By Mia Saraceni

Christmas awakens warm and fuzzy feelings for everyone. Some are filled with happiness from being with family, and others are stuffed with good food. It’s a time of joy, love and celebration.

But whose reality is that?

Homelessness in the United States has been an ever-evolving issue for years, but more notably after the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

There are millions of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S, but the saddest issue of all is that approximately 1 in 6 children are homeless, which is about 11.1 million according to the 2021 census.

That might be a meek number in comparison to the country’s entire population, but those numbers are strikingly high and share a sad look into a side of American culture.

But it begs the question, why are there so many people/children living in such horrible conditions? Why hasn’t any solution been brainstormed yet?

 America, and frankly the rest of the world, has such a disdain for the homeless that they have integrated hostile anti-homeless architecture in their cities such as spikes on the ground and curved benches to prevent napping.

 There isn’t a solution, and nobody cares to come up with one; they’d rather sweep the issue under the rug and hope it solves itself.

 It’s an issue year-round, but the holidays can be an especially tough time for homeless individuals and families alike.

While we’re wrapped in blankets and enjoying the peace and tranquility of the holiday season, there are 11.1 million children who won’t get a visit from Santa because that simply just isn’t an option.

Our warm fireplaces and fuzzy socks offer us comfort, but most homeless shelters won’t even open their doors until it hits 20 degrees.

It’s forgotten that Christmas is a luxury that the majority can’t afford. It’s taken for granted entirely, and the people who are struggling the worst don’t even get a second thought.

So how do we help? If our government won’t, is there a way for the people to?

There are many charities dedicated to brightening up the lives of those less fortunate both around the holidays and every other day, such as the Salvation Army.

They offer many different programs such as bill assistance, grocery and food assistance and possibly the most heart-warming: gift/holiday parties for children of low-income families.

Samaritan’s Purse is another charity, and they focus on crafting little boxes full of school supplies, food and toys to deliver to children over the Christmas season.

People can donate to any charity that supports low-income families, and that is a bigger help than is probably known.

A bigger gripe and part of the reason surrounding the ostracization of people in poverty is the lack of human empathy some show, especially concerning items that aren’t essential for living.

There is so much shaming when someone with low-income is seen with nails or hair done, a phone, a computer or anything that is seen as a “luxury.”

This shame extends to homeless or impoverished children with toys.

There is a difference between surviving and living, and they are simply just surviving.

When someone is constantly worried about where their next meal will come from, how and if they’ll even get by and the judgement they’re facing from others who have the upper hand, they deserve to get a haircut if they want it.

The people who judge are the same people who have never experienced anything except privilege their entire lives, so there isn’t even an ounce of understanding for struggle because they just perceive it as laziness.

The holiday and its mascot are supposed to be representations of love, giving and charity, but many won’t look past their own families for this type of behavior.

The Christmas patron is Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Greece who was notorious for gift giving and charitable acts.

Should people not follow in the footsteps of the man the entire holiday is based around?

Should people not offer both acts of charity, whether that be volunteering or donating, as well as compassion and understanding?

We are all just people who are trying to wade through the muck of life, and some have just been dealt a more difficult hand than others, but that does not make them any less human.

It’s our duty as people to help those in need through whatever means we can offer, not just during the holiday season, but year-round.

Those 11.1 million children deserve to feel the same joy as the children who receive bikes and teddy bears for Christmas, and they deserve to have a holiday that isn’t just another day of struggle.

These families deserve a break, especially over a time claiming to be about peace.

By Brianna Campagna

The holiday spirit swells the streets of Western Pennsylvania. Many local activities help to spread the winter cheer.

Overly’s Country Christmas is hosted at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds and provides a family-friendly experience with a drive-through light display and a walk-through Christmas Village. Activities such as shopping, tractor wagon rides, a winter playground and Santa’s Workshop are all presented in the village. From now until December 30^th, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Overly’s is in operation. Ticket prices begin at $5 per person.

Something unique about Overly’s is that it is entirely run by volunteers. GS’ Interact Club has been volunteering in the Christmas Village for the past six years.

