The Lighthouse Vol. XXX, No. 2 Lyndhurst High School: 400 Weart Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 December 2016 Crowds tremble with laughter at fall play, ‘Fools’ By Jillian Cancela “Auditioning with Russian ac- Editor cents was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but in the end, it As the lights dimmed in the made the show so much better,” auditorium on Nov. 17 and 18, Fletcher said. audiences were transported from Despite the challenges, Fletcher the small town of Lyndhurst to said she is glad she was able to the tiny village of Kulyenchikov, end her acting career at LHS with Ukraine for the performance of “Fools.” Neil Simon’s “Fools.” “I could not be any happier This comedy is about a young that we got to perform this play school teacher named Leon Tol- this year, because it is about time chinsky (Sophomore Jordon Fer- we had a comedy shown on this nandez) who gets hired to spread stage, and it was a lot of fun his knowledge in Kulyenchikov. and everyone really enjoyed it,” Upon arriving, Tolchinsky gets Fletcher said. excited to begin teaching Doc- English and Drama Teacher tor Zubritsky’s (Sophomore An- Ms. Coppola, who has directed thony Hayes) daughter, Sophia the fall play for 11 years, said her Zubritsky (Senior Sarah Almei- 19-year-old daughter convinced da)… that is, until he realizes the her to stage “Fools.” village suffers from a curse that “She thought we could have fun has made everyone unintelligent. making the costumes, which we Throughout the play, Tolchin- ultimately did,” Coppola said. sky tries to break the curse any Coppola said she drove down way he can, either by teaching to Washington, D.C. and trans- Sophia or by letting her marry formed her daughter’s apartment Count Gregor Yousekevitch (Se- into a “sewing factory.” The two nior Matt Hooper). However, Le- spent their time designing the on’s plans are complicated when costumes to match the colors and he falls in love with Sophia. fabrics that were popular in the Humor is infused through ex- late 1800s in Ukraine. traordinary situations and outra- While Coppola said she and her geous characters. Among these daughter enjoyed making the cos- characters was Senior Mackenzie tumes since it gave them a chance Fletcher, who played an unpleas- to be creative, the design process ant saleswoman named Yenchna. was not easy. “It took a little while to get that “Making the jackets that Leon loud and bubbly, which I hope and Dr. Z wore were challenging made my character as a whole so because the garments were made much funnier,” Fletcher said. differently than we would make Another struggle she faced was garments now,” Coppola said, Photos by Jessie Bolton speaking in a foreign accent in a explaining that jackets from that Freshman Reagan Ferschweiler, Senior Sarah Almeida, Sophomore Anthony Hayes and Sophomore Jordon Fernandez manner that was both consistent time period had additional seams (left to right) bring laughter to the stage in Neil Simon’s “Fools” in the auditorium on Nov. 17 and 18. and understandable. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Referendum means monumental change for Lyndhurst By Sarah Almeida conditioning at LHS, new sports I needed to do to make sure that “People are interested in saying for our Schools’ campaign in or- Staff Writer and performing arts facilities at our community was seen as a ‘no’ to spending. They’re typical- der to get the referendum passed. the junior high school and voca- community that believes in edu- ly not interested in leaving their Heading the campaign was Deb- History was made on Nov. 8 tional training facilities such as cation.” house to say ‘yes’ to spending,” bie Peloso, a Lyndhurst resident when the fi rst referendum since areas to take cooking, industrial Di Lascio said the referendum Di Lascio said. whose children attend schools 2000 was passed overwhelmingly arts and medical classes. has been in the works for about It is this challenge, according outside of Lyndhurst. by a vote of 4,554 to 2,009. The plan was devised by Super- 30 years. He refers to it as a part to Di Lascio, that explains why “I’m still a resident here…. I Referendum 2016 is a plan for intendent Mrs. DeMarco, Board of his “Project Tomorrow” plan, the referendum was specifi cally see the benefi t of having good improvements to all schools in of Education and Township At- which involves about $100 mil- planned for a presidential elec- schools [and] what it will do to the district, excluding Lincoln torney Richard Di Lascio and lion in improvements to Lynd- tion year. Therefore, the team did my property