By: Owen T
As December rapidly approaches, something else follows hand and hand with the month: winter! When the seasons change, we’ll watch the sun set even earlier and the temperature dip down even lower. With celebrations decorated throughout the month such as New Years, Christmas, and birthdays, it’s difficult to remember what you’ll need to survive the season itself. To help with this, here’s a list of a few things that will definitely help anybody in making it through the chilliest season.
When you’re snuggled up on the couch watching movies do you want to be cold? Of course during the winter we wear heavier clothing, but a blanket is the perfect addition to how to stay at the perfect temperature. This blanket has both the amount of material needed to stay cozy and a nice pattern to look nice in your house.
Another necessity when you’re outside is a quality jacket. It’s important to get a nice one because you’ll be able to reuse it for future winters. The one I have linked is a simple black one, but of course any will work as long as the material is good.
By: Kiara I
For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed New England winters because of the snowstorms that got me out of school and playing in thick piles of snow. However, over the past couple of years, snowfall has gradually decreased due to the effects of climate change. As a result, New England winters have gotten significantly warmer, states have experienced fewer freezing days, and the cold season has been shorter. Since there is less snow, precipitation has increased. The total rainfall has led to more “extremely wet” months and the possibility of heavy rain events, even from rapid snowmelt. For those who are not fond of New England winter weather, this change may feel like a massive relief and a weight off their chests. Since there is less snowfall, people don’t have to wake up earlier to shovel snow off their cars and lawns or worry about specific health risks. However, this unusual change should not be taken lightly. Climate change impacts ecosystems and human health by disrupting ecosystems, increasing disease risk, and affecting agriculture. It has been shown that “milder winters and longer growing seasons can lead to longer allergy seasons and increased pollen levels, which may worsen respiratory conditions like asthma.” Warmer winters can further increase the activity of disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes (West Nile Virus) and ticks (Lyme disease). Fruit development and planting schedules for farmers can also be negatively affected, as extreme heat, drought, and unpredictable spring freezes increase the risk of crop damage. Economic and recreational activities are also at risk of being impacted because excessively warm temperatures can threaten winter tourism, such as the skiing industry, and affect other sectors, like snow removal companies. Overall, climate change is an ongoing crisis on our planet, and people around the world must take the initiative to address it and establish a global solution. There can be no life on a dead planet; therefore, everyone must come together as a community to make a change.
by: Samar S
Starbucks holiday drinks are back, so of course I had to rank them—starting with the peppermint ones, because those are always my go-to. Peppermint Mocha easily takes first place with its mix of mocha, peppermint syrup, and steamed milk topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. It just tastes like the holidays. The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate (which I believe is only at Target and not the actual Starbucks stores) is basically a blended candy cane dessert, and the peppermint chocolate cold foam can make pretty much any drink feel extra seasonal. In second place is the Caramel Brulée Latte, which is rich, warm, and honestly just really satisfying. The caramel brulée bits on top are what seal the deal for me. Third place goes to the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte, which is lighter and sweeter with blonde espresso, sugar cookie syrup, and those little red and green sprinkles that make it feel instantly festive. The rest of the lineup deserves some attention too: the Chestnut Praline Latte is cozy and not too sweet, the Iced Gingerbread Chai has great spice and a nice oat-milk creaminess. There is also the holiday cold foams which are- Peppermint Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Caramel Brulée, and Gingerbread- are easy add-ons that make almost any drink feel more festive. There’s also there is Toasted White Chocolate options for the peppermint mocha and the hot chocolate, which is always a solid seasonal pick. It was a tough decision but peppermint wins for me, but there’s a good mix this year.