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Pre Promatic Dress Disorder

By Jimmy McGrew, Brogan O’Connor, Ben Kasbeer, & Julius von Borcke

When May arrives,  a mind-crippling disease plagues the female student body. Spray tanned skin, perfect hair, and luminous nails are among the most common symptoms. This sickness is none other than Pre Promatic Dress Disorder, or PPDD for short.

Stage 1: The Silkness Begins

Just before the doors of school are closed and spring break begins, the first symptoms appear. Department stores are swarmed by eager teen girls searching for the perfect dress. The problem is, most don’t know what this “perfect dress” is. Typical answers include the following:

Female retinas are strained for hours on end while focusing on websites of popular brands. Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and Cusp often drown in network traffic from April to May.

Stage 2: Chameleon Shift

Two lunar shifts before the eventful night at the Marriott and now equipped with their wardrobe, the ladies prepare a pseudo UV ray effect, also known as spray tanning. Places like Almost Florida are booked months in advance to change the average, eggshell tone into a new, late sunset hue. The unlucky few who are unable to reserve an appointment must resort to self-tanner. Patchy and inconsistent, girls spend hours in front of a fan, applying and reapplying to diminish the negative side effects.

Stage 3: Bun & Done

As the sun peeks upon the morning of Prom, the girls arrive at their preferred hair salons to embark on the metamorphosis. Minutes snowball into hours as professionalists aim to enhance one’s physical beauty for the big day. Girls cross their fingers in hopes that the wind does not destroy the craftsmanship of their hair appointment.

After the bulk of the process is complete, the finishing touches include nails, eye shadow, mascara, blush, and even a hint of bronzer. However, time may become a concerning factor in one’s preparation. “The key is to be assertive with your time,” says LFHS senior Bailey Ehrens. “Girls who are passive and try too hard never make it.” After asking a few senior girls congregating in the LFHS library, the average time utilized to prepare on the day of Prom was six hours.

On the other hand, boys tend to feel the sense of urgency once they notice their unacceptably filthy cars. The local car wash becomes a fortunate-500 company for the day. “I prefer the North Shore Auto Spa,” expresses LFHS senior Ryan Murray. “The  service is quick and they really do a good job.”

Then, with 20 minutes before the pre-party begins, the boys hop into their tuxedos, fix their hair, apply deodorant, and start their cars to pick up their dates for one of the most memorable nights of their young lives.

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Senior Hallway: Stomping Grounds

By Jimmy McGrew & Julius von Borcke

On the second floor towards the front of Lake Forest High School, a mob scene can be experienced first-hand. Senior students enjoy the luxury of a five minute passing period by crowding this area with their elbows on garbage cans and visiting with other students. A friendly midday interaction seems harmless, but after it reaches stampede proportions, it becomes a serious dilemma.

During actual class time, this region is a ghost town, with only an occasional student at their locker. It also connects the isolated science wing to the upper entrance of the library. However, as soon as the clock marks the start of a new passing period, the cycle repeats itself. It quickly fills with new, eager students. Underclassmen struggle to navigate this sea of seniors. Passive ones, too timid to throw a light shove, fail to cross through. Instead, they tend to choose a safer, alternate route to their next class.

The rush of the senior hallway, with limited ways to navigate the crowd.

A student at their locker ganders at the seniors beginning to pile up.

Two students enjoy the leisure of the passing period.

The front hall also serves as the location of senior lockers

A pair of feet stops to admire the solitude of the hallway during a class.

The ghost town echoes with rare footsteps before classes are let out.

At LFHS, trash cans serve more than the basic purpose of dispensing.

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The Class of 2015 Takes College Sports

By Hannah Rancap and Julius von Borcke

The Class of 2015 here at Lake Forest High School is filled with athletes. Many of these athletes plan to further their sports careers at the collegiate level this fall-- whether it be Division I, II, or III. Others intend to stray away from the demanding lifestyle of sports, choosing instead to participate in other activities available on campus.

This year, Katie Karahalios was voted “Most Athletic Female” for the Senior Class. She has had experience in horseback riding, diving, lacrosse, and even cheerleading. Most significantly, she has been an integral part of the LFHS Girls Lacrosse Team for the past four years.

