Your #1 AJHS news source! 3rd Edition 2019

Student Council’s Pennies for Patients

Campaign

Student Council held their 3rd annual Pennies for Patients campaign during the month of March with each Social Studies classroom collecting change from students each day. At the end of collections, the school total collected for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was over $4,200. Mr. Durand’s 5th period, seventh grade class raised the most money and earned an Olive Garden lunch. Mr. Kennedy’s eighth grade, 7th period came in second place and will receive a lunch provided by Dominos. Those two classes raised almost $900! The 9th grade class with the highest total was Mrs. Gates’ 8th period class, with over $270 as a whole. (Continued on p. 2) ​

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The following week, Student Council totals the money for each grade level. Students then had the opportunity to compete against one another for a full-period lunch. This challenge, called Dollar Days, is where students can sabotage other grades by placing dollars to subtract from the grade total earned from the money. At the end of

this 3 Day Dollar challenge - the winning

grade was 9th Grade! In May, 9th graders

enjoyed a full-period lunch outside.

Student Council is so proud of the

generosity of our students in every grade!

And thank you to Social Studies teachers

who helped with the daily counting of

money for every class that contributed.

Builders’ Club 2018-2019 by Sagan Brinkert With the end of the year fast approaching, so is the end of the year of Builders’ Club. But, it is not over yet! During the course of the year, the members of the Builder’s Club collected money for various charities, made projects for the Abington Police Officers and children at the Ronald McDonald House, made two trips to the Head Start Program at the Abington Administration Building, collected holiday toys for foster children, and much much more. At the March meeting, members of Builders’ Club participated in an activity to make cat toys for the Cat Tales cat adoption. The toys were constructed out of a wooden dowel and some colorful ribbon. Over one hundred cat toys were made during the meeting! (Continued on p. 3)

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At the April Meeting, volunteers at Cat Tales were scheduled to bring cats to visit at the meeting, but unfortunately, were not able to come. Instead, students that attend the meeting will finalize their letters to the Abington Police department to be wrapped around chocolate bars and delivered in the coming weeks. The final meeting of Builders Club for the Year will take place in May. There will be a small party celebrating all the great work and service of the club with snacks brought in by members. If you or a friend of yours did not get the chance to join in on the fun service opportunities, that is okay. For seventh and eighth graders, there will be another chance to sign up for Builders’ Club at the start of the 2019-2020 school year. As for ninth graders, the Senior High offers a similar club called the Key Club. Current members of Builders’ Club, as well as students that are interested in helping the community, are encouraged to join at the start of their sophomore year. Keep in mind that all students are required fifty community service hours at the end of Senior Year, or fifteen a year from the freshmen year to senior year. Builders’ Club and Key Club are excellent opportunities to gain hours for your required hours for graduation. All in all, it has been an excellent year for Builders’ Club. Hopefully, in the years to come, the club, its members and the wonderful community service work will continue to grow and thrive.

Cradles to Crayons On Saturday, May 4th, students of Abington Junior High volunteered their efforts at Cradles to Crayons located in East Falls. Cradles to Crayons is a non-profit organization which helps families who are struggling to pay for rent and groceries often cannot afford anything else. This organization collects basic items for children -an extra outfit for school, a backpack, shoes, pajamas, a coat for cold weather. Cradles to Crayons enables volunteers and donors to turn compassion into action and provide the essential items that children in struggling families need to thrive at school, to participate more fully in life, to just be a kid.

Each Abington volunteer was asked to bring donations of good condition clothing – no holes, rips, or stains- ranging in sizes from baby to adult. Upon arrival AJHS students were put right to work. They made cards to encourages children who would be receiving these donations. Over 30 Abington volunteers worked together for the next two hours to weed through the bins upon bins of donations the organization received. The clothing was sorted by gender, size, type, and season so that care packages can be made for specific children and weather appropriate. All who attended worked hard, but had fun working to help others. This service learning opportunity is a great way for everyone to engage with the Cradles to Crayons mission and help those in need.

