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By Kevin Biggiani
Do you have any unused gift cards you forgot about? If so, you’re in good company. Bankrate.com, an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service, conducted a recent poll of 2,387 U.S. adults and found that 1,225 participants had outstanding gift cards. When put in the context of the entire adult population of the United States, the poll suggests that more than half of U.S. adults, about 51 percent, forget to use gift cards. These unused gift cards amount to approximately $15.3 billion of gift cards; that is roughly $116.00 per person in the United States.
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 The Evolution Group By Scarlett Shelley
Wake up at 6:00 am, workout, take a shower, get dressed, brush hair, apply make up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and go to a six hour long day of school. Many teens wake up every morning feeling pressured to look perfect, but why do they feel this way? Teenagers are feeling pressured to look a certain way, and are feeling down about themselves; this can affect their mental health. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, researchers found that 49.5% of teens suffer from a mental illness, and many believe that social media is partially to blame. By Leah Cerami
The graduating class of 2024 has been avoiding standardized tests since they stepped foot into the third grade. In 2015, New York State saw a surge in families choosing to opt out of standardized testing. While schools are required to administer state tests, there is no law mandating that students sit to take them. According to data collected by the New York State Education Department, about 20% of eligible students did not participate in testing in 2015, an increase from 2014. By Isabella Morhaim
The leaf piles are growing and the opportunities to experience a fun-filled fall from Oyster Bay to Bayville are endless. Mill Neck Apple Festival is still offering the Oyster Bay community drive-thru apple picking due to COVID-19. Bayville Scream Park brings the fun to life with an ease of mask regulations to those fully vaccinated. To top it all off, after a long fall-filled day, the Jericho Cider Mill offers a variety of fall treats, available to the public year-round. The Mill Neck Apple Festival continues its tradition on Long Island, which began in 1957, while also supporting the Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf by raising money for donations. Supporting this school not only helps children experiencing deafness, but adults, too. This year’s festival greatly benefits those with disabilities; it is meant to empower, celebrate, and embrace those who are affected by a disability. Due to COVID-19, purchases at the festival will be brought to your vehicle's window. At the drive-thru, the public has the opportunity to choose from up to twelve varieties of apples and fruit pies. For the past sixty-three years, volunteers, alongside sponsors, friends, and families, have been supporting the apple festival. However, you can still help out without attending the two-day festival. Mill Neck Manor’s greatest priority is collecting money as a non-profit organization, in order to increase the amount of services to help adults and children who are deaf. Even if you can’t go to the festival, you can still help by donating! By Ava Aschettino
The 2020-2021 school year was one full of loss, isolation, and uncertainty. Calling this year unique would be an understatement. Yet, despite the hardships, the OBEN community persevered through one of the most difficult school years to date. The community adapted, becoming more flexible and resilient in the classroom. While there were limitations to how students could attend school and in what capacity they could participate in activities, the OBEN community collaborated to overcome these obstacles. Through livestreams, social distancing measures, mask requirements, and crowd limitations, students were able to carry on as close to ‘normal’ as possible. Was it perfect? Far from it. But these efforts restored a sense of normalcy to the quintessential OBHS experience. Let's take a look back at some of the highlights of the 2020-2021 school year to see just how OBHS adapted to the pandemic. By Grace Barrios
As life starts to feel normal again, everyone has one thing on their minds: travel. But what are the rules? Where can you go? What are the restrictions? Everyone is trying to navigate and research what travel plans are possible this summer for a much needed vacation. Travel bans are being lifted along with safety protocols about quarantining, which makes traveling easier. However, various states and countries are maintaining guidelines that people are encouraged to follow for public health and safety. Specifically in New York, asymptomatic travellers coming into New York from another state, country or U.S. territory are no longer required to take a test or quarantine. However, the CDC still recommends that non-fully vaccinated people quarantine after travel. By Shannon Walsh
Clothes are a form of expression, style, and creativity. The United States is a country where a wide population are fortunate enough to afford new clothes. However, as we purchase our own clothes, it is important to consider the environmental impact fast fashion has on our planet. Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothes that are mass-produced at low costs and made to fit the newest trends. We must learn about more environmentally friendly ways to purchase clothes. The fashion industry is leaving a lasting impact on the environment. Fast fashion is quickly developing due to its cheap manufacturing paired with seasonal rollout rates. The negative impact of fast fashion is becoming irreversible. The factories that manufacture the clothes produce textile waste and toxic chemicals throughout the process of making and packaging the clothes. By Ava Aschettino
Move over, coffee! Matcha is taking the world by storm, becoming the trendier, healthier start to your day. Coffee enthusiasts across the map are dropping their cappuccinos and making the switch over to matcha for its distinguished taste and health benefits. But what exactly is matcha? Matcha is a powdered Japanese green tea that is not only unique in taste, but rocks a distinguished shade of green. The Washington Post defines matcha as green tea leaves crushed into a fine, electric green powder. The powder is then whisked into warm or hot water, and it dissolves into a frothy drink. According to Healthline.com, Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire green tea leaf (coming from the Camellia sinensis plant), which results in a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants than what is typically found in regular green tea. Is Standardized Testing Gone for Good? COVID-19’s Impact on the College Application Process4/20/2021 By Jackson Troxler
I know, I know. The pandemic is a major topic of discussion over the past several months, and most of us are exhausted from discussing it. However, there are certain effects of the Coronavirus that will impact students even after the pandemic ends. COVID-19 has forever affected the college application process, which was already stressful. While there are temporary changes, such as meeting with admissions representatives over Zoom calls instead of in person, there are other aspects that may be more permanent. One of the main concerns relating to this issue is standardized tests. By Amelia Hahn
Finding yourself with too much free time and don’t know how to spend it? There are an endless number of things that you can do to keep yourself occupied during this pandemic! Although it may not sound like much fun, why not get a head start on “spring cleaning”? Organizing your closet will not only make your parents happy, but you’ll feel productive too! If you find clothing that no longer fits you, load it into a box or storage bin, and the next time you see your friends, give them a chance to look through it. This will be sure to put a smile on your friends’ faces, as it gives them the opportunity to use clothes that you no longer need. If your friends have no need for the items, you can donate them to charity. |
