May 2015 1 SPARTAN - New Hartford

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s p a r t a n e x p r e s s i o n s • N e w h a r t f o r d s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l • n e w h a r t f o r d , n y

SPARTANNews

Earthquake shakes Nepal

Page 5-6

Sports

Golf, lacrosse, tennis and more

Pages 13-20

Feature

Ride for Missing Children

Pages 21-22

Opinion

It’s the end of the year!

Make the most of it.

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E x p r e s s i o n s

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New Hartford Schools Have TalentNew Hartford Central Schools

Fine Arts Festival By Madeline McIntosh

Saturday May 16th from twelve to four the PTA council will

be sponsoring a New Hartford Central Schools Fine Arts Festival. The festival will feature all students from grades kindergarden through twelfth. It will include more than two thousand pieces. All elementary school students will have at least one piece of

artwork featured. There will be refreshments and activities at the show and

even live demonstrations by high school students. Some of the

activities will include a color mixing station and a photo stand. Elementary school children will have a variety of mediums

featured from tempera and water color pieces to clay sculptures.

“There is so much joy in the younger kids’ work. You can see it through their use of bright colors,” said Mr. Vaughn, an elementary school and high school art teacher.

Perry Junior High School will have its own section of art

work. “Junior high school students work is interesting because you

can see the skill level changing from beginner to advanced,” Mr.

Vaughn said.

New Hartford Senior High School’s Advanced Art students work will also be on display at the art show. All seniors who plan to major in art will get their portfolio featured. This usually includes eight to ten pieces.

Riley Cady a Junior at New Hartford High School designed the flyer for the NHCS Fine Arts Festival

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Photos courtesy of Ms. Sullivan

Award-winning artwork from left to right: Ancient Companion, drawing by Julia Tucker; Garnet Maille Earrings, jewelry by Luke Towne,

Below Zero, drawing by Mallory Max.

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NEWSNew Hartford High School Blood Drive Saves LivesBy Gus Pfisterer

A sterile needle goes into the arm of a normal person donating just one pint of blood, changing the lives of three people forever.

It’s a connection shared between two people that have never met,

but its effects will carry on a lifetime. Redcrossblood.org reports that in the United States today,

every two seconds somebody needs blood.

More than 41,000 donations are needed daily. A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. The number of blood donations

collected in the U.S. in a year: 15.7 million. The number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year: 9.2 million. Although an estimated

38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10% actually do each year. The more people who donate, the more lives

will be saved. “I think the blood drive is a great idea;

it’s an opportunity to make a huge difference in other people’s lives,” New Hartford Junior

George Fanelli stated. “It’s a chance for a normal person to become a hero in the eyes of somebody else,” he added.

“The American Red Cross blood program started in 1940, under the leadership of Dr. Charles Drew. The American Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply. The

Red Cross provides blood for patients in approximately 2,700 hospitals across the U.S. The Red Cross makes blood available to any patient who needs it — patients are not required to find donors to replace the blood they use (a practice common in Europe and

some U.S. blood banks) allowing the patient and their family to focus on recovery. Eighty percent of the blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile blood drives set up at

community organizations, companies, high schools, colleges, places of worship or military installations. The remaining 20 percent are collected at fixed Red Cross donor centers.

The American Red Cross works with more than 50,000 blood drive sponsors each year to hold more than 200,000 blood drives, providing convenient locations for people to give blood.”

New Hartford senior Hank Boucher said, “Donating blood doesn’t just change the lives of the people receiving the blood, but it’s equally as satisfactory for a person

donating the blood. Just about anybody can donate blood, and more importantly, make a difference.”

The Red Cross reports that the number one reason donors say they give blood is because they "want to help others."

Two most common reasons cited by people who don't give blood are: "Never thought about it" and "I don't like needles." One donation can help save the lives of up to three people. If you

began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood,

potentially helping save more than 1,000 lives! a great concept which makes it easy for people to donate.” Half of Red Cross

donors are male, and half are female. The American Red Cross accepts blood donations only from volunteer donors. Among Red Cross donors in a given year, 19

percent donate occasionally, 31 percent are first-time donors, and 50 percent are regular,

loyal donors. Only 7 percent of people in the U.S. have O-negative

blood type. O-negative blood type donors are universal donors as their blood can be given to people of all blood types. Type O-negative blood is needed in emergencies before the patient's blood

type is known and with newborns who need blood. Forty-five percent of people in the U.S. have Type O (positive or negative) blood. This percentage is higher among Hispanics – 57 percent, and among African Americans – 51 percent. Only 3 percent of

people in the U.S. have AB-positive blood type. AB-positive type blood donors are universal donors of plasma, which is often used in emergencies, for newborns and for patients requiring massive

transfusion. New Hartford Junior and key club member Peter Rayhill

stated “The blood drive is a great way to help the community. It’s a

great concept which makes it easy for people to donate.” Anybody and everybody can make a difference in the life of

somebody who needs it most. Sadly more than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year. Many of them will need

blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. With

eaglecountryonline.com

Photo taken off Red Cross Instagram

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New Hartford’s Got TalentBy:Camryn Carstensen

Even though the judges picked only

one winner the amount of talent was unlimited. Unique, interesting,

and entertaining is how New Hartford’s classmates would

best sum up Friday night’s talent at New Hartford high

school. Corinne Ermacor and Adam Manion killed their

duet mix of “Bennie and the Jets” and “Bust A Move”. Nick Scanio also did a fantastic job with his solo drum

performance, but his drums weren’t the only thing that got the audience going. His song choice about bullying showed how people should stand up for themselves or for someone being bullied instead

of being a bystander. On a lighter note, Paige Restivo sang her heart out with fellow

performer Corinne Ermacor in Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”.

“Considering I did two acts, I have put in a good amount of time. I began practicing my first act about two

months ago, yet as for my second act it came to my mind

recently before the show therefore I had only been working

on that one for about a week,” says Corinne Ermacor. Paige Restivo agrees

with Corinne.“ We have been practicing

since the end of December, ” she said. In similar preparation, Nick has been practicing for about two

months. However, he could have just got up to do what he does best, a drum solo, but this time he wanted to make a difference.

“I love the rush when I get up on stage and see everyone looking and screaming and clapping at me. It gives me such a high it’s unbelievable. I always get butterflies in my stomach before I go

up on stage, but that’s normal. It just gives me motivation,” says Nick Scanio.

Both Corinne and Paige are looking forward to singing with

their friends in hopes that each person feels fulfilled through one another. Paige, however, just like Nick, is used to performing. Her Masque theater experiences have really benefited her. “Even though for most of my life I have been singing, I’ve had terrible

stage fright. The only person I ever truly sing comfortably in front of is my best friend. From time to time I get less nervous ever since last year when I performed at the school. Being comfortable is good

but I like the butterflies,” says Corinne Ermacor. Corinne, Nick, and Paige all

agree they performed in the talent show to gain more stage

confidence, but overall they do it to do what they

love in front of the people they

know best. “Another

one of my hopes would be when people hear my song to learn to stand up for bullying when they see it and change the conformity and not just take it anymore”, Nick says.

“Over all every time you perform it does get easier. Just let loose and enjoy because not everyone can do what they love,” says Paige, Corinne, and Nick.

The New hartford talent show is sponsored by student council it is their main fundraiser of the year. The judges this year were Mr. Anderson, Mrs.Cooper, Mr.Romanow, and Mr.Vaughn they gave

out cash prices to 3 out of the 11 acts from qualifying in the top 3.

Adam Manion and Corinne Ermacor from

Instagram

Nick Scanio Pictures From Instagram

Paige Restivo Pictures From Instagram

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NEWS

Killer QuakeNepal Quake leaves death and destruction in its wakeBy Brady Collea

The fragility of people against the power of Mother Nature was on display April 25th, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal and parts of surrounding countries. A country lacking in resources to begin with now must cope with massive destruction and death.

On April 29th, CNN reported the death toll in Nepal was over 5000, which has the possibility to double by the time all of the

search and rescue efforts come to an end. This death toll may also rise due to severe aftershocks from the initial earthquake, which are as strong as bad earthquakes themselves.

A lack of resources plagued the area before the earthquake, and this has compacted the situation because of the lack of medical

supplies and ability to communicate.Librarian Ms. Storm has a brother who was in Nepal at the end of March with part of a non-profit organization called Nivas.

Their mission is building more structurally sound homes, and also providing basic sanitary facilities to the people.

She relayed some of his comments on the lack of resources in the area, like the fact he had to go miles to Kathmandu to a Starbucks just to email her, as there is no other way to access internet or mobile service without a satellite phone. The city also has only three hospitals for a population of roughly 14 million people, “none of which [hospitals] are as nice as St. Luke’s or St. Elizabeth’s,” said Ms. Storm

Medical supplies in clinics are limited to little more than Band-Aids and Bactrim, which inflates the loss of life because no resources are available to treat people.

Ms. Storm said “If you went to a corner store, what they would call a Walgreens, with sore throat, they might have cough drops

or Tylenol to give you.”Aid is being given from US corporations and non profit-organizations. Mr. Parker explained that Facebook is matching

donations through its site up to $2 million. He continued on with how neighboring countries are competing to send aid to Nepal.

