Penn Manor Alum Talks Art With Students

By Cody Straub-

Penn Manor alum and featured artist for LaPorte Jewelers for the month of May, Ben Deluca paid a visit to Penn Manor High School on May 17. Deluca visited art classes at the high school to share his personal experiences with art and show that an art career does not have to end after high school.

Deluca attended Penn Manor High School, graduating in 2003. After high school he attended Lycoming College where he balanced his passion to continue his art career and playing college lacrosse. He graduated with a Fine Art degree from Lycoming with concentrations in paintings and sculptures.

Ben Deluca fielding questions from Penn Manor art students. Photo by Cody Straub.

In December of this past year Deluca opened his own business, “Deluca Creations,” out of his home in Lancaster City until he can find a permanent studio to house his business.

According to the Laporte Jewelers website, when painting Deluca , “creates large scale, powerful, life-like portraits filled with meticulous detail accompanied by freely applied brush strokes.”

Deluca decided to come in to the high school to speak to art students after fromer principal Dr. Jan Mindish approached him with the idea. Penn Manor received a small grant to have professional artists come speak to students about the possibilities of art after high school. Mindish thought that Deluca would be the perfect candidate since he is a Penn Manor Alum.  Deluca came bearing not only some of his art work but plenty of advice for the students.

Ben Deluca showing students his senior art project that he completed while a student at Penn Manor. Photo by Cody Straub.

“It’s like anything, with every painting you get better,” Deluca explained to the class of art students who participated in the question and answer session.

Deluca illustrated how he turned his passion for art into a full time career for himself.

“I had always taken the art classes at Penn Manor,” stated Deluca, “I never stopped doing it (artwork), once you stop you are kind of done.”

Deluca brought in some of his art work to show the students including a sculpture and painting of his. He also showed students his senior project he completed while a senior at Penn Manor, which has been housed at the school since he graduated.

Deluca’s visit to the school was no doubt beneficial for students aspiring to have a art career, showing a real life example of a person who has made a career out of his passion for art.

Y vs. X, Two Different Generations?

By Chad Gates-

If your in high school today, it’s most likely you’re part of generation Y, the offspring of your parents who are part of the previous generation X. You may share some characteristics of your parents, but chances are you’re much more different from them than you think.

Generation Y, (or commonly referred to as millennials) is the generation of kids that were born between the years 1980-1999. This date range is highly debated, but so are the other ranges of previous generations. Studies say that Millennials are often closer there parents, may rely more on them, and many will still live at home for a few years after they become an adult at the age of 18. It has also been stated that Millennials often share the same interests and generally like the same things as their parents, but have much different views as compared to generation X.

For example, the people of generation X (or gen Xers, usually to be considered born around the mid sixties to the end of the seventies) were usually never close to their parents and did not share the same likes and interests, unlike the Millennials. Most Gen Xers did not rely on their parents and were much more independent. Many of them were moving out to live on their own by the time they had reached 18, this is why Gen Xers are also called latch-key kids.

Nike Inc. researched and made a list comparing differences between both generations seen after interviewing people from both generations. The list is shown here:

Generation X Generation Y (Millennials)
Accept diversity
Pragmatic/Practical
Self reliant/Individualistic
Reject rules
Killer life
Mistrust institutions
PC
Use technology
Multitask
Latch-key kids
Friends — not family		 Celebrate Diversity
Optimistic/realistic
Self-Inventive/individualistic
Rewrite the rules
Killer Lifestyle
Irrelevance of institutions
Internet
Assume technology
Multitask fast
Nurtured
Friends = family

 

As seen in this list, both generations have clear differences. Millennials are like tech natives, growing up in a time where technology is rapidly advancing and the internet has made a huge impact on society. However, gen Xers had experienced the beginning of modern technology, before it became a part of an everyday lifestyle like it is with most people today.

Friends are another example of the differences, Gen Xers often looked as their friends as friends, not as part of their family. Millennials usually consider friends to be like family.

However, these characteristics are just theories, one cannot say that every Millennial today multitasks quickly and that their parents accept diversity.

Whatever generation you may be from, whether it’s X or Y, don’t hesitate to ask your parents, (or your children for all you gen Xers reading this) about their views and lifestyle. They could be similar to yours, or, very different.