“Overly’s provides a fun Christmas light show that is in a family-friendly location,” senior Logan O’Brien, who volunteers yearly, said. “You can enjoy Christmas music, fun lights for the kids and they can talk to Santa about what they want for Christmas.”

Winter Lights are displayed at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Every night until January 29^th, from dusk to 10 p.m., it is free to walk the outside perimeter of the museum. Their light display is sponsored by Luxe Creative, FirstEnergy Foundation and Penn State New Kensington.

Kennywood Holiday Lights tickets start at $19.99. Smaller rides and attractions, such as the Kangaroo, will be in operation. Shows, train displays, a petting zoo, and a Santa meet-and-greet are all included with the ticket price. A dinner with Santa add-on is available for up to $25.99.

The UPMC Rink at PPG Place is located in Pittsburgh. Ordering tickets online guarantees a day and timeslot to skate. Skate rentals can be purchased alongside the ticket but are not necessary. An adult ticket starts at $12.

Sophomore Anna Spigarelli skates for the Greensburg Figure Skating Team. She returns annually to the UPMC Rink to relive the experience.

“It’s a really fun experience,” Spigarelli said. “You can go with friends and there are shops nearby. It’s outside and there’s a huge tree.”

Carnegie Trees are displayed in the Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The Women’s Committee organizes this event yearly and decorates the trees with handmade ornaments. Each tree has their own theme, and they are on display from now until January 8^th.

Dazzling Nights takes place at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Interactive lights, a 65-foot-long tunnel and a 30-foot-tall tree are at the Dazzling Lights. Until January 1^st, tickets are available for purchase on their website. Ticket prices range from $12-$25 per person.

Many opportunities are available to enjoy the holidays within the community and surrounding communities.

“[The community] has increased the events amazingly over the past couple of years,” Physics teacher Mrs. Cheryl Harper said.

By Emily Frazier

The Giving Tree

The GS community has come together to check off the Christmas lists of some who are less fortunate. While some have asked for a new phone or a pair of designer shoes, these students were in need of simple necessities that are often forgotten luxuries.

When guidance counselor Mrs. Laura Klipa started working for the high school, she realized there was no participation in the Giving Tree. She heard about it going on in the middle school and wanted to bring it up to the high school.

“I was thinking to myself at that point, if families were counting on that help every year and then all of a sudden you get to [the] high school, there’s nobody helping [to] give these students Christmas gifts,” Mrs. Klipa said.

This year, there were 31 students on the list to receive gifts. The guidance office contacted their families and collected the information for their requests.

“I’ll reach out to families, and we will ask them what their needs are and then clothing specifics,” Klipa said. “A lot of the families just need basic things. Sometimes we do canned or boxed foods. Specifically, we get requests for winter coats, clothing, scarves, hats, shoes, socks and clothing like tops and bottoms.”

Other requests include toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste and more.

“Sometimes there’s special requests,” Klipa said. “Somebody will have an interest like journaling or coloring, and they want something like that.”

Aside from gift giving, GS has other ways to help.

“The biggest help that we’ve had in terms of student groups is the National Art Honor Society,” Klipa said. “They make the chocolate covered pretzels and that has been an ongoing donation all year long.”

By having opportunities like this to donate through the school, students are motivated to give back in the community as well. Not only during the holidays, but year-round, families are struggling, so this charity gives students a safe place to ask for help.

“Throughout the year – not just at Christmas and the holidays – we do have students that will not have food or clothing and so that gives us the opportunity to go out and buy them their needs,” Mrs. Klipa said.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a charity with the goal to collect new toys and deliver them to less fortunate children for Christmas. In Westmoreland County in 2021, 29,326 toys were distributed, and in Pittsburgh, 100,536 toys were distributed.

November 14 was the last day for parents to request toys and December 14 was the last day to donate toys. For a family to be eligible to receive, they had to meet certain requirements such as having children up to the age of 12 and the parents being on a form of public assistance.

