Onondaga Central
On Monday, April 13, Onondaga’s Class of 2020 was gifted signs reading “OCS Senior” The signs were given out to help celebrate the Seniors and let them know we are still thinking of them. Students in the Class of 2020 had their year cut short, but that does not mean their accomplishments were any less successful. Mr. Mumford said they gave out the signs because “We miss the seniors and wanted to celebrate their final year at OCS.” The staff members who accompanied the buses to give out the signs were Mr. Ciereck, Mrs. Sawyer, Mr. & Mrs. Stanton, Mr, Clarrey, Mr. Price, Mr. Dolloff, Mr. Steward, and Mr. Mumford. They got the idea from parents who brought the signs to their attention. Mr. Corr from Signage Systems created the signs for the Seniors. Mr. Dodge created the route for the buses to follow. Mr. Mumford’s message to the Senior Class is “We miss the seniors and we are hopeful that we will be able to celebrate their successes. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.” View the official video here >
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Senior year can be the most memorable year of one’s life. It can be extremely happy and exciting for some and sorrowful for others. For many the year can be both, making it a bittersweet year. Senior year is by far the most memorable year of one’s high school career. Unfortunately, for Seniors all across the country, their Senior year has been cut short, causing them to miss some of the most exciting and memorable trips and events of their high school career. Just because this year has not gone as planned, nor are we currently able to be in school, does not mean Onondaga’s Seniors deserve any less recognition. This edition highlights yet another outstanding senior: Zach Delaney This coming fall, Zach Delaney is attending Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He chose to go there because he loves “the close-knit community atmosphere on campus” and he “will still be close to home” where his family is. At Hobart and William Smith Colleges, he will be majoring in economics. Not only will he be a student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, but he will also be an athlete playing lacrosse in the upcoming season. Zach will play midfield, which is both offensive and defensive. He has played this position all through high school. In high school, Zach played football, hockey, and lacrosse. In football, he played on both sides of the ball as quarterback and safety. In hockey, Zach said he was “specifically a defenseman, whereas in lacrosse I play both offensive and defensive midfield”. Zach’s favorite sport that he plays is lacrosse because “I really find it to be unique in its own way as well as a challenge, which I am always willing to push myself to in order to keep getting better”. His favorite high school sports memory was winning two state championships in his junior year, one for hockey and the other lacrosse. High school is not all about sports, even athletes participate in extracurricular activities and clubs. Zach said, “Even though I spend most of my time involved in sports, I am also a member of National Honor Society, Varsity Club, Peer Mentoring, and the SECNY team.” On the SECNY Tiger Branch Credit Union team, Zach is the Branch Manager, making this his second year working for the Tiger Branch. He joined the SECNY Tiger Branch so he “could learn valuable life skills and lessons that could benefit me later on in life from a financial standpoint”. Zach’s proudest high school achievement is that he is among the top-ranking students in the Class of 2020 and has had continuous success in winning championships throughout his entire athletic career, including a total of six sectional titles and two state titles. Going to college can be exciting and thrilling for many, as it is a brand new experience. For Zach, the thing that excites him the most about going to college is “beginning the next chapter of my life and continuing to further my education and my lacrosse career, as well as getting to meet lots of new friends”. Not only is college exciting but it can also be scary and worrisome. Joining a new community and starting a new school is not always easy. One thing Zach is worried about is the “thought of difficult coursework” He may be worried, however, he is “willing to do whatever it takes to succeed”. While Zach is excited about beginning a new chapter, ending a chapter can also be sad. Zach is going to miss “walking the halls of Onondaga and seeing all the friendly and familiar faces of my friends, as well as the faculty”. When Zach was asked for what advice he would give to any high schooler, he said the following: “One piece of advice that I would give to an incoming high schooler would be to never be afraid to push yourself to the limits and go out of your comfort zone.” His favorite grade would have been his senior year because “I was really looking forward to enjoying all of the fun and memorable activities and events that we had planned.” While people may know one another in a school environment, there are many things about one’s self that people probably do not know about you. Something many people do not know about Zach is that he “really likes to sing out loud and listen to music”, but only when he is alone. Life can be quite the journey full of twists and turns, hardships, and triumphs. Throughout one’s life, there is always someone who impacts and inspires you to push through and succeed. Zach said “My life has been inspired and impacted the most by those who I am the closest with, which is my family and my girlfriend. Every one of these individuals has always encouraged me and pushed me to be the best I possibly can at whatever I do in life, whether that’s striving in the classroom or on the sports field.” Good luck Zach in all your future endeavors including your lacrosse seasons to come at Hobart and William Smith Colleges! Hopefully, the Senior Class can get back to school to enjoy their Senior year soon! Fill Out the Tiger Prowl Poll!
