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Record Store Day | 2025

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Kerrick Shaw 

Needles dropped on spinning vinyl after crowds of eager collectors filled music shops to celebrate Record Store Day. 

April 5 marked the 18th annual Record Store Day, an event that honors independent record stores with exclusive, limited new releases. In many cases, fans crowd the sidewalks before a store’s opening in an attempt to get the record they’re looking for.  

For Greensburg’s local music store, CD Warehouse, nearly 200 people were in line. 

The hall leading into CD Warehouse’s ‘Retro Room,’ where RSD releases were available.

Photo Courtesy: Michael Casper

“Being a part of Record Store Day is truly exciting,” CD Warehouse owner Michael Casper said. “It’s a fun day overall for everyone involved. Ultimately, my favorite part is seeing the amount of people that come out and support a small, locally owned business.” 

Around 1,400 stores participate in the celebration, which makes distribution of the releases challenging, according to Casper. He explained that stores are “not guaranteed” to get everything they order for the event. 

“We ordered 50 Gracie Abrams albums, but only received 10,” he said. “They only made 12,000 of them, so all stores only got a percentage of what they ordered. A total of 2,000 ‘Wicked’ Soundtracks were made for Record Store Day; you can imagine how limited that is.” 

Some artists found in the 2025 releases included Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Wu-Tang Clan, The Cure and many more. About 330 titles were available for this year’s date. 

The Cure’s “Head on the Door” vinyl picture disc, released for RSD 2025.

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

Art teacher and record collector, Mr. Darryl Audia, said that events like RSD are helping to revitalize the use of physical media. 

“There’s a lot that you miss out on with digital media,” Mr. Audia said. “Growing up with cassettes, mainly, you had something to look at and something to hold in your hand. I often find myself creating a playlist but never listening to an artist’s entire album; records are great for fixing that.” 

For students, records are making somewhat of a comeback as well; some have listened to records their entire lives through family, and others are just diving into collecting albums recently. Freshman Annabelle Volk explained that she is “actively exploring new music” while looking for fairly priced albums. 

“I have about 20 records right now,” Volk said. “I normally go to CD Warehouse and find them for a decent price. I didn’t see anything from this year about Record Store Day, but I am really looking forward to learning more about it and experiencing it next year.” 

Another student, junior J’Taime Turner-Hill, collects records because of her grandma. 

“Growing up, she had a bunch of records,” Turner-Hill said. “Every Christmas she’d play the Michael Jackson Christmas album; it was like a tradition. I got a big bin full of records from her, I couldn’t even count how many.” 

The enthusiasm from younger collectors hasn’t gone unnoticed by record stores. Casper acknowledged how the support from people, especially on RSD, is “amazing” and would be for any store. 

“It’s exciting to see how we have grown and have been able to provide more people with the opportunity to get so many titles,” Casper said. “We have tried to make Record Store Day our own celebration; all of the employees here get really excited seeing everyone come to support small businesses. It’s amazing to see the support, and it feels good knowing that we’re doing a good job at providing physical media.” 

Trump’s Tariffs: Effects on the US Economy

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Ever Schmidt

President Donald Trump stopped tariffs for 90 days on goods that are transported to the United States from other countries.  

“It’s affecting the world already, prices are starting to go up, the stock market is also taking a big hit,” accounting teacher Mr. Lou Downey said. “It’s going to be a tough adjustment for everybody, not just the United States.”  

The current price of two dozen eggs at WalMart.

Photo by: Ever Schmidt

President Trump uses the tariffs to bring people who live in the U.S. to buy products made here. He made transported items more expensive, encouraging consumers to buy U.S. made products because they are made in America. They seem cheaper because the transported products have increased in price.  

“I see why the president is doing this,” Mr. Downey said.  “They have tariffs on our stuff, and we were tariffing them.”  

According to CNN, Trump signaled a potential U-turn on the trade war with China.  Chinese prices of items will come down, but the tariffs won’t be zero. China eventually refused to lower the prices on tariffs and have a 125% increase on US goods. 

