By: Aydan Blomiley (2025)
I love food, and I think that the Central Mass area probably has the most diverse food in Massachusetts. Around Boston it is very diverse but then you start to mix expensive Americanized foods from different countries and you start to lose the small business vibe of the real authentic food. One expectation to that statement is Chinatown. Chinatown in Boston definitely has the best Chinese food in Massachusetts, and they have a ton of places to go to that are all very good. There is a very diverse set of good authentic restaurants in the area and here are some you should go try.
El Patron Mexican Restaurant Worcester MA
If you’re going to a Woosox game this spring make sure to go to El Patron Mexican Restaurant on Harding Street in Worcester. I’ve only been here twice, but the steak quesadillas are probably my favorite in the area, also the servers are very nice.
Vintage Grille Worcester MA
Vintage Grille was always one of my favorite places as a kid with all of the vintage license plates and car relics posted up through the restaurant. But the food is also really good, they serve breakfast too but I would probably recommend their Mac and Cheese burger.
Teddy G’s Sturbridge MA
Teddy G’s is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. I’ve only been there once, but the burger was mind blowing, cooked perfectly, perfect bun, everything you want from a burger. They are also known for their burger and fries challenge which is $45 but if you finish the burger there will be no charge.
Baba Worcester MA
We’re gonna focus on my favorite food now, which is sushi. In a previous article I recommended Osaka in Shrewsbury, but Baba Sushi in Worcester has some of the best sushi I have ever had. They make a lot of good cooked sushi rolls if you don’t like raw, but if you’re willing to try whatever you have to try the Godzilla Roll.
Yama Zakura Northborough MA
Yama Zakura is home to the best roll of sushi I have ever had. It was called the Lobster Bomb Roll, and they still serve it. It is on the expensive side, with it being $22 for 8 pieces but I am telling you it is so worth it. Also the fish is definitely the most fresh tasting out of all the sushi places that I’ve been to. Pro tip, go to Yama Zakura on a Tuesday through Thursday between 4-6 because they are almost always on a wait.
By: Aydan Blomiley (2025)
It’s All Over
Pain
Animal I have become
Never Too Late
On My Own
Riot
Get Out Alive
Let It Die
Over and Over
Time of Dying
Gone Forever
One X
Overall Thoughts: This album was good, it has a lot of cool guitar and drum tempos that go great together. This album keeps the same theme throughout which is finding yourself, and escaping a downtime in life. I knew two songs on this album before listening, and that is “Animal I Have Become”, and “Riot” which can be heard at most hockey games, or if you’re at a heavy rock concert and they are playing the music before the band comes on. I would definitely listen to this album again, a solid sounding album.
Overall Album Score: 7.3/10
The trade will either be a great deal or a terrible one. The real question is, will Lebron James win another championship, and will Luka Doncic still be on the team if they do?
Francisco Alvarado-Gomez (2025)
In a move that sent shockwaves around the sports world, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in a three team deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. (2/2/25) Luka Doncic was drafted in 2018 by the Atlanta Hawks who selected him 3rd overall but would later trade him for the 5th overall, Trae Young. Doncic was seen by all the fans as the next Dirk Nowitzki, someone who would be a Maverick for life.
The Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals in 2021 and then the NBA Finals last season with Doncic being the heart of the team. Last offseason, Klay Thompson joined Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas to reinforce the teams championship’s hopes.
The Mavericks began the trade talks with the Lakers and were motivated to move Doncic because of his constant conditioning concerns. This deal left Lakers superstar Lebron James surprised. Doncic and Anthony Davis were not informed of the trade ahead of time.
The Luka Doncic trade was seemingly out of nowhere and will be very memorable looking back in 10 years. The trade will either be a great deal or a terrible one. The real question is, will Lebron James win another championship, and will Luka Doncic still be on the team if they do?
Congratulations to Hunter LaPlante and Mr. Bastien picking the NFL MVP for the 2024 NFL season. In the fall we asked students and staff for their predictions for who would win the MVP. Lots of Lamar Jackson picks but this year Josh Allen endged out Jackson for the win.
The 2025 NFL MVP race was one of the closest in history, with Josh Allen edging out Lamar Jackson to claim the award. Despite Jackson being named the 2024 first-team All-Pro quarterback by the same panel of voters, Allen secured the league's most prestigious individual honor. The debate over the MVP selection was intense, with some analysts questioning whether Jackson should have won instead. Former NFL quarterback and current SiriusXM radio host Jim Miller even left Jackson out of his top three, voting for Allen first, followed by Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes. The tight competition and differing opinions made the 2025 MVP race one of the most hotly debated in recent memory.