Stuff-A-Bus

A local radio station, 96.1 KISS, hosted a week-long event that helps support the Marines Toys for Tots program.

From November 28 to December 2, people were asked to bring new and unwrapped toys to the collection site in Robinson Town Centre. The toys donated were put into school buses, hence the charity name, Stuff-A-Bus. This year, 66 buses were stuffed.

To raise excitement and attract donors to the event, themed nights were planned. Some of these nights included Black and Gold Night and Touch a Truck Night. Businesses such as Burgatory and 3 River Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram supported the cause by donating the money made from purchasing snicker doodle milk shakes and giving $100 worth of toys after each test drive. People are still able to donate online.

By Luke Dinkel

According to Britannica, the celebration of New Year’s dates back to 2000 BC in Babylonia, which is located in modern day Iraq. The first new moon following the vernal equinox which occurs in late March with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness indicated the start of a new year.

Travelling over New Year’s break is a common tradition for families across the country.

“We’re never home for New Year’s,” junior Kason Tai said. “We’ve gone all across the world to places like Boston, Malaysia and Kansas. When we were in Malaysia, we celebrated New Year’s a day earlier than we would have back in Greensburg since the time zone is a day ahead.”

Other cultures celebrate their own holiday, such as Lunar New Year, which is better known as Chinese New Year.

“Malaysia celebrates Chinese New Year’s too,” Tai said. “I don’t remember it very well, but my dad said they have a huge celebration in the town center. They also have a giant dragon, which apparently symbolizes power, strength and good luck.”

The Times Square Ball Drop is a common thing for most Americans to watch on tv the night of New Year’s Eve.

“Usually, our family gets together with several family friends on New Year’s Eve,” science teacher Mrs. Tammy Elliot said. “Sometimes we go bowling in the afternoon and then we get together at our house or sometimes another family’s house. We like to talk, eat and play games until midnight when we watch the ball drop on tv.”

Sporting events such as the Peach Bowl occur every year on New Year’s Eve.

“I’ll go out with a couple of friends and after we’ll get together at someone’s house, either mine or theirs,” junior Noah DeMary said. “We’ll turn on whatever college team is playing and order a bunch of food.”

Today, the New Year is celebrated in different ways all around the world, but here in the small town of Greensburg, celebrations range from drinking champagne to setting off fireworks.

“I usually spend New Year’s with my family and friends,” junior Leah Kaylor said. “It’s a tradition in my family to watch the ball drop at midnight, but honestly, I’m lucky if I’m able to stay up to see it. When I spend New Year’s with my friends, it makes it easier to stay up.”

Many view New Year’s as a fresh start, which is where the tradition to make a New Year’s resolution came from.

“Every year my friends and I each make New Year’s resolution,” Kaylor said. “If I’m being honest, I usually forget about mine after the first month. I get upset whenever I remember and realize I haven’t done anything to commit to my resolution. This year I’m definitely going to try to commit, because whenever you accomplish your goal, it is one of the greatest feelings.”

By Ari Case

For many in America, December means buying presents and trees, watching cozy movies, sipping warm cocoa and hanging stockings on the mantle. Even in other countries, these traditions are observed. For many more, though, other traditions or different holidays entirely are the focus of the season.

At GS, some students and teachers celebrate other traditions.

Senior Gabriel Prikoszovich is here for an exchange program and shared some of his holiday traditions.

“In Austria, we have pretty big Christmas markets,” Prikoszovich said. “Normally there’s some [place] to ice skate, [and] you buy souvenirs there. And then [there are] some dishes like caramelized almonds and some cookies. There [are] some stands [of] people who live there.”

One difference he noted was that in Austria, they open presents on the 24^th rather than Christmas Day. The food is different as well, with fish being the main course.  

“My family has a tradition where we eat a piece of garlic, a piece of apple, an almond and combine it with honey because it symbolizes wealth, health and family,” he explained.

Though there are a few differences for Christmas, Prikoszovich explained that New Year’s celebrations are nearly identical. The only thing he could think of is that the drinking age is lower in Austria.

