The Sailors' Log, November 15, 2013

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Be sure to follow The Sailors’ Log on Twitter. (@thesailorslog)

new clubs

Shores now has its first-ever Anime Club. Everyone is welcome to come learn about Japansese art and culture. An Urban Ballroom Dance Class is in the works. It would take place after school and is no cost. Stop by the Athletic Office for information.

report cards

Parents have been notified via email that hard copy report cards will no longer be in use.

can drive

The annual canned food drive ends today. Bring any items to your third hour class.

Paint-a-Gift The annual holiday ceramics paint-agift takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Room 207. Items need to be pre-ordered, and payment is due on the event day.

yearbook news Compass Points’ Facebook page uploads pictures frequently. Be sure to like the MSHS Yearbook page and check it out.

Friday, November 15, 2013 Volume 52 • Edition 3

LOG

Mona Shores High School • 1121 Seminole Road • Norton Shores, Michigan 49441

Student hunters are happy, happy, happy

By Abby Bryson Profiles Editor

Junior Ryan Quigg was 13 when his grandpa introduced him to hunting. “The first time I went (hunting), we were sitting there talking, and I heard this thing in the woods,” Quigg said. “So, I got the gun ready. This buck jumped out in the middle of an opening, and (my grandpa) said, ‘Shoot it!’ I took the safety off, and it ran away. He hasn’t gone hunting with me since.” Quigg and other hunters will be in the woods today, the opening day of deer hunting rifle season. “I will not be here,” said Quigg, who goes to Hesperia almost every weekend of the season. “I will be hunting. I will be in my tree stand.” Quigg is not the only one who will not be in the classroom today. Junior Ethan Gordon started hunting years ago and has loved to be in the woods ever since. He said he has killed 10 deer, six of which were bucks. “My dad started me hunting when I was young,” Gordon said. “He always did it, and I always look up to him, so I wanted to do it too. It’s a time to bond that you don’t get other places.” Gordon’s first deer was a doe that he got when he was 8 years old, but since he was below the legal age to hunt, his dad took him to a

Rifle hunting season begins today, and junior Ethan Gordon, pictured right, is one of many students who are looking forward to this season.

deer DynastY game ranch where it was allowed. “(The ranch) wanted to take out some doe since the population was getting too high,” Gordon said. “So (my dad, the guide, and I) get out

2013-14 orders can be made by going to jostensyearbooks.com. Cost of the yearbook is $60 until Jan. 10, when the price increases to $65. Senior pictures are due to adviser Warren Kent III by Thursday, Feb. 13. All photos must be in color and need to be submitted via email at kentw@ monashores.net. Senior ads are due to adviser Warren Kent III by Friday, Dec. 20. To receive a contract, please email kentw@ monashores.net.

next paper

Next month’s edition will be delivered Dec. 20.

index p. 2-3 – editorial p. 4 – entertainment p. 5 – profile p. 6-7 – center section p. 8-9 – feature p. 10 – news p. 11-12 – sports

there, and I shot the biggest deer in the field. The guide took off my hat and kissed me on the head – this is a guy I did not know. I guess you get excited for other people, too.”

One of the more exciting hunting trips, said Gordon, was the first night out of this year’s youth hunt. He was with his dad, and they both had their eyes on their own group of deer. “I looked over (to the deer my dad was looking at), and they were the two biggest deer I have ever seen,” Gordon said. “I got my gun and shot quickly because they were leaving. Coyotes came out, and as we checked for blood, we heard them howling and barking all over. It was creepy because we were in the middle of the woods, but it was still really cool.” Hunting is not only cool to males. In this male-dominated activity, sophomore Alicia Kurth represents females. Kurth said she enjoys the peace that the woods provides and spending time with her dad. “One time (my dad and I) got one, but it was a bad shot so we had to track it for a long way,” said Kurth, whose father is social studies teacher Brad Kurth. “We saw the entire liver or intestine on the ground. The deer was not far off.” Although there are good and bad hunting days, social studies teacher Steve Morell says hunting is the epitome of fun. “A bad day hunting is better than a good day of anything else,” Morell said.

Senior wins Food Prize 2013 By Sam Morse Staff Writer

Justin Dietz and John Winskas, who are in charge of the heating and cooling, work on one of the school’s two boilers. (Sam Morse)

Temperature changes in school explained By Katie Beemer Staff Writer

From day to day, it is common to hear students and teachers complaining about the temperature of the school. Going from classroom to classroom, it is not unusual to need a coat in science teacher Chad Martin’s room during second hour, and then go to math teacher Joan Wiersma’s room during third hour and start sweating without a coat. The temperatures vary, and students wonder why. “You have to wear a sweatshirt on the ends of the building, but Please see BOILERS, page 10

a closer look at the detailed uniqueness of the individual components,” Wilson said. Bigger isn’t always better. All of these inspirations accumulated Senior Maddie Wilson’s first-place into Wilson’s winning first place. entry into Food Prize 2013 proved that. Second place went to senior Rachel Her piece exemplified craftsmanship Resterhouse for her photography entry, because of its minuscule details. “Pasta Nation.” Her entry featured nu“I decided to use sculpey clay and merous photos with her subjects modelcreate in miniature… to show that noth- ing with 22 pounds of spaghetti. ing is lost in a smaller serving,” said “I didn’t really have an inspiration. Wilson, who won one Sophomore Abby Keesfree cafeteria food item sen and I just talked about per day. spaghetti and I was like, Her inspiration was ‘spaghetti,’ and I winged For a complete rundown closely related to the fact it,” Resterhouse said. of all 19 entries, go to that her piece was so deResterhouse has althesailorslog.com and tailed. She said she conways been involved with choose Special Editions. templated issues such as photography. world hunger, childhood obesity, and the “I chose to do photography because supersize epidemic. that’s the one thing I know (how) to do “(These) all developed into the cul- that’s artistic,” she said. minating thought of American food exIn third place came senior Lexi Hirvo cess,” Wilson said. and junior Katie Huizenga for their voThat’s what caught the judges’ at- cal entry. “Coffee In a Cardboard Cup” tention. The sophisticated topic stepped was the song they sang together. outside of the box when approaching the “Lexi picked out the song, and I theme of “the eating experience.” wanted a free snack,” Huizinga said. Wilson’s “Portion Control” also had “So, we submitted our song. It took symbolism with the structural design. about an hour to learn, and then, we “It is important to remember that so recorded it.” often in life, a closer look adds new perIn all, 19 entries took the advantage to spective. The ‘wow’ comes from taking show their talents for Food Prize 2013.


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The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

e d i t o r i a l

the Friday, November 15, 2013 Volume 52 • Edition 3

Let’s celebrate November LOG Don’t rush for Christmas to arrive

Mona Shores High School • 1121 Seminole Road • Norton Shores, Michigan 49441

EditorS-in-Chief

Kayleigh Fongers Mandy Versalle

Editorial EditorS

Andrew Kromminga Annabella Olivares

Entertainment Editor Miranda Shafer

Profiles Editor Abby Bryson

FeatureS EditorS Abby Keessen Blake Robinson

Sports Editors

Holly Fredericksen Cory Sander

Photo Editor

Rachel Resterhouse On-Line Editor Abby Keessen Staff Katie Beemer Isaac Cathey Ryan Fritz Michael Gale-Butto Monika Litynski Sam Morse Alex Rakowski Adviser Warren Kent III The Sailors’ Log is a public forum for student expression distributed freely to students and faculty of Mona Shores High School.

More information can be found at the following on-line sites: • www.thesailorslog.com (contains current stories, photos, etc.) • www.monashoressports.com (contains current Sailor sports information) • Facebook Page: Photos from all events throughout the school year can be found at the “MSHS Yearbook” page. Like the page to stay updated. • Twitter: @thesailorslog (provides easiest way to get information to readers) • Email: kentw@monashores. net (provides readers with a way to communicate with the staff) The Staff editorial is the opinion message selected by the 11-person editorial board of The Sailors’ Log. The letters to the editor section is the opinion of our readers. All letters to the editor must be signed. The Sailors’ Log is printed by Hi-Lites Graphics, Inc., 1212 Locust Street, Fremont, Michigan 49412.

They say that December is one of the most wonderful months of the year. And who can blame them? Christmas and New Year’s Eve are some of the most celebrated holidays, and people begin preparing weeks – and even months – in advance for these special days. But many people are often so caught up in Christmas cards, Christmas carols, and Christmas cookies that they don’t take time to step back and appreciate the month that takes place before all of the Christmas festivities: November. For some people, November is the anticipated month when rifle-season begins. Hunters young and old all around the nation look forward to searching for that perfect buck. November is also the month when Veterans’ Day is regarded. Designated as day for honoring those who are still living upon serving in war, Veterans’ Day is honored by many people. After all, almost everyone knows (or is related to) someone who has fought for our nation. November is also National Adoption Month (see page 8 for information about this special day). November is also the jump start of

Staff

The Staff Editorial is the opinion of the 11 editors.

