THE LIGHTHOUSE - Lyndhurst Schools

THE LIGHTHOUSE
Volume XXVI, Issue II
Lyndhurst High School
Trend up your schoolwear
BY NICOLE PLONSKI
Those who have seen “Project Runway,”
know Tim Gunn’s motto, “Make it work.”
Schoolwear can present a challenge for students looking to express themselves and show
off their sense of style. However, you can personalize your schoolwear by adding accessories, specific clothing items, shoes or bags that
make a statement.
“Make it unique. Show your personality
through your accessories,” Freshman Evangelia Pelidis said. “The uniform has truly cut down
on the amount of time I need to assemble an
outfit, so now all I need to focus on are the little
details that make the uniform more myself.”
She said a cute pair of boots is definitely a yes
for girls during fall and winter months.
Do not be afraid to add leg warmers, stockings or high-knee socks to make the boots
stand out. If you feel like being a bit dressy, a
pencil or high-waisted skirt could always dress
up schoolwear. Just make sure it is the appropriate length.
NICOLE PLONSKI
Freshmen Kaelynn Jurjo and Nicole Plonski show off
their style and trend up their schoolwear by personalizing, accessorizing and adding items that will make
a statement. They make sure their selections are
not overdoing the outfit and keep their style school
appropriate.
Since we all wear the same shirt and similar
bottoms, there is the dilemma of blending in.
Add that pop of color to your schoolwear by
pairing bold shoes, a patterned scarf, an eyecatching belt, a headband or even a striking
nail polish. However, make sure you do not
overdo it.
”Less is more. Sometimes adding too much
can get crazy,” Freshman Rianna Cafaro said.
Her number one tip is to add jewelry because
it gives the outfit more excitement.
“Under my uniform I wear another collared
shirt and pop the collar. It’s simple but effective,” Cafaro added.
Boys can personalize their attire too.
Freshman Darien Taha suggests that boys
have a variety of sweaters, fleeces and shoes
to wear.
“Shoes can do a lot for an outfit. In my opinion, they complete it,” Taha said. He adds
sleeveless apparel to his schoolwear, not only
because it goes well with the navy polo and
khakis, but because it is something different.
Boys can also sport long sleeve shirts under their polos. If you are daring, try one with
a pattern. Just make sure to stick to the approved colors.
Now keep in mind, hair can do plenty. For
boys with longer hair, style it in the morning.
Girls can do the same and add makeup for a
polished look.
Whatever your style selection may be, just
remember no outfit is complete without the
key accessory: confidence.
December 2012
Verizon visits
Mazurs for the
holiday season
BY EMILY ORTEGA
Many of us have heard of Mazurs Bakery
in Lyndhurst. We have eaten their delicious
pastries and sweets, but have we noticed their
new tables or decorations? These additions
came as a result of Mazurs’ participation in a
Christmas-themed Verizon commercial.
This commercial was shot on Oct. 24 over
the course of 15 hours. Sixty-five people—including the production crew, actors, owner of
Mazurs and manager of Mazurs—were involved in the production.
Joe Spiekermann, owner of Mazurs, said Verizon sent a location manager to select which
bakery would be the best spot to shoot the
commercial on the basis of size and lighting.
“It was a lot of fun because everybody was
very polite. They were extremely friendly,”
Spiekermann said, explaining that Verizon
may return for a backdrop. “They are very professional and they gave me a lot props in my
store,” Spiekermann said.
Donna Spiekermann, Joe Spiekermann’s
daughter and the manager of Mazurs, said the
bakery was closed for the filming of the commercial. The Lyndhurst Police Department and
other community departments were behind the
scenes that day to keep order.
“I felt like a star. It actually felt like a movie,”
Donna Spiekermann said. She said in preparation for the commercial, the film crew decorated the store and added purple lights. The
production crew allowed the bakery to keep
the tables and chairs that were used as props.
Sophomore Amanda Roman was among the
Lyndhurst residents who passed by Mazurs on
the day of the filming.
“During lunch, I walked with my friends,
[Sophomores] Leslie Perez and Maria Navarro, to Wendy’s and we saw all the cameras and
lights. We wanted to experience what it’s like
to be on a commercial,” Roman said. She said
she was excited to get the chance to talk to the
director and producers.
Though the commercial was created in Lyndhurst, its residents will not get to see it. The
commercial will only be aired in Asia to market
Verizon’s new cell phones. It will be 30 seconds long and it cost a third of a million dollars
to produce. For Mazurs, this experience led to
a holiday makeover for customers to enjoy.
“The new makeover at Mazurs creates an
inviting environment,” Sophomore Adrianna
Caraballo said.
PAGE 2
The Lighthouse
COLUMN
Question: If you want
Santa to be good to you
this year, what will you
leave for him?
What would
Wise do?
COLUMN
COMPILED BY
GIANNA DIPISA
What would
Newman do?
COMPILED BY
GIANNA DIPISA
Santa.... I still remember the day
on the bus. A wee lad named Pat
Newman, who was in Mrs. Henn’s
second grade class at West Dover Elementary School in Toms
River, New Jersey (GO BLUE
JAYS!!!), was riding the bus to
afterschool care. It was on that
journey that I was told by some
punk fifth grader that there is no
Santa Claus.
Not only did he scar me for life
on that one, he proceeded to tell
me that there was no Easter Bunny. Now, while a huge mutant rabbit who brings candy to just Christians was already a farfetched
idea in my youth, he proceeded to
continue to smother my boyhood
innocence by telling me that wrestling was fake too.
Strike three! This person was
excommunicated from my existence and never talked to again.
In times when tetherball games
were played—and at eight, I was
already being recruited to play
tetherball by schools such as
University of Miami and Southern Methodist University—he was
never allowed to ride my coattails
to victory. Jokes on him, though.
Santa does exist AND I’m going
to another Wrestlemania this year
at MetLife Stadium.
So, back to the question at
hand: What will I leave Santa? Do
you really think I’ll leave another
grown man milk and cookies?
Among the many reasons why I
wouldn’t is that you’re basically
mocking the man’s weight issue.
December 2012
GIANNA DIPISA
It’s hard being jolly when people
are actively contributing to your
obesity. Nah, I got something better than that for Santa.
Yes, I could have went with a
SR-71 Blackbird which flew from
L.A. to D.C. in 64 minutes and 20
seconds at an average speed of
2,144.8 miles per hour, setting
basically all speed records. However, when the U.S. government
says something is too expensive
to operate, what’s Santa going to
do? Cut the elves’ wages? The
elves run an incredibly tough and
strong-armed union. You do NOT
want to ignite a violent elf strike
(again). Perhaps something simple, like some Red Bulls to keep
Santa going? On the other hand,
he’s delivering toys, not going out
clubbing in Staten Island.
Nah, I got the perfect gift and
it throws it right in the face of
that rotten fifth grader. I’m leaving Santa a ticket, in primo seats,
right next to me at the spectacle
known as Wrestlemania.
Many of you may not know this,
but I’m in thick with “Nick.” As I
know him, Santa is a HUGE wrestling fan. It’s to the point where he
only likes Mrs. Claus to refer to
him as “Stone Cold Santa.”
So, on April 7, 2013, if you see
a big dude next to me at MetLife
Stadium, live or on pay-per-view,
just know that we’re having an
amazing time. And that’s the bottom line…. Why? Because “Stone
Cold” Santa said so!
Have you ever asked yourself,
“What would my teacher do?”
The wondering can come to an end!
Submit a question to Ms. Pastor in
Room 234.