Another transfer student, senior Aleksander Savic, shared his holiday experiences from Serbia.

The most obvious difference is the reversal of Christmas and New Year’s traditions.

“We get presents on New Year’s and then our Christmas is on the seventh of January,” Savic explained. “And Christmas is [to] be with your family [and] have a big dinner. [It’s] usually a big family time.”

Similar to several other traditions, he shared that on Christmas families eat a round cake with a coin hidden inside. Whoever finds the coin in their slice is said to be lucky for the next year.

Many might assume that the holiday season in South Africa is vastly different from American customs, but that’s not always the case.

“It’s the same as here, except we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving,” sophomore Kutlo Makgale said.

Makgale is from Botswana, a country in Southern Africa, and she moved to America a few months ago. For Christmas, the only difference is that they have a longer break from school.

“We got together, the whole family from the oldest to the youngest—all of us—because we rarely saw each other all year long,” she said. “We’d get there on the holidays and just cook and have fun.”

For New Year’s, she talked about similar celebrations to those in America, with dancing at the end of the day.

“Some people from the community would get together and perform traditional songs and [do] some dances,” she said.

Most of the traditions this time of year are very similar in Botswana, but Makgale said some of the American customs seem peculiar.

“I don’t [understand] sitting on Santa’s lap,” she said. “I mean, you don’t know him. [Just] deciding ‘Oh my God! I want to see Santa,’ [is] weird.”

Of all the Christmas traditions, mall Santas are certainly one of the most American.

Some students will be celebrating for the eight nights of Hanukkah, lighting candles of a menorah, receiving gelt and playing dreidel. Hanukkah is a traditional Jewish holiday commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the miracle of the holy light. The blessed oil of the candelabra that burned for eight days—only expected to last for one night—is a well-known legend that many still celebrate today. Each day, scripture is read and hymns are sung.

In addition to religious traditions, there are several others. Some traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot—potato pancakes and doughnuts—are eaten. Gelt—money, chocolate coins and small gifts—are given to children each night. All of the time, though, is spent with family.

Any student who wishes to learn about other cultures can take a French or Spanish class, which typically cover bits of holiday tradition from their respective countries.

In French classes, students can learn plenty about traditions like placing shoes under the chimney. Most children in France do this the night before the sixth of December—Saint Nicolas Day.

While they sleep, Saint Nicolas will put candy into the shoes of the good children, and then Père Fouettard—Father Whip—will drop coal in those of the bad children. Sometimes, he even whips naughty kids with his bag of sticks.

This tradition stems from an old legend about one of Saint Nicolas’ miracles that can still be found in French children’s books today.

“It really opens up the holiday season in France,” French teacher Madame Stephanie Grace said.

Throughout the holiday season, there are many large holiday markets there. The cultural importance of markets in France leads to them being everywhere, all the time. There are many stands with sweet treats, delicious food and small gifts to buy for friends and family. Markets are not only a place to shop, but also a social gathering place.

Some things that could be bought at a market are les santons and holiday cards.

Les Santons are small figurines of traditional characters and professions that are crafted by hand in the Provence region of France. They are used in household nativity scenes around the holidays and can be found in Provençal homes year-round.

Rather than sending cards out in December, in France they are typically sent out any time before the end of January. Instead of specific Christmas cards, they are cards to wish luck and prosperity for the new year.

“It’s more to wish them a prosperous and healthy new year,” Madame Grace said.

Other than timing, they’re fairly similar in sentiment to American cards.

The night before Christmas, French families have a big dinner together. It’s a traditional meal that sometimes includes delicacies like oysters.

“It’s a late dinner because they eat [and] then head to midnight mass together,” Grace said. “So, it’s a good way to bring in the season.”

After Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, French families celebrate Three Kings Day on January 6. This is a time to feast with family and enjoy a King Cake. Inside the cake, there will be a small ceramic toy. Whoever gets it in their slice is granted luck for the year and is responsible for bringing the cake next year.

