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Holiday Show - Page 2

December 2007 Haddam-Killingworth High School Student Newspaper Vol. 16 Issue 3

New Cubs In Den? - Page 18

A More “Inconvenient Truth” - Page 8

INSIDE . . . News . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 2-6 Editorials . . . . . . . . .Pages 7-9 Features . . . . . . . .Pages 10-16 Sports . . . . . . . . . Pages 17-20

See Pages 11-14

December 2007 Staff: David Acampora Ryan Blewett Anna Brundage Aly D’Amato Hanna Donadio Ashley Grenman Alex Langevin Chelsea Meegan Erin Moriarty Alexandra Porter Katrina Ryder Cody Scovel Arantza Solabarrieta Jessica Ticino Christine Tischbien Joe Van Huysen Melanie Yates

The Cougar Chronicle is the student newspaper of Haddam-Killingworth High School. It is published periodi-cally throughout the school year as a forum for student expression.

Faculty advisors for The Cougar Chronicle are Mr. Kish and Mr. Keck.

All editorials reflect the opinions of the authors only. Letters to the editor are en-couraged and should be ad-dressed c/o Advisor, The Cougar Chronicle, Little City Road, Higganum, CT 06441. E-mails concerning The Chronicle can be addressed to hkhsnews@yahoo.com. Let-ters are subject to editing for length, clarity, and grammar.

Page 2 December 2007

By Ashley Grenman With the holidays quickly approach-ing, so are many annual events. Every year, the HKTV studio produces the Holiday Show that raises money to benefit worthy organizations or foundations surrounding the community. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to the foundations. This year, the Holiday Show will be benefiting two Memorial Scholarship Funds that raise money in honor of two members of the community that were lost in 2007. The Jason Lantieri Scholarship Fund and The Terrie Lusis Scholarship Fund have been set up in honor of Sergeant Jason Lantieri and former H-K English and Drama teacher, Terrie Lusis. In the past years, the Holiday Show has been able to make generous donations to several or-ganizations and charities. The Habitat for Humanity, The Make a Wish Foundation, and The Tommy Fund have benefited greatly from H-K and the community’s donations. Also featured on the holiday show are performers who present both vocal and instrumental musical acts. Local elementary schools gather their chorus and sing famous Christmas carols, talented students or commu-nity members play their instruments, and fami-

lies come to show their support for the show. Families who have experience with the issue that the charity supports also come on the show and speak about those events. Another big element of the Holiday Show that has been added in the recent years is Shoreline Idol. Artistic students from several Connecticut schools come together in Novem-ber to audition for the show. If accepted into the top ten, they will perform on the Holiday Show on Dec. 21. Votes will be tallied and will count for a part of their final score for the January con-cert. With the Shoreline Idol Competition underway, there is a lot in store for the Holiday

Show. The Fishbowl is another annual tradition for the telethon. If a person donates $25 or more before or during the Holiday Show, the name will be placed in the fishbowl and the patron is qualified to win great prizes such as gift

certificates or free food from local pizzerias. During the show, the names will be pulled and the names announced. As the holidays draw near, so does the Holiday Show, and with many great events in place, this year’s telethon is sure to receive many generous donations that will help benefit the two deserving scholarship funds.

By Katrina Ryder Auditions for the 2008 edition of Shoreline Idol were a great success. The top ten finalists are Alison Lindsey (Middletown High School), Katie Armstrong (Hale Ray High School), Kelsey Crawford (Westbrook High School), Jocelyn Linder, Melanie Yates, Erin Shuster, Henry Tobelman, Arantza Solabarri-eta, Nicole Pedonti, and Maddy Hammel (all from Haddam-Killingworth High School). Melanie Yates said, “I feel wonderful to be a part of an event that is going to be a direct benefit to some of my peers. I am really glad to be in the top ten, and I wish the best of luck to everyone that is involved with the holi-day show this year!” Arantza Solabarrieta is a first-time top ten finalist and she had this to say about the prospect of performing: “I’m really happy to be in the top ten and sing for these very worthy causes. I get more and more excited thinking about the January performances.”

The judges this year are Doug Kup-per, the president of the Tapeworks Inc. re-cording studio; Renee Verillo, an accomplished recording artist; and Tre Johnson. Doug Kup-per was behind the judges’ table for Shoreline Idol in 2006, and Renee Verillo was a guest judge for the Idol’s January performance. Tre Johnson is excited to be on the panel of judges because it is “benefiting such a meaningful cause.” The Idols are currently preparing for their performances for the 2008 Holiday Show on December 21 to benefit the Terri Lusis and Jason Lantieri scholarship funds. Viewers and supporters of the Idols can call the day of the telethon and vote for their favorite idols. In January, the Idols will perform for a final time as a group on our stage. That night, the judges will individually give the contestants feedback and, by the end of the night, there will be a new Shoreline Idol.

HKTV Gears Up for Holiday Show

Top Ten Shoreline Idols Selected

December 2007 Page 3

NEWS

By Christine Tischbein Many H-K students re-cently participated in “Skip a Meal to Help Heal,” a fundraiser hosted by the French Honor Society and the Fellowship Club for Doctors Without Borders. “Skip a Meal to Help Heal” helped raise money to give aid to malnourished children around the world. On Nov. 16 students fasted for the day, and students who donated to the organization received a bracelet the doctors use to measure how malnourished children are. Several students also stayed after school for a celebration where they were served Subway, pizza, popcorn, and homemade desserts, saw a presentation on the or-ganization, and watched Ratatouille. Edith Hanson, organizer of the fundraiser and member of the French Honor Society, said, “It was a success; we

had hoped to raise $300, but at the final count on Friday, we had over $435.” Aly D’Amato, president of the French Honor Society, added that it was also “a very big success in raising aware-

ness about the organization.” M é d e c i n s S a n s Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, is an organization which was founded in 1971 in Paris. In 1991, Doctors Without Borders won a Nobel Peace Prize for delivering emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, disasters, and exclusion f rom hea l th care . Th is humanitarian organization helps any country in need, and does not take into consideration politicial, economic, or religious interests. “Skip a Meal to Help

Heal” was very successful in raising both money and awareness, but could not have been done without

the help of Giuliani’s Bella Cucina and Subway for providing food, and Mrs. Borzain, Mr. Todzia and Mr. Pendleton for chaperoning.

2007 H-K CAPT Scholars

“Skip a Meal to Help Heal” participants gather after school.

(Photo courtesy of Daisy Schmitt)

David Acampora

Elizabeth Adams

Meghan Addy

Samantha Adler

Kevin Allison

Cole Armstrong

Christopher Arrigoni

David Bartolotta

James Becker

Kylee Bell

Siobhan Blancaflor

Elizabeth Brielmann

Nichole Brooks

Jacqueline Buttendorf

Ariana Casey

Emma Cizek

Tara Cordner

Peter DiGioia

Chelsea Durand

Jeanette Faust

Nicole Gaona

Caitlin Gilhuly

Chelsea Goodwin

Lindsay Gorman

Dina Grimaldi

Lindsey Griswold

Alyssa Guarino

Brittney Hajeck

Rebecca Halleck

Kelsey Halvorson

Regan Hammell

Katelyn Hollenbeck

Jason Jansak

Krystina Johnson

James Juaire

Portia Kimbis

Joeclyn Lindner

Deanna Loso

Alicia Mala

Deanna Loso

Alicia Mala

Celia Marcum

Nicholas McGlynn

Thomas McKinnon

Timothy Mertz

Zachary Morello

Erin Moriarty

David Murray

Christopher Nixon

Paul Norman

Rebecca Nosal

Matthew O’Brien

Molly Ortner

Danielle Page

Megan Parzych

Kimberly Peterson

Colleen Phelan

Alexandra Porter

Morgan Raczka

Allison Rand

Johanna Regan

Joshua Reynolds

Jeffrey Roberge

Kelsey Rodman

Michael Saunders

Cassandra Scully

Christina Shinn

Alexa Skoulis

Russell Spaeth

Nicholas Stanford

Jason Stoner

Hannah Sturman

Patricia Szczygiel

Keith Thomas

Jessica Ticino

Joseph Van Huysen

Shelby Van Huysen

Stephanie Venuti

Nicholas Waite

Erin Waldron

Stacey Weaver

Kristen Wendt

Lindsey Wierbicki

Emma Wing

Melanie Yates

Sean Zapatka

Compiled by Christine Tischbein

French Honor Society “Skips a Meal” for Charity

Page 4 December 2007

NEWS

News Review: What’s Going on in the World? By Aly D’Amato With the holidays among us it is easy to lose track of what is going on in the world. Two stories of interest are the recent surgery success in India and the riots taking place in France. Bangalore, India Two-year old Lakshmi Tatma has survived a successful surgery which has separated her from her undeveloped twin. The Indian girl was born as a conjoined twin, however, the twin did not fully de-velop and Lakshmi was living with eight limbs—four arms and four legs. It was necessary to have the pro-cedure done in order to allow the child to