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SMA Walk: An Opportunity for service hours by Mabel Cannady Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, is a very rare disease that is the number one genetic cause for infant deaths and is extremely dangerous. You can’t catch SMA like a cold, but you can be born with it. This disease is a physical illness, not a mental illness, and can sometimes be hard to believe it even exists. It affects the muscles in your body because of a mutation in the SMN1 gene. This gene gives your nerves a protein that helps control our muscles, but without this protein, nerves begin to die. Sometimes, the loss of nerves can stop people from eating, walking, and even breathing, not to mention the probability of catching illnesses and colds. Many children that are born with SMA use a wheelchair or a walker, but some of the stronger kids can walk for short periods of time, just like you and I. Even if these person can walk, they may have difficulty with holding pencils or bending down. The disease is still there, but it can be different for every person. Sadly, many people lose their lives to SMA because they are not strong enough or their body no longer works the way that it should.That is why we fight to find a cure for this life threatening disease. Luckily, scientists created a medicine, Spinraza, that can help improve the strength in a person with SMA. Spinraza is injected through the spinal cord by a Lumbar Puncture and works with the SMN2 gene to create more protein for your nerves. This can help the person with SMA to grow stronger and can even stop them from losing their strength. People who were losing their ability to walk and are treated with Spinraza may be able to keep walking. If you wish to learn more about SMA, Spinraza, and SMA breakthroughs, click on the website below! https://www.spinraza.com/en_us/home/taking/how-spinraza-works.html

Spring Into Sports By Bryanna Bailkin

Spring sports are now in play! Your school’s teams have been training and working hard to get ready for the upcoming season. Abington Junior High offers a variety of spring sports. The boys have an opportunity to play baseball, lacrosse, track, and tennis. Softball, lacrosse, and track are available for the girls to participate in. Spring sports are played after school at the Junior High and High School Fields. The players would love to have you come out and cheer them on. You can find Spring Sports Schedule on the Abington Junior High School website (h​ ttps://www.abington.k12.pa.us/junior/athletics/athletic-schedules/​). There are always late buses available if you decide to stay after school to cheer for your fellow students.

Good luck to all of our sports teams during your spring season. Looking forward to seeing you at the games!

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Spring Phever by Brendan Turner

Spring has finally arrived in the Delaware Valley and the 2019 Major League Baseball season is upon us. ​ Put me in, coach, I’m ready to play! Even though Gritty won the hearts and minds of Philadelphia Flyers fans throughout the region, it’s time for the Phillie Phanatic and the Fightin’ Phils to take center stage now that warmer weather has arrived. There are a number of new faces who joined the Phillies roster during the off season. In the infield, Jean Segura takes over at Shortstop after playing for the Seattle Mariners last season. In Left Field, Andrew McCutchen comes back to Pennsylvania after spending some time in The Bronx playing for the New York Yankees. Calling the shots behind the plate is veteran Catcher J.T. Realmuto who is eager to take in the sights and sounds of the Jersey Shore after spending some time in Miami. Finally, a guy from Las Vegas who played just down I-95 a ways that you might have heard of...in Right Field, Bryce Harper! Bryce Harper finally signed an historic 13-year free agent contract that will earn him somewhere in the neighborhood of $330 million dollars. The baseball fan world was on pins and needles during the entire off-season wondering where one of the most sought after free agents would land. The Phillies left town in early March for Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida with Harper still unsigned and rumors swirling that had him practically signing with a different team each day. As the first week in sunny Florida came to a close, Harper finally announced his decision to join the Phillies and join them in their quest to bring another World Series Championship to the frustrated Phillies Phaithful. Some say that baseball is the ultimate team sport where every player contributes to the game every time they take the field. Phillies Phans are temperamental and we expect nothing but total commitment to victory from every player and coach. Citizens Bank Park is ready to host another World Series...can the 2019 Philadelphia Phillies deliver? Look for my first column next fall to find out how the 2019 Philadelphia Phillies spent their summer. My Dad tells me that when he was my age, the Phillies had a slogan that said “Phillies Phever...Catch It!” Let’s see if that spirit is alive and well this summer in South Philadelphia!

