1. Smoke Signals
PTHS
November 2007
Volume 39, Issue 2
Teens and Caffeine: A Generation Addicted
Photos by Katie Gavlick
stUDents line up at Starbucks ordering their choice of caffeine. Starbucks is one of the most popular places students are drawn to in order to get their daily energy
boost.
Andrea Briggs
Syntax Editor
T
eens today are drinking more caffeine than they ever have before,
aned this may be having an adverse effect on their growing bodies.
In a survey done of 135 PTHS students, results showed that surveyed
teens have already fallen into the dangerous habit. 85% of the students
said they ordered caffeinated coffee when they visited Starbucks, and
75% said that they drank energy drinks or sugar-laden soda along with their
regular coffee. While most visited Starbucks every so often, nearly 25% of those
surveyed went every day or every week. Their heads might be spinning with all
the caffeine that they drink, but their young bodies are beginning to slow down.
Caffeine is a stimulant that increases heart rate and alertness, which
explains why it is so popular among students trying to keep awake in class after
staying up all night doing homework and other activities. If ingested in high
enough quantities, it may also cause anxiety attacks and hypersensitivity. Many
adults drink a cup of coffee each morning to start the day, but the growing number
of adolescents adopting this habit is concerning, considering that their bodies are
still developing and more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Caffeine is also highly
addictive, and some users consider it the only “legal high” left. Most students said
that they drink caffeine because the “buzz” makes them feel good.
“I feel so awake and jumpy, and I have the energy to do anything,” said
sophomore Amber Doerr. This not only describes the effects of caffeine on the
nervous system, but additionally that of many illegal drugs on the human body.
While coffee may be cheaper, it isn’t necessarily safer. Over time, caffeine causes
problems ranging from heart arrhythmia to stomach ulcers.
“I have chores to do at home and all my class work, and there aren’t
enough hours in the day, so I have an espresso to get me through it all,” stated
senior Christina Snyder. In the past ten years, the workload on students has
increased, and expectations continue to rise. Teens are compensating for this
by using stimulants to keep them going, unaware that the more they drink, the
more they become dependant on the drinks. If they go without their daily dose,
withdrawal symptoms will set in, including headaches, nausea, and extreme
fatigue.
The coffee houses of today are much like the ice cream parlors of the
past – drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages has become a prominent
social function. Groups of girls meet at Starbucks on the way home from the mall
to chat, and troupes of boys hang out at the skate park, guzzling drinks like Red
Bull and MONSTER. At nearly two and three dollars a pop for these caffeine
laden energy drinks (and even more than that for a Starbucks latte) the craze
can take a toll on teenager’s wallets as well as their bodies. After all, high school
students are making minimum wage around $7 an hour – but at least they’ll be
awake to work the night shift to pay for their costly addiction.

2. Peters Township Reference
PTHS
November 2007
Smoke Signals
November 2007
Sunday
Tuesday
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
5
6
7
11
18
25
Leonardo
DiCaprio’s
Birthday
12
Cook Something
Bold Day
9
Rolling Stone Magazine
premieres 1967
10
Sesame Street
premieres 1969
17
Marie Antoinette’s
Birthday
National Sandwich
Day
No School!
13
World Kindness Day
19
Pop Tarts created
1965
3
16
8
American Football
League formed in 1960
with 8 teams
Saturday
Friday
2
Report Card Day!
4
2
14
20
15
21
Oklahoma
become s t he 46t h US St at e
1907
No School!
26
27
The Price is Right
Jimi Hendrix’s
premieres 1956
Birthday
No School!
28
Jon Stewart’s
Birthday
22
Thanksgiving
23
24
29
30 Stay At Home
Because You Are Well
Day
Kat herine Heigl’s
Birt hday
No School!
Ben Stiller’s Birthday
Happy
What Are You
Thankful For?
Thanksgiving
http://static.flickr.com/32/67033989_bb177c7356_m.jpg
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is produced eight times during
a school year by the students of Media II, III,
IV Journalism and extracurricular staff at Peters Towship High School, 264 E. McMurray
Road, McMurray PA 15317. Telephone: 724941-6250 x.5379. E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.
Commentaries, reviews, and opinion col-
umns are the expressed opinion of the author
and not of Smoke Signals, its advisor or the
Peters Township School District. Member of
the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ashley Czajkowski
Renée Wunderlich
LAYOUT EDITOR
Katie Gavlick
NEWS EDITOR
Grant Burkhardt
FEATURES EDITOR
Angelina Nepa
OPINION EDITORS
Alex Egan
Brian Lewis
SPORTS EDITOR
Bill Berry
Jordan Dent
Tim H u t chi n s ‘ 0 9 Meghan Manning ‘10 Reid Cservak
‘09
“ S o c c e r a n d m y “Mashed potatoes”
stuffed animals”
“The
periodic
table of elements”
Jason
L e wi s
‘08
Shalynn Giovannitti ‘10
“ M y
and
f a m i l y “My friends and the
f r i e n d s ” people around me”
“My
favorite
band,
Cartel”
MARKETING EDITORS
Brianna Lutes
Shelby Miller
STAFF WRITERS
Andrea Briggs, Emily Estep,
Gina Nepa,
Taylor Relich, Bridget
Stasenko, Katie Ellis,
Averi Clements, Paige Burris, Mady Dietrich, Stephanie Nitschmann, Stephanie
Cotugno, Ian Jackson, Dana
Hoelle, Melanie Hoffman,
Brendan Sikora
LAYOUT TEAM
Katie Gavlick, Kaylin Zawicki, Emily Correal, Shelby
Miller, Brianna Lutes
ADVISER
Mrs. Sitler
‘ 1 1 Sara
W e av e r

3. News
PTHS
Smoke Signals
Google Rated #1 Job by Fortune Magazine
Stephanie Cotugno
News Writer
Fortune Magazine rated Google as the United States where 15,916 employees work.
Sergy Brin and Larry Page, founders of
number one international company to work for in 2007
out of one hundred companies around the world. With Google, built a company around the idea that work
offices from New York City to Zurich, Switzerland, should be challenging, and the challenge should be
Google is one of the most successful organizations fun. Together they believe in giving the proper tools to
in the world. The Google organization enforces an groups of people who want to make a difference. With
invigorating, positive environment by hiring talented this motto in full view, Google puts their employees
people who share the same commitment, desire, before everything by focusing on providing an
environment where
and
passion
to
Google’s Top 10 Employment Benefits:
these
talented
change the world
employees can help
through technology.
1. Free gourmet breakfast, lunch, and dinner
make the world a
These employees
2. Climbing wall and volleyball court
better place. Google
also believe that
3. Free shuttle bus transportation
enforces their beliefs
they can work and
in various ways,
4. Free on-site hair salons and dry cleaners
have fun at the
such as paying for
same time. At work,
5. Swimming pool and spa
all meals for the
Google employees
6. 12 week maternity leave for new moms
can choose from
7. Personal trainer, nutritionist, and massage first few weeks after
a new child arrives
a climbing wall,
therapist
and providing free
volleyball
court,
8. Fitness center with a 24 hour gym and daily yoga
shuttle transportation
swimming pool, and
classes
from the homes of
spa for enjoyment
9. On site car washes and oil changes
employees to and
during
a
break
10. In house doctor (free doctor checkups)
from
work,
with
from collaborative
leather seats and
meetings
and
wireless
internet
paperwork. On-site
hair salons, a 24-hour gym, dry cleaners, and a free access.
in-house doctor are also available for the services of
Google employees are as passionate about
Google employees.
their lives as they are about their work. Because the
“While pondering my future, I feel that company is international and has a variety of cultures
Google is the dream job with all of its opportunities. involved in the corporation, Google celebrates
I am overwhelmed by my hope that one day I will
diversity through a flexible and supportive environment
be employed by Google,” said senior TJ Stiponovich.
where all of the employees are committed to creating
Google receives 1,300 resumés a day as the
organization tries to attract the most talented, hard perfection. “Working for Google would be an amazing
working people with the amazing benefits awarded to experience. In my future job, I would love to have
them. Google’s main headquarters in Mountain View, some of the perks Google employees have earned,”
California is just one of the sixteen locations in the stated junior Courtney Hannan.
