March 2014

ALL STARS UNITE
The East defeats the West
in the annual NBA All Star
game.|10
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
St. Patrick’s Day brings
tradition to people
everywhere. |6
SHOOTING FOR SUCCESS
Boys basketball ends
its season with pride
despite injuries.|11
TheLighthouse
Vol. XXVII, No. 5
Lyndhurst High School
March 2014
Au revoir to ‘Beauty and the Beast’
By Kristen D’Amico
It is 6:30 p.m. and the audience enters LHS’s auditorium. As they take their seats, whether it be in
the balcony or the main floor, they are buzzing with
excitement.
When the clock strikes seven, the lights dim and
the orchestra in the pit begins to play. The curtains
open and the audience’s attention is drawn to the
stage for the prologue in which the story of “Beauty
and The Beast” is being recounted.
This Disney musical tells the tale of a young woman
named Belle, played by Junior Shanice Aquino, who
learns to see past the Beast’s horrifying appearance
to fall in love with the kindness in his heart. The role
of Beast was played by Junior Frankie Perez.
Choral Director Ms. Wise said she was pleased with
the final product, explaining that all the hard work
of the directors, cast and crew paid off.
“All of the characters were on the stage feeling the
Courtesy of Christiane Piezas
Kitchen utensils come alive in the the “Be Our Guest”
number (above), Belle and Beast take centerstage in their
dance (above right) and Gaston is surrounded by the silly
girls (bottom right) during LHS’s annual musical.
pride and success in completing all of our performances and while doing so, completing an amazing
accomplishment and adventure. It was very rewarding to see everyone gleaming with pride,” Wise said.
Director Mrs. Ruiz said the most memorable moment working on this musical was the evening the
cast received its costumes.
“The costumes were obviously a key part to the
enchantment of the production of ‘Beauty and the
Beast,’ and during that moment when our vision
truly began to come to life, it was such a joyful experience for myself and the cast,” Ruiz said.
Although most of the songs focused on the serious emotions of Beast and Belle, musical numbers
like “Be Our Guest” held the audience’s attention
with their magnificence. Sophomore Devin Yunis, a
three-night spectator, said this piece was his favorite
part of the musical score.
“I found it so interesting and exciting when all of
the dishes and utensils came down the aisles. It was
magical,” Yunis said.
Sophomore Renee Lindholm played the role of a
champagne glass and a villager.
“My favorite part [of the experience] was probably
the rehearsals because they were always energetic
and fun. Even though we had to be serious, we always had time to have fun. Being in the musical was
amazing. It was like having another family. I loved
every moment of it,” Lindholm said.
Junior Tyler Landells portrayed Cogsworth, the
straightlaced clock.
“This year’s musical is definitely up there in my favorites. Making the musical great [required] everyone to be devoted. I met new, really cool people and
learned from others’ experiences during the process,” said Landells.
Students explore new subjects through Virtual High School
By Ashley Stephens
The LHS media center is a venue for
typing assignments, printing homework and doing research for important
essays. It is also a place where students
take VHS courses.
VHS, or Virtual High School, is offered as an elective at LHS. It gives students the chance to select from a long
list of course options and interact with
other students and teachers through
an online interface.
VHS Site Coordinator Mrs. DeForge
is in charge of monitoring these students as they work on these courses in
the media center. DeForge encourages
students who are self-motivated and
good at time management to register
for VHS classes.
“Online learning takes dedication
and independence,” DeForge said.
“Taking a VHS class is a great way to
round out a student’s schedule and, in
turn, teach them new skills. VHS is a
global consortium. Students from all
around the world participate. Students
taking VHS courses get the experience
of online learning, which will be beneficial in their college years.”
Available VHS courses range from
Anatomy and Physiology to Fantasy and Science Fiction Short Stories.
Psychology is a popular and notable
favorite among VHS students at LHS,
DeForge said.
Sophomore Mary Bogen, who moved
to East Rutherford at the end of February, is among the students who registered for psychology.
“I chose psychology because I thought
it would be interesting. I wasn’t sure
what to expect going into it, though.
As the course went on, I really enjoyed
it. There were so many interesting people to learn about and several theories
that I read about I’ve applied to movies, books and life,” Bogen said.
VHS classes give students the opportunity to learn in an environment other than a traditional classroom setting
where they are being instructed by a
teacher.
“Taking a class online is different
than face-to-face classes because it’s
mostly independent. An upside is I can
do assignments whenever, but I have
to manage my time and not push everything till the end. Online classes are
more peaceful, but it would be hard to
take more than one or two courses,”
Bogen said.
Bogen said the biggest difficulty she
faced was managing her time.
“The anxiousness of putting too much
stuff off is a feeling I have learned to
do my best to avoid. Last minute panic
can be inspiring at certain times, but
the relief of having done assignments,
readings and discussion posts before
deadlines needs no inspiration,” Bogen
said.
Students who are taking a VHS course
agree that it is not as easy as one would
think.
Junior Aren Spahiu said the biggest
struggle of a VHS class is keeping up
with the workload.
“You have to be self-motivated and
stay on top of it,” Spahiu said. “I chose
to take AP Biology because I love sci-
Check out “The Lighthouse” on the LHS website!
ence and it sounded interesting. I enjoy this class because it is a challenging
course to take.”
Despite their difficulties, both Bogen
and Spahiu said they would take on another VHS course in the future.
DeForge, who has been supervising
VHS since last March, said she enjoys
her work with the program.
“It gives me an opportunity to help
students in a unique and modern environment. There is always something
new every day,” said DeForge.
Courtesy of Xavier Locke
Senior Giuseppe Pollicino studies mythology in a half year VHS course.
2
TheLighthouse
March 2014
Question: If you could be a character from any movie or show, who would it be and why?
COLUMN
COLUMN
What would
Newman do?
What would
Ringen do?
Compiled by Bianca Fata
Compiled by Bianca Fata
This is another really tough question.
What network do I even choose? ABC
Family? That could be too “Afterschool
Special”-like. Cinemax? That could be a
little too risqué.
Maybe, I can go the movie route. For
some reason, or MANY reasons is the
better saying in this case, my male students loved “The Wolf of Wall Street.” I
saw the movie eventually and they certainly lived a fast and insane lifestyle,
but I was exhausted after that movie. I
would NEVER want to be Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DeCaprio.
Plus, let’s be blatantly honest here, Leo
wishes he had my suave style. Heck,
we’ve won the same number of Oscars.
“Goodfellas” is my favorite movie
of all time. However, I wouldn’t want
to be faced with an ultimate choice of
prison or ratting out the friends I grew
up with and worked with to save me
from prison. Then again, if it were Mr.
Frew going to jail instead of me, sign
me up for witness protection because
I’d turn “state’s witness” against Mr.
Frew any day of the week.
Well, at this point, I’ve been thinking and writing for about two hours,
and I finally have an idea of someone I
would like to be. He’s on TV. Now, the
funny thing is that he isn’t fictional, or
“not real” for all those who aren’t up
on their first grade literary terms. I’m
going to go with Al Roker.
“The weather guy from ‘The Today
Show’?” Yep, That guy!
First off, I am honored to be nominated for this article. As for movies
or TV shows, I should have you know
I am a big fan of all comedies across
the board and legendary actors and
actresses—Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler,
Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Chelsea Handler, all members of the SNL
cast and many more that make others
laugh for a living.
Choosing a character is difficult because there is so much good talent out
there. To make my choice easy, I would
have to go with my all-time favorite
show. The cast of “Friends” is quite the
group of characters. It is my absolute
favorite show and will always be. I own
all ten seasons, and it is the type of
show where you can watch an episode
over 30 times and still laugh at the
same lines.
I guess I would like to have a piece
of each character’s lives, ultimately living in Monica’s sweet New York City
apartment for next to no cost, unlike
today’s extremely expensive city rent.
I also like that they somehow get to
hang out together in a cute little café
during the day and still uphold some
cool jobs. An actor, a chef, a masseuse,
fashion rep, paleontologist and a cubicle number crunching job are all a
small speck of the true personalities of
the six characters on “Friends.”
If I could be Monica, I would want
her culinary and cleaning expertise. I
am not the greatest cook and would
Courtesy of Bianca Fata
First off, he is best known for being
a weather guy, and a weather guy has
the sweetest gig on the news. He can
“swing and miss” more than a Major
League Baseball player and can be inaccurate with his forecasts. The weather
forecast can be: “It’s supposed to snow
today.” And if I’m wrong, you’ll love it
because we had no snow. If it did snow,
I’m right and you were warned.
I could be wrong most of the time,
and it wouldn’t matter because I could
always do the typical weather man
laugh and say my funny catchphrase,
“Well, hey everybody, I wasn’t wrong.
You know Mother Nature, she is just so
ca-ray-ZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”
Everyone in the studio and in the
audience at home would then laugh
and through that laughter, all would
be forgiven. See, I win. At that point,
I’d no longer be just a weather guy but
a cutting edge and innovative “meteorologist.” Now, that sounds incredibly
scientific, doesn’t it?
Plus, Roker reaps all the benefits
such as getting to go to the Olympics,
attend football games, travel the country, travel the world and still do all
the fun stuff “The Today Show” does
without all that stressful/more serious “news-stuff.” It’s a great life and an
even greater paycheck.
Courtesy of Bianca Fata
like to be more up to speed on keeping
my room clean at all times.
Phoebe is just a classic character who
loves animals and has a pretty crazy
life background. I envy her amateur
music talent and consistently positive spirit. Rachel is played by Jennifer Aniston, who was married to Brad
Pitt… enough said. Plus, I wish I had
her Bloomingdale’s discount.
All the characters are great, and I appreciate their witty one-liners. I would
not like to get my head stuck in a turkey like Joey, or have to spend a day
in a cardboard box like Chandler or be
divorced three times like Ross, but I
wouldn’t mind sipping coffee from an
extra large mug with all these classy,
funny guys at Central Perk.
Unfortunately, the “Friends” series
ended in 2004, but thankfully for reruns, it can be watched on many channels throughout the day or night. The
producers picked a perfect cast, and I
can only hope for a reunion show one
day.
Have you ever asked yourself,
“What would my teacher do?”
Submit a question to
Ms. Pastor in Room 234.
