volcano on Mars
because it’s tall.”
-freshman Ryan Sullivan
A. Addabo/Saga
“Run away and join the circus.”
-junior Patty Shields
A. Li/Saga
“See Mr.
Warykas and
Mr. Sandford
do the boat race
together.”
-junior Sean
Doherty
E. Newton/Saga
“I would ride a polar bear across
the Sahara Desert just because. ”
-junior Eden Brevick
“To make sure
all of my affairs
would be in
order.”
-Saga favorite
Jerry Brooks
A. Li/Saga
“I would have a strobe-light
dance party in a limo because
I love dance parties.”
-junior Abby Van Luvanee
Photo Submitted/J. Brooks
“Figure out why they call it a ‘Drive-Thru’
when you really go around the building.”
-sophomore Gihan Hewage
“I want to go to India. It’s such a place
that is in touch with spirituality.”
-science teacher Dr. Carleton
R. Ostrowski/Saga
Page 12