Humans of Homer: Brady Hart

Humans of Homer: Brady Hart

Autumn Stevens

For this addition of Humans of Homer, I decided to interview a friend of mine by the name of Brady Hart. Although he may seem quiet in class, I find him to be a very unique and interesting person. Here at Homer, Brady is a cross country running, Link Crew leading, honor student-- but what’s his plan after high school? Where does he see himself in five years?

“I guess in five years I see myself in college,” Brady states, “I don’t think I’ll stay in the town of Homer for too long after I graduate high school.” I asked him what he wants to study in college, and he responded, “At the moment, the game plan is that I’ll be studying something to do with dentistry. I don’t really know where I want to go yet, my guidance counselor has suggested a lot of different places though. A lot of schools in New York have pre-dental programs which is good.” The Homer Olympian supports  Brady Hart’s future dental career and is happy that he shared his thoughts with us.

Finding Dory

Finding Dory

Alyson Witt

After thirteen years, Disney is finally releasing Finding Dory, which is the sequel to the acclaimed film Finding Nemo. The release date will be June 17th, 2016 in theatres everywhere in the United States. The movie is in 3D and is an adventure, comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Disney. The film is designed for audiences of all ages. So far, the trailers have been view by as many as 15 million people.

The movie is about Dory, the protagonist who has the flaw of memory loss and is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. Dory embarks on an adventure to reunite herself with her parents, Jenny and Charlie, who are voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy. To achieve her goal, she must use the help of her old friends, Nemo and Marlin, along with some new ones that are met along the way, and learn what family unquestionably means to her.

Sources:

"Find Dory." Disney. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2015

"Finding Dory." IMDb. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Molly Burhans

The much anticipated continuation of the classic Star Wars films is coming out on December 18th, and you can feel the excitement. The Star Wars films have been extremely popular since 1977 when the first movie came out. One of the reasons that this movie is so anticipated is that it will be a surprise for everyone due to the fact that the trailer gives away practically no information about the plot. At many theatres, the first showing of the new addition to the Star Wars saga is already sold out, so hurry up and get your tickets soon if you want to be one of the first in on this long awaited film.

Species Spotlight: Baer’s Pochard

Species Spotlight: Baer’s Pochard

Alex Levitskiy

This week’s featured species is the Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri).  Baer’s Pochard are diving ducks that are native to eastern Asia, and breed in northeast China and southeast Russia.  They migrate to other southeast Asian countries for the winter months.  The drakes have a black head with a greenish hue, a chestnut-brown breast, white underparts, a dark back and neck, white and chestnut-brown flanks, and white eyes.  The hens are an overall brown color, with a white underside and flanks. Both sexes have grey bills and a white band on their wing.  

Baer’s Pochard have been classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2012 due to an acceleration in the decline of their population.  There are an estimated 150-700 individuals left based on recent data.  Baer’s Pochard suffer from hunting threats and wetland destruction.  They are listed on CMS Appendix II and are legally protected in Russia, Mongolia, and certain provinces of China.  Regardless, these ducks are in dire need of attention.  Although scarce in captivity, Baer’s Pochards are available to aviculturists to establish a breeding population in captivity, as they are not a particularly challenging species to raise.  However, it is crucial for aviculturists to be able to distinguish Baer’s Pochard hens from other Pochard species, as they closely resemble one another.  The conservation of Baer’s Pochards is today’s project—it cannot be put off for the future.  Lastly, I would like to give a shout-out to some of the major collections breeding Baer’s Pochards in the U.S., such as Sylvan Heights Bird Park, Pinola Conservancy, and Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, and thank everyone who is taking part in the preservation of this species.

Photo Credit: Alex Levitskiy

Juvenile Pair of Baer’s Pochard

Ukulele Club

Ukulele Club

Alyson Witt

When most people think of high school, they think of sports and academics; however, there’s always more to do to get the best high school experience. There are many activities in high school, and often we forget the ones that can be the best places to grow, achieve, and build camaraderie. Usually these places are smaller clubs and groups such as Ukulele Club. The ukulele is small, four stringed instrument, similar to the guitar, that originates from Hawaii. The purpose of this club is to give students an to opportunity to experience music in different ways and play the ukulele for enjoyment. This club is run by our school librarian, Mrs.Mann, and consists of several members. The club is held on Mondays during ninth period in the library. Many of the members of Ukulele Club are from Student Government, who contributed to the club by purchasing the ukuleles.

