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News

Lions Club Speech Contest Asks About Impact of Social Media

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Social media is everywhere, coming at us through our computers, tablets and ever-present phones. News, and rumors, spread to countless people at the touch of a button, in the blink of an eye. Everything these days has a hashtag. How has all this social media impacted our society? Has it changed it for the better, or for the worse?

That was the topic of the Lions Club Speech Contest, held yesterday at HHS. Participants had to write a short essay and then deliver a speech on the topic in front of three judges.

Freshman Cornelius “Haraden” Bottomley was the winner, with junior Aria Duff “coming in a close second,” according to Dr. Walsh, director of Humanities for HHS. Other participants included freshmen Abby Bulman, Abby Cummings, Julia Leskow, Ben Lee and Olivia Reddish; sophomores Sierra Little-Gill, Erica Perry, Alex Linn and Heather Nash; and seniors Andrea Bilton and Macy Hohenleitner.

For Andrea Bilton, social media has had a profound impact on not just how we express ourselves, but on how we value ourselves. “We have grown to associate positive feelings with every ‘like,’ ‘favorite’ and ‘follower’ that pops up on our phones,” she said in her speech. “We go through life with underlying motives – to accumulate Facebook friends, Instagram followers, and get the most ‘likes’ we possibly can.”

The topic was a challenge to Ben Lee, who felt he couldn’t really judge the impact of social media because he’s never experienced life without it.

“In order for me, or anyone my age, to compare life with and without social media, we would have had to live ‘on both sides of the fence’ and I haven’t,” he wrote in his speech.”There really isn’t a minute in the day where I don’t have my phone or when I am not on it. … I’m sure (social media) has had an effect but I couldn’t tell you what it is.”

 

Entertainment

Book Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

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The majority of this book takes place in (surprise, surprise) a single room. When I first learned of the highly restricted setting of Room, I was a little dubious. How would an entire book written about a tiny space keep me occupied and interested for 321 pages?!

Well, I need not have worried. I picked up this book on a Thursday night and finished it by Sunday. Emma Donoghue creates a powerful story with page-turning action so intense that I was forced to ignore my math homework to find how Room ended. The book is told from the point of view of Jack, a young boy of about 5 who has lived his whole life in a 12 x 12 foot room containing only a bed, bathroom, bookshelf, and small kitchen area. The only light Jack has ever seen comes from a small skylight in a corner of the ceiling, and the only other person he has even spoken to is his mother. Jack’s mother remains unnamed throughout the story, referred to simply as Ma.

Besides being adopted, Ma had lived a pretty normal life complete with summer trips to the beach, playing with her older brother, and going to college. This all changed when she was kidnapped at age nineteen as she was walking home from her college library. Her abductor brought Ma to a shed in his backyard and locked her in, coming only in the night to bring food and sexually assault her. Ma endured this silent torture on her own for two years before she became pregnant with Jack. After giving birth to a healthy son, Ma’s life once again had a purpose. She taught Jack how to read and write, played games with him, and tried to provide him with the best childhood possible under the circumstances. Old Nick, Ma’s name for her kidnapper, continued his nightly visits but Ma kept Jack hidden in a wardrobe to protect him.

As Jack grows up, his future with Ma becomes less certain. Old Nick loses his job and his house is in danger of being foreclosed. Ma and Jack need to escape, and quickly. Mother and son hatch a brilliant plan and . . .

Oh come on, I can’t ruin all the fun! You’ll have to read Room for yourself and see if you found it just as thrilling, well thought out, and shocking as I did. The author also wrote the movie version of Room that currently can be found only in a few Boston theaters, giving hope that the film will hold true to the book’s tension, mystery and wonder.

Sports

Can Hanover Football find postseason success?

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When Hanover beat Middleboro 48-14 last Friday, the Indians earned the Patriot League Championship. This was a huge accomplishment for the team since it was their first league title since 2008. It was an important victory since it was against the team that defeated them last year on their own turf for the league title. I would imagine that it feels great as a player to turn the tables and be champions.

Although they have won the league, they are not quite finished yet. Hanover is the number 3 seed in Division 3 and will hope to continue their success into the postseason. The football team has not had the best of times in the playoffs. They have not won a state championship in many years. The Indians haven’t even won a playoff in game in some time, so they should be anxious and ready to go out and win their first post-season game this Friday.

On Friday night at 7:00pm, Hanover takes on 6th-seeded Westwood on our home turf. It is the first home playoff game that the Indians have had in awhile, so a large crowd should be there in support. Let’s hope it’s a first step in the direction of the state title game at Gillette Stadium.

