The

Buzz

October 2017

Volume XVIII, No. II

Fayetteville-Manlius High School 8201 East Seneca Turnpike Manlius, NY 13104

The Noise of the News

in the

hive

FM Food Service: ‘Spicier’ Model that Changes with the Seasons “We’re definitely going to implement some new flavors, local seasonal dishes, and produce.”

Tension Builds Pages 2 & 3

Changes in LMC

Buzz Staff

Page 3

by Ellie Sommers & Jordan Glazier Editor in Chief & Managing Editor

Attention FM Students! You are all in for a treat. The cafeteria and cafe food offered at FMHS (and throughout the district) is about to change drastically for the better. This school year, a new Food Service Manager was hired to oversee all food operations within the FM School District. Chef Adam Jarosz takes on this challenge with an open mind and fresh ideas, and he spoke to The Buzz about his plans and goals. Chef Jarosz has quite an impressive background and is more than qualified to run the food service program at FM. The chef is a Culinary Institute of America alum who ran five star restaurants in New York City, a five star restaurant in New Hartford named Cafe Canole, every restaurant at Turning Stone Casino, and also has three years of experience with Wegmans.

The new manager plans to emulate restaurant quality and service in the district. “We’re definitely going to implement some new flavors, local seasonal dishes, and produce. [The ingredients are from] farmers that are out of Cazenovia,” Jarosz said. His new model includes using local purveyors, which benefits the community as a whole. “I’m a big fan [of] buying local produce.” Chef Jarosz has big ideas for improving the assortment of food offered at FM, particularly at the high school. His goal is to gradually implement new daily menu items as early as January 2018, which include healthy salads and soups, among other options. He has ideas for some seasonal dishes, particularly soups and salads. One of his personal favorites is the curry chicken soup, which includes raisins, apples, mirepoix, carrot, celery, onion. Furthermore, Jarosz thinks the already popular panini station can be elaborated upon and refined. The chef wants to bring specialty breads, infused oils, and vegetarian options to the station. Jarosz is going to establish another policy.

“Everything will be standardized, so you’re getting the same burrito that you would get at the high school that you would get at the middle school.” Chef Jarosz is very much aware that a majority (1000/1500) of high school students do not have a designated lunch period, and therefore he thinks it is important to include those students by bringing the healthy menu options to the snack shacks. He discussed adding these soups and salads to the snack shacks, as well as potentially adding a smoothie bar with fresh fruit and vegetables, which would provide students with needed proteins. His whole vision is to cut out some of the junk food and replace it with fast, yet healthy foods. “Why can’t we make our own trail mixes and granola? Things that are healthier and made in-house, using local ingredients if possible.” Increasing the variety of à la carte items will improve students’ selections while keeping the ordering process convenient. Jarosz cited his experience at Wegmans as something he can use to target FM students. “[Wegmans] sells hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepackaged foods on a daily basis. I would see kids purchasing things like sushi and salads, so if you’re buying it there you would buy it here.” The new Chef did warn FM to be patient. “It’s going to be a learning experience for all of my staff. It’s going to take some time to get everything implemented from the back of the house to the front of the house, but once in time it will be the best food service department at any high school around.”

Pages 6-7

Cheerleading

Page 11

Students enjoy the many new additions to the FM food service.

Photos by Ellie Sommers.

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TheBuzz

October 2017

What Trump is up to

Buzz Editorial: In Our Opinion

A Time of Transition and Reflection

October brings apples, Halloween, and a period of sometimes overwhelming transitions for the senior class: college applications, plans for the future, and decisions about what you want to do with your life are certainly reasons for stress. However, keeping an open mind and trying to enjoy the process can help ease the mind’s often chaotic nature. Seniors, remember that this is your year, and although college is quickly approaching, don’t forget to be present during your last year of high school. There is still a quarter of your high school career left, so don’t miss it because you were thinking about the next four years of your life. The here and now is crucially important; being present will allow for college decisions to play out exactly how they’re supposed to, and will ensure that you make lifelong memories during your remaining year of high school. Everyone should take some time to reflect this fall. This time

