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.
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.”
The 2024 fall sports season held many challenges and successes for GS teams.
Fall sports include football, girls’ tennis, golf, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country and volleyball.
FOOTBALL
The varsity football team had its best start since 1999.
“We did exactly what we wanted to do, coming out of the gate 4-0,” defensive coordinator Mr. Matthew Boe said.
The team finished 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, placing fourth overall in the conference. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of playoffs against the Avonworth Antelopes on Nov. 1.
After several difficult seasons, the seniors were very happy with their success.
GS clashes with members of the Valley High School football team.
Photo Courtesy: Brad Skero, Kryptic Media
“We’re kind of going out with a bang,” senior captain Cooper Dann said. “It feels good to win.”
This year, Dann was recognized for his efforts on and off the field. He was invited to be a part of the Steelers All-Peer Team, for which he will be honored at the Acrisure Stadium.
“He’s just a really good person,” Mr. Boe said. “I think it’s definitely earned.”
Boe explained that the return of several varsity starters, like Dann and fellow senior Kai Brunot, allowed the team to work from a better starting point.
For the game against Ligonier Valley on Sep. 30, Brunot was voted the PennLive state player of the week for his touchdown and 142 rushing yards. He received nearly 50% of the votes cast and contributed a lot to the team’s success.
Boe said that despite good plays like Brunot’s, there are a lot of things the team can improve on. He believes that the team can “absolutely control our destiny.”
He and Dann both expressed that the season held a lot of energy and optimism.
“Every single year, there’s an excitement for it,” Boe explained.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Most of the team this fall was completely new to the sport.
The now graduated Class of 2024 filled six of seven varsity starters, leaving the team at a huge disadvantage this season.
They finished the season with a record of 1-10, but there was incredible improvement and individual successes.
“The record doesn’t indicate how much we progressed or how evenly matched the rounds were,” coach Mr. Christopher Gazze said.
Mr. Gazze went into the season with the hope of growth and improvement for the team to set up for next year.
“I feel like I learned a lot, and I ended up making really good friendships,” senior Anna Spigarelli said.
Spigarelli has been playing for three years and was a varsity starter this season.
Despite the record, the team is optimistic looking toward next year with the possibility of competing for playoffs.
“I think they have really good foundations,” Spigarelli shared about the underclassmen. “As long as they put in the work, they’ll do really well.”
GOLF
Having lost a large group of seniors last year, the season didn’t come with the highest expectations.
It was a welcome surprise when three freshmen made an incredible impact that led the team to an overall record of 9-6 with a section record of 8-4. Their section record resulted in third place in the section, only missing playoffs because of a loss in their final match against Mt. Pleasant.
One freshman in particular, captain Luke Sikora, was “a consistent contributor to the team,” according to coach Mr. Erik Doran.
Sikora, along with sophomore Bryce Ferace, qualified as individuals for WPIALs.
Only Sikora made the cut for finals, just missing the cut for round three. He tied for 18th, the cut for the round, but lost in the second playoff hole—resulting in a final placement of 19th.
“I didn’t play how I usually do, but it was fun,” Sikora explained.
He earned the WCCA Tournament Co-Champion title as well as the WPIAL AA Section 2 Champion title during the season.
“I’m excited for next year,” he said.
With many consistent players returning next year, the team hopes for another good season.
“Heading into next year, we are one of the favorites to make playoffs and win our section,” Mr. Doran said.
Sikora at the WCCA Tournament.
Photo by: Erik Doran
BOYS’ SOCCER
With many difficulties in a new section, the boys’ soccer team finished with a record of 3-17.
The season started with the loss of five varsity starters and a lot of uncertainty. Injuries constantly impacted the lineup, but the team still made many games closer than anticipated.
“[We] are learning that in order to play a complete match, we have to give maximum effort in practice as well as games,” coach Rich Christeleit explained.
Many players have improved individually, and the team put up a good fight in their new section.
“I think we’ve grown as a team,” junior captain Alex Swatchick said. “We’ll be looking forward to improving over the summer.”
GIRLS’ SOCCER
With a slow start to the season, the team pulled through with a 7-9 overall record and were 3-7 in section play.
Senior captain Alice Wilkinson said she was excited for her senior season but had been “hoping to do better.”
