Nightmare New England

by Christina Hurley

Are you terrified of being buried alive? Do spiders make your skin crawl? Does the dark of night blind you with fear? If you answered yes to any of these then Nightmare New England is not for you. With 7 attractions, Raven’s Claw Cemetery, Buried Alive, Night Feeders, Eternal Darkness, Demented, 3-D Freak Show, and Sleep Stalkers you are exposed to every fear anyone could ever anticipate. It starts with chainsaws, needles, blood, spiders, dentists chairs, zombies, maggots and clowns, and, oh, how list goes on. During the night you might find yourself on a lovely stroll through the Raven's Claw Cemetery or wandering through the old hospital with all the patients who are on the slow spiral into insanity. Amidst the foggy lines awaiting terror you can hear screams coming from every house, everybody and from everywhere. You might believe that you are safe in long lines, maybe a moment of peace or a moment to catch your breath but you might just find a horrifying clown breathing down your neck; snarling a demonic version of twinkle-twinkle little star in your ear. So quiet that only you can hear it and only you can feel the fear, the panic.
This scream park is very impressive and is not for the faint hearted, young children, and elderly who do not do well in the cold or standing for a long period of time. The price ranges from the average admission $29.99 to the VIP pass of $49.99. When you get the VIP pass you can skip to the front of the lines, go to the bonfire, use the batting cage, ride the bumper cars and drive the little race cars. With the VIP pass you can also go on the rides as many times as you like in one night unlike the general admission. The VIP pass is a really good idea when you are standing in the cold night in lines that can take up to two hours. This park has received good reviews over all and has gotten a total of four and a half stars out of five.

TGIF, its Friday The Thirteenth

by: Dan Lux

If you are looking for a very scary slasher film series than Friday The Thirteenth is a great series for you. Friday The Thirteenth is the movie with the famous creepy Jason. Jason is the chap that is running around Blairstown, New Jersey looking for the young people that were at the camp where he drown to death. Of course “Jason” can’t be the one killing all these people because he is dead, which brings his mom into this. She took the death of her young son horrifying, and told the group of people that were at the camp that didn’t save her son, that “they would pay”. The mother of Jason goes off killing these young citizens with a mask so people wouldn’t be able to see it was her, but her son believe it was her son Jason. This movie is a well thought out movie in which they were able to come out with sequels that went well with this 1980 motion picture.

Sweet Tooth Surprise

by Colleen Britain

When thinking about Halloween, people often think of the candy that is given out. Sometimes getting all the same candy can get a bit boring, so that’s why I tried to make a substitute to Halloween candy. Even though it is an alternative, it still has the classic component to Halloween: the candy. But instead it had the classic combination of salty and sweet. I made chocolate covered pretzels that are covered with bits of candy.

To make them all you have to do is crush up bits of your favorite candy, and melt some chocolate chips in a double boiler. I tried to find candy that has a filling, such as butterfingers, heath bars, and kit-kats. After everything was prepared I dipped the pretzels into the chocolate and then coated them with the bits of candy. Once all the chocolate and candy bits were used up, I put them in my fridge so the chocolate could harden. It was relatively easy, and the product was delicious.

When I brought them into class, they were a big hit. People said that the combination of sweet and salty made them the perfect alternative to eating a candy bar. The only suggestions were to add more candy bits, and maybe only dip half of the pretzel into the chocolate. So if this Halloween you are looking for something to do with all of your extra candy, try out this recipe and share it with your friends and family.

Jammin' in Different Ways

by Jake Lessels

As you plug your earbuds into your iPod, think of how your parents used to listen to music. Your grandparents; was music even around back then? Your iPod has only been in existence since 2001. How did your older siblings survive without a constant flow of digital songs? Maybe you still listen to CDs too, but if you ask almost everyone in school how they listen to music, they will most likely answer, “my iPod.”
I’m sure a couple of my fellow classmates would agree that one of the best ways to listen your favorite old tunes would be throwing some vinyl on your old turntable. Listen to the whole album, front to back. I know, I know, this is taboo in our day and age, most of us are buying one song at a time on iTunes or downloading them illegally from Limewire or other sources.
You may think that records are a dying form of music entertainment, but records are still very much enjoyed by people of all ages. These nostalgic listeners still have respect for the retro form of entertainment. Records and tapes can still be found at stores, like Pitchfork Records in Concord, yard sales and the Davisville Flea Market. You can buy records for just a couple bucks, so why not dig your turntable out of the attic, drop some vinyl on there and enjoy. Records hopefully will never die out of popularity and people will keep on listening.

