Entertainment

We should all sit down and face it- life gets boring! Do you enjoy entertainment? Word puzzles, sudoku, maybe even book reviews? Read these articles and spend hours fulfilled of great reads!

Sunset at the Beach

By Jarrod Sherman, March 28, 2025

The beach is a place where all come and go, for the water, a tan, maybe even to get away from their kids. The sound of waves crashing, seagulls squawking, the hectic yet tranquil peacefulness of it all. I enjoy going to see the sunset, when there’s less people around and I can be by myself.

There’s this weird sense of calmness that washes over me, I don’t have to worry about anything but being back with my aunt and sisters before dark. The colors in the sky blend, forming a beautiful background for the water, the sun looking as if it were sinking into the sea, or in this case the bay. It’s all so peaceful.

The feeling of being away from your problems, the peacefulness brought from the bay. The crashing of the waves, squawking seagulls, and feet hitting the wood of the dock creating an environment you wish was your daily life. The only thing left for you to do is get a picture of the sunset with the dock in shot.

Now, everything is complete, a memory and feeling all in one picture for you to look back on, and wish to come back to someday.

Should Underclassmen Be Allowed at Prom

By Peyton Schlegel, March 24, 2025

For many years, high schoolers have entertained the question, “What grades should be allowed to participate in prom?” Some students say all, while others would argue that only seniors should experience the dance. Upon completing my own personal research, I’ve come to a conclusion. Only upperclassmen, 11th and 12th graders, should be admitted to prom.

Asking four upperclassmen the same question, “Should underclassmen be allowed in prom?” they all came to the same answer: No. The first respondent, Sam, 12th grade, replied,

“How would you feel if you went to prom this year, and saw tables worth of freshmen going on about some ‘this is crazy’,’oh my god’, ‘this is like a movie’.”

The second respondent, Brooke, twelfth grade, agrees with Sam’s opinion. She goes on to state, “They [underclassmen] shouldn’t go to prom unless an upperclassman is taking them.” Her opinion is slightly different from the others, condemning underclassmen unless they have the direct approval of an upperclassman.

Aaron, 12th grade, thinks that it simply, “Shouldn’t happen.” His opinion seems to speak for the rest of his peers.

My final interviewee, Anonymous, seals the common consensus that underclassmen and prom do not fit in the same sentence. They claim, “Get them [underclassmen] outta there. They can wait for their time just like we did.”

As a now senior who attended prom as a freshman, I unexpectedly agree with all of these opinions. I agreed at the time of me going to prom as well. In my opinion, prom is an anticipated event, a special privilege for older grades, and something to motivate the underclassmen.

Favorite Type of Music

By Natalie Pennington, March 24, 2025

This article explores the different styles of music teens like to listen to and explores teenage music preferences, highlighting the diverse genres and platforms shaping their listening habits. Social media is one of the biggest platforms that influence teens with their music tast.Music helps kids get through things and to even focus. As you read you will see the difference between teens’ music taste.

I interviewed some teens and asked what their favorite song was. Music is a great way to express who you are. Devon Lopez said “Hometown Glory” by Adele was his. This song is such a beautiful song talking about two worlds colliding, while Kole Bardnt said “Broke Window” by Whiskey Myres was his. This shows the two completely different tastes and styles music can be. Chase Hoch said ”Timeless” by The Weekend was his. “Nut Shell” by Alice in Chains was Ronnie Zileagler. My favorite is “Latch” by Sam Smith. I think that you can know how someone’s personality is by what their favorite song is.

Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have revolutionized how teens discover and consume music. These platforms utilize algorithms to personalize recommendations, often leading to the discovery of niche genres and artists that might not have been accessible through traditional radio or physical media. This personalized experience fosters a sense of musical individuality among teens.

Teen music preferences are dynamic and diverse, shaped by the accessibility of streaming services, the blurring of genre lines, and the powerful influence of social media. The personalized nature of music discovered, coupled with the effects of social media, ensures that the musical landscape of the teenage years continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Understanding these trends is crucial for anyone seeking to connect with the next generation of music lovers.

New Music Albums That Are Worth a Listen!