COLUMN
Leisure literature with Lucinda
By Lucinda Garcia
It can be hard to deal with the struggles life throws our way. There are people who handle challenges calmly by
turning to books, exercise, music or
art. Others, however, find themselves
feeling suffocated and alone. This can
sadly lead to harmful actions.
March is Self-Harm Awareness
Month. Therefore, I have selected a
book by Michael Thomas Ford, called
“Suicide Notes.” This novel tells the
story of 15-year-old Jeff’s 45 day stay
in a psychiatric ward. He landed himself there by cutting his wrists in an
attempt to end his life on New Year’s
Eve.
I must admit, I disliked the novel
at first. The tone in which Jeff spoke
struck me as unrealistic. He was very
disrespectful from the start for no reason. As the plot evolved, I understood
him better, realizing his attitude was a
defense mechanism.
I won’t reveal the underlying cause of
Jeff’s troubles, but I will say this: when
I comprehended exactly what he was
going through, I started feeling the
empathy I had expected to feel at the
beginning of the novel.
This book is definitely for older teens.
Mature subjects are discussed and
some events may shock certain audiences. Nevertheless, it is still a fulfilling read. While I wouldn’t call it my
favorite book, it is still good.
“Suicide Notes” is strange, yet humorous and successful in tackling powerful
issues that affect today’s youth. It was
published in 2010 by HarperCollins.
Please remember, suicide is a longterm solution to a short-term problem. Like the good times, bad times in
life go away eventually.
Giving up is never worth it. Once we
become secure in who we are, things
look brighter and our futures can become whatever we make of them.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm,
please share and utilize the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or visit
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Remember that you are never alone
and always have someone to turn to,
even if you don’t feel comfortable with
a friend or family member.
If you would rather talk to someone in person, don’t forget that here
at LHS we have Student Assistance
Counselor Ms. Mulé and School Social
Worker Mrs. Tozduman in the Drop-In
Center. They are ready to help with any
problems you may be having.
That said, I’d like to end with a quote
from “Suicide Notes”: “I’m still kind
of a mess. But I think we all are. No
one’s got it all together. I don’t think
you ever get it all together. Probably if
you did manage to do it, you’d spontaneously combust.”
Courtesy of Lucinda Garcia
“Suicide Notes” by Michael Thomas Ford
was published in 2010 by HarperCollins.
The novel tells the story of Jeff, a 15-yearold boy who attempts suicide on New
Year’s Eve and ends up in a psychiatric
ward for 45 days.
Look out for our April issue for a review of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide
to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. If you read or plan on reading this
book, let us know! Write a letter to the editors including your own
opinion and hand it in to Ms. Pastor in Room 234.
March 2014
TheLighthouse
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Dear Editors,
This month’s newspaper had a very
nice layout. It continues to get better
and better. The “What would Newman
Do?” column never fails to impress me.
It is very comical and is always very
well-written. It is always my favorite.
Also, “Barbie evolves over five-anda-half decades” by Eva Pelidis really
caught my eye. Considering Barbie was
a big part of my childhood, it was interesting to read about how it evolved.
Overall, the newspaper was very
well-written and, as I said before, it
gets better and better as the months
go on.
Sincerely,
Christina Porta, Class of 2017
even more interesting. It was cool to
learn about something that occurred
outside of LHS.
Some people probably didn’t know
that Mr. Rizzo was a bowling coach.
So, receiving a reaction from a bowler
was smart and made the article better.
Knowing that Mr. Rizzo is principal of
Lincoln School is news I liked to hear.
I enjoyed your article because Mr. Rizzo was my favorite teacher. This was a
great article, and I’m sure other people
enjoyed it as well.
Sincerely,
Flavio Barrios, Class of 2017
Dear Samantha DeForge,
I enjoyed your article, “A Valentine-less Valentine’s Day is the best.” I
think you did a wonderful job describDear Nick Pacheco,
I really enjoyed your article, “Lincoln ing the perks of not having a valentine.
School welcomes Mr. Rizzo.” Since he Personally, I had a great Valentine’s
was my teacher, this article became Day alone with “Dexter” on Netflix be-
cause of the snow. I talked to my boyfriend like I do every day and gave him
his present in advance.
Valentine’s Day should never be
about gifts or showing anything different than you do every other day. If
you do, then you’re missing something
about your everyday valentine that
you should not be. This Valentine’s
Day, I thought you were my valentine,
being your friend and all, but that’s beside the point.
The point is that I appreciated your
article and the fact that it was humorous, and you shed light on the fact that
it is the most annoying day to go to the
movies, with nothing but cheesy chick
flicks to see on the big screen. You uncovered the truth about Valentine’s
Day and, frankly, it’s too cold and too
cliché anyway.
With love,
Chelsey Owens, Class of 2014
OPINION
The portrayal of women in video games is fine
By Luis Quezada
As fun as video games are, it is hard
to argue that the representation of
women is mostly negative. However,
there are plenty of logical reasons why
video game creators continue to portray women the way they do.
In Grand Theft Auto, God of War,
Mario Bros., Saints Row, The Sims
and plenty of other series, women are
shown to be weak and helpless. They
have minor parts and their main role
is to present their sexuality.
Women in games are depicted as mere
entertainment for the main character,
sometimes acting as a motivator or
form of relaxation to relieve the leading man from the stress that comes
with the game’s adventures.
For example, in God of War, women
throw themselves at Kratos, the powerful male protagonist. In Mario Bros.,
Mario and his friends try to get to the
castle to free Princess Peach. However,
once they get to her, their intention is
to keep her as a prize. The princess is
always helpless and has no personality.
Her main purpose is to await rescue so
she can become Mario’s property.
Most games follow this trend. There
are some exceptions, though. For instance, in Tomb Raider, the main character is a powerful woman named Lara
Croft. She is capable of doing more
than an average man. Sure, she wears
tight clothes and has a great figure, but
that is just her style. It does not define
her. She is an exception to the trend in
video games because she is proud, independent and capable.
In the Street Fighter game series,
women are presented as being of similar importance to their male counterparts. In these games, each character
the player chooses to fight against has
his or her own unique ability. Players
are able to compete with both male and
female opponents. The most common
females in Street Fighter are Cammy,
Chun-Li and Poison.
So, why don’t more video games de-
pict women in a positive and empowering light? Well, the answer is simple.
The majority of video gamers are
men. Therefore, video game designers cater to men who are generally
entertained and unbothered by the
treatment of female characters. In
fact, they may even like these negative
portrayals, which allow them to experience women in a different way.
While in reality, women are usually strong and complicated, in video
games, they are carefree and unskilled. This lets men experience situations beyond their wildest imaginations. Particularly since graphics are
improving, games have the power to
transport their players into an alternate world.
That explains why video game developers continue to project this image
of women in their games. Men enjoy
it, which brings a lot of popularity to
the game. So, if the strategy is working and video game companies are
making money, why not continue?
OPINION
Video games incorrectly represent women
By Viviana Perez
Video gaming has been long recognized as a male-dominated pastime.
Therefore, video games generally include an action-packed storyline featuring a masculine character as the
protagonist.
In the past, consumers have evaluated video games based on their content, which mainly includes the plot,
gameplay and graphics. These three
elements have determined their popularity and success.
However, it appears that these traditional categories for rating a game
are slowly vanishing. People are more
attentive than ever to the characters’
looks and personalities rather than the
game itself. Therefore, the representation of female characters has been put
in the spotlight, and I, for one, cannot
accept the portrayal of women in video games.
Many of the female characters included in video games are rather provocative. They are either dressed inappropriately or have body parts enhanced.
This is both damaging and dangerous
to women, who are led to believe that
this is the ideal feminine image.
Sensual depictions of women in video games can prompt female users
to experience body dissatisfaction,
depression and low self-esteem. This
could cause them to develop negative
behaviors such as eating disorders or
social isolation.
To prevent such detrimental feelings,
thoughts and actions, video game designers should make adjustments to
their female characters. Even a slight
change in clothing would be a positive
step. No woman should feel insecure
because of some video game.
Furthermore, female characters often play the role of the damsel in distress. Particularly among children,
these games shape their perceptions
of gender roles.
Girls may think their only responsibility is to maintain beauty, while boys
may assume their main function is to
protect females from danger. Women may not be as physically strong as
men, but they can match males in intelligence and can take care of themselves.
The time has come for video games
to incorporate more female characters
as protagonists. They should take on
heroic roles to demonstrate the capabilities of women. This will encourage
the public to view females as the independent and strong-willed people that
they are.
TheLighthouse
Lyndhurst High School
400 Weart Avenue
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
_______________________
Adviser:
Ms. Pastor
Editors-in-Chief:
Bianca Fata
Joelle Voza
Written Content Editors:
Samantha Da Silva
Matt DeMarco
Assmaa Elbanna
Emma Flusk
Sean McChesney
Emily Ortega
Nicole Plonski
Staff Writers:
Jessie Bolton
Melissa Bonacarti
Gillian Bove
Gianna Catelli
Kristen D’Amico
Samantha DeForge
Anthony Dell’Aquila
Lucinda Garcia
Lindsay Henning
Gina Minervini
Esin Murat
Nicholas Pacheco
Julie Pacillo
Evangelia Pelidis
Viviana Perez
Estefania Pulgarin-Duque
Luis Quezada
Paul Serrano
Ashley Stephens
Briana Thomas
Jennifer Wartel
Contributing
Photographers:
Christiane Piezas
Xavier Locke
Contributing Artists:
Ketevan Kobauri
Olivia Perez
Ashley Woods
Opinion articles do not
reflect the opinions of the
entire staff, only the
writers themselves.
Letters to the editors can
be submitted to Ms. Pastor
in Room 234. However,
they must be signed with
your first and last name in
order to be considered for
publication.
The staff reserves the right
to edit material and reject
any content not suitable
for publication.
3
4
TheLighthouse
OPINION
Prepare perfect pranks for April Fools
March 2014
OPINION
Prom: a necessary evil
paint the bar of soap. This coating of nail polish will By Melissa Bonacarti
prevent the soap from lathering. Consider hiding all
It is the season for pranks. From the classic whoop- other nearby soaps.
Imagine yourself dressed to the nines in your prom
ee cushion and fart joke, to extravagant well-thought
attire.