Much of the team, including Wilkinson, were optimistic about a shot at playoffs—which they fell just short of.
“We felt like we were in a good place to be successful,” coach Jess Melodia explained. “Over the last four years, the team has gotten stronger, faster and more resilient.”
Wilkinson expressed that regardless of game results, her favorite part was spending time with her team.
Most of the team share strong bonds that have only grown with them over the years. These connections have resulted in a lot of growth and success as a team.
Hopefully, in the next season it will pay off not only in team morale, but in their record as well.
“We are at a point where we are starting to consistently recognize the results of all the hard work we have put in,” Melodia said.
CROSS COUNTRY
Even with dwindling numbers, the cross country teams this season were very successful.
“It says a lot, to come out and have the record we have after losing who we lost,” coach Mr. Nathan Snider expressed.
The girls’ team had an overall record of 10-3, and the boys’ team had a record of 3-10.
With only four runners for the boys by the end of the season, they didn’t have enough to make a full team—their estimated record, if they would have had a fifth runner, is 9-4.
“It’s very disappointing to not be able to score as a team when you have four good runners,” Mr. Snider said.
The girls won the AA County title and placed 8th at WPIALs.
“We’ve had a lot of success this season,” senior Ksena Spencer said.
Senior captain Nick Reinhart had a positive outlook moving into the individual season.
Reinhart, along with fellow seniors Owen Noel and captain Regan Kerr, placed top 12 at the TSTCA Cross Country Championship Oct. 17 and advanced to the State Meet after qualifying at WPIALs.
Noel and Reinhart placed 80th and 90th respectively, out of 249 runners. Kerr placed 63rd out of 250 runners.
“It went well,” Reinhart said. “We all ran well, and it was definitely a good time.”
VOLLEYBALL
This season the team worked as hard as they could to see success—and it certainly paid off.
With an overall record of 15-4, they made it to the first round of the playoff season against Hampton on Oct. 23. Unfortunately, they were swept, losing the first three of five sets.
“These girls have worked so hard to get to this point,” coach Mrs. Rachel Brannigan said. “They showed up in the off season and show[ed] up at practice every day to work harder than the day before.”
They were excited for playoffs after placing second in the section.
“I have never been part of a team that has such an incredible bond and works so hard,” sophomore Patricia Redinger explained.
After placing last in the 2023 season, the success may be unexpected, but it was certainly earned.
“This is such an amazing group of girls all around,” Mrs. Brannigan said, “They lift each other up and work hard both on and off the court.”
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As seasons end and new sports begin, school spirit at GS is one of the most important things for students to focus on.
“We have to continue to grow as a school [and] come together as a community to succeed,” Mr. Drake D’Angelo, Athletic Director, said.
One of the biggest murder cases of the late 1980s and 1990s has become a worldwide topic again in 2024.
Erik and Lyle Menendez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez on August 20, 1989, in their Beverly Hills Mansion. But in 2024, their case has once again become very controversial.
The brothers never denied that they were the ones to kill their parents, but they have said that their reasoning for killing their parents was self-defense after years of enduring emotional, physical and sexual abuse. At the time prosecutors argued that there was no evidence of molestation, and they were simply after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate. But after 27 years, attorneys say there is surfacing evidence that might help the brothers prove that their side of the story is true.
“They deserve to be in jail, but I think there needs to be more attention brought to their mental state,” junior Isabella Sefchock said. “They clearly weren’t mentally stable when they committed the crimes, and they need to be going through intensive therapy.”
The Menendez brothers experienced two trials. The first trial in 1994 was ruled a mistrial due to a hung jury which led to the start of a second trial in 1996. The brothers were then convicted of first-degree murder. During the trial, the judge withheld most of the evidence about the brothers being sexually abused.
They are currently seeking a retrial, claiming that they have new evidence to prove their side of the story. Their attorneys say this evidence has not been presented to a jury and that it should be due to new understandings of how abuse impacts children.
“When you go through that kind of trauma it affects you so much,” junior Braden Poole said. “You can’t understand how that person thinks, acts and talks after being abused to that extent.”
The brothers’ reason for their proclaimed “self-defense” was that they thought their parents were going to kill them after they finally started standing up to them after years of being silenced.
