1. HaPPY St. PaTrIcK’s DaY FroM
Smoke Signals
PTHS
March 2008
DM
a a
n c
c h
i i
nn
g e
Jordan Dent
Volume 39, Issue 5
Photos by
Annie
Tarwater
The Pths Dance Team
enjoys themselves in Walt Disney world in Orlando, Florida during
their award-winning trip. The team placed 5th in the nation over 57 teams in the small-varsity hip hop category.
Sports Editor Co-Editor
F
or only being in its third year of
competition, the dance team has
certainly created a lasting impression in
our community as well as teams across
the country. The team finished fifth
in the nation at the Universal Dance Association’s
2008 National Dance Team Competition held in
Orlando this past February. The team danced its
way through three stages of competition including
preliminaries, semi-finals, and of course, finals which
only takes the top 15 teams from the semis division.
Both JV and Varsity competed steadily
throughout the year, not only scoring very high
at every event but also winning awards such as
most innovative choreography and Dance Grand
Champion.
The Varsity team would regularly
Photo by Annie Tarwater
compete with and defeat All-Star teams in local
competitions, while JV never placed any lower than
second place, and second only to the Varsity girls.
The Nationals team consisted of fourteen
girls, whose determination from day one has shown
throughout the entire year. In addition, two coaches,
who have believed in their teams’ ambitions and
pushed them to be the very best, were vital elements
in the teams’ accomplishments. Varsity was affected
with a few injuries, which resulted in two members
of the JV team, Gina Settimio and Jade Murman,
being pulled to fill spots for Nationals. These girls
had proven their dedication through their work
on JV, and both coaches found their talent to be
very valuable to Varsity. Four returning seniors,
Alexis Joseph, Julie Mosallem, Leanna Frey, and
Mackenzy Radolec, also captained the team.
Their leadership was shown through their dance
ability, participation in activities such as the first
annual P-Rade (sponsored by the dance team),
and dedication to the team, and teammates.
Try-outs were held in April, and since then,
the team has dedicated their time, suffered
injuries and strains, and worked toward Nationals.
Summer camp at Ohio State pushed the girls
by learning and competing with new styles of
dance. The team held day-long practices, which
proved to be successful pre-competition tools,
and endured endless hours of conditioning. This
allowed them to get through an exhausting two
and a half minute routine. Aside from practices
and competitions, the teams provided entertainment
during halftime at numerous basketball games. “We
consider it a huge compliment when fans stay in their
seats at halftime just to watch us,” said Coach Barb
Deliere. This is Mrs. Deliere’s third year as advisor
of the dance team, while her daughter, Nique, serves
as head coach for both JV and Varsity. Nique and
Mrs. Deliere take great pride in the squad’s success
this year and have high expectations for next season.
Competition Wins
Varsity Dance Team:
-PNC Park Competition - 1st place in
cateogry, 2nd over all highest score
-Jamfest- 2nd place in All Star Division
-Steeltown Regional at W&J - 1st place
-Robert Morris Univ. Competition - 1st place
-UDA National Finals in Orlando, Flordia
- 5th in the nation (over 57 teams)
Junior Varsity Dance Team:
-PNC Park Competition - 1st place in
category, 4th over all highest score
-Jamfest - 1st Place
-Elite Championships - 1st place in Varsity
divison, most original choreography, highest
score in dance category, dance grand
champion
-Steeltown Regionals at W&J - 1st place
Robert Morris Univ - 2nd Place
-(Their only defeat was when they had to
compete aganist our own varsity team)

2. PT Reference
PTHS
March 2008
Smoke Signals
March 2008
Monday Tuesday
SUNDAY
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
2
Saturday
1
Yellowstone National Park
was created by an act of
Congress in 1872
2
3
4
5
National
Anthem Day
Dr. Seuss’s
Birthday
9
10
12
11 Johnny Appleseed Day
17
Puff The Magic Dragon
by Peter, Paul & Mary
released in 1963
24
No SchoolSpring Break!
__________________
30 Doctor’s Day
__________________
31 Eiffel Tower opens
1889
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is
produced eight times
during a school year by
the students of Media
II, III, IV Journalism
and extracurricular staff
at Peters Towship High
School, 264 E. McMurray Road, McMurray
PA 15317. Telephone:
724-941-6250 x.5379.
E-mail: sitlern@ptsd.org.
Commentaries,
reviews, and opinion columns are the
expressed opinion of
the author and not of
Smoke Signals, its
advisor or the Peters
Township School
District. Member of the
Pennsylvania School
Press Association.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ashley Czajkowski
Renée Wunderlich
18
The Pillsbury
Doughboy’s
Birthday
St.
Patrick’s
Day
23 Easter
Sunday
7
13
25
19
No SchoolSpring Break!
20
No SchoolSpring Break!
National Chocolate
Caramel Day
14
27
3:30PM
Boys Varsity Tennis
VS. Moon
Daylight Savings
Time Begins
15
Potato Chip Day
Ides of March!
Earth Day!
26
4:00PM
Girls Varsity Softball
VS. Upper St. Clair
Jewel Day
8
Babe Ruth hit his first
professional home run,
1914 in Fayetteville,
North Carolina.
Willie Stargell’s
Birthday
Girl Scouts of the
U.S.A. Founded 1912
Paper money was first
issued in the United States
in 1862
16
Boston
Massacre,
1770
6
21
No SchoolSpring Break!
Good Friday
28
22
Reese Witherspoon’s
Birthday
29
M.C.
Hammer’s
Birthday
7:30PM
Boys Varsity Volleyball
VS. Montour
What do you do on St. Patrick’s Day?
FEATURES EDITOR
Angelina Nepa
OPINION EDITORS
Alex Egan
Brian Lewis
SPORTS EDITOR
Bill Berry
Jordan Dent
MARKETING
EDITORS
Brianna Lutes
Shelby Miller
Olivia Cramer ‘11
“Have a party with
my family.”
STAFF WRITERS
Andrea Briggs,
Emily Estep, Gina
Nepa, Taylor Relich,
Bridget Stasenko,
Katie Ellis, Averi
Clements, Paige
Burris, Mady
Dietrich, Stephanie Nitschmann,
Stephanie Cotugno,
Ian Jackson, Dana
Hoelle, Melanie
Hoffman, Brendan
Sikora
LAYOUT EDITOR
Katie Gavlick
LAYOUT TEAM
Katie Gavlick, Kaylin
Zawicki, Emily Correal, Shelby Miller,
Brianna Lutes
NEWS EDITOR
Grant Burkhardt
ADVISER
Mrs. Sitler
Kayla O’Rourke ‘10
“Go to a party at my
friend’s house.”
Mrs. Frick
“I like going to the
St. Patrick’s Day
parade and
watching all the of
performances.”
Ben Bianco ‘09
“Get a shamrock
shake from
McDonalds.”
Steve Peranteau ‘ 08
“Wear an old school
bright green hat and
search for a pot of gold.”

3. NEWS
PTHS
March 2008
Smoke Signals
3
Fallingwater Falls Into Place
Stephanie Cotugno
News Writer
Designed by the great American architect,
Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater has captured the
attention of people from all over the world with its
contemporary style, beautiful views of nature, and
artistic architecture present throughout the entire
house. Now, in 2008, Wright’s most widely acclaimed
work could soon become a World Heritage Site.
Nominated by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the
organization seeks to encourage the identification
and protection of cultural and natural heritage
around the world. UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites
show outstanding value to humanity and embody
universal characteristics, as the sites belong to
all peoples of the world. Serving as sources of life
and inspiration, World Heritage Sites are unique,
bold, and are representatives of past legacies. The
United States’ Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall
of China, and the Tower of London in the United
Kingdom are among the current 851 properties of
UNESCO. Hopefully, Pennsylvania’s Fallingwater
will be considered one of the world’s most significant
cultural and national treasures of the world.
Beginning in 1936, Frank Lloyd Wright
designed Fallingwater for Pittsburgh department
store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann and his family.
The house sits on a waterfall, which had been a
popular destination for the Kaufmann’s activities and
a dream area for a future home. “The architecture
over the waterfall is beautiful. In eighth grade, my
art class and I visited Fallingwater. It was stunning
and the house took my breath away,” explained
junior Sarah Kradel. It was Wright’s suggestion to
have the setting of the Kaufmann home built over a
waterfall located in the divine Pennsylvania forest.
Fallingwater is now a main destination for tourists, but
the brilliant home once served as a weekend retreat.