If I wanted Santa to be good to
me this year, I’d better leave him
what HE loves and would want
most. After all, we should treat
people the way that we want to be
treated. Right?
So let’s think.... What could
Santa possibly want or need? He
has a home with a loving wife who
cooks for him. He has elves working for him for free and they’re
happy about it?! He has free transportation using flying reindeer and
a magical sled. He’s got every
child in the world wrapped around
his finger and worshipping him all
year long. He has access to make
or buy every toy or bit of technol-
GIANNA DIPISA
ogy ever made. I’m glad that he is
not really on my Christmas list this
year because he’s impossible.
But, wait! There IS one thing
that will never disappoint.... It is
something needed by most of our
population every day. It is something guaranteed to put a smile
on anybody’s face! YES! I would
leave him an extra large Dunkin’
Donuts coffee!
COLUMN
‘Tis the season to be crafty
BY MICHELLE FOTI
Ahhh! Breathe it in: the gingerbread cookies, the pine needles.
Witness it: the bright lights, the
holly and jolly, everyone spreading the holiday cheer. As the days
are marked off the calendar, the
holidays are drawing near. This
holiday season, Louie wants to
make those who are important to
him feel as special as they make
him feel every day. However, Louie has knocked his piggy bank up-
side the head, beat it on its back
and shaken it violently. All that has
escaped the porcelain pig was
about $5. Have no fear, Louie the
problem solver is here!
After sulking, Louie realizes that
sometimes a homemade gift can
warm the heart better than any
fabric or jewel that may cover it.
All this lighthouse needs is a little
creativity!
For his teachers, he offers cards
of thanks injected with holiday
cheer, to brighten up their days
as they open their mailbox
door. For his brothers and
sister, he creates a handcrafted list of 10 reasons
why Santa loves them,
paired with a silly token
from the dollar store slipped
right in their stockings.
For his parents, he makes
a home cooked Christmas
breakfast of perfection,
cookies and hot chocolate,
waiting on the table where
lay handwritten letters of
personal sentiment, love
and thanks. Oh and we
can’t forget, Louie has to
clean the mess!
ANDREW COSMAN
December 2012
The Lighthouse
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Dear Editors,
I honestly love the section on
page 3, “What would Newman
and Carucci do?” I found that section to be hilarious. I hope in every new issue of the newspaper,
they are asked random questions.
I would read each one just to see
their answers.
I do enjoy the pictures and writing style. It really shows how cool
these two teachers are. Thank
you for making this article, it really
brightened up my dull A day.
Sincerely,
Jose Concepcion, 2016
Dear Editors,
I enjoyed LHS’s school newspaper very much. I thought that there
were many pictures which made
the newspaper colorful and bright.
My favorite article was “No
doubt about it in the locker debate” by Sara Barreiros. I enjoyed
that she included freshman and
sophomore opinions in her article.
I can relate to the article because
I have a bottom locker and have
been hit in the head many times.
I appreciated the advice she gave
about being careful while opening
your locker.
Sincerely,
Kristen D’Amico, 2016
Dear Editors,
I think the newspaper is amazing. I like how you guys introduce
the new principal in “Meet Mr.
Coffaro” by Bianca Fata.
I also love how you put a picture
of who gave pizzazz to their locker and the way you guys also introduce the new faculty and staff
of LHS. They all look forward to
helping the students.
I loved all the sports articles
and the new things happening at
LHS. I learned a lot about things I
haven’t heard at LHS before.
Sincerely,
Odalys Peirea, 2016
Dear Editors,
I am impressed with the changes that have been made to “The
Lighthouse.” The addition of color
images this year made it much
more visually appealing, which is
something I especially liked.
Going through the articles, I
stopped at page 8 when I saw the
opinion pieces written by Michelle
Foti and Giselle Francis. It was
good to see “The Lighthouse” staff
making a conscious effort to bring
national news to LHS.
I also found it to be very creative
to include Assmaa Elbanna’s article about the presidential candidates’ wives. It was entertaining to read something about the
election that was not talked about
very much. Overall, an impressive
start to the school year. Keep up
the good reporting and I can’t wait
to see the next issue.
Sincerely,
Angela Sammarone,
Class of 2012
Part 2: New faculty and staff at LHS
BY SEAN MCCHESNEY
This year brings new faculty
and staff to the halls of LHS.
Last month, “The Lighthouse”
highlighted the goals and plans
of some of its newest members.
Now, have a look at Part 2 of
these profiles:
Ms. Banta,
Guidance
Counselor
“My main goal is
to make a positive
contribution
to Lyndhurst High
School plus provide support to the
Lyndhurst High School students
and the Lyndhurst community. I
plan on working with teachers,
parents and students to provide
support, guidance and information.”
Mrs. Consalvo,
Lunch Aide
“My main goal I
want to fulfill at
LHS is I want to
get to know the
students and I
want to learn my way around the
building.”
Mrs. Delaney,
Guidance Secretary
“My main goal for
my first year at the
high school is to
get to know the students, parents
and staff, learn my way around
the building and learn all that my
job in guidance involves so that I
can assist them in any way I can.
I’m also hoping to make students
feel welcome and comfortable to
come into the guidance office with
any questions they may have.”
Mrs. Hamilton,
Speech
“My main goal
for my first year
at Lyndhurst High
School is to improve the communication skills of my students. To
reach this goal, I plan on incorporating functional, relevant and
technology-based lessons into
speech therapy sessions as motivation.”
Mrs. Jankowski, Attendance
“My main goal at
Lyndhurst
High
School is to make
the
attendance
department more efficient and
to make students feel welcome
in my office. I will try to achieve
this goal by condensing certain
aspects of this department and
keeping it a pleasant experience
to come to the attendance office.”
Ms. Marino,
Teacher’s Aide
“My main goal at
LHS is to assist
as many teachers and students
in reaching their
goals and objectives as possible.
I hope to help students reach their
full potential academically by supporting them in the classroom.
Most importantly, I hope we have
a fun year.”
Ms. Mayer,
Child
Study Team
“My main goal for
my first year at
LHS is to develop
positive, valuable relationships
with both students and faculty. I
will continue to do this by striving
to be a positive member in the
LHS community.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEAN
MCCHESNEY
PAGE 3
The Lighthouse
Lyndhurst High School
400 Weart Avenue
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Adviser:
Ms. Pastor
Editors in Chief:
Michelle Foti
Gianna DiPisa
Managing Editor:
Vincent Lombardi
Written Content
Editors:
Emma Flusk
Joelle Voza
Business Director:
Diana Shinnick
Photography Editor:
Christiane Piezas
Staff:
Christopher Anderson
Sara Barreiros
Andrew Cosman
Samantha Da Silva
Matt DeMarco
Assmaa Elbanna
Bianca Fata
Fernando Herrera
Isabella Hughes
Nicolette Jimenez
Sean McChesney
Emily Ortega
Viviana Perez
Nicole Plonski
Stephanie Pitera
Darleny Rivas
Check us out
on the Web!
Click on the student
resources tab of the
high school’s website
to view our
newspaper.
The Lighthouse
PAGE 4
December 2012
Movies that mark the holiday season
‘Tis the the season to watch
heartwarming holiday movies.
From the classics to modern
flicks, they are sure to deliver festive fun.
Last month, 90 LHS students
participated in a survey that asked
them to identify their favorite holiday movie among a list of five
choices. Students selected from
“A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” Dr.
Seuss’ “How The Grinch Stole
Christmas!,” “It’s a Wonderful Life”
and “The Polar Express.”
