1. Smoke Signals
March 2009 • volume 40 • issue 04 • Peters Township High School
The Night
Thoreau
Spent in
Jail
Mr. Barry Wood
Guest Writer
Congratulations Boys
Basketball Team on
WPIAL Championship!
Ian Jackson
Staff Writer
A team with no weaknesses usually becomes
a team with very few losses. That’s exactly what the
PT boys basketball team did, and they made the
entire Peters Township community proud with the first
WPIAL basketball title in school history. They stormed
through the playoffs with wins over Thomas Jefferson,
Central Catholic, and Penn Trafford. Those victories
set up the championship game against Mt. Lebanon.
Lebo handed Peters one of their two losses during
the regular season and PT came out ready to avenge
that loss. They would go on to defeat the Blue Devils,
60-54, and Peters Township was crowned WPIAL
Champions of the 2009 season.
“That win was so great. I was so proud of
the team and I was happy to have played one of my
best games of the season,” said junior Craig Wolcott.
“It was unbelievable. The fans were great, and that
made it even cooler.”
When Gary Goga took over as head coach
of the boys basketball team, the program was in
disarray and piling up losing seasons. They had a
solid group of core players, but they still seemed to
struggle year in and year out. Coach Goga changed
all that. He brought with him a winning attitude and
a totally new game plan. His teams would shoot the
three, and they would shoot it often.
Steve Radke, Pat Russo, Craig Wolcott, and
Nick Wilcox led the 2008 team. That team had the
most successful season in quite a few years and
would finish the year with a solid 16-9 record. Even
though they were bounced from the WPIAL playoffs
in the first round, the season gave the players hope
for bigger things in 2009.
“Coming into the season we really believed
that we had a great group of players and that we would
build off last season. We just need to figure out who
would take that place of the guys who graduated,”
senior star Stephen Radke stated.
To say the team achieved “bigger things”
this year would be a colossal understatement. The
team had success early, starting the season with an
unbelievable 17-1 record. The emergence of Craig
Wolcott, Corey Wilcox, and Phil Horensky gave the
team exactly what it needed to compliment stellar
Almost all students enrolled at PTHS at
one time or another have studied about the life
and times of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph
Waldo Emerson in one of their English classes.
Now students will be able to “meet theses guys
in person” when the acclaimed play “The Night
Thoreau Spent in Jail” by Jerome Lawrence and
Robert E. Lee is presented on our stage under
the direction of Mr. Wood.
Appearing in this thought-provoking
drama and Ben West as Thoreau and James
Northrop as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Supporting
roles will be undertaken by Erika Hubbell as Lydian
Emerson, Taylor Laster as Thoreau’s mother,
Harrison Buzzatto as John Thoreau, Justin
Gaab as Bailey, Drew Caliguiri as Ball, Lindsay
Bayer as Ellen, Tony Lages as Sam Staples,
Charlie Meyers as Edward Emerson and Anthony
Wagner as Williams. The citizens of concord will
be portrayed by Olivia Bayer, Kaitlyn Corbett,
Tyler Deiley, Meghan Fitzgerald, Kyle Gramling,
Melissa Jarrett, Mike Jasek, Ryanne Konno,
Sarah Leech, Cole Marks, Angela Mikec, Lauren
Spinabelli, Zach Tabler, and Linsey VanNewKirk.
Sarah Leech will provide music on the
flute and the drums will be played by Renée
Wunderlich.
Assisting Mr. Wood on this production
is Mr. Dave Walsh, Technical Director, Mrs.
Caryn Kuhn, Thespian Troupe Sponsor, Renée
Wunderlich, Assistant Director, and Kaleigh
Fitzgerald, Stage Manager.
The drama will be staged Thursday, March
23, at 7:00 and again on Friday and Saturday,
March 24 and 25, promptly at 7:30. Tickets will be
available at the door for all performances!!
seniors Steve Radke and Nick Wilcox. Horensky and
Jon Kovac would consistently knock down the threes
that Coach Goga desired the team to shoot, Corey
Wilcox anchored the defense, Wolcott totally ran the
team from the point guard position, and the team had
the ability to pound it inside at will with Radke.
Even though the team would eventually go
on to be tripped up by Central Catholic in the state
playoffs, the boys gave us all something to cheer for
and made the entire community extremely proud.
“I had a great time playing for basketball
here the past few years, but this season, I will never
forget. The way we came together and achieved our
goal was great,” Radke explained. “Next year I think
this team will be right there again, and maybe even
go for back-to-back titles.”
Library Arts Cafe
Page 4
Opinion
Odyssey of the
Mind Champs!
page 3
Features
The Emily Correal
Experience
Page 11
news
Sp o r t s
Inside
Bartram House
Bakery
Page 8

2. reference
March 2009
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
National
ChocolateCovered
Rasins Day
National
Goof-Off
Day
29
30
Smoke Signals
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Make Up Your
Own Holiday
Day
31
March 2009
Oranges and
Lemons Day
April 2009
1
April
Fool’s Day
5
6
7
First Simpson
show aired
1987
12
14
20
21
Garlic Day
28
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: 724-941-6250 x.5379.
E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.
Commentaries, reviews, and
opinion columns 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.
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Andrea Briggs
10
11
15
17
16
18
22
Look-Alike
Day
23
24
William
Shakespeare
born 1564
29
25
Plumber’s
Day
30
National
Prime Rib Day
Smoke Signals
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Renée Wunderlich
Amanda
Bynes born
1986
First Public
Library
Opened
Kindergarten
Day
27
Jet Li born
1963
4
Leonardo
Da Vinci born
1453
Easter
Sunday
26
3
9
World Health
Day
13
19
8
2
Luck of the Irish!