 

 

 

 

Starting a Band was Nothing Like I Expected

Chad Gates-

Being a musician, I can guarantee that all other amateur musicians has, at one point in their lives, fantasized about themselves performing on stage and taking the place as a member of their favorite artist Whether it’s live, on a stereo or through a pair of headphones. I call it the musicians fantasy, and I know that I have had one of these before, and along with it I can still clearly remember the first time that three others and I, collaborated and made a band in the hopes of one day being the ones on stage.

The very start of summer ’11 was when the first “jam sesh” took place. I was in my basement, which was home to my dad’s large collection of various music equipment such as turntables, mic stands, stacks of seemingly endless wire and cords, and speakers so large they can make things fall from the shelves and walls in my house if you play them just loud enough.

The band consisted of four people, two of them that were friends of mine from Hempfield, Cody and Kris. Cody did vocals and Kris played guitar. My brother Gavin was the drummer and I was the bass player. Our style of music that we aimed for was deathcore, which is a fusion genre of metalcore and death metal. Cody was the motivator within the group, and being so he came up with the band name; Arcana Curse. At the time it sounded cool, but now I have a strong dislike for the name because it’s really generic and it sounds like some 13-year old emo-kid made it up.

For some time our weekly band practices, that took place on Wednesdays and Sundays, consisted of us playing together and making up the music as we went so that we could adapt to playing with each other. That seemed to work at first, until Cody began trying to push us forward to put out a song. The troubles began from then on  because he started to feel as though he was the only one dedicated to the band. Gavin, Kris and I often found ourselves being lectured by him and we often dreaded practice because of the constant nagging.

However, we continued to practice and Arcana Curse produced its first song, which was never granted a title.

The band stayed together into the start of our junior year, (8th grade for my brother) and Kris became to be very unreliable at this point, never showing up for practice or making some excuse that he couldn’t be there. Cody became increasingly more arrogant in his lack of satisfaction with the band’s progress and my brother and I just had to put up with it.

It was November and the future of Arcana Curse was bleak, we had failed to meet three band practices in a row and talk between each of us was bitter and frustrated. One day after school the vocalist sent us all a text message telling us to meet up at the local Turkey Hill, so Gavin and I made our way there. When we got there, Cody was there to tell us that things weren’t working out and that the band should take a hiatus, (which was pretty much a permanent one, Cody just didn’t want to admit it). We all agreed that it was probably good to do so and went home after that, and I was really disappointed that the band fell apart and we couldn’t work it out, but there wasn’t anything I could do.

After the break up, I learned a great deal about being a band with my experience in Arcana Curse. If you’re going to be in a band, it takes a steady flow of dedication from all band members, and that one member cannot try to “be the band.” Don’t bother with unreliable people either, because I noticed how much you cannot do when just one of the band members isn’t there. Especially a guitar player, which resulted in absolutely no progress.

Even though my musician’s fantasy was never fully satisfied, I still loved those moments when we jammed and the music came off the top of our heads that resulted in a punishing new riff, or a unique, brutal breakdown that we always forgot to record because we were all trapped in the euphoria of the fact that we were making something original. The group and I might never become famous for playing deathcore, whether Arcana Curse got back together or not, but I’m sure we all learned that forming a band in your teenage years is way more then we could could of ever imagined.

 

Senior Week Near, Seniors Beware

By DaYonte Dixon –

Senior year is coming to an end. That means certain senior year activities are near. Class trip, graduation and senior week are all arriving very soon.

“Senior week is honestly going to be the best week of my life,” said senior Mitch Domin

A week that every high school parent is hoping will just be over with. Senior week, as most people know, is an end of the year final week when many  seniors go away and more often then not party with their class one last time.

Teens never know what's going to happen at senior week. Photo from thelondoneveningpost.com

“It’s ridiculous,” said senior Reagan Forrey. “It’s all I think about.”

But as much as teens may be looking forward to a week of freedom, it has come with serious consequences for local teens in past years.

There have been many mistakes made by seniors during this week. Some of which have ruined people’s lives.

