Grit and Youth: City Council Candidate Andy Vargas

Josephine Ricardo

Andy Vargas was raised in Haverhill and graduated from Haverhill High School. At HHS, he was instilled with a passion for public service, getting involved with organizations like Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP), where he was mentored by Andy Polanco and Carol Ireland, and a statewide coalition of young people called Teens Leading The Way (TLTW). Some of his teachers, such as Mr. Jordan and Mr. Harvey, influenced him to double major in political science and international relations. Getting involved gave him the opportunity to serve our State Representative, Brian Dempsey, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, the U.S. embassy in Madrid, and as an intern at the White House. 

Vargas said his internship taught him many thing things about public speaking, networking, and interaction, but also opened his eyes in inspiring ways. “We all have this idea of invincible people,” said Vargas, “but in reality, they’re just regular hard working people; amazing, talented people willing to sacrifice for our country.”

During his internship at the White House, Vargas met and received powerful advice from both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Vargas remembers President Obama telling him, “if you want to live a fulfilling life, write your obituary, write what you want people to say about you.” Vice President Biden, always to the point, was sure to let him know what mattered: he didn’t care if you went to Harvard or Yale or the most prestigious school, if you don’t know what the average American is going through, then your titles mean nothing. 

His experience interning at the White House had a major influence on his decision to run for Haverhill City Council. He was also greatly motivated by what he sees as a “brain-drain” depleting the city of innovative, young minds. “People tend to leave Haverhill and don’t come back,” said Vargas, “I would have felt like a hypocrite not coming back for our generation, to help change things, give people something to do.” In Vargas’ mind the main reason people leave Haverhill is lack of things to do and places to go, which, he added, “leads children, teenagers, to go out and do drugs, drink, get into gangs, etc.” 

Vargas’ goals as a City Councilor are to invest in young people, beautify the city, and attract businesses. He is also dedicated to giving all of Haverhill’s residents a voice, particularly neighborhoods greatly affected by poverty, crime, and drug use, such as the Mt. Washington area, where 68 percent of residents are in poverty. Ideally, Vargas would like to revitalize neighborhood associations. “Before, if a neighborhood had an issue, as a group, they would go to the city council and address the issue to take care of where they live.” He wants to help people advocate for themselves and speak and work as a group. He believes in “grit,” which he credits for his own success. “You don’t have to be the smartest of wealthiest person [to succeed],” Vargas says, “if you work hard, stay focused, and are willing to make sacrifices, you can do and be anything you want.”

Andy Vargas is running for City Council Tuesday, November 3rd. More information on Andy Vargas, his career, policies, and aspirations, can be found by visiting http://www.andyforhaverhill.com/

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DIY Halloween costumes

Victoria MacMillan

Strawberry and Pineapple

Items needed: 

• Green felt or fabric (for the head piece)
• Over sized t-shirt
•  Fabric paint 

To become a strawberry or pineapple, first paint dots or arrows on plain t-shirt. Then for the head piece, cover a paper towel roll in green paper and punch holes through the bottom sides. Slide the head band though the holes. Next cut fabric or paper into the shape of big leaves and glue the “leaves” to the paper towel roll, repeat until you are happy with the way you head piece looks. After deciding on what shoes to wear, you are all done!

Candy Heart

 Items needed: 

• Bodycon dress (pink, green, or red)
• Card board
• Markers
• String

To become this sweet Valentines Day candy, first you need to find a colored bodycon dress. Next cut a piece of card board into the shape of a heart. Use a marker to write on the card board heart sayings like:
I Love You
Charm Me
Amore
Hug Me
True Love
Lastly, punch two holes into the top of the heart and pull a sting through the holes. This string will be uses to tie around you neck and hang over the dress. Now all you have to do is put the costume together. 

Bag of Eminems

Items needed:

• Clear trash bag
• Pictures of Eminem

To make this pun costume, first find a clear trash bag and cut out arm holes in the bag. After you finish cutting out your trash bag, print out pictures of Eminem. Next glue the pictures of Eminem onto the bag and then you will officially become a bag of Eminems.  

Walking Dead Zombie

Items needed:

• Fake blood
• Fake cuts and scabs
• Some old ripped up clothes

Have you seen the show The Walking Dead? To become one of the disgusting "walkers" cut up so old crappy clothes and make them look as dirty as you can. Next go to a local Halloween store and buy some fake blood and cuts. The package of the cuts and scabs with include directions on how to attach them to your skin.