In Spain, they also celebrate Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, with a cake, but the tradition is split apart. The cake is called a Roscón de Rayes cake, and it has dried fruit. There is both a bean and a small figurine of a baby inside. Whichever unlucky person finds the bean must bring the cake next year, and the luck is bestowed upon whoever finds the baby. Also on that day, children leave out shoes for treats like the French do on December 6.

For New Year’s in Spain, they eat 12 grapes before the clock strikes midnight for prosperity in each month of the upcoming year. There are fireworks and parties, too.

In Peru, families create dolls or scarecrows called muñecos that resemble a person and place them outside their homes. They are often modeled after political figures or family members. At midnight, on New Year’s Eve, with fireworks or just fire, each muñeco is burned away.

“It represents, sort of, out with the old and in with the new,” Spanish teacher Señora Emily Aragon explained.

For many countries, the Christmas season isn’t during a cold snowy winter. In Peru, though it’s warm, they still drink hot chocolate. In some areas, there are sorts of holiday soup kitchens—called chocolotadas—where hot cocoa and warm food are given out to the community.

“Basically, they give hot chocolate and food to [less] fortunate families and they give a little gift,” Señora Aragon said. “So, when you hear chocolatada, in Peru that’s a big tradition around Christmas time.”

Another tradition of Spanish-speaking countries is that of Las Posadas, which is most prominent in Mexico. For nine nights before Christmas, there is a small procession of community members acting as Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus followed by many children in angel or demon costumes. They parade through the town asking for shelter until they reach the designated house, where everyone enters and feasts.

“It’s a theatrical reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to sleep in Bethlehem,” Aragon said.

Speaking of the nights before Christmas, in Iceland children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads. Each night, a different one of the brothers visits each child and either gives them a gift or—if they were naughty—a rotten potato. Traditionally, these are given within shoes placed on the windowsill the night before.

Icelandic children also contend with the Christmas Cat, Jólakötturinn. He prowls around on Christmas Eve and allegedly steals gifts from, or in some stories devours, anyone who isn’t wearing at least one piece of new clothing. No one can quite trace the origins of this particular holiday creature, but it still convinces many children to wear the socks they begrudgingly got the night before.

One tradition that may be more familiar to people in Greensburg is that of the Christmas pickle. This ritual of hiding a pickle ornament in the tree for someone to find the next morning allegedly comes from Germany. Researchers have found, however, that it most likely started right here in the US at Woolworth’s in the 1880s. Almost no one in Germany has even heard of the tradition. Historians suspect that they created the tale as a way to sell more glass ornaments of fruits and vegetables imported from Germany at the time.

There are two main legends behind the commercial myth. The first tells of a soldier who had been captured and was near death. He pleaded with a guard asking for just a pickle, which saved him and gave him the strength to continue living by the grace of God.

The other tale tells of two boys who were captured and killed by an innkeeper. The innkeeper then stuffed their bodies in pickle barrels. Later, St. Nicholas was passing through and found the bodies. He used his magic to create a miracle, bringing them back to life. This has parallels to the French tale of Saint Nicolas, meaning it likely took inspiration from the classic tale.

Despite alleged German origins, many in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area continue this tradition, partially due to the city’s ties to Heinz pickles. Ornaments with Heinz pickles are sold around the city, and a large balloon was made as well.

Wholly unrelated to pickles, another food-centric tradition is the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Many years ago, Italian American families solidified the tradition in the US. At the time, seafood was the most available resource for many people in Italy, and immigrant families brought this cooking with them.

On Christmas Eve, a seven-course meal of seafood is served family-style around the table. At least one of the courses will involve a whole cooked fish, which symbolizes abundance—and is also very delicious. The tradition itself is not religious, but there are seven courses because of the number’s importance in the Bible.

Though not centered on fish, another seaworthy tradition is the decoration of Christmas boats in Greece. The climate in Greece rarely had trees, mostly brush, and many families had sea-faring roots. Families join and decorate a boat, often a model for those who don’t own a real one, rather than a tree. Some legends say that the lights on the models would bring light to the men who were out at sea, although it isn’t very clear what the direct origins were.

