Life

Pumpkin Latte Anyone? --Sage Ingraham

Between football season, Labor Day, Homecoming, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, there’s no shortage of reasons to love autumn. However, amidst all of the festivities that come with this time of year, there’s one unwelcome interloper: consumerism. Although the rampant consumerism of the Christmas season is recognized in countless articles and news reports, the commodification of fall seems to fly under the radar. Of course, there’s a certain level of enterprisingness that is to be expected with anything people spend money on, but consumers deserve to know how they are being influenced.

On August 21st, Starbucks kicked off Pumpkin Spice Latte season earlier than ever before. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are far and away the company’s most popular product, generating $80 million a year on average, outselling all their other seasonal beverages. Their choice to sell the drink early was no coincidence, as their stock price had been steadily decreasing since October of 2023, when Starbucks made the choice to sue Starbucks Workers United, a union of the corporation’s employees. Legal action was taken by Starbucks when the union posted a message on their social media in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Leading up to this, Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United had been engaged in a number of different struggles, and this post was the final straw for the company. However, a corporation suing their union is never going to go without harsh criticism, and many consumers began to boycott Starbucks. By bringing back their fall menu, Starbucks’ stock price skyrocketed back to a simular price before the incident. 

Starbucks isn’t the only company taking advantage of the Pumpkin Spice craze. From pumpkin flavored M&Ms to maple syrup flavored Burt’s Bees chapstick, just about any product you can think of has its own fall-themed equivalent. While pumpkin spice is certainly delicious, it’s important to be cognizant of when you, as a consumer, are being taken advantage of. Next time you go to enjoy a seasonal beverage, just be sure to keep an eye out for tactics companies use to get you to buy more. 

Homecoming Advice --Caroline Chilton & Maddie Gaudino

Whether it is finding the perfect dress or searching for a great date, homecoming can be a very overwhelming time of year. The most important part of the night, though, is that we all have fun! We want to reach out to everyone that is feeling stressed about this season and offer my best advice to you to ensure you have a great night! 

Q: Should I go with a date?

A: This question plagues the school every fall. Should we couple up? The short answer for us is no, we believe that just going to homecoming with someone that you barely know and really don’t feel comfortable with is not the right answer. There is no definitive answer, but the only wrong one is going with someone who you feel like you can’t be yourself around. 

Q: Is there a certain type of dress that I should wear? 

A: No! Homecoming is a time that you get to express yourself in a fun way. Traditionally, homecoming is a short dress occasion, or an “above the knee”, but you do you! Rock that long dress if that is what you like the best. 

Q: What should I do before? 

A: We have found that the best thing to do before is get some nice pictures with your friends and go out to eat. You are essentially jumping around for two hours straight at the dance, and it is important to make sure that you have plenty of energy for the night. 

Q: What is proper etiquette?

A: Overall there is not much to note, but a big thing is no shoes. Everyone wants to wear nice shoes for pictures, but once you get to the dance please change into socks—we promise everyone’s feet will thank you. Boys may think that they are exempt from this, but boys, you are not! No one should be wearing shoes at homecoming, all it does is hurt everyone else’s feet! 

Q: When am I allowed to leave? 

A: Although the last thing that you want to do is think about when you are leaving before you even arrive, it is smart to know what your departure plan is. The gym can get very disorganized and it can be easy to lose your friends. We suggest making a plan with the people that you are leaving with to meet somewhere at a certain time or when the dance is over. If you are getting a ride from someone make sure they know when to pick you up before the dance because it can be hard to use your phone to communicate with them during the dance, and the last thing you want is to be waiting at the high school all night! 

iPhone 16: Worth It or Worthless? --Nora French

It’s that time of the year again: pumpkin spice, corn mazes, crunchy leaves, and the long awaited iPhone 16. Each year a new iPhone is released, offering new features and more efficiency. But, each year, the new models seem the same as the last: more battery life, better cameras, updated features. That’s great, but do these features really have anything that the older models don’t? Is it worth the splurge? Or is it a scam?

