By: Logan Sturgeon 

The JLCC met on Wednesday, November 11th. They started in the classroom with a couple of activities. The first activity was a little icebreaker game where everyone got a random funny question, answered it, and also told what school they were from and their name. Another activity was a partner drawing activity where everyone paired up with someone new and sat on the ground, facing away from each other. One person got an image, and the other got a blank piece of paper and a pencil. The one person has to describe the image to the other as best they can, while the other draws. Some of the takeaways are that people have many different ways to describe things, such as reading lips and asking questions. Then they finished with an activity: a charades game where you were given a machine and had to perform it so the other groups could guess what it was. One group got a car wash, and another got a vending machine. Some key takeaways are that it requires significant behind-the-scenes communication and hard work to create something that works and looks good. 

After their time in the class, the group traveled to the WayStation in Columbiana to learn about poverty. One of Lisbon’s attendants, Bridgett Newbold, was interviewed about the following questions: What are some of the things that you learned about generational poverty, and what are some of the tools you can use to get out of generational poverty? Newbold responded, “So I didn’t know that generational poverty was something people could be peer-pressured to stay in. From my personal experiences, the adults in my life pushed me to do better and not be in my own way of my success. It didn’t cross my mind that there was a stigma to staying in that hole of poverty and not to become something greater than the generation before them. To get out of it, I learned you need to have a mindset change and a scenery change. Like move away from certain people and places and set goals and dreams..” After their lesson on poverty, they took a little tour around the WayStation. They got to see where they process all the incoming clothes and also their food pantry. When the tour was finished, everyone pinched in and volunteered to help organize the store, and that was the JLCC meeting.

Photo By JLCC Facebook

By: Hannah         11/14/25

In a quiet decision that carried the weight of an era ending, the United States officially discontinued the penny, an object so small, so common that most Americans barely noticed it until it was gone. Yet, in its absence, the nation felt a surprising ache, as though a tiny piece of everyday life had been swept into history’s pocket and sealed shut.

For generations, the penny clinked in jars, slipped between car seats, and rattled across convenience-store counters. Children collected it, charities depended on it, and phrases like “a penny for your thoughts” wove it into American speech. It wasn’t just currency, it was culture. But culture eventually collided with economics.

Economic experts warned that the coin’s lifespan was over; lawmakers debated and the public shrugged. Yet, when the official discontinuation finally arrived, it landed not with a whimper but with a sudden, startling hush.

Parents explained to their children why “lucky pennies” would no longer sparkle on sidewalks. Cash businesses scrambled to adjust their totals. Coin collectors celebrated and grieved. Digital screens and card readers absorbed the moment with cold efficiency.

The real drama unfolded not in Congress or on the factory floors of the U.S., but in the hearts of everyday people who realized the penny had been more than a monetary unit. It had been a symbol of smallness that mattered: a reminder that tiny things still held weight, that little gestures, donations, savings, and luck could add up to something meaningful.

Now, the penny takes its place beside the discontinued coins of the past, shining quietly in drawers and albums, a relic of an America that once believed even the smallest cent counted.

In a world racing toward a cashless future, the end of the penny marks more than economic progress. It marks the closing of chapter one of the final penny.

Photo By Stacks Bowers

The beauty of Thanksgiving 

By: Hannah Davis 

Thanksgiving is one of the most special times of the year, a day filled with warmth, gratitude, and the joy of being together. It’s more than just a holiday or a meal; it’s a celebration of family, friendship, and all the little blessings that make life meaningful.

At its best, Thanksgiving is about gratitude. It reminds us to slow down, take a breath, and truly appreciate what we have. In the middle of busy lives and endless to-do lists, this day encourages us to pause and say, “Thank you.” Whether it’s gratitude for health, for loved ones, or simply for the chance to share another year together, Thanksgiving helps us focus on what really matters.

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is the togetherness it brings. Families travel from near and far to sit around the same table, share stories, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. The kitchen fills with the comforting assortment of roasted turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, and pies baking in the oven. There’s something magical about how food brings people closer, every dish carrying a bit of love and a story from the past.

It’s also a time when kindness and generosity shine. Many people open their homes to friends, neighbors, or anyone who might not have a place to go. Others volunteer or donate meals to those in need. Thanksgiving has a way of reminding us that gratitude grows when it’s shared, and that even the smallest act of giving can mean so much.  I asked Señor Dingey at DAHS what Thanksgiving is to her, and she said, “Time to be with family and enjoy the blessings we have.”