After talking with Niles Jenney, a member from the group, I got a better understanding of Ukulele Club and his favorite  things about being a member. I asked Niles why he wanted to join the club, Niles said "I thought It would be a good opportunity to meet new people, and it’d be fun to join. I'm also a member of Student Government, and since the club bought the instruments, I thought it would be cool to use them and I ended up enjoying it." I then asked Niles what his favorite part about joining has been, and he said "The sense of community and friendships I've built with others with the same interest.” I then asked if he would recommend the club to others, he responded by saying, “I've really started to like the ukulele, even though I faced the challenges of using a right handed ukulele although I'm left handed. I'd recommend the club to others because it's fun, you meet new people and it's a different experience." So if you want to be a part of something new, meet new people, and learn to play the ukulele, be sure to check out Ukulele Club in the library, Monday's ninth period with Mrs. Mann!

The Hunt is On

The Hunt is On

Joe Settineri

It's five o'clock in the morning. The stars still sparkle, a stiff white frost blankets the ground, and a cool air descends; all seems normal. Trucks are driving down the road, it seems as though the whole town is already awake. It’s mid-November,  the opening day of whitetail deer season to be exact. Men, women, and kids alike are all going out, excited for what the day will bring. Hopes of big bucks are prevalent, but the one main goal of venison (deer meat) is first on the list. The primary weapon choice is usually a shotgun, but more recently, since Cortland County got the okay to use them, rifles have been becoming more commonly used. The difference between the two is that a rifle can shoot farther and with more power than a shotgun; one of the reasons why it was previously illegal. Many people have already set up tree stands to hunt in, but others sit on the ground or alongside a field. Some people wonder why hunters get up so early in the morning to hunt, and the answer to that is so that the hunter has enough time to get in position before the deer can see them.  Yes, deer are active almost all times of the day, but the morning, and the evening are the best times to hunt.

Hunting is only one part of the experience. After the kill has been made, the animal has to be gutted in the field, and then processed, by either the hunter or one of the many butchers in the County. My family processes their own deer. This means that after we gut the deer to remove its entrails, we hang it in our barn face down, to remove the hide, which exposes the muscle, or the meat. We then remove the front shoulders, the hindquarters, and the back muscles. After this is done, we usually wait a few days for the meat to tenderize in the fridge, then we begin to cut the meat and fat away from the bone. This meat ends up being ground into burger or cut into steaks, all of which is frozen and packaged for later use. Deer hunting isn't just the sport that many people think it is. Most hunters are out in the woods to get meat in the freezer, and if a buck walks by it's just an added bonus. It is also a tradition among families, and an exciting day for those who enjoy the outdoors and the fruits that come along with it.

Class Night After Action Report

Class Night After Action Report

Reed Cleland

On Friday, November 6th, the sophomore and freshmen class officers combined forces to a host a class night, the proceeds of which would support the semi-formal dance in February. Needless to say, it was a great success! Activities included a volleyball competition, crossfire, and the beloved favorite, “donkey tails”. Admission was six dollars, and food, including pizza and baked goods, was handed out freely. Not only did freshmen and sophomore students participate, but so did several juniors and seniors. Many thanks to Mrs. Lang, Mr. Cortese, Mr. Cottrell, Mrs. Heath, Mr. Digennaro and several contributing parents for helping to make the event a success. The funds collected at the end of the night amounted to well over $300. Thanks to all the students for playing an active role in their school community!

Great American Smokeout

Great American Smokeout 

Alyson Witt

What is the Great American Smokeout?

Homer High School offers many opportunities for its students to grow, achieve, and build camaraderie. Many students do this through sports and clubs, such as SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). SADD consists of about thirty members. The president of the club, Ellie Anderson, and the advisor, Mr. Massenzio, run the program. In SADD, students focus on helping not only the school, but also the community. Every month the club focuses on one way to help the community. During the month of November, they focused on the topic of smoking, specifically the Great American Smokeout, which took place on November 19th. To help promote non-smoking, the club gave out “quick-kits” which contained items meant to help people  resist the urge to smoke.

