Girls are walking into the bathrooms at Penn Manor this year and are seeing notes aimed at raising their self esteem.
Written simply with a marker on Post-it-type notes, messages have been seen on bathroom stall doors that say, “you are beautiful,” “believe you are beautiful,” and “you are so much beautiful!”
Notes of encouragement are being posted in Penn Manor's girls bathrooms.
Although the author of the notes is anonymous for the moment, it may be someone who was inspired themselves by a similar campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle for adolescent girls.
Dubbed “Operation Beautiful” by its founder, Caitlin Boyle, a 26-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., said on her website that she strives to help women stop the negative talk about themselves and other girls.
Boyle started her healthy lifestyle blog June 2009. She also started the posted note trend which has spread to many public schools and bathrooms across the country and, since this year, includes the walls of Penn Manor.
Other notes in Penn Manor’s girl’s bathrooms read:“You are so much beautiful” and “God Loves You.”
As for the author of these notes, that still remains a mystery as does the amount of the amount of girls in Penn Manor who’ve seen the notes so far. But as for the ones who have, it seems that the message is getting through.
“It’s a good idea, because high school girls are always down about themselves,” said senior Mikah Farbo.
Other girls may have not seen the notes but said they would appreciate the message.
Simple notes are aimed at making a difference.
“It would probably make me smile,” replied Ella Perry.
“I would probably be surprised, especially since there’s always negative things written in the bathrooms,” Elana Hart responded.
Compared to last year’s problem with nasty and demeaning messages, which was covered by a story in Penn Points,https://www.pennpoints.net/?p=1375 the messages in Penn Manor’s girl’s bathrooms this year are a lot more positive.
Whether its one person or more, posting these notes around Penn Manor proves a positive attitude can “stick” to others.
Little Monsters from around Philadelphia and even some from Penn Manor lined up to see the live “Monster Ball” Tuesday night.
Lady Gaga preformed at the Wachovia Center, in Philadelphia, Tuesday and Wednesday night to a nearly sold-out crowd.
Penn Manor freshman Greta Lindsley shows off her Lady Gaga shirt. Photo by Whitney Reno
She promised to push the limits of a live concert and did according to one Penn Manor freshmen who attended, Greta Lindsley. Lindsley got her tickets for her birthday in May and eagerly awaited to experience Gaga live.
“The place was packed. But the concert was better than I expected,” said Lindsley.
After going to her cross country meet, Lindsley went to the concert Tuesday night dressed in a t-shirt that she made adorned with Gaga’s name and playing cards with ‘poker face’ written on them.
Lady Gaga did not disappoint fans at her concert this week. Photo courtesy of Google Images
“Poker Face,” is a popular song by Lady Gaga. She calls her fans “little monsters.”
She arrived at the Wachovia Center at 8:00 p.m. to see the end of the opening act, ‘The Semi-Precious Weapons.”
Contrary to what people may think of parking in Philadelphia, Lindsley didn’t have to walk very far to get to the front door, where she was told that she was not allowed to bring in her camera. She was lucky enough to be able to use her camera phone from where she sat at the top balcony.
“It was really cool, we were on the highest point, the balcony, and were about 150 feet away from her on the stage, and there was a platform that came out from the stage so she could walk into the audience,” Lindsley recalled.
Gaga had many die-hard fans at the show, and some of them even dressed up like her.
Lindsley said when Gaga walked out onto the stage it was to a burst of screams, and comments of how “fabulous” she looked.
Aside from the overwhelming number of fans, Gaga had an overwhelming number of costume changes. One out of the nine outfits consisted of a white feather-duster dress that she wore while flying out into the crowd during her song ‘So Happy I Could Die’.
Lindsley thought her outfits were “pretty weird” and compared her look to that of “a mental patient.”
“When she wasn’t wearing weird outfits, she was pretty much running around in her bra,” Lindsley said.
The decor that promised to be a New York City theme lived up to the expectations with Times Square stores and neon lights.
Lindsley left the concert with many memories, but the one that stuck out in her mind the most, she said, was that she was in the front row of the balcony and felt really close to Gaga.
“It was definitely better than I expected,” said Lindsley.
Those words were senior Penn Manor tennis player, Holly Mancinelli’s, to her head coach, Diane Vickers, after losing one of her matches. But so far this season, this has been a repeat story of Penn Manor girls’ tennis.
Having only one returning varsity starter from last year may have something to do with it.
Comets tennis player, Maeve Snyder, smashes a winner on the home court. Photo by Alex Geli
Penn Manor hopes to improve on their record (currently 1-4) by “working hard” but yet “having a good time because that’s half of it too,” Vickers said.