Shoes for the
Holidays
Alex Egan
Opinion Editor
It seems most people have a few pairs if not
a closet full, of shoes they are trying to get rid of.
Now, from October 29 through December 19 you will
finally have a chance to clear some space in your
closet while giving to a great cause. The National
Honor Society is sponsoring a Shoe Drive to give the
less fortunate in the Dominican Republic a few new
pairs of shoes for the holidays.
Under the direction of junior Andrew Paul,
the drive is open to anyone in Peters Township who
would like to donate. “It’s really nice to give to the
less fortunate, especially when we have so much,”
said senior NHS member Jon Krak.
The drive will be accepting all types of shoes
in any size, as long as they are in reasonably good
shape. NHS is inviting all of Peters Township to
donate, and there are a number of ways to participate.
There will be boxes in homerooms at the high school,
at the Rec Center, and at both Pleasant Valley and
Bower Hill schools.
So look through your closet, pick our a few
pairs of shoes to donate, and make a pair of less
fortunate feet a little happier this holiday season.
Photos of past shoe drives can be found at
http://photobucket.com/albums/a327/missionpics
Click on Santa Fe Shoe Sub Album.
November 2007
What In The
World?
3
Twenty-six years ago, an Englishman walked
into a Chinese restaurant and asked one of
the waiters to write his name using the characters of the Chinese alphabet. He then took
the symbols to a tattoo parlor and asked tattoo artist draw the symbols on his chest. Fast
forward to last week, when the man went to
Thailand and was asked why he was advertising “Coca-Cola”. The man became very
upset and has decided to cover the characters with a different tattoo, adding that maybe he’ll use Japanese characters instead.
Jeffery Stephens of Two Rivers, Wisconsin stepped outside his house in time to
see a burglar break into the back of his
neighbor’s car. When confronted, the
burglar tried to run and Stephens, seeing it as the only solution, promptly sat on
the man until the authorities showed up.
When the 200-pound man finally stood up,
the criminal surrendered without protest.
Alana Glatt of New York is suing her florist for providing the wrong color flower
arrangement for her wedding ceremony.
Glatt’s claim against florist Stamos Arakas
is for more than $400,000 in restitution
and damages. Wow. Talk about Bridezilla.
Wisconsin appears to be the center for
strange news. Archery has been banned
at, surprisingly enough, Wisconsin’s Archery Park. Any person on the premises with a bow and/or arrows will be
fined and banned from the park indefinitely. Hmm… maybe someone misinterpreted the meaning of “archery”?
Compiled by Katie Ellis
‘Ranksteering’ Misleads College Applicants
Angelina Nepa
Features Editor
Students looking
to apply to college have
to start researching their
options somewhere. The
U.S. News and World
Report, which famously
ranks every four-year
college and university
once a year, has long
been considered a trusty
tool for such research. It
has, however, come under
fire recently, as colleges
around the nation voice
their problems with it,
suggesting that the given
ranks are not all that
meaningful.
“I would spell
it
U.S. N-O-O-S-E,”
said Robert Weisbuch,
president
of
Drew
University, in a recent
Newsweek. U.S. News
seems to be the absolute
authority on standards,
but many educators
wonder if its rank it is
an accurate depiction of
worth. The rank is based
on hard data (SAT’s
scores
of
incoming
freshmen, acceptance
rate, etc) as well as
a survey from peer
institutions that are asked
to assess other schools.
It is far from flawless,
resulting in a practice
called
“ranksteering,”
which
occurs
when
administrators
make
decisions to purposely
move
up
the
list.
Colleges that “ranksteer”
encourage early decision
and persuade students
who have little chance of
being accepted to apply.
Tired of receiving
a single number that
supposedly
defines
their complex institution,
administrators
are
fighting back.
A few
schools have opted out
of the ranking altogether.
Barnard College in New
York and other members
of the Annapolis Group
(100 liberal arts schools
on the East coast,
including
Allegheny
College,
Connecticut,
College, and Denison
University) have pledged
to develop a new system
to judge a school’s
merit. USC already has
participated in a new
type of ranking, calling
it “revealed preference,”
which examines which
schools students decide
to attend after being
accepted to several.
Photo by Grant Burkhardt
College-seeking seniors research universities at the career
resource center. The students use rankings from U.S. News
and World Report to pick the best college for them.
When schools were
chosen over others, they
advanced in the ranking.
Another
alternative
is U-CAN, a pending
database put together by
the National Association
of Independent Colleges
and Universities that
will allow students to
make
side-by-side
comparisons of two or
more schools.
The
main
problem
most
administrators have with
the U.S. News ranking
is that is does not offer a
look at the quality of life
on any given campus.
High-ranked
schools
may offer a campus full
of students that aced the
SAT’s, but others schools
might teach students
more. Ultimately, it is
fine to consider rank,
but, in doing so, make
sure to keep in mind the
credibility of that single,
arbitrary number.

4. 4
Features
PTHS
Renée Wunderlich
November 2007
Smoke Signals
Christian Hughes: Going Gold
Speak
OUT
Co-Editor-in-Cheif
The Gold Award, considered the equivalent
of Boy Scouting’s wellknown Eagle Scout, is the
goal of many girls from
Brownies to Life Scouts.
Through determination,
gardening skills, and a
desire to make a difference in her community,
Christian Hughes will
now take your questions.
What is the nature
of the Gold Award?
What does it involve?
“It’s the biggest
project of Girl Scouting.
According to the rules,
monetary
donations
aren’t allowed, so everything has to be done
from the spirit of charity.
There were a lot of materials needed: the marble
for the monument (plus
engraving), the cement
to hold it into the ground,
the land allotted for it,
etc. Businesses were
more than generous, and
I recruited some friends
to help plant flowers. It
was a lot of work in a
very crammed amount of
time; for a while, I couldn’t
even pour the cement
because it rained for
so many days straight.
In the end, it worked.”
What’s Your Favorite TV Show?
Your project, a memorial to those in the Washington County area who
have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan, is quite a
feat. How did you decide on this project?
“I wanted to do
something others hadn’t.
We are so fortunate here
in Peters- we don’t always take the time to
remember all that those
in the armed forces are
doing for us. Of course,
everyone is busy with
their own lives, but it’s
always nice just to take
some time to think.”
War and loss can be
touchy subjects. Did the
memorial have an effect on you beyond the
personal satisfaction of
the award you received?
“There was a
dedication on the site,
and lots of people with
lost loved ones came.
One family that spoke
had just recently lost a
son- it was beyond moving to hear them. And
even though everyone
was crying, we were
celebrating his life, and
all the lives that have
been lost. It was a real
healing
experience.”