For example only a few years ago Penn Manor alum Jerome Ward, an all-star three sport athlete was  part of a fight at senior week. During this fight he injured somebody with a glass bottle and was thrown in prison. While he was released only after a day or two, he said it ruined his prospects of a college scholarship and essentially his entire future. Ward went from being an all-star athlete with a bright future, to being a full time employee at Applebee’s and still living at home with his parents.

Because of an example of one of Penn Manor’s own,  Ward, who was seriously affected by his decisions, some have realized that this could be a potentially life-altering week, and took steps to make sure that it wouldn’t affect their futures.

“Me and my two friends we were smart about senior week,” said alumni Teon Lee, who was also an all star-three sport athlete. “We knew it was going to get crazy, so we bought our own three-person house so we knew we always had a place to go.”

Most people would agree that high school students are not always fully aware of the dangers at senior week. And that they don’t recognize how much their mistakes can affect their futures.

Senior week has became so popular that even juniors have begun attending senior week as what they call “Junior Week.” It is safe to say that last year about half as many juniors attended senior week as did seniors.

But for some, senior week is not on the top of their to do list.

“I have a band trip to Disney World in Florida that week,” said senior Jesse Griffith “I don’t feel like I’m missing out on much though, I can think of better things to do.”

Senior week is supposed to be a week of fun and enjoyment. Parents only pray that their kids don’t have to0 much fun, and do something that they will regret.

Parents can only hope that all seniors and juniors who attend senior week get through the week in good health, without making any big mistakes.

But only time will tell.

Comets Over the Knights Yet Again

By Jordan Rineer and Ryan Flexman-

The stage was set.

Hempfield versus Penn Manor for the Lancaster-Lebanon League championship.

It was the fourth meeting between the Comets and Black Knights this year. The Comets won the two regular season match-ups, the Knights won in a one game tournament but the Comets did not have their libero Mark Dano during that tournament.

Mark Dano celebrates after Penn Manor's championship volleyball match.

Hempfield has won the last five consecutive L-L League titles. But not this year.

But the Knights streak has ended and Penn Manor’s student section was enthusiastic both at the game and when they inspired one player, Mark Dano, Libero, take it to social-networking.

“So proud to wear a Penn Manor jersey, you guys make it special #realtalk” Mark Dano via twitter Wednesday night after the game.

The atmosphere was electric.

“The fans were great. We have always had fans there but the students who came out and supported really made a difference,” said senior Joey Jackson.

The crowds chanting back and forth, you could feel the tension.

One Hempfield student tweeted “I wasn’t even at the game and I’m annoyed. No school gets me more p***** than Penn Manor.

The Comets hung onto a small lead before a Dayonte Dixon kill and a Hempfield violation gave them the first game 25-21.

After the first game, I knew we could win.  Because we don’t usually win the first game with Hempfield,” said Dixon.  “But we always pull out the win. So when we won the first game, I just knew that this victory was going to come faster.”

Dixon said his teammates Jackson and Devon Reis, a junior, stood out in the second game.

“Joey and Devon add so much variety to our offense which makes it hard to stop,” explained Dixon.  “Our defense was really good, too.  We were picking up balls left and right and I think that got in Garrett Dimm’s head (Hempfield outside hitter) because he couldn’t put as many balls down.”

Jackson came up big in the late stages of the second match to lift the Comets over the Black Knights yet again 25-22.

The Comet players wanted nothing more than to sweep their rivals Hempfield in three games, but that was not meant to be.

The Comets had a late lead in the third game which made the Penn Manor fans heads maybe a little too big.

“It should have easily been a 3-0,” said Dixon.  “We’ve always had problems finishing a game and that was a perfect example.”

Penn Manor volleyball team and coaches after L-L League championship.

Some could argue the chant “I believe that we just won” by the Penn Manor crowd started a little too early, which ruined the flow of the Comet players. Hempfield capitalized, scoring four straight points, winning the third game 26-24.

Dixon disagrees.

“That chant was mainly funny,” he said.  “The crowd just pumped us up.  It’s nice having support because volleyball has never been the most popular sport.”

It was tough for the Comets to break Hempfield’s momentum, after such a powerful statement made by the Knights.