Entertainment

Mockingjay Part 2: Movie Preview

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The long-awaited day for millions of fans of the Hunger Games series has almost arrived.  On November 20th, the final installment of Mockingjay, based on the widely successful book trilogy The Hunger Games, will be released in theaters. The film will pick up where Mockingjay: Part 1 left off, with Katniss and her crew of allies living in the highly secretive underground District 13, Panem in a full-scale rebellion, and Peeta still recovering from the brainwashing and torture he underwent as a prisoner of the Capitol.

But that is just the beginning. Viewers can look forward to the final showdown between Katniss and her mortal enemy President Snow and be prepared to sit on the edge of their  seats as well-loved characters storm the Capitol to do their part in the rebellion. This film will focus more on the relationship between Katniss and her younger sister Prim, as well as the ongoing love triangle between our favorite heroine, her best friend and hunting partner Gale, and her Games partner Peeta. The music is sure to be perfectly composed (as always), and the special effects are said to take advantage of the latest advancements in CGI (computer-generated imaging).

Francis Lawrence returned to direct Mockingjay: Part 2, and the movie will feature iconic stars such as Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland in their original roles. Two trailers have already been released online and based on these five minutes of footage alone, Mockingjay: Part 2 will rival the three other movies in the series.

For the many fans who have anticipated the release of each book from author Suzanne Collins and then visited the theater at midnight every year to view the movies upon their release, November 20th will be the end of an era. Francis Lawrence seems determined to end with a bang, however, and I am excited to see the feedback the last movie receives. Stay tuned for a movie review once the film has been released . . . in the meantime, mark your calendar, order your tickets and get ready to decide for yourself if Mockingjay: Part 2 is worth all the hype!

News

Spirit Week, Homecoming Show HHS’ True Colors!

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As students filled the gym decked out in their class colors of yellow, white, black, and blue, people screamed and chanted on Friday afternoon of October 25th. Seniors on the gym floor engaged in semi-humiliating, yet hilarious, competitions — all part of the pep rally that ended Spirit Week and geared us up for Homecoming weekend.

Student Council president Mike Meads stood looking out to the crowd announcing activities. Steph Flynn took shots on net in a shootout contest, eyes watching her careful aim and the ball’s subsequent swish through the net. Colleen Dowd and Trevor Doucette laughed with their team of senior class members during the saran wrap activity, struggling to run within the bunched up mess of four students clinched together tightly. The cheerleading team paired up with the football team, with captains Andrea Bilton and Michelle Leary leading them through a routine involving “hit the quan.” Within the 45 minute rally, people laughed and watched their fellow classmates put on quite a show.

The student council executive board was behind the planning and running of the pep rally. “The entire school participated with great enthusiasm and spirit!” said Meads. “This year’s rally and spirit week were the best the school has seen- the student and staff has unconditional love for our school.”

“It was rowdy,” addedd StuCo historian Lauren Gelly.

Leading up to the rally, students and faculty participated in the 2015 Spirit Week, carrying props, painting faces, and exchanging hair coloring sprays. Although this spirit week was cut short because of Columbus Day, the participation did not diminish. The week began with a burst of American Pride on Tuesday, the 13th. As the week continued, students were seen decked out in camouflage with face paint and camo hats galore, clad in pajamas with pillow and blanket in hand, and supporting class color day with boas dangling from shoulders and horns clutched in hands.

“The amount of participation was overwhelming and everyone had an incredible week of school spirit,” Colleen O’Neil said.

“My favorite day was definitely pajama day,” said Brennan Taylor, with Cassie Maver adding, “Spirit Week was lit.”  

To end a perfect week, students attended the homecoming football game Friday, and on Saturday, the homecoming dance. Friday night was frigid but students came out to watch Hanover beat Pembroke 48-12, and to see the senior homecoming court announced. The band played pieces of their Fantasia music selection, and when the game concluded the football boys fresh from their win gathered around the band in the stands, singing and dancing. As Michelle Leary, one of the cheerleading team captains, walked out from the field, she turned and said to me that someone should film the team going wild in song with the band, knowing it was a sight that may not ever come again.

Students left the school that night after the hometown win but returned less than 24 hours later, polished in tucked shirts and ties, clicking in heels with dresses, hair done. Homecoming has always been a traditional senior class fund raiser, bringing in revenue for the class preparing to graduate. “I thought the food was really good,” commented Ben Lee, a freshman who experienced his first homecoming, where the menu involved buffalo mac and cheese, a favorite by many.  

“Homecoming this year was a great success. We had the largest turnout in Hanover High history, with over 570 kids attending,” said Senior Class President Sarah Ryan. “This event was a major fund raiser for the senior class, and it was great to see the school come together and show their school spirit all week!”

