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Tunkhannock Area High School

TheDecember 2018 ProwlerVolume XIV, Issue XLVI

Stonehedge Festival of Lights Tree Lighting in The Breathtaking Christmas By JOSIE GALELLE Tunkhannock Christmas is just around the however, the events at A small community celebrates Christmas corner, and so comes the tacky Stonehedge will certainly By AVA KIDD Christmas in our decorations and the overdone, have you in the Christmas Security Bank to commence Hometown, a yearly cheesy music. Most traditions Spirit. the lighting. holiday celebration in may seem tedious by now; Continued on page 11 The band, softball team, Tunkhannock, kicked and Mr. and Mrs. Claus off on Friday, December surrounded the tree while Dietrich Hosts Christmas 7. From horse-drawn bystanders awaited the big carriages to a comforting moment. When the time Events for the Whole Family cup of hot cocoa, the event came, the Clauses fl icked on Christmas in Our Hometown brings together friends the switch revealing the light and families in our By AURORA BEAUCHEANE display for this year’s holiday Christmas in our beautiful decorations. The community with plenty of season. The tree was adorned Hometown is a wonderful ceiling is covered in lights activities to partake in and in white lights spiraling along time for families to celebrate and ornaments and on food to eat. the branches with the spiral The festivities began with the holiday season. A major either side of the hallway becoming denser at the peak a parade along Tioga Street, part of the festivities are the the glass cases are fi lled of the tree. While last year’s including the TASD Little events hosted at the Dietrich with Christmas scenes. One tree had a colorful string light League Softball fi nalists, the theater. The most popular contained fi gures that spun decor, this year’s look was TAHS band, and horses. The event they host is the and played music at the touch classy and beautiful. parade concluded at Peoples walk. The cookie walk went of a button while another held from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. a large, intricate dollhouse. on Friday, December 7 and Still others had toys from the from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 past and a look into Emmet p.m. on Saturday, December Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. 8. For fi ve dollars people were The free showings of able to purchase an empty Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band container and fi ll it with the Christmas are another of their choice. All fun event the Dietrich the proceeds from this event provides during Christmas benefi t the cultural programs in our Hometown. At 5:30 The inside of the Dietrich theater offers some interesting the Dietrich hosts during the p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on and beautiful displays, while outside the theater, the win- year. both days families were able dows off ven more elaborite fare. ALL PHOTOS PROWLER STAFF While in the Dietrich to go see the movie and get are a great part of Christmas families to enjoy the holiday you can also enjoy their a free popcorn. These events in our Hometown and allow season together. 2 THE PROWLER EDITORIALEDITORIAL VOLUME XIV ISSUE XLVI Tunkhannock Area Letter f rom the Editor TFS High School Somehow it is Christmas already... December By MADISON NESTOR By CLYDE DANKINS 135 Tiger Drive Welcome to our Christmas of paper right here at TAHS Tunkhannock, PA 18657 Hello and welcome to T.F.S. Edition of The Prowler! It is thanks to our lovely graphics speedy edtion. This months (570)836-3111 super weird to me how fast department. winner is Mr. Adams, his this year has gone by, but I Merry Christmas and have Chief Editors Christmas spirit is more than am thrilled that Christmas is a Happy New Year!! You obvious with this colorful Brendon Ely already here - mainly for a will be hearing from Loghan Loghan Hirkey sweater. This concludes this much needed break. Anyways, Hirkey next edition. month’s edtion of T.F.S. Maddy Nestor I hope you enjoy not only all of the articles in here, but also Assistant Editors the lovely Christmas colors Ireland Clark included in our layout. Jacob Ezzo All of us are excited Emma Moran about having the newspaper Director printed out onto a new type Kieran Bedford Political Gaffes Advisor Mrs. Staci Wiernusz “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” Staff Reporters By MADISON NESTOR States by storm, and almost immediately afterwards Bill Serena Aumick Politicians live their lives Clinton spoke with news Aurora Beaucheane with almost constant media sources, and just like any coverage. Their jobs are pri- guilt-ridden individual, he re- Donovan Curley marily super professional, and sponded with the iconic words, PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS Emelie Filer it is common for the average “I did not have sexual relations citizen to forget that politi- with that woman, Miss Lewin- grave. Keeping in mind that Josie Galella cians - no matter how corrupt sky.” Clinton haphazardly thought through saying these words, he Robert Jenkins and inhumane they may seem, well...are human, and oper- Two months after denying continued to back himself up, Ava Kidd ate just as you and I do. These “sexual relations” with Le- “If the—if he—if ‘is’ means Cathleen Peters creatures are also victims to winsky, more evidence came is and never has been, that is Samantha Shygelski mistakes that range from giv- out. A blue dress with...uhh... not—that is one thing. If it ing too much information a stain of President Clinton’s means there is none, that was a Kelci Wilson about a personal situation, DNA on it was submitted as completely true statement. … all the way to having an af- legitimate evidence, which in- Now, if someone had asked me fair- and yes, I am referring criminated him even further. In on that day are you having any to the one and only William August of 1998 Clinton came kind of sexual relations with Retraction Jefferson Clinton. Just in case clean about his “inappropri- Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked In the September/October the defi nition of gaffe has not ate physical contact” with his me a question in the present edition of The Prowler, the already been clearly indirectly intern and apologized to the tense, I would have said no. Bonfi re article stated that stated, a political gaffe is a whole country on television. And it would have been com- pallets came from Deer Park statement or action a politician That October, the U.S. pletely true.” Lumber. Herron Lumber, does that provokes the reac- House of Representatives vot- In conclusion, it is really fun Michel’s, and Northern Pal- tion, “They said WHAT?” or, ed to proceed with impeach- let supplied the wood for the to laugh at others’ mistakes, “How does this man/woman ment despite him lying under especially if it is about