Editorial

the holiday season with Thanksgiving taking place. It’s a time for spending quality time with family, indulging in delicious food, and reflecting on all the things in life that there are to be thankful for. Kids always come home from school with charming turkey crafts created by their hand prints. The adored Peanuts Thanksgiving special airs on TV. And countless turkeys are stuffed and pumpkin pies baked across the country. It’s a time that brings people together for fun, fellowship, and – of course – good food. And, if you’re a die-hard holiday shopping fanatic, you’re probably looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving infamously known as Black Friday. From cute pairs of mittens to massive flat-screen TVs and everything in between, there’s no item that Americans won’t brave the snowy elements for.

So, the next time you find yourself humming those Christmas tunes the day after Halloween – hey, you know who you are – or tossing up the Christmas decorations as soon as the first speck of snow touches the earth, take a moment to pause and just enjoy the month of November. There are a multitude of things to be thankful for, whether it is love, friendship, faith, or education. And the key thing about being thankful is putting things in perspective. The next time you find yourself getting mad over something embarrassing that one of your friends said, be thankful you are able to have friendships with people. The next time you find yourself snapping at a teacher that makes you frustrated, be thankful this person comes to school every day to help you succeed. And the next time you have a fight with one of your parents, be thankful you have a parental figure in your life. With so many wonderful things taking place in the month of November, it’s important to take these significant days into consideration. What are you looking forward to celebrating?

Columnist will try avoid taking spill this winter

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hile winter is quickly approaching, I can’t help that overwhelming feeling of anxiety from affecting my everyday life. Last winter, I was coming out the doors at lunch, and there was a big sheet of ice. Since I had nowhere else to turn, I decided to power on through. While my confidence a column was high, my by feet had other Annabella plans. Olivares In the longest second of my life, I felt myself starting to slide forward. In an effort to try to stop myself from falling, I shifted all my weight backwards; that did not work. My feet came up in front of me, and I fell on my rear. I started crying instantly because I knew that somewhere in the fall I had hurt my arm. I could not move it nor feel it. I was just lying there bawling my eyes out because I was in so much pain, but laughing because it was funny how much

Artwork by: Lea Paparella

Anna’s

Angle

pain I was in. I ended up breaking two bones in my arm and had a gnarly bruise on my butt. I had to stay home for two weeks because I was taking so much medication that I did not know which way was up and which way was down. While I am not looking to blame anyone, I don’t want this to happen to anyone this winter.

The school employs a janitorial service from outside the school, and this organization is responsible for clearing the sidewalks. I do not have any problem with an outside source being hired, but when their job is to salt the sidewalks and make it safe for us to walk and they don’t, then I have a big problem with that.

Assistant principal Walt Gawkowski said, “On those occasions when we get snow overnight, there are two individuals responsible for snow removal and salting. They begin every morning at 4 a.m. and remove all of the snow from the sidewalks and fire exits. They then salt each area immediately after the snow is removed. We have a private snow plow company which is contracted to remove snow from the parking lots and fire lanes.” I know I am not the only one who has fallen, and even though I hate to say it, more students will fall this year. I am not mad at the school; I am just tired of falling down at every chance that comes my way. I have a couple ideas and I think they could help. This year, the contract is up, and it is time to do some thinking. Maybe we could make the students who are suspended come to school early, in the correct footwear, and salt and shovel the sidewalks. I bet you that would give them some time to think. Whatever happens, just make sure you’re careful on those snowy days. Please if you see me lying on the snow, could you lend me a hand? #captainclumsy

Newspaper encourages readers to submit letters to the editor The Sailor’s Log staff encourages our readers to send letters. However, not all letters can be published, and the editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for clarity.

Guest commentaries and stories may be included if the staff feels they enhance coverage of a unique topic. No material will be printed which is libelous, advocates illegal activity, or

which in poor taste. Attacking our ideas is fine; personally attacking our writers is not. Remember, everyone has the right to his or her own opinion, including you.

Please sign and submit your letters to room 501, Mona Shores High School, 1121 Seminole Road, Muskegon, MI 49441 or via thesailorslog@ gmail.com.


Tea’d Off

Political idiocy dumbing down America

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Artwork by Carly Switzer approach, I mean. Hey girl, you may have been raped, but at least you got pregnant! Rape victims just need to understand that it’s all part of God’s divine plan. Or at least, that’s what Richard Murdock, an Indiana GOP Senate candidate postulates: “I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” Pat Robertson, who typically supports conservative Christian ideals, had this to say about women fighting for equal social, political and economic rights: “The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, antifamily political movement

that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” Someone please slap this sexist bigot. Next thing you know, someone is going to start theorizing that Girl Scouts are a threat to national security. Oh wait… “Please, I beg of you, stop buying Girl Scout cookies,” pleaded Kevin Swanson, a far right pastor and religious activist over the radio. “The individualism of feminism has been devastating to this country. I’d say you ought to say no to the Girl Scout cookies too. I don’t want to support lesbianism, I don’t want to support Planned Parenthood and I don’t want to support abortion, and if that be the case, I’m not buying Girl Scout cookies.”

Swanson warns that all these “wicked” Girl Scouts are “lesbians” and “communists” who worship false idols through cookies. Cookie worship! I knew it! To me, the far right Tea Party is extreme in two ways: their political agenda and their idiocy. Michelle Bachman, a Tea Party member who ran for the Republican nomination in the 2012 election, epitomizes the average Tea Partier. In October, Bachman accused Obama of willingly and intentionally funding and supply arms to terrorist cells in the Middle East, which of course, is not happening. She added, “What this says to me, I’m a believer in Jesus Christ, as I look at the End Times scripture, this says to me that the leaf is on the fig tree and we are to understand the signs of the times, which is your ministry, we are to understand where we are in God’s end times history.” Somebody break out a straight jacket! My common sense is tingling. If you can get over the fact that Bachman can’t form a logical or concise sentence, trying getting over this: “In my opinion, I think we should be hitting the pause button on immigration and on refugee resettlement,” Bachmann said when asked about the presence of Mosques in American cities. “We have an issue now when you have Americans that are being recruited in America and going over and being involved in terrorism, I think we need to hit the pause button.” I think we should be hitting the pause button on Michelle Bachman, who is the type of person who finds herself trapped on an escalator when the power goes out. She’s a blatant idiot who centers her political theories on racist, ethnic, and cultural bigotry and Please see TEA, page 10

The Sailors’ Log staff has been eavesdropping on your conversations in the halls and the classrooms. So, we will be responding to those questions and statements. In other words, we have been a fly on the wall... “When are you going to stop talking to rachets?” – Junior boy The Sailors’ Log: She will stop talking to ratchets when she stops taking to you. “I do not feel awkward anymore. I just let it happen.” – Junior girl TSL: Does awkward know you’re not feeling him anymore? “We will just get her pants for her birthday.” – Sophomore boy TSL: How about a pair of parachute pants? I just bought three pairs myself. “Do you want me to set on fire?” – Senior boy “Probably” – Senior girl TSL: Burn baby burn! “Would you like one Fruit Loop?” Junior boy TSL: Aren’t you generous, one Fruit Loop?

My cravings cannot be filled in limited lunch time

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hirty-one minutes is not enough time to leave campus, go out to lunch, and make it back in time for class. I’ve had this prediction for a couple of years now, and it is that most students would not mind having ten more minutes for lunch to be able to go out and be back on time if school ended at 3 instead of 2:50. Monika In a survey I conducted Litynski of 106 random students, my Staff Writer prediction was fulfilled. In the survey, 72 students wanted to have a longer lunch while only 34 didn’t. I have tried going out to lunch a couple of times during a normal school day, and I usually get my food and come back for the fear of being late to my next class. I could not imagine staying at the place to sit down and eat. I would have to rush eating, or I would be late to my next class. The traffic on Henry Street does not

Current Schedule

Modified Schedule

6:30 a.m.-7:34 a.m. 0 hour 7:40 a.m.-8:54 a.m. 1st hour 9:00 a.m.-10:19 a.m. 2nd hour 10:19 a.m.-10:50 a.m. 1st LUNCH 10:56 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 3rd hour (1st lunch students) 10:25 a.m.-11:39 a.m. 3rd hour (2nd lunch students) 11:39 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 2nd LUNCH 12:16 p.m.-1:30 p.m. 4th hour 1:36 p.m.-2:50 p.m. 5th hour

6:30 a.m.-7:34 a.m. 0 hour 7:40 a.m.-8:54a.m. 1st hour 9:00 a.m.-10:19 a.m. 2nd hour 10:19 a.m.-11:00 a.m. 1st LUNCH 11:06 a.m.-12:20 p.m. 3rd hour (1st lunch students) 10:25 a.m.-11:39 a.m. 3rd hour (2nd lunch students) 11:39 a.m.-12:20 p.m. 2nd LUNCH 12:26 p.m.-1:40 p.m. 4th hour 1:46 p.m.-3:00 p.m. 5th hour

make it any better; it just makes it much worse, not to mention the ridiculous ways that most people drive. My proposition for a solution for a longer lunch period would be to extend the school day by ten minutes. You may be asking, wouldn’t third hour be shorter than the other hours? My answer is no because with the extended lunch and school day, all the administration would have to do is change the times of when we start and end classes by a mere ten minutes.