The fourth game was all Penn Manor. With a 22-12 lead, the Comets coasted into a 25-16 rout of the Knights. The fans stormed onto the court in celebration of the undefeated season.

The celebration started after the final whistle with the fans bolting onto the court and chanting “undefeated” while the Hempfield fans headed for the exits.

The fans congratulated their classmates, friends, and the new LL League Champions.

 

Can I have some Change?

By Errol Hammond –

We all change when we grow up.  Some change for the better, some for the worse. It really all depends on who you grow up with and how you’re raised. I  lived in Willow Street but went to a Catholic school which was a challenge, because I wasn’t then and I’m still not Catholic. I felt like going to a really strict Catholic school was a waste of my sixth grade year. Don’t get me wrong, great schooling, but the people were somewhat stuck up. Kids went hard wearing Wallabies and Clarks, overpriced leather shoes that people wear when they have nothing else to do with their money.  Being a senior now, it seems like it was swag or the swagger you have when you know you are rockin’ the best.  But then, I would just think to myself ‘why would your dad get you the same shoes as he wears, just in your size.’ The kids in my grade who I hung out with and went to Penn Manor wore simple stuff. Nike shoe hand-me-downs, Air Walks, Moccasin, Slip on Sneakers, Sketchers, and other PayLess and K-mart brands like Route 66.

Errol Hammond

But really what 10-year-old doesn’t want to go to school where your neighborhood friends go. I mean it would be hanging with them all day, then waiting for them to come ring the door to go play outside. Pequea  Elementary was where I belonged. My older siblings went there but I was the lucky one and went straight to (Catholic School).
I made sure my parents  knew how I felt and suddenly they agreed, I could change – back to my neighborhood public school.  I changed in other ways, too. I got fat. By the end of my sixth grade summer, I was a 190 pounds.  That’s kind of fat.  But in the end I went to Pequea ,so thats all that mattered at the time. Good change?

I was the big black kid that you just wanted to have as a good friend, not a enemy. But I’d say I was rather nice for the most part. Just bigger than most of my friends… Okay all of my friends… Never a physical bully. Unless the rare occasions when my friends would get enough courage to all attack me from different angles. Never actually went well.. For them.
It was great when three of your 120 pound friends have enough chutzpah to charge me at the same time. Especially when it’s your middle school friends Marc Summy, Cheyenne Weber and Matt Ulmer. Which it always starts off with everyone chilled out then turns into a war. Extra weight can come in hand other times, like for instance, just bouncing each other higher and higher on the 8-year-old worn and rusty trampoline until someone flies really high. But somehow we go from jumping, laughing and doing tricks, too being in a pitch black basement shooting each other with shotguns, pistols, snipers, and different (air soft guns). That’s when being big was good because the hard plastic bullets shooting at 10 ft per second would just bounce of my muscle. Well according to my brother, my muscle was “frozen fat.”
So when you say that you loved me more when I was a fat body. I don’t know what to really say to that… “Thanks?” or “Haha, I know right?” So it can sometimes be weird when I see family, friends and peers I haven’t seen since eighth or ninth grade. Yeah, I was fat even after sixth too, it wasn’t gonna lose weight in my sleep.

I’ve heard all the fat jokes… Yes, even the TV show comparisons like, Cory from “That so Raven,” Little Bear from Nickelodeon, sometimes Little Bill from the Cosby Books… when I had glasses.. even Arthur.
I changed up again by going to Lancaster Catholic for the great football program in ninth grade.  I played varsity in 9th grade because I was big and strong enough to help the team win games. We were Section Champions and my 285 pound frame got to start in four varsity games. Don’t get me wrong I loved the football, but I felt the schooling wasn’t right for me and missed my Comet family. Plus, most of the people were still stuck up.
Sophomore year I did a repeat and came back to Penn Manor for the rest of my high school career, which I’m finishing my senior year. I now weigh 210 pounds and feel great. The choices I made I learned from and changed me for the better. I can say that the people that I grew up with helped me change for the better. Now moving on to another chapter of my life, I hope to change up things (again) and get out of high school.