“Pakistan and India have been competing for influence in Nepal for years” he said. This is an opportunity for those two countries to give aid to a troubled country as well as look good in the public eye.

Relief efforts have been widespread across the globe, and New Hartford is trying to be a part of this. Senior Julia D’Ambrosio explained that since there is a large amount of Nepali refugees in Utica, they are organizing supplies to send overseas. National

Honor Society also may try to organize sales or drives to supply aid to those recovering.

www.nytimes.com

Kathmandu’s Durbar Square before and after the earthquake

http://www.nytimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com

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www.piquenewsmagazine.com

abcnews.com

mashable.com

Nepalese remove rubble and salvage possessions from their homes in the

aftermath of the earthquake

Thousands of Nepalese people were displaced from

their homes by the earthquake and its

aftershocks

Miraculous stories of survival, such as that of Pemba Tamang, were

captured by photographers among the destruction

NEWS

http://www.piquenewsmagaazine.com

http://www.piquenewsmagaazine.com

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OPINIONBrewing Up Individuality Utica’s one-of-a-kind café brings uniqueness to the areaBy Alyssa Weibel

Most enjoy walking into a local coffee shop and grabbing a

fresh cup of joe. What if you could not accomplish this task?Sure, there’s a common Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts at every

street corner, but where’s the originality?Utica’s coffee shops are enjoyed by many and some prefer to

drink local instead of heading to a chain. Certain coffee shops/ cafés in the area are only found here- so

why try anything different?

Why not say you had a cup that was only exclusively available in New Hartford/ Utica!

Local businesses, not just coffee shops, bring originality and

individualism to the area. Café Domenico, in downtown Utica, brings liveliness to the city.

The Café is located across from the Uptown Theatre and the building next to Slice Pizzeria and Dancenter.

The shop has an urban feel with friendly staff, kind customers, and just an overall admirable atmosphere.

“I really love the atmosphere; it’s quite modern,” comments

sophomore Jaden Acevedo. “The people there are friendly and laid back.”

At the café, there are dozens of drink selections and fresh baked goods. Café Domenico proudly brews Utica Coffee Co. and sells baked goods, sometimes made by local bakers.

Once in a while they provide a stage for local musicians to play in the café.

“The fact they sometimes have musicians is awesome!” coffee-lover Jill Weibel said.

Once inside, the shop has a lower level with tables and chairs, a counter (for ordering), and

pictures all over the walls. Behind the counter, a

large menu board hangs on the wall, the options written in different vibrant colors. The shop has an upstairs level in two different sections. One section has a large table, a bookshelf, and a large sofa.

“I love the books and the tables upstairs. They have the comfiest couch!” New Hartford student, Bianca Donnelly jokes.

Local businesses/ attractions, like Café Domenico, entice locals and tourists because it’s one-of-a-kind and these places cannot be

found anywhere else. Places like these are vital to the area. It is a place for students to

study, friends to meet, and coffee lovers to rejoice.

“People could just meet at a run of the mill Starbucks, but since it’s local and a lot more cool looking, it’s intriguing,” Donnelly adds. “To me, a neighborhood feels complete with a little local coffee

shop.”“It’s a mutual place for people to meet and chat,” Weibel

comments. “They add an element to the area. Who doesn’t love getting a fresh cup of coffee/ pastry?”

For some, thinking about not having a locally-owned place to meet and grab a drink is weird.

“It would be dull,” Acevedo said. “It would just be houses and

maybe a few attractions? I love places like these and it would be strange not having one [around].”

Donnelly agrees with the idea of a “dull” area.

“They bring a certain je ne sais quoi to the neighborhood,” she said. “I love going down there to talk to the barista and grab a latte!”

Local businesses tend to thrive because of the interest of the

locals and tourists.Café Domenico is the café I enjoy hanging out at because the

café is very lively and I always enjoy myself when there.

It’s a chance to engage in a conversation with someone new, to drink one-of-a-kind beverages, and to relax.

Everyone has a different place they call their favorite, Café

Domenico just happens to be mine.The coffee shops in the New Hartford/Utica area, not just

Café Domenico, all bring individuality to the area.Next time you are thinking of buying a coffee, think Utica’s

own coffee shops!

Café Domenico from the upper level Phot

o ta

ken

by A

lyss

a W

eibel

Credit to clipartpanda.com

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OPINION Families Are Lucky To Own An Irish SetterBy Christine Cornnell

What is the best breed of dog to own? Different people like

many types of dogs. A dog makes a good pet because it completes the family.

Jessie Burnett, a senior at New Hartford, has a mixed breed

which is a beagle/terrier/mutt and Jess calls her dog Cocoa. Jessie thinks the best pet is a German shepherd because it works in a special field with cops and shepherds are reliable. She said a best

place to adopt a dog is the Humane Society or a rescue shelter. Miss Tartaglia, a teacher assistant, agrees with Jessie. She

thinks the best place to adopt or buy a dog is any animal shelter but never a pet store. She owns two pit bulls but she thinks either a

pure breed or a mixed breed makes a good pet. Some people like big dogs; some like small dogs. Kayleigh

Nicotera, a junior at New Hartford, loves most dogs, but she owns

a small dog. She has a toy poodle named Buster. She thinks either a purebred or a mixed breed dog is good.

Other people enjoy big dogs more. Mrs. Gerling, a teacher’s

aide black lab Gracie and golden retriever Bailey. She thinks golden retrievers make the best pets because they are a gentle breed.

If you like big dogs then an Irish setter would also be a good choice. An Irish setter’s personality is fun loving, playful and

affectionate. These dogs are also good with children. The best thing about my dog Brody is he’s lovable. Brody is an

Irish setter. I think Irish setters make good pets.

Owning an Irish setter is great because they have silky red coats and long ears. The coat has a striking color and is very pretty. They can grow up to be 26 - 27 inches so they need a lot of room to run around. Full grown Irish setter males weigh up to 60 -70

pounds and full grown females can weigh between 53 -64 pounds. Brody is active, playful and a good-natured companion as

well as a family member. Setters are very protective of their family

members. They also like to be social, get along with other pets and are very smart. They need to have a lot of exercise and they like attention.

According to the Irish Setter Club of Victoria, Irish setters became extremely popular as a pet in the 1960s and 70s.

I think they are the best type of dog to own. In my opinion Irish setters are the best.

Photo by mundabor.wordpress.com

Photo by dog names and more.comPhoto by dog breed info.com

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OPINIONFamily Is Important To Me!By Anthony Murad

My family is special to me. I have two sisters and a brother in-law and of course my Mom and Dad. They do special things with me like

we go out to eat, we work out, and vacation together.Dad is my best friend. We like going in the hot tub together at our house. We also enjoy going to the Turning Stone. I love spending time

with him! Maria and Francesca, my sisters, are great. They take time out of their day just for me. We especially like to eat out. This summer we

are going to Water Safari.My brother-in-law Dan helps me take the dogs for walks. He also helps me make good choices. We also workout together. Now, let’s talk about my Mom. She loves me no matter what and she can be very silly! Mom makes me the best spaghetti and meatballs

like my Gramma does. I love my Mom!!!I think my family is the best family ever. I love them and they love me! So, love your family and you will be happy just like me!!!!

The Murad Family at Maria and Dan’s wedding.

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ADVICE

The time is arriving where seniors are about to graduate. Juniors are becoming seniors and sophomores are becoming juniors. How exciting! Summer is approaching quickly and students

just can’t wait until we are out of school and are able to hit the beach every day when there is warm weather.

But has it really come across anyones mind if the seniors are

scared to leave high school and head off to college? Or if the juniors are ready to become seniors and for it to be their last year in high school?

I’m a student in New Hartford Senior High School and as a junior I am terrified, when thinking about leaving high school, a year from now. Some students here in New Hartford can’t wait to be done with high until they realize, that they won’t be seeing all of

their classmates in the hallways anymore, some of their friends will be going away to college and not be as close anymore.

This is the time people really took the time to enjoy high school

while you can because in a short period of time it will be over. In the future, you will

regret not doing all the

things you wish you did, before you really start your career and a family. Adults today, are saying

how much they wanted to do a lot more things, when they had the chance, than what they did in high school.

The students are normally comfortable with talking to their close friends that they have only talked to really all the years in high school. Maybe these students should start exploring and meeting

new people and come out of their comfort zone. Doing new things and creating adventures is something that

people need to do more of. Meeting new people, going on trips with friends before going to college. When it comes to college, your

friends are going to be busy most of the time with school work or will be in another state, and won’t be able to hang out as much when you’re in high school. It’s a whole other different world when

you leave high school. Having a blast with your friends, not worrying about

boyfriends and heartbreaks, but really do as much as you can

because you have to leave with the memories created with everyone in high school.

Abigail Trunfio, a junior, has expressed how she feels to become a senior next year. She is really excited to move to the next level and being a senior but scared. She is now realizing it will be our last year and once we graduate we have to focus on being more

mature and become adults. “It’s going to be really hard saying goodbye to all of my friends

that I have grown up with throughout these high school years, going

to college is a different place where you have to start over again and create new friends.” -Abbie.