“Honestly I didn’t know much about tariffs, but I have noticed gas prices decreasing then rising again,” sophomore Bryland Haile said. “Whatever Trump decides to do everyone will have to deal with it, so I’m not letting it consume my life.” 

According to Fox Business, the price of crude oil prices could be increased 10-20 cents when tariffs are back in effect for gasoline. 

Not only have gas prices taken a toll, but students who buy from online stores such as Shein, Temu and Ali Express have also noticed a change in buying their items.  

“Recently I have noticed how expensive shipping is,” junior Nova Miller said. “While shipping used to be only a few dollars, now it has become almost twice that. Honestly with the tariffs people are going to start buying U.S. made products, but many online stores are going to lose customers because no one wants to pay $10-$15 for shipping.”   

FCCLA STAR Events Competition

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By: Adison Poole 

Two members of the GS FCCLA club were recently recognized for their contribution to the program and presented with awards at the FCCLA STAR Events Competition. 

Senior Karma Schall was one of the two to receive the award and she spoke of her experience with the program. The other was senior Brenna Kohl, who also received an award at the event.  

Kohl and Schall displaying their certificates at the STAR Event.

Photo Courtesy: Morgan Ferczak

“STAR stands for Students Taking Action and Recognition,” FCCLA advisor Mrs. Morgan Ferczak said. “Students are able to choose a variety of different events that are related to the family and consumer sciences.”  

FCCLA stands for Family Career Community Leaders of America and is made up of hardworking students. The club gains several new members every year.  

“The event I competed in is called the Public Policy Advocate,” Schall said. “This event allows you to pick any public policy you’d like and educate others on the information you’ve learned.”  

Schall has been involved with FCCLA for three years throughout her high school career. She focused her project on the risk of drug use and spoke about overdose to educate others on the topic. 

“For my project I first educated myself on the number of overdose deaths in the U.S. and the things that have been put in place to lower these deaths,” she said.  

Schall explained that her project was an effort to lower deaths related to overdose in her area.  

“I chose to educate others on the Good Samaritan law,” she said. “I did this by going to local businesses to educate them on this law with a flyer that had research as well as local recovery resources.”  

Schall also provided the businesses with Narcan to keep within their facilities in case of an emergency.  

There were several other members who attended the event.

GS’ FCCLA team at the STAR Event.

Photo Courtesy: Morgan Ferczak

“It was a great experience and a good way to get involved,” senior Reagan Sands said. 

Schall is planning to go into a nursing program in the future and is using this award as a step in that direction. She spoke of the work that she has put into the program and mentioned how proud she is of each of her accomplishments. 

“It felt amazing because of the work I put into this project,” Schall said. “My efforts to spread awareness have gone so much farther than I could have imagined.”  

Greensburg’s Night Market Returning for Another Season

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Reese Price 

The Greensburg Night Market is full of flavors, finds and fun. 

The Greensburg Night Market is coming back on select Thursdays with the opening date set for April 24. The monthly Night Market in downtown Greensburg features local food, artisans, vendors and small businesses. 

Lily Slavnik representing GS pottery students.

Photo Courtesy: Lily Slavnik

“I am excited for it to open back up,” junior Isabella Sefchok said. “I have been waiting for it to come back.” 

During the Market, South Pennsylvania Avenue between West Otterman Street and West 4th Street is shut down for vendors to display their unique items. To make attending the Night Market easier, free shuttles sponsored by Live Casino Pittsburgh are also available for everyone attending the event. 

“We have a free shuttle at the Night Market from April- Oct,” owner and founder of the Night Market Ms. Jessica Hickey said. “Attendees can park at the Greenburg Civic Center and take the shuttle to the market.” 

The Night Market holds over 140 vendors in total, with many of the vendors being small businesses located in or around the Greensburg area. The event coordinators hope to promote small businesses, culture and non-profits.  

“Main Street Sweets is one of my favorite vendors at the Night Market,” Sefchok said.  

