1. Smoke
Signals
Prom
Pages 4 & 5
Volume 38 Issue 6 April 2007
news
Index
Sports
News
New Teen Room at the public library
Page 3
Opinion
Narcissism in teens...
Pages 4 & 5
Girls softball...
Pages 8 & 9
Pt focus
Party for charity: Relay For Life
Rachel Horensky
Co -Editor-In-Cheif
Angelina Nepa
News Editor
Mr. PTHS
Page 2
Imagine shouting and running coupled with music, games, and enough food to feed an army. Believe it or not, this carnival-like daydream benefits charity, in the form of the annual Relay For Life, which 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 well- known moon and stars logo, is a day-long walk-athon during which various teams compete to raise the most money. Typical teams consist of the Masqued Indians and the Marching Band, 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.
Students, not surprisingly, have a great time. “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.,” said junior Carl Mitchell. “It’s great to have fun and 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 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.
– Carl Mitchell, ‘08
“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.”
Hometown celebrity visits media students
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.
Previously, 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
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.
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
Media students were enlightened by Stockey’s poise, charisma and excellent public speaking
Photo by Elizabeth Goimarac
Photo submitted by photography club

2. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
April
Fool’s Day!
2 Track & Field vs.
KO & TJ 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @
Bethel 3:30
Girls’ Varsity Softball
@ Trinity 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
vs. Belle Vernon 7:30
3
End of 3rd
Nine Weeks!
4 Spring Break
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @
Chartiers Valley 3:30
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Cannon Mac 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Volley-ball
@ Baldwin 7:30
5 Spring Break 6 Spring Break 7 Spring Break
8Spring Break
Easter
9 Spring Break 10 Girls’ Varsity Soft-ball
@ Baldwin 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Bethel Park 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Baldwin 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
@ Hopewell 7:30
11 Report Cards!
Track & Field vs.
Ringgold 3:30
Varsity Baseball @
Mt. Lebo 4:15
12
Boys’ Varsity Tennis @
USC 3:30
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Mt Lebo 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax vs.
USC 7:30
Boys’ Varisty Volley-ball
vs. Moon 7:30
13
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ USC 4:15
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Columbus school for
Girls 5:00
Boys’ Varsity Vol-leyball
@ Cannon Mac
7:30
14
15
Holocast
Memorial Day
16
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Perry Traditional
Academy 4:00
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs. Cannon Mac 7:00
17
Track & Field @ W Mif-flin
and McKeesport
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
@ Our Lady of Sacred
Heart 7:30
Girls’ Varsity Lax @ Mt.
Lebo 7:30
18
Boys’ Varsity Tennis vs
Moon 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs. Baldwin 7:00
19 Fools @ 7
Girls’ Varsity Softball
vs. Upper St. Clair
4:00
Boys’ Varsity Vol-leyball
vs. Greater
Latrobe 7:30
Girls’ Varsity LAX vs.
Baldwin 7:30
20 Fools @
730
Boys’ Varsity Tennis
@ Trinity 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs. Bethel Park 7:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax vs.
Franklin Regionals
7:30
21 Fools @
730
Girls’ Varsity
Softball @ Bethel
Park
22
Earth Day
23
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs Mt Lebo 7:00
24
Track & Field vs Ringold
4:00
Boys’ Varsity Volleyball
@ Ambridge Area 7:30
25
Track & Field - Big 7
Meet 12:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
vs.USC 7:00
26 Boys’ Varsity
Tennis vs. North Al-legheny
3:30
Girls’ Varsity Softball
@ Cannon Mac 4:00
Track & Field @ Can-non
Mac 5:30
Boys’ Varsity Volley-ball
vs. Montour 7:30
27 Arbor Day
Boys’ Varsity Tennis
@ Montour 3:30
Boys’ Varsity Baseball
@ Cannon Mac 4:00
Girls’ Varsity Lax @
Fox Chapel 7:15
28
Girls’ Varsity Soft-ball
vs. Bethel Park
11:00
29 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: 724-941-
6250 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
Opinion Editor
Brittany Beyer
Sports Editor
Sean-Paul Mauro
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
Layout Team
Megan Enscoe, Katie Gavlick, Stepha-nie
Gillece, Lisa Lerario,
Adviser
Nicole Sitler
PT Reference
April 2007
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3. J. Berardino
News
A. Czajkowski R. Wunderlich A. Nepa
April’s “Fools”
Renée Wunderlich
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 über-excentric
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
imp r e s s i o n…e v e n
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
senior Ali Shettima’s
third and final attempt
at the title. In 3 years,
Ali finished as runner-up
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.
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
April showers are the norm in Pittsburgh
Nick Sikora
Staff Writer
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.
All entries submitted by Angelina Nepa
Outside
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,
its creator, announced, “It was meant to be
a provocative object, to spark debate about
future fashion.” Unfortunately, the dress must
remain wet all times because the cellulose
fibers are too short to be pliant, making the
dress brittle when it dries.
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.”
Mr. PTHS, junior Tim Beck,
and his escort, sophmore
Lissy Petrozza posed for
a picture after the com-petition.
Beck’s hilarious
performance blew away his
competitors.
Photo
submitted
by the
Photography
Club

