2019-2020

Patriots-Chiefs Reaction

By Max Weisman

The New England Patriots lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-16 Sunday Evening, but the loss was not the main talking point for many fans after the game. After a great first drive for the Patriots, one that resulted in a 37-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass to Julian Edelman, I was hopeful for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, the Patriots offense stalled in 4 out of the 6 of their next drives, with Tom Brady throwing an interception on the first play in one of them. Their two good drives ended in a Nick Folk field goal being blocked, and a turnover on downs when Brady’s pass to Edelman falling incomplete on 4th and 7. The defense had a shaky second quarter but was able to hold Kansas City to a field goal at the end of the half, and at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, keeping the game in reach at 23-7. The Patriots got a jolt of energy when they blocked a Chief punt and got the ball inside the Red Zone on the Kansas City 19 yard line. They were able to cash in with a Brandon Bolden 10 yard touchdown. The Patriots elected to go for the 2 point conversion to try and cut the Chiefs lead to 23-15, which would make the game a one score game, but failed to convert, and were down 10.

At 23-13 chaos ensued. After the Chiefs got 3 years on back to back plays, the Patriots tried to get off the field on 3rd and 4. A Patrick Mahomes pass to Sammy Watkins looked like a first down on the CBS broadcast, and the referees seemed to agree, although with a more generous spot further down the field. However, on second glance with the replays CBS provided, Watkins looked like he was just barely short, and Belichick seemed to agree, throwing the red challenge flag. With a more extensive showing of the replays, Watkins looked short to me and CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore seemed unable to give his opinion on the play. Different replays showed him that Watkins could have been short, or that he could have made it. The refs went with the call on the field, which wasn’t terrible, as the evidence that Watkins was short was probably inconclusive.

A few plays later, Mahomes passed the ball to Travis Kelce who caught the ball near the first down maker but ran backwards to avoid being tackled. Devin McCourty punched the ball out and Stephon Gilmore recovered and it looked like he had a sure touchdown with no Chiefs in between him and the end zone. The referees, however, believed that Kelce was down or had made forward progress and blew the whistle as Gilmore was running towards the end zone.

Here’s where it gets bad. The Patriots challenged the call and it was reversed, giving the Patriots the ball, which was a good thing, if only for the fact that by blowing the whistle on an obvious fumble the refs took a touchdown away from the Patriots. Earlier this season, the expectation was changed from blowing the whistle on these potential fumble plays, to allowing the play to continue and then afterwards reviewing the play to stop taking away potential scores. I guess the refs in the Pats game just threw that out the window.

I wouldn’t be complaining about this call if the Patriots drove down the field and scored a touchdown. Which is what should have happened. From the Kansas City 15 yard line, Brady passed to N’Keal Harry who tiptoed the sideline and dove for the pylon. The ball crossed the plane and it seemed to me that he scored. However, the referees talked and agreed that Harry stepped out of bounds at the 3, much to my chagrin. When CBS showed the replay, though, it was crystal clear that he didn’t step out of bounds, and you could see a lot of grass in between his foot and the sideline. The fact that two referees were able to agree that he stepped out of bounds is ridiculous, when every single person knew that he scored. In fact, why not call it a touchdown, because if all scoring plays are reviewed and you weren’t so sure he made it, the review would confirm it. The Patriots couldn’t challenge it due to some previous bad officiating, and no official review was triggered. The Patriots drive stalled and they had to kick a field goal, making the score 23-16.

Now, I’m not usually one to blame referees for losses, and that’s not what I’m doing now, it was the offense being stagnant that really was the culprit, but these few calls were just absolutely ridiculous, and changed the outcome of the game. By not calling the Harry play a touchdown, the Patriots needed a touchdown instead of a field goal on their final drive. Because of this, the Patriots had to go for the touchdown on 4th and goal and were ultimately stopped, giving the Chiefs the win. If the Patriots only needed a field goal, however, they’d have been able to kick a chip shot one to tie the game. I would have been content with losing the game, if we had tied it up and given Mahomes the ball back with too much time, leading to a game winning field goal for the Chiefs. That wasn’t the case though, as the referees essentially took two touchdowns off the board for the Patriots, dictating how the Patriots played their final drive.

The NFL seriously needs to look at the problem they have with the refereeing in the league. It wasn’t only the Chiefs who benefitted from calls or no calls. Mahomes was thrown out of bounds by a lineman on the Patriots (I can’t remember who), and no Unnecessary Roughness penalty was called, in a clear situation. They took a stride in giving the coaches the power to challenge Pass Interference calls, but I think one or two challenges have been successful. If the NFL were trying to reform the way PI calls were being called, they have epically failed, along with the terrible calls we saw this weekend. I wouldn’t be surprised if this officiating crew got the Super Bowl job.

FINAL: Chiefs 23 - Patriots 16

Image Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Spygate 2.0?