lead a relatively normal life and survive beyond expectancy, even though she was

honored in the area as a reincarnation of a multi-limbed Hindu goddess of wealth. The surgery, led by Dr. Sharan Patil, was assisted by a group of over 30 other doctors who operated around the pelvis area. They began on Nov. 6 and it lasted for 27 hours. Their efforts were a success and although she is still in recovery, Lakshmi is doing very well. France After colliding with a police car on their motorbike, the deaths of two teenagers in the Paris suburb of Villiers-le-Bel have sparked violent youth riots target-ing the police force because they allegedly did not assist the teens, Moushin and Larami, after the accident. On Monday evening, Nov. 26, the teenagers’ motorbike was involved in a violent accident with the police car which was traveling lower than 30 miles per hour. According to the NY Times, wit-nesses of the incident said that the police-men prevented the youths from getting assistance and then left the scene and the victims. Certain lower-class areas such as these have had particularly higher tensions between the youths and the police force in recent years which has contributed to sev-eral violent riots, namely the 2005 riots across France which began after the elec-

trocution of two teens who were report-edly fleeing from police when they encoun-tered the lines. In a mere two days, over 70 buildings and cars were burned, in addition to over 80 police officers receiving injuries, many of them serious. The youths have

used stones, glass, fireworks, and petrol bombs among other weaponry in their destruction while the riot police officers responded with tear gas, paint guns, and rubber bullets. Police stations in the town of Villiers-le-Bel and in nearby Arnouville were burned and pillaged, two petrol sta-tions were set ablaze, and the local railway station damaged.

Lakshmi before and after the surgery.

Youths riot and tear gas flows in the streets.

By Alexandra Porter Amongst H-K’s finest students, two play a double role as seniors and he-roes.

D a n Cohen and Mike Dunn, whose family tradition is being a part of H a d d a m ’ s team, respond daily to all calls made to 911. T h i s c o m p l e t e l y voluntary or-g a n i z a t i o n

trains young adults to know fire safety and EMT procedures like the back of their hands. Every Monday all volunteers

gather at the fire department for drill training and meetings which prepares them for everyday accidents. Both seniors remember a call for an accident on Route 9 in May of 2007. “A school bus from a local town had blown a tire and had four complete flip rotations,” said Mike Dunn. Once they both arrived at the scene they helped escort twenty lacrosse players to the hospital. “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life,” Mike Dunn continued. With all that the two young men give to the community, the school gives back to them by allowing them to leave school early to help at accident scenes. “They serve as a valuable asset to our school and community,” said Assis-tant Principal Priscilla Luoma. Recently, fellow student Joe Van Huysen had an allergic reaction during a

football practice. Mike Dunn responded to the call almost immediately to assist Van Huysen by placing him in an ambulance. “I was thankful and impressed on how quickly they responded. It’s a differ-ent story when you’re the one in danger rather than seeing it happen to someone else,” said Van Huysen. Tasks performed by the Had-dam fire department include firefighting, hazardous material response, ALS emer-gency Medical Service, Vehicle Rescue (extrication), and search/rescue. Haddam’s fire department proudly protects 7,300 people living in an area of 46.4 square miles. In the upcoming year Haddam’s fire department plan on having faster re-sponses and focusing on being number one.

Students Among H-K’s Unsung Heroes

December 2007 Page 5

NEWS

2008’s Presidential Election Heats Up 2008’s Presidential Election is coming up and the candidates are blazing the campaign trail. The upcoming election has cre-ated a lot of excitement and has certainly

brought up a lot to discuss. The candidates’ platforms have to do with some very major issues and the

side or approach each candidate takes can either make or break them. Some of these major issues such as health care, Iraq, immigration, and abortion are very touchy subjects for the American people and are

something to consider and look at when choosing a candi-date. A recent presidential poll done November 28, 2007 by Rasmussen Presidential Polls shows that Democrat Hillary Clinton is in the lead with 41%, followed by Republi-can Rudy Giuliani with 23%, and then, Democrat Barrack Obama with 17%. Some of H-K’s 18 and soon-to-be 18-year-olds are planning on registering and

voting in the upcoming Presidential Elec-tion of 2008. “I feel it’s very important to vote even if you're only 18 because you’re

a part of the nation as well,” said H-K Senior Stacey Weaver who will be turning 18 on February 13, 2008. Students like Stacey feel very proud and important to be able to vote for their future president. Election 2008 has brought ex-citement to H-K and all of the U.S.A. The students are watching these tough candi-dates battle it out in their race towards the presidency, and the students are pre-paring to make the vote that counts.

By Arantza Solabarrieta

“I feel it’s very important to vote

even if you’re only 18 because you’re a part of the nation as well.”

By Katrina Ryder There are many active clubs and organizations functioning here at Haddam-Killingworth High School. Here are high-lights of some of them: Future Leaders Of Haddam-Killingworth (FLOHK) The main goal of FLOHK is to promote and encourage respect among the staff and the students of our high school. Member Arantza Solabarrieta says that the group tries to “make positive changes to our environment.” The group is currently recruiting new members and is excited to continue on their mission. H-K Players The drama club at H-K works constantly to embrace and foster the arts and the expression of creativity. The group just finished their production of “The Little Shop Of Horrors” which was a huge suc-cess. The Players are looking forward to the many events that are coming in the spring: a student-directed production to

compete in The Connecticut Drama Asso-ciation competition, and a second show, “You Can’t Take It With You”. Student Council Student council is open to any student in the H-K community who wishes to represent the concerns of the student body. The blood drive was organized by the student council and was a success, benefiting the Red Cross greatly. In the winter, they hope to host a winter ball that is currently scheduled for Jan. 26. In Febru-ary, they will be selling and delivering car-nations. National Honor Society The National Honor Society is very excited for the approaching Wish Week. Anyone can submit a wish to the wish box in the main office, with a NHS member during lunch, or directly to Ms. Allesandrine. Submitted wishes will be ac-cepted up until Dec. 14. Wishes will be granted during the following week.

French Honor Society The French Honor Society is responsible for organizing the Doctors Without Borders fundraiser that raised over $400. In 2008 they will be sending out New Year cards to the faculty. Spanish Honor Society The Spanish Honor Society is continuing to sell lollipops at different times during the year. The proceeds from this fundraiser are benefiting a unique source. The Society is saving the money to buy a second livestock animal to be sent to an unfortunate family in Nicaragua. Geocaching Club This club ventures about once a month to various parks around the state. In the past they have hiked the course at Hammonassett State Park and at Chatfield Hollow. The next planned excursion is to Hurd State Park. This club also can meet at lunch and use the school’s own course.

The Hoppin’ Clubs of Haddam-Killingworth

Page 6 December 2007

By Alexandra Porter Just like the beats he created in the studio, his heart beat just as bold.

The news of eighteen-year-old Michael D. Gang’s suicide left family and friends motionless on November 3, 2007.

After graduating from Morgan

High in Clinton, CT he chose to attend Mitchell College in New London, CT in search of success as a young musician.

This local “throw-down” music lover’s death sparked the idea to his band members to dedicate a night just to Mike.

Members of These Green Eyes and the Gang family decided to hold a benefit concert in memory of Michael and what he stood for.

With Michael having previously been enrolled in therapy for anger and anxi-ety, no one took time to think that his once-upon-a-time problems were going to be an issue again.

His hardcore, roll-with-the-punches kind of lifestyle created a devious disguise in which family and friends were unaware of the power of Michael’s emo-tions.

When word seeped out of the idea of a benefit concert, the Brett Renfrew Teen Center in Clinton responded by offer-ing to promote the help that they offer to teens in need of counseling.

“No one really saw this coming; never-theless he’s a broken heart that the world will never forget. Just a fragile soul caught in the hands of fate. He was loved and will be remembered,” said Michael O’Rourke, a fel-low Morgan High student.

On Nov. 6, 2007 a wake was held for Michael at the Swan Fu-neral Home where hun-dreds of people gathered up and down streets only to wait hours to give their sympathy to the Gang family.

