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Homer Gets Physical

Homer Gets Physical

Stephen C. Hyde

On Monday, May 15th, Anders Ryd came to Homer High School to talk about general physics and his involvement with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Ryd was in the high school library from twelve to two-thirty in the afternoon. He grew up in southern Sweden and originally attended college to study mathematics. He changed to physics, however, and has been in the field ever since. He came to the United States to study abroad at University of California, Santa Barbara and has since been living in the United States.

Ryd’s lecture covered many topics. He explained that the universe is 13.8 billion years old and how it is made up of 73% dark energy, 23% dark matter, 3.6% hydrogen gas, and .4% stars and other materials. He also lectured about photons, gluons, bullet clusters, causality, and the Higgs Boson.  

Dr. Ryd also spoke about his involvement in particle accelerators. He worked at the Cornell Synchrotron for many years, but since the LHC opened, he has focused his work there. The LHC is run by CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research and opened in 2008. It is a particle accelerator with a 16.7 circumference and buried over 500 feet below ground. The LHC can be found on the border between Switzerland and France, near Geneva. Ryd works specifically at the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS). Currently, his group is developing a pixel detector. Now that all of the quarks and leptons have been discovered, there are plans to revamp the LHC by 2030 to aid the exploration of the properties of dark matter.

Ryd said he enjoyed coming to the high school to let the younger generation know what cutting-edge scientists are up to and to excite some to pursue a scientific field. A student commented, “I found his presentation very interesting, and it was fun to learn that a farm boy from Switzerland could become a quantum physicist.”                            

Tessa Yonta Recognized at CNY Living History Museum!

Tessa Yonta Recognized at CNY Living History Museum!

By Reed Cleland

All high-school students love extra-credit opportunities. Tessa Yonta, a junior at Homer High School, recently went full-throttle on an extra-credit assignment in Mr. Joe Cortese’s American History class.

The CNY Living History Museum, located on Homer Avenue, is a premier source of history in Cortland County. It houses numerous historical artifacts from farm equipment to Civil War battle garb. Every year, the museum seeks nominations for the Cortland County Hall of Fame.

Mr. Cortese recently presented the contest as an extra-credit opportunity for his U.S. History students. Miss Yonta took it seriously. After some research, she submitted her list of nominees for consideration. The museum accepted one of them-Eli DeVoe, a private investigator who helped save the life of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States. On Saturday, May 13th, Miss Yonta was invited to give a speech at the museum’s induction ceremony! This is an amazing accomplishment and is an inspiration to American History students everywhere! Congratulations to Miss Yonta!

Photo Credit: Chris Yonta

History of Memorial Day

History of Memorial Day

Skyler Powers

Memorial Day is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May every year.  It is a day meant to commemorate the men and women who have died while serving in the American military. This holiday has very interesting origins.  

The Civil War was, at that point in history, the greatest loss of American life ever. Following the war’s end in 1865, national cemeteries were established for the first time. Family members eventually began the tradition of springtime commemorations by placing flowers at the graves of their loved ones and reciting prayers. It is believed that many communities across the United States started these days of memorium independently. In 1966, however, the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day.  

Decoration Day was created by General John A. Logan in 1868 and was observed on May 30th. He chose that date because it was not the anniversary of any battle in particular, meaning that no favoritism would be shown. It was a day where the graves of fallen soldiers would be decorated with flowers. By 1890, Decoration Day was an official holiday in every Northern state. After World War I, Southern states joined in on the celebration too.  

Over the course of several decades, the day gradually came to be known nationwide as Memorial Day. It continued to be on May 30th. In 1968, however, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This act officially moved Memorial Day to the last Monday of May in order to give federal employees another three-day weekend. The change went into effect in 1971 and the act also made Memorial Day a federal holiday.  