By Gianna Michio March 24, 2025

An album that dropped recently, MUSIC by Playboi Carti is an amazing album. With 30 songs and a duration of an hour and 17 minutes, there are all sorts of features that bring this album together. Future, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, and Young Thug all have great features. “JUMPIN” featuring Lil Uzi was one of my favorite songs off of this album. I think this is definitely worth an entire listen if you enjoy rap! Not dropping for multiple years, as his last album Whole Lotta Red released in 2020, this was a highly anticipated album. Majority of this album was highly enjoyable, and very little skips so I definitely recommend this!

Another album that came out that is 100% worth a listen is Drake’s collaborated album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. With 21 songs and a duration of an hour and 14 minutes, the album consists of a variation of different sounds and vibes. My personal favorite off the album is “WHEN HE’S GONE,” an R&B kind of sound. Drake experimented with different kinds of songs, like “DIE TRYING” and “NOKIA” which are pretty catchy. In my honest opinion, I’d say there are quite a few skips, but there are also most definitely solid songs on this album.
The last album is an upcoming release which is Deep Thoughts by Lil Durk. This is expected to come out March 28th. With 17 songs on the track list, you can look forward to features from artists like Future, Hunxho, Jhené Aiko, and Lil Baby. I think this will definitely be worth a listen for anyone who enjoys rap. Some of these songs are available to listen to right now, as he released 5 of the 17 already.

High Schoolers’ Favorite Food

By Adalee Grason, March 24, 2025

High school can be super busy with all the classes, activities, and hanging out with friends, so food is definitely something students look forward to throughout the day. Whether it’s a quick snack between classes, a favorite lunch, or something to munch on after school, food is a big part of the high school experience. From classic snacks to the latest food trends, high schoolers have a lot of go-to options to keep them fueled and satisfied. Let’s dive into some of the favorite foods that keep students energized during their busy days.

When it comes to favorite foods, everyone has their go-to pick. Gavin W.’s favorite food is pizza—he loves it because it’s quick, tasty, and always a winner. Ben R. is all about mac and cheese; he thinks it’s the best comfort food, especially when he needs something warm and cheesy. Kole Brandt, on the other hand, can never pass up a slice of pepperoni pizza—it’s his top choice because of the perfect combo of cheese and pepperoni. Whether it’s pizza or mac and cheese, these are definitely the foods that keep high schoolers happy and full!

In conclusion, high schoolers have a wide range of favorite foods that keep them going throughout their busy days. Whether it’s a classic slice of pizza, a bowl of mac and cheese, or a pepperoni pizza with all the toppings, these foods are a big part of their routines. No matter what your favorite food is, it’s clear that having something you love to eat makes the school day a little bit better. So, next time you’re hungry between classes or after school, you’ll know what some of your classmates are probably reaching for!

What to Do During Spring Break

By Olivia Remolde March 18, 2025

With spring break arriving in a month, students are beginning to plan what they will be doing on this year’s spring break. With a week-long break ahead, there are many options, but I will be sharing the best things to do during this year’s spring break, according to your peers.

The first idea is going on a road trip. It could be going to the beach, to a city, or another state. It’s a great activity to enjoy with friends and family. While it may be a bit costly, many students enjoy this activity and recommend it.

Another idea that was brought up was simply hanging out with friends and family. It could be spending quality time together, going out somewhere, or even doing a fun activity together. Many students mentioned this, and it can go along with any activity you’re planning for this spring break.

For the people that don’t enjoy going out and spending money, a nice staycation would be a great idea. Find a new show or movie series to binge, DIY something, or even just relaxing. This was a very diverse idea, as many students had different ideas of what to do when you are staying home.

These activities were the most popular among the group of students that I asked, and are perfect for this year’s spring break. With a week of no school, you can find some fun activities to do throughout this spring break.

The State of Music in 2025

By Allen Goodman, March 14th 2025.

2025 is only a little over two and a half months in, so how’s the music industry doing? Well to be frank, it’s doing great. After a fairly underwhelming 2024, the music industry has had an explosion of content. In this article I’ll go over just some of the albums that made this year so good.

On January 3rd, the first major album WHAM by Lil’ Baby, peaked #1 on the United States Billboard 200 and sold 140,000 copies in the first week. This is just insane. Two days later Bad Bunny released his album Debì Tirar Más Totos which translates to “should take more photos.” Even though the album is in Spanish, it debuted #2 on the United States Billboard 200. This just goes to show how well perceived this album was in the music industry. The last album I’ll talk about in January, the posthumous album Ballonerism by Mac Miller exploded the internet as his estate was releasing the now late Mac Miller’s album. The first week it sold 80k, but it still peaked at #3 on Billboard 200.