a high- fi re. - NOT Deer Park. We are still have a job?” from voters. oath. The senate did not reach sorry for any confusion. ly-esteemed political fi gure. Some of the most well-known the 2/3rds majority to pro- One political fi gure with an gaffes come from the guiltless ceed with the impeachment, Bill Clinton. infi nite amount of legendary so Clinton fi nished his second quotes is George Bush, and I Monica Lewinsky, a White term. cannot fathom a better way to House intern in her early twen- Just when one may think end an article than with one of ties, had sexual relations with Clinton could not dig a deeper my all-time favorite George W. President Clinton beginning hole for himself, he has a Bush hiccups, “For every fa- in 1995 and ending in 1997. stroke of brilliance. When tal shooting, there are about 3 This juicy information eventu- asked about his relations with non-fatal shootings. Folks, this ally became public knowledge Lewinsky, Clinton decided to is unacceptable in America.” in 1998 after Linda Tripp, a say in response, “It depends on coworker of Lewinsky, taped what the meaning of the word Sources SaturdayEveningPost. a conversation where the mis- ‘is’ is.” In this very moment, com, content.time.com, CNN, tress revealed the information. there is no doubt in my mind slate.com, goodreads.com This scandal took the United that Aristotle was rolling in his VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI school THE PROWLER 3 Memes of the Month Clyde’s High School Survival Your monthly dose of meme culture! By AVA KIDD Guide The memes of this month are relatively abstract in How to make it in the concrete jungle By ROBERT JENKINS comparison to other memes in the past months. While So, it’s your fi rst year other memes usually present in high school, maybe somewhat of a punchline, the it’s not; but either way two memes that I noticed had I’ve been there, and I a popularity in meme culture can tell you it all. Listen recently both maintained a PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS and you may survive. theme of unpredictability. Moyai What’s the fi rst step Surgery on a Grape Not to be confused you ask? How do I get The origins of this meme with the Moai, the iconic from 105 to 208, and come from the YouTube video statues on Easter Island, what in the world “da Vinci Surgical the Moyai statue is a similar does saunt mean? System: Surgery on a Grape” statue from Tokyo, Japan. This First things posted by Edward Hospital. meme is specifi cally not of the fi rst, relax, you made it. The video presents the actual relic, but the emoji of it. It may not seem like a precision of the da Vinci Although the emoji resembles lot, but these concrete technology by practicing a the Moai more, Emoji walls hold infi nite faux procedure on a grape. named the symbol Moyai, potential (and tension), The video shows two and disregarded all protesting it’s just how you make small plier-shaped tools remarks over its name. This it. elaborately cutting slits into meme does not really have a You don’t have to the grape’s skin and peeling backstory or reason behind it, run to class to make it them back. There are not as the emojis themselves are on time and you don’t many reasons as to why the joke. A good example of have to dress up to this video has become a Instead of worrying about this meme would be having impress and woo others. Your sensation, or how it is even bags and bullying, focus on a serious conversation with ability to respond to change remotely relevant, as it was your grades and your fi rst a loved one over text, and, will impress them most. Now published 8 years ago. There impression. Don’t feel lost and rather than sending a heartfelt you have your classes and absolutely could have been down because of this scary response, sending a Moyai. I you have your book bag, worse memes produced this concrete jungle, embrace feel that this meme had no what do you do now? Find month, however I have seen it. I promise there are people signifi cance other than to help every reason to avoid using better memes in comparison to just like you waiting to be transition from TikTok memes that locker. It’s a weird idea ones such as this. met. to newer, fresher memes. and sounds very dumb, but Rating: 4/10 That’s my next Rating: 2/10 unless you come to school point exactly, try to be early, lockers only waste your TASD YouTube outgoing. Make friends by time, and will be your sole being yourself. High school Sports, Performances, Assemblies, and reason to be late for your next may be faking it till you make class. more! it, but it’s your friends that “But what if they don’t As of now the Tunkhannock Area know you best and the ones like bags, Clyde?” Well the School District YouTube has been there to pick you up fi rst. rulebook says “students’ limited, only posting 6 videos since I dive more into this cell phones must be stored 2018 started. This is about to change! crazy high school in the next in lockers in the OFF Thanks to the journalism staff and Mr. edition, I’ll leave you with position while students are Keown and his students, more will be the words from an alum that in attendance in school until recorded and set up. I myself looked up to in a 3:00 p.m. or the offi cial early Sports will be recorded and way. “High school is looked Mevo helps make all this possible dismissal time on specifi ed set up this winter. at as one of the hardest days” (page 11), but you still Boys’ and girls’ will both be recorded, as well challenges in a person’s life. have your cell phone, don’t as swimming and diving, and wrestling. This will be for It’s something everyone goes you? “But it says that book home games only. Not only will these sports be recorded through and something that bags must be placed in a some of them will see Bradley Keeler and Robert Jenkins is needed in today’s world if locker upon entering school.” commentating. These commentated videos will be you want to make a living. The only teachers you should a hilarious and informative show, known as, The Keeler and The sooner you realize that worry about with bags is Miss Clyde Show! how you do in high school Shao and Mrs. C. Burke. Starting with the next stage performance, the Christmas affects your whole life, {Note from the author - this is Show, will be recorded and posted for all to enjoy. It will be the better off you’ll be.” ~ my fi rst time ever reading the only the fi rst of many spectacular performances. Hunter Whytashek handbook.