Located in southwestern Pennsylvania
on Bear Run in Fayette County, Fallingwater was
Pawing For Help
Stephanie Nitschmann
Staff Writer
Almost everyone has felt the excitement of
getting a new pet. For those who haven’t, they’ve
surely shared the joy when a friend or relative adds
another hairier member to the family. Those who
picked up their bundle of fur from the Washington
Area Humane Society probably noticed that the
place could use a makeover and that’s exactly
what the Zootoo’s organization latest mission is.
Zootoo is holding the first ever National Pet Shelter
Makeover Contest. Out of the 900 registered
shelters in the country, one of the shelters in the top
20 will receive a brand new look and the other 19
will receive cash donations. Getting points for the
shelter is as easy as the click of a mouse. By visiting
the organization’s website, http://www.zootoo.
zom/makeover/, and then filling out a registration
form, lending a helping hand can happen in no
time. Once the registration form is completed, and
activation code is sent via e-mail, which leads one to
their profile. After that, one simply signs up for the
shelter they would like to support, and after that, it’s
all about rating. By browsing the website and doing
things such as rating toys, uploading pet pictures,
commenting on articles, discussing the latest pet
news and more, points are earned for the shelter.
Many new members to the Zootoo team are
scrambling to add points for their local shelter before
the contest ends on March 31. The Washington Area
Humane Society has received 1,211,843 points and
counting, keeping it in first place. “We are a no-kill
shelter, and we provide an incredible service to the
community. If we won, it was definitely deserved, “ said
Faye Kennedy, a long time volunteer at the shelter.
Kennels were the dogs, puppies, kittens, and other
animals are kept seem to be the biggest problem in
the shelter. Space and upkeep for these kennels is a
pressing issue. Winning the million-dollar makeover
would put all these troubles to rest for the volunteers
at the shelter. With the 30 dedicated volunteers
at the shelter, helping wouldn’t be a problem.
When one’s cuddly friend is all bundled
up next to them sleeping, their safety and shelter
isn’t a concern because their new home has given
them just that. But before they were where they are
now, they were probably at a shelter, and shelter
and safety wasn’t always there for them. Sure,
the life your pet has now includes a wonderful
home, but what about those pets that are still at
the shelter? By logging on and earning points for
the Washington Area Humane Society, one can
help make a difference in dogs’, cats’, and other
pets’ lives before they find their forever homes.
Color Clash: The Truth Behind St. Patrick’s Day
Katie Ellis
Staff Writer
Most
people
know that St. Patrick’s
Day originated in Ireland,
but many are not aware
why the color green
is associated with
the holiday. The
Catholics
and
Protestants have
been at war with
each other since
England attempted
to overtake Ireland
in the year 1200.
Ireland has since been
separated
into
two
countries: the Republic
of Ireland, and Northern
Ireland. The Protestants
in Northern Ireland quickly
sided with the English,
while
the
Catholics
believed that the Irish
government was capable
Catholics and orange
for Protestants. When
a person would come
across someone wearing
When a person came across someone
wearing the opposite color,
a fight would inevitably ensue.
of running the country
without outside help. To
show their support for
their respective causes,
each religious group
wore a different color in
public places – green for
the opposite color, a
fight would inevitably
ensue. Eventually, the
fighting lessened to the
occasional pinch from
the opposite religion on
St. Patrick’s Day, hence
the American tradition
of pinching someone
that is not wearing
green during holiday.
When the Irish
flag was created, the
makers kept the war
between the two religious
groups in mind. The flag
has three stripes: green,
white,
and
orange.
The green and orange
are
representative
of the Catholics and
the Protestants, while
the white stripe in
between
represents
the hope for peace
among Ireland’s people.
constructed of sandstone forming living and bedroom
levels over the falls. The Kaufmann family used
Fallingwater as a weekend getaway home from 1937
until 1963 when the family presented their home and its
contents to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The home continues to remain as Wright’s great
house with its setting, original furnishing, and
artwork intact. “The artwork was unbelievable. It was
interesting to see all of the art, especially the paintings
by Picasso,” stated sophomore Ben Gauthier.
Visit Fallingwater during its main season,
Mid-March through Thanksgiving. Open 10 a.m. to
4 p.m., daily except for Wednesday, Fallingwater
provides guided tours, fine dining at the Café,
gift shops, and a conference center. Tickets are
$16 for adults and $10 for children, and include
access to the majority of the house’s rooms.
What In The
World?
After winning the “Fattest State Award” multiple times, Mississippi legislators are attempting to pass a bill to prevent people with a Body
Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more from eating in
restaurants. A BMI of 30 for a person 5’7” tall
is about 190 pounds. The bill was originally
proposed as a joke by a mayor in Mississippi,
but was taken seriously by most of the residents of the state. Many are opposed to the bill
and cite it as discrimination, and the decision
to enact the bill will be made later this year.
And we thought that Americans were unintelligent: a recent survey conducted by UKTV
Gold, a TV station in England, shows that
47% of British teenagers believe that WWII
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is
a fictional character. Of the 3000 surveyed,
another 27% believed that Florence Nightingale was also made up. However, 58% of
respondents thought that Sherlock Holmes,
a character created by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle, was a real person. 65% were under the impression that King Arthur and his
knights of the round table existed and 47%
believed that Eleanor Rigby, the title character of a Beatles’ song, was an actual person.
The Australian police declared a state of emergency after a drunken man threatened to blow
up half of a city with a television remote. Terrified neighbors called the police after Geoffrey Fryatt claimed that he could detonate
a store of chemicals with the remote. Fryatt
has since been sentenced with one year of
probation and has been forced to give up his
dream of humanitarian aid work overseas.
Maybe “Hide-and-Seek” is no longer such a
great game to play with small children: fouryear-old Donovan Hasseman was trapped
after climbing into a washing machine in his
Dover, Ohio home. After thirty minutes of
attempting to extract the boy from the machine with no luck, firefighters were forced
to bring in the “jaws of life,” a tool normally
used in automobile accidents to free trapped
passengers from their cars. Hasseman was
treated to a tour of the firehouse after he
was freed, fortunately suffering no injuries.
Some birds just have all the luck. Gan Shugen of Chengdu City, China, received a hen
as a gift from his relatives. As the chicken
was placed in a plastic bag with its legs
bound, Shugen assumed it was dead and
put it straight into the freezer. Two days later, Shugen heard sounds from the inside of
the freezer and was surprised to find that the
hen was still very much alive. “She was still
warm and when I unbound her legs she could
stand,” Shugen said. Shugen has also stated
that the bird will no longer be dinner – she’ll
live with him in his home as a pet.
Compiled by Katie Ellis

4. 4
FEATURES
PTHS
Smoke Signals
Renée Wunderlich
Speak
Junior Identity Crisis
OUT
Co-Editor-In-Chief
The disease started with
the classic symptoms: anxiety,
anticipation, and a desire to get
out. I fought hard, but nothing
could distract me from the truth:
I had junioritis.
This
“condition”
is
actually common among my
fellow eleventh-grade peers.
Those who suffer from the
pressures of both the home and
educational environments have
a mild case. There is the onset
of college visits, the possibly
intrusive question about ‘The
Future’, and the tests - SATs,
ACTs, PSSAs, and the prep
courses that take over the very
lives of these students. And
while all of these instigators are
constantly promoting infection,
the subject was not yet affected
in a contagious way.
Alas, they are the lucky
ones, for there are the more
severe cases - those brought
on by associations. In other
words, beware of friendships
(or worse, relationships) with
seniors. Exposure to collegebound twelfth-graders promotes
the subject to think, to dream,
and suddenly the student finds
herself stuck between not only
grade levels, but identities.
Neither junior nor senior, the victim
is permanently infected.
I am the eldest child within
my immediate family, a fate that
is both relished and dreaded, and
one of the main aspects through
which I first conducted junioritis.
My family places education as
a priority higher than oxygen. I
began touring colleges in eighth
grade.
The average high school
student begins her quest for
higher education at the onset of
her junior year. The parents of
these students, most of whom are
proud holders of undergraduate
and graduate degrees, surf
college websites with crossed
fingers. Naturally, they want the
best for their often-reluctant son or
daughter, resulting in a last minute
dash to the guidance counselor.
My parents avoided the
anxiety of the time-pressed
questioning of what lies beyond
my secondary academic horizon.
Nevertheless, I am still subject to
the pressures of their expectations.
Thanks to my loving mother and
father, I have not only a narrowed
list of prospective universities, but
also terms applied to them like
“fit”, “stretch”, and “safety.” Thus,
with early preparation and daily
reminders, my family gave me
my first little push towards my Whats Your Favorite Part of Texting?
now-worsening condition.
Within the walls of a wellto-do suburban public school,
“junior year” is whispered
in fearful tones, as well as
groaned about openly. It is the
year of the standardized tests.