Brief Grammy intermission: these Grammy’s were crazy too. For one, Beyoncé walked away with a Grammy for Country album of the year AND album of the year. Second, artists like Eminem, J Cole and Future were competing for rap album of the year. The winner of the award was up and coming female artist Doechii. Good for her and Beyoncé, and the other winners not discussed.

For February only one really huge album came out and this was of course Drake and Partynextdoors album $ome $*xy $ongs for U. This album actually was perceived poorly by critics but still songs like “CN Tower,” “Gimme a Hug,” and “Nokia” stood out on the album and helped it climb the charts to debut #1 on the Billboard 200 and sell a whopping 250 thousand copies in the first week, making it the biggest album of the year by far. While February only had one big album, I’d like to shout out Westside Gunns album 12 and the Alchemists album Life Is Beautiful. Both are great projects made by lesser known artists.

March 7th was a big day, with Lady Gaga releasing her album Mayhem which was perceived great by critics but no numbers are out yet due to the album being so new at the time of writing. Same can be said about Tory Lanez’s album Peterson but what makes this album so special is the fact that he recorded the entire album from prison. Hard to do and shows his dedication to music.

Upcoming Spring Event You Can Attend!

By, Gianna Michio February 19, 2025

One of Philadelphia’s most loved events is coming up this March 1st through 9th! The Philadelphia Flower Show consists of a large garden of all sorts of beautiful flowers. Flowers you may see are dahlias, tulips, roses, lavender, and more! Consisting of around 75,000 fresh flowers and 15,000 plants, you are quickly overwhelmed by all the gorgeous flowers and music around you.

Something new coming this year is a future based exhibit. Highlighting issues such as pollution, climate change, and drought, leading Japanese floral artist Kazuyuki Ishihads collaborated with another designer creating a beautiful two-tiered jungle based garden celebrating how nature still thrives despite all the issues arising against it. Offering an opportunity to enjoy nature, and also the resilience it has, The Flower Show is a must see!

Not only does it offer a creative take on nature, you can also see hundreds of butterflies! This is by far my personal favorite when it comes to the flower show. With up to 50 different variants of butterflies, the most loved butterfly kiosk is returning where you can interact with all kinds of butterflies in a serene habitat surrounded by flowers and plants. It is truly a gorgeous sight to see, and I was quickly amazed by all the beautiful butterflies. Coming in all different colors, shapes, and sizes, you will be quickly in awe of all the amazing insects around you. They will even teach you how to attract these gorgeous insects to your own garden! The show offers numerous events for all ages, kids to adults.

Another amazing detail to this show is the enticing marketplace! The Philadelphia Flower Show offers over 200 vendors offering items such as accessories, beautiful live plants, and all things related to gardening! If that is too loud and crowded for your liking, it also has an activity to accommodate those who enjoy peace. Called “Blossom & Breathe”, this event allows you to go to a tranquil floral paradise allowing you to enjoy silent yoga sessions. If you’re a fan of the eagles, this would be great for you! It’s led by the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Arielle Hunt!

Source: https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/events/philadelphia-international-flower-show/

NFL Performance

By Evelyn Wright, February 24, 2025

The NFL halftime performance has gotten lots of mixed reviews. People complain that the choreography and rapping was not up to par to be in the Super Bowl, while others argue that it was amazing. The whole performance was very powerful and meaningful to Kendrick and the current state of society. But viewers have expressed that it was too much for the halftime show. Though some people didn’t enjoy the show, lots of people have said it was the best performance they’ve seen at the Super Bowl.

The song that was performed was a very popular song referring to Lamar’s publicized problem with Drake. During a press conference held before the show, Kendrick explained he wanted to bring a “storytelling” aspect to his performance. The whole idea of it was to celebrate black culture. The dancers at the event were dressed in red, white, and blue to symbolize the American flag. Famous actor, Samuel L Jackson appeared as Uncle Sam in the beginning of the performance. It’s a representation of black oppression and racism with the remarks like, “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto.”

Although it was just a halftime performance, I think it will be very iconic in the future. The significance, and the choreography of this performance will be remembered in NFL history, and future halftime performances will have to compete with Kendrick’s.