Above is how the schedule for a full day would look if these changes would come into effect, with similar changes needing to be made to the late start schedule. Most likely the only reasons why I don’t go out to lunch everyday are the reasons mentioned above. That is also my reason why on all of the days that we have an extended lunch period I actually go out to lunch because we have a longer time to go somewhere and actually relax while eating.

Survey Question

Would you like to have a lunch period that is 10 minutes longer? • 72 said yes, but the school day would have to get out 10 minutes later, but no class period would be longer. • 34 said no, the amount of time for lunch we have now is perfectly fine. I usually only go out to lunch on half days and on the state mandated testing days. This is because everyone has 45 minutes to eat lunch, even though everyone has the same lunch. In the survey, a whopping 70 percent of the students surveyed agreed that having a longer lunch period would be beneficial. Overall, most of the student body would enjoy having a longer lunch period and the changes for the administration would not be extremely difficult.

e d i t o r i a l

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

love tea. Specifically, I love Chamomile tea. But man do I hate the Tea Party. When asked about the theory of evolution, Christine O’Donnell, a powerful and “popular” Tea Party candidate said, “You know what, evolution is a myth…. Why aren’t monkeys still evolving into humans?” First, humans didn’t evolve from monkeys; that’s merely a myth Michael perpetuated by Gale-Butto the undereducated Staff Writer religious right. Something tells me that O’Donnell didn’t pay attention in her high school biology class. “There is nothing scientific about evolution,” said Ted Cruz a Republican senator from Texas. “Evolution is one of the strongest tools of Marxism because if they can convince you that you came from a monkey, it’s much easier to convince you that God does not exist.” Again, man didn’t evolve from monkeys. Secondly, Cruz is right. There’s nothing scientific about a scientific theory accepted by the far super majority of respected scientists. On a separate note, these far right political crusaders seem to have a blatantly outspoken vendetta against women: especially intelligent and individualistic women. Or Girl Scouts. Ever the optimist, Rick Santorum, a Republican, told rape victims to suck it up: “I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created – in the sense of rape – but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you… rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” Sure, it might be the right approach. The far right

on the wall...

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4 New shoe e store has ‘sole’

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

n t e r t a i n m e n t

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ike shoes? How about boots? DSW – Designer Shoe Warehouse – has them all. From riding boots for the girls to Sanuks for the guys, one won’t leave here emptyhanded. DSW Store Review opened by Oct. 10 Miranda and is Shafer, located entertainment near the editor mall between Five Below and Old Navy at 5313 Harvey St. Walking into the store, one will a see an endless supply of shoes. Boys and men are on the left side, and girls and women are on the right side when looking in. This store, however, does not sell kids’ shoes. It only sells adult shoes. Shoes are not the only thing Designer Shoe Warehouse provides. They also carry handbags and scarves as well as tights and leggings. The cost range is $15 to $200 on shoes. The prices may seem like a lot, but for what type of shoes one buys, it is a great deal, and one can even receive coupons to get shoes even cheaper. For the most part, the shoes are reasonably priced considering the brands they have. DSW has more than 200 brands one can view. If the shoes aren’t at the store, they can order them online. The shoe store is even going green with the bags they give away. Printed on the front is “I Love Shoes” and one can re-use these bags as well. When I entered the store, the ambiance was great, and the workers were helpful. One even signed me up for a membership to get coupons every time I buy shoes. DSW has been a big hit in Muskegon. Many girls have gone there to get shoes for dances and for everyday wear. Since most everyone in the world has shoes, a shoe store is a great investment. It is a great shoe store for boys and girls and has been booming in sales. So far, I have purchased two pair of boots there, and I love them. From heels to boots and sandals to shoes, Designer Shoe Warehouse has them all.

Meet the Owner

2001 Andy Ellis graduates from Shores

2003 Completes culinary degree at Johnson and Wales University (Denver)

2007 Works at The Herb Farm in Seattle as chef de partie (or station chef)

2004 Moves to Hawaii to train with chef Roy Yamaguchi

2013 Hired as chef at Verdoni’s and line cook at The Lake House before opening The Corner Cafe

2008 Moves back to Denver to be executive sous chef at Red Rocks Country Club

2006 Becomes chef at Spice, a South Carolina restaurant

The Cafe on the Cor 2001 alumnus n opens quality e restaurant r I

f breakfast is the most important meal of the day, The Corner Café is the place to go. Good food and even better prices makes a great morning. The Corner Café, formally known as the Olive Tree Café, changed its name four weeks ago as it was bought by a new owner, Andrew Ellis who is a 2001 Shores graduate. This restaurant, located at 1401 W. Sherman, serves breakfast and brunch, and dinner on the weekends and Restaurant provides great service and an Review amazing atmosphere. by “I am a very laid back Alex person and like to have fun,” Rakowski, Ellis said. “I want people to staff writer come in enjoy everything about my restaurant and make them feel like it’s their home.” Ellis said he changes the menu once a week so everything is fresh and new. The menu varies with many choices of breakfast and lunch meals. Prices range anywhere from $4 to $10. “My favorite thing on the menu is breakfast tacos or biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and gravy are one my favorite things, and you cannot find good ones anywhere, so I took matters into my own hands,” Ellis said. “The gravy is simple and straight forward rather than people using pre-made product or even the use of a dry mix. I use the fat from the sausage to make a roux to thicken the cream and milk.” When the newspaper staff adventured there on Oct. 21, I ordered the Corner breakfast meal – two eggs, hash browns, toast, and the choice of sausage or bacon. My meal came out fast, with great service. Everyone at the restaurant was friendly, which is an important thing for a restaurant to have since they are waiting on customers. The first bite into my eggs gave a sensational taste, and the flavor was amazing. They were fresh and fluffy. My hash browns were the best hash I have ever eaten; they were crispy but not to crispy.

Food awaits to be served at The Corner Cafe, which is owned and operated by Andy Ellis, a 2001 Shores graduate. (Rachel Resterhouse) They also give patrons the option to get onions in them. They have several different types of toast; I got wheat. The sausage wasn’t greasy at all; it was cooked perfectly. It was definitely worth my money, as I only paid $4 for the whole meal. I really like the way The Corner Café brings different elements to the table. Not only in their food, but in their prices, atmosphere and hospitality. This breakfast and brunch restaurant is definitely worth one’s time and money and will keep one coming back for more.

What Others Say Nashville Breakfast Biscuits and Gravy $5 “(It was) really good and really different, I liked how different the gravy tasted.” Annabella Olivares, editorial editor

Yum Breakfast Two blueberry pancakes, choice of bacon/sausage $7 “Pretty good price for what I ordered.” Monika Litynski, staff writer

French Toast Two slices of French toast, choice of bacon or sausage $7 “It was really good; I put a lot of stuff on it, better with jelly and syrup.” Abby Keessen, feature editor

Big Easy Breakfast Corned beef hash, two eggs, toast $8 “I think for what you get, it’s very reasonable.” Warren Kent, adviser

Traditional Breakfast Two pancakes and choice of sausage/bacon $6 “It was really yummy. The service was good, and the meal came out fast.” Kayleigh Fongers, co-editor-in-chief

Power Meal House made granola, Greek yogurt, fruit $4 “I think it was really different.” Sam Morse, staff writer


Angel Tree in the

Senior receives once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the top of the tree By Kayleigh Fongers Co-Editor-in-Chief

When Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. Where Frauenthal Theatre in downtown Muskegon Cost Tickets are $13 Obstructed view tickets are $8 and can be purchased at The Frauenthal Box Office StarTickets.com 1-800-585-3737 Fun Facts The Tree received a 2013 Michigan’s Education in Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards On Dec. 8, the Tree will be featured on the Travel Channel in “Jingle Brawls,” where it will compete against Maine’s Lobster Trap Tree might fit the role. “Usually, there are several students who are qualified for the role. I always try to go with my gut feeling,” Lawton said. “The angel is always someone who exemplifies the passion for singing and the hard work it takes to be the best you could be. Typically, it is someone who has faced challenges but never gives up.” Beemer hadn’t had the opportunity to be in Singers, the top choir, and she was constantly auditioning for anything she possibly could. Even though she faced a few disappointments, Lawton said she exemplifies what he wants all his singers to be: dedicated. “She always had a desire to go as far as she could, and she never got a poor attitude despite facing disappointment or not having everything work out,” Lawton

Senior Katie Beemer was chosen as this year’s Singing Christmas Tree Angel. (Rachel Resterhouse)

