Was it the distinctive defense or the harmonious hitting of the Dragons that was a changing factor in this game?

The answer becomes lopsided when statistics are reviewed. The dragons powered through the Seagulls’ pitching with a staggering 14 runs on 10 hits. The efforts of four Dragons’ offence kept the girls ahead on their way to victory.

Sophomore Katherine Kelly had three hits and was responsible for three RBI, she now boasts a batting average of .667 and is off to a fantastic start.

Sophomore Antoinette Galbos’ bat is hot, with a batting average of .800 this season so far and 6 RBI in the game. She also had a great defensive game, making tough plays with her wide range of mobility.

CSIM’s Jamie Lepard had two RBI and McCown freshman Danielle Kearney also scored three runs throughout the game. With offense like this the Dragons’ are sure to have a promising season.

“Our team played good defense and got the bat on the ball, we kept our confidence and got our first win”, said Junior Gina Ianniello.

The team has currently lost four games to, Wagner High School, Port Richmond High School, Bayside High School and Newton High School. In all four games the girls have shown exceptional qualities as a varsity team and now it is just a matter of experience and time before our team will be extremely productive. Their next game will be on our field against the Tottenville Pirates on April 19.

“With team experience, and confidence we are sure to win, all we need to do is have one great game, and we will be in the right mindset.”, said McCown Sophomore Danielle Cannon. And the game against the Seagulls may have been this very game.

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Due to recent budget cuts in PSAL, schools can’t start new teams and are also ridding the city of unsuccessful teams.

Yet this isn’t bringing our mighty Dragons down. With tryouts held in early March, Athletic Director and Coach Mr. Dennis Barrett was ready to spring into action for a new and fun year of baseball. Though they aren’t PSAL, they are still a team.

“I don’t like the fact we aren’t PSAL because we cant go to playoffs or championships but at least we still get to play,” said sophomore Azmi Canorski.

Though the team is sadden because they are considered a cluedb the coach still has high hopes for them.

“I hope to build an interest in baseball in the school and have a solid foundation for future teams and that nobody gets hurt,” said Mr. Barrett.

With seventeen players on the team, they will be learning all the fundamentals of baseball including hitting, running, catching, throwing, and defense.

“We are going to learn the fundamentals, but safety and teamwork first,” said Mr. Barrett.

Along with the high expectations of the coach the boys have equal expectations.

The boys will be playing games just as if they were PSAL against schools such as Wagner High School, St. Peters High School, St. Joseph by the Sea, Petrides High School, Curtis High School, and New Dorp High school.

The boys competed in a spring break tournament at MSIT, where they they went to semi-finals and showed the baseball community that they are an up and coming squad.

In their first game against New Utrecht they lost in the bottom of the second extra inning, and proved to the Island that they can compete with a well known Brooklyn team.

Perhaps their premier game so far was played against MSITs Seagulls. The Dragons out pitched and out hit the Segulls, in a 3-1 victory after 7 full innings.

These games may not be counted in PSAL, but you can be sure that the boys will be practicing hard to do their best on the field.

The Dragons are certain to compete and are expected to fulfill the hopes of their teachers and peers, later in the season they will play better teams and will even have a game in Staten Island Yankee Stadium.

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Nick and Norah opens in a gay-straight music club in Manhattan. Nick is the bassist in a queer core band and Norah is there checking out the music.

It becomes hard for Nick to focus, once he discovers his recent ex-girlfriend hanging out in the same club with her new boyfriend. Nick quickly runs off stage when his band is done playing and meets Norah, another frequent member of the club at the bar.

Norah is busy watching over her best friend, Caroline, before she gets herself into any trouble. Nick asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes to either draw off his ex, or to at least distract him from her. He doesn’t expect Norah to kiss him in response. Norah doesn’t think that Nick would be such a good kisser.

This one kiss throws both teenagers, Nick’s band and Norah’s best friend into one of the wildest adventures of their lives.

As the night goes on, from the club where the two met, to a transvestite bar, all the way to Park Avenue, Nick and Norah battle themselves for their

feelings of the person they had met just hours before.

