Category: News

By Abbey Bailey

Next year, Hambright Elementary, Eshleman Elementary, Martic Elementary, Pequea Elementary and both middle schools could experience a shift in class sizes in the 2014-15 school year due to the redistricting and expansion of Hambright Elementary School. The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposed layout tonight. A total of about 60 children could be affected by this shift in district borders.

Penn Manor Superintendent Dr. Mike Leichliter explained that the redistricting project is not a full-scale ordeal. It has been enacted to help balance class sizes at both Eshleman and Hambright Elementary schools, as well as at the middle school level.

“We initially considered moving all of Georgetown Hills to Hambright,” said Dr. Leichliter. “However, that would have required that add teachers at Hambright. … Therefore, that plan would have cost more money. We opted to recommend that we move 21 students from Eshleman to Hambright. This will alleviate some larger class sizes at Eshleman.”

Elementary class sizes are the main focus of the redistricting proposal. Under this plan, Eshleman Elementary would lose around 21 students to Hambright Elementary, and Pequea Elementary would lose about 14 kids to Martic Elementary. These changes in the elementary level would not impact current fifth grade students, who would be allowed to stay at their current elementary school to finish out their sixth grade year next school year.

The neighborhoods that could be affected by the change in district borders at the elementary levels are Georgetown Hills and Springdale Farms in the Manor Middle School area and Lakewood Estates in the Marticville Middle School area. Crossgates, which is currently a swing area for Eshleman Elementary and Conestoga Elementary students would become a swing area for Conestoga Elementary and Pequea Elementary students. At the middle school level, Wood’s Edge and Parkfield will alter the class sizes at both Marticville and Manor Middle School.

Boundary changes around the Marticville Middle School area will result in half of the sixth graders at Letort going to Marticville Middle School, and the other half attending Manor Middle School for the 2014-15 school year. But current seventh grade students at both middle schools will be permitted to stay at their current middle school to finish out eighth grade.

The district has also hypothesized that if growth continues as is within the next three year, the school board will revisit the idea of moving all Letort Elementary students to Martic Elementary.

About 30 people attended a public meeting held on December 16, 2013 to inform the public of the possible changes to the school district boundaries. The meeting was advertised on Twitter, Penn Manor’s blogs and websites and in the Lancaster newspaper. Certain families impacted by these changes were also informed by letter of this meeting and encouraged to attend.

“Out of the people that attended the meeting and spoke, most did not like the idea of changing their development to a new school. Two people spoke who said they do not have a strong feeling either way but understand the district’s reason for recommending the change,” said Dr. Leichliter. “I’ve also heard from some families who also said they understand that there is currently an imbalance and this is the most cost effective way to handle balancing class sizes between Manor and Marticville.”

The final verdict for Penn Manor’s proposed redistricting plans will be determined at a school board meeting held tonight.

By Harrison Wallace

The Bush, a wooded plot between Creek Drive and Centennial Drive or between Pucillo gym and Millersville’s new student parking lot, has been used to help students learn, getting job experience in the field and, now,  a living area. Now, the future of this plot of land is the subject of some debate.

The university created new dorms and a parking lot next to the bush property, and within this caused a bit of plowed area for a drainage pond.

Some at the university are unhappy with the changes to this piece of land.

Robert T. Smith, dean of MU’s science and math departments, told LancasterOnline, “I wish we had known in detail what was going to happen.”

“We’re trying to channel our anger, not unleash it,” said Daniel Yokom, a biology professor at Millersville University, to a staff writer at LancasterOnline.  “I saw people weeping in the hallways when they heard the news.”

This is also the underlying anger with this new construction to the Bush which is that faculty, staff and students were not let in on the construction until after the decision was made.

“It was in the Bush where I learned about the invasive qualities of non-native plants and what types of removal and restoration techniques are best,” said Rebecca McCabe, a student at Millersville university.

Dr. Ken Miller, a retired biology professor from Millersville University, told LancasterOnline, “Taking field trips out here brought people together with the beautiful wildflowers in the spring.”

The biggest difference will be finding in ways to use the Bush for the biology classes.

“For the short term, the Bush has lost some species diversity, and it is likely that weedy, non-native plants will grow up in their place unless we actively manage and restore the Bush, but in the long term no major effects will occur,” said Dr. Chris Hardy, a botany professor at Millersville, in an email.

“We can monitor what begins to grow in newly formed edge habitats,” said Andrew Wolfgang, a student at Millersville university.

Another good reason to do this is for the student’s living arrangements.

“Well, the Bush was hurt because of construction of new dorms. The new dorms should attract new students to the university,” said Dr. Hardy.