Click here -Look for your responses in the next edition of the Tiger Prowl! “Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.” - Margret Thatcher Throughout April, Syracuse.com has been recognizing exceptional athletes by naming All-CNY Teams. Onondaga has three students on All-CNY Teams: Sam Geis- volleyball, Dylan Price- wrestling and Zach Delaney- hockey. Below are their responses to Syracuse.com. Volleyball: Name: Samantha Geis School: Onondaga Class: Senior Position: Setter Season statistics: Assists: 512; aces: 60; digs: 80; kills: 16 What’s next: Cornell University Best moment of the season: Winning a five-set match against Tully on our Senior Night. Who (or what) inspires you? My coach inspires me because she pushes everyone to be the best player they can be while also creating a true family-like bond within the team. In one sentence, say why you love your sport: In volleyball, the excitement that you feel as a team, after a big kill, a save, or a game-winning point, makes me love my sport. Wrestling: Name: Dylan Price School: Onondaga (wrestles for Marcellus) Class: Junior Weight Class: 138 lbs Season statistics: Season record: 38-9; career record: 164-40; earned my 150th win; placed fourth in States; won Sectionals for the second year in a row What’s next: Next year I want to earn my 200th career win, repeat winning sectionals and place higher in states than this year. Best moment of the season: The best moment of the season was placing fourth at states, beating my seed and achieving my goal for the season. Who (or what) inspires you? My family inspires me. They always have my back by coming to every wrestling tournament, even though it lasts the entire day, and altering their diet to avoid eating around me while I’m cutting weight. In one sentence, say why you love your sport: It is only you on the mat, no one to blame or fall back on. It’s up to you. Hockey: Name: Zachary Delaney School: Onondaga - member of the Syracuse Cougars Class: Senior Position: Defense What’s next: Next year I will be attending Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where I plan on studying economics and will be continuing my lacrosse career. Best moment of the season: The best moment of the season for me was defeating West Genesee for the sectional championship in the War Memorial. Who (or what) inspires you? I have been inspired by Latavius Murray, seeing as he came out of the same small school that I will be graduating from this year and his success afterwards. It has driven me to push myself to be the absolute best individual as I can, whether that’s in the classroom or playing sports. In one sentence, say why you love your sport: I love hockey because it is a fast-paced and physical game where I have also built lots of friendships with my teammates over the years. *For the All-CNY team members or to find All-CNY teams for other sports visit Syracuse.com Model U.N. Meets Onondaga’s Model U.N. Club is meeting despite the closure of schools. The members of Model U.N. randomly choose one of the five countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, also known as the Permanent Five or Big Five. The countries are the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China. Each of those countries has veto power meaning that, all solutions must be unanimously approved. Model U.N. recently discussed the pressing topic of the Coronavirus. The students drafted proposals to help end the global pandemic and restart countries all across the globe. The proposals included ways to get countries up and running again, holding China accountable, safe ways to slowly reopen nations, and eventually borders/travel. For students interested in joining contact Mrs. Delgado. Key Club Starts Instagram Page Onondaga's Key Club recently started their own Instagram page to continue to stay active and involved in the community while out of school. To follow their page go to OCS Key Club and the username: ocskeyclub. OCS Student’s Art Recognized Mrs. Passetti contacted the National Parks Foundation through Twitter asking if they would ever be interested in doing a student art show featuring artwork of the National Parks. She explained the National Park posters created by Onondaga’s Advanced Studio class to them. The art students did not have a chance to display their work so the conversation led to the National Parks Foundation having their first ever social media art show! The National Parks Foundation said, "Thank you, @OnondagaArt students! We are so impressed with your artistic abilities and hope you create national park-inspired art for years to come. Thank you for sharing with us and encouraging your students, Mrs. Passetti!” In the online art show, the National Parks Foundation displayed a variety of National Park artwork from the past 100 years. Sophomore Margret Hass's poster of American Samoa National Park was selected! Congratulations Margret! Onondaga Free Library: Teen Reads– Virtual Book Displays During the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Onondaga County Library System closed all libraries. However, Onondaga Free Library’s Volunteer Group, the Book Wranglers, wanted to keep teens reading regardless of the closure. The group wanted readers be able to stay in touch with the Onondaga Free Library, help them get books, and give them something to look forward too as well as entertain them. The website displays book reviews and a DIY section, movie and TV show review's are still to come. The group would still like to use the website after the pandemic is over, as it is a way to keep the community involved with not only the library but with reading! The website was created by Onondaga student Natalie Price. Visit the website at : https://oflvirtualbookdisplays.weebly.com/ This year Onondaga’s International Business Internship Program (IBIP) team has been working with their business partner Ukasha Alhassan. As many of you may remember last year Onondaga’s IBIP team worked with Shehu Gagare, a fish farmer. Shehu graduated from the “student” division of IBIP and will now work with people on the ground in Nigeria to implement our solutions. Leadership Initiatives is based in Washington D.C. that focuses on improving underserved communities in Nigeria. The International Business Internship Program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for high school students across the country to work with a real business in the developing world and transform communities across the globe. The team members include Natalie Price, Nicole Dooley, and Dylan Price, the team leader as well as the creator of Onondaga’s IBIP team. Ukasha lives in Bauchi State, Nigeria. At age 21, he has run his own motorcycle repair business for four years. With the help of the International Business Internship Program and the help of Onondaga students, he hopes to expand his business, increase profits, and give back to his community. At six years old, Ukasha had lost both of his parents. His uncle took Ukasha in and gave him a home, but once his uncle got married, Ukasha was forced to move in with a friend. Once again, Ukasha was an orphan, left to work hard, and survive on his own and look after his younger brother. Through his business, Ukasha is able to support his family, including his uncle, who had helped him in the past. Additionally, Uksaha funds his younger brother’s education. Currently, 17 people depend on Ukasha’s business to survive. Ukasha also helps the children in his community, by having 11 teenagers in his community become apprentices. He is able to train them in the profession. By doing so, he hopes he can eventually have employees. At the beginning of the year, Ukasha was lacking the few crucial components to running a successful business. His business needed the following: a business name, advertising, and system of keeping track of Ukasha’s revenue and expenses. People only knew about his business through word of mouth. Ukasha’s goal is that within the next 5 years he would like to move to a bigger location with more customers and own his shop instead of renting a building. He would also like to start selling motorcycle parts instead of customers having to purchase the parts for Ukasha to then fix the motorcycle. Onondaga’s IBIP team has started putting their ideas into action for Ukasha to use. The team got to work by first helping with advertising. The team established a much need business name, “Ukasha’s Motorcycle Repair Shop”. This allowed them to create a logo, business cards, bumper stickers, as well as flyers, all of which will spread