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.