Emily
Yang
‘08
“The Office - The awkward
situations make me laugh!”
Submitted photo
Senior Christian Hughes created a memorial for veteranswho have
served in Iraq and Afghanistan located outside of the Peters Township
Public library. She received the Girl Scouts of America’s Gold Award
for her efforts.
How does this project affect
the other aspects of your life?
Do you think it will make a difference in the lives of others?
“It definitely has impacted me deeply; there’s so
much meaning there in just a
simple marble structure. Just
the thought of the whole process hits me all the time. It’s
one of those things that really
make an impact, even if you’re
just driving by and see it. I’ve
seen first hand how people, me
included, have been moved.
Just to see the looks in people’s eyes- it means more
than what I could ever say.”
Christian’s memorial to those
who have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan from the Washington County area is located
directly outside of the Peters
Township Public Library, off
of E. McMurray Road. The
inscription reads: “The nation remains the land of the
free because it is the home
of the brave - Eleanor Davis.”
C oli n
M ull e t
‘09
“True Life- Sometimes it’s funny
to watch but it’s crazy some
stuff people are going through.”
Finding the Fun in PTHS
Angelina Nepa
Features Editor
We’ve all had those days. You know,
when your alarm doesn’t go off, you
get a flat tire on the way to school, you
forget to study for a test, your team
loses, and all the cafeteria is serving is
the vegetarian panini. Those days can
make you believe for a few hours that
high school can be the worst years of
your life. Admittedly, high school is NOT
the best years of your life, and parents
who tell us that obviously never took
calculus. But PTHS does has positive
aspects; it’s really not all bad. Here are
a few examples of the good things this
that high school has to offer.
Gym. It’s fun this year. Sure,
there are tests, but the fly-fishing
fieldtrips? Sign me up! It’s nice to know
that our school is attempting to make
our mandatory physical education not
so dull and clinical.
Drug dogs.
Katie is adorable,
GO
figure
Fast Food
we’re allowed to pet her, and she
occasionally disrupts class. As long
as we have no privacy rights as high
school students, we should at least
have an endearing intruder.
Random days off. Leave it to our
school to decimate the school week
by having no classes on a Thursday
- a nice change of pace.
Great teachers. Anyone who
has ever had a class with Mr. Houser
knows that he says “Hi” to you for the
rest of your high school career. And
you know you love it. Mr. King actually
treats us like we’re practically adults,
which we are.
Music Fridays. Sure, the list of
mystery DJ’s is backed up until May,
but it’s always nice to hear what our
classmates are listening to. I, for one,
love when everyone knows the words
to whatever Blink-182 song the MD
In 2006, The
US reached
$142
billion
in fast food sales.
McDonalds
has more than
31,000
locations world
wide.
plays and we all sing along on the
way to lunch.
The Morning Announcements.
I challenge you not to smile when
Natalie Palamides says the pledge.
Or when the morning announcements
crew plays a random video that we
don’t understand.
The biggest surprise about
school? On occasion, I actually study
things I enjoy learning. The Crucible,
anyone? Animal Farm? Chemistry (a
personal preference)? Granted, we
have to put up with classes we hate,
but they actually help us appreciate the
good ones. I’m far from an optimist,
but sometimes high school can
surprise even the most pessimistic. As
corny and obnoxious as it sounds, try
to focus on the positives, and you can
make your day so much better.
Wendy’s employs
246,000
people
Katie
F oglia
‘10
“Friends- It is hilarious and
the characters are really
funny and work well together.”
D oug
M aro n d e
‘11
“Fresh Prince of Bel Air - The actor
Will Smith is one of my favorites.”
The average
person eats fast
9.2
food
times
per month.
KFC sells more than
581
million
total chickens a year.

5. PTHS
Features
First ‘Office’ Convention Hits Scranton
Emily Estep
The first annual “The Office Convention” was
held in Scranton, PA, from October 26-28th.
Fans, including everyone from Scranton locals
to a few citizens of Ireland, arrived from locations
around the world to participate and to celebrate
their love of NBC’s The Office. The majority
of the supporting cast, writers, and producers
were present. All weekend, crazed fans cruised
the town, praying to run into their favorite
characters. The three days were packed with
events, including different Office-related parties,
concerts, and Question & Answer Sessions.
Different ticket packages determined
which events were accessible to individuals.
One such package, ‘Assistant (to the) Regional
Manager’ included access to the all-day street
festival, a cast question and answer session,
and a look-a-like party/concert. All participants
had access to the street festival. At the festival,
there were food stands, a giant NBC store, and
local venders selling merchandise. More than a
few cast members were spotted on the scene
Saturday, including Melora Hardin aka Jan
Levinson, Phyllis Smith who plays Phyllis Lapin,
and Bobby Ray Shafer known as Bob Vance,
Vance Refrigeration.
Later in the day, the cast question and answer
session was held in the gym of the University
of Scranton where 3500 people witnessed
the event. Besides the twelve cast members,
executive producer Greg Daniels was present.
Mindy Kaling, who not only writes many
episodes but also plays the character Kelly
Kapur, was there as well. The cast was asked
pre-approved fan questions by a representative
of the convention and a local Scranton news
anchor. Ed Helms (Andy Bernard) was asked
numerous times to sing songs that he has sung
on the show, like ‘The Rainbow Connection’,
Photo by Emily Estep
Mad About Fashion By Mady Dietrich
Staff Writer
The cast members gave high fives and thimbs ups as the
audience members cheered when they enter University
of Scranton gym’s stage for a roundtable discussion.
and to do his impression of Tom Brokaw. Angela
Kinsey (Angela Martin) was surprisingly smiley and
cheerful, despite the uptight nature of the character
she portrays. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone)
shared his competitive nature involving basketball.
“John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) and I play all the time
on the set. We always bet, and he always loses.
We’ll play for hours, and eventually, I let him win,”
said Baumgartner.
“The number of people in here is truly amazing. I
can’t even describe to you how good it feels to be a
part of this event,” said Craig Robinson (Darryl the
warehouse guy). That evening was the look-a-like
concert. For the first two hours, fans dressed up as
Jim, Pam, Mose, Dwight, Michael, and everyone else,
walked around getting praise from the attendees.
The cast members voted on the winners. After the
contest, there was a huge concert performed by The
Scrantones, who performed the show’s theme song.
Kate Flannery, who plays Meredith Palmer, joined
the band and belted out various songs. “Scranton!
There’s so many of you insane fans! You better
all be here next year,” stated Flannery during her
performance.
November 2007
5
Falling Into Street Chic
According to the major fashion
magazines and designers, leather jackets,
skinny jeans, black tights, high heels, ankle
boots, and bulky sweaters are fall and winter’s
new fashions. A rough jacket with skinny jeans
and bright high heels are necessary if you
really want to stand out. If fashion is a must
but you need to be less extreme, you could
wear wide leg jeans and platform shoes. If
the leather jacket look is too bold for you,
you could always wear a faux fur jacket. With
anything this season, the more the better - the
more fake fur you have on your jacket, the
more of a presence you will have in a room.
It’s a softer look in the street chic style. It’s also
a better choice if you are going somewhere
nice and don’t want to appear so casual.
To look dressier, you should wear
black tights with a baby doll dress from
the summer. Top that off with your new
coat, and your outfit will be complete with
high-heeled shoes that match your dress.
