Prom Royalty

From left to right: King Mark D., Queen Alexis S., Prince Chase D., Princess Rachel M.

National Silver Key Winner: A Changing Neighborhood

A Changing Neighborhood
by Braeden Sharer

                       
            The small house was painted dark green. It had natural wooden trim that had never been covered, and a small wooden porch, on which two rocking chairs sat, buffeted in the wind. This was perhaps the one scene that changed only with the seasons, the chairs covered with rusted leaves in autumn that transformed to glistening snow come winter. Now the paint peeled down the sides of the house, as though the years of neglect had caused it to droop like the wrinkles of the old man who inhabited it. The house had once been charming, cozy.
            Gary had lived in this same house for his entire seventy eight years. Following his parents’ sudden deaths, he had dropped out of high school, married young, and lived in the house with his wife, Ruth, and eventually their five children. To make ends meet, Gary had worked as a butcher and Ruth, after the birth of their third son, began a small tailoring business in their basement. 
            Unlike their old-fashioned parents, the children had escaped their hometown as soon as possible, returning only sporadically. Following Ruth’s death, they staged what they called an “intervention” every two years or so in attempt to move their father to an assisted living apartment, in which he could live a “quiet” and “safe” life. Their efforts were useless.  Despite what his children believed, Gary was far from feeble; he still possessed a clever mind. He was aware that his children’s need to interfere in his life was more for their own collective conscience than his benefit. Thus, Gary used his strong will to remain where he had been for nearly a century.
            The neighborhood had once been normal. In fact, it had been nice. As a child, Gary had been able to run free through the streets. Children played friendly games of hop scotch, kickball, and baseball. They bought ten cent chewing gum and bottles of Dr. Brown’s celery soda at the general store. Each summer weekend, families held large picnics in the soft grass near the gurgling stream in the park. Remembering this, Gary could virtually taste the succulent fried chicken and potato salad that his mother had made each summer Saturday. In the old neighborhood, everyone had known everyone and children could come and go in and out of each house as they pleased.
            Although the old man never changed, the neighborhood did. With every passing season, it became poorer and more rundown. The town had been unable to receive government funding, and those who once cared had simply moved away. Graffiti-covered buildings sneered down at passersby and the scent of polluted streams filled the nostrils of each resident. Cigarette butts and shattered beer bottles, rather than asphalt, filled the potholes that scattered the streets. The neighborhood was a breeding ground for gangs and drug-trafficking. News of shootings and robberies were the norm. Consequentially, the elderly fled south and never returned. But it was Gary’s memories, along with his stubbornness, that kept him here. 
            Year after year, Gary and Ruth had sat in their rocking chairs each day, thinking, talking, observing. They sipped bitter, hot coffee as they discussed their children, or their debt, or community plans. But Gary also listened to Ruth’s gossip or was given thorough analyses of the ridiculous outfits worn by her church friends. It was their tradition, their therapy. And it had become such a habit that each child had known not to disrupt mama and papa during their sacred “chair time.”
            Thus, even after Ruth’s death, Gary continued the calming ritual, accompanied and comforted only by the soft, creaking melody of the rocking. Neighbors passed by and offered consoling, pitiable looks and timid smiles. Gary, however, did not return them. He believed everyone thought him pathetic. He could sense their whispers, “There’s Old Man Gary; sitting in his rocker even though his wife’s dead. Maybe he doesn’t realize it. Maybe he’s gone insane. Maybe he still talks to her.” Gary knew what the people thought, but he refused to be troubled by their judgments and pity, so he merely ignored them. Eventually, the streets became too dangerous anyway. Not a soul was to be found walking past his home.
            From his rocker, Gary had observed the swift, terrible changes, and he knew that the transformation must have begun before Ruth’s passing. He knew it was impossible that a neighborhood could transform into something so revolting so quickly. Nonetheless, he did not care, as long as he was undisturbed on his porch. As long as he could be left alone to pretend.
