Brocton ReviewBrocton High School, 138 W. Main St. Brocton, NY 14716 April 28, 2010 Volume 26, Issue 5

Budget vote setfor May

Extras at risk?Spring sports

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IndexOn the cover- Junior Ryan

Bonnas pitches a win at

a home game.

Cover photo by Julia Gaiser

12 Suicide not inevitable

8 It's all in the family

19 Junior wins tech award

2 NEWS BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

9 Go green!

21-23 Spring season opens

by Mark Belcher

After hours of deliberation, the Board of Education adopted the 2010-2011 budget. The budget stands at $14,411,616 and was passed with a 5-2 vote after a 3-3 stalemate was pounded out.

Several sports and extra-curricular activities were eliminated from next school year as cuts were made. Boys and girls soccer, basketball, and softball and baseball teams will be funded as next year's only sports teams. While these cover all three seasons, this eliminates all cheering, football, volleyball, bowling, golf and tennis teams.

Several times, motions to add or subtract sports were proposed by Tom DeJoe and Harry Watters. DeJoe's motion was to include football instead of boys soccer, and Watters' was to remove all sports. Each time the motions failed, but some had support.

“I cannot in good conscience cut 11 teachers and still support sports,” board member David Hazelton said. Removal of all sports would represent a five percent tax levy decrease.

Extra-curricular activities were also disputed. Newspaper, yearbook, honor society, musical and the four class advisers will be the only funded programs and advisers. This eliminates student council, SADD and others. Removal of all extra-

curricular activities would represent a two percent tax levy decrease.

While honor society was spared, one board member did not support this decision. “The [money] set aside for this club doesn't go towards the entire student body. It just supports select individuals [invited] to the club,” Watters said.

In addition to these cuts, 18 staff positions were eliminated. Four were eliminated because of retirement and three through loss of contract. Ten other positions are to be cut.

A 14 percent tax levy increase is proposed. The board has several options if the budget is turned down. The board can adopt the turned down budget as is, or it can decide to lower it.

“We're going to have to survive the cuts to lower our taxes,” local business owner Al Brumagin said.

Board members also spoke against a double digit tax levy increase. “I'm not comfortable with the budget because of significant burden for the taxpayers,” board president Rodney Geiben said.

There are far too many people who can't afford such an increase, according to Hazelton.

Some see it differently. “I knew when I voted no for the merger that my taxes were going to go up, but it's worth it to

keep our programs,” teaching assistant Julie Obert said.

The spike in the tax levy comes not from overspending, but from a substantial loss of state aid.

According to Superintendent Jack Skahill, the state promised a minimum of three percent foundation aid over four years, represented by $201,164 for the 2010-2011 school year. The school has received none of this money. The gross loss due to GAP elimination aid is represented by $698,182. The stimulus money promised to schools by President Obama was also withheld from the school, represented by $237,047. The total loss of money to the school represented by those three figures is $1,136,393. “This is what the school is left to combat,” Skahill said.

Difficulties have compounded because over 50 percent of the districts land is tax exempt. This leaves the tax burden on individual households. “We are a poor district,” business executive Betty Deland said.

The deficit forced board members to deliberate over the budget, as almost no budget resolution was passed un-contended.

Geiben said, “Getting rid of teams, cutting programs, looking out and seeing the glares from the audience, it's hard. It makes me sick.”

Programs, staff cut as budget is adopted

SUPERINTENDENT JACK Skahill and board members Tom DeJoe, Susan Hardy, Harry Watters and David Hazelton deliberate over budget details. The vote is set for May 18 from noon to eight.

Mark Belcher

Wednesdays 11-5

Thursdays 12-7

Friday & Saturday

10-5

by Jessica Miller

Aaron Delcamp is the new coach for the varsity tennis team. Practices started in mid March.

"He allows us to have fun. He wants us to win, but more than anything he wants us to have fun" co-captain Brandon Pawlak said.

There are six newcomers on the team. “I never realized how much work tennis is, but it’s a lot of fun and I plan on doing it again next year,” sophomore Kristen Becker said.

Delcamp said there has been improvement since the practices started.

The doubles teams are senior Cynthia Ferguson and junior Zac Delcamp, and senior Brittany Crooks and sophomore

Caley Harper.“All of the doubles teams work well

together. Brittany and Caley are really starting to work well together,” said Delcamp.

The single players are first singles senior Brandon Pawlak, second singles senior Luke Eckstrom and third singles senior Nick Eckstrom.

The season started with one win and three losses. The team won against Salamanca. They lost against Cassadaga Valley and Panama.

“The most difficult game was against Cassadaga. The team played really well and the scores were close,” Delcamp said.

by Cynthia Ferguson

With the school year coming to an end, the golf season will start on May 3, with an away match against Westfield.

The players said they are hoping to win, unlike last year, and to have fun with the sport.

“Although half the team is returning, we still have a young team this season, but I give them a lot of credit because they practice hard and they are a good group of kids with a lot of ambition,” coach Bill Henris said.

The whole season starts and

ends in May. “Golf is just like any other

sport, and you need to spend outside time to get better and keep practicing it,” Henris said.

Last year, only one player advanced to play in the section qualifier, Aaron Willebrandt. Coach Henris said he plans to

have at least four or five of his players qualify this year.

Willebrandt pointed out that "there is a bigger turnout this year, but the team is looking at the same problems as last year. The team is still young, and we are lacking the game experience."

Tennis team opens up season with a win

Golfers swing into a new season

Julia Gaiser

SENIOR BRANDON PAWLAK gets ready to return the ball in an away game against Cassadaga Valley.

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 SPORTS 23

Extracurricular

activities

vital to schoolsby Liz Bromsted

With New York State budget cuts taking effect, many school programs and teachers are being cut from the system. In New York State alone, Gov. David Paterson has proposed a cut of over 1.4 billion dollars in school aid, according to the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).

Many of these cuts are already visible in Brocton. Talks of teachers losing their jobs and programs like sports, music and clubs being cut from next year’s budget are still in process with more decisions coming.

“When the board looks at the budget and what is most important, sports and clubs rank lower than all academics. We have to weigh the importance of education versus activities, and academics are the most important in a school,” Superintendent Jack Skahill said.

With budget cuts coming to every school in New York, many people are left wondering “What’s going to be cut?” and “Who’s going to be affected?”

According to Skahill, next year’s projected budget is $14,411,616. This number does not include all sports, club activities or any other amounts that have not yet been added. All sports for next year would add an amount of $174,381 to that projected budget.

Clubs build school prideMany have feared for different clubs such

as Interact Club, National Honor Society and Student Council that give students the

opportunity to help out in the community. According to a survey of 30 students

from Brocton, many said they take pride in doing things for others, and clubs like these provide them the opportunity to help.

“In some of the clubs that I am in we go out and help people who can’t afford things like Christmas and buy them their presents,” junior Zac Delcamp said. “It makes you feel good inside when you do something for someone else who really needs it.”

Clubs like Honor Society help recognize students, not only for academic achievements, but also for their character, leadership and service.

“I think that losing Honor Society would be a detriment to our school. It is a goal that many students try to reach by studying, working hard and being helpful to others. Members also take part in a number of community service events. These events show the members that they can make a difference in their school and the community around them,” Honor Society adviser Pat Thompson said.

There are also some other reasons why clubs are so important. Many students are involved in them and are happy to be involved in something having to do with their school.

“Clubs give students something to do. They get students who are not normally involved in school activities involved in something different that has to do with the school,” Spanish club adviser Michelle Crowell said.

Music helps students express themselves

Along with clubs, music helps students express themselves as well as gives them something to look forward to and to work towards.

