Senior year means something different for everyone. For one person, it could mean the end of an era, while for others it means the beginning of a new one. No student has the same story, but they all tie into each other’s experiences. Whether they are in the same classes, clubs, sports, or even just walking past each other in the halls, they are still making an impact on their school year. These school experiences can help to determine some of our future decisions and even push some of us into our future career paths.

Career paths are something that is especially different for each student. There are people from our class that will go into many different career paths. There are students like Laney Dipero who want to go to school for anesthesiology, those like Sammy Napolitan who want to go for marketing, or those like me that want to go into early childhood education or journalism. These career fields are each challenging in their own way and are very different from each other. The lives of the people in our class are going to be very different after we all graduate. We are going to be in these classes that others have never heard of, and honestly, we have no idea what those classes even entail. To be completely honest, not knowing what’s going to happen is the fun part, and that all starts in senior year.

Something that is going to bring us all in different directions this year is college. People are starting to figure out where they are going to college, and it's going to take people to different places. There are people that are going to stay around here and commute from their homes, while others are going far away. These are going to make the biggest differences in all of our lives. We are going to have different experiences. Those going far away are going to go through the emotions of missing home but also get to explore and learn how to grow on their own without the opportunity to rely on anyone. People staying closer to home are going to get to experience things that they’ve never experienced before because they are getting more freedom and are getting to try so many new and exciting things.

No matter where we go after senior year, we are always going to look back on our time in high school, our senior year being the most memorable. We’re not going to remember all of the times we did badly on a test or how bad our hair looked one day, but we’re going to remember the experiences we had: how we had our friends to lean on when we had a hard time, the teachers that made their classes the best, and all of the activities we were able to participate in. So go out and join that sport or club, and go and hang out with your friends, because someday these are going to be the things that we remember and look back on.

Ms. Chloe Smith is a new teacher at Hubbard High School, teaching English Language Arts to juniors and seniors. For The HUB, I had the pleasure of giving her an interview to better get to know her and introduce her to my fellow students at Hubbard.

Ms. Smith grew up in Lisbon, Ohio, and has a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State University. She recently moved to Hubbard, has two dogs, and enjoys spending time with her family. Outside of school, Ms. Smith enjoys reading, watching TV and movies, and trying different restaurants. She cannot choose a favorite book; her favorite genre is dystopian fiction. Choosing a favorite film is also difficult, but if she had to choose, it would be She’s the Man, a 2006 romantic comedy starring Channing Tatum.

A homebody, she doesn’t regularly travel but has been to Myrtle Beach and Punta Cana. She does not have an interest in leaving the country; however, she would take her senior students to Britain if she had the opportunity to take them on a field trip anywhere around the world because she is teaching her seniors about British literature.

Though this is her first full-time teaching job, Ms. Smith used to student-teach in Worthington, Ohio. She stated that the district was more diverse and had advanced technology compared to Hubbard because it was a larger school than we are. She is used to a small town because that is where she grew up. Ms. Smith feels she will know the kids at Hubbard better because of the size.

Ms. Smith’s mother was an English teacher who introduced her to the subject and fostered her love for it. She loved, and still does, to read and write and wants to teach kids to enjoy doing so as well, especially since they are tasks that many kids find difficult and boring. Ms. Smith’s goals for the year, and what she enjoys most about being a teacher, is getting to know her students and teaching them to enjoy English. She wants to use something she enjoys to make an impact on her students this year and in the years to come. Since this is her first year as a full-time teacher, Ms. Smith is embracing experimenting with teaching methods to see what is most effective and enjoyable for her students. The most valuable life lesson she hopes to give to her students throughout this year is as follows:

“It’s not embarrassing to try.”

— Chloe Smith, 2025

Malpractice

There once was a kid who’s name was Jack

He jumped and played on the trampoline

That fateful day he was taken aback

When his knee gave out and caused a scene

His knee locked in place with hardly a budge

So they carried him home to be safe and snug

A one off event, his parents would judge

So he kept on playing with so much as a shrug

It came to a head on fields of grass

While chasing the ball he made a sharp turn

His stature collapsed as he fell on his, uh, tailbone

The game was then halted with heaps of concern

The clinic had yielded little result

‘Twas told the pain was just a small sprain

This diagnosis felt like an insult

For it kept on happening, nothing could explain

His mother had fought for someone to listen

So he was finally given a scan

At once they discovered the proper condition

And ‘twas called to the hospital as quick as one can

A torn meniscus is a terrible joke

Recovery lasted far more than a week

Condemned to a wheelchair as soon as he woke

Finally, after months of recovery, he improved his physique 

Malpractice 2 - Electric Boogaloo

You may be thinking, “Wow there is no break,

Surely that is all he can take!”