What are you really smoking?

Cigarettes contain many ingredients that are used in other products, such as Acetone which is a ingredient of nail polish remover and an ingredient in cigarettes. Other examples include but are not limited to:

• Arsenic- used in rat poison
• Butane- used in lighter fluid
• Carbon Monoxide-used in car exhaust fumes
• Lead- used in batteries

What are the risks of smoking?

Smoking comes with many risks, such as strokes, gum disease, chronic bronchitis, and various types of cancer. In some cases the extent of the damage caused by smoking can be so developed that it can cause death. Today, three out of the five children that die each year, die because of smoking related reasons, including first and second hand smoke. Second hand smoke is when you don’t smoke but are still exposed to the effects by being around people that do smoke. If you wish to change these statistics, you should join SADD!

Sources:

"Tobacco Facts and Figures." Facts About Smoking and Tobacco Use. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

Future Business Leaders of America Fund Breast Cancer Research

Future Business Leaders of America Fund Breast Cancer Research

Kennedy George

Homer High School’s  Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) have recently finished a fundraiser that worked towards raising money for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The members of the club were separated into groups which then asked for donations throughout the school and community. The club’s goal was to raise $800.85 and they surpassed it with $802.77 earned for the foundation. Katie Lawrence, Hannah Shattuck, and Ashley Lee were the group that raised the most money with over $300 in collected donations. Homer High School and the community should be proud of the outstanding job FBLA did in helping fund research for such an important cause.

Species Spotlight: Indian Peafowl

Species Spotlight: Indian Peafowl

Alex Levitskiy

This week’s featured species is simply a classic: the Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus). They are well-known throughout the world for their elaborate plumage. Some adore them, while others fear them, but in reality, Indian Peafowl are wonderful birds. The males have an iridescent blue head and neck, white facial skin, a fan-shaped crest, a backplate covered in scale-shaped feathers of green and gold, wings adorned with a pattern of black and white tones, and finally the long train. The train, although commonly mistaken as the tail, is the mass of over one hundred frilled feathers, each with either a dazzling ocelli, a brilliant curved sword feather, or the typical "V-shaped" feathers that line the perimeter of the open train.  The tail is actually the set of feathers underneath the train that support it during displays. Clearly, the train is the most revered aspect of the peacock. When it is open during a mating display, the male uses his feathers to attract the hen by strutting around, rattling his feathers, and shaking his wings. Typically, the peahens are unfazed and continue foraging. The peahens are much more drab in comparison to the male, but they are still stunning. The majority of their body is feathers of varying shades of brown; however, they have iridescent green feathers on their neck, each with a white outline. Their head also bears white facial skin and a fan-shaped crest.

    The above description only applies to the Indian Peafowl as they are found in the wild. In captivity, there is an enormous variety. There are many color mutations as well as patterns, amounting to over two hundred possible color varieties. Peafowl were kept in gardens as ornamental birds since Biblical times. These birds are readily available for aviculturists to buy; however, they do require extra care to keep them healthy. I will always have peafowl in my personal collection, as they are too stunning to simply take them for granted. Keep in mind that Peafowl, especially peacocks during breeding season in the spring, can get noisy. Nonetheless, if one loves peafowl, then they will come to love their vocalizations.

Photo Credit: Alex Levitskiy

Pic 1

Buford Bronze Blackshoulder Peacock

Pic 2

Opal White-eyed Peacock

Pic 3

Spalding Purple Pied Peahen in the foreground

An Ancient Discovery?

An Ancient Discovery?

    Alyson Witt

For many years, researchers have been looking for Queen Nefertiti's crypt. Recent infrared scans of Tutankhamen's tomb could reveal a hidden chamber behind the northern wall of his tomb, raising hopes that her crypt can be found. Although to confirm these results, more tests and scans will need to happen. Researchers hope to confirm soon whether or not temperature variations and the lack of air pockets behind the painted plaster walls could reveal one or more hidden chambers.

King Tutankhamen, also known as King Tut, was the Egyptian pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty during the New Kingdom, and he was the husband of the great Queen Nefertiti. At the age of nine, Tutankhamun ascended the throne that previously belonged to his father, Akhenaten, who ruled for seventeen years. Tutankhamen and Nefertiti are known for their religious revolution in Egypt, they created a new belief that changed the ways of religion. They believed in one God, Aten, who was the sun god.