“Music is the only reason why I come to school. I plan on playing music my whole life so having the chance to play and learn about music every day is great,” junior Jeremy Little explained.

Music is known to be important in everyday life.

“In school, students use music as an outlet to get away from classrooms. They also use band and singing as a way to express themselves,” band director Brian Hornbuckle said.

According to the article "The Importance of Music Education" by Patricia Guth, music helps develop self-discipline. The child or teen who allots the time to practice each day is known to develop similar habits in conjunction with other subjects.

Sports provide an outletAlong with clubs and music, sports are

also very vital to a school. Students wearing school colors and fighting to win for their school develop pride and increase their competitive side.

“Sports help students develop their strength and improve health. With practices,

everyday friendships and social interaction increase, making people happier and more comfortable in school,” volleyball coach Crystal Boedo said.

According to Lisa Dunning in the article "High School Sports - Why they are so Important," she explains that sacrificing high school sports lessens every teen’s high school experience, their ability to perform at an optimum academic level and develop into well-rounded adults.

“Athletics are more than just learning skills. It’s practicing them, learning about competition, dealing with frustration and disappointment, team work and beginning new friendships. It would be a huge let down for the students and would mostly hurt academic achievement and the motivation to do well in the classrooms,” girls basketball coach Ken Purcell said.

With the stresses of the classroom always on students’ backs, many students use sports as an escape as well as an outlet for success and a way to stay out of trouble.

“Without sports Brocton would be a boring place. I think that more students would get in trouble and might start getting attracted to illegal substances as well as alcohol. I don’t think it would be a good idea at all. A lot of students love sports,” senior Brandon Pawlak said.

The budget that was passed on April 15 kept some of the sports and activities. The board decided to keep National Honor Society and reinstated the four class advisers. In addition to those the newspaper , musical and the yearbook were saved.

Skahill said,"I voice my opinion and recommendation on what I believe is the right thing for the school. But the decision is up to the board and what they think is the best for the school at this time."

THE BOYS VOLLEYBALL team gathers during a game to discuss their plays and execution on the court.

CAST rehearses for the musical Annie.

Liz Bromsted

Julia Gaiser

Mark Belcher

NATIONAL Honor Society was presented an award of appreciation from the March of Dimes for raising over $1,000 for the organization. Junior Liz Bromsted accepted the award from Anna-Lesa Calvert.

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 NEWS 3

by Liz Bromsted

With six seniors graduated from last year’s Section D championship team, the varsity baseball team opened their season with a loss against Chautauqua Lake.

The game took place at Brocton, and the team registered the first loss of the season, 11-2.

“I thought that at the beginning of the game we were not hitting the ball and we gave them easy outs. By the end of the game we came around and hit the ball. We need to hit from start to finish in every game,” junior Ryan Bonnas said.

With a record of 11-5-0 last season, the team will rely on Bonnas and sophomore Bradley Johnson to lead the varsity team from the pitching mound back to the Class D sectionals.

“We are looking at winning sectionals again. Also, this year we have a lot of heart on the team and talents. I believe we can win again if the entire team gives everything they have at all times. We have to play like a close team,” Bonnas said.

After last year's winning season, the guys are looking for leadership from one returning senior Dave Ferguson and new

player Aaron Willebrandt. “Since we lost a lot of seniors last year,

we have a young team but my expectations are still high, and I think we have a great opportunity to win sectionals again,” Ferguson said.

New to the team, Willebrandt added, “I wanted to play a sport where it was not just me playing like golf. I wanted to enjoy my senior year with a team and try something new and different.”

On the first away game at Panama on April 7, the team claimed a win, 17-4. The team registered 11 runs in the third inning as Johnson picked up the win from the pitcher's mound.

Then, on April 3 the team faced Sherman and picked up a 10-6 win. Through the first four and one third innings, pitcher Bonnas held on to a no-hitter, then losing it to the first hitter in the fifth inning.

“I think the way Ryan kept his composure with all the errors behind him was great. I was impressed,” coach Terry Presto said.

Some of the next games include home versus Panama on May 3, home against Maple Grove on May 4, and home versus Sherman on May 5.

Team aims for another sectional championship

by Brandon Pawlak

With five returning seniors and one starter not returning from last season, the varsity softball team opened their season with a 5-1 win over Chautauqua Lake.

Fourth year pitcher Jacquie Merle led the Bulldogs with no walks and 13 strikeouts. Returning catcher Stephanie Woleben backed her up at the plate.

“The Chautauqua Lake game was a great example of how well we can work together and as long as we continue playing like that we will continue to win,” Merle said.

Their record is 3-1. The game

against Panama ended with a 2-1 loss. Brocton was up 1-0 until errors allowed Panama to score two runs.

Co-captain Stephanie Woleben said, “Our team really pulls it together for games, and I know we are good enough to win the section title this year and get our names on a banner."

The team also won against Sherman on April 12, with a score of 16-2. On April 15, they faced Westfield in a non-league game, winning 4-3. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the game was tied at three until senior Lexi Kendall hit a double, followed by Rachael Risley's single, scoring Kendall and the winning run.

Team opens season with win

"The Chautauqua Lake game was a great example of how well we can work together, and as long as we continue playing like that we will continue to win."

-Jacquie Merle, pitcher

Andrew Goodwin

Julia Gaiser

SENIOR JANELLE BECKER takes a swing at the ball during a home game against Sherman.

SENIOR STEPHANIE WOLEBON, junior Liz Bromsted, senior pitcher Jacquie Merle, junior Lynsey Allen and senior Ashley Barrett gather at the pitching mound before the start of a home game.

PITCHING A WINNING game, senior Jacquie Merle leads the team to a 16-2 win over Sherman.

Julia Gaiser

Julia Gaiser

JUNIOR RYAN BONNAS pitches the ball to a Sherman batter.

22 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

At a glancecompiled by Jacquie Merle

Senior tripThe trip is to Virginia Beach May 14-16.

Third quarter endsThe end of the third marking period was

April 16. Report cards will be sent out in late April.

No school May 10On May 10 there will be no school for

students because of a staff inservice day.

SAT'sThere will be SAT's May 1 and June 5.

Annual budget vote The annual budget vote and school

board election are scheduled on May 18 in the new gym lobby.

Senior citizen teaA tea for senior citizens is planned the

afternoon of May 18. Contact Linda Miller or Nance Ortolano at school for info.

Bulldog fun runThe Brocton Teachers' Association is sponsoring a 5k run/walk on June 6 to raise funds for scholarships. It will begin at 12:30 and include many activities.

Jelly bean contest winnersSeventh grader Dylan Murphy won the

container of 394 jelly beans in the "guess the number of jellybeans" contest sponsored by the cafeteria. Melinda Gonzales won a stuffed lamb, Justin Curry won a basket of goodies, and senior Julia Gaiser won a basket of treats

Media dayMedia day is planned at SUNY Fredonia April 29 for journalism students.

Pennies for patientsThe school raised $619.74 for the

leukemia fund through Pennies for Patients.

WINNERS OF THE jellybean counting contest sponsored by the school cafeteria include Justin Curry, Melinda Gonzales, Julia Gaiser and Dylan Murphy, Each of them won a prize for accurate guessing.

photos by Parker Fink

4 NEWS BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

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by Jim Andin

The boys volleyball team ended their season with their fifth championship in as many years.

The team entered the season with experience as four year champions.

“I had high expectations, along with everyone after winning everything four years in a row. We continued to improve throughout the season and played our best volleyball of the year in the tournament,” captain Alex Simpson said.

At the end of the season, the team's overall record was 7-1, their only loss against Westfield, the heavy favorite with an entire team of returning players. They lost this game in four matches.

