The summary provides high-level information about 3 main topics in 3 sentences:
1) A school play called "Fools" will be performed on April 19th-21st about a teacher who tries to educate foolish villagers in Russia. It stars Taylor Piedmonte and Lauren Yadlosky.
2) An article profiles the large cast of the play which takes place in a village cursed with stupidity where the teacher tries to educate them but risks becoming foolish himself.
3) The summary describes the annual Mr. PTHS competition won by Tim Beck, with a brief mention of the acts including Beck's impression of a teacher that won over the crowd.
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April 2007 Smoke Signals Issue 6
1. Mr. PTHS
Page 2
April 2007
Pt focus
Issue 6
Photo submitted by photography club
news
Signals
Smoke
Volume 38
Prom
Pages 4 & 5
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
Hometown celebrity visits media students
Rachel Horensky
Co -Editor-In-Cheif
On
March
8th,
WTAE morning news
anchor
Andrew
Stockey made a
guest appearance to
the media students
for an in-school field
trip.
Interviewed
by Grant Burkhardt
and Kaitlin Houser,
Stockey talked about
his work in broadcast
news. He reports
the morning news,
which includes the
weather, traffic and
school cancellations.
Stockey
began
the interview with
some
background
information
about
himself, saying that
he graduated from
Ohio
University
after
growing
up
in
Hartford,
Connecticut.
P r e v i o u s l y,
Stockey used to
report the sports for
WTAE. He was able
to attend big games
but the demands
of the job required
him to be available
six to seven days
a week. After 15
years,
Stockey
switched over to the
news, which gave
him a set schedule
and weekends off.
In order to report
the morning news,
Stockey wakes up at
2 am. Upon arriving
at
the
station,
he
meets
with
producers,
anchors
and
meteorologists
to write scripts and
check stories. Besides
reporting the news,
Stockey
said
his
job at the station is
to brew the coffee.
After his two hours
on air, Stockey tapes
a feature news story,
then spends the rest
of his day at home
and is in bed by seven
o’clock. Stockey told
the media students
that the hardest part
of his job is being
consistent on-air for
two straight hours and
exhibiting the same
amount of energy
throughout the show.
He also said that the
biggest change from
moving from sports
to news was having
a co-anchor. Stockey
remarked that he “is
lucky that [they] have
such chemistry on
camera,” referring to
Kelly Frey his current
co-anchor.
Their
goal is to appear to
the viewers as close
friends as they are in
real life.
Stockey
told
the students that he
thoroughly enjoys his
career. “The weirdest
part to get used to
was having to wear
makeup,” he said.
He has met many
celebrities, his favorite
interview being with
Muhammad
Ali.
Stockey said that he
was privileged to have
many
opportunities
to meet numerous
celebrities that he
sometimes
can’t
remember all of the
interviews. “It’s just
that one memory then
you move onto the
next person.” Stockey
said that his favorite
story that he covered
was when Lynn Swann
and Bill Mazeroski
were inducted into
the
Football
and
Baseball
Halls
of
Fame
respectively.
The hardest story that
he had to report was
when his childhood
idol, Walter Payton,
passed
away.
He
enjoys the friendly
competition
with
other news channels
and is close friends
with anchors such as
Bob Pompeani and
Alby Oxenreiter from
other channels.
Not only did
Stockey share stories
about his career, he
also provided advice
to students who want
Photo by Elizabeth Goimarac
Media students were enlightened by Stockey’s
poise, charisma and excellent public speaking
to pursue careers
in media. He told
them that the media
business is sometimes
just luck. Younger
people have more
opportunities than he
did and in order to be
successful, students
should
always
be
at the top of their
game. In order to be
a reporter, students
must be approachable,
friendly,
believable
and able to ad lib. He
ended the interview
saying that hands-on
experience is the best
way to learn and that
majoring in journalism
with a minor in an
unrelated but a useful
field would be most
helpful.
Party for charity: Relay For Life
Index
News
Angelina Nepa
News Editor
Imagine shouting and running coupled with
music, games, and enough food to feed an army.
New Teen Room at the
Believe it or not, this carnival-like daydream benefits
public library
charity, in the form of the annual Relay For Life, which
Page 3
promotes cancer awareness. The 2007 relay for life
will take place on the high school track, beginning on
June 2, and continuing for an
entire twenty-four hours.
Relay
For
Life,
characterized by the wellknown moon and stars logo, is
a day-long walk-athon during
Narcissism in teens...
which various teams compete to
Pages 4 & 5
raise the most money. Typical
teams consist of the Masqued
Indians and the Marching Band,
– Carl
not to mention several smaller
student clubs and organizations.
Proceeds benefit the nationally
recognized Relay For Life, an offshoot of the American
Cancer Society, founded to spread awareness and
support those suffering from all types of cancer.
Girls softball...
Students, not surprisingly, have a great time. “I
had tons of fun at last year’s Relay. The best part by far
Pages 8 & 9
was walking around the track with friends at four a.m.,”
said junior Carl Mitchell. “It’s great to have fun and
Opinion
Sports
give your time to a great cause at the same time,” agreed
junior Thomas Rauch.
Students are already hard at work for the
cause, selling homemade greeting cards and collecting
change. Everyone, particularly families, is encouraged to
show up and walk, eat, and play games. Those affected
by cancer really appreciate the cause.
Dr. Dell, leader of the Marching Band’s
team, explained, “So many of us have
been touched by cancer in some way,
which is why I like working with the
band, so many kids can really make an
impact.” For example, in 2006, people
paid for strips of duct tape, which
they then used to tape Drum Majors
Lee Greenwald and Meghan Roach to
Mitchell, ‘08
a fence to raise more money.
Relay began in the 1980’s in
Tacoma, Washington, when Dr. Gordy
Klatt ran around his hometown track for twenty-four hours.
His friends and family paid to walk or run with him for half
an hour, and at the end of the day, Klatt had raised $27,000.
The concept quickly spread to other cities. The goal is to
have bodies on the track for twenty-four hours, without
stopping.
“I had tons of fun at last year’s
Relay. The best part by far was
walking around the track with
friends at four a.m.”
2. PT Reference
April 2007
Sunday
1
2
April
Fool’s Day!
Monday
Tuesday
3
Track & Field vs.
KO & TJ 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @
Bethel 3:30
End of 3rd
Nine Weeks!
Girls’ Varsity Softball
@ Trinity 4:00
Wednesday
4 Spring Break
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @
Chartiers Valley 3:30
10
11 Report Cards!
Easter
Girls’ Varsity Softball @ Baldwin 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Bethel Park 4:00
Track & Field vs.
Ringgold 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Baldwin 4:00
Varsity Baseball @
Mt. Lebo 4:15
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
@ Hopewell 7:30
Holocast
Memorial Day
22
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Perry Traditional
Academy 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs. Cannon Mac 7:00
23
Earth Day
5 Spring Break
6 Spring Break 7 Spring Break
12
13
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Mt Lebo 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Columbus school for
Girls 5:00
17
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @ Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ USC 4:15
USC 3:30
Girls’ Varsity Lax vs.
USC 7:30
Boys’ Varisty Volleyball vs. Moon 7:30
18
19
24
25
26
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs.USC 7:00
Girls’ Varsity Softball
@ Cannon Mac 4:00
Track & Field vs Ringold Track & Field - Big 7
4:00
Meet 12:30
Boys’ Varsity
Tennis vs. North Allegheny 3:30
Track & Field @ Cannon Mac 5:30
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball vs. Montour 7:30
29
14
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball @ Cannon Mac
7:30
Fools @ 7 20 Fools @
730
Track & Field @ W Mif- Boys’ Varsity Tennis vs Girls’ Varsity Softball
flin and McKeesport
Moon 3:30
vs. Upper St. Clair
4:00
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Our Lady of Sacred
Boys’ Varsity Volvs. Baldwin 7:00
Heart 7:30
leyball vs. Greater
Latrobe 7:30
Girls’ Varsity Lax @ Mt.