Forty-nine students responded
that “Elf” is their favorite holiday
movie. The majority of these students said “Elf” is their top choice
because it is hilarious, interesting
and entertaining. This 2003 movie
is about Buddy, a human raised
by elves, and his search for his
birth father in New York City.
“It is a comical movie and it
shows how having a Christmas
spirit makes everyone happier,”
Freshman Christopher Bekker
said.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” earned a total of 17 votes.
In this 2000 classic, the Grinch is
transformed from the typical Ebenezer Scrooge to a kind-hearted
fellow.
Freshman Gillian Bove and 15
other students said their favorite holiday film is “The Polar Express.” In this 2004 film, Hero Boy,
the protagonist, plunges into a
journey of self-discovery and adventure after beginning to doubt
his faith in the Christmas spirit.
However, he learns that the wonders of life will never wither if he
chooses to believe.
“It brings back childhood memories of when believing truly was unknown and innocence was shown
through just the ringing of a simple
Christmas bell,” Bove said. “The
movie brings back the feelings of
magic I had when I struggled to
go to sleep every Christmas Eve
waiting for Santa to make a sign
that he had stopped in by me.” In
her survey, Bove wrote, “It shows
holiday magic, and for a short
hour and a half, it brings me back
to my childhood and believing.”
Five students chose “A Christmas Story” as their favorite film.
This 1983 motion picture follows
nine-year-old Ralph Parker in his
quest to get a BB gun for Christmas despite everyone’s warnings
that he will shoot his eye out.
“I watch it every year with my
family and my grandpa’s name is
Ralph, so it reminds me of him,”
Freshman Gianna Arantes wrote
on her survey.
The 1946 film “It’s A Wonderful
Life” only received three votes.
This Christmas drama teaches
the viewer to be careful what you
wish for because you might just
get it.
These holiday movies serve a
special purpose. They bring family and friends together to share in
a memorable experience. These
films take their audiences on a
nostalgic trip down memory lane.
They remind the viewer of cherished memories of childhood as
well as the gift of giving and, of
course, receiving.
What are LHS students’ favorite
holiday movies?
This survey reflects the responses of 90 LHS students.
Number of Students
BY SARA BARREIROS
“A
Christmas
Story”
“Elf”
“How the
Grinch
Stole
Chrstimas!”
“It’s a
Wonderful Life”
“The
Polar
Express”
Holiday Movies
SARA BARREIROS
Songs to listen to as you rock around the Christmas tree
BY EMMA FLUSK
ily listens to it every year around
Christmas time,” Garrison said.
This season, switch up your
Christmas playlist. While exchanging gifts with your family
or having your Christmas meal,
enjoy a variety of modern holiday
songs to get in the spirit of the
season.
“All I Want for Christmas is
You” by Mariah Carey
This original song by Mariah
Carey will keep your holiday
soundtrack fun and upbeat. Recorded in 1994, this track remains
one of the best-selling singles of
all time.
“Santa Baby” Cover by Taylor
Swift
Jazz up your Christmas with Taylor Swift’s cover of Eartha Kitt’s
“Santa Baby.” Sophomore Krista
Gacek says she loves this song
because it has a smooth sound.
“O Holy Night” Cover by Alicia
Keys
This old tune made new by Alicia Keys is the perfect addition
to any holiday playlist. Sophomore Samantha Garrison said
this song always puts her family
in the Christmas mood. “My fam-
“I Wish it was Christmas Today” by Julian Casablancas
Bring a little rock to your celebration with this original song by Julian Casablancas, the lead singer
of The Strokes. Sophomore Lucinda Garcia said this track, which
debuted in 2009, is her favorite.
“It has the components of a rock
song, so I can enjoy the sound of
it, and still get in the Christmas
spirit,” Garcia said.
“Christmas Lights” by Coldplay
All Coldplay fans should down-
load “Christmas Lights.” This slow
and smooth song creates a joyful
holiday atmosphere!
“Christmas Tree” by Lady Gaga
This original song by the popular
artist, Lady Gaga, debuted in December 2008. “Christmas Tree” is
sure to bring a modern sound to
your playlist.
“White Christmas” Cover by
Katy Perry
This classic holiday track is rejuvenated by Katy Perry. When the
snow is falling and you are cuddled up on your couch enjoying
the beautiful view, listen to Perry’s
rendition of “White Christmas.”
Music is a vital part of any celebration. Make your holiday playlist something that illuminates your
spirit and gets you in the mood for
Christmas.
ASSMAA ELBANNA
Join us for LHS’s
Winter Concert!
December 11, 7 p.m.
in the Gymnasium
“Music gives a soul to the
universe, wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination and
life to everything.” -Plato
The Lighthouse
December 2012
PAGE 5
Easy holiday season treats
BY ISABELLA HUGHES
The holidays are a time to gather with family and celebrate with
tasty treats. These three recipes
have been in my family for many
years and have been passed
down from generation to generation. They are all easy to make
and fun to eat.
This December, try out the following recipes:
ISABELLA HUGHES
S cookies are the perfect holiday treat.
S Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fudge
Ingredients
4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 stick softened or melted butter
3 tablespoons vanilla
2 tablespoons baking powder
4 eggs (beaten in blender)
Sprinkles (optional)
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups (12 oz. package) semisweet chocolate chips
Ingredients
7 oz. jar of marshmallow cream
(fluff)
3 cups sugar
¾ cup butter (½ stick)
⅔ cup sweet evaporated milk
12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees and
grease the cookie sheet.
-Mix egg mixture, butter sugar and
vanilla together in a large mixing
bowl.
-Once mixed, slowly add the rest
of the ingredients into bowl and
mix.
-Scoop dough into the size of a
large teaspoon. Then, roll cookies
one at a time into the shape of a
worm.
-Curl each end in left and right directions to shape an S. Fill cookie
sheet with rows of cookies and
bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
-For lemon icing, combine lemon
juice and powdered sugar until the
mixture is thick.
Directions
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-Combine flour, baking soda and
salt in a small bowl.
-Beat butter, granulated sugar,
brown sugar and vanilla in a large
mixing bowl until creamy.
-Add eggs one at a time, beating
well after each addition.
-Gradually beat in flour mixture.
-Stir in chocolate chips.
-Drop using rounded tablespoon
onto ungreased baking sheets.
-Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until
golden brown.
Directions
-Combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk in a saucepan.
-Bring to a boil, stirring constantly
on low flame.
-Continue boiling for 5 minutes
over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.
-Stir in chocolate pieces until
melted.
-Add marshmallow cream and vanilla.
-Stir until well-blended.
-Pour into greased pan.
-Cool for 15-20 minutes.
OPINION
Holiday gifts to give
BY NICOLETTE JIMENEZ
When the holiday season is
upon us, we know exactly what
to put on our wish list. As for our
shopping list, however, we are
stumped. The day we achieve
the ability to read minds will be
the day when Christmas shopping becomes less stressful. But
until then, these helpful suggestions can guide you:
Girls, do you remember when
you were little and you found
your mother’s make-up bag and
went wild? Well, why not get
your younger sister her own play
make-up. Claire’s is a great place
to find this and other cute little
toys for young girls. Best of all,
the majority of the items are under $40.
The classic present for young
boys is video games, but why not
buy them something that won’t
turn their brains to mush? Legos
get kids asking themselves,
“What can I build? How do I build
it?” Prices range from $4.99$399.99 for sets of Legos.
For teenage guys, there are
a few options. The new Call
Of Duty: Black Ops II is a great
choice. The pre-owned games
cost $54.99 and the new games
are $59.99.