} 4 THE PROWLER NewsNews VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI SPCA’s Christmas Event Gender Neutral Bathroom How you can help the SPCA Accepting all By AURORA BEAUCHEANE By KIERAN CASEY This Christmas event The Tunkhannock area held on Saturday, December high school has 25 restrooms, 15 at the Lancaster Center including locker rooms, etc. SPCA located at 848 South There are 6 female and 6 male Prince Street from 1:00 p.m. restrooms and 4 locker rooms, PROWLER STAFF PHOTO until 4:00 p.m. requires a as well as 4 faculty restrooms. monetary or in-kind donation There are 2 unisex restrooms Area High School. There are to get your pet a picture with located on the left side of the many gender identities and Santa. If you do not have a cafeteria, one for students and expressions. In Tunkhannock pet, the shelter will be having one for teachers. many can be found. It is adoption specials. PROWLER STAFF PHOTO These bathrooms were important to make everyone However, if you can’t added to accommodate all feel safe, comfortable and attend this event, consider animals to enjoy are always genders at Tunkhannock welcome. donating to another local appreciated. Another thing shelter. The holidays are most people might not think Christmas in our Hometown a great time to pick up about donating is cleaning something to donate while supplies. Any amount you The most wonderful time of the year! shopping for presents. Shelters By SERENA AUMICK can donate will help, as the As the winter season are always in need of supplies PSPCA gets no state funding. rolls around so do winter and toys for the animals. Items It relies on donors for lots of festivities. Amongst all the such as food for cats and dogs, what they need. festivities there is Christmas kitty litter, and toys for the in our Hometown which took place in Tunkhannock on December 7 and 8. We are tired of “traditional” Christmas There are plenty By JACOB EZZO holiday-oriented things Samario’s pizza! is a Pagan holiday that to do at Christmas in our Janessa Jeffrey and Pastor celebrates the Winter Solstice, Hometown. For example, Bill from Tunkhannock and the comeback of the sun. many local businesses set Pilgrim Holiness Church Depending on the year, the up throughout town. These gave out free hot chocolate longest and darkest night will vendors include Buffalo Head and cookies, while the Grace fall between December 20 and Media by Kim Gallagher and Fellowship provided cookies. December 23. A traditional Lori Bogedin selling various Finally, Eaton Baptist Church ceremony consists of , ward off evil spirits, candles, gorgeous crystals and gems. furnished cheese, crackers, meditation, and the burning of used to symbolize the light Pesos had a walking taco and cranberry citrus punch. a . and warmth of the sun, and stand to fundraise for their The vendors surely Traditionally pagan witches the yule log taken from a company. contributed to the festivity would dance around a bonfi re, fallen oak or ash tree, placed Another vendor would and added to the Christmas started by the blessed log, and into the hearth and burned be Lila and Tina from spirit of our hometown. The chant ancient hymns that have until ash. The ash would then the radio station Gem two day event was also an been lost in time. Possibly the be saved to burn with the next 104. They were selling slime. excellent way to fi nish up only two songs still known year’s yule log. Even though Some very delicious Christmas shopping! Merry that are directly related to Yule this seems to be the fi xed way smelling food came from Christmas! are ‘Green Sleeves’ and ‘The to celebrate, the holiday is song’. mainly about spirituality and In the ceremony there celebrating in whatever way are three main sacred items. you can. , used to capture and Source: sacredearthjourneys. VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI SEASONALSEASONAL THE PROWLER 5 Christmas at the Capitol Recipes My favorite people ready for the It’s not Christmas without cookies! holidays. By EMMA MORAN By LOGHAN HIRKEY On November The holidays are the best 19th, President Donald part of the year. Everything Trump, and First is glowing with lights, people Lady Melania Trump prepared seem to have brighter smiles, for the arrival of the White and everything smells like House Christmas tree! peppermint and vanilla. PROWLER STAFF PHOTO This will be the second For me, baking is a huge part you’d like! Use icing, year for this family celebrating of the holiday season. I bake sprinkles, fondant; whatever Christmas in the White House. with my mom or my friends floats your boat! This year, the tree they chose a lot during this season, and 8.Enjoy! was from Larry Smith, who I’m here to give you some won the National Christmas of my recipes. They are Tree contest this year. The tree both easy to follow with REESE’S PEANUT is a Fraser Fir exported from ingredients that you probably BUTTER CUP COOKIES North Carolina. PROWLER STAFF PHOTO have at home! They also taste My family has been making The requirements for a Melania Trump displaying great, trust me. these since I was little, so I White House tree include a the as a focal SUGAR COOKIES: was surprised when my friend height of 18 to 19 feet tall, and point. The Nativity Scene was I feel like this one’s a told me she’d never had one! reach the ceiling of the Blue not banned during the years classic. You can cut out these Warning, these contain peanut Room, where they remove the of the Obama family, nor was cookies into fun shapes or add butter, so if you’re allergic, I’d chandelier to accommodate “Merry Christmas”, despite all the red and green sprinkles stick with the sugar cookies. for the joyous season. The several false statements that you’d like! This recipe makes tree is decorated with over stated such. a lot of , so you’ll be INGREDIENTS 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon The 300-year-old Nativity able to make a ton of cookies ½ stick of butter, softened embroidered in gold, with Scene, first loaned in 1961 by from it! ½ cup of peanut butter each state and territory’s philanthropist Mrs. Charles INGREDIENTS: ½ cup of brown sugar name. W. Engelhard who helped 6 eggs ½ cup of sugar This year’s theme is then First Lady Jacqueline 6 tablespoons of sugar 1 egg America’s Treasures, Kennedy with thematic 2 sticks of butter, softened 1 teaspoon of vanilla which means it represents decorations, was then 4 cups of flour 1 and a ¼ cups of flour the heart and spirit of the purchased in Naples, Italy. It 4 tablespoons of baking ¾ teaspoon of baking soda American people, and the features 22 wooden figures powder ½ teaspoon of salt Trump family definitely did it including crowned baby . 1 tablespoon of vanilla 2 bags of Reese’s peanut justice. Melania Trump really STEPS: butter cups Besides the large Christmas made the White House 1.Preheat the oven to 350 F. STEPS: tree, 29 red trees decorated beautiful, and I hope someday 2.Mix all your ingredients. I 1.Preheat the oven to 375 F. with 14,000 ornaments, and I can visit the White House recommend mixing the dry 2.Mix all ingredients. I’d add replicas of the during the holiday season to ingredients, then adding the the peanut butter last, it’s hard Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, see its beauty. eggs and vanilla. to mix. Washington Monument, Sources: whitehouse. 