Video by Bryn Pennetti

Bryn Pennetti
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Junior David Lovas started his musical career playing violin. Now, his rising online popularity is catching attention as he furthers his electronic music.

How did you begin creating music?

I’ve always been interested in music. Ever since a young age I’ve always been musically involved. From violin, guitar, up to the synthesizers I use today. I had always played instruments, I had always been able to navigate my way around a keyboard or piano. But it wasn’t until I obtained my first synthesizer in December of 2010 that I began to start creating my own electronic music.

Have you always liked techno?

Absolutely not. I used to despise it. Contrary to popular belief I don’t make or listen to techno. I deal with Trance Music, a different Subgenre of electronic music. I believed that [electronic music] required little skill. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

What is the first track you ever made?

The first thing I wrote was a track called “Horizons.” It was right after I received my first synthesizer. I created a sound that I dubbed “horizons” and I would usually end up playing this one specific melody/bass progression I came up with. I never recorded it, since I didn’t have recording equipment then, but I would suppose I could credit it as the first thing I ever wrote.

What is your favorite track?

My favorite track of mine is pretty much always the last track I’ve created. My newer tracks are simply better as I’ve picked up new skills. I’d have to say “A Day in the Past” is my favorite track I’ve written so far.

Do any artists inspire you?

I am inspired by many artists. I guess I would have to credit Armin Van Buuren for exposing me to so many different artists in the genre. Many people who aren’t accustomed to the sounds in EDM pretty much think all tracks are the same, but they are very, very wrong. I wouldn’t be able to tell you who mainly inspired me since there are so many. But I can tell you right off the bat some of my favorite composers are Ralphi B., M6, Amon Tobin, etc.

What programs/ instruments do you mainly use?

DAW wise (Digital Audio Workstation), aka the main software used in the creation process. When I first began producing I was using Logic Pro, but I quickly grew tired of its unnecessarily complex interface. Soon after I switched over to FL Studio as my main DAW, my music started to pick up momentum fast. I’ve really only had FL for several months and already my productions have improved 10 fold in quality.

Noticing the comments on your soundcloud, how do you respond to the criticism? 

The way I respond to criticism is quite simple. I listen to what the person is saying, and I note their bias towards the Genre. If I gather that someone from a hip-hop, or a rock community is giving me advice on the structural format of my music, I usually disregard his or her words.

To view and download some of David’s songs click HERE. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video by Taylor du Pont & Kate Howard

Taylor du Pont & Kate Howard
Associate Multimedia Editor & Editor-in-Chief

The charity driven and education promoting organization, Free the Children, strives to empower youths to free the Earth’s population of the cycle of poverty. On April 22, the New Canaan High school Free the Children club held a Water Walk Fundraiser at Waveny Park.  Although the event only lasted a few hours on Saturday, the club had been planning the fundraiser since the fall.  According to the teacher advisor, Ann Thommen, the club held student run meetings every Tuesday night.

Ms. Thommen (Teacher Advisor): We have been having meetings every Tuesday evening um with the student led group up at the high school. So, each night we had to divvy up jobs.  The student leadership was amazing and we had to figure out. And do research into how we were going to do online registration and find out how to get the high school in line with like doing a banking system.  The kids were able to figure that out. We had advertising.  Any issues with like coming up with just in general how the whole day would run and plotting out, using the pond as our water source.

On the morning of the event, Junior Abbie Stone gave an overview of how the event was symbolic of the water walk in Kenya.

Abbie Stone (Free the Children Member): Well at nine thirty the participants are all going to arrive, hopefully with their water containers. And we are going to go down to the pond and fill everyone’s up.  And they’re going to go on a course that’s a little less than a mile long.  Hopefully to simulate the water walk that the women and girls in Kenya have to do everyday.

Photo by Taylor du Pont

Not only did the event raise awareness for the struggling Kenyan population, but the proceeds were put aside for the cause as well.

Jackie Trager (Free the Children Member): So the proceeds of this event will go half towards our clean water project, which hopefully next year we will be building a clean well in our adopted village in Kenya, and half towards our trip this summer, where we will be building a school.

According to Junior Liza Swindell, the group plans on doing more than building a school on their trip.

Liza Swindell (Free the Children Member): This summer we’re going to be going to a vilage in Kenya and our main task for being there will be to build an elementary school for the kids… but besides that we’re also going to be building a relationship with the community, a lasting relationship that’s hopefully going to continue over the next couple of summers, really helping them out and a bunch of different things.