            Halloween night had once been a festive, exciting holiday. Children had pranced around in homemade costumes. Ghosts made of starched white sheets with two holes for eyes had scurried up the paths and begged for treats. Witches with painted-on moles in their fathers’ top hats could be seen cartwheeling across lawns, their pillowcases bulging with candy sprawled behind them on the cold ground. Jack o’lanterns grinned menacingly from the porches next to plump, ripe pumpkins concealed by colorful leaves. Each year, Gary would transform himself into a frightening monster, painting his skin green and wearing his oldest, ripped suit. Ruth would put margarine in his hair to make it stick up in a terrifyingly unruly fashion. Although she pretended to disapprove when he chased the small screaming children, Gary sensed that Ruth appreciated his enthusiasm.
             But Halloween, like everything else in the neighborhood, had changed. It was now an excuse for gangs to recruit new members and for teenagers to frighten and to bully children. To go trick or treating would have meant suicide. If anyone dared to put out a decorative pumpkin, it was smashed, the pieces oozing with orange juices, scattered in the street like a bloody corpse. Every house was strewn with toilet paper and splattered with rotten egg shells. Often, the homes were graffitied with vulgar words, in permanent paint. 
            Unwilling to concede defeat, Gary had sat in his chair each Halloween night. While awaiting the ruthless attack on his home, he enjoyed the silence and the glow of the candle in the jack o’lantern at the bottom of the porch steps. Gary understood the significance of that single flickering candle. At one time all the candles had glowed simultaneously, lighting the streets. Each year, Gary put faith in his candle to give him the strength to stay put. But as the gang approached his house, Gary’s survival instincts would kick in.  He would blow out the tiny candle, flee from his rocker to the warmth of his house, and listen to the sound of eggshells cracking on his window panes. When they were through, he would emerge, pick up the remnants of the pumpkins, throw away the debris, and scrub viciously at the windows and shingles until only vague imprints of the horror remained. 
            While Gary was repulsed by the gang members and their activities, he was also disgusted by his neighbors and himself. They were afraid to leave their homes to go to work, let alone on Halloween. Thus, nothing ever changed and no progress was ever made. Gary was the only one to sit outdoors, but even he bolted the doors when anyone advanced. He was unsure how it had come to this or why he had become a coward. When Ruth was alive, he would never have acted afraid and bolted from children sixty years his junior. It was despicable. It was disgraceful, this lack of respect for their elders. Gary now felt as if he were the joke of the gangster’s circle. He was the old man who acted tough, but who ran from them every Halloween. He hated the defeated feel of the neighborhood but really had no idea what to do to alter its appearance and hope for the future. Of course the neighborhood was becoming a cesspool. People fled the moment trouble began, and for good reason. But Gary was nearing eighty and he was alone. Why should he be afraid of those who had interrupted his comfortable life? The mongrels should fear him!
            That Halloween night, Gary sat in his rocking chair and waited patiently. He had made a decision. He would not run this year and hide inside his safe, warm house. He would simply sit and wait. As he sat in the cold, bundled in a heavy jacket and sipping his steaming coffee, Gary longed for his wife. He longed for the days when he and Ruth were able to enjoy the evening, watching the costumed children, rather than the destruction that had engulfed the neighborhood. He looked to the glowing jack o’lantern for some familiarity, and was reassured. He doubted this simple act would make a change. He feared the outcome. But Gary was the remaining symbol of hope. He knew that something had to be done. For his wife, for his children, for his neighborhood, for the happiness that had once been, and for hope.
             He saw the dark, rusted car come to a stop in front of his house. The gang leader emerged. He was tall and thin, with long, greasy black hair that had never seen a comb. Leisurely, silently, he strolled up to the base of the porch, eyeing Gary the entire way. His heart frozen with fear, Gary could see the butt of a gun beneath the hooded sweatshirt. He could barely breathe, but he would not back down. Gary met the boy’s gaze with a hard smirk, slowly rocking back and forth, listening to the comforting rhythm of the creaking chair. 
            The boy moved his hand to the gun and Gary took in a sharp breath. No words were exchanged. The boy never took his eyes off Gary’s and Gary never dropped his gaze. He could sense the presence of the weapon, but he did not care. Gary’s mind floated to a young Ruth. He visualized her smiling image, her red hair shuffled by the wind. Then she laughed a small tinkle that made Gary completely relaxed. But the laugh grew louder, louder, until it was a menacing cackle. Gary was confused. And then the greasy boy reappeared. He stooped down and, without a sound, blew out the candle.
            The shot fired. The boy strode away without thought, without regret. The tenacious old man who had sat in his chair, creaking, sipping, mocking him each Halloween night, was finally dead.