“There is no doubt that what they were put through was terrible, but they were adults, and they could have gotten help instead of resorting to murder,” Sefchock said.
On September 19, 2024, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was released on Netflix. Although it quickly became popular, people have had a lot to say about whether it is necessarily true or not.
A screenshot of the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
“In a way I feel like it went after Lyle and made him seem like a stuck-up guy out of court and villainized him, especially when talking about what he did to Eric,” Poole said.
Many people on social media have said that they feel the show made the brothers look worse than they are. But others think it showed exactly what they were like.
“I think the show captured the awfulness of their actions,” Sefchock said. “In my opinion it was what the public needed to finally realize that the abuse still wasn’t a reason to kill their parents.”
On October 7, 2024, The Menendez Brothers was released. This is a documentary in which the brothers speak out about what life was like throughout the hearings and now in prison. Others such as jury members, psychologists and lawyers also speak out in this documentary.
“I think it is good for the people who want to hear about the story but without the entertainment aspect,” Poole said.
In the documentary the case is broken down from the night of the murders to the sentencing. The brothers explain what they were thinking and feeling and give insight on their side of things.
“For me, the documentary seemed like a way for them to continue defending their horrible actions,” Sefchock said. “At the end of the day, murder is murder.”
The brothers were separated from each other for more than 20 years until they were reunited at Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where they remain incarcerated.
“I feel like separating them wasn’t fair,” Poole said. “They went through so much together and when they needed each other most they were ripped away from each other.”
The boys were separated because they were considered maximum security inmates. Prison officials also prefer to separate people who have committed crimes together.
“I think they needed to be separated,” Sefchock said. “I mean they planned murder together, so they clearly weren’t good influences on each other. They needed that time apart.”
The case has been particularly popular with younger generations. With young adults and teenagers being more active on social media, especially TikTok, they have been able to build communities of people who share their views.
Supporters of the brothers have created movements and are pushing for a retrial and for them to be released from prison.
“Going back to when this happened, abuse of all kinds wasn’t stuff that was talked about,” Poole said. “Gen Z has more of a broad knowledge and understanding on abuse and they sympathize with them because they were not heard.”
Now the brothers are 53 and 56 and although they are still in prison, they have found ways to pass time.
Erik has worked with terminally ill inmates, has become interested in studying medicine and has led classes about religion. Lyle has become interested in prison reform.
Both brothers have become interested in painting and have set up a plan to paint a mural on walls in their prison. They have also offered support and guidance to other victims of childhood abuse.
“They deserve a chance to be happy,” Poole said. “They should be able to live a life that isn’t a constant reminder of their past and parents. That can only happen if we set them free.”
The Fall season brought cool temperatures, leaf-covered sidewalks and another year of Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour.
Bryan wrapped up his 15th iteration of the Farm Tour just 20 miles from Greensburg in Smithton, Pennsylvania, on September 28. The tour had only six shows in total and took place over the course of nine days, starting in Grantville, PA, on September 19. The tour featured special guests Conner Smith, The Peach Pickers with Rodney Clawson, Tucker Wetmore and DJ Rock.
Four of the shows were held at never-before-played family farms, including the Smithton show at the Cunningham Family Farm.
Luke Bryan’s stage set up on the Cunningham’s Family Farm.
Photo Courtesy: Brooke Ropchock
“I enjoy going to concerts, I like to go to at least a couple country concerts a year,” Learning Support teacher Mr. Luke Ewing said. “Going to the Farm Tour was something I haven’t done before, so I was really excited to experience it.”
Several roads were closed and only available to local residents in anticipation of the heavy traffic from nearly 20,000 fans attending the show. Mr. Ewing said this led to “turnarounds,” “overflows” and long waits for parking.
With the overwhelming attendance and through the help of the tour’s presenting sponsor, Bayer, Bryan has been able to provide over nine million meals to Feeding America food banks since 2015 with his hashtag campaign, #Herestothefarmer.
“He mentioned at the concert, if you post the show, to use the hashtag,” Ewing said. “He comes and plays at these farms and in doing that he’s really able to give back; you don’t see a lot of artists do that. He’s helping a lot of people out.”