NEWS EDITOR
Stephanie Cotugno
FEATURES EDITORS
Dana Hoelle
Bridget Stasenko
OPINION EDITOR
Emily Estep
SPORTS EDITOR
Taylor Relich
MARKETING EDITORS
Paige Burris
Shelby Miller
STAFF WRITERS
Gabrielle Brinsky, Amy
Burzotta, Averi Clements,
Conor Jackson, Ian Jackson, Colleen Lugar, Monica
Paterra, Kaitlyn Richert,
Matt Schilling, Matt Sikora,
Bethany Suchy
LAYOUT EDITOR
Emily Correal
LAYOUT TEAM
Paige Burris, Shelby Miller,
Taylor Miller
MANAGING EDITOR
Katie Ellis
ADVISOR
Mrs. Sitler
Maze courtesy of: www.teach-nology.com

3. news
March 2009
Dance for the Cure
Stephanie Cotugno
News Editor
THON (the IFC/Panhellenic
Dance Marathon) is the largest
student-run philanthropy in the
world. The dance marathon took
place at Penn State University
during the last weekend in February
to raise money which will be used
to provide emotional and financial
support to the children, families, and
researches involved with pediatric
cancer. Throughout the year,
THON raises funds and awareness
with the hope that participants help
move towards finding a cure for
all childhood cancers. Since it’s
founding in 1974, the organization
has grown exponentially. With over
15,000 student volunteers and 700
dancers, THON continues to make
an impact. While people make
donations, students dance. This
year, the event earned a breaking
record of $7,490,133, to benefit
The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn
State Children’s Hospital.
The Four Diamonds Fund
was designed for the sole purpose
of THON’s fundraising efforts.
THON and The Four Diamonds
Fund proudly support each
other, having raised more than
$52 million to The Fund since its
establishment. The four diamonds
symbolically represent courage,
wisdom, honesty, and strength,
which the cancerous son of the
fund’s creators, Charles and Irma
Millard, believed where the traits
he believed were necessary to
overcome cancer.
“I had never heard of
THON, but it sounds like a really
amazing fundraiser. It is really
cool how so many Penn State
students come together for a
better cause,” said junior Louie
Wickstrom.
With the hope of making
a difference in the life of a child,
the fund helps pay for the cost for
treatments that insurance does
not cover, as well as the various
other expenses that may be
present. Funds also help support
the medical team that cares for the
children along with the pediatric
cancer research through grants
and the Four Diamonds Pediatric
Cancer Research Institute. As
the college fights to conquer
cancer, their motto continues to
be “together we will find a cure.”
Odyssey of the Mind
Emily Estep
Opinion Editor
The lone Odyssey of the Mind team currently
in practice at Peters Township High School has
won the regional championship and will be going to
states in April. The team consists of juniors Olivia
Bayer, Emily Estep, Ben
Gauthier, Melissa Jarret,
John Wawrose, and
Ben West. Although the
program is little known,
Peters Township has
been participating in
Odyssey of the Mind for
years. The current team,
with slightly different
members each year, is
not new to the states
competition. In fact, they
have made it there four
times in the past and
even went to the World
Championship in the
sixth grade, and placed
16th of 60 teams.
According to the Odyssey of the Mind
website, the program is “an international educational
program that provides creative problem-solving
opportunities for students from kindergarten through
college.” In the program, students use their creativity
and teamwork to solve problems that range from
building mechanical devices to presenting skits,
What InThe World...?
What in the World…?
usually based on literary classics. The United
States has thousands of teams, and twenty-five
countries participate worldwide.
This year, our representative team’s
problem was ‘the lost labor
of Hercules.’ The team had
to re-enact one of the 12
labors of Hercules and a
team-created ‘lost labor’,
include a god from Greek
mythology and an original
mythological creature, and
explain why the ‘lost labor’
was lost.
Junior
member
Olivia Bayer said, “We
were still creating our set
at 11 pm the night before.
Our win at regionals was
basically a miracle. I am
very hopeful that we can
really improve before states
and maybe even win.”
Bayer was a member of the team when they
went to worlds in sixth grade. John Wawrose and
Melissa Jarret have been in Odyssey of the Mind
together since the third grade, with the exception
of the middle school years. The entire team is
working hard to achieve their goal of reaching the
World Championship.
Smoke Signals
Drop
Everything
And
Read : PT
Tradition
Gabrielle Brinsky
Staff Writer
DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day is a
holiday in which schools, libraries, and bookstores
across the country are asked to host a day deadicated
to reading. Believe it or not, it is actually a legitimate
holiday recognized on US calendars. Held on April
12, this day is in celebration of author Beverly
Cleary’s birthday, lead by the National Educations
Association (NEA), Parent Teacher Association
(PTA), The Association for Library Service to Children
(ALSC), and the General Federation of America
Foundation (NAA). One of Clearly’s most famous
fictional characters, Ramona Quimby, is the girl
responsible for spreading the importance of literature
and encouraging families to make reading together
on a daily basis a priority.
Students always voice their favorite books,
but until recently, they had no idea what their
teachers enjoyed reading-- until now. PTHS librarian
Mrs. Morriston and senior Adrianna Carbonara have
come up with a project involving our high school
teachers and their favorite novels, biographies, and
other works, making posters with teachers and their
favorite books displayed on them.
“The objective was to promote reading
with our posters,” explained Carbonara, who helped
create the posters after she was prompted by Mrs.
Morriston.
Peters Township High School’s librarian
asked Adrianna Carbonara, junior Amber Doerr, and
senior Alana Chapman to help make the posters,
which included lists of our teachers’ favorite books.
These three students took pictures and posted
posters at the end of every aisle in library. In order
to encourage teachers to participate, Carbonara sent
out a letter to them asking for their favorite reading
material. She said that many teachers joined her in
her fight to bring students to read.
Compiled by Katie Ellis
Xiao Nan, a female Chinese athlete, has won over forty medals since graduating high school. However, Nan had been having suspicions since childhood that
she was not actually a woman, and recent hospital tests confirmed what she already knew: she had male chromosomes. Nan threw out at least thirty of her medals
and has given up all of her previous sporting events. She is currently undergoing surgery to become a man, a process that will take a minimum of nine months.
“911, what’s your emergency?” The appropriate response to this question is never “The [McDonald’s] manager just took my money and won’t give [it] back,
[and is] trying to make me buy something off the menu I don’t want.” That’s just what 27-year-old Floridian Latreasa Goodman said in one of her three phone calls
to 911 on March 3. After the fast food restaurant ran out of Chicken McNuggets, Goodman reportedly told police that she had received her change and was told
that McDonald’s had run out of the nuggets. When she asked for a refund, the manager refused and told her that she would have to choose something else on the
menu. When police told Goodman that she was not, in fact, experiencing an emergency, she replied by saying, “This is an emergency. If I would have known they
didn’t have McNuggets, I wouldn’t have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don’t want one. This is an emergency!” Goodman has
been issued a written notice to appear in court for the abuse of the 911 communications system, and will most likely have to pay a fine.