By Sam Shuster

On December 8th 2019 the Cleveland Browns faced off against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. The Browns ultimately defeated the Bengals but the headlines were made off the field. The National Football League announced they will be investigating a member of the New England Patriots organization for filming the Cincinnati Bengals sideline. The Patriots videographer David Mondillo was filming background footage for the advanced scouting department installment in the “Do your Job” documentary produced by Kraft Sports and Entertainment.  Mondillo stopped to use the restroom and when he returned he was told by people from the NFL and Bengals organization to stop filming.The Patriots informed the Browns that a camera crew would be present at the game but did not communicate this news to the Cincinnati Bengals or the NFL. The NFL found the Patriots film crew filming the Bengals sideline from a press box. They reviewed the tape and said it featured about eight minutes of the Bengals sideline. This all happening the week before the Patriots were set to matchup against the Bengals. The NFL has strict rules prohibiting teams from filming opposing teams sidelines. Now this would be big news for any team but especially for the New England Patriots because this is not their first scandal. In 2007 the Patriots videotaped the New York Jets defensive signals from an unauthorized location. Videotaping opposing coaches is legal but the cameras must be in a certain area for that to happen. Commissioner Roger Goodell found the Patriots filming to be in direct violation of the league’s rules and fined the Patriots organization $250,000 and fined head coach Bill Belichick $500,000 (the maximum fine for an individual). The Patriots were also stripped of the 2008 First round draft pick which ended up being pick 31. The two situations are too similar for comfort, In a statement released by Mondillo it states “ I had no intention to provide footage to football operations, I did not provide any footage, and I was never asked to do so”. The NFL has a copy of the film recorded by the Patriots film crew. In the eight minute clip it shows many signs and signals from the Bengals team. If the NFL decides to punish the Patriots the possible punishments could range from a fine to a draft pick swiped. The Patriots organization acknowledges that they violated a policy. The team said that the film crew “unknowingly violated a league policy by filming the field and sideline from the press box”. When caught, David Mondillo said he could just delete the footage. The member of the Bengals who caught him explained “the damage is done my friend. It was later determined that the Patriots could not have gotten any competitive advantage from the film. How have the Bengals responded to this situation? Head Coach Zac Taylor said he is aware of the situation and knows the NFL is investigating it. The Patriots ended up beating the Bengals with a final score of 34-13. Andy Dalton threw for interceptions 2 to J.C. Jackson and the other two to Stephon Gilmore which one was returned for a touchdown. This game was a very strong outing from the Patriots who have had their struggles this year despite being 11-3. The Patriots are set to square off against the Buffalo Bills this week, a win would give the Patriots their 11th straight AFC East division Title. The NFL is still investigating the incident.

2020 NFL DRAFT

By: Sam Shuster

The 2019-2020 NFL season has concluded with the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl 54.

The NFL draft is where new careers will begin and where NFL fan bases around the country will find out who will be leading their franchise for years to come. The NFL draft is set to kick off April 23rd. This article will consist of a mock draft of the first round. The Cincinnati Bengals are currently on the clock because they have the first pick. Their projected pick is Quarterback Joe Burrow from LSU. He is a great fit for a team needy of a franchise quarterback. Coming off a Heisman and National Championship season he is the clear choice for the Bengals. The Washington Redskins hold the second pick, their projected pick is EDGE rusher Chase Young from Ohio State. He is clearly the best player on the board and that is why he will be taken here.

          The Detroit Lions hold the third pick, they will select Cornerback Jeff Okudah from Ohio State. The top ranked cornerback is the clear cut favorite for this pick. The New York Giants hold the fourth pick in this year's draft. They will select Alabama offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. With this pick they will try to help their dreadful O-Line to protect Daniel Jones. The Dolphins will select Oregon Quarterback Justin Herbert with the 5th pick. They are a young team in need of their franchise QB. The Los Angeles Chargers have the sixth pick, they will select Auburn's Derrick Brown to pair him with Joey Bosa on the D-Line. With the Seventh pick the Panthers will select Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. They will need a Wide Receiver after they name Cam Newton the starting quarterback. With the eight pick the Arizona Cardinals will select Offensive Tackles from Georgia Andrew Thomas to protect Kyler Murray. The Jacksonville Jaguars will select Alabama Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy with the ninth pick in the draft. An elite playmaker is exactly what they need on offense. With the tenth pick the Cleveland Browns will pick Tristian Wirfs O-Lineman from Iowa. With the eleventh pick the Jets will pick Mekhi Becton the offensive Lineman from Louisville. With the twelfth pick the Las Vegas Raider will select Kenneth Murray from Oklahoma to get some help at the defensive position. With the thirteenth pick the Colts will select Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman from South Carolina. 

          With the fourteenth pick the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select Xavier McKinney Safety from Alabama. With the fifteenth pick the Denver Broncos will select Henry Ruggs III wide receiver from Clemson. They will be adding a weapon for second year quarterback Drew Lock. With the sixteenth pick the Atlanta Falcons will select AJ Espenesa, EDGE rusher IOWA clearly the best player available. With the seventeenth pick in the draft the Dallas Cowboys will select LSU safety Grant Delpit. With the eighteenth pick in the draft the Miami Dolphins (From PIT) will select Georgia Running Back De’Andre Swift. With the nineteenth pick in the NFL draft the Las Vegas Raiders (From CHI) will select Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Originally Tua was slated to go in the top 10 but after a hip injury his health was brought into question. If Tua can stay healthy the Raiders would get him for a steal at pick 19. 