Finding Nefertiti's crypt could lead to many discoveries about her husband and her. It would also provide more information on Egypt based on artifacts and mummies that could be found in the tomb. Although researchers are approximately seventy percent sure something will be found, there are chances that there could be nothing at all. For many researchers, this is an exciting time since they have worked for years to uncover the information that could potentially be behind these walls.

Sources:

Lee, Jessica. "Queen Nefertiti Dazzles the Modern Imagination-but Why?"The Guardian. N.p., 15 Aug. 2015. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Mark Strauss. "Desperately Seeking Queen Nefertiti." National Geographic. N.p., 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Molly Burhans

Every year, Homer’s Shakespearean Society puts on several plays. This past weekend was the debut of one of those plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This classic was portrayed wonderfully with a 1960’s twist. Many people were in attendance and it was a great time for all. Refreshments, made by the cast and their families, were even provided for those who came. Overall, the show was excellent; however, during Saturday night’s performance one of the main characters, who was played by Tessa Brown, took the phrase “break a leg” a little too seriously. During a scene where she was scripted to be pushed to the ground, she accidently fell on her foot the wrong way which resulted in a serious injury to her foot. Thankfully, Tessa Brown knew that the show must go on and stuck through most of the show either being carried or sitting in a rolling chair until Act III. The Shakespearean Society put on an incredible show, and be sure to watch for when their next play comes out!

Fall Ball Wrap-up

Fall Ball Wrap-up

Molly Burhans

As usual, the International Club was extremely successful with their annual Fall Ball. There was a large turnout which lead to a great profit for the International Club, and a great time for all that attended. since there was a large  number of people wearing costumes, the selection for awards was very difficult. The grand prize of $50 went to The Cat in the Hat group, which was made up of Annabelle Mooney, Carmella Mooney, Chrissy Rolfe, and KJ Ulrich. The second place prize of $25 went to the rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock group, which was made up of Adam Walling, Mel Videto, Ana Shore, Stone Tanner, and Eva Englich. There were also other great costumes that won smaller prizes. Blown Away, Pigs in a Blanket, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mario and Luigi, Frida Kahlo, Cleopatra, and the Star Wars group all won smaller prizes. Additionally, there was a pumpkin carving contest that took place. There was originally a tie between the pumpkins of Kristen Rohner and Rowan Travis, but Mr. Vanetten’s deciding vote made Kristen the winner of a $25 A&W gift card. The Fall Ball was a great time as usual, and the International Club thanks everyone in attendance for supporting their club!

2015 Nobel Prizes

2015 Nobel Prizes

Tighe Gugerty

This month, the 2015 Nobel prize winners were announced. These awards are given annually in the fields of chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and psychology/medicine (economics was added later). The awards were created via the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor and industrialist. He set up a fund and foundation, the Nobel Foundation, to run these prizes after his death. The awards are to be given to those who have “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” in their respective field. The nominees are selected by four different institutions: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Karolinska Institute, the Swedish Academy, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee. They pick the sciences (chemistry, economics, physics), medicine/ psychology, literature, and peace respectively. The prize for a single category may be given up to three people a year. Winners each get a cash prize, diploma, and gold medal. The prizes cannot be nominated posthumously but a nominee still receives their prize if they die after their nomination. Nominees can decline prizes, and the prizes can be withheld in years too hard to deem winners, such as during war. This years winners came from all corners of the globe and are listed below.

Physics

Takaaki Kajita and Arthur McDonald share the prize for the discovery of neutrino oscillations. They are from Japan and Canada, respectively.  

Peace

The National Dialogue Quartet of Tunisia won for their efforts to bring democracy to their country after the Arab Spring.

Economic Sciences

Angus Deaton of Scotland won for his analysis of consumer spending and saving and how to analyze poverty.

Physiology or Medicine

William Campbell of Ireland and Satoshi Omura of Japan won for their development of a drug aimed to prevent illness from parasitic worms.

Tu Youyou of China also received the prize for the development of a drug that drastically reduces malaria deaths.