The funeral was held at Saint Mary’s Church in Clinton the following day. The family requested that all friends wear jeans and hoodies to give the funeral a Mike kind of twist.

These Green Eyes, a major label rock/emo band, per-formed all songs chosen by Hannah, Michael’s younger sister, such as “Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World.

“We are unable to put into words the pain, loss and heartbreak that we are all feeling at this time. We’d like to thank eve-ryone for all the kind words, sentiments, thoughts, and prayers. Please keep in mind, suicide is not an answer,” said guitarist

Greg Mauro. When the funeral came to a closing, all of Mi-chael’s friends gathered closely around his grave as singer from These Green Eyes belted out a Bayside classic with voice cracks, tears, and raw emotion. After a few phone calls The Mike Gang Memorial Benefit Concert made up of six to ten well known bands from around New England was finally created.

It is to be held at the Clinton Town Hall on Friday, Dec. 14th, and doors open at 5:30 p.m. The cost of show is be-tween eight and ten dollars and all dona-tions are welcomed.

Proceeds will be in memory of Michael D. Gang and will go towards funds that help reach out to kids without musical instruments.

Guitars, pianos, drum sets, and a bass, just to name a few, will be given to these many musically deprived children.

“The more of the population that attends the concert, the more young lives that will be affected. Whether they’re in need of counseling or music, this concert will lift everyone’s spirits,” said Mrs. Cotter, a well involved teacher of Morgan and the Brett Renfrew Teen Center.

Join many other music feigns for one night of tribute to Mike and a celebra-tion of music forever.

Benefit Concert in Memory of Michael D. Gang

NEWS

“Just a fragile soul caught in the

hands of fate.”

Page 7 December 2007

EDITORIALS

During this time of giving, ironically, many people do not realize how many indi-viduals are in need in the world. Organizations like the American Red Cross, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and St. Jude

Children’s Research Hospital help people, near and far, overcome disasters, disease,

and

make wishes come true. The Make-a-Wish Foundation

was designed to grant wishes for people with different forms of cancer and disabili-ties. A wish is donated every forty-one minutes.

For Taylor, who has Spina Bifida, her wish was to meet the famous country star, Tim McGraw. This eleven-year-old’s wish was quickly granted and before she knew it, she was going to the Good Morn-

ing America show to meet Tim McGraw. While singing, McGraw held the

microphone in one hand and Taylor’s hand in the other. With all smiles, she watched her hero sing “My Little Girl” to her.

Another wish that was granted was for Alyson, age 6. “I wish to go on a Macy’s shopping spree,” Alyson said, when making her wish.

Not only did she get to fly to New York City to have her shopping spree, many other surprises were in store. Alyson had her own personal shopping assistant while on her shopping getaway weekend. She also got to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with her

family. The last surprise was that she was able to go behind the scenes of the parade and

see floats in their final stages before the flew over they streets in New York City.

Another charitable organization is The Jimmy Fund. Since it was founded in 1948, it has raised more than $400 million. More than 90 cents per dollar raised is directed towards the foundation’s goal to

fight cancer and save lives. This foundation benefits chil-

dren and adults around the world with cancer and helps raise the chances of survival. Donating to The Jimmy Fund is sim-p l e . G o t o www. j immyfund .org and click on gifts. Your donation could help

save lives. Anyone can participate or vol-unteer at any event to help The Jimmy Fund.

A final charity that you can do-nate to is The Connecticut Food Bank. This food bank helps feed adults and kids in Connecticut. Most of us do not realize that having a full pantry is a privilege. Many children do not have the choice of what to eat because they do not have food.

In a recent “Thanksgiving For All” campaign, people across Connecticut helped feed other families for the holiday. With 25,298 turkeys donated, people are being thanked for being so generous this holiday season.

Who Deserves Your Gift This Holiday Season?

This American Hates to Shop

Every year Thanksgiv-ing Day rolls around and I can finally eat all I want, invite all my friends and relatives, and still have enough food to eat for a week afterward. That way, I can use my under-world microwave tac-

tics to supply myself with food whenever I feel it necessary.

I can take pride in the fact, how-ever, that the only thing I can think about Thanksgiving night, while lying in bed, is “darn it, I have to wake up at 3 a.m. to-morrow morning so I can visit Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and every other store in the mall before noon.”

You may ask why, but I think you already know: Because it’s that specific Friday that only rolls around once a year, yes, Black Friday. I always ask myself, while lying in bed Thanksgiving night, why is it called Black Friday? I have yet to fig-

ure that one out. So this year, I forced myself to

watch the traditional Thanksgiving Day football games, and after that, I kicked everybody out and headed straight for bed. I was dismayed to find my alarm clock blasting at 3 a.m., just how I set it. Nonetheless, I got out of bed and headed for my local Best Buy, just as I did every year before. I tragically forgot that all the so-called “sales” advertised in Thursday’s newspaper are priced no lower than usual.

After finding a line about 30-40 people long with people waiting anxiously to burst through the doors of Best Buy, I was quite relieved, knowing that I would most likely be one of the people to re-ceive a computer printer, of which the store only had 20. Mysteriously, when the doors were flung open by various rioting customers, a salesperson informed me that there were no more of the printers that I waited an hour for outside, and he would not write me a rain check.

Feeling defeated, I sped over to

Wal-Mart, only to find a man and his train of carriages being pushed outside by obvi-ous servants, or maybe his children, who looked like his servants. Inside each of the five carts included a brand new 42” plasma television. Upon asking the man what he was doing with a convoy of plasma televi-sions, he informed me that they were on sale for $999 and he was planning on re-selling four of them for $1,500 apiece. That means he spent $5,000, made a profit of $1,000, and got a free plasma television. I was distraught to find out that I had no credit card with me, only cash, and not $5,000 of it.

So in conclusion, my trek to find some great holiday deals was surely enter-taining, but short of the good buys I was hoping for. When I forget about this event next year and wake up at 3 a.m. anyway, hopefully there will be some bet-ter deals, or at least some more accurate ads.

By Ashley Grenman

By David Acampora

Page 8 December 2007

EDITORIALS

Within the past years, the issue of “Global Warming” has become a household term. Celebrities and politicians, mainly former vice president Al Gore, have broadcasted to the world about how the Earth is going to come to an end, all due to “global

warming.” However, is this “warming” really all it is played up to be?

The answer to this is no. Global warming, as described by Al Gore, is a complete hoax. Any type of rising tem-peratures is not caused by humans; it is in fact a completely natural process.

Despite this, people still should-n’t just litter and burn gas. Being environ-mentally friendly is obviously the right thing to do. However, people shouldn’t be environmentally friendly because of “global warming.”

It is human nature to blame someone, or something, for a problem. When humans have a problem, they have a tendency to push the blame on some-thing else. Global warming is a prime ex-ample of it. If someone sees rising tem-peratures or irregular patterns, the cause of this goes straight to something irra-tional.

There is very little scientific agreement on if there is global warming, and if it is actually caused by humans. The liberal media’s version of global warming is based on its own belief, and some basic evidence.

MIT meteorologist Robert Liz-den is a strong opponent of global warm-ing. While creating a documentary about the climate, Lizden discovered that in-creases in C02 in the atmosphere are actually a result of climate change, which is the opposite of what the majority of the media says. He also disagrees with some of the points that the media have put out as “facts.”

Scare tactics have played a ma-jor role in the fight against global warming. Global warming “alarmists” have provided evidence from computers that show a terrible future filled with storms, rising sea levels, and dead polar bears. However, the programs that predicted this future are designed by the “alarmists” and can not

even predict the current weather. Global warming extremists have

even gone as far to blame other events on global warming. The terrible genocide of Darfur has been blamed on global warm-ing and it has been “predicted” that there will be more violence and war. UN Secre-tary General Ban Ki-moon stated this in a newspaper article he published. So appar-ently, not only will our future have more dead polar bears, but war and chaos will also thrive due to a warmer climate.

Another major point to con-sider is the earth’s natural temperature changes. The rising temperatures of earth may be alarming, but by looking at a graph of the long term changes in temperature, a pattern is seen. Over the past thousand years the Earth’s temperature as well as sea levels have fluctuated in a pattern.

According to a study done by the Nation Center for Policy Analysis, the earth is actually going through a natural temperature fluctuation of about 1,500 years. This can be seen by looking at the Antarctic ice. Inside the massive ice shelf, the layers of snow and ice can be read by scientists to show the temperatures of the past. In Antarctica, the ice shows that the earth has actually gone through phases of temperature where it heats up approxi-mately every 1,500 years.