Summer Vacation

Natalie Pennington, February 21, 2024

Summer vacation is a cherished period for students; it’s something students look forward to. Taking a break from school work, drama, and sports, it is a time filled with opportunities for relaxation, adventure, and personal growth. The significance of summer vacation extends beyond just a break from school, it also offers an essential chance to recharge mentally and physically. Students look forward to summer through the school year, making summer the most exciting time.

One of the most exciting aspects of summer vacation is the chance to travel. Many families plan trips to different destinations, whether it’s a beach resort, a national park, or a cultural city, which are hard to do during the school year. These trips allow families to bond and create lasting memories while experiencing new environments and cultures. Traveling can also provide educational opportunities, as students learn about history, geography, and different ways of life outside their own community. Kids can share about their ‘summer vacay’ when they get back to school.

Moreover, summer vacation is a time for students to pursue hobbies and interests that they might not have time for during the school year. Whether it’s joining a sports team, learning to play a musical instrument, or engaging in arts and crafts, summer offers a perfect opportunity for personal development. Many children participate in summer camps, where they can learn new skills, make friends, and build confidence in a fun and supportive environment. Summer camps are the best and funnest part about my summer.

Summer vacation plays a vital role in the lives of students and families. It provides not only a break from study but also an opportunity to explore the world, engage in hobbies, and enjoy outdoor activities. The experiences gained during this time can lead to personal growth and cherished memories that last a lifetime. As summer approaches, students look forward to the freedom and opportunities that await them, making it a truly special season.

New Years Superstitions

By Veronica Trice, December 30, 2024

January 1st is celebrated as New Year’s Day. It is to celebrate the earth completing a trip around the sun. Many places around the world have different superstitions to bring new beginnings and good luck. Some of the most popular traditions are smashing plates and eating twelve grapes. The tradition of smashing plates is to release any anger you do not want to bring into the new year. Eating twelve grapes is one of the most popular traditions. At 12:00 am you attempt to eat twelve grapes before the clock hits 12:01. Twelve grapes represent good luck for the twelve months of the year. Although it’s odd, the grapes are usually eaten under the table. There are many other foods and activities that are said to bring luck. Eating sauerkraut, running with suitcases, or staying up to watch the ball drop all make fun memories. Think about some of the fun activities and New Year’s resolutions you do.

Christmas Origin/Ways to Celebrate Christmas

By, Emily Cherkasky, December 13, 2024

Christmas started in 336 C. E. It was originally started as a day to celebrate the birth of Christ but can be traced back to being originally a pagan holiday. Every culture had a different way of celebrating Christmas. Romans would throw a festival, Christian’s would have a feast, and pagans would host a winter festival with bonfires and candles to fight the cold.

During the 19th century was when Christmas turned into what it is today. The 19th century brought on gift giving and family focused celebrations. In 1882 is when Christmas decorations and light shows started.

Over the years Christmas has turned from a celebration of the birth of Christ to gift giving. This year there are plenty of things you can do to celebrate the holiday season that doesn’t revolve around giving to others.

Every year a group of volunteers in Reading come together to set up a lightshow called “Reading’s Christmas On the Mountain.” It’s free to get in and also free to meet Santa. Their display has over two million lights, inflatables, and a light show that’s set to music. Coming to Christmas On the Mountain is a must this year.

Another way to celebrate Christmas is to attend Christmas in Birdsboro. Christmas in Birdsboro is held December 14th at Main Bird Park. They’ll have the tree lighting, hot chocolate, and bouncy castles. This is another free event to attend.

My personal favorite way to celebrate the holidays is to watch a Christmas movie and bake cookies. My favorite holiday cookies to make are plain sugar cookies with icing.

There are many different ways to celebrate Christmas this year. Consider the following options this holiday season if you’re looking for something to do.

Things to Do Over Winter Break

By Sierra Horton, December 18, 2024

This year Christmas break will last 8 glorious school days in addition to 2 weekends. That’s 12 whole days to go to community events or enjoy fun activities at home! Here are 6 activities you can participate in during break.

December 21st-

The Nutcracker Ballet at Schaeffer Auditorium in Kutztown

For pricing and other details visit BerksBalletTheatre.com/tickets

December 22nd-

The Train Show at the Hershey History Center (admission $5 for adults, $2 for kids, $10 for a whole family)

For more information on the train show visit HersheyTrainShow.org

December 23rd-

Make Hot Vanilla to keep you awake. You’ll need milk, 2 teaspoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and something to warm the milk. All you do is heat up the milk (about 1 minute and 30 seconds by microwave) and then stir in the sugar and vanilla.