Karahalios only began lacrosse in the sixth grade, but quickly realized she wanted to take it the next level. “After being coached by some college girls and being exposed to the college level of play, I really wanted to be play in college and be apart of a team,” Karahalios explains. This fall, Karahalios will play Division I Lacrosse at the University of Southern California. She is ecstatic to officially become a Trojan.

In a Forest Scout Survey, about 21% of LFHS seniors said that they are playing a college sport at the varsity level this fall. Like Karahalios, Bailey Ehrens contributes to this pool of athletes; she recently committed to play Division III soccer at Depauw University. Ehrens describes her future team at Depauw: “It’s an improving team so I’m just excited to see how it grows.”

Dartmouth College will be gaining Evan Boudreaux this fall on their Division I Basketball Team. “I think we have a chance to build something special,” Boudreaux said. Furthermore, he is looking to have great success amongst the schools in the Ivy League, stating “Along with the other recruits coming in with me, I think we can do some damage in the Ivy’s in the coming years.”

On the other hand, 46% of the seniors state they do not plan on playing a sport at any level in college. Instead, many seniors would like to get involved in a variety of activities during their first year of college. Another senior, Alex Barkulis, describes his hopeful college experience: “I’m pretty sure I wanna get into Greek Life and try a couple clubs.”  

Despite the great percentage of seniors at LFHS that do not hope to engage in college sports, the Class of 2015 already has 16 athletes that have officially committed. Below is a list of these 16 athletes:    

Nick Athenson     DIII Football     Washington University of St. Louis

Evan Boudreaux     DI Basketball     Dartmouth College

Bailey Ehrens     DIII Soccer     Depauw University

Carly Hoke     DI Soccer     University of Arkansas

Wes Janeck     DI Lacrosse     University of Maryland

Katie Karahalios     DI Lacrosse     University of Southern California

George Karkazis     DI Baseball     Miami University

Noah Karras     DIII Basketball     University of Chicago

Tommy Kennedy     DI Football     Butler University

George Kohl     DIII Football      Wheaton College

John McArthur     DI Football     Butler University

Matt Mekaelian     DI Track and Cross Country     Xavier University

Colleen Morris     DIII Tennis     Depauw University

Daniel Smith     DIII Swimming     Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jack Traynor     DI Football     Dartmouth College

Connor Walters     DI Lacrosse     Lafayette College

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In Spain

By Grant Papastefan, Hannah Rancap, and Leo Theodore

      Spain. It’s the lost jewel of Western Europe. Though, with over 60 million annual visitors, it is the second most visited country in the world (per the World Tourism Organization), Spain’s lack of a national identity has made self-promotion difficult, and tourists are increasingly choosing Italy, France, and other European nations as their vacation destinations. However, among those with knowledge of Spain and its seemingly endless beauties, the country is more vibrant than ever. Around every turn is a new, unique, and breathtaking sight to behold. Referred to by natives as a sub-continent in itself, the nation boasts breathtaking snow-capped mountains, dazzlingly blue coasts with pristine white beaches, and seemingly endless green plains, coupled with an incredibly diverse history of religious strife that is inconspicuously painted across each Spanish city in a uniquely fascinating way. Recently, staff reporter Grant Papastefan traveled to Spain, and was determined to come back and prove that there are few places on earth more stunningly beautiful than Spain.

                                                       Toledo

     Toledo, about an hour from Spain’s capital of Madrid, is a stunning city with just over 80,000 inhabitants situated in the central province of La Mancha, home of literary hero Don Quijote. Surrounded entirely by the Tiber river, Toledo was built upon a hill to protect against invasion. A quaint city that, in Papastefan’s opinion, was the most visually extraordinary of all the cities he traveled to, one could spend hours walking up and down the hilly cobblestone streets of Toledo, getting lost in one of the many nooks and crannies, each with a charmingly timeless contribution to the city’s classic identity.

 The bell tower of the Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary, Toledo’s most-visited attraction, poking out over the colorful buildings that line all the city streets.

 A panoramic view of Toledo, intelligently designed with mountains, a river, two sets of fortress walls, and tough hill terrain to prevent foreign invasion.

Seville

     Seville, the capital of Andalucía, boasts a vast labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets with hundreds of delicious cafes and quaint shop. Known as the best place in Spain to get tapas, the small plates that are a culinary staple of the nation, Seville also holds the third largest cathedral in the world, and the largest in the Gothic style.