3.Chill the dough for one 3.Roll the dough into balls. Jefferson Memorial, and the gov/christmas, aleteia. hour. 4.Press a peanut butter cup White House abound. A large org, townandcountrymag,com 4.After the dough is chilled, into the ball. focal point this year was roll out the dough and cut the 5.Repeat step four until all Top Ten Christmas Songs of dough into the shapes you cookies have peanut butter desire. cups. 2018 5.Bake the cookies for ten 6.Bake for 8-10 minutes. minutes. 7.Cool, then enjoy! The top ten songs you’ll need for your 6.Let the cookies cool. Christmas 7.Decorate however Happy Holidays! By DONOVAN CURLEY 2: Mary, Did You Know? - From 1984’s “Last the fifties hits number four on 1: All I Want For Christmas Pentatonix Christmas” makes a the holiday list, which is not is You - Mariah Carey This song is a variation on a comeback and hits number surprising with the amount of This song has had hundreds classic by the pop/acapella three on the charts with times it is played in movies of remixes on Soundcloud, group, Pentatonix, who Wham! Singing about a this time of year, as well as Spotify, Youtube, and Apple changed the style of the song broken heart over the season. the radio. Music, However, the original to match theirs of pop and it 4: Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby CONTINUED ON still reigns supreme at the top fits. Helms PAGE 8 of the list. 3: Last Christmas - Wham! This classic song from Seasonal 6 THE PROWLER VOLUME XIV ISSUE XLVI A Story Who doesn’t love Charles Dickens? By CATHLEEN PETERS is about When he did, he dropped an old man named Ebene- his keys and heard the scary zer Scrooge who just lost his voice of his old business part- friend/business partner Jacob ner Jacob Marley. Scared until Marley who passed away, and the first ghost from the past now his new business partner took him through the past and is Bob Cratchet. he was starting to get happy. Until his nephew came and The next ghost was the pres- he said, “Merry Christmas, ent showing him was is go- PROWLER STAFF PHOTO Uncle,” Scrooge just didn’t ing on right now and he was care about Christmas. So, he seeing his new partner with ed to change as he promised This story has held the test left. Then Bob left early be- his family. Finally, the last the ghost of Christmas Future. of time and still rings true to- cause it was ghost was the future show- When he woke up it was day. A person’s life is mainly and he wants to see his fam- ing him what will happen to Christmas and he was happy made up of what they make of ily, so Scrooge let him, and him if he keeps on his cur- to share (something that had it, no matter how well off (or he closed the shop and went rent course. He saw his own not come easily to him be- not). home. grave stone so he so he decid- fore). Christmas Around the World We’re on Round Two, Ladies and Gentlemen By EMMA MORAN Last year I wrote an article about Christmas around the world. I have to say, it was an interesting article to write. I discovered the of five countries from around the globe. This year, it is time to do that all over again, but this time with five different countries! Feliz Navidad! Or, Merry Christmas in Spanish, the spoken language of Mexico. The Mexican Christmas lasts from December 12 to January 6. On the 16th of December until Christmas Eve, children participate in Posadas. Posada translates to Inn in English. The Posadas represent the part of the Christmas story where Mary and Joseph are looking for somewhere to stay. The children are given candles and clay figures of Mary and Joseph. As they wander the streets in groups, they call out to the houses, asking for a place to stay. Just like in the Christmas story, they are told there is no room in the house. The children go from house to house until they find the Posada house, where the children are welcomed inside to a party. There are nine Posadas during the Christmas season, and the Posada house changes every time. Fröhliche ! That’s Merry Christmas in German. In Germany, most families buy or create calendars for the other members of their families. An is a Christmas countdown, with little presents for each day, leading up to Christmas Day. Another big part of the German Christmas is Christmas Trees. The Germans decorated trees since medieval times. If there are young children in the house, the mother usually decorates the Christmas Tree secretly. Traditionally, the tree was brought into the home on Christmas Eve, and the family would celebrate by singing traditional songs such as O Tannenbaum (OChristmasTree), Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, and Stille Nacht (Silent Night). Kisimusi yakanaka! That translates to Merry Christmas in Shona, the language spoken in Zimbabwe. For the people of Zimbabwe, Christmas starts with a mass on Christmas day. After the mass, families go around to the houses of their friends and other family members to celebrate and exchange presents. People celebrate with music, (and not just Christmas Carols). People blast any music through massive speakers. Anything from traditional African music, to the top current charts. In place of a tree, many decorate their houses with ivy. क्रिसमस की बधाई! Which means Merry Christmas in Hindi, the official language of India. Only 2.3% of Indians celebrate Christmas- but that equals about 25 million people! For Indian Christians, a is a very important service. Churches decorated with candles and hold mass, after which the families celebrate with a massive feast. Instead of Christmas trees, Indians decorate a banana or mango tree. Brightly colored and intricately designed paper lantern stars are also hung around homes, and oil clay lamps light up the house. счастливого Рождества! Merry . Until 1991, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas! In Russia, Christmas is more religious and private. Presents are delivered on New Year’s, not on Christmas. The Russian Christmas takes place on January 6. On Christmas Eve, some people fast until the first star appears in the sky. To break their fast, they often eat Kutia, a traditional porridge with dried fruit and nuts. Some families throw a spoonful of Kutia at the ceiling. If it sticks, it’s believed that the family will have good luck for the next year. Did any of these traditions surprise you? Are you curious about other countries that weren’t mentioned? Look it up and amaze all your guests during the holidays. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Source: whychristmas.com

PROWLER STAFF PHOTO Entertainment VOLUME XIV ISSUE XLVI THE PROWLER 7 Rent Musical Review Happenings at the Dietrich 525,600 minutes... What you need to know at the theater By IRELAND CLARK Rent tells the story of this season several bohemian artists in By DONOVAN CURLEY New York City struggling to get by. Most of the musical takes place around Christmas, with the main character Mark opening up on Christmas Eve.