“The loss to Westfield was sort of a wake up call of how good we had to be to win it all this year. I think it pushed us all to work harder, and in the end it all paid off,” captain Aaron Willebrandt said.

During the tournament, the boys won all

but one match. They beat Westfield in the semifinals, two games to one.

This plotted number two seeded Brocton against number one seeded Chautauqua Lake. Brocton won in two games.

Coach Andy Deakin said, “It was a surprise to beat Westfield. I knew it would take our best effort. The boys played their best volleyball of the season."

Volleyball team wins fifth championship

photos by Cynthia Ferguson

SENIOR AARON WILLEBRANDT goes up for a spike during an away game at Westfield. The team lost three games out of four played.

DURING THE WESTFIELD GAME, the team huddles with coach Andy Deakin.

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 FEATURE 21

Test cuts proposed to save moneyby Megan Borgstrom

The proposal to cut back on many Regents exams that New York State administers during the school year received opposition from many teachers and officials.

In order to save money, state officials proposed cutting 13 of the 17 Regents exams that are offered at high schools.

“I have seen so many changes in testing and graduation requirements that it’s just another change,” guidance counselor Robert Wright said.

Regents exams have been around for over 100 years to test the knowledge of students.

“I support reducing Regents exams because there’s too many tests to take to graduate from high school,” freshman Erica Rizzo said.

According to the Star Gazette, reducing the number of Regents exams would result in a savings of $13.7 million.

This could be accomplished by getting rid of some social studies exams ($1.6 million); science exams ($1.2 million); and eliminating foreign language exams ($2.4 million).

Another possibility to save money is to not offer Regents exams in January and August. This would result in a saving of $1.9 million.

English teacher Dadie Sedota said this could be a problem for a student who might miss the

test because of an illness. “The student would have to

wait a full year after completing the course to take the test. Now, the state requires students to pass Regents exams in order to graduate. This could cause problems, and it’s not really fair to students. This should not just be about money,” Sedota said.

Reducing the number of translations of the languages of the exams could save $750,000. The tests would still be translated into Spanish. However, they would stop translating tests into Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean and Russian.

Through an e-mail, Senator Cathy Young said that even though the state is facing a severe fiscal crisis, getting rid of all Regents would “erode the quality of our children’s education.”

Even though this cut is being considered, it is not official.

“I strongly oppose the Board of Regents and State Education Commissioner David Steiner’s proposal. However, limiting the tests to be available only in June may be a cost-cutting measure that would be acceptable,” Young said.

There are still many questions about how this would change the requirements for graduation as well as what would happen to the courses that no longer offer Regents exams.

Spanish teacher Michelle Crowell said she felt so strongly about the talk of eliminating the Spanish Regents that she wrote a letter that was published in The Observer.

“Learning a foreign language exposes young people to new cultures and new horizons and helps them understand English better,” Crowell wrote in her letter.

So far, it is uncertain if the state will eliminate foreign language Regents exams.

“Foreign languages are essential to the core educational experience,” Crowell said.

Global studies teacher Carrie McCausland said she does not think the state will eliminate the Regents exams.

“Maybe there should be a cut on the length of the test, but there should still be a

standardized test,” McCausland said.

“If they did cut back on Regents exams it would be easier on the students, but they wouldn’t work as hard,” sophomore Brad Johnson said.

In an Education Week article, member of the Board of Regents, Joanne E. O’Toole said, “Eliminating our assessments would serve to lower, if not destroy, the high standards we have set for the students of New York State.”

This proposal is a way to say, "Here’s our budget situation,"State Education Commissioner David Steiner said. “There is no implication that any particular line of action be recommended.”

According to the New York Teacher newspaper, another way the state could save money is to eliminate Regents exams that are not required by the federal government.

This would include foreign language, history, some math and some science tests. It also could include some tests given to elementary students as well as middle school students.

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira said the opinions of teachers, parents and students should be considered before making any decisions.

“I would hope the Regents exams will continue to be the gold standard for New York,” Neira said, as quoted in New York Teacher. “The piece of this plan that is disturbing is the idea of eliminating the Regents exam system without any conversation of what would replace it.”

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"However, limiting the test to be available only in June may be a cost-cutting measure that would be acceptable." -Senator Cathy

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BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 NEWS 5

by Brittany Crooks

Regular exercise is a huge part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems.

Obesity has become a world-wide problem. Teens become addicted to watching television, playing video games or sleeping.

Staying healthy starts with eating a good breakfast. This is a very important meal. It boosts energy and increases the attention span. Students often wake up right before school starts. Therefore, they do not have time to eat breakfast. Not eating breakfast lowers blood sugar, alertness, and shortens your attention span.

According to kidshealth.org, people eat much more than they used to and more than they need to. This means they are constantly taking in more calories than their bodies can burn.

To start staying healthy, look at the product package to find the nutrition information that gives a serving size for that food. Serving sizes tell how much nutrition is offered in a particular food, according to the American Heart Association.

“To lose weight, a person wants to burn more calories than they consume,” said special education teacher Blaise Miller. He also said weight is not important; it is a person's body fat. Every body needs fat. Women especially need more body fat than men.

“According to the surgeon general, a

healthy person should exercise from 60 to 90 minutes for most days of the week,” physical education teacher Maria McFeely said.

Also, the food pyramid is a great conductor to eating healthy. Breads, rice, and pasta provide carbohydrates that are an important source of energy. Choose bread, muffins or rice rather than cake and cookies.

Include vegetables several times a week since they are high in anti-oxidants.

The fruit group provides vitamins that you need in your everyday life. Eating fruit also adds to the fiber part of your diet.

Meat, poultry, fish, and nuts provide most of the nutrients and proteins.

People do not always have to do an intense workout every single day to make sure they get the right exercise. But if done, it will burn more calories and will control your weight.

“Exercising the same muscles two days in a row is not good. Always alternate muscle groups throughout your weekly work out routine,” physical education teacher Krystle Boedo said.

An easy way to get a daily workout is to help do work around the house or do crunches during commercials of your favorite show. It is that easy.

Boedo requires students to take the physical fitness test, which includes kids doing a certain number of sit ups, according to their age. Also, a flex arm hang is done for a certain number of seconds, as well as the flexibility test where a student reaches as far as he can with his legs straight. Boedo records student progress over the years and looks back at the progress the student makes.

During exercises, people need to keep themselves hydrated. If they have lost a lot of sweat, it is important to have a drink that contains sodium to help rehydrate the body. According to outdoor.com, the person will continue to feel thirsty until she is completely rehydrated. Do not wait until you feel thirsty; if you do so, you are waiting too long and you are already dehydrated.

People also believe that if they do not work out one day out of the week it is bad. It’s not. A person's body may need a day of rest. The body repairs and strengthens itself in the time between workouts and/or training. Continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athlete, according to sportsmedicine.com.

Healthy lifestyle starts at early age

"According to the surgeon general, a healthy person should exercise from 60 to 90 minutes for most days of the week."

-Maria McFeely, health teacher

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art by Megan Borgstrom

20 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

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SENIOR PORTRAIT SHOT by Doug Belmondo. While not all senior portraits are this bold, 'Nocturnal Jester' won international awards.

by Mark Belcher

Self taught, working toward mastering his craft, local photographer Doug Belmondo and co-operator Karen Belmondo are expanding their local business. Opening the Brocton building

in 2004, the Belmondos rented the front of their building to a local hair dresser. Just this year, the expanding business took over the front of the building as well.Two of Paul Douglass Studio's

portraits have won state, national and international awards. The two portraits of local senior girls won the highest award possible from the Professional Photographers' Association. “It is very rare for any

photographer to have more than one portrait win an award,”

Doug said. The portraits have to go through state-wide

judging, then national judges, and must be flawless, according

to the Belcmondos.“We love seniors,” Karen said.