In an informal survey, the majority of girls at LHS said they want
UGGs this holiday. The boots
range in price from $135 for the
minis to $395 for over-the-knee
boots. Even though UGGs are expensive, they are great for the winter season because they are warm
and fuzzy. If you are concerned
about the price, consider buying
the gift with a few friends or fam-
ily members so that you can split
the cost.
Have you ever seen your parents go out on date? Probably not.
A great present for them would be
a pair of movie tickets. As a bonus, you could offer to babysit your
sibling(s) on the night they decide
to use the tickets.
Grandparents will love you no
matter what you get them. So, the
best gift may be something homemade. They will love that it came
from your heart!
If your grandmother likes to cook,
you can make her a pot holder. For
your grandfather, consider decorating a mug at a pottery painting
studio like Color Me Mine. Nearby
locations include Denville, Ridgewood and Summit.
If you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, it may be hard to know what
to get him or her. Ultimately, it all
depends on their personalities. But
if you are looking for a suggestion,
cologne is perfect for guys. You
get to pick it out (so you know he’ll
smell good), and it’s a gift that he’ll
be able to use.
For girls, any kind of jewelry will
do. Most girls love to add a bit
of sparkle to their outfits. Knowing that the necklace, bracelet or
earrings that they’re going to put
on came from their boyfriend will
make their day a little more special.
Whatever you carry home in
your shopping bag, these tips will
ease the stress of holiday shopping.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICOLETTE
JIMENEZ
The season of giving is upon us. Any
of these gifts will relieve the stress of
your holiday to do list.
The Lighthouse
PAGE 6
December 2012
The local effects of Superstorm Sandy
BY SAMANTHA DA SILVA
It has been well over a month
since Superstorm Sandy swept
through the East Coast.
According to “The Atlantic”
magazine website, Superstorm
Sandy left approximately 8 million
people from South Carolina to
Maine without power. Thousands
suffered from gas and food shortages. Many endured damage to
their cars, homes and businesses.
On Oct. 29, 4.7 million New Jersey kids stayed home from school
due to the State of Emergency declared by Governor Chris Christie,
according to “The Atlantic.”
Unfortunately, LHS sustained
damage as a result of Sandy.
“There was enough damage
on the roof to let the water come
inside the classrooms. Our maintenance, business administrators and director of facility and
grounds moved quickly to get the
work needed done before schools
reopened,” said Principal Mr. Coffaro.
Coffaro said the storm also affected his home in Franklin Lakes.
“I expected high winds. We have
thousands of trees [in Franklin
Lakes], so there’s definitely a
fear of trees or limbs falling into
our home. That’s why we planned
ahead by stocking up on water,
food, gas and decided to sleep in
our basement,” Coffaro said.
Throughout Lyndhurst, one can
notice the ravaging path left behind by Sandy. There were fallen
trees, major flooding and scattered debris.
Junior Anthony Cardaci said he
lost power for about a day. The
damage to his house resulted in
the need to rip out his floors and
walls.
Some residents say Sandy
caught them off guard.
“I didn’t expect the storm to be
this big or affect this many people’s lives. I thought it was going to be just another rainstorm,”
Freshman Gianna Arantes said.
“My best friend lives in Little
Ferry and her entire bottom floor
of her house is completely gone.
Her family lost a lot of priceless
items that cannot be replaced.
Her whole town is destroyed, and
they are slowly rebuilding it, starting from scratch,” Arantes said.
In this difficult time, citizens
came together to offer assistance.
Senior Dina Vasto is among
the Emergency Medical Service
members who aided those in
need in Moonachie.
“We were out in chest-deep
water while transformers were
blowing up to save people. Even
though we lost everything, we
have not missed one call for anyone in need of help. It’s not just
our job and what we do, it’s a lifestyle,” Vasto said.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAMANTHA
DA SILVA
Lyndhurst sustained more damage
from Superstorm Sandy than may have
originally met the eye.
Sandy sets 2013 Jersey Shore summer in question
BY SEAN MCCHESNEY
When the summer of 2012
ended, residents, government
employees, business owners and
summer vacationers started planning their 2013 summer at the
shore. Sandy changed everything.
On Oct. 29, New Jersey suffered a direct hit from its most severe and catastrophic storm yet.
Hurricane Sandy went toe to toe
with the shore, destroying homes,
marinas, restaurants, stores and
everything else in its path. Some
communities that were affected
include Belmar, Lavallete, Mantoloking, Ortley Beach, Point
Pleasant and Seaside Heights.
Junior Kara Mackin, whose family rents the same shore house
every year in Lavallete, said she
knows her house is still standing
but has no other information.
“I do not know how much damage
is done and if my close friends are
going to redo their shore home,”
Mackin said.
Junior Mario Rotondo said, “My
house down the shore [in Seaside
Heights] is a couple blocks from
the beach and a block from the
bay. We were very fortunate with
the minor damage while we were
expecting to have water in the
house or even the house being
destroyed.”
Junior Salvatore Wartel has a
shore house in Ortley Beach.
“The hurricane caused the water
to rise, leaving five feet of water
on my first floor and a thick layer
of black silt on the furniture and
everything else on the floor,” Wartel said.
On summer days, vacationers
rode Seaside’s fastest rollercoaster, The Jet Star, on Casino Pier.
Months later, they are wondering
how it is possible that this structure is sitting in the Atlantic Ocean.
What the shore will be like during
the summer of 2013 is unknown.
Certainly, the 100 year anniversary celebration at Seaside Heights
will not be the same, if it even happens. The celebration was set to
begin on the town’s birthday on
Feb. 26 and was scheduled to last
throughout the entire summer and
fall.
There is no question that there
are countless businesses at the
shore who will be drastically af-
fected this upcoming summer.
There will be no gas in Seaside
Heights for six to eight months
and people are not permitted on
the barrier islands until further notice, according to the “Examiner.”
Many states have offered assistance to rebuild areas affected
by Sandy and the American Red
Cross is leading the recovery effort. Even worldwide celebrities
and stars from MTV came together to host a Restore the Shore
telethon in Times Square on Nov.
15 to help raise money for the Jersey Shore to start the rebuilding
process.
Rotondo worries that the Jersey
Shore his generation grew up with
is gone for good.
“Going down the shore won’t
have the same feeling that it always did knowing everything you
always did down there to enjoy
yourself isn’t there anymore and
it’s been replaced with something
very different,” Rotondo said.
TIM LARSEN OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
The Jet Star rollercoaster at Seaside Heights now sits in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Lighthouse
December 2012
PAGE 7
East Coast hits rock bottom as a result of Sandy
BY VIVIANA PEREZ
On Oct. 29, Superstorm Sandy
walloped the East Coast. Although
Sandy is considered to be a posttropical storm, the damage was
similar to that caused by a hurricane. The winds reached over 80
miles per hour, destroying shorelines, homes, buildings, trees and
powerlines. The ocean formed
tides that reached over ten feet,
which led to widespread flooding.
The Mid-Atlantic, which includes
New Jersey and New York, were
hardest hit. Some areas were affected more than others. Some
did not lose power at all, while
others spent weeks in the dark.
“I lost power for about two days,”
Senior Kyre Boyd said. “However,
it wasn’t as bad as my friends in
Essex County. They were [without] power for almost three weeks
and didn’t go to school during that
time.”
In total, more than seven million
households lost power because of
Sandy, according to CBS News.
Another major problem that
came as a result of the storm were
long lines at gas stations. Gasoline was so much in demand that
the gas stations were finishing
their supply in a matter of hours.