the word about Ukasha’s business and attract new customers. In order to improve Ukasha’s financial management, we created two different spreadsheets. One spreadsheet was to record expenses and the other was to record revenue. Likewise, our team created receipts. The team thought of new ideas to help promote his business like creating membership programs and a motorcycle washing station. The team still has more they would like to achieve with Ukasaha and are looking forward to accomplishing more of his goals. However, they are excited to see their ideas come to life, and even more excited to be putting their ideas to good use and helping someone along the way. Onondaga’s IBIP team is helping to change the world one idea at a time. The following is a statement written by Ukasha about IBIP, "My name is Ukasha, I own a small motorcycle repair shop along Zango Road Bauchi. I met a team of 2 girls and a boy late 2019 who have helped shaped my business with ideas that I never had imagined, the revenue/sales tracker I am presently using which was designed by them has made me realize I could achieve my dreams only if I know what I make and how much I spend with regards to business. I have become more conscious of how I spend money and very eager to record whatever transaction I had”. To support Ukasha and Onondaga’s IBIP team you can donate to https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/onondaga-ibip/. Coronavirus Aftermath: What’s Next- China Lied People Died The Coronavirus was released either intentionally or unintentionally from a lab in Wuhan, China, or a lab 20 miles away. To make matters worse, China censored information, downplayed the threat of the virus to the rest of the world, and doctors in China raising alarms vanished. This prompted calls for action. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced legislation calling for an investigation into China for the Coronavirus and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the same legislation in the Senate. The STOP COVID-19 Act, introduced by Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) authorizes the DOJ to investigate the origins of the virus in China. Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) in the House of Representative and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced legislation to allow victims of the Coronavirus to sue China. Senator Cotton was the first American politician to raise serious concerns about the Coronavirus, skipping impeachment hearings to warn President Trump of this pandemic in January. Senator Ted Cruz introduced legislation to sanction Chinese officials who censored information regarding the Coronavirus. Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) proposed forcing China to pay reparations over the Coronavirus which could start by China erasing the $1.1 trillion debt America owes them. Many want to Make America Manufacture Again. One proposal is to create tax credits for American companies to leave China and return to the U.S. World Health Organization’s Abysmal Failure The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) failed at responding to the Coronavirus. The WHO continually defended China and stated that the Coronavirus is a threat- not even declaring the Coronavirus a pandemic until March 11. The W.H.O. ignored warnings from Taiwan in December and from Chinese doctors. The leader of the W.H.O., Tedros Adhanom, is not a medical doctor and has a questionable record, including overlooking several Cholera outbreaks while the Minister of Health in Ethiopia and appointed, now dead, Zimbabwe dictator as a good-will ambassador. There were widespread calls in Congress among Republicans, with the first being from Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ), for the U.S. to defund their contributions to the W.H.O. As a result, President Trump is pulling America’s $400-$500 million in W.H.O. funding. (The Atlantic). Sources: Gilsinan, Kathy. “How China Deceived the WHO.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 12 Apr. 2020, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/04/world-health-organization-blame-pandemic-coronavirus/609820/. Immigration Pause Recently, President Trump issued an executive order to freeze immigration, partially. For 60 days there will be a freeze on new employment, based on extended family green cards being issued. According to F.A.I.R. and the Migration Policy Institute between 80,00-110,000 green cards will be affected, only 10% of total immigration. This executive order excludes visas including H-1B, H-2B (employment) and student visas. President Trump cited the need to increase wages during the recovery from this pandemic, opening up jobs for Americans and, primarily, preventing any further spread of the Coronavirus. Another motivation by the Trump administration is with Americans not able to live their daily lives, bringing more people to the U.S. is not feasible (Associated Press). U.S Taxpayers Funded Wuhan Lab that Released Coronavirus The United States National Institute of Health (NIH) gave a $3.7 million grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in 2015, under President Obama, which is where the Coronavirus is suspected to have been released. In 2015, the Wuhan lab became the first highest risk biomedical lab in China and in January 2018 the State Department issued a warning about this lab. In addition, $22 million of taxpayer money was spent on research tied to the Wuhan lab, before being shut down in 2019. This experiment purchased at least 34 cats in Chinese wet markets that were then euthanized, with the body parts of the cats being fed to kittens. This was dubbed “Kitten Cannibalism" by animal rights groups (Washington Examiner). This shows how tighter safeguards related to spending are needed, especially since spending for the NIH was increased by 7.7% in 2020. China Theft of U.S. Research According to investigations from Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, China is currently running a program called the Thousand Talents Program which is where they offer American professors lucrative salaries to steal American research from universities to give them to China, including the $150 billion U.S. taxpayer-funded research. Of the same token, China also recruits Chinese students who are researchers at American universities on American visas to steal American research. Examples of this include Chinese students being arrested for trying to steal Monsanto trade secrets and cancer research (Real Clear Politics). Senate Republicans Marsha Blackburn (TN), Josh Hawley (MO), Chuck Grassley (IA) Ted Cruz (TX), and Tom Cotton (AR) introduced a bill to prevent this by banning Chinese students affiliated with the Chinese Liberation Army from receiving student visas. California Gift to Illegal Immigrants California Governor, Gavin Newsom, is planning to give illegal immigrants a total of $150 million in cash assistance, $500 for 150,000 illegal immigrants. $75 million from taxpayer money and $500 from private charities. This is likely illegal since the $2.2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress did not include illegal immigrants and a prerequisite for receiving aid was filing 2018 tax returns which most illegal immigrants do not file. This led to growing calls to block aid to California or for the U.S. Department of Justice to sue the State of California for violating federal law (Fox News). Wet Markets Back in Business As millions of Americans are still out of work and quarantined in their homes, China’s wet markets are reopened. Initially, it was reported that the Coronavirus originated from bats in a wet market in Wuhan China. Besides bats, these wet markets sell the meat of dogs, ostriches, foxes, camels, just to name a few. Now it is accepted that it is more likely the Coronavirus escaped from the Wuhan Lab. It has not yet been determined if bats in wet markets enhanced the spread of the Coronavirus or if bats were the means of releasing the Coronavirus from the Wuhan lab. Regardless of where the Coronavirus originated, the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003 originated from bats in a wet market and the Bird Flu was from a wet market. This demonstrates the level at which disease festers and thrives in wet markets (Bloomberg News). FBI Misconduct The Inspector-General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz declassified several key footnotes on the FISA application warrant to spy on Carter Page as a means to spy on the Trump campaign. It was found that the FBI made 