The award winning shots were senior portraits. The studio focuses on senior portraits, although they also shoot weddings, family photos and individual portraits. We take a long time getting to

know the seniors, their lives,and families, according to the Belmondos. “We feel like our photographs really capture you,” Karen said. The process of getting portraits taken takes about three weeks.“We have changed to fit the

generation,” Karen said. The equipment and the business are technologically advanced. “I'm online all the time trying to keep up with the senior age group,” Doug said. “We've come a long way with this building and are a part of this community.” The photographer uses the

village of Brocton as his personal studio. The village has a certain texture to it, according to Doug.He said, "It was kind of our

way of giving back to the community,"

submitted photo

Local business wins international awards

6 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

by Brandon Pawlak

A problem facing the school is students who are frequently late in the morning.

“About 25-30 students come in late just about every day,” high school secretary Joan Loewer said. “Whenever a student comes in late or misses school, Brocton loses state aid.”

If a student has an unexcused tardy and comes in after the

start of first period he is not able to participate in after school activities. Although some students do have appointments and legal excuses, some sleep in and do not wake up in the morning, according to Loewer.

Coming in late consistently shows colleges and potential employers that a student may have bad time management skills.

“It is a major problem. Some students just come in late frequently. They lose academic time,” Principal Stephen Keefe said.

Students who frequently come in late and have a class during that time period may be sent to attendance court.

“We have decided to start sending out attendance letters every five weeks with report

cards,” nurse’s assistant Robin Shain said.

The purpose of an attendance letter is to show the parents when their child has been missing school and coming late if they are not aware of it, Shain added.

It also shows dates and excused and unexcused absences and tardies to inform parents..

School faces consequences for late students

Junior honoredby Alexander DeGolier

Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism. This disorder begins in childhood and lasts through adulthood. Some of the symptoms include significant difficulties in social interaction, coupled with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

Patrick Hodge, my brother, “suffers” from this disorder. This disorder makes him very persistent in a certain subject. For some it is math, for others it is reading, but for him it is computers.

However, would someone really consider his abilities as any form of handicap? A few things he said he can do is “type at 120 words per minute, design web sites, take

apart and put together a computer, program in six or more languages and also design graphics, among many other things.” These abilities have been growing since age 11.

“Patrick has also competed at SUNY Fredonia for four years. He is one of the youngest students to have competed and competed independently against teams of three to four students,” said mother Alice Hodge.

Living with someone with this kind of

talent has been interesting. Any time I have needed help with a computer, whether it includes getting rid of a virus, programing something, or making my windows games work on my Mac with a virtual machine, he does it so easily.

Just recently, he received a nomination letter from the National Technical Honor Society awarded through BOCES. “This honor identifies you among the top performing students in our nation and will add prestige and value to your professional resume,” said the letter he received.

Ms. Hodge also pointed out, “Many of the great minds in history have been thought to have had Asperger's, such as Leonardo Davinci, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, among others.”

With all of the amazing technological things my brother can do, I would not consider his abilities a disorder or handicap of any kind. To me I see it as a gift, one he has already put into use to help himself as well as others.

Julia Gaiser

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 FEATURE 19

JUNIOR Patrick Hodge was nominated for the National Technical Honor Society.

New York Inspections

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 FEATURE 7

Younger students gain experience on crewby Brittany Crooks

The musical Annie not only had a new director; there was also a new set designer. Elementary art teacher Amy Gawronski stepped up to the plate to work with not only high school students, but a few selected middle school students on the set.

This gives younger students the opportunity to gain more knowledge and experience

behind the scenes in the coming years.

There were about 10 students on stage crew.

“This was also a new experience for me because I got to meet some high school students that, otherwise, I would not have gotten to know,” Gawronski said. “It was hard work, but we also laughed a lot,” she added.

Senior Cynthia Ferguson said

the crew had to stay on task before every scene change. “If we weren’t ready, everything would be delayed and the cast would have to wait even longer than what they already had to.”

“The prop list was extensive. Thanks to the many generous people here at BCS we managed to get just about everything on the list. Emails were sent to just about everybody and the items began to pour in,” Gawronski said.

Ferguson also said she is going to miss crew next year.

“Gawronski was not only our director, she was an awesome person to get along with and laugh.”

Gawronski said, “Thank you to each student on crew. The show was a great success.”

by Taylor Seavy

It’s an average day at school, when behind me I hear someone going to town on their fingers, cracking them like they’re fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Now, to some this can be a true annoyance and make their spine tingle, but to others it’s a day-to-day habit and makes their fingers feel more limber.

“I don’t crack my knuckles often, only when they need crack’n, or if I get nervous,” senior Eric Moerman said.

But it’s not just fingers. People can crack

their backs, wrists, elbows, shoulders, most of the joints in their body. To most people, this is relaxing and can make their joints feel better.

Although it is directly going against the common parent advice, “cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis,” is this advice really true?

“Research has shown that cracking your knuckles does not lead to arthritis,” biology teacher Pete Smith said.

There have been numerous studies by doctors to see if cracking knuckles really does lead to arthritis.

One study was concluded by an M.D. named Donald Unger. In order to accurately test his hypothesis, Unger decided to only crack the knuckles on his left hand twice a day for 50 years. He actually wrote a journal about this, entitled “Does Knuckle Cracking Lead to Arthritis

of the Fingers?” At the end, he concluded, “There is no

apparent relationship between knuckle cracking and the subsequent development of arthritis of the fingers.”

But there's still the question of what is that cracking noise that fingers make? Around the joint of the knuckles there is a fluid that has bubbles in it.

All that is happening is those bubbles are bursting to make the crack we all know so well. The bubbles are then recreated in about 15 to 30 minutes through a process called cavitation. During this time your knuckles cannot crack.

This is actually an anatomy fact.

It has also been studied by several associations. The most commonly mentioned is Anatomy and Physiology Instructors’ Cooperative.

Cracking knuckles doesn't lead to arthritis, experts say

Julia Gaiser

SET DIRECTOR Amy Gawronski works with a student painting the back wall before the show.

by Alexander DeGolier

Faith is something people use every day.

“Faith is to believe in something you just can’t verify. I have to have faith your name is Alex,” Father Charles Zadora of St. Joseph’s Church in Fredonia explained.

Now, there is an idea of this faith in people telling the truth. However, the world is a place full of people who lie as well.

This is why we have identification. When we go to the bank, the banker is required to ask us for identification.

What would the world be like if we relied on faith alone? It might not be so bad if everyone had to tell the truth.

Dr. Leonard Jacuzzo, a philosophy professor at SUNY Fredonia, talked about “epistemic momentum.”

This is the idea of faith being instilled in children by parents or other caretakers.

This seems like a probable source of faith. Can we really call faith we just get from our parents a true faith?

Pastor Chris Schimel of the Brocton Baptist church said he thinks this is a true faith.

He explains, “A child who has not yet had the chance to question his/her faith is innocent.”

If we also have faith it is possible our parents would not lie.

However, if epistemic faith is the only source of faith there would have to be an infinite regression of parents, and there is not. So this could not be the only way faith flourishes.

Twelve of 18 surveyed Brocton High School students said their faith is epistemic.

Junior Chris Sleeper said his parents allowed him to decide

for himself what he wanted to believe. “There must be an afterlife. This is stage one. This is our Hell. After we die we go somewhere better,” he said.

Minister Cynthia Wichwire Lundquist of the Presbyterian church in Fredonia explained faith as something that can happen in a spike or over a long period of time.

She explained, “I heard if I truly opened my heart to God and had absolute faith in Him He would come into my life. I went home that night and opened myself completely to God, and nothing happened."