The first thing you will notice when looking at the new model is the camera placement. It seems that each version of the iPhone has a new way to set up the cameras, but does it make a difference to us? One of the most common answers from Apple about the placement is that it would better support spatial videos and pictures. A spatial video is a recording that appears 3D on certain devices. It layers two videos taken from slightly different angles, giving it a 3-dimensional look. The video has a more dramatic and cinematic feel. The overall camera does have other benefits though. It offers a wider aperture, which can help with exposure, as well as being able to better focus on photo subjects and take photos in more light—including at night. The new capture button also allows for more efficient picture taking. So, the camera seems to offer some pretty gratifying features, but does this phone’s battery life and overall function actually rise above previous models?

Apple claims that the battery life on the 16 is better than ever before, and they were actually proven right. Not only is the actual battery inside the phone larger, but the estimated battery life of an iPhone 16 pro is about 14 hours.That is about 3 hours more than the 15. So there is a very noticeable difference between the two, and, considering that the average American spends over 7 hours on their phone each day, the extra battery life may be a huge selling point. Other perks that the phone offers include Apple Intelligence. This version of artificial intelligence helps to curate information that is relevant to you and also helps you to communicate and work more easily. Finally, many are excited for the new colors this model offers, including the necessities: black and white, while also offering bright pink, bright blue, minty green, and more. These colors showcase the bold moves Apple is making with the design, setup, and features this phone has to offer.

The cons of the 16 do not quite outweigh the pros, but a big concern about upgrading to the newer models is the need to purchase a different charger. The 15 and 16 take different chargers than older models, so when going from an older phone to a new one, you have to use a new charger. This may make upgrading even more difficult, especially when many iPhone users and chargers may exist in your home. And, with phone prices ranging from $800-$2,000, this may be a bummer.

With sharp and high quality photographs, 3D videos, bright colors, new AI programs, and extended battery life, the iPhone 16 seems to have it all. It has a sleek, but classy design while also being functional and proven to be actually better than older versions in many ways. People who work from home, enjoy photography, and/or just like to have the latest tech would definitely benefit from this version. People who are squeezing the last bit of life out of an older iPhone could also benefit from an upgrade. So, after careful consideration, the iPhone 16 is worth the splurge if you want to use it for the new features or are in need of an upgrade. 

Halloween Q&A --Gigi Waters

As Halloween approaches, it is never too late to come up with the perfect costume or learn more about this haunting holiday. Halloween is the sixth most popular holiday in the US, and 15% of the population said it was their favorite. Here are some fun facts and statistics about Halloween.

Q: What is the Origin of Halloween?

A: Pope Gregory III declared November 1st All Saints Day in the eighth century. It was a time for the people to honor saints and incorporate some traditions from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Soon, All Hallows Eve (the night before) was shortened to Halloween and evolved into a day for festivities and fun! (continued on the next page)

Q: What is the most popular Halloween Candy in 2024?

A: Contrary to popular results in the past,  M&M’s overtook Reese’s for the #1 most popular Halloween candy this year! According to Candy Store and many other sources, thirteen states listed M&M’s as their favorite.

Q: Why do people dress up on Halloween?

A: Historically, during the festival of Samhain, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to scare off evil spirits and disguise themselves on that ghostly night. Eventually, traditions changed and now people wear costumes on Halloween to dress up and have fun!

Q: Which state in the US sells/consumes the most candy corn?

A: According to Branch, California consumes the most candy corn in the US.

Q: What is the most popular Halloween costume of all time?

A: While new movie characters and classic spooky figures tend to be popular costume choices yearly, only two are thought to be the most popular. While there is no definitive data, these costumes often rank as the top costume choice for people all over the country! Coming in at first for adults is the witch, with 5.8 million people planning to dress up as one this year. Then, the most popular costume of all time with 2.6 million kids planning to dress up as him this year is ... Spider-Man! 