Due to the roads and terminals
that were closed or had restricted access, shipments that were
made by the hour could not arrive
on time. So, in many cases, lines
extended several blocks from the
gas stations.
In response to this situation, the
Pentagon—headquarters of the
U.S. Department of Defense—
along with Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo of New York
implemented odd/even gas rationing in affected areas, which has
not happened since the Arab oil
embargo in the 1970s, according
to “The Denver Post.”
With policemen stationed to
keep customers in order, the rationing took effect in New Jersey
on Nov. 3. Vehicles whose last
digit in their license plate is odd
and those who have plates without numbers were permitted to fill
up on odd numbered days. Those
whose last digit is even were able
to hit the pumps on even days.
This rationing system continued
through Nov. 13 in New Jersey. It
ended on Nov. 17 in Long Island
and continued in New York City
until Nov. 24.
“I waited one night for three
hours [to get gas],” said Business
Teacher Mrs. Jankowski. “When
the odd/even rationing occurred,
everything was running more
smoothly.”
Getting gas was less of a concern in Southern New Jersey.
“The gas lines weren’t that long. for many years, and it never floodI only waited twenty minutes to ed before.”
get gas,” said Science and Fine
Seeing the results of the storm
Arts Department Supervisor Mrs. devastated even the fortunate
Zak, who lives in Bayville, New ones who did not suffer loss or
Jersey. “Instead, there were long property damage.
lines at supermarkets because
Senior Anixa Tejada said her
they were short on dairy products family prepared for the storm by
and bread.”
buying food and water and bringSandy left many broken-heart- ing possessions that had been
ed. Homes were badly damaged outside into their house. They
due to falling trees and severe were relatively lucky, only losing
flooding.
power for a day.
“The underneath part of the
“I was sad and shocked that
house flooded. I lost air condition- Hurricane Sandy came to the
ing, insulation and lighting in my East Coast. Growing up 18 years,
house. Not only that, but my son’s I have never seen a hurricane like
car was lost. The dock was ripped that. My hopes and prayers go to
up and surrounded by a lot of de- the people who were affected,”
bris,” Zak said.
Tejada said.
In many cases, homes
were ruined. Residents
of these homes had
short periods when they
were permitted to return
to recover what was left
of their possessions and
then evacuate the area.
“My vacation house in
Ortley Beach was completely destroyed. The
ocean and bay met. So,
it flooded the entire area.
There were sinkholes all
over the place and it just
wasn’t safe to be there
FERNANDO HERRERA
anymore,”
Jankowski
Locals line up at Moroco gas station in Nutley in
said. “I had that house the days following Superstorm Sandy.
Heroes emerge after the storm
BY DARLENY RIVAS
Superstorm Sandy hit the East
Coast mercilessly. During and after the storm, people were without
power. People were not able to
use public transportation, which
made it difficult for civilians to
travel to safety. Many families lost
their homes. However, amidst all
the destruction, heroism emerged
amongst ordinary citizens.
At NYU Langone Medical Center, medical staff worked overtime
to take care of twenty babies in a
neonatal unit after the hospital’s
emergency power failed. They
had to manually breathe for the
babies. Teams built sleds to bring
patients down a nine storey staircase. Also, nearby restaurants
and pizzerias were open around
the clock to help those who had
no access to food.
Members of the LHS community were among the many heroes
who stepped up during this difficult time.
Freshman Rosemary Reyes
sent twenty dollars to the Red
Cross. Reyes also invited her
cousin to stay with her because
her cousin lost power for over two
days.
Freshman Kaytlin Duran said
she has donated canned goods to
the people who lost their homes.
“I can’t say I’ve done much to
help in the wake of the hurricane,
but I do feel sorry for the [people
whose] homes were destroyed.
If anything, all I’ve done is send
money for the people affected by
Hurricane Sandy,” Freshman Taneasha Bravo said.
Bravo said it is important to have
heroes serving the community because they create a safe environment. She said civilians should
not just sit and do nothing when
others are in need.
“All those affected by the hurricane are heroes to me. They
went through something devastating, but yet they are still finding
that will to go. Heroes are exactly
like that. They never lose hope,”
Bravo said.
Freshman Isabella Nunes also
took part in the relief efforts. She
helped the Samaritan’s Purse
Disaster Relief in Toms River by
donating clothes and by helping
clean up the area.
“I really wanted to help those
who suffered,” Nunes said.
Health and Physical Education
Teacher Ms. Vasto has asked students to donate items that might
be useful to students at Brick
Township High School who have
been affected by the the storm.
Items that have been donated include clothes, backpacks, scarves
and socks.
Sophomore Ashley Bonilla
helped out by donating in six pairs
of socks and five winter hats.
The National Language Honor
Society has also pitched in by
walking around to classrooms taking collections for the Red Cross.
They also set up a station outside
the polls on Election Day. The
group collected $1500 in total.
Although devastating, Superstorm Sandy brought out the best
in people. Many individuals realized the good they could do for
others and seized the opportunity to go from everyday citizen to
helpful heroes.
The Lighthouse
PAGE 8
December 2012
Barack Obama wins 2012 presidential election
BY ASSMAA ELBANNA
Election Day. This election, Obama lost North
Carolina and Indiana, both of which are swing
states he had captured four years ago. However, in the end, President Obama captured
the votes of minorities, women and young
people in addition to the key swing states.
“Obama was more convincing to me and to
many other Americans like Latinos and African
Americans,” Senior Sara Abouzid said.
Romney had a decent start in the first presidential debate. Most news outlets considered
him the winner. Obama gave a solid performance in the second and third debate, though.
During his second term, Obama must set
goals for a fresh approach to addressing probOn Nov. 6, President Barack Obama was
lems that affect America.
reelected to serve for four more years. Obama
“There are few positive signs [in the econwon 332 Electoral College votes. Meanwhile,
omy],” History Teacher Mr. Radigan said. He
his opposing candidate, Governor Mitt Romwent on to say that Obama will have to handle
ney, secured only 206 votes. the challenge of “creating jobs in the country
In Bergen County, 55 percent voted for
instead of outsourcing.”
Obama while 44.1 percent voted for Romney.
The unemployment rate in the U.S. has inOf the 20 counties in New Jersey, 14 voted for
creased to 7.9 percent in October 2012. From
Obama and the other seven voted for Rom1948 until 2012, the U.S. Unemployment Rate
ney. According to “The New York Times,” this
averaged 5.8 percent. It reached an all time
outcome was not surprising because New
high of 10.8 percent in November 1982 and a
Jersey is typically a Democratic-leaning
record low of 2.5 percent in May 1953,
state.
according to tradingeconomics.com, a
Although every electoral vote counts,
website that offers economic data from
the nine swing states—Colorado, Florida,
around the world.
Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North
“When Obama won the presidential
Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin—
elections in 2008, he received America
ultimately decided who would lead the
collapsing. Therefore, it was not easy.
country.
He still has much to go continuing on
During his campaign, Obama made
fortifying this country and making it
29 visits to one of the most important
stand on its feet.... He has plans, but
swing states, Ohio, spending time giving
he needs time,” Abouzid said.
speeches at various universities. Mean“Change.” and “Forward.” were
while, Romney visited Ohio only ten
Obama’s campaign slogans during
times since May 1 and seven other times
his presidential elections, yet some
during the Republican primaries, accordAmericans say they have not seen
ing to VoiceofAmerica.com, a website
much change. Herein lies the chalPETE SOUZA AND THE WHITE HOUSE
that provides coverage of the U.S., Asia,
lenge and the question that remains:
President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union Adress
Africa and the Mideast.
