The Golden Wave - Spring 2021

A Note from the Editor 

Hello, Baldwin High School Community,

We at The Golden Wave would like to congratulate you for making it this far into the school year. The pandemic has been a truly tumultuous time and we applaud you for your resolution and determination. With this in mind, this issue will take a brief look at the past year and the opportunities that lie ahead.

- Dylan Pigott
 

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Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club Album Review

Posted by AJ Vargas on 5/11/2021

The feeling of the sun still being out past 8:00 PM cascades over “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” just as it did on her previous record. Lana Del Rey, aka Elizabeth Grant, is an American singer-songwriter who is well known for her vulnerable, emotional, Hollywood sad-core ballads. Needing no further introduction, she made a name for herself in 2011 with her breakout record, “Born To Die.” Over the last decade, her music continued to develop and mature with each and every record. From “Born To Die,” to her 2017 record “Lust for Life,” a messy, underwhelming, yet still enjoyable and experimental body of work, she undeniably shows her willingness to create and change. Her 2019 Grammy-nominated album is Lana Del Rey in her August sun prime. This was without a doubt her most mature and cohesive record to date, containing some of the best material she’s ever released. After wholeheartedly enjoying this record, I hoped only to hear more of her sound on this scale. With her 7th studio album, Chemtrails Over the Country Club, I am satisfied to say that I am unsurprisingly impressed. 

In Chemtrails' case, the album takes this feeling of the 8:00 PM summer sun, and paints it in black and white, in the best way possible. Quite literally, as the album cover is in black and white. Sounds of pop, folk, Americana, and country all spiral into each other perfectly here. Lana teams up with pop superproducer and songwriter Jack Antonoff, with whom she collaborated on her previous album. The two complement each other perfectly. The guitars on this album, courtesy of Antonoff, are lush, and they enlighten every song. There isn’t an instrumental, whether the song is a favorite of mine or not, that isn’t worth noting. A bulk of the songs are slow burners.  They begin slow, but as most Lana Del Rey songs do, they develop and crescendo into a surge of guitars, pianos, and soft folk drums. It was clear to me on my first listen that the production on this album is sonically stunning. 

The introductory track, the hushed ballad “White Dress,” is a slow burner, as most of the songs on this album are, and sets the tone for the record.  It touches on every key aspect of what’s to come: pretty pianos, plucky guitars, and drivingly progressive drums. “I only mentioned it ‘cause it was such a scene, and I felt seen,” she sings in the chorus. The title track is one of my favorite singles of this year so far. It is a prime example of Lana doing what she does best. With the vocals, songwriting, and slow-burn Antonoff instrumental, everything is here. “Tulsa Jesus Freak” was enjoyable, and the lead single “Let Me Love You Like a Woman,” while not anything spectacular on Lana’s standards, was also very sweet. “Wild At Heart” pairs dream-pop with country inspirations. This track is a smiler. “If I had to do it again, I would, because babe in the end it brought me here to you,” she sings. The next major highlight for me is “Dark But Just a Game.” This track is moody, 808 fueled, tambourine backed, and satisfyingly crisp. The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields” style chorus pairs fantastically well with the dark, groovy, and most upbeat point on this record. Throw in a piano-infused bridge and it makes this one of the most enjoyable moments on this project. After this moment, the record takes a slower turn. “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” is an acoustic ballad. While sung beautifully, I don’t find myself coming back to this one very often.  It’s definitely something I can live without. “Yosemite” is an example of Lana doing an acoustic song right. This song was originally set to be on her 2017 album, “Lust For Life,” but Lana has stated that the song was “too happy” for the record and that she was not completely in that state of mind yet. It now has a home on Chemtrails, which is fitting to the album’s happier themes. The track mixes singing and spoken word, reminiscent of her debut poetry book Violent Bent Backwards over the Grass. However, both of those aspects of the song are hindered by the surprisingly sub-par songwriting, far below Lana’s typical standards.  “We did it for fun, we did it for free, I did it for you, you did it for me,” for example, sounds like it was fished out of a nursery rhyme. Luckily the swaying and calming instrumentation compensate for this throughout the track. Next, is the Nikki Lane accompanied “Breaking Up Slowly.” I’m very 50-50 with this song, subject matter and songwriting-wise. I love the story, as well as the themes of this song, yet there is still something holding me back from fully enjoying it.   It becomes quite repetitive and does not stack up to the standards of the better part of this record. Finally, the closing tracks, starting with the experimental “Dance Till We Die” seem to be about less serious topics, as most Lana tracks are. It’s hard to tell, as this song has some of the best production on the entire album. It’s packed with different sounds, most notably a prominent saxophone. The song feels more like a life update for her, as she explains how she is “burdened by the weight of fame.”