Digital Age = Disaster --Trey Hileman 

Do you own your smartphone? Seemingly a simple question that can be acknowledged with a simple answer. If you bought your phone with your own money and you can use it, why would the answer be anything other than yes? But what happens when the developer of the phone stops supporting its hardware or when you decide you are going to change the battery? Now the answer to the question is complicated. One could even ask the same question about the movies, television, and music that you consume, engage in, and even buy. The digitization of the world’s entertainment, communication, and commonplace items is an insidious attack on the liberty of personal ownership and a threat to art preservation.  It has infiltrated our technologized world, and we accepted it with open arms.

The most applicable example of this trend is the convenience of subscription-model entertainment. According to Forbes, 99% of households in the United States are subscribed to some sort of video streaming service like Netflix. Needless to say, the subscription model is a staple of entertainment today. 

Of course, when using these services, it’s pretty clear you do not own their libraries. Movies and TV shows routinely move on and off different platforms, but what happens when they get removed from streaming altogether? Disney, for example, has removed dozens of movies and TV shows from their streaming services: Disney+ and Hulu, including titles such as “The Mysterious Benedict Society”, “Life Below Zero: Next Generation”, and “Stargirl”. Not only are these titles no longer available to stream, but many of them have never been distributed by Disney through physical copies (such as DVD’s), so there is no legal way to watch them again. “Buying” a title from a streaming service also doesn’t grant you ownership. For example, when you purchase a title from Prime Video, you are actually purchasing a “Limited License to Digital Content”. This license grants the user the right to view the title for an “indefinite” period of time, yet Amazon has the right to remove that title from their service at any time. As a result, you don’t own the titles you watch on streaming services, even if you purchase them, and all legal availability to watch them could be lost at any time if the company sees fit.

If you were a Swifty using Spotify back in 2014, you will remember when Taylor Swift removed all of her music from the popular streaming platform for a short period of time because of revenue disagreements. A more permanent example is when the band Twenty One Pilots removed their 2011 album “Regional At Best” from all streaming services after getting signed to a record label. Additionally, Childish Gambino removed his album “3.15.20” from streaming with the release of his 2024 album “Atavista”. While music streaming allows you to collect an extensive library of music onto one app for a relatively low cost, it has no guarantee that your saved music will stay available, and it often has limitations of audio quality and accessibility.

The most troubling trend in this thread of threats to personal ownership is corporate control over consumer-owned physical products, such as phones, cars, and more. In 2022, Spotify began selling a product called the Car Thing. This device was an accessory for older cars that do not have dashboards with spotify/music streaming capabilities. In 2024, Spotify announced that all Car Things will be rendered inoperable by the end of the year, and the company did not offer refunds. By December of this year, all Car Things will essentially be a shiny, $90 brick. Older iPhones are also becoming obsolete as their manufacturer, Apple, has recently announced their discontinuation of software support for older iPhones through the eighth generation, making many of them more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Apple also locks batteries to iPhones to discourage DIY battery changes, and it displays a “service message” when a battery needs to be replaced. 

With all of this being said, it is important to remember the free market is not an oligarchy, but a democracy. Your money is your vote, so make sure you’re voting for what works for you.

Fall Fashion Trends --Josie Drenkhan & Rose Saracusa 

Do you want to get in with the trends and be the person that inspires others with the style that you are flaunting this fall? There are numerous upcoming trends that we think will be fashionable as we enter this season. To get an idea of what is to come, take note of our two cents on the impending fashion trends of the fall season.

Traditionally dark colors become ubiquitous with the arrival of fall weather, but, this year, one specific dark color will be catching people’s eyes. Olive green is in. This color is very unique, classy, and highly versatile. There has been a gradual movement from 2020-2022 with sage green becoming popular for its light and calming impression. However, the shade of green has shifted within the past years to the darker green shades. Olive green is the staple this season, having more muted tones that make the color more sophisticated and classic. Since this color is so versatile, it will be used for everything, including accessories. From sunglasses to shoes and bags this color is very well rounded and will prove to be chic in all aspects. Not only is olive green versatile in an accessory way, it also can be dressed up or down easily. Put on an olive green sweatshirt and match it with a pair of cream colored sweatpants for a relaxed, comfortable outfit. As for a dressed up look, wear a dark wash jean with a plain white tee and top it off with a tasteful forest green bag or sweater.