Will Obama be able to make America
in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Supporters were divided and emomove forward during his second term
on Jan. 24.
tions ran high throughout the country on
as president?
REVIEW
The holiday season begins early with ‘A Christmas Carol’
BY GIANNA DIPISA
LHS’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A
Christmas Carol” gave the Lyndhurst community a holiday preview on Nov. 15 and 16.
Packed with carols, feasts and costumes, the
play brought the holiday spirit to its audience.
“A Christmas Carol” opened with six narrators standing on either side of the stage, singing beautiful carols and introducing Ebenezer
Scrooge, the infamous main character played
smartly by Sophomore Tom Hooper.
When the curtain opens, we meet Scrooge,
who is revealed sitting in his office the night
before Christmas. He has decided not to release Bob Cratchit, his employee, for the December 25 holiday. However, with the help of
three apparitions, he has a change of heart.
From the first moment of the play, it was
clear that the audience was in for a special
treat in which they would not only gain perspective on Scrooge and the other characters,
but of the narrators who made up the chorus.
Not many LHS plays performed in the past
few years have had such a complex narrative
structure, so “A Christmas Carol” is uniquely
enjoyable and sophisticated.
Among the members of the cast were Freshmen Nicolette Pezzola, Jose Rodriguez and
Zachary Rossano; Sophomores Paul Carey,
Michael Hayes, Frank Perez and Norilynne
Witt and Juniors Jasmine Caamano, Alyssa
Kelly, Lindsay Martin, Rachel Palmisano and
Nick Rossano all made it clear to the audience
that they were well-rehearsed and passionate
about their roles.
Seniors Michelle Taliento and Stephanie Pitera gave an especially genuine performance,
being that this was the last LHS play in which
they would perform. Both teared up while taking their bow Friday night.
Taliento played Belinda, a narrator, while Pitera was the ghost of Jacob Marley as well as
the ghost of Christmas present. The pair truly
left everything on the stage for their final moments in the LHS spotlight and, consequently,
they inspired the audience with their passion.
Overall, the play was nothing short of an
early holiday gift that the Lyndhurst community
was privileged to watch.
CHRISTIANE PIEZAS
The cast of “A Christmas Carol” shines on stage
during the Nov. 16 performance.
The Lighthouse
December 2012
PAGE 9
2012 in
review
OPINION
The end of the world is coming
BY JOELLE VOZA
Pack your bags. We’re all moving to Mars!
With merely a month left to live, we must get
out of here.
According to the Mayan calendar, the world
will be undergoing “changes” on Dec. 21.
Some believe that there will be a catastrophic
disaster. Others think an asteroid or comet will
collide with the Earth. Then there are those
who say there will be massive earthquakes on
this day.
There are lots of predictions for this date,
and we cannot be sure of what is going to occur. Whatever happens, though, it is sure to
be terrible.
The Mayan civilization was extremely ad-
According to the Mayan
calendar, the world will be undergoing “changes” on Dec. 21.
vanced in mathematics, engineering and astronomy. They also had an incredible understanding of time and space.
The Mayans used various calendars to track
time in linear progressions within cycles. The
“Great Cycle” of the “Long Count” calendar
equates to 5,125.36 years. The current Great
Cycle is scheduled to be completed on the
winter solstice of 2012, which falls on Dec.
21. So, it has been assumed that on the day
the Great Cycle ends, time will end too. Consequently, the Earth’s existence must end as
well. Is that enough proof for you?
In an interview with “Blender” magazine in
2008, Lil Wayne discussed this impending
doomsday.
“The world is about to end as we know it.
You can see it already. A planet doesn’t exist—
there’s no more Pluto... Mosquitos bite you
and you die,” Wayne said.
Although it’s not worded in the most sophisticated fashion, the prominent rapper knows
what he is talking about.
In 2004, “The Day After Tomorrow” was released. Although this movie was not made to
predict the end of the world, it was quite ironic.
The film shows how violent weather changes
cause mass destruction. This includes a snowstorm that greatly impacted New Delhi, India,
a large hailstorm that ultimately destroyed Tokyo, Japan and a large outbreak of tornadoes
that wrecked Los Angeles, California.
Obviously this has not happened, but it gets
interesting. After all of those storms in the
movie, the situation worsens when three massive hurricane-like blizzard superstorms begin
to form over the Northern Hemisphere.
“The Day After Tomorrow” shows New York
City getting flooded by over four feet of water.
Shortly after the flooding occurs, everything instantly freezes, causing an ice age.
At the end of October, the tri-state area was
hit by Hurricane Sandy, which left lots and lots
of damage. Sandy caused massive flooding in
coastal communities like Seaside, New Jersey and New York City. About a week after the
hurricane hit, the Northeast was affected by a
blizzard. Now, I am aware that it did not cause
an ice age, but it seems a little too strange to
ignore.
Let us keep in mind that “The Day After Tomorrow” was created before all of the hype
about the end of the world started. A little too
ironic if you ask me.
We would be very foolish to ignore all of these
obvious signs presented to us by the Mayans.
Fact or fiction? Draw your own conclusion....
BY STEPHANIE PITERA
With all of the events that happened this year,
it is easy to forget about what has occured in
the world of entertainment. From catchy songs
and captivating movies to scandalous celebrities and silly fads, here is a recap of what
made 2012 such a memorable year:
Songs
1. “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
2. “Domino” by Jesse J
3. “Glad You Came” by The Wanted
4. “Payphone” by Maroon 5
5. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye
6. “Starships” by Nicki Minaj
7. “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson
8. “We Found Love” by Rihanna
9. “We are Young” by Fun.
10. “What Makes You Beautiful” by One
Direction
Movies
1. “Brave”
2. “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax”
3. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”
4. “Magic Mike”
5. “Ted”
6. “The Amazing Spiderman”
7. “The Avengers”
8. “The Dark Knight Rises”
9. “The Hunger Games”
10. “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2”
Celebrities and Bands
1. Channing Tatum
2. Cher Lloyd
3. Jennifer Lawrence
4. Liam and Chris Hemsworth
5. Maroon 5
6. Nicki Minaj
7. One Direction
8. Rihanna
9. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
10. Taylor Swift
Fads
1. Cake Pops
2. Colored Hair Dye
3. End of the World Theories
4. Fluffy Wuffies
5. Glitter Nails
6. iPads
7. Memes
8. Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt
9. The Cinnamon Challenge
10. Y.O.L.O.
ASSMAA ELBANNA
The Lighthouse
PAGE 10
December 2012
Shop til ya drop: in stores or online
BY MICHELLE FOTI
Upon arrival at shopping destinations, one is often greeted with
swarms of people, impressive
displays, stacks of neatly folded
clothing, shelves crammed with
novels and racks of video games.
Shoppers become mesmerized
by the choices. There are decisions to be made: cheetah print
or polka dot, Nicholas Sparks or
Stephenie Meyer? This is one’s
mission when on the prowl for
new purchases. Can the same
mission be accomplished when
shopping online?
Shopping in store allows one to
experience a product firsthand.
In person, one can determine
whether it is to die for or if it is not
worth the investment. In stores,
shoppers are able to utilize dressing rooms to try on clothing and
have store clerks take their shoe
measurements and give advice
on products such as literature and
technology.
For some, shopping in store is
BY ANDREW COSMAN
First came the iPod, then the
iPad and in November Apple has
released its latest touch screen
device, the iPad Mini.
Similar to the iPad, the iPad Mini
is a touchscreen tablet that has
fluid performance, FaceTime, an
iSight camera and a ten hour battery life, according to Apple.com.