You just finished preparing for your special
The Ghost.
out high jinks, there is something for everyone this
My grandfather, who was a master prankster, came night. Feeling better than ever, you text all your
April Fools. Here is some knee-slapping foolery for
up with this trick. One night we were at a sleepover friends to wish them a safe and memorable evening.
both newly-inspired jokers as well as seasoned vetout in his backyard in a tent. He took a sheet and A few hours into prom, you are still beaming with
erans of this devilish art.
did the whole cheesy ghost thing with it. What made excitement. However, this joy vanishes when the
Liar liar pants on fire.
this particular scheme work was that he took a really person next to you spills his drink all over your
A simple and easy prank for beginners is to tell a long pole and put a candle holder with a lit candle on brand new prom wear.
Rushing out of the room, you are overcome by
lie… and make it convincing. Something like, “The one end of it. My grandpa held the other end. In the
embarrassment. This was supposed to be the best
oven’s on fire” or “I met a famous celebrity” are out- dark, it looked like the candle was floating ahead.
rageous but believable. The key to carrying out a
My dad also got involved. He rolled apples off the night of your high school years. You begin to regret
good lie is to get others in on it and tell them to keep roof of the house. So, it dropped onto our tent. This coming to this function as you slowly re-enter the
a straight face. Kids and gullible people are the best prompted my friend and me to run out, where we room, only to find dozens of eyes settled on you.
receivers.
caught sight of a poltergeist. My friend flipped out Your night had gone from a dream to a nightmare in
a matter of minutes.
and literally ran home.
Newspaper over the doorway.
By the time you return home, you have reached
This is a good one to do at night after everyone has Foods that go “Eew!”
your conclusion: prom is a necessary evil.
gone to sleep. But be sure to stay quiet while setting
Here are a few good recipes of appropriately tricky
Although many students, both male and female,
up. All you have to do is tape newspaper over an en- treats for an April Fools meal: a chocolate or cara- agree that prom is a high school milestone, prom
tire doorway. Because it will be dark and your fami- mel-covered onion instead of apple, a doughnut night is also a large magnet for disaster.
ly will most likely be half-asleep, they won’t see the filled with mayonnaise, bits of hot pepper baked into To begin, this occasion turns girls from prom queens
newspaper and will walk right into it.
a cake and Oreos with toothpaste where the cream to promzillas. Girls, we all know we’ve dreamt about
should be.
this “perfect” night that takes place during our junior
Plastic wrap over the toilet bowl.
This is a classic, self-explanatory prank. It helps to
A day for pranksters and tricksters alike, April 1 is year. We imagined feeling more confident than ever,
make sure the saran wrap is flat and pulled tightly the ideal holiday to celebrate this talent. Carry out wearing a gorgeous gown with a matching purse. To
so there are no bumps to reflect light. Plastic wrap pranks sensibly, though. “The Lighthouse” is not add to the fantasy, we envisioned the arm candy, our
can also be used to cover a shower head. So, when responsible for any negative outcomes from pranks dream date walking us into the venue.
However, before we can ever get to this stage, we
the prankee turns it on, water will shoot all over the included in or inspired by this article.
endure
the stress of planning. We shout, cry and beplace.
come frustrated even if the slightest detail is not to
Kool-Aid in the shower head.
our liking. Girls act totally out of character when it
This one gets people really good, especially if red
comes to this special night.
Kool-Aid is used. For this, simply unscrew the showWhile promgoers may hesitate to admit it, we
er head and pour the contents of a Kool-Aid packet
all know prom puts its attendees under pressure
inside of it. When the shower is turned on, a sudden
to conform to the ideal prom look. It is pretty eviblast of colored water will come out.
dent that everyone is striving to look like everyone
Nail polish on the soap.
else. At LHS, for instance, it is very common to see
Another bathroom prank, this is a favorite of mine.
girls sporting long dresses, high heels, smokey eyes,
And I know for a fact, it has great results. For this, all
curled or straightened hair and a date on her arm.
you need is a bottle of clear nail polish and the bar of
All our lives, we have been told to be individuals
Courtesy of Samantha DeForge
soap that your target will use. All you have to do is
since conforming to society is not necessary. Yet, on
one of the most glamorous days of our teenage lives,
we all look the same.
For some reason, no one chooses to see the truth
about prom. We find it necessary to attend, either
because we want to or because everyone else is going.
Small Fry is challenging, fresh and fun. By tap- From my perspective, it is hardly ideal to be dressed
By Melissa Bonacarti
ping on the screen, you can navigate a small fish to almost identically to everyone else, committed to
During school, we students cannot wait until the glide through obstacles such as jellyfish, turtles and one date, suffering from aching feet and sweating
weekend. Then, when it comes, the cold weather swordfish. The objective is to help your fish avoid be- off expensive makeup.
keeps us indoors going insane from cabin fever.
ing eaten by the sharks. The further the fish swims
We’re masking ourselves to feel fabulous. We’re
We entertain ourselves with our favorite apps, before he is eaten, the higher your score.
throwing our money away in an effort to win the
which quickly grow old and uninteresting. Therefore,
Within the thousands of apps in the App Store, meaningless title of prom king or queen. Prom is a
try out these unique, lesser-known, free apps, which there is a whole section dedicated to photo editing. tradition that should be fun, not a shallow popularare sure to please:
One of my favorite apps for editing my photos is Pix- ity contest.
A worthwhile app for music is Spotify. This app lrExpress+. It is probably the most versatile photo
can be used to listen to an online radio with fewer editing app I’ve come to use. Its design is simple yet
commercials than the car radio and Pandora, as well powerful. Its functions include filters and overlays
as no listening limit. The app allows users to make that turn any picture from ordinary to simply magtheir own playlists with an infinite number of songs. nificent.
The radio section feels just as personalized as the For the shopaholics among us, there is an app called
playlists.
ShopKick. It enables your GPS to track the stores
E-mail an original poem to
If you want to listen to your playlists offline in you visit. If the app does not register your entrance
high quality audio, you can pay a small fee of $9.99 at one of its listed retailers, you can scan the price
Ms. Pastor by March 17 to be
a month. Along with this cost comes advertise- tag of any item in the store to collect points.
included in LHS’s Annual Spring
ment-free listening.
You can also earn points by making purchases at
Poetry Slam, which will be held
Another great music app is iTube. This app allows these establishments. Once enough points have
users to create playlists that, unlike YouTube, con- been accumulated, you can trade them in for rewards
on Friday, April 11 during
tinue playing in the background even after the app is ranging from gift cards to iPads.
Blocks 4 and 5.
closed. Also, if one can’t fall asleep without music, he
Like to share videos with your friends? Then, Glide
or she can set a sleep timer. Furthermore, this app is is for you. This app allows you to quickly send vidFeel free to submit
awesome for those who are constantly singing along eos to the contacts in your app. The really cool thing
black and white artwork or
to music because it can play videos with lyrics. The about Glide is that the videos you send or receive can
design is sleek and simple. So, anyone can use it.
be streamed live. The recipient also has the option of
photography as well.
Although these apps are entertaining, at some waiting until later to view it. This app is a lot of fun
point, we crave an addictive game. A free app called and a cool way to keep in touch with your friends.
By Samantha DeForge
OPINION
Have you downloaded these worthwhile apps?
Participate in the
Spring Poetry Slam!
March 2014
Now presenting:
LHS’s superstars
By Emma Flusk
The Student of the Month title is awarded to students who demonstrate leadership qualities and are
good role models in the school. They are selected
on a monthly basis by the Student Services Department.
Senior Adam Kmeck,
October Student of the
Month
Q: Why do you think you
were selected for Student of
the Month?
A: “I believe I was chosen due to my work ethic.
Whatever I do, I try to put
my best foot forward, try my very best.”
Junior Nolan Kelly,
November Student of
the Month
Q: What are your greatest
achievements?
A: “Pitching a complete
game in the state sectional
semifinals and winning it
in baseball... being a normal kid with friends and stuff even though I have
Tourette’s.”
Senior Donjeta Sahiti,
December Student of
the Month
Q: What makes you a good
leader?
A: “I’m very focused on
my grades, and I try to set
a good example for everybody.”
Senior Paul Minervini,
January Student of the
Month
Q: How does it feel to be
considered a role model in
the school?
TheLighthouse
5
Alaska is more than just an ice box
By Esin Murat
Every year, sled dog drivers in Alaska battle bitter
cold and numbness as they venture through a thousand miles of untamed Alaskan wilderness. They
hear the menacing howl of the wind, but that does
not deter them from accomplishing what they have
trained for years to do.
After securing food and snow gear for the dogs,
they assume their positions on their footboards.
With the cutting of a ribbon, the dogs run as fast as
they can to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
The Iditarod is Alaska’s largest sporting event, with
the drivers—known as mushers—as local celebrities. Since the race first began in 1973, about 50
people have competed each year. The race has always
commenced on the first Saturday in March.
The 1,049 miles of trail, designated in honor of
Alaska’s standing as the U.S.’s 49th state, are typically completed in about 15 days, with 23 or 24 checkpoints over the course of their journey.
“The Iditarod is a one-of-a-kind event,
and even though not many people know
about it, it is a huge deal in Alaska.”
Competitors must endure temperatures that average negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit. With the
deaths of many sled dogs along the way, the mushers
themselves also face near-death experiences on the
trail. However, they are willing to risk it all to win
the grand prize and title.
On March 13, 2012, Dallas Seavey, an Alaska native, became the youngest Iditarod champion after
nine days, four hours, 29 minutes and 26 seconds
on the trail at age 25. His grandfather was one of the
founding members of the Iditarod in 1973, and his
father was the oldest Iditarod champion of all time.
Coming from a family of mushing legacies, Seavey
has spent his whole life training to be the best musher the world has ever seen. Along with his mushing
endeavours as a teenager, Seavey was also the highest ranked freshman in the U.S. for Olympic Wrestling. However, after being diagnosed with Mononucleosis in 2006, Seavey thought his life was over.
Ironically, today he is known as one of the most
acclaimed mushers in Iditarod history and exhibits
his 90 sled dogs to visitors, even treating them to a
ride around his training grounds in Willow, Alaska.