Some students and faculty criticized the way the project was handled.

“So many departments and classes could have assisted with the design and planning, for example Aquatic Biology could have designed water infiltration methods from pervious surface to rain gardens,” said McCabe.

“There could have been a better way to do this,” Hardy said.

By Cameron Rebman

The annual rifle season opens in Pennsylvania on Monday. For many men and women that means taking off of work or school to go into the woods and wait for a big deer to walk by. Penn Manor School District will be closed for the day.

Every year rifle season is a big deal for many people in Pennsylvania. Killing a deer gives people a chance to provide food for their family and have plenty of it for a long time. Many people take deer hunting very seriously.

In order to hunt in Pennsylvania, potential hunters are required to pass a hunter’s safety course. To earn your hunter’s safety course, hunters must attend a class for a few hours throughout two days. In these classes an instructor teaches you about gun safety, common sense while you are in the woods and other important things you will need to know while you are hunting. At the end of the two days, you take a test to see if you passed the safety course.

You also need a license to hunt in Pennsylvania. When you have passed the hunting safety course, you are eligible to purchase a license. A hunting license is approximately $20 at stores such as Kmart, or Wal-Mart. You will need to purchase a hunting license every year.

Senior Connor Ream said that he is looking forward to rifle season this year.

‘’I’ve been hunting for six years now, and the biggest buck I’ve got is a nine-point buck, so I’ll be looking for a bigger one this year.’’

By Wyatt Stoeckl

Probably one of the most well-known shopping days of the year is Black Friday, when people rush to shopping malls to get deals on gifts. About $59.1 billion was spent over Black Friday weekend in 2012 according to CNN, which was up from 2011 at $54.2 billion.

Senior Kelly St. John is going shopping this year to buy gifts for Christmas. Last year she said that it was very overwhelming because of all the people, but she found what she was looking for.

“It was worth the craziness because of all the good deals, but it was really crowded,” said St. John.

To other people Back Friday is just a form of entertainment.

“It is a unique experience that is more of a tradition than a means of acquiring Christmas gifts,” said Millersville resident Darron Young.

On the rare occasions that he does buy something, he usually finds what he is looking for.

Many stores are opening on Thanksgiving day this year. Kmart will be opening its doors at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving day. Toys R Us is opening at 5 p.m. which is three hours earlier than last year. Park City is opening their doors at 8 p.m. along with Bon-Ton, Kohls, OfficeMax, J.C. Penny, Rockvale Outlets, Sears and Staples. Tanger Outlets will open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving day.

“Working in the retail business for five years, I know how busy it can get over holidays,” said Young. “I think stores opening at midnight gives enough time that it doesn’t take away from Thanksgiving and relaxing with friends and family.”

By Bart Huber

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is right around the corner.

Nearly everyone has something going on Thanksgiving weekend, whether it’s going hunting, Black Friday shopping or just relaxing with family and friends and enjoying the weekend.

A popular Thanksgiving run called the Turkey Trot happens every year on Thanksgiving day in Millersville. It’s the 41st year of the Turkey Trot. It’s a 5K run/walk for all ages with registration starting at 7:15 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. Spectators and competitors are asked to donate two non-perishable items to the local food bank.

People go everywhere for Thanksgiving, near or far. Peter and Sophie Savage of Washington D.C. are traveling up to Lancaster County to have Thanksgiving with the in-laws. They talked about the morning of thanksgiving and how the boys of the family and their dad go out to shoot clay birds, while the women of the family help cook.

Eva and Marcus Benner of Millersville have already left for Maine to visit family, which is a 10-12 hour drive. They say that they will be eating a Thanksgiving meal with the Benner’s.

Amanda Herr of Solanco is going up to her aunt and uncle’s for Thanksgiving Day. Herr says she will be going to an annual football game called the Turkey Bowl at her church on Saturday.

After Thanksgiving Day people do an assortment of things, like Black Friday shopping or hunting on Monday, December 2, the opening day of rifle season.

For some Black Friday is the time where they get all their holiday shopping done, for others it’s a chance to get that great deal you can only get on Black Friday.

Blain Wissler of Hempfield is having cousins sleeping over Thursday night and will be going Black Friday shopping the next day.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, the Penn Manor School District has off and the first day of rifle season begins.

The Benner’s have always gone hunting on the first day of rifle season and this year will be no different.

The Herr’s are also going hunting Monday, as they always do. Herr describes this as her favorite part of the Thanksgiving break.