          With pick twenty in the NFL draft the Jacksonville Jaguars (From LAR) Will select Cornerback CJ Henderson from Florida to replace Jalen Ramsey. With the twenty first pick the Philadelphia Eagles will select Laviska Shenualt, Wide Receiver from Colorado. They have deep receiver issues that they will start to address here. With the twenty second pick in the draft the Bills will select EDGE rusher Terrell Lewis from Alabama. With the twenty-third pick in the NFL draft the New England Patriots will select Wide Receiver from Alabama Tee Higgins. After they Re-sign the undisputed GOAT Tom Brady they will need to add some weapons for him. Tee Higgins will fit nicely across from N’Keal Harry. With the Twenty fourth pick in the NFL draft the New Orleans Saints will select LSU EDGE rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. With the twenty fifth pick in the NFL draft the Minnesota Vikings will select EDGE rusher Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State. This will give the defense pass rush boost. 

          With the twenty sixth pick in the NFL draft the Miami Dolphins (From HOU) will select Cornerback from Stanford Paulson Adebo. With the twenty-seventh pick in the NFL draft the Seattle Seahawks will select Austin Jackson Offensive Tackle from USC. Russel Wilson isn’t getting any younger so they will need to protect him as best they can. With the twenty-eight pick in the NFL draft the Baltimore Ravens will select Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver LSU. They will give Lamar Jackson another weapon to work with. With the twenty-ninth pick in the draft the Titans will select EDGE Rusher Julian Okwara from Notre Dame. 

          With the thirtieth pick in the draft the Packers will select Michael Pittman Jr. The USC Senior Captain will do nicely catching balls from Aaron Rodgers opposite Davante Adams. With the thirty-first pick in the draft the San Francisco Forty-Niners will select Ashtyn Davis, Safety from California. Finally with the thirty-second pick in the NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs will select Cornerback from TCU Jeff Gladney to strengthen the secondary. This wraps up the 2020 NFL mock draft. As it inches closer, we’ll wait until April 23rd to see how accurate this is.

NHS Theatre's Bright Star

Illuminates Natick’s Student Art Scene

By Clay Napurano

Over the last two weekends, Natick High Theatre put on four very successful performances of their fall musical: Bright Star. The new musical, written by comedian and banjo extraordinaire, Steve Martin and bluegrass icon, Edie Brickell presents a timeless story of love and loss through the lens of the 1940s and 1920s. The show starred senior Jordan McLaughlin as Alice Murphy and Brendan O’Loughlan as Jimmy Ray Dobbs. In the 1920s they were young, carefree, and in love. Murphy conceived a baby with Dobbs which drove the couple apart due to the hatred from Dobbs’ father, the Mayor of Zebulon (and the role that I played) who attempts to kill the baby by throwing it from a train. In the 1940s, Murphy serves as a depressed editor and Dobbs escapes from his dying father after he learns the truth about his son. The couple reunites and eventually find their son who survived the Mayor’s assassination attempt.

     The music in the show is heavily inspired by bluegrass music and our show’s all-string professional pit featured a single student, senior Matthew Cunningham who also served as the rehearsal pianist. Many cite the music and vocals as one of the strongest portions of this production. The musical director and choreographer, Natick choir director and Natick Varsity dance team coach, Kate Burns, mentored Cunningham as well as Senior Maye Sobhoff in music directing and spent countless hours running rehearsal, teaching choreography, and blocking scenes. 

Although the show explores deep and adult themes, the community rallied around the show and the cast and crew felt truly supported by current students and alumni of the program in attendance at each of the shows. The fall shows every year are non-cut, meaning that if someone auditions, they are in the show automatically. The cast was over 80 people this year, but director Steven Miller utilized each and every actor, having them frame the stage during most scenes, sing from backstage, and operate the intricate set changes which include moving the train, desks, offices, trees, and houses. Many times throughout rehearsal, Miller asked the cast, “What is your Bright Star?” “What does the term Bright Star mean to you personally.” Through these questions, the cast was able to truly embody the meaning Martin and Brickell put behind this show. 

The stage crew spent hours planning and carrying out Miller’s ideas for the set including the centerpiece mountain that crested upstage. Actors stood atop it near the pit band, and inside the doors held shut with magnets, actors moved set-pieces. The lighting, sound, hair and makeup, and front of house were all student-run and or assisted as well. 

The show was very well received by parents, facility, and family of the actors. Now, many eagerly await the student-directed show which is yet to be determined. So in the meantime, take a moment to contemplate and ask yourself- “What is your Bright Star?” 

My Problem With “Cats”

By Clay Napurano

Cats is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 1980 show is based on a collection of poetry by T.S. Eliot, a famous American poet. The collection, entitled “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” is (as) cat-astrophic (as the pun I just made). The book is packed with fourteen pointless poems about creatures that he calls “Jellicle Cats.” Jellicle Cats are not a real type of cat and the way that Eliot describes these felines; I am very glad they are not. The poems describe Jellicle cats in obnoxiously repetitive detail. A reader can experience the stories of “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer,” “Old Deuteronomy,” and “Gus: the Theatre Cat” (Gus is short for asparagus). Ugh.