Over the past few decades, Memorial Day traditions have not changed much. Every year, there are parades across the country. Many people visit and decorate the graves of their loved ones who died while serving in the military. The day, along with the entirety of Memorial Day Weekend, has also become synonymous with outdoor parties and barbecues. This is very much due to the fact that it is seen as the unofficial start of summer. Many Americans like to usher in the summer season while also paying their respects to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the safety of our nation.  

First Shakespeare Play Produced in New HHS Auditorium!

First Shakespeare Play Produced in New HHS Auditorium!

Reed Cleland

On Friday, May 12th, and Saturday, May 15th, the Homer Shakespearean Society produced the first Shakespeare play in the newly renovated Homer High School auditorium!

Much Ado About Nothing is a favorite among those who enjoy crafty wordplay and Shakespearean puns. The plot follows two young soldiers, Benedick and Claudio, as they return home from war and proceed to woo two young ladies, Beatrice and Hero. All the while, Don John, a fellow soldier, schemes to ruin the romance.

The Homer Shakespearean Society has been known to experiment with Shakespearean works. In November 2015, for example, it produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in 1960s America. Director Louise Felker chose to set Much Ado About Nothing during World War II. The men sported military uniforms while the ladies planted victory gardens. It was a spectacular decision. The World War II theme matched the plotline perfectly!

There were a number of outstanding performances by Homer’s student actors. Drew Gustafson, Tessa Brown, Nate Johnson, and Kaitlyn Clune led the pack as Benedick, Beatrice, Claudio, and Hero respectively. Elliot Gustafson played the role of Don John while Benjamin Hyde played Don Pedro, the commanding officer. Stephen Hyde arguably received the most laughs in his role of Dogberry, the town constable. The rest of the cast was filled out by enormously talented actors who helped bring the show to life. The show was professionally stage-managed by Mikayla Elkins, and a team of hardworking technicians kept everything running smoothly.   

The show received a decent turnout, with nearly two-hundred people in attendance. Everybody was pleased with the performances; there was not a single criticism to be heard. There was a moment of excitement when Ms. Felker announced that the Society will be producing Hamlet in November 2017. This is bound to generate much excitement at Homer High School, considering that eleventh-graders read Hamlet in their English classes.

Congratulations to the Shakespearean Society on a job well done!

  

Here’s What Went Down at Homer’s 2017 Prom

Here’s What Went Down at Homer’s 2017 Prom

Stephen C. Hyde

As an experienced prom-goer, I can say the food this year was definitely the best, with decent sushi and amazing mac-and-cheese. The desserts were also amazing; I thoroughly enjoyed the cookies and cream cheesecake. While I did not personally dance, my sources say, “It was okay most of the time, with small glimpses of ‘good’ music.” The weather could have been better, but that was out of our hands. Sitting on the patio and talking with friends throughout the night, however, was quite enjoyable. The turnout was nice, with many familiar faces as well as many I did not recognize. There was also several teacher chaperones as well.

The after-prom party was held at Homer High School this year. Many people enjoyed the inflatable activities. There were mixed feelings about the hypnotist: many enjoyed the show while others felt bored. At the end of the night, prizes were distributed. As always, some benefited from the luck-of-the-hat and received what they wanted. Others were left with the scraps in the bucket. I was quite happy when I received a tent and inflatable mattress.

Many thanks to the hardworking teachers, students, parents, and volunteers who helped make Homer’s prom enjoyable!         

Reed About Politics: FBI Director Fired!

Reed About Politics: FBI Director Fired!

Reed Cleland

On May 9th, 2017, Donald Trump became the second president in American history to fire his FBI director!

This is a major political bombshell that has stunned journalists, politicians, and pundits alike. The story about President Trump and FBI director James Comey is a long one, but this article will attempt to simplify the issue.

James Comey was the seventh director of the FBI. Aside from advising the president, FBI directors do not like to involve themselves in the public spotlight of day-to-day politics. Unfortunately for Comey, he became hopelessly entangled in politics during his investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal. It was believed that Clinton had violated the law by sending emails containing national secrets from her personal computer. The FBI initiated a probe into the Clinton server in an attempt to find any wrongdoing. On July 5th, 2016, James Comey made a public announcement that the FBI had concluded its investigation, finding no evidence that Clinton had broken the law.