“I’m covering Joni and I’m dancing with Joan” is a direct reference to the next song.  Lana sings in the second verse, “Clementine’s not just a fruit, it’s my daughter’s chosen name.” Whether she’s announcing a pregnancy or I’m missing something, this line is a pretty good indicator of the ethos of this track. I appreciate this song for what it is, a less serious moment from Lana’s pen, yet unsurprisingly amazing instrumentally. I really do enjoy the last leg of this track in particular, a random, yet enjoyable high-energy outro to this song, with Lana roaring over an extravagant concert-type instrumental. Finally, the final track is a cover of Joni Mitchell’s 1970 “For Free.” Lana teams up with artists Zella Day and Weyes Blood to sing this finale. While the cover does not do much for me, and I feel like it doesn’t do much for the record, it was well-done nonetheless.

Chemtrails Over The Country Club is Lana Del Rey at her peak of songwriting and production. She and Jack Antonoff keep the gorgeous and lush sounds of the 2019 album. The grandeur is stripped back here, putting focus on more intimate moments. I can confidently confirm that this is now Lana Del Rey’s most mature and cohesive record to date. While the record as a whole may not be equal to her previous LP, I can unhesitantly say that Chemtrails Over the Country Club is another triumph in Lana Del Rey’s catalog. It’s difficult for me not to gush over this music, as she does what she does best here. Summer always seems to be coming to an end when Lana Del Rey releases a new album, this time painted carefully and beautifully in black and white. 

Favorite Tracks: “White Dress,” “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” “Wild At Heart,”  “Dark But Just A Game,” “Yosemite,” and  “Dance Till We Die” 

Least Favorite Track: “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” 

Score: 8/10

Springing into Sports 

Posted by Rohan Punj on 5/11/2021

After a long one-year break, where nothing could excite or ignite us, Baldwin High School has seen the return of Baldwin Sports across the board. As January opened us to a new year, it also opened us to new hope and faith for the future of 2021. We first saw the return of Baldwin Bruins Basketball both for the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Athletes were required to take COVID tests each day before upcoming games to ensure the safety of all players. Fortunately, the season went very successfully for the Bruin basketball teams and they were able to have a full season, with practices and games. 

At the beginning of March, all of BHS’s teams were exhibiting Bruin pride: soccer, lacrosse, football, and baseball. With the help of the Baldwin community, each sport proved successful in ensuring that all players be tested for Covid and observe safety protocols. Since the vaccine has become available, the outlook is even brighter.   Slowly, but surely, Baldwin, Long Island, and the entire United States, will beat Covid-19 and return to the lives we

The Make-A-Wish Foundation Club

Posted by Maia Goveia on 5/11/2021

Helping Children Across the World From Our Own Backyard: Make-A-Wish Foundation Club

If 2020 taught us anything,  it is that health is not to be taken for granted.  It must be cherished, for you never know when sickness may take away the people we love. In light of that, a new club has formed that accentuates the power of helping others celebrate life, even in the face of serious illness. The Make-A-Wish Foundation Club, co-presidented by sisters Anaya and Breanna Henry, serves as a chapter of the well-known international organization.

The idea stemmed from a life experience in the Henry family. In third grade, current junior, Anaya was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It is impossible to imagine how hard that kind of stress is on an eight-year-old and her family. Make-A-Wish came through for them by funding a vacation to Hawaii. This brief time away from the craziness of life was super important in bringing the Henry family together, ready to be by Anaya’s side through it all. After hospital visits and doctor appointments, in fifth grade, Anaya fully recovered. As a thriving survivor, she is grateful for Make-A-Wish and the joy they provided. Now, with both sisters in high school, they want to help give other children the same opportunities. Make-A-Wish grants wishes funded through individual donations and contributions through companies. This BHS chapter plans to hold fundraisers and give what they can to help another family through a tough time.