One of Abbie’s goals that she has before she graduates high

school is going on road trips with friends. She would like to get away from school for a short period to be with her friends and create amazing memories with not having to worry about getting in trouble by parents or anything.

But most importantly, she would like to get better grades than she has now as a junior. Being able to get into a great college would be nice for her but she feels that she needs to become more focused

on school work. When Abbie is older, she will look back on these days as a

happy time in her life. As hard as it is to believe, Abbie had a great

high school experience and won’t regret not doing certain things when she was in high school because she has done everything that she has done. But, she hopes to go to concerts, beach, and many more activities before she goes off to college.

“I’m ready to leave the school itself but, I’m not ready to leave the events that we’ve all done together as a class. And I’m definitely not ready to leave my friends,” sadly stated by Abbie.

Abbie and I both feel the same way about becoming a senior. What’s being suggested here is to get out there meet new people, have the best time while you can, in high school.

You don’t want to get old and have regrets and say “I wish I did that when I was in high school.”

Make memories!

End of the School YearKayleigh Nicotera

Photo taken by Tiffani

Mugurussa.

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MEET THE STAFF

Kayleigh Nicotera

Kayleigh enjoys writing an her Advice Column for Spartan Expressions. She is a junior.

Kayleigh enjoys hanging out with her friends and watching

action and adventure films like The Fast and the Furious.

Jehnnia Liver-FreitasJehnnia, a foreign exchange student from Brazil, is a recent addition to the Spartan Expressions staff. Look for her travel column to read her tips on visiting and vacationing around the globe.

In her free time Jehnnia likes riding her bike and reading books.

Spartan Expressions is the New Hartford High School

student newspaper. The NHHS journalism classes, as well as members of the Spartan Expressions club, produce the paper.

Materials found to be published in the paper are the efforts of

students who contribute and are not intended to represent the

opinion of any school official or member of the New Hartford Central School Board of Education. Reviews or

references to businesses, services, products or media do not

represent an endorsement by the Board of Education. The copyright laws of the United States of America protect all

materials published in Spartan Expressions.

Any student may contribute to Spartan Expressions

Articles and creative writing for consideration of publication must meet the following guidelines:CONTENT:

• No slanderous or libelous material will be tolerated.

• All reference to sex will be vague, scientific and will not use slang or be otherwise offensive.

• There will be no excess of violence or morbidity.• No promotion of the use of drugs, alcohol, or recreational sex.

• No interference with the educational process.

• Content shall be factual and unbiased and shall not be derogatory toward an person on group.SUBMISSION:

• All articles and creative writing must be typed and edited.

• Please email submissions to [email protected] at least a week before publication.

• See Mrs. Clive in Room 251 if you have questions or need assistance.

mailto:[email protected]


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SPORTSSwinging Into SuccessBy Zhane’ McKnight

Golfing on New Hartford’s girls’ team is no easy feat. But the season has hit the ground swinging so far!

The team has two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore, and

four eighth graders, according to the team’s golf coach, Mrs. Wiegand. Although the team may seem small with only nine players, they are really flourishing with a 4 to 0, undefeated score. In

fact, the team played against Proctor, Monday, April 27th, as well as Tuesday the 28th. They won both games.

Golf is a game that requires skill, focus, and patience.“I try to be as positive as I can be. Golf can get in your head

and you don’t need anyone else criticizing you. A player is their own worst enemy when their game isn’t going so well. I try to show them what they are doing well, correct what they aren’t doing well and be

supportive no matter what they do,” said Mrs. Wiegand.Sarah Shaheen, a senior on the team, has been on the team for

six years, and is one of the longest standing members on the team.

“I originally had no idea how to play golf,” Sarah admitted. “My dad wanted me to play because it’s an incredible opportunity for scholarships, especially as a girl. At first, I was terrible, so my motivation then was to become better, which I have become

significantly over the years.”And with an encouraging coach, and well-rehearsed practices,

it’s no wonder the team is doing so great.

“I am always trying to help my players better their game,” Mrs. Wiegand said. “Because golf is such an independent sport, players have to practice the part of their game that needs it at that time. In

a perfect weather year, we practice at the Dome at the Turning Stone, watch videos on certain aspects of the game, along with rules --golf has a lot of rules-- and then finally get outside to practice.”

“Normally I send girls off in groups according to their ability

and then I take turns walking with them to work on any issues they might have. I like to have driving range practices and chipping/putting green practices. Sometimes to break up the monotony, I will

have contests during these practices,” Mrs. Wiegand added.Mrs. Wiegand even has the girls do a “warm up” of sorts,

where the girls will stretch some, swing golf clubs, and have a

preshot routine before they even hit a ball.So how does this translate into playing a game?“A typical match consists of 9 holes,” Sarah explained. “The

top 6 girls, meaning those with the lowest scores, go to matches, and

we count the four lowest scores. We walk all 9 holes and carry our bags, and we either play in groups of two, or in groups of four.”

“For me, this season has been absolutely incredible, and definitely our team as well. I’ve been shooting in the high 40’s,

which is better than I’ve ever played before, and the majority of our team has been doing very well also,” Sarah said.

All home matches are either played at Stonebridge, or Crystal

Springs if needed. But while most practices with Mrs. Wiegand are very hands-on,

the matches are all hands-off.

“We have USGA rules, so there is no coaching during matches or tournaments. If there is a question that my player and her opponent cannot answer, then they play two balls for that hole, and myself and the other coach give them a ruling. If there is a question

that neither the coach or the pro at the golf course can answer, we can call the USGA to get an official ruling. They are there for anyone,” Mrs. Wiegand explained.

In addition, there is also a strict “golf etiquette.”“There is definitely an etiquette, and it’s fairly strict. Our motto

is pretty much ‘look good, play better, and leave them with nothing

bad to say about us.’ We have a dress code --one of our three polos, khaki pants, as well as matching hats-- which covers the “look good” section. We play to the best of our ability and always play fair, and above all we’re known as the most polite team. We have to be

mindful of other’s abilities, be willing to offer them first shot or to finish a putt, etc. Basically, our overall etiquette is to just be nice. Golf is a gentleman’s sport, after all, and we’re expected to follow

suit,” Sarah said. With tough matches and practices, it’s easy for a coach to put

pressure on their teams, and even be a little catty at times. That’s

not the case with Mrs. Wiegand.“Mrs. Wiegand is definitely motherly and friendly, maybe even

a little crazy in a good way. She’s always making sure we’re dressed warmly and appropriately-- and if not, you better plan on hearing

that! She’s also really great about comforting those who have a bad day or offering advice to make us better. She also treats us to ice cream, or in this year’s case, hot chocolate. In simplest terms, we all

love her,” Sarah said. Being on the golf team must make for some really good

memories, right?

“My daughter Alison, Michelle Van Slyke and Liz Mitro are all graduates from 2007 who started the team. We were a club team in 2006, and then had board approval in 2007. Our first year, I took 6 girls to sectionals, and Michelle went to states. The winning wasn’t

my fondest memory as much as being able to coach my daughter

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SPORTSand her friends who had been golfing together since they were

little girls. Since then I have had groups of wonderful girls who just happen to be good golfers. Every year brings its own fun and memories,” Mrs. Wiegand said.

One of Sarah’s favorite memories was when, “Our number one, Sydney Bard, shot par, so we pulled the bus over on the way home and got ice cream to celebrate totally on a whim.”

So, what’s in store for the future of the New Hartford girls’ golf team?

“I expect this season to be a winning one. We were undefeated

last year, and won TVL’s. Sydney Bard went to states as a seventh grader. I expect that this year will be much the same,” Mrs. Wiegand added.

“I can’t imagine our season going anywhere but up from here--

meaning better and better! A lot of our girls have already qualified for sectionals, so we have at least another month ahead of us. All the teams and girls we’ve played are extremely talented, and I wish

them luck throughout the season as well!” Sarah said as a final thought.

New Hartford Girl’s High School Team. From left to right: Anna Jandura-Cessna, Maryrose Mauro, Olivia Previte, Sarah Shaheen, and Sarah Bobrow Photo submitted

by Mrs. Wiegand.

New Hartford Girl’s Junior High Team. From left to right: Sydney Bard,

Isabella Previte, Safia Zaman, and Olivia Tucker Photo submitted by

Mrs. Wiegand

Photo submitted by Google Images.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 14


Boys Golf Putts their Way to Sectionals

By: Camryn Carstensen

Through snow, rain, and the burning sun, the New

Hartford Golf team always seems to pull out a win.“The New Hartford golf team is 6-0 this season, but

it was great even before my coaching and I’ve been coaching for eight years. It’s pure talent that we have, and

we’re blessed to have it,” said coach and English teacher Mr. Snizek.

New Hartford golf team has been undefeated since

7th grade with a, 63-0 record and have won sectionals for the last four years in a row.

“There are 17 kids on the team including our three

captains: Alec Bard, Tommy Mandel, and Matt Dreimiller. They are a large part in why the boys have already qualified for sectionals. We are optimistic about the future of our season,” said Coach Snizek.

