According to History, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion on Halloween each year, second only to Christmas. So, where did this highly celebrated, secular, commercial holiday come from? The answer is pretty complicated. From Celtic traditions to Christianity to “soul cakes,” Halloween has a long history, and has looked very different from what we picture today. The tradition of Halloween originated 2,000 years ago, with a Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Samhain celebrated the end of the harvest on October 31st, the day before the Celtic new year. It was also believed that October 31st was when the living and spirit world were the closest. They would set places at the dinner table for deceased relatives and friends, light sacred bonfires, burn crops, sacrifice animals, and wear costumes. After the celebration, they would light their hearth fires from the sacred bonfire to give them protection through the winter. After Celtic lands were conquered by the Roman Empire, two Roman holidays were incorporated into Samhain. Feralia, a day to honor the dead in late October, and a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, were integrated with the traditions of Samhain. Christianity expanded through Celtic lands in the 9th century. Various popes tried to replace pagan holidays like Samhain. All Saints’ Day, previously celebrated on May 13th, was moved to November 1st. Later, the church made a holiday called All Souls’ Day, celebrated on November 2nd, with some similar traditions to Samhain. People celebrated with bonfires, parades, and (church-approved) costumes. Today, it is largely believed that this holiday was created to replace and try to get rid of Samhain. The name of Halloween began with All Saints’ Day, also called All-hallows or All-Hallowmas, based off of its Middle English translation. The night before was referred to as All-Hallows Eve, which later evolved into Halloween. Just like the name Halloween, the origins of trick-or-treating are also from All Saints’ Day. During the celebration, the poor would go door to door, begging for food. Families would give out pastries called “soul cakes”, and the recipients would pray for their dead relatives in thanks. This was called “going a-souling,” and later children began to do it too, and the treats expanded past just “soul cakes”. To protect themselves, people wore masks when leaving their houses to trick ghosts into thinking they were one of them. Halloween largely made its way to America in the second half of the 19th century, with the help of an influx of Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine. Americans began to trick-or-treat, although they asked for food and money rather than candy. Halloween was also a time of mischief and pranks. In the late 1800s, it shifted to a more community-oriented holiday, and Halloween parties were popular. Halloween became secular by the 1920s and 1930s, and by the 1950s, it began to focus more on children and trick-or-treating was common again. Although Samhain, All Saints’ Day, and everything in between seem worlds away from today’s celebration, when you look at the heart of it, Halloween has always been centered in community traditions. Or maybe it's the tradition of eating good food and treats - who's to say? Whichever you believe, have a happy Samhain, a happy All Saints’ Day, and a happy Halloween! If this has inspired you to celebrate with soul cakes, here's a recipe: Easy Traditional Soul Cakes Recipe. Maybe stick to candy for trick-or-treaters, though! Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g4607/history-of-halloween/ Image sources: Time Out, Dimitra Fimi, Forbes, and ABC 7 Chicago - Hope Humphreys If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
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Book of the Month: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller I know, when you first hear the premise of this book, you probably think it sounds really boring. Really? A retelling of a Ancient Greek story? But no. Don’t say that. It is not some stuffy classical analysis of the Iliad: The Song of Achilles literally broke my heart and then put it back together with how beautifully it was written. It is the emotional, triumphant, tragic, and ultimately very human story of Achilles and Patroclus. I swear, however boring you think this might be, it isn’t. If you like the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series, you will love this. Achilles and Patroclus may be a part of mythology and Western Classical lore, but this book, written by a high school classics teacher, makes them alive and mortal and heartbreakingly lovable. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing this book is. I would also highly recommend Miller’s other major novel, Circe, but The Song of Achilles was my first introduction to her work and it is incredible. I read both her books cover-to-cover separately, and with both sat at the end with my jaw dropped, just stunned and impressed. Seriously, The Song of Achilles is just incredible. Quotes of the Month: "Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." - Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” - The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne “Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.” - Frankenstein, Mary Shelley - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Total Time: 45 minutes Yield: about 8 donuts Ingredients: Donuts
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- Mya Andrews If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email [email protected]. Thanks for reading!