The play features colorful PROWLER STAFF PHOTO characters such as Mark, a are sick, struggling, or even fi lmmaker, Roger, a singer dying. The characters are with AIDS, and Collins, a diverse so you can relate to teacher with AIDS who was someone. The music is the fi red from his job. The story biggest and most impressive has many characters with part. It mostly contains rock, AIDS and the original writer yet sometimes it goes quiet Jonathan Larson wanted to with an acoustic guitar and highlight the struggles of piano. Rent is worth watching Movies: using her magical skills to the disease and show people just for the music. Bohemian Rhapsody is restore the happiness that what it is really like. Many Even if you are not a back by popular demand for was lost after Michael felt a stigmas surround the deadly fan of musicals, Rent is another week, the fi lm is a personal loss. disease, and this musical was a fun, yet sometimes sad “Docu-drama” of the band Classes: a step towards showing people story and you can even Queen’s rise to fame and the Holiday Camp- Dec 27th-28th what it is like. feel the Christmas spirit downward spiral as Mercury’s For the low cost of $25 you Besides its interesting plot, while watching it. There is a lifestyle takes its toll. can learn to sculpt using the characters are universal movie version on Netfl ix and Spiderman: Into the Spider- a potter’s wheel and creating and well-rounded. that is a good adaptation. Go verse is an animated movie other types of sculptures using You feel sympathy for ahead and watch it if you get about a young Miles Morales clay. the characters when they sick. (Spider man) learning that The Dietrich doesn’t have there are other universes many holiday selections this The Best Christmas Movies where other web-slingers save year for movies but has this Not objective at all the day. interesting class for you and By KELCI WILSON Mary Poppins Returns into the whole family to enjoy! What is Christmas without the life of Michael (Whishaw) watching holiday themed movies practically all month Into the Spider-Verse long? We all watch and love How many Spider-Mans are there? them with our family and By IRELAND CLARK friends every year. Christmas The Polar Express: This is Another addition to the is one of the most special and one of the most heartwarming long list of Spider-Man cherished holidays. It would and well-loved movies of movies, Spider-Man: Into not be the same if we did all time. It’s diffi cult to the Spider-Verse stars Miles not have the best Christmas go through the month of Morales, a young teenager movies of our day to enjoy. December without seeing it on living in Brooklyn, New York Elf: We are all familiar television some time. City, who acquires the same PROWLER STAFF PHOTO with this movie. A movie that The Nightmare before powers as the previous Spider- clean, colorful and beautiful. never gets old and can always Christmas: This Tim Burton Man. Miles starts adapting The budget is $90 million make you laugh no matter classic is famous and known to his new life with these and features a large cast. how many times it has been for its creepy and unexpected powers when he suddenly The movie doesn’t debut watched. I’ve never heard of approach to our favorite unleashes all the Spider-Man until December 14, but early anyone complaining about this holiday, Christmas. personalities like Peter Parker reviews are positive. So far, hilarious movie. Home Alone: Home Alone and Gwen Stacy. Together, all it has a 100% on Rotten : This is one of the best-known these Spider-Men must fi nd Tomatoes and an 83% on movie is where sticking Christmas movies, for its a way to reverse the damage Metacritic. Critics are loving your tongue to a frozen unrealistic, and albeit creative and defeat the main villain of the new Spider-Man movie. pole became a trend. This schemes. These schemes the movie, Kingpin. Spider-Man: Into the 1983 classic is comedic are what makes it famous, This movie is unique to Spider-Verse debuts December and relatable. It is also hilarious, and a movie that the other Spider-Man movies 14, so go out to your local the birthplace of the famous will be remembered and in the way it’s animated. The theatre and support a unique movie quote, “You’ll shoot remain loved by families animation style is almost movie with a great cast and your eye out!” everywhere. like stop-motion. Yet, it is beautiful animations. 8 THE PROWLER SEASONAL VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI History of Christmas Adornment The most wonderful time of the year! By JACOB EZZO It’s that time of year again, boys and girls, when Christmas offi cially takes over. Thanksgiving is thrown out the window and Christmas comes barreling in. It’s crunch time to buy that obscure for your cousin who you only see once a year at . While your family argues over politics and stuffs food in their mouths do you ever stop to think, “How did the Christmas tradition come to be? The snowmen, the tree, the music, etc.?” Of course, if you were a rational being you would send this back to the recesses of your mind and continue listening to your family in silence. But I am not a rational human and decided to take a trip to the Internet to fi nd out the history of what we know as Christmas. Christmas trees and objects like them have been in fashion for around 1000 years. It is speculated that the Christmas fi r originated in northern Europe as a ceiling decoration generally hung from chandeliers. Other early example of a Christmas tree include hawthorn plants, which would hopefully bloom on Christmas, or the cheaper alternative, a made from wood and decorated to look like a tree. The earliest known domestic tree is credited to Germany, where folklore tells a heartwarming tale about kindness and alms. The story goes, once on a cold Christmas Eve night, a forester and his family were in their cottage gathered round the fi re to keep warm. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When the forester opened the door, he found a poor little boy standing on the doorstep, lost and alone. The forester welcomed him into his house and the family fed and washed him and put him to bed in the youngest son’s own bed. PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS The next morning, Christmas Morning, a choir of awakened the family, and the poor little boy had turned into Jesus, the . The Christ Child went into the front garden of the cottage, a branch off a Fir tree, and gave it to the family as a present to say thank you for looking after him. Originally, the trees were covered in treats such as gingerbread and golden apples. Along with this, a fi gure of baby Jesus was placed at the top of the tree. In 1841, Prince Albert requested that his homeland tradition be continued in Windsor palace and had a Christmas tree brought inside and decorated. A few years later, drawings of the tree at Windsor palace were published and infl uenced the culture of the time. During this time, candles were placed on the tree to represent stars similar to the now popular string lights. Over time, groundbreaking