When the Greensburg Night Market began in 2019 it started with a small group of vendors and has now blossomed into a highly anticipated event each month. With increasing support from local businesses and the community, more vendors offer more opportunities and experiences.  

“I came up with the idea by just doing some research on events and seeing new things and ideas when traveling,” Ms. Hickey said. 

Beyond the shopping and entertainment, the market also emphasizes the exciting community in Greensburg. Many vendors use eco-friendly packaging and local ingredients to further support local businesses. Non-profits in the area also set up booths to share volunteer opportunities and local events, which makes the market fun and allows for community connections.  

“Everyone is always very nice, and all of the vendors and the organizers are amazing,” senior Lily Slavnik said. 

GS students also are able to use the Night Market as a platform to showcase their talents and interests. Whether selling handmade jewelry, artwork, bake goods or custom items, it gives students a chance to share their passions with the community. This opportunity also provides valuable real-world experience in marketing and allows the students to build connections with other local vendors and shoppers. 

“I sold my own items which was nice to be able to sell my art beyond the school,” Slavnik said. “I also love going even when I’m not selling stuff.” 

Concerns Surrounding the Department of Education 

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By: Kerrick Shaw

A controversial push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education is gaining momentum in Congress, raising concerns about the future of federal oversight in schools.  

If the Department of Education (DOE) is dissolved, school districts could face significant disruptions in funding and resources. Programs that rely on federal support, such as Title I for low-income schools or special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, could stall or disappear, forcing districts to find alternatives. 

On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin shutting down several functions of the DOE. 

Greensburg locals participating in the Hands Off protest on April 5.

Photo Courtesy: Barb Ciampini

“It feels very rushed, without deeper thought into the implications of dismantling or reducing,” GS Superintendent Dr. Ken Bissell said. “Our district relies on federal funding for our Title I, II, III and IV grants, which help us with things such as special education needs and equity issues for students from marginalized populations. If there were no federal funds, that’s a lot of teaching positions that go away.” 

The federal government’s role in schooling is to “uphold civil rights” for children, Dr. Bissell explained. He stated that he believes the shut-down will not happen, but acknowledged the hypothetical question of how those funds would be made up.  

“Teachers are the direct support for students; education is a human-to-human endeavor of building relationships and trust, to then learn from each other,” Bissell said. “If we lose funding, it will definitely result in us not having enough funds to support the teachers and staff.”  

 According to the district’s Director of Curriculum and Federal Programs, Dr. Lenni Nedley, school districts handle variations in their funding yearly, stating that schools will adapt as necessary if federal funding is dissolved.  

“Each school year, districts are faced with federal and state funding fluctuations; they’ll make adjustments to their general budgets as needed in different areas,” Dr. Nedley said. “The district always places children at the forefront of their decision-making to ensure they’re receiving what they need to be successful.” 

The federal grants support four reading specialists, three school counselors, one science teacher and two classroom assistants, as stated by Nedley.  

“If funds are reduced, we’d be put in a situation where we’ll have to make very difficult decisions,” Bissell said. “Staffing is the number one indicator of student success; good teachers make successful students. If we’re forced to reduce the number of staff we have, that’s going to directly impact the kids.” 

On top of the human resources students are provided through teachers and staff, a majority of students in the GS school district take advantage of the food services available. 

“Our school district is just over 60% free and reduced lunch,” he said. “That is a lot of kids that these funds help provide resources to.” 

Having heard of the possible closure of the DOE, some students are considering what the absence of such programs could mean for their school experience. Senior Adien Carota expressed confusion over the reasoning behind the proposed closure. 

“It simply shouldn’t be closed, I don’t understand the motivation,” Carota said. 

Senior Kyle Keller believes “education will go down” following the change in funding. 

Principal Mr. Adam Jones echoed concerns about how the closure could impact schools across the country. He explained that a lack of federal guidelines will result in disparity among states. 