Bursting with energy and style, Enola Holmes is a fresh, lighthearted film from beginning to end. The creative visual design, witty writing, and strong themes of this movie are apparent, and very enjoyable. Obviously, the standout star of this film is Millie Bobby Brown, well-known for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things. Here, she really steps into her own, fully portraying a character that this writer, at first, was worried would be precocious and annoying. However, the intelligence and wit of Enola Holmes shines through in her energy and the brilliant script, and the energetic, 4th-wall-breaking dialogue quickly assuaged those fears. The supporting cast is excellent as well, with Louis Partridge as her love interest/gentleman-in-distress Tewkesbury, and Henry Cavill portraying her older brother Sherlock Holmes. Helena Bonham Carter (Eudoria Holmes, Enola’s mother) and Sam Claflin (Mycroft Holmes, the eldest brother) round out the main cast. This film’s feminist themes are very apparent, but it also isn’t only a movie about that, either. They are not at all the main purpose of the story, and are handled well, accurately describing what life as a woman was like in that era. It’s an interesting look at a tumultuous time, and is wrapped up in a vibrant and exciting package that makes it an enjoyable watch for all ages. Overall, Enola Holmes is by far one of the best Netflix originals this writer has seen, and marks the start (hopefully) of an exciting new franchise IP for the company. This writer is personally looking forward to more of these films in the future. 4 ½ out of 5 stars - Trevor Winder If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! With the national elections being right around the corner, there is a large push to lower the voting age, specifically in Oregon. More and more Oregonian teens have defended that the voting age should be lowered to 16, pushing legislators to propose an amendment to the Oregon Constitution. There is reasoning behind both sides of the argument, but are they strong enough to create a need for change? There are certainly apparent advantages to lowering the voting age. One such argument states that lowering the voting age will increase voter turnout, and train a new generation of smart, informed, and prepared voters. And data supports this argument: when Takoma Park, Maryland lowered its voting age in 2013, registered voter turnout of those under 18 was four times the turnout presented by age groups over 18. A crucial question to consider is if this data could be translated to the Oregon voting climate. According to state senator Shemia Fagan, “It’s time to lower the voting age in Oregon and give young people a chance to participate at the ballot about decisions that affect their homes, their clean air and clean water future, their schools, and as we’ve seen, their very lives.” There are contentions as to why the voting age should not be lowered, as well. Scientifically, it is proven that 16-year-olds do not have a fully developed prefrontal cortex, leading to immature and irrational decision making. Another argument is that voting topics have virtually no impact on most 16- and 17-year-olds, as they are still considered adolescents in the eyes of national law. This lack of impact may create less of an incentive for young voters to make informed and selective decisions, posing a lack of comprehension of voting topics and their effects. Oregon Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr., of Grants Pass expresses his concern in a statement, “People are not legally considered adults in this country until they are 18 years old, and I believe they shouldn’t be able to vote until then, either.” While there is reasoning behind both sides of the argument at hand, Oregonian youth have been voicing their opinions in favor of lowering the voting age to 16, and so far, the government has been receptive. This consideration has gained support from the state government in the form of Governor Kate Brown and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, and has approval on a federal level, with the additional endorsement of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. In March of 2019, teens all across the state spent their spring break petitioning for a lowering of the voting age in Oregon, and efforts continue with the upcoming 2020 presidential elections. While the future voting age may be lowered, as of now, only those 18 and older are permitted to vote. This is why it is imperative that if you can vote, VOTE! Represent the future generation with your vote, and perhaps someday, 16 and 17 year-olds will also be able to vote. Major source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/oregon-voting-age-16-trnd/index.html - Maya Schwartz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Thought American may be embroiled in its own domestic issues and a pandemic, the rest of the world continues to turn, and many other nations face difficult times, tensions. and fighting outside of COVID-19. In recent weeks a conflict has erupted in the already-tense region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia, which has continued to escalate since the first shots were fired on September 27th. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan blamed the other for the start of the conflict. A tentative ceasefire brokered in Moscow between the nations was broken on October 10th, and both sides blame the other for that as well. Already many have died and long-range weapons have fired far past their intended targets. Why a conflict here and now? The region of Nagorno-Karabakh has been in dispute for decades. In 1988, it sought independence from Azerbaijan, starting a years-long conflict that claimed tens of thousands of lives. In 2016, there was another, smaller conflict, and again this summer. The whole situation is often referred to as a “frozen” conflict, but it has now thawed again. Though the region may seem small and isolated, it impacts global relations more than you might expect. Between the two nations, situated near the Caspian Sea, they share borders with Turkey, Iran, and Russia. In the past, a coalition made up of Russia, France and America has worked to negotiate an end to the conflicts. But there is now a new variable in the equation: Turkey. Turkey has allied itself deeply with Azerbaijan, whose majority Muslim population is of the same ethnic group as the Turks. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has made it clear that they stand behind Azerbaijan in this conflict; also inflaming tensions is the fact that both Turkey and Azerbaijan deny the Armenian genocide of World War I. Russia, on the other hand, is allied with Armenia, setting the stage for a potential influx of foreign influence in the fighting. Turkey and Russia are already fighting each other in proxy wars in Syria and Libya. In the past, they’ve been willing to work together to put down conflicts, but both Russia and Turkey are getting more aggressive in the Middle East and America is stepping back from the region. This may be the time for Russia and Turkey to show that Western powers are not so relevant in their backyards. The region of Nagorno-Karabakh has no particular significance to the international community by itself, only to its inhabitants. But the regional tensions it affects could inflame many other relationships. In the South Caucasus, where the conflict is occurring, lie important oil and gas lines. Azerbaijan buys arms from Israel. France and the US, among other countries, support Armenia. Iran, on the border to both nations, has ethnic populations from both sides. Armenians in San Francisco, all the way across the world, faced hate crimes at a school and church there. Their freedom of religion, culture, and self-determination could be decided by this war - or it may go back to the same unrestful but at least nonviolent status quo. That’s what many experts hope for, because at least it would avoid a wider war that could draw in Turkey and Russia. It’s possible that the ongoing negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow may succeed, which could improve the situation. Now, let's northwest to Belarus, where ongoing protests have seen further violence used against the opposition to the government and where the president, Alexander Lukashenko, met with his political opponents in jail. Ever since the August 9th “landslide” victory of Lukashenko, which was widely thought to have been rigged, Belarusians have taken to the streets in droves to demand a transfer of power and free and fair elections. On October 10th, the United Kingdom withdrew their ambassador to the country, and on October 11th Romania did the same. The protestors continue to hope that their actions will lead to change, and the government there is also not budging. The largest figure of opposition to Lukashenko, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, announced from exile that if Lukashenko doesn’t step down before October 25th, strikes will immobilize the country. Recently also, Russia announced that Ms. Tikhanovskaya has been put on their wanted list. This further shows that Russia is taking Lukashenko’s side in a country that has for decades stood on a precarious precipice between Russia and the West. Between Belarus and Armenia, it’s clear that Russia is not slacking on its expansion of global power. This summer, Alexei Navalny, the most important opponent of Vladimir Putin in Russian politics, was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent and was taken to Berlin, where he is still recovering. Russia also held a referendum this summer that passed, changing their constitution to allow Putin to serve until 2036. The US State Department has also grown concerned over Russia’s growing influence in Africa. How these stories develop remains to be seen, but we’ll keep you posted. Works Cited "Armenia Azerbaijan: Reports of fresh shelling dent ceasefire hopes." BBC, 11 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54488386. "Belarus protests: Lukashenko holds meeting with opponents in jail." BBC, 11 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54496233. "Belarus' authoritarian leader visits his foes in prison." The Independent, 10 Oct. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/belarus-authoritarian-leader-visits-his-foes-in-prison-alexander-lukashenko-leader-kyiv-prison-president-b939332.html. "Belarus: Russia puts opposition's Tikhanovskaya on wanted list." BBC, 7 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54456608. Higgins, Andrew. "As Both Sides Dig In, What’s the Endgame for Belarus?" The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/world/europe/belarus-russia-protests-endgame.html. Higgins, Andrew. "The Theatrical Method in Putin’s Vote Madness." The New York Times, 1 July 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/world/europe/putin-referendum-vote-russia.html. Kotchikian, Asbed. "Nagorno-Karabakh conflict precipitates a new regional order." Al-Jazeera, 8 Oct. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/10/8/nagorno-karabakh-conflict-precipitates-a-new-regional-order/. Kozenko, Andrey. "Navalny poisoning: Kremlin critic recalls near-death Novichok torment." BBC, 7 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54434082. Kramer, Andrew E. "Why Is Conflict Erupting Again Between Armenia and Azerbaijan?" The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/article/armenian-azerbaijan-conflict.html. Makridis, Christos A., and Alex Galitsky. "Azerbaijan's assault against Armenia threatens democracy everywhere." The Hill, 10 Oct. 2020, thehill.com/opinion/international/520437-azerbaijans-assault-against-armenia-threatens-democracy-everywhere. Mishanec, Nora. "3 incidents at S.F. Armenian church, school now considered hate crimes." The San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Sept. 2020, www.sfchronicle.coRm/bayarea/article/3-incidents-at-S-F-Armenian-church-school-now-15591677.php. Neuman, Scott. "Azerbaijan, Armenia Trade Accusations Of Breaking Cease-Fire In Nagorno-Karabakh." NPR, 14 Oct. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/10/14/923674768/azerbaijan-armenia-trade-accusations-of-breaking-cease-fire-in-nagorno-karabakh. "Police in Belarus crack down on protesters, detain dozens." Reuters , 11 Oct. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-protests/police-in-belarus-crack-down-on-protesters-detain-dozens-idUSKBN26W0IH. "Romania recalls its ambassador from Belarus." 112 Ukraine, 11 Oct. 2020, 112.international/politics/romania-recalls-its-ambassador-from-belarus-55508.html. Ryan, Missy. "Pentagon calls for new cooperation with Algeria to counteract growing Russian influence in Africa." The Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-military-africa-russia/2020/10/01/ac53cf66-0415-11eb-8879-7663b816bfa5_story.html. Strength Through Peace. "Eruption of Conflict Over Nagorno-Karabakh." Council on Foreign Relations, 28 Sept. 2020, www.cfr.org/blog/eruption-conflict-over-nagorno-karabakh. Sytas, Andrius. "Belarus opposition leader sets October 25 deadline for Lukashenko to quit." Reuters, 13 Oct. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-ultimatum-idUSKBN26Y1KP. "The Trouble in the South Caucasus Extends Far Beyond One Small Enclave." The New York Times, 8 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/opinion/armenia-azerbaijan.html. "UK temporarily recalls ambassador to Belarus." The Guardian, 10 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/10/uk-temporarily-recalls-ambassador-to-belarus. - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! - Rain Scarborough If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! With rumors of Shrek 5 on the rise, I decided to take it upon myself to provide an in depth analysis of every single Shrek movie. I have elected to leave out Shrek’s Spooky Swamp Stories, Shrek the Halls, and Scared Shrekless and just analyze the main four films. This is not to say that those shorts are not fantastic themselves, just that they don’t provide true character development and advance any main character’s story further than we already knew. Note: there will be spoilers for the movies below, but I imagine that you wouldn’t be reading this article if you haven’t watched these movies yet. Let us begin with the first Shrek, all the way back in 2001. This is a fantastic film about regaining your land from the corrupt government and finding love along the way, not to mention your best friend. This movie’s overall message is about accepting your own flaws, and realizing that appearances don’t matter. We have the introductions to our favorite relationships, Shrek and Fiona, as well as Donkey and Dragon, and finally Farquaad and death. The soundtrack as well is just immaculate, with the opening song of All-Star and then closing with a Smash Mouth cover of Believer, and a haunting Hallelujah throughout the entire movie. Don’t forget Bad Reputation as Shrek is beating the crap out of some knights to impress Farquaad. Overall, a