But the story of Jack doesn’t quite end here

There’s another part to this tale, I fear

Now Jack has always been very tired

This trait of his has often backfired

The pile of stuff to do is a heap

Despite this fact, he’s always asleep

It got to a point which was too great to bear

The nap-work-life balance was quite the nightmare

The doctor would surely help make me stable

And, as they waited, he fell asleep on the table

To their surprise, the doc was dismissive

The entire appointment was rude and combative

“Kids these days, they do nothing but sleep!”

And he went on his way without one more peep

They decided they wouldn’t just leave it at that

If this wasn’t fixed, he would simply fall flat

An appointment was booked with a sleep specialist

Who quickly concluded something was amiss

Tests were conducted, and all could agree

This sleepy guy had narcolepsy

Efforts began to treat the disease

It wasn’t perfect, but he was put at ease

As the leaves begin to change and a subtle wind flows through the air, we reflect on the great debate that sprouted in the summer between two brothers. The constant TikTok reposts and countering emotions are soon to come to an end, so as this season begins to come to a close, we ask ourselves just one dire question: Conrad or Jeramiah?

After a long year between seasons, Jenny Han, the author and director of The Summer I Turned Pretty, has finally delivered the long-awaited season 3. For the readers who have not indulged in this whirlwind of a show, here is some background information. For starters, we have two brothers: Conrad, a lonely heartthrob, cold-hearted introvert who is really a lover boy deep down; and Jeramiah, the outgoing, blue-eyed, golden retriever of a boy, who is not scared to love loudly. And finally, Belly, the girl stuck choosing between these beautiful brothers.

As you can see, this debate has not only been going on this whole summer but also for the last several years. This three-book franchise has caused plenty of uproar among watchers, so today we have asked the students of Hubbard High School the ultimate question: Team Conrad or Team Jeramiah. I talked to junior Ace Johnson on his point of view: “Jeremiah was lowkey done wrong by Belly in the book, even though he cheated. Belly was constantly pining for Conrad, and that probably wasn’t that much fun (for Jeramiah).” Although the book and show pose slight undeniable differences, Jenny Han still directed the show very closely in accordance with the books. Ace Johnson also includes, “Belly was always wanting Conrad and never really cared that much about Jeremiah. I definitely want her to end up with Conrad, but I’m team Jeramiah out of pity.” Throughout the books and show, both of the brothers display their strengths as well as many of their weaknesses. This leads watchers or readers, much like Ace, into a real predicament as to which team they are on.

There are many fans of the show that have countered between the two teams, but many fans have stuck through with one boy within all three seasons. I talked to sophomore Layla Songer, a Conrad fan since day one, as to why she supported him through all these highs and lows of his character development. “I picked Conrad from day one because he always treated her well. Besides, when they broke up you can just tell he is in love with her and knows her better than anyone.” Many people often go through the debacle of choosing teams, but one definite pro on Conrad's side, demonstrated in the show, is that Conrad has been Belly's longtime crush. Layla also included, “I haven’t changed (teams) because Jeramiah always gave me a feeling he was more of someone who likes to hop around, but Conrad would drop anything for her, and she is the most important person in his life no matter what terms they are on.” These passionate beliefs, demonstrated by Layla, can be seen all over the globe, or all over TikTok.

In the end, both boys, during the whole duration of the show and in the books, have demonstrated their unabiding love toward Belly, but on the other hand, the brothers have also shown why they individually are not the right fit for Belly. Overall, the show The Summer I Turned Pretty has brought together many people while causing a divide within friendships at the same time, all stimulated through this family-oriented love triangle.