“Mushing is in my blood,” Seavey said in his trophy
shed about a year ago. “I remember when I was run-
ning my first trail when I was five years old with my
dogs Buster and Sparky. Only this time, I won the
biggest sled dog race in the world.”
“After a lifetime of eating, sleeping and living the
Iditarod, it was larger than life to pull out of White
Mountain in first place,” wrote Seavey in his autobiography, “Born to Mush.”
Alaska-born Marisa Cologgi is a friend of Seavey’s.
As director of Salmon Berry Tours, she plans tourist
activities for visitors who want an Alaskan sled dog
experience.
“Dallas is such an amazing person,” Cologgi said.
“Even though he has accomplished so much, he is
very humble and charming when you talk to him. He
is definitely wiser than his years.”
Cologgi is an avid fan of the Iditarod.
“The Iditarod is a one-of-a-kind event, and even
though not many people know about it, it is a huge
deal in Alaska,” Cologgi said. “I know all of Dallas’s
dogs, and even though they look thin, they can haul
thousands of pounds while running at top speeds.”
U.S. History Teacher Mr. Tessalone visited Alaska
in the summer of 1997 at age 11. He said the Iditarod Race commemorates the 1925 serum run to
Nome that was used to battle a diphtheria outbreak.
“I [am] interested in watching the race, not participating in it,” Tessalone said. “If I did compete, I
would certainly not win.”
Despite the beauty of Alaska, Tessalone said there
are serious environmental concerns in the state.
“Students should familiarize themselves with issues such as oil drilling and fracking in Alaska. Much
of Alaska is undeveloped, which is very different
from where we live in the Northeast,” Tessalone said.
American Sign Language Teacher Ms. Francis lived
in Alaska for nine years, having moved there with
her family for a more peaceful lifestyle.
“Mushing was once used for transportation purposes and turned into a huge sport over the course
of several years. I am...fascinated to see how many
women are participating in the race,” Francis said,
explaining that growing up she does not remember
seeing female competitors.
She said Alaska, which is nicknamed “Seward’s Icebox,” is as as different from Lyndhurst as night and
day. The state got this label because former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward was responsible
for purchasing the land from Russia in 1867.
“Alaska has breathtaking views of nature and wildlife animals,” Francis said. “I always encourage people to go to Alaska because there’s really no place like
it. It’s truly a remarkable place to visit.”
A: “It feels amazing to be
seen as a role model to
those who strive to become Student of the Month.
It’s a satisfying feeling to have students ask me
about how to become Student of the Month so that
they can do the same, such as my peer kids and even
seniors in our school.”
Junior Samantha
Da Silva, February
Student of the Month
Q: Why do you think you
were selected for Student
of the Month?
A: “I feel like I was selected as Student of the
Month because I’m always
involved with everything,
whether it be supporting my class with fundraisers
or taking charge in club activities while still balancing academics, volunteer work and sports.”
Photos courtesy of Emma Flusk
Courtesy of JJ Keller Publications
Champion musher Dallas Seavey maintains his dogs’ health and stops to check their condition before continuing on
the trail.
6
TheLighthouse
March 2014
I came, I saw...
There’s no putting off National
Procrastination Week until tomorrow I died.
By Estefania Pulgarin-Duque
National Procrastination Week took place from
March 3-9. This awareness week was dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of leaving tasks
to the last minute or avoiding to-do list items.
According to Procrastinus.com, the website of renowned researcher Piers Steel, several groups have
been formed to celebrate procrastination. These include the International Society for the Promotion
of Procrastination, The Society for Creative Procrastination and Procrastinators Society.
Procrastination hits close to home for Junior Victtor J. Minetto.
“I always wait till the last minute for everything.
Not only do I watch anything I can on Netflix before
I start, but I find any excuse not to start working,”
Minetto said.
To avoid procrastination and work to one’s best
ability, Guidance Counselor Mr. Rowland advises
students to create a daily to-do list. The steps are
easy. First, you would check your to-do list every
hour and try to accomplish one or more of the items
during the time you have. By the end of the day, everything should be done. If not, then transfer the
remaining items to the next day’s list.
“Students procrastinate because it’s fun, easy and
there are too many distractions, more than ever,”
Rowland said, citing iPads, cell phones, internet, TV
and Netflix.
“I would be in trouble if I were a student now,” Rowland said humorously.
On the other hand, some students say they work
best under the pressure that comes as a result of
putting off their responsibilities.
“You would not believe it, but I actually thrive under pressure. I procrastinate all the time and leave
my projects to the last minute. They sometimes even
end up coming out better than others who didn’t
wait till the last minute like me,” Senior Jessica
Weng said.
According to an article in “Psychology Today” a
general interest magazine, people procrastinate
because of a lack of self-control and an inability to
understand how the stress associated with the habit
will make them feel over time.
In reality, almost everyone procrastinates to some
extent. Historically, procrastination has not always
been viewed negatively. The Greeks and Romans
generally regarded procrastination very highly, according to “Psychology Today.” The wisest leaders
embraced procrastination and would basically sit
around and think, avoiding any actions except those
that were essential.
How Saint Patrick’s Day made its debut
By Anthony Dell’Aquila
Saint Patrick’s Day originated as a Christian holiday celebrated on March 17. Today, people of different religions across the world embrace its traditions
and spirit.
Saint Patrick was born in 387 A.D. in England.
He was captured by slave traders and then brought
to Ireland where he worked as a slave for six years.
When Patrick was released, he vowed to return to
Ireland.
After the Pope gave Patrick the title of Apostle of
Ireland, he went back to Ireland to spread Christianity. This caused concern among people of other
religions who feared they would lose their followers.
As time went on, Patrick accomplished his goal, with
Christianity becoming the main religion of Ireland.
Today, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated to commemorate the beginning of Christianity in Ireland
“It’s my favorite time of year, time to
celebrate with my family and
friends and my culture.”
and honor the man responsible for the conversion.
The day also celebrates Irish culture and beliefs.
Sophomore Andrew Fitzgerald, who is of Irish descent, said he loves the holiday.
“It’s my favorite time of year, time to celebrate with
my family and friends and my culture,” Fitzgerald
said.
He celebrates with corn beef and cabbage, a traditional Irish dish. This meal became associated with
the festivities because Irish people found it too expensive to buy Irish bacon. Therefore, they replaced
it with corn beef, according to irishcultureandcustoms.com.
Junior John Escobar, who has Irish heritage, rings
in the holiday with his family by playing games and
hosting a party.
“We light fireworks and play card games. We also
have a big dinner,” Escobar said.
Freshman William Bosso said he loves Saint Patrick’s Day.
“I remember when I was little, my mom would say
Leprechauns would come into my house and bring
gifts. It’s a memorable holiday,” Bosso said.
Leprechauns come from the Celtic belief in small
people with magical powers who serve good or evil.
Until 1959, they were not associated with Saint Patrick’s Day, according to history.com.
This changed when Disney released “Darby O’Gill
and the Little People,” a film about an Irishman who
promises his love that he will find a fallen star by
traveling to a magical realm. He makes a deal with
the king of the Leprechauns, who mistakes him as
his caretaker. This introduced a new, friendly leprechaun—purely an American creation—to the festivities.
The shamrock, another symbol associated with the
holiday, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it represents the birth of spring. Even today,
Irish people continue wearing shamrocks to demonstrate their heritage.
Senior Ashley Michaels is not Irish, but that does
not stop her from going out on Saint Patrick’s Day.
She has a party with her family and dresses up in all
green.
“On Saint Patrick’s Day, I’m Irish for a day,” said
Michaels.
Courtesy of Olivia Perez
By Esin Murat
Superstitions have existed since humans were capable of having fears. The earliest recorded forms of
these irrationalities came before the paleolithic age,
when neanderthals used to write on cave walls, according to Psychic Library’s official website.
The National Science Foundation reports that more
than half of Americans believe in some type of myth,
whether it be knocking on wood, hesitating to go under ladders or fearing the Ides of March.
The Ides of March, a Latin expression meaning the
middle of the month, was made famous by Gaius
Julius Caesar, a Roman general who played a critical
role in the demise of the Roman Republic and the
rise of the Roman Empire. However, the more success he had with wars, the more power he thought he
deserved. Thus, the Senate knew what it had to do.
On March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar’s wife, Pompeia, saw
terrible omens of her husband’s death in her dreams.
“Whatever lessons we don’t
learn from history repeat.”
As a result, she advised him not to attend a meeting
that had been arranged with the Senate. However,
Caesar did not trust his wife’s instinct and continued
with his plans.
When Caesar arrived, he met his fate. He was assassinated by his former best friend, Marcus Junius
Brutus. Ever since then, the day has been supposedly
cursed with betrayal and bad luck.
“As legend tells it, because Caesar did not listen
to his wife’s warnings, he defied the omens and ultimately denied his destiny,” said Dr. Aurelio Baccan,
an Italian professor at William Paterson University
who studies Latin and ancient Roman history. “The
Romans then began to speculate that if someone did
not listen to omens on March 15, he or she may find
death.”
Despite this centuries-old belief, Baccan said he is
not convinced.
“Superstition is against logic,” Baccan said. “It
thrives among poverty because poor people like to
believe in something during difficult times, like religion.”
English Teacher Mr. Snyder said people hold false
beliefs because they want to have faith in a higher
power.
“Unless students are interested in ancient Rome,
which many aren’t, I don’t think they will believe it
will be bad,” Snyder said.
Snyder believes the rise and fall of the Romans is
relevent even today.
“Whatever lessons we don’t learn from history repeat,” Snyder said. “Our society is ending like the Roman Empire. We send troops here and send troops
there, when in reality, we are declining, with the barbarians at the gate.”
Freshman Matthew Hooper reads about the history of ancient Rome for entertainment and has a
strong interest in this time period.
“Ancient Rome’s rise was far from inevitable,”
Hooper said. “I know why I admire it, and that is simply because without all that has happenned in the
past, none of us would currently exist.”
Despite his passion, Hooper remains realistic.
“Knowing a lot about history will not get you far in
life,” Hooper said.
As for the Ides of March, Hooper believes it should
be considered a day of corruption and greed rather than of betrayal. Still, he asserts that the Ides of
March superstition is a denial of reason.