Not only are colors changing, but so are the textures for this autumn. Suede will be a recurring fabric in all things jackets, bags, belts, shoes. There's always been the classic leather texture and simple fabrics that people stick to as the basics, but now is the time to switch it up with a different texture. Suede is a perfect replacement for leather in every way because it is a high quality fabric that will stand the test of time. Suede has always been a popular fabric to make shoes out of, making it a true classic. So why not incorporate it into more statement pieces such as jackets and bags? For a cool look, pair a suede blazer with a funky textured shirt underneath, and some black jeans or leather pants to really make the outfit stand out. If you're not into the more eccentric style, you can have something more basic and reliable such as a suede belt or tote bag that will just add the right amount of trendiness to a basic outfit. Suede is very reliable in the timeless department because it truly, like leather, will never go out of style. 

We have all seen camo blow up this past winter, from hoodies to cargo pants, but animal print has truly taken the spotlight in recent months. Animal prints are a stylish way to add flair to an outfit, and the earthy tones are bound to complement the autumn color palette this year. A cheetah print top can be paired with some edgy leather pants and chunky shoes, or, if you’re looking for something more relaxed, zebra striped pajama pants and a black top for a chic sleepover look. Even a small addition to an outfit, like a tiger print scarf tied to your bag will add texture and flair to your outfit. Stores like Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie have fully embraced this new trend and have a variety of cute clothing options with these fun patterns. Recently, it can be hard to keep up with the ever-changing microtrends, but animal print is timeless and, in our opinion, here to stay. 

We hope we have been able to give you some new inspiration for all of the upcoming trends. Fall 2024 will be full of timeless pieces that we can carry with us throughout the next couple years. Fashion is all about making bold choices and creating looks that are unique to you. 

Starbucks Holiday Drinks --Morgan Aquino

Starbucks just dropped their winter drinks, and I made it a priority to try them! Some of the drinks that Starbucks released include a Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte, Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai, and a Gingerbread Latte. 

The first drink I tried was the Gingerbread Latte, as it sounded very appealing to me. On the first sip, I struggled to find the flavor of gingerbread, but as I kept drinking it, it got stronger. With that being said, it still did not have enough flavor for me. With the lack of flavor combined with the expensive price tag, I would overall rate it a 6/10. 

Another drink I was able to try was the Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte. In comparison to the Gingerbread Latte, this one had substantial flavor. My favorite part about this drink was the sprinkles they topped it with; it was a nice holiday touch. With this drink, I had no trouble picking out where each flavor was incorporated in the beverage. I would rate the Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte an 8/10. 

Lastly, I tried the Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai, my personal favorite. This drink was packed with flavor and every sip of it was delicious. It does not have the strong taste of coffee like the other drinks, which is good for non-coffee drinkers. It is the type of beverage that you can have at any point in the day. I would rate this drink a 9/10. The only reason I did not give it a 10/10 was because of the intense sweet flavor. 

Overall, I think the Starbucks winter drinks are a great addition to the regular menu, and I recommend that everyone try one while they are available. 

Thanksgiving: A Day of Mourning --Avery Schriner

Thanksgiving is a time of joy and celebration for the things we are grateful for…right? This may be the typical narrative of a non-indigenous American enjoying a meal or spending time with loved ones, but for American Indian tribes across the nation, Thanksgiving is a solemn day. The history of the first Thanksgiving that is generally accepted by most non-indigenous Americans portrays a happy communal feast between the English Pilgrims and—quite generally put—the Indians. This narrative however strays from the reality and complexity of what truly happened before, on, and after that day 400 years ago.

When the first Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they stepped onto Wampanoag land. The Wampanoag were a people who had, contrary to popular belief, already had contact with Europeans for around a century. In fact, they had at least two English-speaking members at the time. The preconception that the history of the indigenous tribes of America began with the arrival of colonists is disrespectful to the long history of American Indian culture. The earliest Americans arrived in the New World thirty thousand years ago, developing into distinct cultures and civilizations, just as people had in Europe. The original fallacies regarding Thanksgiving stem from the ignorant presumption that this contact was always peaceful in the beginning. The history of European contact before the Pilgrims included trade patterns, but was riddled with war and slave raids. The only reason certain members of the Wampanoag Nation spoke English was because they had previously been captured and sold into slavery in England. Hence, here exists another reason why omitting American history before the Pilgrims is inconsiderate, to say the least.