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A Polishous Restaurant by Brianna Schniepp Alexander’s Cafe: ● Address: 7909 Park Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027 ● Phone Number: (215) 277-5878 ● Hours: ​Tuesday-Sunday, 5am-9pm; closed on Monday. ● Style: ​Polish/American Traditional ● Options: ​reservations- yes; takeout- yes; delivery- no; catering- yes ● Atmosphere​: casual, quiet, small ● Website: ​ None

In a city full of cheesesteaks and pizza, it is always exciting to try new foods from all around the world. Alexander’s Cafe offers traditional Polish food twisted with some American classics. When driving up to the restaurant there are some clear initial problems. For one, they do not have their own parking lot, and this can become a problem if someone is handicapped, the area is busy, or it is dark outside. However, the two options for parking are on the street or at the train station close by. Both times my family has gone, we parked at the train station which is a less than two minute walk and is never extremely busy. Also, at night, the place might be a little hard to find. There are not any big signs or lights that usually indicate a restaurant, but there is a small patio outside with lights hanging around. Inside, I was immediately hit with the feeling of home. There were only about six tables, but the combination of the smooth brown hardwood and exotic wallpaper design reminded me of visiting your grandmother’s house. The only things that differed were the exposed wood ceiling, brick wall, and edison style lightbulbs that gave the place a modern/hipster aesthetic. Initially seating was confusing; should we should seat ourselves or go to the small desk at the back? But when we went up to the desk the waitress sat us at a table in the corner. As someone who enjoys trying something new every once in a while, I definitely enjoyed picking from the ​ many traditional Polish dishes offered. The menu was relatively small, but they did have specials written on a chalkboard on the wall, and the food was a good price for the quality and overall experience. Appetizers ranged from $7-14, Entrees from $6-24, and desserts from $6-7. There was also a kids’ menu that included pasta or a grilled cheese sandwich. I shared the Polish Plate with my family as an appetizers, then ordered the Alexander’s Burger. The appetizer came out after about 10 minutes and had three different Polish dishes including: Polish sausage, stuffed cabbage, and pierogies. The pierogies were not greasy and had a wonderful cheesy taste and the stuffed cabbage was firm and not too soggy or mushy. The sausage was my favorite because it was perfectly cooked and had just enough spice and savory flavor. Ordering the plate would be a good option for a group that may want to try many things, but is not looking for a lot of food.

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Twenty to thirty minutes after we had finished eating the appetizer, the entrees came out, which was a long wait considering there were only two other groups eating at the time. However, all the food was hot and every part of the burger tasted and looked so fresh. Also, adding the brie and truffle oil definitely added a new spin on the traditional American burger. The last thing I tried was the crème brûlée, which we had gotten because they had run out of key lime pie. This was frustrating because there were only three desserts and they did not seem to have a lot people that night. Otherwise, the dessert was alright; it was not amazing, but that could have been because I have never tried a crème brûlée before. One of the best things about the restaurant was the people and mood. There were only two other groups and both of them were polite and quiet for most of the time. There was only one waitress and she was nice, but was not engaging and did not always come over to see how we were doing like most waitresses do. A reason I liked the people was while we were eating, a lady from the group next to us came over to apologize for the noise they were making. We were not bothered by it, but we appreciated their thought and consideration. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Alexander’s Cafe. I loved the homey, comfortable feel of the place as well as the delicious food and variety of new options. Another thing worth mentioning is the restaurant is family-owned, which means that you are getting good food and supporting a small business when eating there. I would rate the total experience a eight out of ten, because I liked their atmosphere and food quality/price, but was disappointed with the parking, size of the place, and the service.

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Delicious DuBu by Khulan Temuujin

A picture of the jjampong, LA galbi, and onjingeo bokeum dishes at DuBu.