innovations have altered certain aspects of tree decorating. The green pyramid of spikes your parents dragged you into the woods to get is not as useless as once thought. On to snowmen. Snowmen have been around since about 1380. The earliest known illustration from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek depicts a snowman with a burned backside. During the Middle Ages, Snowmen were used to bring joy and happiness to people surrounded by illness, poverty, and starvation. In the German city of Brussels, the townspeople came together and crafted 100 snowmen in what is known as the Miracle of 1511. Snowmen really became popular when Prince Albert brought his many German traditions into Windsor palace. Maybe now you will think twice before hitting your strange cousin in the face with a snowball for suggesting that you build a snowman. Maybe you sing songs as you build snowmen. The earliest Christmas carols were not for Christmas at all. Rather they were songs sung by pagans to celebrate the Winter solstice. Early Christians took over the Winter solstice celebration and made it into a Christmas celebration. Soon after many composers were writing Christmas carols, which were all written in Latin. When Oliver Cromwell came to power in 1647, the Christmas celebration was banned. Until the Victorian era Christmas lived on in secret. Once the resurrection of Christmas was made many orchestras and choirs wanted carols to sing. Many old carols were brought back and new ones such as were written. With the increase of new carols, people started carol services which told the story of Christmas through carols and bible readings. When your family asks you to join them caroling remember how it was banned for nearly 200 years. Just in case you have forgotten and missed the point of this article, the Christmas holiday is something to be cherished and carried out for centuries to come. Even if you do not enjoy one aspect of the holiday there is always one thing you can look forward to. Sources: whychristmas.com, atlasobscura.com

Continued from page 5 The song doesn’t need to 5: Christmas / Sarajevo say it twice, this is the most 10: Christmas 12/24 - Trans-Siberian wonderful time of the year. Canon – Orchestra This song lists every reason, Trans-Siberian This classic from Trans- and is still relevant today. Orchestra Siberian Orchestra puts a spin 8: Baby, It’s Cold Outside – This song by the on traditional Christmas songs Dean Martin rock/orchestra and gives them new life by This song from the fi fties band previously pumping them full of rock. reminds us that it’s getting stated as the 6: Rockin’ Around the late, and that you could have composer of Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee maybe just a half a drink number fi ve’s Another song from the fi fties more. It sets itself at number song, is purely and another popular song eight on the charts. about the choice in holiday movies new 9: Underneath the Tree – Christmas spirit, and old. This song hits number Kelly Clarkson and the hope six on the charts for Christmas One of the newer songs to each child has 2018. come out for the holidays for it this time 7: It’s The Most Wonderful states that holidays are best of year. Time of The Year – Andy celebrated with loved ones, Source: Williams even if you have to enjoy. popvortex.com VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI TECHTECH THE PROWLER 9 Biometric Airport Terminals It’s not like airports were complicated enough. By BREDON ELY Delta Airlines are an option, not a the people who made it necessity. happen, and their main Biometric goal was to speed up travel airport terminals times by making people are next on the list wait less for security for technological checks at airport terminals. breakthroughs; Accomplished with the new it isn’t new Biometric terminal, the new technology but security measure takes records it’s being used of registered Drivers’ licenses, in a new way. Photo ID’s and Passports and A Biometric uses the photos to compare terminal is an The airport in Avoca may go this way some time them to the one taken by the everyday terminal with in the future. Who knows? terminal. This reduces wait some high-tech goodies Eigenface approach. Which pull up to unload baggage times, because if someone has added. It can scan eyes (iris means in modern and walk through a biometric a registered Driver’s license, scanning), fingerprints, terms that someone terminal straight to the plane which also requires the same or a whole face. In this holding up a picture of without having to go inside. documentation as TSA checks case, however, the Atlanta a phone owner can’t get This was implemented to cater to receive, then they should airport opted for only facial in their phone, these terminals to those who don’t have time be clear to go through - if recognition, which can be are the same. to walk through crowds of they match the pictures that less secure if the development In addition to the people in the airport. is. However, not all is lost is lacking. With that said, new terminals, Delta It appears as if air travel as there are still traditional facial recognition has also implemented the first continues to forge ahead to terminals for those without improved from what was “curb to gate” terminal. This make the traveler’s experience a Driver’s license or photo being used when it first terminal is located outside the least stressful it can be. ID making the faster route appeared in 1988 with the where a passenger could Top Tech for Christmas It’s okay if you don’t understand, it’s pretty technical. By BRENDON ELY This year has had some cool and exciting tech releases, and with new tech comes new sky- high prices. Despite the high prices, they will all make great gifts. Here is the top tech for this holiday season: 1.) The iPhone Xr is a great option for those who don’t want to break the bank … well not completely. The Xr is around $750 and it has the same internal components as its bigger Two phones discussed in this article pictured above. The Google Pixel 3 and the iPhone Xr. brothers the Xs and Xs Max. The Xr also has an LCD performance is only beat by 4.) This one is slightly bigger magnetically attached to the display instead of an what apple has to offer, and in than the phones mentioned side of the tablet. AMOLED, which in simple this day and age does it really above, but the new iPad pro 5.) The new Macbook Air terms it means less colorful matter? is definitely something to has been something and no battery saving benefits. 3.) If both of the phones be looking at as a Christmas people waited a long time 2.) If iPhone isn’t your phone above don’t suit your needs, gift, albeit an expensive for, 10 years actually. Apple of choice, then the Google then look no further than the one. The 11-inch model starts made a few touch ups on the Pixel 3 is a solid option for Samsung Galaxy Note 9, as at $799 while the 12.9-inch original Air over the years, the - maybe even this phone has it all. The Note model starts at $999. But but nothing major. This year, better. The new Pixel (like 9 has a 4000 mAh battery, iris both models have strong however, was different; previous ones) has what critics and facial recognition, and performance, and they both apple has fully revamped say is the best smartphone best of all it has a headphone have really solid screens. The the Macbook Air in almost camera around. The phone’s jack. best feature is the apple pencil every way imaginable. 