For participant Sophomore Sara Wilson, a participant at the event, the relationship already exists in some way.

Sara Wilson (Water Walk Participant): I think this is a really important cause to contribute to because I think that it is something that even though we haven’t experienced it before  we can somewhat relate to because we always hear about these women in africa carrying all these pounds of water and it’s so incredibly strong of them and that’s something that we’ve really never seen or done in ourselves and so by doing it, we feel like we can relate to them in a different way and really just connect to them in a different level.

After the walk came to a conclusion, Sophomore Sydney Trager reflected on the event.

Sydney Trager (Free the Children Member): I think that the event went really really well.  We didn’t expect it to be this good. We had so many more people, so many people made donations.  It was awesome.  And for next year we have so many things we want to do.  Definitely more kids related stuff.  We wanna hopefully have it on a sunny day, more in the spring, a little bit later so more people can go.  We are probably going to advertise more, but overall it was amazing and we are so excited about it.

After the distribution of prizes, the club wrapped up the water walk with hopes of making their fundraiser an annual event.

Abbie Stone:  That’s the end of our first ever water walk. So thank you guys all so much for coming, we hope to do another one next year. And yeah, we hope to meet you all there.

A student explores the world of photo editing in a quick and easy way.

Lizzy Burke
Features Editor

The daily life of a student includes so many activities. From sports games, to art class, to the school musical, there are always moments one wants to capture. As we move forward in the era of technology, we can now share these images in new and creative ways.

Instagram is a social networking app that focuses on sharing pictures. Many students alike enjoy the features of this app, and are able to incorporate it into their lives. “At the high school a lot of people now stop in the hallways or other random locations and say “wait I gotta Instagram this!”, sophomore Noah Hedley said. “It definitely has a notable influence on the students.”

Freshman Devin Selvala is only one of the 15 million Instagram users who upload their pictures, pick an editing effect, and like or comment on other users photos. “Instagram is my favorite app. I love to see what new pictures are shared, any comments on mine – what everyone’s up to,” she said.

The app has had extreme success recently: on April 9, Facebook bought Instagram for a staggering one billion dollars in cash and shares. Chief Executive Officers of Instagram inc. Kevin Systrom and Michel Krieger released the following statement on their website regarding the buy-out: “It’s because of our dedicated and talented team that we’ve gotten this far, and with the support and cross-pollination of ideas and talent at a place like Facebook, we hope to create an even more exciting future for Instagram and Facebook alike.”

Similar to Twitter and Facebook, Instagram is a social networking app that is used to edit pictures. “It lets you enhance them, and share things that you think are cool or random that you feel like posting to show your friends,” junior Julie Newton said.

However, Instagram users have distinguished key differences that set the app apart from other common social networking sites. “Instagram is different because it focuses on picture sharing and nothing else,” Devin said.

Many users commented on the superiority of Instagram because of its simplicity and speed. “It’s like a Twitter for pictures, but it works fast and well and keeps people up to date on things you are doing,” Julie said.

Sophomore Haley Michno agreed. “It’s easier than other apps because you don’t always need to say what you’re doing, you can just show it,” she said.

Instagram has had great success throughout the nation and among students for multiple reasons: the app allows smart phone users to take pictures and apply effects to them to enhance the photos, in addition to having the potential to connect different kinds of people. “It has allowed people with just an iPhone to create edited pictures of the same quality as fancy camera equipment,” Devin said.

Julie had a similar reaction. “I think Instagram has enhanced photography; it’s making it simpler and more people can be better at it than ever before.”

Sophomore Noah Hedley also speculated Instagram’s influence on photography. “It makes more people interested in photography since it’s so easy to use,” he said. “The world of photography might be changed forever!”

Many Instagram users highlight the app’s impressive selection of photo effects in today’s expansive digital photography market. “My favorite features of Instagram are the effects of course,” freshman Michael Joneja said. “I love how you can upload a regular photo of something you come across, and the app’s features can change the whole picture and make it significantly better. It makes the picture look artsy, and people become more interested in your photo.”

Instagram’s success nationwide has allowed a network of users to connect in new ways. “Instagram is great because I can stay in touch with people that don’t live in New Canaan, like my sisters who live in New York City,” Haley said. “It’s easier than a phone call, and I can see what they’re up to.”