For me, that means attending a
five-month prep course for the
SAT alone.
Guidance
counselors
Liz Luttner ’11
recommend that students take
the SAT at least twice. And “The interaction with others.”
because
sixteen-year-olds
can never truly be evaluated
enough, there are the ACTs and
the PSSAs. Miss taking that
glorious SAT? Have no fear. There is still the SAT II!
Class scheduling adds
to the stress of junior year.
Advanced placement courses
are suddenly offered, in addition
to the new levels of the classic
honors core subjects. Students
Beth Herder ‘10
become all but encased within “I don’t know. It doesn’t take
their own personal “academic
as long to call someone.”
track.” Suddenly, moving from
an academic course to a twelfthgrade honors or AP class waits
upon the apocalypse. For this
reason, most students overload
themselves with demanding
The Paybacks of Challenging Courses
Gina Nepa
GO
figure
Alex Sabo ‘09
Staff Writer
Students throughout Peters Township regularly
complain. Whether it’s about too much homework, too little
free time, or teachers that are too demanding, there’s always
something to be said about the overload of work. In reality,
these students should be thanking the school district for
enacting such a challenging curriculum and constantly keeping
them on their toes; colleges will fawn over a transcript coming
from Peters Township. Various students, most prominently
upperclassmen, are enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP)
courses, of which there is additional weight in terms of
calculating GPA. Students electing such tough courses are
encouraged to take the AP test for each class, which can
reward pupils financially through college, as colleges put
real consideration into a transcript with strenuous curriculum,
and/or with advanced standing credit at the university of their
choice. “I took AP Stats, and I think it was a great decision, I
definitely recommend it,” explained junior Amy Trotnick.
Others may disagree. “I dropped out of AP Stats
Technology
63% of
parents who use
text messaging
believe that it
improves their
communication
with their children.
after I realized how intense the workload was,” said
sophomore, Christa Matthews. “I had too many other
things on my plate.” Colleges put extreme emphasis on
the levels of classes we take, and it is fair to applaud
the school for giving us so many opportunities to leave
a lasting impression on our transcripts, and make
something huge out of the future.
As scheduling for the following year comes to
an end, students plunder through the halls with their hair
pulled out and their eyes drooping: stress overpowers
the general population as the extreme availability of
AP classes sets in. Students incorporating too many
of these college level courses into their already hectic
schedule soon realize the easy opportunity for failure;
finding a good balance of challenging classes is the real
difficulty. So every soon-to-be upperclassman, take a
deep breath, and relax. Finding classes that fit your work
ethic and natural talent should be your real focus.
50% of
electronic products
returned to stores
are in good
working order;
consumers just
can’t figure out
how they work.
March 2008
The average
person spends
30.5 hours
per month on their
home computer.
“The fact that I can do it in
school and the teachers don’t
notice.”
Carl Mitchell ‘08
“I can do it under my desk
without the teacher noticing.”
20%
of
households with kids
report the youngest
cell phone user to
be 12 years old;
10% say they are
elementary school
age.
35%
of US
households have
two or more
computers.

5. PTHS
March 2008
Features
Life Without Technology = No Life!
Changing Our Wardrobe
phone call or needing
information
off
the
Internet. I ended up going
to sleep around 8:30,
which is a huge change
from the usual bedtime
of around midnight.
My
friends’
reactions
were
humorous.
When I
didn’t text them back,
they thought I was mad
at them, and they were
in complete shock that I
had my phone turned off.
I hated not being able to
ask my friends questions
about schoolwork, what
we were doing Friday, or
all the gossip of that day.
My parents’ reactions
were great. My dad called
me from work, and when
it went right to voicemail,
he didn’t know what
to think. At first I got in
trouble for not answering
Photo by Alex Egan
Peeps for Keeps
Emily Correal
Layout Team
When it comes to Easter candy,
marshmallow Peeps are a traditional
favorite. The cute, colorful Peep chicks
taste as good as they look. Whether they
are yellow, pink, lavender, blue or green,
they all taste the same: great. The sugary
marshmallows melt in your mouth. On
Easter morning, open your Peeps, have
a taste, but save the
rest for when they
are the best, stale.
I know it sounds
strange, but Peeps
are more flavorful
when they are a day
or two old. If chicks
aren’t your thing, the
marshmallows also
come in bunnies
and eggs. If having
Peeps at Easter is not enough, don’t worry,
because they also make Christmas trees,
Valentine’s Day hearts, and Halloween
pumpkin Peeps, so you can enjoy them all
year round. Now, we cannot forget about
our other Easter favorites: jelly beans and
chocolate bunnies. Jelly beans come in so
many flavors and colors, and have a sweet
Image courtesy of: www.exhibitoronline.com
my phone, and he went
on a rampage about if
he buys me a cell phone
I better answer when he
calls. Then I explained
to him what I was doing,
and he couldn’t believe I
agreed to it. My mom had
to tell my friends when
she saw them or if they
called the house to find
out what was going on.
No one could believe it.
Cell phone usage
used to be uncommon,
but now it is on the rise
and will continue to
increase over the years.
People who can’t even
afford their rent subscribe
to cell phone service. In
the middle of 2005 there
was an estimated 2.4
billion cell phone owners.
Cell phones are not only
common in the United
States but worldwide.
China as over 400 million
users; Hong Kong, Italy,
Sweden, and Great
Britain have showed a
100% increase in cell
phone usage. (www.
cellnumbers.com)
At first I thought
this was going to be a
big deal, but as the day
went on, I got used to
it. I hated not having my
cell phone, but I realized
I got more accomplished
because I wasn’t being
distracted from constant
texts and phone calls. I
got a good night’s rest,
and was more energetic
for school the next day.
I could never go without
technology, but once in
a while, it doesn’t hurt
to step away from being
wired and see life outside
the computer screen.
Three Candy Surprise
Paige Burris
Staff Writer
Marshmallow Peeps, chocolate bunnies,
and jellybeans are three major Easter basket
traditions. Marshmallow Peeps and their many
holiday styles to the very first chick Peep have
never caught my eye. Although I tried them
again and again, they weren’t memorable.
Some say that they’re better three days old,
but I disagree. Chocolate bunnies were the
next thing on my list to try, I understand why
they’re someone’s favorite, unless they were
allergic to chocolate. They’re not my favorite,
however, because I think the taste can get old.
The last thing that I tried was
jellybeans and their many flavors from the
new to the old. The new ones, such as
popcorn and chocolate, are great, but the
old ones like orange and cherry are still
amazing. The variety of flavors that comes
with jellybeans draws me in, and definitely
makes them my Easter basket favorite.
Even the crazy creations that come in
the Harry Potter jellybeans box makes it
more interesting because you can try new
things, and even if you don’t like them,
there is always another flavor to try. If you
Mad About Fashion By Mady Dietrich
Bridget Stasenko
Staff Writer
Think about all arrived at school, and by
the technology you use my second class, I was
every day and how many bored out of my mind.
hours you spend using That’s when I usually
it. Now think about not whip out the cell phone
having anything! This and start texting, but I
was my challenge- I had couldn’t do that. I didn’t
to go 24 hours without realize it then, but I got a
any
technology.
No lot out of my classes that
cell phone, computers, day because I was paying
radio, iPod, or television. more attention. When I
When this challenge got home from school,
was first introduced to I usually watch TV for a
me, I freaked out and little, but instead, I started
automatically said that I homework. I finished all
would fail. Then the day my homework around
came when I had to do six o’clock and then had
nothing to do. I couldn’t
it.
I started at 6 call my friends, text my
o’clock am, and it was friends, listen to music,
terrible. I had to drive to surf the net, or watch TV.
school in silence, which Therefore, I read some
was extremely difficult, magazines, ate dinner,
because there is nothing and then got ready for
to do in the car besides bed. It was inconvenient
listen to music. I finally when it came to things
like making a quick
5
When we switch our wardrobe entirely
from the secure coats of winter to our mini
skirts and shorts is when you know it’s spring
again. So bring the spring back in your closet
with bright colors, capris and shorts, lacy
sandals, and flowing dresses inspired from the
50’s and 60’s. Marc Jacobs has made patterns
that have bubbled purposely out at the seams.
Colors that don’t compliment each other and
large patterns, which are supposed to be less
then perfect, like large floral prints are also
very popular. H&M’s designers have created
a collection with Marimekko’s popular patterns
from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Marimekko
designs patterns for fabrics, furniture, and
wallpaper. His designs are unique, and are
currently sold at Target.