Both Nick and Norah find themselves in an emotional battle over their exes and each other

“I really loved Nick and Norah’s because I thought it was cute and I love how their relationship turns out in the end,” said sophomore Karis Robichaud.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist also caught a Hollywood director’s eyes and the book was turned into a movie in 2008 and brought in over $31,000,000 at the box office. This book is good for fans of realistic fiction, comedy, and romance.

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“We decided as a department to read memoirs this year, but we wanted the students to choose which memoir to read. So we gave them a list, and they selected and formed book clubs, which met weekly to analyze the plot,” said English teacher Mrs. Nancy Kaplan.

The students also wrote their own stories detailing their own experiences and life stories. According to Kaplan, the purpose of starting this memoir project is to read and write about one’s life.

The students paired up, and recorded their stories in a booth in downtown Manhattan.

“By listening and connecting with each other, it makes the experience of sharing stories a lot more enjoyable than if people went one at a time to record. That is why we encourage people to go into the recording booth and record their stories together,” said Lucy Zhou from the communications department at StoryCorps.

After the recording, the people at StoryCorps choose which stories they will broadcast on NPR’s Morning Edition and the rest are sent to the Library of Congress to be preserved.

This project allows every one who shares their story a part to be a part of our nation’s history. This project makes people more than just a silent nameless face in the crowd, it gives them a voice. This is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind.

“The mission of StoryCorps is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our time. As a public service, we try to offer the interview experience to as many people as possible in order to showcase the richness and diversity of the American people,” said Zhou.

In a way, this enhances our democracy by giving everyone a voice and a chance to be a part of our nation’s history. It is truly amazing to know that by doing something as simple as going into a recording booth can make our stories become a part of our nation’s history and something for future generations to remember us by.

The eight volunteers are: Elliot Santiago, Paul Casella, Amber Figerio, Christopher Frank, Brianna Recinos, Alex Lopes, Djenne Jean-Louis, and Radwa Achmed. The first four students are recording their stories on Jan. 16, 2010, and the rest are recording on Jan. 30, 2010 in Manhattan.

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Sonia Rykiel, the “Queen of Knits,” began designing in 1962 when she was pregnant and unable to find any soft sweaters. Rykiel, who recently made an appearance on NYCTV’s, Video Fashion Daily, explained how her knitted approach is both fresh and elegant. Her style is depicted throughout her numerous embellished studded and sequin belts, wrapped over tailored knitted cardigans and dresses.

According to The Fashion Book, published by Phaidon Book Company, Rykiel states how she loves knit because it is “very magical, and sophisticated enough for the evening.” A shimmering Sonia Rykiel dress was worn by Kate Bosworth at the Grand Palais in Paris, celebrating Rykiel’s new lingerie collection for H&M. February 20, 2010, will mark the release of a second collection featuring an iconic knitwear collection for women and girls as well as playful accessories. After all, frivolity is a major theme this season. According to Nathalie Rykiel, president and artistic director of Sonia Rykiel, “The world is tough and you just have to have fun. Play around with your clothes in a way that’s different.”

Bright stripes, colorful scarves, 70’s style frizzy hair, and neon heels are also crucial to this coming season. According to style.com, Rykiel also hit the current idea of the big soft fun fur as a huge bubble of color; in her case, baby pink, purple knitted fox or teal-blue Mongolian lamb. During Paris Fashion Week, Sonia Rykiel showed her own collection for next spring.

There, she displayed gorgeous ruffled dresses in vintage floral and polka dot prints. By the time three models vamped their way down the elevated runway in metallic silver-and-black striped sweaters and skirts, it was inevitable that this seasons clothing was boisterous yet couture. Rykiel’s smocked dresses had a 70’s vibe, while crystal-strewn knit dresses mirrored the embellishment on her popular Domino bag. The seasons slogan read garçon manqué, which means tomboy, which was inspired by Rykiel’s tree climbing youth.

“Sonia Rykiel’s dresses are unique, but some girls are able to pull off her designs better than others,”said junior Danielle Ianazzi.

However, Ennio Capasa, the “mix of couture and the street,” is very different from Rykiel. His elegance is depicted throughout his use of toned down colors and sheer fabrics. His moment in fashion is used to open minds, and create fashion diversity in the future. According to Capasa, “Open backs, royal blue and black, and the mixture of dresses and high boots” is very important to him. Ennio Capasa is the creator of Costume National, the Italian fashion house he founded in 1986. He is now an internationally renowned designer label, famous for his subtle shapes, dark tones and sartorial detail.