"So then I felt like I was not good enough for God,” she said.

After this, she was hit by a lot of “bad things,” and the only way she could deal with it was through faith.

She went to Italy and when she came back she "began to pray and felt a powerful conviction to become a minister,” she said. It took her many years to finally find her faith.

Some people believe those who have no faith in God go to Hell. Rev. Lundquist said, “I refuse to claim I know the mind of God.”

She also showed a passage from the Bible (Matthew 25:40). It is a story about judgment day and where God will decide who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.

She points out, this passage says nothing about having faith in God.

There is the idea of faith being something that can be

turned on and off.In a survey, 20 of 24 Brocton

students said no, one cannot control this. Senior Nicole Benkelman said, “You have to go through a process.” A process seems to have more validity than some off and on switch.

Two of the three interviewed

reverends said they did not believe right away.

Another outlook some have on faith that Dr. Jacuzzo pointed out is “the better offer." " If you have no faith in God and there is no God, death will come and it will be over. If there is a God and you have no faith, you could possibly go to Hell, he said.

If you have faith and there is no God, then death will still come regularly. However, if there is a God you will be rewarded in the afterlife for your faith and good deeds,” he explained.

It seems as though there are many ways different people experience, gain and sustain their faith. All these seem logical.

Faith was described by the reverends, Zadora, Schimel and Ludquist, as a gift from God. Could it be that if people leave themselves open to possibilities of faith, God will come into their lives?

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Faithcalled a process

18 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

8 OPINION BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

EditorialBrocton

ReviewBrocton High SchoolMain StreetBrocton, New York 14716Editorial Board

Co-editors: Mark Belcher, Julia Gaiser

Managing editor: Megan Borgstrom

Design assistant: Jenette Palesh

Assistant editor: Christian DeakinCopy editor: Jim Andin, Jessica Miller Feature: Jillian Markham, Heather Rafan, Ashley Stalter, Rachel Walls

Opinion: Katelyn Stahlman

Entertainment: Ayla Yasav

News: Janelle Becker, Jacqueline Merle, Sydney Morello, Autumn Sank, Rachel Bialaszewski

Photography: Andrew Goodwin, Liz Bromsted, Brittany Crooks

Graphics: Parker Fink, Elisa Fuentes

Sports: Brittany Crooks, Josh Timmerman, Brandon Pawlak, Derek Cook

Culture: Kayla Wiberg

Business: Lynsey Allen, Sara Sobecki

Adviser: Dadie Sedota

Business adviser: N. Ortolano

Principal: Stephen Keefe

Signed letters to the editor are welcomed and may be mailed to the school or sent to gsedota@broc.wnyric.org. We reserve the right to edit all copy and letters for length and grammar, but we will not alter ideas.

Editorials and opinion pieces published in this paper do not reflect the views of administration or staff at Brocton High School. Unsigned editorials present the opinion of the editorial board and are written by editors.

Gallup Award winner, Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists, All-New York Gold rating, Empire State School Press Association, Best Newspaper, NYPA. Phone: (716) 792-2206

by Julia Gaiser

The BROCTON REVIEW received the first place award in the high school best newspaper category at the New York State Press Association (NYSPA) conference.

Every year, NYSPA recognizes the excellence in papers across New York state at their spring conference.

Of the nine years the paper has entered this contest, the Brocton paper won the first place award six times.

The paper earned 75 points and was commended for its writing and photography. Not only did the paper win as a whole, but individual awards were also given .

The best columnist first place award was won by junior Christian Deakin for his column based on the possibility of a consolidation between Brocton and Fredonia central schools.

A judge concluded,“The writer leaves the reader thinking about a merger. He doesn’t

lead you to believe you should be on one side or the other. Very articulate and balanced. Wasn’t sure if I was reading a column by a high school student or a 40 year newspaper veteran.”

Co-editor Mark Belcher received first place for news writing. The judges complimented him on his balanced coverage of the merger process. “A well-written, multi-sourced story about a serious issue that may be facing school districts across the state: Centralization. The writer clearly and concisely details the issue’s major points, summing up what it’s about and what it’s not about,” the judge commented.

Julia Gaiser, co-editor of the REVIEW won first place in the category of photography. She was commended for her sharp images and the way her photos told a story.

Other awards presented to the paper were second place for general excellence and third place in the best column category, won by Katelyn Stahlman.

Paper wins New York Press Association awards

This is the twenty-fifth anniversary year of the BROCTON REVIEW, which is created by students and advised by Dadie Sedota.

Twenty-five years ago, Sedota was hired and took the newspaper that had been started by a group of juniors and helped them turn it into an award-winning publication. The paper is written and edited by students. There is a policy in school to guarantee students their freedom of speech rights under the First Amendment.

Student articles make a diverse paper with topics that not only relate to school and community activities, but attempt to capture the attention of students and other readers.

The REVIEW is distributed in the school and the community. It is passed out in classrooms, given to staff and to businesses that advertise in the paper. It is also available online.

Over time, the paper has won more than 2,000 awards. These include recent honors such as the best high school newspaper rating from the NY Press Association and St. Bonaventure University, an All New York Gold at Syracuse University and the University of Iowa’s international Gallup Award.

The REVIEW staff would like to thank the school board, administration, community, businesses who advertise and the students for the overwhelming support for the paper. Without that support, the BROCTON REVIEW would not have come as far as it has.

REVIEW staff extends thanks

BROCTON REVIEW ADVISER Dadie Sedota holds the best high school newspaper plaque at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York. Assistant editor Christian Deakin, co-editors Mark Belcher and Julia Gaiser, and managing editor Megan Borgstrom traveled to Saratoga for the March 17 New York Press Association conference and awards luncheon. The NYPA covered all conference costs for the winning staff.

Andy Deakin

by Lynsey Allen

Some say public displays of affection (PDA) are appropriate in school, but others say it is gross to see people making out in the halls.

Twenty-six of 40 surveyed Brocton students said that PDA can be appropriate, depending on how much affection they are showing each other. Fourteen of the 40 surveyed students said it is not appropriate for people to show affection during school.

Four of the 14 students who said it is inappropriate to show PDA said they have displayed affection in school. One surveyed senior wrote that making out with someone is something that should be done in private, not in front of teachers and other students.

In the Student and Parent Handbook, the topic of PDA is directly addressed. On page 18 under “Disruptive Behavior,” it states “Public displays of affection beyond holding hands are considered inappropriate.”

“I believe that the school handbook is a good guideline for the rules of PDA,” Spanish teacher Michelle Crowell said.

The school handbook addresses hugging and kissing, yet students still continue to show affection in front of students and teachers.

One surveyed junior wrote, “It’s too much PDA when a kiss turns into a make-out session. You shouldn’t do something you wouldn’t want to see your parents doing.”

Twenty-one of the surveyed students said that people making out in the hallways show too much of it. Two said that any kind of PDA is too much.“When a girl is up against the locker and her boyfriend is pinned up against her, that is too much PDA,” junior Zac Delcamp said.

Four surveyed students said they do not see it very often. Thirty-six of the students said that they see PDA every day. Some

students said they see it between classes every period.

“Most of the PDA I see is between the freshmen and sophomores, and it is in the hallway by the library and by the gym,” junior Kaylin Franze said.

“I think PDA is appropriate as long as you don’t over do it. Holding hands, hugging and a peck is fine, but no one wants to see couples making out in the hallway,” senior Katelyn Stahlman said.

Principal Stephen Keefe said he does not believe there is a problem with showing affection this year. He said there are usually a few people that he has to keep track of every year, and sometimes he has to

suspend students. “Keep your love life private,” Keefe said.