Opinion

by Jason Lin

fact that a million dollars back from

Featured Writer when he got the loan from his father, it is

hurricane that devastated the southwest United States with speeds reaching up to 130 mph. The amount of devastation caused by this massive storm has caused over $130 billion damage to public infrastructures and housings in Texas. Although the storm has passed, a new storm is brewing. Originating from the White House, the steamy actions that President Donald J. Trump conducted in response to the recovery plan after hurricane Harvey has resulted in much publicity. Trump has planned to donate $1 million dollars to pay and support several organizations in hopes of recovering from the damages caused by Harvey. This amount can be seen as a kind gesture to many people because a million dollar is a handsome amount for charitable causes. Except, those people who think he is giving immense help are either living under a rock or don’t know Donald J. Trump, a modern day example of a “Robber Baron” who is following the principles of philanthropy. Let’s get something straight off the bat, President Trump is worth 3.5 billion dollars in terms of net worth and his charitable excuse of giving money away for the people is one filled with complications from his past. Trump has previously stated in an interview before he was elected, that he considered a million dollar a small loan that he received from his father. Basically, he is considers a million dollars chump change. Added with the

currently worth seven million dollars. So if Trump considers 7 million dollars in present value a small amount, then what could even 1 million dollars account for? Also if we were to compare the 1 million dollar to his net worth, it wouldn’t even account for 1% of his entire wealth, it would just be 0.0003 of his entire wealth. Also, to further complicate the story we have not heard of him following up with his promise of the $1 million dollar donation. People might say this is his own money, and he could do whatever he likes with it. But, let’s consider the perspective from the Independent, a news website. They said that President Trump has spent $24 million dollars of taxpayers’ money for his trip to a luxurious resort in Florida. Now whose money are we really talking about? If he is willing to spend an amount that would seem an exuberant amount to an average working household, then how would they feel? If Trump was willing to spend so much on luxury, then why would he give so little back to charity. My theory is that Donald Trump is overcompensating for his lack of a friendly image to the public. Even though he is stating that he is morally supporting those who were devastated by Hurricane Harvey, I feel that he is just a dog that barks more than anything else. He is just trying to stall for time by getting attention. I don’t blame him, with all the Russian controversy surround him; it wouldn’t be bad to draw some attention away from that. If I were Trump, I wouldn’t care if I lost $1 million dollar or not, consider his immense fortune.

situation in North Korea is a very serious

declared war on our country.” After this,

massive military response, a response

very juvenile, as he just tweets things out rather than dealing with them with his committee and trying to find a serious solution to the problem. He needs to step up before something incredibly bad happens beyond his control.” Whether it’s through tweets or press conferences, President Trump has made it carelessly clear that he’s willing to engage in war with North Korea. Recently, North Korea interpreted one of his tweets as a declaration of war. North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho stated, “The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first

even when they’re outside North Korean borders. While the threat of nuclear war is very terrifying for the average American to think about, as the United States is over 10,000 kilometers from North Korea, we are likely not in immediate danger of a nuclear strike. If North Korea decides to bomb us, chances are they’ll attack our territory of Guam or the U.S. military base in South Korea. Defense Secretary of the U.S., James Mattis has stated, “Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with a

innocent civilians of South Korea or Guam, over a war that they had no voice in. The possibility of nukes from America and North Korea affect other countries and territories more than we may realize. South Korea’s economy is plummeting due to people being too afraid to vacation there, and the citizens of both South Korea and Guam live in fear of being attacked with nuclear warfare. For so many reasons, American leaders and citizens must remain unselfish and remember the consequences of war.

of year provides us with the perfect opportunity to recognize our past accomplishments in addition to setting attainable goals for ourselves. As the first marking period comes to a close, it is advisable to acknowledge your victories and your failures, and to assess those failures. In life, failures can actually shape us and make us better people, as long as we learn from and improve upon them. FM, let’s learn together and grow together as people this year. Making the most of the little things in life, such as spending time with a friend, sleeping a little later on the weekend, or having a light night of homework, are all things that we can easily take for granted. If we enjoy the small things, we will appreciate our everyday lives a bit more, and we will avoid letting the world pass by without being present in the moment. Thank you, the reader, for checking out The Buzz, and for being engaged in your school community.

Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4

North Korea: War or Diplomacy? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the recent disputes between the U.S. and North Korea. Tensions between the two countries date back to the Korean War in the 1950s, where the U.S. invaded North Korea to avoid the spread of communism. However, in recent months, tensions have escalated between our countries, due to inflammatory remarks made by the president via Twitter, among a host of other things. Student Paris Puccia says, “The

THE

Buzz

T

by Aine Hoye topic, but our president isn’t treating it North Korea claimed that they now have both effective and overwhelming.” Contributing Writer like that. The way he is handling it is the right to shoot down strategic bombers, That could mean the possible deaths of

“

t h e n e w s”

Fayetteville-Manlius High School 8201 E. Seneca Turnpike, Manlius, NY 13104 VOL. XVIII, NO. II. Phone (315) 692- 1900 Mr. Kilmer, principal

f he nois e o

Mr. O’Brien, assT. principal DR. Daughton, Asst. principal Mrs. Green, director of counseling services Ellie Sommers, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jordan glazier, MANAGING EDITOR Zara ali, Editor in Design flavia scott, Assistant editor in design Lydia tantalo, senior editor/features editor laura koch, news editor rishma vora & britney cross, entertainment editors nicole engel & nida Fazili, clubs and activities editors Andrew Testani & joe pagano, sports editors neil khurana, Opinions Editor katie lesh, photography editor

Ms. liparulo, asst. principal Mrs. Deeb , buzz advisor

sarah speck, special features editor Featured Columnists & Writers: zach vinci, tim shaw,michelle sipple, jake fiorito, mike mason, jason lin, claire kauffman, elaina el-amir, sam otis, gabby fontaine, ethan vislosky, kathy yang, hunter metnick, nadia paschal, demiana saleeb, will munro, jackson wehrle Layout/ Photography Team hanna breen

Any questions, comments, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

TheBuzz

News

October 2017

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Phones, Food, & Entertainment Changes come to the LMC by Alexis Ahn Contributing Writer Students lounge in green beanbag chairs with books in their laps or phones in their hands. A girl easily moves a chair over to a table where a group of her friends are sitting. Beautiful pieces of artwork hang on white walls. The changes in the physical setting of the library, as well as the atmosphere, are drastically different than what students and staff would have seen two years ago, all thanks to Ms. Patroulis. This year students can participate in a multitude of actives such as coloring, playing board games, completing a puzzle, or experimenting with the Google Cardboard-a simple virtual reality platform that is used with one’s smartphone. The atmosphere also has a very welcoming feel, which no doubt attracts more students to the library. “I like how there are different parts of the library, like sections where you can study, and there are also places where you can just hang out and talk, like the beanbag area,” said Lydia Coombs, freshman, as she relaxes in the beanbag chair area. One of the most notable changes in the library is probably the furniture. “This used to be really big, heavy furniture that couldn’t be moved around,” Ms. Patroulis said as she gestured towards the rest of the library. The heavy, large wooden tables have been traded out for new furniture that is much more mobile to better fit student needs. The plain white walls of the library have also seen a colorful change as they are now decorated with artwork made by talented students. Ms. Patroulis also implied that she is, possibly in the near future, interested in creating a mural in the