DuBu, 1333 W Cheltenham Ave #102, Elkins Park, PA 19027

Hours: Everyday 10:30AM-10PM

Credit Cards: All major

Noise Level: Moderate

Website: thedubu.com

DuBu is an authentic Korean restaurant that brings anyone who goes here a great experience. If I hear the phrase Korean restaurant, DuBu is one of the places that come to my mind. As soon as you walk in, you can immediately smell and feel of a true Korean restaurant. The waiter automatically sits you down and offers you a free hot bori cha Korean tea. If you need assistance, any waiter will be glad to come and help with your needs. For the customer service, I give it a 4.5/5. As for the foods, they give you one free fried fish with amazing side dishes, including dubu, a fried piece of tofu. The portion of food is very large, so I recommend coming here on a really empty stomach. If you don’t like spicy foods, then make sure to tell the waiter that you don’t want any spice. However, if you enjoy the spicy feeling of your meal, then I absolutely recommend all of the spicy foods, especially the spicy seafood soup, jjampong (very left on the picture). The best type of meat on the menu is probably the LA Galbi. I would give this meat a 110/10. The flavor bursts and the meat melts immediately in your mouth. I give the food a 5/5 as a rating. If you have never tried any Korean food before, I would definitely recommend a dish called bibimbap, which is rice mixed with many delicious toppings. Another good starter for Korean food is bulgogi, which is thinly sliced tender prime beef that is marinated with a special sauce boiled in a stone pot. All of these dishes are amazing and the experience at the restaurant is outstanding as well. There is a small playroom for little children, if needed. The restaurant does not serve any dessert, but there is a small cafe that is directly connected to DuBu called Cafe Clover Philly. They serve shaved ice, or patbingsu, and bubble tea as dessert if you want some great dessert. In general, DuBu is a $$ priced restaurant and I would give this place 5 stars on all of my experiences here.

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Senor Salsa by Loubna Ftouh

Senor Salsa is a casual, folksy Mexican restaurant located at 1301 Old York Rd, Abington, PA 19001. It is located right across the street from Abington Jefferson Hospital. They open every day from 11 am to 10 pm. To contact them you can either call them at (215) 887-9600 or on their website www.senorsalsapa.com​. You can either dine in or have your food delivered to you.

It has a nice, homey atmosphere where you can dine in peace with a moderate noise level. The atmosphere is authentic and inviting and the portions are large and prices reasonable. They have pretty Spanish decor, many paintings, and statues. The prices are: side dishes range from $1 -$5, entrees are $8-$20, sides are $2.95, and desserts are $2.95-$5.99.

I have been to Senor Salsa multiple times;, each of the times I went, the food was delicious . However, the second time I went to Senor sSalsa, they messed up me and my family ‘s order. Instead of shrimp burrito, they gave me crab burrito, they happily took it back and changed it. The servers were all nice the entirety of my visits to the restaurant. Other than the mishap, the food was really good. The burrito had a good amount of crab in it;, the crab was good quality. The tortilla was soft and chewy, everything was served hot. Overall this restaurant is rated 4 out of 5 stars for me. The service was exceptional, the servers always checked on you to see if you need a refill on your drink or if you needed anything. The food was scrumptious, and extremely flavorful. They would have gotten a 5 out of 5 if they haven’t totally messed up all off the orders.

Philly’s Heart: The Platinum Grill Reviewed by: Melody Russell

The Platinum Grill Address: 7719 Crittenden St, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Hours:11AM-11PM (Everyday) Credit Cards: All major Reservations: Large parties only Noise level: Medium 4.5/5 Stars

The Platinum Grill is a very well known casual soul food restaurant in the heart of Philadelphia where you can get cheap, but quality food. The Platinum Grill’s prices range from 2$-14$. You can get food anywhere from a “Popcorn Chicken meal” to a “Crab and Seafood platter”. The staff at the Platinum Grill makes you feel comfortable and at home. Reruns of the Eagles Superbowl game usually consume the tv screens and you will often find yourself chatting with the very person handing you your meal. While you wait you can listen to live music and entertainment. Philly’s best come out every Wednesday to sing their hearts out; the singers sing a wide variety of music so that any customer will be hard

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pressed to find a song they can not bop their heads to. The servers at the Platinum Grill are extremely warm and friendly. However, I have a few criticisms, such as lighting, and restaurant decor, also, you will most likely find yourself waiting over 40 minutes for your meal. The Platinum Grill’s food is delicious and I usually choose to get the “Chicken Tender and Fries meal “. This meal includes 4 extremely large chicken tenders and a handful of fries. The chicken tender is served crisp and golden brown. Once you bite in, you will appreciate the delectable real white meat under the crisp breading. You will soon find yourself asking for more after you are done eating. This brings up the serving size issue. Yes, the chicken is very large in size, but you only receive four tenders which, to me and many others, simply is not enough. The Platinum Grill should offer at least two sides per meal and or increase the number of chicken tenders you get per meal. The staff is very pleasant when you walk in the restaurant , they seat you with a smile and tell you that they will be right with you. They ask if you have a preference as to where you would like to be seated. The owner of the Platinum Grill will come to your table and ask if everything is okay. Even certain bartenders will walk past you as you are dining and say hello, and ask about your day. The entertainers are very energetic and talented as well. The singers keep you engaged as they perform their songs. If they are performing a fast tune, they will involve the audience by having them get up and dance or if they are doing a ballad, the singers will engage the audience, telling a story about the song or pointing to people in the audience . A few of the performers I have seen that are especially phenomenal are Patrice Hawthorne, Damon Williams, and Dwight Smith. They keep the audience swooning, cheering, singing along and laughing.