The Plaza de España in Seville, built as a part of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

                                                     Granada

     Granada, the inspiration for some of the greatest artistic and musical works of the world, sits at the foot of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. A half hour from the Sierra Nevada ski resort, and 45 minutes from the coast, it is common for tourists and locals to hit the slopes in the morning, get a tan in the afternoon, and go into the city for its phenomenal restaurants and nightlife. While Papastefan visited, locals were celebrating Catholic Holy Week leading up to Easter. A unique tradition to the city and Southern Spain, every night the entire city is blocked off as thousands of people take to the streets to participate in or watch Catholic processions, where 32 different churches each march with traditionally costumed men and women, a full marching band, and gold structures filled with candles and statues toward the city cathedral for about five hours.

 A view from the Alhambra palace of Granada’s old section. Reminiscent of a classic middle-Eastern town, this area once held the working class of Granada when it was under Muslim rule, and is a stark contrast from the colonial architecture seen on the opposite side of the palace, which is just a moment’s drive away.

One of the newer additions to the Alhambra palace, this section boasts many gardens, each dedicated to the specific gardening style of each era of leadership. Crop fields of the early Muslim era can be found next to ornate gardens reminiscent of Versailles.

                                                     Madrid

     The capital of Spain, Madrid is a gigantic metropolis that houses not only some of Spain’s greatest national treasures, including the famous Prado Museum, but also the legislative bodies of Spain. With a vast array of amazing restaurants and shops, Madrid is commonly described as having all the fixings of New York City with as much architectural and cultural brilliance as any other European city.

  The city hall of Madrid, Spain’s bustling capital of 4 million. The building is an architectural keystone and iconic monument of the city.

     Spain is one of the most geographically and historically diverse nations in the world. From the colonial coastal cities of the north, to the classic gems of La Mancha, to the culturally rich Southern cities ripe with Moorish and Christian influences, Spain contains enough amazing attractions to keep one entertained for a lifetime, and everyone who travels to Spain can find a unique feature to fall in love with. Though Spain may not be the first thing everyone thinks of when they consider European travel, there is no doubt that the nation’s tourism scene will continue to flourish, as the endless wonders of the Iberian Peninsula are enough to inspire even the dullest individuals.

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The Arrogant Zoomers of LFHS

By Jimmy McGrew, Brogan O’Connor, & Ben Kasbeer; Staff Reporters

As each year progresses, new distractions emerge and captivate new drivers. With egos as big as the price tags on their cars, LFHS students believe they are better than the average driver. In a survey conducted by Forest Scout, students ranked themselves, on average, a 7.8 out of 10 on their driving performance. They view themselves as indestructible.

Which is good until it isn't.

“I would rank myself about an 8 out of 10,” stated LFHS senior Ryan Murray. “I’m a good driver, but I guess I can be aggressive sometimes.” Being an aggressive driver can sometimes be the result of a lack of attention, such as seven rambunctious teenagers fooling around in the car. Another student, who requested to remain anonymous, admitted to having this occur while driving.

This does not seem to concern most teens while behind the wheel. “I feel like most of my friends are fairly safe drivers,” explained LFHS senior Caroline Asmussen. “Yeah, I speed from time to time, but nothing bad ever happens.” Teens lack the vision necessary to understand how poor their driving really is.

And that misconception is astronomically large. “Yeah, I’ve seen ‘em,” reported Ms. Nelson, Underclassmen Study Hall proctor. “There’s always six kids piled into a Jeep, speeding everywhere they go. Just look out your window. I always hear them talking about tickets in study hall.”

When asked whether or not Ms. Nelson agreed with the self-reported driving performance score of 7.8, she was astounded. “Were they on hallucinogenic drugs? They’re lucky if they are a 4.”

Clearly the driving safety of teens needs to be reevaluated. They are not the Dale Earnhardt Jr’s that they think they are. Driving can be a safe experience if the driver is up to the task and uses common sense.

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Our Vision

“We strive to depict the news through the eyes of the common individual. Life is more than the occurrence of events. There are thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Here at McKinley Road, we collect all the elements necessary to let one step into the shoes of the LFHS family.”

