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 Texting While DrivingMarch 18, 2010
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April 9th 2009, is when Maryland Senate Bill 98 “prohibiting a person from using a text messaging device to write or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle provides an exception the use of a global positioning system and for the use of test messaging device to contact a 9-1-1 system” was passed.
Many teenagers find this law of little importants and text while driving anyway. What some teenagers do not realize is the danger behind it. When a driver takes their attention off of driving and on to another task they put all others in the car including themselves in danger. When a driver has their eyes on a phone instead of the road reading or sending a text message they their reaction time becomes impaired; therefore if someone in front of them were to suddenly stop they would almost collide or collide with the car in front of them.
Even though people, teenagers especially, do not want to admit it they can always wait to text until they are out of the car or parked somewhere. Some say what if it can’t wait then what, and the answer is just call the person that way your eyes stay on the road and off of your phone. Even then drivers state that talking is a distraction as well but when talking on the phone the driver can still see the road and reaction time is not as impaired.
“I am not taking that chance ever again, my life was on the line I almost died over a text message that could have waited” says Mathew Carnes a teenager that rolled his car while texting putting both his friend Courtney Wandeloski and himself in danger.
Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. “I think it’s difficult for police to catch people but when they are caught I think the penalties need to be stiff enough to be a deterrent in the future” says Jacquie Burian an experienced driver.
Tara Burian '12 |
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Fixing the Market House ProblemMarch 18, 2010
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It is no secret that Downtown Annapolis’ Market House has not been the steadiest business establishment. It has had multiple owners and even more construction issues over the years. After being abandoned by its most recent owner, the Market House is once again looking for a proprietor. As local residents and business owners know, whatever decision is made will greatly impact Annapolis’ economy, tourist appeal, and general atmosphere.
The modern solution for the Market House has been to make it sort of a food court aimed mostly at tourists. However, this is not what it was made to be. As Candy Williams, a local who was born and raised in the Annapolis Area, told the Crabnet, “It used to be a working market house for locals…A place where locals came to do their shopping.” The locals who the Crabnet spoke with all want the Market House to return to its roots.
As a food court, the Market House draws business away from local restaurants. Mike Ashford, long-time owner of McGarvey’s, believes that “If the Market is done properly it would be a plus for business, done as in the past a minus.”
The Market House as a food court provides visitors with cheaper food than McGarvey’s and other restaurants can afford to offer. It also does nothing to enrich the town; food courts can be found in every mall across the country. Why would suburban locals feel the need to deal with parking meters, lost tourists, and crowded streets just to go to yet another food court?
Eastport native, Ray Hanna, also brought up another good point: “Most of the year, it is up to the locals to support it. The tourists will shop there regardless – but to sustain it we need the locals.”
Despite the differing opinions on the topic, one thing is for sure: something needs to be done. Mike Ashford makes a plea for change with his persuasive argument: “Critical businesses are closing their doors, Avoca just left. The town has been strangled to death by new competition in the malls, ever decreasing parking caused by wave after wave selfish limitations i.e. higher fees, longer meter hours, restricted parking on public streets if you live in Wards other Ward 1. ...... A generally incompetent city Administration. ...... And greedy landlords.”
An empty Market House will definitely not help Downtown to remain current and competitive. Candy Williams called the vacant space a “detraction from business.” Ray Hanna says that “the locals have written it off and the pull into Downtown of local suburban customers has been lost.”
Hopefully, with time, a suitable solution will be reached and the Market House will become what Mike Ashford calls “The Crown Jewel in the Historic Business District.”
Jill Hanna '12 |
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St. Patrick’s Day in IrelandMarch 18, 2010
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Dressing in green, leprechauns, and chocolate coins are what people usually associate with St. Patrick’s Day. But how did this celebration start? And where do we get the legend of the leprechaun from?
Saint Patrick is believed to be the patron saint of this holiday because of the many things he did for Ireland. In his teachings, he used the clover, now the national flower of Ireland, to describe the holy trinity to the pagans of Ireland. Because of this, Saint Patrick is believed to be the founder of the Irish Catholic faith. His most famous work for Ireland was when he rid the country of snakes. Although this is his most famous work, many believe that there were never snakes in Ireland. Instead, it is thought to be symbolic of the purging the country of the pagan worship of snakes.
This celebration started when St. Patrick died on March 17th, or so it is believed. The Irish Catholics created this holiday so that they could commemorate the day where the snakes were driven out of Ireland, therefore making it a free land from the worship of snakes.
Ever heard of the expression, “luck of the Irish”? In Ireland, this evolved from the story of the “Little People” who, if caught, would give you gold. This was a lucky event that could only take place in Ireland; therefore we get the expression luck of the Irish because it could only happen in Ireland.