One of my critiques is how the restaurant is lighted. The Platinum Grill lacks overhead lights, therefore, they use several floor lamps. This makes the restaurant look rather dim and dark. It creates an unwelcoming vibe which is contrary to the kindness and generosity of the workers and staff. The other thing that creates darkness in the restaurant is the almost black carpeting that makes the restaurant look small and dark. Replacing the carpet with light brown wood flooring and paneling would create the illusion of a bigger restaurant and the lights would bounce off the floor instead of light being absorbed by the carpet. This would ultimately fix their light problem. Regardless of poor lighting, and the dark-themed decor, the. The Platinum Grill’s food, staff, and entertainment is second to none and is definitely worth a try.

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Pizza is for Lovers by Hannah Gillespie

Pizza Box has two locations; one in Glenside and another in Ambler.

Pizza Box is a family owned pizza shop that sits to the left of the fork in the road on Limekiln Pike in Abington. It’s owned by a Sicilian man and his family. They serve the normal foods a pizza place would serve: appetizers, pizza, stromboli and calzones, salads, entrees, sandwiches, soups, and desserts. The atmosphere makes you feel like you are really in Italy eating at a small pizzeria. It can get loud and crowded at times, but I think that adds to the feeling. The restaurant allows its guest to sit down and experience the atmosphere or take the food you order home to enjoy. Sadly, they do not deliver, so you’re going to have get off your couch if you want food from Pizza Box. People can experience this atmosphere Mondays-Thursdays from 10 A.M to 9 P.M, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 A.M to 10 P.M, and Sundays from 11 A.M to 9 P.M. To find more information on Pizza Box you can visit their website, www.pizzaboxpa.com or you can contact them at their Abington location at 215-576-5281 and their Ambler location at 215-542-0551. When you walk in, you can smell pizza baking on the stone ovens. There are people working hard on the other side of the counter. Pizza Box has a generally busy atmosphere and can get loud at times. As you walk up to the counter, you see pizza upon pizza laid in front of you, asking you to choose them. Above the counter is a shelf that holds the best part of the whole restaurant, free samples. On trays they serve cinnamon dough balls, made out of the extra pizza dough. The dough balls are the best when they come right out of the oven, but no matter when you eat them, they are always amazing. You can order over the phone and pick it up at the counter or you can order directly at the counter to take home or to sit down and eat there. The workers are friendly and always welcoming to new customers. My family and I know many of the employees and we have known them most of my life. As I mentioned earlier, the employees are mostly family, but they do hire non-family members from time to time. There are usually about ten workers behind the counter on a busy night and about six or seven on a slower night. Like any pizza place, there is no set wait time. If you are going to sit down and eat there, it might take a little longer than the wait time for people who are going to take out. Also if you are ordering a meal for many people, like two or three pizzas, you will be waiting longer than people who are only ordering slices. When you do order a whole pizza, they make it there for you after you order, but if you order a couple slices, they take them from the counter and heat them in the oven for you. I usually order a pizza to share with my family. They have all the toppings you can imagine like, mushrooms, onions, bacon, meat, and all different types of cheese. Most of the time, my family and I order the plain pizza because you can never go wrong with sauce and cheese. If I’m feeling daring, I’ll order the white pizza with ricotta cheese and garlic which is heavenly. Anything you order there you will enjoy immensely and they have so many options. Although I may be biased because I go there every Friday night, I still would give them 5 stars and I feel that my experiences at Pizza Box can support that. If you are looking for a new place to try with your family, I would highly recommend Pizza Box.