Robber

Items needed:

• Stripped shirt
• Black eye mask
• Black hat
• Black gloves

Do want to be a robber without having the fear of getting caught? For this costume, all you need to do it buy a black eye mask, a stripped shirt, a black beanie hat, and some black gloves. Throw it all together and then you're a robber!

Error 404

Items needed:

• White t-shirt
• Black Sharpie

This costume is for the people that are lazy, but also don't want to be the only one at the party without a costume. To make this costume, buy a plain white t-shirt at Walmart or a craft store, them take a Sharpie and write "error 404, costume not found".

Olympian Gymnast

Items needed:

• Red, White or Blue Leotard
• A Necklace Medal 

Become every little girls dream for the night. To make this costume all you need to do is buy a USA colored leotard (red, white, or blue), and dig through your closet to find on of those metals you got from playing a sport as a kid. Next, throw your hair up in a pony tail and then you're all set to go. 

Comic Book Character

Items needed:

• Face makeup 
• Face paint

Becoming a comic book character is time consuming, but if you love make up, this is the costume for you! First cover your face with white face paint. Next, find a dot your face and neck with red paint. Then define all the features on your face like, cheek bones, nose, lips, ect. with black face paint. For more ideas, look up "comic book character face paint" on YouTube!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 

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The Best Years Of Our Lives

Alpha Cepeda

Homecoming is based entirely on tradition. Not only just by high schools but also by colleges and universities. So if the disappointment of it being your senior year is hitting you, remember: it may not be your last year with the experience. Many people go through the motions of homecoming but few know it’s real purpose. 

The tradition of homecoming has its origin in alumni football games held at colleges and universities dating back to the 19th century. The origins of the first homecoming celebration remains largely challenged. Although Baylor, Illinois and Missouri were at the forefront around 1910. Regardless of the disagreement over who initiated homecoming, even the earliest of these celebrations contained the same elements. Schools organize rallies, parades, speeches and dances, aiming to unite the student body and create a better sense of community, harmony, and school pride among each other. 

Sports games or matches conveniently provide a big event for these other celebrations to revolve around.  A dance typically follows the game or at least takes place the same weekend, unless of course, you live in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where it sometimes happens a week later.

Most high schools, colleges, and universities center the homecoming game around an easier team or opponent. The purpose being to hopefully avoid a defeat. It allows for the dance and other events to be centered around a win, a kind of celebration. Although in our case the student council and student government choice the date. They schedule it after two away games. Homecoming then takes place and we welcome home our players.

The enticement of being new in a school, and having new experiences would lead a lot of the attendance of these events to be underclassmen, such as freshman and sophomores, but the memories of years past do attract the juniors and seniors as well. How many times have we heard “these are the best years of your life, enjoy it”? It leads many of us to want to be at every school event possible.

Any bonfire, dance, and game. Which is truly the biggest tradition of all.

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Wicked Big Cafe: Local Charm for a Great Price

Kathryn Morgan

The Wicked Big Cafe is a local coffee house located right in downtown Haverhill, at 19 Essex Street. Recently I was able to visit the Wicked Big Cafe and speak with employees to find out all the secrets behind making the little brick building on Essex Street so enticing to people of all ages.

The Wicked Big Cafe has an extremely welcoming feel. The name Wicked Big comes from the New England location having ‘wicked’ be a commonly used term in the Boston area. They say their most popular age groups are high school students and college commuters. The Wicked Big Cafe is a great place for friends to get together or get some homework done. They are a very community based cafe, and they love the fact that they are located right on Essex Street. Now that Downtown Haverhill is really starting to come together, they feel as though they are receiving more acknowledgement along with it. The Wicked Big Cafe is always looking to give back to the community and support their customers. The cafe has an “artist of the week” and they display their artwork throughout the cafe, and the artist can choose whether to sell it or not. Wicked Big Cafe is not only a cafe with awesome drinks and food, but it is a place to bring the community together to hangout and enjoy each others company.

Wicked Big Cafe is an extremely convenient and inexpensive cafe to get the best of coffee and sandwiches in Haverhill. Their most popular drink is the “Turtle” with chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, espresso, and milk that can be served hot, iced, or frozen. A medium hot and iced priced at $3.75 and frozen at $4.25. One of the most popular wraps is the Bohemian Wrapsody. The Bohemian Wrapsody is egg, cheddar cheese, red potatoes, roasted red peppers, and red onion on a habanero salsa wrap. One other popular sandwich is the, “On the Road”. It is your basic egg and cheese on an english muffin or plain bagel and you can add either bacon, sausage, or ham. These popular items could satisfy anyone’s hunger or coffee desire.