library, so students who enjoy art should look forward to this potential project! Ms. Patroulis knows how to make the most of available space; the storage room that was once forbidden to students has been transformed into a classroom that can be used for occasions such as club meetings. Students also have some privileges not often seen in a school library, like being free to eat, use cell phones and talk quietly among friends. These changes enhance the ambience of the library, creating a more relaxed and laid-back setting for not only studying, but unwinding as well. For those who have trouble looking for a book, either for research or entertainment purposes, this process is about to get a whole lot easier. Ms. Patroulis has reorganized the non-fiction books, removing outdated books and replacing them with new ones, making it easier for students to obtain more current and more accurate information. Having finished the non-fiction books, the fiction section is also up for a big adjustment. Ms. Patroulis is currently in the process of rearranging the books in a way that’s more accessible for students. As seen in the nearby public libraries, our fiction books will be organized by genre. This will make browsing or searching for a book much more effective. After all the developments Ms. Patroulis has facilitated in the library for the past two years, could there possibly be more? The answer is: yes! Ms. Patroulis claims, “I really want a cafe, like the Bookmark Cafe at the Manlius Library or the one at Barnes and Noble. I think that would be really cool.” There is already a referendum in place for the next board meeting concerning the teacher’s lounge and conference room next to the library. Ms. Patroulis would

like to make those spaces part of the library so that she can create a cafe and make more study space for students. Though no official plans have been made yet, Ms. Patroulis is also aiming to streamline a sign-in system where students can enter with just a swipe of their ID card. She says, “The staff is really busy all day long, and it’s hard to have someone standing at the door each period.” The new atmosphere of the library isn’t without challenges. Ms. Patroulis says that 9 th period is so busy, with approximately 130 students at one time, that there often aren’t enough seats for everyone. She says, “After school is definitely our most challenging time. There are only 2-3 adults in the library to supervise. Students often need a lot of help after school. They are also rowdier at the end of the day, and they often come in with sports equipment and a lot of food. There’s a lot of movement in and out of the library, which adds to the chaos.” With so many students using the LMC,

during the day and after school, noise is also a challenge. Ms. Patroulis explains, “Even if students are talking quietly, the acoustics make it hard when there are so many kids in the library. That’s why we’ve designated the Atrium as the quiet study area during 9th period. The back room (we’re calling it “the classroom”) is great for noisier and messier activities. We can also shut the door.” While the library has become a more relaxing place for students to “chill,” it still provides the ideal environment for studying as well. On one day 4th period, for example, there were 87 students in the library on passes as well as classes in both computer labs and a group with a college visitor. Now it is up to you, students, to make good use of the new changes. Help the library staff by keeping the noise level reasonable and especially picking up garbage. If we can be trusted to use the LMC responsibly, we can continue having the laid-back atmosphere we are enjoying! Hope to see you there!

Students work in the library, enjoying the comfy new furniture. Photo by Ellie Sommers.

CRISPR - The Future of Genetic Modification? by Kathy Yang

Featured Writer

The scientific community has been buzzing all summer in light of several recent breakthroughs involving CRISPR, a revolutionary genome editing tool that holds the potential to drastically affect the future of human genetics. The discovery of CRISPR’s ability to modify genes in a timely and costeffective manner has been equated by some to the invention of the printing press, as it makes the study of genetic modification accessible to virtually anyone who can get into a lab. So what is CRISPR exactly? CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a family of DNA sequences that function in the acquired immune systems of bacteria. This sequence and its associated Cas 9 protein arose as a way for bacteria to recognize and destroy virus DNA. Over the past decade or so, scientists have figured out is that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is not limited to virus DNA, meaning it can be used to add, remove,

or modify any gene it’s programmed to. This revelation can be used for a multitude of applications. This CRISPR technology is not the first time humans have been able to edit genes. Genetic modification has existed for decades, but progress was slow due to enormous costs and time-consuming experiments. One of the reasons CRISPR has garnered so much attention is because it has cut the costs of genetic engineering by around 99%, and experiments using it can take as little as a few weeks to produce results. This opens up the doors for more labs to contribute to the field of gene editing that previously did not have the resources to do so. Over the past few months, we’ve seen the promising headlines pop up. CRISPR has been credited with being able to reduce the risk of miscarriage, producing crops with bigger yields, removing HIV completely from a living organism, and eliminating Huntington’s disease from mice, among many other feats. About a year ago, the first human trial for CRISPR began in China, where the tool was used in the treatment of an

