UFC 300

By: Jaden and James

On the night of April 13th, 20 fighters on the main card went head to head. From upsets to correct outcomes, this UFC night was one to remember. 

YAN XIAONAN VS. ZHANG WEILI

( Strawweight belt )

Yan recovered her energy to contest the remaining four rounds of the fight where action really started against Zhang but was unable to beat her opponent as she lost on the judges score cards in a unanimous decision. Zhang Weili defended her strawweight title against Yan Xiaonan in a hard fought event at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

MAX HOLLOWAY VS. JUSTIN GAETHJE

( ‘BMF’ Championship Belt )

Former featherweight champion Max Holloway stole the show at UFC 300 with his last second knockout of Justin Gaethje for the ‘BMF’ title. They both fought to the bell in the middle of the octagon where Max Holloway slept Gaethje. Former featherweight champion Max Holloway became a viral sensation following his UFC 300 knockout win over Justin Gaethje. Justin Geathje is a former lightweight champion with a record of 25 wins to 5 losses. Justin has fought great ufc fighters in the past including Khabib. Max halloway has a record of 26 to 7 and fights mainly in the lightweight and featherweight class and has a featherweight belt.

CHARLES OLIVERA VS. ARMAN TSARUKYAN

( Lightweight Bout )

Despite a dangerous  choke attempt in the closing seconds of Round 3, Tsarukyan was able to survive until the final bell to barely outpoint former champion Charles Oliveira via split decision on Saturday in a featured lightweight fight at UFC 300 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  Charles Olivera is Brazilian fighter and he has a record of 34 wins to 10 losses primarily fighting in the jiu-jitsu fighting style. He is known for his anaconda chokehold and grappling his opponents.  Arman has a record of 22 wins to 3 loses. He is an Armenian fighter and is number one in the lightweight division.

ALEX PEREIRA VS. JAMAHAL HILL

( Light Heavyweight title bout )

Pereira, unbothered by the power Jamahal Hill, knocked out the challenger in one round to cap off an all time memorable UFC 300 card on Saturday. Alex Pereira is a Brazilian MMA fighter and former kickboxer with a MMA record of 10 wins to 2 loses. He beat Jamahal Hill in one quick round by knockout to defend his light heavyweight belt. Jamahal Hill is an American MMA fighter with a record of 12 wins to 2 losses he is ranked 3rd in the light heavyweight division.

Life Beyond the Scoreboard

By: Braelynn Wilcox 

In the sports world athletes are known as heroes, idolized for their skill, dedication, and passion. Yet behind the glory of the game, a dark shadow emerges from the digital perspective: death threats on social media. While the online world provides a platform for fans to connect and provide their support, it has become the common ground for hate, with the athletes more often than not the ones bearing the brunt of the ugliness.

 But what are we doing about the ongoing problem? 

Why do more and more athletes have to sacrifice their support systems just to stay mentally sane? 

The latest instance in which these awful actions took place was after the final four rounds in the NCAA tournament of Women’s College Basketball. Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall said that following the game she had to delete her social media because of hate comments she received following an offensive foul she drew against UConn that you can argue helped determine the game. 

Marshall stated in an interview: “I feel like it just kind of overlooked the fact that I played my butt off the whole game trying to guard her, trying to get over screens the whole game and feel like that one play just consumed everything. That’s all anyone’s talking about. They’re not talking about the fact that it was a great game between two great teams.” 

The psychological toll of receiving such harsh comments from the media cannot be overstated. Athletes are just like any other human being, vulnerable to the emotional distress caused by online abuse. According to an ESPN reporter “Social media abuse can take a significant toll on athletes’ mental health, affecting their confidence, performance, and overall well-being.”  

Recognizing the severity of this issue is important, as these threats have profound consequences on athletes’ mental health and safety. 

Collaboration between sports organizations, law enforcement, and social media platforms is important to hold the culprits of online abuse accountable. 

Empowering athletes to speak out against online harassment and providing strong mental health support systems are crucial steps. Additionally, public education on media literacy plays a vital role in promoting empathy and responsible digital citizenship. 

Strengthening platform policies to avoid harassment and creating a culture of empathy and respect within sports communities are essential for creating a safer online environment where athletes can thrive without fear. 

It’s time for society to unite against online harassment and uphold the integrity of sportsmanship for many generations to come. In the words of Nelson Mandela: “Sports has the power to change the world” It is our job to not let the power of the media change us.

Florida Meets the Fellas

By: Cooper Stanley and Bruce Coulter

Florida is a very popular and tropical state. Located in the Southeast corner of the country it is home to various things; whether it’s a theme park, alligators, or even cows. Yes, I know it’s shocking, Florida has cows. And then there’s Hermon Maine. A small town located between the Northern and Central parts of the state is home to nearly 7,300 people. And on February 28th, fifteen of those people departed and headed for Florida. And of those fifteen 6 are the fellas. For those of you who don’t know the self-proclaimed “fellas” is a group of friends consisting of; Max Hopkins, Maddox Kinney, Cooper Stanley, Brayden Ouellette, Dylan Phair, and Alex Boyd. The moms of the group members decided to plan and take a trip with their sons to Florida and that’s exactly what they did. So without further ado let’s talk about the time Florida came face to face with the fellas.

The House: The group stayed at 2429 Rama Drive in Kissimmee. The home is 6762 square feet with 14.5 bathrooms with 14 bedrooms. And a total of 22 beds spread throughout the bedrooms. Each of the 14 bedrooms had its own bathroom as well as a theme for the room. Some themes included; Avengers, Jurassic Park, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and many more. The home also included a pool and hot tub with a television for the pool as an outdoor amenity. It also included a garage that had been converted into an arcade/game room with games like; Fast and Furious Racers, Basketball, Mini Golf, and multiple Xboxes. “The house was; cool, warm, big, adventurous, and unique.” Said Max Hopkins.

The Parks: On this trip, the fellas encountered many of Florida’s infamous theme parks. These include; Universal Studios, Volcano Bay, Discovery Cove, and Seaworld. Universal Studios and Volcano Bay are both closely related as they are run by the same company. Universal is themed after most of the movies they produced including rides from Harry Potter’s universe as you fly through Hogwarts. As well as rollercoasters like the Velocicoaster from Jurassic Park/World. “Absolutely terrible, it was my least favorite rollercoaster.” Said Maddox Kinney. This contradicts this statement from Max, “The wait was worth it, with all the loops and turns the ride was immaculate.” There is also Discovery Cove, which is home to tons of wild sea creatures including; stingrays, groupers, and multiple types of sharks. It is home to an aviary as well, which is home to many species of birds that you can feed.

