While I may be guilty of committing these acts once in a while, I do attempt to even the scales; I make an effort to use both sides of the paper in my notebooks.  I buy the objects at supermarkets that come in dull brown recycled boxes as opposed to their shiny, more attractive yet less biodegradable doppelgangers.  I’ve even purchased a toothbrush from Trader Joe’s that’s made from recycled yogurt cups.  Doing something good for the environment makes me feel empowered, as if I were personally purging toxins from the air in an effort to ensure that future generations can take a deep breath and live without fear of choking on fumes.

            Brewster High School’s contribution to the fight for a greener future is its recycling program.  Recycling in our school consists of a simple choice between a black garbage can and a blue recycling bin for paper materials.  In the lower level, two black garbage bins are located in the center of the cafeteria for students to recycle plastic water bottles and aluminum cans.  Despite the school’s whole hearted attempts to make BHS greener, the two large bins are often ignored and the blue recycling bins always manage to contain a banana peel or another piece of trash instead of the appropriate materials.

            When asked why students choose to ignore the clearly labeled recycling bins, some replies have often been that the school doesn’t recycle the materials anyways, so what’s the point.  This is a common misconception amongst most BHS students.  What most students don’t know is that there is a prosperous example of a thriving recycling system lead by Mrs. Ferris and her students. Both she and her students work their hardest to empty out the bins, separate the materials and make sure the items are properly recycled. While the class’ efforts are collectively effective, we all need to do our part.  Earth saving actions such as recycling may seem insignificant individually; but if we all work together to make recycling easier and more effective in our school, we can truly make a difference in our society. 

            Therefore, I challenge Brewster High School, to make a change.  I challenge you to make the honorable choice when choosing between the trash and the recycling bin and to think about putting your trash into the correct bins.  Embrace our school colors and make Brewster High School a truly “green” school.  Because if everyone did their part, if everyone completed one little action, each action will eventually add up.

- G. Treiling

We hopped off of the plane and jumped into a small Range Rover. As we drove into the city, I knew there was some sort of imperceptible, yet expressive, energy that I would come to adore. In a few ways India was the same as America, but in many other ways it wasn’t. I grew to love the characteristics that made that place indisputably hospitable, despite everything India has been through.

Now that I’m back in the United States, I miss all of it. I’ll never forget the place so far from the United States, but so close in character, and now so close to me. Here are just five of the many things that made me love India.

1. The People

When I was greeted in Maharashtra, the atmosphere was full of smiles. Grandparents – eighty, ninety years old – got up to say “Namaste”, a common greeting of respect. Regardless of my exhaustion from 24 hours on the road and in the air, I was asked so many questions about how I felt, helping me settle in quickly. I was handed Chai Tea as soon as I sat down, another custom in India.

Despite common stereotypes, many Indians speak English, making my stay even more comfortable.

2. The Food
Besides the amazing Chai Tea, I would wake up to a breakfast of toast and butter. The butter was one of the most fattening things ever – we’d slap it on, eat at least four pieces of toast, and then wash it all down with some cookies and Chai Tea. After this, I would go out and play for four hours until lunch. Lunch was usually a rice dish with a flavorful curry or dhal, maybe with some some okra. However, every meal of everyday was different.

More Chai followed lunch two hours later, with more cookies and some biscuits. Two more hours and dinner was prepared. Dinner always consisted of a chicken and rice dish, sometimes paired with nan, but the meal was never prepared the same.

We also went out to many restaurants, all similar to the American way. I realized that Indian cuisine is much more healthy and flavorful and spicy than American cuisine. I ate so much every day, but lost weight because of all the protein I consumed. Deserts were delicious too. Mango lassi and rus malai were my favorites; they were all organic with unpasteurized dairy treats, pure dairy for sure.

3. The Sights

Every step of the way was an incredible journey and the sights-to-see accented the trip in so many different ways. Many of the good sights to see were very far away so I expected a very long car ride. We visited Mahabaleshwar, the second rainiest place on Earth, known for their jams and beautiful jungle. On our four hour climb up the mountain, we saw waterfalls, giant wind turbines, and many monkeys.