Ousamequin, also known as Massasoit, was the Sachem (chief) of the Wampanoag tribe when the Mayflower arrived. When met with this novel group of people on his land, he extended a hand in alliance towards them, seeing an opportunity to protect his people from their rivals, the Nantucket. Because of a detrimentally fatal disease that was mysterious to the Wampanoag during the early 1600s (many historians believe was smallpox or another disease transmitted by the English), an immense number of Wampanoag people died. Though some Wampanoag disagreed with the alliance, with a dwindling population, the Sachem thought that creating peace with the English settlers would be beneficial and act as an extra layer of protection against their enemies. The tribe also began to assist the Pilgrims by teaching farming techniques to their new strategic allies.

By the autumn of 1621, the two groups—the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims—did come together in a three-day feast to mark the harvest. That is about as close as the true narrative gets to the preconceived idea that this “festival” represented a great peace. In just over fifty years, the English and the Wampanoag would be at war. What is not often discussed in the teachings of Thanksgiving is pre-existent trends that continued afterward. As the English settlers already had a history of disrespect for and enslavement of the Wampanoag, it should not have been a surprise that they would betray their allies. Over the years following the harvest feast of 1621, the English continued to buy into Wampanoag land farther and farther, until there was no more trade involved. The Wampanoag are often viewed as a cheerful people who welcomed the English with open arms. While this is blatantly untrue, they did allow the English to buy land from them originally in an effort to boost their alliance. This act of tolerating the Pilgrims on their land was returned with decades upon decades of intolerance, betrayal, and outright disregard of humanity that have extended through centuries.

Since the arrival of European presence in America, American Indian tribes have faced exponential decimation from disease, war, raids, violence, and even greater tragedies caused by the English and those who descended from them. As the United States grew as a country, American Indian populations across the nation significantly decreased. Discrimination from so many directions, including from the U.S. government innumerable times, has created a land completely unrecognizable from America before European contact. Countless specific massacres of American Indian people have contributed to the centuries-long mass genocide of so many tribes, united by their common decimation. What once was a massively diverse expanse, full of distinct, sovereign civilizations and cultures, has fallen victim to the dangerous homogeneity and assimilation that the Europeans paraded throughout what is now the United States of America. 

Thanksgiving is a happy, naïve mask for a bloody, cruel history. In a great plot of irony, the creators of Thanksgiving as a holiday (who just happens to be the U.S. government, nearly 250 bloody years after 1621) have portrayed a historical image of the Wampanoag as a purely welcoming and helpful force, whom the Pilgrims had to thank. The truth is, as this may have been the case, there is scarce a time in American history when any American Indian tribe had reason to thank the U.S. back.

Overlooking Thanksgiving --Josie Drenkhan

For years and years in America there has been the need to buy, buy, buy. This comes to a roaring peak around the holiday season when consumers go out to purchase candy for trick-or-treaters and what feels like hundreds of presents for their children, family, and loved ones. It is easy to put Thanksgiving out of your mind when there is so much more excitement and buzz about other holidays that happen to fall right around it. To put it in simple terms, Thanksgiving is the most overlooked holiday because it is squeezed in between two major holidays that are focused on giving gifts and commercializing to sell products.

On Halloween, children gorge themselves on free candy that they spent their night sprinting around town, yelling “trick or treat!” to receive. This holiday centered around unlimited treats contrasts the whole Thanksgiving appeal. If you ask a child if they would rather sit down for three hours, listening to grownups talk about current issues that are of no interest to them while they are forced to eat an overwhelmingly savory meal or if they would rather run around in a colorful costume and build up a limitless candy stash that they can pick out of whenever they want for the upcoming months, you can guess which they would choose. The same is true for Christmas. Children would much rather open brand new presents than talk about what they are grateful for. Now I am really making Thanksgiving sound like a drag, but Thanksgiving is a time when you are meant to be grateful for what you have instead of longing for more excess luxuries. I think that it is very important to keep all ages grounded in what really matters in life. 