The Food: Traveling with this group you have to expect to have food around and that’s exactly it. The first night multiple mothers of the group went out and spent nearly 500 dollars on groceries for just four days. Most of the group was also introduced to Golden Corral which put simply is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Maddox took full advantage of this, filling all sorts of plates after the long flight. Then came Papa John’s, the mothers of the group went out and ​​bought ten large pizzas on night two. Throughout the rest of the week, most of the pizza got cleared out with maybe a mere 6 slices remaining.

When asked, the fellas talked about how this trip was “crazy” and “once in a lifetime.” They would also like to extend their gratitude to all of the mothers who collaborated with one another to put this trip on for them and their friends. They appreciate their moms more than they may know.

The Happy Medium 

By: Addy Waning and Quinn Bird

1- Dark Colors are a No No

Having walls that are black, or just a dark color in general, really close off the room, especially with a darker flooring as well. If you can, opt for a brighter color, like shades of white with some color. With this, you’re able to have freedom with your flooring options, but you’re also able to choose from a large variety of room and wall decor.

2- Plants are Everything

Bring the outside in! Plants are shown to improve productivity, purify the air, and even improve sleep quality. Aside from these benefits, plants are aesthetically pleasing. The type of plant you choose along with the pot can really represent the room’s personality. 

        3- Have a Focal Point

In a room, you want to have something that draws attention. Not necessarily three or four things, but one or two is a perfect number. For example, in the living room, you have a big piece of art on the wall, that’s your focal point. Another example is in the bedroom. You can have lots of colorful throw pillows and maybe a chair to tie it together. 

Obviously, these are just our opinions, so you’re free to do whatever you want. But if you want to have a Pinterest-worthy home, take some of our advice. Honestly, for the sake of this column, just skip the minimalism.

What’s Up with the Cup?
By: Addy Waning

When I think of a water bottle, I think of a few different types. You have your plastic water bottle, horrible for the environment but also convenient. There’s a classic 40 oz water bottle, like a Hydroflask or Yeti that’ll keep your drinks cold (or hot) for several hours. I even think of that grotesque Gatorade bottle that a few athletes bring to sports games, the size that could probably end a drought in California. But within the past year, one type of water bottle has taken the world by storm: the Stanley Cup. I’m not going to hate on it yet. I own one, I think they’re cute. They hold a good amount of water and they keep my water cold; I can’t complain. This is stage one of the Stanley Cup owner, where I intend to remain. Then you have people who own several. Like, an over-consumption, more than you need, over the top level. That is stage 2. Stage 3, however, barely scratches the surface of the prior two. Not only do they have so many that their cupboards are overflowing, but these are the people who are fighting other people for that new Valentine’s Day cup. Literally fighting. Not verbally, but physically. I do not understand the desire, as it is nothing but a red tumbler.

I see these people on the internet calling their cups a ‘collection.’ What happened to normal collecting hobbies? Like Pokemon cards or something. Not to be overdramatic or anything, but these people genuinely frighten me, and they should frighten you, too. One woman cried about dropping her cup on the floor as if it wasn’t going to be washed. But it probably wasn’t going to be washed, since these people have such an emotional dependence to a cup that it will probably be a week before it sees a bit of Dawn dish soap.

Nonetheless, this trend will last for another six months before Gen Z moves on to yet another fruitless trend. Simultaneously, the same people who are trend-hopping will be sure to not only throw out their plethora of Stanley Cups but also be sure to bash anyone else who still owns and uses one. And that, my friends, is just the beginning of Gen Z culture.

Faithful Friends

By: Lily Deschaine

Imagine being taken from your home and being placed in an unknown environment: where it is loud, and you are in a confined space. No matter how well animal shelters take care of their animals, it is nothing compared to the feel of a loving home.

As someone who fosters for our local Bangor Humane Society, I have seen first hand the toll these places take on their animals. Sicknesses spread quickly between pets due to close confinement. No matter how much care you give, there is not enough time or people to fully provide each of them with what they need. 

Not only that, but the environment itself can be extremely stressful and overwhelming due to the noises from the other animals as well as the people that come in and out. If you have ever been in a shelter, you know how crazy it can be. The dogs are always barking, the cats are meowing, people are loudly talking, just imagine how scary that must be for those that have never been in an environment like this before.

Recently, shopping for pets has grown in popularity. Pet owners are finding it more important to get the best breed instead of looking for the pet that fits them best. There are plenty of pets, whether cats or dogs, in the shelters that are incredibly sweet and waiting for their loving home. People often forget the benefits of adopting vs. shopping for their pets. When getting a pet from a shelter, it is cheaper than it would be to go through a breeder. Not only that, but they also come already spayed or neutered for you, as well as vaccinated. More importantly, when you choose to adopt a pet from a shelter, you are saving the life of an animal who has not been well cared for in the past.

Now let’s talk about the adoption process. When you are looking to adopt a pet, it is a lot easier than you would think. First, you need to fill out an adoption application, with your household information so that workers can match you with the right pets for you, whether cat or dog. Next, you go in for a visit to see the options that were picked out based on your information. Once these steps are completed, all that is left is to adopt your new forever companion.

It can be easy to forget about those animals who are stuck in the shelter. The next time you are thinking about adopting a new friend, remember those who are looking for a second chance at a loving home.

Deadline Dilemmas

by: Danny Fowler

Saturday is undoubtedly the best day of the week. It’s the first day off each week and you don’t have to worry about school the next day as you still have Sunday. You can sleep in as late as you want with no repercussions, well, unless you have plans but that’s besides the point. 

Let me take you through my most recent Saturday. I slept in until 10am, cause let’s be real, who wants to wake up early on a Saturday morning after a long week. All I needed to get done today was one column for Sports Journalism. But before I do that let me do my usual morning things: brushing my teeth, taking a shower, and finally eating breakfast. I should probably start my column now, actually nevermind the column will have to wait, it’s time to go to baseball practice. Today the focus was hitting and perfecting my swing. After finishing baseball I went home and now is probably a good time to start my column right? Well first I have to take a shower cause I’m all sweaty from baseball. As soon as I get out of the shower my phone starts to ring. Guess who it is, my good friend Gavin. So I picked up the phone and it went something like this:

Danny:“What do you need Gavin?”