aggressive form of lung cancer. There are promising signs, as the US plans its first human trial for the end of this year. Despite the amount of success and praise the technology has been receiving, serious concerns have been raised as well. There is no doubt that CRISPR remains shrouded by ethical and commercial controversy. Many fear we are jumping the gun by starting trials on humans without knowing the long-term consequences that could be in store. In addition, some warn of a slippery slope. If genes linked to diseases can be edited, so can other characteristics, such as eye color, height, and muscular build. This unlocks the possibility of “designer babies” in the future and for companies to profit from this technology. This idea is unsettling to many, as it could uproot some of the fundamental principles that society was built around. Already, major disputes over ownership and patent issues are underway. Biology teacher Mrs. Benedict, provides her take on the ongoing ethics debate: “I feel as a culture, and as a society, scientists tend to be very ethically responsible. And I feel like there are a

lot of checks and balances in that regard. I’ve never been concerned about human cloning, for example. I think that the scientists that want to clone stem cells and so forth are doing it purely for research reasons and they have no interest in doing some of the science fiction aspects of it. Don’t get me wrong, I do have my concerns. However, I tend to be more concerned on how the misunderstanding of it [the potential of genome editing] leads to the lack of funding or lack of support for this kind of research.” The advancements of CRISPR also re-surfaces the question of why we study science in the first place, specifically why we study all aspects of science, not only for engineering or lab applications. Mrs. Benedict explains, “The more we know, the more we can use what we know for application. If someone hadn’t just been studying how bacteria defend themselves against viruses, which is something you wouldn’t think has got a lot of [potential for] application, it [CRISPR] revolutionized genetic engineering and genetic modification in biotechnology.”

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TheBuzz

October 2017

Driving Rights for Saudi Women motor vehicle.

changes through Saudi Arabia, the

within the Saudi government. Most have speculated that the ultra-conservative class of Saudi clerics would be against this ruling, but because they are under the government’s pay roll, this puts pressure on them to either be quiet or publically support the ruling. This ruling can also be attributed to the rising influence of Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. This was likely part of his multi-year plan to modernize the country both socially and economically. In addition to improving the country’s civil rights, the crown prince realizes that oil can’t support the country forever and wants to integrate their already booming energy sector with the solar and wind power industries. Now that women have gained the right to drive, there should be a considerable change in the country’s economy as more women enter the job sector. Many women are capable of working but simply refuse to do so because of the guardianship/ driving laws. Much of their salary is drained by the need for private drivers/ guardians to transport them to and from work. Aside from potential economic

on how to deal with women, as most men rarely interact with women outside of their immediate family. It is important to note that the inability for women to obtain a license has been heavily protested in the past. Women first stood up to this law in 1990, when 47 women drove around the capital and all were arrested. Modern protests have consisted of women driving vehicles and filming videos of them doing so, then later posting them online. These protests were in part challenging reasons why they couldn’t drive. Some of these claims were border-line ridiculous, including that men wouldn’t know how to handle it, Saudi family structure and dynamic would breakdown and collapse, and driving would be dangerous to a woman’s ovaries. This change sets a precedent for the region itself and foreshadows changes to come within Saudi Arabia. One can only hope this snowballs into a larger expansion of women’s rights in the region.

by Jackson Wehrle The ruling and its support can be country will also be heavily affected largely attributed to recent shakeups socially. Police will have to be retrained Featured Writer

On September 26th, 2017, Saudi Arabia declared that women now have the right to drive. The law will be taken into effect on June 24th, 2018. By modern standards, women have been heavily oppressed in this country. Although this victory is small, many people throughout Saudi Arabia are calling it monumental for women’s rights in their nation. In Saudi Arabia, guardianship laws dictate much of how a woman lives her life. Because of these laws, women have to be accompanied in public by a guardian. These guardians are often male family members such as husbands, sons, or fathers. In many cases, private drivers accompany women everywhere they go as their guardians. Most legal and medical decisions also have to be made for a woman by her guardian. Sons are even sometimes guardians for their own mothers, which can be humiliating. This new ruling is monumental in its steps toward abolishing guardianship. For the first time, women do not have to have permission from a guardian to apply or receive a driver’s license or to operate a