But beyond the feast and festivities, Thanksgiving is really about connection. It’s about sitting across from the people who make our lives brighter and realizing how lucky we are to have them. It’s about laughter, conversation, and sometimes even a few happy tears. It’s a reminder that happiness isn’t found in things, but in moments, the smiles, the hugs, and the love we share.

So this Thanksgiving, take a moment to look around the table, feel the warmth in the room, and remember that these are the moments that truly matter. Be thankful for the food, the laughter, and especially the people who make your world a little more beautiful. Because when it comes down to it, Thanksgiving isn’t just a day on the calendar, it’s a feeling that stays with us long after the last slice of pie is gone.

Photo by History.com

By: Sarah Thompson           10/08/25

When Taylor Swift dropped her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, on October 3, 2025, she presented listeners with more than a collection of songs—she presented a stage. The album feels like an invitation behind the curtain: yes, there are sequins and spotlights, but there is also friction, self-confrontation, and a kind of performance art about being a public figure. Much like a showgirl whose every move is watched, Swift uses this album to examine image, expectation, and vulnerability.

An Ambitious Balancing Act

From the start, Showgirl stakes a claim to dual identities. On one hand, it leans into spectacle and pop polish—Max Martin, Shellback, and Swift (working together exclusively) shape a bright, infectious soundscape. Critics and fans alike note that it feels more outward-facing and playful than her preceding work, The Tortured Poets Department. On the other hand, there is a cleaving tension: layered into the glam are moments of scrutiny, regret, and self-definition.

In interviews, Swift has said that the album’s goal was to capture what was happening “behind the curtain,” with melodies she wanted listeners to “almost be angry at” for being so catchy, and lyrics that are “vivid, but crisp and focused” that push clarity seams to be a response to some of her past work, where dense metaphors and emotional overflow were sometimes criticized for being impenetrable.

Themes That Cut Through the Gloss

1. Performance vs. Reality

The showgirl metaphor is more than an aesthetic: it’s a lens. The narrative voice in Showgirl is aware of her role, aware people are watching, and aware she’s being judged—but also insistently human. There is a tension between persona and person, between what is staged and what is real. This seems especially potent in a moment when Taylor is arguably the most-watched musician of our generation.

2. Critique, Judgement, & Gendered Standards

Across Showgirl, Swift explores the concepts of reputation, vilification, and the types of scrutiny—especially those faced by public women. The album doesn’t always hit softly. Some tracks read as direct responses or pushbacks, with sharper edges. The implication is that she’s still paying attention to what others say—and may be provoking some of it.

3. Love & Anchors

Even amid big statements and bold aesthetics, Showgirl often returns to a quieter center: relationships, longing, and stability. When the microphone is off, the heart still beats. Parts of the album lean on intimacy and connection as a counterbalance to the spotlight’s glare.

4. Ambition, Legacy & Reinvention

Swift has long been about eras, reinvention, color palettes, and mythology. Showgirl leans into that. References to classic icons (e.g., Elizabeth Taylor), theatrical flourishes, and the idea of “sequins forever” situate the album as both homage and evolution. It’s as much about her place in pop history as it is about her current emotional landscape.

What the Haters Say—and Why It Matters

No Taylor Swift album sails without critics, and Showgirl has drawn sharper pushback than usual. Some reviewers say the album leans too heavily on old formulas, or that some lyrics feel clunky or even juvenile in their attempts at drama or camp. For example, the song “Actually Romantic” has been called “petty,” criticized for lacking emotional depth, and described as a misstep in balancing earnestness and retaliation.

One especially pointed critique:

“Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ lyrics are just awful, awkward jokes and petty celeb beefs.”

That line comes from a tabloid review, but it’s indicative of a broader line of criticism: that some of her more provocative or theatrical lines don’t land, or that they prioritize spectacle over substance.

And speaking of media discourse, the album has been called “massively divisive.” Rob Sheffield labeled Showgirl as 2025’s most polarizing album. Some critics say this album is less about innovation and more about reaffirming her dominance in pop. Others accuse her of relying too much on Easter eggs, self-reference, and nostalgia.

But here’s a counter to the critics: Whether you love Showgirl or not, the fact that it’s been argued over this intensely means it’s hit a nerve. As Swift herself said in a recent interview:

“If you’re saying either my name or my album title, you’re helping.”

That’s a reminder that in pop culture, visibility is power. Even negative attention can amplify reach.