“Capasa and Rykiel are both very different, but they both have a style in which I enjoy. I would wear Sonia Rykiel if I were going to a party or a club, but I would wear Capasa if I were going to a white tie affair, or an elegant event,” said senior Samantha Wong.

Both elegance and fun are essential to the fashion industry. So remember ladies, peace, love, Sonia Rykiel and Ennio Capasa.

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The team has faced many obstacles, but they always gave it their best effort and now they are fighting to be first place.

As of now the Dragon wrestling team is tied for first with Forest Hills High School. Even though they lost to Forest Hills they still have a chance to take the division title.

With the loss against Forest Hills High School the team was pushed to defeat anyone who stood in their way.

First up was a grapple with Erasmus High School. And the Dragons went back to business earning their sixth win.

“I’m very excited about their win. It was important to get a win after having our first loss.” said Coach Miano, who leads a strenuous practice with our wrestlers everyday.

The team shows up to every meet with only one thing in mind: winning.

“Our team works hard as usual and it shows. I am proud that I won because I go to practice everyday just like my teammates, that’s why we win, because we work hard,” said sophomore Sher Mohammad.

The wins did not stop at the meet against Erasmus. The team went on to win against Boys and Girls High School 24-12, and Benjamin N. Cardozo High School 30- 18.

As is often the case, when things are going well, they tend to keep going that way. Winning breeds confidence.

“In the ring when a wrestler is in his zone, all other sounds are blocked out. We showed them that skill beats strength,” said freshman Matthew Vainshtein. “Pain is temporary, pride is forever,”.

Come support our Dragons as they continue to wrestle their way to the top.

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This year, there is no better way to spread the joy of the season than to donate toys to the Hungerford School located right here on our school campus.

Key Club ran their first toy drive, and they collected toys until December 11th. Anybody could give, and the only criteria was that the toys had to be new, simple, and suitable for middle school students.

“Our school and our Key Club are generous enough to want to see less fortunate people celebrate Christmas like everyone else. It’s nice to give,” said Key Club advisor, Ms. Hattie Slaughter.

“It’s good because we get to give toys to kids who don’t always get toys on Christmas,” said freshman Alyssa Merolo.

For many students, both members and volunteers, this toy drive meant a great deal. They truly cared about making sure these children receive toys this Christmas.

“It’s a very good idea to give children a wonderful Christmas,” said sophomore Michael Lupino.

The faculty members, inspired by the student’s generosity, were also involved in this cause.

“The toy drive is a great idea. I love to see how students at our school are in the giving spirit during the holiday season,” said math teacher Ms. Lilliana Vendra.

Even the Hungerford School staff were touched by the giving nature of our Key Club.

“In a time like now, particularly during the holiday season, it’s good to know people care, especially people you don’t know. You don’t ask for it, yet they give. It makes us feel good about the world. We gain a sense of hope,” said Hungerford teacher, Kevin Hazzard.

Ms. Slaughter organized this event with Ms. Lindsay Miller, the site coordinator of the Hungerford School. The toys were given to the Hungerford students on December 18th at a Christmas celebration where The Key Club Member delivered the toys.

Key Club’s twenty eight members meet every Monday after school in Ms. Niederhoffer’s classroom to discuss various community service activities they can do. Ms. Slaughter started this club in 2007.

Although the toy drive is over, the joy of Christmas giving should stay with us all throughout the year.

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Many successful musical acts, such as the Wu Tang Clan and Twisted Sister, have roots in Staten Island. KISS frontman Gene Simmons has an English Degree from Richmond College, now known as the College of Staten Island.
On Staten Island, the scene is split up by musical genre, each with its own following. The main scenes are Punk/Hardcore, Metal, and Indie.

The Indie scene features mostly Pop Rock bands and solo artists but also includes world music ensembles and is the largest and most diverse scene on the Island.

Artists such as Ingrid Michaelson and Cymbals Eat Guitars have gained national attention. Michaelson’s music has been featured on Scrubs, Greys Anatomy, and One Tree Hill. Also, Michaelson has toured with Jason Mraz and collaborated with Sarah Bareillies.