Even if your holiday season is just a few extra days off school, enjoy the time with friends and family by making memories and having fun.

By Emma Helmick

GS students dressed up and ran to the dance floor for a night of partying.

The 2022 Holiday dance was held in Crabtree at Marian Hall. It lasted from 5:00pm to 9:30pm and almost everyone was dressed up formally for the occasion. Dinner was served at 5:30pm.

“This location was much bigger than last year’s,” sophomore Alexxus Reynolds said. “It gave us a lot more space to move around and dance, which was good. The only downside was that the restrooms were smaller.”

There were about 250 students who made reservations, and it was more spacious than last year’s dance at the country club.

“The main reason for the venue change was to increase the capacity,” SCA co-advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “We were previously limited to approximately 225 guests.”

Many more students could attend this year and there was still room for everyone.

“The music was one of the best parts,” sophomore Alexxus Reynolds said. “The DJ played a lot of unexpected throwbacks that I think everyone loved.”

During the time for dancing, which was from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, the DJ played a variety of music for almost everyone to enjoy.

“The food was better last year, but I had fun and the music was okay,” junior Bryonna Macioce said.

The dinner options consisted of chicken, alfredo, red pasta, roasted red potatoes, green beans and garden salad. Long’s Catering provided the food. They also had a large cookie table for dessert.

“I know my friends and I had a really great time, but I also know that some people did not, especially those who were not comfortable dancing,” Reynolds said. “But from most of what I have heard, everyone enjoyed themselves.”

Although most of the guests were on the dance floor, some stayed at their tables for the majority of the time.

“There was more and easier access to parking and there was more room for dancing,” History teacher Ms. Lucy Iapalucci said. “Plus, the kids all looked amazing.”

The doors were open to leave from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. People were leaving at different times, so there was almost no trouble with getting out.

“I do not see how the kids could not have a blast,” Ms. Iapalucci said. “Music, friends and dancing. The perfect mix.”

By Ksena Spencer

The smell of freshly baked sugar cookies and royal icing fills the cold air as Christmas approaches with people baking classic holiday recipes.

Why do people bake around the holidays? Pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner, sugar cookies, gingerbread houses or fruit cake on Christmas are all examples of holiday treats.

Holidays are often nostalgic for people, so baking ties in with the feeling of doing something that isn’t often done for a holiday. Baked goods may also be t5radition that a family may have for specific holidays.  

Baking is an activity that anyone can try. It could be a good way to have fun with family or used as a bonding activity between friends, a significant other or just something that can be done alone.

Bakeries often get busy during holidays and receive orders for special made pastries. Baked goods are ordered for Christmas parties, family gatherings and for Christmas day itself.

Small baking businesses often find themselves getting many orders for sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, cakes and many other holiday treats. A local small business that is run by a student of GS, is called Ella’s Confections which junior Ella Henry takes custom orders for cookies and other baked goods.

“I’m most busy during the month of December,” Henry said. “I think that’s when I get most of my cookie orders. However, surprisingly, most of my orders this month are baby showers instead of Christmas themed specifically.”

Other cultures and ethnicities have traditions or their own foods and recipes that they make for Christmas. Some families do not always do a traditional “American” Christmas or Christmas Eve meal. Some families put time aside to bake with each other.  

Foods teacher Mrs. Morgan Ferczak said that on Christmas Eve her family has Polish meals such as perogies, stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes and meatloaf.

Baking allows one to be creative using ingredients, techniques or even construction. Gingerbread houses are a great way to use candy and icing as a challenge to build something with walls and a roof that can stand.

“I’d like to try making gingerbread houses from scratch,” Henry said.

Sometimes recipes do not go the way they are meant to go and then people have to find a way to improvise.

“When I was 10, I did not know how to use Royal icing and it took a lot or trial and error,” Henry said. “The first time I tried Royal icing it was not pretty.”

Following a recipe isn’t always an easy task for some. Sometimes the recipe is not followed correctly and a step is missed. This causes food and recipes to not turn out how they are supposed to.