Gavin:  “Dude!! Get on your computer we need to play the new fortnite update, it’s so much fun!”

Danny: “I can’t right now I need to finish writing my column”

Gavin “Broooo, just do it in a little bit I’m only gonna play for a little bit.

Danny “Fine I’ll be on in 10 minutes”

It was now about seven o’clock and despite my better judgment I was going to play video games for a little bit… or so I thought. I glanced down at my phone, it’s 9 o’clock “Gavin I should go write my column now it’s getting late” I said. “Come on dude, we gotta end on a win!” exclaimed Gavin. “Ok but let’s make it quick” I agreed but I would soon come to find out this was a big mistake. Before I knew it I looked at the clock and it read 11 o’clock. Uh oh my column is due in an hour and I haven’t even started. I left without saying a word. I vigorously worked at finishing my column and the minutes kept ticking by and before I knew it 12 rolled around and I turned in my piece just in the nick of time. It may not have been my best work but at least it was done.

Procrastination is defined as “the action of delaying or postponing something”. Many high-schoolers and adults, including myself, struggle with procrastination. Studies show that 85% of high school students admit to struggling with procrastination. That’s 8.5 out of every 10 students that admit to struggle with procrastinating. Most people just say they feel “unmotivated” and therefore put off their work. Others may just “have better things to do” such as playing games with friends or doing things that they enjoy. Regardless, the work does not get done. Procrastination is a big problem in the current world and I feel as this is caused mostly by how accessible quick forms of entertainment are for the average person. I mean when you can just load up Netflix or take a nap or scroll through Tik Tok or do one of the 100 other things that you’d rather be doing why would you do your work right then and there. You see the one trait all procrastinators lack to some extent, myself included, is discipline. Regardless of if you would like to do the assignment or not, in order to get it done you just need to be disciplined. 

Procrastination is something that affects many people and can be very hard to avoid if you aren’t in the right mindset. It is something that will keep affecting a person until they can observe that it’s happening and actively work towards making a change. But before I go do something else let me just say…

Silent Grief

By: Braelynn Wilcox 

Can you relate to someone you’ve never met?

Today I am going to tell you the story of five college athletes all at the peak of their athletic careers who all relate in some way despite their differences. Your job is to figure out how all five athletes’ lives come together. 

One. Sarah Shulze has a bright future ahead of her, taking part in the team that makes a difference as she is furthering her love for government processes, politics, and law at the University of Wisconsin. Now she can make a push in her community for women’s rights and gender equality. As well as participating in her Wisconsin Student-Athlete Council. While large accomplishments, Sara is mostly known for her special talent of running, one which was discovered at a young age and nurtured throughout her life. After being offered scholarships from all around the country she is a 3-season athlete at the D1 level taking part in, XC, indoor, and outdoor track. She is proud to be a Wisconsin Badger and takes such “pride in being a part of such an incredible team of women runners.” 

Two. Katie Meyer is an exceptional captain and star goalie for Stanford University who helped her team to a College Cup national championship in 2019. All while pursuing a degree in international relations with a minor in history. However, her personality would outshine her talents any day. A “light” is a word used by many to describe her. Her best friend Naomi sees her as “the truest friend I’ve ever had.” She’s the most “unapologetic, positive, and caring” girl in the world. One who will never fail to open up and talk about her feelings, but the first person to listen when you need to talk about yours. Through all the unforgettable times, Naomi and Katie’s favorite thing to do is the Starbucks homework runs that turn into procrastination and shutting the place down after hours of talking, goofing around, and laughing until it hurts. 

Three. Jayden Hill is a freshman track star at Northern Michigan University and an activist for becoming a civil rights lawyer. She is talented and very dedicated to her sport with hard-working efforts to improve every day, however, it’s her presence that would stand out most. If you were a teammate of Hill’s you would find her to be very friendly, she tries to be a part of everyone on the team whether that be on or off the floor. One of her teammates emphasized that “There is nothing negative about her”. Her energy never fails to be off point and she is never afraid to share what she is feeling. “Unconditionally herself all the time” leaving a smile on anyone’s face. 

Four. Robert Martin, a three-time all-league goalie in high school with five goals is a graduate student and a fifth-year goalie for the men’s lacrosse team at Binghamton University. Appearing in 27 games in five seasons, while making 9 starting appearances in the 2019 season and was a member of the Bearcats’ leadership program. Through all the accomplishments his Junior year was cut short when he discovered a noncancerous lump just above his knee. “He was very supportive at every practice, and he became like a third coach that year,” head coach Smith said. He returned to the field for his senior year, leading the team’s defense, and earning a spot on the first-team all-league honors. That’s the type of athlete he is, an awesome leader and very vocal. 

Five. The catcher and cleanup hitter for James Madison University Lauren Bernett is a high-achieving member of the softball team and an outstanding ambassador of the university’s athletic program. She has helped the school in its historic run to the Women’s College World Series. In addition to her softball career, Lauren has several interests and talents. She aspires to be a veterinarian, taking advantage of opportunities to work with pets. Bernett is extremely hard working, from sports to jobs to volunteering her time to help others. She has a huge heart for people, animals, and anything related to softball. Her smile is beyond contagious and she lights up the room wherever she is. 

So what do these five college athletes have in common? They all committed suicide during a two-month period in 2022. 

Junior Track & Field and Cross Country star Sarah Shulze, 21, took her own life on April 13, 2022. 

Successful Stanford University goalie Katie Meyer, 22, took her own life on March 1, 2022. 

Freshman track star for Northern Michigan University Jayden Hill, 19, took her own life on Sunday, April 3, 2022. 

Lacrosse goalie at Binghamton University Robert Martin, 23, took his own life on April 1, 2022. 

Lauren Bernett, 20, who played a vital role in the James Madison University softball team, took her own life on April 25, 2022. 

Five brilliant athletes, with five shining futures…all gone.