The evidence can not be ig-nored. Any rising temperatures do not have to do with humans. If the globe is

actually warming, we didn't do it, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Estimates show that only 1% of global warming causing materials are actually put into the atmosphere by humans.

The leader of all the hype is the celebrated Al Gore, the former vice presi-dent and self–proclaimed savior of the world. This man has won a Nobel Peace prize, an Oscar, and other awards for his work. But is Al Gore really the man ad-vertised?

Locating Al Gore is difficult, seeing as he owns and lives on three dif-ferent properties. The houses range from a 10,000-square-foot, eight-bathroom mansion to a slightly smaller 4,000-square- foot mansion. It is a good thing Mr. Gore is conservation-minded.

Perhaps the most “inconvenient truth” is the fact that Al Gore uses abso-lutely no green power in any of his houses. His house in Nashville, Tennessee, actually uses more than 20 times the na-tional average of energy. If the man preaches to the masses about living “carbon-neutral” then why hasn’t he taken advantage of it?

At least the money he is making is going to a worthwhile cause. The earn-ings from Gore’s film and speeches will help him paying his whopping $30,000 a year electric bill. In 2006 he used over 221,000 kilowatt- hours.

A normal car emits about .916 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon. However, one of Gore’s two private jets releases 21 pounds of CO2 per gallon. So if Gore flew from Nashville to San Diego once, a family in a station wagon could travel that distance 15 times and still re-lease less gas than the plane.

On Nov. 26, President Bush met with Al Gore to discuss the climate change. After leaving the meeting Gore left on foot, to avoid being seen in his armada of SUVs, which was waiting just down the street. If the man can not even keep his self image straight, then why should anyone trust him with telling the truth?

The moral of the story is, be environmentally friendly, just don’t do it for “global warming.” Perhaps a better phrase would be “climate change.” The world isn’t going to be underwater, but it is still smart to be good to our planet.

A More “Inconvenient Truth”: We Aren’t Causing Warming

Al Gore may be fighting a losing battle.

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By Ryan Blewett

Page 9 December 2007

EDITORIALS

C o m p e t i n g for Miss Teen Con-necticut USA 2008 was unlike anything I’d ever done. If I had won, it would've changed my entire senior year. It was an honor to com-pete, and I'm still satis-fied with my perform-

ance in the competition. The pageant was one of those

things I’d always been curious about. This past July, I was sent a flyer in the mail from the pageant offices, urging me to be a part of this “once-in-a-lifetime opportu-nity”. Deciding that I had nothing to lose, I mailed the flyer back to the offices with my information and headshot, and I waited to hear if I’d been accepted. Within a week, I was interviewed over the phone by a Crown Productions staff member, and soon after learned that I was an official Miss Teen Connecticut delegate.

So now I was legit. What should I do for the three months until the event itself? Well, not too much, to be honest. I filled out paperwork, I bought shoes and makeup, and I posed a lot.

Despite not exactly knowing how to prepare for a beauty contest, I was very excited. I was pleasantly sur-prised by all of the support I received from my friends and classmates going

into it. I expected to do well. I mean, how hard is it to walk in a bathing suit and high heels and answer a bunch of questions about what my greatest influences are?

I learned quite a lot from participating in the Miss Teen Con-necticut USA 2008 pageant. The first is that I never fully realized how short I am. At 5’ 4” in heels, I still had to look up at my competitors who towered above me at 5’11”. The second is that the Miss Con-necticut and Miss Teen Connecticut organization had nearly a full year to prepare for the pageant. The event itself seemed thrown together at the last minute, with the dance numbers being choreographed the day of the pag-eant. Finally, the girls I competed against were much nicer than I expected. My roommate had done the same pageant last year so it was helpful to have some-one around who had done this crazy thing before.

Obviously, I didn’t win, and obviously, I felt a little bit sad about it (but not as sad as the girls that spent over $1000 in makeup, dresses, and hair extensions). I spent three days, trapped inside of a hotel with a bunch of sick girls throwing up everywhere, so in between sanitizing my hands every five minutes and waiting to go onstage in a freezing cold hallway wearing only a bathing suit and heels, it was hard to muster up any

kind of hope that yes, someday this night-mare would be over. And perhaps I would come out of it with a sparkly crown pinned to my head.

The interview part was kind of a joke. It’s made up to be this scary meeting with a bunch of judges who ask you these ridiculously hard questions about subjects you know nothing about. The judges were nice except for one lady that basically stared me down and scoffed after I answered her questions. They asked a lot of the same questions over and over as well as a lot of stupid ques-tions like, “Do you text while driving?”

So after doing all of that with an enormous grin plastered to my face, I ended up not winning anything. But it was okay. I still got to stand on stage and stare menacingly at the judges. I was so happy when it was over. I just wanted to go home and see my family, who were out there supporting me for the three days straight.

So, the moral of the story is, I went out on a limb and tried something different. It was cool for people to appre-ciate and respect that, too. Do I regret doing it? Of course not. If I didn’t do the pageant, I would’ve spent the rest of my life wondering what it would’ve been like. Overall, I am glad I did it, and I will probably do another pageant in the fu-ture. Miss America, here I come.

The Ugly Truth About Beauty Pageants

By Melanie Yates

Page 10 December 2007

FEATURES

By Hannah Donadio November and December are busy months for many H-K seniors who are visiting colleges, writing essays, sending applications, and awaiting the acceptance letters from the schools of their dreams. Many of these “dream colleges” are the same for many seniors here at H-K, who are hoping to get into the best schools they can. Here are some of the most popular choices that members of the class of 2008 are hoping to attend next fall: University of Connecticut: UConn is a fairly large local college that has many different undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is in Storrs and there are five regional cam-puses. UConn offers schools of agricul-ture, business, education, engineering, medicine, law, and others. There are about 20,000 undergraduates and 8,000 graduate and professional students. About 38% of freshman graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes and 81% are from the top 25%. In-state tuition and fees add up to $17,692 and UConn athletics are NCAA Division One. *H-K senior Mike Dunn: “UConn has great courses, good teachers, and a very nice cam-pus.” Bentley College: Bentley is a smaller college located in Waltham, MA. There are only about 4,000 undergraduate students but Bentley is located only min-utes west of Boston. Bentley has a very difficult entrance level and is ranked the sixth best undergraduate college by the

U.S. News and World Report. Majors include accounting, business, English, his-tory, liberal arts and sciences, mathematics, and philosophy. Tuition and fees add up to $38,784 and Bentley is a member of the NCAA Division Two athletics. *H-K senior Laura Brayfield: “I’m looking at Bentley for its D2 volleyball program but I like the campus...It’s very technological with many new buildings.”

Northeastern University: H-K students eager to escape small-town life for a big school in Boston commonly have Northeastern on their lists. It is right in the heart of Boston and has nearly 15,000 undergraduate students. Boston provides Northeastern with the ideal location for co-op programs and internships. Majors can be selected in practically any field, some popular ones including health sci-ences, business, computer and information science, criminal justice, engineering, law, and technological entrepreneurship. Costs

for living on campus are $31,899, and Northeastern is a member of the NCAA Division One athletics. *H-K senior Caroline McManus: “There are great restaurants and really good food. The athletic facilities at Northeastern are fantastic and I love the location because it is right on the ‘T’ in Boston” Fordham University: Another popular city school is Fordham University, located in New York, NY. It has two re-gional campuses in the city, the Rose Hill campus being one of the largest green campuses in NYC. It is a medium sized school with 6,887 undergraduate students. Fordham has a very difficult entrance level and there are countless majors available. Fordham athletics are Division One. *H-K senior Amy Chamberlain: “Fordham has a really pretty campus and there are a pleth-ora of opportunities there because it’s right in New York City.” Rochester Institute of Tech-nology: RIT is a very impressive college located in Rochester, NY. It includes col-leges of business, computing and informa-tion science, engineering, imaging arts and sciences, and liberal arts. Tuition costs are approximately $23,247. There are over 11,000 undergraduates and RIT partici-pates in Division Three athletics. * H-K senior Joe Cerino: “One of my favorite things about RIT is the location. It’s in a small college town but you can drive ten minutes and be in a major city so you get the best of both worlds.”