 The club’s first fundraiser, “Double Good Popcorn,” was a smashing success. Club members set up individual pop-up shops and sold batches of this delectable snack to friends and families. After paying off fundraising expenses, the club was able to donate $4,000 to the organization. This wildly exceeded the presidents’ expectations, but it’s not surprising that people would jump for such a worthy cause. Although there is no tangible goal for the club as of yet, they have big plans and welcome more members to help them achieve their goals.  As Breanna said in an interview “The more people we have, the more money we raise, and the more good we can do for M-A-W!”

If you or anyone you know is interested, feel free to follow them on instagram: @makeawish.baldwinhs 

Classical Toys Make a Comeback Amid Pandemic

Posted by Beranna Beckett on 2/22/2021

As more people find themselves stuck inside, they are  looking at older forms of entertainment. Over the summer, the toy industry was flooded with orders for alternatives to screens, such as bicycles, scooters, and inflatable pools. This time of year, it seems people are turning to board games and puzzles to keep their minds occupied during the holiday season. Professionals say that toy sales have been up 18% so far in 2020, and companies are struggling to meet those demands. 

Childhood games, like Monopoly and Scrabble, provide comfort during a worrisome time. It is a unifying turnabout, a way to bring families together when everything feels like it’s falling apart. In some families, game night has become a regular event. Games even bring people together online.  Favorites like Uno and Clue even have mobile versions that allow users to play with friends and family outside of the household.

These games, popular for many generations, have the same purpose: to bring people together. This year, as frightening as it’s been, has likewise brought us together as families and communities. What a good time to be with loved ones!

Quarantine Blues

Posted by Allison Nicolas on 2/22/2021

March 13, 2020. That was the last normal day of school for students across the country, including us at Baldwin High School. In this new era of the pandemic, all aspects of life, from seeing our families and friends to attending school and participating in outdoor activities, have been affected. Communicating with friends, classmates, and teachers has become a difficult task. In order to get a glimpse of the average student experience in Baldwin when the pandemic closed schools, I surveyed 20 BHS students.

The first question posed was, “On a scale of 1-10, how stressed were you?” Seventy-five percent of respondents selected the 5-10 range. Common coping strategies reported were listening to music, watching TV shows or movies, picking up new hobbies, or playing video games. While the switch to remote learning for some was smooth, others felt their mental health severely suffered. All students do not  learn the same way, so the switch to remote learning might be easy for some and demanding for others. For example, sixty percent of students said the workload was, in fact, too much to handle. Daniela Zambrano, currently a sophomore, expressed concern about the work load and expectations associated with remote learning. The quarantine lasted from March to September 2020, and from a mental health perspective,   has sickened many. Negative symptoms recorded were sadness, paranoia, anxiety, fatigue, and loneliness, which are  common symptoms of chronic stress according to the American Psychological Association. Stress may lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, depression, or anxiety. 

Friends continued to communicate via Discord, FaceTime, or texting. While these are efficient ways to reach out to peers, nothing replaces in-person contact. However, respondents also shared what positive experiences they had as a result of quarantine.  Fifty percent claimed they grew closer to their friends and families because they were constantly available, and 25 percent said they were able to learn and be productive. “I learned a lot of new things, things that you can’t really learn at school. I was able to use my time differently as a result of not having a strict school-life schedule,” one student said.  While it is good that students were building stronger relationships and developing new interests, because they were stuck at home for the majority of time, many students did not have the opportunity to participate in activities they are most interested in. 

As seen from the results of this survey, both positive and negative outcomes have resulted from this major life-changing  event. The pandemic is a huge source of stress for many people, not just students. At the end of the day, we are all trying to get through this tough time. For  BHS, the results of this survey should provide insight about the challenges it has caused for some students.

Thank you to those who participated in the survey, allowing me to spark conversation on this topic. 

Staying Connected

Posted by Carlee Melvin on 2/22/2021

Last March, COVID-19 forced everyone in the U.S. to quarantine. For about six months, people had to stay in their homes to avoid contact with other people. Humans are naturally social beings and  having opportunities to get together is important, so quarantine was difficult for most people.  In her article “Social Evolution and Why We Need to Communicate,” Rikke Friis Dam states, “Human beings are social animals. We want to be in the   company of friends or family and share our lives with them.”  Most people had their family to communicate and socialize with,  and thankfully we did have some other resources and outlets. From  the onset of COVID- 19, social media has become an essential tool for connecting.