Tyler Groff of Penn Manor is an avid hunter, who is hunting Thanksgiving morning, Friday and Saturday for geese and small game. He will also be hunting Monday for the first opening day for deer rifle season.

By Cassie Kreider

The turkeys meant for Thanksgiving dinner are still merrily unaware of their fates when the first wave of Christmas everything arrives. Flyers featuring children with exaggerated glee clutching fairies and action figures fill the Sunday paper’s ad section. Commercials highlighting the need for a Barbie Dreamhouse play over and over again on the television. But is all this holiday cheer coming too soon for some people?

It is true that the holiday season starts fairly soon, what with retailers showcasing the toys they believe will be their bestsellers this year and consumers scrambling to get the best bang for their buck. But this year the Christmas Creep seems to have set in especially early and with a late thanksgiving and earlier hours for Back Friday shoppers.

An article written for the Daily Finance says that the explosion of Christmas ads may be due to the fact that there is no presidential election this year.

“The presidential election served as a bulwark of sorts, holding the public’s attention and making it more expensive for retailers to run television ads in October. This year, retailers have free rein to take over the airwaves in the fall.”

Kimberly McMullen, an art teacher at Penn Manor High School, said that she definitely thinks Christmas is advertised for too early, but she also understands why companies feel compelled to do so.

“This is the money making season for many big name companies, but buying from local artists or local business’ can help the economy, it helps everyone.”

McMullen believes that Christmas should, at the earliest, be advertised after Thanksgiving. She is bothered when she sees ads for the holiday season at the end of October.

She believes that today’s views of Christmas are, “totally skewed,” and considers the most important things about Christmas are, “family. Having everyone home for the holidays, and (partaking in) family traditions.”

“Yes. It (Christmas) isn’t about the stuff or getting the best deal and outdoing each other. No, it’s about loving and caring and showing compassion,” said Mrs. McMullen.

Senior Katie Myers showed obvious distaste at how early Christmas is advertised.

“It’s (the advertising) getting absurd. I mean kids are going to start wondering what Thanksgiving is…” Myers joked. “I think they shouldn’t advertise any earlier than the week before Thanksgiving; and all that should be advertised is Black Friday sales.

She went on to say that she personally loves ads for the holidays, and that she thinks herself a nerd because she loves getting the Sunday paper and looking through all the sales.

By Sarah Sanchez

A type of methamphetamine called Strawberry Quik, is a drug that many claim is targeted at children. Nakedsecurity.sophos.com claims that many say the drug looks like pop rocks and tastes like strawberries. The story is so catching that it has been spread across Facebook recently. The website shares that Facebook users are sharing warnings about this strawberry-flavored crystal meth.

A writer for the NakedSecurity website, Grahm Cluley stated, “The message, which is sometimes distributed with an image of what appears to be pink- coloured crystallized methamphetamine, claims that children are being targeted with drugs that taste of strawberries.”

Strawberry Quik has been a drug scare since 2007. Drug dealers were said to be disguising meth coloring and flavoring to make it more appealing to children. The case was widely spread throughout the media but no cases of children using flavored meth have been verified.

Donna Leinwand of USA Today reported candy-flavored meth stirring concern among police and abuse prevention experts because they believe drug dealers might be marketing this drug to younger people.

Webarticlesrus.com concluded that these rumors are false. They found that the story about ‘strawberry quik’ is a hoax. The website states that the Drug Enforcement Agency public affairs officer, Barbara Wetherell, has found no evidence to substantiate that Strawberry Quik or any other form of flavored meth exists.

The website also shows that in March 2007, the DEA announced it received reports of drug traffickers offering candy-flavored meth for sale in western and midwestern states from california to Minnesota in the form of colorful crystals resembling pop rocks.

As of June 2007, experts confirmed that local drug enforcement agencies may have confused samples of colored meth as a flavored variety of this drug.

By Maddie Longenecker

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“He was 5 years old when Shania Twain came out with the song ‘I Feel Like A Woman’ and that was his favorite song. So he would dance around the house singing it at the top of his lungs. Picture this dark haired boy singing, almost screaming, that song. It was hilarious,” said Anna Frey of one of her favorite memories of her son, Greg Frey,  a Penn Manor student who passed away on September 22.

Greg was born September 20, 1996 and will always be remembered as a young man whose smile brightened everyone’s day. When someone needed a laugh, a hug or just someone to talk to, they went to him. He loved to play with his dog, Alpha and watch The Voice with my dad and I. He loved the Washington Redskins and the Florida Gators. He wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up and he was always wanting tacos to eat and Mountain Dew to drink. Stay close to your loved ones and be there for them. Let them know that they always have someone looking over them,” says Courtney Frey, sister of Greg Frey.