In Ireland, everyone goes all out for this national holiday. People will sometimes even dye rivers and streams green. There also many parades that go through the streets of each town. Last year, a neighbor of mine went there to celebrate her Irish heritage. She recalls how, “the people are packed like sardines onto streets to watch the parades go by,” and, “the people are so friendly though and a lot of people give out free Irish trinkets.”
Her husband also joined her on the trip and adds, “It’s practically a week long party. They start on the twelfth and then work their way to the seventeenth. It’s a lot of fun.”
So if you feel like celebrating your Irish heritage or seeing one of the biggest parties in the world, I would suggest going to Ireland for the St. Patrick’s Day festival.
Annemarie Ruch '12 |
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The Eye Becomes More ImportantMarch 18, 2010
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As technology advances more things become secure. Just recently a clinic in the Bronx has an eye scanner that allows doctors access to the patient’s medical records. This new device scans the patient’s eye unlike, a fingerprint database which requires physical contact with others. This has allowed patient’s visits more convenient.
“The clinic photographed its patients, but that was imprecise. De Leon didn't want to use fingerprints, because some patients associated that with the police and crime. He didn't want to use palm readers that required physical contact because that would easily spread germs. So he set his sights on iris scanners; it didn't require touching and didn't carry the negative connotations.”
This clinic has been able to expand their horizons because of this new advance in technology. There have been fewer mistakes with this. Now paperwork is not lost or misplaced. With this eye scanner the right patient’s medical record can be reached. In the Spanish culture there are many people with the same name. They may also have multiple charts for the patient because they forget they went to the facility. This new advancement allows the heath care provider to quickly get the right information on their screen. This is important when prescribing patient’s medication, especially when each person has different health issues. Patients have been very open to this new feature in the clinic. There is less time waiting in the office and doctors are able to see more patients in a day.
The eye scanner has allowed the patient for their rights to be secure. With this fraud is now under a more controlled state. Immigrants cannot get free prescriptions under another name because the scanner will prove this.
“So far, patients have been very receptive to the scanner. Rarely does anyone decline having a picture taken of his or her eyes, De Leon said.”
Monica Hakun '12 |
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Big Trouble in Little China for GoogleMarch 18, 2010
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When it comes to computers, Google is the most popular search engine in the entire world. In a recent survey, polls showed that 58% of people chose to use Google rather than other search engines such as Yahoo and MSN. Google is taking over everyone’s computer, except in China. This is because Google is threatening to pull away from China for problems such as the Chinese government hacking into western businesses and e-mails as well as other major issues. The problem arose in January of 2010, when Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, took a huge risk by deciding to no longer filter the search results. It is a standard law in China created by the Chinese Communist Party stating all searches must be censored. Li Yizhong, the minister of industry and information technology in China, has a few words to say to Google during the National People’s Congress which was held in Beijing. He believes this is a huge mistake Google is making and states, “If you want to do something that disobeys Chinese law and regulations, you are unfriendly, you are irresponsible, and you will have to pay the consequences”. Li cares about the vulgar things the people of China will be discovering on the vast world of cyber space. The Chinese government also worries about the ideas of freedom and democracy the Chinese people will view on the internet. This is proof when Li says, “If there is information that harms stability or the people, of course we will have to block it”. This issue is so important, the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is getting involved and is presenting speeches about her opinion. Clinton believes the internet is a “pragmatic tool” and “gang like”. Eric Schmidt says that Google will soon resolve these problems with China and move forward no matter the outcome.