On top of the list at number one, and the lone returning varsity starter from a year ago, is Janine Haberstroh. Last year she was number three on the team and shot up to one after four of the top five girls, Brittney Miller, Sydney Durenburger, Alissa Zikmund and Christi Wertz left Penn Manor as seniors last June.
Although Haberstroh may have a lot on her shoulders, head coach Diane Vickers has high hopes for her top player.
“She should be able to do very well,” Vickers said, noting she has a 2-1 record so far in both singles and doubles.
At number two on the team is senior Maeve Snyder, who played junior varsity tennis last year and has earned three total wins this season – one in singles, two in doubles.
Next on the list is Mancinelli, working hard, but waiting to post her first win so far in the season.
“She needs to step up and win some,” Vickers said, knowing that Penn Manor’s schedule ahead is challenging – especially with Manheim Township and Hempfield “right at the end.”
“Those are the two big ones,” Vickers said, referring to Township and Hempfield who are at the end of Penn Manor’s season, a season that is very short with multiple matches mashed into a short amount of time.
Vickers said it is “hard to breathe” with two or three matches a week and still practice in the meantime.
At number four sits Natasha Fletcher, twin sister of Morgan Fletcher (who also plays and is just out of the top five).
Tennis coach Diane Vickers gives Janine Haberstroh a pep talk between games. Photo by Alex Geli
Vickers said of Natasha: “she’s doing well” and has earned herself one doubles win although still looking for a singles win this season.
Ella Perry won her challenge matches against Elena Hart, Laura Revelt and Morgan Fletcher, who all round out the top ten, to earn the fifth and final varsity spot. Those challenge match wins against her own teammates are her only wins so far this season.
All top five varsity players are seniors this year so, again, there will be a lot of empty spaces to fill a year from now.
The sixth and seventh spots belong to junior Emily Sisson, and freshman Katie Carle. Carle has become a “pleasant surprise” in Vickers’ eyes, and is one the top freshman on the team. A glimpse of hope for the near future?
The Comets lost to a tough opponent last Friday, Lampeter-Strasburg, but Penn Manor’s football coach has a solution to every problem.
Head coach Todd Mealy said his team must be ready this Friday night. He plans to work hard this week to ensure that happens.
The Penn Manor football team started off the season with a win at Solanco. After that win, the team felt confident. Feeling prepared for their first home game, the Comets came out Sept. 10 under the lights ready to beat Lampeter-Strasburg.
But it didn’t happen.
Instead, they lost, and badly, 44-7.
“We have no choice but to move on,” said head football coach, Todd Mealy.
Coach Todd Mealy is prepared to head to Dallastown.
One way the Comets plan to move forward this week is by practicing hard until Friday night, according to assistant coach Gordon Eck. He also said one unsung hero, Kevin Kann, Penn Manor’s wide receiver and safety, is going to be a leader all week during practice.
Mealy agreed. “Kevin is not too loud of a player, but he leads by good example.”
The Comets were confident coming into the L-S game. The game kicked off, and within 12 seconds L-S was on the board. Penn Manor struggled to get it going but in the second quarter, Teon Lee scored. Lee’s touchdown wasn’t enough the Comets lost 44-7.
“Lampeter-Strasburg is quite a good football team, but it wasn’t our best effort,” said Mealy.
Mealy also pointed to Kann as a quiet but strong player.
In typical style, Kann, a senior, was modest.
Kann said, “I just like to work hard and it seems to get everyone going the right way.”
Kann said he is the type of player that when people screw off in practice he will speak up and get them focused again.
Kann recalls his best moment in football was when he picked off a pass at the end of the Solanco game this year to shut down the offense and turn the momentum toward the Comets.
Comets football players Teon Lee, left, and Kevin Kann have impressed their coaches. Photo by Brian Dunne
Another player who is looking forward to Friday night is Teon Lee.
Lee said, “ We’re going to come back this week and practice more, play harder, and get ready.”
Lee’s plan to beat Dallastown is simple.
“Do what we gotta do, I’m going to have a big game,” said Lee. “Whatever comes my way is getting picked, we’re gonna be prepared come Friday.”
The Comets said fans should look forward to a hard fought game come Friday, when they head to Dallastown to take on the Wildcats.
Expectations are always high for Penn Manor field hockey and its coach, Matt Soto.
State champs in 2008, and 2009 district-three champions, Coach Soto and the Comets hope to repeat their success.
Matt Soto, Coach of the Penn Manor Field Hockey team, has high hopes for this season. Courtesy of the Penn Manor Field Hockey website.