December 24th-

Watch holiday movies with your family. Whether it’s a modern film or classic, on cable or a streaming service, holiday movies are sure to put you in a good mood! My personal favorite this year on Netflix is “A Biltmore Christmas” where a screenwriter, Lucy, time travels to the set of an old romance movie!

December 25th-

Enjoy the day! Whether that means opening presents or doing something you love, just enjoy the time off.

December 27th-

Hang out with friends! Friday is a day for fun so go have some. One unique game to play is where everyone ties a balloon to their foot and tries to pop everyone else’s. Everyone has to do this carefully so their balloon doesn’t get popped. The last person to have an intact balloon wins!

For more activity ideas to do over break visit BerksCountyLiving.com

Sources:

https://berkscountyliving.com/search/event/upcoming-events/#page=1

The Era’s Tour Comes to a Close

By Veronica Trice December 4, 2024

Did you attend the Era’s Tour? Taylor Swift is a popular American singer from Reading, Pa. Originally starting out as a country singer but found more success in pop music. Having 11 original studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 extended plays, and 4 live albums, she has received many awards. Taylor swift has 14 Grammys, 1 Emmy, 40 American and Billboard Music awards, and 30 MTV awards. She is one of the world’s best selling music artists and has over 200 million units sold.

Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour is her sixth concert tour. Previous tours were “The Fearless Tour” (2009-2010), “Speak Now World Tour” (2011-2012), “The Red Tour” (2013-2014), “The 1989 World Tour” (2015), and “Reputation Stadium Tour” (2018). She started The Era’s Tour on March 17, 2023. With the set list containing loads of Swift’s popular and great hits from different eras, the openers picked add to the fun. Her fun and colorful concerts are attended by thousands of people and swifties. However the almost 2 year long tour ends December 8, 2024 in Vancouver.

Many swifties online have shared their favorite moments from each show. Moments like their favorite surprise song and outfits. Whether it’s music or other movies, Swifties are excited to see what other upcoming projects Taylor Swift has.

Wikipedia. “The Eras Tour.” Wikipedia, 16 Apr. 2023,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eras_Tour.

The Legio Custodes – The Emperor’s Finest Warriors

By, Sage Bailey, December 13, 2024

The Legio Custodes are a sub-faction of warriors in Warhammer 40,000 (specifically the Imperium of Man).

Continue reading about these warriors here.

2024 Music Wrapped

By, Emily Cherkasky, December 13, 2024

With the start of December here Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music have released their recaps of music you’ve listened to over the past year. Every year people look forward to seeing what genres, artists, and the songs they’ve been listening to the most throughout the year. Yearly music recaps started in 2015 with Spotify’s “Yearly Music Recap”. As of 2024 most Music Apps have some recap feature.

The information that you’ll learn from a recap are how many minutes of music you’ve listened to this year, your top artist, your top song, most replayed song, and different genre you liked. This year, Spotify has introduced an ai podcast that goes over your Spotify wrapped and explains what everything means.

This year Taylor Swift was recorded as the most listened to artist. The most streamed song this year was “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. Lastly the most streamed album was “The Tortured Poets Department” also by Taylor Swift.

In my friend group the most total minutes listened was 134,945 minutes. That puts them in 0.5% of Spotify listeners. I listened for 60,482 minutes this year which is the top 3% of Spotify listeners.

Yearly music recaps are something many music lovers look forward to during December.

(source: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-12-04/top-songs-artists-podcasts-audiobooks-albums-trends-2024/)

Christmas Origin/Ways to Celebrate Christmas

By, Emily Cherkasky, December 13, 2024

My personal favorite way to celebrate the holidays is to watch a Christmas movie and bake cookies. My favorite holiday cookies to make are plain sugar cookies with icing.

There are many different ways to celebrate Christmas this year. Consider the following options this holiday season if you’re looking for something to do.

Sabrina Carpenter

Olivia Holloway November 12, 2024

Sabrina Carpenter is a singer, artist, and actor. Most people probably know her as this little girl on Disney from the show “Girl meets world.” Sabrina has accomplished her goal that many people would find impossible. She is now on her “Sweet n sweet” tour selling out almost every place she goes. This is Sabrina Carpenter.