Mary Kate Benitez '12 |
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Holmenkollen Ski Jump ControversyMarch 18, 2010
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To most citizens of Oslo, Norway the Holmenkollen ski jump is a proud national monument of their country and culture. Every so often this monument has to be rebuilt to keep up with the present standards and demands and in 2005 the end of its life came yet again as it was time to be rebuilt. Seeing as Oslo will hold the 2011 World Ski Championships, the Oslo City Council voted to somehow repair or rebuild it to meet the modern standards, with rebuilding it winning the vote. Since then, the new and improved Holmenkollen ski jump has been finished, but a reoccurring question and debate came into the minds of most Norwegians and professional skiers: Who will have the great honor of being the first to jump the new Holmenkollen? In Norway skiing has also been more of a man’s sport, but lately many good women skiers have been appearing so the question became not only WHO was going to have the first jump, but if it should be man or woman; this “battle of the sexes” is what started the controversy. Obviously picking a man would have made less of a problem but most Norwegians thought it was time for a woman, and Anette Sagen is that woman. Not only is she an excellent skier, but the majority public opinion as well as the Oslo City Council wanted to give her the honor instead of bestowing it upon a man. Almost everyone was happy with this decision; even media networks such as groups on Facebook announced they were happy with the decision too. Many woman skiers also shared their happiness with choosing Anette because in a way it broke the “Rule of Man” in the sport, making it easier for woman to be in the sport too. Local citizen Øyvind Liberg talked about the view of women skiing a while ago, stating “It is not always easy to be a pioneer. Way back in time, women were not allowed entry in cross country skiing competitions, with the brilliant argument that sweaty women smelled so foul! Well, how could they tell, as they were not allowed to enter in the first place!” Most everyone was happy and excited, except for the essentially “old men” who like the tradition of only men jumping. These men are in charge of the ski jump, and they had other plans. The day before the inauguration, and when Anette was supposed to jump, they planned a trial run where a known Norwegian skier Bjørn Einar Romøren was made sure to jump first. When the public found out what happened they were outraged at the situation, Bjørn, and the committee members who made this happen. Norwegian citizen Caroline Aaseather said that after she found out what happened she was “very annoyed that those men would go to such measures and ager many people just to get what they want.” Everyone knew this was no accident, but the work of men who didn’t want a woman to take the spotlight a man “should” have. Øyvind Liberg commented about people like those men saying, “Some are born plain idiots and remain so. Fortunately one has come a long way since then, but obviously one isn't there quite yet, as clearly demonstrated by the Anette Sagen story.” After that incident Bjørn was very regretful and on March 3rd, 2010, the day of the actual jump, he was “boo-ed” at by the observers while Anette was cheered for very loud for her magnificent jump. Not long after, the annual jump happened, with both Anette and Bjørn skiing and both being cheered for as Bjørn was finally forgiven by the citizens of Norway.
Meghan Dands '12 |
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China’s Population ControlMarch 18, 2010
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China’s rapidly growing population has been an ongoing problem for the last century. However, this problem was not brought to the public’s attention until 1956. In this year, there was an immense propaganda support given to the Ministry of Public Health to control the massive increasing population growth rate (has stopped 400 million births). The Chinese government issued a new policy in 1976, literally controlling a Chinese family’s plan for the size of their family. This policy was called the one-child policy; it was forced in both urban and rural areas. Even with this policy in effect, the Chinese average child per family is two, rather than one, most likely because some areas in China have relaxed the policy over the years. If a family has more than unplanned pregnancy, the family will not receive the same benefits or they will have to pay a fee for the additional child in the family. However, if the families pregnancy was completely planned, in some areas it has is enforced harshly, using forced abortions or even up to ten years in prison. Especially if the new child is a girl, the Chinese have 130 boys to 100 girls ratio. This lop-sided ratio has happened because over this decade Chinese families would kill any new born girls, because the families rather have boys because they can continue the family name and traditions. Also the Chinese believe boys will be more useful on the farms. Steve Ertelt one of the writers of news@lifenews.com said “The Chinese are handling this uneven ratio, in many and as most educational as possible.”
In China and the rest of the world this policy is not correct to do, even with the growing population of the Chinese. Some Chinese mothers have deserted their new children, leaving them to die on the streets. Even with all these horrible deaths and hardships for these families, Zhang Weiqing told the New York Times “China will not make any major changes to the new family planning policy for roughly another decade”. With this still in effect for another decade I think the Chinese population problem will definitely decrease, although I believe people of China and the rest of the world will always remember it as wrong and cruel.
Patrick Cavanaugh '12 |
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St. Mary's Welcomes the Class of 2014March 18, 2010
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On Sunday, March 7th, there was an Incoming Freshman Social at St. Mary’s High School. The social was set up by Mrs. Chomo, and was open to all the incoming students and their families. This event occurred in Marian Hall from 2-4 p.m. The incoming freshman social was a chance for new kids and their families to have a chance to get to know each other before the students come to St. Mary’s High School next year.
My brother, Nick Armero, is going to be an incoming freshman at St. Mary’s. He will be part of the class of 2014, and he is excited to get a chance to be part of St. Mary’s community. Nick attended the social and says, “I liked the social a lot because I was able to meet many of my future classmates.” I asked him what happened as they arrived in Marian Hall. He says, “When we arrived we signed in, got a T-shirt, then we had two hours to talk with the other students and families there.” He added, “Also during this time we had time to buy St. Mary’s clothes from the Sweats and Stuff store.”
I also had a chance to talk to Mrs. Chomo about the Social. I asked her if the she felt the social had a positive affect on the class. Her response was, “Yes, because the kids look forward to seeing their classmates, and I saw a lot of families go and meet each other.” I also asked her if she will set this event up next year and what would she change. She replied, “Yes, and I will talk to the kids and find what I should change or add to the social. Also next year I would like to get the full support of COSA.” COSA is the student government at St. Mary’s, and they help run many of the school affairs. These events include open house, and freshman orientation.