The Wicked Big Cafe is open at very convenient hours. Whether you’re stopping in for a coffee before work, or grabbing a snack after school, they will be open. The Wicked Big Cafe is open Sunday 8am-3pm, Monday-Thursday 6am-6pm, and Saturday 7am-5pm.

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A Brief Look At Sven Amirian

Kevin Stacey

HAVERHILL- On October 7th, in the Haverhill High School Library, the candidates for Haverhill School Committee answered questions about their individual agendas at a “Meet the Candidates Night." Among the candidates in attendance were incumbents Scott Wood and Shaun Toohey, as well as newcomer Michael Shurman, Pamela Conte, Gail Sullivan, and former City Council member, Sven Amirian. Amirian and the other candidates debated issues such as lifting the caps on charter schools, civics being a course requirement, and the amount of the school budget being put into special education. All of the candidates said they would vote yes on the 18 percent net-spending cap on charter schools. They also all agreed they would vote yes to making completion of a civics course a high school graduation requirement. Currently, civics, which teaches students about the duties of a US citizen, is not a required course in the Haverhill Public Schools curriculum. Sven Amirian served as president of City Council for two years. After a break from government, Amirian is excited to get back into the action, and wants to be able to help Haverhill’s students and schools. He has three children, two daughters and a son, who attend Hill View Montessori Charter Public School. They are the reason why Amirian is in favor of helping the charter schools. Amirian also commented on how Special Education should not take up so much of the school’s budget. “It is not worth crippling the whole system just for a few people,” Amirian said, “we have to think of the needs of the entire student body.” According to an article from the Eagle-Tribune, the Haverhill district special education cost has increased by $3 million dollars over the last few years and struggling with a special education cost increase of $1.3 million this year, with another $1million increase expected for next year. In addition to working on the SPED budget, Amirian commented on the possibility of moving away from textbooks as a primary education resource. “I think that we are definitely phasing out of using textbooks,” Amirian said. “Technology is the way that we are going, seeing as it has more resources, and is up to date. Meanwhile all of the textbooks are outdated, and in poor condition.”

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A lot at stake for youth vote in 2016

Josephine Ricardo

With the political season heating up, the continually disappointing rate of youth participation at the polls should not be ignored.Teen voting has been on the decline since the 60s. According to Rock a Vote in 1964, 50.9 percent of teens voted. Two years later, in 1996, only 32.4 percent of voters between ages 18 to 24 made it to the polls. When charismatic politicians appear such as President Obama, they can win over the vote of young people. Barack Obama would not have been elected in 2008 and 2012 had it not been for remarkably high youth turnout in his favour. In 2008 the voting rates had been the highest it has ever been where there was a total of 22,385(44.3%) teen voters.

Thom File, a sociologist in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Education and Social Stratification Branch, recently argued that the declining number of votes is a result of increases in the non-citizen population. On the other hand, D.K., a publisher from The Economist, offers that young people have begun to feel that they don’t have a say in what goes on in the political world. People who have yet to settle down are not as focused on how political decisions affect them and their transient lifestyles can also make it difficult to vote. Furthermore, many young people do not feel that there is a need for them to vote.

During most elections it is simpler to win over the older generations who vote no matter what. When charismatic politicians do appear, they can persuade the young to vote for them. Young people tend to be more cosmopolitan and liberal than their elders. They also tend to be turned off by the negativity and cynicism of election campaigns.  People who have not settled down are also not so greatly affected by political decisions and their lifestyles can sometimes make it difficult to vote. Trying to settle down makes it very difficult due to the cost of housing in certain locations. This makes registering to vote a chore which is easily forgotten until it is too late. 

For the first time ever, in Takoma Park the election age was lowered to 16 for local elections. Out of the 134 teens that registered, 59 actually cast ballots, a turnout of 44 percent. People have speculated that allowing kids to begin voting while they are in high school will get them in the habit of voting when they are older. However, in order to make this true, we have to get high school students interested in voting. One step would be for at least one state to open up voting for all offices to high school students. Also, going door-to-door, working the phone lines or social media, or by volunteering at candidate events would get these high school students involved. Even though some of the younger voters will be ignorant voters, many of 20 and 40 and 80 year old voters pay little attention to public affairs. Also, the younger voters will be influenced by family members, just like all voters are influenced. We want citizens to vote, therefore it would make more sense to have them start getting interested in voting at an even younger age and then getting them to vote at a younger age such as 16. By doing this, it is creating a better way to spread democracy.