Sabrina Carpenter was born May 11, 1999 in Pennsylvania. She started her career out by being on Disney shows such as “Law and Order” and “Phineas and Ferb.” She then had a big break when she was offered the opportunity to be on the show “Girl Meets World.”This is when Sabrina started getting recognized for not just her acting, but also her singing. When the show ended Sabrina started taking singing more seriously. She wrote some songs but not many people knew them.

Then, she got the opportunity to open for Taylor Swift on the “Eras tour” which was a huge deal for her, and people started to notice her and like her more. Now, she is playing on her OWN tour and selling out arenas and getting the recognition she deserves as well for being able to accomplish her dreams. She is not only a singer and actor but also a role model to many teens and girls, saying that, “You can accomplish anything you put your mind to even when people don’t believe you can do it.” This quote should influence you to go after what you want and not be afraid to fail.

Black Friday

By Olivia Holloway, November 4, 2024

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Many stores offer many high sales and discounted prices, and open early so shoppers can get as much as possible. Sometimes the sales can go all the way to Monday or for even a week!

Wikipedia says that Black Friday has evolved in meaning over many years. The name Black Friday came from the year 1869 in the US. There was a financial crisis and people saw a dramatic fall in gold prices which affected investors. This term was later used in retail which started in the 1950s. It was originally associated with the workforce after thanksgiving. Later, Philadelphia police described Black Friday as a “shopping-induced congestion.”

Years later many people tried to change the name to “Big Friday” but failed so “Black Friday” stuck and was officially called that by 1980. This day marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season with many sales aiming towards very large crowds. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and retailers prioritize it because this is a day they can make a lot of money.

Many people enjoy Black Friday because they get to buy the things they want for less money, and it also puts people in the Christmas spirit and gets them excited. Even though you don’t think about it when the day comes, without the historical background of “Black Friday”, we wouldn’t have this day that people love and care about so much.

A Review of Horus Rising

By Sage Bailey, November 6, 2024

Horus Rising, by Dan Abnett, is set in the Warhammer universe, set right before the outbreak of the Horus Heresy in the late 30th Millenium. It follows the protagonists Horus Lupercal, Garviel Loken, alongside Tarik Torgaddon, Iacton Qruze, Ezekyle Abaddon, Horus Aximand, Luc Sedirae, Falkus Kibre and Nero Vipus, and the greater XVIth (Luna Wolves) Legion. Click here to read on.

Thanksgiving Foods

By Ava Gambone, November 4, 2024

Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday for families to connect with each other, celebrate all that you are grateful for, and most importantly, eat food! There are many different foods that families provide on Thanksgiving, from savory to sweet, here are some delicious, traditional Thanksgiving foods you might see at your Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey: the turkey is essentially the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. The turkey can be bought at grocery stores, or freshly butchered just for your dinner. You can stuff your turkey with a flavorful mixture of breads, herbs, and vegetables.

Cranberry sauce: cranberry sauce offers a tart and tangy flavor to your plate. Whether it is homemade or store bought, it is a great pair for the turkey and its sides.

Stuffing: stuffing is another essential dish for Thanksgiving. Some prefer a simple bread-based stuffing with celery and onions while others might add sausage, nuts or dried fruit for extra flavor.

Green bean casserole: green bean casserole, with its creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions, is a beloved side dish in many households.

Sweet potatoes: sweet potatoes or yams, sometimes baked with marshmallows or brown sugar, provide a sweet contrast to the savory dishes.
Pumpkin pie: Thanksgiving is not completed without this popular, delicious dessert. This pie features a creamy pumpkin filling spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves all nestled in a flaky crust.

Historical Connections in Projekt 1065

By Sage Bailey, November 4, 2024

Projekt 1065 by Alan Gantz is a book about an Irish family (particularly the son) who are spies working for the allies during WW2. They live at the Ireland Embassy in Berlin. The son, Michael O’Shaunessey, joins the Hitler Youth in hope of finding more intel. He eventually finds out that a British airman crashed down in a field, and Michael goes alone to find him. Michael ends up saving the airman, Simon’s, life. Michael eventually learns about Projekt 1065 and things get complicated and he must risk everything to prove his loyalty to the Nazis.

