By Greta Lindsley

photo credit: Travel Salem via photopin cc

Prom is fast approaching, which means a lot of preparation for high school seniors and underclassmen asked to accompany a senior on this special night. For many teenage girls, there is a lot to do including buying the perfect dress, painting nails, and figuring out what to do with their hair.

Another important step in reaching the perfect “prom look” is tanning at a tanning salon.

When asked about why they like to tan at a salon, junior Eden White stated, “it’s way easier than sitting outside for hours when you barely get any color.”

Junior Tori Valentin stated, “I like being tan all year long and I find tanning really relaxing.”

Both girls attended prom in 2012 and loved the idea to tan to stand out in their dresses.

According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13 percent of high-school students use tanning salons, 21 percent of high-school girls use tanning salons, and 32 percent of 12th-grade girls use tanning salons.

A lot of concern comes from State Representative RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon) on this issue. A week after New Jersey passed a law prohibiting kids under 17 from using tanning beds, Swanger had launched an effort to pass a similar law in Pennsylvania.

“Tanning beds are essentially cigarettes for the skin,” said Swanger in a press release. “This exposure to ultraviolet radiation is known to be particularly dangerous for teenagers, who are at greater risk of developing skin cancer from indoor and outdoor tanning.”

The danger of the ultraviolet radiation is what is scaring the public, but for those tanning specifically for prom, it’s a risk they are willing to take.

White stated, “I would be kind of upset if tanning would be banned for people under 18. I think that parents should be allowed to sign for their kid if they personally think it’s okay.”

Valentin stated, “I would be upset because I enjoy tanning, but at the same time, I know it’s bad for me.”

Casey Hurlburt, a senior, has multiple tattoos on her body, including this one on her ribs.

By Alexis Cunningham

To older generations, tattoos might be considered rebellious and repulsive. Our parents and grandparents might not understand why teens mark their bodies up with ink, but there are a number of reasons. Teenagers use body art to give an everyday reminder to hard times, to honor loved ones and to express their identities. Tattoos are more accepted in modern times and many believe that ink is art.

The consequences that our guardians consider when we ask for parental consent can vary. One consequence is that a tattoo can be painful and irritate the skin on certain areas of the body, and if for some reason the tattoo needs to be removed, laser removal can be very painful. However, for most adults, their main concern is that some employers will not hire a person with visible tattoos. And what happens if the tattoo is later regretted?

According to Kidshealth.org, safety is the main concern on doctors’ minds when tattoos are mentioned. Kidshealth.org encourages teens to contact their doctors before they get tattoos. Educating oneself about the risks of tattooing is vital.

The most common health hazard faced when getting a tattoo is infection. Infections can include redness, tenderness, color change in skin and pus on or around the tattoo. Hepatitis is also a risk. To prevent diseases from being transferred by needles, be sure to get the hepatitis and tetanus shots prior to getting a tattoo.

Risks vary from person to person, but if there are other health or skin disorders be sure to ask a doctor first. Kidshealth.org also encourages teens to do their homework on the qualifications and cleanliness when it comes to a particular parlor. With more than 21,000 parlors in the United States alone, there are plenty to choose from.

Many people get their tattoos on places that can easily be covered, such as their backs, arms and feet. Being able to cover your tattoo is vital. This can determine whether or not you’ll get hired for a certain position. According to Barrie Gross of AllBusiness.com, most employers will hire someone with a tattoo as long as it is not visible in the workplace. This is to maintaining a professional environment for customers or clients. Only 11 percent of people with tattoos get their tattoo removed, so covering it up is less painful and less expensive.

SophomoreAshlee Oswald has her last name tattooed on her foot.

According to Statisticbrain.com, 14 percent of all Americans have at least one tattoo. This is equivalent to 45 million people. Only 17 percent of the 45 million with tattoos regret getting inked. This might be the the result of the 43 percent of people already tattooed who think that a tattoo must have a personal meaning.

A minor under the age of 18 can not get a tattoo without a guardian’s consent in the state of Pennsylvania.

Emily Adams, a senior, stated that her parents approved of her tattoos.

“The one tattoo (birds and a dandelion on her back) is art,” said Adams. “The other is more meaningful, which is why it’s in a noticeable place (on her wrist).”

Adams states that she will not regret her tattoos later on in life because she put them on places that she can cover up.

Ashlee Oswald, a sophomore, went to Tattooing By Mee to get hers done. Her tattoo is of her last name on her foot.