To dress down, you should wear those
black tights with shorts and ankle boots.
Wearing jewelry always makes an
outfit complete. This season you should
try wearing large pieces of jewelry called
statement jewels. They make your outfit really
‘pop’. The bigger the jewels the greater the
appeal. Having one big stone on your necklace
makes it go with any outfit, but if you are petite
don’t go for the longer necklaces. These will
make you seem smaller, and look like you’re
being dragged down. Round-faced people
should not wear such large jewels either.
Follow these fashion tips to be the
prettiest girl on the block this season!
Restaurant Review: El Campesino
¡Delícioso! - It Hits
the Spot
The Right Place
for a Good Bite
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Bridget Stasenko
Gina Nepa
Melanie Hoffman
Pulling into Waterdam Plaza, my friends
and I see the all too familiar locations of Harry’s
Pizza, Panera Bread, and Weight Watchers. We
were looking for somewhere to eat that offers
a variety of foods and snacks. That’s when
we spotted the vibrant, eye-catching letters
of El Campesino, Peters Township’s latest
restaurant additions. Upon our arrival into
the charming restaurant, we were greeted by
friendly, accented staff and seated. Almost
immediately, we were served with some of the
most delicious homemade tortilla chips and
salsa. The waiter was courteous, refusing
to let our glasses of water get below the half
empty line.
After ordering, the food came out hot
and within 10 minutes, making this stop fast
and easy, but also tasty! My enchiladas were
cooked perfectly: warm, but not too crunchy or
soft. The meals come in such variety that you
can buy one, two, or three course meals, along
with offering snacks such as small quesadillas.
This restaurant is perfect for students – the
prices are affordable with an enormous plate
full of enchiladas at only nine dollars. The
Mexican food is also a great change of pace,
leaving students craving more, and the
atmosphere leaves you wanting to take a trip
down south. ¡Vamanos!
I venture into this quaint, Mexicanthemed eatery on a cool Monday evening. A
perky mustached gentleman waits to seat me,
selecting a small booth near the front to occupy
my mother and me. I notice the young man’s
accent almost immediately. This café-style
environment sticks out among the Waterdam
shops, featuring fancy lettering on the exterior
to entice customers. I briskly sit down, set my
napkin on my lap, and open the menu; I am
ready to review the cuisine
The flashy menu provides an exquisite
variety. Whether one is in the mood for a
quick, crunchy snack or a full-out three-course
meal, El Campesino meets the demand. I
select Enchiladas Verdez as my entrée, and
am delighted with my choice once it arrives..
Chicken with guacamole sauce, sour cream,
and rice satisfies my hunger. The menu offers
a variety of options, including such choices as
margaritas and vegetarian entrees.
After leaving the restaurant with a full
stomach, I questioned other people about
their interpretations of the place. “The food’s
always tasted kind of slimy to me,” explains
sophomore, Megan Junker. “I definitely won’t
be going back.” Varying drastically, tenth
grader, Julianna Makrinos, “I’m obsessed with
that restaurant; I get a different thing every time
I go!” I side with Makrinos; we loved the overall
atmosphere of the eatery and I am already
planning future visits. So next time you are in
the mood for a change of pace, head over to El
Campesino. Its quick service and fun menu will
be waiting.
A Spicy Change to
the Average Meal
Staff Writer
A variety of Mexican dishes, a soothing
atmosphere, and sociable employees can
be found at El Campesino. As I entered the
endearing restaurant along with my friends, a
friendly waiter greeted and immediately seated
us.
As we were sitting down, warm tortilla
chips and fresh salsa were placed on the table.
We were given menus and our drink orders were
taken. The menu offered a variety of choices;
one could get anything from a cup of chili to a
platter of enchiladas. The drinks came quickly
but it took a good amount of time before our food
orders were placed. While waiting for our food
to be cooked, they supplied us with unlimited
amounts of tortilla chips and salsas, making the
wait seem not so long. The restaurant was kept
at a chilling temperature, which is good for a hot
day but not for the middle of October. I ordered
a chicken quesadilla, which came with rice and
an assortment of toppings. Toppings such as,
ripe, diced tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and sour
cream were served with my quesadilla. It was
warm and the cheese was mouth-wateringly
melted over top.
Finally after a scrumptious meal, the
three of us exited the restaurant receiving
mints and a cheerful good-bye. Overall, it was a
magnificent experience and I would personally
go back anytime.

6. Homecoming 200
7
A “Magical” Time
Katie Ellis
Staff Writer
“Of the Homecoming Dance, I have only
two complaints,” said sophomore Taylor Lawrence.
“Only two slow songs were played, and, for a
Harry Potter themed dance, there was almost no
Harry Potter stuff; the majority of the decorations
were winter themed. Other than that, I thought that
Homecoming was spectacular.” Junior Sarah Kradel
enjoyed the dance as well, but for a different reason.
“The cookies were amazing,” Kradel said. “Every
time we went into the cafeteria I made sure that I
grabbed one.” Along with Lawrence and Kradel, 782
other people attended Homecoming this October,
660 of which were part of a couple. Senior Johanna
Paeplow remarked, “Homecoming was an excellent
start to what will hopefully be a terrific senior year.”
Pat Flaherty, a freshman, agreed and summed up
Homecoming by adding, “Great friends, great food,
and great music; it was the perfect combination.”
Student council advisor Mrs. Brenda
Lamb would like to thank the following people and
organizations: Mike Allen and Kaitlyn Stroyne, this
year’s king and queen; Redford Photography, for
helping to make Homecoming more memorable
for everyone in attendance; the twelve teachers
and their spouses that volunteered to chaperone
the dance; Matt Roma, the DJ, who made his
first appearance; and of course, the Student
Council, which includes officers Jeana DeNardo,
Mackenzy Radolec, Alex Sam, Janel Carey, and
Jordan Klaja, for taking the time to make all of the

7. eek
nW
bb o
Ri
ed
R Red Ribbon Week:
Nat ional
Grant Burkhardt
A Tradit ion
News Editor
Photo by Grant Burkhardt
Mr. Burns presents senior Jason Chiappino with a Red Ribbon
button. Students were awarded with these pins for displaying
respect throughout the school.
The National Red Ribbon Campaign
runs on the belief that one person can
make a difference. PTHS once again played
host to its own branch of Red Ribbon Week.
The student organization Students Against
Drugs (SAD), planned the local events of
Red Ribbon Week; a five-day extravaganza
which began on Monday, November 12 and
continued through Friday, November 16.
“Red Ribbon Week is meant to be an event
to stop the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol,”
said Kevin McEvoy, a SAD officer. “The role that
SAD plays in Red Ribbon Week is to encourage all
of Peters Township to participate and lead a life of
good judgments.” Red Ribbon Week has a great
message to send to the students at PTHS, who had
the ability to get involved by “participating in our
wacky theme week,” which used drug-free themes
to allow students to dress up in crazy costumes.
Each day of the week had a different theme
in which the students participated. Monday was
“Don’t Sleep on Drugs” (Pajama Day), Tuesday was
“Sock it to Drugs” (Crazy Sock Day), Wednesday’s
theme was “Put a Cap on Drugs” (Hat Day),
Thursday was “Exercise your Right to be Drug
Free” (Sportswear Day), and school spirit was
shown off on Friday with a theme of red and white.