Semper Fi

Jared Pace

Red is for Fortitude;

Those whose perseverance

Stave off the vicious

White is for Liberty;

To live in a world free from tyranny,

So that our lives aren’t tainted with misery

Blue is for Heroism;

Endowed with such wisdom,

All obstacles can be overcome

Sanctuary

Jared Pace

Fear not the dark and the truth it may hide;

The shadows have secrets hidden from the world outside.

Disregard the truth, the less light you will find,

Before you go astray in the darkness of your mind.

Your skin is pale, sallow and gritty,

With an expression of complete and utter obscurity.

You don't even know what you’re running from,

Waiting for a tomorrow that may never come.

Darkness and light exist in every man,

As they always have since life first began.

We can fight the darkness inside us all;

Will we win the war within or fall?

Track and Field Team Stumbles after Fight with JD and ESM

Robby Johnson

            The Homer Track and Field Team competed in their second to last dual meet on their home track. The home meet brought some of the greatest competition all season for the team. Homer was pitted up against one of the strongest teams in Class A with Jamesville-Dewitt (JD).   Homer also went up against East Syracuse-Minoa in which their team was also on a solid foundation in the competition department. Winning was a rarity for the boys’ team but when it did happen it was surely enjoyed. The girls’ team also had a strong effort against the toughest competition they have had yet in the dual meet setting. The weather was the best weather the team has had all season which allowed many runners turn out personal bests.

Alex Fisher (12) in the 3200m

            First was the 4 x 800m to start up the day. The boys’ team consisting of John Osterhoudt, Anthony Pilcher, Tyler Hatfield, and Alex Fisher placed third with a time of 9:22.2. The girls’ team had Erin Leach, McKayla Crawford, Grace Gugerty, and Jade Auchmoody as anchor. The girls’ team finished second with a time of 10:05.2. Next on the track were the 110m and 100m hurdles. Robby Johnson finished fourth with a time of 18.7 seconds in the 110 Hurdles. Jekeytha Adkins and Sabina Clark put up good finishes as well in the 100 Hurdles. Adkins won her race 17.1 seconds in and Clark finished fourth with a time of 17.7 seconds.

            The 100m dash was the next event on the track. Dylan Shattuck, Matt Conger, Hannah McEvoy, and Erica Stevens all put up good times on the board. Shattuck placed fourth with a time of 12.1 second while Matt Conger finished behind him in sixth. Hannah McEvoy placed second with a time of 13.5 seconds with Erica Stevens right behind her finishing sixth in a very close race. Next was the 1600m and 1500m run as the boys’ had a tough time in the event. Luke Tesoriero was the only boy to place in the event and finished third with a 4:57.1.  Jade Auchmoody finished in third with a time of 5:15.6 and McKayla Crawford finished fourth.

            Runners went to their designated exchange zones to start the running of the 4 x 100m. The guys’ team consisted of Dylan Shattuck, Devon Drake, Jeremy Morris, and Jayden Gavidia. The team finished second with a time of 45.6 seconds. The girls’ 4 x 100 team had Hannah McEvoy, Lydia Brown, Lucy Connery, and Jekeytha Adkins. The team finished in 51.5 seconds. The girls’ team dominated in the 400m dash while the boys’ team struggled. Erica Stevens won the 400m dash in 62.9 seconds. Teammates Meghan Rahner and Laura Dart finished second and third, resulting in a Homer sweep of the event. Anthony Pilcher was the only boy to score in the event as he finished sixth.

Freideric Handelmann (11) getting pep talk

 from Coach Schneider during the 3200m 

            The next event was the second hurdle event of the night with the 400m Hurdles. Homer’s Erin Leach won the 400m Hurdles with a time of 70.4 seconds. Mary Keefe also finished sixth. Robby Johnson placed third in the event in 68.9 seconds. Next was the 800m run. The boys would have a great competition for third as Luke Tesoriero edged out John Osterhoudt for the spot by four tenths of a second. Tesoriero had a time of 2:16.0.  Jade Auchmoody had a great run and won the event in 2:26.7. Homer’s Grace Gugerty also finished fifth.

            The 200m dash would bring one of the biggest surprises of the night. The boys’ team had a field day on the rest of the competition. Jayden Gavidia won the 200m in his first ever attempt as he broke his respective class record. The record hasn’t been broken since the 1980’s. Among the others, Dylan Shattuck and Matt Conger placed fourth and fifth respectively. Erica Stevens placed second in 28.4 seconds as Hannah McEvoy and Lucy Connery finished 3 and sixth respectively. The 3200m and 3000m events were the second to last events of the night. Alex Fisher placed fourth in a time of 11:02.0. Frederic Handelmann was right behind him in sixth. McKayla Crawford finished third in the 3000m as she had a time of 12:07.7. Kennedy George was also in the sixth position.