Hypocrisy in Hopkinton

“Wikipedia is not a valid source,” is a constant refrain from the Hopkinton High School’s English department. The site maintainers of Wikipedia know this, too. There is a disclaimer stating that, “Wikipedia cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here.” People can log into the site and change the information, either because they think the new information is right, or because they want to mess with the site’s readers. It is perfectly understandable that teachers don’t want students using the site for research papers.

But if the school doesn’t want students to use Wikipedia, then they should not use it either. On page 27 of the school’s handbook, there is a cover letter that introduces the student and parent section, where the school’s theme is described. The passage goes as follows: “This year our school theme will be “Discovery!” According to the website Wikipedia, discovery refers to exploring something new…” If students are not allowed to use and cite this website, the school should not do it. The school is promoting the use of the website in public works by showing that they use it to. Students could try to use the school’s documented use of Wikipedia as a reason or excuse for using the website in research papers. Hypocrisy is never a good thing, and to find it in a school system makes the rest of the rules of the school less valid.

Rain is Falling on the Festival

by Aleksandr Hubbard

Many Hopkinton residents enjoyed an afternoon at the Kimball Cabins on Saturday, October 24, 2009. The Hopkinton recreational department sponsored its annual Fall Festival, and to the amazement of some, was not postpone due to weather conditions.

Some of the activities that occurred were; musical chairs with Miley Cyrus, story telling, eating doughnuts off of a string and many other activities. The Women’s Club was also there to keep everybody warm and toasty with their special hot apple cider and amazing hot coco along with other goodies to keep the children happy. Robby Keilig also had a fundraiser food stand to help pay off the expenses of the renovation of the Kimball Cabins.

It rained pretty hard and yet, “I had no free time for the first hour cooking burgers and dogs,” said Adam Coen, who helped Robby with his fundraiser. “There were a ton of people there,” Adam continued. Robby’s mom also had something to say with the amount of people there. She said, “I thought we were going to run out of food during the first hour, but luckily we didn’t.” The rain did lighten up a little every once-in-a-while, but mostly throughout the time of the festival the rain came done pretty hard.

Justin Lavigne, the Park and Recreational director who set up the entire festival, would like to thank all of those who helped out to make the Festival the best ever, also for the people who braved the weather to participate in the event.

Safety Tips for Halloween!

Safety Tips for Halloween!

Halloween might be a time for excitement and dressing up as your favorite character or animal, but it can also be a dangerous time for children and parents.

Here are some tips for being safe:

• Avoid trick or treating alone
• Make sure you can be seen by people driving (wearing reflector vests)
• Look before you cross the street
• Don’t wear anything that will impair your vision
• Don’t enter a house unless you’re with an adult you trust
• Don’t eat homemade treats
• Always check your candy for rips and tears
• Eliminate an tripping hazards on your costume
• Use fake knives, swords and other weapons that go along with your costume
• Make sure your children return at a specific time

If you do not wish your children to be going out on Halloween, they should never be left home alone. You can find alternatives for your children such as having a Halloween party or a fun get together with their friends.

Given these great tips, have fun and be safe on Halloween night!

Today's Junk is Tomorrow's Masterpiece

by Mimi Ramsdell

Walking up the old steps of Hopkinton’s Antiquarian Society one would never be able to guess how many treasures are packed into one small room. From September 26th until December 5th approximately forty regional artist’s work is on display in the exhibit “Tomorrow’s Masterpieces.” Each piece on exhibit has been approved through a jury of judges and is available for purchase.

Looking at the exhibit all at once is overwhelming. Pottery, photography, jewelry, oil, watercolors, and woodwork are only a few of the media represented. Each piece tells a story, which is one of the reasons artist Bret Minnehan enjoys the most about his art. His photography features pieces from the recently passed Kemp Truck Museum. The old cars were auctioned off a couple of months ago, seen by many as junk. “The old cars have faces,” Minnehan remarked when discussing what inspires him. Although he considers himself an amateur, his pieces are striking. Minnehan’s goal was to capture the beauty in the run down cars, which is exactly what his pieces show.

A common pleasure between artists is their approval from the jury. Both Minnehan and Mr. Bickford, another photographer featured in the exhibit, commented on how it is always exciting to receive approval from an unbiased source. Another excitement that came to Bickford is selling one of his pieces.

The exhibit is rather impressive. Each piece appears to be created with passion and care. It does not take long to walk through the exhibit and does not take an artist's eye to appreciate the work. The exhibit is open during normal museum hours and is free of charge.