Since we couldn't have face to face interactions, we turned to Instagram and Snapchat to connect with one another and share how we were spending our time.  Social media has been used to seek social support from friends, relatives, and colleagues. It made us feel less alone.  Tik Tok became an    immensely popular platform as well; millions of people posted videos about how they were coping during this difficult time.  Thankfully, we even found humor in many of the postings.  

Also, through social media we received constant updates on COVID-19 and other pressing news from across the country and world.  Following George Floyd’s death, a revolution erupted through social   media as people emerged from the confines of their homes to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to protest police brutality. Even celebrities like Beyonce, Keke Palmer, and Harry Styles joined the chorus for change.

As more information became available about COVID -19, we also tuned in to social media for updates.  We learned more about its symptoms and how to best protect ourselves and one another. Social media reassures us by communicating, thereby   pre-empting rumors and panic.  During a time of  great fear and immense division, we need more than ever to support each other and spread hope. Social media, thankfully, brings us closer together.

The Shift in Entertainment as We Know It

Posted by AJ Vargas on 2/22/2021

One of the main changes that came with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic was the shift in entertainment as the world knew it. This applies to simple recreational activities such as bowling, going to the movies, going out for meals, and more. Future entertainment announcements such as movies, music, concerts, video games, and events such as concerts were canceled or postponed. 

A perfect example of a change in experiencing and accessing information is the downfall of the movie theater industry and the rise of the streaming service industry. Baldwin's only movie theater, Grand Avenue Cinemas, next to Baldwin High School, has closed due to the pandemic.    Consequently, many have resorted to an already rising form of entertainment: streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and many others were in constant use throughout the long months of quarantine. These services eventually became the new way to release content that normally would not be available outside of theaters and television. For example, Disney Pixar's animated film, Onward, was released in theaters March 6th, 2020. It was the last major film to release before the pandemic became a national threat. Just two weeks  after its release in theaters, Onward was put on Disney's streaming service, Disney Plus. Usually, it takes months or years for a movie to be released on streaming services or DVDs, but in this case Onward was put onto streaming services for all the families who were  stuck at home to enjoy. Around the same time that Onward was put on streaming services, there were a number of films, as well as other means of entertainment such as video games, that were slated for a Spring 2020 release. These films did not receive the same quick treatment as Onward. Films such as Black Widow, No Time To Die, A Quiet Place Part 2, Scoob!, Wonder Woman 1984, and many more are among this group. All of these highly anticipated films were nearly forgotten as they could not be released into theaters. The future of viewing movies in theaters is very uncertain, but having the movie on popular streaming services could potentially benefit the creator. The alternative is that the movie may not be  released. To this day there are films, TV shows, and video games that have been announced but due to delayed releases they are almost forgotten. 

While the way we access and experience movies and TV shows has changed dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic, it wasn’t the only form of entertainment that underwent this shift. Non-technological means of entertainment such as real-life recreational activities came to a complete halt for an extended time. People of all ages, even the non-technologically savvy people, were affected by this halt. Parks, shopping centers, bowling alleys, clubs/restaurants, amusement parks, and many more venues closed down. In a film created by PBS titled, Family of Us: A PBS American Portrait Story, numerous stories and views into the lives of families stuck in quarantine are shown. Families are seen coming together to produce alternative means of entertainment.   Family walks, board games, new recipes to cook together, makeshift games, are among the vast list of ways people can experience and  produce entertainment when at home. When it comes to this  specific shift in entertainment, which affects people of all ages and interests, the result has been  positive because it brings families closer together. Experiencing and producing entertainment together improves relationships.

Music artists rely on producing entertainment and music for their fans and listeners. They also perform live, whether this is on tours or at festivals, clubs, or other gatherings. However, during a typical performance there is usually a large crowd. During the pandemic, this became a major challenge because of the fear of contagion. Tours and performances that were scheduled to happen during Spring 2020, were canceled or postponed until further notice. Some artists came up with a way to still perform for all of their fans: virtually. Using their media platforms, they notified fans of their plans to have virtual concerts. Instagram Live was the main venue for these events, as well as YouTube, Twitch, and other live streaming entertainment platforms. 