Another interesting feature of the app is the growing of celebrity users. Users are able to follow others on Instagram, making pictures easily accessible like the newsfeed feature of Facebook. “I follow celebrities like Cody Simpson, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Selena Gomez,” Michael said. “I love how they are a part of Instagram so they can share their everyday lives with their fans!”

Although Instagram was only recently launched in 2010 by two Stanford graduates experimenting in mobile photography, its popularity has already inspired an entire culture, referred to as, the “Insta-universe”. One aspect of this culture is centered around the Instagram website, which is structured like a blog. Instagram executives post certain projects for users to complete, such as going out and taking pictures of cherry blossoms. The pictures are then posted on the website in a collection, where they can be liked or commented on by other users.

“No app like Instagram lets you upload pictures on the go, edit the picture the way you like, and share it with your friends and people all around the world,” Michael said. “It’s really centered around connecting. Features like the projects on the website and hash-tags let you see what’s going on.”

Instagram has become one of the top iPhone and Android apps at NCHS, and has affected many students in a big way. “I check my Instagram all the time now,” Haley said. “I’m always waiting for a new picture, a new place, a new perspective. Instagram lets me see the world through someone else’s eyes.”

Photos by Lizzy Burke

Photo by Madzie Carroll

Madzie Carroll
Reporter

From April 15 to May 6, students displayed their artwork in the second annual art show “Through Our Eyes II” at the Carriage Barn Arts Center. This exhibit was open to the public and showcased the works of over 90 NCHS students.

“The show was wonderful this year,” art teacher Jeanne Mcdonagh said. “The kids really did a great job and my intermediate and advanced students really explored a variety of media at a very high level.”

“Since we have a partnership with the Carriage Barn, it’s positive and encouraging for the students to display their work in a professional gallery,” she added.

Students are excited to see their works hanging in the gallery. “The Through Our Eyes show is a great way to showcase all of the amazingly talented artists our school has and give them the opportunity to have that real gallery experience,” junior Annie Fox said. “It’s also interesting to see the way other kids view the world through camera lens or paint brush or pencil or even sculpture.”

India by Annie Fox

Annie, who featured two photographs in the show, Dancing Reflections and India, said, “India was actually a completely spontaneous shot I took in the desert in India. I think what makes it so special is that it totally captures the essence of the country: the vivid colors, the unique environment and the fact that the camel is showing his teeth reminds me of how friendly everybody was there.”

Dancing Reflections by Annie Fox”

Annie was given the opportunity to utilize her Photoshop skills in her other piece. “My Dancing Reflections piece is Photoshopped to make it look like water splashing all around the model, kind of representing the fluidity of her movements,” she said. “I was inspired by how smooth dancing could be and decided to play around with different ways of emphasizing that.

Senior Christian Atherton also has two pieces in the show. “I feel that my pieces are strong because they provoke thought, using loss and a feeling of loneliness,” he said. “They are dramatic, using positive and negative space to challenge the viewer and create emotion. When people view my work I want them to be intrigued by the composition and story each photo tells.”

Pleasure Beach by Christian Atherton

“I created my photograph, Pleasure Beach by using an HDR program called Photomatix that creates surreal-like images,” Christian said. “My other photo, Searching was creating by only using lightroom adjusting levels such as, shadows, exposure and turning black and white.”

Senior Carolina Lizzio made a sculpture for the show, Colorful Bliss in her Advanced Studio Art Class. “I got my inspiration from an artist that I found online, who used similar colors and various materials to create a 3D piece of art,” she said.

Colorful Bliss By Carolina Lizzio

“What I like most about this piece is the fact that it is unique and not many other pieces that have been created in my class are similar,” Carolina added. “Also, I just find it fun to look at because it makes you wonder what the heck was the artist thinking when she made it?”

“I originally did not anticipate how much work I would have to put into it,” she said. “The process of creating this piece was extremely tedious and way more involved than I expected.”

Freshman Fiona Risom is featured in the show with her photograph, Cape Cod. “My inspiration was to remember Cape Cod even when I wasn’t there,” she said. “I’d like people to look at my photo and see the simplicity of what I see every time I walk down the dock. I like that when I look at my photo, I can vividly remember  the easiness of summertime, and I hope other people can too.”

Photo by Isabel Hetherington & Emily Wood

Wheatley Raabe
Reporter

As teachers begin to wrap up their classes, the overhead announcements come on and finally second period is over: “Would all teachers please turn to channel 78 for this morning’s announcements”. It’s Friday morning and students begin crowding around TVs in the lounge, classrooms and the library to watch.