“I don’t really believe in that stuff,” Eighth Grader
Jake Fulcher said. “So far, I haven’t noticed anything
bad happen on my birthday [March 15], and I don’t
think anything will.”
Art courtesy of Nicole Plonski
March 2014
TheLighthouse
Finding the perfect fit
By Jessie Bolton
Haute couture has a major influence
on prom dress designers and on the
minds of girls attending prom. Prom
gowns, just like runway fashions, can
run from the simple to the absurd. The
latest haute couture is the baseline to
the season’s hottest trends.
On the runway, one can observe
designers ranging from Elie Saab to
Valentino. Although one may not see
prom attendees wearing these big
names, they can use the designers’ extravagant creations as inspiration.
Saab’s dresses display illusion necklines embellished with floral lace and
sewn on beads on the catwalk. They
range from ballgown to knee length
A-line skirts predominantly in pastel
colors with natural waistlines. Saab
also adds a twist to the classic idea that
ankle-length dresses should show no
leg. Many styles of his gowns contain
sheer fabrics from the thighs down.
These upscale designs are replicated
in the work of prom dress designers including Sherri Hill, Jovani and Terani
Couture. In the Sherri Hill 2014 Spring
Lookbook, gowns with higher necklines and illusion necklines are common. In the Jovani 2014 Lookbook,
gowns with sheer fabrics from the
thighs down are represented. There are
also numerous prom gowns in pastel
colors within both of these 2014 lines.
This season, there is little demand
for dresses that are knee length or
shorter unless they have a sheer fabric
off the back of the natural or dropped
waist. Legs can be seen from the front,
while from the back, it looks as though
Courtesy of Ashley Woods
Junior Ashley Woods tries on a blue halter dress with an open leg (top) and a pink
strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline
(bottom) at Coco Chataeu in Woodland
Park.
a full length gown is being worn.
According to flirtprom.com, the
website of Designer Maggie Sottero,
beautiful backs are trending for the
2014 prom season. The backs of gowns
can be fashioned with straps, cutouts,
sheer fabric with embellishments or
embroidery and ribbons of all colors.
Prom dresses do not have to be purchased at expensive boutiques or department stores. Websites such as
promgirl.com and promdressshop.com
sell dresses at discounted retail prices,
and large stores like Group USA shy
away from exorbitant prices.
Junior Makayla Berko’s aunt owns a
prom dress store called Castle Couture
in Marlboro. Berko has already purchased her dress from there. She predicts that flowy dresses will be a popular pick among LHS students.
“Go in with an open mind, and don’t
have your mind set on a specific dress,”
Berko said.
She said she took this approach and
had an enjoyable time searching for
and selecting her prom dress.
Unlike Berko, Junior Danielle Carroll
has not yet purchased a prom dress.
Carroll has been looking for her ideal
dress at CoCo Chateau in Woodland
Park and Diana and Company in Freehold. She said of the styles she has seen
so far, her favorite has been a strapless
dress with a slit down the leg.
“I’m still waiting for the perfect date,”
Carroll said. She intends to arrive to
her prom in a flawless gown alongside
her perfect date.
Senior Gianna Graw has already experienced the excitement of prom.
Last year, she attended the event with
Senior Joey Morreale. Graw wore a full
sequin mermaid gown with a sweetheart strapless neckline. She purchased her dress at Group USA and
said it was the the first she tried on.
“[Buying a dress] was a really exciting
experience because you can really see
what shapes and colors suit you,” Graw
said.
However, she said her favorite part
of the shopping experience was trying
on ugly dresses and laughing at them.
Graw said last year a popular style
among girls were open back dresses
and those covered in sequins.
Mrs. McLaughlin, the bathroom attendant, took her daughter prom
dress shopping both last year and this
year. Last year, she said her daughter,
Senior Kayla McLaughlin, wore a two
piece dress that she originally disliked,
but that changed when she tried it on.
Mrs. McLaughlin said parents must
be prepared to get attitude from their
daughters while shopping and take
deep breaths to help stay calm.
“Remember it is their prom, not
yours,” Mrs. McLaughlin would advise
parents.
Not only do girls take pride in their
promwear, boys do too. Last year’s
prom king, Senior Kevin Castillo,
wore a gray tux with a white shirt, red
bowtie and red vest from Men’s Warehouse. Castillo topped off the ensemble with a gold watch.
“I recommend that no one try to outdo me ‘cause they never will,” said Castillo.
7
Students take ‘promposals’ to
a whole new level this year
By Joelle Voza
As the big day nears, students finalize their dates for prom. The proposal
can be nerve-wracking with the fear of
rejection. It is also significant because
students want to make the proposal
memorable. So, students got creative
with their method of asking. Here
are some highlights from this year’s
“promposals”:
Junior Jordan Stuart wrote on Senior
Breana Afonso’s car.
Junior Shane Reed asked Junior Sara
McChesney through a fortune cookie.
Junior Derrick Ruiz asked Junior Giana
DiTonto through one of Applebee’s dessert
dishes.
Junior Nolan Kelly used shells on the beach to ask Junior Norilynne Witt.
Junior Alex Pena drew Sophomore Nicolette Pezzola a picture.
Junior Peter Urgola asked Senior Christie
Zembryski with a Starbucks Frappucino.
Appropriately, considering his role in
LHS’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Junior
Knowing his love for the sport, Junior
Frankie Perez asked Junior Alicja Skwara
Nicole Calabro asked North Arlington with a rose.
High School’s Junior Nick Kowalsky to
Photos courtesy of the prom couples
prom by writing on a football.
8
TheLighthouse
March 2014
Students suffer due to a Fashion Week struts through the
shortened spring break streets of New York City
By Kristen D’Amico
As a result of the harsh weather conditions this
winter, Lyndhurst students will be experiencing
a shortened break, which will run from April 16
through April 21.
Sophomore Amanda Hackett and her two sisters,
Freshman Marissa and Senior Michelle, are among
the students who go on vacation every year during
spring break.
Amanda Hackett said she looks forward to spending the upcoming break at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida with her family and friends.
“I’m so excited for this spring break to not only
get away from the weather and school but to have
fun. Now that my friends, sisters and I are older, we
basically have our own freedom and just do our own
thing while our parents stay behind and do their
thing,” Hackett said.
Although Lyndhurst’s spring break schedule has
changed, Hackett said her family will still be taking
the vacation, explaining that it is necessary for students to have time away from school.
Sophomore Andrew Cosman said his prearranged
spring break plans will not be changing. Therefore,
he will be missing two days of school.
“I’m excited to get a week to relax from all of the
work in school and to go to Wildwood with my family
and friend, [Freshman] Douglas Da Silva. I go to the
boardwalk, or I play soccer on the beach and rent out
a condo with my family and friend,” Cosman said.
“I feel that instead of taking away days from spring
break, they should add to the end of the year where
most students are not under the stress of school.”
Junior Norilynne Witt intends to spend her days
off taking day trips.
“Besides sleeping this break, I am taking a few day
trips to New York and the beach. I also plan to spend
time with my friends, prepare for prom and prepare
for my road test,” Witt said.
Witt said she is frustrated by the new spring break
schedule.
“It ruins some of my plans to go to New York and
the beach,” Witt said.
While their plans may vary, students are in agreement that they are looking forward to having at least
a few days to themselves.
Sophomore Taneasha Bravo will be staying home
this spring break.
“Spring break gives me the opportunity to just relax and spend more time with family and friends,”
Bravo said. She does not plan on traveling but does
intend to embrace the spring season while staying in
Lyndhurst.
“I’m looking forward to the warm weather,” said
Bravo.
Courtesy of Amanda Hackett
Senior Michelle Hackett, Sophomore Amanda Hackett
and Freshman Marissa Hackett (left to right) pose by the
water during their spring break vacation in Florida last
year.
By Estefania Pulgarin-Duque
With models lined up ready to send style down the
runway, the spotlight shines on the first model, who
reveals for the first time the fashions of the Fall/
Winter 2014-2015 collections. With the end of this
15 minute show, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
in New York City was officially underway. It was held
from Feb. 6 through Feb. 13.
The first signs of fall flourished during the seven
days of this year’s Fashion Week. The season’s collections were dominated by Persian influences and a
dark pallet including browns, golds and blacks. The
main stage for NYFW was at Lincoln Center. This
is where some of the biggest names in fashion previewed their designs.
Only the most prestigious designers score a spot at
Lincoln Center, while others display their styles offsite. Oscar De La Renta, Michael Kors and Alexander
Wang, just to name a few, are among the famous designers who took part in this year’s events.
While most fashion designers would opt for the
Lincoln Center space, Wang made the last minute
decision to take his show to Brooklyn because the
tertainment Weekly.”
“I was very disappointed when I heard Rachel Zoe
was backing out. I have seen her TV show and was
really interested in what she was going to present.
I understand she has a child and everything, but I
would have liked to see her collection,” Junior Rebecca Ramirez said.
However, Ramirez said she was excited to view the
collections of Marc Jacobs because of his black and
gray maxi dresses.
Another talked about show was the Heart Truth
“I would have loved to attend one of
these events. Not only would I leave with
memories, but also unique items.”
atmosphere fit his collection better. Not everyone
was pleased with this decision.
“It took an hour to get here, and now we’re stuck in
a jam in the navy yard. At least another hour. For a
15 minute show. #wsjfashion #NYFW,” tweeted “The
Wall Street Journal” Art and Fashion Columnist
Christina Binkley.
She went on to tweet, “I have no idea why Alexander Wang dragged everyone to the navy yard. Some
production could have been down on the piers,
#NYFW #wsjfashion.”
Fashion Week is unlike other exclusive events
where those who can cough up the cash can gain access. Instead, it is an industry event, meaning that
everyone with an invite is directly connected to the
fashion industry as a stylist, buyer, editor or reporter.
It is common for designers to leave gift bags, referred to as swag bags, on the seats for attendees to
take home after a show. This year, Wang’s swag bag
included a flask filled with whiskey.
Desigual, which is known for its bright and spunky
prints, offered a swag bag with a colorful phone case
and laptop satchel. NYFW parties are also known to
give out such swag bags. The “Allure” swag bag this
year came in a suitcase that weighed a total of 70
lbs and included items that added up to a total of
$3,000.