The only difference between the
two iPads is that the Mini has a
7.9 inch screen while the original
iPad has a 9.5 inch screen.
Business Teacher Mr. Fuschetto has some concerns about the
device.
“I’m not sure how successful
a most-loved activity, and for others, it is a panic attack waiting to
happen.
“There’s nothing I love more than
shopping and bringing home new
clothes, shoes and accessories.
Shopping gets me really excited,
so I’m all over the place moving
from one thing to the next,” Senior Alexa Mermini said. “The only
downfall to shopping in a store
would be that things tend to be a
bit messy and overwhelming.”
For timid shoppers, store websites are a great alternative.
Almost all products that are in
stores can be found online. In
fact, there is even more selection
online. The internet is not just a
channel for social media or gamers. It is a virtual mall available at
a shopper’s fingertips.
“I prefer to [shop] online, mainly
for the ease of it. I can shop from
the comfort of my home,” Senior
Yagiz Balkay said.
Balkay utilizes sites such as
Amazon.com, a mall within itself
loaded with convenience and bar-
gains.
“The range of products on Amazon goes from shoes to flat screen
TVs. You can find anything,”
Balkay said.
Other advantages of online shopping include avoiding long checkout lines and saving gas, time and
energy.
“Buying stuff online lets you
see if it’s in stock or not, instead
of going to the store for nothing
because what you went there for
is sold out,” Freshman Artie Mustardo said.
However, online shopping does
not always end in a satisfied consumer. Often, online shoppers will
have to make the trip to the nearest retail location or return their
orders right back to the distributor.
“If you order something online
and it doesn’t fit or you don’t like
how it looks, you have to ship it
back. If you buy something in the
store, you can try it on first and
see how you like it,” Mermini said.
No single shopping method is
best. It comes down to a matter of
taste. Consumers must ask themselves what they are more willing
to tolerate: massive crowds and
messy piles or drowsy eyes and
irritating clicking.
The most important part of
shopping is that in the box on
your doorstep or the many bags
crammed in your backseat, you
find the most heartwarming book,
perfect little black dress or coolest
kicks before all your friends.
Stylish diva or techy teen, there
is a method of shopping suited
for you. So, whether you decide
to get out to the stores or stay in,
shop till ya drop!
ANDREW COSMAN
The iPad mini is here
it will be. I don’t think they made
enough of a distinction between
the iPad and the iPad Mini,” Fuschetto said.
English Teacher Mr. Belmont
said he has an interest in technology but will not be purchasing an
iPad Mini.
“For people on the go, it’s valuable, but for people with iPhones
or iPads, it’s not so useful,” Belmont said. However, he did state
an advantage of the iPad Mini.
“It’s easier to carry around,”
Belmont said. This may come in
handy for those who are constantly on the go and needing to search
for information on the spot.
Speaking about the mobility of
the new device, Freshman Yunho
Park brought to light an advantage of the size of the iPad Mini.
“It’s good for children because
it’s smaller and they can hold it
easier. The normal iPad is too big
for them,” Park said.
This product may also appeal
to people who do not possess
the iPad or iPhone. Since children are not likely to have either
device, the Mini may be just right
for them.
Now that the holiday season is
here, this could make an affordable and wonderful holiday present.
Not only is the device smaller,
it also costs less than the iPad.
Instead of the original $500 iPad,
the iPad Mini retails for $329.
VIVIANA PEREZ
Apple’s latest innovation, the iPad
Mini, has arrived. Its screen is 7.9
inches, compared to the 9.5 inch
screen of the iPad.
Peer group family night receives positive feedback
BY MICHELLE FOTI
On Nov. 14, senior peer leaders
held an evening event in which
they modeled their weekly outreach sessions for freshmen and
their families. Peer leaders’ parents were also invited to attend.
The peer leaders worked for
weeks to organize this family
night. Here is some of the feedback collected in response to the
event:
“I thought it was a great experience and I was happy to be a part
of it. It made me feel better about
Peer Group.” -Freshman
“I feel as if it brought the parents
and children closer together. For
example, the kids were hugging
their parents.” -Peer Leader
“I was very pleased with my son’s
and nephew’s peer leaders. They
had creativity, respect and other
good leadership qualities. My
son and nephew have had great
comments about their leaders
and class/group time.” -Freshman
Parent
“Outstanding interaction.” -Senior
Parent
Open discussion. Honest and
pure. Great, important topics.
-Freshman Parent
December 2012
The Lighthouse
PAGE 11
The wrestlers hit the mat with a new coach
BY VINCENT LOMBARDI
The wrestling team will begin
their second consecutive season with a new coach. Guided by
Coach Lally, the team ended last
season with a 4-12 record. This
year, Coach Goff will be mentoring the team.
“My inspiration comes from the
passion that I have for sports.... I
want to help kids understand that
there are things that you can take
from sports such as hard work,
dedication and teamwork and use
them in everyday life,” Goff said.
“I want to help teach them what I
have learned from my coaches in
order to be a better student athlete.”
Goff said the team plans to participate in three tournaments and
over 20 matches this year. On the
days of matches, the wrestlers will
be required to wear a shirt and tie
to school.
“I’m expecting a couple of our
wrestlers to place in districts and
advance to regions and hopefully
make it to states,” Goff said.
James Wenger, the only senior
on the varsity team, said he will
do anything he can to help improve the team’s record.
Wrestling is a unique sport
because although the players
belong to a team, much of the
hard work is independent since
teammates can only help from
the sidelines. During the match,
a wrestler must face his opponent
alone, finding his physical and
emotional weaknesses.
Junior Anthony Giaquinto, a
member of the varsity team, has
wrestled since his freshman year.
He said his goals are to beat his
personal records from last season
and improve his physical conditioning.
Practice sessions started on
Nov. 26. Goff said he is going to
make the team practice a lot, because the more the team practices, the more confident they will be
during matches.
The team will be preparing for
their Dec. 15 tournament at Clifton High School and the opening
match at Secaucus High School
on Dec. 19.
LORS
STUDIO
Junior
Anthony
Cardaci
takes down
his oppent
from Weehawken
High School
on Jan. 14,
2012 at
LHS.
Goff set to take off as new wrestling coach
BY MATT DEMARCO
After the wrestlers finished the
2011-2012 season with a disappointing 4-12 record, the opportunity for a new head coach
emerged. The wrestlers have
identified their goal to get on track
and the coach leading the way to
victory is Coach Goff.
Goff is a graduate of Montclair
State University and Monroe
Township High School, where he
placed seventh in the state and
had several offers to wrestle in
college. Though he decided not
to wrestle at Montclair, he did play
on the football team.
Goff now works as an aide at
Washington School and besides
coaching the wrestling team, he
serves as a volunteer football
coach at LHS.
Goff is already making an impact
on the team. After his hiring in October, he got to work right away.
He created an offseason workout
for wrestlers and has been getting
to know them through meetings
and conversations.
“I plan to drill a lot because the
more that we practice a move the
better and more confident we will
be when it comes to match time.
When the going gets tough, that’s
when we have to come together
as a team to overcome any obstacle,” Goff said.
Goff describes the team as dedicated, saying, “A lot of our kids are
“...[T]he more that we
practice a move the
better and more
confident we will be....”
in the weight room lifting and running right now and willing to buy
into my program at this time,” Goff
said.
The new coach is not the only
one excited for the season ahead.
“I think this year is going to be
very different in a good way,” said
Junior Joey Morreale, who has
been an LHS wrestler since his
freshman year. He said many students have signed up for the team
and the returning wrestlers are
MATT DEMARCO
Coach Goff looks forward to a successful season as the new head coach of
the wrestling team.
ready to thrive because they have
experience.