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Television Review

Michael Whitcomb

"Asylum,” the second installment in the American Horror Story series, is the story of Kit Walker (Evan Peters) and Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) in an insane asylum, infamously known as Briarcliff Manor. Kit is wrongly accused of being the serial killer known as Leather Face and Lana is a journalist looking for the story of the century. Lana is thrown into Briarcliff by the head nurse, sister Jude (Jessica Lange), after she tries exposing Briarcliff’s dark secrets, including doctors performing sick and twisted science experiments on their patients. The two form a bond once they both realize that neither of the them are crazy or guilty, and go through Hell trying to escape Briarcliff and the evils it contains.

American Horror Story: Asylum created a creepier and more sinister vibe than the first season. It is filled with sub stories of the devil, monstrous creatures, forbidden love, and plot twists which leave you wondering what will happen next. This season was decent, however, it does leave a few unanswered questions to be asked. There was an alien subplot and the aliens were never explained to us during the entire season. Besides the plot holes, the season touched on issues such as lesbian rights, religion, and mental issues. This season will keep you wanting more. This show is a new brand of horror that tries and succeeds in keeping people entertained with a rich story and ambitious characters.

The writers of the show make sure to talk about important issues in society: homosexuality, racial issues, and being falsely accused. Homosexuality is brought up as Lana Winters is secretly a lesbian. This season illustrates how controversial and hard being gay in that time period could be, due to social ridicule and intolerance. Asylum also does this with the issue of racism. Kit’s wife is black and the couple gets constant abuse from the people in town, having bottles thrown at their house and other people (the KKK) coming up in trucks harassing the two of them weekly. It also brings up how being falsely accused and thrown in jail actually happens, and how it can ruin someone’s life. For example, Kit was traumatized by the things that happened to him and what he saw in Briarcliff. The show did a great job expressing all of these ideas, making you feel genuinely bad for the people in each situation.

All in all, the second installment of American Horror Story did a great job balancing being genuinely scary and entertaining. Characters in the show were relatable, and creepy... yet loveable. The show rarely had dull moments because something interesting was always going on. 8/10 stars

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Club of the Week: VIP Team

                                                        Marielis Batista

Haverhill High School’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Team, better known as VIP,  devotes itself to addressing all forms of violence through community collaboration, training and education, prevention and outreach. The club was founded by Haverhill High School teenagers in 2005. The purpose of the group is to focus on peer leadership skills and activities designed to mentor and educate younger kids on violence prevention. VIP has more than one hundred members including middle school and high school students, VIP alumni, and adult mentors. In addition to pledging to uphold the program’s mission of peace, members of the club give presentations on violence prevention and attend training workshops on conflict resolution, leadership and public speaking.
   
Mrs. Nieves, one of VIPs mentors and supervisor of the Education & Responsibility Center of Haverhill High School, said that this club gives her purpose, appreciative that she gets to do something that’s apart of her. Another mentor, Andy Polanco, also said that the club is a big part of his life. He was one of those “tough” kids when he was younger and became a better person when he joined a club such as the VIP team. Andy says that he wants to give this back to others, now as teens and as students so they can have a better future. As for current VIP members, they said that they feel safe and that the club is a place where they can be themselves. One student described VIP by saying,"We are all a family."
   
VIP has taken team members on many trips to support their members and causes, including a recent trip to New York City, free of cost. Students also participate in a variety of community service activities such as the Walk of Peace, which was celebrated October 3rd, in the city of Haverhill. After involving themselves with VIP for one year, students have the opportunity to become members of the club. After two years, students become leaders. VIP's immense community ties and outreach is what really sets them apart. VIP meets each Wednesday after school in the VIP room down the A-wing , and welcomes new members throughout the year.

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Athlete In The Spotlight

Peter Orfanos

Senior Michael McIntosh is a defenseman and captain for the boys varsity soccer team. McIntosh has been playing varsity since his sophomore year and also plays varsity baseball in the spring. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike to talk sports and life.

At what age did you start playing this sport?
I started playing Haverhill Pal around the age of four.

Was there anything in particular that inspired you to play ?
My favorite player inspired me, Taylor Twellman. He played for the New England Revolution, and I always watched him play.

What’s your most memorable moment as an athlete?
When I was around ten years old, my travel team went undefeated.

Do you plan on continuing playing your sport in college?
Not for the actual team, but I wouldn’t mind playing on a recreational team. 

What do you hope to accomplish this season?
I really want to make it to the state tournament. I feel like with some hard work we can get there.

What’s one thing that pushes you to be the best you can for your team?
Knowing that it’s my senior year, I want to give everything I have and go out with a bang.