fantastic film created by animators who referred to being forced to work on this masterpiece of a movie as “getting Shreked”, which means they had to be moved from working on The Prince of Egypt and were essentially demoted to this. Everyone knows that it is impossible to achieve perfection, but in 2004, Dreamworks tried again with the release of Shrek 2, which is the most well-loved Shrek movie. In fact, I conducted an informal survey in the Among Us chat rooms before playing a round, and all five people who responded with actual answers stated that Shrek 2 was their favorite. But why? It could be for many reasons, such as Puss in Boots and his kitty eyes, the amazingly handsome human Shrek and his noble steed Donkey, or maybe even the dinner scene with Fiona’s parents. But, they would be lying if they said those reasons over the main one. The Holding Out For A Hero attack on the castle sequence is a legitimate cinematic masterpiece in itself, with a fantastic mixture of Mongo the giant gingerbread man attacking the tower intermixed with Prince Charming sweeping Fiona off her feet as the Fairy Godmother performs the best song in movie history. In my own opinion, this is the best battle sequence in a movie, beating out the portals scene in Endgame. As far as the message of this movie goes, I would say that it is about accepting who you are, and that you don’t need to change for others. This plotline would prove to be a fan-favorite, which is why they brought back Prince Charming for Shrek the Third. Now we are entering the era of fever dreams. People, when asked if they knew there were four Shrek films, normally nod and say they simply haven’t watched them, or that it was a long time ago. No one really knows the exact plot, so this gave me an excuse to rewatch these two, because I also didn’t really remember the plot. So, just another warning, there will be spoilers for both Shrek the Third as well as Forever After coming up. Shrek the Third begins with the death of Fiona’s father, and thus Shrek and Fiona become the rulers of Far Far Away. Shrek doesn’t want that kind of pressure, so he goes in search of Fiona’s teenage cousin, Arthur Pendragon. Fiona learns she’s pregnant, and Shrek has to cope with the knowledge that he will have to be a father soon. This movie really highlights that growth with his relationship to Arthur. While this is the least well-known Shrek film, I think that this is the most pivotal to his character development. In the other movies Shrek lives his life like everyone should adjust to his needs, but now Shrek becomes more considerate of his actions towards his friends and family. As far as the villain goes, Prince Charming is back again - not to try and woo Fiona again, but to start a revolution with the rejects and villains of society, like the witches and cyclops. In a cinematic parallel, Fiona has to save Shrek from being slain, similar to how he saved her. This movie ends with the apparent death of Prince Charming being crushed by a tower on set, and Shrek and Fiona having triplets as Arthur takes the crown. The theme of this movie is more about learning how to be a father. While this movie doesn’t have a huge amount of fantastic scenes, the best running joke out of the whole film is when Puss and Donkey magically switch bodies through a mix-up of Merlin’s magic. Finally, we have Shrek Forever After, where Shrek makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin and accidentally signs away his entire life as he knows it. Shrek has to journey through a world where Rumpelstiltskin is king, witches terrorize the world, his best friend doesn’t know him, his wife doesn’t know who he is, and his kids don’t exist anymore. And who could forget the fact that Shrek will die in 24 hours unless he gets True Love’s kiss? This movie is all about falling in love again and appreciating what you had before you lose it. This Shrek film has the most climactic ending, with Shrek only getting his True Love’s kiss as he is slowly fading from existence, until he vanishes, destroying this reality until we return to hours before the deal was made. This movie shows that true friendship can transcend different realities, similar to how the Avatar can be friends with the same people in different lives. As for why this movie gets skipped over by so many Shrek fans, I would say that it is just because people didn’t like the fact that instead of expanding the Shrek universe, they told a new and different story, which I applaud them for doing. This movie is underrated, and I believe that it is considered the worst Shrek film because it has to compete with Shrek 1 and 2. Overall, these four fantastic films are the epitome of an animation film series, due to the fact that they work for both adults and kids. The bottom line is, if you even have the smallest sense of humor, Shrek is one of the best franchises, and I personally believe that it deserves more than a 4D ride at Universal Studios. Hopefully after the release of Shrek 5, this will be a reality. - Vincent Bottaro If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Hello Raiders! It’s been quite the year and we’re almost a month away from election day: November 3rd. Regardless of whether or not you’re eligible to vote, it’s important to be informed on the candidates who will be on the ballot. In the last few months, there has been a lot of focus on national politics which is incredibly important, but critical change can also be made locally in our community. Many times, the futures of those who can’t even vote are on the ballot. This can discourage people from trying to make change politically, but there are so many other ways to participate. For example, during COVID-19, phone banking is an outlet to increase voter turnout and campaign for candidates you want to see in office. Petitions and writing letters to your representatives is another great way to put your interests on the ballot. Most importantly, if you can vote, do it! Candidates work on issues that will benefit their next election, and in order to do that, will tackle issues their voters find most important. If you want your politicians to address issues that are important to you, vote! There are dozens of candidates that will be on the ballot this year for Benton county but there are some general trends that will need to be addressed regardless of political standing. With the pandemic and OSU students returning to in person classes, our community has seen a renewed rise in COVID cases, which will be important for our elected officials to grapple with. Benton County’s State Commissioner position for Position 2 and 3 will both be up for election through ranked choice voting since there are three candidates. State representatives from Districts 15, 16 and 23 will be up for re-election as well as state senate District 12. Two out of five of our US representatives will also be up for re-election from Districts 4 (Hoffay, DeFazio and Skarlatos) and 5 (Rix, Courser and Schrader). Important dates: Age to register to vote: 16 Voter Registration (OR): October 13th Absentee or mail-in ballots must be mailed by: October 28th (Oregon is NOT having in person voting this year) *If you’re interested in phone banking, you can contact Laura: her email is [email protected] More information about registering to vote can be found on this document (use your school account): docs.google.com/document/d/1cDhGGZVN6l4TXVsiM72jV9UKGMYLh5U7Y92FvJp2Voo/edit?usp=sharing - Laura Jost If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading!