“A good golfer is made up of hard working characteristics and playing all year around really matters. It’s not just playing the course, but course management as well,”

said Coach Snizek.“In order to prepare for our rivals like Whitesboro and

Notre Dame we have to prepare physically with a Cliff bar,

bottle of water, and barbecue seeds,” said captain Matt Dreimiller and teammate Greg Gorea.

“ Golf is 90% a mental game,” said Matt Dreimiller. “It’s all between the ears,” added Greg Gorea.

“Even though this year we have more new players and changes to position, we still have the same top four; Alec Bard, Tommy Mandel, Matt Dreimiller, and

Ryan Zogby that help keep the team consistent,” said Greg Gorea. “The greatest feeling is right

after your shot making that putt, it’s an unbelievable feeling”, said Matt Dreimiller.

“Even though golf is an individual sport, everyone on the team plays a role if it’s on the bus ride or even just positive remarks. Even with new kids

the chemistry flows great,” said Greg

Gorea.

Photo submitted by Matt Driemiller

Photos submitted by Matt Driemiller

Photo submitted by Matt Driemiller

SPORTS

M a y 2 0 1 5! 15


SPORTS

Sweat runs down the face of an attack, cradling the lacrosse stick steadily, making her way to the goal, and takes her shot.The girls lacrosse team have put a lot of effort and hard-work into their season this year.

Girls lacrosse one of the more popular sports here at New Hartford Senior High School. It’s a very active, aggressive, lively sport that people enjoy watching and more importantly the girls

love playing. A New Hartford junior, Gianna

Longo, expresses her thoughts as an

attack on the lacrosse team. At a young age, Gianna thought lacrosse was a “cool” sport and it interested her enough to try out for the team in 5th

grade. Throughout the seven years of

playing, she has become an amazing

player, helping out teammates if someone has trouble with a play, and just being inspired by her team, her

coach.These things are a motivation to Gianna, to play harder, to become better, to also have fun with her team.

Gianna says lacrosse is different from other sports because it’s

an exciting game with some contact and where you can play on a team but contribute to it which makes it fun!”

She said the season is going okay.

They’re not winning as many games as they wish they did but she said “we’re improving every day and that’s all that matters.”

These things are true! Lacrosse is such a hard sport to these girls, remembering all the plays and moves that they learned to do against their opponents. But as long as they stick together as a

team, it could make them stronger and feel more confident on winning these games. Hannah Cahill, a junior in New Hartford, is a

midfielder on the lacrosse team. Hannah’s true love for lacrosse really inspired people when she

said, “ I love my teammates and that when I play the only thing that

matters to me is my team and what’s going on.”

Overtime, Hannah has become an outstanding player ever since she started playing five years ago in seventh grade. In the earlier

years, Hannah has watched her cousins play all the time and it encouraged her to try it out for herself.

One of Hannah’s goals is to make it to sectionals this season. It’s a really good thing to have goals, to be able to work harder for in practices or the games.

She also mentions, “ It’s my favorite thing to do even when I’m home I still practice and I just like the dynamic of the game more than any

other sport.” And like the saying says “ Practice makes perfect!”

That’s what these lacrosse girls do, practice to become better than they are now. Hannah thinks that the season is going alright, they just got a new coach and it’s a lot more different

than last year so they’re trying to figure each other out and how to play with each other.

Some people don’t think girls lacrosse is as good as boys

lacrosse, which is false. Here in New Hartford, these girls work so hard to get to where they want to be.

It takes a lot of dedication, practice and definitely time.

Working together is also really important, to be able to depend on each other and know that you’re teammates are there when you need them to be.

It’s difficult to be a lacrosse player, but anyone could be fit to do

the job right.

Girls LacrosseBy Kayleigh Nicotera

“we’re improving every day and

that’s all that matters.” ~Gianna

Photo taken of Gianna Longo, cradling the ball down

the field.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 16


SPORTS

Boys Tennis: Downright Smashing By Sophia Ricco

Rainy days, dewy grass, and flowers starting to poke their head out. As spring begins to show in Upstate New York, that can only mean one thing: New Hartford boys tennis has commenced

and is shaping up to be a great season.“I don’t want to say anything, but I think we have a very very

good chance of winning Sectionals,” said New Hartford school

counselor and tennis coach Mr. Lutz. “Jamesville-Dewitt is our rival; they have won 3 years in a row so the target is on their back.”

Tennis is a sport that is loved around the world and has been played for many years. Origins of the game have been disputed though. One side believes that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans played a precursor to tennis. However, most historians

credit the first origins of the game to 11th or

12th century French monks, who began

playing a crude handball against their monastery walls or over a

rope strung across a courtyard.

(Source: about.com)“My favorite

part about tennis is playing with everyone else on the

team,” said New Hartford senior Andrew

Sandock. “We have a lot of fun

just playing together.”Something that cannot be disputed is how much fun tennis

can be, especially in high school when everyone is young, energetic, and excited to play.

“The best part would probably be… getting to play individually,” said New Hartford junior Oscar Klempay. “Unlike other team sports, tennis is much more individual based and you

learn to rely on yourself. But everyone on the team is awesome too.”

The coach, Mr. Lutz actually didn’t play tennis in high school. He started playing after college and loved it in his 20s. The opportunity to coach came when he was offered the assistant coach position for girls’ tennis. Then he became the boys coach,

about 9-10 years ago.“My favorite thing about coaching is interacting with the

students on a different level,” said Mr. Lutz. “I’m able to see them

in a different arena.”If you look past the boys “game faces” then you can see the

inner smile they feel when playing. Many of their matches have

been rained out so the boys have many matches ahead of them.“I’m excited for matches coming up,” Sandock happily

expressed. “This week we’re playing two double headers, so basically two matches each day.” (referring to the week of

4/27-5/1)Not only do the boys have matches to look forward to, but

also Sectionals where they will compete for the title against

Jamesville-Dewitt.

All photos provided by Ms. Sullivan.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 17


SPORTS

“I’m definitely excited for sectionals as it’ll be my first time going,” said Klempay. “Also for the match against Jamesville-Dewitt because we get to go to Wegmans after.”

When the boys compete they will either play singles or

doubles, depending on which type of match they excel at.“I prefer to play doubles,” said

Klempay. “I can stay up at the net and

have someone cover my back if they hit over or past me. The

more competitive people like to

play singles though.” Singles involves

two players competing against each other. Doubles is

played by two players of two

teams each. It utilizes a wider court than singles matches, it includes the area in the alley. Also the two players on the receiving side change positions after each point played, according to

Wikipedia.“I play doubles, but others play singles,” Sandock said. “Aidan Halpin is usually my partner. My

matches are only exhibition though.” Even though Sandock’s matches do not count for points, he enjoys the challenge of playing.

These boys have worked very hard for all the success they have had, practicing after school and in their free time.“I played in Paragon when I was in elementary

school and junior high school,” said Sandock. “Then I joined the team in high school.”Many of them have been playing tennis since

they were young. Either from being in a tennis club or a family member teaching them.

“My mom taught my brother and I when we were little,”

reminisced Klempay. “Then I joined the team in 8th grade.”It is clear that this team will be successful. Not only is there

unity, but also depth in the team.

“What makes our team special is we have a lot of returners, many return starters,” explained Mr. Lutz. “Also we have new players who have improved greatly. This definitely makes us a powerhouse.”

M a y 2 0 1 5! 18


SportsWho’s the Best Team in New York?By Ryan Faro

The New York Mets and Yankees completed the subway series

on Sunday April 26, 2015 at Yankee Stadium. This season the Yankees took the series 2-1 in just three games against the Mets. Even though the Mets lost two out of the three games against the Yankees, they are still one of the hottest teams in baseball when it

comes to pitching and hitting. So really, who is the best team in New York?

The Mets record so far is 20-13 and is in first place in their division by 2.5 games in front of the Washington Nationals and 5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. The Mets pitching staff has

been sensational this season, having an overall record of 20-13. Two out of there six starting pitchers have a record of 11-1. The 41 year old veteran, Bartolo Colon has a 6-1 record along side with the Dark Knight, Matt Harvey who is 5-1. At this point, the Mets have

impressed many people on how well the season is going so far.

The Mets have been one of many teams that have been the

laughing stock of the MLB (Major League Baseball) for years because of their poor hitting, pitching, and fielding. The Mets have changed their style of play since manager, Terry Collins has

stepped up and changed his new way of coaching. Also, the Mets have made some big moves in the off-season picking up a smart and a talented hitting coach from the Yankees, Kevin Long, and one of the Colorado Rockies’ super-stars, Michael Cuddyer.

The Yankees on the other hand have a record of 21-13 and are in first place in the American League East division by 3 games in front of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees pitching staff this

season has a record of 21-13. Having pitchers like C.C. Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and Nathan Eovaldi, makes the Yankees a true contender for playoffs.

The Yankees may be one of the best teams in the American League, but are they a better than the Mets at Citi field, home of the Mets?

George Boufford, a senior at New Hartford High School, answered, “ The Mets are by the better team because they have a

well-rounded pitching staff and well-rounded lineup with players who can all hit the ball well.”

The Mets finally have a lineup that can actually collect hits and

score runs. They have the pitching staff that can mow down hitters and get the job done. It also helps when you have a closer like Jeurys Familia coming out of the bullpen and doing what he does

best by striking out hitters and earning saves.