17 significant errors and had “no basis “ for a warrant. Additionally, Christopher Steele, the British ex-spy was "compromised” by Russia and likely colluded with Russia to produce a fake dossier (document) about President Trump that the FISA application was based on. In other words, this was an attempt to frame the Trump campaign for “collusion” with Russia, when in fact, there was collusion with Russia AGAINST President Trump- not the other way around, as reported by the media (Washington Times). Hunter Biden’s Continued China Ties According to Chinese business records, Hunter Biden is still a board member of the Chinese company, BHR Partners that he co-founded and owned a 10% stake in. This is despite pledging last year to step down from the Board of Directors. Biden pledged to step down due to controversy related to his business dealings with this company, as reported in my earlier article Drain the Swamp Part I. Notably, the deal for Hunter to purchase a stake in BHR Partners was finalized days after Hunter and Joe Biden traveled to China on Air Force II. Another deal that was finalized was for Hunter Biden’s company to raise $1.5 billion in investments for BHR Partners. BHR Partners is backed by the Bank of China- the Chinese government bank. Furthermore, BHR Partners acquired American companies that have technologies sensitive to national security (N.Y. Post). Election 2020 Joe Biden’s Most Recent Gaffes While campaigning remotely through videos and news interviews he has continued to make an increasing number of gaffes, leading many to question his mental state. In a 30 second Youtube video posted by his campaign Biden, lost his train of thought stating “We need to activate the reserve corps of doctors and nurses and beef up the number of responders dealing with the crush of cases. And uh, in addition to that, we have to make sure that, we are,” After freezing Biden gestures with his hand asking his staff to roll back the teleprompter. Then says “Let me go to the next thing.” Need I remind you that this was a pre-written statement, not off the cuff. Watch here. Similarly, in an MSNBC interview Biden stated “I suggested we should have people in China at the outset of this event, when it all started, in Luhan Province..” The Coronavirus originated in the City of Wuhan in the Hubei Province not “Luhan”. Watch here. Some of the other countless Biden gaffes can be found here. Joe Biden’s Accuser: Tara Reade Former Vice President Joe Biden has a credible accusation of sexual assault by one of his former Senate staffers Tara Reade, dating back to 1993. Reade went to an organization started after the #MeeToo Movement, called Time’s Up to women to come forward and fund their cases. Time’s Up has raised $24 million on their GoFundMe Page, the most successful GoFundMe campaign on record. However, this organization denied helping Reade when she approached them in January. The mainstream media has barely covered this story with Joe Biden, even being interviewed in a virtual CNN Town Hall, Meet the Press on NBC, and a series of MSNBC interviews, with not mentioning this accusation. This is in contrast to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, received significant news coverage and received an award since she was accusing someone connected to the Trump Administration. CNN waited 24 days to cover Biden’s accuser, in contrast they published 700 articles about the Brett Kavanagh’s accuser in 19 days. Joe Biden has stated he “believes all women ''. Like Ford, Reade deserves to tell her side of the story. If Biden is innocent of any wrong, this will never be determined unless the story of Reade is told, otherwise, this will hang over Biden until it is addressed. Currently, there are documents within the Senate related to this case, including a report field by Reade that has yet to be released. A producer for Roann Farrow, that helped break the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault story said Reade is credible, as does Democratic-Socialist Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez N.Y. along with Bernie Sanders’ aides. Newly released tapes from an episode of Larry King Live on CNN in 1993 with the mother of Tara Reade calling in stating that her daughter was victimized by a “prominent” Senator but did not come forward (Fox News, The Intercept). Socialized Medicine vs. the United States Healthcare System The Coronavirus has exposed the ineffectiveness of socialized medicine. For example, the Coronavirus death in the United States is 4%. This compares to other European countries: Belgium 14%, Italy 13%, the United Kingdom 13%, Spain 11%, and France 11%. These countries have some form of socialized medicine- government-run healthcare. The government is the only provider of healthcare and provides it to all citizens paid by exorbitant taxes, which is known as single-payer healthcare. This is what Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders wanted but repackaged as “Medicare for all” and that presumptive Democrat nominee Joe Biden embraces. The death rates from the Coronavirus expose the faults of single-payer and the superiority of the American healthcare system (NoSpinNews). Sources: Re, Gregg. “Biden Sexual Assault Allegation Goes Unmentioned in Another Televised Interview.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 29 Mar. 2020, www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-in-another-televised-appearance-isnt-asked-about-sexual-assault-allegation. Grim, Ryan. “Time's Up Said It Could Not Fund a #MeToo Allegation Against Joe Biden, Citing Its Nonprofit Status and His Presidential During these uncertain times, our plans for future vacations may have been canceled and many do not have the money to book an expensive vacation nor do they want to book something that may be canceled. Just because going somewhere far or exotic is out of the picture does not mean you and your family can not go anywhere fun this summer. New York State offers numerous adventures for people of all ages, while they may not be far they most certainly are fun! Adirondacks: Camping, Hikes & Smores!: The Adirondacks Mountains are well known for their gorgeous views, hikes, and campsites. A weekend trip or even a day trip into the Adirondacks will provide a peaceful and serene day as well as a great way to be one with nature. You can experience the thrill of hiking and the rush of reaching the top of a high peak to see the magnificent views. Camping! - Old Forge Camping Resort- Camping in a tent is not for everyone, but camping in a cabin is! At Old Forge Camping Resort, a whopping 132 cabins are offered. The cabins are a cozy one room with a double bed and a bunk bed sleeping four. If a cabin is too rough and outdoorsy for you, then heated cabins are available. The resort offers free shuttle rides to Water Safari with the Stay N’ Play package as well as a private serene beach and lake. Make sure to explore the charming town of Old Forge as well when on your camping trip. Moose River Plains and Wild Forest- While this is more of a rugged, primitive camping experience with no cabins, this is a place to get in touch with nature. This place is notorious for its moose sightings and water access, placing it between Inlet and Indian Lake NY. Fish Creek Ponds- Located on Lake Clear NY, this campsite has shower and bathroom facilities, an ice cream truck that visits every night, and various ponds and streams. Here is a great place for kayakers and canoers to explore the waters. Forked Lake- Near Long Lake NY, this place is a hidden gem of camping with 80 sites and bathroom facilities on each one. What makes this site special is all of them are waterfront. Lake Eaton- Also near Long Lake, this campground offers 135 camping sites, with shower and bathroom facilities. Not only are the views stunning but there is a sandy volleyball court and hiking trails for more family fun. Limekiln Lake- In Inlet, NY, these camping grounds offer 271 sites, some of them being waterfront, though they are limited. There are several unique and small islands to explore including one with a large rock for jumping and swimming. There are boat and canoe rentals available on site. For more campsites go to https://pureadirondacks.com/blogs/news/84096385-10-awesome-camping-spots-in-the-adirondacks Don’t forget the marshmallows! Hikes!