No Matter What the Name May Be, Halloween is Halloween.

by Cristina White

Trick-or-treat. Children get excited for this holiday every year, but do they know the real origins? Halloween, formerly known as All Hallow's Eve, has not always been about the trick-or-treating, glowing jack-o-lanterns, and decorative costumes. All Hallow's Eve was originally developed by the ancient Celts. It was a day to celebrate fall and a new year. It also served as a festival of the dead. A time where witches, goblins, ghosts, and demons could freely walk the earth.

The celebration of ancient rituals are still apparent in the modern day Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns developed from the idea of putting lantern gourds with carved scary faces out on paths to ward off the evil forces. The gourds were placed on the paths to guide ancestors safely home.

The idea of trick-or-treating emerged from the ancient tradition of children going door-to-door begging for items to burn the witches. Today children "beg" for candy and other treats. Playing tricks on unfortunate victims also makes All Hallow's Eve be known as Mischief Night. Originally children dressed as ghosts and goblins to fool people and cause trouble. Then again, who is really to know whether they were real or not?

All Hallow's Eve is more than dressing as someone you are not and collecting candy. It is mainly a time of getting rid of weaknesses, bringing the animals in for winter, and preparing for the cold months ahead. Since November 1 is All Saints Day, All Hallow's Eve is a time of remembrance of our ancestors. The Celtic New Year symbolizes a time to look toward to the future. The God Janus had two faces, one looking toward the past and the other looking toward the future. Halloween allows us to put masks on and cast them off. A way to get rid of weaknesses and prepare for the new year.

Modern-Day Halloween is not a holiday of evil, as it was once a day to ward off the evil spirits that may walk the earth. On All Hallow's Eve it has been said that the connection between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest. Making it easier for the evil spirits to roam the earth.

What do some of Hopkinton High School's teachers recall as a child at Halloween? Mrs. Zecha's favorite costume as a child was Cinderella. It was even equipped with a mask. While trick-or-treating she looked forward to the Snickers bars the most. Mr. Bickford enjoyed dressing up as a pirate in his childhood years. Mr. Bickford looked forward to anything that was chocolate but not the M&M's. "In an M&M the chocolate is watered down by the candy shell," said Bickford. Hopefully there were no M&M's in his candy bag.

Today Halloween traditions are significantly different. "Some communities have switched to trick-or-treating in the daytime," Zecha says, "when I was younger Halloween was always celebrated at night, never the daytime." Another concerning issue is the candy. "Peanut allergies were never a huge issue growing up, but now there are many children with them," adds Zecha. One year she gave out juice boxes for the children who cannot have chocolate or peanuts. Bickford adds, "In the old days, you didn't have to worry about candy, now you worry about someone putting cocaine in your candy bar."

No matter what the name may be, All Hallow's Eve, Mischief Night, or Halloween, it is a holiday to share and enjoy. Lighting up the jack-o-lantern, decorating our yards, dressing up in fun costumes, and being outside on a cool night with the leaves falling and a bright orange moon are all things we associate with the night called All Hallow's Eve. But don't forget the candy. Halloween would not be complete without our new traditions.

Beyond White Border

by Dorothy England

This picture
shows the
Entrance
to Chinatown

Wednesday, October 21st, Mr. Krogmen's Asian Studies class ventured out for the day to Boston, Mass. After an hour and a half of the highway and other vehicles as the only things in sight, the Twinkie bus finally came to a stop in a huge parking lot only blocks away from their destination: Chinatown. The class's first stop was a little grocery store where live eels and almost 2 feet long fish swam around and elaborately long bamboo shoots sprouted from brown bins. It was a strange experience the white students discovered; trying to understand the Chinese labels and ingredients made it hard to figure out exactly what the class needed. It was also different being the minority where Chinese and Asian costumers clearly dominated the aisles.
That was nothing when the class went to the restaurant Hi La Moon for lunch. It was as if it was a class of aliens as vs. a class of American teenagers; which technically, as opposed to being Chinese or Asian, they were. The other patrons looked up at this class of white, curious teens, wondering what exactly they were doing there, invading their territory. It was awkward but after a collective slew of friendly 'Ni Haos" (Chinese for 'hello'), the tense shoulders relaxed and smiles, which are universal for acceptance or kindness broke out.
Stu Mosseau even commented when walking around that he felt as if everyone was looking at him. It was a new experience but fun at the same time. Josie Therrien also mentioned that she felt like a minority, similar to an alien, but she liked the food which was unusual to what she typically ate. This unusual food included tripe which is cow's stomach and even chicken feet which grossed out most of the other class mates but some were brave to try it.
Overall the experience was very enlightening and informative, not only on what Chinese culture is like but also it gave insight on what's it's like to be the different one, the odd one out.