“I would have loved to attend one of these events.
Not only would I leave with memories, but also
unique items,” Senior Tiffany Vega said.
Designer and Stylist Rachel Zoe, a Fashion Week
veteran, was not able to show her collection at
NYFW this season. Zoe made the tough decision to
pull her show from the lineup because her newborn
son is too young to travel with her, according to “En-
Dress Collection, which was dedicated to raising
awareness about heart disease. The show featured
stars such as Gymnast Gabby Douglas, Actress Minka Kelly, Talk Show Host Wendy Williams as well as
Kris, Kendall and Kylie of the Kardashian TV family.
The Heart Truth Dress Collection did not feature
the designs of one individual. Instead, it included
many dresses from top names in fashion.
“I was really surprised to hear that there was going
to be a show where models were going to wear only
red dresses. After some research, I found out that a
lot of the stars modeling in it had family members
who suffered from heart disease, such as Minka did
with her mother,” Senior Anghy Pomar said.
Pomar added, “Heart disease is the number one
women killer. It’s amazing most people don’t know
that. Thankfully, this show brought awareness on
what most people don’t know.”
Courtesy of Laura Pulgarin-Duque
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week took place in New York City
between Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. Those who attended these invitation-only events walked away with gift bags, better
known as swag bags. Desigual’s swag included a phone
case and laptop satchel (left).
March 2014
TheLighthouse
Untangling the secrets to those lovely locks
By Evangelia Pelidis
Women spend an average of 3,276
hours of their lives getting dressed and
groomed, according to “The Telegraph,”
a newspaper in the United Kingdom.
The majority of this time is spent on
hair care and styling.
Growing out hair is a time-consuming
challenge. Nonetheless, a person hoping to speed up this process can benefit
from tips and tricks as well as lessons
learned from previous mistakes related to hair care.
“The biggest mistake [that women
make] is they try to do their own color,” Hair Dresser Maria Nicosia said.
“They think it’s easy, and then it costs
them more money to fix the problem
they created because they do not realize that box color is not the answer.”
Nicosia cuts and styles hair at Ciro’s
Hair Pavillion in Elmwood Park. Nicosia said a regular trim and conditioning treatment every two to three
months is necessary in order to maintain healthy hair. She explained that
if hair is not taken care of, split ends
travel up the stalk of the hair, resulting
in further damage.
Nicosia said hot oil treatments and
deep conditioning masks open up the
hair cuticle and help the hair absorb
moisture, giving a customer’s locks
shine and life. She said a nutritious
diet is also key to healthy, strong hair.
“A product that a lot of girls have
been talking about is called Biotin,”
Sophomore Julie Cappiello said. “Bio-
tin promotes hair and nail growth as
well as soft skin.”
According to fitday.com, a website
dedicated to helping people achieve
nutrition and fitness goals, Biotin supplements stimulate rapid, new hair
growth. In addition to taking supplements, Cappiello said a quality heat
protectant is a must-have for those
who want to prevent hair damage.
Cappiello suggests that girls wash
their hair every other day to prevent
dryness, since washing hair every day
strips locks of their natural oils. These
oils play a major role in preventing
damage and dryness. Cappiello recommends using Not Your Mother’s Clean
Freak dry shampoo in between washes.
Luckily, there are at home remedies
to treat dry, dull hair. Products widely
available at supermarkets can be used
to make a hair mask that will bring
bounce back into your mane.
“If you warm up coconut oil in the microwave, it becomes a homemade mask
that you can leave in your hair and
then wash out to restore the shine,”
Sophomore Brianna Castro said.
Castro uses Midollo Di Bamboo
recharging mask once a week to
strengthen her hair, repair any damage
and prevent any future damage.
Avoiding heat is another tip for growing out hair. Frayed ends cannot grow
into the Rapunzel-like mane.
Proper nutrition and hydration is
also key to luscious locks. However,
the biggest tip when it comes to growing out hair is patience. Regardless of
any hair treatment or routine, hair still
takes time to grow in length and beauty.
“A person can go and splurge on expensive products that claim to help
their hair grow, but at the end of the
day, if you don’t have patience, you will
never see any results,” said Cappiello.
Eva’s Healthy Hair Tips
1. Use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to battle tangles.
2. Sleep on a silk pillowcase to prevent any breakage while tossing
and turning throughout the night.
3. Before getting out of the shower, shock your hair with a blast of
cold water to lock in moisture and add shine.
4. Always use a nozzle attachment when blow drying to prevent the
tip of the blow dryer from touching your hair.
5. For blonde haired girls, sticking to a silver shampoo will keep
your hair color pure.
6. Use an old t-shirt instead of a towel to dry your hair and prevent
friction that will lead to frizz and breakage.
Power couples take over Hollywood
By Samantha Da Silva
As millions of viewers tuned in to
watch the Oscars on March 2, they
were not only mesmerized by the sparkly gowns and clean-cut suits, but by
the latest Hollywood couples who were
strutting the red carpet flashing their
new arm candies.
During the Grammy Award Ceremony on Jan. 26, Recording Artist/Actress Beyoncé and American Rapper/
Record Producer/Entrepreneur Jay-Z
took the stage to perform their new
release, “Drunk in Love.”
Beyoncé met Jay-Z when she was 18
years old and began dating him when
she was 19. Jay-Z, who is 12 years older than Beyoncé, had to wine and dine
her because she was not initially impressed by his rapper status, according
to “Vanity Fair.”
However, love prevailed. Beyoncé
and her beau tied the knot in secret on
April 4, 2008.
Sophomore Rosemary Reyes said Beyoncé and Jay-Z are her favorite Hollywood couple, explaining that they
dominate among celebrity pairs because they are fierce.
“They’re confident and they just do
their own thing and don’t rely on anyone else for fame,” Reyes said.
For many Hollywood couples, the romance does not last long. This is sometimes a result of a legitimate break-up
or because the stars separate when the
publicity stunt is over.
Couples that parted ways include Recording Artists Katy Perry and John
Mayer; Actress/Recording Artist Miley
Cyrus and Actor Liam Hemsworth; Actress/Model Nina Dobrev and Actor/
Model Ian Somerhalder and Singer/
Actress Selena Gomez and Singer/
Songwriter Justin Bieber.
Reyes believes Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s
marriage, however, will stand the test
of time.
She said their fame will last because
of their strong bond and continuous
domination in the music industry.
Freshman Xavier Locke agreed.
“Beyoncé is queen bee and all of her
albums are fantastic, as well as Jay-Z.
They have worked hard and have such
successful careers of their own. [They
have] come together and become the
power couple,” Locke said.
Country Pop Singer Jessie James and
Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Eric
Decker are another couple that has
caught the attention of paparazzi and
fans like Senior Gianna Graw.
According to an interview with “Access Hollywood,” James and Decker
were connected through a mutual
friend. After texting and video-chatting for about a month, they met in
person and became a couple by the end
of the weekend. They dated for two
years before getting married on June
22, 2013.
They currently work together on their
own reality show, “Eric & Jessie: Game
On,” which is centered around their ev-
eryday lives and day-to-day activities.
“They seem really compatible with
each other, and through their show,
you can see that they have good chemistry. They’re both attractive too,”
Graw said.
Unlike Reyes and Locke, Graw believes that the stardom of power couples does not last.
“I feel that some other power couples
are just married so they can be considered a power couple, and they don’t
really love each other,” Graw said. “In
a couple years, they will probably settle down. An athlete’s fame never lasts
too long.”
Junior David Barbosa’s favorite power couple is Television Personality Kim
Kardashian and Hip-Hop Recording
Artist Kanye West.
“They are very talented artists/businessmen in today’s age who do not
care about what others think about
their lifestyle,” Barbosa said.
Graw said Kardashian is “famous for
no reason” because her fame is not a
result of a specific talent. Graw said
her perspective changed a bit since the
couple now has a child together, indicating commitment to the relationship.
“They have to be more serious now
[that] there’s a child in the picture,”
Graw said. “They’re definitely powerful, but I think for the wrong reasons.
Both of them have been famous for
years. So, I don’t think their fame will
end.”
9
With the
glamour come
the dilemmas
By Emily Ortega
The night most juniors look forward
to is drawing near. However, as many
prom attendees prepare, stress surfaces. Finding a date is only part of the
challenge. The rest occurs later when
selecting formal attire, organizing
transportation and completing a long
to-do list.
Sophomore Renee Lindholm will be
attending prom with Junior Aren Spahiu. She said she feels honored to be
a part of the experience, but she also
recognized the effort involved in preparing for the event.
“Prom planning is very stressful because you have to make sure everything is how you wanted it, like the color of the dress, and what kind of dress
you’re going to wear and make sure
that the dress and the tux vest match,
all the little details,” Lindholm said.
Lindholm said because it is not her
prom and she is a sophomore, she feels
pressure to live up to expectations.
However, she said it is also a nice feeling to know that a friend went out of
his way to invite her to an enjoyable
evening.
Junior Kaitlin Melendez said she remains relaxed and does not expect to
turn into a “promzilla” any time soon.
Melendez said it is hard to select a
dress because there are so many colors
and styles from which to choose. On
the other hand, Melendez said what
she is looking forward to is having a
fun night with friends and going to
New York City, a popular post-prom
destination.
Junior Chris Barreto said in comparison to girls, guys have it easy because
they do not face the same wardrobe
decisions and do not have to worry
“Prom is just you and your date
taking a picture. Nothing else.”
about hair, make-up and nails. He said
his only struggle is finding people to
join his party bus. Barreto’s advice
for those who have difficulty finding
a date is to ask a senior. Barreto also
said it is important to keep the event
in perspective.
“Prom is just you and your date taking a picture. Nothing else,” Barreto
said.
Senior Kamila Marek attended prom
last year and will be attending this year
with Barreto. She said her challenges last year were staying on a budget,
picking a dress and organizing a group
for the limo. However, Marek said she
kept calm by planning in advance.
“Make sure you eat before you party
‘cause they only serve food once. Even
if you don’t like dancing, dance ‘cause
it makes the night really memorable.
Don’t stress about pictures or the
hotel for prom weekend. Have fun,”
Marek said. “You don’t need to spend
a million dollars to have a memorable
night.”