I hope that next year the Incoming Freshman Social is as good as or better than it was this year. If Mrs. Chomo can get the help of COSA the social will be able to run smoother. She will also be able to get more ideas from the students in COSA and can make changes for next year. I only wish that when I was an incoming freshman St. Mary’s did this because I did not go to the elementary school, and I would have had a chance to meet more of my fellow students.
Ben Amero |
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School Closings in Archdiocese of BaltimoreMarch 18, 2010
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In the economy in which our country is experiencing these days, many areas of business are falling short. Many families are cutting back on indulgences they may have otherwise obtained. Sometimes that might mean making use of coupons, buying store-name food, and cutting back on dining out. Yet to some families in the Baltimore area, this means cutting back on tuition, by taking their children out of their Catholic School. Low numbers of enrollment in certain schools have caused bad outcomes the schools’ financial situations, causing a few local schools to close their doors for good.
Thirteen schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, according to the Baltimore sun, will not be reopening come the fall of 2010. One of these schools is Cardinal Gibbons, a local high school and leader of many sports, especially basketball. Cardinal Gibbons is just one of many of the schools closing, about twenty percent of the schools in the area will not be opening their doors next year. Among the twelve other schools are Shrine of Sacred Heart and St. Rose of Lima.
This news comes as cheerless for us to hear, but it’s unsure exactly what effects this could post on Saint Mary’s. We might be receiving relocated students from closing schools, which could prove itself with a positive outcome for our school, both in profits and in sports. Casey Coombe, a Saint Mary’s student, says that she believes that the students coming to our school could have a positive outcome, because we could receive some athletically inclined students who might help some sports teams. Courtney Nilson, a sophomore student at Saint Mary’s agrees that this will post a positive outcome for Saint Mary’s as a school, because we will be receiving students who may have otherwise not been interested in Saint Mary’s.
So, while these circumstances may seem to be a sad situation for other schools, it could actually improve our school.
Kaitlin Delaney '12 |
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St. Mary’s Parish Lenten SupperMarch 18, 2010
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For many years now the St. Mary’s Parish Counsel has been sponsoring a soup dinner during the new Lenten year. The Parish Counsel organizes the event and puts a lot of their own time into the supper. The Lenten Supper is served only four times during the season of lent. They are usually served in Marian Hall from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday nights. Other Parish organizations host the event. As Angela Nassar, the community pillar Chair responsible for the coordination, said “It’s a VERY ACTIVE Parish. VOLUNTEERS are crucial to our Church and schools.” During the suppers there are four soups served along with a salad and cookies, occasionally a sheet cake is served to celebrate the induction of new parishioners. These events usually serve 150 of the parish community.
John Stone '12 |
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Foreign Language WeekMarch 18, 2010
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To many people, foreign languages are seen to be beneficial. They serve as a gateway to the culture of other countries, and can even help us develop a better understanding of our own language. Foreign language education is seen as a staple in America, as a wider range of languages are spoken here than almost any other country in the world. At Saint Mary’s, the profits of foreign languages are celebrated in a school-wide event lasting one week: foreign language week.
Foreign language week of 2010 began on Monday March 8th and it lasted until Friday, March 12th. The celebration began with a French prayer recited over the loud speaker, and traditional French music was played between classes on Monday. On Tuesday, the Latin Pater Noster was recited in the morning and latin music played between classes. Wednesday was very much the same, but with Spanish. Throughout the week, international cuisine was served throughout the cafeteria Language and culture trivia cards were posted all over the school for anybody who knew the answer to take to the corresponding language teacher. On Thursday and Friday, a school-wide contest was held to ‘Guess the Language’ of the morning prayer.
Some of the students at Saint Mary’s are very entusiastic about foreign language week. Jill Hanna, a sophomore and a latin student says that taking a foreign language can help broaden our horizons as students. Her favorite part of foreign language week is the friendly competition which is incorporated into foreign language week. Hailey Morris, another sophomore and a spanish student says she likes the trivia questions which were posted around the hallways. She says that education of a foreign language looks good on a resume and can help us get into a good college.
Doctor Kalkavage, the Latin teacher at Saint Mary’s, is acquainted with the many profits of foreign language education. She believes studying any foreign language is a ticket to another world. She reported that 50% of words in the English language come from Latin, and over 90% of English words containing three syllables or more come from Latin. Her favorite part of Foreign Language Week is the poster contest, because she likes to see the creative, humorous and colorful ideas students can create, especially in the service of Latin.
Regardless of the reason for taking up a foreign language, they prove to be helpful in other areas of life, so celebrating them in foreign language week seems to be quite fitting.