“One year, I made yeast rolls and I overfilled my mixer and while it proofed the yeast rolls went all over the place,” Mrs. Ferczak said.  

Baking is purely chemistry. When all the ingredients have been mixed and are ready to be baked, the ingredients react with each other to make the finished product that is eaten.

According to https://www.centennialcollege.ca/centennial-college-blog/2017/september/13/five-weird-things-you-didn-t-know-about-baking, flour gives a baked good its structure, while baking powder or soda gives it airiness. Eggs are like the binding glue, oil and butter tenderize, sugar sweetens and water gives moisture. When the dry and wet ingredients are combined, gluten is created by proteins from the flour bonding, while the baking powder or soda releases carbon dioxide which makes the whole thing expand. After that, each ingredient competes to get water for itself, which is why putting them in the right order is important.

According to https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/vintage-baking-fascinating-facts/, for hundreds of years recipes were shared orally or by teaching rather than being written down. Cooks and bakers learned by watching their mothers, aunts and grandmothers.

Fruit is one of the oldest desserts and still is included into so many recipes made today.

Along with fruit, spices have been something people can add to their baked goods to make them their own.

Each culture has their own spice combination that they use. Ginger spiced compotes are found in Asia, rose water and honey scented fruits in the Middle east, and cinnamon and vanilla in the U.S.

Gingerbread is one of the oldest cookies, with Greek recipes dating as far back as 2400 B.C.E.

By the Middle Ages, gingerbread had spread across Europe and was popular with royalty. Queen Elizabeth I is often credited with the idea of decorating the cookies.

Through the years, baking has changed in many ways. Baking used to only be done with ingredients all mixed together by the person who made the sweet treat. Today box mixes and pre-mixed packets can be found in any grocery store, including in a range of flavors, colors, gluten free and various other differences.

Christmas time is known for its gingerbread houses, sugar cookies, eggnog and many other sweets. People have learned how to manipulate ingredients into something that tastes good and is enjoyed during special occasions.

“Around the holidays, people spend a lot of time baking together as a family,” Henry said. “I like going to my grandma’s during Christmas time and baking sugar cookies with my cousins. It’s fun because it really makes it feel like Christmas Time.”

By Emily Frazier

Hardworking senior Kayla Wright was awarded the Heisman High School Scholarship for her outstanding work both on the field and in the classroom. 

The Heisman High School Scholarship  recognizes and rewards senior student athletes who have shown leadership and effort; those who have excelled in the classroom, on the field and within their community. It is meant for both athletes and non-athletes who participate in community activities. 

“To have somebody from Greensburg recognized as even being a potential awardee or an awardee is a pretty prestigious honor,” Co-Principal Mr. Adam Jones said. 

In order to be eligible for this scholarship, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, must be a senior, must be proven leaders in their school and must be involved in one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Games or the National Federation of State High School Associations. 

Wright is the captain of the varsity cheer squad, a member of the lacrosse team, the president of the Letterman’s club, the treasurer of FCCLA, a member of the Interact club and an officer in the Spanish club and the French club. 

“She looks for opportunities to not only vocally lead, but lead the way by example,” Mr. Jones said. 

Applications were open from August 15 to October 18. Winners were announced in the month of November. Up to $10,000 could be received in scholarship money. 

“My mom and I have been looking all summer for [scholarships],” Wright said. “I just filled out the application and wrote an essay, and that was that.” 

This scholarship has four levels. More than 5,700 applicants, one of them being Wright, have been recognized as school winners. The next level up is the state winners who receive $1,000. The next, national finalists, receive $2,000. And finally, the national winners, who will be announced November 30, will receive the maximum of $10,000. 

By winning this scholarship, the recognition makes Wright stand out amongst her peers. 

“I was really excited because I’ve applied to a lot, but I haven’t really won anything yet,” Wright said. 

by Brianna Campagna

Even with 8 billion people occupying the world, everyone can occupy one square meter of room and fit on the Island of Cyprus. Although people take up a small portion of land, the effects that everyone makes on the world are greater than projected.