Lebo 7:30
Girls’ Varsity LAX vs.
Baldwin 7:30
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
@ Ambridge Area 7:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs Mt Lebo 7:00
Saturday
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Cannon Mac 4:00
8Spring Break 9 Spring Break
16
Friday
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball @ Baldwin 7:30
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
vs. Belle Vernon 7:30
15
Thursday
Boys’ Varsity Tennis
@ Trinity 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs. Bethel Park 7:00
Fools @
730
21
Girls’ Varsity
Softball @ Bethel
Park
Girls’ Varsity Lax vs.
Franklin Regionals
7:30
27 Arbor Day
Boys’ Varsity Tennis
@ Montour 3:30
28
Girls’ Varsity Softball vs. Bethel Park
11:00
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Cannon Mac 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Fox Chapel 7:15
30 National
Honesty Day
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Baldwin 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax vs.
Shady Side Academy
7:00
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is produced seven times during a school year by the students
of Media II,III, IV Journalism and extracurricular staff at Peters Township High
School, 264 E. McMurray Road, McMurray PA 15317. Telephone: 724-9416250 x.5379. E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.
Commentaries, reviews, and opinion columns are the expressed opinion of
the author and not of Smoke Signals, its adviser or the Peters Township School
District. Member of the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
Co-Editors in Chief
Kaitlin Houser
Rachel Horensky
Kara Krawiec
Layout Editor
Catherine McCarron
News Editor
Angelina Nepa
Life & Style Editor
Colleen Counihan
Marketing Editiors
Emily Bigley
Nick Sikora
Staff Writers
Jessica Berardino, Bill Berry, Emily
Bigley, Ashley Czajkowski, Garrett
Dennis, Drew Karpen, Sean Naccarelli,
Taylor Piedmonte, Chris Portz, Derek
Redding, Brendan Sikora, Nick Sikora,
Connor Tarwater, Renee Wunderlich
Opinion Editor
Brittany Beyer
Layout Team
Megan Enscoe, Katie Gavlick, Stephanie Gillece, Lisa Lerario,
Sports Editor
Sean-Paul Mauro
Adviser
Nicole Sitler
S
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P
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f
r
o
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w
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3. News
J. Berardino
A. Czajkowski
R. Wunderlich
April’s “Fools”
Renée Wunderlich
A. Nepa
Outside
News Writer
In celebration of the month of random
pranks and all things crazy, this year’s spring
play, Fools, will be gracing the PT stage April
19th, 20th, and 21st. Tickets can be purchased
at the door on performance nights for $3.00
for students and seniors and $5.00 for adults.
There will be no reserved seating. Directed by
Art DeConciliis, the production promises to be
a drastic contrast to the late spring musical
Shenandoah.
The scene switches from
dramatic battlefields to a comical Russian
village, with a light-hearted plot.
“After any dramatic production, we
try to switch gears. We like to keep a nice
variety,” said Mrs. Caren Kuhn. “Plus, we
expanded to a large ensemble to close out the
year.” Having a big enough cast to support the
talent presented in PTHS isn’t easy, but both
Kuhn and DeConciliis feel that this group looks
promising.
The show itself is the story of überexcentric teacher Leon Tolchinsky, played by
Taylor Piedmonte (an actor who has really
made the stage his home, playing Horton
in Seussical, James in Shenandoah, and the
Thespian Troupe favorite: “Taylor the Latte
Boy”) and his adventures in a town where
people are, basically, fools.
The old-age
Russian village at which he arrives in has been
cursed with stupidity for 200 years with. His
quest is to educate the colony of the weak-
minded sheepherders, but much looks bleak
for the studious professor. Leon is blissfully
unaware that if he stays in the town for more
than 24 hours, he too will become pathetically
incompetent.
Intertwined throughout the
plot, there is a puzzling romance between
Leon and a girl named Sophia Zubritsky,
played by Lauren Yadlosky. While her charms
are irresistible, only recently has she learned
how to sit in a chair. Sophia is the daughter of
Lenya Zubritsky (Jess Ward), and daughter of
Dr. Zubritsky (Eli Diamond).
“Being an idiot is quite enlightening!”
said Ward, thoughtfully recalling the quirky
script-readings and rehearsals.
Other
characters include the following: Shetsky,
played by Carl Mitchell, the Magistrate by
Jerry Scheller, Gregor Yousekevitch by Thomas
Rauch, and the comical trio of Slovitch,
Mishkin, and Yenchna, played by Tim Beck,
Ben Roberson, and Natalie Palamides.
If these names aren’t enough to tie
your tongue, there is a whole group of villagers
with even more questionable lineages. The
flock consists of: Drew Caliguri, Eric Vaughn,
Wesley Groll, Ali Shettima, Harry Buzzatto,
Dan DeLuca, Nate Meyers, Lindsay and Olivia
Bayer, Hannah and Lauren Hobbs, Gina
Wagner, Angelina Nepa, Jessica Rothhaar, and
Dawn Basham.
There can be only one...Mr. PTHS
Taylor Piedmonte
Staff Writer
On March 13
the sophomore class
presented the third
annual
Mr.
PTHS
competition.
The
winner of the coveted
title was junior Tim
Beck.
Senior
Ali
Shettima was runner
up and sophomore
Jack Hareza finished
third.
The
night
featured nine young
men displaying their
talents and showing
off their school spirit.
All proceeds went
to
the
American
Cancer
Society.
Moments after
winning, Beck was
still in shock. “I didn’t
really expect it…a
lot of the other guys
were more creative
than me, but it feels
great,”
he
said.
Beck’s impression of
American Government
teacher and track
coach, Mr. Scott, was
the night’s biggest
crowd pleaser. “They
loved the Mr. Scott
impression…even
though I improvised
most of it” Beck said.
Beck’s talent act was
an original song, which
he wrote, sang, and
played on guitar. Most
of his preparation was
with the song, which
he practiced for about
two months. Along
with the title came
a Mr. PTHS t-shirt, a
free Tuxedo courtesy
of Lace and Promises,
and a premium parking
spot near the front of
the school. “I love the
shirt, and I can’t wait
to host next year,”
commented
Beck.
With
his
victory, Beck followed
in the footsteps of
previous winners Jerry
Scheller and Sergio
Tennis, who hosted
the show. Scheller
and Tennis reminisced
about the previous
competitions. “It felt
great beating out all
of the juniors and
seniors to win it as
a sophomore and be
the first to win,” said
Scheller. Hosting the
event gave them a
different perspective
on the competition.
It was fun to see
all of this year’s
competitors… I was
a little sad because
it was my last night
as Mr. PTHS, but I’ll
still
wear
my
t-shirt
when
I’m out of town or
at other schools,”
commented
Tennis.
This
year’s
competition
was
Hooters, the popular restaurant chain,
is planning to open its first eatery in Israel
during the summer of 2007. Hooters hopes
to prosper where huge corporations like
Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Hard Rock
Café have failed, which means succeeding in
the complex Israeli market. The restaurant
would most likely open in Tel-Aviv, and hopeful
proprietor Ofer Ahiraz says, “I strongly believe
that the Hooters concept is something that
Israelis are looking for.” Ahiraz also mentioned
that his restaurant would not be located near
any religious sites and would not be kosher.