This was not the end, however. On October 28th, the FBI announced that it was reopening its investigation because it had discovered new emails. This decision was made two weeks before the election, and it was highly controversial. Although Comey later declared that the FBI’s findings did not change its original decision, many people argue that reopening the investigation was a political move that doomed Hillary Clinton’s presidential run.

And where was Trump? Throughout the entire Clinton-FBI scandal, he was eagerly cheering James Comey’s efforts. Indeed, Trump may have Comey to thank for his triumph in the election. Comey’s reopening of the email investigation may have swung enough votes to Trump for him to win.

Things quickly turned on Trump. After he won the election, the American government publicly announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had purposely tried to hurt Hillary Clinton’s chances. American intelligence discovered that Russia hacked the computer system of the Democratic National Committee, the organization that heads the Democratic party. Former President Obama ordered several investigations, eventually culminating in the expulsion of thirty-five Russian diplomats. The most unsettling moment came in March 2017 when James Comey announced that the FBI was investigating possible connections between Trump associates and Russian officials.

This brings us to the events of May 9th. On the evening of Tuesday, May 9th, the White House released the president’s order for Comey’s removal. Although Trump stated that Comey was being fired because of how he handled the Clinton email scandal, many people doubt that this is the true reason. They believe that Trump fired Comey because Comey was leading the investigation of the possible link between Trump associates and Russia.

As can be expected, politicians and pundits are in an uproar. While some defend Trump’s decision, others accuse him of abusing his power. They are comparing the incident to Richard Nixon’s Saturday Night Massacre. This much is inarguably true: while Trump had made several unorthodox decisions since his inauguration, firing James Comey was the most dramatic. Trump will now need a new FBI director who will be supported by angry Democrats and his other critics. Calls for new investigations into the Russian election interference will probably increase. In a democratic nation, it is important that every single political leader is held accountable. Trump is leading Washington D.C. down a path on which it has never traveled before. His decisions are changing the the direction of American politics, for good or for worse.         

Works Cited

Ciss, Doug. “Quickly Catch Up on the Comey Firing.” Wed. May 10 2017. Web. Accessed Wed. May 10 2017.

Miller, Greg. “Declassified report says Putin ‘ordered’ effort to undermine faith in U.S. election and help Trump.” Jan. 6. Web. Accessed Wed. May 10 2017.         

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Review

Guardians  of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Review

Skyler Powers

In recent years, Marvel Studios has been pumping out new superhero movies faster than ever. Due to the sheer volume of new movies, some moviegoers have grown weary, claiming that they have become redundant. These critics, however, have always gotten a breath of fresh air in the Marvel’s ensemble movies like The Avengers franchise and Guardians of the Galaxy.  Guardians of the Galaxy, in particular, turned a lot of heads because of its sheer uniqueness. The film was very well received and it has received a sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.  

I am going to start this review off by saying that this installment in the franchise is not as good as the original. Much of this is due to the fact that it does not seem as unique. Since we have already seen most of the oddball characters that appear in the sequel, it loses some of its bite due to familiarity. The plot of this movie is also simpler than that of its predecessor and it does not have the same level of emotional depth.

That being said, it is still a very good movie. It benefits from the same original characters including Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Nebula, while also having some great new characters like Ego, Mantis, and Baby Groot. All of these characters can be serious or hilarious, and that brings me to the humor. This is probably the funniest Marvel movie yet. Marvel movies are known for their rather constant humor, but this movie took it to a whole new level. There were so many one liners and the situational humor was relentless. The humor honestly caught me off-guard because I was not expecting so much of it, but it definitely benefited the movie. It certainly helped counteract the slightly less intricate plot and dramatic depth. The only issue I had with the humor was that it did not allow the serious parts to resonate with the audience as much as they could have.  