Kokomo, India: a 26-year-old man was taken into custody after using shoe spikes to climb twenty feet up a utility pole and becoming stuck. The man, whose
name has not been released, begged his neighbors not to call police even though he was hanging from a climbing strap around his waist. When police finally did
arrive, they discovered that the man had two outstanding warrants for arrests and was wanted for stealing copper wire from other utility poles in the area. In an
attempt to stay out of jail, the man told police that he “was just trying out his new shoe spikes,” though they did not believe him.
Police in Canterbury, England had to call upon the general public for assistance while attempting to catch a wild animal: a two-foot long white rabbit (about
the size of a small dog). Officers chased the rabbit for more than ten minutes at 2:30 in the morning before asking eight bystanders for help. The rabbit was chased
for more than 200 yards before it was caught, and police determined that it was someone’s pet, as it was accustomed to being handled. The rabbit has ironically
been nicknamed “Tiny” and is being held at the Barton Veterinary Hospital until someone claims him.

4. features
March 2009
Speak
OUT
What is Your
Favorite
YouTUbe
Video?
“Strange Kid
Singing.”
- Chris Cain
Senior
Smoke Signals
Best New YouTube Videos
Monica Paterra
Staff Writer
Every year, videos are uploaded by Youtube
users that viewers cannot get enough of. You may
remember “Charlie Bit Me” or “Laughing Baby
Ethan.” While those videos were fun to watch
numerous times, 2009 has brought many new
videos, adding to the “Youtube Hall of Fame.”
Ranging from a variety of subjects both serious
and hilarious, these videos are guaranteed to keep
your attention. Scoring over 115 million views since
its release, the video titled “Evolution of Dance”
takes the top spot with not only the most viewers,
but showcases dancing through the years. For six
minutes, one man gives viewers the opportunity
to see dancing styles starting in the 1950’s through
present day. He certainly has the motions down pat
with his fluid moves. The crowd in the video during
his performance is clearly enjoying his performance.
“Bizkit the Sleepwalking Dog,” is another hilarious new
video that was recently added. With close to five million
views, it shows that humans are not the only ones to
have bad dreams. It is funny to see the dog flailing
his legs as if he is chasing a cat. During his dream,
Bizkit runs into a wall, which obviously wakes him up.
Lastly, one of the more noted videos is called “David After
Dentist.” David, an articulate and intelligent seven year
old boy, is being filmed by his father following a dental
procedure. The dad happened to have his video recorder
with him and caught some very humorous remarks
by his son while under the influence of laughing gas.
During your spare time, Youtube is one of the first
places we all go to for a good laugh. “Evolution
of Dance,” and “Bizkit the Sleepwalking Dog”
are two of the many gems of videos to find on this
entertaining site. Many more of these thrilling
videos are to come that will keep America laughing.
Library Arts Café
Colleen Lugar
Staff Writer
“Trash Can Jim.”
- Joel Magnotti
Junior
“Charlie bit my
finger.”
- Chloe Burns
Sophomore
“David after the
Dentist.”
- Kelly Lewis
Freshman
The silence has been
broken and the coffee served.
From March 9-13 the PTHS
library was taken over by
the Library Arts Café for the
ninth consecutive year, this
time with the theme from
the board game Clue. From
Monday to Friday, the entire
school was entertained
by ideas organized by the
library staff.
Every day
brought a new and exciting
talent PTHS had to offer.
Monday, the Media
Department
showcased
photography and movies.
Finally, a chance for media
students to prove that all
their wandering around in the
halls was for a good reason.
Vocal music followed
on Tuesday, with singers
showcasing everything from
Broadway to classical tunes.
The female barbershop
quartet,Synchronized,
composed
of
juniors
Julia
Devine,
Melissa
Jarrett, and Hannah and
Lauren
Hobbs,
performed
their
four-part
harmony,
photos by Amber Doerr
serenaded the audience.
Wednesday, art classes
showed off their skills, proving
just how much creativity is in our
school. Acrylic paints, ceramics,
and graphics and design were
all displayed and demonstrated
by advanced art students.
Thursday was nothing
but drama in the library.
Theater made an appearance
on the second-to-last day,
entertaining the audience and
teachers who thought they were
just coming in for a muffin, but
instead taking a seat as the
actors’ talents captured them.
“I think Library Arts
Café is a great opportunity for
different groups to showcase
their unknown talents,” said
junior Molly Hanley, an active
member of the makeup crew for
the thespian troupe and alumni
of Theater Arts I, II, and III.
Rarely do rock bands
and libraries come together, but
the Library Arts Café made it
happen Friday. Bands such as
PITA, Beginning is Beckoning,65
Watts , and others were
selected for the chance to ‘rock out’.
The 2009 Library Arts Café
proved to be a successful way for
students to learn about the hard
work and entertainment value
involved in the performing arts.

5. features
March 2009
Music Department
Strives for Excellence
in Chicago
Kaitlyn Richert
Staff Writer
the city, competing musically, and
making memories with their friends.
The various groups competing
in the Heritage Music Festival have
been preparing for the trip for months.
The Mighty Indian Marching Band,
representing Peters Township as the
largest student activity in the school,
plans to work hard and have fun
while competing. Under the direction
of Drum Majors Ricky Palacios and
Sarah Leech, the band is looking
sharp and is determined to return
home with a Superior rating. While
each Department group competes, the
other Peters groups will witness each
performance and have the opportunity
to cheer on their classmates. All musical
groups are scheduled to perform in
a local Chicago school auditorium
and the Drill Team and Silks are
scheduled to perform in a gymnasium.
The Peters Township Music
Department will hopefully bring
home several Superior awards to
demonstrate their hard work and
effort throughout the past year. The
talented and hardworking group of
students is undoubtedly ready to
prove their motivation when they
depart for Chicago on March 25.