“Not having oversight to ensure students across the country are receiving the same protections and rights makes me worry about if it’ll further create ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’,” Mr. Jones said. “Some states could take advantage of it, seeing it as them not having to follow federal mandates anymore. I don’t think every state values their educational system the same.” 

The DOE’s involvement in schools is generally focused on broad policy and compliance with federal regulations. In contrast, states directly shape the daily operations of schools, making key decisions that affect classroom instruction and testing. 

“For the country to run an effective educational system, you have to have an overall level to ensure that all of the states and kids are getting roughly the same standards, curricula and resources,” Jones said. 

Although much remains uncertain, GS’ faculty and administration will focus on maintaining stability for students, regardless of what decisions are made at the federal level. Their attention remains on adapting to whatever comes next. 

“Pennsylvania has always had a very strong educational system, so I don’t fear a major negative outcome for our district,” Jones said. “In ten years, if there’s no Department of Education, I don’t think there will be a noticeable difference in our school.” 

The Purpose of School Sanctions

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Theresa Schuetz

GS enforced punishments this year for students who played hooky.  

Sanctions go into play when a student misses 13 or more days of school. The main premise of sanctions is to make it more of a priority for students to be present in school. When a student is put on sanctions, attending prom, walking at graduation or attending extracurriculars is not allowed. 

GS 2025 prom advertisement posted throughout the halls.

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Fundamentally, they are a goal to get kids to make up the academics that they miss when they miss school, especially when they miss a lot of school,” Dean of Students Mr. Jeff Kronenwetter said. “And in order to go on sanctions in and of itself, you’re missing 12, 13, 14 days of school. And there’s going to be an academic consequence to that.” 

When a student is put on sanctions, they can be reduced by staying after school for two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

“The punishments could be fair for the people who genuinely skip school,” senior Josselyn Blawas said. “To knock off an absence you have to stay after school for two hours, and you have to do that twice to get one absence off. So, if you’re someone who just skips school, you could use that time to do work.” 

When students stay later for two of those days, it removes one absence from the record. When students stay at the school they are not allowed to be on their phones, and they must be working on schoolwork. However, this way of removing absences may be hard for students who have jobs outside of school. 

“Each student should be able to pick what day of the week they want to stay to make up for an absence,” senior Gregory Paravate said. “It’s unfair for students who work outside of school.”  

To be put on the list requires 12 unexcused absences. Excused absences that do not count towards sanctions include doctor’s appointments, funerals and college visits. When students are out because of illness, parents can write them an excuse, but it still gives one point towards sanctions. 

“If we don’t know where you were or even if a parent sends a note that explains, ‘this student was absent on this date because she was sick,’ it does count towards sanctions,” Mr. Kronenwetter said. 

Students are not required to make up unexcused absences through participating in detentions, but if they do it allows them to participate in extracurriculars, dances and the graduation ceremony. 

“We’re just trying to establish a routine like there is in the workforce when it comes to sanctions,” Kronenwetter said. 

Energy Drinks and Their Effect on Teens

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Ever Schmidt  

Students are flying throughout the halls as summertime approaches, cracking energy drinks left and right.  

Whether it be Monster, Red Bull or even coffees, caffeine crowds store shelves and leaves them just as fast. Classrooms are littered with cans, but opinions on them vary.  

The Lions’ Den staff’s Energy Drinks on an average day.

Photo by: Ever Schmidt

“Energy drinks are the highlight of my morning,” junior Kaylee Foley said. “Monsters are my favorite, personally; I love that it can give me the energy I need in just one drink. It helps me work better and gives me extra energy to help me finish the day fully energized.”   

According to Nova Medical Centers, energy drinks have some positives. They help to “improve students’ mood and attitude, to eliminate feeling groggy. Being able to buy a drink that will give almost instant energy for only one to five dollars can be very convenient. 

With every positive, there are also negatives. Regardless of the good they bring to some they can also affect the way people act and feel in the opposite way.  