The other Rams Sports Report sportscaster is sophomore Brendon Baker. “In eighth grade, I was the host of an online sports talk show,” he said. “Every Wednesday I talked about professional and college sports over the internet. My broadcast was called ‘smashmouthsportstalk with Brendon Baker’. I loved doing it, and I instantly knew I wanted to get into sportscasting in the future.”

Photo by Isabel Hetherington & Emily Wood

Besides his online talk show, Brendon has also been to a specific sports broadcasting camp. “For the past two summers, I’ve gone to Bruce Beck and Ian Eagle Sports Broadcasting Camp,” he said. “This past summer I was taught by MSG Varsity’s Mike Quick and we had to anchor a six minute sportscast on the final day. The week leading up to the day of sportscast was spent hectically preparing our scripts and highlight packages. There are a few long days and a lot of yelling involved, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”

For Mr. Cebulski, Brendon Baker was not a new name to him, having read an article written about him in the Courant. “A couple years ago, the Courant did a story on him, and after reading it, my immediate reaction was, why is this kid not on TV?” he said. “Brendon wanted to get involved as soon as possible, so freshman year he took Intro to TV Broadcasting to learn the basics and get a general idea of what broadcasting was like.”

On TV, these two sportscasters seem like professionals; their abilities to play off one another and get the hand movements down perfectly seems effortless. But what Brendon and Taylor do behind the scenes leading up to those Friday mornings is a lot more work than just their natural broadcasting ability.

“Thursdays are by far the busiest days for everyone in NCTV,” Brendon said. “In class Thursday I have to go through all of that week’s games and get the scores for the script we write and then read on camera.”

However, Brendon’s work doesn’t just end in class. “After school I go through different game footage to create a highlight package,” he said. “Plus we have to rehearse our broadcast two or three times after school, and then another two to three times Friday morning before school. The Rams Sports Report is more than sitting in front of the camera on Friday mornings.”

Photo by Isabel Hetherington & Emily Wood

Taylor added that writing his scripts for the sports report can be last minute. “Writing the scripts gets tricky,” Taylor said. “Sometimes, we don’t get results of games until Thursday night or Friday morning. So right before we air, we’re always adding scores of last night’s games to our scripts.”

Watching Brendon and Taylor on TV, the two look like nothing can phase them and that their nerves are nonexistent. While this may seem true to viewers of the Rams Sports Report, these two sportscasters think differently.

“The nerves never go away, they are something you have to try and get used to,” Brendon said. “Right before Erika [Jensen] and Rock [Thomas Rochlin] segway to me, I feel so nervous that I can’t speak. Knowing 1,300 people are watching you is tough to deal with, but I love it and wouldn’t trade the experiences for anything in the world.”

Luckily, Brendon believes being nervous helps make a better broadcast. “The more nervous I am, the better I do,” he said. “If I didn’t get nervous I wouldn’t care about my performance.”

For Taylor, he enjoys being filmed live, although he was nervous his first couple of broadcasts. “I love it,” he said. “It doesn’t feel any different being filmed live, or just being filmed for a later airing. I did get nervous the first couple of times, but I’m used to it.”

Although Taylor and Brendon both have their own spotlight, alternating who reports sports every Friday, the two work together as if they’ve been collaborating for years.

Mr. Cebulski sees the chemistry between Brendon and Taylor most evidently when they announce games together. “When they’re announcing games, they feed off each other so well,” he said. “They know exactly when the other ends and when the other starts. None of it’s scripted either.”

Photo by Isabel Hetherington & Emily Wood

Brendon couldn’t agree more. “Working with Taylor is fantastic,” he said. “We’ve become close friends off-camera, which makes our on-camera chemistry that much better.”

Mr. Cebulski has definitely taken notice of the amount of time Taylor and Brendon spend together and it’s positive influence on their studio performance. “When announcing a game, Brendon and Taylor could spend a whole week preparing for it,” he said. “They make charts of the opponents and all their statistics, as well as ones for New Canaan teams. They have to be able to talk about the players on both teams as the game is going on, which requires a lot of off camera research that they have to do together.”

Emily Greene (class of 2011) pictured with fellow Villanova Tennis club members

Gogo Jones
Reporter

With over 20 varsity sport programs, NCHS is home to hundreds of athletes. And while many will go on to play in college, the vast majority will not. For those who love playing the game but don’t find being a member of an official college team an option, club sports provide a fun and competitive alternative.