Homer’s Laura Dart (12) after receiving a handoff 

from Meghan Rahner (10) in the Women’s 4 x 400m Relay

The final running event of the night was the 4 x 400m relay. The girls’ 4 x 800 team was made up of Erica Stevens, Meghan Rahner, Laura Dart, and Erin Leach. The team pulled through and won the event with a time of 4:24.4. In one of the most exciting races for the boys’ team, Anthony Pilcher, Jayden Gavidia, Austin Smith, and Jeremy Morris went on to win. Gavidia would be part of the only two running event victories that the boys’ team saw, making him easily one of the most valuble players of the meet.

            Last but certainly not least were the field events. In the Shot Put Mike Lavere placed sixth with a mark of 35’5”. Lavere also placed fourth in the Discus with a throw of 103’4.5”. Brynn Hyde and Hannah Agate would also have a good effort in the Shot Put and Discus. Agate placed fourth in Shot Put and sixth in Discus. Brynn Hyde placed fifth in shot put and second in Discus with a throw of 85’5”.

The Long Jump was another close fight in the end. Jayden Gavidia won his third event of the night in the long jump in his long jump debut with an incredible jump of 19’0.75”. Gavidia broke the prehistoric Sophomore Class Record in the Long Jump as well. Jekeytha Adkins placed second in the Long Jump with a jump of 15’2” as Lydia Brown placed fifth.  Homer also saw success in the Triple Jump. Jekeytha Adkins placed second with a jump of 31’5”.  Sabina Clark would finish right behind Jekeytha in third. Devon Drake would be the lone Homer Triple Jumper with a fourth place jump at 38’9.5”.

The High Jump brought some great performances as well. Austin Smith cleared the bar with a height of 5’10”.  Austin finished second at the end of the day. Laura Dart finished fourth with a jump of 4’6”. Lara Pluemer would place sixth. The field event that took the longest would be the pole vault. Austin Smith placed third in the pole vault with a jump of 10 feet. Jade Auchmoody also had a good day and placed second with a jump of 8 feet.

At the end of the day the team wouldn’t finish the way they hoped. With the two losses in the books, the boys’ team returns to a .500 winning average with a 3-3 record. The girls’ team was no longer undefeated due to the fierce competition of JD. The girls’ are now 5-1 in the dual meet setting. The Homer Track and Field Team thanks all of the parents who helped out in the meet as they made the running of the home meet very smoothly. The Trojans will be back on Wednesday, May 8^th at their final dual meet of the season against CBA. Expectations are high for both teams at that meet. 

We would like to invite everyone to come to Wednesday’s meet as it is Senior Night. Jekeytha Adkins, Sabina Clark, Lara Pluemer, Jenna DeLine, Laura Dart, Emily Harrington, Anthony Pilcher, Matt Conger, Luke Tesoriero, Dylan Shattuck, Devon Drake, Austin Smith, Jeremy Morris, Alex Fisher, and Mike Lavere will all be stepping onto the field for the final time in a dual meet setting. With that, we leave you with the final score and some great snapshots of the meet.

The Final Score:

Boys:

   Homer 64- ESM 75

   Homer 34- JD 107

Girls:

   Homer 95- ESM 46

   Homer 58.5- JD 82.5

Get to Know Lara Plümer!

     An Olympian writer, Jared Pace, interviewed Lara Plümer, our German exchange student! Here's what she had to say:

 Q: Can you speak any other languages besides German and English?

A. Yes, I can speak fluent French, too.

 Q: Are there major differences between Germany and America?

A. Yes. Politics, health care, everything is different. People are generally nicer.

 Q: How is the food different?

A. There are healthier and more traditional foods.

Meals aren't rushed; we eat with the family.

  Q: How are the schools different?

A. School is generally harder in Germany. There are three different kinds of schools, ranging from those that educate smart individuals to those that educate those that have trouble with learning.

  Q: Which classes in Homer are your favorites?

A. Art and photography

  Q: What is your favorite part about America?

A. The People

  Q: And what’s your least favorite?

A. Fast food

  Q: What do you miss about back home?

A. Family, friends, the usual

  Q: Do you have any siblings?

A. I’m an only child at home. I also have some siblings in Homer.

  Q: What about pets?

A. I have a dog.

  Q: What do you do in your free time?

A. Unicycling, hanging out with friends, choir, playing piano

  Q: Do you have a role model?

A. My oldest cousin

  Q: Is there something you learned in America that you didn’t expect?

A. The culture, and how easy the school systems are

  Q: How do you stay in touch with your family and friends back home?

A. Facebook, Skype

  Q: Have you visited any other countries?

A. Yes. I've been to all the countries in northern and southern Europe,  but I haven't  been to too many in the East.

  Q: What do you plan to do when you grow up?