High waist shorts, flowing blouses,
and tiny belts have made a comeback. The
high-sitting shorts that hug your waist appear
to narrow it, and also flatter your chest if you
don’t have a lot to work with. A belt that is about
an inch thick looks great wrapped around your
waist, securing a button-up blouse. Another
big spring boom are the dresses that you
would have seen a 1950’s housewife wear.
The collared, sleeveless dress that flows out
from the waist is something your grandmother
would have worn when she was younger,
though your grandma probably wouldn’t
have paired that dress
with stilettos from
the modern fashion
world.
If you don’t
want to be all dolled
up in a dress, wear an
old band shirt. They
show your personality
through your favorite
band, and you can
also pair this shirt up
with wide leg jeans.
But don’t stop short at
band shirts, show you
care with shirts with a
cause. For example,
the ONE campaign,
which is to help the poorest people of the
world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty,
sells shirts that have their logo on it. This isn’t
the only organization that sells clothing, you
can find something you care about and show
it through fashion.
Image courtesy of: http://farm3.static.flickr.com
Three Candies Enter One Candy Leaves
Emily Estep
Staff Writer
Chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and
marshmallow Peeps are staples in any selfrespecting Easter basket. But which one is the
best? Having tasted all of these holiday treats in
the past, I knew I was going in with bias, but I tried
my best to remain impartial. I start with a chocolate
bunny. Not surprising at all, it is fantastic. After all,
it’s chocolate. What’s not to like? The only way I
can imagine this not to be good is if the recipient
doesn’t like chocolate, which is very rare. This
piece of candy is a giant hunk of chocolate shaped
like a cute little bunny, and it’s near perfection.
Next, I open up a package of marshmallow Peeps.
I haven’t been a fan of Peeps in the past, but I
haven’t had one in a few years. Peeps taste far
different than I remember; they’re actually pretty
good. The familiar marshmallow taste combines
with the super-sweet sugar to form something new,
and the chick shape and bright pink coloring is
really cute, like the chocolate bunny. Not bad, not
bad at all. Lastly, jelly beans. These tiny candies
have an advantage, because there are so many
flavors. I head for my favorite, cherry, which was
amazing as ever. As I taste a few other types, I
realize they are not all as enjoyable. In fact, other
than cherry, I don’t really like any of them. Not to
mention that these jelly beans are certainly not as
cute as my previous options. So, after this selfindulgent display, what’s my diagnosis? Chocolate
bunnies are the best Easter basket candy.
Everyone loves chocolate, and to that I say kudos
to candy makers-the more chocolate the better.

6. K
C
N
OO
LW
LL
E
E
D
GG
EE
Money Matters:
Paying for College
Angelina Nepa
Features Editor
With the economy headed toward
possible recession, making and keeping
money is on the forefront of everyone’s minds,
particularly those of college bound seniors and
t h e i r
parents. As students file their FASFA
forms, many
worry about where the money they’ll
need will come from.
What may surprise students is that there are several nontraditional methods of coming up with the cash, from short-term
spending money, to long-term alternatives, to student loans.
Most college freshman never consider work-study
programs, but some jobs will get students up to five
thousand dollars a year. Said Lehigh bound
senior Liz Zeffiro, “A few hours a week is
definitely worth the money I’ll be getting.”
The federal
government runs this program, which gives
part of the money you earn
to your employer (read: college) and
gives the employee the rest. Jobs include working
in university
libraries, scanning meal plan cards, or working
in student unions. Over 3,400 colleges and
universities participate in work-study programs.
Scholarships are an obvious choice,
but students often can continue to apply
for money throughout college, and unless
it’s an academic scholarship, grades aren’t that important. Communitybased sums may be smaller, but they are easier to secure, and a few
hundred dollars in local money can pay for books and a new laptop.
Once enrolled, an accelerated schedule can speed up graduation
time. While an accelerated schedule may
be intense, it may mean the difference
between
three and four years
and
that
extra $50,000 in
tuition.
This
path is a good
option for students
with
a
definite career in mind
that
can choose a major right away.
Most
students
do
have
to
take
out
federal
loans
to
pay
for
school,
but
loan-forgiveness programs exist that allow graduates to cancel part
of their debt after college by working in community service. Peace
Corp volunteers and doctors working in impoverished areas can
have part of their debts canceled, or have their payments deferred.
If after all of that strategizing, working and saving students still have
loans to pay off, it’s
entirely possible to do so as a working
adult. Practice proper money managing,
and that debt will disappear in a matter
of years. Hopefully, an informed senior will
make the right decisions today to lessen
their financial problems tomorrow.
all pennants from USmaps.com

7. Fun
College Trivia
Hogwarts or college?
Students at Sewanee: The
University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, say their school
resembles the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry in J. K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter series. Like
Hogwarts, the university operates in its own self-contained
community:The campus, town, and surrounding lakes and forests
fill its 10,000 wooded acres. The foggy, mountain-bound campus is
also made up of buildings designed in the Gothic architectural
style of Hogwarts. Plus, high-achieving students called the
“Order of Gownsmen” wear academic gowns to class, much like
Harry and his wizards-in-training classmates.
(encarta.com)
HARVARD UNIVERSITY ISUNITED STATES, AND
THE OLDEST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE
ALUMNI INCLUDE SEVEN UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS. APPLICANTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2008 INCLUDED ALMOST 3,000
HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIANS. MORE THAN 57% OF THE
CLASS OF 2008 PLANS TO PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL,
INTRAMURAL OR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS.
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S TOMBSTONE LISTS THREE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE, AUTHOR OF THE STATUTE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN VIRGINIA, AND FATHER OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.UNIVERSITY OFEVEN
JEFFERSON
DESIGNED THE UVA CAMPUS HIMSELF.
VIRGINIA HAS A SECRET SOCIETY CALLED THE SEVEN SOCIETY,
AND WHEN A MEMBER DIES, THE CHAPEL BELL TOLLS SEVEN
TIMES.
College Stats
Melanie Hoffman
Amazing Discoveries
Scientists at Rutgers
University are renowned for breaking new ground
in all manner of research, from working on a cure
for AIDS/HIV to finding new ways to measure weather
patterns. But you may not know that Rutgers
researchers are also beloved for creating
another scientific wonder: Cheez Whiz.
(Encarta.com)
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
CLAIMS TO OFFER MORE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAN ANY
OTHER SCHOOL, OVER 330.
Campus Hauntings In Columbia, Kentucky,
Lindsey Wilson College’s Phillips Hall is
allegedly haunted by the ghost of a former
student. Legend has it that the student
committed suicide at the dorm in the 1930s over a
failed love affair.
(Encarta.com)
DUKE UNIVERSITY IS THE MOST SELECTIVE PRIVATE
UNIVERSITY IN THE SOUTH. THE SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS
OCCUPIES 55 ACRES IN THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY’S
WEST CAMPUS, AND IS ONE OF THE PREMIER PUBLIC
GARDENS IN THE UNITED STATES, EACH YEAR ATTRACTING MORE THAN 300,000 VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
college student will spend an average of $842.66 on Back-to-school merchandise
Tips for College Searching
Staff Writer
Between stressing over senior year, college essays, applications, and
maintaining a social life, you barely have time to breathe. Here are some tips from other
seniors on how to handle the pressure while making the most of your last year at home.
1. Start Early. Yes, I know, you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true. The sooner
you start to look into colleges, the better you’ll know what you want in a college. Assess
what size school you want, your academic areas of interest, and possibilities of how close
or far you want to go. Start your applications and essays during the summer. Once school
starts, the things you need to do and the time you have to do them in don’t exactly mix.
Justin Heilmann ‘08
“My total college experience per year is going to be
Juniors, this is your time to start looking. about $30,000.”
2. Go College Visiting Now.
Start by looking at local colleges for size and feel of the campus.
The more
schools you visit, the easier it will be to figure out what you do and don’t like.
3. Pace Yourself. Senior Megan Stanik put it best, “Make sure you pace yourself.
If you’re doing applications or essays for a really long time, go get a cup of coffee. Do
something to clear your mind before returning back to those endless applications.”
Mary Irwin ‘08
“I am traveling about 10
hours from home to go to
West Point”
4. Avoid Deadline Discrepancies.
Deadlines tend to sneak up on
you, so be sure you are positive of when your application is due.
Get your
paperwork into the guidance office at least a month before the deadline.
5. Letters of Recommendation. If you are not able to contact the teacher
you want to write you a letter of recommendation during the summer, then be
sure to do it as soon as possible. Also, make sure to give them a resume and
an adequate amount of time, so they are able to write the best letter possible.
Sara Taylor’08
“My parents made suggestions in my college choice
6. Essays. Those dreaded essays are finally here. The best thing you but overall I made the final
can do is to write about something unique that makes you stand out. Allow other decision”
people (parents, teachers, friends) to proofread and offer advice for your essays.