On the day following the Farm Tour’s end, PPG Paints Arena was packed full for the fifth annual $uicideboy$ Grey Day tour.
Since its first run in 2019, Grey Day has been combining rap and hardcore genres with its long list of supporting artists over the years, some of which have been smaller artists from $uicideboy$’ record label, G*59.
“I had so much fun with everyone around me,” senior Brenna Kohl said. “The experience was great. The energy, the music and seeing the career they’ve built for themselves was so good to be a part of.”
For this 41-date arena and amphitheater North American tour, $uicideboys$ were joined by Denzel Curry, Pouya, Haaper, Shakewell and Ekkstacy. The tour began in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 7 and wrapped up in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 11.
“The openers were good, but I was most looking forward to the boys themselves,” Kohl said. “The people I was with loved the openers though, so I was glad to dance and try to sing along with them.”
This year is their fourth time visiting Pittsburgh during the Grey Day tour, but only the second time they’ve played PPG Paints; the first two shows instead being at Stage AE.
“They gave a great show with such a large crowd and really expressed their emotions in the music,” she added.
On the same day, Billie Eilish kicked off her Hit me Hard and Soft tour in Quebec City, Canada. The tour has 83 total shows; the North American leg ends mid-December, and the entire tour will last until late July of 2025.
Eilish stopped at PPG Paints Arena on October 13 for her ninth show this year, supported by Nat & Alex Wolff.
“I’ve heard so many good things about her concerts and it completely lived up to my expectations,” senior Carlie Wilcox said. “It was my second big concert of an artist I’ve been listening to for years. It was amazing.”
Similar to Bryan’s efforts to give back, Eilish is committed to making a difference with environmental impacts. A portion of all ticket sales during the North America leg will go to REVERB, a nonprofit organization trying to educate and engage musicians and their fans on environmental sustainability.
Every show will have two REVERB Eco-Villages, a place for fans to help take action for the planet, at the main entrance.
“I wanted to go because the music itself was meaningful, too,” Wilcox said. “Some of her music is sad and some is exciting; she really made you feel the music with her. The performance she gave with each song made the show unforgettable.”
Pittsburgh has over 100 more concerts coming throughout the remainder of the year and into next. Upcoming Stage AE shows include Ken Carson and Tucker Wetmore on Oct. 22 and Nov. 9 respectively. PPG Paints Arena has almost 20 upcoming shows such as Iron Maiden playing on Nov. 8, Rod Wave on Nov. 12 and Justin Timberlake on Dec. 14.
“We have the golden opportunity to see any kind of concert we could want with Pittsburgh only an hour away,” Ewing said. “Having all these venues so close is awesome.”
The 2024 election will take place Nov. 5 all around the country. The polls people will attend are based upon their address.
“Young or old, if you’re a citizen, your voice needs to be heard,” Law and Economics teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “That’s the point of democracy; that we all have a voice.”
The presidential nominees are Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Harris will be running alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Trump is joined by Senator JD Vance.
A poster of an electoral map with results from 2020 that hangs in Mrs. Simone’s room.
Photo By: Emma Helmick
The Pennsylvania senator race is between Republican nominee Dave McCormick and Democratic incumbent Bob Casey.
“We’re not all going to be happy with the end result, but, if we don’t go out and vote and if we don’t exercise that power, we lose that power,” Mrs. Simone said. “It becomes more likely for someone to just be able to take power if we’re not making sure to use ours.”
The deadline to register to vote both in person and by in-mail ballot was Oct. 21.
“I have registered to vote this year, I looked into the candidates, and I’ve seen what their policies are and how they plan to address issues, so I do plan to vote this election,” senior Hannah Stillwagon said.
Young people who are not currently eligible to vote but will be by the election can still register now.
“News sources aren’t really influencing me because they are usually biased, most of the news and commercial ads are,” senior Brenna Kohl said. “I’m trying to make my decision based on what they say in their own speeches and debates.”
For the past few months, news channels and commercials have taken over, as well as political texts, calls, emails and social media posts.
It is easy to get lost in information by relying on that type of media. So it is important to keep up with the candidate’s websites and steer clear from staying loyal to just one news channel.
“Know what key issues matter to you and then see how the candidates match up,” Simone said. “I’ve literally never found a candidate that believes everything I’ve ever wanted. I look to see what really matters to me and then who matches up best with that.”