Senior qualifies as one in 15,000 for National Merit Scholarship By Abby Bryson Profiles Editor

Senior Jamie Huizinga, a National Merit SemiFinalist, balances school, athletics, and extra-curriculars. (Rachel Resterhouse)

For senior Jamie Huizinga, last year’s PSAT score was more than just a number. She earned a score in the top one percent and is now a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. “I got a pass to go down to (counselor Danielle Smith-Walker’s) office in the middle of the school day,” Huizinga said. “She had mentioned last year that my score was possibly high, but I hadn’t heard anything back yet. I was anxious walking down there and happy to finally find out.” In the beginning, 16,000 people are selected as semifinalists. Then, 1,000 are cut. Out of the remaining 15,000, half win a scholarship of $2,500. Huizinga will find out which category she is in February of 2014. In addition to National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist, Huizinga can also add AP Scholar with Honor to her list of titles. She received this College-Board award after earning outstanding scores on four Advanced Placement

tests. This spring, Huizinga will be taking four more AP tests with the potential to upgrade her AP Scholar with Honor to AP Scholar with Distinction or National AP Scholar. Although choosing a college can be difficult, Huizinga says she is currently applying to Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Northwestern University. “I think I want to go into some form of biology or biomedical sciences because you can do something that makes a difference,” Huizinga said. “I want to be there for a reason. But, I haven’t decided (on a college). There are so many options.” For other motivated students, she has words of advice: “When you take the PSAT and the ACT, learn how to work and think quickly,” Huizinga said. “And apply for as many scholarships as you can. If you apply to enough, you are going to get something eventually.” Shores has had one other semi-finalist, 22 finalists, including 2011 graduate Ki-Joo Sung, and 12 winners, including 2013 graduate Josh Recknagel.

p r o f i l e s

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

When senior Katie Beemer received an exciting piece of news from Shores choir director Shawn Lawton on Oct. 28, the first thing she did was call her mother… …who instantly could not stop crying. “After I told her the news, I heard a pause,” Beemer said. “Then, she began to sob. She was teaching at West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics that day, and she told me afterwards that the co-teacher in the room with her immediately asked what was wrong. She was just too happy and too speechless.” Beemer felt speechless, too, when she arrived in Lawton’s classroom after receiving a phone call in her first-hour class asking her to come and see him. It was there and then that she received the news: she would be the angel in the 29th annual Singing Christmas Tree. “My first thought was how surprised I felt, although I kind of guessed that was the reason he had called me down to his room,” Beemer said. “I couldn’t think of any other possible reasons why he would need to speak to me.” And her next thought? “My next thought was that I’m absolutely terrified of heights,” Beemer said. Despite this, Beemer agreed to take the role of the angel, understanding that it would be something memorable that she would regret missing out on if she didn’t choose to take the role. She also understood what a huge honor it was since the angel is quite a coveted position. “The position of the angel is a coveted one, as this person is the only singer to stand at the very top of the 67-foot Tree,” Lawton said. “More importantly, the angel represents the spirit and heart of the Mona Shores Choir.” The act of designating an angel dates back to Lawton’s predecessor, Skip Frizzell, who began the tradition. When Lawton inherited the job, he said it was important to keep the tradition. “Choosing an angel sounded a lot better than having a lottery,” Lawton said. Lawton’s process for choosing the Tree angel is printing off a list of all the seniors in choir, since the angel is always a senior, and going through it to see who

29th Singing Christmas Tree

said. Lawton also knew that Beemer was into volunteering, involved with church activities, and helped direct the middle school plays. “I appreciated her hard work,” Lawton said. “I also appreciated how she stuck with choir during all of her high school years.” Beemer said she enjoys choir because of the experiences she gets to have from being a part of the program. “We have many opportunities as students in the choir program at Shores, such as getting to be a part of the Singing Christmas Tree,” Beemer said. “I mean, how often can you say that you get to sing in a giant tree? It’s pretty cool.” Beemer said Tree is actually her favorite choir event and loves being in it. And now, this year, she finally has her moment to shine. “There had been many times during previous years of Tree when I thought about how scary it would be to be up there (where the angel stands),” Beemer said. “But I guess I’ll be facing my fears now.” H o w e v e r, Beemer still leaves some key words of advice for future angels: “Don’t look down!”

5


6

c e n t e r s e c t i o n

Jenny Anton,

ior

Matt Rose, sen

junior

Leah Uganski,

Pena Who: Aurelia de When: 6th Gra Celebration Where: Sailor

Who: Jake Kim brough When: 7th Gra de Where: Movie Theatre “It was very gr oss, awkward, and weird. I wish I would have waited un so it could ha til later ve been with a different gu y.”

senior

med Nick Who: A boy na rade When: 10th G Dad’s Car s k’ ic N Where:

use all awkward beca “It was a little g ch were wat in of her friends e. om es but it was aw and giggling, ” it. ppy with I was pretty ha

rking lot e Wal-Mart pa cted. “We were in th as very unexpe w it so , er is for a fundra it did not really scratchy, and His chin was it’s over.” ng. I’m happy feel like anythi

“M

Jasmine Mancuso, senior Who: Jackson Woodruff When: 7th Grade Where: Summer Celebration

“It was kind of Percy Jacks

“It was a cute little peck. He was nervous so I had to make the first move. It was an exciting and happy moment; it was like puppy love.”

KISS

Makenzie

junior rea Anthony,

LaP

Who: Jesse D When: 6th Gra Where: North M

e Gordon Who: Diontay de When: 9th Gra Mall ’s ke Where: La

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

z, sophomore

use we awkward beca r “At first it was ing each othe ing about kiss lk ta t en ou be ed d ha turn minutes, but it for about five not private as w it n though ve E . ce ni be ble.” to was unforgetta or intimate, it

Sergio Vasque

d Moore Who: Diamon ? When: ?????? House ’s Where: Friend am itely forced. I d it was defin an ay.” , w ill e st m ld sa ho e t her to e felt th ge sh h to is w ng yi st tr ju I “I was ened. y that this happ extremely happ

Logan Rector,

sophomore

Who: A girl na med Kayla When: 6th Gra de Where: Party

“We were play ing truth or da re, and our frie dared us to ki nds ss each other. She was olde and I did not r, know what to do. I was a pretty sloppy kisser back th en.”

“I was eating a hot dog whe n slapped his fa ce. He was tr yi n friends, and th at is not how Iw

M Y

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There is a first time f A first concert, a first ta Millions of first experiences h Some may be funny, awkward, emba Whatever the situation or outcome may be, certain first expe For this edition, The Sailor’s Log has randomly selected staff an experiences. The four categories are as follows: first k Each person will share his memory of the

Kendra Robb

ins, junior

When: Prese nt Where: Above & Beyond What: Banqu et Server “My best mem ory is from th e last weekend of summer. M y favorite co-w orker and I ended up crui sing arou in a golf cart be nd the golf course neath the star s.”

Kat

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unior

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Caleb Kilgore, senior When: Summer Where: Michigan’s Adventure What: Lap Bar Closer on Rides “I wanted this job for money, and my favorite memory is of pay day. All I learned about having this job is that no one should work at Michigan’s Adventure.”

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net, senior

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Greg Beaudoin

Bethany Vaug

, sophomore

han, senior

Who: Emily M orris When: ????? What: Movie Date at the C inema

Who: Conner Deur When: Recen tly What: Ice Cre am Date at P inchto

eld, junior

Shayna Bradfi

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f an awkward first date. We went to see son, but I wou ld definitely do it again.”

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Fairfield, senio

“He was very nervous, so he very much ey did not make e contact with me, but it was A woman who fun. worked there kept making fa at us to make ces it awkward. H definitely do it owever, I wou ld again. Who do esn’t love ice cream?”

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Susi Potter, S

n he leaned in to kiss me. I ng to show of f in front of hi s wanted my fir st kiss to be.”

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for everything. attoo, a first child. happen throughout life. arrassing, horrifying, and so on. eriences are memorable enough to stick with us for life. nd students to share some of these unforgettable first time kiss, first date, first job, and first driving mishap. experience to the best of his ability.

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k, Mikey Kresna

DRIVING

sophomore

de When: 9th Gra chool hores High S S a on M : re he W r ded another ca r What: Rear-en he ot br , Kresnak Driver: Landon ilty but ol. We were gu co ty et pr ly al still totaled, “It was actu , our car was er ev ow H . nt to the road.” proven innoce tter attention be y pa to d and we learne

Rudy Fierros,

senior

When: 11th G rade Where: Beach What: Speed ing (45 in a 35 ) Driver: Him “I got a $90 tic ket and points on my license but now I pay , much more at tention to both my dr iving and my speed. I was also ve ry lucky to ha opportunity to ve the take an online sa fe ty course to get the poin ts removed.”