According to Athletic Director
Coach Servideo, Goff was highly
recommended by Coach Castagnetti and Coach Tuero, both of
whom lead the football team.
“Coach Castagnetti indicated
to me that [Goff] is a respectful young man and demands the
same qualities from his student
athletes,” Servideo said.
Swimming
to the top
BY FERNANDO HERRERA
Pairing for the first time with
North Arlington High School,
LHS’s swim team has its sights
set on a successful season.
This month, the Golden Bearsface off against Teaneck on Dec.
3, Harrison on Dec. 6, Hasbrouck
Heights on Dec. 10 and Passaic
Tech on Dec. 13. All meets are
at LHS and start at 4 p.m. Their
greatest rivals this season are expected to be Rutherford and Leonia High Schools.
“Being able to interact with the
students, pass along my knowledge and have a different relationship with students other than a
student-teacher bond [are my favorite aspects of coaching],” Head
Coach Frew said.
Top swimmers for the boys team
are Senior Captains Bobby DeMarco and Austin Meeney. The
top competitor for the girls team
is Senior Captain Michelle Flores.
Assistant Coach Colombo said
there are also several promising
freshman joining the team this
year.
“Swimming is fun and a good
exercise for the body,” said Sophomore Victtor J. Minetto, a new
swimmer. He went on to say that
his goals are to learn how to swim
and win a lot of competitions.
Last year the boys went 5-3. The
girls struggled through a tough
season, finishing 1-8.
“My goal for this year’s swim
season is to become stronger
and overcome any challenges
that come in the way. I’m willing to
work even harder each and every
competition and practice,” said
Sophomore Victoria Flanagan, a
member of the girls team.
LORS STUDIO
Senior Bobby DeMarco swims the
butterfly stroke to the finish line last
season.
PAGE 12
The Lighthouse
Boys basketball gets back at it
BY BIANCA FATA
Last year, the boys basketball
team finished with a league championship and a 15-10 record,
something that has not been done
since the 2004-2005 season. The
boys and Head Coach Mr. Radigan want to
repeat their success this year to
win back-to-back
league championships, a goal
that has not been
accomplished in
31 years.
Seniors Danny
Kesack and Kyle
Pollio are capLORS STUDIO tains. They are
Senior Danny Ke- both four year
sack goes up for varsity starters.
“Moving into a
a layup against
North Arlington new league is goHigh School on ing to be a tough
challenge, espeJan. 3, 2012.
Girls get
another shot
cially [because] we have to replace last year’s seniors,” Kesack
said. He agreed with Pollio, who
said, “The team is a family. We get
along on and off the court.”
Radigan said the boys will have
to work hard in practice to accomplish their goal of back-to-back
league championships.
“With many returning varsity
players and promising upcoming
players, we hope to be one of the
top teams in the league,” Radigan
said. “The team needs to work on
free throws without a doubt.”
Last year, the Golden Bears
missed free throws, which kept
their opponents in games that
would otherwise not have been
close.
Radigan said, “We get to the
line a lot and have to capitalize on
those free opportunities.”
“We know what we want to do
this season and as long as we
stay focused and work hard, I
think we can do it,” Kesack said.
Bowling team aims
for a strike season
BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON
After completing last season
with an undefeated record, the
bowling team hopes to repeat its
victory. Last year, the team was
was the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands
division champion and the North
1A Group 1 state sectional champion. These are among the honors that led them to achieve a
triple crown.
The bowlers lost six seniors last
June, but they remain optimistic,
according to Senior Captain Lexus Lopez and Coach Rizzo. They
want to continue the motivation
from last year and improve their
bowling tactics, Rizzo said.
“We have to stay positive at all
times to recoup. I believe we will
do well if we put the hard work
into it,” Lopez said. She received
a full scholarship to bowl at Fairleigh Dickinson University next
year.
Many of the upperclassmen
have set personal goals to bowl
“We have to stay positive
at all times to recoup.
I believe we will do well
if we put the hard work
into it.”
over 200. Coach Rizzo said rising stars are Junior Mike Dul and
Sophomore Emily Young.
The team has high expectations. They want to surpass the
achievements of last year’s team,
win more matches and play in the
championships, Lopez said.
Pop, lock it, drop it onto the dance team
BY NICOLE PLONSKI
BY VINCENT LOMBARDI
The girls basketball team had
a good season last year, finishing
with a 16-12 record.
According to Head Coach Mosca, the team needs to play better
defense and limit turnovers to improve from last season. The team
only lost two graduates, Nicole
Barratta and Shege Haxhaj, from
last season, so there will be a lot
of familiar faces on the court.
“I expect the girls to be competitive and compete for league,
county and state championships,”
Mosca said, explaining that this
team has all the pieces to win.
“We need to improve our team
chemistry. If we communicate
more, we will do very well this
season,” Senior Lexus Lopez
said. She has been on the team
since her freshman year.
“The team is motivated because
we are always ready to play and
we are always motivated to win,”
Senior Brittany Levario, another
four year player, said.
The team began their practices
on Nov. 26. Their first game will
be at home against Dwight Englewood High School on Dec. 14.
December 2012
Ready, hit it! It’s time for winter
sports, which includes the dance
team coached by Ms. Stephanie
Hykey.
“Dancing is my passion, so being able to teach my team what
I know is an awesome feeling,”
Hykey said.
LHS’s dance team shows off its
moves and keeps the crowd entertained during halftime of basketball games. In addition to this,
they travel and compete in the
hopes of taking home first place.
“I am a teacher by nature. I’ve always helped my own teammates
when I was on this same team in
high school,” Hykey said.
It is her sixth season mentoring
the team and her fourth year as
head coach. She is accompanied
by her assistant, Ms. Maria Smith,
and LHS Alumni Volunteers Brittany Carroll and Nicole Calandriello.
“We have a lot of new freshmen
this year. So, I expect this will be a
year full of rebuilding and restructuring the team,” Hykey said. “I
enjoy dance so much that when I
found out my school had a dance
team, I had to try out,” Freshman
Ivanna Rivera said. She is among
the five new additions to the team. strong team with a lot of presRivera said facing off against sure. We proved that last year,”
other teams and doing something said Jazmin Reyes, a senior who
she loves will be the most enjoy- has been on the team since she
was a freshman. She said the
able part of the experience.
Last winter, the dance team LHS dance team deserves to win
placed third in its first competition competitions because throughout
of the season at St. John Vian- the season they work to correct
ney High School in Holmdel, New any imperfections regarding facial
Jersey. It was a hard competition, energy and movements and inbut the girls beat their rival team, vest time in learning and changing
Paramus Catholic High School, their routines.
“Our hard work will shine on the
which typically places right ahead
dance floor. I hope to have a sucof them.
Among their other achieve- cessful senior year and show evments, the team earned the var- eryone what we are capable of,”
sity hip hop state title at the New Reyes said.
The girls look forward to a top
Jersey Cheerleading and Dance
Coaches Association competition of the ladder season where they
and placed second at a national dance their way to victory.
competition in Maryland.
“Don’t be scared to be
yourself, don’t be scared
to ask anyone for help
and don’t give up no matter what,” Junior Cassandra Franchino, who is
starting her third year on
the team, advises new
dancers. She has been
dancing since she was
little, and she said it has
LORS STUDIO
always been a part of her.
“I believe we are a The 2012 dance team lines up for the National
Anthem to kick off the boys basketball game.