10 THE PROWLER HOLIDAY VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI Real vs. Fake Christmas Tree The Story of Stockings By KELCI WILSON By EMELIE FILER The debate between people Each year for Christmas, families who prefer real Christmas will hang their stockings on their trees, and the ones who rather fi replace. Families and friends will fake trees has been going get “stocking stuffers,” which can on for quite some time. The be anything from socks to jewelry to question is, which is the better candy. option? Now everyone knows that if kids In the opinion of the are naughty over the year before real tree owners, I have Christmas, you will get coal in that found that these people stocking from Santa! mostly enjoy the time spent But what many don’t know, is with family and picking that stockings have a very interesting out the perfect tree for their PROWLER STAFF PHOTO history. home. They enjoy cutting to put into the tree to make According to tradition, put gold coins in the tree down themselves it seem real! There is also no the stockings of three poor sisters. Saint Nicholas knew the and bringing it home. The additional cost per year after family was very poor, so he threw bags of gold coins down smell of the real pine tree the fi rst original purchase the chimney, which landed into the drying stockings the girls is also a major plus, simply of the tree, so there is less had hanging on the fi replace. because it reminds you of money spent. The downside Christmas time. The downfall of this option is not having Santa to this option of tree is the experience of getting it and cost yearly as well as the being with family, although Join the fun! By EMELIE FILER constant maintaining of the decorating it is still just as As you may know, Christmas is soon approaching, which tree during the month of special! means the time of giving gifts is almost here! December. Allergies may also Regardless of If you are looking for a fun new way to give gifts to be a factor. whichever type of tree friends, family, and in the workplace, you should consider In support of the fake you and your family favor, participating in . Christmas tree owners, these Christmas is a special time The point of Secret Santa is to get a group of people enjoy the easy setup, for you and your family to be people together, and to write everyone’s names down. You then as well as the absence of mess together. Decorating trees is randomly pick one slip of someone’s name, until everyone has that usually comes along one of the most cherished received one slip. with real trees. It is simple to times of the holiday season This way everyone has to get one gift and everyone will get a assemble and disassemble. and will remain so for many gift, but the catch is no one knows who has who! There are even air fresheners more years to come. Goodluck in your Secret Santa endeavors! To p 5 Christmas Cartoon For people who loves Christmas Cartoons BY CATHLEEN PETERS 1)SpongeBob SquarePants: Patchy the Pirate and his parrot travel in a mail truck to fi nd Santa so that Patchy can fi nally meet SpongeBob. In the meantime, SpongeBob gets ready for Christmas by decorating his house with lights for Santa. Unlike SpongeBob, Squidward and Patrick are not as into the holiday spirit. Squidward strings lights on his land spelling out go away, and Patrick was creating a trap to catch Santa Clause. As SpongeBob went around the town to spread Christmas spirit, Plankton started to plan to be good and make everyone, who was jerky, like him. But SpongeBob helped save the day and Christmas was saved. 2)How the stole Christmas: The Grinch hates Christmas with all the tree decorating, plus the who’s in Whoville will be feasting and feasting. The presents with all the noise. It drove the Grinch nuts. Therefore, he came up with a way to steal Christmas away. He went to Who’s houses one by one until he saw Cindy Lou Who, who was only 2. She saw Santa (aka the Grinch) steal their Christmas tree, but the Grinch had a kind heart and saved the Whoville’s Christmas stuff and he joined the feast with them. 3)Fairly Odd Parents: Timmy didn’t get the sled he always wanted. So, he wish it was Christmas every day, until there was a twist in that wish. Santa tried to keep up with the toys for the children around the world. 4)Charlie Brown Christmas: Charlie Brown and his best friend Linus went to fi nd a Christmas tree for the school play. In the school, Lucy was the script director giving everyone their play part until, she asked Snoopy to play all the animal parts. When she was giving everyone a speech Snoopy was copying her but she saw it and missed smacking snoopy, so the dog kissed her. Lucy was freaking out. But in the end, everyone had a great Christmas. 5)Loud House: The Loud family was getting ready for Christmas until, their neighbor yelled at them about taking down their Christmas decorating stuff. He was upset inside because he can’t see his family on Christmas. So, the Loud family and McBride family made his Christmas the best one of all. VOLUME XIV ISSUE XLVI RANDOM THE PROWLER 11 Cats DIY Ideas Benefits of having them Affordable Christmas gift ideas! By SERENA AUMICK and where to get one As people begin to buy gifts for the holiday By JOSIE GALLELA season, you may feel the need Cats, as proven by to do so as well. It truly isn’t multiple studies in the necessary to spend a fortune. UK, are known to release If you want to give gifts for calming chemicals family members, a creative into your body from just card would be sure to put a being around you. This smile on their faces. To make a card you will need: reduces stress levels, and PROWLER STAFF PHOTO therefore decreases your These kittens need loving homes -Construction paper chance of heart diseases. and will be ready soon. -A pen PROWLER STAFF PHOTO Felines are also a great low-maintenance solution to loneliness, -And a brain! for the cuddly creatures are a great companion that will remain To make the card, first fold -Soy Wax at your feet. a piece of paper in half, create -Coloring It is estimated by the ASPCA that on average, each year a lovely drawing on the front, -Wick 3.2 million of these lovable creatures end up in shelters (just put a meaningful heartfelt -An essential oil or fragrance in the U.S!). 