Bag Winter,
Get Ready
for Spring
Staff Writer
Beyond the Bubble:
American Diabetes
Association
Renée Wunderlich
No outfit is complete without a
complementary purse, bag, or tote. These
feminine accessories are the perfect way
to add color to a wardrobe spice up a look.
The upcoming warm weather will bring a
wide range of different clutches and purses
to choose from. Take advantage of these
fabulous trends, which mix fresh new styles
and classic designs. According to fashion
reporter Gill Hart, “A handbag is one of the
easiest and cost-effective ways to update
your wardrobe for spring summer 2009.”
A variety of colors are in stores for
this spring and summer. Neutral colors
(shades of brown and beige) along with
cheery colors (corals and oranges) will be
accessible. The colors can be displayed
on many different styles of handbags.
The classic “chain purses” can be
commonly seen on the runways. Designers
such as Marc Jacobs and Prada will
mimic the trend. Braided or woven purse
handles will also be available, giving
character to even the simplest of bags.
Whether
an
oversized
clutch
or a large tote bag is preferred, new
trends like fringes and quilted patterns
will be shown on many handbags.
Embrace the new handbags of
the warm weather months ahead and
find the bag of your dreams. There will
be many styles from which to choose.
Editor-in-Chief
About 7.8% of the American
population has diabetes, a disease which
prohibits the body from producing the
proper amount of insulin (an essential
hormone found in the blood) needed
for the necessary break-down of sugars
and starches. Amazingly, one quarter
of these people are unaware of their
potentially
life-threatening
illness.
The American Diabetes Association
(ADA) is working not only to spread
awareness, but to also to support research
for the prevention, and possibly cure,
of this disease.
They currently hold
fundraisers and educational events at both
the local and national levels. Perhaps the
Association’s greatest asset is the people
they serve – those men, women, and
children who are living with Type 1 or 2
diabetes. From nutrition and fitness guides
to managing a healthy life style, the ADA
website provides diagnosis resources,
general FAQs for concerned patients, and
Bethany Suchy
FAshion
Every two years, the Peters
Township Music Department takes a
five-day trip for a music competition. In
previous years, trips have been to Myrtle
Beach, Virginia Beach, and Disney World,
but this year the music department will
arrive at a new destination: Chicago.
In late March, students participating in
choir, concert band, marching band,
drill team, silks, orchestra, jazz band,
and wind symphony will have the
opportunity to establish themselves
as accomplished and hard working
individuals by competing in groups.
While the trip is taken to musically
compete, the Music Department has
developed a number of entertaining
activities to complete before the
competition begins. One day includes a
morning of sightseeing in the city, visiting
various museums and aquariums,
and attending a Dinner Dance cruise.
Additionally, the Music Department
students will have a chance to see the
Blue Man Group, and spend a few hours
shopping on the ‘Magnificent Mile.’
“I’m really excited to be in Chicago
for the first time,” confided junior Heather
Powell. “It should be awesome to see
the Blue Man Group perform because
they have a lot of energy.” Generally, the
students are very ecstatic about visiting
Smoke Signals
even a “Sugar-Free Recipe of the Day”.
If you, a friend, or a family member
has diabetes, support the search for a cure.
You can make a monetary donation through
the website in the form of a standard check
or as wedding/party favors for loved ones.
You can volunteer your time in various walks
for awareness, such as the Association’s
Step Out or Tour de Cure, or become a
sponsor for the event. You can also wear
the ADA “Support the Cure” wristband
(much like the Live Strong yellow wristband
for childhood cancer) to show your support.
There is no known cause for diabetes,
though studies suggest that both genetics
and environmental factors like a lack of
physical activity and diets low in valuable
vitamins and minerals affect how susceptible
an individual may be. To learn more about
diabetes, sign up for the ADA online
newsletter, or to find out how you can get
involved, log on to http://www.diabetes.org.
Courtesy of www.12.ioffer.com

6. Horoscopes
Aquarius
January 20 - February 18
Pisces
February 19 - March 20
Aries
March 21 -- April 19
Taurus
March 20 - May 20
Gemini
May 21 - June 21
You are very direct
While you value your
and assertive when
independence more than
You are reliable and
The ides of March have it comes to getting
Others may see you
anything else, you’ll need
hard working, which
you a bit depressed,
things done, but this
as a bit of a scatterto be especially carewill come in handy
though you are cresometimes backfires
brain, when really you
ful not to overstep your
ative enough to keep when you are with your during the fourth nine just have a lot on your
boundaries this month.
weeks. Be generous
While you find your
yourself busy through friends. Be aware of
mind. Take a
with your advice to oth- breath and takedeep
adventures to be excitthis time of blustery how you communicate
things
ing, others may perceive Pittsburghian weather.
to others; your con- ers, but not before you
one day at a time.
hear them out.
you as out of control and
fidence may be perrebellious.
ceived as vanity.
Leo
July 23 - August 22
Virgo
August 23 - September 22
Taking charge comes Your thoughts march in
neatly filed lines, but
naturally to you. Use
this to your advantage your room, your locker,
and practically everywhen grouped with
thing else is far from
others who are barely
orderly. Take some
motivated. Be cautious of your temper, time to reorganize your
as it has a habit of get- space and you’ll find
yourself in perfect
ting you into awkward
balance.
misunderstandings.
Libra
September 23 - October 22
One of your greatest
strengths is your ability to adapt. This will
come in handy, as there
are big changes in your
future. Just be sure that
you recognize the opportunities when they
come around.
Scorpio
October 23 - November 21
Sagittarius
November 22 -December 21
June 22 - July 22
Don’t let your dreams
of the future distract
you from the here and
now. Try not to isolate
yourself from your
friends – you’ll find that
you need them more
than ever this month
– and make an effort
to share thoughts with
those around you.
Capricorn
December 22 - January 19
You’re naturally cautious of new situations,
You may find yourself Capricorns are generand that’s generally a
and
with unexpected free ally hard working you
good thing. This month,
determined, and
though, eliminate your
time this month. Use
suspicions and take a that time to your advan- are no different. Just rechance on new and difmember to take time for
ferent ideas. Share your tage and be careful not yourself and relax! It’s
to waste it – take a trip
experiences with your
friends or take them with with friends or catch not always a bad thing
to let loose and just be
you on your adventures
up on schoolwork.
a kid.