By: Aydan Blomiley (2025)
Being an Alabama College Football fan, seeing this year's National Championship was not very exciting. I understand that Alabama had three losses but they definitely would have beaten some of these teams that played in this year's college football playoff such as Clemson, SMU, Indiana, but on the other hand it gives the team a lesson to play harder next year and to get better at closing games on defense and offense. I think Ohio State and Notre Dame were both decent teams, I’m not saying they shouldn’t have made the championship. But it was definitely one of the worst National Championships I had ever seen. It also wasn’t very followed or didn’t have much hype for it, reason being that it was on Inauguration day or the fact that the college football playoff is now 12 teams, so maybe the National Championship holds less excitement as a fan. I truly wish they kept the four team playoff, not just because college football was over sooner, but the fact that it makes every game way more important than it seemed this year. Nevertheless congratulations to Ohio State for winning the 2025 College Football National Championship.
By: Aydan Blomiley (2025)
The United States might not be the most perfect country when it comes to social and economic issues, but one thing we can all agree on is how beautiful the U.S truly is. From the East Coast the capital, Washington D.C with all of its historical landmarks , the lighthouses of the Carolinas, the rocky beaches of Cape Cod, the beautiful Appalachian Mountain range that goes from Georgia to Maine, interesting cities like New York City, Boston and Philadelphia who were all great support in the making of the constitution, and of course Florida which has beautiful beaches, beautiful cities and you can’t forget about Disney, even though I’ve never been. Then you go to the Midwest and the south where you can find lots and lots of farms and a lot of hard working farmers. You also have a lot of good barbeque food in the south, specifically in Texas and Tennessee. Then you’re in the west which is my favorite part of the country. You have a lot of desert in the southwest, and a lot of nice mountains and forests in the northwest. Right in the middle of those you have California which has some desert and some mountains and forest. You also notice a lot of the cities on the west coast are more innovative, and you can find a lot more big companies in California. Lastly you have Alaska and Hawaii which are very unique U.S States. As someone who doesn’t like the cold, I probably would not go, but there are a lot of cool places in Alaska. Hawaii would be fun to go to, with the volcanoes and the beautiful beaches. Overall, America is such a beautiful country and there are landmarks, history, and things to do almost everywhere you go!
Congratulations to Jon Bligh, Fiona Do, Maya Waire, Sophia Stevens, Madeline Seaman, Bella DiGennaro for winning the "Chopped" Sculpture Challenge in Ms. Rieder's Sculpture class. Students had to create a unique and original deslgn from random materials within a specified time period.
⏰ 6:00 - 8:00 PM
🍿 Concessions available!
🏆 Attendance counts towards points for your class!
💪 Tug-o-War Weigh-Ins! Think your team has what it takes? Get weighed in and get ready to compete!
🎯 Games & Events! Kick off Winter Carnival with some classic games.
Bring your energy, bring your friends, and let’s make this the BEST Winter Carnival yet!
Photos from Last Year Winter Carnival 2024
By Aydan Blomiley (2025)
If I had to be honest I would probably say I watch the Pro Bowl the least out of all the big four sports and their All Star Games. Maybe it has to do with being at the end of the season and just the fact that they never try or the fact that none of the big players ever participate in it, or even the fact that they don’t do a good job mixing it up and it is always pretty boring in my opinion. For the NBA All Star events you have the dunk competition and the three point competition that is usually entertaining to watch, at least it is something to look forward to. For MLB, you have the home run derby which is my favorite all star event out of them all, and then you have the All Star Game which is the most competitive All Star Game out of the four sports. The NHL isn’t doing an All Star Game this year as they are turning the tides to a competition between four countries including the U.S.A, and two of those games will be hosted at our very own T.D Garden. The NBA All Star Game and its events seem to be going a little downhill recently with all of the dunkers being in the G league, and the all star game being very very uncompetitive. It will be interesting to see how all star games will be revamped in the future, or if they will get rid of them completely, but I definitely think the MLB knows what they are doing, and they for sure have the most enjoyable all star events.
In the fall we asked students and staff their MVP and Superbowl winner predictions. Who still has a chance to get the Super Bowl winner correct?
Francisco Alvarado-Gomez (2025)
Lewis Hamilton recently made a historic move to Scuderia Ferrari following the end of the 2024 Formula One season. Ferrari recently showed off their race suits for the 2025 season, with new teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. This announcement came just a few days after Hamilton’s first appearance as a Ferrari driver in Maranello and his first test drive in Fiorano, Italy, marking the start of a new era for the legendary seven time World Champion.
Hamilton was quoted as saying “ I’ve been lucky enough to have many firsts in my career, from the first test to the first race, podium, win and championship, so I wasn’t sure how many more firsts I had but driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning, was one of the best feelings of my life,” shortly after testing out his Ferrari. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was clearly the right move for him, he’s received positive feedback from the fans and is happy and satisfied with Ferrari.
Aydan talks with Mr. McQuade about growing up in Millbury, his band "Young Man Winter", songwriting advice, musical influences, and much more on his podcast.