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Lilly For Target

When news broke that LillyPulitzer is working with Target for a special collection, girls in Lake Forest were ecstatic. Lilly Pulitzer is one of the top “go to” designers for many girls in the Lake Forest area. Lilly Pulitzer is a preppy brand created in the 1960s. Most people remember iconic Jackie Kennedy sporting the brand during her time at the White House. The brand is bright and colorful with fun designs for any age. You can see Lilly designs everywhere at LFHS on planners, tumblers and even clothing.  

Emily Poth, voted most Lake Foresty at LFHS by the senior class, is very excited about the upcoming collection. “It’s nice and easily accessible,” beams Poth. With having a couple of Targets close to the Lake Forest area, many Foresters can pick up any Lilly item they want. The collection includes 15 exclusive prints only for Target. Items range between $2 to $150, with over 200 products under $30. The line includes totes, swim suits, hats, pillows, plates, shirts, shorts and the famous Lilly dresses. 

Freshman Meredith Delaney is pumped for the collection to hit stores: “It will be less expensive, so that’s cool.” Delaney doesn’t think that it will be a problem that most students will have similar items.

Yet Poth, who will be going off to college soon, is glad that the collection contains household items.  “It’s good for your dorm room,” she explains. Poth plans on purchasing many items from the collection for herself and her new room. The only concern Poth has is that it “takes away the uniqueness of the collection.” Regardless, Poth is excited for the collection and can’t wait to wear the new Lilly Pulitzer items.

The collection goes on sale April 19, 2015, at your local Target.

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iTunes Drowning in Stream

By Jimmy McGrew & Carly Malanfant

After a decline in downloaded music sales, iTunes continues to report lower numbers. If this pattern continues, it is only a matter of time before streaming services dominate the market. Apple needs to reassess the competition and get their creative edge back like they did in 2007 with the release of the revolutionary iPhone.

Illegally downloading music can seem harmless and worry-free until a record label files a lawsuit for thousands of dollars.  For example, Boston medical student Joel Tenenbaum received a $675,000 fine for only 30 songs that he downloaded and shared. It can happen to anyone. However, these occurrences are becoming less frequent due to convenient streaming services like Spotify.

“We strive to depict the news through the eyes of the common individual. Life is more than the occurrence of events. There are thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Here at McKinley Road, we collect all the elements necessary to let one step into the shoes of the LFHS family.”

Spotify is a commercial music streaming service. Available on any computer or smartphone, it has expanded to over 60 million active users worldwide. It seems to appeal to more avid music listeners. “It’s not only cheaper but it also allows you to find new music easily,” described LFHS senior Luke Gibson. “It recommends new music based on your likes , genres, and music library.”

With the digital age we live in, maybe a streaming service makes more sense. “I can share music with friends and it’s an easy way to connect with others through music,” expressed senior Jesse Bernhart. “Spotify fits perfectly with the generation we live in.”

Although illegal downloading still remains prevalent, the concern of penalties is yet to affect the typical music listener. “To me, there’s no point in paying for music when it’s available for free online,” said senior Keegan Filkin. “I’m not concerned at all with the possibility of getting caught.” This seems to be the case for most LFHS students. In a Forest Scout survey of 50 LFHS students, 66% reported that they have used a 3rd party website to illegally download music.

Even with Spotify being a perfectly legal alternative to purchasing music, some artists have requested to not be apart of their catalog for various reasons. "[People] can still listen to my music if they get it on iTunes," country-pop artist Taylor Swift explained to Time magazine. "I’m always up for trying something. And I tried [Spotify] and I didn’t like the way it felt. I think there should be an inherent value placed on art.”

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From Chima to Lake Forest

By Jimmy McGrew, Brogan O'Connor, & Ben Kasbeer, Staff Reporters

Photo via Cinda Williams Chima's website

About eighty students listened to Chima during 5th period discuss the fundamentals of creating interesting characters in storytelling. Forty more arrived during 6th while she spoke regarding the process of building a fantasy world and making it come to life. It was all an extraordinary experience for not just passionate writers, but all students alike.

If you were in the library last week, you couldn’t help but notice the swarms of ecstatic students surrounding award-winning author Cinda Williams Chima as she elaborated on her success in storytelling.