Five of 35 cases of suicide were identified from a review of 477 student-athlete deaths in a 9-year study period. ( Credit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/  )  

Athletes from the outside looking in, seem as though they have everything going for them. But away from the field suffer from the unbearable mental health issues that build inside. 

The pressures and expectations are vivid but we know how precious life is too. The people who are smiling the most, laughing the loudest, loving people the hardest, and shining the brightest…can always be going through the unimaginable that people can’t see. 

The game can feel like the top of the mountain for many athletes, especially with the best outcome. 

But what if they can’t make it up to the mountaintop?

The Clock is Ticking 

By: Braelynn Wilcox 

Hear me out.

Imagine you are a senior and just a few months away from walking across the stage to shake your principal’s hand and receive the diploma you have spent four long years working hard for. All of the due dates, late-night studies, early mornings, and endless hours of watching the clock slowly tick will be gone. You try to cherish all the fun times left with the friends you’ve gained along the way before departing into the next chapter of your life. But you come to realize that those four years are going to start over again. The difference is you have this suppressed feeling of uncertainty. “Where do I go? What should I do?” Millions of thoughts filling your head, or maybe…just none at all. 

52% of high school students feel pressured to make decisions about their future too soon and nearly 1 and 3 believe that college costs and mental health struggles will impact their college plans. It may not be easy for all to know exactly what they want to do every day for the rest of their lives. However, it can be easy to advocate the idea to students that it is okay to just frankly be unsure. Mrs. Deabay, a teacher at Hermon High School does just that for her fellow students. 

Deabay: Many students are undecided about what they want to do for the rest of their lives. They often struggle with what school or major to go into. I suggest that they go to a local college, save money, and select a major that is easily transferable to another subject/skill. 

At the end of 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that roughly 43.5 million Americans have student loan debt. Which totals over $1.7 trillion. On average owing $37,787. This causes a roadblock for students as it can be hard for them to pursue the education of their want at such costs. 

Deabay also takes the time to tell her story to many students. She originally had gone to college to become a lawyer but ended up concluding that it was not the right fit for her, that’s when she pursued her unknown love for teaching. “So many things can change, from the job market to their interest”. For this reason, it’s also crucial for students to know that they can go into college undecided. 

Graduate of 2023, Lyndsee Reed, now a freshman at Husson University did just that. I was able to speak with her about how she felt nearing graduation, familiarizing her story with those of many others. Here is what she had to say.  

Nearing graduation was a mix of emotions for me. It was a time to celebrate my accomplishments and see just how far I, along with the rest of the class, had come over the years. All these “last” moments were no longer the “firsts” I had gotten excited about as a freshman. It was just sad to see such a big chapter of my life get closed for another stressful one to begin. I felt like I was surrounded by people that knew exactly what they wanted to do and I just didn’t. I had ideas, but nothing I could see sticking to for the rest of my life. Being undeclared comes with its likes and dislikes. I like that I have the freedom to explore my options and not have anything set in stone. I get to relax in the sense that I have more time to figure it out. I feel as though sometimes I’m behind my peers, along with life. However, I am surrounded by a lot of people who have changed their major a few times just this semester alone. For that, I am grateful to have come undeclared to figure things out first. 

Reed wants to ensure that seniors don’t get caught up in the stress of the future because they will forget to enjoy the blessings of the present. There are so many “lasts” that come with being a senior that you will never get back again. So she encourages you to enjoy it while you have them.

Here we are minutes later, and you’re still uneasy about life after graduation, aren’t you? You still don’t know how to answer all the questions you receive from family members and every other adult that brings it up to you, you still are going to sit in confusion when receiving pamphlets from colleges all over the country in the mail and be amazed by the thousands of opportunities that are out in the world. But don’t let it hold you back, don’t let it sweep your senior year up from under your feet. When you step off that stage with a diploma in hand, you will be the same person, the costs of college haven’t changed, and the world of opportunities is only going to grow. So don’t feel that you have to know. One day those dreams of flying to the moon as a kid most likely will remain dreams, but new dreams are always through an open door. 

The Christmas Spirit

By: Quinn Bird

       Imagine this: your favorite holiday is right around the corner. Your fireplace is on, with stockings hung right above it. The Christmas tree is up in all its glory, with its twinkling lights and your homemade ornaments on full display. Cookies are in the oven and the aroma of a Christmas scented candle fills the house. The sound of your favorite Christmas movie playing in the background as a cup of hot cocoa is brewing. You’re excited because it is officially the Christmas season. But then you look outside. The grass is still semi-green and there is not a snow storm expected to come within the month. Some leaves linger on the trees, and some people are walking their dogs. It’s still November, and the date is before Thanksgiving. But you are already in the Christmas spirit. It’s November, and the local ski resort hasn’t even opened and people could still wear shorts if they wanted to. I get it, it’s your favorite holiday, but people who love Halloween don’t set up decorations in the middle of September. People would think they were crazy. 

Now poses the question, is it better to be too late or too early? 

Being early is better than being too late. Sure, being early means that you get sick of Christmas before it actually happens, but you did get to enjoy the holiday in a lengthy time. You get to savior the movies and anticipate the snow with decorations already up. Being too late means all of the savoring and anticipation time is cut short. Everything must feel rushed because you are putting everything up and taking everything down within a two week time frame. That makes the season unenjoyable and you miss out on the things that make Christmas, Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I do still have a grudge against early Christmas people, but I will admit, they are infinitely superior to those who put everything up a week before Christmas. You must hate the holidays if you do that. How would you then have enough time to enjoy everything? How could you watch all the Christmas movies? Are you going to drink 10 hot cocoas everyday until Christmas? You’d have no taste buds by the time Christmas dinner rolls around. By the time Christmas happens, you have only done half of the fun things about the holiday. Therefore in my opinion, missing out on what makes Christmas fun. It’s not about December 25th per se, but more about the traditions and the movies and the amount of activities done within the month of December. Then once Christmas comes and goes, in twenty-four hours there’ll be no trace it even happened, and you barely enjoyed the holiday.  