“My dad wasn’t very supportive of it, but said it was okay because it was my last name,” Oswald said. “My tattoo is meaningful because it is my last name and family is very important to me. I will not regret it later in life because my family will never change and when I get married I am not changing my last name.”

Deion Valentin, a senior, said that his mom approved of his tattoo and took him to a local tattoo shop where she had her own done.

“I’m a Christian so I decided to get something with religion,” said Valentin. He added that he does not believe he will regret his tattoo as he ages.

Casey Hurlburt, a senior, said, “I did go to a friend, now I go to the shop Tattooing By Mee, they are great. Did my parents approve? Not at all, but now that I’m 18 it doesn’t matter.”

“They mean something to me,” said Hurlburt, “I want to do tattoos eventually, so I have a lot of thought in them so I know I won’t regret them.”

By Emily Thyrum

No one could have guessed 100 years ago when Juliette Low began the first Girl Scout troop that 100 years later, 3.7 million girls would be registered members. This year, Girl Scouts have not forgotten the woman who started it all in celebrating the 100th anniversary.

The true anniversary of when Juliette Low first gathered 18 girls to start the very first Girl Scout Troop was March 12, 2012. According to Cathy Molitoris, a Girl Scout leader in the Penn Manor school district, Girl Scouts have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts in many ways.

The Juliette Low Bazaar, held in February, is an annual event in which each troop designs their own craft and sells them to many other troops. Money raised at the bazaar goes towards the national Girl Scout organization. This year, the event was especially distinctive because of the 100th anniversary. Each troop created posters about a certain decade in which Girl Scouts has existed.

Troop #334, a Junior Penn Manor troop from Manor Middle School, took on the 1920’s; some girls dressed up as flappers to illustrate that theme. They sold yarn octopi and sand art necklaces.

Troop #334 sold yarn octopi and sand art necklaces at the Juliette Low Bazaar in February 2012.

In April 2012, some troops in Penn Manor honored prior Girl Scouts at Willow Valley Retirement Community.

“Girls met with residents who were former Girl Scouts, enjoyed displays that showcased Girl Scouts through the last century, saw a fashion show of uniforms throughout the years, had a sing-along and made s’mores,” said Molitoris.

“My sister and I had a lot of fun bringing up the flags and singing songs with the elderly who used to be Girl Scouts,” said Claire Molitoris, daughter of troop leader Cathy Molitoris. “It was nice to see how Girl Scouts had affected the elderly’s lives, and I enjoyed being with them and making them happy.”

Rock The Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing-A-Long was a massive event on June 9, 2012 on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Around 150 Penn Manor Girl Scouts attended, and about 250,000 people in total enjoyed themselves, singing popular Girl Scout songs, listening to music, and walking around the Washington Monument to trade swaps with other troops.

Rock The Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing-A-Long was held June 9, 2012 on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Around 150 Penn Manor Girl Scouts and about 250,000 people total attended.

“It was really cool to see how many girls appreciated the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts,” said Mary Christman, a Girl Scout and Penn Manor senior.

The Forever Green Project was held at Safe Harbor park during the summer.

“Our goal was to create a safe walking nature trail in the southern part of Lancaster County,” said Ms. Linda Davis, leader of Penn Manor area Girl Scouts, along with Ms. Louise Brown. “We concentrated on the Arboretum area of the park which had a trail over a mile long that had fallen into disrepair.”

Girls contributed their time by picking up garbage, making birdhouses for the trail, trimming branches, planting bulbs and other plants around the cemetery, and much more. The Forever Green Project website,  displays the changes the area goes through in each season and the location of the letterboxes, which the girls hid for people to uncover. To celebrating the 100th anniversary through the Forever Green initiative, the girls planted more than 60 saplings, which contributed to the state total of 13,150 planted trees.

In October 2012, more than 60 Girl Scouts marched in the Millersville Parade, and their float was a three tier birthday cake.

These many projects and events show Girl Scouts’ appreciation for the founding mother Juliette Low.

Claire Molitoris summed up the Girl Scout anniversary.

”Eighteen girls Juliette Low started with to now millions. I am still amazed every time I hear that.”

“It is really awesome that Girl Scouts has been around for so long, changing girls’ lives,” said Christman.

“When you look at everything Girl Scouts offers to girls—from troop meetings to camping, cookie selling, leadership opportunities, service projects and more,” said Cathy Molitoris, “It’s so easy to see that it is a great time to be a Girl Scout.”