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Warminster West: Up to the Test by Sabrina Chaieb

33 Street Rd, Warminster, PA 18974

● Hours:​ Monday-Sunday; 24 hours ● Credit Cards: A​ ll major ● Prices:​ $$ out of $$$$$ ● Reservations:​ All reservation amounts welcome (Nothing over 50 people per reservation) ● Noise Level: ​ Moderate

Web SIte: http://warminsterwest.com/

My family have always loved going out to eat on our Sunday family days. It is where we spend quality time with each other and discuss what has been going through our minds throughout the week. We talk about our struggles, stressful responsibilities coming up, and positive events that has happened all throughout the week. With such deep conversations among our family, the moderate noise level throughout the diner allows these conversations to be successful. When I first went went to Warminster West Diner, I was not sure if a diner would be open on Sunday due to the fact that others were closed. When I went to the door I was surprised to see the hours were posted as open twenty-four hours. Being with my mother and my sister who are very picky eaters, I was worried about the diner’s food choices and quality. Right as we entered, we were welcomed by a waitress and were seated right away. After only a few moments another waitress asked us what beverages we may like. So far the diner was up to par, and I was quite surprised. When I opened the menu, I was flustered to see all of the different food choices and range of prices. I paid close attention to each food and the price of it. All seemed reasonable, but the quality would determine that completely. I ordered a caesar salad while my mother and sister got a steak to split. When our drinks were brought back and we had ordered food, we waited patiently for all to be served. The waitresses there seemed to be very efficient. Although one specific waitress seemed to be more on the disrespectful side, the overall experience there seemed to be okay.

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Is Marzano Ristorante Worth all the Hype? By Felicia Morina

Marzano Ristorante, 309 York Rd, Jenkintown, PA. Hours:​ Sunday-Thursday, 11am - 9 pm; Friday & Saturday, 11 am - 10 pm. Payment Methods: A​ MEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Cash Prices: ​Starters: $8 - $16; Entrees: $8 - $35 Takes Reservations or Walk Ins Noise Level: ​Moderate Website: ​ ​http://www.marzanoristorant.com/ ​Marzano Ristorante is not your average cliché Italian restaurant. Coming from an Italian family, I consider myself an expert on the field. Prior to my experience at Marzano’s, I have heard many great reviews and recommendations; however, I wanted to see for myself whether the restaurant deserved all of the hype it was receiving. Marzano’s is an Italian restaurant located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Jenkintown is known for having one-of a kind shops, cafés, and restaurants available for local residents and others visiting the area. The restaurant offers parking for cars and bicycles, indoor and outdoor seating, a gluten-free menu, private dining rooms, and is wheelchair accessible. I visited this restaurant with three of my closest girlfriends, as a celebration for me and one of my friend’s birthdays. We cleaned up nicely for this restaurant even thought the dress code is casual, but most people there tend to pretty themselves up a tad. When we entered through the heavy glass front door, we were immediately greeted by two kind hostesses who asked for the name of our reservation. We stood in the cozy foyer, which had a small waiting area, for roughly one to two minutes before being seated in the back of the building, where the view of the busy street and bar is located. On our way to our table, we passed through a slightly narrow hallway which had private dining rooms of both sides. of you. There were approximately six total dining rooms to choose from, varying sizes and layouts. We were sat fairly close to the large glass window, which acted as a wall on the far back side. Our waitress was quick and kind with us, even though we were the youngest customers in the building at the time. The noise level was moderate, but loud enough to hear the table next to you. I ordered one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert to further examine the restaurant's quality. For my appetizer, I ordered the “Crabocatos” which are avocados filled with crab meat with a lemon juice on top. For my entree, I ordered grilled chicken with crabmeat, cheese, a lemon sauce, and cooked vegetables. For my dessert, I choose a lemon-coconut-pineapple pound cake slice. Overall the service was great, the food was outstanding, and was definitely worth the price tag. With the vast price range, the bill can rise extremely fast, so be prepared for a hefty price tag if you are visiting this restaurant with a number of people of your family. But then again, the food, drinks, and service are well worth the decrease of your bank account! Although the positives outweigh the negatives, no place is perfect. I would only recommend a few ideas to improve the overall experience at Marzano’s, being altering the layout……..actually no, that is the only thing I’d change about this restaurant. The tables were a bit close to each other, and it almost felt a little tight. I could also follow the table next to me’s conversation if I wanted to. But besides that, I had no issues at all. To answer the initial question, “Is Marzano Ristorante just another stereotypical Italian restaurant?”, the answer is no. Marzano’s definitely deserves all of the hype, or praise, that it receives. From the second I stepped foot into the building to when I left, several hours later, I had enjoyed myself to the fullest, and so had my stomach! With only one critique, I definitely recommend anyone and everyone to visit Marzano Ristorante next time they are in the area, which can be enjoyed with friends, family, and even for a date night!