- Here is a list of mountains and hikes with breathtaking views however the trail’s difficulty range from easy to moderate: Hadley Mtn., Mt. Arab, Mt. Haystack, Kane Mtn., Hanging Spears Falls, Cascade Mtn., Good Luck Cliffs, Echo Cliffs on Panther Mtn., Cathead, Moose River Plains, Bald Mtn., Gleasmans Falls, Catamount Mtn., Pokamoonshine, Pharaoh Mtn., Severance Hill, Crane Mtn., Chimney Mtn., Pillsbury Mtn., Wakely Mtn., Blue Mtn., Pitchoff Mtn., and Vanderwhacker Mtn. Here is a list of longer more difficult hikes if you are looking for more of a challenge. However, the challenge is worth it for the panoramic scenery is absolutely phenomenal: Black Mtn., Tongue Mtn. Range, T Lake Falls, Peaked Mtn., Cascade, and Queer Lakes, High Falls on the Oswegatchie, Saint Regis Mtn., Debar Mtn., Snowy Mtn., Owl Head Mtn., McKenzie Mtn., Mt. Marcy, Mt. Skylight, Gothics Mtn., Mt. Colden, and Whiteface Mtn. Did the U.S. Already Experience the Coronavirus before March? According to data from the CDC, the week of January 18, 2020, 90,000 Americans went to the doctor with ILI symptoms and increased to over 107,000 by the following week. ILI is influenza-like-symptom and has a fever of 100℉ or greater. However, only 30% of these cases tested positive for the flu, Influenza A or Influenza B. This leads to the question, what did these people have? Was it the Coronavirus? The first Coronavirus case in China was in November 2019. Are Coronavirus Cases Inflated? According to a report from the New York Times, besides treating Coronavirus cases, hospitals across the United States are quiet. Heart attacks and strokes are down 40%-60%, medical experts have not yet identified the reason. It could be that people are reluctant to go to the hospital and seek treatment over Coronavirus fears. Another potential reason is hospital patients are being tested and treated for the Coronavirus instead of the main cause of hospitalization. According to Italian health ministry advisor Walter Ricciardi, as of March 25th, only 12% (720) of Coronavirus deaths actually have the Coronavirus as the direct causes of death on their death certificate. The other 88% (5,280) have at least one, some have two or three, pre-morbidity diseases that could be the causes of death and the patient happens also happen to have the Coronavirus (OAN). In the United States, pre-existing health factors make the virus more severe. As of April 6, only 46 of the 2,475 Coronavirus deaths had no pre-existing health condition (HYC.health.gov), which raises questions if anyone with Coronavirus-like symptoms and dies is counted as a Coronavirus death, even if another condition caused their death. According to a recent study conducted in a hospital in New York City, 94% of all Coronavirus patients had one preexisting condition, 88% had more than one pre-existing condition (obesity, hypertension etc.) and only 6.1% had no condition other than the Coronavirus (N.Y. Post). Coronavirus Models were Wrong In early March, the CDC, Center for Disease Control, estimated that 1.7 million Americans would die from the Coronavirus (N.Y. Times). Fortunately, this number was inaccurate, as of April 26, over 51,000 Americans died of the Coronavirus (Worldometers). This raises questions about how the CDC could be so wrong, especially when the President and 50 U.S. governors have to make decisions affecting the economy (closing businesses), lives, and the dreams of people (canceling sports seasons). Coronavirus Compared to the other Epidemics? The flu usually kills 8,200-20,000 Americans per year (WebMD). In fact, the flu has killed 22,000 Americans this year, including 144 children under the age of 18- the worst since the Swine Flu, while the Coronavirus has killed a couple children nationwide but they had unknown medical conditions, as of April 24. The flu and pneumonia have actually surpassed the pandemic threshold with 7.4% of deaths (CBS News). There are never shutdowns in the U.S. from the flu, even for the Swine Flu (H1N1) which killed 17,000 people. SARS is another virus similar to COVID-19 that never sparked a shutdown. In 2018, 68,000 Americans died of drug overdoses and in 2017 it was even higher with 70,000 succumbing to drug overdoses. In 2018, 10,511 Americans died from drunk drivers. Both deaths from drunk driving and drug overdoses are preventable, but have never received the attention or concern as the Coronavirus or shutting down the U.S. Unintended Consequences of Quarantine Beyond the loss of educational instruction, sports being canceled, and not be able to attend church on Easter, there are even more unintended consequences of quarantine. Due to the shutdown of the U.S. economy, a jaw-dropping 26 million Americans have been laid off, the number of jobs created since after the Recession in 2008 . To combat the Coronavirus Congress first passed an $8.3 billion bill, then to stabilize the economy, Congress passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill and another $500 billion stimulus. The nationwide lockdown has already caused the unsustainable U.S. debt to increase from $22 trillion to $24.5 trillion and it will still be on the rise. This leaves future generations indebted. There are many unmentioned social consequences of quarantine. In Indiana, calls to the mental health and suicide hotline skyrocketed from 1,000 to calls to 25,000 calls per day. Another negative impact on mental health the quarantine has led to was an increase in a prescription for anti-depressants by 18.6%, sleeping medications by 14.8%, and anti-anxiety medications up 34.1%. A report from France shows the increase in domestic violence caused by quarantine, domestic violence claims were up 32% in one week (Fox News). Other chronic illnesses that are the leading causes for death in America, like cancer, diabetes, Heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia cause far more deaths than the Coronavirus (CDC). Sources: Fink, Sheri. “Worst-Case Estimates for U.S. Coronavirus Deaths.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Mar. While life may be dreary, nevertheless the wondrous world of reading is just as captivating as ever. Currently, we are all going through dire times, reading a good book can transport you out of the daily monotony of your life and launch you into an exciting new world of unknowns. Books can help your mind branch out and discover new realities, ignite new ideas, change your perspective, or simply just brighten your day. Not only that, but reading can ease the pain we are all going through right now and help us escape into a new scenery that is fun and enchanting. Even during times like this, while the library may be closed, the pages of books are not. While school, sports, and trips were canceled, a life full of reading can never be and stories will never stop being told. There are still so many ways to get books, hard copies, ebook or even audiobooks are available. You can borrow ebooks and audiobooks through the Onondaga County Library system. Purchasing a book does not have to be expensive with sales and coupons from Barnes and Noble and many other stores such as Walmart and Target. An even cheaper option is purchasing a used book from Amazon. The following are recommended reads you are sure to enjoy:
With people not working and students unable to participate in sports and normal activities, many people are turning to Netflix. Netflix has many trending documentaries including, most recently the “Tiger King” reaching 34 million views. I have broken down what's true and untrue about popular Netflix documentaries, along with additional information not included. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem & Madness: This 8 episode series focuses on people owning exotic pets, particularly those running their own “zoos” for profit. Animal rights activists see people owning exotic pets as exploitation and the exotic pet owners see it as a lifestyle choice and their right. This series focuses on exotic zoo owner Joe “Exotic” and animal rights activist, Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue. Exotic’s zoo, called Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, bred big cats and allowed petting of these animals. This series interviewed others in the industry such as a shady exotic pet and “zoo” owner Doc Antle. Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin feud for years, exchanging lawsuits and threats. Joe Exotic even needed to bring a felon, Jeff Lowe, as an investor to stay afloat. Joe Exotic was convicted for a murder-to-hire scheme where he was paying someone to murder Carole Baskin. Likewise, federal authorities discovered 5 tiger skeletons buried on his property leading to him being convicted of 17 counts of animal abuse. However, Carole Baskin also has a troubling past. It is very likely she murdered her millionaire ex-husband, Don Lewis, who mysteriously disappeared. After her millionaire ex-husband disappeared, she changed her husband’s will to say “upon my disappearance” Carole receives my money. Everyone close to Don Lewis, his children, ex-wife, lawyer and business partner all suspect Carole. In like manner, Carole refused to let the police check her meat grinder for Lewis’s remains and her brother is a police officer at the police department investigating Lewis’s murder, raising eyebrows. Furthermore, Carole’s preserve for tigers has questionable conditions for animals and operates like a zoo, leading many to question her motives. Eventually, Doc Antle’s “zoo” was raided but he has not yet faced any criminal charges. At the end of this series, the Big Cat Public Safety Act is mentioned, which I review next. In the United States, 5,000 tigers live as pets but only 3,200 live in the wild worldwide. This series shows an incident in Ohio where tigers and other exotic pets are released by a deranged owner, causing a public safety risk. Fact & Fiction: Outside of the Tiger King, there are four states where there is no restriction on owning an exotic pet. Including the 4 states with no restrictions, 14 states have very limited restrictions, meaning you must register with the government but can still own an exotic pet. Another 13 states you can own certain exotic pets and not others. In other words, in 27, or more than half of U.S. states you can own some-type of an exotic pet. As for the Big Cat Public Safety Act, it bans breeding of big cats, any institution offering petting and private ownership of big cats; it does grandfather in current big cat owners. This bill has severe unintended consequences. According to a Syracuse.com interview with The Wild Animal Park in Chittenango, Jeff Taylor, this would lead to his zoo closing. This bill considers his zoo as private pet ownership. He also believes the Netflix documentary portrays private zoo owners in a negative light. Taylor does believe individuals should not own pet tigers. The Big Cat Protection Act has 227 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, including, 205 Democrats and 22 Republicans. In the Senate, this bill has 17 cosponsors. Proponents of this bill see private big cat pet ownership as abuse and exploitation and are willing to overlook good private zoos like in Chittenango. Opponents see it as their right or freedom and look past any potential exploitation. Joe Exotic and Doc Antle see breeding of big cats keeping the population alive. Another perspective is simply allowing states to regulate exotic pet ownership, as it is a reserved power and letting states determine what works best. A potential compromise might include allowing private zoos to operate that meet a certain standard of care while banning tigers as pets. Congressman John Katko (R-NY) is not currently a co-sponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, but has introduced legislation called the HEART Act to expedite the process of placing rescued animals in safe homes and holding the perpetrators responsible for the cost of the animal’s recovery, instead of taxpayers. In December 2019, as mentioned in the December Priceless Briefing, President Trump signed the PACT Act, which had broad bipartisan support, into law. This law makes it a federal crime to intentionally torture any pet animal, along with videoing this animal abuse. Jeff Lowe, the business partner of Joe Exotic could face charges and Joe Exotic is likely not the end of the crackdown on animal cruelty. The Hillsborough County Sheriff is seeking new leads and tips about Carole Baskin’s ex-husband's disappearance and says it is “suspicious”. It is also reported that Carole Baskin’s ex-boyfriend, in addition to her ex-husband as reported in “Tiger King'' filed for a restraining order due to her threatening behavior. Also not mentioned in the film is Baskin’s animal sanctuary was cited for 26 animal rights violations in 1998. Another relevant fact regarding tiger extinction in the wild is that poaching is driven by none other than China because they eat tiger meat and falsely believe eating certain tiger parts cure infertility. Tiger meat is sold in Chinese wet markets which is also where the Coronavirus is suspected to be originated. When They See Us: Last year “When They See Us'' was a popular documentary about the Central Park 5 and exclusively portrayed their innocence. This case is about 5 teenagers convicted by a multi-ethnic jury of raping, New York investment banker, Tricia Melli and was left with severe and permanent brain damage. The five teens were: Kevin Richardson-14, Antron McCray-14, Yusef Salaam-15, Raymond Santana-15 and Kharey Wise-16. They were convicted by a multi-ethnic jury of rape but later had their sentences vacated/were exonerated. Fact & Fiction: Currently, there is a pending lawsuit by the prosecutor, of the Central Park 5, Linda Fairstein, suing Netflix over her portrayal. As a matter of fact, many testimonies and much evidence of their guilt was not included. A total of 37 teenagers who were “wilding” in Central Park, were brought in for questioning by police. Ten of which were charged with a crime and five were charged with rape. Melody Jackson, a friend of Wise, told police that he told her he participated in the crime. Beyond these admissions, Richardson admitted his guilt to Dennis Commedo. In 2002, serial rapist Matias Reyes admitted to being the sole rapist in the Central Park Jogger Case after the statute of limitations expired, meaning he could no longer be held accountable for the crime. Reyes’ DNA did match DNA found in a sock at the scene and the other Central Park 5 did not have DNA at the scene. DNA evidence was not sophisticated in 1989 when this occurred. Reyes admitted to this in order to get a cell transfer since he could no longer be punished and wanted to be transferred out of Wise’s block since he was afraid of his prison gang. However, doctors who treated Melli, dispute that there were multiple rapists based on her injuries. All that Reye’s DNA proves was that he was one of the other criminals involved that got away. The reason that New York County D.A. Robert Morgentheua vacated the sentence of the Central Park 5 was likely to help boost his chances in an upcoming election. Enjoy watching Netflix series, but verify and research the information presented for yourself. Obama Test Kit Regulation: The ability to test for the Coronavirus was impeded by an Obama regulation that stated states could not run medical tests unless pre-approved by the FDA. President Trump rescinded this rule to help combat the Coronavirus, which helped the U.S. to test more people than any other country (Daily Caller). De Blasio Sells Ventilators: In 2015, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio (D) auctioned off hundreds of ventilators that were in a mask and ventilator stockpile started by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2006, as a result of President Bush initiating the first-ever comprehensive pandemic strategy in 2005. De Blasio cited costs as the reason, however, in the meantime, the wife of De Blasio spent $900 million on a ThriveNYC mental health initiative, showing no results. New York City spending also skyrocketed 26.4% from $72.8 billion to $92 billion under De Blasio’s tenure that began in 2014. On a further note, both De Blasio and Bloomberg ran for President in 2020 (ProPublica). President Obama Never Restored Mask Stockpile: During the H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak in 2009, the Obama administration depleted the national stockpile of medical N-95 masks, using ¾ of the stockpile. This created a 2-3 year backlog for the N-95 respirator mask. The Obama administration never replenished the national stockpile despite calls from a medical safety equipment task force (U.S.A. Today). Cuomo's Negligence: Governor Andrew Cuomo who has received praise from the mainstream media for his handling of the Coronavirus now has a major question to answer for. His administration issued a directive to nursing homes and rehab facilities with elderly people that they must admit patients with Coronavirus and keep nursing home patients with the Coronavirus in the same nursing home as non-COVID 19 patients. This has lead to nearly 3,500 deaths, 25% of New York’s Coronavirus deaths (Newsday). In the meantime, the UNS Comfort that Governor Cuomo plead for had nearly 1,000 extra beds, but Cuomo blocked Coronavirus patients from going to the UNS Comfort, instead they stayed infecting nursing homes. Moreover, Governor Cuomo stated, “its not our job to give nursing homes PPE (masks and gloves)” As Cuomo is busy forcing everyone to wear masks he hadn’t even secured nursing homes with elderly Americans– the most vulnerable to the virus. (N.Y. Post). Sources: Datoc. “Trump Administration Reverses Obama-Era Regulation Responsible Cinnamon Rolls (non-dairy)