How does the coaching staff contribute to the team’s success?
Practice helps us get ready for games. His speeches get us into the right mindset to play on game day.

How do you manage being a student athlete?
When I get home from soccer, the first thing I do is bang out school work so I don’t have to do it later on.

Who is the athlete you most admire?
Jose Bautista. He never gives up on the game and he always gives his team a shot to win. He never gives up, that’s what I aim to do.

Do you have a “hype song” or a song that prepares you on game day?
“My Life” by The Game ft. Lil Wayne.

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Bonfire kicks off homecoming week

Michaela Kane

Last Thursday at 7pm, students gathered at the Haverhill athletic fields to witness the sixteenth annual lighting of the fire, a traditional event everyone looks forward to each year.  Starting off homecoming, the Bonfire was a great way to begin an eventful week.

After the playing of the National Anthem, the fire was lit and the festivities began.  The bonfire was the first thing spectators noticed as they approached the fields, along with the music that filled the air.  Diagonally across the bonfire was the roped of tug of war arena, waiting for its competitors.  Behind that was the famous mechanical bull, where there were always people waiting in a stretched out line for their turn.  To the left of the bull and past the tug of war, the new Wipeout game challenged all who attempted to cross it.

Each year, the Bonfire holds several activities in order to engage the students, such as the mechanical bull, Wipeout, and tug of war.  The mechanical bull, a traditional attraction at the bonfire, was a favorite by the students yet again.  A large mass of people eager to ride could always be found waiting in line at the bull, sometimes winding all the way around the machine.   Even though the line was long, students still jumped back in at an attempt to beat their previous time. Along with the mechanical bull, Wipeout was easily just as popular.  As a new attraction this year, students were not sure what to expect of it, but it proved to be a successful event.  In the attempt to complete the course, students kept jumping back in line, no matter how long the wait.  It was clear that it was a crowd favorite, and students say they want it back next year.  The tug of war provided competition and entertainment for the several teams and spectators that lined along the barriers to watch.  In groups of ten, students faced off in the muddy grass in hopes of victory.  In an unexpected win, the girls field hockey team beat the football team for their final match.

Although all of the activities were enjoyed by the student body, one of the best experiences for them was the chance to be with friends.  When asked what the best part of the Bonfire was, one student concluded, “getting to see my friends.”  The Bonfire was the first of many events that brings the students together, giving them the chance to appreciate their school.

Whether it was someone’s first or fourth year at the Bonfire, all around everyone enjoyed it.  For those who came for the first time, they cannot wait to go back, and for those of whom it was their last, they said that it was the best year yet.

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The Martian: Why we'll all be eating space potatoes

Matt Connolly & Danny Garrity

                                         

The Martian starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott is based on the science fiction book ”The Martian,” written by Andy Weir Matt Damon plays a NASA astronaut named Mark Watney who gets stranded on Mars by his crew when he is impaled by a piece of debris during their escape off the planet. He is forced to make do with the limited resources that were left in their living quarters by his fellow crewmates. The people of NASA work tirelessly day and night to bring him home with their first idea literally blowing up in their face. He uses his background in botanist to survive over 550 sols (sol is one mars day) on Mars before making his daring escape off the planet in a spaceship hull covered by nothing but a tarp.

Matt (Connolly): Let’s get right into it, how’d you like the movie?

Danny(Garrity):I really liked it, especially how in the beginning they got right into the action and didn’t make us wait.   

Matt: I actually didn’t really like how they got right into the action. The whole movie we are showed how close Mark is with his crew, but we were never shown them on Mars living together actually becoming close. I’d like it if they could have shown us a little of their relationship.

Danny: Well, they we’re on a spaceship to Mars for six months, so I feel like their close relationship is almost implied. 

Matt: Maybe for some people, but I would have liked to see them bond with Watney a little more so we could feel more connected to the crew.

Danny: I can see where you’re going with that but I think it doesn't need to be shown. One thing I really liked about the movie was how difficult it was to contact Watny when NASA finally found out he was still alive, it made the movie really realistic.

I would have liked to see them bond with Watney a little more so we could feel more connected to the crew.

Matt:  Obviously, I have no idea what life on Mars would be like, but from what I saw, I agree they did a great job of making the whole situation very realistic. I thought the way Ridley Scott portrayed the media coverage all over the world and the feeling of nationalism across the country was very similar to what would happen in real life.

Danny: Yeah it gives the movie a realistic feel even though it's sci-fi. It really shows his natural instinct to survive doing whatever he could to make it back home.  

Matt: That’s when humans do their best work, when they are on the brink of death and have to do whatever they can to survive. Watching the movie made me feel like humans could do anything if they put their mind to it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It made me want to get dropped off on a deserted island with nothing but a bowling ball and a spork, you know the feeling?

Danny: No….. I don’t actually. I can see what your talking about with the survival. Even with faced with failure he didn’t give up, he found a way to fix it. Like when his space potato farm blew up.  Watney counted how many he had and started to ration the food he had.

Shows his natural instinct to survive.

Matt: The poor guy ran out of ketchup on like sol 200, that's more than a year eating plain potatoes. I’d walk onto the surface and take my helmet off if that happened to me.

Danny: Alright let's give our final thoughts on The Martian.

Matt: The Martian was an entertaining movie with a surprising amount of humor. It got you invested in bringing our man Mark Watney home. It gives you the feeling humans are capable of anything. Great acting, good story, amazing movie. 8.5/10  

Danny: The Martian was an excellent movie that didn’t have a boring moment from beginning to end. It's not your typical survival movie, you get to see the isolation that he's experiencing but also the desperation of the people trying to get him home. 9/10

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For a Healthy and Happy Budget

Colby Lawless 

For students, balancing school, work, and their social lives can sometimes compromise a crucial aspect of living: their health. People striving for the perfect picture of health understand the high cost of organic and locally grown foods, but gym memberships aren’t much easier on the wallet. However, gyms play a huge role in bringing people closer to their overall health goals.

Working out has more benefits than not. Besides, meeting someone new can’t happen behind a television screen. Going to the gym has been proven to strengthen the mind and be an amazing exercise for creative people. Working out strengthens your mind, builds your muscles, aids weight loss, can reduce stress, and invite new people into your life every week… So what are you sitting on the couch for?

Haverhill has a variety of gyms that offer affordable prices and varying amenities to fit every goal, every step of the way. The YMCA, for example, is not the cheapest option, but has pools that are well worth the price for those intending on using them. The most affordable gym doesn’t have all the benefits that other places do.

Gyms	1 Year	2 Years	3 Years	4 Years
Planet Fitness	$154.99	$304.98	$454.97	$604.96
Choice Fitness	$259.86*	$419.73*	$579.60*	$739.47*
Planet Fitness +	$279.87	$559.74	$839.61	$1,119.48
YMCA	$288.00	$576.00	$864.00	$1,152.00
Latitude	$409.99	$359.99**	$1,709.64**	$1,439.52**

* 12 month commitment **24 month commitment

The chart combines the cost of initial start-up fees (one time payment), monthly fees, and annual gym fees. Prices are subject to change, some offers expire and can be time sensitive. Prices may reflect discounts for students.

The most affordable membership, for any period of time, is offered by Planet Fitness. The standard membership includes unlimited access to the location the membership is purchased at, a t-shirt, and unlimited fitness training.

Choice fitness and Plant Fitness’ Black Card Program are also in the lower range of prices, and can offer a few more options for those willing to pay a bit more. For those that are trying to save and turn their goals into achievements, Planet Fitness is the most affordable gym. Whether you go to build muscle, lose weight, build stamina, meet new people or give yourself time to think, there aren’t any more excuses not to. So get off the couch and enjoy a day that you can feel proud of.

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Home Is Where The War Is

Dimitrios Stamoulis 

  

This has been the case for about 4 million Syrian refugees over the previous summer. Due to the civil war in their country, they have sought refuge in other countries. The civil war has been ongoing since 2011, but the latest refugee migrations have been greater than ever. The conflict has been between President Assad's forces and Syrian rebel groups that have formed to usurp/denounce Assad's presidency. The conflict truly blew up once outside forces, such as ISIS and Russia, began getting involved thus increasing the damages and victims of this conflict. More specifically, ISIS has tried taking advantage of the rebels’ desire to overthrow the Syrian government, and has been supporting the rebels, all in hope to have at least a partial rule within the new government. This caused the Russian air force to get involved, in an effort to most importantly deny accessibility to ISIS forces.

The four year conflict has forced over four million people from their homes. Many have emigrated to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, but also to countries throughout Europe, such as Denmark, Macedonia, Greece, and Germany. Lebanon and Jordan were initially accommodating but the ceaseless and increasing number of migrants began to cause complications. Turkey, on the other hand, has been less helpful and cooperative, refusing crucial services and issuing return dates for work registration forms in three to five years. These forms would give the refugees permission to work in these countries without any legal issues, due to the fact that many of these countries require citizenship documentation of employees.