Projekt (the German spelling of Project) 1065 was the actual project name for the first ever jet aircraft, something unheard of at the time. The plane was the Messerschmitt Me 262. The book also covers the numerous bombing runs against Berlin that horrifically ended anyone, including civilians, that did not make it to the bomb shelters. The book also details book burnings, which were events in Germany where the Fascist party would collect books it deemed contraband and put them into giant piles and would burn them. Another thing that this wonderful novel covers is how dreadful the population of Germany felt, all the Gestapo and SS raids, how some children were fanatics who believed entirely without fault in Naziism. It details how people walked, always looking down – avoiding one another to the point where they would always cross the street when seeing someone coming their way.

Theoretically, if WW2 had never occurred, things like the jet plane might have been completed much later. This is likely due to the fact that war always speeds up technology – even if it is made for the death of others. A good example is submarines! Submarines were first created during wartime, specifically during WW1 by Germany.

Fun Fact! D-Day, the famous beach assault at Normandy, is just the shortened version of Day-Day.

Warhammer 40,000 Game Review

By Sage Bailey, October 23, 2024

Top 15 things you need to know about Warhammer 40,000 before playing Space Marine 2!

(Disclaimer: Warhammer 40,000 is a Sci-Fi fantastical dystopian universe in which Space Marine 2, the game, takes place.)

It is a time of reunification, of confusion and bloodshed.

In yesteryear, there was peace, prosperity, and happiness, but…

In the far future.. there is only War.

Spider-Man 4 in the Making

By Laylah Wicker, October 24, 2024

Many people enjoy the Spider-Man franchise. Some grew up on the original movies released in the early 2000s, starring Toby Maguire. Next in line were “The Amazing Spider-Man” movies which were released in 2012 and 2014, starring Andrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man. These movies offered a more modern version of the character Peter Parker. Lastly, the movies starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man were released as a part of the famous Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2017, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” was released, and in 2019, “Spider-Man – Far From Home” was released. The last movie in this version was called “Spider-Man: No Way Home” released in 2021. The last movie was highly successful for various reasons. It brought together Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland all in one singular movie. This created a sense of nostalgia and excitement for fans of all ages. The movie became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, earning over $1.9 billion worldwide. Many fans believed this would be the last movie but recently we have learned that there is more to come. In an Interview with Jimmy Fallon, Tom Holland confirmed after 4 years, that Spider-Man 4 is happening. “It’s happening, next summer we start shooting. Everything’s good to go. We’re nearly there. It’s super exciting,” is what Tom Holland told Fallon along with the audience watching. Tom Holland tells the fans that the movie is different to anything they’ve ever done before. So far, it is not known where the story will pick up or anything relating to the plot line of the story, but Spider-Man fans are already excited for this new movie in the making and many are looking forward to seeing what new elements will be in this movie, hoping that it lives up to the last movie.

(Source : https://apple.news/Afzt2UpZGSYCL6fY0mwO_-A)

One Direction Star Liam Payne Died

By Veronica Trice, October 23, 2024

One Direction was a famous English-Irish pop boy band formed in London 2010. They were one of the best selling boy groups. The group consisted of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously Zayn Malik. Active from 2010-2016 the group released multiple hit songs like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Drag me down,” and “Story of My Life.” As the group broke up in 2016 each singer went to launch their own careers.

Liam Payne, born August 29, 1993, released his own solo single called, “Strip that Down” one year after the band’s break up. The song was number three on the Uk Singles Chart and number 10 on the Us Billboard Hot 100. He went on to release 6 more singles from 2017-2019. However, on Oct. 16 2024 Liam Payne died in Argentina after falling from a hotel balcony.

2024 Victoria Secret Fashion Show

By Paige Link, October 31, 2024

This year Victoria Secret brought back their famous fashion show. This show was a popular event in the early 2000’s. In 2020 the show was put to a temporary stop due to COVID 19. When all restrictions were lifted Victoria Secret took a while to repreform the show. Lots of people wonder why? Is it because of low sales? Is it because it was a popular request? Or both?

When the show returned it went crazy on social media. Victoria Secret made this show special by bringing back a few original models, having them walk again, and having a pink carpet. As for everyone being excited it was also seen as a disappointment. Victoria Secret spent the majority of their budget on the returning models that a few couldn’t have the iconic wings that are worn when walking the runway. The outfits were also not as impressive as previous years, the models hairstyles were also worn as slick backs instead of the blowouts models used to wear back in the 2000’s. Even though everyone had mixed emotions about this fashion show, people hope to see it happen again next year!