H-K Seniors Eye Some Top Schools

Fordham University in New York City

By Arantza Solabarrieta Mrs. Webster, choral teacher at Haddam–Killingworth High School, was voted by the RSD 17 School District Board of Education to be this school year’s Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Webster is the successor of Mr. Lewis, H-K’s broadcast communications teacher. The honor of being Teacher of the Year expires when the new school year starts. Mrs. Webster is not just any cho-rus teacher, but she takes on many other school related tasks as well. She recently finished directing the school musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” which went off with a bang, and she is currently putting on the 3rd annual “Shoreline Idol” alongside Mr. Lewis. She appreciates the support of administrators, parents, fellow staff mem-bers, and the high value they place on the arts which allows her to produce a profes-

sional product. She always has the re-sources, tools, and support she needs to put on a play or concert, go on field-trips, and do something different and educational each and every year for the benefit of her students. “It is important to me that my job is constantly evolving so that we are always adding new and exciting activities and les-sons into the school day as well as extra-curricular. I want to produce life-long learn-ers and supporters of the arts while devel-oping leadership and communication skills in my students.” Mrs. Webster has a great passion for what she does, and her love for the arts and her students is what drives her to do more and more each year. Mrs. Webster is also expecting a child of her own this February. She plans to be back from her maternity leave in the middle of spring. She’s confident her stu-dents will get along fine without her and as soon as she gets back she will jump back

into lessons and prepare for the Spring Concert. This Teacher of the Year has time to do it all and still pull it off with flying colors. We would like to congratulate Mrs. Webster on becoming Teacher of the Year and we also wish her luck and lots of joy with her new baby.

H-K Sings Praises of Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Webster with student Molly Hammel.

Page 11 December 2007

FEATURES

Writers’ Strike: Goodbye Sitcoms, Hello Reality By Aly D’Amato As members of the Writers Guild of America, film and television writ-ers started their strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Produc-ers when their three-year contract expired at midnight on Oct. 31. The strike was prompted by the studios’ refusal to grant certain monetary rights to their writers. Producers “refused to grant the union jurisdiction for most new-media writing,” according to the Los Angeles Times on Nov. 5, as well as refus-ing to pay writers when movies or TV shows are purchased and reused through iTunes, DVDs, and DVDRs. A group of strike workers put together by the WGA union were immedi-ately prepared to stand at the picket lines at major studios including Disney, Warner Bros., CBS Television City, and NBC head-quarters.

As the end of the contract drew closer, studios rushed to shoot as many episodes as they could with the still avail-able scripts, but with a strike now in place viewers can expect to see prime time filled with reality shows and reruns within the next few weeks and into the new year.

Many popular shows, including “Desperate Housewives,” “Ugly Betty,” “CSI,” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” are quickly approaching the last of their new material, while “24” has postponed its shootings. The popular sitcom “The Office,” as well as a handful of others, is currently in limbo, with talk of perhaps adapting the UK ver-sion of the show. The strike has reminded the American public of the 22-week writers’ walkout in 1988, which finished off some series and burdened the entertainment industry with losses reaching $500 million. Television fans must now won-der what shows may be put on the chop-ping block this time around and what a prolonged strike between the Writers Guild and the Producers will mean for 2008’s television season.

The cast of “Ugly Betty” stands on the picket line in support of the writers.

Student Holiday Gift Wishes By Jessie Ticino

I asked students what it was they wanted as their holiday wish, and these were some responses: “World Peace.” - Brian Chernauskas “Call of Duty 4” - Guido “A new car!” - Jessie Melonson “That the boys’ basketball team will win the Shoreline Championship.” -Paul Zanardi “A delicious refreshing ice cold Arizona Iced Tea.” -Jamie Sidler “ Warm, dry, sunny weather at the end of March.”-Mr. Brooks “To be loved.” -Wyatt Haynosch “I would want a successful wrestling season more than anything.” -Mr. Korper

“A big friendly pony.” -Chris Drexler “I want to meet Oprah Winfrey.” -Alex Langevin

“I want to make sure my girlfriend is happy throughout the holiday.” -Ryan Conway “A penguin.” -Sean Moyer “Guitar Hero… and Greg Annino.” -Joey Van Huysen “I want Sergeant Sexy under the mistle-toe.” -Gary Gurecki “That I won’t be abducted into a commu-nistic nation.” -Ryan Blewett “Gift cards to buy all of my friends and associates gifts.” -Nelson Struck “I want a Christmas hunny.” -Jessup Dean “That I can play football again.” -Adam Cubeta “I want an I-Phone!” -Rachel Welch

December 2007 Page 12

FEATURES

By Chelsea Meegan With December 25 coming up and a winter vacation to follow, a nice holiday retreat is a perfect idea for anyone looking for a little extra relaxation. From the beautiful ambiance of Italy, to the tur-quoise waters of the islands, here are three of my favorite winter getaways. If your idea of a vacation is hours spent sun-bathing on mile-long beaches, the Cayman Islands may be the haven you’ve been looking for. The Caymans consist of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Each island is comprised of an array of different things to do— from snorkeling and caving to spoiling yourself with delicious dining and shopping. But the recurring vacation favor-ite are the warm, white-sanded beaches. Visitors can suntan and relax on the Cay-mans sun-kissed beaches for hours at a time. Others have the option to take a surfing lesson or go parasailing in the spar-kling waters of the Western Caribbean. There is just so much to see, like 600 pound turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm, and historic graves of the islands ancient pirates. Without a doubt, a vaca-tion at the Cayman’s will keep you enter-tained. Another beautiful place to visit is

the U.S. Virgin Islands. A very friendly atmosphere, the Virgin Islands are perfect for a winter fam-ily trip. Activities such as trekking through tropical forests or snorkeling with the sea turtles and underwater wildlife are sure to keep you out of that hotel room, and exploring the beautiful islands.

A senior this year, Christine Tischbein, has been visiting for years. “We usually go about every four years and I’m excited because we’re going this Feb-ruary. I cannot wait! We go swimming and snorkeling every day, and I love it!” With its delectable cuisine, stun-ning views, and variety of fun activities, a holiday spent on the Virgin Islands is a little piece of paradise. For my top vacation getaway

spot, I chose Milan, Italy, Known as the world’s greatest fashion district, this Italian city is full of historic sites, tastes, and a naturally vintage look. There are many things to do such as visiting the gorgeous hidden gardens and having a bite to eat at the various ethnic restaurants. Many tourists in the city enjoy strolling around the city and admiring the buildings and mixtures of colors displayed around them. A city of beauty indeed, Milan is a match for any traveler. Everyone deserves a vacation once in a while, so maybe next time you’re thinking about going away, you can try one of these lovely places.

Top Three Vacation Spots

Trunk Bay of the Virgin Islands

Shopping in Milan

By Erin Moriarty The winter break is one of the most anticipated times of the school year, and the H-K community is taking full advantage of it. What are some of these plans? “For my birthday my mom is giving me a plane ticket to Florida for a week. I’m going to get a tan, go to Dis-ney or Universal Studios and I’m going to bond with my grandma. But I’m spending Christmas at my house.”

–Stephanie Venuti “Wrestling practice and hope-fully going to Disney with my family. And plowing snow to make money.”

–Nick DiGioia “Hoping it snows and going camping with my friends.” –Mike Ossa

“Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house I go.” –Christina Pudeler “Probably gonna go snowmobiling and

work a lot to make money for gas.” – Jason Jansak

“I’m going to Canada to Mount Joy.” – Darcy Hughes “I’m going snowboarding and to a Vanna concert with my friend Chris.”

–Tyler Reiser “We plan on going to New York to go shopping and visiting our grandmother.”

–Avalon and Alisha Taboada “Over Christmas all my cousins are coming down and I’ll be at basketball practice. And we’re having Christmas at my house so it will be epic.”

– Lindsay Gorman

“I plan on going to Foxwoods to the huge buffet. I’m going to play with my presents a lot, go sledding, and hope-fully get a new phone for Christmas.”

– Steve Cavanaugh “Spending time with my family, friends, and especially my best friend Kelly. And hopefully getting something good, like moccasins.” – Paige Baccaro “I am spending Christmas with my niece, Cassie, and my best friend Paige.” – Kelly Lisitano “I’m going snowboarding. Snowboard until I can’t move.”

–Mr. Kish It looks like most peo-ple are either headed for the slopes or just chilling at home this year!

Holidays Look Bright For H-K

December 2007 Page 13

FEATURES

By Chelsea Meegan

Everyone looks forward to the season of pumpkin pie and Santa’s sleigh. However, what many forget is the chaos of holiday shopping.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day of the year, fell on Nov. 23 this year, which marked the beginning of this season’s holiday shopping.