“I’ve played hockey since I was two, so I knew I didn’t want to give it up when I went off to college,” senior Ritchie Shane said, who will try out for the UCONN men’s club hockey team this winter. “I made sure that the schools I applied to had club hockey so I could play in a more competitive league than intramurals, but still not have the commitment of actually playing a legit college sport.”

Billy Calanca, class of 2008, who will graduate from college this spring, played club basketball at Villanova University. Like Ritchie, he wasn’t ready to give up his sport after high school. “I was passionate about basketball and wanted to continue playing it competitively,” Billy said. “Most of the guys on the Nova club team could have played Division 3 somewhere but chose not to.”

Emily Greene, class of 2011, who also attends Villanova, wasn’t as positive about the decision. “High school tennis always had drama and I had enough of it by senior year,” she said. “But after being informed about how much fun it was, and the opportunity to meet a new group of people, I figured it was a win-win.” Of the 80 kids to try out, Emily was one of four girls to make the team.

While still very competitive, a major benefit of playing club is the flexibility it offers. “We have practice three times a week for an hour and a half, and you go if you can make it,” Emily said. “There are some people that don’t show up at all and there are people that show up every week.” This informality can be a very big plus, especially during exam time. “Attendance isn’t mandatory,” Billy said. “School comes first.”

Billy Calanca (class of 2008) playing for Villanova's club basketball team

This balance is attractive to Ritchie who still wants to be involved, but have time for other things as well. “I am willing to put in a serious commitment because I want to be part of a team that still takes hockey seriously, but doesn’t need to spend hours each day watching film or having team meetings,” Ritchie said.  “I just want to play.”

Because most club teams don’t have a league-regulated game schedule, the season revolves around national invite tournaments. Emily traveled with 17 other club members to the 2012 National Club Tennis Tournament in Cary, North Carolina. “It was really fun because we got to stay in a hotel for four days with different schools, such as Columbia and Northeastern,” she said. “I also got to see two of my best friends and former teammates, Kimmy Glerum and Kate Mannelly. It was awesome to have three of the four 2011 seniors meet up again to play tennis.”

Billy’s team, which played in eight tournaments across the country, placed third overall in this year’s national men’s club basketball tournament.

Financially, dues are typically paid in the beginning of the season to cover jerseys, apparel and travel expenses. “We often do fundraisers on campus to help raise all the money we will need,” Billy said. “We also have a club sports advisor help us with all of our finances.”

Overall, playing club is more than just athletics and competition. “I consider everyone on my club team to be some of my closest friends,” Emily said. “We spend so much time together at practice, tournaments and social events- that we become a family. We will have parties or team dinners at least once a month, sometimes more.”

“My favorite part of club is the guys I’ve met over my four years,” Billy said. “Everyone is friends with one another, and it makes playing ball a lot more enjoyable.”

If you think playing club might be for you, Emily recommends staying in shape over the summer, as tryouts can get pretty competitive. “Just don’t get too uptight about it and remember to be friendly,” she said. “In a sense they are picking people not only based on ability, but also if they could see themselves being friends with you.”

Cartoon by Kelsey Hsu

Danielle Sorcher
Special Reports Director

As most colleges recommend filing deposits by May 1^st, seniors are officially ending the college process. For senior Rebecca Evenson, sending in her deposit was a reality check. “The whole idea of me going to college really hit me when I sent in my deposit,” she said. “I finally understood that this is my future, and whatever I do will basically affect me for the rest of my life.”

Since most seniors are committed to a college, they are caught in two places at once: they have one foot in college and the other still stuck in high school. As graduation creeps ever closer, senior Patrick Newton is caught in an internal tug-of-war regarding his feelings towards the end of senior year. “I definitely have mixed feelings about graduating and actually leaving for college,” he said. “I am ready to move on but I don’t want to leave all of my friends. We have all been together since the 5th grade and it’s a little nerve-racking thinking about how you have to create new friendships with people you have never met before.”

Patrick isn’t the only senior feeling the melancholy nudge of both wanting to get out and wanting life to remain exactly as is. Senior Nick Montanero also feels a mix of emotions regarding leaving. “On the one hand, I have always desired to leave the town in which I’ve grown up and experience new things,” he said. “On the other hand, I feel a strong sense of regret, likely stemming from my constant contemplation of the ‘what ifs.’ What if I had been more social earlier in high school? What if I had hung out with different people? What if I took more chances?”