On the other hand, Crowell said she sees PDA all the time. One of her ways to stop it is to publicly embarrass the couple. She said, “I scream at the top of my lungs and tell them to get to class."

Usually, she does not have to give out detentions, but if someone gives her an “attitude,” she will give them one. The detention slips do not have PDA as a reason for getting detention.

Crowell said, “If it was two adults making out in the hallway, teenagers would be grossed out. School is not the time or the place for PDA.”

'Keep your love life private'

STUDENTS ARE sometimes seen showing affection in the halls. The student handbook discourages students from showing too much affection.

Julia Gaiser

8783 Pecor StreetPortland, NY 14769

Chuck Lillie

ownerPhone: (716) 792-2704

Cell: (716) 581-0933

C L Excavating, Inc.

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 FEATURE 17

by Derek Cook

One belief of going green is that it is a government generated idea that is used to make people buy expensive products that will put money into the economy.

On the other hand, others believe that if we do not go green soon it will ultimately lead to the demise of the planet.

Guidance counselor Robert Wright said he is green but he is not an extremist.

“I recycle, compost and grow some of my own food. I believe it is important to save the environment, but I believe that people need to balance the need to protect the environment and the need to gain self status,” Wright said.

Another view is that from a scientist's view anything to reduce the carbon footprint is a good thing. Science teacher Mike Stone is all for going green

but he also said that it has its pros and cons.

“I believe that the carbon amount is not affecting the environment so much that it is changing the temperatures drastically. I believe that the world is just going through a cycle that it would go through whether we were here or not,” Stone said.

He added that he does not believe that going green is a government conspiracy to make people pay tons of money to the government.

So going green may not be a government conspiracy to make money, and going green could help the environment by reducing waste that goes into landfills and cutting down the

use of coal and gasoline. In the end, going green

should be a personal choice that should be well thought out to achieve a better environment, not for a higher social status.

by Taylor Seavy

“Going green” is a great motto. We all should be thinking about doing this a little bit more this month, since the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day was April 22.

Brocton Central School, for one, is currently involved in several green programs. We have the paper recycling program; there are paper recycling boxes in every classroom. We also recycle plastic bottles. There are a few plastic bottle recycling bins throughout the school. Motion sensors detect when there is no movement in the room, and this turns off the lights to save energy. Along with paper and plastic, Switch cans and Capri Sun pouches are also recycled.

Head custodian Art Miller Sr. pointed out some other methods the school uses to go green. The entire heating system in the school automatically turns on at 4:00 a.m. and then turns off at 6:00 p.m. Along with the things already mentioned that get recycled, tin and cardboard are added to the list. The main cleaning product used by the janitors in the school is eco-friendly. Just recently, the cafeteria changed from using plastic plates to reusable trays. Miller also said that he does not support throwing waste into landfills and “each day we’re trying to find more and more ways to go green.”

Going green should not just be something students support at school; it should

continue on into the homes of every student. My family, for example, hasn’t thrown away anything recyclable for as long as I can remember. We also replaced our gas water heater and gas stove for electric ones. Our house is also heated by a wood stove in the winter.

But it’s not good enough for present generations to be involved in these green techniques. The future generations need to keep the idea of going green, living strong. It’s no secret that in the past there weren’t many eco-friendly participants, and that's why going green is such a predicament now. These green techniques need to be passed on and on into future generations, just like any history student would tell you, so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

One influential web site about helping schools go green is gogreeninitiative.org. The Brocton district is listed on the site as a school that has gone green.

Some ways to go green, with ease, include walking to school every once in awhile or

riding a bike. Not only is this removing one car's deadly exhaust fumes from the road, but it’s also healthy for your body. If you drive to school and don’t feel like walking or riding a bike, ride the bus or even start a car pool with some classmates.

Every car taken off the road is doing a little good, and if a lot of people were to do this, the amount of good to the environment is multiplied over and over.

School makes effort to go green

"Each day we're trying to find more and more ways to go green." -Head custodian Art Miller Sr.

photos by Andrew Goodwin

'Going green' opinions differ among various people

"I believe that the world is just going through a cycle that it would go through whether we were here or not." -Science teacher Mike Stone

EARLY SPRING blossoms and green plants are reminders of the beauty of the earth each season. Earth Day is 40 years old this April.

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 OPINION 9

Prom: the magical, yet costly experience

ROCTON

EACHERS'

SSOCIATION

Professionals who care about the children,

parents, and community we serve.

www.broctonteachers.org

art by Megan Borgstrom

16 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

by Ashley Stalter

Once again it is time to begin thinking about prom, which is set for May 22.

Prom night is said to be the most memorable event of a teenager's life. However, making this a magical experience can be costly.

Teens planning to attend prom will be faced with expenses such as tickets, dinner, attire, accessories, transportation and pictures. Prom can cost anywhere from $100 to $3,000 or more.

Girls with dates may be able to avoid paying for a ticket, which costs $20 at Brocton, but there are many other expenses that they will have to pay for.

Of 23 surveyed Brocton juniors and seniors, 12 guys and 11 girls, the girls estimated that they would spend between $100 and $200 just on a dress.

Then there’s grooming. Getting their hair done professionally can cost anywhere from $20 to $100,

depending on how extravagant they want their hair to be. This is also true with nails. Having their nails done by a professional can run from $10 to $50.

Accessories are another expense. This includes shoes, jewelry and purses. Girls may spend between $20 and $100 to dress up their prom look.

For the guys, prom may not cost as much. Guys with dates, however, might want to pay for both of them. This includes paying for both tickets and for dinner.

The 12 surveyed guys wanting to rent or buy a tux estimate that they will spend between $100 and $500. Also, they may want to buy a corsage for their date for an additional $10 to $30.

As far as transportation goes, many of the surveyed seniors and juniors said that it will be too expensive to rent a limo. They plan to stick to their basic modes of transportation.

When asked how much money they believe they will spend for prom overall, the basic response was between $100 and $400.

However, there are some ways to make prom night special while saving money.

Girls buying a dress could start shopping a few months early. This way they can take

advantage of clearance sales. A dress on clearance could run between $20 and $40.

Another way to go is to look for dresses at thrift stores or consignment stores. Thrift store prices are usually very low, but the dresses may be a bit old fashioned. Consignment store dresses are slightly more costly, but they are more modern. This could cost around $10 or $30.

Purses, shoes and accessories also don't have to cost too much money. A girl could easily wear a pair of shoes she already has. If they don't match the dress, then shop at an in-expensive foot wear store. A nice pair of shoes could be bought at Payless for around $20. Just buy a pair that can be used again.

Borrowing is a good option for jewelry and evening bags. If that doesn't work out, simply shop at an in-expensive store such as Claire's.

These simple tips could save a girl hundreds of dollars.

As I see it

10 OPINION BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

by Christian Deakin

The first day of school is pretty straightforward. You show up, get your schedule and hear seven different teachers tell you how they are going to grade you. This had been the same routine for as long as I’d been in school, until I walked into eighth grade physical science, which is taught by Andy Deakin, my father.

My dad had already met more than half my class. Between birthday parties, sleepovers and general hanging out with friends, he knew a bunch of the new eighth graders. Unfortunately, some of my friends decided to remind him of that fact.

At some point during his standard “this is how I grade” speech, he said, “I already know some of you, and some of you I don’t.” Upon hearing this, eighth grade Jeremy Little responded, “Yeah, you’re the guy who chased me with a chainsaw.”

Jeremy was recalling a Halloween party where I had family members hidden in strategic locations with orders to scare any fellow sixth graders. The grand finale was walking through an old barn, where my masked father leapt out from behind a barrel, waving a chainsaw. Jeremy was at the back of the line when this happened. He obviously never forgot the experience.