Fans continue to attend concerts virtually using various media platform. Big artists such as Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Lil Nas X, and Khalid are among the many famous artists having virtual performances. Not only did solo artists begin having virtual concerts, this new form of entertainment even went as far as music festivals. A plethora of artists are set to perform at these festivals, all done virtually. An example of this is Rolling Loud 2020. Rolling Loud is an annual festival that hosts a large number of popular music artists, mainly rap artists. This year, however, large crowds were unsafe, so the festival was streamed on almost every media streaming platform. This is an example of this new means of entertainment on a grander scale. This method of new entertainment is one of the more impressive, innovative, and successful shifts. It still brings the artists and their fans together while being safe and responsible.

This drastic shift forever altered our lives.  Entertainment is something that all people, technologically advanced or not, enjoy. While the need for change brought about by the pandemic was unwelcome, the innovative response has led to exciting new venues.

The Economy and the Pandemic

Posted by Angelo Guerrero on 2/22/2021

The COVID-19 pandemic halted almost all economic growth in the U.S., one of the only major events to do so since the 2008 stock market crash. Measures taken in response have directly impacted the economy in ways that are evident in the stock market, the real estate market, and local business operations.

The stock market was the first major section of the economy to be affected by the pandemic, as many investors panicked once they heard the news of the deadly virus. Many factories in China became temporarily closed as a result, which raised uncertainty about when they would reopen. Tesla shares experienced a 17.18% drop in February due to an announcement that cars scheduled for delivery would be delayed due to the virus outbreak near its Shanghai factory, making investor’s faith in the company deteriorate. Many other companies with factories overseas experienced similar reactions and caused investors to sell off their shares, resulting in an overwhelming wave of panic throughout many industries of the market. Although this panic caused a steep 31.81% drop in the S&P 500 Index, within five months the index quickly returned to its pre-panic share price of around $3,400. With this volatile market we’ve seen over the past ten months, many investors also became opportunists and invested in hot sectors such as health and pharmaceutical companies researching possible vaccines for COVID-19. It’s clear that the stock market perfectly reflected the pandemic’s challenges and its resilience to bounce back. COVID-19 significantly impacted the real estate market.

During the early spring, there was a sharp decline in home sales, the lowest since the housing and  financial crisis in 2007. Homeowners were hesitant to list their properties or allow strangers to enter their homes due to health concerns, while many potential buyers often backed out due to  personal financial shock. The  number of delisted homes increased over 25% from one year ago in the early spring, and new listings decreased over 40% in April compared to the same period last year. Inventory of homes for sale fell 17% in April compared with the same time the previous year. Although the real estate market experienced a short period of little activity, a rebound began to occur in the early summer. Potential buyers started to search for homes, causing pending sales in U.S. metro areas, which were down more than 30% in pril. However, sales increased almost 30% over last year’s during the same time period. Home showings also reached pre-COVID-19 levels by the early summer as many listings began to offer virtual tours. By mid-summer, the supply of homes remained relatively low while demand steadily began to increase. This caused many homeowners to rethink listing their homes because of the uncertainty about finding another one to purchase for themselves.

By late August, however, more homeowners began to list on the market, which led to increased sales, making the real estate market's activity equal, if not greater, to this time period last year. Local businesses were one of the most impacted sections of the economy over the past ten months. Not only did small business owners have to adapt their stores to accommodate physical distancing and public health guidelines, but they also had to change how they approached gaining customers. At first, many small businesses reorganized their stores by spreading out their most popular products to prevent clusters of customers in one location. This measure helped avert a possible spread of the virus; however, many customers ended up not shopping at local businesses anymore and turned to online shopping from popular websites such as Amazon to minimize contact. To stay afloat, small businesses had to enter the realm of online shopping by either creating a website from scratch or optimizing their current website.

Many turned to digital advertising to drive traffic to their websites, which helped increase sales. Likewise, restaurants faced similar challenges. Restrictions were placed on restaurants that prevented them from offering any in-person service aside from curbside pickup. However, curbside pickup proved not to be enough to cover  expenses, causing them to further expand to the online world as well. GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats experienced a significant increase in partnerships with restaurants as these services allowed restaurants to connect with their customers while delivering their food through a third party.

