Coronavirus Closes Schools, Halts Activities and Causes Uncertainty

Wrestlers go to states...page 12 March 20, 2020 Vol. 26, No. 3 Catasauqua High School 2500 W. Bullshead Rd. The BROWN ANDWhite Northampton, Pennsylvania 18067 In This Coronavirus closes schools, halts Issue activities and causes uncertainty Gabby DeMaria Empty shelves, long lines in stores News Editor and the lack of people in public settings show the caution people are COVID-19, now considered a trying to take. CHS sophomore Emily pandemic, has reached Pennsylva- Abbott witnessed this first-hand. nia’s doorstep. There are 22 counties “I went to Giant and many with confirmed cases of the virus, ac- shelves were empty,” said Abbott. counting for a total of 185 total cases “The only meat that was left was Home in Pennsylvania. Lehigh County cur- large slabs that were $45, not some- debates rently has one case, while Northamp- thing I can buy. People crowded the page 2 ton County has 5 cases and is the site aisles, and the lines were long.” of the first coronavirus-related death Numerous CHS events and in the state of Pennsylvania. competitions have been canceled On March 13, Pennsylvania and postponed. All PSSA testing and Governor Tom Wolf declared a state Keystone exams are canceled The of social distancing in order to stop or play “Crazy for You” has been ten- slow down the spread of the infamous Schools Closed: On March 13, Governor Tom Wolf shut down all tatively postponed until April. Junior coronavirus. This called for the tem- schools in Pennsylvania for a minimum of two weeks. Then on Stephanie Crogan is sad to see things porary closure of many businesses, March 19 he ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close. canceled, especially for the seniors. dispersal of gatherings and rallies, with enforcement actions to begin at midnight on March 20. “Indoor season for color guard and the canceling of events such as has been canceled,” said Crogan. “I New football sporting events or concerts. ue operations. attempt to refund my flight costs.” feel bad for the seniors that cannot Wolf’s announcement also in- Many lives have been altered The social distancing and closure compete.” coach hired cluded the complete shutdown of all due to the fear of the virus spreading, of businesses has not only ruined Some are trying to make the page 3 types of schooling institutions from including many in the Catasauqua planned events. It has also financially most of this unprecedented situation. kindergarten to higher education. The community. Dakota Hugo, a Catasau- affected many. Hugo feels the finan- Principal Adam Schnug still wants shutdown of K-12 schools is mandat- qua graduate and current student at cial strain from recent events. the students to be able to experience ed to last for 10 business days, after Penn State, has been directly affected “The places to eat on campus are Spirit Week, even if it is done virtual- which a reassessment of the situation by the precautionary shutdowns. shut down, so I can’t use the meal ly. He will be running a virtual Spirit will occur. “I was supposed to be going on plan I have paid for,” said Hugo. “I Week from March 23-27 in which On March 16, Wolf ordered an embedded course trip, a course have lost my only form of income each day there is a theme. Students dine-in restaurants and bars to tempo- that includes some kind of travel because student workers are not able are encouraged to send in pictures rarily shut down to reduce the spread as part of the curriculum, to Silicon to work at the hotel affiliated with and videos each day in order to earn of COVID-19. Wolf additionally Valley and tour high tech firms and Penn State. I have to find a way to points for their grade. ordered the closure of ‘non-life-sus- their HR departments on March 8,” pay bills while taking classes online The efficacy of the social dis- taining’ businesses on March 19. said Hugo. “I received an email on and hope that I am still going to be tancing and closures in slowing the New Food production, medical services, March 7 saying that my trip had been able to walk at graduation in May.” spread of the virus will be unknown secretary at emergency services, etc. will contin- canceled, and the university would Panic has taken people by storm. for many days to come. CHS page 4 School District named 2020 Lehigh Valley Top Workplace by the Morning Call Sabrina Safadi continued support. News Editor “I extend my personal gratitude to the entire Catasauqua Area SD Family for this award,” said Restaurants Catasauqua Area School District was named Spengler. “It is truly a great place to work and reviewed 2020 Lehigh Valley Top Workplace for midsize flourish in your career.” employers by The Morning Call. Lehigh Valley CASD was not only ranked first for the Top page 5 area businesses were classified by The Morning Workplace Award, but was awarded the “2020 Top Call along with their partner, Energage, through a Workplace Clued In Senior” Award. Workers with survey in an effort to identify the top workplaces. management positions are not the only employees The process began in July 2019, when nom- that are recognized and valued. inations for top workplaces were accepted by The CHS cafeteria worker Debbie Golick believes Morning Call. Any institution, private, public, the district was deserving of the recognition. governmental, or nonprofit, that contained at least “It is an honor to be chosen as number one in 35 employees were eligible. 