I have recently had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Manios, one of our new teachers. He was a graduate of Howland High School and went to Westminster College, where he received his degree in education focusing on history. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, going to the beach, and coaching and playing basketball. Mr. Manios has a love for traveling. He says, “I am basically a Floridian.” He has also been to Canada, both of the Carolinas, and New York. A trip to Greece is also on his bucket list because he is Greek. He says, “If I could take my students anywhere, it would be Washington, D.C., or Greece because of the wealth of history they hold.”

Prior to coming to Hubbard, he taught at Howland Middle School. He's happy to be back in the high school and teaching history, as he taught technology at Howland. He said he chose to major in history because, “To understand where we are going, we have to understand where we came from." He said, “A good day in the classroom is when the students are engaged and actively listening.” The most enjoyable part of being a teacher to him is building relationships with the kids and watching them grow. He stated, “My goal this year is to help every student succeed and reach their maximum potential.”

When asked what the most valuable life lesson he would want all of his students to know, he said, “Live in the moment.” His favorite movie is Batman. We all welcome Mr. Manios to the school and wish him well with his students.

We are now approximately midway through the 2025 Hubbard Eagles football season. During halftime, the Hubbard Marching Band performs a very enjoyable show for their audience. This year, they have almost 140 talented and dedicated members. The band has worked very hard this summer, spending long hours on the football field and at the school working on this show. The Marching Band has chosen to do a “Queen”-inspired theme for this year's performance. The drill songs chosen for this theme were “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “Bicycle Race,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Don’t Stop Me Now” were decided to be the majorette songs.

There are many new faces in the Hubbard Band. Rhegan Kelley, one of many freshmen, was asked how she enjoyed this year. She is in the clarinet section and plans on getting more involved by joining the Pep Band. Kelley states, "I'd say that I personally really like my freshman year of band. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. It made me extremely happy, and I've made so many new friends by joining the band.” Rhegan loves Friday nights and is excited for the last half of the season.

Along with new faces come familiar faces such as senior Logan Elavsky. Logan has been in the band for quite some time now, playing the trumpet as well as the electric guitar. He is very involved and in the past has attended Stambaugh Youth Concert Band, Stambaugh Jazz Band, Honors Jazz Band, Hubbard Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Pep Band. This year he took on new responsibilities by becoming a Trumpet Section Coordinator. When asked about his new position, Elavsky says, “Being a section coordinator comes with more of a responsibility. You encourage more people to get out of their comfort zone and help them understand that asking for help is okay…” Logan enjoys watching the band thrive and watching everyone be able to have fun as well.

Another well-known individual is Madelyn Fox, who is in charge of running the Hubbard Band’s social media. Madelyn plays the saxophone, and she has previously played clarinet. She is in Wind Ensemble and is also involved in Jazz Band and Pep Band. This year she is taking a huge responsibility for promoting our band. “It's so fun and amazing because I get to interact with everyone in the band and honestly create fun and promote the band in a positive, fun way,” says Fox. Madelyn has posted countless TikToks since starting and is handling the band's social media pages very well.

While many individuals would think our band already has spent enough time practicing and preparing for this show, one section has spent countless more hours striving for perfection. The percussion section, mainly directed by Mr. Killian, has had plenty more practice than the rest of the band. They had extra weeks of practice in the summer, stayed after practices, and even came early before all games to prepare. Samantha Heywood, a junior in the percussion section, says, “I really like the extra practices and have a lot of fun! I feel like the extra practices the drumline has are incredibly beneficial, because Mr. Nestich and Mrs. Lewis rely on us to keep the band on tempo, so spending some extra time practicing our music helps a lot. Though, it puts more pressure on us because we shouldn’t mess up as much with how much we’ve practiced.” The percussion is a very significant aspect of the band, and they are a very hardworking group of students.

The marching band doesn’t just contain musicians. We have a Color Guard containing 13 members. Erynni Adams (also known as Max) is a senior flagline member in the 2025 season. Max has been a member of colorguard for three years and is now in their fourth. They go to TCTC but are still able to continue their colorguard career. When asked their favorite part of Friday nights, Adams answers, “My favorite part about Friday nights is the football games. I’m surrounded by my friends and get to play with the band, it’s a fun time all in all.” Max is excited for the next couple of games and seeing their friends more and more.