According to the Frey family, Greg was on a birthday trip on September 22 with another Penn Manor family when he started to develop a twitch in his arm while trying to line his fishing line. After trying over and over to line his line, Greg decided to go on a walk to try and cool off. When 20 minutes went by and no one heard from him, a search was called. Moments later, Greg’s body was found facedown in the water. After numerous attempts of CPR and help from paramedics, Greg was pronounced dead on Sunday, September 22.

Many of Greg’s family and friends shared favorite memories of him.

Greg’s father, Paul Frey, remembers when Greg was between the ages of 3 and 5. Greg decided to go on a walk by himself in just a diaper and shorts.

“I found him two, three blocks away from our home and when I asked him what he was doing, he replied saying that he went to visit the grocery store,” said Paul Frey. “It was cute yet very scary since we had no clue where he went and had our neighborhood looking for him.”

Greg was a member of the junior varsity volleyball team during his sophomore year at Penn Manor.

“Volleyball was my favorite”,  said senior Laiklynne Kammerer. “He was new to the team and we’d always joke around with him. His job was middle hitter and with that job he was to call out the positions so we’d always be like ‘Greg, where’s the setter?’ and he’d have no idea!”

Greg’s third block teacher, Mrs. Kaca Wee, remembers him as a young, vibrant, full of life and excitement, polite, friendly and nice boy. With the short amount of time she knew him, she’ll always hold a special place for him.

Courtney Frey recalls that he always had his sense of humor . Greg helped her practice basketball every chance he got.

“He was the person I looked up to the most and I thought everything he did was great,” said Courtney.

Shortly after his death, Greg’s family decided to have orange bracelets made in his memory.

“We wanted to have a small remembrance of him for everyone to have, and orange was his favorite color. We had some made, then everyone wanted one,” said Paul Frey.

The proceeds from the bracelets will be donated to the Humane League, which supports animals, a cause that was very important to Greg.

“Greg decided two weeks before he died that he wanted to become a veterinarian. He had a chocolate lab named Alpha; five cats, Penny Ann, Sparky, Shadow, Spooky Jr. and Stormy; and two red-eared slider turtles, Scales and Camouflage. Yes, my son loved animals, and his dad never said no to him,” said Anna Frey.

The loss of Greg has been difficult for those who knew him.

“The hardest part about losing Gregory is never getting to see his contagious smile and laughter ever again,” said Anna Frey. “I truly feel like part of me is gone and nothing ever said or done is gonna make me whole again. Or seeing him help his little sister, Courtney, practice her shots for her upcoming season!”

Kammerer said she was talking to him Friday, his birthday, at lunch about homecoming. Unfortunately the bell rang and she said she’d talk to him later about it because lunch was over.

“We never got a chance to finish that conversation,” said Kammerer. His death was completely unexpected, so it hit my friends and I hard.”

“Since our family is in two separate homes, being alone is going to be the worst,” said Paul Frey. “Gregory kept me going through the past few years. We did a lot together and now no fishing, no sports, just the conversations about everything. Coming home to our house knowing that he will never be here again, the reminders of him throughout the house and everywhere you turn it is him.”

Greg’s family and friends shared what they have learned something from this loss.

“If you’re a parent, keep your kids closer. If you’re a friend of someone, be there for each other. Talk about what you had when you were all together, remember the good times and to know that he is in a better place,” said Paul Frey. “Gregory would want the students to know to cherish every moment and not waste a day. To move on without but not forget him.”

“Keep your friends close and always show respect towards everyone because you don’t know their situation or what they’re going through,” said Kammerer. “Stay strong and stay together.”

Anna Frey explained that the pain will always be there but with help from family and friends, you learn how to move forward.

“This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and I don’t know exactly how to put into words the sadness I have but hearing stories about him makes it easier to push on,” said Anna.

“God had taken him for a good reason and needed him more than we did. He was the greatest brother anyone could have had.

If you would like to share a memory of Greg, feel free to submit below or email lisa.angelucci@pennmanor.net.

By David Gataric

Editor’s Note: The writer is also a participant in the program discussed in this story.

“Honestly, I didn’t hope that I’m gonna get this scholarship,” said Haris Jasarevic, one of 12 high school students who came from the southeastern European country Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The United States gave these students the opportunity to experience American society and to learn about the United States, and for American society to learn about them and their country.

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) is an exchange student program completely funded through the US Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. It provides scholarships for high school students from 37 countries worldwide.