The challenges that COVID-19 presented changed how business was conducted, leading the way to  more accessible connections to potential customers through the internet. COVID-19 impacted almost every sector of the economy in some way. Those that recovered have proven themselves to be resilient when under attack from the unknown. What the future holds is uncertain, but the best we can do is adapt and change in ways  unimaginable, overcoming every obstacle hurled at us to emerge stronger than ever before.

Life After George Floyd

Posted by Andrea Ortiz on 2/22/2021

2020 has been a difficult year.  The pandemic surged, causing thousands of deaths, and social turmoil brewed, as the world witnessed police brutality and its toll on the lives of Black Americans.

Millions witnessed George Floyd’s death as a recording on an iPhone, as police officer Derek Chauvin abused his role in law  enforcement. Social media was flooded with posts for increased awareness, and young activists   began planting their roots in the fight for change. The death of George Floyd forced Americans to confront  the endless suffering of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color at the hands of law enforcement. What came next was the result of years of trauma and oppression.

Globally, we saw the gathering of people protesting, united against police brutality. London, Tokyo, Syria, and other parts of the world shined the beacon of  humanity and compassion. At home, we flooded the streets of NYC, Boston, Houston, and other populous cities, holding signs and chanting, even while wearing masks. Protesters were sometimes met with tear gas and rubber bullets, and some of the most dangerous injuries were    reported on social media. Unfortunately, cries for change sometimes resulted in an escalation of violence.    

“Given the tone from the top and the grassroots anger, it’s a surprise this confrontation didn’t come sooner,” says Alex Altman of TIME. Police killed 164 Black Americans in the first eight months of 2020, according to CBS News.  The stop-and-frisk procedure in NYC, which allowed officers to stop anyone on the basis of reasonable suspicion, was deemed unconstitutional in 2013.  However, in 2019, according to The Gothamist, 88 percent of people stopped by police were Black and Latino, which suggests an implicit bias in law enforcement. For this reason, among others, ordinary citizens became activists.  Large crowds took to local town halls and government buildings, urging that changes be made to public policy and police funding. They demanded justice for Ahmaud Arbery, Tony Mcdade, Breonna Taylor, and the countless other innocent lives lost.

Hundreds of civilians from across the country gathered, some holding signs, kneeling, chanting, and praying, with the common goal of unity and peace for our country. Unfortunately though, even right here on Long Island protesters in Merrick were met with shouts of “Go west!” and “Get the hell out of here.” The Merrick Chamber of Commerce denounced the actions of the counter-protesters.  It is evident that we still have a battle ahead, but with continued effort and a united goal for equality for all, we will  prevail.

Sports in the Bubble

Posted by Rohan Punj on 2/22/2021

On March 12, 2020, the world changed in the blink of an eye. On this day, almost one year ago, the National Basketball Association suspended all games when many of the league’s top players were exposed to COVID-19. The shutdown of the NBA, the biggest basketball association, triggered a domino effect; right after, we saw baseball, football, hockey, golf, and tennis close down due to similar concerns regarding Covid-19. However, this was only the start of an enclosure of the entire world. For the next four months, the world became quiet, each and every person isolated. People lost their jobs, and the economy was decimated. 

For four months, all sports stopped. The great tournaments were expected to be canceled and, frankly, the wait tortured fans. Watching updates about the virus had become the new spectator sport.  Life became extremely repetitive, creating irritation and boredom. Athletes were forced to stay home, unable to train for whenever the next season would be. The life everyone was used to and the busy bustle of each day became a memory. 

Eventually, though, the despair lightly lifted on July 30, 2020, when the NBA announced the season would open in a modified “bubble” version. Games would be held in Orlando, Florida and players would be required to isolate and be screened daily for Covid-19.  The bubble turned out to be a huge success as the NBA was able to finish their season smoothly, with zero positive test results among the players, coaches, staff, and directors. After witnessing the NBA’s success, other sports slowly returned and were eventually also able to finish their seasons, despite some minor setbacks. Soon enough, it seemed, American life would be back to normal. 