The Marching Band is not complete without our highly skilled directors. Mr. Nestich and Mrs. Lewis have worked side by side for some years now. They have seen many different bands and shows before, and they believe this show has a very high level of difficulty. When asked about what makes this band different from past bands, Mr. Nestich says, “This is an extremely hardworking band, not that the other ones weren't, but this one is extraordinary and hardworking.”

The Hubbard Marching Band will have many more opportunities to perform this year. They plan on adding new ideas and music to their shows to keep up the excitement. When the season ends, you won’t be able to watch an energized halftime show till next season. On the other hand, you will have the opportunities to see them in parades, Christmas concerts, and spring concerts. For all the band members who want to become more involved with the band, they will be able to join other bands such as Pep Band and Jazz Band. Good luck to the band as they finish out the rest of their season. Be ready to see some new entertainment brought to the stadium.

Entering high school as a freshman is a unique experience filled with excitement, lots of nerves, and challenges. For many of us, it’s the first time we’re navigating a new, larger school with many unfamiliar faces and the pressure of making a good impression. From the moment I walked through the doors of Hubbard High, everything felt different, both overwhelming and full of new opportunities I had not had before. From new clubs, including some like The HUB, Spanish Club, and Art Club, there is something for everyone. Hubbard High School creates an inclusive environment for everyone. Reflecting on these past couple of weeks on my personal journey as a freshman and also my peers around me, I’ve thought about some of the lessons we’ve learned and the ways we’ve grown through our experiences so far, socially, academically, and much more. Being a freshman has led many of us to work even harder.

As an example, Logan Ward, a freshman at Hubbard High, has found his first year of high school to be a balancing act between academics and sports. Despite his passion for golf, Logan's commitment to football often leaves him with an unequal amount of practice time for golf. He tends to skip golf practice throughout the week, leaving his energy for football, but when match days roll around, he’s back on the golf course. Schoolwork isn’t much easier for him. Logan rarely finds time to study unless it's during study hall in school, when the pressure of tests starts to build. His weekends are almost entirely taken over by golf, leaving him with only Saturdays to recharge. Saturdays are Logan’s only free days when he can briefly disconnect from both football and golf, as he doesn’t participate in any clubs or extracurriculars. Logan is left stressed from the past couple of weeks as a freshman, and it is only the start. Finding time for everything is a constant struggle for him, but he’s learning how to manage it all in his own way.

Julia Patello, a freshman at Hubbard, is on the opposite side of the spectrum from Logan Ward. She’s already making the most of her high school experience with her free time. Julia plays on the golf team, but since she isn’t in the starting six yet, she has plenty of free time to focus on her schoolwork and explore other interests. Golf practices mostly take place in the summer, so she doesn’t have to worry about late-night practices during the school year, unlike Logan, who gets home from games late. This gives her a great opportunity to stay on top of her schoolwork and get involved in clubs. Julia is active in Spanish Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and Pep Club. Her freshman year has been a great balance of academics, activities, and fun!

Even though Julia Patello and Logan Ward are both freshmen, their first-year experiences couldn’t feel more different. Julia’s days are relaxed and balanced; she’s had time to adjust, get involved in clubs, and stay on top of school without feeling overwhelmed. Her schedule gives her space to enjoy high school at her own pace. Logan, on the other hand, is already feeling the pressure. Between football, golf, and schoolwork, his days feel packed and nonstop. He’s still figuring out how to keep up with everything, and it’s been stressful at times. Where Julia has found rhythm and routine, Logan is still searching for balance. Their stories show how freshman year in Hubbard High School can be a completely different journey depending on what each student takes on.

The Hubbard Girls Golf Team capped off an incredible season this fall, bringing home impressive wins and showing the strength, skill, and spirit of the Eagles on every course they played.

Led by Coach Chris Trobek, the team finished with a winning season, placing 3rd in the NE8 Conference Championship. With a roster filled with determined, motivated, and talented athletes, the Hubbard Girls will be moving on to sectionals.

This season has brought lots of the girls closer together. “Bus rides back to the school when we laugh and make jokes” is Kenzie Durbin’s highlight of the season. Many of the girls would say bus rides and team bonding were a special part of the season.