Not only are Christmas and Halloween focused on gift giving, companies have taken these holidays and made them into huge money makers. There are countless Halloween and Christmas commercials, collaborations, and new items that are released earlier and earlier every year. For example, if you go into any store at least a month before Christmas, what do you see? Christmas decorations galore. Again, it is the exact opposite of what Thanksgiving tries to preach. Its meaning gets trampled by over-consumption and the excessive marketing of useless products that people think will be beneficial to their true happiness. 

Thanksgiving practically does not exist, the way people take down their Halloween decorations just to immediately put up their white and red string lights, jingle bells, and piney holly. Thanksgiving is a good time to slow down without racing to the store for the next round of seasonal merchandise. This holiday is all about one thing: focusing on people, not possessions. And not only that, but feeling truly grateful for what you do have, instead of thinking of the next big thing to buy.

It is understandable that it is difficult to overlook certain holidays when others are screaming in your face. But maybe, if we all changed our perspective, all holidays could feel equally joyful and important.  So, when you are at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year, maybe take a moment to think about the fact that this may be the best holiday of the season; it makes us take a step back to look at how simple yet beautiful and fruitful life can be without any material goods, just food and family.

Artificial Intelligence --Abigail Feiszli

We often don’t realize it, but artificial intelligence isn’t as futuristic and new as it’s generally assumed to be; it’s everywhere and has been for quite some time. Many people wrongly assume that artificial intelligence (AI) is a brand new concept. While AI has advanced tremendously in the past few years, it wasn’t invented recently. AI first became a concept amongst ancient philosophers thousands of years ago, around 400 BCE. The idea resurfaced in the early twentieth century, with many scientists questioning the possibility of creating artificial brains. However, AI was physically invented in the 1950s. 

In 1950, a man named Alan Turing published a piece of writing titled “Computer Machinery and Intelligence”, which posed the idea of testing the intelligence of machines. Turing’s work eventually evolved into the “Turing Test”, which is used by experts today to test the intelligence of their machines. In 1952, one of the earliest forms of actual artificial intelligence was created when Arthur Samuel developed a computer program that allowed a computer to play checkers unassisted. The term “artificial intelligence” was then coined in 1955 by mathematician John McCarthy at his workshop on AI at Dartmouth College. Ten years later, the first “expert system” was invented. This is what many people think of today when they think of AI—a machine designed to think like humans. In the following decades, significant advancements were made: the first self-driving cars were invented, countless AI programs were developed, and an AI chess program even beat the world chess champion! 

The early 2000s marked the integration of AI into everyday life. In 2002, Roomba was introduced to the world as the first intelligent vacuum. In 2003, AI was used to navigate two NASA rovers on Mars without the help of humans. In 2006, AI began to be used by social media companies for advertising purposes. One of the most well-known forms of AI was released in 2011: Apple’s Siri. Since then, AI has rapidly grown. GPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) was released by the company OpenAI in 2018. The company and software has continued to grow rapidly, with the fifth version expected to be released in early 2025. The popular ChatGPT chatbot was released in 2022, with many similar chatbots becoming available since then, notably by social media companies: Snapchat, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter). 

Today, AI is used in many aspects of life, some of which many people may not recognize. When writing in a Google Doc, for instance, suggested words appear as a user types. Asking Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to do a task or using Google Maps are all ways people use AI without realizing it. There is no question that artificial intelligence helps humans in their daily lives, but some worry that artificial intelligence is too strong and will one day be alarmingly powerful. This begs the question, should we be worried about the rapid progression of artificial intelligence?

Christmas Festivities --Reese Roche 

It is finally December which means the holiday spirit is picking up in Bay Village! 