Quotes Of The Month: “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone … just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! If you’d like to find your purpose, come join CV Robotics at one of their informational meetings on Thursday, September 24th at 6pm or Sunday, September 27th at 2pm. Robotics is looking for people interested in programming, fabricating, animating, designing, marketing, innovating, inventing, dreaming, and so much more. CV Robotics is a place for everyone -- no previous knowledge required. The google meet link is meet.google.com/wgm-xxin-ewh. The team looks forward to seeing you there! Contact Info If you have any questions, comments, concerns, etc. about CV Robotics, here's where to direct those: Robotics Management team: [email protected] Robotics Coach: [email protected] Team Captain: [email protected] - Kristen Scarborough If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a Zoom invite ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Senior year can be a very stressful time for students, especially those trying to navigate the college application process. Add a pandemic to that, and it can seem like an impossible task. While things are very different, many colleges have been trying to make things easier for prospective students. For those of you wanting to begin this virtual search and application process, but not knowing where to start, this article is a guide for you, based off of research and my own experience currently going through this process. There is a bulleted list of the points covered at the end. Finding out where you want to apply is the first step. If you aren’t sure, there are many college search websites available that you can use. You can filter by location, type of college, size, acceptance rate, majors, sports, cost, diversity, and more. Some good websites to try are College Navigator, College Board BigFuture, Niche, and Unigo. If you don’t like those, there are many more available, just search for them. There are also many college ranking lists available. After you know what you are interested in, the next step is learning more. The most obvious way is to check out the college website, but there are many more things you can do. Many colleges have created self-guided virtual tours on their website. They may also have information videos or campus tour videos on their website or YouTube. Lots of them are also hosting virtual events like virtual tours, various information sessions, student panels, admission advice sessions, and more. These are typically, but not always, webinar style where they can not see or hear anyone watching, and questions can be typed in a question box. Past sessions may also be recorded if you look for them. Some colleges will allow you to sign up for interviews, one-on-one student ambassador info sessions, or one-on-one admissions counselor info sessions. You can always email or call colleges with any questions you have. Some colleges are having CV and CHS specific events, only for their students. This includes some Oregon colleges and some from other states as well. For a calendar of this, click here: https://cvhs.csd509j.net/academics/beyond-cv/college-visits/ . Be aware that this may be more like a group zoom call than a webinar, because of the smaller group. You will probably have the option to turn on your microphone and camera. Some sessions require you to sign up beforehand, while others have the link right on the calendar, which you just click to join at the scheduled time. A very important tip that has really helped me is to sign up for emails from the colleges you are interested in. Even if you are unsure about a school, still sign up if you’re considering it. It is not binding, and you can unsubscribe later. If you sign up for a college-specific email list/interest list, they will send you useful information, inform you about events happening, and remind you of deadlines. You can also follow the college on social media. This is a great way to learn more about a college and make sure you don’t miss anything important. It is also a great way to show “demonstrated interest.” You can show this through attending the virtual events above as well. Some colleges consider this very important while others don’t track it at all. Smaller private colleges tend to track this more than big public universities, but not always. You can find out if a college weighs demonstrated interest through the internet. Something you should do as soon as possible is make an account on application websites, such as the Common Application website. See what kind of applications are accepted by the colleges you are interested in, and make accounts on the website(s). Even if you don’t start your essay right away, you can start filling out your profile with your information to make less work for yourself later. You can also see what specific supplemental essays or personal insight questions specific colleges require. If you are applying to a lot of colleges, it would be a good idea to make a google docs with all the writing prompts and/or questions on there, because there is a good chance a lot of them are similar to each other. There you have it! This year might be different, but I hope these tips are helpful. Stay safe and good luck with applications!
- Hope Humphreys Follow us on Instagram: @crescentcrier!
If you want to write for the Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a Zoom invite ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email [email protected]. - Kristen Scarborough Follow us on Instagram: @crescentcrier!
If you want to write for the Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and then we’ll send you an invite ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email [email protected]. Hello everyone. Firstly, I want to thank you all for continuing to read the Crier and support us, as always; we really appreciate it. We’ll be continuing to publish all-online this year through this website. Our articles will go up on Thursdays, and columns will go up on alternate Tuesdays. We also have a brand-new Instagram, @crescentcrier, where we’ll post when we have new articles, so go follow us there!