A beggar in Ireland recently won a
case in Ireland’s High Court, claiming that
begging was protected under his right to free
speech. Justice Eamon De Valera struck down
the Vagrancy Act of 1847, enacted during the
Great Famine, declaring it unconstitutional.
The Vagrancy act, which prohibited begging
of any kind, will be thrown out of Irish law
along with other laws of antiquity, including
one passed in the 1100’s that barred monks
from receiving men, “unless their reputation
is known.”
An Australian Scientist succeeded in
growing a dress entirely from cellulose, a kind
of plant fiber. Called the “cave woman” dress,
it was constructed by layering mats of cellulose
around a blow-up doll, which was deflated
when the fibers took on its form. Gary Cass,
Photo
submitted its creator, announced, “It was meant to be
by the
Photography a provocative object, to spark debate about
Club
future fashion.” Unfortunately, the dress must
remain wet all times because the cellulose
Mr. PTHS, junior Tim Beck,
fibers are too short to be pliant, making the
and his escort, sophmore
dress brittle when it dries.
Lissy Petrozza posed for
a picture after the competition. Beck’s hilarious
performance blew away his
competitors.
senior Ali Shettima’s
third and final attempt
at the title. In 3 years,
Ali finished as runnerup twice and placed
third once. “I’m not
too
disappointed,.
It’s been fun all
three years, and I’m
proud of everyone
who has won it,”
remarked Shettima.
Sixteen towns that call themselves
“Springfield” are competing to host the
premiere of “The Simpsons Movie,” due out
in July. 20th Century Fox extended the offer
to compete to several Springfields, all who
must submit video shorts highlighting their
communities’ good qualities.
Sid Leiken,
mayor of Oregon’s Springfield, declared,
“There’s plenty of serious issues to talk about,
but this is something that we might as well try
to have fun with.”
All entries submitted by Angelina Nepa
April showers are the norm in Pittsburgh
Nick Sikora
Staff Writer
Face facts, Pittsburgh is a wet city.
Turn of the nineteenth century pictures show
Pittsburgh with continual overcast so thick
that day was indistinguishable from night.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh doesn’t rank among
the top five coldest and rainiest cities in the
United States, but a high chance of rain is
believable every day of the year regardless of
season. Pennsylvania’s average precipitation
falls under 50 inches a year, but the rain
is coming whether or not anyone cares for
it. During the spring and summer when a
majority of people expect to find someway
to amuse themselves outside, they find
that a large amount of the time rain will be
dumped on them. So planning picnics around
the day’s forecast is not a good idea, but it
is in fact a necessity. Pittsburgh’s weather is
usually cold, but that doesn’t mean that there
is nothing to do downtown. When the rain
starts up again, here are some things to do
indoors without getting soaked:
1. Go to Primanti Brothers in the
Strip, or any restaurant really.
2. Go shopping in the Southside.
3. The National Aviary; birds are fun.
4. If all else fails, go to a Pirate
game.
Despite the plethora of things to do
in Pittsburgh, buying an umbrella is the best
option for still being able to see the city
regardless of the weather.
4. Opinion
B. Beyer
G. Dennis
“
N. Sikora
S. Naccarelli
Wikipedia’s flaws generate controversy
Does wikipedia’s
controversY Change
your opinion?
“No, I trust my opinions
to reliable sources like
Allan Lo, ‘09
“No, I don’t use Wikipedia,
but sometimes I question
Alex Pilorusso, ‘07
“Probably because I don’t want to
use a source that isn’t accurate
when I research.”
Katie Fife, ‘10
“No, I don’t use Wikipedia.”
Connor Mannion, ‘09
The Devil buys Coach
Connor Tarwater
Ashley Czajkowski
Staff Writer
Wikipedia is the ever-popular
online encyclopedia students often race to
once they are assigned a research paper.
Wikipedia and other wiki references are
advantageous because they allow for
fairly truthful information that is useful for
quick answers, much like encyclopedias
themselves. As a result, the overall utility
of Wikipedia and other wikis will eventually
make them a mainstay of our culture.
Every individual possesses various wells of
information; Wikipedia provides people with
an efficient avenue to share this information
with others. The question of accuracy
remains somewhat uncertain, however.
According to Mrs. Terry Morriston, the school
librarian, “Fourteen percent of articles on
Wikipedia have errors. Text encyclopedias
only have five percent. It is just as easy
to use Grolier Online or Encarta. However,
Wikipedia is okay for personal use or for
information on pop culture that may not be
included in other sources.”
The controversy arose because on the
website, users have the ability to edit any
article they desire. Indeed there are editors
who are supposed to be watching changes
on the site, but this is not always the case.
For example, Wikipedia came under
fire for the accuracy of its articles when
prominent U.S. journalist, John Seigenthaler,
attacked an entry that incorrectly named him
as a suspect in the Kennedy assassinations.
The false information was the work of
Staff Writer
Is it just me or are Coach bags
and purses totally ridiculous? Why
are more and more people being
brainwashed into buying little bags
for $300? I wish I had the answers to
these questions. In response to this
question, Senior Emily Bigley said,
“The quality is timeless.” Coach brand
handbags continue to be the top choice
of most high school girls. They either
own a real Coach bag, have a fake one,
or spend their time wanting one.
I think the fact that anyone
would spend over $50 on a purse is
crazy. On the Coach website, the most
expensive bag topped out at $798.
Who in the world pays $798 for a purse
that resembles a bowling bag? It would
be one thing if they were really nice
purses, but I think they’re an eyesore.
Granted, I don’t really know how to
judge purses very well, but I think any
sane individual would realize that no
purse is worth almost $800.
The lowest priced bag on the
website was $98. It might just be me,
but I think $98 is an extremely high
price for a bag, too. Someone could go
to a TJ Maxx and get a purse for $10 I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Senior Lisa Lerario said, “I think
it’s dumb to pay that much money for
a bag with colorful C’s on it. I just
think it looks stupid.”
In conclusion, Coach purses are
probably the dumbest fad in our society
since Furbys, Giga Pets, and Pogs.
Attempting to understand the female
Tennessean Brian Chase, who said he was
trying to trick a co-worker. The false article
ended up discrediting Wikipedia in USA
Today. Wikipedia responded to the criticisms
by tightening up procedures. Recently, they
stopped allowing anonymous users to edit
articles, hoping to put a curb on situations
like this. The new policy, which is currently
under discussion by the community of users
who regularly write and maintain the site,
is being considered after it emerged this
month that one of Wikipedia’s most respected
editors did not hold the qualifications he had
claimed. The user, who went under the alias
“Essjay,” described himself in an online profile
as a “tenured professor of theology.” He
claimed to have taught both undergraduate
and graduate courses in the subject along
with having degrees in several areas. But this
wasn’t true. Essjay was actually Ryan Jordan,
a 24 year-old from Kentucky, who revealed
his true identity at the beginning of March.
“As a result of the problems,
contributors are now likely to be asked
to back up any specific claims they make
regarding qualifications, especially when they
are relevant to articles being written, edited,
or altered,” said Jimmy Wales founder and
president of the Wikimedia Foundation.
“Wikipedia is a great first stop for
someone trying to find out about a new
topic. But as a lecturer I would encourage my
students to back it up with other sources,”
according to journalist Stephen Pincock (ABC
SPRING TIME
He Said vs. She Said
Nick Sikora
What are you looking forward to the most
Warm weather, track season, and
eventually summer.
Brittany Beyer
Not having to bundle up every
time you step outside.