I loved the many temples we visited. Visiting Mumbai was also a great experience; there were many places to eat, like a Muslim restaurant where I got to eat goat brain (it tasted fantastic). I drank sugar cane juice from a street vender, another delicacy.
4. The Stores
One of the coolest things about a warm country is that they have open markets. In India, many of the stores are venders, and so any price can be bargained. Clothing and everything made by the locals are cheap. An average shirt will cost you 400 rupees, or 15 dollars!

Venders also sell freshly made food like pani-puri, a soup drink with hollowed out bread cups, and also special round peanuts roasted in an iron cast stove. Seeing an American, they might bump their prices up, so it is important to know how to bargain and know your rupee to dollar conversion, and the Hindi language.
5. The Culture
The grandest piece of India is their culture. The youth respect their elders, they don’t curse, and they listen to the same music as everyone else. Everything is universal there.

We lived across from a holy temple and everybody in all of Maharashtra went to it every day of the week. Food is also the main aspect of the desi culture. It brings everyone together to talk and be one big family.

The culture of India is very different from any other culture I had experienced before I had my visit, but it was the experience of a lifetime, something to remember always. I hope that someday I will be able to visit there again. I will always remember the land and memories.

Next time you decide to travel, keep India on your travel list of fantastic journeys and an intimate culture.

– J. Merkel

These four days were jam-packed with activities that were both educational and enjoyable. With Mr. Douglas, the trip’s coordinator, our three wonderful chaperones, Mrs. Schumacher, Ms. Fine, and Mr. Pozzutto, and helpful staff at Cornell, the trip was a great success.

As a science-based trip, aimed specifically at biology students, our main activities took place in the university’s lab facilities. The labs focused on the AP Biology curriculum on heredity.  With the assistance of three staff members of Cornell, we completed three college level labs.  Using Cornell’s state-of-the-art technology, we completed a paternity test commonly used in child support suites, inserted a certain gene into a plate of bacteria to make it glow under U.V. lights, and finally, broke down our own cells so that we could see strands of DNA.

We didn’t just spend our time in the labs; we also participated in educational activies. My favorite activity was meeting Rose, a cow who lived at Cornell. Many years ago, Rose had received a surgery to have a capped hole on her side thus opening her stomach to studied. Although it sounds cruel, Rose suffered minimal pain and she now lives a pampered life while serving as important specimen of cow studies. Rose was incorporated into our studies on cow nutrition; we were able to stick our hand inside of her stomach. We also had the honor to listen to other speakers, mostly faculty at Cornell, about topics such as bone structure in animals and the Human Genome.

Although Cornell was an educational trip, we did spend some time having non-school-related fun. We were able to spend time skating in the ice rink, bowling in the in-campus bowling alley, and going on a tour around the entire campus. The town of Ithaca (surrounding the university) also offered many enjoyable activities such as an interactive animal center, a museum of evolution, and a scenic hiking trail leading to a beautiful waterfall.

The great success of this year’s Cornell trip was only possible with the boundless dedication from Mr. Douglas. After twelve years of planning this annual trip, Mr. Douglas has managed to continuously add more and more to the experience while keeping the cost down. This year especially, Mr. Douglas managed to bring two extra students, bringing the total number of attendees to forty-eight. I speak for every student who went on the trip when I say “thank you.”

- J. Barry

Starting during the 2011/2012 winter season, Kelly Migliore was selected as the new head coach. Coach Kelly’s past experiences include being an assistant cheerleading coach at Briarcliff High School and a former cheerleader at Hendrick Hudson High School. The cheerleaders met their new coach at the first day of try-outs held in late November; days later, the winter team was named.

The girls are not accustomed to starting a brand season with unfamiliar cheers, coaching, and team environment, but they kept their minds open and fully embraced the change. With a new routine to learn, the squad got down to business fast, practicing new and difficult stunts, along with altering formations and learning a new dance.  Coach Kelly brought a new vision to the team and has helped the girls expand their understanding of the essence of cheerleading.

With such a small amount of time to perfect and perform a solid routine, the cheerleaders and Coach Kelly had a lot of stress to work out: competition season would start in six weeks! Luckily, the team focused fast, setting their eyes out for the title of Section B Champs for the second year in a row.  After many long practices and loads of hard and difficult work, the squad now has a routine that they feel confident and well prepared in.