“Our expectations are always the same every year. To play excellent field hockey, to win every game and be the best program around,” Soto said.
That shouldn’t be too hard considering they are replete with athletic talent, according to Soto.
“All of our players are fast, strong and capable players,” Soto said.
Senior co-captain Katie Breneman said the team’s strengths are that “we work as a team and we all get along.”
Senior Katie Brenneman is a captain for Penn Manor's field hockey team. Photo by Jessen Smith
Breneman described the privilege of being named a captain on the team, “It’s an honor to be a captain. I have to be a good role model for the younger players and help lead them to be their best.”
Madelyn Hess, a senior for the field hockey squad, has already scored three goals and one assist in five games. Even though she’s not a captain, she looks to be one of the key leaders on the field this year.
“The whole summer we had Monday, Wednesday and Friday workouts. We lifted weights, ran and played a lot of field hockey. I feel like it’s really paid off,” Hess said.
Maddie Hess has high hopes for Penn Manor field hockey this year. Photo by Jessen Smith
“We have a ton of great players on this team. It’s ridiculous how committed and dedicated our girls really are,” Soto said.
The field hockey team is off to a great start, 5-0 in conference and non-conference play, with wins over Cocalico (extremely strong in section-2 this year), Lehighton, Conestoga Valley, Elizabethtown and Wilson.
After selling out her European tour, Lady Gaga has started her “Monster Ball” in North America and local fans will be able to attend in Philadelphia tonight and Wednesday.
The much anticipated American tour started in June and will continue until April.
The fashion icon will be playing to a likely packed house in the Philadelphia Wachovia Center. The New York City themed show, presented by Virgin Mobile, is going to visit the top 31 arenas. As her shows usually do, this promises to push the limits of a live concert.
“It’s still called a concert , but it’s more of a musical, less of a concert. It’s a story. The story is that me and my friends are in New York and are going to a Monster Ball and we get lost,” said Gaga on her website www.ladygaga.com.
Singer Lady Gaga sells out in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Google images
Gaga is touring in support of ‘The Fame Monster’ album which was released in 2009 and is a follow up to her 2008 grammy award winning album, ‘The Fame’.
Combined, the two albums solds 10 million copies worldwide. Her albums are hot items, but Gaga’s music videos are bringing in views in the 100+ million range as well. Gaga also brought in the awards on the VMA’s, winning eight ‘moon-men’. The awards were for ‘Best Female Video’, ‘Best Pop Video’, and ‘Video of the Year’, just to name a few.
Tickets for Gaga’s tour are on sale and range from $49.50 to $175. If fans are hoping to see Gaga live, they better hurry up, a spokeswoman for the Wachovia Center said she expects most of the 20,000 seats to be sold.
Gaga’s next concert will be in Pittsburgh Feb. 26.
By Whitney Reno
Jordann Stekervetz also contributed to this report.
New season, new faces and now Penn Manor football has a new and improved website.
If you can’t wait until Friday nights, you can check them out on the internet – and maybe buy yourself a t-shirt while you’re there.
The website has everything from recruiting opportunities to apparel and anyone around the world, thanks to the beautiful invention of a certain thing called the world wide web, can access Penn Manor’s surging football program. The program broke yet another school record last year with ten wins and an appearance in the first round of states.
Returning seniors on the 2010 Penn Manor Football team. Photo courtesy of Penn Manor Comets Football
According to head coach, Todd Mealy, there are three specific concerns he wanted to address by the website: “communication, fund raising and recruiting.”
First, communication, which Mealy noted is vital in the 21st century.
Having information on this new website can mend or prevent miscommunications between the players and coaches, he said.
An interactive calendar with game-times and events is one extra in the communication package.
Another way that the website enables communication is that parents and/or fans can sign up for an emailing list that sends “constant reminders,” Mealy said.
Of course the website addresses fundraising. As everyone knows, you can’t run a program, company, a run for president, a lemonade stand – whatever – without some financial aid from the outside world. If you’re not following, ask General Motors, they’ll tell you all about it.
The website allows all sorts of ways to contribute to the group of talented young stars.
Mealy said he understands that the parents who aren’t enrolled in the booster club and who are busy with a job, carting kids around to another child’s game or dance recital and all the other “mom” and “dad” activities, just might not have the time to take a big part in the football program.
But there are easy ways to give some money, via the website.
First, you can donate anywhere from $5.00 to $50.00, and set up a monthly donation called the “recurring comet club tab,” said Mealy, who dubbed it that himself. The funds will be taken directly out of the person’s bank account, like a subscription, without them having to pick up a pen and write a check.