What will you miss most about winter?
Absolutely nothing.
Mostly I will miss sliding off
the road while I am driving to
school.
What is your plan for spring break?
I don’t have one, it will just kind
of fall together over break.
New York City, for college visits
and prom dress shopping.
How do you keep motivated with only two months of
Only two months left, then no My motivation is dwindling but
keeping in mind that I will only
more work for three months.
have to wake up at 6:30 for two
more months gives me hope.
5. 5
Smoke Signals
April 2007
Narcissistic nation
Brittany Beyer
S t u d i e s
held at a number
of
universities
involved surveying
hundreds
of
thousands of high
school and college
students
across
the country. The
results displayed
a growing trend
of
narcissism.
This narcissism is
thought to have
stemmed
from
many
different
sources including
parents, lack or
over abundance
“
our generation?
Opinion Editor
By simply
taking a peek around
the ever-popular
websites Myspace
and Facebook,
it is not hard to
comprehend what
recent research
seems to be
revealing about
today’s generation,
also known as Gen Y.
Is Narcissism an issue for
of self-confidence,
and the media’s
current obsession
with
reality
television.
It is a known
fact that parental
techniques change
with time but
today’s methods
of gratification and
confidence building,
which are promoted
in early to midchildhood, are now
carried far beyond the
normal boundaries
and into teenage
years. MTV’s Super
Sweet Sixteen is a
prime example of
this boundary that
parents tend to cross.
After kids are given
whatever they want,
whenever they want
for so long, parents
lose control and kids
feel they deserve
everything. This
over abundance of
gratification within
the family leads to a
raised level of selfconfidence and thus a
narcissistic attitude.
In situations
when kids have
a lack of selfconfidence
they
go to extreme
measures to fill
that void. Media
hosting websites
(i.e. You Tube,
Myspace,
Etc.)
come in handy in
these situations.
Kids post videos
of
themselves
and/or
photos
that will appeal to
other kids leading
to compliments.
R e a l i t y
television
also
shows kids that
they
actually
have
a
slim,
but
nonetheless
chance
to
get
their so-called 15
minutes of fame.
Videos
showing
themselves taking
part
in
daring
stunts or in little
to no clothing are
found all over You
Tube are often
visited hundreds
to thousands of
times daily by
people worldwide.
In this manor kids
are placed on a
pedestal
where
all eyes are upon
them.
One fear that
many researchers
have for Gen Y
and its narcissistic
ways is the trend
that self-absorbed
people tend to
find it difficult
to build strong
and long lasting
relationships.
“People are either narcissistic
or insecure; it’s a problem,
and I think we need to find a
happy medium.”
Shelby Miller, ‘09
“No because people should do
what they want and not care
what other people think.”
Brian Hays, ‘09
“I don’t think so. Just because
teenagers care about their
appearance doesn’t mean they
are narcissistic.”
Kara Lewis, ‘09
“No, because people shouldn’t
care what others think; they’ll
do what they want to do.”
Chelsea Traurig, ‘07
Jean
Twenge
a professor at
San Diego state
agrees with the
studies’ findings,
“I’m
concerned
we are heading to
a society where
people are going
to
treat
each
other badly, either
on the street or
in relationships”
(latimes.com).
Expanding knowledge in Peters Lose the weight and the worry
Kaitlin Houser
Angelina Nepa
Co-Editor-In-Chief
Ranked number
six nationwide, Peters
Township Public Library
looks to expand with
a $500,000 Keystone
grant. The Public Library
needs the donations of
companies and individuals
to reach a $300,000
match to keep the grant.
The new addition will
include an expansion of
the children’s department,
a Young Adult Reading
Room, and a Local History
Room. The 4,800 square
foot, two-story addition,
will cost approximately
one million dollars. “The
Edan Hall Foundation
Mission is to improve the
quality of life in Western
Pennsylvania through
support of educational
initiatives, which provide
after school activities and
introduce children to the
pleasure of books,” said
Janet Vidnovic, fundraising
co-chair.
Since
1999,
the opening of the
Public Library, Peters
Township’s population
has increased 18%
and the library usage
by more than 34%.
An
outstanding
News Editor
134% increases in the
attendance of children’s
programs
has
also
sparked
recognition
(fundraising
co-chair
Janet Vidnovic).
The new Young
Adult Reading Room
is contributed to the
advancement of the
youth of today.
The
new room will include
more library resources,
teen programs and
activities, and a place
to study and enjoy
time with friends. “The
Teen Room will provide
students with a place of
their own where they
can be as loud as they
like and enjoy Xboxs
and televisions. It will
give teens in Peters
who are not involved in
athletics a place to hang
out with their friends,
instead of always going
to the mall,” said Mrs.
Morriston. In addition,
the Local History Room
will hold local and oral
history collections. With
the 50,000 addition
of shelving space, the
library will be able to
expand the already
bulging collection of
School
nurses
everywhere warn students
about the dangers of obesity,
but they should spend more
time preaching the benefits of
exercise. Exercise, in addition
to helping people to lose weight
and get fit, has been proven
to improve brain function,
help
with
Depression,
and
keep
ADHD at bay.
Charles
H i l l m a n ,
professor at
the University
of
Illinois,
r e c e n t l y
put
259
grade school
children
to
the test when
he compared their reading
and math scores on a stateadministered
standardized
test to their athletic ability.
The children with highest test
scores were the most active.
Newsweek
also
recently
announced that, “researchers…
had coaxed the human brain
into growing new nerve cells,
a process that for decades
had been thought impossible,
simply by putting subjects on
a three month aerobic-workout
regimen.” Nerve cells stop
reproducing at adulthood, but they
develop throughout adolescence.
Exercise during these formative
years results in a healthier adult
brain.
Exertion also has the
potential to provide relief for
those suffering from Depression.
According to
p s yc h o l o g i s t
J a m e s
Blumenthal,
“One of the
conclusions we
can draw from
this
[recent
study] is that
exercise may
be
just
as
effective
as
medication
and may be
a better alternative for certain
patients.” This may be due to
the endorphins that the body
produces when its heart rate is
elevated or to stamina resulting
from an increase in oxygen in
the bloodstream. Regardless,
the benefits are visible, while
medication can have unforeseen
side affects.
Exercise is also being used
as a “cure” for ADHD. Amazingly,
exercise helps relieve people with
ADHD for the same reasons it helps
stem Depression. Endorphins and
improved circulation regulate the
“Exercise is also
being used as a
“cure” for ADHD.”
6. April Showers Br
Prom: No fun for funds
Garrett Dennis
Opinion Writer
Spring is here: The birds are returning, the flowers
are blooming, and of course, most important of all, prom
is approaching. People are talking about prom as if it
were the place they were born to go.
Apart from the subject of prom being annoying,
it makes it impossible to strike up a normal conversation
with any girl. A guy might want to talk to a girl and try to
get to know her, but all she will talk about is who might
take her to prom, what she will wear, where she might go
after prom, and even other people she is going with. A
guy can’t put up with that sort of thing, if he even wants
to go to prom all he would probably worry about would be
renting his tuxedo in time and getting a corsage for his
date.
When you get right down to it, prom is just an
expensive dance. The average minimum price guys spend
on prom is about $335 (tuxedo, corsage, limo, and tickets),
and for the girls it’s about $390 (dress, boutonniere, hair,
nails, makeup, shoes, handbag, and jewelry), but the
expenses for a girl are probably going to be more than
that considering this is Peters Township. The guys cover
some of the girls’ expenses. All that money just for a
dance that only lasts a couple hours. If people consider
spending a lot of money for a mediocre event, then prom
must be one of the most enjoyable affairs in the world.