“It truly made me proud to bleed blue and yellow,” remarked Callie Hoadley, reflecting the thoughts of many.

Spirit Week left as fast as it came. However, the essence of it, spirit, lives on through Hanover’s students and through their endeavors. We will see it throughout the whole year, not just spirit week, when the first hockey game rolls around, when girls basketball makes it to tournament, when the cast of the play has its final bow, when powderpuff rolls around, and Hanover Football runs onto to the field for the annual Thanksgiving game. The spirit will  be there when a group of students laugh together, working together as one, and when people join together to bring pride and respect to our little town. Spirit Week is legendary, but it is only one of many examples of Hanover’s strength.

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Sports

The Journey to Banner 18 for the Boston Celtics

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The Boston Celtics are considered one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA this upcoming year. They have a surplus of young, exciting talents along with a head coach who is viewed as one of the best in the league. Last year, the Celtics finished with a 40-42 record and the 7th seed in the playoffs. They were swept in the first round by the eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. While it was an early exit, it was still viewed as a success because they exceeded the expectations of many. Most thought that the team wouldn’t win over 25 games, let alone make the playoffs. Now, people know that the Celtics are not a joke anymore.

The Celtics had four draft picks this year, three of which have been signed and will make the team. They added March Madness star RJ Hunter and Louisville starting point guard Terry Rozier; along with athletic forward Jordan Mickey. This summer, they re-signed Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko and brought in Amir Johnson from Toronto. Celtics fans have already seen how Crowder and Jerebko can produce and they hope that they can receive the same from Amir. Another big move that was made was a trade with the NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. They traded Gerald Wallace for former All Star David Lee. Wallace was nothing more than a bench warmer for Boston, so getting anything in return should be classified as a win. It appears that Lee could compete for a starting role and will most definitely get significant minutes this year.

The Celtics have one of the deepest rosters in the entire league. There are only so many minutes that can go around and there may be an issue with some of the budding young players not getting enough time. This is a good problem to have because a surplus of talent is always better than having a lack of talent. In the backcourt, Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas Avery Bradley are all players who are highly capable of starting. Not to mention you have Hunter and Rozier on the bench who also need to see the floor along with 2014 first round draft pick, James Young. These players are all capable of contributing now and there is no way to tell which way head coach Brad Stevens will choose to go; but as a Celtics fan, I have faith in his decision making. We have a similar logjam in the frontcourt. We have Tyler Zeller, Kelly Olynyk, and Jared Sullinger, who all performed very well last year for the Celtics, not to mention the additions of Amir Johnson and David Lee, who look to be as good if not better than the players mentioned above. All five veteran forwards will be fighting for a spot in Stevens’ rotation. Mickey appears to be the odd man out in this situation. He does have age on his side though; he is a young, athletic, forward who will only get better with time.

I am going to make some predictions for the Celtics. First off, I predict that Danny Ainge will address the logjam in the frontcourt and will trade at least one of the players listed above. Next, I predict that the Celtics will finish with about 46-48 wins and make the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. There are many other budding young teams in the East so it should be an exciting race to watch. The Celtics have a talented young core and should be turning some heads as they continue their journey back to title contenders and Banner 18.

Sports

Ranking the Best – and Worst – Sports Stadiums

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Having your team win whenever you attend a sporting event is always the most important thing in every fan’s eyes. But the experience you have at the stadium — the food choices, the view, the general atmosphere — influences how much fun you have at the game. I have been lucky enough to travel to eight different stadiums in my life. As an avid sports fan I can only hope that that number grows but here are my rankings of the best and worst sporting venues I’ve been to.

#8 Continental Airlines Arena- the Prudential Center

I was visited the home of the New Jersey Devils of the NHL in 2006 and then in 2009. The area of East Rutherford is a rural area but the stadium itself is average. Nothing special to it, just an okay stadium but does not stand out in any way from my experiences. Hence why it is ranked last.

#7 Gillette Stadium

As most know, the home of the New England Patriots is located in Foxboro, Massachusetts. It holds a total of 68,756 fans. It is home to the most loyal fans in all of sports, and Patriots games get so exciting and fun that the experience at Gillette is amazing. The problem though  is getting there and leaving. The traffic on the one road to get in and out is awful, taking over three hours all three times I’ve been to Gillette Stadium.

#6 Camden Yards

Located in Baltimore, Maryland,  I traveled to this wonderful home of the Baltimore Orioles in 2011. The area in which Camden Yards in located is beautiful. The inner harbor of Maryland is a great place to walk around before and after games. The seating is nice, as it seems there are not many bad views in the whole park. It’s also located right next to the Baltimore Ravens stadium, so although I did not go in the Ravens stadium, it was a cool experience to see that as well.