It’s a tradition in my household to get the tree up and a couple decorations the week after Thanksgiving, because why the rush? I like the holidays as much as the next person, but I enjoy it in a reasonable time frame. I imagine setting up the decorations in the beginning of November would be fun in the beginning. Getting into the Christmas spirit and making sugar cookies and listening to the beloved seasonal music. Since Christmas has been the most anticipated day of the year. But then December would roll around and I’d be itching to tear everything down. All the good Christmas movies would be watched and all the candles burnt, just to leave empty jars. All the fun activities like ice skating, and wreath making would already be done. And I couldn’t even listen to another three minutes of Mariah Carey. Don’t even get me started on the pine tree needles. Whether the tree is fake or not, those will reach every square foot of your house. Now, all the excitement would be drained from Christmas, because I’ve been living in it for more than a month.  That’s why I argue that setting everything your heart desires the week after Thanksgiving, maybe the day right after, is infinitely better than anytime in November. Doing so means Christmas is now just a month away, and it is just enough time to get into the Christmas spirit without getting sick of the smell of sugar cookie candles. 

The Language of Love

by: Addison Waning

Dear men, or boys, depending on who’s reading this,

As a high schooler, you’re bound to find a romantic interest at some point; a girlfriend or a crush of some sort. But you may be wondering why she’s just not into you. I hate to break it to you, but it’s most likely something you’re doing. Now, as a high school girl, I’m here to help you. I’m going to tell you a few things that girls do (and do not) like. And for the select few who won’t listen to this, Ryan (Hallett) is going to be here (in spirit) to back up my claims. Remember the acronym CRAP, and your relationship won’t be. 

1. COMMUNICATE

I know, this one will irk some people. Because “men aren’t supposed to show their feelings.” Whatever. Throw that whole idea out the window. We do not want someone who is secretive. I don’t need to know the last time you went to the bathroom, but we want to know how you feel. In turn, we want you to be willing to communicate with us. Even if our problem is minuscule, it is not minuscule to us at that moment. So listen to us. For the love of all things holy, listen to us.

2. RESOLVE

When you saw that header, I’m sure you’re like, “Addy, what do you mean by resolve?” Well, arguments or minor disagreements are bound to happen. They stink, I know. But you don’t need to drag it on forever. If you encounter one of these moments, bite the bullet, apologize (even if it isn’t your fault, because it is), and forget about it. Being moody is no joke, so sometimes you just have to apologize.

3. ACCEPTANCE

I mean this one in a variety of ways. Accept who she is and accept defeat (in terms of arguments, of course). For instance, I LOVE to complain. Anyone who knows me can back this up. Ryan, rather than combat this, accepted it, and even complains with me on occasion. Rarely, he’ll accept defeat in an argument, but hey, we’re working on that one. 

4. PRIORITIZATION

When I say this one, I don’t mean ditch everything you care about in your life except this girl. But set aside time for her, whether it’s hanging out, a Facetime call, or even just back and forth texting for a while. Prioritize while also establishing your independence. She will appreciate this. 

I know that it seems like a lot all at once, but don’t worry! There’s a little bit more. Be the first to compromise, but do not be the first to offer an ultimatum. Just don’t. Secondly, pay attention to the little things. Notice how she acts when she’s mad or upset because it’s usually pretty obvious and it’ll benefit you in the long run. Lastly, be yourself. These last few paragraphs seemed pushy, but honestly, all a girl wants is for a guy to be himself, not an insincere show-off. So from me, (and many of the girls I speak for) do a few of these things, and hopefully, cuffing season will end in victory.

Spill the Tea with Small Business Owner

By: Allie Cameron

A new small business: Route 2 Nutrition, came to the Danforth’s plaza in Hermon in July of 2021. Route 2 Nutrition specializes in creating an alternative for sugary energy drinks, with zero sugar energizing teas, as well as low calorie protein shakes. 

“I’ve always wanted to open a small business,” owner Mary Cameron says, “and after researching the product and visiting similar businesses I thought it would be a good fit.” 

Mary is a Hermon resident who has two two children who attend Hermon High School, as well as her husband Chris Cameron. With her children and husband being involved in athletics and other activities, sometimes it’s hard to find time to all be together as a family; However, “even though we can work long hours we do have the flexibility to attend all of our children’s activities,” she adds, and that is one of her favorite things about owning her own business. 

With all the advantages of owning a business, there are always some challenges that arise. One of those difficulties are the “very long hours, and increasing product and utilities costs,” Cameron says.

However, another advantage of this business is that the owners get to “attend state meetings to learn from local business owners” to expand their knowledge about the product, and grow the business. Mary got the opportunity to travel to Detroit for a national conference where she got to attend a private concert from Pit Bull. In addition, she also won a trip to Jamaica with other owners as well.

“My goal is for the single location business to be a place where customers feel comfortable and frequent often because of the quality of the product, get healthier from using our products and get a boost to their day from our friendly staff,” Cameron states as she discusses her goals of the business, “My long term goal is to help others open nutrition shops to help their communities.” 

With all the hard work that people may not see from the outside, like planning, lots of paperwork, Mary still continues to help her community of Hermon by “holding fundraisers for local school teachers, emergency vet clinic and Bangor Humane Society.” 

Owning a small business can be scary, but as Mary spilled the tea about her experience of owning a small business, it all seems worthwhile; Especially, when she gets to serve her own community.

Dear Adult Generation: Loosen the Reigns

By: Lyndsee Reed 

Competition. 

It’s what people in this world thrive on.  It’s what motivates us, pushes us, and ultimately makes us into the people we are.  Yet nowadays it seems that that competitive atmosphere among kids all too often seems to be discouraged.  

And while I understand the boundaries that must be set, it’s also important to let children learn on their own.  Overcoming conflicts and learning to work through them with your peers are important situations for kids to experience.

And while it can be argued that those lessons are unnecessary, I beg to differ.  If one of my recess teachers in elementary school decided to do that, the connections with my classmates and lessons I learned would’ve been very different.

I went to a private school until I got to my high school years, so the sizes of our classes as a whole were very different.  My class had about fifteen or sixteen students give or take and we were with each other for every class, everyday.  Naturally a connection with each other was produced.  And that connection only grew stronger with our introduction to the game of capture the flag during our 5th grade year.  

Now I can’t quite recall who brought up the idea to play the game in the first place, but once we started we couldn’t stop.  It was our obsession.  Yet it was that competitive atmosphere that brought us together.  Instead of our normal separate boys and girls tables at lunch, we’d all sit together at one big one.  There, we would connect as a class and eventually pick our teams for our next game of capture the flag.