Kaitlin Delaney '12 |
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The New Year Brings Bad Tidings?January 20, 2010
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This New Year hasn’t started well for the economy, has been especially difficult for smaller, local banks. The first bank to close, which happened two days ago on January 9th, was Horizon Bank of Washington, based in Bellingham, Washington; all of the eighteen branches were closed. It shouldn’t feel too bad though, considering that there is a great possibility of other bank failures. There isn’t too much to worry about for the customers of Horizon Bank of Washington though; it was bought almost immediately after it was failed. The eighteen branches that were failed are now under the control of the Washington Federal Savings and Loan Association. There is an estimated 200 bank failures to come from the American Banking News. They state: “including failed credit unions, which when added to 2009 bank failures came to 171 total. Of those, 140 were banks."
The FDIC is insuring users of Horizon Bank of Washington only up to 250,000 dollars per bank account by the end of the weekend by writing checks, using ATMs and using debit cards. Benzinga states that the FDIC is already in debt up to 8.2 billion dollars, and that this is a cause for concern, considering the fact that this bank failure is going to cost them 539 million dollars. Benzinga also states: “The finances of Horizon Bank deteriorated as a weak real estate market and non-performing construction loans led to its failure.”
CNNmoney.com states: “Every Horizon branch will reopen Saturday during their normal business hours as branches of Washington Federal Savings and Loan Association.” On Monday, bankers with deposits over $250,000 will be able to check the website and see if their accounts are fully insured. Though, that doesn’t seem too reassuring for the unfortunate bankers of Horizon, it’s all they have to hope for in this strained economy.
Olivia Pittman '12 |
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The Dramatic Run for Mayor of AnnapolisOctober 31, 2009
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Zina Pierre and Dave Cordle won their parties nomination for the Mayoral campaign of Annapolis. Pierre won the Democratic Party by a margin of 127 votes, and Cordle won the Republican Party by default. Shortly after Pierre's solid and comfortable victory, conflict set in and questions arose about her legitimacy as a candidate. Ultimately, the answers to those early questions destroyed her chance of becoming the first African- American Mayor of Annapolis.
The next Friday following the elections, only 8 days after the primaries, Zina Pierre dropped out for the second time of the campaign, due to financial problems. These problems included a foreclosed house in Prince George's County as well as state liens for unpaid income taxes. The runner up for the Democratic Party was Josh Cohen, who now is going to fill the position of Democratic Nominee for Mayor. When asked about Pierre's departure from the campaign, according to baltimoresun.com, Cohen said, "This must be an incredibly difficult time for her personally."
There are many issues at hand for the two candidates. One of which, that is the "citizen's concern", is the reconstruction and or alteration of the market house in scenic downtown Annapolis. The Market House is one of the main attractions to tourists who want to grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee and sit at City Dock, The Market House’s next-door neighbor. Thousands of tourists flock to this landmark every summer. I asked Mayor Cordle about his actions he will take involving the Market house, and he said, "I will try to keep the market house under city control and fill in the booths with local and privately owned businesses." Josh Cohen's procedure differs a little bit. According to cohenformayor.com, Cohen states, "my vision is to offer a mix of local seafood, produce, meats and prepared meals that cater primarily to locals and serve the needs of residents and downtown workers. If we make the Market House something unique with a true Annapolis character, we won't need to worry about the tourist revenue."
The Campaign for Mayor is going to be a tight and fierce battle. Democrat, Josh Cohen; Republican, Dave Cordle, and Independent Matthew Fox, will square off in their first debate on September, 5th at Annapolis High School. The elections will be held on November 3rd.
William Brown, '12 |
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Sailing on our HarborOctober 31, 2009
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Annapolis is the sailing capital of the East Coast. St. Mary’s High School is located in downtown Annapolis on Spa Creek. The Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) Junior Sailing Facility is located directly across the Spa Creek Bridge from St. Mary’s School. “This makes it very convenient for St. Mary’s students to attend practices,” says former Junior Varsity (JV) sailor Windy Vorwick.
St. Mary’s has had a Varsity and JV sailing team for many years. Recently, many of the sailors graduated so St. Mary’s is now struggling to have enough sailors to sustain a full team. “Without a Varsity team St. Mary’s cannot participate in several regattas, the JV had to combine with other high schools to race last year,” says Mattie Farrar the 420 Program Manager and High School coach.
The sailors use a 420 which is a two person sailboat that measures 13 feet and 9 inches in length and weighs 230 pounds. There are 2 sails on the boat, a main and a jib. There is a skipper that steers the boat and controls the main sail and a crew that controls the weight in the boat and moves the jib from side to side.
The team practices 3 times a week with coaches who are typically college sailors. “Coaching is like other sports, there are drills and practice races like scrimmages,” Windy says.