Chemistry

This award was shared amongst Tomas Lindahl of Switzerland,  Paul Modrich of America, and the Turkish Aziz Sancar for their work in DNA repair. This has aided in the development of cancer treatments.

Literature

Writer Svetlana Alexievich of Belarus won for her work on events that were transformative to the Soviet Union.   

Works Cited:

"Nobel Prize". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015 <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Nobel-Prize>.

USA TODAY. "A Complete List of 2015's Nobel Prize Winners." USA TODAY. USA Today, 12 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/10/12/2015s-nobel-prize-winners-peace/73811472/>

Shakespearean Society Production

Shakespearean Society Production

Reed Cleland

Ever since rehearsals for A Midsummer Night’s Dream began in September, every member of the Homer Shakespearean Society has grown in character and talent. As a participating actor, I can say that it has been such an amazing opportunity to work with my fellow Thespians on stage. The show is scheduled for Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November  21st, at 7: 30 P.M. The entire production, with intermission, will run close to two hours, and is located in the Cortland OCM BOCES auditorium. Many thanks to our awesome techies, parents of the cast and crew, and our amazing director, Louise Felker. All of these people made the production possible. Hope to see you there!

Director: Ms. Louise Felker

Stage Manager: Mikaela Elkins

Assistant Stage Manager: Kenian Ulrich, Connor Lake,

Lighting: Mike Brutvan & Ellie Andersen,

Technical Assistance: Peter Mattix

House Manager: Ms. Julie Campbell

Costumes: Mrs. Paula Gustafson

Theseus: David Fein

Hippolyta: Kate Halstead

Philostrata: Sarah Redenback

Egeus: Rowan Travis

Hermia: Tessa Brown

Lysander: Drew Gustafson

Demetrius: David Fuller

Helena: Elena Gustafson

Quince: Hanna Whalen

Snug: Benji Hyde

Bottom: David Perfetti

Francis Flute: Nate Johnson

Tom Snout: Will Anderson

Robin Starveling: Brenden Haskins

Robin Goodfellow (Puck): Reed Cleland

Peaseblossom: Emily Travis

Oberon: Stephen Hyde

Titania: Julia Gustafson

Indian Child: Natalie Brown

Mustardseed: Chrissy Rolfe

Moth: Abby Elkins

Cobweb: Leah Potter

Fall Browns

Fall Browns

by Joe Settineri

It’s a crisp thirty-five degrees out, and remnants of a morning snow still lie on the ground. Dry leaves tumble and spin in the breeze while the river flows quickly. It’s late October, the perfect time for being outside and enjoying the cool, clear weather. Even better, it's a great time to trout fish. Specifically, it’s a great time to fish for Brown Trout, which is the most prolific species here in Central NY.

I called up my buddy, “You wanna fish this afternoon?”,

“Sure.” He says a little cautiously, “It's pretty cold out,” he adds.

“Alright, I’ll see you at four,” I say confidently, talking him into the cold endeavor.

In the summer when I trout fish with my friend, we wear shorts and sandals, wading through the refreshing, cool streams with the sun beating down on us.  Now that it is October, things are different. The water temperature has plummeted, and the air around us is cold as well. If we wore shorts now, we would get hypothermia. Our target today is the “Big T”, or the Tioughnioga River for people who can actually pronounce it. We park in Homer and put on our waders, which protect us from the cold water. Walking to the river we look like penguins, but it all makes sense when the frigid liquid presses against our legs but does not get us wet.  During this time of the year when the weather gets colder, the water also gets colder, which makes the trout more active.

One thing that makes trout fishing in the fall fun is that the trout are getting ready to spawn, and therefore, become more colorful. The shades of orange on a fall trout are something that just can't be captured with a camera. Almost immediately I hook into one, and it’s tiny. I get laughed at, but it's a start. We continue on and my friend Logan catches one, about the same size as mine. The sun begins to dip below the horizon, and we have probably walked about a mile upstream. Logan has caught five trout, and I have just caught one. Maybe I’m just bad at fishing, or I need to change the color lure that I have on. It’s seven o’clock now, and it's too dark to fish. Cold and a little wet, we start the long walk back to the truck. In my creel I have two trout, both are Logan’s.  It was not a good day for me, but I still had a blast. There is nothing like a grilled fall trout.