At first it was mostly simple.  The leader of the boys in the class and I, the leader of the girls, were designated team captains everytime.  We alternated who would pick first each day and which side of the playground we would get in order to make it fair for the teams.  The games went pretty smooth for the most part besides the normal quarrels between eleven year olds.

Yet after playing it for so long, the intensity started to grow.  People attempted to bend the rules, more complaints rolled in, and even some fights between friendships were produced.  But the main problem was the arguments that tended to carry over into the classroom.  

So much so, that for a few days we were banned from playing the game all together.  Understandable of course, but not the solution we needed.  This only started the blame game of who was responsible for ruining the experience for the rest of us.

Our connection was breaking. 

Thankfully, our recess teacher could see that and took the situation into her own hands.  She crafted a set of rules for us to follow and consequences if we didn’t.  She put our names on a list, boys on one side, girls on the other, for an even rotation of team captains so everyone got the opportunity to choose. And lastly she crafted a square frame out of wood that was give or take five feet across for us to place our flags in.  It was a no-enter zone so that those guarding the flag weren’t puppy guarding it. 

The games went more smoothly after that.  There were still a few arguments of course, but that’s to be expected.  I also learned that calling someone stupid, although maybe true in the moment, is ultimately not a nice thing to say.  But other than that, our connection was saved. 

We came into the classroom admiring good plays that were made during the games as well as laughing at mistakes that had occurred.  We continued to play every single day that year and continued to create a class bond that would last for a while. 

My class thrived in a competitive environment and used it to better ourselves.  If our teacher hadn’t taken a chance and let us figure it out for ourselves, we never would’ve learned how to handle not only that situation, but others like it as well.  

Everything we do in life is a competition whether we like to admit it or not.  We can’t let the small bumps in the road or minor arguments along the way stop us from finding the solution.  Quitting is not an option, especially when others do it for you.  

This generation needs to learn the importance of letting kids work things out and compete like they used to.  Let them play.  And let the

Bison Escape From Farm in Aroostook County… Again?

By: Derek Smith

On February 27th, 2023, three bison escaped from a farm in Aroostook County Maine.

Yes you read that right, bison not Moose.

It may sound weird at first, because when you first think of bison many people do not think of Maine. However, every single U.S state has Bison in it, including Hawaii. The bison escaped the farm around 8:30 in the morning, and were spotted by people driving near Route 1A. The local police force sent out a warning to not approach the bison.

The owner of the bison, Craig Smith, was contacted by the police after the bison were detained at around noon. While nobody was hurt, the bison did cause a scare, which in turn caused The Quoggy Jo Ski Center to cancel their after-school ski program for the day.

While this story may seem strange it is actually the second time it has happened. In March of 2022, Almost one year before this bison incident occurred, 11 bison escaped from Smith’s farm. The Bison followed a similar pattern from the earlier story walking from the farm to The Quoggy Jo Ski Center area along route 1A. This caused the ski center to close until the bison were returned back to their farm. Unfortunately, one of the bison was hit and killed by a car. The person in the car was unharmed, but the car itself was completely totaled. All of the other bison made it back safely.

Due to the unnatural circumstances of bison showing up to the ski center for two years in a row, The Quoggy Jo Ski Center has adopted these bison as their mascot, and have even designed a tee-shirt with a bison logo on it.

HERMON ANNUAL GOLF SCRAMBLE

by: Sharon A.

         The very popular annual golf tournament is taking place again on August 26 2023. This fundraiser is very effective and fun. It is where people from different places meet to compete or have fun with one another.

Mr Murray, who loves golf to a fault, was the one that thought about the golf fundraiser. Because of his love for golf, and his desire to raise more money without too much work,  he created this opportunity. 

The fundraiser has been going on for about three years. The most difficult part was the first year, like always in anything that needs to be done. It was new and it was a lot of work, especially for Mr Murray being the one looking for sponsors, calling them, and convincing them to invest in the tournament. 

But ever since the second year when he trained students to know who to call, when to call and how to email properly and politely, it has now become more of a student activity which makes it faster and easier for all to raise money

Hermon Meadow Golf Course has been a key to this success of the tournament. It is closer and it is convenient, and the fundraiser is done on a Saturday, where people will have time to come out and have fun. The fundraiser has been a success raising money: in Year 1, the class of 2024 raised $16,000; last year, the Senior, Junior, and Sophomore classes, who benefit from this yearly, raised almost $30,000.

The fee per player is quite attainable and quite reasonable, and there are a lot of good things in the tournament. There would be Bar-B-Que, food and drinks for everyone, and they entice investors to invest more than a $1000, because when that is achieved there would be good things for the investors. The winners get trophies and their name plastered in gold on the trophy.

The money is used for seniors,juniors and sophomores and it keeps rotating and rotating and the more money we raise, the better the prom, senior banquet, graduation, and other activities will be. 

This year’s tournament will be very interesting and very entertaining because of the new golf tool they are implementing, ‘’THE AIR CANNON” and they are charging people $20 to shoot. This might be the most exciting golf tournament happening in Hermon Meadows. 

Free food and beautiful scenery: that is a place I might spend my whole Saturday.

Bribery is Not the Answer, Kids

By: Lily McCann

I have never broken the law (besides running through a stop sign once) , meaning the rules of the road and just in general. My parents like to call me the golden child because my siblings, you see, are not what you would call golden children … So this one phone call to my mom was a very surprising phone call that I had to make, and let me tell you why. 

In the middle of May, I was at my job and it was already not a good night, so when my mom came in to see me and eat at her favorite place, it made me feel a lot better. But by the time she got there, my shift was over. I thought my night couldn’t get any worse, so presumably, I got in my car and drove home. 

Soon after leaving, I got the pleasure of seeing flashing blue lights in my rearview mirror; mind you only blue, no red, so I knew I wasn’t breaking the law. My first thought was  “He can’t be pulling me over, I just got on the highway. I’m still in the lane to turn onto the highway. I will just pull over so he can go get the person he wants.”

Boy was I wrong. The person he wanted was me. 

The moment this officer came to my window tears and hyperventilating started. I rolled down my window, I then tried to calm myself down as I said, “Hello officer.” He responded with “Do you know why I pulled you over, Miss??” I told him with tears rolling down my face, “No? Did I do something wrong?” He told me no. 