The members of SAD were in charge of
organizing what is always an exciting week for
students. SAD advertised throughout the high school
in the weeks preceding the festivities. “You will see
flyers, hear announcements, and hear your friends
talking about Red Ribbon Week and the wacky
theme days that are associated”, McEvoy explained.
As always, the week was full of excitement
as students participated in the theme days while
learning valuable life lessons along the way. The
halls were full of off the wall clothes, incredible color,
and a great sense of school spirit. Red Ribbon Week
was a great learning experience and lots of fun.

8. 8
Opinion
November 2007
PTHS
Smoke Signals
Sleep Problems Surface in Students
Ashley Czajkowski
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Students across the nation
slowly rise each school day to the
sound of their alarm buzzer, usually a
mere seven hours after they went to
sleep. For the most part, a student is
up by 6:30 AM, on the way to school
by 7:00 AM, and in class by 7:30 AM.
Before Thomas Edison’s invention
of the light bulb in 1879, people slept
an average of 10 hours a night; today
Americans average 6.9 hours of sleep
on weeknights and 7.5 hours per night
on weekends (NSF’s 2002 Sleep in
America poll). Adolescents should
obtain about nine hours of sleep per
night; however, the majority could
concur that this is not always the case.
“I’m lucky if I can sleep for six hours,”
remarked junior Kristen Gioella.
“After going to club meetings, having
volleyball practice for two hours, doing
at least two hours of homework, and
then studying, I’m relieved if I can
get to bed anytime before midnight.”
After taking these situations
into consideration, it is not surprising
how many students suffer from sleep
deprivation or at least need some
form of caffeine to get them going
in the early morning hours. Sleep
deprivation isn’t just something to
be taken lightly; it has become one
of America’s top health problems. It
can be associated with the following
symptoms: headaches, dizziness,
irritability, etc. However, weight loss/
gain and fainting are also indications
of this problem. Although some of
these situations may seem outlandish,
they aren’t entirely implausible. One in
four US high school students admit to
falling asleep in class at least once a
week, but even with all of the statistics
out there, this problem will most likely
remain unaltered. Suggestions such as
a later start time for school has been
made throughout districts, but then
afterschool activities would run later;
class time could be reduced, but this
would prove insufficient as each period
is already a mere forty-one minutes.
Thus, it seems students will continue
living with this problem for the next
few months until summer vacation.
Fishtank : Sleep Depravation
Photo by Bridget Stasenko
Senior, Clinton Amend, sleeps during a Scene day in broadcasting, when he was suppose to
be looking for different techniques used to tape the movie Ratatouille.
Renée Wunderlich
Co-Editor in Chief
Sleep Facts
60% of students are sleepy during the day and
30% fall asleep in class at least once a week.
• Almost 1/3rd have trouble sleeping every night.
• Lack of sleep leads to health problems; fatigue,
obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease,
shortened lifespan, suppressed immune systems
and depression.
• Almost 74% of all Americans do not get enough
sleep each night.
•
Stephanie Nischmann
Music: Links us Together, Sets us Apart
Staff Writer
With nearly 70 million iPod users worldwide, it’s no surprise that the iPod
is a necessary accessory for most students. Whether it’s in their car, in the
morning, in between classes, or any other time, students listen to their iPods
daily. Although Chris Brown’s new hit, “Kiss,
Kiss”, is the number one song on iTunes right
now, students have other favorites.
“My favorite song on my iPod is definitely
‘Apologize’ by One Republic,” said junior Abbey
Ubinger. Although some students are into
hard task. “I like my iPod so much because it has all the music on it that I want
to listen to. I recently added Colbie Caillat and Hannah Montana,” said senior
Alli Moore.
With the ability to update your pod anytime you would like adds to the
craze of the iPod. “I like a lot of different
bands, but my favorite is Outcried
Dilemma. It’s so much easier to have
them, along with my other favorite
bands, on my iPod because it keeps me
“newer” songs, other students like the music
from previous generations better. “Personally, I
really like the music from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. It
just attracts me more than the same repetitive
music they play today,” stated sophomore
Meghan Manning.
Students’ opinions about good music
seem to differ but surveyed students have said
that they have a great variety of songs on their
iPods. With a selection of over 6 million songs
available on iTunes, keeping your iPod updated with your favorite music isn’t a
from having to carry around a million
CDs,” said freshman Ricky Ghilani.
“To me, music helps personalize
you. You get a feel for what people are
like by what kind of music they listen
to,” said Abbey Ubinger. Surveyed
students agree that music is another
way that you can set yourself apart
from other people. Although students’
interest in the iPod can link them
together, the music they have uploaded on theirs can set them apart.
“Personally, I really like the music
from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. It just
attracts me more than the same
repetitive music they play today,”
–Meghan Manning, sophomore

9. November 2007
Brian Lewis
PTHS
Opinion
PowerSchool: The Bane of Students Free Time
9
Opinion Co-Editor
Every single time a teacher mentions PowerSchool, it seems as if I am
back in second or third grade. Sure the concept for PowerSchool is nice, students
have the opportunity to check their grades for every assignment in every class.
The problem is the parents being able to look at grades. In my experience,
parents are prone to overreactions when they review grades. Although a student
may know that in the long run a seven out of ten is not a horrible grade, a parent
will look at, and take the grade out of context.
All they will look at is the ‘C’ next to the ‘A’, and
then proceed to freak out, and let’s not even
mention what happens when someone gets a
poor grade on a test.
“Edline and PowerSchool are both
horrible. Although it is nice to see my grade, I
wish my mom couldn’t see anything except my
overall class grade,” senior Alex Kocher stated.
Parents do not need to see every single grade
their child gets in a class. If anything, it can
be counter-productive for everyone involved. I
know when my mom looks at PowerSchool; she
starts to harass me about every little grade that
doesn’t measure up to her standards. All that
should matter is what the current overall grade in a class is, not every individual
grade.
“I’m not a big fan of PowerSchool. I think students should track their own
grades,” senior Jordan Klaja commented. It seems as if the school is intent upon
babysitting the student body with their grades. After living in several different
school districts, this is the only area where the parents of high school students
are able to look at every single grade their child receives in every class. The last
time that happened to me, I was in fifth grade, not high school.
Now, I understand the school’s intentions. Plenty of kids hide those low
grades from their parents, but if a parent is truly concerned, why can’t he or she
just request for the teacher to send home the test or other graded work? It seems
to me that would be the simplest solution.
These issues with PowerSchool are compounded by problems that
teachers have with using PowerSchool. Perhaps
the biggest change with the switch from Edline to
PowerSchool is the inability of teachers to post
assignments on the site. There have been several
different times when I forgot to write down my
homework, and a simple check of Edline allowed
me to find the assignment without frustration.
This year if I forget my assignment, I’m in trouble
if none of my friends are in the class.
One of the other problems teachers have with
PowerSchool is displaying the correct grade
for students and parents to see. Due to the
difficulties for teachers when they save grades,
many students are unable to see their correct
grade in a particular class. This can lead to a
plethora problems when a parent sees that their child has a ‘C’ in a class, when
in actuality the student has an ‘A’.
Overall it seems like PowerSchool isn’t a very effective idea. From
teachers rarely updating to parents getting a bit out of whack over the slightest
inconsistency with grades, PowerSchool has failed on all levels. Perhaps it is
time to look for a new solution, or even return to the old fashioned report card for
grades.