Other European countries have taken a different approach. Greece has not been able to provide many registration forms and dates, but there have been many care packages sent out to the refugees. Other countries have been far from welcoming. Denmark had put out ads in Lebanese newspapers warning these refugees that if they go to Denmark, they will not be accepted. Macedonia was seen putting ads in their newspapers "advising" locals to give no help to any refugees, and report them as soon as possible. On the other hand, welcoming countries, such as Germany, have been able to provide food and shelter for all refugees, with room to spare. They have taken in more than 60,000 refugees over the past two months, and are expected 800,000 in total by the end of 2015. Though their generosity is greatly appreciated and acknowledged, the Germans lack a plan at the moment to keep this generosity from causing domestic and economic troubles. It has become the ideal country to reach, yet it is every other nation in their way that has made it difficult. 

 The European Union has yet to intervene due to the issue of how some people have been perceiving these refugees. Many reporters and journalists have been labeling them as “migrants.” Because of the lack of clarification on what these people really are, there is nothing that big groups, such as the European Union and the United Nations can do. The importance of what they are called among people, and throughout the media, is balanced upon the UN’s Refugee Act of 1951. This act makes it mandatory for all countries to accept and help any incoming refugees. Once, or if, they are considered and treated as refugees they will be able to go to new countries freely, and even possibly come to the US.

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Dreamland

Emily Mills

Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen, tells a secret love story which applies to many teen relationships. Things may seem “lovey dovey”, but behind closed doors there lies nothing but secrets and lies. The novel follows the relationship of a sixteen year old girl and how her relationship affects not only her, but the people around her.

The main character, Caitlin, has lost her relationship with her older sister due to her sister running away from home. Caitlin feels empty even though she still has her best friend, Rina. She and Rina attend a party where they meet a "bad boy" named Rogerson, who Caitlin ends up leaving with. In the days following Caitlin finds out that Rogerson is a drug dealer. He convinces Caitlin to smoke with him before meeting his parents later on in the day. When Rogerson brings her to meet his parents it does not go as well as planned. His mother acts friendly, his dad on the other hand, not so friendly. His dad ignores Caitlin’s existence and starts yelling at Rogerson for being late, even hitting him right in the temple. The following day Rogerson and Caitlin become a couple. Their relationship is wonderful, it’s the “dream relationship”... until he strikes Caitlin with his hand. Their relationship soon escalates rapidly and sexually; in other word: an abusive “romance”. She quickly becomes afraid of him because of the abuse while also afraid that being away from him would make him even more angry. She is forced to quit cheerleading and stop being with friends. One day Caitlin’s mom and Rina pressure her to go out with Rina, but when she arrives home, Rogerson is waiting...and not with joy.

Dreamland tells a story, but it’s also an awareness and a wake up call to the people oblivious to domestic violence or even people who deny the idea of being in an abusive relationship. The victims are not the only ones that this story can relate to. Many people do not know the signs of domestic abuse or simply think their friend is choosing the boyfriend over friends. I highly recommend this book to people of all genders and ages, not just teens and girls. I think that this can really open up minds to be more aware and change how people look at relationships between a friend or a significant other. It helps readers to understand how to overcome it or take steps into overcoming it. This is not only my number one book I enjoy, but it is also the number one book I recommend to family and friends.

Personally, I found this novel extremely compelling for the way it speaks to the readers. For the way that it uses teens’ insecurities to keep them hooked. The way that it can almost feel as if the reader is living their own life through the novel. It uses fairly realistic emotions and thoughts rather than the typical girl that falls for a “hello” from the high school quarterback. For example, Caitlin is not oblivious to the fact that she is in an abusive relationship. She does not ignore it because he “loves her”. She's scared and vulnerable to the thought of leaving him, because she knows that if she does, he'll beat her worse than he already does. I have never read a book so emotional, Sarah Dessen writes many intriguing teen “love stories” fraught with valuable life lessons. Though I have never personally been in an abusive relationship, I have found myself vulnerable to the same feelings and emotions in different situations in my life. As a reader you would think by her writing that she is a teen herself. It feels like she understands all the emotions that every teen has felt. Sarah Dessen understands how it feels to be kicked down, to feel vulnerable or rebellious, and to feel happy and in love. 

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ISIS 101

Lina Woronko

For the last five years, an extremist group of Islamic terrorists, mainly known as ISIS, has been controlling much of the news media with coverage of its increasing reach in Iraq and Syria. ISIS refers to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which also may be known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Levant is an older geographical term referring to the large area of countries in the eastern Mediterranean, including the western part of Syria, Lebanon, the western part of Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Egypt.