“The Bronx Bombers are by far the best team in New York.

The dynasty that the Yankees have is something that will never be forgotten” Gus Pfisterer said. The team they have this year is one of the best they’ve had in three seasons”. Also, I think they have a good enough team to make it to the playoffs in October Pfisterer

stated.”

I guess no one in New York will ever know who is the best team

in baseball really is. Still to this day and in the future it will always be debate on whether the Mets or Yankees are the better team.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 19


SPORTSChris Paul sure can ball (Even with one leg)NBA playoff action gets heatedBy George Boufford

Over this past weekend, the Los Angeles Clippers took on the San

Antonio Spurs in game 7 of an extremely intense series. During the first

quarter of the game the clippers star point guard Chris Paul went to the

locker room with a hamstring injury. Paul was clearly emotional on his

way to the locker room and his older brother who was sitting on the

sideline was asked if he thought Paul would return, he responded saying

that Paul would be back for sure. Soon after, Paul walked out of the

locker room and back onto the court, he was limping, hobbling and

clearly hurt, though even with an injured hamstring

Paul managed to dominate the game by having 6 assists and 27 points

including a game winning layup over the fingertips of the Spurs future

hall of fame Power Forward Tim Duncan. The clippers star point guard

has finally gotten past Tim Duncan; the hump who has hindered him

since he first came into the league, and to make it more impressive he

did so on one leg in the closing seconds of a game 7. “Chris Paul has

always been a player who makes the most of all of his situations and

always makes the best of his shots and opportunities” said Ryan Faro

who is a huge sports fan.

Even if the Clippers don’t make it to the finals they have ensured that

this will be the first NBA finals since 1999 that Kobe Bryant, Tim

Duncan, nor Dwayne Wade will partake in. This is a crazy stat in that

the three players fore mentioned have only ever played for one team.

This shows that for the past 16 years the entire league has been

dominated by three different players and three different teams, now of

course these players have had help but help aside these are three of the

most dominant players to ever play the game at the NBA level and all

Chris Paul’s last second shot in game 7 this weekend

Tim Duncan stifles a shot attempt by

Paul back in Paul’s days with New

Orleans

Photos courtesy of Google images

Duncan and Paul exchange friendly words after Paul’s winning shot

three are very likely to be Hall of fame bound be found

in the foreseeable future.

The Clippers face the Houston Rockets in the Western

conference semi finals, a series currently tied 1-1.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 20


SPORTS

Have you ever been sack happy?Hacky Sack Regains PopularityBy John Rosato

As the weather has started to brighten up the summer time

activities have come back in full swing. Girls everywhere are tanning, the guys are out playing basketball again, and an old favorite seems to have resurfaced that we all thought had died

back in the 90’s: hacky sack.As of late, some students at New Hartford

high school have caught a gnarly case of the

sack-fever, with sightings of kids kicking the sack around in the hallways in between classes as well as outside on the soccer field during lunch. So yes, we can all be relieved now that

one of our favorite pastimes has made a comeback. “I love hacky

sack, it’s a great game to play wit your friends and even a great way to make new friends

too.” said Ethan Hopkins.This classic game was invented back in the early 70’s when John

Stalberger and Mike Marshall invented the footbag. According to

wikipedia, the idea came from the traditional Asian game of Jianzi where players stand in a circle or on a court similar to a badminton court and take turns using their legs to kick a

shuttlecock in the air repeatedly with the ultimate goal being to simply keep it up in the air for as long as possible, while also passing the shuttlecock around to your fellow teammates.

After its invention, the game of hacky sack quickly took off and remained popular throughout the mid-90’s among the “hippy” and “grunge” crowds of Generation-X which, in case you did not know, refers to the generation born after the Western

Post-World War II baby boom. After that point the game seemed to be lost with the turn of the century, but fortunately for the sack-lovers everywhere, the game seems to be back on the

upswing, with professional footbag tournaments going on all around the world, as well as kids starting to pick of the game for a bit of recreational fun.

“The thing I like the most about hacky sack is the high energy” said Zach Rooney, “it makes the game fun and exhilarating and you are using your whole body so it’s good exercise too.”

The traditional game of hacky sack is played when two or more players stand in a circle and try to keep the hacky sack in the air for as long as possible using their body, except for their

arms and hands, but primarily through use of their feet and legs, when the hacky sack has touched every player in the circle it’s referred to as a “hack”, when the sack touches everyone in the

circle twice it is referred to as a “double hack” and so on. Sophomore Eric Rowan has gotten into the game recently and says that “There is nothing more exciting then when everybody in the circle gets a turn with the

sack, it’s so exciting when you see everybody showing off what they can do with the hack, and it gets you hyped up to show them what you can do too.”

Although this is the traditional way to play the

game, many variations have come about, one being three-hack-slap. In this variation, unlike with the

original, there is a winner, the game starts in the same fashion as

the traditional game, except in this version, as soon as the hacky sack has been passed

around to three separate players, you are allowed to “slap” the sack in an attempt to

hit another player in the circle with it. If said person is hit with

the hacky sack, then that player is eliminated and has to step out of the circle until the next round begins. If said person catches

the sack when it is slapped at them, then the person who slapped it is eliminated and must sit out, but you are also allowed to just dodge the hacky sack if it is slapped your way. Gameplay

continues like this until only one player is left and is crowned the victor.

Another popular variation of this game is called hack-

elimination. This game starts the same way as the previous two, but in this version players pass the hacky sack around the circle until all but one player touches the sack, that player who couldn’t get a foot on the sack is then eliminated and play continues in this

way until there are only two people left, these two are the winners of the round, then a new round starts and everyone is back in the game.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 21


FEATURE

Pedaling Toward Child Awareness“Making children safer, one child at a time” By: Giovanna DeFazio

9,139,083 posters raised, 9,277 missing children, and 6,644

children recovered. What began as a small group of bicyclists hoping to raise awareness for the plight of one missing child has grown

into the biggest annual fundraiser for the National Center For Missing and

Exploited Children. In 1995, seven men

got together and rode from

Utica, NY all of the way to Washington D.C. to raise awareness and help find Sara Ann Wood, a 12

year-old girl who was abducted in the Utica, NY area. Just two years later,

forty three riders united and rode 100 miles from Albany to Utica, NY. From

that point on, the organization grew and each year individuals come together to make a

difference. The ride was created to honor the

memory of all missing children, to

increase public awareness, and to raise funds to support missing children poster distribution and community education for prevention of child abduction and

sexual exploitation.New Hartford seniors Mary Kate Alessandrini and Mallory

Max are both joining the team to bring awareness and make a

difference. Mary Kate is a fourth year returning rider who was inspired at a young age by her mother.

“My mom inspired me early on by introducing the ride into my life. She did it for eight years. But once I really got involved

and went to the meetings as a rider, I was most inspired by the families of those with missing children. Their stories were really special and that’s when I realized why I was riding,” Mary Kate

exclaimed. Altogether the ride is 100 miles long and takes the entirety

of the day. Mary Kate admitted, “At first, I loved the physical

challenge, but as I’ve grown I’ve realized what I love the most is being able to look at everyone around me at meetings, training rides,

and especially the day of the ride and know that we are all doing what we do

for amazing people and hopefully to eventually recover missing children.”

450 riders each year come together in hopes that they can make a difference, and they do.

This year, the ride starts at Troop D in Oneida and finishes at the Rec

Center in New Hartford. The riders bike through Sauquoit, VVS, Rome,

Oriskany, Whitesboro, and many more towns nearby! Senior Mallory Max was

inspired by Mary Kate and decided to join the team and ride for her first year.

“Mary Kate did it and talked about how amazing of an experience it was for her. I always knew I wanted to do it because I grew up knowing the cause due to the awareness the

ride brought to New Hartford. I couldn’t wait to have the opportunity to do it and I figured there was no better time to start than my senior year of high school,” Mallory said.

Mary Kate Alessandrini riding alongside New Hartford graduate Ashley Chanantry

M a y 2 0 1 5! 22


A lot of hard work goes into the ride which should be acknowledged. Returning riders are required to do a total of two training rides that vary from 25-50 miles long, but new riders are required to participate in four training rides in order to ride.

As a first year rider, Mallory stated, “I’m nervous, but mostly excited because I can already tell how amazing it will be by the people who do it and the training rides I’ve participated in. I’m

more excited than nervous though because people are trying to help you and watch you succeed which is comforting.”

Mary Kate holds the race very close to her heart and

concluded the interview by adding her final thoughts. “People often ask how hard it is, and I’m not going to lie it is painful at times, but compared to the pain the families of missing children feel, my physical pain is insignificant. We do this to make our children safer,

one child at a time,” Mary Kate stated. Both Mary Kate and Mallory are very excited for the ride

which will take place on May 15th. They are more than prepared

physically, but are more concerned with the cause and the awareness that it brings to missing children.

Make sure to go out and support the riders today and cheer

along as they pedal toward raising public awareness for missing and exploited children! They plan to finish at the Rec Center at 6:00 PM.