On November 15^th, 2022, the world’s population officially hit 8 billion people.

Currently, China has the largest population with over 1.4 billion people. In 2023, India is predicted to surpass China. In an attempt to control China’s population, their government had a limit on how many children were allowed to be born into each family.

“[China] had a one-child policy until 2015, a two-child policy until 2021 and now a three-child policy,” International Studies teacher Mr. Robert Lehman said.

Most countries do not have limitations on family size to slow down the growing population.

“Governments do not necessarily want to control population because more people, which usually means more taxes and a larger labor force,” Mr. Lehman said.

China has been able to relax their household policies due to the advanced education women have the opportunity to receive.

“The bottom line is the more educated women are, the more opportunities they tend to have, which usually equates to wanting less children,” Lehman said. “Women’s rights and world population issues are intertwined.”

Lehman believes the world’s growing population is not negatively affecting the world.

“You always want populations to grow, just not too fast,” he said. “Growing populations spur economies, create stable labor forces and increase the odds for new inventions, medical advancements and all the ‘good stuff’ humans are capable of doing. In many parts of the world, population is already stabilizing or even shrinking. This will slow down worldwide growth. For example, the world just hit 8 billion people. Experts say that we will hit 9 billion in 2037.”

Others are rather concerned with the growing population.

“I worry that our planet lacks the capacity and resources to permanently sustain such a great number of people,” senior Rachel Leo said.

Rather than population control, Leo hopes that people will take individual responsibility to reduce the impact of climate change.

“I believe that efforts should be focused toward addressing the policies and corporations that allow environmental health issues to be disregarded rather than directly toward the number of people inhabiting the planet,” she said. “There are many avenues through which the general public can perform simple acts that will help our planet. Overall, living a ‘greener’ lifestyle lends itself to opposing the dangers we face due to the growing population. One way that I believe is especially valuable is to shop responsibly. The most sustainable lifestyle is one that consumes the least.”

Fun Facts

According to CNN, demographers reported the population growth rate has fallen to less than 1% per year, which should prevent the world from reaching 9 billion people until 2037.

There are currently  more men than women in the world, but that should even out by 2050, according to CBS.

According to Pew Research Center, China, India, the U.S., Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Brazil make up half of the world’s population.

by Luke Dinkel

Senior Owen Tutich has been selected as one of the PIHL players of the month. Tutich is a 2-time PIHL All-Star and led the GS Varsity Hockey Team in points in the 2021-22 season with 25 goals and 20 assists (25-20-40) in 19 games played.

The reason Tutich is always considered for these awards is due to how he stands out on the ice.

“He can play the game any way,” Head Coach Cory Mentch said. “If you’re a defenseman he can beat you with speed or finesse or grit.  If you’re a goaltender, you might get the puck put over your shoulder from the top of the circle or you might get backed into your net and danced.  If you’re a forward in a board battle, good luck.”

 Whether it’s on the ice or in the gym, Tutich isn’t afraid to put in extra work.

“There are many reasons that he stands out so much on the ice,” junior Noah Outly said. “The biggest thing that makes him stand out is his hard work he puts in.”

Despite the skill that he has, Tutich is always working to get better.

“He never misses a practice and never takes a drill off,” Outly said. “The work he does off the ice has a big part too. He’s constantly in the gym, working to get stronger. What makes him stand out during games is how well he knows the game and how fast he is.”

Tutich already has plans to continue his hockey career after high school.

“There are a couple different paths that I could take to play hockey after high school,” Tutich said. “One option would be to go straight to a college next year and try out for the team of the college I go to. Another option is to play in a junior league, which will mean taking a gap year to play hockey if a team were to contact me.”

With leadership comes responsibility, and Tutich never shies away from either.

“He’s a hard-nosed, tough kid,” Athletic Director Mr. Frank Sundry said. “He possesses the skills needed to score goals, but more importantly he’s that leader that every team needs. His leadership is what is driving this team to their early success, and I think it’s exactly what the team needs to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Penguins’ Cup.”