The day gets its name from the shift of holiday profitability. It was when retailers went from being in the red, to being profitable, or in the black.

Shoppers worldwide go into the midnight madness of Black Friday anticipating huge bargains and the end of their family’s Christmas lists.

With stores opening between 12 o’clock midnight and 5 in the morning, the shopping generally becomes a free for all and can sometimes be dangerous.

A freshman at H-K, Marissa Ossa, had this to say,

“It gets so crazy, sometimes I just

want to leave the store. I don’t get how people can push and shove to save like two dollars.”

It may seem chaotic and crazy

for shoppers, but what about all the people who are working in retail?

Such stores as Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Ralph Lauren, and The Gap at Clin-ton Crossings, opened their doors at mid-night and had shoppers until 10 p.m.

Senior Alyssa Holmes, an em-ployee at The Gap, experienced the may-hem.

“The day took forever to end. The customers were rude and impatient because the lines were so long, and by the end of the day the store looked like a tornado hit.” Pushing and shoving can sometimes be too much to handle for shoppers, which is why there is an alternative. Online shopping has become the second most popular way to shop for the holidays. Just think, all of your Christmas shopping can be

done with the click of a button! Unfortunately, this year’s

shopping hustle and bustle has only just begun. So if you still have some last minute shopping to do, make sure you’re prepared for the time-consuming, long-line-waiting disarray of this holiday season.

Ready, Set, Shop!

Shoppers on Black Friday

By Erin Moriarty Although winter is most com-monly associated with “holiday cheer,” the cold weather and lack of sunlight can affect people in the opposite way, in a condition known as Sea-sonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Symptoms o f SAD are tiredness, weight gain, difficulty concentrat-ing, increased appetite, and an increased desire to be alone. On top of that, people with SAD have the same symptoms of regular depressions: anxiety, sad-ness, loss of interest in usual activities, and with-drawal from social activi-ties. Only four to six percent of the people in the United States suffer from SAD. Most people who experience SAD

go through the less-severe kind, called the “winter blues.” The winter blues affect 10-20% of people in the United States; three-quarters of them are women. Junior Anna Brundage says, “I

know someone who gets the winter blues. Some days it’s bad, some days it’s not so bad.” The exact cause of the winter blues is unknown. How-ever, the main belief is that the sun isn’t out as long as it is dur-ing any other time of the year. People who live farther away from the equator are more likely to have SAD. Because the sun isn’t out as long, our biological clocks that regulate hormones sleep, and moods are altered. Our

“clocks” run slower. Douglas Jacobs, M.D., a member

of the American Psychiatric Association, explains that “it has also been noted that

those who work long hours inside office buildings with few windows may experi-ence symptoms [of seasonal depression].”

Another belief is that the chemi-cals in the brains of people with that transmit information betweens nerves are altered. Possibly, this malfunction in neu-rotransmitters is the result of a lack of sunlight.

No matter what the exact cause is, it has to do with exposure to sunlight, or lack thereof.

There are a number of ways to treat SAD. One way is to take antide-pressants. Another way is through a method called light therapy. This is when someone with SAD goes through expo-sure to a special fluorescent lamp for about an hour a day. A simple way to treat the winter blues is to just get outside when the sun’s out. By increasing outdoor activities, you’re one step closer to saying goodbye to the winter blues.

Winter Isn’t A Cheery Time For All

Page 14 December 2007

FEATURES

By Alex Langevin F ind ing that perfect Christmas tree this year will be a little easier with the Cump-stone family’s Winter-berry Farm up and run-ning. Located at 104 Parker Hill Extension in Killingworth, Winterberry Farm has been a major distributor of Christmas trees to the shoreline area in the past decade. With recent expansions to the farm, the Cumpstone family is primed for an-other successful year. Creator and mastermind of the busi-ness, Peter Cumpstone, honed his skills for tree farming at the University of Maine where he studied forestry. After college he worked part time at a tree farm and gained experi-ence that he used to start his own business. “I was always interested in trees when I was younger. Studying forestry in college inspired me to create my own farm,” he said. W i n t e r b e r r y Farm has a wide variety of tree types that spread across four acres of land. Ranging from Blue Spruce to Douglas Fir, there isn't a tree you can’t find. However, four acres of trees calls for a lot of hard work. “We start in the spring and plant trees out in the fields. We fertilize them and mow in between each one. The tough-est job is pruning the trees which takes several months,” Pete said. Also, an elec-tric fence surrounds the fields to keep the deer and other unwanted animals away from the trees.

Shelly Cumpstone, Pete’s wife and biggest supporter, loves what the business has brought into her family’s life. “I really think it has brought our family closer to-gether. When the winter season comes around, our whole family is out working on

the farm. Our parents come and help us out along with other rela-tives,” she said. Sons Tucker and Greg Cumpstone have been working on the farm all of their high school years and are in the posi-tion to be possible succes-sors of their father. W i n t e r b e r r y Farm is not limited to only trees, however. A variety of wreaths and kissing balls are also hot products that the farm brings more customers in with. This is where Shelly comes in. Her main involvement is in making the wreaths alongside fellow employ-ees Jenna Loos and Corinne Mazzotta. Shelly also plays an important role in sales. Recent expan-sions to the farm are keeping the business the success that it is. “The customer base has increased so much that we couldn’t keep up with the demand so we expanded to keep the supply level with the demand,” Pete said. “Business has been going great and now we’re starting to come to a steady level of trees sold each year. We’ve hit a plateau the last few years and I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone,” he said. Probably the most successful touch the Cumpstones have added

to their tree farm is the free hot chocolate that is available in their barn before the fields. Aside from the quality of the prod-ucts, the hot chocolate must be the secret that keeps customers coming back each year.

Winterberry Farm Full of Family Trees

Pete Harrington wraps up a tree.

Greg Cumpstone and Pete Harrington wait to help customers. (Photos courtesy of the Cumpstone family)

Page 15 December 2007

FEATURES

By Melanie Yates “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” was writ-ten by Gregory Maguire and published in 1995, based on the 1939 movie, “The Wiz-ard of Oz”. In 2003, the book was adapted into a Broadway play and has been one of the most wildly successful new musicals ever. The show illustrates the other side of Elphaba, more commonly known as the “Wicked Witch of the West.” It takes place mainly at Shiz University, a school that both Elphaba and Galinda (later to become Glinda the Good Witch) attend. It is about her tumultuous relationship with all of the people in her life; her peers, her forbidden love, Fiyero, and of course, with the Wizard of Oz himself.

I’ve seen the show three times as of now, and have loved it even more with each viewing. My third time seeing this mu-sical was the most memorable. Uber-soprano Galinda, portrayed by Katie Rose Clarke, had the most chilling and magnifi-cent voice, and she started the show on a

high note with, “Nobody mourns the wicked.” The ensemble made this produc-tion visually stimulating to watch; they were incredibly energetic throughout. I am al-ways so impressed by the set design, cos-tumes, as well as the actors’ impeccable ability to pull off multiple quick changes. The wicked witch, Elphaba, portrayed by Carmen Cusack sustained her notes beauti-

fully during “The Wizard and I.” I was floored by the power in both of the principal male voices, Boq, portrayed by Brad Weinstock and Fiyero, by Cliffton Hall. Though she is not the most promi-nent character, Elphaba’s sister Nes-sarose, portrayed by Deedee Magno Hall, had a gorgeous voice, and I thought Nessarose’s dynamic character was very intriguing. And of course, the song, “Defying Gravity” proved to be the most climactic end to Act One. If you have already seen and loved this show, I highly recommend that you read the novel. It is directed at a more mature audience than the play, with more subplot twists and turns. It

provides grittier detail into Elphaba’s child-hood, her relationship with Fiyero, as well as with her introduction to Dorothy, the little girl from Kansas who was to take her life.

I highly recommend this show to anyone who loves the original "The Wizard of Oz." The show is playing at the Bushnell in Hartford until Sunday, Dec. 9.

A “Wickedly” Good Musical Comes to the Bushnell

Glinda the Good Witch

Elphaba, singing “Defying Gravity”, the most epic song of the show.

Page 16 December 2007

FEATURES

Editor’s Note: The Cougar Chronicle staff members wanted to reflect on 2007 as we are approaching the New Year. Here are our thoughts: “My best memory of 2007 was the time I spent in Rhode Island this sum-mer. I have a cottage up there and I brought my BFF Kat up for a week and we had a blast! I love the beach and it was just an awesome and relaxing time.”

-Jessie Ticino “My best memory of 2007 is without a doubt winning the Shoreline Championship for the 2nd consecutive year in a row. I didn't think I could ever have a better experience after the first time we won, but I proved myself wrong. I can’t wait to see the addition to the ban-ner. Well in.”

-Alex Langevin “ ‘Hey Girl, come with me and let yourself go..’ Hands down the 2007 OAR concert was beyond amazing. Turn left, you see people you know; turn right, you see people you know. All around, it’s a yearly tradition that just keeps getting better and better.”

-Lexie Porter “Out of all great things that happened in 2007, I’d have to say that my best moments were all the concerts that I went to. At each one, something out-standing happened. I went on a tour with my friend, Sarah, and we met a bunch of bands. We made many friend and got lots of merchandise.”

-Erin Moriarty “My best memory of 2007 was the time that I spent at camp this summer with people from all over the world.”

- Aly D’Amato “In 2007, my favorite memory would have to be hanging out with my crazy friends. We went to a lot of differ-ent places such as Six Flags. With many surprises in store, it was an eventful sum-mer that will never be forgotten.”

-Ashley Grenman

“My fondest memory this year was the success of the H-K football team. We had the best record in school history, 8-2, and we beat North Branford under the lights, which hasn’t been done in years.”

-Joe Van Huysen

“One of my best memories of 2007 was at my friend’s annual Labor Day picnic. Her parents rented a moon bounce for the party, and three of us decided to spend the night outside but soon changed our mind since it got so dark and we real-ized how many dirty feet had been on it.”

-Anna Brundage “My best memory of 2007 was the time I spent in Germany over April vacation with my family. It was a lot of fun spending time with my German relatives and visiting another country.”

-Christine Tischbein “My best memory from 2007 was the volleyball season. I was so proud of our team for working so hard and mak-ing it back to Shoreline and State Finals. We had so much fun and had so many memories; I couldn't have asked for a better senior season.”

-Hannah Donadio

“All I have to say is I grew from 4’10” to 4’11”...FINALLY.”

-Arantza Solabarrieta “The best part of 2007 was the summer trip to Maine. Whether my best friend and I were tanning on the beach with smoothies or taking Shrinx, the boxer, for walks or even getting cute hilarious tattooes down the street; we had the best time ever.”

-Chelsea Meegan “The post-graduation party at Katelyn Hollenbeck’s house was the most epic moment of 2007 for me. It was the moment I realized. ‘Whoa, I’m a senior now.’ The morning after was pretty fun, too, because we sat around and watched ‘The Wiggles’.”

-Melanie Yates “Perhaps the most memorable part of the year of 2007 just has to be when the ever famous Britney Spears shaved her head.”

-Ryan Blewett “Aria Da Capo was my favorite experience in 2007. Not only did the play win at the Connecticut Drama Associa-tion Competition, but it made some of the best memories that I have.”

-Katrina Ryder

What’s Your Best Memory of 2007?

Page 17 December 2007

SPORTS

By Hannah Donadio Both the boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams have begun preparing for the winter season and are planning on working hard in order to make their mark in cham-pionships. Last year in Shorelines, both teams placed second behind powerhouses in the division: Coginchaug on the boys’ side and East Hampton on the girls’.

This year looks promising for the boys. They are returning many talented athletes, many of whom had recently be-come state champions after an exception-ally successful cross country season. And for the first time in a while, a big group will give the boys’ team depth as well as quality, which may be the key to coming out on

top of the Shoreline Conference. Senior distance runner Mike Waterbury returns after placing third in the 1,000 meters, second in the one mile, and third in the two mile in Shorelines, as well as earning fifth place in Class S Cham-pionships last year. Leading the sprinters this year is junior Matt O’Brien, who placed sixth in the 55 meter dash and sec-ond in the 300 meters in Shorelines last

year. The boys’ team will be led by seniors Paul Massicott, Wyatt Haynosch, Dave Bartolotta, and thrower Derrick Weiss, junior Kevin Allison, and sophomores Jason Fu-naro, Connor Walsh, and Ray Cerino. “The boys’ team is looking good this year,” says Massicott. “If we work hard we can have some great performances.” Coach Matt Diglio, who has recently been named the Shoreline Coach of the Year, will not just be focusing on the boys, though. A very talented and experienced group of girls are returning to the track that also has its eyes on gold medals.

“Even though we have a small girls’ team,” says senior sprinter Abby Baecker, “we have some very strong run-ners, so we should pull out some good times and hopefully some wins.” Top performances at Shorelines last year included a first place shot-put throw for current senior Courtney Han-

nen; fourth place in the 55 meter dash for junior Siobhan Blancaflor; second place and a school record for senior Gaby Haynosch in the 600 meters; third place for senior Amy Chamberlain in the two mile as well as sixth and seventh for sophomores Sarah Tischbein and Clair Helenek, respectively; and third place in the long jump for senior Hannah Donadio. Both the sprint medley and the four by two hundred meter relays came out in fifth place and the four-by-four hun-

dred meter relay in second, missing All-Conference status by less than half a sec-ond. The girls’ team also had a strong showing in State Championships with fourth place finishes by Haynosch in the 600 meters and Hannen in the shot put. The four-by-four hundred meter relay composed of returning runners Haynosch and Donadio placed second as well as the sprint medley relay made up of Blancaflor, Donadio, and McManus. The strong core of athletes is looking to do its best this season and make all of their hard work pay off when it comes time to capturing some champion-ships.

“If we work hard, we can have some great

performances.”

By Anna Brundage H-K Baseball Coach Mark Brookes was honored at the 31st annual induction ceremony to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Along with one media member and five other high school coaches from around the state, Coach Brookes was rec-ognized on Nov. 15 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington Connecticut. Mr. Brookes and the other in-ductees were also recognized at the half time show of a UConn football game on Sept. 29. Coach Brookes is the only coach in H-K history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mr. Brookes has taught physical education at H-K since it opened 32 years ago and was Haddam-Killingworth’s teacher of the year in 1990.

“I feel very honored to be cho-sen,” said Coach Brookes. Past awards he has received in-clude four times winning the Middlesex Board of Umpires’ Sportsmanship Award, the Shoreline Conference baseball coach of the year for two years, and nine Shoreline Conference championships. He was named CHSCA coach of the year in 2002 and the NHSACA coach of the year finalist in 2004. “He’s a smart guy and knows his stuff,” said junior Chris Bova who held a position as a sophomore on Brookes’ 2007 team. The plaque dedicated to him, and those of the other coaches, hangs in the Hall of Fame located at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Indoor Track Gears Up for Season

H-K Coaching Legend Honored

Boys’ and girls’ track teams during practice

Coach Brookes

Page 18 December 2007

SPORTS

By Joe Van Huysen With four starters returning from last year’s team, the boys’ basketball team has high expectations for this year’s season. Coach John Kuckel returns for his third year as head coach and hopes to re-cord his first winning season at H-K. Kuckel is a history teacher at Cromwell High School where he is also the coach of the Cromwell boys’ golf team in the spring. This season, the boys are coming off a 9-11 record last year, where they made both the Shoreline and State Tournaments. Senior captain Alex Langevin is confident in his team and is excited about this year. “We have a lot of depth, espe-cially at the guard position. There are at least six or seven guys that could do damage in that spot,” said Langevin. “Last year we didn't play fluently together. Our on-court chemistry will be very important to our success this year.” With many experienced senior and

juniors returning, Langevin’s expectations should be met. Seniors this year include Dan Wendt, Brendan Hatin, Alex Pollack, AJ Margnelli, Matt Martin, Mike Theriault, Paul Zanardi, Dan Brough, and Alex Langevin. Standout junior Steven Landell returns with other juniors Sean Zapatka and Sam Bar-

buto. Another player that looks to have an impact on this year’s team is sophomore Rob Flynn, who is known for his tenacious defense. Coincidentally, Langevin thinks the defense has to be the strength this year. “Defense was one of our biggest problems last year. This year our ability to shut

down our opponents will really make or break our season,” he said. Goals for this year’s team are to qualify for both the Shoreline and State Tournament and to win both. The boys will start off the season on Dec. 15, when they play Portland at home. Talent and depth are at a high for the Cougars this year. If the team uses these strengths to their advantage, they should be nothing but successful. The Cougar Den will be packed and ready to go as soon as the first game begins. Make sure to come

and be a part of the H-K basketball atmosphere and cheer on the team this winter.

Is the Third Time the Charm?