Am I in the Wrong #1

By Sierra Horton, October 17, 2024

On Sunday, my girlfriend made homemade lasagna for our date night. She made everything from scratch, including the noodles. It was really good so after we finished I asked if I could take lasagna home for my family to try. She said yes.

When I left that night, I took the tray of lasagna with me. My girlfriend didn’t walk me out so she didn’t see me take the tray.

On Monday, I got a text from my girlfriend asking where her lasagna was. I told her I had taken it home for my family. She said “I thought you were going to take SOME… not the whole thing. I spent most of my food budget for the week on it with the intention to eat leftovers for the rest of the week. Now I don’t know what I’m going to eat.” I felt bad and apologized but pointed out that I had asked her if I could take it home and she didn’t tell me that I couldn’t take the whole tray. She said it should have been obvious that I shouldn’t take the whole thing since the tray was so big. To be fair to her, it was a really big tray (my family of 5 only just finished the tray yesterday after eating it for dinner both nights) but I don’t think the size of the tray makes it obvious that I shouldn’t take it.

Monday night and last night, my girlfriend complained that she had to eat instant noodles for dinner so that she wouldn’t blow her food budget. Today, she is asking me if I can buy her a sandwich since I took her leftovers for the week. It sucks that she spent her food budget on the lasagna but I think this is her fault for not being clear that I shouldn’t take the whole thing. I don’t think she is justified in asking me to buy her lunch because of it. She called me an asshole for not being willing to help her out. AITA?

Answer:

You are definitely in the wrong for not buying your girlfriend a sandwich. Taking the entire tray was a result of miscommunication and was a simple mistake. In the future, definitely ask her how much leftover food you can take home to avoid your current situation. That being said, you should have willingly bought her a sandwich. That lasagna was supposed to last her an entire week, which is a much longer time than the single meal that sandwich she asked for would provide. Your girlfriend is being gracious by not asking you to reimburse her with an entire week’s worth of meals. I understand why you think it’s her fault for not stating that you shouldn’t take the whole tray, but that doesn’t change the fact that your actions resulted in her not having a planned meal for a week. Apologize for not realizing you shouldn’t have taken the whole tray and buy her lunch. Helping your girlfriend in her current food situation is more important than placing blame.

5 Exciting Places to Visit This Fall

By Laylah Wicker, October 10, 2024

Frecon Farms – 501 S. Reading Ave. Boyertown, Pennsylvania 19512

Frecon Farms is offering their orchard experience from Friday through Sunday until October 27th. They are offering apple picking, pumpkin picking, cutting your own flowers, hayrides, and more. There is also live music available. It is a family friendly location and a great fall experience.
Frecon Farms link: https://www.freconfarms.com/

Wilcox Farms – 1134 South Reading Ave. Boyertown, PA 19512

Wilcox farms offers a 25 acre corn maze, which can be perfect for groups of friends. They provide flashlights, snacks and drinks. The corn maze is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Wilcox Farms link: http://www.wilcoxfamilyfarm.com/?utm_source=PAHauntedHouses.com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HauntedHouseMedia

ShocktoberFest – 94 Park Ave. Sinking Spring, PA 19608

If you are interested in a scary experience then ShocktoberFest is a perfect place for you. ShocktoberFest is a haunted theme park which features some of the most bizarre attractions in the country. They are rated #3 Best Extreme Haunted Attraction by USA Today. They also offer food and drinks to enjoy before or after experiencing the attractions. ShocktoberFest is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until November 9th.
ShocktoberFest link: https://www.shocktoberfest.com/?utm_source=PAHauntedHouses.com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HauntedHouseMedia

Colebrookdale Railroad – 64 S Washington St, Boyertown, PA 19512

Colebrookdale Railroad has scenic train rides that are perfect for the fall vibe. They have train rides with donuts, brunches, and other fun activities. It is peaceful and nostalgic and perfect for a chill day.
Colebrookdale link: https://www.colebrookdalerailroad.com/?utm_source=PAHauntedHouses.com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HauntedHouseMedia

Scream mountain – Spring Mountain Adventures, 757 Spring Mt Rd, Schwenksville, PA 19473

Scream mountain has haunted hay rides, haunted lifts and walks, where you can take a chairlift up to a dark mountain and make your way down. There is also live music on certain days.
Scream Mountain link: https://springmountainadventures.com/scream-mountain/