So this is when the story gets funny. He asked me for my license while I was still talking to him. Funny enough, my debit card was right above it. Yes I did what you are thinking, I grabbed my debit card and handed it to him. Then, my night got even worse.

“That is called bribery, and that is worth jail time.” I of course started crying even more. “I am so sorry, I thought I had my license.” He thankfully thought it was funny and was just joking. 

I then called my loving mother, bawling my eyes out on the side of the on-ramp, with the officer staying behind me to make sure I was calm enough to drive home. My mom answered and asked me if I was okay. The first thought in her mind was that I had crashed, but no, I told her that her golden child had just given a policeman her debit card. She laughed, but then asked why I got pulled over.

I told her it was because my left headlight was out. Yes, all of that just because my headlight was out.  

Lesson learned: Always make your stepdad changes your headlight before you go to work, or else you might go to jail for bribery, like I almost did.

Oh, and make sure you give the nice officer your license. Always. 

Doggy wants the Bone

By Jake Cyr, Hermon Press

It was a warm day, we had nothing to do, so my friend Tony  and I thought it was a great idea to go to Levant Elementary School. We played ball,  jammed to music, and relaxed. That was, until Tony – we all call him T-Bone – had the fantastic idea to take a walk on the trail. I can’t really fault him, I didn’t really expect anything to go wrong with a simple walk down an elementary school nature trail. Boy was I wrong. The walk was very unassuming, just walking down the trail with nothing special going on, cracking jokes. 

One bad thing about the elementary school is that there are houses very close to it, and I mean very close. Walking down the trail, you are about 100-200 feet away from someone’s house at any given moment. So when we heard dogs barking on the last stretch of the walk, we didn’t think anything of it. As we reached the end of the trail to walk onto the road, Tony and I were talking, laughing, and just generally in a happy mood. That mood died very quickly. 

The exit to the trail was directly next to a house, and with our luck that house had two dogs, and those dogs were NOT tied down. We reached the end of the trail and went down the road to the right, on the way back to the school. The dog barking got significantly louder, once again, with our absolute genius, we didn’t even give it a second thought. At least I didn’t. That’s when I heard a scream from a 4-year-old girl. Oops, sorry, it was just Tony.

“RUN!!!” 

 I turned around to see T-Bone running the fastest I’ve ever seen. He was moving like a gazelle, like a cheetah, like if Usain Bolt and an african hippo, had a beautiful italian unit of a child. Now when i say dog, I don’t mean the Gary Glidden type of dog, I mean like, a big ole cute dog. 

Yes, I know I said cute, but to be fair, they would be some super cute dogs in a different situation.

Alright, back to the story. After about 30 seconds, I turn back around again, and there’s about 30 feet of distance between me and Tony, and about another 20 between Tony and the dogs, and that distance is shrinking. So I do the obvious thing and start laughing. Based on Anthony’s expression of true and utter fear, I was the only one having a good time. Well, maybe not a GOOD time, but you know, I had to let out a little chuckle, it was quite funny.

After about another 20 seconds, Anthony had created probably about another 20 feet of distance between him and those dogs. That seems like some good news, but that’s about where it ended. T-Bone wasn’t exactly the physical beast he is now, so he was out of breath, and that’s when he came up with the most genius plan to ever exist. T-Bone had spotted a rock, and decided to stand on it, to be safe from the dogs. The issue with this was that the rock was about 4 feet high. You can imagine my look of absolute dumbfounded-ness. So I’m on my hands and knees absolutely losing it, laughing like a madman, watching these two dogs running towards this boulder, trying to get the boulder of a human on top of it. 

These dogs probably got 15 feet from him when Tony had his saving grace. The dogs suddenly stopped. Now to this day I don’t know why they stopped. I assume the owners had shock collars, and only just then realized their dogs were chasing two kids. Or maybe those dogs don’t like their meatballs covered in fear and sweat. Who knows? I don’t.

Now you would think my mind would be racing with thought of how we managed to not get eaten by dogs, or by how they randomly just stopped. Nope. Only thing I was thinking of was how funny Tony looked.

I have never seen pure relief on someone’s face until that moment. T-Bone barely manages to get off the boulder, and lumbers towards me. We then start our walk to the school, I am still uncontrollably laughing, and Anthony is both exhausted, frightened, and embarrassed. One of the only good things about this story is that it absolutely KILLS at parties.

Bonded By Bricks

By: Gavin Coombs

EEEERHHHH!! Hermon Hawks lose 78-18 to the Houlton Shires. This was the worst we ever were for a travel basketball team with a record of about 1 win and 20 losses. People would shoot the ball over the hoop, huck halfcourt shots mid game when we could’ve gotten a layup, and try to fadeaway when we didn’t even have the strength to get it to the hoop regularly. I will say though, this was the most memorable and entertaining travel team i’ve ever been on in my life.Photo Credit: April Coombs

I would say we had a special travel B team that year with many different talents if you want to call it that and this was definitely the most “unique” team I’ve ever been on.  2017 was one of those years where we had no talent, but one thing we did have that was driving us through the season was a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of bricks.

The weird thing about that year is that none of my friends and I cared that we were losing every game, we were just having so much fun during practices and games that we thought it was worth it. The coaches that year were my dad and Ryan Shorey’s dad Craig Shorey. Craig would be screaming at us to play like we want to win while we’re all about 12 years old and had about 2 kids who could actually shoot it towards the hoop. My dad would call the huddle and tell us to pull our heads out of our rear ends and have some fun and that’s exactly what we did. We played for fun… and fun only. 

People may have doubted our team, but we provided things other teams didn’t have… Some very stupid shots.

Nov. 14th, 2017:

SLAP! Jaykob Dow wins the jump ball, (the 7th grade, 6’2 monster that looked like big red from angry birds) the biggest player we had. Gavin Coombs recovers the ball off the jump (That was me, about 5”5 with the best two hand jump shot on the court) Dribble… Dribble…. Aghhh!! Coombs shoots two steps from halfcourt, the ball is flying through the air….. SWOOSH, Nothin but net. About 5 seconds into the game Coombs hit the first shot about 6 feet behind the 3 point line and absolutely drained it. TWEEET! I looked at the scoreboard and the score was still 0-0 and that’s when I had realized I just drained the farthest shot that year on the wrong hoop.