value,” Peloso said. School since it will be replaced Business Administrator David hurst within the next four years. not have to worry about attracting “I also would never want any par- by a junior high school. DiPisa. After being approved by The referendum that was ap- voters to polls. Anyone who vot- ent to have to make the decision The improvements include ad- the Board of Education, the refer- proved last month will cost each ed would see the extra question at that I did.” ditions to Columbus, Frank- endum was ready to be voted on household an average of $96 a the bottom of the ballot. Howev- After an extensive campaign lin, Roosevelt and Washington by the public. year starting in 2018 and continu- er, the team still had to convince that involved giving out fl yers Schools, as well as many interior “Need for space was truly the ing until 2053. The improvements voters to answer ‘yes.’ with Halloween candy at her upgrades such as the installation inspiration,” DeMarco said. “My to the existing schools will cost a Parents within the community house on Page Avenue and using of elevators in each school, air main focus was doing whatever total of $19.8 million. rallied together to create the ‘Yes CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 NFL ratings The ugliest All eyes on drop | 5 trend | 7 Michael Check Us Out America’s sport Gaudy garments Carrino | 8 are popular during struggles to keep Senior has the the holiday season. ON THE WEB its viewers. Heart of a Giant. issuu.com/LHSlighthouse The Lighthouse 2 NEWS & FEATURES December 2016 Meet the SGA board members President Vice President Secretary Social Chairman Community Service Rep Anthony Hayes, sophomore Galina Bello, senior Amy Mehboob, junior Sara Attia, junior Sarah Almeida, senior What did winning the election Why did you join SGA? What goals do you have for the How do you plan on making What is the signifi cance of SGA mean to you? “I'm fascinated with the way rest of the year? LHS a better school? to you? “Since I’m a sophomore, I hon- governments work and learning “My goals include working “It's hard to change a whole “SGA is important to me be- estly didn’t think I was going to how decisions are made. Before with with the rest of the executive school, but I do want to try my cause it gives me hope that any win. It meant I knew the people the SGA, I started a water bottle board to add new activities to the best to make a difference. I want student, no matter how quiet or cared about what I was doing, and fi lling station petition, and I really pep rallies and organizing new to do small things that will even- shy, can make a difference and they knew I was the right choice.” felt like I was making a difference events for the student body.” tually lead to something great.” have an impact on our school.” in the school.” Photos and text compiled by Jennifer Wartel iPad investment continues Saying goodbye By Jared Gabriel lowed for an upgrade in iPads at trol themselves and do not know Staff Writer the beginning of this school year. when to put them down.” Prior to this year, students and Freshman Victoria Niedbal to sign language Gone are the days when pen and teachers were using iPads they said she is not impressed by the paper were the only ways to fi n- received in 2012 when the district school’s investment. By Gabriella Sarracino I’ve been learning Spanish my ish an assignment. This year, ev- fi rst adopted the technology. “I think iPads are useless be- Staff Writer whole life. So, learning sign lan- ery student and faculty member at DeMarco was an English teach- cause I usually only use them guage was a complete 360 turn LHS received a brand new iPad. er at LHS at the time. to check my email and grades,” As students select courses for around,” Ricciardi said. Superintendent Mrs. DeMarco “There was defi nitely a level of Niedbal said, explaining that her next year, they have the option of Senior Jackie Kelly studied sign said the school district is commit- concern among the teachers be- classes do not rely on iPads. studying Italian or Spanish. One language during her freshman ted to utilizing technology that cause we were given these de- One major change that accom- language that is missing is Amer- and sophomore years and said prepares students for college and vices that were relatively new… panied this year’s iPad upgrade ican Sign Language. For the sec- she misses it dearly. Kelly said allows schools to be green, rely- and now we were being asked to was the disabling of the App ond year in a row, sign language sign language is useful because ing less on paper.