So why is this nightmarish inspiration for Webber so pivotal? In every source that I have found, the writer of the musical is listed as not Webber, but Eliot who died ten years before Webber even started writing. Webber changed nothing from Eliot’s poems in the lyrics of Cats. His only lyrical addition was the song “Memory.” A recording done by Barbara Streisand of the song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1981. However, Memory was heavily inspired by “Rhapsody on a Windy Night,” an separate poem written by Eliot. The adaptation was made by the music director Trevor Nunn and all Webber did was give the song his seal of approval. 

What did Webber do then? He wrote music to go with these lyrics. When I saw the show at the Boston Opera House a few weeks ago, I was struck by the music. The music is long, awful, and catchy in all the wrong ways. However, I somewhat enjoyed the swing of the jazz charts and electronic hokeyness of Webber’s beloved electric piano.

I asked a few professionals for their opinion on the music. All of the ones I asked have purposefully avoided seeing the show, but they did have an opinion on the music. The general consensus is that Webber’s music was written “for the people.” The music is diatonic and easy to listen to. So it turns out that I was duped; the music in Cats was designed for me to fall victim to it’s hypnotic repetition like a cat to a never-ending ball of yarn. However, is that truly a bad thing? Musical theatre is decisive for many people. Hit shows like Hamilton, Chicago, and A Chorus Line, have elements that everybody can enjoy. However, unless it’s a Broadway production, most people will actively avoid musical theatre. Speaking of things that people actively avoid...

In terms of the movie, in my opinion, it’s just another production of the musical. When Speilberg’s studio attempted the movie in the 90s, they planned to set the show in a post-WWII` London train station. However, theme and Cats historically don’t go together, and the movie was left unproduced. Now, with Universal at the helm, the movie came out bland, corporatized, and by no means good. The CGI is awful, and the cast just makes me question how far actors will go for money. No creative decisions went into the setting, cinematography, or character choice. The singing and dancing is not bad, but everything else is as expected: unexpected.

People don’t see Cats to hear the poems of T.S. Eliot. The music and lyrics exist as an excuse to put on the most over the top musical possible. The grotesque human felines, the uncomforting heaps of garbage that cover the stage, and the repetitive music and lyrics only contribute to the over-the-top feel of the show. Unknowingly, Webber spins the idea of a musical on its head. Cats is so successful because it is confusing. I left the theatre dazed, confused, and seeking answers. What I got was even more confusing. Cats is not meant to be answered; Cats just is. No matter how much research I do, I will never figure out what Macavity actually does that makes him bad, the significance of the setting, or why I enjoy the repetitive music and dancing. Cats is an amusement park in operation in the 21st-century. I’m hypnotized by the merry-go-rounds and the strange-looking carneys, but I’m also confused as to why it still exists.

Image Source: People.com

Back to the Moon

By Natalia Chopur

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," said commander Neil Armstrong as he took the first-ever steps onto the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Right now NASA is taking the next leap into space exploration, starting with a visit to our old friend, the moon. Though it may seem like a long time away, NASA is already preparing for the next manned mission to the moon in 2024. It is part of a new program known as Artemis, named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology. Among other things, Artemis is said to be a goddess of the moon.

According to NASA, the Artemis program is “a catalyst for deep space missions.” Landing on the lunar South Pole, the rocket will deliver the first woman and the next man to our orbiting neighbor. By 2028, NASA hopes to create a sustainable form of exploration back and forth. NASA mentions three main purposes of this program: “To learn, to access resources, and to prepare for Mars.” From NASA’s point of view, Artemis is just a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of bringing humans to Mars, using new research from the moon to educate those efforts.

Going to the moon is no small trip, and in order to complete these tasks efficiently, new technology is needed.  The most prominent advancement is the SLS or “Space Launch System.” The SLS is the spacecraft responsible for all missions associated with Armetis. It will be “the most powerful rocket ever developed.” Between four RS-25 engines, about 2 million pounds of thrust will be produced during its flight, bringing it 280,000 miles into space.

Recently, on December 9th, NASA celebrated Artemis Day, recognizing the completion of the SLS core stage, which is being moved to the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. At this space center, they will commence a “green run test” in which the core stage and propulsion systems will be tested, along with computers, avionic units, control systems, and software involved the first 8 minutes in flight. 

Standing 212 feet high, the core stage weighs 188,000 lbs and can hold up to  537,000 gallons. Its purpose it to store cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the engines. It is the “backbone” of the rocket. Besides the SLS, they are working on new ground systems, lunar landers, and spacesuits. They additionally are creating Gateway, a new space station to serve as a home base for these missions, and Orion, a new command module.

This program is divided into three main missions. The first, Artemis I, is a test of the rocket without a crew. Artemis I is in progress towards launching in mid-2020, if all goes well. Similarly, Artemis II is another flight test, with a crew included, and will take place in 2022. Finally, in 2024 Artemis III will put the next humans on the moon, and continue to each year after to conduct research.

