Volume 40 Issue 3 Student Newspaper Of Shaler Area High School December 2011 Students get inside look at Occupy Pittsburgh by Audrey Schreiber and lon Green, a park privately owned by Anna Porter bank BNY Mellon. The park is fi lled with an array of tents that the occupi- This past September, some ers have been living in since October Americans decided that enough was 15, Day 1. enough. In New York City, thousands “Occupy Pittsburgh” and all gathered to show their concern about occupy movements have received a the country’s growing difference be- great deal of negative attention from tween the wealthiest 1% of Americans the media and those with differing and the rest of the population. The views. Seeing news coverage of riots, movement in New York was coined violence, and arrests, made us hesi- “Occupy Wall Street,” a term that not tant on what to expect the morning only pays ode to NYC’s fi nancial dis- we ventured down to the park. The trict, but to all fi nancial markets in the fi rst thing to be seen was a giant “Oc- United States. cupy Pittsburgh” sign situated at the Since then, “Occupy Wall very front of the camp. It was what a Street” has been shut down by gov- majority of passerbys did see and, fu- ernment authorities, but this reac- eled by their curiosity, stopped to see tion served as a catalyst for an entire more. After passing the sign and ac- world-wide revolution. Inspired by tually entering the encampment area, New York’s “Occupy Wall Street”, An “Occupy Pittsburgh” sign outside of the camp city (Anna Porter) we did not walk into an area full of encampments have been popping up the United States and 1,500 globally have taken ac- rowdy demonstrators, or a peace across the nation and across the globe. In the United tion to protest the greed of their country’s corporate circle of hippies, but a scene that looked inspired by States, every state has at least one camp, with Cali- government and overcome economic inequality. L.L Bean’s camping line. This was the last thing we fornia alone having fi fty set up throughout the area. Although some locations have been shut down were expecting considering what had been shown by Borders did not hinder the fever, having spread from since their start, one that remains is “Occupy Pitts- the media for there were no riots, no violence, and the Americas, to Europe, Asia, and Africa. According burgh,” the camp city located in Downtown, Pitts- to Occupy Wall Street’s website, over 100 cities in burgh on the corner of 6th and Grant Street at Mel- Cont. on page 5 Cast proves It Is A Wonderful Life Friend remembered by Katie Rees at memorial dinner The talented group of promising students lit up the Shaler Area High School’s stage once again in the production of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The play took place on Friday, December 2nd and Saturday Decem- ber 3rd, just in time to get everybody into the heartwarming spirit The cast of “It’s A Wonderful Life” (Submitted by Emily McNeeley) of Christmas through tainly not hesitant to applaud the efforts of the cast this classic story of love vs. ambition. and crew. “Everyone involved in the play this year has “The stage crew for the play this year was espe- Victoria M. O’Neill (Submitted by Renae Fichter) worked so hard. The students really put their hearts cially important because there were so many props into making this show happen,” said one of the di- that were involved in this play especially. There by Ali Tappe rectors, Mrs. Domencic. were so many set changes and it was important to th The cast had been putting their time and effort make sure everything was in its proper place. Al- On November 26 , a memorial dinner was into this production since mid-September from af- lison Shaffer and Emily McNeeley were two of our held in honor of Victoria O’Neill, who would ter-school practices to rehearsals. Not to mention, many wonderful student directors who exceeded in have been a senior this year. th the directors having to go hunting around for unique all of our expectations concerning their amazing Victoria passed away on August 12 , 2005 antiques to display in the show since July, as well. commitment to this play,” Mrs. Domencic said. in a tragic accident that left family members and Regarding the title, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, gives The cast and crew should be applauded for all friends fi lled with sorrow and grief. off a very positive connotation, but what exactly of their hard work. The dedication provided by the The Victoria M. O’Neill Scholarship Fund was the play itself about? directors and the students was what created the play, Dinner was the senior project of Renae Fichter “The play was about George Bailey, a young, and why the crowd was fi lled with comments of and Sally McGinley. ambitious man who struggled to discover meaning adoration when it was over. “The dinner is usually held every year, and we in his life. It’s a Christmas story and appeals to all “The students make up the majority of all pro- didn’t want to forget Victoria for her senior year. ages,” Junior Collin Ziegler said. ductions-it’s the students who are onstage, the stu- She was one of our best friends and we wanted to The play, oriented for a variety of audience dents who move the sets, and the students who con- honor her memory,” Fichter said. members, exceeded expectations thanks to the cast trol lights and sounds. The directors and adults are The pair spent many hours organizing and crew who worked to make it happen. It offered excellent in their guidance and direction, but it’s the the event to make sure that everything went a variety of cast members, from newcomers to ex- students-from the leads to the ensemble members to smoothly. perienced actors/actresses, who all delivered award the stage crew-who should be commended,” Ziegler “We were preparing weeks ahead of time. We winning performances. said. would do anything to prepare and make sure Mrs. Domencic and Collin Ziegler were cer- Cont. on page 2 Page 2 The Oracle December 2011 Clarks’ lead singer to perform here Dec. 22 Scott Blasey, the lead singer of The Clarks, will good food right around the corner, not to mention performing in Auditorium Thursday Dec 22. Tickets lots of other great surprises. It never gets old. will cost $5 and are available in the Activities Of- What is your favorite/least favorite thing fi ce. The school will be running a special homeroom about touring? period at the end of the day on the 22nd. Those who Touring is hard. It’s hard on the body and the buy tickets will be admitted to the show while those mind. The best part is discovering new cities. The who do not will stay in homeroom. All money raised worst part is the actual driving for hours and hours from the show will go to the Zak Piekarski Memo- every day, day after day, week after week. It’s not rial Scholarship. hard to forget where you are. Blasey took the time to answer some questions If you could give a concert at any place in as a preview for his show. the world, where would be? Why? One of my teachers said you told a story The Peters Township Library because my kids about dating a girl from Shaler the last time you and their friends always come up and sing with were here. Can you retell that story? me. My college sweetheart was a girl named Susan What have some of your best experiences Burig from Allison Park. She graduated from Shaler been as a musician? High School in 1984. We met at IUP and dated for 5 Playing on the late Show with David letter- years. We got engaged after we graduated but never man was a highlight. The fi rst Surge Festival at got married. We were too young and we both had Starlake in 1997 was special too. other goals in life. She moved to Los Angeles and What advice would you give to any bands has a successful career in the movie business work- hoping to make it big? ing on set design. She’s married now and we’re still Play in front of people as often as possible. friends. Penny on the Floor was written about her. What are your thoughts on how the music What musical bands inspired you or inspire industry has changed over your lifetime going you today? Scott Blasey at the 2011 Fayette County Fair from cassettes to CDs to digital? Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Beatles, When I was a kid my dad played records, LPs Prince were all early inspirations for me personally. The band was inspired by and 45s. I collected records from the time I was 4 years old. Then it was 8-track U2, R.E.M. and the Replacements when we were starting out. tapes, then cassettes, and then CDs. The Clarks’ fi rst album was on LP and cas- When did you fi rst discover that music was something you wanted to sette. Our heyday was during the golden age of CD sales in the 90s. We made pursue in life? great money selling our own product through local and regional distributors.