I have done a recipe in the past with cinnamon rolls, but for people that have allergies and can’t make those, this is a dairy and egg-free version that tastes just as good and can’t tell the difference! I have made them in the past and my family can’t get enough! This is a great recipe for quarantine because this is a little time consuming, but totally worth it and what else would you do! Ingredients: Dough: · 2 cups of non-dairy milk · ½ cup melted vegan butter · ¼ cup of sugar · 1 packet of dry yeast · 4 cups of flour · 1 tsp of salt · Extra ½ cup (for kneading Filling: · ¾ cup of softened vegan butter · 1 cup of brown sugar · 2 tbls of cinnamon Directions: Combine the non-dairy milk, melted butter, sugar. Mix. Then, sprinkle the yeast packet over (DO NOT MIX), and let it activate for 5 minutes. Add the flour and salt. Mix. Let the dough rise for one hour. Then, knead the dough. You will add the needed amount of flour for kneading. Continue to knead and small amounts of flour until the dough is no longer sticky and stays in one ball. Try not to add too much flour as it will make your dough not stay and stick together as well. Stretch the dough into an even rectangle that is ¼ inch thick Then make the filling. Add the softened vegan butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and mix. Spread the mixture across the dough. Now you can roll your dough (hotdog way). Roll it as tight as possible and go slow. Once it is rolled, you can cut your dough into individual rolls. Cut into 12 even parts. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Make the frosting to glaze over top. Add your powdered sugar, almond milk, and vanilla. Mix. The more powdered sugar, the thicker it will be. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Enjoy! Yield: Makes 12 Homemade French Fries: I have made these a few times to go along with dinner and they are a little time consuming but super easy. They are a fun thing to do with the family and can really make a meal. You’ll need: · Russet potatoes · Potato peeler · Lemon juice · Large bowl · Salt · Fryer or air fryer · Large knife Directions: Peel all of your potatoes. The way I cut them is in half, then in half again before I cut down on them into a curved fry shape. There are plenty of ways to cut them though. Once your fries are cut you will place them in a large bowl filled with water and some lemon juice and place them in the fridge for 30 minutes. Once they are soaked, you can drain out the water, dry the fries off and place a little olive oil on them. For a regular fryer, you will fry them twice. The first time the fryer will be at 300 degrees for about 4-5 minutes then remove. Dry them off while you turn your fryer up to 400 degrees and fry the fries again until they are crisp and golden and add some salt and any other toppings. If you are using an air fryer, you will add your fries into the fryer at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes and toss them around every few minutes. Salt and add any toppings. Both of these are very delicious. Double Chocolate Muffins I always loved the chocolate muffins from Costco that Mr. O’Rourke would get for the Cross Country team and this is a recipe that is a copycat of the Costco muffins. Ingredients: · 1 ¾ cups of flour · 1 cup of sugar · ⅔ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder · 2 tsp of baking POWDER · ½ tsp of baking SODA · 2 large eggs · 1 ½ cup of semisweet chocolate chips or chunks · 1 ½ cup buttermilk (mix ¾ cup of milk with ¾ cup of yogurt or sour cream) · 1 tsp of vanilla · ½ cup of vegetable oil · ½ chocolate chunks for the top of muffins Directions: Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Add the chocolate chunks. In another bowl, mix together the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and oil. Combine the dry and wet mixture. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line 12 muffin tins with liners. Fill the tins evenly with the batter and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chunks on top. Bake for 15-17 minutes, and remove when completely done and set to cool. Enjoy these chocolatey muffins! Happy Baking! Sources: Tasty and Mel’s Kitchen We are all in the same boat, stuck at home and our lives turned upside down. We might be going a little crazy after a month. With at least another month left we need to fill our days with activities so we all don’t go insane. Hopefully you try some of these at home. Physical Activities: With a lot of athletes at home and down about not going to practice every day you might need the motivation to get back into the groove. Here are some suggestions · Go on a long walk with your dogs or family · Go on YouTube and find some workout videos to follow along to · Facetime a friend and do the same workouts to keep motivated · Learn a new dance either on Just Dance (Wii), or on YouTube · Help your parents out and clean the house. Wiping down windows, cabinets, and vacuuming can sometimes be a little workout to do Tedious Activities: If you are really bored and it is a rainy or a cold day, maybe do something around the house and clean up a little bit. · Go through your clothes and get rid of what you don’t wear anymore · Reorganize your closet like Marie Kondo does · Go through old dressers and finally clean them out · Go through your makeup or skincare items that have piled up · Go through “The Junk Drawer” that we all have · Help your parents and go through the fridge and get rid of expired food and wipe down shelves in it · Rearrange your room New Activities: During this quarantine you have time to learn something new. Here are some suggestions · Some of you still don’t know how to do your own laundry or dishes. Ask one of your parents how to do that so you can be more independent. · Learn a new cooking or baking recipe · Learn how to knit or sew · Try a makeup look or hairstyle you’ve seen. · Try coloring or drawing · Try crosswords/word searches or a new book either at home or online · Try to write a handwritten letter to a friend or loved one CBS has twice aired video footage of hospitals in Italy while reporting on Coronavirus cases in New York City. After blaming the initial March 22nd video of Italian hospitals on an “editing mistake”, footage of Italy was used again while reporting cases in New York on March 25th (Washington Examiner). CBS posted a video of a nurse who stated she quit her job because she was asked to work in a Coronavirus I.C.U. without a face mask. She further adds in the video “America is not prepared and nurses are not protected” but it turns out this video is a fraud. The nurse, Imaris, in this video has not worked at a hospital in over a year. In social media posts, she has stated that she has anxiety and bipolar disorder. American media outlets have been caught reporting propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). CNN and NBC have promoted the idea that the U.S. has more Coronavirus cases than China- while China’s Coronavirus numbers have proved inaccurate. Bloomberg News, the New York Times and NBC host of the Meet the Press, Chuck Todd, have repeated Chinese reports praising their Coronavirus response. The CCP has included American praise from media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC in propaganda videos along with Mayor DeBlasio and Hillary Clinton in their propaganda videos (Washington Examiner). As the school year starts to dwindle down, many Juniors begin researching and preparing for the college application process next fall. Researching colleges can be stressful, especially if you´re unsure what you want. What do you want to major in? What kind of location do you want your school to be in? Do you want a large or a small school? Public or private? And don't even start with the financial questions. Luckily for us, New York State has created the SUNY system that answers most of these daunting questions. All SUNY schools are public, located in New York, have varying student body sizes, and generally affordable. With so much in common, it may be hard to pick one. However, each SUNY has its own specialty, and hopefully, you can find the one that fits you.