The LFHS library checked their list of most checked out books, ordered by author, in the last five years. They couldn’t help but notice Chima was second only to John Greene, who already came and spoke to the high school. After a simple request via email, the talented author enthusiastically agreed to visit LFHS.

A vital focus of the visit by Chima was to make sure English periods were not wasted. “We set up Writing Workshops for 5th and 6th period, allowing students to obtain an enriched learning experience,” explained Ms. Neal, a member of the library staff at LFHS.

Ms. Neal played a larger role than just a bystander. She was the brave soul to embark on an airport rendezvous. Chima traveled all the way from Cleveland to O’Hare Airport. The librarians described her as “down to earth, humble.”

The attendance of students was overwhelmingly massive, requiring not one, but two library classrooms to be opened up. Nearly an infinite amount of chairs were wheeled in, and even that was barely enough to support the students in attendance.

During 3rd period, Chima spoke to an audience of nearly 150 about the daunting publishing process. Writing a book is one thing, but actually getting it to print is a whole new battle. After showing multiple editors and agents her work, Chima’s first novel was finally published nine years ago.

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Two-peat?

By Grace Torkelson

Is a two-peat in the future for Lake Forest Girls Varsity Soccer? Carly Hoke, senior captain, feels confident that it is.  Last year, her team battled Normal West for the state title and came out victorious after a nail-biting penalty kick shootout.

The player of the game was awarded to Lucy Edwards, now graduated.  In addition to Edwards, Senior goalie Ginnie Revenaugh also graduated.  While the absence of these, two key players, along with other seniors will be felt, Hoke believes it will not hinder her teams ability to bring home another state victory.  “We have lost our top scorer, but I feel confident in our ability to fill the Edward’s shoes." Many of the returning players were starters last year and are predicted to have noteworthy performances in the upcoming season.  

Among the girls deserving a notable mention stands Kendall Hoke, twin sister to Carly.  A crucial part of the teams defense, Kendall Hoke provides experience and discipline to the Scouts roster.  “I'm excited to see what will come of this season.  Our team has great chemistry on and off the field.  The journey to state made us like family.”  It's this bond and the trust the girls have in each other that will be a large contributor to the teams success in the 2015 season. 

The road to another state victory will not be an easy one, but it is an attainable goal. Star Forward, and fellow senior, Brooke Green is ready for the task.  “We all have the drive and passion to make it all the way again this year.  I cannot wait to get back out on the field and make my last season a memorable one."

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Charity Hope Valentine, Bird Girl No. 2, or Daniella Martino?

By Hannah Rancap 

It’s the century-old stereotype that high school students praise the starting quarterback of the varsity football team or the captain of the cheerleading squad. At Lake Forest, however, there’s more to high school than the football and cheerleading stars. There exist other idols like the president of the debate team, the kid who created his own smartphone app, and, especially, the lead of the spring musical.

Daniella Martino, a senior at LFHS, has played a major role in the school’s theatre department for the past four years. Her great success is partially due to her intense dance background, training at Jenny’s dance company since 2010. Singing in Foresters, Madrigals, and the Talent Show at LFHS, alongside private voice lessons on the weekends, are also components that foster her triple-threat talent. Additionally, she has spent a few summers at the Vineyard Arts Project in Martha’s Vineyard; Martino definitely has experience.  

On stage it may seem like her talent is effortless, but this superstar definitely puts in the work. Martino began her theatre career at LFHS her freshman year when she was a “Wickett” in the Frank Loesser production, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. During her sophomore year, she played Bird Girl No. 2 in Seussical The Musical, a show created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. When The Lights Were Out and The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It are two additional fall plays in the books for Martino’s career.

Then, in February of 2014, Daniella Martino became Charity Hope Valentine, the female lead-role in the spring musical, Sweet Charity. Martino was especially excited about this production because it was a Bob Fosse choreographed musical, a show that she has always dreamed to be apart of. When asked about the show as a whole, she describes the main takeaway from playing Valentine: “In terms of working on the show, it taught me how to be a leader, and bring everyone together… how to bring the orchestra, and the tech crew, and all the people together to actually make the production happen.” A fellow classmate of Martino, John O’Connor (senior), attended the showing of Sweet Charity back in May of 2014 and made a noteworthy remark: “It started off with just Daniella on stage, and you honestly think you’re at a Broadway musical.”