10
TheLighthouse
March 2014
East dominates West in 2014 NBA All Star Game
By Luis Quezada
The All Star Weekend has been entertaining National Basketball Association fans since the first All
Star Game, which was held on March 2, 1951 in Boston. The best of the best basketball players show up
for this weekend to demonstrate their talent among
their NBA peers.
The 2014 All Star Weekend was held between Feb.
14-16 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It began with the
Sprint Celebrity All Star Game, a battle between
East Coast and West Coast celebrities.
Comedian Kevin Hart won MVP with seven points
and four assists by majority fan votes after the East
beat his West team 60-56. Seconds after winning
MVP, Hart handed the honors of the trophy to U.S.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who led his
East team to victory and finished the game with a
celebrity game record of 20 points, 11 rebounds and
6 assists.
“I think it was a pretty fun game to watch and was
surprisingly competitive,” Junior Angel Rosado said
about the Celebrity All Star Game. “I think Kevin
Hart, like always, did a great job of keeping the fans
entertained and Arne Duncan’s no-look over-theshoulder pass for the assist was just outstanding.”
Shortly after, the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
Rising Stars Challenge started. This game consisted
of the best NBA rookies and sophomores selected by
former players Grant Hill and Chris Webber in a fantasy rookie/sophomore draft.
Team Hill won this event beating Team Webber
142-136, with Detroit Pistons Center Andre Drummond receiving MVP honors with a dominating stat
line of 30 points and 25 rebounds, a Rising Stars record.
The story of the night, however, was New York
Knicks Guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Dion Waiters’ shoot out with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Both young stars
competed against each other, making tough contested shots back and forth, getting the fans involved in
making an entertaining matchup. Waiters scored 15
consecutive points and Hardaway made ten in a row,
including four three-pointers in the game.
“The three-pointer by Hardaway was impressive,
but the response crossover and three-pointer by
Dion Waiters in Hardaway’s face is what caused the
building to erupt and the battle to begin,” Senior
Kevin Vasquez said. “It was an amazing match-up to
watch. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The following day, the State Farm All Star Saturday
Night began by featuring the Sears Shooting Star
Challenge, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest and the highly anticipated
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.
The first event, the Sears Shooting Star Challenge,
was won by the East’s Team Bosh, which included All
Star Miami Heat Forward Chris Bosh, former Atlanta Hawks NBA All Star Guard Dominique Wilkins
and Women’s National Basketball Association Chicago Sky Player Swin Cash. Team Bosh has won the
Shooting Stars Challenge twice back-to-back.
The second event, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge,
was won by Team West’s Portland Trailblazers All
Star Guard Damian Lillard and Utah Jazz Rookie
Guard Trey Burke, who finished the Skills Challenge
in 45.2 seconds in the championship round, beating
Team East’s Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Guard Michael Carter-Williams and Orlando Magic Rookie
Guard Victor Oladipo, who finished the Skill Challenge in 45.3 seconds.
“The Taco Bell Skills Challenge was really close, it
must be tough losing by one tenth of a second to your
opponent. I really wanted Oladipo’s team to win. He
is my favorite rookie of this year’s draft class, and I
have followed him since he played for the Hoosiers
of Indiana University,” Rosado said.
The third event, the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest was won by Team West’s San Antonio Spurs
Guard Marco Belinelli. After a slow start, which
included shooting air balls, Belinelli shot his way
to the final round against Team East’s Washington
Wizards Guard Bradley Beal. Beal tied the score at
19 by making his final six shots in the championship
round against Belinelli. In the extra round, Belinelli
sealed the win with a final score of 24. Beal came in
second with just 18 in the extra period.
“The guy you least expect to win is always the one
to win the Three-Point Contest,” Sophomore Alex
Melendez said regarding Marco Belinelli’s victory.
“There were so many people in this contest who I
think would have won over Belinelli before the contest started like Stephen Curry, Joe Johnson or Kevin Love, all who are phenomenal three-point shooters,” Melendez said.
The fourth and final event of the night, the highly
anticipated Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, was won by
Team East, with Washington Wizards Guard John
Wall taking Sprite Dunker of the Night honors.
Team East beat Team West in the Freestyle Round
by a judge score of 3-0. In the first battle round,
Team East’s Toronto Raptors Guard Terrence Ross
defeated Team West’s Lillard by a judge score of 2-1.
The second and third battle rounds concluded with
Team East’s Indiana Pacers All Star Guard/Forward
Paul George and Wall beating Team West’s Golden
State Warriors Forward Harrison Barnes and Sacramento Kings Rookie Guard Ben McLemore with a
judge score of 6-0.
“I really liked the dunks this year from the dunk
contest, but I didn’t really like the format,” Junior
Jordan Stuart said. “I think there would have been
more dunks to show from each contestant if they
were going against each other instead of being in
teams.”
The NBA All Star Weekend ended on March 16 after
the East Team’s 163-155 victory against the West in
the All Star Game. Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Kyrie
Irving won MVP honors in this game with 31 points
and 14 assist. Irving connected on 14 of his 17 shots
and became the youngest player to win the All Star
Game MVP award after winning The Rising Stars
Challenge MVP award two seasons ago.
Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony broke the record for most three-pointers in the All Star game
with eight three-pointers. With 19 field goals in the
game, Los Angeles Clippers Forward Blake Griffin
broke the All Star Game record. With nine field goals
in a single quarter, he also broke that All Star record.
Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Kevin Durant tied
the record for most attempted shots in the All Star
Game with 27.
“Overall, the All Star Game was really entertaining.
It’s always good to see the best players in the world
out there having fun and competing,” Melendez
said. “It was a great weekend.”
NFL offseason begins with Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
By Sean McChesney
Now that Super Bowl XLVIII is in the books, the
National Football League offseason is officially underway. One of the main goals for all 32 NFL teams
is to scout the best young collegiate athletes in the
country at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Scouting Combine is a stepping stone towards
the NFL Draft in May. It was a four day workout
event that took place from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25 at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, in
Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the twenty-eighth consecutive year the Scouting Combine has been held in
Indianapolis.
Senior Issam Hatahet watched the Combine on
NFL Network. He said he enjoyed seeing the players
perform in front of the NFL scouts.
“I love the NFL Scouting Combine because it shows
what an athlete can do without the pads. Agility,
speed and power can be proven,” Hatahet said.
The workouts that were used in the combine were
the 40 yard dash, the 225 pound bench press, the
broad jump, the vertical jump, three cone drill and
the shuttle run.
“I liked the depth that this year’s draft had. It had
a record of 102 underclassmen in the draft, which
added a lot of talent to the table and made it unpredictable,” Junior William Hooper said.
According to NFL.com, over 300 of the best college
prospects were invited to the Scouting Combine.
Senior Joey Morreale said he likes the idea of having a lot of collegiate prospects because he feels it is
a chance for unknown players to be recognized.
“I like how the Scouting Combine gives some of the
prospects that went to smaller schools a chance to
show their skills and possibly get drafted,” Morreale
said, explaining that he enjoys the underdogs of the
draft class showing off and impressing the scouts
with their talents.
Players invited to the Combine included Florida
State University Wide Receiver Kelvin Benjamin,
Auburn University Corner Back Chris Davis, Texas
A&M University Quarterback Johnny Manziel, University of Alabama Quarterback AJ McCarron and
University of Missouri Defensive End Michael Sam.
Kent State University Running Back Dri Archer set
the top performance in the 40 yard dash in 4.26 seconds. University of North Carolina Center Russell
Bodine was the top performer in the 225 bench press
with 42 repetitions. Ohio State University Offensive
Linebacker Ryan Shazier was the top performer in
the vertical jump with 42.0 height. Baylor University Running Back Lache Seastrunk was the top performer in the broad jump with a 11’2 jump. Brigham
Young University Free Safety Daniel Sorensen had
the fastest time in the three cone drill when he set
the top performance in 6.47 seconds.
“I loved watching Dri Archer. He has scorching
speed with much to offer a team as a running back,
and he can also be a special teams stud for any team
he plays for,” Hatahet said.
With the Scouting Combine now over, these collegiate athletes are focusing on Radio City Music Hall
in New York City for the 2014 NFL Draft on May 8
through May 10. In preparation, scouts are going
back to their owners and strategizing to capture the
best picks for their teams.
“Sammy Watkins from Clemson [University] has
the biggest advantage going into the draft. Every
team needs a dynamic Wide Receiver, and Watkins
proved that he is one. The film doesn’t lie, and Watkins is an absolute animal with his talent on the
field, and he will make a quick impact wherever he
gets drafted to,” Morreale said.
“I think that this draft class is going to make very
good rookies in the 2014-2015 NFL Season. Even
though it is a very young class, it is filled with extraordinary talent that we may not see in another
draft class for years to come,” said Hooper.
Courtesy of Assmaa Elbanna
March 2014
TheLighthouse
11
Boys basketball delivers a solid season on the court
By Matt DeMarco
After a roller coaster of a season, the
boys basketball team finished with
a record of 11-14. This was followed
by a state tournament game at home
against Newark Central High School
on March 4, which resulted in a 44-33
loss.
Junior Starting Guard Marc Estevez
ended his season on Feb. 15 in a game
against Demarest High School, in
which he incurred a broken left hand.
“It’s disappointing to end the year injured. I have one year left to play high
school basketball,” Estevez said. “My
goal will be to get better from now to
the start of my senior year.”
Estevez said because the team lost
a talented group of seniors last year,
this year was expected to be a time
for rebuilding. Nonetheless, he said
the team worked hard to overcome its
youth and inexperience.
“I think there were some games we
could’ve won that we lost, but also
we won some games that many people thought we were going to lose
like Dwight Englewood,” Sophomore
Guard Vin Dorio said.
“We came out with a lot of intensity
and tried to get out early. We knew we
had to play our hardest or it wouldn’t
even be a close game.”
Another change this season was
working with a new head coach, Coach
Palek, who has come to LHS from
Wayne Hills High School.
Senior Starting Center Kyle Krzastek
said his favorite moment of the season
was when the team swept Dwight Englewood High School, last year’s league
champions.
“This season was different having a
new coach for the first time and runCourtesy of Bianca Fata
ning a whole new offense was fun,”
Senior Jon Hoff (top) shoots a foul shot and Coach Palek talks to the team during a
said Krzastek.
timeout (bottom) at an away game against Harrison High School on Jan. 23.