To the girls, it feels like it was only yesterday when they met Coach Kelly but now, six weeks later, they’re preparing to compete in their first competition as a newly reformed team. The squad will compete at the Scarsdale Cheerleading Competition held on Saturday, January 14^th 2012. Coach Kelly and the girls are motivated to take home a trophy and are thrilled to discover what else this winter season has in store for them.

Interview with Joe Wegwerth, Junior Olympic Athlete 2011

-K. Maloney

“It’s been good, Jer. My dad just had surgery on his knee the other day, I’m helping him pay off the medical bill; money’s been very tight lately.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right… how is he doing?”

“He’s been great! His complaining is back to its usual… actually, quite toned down now that we had to cut our oil spending for the winter in half.”

We both laughed, and the laughs turned to giggles, and we followed with an “ah” to signify our satisfaction with the banter.

“Your total is three-hundred dollars and ninety cents… plus tax.”

This is just one example of the many interactions I face as a cashier. During these moments, I have to know how to behave politely while performing a juggling act with keeping the customer at the center of my attention, counting their money, doing quick math, and giving them back the correct change and receipt – and I forgot… you have to bag everything. Memorization of codes –4011 for bananas, 10407 for ice, or
7572000409 for a Poland Spring 24-Pack of water – is important if you would like your line of six customers moving at a steady pace.

I must give the one-hundred or more customers my required “How are you?” and exuberant “Have a nice day!” everyday. And since there are many mistakes with sales on an average Sunday morning, I have to memorize them so that the second the person asks, I’m prepared. Remember: people don’t have time to waste.

Now, all these things may sound like quite a hassle, but this chaos drives the natural energy of a cashier. Every time I enter Kobacker’s Market, I wake up and smell the atmosphere of crazy people… and freshly brewed coffee, of course. These moments, like the one I had just a day ago when I ran into my mother’s friend’s father had knee surgery – they make my day. Strangely enough, these awkward encounters define my job as a cashier. Stranger, dealing with the public keeps me going back to my job,
because it is worthwhile, and I’m certain others would say the same.

In a way, the cashier is a certain social bridge between the store and the customer. We represent the store and because of this we have to bottle some of our opinions to keep our job and the customers sane. One time this woman bought two items but she refused to put them on the “dirty” grocery belt and demanded they be triple-bagged and thrown in a paper bag, stapled. Neither I nor the store had staples. These
little details seem to drive the regulars crazy… imagine what it’s like to say
“no.”

Another time a man asked me for the bathroom key in a hurry, practically running off while I was handing it to him. Unfortunately, it was too late. Being responsible for handing over the key, I was also responsible for the mess. The surveillance of cameras kept me from acting like a lunatic; I was forced to keep my cashier-like politeness and assure the man it was fine. His humiliated and repeated “sorry”’s still rung in my ears as the manager and my boss met up with the man to ensure that he was alright.

In many ways, the supermarket mimics the public playground. The supermarket is a playground for the public, except the kids are adults. They have their toys: carts, items, keys to the bathroom. They even get to play “clean-up” with the rack of disinfectant wipes that barely get any attention. They even have their sandbox - the glory of any play area. We, the cashiers, are the sandbox, acting as easily molded material for the public to toy with, complain about prices, and try to trick us into accepting another bounced check, or online coupons from couponsuzy.com.

I love my job because it gives me stories to tell. Who can say that they sold a person a winning scratch off ticket that raked in $500.00 the first time and then another $1,000.00 the next week? In some ways, I’m a franchising mastermind. On the other hand, I’m also an undercover agent. Who can say that they busted someone shop-lifting or buying alcohol illegally?

The strange interactions I face everyday ensure that I’ll have plenty of adventures to tell my kids one day, hopefully when I’m out of the supermarket business. I know that when I am an adult, working in an office, or in a lab, maybe at home, or at a school – shielded from the outside world –  I will always remember those days where I rung up most of the Brewster community, shouting out “Have a nice day!” approximately 216,200 times before checking out. I love my job, and I might even say it’s easy; easier than some of the countless jobs that require more attention to the crazy public than I ever did. I’ll never forget that someday, when I’m older, and my cashier days are long over, I will be on the other side of the register – one of the many overgrown children waiting on a long line at the supermarket.