FEATURE

Mary Kate and her mom after her very first time riding in 9th grade!

Last year’s ride alongside Ashley Chanantry in 2014 Mary Kate’s 2nd year riding with Ashley All photos submitted by Mary Kate Alessandrini

M a y 2 0 1 5! 23


FEATUREVan Halen Stops at Darien Lake for North American TourBy Ryan Faro

Van Halen, the band of the 1980’s is back at it again. Having the original Van Halen group come to Darien Lake, New York on August 25, 2015 is going to be special for upstate New York because this could possibly be the last time anyone could see them in concert. Also, ticket prices will run from $45-$165 on the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center website.

David Lee Roth is back in action with the band after he quit the group back in 1986. Since Roth left, the band brought in Sammy Hagar, who is now with Chickenfoot, to replace lead singer, David Lee Roth. Having Roth back in the band might bring have people more excited to see Van Halen then when they had Sammy Hagar. The problem is is that David Lee Roth’s voice hasn’t been the same since he’s aged.

Van Halen, throughout their remarkable years have earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio in 2007. The band started out their career in 1974 but didn’t hit the charts until 1978 when their hit album Van Halen I came out. The album contained songs like Runnin’ With Devil, Jamie’s Cryin’, Ice Cream Man, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love, Eruption, You Really Got Me, originally sung by The Kinks. Van Halen has come out with many great songs and moments throughout their rock and roll career but having the band back together and still rocking out like the old days could be something special.

Since the band got back together, there are rumors that Van Halen is coming out with a brand new album. Since David Lee Roth is back but not bassist, Michael Anthony. It might seem different to have an album without Michael Anthony because of his unique style of play on the bass. It’s going to be interesting to hear the new album and listen to see if the voices and style of play have changed since 1978.

Now that the band is older, it most likely going to sound different since David Lee Roth hasn’t hit the high notes like he used to back in the day for a long time now. Another thing is

having Michael Anthony out of the band is going to be different now that he is playing with Sammy Hagar in his own band. Van Halen has taken in lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen to be on bass.

Now that Van Halen is back on tour, many fans like local New Hartford High School student Matt Kolek is excited for the band to be back at it. Kolek said “ I believe it’s very interesting to see David Lee Roth back together with Eddie Van Halen and I’m also wondering what will happen on stage with David Lee Roth’s performance due to his age. Also, the chemistry between all the band mates and their new permanent basses Wolfgang Van Halen.”

It’s going to be interesting to see what will happen with the band at Darien Lake and the rest of their North American tour as they will be in New York State this summer.

Bassists Michael Anthony on left, lead Singer, David

Lee Roth and drummer Alex Van Halen in middle,

and lead guitarists Eddie Van Halen back in 1979.

Bassists Wolfagang Van Halen on left, drummer Alex Van

Halen and lead singer David Lee Roth in middle, and lead

guitarists Eddie Van Halen on the right in 2015.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 24


SPARTAN PROFILENadim To Be New Honor Society VPBy Gus Pfisterer

The extra volunteer work to help make the community so much better. The countless days and nights spent studying in a room to better

his grade point average. It’s all the behind the scenes work when nobody is watching that makes Nadim Quazi so special. Nadim is a 17 year old junior at New Hartford High School who likes math and playing recreational basketball when he has time. He

loves his mom’s homemade rice and chicken dinner with a vanilla coke to drink. His favorite color is blue, and has future dreams of being “the best

basketball playing doctor with a mixtape out there,” he said laughing. Nadim is also enthusiastic about his involvement in National Honor

Society.

“It’s an awesome national club that we have here in New Hartford that prides itself on volunteer work to make the community a better place,” Nadim explained.

“I think it’s great for kids to get involved in honor society; it looks great in every way possible,” Nadim added.

National Honor Society is an organization for high-school or college students of high academic achievement. For a student to get into honor

society a student must have a minimum of a 93 weighted grade point average. Also, the student must have at least ten hours of community service. After meeting those requirements, the student must now write an

essay explaining how he or she will uphold the values honor society preaches such as leadership and responsibility.

In Nadim’s case, he is one of the select few that has the opportunity

to be one of the class officers. Nadim has earned the job of vice president. To get this job, Nadim first had to run for the job during the elections. He then had to give a speech giving the reasons on why he should be the vice president. After the speech, his classmates had to vote on whether he or

one of his competitors would win the job. Nadim ultimately won the election thus being appointed as vice president.

“The job entitles running the meetings we have frequently. We

mainly discuss new ideas to help the community such as educating underprivileged kids,” Nadim said. “We believe going to refugee centers, and tutoring kids in areas like math, English, and anything else they need; would be a great way to

get more volunteer hours, but most importantly help the kids in our community,” Nadim added.

Senior Brady Collea said, “I have calculus with Nadim, and he is without a doubt one of the hardest working kids in class. With his work ethic and interpersonal skills, Nadim will be a great VP and representative of National Honor Society.”

National Honor Society is a wonderful program for the community, and with kids like Nadim in Honor Society it will continue to thrive for a very long time.

Nadim Quazi Junior Yearbook Photo

M a y 2 0 1 5! 25


SPARTAN PROFILE

Senior in the SpotlightDana Del Genio goes solo at the Pops ConcertBy Giovanna DeFazio

The auditorium goes dark, a spotlight covers the center of the stage, and out walks senior Dana Del Genio. On April 29, at the vocal

Pops Concert she left the audience in awe. The Vocal Pops Concert gives students at the New Hartford High School an opportunity to showcase their musical abilities and that’s

just what Dana did on that Wednesday afternoon.

“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I’ve never actually sung in front of other people before though, so it was a new experience for me,” Dana said.

Dana sang “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles and was accompanied by junior Dylan VanSavage on the piano. The song seemed to be a huge hit because the crowd erupted with cheers and applause right after she nailed the longest note in the song. She was doing such a

magnificent job that the crowd could not contain their excitement. Dana finished the remainder of the song and the cheers started up all over again!

“Standing up there and hearing all of the cheers and applause, knowing that everyone was cheering for me was such a great feeling. I

could see all of my friends screaming and clapping in the audience and I felt really accomplished,” Dana said.Dana’s first time on the stage alone was a success! “Going into the performance, I was definitely pretty nervous. I’ve

never sang in front of a big crowd alone before, but once I was on the stage singing, I felt a lot more at ease,” Dana shared.

Dana’s friend Madison Babicz added, “you couldn’t even tell that she was nervous. Her performance was flawless and I was so proud of her!”

Del Genio had enormous support from friends and family who made up a good chunk of the audience.

Since Dana is a senior this year, this was her last opportunity to sing in

the concert. “I knew it was my last chance and that if I didn’t do it I would have

regretted it,” Dana said.

Senior Brady Collea who was also in the Pops Concert added, “All Dana was saying backstage was that she was going to puke, but all of the other performers knew she was going to do amazing.”

In the end, Dana was able to gain the courage and go up on stage to

show the audience what she was capable of. Madison added, “All I wanted to do after the show was go over and give her a big hug and tell her how well she sang.”

That’s exactly what Madison and the rest of Dana’s friends and family did. Once the show was over, they scurried over to meet her and congratulated her on a wonderful performance.

Dana’s talent and courage took over the auditorium that night. Her performance will allow for a memory that she and her friends will never forget.

A photo of Dana on stage at the Vocal Pops Concert

M a y 2 0 1 5! 26


MUSIC

Anybody wanna buy a heart? By John Rosato

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill, two of the most ferocious names in hip hop today, with Meek Mill’s announcement that his next record is more than halfway finished, and the recent release of Nicki Minaj’s most recent album, The Pinkprint, which features

Meek twice, the two really seem to be the talk of the town. But is there something more than just business between them?

In recent months Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill have done

multiple collaborations, including two tracks that appeared on Nicki’s The Pinkprint. In the two songs, called Buy a Heart and Big Daddy, Nicki and Meek seem to be rapping about each other. This

raised some eyebrows as well as the excitement of the fans of both artists, it also started getting some rumors of the two dating circulating.

Early in 2015 Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill went public and announced that they were, in fact, dating, making the duo the most talked about couple in hip hop in recent times. They have both become increasingly popular on social networks like twitter and instagram due

to their tweets at each other and their instagram pictures together, with fans everywhere retweeting and commenting on them. “Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill are a power couple, together they can take over the entire hip

hop industry and leave behind an incredible legacy for future hip hop duos to forever look back at as inspiration and drive to be the best.” said New Hartford alumna Julia Ermacor. According to twitter, on April 16th the two announced that they are engaged to be

married, and along with this big announcement came an even bigger ring. Meek Mill

bought for his trap queen a 15-carat heart-shaped yellow diamond on platinum with a white pavé-diamond double halo that cost $500,000. That brings a whole new meaning to “ring finger where the rock is.”