As with most Marvel films, the acting was great; the action was frequent and very entertaining.  Also, the movie’s ending was probably a bit more engrossing than the ending of the first film. It is a very close call though.  

At the end of the day, this movie is not perfect. The story could have had more depth, and it lacks the out-of-this-world uniqueness of its predecessor. It is very funny, however, and it was overall a very entertaining movie. I would not say that it is one of the best Marvel movies, but I would argue that it is slightly above average. This is impressive because Marvel has not produced a bad movie yet.  

Prom Night 2017

Prom Night 2017

Skyler Powers

The end of the school year is fast approaching, bringing with it Regents exams, AP tests, more homework, and more stress. One night, however, allows Homer students to escape their hectic schedules and have a good time. That night is Prom.  

This year, Prom will be held on Saturday, May 6th, at Tinelli’s Hathaway House in Cincinnatus from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm. The prom is open to any and all Homer juniors and seniors, but underclassmen can attend if they go with an upperclassman. The cost is $44.00 per ticket but the time to buy tickets is already over.  

There is also an After-Prom party held after Prom at Homer High School. This event will feature several fun games and activities, and prizes will be given to lucky attendees. Tickets for After-Prom are on sale this week, Monday, May 1st, to Friday, May 5th. You can attend the After-Prom party even if you don’t attend the actual Prom.  

So if you are a Homer junior or senior, feel free to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime American right of passage by having a fun night with a date, friends, or even by yourself. This event is a great way to escape the stress of school and to make memories that last a lifetime.     

Class of 2018 Members Inducted into National Honors Society

Class of 2018 Members Inducted into National Honors Society

Reed Cleland

Oftentimes, induction into National Honors Society as seen as the pinnacle of one’s achievements in high school. Inductees are chosen based on the four primary characteristics of leadership, scholarship, character, and service. In one way or another, they have distinguished themselves in their high school career in these attributes. NHS is a national organization with over one million high school members.  

On Monday, May 1st, over forty Homer High School students were inducted into the Joseph F. Herney Chapter of the National Honor Society. The ceremony took place in the newly renovated high school auditorium. Matthew Pelowski (NHS president) presented the opening address and was joined by fellow NHS officers Maura MacNeill (vice-president), Kara Buhl (secretary), and Aliza Willsey (treasurer) in lighting four different candles. Each candle represented one of the four aforementioned qualities that NHS students pride themselves on. High school principal, Mr. Douglas VanEtten, offered some remarks, and the ceremony proceeded to the induction process.

During the induction process, inductees were individually recognized by current members of the Homer NHS. Current NHS members gave speeches about the inductees and presented them with NHS membership cards. Once every student had been presented with a membership card, they recited the Honor Society Pledge as presented to them by Mr. VanEtten. The entire ceremony lasted about two hours, beginning at 7:00 pm and ending at approximately 9:00 pm. Inductees and their families were subsequently invited into the high school cafeteria for refreshment, graciously provided by NHS advisers, Mrs. Catherine Heath and Mrs. Sheila Knight.   

New NHS members were energized by their induction. As members of the class of 2018, it will fall to them to uphold the traditions and reputation of NHS at Homer High School next year. Congratulations to each of the forty-two inductees!

NHS Inductees:

• Nina Armideo
• Zachary Barber
• Alyssa Bauer-Coan
• Jackson Brazo
• Tessa Brown
• Molly Burhans
• Isac Burroughs
• Kassidi Casolare
• Reed Cleland
• Alexander Cottrell
• David Fein
• Zoe Fish
• Derrick Fouts
• Elizabeth Gilbert
• Anna Gugerty
• Julia Gustafson
• Madison Guy
• Isabelle Hart
• Casey Hayes
• Brenna Johnson
• Kala Johnson
• Jasmine Joseph
• Allison Kristof
• Katelyn Lawrence
• Emily Levitsky
• Jodi Maus
• Sidney Neuman
• Tucker O’Donnell
• Hunter O’Gorman
• Julian Ponirakis
• Nathaniel Potter
• Grant Stokoe
• Andrew Swenson
• Rowan Travis
• Joseph Tummino
• Noah Thomas
• Sophia Thomas
• Kollin Vanwagenen
• Dakota Wagner
• Alyssa Wakula
• Jenniellen Withers
• Tessa Yonta

Earth Week

Earth Week

Skyler Powers

This week is Earth Week, and Homer High School’s very own Environmental Club is celebrating with various activities all week long. Tuesday, April 25th, will be a campus cleanup.  Everyone will be supplied with gloves and is encouraged to join the Environmental Club in cleaning up the school’s campus. Everyone pitching in could really benefit not only the campus, but the environment as a whole.

Wednesday, April 26th is set aside as a day where any and all students can wear green in support of the week and the environment. Lastly, Thursday, April 27th will feature a composting demonstration to show students how much the school has saved with compositing as well as encourage them to continue composting, knowing that they can make a real impact.  

That is not all, however. The Environmental Club has emphasized that they have more up their sleeve to celebrate Earth Week and Earth Day later this week. It will be interesting to see what they come up with to excite Homer students and staff about the environment.  

Paint-A-Hydrant Competition in 2017

The Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Village of Homer, will host its first Paint-A-Hydrant Competition in 2017.

Be a part of a new experience that will spark your artistic brilliance! You could be selected to paint your winning design on one of five fire hydrants designated by the Village of Homer.

Winning designs are chosen from two categories:

Youth Category (students in grades 6 – 12)

Adult Category (18+)

To participate, artists must create a 2-D design on the provided application form (see below). Designs will be placed on display at the Gallery at the Center for the Arts for one month (June 2017), and the greater community will be invited to vote for their favorite designs. Two designs in the Youth Category and three designs in the Adult Category will be selected by majority of votes.

Winners will implement their designs onto the fire hydrants during July and August of 2017, with paint and supplies provided by the Center for the Arts.

Entry fee of $3 for members/$5 for non-members.

One submission per participant.

All submissions will be due by May 31, 2017.

You may send your submission and application fee to: 72 S. Main St. Homer, NY 13077, or drop it off at the Center for the Arts offices Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm. Please make checks payable to “Center for the Arts of Homer.”

Let your artwork be a part of Homer! We encourage everyone in the community get involved and hopefully be a part of a tradition for years to come.

Homer’s New English Class

Homer’s New English Class

Skyler Powers

Next year, Homer High School will be offering AP English Language and Composition. It will replace the Honors English 11 class that has been offered to juniors. Most schools in the United States offer AP English Language and Composition for 11th graders and AP English Literature and Composition for 12th graders. Homer is simply joining the plethora of other schools that already offer both courses.While the course is designed for juniors, rising seniors are still eligible to take it. They can even enroll in both if they wish.

Despite their similar names, there are differences between the two classes. AP English Language and Composition, according to the College Board, teaches you about the elements of effective arguments and composition through critical analysis and interpretation of complex texts. On the other hand, AP English Literature and Composition teaches you to analyze and interpret imaginative literature by carefully reading and critically analyzing representative works from various genres and periods. Thus, the courses are quite different and are meant to compliment each other; taking both is definitely a good idea. These two courses allow you to take the AP exams, which can give you college credits. College credits could potentially eliminate certain classes that you are required to take in college, saving you a lot of money. Taking AP classes also makes you more appealing to colleges; they can increase your chances of being accepted into prestigious programs.  

According to the College Board, taking AP English Language and Composition can help you land a job in ninety-eight career areas and enroll in forty-six college majors. Even if you don’t want to major in English, taking both of these AP English classes is a good idea. The new AP English course will begin next year, and it will be a great academic opportunity for Homer students.