Remembering Adam Yauch: A Rap Icon

By Austin Rowley –

There’s a line from the Beastie Boys’ top hit, “Sabotage,” that reads, “your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear.” Nobody had in their crystal ball the possibility of Beastie Boys’ band member Adam Yauch passing away on May 4.

A practicing Buddhist, and Beastie Boys lead man, Adam Yauch, sometimes better known as MCA, died after a three-year battle with cancer at the age of 47.

In 2009, Yauch was diagnosed with a cancerous parotid gland and lymph node, more commonly known as throat cancer. Doctors told Yauch that the cancer was in its early stages when it was detected, and Yauch was expected to make a full recovery.

His cancer treatments over those three years delayed the release of the Beastie Boys’ latest album, Hot Sauce Committee Part II, and the subsequent tour.

The news of Yauch’s death shook the entire music industry.

“To become this gentle Buddhist soul who literally would not step on a fly was something else,” said longtime friend and Rage Against the Machine guitarist, Tom Morell0, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

“His commitment to social justice and especially to Tibet’s freedom put it on the map for an entire generation of people.”

Adam Yauch (middle) passed away Friday, May 4, 2012. Photo courtesy of highsnobiety.com

Russel Simmons of Def Jam Records said that Yauch was “incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly.”

The band that also featured Michael “Mike D” Diamond and  Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz, and the three Brooklyn childhood friends would sell 40 million records and had four No. 1 hits. What made this music group so incredible for its time was its ability to cross genres and color barriers. They helped bring rap to a much wider audience.

The Beastie Boys were a pioneering rap group, since the music industry they were most involved in was mostly dominated by African-Americans. They frequently transitioned from rap to punk throughout the records they released.

Yauch, Horowitz, and Diamond grew up together in Brooklyn, New York. All three members grew up involved in music programs through school as well as non-school related functions. The band’s publicist said the first time the Beastie Boys actually played in front a group of people was during Yauch’s 17th birthday party.

The three were a tight knit group, almost family-like.

“He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish,” Diamond wrote. “The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam.”

 

 

 

Weather Outlook for Memorial Day is Still Uncertain

By Maggie Dubbs and Brady Charles –

Memorial day is just around the corner and summer is approaching quickly.  With all the rain lately, people are wondering if they are going to have to be changing their plans.

“April has been another in a long string of unusually warm months over most of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S.,” said WSI Chief Meteorologist Dr. Todd Crawford in a article on weather.com. “However, as we head toward a new El Nino event, we are expecting increasing chances of below-average temperatures in, at least, parts of the U.S. For May, the eastern U.S. remains warmer than average. Looking beyond May, we are expecting a much different type of pattern than what was observed during the last four summers,”

Your plans will be dependent on El Nino and where you are at in the country. Some places have a cooler and wetter period, and some places will have a dryer summer. It depends where you are located.

“I’m planning on being at the beach all summer so the weather better be nice or I’ll be really mad,” said Juan Cubano.

With the oncoming El Nino event [it] suggests that the warmest part of the summer is more likely to be early, with generally cooler temperatures later in the summer, said Crawford.

Eric Horst, Millersville meteorologist, said it’s was too soon to tell how the weather will look for Memorial day weekend. Hopefully it will be like last year’s with warm temperatures, and clear skies.

***
Picnic's on Memorial day are a tradition for some

“I hope it’s nice out memorial day weekend, I hope the weather doesn’t ruin my weekend at the beach with my friends,” said senior Marc Summy about his Memorial Day plans.

Horst also commented that the weather will vary throughout the country, depending where you are at, or planning to go, your plans may change.

“I’m planning on going to the mountains and canoeing about eight miles, so if it rains that will be a long canoe ride,” said Mackenzie Payne.

“I hope our family picnic tradition continues like we were able to continue it last year with the nice weather,” said junior Jessica Hanner.

The weather for this holiday weekend is still to be set in stone, but people are hoping for more consistent, and warmer weather for this coming holiday and summer.

Mortal Kombat on PlayStation Vita, No shortage of Gore or Cost

By Alex Lombardo and Chad Gates

Mortal Kombat on the PS Vita, with console-quality graphics. Image courtesy of Google Images

It’s an old game with a new twist. Mortal Kombat, now on the PlayStation Vita, is making a strong run in the world of hand-held gaming.