Lauren Moss,

freshman

r’s birthday Where: Wesco r grandmothe he to ay w r he other’s car What: On iver hit her m dr r he ot an n dinner whe m guy Driver: Rando a very scary because it was ed en pp drive.” ha ve r would ha ful when they ve re ca ne it e h or is m w “I ld be veryone shou experience. E

Sarah Neiser,

sophomore

in Jenison other’s house dm When: 2007 an gr om fr g back Where: Comin a ditch to in What: Slid r he Driver: Mot ed to me. thing happen no ily ck lu t at, bu itches.” in the backse e had to get st sh d an d, re “I was asleep ju the only one in My sister was

s e c t i o n The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

Who: A 16 Yea r Old Boy When: Age 15 What: Movie Date

senior

elt Who: Jarred F ber, 2012 m te When: Sep tation Grill Date at The S What: Dinner

panish teacher

tball Game

R

Jenna Kemp,

c e n t e r


8

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

f e a t u r e s

International Adoption Process • Choose a country, pick an adoption agency and have a passport • Fill out an adoption application • Fill out a dossier, legal set of documents; each country has different papers • Complete a home study • Fill out forms, including the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition •A child will be matched with prospective parent • Have custody of child for emmigration purposes and make sure child has visa • Adopt child and take him home Information from adoption.adopt.com

National Adoption Process • Choose an adoption agency • Complete a home study • Search for a child • Exchange information with the child’s agency when one is found • When a child has been selected, meet and visit with the child • Receive placement (placement is when the child comes to live with the adoptive parent) • Finalize the adoption Information from National Adoption Center

Some Countries’ Requirements Greece 5-year waiting period for Greek children, can only be adopted by adults who are Greek citizens or of Greek origin Indonesia Couples must be of the same religion of the child. Couples can have one biological child or a previously adopted Indonesian child and they must be incapable of having any more children. Bolivia Potential adoptive parents must be legal residents of Bolivia Eritrea Does not allow same sex couples, potential adoptive parents must live in Eritrea for six consecutive months Nicaragua Prospective parents must have permanent residence in Nicaragua or stay there until adopted child reaches age of majority

Michigan Adoption Facts (2010) • 5,235 foster children were waiting to be adopted • 9% more African Americans are waiting for adoption than have already been adopted • 52% of Caucasian children have been adopted while 45% are still waiting • 374 youth became too old to be in foster care without ever having a permanent family • 36% of children between the ages of 0-4 were waiting to be adopted while 45% had been adopted • 25% of children 13 and up were waiting to be adopted when only 11% had been adopted • 50% of foster care children reunited with parents Information from nacac.org

FAQ Q: What will it cost to adopt? A: National adoption costs range from several hundred to $30,000; international adoption costs between $10,000 and $20,000, which may not include travel expanses to the country. Q: Can the child’s biological parents take the child back? A: No, in order for a child to be adopted, biological parents’ legal rights to the child must be terminated. Information from the National Adoption Center

NATIONAL ADOPTION Information from international.adopt.com

Finding a Permanent Home

Teacher, students have been affected by adoption By Abby Keessen On-Line Manager When English teacher Jolynn Walek and her family were looking to add to the family, one option was adoption. And after 18 months of going through the state’s adoption process, the Walek family added a 4-year-old boy named TaeVien. “(My family and I) decided to adopt because I was having difficulty getting pregnant again and just felt the need to have a second child,” said Walek, who has a biological 5-year-old son named Breslin. “We fell in love with him, and then at the end of August, he moved in with us permanently.” TaeVien is one of the lucky ones, and with November being National Adoption Month and Nov. 23 being National Adoption Day, the opportunity for others to be adopted is heightened. The focus of National Adoption Month is on children already in foster care and trying to get them adopted out of it. TaeVien was one of those children in foster care, whom Walek and her family found when looking for an addition to their family. Walek said the process to adopt TaeVien was long. Before being able to meet any children, she and her family had to get licensed to foster. To get this license, they had to have 12 hours of training classes, fill out an ample amount of paper work, have a background check, give financial information, and give references. It took them from February 2012 to April 2013 to get licensed. The adoption process takes about six months because the courts like to be assured that the placement is a positive match for both the parent and child. “We were only interested in children whose parental rights were already terminated and were ready for adoption, so it took us awhile to get a call because many in foster care are still trying to be placed with their

English teacher Jolynn Walek poses with her two boys, biological son Breslin (middle) and adopted son TaeVien (right). (Courtesy photo) parents,” Walek said. They received a call for TaeVien in early July but didn’t meet him until the end of that month. After two successful meetings with him and his social worker, TaeVien spent a night at their house. Walek said the overall transition has gone well. “(TaeVien) has adjusted incredibly to the change, and actually seems pretty ‘happy-go-lucky.’ Both boys go to counseling to assist in such a transition, but they love having a play buddy. Of course, there are times when they fight, like any sibling rivalry,” Walek said. “I think it went better than I expected, really. Tae has always slept through the night, loves his new school, and has all of his teachers in love with him, too.” Walek is only one of the many people at Shores’ affected by adoption. Sophomores Chloe Cook and Piper Burghduf both have very different adoption stories. Cook was born in West Virginia and then moved to Muskegon when she was 5. After she moved, she was

taken away from her parents. “The police came to my parents’ apartment, and we were sitting in the living room, and they told me I had to pack my stuff. Then, (the police) took me to a big building, and I had to stay there overnight,” Cook said. After she was removed from her parents’ care, she was in foster care for four years. When she was 9, her adoptive parents came into the picture. “My (adoptive) mom had two biological sons from her previous marriage and my (adoptive) dad didn’t have any kids from his previous marriage. He wanted a girl, so they got me,” Cook said. The process for domestic adoption starts with picking an agency and completing a homestudy. After that, one can search for a child, and when a child is selected for them, one meets the child. The child will then be placed, and the adoption can be finalized. Burghduf has quite a contrasting story from Cook’s. She was born in China and was adopted when she was 9 months old. “In China, (parents) only want one child, and usually it will be a boy so they can keep the family name going, (so they give up their daughters),” Burghduf explained as to why she was put up for adoption. The process for international adoption has many common aspects, but each country has specific requirements, like age or religion specifications (see more in-depth process description in box at top of page). While the adoption process is lengthy, Walek said she and her family wouldn’t have it any other way. “Adoption is truly never something I had thought I would consider, but when the opportunity presented itself, we knew it was the right thing for our family. The most incredible thing is knowing that we are providing a child with more opportunities than he ever would have had,” Walek said. “(TaeVien) had never gone swimming, had a bicycle, gone to the zoo, etc. Now, he is swimming, knows the MSU fight song, and just fills my bucket everyday with his love, incredible smile, and funny personality – he loves to beat box. I feel so blessed.”


K A

Shores students commit

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Random Acts of Kindness

RA

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Small acts can make a big difference By Blake Robinson Features Editor

Pushes cart, changes view Senior Mal Schrier helped a senior citizen when she noticed the woman was struggling to push her cart in a Meijer parking lot. “As I was exiting the store, I noticed this lady pushing her cart out in front of me,” Schrier said. “It was down pouring rain, the wind was blowing hard, and she seemed to be struggling to push the cart forward.” The woman’s failed attempts at pushing the cart enabled Schrier to take action. “I insisted to the woman that I help her with the cart, and then when we got to her car, I loaded the car with the groceries,” Schrier said. “She seemed to be appreciative and thankful for what I had done by the smile on her face.” Schrier was surprised by what the woman did in response to her actions. “She hugged me,” Schrier said. “When we finished our hug, she said she had more faith in our teenage generation after what I had done. I walked off and was happy to know that I made a difference in her day by helping her.”

Homeless happiness Junior Andi Wierengo was motivated to perform a random act of kindness after performing several smaller acts and getting good feelings from them. “There was a homeless man in the Meijer parking lot, and it was a very cold day,” Wierengo said. “He looked cold and like he could use some warming up.” Wierengo then went over to Tim Hortons and bought some donuts and hot chocolate. “I gave the man the food and his face lit up,” Wierengo said. “The man thanked me and I was able to walk off with a smile on my face. I felt good about myself to be able to do something for another.” Since the act, Wierengo has had a realization about performing random acts of kindness. “They give a person a good feeling who may not always feel that way,” Wierengo said. “It’s almost like they are made to make these people feel better.”

Being the recipient

“The assignment is a challenge to commit a significant random act of kindness every day for a week,” Hall said. “Some students do simple things, but others take it as a challenge to do something big, which I have noticed sometimes influences others to do more or to even start performing random acts of kindness. My hope is that students will carry on with the acts after the class and that they will take something with them and make a change in the world.” Hall said that the assignment was born out of a discussion with her AP class about the idea of altruism. “Altruism is the concern for the well-being of others,” Hall said. “The

idea occurred to me that why don’t we start some random acts of kindness, an act that would have no tangible gain to ourselves.” Hall has received a wide array of results from this project and explained how important they really are to the people whom they are performed on. “Just sitting down to talk to a person and taking the time out is huge. Tutoring a child without expecting any sort of gain for themselves and making sure that they understand is amazing to me,” Hall said. “I don’t believe students fully realize how major a difference they could be making in another’s life by performing acts of kindness.”

Putting a smile on another’s face During a volunteering experience at Churchill’s Latchkey program, freshman Bella Purosky saw an opportunity to make a difference. “I saw a girl being bullied by a group of other girls,” Purosky said. “The group of girls avoided this girl and would not let her into their group.” Purosky realized she needed to take action and decided to go help the girl.

“The girl began hitting the tether ball around, and she just looked so sad,” Purosky said. “I asked if she wanted to play with me, and we started to hit the tether ball around together.” Purosky then started to talk with the girl and learned some things about her. “After a few minutes of us playing, some other kids joined in and started to play with the girl as well,” Purosky said. “I felt good knowing I made a difference in the girl’s day.”

Helping thy neighbor

Paying for sweets

Freshman Trevor Adams saw an opportunity where he could help his neighbor. “I was mowing my lawn and saw an ambulance pull up and then leave with neighbor’s wife,” Adams said. “We did not know what had happened, but my dad and I thought we could do something to help them out.” Adams and his father then went to their neighbor’s yard to help with their yard work. “We mowed the lawn and raked the leaves,” Adams said. “When my neighbor came out, he looked so shocked and happy at the same time.” The act gave Adams a good feeling, and he said it was nice to do something for another. “Whenever I see my neighbor, he always gives me a smile and a wave,” Adams said. “He and I have become better friends through this.”

While working her shift at Russ’s restaurant, junior Sandra Yacoub paid for an elderly woman’s snacks. “I was working the candy counter, and an older woman came up to buy some candy,” Yacoub said. “She picked out her candy and then was trying to find her cash in her purse, but I felt like it would be nice to pay for it for her.” When Yacoub paid for the woman’s snacks, Yacoub said the woman’s face looked thankful. “She seemed so grateful for what I had done,” Yacoub said. “It may have cost me a little bit, but it made the woman so happy.” After the woman left, Yacoub said she felt she should do more. “I liked the feeling I got when I helped her, and it made me feel good about myself,” Yacoub said. “The happy feeling she got gave me a happy feeling as well, so I feel we both benefited from my act.”

Mistake in judgment to thoughtful act Sophomore James Surge almost looked over a random act of kindness when a friend forgot his note cards for a class assignment. “We were working on a project, and one of the grades was to bring in note cards,” Surge said. “One of my friends forgot his note cards; he asked if he could borrow some of mine and even offered to pay a dollar for some cards.” Surge at first said no, but after a few moments, he took the dollar and gave his friend some cards. “Later in the class, he asked if he could buy

For senior Dwayne Smith, random acts of kindness were nothing new when psychology teacher Heather Hall talked about them in class, and other than performing them for others, Smith had one performed for him. “I was playing basketball and just shooting the ball around when my ball popped,” Smith said. “A random

stranger walked up to me and gave me a new basketball.” Smith said he was surprised to see someone else’s generosity show in such a way. “All I could think of was to say thanks to the guy,” Smith said. “I thought it was such a nice thing to do, and he seemed happy to do it.”

some more cards, and I realized the error in what I had done before,” Surge said. “After he asked again, I gave him more note cards without payment and slipped the original dollar back into his pocket. Giving the cards was not a burden to Surge as he had extra, but the feeling he gave his friend made his act worth it. “I was happy to help him out,” Surge said. “When I gave him the note cards, he seemed to appreciate it a lot, and he even told me I was a good person.”

That act of kindness helped shape Smith’s view toward performing acts for others. “I felt that I could help others just like that guy had helped me and made me feel better,” Smith said. “Those little things can make a change in a person’s whole day.”

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

The random act of kindness is a simple thing that can often make major differences in people’s lives. To a student, performing one of these acts may seem easy or insignificant, but to the person on whom this act is being performed, it may mean the world. “We move the focus less on ourselves and more on others,” psychology teacher Heather Hall said. “When we perform one of these acts, we are benefiting our mental health by improving the quality of our ideas and the things we think about.”

Psychologists are often split on the idea of why random acts of kindness are performed. “The motive for performing these acts depends on the person,” Hall said. “Every time this topic has come up in my classes, we ask, ‘Can we really do an act of kindness without a selfish motive?’ I think it goes two ways: some will suck up to receive some kind of reward, but most students perform them for the common good and to make this world a better place.” Hall said she has encouraged her students for the past several years to commit random acts of kindness as a small assignment.

f e a t u r e s


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The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

n e w s

BOILERS Continued from page 1 in the middle of the building, you need shorts and a tank top,” senior Katie Hurd said. “It doesn’t make any sense.” Even though the temperature change is frustrating, it is important to realize that the issues are complicated. “When you have a building that was built in 1962, renovated in 1995, and had another renovation in 2010, all of the ductwork comes from different eras,” Principal Jennifer Bustard said. “Marrying different additions with each other creates some challenges. So, a year ago the district hired an H-VAC (heatingventilation and cooling) expert that can support heating and cooling issues as they arise.” The H-VAC expert is John Winskas, who also works for Fruitport, North Muskegon, and Oakridge in addition to Shores. Helping him is coworker Justin Dietz. Together, they troubleshoot problems in the school, but mainly they perform preventive maintenance. Having an inhouse H-VAC specialist saves money and energy in the long run, Winskas said. Dietz was hired in March to specifically oversee the Mona Shores District, and from March until July, Shores saved about $90,000 in contractor fees, Winskas said. Shores’ boiler room is certainly old; it was built in 1961. Inside the boiler room are two boilers that heat up water with fire. It works like this: Dietz and Winskas look at the temperature inside and outside to determine how hot the boiler needs to be. Once the water is heated to the appropriate temperature, the water goes to the heat exchange, which is a complex loop of pipes. The pipes travel underneath the school in tunnels to each of the registers in the classrooms. The entire system, which is computer operated, is the largest in the county. Winskas said the problems come when some of the rooms have an exterior wall because they take more heat to stay warm. It can be difficult to try to compensate for outside air coming into the building.

Hot or Cold? “Snow would come in underneath the ventilation (in my former room). I would have to warn students not to sit over there.” – Tracy Sauceda-Geoghan, math teacher “You never know. Some days it’s warm, and other days it’s cold.” – Bethany Vaughn, senior “I would come in in the morning, and it would be warm air coming in, but then by second hour, there would be air conditioning coming through the vent.” – Jolynn Walek, English teacher All ductwork in the high school comes from different eras, so naturally problems with heating and cooling arise. Last year, a new H-VAC (heating-ventilation and cooling) expert was hired. The expert is John Winskas (left and above left), and he and his coworker John Dietz (above right) both perform preventive maintenance and troubleshoot problems. Most of the problems tend to arise in classrooms that have an exterior wall because of the additional heat needed to stay warm. Many teachers tend to take matters into their own hands when issue arise. Over the last couple of years, though, the issues have gotten better. (Sam Morse) So, if teachers have a problem with the temperature of the classroom, they should not stick a screwdriver in the blower to turn it off, Winskas added. “If the blower is off in the classroom, we can’t control the temperature,” Winskas said. “The teachers need to report the problem to SchoolDude where Dietz can fix the problem electronically.” SchoolDude is an online program that enables school personnel to report maintenance problems. Feeding information into the computer are 50-100 unitary control panels spread throughout the school. The unitary controls are divided into the zones that the

school is divided into. For example, there is a unitary control by the LMC, and that area is divided into six zones. On Oct. 30, two of the zone vents were feeding warm air into the LMC, and four of them were feeding in cool air from outside. The tricky thing about working with the boilers is that turning on the boilers too often can cause problems. “The more you start a boiler from a cold start (not having it on before), the metal on the outside sweats or condensates, and the metal can pop,” Winskas said. “For example, at the middle school, three

Students showed off their creativity by dressing up on Halloween. Seniors Lauren Wood, Julie Jones, Marissa Duff, Amy Zuidema, and Lexi Hirvo (left) dressed up as Disney princesses; senior Megan Jones and junior Kevin Smith (below left) dressed up as people from the 1920s; and sophomores Claudia Johnson, Libby Miller, and Nicole Gagnon (below right) dressed up as Incredibles characters.

Happy Halloween !

Go to the MSHS Yearbook Facebook page to see more pictures. Make sure to Like the page so you will know when new pictures are posted.

