A Second Wave of Covid Canvassing in Lancaster City
“Lesson for next time: bring tape.” It is 11 AM on Saturday, November 14th, and Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace is attempting to affix a COVID-19 awareness poster to the front door of Kiammy’s Grocery + Deli at 76 Howard Avenue. As part of a continued effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and promote awareness amid an alarming fall increase in cases, the City of … Continue reading A Second Wave of Covid Canvassing in Lancaster City
McCaskey Students Present Before City Council
“We are a dedicated group of young adults working to improve our community and learning how to be successful citizens; teaching that all people, no matter how young, have roles to play in leading the community.” These words, spoken by McCaskey Junior Destiny Ponce at the November 10 Lancaster City Council meeting, perfectly sum up the mission and purpose of the McCaskey Neighborhood Leaders Academy. … Continue reading McCaskey Students Present Before City Council
Gentrified? The Ethics of Thrifting
Have you ever found the most amazing winter jacket at a thrift store? Have you ever taken the time to consider the impact of that action? You may have taken a jacket away from someone in need, but you also could have prevented it from going to the landfill. Thrifting has become a trend for many, but others rely on it to survive. The argument … Continue reading Gentrified? The Ethics of Thrifting
The Queen’s Gambit – Making Chess Cool
When an older friend recommended I watch “The Queen’s Gambit,” the recent seven-episode Netflix series about a troubled female chess prodigy, I was skeptical. Chess? It sounded esoteric, boring. But I ended up bingeing the entire series in one weekend. I never expected a show about chess to be so utterly compelling. Set in the 1960s, the show revolves around Beth Harmon – played by … Continue reading The Queen’s Gambit – Making Chess Cool
Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Hand
Mr. Hand is one of the few new teachers this year at McCaskey Campus! We talked over Zoom for this interview to get a sense for how this school year is going for him so far and how he is adapting to online teaching. To go over the basics, Mr. Hand teaches 10th grade CA and 11th grade CA and is located in classroom 102! … Continue reading Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Hand
Uighur Muslims in China are in Serious Danger
Currently in China, Uighur muslims are being held in concentration camps and even more are being built. For years China has denied accusations of the camps existence however, recent images were released that proved otherwise. The images depict construction of new camps that include watchtowers and barbed wire. The Chinese government is referring to them as “re-education centers”. While the government says they are for … Continue reading Uighur Muslims in China are in Serious Danger
Elegant, Raw, Striking: Alanis Morissette’s 9th Studio Album Delivers
In the 1990’s, Alanis Morisette was the voice of a generation. Her ‘95 album Jagged Little Pill sold over 33 million copies and at 21 years old, Morisette was the youngest person ever to receive the album of the year award. Her work was fueled by a unique sort of adolescent anger infused with love, pain, and defiance. It has been 25 years since the … Continue reading Elegant, Raw, Striking: Alanis Morissette’s 9th Studio Album Delivers
My Uncle’s Experiences as a Foreign Service Officer Overseas
Before he retired, my uncle John Cogdill worked as a foreign service officer at US embassies. “I was what’s called a criminal investigator. Sort of like an FBI agent-but for the Foreign aid program,” he tells me over zoom call from his house in Bethesda, Maryland. “And so we had to find out if people were trying to steal our money by bribing people to … Continue reading My Uncle’s Experiences as a Foreign Service Officer Overseas
The Lemon Street Pocket Park: A $750,000 Mistake
Let’s take a second to ponder the “pocket park” at 30-35 West Lemon street. It has so far cost the city over $750,000, it is smaller than a tennis court, and its installation required the demolition of three different houses. In 2014, the city redevelopment authority acquired the homes at 33 and 35 West Lemon street for $200,000. 31 West Lemon street was condemned in … Continue reading The Lemon Street Pocket Park: A $750,000 Mistake
Coping with Covid: the Beginning of a New School Year at McCaskey
The 2020-21 McCaskey school year began with an all-virtual environment. At 8:00 on September 2, High school students across the city opened up their iPads and logged onto their homeroom classes. Teachers, some at home, some in front of their blackboards at school, worked to provide an experience which loosely resembled that of normal school. The district’s blend of synchronous zoom learning and asynchronous independent … Continue reading Coping with Covid: the Beginning of a New School Year at McCaskey
Interview with Leigh Lindsay, Local Business owner
“I might own the three worst businesses right now: a hair salon, a movie theater, and a restaurant.” These are the words that begin my interview with Leigh Lindsay, owner of Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse and Salon Fin. “During the great depression, movie theaters and hair salons were the two businesses that did the best: because people wanted to escape reality and go to the movies, … Continue reading Interview with Leigh Lindsay, Local Business owner
Kid COVID
Image courtesy of Kawasaki Kids Foundation Since the start of the pandemic, doctors and scientists have seen that viruses drift away and don’t affect children as much. But in recent weeks there has been a spike in a disease called Inflammatory Kawasaki Syndrome. Doctors in New York started seeing a rise in cases between April 27 and May 4. Inflammatory Kawasaki Syndrome is a disease … Continue reading Kid COVID
Tara Reade Debacle Shows the Immorality of the Democratic Party
I believe Tara Reade not on the basis of convenience, or because I am a Bernie supporter, but because I am a survivor. What I have seen come from the Democrats the last four years, and especially in the last two years, has helped me make a very important decision. I will never again support a Democrat for any form of public office, no matter … Continue reading Tara Reade Debacle Shows the Immorality of the Democratic Party
Kim Jong-Gone: What Happened to the Supreme Leader?
In late April Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-Un seemed to have vanished in thin air. Questions began to arise when Kim missed the most important holiday in the North Korean year, the Day of the Sun, a significant holiday that celebrates the Father of North Korea Kim Iil-Sung, the Grandfather of Kim Jong-un. The Day of the Sun is … Continue reading Kim Jong-Gone: What Happened to the Supreme Leader?
DIY Fashion Under Lockdown
Stay-at-home orders are keeping people home, and have shut down the fashion world, but young people are still finding ways to create and express themselves at home. But how is the fashion industry changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? With young style hungry teens at home DIY fashion is spiking. High fashion designers have either postponed or canceled fashions throughout the world, and some … Continue reading DIY Fashion Under Lockdown