Senior Michael Filatov said that after graduation, his life won’t ever be like his second semester of senior year. “Everyday I think about how simple my life is, and how incredibly lucky I am to be able to live this lifestyle,” he said. “It doesn’t get any easier.”

Leaving friends and family is a big contributing factor for why seniors don’t yet feel fully ready to leave. “I think the worst part about graduating will be not seeing all my friends at school, and while I can always see them over the summer, it just won’t be the same,” senior Patrick Redman said.

Senior Patrick Burke agreed. “I’m happy to get out of New Canaan, but not to get away from everyone,” he said.

For Patrick Burke, going to a school different from that of his twin sister, Grace (Associate Editor of the Courant), will be a significant change. “I am definitely going to miss seeing my friends and family everyday, especially Grace,” he said. “It will be the furthest Grace and I have been apart for an extended period of time, and that will probably be the toughest thing to cope with once in school.”

While senior Alexa Holzberger is sad that she is going to have to say goodbye to her friends—most of whom she’s known since around age five—and recognizes that she might not keep up with all of them, she can’t wait to meet new friends, too. “Everyone promises each other that they’ll keep in touch in college and even afterward, but we all know that might be true for only about two out of the 20 people we promise,” she said. “At the same time, I can’t even imagine who I’m going to become once I start living a life with completely different people. I think my friends and peers shape the person I am so I’m excited to see who I’ll be.”

The new opportunities that college will present is also a balancing factor in keeping seniors looking forward to the end with a positive attitude. “I think it’s going to be awesome to have all the freedom to do whatever I want to do,” senior Keith Haydu said. “The freedom is really the most exciting piece. It’s awesome to think about being your own person and making your own decisions.”

Photo by Danielle Sorcher

Senior Andrew Gruseke is ready to move on, although it will be hard to say goodbye to NCHS. “As graduation nears I become more and more thrilled to see all of the opportunities that await [me] as I head to college,” he said. “It is hard to believe that we are almost at the finish line. It feels just like yesterday when I was a freshman talking about how cool senior year would be.”

Senior Phoebe Wilks recognizes that graduation is going to be a very important moment for seniors, as it signifies a huge change. “After we graduate we will never be coming back to the halls we’ve walked for the past four years,” she said. “We are done, officially. I am excited because I know it’s a great achievement, but it also signifies the end of high school, which is sad for everyone.”

However, Phoebe recognizes that seniors will always have New Canaan to return to. “I think at the end of the day, it’s great to go off in a new direction and take the next step in our lives, but it’s also nice to know that we can always come home to New Canaan to see family and old friends.”

As graduation looms closer and closer, seniors want to make the most of the time they have left. “As high school comes to an end, I want to live it up,” Patrick Burke said. “We’re only seniors in high school once, and I want to end it on a good note.”

Senior Jacob Priest opens a door for junior Emma Fichtner. Photo by Kelly Saiz

Kelly Saiz
Editor-in-Chief

Maybe it’s my mother’s southern roots or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve lived in Ye Olde NC for the past eleven years, but I grew up with a plethora of books about manners, cotillion, and Walter Schalk’s Ballroom Dance Class (who didn’t love getting their feet stomped on or waltzing with their arch nemesis?). Chivalry might be dead, but I’m definitely not the only one in NCHS who thinks about manners.

People tend to notice the little things when it comes to manners. “I try to hold the door open for people and I try not to swear that much,” sophomore Jack Robey said. “I always say ‘thank you’ and ‘hello’ to my teachers.”

“One of the things I love to do, especially when I’m driving, is just wave to everyone that I pass by. I think the same applies once I get to school or when I’m walking around by myself,” senior Taylor Wilson said. “When people say ‘hi’ to me it ups my mood, so I try to reciprocate that feeling.”

We learn manners from television, movies, books, peers, teachers, and siblings, but it’s no secret that Mom and Dad are playing the starring roles in our indoctrination into polite society. “They kind of ingrain it in you when you’re young,” senior Holly Burwick said.

History teacher Stephen Vehslage said that manners are fundamentally about respect. “It’s about being present, particularly in the day of cell phones. When you’re looking at people’s manners, it’s about positive engagement, respect and being responsive,” he said.