7. Financial Aid.
If you know you’re applying for financial aid, the
earlier you get your application in, the better chance you’ll have of being offered
more money.
Consider schools that offer the most money highest on your list.
8. Don’t Choose a School for Stupid Reasons. For example, “I don’t want to go
to WVU because I don’t look good in gold.” Not the most logical way of looking at things.
College is there to further your education, not your social experiences. Sports teams may
play a factor in your decision, but make sure it’s not the whole reason for your choice.
All in all, college is your next step in growing up. Make sure the you’re
going to the school of your choice and that you’re confidant in your decision. Yes,
I can almost guarantee that there will be times that you doubt your choice, but stick
it out. Mostly, just relax and try not to stress out too much about the “big choice”.
Megan Stanik ‘08
“Academic Departments
and Locations most influenced my college decision”

8. 8
OPINION
March 2008
PTHS
Smoke Signals
Alex Egan
Opinion Editor
Pop the Bubble
The first and only time my family has ever moved was when I was three
years old. I’m not even really sure why. Maybe we needed a bigger house, or
maybe we were just ready for a change, but for some reason my parents decided
to take the giant leap from Upper St. Clair to Peters Township. Some change.
They say it’s a tough world out there, but here in Peters Township, life really
hasn’t been so bad. I started in the Peters Township School District at kindergarten,
and now I’ll be graduating in June. I’ve gone to this school for thirteen years.
As the only school I’ve ever known, I think
it’s safe to say that I know the place fairly
well. And I think we all know that this place
is a bubble. A giant, hard, plastic bubble.
The truth is, I don’t think any of
us here in Peters understand what life
is really like outside the bubble. We’ve
all grown up in an environment where
everyone is financially comfortable, kids
are outrageously privileged, and nobody
suffers. In fact, people here wouldn’t
know suffering if it were standing right
in front of them. I’m not saying that I
would, but at least I’m aware of the fact.
Here in ‘La-La Land’, life always
seems to go as we want it to. We have
perfect, stereotypical, suburban lives, and we haven’t got a clue what else is
out there in the world. In other places, a sweet sixteenth birthday party means
cake and ice cream with family and friends, but here it means cake and ice
cream for your entire MTV-worthy sixteenth birthday bash complete with
a DJ, plus a shiny brand new car, which will then attract ten new friends. If
anyone from outside our little dome counted the number of brand new Mustang
convertibles in the student parking lot, he would think he was at a dealership.
The stereotypical Peters Township reputation follows us everywhere. I
once accidentally bumped into an older
man at an away basketball game, and
immediately apologized. But instead of
accepting my apology, he replied “I know
you’re from Peters Township, but you still
have to watch where you’re going.” I really
mean it when I say the PT spoiled brat
reputation will haunt us. We think we can
do as we please whenever and wherever
we want, and we always find a way to
get what we want, when we want it. Life
has always been good here at PT. And
hey, none of us are complaining.
Although Peters Township has
been known to be one of the top schools in
Pennsylvania, there are a lot of things we
haven’t learned here. We’ve never learned
what life is really like outside our precious
little vault, which is going to create a rude
awakening for some of us when we pop our
compact bubble and head on out of here. We
also have never learned that we’re actually
going to have to provide for ourselves
someday, and that mom and dad can’t keep giving us cash or buying us luxuries for
long- also a rude awakening. One of the most important things we’ve never learned
at PTHS is how to deal with our own problems. We’ve never really needed to.
Here, the policy has always been if you don’t like it, have your mom call the school.
Despite the fact that my uneventful suburban bubble is locking me away
from the reality of the world, it’s still the place I call my home. This is where I’ve
grown up, made all my memories, met my best friends, and it’s a place I’ll cherish
forever. I’ll never forget taking my first
step into Peters Township High School.
Although my freshman year was filled with
change, it opened the door to countless
unforgettable memories; my sophomore
year lunch table, the sweater vest
extravaganza, good cookie Wednesdays,
the soccer team winning the state
championship, listening to Mrs. Beckjord’s
stories, along with so many others. It’s
sad to say our school has never really
had any traditions, but my friends and I
decided to make our own by heading to
Starbucks after school every Friday, going
out to eat before cheering varsity games,
having sleepovers every year before
the last day of school, and vowing to make each year better than the previous.
We all complain about how much we hate Peters Township, but deep
down good ol’ PT will always have a special place in our hearts. I think I speak for
all of the class of 08’ when I say that we can’t wait to graduate this spring. We’re
all ready to move on to bigger and better things, but we all know that we’ll miss
the good life here in Peters. Even after we’re gone and graduated, I don’t think
we’ll ever really leave PT. It will always have a place in our hearts, and maybe
someday down the road, we’ll all come back to the bubble, just for a little visit.
“The truth is, I don’t think any of us here in
Peters understand what life is really like
outside the bubble...Here in ‘La-La Land’, life
always seems to go as we want it to.”
Fishtank: The OTHER March Madness
By Renée Wunderlich
From Stage to Screen
Andrea Briggs
Syntax Editor
There seems to be a recent
trend of Broadway classics hitting the
silver screen in the past few years. I
went to see three of some of the most
acclaimed musicals, watched their
movie counterparts, and then compared
the two. Some of the differences were
astounding, and some were not so
different at all. Here are my choices for
best of show:
Sweeney Todd: The recent
sensation to hit the box office, Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
has raked in $80 million worldwide. But
this horror flick traces its roots back to
the 1979 Broadway production, which
recently came to Pittsburgh on its
national tour. The basic plot is about a
barber who is sent to prison for years
on a false charge, while the judge that
convicted him pursues his wife. The
barber, Sweeney Todd, is released
from prison and teams up with a woman
named Mrs. Lovett to exact revenge on
the judge. The movie changed none of
the original story, which is mostly told
through song, even though director Tim
Burton had to condense some of the
longer numbers. The biggest change by
far was the scenery. Onstage, Sweeney
Todd uses only a single sparse set and
simple costumes, and all of the blood
is implied. The movie, however, used
the detailed background of a Victorianera London seen almost entirely in
grayscale. The blood was everywhere
– splattering shirts, dripping down
mirrors, running across the floor. The
first two murders stunned the entire
audience, but as the movie wore on
they lost their shock-value. In the stage
production, every death was a terrible
as the last, and because the gore was
implied, the atmosphere remained
oppressing.
Bottom Line: See the movie,
then the play. There is no question
that the stage performance is vastly
superior, but the story quickly becomes
complex, and onstage most props are
left to the imagination. It is easy to get
lost, and being familiar with the songs
and plot beforehand is invaluable. They
are two completely different visual
experiences, and present the same
story in a different way.
The Lion King: This Disney
classic was a staple of many childhoods,
and transferring it to the stage was
no easy task. It’s the story of Simba:
a young lion who is next in line to be
the king of Pride Rock. Simba’s father
and current king, Mufasa, must watch
out for his brother Scar, who is trying to
overthrow Mufasa and take the throne
for himself. The music was astounding
in the movie, with catchy numbers such
as “The Circle of Life” and “Hakuna
Matata”, and these were only improved
upon in the Broadway production.There
was also a new song written especially
for the live performance titled “Chow
Down”. As all of the characters in The
Lion King are animals, taking the figure
of a lion and having a human portray it
is difficult. This was accomplished by
ingenious use of masks, puppets, and
costumes. Nothing was changed as far
as the plot is concerned. When the Lion
King made the leap from the screen
to the stage, it was most definitely
improved upon.
Bottom Line: See the play,
keep the movie in your childhood
memories. The richly decorated
costumes and the resonance of the
songs are so much better onstage than
they could ever be in the movie. The
play is something you will never forget,
while the movie will fade with time.
Phantom of the Opera: One
of the most romantic love stories
of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
Phantom has swept millions of
viewers off their feet. The intense love
triangle between the opera-singer
Christine, her fiancé Raoul, and Erik,
the mysterious Phantom, is thrilling
and offset by beautiful songs that tell
their heartbreaking story. There were
many subtle differences in the 2004
Joel Schumacher movie that couldn’t
be expressed onstage because of
limitations, such as the myriad of
swordfighting scenes that peppered
the film, as well as some extensions
and shortening of other scenes. The
vocals and acting in both were fantastic,
as well as the special effects of the
Phantom appearing and vanishing.
Unlike Sweeney Todd, where the film
and the movie were two completely
different presentations, Phantom of
the Opera remains consistent between
both genres. The movie is more richly
detailed than the Broadway production,
but not necessarily any more superior.