I had been in my dad’s class for 20 minutes and any chance of him being just my teacher was already dead.

For the next two weeks I did my best to call him Mr. Deakin, but it just didn’t work. Calling

parents mom or dad is one of

the most natural reflexes, and trying to break that habit after 13 years of life proved impossible. Other than the occasional joking comment, no one really cared that I called him dad. So I gave up on formality and haven’t called him Mr. Deakin since.

In truth, those first two weeks were about as awkward as it ever got. Long before actually being in his class, I learned that there are a few perks that come with being a teacher’s kid.

For starters, I rode the school bus to school three times at most. And since I ride with a teacher who is rarely early, I get more sleep than most. Other than transportation, there aren’t very many in-school advantages.

Getting lunch money is nice, and I’ve had a few permission slips signed two minutes before they were due.

But, without a doubt, the biggest advantage of having a chemistry teacher for a father is his fridge.

We have our own private stash containing everything from sandwich material and canned fruit to frozen pizza and burritos.

All food and taxi service aside, there are downsides to having a parent in school.

If you get caught texting in class or fail a small quiz once in a while who cares? Most parents

will probably never find out.I wish. If teachers ever catch

me texting or doing something I probably shouldn’t, they run to my father and rat me out like it’s their job. And if I ever actually bomb a quiz, I don’t stand a chance. There is no hope of me escaping without him finding out. And, needless to say, when he finds out about my texting or failed quizzes, he is less than amused.

As far as school goes, he is very well informed, which is rarely good news for me.

Teachers aren’t the only people he hears things from. If teachers rat me out like it’s their job, then students do it just for fun.

Try as I might, I have absolutely no secrets from my father. If you think rumors spreading through the school are bad, I guarantee you they are worse when your dad hears them.

And as far as girlfriends go, only one word comes to mind. Awkward! Chances are my dad has probably known this girl longer than I have. What’s even better is when he taught her aunt and uncle when they were students (no, this is not hypothetical).

The instant I show any PDA in school, all hope of secrecy is lost. I swear, people make it their personal mission to tell my

dad all about the rare occasions that I actually have a love life.

Getting invited to parties is a challenge because, if he over-hears plans that he doesn’t like, the odds of him letting me go drop painfully fast.

And other students know this. So when it comes to parties, I’m considered a bit of a leper. But I’ll put up with a lot for easy access food and a to and from school taxi service.

But this is how it has always been for me. My father aside, Brocton is still crawling with my family.

Global studies teacher Carrie McCausland is my cousin, the school nurse Jean McCausland is my great aunt and I have a younger brother who shares two classes with me.

My mother is a professor at SUNY Fredonia, which is where I will be participating in the 3-1-3 program next year. You could choke on that much irony.

But I love my family, and since I get along fine with my father, I doubt my mom will be any different.

Having said that, when it’s time to choose a four-year college, I would like to attend an out of state school. I’m going to avoid nearby colleges at all cost.

There is a zero percent chance that I will be attending SUNY Fredonia.

Brandon Pawlak

MORE THAN JUST FAMILY: Jean McCausland (great aunt), Andy Deakin (father), Christian Deakin, Carrie McCausland (cousin), Alexander Deakin (brother).

No-

where

to

hide

Now booking 2010-2011 seniors

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 ADVERTISEMENT 15

by Andrew Goodwin.

Lady Gaga has done it again. She recently released her second studio album, The Fame

Monster, in November. The album contains singles such as “Bad Romance” and “Paparazzi,” and also, contains 12 other new tracks.

You can either purchase the single disc edition of the album, or the double disc deluxe edition. The single disc edition contains her new tracks, and the double disc contains her newest tracks on disc one, while disc two contains hits from her first album The Fame.

The Fame Monster has charted at number five with sales of 174,000 so far. Some tracks you may need to listen to a few times to enjoy them, but all of them are outstanding.

The weakest points of this album are the songs “Fooled Me Again” and “Teeth.” These songs are not Lady Gaga’s best work and to some may seem annoying. All in all, though, I’d give this cd a thumbs up, if you love dancing and great music.

Lady Gaga is a performance artist hailing from New York’s Lower East side clubs, and has been impressing the dance scene for the last couple of years.

She wrote her first song when she was 13 years old. She was soon signed to record label Def Jam, but was dropped from the label three months later.

By 2007, she moved to Los Angeles and

signed a deal with Interscope Records. Her first album, The Fame, debuted in the U.S. Oct. 28, 2008, and sold over 240,000 units in its first week. Since then, it has sold over four million copies world wide.

The Fame peaked at number four on the “Billboard 200” and topped the “Billboards Top Electronic Albums” chart in the U.S.

The albums first two singles, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” were both

international hits, with “Just Dance” topping charts over six countries, including the “Billboard Hot 100” in the U.S. “Poker Face” was able to top at number-one in most of the major musical markets. On Dec. 2, 2009, The Fame was nominated for two Grammy Awards in the categories for “Best Electronic/Dance Album” and the “Album of the Year” for the 52nd Grammy Awards.

Lady Gaga isn’t just known for her great voice and hit music, but is also known for her sense of style. Since she was 13 she has been experimenting with her outfits, mix and matching things from different centuries. Some of her favorites include, acid wash jeans, tank-tops, sneakers, stuff inspired by the ‘50s and clubby stuff. She also adds her signature lightning bolt to her face to tie everything together.

Today she is often criticized for her daring outfits, which are often called “trampy” or “hideous.”

“I do have a bit of a rock and roll heart even though I’m a pop artist. But I’m a different kind of punk. I like clean, sophisticated lines and detail.” Gaga said in an interview on exposay.com.

Gaga hopes she will soon influence other people to wear her outfits, because it will mean she’s having an impact on society and affect culture. “But I do think that whatever your influence, you have to be careful to execute it properly.” Gaga said, according to exposay.com.

'Fame Monster' a 2nd hit

art by Megan Borgstrom

American Legion

110 West Main Street

Brocton, NY 14716

John W. Dill

Post 434

Guests Phone: (716) 792-4345

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 ENTERTAINMENT 11

by Derek Cook

The fear of flying is quite common. People who are afraid to fly usually are not afraid of the equipment failing but of how high up it is.

Senior Samantha DeJesus has a fear of flying on planes. “They go high above the ground, and I am afraid something will go wrong,” she said.

DeJesus added that even though she has been on a plane many times she does not feel any better about them. “The last time I was on a plane was around 2002, so I was still scared from 9/11.”

The fear of flying is described as aerophobia. Some psychologists say that it is usually combined with the fear of heights and enclosed spaces.

An official online government survey showed that it is almost 100 times more risky to drive a car than to fly, according to the number of deaths there are per year.

Guidetopsychology.com said that pilots are trained to fly planes with any number of engines, which includes none at all. This means that if all of the engines fail, the pilot will still more than likely make it to the ground safely. The engines also have built in fire extinguishers so that they can put a fire out during flight.

Guidance counselor Robert Wright said he is not afraid of flying at all. “I’m not afraid to

fly; actually, I love to fly...most people are afraid of the small planes but I enjoy flying on prop planes much more than big planes,” Wright said.

Sometimes a bad flying experience will lead to a fear of flying, like a bad storm or the loss of a motor.

“My first time flying was a really bad flight, probably the worst I have ever been on but even with that I still was not scared of flying,” Wright added.

Airplane safety is a big question in modern times because of 9/11, faulty technology and inexperienced pilots.

Airplanes are always getting updated because new technologies are created and faulty old technology becomes out dated but that does not mean that the new technology is going to fix the problem.

Some technologies are rushed into usage before they can be properly tested which can cause a problem and cause systems to fail.