NASA is making its way to the moon again for the first time since 1975, when the Apollo program ended. The next few years will be busy ones for NASA, so keep a lookout for updates, as there will be many advances in the meantime. 

All information from https://www.nasa.gov/

Want to learn more? Go to https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/

What’s New in Natick?

By Alexa Solomon

What’s New in Natick? highlights local news stories from in and around the town of Natick.

MBTA Construction in Natick Center

Just last month, the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board announced that they awarded a $36 million contract to improve Natick Center’s MBTA Station. Improvements aim to support accessibility at the station and include the building of two elevators, two handicap-accessible ramps, and three new stairways. Old ground-level train platforms will be replaced with higher-level platforms in order to improve the safety, ease, and speed of passenger boarding. Additionally, the pedestrian bridge will be replaced, canopies will be rebuilt, and bicycle parking will be issued. Other upgrades such as better signage, emergency lighting, and drainage and flooding will be added.

The renovation period is expected to last 30 months. During this period, the station will remain open with the exception of 5-weekend shutdowns which are currently being scheduled. MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak is “excited to get this project started and provide Natick area customers with a modern, fully accessible Commuter Rail facility. Combined with the MBTA’s recent order of 80 new bi-level passenger coaches, major infrastructure improvements such as these will allow us to provide Commuter Rail riders with the level of service they expect and deserve.” 

This construction project is one of many being performed in Natick over the past year in an effort to improve accessibility and meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. Surely these tasks will accommodate all that live in Natick and enhance individuals’ everyday life. 

Information sourced from MassDot

Local Artist

A recent 2019 graduate of Natick High, Denis Minevich, was honored with a plaque from the Natick Cultural Council for his painting on a utility box located on East Central Street. The Natick Cultural Council holds an annual contest inviting local students to submit ideas for ways to make Natick utility boxes more exciting. In his painting, Minevich turned to Natick’s roots and depicted Ulysses S. Grant Wilson’s old shoe-making shop which is still located on 181 West Central Street. Minevich’s work is both a creative and historical testament to Henry Wilson, who was a Massachusetts senator during the Civil war and was vice president of the shoe-making shop.  Congratulations to Denis! You can view him and his artwork below. 

Image Source: Facebook

What’s New in Natick?

Alexa Solomon

What’s New in Natick? highlights local news stories from in and around the town of Natick.

Proposed Hospital Changes May Lead to Dangerous Impacts

Leonard Morse Hospital, in downtown Natick made the decision on January 21st to close their medical and surgery unit, intensive care unit, operating rooms, emergency department, and outpatient rehabilitation services in order to focus more on behavioral health services. Over the next 120 days, Leonard Morse Hospital will slowly close their acute care services and consolidate them at the Framingham Union Hospital campus. In Framingham, these changes include upgrading emergency services, hospital infrastructure, medical equipment, and more. CEO of MetroWest Medical Center, Andrew Harding, also plans to add wound care services to the Framingham campus. Harding is concerned about behavioral health in the Metrowest community and envisions “Leonard Morse Hospital campus becoming a unique behavioral health specialty center dedicated to the mental health of our community for child, adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatric care.” 

According to the Department of Public Health, Leonard Morse hospital is licensed to for a total of 160 beds which include 64 medical/surgical, 10 ICU, and 86 psychiatric. Closing of acute care services at Leonard Morse raises concern not only for half of the 189 registered nurses to lose their jobs, but also for more back up and longer waiting times at the Framingham Union Hospital. The Department of Public Health will hold a hearing 60 days before proposed closures to go into effect. A spokeswoman for the department claims that they cannot require a hospital to legally keep a service open. 

A bill currently pending at the statehouse, sponsored by state senator Julian Cyr, would call for hospitals to “notify the DPH of a proposed closure at least one year in advance; show evidence of support and opposition from the communities they serve when they initially notify the DPH of any planned closure; submit a plan to the DPH to show how they will make up for discontinued services if the DPH determines those services are essential” (Schwan). If this bill is passed, this would greatly impact the hospital’s plans or any other future decisions that may be approved. The bill also calls for a committee to oversee all plans for discontinued services. If a hospital chooses to discontinue services without DPH approval, an injunction may be issued by a state attorney general. 

This is definitely a story to follow, as the closure of services could hurt the health of our local communities.

Boden Lane Bridge Open Once Again

MassDOT announced the reopening of a temporary ACROW bridge to replace Boden Lane Pedestrian Bridge in West Natick on January 27. The bridge was primarily used for pedestrians to travel to and from the West Natick MBTA Commuter Rail Station but was damaged in October of last year when a nearby crew was cleaning brush.  Since it’s closure and demolition, a shuttle service has been running to assist residents in their commute. The shuttle will now be discontinued. 

Although the temporary bridge is up, MassDOT remains unsure about when a permanent bridge will come in its place. A public hearing will be held in order for individuals to voice their thoughts and concerns. Additionally, the bridge will experience intermittent closures for contractors to complete work on the waterline. This will occur over the next several weeks during off-peak commute times to prevent any inconveniences. 