Sources: the guardian.com and thenewyorktimes.com

Tensions with North Korea Escalate

by Albert Levy Contributing Writer

As tensions among North Korea, The United States, and South Korea increase, nuclear war is beginning to seem like a frightening yet possible outcome. In response to President Trump’s threats to use military force if necessary to prevent North Korea from becoming a nuclear power, Kim Jong-un stated, “A frightened dog barks louder.” He also claimed that he planned to “consider in all seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hardline countermeasure in history.” On Saturday, September 23, the United States government sent B-1B bombers and F-15C fighters above waters north of the DMZ, the farthest the U.S. has ever previously dared to fly. “This mission is a demonstration of U.S. resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat,” commented Dana W. White, the White House’s Defense Department spokesperson. It is important to note that this action was meant as a warning to North Korea. Ri Yong-ho, North Korea’s Foreign Minister said at Saturday’s General Assembly that North Korea was only “a few steps away from the final gate of completion of the state nuclear force.” Mr. Ri also called President Trump’s most recent threats to destroy North Korea an “irreversible mistake.” Adding to this, Ri Yong-ho stated ominously that North Korea did not plan to “use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the countries that do not join in the U.S. military actions against.” Recently, light was shed on the fact

Tentions rise as President Trump and Kim Jong-un trade insults. Photo from businessinsider.com

that China does not seem to be having any influence over North Korea. “China’s diplomatic leverage over North Korea is zero,” said Feng Zhang from Australian National University’s Department of International Relations. He also warned that North Korea “is not interested in Chinese views.” “It’s a pretty dangerous situation because North Korea has nuclear weapons, even though they may or may not be able to reach the US. As long as Trump doesn’t escalate things, I don’t think North Korea will make a rash decision to bomb South Korea,” says Alexis Ahn, freshman. Alexis says her extended family lives in South Korea, so she is extremely worried about the tensions. Quinn Murphy, sophomore, says,

“This is all scary stuff, man.” Quinn’s grandfather is 100% North Korean, living in the US. He does not support current government there, and Quinn worries for him when he travels. Peyton Geehrer, freshman, feels unaffected. He says “We live so far away from any targets.” As tensions continue to arise among multiple different countries involved, the world can only hope that many nations come together to combat the threat of nuclear war. Source: https://www.nytimes. com/2017/09/23/world/asia/north-koreaus-china-south.html

News

This Season has Seen Devastation! by Gabby Fontaine Featured Writer

In the past month, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, José, and Maria, all reaching at least Category 3 status, have devastated the southern US, Caribbean, Latin America, and the Virgin Islands. The first of the bunch, Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas and Louisiana the hardest, resulted in 83 confirmed deaths and displaced over 30,000 people. Harvey, having dumped 51.88 inches of rain on the southern US, broke the record for most rain produced by a tropical storm system in the continental US. Relief efforts, such as GlobalGiving and the Salvation Army, are focused on providing environmental refugees of Harvey with food, water, and shelter. Some groups, like Direct Relief, have specialized to supply people with emergency kits. Others, like Save the Children, have dedicated themselves to helping children and families in shelters. Less than two weeks after Harvey, Hurricane Irma emerged, slamming Florida and destroying much of the Caribbean. Millions of Floridians evacuated while 70,000 took refuge in shelters. At least 124 people have been confirmed dead. Irma ended up breaking the record for longest sustained wind speed of 185 mph, holding it for 37 hours straight. Many of the same charities that aided refugees of Hurricane Harvey have assisted with the aftermath of Irma, comparatively, on a slightly larger scale. While Irma rampaged through the Caribbean, Hurricane José developed. This was the first time in history that two hurricanes of such intensity have existed simultaneously in the Atlantic. Though long-lived, José was miraculously responsible for only one casualty. Most recently, Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This storm then caused a complete loss of power in Puerto Rico, and has left officials of the US territory begging for more aid from the American government. As of mid-October, the US has only sent about 10,000 personnel to assist Puerto Rico, which is about a fourth of the number of federal staff that was sent to Florida during Hurricane Irma. Refugees of Maria have also received hundreds of millions of dollars less than the refugees of Harvey and Irma. As for upcoming storms, Michael Ventrice, a research meteorologist at the Weather Company, told the Washington Post, “We are seeing some of the hottest ocean temperatures on the planet in the western Caribbean Sea. This is like rocket fuel for developing tropical cyclones. A major concern for late-season development.” Sources: npr.com, cnn.com, washingtonpost. com

FEATURES

TheBuzz

How to Pass Your Driving Test the First Time

October 2017

5

Who is Granny Smith? by Lydia Tantalo

Features Editor

stop at stop signs. Also, a common error

by Michelle Sipple October brings us right into heart of is not being aware of double stop signs Featured Writer and turning left into a two way street. fall, and with the colorful leaves and crisp

G etting to drive is a rite of passage that comes with turning 16, but before you have a license in hand there are several steps you must climb. The exciting process of getting a Driver’s License starts with getting the Driver’s Permit. Just take a trip to the DMV or take the written permit test in the LSC here at school. Don’t worry about the test too much, but you might want to look over some practice questions to familiarize yourself with them. Online, there are a ton of practice quizzes that contain the exact same questions that will be given. The text consist of twenty questions, of which you can get four wrong. The questions will range from road lines, hand signals, drinking and driving, and road signs, but if you review, you will be perfectly fine! Once you get your permit, you can then decide to take Drivers Education or the five hour course, which are both administered through the high school. If you have the time to take Drivers Ed, it’s beneficial due to the extra practice driving with a teacher, decreased insurance rates, and exemption from the written driver’s test. Also, your test proctor for the road test likes to see people who take Driver’s Ed, so he or she might be a little easier on you. When it comes time to schedule your road test, do it as soon as possible. Appointments are usually backed up as much as 3 months. Many find that the best places to take your road test are Wampsville and Auburn. During the road test, you can lose up to 30 points and still pass! Just make sure you signal during your K-turn and parallel park, and come to a complete

The dreaded parallel parking. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a secret to it; you just need to practice, practice, practice. You will want to practice on a place that has large curbs to ensure proper execution. The best practice curbs are in Cazenovia and near the Syracuse campus. It’s helpful to create a formula that you will use each time you parallel park. For instance, back up until your mirrors are lined up with the other car, then turn the wheel fully once you reach the crack of the door and then start easing the other way when you hit the back door handle. Everyone’s formula is a little different, so you need to figure out what is best for you. Also, make sure you practice on multiple sizes of cars, because you never know what you’re going to get on your test. The most important note is to not hit the curb, which on the test, is an automatic fail. It’s better to be further from the curb, which will only be a few points off, than hit the curb. Senior driver Ellie Sommers has this advice, “There is no doubt that driving tests are nerve wracking, but remember that it is okay if you need to take the test over again. Arrive to the test site ahead of time, as this will give you some wiggle room and allow you to familiarize yourself with the area. Practice parallel parking a couple of times right before taking your test, and make sure that you are prepared for the weather circumstances (i.e. if it is raining outside, have your lights and wipers on before the test starts).” When it’s time to take your road test, just take a few of these tips and remember that you have been practicing for over 6 months. And don’t forget to have confidence. See you in the student lot!

Embrace the Fall interests. The raven black hair is one of by Izzy Healey Contributing Writer the darkest hair colors out there and kind

It’s that time of year to put on your sweaters and enjoy that cool fall breeze. Fall is here, and the pumpkin spice season has finally started. Start your season with treats we all know and love like the classic pumpkin pie, or less known pumpkin foods like pumpkin waffles with apple cider syrup. If pumpkin food isn’t really your thing, no need to miss out! This years’ pumpkin-spice-everything trend just went up a whole new level. Fill your home with the warm smell of pumpkin spice by lighting decorative autumn candles that will certainly boost your fall spirit. Cinnamon is another great option to get that satisfying fragrance we all love. Want to try something new? How about the terracotta hair color, raven black hair, or even the pumpkin spice hair look. (Yes, that’s a thing.) In case you are wondering, the terracotta hair style is a fiery orange or red hair color that goes with any skin tone and of course there are different shades to match your

of goes with the cold weather and light or dark colored eyes. Finally the pumpkin spice hair look is trending now on social media and to be honest, it looks really cute! Whether it’s highlights, a copper undertone or an hombre style, this look is definitely fall worthy. If new hairstyles aren’t your thing, try some fall inspired manicures or orange makeup, like sunset eye shadow that will make you want to go on the bold side. Decorate your room with copper LED string lights, fall pillows, and don’t forget Halloween decor to make your room stand out. A little orange goes a long way to get your autumn spirit going! Not only are fall sweaters the best thing ever, but so are flannels, leggings, comfy sweatpants, gloves, warm socks, boots, and of course some cute hats to keep your ears nice and warm on a chilly day. Enjoy this fall season. Relax by the warm fire and let your stress flow away.

air also comes apple picking! With so many apples to choose from, everyone has their favorite. Madison Tamblin, senior, says that her favorite apple is the McIntosh because it’s “crispy and sweet.” Aastha Dhimal, senior, says that, “Granny Smiths are my favorite because I like the sour taste.” According to Illinois.edu, there are 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide and these thousands of varieties all have very unique names. Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala and Empire are a few of the more recognizable names, but how many of us are familiar with Mutsu, Jonagold, Northern Spy, or Winesap? With so many unique names for the thousands of apple varieties, it makes you wonder how exactly some of these crazy names came about! Granny Smith: Green, tart, and perfect for pies, the Granny Smith is one of the best known apples. If you’ve ever wondered how this iconic apple got its name, you’re on the right track to suggest it actually had to do with someone named Granny Smith. Well, who exactly is Granny Smith? According to stemill.com, in 1868, an Australian women named Maria Ann “Granny” Smith accidently discovered a seedling on her property. She had thrown French crab apples in that area, and the seedling had bore light colored apples. She used the new apple for baking and snacking, and the Granny Smith apple began being commercially grown in the 1960s. Northern Spy: Also known as the Northern Spice and the Northern Pie, the Northern Spy is a very popular apple for

Apple picking is fun for the old and the young! Photo by Zara Ali

pie-making. According to waywordradio. org, the origin of the apple’s name has never been officially confirmed, but it is speculated that it was named after the hero of the novel, The Northern Spy. According to Pomona Magazine, this was an anonymous work published in the 1830s and circulated among extreme abolitionists. In the story, a man known as the “Northern Spy” pretended to be a slave catcher, when in reality he worked on the underground railroad to bring slaves to freedom. Empire: These apples are considered the “all purpose” apples because they are good for baking, sauces, juice, or just eating raw. According to mnn.com, the Empire apple got its name because it originated in, you guessed it, the Empire State! In 1966, the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell crossed Red Delicious and McIntosh apples, and the Empire was the result!

DEAR ABBY: Is My House Haunted? and eerie noises coming from the basement. It is almost Halloween and I’m scared we moved into a haunted house! What if I am living with a ghost? I think the holiday might be getting to my head and I might just need someone to tell me to calm down. Do you have any advice? Help, Freak’n Out Dear Freak, What I find when I’m having a little ghost problem is I need to scare them out. Don’t let anyone tell you that ghosts are in your head, that’s how they getcha. Here’s how you solve your problem: Cut out a pumpkin by Abby Wendler Gut the pumpkin Assistant Editor & Columnist Put the pumpkin on your head Run around the parts of the house Dear Abby, that could be housing ghosts This home remedy always works I’m new at school and my family for me. Good luck Freak! just moved into town. I am having Love, some problems at home. I keep Abby hearing a creek in my closet at night