The amount of fatalities

changes drastically annually, according to the PBS web site. According to their chart of fatalities, the bars jump up and down, as drastic as going from over 450 deaths in 1985 to less than 50 in 1986.

In the new century, disregarding the tragedy of 9/11, the aircraft fatalities have been lower than many years before. Besides the 2001 tragedy, there has not been a year with over 100 deaths.

Some people are afraid of flying when they have not yet flown. Senior Stephanie Woleben is afraid of flying and she said she never wants to because she would rather not put herself in that situation.

“I have never flown, but you hear on the news of flights going down and of bomb threats on airplanes and it scares me, so as for that I can add that I would rather drive across the whole country before I had to fly in a plane,” Woleben said.

Others do not find a fear in planes because they are educated on how planes work

and have confidence in the trained pilots.

Science teacher Mike Stone said he likes to fly even though he does not fly very often. “I fly about once a year, but when I do I love it. I prefer to fly on smaller planes but that does not mean that I am afraid to fly on big planes.”

Stone added that the only thing he is truly afraid of while flying is that when he looks out the window and sees the wings bending it scares him because he wonders how much stress the wing can really withstand.

According to airspacemag.com, airplane wings breaking off is highly unlikely. The airplane’s wings have to be able to withstand 1.5 times more pressure than what the airplane is expected to see in its lifetime to pass federal certification.

It seems like the fear of airplanes is mostly based on what happens with airplanes. There are bombs and mysterious crashes that scare people away from flying, and there is also the feeling that humans are just not meant to fly.

The stats show that flying is safer than driving your car and that, according to deaths per year, the chance of dying in a plane crash is very slim.

Can an airplane crash? Yes. But the chances of it actually happening are one in 20,000.

Flying in airplanes; safer than driving?

Hair By

Nicole

28 East Main StreetBrocton,NY 14716 (716)792-2422

Professional Coloring

Permanents

Cuts

And

MuchMore

14 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

'Losing a friendship is

better than losing a person'

art by Parker Fink

by Christian Deakin

“I want to kill myself.”

Those are words that you think you’ll never hear. It’s one of those problems that are supposed to happen to other people, but not to you.

Starting in middle school, both teachers and counselors begin educating students about the symptoms of suicide and how to prevent it. Telling an official about the problem ASAP is their major point.

“Calmly listen to the problem and make a determination. If you think they are in danger, you

need to take the next step. Losing a friendship is better than losing a friend,” guidance counselor Robert Wright said.

Students are also taught to observe certain warning signs, such as a change in appearance or behavior. But it’s rarely that simple.

Isabell (name changed) is a Brocton student who has recently been battling depression. She asked to remain annonymous. Once the depression began to worsen, she started to think about suicide.

“It started at the end of November. Nothing really happened to trigger it. Life, stress, peer pressure and just everything got to me. The fact of not knowing a life purpose made me not want to have a life,” Isabell said.

School social worker Laura

Neratko explained that telling someone; friends, family and others is the first sign that a depressed individual wants help.

“I told five friends about my thoughts. Some tried to help and be my own personal counselor. Others just ignored it. Having someone to support me helped a lot, but no one could actually make me feel better.”

Confidentiality is a major concern for both the depressed individuals and the counselors. “When I hear that there could be a problem, I call the person in question down and tell them what I heard. I then ask them questions and compare their answers to a suicide assessment form. If it seems like a legitimate threat, I call the parents,” Neratko said.

Although parents usually react very strongly when hearing

this news, if they decide not to act school resource officer Wayne Ashley and Neratko can legally take the student to the emergency room themselves.

But parents are the only people the counselors tell about the issue. Discretion and confidentiality are stressed. This isn’t always the case if a victim places trust in a student. “When I told friends, I was calling out for help. But in Brocton rumors fly like crazy. I didn’t want people looking at me like I was a whack job, so I asked them not to tell anybody.”

Another key question in a suicide evaluation: Does the individual have a plan? Whether or not the plan is rational and well thought out is a major red flag.

“I’ve been to a number of (Continued on page 13)

12 FEATURE BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010

Losing friendship (continued story)

He was found shortly after, and his parents were forced to tell and retell the rest of their extended family what happened.

“When I found out I dropped the phone, fell on the floor, and screamed my lungs out. Then I just sat there and cried. I remember it like it was yesterday,” Julia said.

A week later his funeral was held in Phoenix, Arizona. “It was just so sad. We all just sat around and cried. I could never accept the fact that he did it,” Julia said.

A very common symptom in a victim’s family is survivor’s guilt. The grief that follows any death is much harder to deal

with when the death was self-inflicted. “I felt really guilty when he died. I wish I had talked to him more. Every holiday my whole family misses him,” Julia said.

Besides the individual loss of life, suicide inflicts an incredible amount of emotional damage on both the surviving family and friends.

Thankfully, Isabell made it through her depression, and is back to living her life. “If someone flat out tells you that they’re having thoughts about killing themselves, you need to tell someone who can actually help them."

According to Neratko, students come to her with suicidal thoughts about two or three times a year.

But between the trained professionals in school, and outside organizations who specialize in suicide cases, Brocton is well equipped to help students.

“Don’t give up. You’re not alone, and there are other ways to get better. Suicide isn’t the answer.”

shootings, hangings, overdoses etc. I had a kid shoot himself right in front of me. It doesn’t feel too good when you try and talk them out of it, but they do it anyway,” Ashley said.

Isabell had planned to wear a necklace, tie it through a sink drain, and drown herself. “I didn’t have access to guns, and if you take pills you have time to go get help. If I decided to kill myself, I didn’t want to change my mind.”

For better or worse, her friends kept their promises and didn’t tell anyone about her feelings, including the counselors.

As December wore on, her depression began to worsen. She explained that suicide became the only thing on her mind. “I was isolated and unable to escape. It felt like life was being drained out of me, and I had no control of my emotions.”

In early January she took the

first step towards recovery and told her father.

“I needed help. If I didn’t get help soon I was going to kill myself. I didn’t want to do it. It wasn’t fair to my family and friends.”

Once an appointment was scheduled, her father took her to see a doctor. While there, she was given the same suicide evaluation that Neratko and school psychologist Dr. Johanna VonKorff use.

After the evaluation, the doctor put her on an antidepressant for six to nine months.

The medication actually causes a slight relapse before they begin to take affect. “The day after I got the prescription, I had a depression attack in school. I was desperate, so I went to see Neratko and VonKorff.”

According to VonKorff, most of the time friends come and tell her about the problem. But a few (like Isabell) come

themselves.“I told Neratko about the

situation. She relaxed and reassured me, gave me tips, pamphlets and a book written by someone who had been through this.” Isabell’s father soon arrived to take her home. There was nothing left to do but wait.

Slowly but surely, Isabell’s condition began to improve. “Just the fact that I knew I was getting help showed me there was a light at the end of the tunnel. After about a month, I started to notice the meds. Every day was a little better.”

Although Isabell spent three months deeply depressed, she was able to come out of it and begin life again.

Isabell was one of the many teens who contimplate suicide because of depression.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, suicide is the third leading cause of death for teenagers, behind unintentional fatality and homicide. And if someone actually carries out their plan, the aftermath for the survivors can be devastating.

“My cousin Anthony was 18 when he committed suicide,” senior Julia Gaiser said.

A year before, Anthony had become depressed, and he steadily got worse. He stole a car, did drugs and was pulled out of school by his parents.

The final straw was when his girlfriend broke up with him. The next day he shot himself in his parents' garage. He didn’t leave a note.

"When I told

friends, I was calling out for help. But in Brocton rumors fly like crazy. I didn’t want people looking at me like I was a whack job, so I asked them not to tell anybody.”

BROCTON REVIEW APRIL 28, 2010 FEATURE13