The pure talent and genuine heart this girl has for the art of drama painstakingly touches the audience as they sit in their seats to watch a story unfold. “I think the greatest thing you can give to an audience, is a talent and to put yourself out there” Martino explains. Her favorite part about being on stage: “The feeling of energy that I get… the first time that I walk out on stage, there’s energy all through my fingers and toes and it’s the most amazing experience to see the people watching you, and to give them your all… to tell the story.”

But like many outstanding students here at LFHS, Martino closes her momentous chapter in her theatre career, and continues to work hard to start drafting the next one. She has been preparing for the 2015 spring musical, Sweeney Todd, and is very excited for the show. This time, the production has an emphasis on the music, unlike Sweet Charity and its noteworthy dance element. Sweeney Todd is a Stephen Sondheim show and according to the now retired Charity herself, “he (Sondheim) is an absolute musical genius.” Martino is looking forward to returning to the stage to see old and new faces alike, and to complete her final musical at LFHS. And for those new to theatre, she has some advice for this year’s production: “Really focus on the songs, it’s difficult music. But have fun with it because it’s kind of a crazy, dramatic show… don’t be afraid to try something because it’s all about characters and characterizations.”

Who knows what Daniella Martino will pull out for her audition this time around. Heck, she may even earn the part of Sweeney himself. With her drive and skill, Martino might just make it all the way.

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State of the Zoonion

By Grant Papastefan

The State of the Union is lousy. In spite of the misguided rhetoric that spewed from our supreme leader’s mouth in his annual SOTU address about how we are better off than ever, it is a worse time to be an American now than almost ever before. We are led by a president with less morality than a Clinton, and barely enough vision to see over the top of his expensive desk. The president’s State of the Union address was a perfect example of just how out of touch and incapable President Obama is. In laying out his vision for America, the president proved that he lacks the ability to lead a nation, and the understanding of economics, domestic policy, and compromise that make politicians effective.

In his speech, Obama outlined some domestic goals he has for our nation. These included, but were not limited to, “free” community college for all, universal paid sick leave and maternity leave, free childcare, increased corporate taxes and Capital Gains taxes, a higher minimum wage, and the return of corporations to US soil for production and enterprise. Mr. President obviously doesn’t realize that, first and foremost, nothing is free. Oh wait, yes he does, as long as those one-percenters who dared to make something of their lives pay for it. “Free” community college is not possible, and would actually cost the government (or the wealthy taxpayers) an estimated $60 billion per year. While no one, conservative or liberal, would argue that paid maternity leave is unreasonable, one should wonder how the president plans to fit the cost, along with the costs of paid sick leave and universal childcare, into a budget already operating at a deficit. Another significant part of Obama’s speech, creating American jobs by bringing corporations back home, was laughable when paired with his propositions for an increased minimum wage and increased corporate taxes. A basic understanding of economics tells us that companies will operate where wage rates and taxes allow them to be most profitable. An increased minimum wage and corporate tax rate would decrease the demand for American labor and increase the demand for labor in places where it is less expensive. But Barack wants to raise the minimum wage? I guess they don’t teach basic economics at Harvard…

 What’s worse than our supreme leader’s ideas, is the fact that he thinks they actually work, and his methods for swaying people over to his side. Obama, like most liberal politicians, was taught that the most effective way to get votes is by promising gifts. With no regard for the budget, or what the people that elected him tell him they want, the president unrelentingly defends his failed policies and attempts to justify them. For example, Obama started his speech by declaring that we have recovered from the Great Recession. Citing the lowest unemployment rate in recent history, the president failed to mention the fact that nearly one third of Americans are unemployed or underemployed, and about half of Americans are below the poverty line or receiving federal aid. Obama also promised to compromise with Congress, right before he laid out 5 bills he would veto, including the Keystone Jobs bill, which an estimated 70% of congress supports, including many Democrats, and a bill restricting abortions, which just passed through the house with ease.