As they finish their high school careers, GS seniors are spending plenty of time celebrating and taking in their last year, while also preparing for life after high school.
Seniors get to take part in memorable activities like “Senior Sunrise” and “Senior Sunset” along with painting their parking spots in the student lot.
“Events like Senior Sunrise helped me bond with people I haven’t had the chance to spend time with while also helping me make my senior year as memorable as possible,” senior Alaysia Tarpley said.
The Senior class pose as a group at the senior sunrise.
Photo courtesy: gslionssca of Instagram.
These parts of senior year make a big impact on students because it gives them the chance to spend time together before they all go their separate ways. These activities are rewarding for all the time, hard work and effort the seniors have put into school throughout the past four years.
“I think the events get us in the mindset that we’re actually graduating, and we should make the most of the time we have left in high school; both academically and socially,” senior Ellie Swanson said.
Although these activities can be fun and exciting, seniors must still focus on senior projects and preparing for life after high school.
“I think it’s all about learning how to balance school, work and having fun outside of that,” Swanson said. “I’ve had a pretty heavy workload all four years of high school, but I’ve spent a little more time being social and found that it’s much needed.”
Senior projects are a vital part of senior year as it’s a graduation requirement that takes a lot of time and effort throughout the year. Senior projects are independent because there is no class time for them, which helps the seniors learn good time management.
Students also have to start looking into scholarships for college, joining the military or finding a pathway significant to them.
“You need to research colleges and find what is best for you like courses for your major, what environment you want to be in and what scholarships you can get,” she said.
This can be a hard year for some people because they don’t know what they want to do yet, but taking a gap year can always be in the picture.
Taking a gap year can help relieve stress, and it gives students the chance to sit down and really understand what it is they want to do and how they’re going to do it. This time could also be a time to explore new places and new things outside of what one grew up around.
“Preparing for life after high school is different for everybody, and there’s no right way to do it until you’re sure you know what you want to do,” senior Azzy Franklin said.
Local residents woke up bright and early around the area to try to claim their spot in line for free burritos.
On Friday, September 13, Moe’s Southwest Grill opened in North Huntington, PA. The grand opening offered a deal that gifted the first 50 customers free burritos for a year.
GS seniors Josselyn Blawas and Ksena Spencer were among those first 50 customers and not only received a card for free burritos, but also treats from nearby businesses.
Josselyn Blawas and Ksena Spencer hold their certificates for a year of free burritos.
Photo Courtesy: Ksena Spencer
“I did some research about when they would be opening and really just looking for information on the event,” Spencer said. “The Facebook post that I did find only had about 10 shares, so I wasn’t too stressed about being one of the top 50 in line.”
Located at 714 Mills Drive, Moe’s shares a plaza with Tropical Smoothie Café and Crumbl Cookies. In honor of the grand opening, customers waiting outside received mini smoothies and cookies from the businesses.
“Both Crumbl and Tropical Smoothie Café gave out free samples,” Spencer said. “Having Tropical Smoothie next to us was nice since they had a bathroom we were allowed to use.”
Tropical Smoothie Café gives out free samples to people waiting in line.
Photo Courtesy: Ksena Spencer
Blawas was a big fan of the free goodies provided by the business and talked highly of the cookies in particular.
“I got a peanut butter cookie from Crumbl,” Blawas said. “Which is my absolute favorite, so I was super excited.”
Moe’s opened doors at 10:15 am but many were there hours before opening to claim their spot in line. Blawas and Spencer arrived at 7:00am and ended up being 20th and 21st in line.
“Jossy and I were going to get there by 6:00am because of a Facebook post that Moe’s had made which hinted at opening at sunrise,” Spencer explained. “But Thursday night they put out a post saying they would open at 10:15am.”
While only the first 50 people in line received the coupon for free burritos for a year, there were several other treats for those who missed the cutoff.
“They had a wheel you could spin to earn a free bowl, discounted meal or shirt,” Spencer said. “I spun and got a shirt which I gave to my dad since he’s also a pretty big Moe’s fan.”
To claim their spot in line, Blawas and Spencer thought they played it safe by arriving a few hours before the opening. Other customers made sure to be the first in line by showing up a whole night before.