Local Contamination Concerns

Danger looms in Natick as the Department of Environmental Protection finally reveals an eleven-month-old report on the high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at East Park. The report, prepared in January by Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc., found the contamination levels to be as much as fifty times the amount considered safe by the Department of Environmental Protection. It was disclosed that the PCB contamination had spread from a Speedway Gas Station on Route 9 to the nearby East Park. 

Findings of PCB on Speedway property can be traced back to 2014, which is also the year the DEP was first notified about the contamination. However, Joseph Ferson, a spokesman for the DEP, claims that the levels of PCB weren’t high enough to trigger a notification to Natick until October of last year. 

What is a PCB?

Polychlorinated biphenyls are man-made chemicals that were common for industrial and commercial use. These chemicals were banned in the United States in 1979 after research revealed its carcinogenic properties and ability to harm the immune, reproductive, and nervous system. 

The Department of Environmental Protection safety standard for PCB concentration is 1 milligram per kilogram. Shockingly, the soil in the park and surrounding area ranged from 33-50 milligrams per kilogram while Speedway’s property boasts reports of approximately 1,400 milligrams per kilogram. 

What Are the Next Steps? 

The town of Natick is working as fast as possible to get all of the PCBs removed before it plans on how to tackle cleanup costs. Melissa Malone, town administrator, spoke about the possibility of going after the state regarding clean up costs due to the very late notice of the contamination. In a recent WCVB interview, Malone says that her “focus is ensuring the park opens”. She adds to this comment that Natick recently spent around $2 million to refurbish the park. Currently, the area in question has been fenced off to protect the public. 

Image Sources: MassLive.com, MassDOT, MetroWest Daily News

Sensei-tional

by Diya Sebastian

Martial arts, by definition, is a sport where fighting skills are focused on combat and self-defense, in a variety of styles. However, at Revolution Martial Fitness (RMF for short), martial arts takes on an additional meaning. Owner Sensei Paul Castagno who is not only a 5th Degree Black Belt, but also founded RMF about 15 years ago, has dedicated himself to helping students strive to be a positive influence on others the moment they’re “out of the dojo” and  “into the world”. 

“I really wanted to have a huge focus on the personal  development piece when it comes to the martial arts,” Pauls explains when we sat down to talk about the broader meaning to martial arts, “it’s self-defense against things that could harm you, like apathy or sedentary lifestyle or a lack of resiliency.” The school purposefully focuses on “the development of the whole person” and Paul further explains how he “wanted to put something unique and overall, to really elevate the image of the martial arts as a whole.” This message is exemplified by the meaningful 5-minute talks held at the end of each class to help students to really look into themselves and consider the effect of their actions.

Being a sensei is a kind of profession that comes with its own set of responsibilities that are unique to the martial arts world.  “As a sensei, there is a level of accountability you don’t get from most professions. I have influence over the students, whether I wanted it or not, and in order for me to be the most positive influence I had to be the best version of myself.” Paul concludes that “it’s held me accountable for my own personal development.” 

 “It takes a special mindset to be a business owner because no day is the same and you have to be adaptable and steadfast, ” Paul says, adding that he has a  “laundry list of challenges, but it allows me the opportunity to adapt and grow. In the beginning, he thought of himself as a just teacher and not really a business guy, but he’s been able to learn from trial and error. While teaching students and helping them hone their skills is Sensei Paul’s favorite part, he concedes that “I’ll do the accounting. I’ll do the cleaning. I wear many hats, and it’s not my favorite part, but I’ll do it because it’s what needs to be done to have a good quality school.” 

Many aspects of running a martial arts school are different in comparison to other businesses’ as there’s a much more personal connection between the students and instructors. For Sensei Paul “it’s a personality-driven business. The product is the classes, which end up being a reflection of the person on the mat,” but he adds that “It’s not a one-off transaction when you work with people. I’ve had students who train for 12 or 13 years and you develop a very tight relationship with people.” 

These close-knit relationships help create a culture that’s supportive of everyone, regardless of age or ability, more belovedly  known as the “RMF Family.” “We want to be part of the village. We want people to come in here and escape any negativity out there. They’re going to come in here and see people who are smiling, people who are excited to see them, and people who are ready to give it their all.” After further contemplation, he adds that “I’ve been very lucky to have that culture grow as the school grows.” 

Traditions at RMF include a yearly kindness challenge that promotes people to commit 10 acts of kindness, yearly food drives to give back to the community, Staffsgiving to show the staff how much they’re appreciated and belt promotion ceremonies where Pauls explains, “we try to make it a celebration for [the students] since they’ve worked so hard for their achievement.” 

When prompted about encouraging people to join martial arts, Paul starts with the “martial arts offers unique opportunities that a lot of activities don't offer. To the delight of many and simply put “there’s are no bench sitters in martial arts.” Sensei Paul confirms that “everybody participates equally, everybody gets 5-star service” and if someone’s looking to build on their skills he adds, “a lot of athletes supplement their sports training with martial arts because it offers a unique way to build your coordination, your strength, and your mobility.”