Bottom Line: See the play,
then the movie. Because both are
terrific, neither one can really be placed
above the other. But if a choice had
to be made, nothing can beat seeing
Phantom live – the energy of the cast is
tangible, and the movie can’t reproduce
the excitement of actually being there.

9. PTHS
March 2008
Averi Clements
Opinion
Touchdown, Eight Points: A Girl’s Guide to Surviving Sports
9
Staff Writer
He sits next to you with a bag of chips, donning a colorful jersey and cheering
in what seems like another language. You remain silent, snagging a pretzel here and
there and timidly clapping when it seems like the situation calls for it. Face it, ladies:
the world of sports will always be a predominantly male obsession. Luckily, there are
ways for us girls to at least act like we know what’s going on during “the big game”.
Lesson One: Getting in the Ballpark
This is the area where google.com and your boyfriend will come
in handy. Knowing what is going on in your newfound hobby (and future
obsession) is crucial. Watch a few games with some sports-savvy friends
and feel free to ask questions, especially when penalties occur – there
is nothing more enjoyable than being able to yell at the refs. Pay close
attention to what types of scoring determine the amount of points gained (For
example, a field goal is worth three points, but a touchdown is worth six). The
sport’s official website can provide a wealth of information for the rookie fan.
Lesson Two: Picking a Team
Never, under any circumstances, pick a favorite team just because your
boyfriend cheers for them. To do so is to obliterate the credibility of every female
sports fan on the planet. When choosing a team to root for, take some freedom.
Take into account your birthplace or current residence. Picking a team based on
their uniform color scheme or the attractiveness of their players is acceptable,
so long as you don’t reveal these deciding factors to the general public. When
choosing a team, be sure to make your decision towards the beginning of the
season, and not when your team has made the playoffs. If you take your pick
once it has been made clear that your chosen team has a chance at winning
the championship game, you will be called a “bandwagon fan.” Although
bandwagon fans are amusing to the real fans (the fans that chose their teams
without caring how they fare in the playoffs), you do not want to become one.
Lesson Three: Beat ‘Em at Their Own Game
There is nothing, and I repeat, nothing more amusing than watching
a guy’s face as you display your extensive sports knowledge. While providing
commentary about last night’s football game can be a great icebreaker, you have
to know what you’re talking about for it to work. Refer to Lesson One for tips on
where to get your smarts. Even learning a bit of athletic vocabulary can work
Cell Phones On Planes:
Novel or Troublesome?
SHE SAID
HE SAID
Brian Lewis
Ashley Czajkowski
Alex Egan
St. Patrick’s Day
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Generally, plane rides are all the
same: the passenger enters the cabin, takes
a seat after stowing luggage, and prepares
for the flight by somehow getting comfortable.
Many lean their seat back and are fast asleep
before the plane taxis away to the airstrip.
The only sounds heard are the plane’s
engine, a few soft, nearby conversations,
and the occasional child throwing a temper
tantrum a few seats in front. Imagine a
flight in the near future during which the
person beside you receives a cell phone
call and suddenly proceeds to have a loud
conversation about anything and everything.
You can’t help but be agitated that you’re
stuck next to this person until the plane lands.
For most, this occurrence might be
something they have never witnessed on
airlines in America. However, Air France is
starting its six-month study of in-flight cell
phone service, via satellite, that would allow
passengers to send text messages, e-mails,
and eventually make voice calls. Although this
seems like a great, revolutionary idea at first
glance, it seems to hold many drawbacks.
Foremost, the calls would be $2.50 per minute.
(Why not just wait the few hours until you’re off
the plane and save a buck or two?) Secondly,
it seems as if phone calls on a plane would be
a complete nuisance. The passenger cannot
merely walk away but is stuck listening to the
conversation another person is having on their
phone. Currently, Air France’s experiment is
purely a trial run that will allow executives to
determine whether these advances on flights
will be positive. It will be quite some time
until any changes are officially implemented.
Conversely, the idea of allowing emails or even a text message to be sent is
great, especially for businessmen always
on the go. However, phone calls would
be an entirely new kind of annoyance on
a plane ride. Spending hours next to a
loud, obnoxious talker would be a definite
downfall on a long, uneventful flight.
wonders on the naïve mind of that cute boy who sits next to you in speech class.
Just bringing up the great defensive line strategy that helped put pressure on the
quarterback (who, mind you, could have avoided a sack if he had ventured outside
the pocket) can make a guy’s jaw drop in awe. Be sure not to act too sports-savvy
right away, though, or you might come on a bit too strong and scare him away. After
all, a girl who knows the entire family tree of Jordan Staal could probably beat the
stuffing out of anyone who had the nerve to turn down her invitation to the Prom.
Lesson Four: Getting the Gear
Most popular sports, including basketball, hockey, soccer, and football,
have jerseys available for purchase. Once you pick a favorite team, you will be
encouraged to obtain one of these shirts, which display your support of a particular
team and/or player. You are allowed to buy whichever player’s jersey suits your
fancy. However, do not acquire your first jersey only when your team has exceeded
expectations in performance, unless you wish to be called a bandwagon fan
(see Lesson Two). Jerseys can be rather expensive, so once you have received
yours, take good care of it. A trend that has become increasingly popular among
female fans is to buy pink jerseys. Please, until you see Ben Roethlisberger come
skipping onto the field in one of these pastel-colored replicas (and trust me, girls,
it’s only a matter of time), these need to be kept away from your closet. Period.
Lesson Five: Preparing for “The Big Game”
One of the most exciting parts about every sports season is the
championship. This is the game where the best of the best come together in
an all-out fight for survival… or rather, a big shiny trophy. This match-up occurs
after the playoffs, which are games that decide who the final competitors will
be. Many people have a big celebration for this ultimate showdown, which will
certainly include lots of food. Whatever diet or health-spree you’re currently
on needs to be thrown aside completely during this time. The only vegetables
that should be eaten are potato chips, and you will need to be able to down
an entire hamburger during the time it takes for a commercial break to
pass. Bring plenty of throat lozenges, because if you are a true fan by now,
it is guaranteed that you will be screaming until your lungs plead for mercy.
Although we females may never be the insane sports junkies
that our male counterparts have always been, we can still find ways to
survive the madness… and maybe even become die-hard fans ourselves.
What does
March 17th mean to you?
It better be getting warm outside!
Spring training is well under way.
Is St. Patrick’s Day an
Of course; it is a perfect reason to
celebrate being happy!
Important Holiday?
I’m an Irish girl, what do you think?
How do you sport your St. Patrick’s Day
I wear some green if I remember it is St.
Patrick’s Day.
Do you believe in
How can you not believe in them?
Otherwise they may steal your lucky
charms…
I wear my green shirt that says “Kiss Me
I’m Irish,” and enjoy a Shamrock Shake.
Leprechauns?
Do you have a
Yes, my Yankees hat.
Dana Hoelle
Spirit?
People only call me one every day of my
life.
Lucky charm?
Yes, I was born with the luck of the Irish!
Caribbean Cruisin’: The Perfect Spring Break Vacation
Staff Writer
We’re over halfway through the school year,
and spring break is just around the corner. People are
looking for the perfect vacation to make their spring
break a memorable one. Instead of looking for one
destination, why not go to a few places? I think the
best way to spend your vacation time is cruising on
the high seas. Cruises are the ideal way to go to
multiple locations. I’ve been going on a cruise every
year since I was seven, so believe me when I say
that you will have the time of your life on a cruise.
Advantages of a cruise are that it includes
food, entertainment, and traveling to different locations
such as the Bahamas, Caribbean, or islands in the
Mediterranean. You won’t have all those worries about
booking a hotel room or finding various activities to
do every night, because while on a cruise you already
have all of that. “Everything is included when you’re on
a cruise, and that is what I love about them,” said sophomore
Dara Hoelle. Some activities on a cruise include, but are not
limited to, dance parties, karaoke, bingo, buffets, Broadway
shows, and excursions on the islands. “My favorite
activity on a cruise ship is the shows. There is a different
one every night. It keeps my family and me entertained
while on the ship,” said sophomore Rachel Sunday.
Cruises range from $299 to over $1,000 dollars.
“Going on a cruise is well worth the money,” said junior
Brooke Wilson. You get to go to many different places
all on one cruise, without ever having to repack, and for
one amazing price. It’s like taking multiple vacations
in one. It could be a four-day or a seven-day cruise,
but either way you are guaranteed to have tons of fun.
With unlimited food, music, and entertainment, cruises
are the best way to do what you want at your leisure.