#5 Yankee Stadium

In 2009 I was at game one of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. The stadium was massive, energy was electric and my experience was a great one. The seating was very comfortable, food stands cover almost every inch of the stadium and the centerfield scoreboard was enormous. Located in the Bronx, parking was tough but the atmosphere was like nothing I had ever seen at a sporting event: the fans around me were going crazy and so into the game that it made the game even better than it was.

#4 TD Garden

For basketball, the arena holds 18,624 and for hockey it holds 17,565. The Boston Celtics and Bruins have played in the same stadium since 1939. The Garden is very easy to get to as it is a final stop on the T, and  it’s easy to get into and leave. The TD Garden is a very small arena and there is a reason behind that. My experience is that when watching either basketball or hockey games at the garden, you feel as if you are on top of the action. It’s a  great environment for sporting events and one of the best in the NHL and NBA.

#3 Raymond James Stadium 

Located in Tampa, Florida, it is the greatest football stadium I’ve ever been to. It holds 75,000 people and is absolutely amazing. In the south endzone section, there is a 103-foot pirate ship that blasts a loud cannon noise for every Tampa Bay Buccaneer score and first down. The seating is great along with the size of the stadium and how open everything around it is. Lots of parking makes easy access to coming and leaving. The diehard Buccaneers fans make it even more special and the Florida weather definitely helps because warm weather at a football game was not something I was used to. Raymond James Stadium is one of if not the best Stadium in all of the NFL.

#2 Fenway Park

For 103 years the Boston Red Sox have called Fenway Park home and it is the oldest park in Major League Baseball. Its capacity is 37,673 and, to many, it is the greatest ballpark in all of baseball. Its traditional feel makes Fenway  a great place to watch a game. There are things about Fenway I do not like although I love the location, fans, and the environment. But the seating is bad. Some seats are directly in front of poles that support the upper deck seats. Seats are wooded and at times can be very uncomfortable. Despite that downside, I truly do love the park and am very lucky to attend it as much as I do during the baseball season.

#1 Tropicana Field

Though some people argue that this is the worst stadium in all of baseball, it is my favorite sporting stadium of any I’ve been to. The Trop, as it’s nicknamed, is home to the Tampa Bay Rays and is an indoor baseball stadium. Many old time baseball people curse the thought of indoor baseball because it’s not traditionally where baseball is played. Tropicana Field is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and holds 31,042 people. The big thing is Rays’ fans usually don’t show much support at games. They haven’t sold out a game since game 3 of the World Series in 2008 (longest non sellout streak in baseball) and seats are always available at games. That’s why games are so great; you can sit anywhere you want and I mean anywhere. Complaints about the Trop center on the catwalk, which connects to the roof and when lights need to be replaced, maintenance goes up there to fix them. Fly balls hit from batters can hit the catwalk and impact play. I truly believe people dislike and hate the Trop because it’s different, and that’s exactly why I like it. 

News

The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Kevin Perry

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Any Hanover High student walking in the direction of pod 208 will probably hear him before they see him. Shirt and tie, combed over hair, and a smile that can light up the school. Mr. Perry, a U.S. History teacher at Hanover High, has been teaching here for almost 19 years. Everyone wishes to have him as a teacher, as he is not only a great educator, but a kind and hilarious man, able to connect with students on topics ranging from baseball to music. You’ll definitely learn your share of Ronald Reagan facts and Gilded Age personas, but you’ll also hear an array of Janet Jackson, Red Sox opinions, and jokes of all kinds.

And he’s not like this only in classes either. It’s nearly impossible to go a day in Hanover High without seeing the inseparable pair of Perry and Mr. Brown in the halls, cracking jokes at each other, or hearing laughs from the teachers in pod 208, which is comparable to an episode of The Office. Mr. Perry is also the class advisor for the class of 2017, along with Mr. Brown. As class treasurer, I can say with all confidence that he has contributed greatly to the class’ immense success. We would not be where we are without him.

That can also be said by hundreds, if not thousands, of students that have experienced the fun and knowledge of Mr. Perry. He truly exhibits a gift to connect with students, evident by the true friendships he’s made over the years, which can be seen at breakfast shops all over the South Shore on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I had the pleasure of learning from Mr. Perry in AP U.S. History sophomore year, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. I learned more in that class not only about history, but about life and everything in it, more than I would have in any other history class. Everyone in Hanover High owes their thanks to Mr. Perry for making this school a much better place, just with his presence. So, if you don’t know him yet, get to know him. It’ll improve your experience here at Hanover High. And make a Janet Jackson reference. He’ll love it.