Fortunately, even schools reopened with a modified model.  In our school, hybrid students whose last names begin with the letters A-L began attending classes in-person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, whereas the rest joined classes online.  On Thursdays and Fridays, students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z returned to school, while the rest joined classes from home.  Mondays alternate between the two groups.  In addition, some students are entirely remote.  As for sports, the administration has set up programs where students are able to practice in a socially distanced manner. For basketball, the students who attend school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays come in at 3pm on Wednesdays and 4pm on Fridays.  The students who attend school in person on  Thursdays and Fridays come in at 4pm on Wednesdays and 3pm on Fridays to practice in what we call the “preseason,” keeping students in shape and preparing them for future seasons.

With the Covid-19 vaccination now a reality, BHS intends to start sports in the spring. We look forward to life returning to normal, and to sports providing the same level of intensity and entertainment they once had. As for the NBA, it resumed on December 22nd with a reduced number of games and following  Covid-19 guidelines. As the spread of the virus slows, national leagues intend to have a limited number of fans attend events, in a safe and healthy manner.  2020 went by in a blur, and life really did change. Hopefully, the upcoming year of sports will generate the energy and excitement that sports fans need more than ever.

Biden-Harris Victory!

Posted by Reyna Palmer on 2/22/2021

On Saturday, November 7, four days after Election Day, the state of Pennsylvania was declared a blue state. Its 20 electoral votes would go to former Vice President Biden, pushing him past the 270 electoral votes needed to win. The former Vice President was declared the President-elect. The news swept the nation as Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States of America. Much to the chagrin of President Trump, people all across the country took to the streets in celebration. They waved Pride flags, Black Lives Matter flags and the American flag. Spirits were high for the majority of Americans. Despite the unconventional election in the shadow of Covid-19, the winner had been announced. Traditionally, when the results of the election come in, the losing candidate makes a concession speech, congratulates the winner, and encourages their supporters to do the same. However, this precedent was broken by the Trump administration. President Trump    refused to concede the election. He, along with his campaign staff, continue to push the narrative that the election was fraudulent, although no evidence has been produced to support this claim. Nonetheless, at the behest of President Trump, thousands adopted this claim as fact. As President-elect Joe Biden, and his Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, declared victory in his home state of Delaware, the Trump campaign filed lawsuits and called for recounts. However, the demands have done little to stop the transition. Furthermore, leaders from countries around the world, including, Japan and England, have acknowledged the legitimacy of Biden’s win. 

So what does this new administration mean for the country and the world? For one, it shatters a glass ceiling. The administration will include the first ever Black, Indian female vice president, providing young African and Indian American girls the representation they lacked for so long. It will also include a working first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, who will keep her job outside the White House while fulfilling her role as First Lady. Other than the differences in the demographics of the two administrations, there are other major changes anticipated. The two candidates publicly disagreed on major issues such as climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recovery, and racial equality.  Biden promises to implement his plan for battling Covid-19 and to re-enter the Paris Agreement. Further, he maintains that we cannot truly begin to tackle the economy or racial equality until we have nationally quelled the pandemic. This contrasts with the former administration, which had taken a more lenient position by allowing individual states to make decisions regarding the            pandemic. 

People all around the world will be watching to see if the new administration upholds its promises, which may not be as simple as it appears. The president is the head of the Executive Branch, but without the cooperation of the Legislative Branch, the government works almost as well as a car without an engine. After the 2020 election, the Democratic Party still holds the majority in the House of Representatives, and is in a position to possibly gain the majority in the Senate. The current count is 50 Republican senators and 48 Democratic senators. The Republican Party needs to secure 51 senators to hold a majority for President-elect Joe Biden’s presidency. The Democratic Party needs 50, as a tie in the Senate would be broken by incoming Vice President Kamala Harris. The Georgia run-off in January will determine which party controls the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to win both seats to secure a chance at the senate majority. With the tie breaking vote of future Vice President Kamala Harris, they could begin to implement significant policy changes. Thus, as President Trump challenges the election results, the Democratic Party is working to get the word out about the senate run-off. They want Georgia citizens to know the importance of their vote.                                      

Update:

The Senate run-off took place on Tuesday, January 5th. Democratic candidate Raphehal Warnock defeated incumbent Kelly Loefler and John Ossoff   defeated incumbent David Perdue, thereby establishing  Democratic control of the Senate. Consequently, Senator Chuck Schumer will replace Republican Senator Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader.