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harbinger Hereford
Volume IX Issue III
Hereford High School, Parkton, Maryland
The voice of Hereford High
www.herefordharbinger.org
December 2019
TO T H
NORTH PO
E
-LE
E
T NOR H PO
Happy Holidays from the Harbinger Staff!
-- TO TH LE
Have a Spectacular Winter Break! Index 2-4 5-7 8-9 10-13 14-15 16
Community Sports Spotlight Features Opinion In Focus
Inside Athlete of the Month Reese Harden reaches 1000 career points Page 5
Inquire Hereford Harbinger @hharbinger @hharbinger
2 | Hereford Harbinger
Community
DECEMBER 2019
Les Miserables set to premiere in the spring of 2020 By Elizabeth Pelligrini Reporter
This year’s spring production is to be the classic Broadway production, “Les Misérables”. “Les Misérables” is a French classic based off the novel, “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo. The play follows the story of Jean Valjean, a prisoner who breaks parole. A police inspector, Javert, tries to hunt him down for breaking it. It is a story of redemption for Valjean, who is a French peasant. The production is a story of broken dreams and unrequited love. Set in 19th century France, the play dives into the lives of multiple complex characters. “Les Misérables” begins in 1815, over two decades after the French Revolution, and includes themes of social justice and revolution. “Les Misérables” tackles other global themes like good versus evil, revolution, and corrupt government. The resounding themes have caused this production to be a Broadway hit. “Les Misérables” has been staged in over 300 cities and almost 60 million people have seen a staged production. This production is to be the biggest yet, with over 70 members in the cast. “Les Misérables” is full of singing and long ballads, with little actual dialogue. It has produced some of the most memorable songs in musical history, and students are excited to showcase their talents in this complex production. “I am most excited about getting to perform this show, which is one of my all-time favorite musicals,” Katie Allen (’21) said. “The story and songs have such a powerful meaning, the music in this show is absolutely beautiful.” Allen’s favorite iconic songs include “Do You Hear The People Sing” and “One Day More”. She plays the part of Cosette, Valjean’s daughter. “Cossette is a strong willed, loving, and intelligent girl who is curious about her father’s mysterious past. She falls in love with a boy named Marius, who changes her world and priorities,” Allen said. Along with the opportunity to perform iconic songs, the cast is excited about the atmosphere that each production brings.
“Fantine is my absolute dream role so being able to perform it with such an amazing cast is so amazing and I am so excited for the show!” Cindy Parker (’21) said, whose role is Fantine, a character with one of the most tragic stories. Such a complex and invested performance requires many long hours of practice, which leads to close relationships in the cast. “I’ve made a lot of great friendships, and had some really good laughs,” Gwyn Shepard (’20) said. “I terribly miss the seniors from years past who have graduated, and I am excited for my senior year.” Shepard said. Each production brings new relationships and new experiences, and this year is no different. As rehearsals begin, the cast is excited for this year’s experience. “I’m excited for the environment that usually comes along with these productions because theater seems to always bring everyone within it closer together to where by the end of the show everyone is just a big family,” Brayden Taylor (’21) said. He has the role of Inspector Javert. “He has an obsession for enforcing the law to its fullest extent. Throughout the musical, Javert spends his time searching for Jean Valjean and attempting to bring justice upon him,” Taylor said.
Meet the cast! Valjean Javert The Bishop of Digne The Factory Foreman The Factory Girl Fantine “Hair” Lady Bamatabois/ Grantaire Young Cosette Mme Thernadier Young Eponine Thernardier Gavroche Enjolras Marius Eponine Cosette Boss of the Lovely Ladies
Davis Guyton Brayden Taylor Addison Leisher Sam Spencer Gwyn Shepard Cindy Parker Maddie Gaede Owen Roughton Adrianna Street Gracie Brown Chloe Wilkinson Gregory Bennett Jack Stead Josh Porta Andrew Spence Shannon Ioffe Katie Allen Sam McCarty
Illustration by Keegan Whittle
Hereford Fire Company continues statewide Santa tradition By Nola Mak Reporter
Many students can recount past Decembers, watching Santa pass by their homes, not in a sleigh, but a firetruck. There are many traditions nestled and incorporated into our community, and the annual holiday Santa truck ride is one of these unique events. “The first winter break I experienced after moving here, was when I was in 4th grade. Before that, I lived in the city so the only sirens I was used to hearing were those for emergencies,” Julia Long (’21) said. “When I started hearing sirens in the neighborhood on Christmas Eve, I freaked out thinking there was a fire or something. Turns out is was just Santa parading around. It was still a terrifying yet humorous experience.” Although many students have fond memories of ‘Firetruck Santa,’ the people and program behind the sirens and candy-throwing might be unknown. The Hereford Volunteer Fire Company is located on Monkton Road and is dedicated to providing aid and protection to the local community. This year alone, the Fire Company has responded to 628 calls as of Dec. 1, 2019. “I’ve been a volunteer for two years, and typically I go to the firehouse everyday. Sometimes I leave school for calls,” Ethan Yates (’20) said. “We get around ten to fifteen calls a week. When we aren’t responding to an emergency, we clean the [equipment].” Before a volunteer is allowed to ride they must complete three training credits. This proves crucial to the safety of the volunteers when they respond to calls. “My most memorable experience was when a farm and hay bales were on fire. It was spreading to the woods, and there was a house not too far away. I was spraying the fire when I got trapped in smoke,” Cecil Barone (’21) said. “I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t breathe without the smoke burning my throat. I was trapped for about five minutes before I finally found my way out. That shows me how dangerous this job can be. There are many risk factors, but I’m willing to risk my life for that. And it’s just too fun to stop.” While for a majority of the year the Company comes to the community’s rescue, they also bring Christmas spirit. “When my kids were younger, we would go to the development across our house and watch. My kids were normally too shy to go up to them, but they would get candy canes the firefighters threw,” English teacher Mary Beth Stuller said. Usually, being Santa for the night is freezing in the late December temperatures and loud due to the sirens. This means that the job of Santa falls upon the Probies, or rookie firefighters. “We have a Santa costume in storage that we bring out and stuff with a pillow,” Yates said. “We drive around on three seperate days, from around 7-10 p.m.” To show their appreciation, community members will bake treats for the firefighters. “There are a lot of kids that come out. We make stops as we visit different neighborhoods, and
people will give us hot chocolate and cookies,” Yates said. Cayden Blizzard (’20) also volunteers at the fire company. He goes to the firehouse after school, and last year he and Yates took a turn being Santa. “There isn’t just one firetruck that goes around. The first one has Santa on top, the second is full of volunteers who are along for the ride, the third has people handing out sweets like candy canes, and the last truck collects cookies that people give us.” Blizzard said. To find the dates and neighborhoods of Firetruck Santa visits, go to the Hereford Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page @HerefordFire.
Illustration by Keegan Whittle
community
December 2019
Hereford Harbinger | 3
Teachers participate in steel band for winter concert By Rebecca Meldron Reporter
The winter concert is an annual tradition, bringing Christmas spirt before the holidays. The in-school winter concert was Dec. 19, kicking off the winter break. It featured performances by chamber choir, wind ensemble, orchestra, and a teachers steel drum band. This year is the second year that teachers have started to participate in the concert alongside the students. The band practiced Wednesdays after school for four weeks, and some teachers even practiced during enrichment to make sure they were perfect for the performance. Because of the increased participation from the teachers, two bands were created. Just like dance, they switched bands for the two concerts, with different teachers performing for the different concerts. Janet Sovich is the director of the steel band. She sent out an email and asked if any of the teachers were interested and got thirty teachers to respond. History teachers Nicole Maffei and Jamie Higgins Shaull were in the band for the second year. Some of the other teachers that were in the band this year were Michelle Stauchura, Jennifer Houseknecht, Mary Holmead, Shellie Powers, Cynthia Sabo, John Foster, and David Sobel. Sovich wanted to include teachers in the performance because she knew they would love it just as much as the students do. “All the teachers always enjoy it when they hear it so I thought it would be fun for them to get to play,” Sovich said. The song that the teachers played was Sweet Caroline. “Teachers are more resistant to try something new sometimes but they [did] a great job,” Sovich said. “These teachers [were] brave they [were] taking a chance [that was] risky for them.” “It makes me [very happy] to see not just my students enjoying the steel drums but also my teacher friends. It is one of the highlights of my entire year to get to make music with my peers and laugh and smile with them,” Sovich said. History Teacher Nicole Maffei had never played any instrument before joining this band. She loved playing with the teachers and getting to know the students that were helping teach. She wanted to play in the steel band because she knew it would be so much fun and that’s why she con-
tinued doing it the second year. Maffei was on an instrument called the double seconds. “It’s a fun role reversal,” said Maffei. Having the teachers learn from the students is an interesting switch of roles. The students get to become the teachers and the teachers have a lot of fun becoming the students. The students in the steel band that train all the teachers were very helpful and even wrote the notes on the pans for them. They were very patient and Photo by Janet Sovich Dom Wilkinson (’22) assists teachers Helen Bagdidn’t judge any of the teachers because dasarov, William Grome, and Mary Holmead at they knew that the they were just learning. “I wanted to do something I’ve never practice after school. They practiced every Wednesday at 3 p.m. done before, so I jumped at the opportunity to play last year. My husband and I got married in Key West and had a steel drummer play at our wedding,” Higgins Shaull said. She played the pan in the steel band. “I was always jealous of people who played instruments,” Higgins Shaull said. She loved learning from the students and playing with the other teachers. Higgins Shaull said that last year was even more fun because it was a surprise to many of the students since they didn’t know teachers were performing anything. The students and teachers got to experience what it is like to perform for the school. The teachers had so much fun that they want to continue participating every year to keep the tradition alive.
Dance program performs first ever two-show production By Nola Mak Reporter
The dance program performed on Thursday, Dec. 12 and again on the following Saturday. Before the show begins, the dancers have a pre-performance tradition. In order to hype themselves up, one company member will stand in the middle of the other dancers and yell phrases to which everyone else jumps and responds to. “It’s kind of like what sports teams do before their games.” Sarah Caplan (’21) a member of dance company said. Caplen choreographed a contemporary piece titled “On the Rise”. Colorful lights illuminate the stage as dancers showcased their abilities in tap, modern jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. Dance teacher Erin Norton, and members of the dance company choreographed a majority of the pieces.
For Nicole Carnaggio (’21), the process of arranging a dance starts with the idea. “Normally, I come up with a concept first and base the costume and song off of that.” She is planning on choreographing a spring tap dance. Leading up to the winter show, Norton helps prepare the students by providing enrichment and afterschool time to rehearse. “Ms. Norton always tries to make extra time for anyone who wants more practice. She also has company members lead warmups for all the classes. This allows everyone to get in the same mindset and loosen up,” Caplan said. Many audience members would think a dancer’s favorite part of a show is the performance itself. However, for Caplan it is moments leading up to the
stage that she appreciates most. “Getting to be with everyone before the show has always been my favorite part. While we’re getting ready and eating, I feel nervous but excited,” Caplan said. “I also love being on stage because of the adrenaline rush and having the ability to share what we’ve been working on with the audience.” Unlike previous years, this was the Dance program’s first time hosting two shows. “Since our program keeps growing, we wanted to give everyone more chances to perform and we brought back some alumni,” Carnaggio said. The dance program will have two shows on Apr. 23 and 24 for their
Photo by John Bowers
Members of the Dance Company class lift Rez Finnel (’21) into the air during a performance. This was the dance program’s first time hosting two shows.
spring showcase.
Students spread holiday cheer through Secret Santa By Cristina Drecchio Reporter
It’s officially the time of year we’ve all been waiting desperately; the holiday season is upon us. As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, families in the area begin to prepare for the upcoming celebrations. Christmas traditions begin as we get further into December. The sense of joy can be found almost anywhere. One being Secret Santas. Not only do our peers participate in this tradition, but faculty do as well. Students have started their own traditions in school. Classes such as AP Environmental Science and Chamber Choir have been participating in Secret Santa for the past two years. Classes and sports teams have taken on the tradition for themselves. A group in an AP Environmental Science class, one of the entire Chamber choir classes, and the girls’ soccer team have chosen their names and are on the hunt for the perfect gift. “It helps develop more connections and strengthen our relationship, which is important in a class that involves cooperation as well as team effort,” Caroline Story (’21) said. Everyone in the group blindly picks a name for whom they will buy a present. Sometimes there are certain rules to follow, such as a price range or a certain gift theme like musical. It’s all up to the group participating. The identity of the gift giver is to remain a secret until the gift has been opened, hence the name Secret Santa. “This activity can build relationships and connections or even make old ones stronger,” Nataley Der (’21) said. Der is participating in four Secret Santa’s this holiday season. One being in AP Environmental Science. Essentially, it’s a way for friends to get together and have their own Christmas day. Story is participating with her Chamber Choir class as well as carrying on the tradition for a third year with a group from her 9th Grade AP Environmental Science class. “I’ve been doing Secret Santa for a couple of years now with a group of friends I’ve had since the ninth grade, and it’s a great way to keep in touch with them since we don’t see each other much,” Story said. For the first time, girls’ JV and Varsity soccer teams are taking part in their own Secret Santa. Captain Laura Schmidt is hoping that this will give the girls an opportunity to create a bond for their upcoming season. “Being given someone that you’re not close with gives you an opportunity to get to know them and get them something cute,” Laura Schmidt (’21) said. The faculty members have been able to take part in their own secret Santa for a couple years now. Their secret Santa works a little differently. Instead of just one day it will last four
days, where each day faculty members will receive a gift. “I like that we fill out an information sheet of things we like and don’t like along with things we are allergic to,” math teacher Kolette Moran said. She feels that the secret Santa is an overall successful tradition and looks forward to it every year. Secret Santa is a good way to bring family and friends together for the holidays. It brings the community together and can strengthen old relationships and form new ones. If you wish to bring a group of friends together and create a strong bond, Secret Santa is one of many ways to do so.
Illustration by Katie Salko
4 | Hereford Harbinger
Community
December 2019
Pet Instagrams take over online entertainment By Anna DeLibro Community Editor
Instagram offers almost every interest one can think of. With millions of hashtags and accounts, there is bound to be something for everyone. Luckily, for animal lovers, there has been a rise in “pet Instagrams” over the past few years. Ranging from dogs and cats, to even racoons and pigs, these pet accounts have taken over digital entertainment. Everyone remembers famous internet pets like “Grumpy Cat” and “Boo” the Pomeranian. Countless memes, t-shirts and other merchandise allowed these furry friends to reach a wider audience around the world. Accounts like these started to surface around 2012, and from then on they have increased in popularity among pet owners everywhere. History teacher Nicole Maffei runs accounts for her two Scottish Terriers, Newton and Finnleigh. “It actually started as my personal account, but I changed it once posting Newton took over,” Maffei said. “I started featuring Newton when I got him in 2015 and changed the handle to “@ Newtonthescottie” soon after.” She started out with less than 100 followers, but when she began featuring her two puppies more often, the account grew rapidly. “@Newtonthescottie” now has almost 5,000 followers. “I love showing people how cute Newton and Finnleigh are. It’s also fun to interact with other dogs and their humans,” Maffei said. “We’ve made some awesome friends over the years. We have a lot of fans who love seeing Newton and Finnleigh and their adventures.” Maffei features pictures of Newton and Finnleigh in outfits, playing with toys, and even their participation in dog shows. Her favorite thing about showing her dogs is how she can see the different breeds that participate and being able to interact with fellow dog lovers. “Finnleigh likes showing more than Newton. She finished very quickly and won three 4-point majors,” Maffei said. “It took Newton a little longer, but his final win was a 5-point major.” Maffei tries to post a few times a week, depending on what kind of photos she has of the dogs. Recently, Newton fathered puppies, so Maffei has been featuring them on her page frequently. Her other Scottie, Finnleigh, is supposed to have puppies in January. Pet Instagrams are not only popular amongst adults, but many students enjoy featuring their animals as well. Ellie Borton (’22) runs an account for her dog Lulu and previously posted pictures of her calico cat, Missy. “The best part about owning my account is that I get to show off my dog’s quirks and personality,” Borton said. Lulu is featured going on hiking expeditions with her family, snuggling on the couch, and playing outside. With accounts like these, it gives owners a fun and low-maintenance opportunity to show off their pets, whenever they would like. “I used to post every couple of days. Recently, I haven’t been, but I’m trying to post more often,” Borton said. Dogs are only the beginning of pet Instagrams. Unique and uncommon animals have started to make an appearance online. Maddy Sebelist (’21) owns an account for her pet axolotl, and yes that is a real word. An axolotl is a type of amphibian that has a condition called Neoteny, which means they can regenerate limbs and even parts of their brain and heart. Because of this feature, they are expected to live between 10 and 15 years. “I adopted my axolotl when he was two months old,” Sebelist said. “When I adopted him he was only about an inch and a half and now he is 12 inches long.” Sebelist enjoys posting pictures of her axolotl smiling, important milestones, and everyday life. “My axolotl’s name is Gertrude, but he goes by Gertie,” Sebelist said. Another interesting thing about axolotl’s is that you cannot tell the gender until they are at least
one year old. Sebelist was inspired to dedicate an account to Gertie because she finds the species so interesting. “Since they are exotic and critically endangered, it’s really rare to see them as pets,” Sebelist said. Whether your favorite animals are dogs, cats, or endangered amphibians, Instagram is sure to have you covered.
Photo provided by Nicole Maffei
Newton (left) and Finnleigh (right) are both Scottish Terriers. Their Instagram @Newtonthescottie was created in 2015.
Photo provided by Ellie Borton
Borton runs an account for her dog Lulu, @missy.lulu.mmx. The account previously featured her calico cat Missy.
Photo provided by Maddy Sebelist
Gertrude, better known as Gertie, is a type of amphibian called an Axolotl. Sebelist adopted him about two years ago and started a pet Instagram shortly after.
DECEMBER 2019
sports
Hereford Harbinger | 5
Opinion
Track’s condition is detrimental to athletes’ performance It’s no secret that our track and field teams, both indoor and outdoor, have outstanding accomplishments, records, and championships. Including 13 consecutive county championships for girls’ indoor track, five out of the last eight state championships for girls’ indoor By Katie Blair track, five county championships for Sports Editor girls’ outdoor track, and a state championship for the girls’ outdoor track and field team. For that reason, it would be expected by most that the track would be in good condition, or at least mediocre. However, this is not the case. According to the girls’ head coach, Brad Duvall, Hereford has had the same track since 1996. Since then, the track surface has been through around 50 track and field seasons with the team running on it almost daily. This isn’t even including its use from other sports, summer training, and other community members. The wear and tear on the track’s surface is visible to anyone who walks up to the stadium; the cracks and holes throughout the surface are hard to miss. Aside from the breaks and worn down areas, the track as a whole has an extremely hard surface compared to other facilities and schools’ tracks where the team has competed during the season. These nicer tracks are much more forgiving for the runners’ feet. “It’s cracked all the way around and the track surface is missing in a lot of areas,” Duvall said. “To be honest, we have more kids in our track program than most schools do combined so it serves quite a few people.” With track and field being one of the school’s best programs for many years, and considering the amount of county, regional, and state championships the team has brought home for the school, the athletes deserve a new track. Not only would this help our own athletes, but all of the other teams that compete in meets that Hereford hosts during the outdoor season would benefit as well. The hype for a brand new track isn’t just a want, but a need, taking into account the amount of injuries that derive from the hard, worn down surface. “I think [the track] has a direct effect on the number of shin
injuries we have,” Duvall said. Since the surface is so tough, the repetitive beating down of the runners’ legs on the solid ground can cause intense and ongoing damage to their legs, knees, and especially their shins. Runners have been out for periods of times during the season due to injuries most likely caused by the track, which creates a big set-back in their training for the end of the season’s county and state meets. If a runner is out for even a few days, consequentially, they lose a good amount of training that they worked hard for previously, causing a pause in their training and altering the athlete’s season. Track runner, Sean Flynn (’20), had a stress fracture in his right shin at the end of his sophomore year. Since then, he couldn’t consistently run again until his junior year track season. “The team would greatly benefit from a new track,” Flynn said. “Many people on the team complain of shin splints, especially the sprinters because they are running on a surface comparable to concrete.” The track not only affects the runners, but each of the field events as well. “The high jump, pole vault, and high jump areas have huge holes in them,” Duvall said. “The long jump runway has a crater that’s about 5 inches wide and 2 inches deep that someone could easily step in and break their knee or ankle as they’re running down the runway, and there’s concrete showing in the high jump and pole vault areas where they take off so their spikes don’t grab.” Two summers ago, the school replaced our turf field with a brand new one. Although I agree that the replacement of the field was essential considering the damage to the old one, the school’s track and field athletes are in need of a new track just as much. After about 25 years, the time for a new track is overdue.
Photo by Katie Blair
Track and field athletes run and train over these holes, cracks, and run down portions of the track everyday. The rough patch to the left is located at the starting line of practice intervals and has distrupted runners for years.
Athlete of the Month:
Varsity captain Reese Harden dribbles her way to success By Sarah Dickerson
Reporter
Reese Harden (’20) has been playing varsity basketball since her freshman year, being the only ninth grader to make the team that season. At the position of point guard, she has proven to be a crucial part of the team by becoming one of the top scorers each year. Harden will continue her basketball career at Messiah College next year. Harden began playing at a young age and, from the moment she stepped on the court, she had obvious skill. Her talent and dedication have gained her immense respect from her teammates and coaches. “She’s always really positive,” teammate Trina Gerovasilis (’20) said. “If she messes up, she shakes it off and keeps focus, which is a good quality to have in a teammate.” Along with her positive attitude and perseverant mentality, her experience with the game has earned her the position of a leader on the team. Besides the school team, Harden also plays for the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) outside of school, where she competes with and against talented players on her team the Maryland Bells. Her skills have earned her many accomplishments, including First Team All-County, First Team All-State, and First Team All-Division. On top of that, Harden just achieved 1,000 points in her high school career early on in the season. Although Harden takes her playing seriously, when asked what her favorite part of the sport is, she replied with, “being a part of a team.” She values all her teammates and will miss playing with them next year. “My favorite memories are before each game when we are all together and playing music
really loudly,” Harden said. While she will miss her teammates and playing for the school, she is excited to see what college ball has to offer. “I’m looking forward to the competition,” Harden said. “Playing in college has a lot more competition, so I’m excited for that and to get better each day.” With the loss of six seniors, the team needs leaders to step up, which Harden has already done. “She is the coaches’ coach on the floor,” Coach Ellen Fitzkee said. “She is our floor general and controls the tempo of the game. She has the most experience, so others look to her for guidance and support.” Although only in her second season of coaching Harden, Fitzkee has been watching her play since her freshmen year and has seen her develop into a strong player. “[Harden] has matured in every aspect of the game,” Fitzkee said. “Reese has improved specifically in handling the ball against pressure, and as a weak side rebounder. Her understanding of the game allows her to help bring out other teammates’ strengths.” Besides Harden’s undeniable talent, one of her best qualities is her treatment of her teammates. “If you make a mistake, she will always be there to pick you back up” Gerovasilis said. Harden’s dedication will be greatly missed by her teammates and coaches next year. For now, however, she is focused on having a successful final high school season full of growth.
Photos by Sarah Borton
Harden prepares for the hard fought game against Towson. The game ended with a victory for the Bulls with the score of 4533.
Harden dribbles down the court at a home game. Last week, Harden scored her thousandth point of her high school career.
6 | Hereford Harbinger
sports
DECEMBER 2019
Basketball rebounds in hopes for successful season By Chloe Parker
Reporter
Boys
Kylie Elser (‘21) reaches up for the jump ball to start the game. The Bulls played Towson.
Photos by Sarah Borton
Demi Gerovasilis (‘20) looks to pass to a teammate. The Bulls won the game 45-33.
After losing four seniors, the boys varsity basketball team plans to work even harder to have a successful season. Their work has not gone unnoticed. “I think the season will go well this year because we are really team oriented,” Joe Sienkiewicz (‘20) said. “[The previous seniors] were the core of the team last year, but now everyone is involved.” Starting off their season strong by winning their first game of the season against Towson High School, the Bulls put up 50 points, securing the win by 16 points. With four starting seniors spots available, the current team pushes each other for the starting position, which allows the players to grow individually and gel with their new teammates. “Our greatest challenge is being able to perform without the same guys as last year,” Justin Capan (’20) said. “We have a very young team and losing the seniors from last year is definitely a challenge, so I’d say being able to adapt as a new team is our biggest challenge.” Pick-up basketball was held a couple times a week during the off season so players could keep their skills sharp. It was also an opportunity for seniors to help the underclassmen and make them more comfortable. “I think that everybody has the ability to be a leader on the team,” Capan said. “But, the seniors have the best position to be leaders since we have been here the longest and we try to help the younger players with anything during practice or in the games.” With the intense practices preparing them for games, the bulls enter the season hungry for wins.
Girls
Bouncing back from the previous season requires hard work and dedication from all the athletes on both basketball teams. After losing five starting seniors, the 2019-2020 varsity girls basketball team hopes their season will be just as successful as the last one. “We have the ability to do well, but we cannot look back on last year because we lost a lot of height” Trina Gerovasilis (’20), returning varsity athlete, said. “We can still be a great team, but in a different way.” This season’s seniors have kept their skills polished by playing on AAU or other out of school teams year-round. As of now, they’ve played three games and have an undefeated record. “We are coming along in practice and taking solid steps forward every day both individually, and as a team,” Coach Ellen Fitzkee said. “As long as we play hard and with a sense of urgency each time we walk onto the court, I think we will be happy with the team we’ve become when playoffs take place in late February.” Height, being one of their main challenges, allows the team to work harder at practice to get on the boards and put rebounds back up. Only having a few tall people on the team, the team is depending on their ball handling skills to carry them. “We take charge when stretching, making sure that everyone is doing what they need to do and working hard at practice,” Maddi Pope (’20) said. “We are the coaches go-to people and they rely on us to get things done.” The Lady Bulls play their next game on Jan. 6 at home against North Harford at 5:30 p.m.
Photo provided by John Capan
Coach Rhoads talks to his team after practice. They anticipated a successful season and hope to follow through.
sports
DEcember 2019
Allied Bowling anticipates successful season By Mikey Timmerman
Reporter
As the seasons change and the temperature drops, sporting events move inside, bringing life to allied bowling. Every winter, Coach Eric Evans takes the team to the lanes to get practice before playing against other schools. When the school day ends, the team heads over to Timonium Lanes, where they bowl a couple games every day, tone their skills, and build a family-like team. The games are the classic ten-pin style. For those who don’t know, ten-pin use the larger pins and a regulation sized ball, not to be confused with duckpin, which has smaller pins and the smaller bowling ball. Ten frames per player, each player gets two rolls each frame to knock over as many pins as possible, except in the last frame, which one has an opportunity to roll up to three times. While the team is there to bowl, their main goal is to have fun. It’s not about
winning it’s about having a good time. “I really love getting together after school with my friends and getting to really know one another.” player Laura Root (’21) said. “The best part about bowling is just having a good time with everyone and getting to bowl every day,” four-year captain Addison Leisher (’20) said. As a captain, Leisher encourages the team to do their best. His goal for this season is to average a score of 200 to 210 a game and help bring the team back to the county championship game held in Woodlawn. The team won counties two years ago and is hoping to return this year. “My fondest memory was from the county game when we won by a good amount.” Leisher said. “It was just a lot of fun all around, from the beginning to the end of the season.”
“I would like to see us win the county championship again, I think we are good enough to go back and win it,” Coach Ric Evans said. The team has a few tricks up their sleeves, such as ‘the strike dance’. The strike dance is a dance one does to celebrate rolling a strike. Not all players have a strike dance, but for those who do say it makes the game that much more fun. The players that make up this team include, Root, Leisher, Lexi Koogle (’21), Nathan Jones (’20), Russell Stevenson (’20), Jayson Hilliard (’20), Olivia Hazelgrove (’23), Ian Yocum (’23), Tyler Harlan (’21), Ben Yocum (’21) and Chloe Brown (’23). As a team they hope to win the county championship, but individually, they hope to make close-knit friendships and enjoy their time with the team. The team is off to a great start to the season, winning their first couple of games.
Photos provided by Addison Leisher
Leisher prepares to roll another potential strike. He was named captain again for the 2019-20 season.
Leisher is aiming to play another perfect game. Leisher has rolled several perfect games thoughout his bowling career.
Opinion
Golden State Warriors fail to meet expectations Oh no, the Warriors stink again! For the first time since the 2012-2013 NBA Season, the Warriors look like they will not make the playoffs. The Warriors are 3-14 after the first seventeen games of the season, having 5 more losses than By Parker Knight their 73-9 season Reporter in 2016. So, why are the Warriors so bad? Is it losing big names in the free agency? Is it because of the many injuries? Or is it because of the smell in the new stadium? This losing streak is mostly due to the leaving of star forward Kevin Durant, who joined the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 offseason. Durant led the Warriors to two NBA Finals wins, being the Finals Most Valuable Player for those two years. In place for Durant, Golden State picked up one-time All-Star D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets. Russell has not filled in Durant’s shoes, having been sitting out for already nine games, but he has been averaging 24 points per game, three less than Durant averaged last year. The offseason pick-up of Russell in exchange for Durant has not been the greatest move so far for Golden State. Injuries have also been a big part in the Warrior’s downfall. Allstar shooting guard Klay Thompson tore his ACL in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, causing Thompson to be out for the whole season. “Losing Curry is the reason why the Warriors are not a playoff team anymore,” Dylan Hartlove (’22) said. Hartlove goes on to explain how, “Curry was the reason why the Warriors have had five straight NBA Finals appearances.” Curry is arguably the greatest shooter of all time and losing
him for the whole season diminished their playoff hopes down to the smallest percent. When Curry won his back-to-back MVPs in 2015 and 2016, the Warriors made the finals and won one of them. The Warriors have finally seen what life is like without the greatest shooter of all time running on the court. Draymond Green has also had to step up for the Warriors, but the leading role for him is not a good fit. Green is only averaging a dismal eight points and six rebounds per game. These numbers have not helped lead the team in any way. The Warriors had a shot at getting a small forward in place of Durant. Carmelo Anthony, 10-time All-Star, had been in free agency for almost five months, and the Warriors had the perfect opportunity to fill in a dark hole at the small forward spot. The starting small forward right now for the Warriors is Damion Lee, whose biggest accomplishment is being on the second team all-ACC for Louisville. Anthony would’ve been a huge addition for Golden State because of his shooting abilities and tremendous talent. The Warriors let him walk and Anthony joined their division rival~ Portland Trail Blazers. Even though Anthony would’ve filled in the gap of the Warriors’ small forward position, the Warriors, and many other teams, were worried that Anthony would not be as good as he was the previous years. Anthony won Western Conference Player of the Week on the last week of November, and he is averaging 25 points per game, 20 more than Damion Lee. Well done Golden State! The only good thing coming from all these hardships is that the Warriors will get Klay and Curry next year along with a probable top three pick in the NBA Draft. Maybe Golden State planned this all along?
Illustration by Jack Kruger
Hereford Harbinger | 7
Sports Schedule Home Games
Girls’ Basketball Jan. 6 vs. North Harford JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 15 vs. Dulaney JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 17 vs. Dundalk JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Boys’ Basketball Dec. 20 vs. Catonsville JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 8 vs. Owings Mills JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 10 vs. Parkville JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 22 vs. Pikesville JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 24 vs. Sparrows Point JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Jan. 29 vs. Newtown JV - 4:00 Varsity - 5:30 Wrestling Jan. 21 vs. Dulaney Winter Cheer Jan. 11 @ Hereford JV - 10:00 Varsity - 10:00 Allied Bowling Jan. 27 vs. Catonsville 3:15 @ AMF Timonium Lanes
Illustration by Keegan Whittle
8 | Hereford Harbinger
spoTLIGHT
VAPE VAPE NATION NATION
DECEMBER 2019
Nicotine addictions are still prevalent among students By Molly Szymanski Editor-in-Chief
“Hey, can I get a hit?” “Could you buy me pods?” Walking down the halls, students hear talk about Juuls flying under the radar of teachers and administration. Despite the campaigns to end underage vaping, there has been very little progress made to actually end the problem. It is a problem seen both in and out of school; it has entirely taken over the lives of students who have already started. “I don’t even necessarily go to the bathroom to do it,” an anonymous senior said. “I’m always doing it in the car, and I’ve formed habits in my routine for when I have to Juul. It’s mostly all the time when I’m not in school.” In an effort to decrease the number of students using e-cigarettes, Maryland updated the tobacco purchasing age to 21 starting Oct. 1, which effectively made it harder for underage people to get their fix. Even students who were 18 at the time of the law change were not grandfathered in, virtually ending students from buying their own pods. “I think raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21 will be greatly beneficial,” State Student Member of the Board and Towson High student Noureen Badwi (’21)* said. “Due to the addictive properties in tobacco and nicotine, it only makes sense that the age is raised.” Badwi is the chair of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, which is currently spearheading a $35,000 statewide anti-vaping initiative because of the widespread issue. “What’s particularly worrisome about vaping and Juuling is not only the amount of students who have tried [it], but how quickly this epidemic has grown as well,” Badwi said. Last month, Juul Labs stopped manufacturing mint flavored pods, the favorite among younger consumers, leaving only menthol and tobacco flavors on the shelves. Students who previously bought mint pods have hit a brick wall — nicotine addictions no longer taste good. Or do they? Students have adopted a mindset of needing nicotine, no matter what. Once Juul is eventually abandoned, they’ll just adopt other means. “People my age can easily go into a 7-Eleven and still get pods, which is insane because they’re 16,” Livia Hagan (’22) said. “They’ll just move on to menthol or to-
Illustrations by Molly Szymanski
bacco pods, or Alto [e-cigarettes] because they’re cheaper with more flavors.” Vuse Alto e-cigarettes are similar to Juul, except they cost only $10 for a battery with flavors including mint and mixed berry. Students are also investing in disposable vapes such as Puff Bars and Stigs, both of which come in a variety of fruity, palatable flavors with a lower price tag. While new laws are making strides to end the Juuling dilemma, very little will change unless the views of adults and students do as well. “When parents find out their children have a Juul, they just take it instead of educating them on why it’s bad. So the kids just go buy another one,” SADD Club officer Ellie Dono (’21) said. “[They need to] warn children on the negative health risks as well as the debt [nicotine addictions] leave them in.” Despite efforts made to decrease nicotine habits among children under 21, the seed has already been planted. In order to weed out the problem, the consensus is that emphasis should be placed on re-education and highlighting negative effects rather than on punishment.
*The opinions expressed in this article are not reflective of the opinions and beliefs of the Maryland State Board of Education.
spotLIGHT
DECember 2019
Hereford Harbinger | 9
According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey by the FDA and CDC,
27.5% 27.5%
of high school students are using e-cigarettes
over
90% 90% of e-cigarettes tested by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health contained chemicals responsible for causing
POPCORN POPCORN LUNG LUNG
43% 43%
of middle and high school students first tried vaping because of appealing flavors according to the Truth Initiative
10 | Hereford Harbinger
FEATURES
DECember 2019
Streaming services compete for Christmas viewers By Maggy McGuigan Features Editor
A
Netflix’s recent pivot to Christmas has made it a top competitor for Hallmark, but the newly released Disney+ could threaten the company’s reign, as it offers an array of family friendly Christmas classics and one original, “Noel,” starring Anna Kendrick. Nevertheless, Hallmark continues to work relentlessly to survive the streaming wars. The channel kicked off its 10th annual “Countdown to Christmas” with 40 Christmas movies lined up for the 2019 season and began airing at the end of October, running for 24 hours straight until Christmas. “Hallmark Channel did not leave my TV when I was out of school because of my surgery,” Carissa Mileto (’20) said. “I know what the ending is going to be five minutes into [the movie], but I still love each little story.” Mileto spends her December watching Christmas movies, listening to holiday music, decorating her house, going shopping for gifts, baking cookies, and spending time with family. Her favorite films are classics like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Home Alone.” Whether you turn to Hallmark, Netflix, Disney +, or a mix of the three this holiday season, the key lesson to take away from all Christmas movies is to be thankful for those around you and to spread cheer all year round. Buddy the Elf said it best: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
s we anxiously count down the days until Christmas, putting our inner Grinch to sleep and embracing the joyous holiday season, there is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by watching holiday movies. Hallmark’s “Countdown to Christmas” has dominated the holiday movie binge ever since it began in 2009; however, streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ battle cable channels for viewers as they feature Christmas classics and originals. “I prefer Hallmark movies because they are classics,” Megan Jenkin (’22) said. “I know they are cheesy, but it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if I didn’t watch them.” Hallmark attempts to lure in viewers by tapping into our nostalgia of our childhood, stacking their originals with iconic television stars like Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin from the TV show, “Full House.” Netflix, however, is calling out Hallmark—both the channel and stores— by saying in its holiday line-up announcement, “step aside jovial commercials and overdone store windows.” While some originals from both Netflix and Hallmark have been coined “predictable,” many viewers are still able to find entertainment that keeps them coming back every holiday season. “Netflix has a wider selection of shows and movies that can really make me laugh,” Aden Johnson (’21) said. “You can find some goofy Christmas movies on Netflix [while] Hallmark movies can be cheesy.”
Illustration by Keegan Whittle Photos by Wikimedia Commons
Eco-friendly alternatives promote a ‘Green’ Christmas
By Bree Gobell Reporter
This holiday season should be all about enjoying the cold weather saving Christmas lights and using local produce and and the exchanging of gifts while also saving the environment. Being meat products for the holiday meals in order to reduce environmentally kind this season should be something to keep in mind. emissions from transporting them from other places in “I think it would be a good idea to be eco-friendly during the holthe country.” idays, because people don’t realize how much of an impact their waste When it comes to cooking on Christmas, Beyhas on the world,” HOPE Club officer Kaitlyn Beyer (’21) said. “They er isn’t the only one who has thought of ideas to help might not think they are affecting the world, but one purchase from overreduce waste. There are plenty of environmental benefits to seas can contribute to plastic pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and purchasing produce grown locally and planning more plantit uses paper unnecessarily.” based meals. Inhaling air pollution can reduce lifespan by about a year. However, “When cooking or baking try not to use easily disposreducing air pollution isn’t the only other environmental goal. There able materials like saran wrap or tin foil. Instead, store the are many sustainable decisions that can be made in order to have an foods in reusable containers,” Westra said. eco-friendly season. Gift wrapNot all the gifts that you buy for ping creates a lot of waste around people have to be bought from the the holiday season. Not only can store or shipped to your house Consider using an artificial tree. While you consider reusing bags, but from another state or a they may have more carbon emissions initially, there are also other options. different country. they can last for years, so they are better than “Try gifting presents in “I think that cutting trees down in the end. bags instead of wrapping paper, people enjoy Kaitlyn Beyer (’21) because bags can easily be reused getting thoughtin the future,” Victoria Westra ful gifts more than (’20) said. getting a gift that has no Others also have similar meaning but it cost opinions on how to contribute in order to help save the environment a lot of money. You can give while still having a holiday season that is full of joy. more while spending less,” “Our environment is extremely important and every effort counts, Eshaghi said. “Not only especially during the holidays when we use a lot of unnecessary paper,” does that help save the enJuli Giza (’20) said. “My sister reuses wrapping paper and gift bags vironment but it shows your every year to be eco-friendlier.” devotion and how much you care Festive holiday lights consume 6.63 billion kilowatt hours of elecabout that other person.” tricity every year. A 100-count string of mini lights uses 40 watts, while a A lot of the environmental 70 count of 5mm LEDs is approximately 4.8 watts total. costs that are associated “Don’t cover your house in lights and leave it on 24/7 or at least with the holiday buy energy saving LED holiday lights and get a pesticide free Christmas season can be tree,” HOPE Club member Anahita Eshaghi (’20) said. reduced by spreadThe holiday season is a time for giving, eating, and spending time ing awareness and with close friends and family. Unfortunately the season can also involve pre-planning. It isn’t more waste and excess than other times of the year. But that doesn’t hard to be eco-friendly while mean that we can’t still go green. also having an amazing spirited season. “Consider using an artificial tree. While they may have more carbon emissions initially, they can last for years, so they are better than cutting trees down in the end,” Beyer said. “You can also use energy
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Illustration by Keegan Whittle
DECember 2019
Modern Christmas songs light up the holidays
FEATURES
Hereford Harbinger | 1 1
A day in the life of a Mall Santa
By Sydney Powell Features Editor
Mike Kelbaugh shares his experience as Santa By Bailey Perez Reporter
Santa Claus, the big jolly man who gifts presents every year and brings smiles to so many faces. You may be curious about what a day in the life of Santa Claus like. In the morning Mike Kelbaugh, Santa Claus in the Hereford community and occasionally local malls, wakes up around 7 a.m., grabs his coffee, and gets dressed in a plaid shirt, suspenders, and of course a red hat. “This is what we call the ‘Workshop Santa’ and it seems less frightening to small children,” Kelbaugh said. Kelbaugh started his career in the Santa industry 21 years ago when a friend of his asked him to grow a beard for her Christmas party. From that favor, his love for the holiday grew and led him to share Christmas cheer with everyone. Dress up Santas have the honor of being able to wake up and get paid to make people smile. As Santa Claus, Kelbaugh believes it’s hard to not love his job, making children happy and spreading Christmas spirit. “My favorite part is making so many people smile from the smallest children to adults. It’s wonderful to share their joy.” Kelbaugh said. However, Santa Mike doesn’t only act for parties and malls. He visits the local children’s hospitals to share his jolly appearance, and to give each kid a special wrapped present. “I love this job,” Kelbaugh said. “The joy I get to spread is incredible.” Although this job is filled with joy, there are always a few funny events that keep it job interesting. “One time a mom forgot where she had left her baby when he was asleep in my arms,” Kelbaugh said. Along with the funny moments, Santa Clauses have to deal with many frightened children. This can be difficult, from Kelbaugh’s experience, but the feeling of turning a frightened kid into a Santa lover is worth it. Although there may be no magic or flying around the world,
the day in the life of a workshop Santa Claus is pretty fantastic. Regardless of the frightened kids and busy-minded parents, it is almost always a joy-filled job
Photo provided by Mike Kelbaugh
“Santa Mike” Kelbaugh holds a baby for their first picture with Santa. He started out 21 years ago and has been making the holidays more merry ever since then.
12 | Hereford Harbinger
FEATURES
DECember 2019
USPS spreads Christmas cheer through ‘Operation Santa’ By Elle Lochary Reporter
I
t’s officially Santa season. Did you ever wonder where your letters to the North Polewent Fifteen cities throughout the United States are helping to keep Operation Santa alive,including as a child? If you thought they ended up in the recycling bin, you’re not exactly wrong. During the Baltimore, Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Austin, Boston, Chicago, and more. holiday season, 15 regional post offices participate in “Operation Santa.” The United States Postal Service (USPS) created this program, as each year hundreds of thouSo what about about those letters going to the North Pole? Some actually do arrive there. Only sands of letters sent to Santa from children and families arrive at Post Offices around the country. letters addressed to a specific North Pole address, complete with the correct ZIP Code, are sent there. In 1912 General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postal employees and citizens torespond to the If you’re wondering that would be 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. letters — a program that eventually became known as Operation Santa. “Sharing Santa’s official mailing address will allow letters to reach the North Pole fasterthan in Today, kind hearted people or postal employees can go online to browse through theletters, years past because with an actual street number and ZIP code, our machines can sort and if one touches them they can reach out and help the child have a magical holiday.Some postal them – unlike being sorted by hand, which is how letters simply labeled Santa, North Pole, are employees may respond to these letters with handwritten responses signed by Santa. handled,” said Kim Frum, a spokeswoman for the Postal Service, in an interview by USA Today. The vast majority of the letters that are addressed “To Santa Claus in the North Pole,” are proSo how does one adopt a letter? Customers participating in Operation Santa are requiredto fill cessed just like any other letter that does not have a complete address. The Postal Service sorts them out a form showing a valid state or federal ID. After completing the forms customers can read and and sends them into a default area, returns them to the sender, or puts them online to participate in adopt letters online. Operation Santa. Sadly, some letters with invalid addresses, illegible letters due to weather, or postal errors are simply recycled. In order to preserve anonymity, the writer’s personal information is not available or visible Volunteer and respond to children’s letters online to continue spreading joy during the holiday. to the public. Customers are responsible for paying for a postal stamp or shipping fees to mail the If you want letters to arrive at the north pole make sure you use the correct address. Spread the gift to the letter writer. Once the package is correctly paid for and checked through the USPS, retail Christmas joy by joining Operation Santa! associates will match the package with the original letter writer’s address.
Illustrations by Elle Lochary
Hereford Harbinger | 1 3
FEATURES
DECember 2019
Opinion
The war on Christmas continues By Lindsay Clarke
Managing Editor
Decorating a week before Thanksgiving, hiding the Elf on the Shelf, and putting up an unreasonably large blow-up Santa in your front yard are traditions celebrated by many. There is a growing number of people who don’t consider Christmas a religious holiday, and in 2019 the religious elements are emphasized less than in the past. By definition, the “War on Christmas” has been used in different media platforms to denote Christmas-related controversies. The belief that multiculturalism is shadowing traditional American values has evoked this war on the internet. “A large handful of people, mostly conservatives believe there is a big push from ‘the left’ to move away from publically celebrating Christmas,” Megan O’Donovan (’20) said. “Saying ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’ are examples of how they believe we are eliminating Christmas.” In efforts to end this war, President Trump tweeted “People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas
again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!” Whether a cashier says ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’ when I’m checking out doesn’t really matter to me, but since its 2019 others would disagree. Shoppers shouldn’t get mad at a cashier for saying ‘Merry Christmas’ when 90% of all Americans celebrate Christmas. Getting some unwanted Christmas spirit thrown at you during the month of December is good for you- despite your religious beliefs. The Pew Research Center reported that 9 in 10 Americans say they celebrate Christmas, yet less than half celebrate it as a religious holiday and Millennials were least likely. According to another Pew survey, the percentage of Americans who identify as Christian has a downward trend, while those who describe their religion as atheist or agnostic has risen. Every year Starbucks releases holiday cups that
spark controversy among the coffee-drinkers. Without fail, 2019 was no different. Starbucks released cups that had candy cane stripes, green polka dots, and slogans that say “Merry Coffee.” Per usual, people are mad that Christmas was chosen to represent the winter holidays for these cups. But if Starbucks had made cups blue or white others would complain that they’re not festive enough…and they aren’t wrong. This is a never-ending war fought between people who will never agree. Leftist think that publically celebrating the American Christmas traditions that have been practiced for years will somehow downgrade the importance of other religions. But in reality, Christmas was built on a foundation of religious beliefs and traditions and ending those will change the meaning of Christmas completely. Despite the controversies, we should strive to appreciate what’s in common among all the winter celebrations: family, friends, food, and tradition.
Illustration by Jack Kruger
ACT test will allow students to retake individual sections By Sarah Dickerson
Reporter
Officers at ACT have announced it will add a new policy of allowing test-takers to retake specific sections of the exam. The ACT is a standardized test, like the SAT, that most colleges require students to take and send in their scores in order to be considered for admission. The test is out of a composite score of 36 and consists of five sections: Math, Reading, English, and Science, and an optional essay. Like the SAT, if test takers would like to retake the test they are allowed to, however they would have to retake the entire exam, even if they were just trying to improve their score on one section. Many students retake the SAT/ACT in order to improve a specific section, since most colleges “superscore”, which means if a student takes the SAT/ACT multiple times, the college will add together their highest scores of each section. However, starting next September, the ACT will allow students to retake individual sections of the test, meaning they do not have to take the entire three hour test if just trying to get a better score on their Math section.
Illustration by Ryan Coffey
Travel for cheap this holiday season By Conor Dias
Reporter
As the years progress, international and domestic flights continue to become more and more expensive, but you should never pay that first price you click on… if you want to save money that is. Searching for cheap flights can be difficult but taking the time to search around could save you hundreds of dollars. Here are some of the best and easiest ways to search for cheap flights to your vacation destination. Know your dates Know your dates but be flexible. Most people have a certain time of the year they want to go on their vacation, and usually people want to go in the hot summer months, like June, July and August, but many people don’t know that those are the most expensive months to fly. Instead of choosing these expensive summer months, look at cheaper months, away from holidays, October or September are great options. Also, if you want a hot beach vacation and it’s cold where you live, check out locations in the opposite hemisphere, so you can fly in a cheaper, less popular month but still have that relaxing beach vacation you wanted. Look for connecting flights Always check for connecting flights. Sure, direct flights may be easier, but connecting flights can save a lot of money, and can also bring you to a new, unexpected location. Say you’re flying to Finland, but the direct flight costs $800. Try a connection through Iceland and stay for a night and it might bump down the price to $600. Turkey and Qatar also have beautiful airports to stop
in and provide a great mix of culture when flying from the United States. Turkey and Qatar Airlines both fly to many different countries and can get you some good, cheap, and comfortable connecting flights. However, this method might not be the best for people on a time crunch who need to get from point A to point B most efficiently. Pick and choose your destinations Larger cities can be very expensive depending on where you are flying. Hong Kong, London, Paris, and New York are all very expensive destinations to visit. Some people want to visit a specific place, and that’s ok, but if you don’t have a specific destination to visit, try to choose less visited cities, even if you are just flying into them. You want to go to Rome? Try flying through Bologna or Milan, then taking the train to Rome if you really want to visit. Interested in London? Try Dublin, still expensive, but not as much as London, and you can experience similar culture. Popular beach locations can shoot up in price at certain times. Try finding some places with beautiful beaches that aren’t as expensive. Some good options are the Algarve in Portugal, Thailand, or even Vietnam, which can all be much cheaper than your luxury cruise to Aruba. Now, with these tips, you can pack your bags and get ready for your budget beach vacation. Bon Voyage!
Illustration by Sydney Powell
14 | Hereford Harbinger
harbinger Hereford
Informing and entertaining the Hereford Zone Hereford High School 17301 York Road Parkton, MD 21120 443-809-1905 Volume 9 Issue 3 ADVISER Megan Hamilton EDITOR -IN-CHIEF Molly Szymanski MANAGING EDITORS Lindsay Clarke Katie Salko EDITORS Katie Blair Ryan Coffey Anna DeLibro Jason Kraft Maggy McGuigan Sydney Powell ONLINE EDITOR Joan Steinly-Marks REPORTERS Conor Dias Sarah Dickerson Andrew Dotterer Cristina Drecchio Bree Gobell Parker Knight Elle Lochary Nola Mak Rebecca Meldron Chloe Parker Elizabeth Pellegrini Bailey Perez El Schriver Mikey Timmerman BUSINESS MANAGERS Conor McCue Drew Bowen ILLUSTRATORS Jack Kruger Keegan Whittle VIDEOGRAPHER Keegan Whittle PHOTOGRAPHER Sarah Borton SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Chloe Parker
A member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association CPSA recognition in Design Portfolio and Editorial Layout 2017
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opinion
DECember 2019
Our View: The student matters more than the school How many times in your life have you been told that you’re lucky to live in this school district and attend this school? Students in other areas ask for special permission to come here and teachers apply for positions from all over the state. We go to a good school with a multitude of opportunities and many possibilities for success. In this sense, we are lucky. We can’t fall back on that, though. Yes, this school has provided us with a decent education and fostered both our academic and personal growth. But if we don’t grow up enough to be prepared to leave the safety of these four walls, we won’t get anywhere in life. It turns out that colleges do not take the prospective student’s high school into consideration when deciding whether or not to admit them. “It’s not the high school that matters; it’s the student, their application, GPA, SAT, essay, social media presence, and resume that matters,” a State Ivy League Interviewer said. “You are not penalized for the [high] school you go to, nor rewarded.” Our Blue Ribbon status does give us a slight nudge ahead of other applicants,
according to the interviewer, but rivaling school Dulaney has also been named a Blue Ribbon School and their building is quite literally falling apart. Applying to colleges as a Hereford student is not going to give you any brownie points, no matter how many parents adopt an elitist attitude about this school. Quite frankly, it’s a standard public school. Out-of-state colleges likely have never even heard of it. The perk of attending this school, though, is the type of student that it creates. A well-rounded, driven student who is involved in extracurriculars and who volunteers to help others. A student who voluntarily signs up for 12 AP courses and somehow manages to thrive despite five to eight hours of homework a night, not including the hours spent on sports and work. “It’s not the school that is judged as much as the student’s ability and willingness to take advantage of what the high school has to offer,” the interviewer said. “If a student is active in clubs at school, has a job, and has over 1,000 service hours, [it’s a] huge plus.” This is the type of student that col-
leges look for. They may not look twice at which school you attended, but the rigor of your courses, extracurriculars, service—these are essential. At Hereford, we have a plethora of courses, clubs, athletics, programs, and chances to experiment and flourish. “This year, I’m taking seven AP credits [and] I am on the school’s badminton and tennis team,” Zoe Hsieh (‘21) said. “Outside of school, I play tennis and violin, I’m on an International Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) team, I volunteer for ACEing Autism, and I have also had an internship at Johns Hopkins in the biomedical engineering field.” Our school, in name alone, may not give us an edge during the application process, but it does provide us the opportunity to achieve our maximum potential as students and as human beings. The teachers support us and encourage us, and eventually, we get to where we need to be when it’s time to leave this building and move onto bigger and better things. We’ll always remember what Hereford did for us, but at the end of the day, we’re the ones who determine our success, not the school.
Phone policy allows exercise of First Amendment rights The right of every student to free speech seems to be a very loose subject given the very nature of school. You’re always subordinate to someone else and there is always some adult breathing down your neck threatening swift punishment if need be, so can a student really stand up against something they don’t like? Well, of course they can; it’s their By Jason Kraft Opinion Editor constitutional right. We don’t check our rights at the door when we enter the school building. With the recent policies regarding the banning of cell phones, it seems that some students simply stick their phone in their pocket and just deal with it, but some have decided that they won’t let the man tell them when they can and cannot be glued to their phones. “No phone policies are generally good, but the banning of phones during enrichment is quite lame. Students with GPAs above 3.0 should most certainly have the ability to go on their phones during enrichment,” said Preston Shaver (’21). To those vociferous and vehement students, I applaud you. You are doing exactly what you should be doing. This country isn’t about sitting around and just dealing with some rules that you secretly hate. To be fair, this example may seem a little out there, but stick with me. The antiquated British colonists felt it necessary to label King George III a tyrant because of his excessive taxing without representation. And hey, some colonists didn’t exactly agree with this labeling, but they can’t be discredited because, just like you, they have the right to their own opinion. If your opinion of a tyrant is someone who tells you take out your earbud on the way to class when you’re just trying to get a vibe going, then by all means, you are standing against tyranny just like our colonial ancestors. “I do typically wear headphones in the hallway as a way to calm down before I have to focus for my next class. I’m sure the majority of people will agree with me when I say that this new phone policy is completely appalling,” said Ryan Woods (’21). Now, there is of course some limitations on how a student can protest. There can’t be any angry mobs geared with pitch-
forks and torches at the front office, you cannot try to attack someone, and you cannot do anything that is going to disrupt the functioning of the school. I just have a little hunch that throwing certain profanities at a certain special someone, while it is admirable, won’t help anything or anybody. You’ll most likely find yourself suspended if you try that. Instead of going the radical route, it’s much safer to do the things you’re allowed to. If you don’t have a suspension wish, your means of protest include: handing out flyers, hanging up posters, getting signatures for a petition, and wearing expressive clothing. But on that note, you still have to comply with pre-existing clothing rules. So, if you wear your ‘give me my phone or give me death!’ hoodie, just make sure the hood stays off. Even if you don’t feel like doing all that extra stuff, then clamoring about each other is fine enough. Complaining about the supposed annoying and treacherous new policies is benevolent as it stirs the pot, spreading your opinion to different students and thus growing the cause further. And given the chance that you are super passionate about your right to use your phone in school, then please, start legally protesting as soon as possible using any method you so desire. It is your constitutional right to do so.
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DECember 2019
Hereford Harbinger | 1 5
Opinion
What I learned in the service industry
Illustration by Jack Kruger
Brick and mortar closings ruin holiday spirit By Molly Szymanski Editor-in-Chief
Last April, I sat scrolling through Indeed and Glassdoor, as one does when they are freshly fired, thinking of something I could possibly do to pay for gas. All of the babysitting jobs in a five-mile radius were taken, and you’d never catch me dead in another fast food joint, specifically those that sell exclusively chicken. Needless to say, I was a little strapped. I ended up getting hired as a hostess at a local-ish restaurant that will remain unnamed because they refuse to pay for advertising. Let it be said that I love my job, almost as much as I love complaining about it. I’ve learned more than I would like to admit about the ‘real world’ adults love to mention from running around and rolling silverware. 1. People are awful Look. I tend to exaggerate. But I have easily met some of the worst people I am ever going to meet in the 15 hours a week I spend behind the host desk. I have met people in positions of power that think they are all that and a bag of chips because they manage a restaurant. Don’t go calling the Better Business Bureau on me, but I’ve interacted with managers who have definitely broken a labor law or two by the way they speak to me. ‘No, I’m not arguing with you,’ I’ll have to say. ‘I’m just calmly telling you what I’m doing and why I don’t deserve to get berated right now.’ Clearly, they must realize that I’m human, right? Because from the way I’m spoken to sometimes, you would have thought I’d shot a puppy in front of them. 2. People are awesome My favorite thing about my work is the people I get to be with when I’m there. Simple. As cheesy as it sounds, I really do think of some of my coworkers as my second family. As many may know, I love complaining. To have life problems be listened to and given some of the world’s best advice while on the clock is one of life’s simple pleasures. I have coworkers who are like my older siblings, who want to see me thrive and will gladly beat up anyone who gets in the way of that. That’s an amazing feeling, especially when everything else feels like it’s going wrong. 3. The customer is not always right Boomers love to talk about how rude millennials are and how they’re destroying industries and whatnot, but never before in my life have I been chewed out by a twenty-something for doing my job. I know life is hard, but, man, do some people have bad coping mechanisms. I mean, really, did yelling at someone who told you there would be a 45-minute wait for a table make you feel all that better? Also, tip when you order carryout. Enough said. 4. Respect and empathize You truly never know what someone might be going through. The server that just made a passive-aggressive dig at you for seating them twice in a row probably has a million bills past due and 50 essays to write for their college classes. The customer getting wasted at the bar on a Tuesday might be going through a nasty divorce. I’ve learned to always consider what might not be at surface level and to think about the effects of insignificant actions. I’ve learned to respect everyone, even to respect people who seem like they don’t deserve it, because it’s better to be unwarrantedly kind than to judge and be incorrect. Working in a restaurant has on many occasions drained me of all of my energy and made me want to rip my hair out, but on the day-to-day, interacting with new and interesting people has been an experience I wouldn’t change. So, I guess it isn’t all that bad, after all.
The holiday season should bring about a time of joy and happiness for everyone, but it is often marred by the reality that the stores we know and love are doomed to close. With every passing year, online shopping orders skyrocket and easily outcompete in-store sales esBy Andrew Dotterer pecially during the holidays. This Reporter leaves retailers with no choice but to either adapt to an increasingly online world or close. I understand the convenience of online shopping and what benefits it brings when it comes to everything you need being in your computer, but shopping in-store has its benefits too. Whether it is a mom-and-pop shop or any local business, shopping in-store supports the businesses that make up your community and also helps people in retail keep their jobs. “I always support local businesses. That is my main priority,” chemistry teacher John Jay Foster said. Plus, my best gift ideas come when I’m walking around a store and something pops out at me. Whereas, if I’m looking for one thing online and can’t find it, the whole gift idea is ruined. It also adds more of a sentiment to the gift knowing that the person who gave it to you spent their time looking for it in a store rather than just finding it online. Someone saying they spent hours looking around for your present until they finally saw it in-store and immediately thought of you is far more meaningful than that same person saying I saw it online and got it for you. Another benefit of shopping in-store is that you can see firsthand the quality of the product you’re buying, and if you’re buying clothes whether they even fit or not. The reviews online aren’t always truthful, and
you won’t know until the product is delivered if you bought an item of quality or not. It is far better to try on clothes in the store to know if it’s comfortable or if it fits than to order clothes online and discover that they aren’t comfortable and are too small or too big. So, if shopping in-store is so much better in terms of getting a quality gift, then why do so many people choose to shop online instead? The simple answer is for the sake of convenience. Most people today are far too lazy to get off their couch, go to the mall, and look for a gift. It doesn’t help that big companies like Amazon and Walmart are making online shopping easier than ever and are only further accelerating the decline of brick-andmortar stores. The stores that played such a large role in my childhood like Toys “R” Us and Sears have now closed. It doesn’t affect me as much as a teenager now but looking back on the memories of wonderment when I’d enter a Toys “R” Us every time, I can’t help but feel a little bit of me is gone. Hopes of one day taking my own kids to the stores I grew up with are gone. I know I’m not the only one that feels this way. “I worked at Sears in high school and college, so I was really sad when they closed. They have been around forever, and even my dad worked there when he was younger,” social studies teacher Sarah Crue said. At a time where I’m supposed to be enjoying the holidays, I can’t help but feel like part of me dies when the news announces that more and more retailers will be closing shops after failing to reach their quotas for the season. Stores that I thought I would be able to take my own kids to one day are disappearing simply for the sake of convenience. It’s not that hard to get off your butt and spend a day holiday shopping with your friends and family. Illustration by Jack Kruger
Christmas season nostalgia sets in once again December is finally here and during this time of year holiday nostalgia is bound to set in. The By El Schriver terrible threeReporter week gap between Thanksgiving and holiday break is the longest stretch of the year, and undoubtably is killing us all with deadlines and long-term projects. All this stress has me reminiscing on the ornaments and Christmas time crafts we would be making in elementary school and the simple algebraic conversions of middle school. Now don’t get me wrong, Christmas is still my favorite time of the year, but do you ever look back on how fun Christmas used to be and can’t help but miss it? Just think about the excitement you felt waking up the morning after a visit from Santa. I would do anything to get that feeling back. Now that we’re older Christmas is less about the gifts and more about family, which is much better than gifts but for some reason the buildup to Christmas seems to get less spirited.
I mean maybe it’s just me, but come on, Christmas as a 5-year-old was so much better. You know, making reindeer food and leaving out cookies for Santa made it all seem so magical. Old Christmas traditions really do die hard. Anyone else still leave out cookies? No, just me? Well I recommend you do because it is much more exciting to pretend and have fun rather than forgetting about what made Christmas so special when we were young. “You get busier with school and sports, so you don’t have time to go and do fun things that you used to do,” Courtney Butz (’20) said. Another thing to pull from the memories, is NORAD Santa tracker. Do you remember? That website, for those who might have missed out, shows you where in the world Santa is at that moment on Christmas Eve. Just in case you were still awake trying to stay up for him, this website lets you know right when you had to go to sleep. This is just another example of how much fun Christmas was back in the day. Although it seems like the loss of Christmas fun is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be. Decorate your room with lights and
listen to your favorite Christmas songs. It’s still the best time of the year. Instead of having school and responsibilities as the first thing on your mind, relax and let the Christmas fun in. The best way to celebrate the season is to stay around friends and family soaking up all the time you can with them. Eat all the food you want and buy the best, most thoughtful gifts you can think of. Because before we know it, the schoolwork and responsibilities we can afford to push aside now. So, while we are still young, celebrate Christmas like we did in the 2010’s. You’ll thank yourself later for it, and you’ll have more fun because of it. Save the stress for the new year and enjoy this holiday season stress and responsibility free. Illustration by Jack Kruger
DECember 2019
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Hereford Harbinger | 1 6
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Holiday Gift Guide By Ryan Coffey Back Page Editor
The holiday season is in full swing. Lights are up, trees are out, and the crazy aunt is on her way over. It is a season filled with happiness, love, magic, and joy. Although the season is about much more than material items, they are still a prevalent and important aspect of the season. Finding gifts for the special people in your life can be an intimidating and seemingly impossible task. A quick scroll through Amazon and other online retailers reveals over 40 different gift categories, with every category having a minimum of 10 pages full of potential gifts. In the age of online shopping and constant advertisements, the task of getting that perfect gift seems out of reach. The weather outside may be frigid, but the Harbinger is here to break down this year’s hottest holiday gifts.
FUZZY SOCKS
BAND T-SHIRTS
LAVA LAMP
-Bri Haugh (‘21)-
-Elena Williams (‘21)-
-McKenna Sebelist (‘21)-
Everyone loves fuzzy socks and you can’t have enough of them. The best designs are plain colors, or something simple - like polka dots.
Band t-shirts are pratical and can be worn all year. They are great to wear to school and are an easy way to make connections with others that have a similar music taste. It is a perfect gift for anyone who liks music.
A lava lamp is a simple yet intresting gift. It is a great gift for any kids in your life. It also comes in a variety of different colors and styles.
RETRO MINI FRIDGE
VINYL RECORDS
HARBINGER SUBSCRIPTION
-Gregory Bennett (‘21)-
It is a great gift that anyone can use and it’s super convienient. It is great for any high school or college student. The retro style looks great in any room.
-Ian Jackson (‘21)-
Vinyl records are a fantastic gift for music lovers and collectors alike. They are a great way to listen to music and look great in collections. It is something unique and practical.
-Harbinger Staff-
This is a great gift for anyone who loves to read. Subscribe to gaurentee that you see each issue and help support the HHS Journalism program.
Illustrations by Ryan Coffey and Ethan Knarr