Are you looking forward to supporting our community this season? Come stop by at Cahoon park any Friday through Sunday till December 15th to support the annual Kiwanis Christmas tree sale. The trees are grown in Pennsylvania, where they are cut and twined together. After a 2 ½ hour drive, the trees arrive in Bay Village!  When deciding between a fraser fir or colorado spruce, look over to see the beautifully lit community Christmas tree, decorated by our Key Club leadership team, in the gazebo. 

Another fantastic way to support our community is watching the Holiday Choral Concert. On Monday, December 16 in the Bay High Auditorium, Bay High School students will sing festive songs to get you into the holiday spirit. The money raised helps support music education within the school district, so come support!

On December 3rd, Mr. and Mrs. Claus were welcomed to the streets of Bay Village on a fire truck. Kids lined the streets in 25 degree weather anticipating their arrival. Following the parade, the community gathered at the gazebo for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. 

The Knickerbocker loves celebrating Christmas too! This year, second graders from Normandy visited and sang Christmas jingles, danced, and spent meaningful time with the residents. 

Castle Noel is an indoor Christmas-themed museum with a guided tour that takes you through many different holiday themed movie sets such as, “Christmas Vacation” and “The Grinch”.  At the end, you can greet Santa at the top of the original slide from “A Christmas Story”, and land softly in fake snow.

Overall, the Christmas festivities are endless in Bay Village and Cleveland this time of year. Grab a coat, hot chocolate, and your family to come support your community!

New Year, New Me --Curran Wank

Have you ever found yourself wondering what to choose as a New Year's resolution? Are you looking to better yourself going into the new year? There are 365 days in a year, which is a lot of time for self growth and opportunity. The new year symbolizes the start of something new: a clean slate, new beginnings. So how will you make a difference to ultimately change your lifestyle for the better? 

  Coming up with a New Year's resolution can be difficult for many people. A general willingness to change is key to making it work. You know yourself better than anyone else, so pick something that you know you are willing to do! If you hate exercising, make it a point to set a small standard that you can build on. This applies to anything. It allows you to gain momentum to make the overall goal more attainable by breaking it down into smaller 

pieces.

While making small changes seems simple, it can be hard to stick to. Being a student, parent, or teacher, we tend to get caught up in our lives and not prioritize the true importance of putting our well being first. It's important to set specific time aside from studying, athletics, school, and work, to become better versions of ourselves. First, you must identify your goals and clearly define what you would like to improve. After identifying these goals, you must evaluate your time and schedule. Assigning specific time slots in your schedule can allow you to focus on improvement activities. Lastly, it's important to take time to reflect and review your progress so you can adjust accordingly. If adjustment is needed, it's important to accept trial and error as a part of the process. To succeed in the long term, consistency is key. With repetition and discipline, the goal becomes ingrained in your routine and soon becomes an unconscious habit. 

Dealing with stress can make succeeding in a goal difficult. Some ways to consider  managing stress in the New Year include getting restful sleep, moving your body regularly, and keeping a healthy diet. Sleep problems tend to increase as stress increases, making symptoms of stress even worse, so getting adequate rest is essential. With adequate rest, it's easier to move your body physically as well. Physical activity is considered to be one of the best ways to relieve stress. Its natural boost of energy improves focus and motivation, over all improving your wellbeing. In addition to physical activity, a healthy diet is great for boosting energy levels, improving mood, and balancing hormones. Positive eating habits can lessen the emotional and physical toll of stress. 

As we begin another year in our full lives, we owe it to ourselves to accomplish our goals, for they provide a sense of purpose, direction, and reward to help us live a fulfilled life aligned with our values. So before criticizing the idea of a New Year's resolution, take it as an opportunity to grow and push yourself out of your comfort zone. A positive change may just improve your life in the coming year. Happy 2025! 

The Grammy Awards  --Sage Ingraham

The Grammy Awards is the most anticipated music award show of the year, sparking impassioned internet debates between fans, haters, and casual viewers alike, over who should and shouldn’t have won. 2025’s lineup was particularly star-studded, with a wide variety of music veterans and up-and-coming idols. 