Practices are held after school from 3:30 until around 6:30 pm. These high schools practice at AYC, Severna Park, Indian Creek, Annapolis, South River, St. Mary’s, and independent sailors. “The JV team is designed for high school students with less racing experience who want to increase their racing knowledge and ability,” says Mattie Farrar, “The Varsity team is designed for our high school sailors that have the most racing experience.”
Instead of games, the schools sail against each other in regattas on the weekend. The regattas are held all over the Chesapeake Bay. “Racing is fun and a lot different from regular sports,” says Windy Vorwick. “Instead of one game you have as many short races as possible during the day.” Regattas are generally from 9 am to 3 pm with lunch breaks. Each team is separated into A and B divisions. 4 people from each team are divided into the 2 divisions. The A group races either one or 2 races then they switch and the B team sails some races. This way you get time to talk to your coaches. When you are divided into JV and Varsity, it is by skill level. The A group contains sailors that are more experienced in that level.
Sailing equipment includes a lifejacket and different clothing for the fall and spring. The water is warmer in the fall (September – November), so you normally only need spray gear that protects your body from the water spray and wind. In the spring (March – May), the water is colder because of winter temperatures, so you often need a full dry suit or wet suit. You can get seriously injured sailing, so closed toe shoes are required.
“The St. Mary’s team won the JV regatta at the National Maritime Heritage Foundation on April 18th, 2009,” stated in the AYC Junior Sailing Newsletter, Bay Compass. “St. Mary’s High School has done well in regattas in the past, but they need to rebuild a team”, says Mattie Farrar.
Check out the Annapolis Yacht Club website (http://www.annapolisyc.com) to find out more information about high school sailing program and join in the spring. You will learn how to sail, enjoy being out on the water around Annapolis and meet other high school students from around the county.
Cassie Todd, '12 |
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Annapolis Bicycle ClubOctober 29, 2009
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Many people wake up Saturday mornings trying to figure out what they are going today. Some might do yard work, others will sit in front of the TV and watch football all day. AS many other people are being lazy, about 40 people converge on the Davidsonville Park and ride. All the people are a little dreary eyed at 7:45 am but all of them have another thing in common, they are ready clip in and start off their day great with a 45 mile bike ride.
Many groups come to Davidsonville to ride on its beautiful back roads with views of the Chesapeake Bay and green horse pastures, but the biggest club is the Annapolis bicycle club, run by President Ken Keeler.
Claire Dillon who is an avid cyclist says that her favorite part of cycling “is being out doors. Feeling the wind on my face and hearing and seeing things you would never have seen when you are in a car.”
The group starts by going south along Patuxent river road, with views of the Patuxent River, and sands road. After turning east Mt. Zion road, passing Old South Golf Course, we again head south on Greenock road. On Greenock road, there are wide expansive views of corn and white wooden fences of horse farms. Turning east on Bay Front road towards Deale, we pass small farm stands on the side of the road selling corn and other vegetables. We Then turn north on Sudley road, a narrow curvy wooded road. We then turn right on Owensville road, heading to Galesville. As we get closer to the town, you can smell the salt air of the quiet West River. The group stops to get a snack and rest at a small store along Galesville near the water. We then finish the loop by going on Harwood road and back to Patuxent river road.
Michael Barry says in “The Best Hard Times,” “Unlike most athletes, who practice and perform in a defined space, cyclist ride in the real world.”
Michael Dillon, '12 |
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The St. Mary’s Dance TeamOctober 29, 2009
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The St. Mary’s dance team is bringing tons of spirit to the home varsity football games. Every game they are showing off a brand new routine. The dance team this year is going to be great. They have already showed off a little bit of what to expect.
So far we have seen routines two routines, a hip hop to “move” and a pom to “now or never”. Meghan Norwood said “move was really good and most of the girls really flowed in their movement.”
Susan Smith described the routines as “intense”
This year is going to be a great year for the dance team. Brandi Goncz was asked about how compared to last years dance team they were going to be different. She responded “hopefully we will have more people, practice harder to do better in competition and have better commitment”
This year’s team has 4 seniors, Brandi Goncz, Carlisle Kaiser, Rachel Sayyad, and Stephanie Castedo, 3 juniors, Ashley Christian, Diana Groody, and Lexii Gramates, 3 sophomores, Sarah Hughes, Torie Sheehan, and Monica Mendoza, and 1 freshman Sam Lydard. The girls on the team are described as “hard working, good personality, and a work in progress.”
The big homecoming came is Friday and the dance team is going to show of one of their favorite routines. It is going to be to a hip hop song, with an intense choreography. The dance team has been practicing very hard for this dance. On Friday the team will dance to “move” during pep rally, “now or never” during pregame and their new hip hop routine during half time!
After football season ends basketball season will start. Brandi was asked about what she has planned for the dance team during basketball season. She said “we will dance at the home games and compete in 2 competitions and hopefully place this year.”