“The first people in line had been there since midnight; they had a whole setup of chairs and a table,” Spencer said.
The new business is bringing even more life to such a popular plaza. The popularity of Moe’s was able to bring Greensburg students all the way out to Irwin. Businesses around not only treated Moe’s customers, but also welcomed them as the morning went on.
“I think the other businesses were happy to see all the traffic the new restaurant was bringing to the area,” Spencer said.
With the opening taking place on a Friday morning, many students in line missed out on class that day. Law and Economics teacher Mr. Mark Zahorchak knew about the opening and just encouraged Blawas to work on her homework in line.
“I had no problem with it as long as Jossy took advantage of the fact that she could watch the videos and do the lesson online,” Mr. Zahorchak said. “It makes it a lot more acceptable to me.”
It’s not everyday people get the chance to win free food for a year, so for Blawas and Spencer it was an exciting experience they won’t forget.
“It’s not often that there are cool opportunities to win something like this near Greensburg,” Spencer said. “My parents thought it would be fun and encouraged me to go.”
Greensburg City Council approved an Active Transportation Plan blueprint to help improve safety within the city.
On September 9, the Active Transportation Plan was approved for development by City Council. The plan will provide a road map for funding and implementing projects to remove any physical barriers that prevent pedestrians from safely walking, biking or using any mobility aid to get from place to place.
The city put out an interactive map, provided by the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission, and surveys for citizens to participate in. Pins could be stuck on specific locations of the online map that the community believed needed improvement.
“There were so many great suggestions from the public for this Active Transportation Plan,” Director of Planning and Development for the city of Greensburg Alec Italiano said. “Some specific suggestions we received concerned traversing through the two main railroad tunnels in town. We took that into consideration when prioritizing the final projects for this study.”
College Avenue Railroad Tunnel.
Photo by: Kerrick Shaw
WalkWorks funded the plan with a $20,000 grant, and it was prepared by Gibson-Thomas Engineering.
WalkWorks is an initiative between the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center that provides funding to Active Transportation Plans to increase the opportunity for safe, accessible and active routes in communities.
“The most important aspect of the plan was to gather information from the citizens and the City Administration on what projects were needed for the city,” Gibson-Thomas Project Manager Mark Szewcow said.
Italiano and Szewcow worked together, along with an assisting staff, to establish a budget, schedule and the final product. Szewcow was responsible for all quality control, project budgets and deadlines.
“I think people will be inclined to walk more; it’s going to be good for people in general,” senior Ryan Ashley said. “Some sidewalks throughout the city need upgrading, with the overgrowth and damage; some crosswalks need to be a lot safer, too.”
Five priority projects were identified by the City Council with 34 total, all of which had their cost, complexity and timeframe determined as well.
The priority projects include implementing safe crossings on Tunnel Avenue, enhancing the Arch Avenue tunnel for pedestrian safety, enhancing the College Avenue tunnel, cyclist safety improvements on College Avenue and pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements on Main Street.
“It has the possibility of revitalizing downtown Greensburg,” social studies teacher Robert Lehman said. “We as a community have to embrace it.”
Homecoming is much more than just a dance at GS. There were so many more activities that came along with it, such as Homecoming Court, the Homecoming Bonfire, the pep rally, the white out football game, the daily themes and lastly the dance.
The first big thing that happened was naming the 2024 Homecoming Court. This is where the senior class voted for seven senior girls who they thought would be the best fit for the Court. Then sophomores, juniors and seniors voted on who they thought should be Queen. This year’s Homecoming Queen is senior Lauryn Swierczynski.
The homecoming court and their escorts during halftime.
Photo By: Rubee Stillwagon
“I’m really pumped that I won and thankful I get to celebrate with my friends and family,” Swierczynski said.
The girls on this year’s Homecoming Court, other than Swierczynski, were Greta Hagofsky, Sloane Potter, Katie Shea, Anna Shevchik, Anna Spigarelli and Grace Sybesma.
“I would say my involvement throughout the school, like being part of sports teams, SCA, the Salem Psychos and just talking with lots of different people around the school helped with my votes,” Swierczynski said.