A. I want to come back to America to study medicine. Then I want to go to Africa and help individuals with leprosy.

  Q: Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?

A. I wanted to meet new people, help improve my English, and become more independent. 

The following students have been nominated for the

2013 Competition for New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence:

Nikea U., Nathan C., Liam W., Sarah M., Killian H., and  Kelsey E.

The selection criterion for this award is established by the NYS Department of Education based on examinations taken prior to the senior year.  A weighted average was computed using the following Regents exams scores:  Comprehensive English, Trigonometry, Global Studies, U.S. History, and Science.

There will be one recipient of a $1,500 scholarship renewable for up to four academic years of undergraduate study and 5 recipients of a scholarship of $500 for up to four academic years of undergraduate study.

Congratulations to all of our nominees!

Top 10% Give Advice to Freshmen

Top 10%, Class of 2013, Give Advice to Freshmen

• Relax. One thing at a time.
• Make friends with upperclassmen - dont be afraid of them
• Don't procrastinate too much
• Join lots of clubs to enjoy clubs
• Try hard all 4 years, because all 4 years count
• Try in English and don't procrastinate
• Try hard and take harder classes. You will be better for trying!
• Do most of your work and remember to have fun
• Challenge yourself, even if its a hard class
• Study hard, but live and cherish each moment
• Try and have fun but take things seriously. Manage fun and stress
• Don't stress but work hard all 4 years
• Set your goals early because time goes by quickly
• Play sports! It helps mange time
• Don't be afraid to befriend your teachers
• Always ask for help and stay after

Wildlife Wednesday: Watchful in the Wilderness

Mary Cope

Now that it is finally warm, the animals are active and the plants are growing. As we spend more and more time in the great outdoors, we need to keep a watchful eye out for dangerous plants and animals. Luckily for us, not many poisonous animals reside here in Cortland County ,and the ones that live in New York State are rather rare.

Now, we all know the usual poisonous insects around here, such as wasps, hornets, and bees. Then there is the harmless, yet extremely painful, bite from the giant water bug, which is very common in our local ponds.  However, many people don’t know about the snakes and spiders, although rare, that do inhabit New York.

Here in New York, we have sixteen species of snakes; of those, four are venomous, but only three are considered dangerous to humans. Thankfully, they are rare and timid. One of the three is the eastern hognose snake which, although venomous, is not considered poisonous to humans. They are found in small pockets around eastern New York but are rare and pose no threat.

The second is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. This snake is venomous and dangerous to humans, although its bites rarely result in death. There are only two colonies in western New York near Rochester, neither of which is in Cortland. Their habitat lies in the Bergen Swamps and the Oneida Lake Swampland, so if you go hiking or if you visit those areas, keep an eye out to try to avoid any unwanted conflicts.

The third snake is the northern copperhead. These reptiles are poisonous, but they have the least poisonous venom of all the pit vipers and are not capable of killing a healthy adult. They are not found in Cortland but farther down state, in the Hudson Valley region. They blend in with leaves very well and like places with lots of debris, so staying on marked trails could help avoid any confrontations.

The last poisonous snake in New York is eastern timber rattlesnake. This snake is found in the lower Hudson Valley, the southern and eastern Adirondacks, and parts of Central New York. They are highly poisonous and pose an extreme danger to humans. Luckily, they rattle their tail as a warning to back off. If you are ever confronted with this, don’t panic; simply stop and slowly back up the exact way you came until you are a safe distance from the area in which the snake was.

All of these snakes eat small animals and will only strike at people as their last line of defense. They all prey on smaller animals, such as rodents and amphibians.  Don’t go seeking them out and, as long as you give them their space and respect them as the amazing predatory animals they are, you should steer clear of any problems.

Spiders can also be venomous, although very few pose any kind of threat to humans. As a general rule, it is probably not the best idea to go around picking up and handling spiders. Even a non-harmful bite can still result in itchy, sore, or slow healing areas around the bite. Northern black widow spiders have been known to enter the southern areas of the state during summer months, although they are rare in New York. They are “cobweb” spiders, so you can avoid a bite by not blindly sticking your hands into corners or debris-covered areas. They especially like to build webs in mailboxes, so if you are ever visiting the southern states, be aware of that fact.

Another dangerous spider is the brown recluse. If you are bitten by this small spider that inhabits corners or areas that are dark, undisturbed, and tucked away, you should seek immediate medical attention. Both of these spiders are extremely rare for New York and are found farther downstate.

Should you get bitten or stung by any sort of insect, reptile, or arachnid, it is a good idea to seek medical attention to avoid any severe reaction or infection.