The dance team seems to have a great year planned. We will just have to wait and see what is going to come for our St. Mary’s Dance team.
Samantha Lydard, '13 |
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Concussion Testing at St. Mary’sOctober 29, 2009
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Several weeks ago, on September 10th 2009, all twenty-six players of St. Mary’s JV football team gathered in the computer lab. They were there for the first concussion testing in St. Mary’s history. This online test would provide a baseline for each individual player and in turn if an injury occurred would be able asses both the extent of their injury and when they could to return to play.
The Impact Test is a twenty-five minute test that consists of memory recall, speed, reaction time, and recognition. The test was instituted into the St. Mary’s Athletics program for the first time this August, by trainer-- Kimberly Holt. When asked why, Kimberly said, “The test is the new golden standard for concussions and gives our athletes the best resources for concussion management.” With the institution of this test doctors and trainers are hoping that players will be more open and come forward with their head injuries. Recent research says that one in every ten high school athletes in contact sports will sustain a concussion; this alarmingly high number brings with it a concussion crisis that is unrenowned to many players. The fact is, “Most athletes don’t know playing with a concussion can lead to second impact syndrome which can result in vegetative state, coma, or fatality,” said St. Mary’s Trainer Mrs. Kimberly. With the institution of this new test, players who have received head trauma will continue to take the Impact test every 48 to 72 hours prior to the injury until their results are back to normal. This Impact test has been proved to be both the swiftest and safest road to recovery. However depending on the severity of the concussion, recovery time can also vary tremendously taking anywhere from one day to several months. Concussions effect memory, reaction time, speed and performance and if a major concussion is sustained it can have drastic effects on both school performance and behavior. And as Dr. Michael Collins, assistant director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, said “(Athletes) should come down and be evaluated. There is no cookbook for this stuff.”
Joe Sera, '12 |
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2009 Nobel Peace Prize WinnerOctober 29, 2009
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This year Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the work and projects that he has participated in around the world. His work with the stop of nuclear weapons around the world is one of the major accomplishments he’s made this year. President Obama has not only made an effort to stop this form of warfare but he has done it using his voice and negotiations with other leaders and organizations. According to nobelprize.org, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. A reason as to why President Obama was chosen to accept this award was that he used his power and influence to help aid this problem with the values and ideas that are commonly shared by the most of the world’s population.
Even though his actions are the kind that would be appropriate to deserve this award, there is some controversy about the time of President Obama’s nomination and acceptance of the prize. A lot of people have been saying that nominating him before he was even elected president was premature and may not have been a good decision. An article from the New York Times suggested that the award was more of a way to encourage future action rather than to award the Obama for his recent achievements. It is clear that he was given the prize early compared to past winners but as the facts show he has done things for the strengthening of the world’s communication that will continue to be proved helpful in the future. The Nobel Prize Committee made the comment, "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
Casey Edmondson, '12 |
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Annapolis Sailboat Show 2009October 29, 2009
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Over the weekend the 40th annual Annapolis Sailboat Show was held downtown.
This annual event which attracts all sorts of people, especially boat enthusiasts, took place on October 8-12. This event has a little bit of everything including boats on display, many types of food, small stands advertising and selling major boating manufacturer products and the beautiful atmosphere of downtown Annapolis. Ed Hartman, the owner of the shows said “the show is full with a waiting list, which is surprising considering so many shows have closed down.” meaning that despite the economic conditions and the rapid closing of other shows the Annapolis Sailboat Show is still going strong. Also Paul Jacobs, the marketing manager for the company that produces the shows said that “The forecast is terrible, but we still have a full show,” So despite the weather the Annapolis Boat Show in 2009 still had a large turnout and is one of the few remaining boat shows that has lasted, despite rough economic conditions.
From October 25th to October 31st Annapolis will hold an international sailing regatta. During the week span the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, a race consisting of fast lightweight yachts, will be held and is the first time this event will ever be held in Annapolis. Molly Winans, the editor of SpinSheet said “This is a huge deal for the sailing community and for Annapolis”. This event so far has 55 registered boats and sailors from countries such as Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland that will arrive in Annapolis. The Eastport Yacht Club won the bid to host the Melges 24 World Championship and this event which follows the Annapolis Sailboat and Powerboat Shows is said to bring in about $500,000. As many anxiously await this event worldwide sailing enthusiasts venture to Annapolis as the month of October will now hold three major boating shows and events. As Mayor Ellen O. Moyer said “Annapolis is a sailing town. It’s a major, major industry in this city.”