For those of you who are considering being a biology or pre-med major, SUNY Stony Brook is the school for you. Stony Brook University, located on the north shore of Long Island, is a great school for pre-meds because of its research opportunities and training hospital. It is a large school and fairly competitive to get into, requiring a high GPA along with several AP courses under your belt. They are also known for their outstanding Marine Science program. If you are looking to major in psychology, Binghamton University is the place for you. Located in Vestal, NY, Binghamton is a bit smaller than Stony Brook, yet equally, if not harder, to get into. Binghamton is the number-one ranked public university in New York, and it's sometimes even referred to as the ¨Ivy of the SUNYs.¨ With a highly ranked Department of Psychology, it should come as no surprise that General Psychology is the most popular major. Other similar majors, such as Neuroscience or Biological Sciences are also fairly popular. Tied for being the best SUNY schools for Engineer majors are SUNY Buffalo and once again, SUNY Stony Brook. SUNY Buffalo is much larger than Stony Brook and Binghamton. Buffalo holds the largest public engineering school in the state of New York. It is extremely easy to engage in research as an undergraduate, and professors are more than happy to welcome you into their labs. SUNY Stony Brook prides themselves on having a ¨New Paradigm in Engineering Education.¨ By this, they mean that they have created a new model for education students in engineering that is based around our current societal needs. Both schools stress the importance of being innovative engineers, so either school is a great choice. For possible business majors, SUNY Buffalo is once again the way to go. The School of Management at Buffalo is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. SUNY Buffalo is also the only undergraduate program in the SUNY system that focuses on both technical and business skills within the School of Management. If you are considering becoming a communications and media major, SUNY Plattsburgh is the place to be. Plattsburgh is a medium-sized liberal arts college located in Plattsburgh, NY. Plattsburgh´s communications and media program emphasizes the idea of hands-on learning from day one. Plattsburgh challenges their undergraduates to not only master one area of study, but to master several, giving them a competitive edge in their field. Not only will students receive professional training in their chosen major, but they will also walk out with a well-rounded liberal arts education. For those of you considering majoring in education, SUNY Geneseo is the school for you. As one of the premier public liberal arts colleges in the country, it's no surprise that their education program is one of the best. At Geneseo, you can study Early Childhood and Childhood Education, Childhood with Special Education, or Adolescence Education. If you plan to study in the School of Education, you may also be asked to select a Liberal Arts Concentration as well, ensuring that the students in this program will become well-rounded individuals. The Secret Orphan: By Glynis Peters England, World War II, the Nazis’ bombs fall endlessly over the country, covering England in a sheet of ash and death. During the Blitz of Coventry, a young Rose Sherbourne, finds herself alone and orphaned in a burning city. At just six-years-old, the orphan moves out to the countryside to live with Elenor Cardew. Elenor was sent to Coventry, away from the family farm sometime before the bombings to help assist her ill aunt. There she meets Victoria, George and their daughter Rose. Victoria and George are her aunt’s employees. Rose immediately begins to love Elenor like a mother, never wanting to leave her side. But when Elenor goes back to the Cornish countryside, Coventry falls to the relentless German bombs. Meanwhile, Elenor, a strong-willed woman, runs a farm with a little help, so she can help feed the soldiers and her country. And on one sunny day, when little Rose Sherbourne knocks at her door, Elenor knows she has to keep her safe. For a while all is well on the farm, until a German POW uproots Elenor’s life. When dangerous secrets are exposed, Elenor needs to make a choice, a choice that determines whether Rose will live safely or be threatened with death. This book was riveting, it was a book of love, loss and hope. It was a story of giving a child a home and a story of war along with the tragedies brought with it. I give this book five stars for its heartwarming and breathtaking charm, yet it has a suspenseful twist. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. The Lost Girls Of Paris: By Pam Jenoff The Lost Girls of Paris is an enticing novel inspired by true stories of bravery and resilience. The story shines a bright and powerful light on the female heroes of WWII. The book gently weaves the stories of three women into one phenomenal story. The book opens with Grace. Grace, a young widow found an abandoned suitcase as she rushes through Grand Central Station. Curious, she opens the suitcase to find a stack of photos, all of whom are women. Risking being late to work, she takes the pictures with her. Grace will stop at nothing to uncover the truth about these girls, investing her time in them. But why? Marie, a smart single mother working, in a city away from her daughter to support them. One day, the normalcy Marie has found in the city she does not call home is turned upside down when Marie is asked to read a poem in French. The young mother has been turned into a sly agent, sent abroad to complete daring missions to save her country and her daughter. Then, there is Eleanor, a head-strong woman in charge of her own Special Operation unit. Her job: to train and run a network of female secret agents who are sent into Occupied Europe. She is the leader, the assistant director of the Secret Operations Execution, or the SOE. These women, Eleanor, and the agents are the ones who paved the way for D-Day. The risk is high but the reward is priceless; winning the war. As the women’s lives rapidly begin to intertwine, life begins to get even tenser. Marie is sent out into Occupied France, Grace grappling with the loss of her fiancé, and Eleanor releasing her girls one by one into the field. Grace’s life forever changed, by haunting photos of 12 girls. 12 girls she must know what happened too. The Lost Girl’s of Paris is not only a story of love and loss but of betrayals, strength, friendship, and courage. The story seizes the sensational feelings of a mystery, leaving you on the edge of your seat. Although the book had a few things I did not want to happen, I most certainly recommend this book for historical fiction readers as well as lovers of mystery. The read is powerful and thrilling; one read that you won’t want to miss. |
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