“It’s freezing in here. I can finally take off my jacket in third hour. But some days, it’s warm at the beginning of the day, and by third hour, it’s cold.” – Jennifer Ashby, Spanish teacher “We should get new boilers.” –Jacklyn Pallas, senior “I need to carry my coat to every class.” – Amy Zuidema, senior “They need to know the difference between the fall and the spring. When it needs to be warm, it’s cold; when it needs to be cold, it’s warm.” – Skyla Davis, senior pipesrecently broke.” So, the school avoids turning on the boilers as long as necessary because once the boilers are turned on in the fall, they stay on through the spring. Right now, one of the boilers is running, but once the temperature gets down to about 10 degrees, both boilers will run. Over the last couple of years, the H-VAC issues have gotten better. “It’s just going to get better,” Winskas said. “As we progress every day, every step we take, we are being more efficient while saving operational dollars that can be put back into the classroom.”

TEA Continued from page 3 ethnocentrism. How she ever got elected to office, I don’t know. Michelle Bachman (dumb) probably idolizes Christine O’Donnell (dumber). Get this: “Well, I don’t think that the Obama administration knows what’s Jesus, what belongs to Jesus and what belongs to them. That’s my big gripe. Apparently, he doesn’t know. But then, that’s because he’s not a Christian. He’s Muslim,” O’Donnell said.
 “It’s a proven fact he’s Muslim. He wasn’t born in this country. He was born in Kenya. There are people who know it, people who know where the birth certificate is. It’s locked up and our government can’t get a hold of it. He’s an illegitimate president, in my estimation.” Tea Party national policy: spit in the face of common sense. Just so ya know, if you weren’t born in the United States, you’re Muslim. Sorry Jesus. Radical extremism and idiocy at its finest. Glen Urquhart, a Tea Party backed politician, seems to know a thing or two about stupidity: “Do you know, where does this phrase ‘separation of church and state’ come from? It was not in Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists. … The exact phrase ‘separation of Church and State’ came out of Adolph Hitler’s mouth, that’s where it comes from. So the next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of Church and State, ask them why they’re Nazis.” I quote from Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists Association: “separation between church and state.” Last time I checked, Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) led Nazi Germany on its campaign to conquer the world in the middle of the 20th Century. Once again, stupidity at its finest!


Tennis finishes undefeated in conference

Boys’ soccer wins second straight title By Holly Fredericksen Sports Editor

First-year runner captures cross championship By Isaac Cathey Staff Writer One of the most prominent runners on this year’s girls’ cross country team was sophomore Jackie Seward. A first-year runner, Seward decided she wanted to try cross country after playing volleyball last year. Though this was her first year running for the cross country team, Seward has been a habitual runner for most of her life. “I like running,” Seward said. “It’s something I’ve always done, so I think it’s kind of relaxing.” Seward’s brightest moment this season was her first-place run on Oct. 16 at the conference meet, which took place at McGraft Park. “It felt great. I was real happy about it (placing), although, I was more excited that I improved my best time for this season,” said Seward, who finished her season with a 79th-place run at the State meet after qualifying with a 12th-place run at Regionals. “I always ran, so it wasn’t that hard.” Her impressive time of 19:12 at conference was further enhanced by her coach’s praise. “I truly believe that what we have seen so far from Jackie is a result of her pure talent as a runner,” coach Heather Hall said. “She has worked hard this season, but we are still getting to know her as a runner and we are being careful with her training so that we don’t over-train her. It will be exciting to see how far she can go in the future.” Hall said she had hoped to recruit Seward this year after hearing of the student’s prodigious running talent. “I knew Jackie was a good runner before she was on my team,” Hall said. “We actually worked hard to recruit her, so it felt good to see her perform well as a first-year runner on our team, but it’s even more exciting to think about what more she will accomplish as she continues training and becomes more experienced as a runner.”

Girls’ Golf Behind junior Rylee George, the Sailors won conference and City before placing 14th at the state finals. Football Shores’ historic season ended in the first round of playoffs with a 34-24 loss to Lowell (see story, page 12). Volleyball The Sailors managed to gain a share

Everything is...

OK

Senior Grant Fortenbacher helped lead the Sailors to a second straight conference title. (Courtesy Photo) the game with a conference record of 7-2-1; Union was 7-3. The first time the teams met the Redhawks won 4-3 on double overtime. This time two overtimes were again needed. This time with a different result. With five minutes left in the second overtime, junior Destin Morley broke the 0-0 tie on a header and Shores’ defense shut down the Redhawks the rest of the way. “It was a fight the whole game,” junior Ryan Susterich said. “Neither of us wanted to give anything up. It was rough the whole game, and it was a relief when Morley scored and secured conference for us. It felt especially great to win it back to back.”

During the fall season, four teams and two individuals won conference OK Black conference titles. Three of those teams and one individual are highlighted here. The girls’ golf team and junior golfer Rylee George were highlighted in the previous issue of The Sailors’ Log.

New coach helps v-ball gain trophy By Ryan Fritz Staff Writer The volleyball team won its third straight OK Black Conference title, this time sharing the championship with Kenowa Hills and Zeeland East. All three teams finished 8-2. First-year coach Dan Potts, who said he was proud with how far the team had come, added that he is happy that the senior class now has a conference title to call its own. “I believed we could win all along,” Potts said. “I may have underestimated the depth and talent of Zeeland East and Kenowa Hills. It took some great play by the Sailors to climb back into first.” Senior Saddie Vela said the key to the title was defeating both Kenowa Hills and Zeeland their places after losing to both teams at home.

of the OK Black conference championship (see story, above). In the state tournament, Shores was knocked out of districts by Grand Haven.

Junior Kelsey Wolffis was one of the players to contribute to the volleyball team’s third straight OK Black title, which was shared with Kenowa Hills and Zeeland East. (Chloe Grigsby) “To actually split the conference, Kenowa Hills had to defeat Zeeland East Halloween night,” Vela said. “Our coach texted our team every point in every set during their game. It was a close game, but thankfully Kenowa Hills came out with the win, which meant we split the conference title.” The varsity volleyball

sports

West Ottawa 3-1 before losing to Grand Haven 2-0.

Boys’ Cross Country Shores, which placed ninth at regionals, was consistently led by senior Pat Taylor.

Boys’ Tennis The Sailors, which won the conference crown (see story, above), came within one point of qualifying for the state finals. Shores took fourth at regionals.

Girls’ Cross Country Behind sophomore Jackie Seward, Shores won the conference title (see story, above).

shorts

Boys’ Soccer After winning the conference title (see story, above), Shores went into district action, where it beat

team started the conference 2-2 and came back with six wins in a row. “I’m real happy for the players that have worked so hard and put in the effort to reach one of their goals,” Potts said. Junior Kristina Davignon said one of the keys to the team’s success was its work ethic. “The team has worked extra hard to be where we are today. I am proud of everyone and without them, my overall experience wouldn’t have been as exciting,” Davignon said Junior Courtney Brewer added that it all came down to playing as a team.. “I feel very accomplished,” Brewer said. “Everyone put in time, hustled, and played their best 100 percent of the time. My excitement was overwhelming I found out Kenowa Hills beat Zeeland, meaning we shared the conference title.”

The varsity tennis team won the OK Black conference tournament and beat the Chix of Zeeland East in a conference dual to win conference. The boys went undefeated (4-0) as a team throughout conference play. “We played phenomenal in conference,” said All-Area Coach of the Year Andrew DeBruyn, whose team missed going to state by one point at regionals to end their season. “We went a combined 32-0 as a team in our flights during the regular season.” The team overcame some obstacles from Mother Nature in the conference tournament as it rained and postponed the tournament from Saturday, Oct. 5, to Monday, Oct 7. Shores won all but one flight at the Senior Sam Kling’s conference tourna30-win season helped ment Shores win confer“Having the ence. (Courtesy Photo) tournament postponed after we were all ready to go was tough, but we came back against some adversity and played well,” said senior Sam Kling, who was selected to the First Team All-Area Singles. The win at Zeeland East to take the conference avenged last year’s team that got beat by the Chix, who won them the conference title. “(It) felt great to be able to win conference this year,” DeBruyn said. “Last year, we lost to Zeeland East pretty bad in the finals, and this year, we were able to get them back to win 7 of 8 flights.” Not only did the team win conference and sweep the City tournament this season, but they set some new individual records as well as team records. “This was a very special year as far as records go,” Debruyn said. “Our record at 18-3 is the most wins in a season in the history of the program which was previously 15.” Kling and senior Sam Reynolds each had 30-win seasons, which lands them tied at No. 2 on the boys’ tennis records for singles victories, under Matt Dallman who had 31 wins in 2007-2008. Junior Dan Ribbink’s 29 wins put him at No. 3 on the singles victories list. To go along with 30 wins, Reynolds also had a 23-win streak, which ties the leader, Connor Gossett, which was set in 2008-2009. Additionally, the doubles team of senior Tom Dreliozis and junior Ben Romaniello were selected to First Team All-Area in Doubles. “If you look at everything we did, it’s pretty cool. This team broke school records and were ranked top ten in the state for Division 2,” Kling said. “I’d say this year was a success.”