Sports

Postseason Baseball Predictions

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Major League Baseball consists of a grueling 162-game schedule that stretches from the middle of April to the end of September. Now that October is upon us, it means postseason baseball is here.

The Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays are currently battling it out for the American League spot in the World Series. From the National League, the Chicago Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series since 1908 — and were predicted in the 1989 movie Back to the Future to finally win the World Series in 2015 — are trying to defeat the New York Mets.

When postseason play began, I predicted that the St. Louis Cardinals  of the National League would meet the American League’s Blue Jays in the World Series. But the Cardinals got knocked out by the long-suffering Cubs. So, even though I got that one wrong, I still believe the Jays will make it to the World Series, get the win, and earn starting pitcher David Price d the 2015 World Series Most Valuable Player.

Entertainment

A Librarian’s Summer Reading

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In the first few weeks of school, I heard many students grumble about their summer reading assignments. More than a few could not bring themselves to pick up a book while hanging with friends on the beach or going on a family vacation. I am the complete opposite, which I guess isn’t much of a surprise since I’m a librarian. But even before I had this fancy degree and powerful position, I loved summer reading. It’s my chance to plow through a bunch of books without being interrupted by work, my daughter’s sports schedule or other obligations. I love nothing more than sitting outside on a beautiful day with a book in my lap. Books go with me to the beach, in the car, on my deck . . . Here are a few of the books I read this past summer, all of which I recommend to you.

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, by Jon Krakauer: Written by one of my favorite nonfiction authors, who’s also known for Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this book explores the life of Pat Tillman. Tillman was an NFL superstar when, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he gave up a million-dollar career and joined the military. When he was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, the government hid the truth from the public and even Tillman’s family. I liked this book because it was more than just a story about a soldier (although there was plenty in it for people who like soldier stories). The book really examined what motivated Tillman to leave professional sports to go to war, and revealed how he resisted the government’s efforts to use him as a propaganda tool. It was also interesting to read about the government conspiracy to cover up the truth of Tillman’s death as well as its often misleading reasons for entering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place. Sure to spark political discussions for those who are interested, this book is also a good read for people interested in sports and the military.

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital, by Sheri Fink: When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, hospitals were among the hardest hit, trying to save sick and injured patients without electricity, enough medicine, enough to eat or a way to escape. This book tells what happened at one hospital, where a doctor was accused of intentionally overdosing several patients because she felt they’d be too hard to evacuate or would die in the process. Some people called her and the nurses who worked with her heroes for trying to minimize patients’ pain in a terrible situation. Others, including the government, called them murderers and tried to press criminal charges. The book gives a detailed and disturbing picture of what life was like in flooded New Orleans, and makes you think. What would you do in the same situation? What choices would you make? The second half of the book was a little repetitive, but the first half was incredible.

Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee: As a huge fan of To Kill a Mockingbird, I was both excited and nervous about reading this long-lost novel. Critics immediately complained that favorite characters were turned into racists, others were killed off and the writing wasn’t strong. But I found the book to be really interesting, especially in thinking about how bits and pieces of it were revised and developed into the Mockingbird I know and love. Was it great writing? No, Harper Lee needed an editor and this book was released as it was found — no editing at all — so at times she was wordy and made outdated references. But there were flashes of the great writer that Lee could be (again, once she had an editor!). Was Atticus a racist? I don’t think so. Anyone who read the whole book would see that though Scout felt he was being racist, Atticus had reasons for fearing outsiders and trying to protect his African American neighbors in his own way. You may not agree with his reasons, but I think you’ll agree that the cries that he was a racist were exaggerated. Mockingbird explores being true to yourself and trying to understand others’ point of view. Watchman delves into how we forge our own identities, apart from our parents, as we grow from children to adults.

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder: Another nonfiction read, this one follows a Harvard-educated doctor who devoted his life to treating the poorest of the poor in rural Haiti. The subject, Dr. Paul Farmer, was a remarkable and unique man. In some ways, he made me think of Pat Tillman and the Memorial Hospital doctors: could I make the sacrifices and face the challenges that they did? Probably not. Did I feel like a selfish person reading about his work? A little. One of the things the book showed me was that treating disease in poor countries requires much more than medicine. It requires a huge shift in social policies: jobs for the poor, roads to improve transportation, water purification systems, a well-organized (and uncorrupted) government, and so on. Anyone interested in international relations, working with charities or medicine would like this book.

I read two more books in September, but this post is probably already longer than most students will read so I’ll save them for another time. All of these books are available in the HHS library. Come by and check them out.