In the age of instant communication, there is no question that manners are evolving. Not only do we have to consider table manners, driving etiquette, and basic ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, but we also have to deal with the unwritten rules of emailing, texting, facebooking, and #twittering. (“That’s so rude, why hasn’t he texted me back yet?”)

“Manners have decreased because of the end of face to face communication,” senior Maggie O’Rourke said. “People to people skills are not present because people are used to communication online or in text.”

Could this mean that by the time I have children, if I ever have children, I will produce an awkward species of human who don’t know how to say sentences without acronyms? What if baby’s first word is ‘iPhone’, or worse, ‘hologram’? I tend to think not, but it’s not like Shakespeare would have thought we wouldn’t be saying ‘methinks’ in 2012 anymore, either.

Senior Steph Benko said the technology issue is really one of prioritization. “I think we always put technology first, but we should put people first because people to people skills are important,” she said. “It’s easier to text but it’s harder to have an actual conversation face to face.”

And what about those bad manners? “I am more likely to notice the presence of bad manners than I am to notice the presence of good manners,” Mr. Vehslage said. “When I meet someone with good manners I tend to think about whatever the substance of the interaction is but I’m more likely to focus on manners as a concept if they are missing.”

I’ve come to think that manners are the thing that I most easily associate with a person. A ‘nice’ person is usually nice because they are polite and friendly. “When I meet a person with good manners I think about a person who cares about other people,” Jack said. “When I meet someone with bad manners I think they’re kind of rude and they only care about themselves.”

I agree that having good manners is probably a pretty good indication of unselfishness. When someone gives me their undivided attention or even opens a door for me, I feel like they are making that much extra effort to make me more comfortable.

Even with the complication of technology, manners in NCHS are generally decent. “We are blessed in this school to have kids who are by and large respectful and well mannered,” Mr. Vehslage said.

“Keep being polite NCHS. I think people would be surprised how far manners take them,” Taylor said. Cheers to that!

Photo by thegrio.com

Charlie Dorf
Senior Editor

The shooting of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy that Americans will not soon forget. The circumstances surrounding the incident have brought attention and examination to issues such as racial profiling and Stand Your Ground laws not just in Florida, but across the country.

I want to state all the things I am not: I am not a gun owner. I am not black. I am not a police officer. I am not a lawyer or a judge. I am not a politician or a community leader.

I am, however, a teenager.

The reason I stated all those things is because I don’t have the experience or perspective to judge Martin’s death from any of those viewpoints. The media, for the most part, focuses on the fact that Trayvon was black. But he was also 17 years old, barely a year younger than me. And this gives me a perspective that is not represented well in the media.

George Zimmerman, the man who shot Martin, saw a teenager walking alone at night. Despite not being a police officer and being told by the police not to pursue, he still felt it was his obligation to make sure he wasn’t doing anything illegal, because, well, a teenager walking around at night must be up to something, right? This assumption directly resulted in Martin’s death. The following question asked is who confronted whom after Martin realized he was being followed? For many, this unknown would determine whether or not Zimmerman acted in self-defense or if he instigated the conflict?

Does it matter?

This response will raise eyebrows, I’m sure. Let’s say that Martin confronted Zimmerman. In general, people do not like to be followed by strangers. I would not appreciate being trailed by an unknown man, who then proceeded to question me about my reasons for walking around at 7:20 at night. As such, Martin was probably scared as well as justifiably angry at being followed then questioned by a stranger, not a police officer, but an unknown civilian. This, in my opinion, is provocation.

George Zimmerman felt he had the right to follow Martin because he was a teenager, and if he turned out to be doing nothing wrong, who is going to listen to him if he complains? Across the country, it is almost universally accepted as a fact of life that police and even civilians feeling ‘civic’ will view teens with a suspicious eye, regardless of race or location. At the same time, teens are criticized for not having respect for legal authority. Allow me to say that I have immense respect for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect American citizens. However, when “driving while teen” becomes a de facto reason for traffic stops, it is no surprise that many teens reciprocate the lack of trust they see others exhibit towards them. Whether it’s race or age, no one likes to be a suspect simply because of what they look like or how old they are.  I have little doubt that Trayvon Martin felt this frustration, and I doubt that George Zimmerman would have acted the same if Martin had been older and dressed in a button-down.