The nominees for Record of the Year were all heavy-hitters, including songs by Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, The Beatles (restored from a 1977 demo), Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift. Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar won the award in this category, also taking home the award for Song of the Year. Best Rap Album, however, was won by Doechii, a relatively new artist to the rap genre. 

Sabrina Carpenter, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift were also nominated for album of the year, as well as André 3000 and Jacob Collier. Beyoncé’s album, Cowboy Carter, received this honor. This album was her first foray into the country music genre and received much fanfare, also winning Country Album of the Year. Beyoncé is the artist with the most Grammys of all time, and made history this year as the first Black artist to win Country Album of the Year. 

There were a few other notable sweeps, such as Sierra Ferrell winning all four American Roots categories and Sabrina Carpenter winning Best Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Also in the pop category, Charli XCX won Best Dance Pop Recording and Best Dance Pop/Electronic Album. In terms of rock, St. Vincent swept the category, winning Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Music Performance, and Best Alternative Music Album. Chappell Roan, who’s sleeper hit The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess took pop music circles by storm this summer, won Best New Artist, to the surprise of no one. 

I was curious to know the thoughts of Bay High School students regarding these results, so I decided to conduct the most honorable form of investigative journalism out there: posting a poll on my Instagram story. Responses were mixed, with some being enthused about their favorite artists, such as Doechii and Chappell Roan, having received their laurels. Others were torn, with one sophomore saying “Eternal Sunshine [by Ariana Grande] should have beat Short n Sweet [by Sabrina Carpenter]... and Billie Eilish should have won something.” It’s true that Billie Eilish did not win anything this year, despite her many nominations, but it may be relevant to mention that she has received nine Grammy awards over the course of her career. 

Overall, the Grammy Awards this year were a pleasant mix of new artists receiving mainstream recognition for the first time, as well as older artists proving they still have plenty of music to share with the world. 

The Origins of St. Patrick's Day   --Josie Drenkhan

As the winter softens and spring is just around the corner, a cheerful holiday always tends to brighten everyone's’ spirits. Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, green outfits, and parents even convince their children that leprechauns are real, but where do these traditions originate from? 

First of all, who was St. Patrick? St. Patrick was born in Great Britain to wealthy parents around the fourth century (400’s A.D.). Although you may assume he is from Ireland, that is not the case, rather there is a darker way that he became the patron saint of Ireland: he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16 years old. Although he escaped these circumstances, he later came back to Ireland to bring Christianity to the people. After his death, which is believed to be on the 17th of March, his story became more and more significant to Irish culture. The clover became a special memento associated with him because he explained the Holy Trinity with the clover’s three leaves. Since then, there have been celebrations in Ireland to honor St. Patrick and his sacrifices and teachings.

Now, let's observe some past traditions that spill into modern day. Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated by families attending church in the morning. Since it is a holiday during Lent, families would set aside their Lenten prohibition against eating meat and drinking and they would celebrate with a feast of Irish bacon and cabbage. This ritual is still essential to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations today, but the tradition of parades started elsewhere. The first parade was thought to be held in St. Augustine, Florida, when an Irish vicar organized a parade. Other American cities later took inspiration from this parade, and now it has become a tradition in the United States as well as Ireland. 

St. Patricks Day is a fun holiday that stems from a positive background. I would encourage anyone to celebrate, whether you make food, attend a parade, or to gather with friends and family. Happy (late) St. Patrick's Day!

Editor's Note --Lucy Tarpy

First, I would like to recognize all of our wonderful writers who contributed to The Bay Window this year. I greatly appreciate all of the hard work and dedication you put into making our school newspaper what it is these past two years. Secondly, thank you to Mrs. Fanter, our amazing advisor, for helping to ensure that our club runs smoothly and that everything is accounted for. Lastly, thank you to everyone who has picked up one of our editions this year, we all appreciate your interest and support. 

Being apart of The Bay Window is low commitment, flexible, and fun. Writers can choose topics they are interested in writing about and cater their article to their personal style. Not only is joining The Bay Window a great thing to add to college applications, but also a unique way to be involved in our school. If you would be interested in joining our team next year, please reach out to Mrs. Fanter or look for information about joining in August.