– you may have more fun
than you expected.
Photo By Alina Chapman
For St. Patrick’s Day 2009, the
Campus Life kids toured the
South Hills Village Mall in their
Leprechaun regalia. Senior Alina
Chapman (far right, with the fun
glasses) said, “The best part was
the looks from the other people
in the mall!” The Green Competition is a newer tradition for Campus Life, and Michelle Ward (third
from left) won $25 for wearing the
most creative green outfit.
Andrea Briggs
Cancer
The Other March Madness
Assistant Editor
Ah, the springtime. Winter
is wrapping up, snow has ceased
to be an issue, and the weather is
now warm enough that you can
actually go outside without having
to don three pairs of socks and a
scarf. It’s a time when households
are upturned by cleaning and the
Winter Blues find themselves
suddenly pushed aside, replaced by
another, stranger feeling: Spring Fever.
“Spring Fever,” a phrase made
popular in a poem by Mark Twain, is
a general feeling of excitement and
restlessness brought about by the
onset of spring. As the days grow
longer and lovelier, we’re bound
to feel glad that spring has sprung.
This phenomenon has its roots in
science: Increased sunlight causes
our bodies to release higher levels
of serotonin, causing us to feel
sunnier ourselves. In the springtime,
our bodies also stop producing
so much melatonin, the chemical
that controls the sleep cycle. Less
melatonin in our systems means that
we will be more alert and wakeful.
Anthropologists have also
suggested that our ancestors
would have been in a sluggish state
during winter, in a sort of pseudohibernation. When spring arrived,
they would suddenly find themselves
in a heightened flurry of activity after
the winter, with increased hunting,
recreation, and procreation. Modern
humans now find themselves afflicted
with the leftovers of the mechanisms
that caused this activity at the turn of
the seasons thousands of years ago.
Another reason for the
sudden boost in energy could be
the fact that flu and cold season
dies off in the spring, and after the
holidays we tend to change our
diets to consume more fruits and
vegetables that provide us with
nutrients we’ve lacked during winter.
Even with all these possible
causes of spring fever, one specific
reason for the malady hasn’t been
confirmed yet. In the meantime,
toss the sweatshirts aside in favor
of shorts, and when March 20 rolls
around, watch out so that you too
aren’t struck down by this mysterious
affliction.

7. Ten Reasons to Despise
March
Emily Estep
Opinion Editor
1. NO DAYS OFF FROM
SCHOOL.
2. As if #1 wasn’t bad enough,
school starts in the dark.
3. All 500 calories contained in
a delicious, but evil, shamrock
shake.
4. The horrid movie season:
post-Oscars, pre-summer
blockbusters.
5. The dreaded third quarter
grading period. Classes are
terrible and so are your grades.
6. Deceiving weather/spring fever.
7. The SAT, SAT prep courses, the
PSSA, the ACT…
8. Constant talk of March
Madness.
9. The frustration of not being of
Irish descent.
10. Conditioning for spring sports
begins.
Loving
Leprechauns
Stephanie Cotugno
News Editor
St. Patty’s Day isn’t just for
the Irish. The holiday is a festive
celebration, a day when the Irish
can share their luck. Internationally,
St. Patrick’s Day has the power to
bring friends and family together
into a fun, exciting atmosphere. From
leprechauns to green everywhere,
St. Patty’s Day captures the youth in
everyone.
Starting at a young age,
Americans have grown up to love
the green holiday. With every year
bringing on a new tradition, St.
Patty’s Day has become one of the
most fun holidays. The Irish may
have started the joyful holiday, but
Americans have jumped right on the
bandwagon with the desire to party
through all of the festivities.
With the help from stores and
restaurants like McDonald’s with
Shamrock Shakes, the media makes
ignoring St. Patty’s Day an impossible
task.So honestly,the only appropriate
action is to celebration the day and
wear a ‘Kiss me, I’m Irish’ shirt.
PTHS’ Final Four Contest
Homeroom ________________________
Name ____________________________
In honor of March Madness, Smoke Signals is sponsoring a school wide Final Four contest! All you have
to do is predict the final four basketball teams, the championship game, and the winner of the championship, and the score of that final game. All brackets must be completely filled out to qualify, and MUST
be turned in to room A114 by March 27, 2009. The winner will receive a $25 Starbucks gift card.
Happy guessing!

8. opinion
March 2009
Smoke Signals
Bartram House Bakery: A Variety of Tasty
Treats
Bethany Suchy
Staff Writer
There’s a new place in
the neighborhood to eat lunch or
purchase tasty treats. The Bartram
House
Bakery,
located
along
Route 19, recently opened just a
few months ago and is already a
favorite place to eat among the
Smoke Signals staff members.
Walking into the bakery, the
first thing that can be seen are the
shelves of cakes and pies that make
mouths water, followed by windows of
cookies, cupcakes, and other baked
goods. The velvet cupcakes covered
in icing, slightly bigger than the size
of a softball, are irresistible. Along
with the various sweet desserts, a
lunch menu is available. Sandwiches,
soups, smoothies, and salads can be
purchased and eaten in the seating
area provided. Mini margaritas
(small sandwiches consisting of a
sliced baguette, fresh tomatoes,
basil, and a generous amount
of melted mozzarella cheese)
are a recommended lunch pick.
The bright and cheery
atmosphere of the little shop makes
the bakery even more appealing.
The small cozy seating area is
a perfect place to meet up with
friends for lunch or for a dessert
anytime of the day. The shop’s high
ceilings make it appear much larger
than its actual size, so a crammed-
in feeling never crosses one’s mind.
The staff of the Bartram
Bakery tops the experience off.
Friendly and accommodating, the
bakers and cashiers are constantly
smiling. During my first lunch visit at
the bakery, I was given complementary
pepperoni rolls- by far the best
pepperoni rolls I have ever eaten.
“I am so glad I stumbled across
the Bartram Bakery,” said junior Rachel
Sunday, “I love all of the chocolately
desserts, especially the cupcakes.”