If you want to write for the Crier, we would love to see you at one of our meetings, which are every Wednesday! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and then we’ll send you an invite ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email [email protected], or contact me (Kate Voltz, the editor) directly. We want to write about what you want to hear about, so if you have ideas for stories or investigations, some upcoming event you think we should cover, or anything else you want to share, we’d love to hear it! The world today is crazy - if possible, it’s crazier than it was when we left in June. To this editor, it can often feel like everything is in chaos. And it kind of is. Many of us want normalcy, some semblance of control, a return to what we liked and were comfortable with. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works, especially not right now. No one feels any one specific way about any of this, and that’s natural - it would be weird if the opposite were true. If you feel like writing about your experience, or about anything else, we’ll be here for you. If you want to read about what’s going on in our little corner of the world and hopefully laugh at one of my terrible cheesy jokes in Raider Reads, then we’ll be here for that, too. We at the Crier wish you a great start to this 2020-2021 school year, and hope that you’re all doing well. We look forward to reporting for you and getting in touch throughout this year, and seeing you in virtual classes or, perhaps someday, in person again too. Happy autumn, and happy first day of school! - Kate Voltz, Editor of the Crier Over the last week, the largest city in Oregon has seen the presence of unmarked and unnamed federal troops that have stoked unrest. The mayor of the city, along with countless civilians, has been tear-gassed by these troops, who have been arresting Oregonians and putting them into unidentifiable and unmarked vans. The federal government under Donald Trump has insisted that they have every right to use troops to defend federal property—but constitutional law experts say it’s not that simple. Other cities, especially those run by Democrats who have had their cities mentioned by the president, have expressed their own fear of something like this happening to them, and not without reason. The Trump administration has already sent a tactical team to Seattle, thus expanding their presence in the Pacific Northwest. A federal judge had to issue a restraining order to stop the troops in Portland from especially targeting journalists and legal observers, or from taking their press badges/recording devices or stopping them from recording what’s happening. How did we get here? And what constitutional footing do these troops have? Portland, like thousands of cities and towns across the country, saw large protests after the police killing of George Floyd. Portland, though not a city with a large Black population, is a city with a history of passionate activism. However, what is different in Portland is the use of federal troops to protect certain federal property in the city—troops that no Oregonian officials asked for, and who have extended their presence far beyond the limited federal buildings they were sent to protect. Many of the highest government officials in the state (Governor Kate Brown, Portland’s mayor Ted Wheeler, and Oregon’s congressional representatives) have expressly asked that these troops leave immediately, since they have further escalated the mostly-peaceful protests. Instead, they have had to resort to suing the federal government to remove these troops; the state attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, took the federal government to court over the troops’ arrests of protesters, but was denied. She was told by the judge that the state cannot sue on behalf of the protesters. For many protesters, it had been a legal challenge to even find which branch of the government or law enforcement to hold responsible for these troops, much less who they are as individuals, since they bear no markings of what agency they belong to. What constitutional ground does the Trump administration have to send troops to Portland? It does exist, in the context of protecting federal property or helping states that ask for assistance. Throughout American history, federal forces have been used to control, supervise, or quell protests, strikes, riots and other similar situations. However, the Trump administration has forces unlike those used for protests and riots in the 20th century. The troops deployed by the president can seem exactly like the military without actually being military troops and are totally unmarked. Additionally, most legal experts see it as, at the very least, a huge overreach of federal power to take on a responsibility that usually belongs to local law enforcement. Historically, when local law enforcement haven’t been doing their job how the president wants them to, it has not been cause to send in federal troops to do that job for them. It also differs in that many cities during times of riots or unrest have asked for assistance from the national government; Portland has not, and in fact elected officials of Oregon from the governor to Portland’s mayor to congressional representatives have repeatedly said that these troops are unnecessary and unwelcome. Additionally, the kind of troops used and the grounds on which they were deployed are both in question. In other situations like this, it would likely fall to the National Guard to protect the rule of federal law when it’s under threat. Instead, it has fallen to unnamed and unmarked federal troops with militant tendencies. The law-breaking that triggered the arrival of these troops is also under question. Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said to the New York Times, “I don’t think there’s anywhere near the same kind of consensus at the federal level that federal authority is actually being subverted…What’s new and troubling here is we have a very, very contested factual predicate” (Badger). Vladeck considered a different perspective when talking with PBS. “[T]he notion that a handful of federal crimes justifies a substantial deployment of federal law enforcement officers … to show force on the streets is, to my mind, unprecedented” (Flaccus). Among local officials, it’s clear that the troops have only stoked further unrest and violence, and took a mainly peaceful situation into one that escalates nightly into violence. As a political ploy, these troops are also not successful with many traditional conservatives. In fact, small-government conservatism as an ideology is usually very wary of federal intervention in state affairs, and often stands up for state and local rights. One of Kentucky’s senators, Republican Rand Paul, tweeted, “We cannot give up liberty for security. Local law enforcement can and should be handling these situations in our cities but there is no place for federal troops or unidentified federal agents rounding people up at will.” Of course, there are political reasons for the Trump administration’s use of federal force in Portland, but there are those on both sides of the aisle that see this escalation as entirely undue. To quote the attorney general of Oregon in her recently denied case (asking for an order against federal troops arresting protesters), “Ordinarily, a person exercising his right to walk through the streets of Portland who is confronted by anonymous men in military-type fatigues and ordered into an unmarked van can reasonably assume that he is being kidnapped and is the victim of a crime.” This is not only a problem for Portland; the Trump administration has threatened to use such force in other cities deemed ‘overrun’ or ‘out of control.’ The courts are perhaps the last line of defense against these troops, more so than the ‘Wall of Moms’ and ‘Wall of Veterans’ at the protests or the pleas of local officials. However, nothing can undo the red flag that has been raised in Portland over the last week, and there have been indications that Oregon will not be the last state to face these mystery troops. ‘“This is the very thing that scared the heck out of the framers of the Constitution,’ said Barry Friedman, a law professor at New York University. ‘There’s been an over-tendency to cry wolf,’ he said of the president’s critics over the past four years. ‘Well, this is wolf. This is it.’” (Badger). In closing, it feels relevant to include a quote from Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, a rather terrifying but well-written history lesson about the warning signs of authoritarianism. He lists 20 lessons learned from Europe in the 20th century. Among them: be wary of paramilitaries, and be reflective if you must be armed. In description of this last lesson, Snyder writes, “If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no” (Synder 47). What is happening in Portland right now is highly irregular, and has been widely regarded as a monumental red flag. The troops in Oregon right now are dubiously legal, uncalled for by any local officials, and are far overreaching their grounds to beyond the federal buildings they are protecting. Works Cited Badger, Emily. "How Trump’s Use of Federal Forces in Cities Differs From Past Presidents." The New York Times, 23 July 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/upshot/trump-portland.html. Cillizza, Chris. "What the heck is going on in Portland?" CNN, 24 July 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/politics/portland-protests-donald-trump/index.html. Flaccus, Gillian. "Constitutional law experts see federal officers’ actions in Portland as a ‘red flag’." PBS News, 20 July 2020, www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/constitutional-law-experts-see-federal-officers-actions-in-portland-as-a-red-flag. Flaccus, Gillian. "Judge denies Oregon's request to stop arrests of Portland protesters by federal agents." KGW 8, 24 July 2020, www.kgw.com/article/news/local/protests/portland-protests-oregon-attorney-general-lawsuit-denied/283-61085d07-3532-435c-9c4f-52d3a462be10. Kanno-Youngs, Zolan, et al. "Feds Sending Tactical Team to Seattle, Expanding Presence Beyond Portland." The New York Times, 23 July 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/us/seattle-protests-feds.html. "Oregon lawmakers call for immediate removal of federal officers from Portland." KGW 8, 23 July 2020, www.kgw.com/article/news/local/protests/oregon-state-legislature-jointly-requests-immediate-removal-of-federal-personnel-from-portland/283-10496981-b59a-41fc-ae3e-fb527e1334f4. Rosenblum Lawsuit. Courthouse News, 17 July 2020, www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rosenblum-Lawsuit.pdf. Semuels, Alana. "The Racist History of Portland, the Whitest City in America." The Atlantic, 22 July 2016, www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/racist-history-portland/492035/. Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny. Penguin Random House, 2017. Treisman, Rachel. "Order Temporarily Blocks Feds From Targeting Press And Legal Observers In Portland." NPR, 23 July 2020, www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/07/23/894953202/order-temporarily-blocks-feds-from-targeting-press-and-legal-observers-in-portla. Photo credits: KATU News, USA Today, and CNN. - Kate Voltz
Hi Raiders. I hope you’re all doing well and that you’ve found ways to take care of yourselves while at home. These are unique times, in more ways than one, and the emotions they evoke are also myriad. While we’re living through history, it’s important that the stories we hear and that we tell ourselves are not merely echoes of each other. It’s a time to hear other people’s perspectives, to lean into vulnerability and community, and to ensure that real change occurs beyond the time of protest. Remember how long ago it was that Australia faced raging fire and America seemed on the brink of war with Iran? Someday, the stories you read on the news may feel as distant as those events. But we can’t afford to forget this.