10. Sports
10
02
E x t r a TAYLOR
IAN
IAN
JACKSON Point RELICH
Smoke Signals
02
IJ: The Pirates are going to surprise a ton
of people this year, and we are going to talk
about which players we think are key to that
happening. I think that Jason Bay is going
to be the anchor this year. He had a rough
season last year, but I think he’ll get back to
his 2006 form in 2008.
TR: Jason Bay will definitely be a key part
of the Pirates’ success this year, but I think
Adam LaRoche is primed for a breakout
season. He batted .272 last season, almost
his career average, but he did have a horrible
slump in the beginning of the year. He would
have batted somewhere around .300 if it
wasn’t for his horrible start.
IJ: I like Adam LaRoche and Freddy
Sanchez, but Jason Bay is the star of this
team. Last year he suffered some serious
injuries. He had knee problems that
bothered him throughout the season.
Even with all the bumps and bruises,
he still had respectable numbers with
twenty-one home runs.
TR: The bottom line is that the Pirates need
some power in their lineup and some power
to stabilize the offense. That offense, I think,
is going to come from Adam Laroche. I do
believe they need both of these guys to step
up if they are going to have a shot at the
playoffs. I just think that Laroche is the key
and that he is going to produce a ton this
season.
IJ: I definitely do think that Laroche will
step up; that’s not what I am arguing. I
just think that Bay is going to get back to
his 2006 form and Laroche has never had
any seasons like the ones Bay has had
in the past. I think he can have a similar
one, but I don’t think he matches the skill
that Bay has.
TR: I am not debating that LaRoche is a
better player than Bay, because that is
not the question. The question is who will
improve the offense the most. Jason Bay
has had a few great seasons and it has had
little impact on the Pirates overall record. I
think it will be amazing to see what LaRoche
is capable of if he doesn’t have a batting
average of under .150 for three months.
IJ: I agree that Bay’s stats have not caused
the Pirates to win any World Series lately,
but imagine what it would’ve been like with
no Bay in 2005 or 2006… ouch. Bay is going
to have one of his best seasons yet in 2008.
He never had a hitter like Laroche protecting
him in the offense in the past, and last year
was just a wash with both of them struggling.
With Sanchez constantly on base and these
two batting clean up, the 2008 season may
be the brightest in quite some time.
TR: “We will” see. I think that the Pirates
may have bigger problems than offense.
Their pitching has plagued them for the
past ten seasons, and it seems to always
be the missing piece no matter how hot the
bats are. This could be the year it all comes
together. With a new front office, a new
manager, and some last minute free agency
moves, Pirates fans have renewed hope for
the upcoming season.
March 2008
History not on Patriots’ Side
Grant Burkhardt
News Editor
The situation: Giants’
ball, third down and five to go, and
the ball on New York’s 43-yard
line with 1:15 left on the clock.
Giants’ oft-criticized quarterback
Eli Manning avoided an initial
sack but stepped straight into
another – two Patriots linemen
were bearing down on him. 660
pounds and the hopes of an
entire anti-Patriot nation were
placed on Manning’s shoulders.
Somehow, he escaped the rush
long enough to heave the ball
40 yards downfield where David
Tyree was waiting. Amazingly,
Tyree managed to hold on to the
ball, even with Rodney Harrison
hounding him to the ground.
Immediately after the Giants
finished one of the greatest upsets
in NFL history, this moment was
placed among the greatest plays
ever.
This catch begs the
question: does “The Play” mark
the end of the Patriot dynasty?
History says this may be the
case. Just as records are broken,
dynasties come to an end. If we
look back on dominating teams of
Taylor Relich
the past, we find that each decade
has one franchise that seemingly
paraded the city streets every
year. In each empire, however, one
specific situation marked the end of
the supremacy.
The 1960’s Green Bay
Packers, the 1970’s Pittsburgh
Steelers, and the Cowboys of the
1990’s won a total of seven NFL
Championships and nine Super
Bowls, but these teams struggled
with injuries, retirements, and
discipline problems near the end of
their respective decades. The once
dominant franchises had difficulty
recovering from such crippling
circumstances.
The most relevant case of a
crumbling dynasty is that of 1980’s
San Francisco. The 49ers had a
situation similar to today’s Patriots:
They had won two straight Super
Bowls and finished the 1990 regular
season with only two losses. In the
NFC Championship game against
the Giants (ironic?), Joe Montana
left with an injury and New York
thwarted the 49ers’ chance at a
third straight title. In the seasons to
follow, Montana struggled, Hall-of-
Fame head coach Bill Walsh retired,
and the reign was finished.
The New England Patriots’
run as the best team of the decade
may be unique from the previously
mentioned teams.
The Patriots
ownership has proven brilliant when
it comes to the issue of free agency.
Last year, owner Robert Kraft
assembled one of the most talented
receiving cores in football by signing
Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Dante
Stallworth. Tom Brady is obviously at
the peak of his career, and he still has
an amazingly talented supporting cast
to work with. The key for the Patriots
is to not panic. New England probably
won’t stray from the philosophy that
has brought incredible success. The
Patriots may have the best chance to
end the “curse” of the dynasty.
Certainly, millions will be
watching as the Patriots attempt to
cement themselves as the greatest
football team ever. They are already
a huge part of history, but will they
fall into the trend? Will they become
another footnote to history’s relentless
destruction of the stereotypical
dynasty? We will soon find out.
Who’s On First?
Staff Writer
Photo submitted By Mrs. Maize
T h e
varsity baseball
team had a
memorable
season last year,
winning a WPIAL
championship
and advancing
past the opening
round of the
PIAA playoffs.
In the second
round,they
suffered a tough
loss to Seneca
Valley, but still
walked
away
with the WPIAL
title. This was
the Indians first
year in Quad A
Section 3, which
made the title After last year’s WPIAL championship, the Boys Varsity Baseball team hopes to continue their winning streak.
rivals by players participating in voluntary summer
that much sweeter because nobody gave the team
and fall baseball, and the team’s winter conditioning
much of a chance to make the playoffs in this section.
program. As for this season’s lineup, it is still very
Veteran varsity baseball coach Joe Maize,
much up in the air. The coaching staff looks to fill gaps
explained that the differences between this year’s
in the lineup at positions such as first base, third base,
team and last year’s team would be the gap in senior
and outfield.
leadership. Coach Maize commented that this year’s
“We need to remain healthy and we need
team only includes quality two-year letterman and the
some juniors to step up, especially in pitching,” said
coaching staff will be looking to fill those gaps in a
Maize. The Indians have senior pitchers Nick Merich
few infield positions and one outfield position. “We
and James Stratico coming back, but they will be
have the potential to be very good this season, but our
looking to add depth to the rotation, not to mention
success will depend on our players placing team goals
other seniors including deep threat J.J. Jankowski.
in front of their individual goals,” said Maize referring
This team produces great seasons year after year.
to the 2008 season.
Maize explained that this is because of the tremendous
Looking ahead at the section, it hasn’t
commitment and dedication our players have to the
changed much from last year, with strong competition
program, and the fact that they make baseball their
from Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, and Upper St. Clair.
priority. PT Baseball is ready for another great season,
Section 3 has been dominant in the WPIAL in recent
and asks the support of the student body in their home
years, as three of the last five WPIAL baseball champs
contests at Peterswood Park.
have come from this section. The Indians have already
begun to prepare for the fierce competition from section

11. Sports
Brian Lewis
March 2008
Tiger Roar: Woods Chases Grand Slam
Opinion Editor
Tiger Woods will win the
Grand Slam of golf in 2008. For
perhaps the best golfer in history, the
nearly unthinkable goal of winning all
four of golf’s major tournaments (The
Master’s, The U.S. Open, The British
Open, and the PGA Championship)
is now in reach. When asked by
reporters after his first victory of the
season at the Buick Invitational if a
Grand Slam was attainable, Tiger said
the goal was “easily within reason.”
Even golfing legend Jack
Nicklaus, regarded as one of the
best golfers ever, said he felt that this
year could be the best chance for
Tiger to complete the sweep (ESPN).
Perhaps the biggest factor in
favor of a slam is the courses the four
majors will be held on this year. First,
the Master’s will be held at Augusta
National, which has always been a
favorite of Woods. In fact, the course
has undergone several changes
over the past few years in order to
Ian Jackson
“Tiger-proof” it. The U.S. Open is at
Torrey Pines, a course that Tiger has
dominated. No example of his amazing
prowess is better than his recent
victory at the Buick Invitational, which
was held at Torrey Pines this year.
The British Open will be held at
the illustrious course of Royal Birkdale,
where Woods finished one shot off the
lead after the previous British Open
that took place there ten years ago.
After the British Open, the race returns
to the U.S. for the PGA Championship
at Oakland Hills, which is a course
that plays to Tiger’s strengths of long
drives and short approach shots.
