Local News

Turn the Water Fountains Back On! (Please)

OPINION

Emerson Davis

Recently, fires have plagued Natick High School. Perhaps some water would help extinguish the flames.

We all know that arsonists have given administrators more ways to police our lives. Fine. I don’t care. But I need to drink.

That was a poor choice of words. Specifically, I need to drink water. We all do. But if you make the mistake of forgetting a water bottle, you’re gonna have to go thirsty.

But wait a minute...doesn’t Natick High have water fountains? It sure does! But in order for water fountains to serve their purpose, they need to distribute water. Unfortunately, NHS didn’t get the memo. At this point, the water fountains would be more useful if they were ripped out of the walls and sold for scrap.

Believe it or not, NHS actually turned them off intentionally. Their reason? Coronavirus.

*Sigh.*

You’re telling me that students are allowed to eat together in tables of eight, but little Timmy can’t quench his thirst for two seconds? Got it.

If basic logic doesn’t convince you, maybe some science will. According to the University of Georgia, the CDC states that “there is a low risk that the virus spreads through drinking water. Signs or barriers covering water fountains can be removed.”

Interesting.

Meanwhile, dehydration can lead to sluggishness, headaches, and fatigue. In other words, it’s a minor miracle that students without water aren’t incapacitated by 4th block.

That’s an exaggeration, but it is not an exaggeration to call this protocol unreasonable. At the very least, water would make people happier.

Natick, it’s time to turn the fountains back on.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Uni-T

Ella Stern, EIC

Q: What is the process of designing and making the T-shirts like?

The inspiration for Neilan’s T-shirts is not random; it comes from the world around her. Each design reflects something about her life or the people in it, such as her children. Some of them, including the original “walk more” and “bike more” and the newer “nevertheless, she persisted” are political, Neilan’s way of spreading her beliefs and making change. Others are simply things that make her happy, such as “dance more” and “create more”. As for the process of creating the physical T-shirt, Neilan likes to draw—she is a children’s book illustrator with six published books—so she draws the design and then hand-prints each shirt. Neilan values the fact that her products are hand-made with care. She recently reached the incredible milestone  of selling shirts in all fifty states and in twenty-four countries, but in spite of the high demand, she doesn’t do big manufacturing. She’s continued to make each shirt by hand because she values the meaning of customers buying her shirts—her message—directly from the artist. Another benefit of this is that she is able to customize shirts to fit each unique customer, whether that is allowing customers to choose their color of shirt and ink, or even printing a shirt with just the design and no words. This is just one of many ways in which Neilan’s love for her customers and community shines through in her work. 

Q: What was Covid like for you?

Neilan actually opened this location of Uni-T during the pandemic. (“Some people say I’m brave, but maybe I’m crazy.”) Even though she emphasized that the community was incredibly respectful and supportive—she hardly had to remind people to follow the safety guidelines—Neilan was one of many who found running a business during Covid to be incredibly challenging. It was also scary for her on a personal level. Because it is overflowing with so much beautiful art, Uni-T is a tight space. Neilan always wears a mask, has a Plexiglass barrier (laden with displays of earrings and necklaces) around her desk, is vaccinated, and has gotten her booster, but she was and still is scared of bringing Covid into her home. With all of her love for her family and community, Neilan doesn’t want to be the cause of any of their struggles. 

Q: What’s the hardest part of owning this store?

As do many artists, Neilan adores creative and spontaneous things; she loves making art for her store, and she also likes managing it. However, the bookkeeping and numbers that come along with owning a business are not as well-loved.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about the store?

Neilan emphasizes that Uni-T is not just a business; it is a community. It is a place for cool people who make cool art, where she can host and celebrate the work of fellow artists, and where people can discover beautiful things. Above all, moments of connection with other artists and customers are what makes Uni-T unique. Neilan’s favorite thing about the store is meeting new people in her community, and she cherishes every interaction that happens there.

Q: If you could tell people one thing about your store, what would it be?

In most shopping nowadays, customers don’t know where a product was made, much less the person who made it. Uni-T is not like that. The art featured in this store—from Neilan’s shirts and books to local artists’ jewelry, stickers, and ceramics—were made by your friends and family. If you are an advocate of supporting local businesses, goods, and people, Uni-T is the place for you. 

As previously mentioned, when Neilan began selling T-shirts, she didn’t mean to start a business; she just wanted to create art and be an advocate for the environment. There was something else she didn’t realize at the time: Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka had taken an interest in Neilan’s work and has been keeping an eye on Neilan’s growth for the past several years. And, as she has gone from a booth at the Natick Farmers’ Market to selling shirts in every state and twenty-four countries, it would be an understatement to say that Neilan’s business has grown. 

A few months ago, Uni-T was chosen by the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus to be honored with a manufacturing award from the state. This award is given to “Massachusetts-based businesses that innovate [and] inspire.” Neilan’s store was on a list that also featured Pfizer, Moderna, and New Balance. 

Drawing from this monumental experience and the rest of her time in business, Neilan advises Natick High School students to discover a discipline they love, become really passionate about it, and then follow that pull wherever it takes them. After all, it may lead to a successful business that sells and ships creativity to fans all over the world, or a prestigious award from the state. But regardless of the outcome, the creative act and the community it can foster are their own priceless rewards.

Uni-T is located at 8 Court St. in Natick Center. Its website is www.shopuni-t.com. 

The Difference Between Cage-Free & Free-Range 

Diya Sebastian

January 2022

Egg carton labels can be confusing, especially since they seem like they’re saying the same thing with different words. Cage- free, free-range, and pasture-range all sound like chickens are running around an acre by themselves. In reality, the disparities between Cage-free and range free can make a world of a difference, especially in quality of life. The FDA is responsible for egg regulation, while the USDA inspects egg products, but the labels Free-range and Cage-free are terms regulated by the USDA. It’s important to state that chickens are incredibly smart creatures. They’re self-aware, experience complex emotions like empathy, they can do math, they have good memory, and they like playing games. Humans are quick to cry over wild animals hurt by poachers or hunters, but fail to realize we have also failed our moral responsibility to take care of all the animals on this planet. 

Cage-free - There are no cages in the facility, but this does not mean the chickens go outside. They’re to have access to food, water, and 1.2 square feet per chicken. It sounds like a better alternative to battery cages, but there are more incidents of hen-on-hen violence and even cannibalization. 

Free-range - Farmers are supposed to let the chickens out, and they get two square feet of outdoor access. There’s no real incentive to actually keep the chickens outside, farmers just need some sort of hypothetical outside space. 

Pastured - This term is not regulated by the federal government, which means it can be iffy at times. Cartons with the “Certified Humane” or “Animal Welfare Approved” stamp can be trusted, as each chicken is given 108 square feet of outdoor space. This is the least painful practice for hens. 

In general, stick with cartons with the Certified Humane or Animal Welfare Approved stamp. Some good egg brands are Kirkland from Costco, Vital Farms, Pete & Gerry's Organic, and Safeway. Be sure to double check your egg carton’s labels next time you shop in a supermarket!