753 organizations in this category,” said Golick. “The environment is the Lehigh Valley were offered the opportunity to truly pleasant.” have their workers participate in the survey. The CHS alumna and current art teacher, Barbra 24-question survey covered questions regarding Resto, feels that the home-like environment makes A look at the future of the company, its values and manage- the district whole. Photo by Sabrina Safadi Marvel ment, the appreciation of its employees, produc- “Catasauqua is home,” said Resto. “As a stu- Catasauqua High School Cafeteria: Pictured tivity, leadership, execution, open-mindedness and dent, teacher and parent, it was my choice to work above is cafeteria worker Gina Dolon. Staff pages 6-7 the pay along with benefits. and send my son to school here. I like the small workers, including custodians, cafeteria workers Superintendent Robert Spengler is humbled community of relationships and am grateful for and bus drivers were represented in the Morning by this award and thankful for the community’s the opportunities that have been provided to me.” Call survey. Page 2 Activities March 20, 2020 Debates hosted at CHS on death penalty moratorium, Paris Climate Agreement Gabby DeMaria The Paris Agreement. The death News Editor Catasauqua students voice their opinions on moratorium penalty got a little repetitive at Pennsylvania currently has a moratorium times, so I liked the change. I also After being postponed twice, (an authorized postponement) on the death liked hearing the differing reasons Catasauqua High School hosted penalty. What is your stance on the death for why it is either good or bad to its first and second home debates penalty? Pennsylvania should get rid of the death be in the agreement.” in February. penalty. When the second debate The resolutions included “The ended, two out of the four Ca- Pennsylvania should continue the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 22.7% tasauqua teams won. should repeal the death penalty 33% moratorium. Senior Rebecca James and moratorium” and “The United Pennsylvania should remove the moratorium sophomores Penelope Brodman States should abide by the terms and carry out executions on those sentenced to and Grant Heimbecker were agreed upon within the Paris cli- death. selected to compete in two semi- mate agreement.” 25.8% Not sure final rounds. The team was able In February 2015, Pennsylva- 18.6% to clinch one win during the two nia Governor Tom Wolf declared rounds. a moratorium on Pennsylvania’s The Brown and White sent a survery to the entire student body of Catasauqua Senior Rebecca James, presi- High School (465 students). Of those surveyed, 97 responded. The results of the death penalty. This would effec- dent of the debate team, was survey are summarized. tively put a temporary pause on the proud of her team. execution of criminals but would “We all had butterflies, but not remove the people who were since 1976, three to be exact. Catasauqua’s home team beat two ments for this debate were focused when we started it was smooth presently on death row. These three men were executed by their opponents out of four total on the potential economic issues sailing,” said James. “I was cho- A debate was sparked be- means of lethal injection which is opponents. of reducing emissions, how long sen last year to go to the semi- tween the citizens of Pennsylvania extremely expensive. The second home debate it would take to withdraw prop- finals, so I had a good idea of what on whether or not a moratorium on Both the affirmative and nega- occurred on February 25 and erly from the agreement and the we would be doing. After a small the death penalty would provide tive teams debated in length about highlighted opinions on the ap- concept that many countries are conversation with Mr. Yanek benefit to the prison system at all. whether or not execution by lethal proval or disapproval of The Paris not even meeting their minimum regarding who else should come, This was the background to Ca- injection was worth the cost com- Climate Agreement.

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