4. Opinion
B. Beyer G. Dennis N. Sikora S. Naccarelli
He Said vs. She Said
Nick Sikora Brittany Beyer
“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.”
Does wikipedia’s
controversY Change
your opinion? “
Connor Mannion, ‘09
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
The Devil buys Coach
Connor Tarwater
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
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
Wikipedia’s flaws generate controversy
Ashley Czajkowski
Staff Writer
What are you looking forward to the most
Not having to bundle up every
time you step outside.
What will you miss most about winter?
Mostly I will miss sliding off
the road while I am driving to
school.
What is your plan for spring break?
New York City, for college visits
and prom dress shopping.
How do you keep motivated with only two months of
My motivation is dwindling but
keeping in mind that I will only
have to wake up at 6:30 for two
more months gives me hope.
SPRING TIME
Warm weather, track season, and
eventually summer.
Absolutely nothing.
I don’t have one, it will just kind
of fall together over break.
Only two months left, then no
more work for three months.

5. 5
Smoke Signals
April 2007
“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
Is Narcissism an issue for
o
ur generation?
“
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.
Studies 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 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 mid- childhood, 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
Narcissistic nation
Brittany Beyer
Opinion Editorover abundance of gratification within the family leads to a raised level of self- confidence and thus a narcissistic attitude.
In situations when kids have a lack of self- confidence 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.
Reality 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. 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).
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
Expanding knowledge in Peters
Kaitlin Houser
Co-Editor-In-Chief
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 Hillman, professor at the University of Illinois, recently put 259 grade school children to the test when he compared their reading and math scores on a state- administered 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 psychologist James 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
Lose the weight and the worry
Angelina Nepa
News Editor
“Exercise is also
being used as a
“cure” for ADHD.”
“No, because people shouldn’t care what others think; they’ll do what they want to do.”
Chelsea Traurig, ‘07134% 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

6. April Showers Bring...
Prom: No fun for funds
Garrett Dennis
Opinion W
riter
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
“I’ve never been to
prom.”
“Because everybody is
glammed up.”
-Melissa Carbonara
“Because I’m going
with the love of my Why do you think prom is such a big deal?
Photos by Nick Sikora
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino

7. 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. Boom Boom Boom by Vengaboys
Bring...
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 life-long
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,
The Top Five Dance Songs:
The Journalism Class polled 100 random students and asked which songs would get
them on the prom dance floor
“My favorite
dance song
is In the
Club by 50
cent.”
Jimmy
Donofrio ‘09
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
Photo by Brendan Sikora

8. extra p int
Sp rts
Sean-Paul Mauro
Chris Portz
Emily Bigley
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
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
Welcome to the NFL, rookie
Bill Berry
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
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
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
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 always-talented
Trinity Hillers and the
flourishing Mt. Lebanon Blue
Devils. As the season rolls
on, the girls will keep their
minds focused. Their hopes
Softball team sets sights on playoff berth
Emily Bigley
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
PT track tradition thrives
Chris Portz
Staff Writer
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.
– Jessica Berardino
“We control our
own destiny more
than ever...”
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.
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 playoffs-he
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.

9. a
SPORTS
BRIEFS
Girls’ lacrosse
SOFTBALL
9
Smoke Signals
April 2007
Bill Berry
Connor Tarwater
Derek Redding
Brendan Sikora
BOYS’ LACROSSE
BASEBALL
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Great American Pastime
Derek Redding
Staff Writer
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
PT swimming carries on tradition
Sean-Paul Mauro
Sports Editor
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
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
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.
Baseball team steps up to Quad A
Drew Karpen
Staff Writer
– Jordan Jankowski
“We have a lot of hard
work ahead of us to
prepare for our new
schedule...”
Boys’ volleyball
Photo by Heather Sickmund
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.
Senior catcher Chris Teodori warms up the pitcher
in the bullpen prior to thegame

10. PT LIFE
& Style
Colleen Counihan
Features Editor
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
I don’t like long dresses because they get in the way. I enjoy baby blue dresses.
-Greg Morande ‘08
You should wear your birthday suit to prom.
-Sarah Weaver ‘08
I like cinderella-type prom dresses in purple, blue and yellow.
-Kayla Czapko ‘08
Prom dresses for skin tones
Artist of the month: Steve Macevic
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 well- known 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
Colleen Counihan & Sean Naccarelli
Features Editor & Staff Writer
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
-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 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.
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.
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.
The combination of Macevic’s spontaneous 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 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. Smoke Signals
April 2007
11
Greatest Hits- The Notorious
B.I.G.
Deja Vu
Snow
By Tracy Lynn
Best dorm tips for your dime
“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
Katie Ellis
Guest Writer
Brendan Sikora
Staff Writer
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 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 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 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, 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 first way to showcase that freedom is through their college dorm room.”
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 time- travel 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.
Taylor Piedmonte
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.

12. Voices
in the Hall
A PT Minute With...
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
–Mr. Compeggi
“Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot”
–Sarah Rubis
‘07
“What is Love? by Haddaway”
–Ryan Carey
‘07
“All-Star by Smashmouth”
–Ryan Gaudy
‘07
“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
“Rocket Power!”
-Kaiya Quevido
‘07
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
Stephanie Bowes
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?
“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.
Zach Rockwell
In your opinion, what is the greatest song of all time?
What was your favorite Nickelodeon show from the 90’s?