Thousands of high school students worldwide apply every year for this scholarship and only a minority of students go to the United States. YES Abroad gives a chance for US high school students to experience life in one of 12 countries worldwide.

The main goal of this program is to introduce the US to other cultures and other cultures to the US.

This year the YES program celebrated its 10th anniversary.

With the aim of adaptation to American society, exchange students live with a host family and attend school for one school year.The student’s stay in the US also includes field trips to other states and visits to important American landmarks.

“I wanted to explore America and to see how people live there,” said Tarik Slanjankicas a reason why he applied for YES program.

“Main difference between American and Bosnian culture are people. They act differently and think differently,” said Slanjankic.

Slanjankic is currently placed in New York City.

“Different, exciting, many things to learn and things to tell,” he said of his experience in New York so far.

Participants in the YES program from Bosnia & Herzegovina have been placed all over the United States, from the East to the West Coast.

For a Bosnian high school student to participate in the YES program, they must have higher level knowledge of English and be between 15-17 years old. Writing essays about solving every-day life problems and English language tests are part of testing.  All testing material is sent to YES Program’s main office in Washington, DC. The Main office decides who will get the scholarship.

“I went on testing, just because I didn’t want later to tell myself “you should went to that testing”. And after while, they called me and they told me that I made to third round of testing. I made in 80 of 560 student who were in the competition for scholarship. That was huge success for me. And after five months, they called me again, and again same story, they told me that I got scholarship. I couldn’t believe it,” said Haris Jasarevic, currently placed in Michigan.

Jasarevic enjoyed his first days in the United States.

“First few days here I’m gonna remember because they were awesome. First day I went to run 5k run for cancer cure, and it really awesome. I met new friends, and I gain some experience my first day here. I was running on horse track, so it was my first time to see horse track. The next days were pretty much the same. I was meeting new people, gaining new experience, getting to know American culture and her people.”

Students in the YES program have eight more months to “investigate” the United States because the students will stay until the end of the American school year.

By David Gataric

Molly is well known name at music events. She makes you dance. She makes you enjoy. She kills you.

MDMA (also known as ecstasy or Molly) is commonly abused drug, particularly among the  young population. It causes feelings of euphoria, wakefulness, intimacy and disinhibition. MDMA is often connected to “rave” (dance) parties.

There are also side effects, which can include anxiety, depression, convulsions, dizziness, insomnia and fatigue.

In 1996, 5.7 percent of United States 12th graders admitted to having used MDMA. In 2008, that percentage went down to 4.3 percent, but 1.7 percent of United States eighth graders reported using MDMA, according to National Institute of Health.

After oral consummation of this drug, it takes about one hour for it to start “working”. Normally, it lasts for few hours and  is back to normal. Belief of a “safe high” is probably main reason why this drug is so common among the younger population.

In the recent past, the music scene has seen three incidents connected to drugs. In all three incidents, the main suspect was ecstasy, well-know “safe high” drug.

“MDMA is usually considered psychedelic drug, although effects produced by MDMA deviate from typical psychedelic drugs, because it gives more stimulatory than visual effects,” said Milos Stankic, professional DJ and Winner of Ballantine’s DJ competition for Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Usually has a image of a “recreational” drug and it is associated with wild nightclub parties and festivals which are mainly related to electronic music.”

Stankic’s experience is based on hundred’s of events in the territory of ex-Yugoslavia.

“In my five-year career I’ve met a lot of people under effect of MDMA. They always stood out in crowd, have weird body movements and they sweat a lot more than other people,” said Stankic.

MDMA use cases have also occurred locally.

Dr. Kumar, ER doctor at Lancaster Regional Medical Center said that the main reason consumers of this drug finish in his workroom is because of dehydration. When the drug starts to affect your body, the heart rate and blood pressure increases to a life-threatening point, and the body uses much more fluid.

“People don’t drink enough fluid in that condition, so they get dehydrated,” said Dr. Kumar.

Last month at the Electric Zoo Festival in New York, two people died from an overdose of ecstasy; because of these deaths, the last day of festival was canceled. Nightclub House of Blues in Boston also saw one death in recent past, when 19-year-old girl died during a concert.

MDMA overdose is not a problem only in US. One died and 14 were hospitalized in Sydney, Australia, during the Defqon.1 music festival.

“Before you even think about use of any type of drug, you should know that every type of drug can leave a lasting impact on your body and your mind. We all know what happened at Electric Zoo Festival in New York. MDMA took four lives of young people in 2013. And every music festival brings a risk of new victims.  Don’t risk your life for few moments of pleasure. If you truly love music, you don’t need any “help” to have a good time,” said Stankic.