The Hurricane Watch - News from Coral Shores High School

Artist of the Month

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:42 -0500

Casey Rhyne

“I thought it would be easy,” said the artist of the month, sculptor Jeimy Glaze, “but it’s actually really complex.” She started sculpting only a year ago, but her natural talent comes through in all her artworks. “Nature inspires me, it has so many wonders.” And to think she didn’t even want to do ceramics. “I wanted to take culinary, but it was full, so I did ceramics instead.” In her free time she likes to read, hang out with friends, and wakeboard, yet still donates at least five hours a week to her art. “Yes, I wakeboard a lot, actually,” giggles Jeimy. Her big influences include her friend Monica, and her big brother. “He’s just really creative.” Jeimy loves getting into her art, “I don’t like to talk, and I get really into what I’m doing,” Jeimy said. Although she loves what she does, she actually wants to go into a career in medicine. “I might keep it as a hobby after I graduate, if I have time. I really like it.”

Seussical: Drama Club’s Newest Production

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:28 -0500

Kirsten Silveira

The PAC center is booked solid, Sax and Engler are going nuts, and the usual suspects are humming unfamiliar songs; what could this possibly mean? You guessed it, the Canes’ Players are rehearing day and night to bring you this years production: a rendition of the Broadway hit “Suessical.” Pieced together from eighteen of Dr.Suess’s best-known works, Suessical takes you on an adventure through your childhood favorites. The audience becomes quickly reacquainted with The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Mayzie La Bird, Getrude McFuzz, and array of other well-known characters from the “who’s” of Who-ville to the citizens that reside in the Jungle of Nool. There is no doubt that this show will be perfect for both young and old. Unlike last year’s production of “Alice in Wonderland,” this year’s show is all vocals, there is not one character that doesn’t belt out a line or two. Since late November the cast of Suessical has been hard at work for those three nights of stage time, “I think the biggest thing that I see from doing shows is that people don’t realize the amount of time that goes into them. They have no idea how many hours the actors put into the show before even running it on a stage. This years production is especially difficult because the music is tough and the set is even more challenging. The work that Mrs.Engler and I put into the show began long before casting and won’t stop until the last curtain.” This statement from Robert Sax sums it up: the Canes’ Players are putting in some extra elbow grease this year with the hopes of bringing the Upper Keys Community the best show they’ve ever seen.

Passive Alcohol Sensor: Breathalyzers covert cousin?

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:49 -0500

Kirsten Silveira

The “Buzz Buster” was purchased with money raised by the citizens of Key West and with the help of a state grant. It looks like a normal flashlight but in reality it is far from one. It can detect the presence of alcohol through a metal locker and the door of a car. It is a common misconception that the PAS IV will detect anything from cough syrup to mouthwash; however, it has a high specificity that eliminates any chance of a mix-up. No, evidence obtained via the flashlight cannot be used in court, but it can pull some heavy weight on the school disciplinary level. With this handy-dandy new flashlight the school district could possibly put a dent in the accidents, on and off the road, caused by underage drinking. Now that you know the facts about the new addition to the Coral Shores family its time to talk about your rights. The Fourth Amendment may prohibit “unreasonable” searches but the federal courts have made it perfectly clear that school officials can search any public school student whether there is probable cause or not. The flashlight that will be used at most school functions takes samples of ambient air and without your consent or awareness lets the person holding the flashlight know exactly how much you’ve had to drink. The use of the flashlight may seem invasive but nowhere in the Constitution did the founding fathers permit underage drinking. The Monroe County School Board has joined the “witch-hunt” for alcohol with good intentions. Mrs. Levy, a four year member of the Coral Shores School Advisory Committee, puts everything into a perspective that even a student can associate with: “I know that there is always possibility that something like the flashlight will be abused but I have confidence in the team of officials at Coral Shores that it won’t be.” It’s obvious that the District is not looking to condemn anyone; otherwise they wouldn’t have been so public about the new gadget and its capabilities. The flashlight was purchased with the hopes of preventing the students from drinking, not punishing them for it. To close this article I will give a word of advice to both the students and the Monroe County Coalition. To the Coalition: The “Be the Wall” campaign ads portray teens to be ignorant claiming that our under developed minds only allow us to make stupid decisions. Teens are more likely to test limits and take risks but we are by no means the invalids you’re ad’s make us out to be. I’m almost positive that when my mother tells me to wash the dog I do not pick up my 145-pound Rottweiler and deposit him into the washing machine, and I still wouldn’t if he was a Yorkie. I’m simply hinting that “Be the Wall” would be more successful in getting students to pledge if they didn’t degrade them. To the students: When you walk onto a school campus, whether it be for class or for a football game you check your rights at the door. You’re extremely lucky that these flashlights can’t get you into any serious trouble with the law, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any repercussions. The administration could easily expel you and that would go on your permanent records. Until you’re apply for college that doesn’t really sound so awful, but when you’re filling out your applications it’s going to impact your chances of admittance heavily. Now that you are aware of the “Buzz Buster” do yourself a favor and don’t prove the “Be the Wall” campaigns right.