Stop in a try one of
the many delicious foods in
the Bartram Bakery. Food and
customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
A warm plate of Bartram House Bakery Pepperoni
Rolls
Spring Forward
Matthew Sikora
Staff Writer
With the change in weather, people are spending more time
new movie coming out that is sure to give you a thrill. Going out to eat at
outside. The fresh air is great, and the morning dew is good for the plants.
a restaurant is entertaining and gives you a break from eating at home. If
This is giving people a chance to get
you are at a loss for what to do, go
outside and spend time in the sun.
camping. This gives you a chance
There are many activities that
to
experience
what
goes
on
you can do in the morning without
outside during all hours of the day.
freezing. Many people enjoy jogging
or walking as a way to wake up and
experience
get them started for the day. If you
downtown
enjoy sleeping in, then there is even
the
more to do in the afternoon. Playing
The Carnegie Museum is a place
pickup football, Frisbee, or wiffle
where you can enjoy the history
ball are great ways to sharpen your
of Pittsburgh. Pirates games give
talent
athletic
you a chance to watch some major
conditioning. Want to see who the
league players. There are also
best
your
many ways for you to help out the
friends together and play a game
community through the different
of paintball. Fishing and golfing are
charity walks. If you’re in Pittsburgh
also among the best ways to relax
the right time, you can even see a
and meet new people. The equipment
Pirates game or go to the zoo to
and
improve
sharpshooter
your
is?
Get
may be pricey, but it is well worth
it.
Those
who
are
less
active
Experiencing the different activities outside.
can
enjoy
gardening.
Think of all your possibilities for the night. There is always a
He Said
If
you
really
want
Pittsburgh,
during
possibilities
summer;
are
endless.
experience the different animals.
The spring gives you a chance to spend time outside and
experience the different weather. Now that the sun is shining and the
She Said
Amy burzotta
What time do you get up in the morning?
6:35
What time do you get up in the morning?
What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
Play X-Box or sleep
Eat or take a nap
6:40
What time do you usually go to bed??
What is the best class of the day?
Gym
go
the
Ian Jackson
11-11:30
to
What time do you usually go to bed??
11:30
What is the best class of the day?
English

9. opinion
March 2009
Smoke Signals
The Businessman:
Amy Burzotta
Young Entrepreneurs in PT
Staff Writer
Students have great aspirations and dreams. One goal
that many students have in common is starting their own business,
which takes a lot of hard work and
dedication. Someday, these students may accomplish their goal
in entrepreneurship. However,
some students don’t want to wait
for “someday”; their day is today.
According to www.kauffman.org,
owning a business at a young age
is becoming a popular trend and is
helping the economy to recover.
Chris Schuck is a senior
here at PTHS. He is highly involved and talented in the mediabroadcasting department. Schuck
decided to put his skills to great
use and open his own business.
I interviewed him to ask him all
about his thriving production and
any advice he may have for aspiring businessmen.
What is the name of your business and what do you do, ex-
actly?
StudioV Editing is the name,
and what I do is create custom videos for people such as
tributes, highlight videos, weddings, etc.
What made you want to have
your own business?
I wanted to make money for
college. People said that I had
a talent, and I felt that maybe
I could make something out of
it.
Why you enjoy it?
I enjoy it because I am able
to help people remember their
memories for years to come.
How long have you been running this business for?
I started my business last year
during the summer.
Where do you run your business?
StudioV Editing is run out of
my house. I have three editing
suites on my computer and an
By: Emily Estep, Opinion Editor
Watchmen
Rated R
HD Panasonic camera.
Do you have any advice for students here who want to start their
own businesses?
They should start right away. Don’t
let anyone say you can’t make it. As
long as you can think of an effective
idea, you can succeed.
Chris Schuck is an example
of a person who uses his talent to
make great memories for people.
Whatever your skill is, go out and
use it. You never know just how
successful you may be.
Why Do We Watch the Watchmen?
Andrea Briggs
Assistant Editor
In 1986, a comic book read the graphic novel
was
published
that over and over again,
changed everything. It picking apart each
took the image of the su- panel for tiny details
perhero that America had we may have missed
come to know and turned the first dozen times
it on its head, shattering we’ve looked there?
convention and pushing
Not for the
the comic medium to its faint of heart, Watchlimit. A cult favorite for men explores weighty
decades, Watchmen has issues such as moralrecently resurfaced as a ity, self-identity, the
pop culture phenomenon, concept of God, the
its popularity skyrocketed meaning of life, and at
by the movie released on the core of everything,
March 6. Fans of the dark it questions humanity
comic remind us of Twi- itself. The depth of the
lighters in their fierce loy- story is almost enough
alty to the characters, and for some readers to
of Harry Potterites in their drown in, but lends itself
expansive
knowledge to objective analysis.
of the story and Watch-
Part of the reamen universe. But what son we care so much
makes Watchmen so is the characters. Their
special? What makes us flaws act almost as a
mirror, reflecting ourselves off the page, and
now, the silver screen.
From the apathetic Dr.
Manhattan, who “knows
how everything fits together except people,”
to the Comedian, who
realizes that life really
is just one big joke, the
characters in Watchmen
force us to look at ourselves in a different way
and acknowledge that
we too are not perfect.
Even the villainous Ozymandias has reasons
for his actions that we
can’t deny, and through
his master plan we must
also determine whether
sacrificing millions for
the greater good is in
fact more noble than the
heroes’ actions to stop
the possible destruction.
Fans across the
board were nervous at the
prospect of seeing Watchmen turned into a movie,
and writer Alan Moore
even opted to remove his
name entirely from the
project. How could a comic
that covered so much be
stripped down and transformed into a film? Debates raged throughout
fandom and the Internet,
and tensions were high.
The fact that Watchmen
could generate such intensity among the fans speaks
volumes, and hopefully the
love people hold for this
comic will never die down.
Fishtank: The Aftermath
Editor-in-Chief
Movie
Reviews
Incredible effects, terrific actors, and based on
arguably the greatest graphic novel of all time,
Watchmen is a whole new experience. It challenges the conventional idea of what superheroes
should be and shows the audience how people
who put on costumes and fight crime would actually act. The story takes place in an alternate 1985
after Nixon has been elected for five terms, and
the U.S. is now on the brink of nuclear war with
Russia. Someone has killed “The Comedian”, and
fellow masked hero Rorschach is on the case.