Justin Stehle, '12 |
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The Nook: A New Way of ReadingOctober 29, 2009
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Much like the Kindle, made by Amazon Inc., the Nook is an electronic reading device that allows you to purchase books online and view them on a small screen. The Nook is being produced by Barnes and Noble Inc. and runs on Google’s software and includes 3G cellphone and Wi-Fi access. Another advantage of the Nook is you are able to lend a purchased book to a friend for 14 days at the maximum at no cost but the copy of the book can only be read on at a time and each book can only be lent once. Other e-book stores, like Amazon’s Kindle store, do not let you share electronic book copies. Some author’s and publisher’s are not sure about whether they want to let Barnes and Noble Inc. allow buyers to share their books. In an article from he Wall Street Journal, commenting on this issue, W. Drake McFeeley said,”You can lend a physical book, so as long as it's sequential, I'm fine with it.”
Another advantage of the Nook is the ability to have a subscription to more the 20 major national and local newspapers. Also, the Nook is closely related to Barnes and Noble retailers so when you bring your device into the store, special offers and events are available to you on your e-book screen. Owners will also have to ability to read electronic book copies for free in the store just as you would be able to with a physical copy of a book. The e-book device also comes with copyright-protection software from Adobe Systems Inc. to keep your books and downloads safe to the reader unlike the software owned by Amazon.
The Nook costs $259 and will be available for shipping in November 2009.
Casey Edmondson, '13 |
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The March for LifeFebruary 18, 2009
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On January 22, 2009, the 35th March for Life took place. The March for Life is an event that displays the efforts of over 200,000 people to help stop abortion. It takes place on the anniversary of the famous case that made abortion legal: the 1973 Roe v. Wade case. This year's march will be the 36th anniversary of the famous Supreme Court case.
The event began in 1974 with only 20,000 people dedicated to stopping abortion. It is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian event. (marchforlife.org) By 1998, the 25th March for Life, there were up to 250,000 people at the event. In the past 5 years, there has been an average of about 200,000 people at the March for Life.
This year, the president himself was invited to go to the March for Life in a letter that stated that “His strong leadership was needed at the event.” This invitation would appear to be controversial since our new president is, in fact, pro-choice. Despite his opinion on the matter the president is expected to be at the event. Another public figure that is attending the march is the former president George Bush.
After 34 marches, there is still no law that goes against abortion, but every year on January 22nd, there will always be thousands of people walking from the Ellipse of the National Mall all the way down to Capitol Hill, marching for what they believe in.
Michael Ambrose and Griffen Benton |
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An Interview with Our PrincipalJune 2, 2008
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Jemina Bouma and Molly Egan's interview with Principal Bayhan after the first year here at St. Mary's High School.
J and M: How was your first year at Saint Mary's?
PB: My first year at St. Mary's has been great -- this is a very special school and I'm honored to be a part of it.
J and M: What is your most memorable experience here at Saint Mary's?
PB: For this year, my most memorable experience has been the graduation ceremony. It's the most beautiful graduation ceremony of any school I've been part of.
J and M: What is your favorite part about being principal?
PB: Seeing students be successful -- whether in academics, athletics, drama, music, art -- is my favorite part of being principal. All of us who are educators take great delight in seeing the students achieve honor and recognition 8. What other schools have you been a principal at?
Before coming here, I was principal of a grade 6-12 school in upstate New York. I also opened a new Catholic high school in the small town of Richmond, Indiana. I've also been a Catholic high school principal in Ann Arbor, MI and Lakeland FL as well as an elementary principal in St. Petersburg, FL. I've been a principal for over 22 years!
J and M: Have you ever taught in a classroom before?
Oh yes! I taught honors and AP Biology, Chemistry, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. I was a full-time teacher for 10 years and I've also taught several years while being principal.
(if yes, 9a. What's your favorite part about being a teacher?)
The favorite thing about being a teacher is that excitement you feel when you see students understand a really difficult concept. I also really enjoyed seeing so many of my students go on to college for careers in the sciences.
J and M: How do you feel about homecoming?
PB: Overall, I like the whole Homecoming week and the excitement that goes with it. I love the craziness that goes with the week and I think students at St. Mary's did a GREAT job of balancing the fun with their school work. The only disappointment I felt was the problem with dancing at the Homecoming Dance -- and a lot of that could have been avoided if the DJ had been more cooperative. I know we seem like a bunch of old fogies to the students with regard to the dancing, but we strongly believe that we can have great dances without being imappropriate.
J and M: What can we, as the future junior class, do to improve homecoming next year?
PB: Well, I'd like to see the class continue the "fun" activities and keep the same positive spirit and enthusiasm I saw this past year. I'm also hoping that the class could work with us to make the dance a lot more successful. I have a great deal of faith in the students of St. Mary's and I know that -- together! -- we can make really good things happen at homecoming and throughout the year!!
J and M: Thank You Principal Bayhan, have a great summer and see you in August!
Jemina Bouma and Molly Egan '10 |
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