“Edline and PowerSchool are both
horrible. Although it is nice to see my
grade, I wish my mom couldn’t see
anything except my overall class grade,”
–Alex Kocher, senior
Living in
the Web of
Unnecessary
Drama
Page Burris
Staff Writer
High school drama can change
a teenager’s whole view on life. “I can’t
wait to get out of high school because
of all the unnecessary drama that
goes around,” said sophomore Ashley
Sherwin. Leaving parties because
you despise someone that’s there,
switching lunches because your exboyfriend or girlfriend is in it, going to
guidance because you think nobody
else can be trusted with what you have
to say are just a few examples. Just
because something seems so little
to one person doesn’t mean it can’t
mean the world to another. It’s small,
unnecessary problems like these that
students make issues bigger than they
seem, but it’s a part of high school.
People fight over the stupidest things;
friends are decided over how you look or
what sports you play, not based on your
actual personality. Unlike in preschool,
a time when a crayon is shared and a
new friendship begins whereas in high
school friends come and go. There are
new situations that arise, such as going
to parties with more going on than can
be handled. At school, there are rumors
being spread everywhere. Sometimes
all that can be said is, “I didn’t do
it,” and hope that people believe it.
What everyone doesn’t realize
is that if you don’t want to go to a party,
don’t go. If someone asks you to do
something and you don’t want to, don’t
do it, because if they’re really your
friend then it won’t matter. Everyone
has a choice to make; it’s up to him or
her to make the right one. However,
rumors require a different plan of attack.
“People may say one thing and mean
another,” said Sophomore Mike Morford.
Students get in fights all the time just
because of a miscommunication.
Maybe if students would talk issues
out with the person they’re having a
disagreement with, life would be a
lot easier. In the end, things could be
different if everyone made an effort.
Halo 3: Pwning Noobs
Dana Hoelle
Staff Writer
The game Halo 3 debuted on
September 25, 2007. Halo 3 came out
three years after Halo 2, so it wasn’t
surprising that fans waited in line at
midnight to buy the electrifying new
game.
Halo 3 builds upon the
previous games in the franchise. The
action takes place mostly on foot but
also has segments that have vehicular
combat. Halo 3 is a first-person shooter
that follows the character Master Chief.
It is based on Master Chief’s struggle
against the Covenant and the Flood.
Weapons, melee, and grenades are
obtainable to the player to use during
the game. All the weapons from the
previous Halo 2, with power alterations,
are also available in the series. Halo
3 also introduced “support weapons.”
An example of this is flamethrowers,
that limits the player’s normal combat
options and slows them down. There
are also items that have a variety of
effects, such as, defensive effects or
objects that blind the enemy. A player
can carry only one of these weapons
at a time.
Halo 3 contains two different
playing options, campaign and
multiplayer. Campaign contains nine
levels, which are based on the storyline
of the Halo trilogy. Players can play
with others via Xbox 360 Live, or by
themselves. Instead of every player
being a Spartan, the first player plays
as Master Chief, the second player
plays as the Arbiter, and the other
players play as Elites. Each player
has the same abilities, although the
Arbiter and his Elites have different
starting weapons. Halo 3 features a
“campaign-scoring mode.” It is called
the meta-game. The meta-game has a
more competitive atmosphere with its
cooperative play. Players are awarded
extra points for defeating enemies
during levels in campaign playing. You
can lose points if you die or kill your own
teammate. Multiplayer can have up to
four people playing it via a split screen.
Up to sixteen players can participate in
these matches.
“Halo 3 is such a fun game, I
play it everyday. It’s basically the only
thing I do in life,” said senior Jimmy
Arillotta. Many people play Halo 3,
it holds the record for the highest
selling game in entertainment history
(gamepro.com). This game is popular
with adults and kids alike, which makes
it one of the biggest video game crazes
in recent memory. “I can’t imagine
anyone who doesn’t play Halo 3. It
is such an enjoyable game to play,”
said senior Greg Maronde. Like Greg,
I enjoy pwning noobs on Halo 3, and
you should too.
SHE SAID
HE SAID
Brian Lewis
Dating
How do you
ask someone out on a date?
Ask in person a few days ahead, and make it sincere.
The ideal
What do you do to
Take a shower, put some clothes on, and schmooze some
money off the parents.
Who
Just flat out ask them. Don’t act nervous, because it really
shows when you are. And do it in person! Just be casual
and confident.
first date is:
Dinner at a real restaurant, not the mall food court, and
then just somewhere that you will both enjoy. It doesn’t
really matter.
Who do you think pays?
Alex Egan
The truth is, it really doesn’t matter. It just has to be someplace where you can have fun, talk, and get to know each
other better. As long as you’re able to have fun with each
other any place will work!
get ready?
Some girls take hours and hours, but I just get ready as I
normally would, and slap on a cute outfit. You don’t want to
look like you’re trying too hard.
pays?
Whoever asked for the date. I’m pretty old fashioned, and
I probably wouldn’t ask a guy out, so normally I would say
the guy should pay. However, I think the girl should at least
offer.

10. 10
00
IAN
IAN
JACKSON
Sports
Extra
Point
Smoke Signals
01
TAYLOR
RELICH
Which NHL team is the best?
IJ- I think the best team in the NHL this year is
the Buffalo Sabres. They have gotten off to a
rocky start, but they are most talented team in
the league. They have a great mix of players,
young and old. They have the deepest roster in
the league for sure.
TR- I definitely think that the Ottawa Senators
are the best team in the NHL. They are
12-1, and are dominating in their division.
They have been a force for the past couple
seasons, and this is the year that they will
finally go all the way and win the Stanley
Cup. The Senators have proved their playoff
prowess in the past, by knocking off the
Penguins in the first round.
IJ- The Senators are a very good team, but I
don’t think they have the offensive firepower
that the Sabres will have throughout the
season. Stars such as Thomas Vanek, Maxim
Afinogenov, Jochen Hecht, Derek Roy, and Brian
Campbell carry their offense. The Senators are
off to a great start, but the Sabres will finish
on top.
TR- The Senators are lead by Daniel Alfredsson, Dany
Heatley, Mike Fisher, Jason Spezza, Wade Redden,
and phenom Patrick Eaves. The Sabres are off to
a bad start and I don’t think that things will get that
much better. The Senators have the best 1-2 punch
in the league at goalie, with Ray Emery and Martin
Gerber, and the Sabres have let in way to many goals
to win games.
IJ- I agree that the Senators have two great
goalies, but the Sabres aren’t hurting too bad
themselves. Ryan Miller is one of the best young
goalies in the league, and former Penguin’s
goalie Jocelyn Thibault is one of the top backups
in the NHL. The Sabres’ offense will definitely
make up for any shakiness that the team has
on defense. Their Defense isn’t that bad. Did
I mention they have Maxim Afinogenov? The
guy is amazing.
TR- I agree that the Sabres are legitimate playoff
contenders, but their record needs a whole lot of
work before that can happen. They are both in the
Northeast division, so we will see who prevails come
playoff time.
Bill Berry
November 2007
Return to Glory
Co-Sports Editor
The Pittsburgh Penguins
opened their 2007-2008 season
with high hopes and expectations.
The team is looking to build upon
their success in 2007 with a trip to
the Stanley Cup Finals. To achieve
this goal, the Pens will turn to
captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby
is the reigning National Hockey
League MVP and scoring leader.