Girls’ Swimming The Sailors finished the regular season 6-8.

s p o r t s

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

Sophomore Jackie Seward, who was 12th at regionals and 79th at the state finals, won the conference title. (Michael Gale-Butto)

The boys’ soccer team came out as conference champions for the second year in a row. “Winning conference was a big thing last year, but winning it twice is an amazing feeling I can’t describe,” senior Christian Zurchauer said. “It feels great because of how much we battled for it. Nothing was handed to us this year, and every game for the title was a bigger battle. It’s a great accomplishment to win after fighting through all of the obstacles we had.” Overall, this is the third time the boys’ soccer team has won the conference (2000 2012, 2013). “Like every year, we challenged ourselves to go as far as we can,” Zurchauer said. “Our goal was to score two or more goals a game better than the other team, while holding them to only one goal.” The conference title came down to the last game as the Sailors took on Grand Rapids Union for the title; Shores entered

By Cory Sander Sports Editor

11


s To the playoffs... p Shores falls to Lowell, 34-24, o in first-ever post-season appearance r t s

12

By Cory Sander Sports Editor

The Sailors’ Log • Friday, November 15, 2013

Sailors to one touchdown, a 96-yard pass from Jackson to senior Asantay Brown. The touchdown came after an impressive goal line stand by the Sailor defense, and Lowell turning the ball over after being stopped on four straight plays. “We played hard, but we couldn’t make the big plays on defense,” senior defensive back Cody Schneider. The fourth quarter was scoreless on both ends, resulting in a final score of 34-24, advancing Lowell to the district finals, where they lost to Muskegon 28-21. “There were a lot of little things that could have been done,” Koziak said. “Holding blocks, a couple high throws, a couple drops, couldn’t stop Lowell on third down and long situations, just stuff like that. It was a learning experience. I had some underclassmen playing, and let them play in the moment.” The Sailors had a historic run this season, doing things that had never been done. They earned Shores’ first ever playoff berth after a commanding 47-26 win against Zeeland East on Homecoming night. The Sailors were 10 points away from being a perfect 9-0, losing to Muskegon 26-20, and the Reeths-Puffer Rockets 32-28. “I am grateful of our kids’ efforts,” Koziak said. “From the end of last year, they were extremely committed. They wanted playoffs, but not stop there. They wanted it all, and they stood up to Lowell’s level.”

The football team’s historic season came to a close Friday Nov. 1, after a 34-24 loss to the Red Arrows of Lowell in the opening game of the state tournament. The game, which was played at Lowell, started with the Sailors taking an early 12-0 lead, thanks to a 13yard touchdown pass to sophomore Hunter Broersma from junior Tyree Jackson, and a 38-yard run by junior DeOntay Moffett. A quick answer by Lowell left the score at 12-6 after the first quarter. “We came out hot and flying,” said senior wide receiver Logan Smith about the school’s first-ever playoff game. “We just had little mistakes that shot ourselves in the foot.” The second quarter went the opposite way, with Lowell taking a 20-18 lead. The only Shores score in the second quarter came from a 60-yard throw from Jackson to senior Marquon Sargent. “I thought we matched really well with Lowell,” said head coach Matt Koziak whose team ends its’ season 7-3. “We played extremely hard, but we had some mistakes that helped them out. They executed better.” Lowell would come out to take over the second half with a two-touchdown third quarter, and holding the

End of an Era

The Shores-MCC rivalry began in 1964, and the Sailors have a 14-35-1 record all-time against the Crusaders. 2013 Shores 25-16 2012 Shores 42-6 2011 MCC 48-7 2010 MCC 38-12 2009 Shores 35-18 2008 MCC 35-0 2007 Shores 12-6 2006 Shores 14-3 2005 MCC 38-7 2004 MCC 28-6 2003 MCC 28-7 2002 Shores 40-20 2001 MCC 17-0 2000 MCC 14-7 1999 MCC 30-0 1998 MCC 14-7 1997 Shores 35-7 1996 Shores 24-7 1995 MCC 28-7 1994 MCC 28-13 1993 Shores 18-14 1992 MCC 20-14 1991 MCC 23-14 1989 Shores 18-0 1988 Shores 14-7 1987 MCC 24-6 1986 MCC 7-0 1985 MCC 7-6 1984 MCC 22-0 1983 MCC 26-6 1982 MCC 22-7 1981 MCC 20-0 1980 MCC 8-7 1979 MCC 15-6 1978 MCC 27-0 1977 MCC 14-6 1976 Shores 13-6 1975 MCC 14-7 1974 MCC 14-6 1973 Shores 7-6 1972 MCC 42-8 1971 MCC 13-0 1970 MCC 46-0 1969 MCC 20-9 1968 Shores 33-12 1967 Tie 13-13 1996 MCC 15-0 1965 MCC 12-2 1964 MCC 14-0

Sophomore Hunter Broersma (with ball) celebrates with senior Logan Smith after Broersma scored the school’s first-ever playoff touchdown on a 13-yard TD pass from junior Tyree Jackson. (Rachel Resterhouse)

...and beyond

Football drops MCC to seek more playoff points By Cory Sander Sports Editor

For the first time since 1964, Shores and Muskegon Catholic Central will not play football next fall. “The matchup between MCC and Shores is one that many would love to see continue,” athletic director Ryan Portenga said in a press release. “However, as Sailor football continues to take steps forward, there simply aren’t enough playoff points on the board to warrant a contest against a Class D school if the result is to make a strong Division 2 playoff push.” (See fact box for playoff explanation.) Head coach Matt Koziak, who played for Shores, said that while the MCC game was important when he played, he agrees with this decision to drop the Crusaders from the schedule. “I feel great about our decision to drop the game because we get a four-game deal with West Ottawa out of it,” Koziak said. “I am excited to play the Panthers.” Obviously, the initial thought of seeing this historic 50-year community match-up come to an end, for many, is disheartening. “As a community gathering, it is a shame to see (the game) go,” said culinary arts teacher Brent Mosley, who played

Playoff Points Worksheet Class

D B A A A A A A A

Opponent

Muskegon Catholic Central Spring Lake Caledonia Grand Haven Muskegon Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills Zeeland East Muskegon Reeths-

Bonus

W/L PlayPts OppW OppL AdjOppW Multiplier

Pts

OppGms

BP Avg

W

32

7

2

7

8

56

9

6.222

W W W L

64 80 80 0

8 5 2 8

1 4 7 1

8 5 2 7

8 8 8 1

64 40 16 7

9 9 9 9

7.111 4.444 1.778 0.778

W

80

3

6

3

8

24

9

2.667

W

80

5

4

5

8

40

9

4.444

7

2

6

1

6

9

0.667

0

9

0

8

0

9

0.000 28.111

L 0 Puffer Grand Rapids Union W 80 Totals 7-2 496

Playoff points are arranged like this: a win against a Class A school is 80 points; Class B, 64; Class C, 48; and Class D, 32. A team receives no points for a loss. This year, Shores received 496 playoff points, which is then divided by the number of games played: 9. Thus Shores had 55.111 points. Then, bonus points are calculated. To figure these out, take the number of wins each opponent had and use a multiplier. For a win, the multiplier is 8, for a loss, 1. Multiply the number of wins by the multiplier; then divide by number of opponent’s games. Finally, add all of the bonus points to the playoff points to get the total playoff points. With our 28.111 bonus points, Shores’s total playoff points were 83.222 football for Shores in the 1980s. “We alumni still talk about the times when we played Catholic.” Other alumni, like middle school science teacher Eric Wahlberg, said he will miss the rivalry. “It is a shame to eliminate such a great tradition for our two schools and athletic communities,” Wahlberg said. “Unfortunately, the state of high school athletics today does not always consider home town rivalries and community traditions that make high school athletics so special.”

Portenga’s press release said people need to look at the big picture. “Although some people are disappointed in this announcement, our athletes fully understand that our annual priorities start with winning our league, earning home field advantage, and making a drive towards Ford Field,” Portenga said. “Beating the Crusaders each year simply does not trump these three goals.” Since the fall of 2003, Shores and MCC have started their seasons by playing one another. Shores and Catholic have split the past 12 meetings,

but Catholic has won considerably more games, with a 35-14-1 record. “I understand people’s disappointment,” defensive coordinator Todd Conrad said. “It’s a neighborhood rivalry, there are a lot of fans at the game, and there is a long history between the two schools. It’s a deep tradition.” Conrad also said he understands where people, football alumni or not, are coming from. “I would hope that most people can realize that the game is a no win proposition for our athletes,” Conrad said.

“We gain very little by playing them, even when we win. Continuing to put our kids in this position to satisfy the nostalgia of the fans seems like it might be a misplacement of our priorities.” In regards to playoff points, playing a Class A school, earns Shores 80 playoff points. Playing Catholic, a Class D school, earns Shores 32 points. “Traditions change. All the time. And let’s face it, our tradition in football has been mediocre at best,” Conrad said. “Maybe instead of resisting change, we should be welcoming it.”


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