Homecoming Queen is a title given to a senior girl who is a respected and liked representative of their school and community. Swierczynski is a two-year Varsity Soccer Captain, has done Flag Football for two years, Senior Class Vice President, SCA’s Secretary for last school year, leader of the Salem Psychos and plans to attend a four-year college.
“It’s super exciting to know that so many people voted for me,” Swierczynski said. “I’m very blessed to have that kind of support.”
This year the annual Homecoming Bonfire was on Wednesday, September 18 at the high school.
This was an opportunity for students and their families to visit different clubs’ booths, participate in activities and see who was on the Homecoming Court.
“The bonfire has been around for years,” SCA Advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “It used to be a Senior Night Bonfire many years ago and it was huge; there would be hundreds of people there. It then switched to a Pink Out Bonfire for a few years. And then Mini-THON had it for a year or two before we got it back and decided to make a full homecoming week.”
The bonfire gives clubs the opportunity to get more attention from students and the community. Most clubs set up booths with fun activities to add more fun to the bonfire. But the Homecoming Court announcement is what draws in most people.
“When we got the bonfire back, we decided to make a full Homecoming week,” Gazze said. “With the change of the pep rally format, bringing in the club festival, and having it more community based really makes it a full week of events.”
The Homecoming Pep Rally is a popular activity among the students. It is an opportunity for friendly school rivalry.
“I’ve been a part of the team for two years along with eight other juniors,” junior Maxim Topper said. “Being back-to-back winners for the pep rally is huge and it’s awesome to be a part of that school history.”
This year’s pep rally winners were the juniors, making this their second win in a row. To win, the class teams competed in a series of activities, but they aren’t the only ones that are put up to a challenge.
One of the competitions doesn’t require teams, but their entire class section. The competition is to see which section can be the loudest. This is a way to involve the students who aren’t on the team and keep the crowd interested.
“I think the best part was the spirit event at the end with the student sections,” Topper said. “It’s awesome to see my entire class join in and yell and chant altogether.”
The pep rally brings together students and is a way to show some school spirit and get everyone ready for the whiteout Homecoming football game.
The Junior class celebrates their win.
Photo courtesy: gslionssca on Instagram
Every year, Homecoming is represented at the Friday night football by a white out. To support this, Mini-THON sells annual White Out shirts. Mini-THON is a senior project that helps raise money for pediatric cancer and this is one of their many fundraising opportunities.
“I came up with a couple of designs for the shirts and then we discussed what was going to be the most popular among the students,” senior leader Grace Sybesma said.
The shirts are not only sold to high school students, but also the elementary school and middle school students.
“The shirts have always been a good way for Mini-THON to make money for the kids, but it also gives students something to wear for the white out game,” Sybesma said. “It’s great seeing everyone wear them during the game especially since it helps support Mini-THON’s mission.”
Another thing that students could participate in for Homecoming week were the themes.
“We had about eight themes presented,” Gazze said. “A couple of them overlapped and then we did a blind vote. There was actually a discussion on two and then they decided that one was better suited for prom, and one was better for Homecoming.”
These themes allowed students to wear something fun for the day and branch out from their normal attire. Monday’s theme was Wear Blue, Tuesday was Twin Day, Wednesday was Anything but a Backpack, Thursday was Surfers vs. Bikers and Friday was Class Colors.
“I enjoy doing the themes even if people look at me weird when I go all out,” Topper said. “It gives me the opportunity to add some fun to the school day.”
And lastly, the final activity was the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 21. The dance started at 7pm and went on until 10pm.
“We had somewhere around 390 students show up to the dance,” Gazze said. “Since we’ve started it it’s the biggest one we’ve had.”
The dance was held in the high school cafeteria and gym. In the gym students could listen to music provided by a DJ as well as play cornhole. In the cafeteria, food and tables were set up for students who wanted a break. There was also an area outside for students to get fresh air and cool off.
“I think it was super fun,” Sybesma said. “I liked the fact that there were cornhole boards in the gym so you could take a break but still listen to the music.”
Last year’s Homecoming Dance was the first one in four years at GS. Last year, SCA got feedback from the students so they could ensure they included everything they could to make it a memorable night.
“I think compared to last year’s dance this year was awesome,” Topper said. “I liked the DJ and although it was really hot, I still had a good time with my friends.”
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