At only 20 years old, “Sid the
Kid” is also the league’s biggest
star. However, he won’t have to
do it alone. He is surrounded by
other young talents such as the
2006 NHL Rookie of the Year
Evgeni Malkin, and 19-yearold phenom Jordan Staal. The
Penguins also have many strong
veteran players. Sergei Gonchar,
Mark Recchi, and Gary Roberts
are all proven playmakers.
“I think their experience
Ian Jackson
will pay off down the road into
the play offs,” said senior TJ
Stipanovich. The Pens’ front
office has done its part to help
the team win the cup. The
acquisition of Petr Sykora has
already made a huge impact
on the Penguins. Sykora is
one of the top goal scorers on
the team and has collected
more than 250 career goals.
The roster is also loaded with
scrappy players and hustlers.
One of these players is Maxime
Talbot, who has begun to evolve
into a legitimate scoring threat.
The
only
question
mark that remains is the goalie.
Marc-Andre Fleury has shown
signs of brilliance, but has also
been ineffective at times. General
Manager Ray Shero has tried to
strengthen this by adding goalie
Dany Sabourin to the team.
The Penguins will face stiff
competition in the Atlantic
division.
“It’s very, very close
and very tight. There are a lot
of good teams,” said GM Ray
Shero
(pittsburghpenguins.
com). The New York Rangers,
New York Islanders, New
Jersey Devils, and the
Philadelphia Flyers all have
solid squads.
Even
though
the
road won’t be easy, fans are
confident. “I think the Pens will
definitely win the Stanley Cup;
they have too much talent not
to,” said senior Mike Moretti.
Come support the Penguins at
Mellon Arena as they attempt
to reclaim their spot as one of
the NHL’s best teams.
Hockey Team Seeks Redemption
Staff Writer
In the past decade, the varsity hockey team
has only known winning. They were State Champions
in 2002, 2003, and 2005. They sported an overall record
of 89-15-1, from 2001 through 2005. They had another
pretty solid season in 2006, and then calamity struck.
“It was a tough stretch for our team, but
I think we are going back in the right direction,”
head coach Rick Tingle stated. “The players
we have want to win, and they want to have
the fun that we had during the dynasty years.”
The 2007 season was a disaster from
the beginning. The team began the season
with a 1-6-0 record and was immediately in
the cellar of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic
Hockey League (PIHL). The team tried to bounce
back by winning five of their next ten games,
before going on to lose five of their final six.
The forecast for this season, however,
looks to be much brighter. They are led by freshman
Jake Auchenbach, juniors Greg Jackson and Drew
Williams, and senior Rob Hough. The team should
greatly improve on last season’s poor performance.
With the core of last year’s team back and hungry
for redemption, this should be an interesting
year. The addition of freshman forward, Jake
Auchenbach, will be nothing short of huge for an
offense that scored very inconsistently last season.
The pre-season has gone fairly well for the
team. They compiled a 3-2 record, while some players
proved quickly to Coach Tingle that they could play.
Auchenbach showed all the upperclassmen that he
was going to be one of the team’s leading players.
He scored three goals, while assisting three
others. Junior Greg Jackson scored two goals
and assisted another, despite missing one game.
Senior captain, Robbie Hough, played well and was
very happy about the direction the team is going.
“I am proud to be the captain of this team.
When we won our championships, I was just a
freshman, but now I want to win and play a big role
in it. I think we have a good crew,” Hough said.
One setback during the season was the
injury of key player, junior Eric Zalewski. Zalewski
was injured during the game against Elizabeth
Forward. Zalewski collided with teammate Paul
Henney and that resulted in a concussion. He has
had five concussions in the past two years. He is
expected to miss a big chunk of the season, but is
still hoping to be a major contributor when he returns.
“I may be out now, but I am working hard.
I really want to get back on the ice and be a better
player than I ever was before,” Zalewski said. “It
is hard not playing with my teammates, but when
I get back I think we will all be on the same page.”
This is going to be an exciting season for
a team that has much to prove. They want to get
back to where they were during the dynasty years,
and they seem to have the talent to regain that
form. “This is going to be an interesting year. I don’t
know if we are good enough to win it all, but we
could be really good. I hope this year at least gets
us on the right track for the future and it’d be nice
to win the Cup along the way. It is going to be really
interesting,” said junior defenseman Drew Williams.
Pinned Down, but Hoping to Rebound
Brendan Sikora
Staff Writer
This year, the wrestling
team is looking much better than the
previous season. Several wrestlers
are coming back for their junior
and senior wrestling seasons. The
wrestlers have been preparing in the
off-season not only by wrestling, but
running and lifting weights as well.
“I’m ready to pin and win this season,”
stated junior Nick Ceccarelli.
This is a common theme
among the wrestlers - they are full of
confidence and focused on winning.
The program appears to be turning
around, and their hard work is
beginning to show. “I’m really looking
forward to helping the team out,”
stated sophomore Jeff D’Abarno.
The upcoming sophomores will add
to the team talent level. They
will offer more than just practice
partners and being able to
fill positions for the roster.
Last season there
wasn’t much to build on due
to a lack of participation with
the athletes. There were
only about 16 wrestlers on
the varsity team starting out
during the 06-07 season.
However, some quit or were
out with injuries and infections
for periods ranging from days
to weeks. This damaged the
team’s unity and confidence.
The point deficit was nearly
impossible
to
overcome.
In recent years, the
Indians haven’t had the largest
roster, and yet compete against
teams with over 30 wrestlers
with them.
Coach Dale Murdoch
is once again the varsity
team’s head coach. He has
been coaching the Indians for
the past three seasons after
taking a break from coaching
the middle school team. All
together, Coach Murdoch has
over fifteen years of wrestling
coaching experience.
“Wrestling is a great
sport that challenges students
in extreme conditions both
physically and mentally,” said
Murdock.

11. November 2007
Sports
Sports
Briefs
Justice is Served...Sometimes
Averi Clements
The NFL is finally taking
notice of the penalties and crimes
that have been occurring amongst
its players. However, the league
still has a great deal of work to do.
A major issue among
NFL fans is the implementation of
fines that are placed on players for
“excessive or offensive celebration”
when a touchdown is scored. Many
celebrations that were at one point
enjoyed by fans and teammates
alike are now exempt from
games for fear of fines expressed
both in dollars and in yards.
For example, Dallas Cowboys
wide receiver Terrell Owens was fined
$7,500 for a touchdown celebration
that involved using the football as
a prop to mock the Patriots’ filming
Staff Writer
scandal. Although $7,500 is a mere
slap on the wrist in comparison to the
large salaries that professional football
players make, it is usually accompanied
by an additional 15-yard penalty during
the game. “15 yards is a pretty big
number. It could mean the difference
between a win and a loss. It’s crazy that
you get pushed back more yards for
celebrating a bit than for a false start,”
commented junior Zack Malanos. Many
players are fined lesser amounts for
low, dangerous hits on other players.
Although the NFL recently
enacted a rule that prohibits excessive
celebration, not all players that dance
in the end zone are being punished.
“I’ve seen plenty of touchdowns that
could contain ‘excessive or offensive
celebration’. I don’t understand why
only half of those players are getting
penalized and the other half are left
alone,” said freshman Sean Hardy.
One such example is the famous
‘Lambeau Leap’, invented in 1993
by LeRoy Butler of the Green Bay
Packers. The celebration, named after
Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, involves
the scoring player jumping into the air
– and into the arms of his screaming
fans. One would expect a rather hefty
fine for such a dangerous act, but such
a penalty has thus far been exempt.