Our president is a disease. Out of tune with the people who put him in office (then abandoned him for a Republican House and Senate), the president has consistently failed in his economic, domestic, and foreign pursuits. The one thing Obama has going for him is his ability to convince the ignorant and naive through unbridled bribery, a common strength of the Democratic party that the president does better than anyone else. Fortunately, the American people are getting smarter (even without “free” community college), and they are beginning to realize that Democratic policies are detrimental to the United States. That’s why there is a greater Republican majority in congress now than at any time over the past 80 years, and it’s why Barack is going out like the pathetic lame duck he is.

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Lost Tales From The Library

By Jimmy McGrew, Ben Kasbeer, and Brogan O'Connor There lies a place in the heart of LFHS where students owe serious debt, steal its belongings, and  desperately try to sneak in. This is none other than the library. While most view it as a safe haven for getting work done, others use it as a rolling chair racetrack.

Ridiculously Overdue

A typical overdue book is promptly returned after the librarians send a notice slip via Mr. Slater. The maximum a student can owe for a late book is $5. However, for extreme cases, limits are disregarded and a bounty hunt begins. “The longest overdue book occurred when a student checked out a Reading Workshop book their freshman year,” explains head librarian Mrs. Littel, “and finally found it 4 years later, on graduation day.”

The Daily Stealth Mission

Access to the library’s amazing resources requires a student identification scanned in. Most students carry their designated ID, but in some cases, desperate measures must be taken to gain access. Most common procedures involve a ID-lacking student to pretend to be oblivious to security guard sitting at the desk. A typical avoidance of eye contact or a fake conversation with a pretend friend across the library are among the most common methods of breaching. But the most daring of students will try the old “I know I don’t have my ID but I’ll pretend to look for it until the librarian says that it’s okay, but only this one time.”

Sabotaging the Innocent

Trying to get through a slow day of school requires entertainment by those brave enough to embark on a sabotage operation.  The procedure begins with finding an easy target, usually a naive freshman with their backpacks open. The saboteur will plant a book in the backpack, and watch as the target attempts to exit the library. They walk through the scanners and the planted book activates the alarm which triggers an aggressive search and seizure of the target. Laughter and bragging rights are rewards among the saboteurs.

Library Kart

The library classrooms appear to be a normal work area, but one time during finals they became an all-out demolition derby. After hours of intense study, the students inside maneuvered the desks and computers out of the way to create a small race track. 

Multiple laps were completed and blood was spilled before the library staff could break it up. Upon finding the races, security promptly escorted the students out of the library.

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Kaptrosky’s Last Dance

By George Karkazis

Her name is Klaire Kaptrosky. She made the coveted varsity poms team her freshman year, and since then has helped Lake Forest High School win consecutive national championships in 2013 and 2014. This past fall, Kaptrosky shocked many by making a big announcement; she was quitting the poms team thus ending her pursuit for a third consecutive national championship.

It was a decision very few could understand. Kaptrosky had received the type of success that high school athletes dream about, and with a chance to add on to her legacy she just simply walked away. But, to become great at anything it takes long hours, hard work, and great sacrifice in other areas of one’s life. At first, these requirements might seem small, but after a while, for some, these can become too much to handle. “The hours of practice, the number of performances, and the level of persistence needed to continue was something I looked forward to in the past, but I wanted to create change in my last opportunity as a high school senior. I wanted to take this time to become even closer to the family and friends I will be leaving behind after graduation,” says Kaptrosky.

A week after Kaptrosky shocked classmates with the news of her “retirement”, she further surprised people with her decision to try out for the LFHS gymnastics team. “Up until sixth grade I was a very competitive gymnast. I had practically been doing it since I could walk. When my mom told me about the tryouts I jumped at the opportunity to meet a new group of amazing girls,” said Kaptrosky. She ultimately did tryout for the gymnastics team, and made the squad. Kaptrosky added, “The more laid-back atmosphere in gymnastics is definitely the change in my life I was looking for.”

Kaptrosky’s story is a breath of fresh air in a high school sporting world so consumed with winning, no matter what the personal price. Kaptrosky remains close with many of her old poms teammates, and there are no hard feelings among the team because of Kaptrosky’s decision. And, while they wish Kaptrosky were still on their team, the poms team is looking forward to their chance at continuing their winning streak in Florida this upcoming February at Nationals. As for Kaptrosky, she’s just excited to soak in her senior year and have fun with family and friends, and she couldn’t be happier.