Hey, there’s always the chance of there not being any ink left and everyone knows how frustrating that can be…
Mealy also plans auctions on the web for autographed footballs or pictures. There is a nifty online store where students and other fans can buy Comet gear like t-shirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, caps – you name it – all in men, women and children sizes.
Mealy stated that he got a lot of influence from the ’08 presidential candidates who “set records” in financial aid in order to assist them with their campaign.
Third and finally, recruiting opportunities.
For high school, college and even the pros, it is important to foresee the future and to scout out new talent for upcoming years. This website makes it easy to go through the recruiting process with “instant recruiting,” as Mealy calls it, with a recruiting tab.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, though; users need a password to enter that portion of the website.
Penn Manor coaches and scouts can look up players from middle school on up to see what their future might behold and keep track of those players to encourage them to continue in the football program.
“(We) lost a lot of players (coming from) eighth to ninth grade,” Mealy said, “so you can bet this recruiting tab will be clicked on a lot in the future.”
Also, college scouts from all around the country can check out current Penn Manor players. They can sit in their Tweety-bird boxers on their computer at home instead of coming all the way to Lancaster county to get a glimpse of how much talent the team, or a specific player, has.
Whether you want the attributes of a certain player, the team’s schedule, a signed football, a Comets coffee mug or recruiting information, it all can be accessed with a single click of the mouse on www.pennmanorcometsfootball.com.
Nittany Lions coach, Joe Paterno, penciled in true freshman Robert Bolden to start the season for Penn State this Saturday at home against Youngstown state.
This is the first time a true freshman will start for Paterno in his 45 years as head coach. Paterno picked Bolden over returning sophomores Matt McGloin and Keving Newsome.
“Based on what we have seen to this point, Bolden has a slight edge right now, but we are confident all three quarterbacks are ready to go and hope to give them an opportunity to play until we settle on the one that gives us the best chance to win,” Paterno said in an interview the Associated Press.
Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno, announces the Nittany Lions quarterback.
Bolden was a highly recruited high school player at St. Mary’s Prep school in Michigan. He was listed as a four- star recruit and was ranked 112 overall by ESPN.com. He committed to Penn State on July 10th. When he committed, he held 23 scholarships offers.
Bolden finished his high school career in strong fashion but picked up a loss in the state championship. In the loss, he still threw for 161 yards and rushed for 142 yards and two scores on 12 carries.
The true freshman will have to fill a big hole left by senior Daryll Clark who is now playing for the Washington Redskins. Clark led the Lions to an 11- 2 season last year, going out in a roar with a 19-17 point win over LSU in the Capitol One Bowl.
Freshman quarterback Robert Bolden will start for Penn State.
The new signal caller for the Lions will face his first true test of trying to devour his prey in week two. His prey – the defending national champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. The lions will travel to there to meet the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, in one of the biggest match-ups this season.
But Bolden needs to focus on opening the season at home against the Youngstown State Penguins who say they aren’t intimidated by the Lions. The opener is tabbed for Saturday at noon in Beaver Stadium.
Jessen Smith, number 50 on the Penn Manor squad, recounts what it was like preparing for the upcoming season.
When Coach Mealy made the 2009 football season’s motto “Building Tradition,” it was for a reason. I would know, I’m experiencing it.
Being a senior on the football team comes with a lot of pressure as well as responsibility. Coming from two back-to-back stellar seasons, expectations are high for us and we know it. We’re aiming for tradition, alright, a tradition of winning.
As the 2010 school year was winding down, we began spring practice. For two-and-a-half weeks, three hours a day after school we learned the offense and defense. Coach Mealy expressed to us how fast the year would go and the need for us to savor every single practice, game and play. It’s amazing how much we progressed through the spring, entering the summer.
School ended abruptly on June 10, at that point football consumed my life. I personally didn’t go on a vacation all summer for this reason. Three days a week for three hours we lifted weights, and continued to learn about the game, and we conditioned ourselves. Did I mention conditioning? It was a brutal, hot summer and conditioning just added to the grocery list of stuff I had to do. It may not seem like much, but it became my life, and my main focus. This continued all summer until two-a-days began.
The two-a-days season is the most crucial part of the year. Progression is key! It now becomes a football boot camp, 8 am to 6 pm every day. As I entered practice each day, fatigued and drowsy from the day before, I still knew it will be worth it. Our team of 42, which is unusually small for high school division 4-AAAA football, made progress. At the same time, we weeded out those who were not fully committed to our goals, or as coach Mealy would say, “their hearts aren’t in it.” Our goals are to be better than we were the year before and at least win a section title, which we haven’t done ever in our history. For this to be accomplished, everyone must be on board and completely committed. As a senior, my job is to lead by example and make sure everyone is always focused and getting better.