Many football fans are questioning the
NFL’s judgement. The inconsistencies
are being credited to everything from
racism to overall ignorance on the part
of the NFL staff. One thing is for certain:
the NFL needs to rethink its priorities.
Stewart Leads Golf Team to Another Solid Season
Taylor Relich
Staff Writer
Jon Stewart, a senior on the PT Varsity Golf Team,
has quietly strived this season to lead his team to the top.
Although he moved to Peters Township only a year ago, and
is a first year varsity player, he has made a profound impact
on the team. “Jon’s attitude and competitiveness contributed
to the overall success of the team,” said senior captain Grant
Burkhardt. Stewart, the unforeseen leader of the 2007 Indians’
golf team, was not a captain, but was the one Indian that made
it to the PIAA Individual State Tournament. In addition to his
individual accomplishments, Stewart also led the team to the
WPIAL finals.
“Jon Stewart has been a great addition to the PTHS golf
program. He has shown all of the characteristics of a toplevel player and has carried on the PTHS tradition of high
achievement at the WPIAL and PIAA levels. He is mature,
focused, and tremendous under pressure. Jon has proven to
be a role model for his teammates and has set a standard
for competitiveness, toughness, and personal integrity that
all of our players should emulate,” said head boys golf
coach David Kuhn. Stewart’s play during the matches
was stellar, shooting 77, 79, 82, 76, 75, and 83 during the
six rounds of the individual tournament.
Stewart was both an emotional leader and a role model. “I
am just glad that I could help the team out when we were in
tough spots,” said Stewart. He proved to be instrumental
in some of the team’s key wins over Mt. Lebanon, Bethel
Park, and other section opponents. Perhaps the most
important reason why the golf team will miss having a
player like Jon Stewart on the team is because he came
through for his team in high- pressure situations.
The golf team had yet another solid year this year,
with a record of 17-2 overall and a section record of 10-2.
The team qualified for the WPIAL team playoffs this year,
first playing at Krendale Golf Club, and then advancing to
the WPIAL final where they placed second overall with an
18- hole team score of 398.
Back and Better Than Ever: PT Soccer Takes a Stand in Playoffs
Jordan Dent
Co-Sports Editor
According to PIAA tournament
guidelines, the boys’ bracket takes the
top three teams, so the boys’ soccer
team has earned a spot in the state
contest. The girls’ bracket, however,
takes the top six, so the Lady Indians
soccer team has also gained a place in
the running for the state title. Both the
boys and girls played on November
6. The boys defeated Altoona 6-0 at
Richland High School, while the girls
beat Upper St. Clair at North Hills.
Starting with the WPIAL championship
and working down to the first round,
here is how WPIAL playoffs played out
for the PT soccer teams.
The WPIAL championship
game took place on November 3. The
Indians took on the Black Hawks of
Bethel Park on the chilly fall evening.
At the start of the game, the boys found
themselves in the same position as last
year- same venue, same opponent,
same prize. After two hard halves
of racing, shooting, and blocking,
regulation play ended in a 0-0 tie.
Unfortunately, BP took advantage of an
open shot opportunity to win the title by
a mere score of 0-1.
In previous playoff action, the
boys’ team played a semi-finals match
against Chartiers Valley who went into
the game at 15-5-0. The Colts scored
early, but Cody Partyka put one in the net
for PT to tie the game 1-1 at the end of
regulation. Overtime began, but the boys
didn’t want any part of the tie and Mark
Majoras sailed one past the CV goalie
to earn another win and another trip to
Elizabeth Forward to play the long-awaited
meeting against rival, Bethel Park.
On the road to semis, both teams
took place at West Allegheny on October
Mark Lacy leads the offensive charge as the
indians prevail in the state semi finals at Pine
Richland. The Indians won 3-0 placing them in
the State Finals at Hershey, PA.
25.
The girls lost their
momentum against Seneca
Valley (14-3-1), who would
later go on to win the WPIAL
title. Even after a goal by
Lauren Ray late in the second
half, they ran out of time and
lost a disappointing 2-1. Later
than night, behind a shut-out
by Ryan Koepka, 2 goals from
Shane Pruitt, and another from
Christian Brandstetter, the
Indians eliminated Fox Chapel
(13-3-4) with a final score of
3-0.
Playoffs
began,
despite the wind and rain, on
October 23 and both the boys
and girls teams pulled out
home wins. A perfect game
in goal and a great offense
led the girls to a 4-0 victory
against Oakland Catholic (810-2). The boys took on North
Allegheny (8-10-2) in a very
physical match. The offense
gained control and scored
three on NA’s defense. Even
though the Tigers managed
to get a goal past the Indians,
they didn’t have enough to
press through to win, leaving
the game with a 3-1 loss to
PT.
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Boys’ Soccer
State Finals!!!
Regular season record of 17-1-2
Playoff record of 6-1 Regular
Girls’ Soccer
Regular season record of 20-0-0
Playoff record of 2-2
Field Hockey
Regular season record of 8-3-1 in
section
0-1 in playoffs
Boys’ Golf
12-2 in section
WPIAL Runner-Up
Jon Stewart shot 75, 83 in PIAA
tournament- 32nd place
Girls’ Golf
11-1 in section
WPIAL Runner-Up
Lauren Hammell shot 81, 82 in
PIAA tournament- 17th place
Girls’ Tennis
Regular season record of 12-0 in
section
Playoff record of 1-1
Julie Stroyne and Emily Palko
won state doubles championship
Football
Final record of 3-6, 2-4 in section
Volleyball
Final record of 2-10 in section

12. Voices in the Hall
PTHS
November 2007
Smoke Signals
What is your Thanksgiving Day tradition?
Dave DeBee ‘08
“I’m going to my grandma’s house
to spend time with my
family.”
Conor McNamara ‘09
“I will eat a lot, a lot of food.”
Theresa Peranteau ‘10
“My family does the turkey trot
and my cousins come for a great
Thanksgiving Day Feast.”
Justin Feeny ‘11
“I watch football with my family
after eating all of the good food.”
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Laura Sunday ‘08
“I don’t really have a favorite, I eat
Kelly Flanigan ‘09
“um, mashed potatoes, I guess”
everything. Plus my mom doesn’t
usually cook that much.”
Jeff Miller ‘10
“I love bread and white meat, or
really dark meat.”
Michael Carbonara ‘11
“Turkey and mashed potatoes
and all that meaty stuff fit for a real
man!”
The Teachers’ Turkey Days
Mr. Wood
Mrs. Beckjord
“Chocolate Mousse”
P
T
“Homemade Pumpkin pie with
cool whip”
Mrs. Boni
“Having thanksgiving at my house so
that I can have my and my
husbands family together
once a year.”
Minute
the
“I just like having my family home”
Ms. Pollard
Katie Fitzgerald
‘08
Mike Stenger
‘08
Describe a few of your Thanksgiving day Traditions.
My grandma brings over pumpkin pie and we all watch
football.
Describe a few of your Thanksgiving day traditions.
Stuffing the turkey
What do you plan on doing over break?
Spend the day at the dollar theater and sleep
Where do you usually spend your holiday?
At home with my family
Pilgrim or Indian? ...Why?
Indian, I like the feathers
Are you a Black Friday shopper?
For Sure
If you were to design a float for the Macy’s Day
Parade, what would it be?
Any memorable Thanksgiving moments?
None that I can remember
A giraffe dressed as a turkey
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