Athlete of the Month: Josh Ritz

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:39 -0500

Michaela Walters
Josh Ritz, a 17-year-old senior and member of the wrestling team, has been wrestling since his freshman year. Josh has a passion for all sports, although his favorites are lacrosse and wrestling. As a well-rounded athlete, Ritz enjoys life in and out of athletics. He likes to hang out with friends and go out on the boat. Josh began wrestling in Maryland when Coach Arist encouraged him to go out for the team. From then on, Josh worked hard to excel in this sport and he is now ranked seventh in the state. Rankings are decided by records and Josh is 19-3. With over one hundred and ten matches under his belt, Josh’s future in wrestling looks promising. Ritz’s main goal is to attain the state champion title and hopefully his hard work will allow him to continue with this sport into college. “Coach Joe is going to help me go really far this year, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” said Josh as he explained the success and motivation that his coach has brought upon the team.

"Bad Hunters"

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:33 -0500

Ever since I first decided to be a vegetarian, I didn't think of it as being such a big deal. In fact, I'm pretty sure one day I just realized I didn't want to eat meat anymore. I wasn't trying to make a statement, and I wasn't trying to convert anyone, but no one seemed to understand that. Very soon after my decision, I found out that if you were a vegetarian, you also HAD to be a hippie, and a radical environmentalist. Everyone seemed to want to convert me back, or explain to me that "humans are natural omnivores" and "we are at the top of the food chain, so it's our God-given right to hunt and eat what we kill.” People always wanted to pick a fight, thinking I didn't know what I was getting myself into; and at first, I'll admit, I didn' t. But I understood about a month after my decision when I started losing my breath after trotting up the stairs to my classes. I had to stop at the top and wait until I caught my breath. I would also get dizzy after just standing up and found myself feeling more tired and lethargic. I was, thankfully, not alone though, because I had vegetarian friends, and they had the same problems. We simply just weren't getting enough protein, and it was also making us irritable. I would fight with my parents more, and would become really sensitive if anyone said anything bad about me or if I was made fun of. It was great to have friends who could understand how I felt, but it was also fun to have "supportive" non-vegetarian friends. With their occasional "mmm, doesn't this steak look good, I bet you can smell it, but it tastes ten times better". But you just couldn't get more supportive than my dad; "Did you know that 'vegetarian' is a Native American term? It means 'bad hunter'! Hah!" And boy did I love sitting down to dinner with my family, to someone telling me they were pretty sure there were bacon bits in the potatoes I had just lumped onto my plate, or pork in the beans I was eating. Yes, their jests were hilarious and harmless. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my veggie burgers, but every night it became a little much. And, to clear a few things up, we are not all hippies, nor are our men gay. We are also not trying to shut down all the meat producing plants in the world and take over with our boca meats and salads. We simply just don't feel comfortable eating something that once had a mommy. Although we do find it hilarious, your argument that vegetation is technically alive, or the gut-busting "meatatarian" pun, but honestly, you can't really tell us apart until we sit down to eat.

Putting 2008 Behind Us . . .

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:38:01 -0500

2008 was a transformative and rocky year. The recession cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and the credit crisis thousands of homes. War continued in Iraq, broke out in Georgia and threatened to erupt in Afghanistan. Violence arose in India, and continued in the Congo, Darfur, and Somalia. Nearer to the end, Israel joined the group as well. On the home front we witnessed corruption in politics with senate seats now up for bidding. There was hurricane Ike in Texas, earthquakes in China, and petty rumor mongering presidential campaigns that left us all with little to look forward too. Although this may sound like the end is near, a few good things did come out of this year. -Americans are saving again -Housing has become more affordable -The drop in gasoline prices -New president taking office, change of leadership -Michael Phelps brought home 8 world records and gold medals 2009 should be declared as a year of recovery. This hangover that 2008 has left us with will only go away if we pick ourselves up, take an Advil migraine, and start to move on. January can said to be a time of refelction but it is also an opportunity to kick start a new year. The two faced roman god for which this month is named could be said to be looking back with shock and ahead with trepidation. We can only hope each year is better than the last.