Mortal Kombat is a series of video games allowing combat-based interactions between players. A player may choose a character or create their own, and battle another player to the death.

Although many Penn Manor students are loyal Mortal Kombat fans, the $249.96 price tag for the device keeps them from purchasing the Vita.

“Its way too overpriced and people aren’t willing to spend that money. But if it had more features I would be willing to buy it,” said Penn Manor student Ben Murphy.

The 960 x 544 resolution on the OLED screen with about 16 million colors combined, make some extremely crisp graphics on Sony’s latest hand-held gaming device: the PlayStation Vita.

The Vita, released Feb. 22, has been all the rage in today’s portable gaming community. The Vita showcases features such as a 5-inch multi-touch screen, a feature that allows for multiple fingers to touch the screen at once, frontal and rear cameras, and the ability to connect and play with a PlayStation 3 console.

“PS Vitas have been selling better here than in Japan,” said Michael MacEntee, an employee at the game retailer Just Press Play.

Besides the hype of the device itself, the worldwide gaming favorite, Mortal Kombat, has just been released May 1, and copies of the game have been rolling out of stores since.

“Sales have been pretty steady (since the release of the game),” said MacEntee.

The Vita version of Mortal Kombat was ported from the latest Xbox and PlayStation version but with a few special additions just for the Vita. You can now create your own fighter and even take a picture of your own face to use for your customized fighter.

This new version of Mortal Kombat now has an added feature called X-ray mode. A super meter is filled by performing combo moves against your opponent. When the meter is filled to the third level, a player can then enter X-ray mode. While in X-ray mode you are able to see through your opponents skin to view bones breaking and organs rupturing.

Maybe what fans are most excited about is the portability of the game on the new hand-held device.

“I can play Mortal Kombat wherever I want,” said Trent Schaeffer a student at Penn Manor. 

IGN.com (International Gaming News) rated the game an 8.5 out of 10.

The M rated game can be purchased online or in stores today for $39.96.

Obesity Becoming a “Bigger” Problem

By Daulton Parmer and Errol Hammond –

“I’m getting fat, what’s for lunch? Fries? Yes,” a statement that could be made by some Penn Manor students.

While recent studies show that the overall rates of obesity have plateaued, obesity is widespread and continues to be a leading public health problem in the U.S. Penn Manor’s teen population is not immune to the condition and some adults here have noticed.

Anne Butterfield, Penn Manor High School school nurse, sees obesity as a huge problem in the U.S.

“Obesity leads to chronic health problems,” said Butterfield. “It causes an increase in insurance, diabetes is a huge issue, a chance of cardiac disease, joint displacement from all of the pressure on them, loss of limbs, blindness, and ultimately, death.”

Bacon Cheeseburgers photo by Daulton Parmer

Butterfield’s words are backed up by national statistics. More than one third of U.S. adults are obese. That is 35.7 percent, nearly 78 million people, this is according to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

“Kids don’t realize that there is an unbalanced scale between the calories they take in and the ones they take out,” Butterfield said. 

“The best diet is the one you know the most about, lean protein, fruit and exercise… it’s really common sense.  People need to make a habit, habits usually take a month and a half to develop,” said Butterfield

While the Penn Manor lunch ladies do their job, they do also observe the kids and their eating habits.

One lunch lady stated, “that’s the problem with this generation, they don’t get out and exercise.”

Sheryl Wolf, the cafeteria manager, said, “There are some who are very concious. You will have a group who will say, ‘can’t I have something other than fries?’  Then unfortunately, you have people, I hate to say it, girls, who are very heavy and are continuing to eat fries. You just can’t. Especially if you have that metabolism in your body.  You can not eat those fries every day.  I think boys are more conscious than girls. I have a group of guys that want different things.”

But the high school, like other schools,  are trying to cut down on ‘bad foods’ in the cafeteria.

“Over the last couple years, there has been a reductions on the menu,” said the Food Service Director, Randy Wolfgang, referring to the district’s emphasis on providing leaner, more healthy cafeteria meals.

He said the district cut out foods with trans fats even before the government required it.