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What’s a Shakespeare? by Lucy Tyler Everyone knows who Shakespeare is, and if you don’t, you have either been living under a rock or have never been in any middle school English class. Even though he is probably the most famous playwright to have lived, little is known about William Shakespeare most likely because he lived 400 years ago. Despite the lack of hard evidence, people were sure to come up with myths and theories to explain the unknown gaps in his life. Theory #1:​ Shakespeare hated his wife. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 shortly before the birth of his first child. Some believe that the marriage was forced because of the untimely pregnancy. William also left for London for at least a few years, leaving his family in Stratford. Some say this was to get away from Anne. Others have rumored that he was bisexual. Nonetheless, it is no lie that he left his family to pursue acting. The real question is whether any love for Anne was present. Theory #2:​ Shakespeare’s Sonnets When the plague broke out and the theatre closed, Shakespeare resorted to poetry. It was then that he wrote a series of 154 sonnets. The mystery is who they were dedicated to. The first 126 sonnets are written to a young man to which the narrator had a deep relationship with. Although, the final sonnets (127-154) were directed to the “Dark Lady”. The infatuation the narrator had with this mysterious woman was mesmerizing, but who was she? It is rumored that she may have been a woman of color. This would have been a scandal in this time. It just goes to show how Shakespeare was never one to follow the rules. Theory #3:​ Shakespeare didn’t write his plays. There are ​several theories about the “true authors” of the work claimed to be written and published under William Shakespeare’s name. Many think it was Sir Francis Bacon, a philosopher and former Lord Chancellor of high class, that was the true author. It was thought that Bacon wrote under a false name because the plays were performed at a middle class level and he didn’t want to damage his pristine reputation. This theory would also make sense because Shakespeare was thought to have been low-educated having come from an illiterate family. Bacon, on the other hand, was more upper class with an ensured education. Others thought to have been responsible for his works include Edward De Vere, English courtier; Christopher Marlowe, one of Shakespeare’s “rivals”; and many others. Honorable Mentions ● They used a real skull in Hamlet ● He died on his birthday

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Movie Review: Captain Marvel By Victor Aires Captain Marvel is a movie by Marvel Studios. It is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.The movie has a wonderful cast starring Brie Larson as Carol Danvers A.K.A Captain Marvel and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.This movie was magnificent and it is one of the best movies of the year so far. The movie came out on March 9 and made over $153 Million on the box office on its opening weekend. Captain Marvel also marks history on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as it is their first movie to star a female superhero. Captain Marvel is a wonderful movie that everyone who is a fan of the MCU deserves to watch.

Technology in the Classroom by Maximilian Thallner

By now, almost every teacher in every classroom in AJHS uses technology in some way. Whether it’s using the projectors to teach lessons or using websites for grades, technology has been used in this school. Many students agree that technology has made their lives easier, and typing is much better than handwriting due to the speed and ease of editing. Even the newspaper club has gone from printing out the articles to posting it online. But how can technology be fully harnessed for students and teachers? How can this incredible tool improve grades ​and s​ tudent happiness? Well, look no further than the ways that it is used for studying. Overall, most students enjoy the website of Kahoot. The teachers put questions for an upcoming test or quiz in the website, and students can use their phones or laptops to answer the questions. This competitive game makes students enjoy studying, and their desire to win the game inspires them to study. Another similar website is Quizlet, with a greater variety of studying methods and students are able to study individually at home. Another way to keep up with school work is with Google Classroom. Teachers can post assignments to one class, whether these are study guides, review games, or assignments that can be completed digitally. A useful tool that all teachers in AJHS use today is Skyward, which is used for grades and is occasionally used for small assignments. Skyward separates grades into different marking periods and assignments, so you can easily check what can be improved upon. It also functions as a calendar so you can check what assignments are due soon. In conclusion, technology is an incredibly useful tool in the classroom, and it’s many applications make life for students much easier and stress-free.