Getting more into depth about the benefits of doing martial arts, Paul comments, “To me, the most important part of training is the martial arts always finds a way to find the part of yourself that you struggle with the most. Whether it be your potential feeling of coordination or lack of confidence, it takes these things that could potentially hinder you in your life and allows you to work on them in an environment here people are supporting you and cheering you on.” He concludes with a powerful statement, “You get to become a better version of yourself through the training which I personally have not have many other activities that inherently do that.” 

When asked what inspired him to start the school, especially considering he opened RMF at the young age of 23, Paul says, “One day, I got a letter and a gift from a student. The parents wrote about how much of a positive role model I was on their child. I was really floored by that and I realized I could positively impact people doing something I really liked doing and maybe, even make a living at it.” It’s fair to say he’s made quite the living out of it with over 300 active members as of today, but for Paul, “at the end of the day, I’m at home on the mat.” 

Image Source: Revolution Martial Fitness

Saffron without the Green

An Informational Essay/Op-Ed Hybrid by Khushi Chauhan

Education is not knowing how the exact number of people who were killed in the Holocaust but instead, education is being able to identify patterns within events in our past, present, and future. The definition of education has slowly been blurred and varied to an extent that today, most fail to truly learn from past experiences and mistakes. Today, halfway across the world, Indian college students are protesting on the streets at the risk of death. Meanwhile, the government shuts down the internet to prevent more organized protests. The highlight of this ongoing event was that the students in India came to the conclusion that history was repeating itself.

The Citizenship Amendment Act is the catalyst for these protests. Tensions between India and neighboring Muslim majority nations have been prominent for decades. However, such hostility reached a boiling point on December 11th, when the Indian equivalent of the American Congress ratified a bill to expedite the citizenship process for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian religious minorities fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Reading between the lines, the bill provides aid for all people being persecuted in these nations, except Muslims. This was the first time that the Indian government passed a piece of legislature with religion as a criterion. The reasons for the protests should be clear: religious discrimination, violation of human rights, and sheer unconstitutionality. 

Furthermore, it wasn't long before links between the C.A.A and the N.R.C were exposed. The N.R.C is the National Register of Citizens law which lays out the requirements for being a natural and true citizen of India. Some of these requirements include having documents that prove residence of ancestors pre and post-independence. The majority of the population in India does not have paper-work that proves residence which makes it difficult for both Hindus and Muslims to prove their citizenship. The results: a complete change of demographics in India; an increase in more conservative Hindus and paradoxically a more powerful conservative Hindu party; an increase in deportation; and an increase in detention camps, as stated in the N.R.C legislation. 

Although vaguely indicating a rise in dictatorship, these events are following a similar timeline and pattern as to events such as the Holocaust. The Indian Government is being urged to reevaluate what may be the most dangerous piece of legislation passed in India to date before it goes into effect.

An Overwhelming Debt

Diya Sebastian

Sleep may seem like a memory of the past for many high school students with midterms and transitioning into a new semester. This time of immense stress ushers in a whole new wave of all-nighters and sleep-deprived teens. When balancing extracurriculars like sports and clubs on top of studies, the idea of going to bed at 8 to get the recommended 8 to 10 hours sounds ridiculous. The ubiquitous message that teens need more sleep comes off as overdone, but lack of sleep continues to impact the 42 million teens in the United States. Not enough people value sleep as much as eating and finishing homework, but many need to re-evaluate this mindset, particularly when considering their own sleep debt. Sleep debt is the number of hours of quality sleep people lose each night, which racks up over time, resulting in a plethora of consequences.  The most terrifying is that it’s next to impossible to regain lost sleep no matter how many hours you sleep in on a Saturday. Most teens already have irregular sleep patterns, so sleeping in makes things worse as it throws off a person’s inherent circadian rhythm. 

The circadian rhythm, contrary to popular belief, has nothing to do with the sound that cicadas make. The circadian rhythm is the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle that runs every 24 hours. Teens experience a shift in their circadian rhythm during puberty, creating a common tendency to sleep late and wake up later. Since most schools have a very early start time, kids who wake up early have their circadian rhythm thrown out of whack. Combined with both social and academic responsibilities, it’s no wonder one study found that only 15% of teens get at least 8 ½ hours of sleep on school nights. As teens continue to lose sleep, there are extreme consequences on their emotional and physical wellbeing. Increased chances of memory loss, inability to comprehend information and depression reveal the importance of sleep to the developing brain. Sleep-deprived teens are also prone to drug use, skin problems, weight gain, drowsy driving, and stunted growth. 

Trying to repay what appears like an insurmountable sleep debt is not a hopeless effort. Getting more quality sleep is a must as is setting a regular sleep schedule to help your body find the right hours of sleep. There’s no need to add four hours immediately, but 15 additional minutes of sleep each night will help you acclimate to a natural sleep schedule. Naps are also a great way to combat sleep debt, but only if you take power naps between 20-60 minutes as any longer can make it more difficult to sleep at night. Other suggestions include drinking less caffeine, a consistent bedtime routine, and finding ways to effectively use time to complete tasks so you can sleep earlier. Try to keep tech out of your room since the blue light emitted from devices hinders your body’s ability to fall asleep quickly. Sleep deprivation and teenagers are often synonymous. However, this needs to change as the effects of lack of sleep are swift and debilitating. Thankfully, sleep debt carries no interest, so the balance can be overturned. 