During the two-a-day time period, we had two scrimmages. These are our “auditions” of sorts. These also are to get the kinks out before our first game, our first real test, Solanco. Everyone young and old gets a chance to prove who really wants it, and who should be starting at each position. I can’t ever be satisfied with how I perform, because I know I can always do better. Yet, I did pretty well and earned my starting spots at offensive tackle and defensive end.
The school bell rings for the first day of school on August 30, and our season begins. The first week of regular practice begins and we are also in class, which is part of our responsibility. One of our goals as football players is to not only be leaders on the field, but off the field as well. As a team rule, we must sit in the first three rows of our classes, and we have to maintain passing grades to continue to play. Having to do well in my classes as well as maintain focus on football is a real challenge.
As Friday night football approaches, the tension increases and so does the intensity. Everyone buckles down. We know we have a job to do, to win on Friday night. Every day goes by like a flash as it gets closer and closer, and soon enough it will be Friday night, my senior and last year of Penn Manor football, what I have been waiting for my entire life.
Well, nice for some of this year’s sophomores – seven to be exact – who are moving from freshmen level football last year right into varsity to fill 24 empty roster spots.
Those 24 spots used to belong to last year’s seniors.
That’s right, only 40 percent of Penn Manor’s football team is returning from last year’s record-breaking season. While coach Todd Mealy has some inexperience to worry about, he also has something to look forward to.
“This sophomore class may be the most successful class around,” Mealy pointed out.
Todd Mealy Penn Manor head football coach
One guy in particular in that sophomore class is 5’10” – 160 lb. Adam Sahd, brother of former player Austin Sahd who graduated last year. The younger Sahd will be replacing P.J. Rehm, a three-year varsity starter who also graduated a year ago.
Sahd has experienced the Friday night lights before, when a helmet-to-helmet hit detoured Rehm to an unfamiliar place – the sidelines.
Wanting to be careful with his starting quarterback before last year’s playoffs, the choice was easy for Coach Mealy. While Rehm got stuck at a red light, all Sahd saw was green – the green, green grass of Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium
Sahd led the team to a 36-35 victory that day against Cedar Crest which gave the Penn Manor team home-field advantage for their first district playoff game.
Freshman Sahd led the Comets to victory during 2009 season
There’s surely going to be some tension and some nerves in the air while Sahd and the team’s seven other sophomores take the varsity stage on Friday night at Solanco.
“There’s a lot of butterflies,” Mealy said. He added that they will have to “play with confidence” and “limit mistakes.”
Mealy recalled an inspiring instance that relates to Penn Manor’s challenges this year. It’s the story about starting running back in 2007, Carl Christmas.
It was Christmas’ first game starting at varsity and on that night it was obvious that he had his own butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. He fumbled not once or twice, not three, but four times in that game.
Christmas took that bad game and strove to get better and better as the season went on and prove to the head coach that he was worth the starting position.
He went above and beyond – literally. He ran all the way to the top spot in rushing for section one that year.
Mealy uses stories like Christmas’ to keep an optimistic approach to the season. There will be a couple fumbles, maybe some interceptions and dropped passes, but maybe there’s another Christmas coming around other than the 25th of December this year.
It’s possible that he’ll be one of the seven sophomores making the leap to the varsity level this upcoming season.
Penn Manor’s first test is against Solanco at their home field this Friday night. While they are no pushover, Mealy didn’t have them on his list of teams Penn Manor may have to worry about.
Wilson and Manheim Township were on his list, along with his sleeper team, McCaskey.
Mealy, a former coach in the city school district, said that McCaskey will be the “best group of athletes” they will face this season.
Demetrius Dixon will start as wide receiver for the Comets this year. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com
Coming off their second straight school record-breaking season of 10-3 (previous school record was 9-3 in ’08) and a visit to the first round of states, Mealy is expecting his young guys to step up and his varsity veterans to stay consistent.
Penn Manor’s “seasoned,” as Mealy called them, linebacking core of Garret Young, Ande Olson, and Teon Lee are all returning from last year. Also, if Mealy chose one guy to be in the spotlight, someone who he says is the “best wide receiver around,” would be three-year starter, Demetrius Dixon, who will be a nice big target for the sophomore quarterback at 6’2.”
Amateurs and veterans alike will be showing off their stuff this 2010 season which could go either way considering all the seniors who departed for college.