By Aydan Blomiley (2025)
DIVISIONAL ROUND RECAP
With the Divisional Round in the rear view , we once again saw the Washington Commanders led by Rookie Quarterback out of LSU Jayden Daniels pull up another upset. This upset was definitely more surprising, against the best team in the NFL with arguably the best coach in the NFL and one of the most productive offenses in the league. However the Detroit Lions, despite scoring 31 points, could not stop the Commanders offense. The Chiefs, unsurprisingly won their game against a less experienced Texans team, a few calls went their way but most importantly the Chiefs were the better team that day. I thought the Rams were going to start out a little faster against the Eagles and maybe beat them, but the Eagles showed up and will advance to the NFL Championship for the second year in a row. I think the Bills Ravens game was the most intense out of the four games, with tight end Mark Andrews having the game tying two point conversion in his hand for the slightest second until it dropped to the ground. It will be interesting to see how the conference championships play out, here are my predictions
WASHINGTON AT PHILADELPHIA
The Philadelphia Eagles are listed as the favorite by 6.5 points to beat the Washington Commanders. As they head into their second straight conference championship at home the Eagles have the experience and the consistent defense, but their offense has lacked a little bit. The Eagles shouldn’t have a problem scoring against this Commanders team, their biggest thing is trying to stop Jayden Daniels. The Commanders offense and Jayden Daniels shocked most NFL fans with their win against the Lions, but the Eagles are a more experienced, a little older of a team. I’m rooting for the Commanders to win this one, but sadly I think the Eagles will pull through in a close game.
(WSH 28 PHI 31)
BUFFALO AT KANSAS CITY
The Chiefs are going to win this game. I really don’t want to say it, and maybe I am rooting against them, but there is no question that they are the best team in the playoffs. The Chiefs will never play a perfect game, but they will always make the right plays at the right time. The current Chiefs remind me a lot of the Patriots especially during the 2014-2019 era when they made mistakes here and there but when it came down to the end of the game they would always find a way to win. I think this Buffalo team is really good, don’t get me wrong. Without Diggs I didn’t think they were going to be that good this year, but honestly Josh Allen is arguably playing better. There is obviously a chance that the Bills outplay the Chiefs, but they would really have to put their best game together for the whole 60 minutes. There is a very little chance that the Bills fully dominate this one, I think the Chiefs win in a close game.
(BUF 24 KC 27)
By: Aydan Blomiley (2025)
As the WIld Card wrapped up over this past weekend we saw a few upsets, like the 10-7 Rams crushing the 14-3 Vikings. We saw Rookie Jayden Daniels come through in a close game against the Buccaneers. Then you saw the teams that most people knew were gonna win, handle business such as the Texans beating the Chargers, Bills beating the Broncos, Ravens beating the Steelers and the Eagles beating the Packers. In the Divisional round we have a few games that will probably be very close.
By Aydan Blomiley (2025)
The first three Toy Story movies capture an absolutely perfect journey and idea, that even with subpar animation in 1995, they were able to create an unforgettable original movie series that kids will love for years to come. And then they made a fourth movie.
By Aydan Blomiley (2025)
The reason why I enjoy Bob Dylan so much, is because his music and his discography is such a relatable, interesting, journey that takes you through many different kinds of songs, and different meanings of songs. In the early 60s he was definitely a full on folk singer with his acoustic guitar and his harmonic, writing many protest songs and songs about his first love Suze Rotolo who can be found on the cover of the Freewheelin’ album released in 1963. Then he gets sick of the folk genre...
By Aydan Blomiley (2025)
In and Out is the epitome of what fast food should be. I’ve only been to In and Out once, but I’ve heard that it is the most consistent by far. In and out is only located on the west coast, I went to the one in Phoenix and got a double burger with a chocolate milkshake which was all really good. The thing that stands out to me the most is how nice all the workers were and how quick the food is. In and Out is not just fast food, but it is an experience, an S tier experience.
The A tiers you have very fresh modern fast food places such as Chipotle, Chick fil A and Shake shack.
Read full article and see fast food rankings
Calling all book lovers! The Woolie Book Club is diving into Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman this month—a magical, action-packed adventure full of epic battles, mysterious secrets, and... unicorns like you’ve never seen before. These aren’t your typical fairy-tale unicorns—they’re fierce, powerful, and totally thrilling.
If you love books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or Eragon, this story is right up your alley. It’s perfect for fans of fantasy, adventure, and heart-racing excitement.
Our next meeting is during Flex on Monday, February 24th, in the library. Don’t miss out on the chance to chat about Skandar’s wild journey and connect with other readers. Bring your thoughts, your questions, and your love for a great story.
Stop by the library to see Ms. Flaherty to learn more about the book club or to sign out a copy to read.
Art is an essential part of the human experience. It enables us to communicate with one another, express ourselves, and get new perspectives on the world. Arts education can help high school students develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities. It can also help build self-confidence and resilience. - The Princeton Review