Dates to Pencil In:

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:20 -0500

Dates to Pencil In Feb. 14 – Ms. Coral Shores Feb. 16 – No School (President’s Day) Feb. 18 – Tennis match in Key West Feb. 24 – Track and Field in Key West Feb. 25 – Early Release Mar. 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Dance Mar. 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Tailgate Mar. 26 – End of third grading period

Alumnus: Danny Hampson

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:53 -0500

Casey Rhyne

Q: What year did you graduate from Coral Shores High School? A: I graduated in 2006. The best year ever. Q: Describe what it was like to walk down the halls of CSHS back then. Were there different groups or did everyone hang out with everyone? A: It felt like everyone was together. Everyone was always nice toeach other. Q: Have you been back to CSHS for anything recently? What do you think about it? How has it changed? What is different? A: Yeah I still go back to Coral shores from time to time to watch my younger brother Mikey play football and soccer. It seems to me Coral Shores has not changed much and still seems like a great place to go to school. Q: Do you remember who your favorite teacher was? What made you remember them? What did they teach? A: There were so many great teachers it's very hard to narrow it down to just one. Mrs. Thiery, Mrs. Dobson, and Mr. Ellsworth were probably my favorites though. They spent a lot of time with me and made me believe in my abilities. Q: Your extra-curricular activities while a student at CSHS? A: I played soccer and was in the film club. I was always really busy so it was tough to be involved with too many activities. Q: What class did you enjoy attending everyday and why? A: I always really enjoyed video productions and any class that involved writing. Those were the things I was interested in and felt like I was good at. Q: What are your goals in life now that you are in college? A: I just want to keep going on the path I am. I hope to one day be a top journalist and novelist and be able to sustain myself solely from my writing. Q: What was your favorite high school moment? A: My favorite high school moment was probably when I graduated!! No really just anytime I was together with all my best friends just enjoying life. Q: What do you enjoy most about being a long-time member of this community? A: I enjoy everything about this community. It has truly shaped me into the person I am and I am very thankful to have grown up where I did. We are a tight knit group and the sense that people care about you gives you a certain level of confidence and reassurance. Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of in your high school years? A: I am proud of the things I accomplished in wake skating and was also proud of playing for the soccer team. Q: Any regrets from high school years? A: Yeah I have a few regrets. If I had not been so busy with other things I would have really liked to play football and been more involved with the school. Not really any huge regrets though everything happens for a reason and life is all about learning. Q: Any advice for CSHS Students about the "real world" once they are out of school? A: Not really. I am still figuring it out myself. Just know that anything is possible if you are willing to work for it and never give up on your dreams. Always be nice to the people around you and look for the good in everything.

Fire at Cheeca Resort

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:37:56 -0500

Stellar Levy

In the final hours of 2008, the historic Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada caught fire. Starting at around 9:45 p.m., the fire set a record of being the largest fire the Keys has seen in 20 years, according to Islamorada Fire Chief William Wagner. The fire caused significant damage, but fortunately there were no casualties or injuries. The damage the fire caused, however, is substantial and the resort will be closed while the damage is dealt with. With the exact cause still being investigated, many people speculate the fire ignited as a result of remains from either a cigarette or from fire works landing on the thatched awning between the second and third floors of the main building. Firefighters from various locations in and around the Keys responded to the fire and worked to extinguish it. Because of the timing of the event, it was difficult for evacuees to deal with this pressing situation. Occurring on New Years Eve, the fire left many tourists homeless and without other vacant hotels to resort to. Still, many hours after the fire, firefighters were working on hot spots in the roof that could potentially cause more damage. Once the main building was in flames, embers from the fire reached the tiki hut, which also caught fire. Speculation has also led to the idea that a guest at the resort could have initiated the fire, but guests were quickly evacuated and as of now, no one was physically harmed.