While many of the bands on this scene have an adult following, there are many young and talented Indie bands on Staten Island such as Spread the Rumor and everynightdrive.

“In my opinion, Spread the Rumor is one of the island’s best bands. They have a unique sound that sets them apart from the rest. They are a dedicated group of musicians and that shows during their live performances”, said Nick Massa, a senior at New Dorp High School.

The Punk/Hardcore scene was prominent from the 1980′s to the early 2000′s, but today, it’s a shell of its former self. While clubs such as Dock Street once averaged about 200 people on a Friday night, shows are currently averaging about 25 people at a single show, including the bands.

“The main reason for the decline of the Staten Island Punk Scene is the lack of venues willing to book Punk bands. I’ve been kicked out of The Cup for moshing. It’s ridiculous that kids are being punished for dancing.” said senior Luke Opulski.

However, bands such as Kids Carry Germs, Racing Exit 13, and Curious Volume have begun to attract fans from outside of the punk community. But this doesn’t make up for the loss of Punk’s rich culture and heritage.
“I hate to admit it, but Punk Rock is dying”, continued Opulski.

If Punk Rock is not heavy enough for you, check out the Metal scene, which is split between the older Heavy Metal bands and the younger Metalcore scene. The older scene is comprised of mostly forty-year-old men reminiscing about the eighties at L‘amour. Most of the bands on this scene are cover bands, and there are too many to list.
The Metalcore scene is thriving; most shows are able to completely fill clubs such as Dock Street and The Cup. Bands on the scene include Impartial Dismemberment, Preaching to the Converted and He Among Us. National acts such as Shai Halud and Endwell have played at Dock Street.

“Most of the bands on the scene are pretty good. I haven’t been to a show in awhile, but the younger bands usually aren’t as good. However, the more seasoned bands that play later in the show are amazing”, said sophomore Karis Robichaud.

The Punk and Metalcore scenes are bound by Hardcore; so many Hardcore fans listen to both Punk Rock and Metal. Hardcore Punk bands such as Kids Carry Germs and Racing Exit 13 have shared stages with Metalcore acts Preaching to the Converted and Impartial Dismemberment. The unified hardcore scene is saving Punk Rock and Metal from extinction.

Staten Island has such a vibrant music scene, so it’s almost a crime that many teens are infatuated with Pop music where the Grammy belongs to the computer, not the artist. So, instead of wasting a Friday night listening to the stereotypical DJ spin Flo Rida or Kid Cudi, go to a local show and experience the culture right next door.

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at the Charles Glass Tournament.

Fans sat in seats that lined the small gymnasium of the Erasmus Campus where six schools are housed in Flatbush Brooklyn, the location of our school’s co-ed developmental PSAL wrestling team’s second match.  Team members and fans traveled early to meet the Brooklyn wrestlers, including one female.

“Hip! Hip! Turn in! Half! Half! And drive the leg!”yelled coach Rosario Miano.

Teammates and fans, sitting, jumping, and yelling experienced the intensity of the first match, as sophomore Joseph Raguso used various techniques to put  his opponent on the mat.

The hip toss, arm bar, cross face, and the ankle pick are moves used in a wrestling match to bring an opponent to the mat for the required two minute pin, where the winning wrestler holds his opponent’s shoulders to the mat.

At their first match, Raguso and his other team mates used the same techniques to pin their opponents in the tournament against Port Richmond High School.

Against Port, freshman Eduardo Ramirez used these techniques to wrestle his opponent, and grabbed the win in the first few minutes of his match. Ian Urcinoli and Nicholas Martucci also claimed two more wins, putting our school in the lead with a score of 43 to 28.

At their second match, where the Dragons competed against Erasmus Hall, similar techniques were used to secure another victory.

“The arm bar is when you get your opponent’s arm in the back of their neck and turn him into a choke hold. To chokehold you must stand behind your opponent and wrap your arm around their neck, like stopping blood flow. The cross face is when you make your opponent eat his own arm. When you ankle pick your opponent, you start off using the arm bar then grab the ankle. Then you use your arms and shoulder to take your opponent to the ground,” said Raguso.