Of course, it isn’t as if Tiger is
the only big name player trying to win
majors this year. Phil Mickelson and
Ernie Els certainly want to prevent
Woods from winning a Grand Slam,
so look for them to challenge furiously
at the Masters where Mickelson
has already won, and also at Royal
Birkdale during the British Open where
Els has done well in the past. Some
possible dark horse candidates include
previous major winners Jim Furyk,
Padrig Harrington, and Mike Weir,
all who have shots at taking Woods
down. Despite the obstacles these men
pose to Tiger, it will be difficult for any
of these contenders to finish him off.
Another big prize on the PGA
Tour this year is the second season of
the Fed Ex Cup. Similar to the Nextel
Cup in NASCAR, the Fed Ex Cup gives
points to players based on their finishing
spot at tournaments over the course of
the year. The top 144 players are then
taken into a playoff of four tournaments,
where there numbers are reduced based
on finishing positions until the final thirty
are invited to the Tour Championship.
Last year, Tiger Woods won the Fed
Ex Cup, and looks to repeat as the
champion. Though the Fed Ex Cup is
a long way off, the exploits of Woods
will occupy fans for the coming months.
Centerfield: Center of Attention
Staff Writer
Last year was another disappointing season for the
Pirates; they had their fourteenth straight losing season. They
didn’t really have any young players break out enough to give
us hope for 2008. The offense was very inconsistent, and so
was the starting pitching. The one thing they did do consistently
was play weak defense and have a lack of base stealing on
offense. The poor defense can be blamed on numerous injuries
to the core players on the team... but the base stealing? Only
the conservative coaching of Jim Tracy and the lack of speed
on the team can explain the pitiful amount of stolen bases. With
no new acquisitions other than journeyman Doug Mientewicz,
and Chris Duffy still a question mark, the team will rely on Nate
McClouth and Nyjer Morgan for the bulk of speed and stolen
bases. They are both good young players who can hit for a
high average, help the team in a big way on the base paths,
and create many more scoring opportunities. The only problem
is that they both play centerfield.
McClouth was the starting centerfielder last season.
He posted a respectable amount of home runs (13) and had
a decent average (though it took a strong secong half to bring
that up). He led the MLB in stealing efficiency with a 96%
success rate (23 for 24). His twenty-three steals were tops on
the team.
In September, the Pirates brought up a solid young
prospect named Nyjer Morgan. He is a twenty-seven year old
speedster who played very well in his month in the Big Leagues
last year. He hit .299, with seven steals in only a month,
and showed flashes of greatness with his brilliant catches
in centerfield. The quick emergence of Morgan invigorated
McClouth. McClouth brought his average up to .258, hit
thirteen home runs, and finished the year with twentythree steals. McClouth holds the edge for now because of
his experience, but it is going to a close race.”I think right
now it’s a dead heat,” Huntington said. “I’m not a big fan
of spring training decisions, but I think in this case, we’re
going to have to make a read in Spring Training.” (www.
pirates.com)
Coming into the 2008 spring training in Bradenton,
Florida, the battle for centerfield is the only competiton of
all the starting spots. Many believe it could go either way.
It is going to come down to whoever has the better spring
training, but the Buccos should wait and see what happens.
They are saying they may send Morgan down to the minors
if McClouth wins the job, but they would keep McClouth on
the bench if Morgan wins the starting position.They should
platoon them for the first month or so, then decide who their
man for the playoff run will be. Yes, the Pirates will make a
run. This may be the year they finally turn over a new leaf.
They have the talent to do it, but it is going to make a great
difference if they are getting production in centerfield and
in the top spot of the order.
“Nate has helped me out ever since I came up with
the Pirates and since
I came into the Major Leagues,” said Morgan. “He’s
definitely helped me out, and competing with a guy like
that, I can’t ask for anything
more.” (www.pirates.com)
Super Bowl III when the
New York Jets clashed with
the Baltimore Colts. The
AFL champions, the Jets,
entered the game as 18point underdogs to the 13-1
Colts. Before the game, Jets
quarterback Joe Namath
issued his now famous
guarantee that the Jets
would win. Broadway Joe’s
prediction came true as he
was named the Super Bowl
MVP in a 16-7 Jets victory.
The
best
international upset came in
the 1980 Winter Olympics
in what has been dubbed
the ‘Miracle on Ice’. A United
States team composed of
amateurs and collegiate
players faced off against the
Soviet Union. The Soviets
were the favorite to win
the gold, while the US was
only a seventh seed. A few
months earlier, they beat
the Americans 10-3 in an
exhibition match at Madison
Square Garden. However,
when the teams took the ice,
the US stunned the world and
defeated the Soviet Union 43 en route to Olympic gold.
The
2007/2008
college football season saw
more upsets and parody
than any previous year. Out
of nowhere Appalachian
State beat fifth ranked
Michigan
and
Stanford
beat number one USC.
Hockey
Record is 11-9-0, 22pts
2nd Place AAA Section 2
Clinched spot in WPIAL
AAA Playoffs
Girls
Basketball
Record was 19-8, 6-6
4th Place AAAA Section 4
Defeated rival Mt. Lebanon
in semi-finals, 41-37.
Qualified
for
Tournament.
PIAA
Advanced to WPIAL
Championship game as
an 11-seed
Swimming
Girls
regular
season
record was 13-2.
Boys regular season
record was 14-1.
Both teams qualified for
WPIALS.
Boys Basketball
4th Place AAAA Section 4
Sports Editor
The
New
York
Giants’
win
over
the
previously undefeated New
England Patriots is being
called one of the greatest
upsets in sports history. With
this in mind, take a look at
some of the other upsets in
sports history.
The first documented
use of the term upset came
in 1919 when an unheard
of racehorse named Upset
beat Man o’ War in the
Sanford Memorial Stakes.
The horse handed Man o’
War, considered the best
thoroughbred
racehorse
ever, the only loss of his
career.
The
first
major
upset in the NFL came in
Sports
Briefs
Record was 16-9, 7-5.
Against All Odds: Upset Special
Bill Berry
11
The surprising season was
capped with the University
of Pittsburgh’s shocking
win over the second ranked
West Virginia Mountaineers
in the Backyard Brawl. All
West Virginia had to do was
beat the sub-par Panthers
to advance to BCS National
Championship game. That
night, the Panthers came
out and handled everything
their archrivals could throw
at them. They held Pat
White and Steve Slaton in
check, and battled through
numerous poor calls. At
the end of the night, Pitt
had shaken up the BCS
standings and shocked the
country.
Made it to the WPIAL
playoffs before losing to
Franklin regional, 44-40
Wrestling
Record was 4-14, 2-8.
Wins against Thomas
Jefferson and Avella.
Four wrestlers placed
third in WPIAL Individual
Tournment.

12. Voices in the Hall
What movie would you want to be in?
Chelsea Ali ‘08
“Last of the Mohicans, because
Daniel Day Lewis is really hot!”
Zac Chavel ‘10
Drew Caliguri ‘09
“Rush Hour 3, because it’s a good “The Breakfast Club, because they
seem to have a lot of fun
trilogy-Also, Jackie Chan and Chris
in detention.”
Tucker are great actors”
Hunter Stanchik ‘11
“Cloverfield, because it was just
really good.”
Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Keith Quinn ‘09
Justine Griffith ‘08
“Cameron Diaz, because she
seems like a fun actress.”
“Jack Nicholson, because he is the
man and has some mad eyebrows.”
Nate Bachik ‘10
“Freddie Highmore, since he is
around our age.”
Angelo Toscano ‘11
“Adam Sandler, because he is
funny.”
What the teachers have to say...
Miss Allison
“Sandra Bullock, because she’s
fun and animated.”
the
Mrs. Bird
“Bette Midler.”
Miss Bomba
“Marie Antoinette.”
Minute
P
T
Mr. Sudol
“Rear Window.”
Jay
Young
‘08
What is your favorite all time movie?
“The Matrix”, good story, good movie.
What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
The movie “It.” the clown was creepy
What movie makes you laugh the most?
“Friday” ...every part was funny.
What movie do you find most romantic?
“Love and Basketball”, two people find eachother
through basketball.
Ashley
Caputo
‘07
What is your favorite all time movie?
That would have to be, “Gone with the Wind.” Its a really old movie
and i just think its fun and interesting to watch.
What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
Hmm, well I thought the new “Halloween” movie was pretty scary.
It was pretty bloody and gross.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
“Superbad.” It’s just a really funny movie that everyone loves to
watch.
What movie do you find most romantic?
I would have to say “The Notebook.”
I’m pretty sure every girl thinks it is really sweet.