Penn Points Online

By Cassie Kreider

The turkeys meant for Thanksgiving dinner are still merrily unaware of their fates when the first wave of Christmas everything arrives. Flyers featuring children with exaggerated glee clutching fairies and action figures fill the Sunday paper’s ad section. Commercials highlighting the need for a Barbie Dreamhouse play over and over again on the television. But is all this holiday cheer coming too soon for some people?

It is true that the holiday season starts fairly soon, what with retailers showcasing the toys they believe will be their bestsellers this year and consumers scrambling to get the best bang for their buck. But this year the Christmas Creep seems to have set in especially early and with a late thanksgiving and earlier hours for Back Friday shoppers.

An article written for the Daily Finance says that the explosion of Christmas ads may be due to the fact that there is no presidential election this year.

“The presidential election served as a bulwark of sorts, holding the public’s attention and making it more expensive for retailers to run television ads in October. This year, retailers have free rein to take over the airwaves in the fall.”

Kimberly McMullen, an art teacher at Penn Manor High School, said that she definitely thinks Christmas is advertised for too early, but she also understands why companies feel compelled to do so.

“This is the money making season for many big name companies, but buying from local artists or local business’ can help the economy, it helps everyone.”

McMullen believes that Christmas should, at the earliest, be advertised after Thanksgiving. She is bothered when she sees ads for the holiday season at the end of October.

She believes that today’s views of Christmas are, “totally skewed,” and considers the most important things about Christmas are, “family. Having everyone home for the holidays, and (partaking in) family traditions.”

“Yes. It (Christmas) isn’t about the stuff or getting the best deal and outdoing each other. No, it’s about loving and caring and showing compassion,” said Mrs. McMullen.

Senior Katie Myers showed obvious distaste at how early Christmas is advertised.

“It’s (the advertising) getting absurd. I mean kids are going to start wondering what Thanksgiving is…” Myers joked. “I think they shouldn’t advertise any earlier than the week before Thanksgiving; and all that should be advertised is Black Friday sales.

She went on to say that she personally loves ads for the holidays, and that she thinks herself a nerd because she loves getting the Sunday paper and looking through all the sales.

By Sarah Sanchez

A type of methamphetamine called Strawberry Quik, is a drug that many claim is targeted at children. Nakedsecurity.sophos.com claims that many say the drug looks like pop rocks and tastes like strawberries. The story is so catching that it has been spread across Facebook recently. The website shares that Facebook users are sharing warnings about this strawberry-flavored crystal meth.

A writer for the NakedSecurity website, Grahm Cluley stated, “The message, which is sometimes distributed with an image of what appears to be pink- coloured crystallized methamphetamine, claims that children are being targeted with drugs that taste of strawberries.”

Strawberry Quik has been a drug scare since 2007. Drug dealers were said to be disguising meth coloring and flavoring to make it more appealing to children. The case was widely spread throughout the media but no cases of children using flavored meth have been verified.

Donna Leinwand of USA Today reported candy-flavored meth stirring concern among police and abuse prevention experts because they believe drug dealers might be marketing this drug to younger people.

Webarticlesrus.com concluded that these rumors are false. They found that the story about ‘strawberry quik’ is a hoax. The website states that the Drug Enforcement Agency public affairs officer, Barbara Wetherell, has found no evidence to substantiate that Strawberry Quik or any other form of flavored meth exists.

The website also shows that in March 2007, the DEA announced it received reports of drug traffickers offering candy-flavored meth for sale in western and midwestern states from california to Minnesota in the form of colorful crystals resembling pop rocks.

As of June 2007, experts confirmed that local drug enforcement agencies may have confused samples of colored meth as a flavored variety of this drug.

By Maddie Longenecker

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“He was 5 years old when Shania Twain came out with the song ‘I Feel Like A Woman’ and that was his favorite song. So he would dance around the house singing it at the top of his lungs. Picture this dark haired boy singing, almost screaming, that song. It was hilarious,” said Anna Frey of one of her favorite memories of her son, Greg Frey,  a Penn Manor student who passed away on September 22.

Greg was born September 20, 1996 and will always be remembered as a young man whose smile brightened everyone’s day. When someone needed a laugh, a hug or just someone to talk to, they went to him. He loved to play with his dog, Alpha and watch The Voice with my dad and I. He loved the Washington Redskins and the Florida Gators. He wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up and he was always wanting tacos to eat and Mountain Dew to drink. Stay close to your loved ones and be there for them. Let them know that they always have someone looking over them,” says Courtney Frey, sister of Greg Frey.

According to the Frey family, Greg was on a birthday trip on September 22 with another Penn Manor family when he started to develop a twitch in his arm while trying to line his fishing line. After trying over and over to line his line, Greg decided to go on a walk to try and cool off. When 20 minutes went by and no one heard from him, a search was called. Moments later, Greg’s body was found facedown in the water. After numerous attempts of CPR and help from paramedics, Greg was pronounced dead on Sunday, September 22.

Many of Greg’s family and friends shared favorite memories of him.

Greg’s father, Paul Frey, remembers when Greg was between the ages of 3 and 5. Greg decided to go on a walk by himself in just a diaper and shorts.

“I found him two, three blocks away from our home and when I asked him what he was doing, he replied saying that he went to visit the grocery store,” said Paul Frey. “It was cute yet very scary since we had no clue where he went and had our neighborhood looking for him.”

Greg was a member of the junior varsity volleyball team during his sophomore year at Penn Manor.