Watchmen can truly be described as visionary.
The Last House
on the Left
Rated R
This remake of Wes Craven’s 1972 original is without a doubt just as intense and gruesome as its predecessor. The Last House on the Left is not for the
faint of heart. A young girl is assaulted by a group of
thugs who then unknowingly stumble into the girl’s
home to stay the night. Let’s just say her parents
are not so hospitable when they realize who the
boys are. The majority of the film is of the parents’
grotesque, torturous revenge. Although the movie
is perhaps overly indulgent in its violence, it does
satisfy a craving for those who love justice. The
Last House on the Left stands out among most horror-movie remakes as above-average.
Race to Witch Mountain
Rated PG
Dwayne Johnson sure has a thing for family films.
But I’m not complaining, because he’s one of the
few reasons to give this movie any kudos. Johnson’s talent is and charisma is what holds Race
to Witch Mountain together. What is essentially
a good family movie with nice effects and a fun
idea falls flat of its original and really lacks much
to captivate the mind of anyone over the age of
ten. Johnson plays a cab driver who picks up two
young teens who not only have supernatural powers but also are on, believe it or not, a race to Witch
Mountain. Overall this is a good kids’ film, but has
the potential to be much better.

10. 10
sports
March 2009
Matt Schilling
Smoke Signals
Making a Racket
Staff Writer
Denis Waitley, a motivational speaker and writer, once said, “Losers
live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present
toward the future.” The boys tennis team will need to learn from their past to
win the WPIAL Championship this year. They won every regular season game
last year and were projected to win in the WPIAL finals, but lost the final game
at Shady Side Academy. The team will need to learn from their mistakes and
build on their success to get back to the WPIAL Championship.
Techniques during practices have changed for this year’s season.
Harder and longer workouts have been placed into the team’s training schedule.
The team hopes that the new practices will carry them through the playoffs.
Innovative techniques for this season include: suicides, serving practices,
backhand swings, and smash tactics. The team pushes themselves to win by
even wider margins this year. Last season, they were able to blow out ten of
the thirteen teams they played, winning five to zero, against Trinity, Ringgold,
Montour, Bethel Park, Moon, and Chartiers Valley. The closest game was
against rival Upper St. Clair, the team that managed to score the most points
against Peters; who hadn’t beaten them in the past five years. “It feels great
to finally beat Upper St. Clair,” said Manuel Castillo. “It felt like a weight was
taken off of our shoulders.” Unfortunately, the boys will not be playing Upper
St. Clair during the regular season. “I’m very disappointed that we will not be
playing Upper St Clair but we still have the motivation to get ourselves back to
the WPIALs” said Manuel Castillo.
The tennis team has twelve regular season matches, beginning with a
home match against Fort Cherry on March 16, 2009. They continued to show
their competitive nature by beating Fort Cherry, five to zero. The team will play
against rival Chartiers Valley on March 27, 2009 and then finish the regular
season at the end of April with a finale at home against Bethel Park.
With a challenging schedule, the boys tennis team will need to recall
their past in order to improve their future.
Penguins Trade for New Playoff Life
Taylor Relich
Sports Editor
About a month ago, if someone said
the Penguins would be playing for as high
as a four seed in the Eastern Conference in
March, you would think he had never seen
the Penguins play this season. The Pens
have went from an Atlantic Division bottomdweller to playoff contender in about the
time it would usually take to climb two points
in the standings. This phenomenon has not
come easy, however it was once again Ray
Shero, GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, to
the rescue. Everybody remembers
the Marian Hossa deadline trade
that Mr. Shero orchestrated to spur
the Pens to an Eastern Conference
championship, and he has done
it again. Maybe our beloved
Pittsburgh club isn’t hauling in any
big stars like Hossa, but the Pens
certainly filled some gaps in their
lines.
On March 4, in the last
hours before the trade deadline,
the Penguins acquired right-winger
Craig Adams off of waivers from the
Chicago Blackhawks. On the same
day, the Pens snatched 38 year-old
veteran Bill Guerin from the New
York Islanders for a conditional
draft pick. Adams seems to be the
slightly more impressive pickup,
having posted 89 points this
season before joining the Penguins, but Guerin should
prove to give Pens some veteran leadership that they
badly need in order to make a playoff run. Sending
forwards Miroslav Satan, Tim Wallace, and Bill Thomas
down to the Pens’ minor league affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/
Scranton, completed the Penguins deadline day frenzy.
Satan’s departure to the minors will hopefully jumpstart
goal production in the dubiously overpaid “star.”
Ray Shero’s genius is not by any means limited
to deadline deals. On February 26, Shero struck up a
deal that sent Ryan Whitney to Anaheim in exchange
UnderReview
UnderReview
“I do whatever comes to mind”
Tom Norton ‘10
for forward Chris Kunitz and prospect
Eric Tangradi. This trade has worked to
perfection so far, as Kunitz has managed
five points in his first three games with
Pittsburgh. All these moves and trades
might end up stimulating one of the most
spectacular turnarounds in recent Penguins
history, and with Dan Bylsma now at the
helm, the Penguins are using a much more
aggressive scheme that is taking teams by
surprise. Instead of the typical dump and
chase offense and zone defense we
are used to seeing the Pens play,
Bylsma has the Pens carrying the
puck into the zone and pressuring
more on defense.
The Penguins are not a
lock for the playoffs yet. “I have
been pleased with the Penguins’
comeback after the All-Star break,
but I think that they need to take
this current streak as far as they
can,” said senior Bill Campbell. It is
well known that the Pens will need
to defend their current fifth spot in
the Eastern Conference from solid
hockey clubs biting at their heels,
such as Carolina and Montreal, but
they also want to move up in the
conference standings as to avoid a
first-round match up with Boston or
New Jersey.
Who is the best football team in the NCAA?
How do you freestyle?
“As a member of the swim team
I chose water to show off my free
style”
Colleen Lugar ‘10
“Usually I just catch a flow and
go with it”
Mr. Sussman

11. sports
March 2009
Connor Jackson
The Emily Correal
Experience
Staff Writer
One
of
the
most
outstanding
and
arguably one of the best
female basketball player
in Peters
Township High School
history
is
Emily
Correal. The four-year
letterwinner owns all of
the points and rebound
records
in
school
history. Correal was the
Observer
Reporter’s
First Team All District
and “Player of the Year”.