Sophomore Sher Mohammad was next up to verse Kevin Sheperd. He walked to the mat with a determined look on his face ready to win his match. Circling one another they grabbed each others heads, slapping at their ear protectors.

As they were circling, Sher  flipped Sheperd onto the mat, then flipped him onto his backside and pinned him down to the floor for three seconds. The winner, Mohammad added another victory for our team.

“My technique was first to just go back and fourth. When you’re up, it’s more of power and technique, more like a fight. That’s how I won my match in the last three seconds,” said Mohammad.

Freshman Benjamin Wasserman was up next to face his opponent,  Mohammed Callahan. They stepped onto the mat, took their positions, and began. Ben head locked his opponent, grabbed him by his stomach, pulling him onto the mat, and rolling him over so quickly that he brought down Callahan in only 56 seconds.

“First, I let him do whatever he wanted. Second, I pushed him with all of my muscle and looked for an opening. I used my shoulder and rolled him over. He made the match easier because he made a mistake by letting loose and stopped using all of his force.  That’s how I won the match,” said Wasserman.

Although the majority of the matches were between boys, wrestling isn’t just for them.  This year, due to Title 9 rules, girls are permitted to participate. Matched by weight class, boys and girls can wrestle each other.

During the first match of the season, sophomore Nick Martucci went up against two girls from Port Richmond and New Dorp High School, and won both matches.

“Versing a girl is hard because it seems messed up, kind of like a double standard because if you beat the girl people think you’re mean, and if you get beat by a girl people make fun of you. I went up against girls and won, and I felt bad because they’re girls. When you go up against a guy, it’s a friendly competition, and it’s cool to beat them because they’re harder then the girls,” said Martucci.

Despite the two recent wins, Coach Miano expects more.  At the end of the second match, he was critical of the fact that the team did not execute the moves they had recently practiced.

“I’m not completely happy with the way this match turned out, but I am happy that Ben won his match, because if he didn’t win, then we would be tied,” said Miano.

At their next match, the dragons wrestled to their third win. Sophomore Sher Mohammad versed Max Rivera, pinning him in 27 seconds. Mohammad Mousa also pinned Khalil Gibbons in another quick match. Chris Cordero won his match by a tech fall, when the wrestler wins with a 15 point lead. With the wins and five forfeits, our team took the match easily.

“I am very happy with the result of the match, but extremely happy with the amount of people that came out to support us. Our wrestlers fed off of the crowd,” said Coach Miano.

After winning on Saturday, December 19 against Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, our wrestling team currently holds 1st Place citywide for the PSAL Developmental Division.

If you haven’t been to a match yet, get to the next one on January 16 to see our undefeated team take another win.

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According to darwintwineball.com, the world’s largest twine ball is 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter, 40 ft in circumfrence, and weighs 17,400 pounds (7,900 kg).

Francis A. Johnson, started his obsession in March of 1950 and wrapped for 4 hours every day for 23 weeks, to earn this world record.

There are so many ideas you can make with a ball of string or yarn, Francis A. Johnson’s idea made history.

If that can make history, what else can yarn and string do? How about knitting your self a scarf, hat, or sweater? It’s a convenient way of keeping yourself warm in the winter.

Our school has a club called the Rock & Knit Club, and it’s welcoming any new members now.

This club is not an ordinary club. Students enjoy learning how to knit while listening and rocking to music.

“Learning how to knit is very fun, yet challenging. Soon I should be able to save money buying things I can soon make”, said junior Jose Valentin.

The Rock & Knit Club is not only a club to knit, but also a club to think of others. Soon members of the Rock and Knit club will help charities, which will earn knitters community service hours depending on the project.

“I feel great about this club, but I wish we had more members. I would enjoy seeing 50 people, knitting at once,” said math teacher Barbara Niederhoffer.

According to searchwarp.com, hand knitting has been practiced for thousands of years. Some people believe that knitting began when man made webs out of roots. Others think that Arabian nomads carried the craft into Europe.

Some also think that this art originated in Persia.

Regardless of where it came from, knitting is known everywhere and enjoyed. We can all be a part of this creative craft by joining the Rock & Knit Club. Every Tuesday or Thursday after school for half an hour, lead by Mrs. Niederhoffer in room 243.

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