The map above shows the Middle East of Asia, where the targeted areas of Iraq and Syria are located.

According to various reports, ISIS was established in 1999. However, the ultimate rise and recognition of the extremist group was not until 2010 when Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi took leadership after the death of their previous leader, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. Al-Baghdadi is an experienced Iraqi fighter whose intention for ISIS is to further establish a caliphate, an Islamic state ruled by one supreme leader, known as a caliph. Al-Baghdadi, pronouncing himself caliph, is known as the spiritual leader of Islam who claims succession from Muhammad.

ISIS is not affiliated with Al-Qaeda, another well-known militant Islamist organization, as they view the Koran differently. The Koran (a.k.a. Qur’an) is the central religious text of Islam. According to ISIS, it believes itself responsible for fulfilling the Koran’s apocalyptic prophecies. These prophecies include crucifixions and amputations. ISIS uses these strategies to enforce fear among their enemies as they advance from Muslim to non-Muslim territories. Their goal is to use this power to control all of Iraq, as according to the Koran, in order to keep a caliphate, one must have territory of the entire Levant.

Although ISIS itself is not a threat to the U.S. as of now, its supporters, however, may be. Early this January, U.S. authorities had arrested an Ohio man, an ISIS supporter, who had claimed to be planning an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rasmussen, a member of the Western intelligence agency, has stated the concern for those who travel to fight against ISIS. He claims “the battlefields in Iraq and Syria provide foreign fighters with combat experience, weapons and explosives training, and access to terrorist networks that may be planning attacks which target the West.”

As of now, American air operations, along with Iraqi and Kurdish (ethnic group in northern Iraq) forces have been working together to fight against ISIS. As a result of this, ISIS has been more defensive and holding off on major conquests since the summer of 2015. Knowing the fundamentals of ISIS is important as the group grows and yearns for the strength it needs to develop. If ISIS turns the tide against its enemies and succeeds, a potential threat to larger areas, including America, may result. 

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Be Heard, Have A Voice

Aubrie Campbell

Mike Labella - Eagle Tribune

Being an adult comes with a lot of responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is using your voice in your community. Our nation has gone through multiple decades where there have been different laws regarding who should and should not vote. We should take pride in how far we've come and utilize our say in local and national politics. 

On November 3rd, 2015, citizens of Haverhill will be voting for City Council, School Committee, and Mayor. Being an active member of the community is finding a candidate you’re interested in and supporting him or her, whether by simply voting or by getting involved with their campaign. You can help these candidates campaign by holding signs up, calling houses to share the candidate's message, or even telling your friends and family to vote on November 3rd. 

It is important to vote because who ever wins will have a say over everything that happens for the next few years. As young adults, we have the right to choose who should have making those decisions. We are the future of this community and we should have a say in what goes on. 

Voting Requirements:

• Citizen of US
• 18 years of age
• A resident of Massachusetts
• Not Imprisoned for a felony 

How to Register:

See the City Clerk at City Hall and fill out the required paperwork to become a registered voter.

To learn more about voting visit http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm 

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The Station Makes the Difference

Stephanie Hathaway

Between working a part time job, and paying for other expenses, whether that be a phone bill, a gift for a friend, or grabbing a rare and much-needed latte, students' wallets are stretched thin. Money does not amount to much, but with all that extra spending, gas is really the last thing teenagers should feel stressed out about.

People are creatures of habit and convenience, as so very few stop to consider the costs of necessities. Sometimes going the extra mile can save the worth of the trip and make paychecks last longer than usual.
  

Gas stations	1 Week Gas	1 Month Gas
SpeedWay	$1.99 regular 15-18 gallon tank $29.85 per week full tank	$27.58 per week $119.40 a month
Irving	$2.15 regular 15-18 gallon tank $32.25 per week full tank	$32.25 per week $129.00 a month
Cumberland Farms	$2.26 regular 15-18 gallon tank $34.00 per week full tank	$34.00 per week $136 a month

As shown, these stations compared are almost as far in distance as they are in price, at least over the course of a month. Dependent on how much someone drives, it can start to add up dime by dime. Prices may not seem so differ by gallon, but per fill-up or month, differences can amount to five or six bucks. For students, that’s an hour’s pay after taxes. SpeedWay is proven to be the cheapest, but the least convenient to get to. Cumberland Farms, on the other hand, is always around the corner, but typically the most expensive. As many know, we have more time than money, so if you find yourself with extra time and in need of cheap gas, take a ride over to save yourself some much needed money. 

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