Maddie Fox consistently led the team in scoring, including placing 1st individually at the NE8 Conference Championship. A major achievement this season for Fox was chipping in for an eagle on a par 5 at Henry Stambaugh Golf Course against Ursuline. Fox continues to inspire her team and carry a positive aura on the golf course.

Other team members, including Lillian Atkinson, Kenzie Durbin, Bella Bonvissuto, Lily Steele, and Allie Lissimore, contributed to critical rounds throughout the season, often turning close matches into solid wins. Lillian managed to reach a new PR of 46, Kenzie kept vibes up on and off the course, Bella had a chip-in birdie, Lily always bonded well with her opponents, and Allie got to spend her senior season having fun.

With several key players returning next year, the future looks bright for the Girls Golf Team. The girls will participate in offseason training at golf simulators, and as expected, team bonding activities are already in the works. The Eagles will come back stronger and better than ever next season.

Congratulations to the entire team for an outstanding season, and thank you for representing Hubbard High School with confidence, discipline, and competitive spirit!

When someone shares an opinion on bugs they either believe they’re the scum of the Earth or as precious as their own housepets. These opinions escalate  as autumn rolls in and the weather gets colder, with more bugs seeking shelter in your home! Bugs are just as important to our world as we are, providing little necessities that’s much more inefficient for humans to provide such as pollinating plants. Here’s your official guide to navigating the fall bug world of Ohio and Pennsylvania!

What to expect outside 

Many favorable bugs unfortunately begin their migration to warmer places starting as early as September, with monarch butterflies departing and heading down to Mexico for the colder seasons. With most butterflies gone, there’s room for orb-weaver spiders and fall field crickets to thrive. The most common subtype you’ll find around now are arboreal orb-weavers! Have you ever seen those mesmerizing circular patterns of silk making a web in a corner of a room or garage? There’s a large chance they were made by an arboreal orb-weaver! Fall field crickets become more prominent as fall is their mating season, those annoying chirps you hear are the males giving out a mating call! Bright lights and any entrances into your home are practically an invitation for the crickets to congregate, so make sure to keep your outdoor lights low and make sure your windows have screens! As annoying as the crickets sound, they don’t pose any harm as long as they’re not in large groups. If they are in large groups you should hope you’ve harvested everything from your garden, as they will ravage it with their numbers. With all of the bugs coming and going it’s nice to appreciate every single one you see outside as long as they’re not invasive!

Wriggly Weather Report 

The cold weather isn’t just annoying to you, it’s also annoying to the bugs living outside. Certain bugs will take shelter in warmer places indoors, while others thrive in the cold weather! Thankfully, no bugs in Ohio or Pennsylvania enjoy the colder weather as they’re mostly cold blooded. As rain appears to become more common once more, you may notice some bugs outside or even inside of your home that weren’t there a week ago. One of these bugs is the not-so-beloved millipede! When the rain waterlogs their home of leaf litter and soil, millipedes seek higher ground to survive, leading them to end up in your home as their shelter for a bit. Another common bug you’ll spot after the rainfall are worms, these little wriggly critters are a bird buffet after it rains and they evacuate from their flooded homes in the ground. A worm has five heart-like structures inside of them, which is quite impressive for their size as we’re larger than them and only get one heart! While you’re busy looking at the worms on the sidewalk, maybe a snail or slug will pass you by in the process! A very large pet peeve for bug enjoyers is watching someone mix up snails and slugs. Slugs are snails without a shell, and a snail’s most distinguished feature is their shell, so it baffles me that snails and slugs are seen as one simple creature. If you see your friendly neighborhood slugs or snails you should give them a leaf for their travels in the rain! 

Best Loved Bugs 

After asking some of my other friends in the Hub I’ve come to learn about their favorite bugs! All bugs deserve to be appreciated, with our featured bugs coming from different places around the world!