Coach Kuckel talks strategy. (Photo courtesy of Killingworthtoday.com)

By Jessie Ticino One of the most excit-ing parts of the winter season at H-K is the Cougar Den. However, there has been some concern about how well the Den will do, having lost some key seniors from last year. The Den expanded last season under the leadership of Jay Bar-buto, who, at the end of the sea-son, dubbed Gary Gurecki and Brian Chernauskas (Bubsy) the new leaders of the den. “I hope people can keep up the tradition. Some may think it’s a little club but it’s seri-ous business. Blue and gold is in our blood,” says Jay. As for his predecessors, Mr. Barbuto says, “They have a lot of work to do, to sustain the newly found tradition. I wish them the best of luck.” Despite some apprehension, both Gary Gurecki and Bubsy are not intimidated and are excited to start the season. “Our main focus is still to help the team win games,” says Gary. “We really want to con-

tinue to show support and unify H-K.” There were a number of favorite cheers last year that the boys plan to rein-troduce this season. Classics such as the D-Train whistle, Stevie Wonder chants, and the O–Captain cheer will all be coming back. The dynamic duo also plan to add a few new cheers this year, but didn't want

to unveil them. They hope to begin new traditions such as tailgating and getting on the news to deliver updates. “It takes five players and one Den to win a game,” says Bubsy. Last year’s Den did much to encourage school unity. Teacher James Larkin noticed its effects on both the school and the team. “I think it’s great that stu-dents can come together and sup-port the basketball team. They can definitely impact the outcome of the game and I can’t wait to see them in action.” The basketball team understands the importance of the

Den to their morale. Captain Alex Langevin says of the Den, “They inspire us to go all out.” When asking him about this year’s Den, he said, “I’m uncertain because of all the seniors we lost, but whoever is in the Den will be absolutely insane and we can’t wait to start the season with them.”

A packed house from last year. (Photo courtesy of Gary Gurecki)

New Cubs in the Den?

December 2007 Page 19

SPORTS

By Alex Langevin Girls’ basketball is in season and ready to run. With a young but experi-enced team, the Lady Cougars will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead. Captains Michelle Fillion and Jess Hall are excited for the season and hope for a Shoreline Championship. This will be a diffi-cult goal, and both captains under-stand what the team needs to work at to be successful. “We’re undersized this year,” said Fillion. “We are going to have to be a scrappy team that hustles for every loose ball. We need to be able to run,” she said. The girls graduate their two dominant forwards Megan Murray and Jenna Loos. Murray was an All-Shoreline selection last year. Sopho-more transfer Jordan Schultz will look to fill the holes in the backcourt while Fillion,

Allie Rand, and Shelby “Shelbyville” Van Huysen should be the primary scoring op-

tions. Deanna Loso will continue to lock down opponents on defense and Hall will handle point guard duties with Fillion.

Coach Jim Bombaci is excited for this season but has early concerns. “Really

staying healthy is what’s most important right now. We have a couple of girls out to injuries and need to get them back on the court,” he said. Fillion, Van Huysen, Rand, and Loso will bring the majority of the ex-perience to the team, as each started last year. With their combination of speed and scoring, the girls will look to run teams out of the gym. “Everyone is giving 100% in practice and we can’t wait to start the season,” Hall said. “Before we strive for anything else, we need to win our first game. We have to take this season one step at a time,” Bombaci said. With their first game Dec. 5 at St. Paul Catholic, the girls will have the opportunity to make that first step

towards success.

Girls’ Basketball Sprints Into New Season

Shelby Van Huysen looks to pass. (Photo courtesy of Killingworthtoday.com)

By Joe Van Huysen With the winter sports season coming to a start, it will be difficult to overlook the very successful fall sports teams here at H-K. For volleyball, the girls ended up 2nd in the Shoreline and 2nd in Class S, where they unfortunately came up short in the State Championship against Coventry. The girls had a very successful season with an overall record of 21-3. Both soccer teams were intro-duced to Class M this year, when they previously were in Class S. Boys’ soccer repeated this year with another Shoreline Championship for the second year in a row. They also made it to the quarter finals in Class M where they ended their season in a loss to Suffield. The boys finished with an impressive 16-5 overall record. The Girls’ soccer team also had a very solid season, finishing in the semifinals of the Shoreline Tournament and making it to the 2nd round of the Class M State Tournament. The girls

finished with an overall record of 11-6-2. As for field hockey, the girls won the Shoreline Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, breaking a school record. The Lady Cougars finished with an overall record of 12-5 and ended their season with a loss to Avon in the State Quarterfinals. The cross country teams had a very good year, especially the boys’ team, which was champion of both the Shoreline and the State and had multiple All-State Runners. The girls’ swimming team had a good season and ended with a 5-5 record. Senior Dempsey Haynosch went All-State. The football team had an im-pressive 8-2 record and was one win away from making the state tournament. This is the best record in H-K football history and the Cougars finished third in the Pe-quot Conference behind Cromwell and Hyde. Make sure to follow the winter sports here at H-K, which include boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, boys’

Fall Sports Conclude Successful Season

Both teams celebrate their success. (Photos courtesy of Joe Van Huysen and Alex Langevin)

Page 20 December 2007

SPORTS

By Ryan Blewett After coming out of a rough 2006 season, the boys’ swim team is look-ing forward to potentially one of the best years in its history. Last season was rough on the team. With ten swimmers, they won only one meet. How-ever, in almost every race H-K placed in the top three. The lack of swimmers held back the team, especially when going against Avon or Middletown’s 40+ swimmers. This year, the tides have turned. Despite losing two key swimmers, Kevin Peterson and Chris Bell, the swim team is ready for a comeback. With over 20 swimmers, the future looks prom-ising.

Returning members in-clude sophomores Pete Lieberman and Ryan Blewett, juniors Zack Morrello, Doug Fetteroll, and Nick Stanford, and seniors Corinne Mazzotta, Chris Eigner, and Justin Benton-Smith.

Captain Chris Eigner is looking forward to having a good season. Eigner began swimming halfway through his sophomore year and has made leaps and bounds to become the head of the team. His love for swimming as well as natural ability makes him an asset.

“The H-K swim and dive team will be a great success this year,” Eigner said. “Our numbers are much improved from last year and we are feeling the team spirit, so we are going to see what we can do together.”

Junior Doug Fetteroll is another key part of the swim team. With four years of school swimming, numerous years of CAT swimming, and a season of YMCA

swimming under his belt, the 2008 season looks promising for Fetteroll.

Fetteroll believes that the team is at its highest point ever, claiming it is the “sickest it’s ever been.” He looks to

“mimic the other great teams such as [All- American swimmer] Scott Jordan in 2004. I’m looking to go all-conference for the team and we are looking to beat some records in the relay.”

Fetteroll’s hopes of beating a school record are not too far off. Fet-teroll, Morrello, Blewett, and Ludington are hoping to create a champion relay team and take the school medley relay record.

The upperclassmen of the team have turned to freshmen all-star swimmer Jeff Ludington to help pull them into vic-tory. He swims for both the high school team as well as the Cougar Aquatic Team. His honed skills in all the strokes are sure to make him a key part of the team.

Ludington is just one of the new members on the swim team. Many swim-mers, such as junior Tom Kennedy, hold enormous potential for the team.

The diving team this year also boasts several new members. Returning senior Corinne Mazzotta was a turning point for the team last year, placing in every meet and getting points. This year

Mazzotta hopes to lead the team into victory. Senior Denis Ugurlu and freshman Reese Gesick are the new additions to the team. Ugurlu dove in mid-dle school and looks to make a comeback on the high school team, and Gesick drove the middle school team to state championships last year. In addition to all the new swimmers and divers, the boys’ swim team also wel-comes several changes to the

coaching staff. Physics teacher Mr. Schlosser and former English teacher Mr. Devlin are replacing guidance counselor Mrs. Sullivan and 2004 graduate Ross Han-son as the new coaches for this year.

Coach Schlosser is a 1992 gradu-ate of H-K and a “swimming legend.” Not only is he a 1992 All-State swimmer for three events, but he also holds two cur-rent records for relays. His records have been the same since ’92 and they don’t look to be beaten any time soon. His ex-periences in the field of swimming and natural coaching instincts are sure to help him lead the team into victory.

H-K should watch the swim team this year, for a new dynasty may be in the making. The boys’ swim and dive team is sure to make a big footprint in H-K sports history.

Boys’ Swimming Aims to Make H-K History

Zach Morrello perfects his butterfly.

Doug Fetteroll dives into a new season.