“The first time I had an energy drink, I had a bad experience and will probably never drink one again,” junior Adrianna Scalzo said. “It made me feel so sick that I’ve haven’t had one since then.”  

According to The National Library of Medicine, energy drinks can be a health risk. There have been nine cases of cardiac arrest in recent years, three of them being fatal. They have concerns that they can cause nervous system disorders and addiction.   

“I think they are terrible for you, they mess with your hormones and your heart,” Health and Physical Education teacher Mrs. Alyssa Lukatch said. “It’s a whole-body disrupter.”  

Energy drinks contain caffeine and sugars which can be associated with a decrease of insulin sensitivity, causing the body to have resistance to the hormone insulin. It also can give risks like anxiety, hallucinations, headaches, tooth decay and more, according to Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. 

 “People drink them for energy just to crash harder a few hours later, when you really should be looking at why you don’t have any energy,” Mrs. Lukatch said.  

Starting the Second Semester  

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Quinn Isenberg 

The start of the second semester brings a lot of change to the halls of GS.  

One of the most prominent changes is the students’ classes. With semester one classes ending, students will get a fresh start in their semester two classes. 

“I like the change,” senior Oakley Decker said. “I always liked the different classes from the first half to the second.”  

It’s common for students to grow tired of their classes after being in the same environment for so long. The second semester gives students a chance to trade out classes they may not find enjoyment in anymore for new ones.  

Blanca Grillo and Rocco Himes pose with their second semester schedules.

Photo By: Quinn Isenberg

“I’m happy because I didn’t really like my classes,” senior Samantha Hanawalt said. “So, I want to go into the second semester.”  

Despite the fresh start, students may find themselves losing their motivation for school throughout the second semester. Instead of letting this get the best of them, wise students find ways to keep themselves engaged.  

“To keep myself motivated I do stuff after school, like Speech and Debate and band,” freshman Luke Johnson said.  

Others find themselves motivated by the opportunity to do well in their new classes.  

“I’m more motivated for the second semester because I feel like it’s a second chance at getting the grades I want to get and didn’t during the first semester,” sophomore Daliza Sanchez said.  

New classes also give students the opportunity to do better than they did in the first semester. Students can walk into these classes with a clean slate and apply the knowledge they took from the last semester into the new one.  

“I learned new ways to study that work better for my particular learning style,” Sanchez said.  

The second semester also proves to be beneficial to teachers. It gives them a chance to try new methods with different groups of students to see what works best.  

“The really nice thing is that I can reflect upon experiences that I had in the fall because how the students reacted to different tactics is still fresh in my mind,” math teacher Mr. Al Toret said. “I can modify them if they didn’t work or reuse them if they did.”  

To some the second semester simply means they’re one semester closer to the end of the year. However, it is important to take things slow and make the most of the new semester by taking advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.  

“Savor your time here rather than wish it away,” Mr. Toret said.  

New Year, New Resolutions 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Rubee Stillwagon 

As the new year rolls in, resolutions and goals are being made for success. 

Reflecting on the past can show what worked, what didn’t and why. Understanding things that caused challenges and led to success can help set a more realistic goal. 

“I don’t have many new year’s resolutions this year, but I do want to work on my procrastination,” senior Kylie Kolenc said. 

Sometimes breaking goals down into smaller steps can keep people on track. Procrastination can be a leading factor in not completing goals. So, making checkpoints smaller can make it easier to see progress and stay motivated. 

“My new year’s resolution is to stay active and try to work out more to make me stronger for dance,” sophomore Izabella Caruso said. 

Izabella Caruso is captured mid-leap during a dance competition.

Photo courtesy: Izabella Caruso

Acknowledging that there might be situations that lead to setbacks is important so there can be a backup plan. Setbacks can be part of the process, so staying resilient and bouncing back is ideal. 

For some people, writing down resolutions and goals so they can be visualized can be beneficial. They can be placed somewhere that is seen every day like a fridge or a desk.  

“I plan to achieve them by maybe having a planner or something along the lines of that to help with deadlines,” Kolenc said. 

