Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under the age of 21 who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss

     “I felt bad for the kids who were losing their hair because of cancer and wanted to do something,” she said.

     Liz heard about the program from her school teachers and immediately knew that she wanted to get involved.  She has an aunt who is a cancer survivor and another aunt who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

     “To be honest, I didn’t really think about that when I was getting it cut.  I just kept thinking about all the little kids with cancer and what I could do to help,” she revealed.

     Her inspiration certainly didn’t keep her from donating her hair, but it did make her a bit nervous.  When donating hair to Locks of Love, a donor needs a minimum of 10 inches to send to the organization. While Liz generously gave 10-12 inches, she admitted being anxious at the time.

     “My grandmother’s friend did it.  She put it in a pony tail and just cut it straight across,” she said. “Afterwards though, I felt really good about it.”

     Liz’s actions didn’t go unnoticed. A few weeks later, she received a postcard from the president of the Locks of Love Organization thanking her for her donation.

     “I was crying when I received it.  It was addressed specifically to me and came all the way from the president of the organization in Florida.  I was completely shocked.”

     Liz definitely recommends that people take part in the organization because it’s a great cause and it really makes you feel good.

     When asked if she would ever do it again she replied, “Absolutely.  But I’m going to have to wait for my hair to grow back since it’s so short now!”

-K. Maloney

Unlike recent BHS musicals, “The Secret Garden” is not a well-known show. Based on the children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this musical follows a young girl named Mary Lennox. Residing in India, Mary’s parents are struck with a fatal case of cholera. As the only survivor, Mary is sent to live with her Uncle Archibald. Archibald, a troubled man, constantly grieves the loss of his love Lily – Mary’s mother’s sister. Archie’s brother Neville is left to watch over the manor and Lily and attend to Archie’s sickly son, Colin. Upon her arrival, Mary befriends house workers, Martha and Dickon. With their help, Mary tries to find her Aunt Lily’s old garden and along the way, meets Colin and attempts to get him out of bed and bring life to the manor.

Along with the friendship of two young kids, “The Secret Garden” contains many other themes. The plot progresses through real time, flashbacks and memories. Throughout the story, the ghosts of the dead, or “dreamers”, remain close to the people still holding on to them. A major premise of the play is overcoming loss and moving on after a tragedy, thus appealing to a wide audience.

With the dedication of director Andrea Perdicho, pit conductor George Viglucci, set designer Jan Anthony, and the hard work of its talented cast, crew, and pit orchestra, “The Secret Garden” will be a show worth seeing.  

As a new feature this year, tickets are available to order online:

https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=3766b0538d71c12b0c3666152e2212ff&t=tix     

In September, when the BHS Reader’s Society had its very first meeting, the small clan of members brainstormed a list of books that we had been anxious to read. Collectively, we chose one to pilot the entire society. It was then that we decided to burst through the threshold with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Our next move was to read the book and then gather one month later to discuss the novel, our feelings towards it, particular sections we enjoyed, and so on.
After our successful trial, we continued under the same process, slowly crossing books off of our list as the year progressed.

Reader’s Society is unique because each member has infinite choices. For our second read, we decided on Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk, although each member was allowed to read any other novel by Palahniuk instead in the case that Invisible Monsters did not entirely appeal to you. This way, when we assembled the following month, we weren’t restricted to examining one novel but rather talked about all things Chuck like his style, construction of plot, and characterization.
The members found the multi-directional conversations compelling and so, designed the following meeting in a comparable manner. There was a choice between two novels by Francis Scott Fitzgerald and arguably, his two most recognized pieces: The Great Gatsby or This Side of Paradise.
The third meeting had a small turn-out and so, the society switched to a more uniform structure, reading the same, teenage-targeted novel, The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. Because the group thought that the book was plot-less and unexciting, they decided to read a more currently famous novel because of the freshness and positive feedback from most of their peers. The selection was the widely adored trilogy to carry the team through the end of the 2011-2012 school year, called The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Whether you would like to join for the rest of the school year as the society takes a journey through Panem with Katniss Everdeen in the thrilling trilogy or enter next year when different books are tried, new members are always welcome. It is already understood that your interests may not always overlap with that of the rest of the group’s and in that case, you may skip that month’s reading. However, attendance is noted and participation in our upcoming fundraising for “Books for Botswana” (more information on that coming soon to Bear Facts) may unfortunately not be rewarded to those who lack contribution.
Reader’s Society currently has very few members and low representation in the school, but they are looking to expand. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining, do not hesitate to contact myself, President Amanda Ruyack or any other associates that you know. We are available through Facebook and can be approached in the school hallways. Join our Facebook group called “BHS Reader’s Society” for frequent updates and important information. You can also just stop by a monthly meeting. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 26, in the L.G.I; refreshments and snacks will be served.
All are accepted and guaranteed a place where their voice is encouraged to be heard!

- A. Braia

             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.