Teens are expected to take suspicion of criminal activity in silence. Trayvon Martin didn’t, and he was killed as a result. This isn’t a case of police brutality, because George Zimmerman isn’t a cop. This is a case where a teenager was falsely suspected of being a criminal, and was killed because he didn’t like being followed by a man whom he didn’t know and who had no business following him in the first place. Yes, teenagers should listen to their parents and obey the police, but trust is a two-way street, and both police and adults need to recognize the damage age profiling can cause. Trayvon Martin’s death shows us how costly those assumptions can be.

Kaitlin Ostling
Reporter

Ever since the day that Red Mango opened its doors three streets away from Swirl, a question has risen among students which is better, Swirl, or Red Mango? In an online poll on NCHSCourant.com, 52 percent of voters said that Swirl is the better Fro-Yo parlor versus the 48 percent that Red Mango amassed.

Swirl Frozen Yogurt has an open layout and sells various types of frozen yogurts. These flavors include vanilla, chocolate, cake batter, blueberry, and six other year round yogurts. There are also two additional fro-yo’s that are available seasonally. Swirl also offers three low-fat yogurts, along with two non-dairy yogurt options.

Red Mango, however is located on Elm Street and sells both frozen yogurt and  smoothies. The layout is very accessible, with a bar to sit at facing the main street of town. Flavors at Red Mango include white peach, original, mango and peanut butter. Red Mango offers a total of 46 different flavors.

Junior Molly Joyce agreed with the majority. “I like Swirl,” she said. “When I got the vanilla at Red Mango it was very tart. I like the flavors at Swirl better.”

Freshman Charlie Hoffman also noted the difference in flavor. “I’m not a tangy frozen yogurt kind of guy,” he said. “Red Mango’s flavors are bitter, while Swirl is more like ice cream.”

In recent months, Fairfield County has seen the popularity of frozen yogurt and smoothie restaurants skyrocket. The fact that New Canaan has two frozen yogurt parlors is a testament to that. Other frozen yogurt places near to New Canaan include Pinkberry in Fairfield, Top This in Westport, Swizzles in Darien, and various Robeks’ throughout the are. Senior Lindsey Elizabeth Jones, an employee at Swirl, believes Swirl is a great parlor. “I applied for a job at Swirl Frozen Yogurt after being a frequent customer” she said “I decided to apply for a job because I was friendly with the owner… and the free frozen yogurt was not exactly a downfall,” she explained.

“Swirl is a small, privately owned business that is not linked to any other frozen yogurt company,” Lindsay said. “Its bright colors and self-service make it open and inviting and provide customers with a cozy place to relax and enjoy the delicious fro-yo. We have extremely fresh ingredients and are told that our gummy-bears are awesome.”

However, according to some students, the rivalry between Red Mango and Swirl grows stronger every day. “Red Mango just tastes better, there are so many more options than Swirl.” Eliza Ranieri said.

Senior Sarah Bochicchio agreed. “They change the flavors more often, and the Swirl machines are always broken.” She said. “However I do have to admit the chocolate and original tart are better at Swirl.”

Freshman Erik Burns, who is a frequent customer of Red  Mango said, “I like Red Mango’s Smoothies. They’re filled with fresh fruit, and a healthy alternative.”

Freshmen Sam Santoni had a similar idea. “You just feel so much healthier drinking a smoothie.” she said. “And there are also taste testers at Red Mango. You can always try what you want to get before you actually get it.”

Senior Nick Van Nest, an employee at Red Mango, believes Red Mango is the healthier option. “I wouldn’t necessarily say Red Mango is better than Swirl, and although Red Mango is a little healthier and offers smoothies made with freshly chopped fruit, both sell frozen yogurt.” he said.

“The location of Red Mango really helps business because it is right in the middle of town. People always get frozen yogurt right after dinner or a movie because it is within walking distance and much healthier than ice cream. I think what makes Red Mango attractive to people is how clean it is. Everything gets scrubbed down, and we take care to keep the toppings clean, and the chopped fruit fresh.” Nick Concluded

Another ongoing argument between Swirl fans and Red Mango fanatics is which of the two is healthier. The Madagascar Vanilla at Red Mango, one of the most popular flavors, comes in small at a total of 120 calories, compared to Swirl’s 100-calorie vanilla per ½ cup. In fact, all of the size small (133g) frozen yogurts offered at Red Mango range between 120 calories and 200. Swirl’s yogurt are typically between 70 and 130 calories per ½ cup. However, at Swirl there is a one size for all cup offered, and it is up to the customer to decide how much frozen yogurt they want to have.