“He better hope she never leaves” said Terrin Munawet, on the topic of the

incredible amount of money Meek spent to buy Nicki just one piece of jewelry. This isn’t the first time someone has popped a ring to The Pinkprint singer,

DJ Khaled pulled an equally expensive ring out to Nicki back in 2013 during an

interview. Nicki later made it clear to the public that that “proposal” was just a stunt to promote his “I Wanna Be With You” single. So although this isn’t the first time she has been offered a ring, it is the first time she accepted one.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 27


Studying AbroadNH Students share their experience of studying abroad

Jehnnia Liver

Approximately,there are 20,000

exch a n g e s t u d e n t s a l l ove r t h e world.These students leave their native countries,houses and family to experience a new culture,language and to make new

friends. Marisa Rivera was in her junior year when she went to study abroad in Ger many in 2013, same as Cara

Szeles,who went to Ecuador, Ian Wallace went to Morocco for 6 weeks during the last summer. For the students, studying

abroad is a life changing experience. The students shared with me a little bit of this experience.

Marisa Rivera

Where did you go to study

abroad?Why did you chose this

country?

I studied in south west in Germany. I really want to do an exchange and Germany has an amazing culture.When I found out a program to study abroad I

saw the chance to travel to Europe and start my adventures.The country was beautiful and clean.I did not even know

such land could exist.

What was the hardest part of

living in another country?

Being away from home was one of the hardest things. During my exchange I

lost my grandfather,so I did not say goodbye to him . I had the choice to fly back to the US,but I stayed in Germany

because I know he would want me to stay there.

W h a t t h i n g s w e r e m o s t

challenging to you?

The immersion.There is no easy way to merge to other culture, you just got to

go and try your best.It can be hard sometimes,at the end of the day you are tired because your brain is thinking in 2 different languages.Also,because of the

costumes in Germany that are really different,making friends was really hard.

What impact study abroad had

in your life?

To s t u d y a b r o a d g a v e m e independence. I feel more mature and I do not care about drama anymore. On

exchange you will find yourself.I was very shy and now I feel different and independent.I see the world in a different

way and when someone tries to put me down, I don't care about it anymore.

If you could give an advice for

someone that is going to study

abroad,what would you say?

If I could give an advice to someone who is going to study abroad I would say to

don't expect,try to be open as much it is possible and try everything,because you are not going to have another opportunity l ike this in your l i fe, to do such

spontaneous things in your home country.

What was the biggest lesson you

learned with your exchange?The biggest lesson I learned is to do

not expect too much,expectation is something that ruins the best part of your life.If you expect something to be over the

top and it is not,you will get really disappointed and it hurts.

What do you miss most about

your host country?I miss definitely the food,public

transportation and to be able to travel on your own.In Germany was easier to travel to other country,in the US takes so long to

go to other state, in Europe I could take a train and in 3 hours I would be in Austria.

What is your best memory from

your host country?My best memory from Germany was

the Euro Tour. Many exchange students from all over the world were together and we all have our up`s and down`s on

exchange but at the end of exchange we could share our experiences with each other and later with our parents.We all could relax,see amazing things and places.

Even if a lot of good things happened during the year,definitely the end was the best part.

How was the experience of

returning home?

Coming back home was really hard because I was used to a different life style.In Germany I would be always

outside doing something.Besides of that I was also excited to come back. I cried the entire way home on the airplane because

I was really happy to see my parents but I was really sad for leaving my life in Germany. Back home,I feel that a lot of

things changed,I don't know anyone anymore but I see the world differently.

FEATURE

M a y 2 0 1 5! 28


Where did you go to study

abroad? Why did you chose this

country?

I went to Cuenca, Ecuador. It was

assigned to me.

What were the most impressive

things about this country?

Ecuador i s the world ’s mos t

biodiverse country. It is home to parts of

the Amazon rainforest, the Andes

mountains, and the Galápagos Islands

What are the biggest differences

between your host country and your

home country?

Ecuador is an overly warm country. I

was used to greeting strangers with a

handshake. Down there, I had to hug and

kiss everyone I spoke to.

Wo u l d y o u l i k e t o g o t o

anywhere else instead of this

country?If yes,where?

In the future, I would like to visit

Denmark. My best friend was the Danish

exchange student in my school and I

would love to visit her and see her country.

What impact study abroad had

in your life?

I speak another language! I am a

more worldly and understanding person. I

learned to be tolerant and respectful

toward other people's opinions,even when

those opinions were hard to understand.

Were you able to speak the

language?

By the end of the year, we were all

able to speak the language. We even

started to forget English.

W h a t t h i n g s w e r e m o s t

challenging to you?

The most difficult thing was teaching

people about my culture without being the

overbearing American. I was there to

learn Ecuador, but I also wanted to show

them America. It is a

delicate balance.

What were your first

impression about the

country?

"Wow, my new country is

beautiful!"

How was the experience of

coming back home?

It was a hard time. Even if I go back

to Ecuador, I will not have all of my

exchange friends. My school friends will

be in college, and I won't be an exchange

student. So knowing that made the

summer after my return quite difficult. But

after I found things to do and got into a

routine, it got a lot easier.

What were the biggest lesson

you learned with it?

There is no such thing as wrong.

There is no such thing as weird . There is

only different. When I told people I ate

guinea pig hearts and ants, people in the

USA usually responded with "ew". But

those are normal in Ecuador and I

actually quite enjoyed them.

If you could give an advice for

someone that is going to study

abroad,what would you say?

Try everything that is safe! Do not let

your American mindset keep you from

eating ants or guinea pigs.You will never

regret trying something new. It does not

matter if you are gaining weight. Eat that

traditional pastry. You will lose the weight

eventually.

Would you recommend other

people to study abroad?If yes,why?

It depends on the person. If you feel

you want to learn a culture, learn a

language, and become a world citizen,

exchange is for you!If you want to go to

take a year off, to party, or if you feel too

attached to the USA, I would not

recommend a year long exchange.

CARA SZELES

FEATURE

M a y 2 0 1 5! 29


IAN WALLACE

Where did you go to study abroad?Why did you

chose this country?I went to Morocco to learn Arabic; it is a really interesting

language. I was very impressive with the people because they are really friendly and open more than I expected. I really fell in love with the country. My first impression is that it was a desert

because there was sand everywhere and it was really hot.

With which organization did you go?

The program name is National Security Language Initiative for youth(NSLL-Y). It is sponsored by the state department. The

o t h e r l a n g u a g e s o f f e r e d b y t h e p r o g r a m a r e Chinese,Persian,Hindi,Korean,and Turkish.

What things were most challenging to you?The language definitely because my host family did not

speak English,so I had to communicate speaking a little French and Arabic and also some gestures.

If you could give an advice for someone that is

going to study abroad,what would you say?

It is a once in a lifetime experience and it is really different than just travel as a tourist,so merge yourself in the culture,do not bring a bubble. Be open to new experiences.

What was the biggest lesson you learned studying

abroad?

Especially, when you are a student in another country, people will be really friendly with you and help you out. They

will have faith in you.

How was the experience of returning home?

I came back home and I just locked myself in my room because I was so sad for coming back from a great exchange.Luckily,I am going to take a gap year between high

school and college and I will go back to Morocco to study abroad for one year.

.

``It is an once in a lifetime

experience.``

FEATURE

M a y 2 0 1 5! 30


Best places to go in South AmericaWhere you should go for your next vacation

Jehnnia Liver

Next vacation? Where you should go?

South America! What about to know better the other side of America?! Not too cold as North America,South America has

m a n y p l a c e s t o s e e . Beaches,mountains,forests and parks.All South America is full of different landscapes and beautiful places.I have

been planning on writing this article for a long time and somehow to share a little of the other side of America. South America

in my opinion is one of the most diverse places you can go,you can see many landscapes,since mountains,big cities and

beaches,thinking about this I choose the best places to go in South America,some of them I went to and it was a great experience.

Parque Nacional Lauca - Bolivia

It is hard to say what is the most beautiful places in South America,but

certainly this one is one of them.There you

can visit the highest lake in the world the

Lago Chungara. Besides of this you can

make a tour on the volcanoes and

appreciate the view.

Bariloche – Argentina This was the place I choose to study

spanish a couple years ago. I really wanted

to scape from a big city and Bariloche seemed the perfect place to me. Bariloche

is a small town but with a lot of activities.

You can go to ski during the winter,climb

mountains during the summer and ride a

horse .When I went there I went to Nahuel

Huap National Park,one of the oldest

parks in Argentina and in El Rio Manso,a

small village close to Bariloche where you

can appreciate the view of Patagonia.

Rio de Janeiro - BrazilI went to Rio de Janeiro several times

and every time is a different experience. It

is a big city surrounded by beaches,hills

and nature.The weather is really nice,what makes it so attractive for tourists.Besides

of enjoying the beaches you can visit

touristic points as Pao de Acucar ,O Cristo

and O Corcovado. In Rio also there are

many restaurants with great food in case

you want to try the regional food.

Cartagena - ColombiaIt is situated in Caribbean Sea, it is

one of the most popular and beautiful

tourist destinations in all of Colombia.

Known because of the colonial houses that

are home to typical restaurants, lively bars

and even small boutique hotels.Cartagena

is one of the most historic cities in

Colombia.

TRAVEL

M a y 2 0 1 5! 31


THE ENVIRONMENT

A Decrease in BiodiversityLogging and Illegal Hunting’s Impact on the EarthBy Madeline McIntosh

The Earth has a variety of species. This is called biological diversity.