Feb. 12th, 2017:

It was 22-20 Hampden was winning halfway through the third quarter, the closest game of the season and the first time we weren’t down by thirty. Derek Smith who shot the ball over the backboard every time was on the foul line. His shot percentage was 0% and he was on the line to tie the game up. Dribble… Dribble… Dribble… Cross… Cross… Between the legs… Derek was doing his pre foul shot ritual of random moves he was not able to do and picked up the ball getting ready to launch it into outer space. The crowd was quiet waiting for the shot, wondering if this would be Derek’s first point ever made in basketball history. Aghh! Derek launched the ball with all his power like it was a medicine ball! Swoosh… The ball was launched out of Derek’s hands soaring straight up in the air.  BOOM… the ball slammed on the ground almost as hard as a cement block. Derek had just shot the foul shot behind him and everyone was absolutely amazed. He probably broke a Guinness world record for first foul shot getting shot behind yourself in a game. We will never know how one is capable of shooting a foul shot behind them, but Derek Smith had just figured it out.

Dec. 4th, 2017:

The play of the year was probably made by Christian Newcomb at our only game at Hermon High and Christian had a wide open breakaway with no one touching him. NOT A SOUL was near him. He sprinted down the court and we all thought he was going to get an easy layup, But nope he said screw that and pulled up with the farthest jumper all year 4 steps from the halfcourt line. He threw the basketball like he was playing baseball and that thing hit the backboard so hard it came right back to our side of the court and I thought it almost shattered the backboard.

Feb. 12th, 2017:

Final game of the season, Hampden was winning 22-20  near the end of the 4th quarter. This was our last chance to take home a win and our game plan was to bank it on a Zach Pyle 3-pointer. Zach Pyle was the shortest kid on our team and might have been 4”11 but he would shoot the farthest shots on the team all year and 30% of the time they would go in. Yes it might’ve been a low chance, but it was the only chance we had. 10 seconds left… Jaykob Dow passes the ball in from the sideline to Shorey in Hampdens half.  7 seconds… Shorey passes to Coombs across the court. Coombs grabs the ball and looks for the shot… it wasn’t there. Swoosh! Coombs, over the head, throws the ball across the court to Zach Pyle who was 4 steps behind the three point line with 3 seconds left. 3… 2… 1… Zach Launched the ball with every ounce of power he had in his 4”11 body and let it go. BANK!!! The ball smashed off the backboard, Boing… Boing… Boing… SWOOSH! The ball bounced 3 times and made its way into the basket in some miraculous way and our team could not believe it! We all ran at Zach almost as surprised as him that he made the shot and that we actually won a basketball game.

Some people probably think something like this is stupid because teams “need a good record” or “should want to win no matter what” things like that, but honestly we were just having a good time. Don’t get me wrong we all wanted to win, but I think the morale of the story is that although we had a horrible season and didn’t prove a damn thing all season besides “shooting a foul shot behind you was possible” I made memories that I will remember forever with that squad. We were all just friends having a good time and a bunch of buddies who became Bonded By Bricks.

Refs, Keep it in Your Pants (the flag that is)

By Josh Sullivan 10/26/22

The Raiders are up 17-7 in the second half. Derek Carr snaps the ball at 3rd and 8. He looks for an option but takes a little too long in the pocket. Chris Jones gets by his man and gets a game-changing sack. To the uneducated, it looked like a clean sack, but then the flags started to fly. 

The current rule for roughing the passer states that “Roughing will be called if, in the Referee’s judgment, a pass rusher clearly should have known that the ball had already left the passer’s hand before contact was made”. However, if you look at the play, Derek Carr still had the ball in his hands. This is where the controversy lies. If Derek Carr still had the ball, why was roughing the passer called? 

The answer and the ref’s reasoning lies in another clause of the rule. The rule states that “when tackling a passer who is in a defenseless posture (e.g., during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight.” 

With this in mind, you could see why the call was made. Chris Jones came from behind Derek Carr and landed with most of his body weight on Carr. According to the NFL rules, the officials made the right call, but now the questioning from fans falls to the NFL. Are the roughing the passer rules too strict? 

If a 6’6, 300-pound man just broke past his man and the quarterback is about to throw the ball, is he supposed to walk up to the quarterback, tap him on the shoulder, and politely lower him to the ground? No. Chris Jones certainly doesn’t think so. In an interview with KSHB41, he asked ‘How should I tackle? How should I not roll on him?’ I’m trying my best. I’m 325 pounds, O.K. What do you want me to do?”

This is not an isolated incident. The same week Tom Brady was sacked by the Falcons and the refs did not keep it in their pants. The call not only cost the Falcons the game, but fueled the fire of the controversial rule.

The question becomes this: does protecting the quarterback justify these game-changing calls? 

No.

Should the roughing the passer rule be edited?

Yes.

Now the responsibility falls to us, the armchair quarterbacks, or in this case armchair refs. We have to make our opinions heard to protect the game we love, so here’s my proposal: Keep the first part of the rule, where it says pass rushers need to know where the ball is, and can’t hit the passer after the first step after the throw. That part is essential in order to protect quarterbacks. What we need to change is the body weight thing and the “unnecessarily or violently throw him down” part. A tackle is a tackle. Wide receivers don’t get that treatment. Almost every running play would result in a defensive penalty if that rule applied to running backs. Quarterbacks should accept the risk that comes with football, like every other position on the field.

 I’m not saying that quarterbacks should be consistently beaten to a pulp. A compromise could be made. The NFL could start more strictly enforcing the unnecessary roughness rule. This will protect not only the quarterback, but also all the other players.

I will end this rant with a message to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell:

Dearest Roger, by the time you inevitably read this column you will be forced to do something. Due to a track record of shaky decision-making, I will provide a short and simple action plan.

1. Repeal the part of the roughing the passer rule that prohibits landing on the passer with the majority of their body weight.
2. Repeal the part of the roughing the passer rule that prohibits unnecessarily or violently throwing him down.
3. Start strictly enforcing the unnecessary roughness rule, and if that doesn’t take, beef up that rule.
4. Tell the quarterbacks to suck it up.

This plan might save your game and take the league out of some hot water. Chris Jones and all other 300-pound pass rushers will appreciate it. No need to thank me, however lifetime tickets to the Super Bowl would be appreciated.

Yours truly,

Josh