More than teammates, the cheer/dance team is a family
players has been their top priority.
Sophomore Tayla Frey said cheering
Whether supporting individual play- for a player who is struggling can make
For the cheer/dance team members, ers or the entire team, they help them a difference in how he plays because it
showing support for LHS’s basketball get through difficult games.
reminds the player of his importance
on the team and gives him confidence
to succeed.
Dancing has always been a part of
Frey’s life. She has been dancing since
she was two years old and said she
does not plan to stop.
“Nothing is really hard, especially
dancing. Dancing is like walking to me.
It’s just something I love to do,” Frey
said.
“My favorite part of dance team was
learning the new routines. It was a lot
of fun. Everyone had different and
unique ideas about what we should
put in the dance,” Sophomore Dancer
Christina Vargas said.
Sophomore Ivanna Rivera is another
dancer who said she enjoyed the experience of working as a team. She said
Courtesy of Lors Studio whenever she missed a practice, the
The cheer/dance team members perform their halftime routine on Jan. 21.
other dancers helped her catch up and
By Briana Thomas
learn the choreography.
“We are all one. We help each other as
a team,” Rivera said.
Frey, Rivera and Vargas agreed that
they enjoyed learning their new routines and getting help from the captains, who helped the girls identify
and correct their mistakes.
Seniors Jacqui Conley, Tiana Douglas
and Cassandra Franchino take the lead
as this year’s captains.
Rivera and Vargas agreed that learning the halftime routine was harder
than the sideline routines because it
required more effort.
All three teammates said the competitions have been another enjoyable
part of the season that have been made
special by their outfits. It took practice
to get the routines ready for the competitions, but Frey, Rivera and Vargas
said they had fun in the process. All
three underclassmen said they intend
to return to the cheer/dance team next
year.
Tough season leaves girls basketball looking ahead
By Nicholas Pacheco
The girls basketball team ended its
season on March 1 with a record of
1-24. Their victory came on Jan. 14
at home against Leonia High School.
Senior Forward Christie Zembryski
scored 18 points and had ten rebounds
in that game. Sophomore Forward
Liza Haxhaj had 14 points and ten rebounds.
The team’s last game of the season
was also against Leonia High School.
They lost with a score of 35-32. Haxhaj led the team in scoring with ten
points.
“We’ve been working hard, but we
have to work on our plays and hustle
more and put more energy in, but day
by day, we’re doing better,” Haxhaj
said.
Haxhaj said their head coach, Coach
Cousins, has improved the program.
She explained that even though the
players were not winning, they were
improving with every game and becoming more competitive.
“I see many good things in the future
of the program. Our staff is excited
about the effort and improvement of
the entire team but, in particular, the
sophomores and freshmen. They have
really good energy and are absorbing
our teaching like sponges,” Cousins
said. “I think what we need to improve
on most is scoring the ball. We’ve come
a long way this season, improved by
leaps and bounds really. If we continue to work on finishing the play better,
we can be that more successful.”
Many of the team’s losses were only
within a ten point reach. Each game
was winnable and could have had a
different outcome if the team played a
full 32 minutes of “Lyndhurst basketball,” according to Haxhaj.
Before coming to LHS, Cousins was
an assistant coach at Mount Saint
Dominic’s Academy in Caldwell.
Cousins said even though their record does not indicate it, the players
have not stopped working hard and
did not give up in practice.
A tough blow to the girls’ season was
the loss of Senior Guard Bianca Fata.
On Jan. 11 in a home game against
Glen Rock High School, Fata tore the
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in
her knee. Fata only got to play in five
of the games this season.
“Her season essentially ended that
day. It hurt our team so much, as she
was one of our team’s toughest leaders.
Her loss is felt every game and practice. Her injury came when she was
really starting to get an understanding
in a basketball sense,” Cousins said.
Cousins said the thing he will miss
most about Fata is her toughness. This
was because she was so physical in every game and played hard as well.
The team will lose graduating Seniors
Forward Caroline Beatrice, Fata, Point
Guard Joelle Voza and Zembryski next
season.
“We will start new, get more wins
and hustle as well as add more energy,”
Sophomore Forward Savanna Keirle
Courtesy of Bianca Fata
said. “Next year is gonna be a whole Senior Joelle Voza shoots a jump shot at
new year.”
a game against Harrison High School on
Feb. 5.
12
TheLighthouse
Wrestling team battles
a season of injuries
By Paul Serrano
As the winter season came to a close,
the wrestling team rolled up its mats
with a loss to Lodi in their last match.
They finished the season with a record
of 10-11.
Competitive matches were not the
only obstacles the team had to face. Injuries posed a significant challenge for
three wrestlers.
“As a team, we tried to get some guys
through regionals and hopefully into
states,” Junior Captain Rocco Russamano said.
As captain, he said he tried to be a
leader around his teammates by supporting them through the matches,
even though he was unable to finish
off his season because of a broken foot.
Even though he could not compete,
he attended all games and practices to
provide motivation off the mat for his
teammates.
“I’d call us ambitious. We had a group
with a lot of young, inexperienced guys
out there,” Russamano said, explaining
that this year’s experiences will benefit
them next year.
Senior Albert Saiti said in his first
season on the mats, his main goal was
to be a part of the team and perform.
“Learning all the techniques and how
to do things were fun for me,” Saiti
said.
His season ended early, however,
when during a match he sustained a
broken arm. Saiti said he was frustrated because he wished he could have
finished off his senior year on a better
note.
Junior Louis LaRegina said he felt his
personal performance could have been
stronger. He is another wrestler affected by injury. He fractured his elbow
and could not make it on the mat the
rest of the season. Before the injury,
his record was 12-7.
“It was frustrating to not be able to
get out there and help out the team,”
LaRegina said.
Even after his injury LaRegina still
came out for matches and practices to
support his teammates. LaRegina said
he hopes to get healthy and strong for
his senior year so he can exceed his
personal expectations and contribute
to the team’s success.
“Overall, as a team, we have to try
and get more points, but we did our
best,” said LaRegina.
Courtesy of Lors Studio
Sophomore Corey LeClerc wrestles at a home match against Becton Regional High
School on Jan. 8.
March 2014
Bowling team’s victories roll on
By Matt DeMarco
pez and Junior Emily Young. This is
the first time in LHS history that two
boys made first team all county as well
as the first time in history that a total of three players made first team
all-county.
“The greatest moment of this season
will have to be winning the sectional
and know that we were going to states.
It was great seeing a smile on everyone’s face,” Smith said. “My season
individually was great, but I’m more
happy the team had a better season.”
The bowling team finished its season in a familiar fashion by winning
the Group One State Sectionals for
the third consecutive year. With the
championship win, they successfully
completed the triple crown.
The team’s first round totaling 1100,
LHS bowled the highest game of the
sectionals on Feb. 8 at Carolier Lanes
in North Brunswick. After this game,
the bowlers continued their dominance and won their group by a total
of over 200 pins. LHS had the highest
total score among all of the groups.
These achievements were just some
of the successes the team experienced
this season. Other memorable moments include breaking the Bergen
County tournament record for highest
overall score and finishing undefeated
in match play. Individual performances such as perfect games by Freshman
Ryan Donohue and Junior Jordan Lopez will also go down in LHS sports
history.
“The greatest moment of this year
is breaking the all-time league series
record with 565 for two games and
Courtesy of Lors Studio
breaking the Bergen County tournaSenior Mike Dul (above) and Junior Jorment record as a team,” Lopez said.
dan Lopez (below) focus on their shots on
Donohue said the best part of his Jan. 28.
season was when he rolled his perfect
game. He said the only goal the team
failed to reach occurred when it placed
second in the Group State Championships behind Immaculata High School
in Somerville. Nonetheless, Donohue
finished the season with a positive
outlook.
“I can describe this season as fun, enlightening and helpful. I have learned
a lot more things than I did before,”
Donohue said.
Junior Daijon Smith was one of
three Golden Bears to make the first
team all-county team, along with Lo-
Ice hockey boys make a statement in their first year
By Gianna Catelli
Despite a rough start, the Paramus
High School/LHS co-op ice hockey
players managed to turn their season around for the better. Starting in
mid-January, they came back strong
with an 8-3 run.
The team ended the regular season
on Feb. 15 with a record of 10-11 and
went on to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Public
A States Tournament. On Feb. 24, the
boys played Livingston High School—
which is ranked sixth in its division—
for the first round of the tournament.
The team did not advance to the next
round, losing the game 6-9.
Coach Petruzziello described the season as a wild ride.
“After starting out 2-8, [the players]
had an amazing comeback to the rest
of their season,” Petruzziello said.
He said they not only learned a few
more skills on the ice, but off the ice
as well.
“They became a family and believed
in each other. And when you do that,
anything is possible, not only in sports
but in life as well,” Petruzziello said.
“That is really what they learned this
season.”
Sophomore CJ Anderson said, “No
one thought that we would make it to
states. The only people who believed in
us were our coaches and us, the team.”
The first season for any new sports
team, as has been the case for this coop hockey team, is usually viewed as a
learning experience in which players
get used to one another.
Petruzziello said many of the teammates had never played with each
other before, which caused some difficulties in the beginning, but soon it
seemed as though they had been playing together for years.
“I think that their season went great,”
Sophomore Bella Montalvo said. “They
got off to a slow start, but after a while,
everything seemed to come together
and they started playing really well.
And considering that they were a firstyear team, they exceeded most people’s expectations of how their season
would go.”
“For next season, we need to work on
taking less penalties as well as playing
the way we know we can play,” Anderson said.
The team is not just looking to expand its skills, but to expand its roster
as well, said Anderson and Petruzziello.
“If there is one thing that I can say
about next season, it would be getting
more players to come out and join the
team,” Petruzziello said.
“I think next year, with the addition
of more Lyndhurst players, both towns
will be closer knit and make compromises,” Anderson said. “I expect next
year to be even better than this year.”
Courtesy of Bernadette Marciniak
Paramus/Lyndhurst’s Sophomore Evan Kelly checks Demarest/Dumont’s John Zeiri
away from the puck in a game on Jan. 18.