The fights we are fighting today-ending systemic racism and police brutality, ending a deadly global pandemic-are marathons, not sprints. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and take a proverbial drink of water every few miles: consider taking a day off social media, practice good self care, and reach out to others when you need support. On a less serious note, the Crier has had an amazing year, in no small part to your continued readership. We are so very grateful that you continue to pick up our papers and check our website, and we hope that you get it as much out of it as we do. If you have suggestions for us for next year, you can always email us at [email protected], leave comments on our website, or contact me (the editor) directly. As the editor of the Crier, I wish you all a happy summer, and hope to continue reporting for you in the fall. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful summer break. - Kate Voltz, the editor of the Crescent Crier Cleanliness and cheap soap and fresh, cool salty air - that, to me, is the smell of a beach house. Not the beach house, where we go to visit my grandma every summer, with its big crowds and smell of wine. Just a beach house, the kind with faded sea-green paint and only three rooms, with driftwood and seashells for decorations, with a door that opens right onto the sandy shore. The kind where you hear waves instead of traffic and seagulls’ cries instead of people, and there’s nobody else for miles around. And when you walk outside you don’t put on shoes, not even sandals, because you can’t get sand between your toes as well with shoes on. And you run down the dunes, tripping and sliding, to the edge of the water, and you jump over the waves as they break on the shore and when one catches you by surprise and soaks you, you just laugh. Maybe you bring a special friend and you laugh together. Then you sit down and drip wet sand through your fingers and make fairy castles out of it for a while, and you dig moats in front of it to protect it. And when night finally falls you don’t look to the west, because sunsets are overrated; you look east into the growing twilight to see the moon rise and the stars come out, and you make a wish before you head home. - Valerie Delos-Reyes
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly closed school for the rest of the year. This is hard for everyone, but it especially affects seniors and their families. While their senior year experiences cannot be made up, community members are coming together in this difficult time to show appreciation for the hard work seniors have put in throughout their time at CV. The Gillott Home Team is sponsoring free “Home of a 2020 Graduate” signs for CHS, CVHS, and College Hill graduates with the help of Xtreme Grafx. CV is working with Element Graphics to give graduating seniors a personalized yard sign and a 2020 graduate t-shirt at no cost. On cap and gown pickup day, Gnomenuts at the Melon Shack gave free donuts to seniors. A graduation video featuring seniors is being made, and a virtual senior yearbook @cvsenioryearbook is on Instagram. Crescent Valley is holding a Graduation Celebration Parade on June 6th at 4 pm. An optional car decorating event is being held for seniors on June 5th. The ceremony will be broadcasted live at https://youtu.be/qZLSgOhfyvo on the CVTV YouTube channel! Each senior and their family will be in one numbered car in the parade, starting at the Benton County Fairgrounds and ending at CV. Professional photographers from TSS Photography of Newberg will photograph each senior receiving their diploma. Graduation will be broadcasted on the radio channel 720 AM KFIR, including a final message from Mr. McKee. You can support 2020 seniors by congratulating them personally, following @cvsenioryearbook on Instagram, watching and sharing the graduation video when it is published, and by tuning in to the graduation live stream at https://youtu.be/qZLSgOhfyvo on YouTube. This wasn’t the senior year anyone was expecting, but the community has come together to show support for their perseverance. Congratulations to the #seniorstrong class of 2020! - Hope Humphreys
The Current State of The Renovations You may have been looking forward to a renovated shop, more autos space, an outdoor ceramics area, and the other improvements for Crescent Valley created from the recent bond. Unfortunately, this has all been set back due to COVID-19. Certain schools are still going forward with their renovations because their designs and bidding were finished before COVID-19 began affecting supply lines and the cost of construction went up, so they were able to stay within budget and continue. This is not how it has gone for Crescent Valley, however; progress at CV is delayed till June of 2021 because of supply chain disruptions, impacted contractors, and an uncertain construction market. Bidding for CV was not finished before COVID-19 began affecting the construction market, so the cost would be about 3 million dollars over budget if it were to be done now. To work through this, a summer design team is going to work on more planning and figuring out the budget for our school. Additionally, state-funded seismic grants are being applied to make up for the extra money needed in the budget, and once the result of these applications comes through the district will review the project once again. What Does This Mean For You? There are both positives and negative to this turn of events; if students are physically in school again next year, this means that they will not be seeing any of the renovations planned for the summer. But this also likely means that classes/other activities in the shop will be able to operate in the shop during the second semester, since originally that was the time construction was going to take place in the shop but that is now delayed. Either way, we can still expect to see some or all of the renovations planned become a reality. For more information: Check out https://www.csd509j.net/bond-program/: this is where all updates and relevant news about the bond/CV renovations can be found. For more information/context, see this previous article about the original state of the renovations/the bond tied to them here: https://thecvcrescentcrier.weebly.com/home/archives/03-2020 - Kristen Scarborough
- Kate Voltz
- Valerie Delos-Reyes
Books of the month: The Jackaby series by William Ritter This series, written by an Oregon author, is truly entertaining. Follow the adventures of Abigail and Jackaby as they investigate supernatural occurrences around them. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, thrilling, and intriguing all at once. The Chicago Tribune described Jackaby thus: "He's like Holmes crossed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with a dash of Willy Wonka's deadpan zaniness tossed into the mix." If you like mystery, adventure, great fiction, or all of the above, check out this series. Other recommendations for this month: Autoboyography by Christina Lauren The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Looking for a way to read books for free, even though the public library is closed? Have no fear. The library has many resources available from home. OverDrive, CloudLibrary, and the Libby app provide ebook and audiobook access, RB Digital is great for finding magazines and other audiobooks, and Kanopy has free movies, Great Courses and more. All you need to access these is your library card! Happy reading, Raiders! Jokes of the month: Why do we tell actors to break a leg? Because every play has a ‘cast.’ Two tectonic plates walk into a bar. One bumps into the other and says, “Sorry. My fault.” What do you get when you cross a sorceress with a millionaire? A very witch person. Quotes of the month: “It takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it.” ― An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” ― Looking for Alaska by John Green “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” ― Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - Kate Voltz
Heartland Humane Society is no exception to the mass closures happening recently. While still taking in animals and doing adoptions by appointment, Heartland and the Heartland Thrift Shop have had to close to the public. Sadly, drop-in volunteers are no longer able to help inside the shelter, and their funding has dropped significantly. But there is good news as well: there is an easy way for you to help. Simply download a free app called WoofTrax (available on Apple and Android) and choose Heartland as your charity. Use the app every time you go for a walk, with or without a dog! If everyone reading this downloads WoofTrax and shares it with family and friends, imagine the good we could do for the animals at Heartland! - Hope Humphreys
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