“Volleyball was my favorite”,  said senior Laiklynne Kammerer. “He was new to the team and we’d always joke around with him. His job was middle hitter and with that job he was to call out the positions so we’d always be like ‘Greg, where’s the setter?’ and he’d have no idea!”

Greg’s third block teacher, Mrs. Kaca Wee, remembers him as a young, vibrant, full of life and excitement, polite, friendly and nice boy. With the short amount of time she knew him, she’ll always hold a special place for him.

Courtney Frey recalls that he always had his sense of humor . Greg helped her practice basketball every chance he got.

“He was the person I looked up to the most and I thought everything he did was great,” said Courtney.

Shortly after his death, Greg’s family decided to have orange bracelets made in his memory.

“We wanted to have a small remembrance of him for everyone to have, and orange was his favorite color. We had some made, then everyone wanted one,” said Paul Frey.

The proceeds from the bracelets will be donated to the Humane League, which supports animals, a cause that was very important to Greg.

“Greg decided two weeks before he died that he wanted to become a veterinarian. He had a chocolate lab named Alpha; five cats, Penny Ann, Sparky, Shadow, Spooky Jr. and Stormy; and two red-eared slider turtles, Scales and Camouflage. Yes, my son loved animals, and his dad never said no to him,” said Anna Frey.

The loss of Greg has been difficult for those who knew him.

“The hardest part about losing Gregory is never getting to see his contagious smile and laughter ever again,” said Anna Frey. “I truly feel like part of me is gone and nothing ever said or done is gonna make me whole again. Or seeing him help his little sister, Courtney, practice her shots for her upcoming season!”

Kammerer said she was talking to him Friday, his birthday, at lunch about homecoming. Unfortunately the bell rang and she said she’d talk to him later about it because lunch was over.

“We never got a chance to finish that conversation,” said Kammerer. His death was completely unexpected, so it hit my friends and I hard.”

“Since our family is in two separate homes, being alone is going to be the worst,” said Paul Frey. “Gregory kept me going through the past few years. We did a lot together and now no fishing, no sports, just the conversations about everything. Coming home to our house knowing that he will never be here again, the reminders of him throughout the house and everywhere you turn it is him.”

Greg’s family and friends shared what they have learned something from this loss.

“If you’re a parent, keep your kids closer. If you’re a friend of someone, be there for each other. Talk about what you had when you were all together, remember the good times and to know that he is in a better place,” said Paul Frey. “Gregory would want the students to know to cherish every moment and not waste a day. To move on without but not forget him.”

“Keep your friends close and always show respect towards everyone because you don’t know their situation or what they’re going through,” said Kammerer. “Stay strong and stay together.”

Anna Frey explained that the pain will always be there but with help from family and friends, you learn how to move forward.

“This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and I don’t know exactly how to put into words the sadness I have but hearing stories about him makes it easier to push on,” said Anna.

“God had taken him for a good reason and needed him more than we did. He was the greatest brother anyone could have had.

If you would like to share a memory of Greg, feel free to submit below or email lisa.angelucci@pennmanor.net.

By David Gataric

Editor’s Note: The writer is also a participant in the program discussed in this story.

“Honestly, I didn’t hope that I’m gonna get this scholarship,” said Haris Jasarevic, one of 12 high school students who came from the southeastern European country Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The United States gave these students the opportunity to experience American society and to learn about the United States, and for American society to learn about them and their country.

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) is an exchange student program completely funded through the US Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. It provides scholarships for high school students from 37 countries worldwide.

Thousands of high school students worldwide apply every year for this scholarship and only a minority of students go to the United States. YES Abroad gives a chance for US high school students to experience life in one of 12 countries worldwide.

The main goal of this program is to introduce the US to other cultures and other cultures to the US.

This year the YES program celebrated its 10th anniversary.

With the aim of adaptation to American society, exchange students live with a host family and attend school for one school year.The student’s stay in the US also includes field trips to other states and visits to important American landmarks.

“I wanted to explore America and to see how people live there,” said Tarik Slanjankicas a reason why he applied for YES program.

“Main difference between American and Bosnian culture are people. They act differently and think differently,” said Slanjankic.

Slanjankic is currently placed in New York City.

“Different, exciting, many things to learn and things to tell,” he said of his experience in New York so far.

Participants in the YES program from Bosnia & Herzegovina have been placed all over the United States, from the East to the West Coast.

For a Bosnian high school student to participate in the YES program, they must have higher level knowledge of English and be between 15-17 years old. Writing essays about solving every-day life problems and English language tests are part of testing.  All testing material is sent to YES Program’s main office in Washington, DC. The Main office decides who will get the scholarship.

“I went on testing, just because I didn’t want later to tell myself “you should went to that testing”. And after while, they called me and they told me that I made to third round of testing. I made in 80 of 560 student who were in the competition for scholarship. That was huge success for me. And after five months, they called me again, and again same story, they told me that I got scholarship. I couldn’t believe it,” said Haris Jasarevic, currently placed in Michigan.

Jasarevic enjoyed his first days in the United States.

“First few days here I’m gonna remember because they were awesome. First day I went to run 5k run for cancer cure, and it really awesome. I met new friends, and I gain some experience my first day here. I was running on horse track, so it was my first time to see horse track. The next days were pretty much the same. I was meeting new people, gaining new experience, getting to know American culture and her people.”

Students in the YES program have eight more months to “investigate” the United States because the students will stay until the end of the American school year.