Amidst the Chaos

Informational Essay by Khushi Chauhan

As people around the world have begun to put their masks on because of the Coronavirus, many others have begun to take their masks off and truly speak their minds about the pandemic. Unlike the common notion of "hardships bring us together", they are actually tearing us apart. Today, the Coronavirus is effectively covering up the underlying racism that has floated to the surface in the past few weeks. Furthermore, the international economy as a whole will greatly suffer as a result of the virus.

Currently, the Coronavirus is a prominent topic in the news but as a brief summary, the Coronavirus is a pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China and since it's discovery, has caused over 900 fatalities (as of 2/9/20). This number is rapidly increasing which is catalyzing a global state of emergency. China has essentially shut down and any travel between nations is prohibited. Amidst the chaos, xenophobia is surfacing and globally, there have many recorded cases of harassment. In Sheffield, UK, a student was reportedly verbally and physically harassed in the street for wearing a face mask, while in Leicestershire two students were pelted with eggs on the street in Market Harborough. Furthermore, there have been several reports of kids being bullied in Canadian schools. People have become scared to wear their masks in public. The virus is not only taking a toll on people's health, but unfortunately, it is also taking a toll on people's mentality. In order to cross the hurdle that is the Coronavirus, unification globally is absolutely key; and unification requires awareness. 

Looking at the more statistical outcomes of the virus, the global economy is bound to deteriorate over the next few months. As a result of the fear of contamination, any transportation of people or objects between China and the U.S has been prohibited. Whether it's agricultural purchases or purchases of Chinese resources and materials, China is no longer trading with the U.S. Of course, this decision was, nonetheless, wise. Yet, the U.S-China economic relationship is suffering. Factories have shut down across China and workers have still not returned from their extended Lunar New Year holiday. Some relevant examples include Starbucks closing down over 2,000 of their shops permanently and Apple closing down 42 of its stores temporarily. Finally, tourism is being affected for obvious reasons. According to CNN, "The Trump administration is currently restricting entry into the United States from China, and Americans who have visited China within the last 14 days are screened for symptoms. Already, this is hurting airlines. American Airlines and United Airlines have suspended flights to and from China until late March, and Delta has canceled flights until April 30". Evidently, Coronavirus is affecting much more than just the health of people around the world. 

Awareness is absolutely essential in order to get through the pandemonium that we are experiencing today. While caution is necessary, a sense of humanitarianism is also key. This is history in the making and the trials and tribulations that people face today will define how future generations will find solutions tomorrow. 

The Origins of Valentine's Day

By Natalia Chopur

On February 14 of each year, Valentine’s day is widely celebrated around the world. It is recognized as a day of love and romance, associated with cheesy poems, flowers, and chocolate. This, however, was never the original idea of Valentine's day.

As best we can tell, its origins trace back to the pagan festival of Lupercalia, where on February 15th, the Roman priests known as Luperci arranged annual sacrifices. They would skin the hide of the sacrificial animals, including dogs and sheep, and then run around gently slapping the women with it. This supposedly brought the women good fertility in the coming year. Later in the day, the young women of the city would put their names in an urn, and each bachelor would pick one, pairing them together. Often, these pairing would result in marriage. 

The name “Valentine’s Day” was adapted to remember St. Valentine. During the rule of Claudius II, marriage was illegal. This was because they needed men to join the army, and he thought that without the ties of marriage they would be more likely to join. Despite the restrictions, Valentine, who after his death was declared a saint, helped couples get married in secret. For this, he was put in jail, where legend has it he wrote to the jailer's daughter-a friend of his, and signed it “From your Valentine.” St. Valentine was killed on February 14th around the year 270.

This is one possibility, however, as there were multiple St. Valentines, who were also killed by the emperor around the same time, all Christian martyrs. Pope Gelasius, I was the one who officially adopted the “St. Valentine's Day” in remembrance of Valentine's death, right around the time when the Lupercalia festival was outlawed as the rise of Christianity continued. Some say that Pope Gelasius I places Valentine’s day during the festivals to overtake them, and further discourage the pagan rituals. 

Nevertheless, the idea of Valentine’s day caught on around the 14th century, where people began writing letters to each other to celebrate. By the mid-1800s, the Valentines cards we know today were being made, beginning the now strongly commercial holiday we have today. Valentine’s day now is a huge time of year for marketing. According to the National Retail Federation, it is expected the Americans will set a new record for Valentine’s Day spending this year, with a grand expenditure of 27.4 billion dollars of products. The average amount estimated to be spent by each person is $169.31, 21% higher than last year. 

Valentine’s day as we know it today has come a long way from the Lupercalia festivals and remembrance day it once was, with a complete change of principles throughout the process. From remembrance, to love letters, to a gift-based day of appreciation, we still find a way to keep the tradition going in modern-day society. 

Sources 

https://nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/valentines-day

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valentines-Day

https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

Image Source: Mental Floss