For some, staying flexible can keep them more focused on the end goal. Regularly reviewing and adjusting goals can make it more realistic to achieve. 

“I would like to connect more with my family and friends in 2025,” Science Teacher Mrs. Julie Firmstone said. “My motivation is that we never know when we won’t have that chance.” 

Even celebrating the small things can keep motivation up. But other than individual things people do to keep themselves motivated, having a support system can go a long way. 

“My motivation is my mom because she is my number one supporter and my team,” Caruso said. “I also think my dance teacher will help push me to be my best because all she has ever wanted was for her students to dance to their best ability.” 

The people that surround a person can be the thing they need for success. Sometimes the smallest support can make a difference. 

While continuing into 2025, staying motivated and on track is important for most and helps to create a more successful year. 

“A retired teacher told me that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so I try to remind myself to keep up with something, so I am able to create the habit,” Mrs. Firmstone said. 

Changes in the Greensburg Business Scene 

Posted on by gshslionsdenadmin

By: Kerrick Shaw 

Various business locations have been rapidly cleaning out in Greensburg. 

Route 30’s Dick’s Sporting Goods, the South Greensburg Wendy’s restaurant and Greengate Center’s Big Lots have all been affected in recent months by poorly performing locations or filing for bankruptcy.  

Dick’s Sporting Goods 

Following the closing of its Route 30 location, the Westmoreland Mall is welcoming a Dick’s House of Sport into an anchor space in the mall that was previously occupied by Sears. Computer Science teacher Mr. Tyler Brinton believes the new store will be “great for the community.” 

“It’ll be a really great place for kids to get sports gear, especially being in the mall,” Mr. Brinton said. 

The House of Sport offers a more interactive experience for customers than a normal Dick’s Sporting Goods location; they are often larger than a Sporting Goods, with most locations, such as at Ross Park Mall, featuring golf simulators, spaces to practice sports and a 30-feet-tall rock wall. The store will also offer the expected athletic apparel and equipment. 

The outside of the Greensburg Dick’s location after being shut down.

Photo By: Kerrick Shaw

Wendy’s and TGI Fridays 

  The Wendy’s restaurant located on South Main Street was one of over 100 U.S. restaurants closed in 2024 from failing to keep up with other spots. These closing sites will be balanced out by the opening of around 250 new restaurants across America. 

The outside of the South Greensburg Wendy’s.

Photo By: Kerrick Shaw

“I was told we closed because our lease was up and we didn’t make enough to pay it,” Wendy’s employee, junior Nova Miller, said. “We’re all set at a new store now. They moved all of the employees at the South Greensburg one to the Wendy’s by the mall; we’ve basically combined stores.” 

The restaurant chain TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy in November, leaving the location in the Hempfield Square shopping plaza, surrounded by Texas Roadhouse and PetSmart, available for lease. TGI Fridays Inc. operates less than 40 locations in the U.S. 

Big Lots 

Big Lots, located in the Greengate Shopping Center, recently had their windows covered with everything-must-go signs. The discount furniture and home décor chain filed for bankruptcy in September of last year, however, its debts were just picked up by Gordon Brothers, a global assets company.  

According to the Gordon Brothers press release, their purchasing of Big Lots Inc. will preserve the brand, keeping “hundreds of stores in operation and preventing thousands of layoffs.”  

Variety Wholesalers, a company included in the transfer of Big Lots’ assets, will operate about 200 stores under the Big Lots brand. Gordon Brothers will provide real estate services to support the future of Big Lots and have just put new-to-market store leases up for sale across 47 states, not including PA meaning the Greengate Center space will remain closed.  

 GS Libarian Mrs. Carrie Vottero believes the closing of these businesses is due to the ever-growing use of electronics. 

“I remember shopping a different way than how young people, and myself, shop today,” Mrs. Vottero said. “It’s bound to change; the world is changing. More things are continuously going electronic, like Amazon and DoorDash. That’s just how people shop now.”