Some people don’t even want to go to prom, but
end up going anyway because of pressure. A senior guy
could be perfectly content staying at home on prom night,
or just going to the after parties, but if he mentions that
to a girl she will get on his case about how he must go
because he is a senior. The worst part is that the girl
usually convinces the guy to go.
Just like every year, prom is going to be held at the
Hilton at Southpointe. The place itself isn’t bad, but the
dance floor isn’t really big enough for all the students. Last
year they moved the tables that were closest surrounding
the dance floor so there would be enough room for
everyone. Maybe they should change things up a little
bit instead of having the same location for prom every
year. I’d be more interested in going if prom was held on
the Gateway Clipper. The dance floor is huge (depending
which boat is booked) and if there’s not enough room
down there you can dance on the roof of the boat.
Students are making prom out to be the best thing
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
Why do you think prom is such a big deal?
“Because I’m going
“Because everybody is
“I’ve never been to
with the love of my
glammed up.”
prom.”
-Melissa Carbonara
Photos by Nick Sikora
7. ring...
Prom!
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend
Jess Berardino
Opinion Writer
Prom dress…$250 (on average), manicure &
pedicure…$25, hair appointment…$35, accessories such as
a clutch, jewelry, and tanning…$75; going with your prince
charming and having the time of your life…PRICELESS. There
are some things money can’t buy; for everything else there’s
prom.
Getting asked to prom is the biggest hurdle every girl
has to overcome. Once you are over that, prom becomes the
best night ever. Having your hair done up, with sparkles and
diamonds in it, can make any girl feel like a princess. To add
on to the princess affect, your fingers and toes can sparkle
and shine to make everyone jealous. Then the most important
part of the entire event is buying a dress. A girl’s dress has to
be perfect. Every prom has a theme and theme colors, but to
a girl, those colors rarely play a factor. A girl goes out to find
a dress that makes her feel like a princess when she wears
it. In every aspect of prom, the girl must always feel like a
princess.
Boys, this is where you come into play. Prom is really
all about making the girl feel that she is the prettiest woman
you have ever laid your eyes on. Guys, tickets and limo money
are on you. Sorry to say that you have to buy the tickets and
the limo along with anything else your date hints to you to get
her. Jewelry is always a good bonus. The perfect accessory is
when the boy goes out of his way to find a piece of jewelry
that will look good on his date. The girl always likes to be able
to tell everyone who’s jealous of the jewelry that you, her
man, bought for her. So boys any chance you get, make them
feel like the princess that you know they are.
Prom only comes around once a year, and yes it’s only
one night; but those memories will last a lifetime. High school
is all about making memories, having fun, and making lifelong friends. Prom becomes one of those memorable moments
in high school. The expenses may be high, but the finished
product will be all worth it. To have the girl looking gorgeous,
and having her feel like a princess, is a priceless moment.
Now just because you could be going with only a
“friend”, these factors still apply. Your man should want to
make you feel like they’ve never seen anyone more gorgeous.
You may not be “dating” them, but that doesn’t mean you as
the girl don’t deserve to feel beautiful. Going with a friend is a
more common alley to take. A lot of guys feel the pressure to
ask a girl that they like, in hopes that the girl will like them in
Prom may only be a one-night event, but it becomes
a whole day extravaganza for the girl. So guys, always smile,
and always calm the girl’s down when they’re stressing about everything. Prom is a time for the girls to look like a princess,
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
The Top Five Dance Songs:
5.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
4. Everytime
We Touch by Cascada
3.
Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
2.
Sandstorm by DJ Darude
1.
“My favorite
dance song
is In the
Club by 50
cent.”
Boom Boom Boom by Vengaboys
The Journalism Class polled 100 random students and asked which songs would get
them on the prom dance floor
Photo by Brendan Sikora
Jimmy
Donofrio ‘09
8. ro
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Bill Berry
Staff Writer
Who will be MLB’s most valuable
player this season?
CT: I think Albert Pujols will
win the title as MVP this year.
He has a career batting average
of .332 and is the only player
besides Ted Williams to begin
his career with six straight 100
RBI seasons. Not only does he
have great statistics, but he
is also a winner. His St. Louis
Cardinals are the defending
World Series champions. He is
in his prime and is yet to win
a MLB most valuable player
award, and it’s long overdue.
SPTM: I’m not a huge fan of baseball. I hate
how everything is based on individual statistics,
which makes this discussion difficult for me.
However, I’m going to choose someone that
is the most valuable player to his team notice
that I said valuable, not best, then he has
to be Derek Jeter. I choose him, not only
because you hate the Yankees Connor, but
also because without him the Yankees would
be a different franchise. He has been the face
of the New York Yankees for the last decade
and I am convinced that no one means more
to his team than Jeter.
The NFL Draft is a chance for teams
to rise from the basement and into a NFL
powerhouse. Two years ago the New Orleans
Saints ended the season as the second worst
team in the NFL. Just a year later, they reached
the NFC title game and had one of the league’s
best records. The Saints’ quick turnaround has
a lot to do with the moves they made in the
NFL Draft.
On April 28 and 29, thirty-two NFL
teams will have the opportunity to make a
change. The Oakland Raiders hold the first pick
and draft experts suspect owner Al Davis and
the Raiders will take quarterback sensation
Jamarcus Russell out of LSU. However,
anything can happen come draft day. When
the Houston Texans had the number one slot
in 2006, it was widely speculated the Texans
would take halfback Reggie Bush out of USC.
In a shocking twist of events they drafted
defensive end Mario Williams from North
Carolina State. So the question remains, will
Softball team sets sights on playoff berth
Emily Bigley
Staff Writer
Spring
has
finally
sprung and so has softball
season. The PTHS softball
team has conditioned all
winter to prepare for the ‘07
season. This year’s squad is
unique for many reasons;
one being there are three
freshmen on the roster.
There is much more depth to
the team than there has been
in past years. Five seniors,
Jessica Berardino, Emily
Bigley, Sarah Earley, Leigha
Krivacek, and Kelley Walker,
return as starters.
Junior
stand out pitcher Shaylee
Ianno also returns. Ianno led
the WPIAL last year with over
200 strikeouts. Remaining
seniors Anna Colletti, Brandi
Kohne, and Kerstin Makowski
CT: Derek Jeter was an incredible baseball
player, but he is past his prime. The ESPN
hype machine continues to label him an
unbelievable player with great intangibles,
whatever that means. All they talk about
is how his intangibles win ballgames, but
I don’t see it. Also, statistics show that
he’s a below average defensive shortstop.
So much for intangibles.
Pujols won
Rookie of the Year in 2001, the Hank
Aaron Award in 2003, the National League
MVP in 2005, and a Golden Glove award
in 2006. Albert Pujols is the best player
in baseball playing at his prime.
SPTM: Pujols might very well be the most
talented player in baseball, but he is not the
most valuable to his team. There is something
to be said for a player who doesn’t just hit
home runs or strike out (not that Pujols does
like many other home run hitters). Jeter is the
ultimate clutch player. He owns the playoffshe has a career .314 bating average and a
.370 batting average in the American League
Division series. No one elevates their game
more than Jeter does come playoff time. Mr.
October, as Jeter is often referred to as, never
disappoints his team when they need him. He
is the most well-rounded player in baseball,
and without question, the most valuable to his
team.
CT:
Actually,
Reggie
Jackson is known as Mr.
October, not Jeter. Jeter
has made a few clutch plays
in the playoffs, but let’s
not go overboard. Jeter
may be the most overrated
player in baseball. Sports
Illustrated did a poll of 470
MLB players asking who
the most overrated player
in baseball was.
Guess
who got the majority of
the votes? Derek Jeter.
the world be shocked again? The Detroit Lions,
the Cleveland Browns, and a handful of other
teams certainly hope so.
Other standout players entering the
2007 draft are Oklahoma Sooner running back
Adrian Peterson, offensive tackle Joe Thomas
from Wisconsin, Georgia Tech wide receiver
Calvin Johnson, and Notre Dame quarterback
Brady Quinn. All these players are expected to
round out the top five picks. There are also a
few local players a top the board. Penn State
linebacker Paul Posluszny and defensive back
Darrelle Revis of the University of Pittsburgh,
and formerly from Aliquippa, will most likely
be taken in the first round.
“Calvin Johnson is without a doubt
the number one prospect in this year’s draft
class,” said draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. (espn.
com). Potential sleeper picks could be running
back Kenny Irons out of Auburn and USC wide
receiver Steve Smith, according to Kiper Jr.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to
wait until the fifteenth pick of the draft for their
selection. How Mike Tomlin will choose remains
to be seen. Some speculate a defensive end
will add to the leadership
factor.
“We want to win the
section and go deep into the
playoffs,” commented senior
right fielder Kelley Walker. This
year’s motto is “None of us are
it right,” said senior catcher
Jessica Berardino.
The girls compete in on
of the most difficult sections of
the WPIAL, Section 4 Quad A.
Each team from the section,
including Peters Township,
lost quality players last
year. This season will bring
many new competitors to
the forefront; not including
Canon Mac because of the
departure of their star
pitcher. Canon Mac’s big
loss leaves Peters with a
wide open door to dominate
the section. The race for the
section title won’t be an easy
one. Superior performances
are expected from the alwaystalented Trinity Hillers and the
flourishing Mt. Lebanon Blue
Devils. As the season rolls
on, the girls will keep their
minds focused. Their hopes
“We control our
own destiny more
than ever...”
– Jessica Berardino
as good as all of us,” which
exemplifies the hard work and
determination put forth by the
team. “We control our own
destiny more than ever. If we
fail, it’s not because we can’t
do it, it’s because we didn’t do
PT track tradition thrives
Chris Portz
Staff Writer
Rain, snow, or shine, the
Peters Township track team is
running, throwing, and jumping.
Led by Head Coach, “Buzzy” Scott,
and a cornucopia of assistant
coaches, the girls’ track team has
won the Big Seven Conference and
has been known to go undefeated
consistently through the years,
and the boy’s track team won the
conference title last year and is in
the position to repeat.
“Everyone is looking at
Peters Township as the team to
beat this year,” said an enthusiastic
Coach Scott.
Each track meet
has 150 points; there are points
awarded based on performance,
which vary depending on the size
of the meet. First place gets the
most points, second gets less, and
so on.
The PT track team relies
on every individual to contribute
as many points as possible. Last
year a single point decided the
exhilarating Thomas Jefferson
meet.
The Peters Township
track team takes pride in each
event, sticking to the Kunderan
philosophy, “There are no small
parts. Only small actors.”
Track and field requires
endurance and sheer will to perform
at the highest level. For throwers
and jumpers, it is an instant
where energy and concentration
is driven into a single motion. For
runners, their events are mind
games. They tell themselves not
to stop even though their body
is fatigued. “Our sport is other
sports’ punishment,” stated senior
distance runner, Ben Fortna.
Leaders and contributors
of all ages are performing at an
elevated level this season. Adam
Komoroski, Kevin Greg, Ben
Fortna, and Christian Brandsetter
lead the boys’ distance team.
Christine Beazley and Shannon
Sullivan lead the girls’ distance
team. Nathan Janusey is still
the man to beat in throwing,
accompanied by Aaron Scrivo and
Josh Crossman. Nathan Donolo
is a prime jumper this year, and
Megan Hahn, Garrison Moore,
and Matt Courter encompass the
hurdle team. The track team is
loaded with talent and has high
expectations for the season.
The track team will continue to
control their own destiny as they
have in the past.
Upcoming track meets
include back-to-back meets, a
home meet against Ringgold
on April 11 and an away meet
against Keystone Oaks on April
12. There are two meets at
West Mifflin on April 17 and 19.
The track team is prepared and
armed with hopes for another
undefeated season.
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Great American Pastime
Derek Redding
Staff Writer
Baseball season is on
the horizon, and Americans
everywhere
are
getting
ready for it. Preseason is in
progress, and teams have
been ranked according to
how well they have played.
Trades and signings are
being completed. Barry Zito
left the Oakland A’s after
seven seasons for the San
Francisco Giants and Hideki
Matsui returned to the
Yankees lineup after being out
for four months with a broken
wrist. Spring training rankings
have come out on ESPN
where Arizona and Cincinnati
are at the top of the list. The
Pittsburgh Pirates stand at 14
in the National league with a
record of 3-11-1.
Fans are ecstatic to see
how their favorite teams will do
this season. “I’m excited to see
Sammy Sosa come back and
Barry Bonds break the homerun
record,” said Taylor Piedmonte,
a long time Detroit Tigers
fan.
The National League
currently has a better winning
percentage in the preseason
than the American League.
Teams like Los Angeles
Angels, Cincinnati Reds, and
Los Angelas Dodgers have
already
accomplished
10
wins each respectively with
minimal losses. This great
game will not cease to amaze
and amuse the public for
this season holds the most
PT swimming carries on tradition
Sean-Paul Mauro
Sports Editor
With a strong finish in WPIALs and
numerous individual accomplishments, the
boys and girls swimming teams have secured
their place among the powerhouse programs
of Western Pennsylvania.
Among
the
many
team
accomplishments, however, were a plethora
of individual feats. Senior Dan Smith won the
200 medley event for the second year in a
row with a time of 1:56.02. Also, sophomore
Sam Pletz won the 200 freestyle with a time
of 1:43.45. Dan Smith was also a gold
medal winner of the 100 backstroke, which
gave him a total of 2 individual gold medals
for the day, “We came in confident that we
could be successful, and we left satisfied with
what we accomplished.” Also, headlining the
boys’ impressive finishes was a gold medal
team effort in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Dan Smith, Christopher Graves, Matt Connor,
and Sam Pletz each contributed for a first
place finish with a total time of 3:12.96. The
Indians finished second overall in the WPIAL
Championships.
The lady Indians also enjoyed success
as they finished 4th overall in the WPIAL
competition. A highlight to their success was,
sophomore, Maggie Walker’s performance.
She finished first in the 100 yard freestyle
Baseball team steps up to Quad A
Drew Karpen
Staff Writer
After a bitter ending to last year’s
season, the baseball team is ready to start
this year on the right track. Moving to Quad
A, the boys’ team is in for the hardest and
most competitive season in many years. The
competition consists of Bethel Park, Mount
Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Canon Mac, and
Baldwin. No one expects the Indians to be able
to keep pace with the new section rivals they
will experience in this division. What makes it
so exciting is that this year the Indians play
no out of section games, so every game will
against three South Carolina teams. “I am
excited for our players stepping up to Quad
A and playing stiffer competition, it will make
us more competitive and play harder,” said
varsity baseball coach Joe Maize.
With all
the hype the Indians have from entering the
new section this year, they hope to make a big
impact on every other team in the section and
in the state.
Smoke Signals
April 2007
SPORTS
BRIEFS
a
BOYS’ LACROSSE
The Indians boy’s lacrosse team is
currently 1-0 with their win coming
against Chartiers Valley. They will
face Hudson, OH and 2006 western
Pennsylvania runner-up champion
Central Catholic in the coming weeks.
Girls’ lacrosse
The girl’s lacrosse team will open
the 2007 season against division one
opponent Pine Richland. Head coach
Kim Eldridge will look to take her team
to the WPIAL championship game for
a second straight season.
BASEBALL
The Peters Township baseball team
will open up their season March 26
against the Beth-Center Bulldogs
of Fredericktown, PA. The Indians
hope to duplicate their success of
last season with another undefeated
regular season. They open up section
SOFTBALL
The softball team will kick off their
season against section rival Upper St.
Clair on March 27. The team hopes to
put together a good season led by a
strong core of seniors. To watch the
softball team in action, visit the field
at McMurray Elementary for all home
games.
“We have a lot of hard
work ahead of us to
prepare for our new
schedule...”
– Jordan Jankowski
count. The top two teams in the division move
on to the WPIAL playoffs. The goal for the
Indians is to return to the playoffs. They have
made the playoffs for the last five years in
the Triple A division. This year the Indians
have fewer senior starters than in year’s past.
This means there are more opportunities for
underclassmen to shine, and this experience
will prepare the underclassman for the future
seasons.
“We have a lot of hard work ahead of
us to prepare for our new schedule, but I know
me and the rest of my teammates are up for
the challenge”, said starting pitcher Jordan
Jankowski. Every year the team starts the
season off with a trip to South Carolina. They
play their first three regular season games
9
Boys’ volleyball
The team is 1-2, and the team. Their
first win coming against South Park,
three games to none. The squad is
led by seniors Derek Dunn and Devin
Young.
Photo by Heather Sickmund
Senior catcher Chris Teodori warms up the pitcher
in the bullpen prior to thegame
10. & Style
PT LIF E
Prom dresses for skin tones
Colleen Counihan
Features Editor
Prom night is remembered for its lively
dances and unforgettable laughs, but to many
girls, the night is not a memory without the
perfect dress. This dress is a difficult decision
from the very beginning because it is the one
tangible item that a girl will be stuck with
throughout the whole night. It all begins with
a personal style and is many times influenced
by the overall trend of one’s peer group.
The best length and style of a prom
dress is correlated with individuality. It is one
thing to stick with a trend, but not every trend
looks good on every person. It is a common
misconception that prom dresses should only
be satin gowns splashed with colors resembling
peaches and cotton candy. In fact, colors can
be separated into seasons that correspond to
a person’s skin tone. It’s a simple matter, but
these rules can be the make or break of one’s
prom dress decision.
Skin tone: Summer
-complexions with blue or pink undertones
My idea of a good prom
dress is anything that’s
flashy, something that no
one else has and stands
out in the crowd.
- Justine Giffith ‘08
-blonde or brunette with pale eyes
What to wear:
-pastels and soft neutrals with rose and blue
undertones
-colors such as lavender, plum, rose-brown
and soft blue
Skin tone: Winter
-complexions with blue or pink undertones
skin is pale-white, yellowish-olive, or dark
hair is most commonly brown with deeply
colored eyes
What to wear:
-think sharp, stark and clear
-colors such as white, black, navy blue, red
and shocking pink
-wear icy tones instead of pastels
Skin tone: Autumn
-complexions with golden undertones
-many are redheads or brunettes with golden
brown eyes
What to wear:
-clothing should revolve around golden
I don’t like long dresses
because they get in the
way. I enjoy baby blue
dresses.
-Greg Morande ‘08
undertones
-colors such as camel, beige, orange, gold and
dark brown
Skin tone: Spring
-complexions with golden undertones
-skin can be creamy white or peach
-will many times have straw-colored or
strawberry red hair, freckles, and rosy cheeks
blue or green eyes
What to wear:
-always think warm tones
-colors such as camel, peach, golden yellow
and golden brown
The idea of skin tone being an important
factor in color choice can be a difficult one to
accept. Many girls have certain colors they
cannot live without and some feel uncomfortable
outside of the “sorbet” shaded fabrics on the
night of prom. One should use these seasonal
skin tones to make dress searching an easier
task, but a girl should never allow them to
conquer her unique style.
You should wear your
birthday suit to prom.
I like cinderella-type prom
dresses in purple, blue
and yellow.
-Sarah Weaver ‘08
-Kayla Czapko ‘08
Artist of the month: Steve Macevic
Colleen Counihan & Sean Naccarelli
Features Editor & Staff Writer
It
is
not
difficult
to
find
potential in a young
guy whose vocals
could be compared to
those of Elliot Smith
and
whose
lyrics
are soaked with the
romantic imagery of
Death Cab for Cutie.
In fact, this flattery
should come easily
to
senior,
Steve
Macevic, a seasoned
guitar player of four
years.
Macevic’s
life revolves around
music,
and
this
passion is evident.
It is not the popular
venue he searches
for, but just the simple
opportunity to get
up on stage to make
music.
His most
recent venues have
included Farmhouse
Coffee and the Peters
Township
Library
Arts Café. On both
occasions,
Macevic
used his performance
to take the audience
outside of the box.
His song choices did
not consist of wellknown cover songs
or popularity-based
lyrics. Instead, each
song
represented
Macevic-his personal
musical
disposition
and most important
influence. He coaxed
the crowd with a
display of his own
work
and
covers
of the work he
most admires.
He
managed to bring
real folk music to
the scene with his
rendition of “Where
Did You Sleep Last
Night,” a hymn once
sung by folk legends,
Lead Belly and Bob
Dylan. This originality
is
not
surprising
because of Macevic’s
future goals. “I want
to simply play music,
not get famous, but
get enough money
to eat food and live
somewhere,”
he
explained.
Macevic’s
persona is one of
modesty, but he is not
afraid to congratulate
himself
on
his
accomplishments and
picky taste in music.
He
acknowledges
fellow melodic acts
Bright
Eyes
and
Rocky Votolato to be
his main influences
in his recent musical
career, but he doesn’t
want to stop there.
He couldn’t hold back
his enthusiasm about
branching out into
different genres. “I
want to get into other
bands…hardcore,
crazy punk rock and
maybe even jazz,” he
said.
T
h
e
c o m b i n a t i o n
of
Macevic’s
s p o n t a n e o u s
personality and his
ability to get in touch
with his listeners
makes
him
an
unstoppable
force.
His
relationship
with his fans is
as
passionately
pronounced as his
Photo taken by Nate Hanson
Steve Macevic is playing his guitar at farmhouse coffee. He used
accoustic sound to get in touch with the audience.
marriage with his
music. “I want to give
them goosebumps,
make
them
feel
euphoric. I want to
touch every person
there,” said Macevic.
His carefree attitude
about life runs parallel
with his whimsical
lyrics and sarcastic
stage presence. It is
believed that only an
imaginative mind can
create a show with
one acoustic guitar;
Macevic brings this
idea to life.
11. 11
Smoke Signals
April 2007
Best dorm tips for your dime
Kara Krawiec
Co Editor-in-Chief
High school seniors
everywhere
are
starting
to
prepare for their first real chance
at independence. The first way to
showcase that freedom is through
their college dorm room. However,
let’s face it, the one thing that
future college freshman do not
have is not lack of individuality,
but the funds that are required
to support their independent
spirits. So, to help those about
to take their first steps into the
uninhabited, unfamiliar world of
college residence halls, here are a
few helpful hints to make a name
for themselves in the cheapest
possible way:
1.
Pick Stores with the
Best Sales: Stores like Wal-Mart,
K-Mart, Paper Mart, (basically
anything with a “mart” attached
to the end) are famous for having
almost everything that a person
could possibly need. Also, stores
like Target and TJ Maxx are known
for having prices that match even
the best sales. The most important
thing is to search for those sales
and make sure you get the most
for your dollar. Finding places like
these not only save money, but
conserve gas because all your
bed so you can utilize every extra
spare inch of space. Also, create
a shelf that you can mount on the
wall to save floor space (but first
“The first way to showcase
that freedom is through their
college dorm room.”
essentials are in one place.
2. Do it Yourself Projects:
Even though its great to find those
sales, the most inexpensive way
to decorate the new dorm room
is to do it yourself. Most colleges
provide bed lifts or make the beds
able to loft, as to allow more room
underneath them for storage or
room space. Since this is already
provided for you, make little
containers to place underneath the
Katie Ellis
check the dorm rules to ensure
that a shelf won’t be a problem).
3.
Share Responsibility
with Your Roommate: The most
important thing to do before
going off and buying that 20 inch
screen television, DVD player and
refrigerator for your ideal dorm
room, is talk to your roommate.
Ask him what he’s willing to buy
or whether you can split the costs
of the “big ticket” items. Also,
Snow
By Tracy Lynn
Guest Writer
Greatest Hits- The Notorious
B.I.G.
Brendan Sikora
Staff Writer
Coming one decade after the
murder of B.I.G, comes a collaboration of
the famous rapper’s greatest hits. B.I.G
had been famous for almost fifteen years.
He has appeared on countless rap and
R&B albums such as “Ready to Die” and
“Ambitionz az a Ridah”. Notorious B.I.G.
aka Christopher Wallace, is still idolized
throughout the world even after his death,
16 years ago. His unique style and lyrics
have made him one of the most prominent
musicians of all time. This album has been
released as a tribute to his years of hard
work and dedication to his love: music.
This is the Notorious B.I.G ’s
greatest hits album. Most of these songs
on BIG ’s CD are placed in chronological
order. They have been chosen by their
popularity throughout the years. The
classic songs listed on this CD are “Juicy”,
“Big Poppa”, and “Notorious Thugs”. Also,
we can’t forget the song “One More Chance
(Remix)” with Total(R&B). That only names
a few of the songs, there are plenty more
of your favorite tracks on this album.
The B.I.G. Greatest Hits album
proves to stand the test of time, and is a
hit with old to young fans. This CD is an
example of why this rapper sells platinum
amounts of CD’s after his death. Give this
album a try and understand the B.I.G ’s
philophosy of music. I give it a four out of
five stars even though I use limewire and
will never buy a CD.
maybe his ideal dorm room doesn’t
match yours, so you’ll need to
compromise on what the room
will end up looking like next year.
Talking to your roommate before
moving in not only makes things
less awkward when you first meet,
but also ensures that you both will
end up loving the space you’ll be
calling home for the next year.
4.
The Basics: Here’s a
list of what every college freshman
needs to survive that first year
in their dorm: a lamp, bedding,
closet organizers, anything that
can provide storage, and food-lots
of food.
The college experience is
best shaped by the initial attitude
you have going into it and the
best way to make a good start is
to make your dorm room as much
like home as possible. With these
tips, you’ll be able to decorate,
save space, and feel comfortable in
your new dorm with a little money
left over for your tuition.
“The flames crawled up her neck,
through her scalp and into her head.
She felt her hair being lifted and
separated by forces she shouldn’t
see. Her mind slowed down and could
not force her mouth to move, but one
overriding thought was clear: she is
mad. She is sill mad.”
Once upon a time, a duke and
duchess lived happily lacking only a
child. One day, the duchess finds that
she is pregnant, but to the kingdom’s
disappointment the child turns out to be
a girl and, to add to the grief, the duchess
dies during childbirth. The duke begins
to despise his daughter and rarely says
a word to her for almost ten years. When
he remarries, Jessica believes that she
is finally going to get the mother that
she’s always dreamed of having. Boy, is
she wrong. After close to three years in
captivity, she breaks out (with the help of
a loyal servant) and escapes to London.
She meets up with these…creatures. These
half-human, half-animal creatures take
her into their secret world of petty larceny
and crime. She grows to love them as a
real family and believes that she is in the
clear…until she finds that her stepmother
has followed her to London and is living
nearby. Snow finds herself torn between
the wanton of her old life and the love of
her new one, and is unsure about which
dream she is meant to follow.
Snow is an amazing new take on an
old fairy tale with a bit of new plot tossed
in. Tracy Lynn is a very creative writer and
had me wanting more even after I had
Deja Vu
Taylor Piedmonte
Staff Writer
When Denzel Washington and Tony
Scott get together, the result is usually an
excellent film. Déjà vu is no exception. The
actor-director tandem previously worked
together on Man on Fire and Crimson Tide
In Déjà Vu, both Scott and Washington are
spectacular as always.
After an explosion on a ferry kills
over 500 people, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, firearms, and explosives agent
Doug Carlin (Washington), investigates the
crime. FBI agent Andrew Pryzwarra (Val
Kilmer) invites him to join a team that has
a top-secret program. The program uses
satellite technology to look backwards
in time for four and a half days to try to
capture the terrorist. A wild ride of time
travel and suspense ensues.
What makes Déjà vu great is its
versatility. It starts off like a crime film,
keeping viewers attentive and interested.
When it quickly turns into a full-scale timetravel adventure, it’s exciting and keeps you
on the edge of your seat. Déjà vu has an
inherent degree of excitement that comes
with most time-travel movies. However,
Déjà vu remains believable throughout
and even has its humorous moments.
If you’re looking for a great thriller
to keep you entertained for two hours and
thinking for many more, Déjà vu is a great
choice. Four stars out of Five.
12. Voices in the Hall
In your opinion, what is the greatest song of all time?
“All-Star by Smashmouth”
“The Star Spangled
Banner.”
“What is Love? by
Haddaway”
–Ryan Gaudy
‘07
–Mr. Compeggi
–Ryan Carey
‘07
“Baby Got Back by
Sir Mix-A-Lot”
–Sarah Rubis
‘07
What was your favorite Nickelodeon show from the 90’s?
“Are You Afraid of the
Dark?”
–Kate Staaf & Andrea Smith
‘07
“Legends of the Hidden Temple. That’s
not even a contest!”
–Ben Glicksman
‘07
“The Secret World of
Alex Mac.”
–Rachel Paul & Laura St. Clair
‘07
A PT Minute With...
Who was your favorite Spice Girl? Why?
Baby Spice, she was really hot and good-looking.
What’s one song that always gets stuck in your head?
“Rocket Power!”
-Kaiya Quevido
‘07
Zach
Rockwell
“Fergalicious” by Fergie
Rock, paper, or scissors? Why?
Rock, because it’s the hardest.
You are chosen to have lunch with the President and can
only ask one question. What do you ask?
“What is the air speed velocity of a swallow?”
If you could change your name, what would you change it
to? Why?
Connor Tarwater, because he is good friends with Jim Morrison.
Stephanie
Bowes
If you had $10,000 what would you buy?
I would buy a plane ticket to Hawaii and shop.
Who’s your celebrity crush?
Riley Smith
What was the last song you listened to?
“Cupid’s Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes
What do you think the most distinguishing landmark is in
Pittsburgh? Why?
The 3 Rivers, because they were used to transfer goods when Pittsburgh was one of the top industrial cities.
If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or who
would you go as?
A ladybug