And although particularly experienced sophomore captain Joe Wegwerth, recently chosen for the USA Junior Olympic team, spent time in the penalty box with just four minutes left in the first period, the Brewster team still managed to hold their own. Wegerth, however, is a very valuable player and his extraordinary skills certainly confirm themselves on the ice and in the record book. Wegwerth’s speedy glides down the ice and constant escapes from walls of defenders add to his statistics and his tremendous skill. When he’s on the ice, Brewster uses him as the always open forward and when he’s off the ice, Brewster undoubtedly accommodates for his absence. Eight minutes into the game, Wegwerth repeatedly shot his forceful hits into the goal multiple times but the fierce Fox Lane goalie stopped every single one. However, twenty-three seconds later, Wegwerth assisted a beautiful shot who was ultimately scored by senior Mark Bentson. These ideal passing and shooting patterns slightly declined in the proceeding time frame of the game.

During the second period, the score holding 5-0 with Brewster in the lead, the boys constantly shot the puck with power, occasionally missing but still skimming the top of the plastic goal post. With all the misses, Fox Lane picked up momentum and scored a goal; the stands worried about the opponent’s determination. The fears of the Brewster fans were assuaged, though, when nine minutes into the second period, Joe Wegwerth scored with the support of senior, Mike Sullivan.
With about ten minutes until the end of the game, Fox Lane threw in a female in the forward position line and scored with her presence on the ice, but factors like this did not distract Brewster’s perseverance and triumph.

As the game continued the Bears won 12-4 and contributing to their record constituting ten wins and one loss. The Brewster team hopes to keep their record with just one loss and an increasing number of wins. With this, the Bears aspire to steal the section title and continue on with a victorious extended season.

- A. Braia

The set and the audience immediately stood out to me as I entered the Performing Arts Center. The audience was very large and diverse, adding to the anticipation for the changes. The play attracted young teens and adults, all looking eager for the play to begin. When the curtains parted, the set was revealed and the audience’s admiration was clear in their whispers and quiet “wow”‘s. The construction crew and painters produced an excellent set that synchronized well with the plot.

As the show started, some members of the audience were confused. The Shakespearian language can be difficult to understand but the script rewrites proved successful – as the plot began to unfold, the audience members were able to grapple with the plot and language. The actors struggled with the prose during the beginning play practices, but it was clear during the performance that they conquered the challenge, speaking comfortably and naturally. Because the actors could speak their lines fluently, they were able to insert comedy appropriately, especially seen by Liam Lonegan in the role of Puck.

The costumes only bolstered the caliber of the play. The outfits worn varied from togas to half-naked men with wings; the costumes’ quality and realism only added to the production’s atmosphere and attraction. The costume designers and hair and make-up artists did a spectacular job (Costumes: Laura Talarico, Katy Faivre, and The Costumer. Hair/Make-up: Denise Marlowe, Gina DeLucia, and Suzanne Perucci). The costume changes throughout the show were smooth and every single actor looked the part, all thanks to them.

 Perhaps the most surprising change to the play was the addition of music. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is traditionally classified as a drama (no music involved). The director, Mat Young, proposed to add music, although it was a risky choice. It paid off in the end as the audience enjoyed the music and was humored hearing the songs they knew from past films and plays. The two most notable music numbers were The Circle of Life (The Lion King) and a credits dance to Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire). The Circle of Life (sang by Liam Lonegan) fit perfectly with the plot, actually pulling tears of laughter from some people in the audience. Jai Ho was a very unique addition; it appeared unrelated to the end of a Shakespeare play. However, the cast enjoyed dancing in synchronization, encouraging the audience members to arise and dance with them to this catchy tune. Overall, the addition of music was a well-calculated decision, surprising the audience and making the plot more accessible.

The Brewster High School Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream impressed the audience, becoming a major success for the theater department. The plot may have been difficult to understand, but the audience members still laughed and enjoyed the experience.

As an audience member myself, I left the PAC extremely entertained, wishing that I could see the drama again. Speaking on behalf of all of the viewers, I would like to thank the cast, the crew, and most of all Andrea Perdicho and Mat Young for this fantastic version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

-          Kevin T. Kelly