1.4 million of them are euthanized due to lack of message on the front and/or of choice homes, being abandoned, or from illness. inside, then sign! To make the , first 5 kittens that initially weren’t likely to have been born are This may suffice for a melt down the soy wax in currently a month old and looking for homes. family member, but if you a microwave, and then add If you or anyone you know is looking to take adopt, they gave this gift to a friend their your coloring and fragrance, will be old enough as of late December/early January (a reaction would probably be holding wick in place so it perfect semi-late Christmas gift). The litter consists of three less enthusiastic. So instead will be in the middle as the orange, a grey and black striped, and a brown-black calico. of a card, you could spend wax sets. A cheap, easy to Their genders cannot yet be specified, but certainly will be as little as a dollar on a bar make gift, yet it is sure to by the time they are ready to be adopted. So, on behalf of the of candy! Although if you please! kittens seeking a forever home, please spread the word! want to give them a more So as the Christmas season (If interested, please contact the school librarian, Mrs. heartfelt gift, you could make rolls around be sure not to Wiernusz, or me!) a candle with the scent you disappoint your friends and know they’ll adore! To make a family and make them one of Most Asked for Gifts This candle you will need: these lovely gifts! Christmas Stonehedge’s Festival of I wish for... Lights By SAMANTHA SHYGELSKI Everyone has at least one Continued from page 1 thing they’re hoping to unwrap on Their “Festival of Lights” features several drive-through Christmas morning. Usually every displays of lights, ranging from themes of Christmas, to Under year there are a few gifts that just the Sea, to outer space. The displays grow larger every year, seem to be more requested than yet still stick to its base of holiday magic. others. I was curious as to what The course is open every night of the week, with the those gifts were this year, so I did exception of Christmas Eve. Sunday through Thursday hours some research, and this is what I are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday they’re open 5 discovered. p.m. to 10 p.m. The entry fee per car is $25, and the last day The most asked for toys were Kieran Bedford seaches the web for the very best. open this season is the December 31. Fingerlings, animal puppet-like toys that seem to be popular Other features of the celebration consist of the Santa with kids this year. Kids also asked for little live pets which Train, a family ride that takes you to the course, and a series are robotic stuffed animals. If mom won’t let you have a live of vendors inside the warmth of the Stonehedge building- animal you can just ask for a robotic one with no mess or effort along with nightly visits from Santa for you to take a picture required, just a small fee of $25. However, if you’re over the with. They serve all sorts of foods, drinks, apparel, jewelry, age of 12, these other gifts might interest you a little more. decorations, and many more! (including a marshmallow Gaming consoles are as popular as ever this year, most roast). are asking for the Nintendo Switch, NES Classic, and Xbox Overall, it is not an experience to miss out on, and is One X, other electronic gadgets placed on lists are digital certainly worth your time! cameras, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Echo. These are some of the most asked for gifts this year, so if you’re in need of ideas you’re looking at some of the best. Source: fastcompany.com 12 THE PROWLER RandomRandom VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XLVI Chris Herren Guest Speaker “Way too much emphasis on the worst day and not the first day.” By LOGHAN HIRKEY AND MADDY NESTOR On December 5 and 6 Chris Herren, a motivational speaker, came to talk to students here at Tunkhannock Area High School about addiction. Herren’s life as a child was not the best. His father was a politician who struggled with alcoholism, and his mother struggled emotionally as an effect of his actions. One day, his mother found the courage to leave his father and she took Chris with her. After this, he promised his mother that he would never drink, but he eventually did at the age of 13. In high school Chris attended many parties where he and his friends drank alcohol and did other drugs. He mentioned that he did not realize at the time that 7 out of 15 of him and his friends would turn into heroin addicts- ruining their careers, families, and essentially their whole lives. Chris was a phenomenal basketball player at Durvey High School in Fall River, Massachusetts. Many universities wanted to recruit him, and he received many awards of honor. At this time, no one knew of his addiction. PROWLER STAFF PHOTO Herren revealed to CNN that he did his first line of cocaine at the age of 18, Top left: Chris Herron delivers his powefrul message. and it took 14 years to stop. Recruited into the NBA in 1999, he played for the Above: Cammi Anderson and Mr. Bosscher get ready for Her- Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. ron’s arrival. Eventually the drinking and lighter drugs that lead him to do cocaine put him on a harder path. Herren eventually did Vicodin, and then heroin. In 2006 he was out of basketball. He realized it was time to go to rehab after overdosing in his car. When the paramedics arrived at the scene, he was declared clinically dead for 30 seconds. In 2011 Chris started an organization called The Herren Project which helps recovering addicts pay for the exorbitant prices of rehab and helps the victim’s family recover. The Herren Project launched Project Purple, which encourages students to avoid substance abuse. So far, the program helped 850,000 users overcome their addiction. Sources: CNN.com

The History of Christmas How it all began… By SAMANTHA SHYGELSKI Winter celebrations have been taking place for around 2 millennia. These celebrations all contributed to what is commonly known as Christmas today. Centuries before the man called Jesus was born, early Europeans would celebrate light and birth during the winter solstice to represent the coming longer days, with more sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule, starting on the winter solstice, December 2, and continuing into January. They would burn logs and every spark from would represent a new pig or calf that would be born in the coming year. In Germany people honored the Pagan god Oden. The people were so terrified of Oden, they believed that at night he would fly around and choose who would do well in life, and those who would see downfall. Before Christmas came about, Easter was the holiday celebrated by most Christians. Then, in the fourth century, the church decided to institute the birth of Christ as a holiday. It is believed that December 25 was the chosen date because it was at the same time as all the other preexisting winter festivities in other cultures. They hoped that by having Christmas at this time of year it would get more people to celebrate the holiday and embrace it as a part of the Christian religion. It had its ups and downs throughout time, but was officially declared a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. This is one interpretation of how Christmas became what it is today, I hope everyone reading enjoyed this little trip into history and has a wonderful holiday!