From the rain forest to the deserts and coral reefs, the Earth is a very diverse place. It will take conservation to help sustain this.

In some ways almost all cultures have identified the importance of nature in general and people’s connection to it. According to

globalissues.org, biodiversity increases productivity in all species no matter how big or small. In the event of a natural disaster it has been proven that a more diverse ecosystem has an increased chance of

recovery. Human activity has undoubtedly led to the extinction of many

plants and animals. There have been many efforts to help the decreasing

populations. But, it is not enough. The world continues to lose species at an alarming rate. Helping to preserve species and their natural habitats allows for self sustaining ecosystems. Due to the increasing activities of logging and illegal hunting this makes conservation a struggle.

Graph from www.whole-systems.org

http://www.whole-systems.org

http://www.whole-systems.org

M a y 2 0 1 5! 32


CREATIVE WRITINGA Girl Like Me

Part TwoBy Zhane’ McKnight

I didn’t sleep well that night. Or the next night, or the next. I was frozen with fear, unable to do anything. This thing

between Jenny and me wasn’t a small squabble over a messy room, or blasting our music too loud. I knew I couldn’t just

complain to housing. They would laugh me off, or write it off as me being too paranoid, too stressed over school perhaps, and making a big deal over nothing.

So I kept silent. Mostly.Jenny and I were doing a stellar job of

ignoring each other. I couldn’t believe how

fast and easy it was for her to hold a grudge against me.

I jumped when I felt a tap on my

back. I had been staring at my side of the closet, wondering what I should wear, and more importantly, wondering if I should lock up my clothes.

Apparently yes, because Jenny was standing there, holding one of my shirts. I glared at her as I snatched the shirt from

her.“Um… you let me borrow that once,

so I figured I should give it back,” she told

me, sort of sheepishly.“You mean you stole it.” I gave her my

nastiest sneer. Jenny’s face twisted until her

countenance matched my own perfectly. I still couldn’t get over how much we looked alike. God, even our glares matched.

“No, Jenny. You let me borrow it, remember? Or are you too paranoid for your own good now?” Jenny smirked at

me.My face flushed. “Stop calling me

that. I’m Taylor, you’re Jenny,” I said quietly.

“You sure? I mean, we’re scarily similar, Jen. Who’s gonna be able to tell the difference between us? Your own mother couldn’t even do it.” Jenny

laughed cruelly. I snapped. Mustering every once of

strength I could, I shoved Jenny away from

me. Her arms windmilled frantically and she fell onto her back, her head hitting the hardwood floor with a sharp crack. I

flinched. She lay still, unmoving.“Jenny!” I cried, running towards her.

Was she unconscious? Was she-Jenny sat up, looking extremely angry,

but very much alive. “You okay?” I asked hesitantly. She

nodded once. “Look I’m sorry, but you

have to stop, Jenny. You’re not me, despite what you may think.”

“No, but we’re pretty similar, sis.”

I knew my hearing had gone funny. No way could we have been-

“-Twins. Yeah, mom and dad could tell something was off right out of the

womb, I guess.” Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes-- my eyes-- were dark and somber. “So, bam, I’m in a mental

institute when I turned three, diagnosed with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.” My mouth hung

open as I gaped at her, but she was eerily calm. “C’mon, Tay! Think! We like the same things, we look exactly the same. What are we, then?”

“Twins.” The word tasted funny in my mouth. “But--”

She cut me off. “Even our writing

style is the same. Our essays, the email sent to mom…”

Mom. Not “my mom,” just mom. She

was now our mom. I shuddered, feeling really weird.

“How’d you find out?” I demanded. “That we’re…”

Jenny sighed, and in that instant, she looked truly young and sad. “When mom and dad sent me away, at first, they visited all the time. On weekends, while you were

in school… But then, they just stopped coming one day. I was 10 at the time. I knew I had a sister, they told me about you

all the time.” She paused to smile at me softly. “I even tried to send you a letter, on our thirteenth birthday, but.” She stopped,

an odd look crossing her face. Jenny looked mad and I shifted nervously, my subconscious reminding me that though she was my twin, she wasn’t entirely sane.

“But what?” I whispered.“You all had moved on. I found out

that mom and dad had removed all traces

of me. Pictures, toys, my room. And you had blocked me out I guess.” I thought about it. Surely I would have remembered

that I had a twin, right? But I had never seen a picture of a girl that looked like me, never seen another girl’s room in my house, never heard of my parents

mentioning a girl named Jenny.“Why would they do that?”“They couldn’t handle having an

insane daughter,” she spat. “Ignorance is bliss, right? But don’t worry, they’ll get theirs, just like you.” Jenny smiled at me

sweetly.“Wait, what?” Icy fear traveled up my

spine.“Oh, come on, Taylor. I was locked

away for 17 years while you got to live your life. That’s hardly fair.”

“But you’re out now!”

“No, I finally escaped. And they’ll be looking for me. And someone needs to take my place, and it certainly won’t be

me.”Before I could blink, Jenny had a

strong grip on my arm and a hand wrapped around my mouth. I shrieked

uselessly as I was dragged out of our room

M a y 2 0 1 5! 33


CREATIVE WRITINGand into a storage closet.“Jen,” I gasped, futilely fighting her as she blocked the

entrance. “Don’t. Don’t do this.”“Oh, don’t worry so much. The men in white will be here

soon.” With that, she giggled at me and slammed the door shut. I could hear something heavy being dragged and set in front of the door. “Oh, and did I mention that it’s Parent’s Day today? It’ll be so

nice to see our parents again.”I shrieked again, my fists hitting the heavy door, the heavy, thick

wood surely muffling any sounds. Outside, I could hear the sounds

of doors opening and closing, happy sounds of surprise as parents greeted their kids, and a distinct giggle that I know was Jenny’s.

I was panicking. Who knew when the people from Jenny’s institution would be here? How long did I have before the men in

white would come in, based on Jenny’s instructions, and take away a girl that looked just like her?

Photos from by Google Images.

M a y 2 0 1 5! 34


LOST & FOUNDApril 2015

Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes.

No reward is offered for they are gone

forever.

Written By: Alyssa Daley

Once I was lost but now I am found

It did take a lot to look aroundUp at the sky and down at the ground

Once I was lost but now I am found

Once I was lost but now am found

It had been awhile since laughter was a soundIt is a good thing the earth is not square, but round

Once I was lost now am found

I was lost now am found

The chains that once held me are now unboundThe meaning of this I believe is profound

I was lost now am found

Was lost now am found

Fighting is over no punch or poundThe tension has loosened, been unwound

Was lost now am found

Was lost now found

Nothing exists but everything surroundsI chose to swim not to drown

Was lost now found

Lost now found

The way people smiled the way people frownedEverything was apparent without even a sound

Lost now found

Lost, found

Like a ship I had run agroundThe sights I saw would sure astound

Lost, found

Here there should be only one word

Lost or found it’s your choice it should be heardKnow at each turn you’ll have to choose

So are you lost or found, which one is your muse?

Issue No. Four Spartan Expressions

I f y o u f o u n d w h a t I h a v e

l o s t p l e a s e c o n t a c t t h i s n u m b e r* J u s t f o r s h o w *

T E L E P H O N E(123) 456-7890 F A C S I M I L E(123) 456-7891

Found in the Heart http://examinedexistence.com

Lost in Thought http://lovethispic.com Getting Lost in the Woodshttp://alittlebitofencouragement.blogspot.com

Hor

ace M

ann

http://hearingbetterohio.com

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/horacemann157464.html


















http://examinedexistence.com

http://examinedexistence.com

http://lovethispic.com

http://lovethispic.com

http://alittlebitofencouragement.blogspot.com

http://alittlebitofencouragement.blogspot.com



M a y 2 0 1 5! 35


PUZZLE PAGERock Out!Check Out the Puzzle Page!By Alyssa Weibel

CAN YOU FIND THE WAY OUT?

START

FINISH

BANJO

DRUMS

PIANO

TRIANGLE

VIOLIN

BASS

FLUTE

SAXOPHONE

TROMBONE

CLARINET

GUITAR

TAMBOURINE

TRUMPET

Try and find the words below:

Credit to clipartpanda.com

Credit to clipart.co

Puzzles generated by Discovery’s Puzzlemaker

WHICH CAME FIRST?

Can you figure out which rock band formed first?

A. Pearl Jam

B. Blink- 182

C. Green Day

ANSWERS: C (1989), A (1990), B (1992)

M a y 2 0 1 5! 36


Name : Senior Survey for Spartan Expressions

1. What are your plans for next year?

2. What is your favorite high school memory?

3. What will you miss most about high school?

4. What are you looking forward to next year?

5. What advice would give to younger students?

6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

•It is a tradition for the staff of Spartan Expressions to produce a senior issue each June. This year’s issue will be published on June 12 and will include a brief profile of each member of the senior class.

•Answer the following questions to help our staff write this profile. Please return surveys to folder in Room 251. Please answer the survey ASAP. Our final deadline is June 4.

•If you would like to submit a photo of yourself, please email it to [email protected]. Otherwise, we will use your photo from Infinite Campus. Thank you!



May 2015 1 SPARTAN - New Hartford

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