She was named one
of the Post Gazette’s
“Fabulous Five.” Correal
was ranked by ESPN as
the top 100 HoopGurlz,
nationally ranking #68
overall and #12 for
forwards. With her senior
year ending, she finished
with 1,832 points, over
1,200 rebounds, and
300 blocks during her
high-school career. The
6’3” senior started on the
Averi Clements
varsity team as a freshman and led the team with an average American Camp, which
of fourteen points per game and over eleven rebounds per made her noticeable
game, and was also on the Almanac Elite second team.
for over 20 Division 1
colleges. Correal chose
to go to William and Mary
because of their beautiful
campus,
prestigious
academics, and the fact
that she will be able to
have a immediate impact
on their basketball team.
“After my official visit at
William and Mary, it was
clear that this is where I
would like to spend the
next four years of my life
playing basketball and
getting a top education,”
she stated.
Correal is also an
excellent
student,
achieving the high honor
roll and receiving the
Emily accepted the McDonalds All-American Award at the pep assembaly
academic achievement
By Mrs. Boni
One of Correal’s most admirable achievements is award. She plans on
being named a McDonald’s All American. Emily played for studying in Business and
an AAU team called the Western PA Bruins for four years. Communications while at
She was selected to play in Michael T. White Top Ten All William and Mary.
Swim Team Finds
Success at WPIALS
11
Smoke Signals
Sports
Briefs
r
B o y ’W h oB ass ykoeu t b a l l
s i
sports idol?
Boys Basketball
“Bob Knight”
- Derek Redding ‘09
Girl’s Basketball
Girls Basketball
“J.J. Redick”
- Samantha Higgins ‘09
Wrestling
Wrestling
“Luke Palamides”
-Matt Mauer ‘11
Staff Writer
As one of many athletic teams
who qualified for WPIALs this
year, the boys and girls swim
team brought home another
top-four finish. With the first
day of competition setting
the standard for greatness
and the second day raising
the bar even higher, all of the
swimmers had a considerable
amount of pressure placed
upon them. But they withstood
the challenge, and it showed
in their performances.
In addition to all of the boys’
swims resulting in a personal
best time for the season, the
team, which finished fourth in
the tournament, managed to
break several school records.
The relay team of seniors
Sam Pletz, Casey Dunleavy,
Jason Grimm, and freshman
Andrew Rich broke the record
for the 200 freestyle relay.
Additionally, Sam and Jake
Pletz, Rich, and Grimm broke
the thirty-one-year-old 400
freestyle relay record.
The girls team, which
achieved a third-place finish at
the WPIAL competition, also
made significant changes to the
record books. Senior Maggie
Walker individually broke not
only the school records for the
50 and 100 freestyle, but also
the WPIAL record in the same
race. Walker, along with senior
Katie Riesmeyer, junior Ashley
Sherwin, and freshman Sarah
Howard, also broke the record
for the 200 freestyle relay. The
400 freestyle relay team of
Walker, sophomore Lauren
Cassano,
Riesmeyer,
and freshman Cassandra
Rupp took home a gold
medal. Most of the female
swimmers also achieved
their best times during the
event.
The
WPIAL
tournament proved to be
a satisfying experience
for all of the swimmers.
For some of the younger
athletes, it was an exciting
first-time challenge. But
for some of the team’s
veterans, the event was
like a last goodbye to the
world of swimming— in
high school, that is. Many
of the talented seniors will
be moving on to collegelevel competition to extend
their athletic skills as well
as their education. As one
of the team’s most talented
athletes, senior Sam Pletz
will be attending Kenyon
College, which boasts the
best Division III swimming
program in the country.
Pletz, who has watched
the team develop since
his sophomore year, feels
confident that the younger
swimmers will continue to
push the Indians to more
success as they continue
through their high school
careers.
“All
of
our
younger swimmers have
a lot of potential… and
will develop into great
swimmers and leaders,”
said Pletz.
For the Indians,
the WPIALs proved to
be a fantastic example
of the rewards of hard
work and dedication.
Waking up at ungodly
hours of the morning just
to jump into the pool to
practice is certainly not
for everyone. But when
the result rewrites the
record books, it is hard to
question the forces that
drive the swim team.
Hockey
“Mario Lemiux”
Swimming
- Julian Scheirer ‘09
Swimming
“Michael Phelps”
-Casey Dunleavey ‘09
Indoor Track
Indoor Track
“Usain Bolt”
-Jay Young ‘09
By Casey Dunleavey
The swim team cheers one of their teammates to victory at Pitt.

12. Voices Hall
in the
What is your favorite book?
Freshman Pat Kelly
“Twilight”
Sophomore Matt Lindner
“Harry Potter”
Junior Anthony Gatto
“The dictionary”
Senior Lauren Ray
“The Shack”
What is the best book-to-movie?
Freshman Josh Graff
“Flags of our Fathers”
Sophomore Kara Hunter
“Harry Potter”
Junior Mallory Karavolis
“The Sisterhood of the
Traveling Pants”
Senior Casey Dunleavy
“The Notebook”
What do the Teachers think?
Miss Daerr
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
Mrs. Baker
“The Notebook”
Mr. Kochirka
“Boom”
The PT Minute
Senior Nicole Provident
Best period to have lunch?
Period 6
Most creepy dream?
I was climbing Mount Everest
Best locker location?
Top floor
If you could live in one room in the school...
Foods room
Carry books or backpack?
Carry books
Senior Drew Caliguiri
Best period to have lunch?
Never had it!
Best locker location?
By Mr. Scott’s room
If you could live in one room in the school.....
Theater
Carry books or backpack?
Backpack
One class that you wish you taught?
Musical Theater
Mrs. Dodson-Rosenburg
“Clueless”
Teac
her
Min
WITH MRS. KOCAN
ute
Best period to have lunch?
Period 6
Most creepy dream?
My sister-in-law was a
monster, chasing me
Best locker location?
Near guidance
If you could live in one
room in the school...
B207
Carry books or backpack?
Backpack