 Madelyn Fox said, “My favorite bug is a butterfly because that's my natural aura.” Unfortunately we will never learn which butterfly is Maddie’s favorite, so for the sake of joy and whimsy it’ll be assumed every butterfly radiates Maddie’s aura. Next up is Isabella Linert who responded to the question with, “I don't like many bugs, but I'd have to say my favorite is the worm. They always evoke sympathy in me when I see them on the sidewalk when it rains. It's also cool that they have no visible mouth or eyes but they help our ecosystem a lot. They're harmless and not creepy so that's a win.” Bella then proceeded to send several worm emojis to show her love for the worm, the rainy days in late September are sure to bring her happiness as the worms pop out to say hi! Olivia Williams and Ace Johnson both have the same favorite bug, being the lightning bug! For Olivia they remind her of nights when she was a child, however Ace had more than just a simple love for the lightning bug. He said, “ I enjoy their elusive glow. They are gorgeous and sadly they are going extinct. I think bugs are so cool and interesting and it's crazy how microscopic ecosystems can be. Insects are bugs so hated for no reason it makes me sad. I never kill bugs when I see them in my house, I just release them into the grass because I am sad when they die, this is why lightning bugs are my favorite. These new gen kids won't be able to chase fireflies through the field because they're going extinct.” It’s good to know people like Ace have a spot in their heart for bugs. Iris Zucco responded that her favorite is a ladybug due to their meaning of good luck and new beginnings, bringing me to the conclusion that all of the writers asked had such lovely responses!

Finally, two of the editors were asked about their favorite bugs. Mackenzie Thompson responded that, “My favorite bug is the Atlas Moth. I think it looks really cool. It's one of the biggest moths in the world and I like the way its antennae look. They're kind of cute.” Jackson Corbett, however, had a different answer, “My favorite bug is the praying mantis because they look really cool and are kind of rare so seeing them feels special.” The editors seem to love the more rare and visually pleasing bugs, although all bugs are beautiful bugs. 

In conclusion, don’t be a stranger to the bugs you see around, they’re complex creatures just like us, and we wouldn’t want to be squashed!

Halloween used to be a holiday all about tricks, treats, dressing up, and having all sorts of spooky fun—but in recent years it has become something much more dark and twisted than a scary movie. Halloween is many people's favorite holiday for the sole reason of dressing up and getting free candy! (Who doesn’t love free stuff?!) But the essence of the spine-chilling holiday is fading with the mass manufacturing of costumes, decorations, and candy. Halloween, once known for its pagan celebrations, homemade treats, and costumes, has now transformed into an easy cash grab for many companies across the country.

Halloween is the second most marketed holiday, coming in close behind Christmas. Companies are rolling out their Halloween decorations earlier and earlier every year; some stores, such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby, have started to sell Halloween decorations as early as June. Both online and physical stores have begun to promote Halloween so early in the year to capitalize on consumer enthusiasm and seasonal marketing. The National Retail Federation has reported that they expect consumers to spend upwards of 13.1 billion dollars on Halloween-related items this year! The rate at which consumers are increasing their spending is growing at a steady rate of about 1 billion annually. Consumers, on average, are projected to spend around $114.45 this year.

Costumes for children, adults, and even pets cause a significant contribution to Halloween spending. From dressing up as your favorite celebrity to transforming yourself into a scary creature, the costume industry sees a major spike in sales during the weeks leading up to Halloween. Costumes used to be homemade—people would scour their homes looking for items they could repurpose into props for their outfits. Now that costumes are mass-produced and easy to access, people have ceased to create their own costumes. For many people, the best part about Halloween is getting to be someone else for a day. In the ever-so-wise words of Karen Smith from the hit movie-turned-musical Mean Girls once said, “On Halloween you can pretend to be someone else, it's like the internet. Only in person and with candy!” The unconventional creepy essence of Halloween is being lost to cheaply manufactured costumes. Add sentence or two.

Halloween, once a holiday mostly celebrated by children, is now being celebrated by more teenagers and adults than ever. As more people join in on the fun, more goods are being manufactured and consumed. The societal pressure amplified by social media has driven many people into believing that they need to buy certain items to celebrate the holiday, which simply isn’t true. Halloween is a holiday in which everyone should be able to enjoy themselves without breaking the bank on a costume and decorations they will most likely never use again. Making your own costume and decor isn’t a straining task. Just go in your closet and find something that sparks inspiration and build off of that. Social media has much more to offer than influencers telling you what you need to “run, not walk” to get. There are sewing tutorials, craft tutorials, and videos teaching you how to make your own things. Get creative and get out there! There is no such thing as “too much” on a holiday centered around dressing up and punking people.