​By Nicole King
     4-H is an organization founded in 1902 for the youth to reach their fullest potential. Youth accomplish this by following the 4-H motto, to make the best better. It has nearly six million participants around the world. Due to the help of the United States Department of Agriculture, it allows young adults ranging from ages 5-18 to pursue their liking in such projects as animals, crafts, photography, cooking, and many more.
 
     I, Nicole King, am active member in the Howard County 4-H Dairy Club. With the help of my family friends, I started carrying the breeding goat project when I was six years old. It started off when I bred my goat, Peanut, and now I bred two does, mother goats, a year. I reside at Froggy Hollow farm where I am planning on having four baby goats, also known as kids, born this month. Right before they are born, we put the the does in kidding pens with plenty of straw, grain, and water. Normally, they will have two twin babies after completing the 150 gestation period. We normally wait three weeks until castrating the babies and letting them roam outside with their mothers. Starting in a couple weeks after birth, I will practice walking them to prepare them for the pygmy goat show at the Howard County Fair.
 
     Colby Hough, a Sophomore, is the next generation in his family to inherit Woodcamp Farm. He is a lively member of the Howard County 4-H Beef Club where he carries the project of breeding and market lambs. This year, he had six lambs born on his farm. Three of these were wethers; male castrated lambs. The other three were ewe lambs; young females. He bred their three ewes in August of 2016 and anxiously awaited the 152 days for the babies to be born. Fortunately, they had three sets of twin lambs born to each ewe which is normal for ewes to produce. When the lambs were first born, Colby had to keep them under a heat lamp for the first three weeks of their lives to help them maintain a good body temperature of 102°-103° Fahrenheit. After these weeks, they were able to step outside the barn and get some fresh air with their moms. Colby plans to start halter breaking them so they are able to be shown in the show ring at the Howard County Fair.
 
     Makenzie Hereth, a Freshman, is a vigorous member in the Howard County 4-H Dairy Club. In this club, she carries the project of breeding and market hogs. At her farm this year, Idiot's Delight, they are anticipating ten litters of piglets to be born. Normally, each litter contains approximately 10-15 piglets. Their family is known for breeding Hereford, Berkshire, and Yorkshire sows, mother hogs. When the sows give birth, it is referred to as “farrowing”. When these piglets are first born, they must be given a series of shots such as vaccines against a circovirus, pneumonia, and iron deficiency issues. The piglets must also live their first three weeks under a heat lamp to remain between 101.6°-104 Fahrenheit. After those three weeks, they will stay in the temperature controlled barn until they are strong enough to go outside. Makenzie plans to raise these hogs for market and sell at the 2017 Howard County 4-H Livestock Sale.
 
     Mitchell Feaga, a Junior, is a remarkable member of the Howard County 4-H Bullseye Club. In this club, he holds the dairy heifer project. A dairy heifer is a female cow that has not given birth to a calf yet. When the cows are bred, they have approximately nine months until giving birth to a heifer or bull calf. This year, Mitchell’s cows gave birth to two bulls and two heifers. Two hours after being born, the owner must separate the calves from their mother to prevent the mother from accidentally stepping onto the calves. For the first three weeks of their lives, they must be bottle fed twice a day. It's also critical to milk the mother cow to prevent the milk from building up in her udders. If this occurs, it is called Mastitis which requires antibiotics to help treat. Mitchell plans to continue growing his dairy herd to provide wholesome dairy products for our growing world.
 
     With many possibilities open in 4-H, it is a great way to get yourself a name. There are many clubs that people can join depending on your interests. Once you find the club for you, stick with it and it will lead you to amazing opportunities. Such opportunities will help advance you when applying to college and finding the career for you!

By Alex Long and Paige Sheldrake     

​     The holidays are a great time of year to bring friends and family together to have joyful times. What is there to do when the holidays are over? The temperature drops and the snow starts to fall. For some people, the answer is easy; stay warm inside. Glenelg High School student Matthew Hulett’s favorite Winter activity is, “Spending time indoors with my closest friends and family.” Ice skating is another exciting indoor activity for the cold winter months. It only costs nine dollars per person at the Columbia Ice Rink, and some days the rink features live music. The Gardens Ice House in Laurel costs even less at about seven dollars per person. Both places have snack bars and rental skates available. Other people however like to take advantage of the snow. One of Glenelg High School’s teachers, Mr. Hereth, enjoys snowboarding. Mr. Hereth frequently snowboards at Crested Butte in Gunnison County, Colorado. He also enjoys snowboarding locally at Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, PA. Mercersburg is only an hour and a half away from Glenelg and they offer skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. If you would prefer to watch a movie, The Senator Theatre, in Baltimore, offers the rare experience of going to see a movie in an old time theatre. Other theatres like Regal in Snowden and Hollywood Cinema in Arbutus have new reclining chairs to kick back and relax while enjoying a good movie with friends or family. If you are short on cash, the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC are the perfect solution because admission is free. There are also great museums in Baltimore like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. However, according to Rick Seaney, CEO of Fare Compare, “January (and part of February) is a dead zone, or off-peak period that begins once Christmas and New Year's flights have ceased.” (Seaney) This means that January through February is the perfect time to book your dream trip because that is when air fare is at it’s cheapest. Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean the fun has to end.

By Logan Barragan 

     At this point, you would have to be living under a rock, under 10 layers of concrete, located in the middle of nowhere, to not have been affected by the Mandela Effect.  The basic idea of this controversial topic is that someone, or more commonly, a group of people, have a memory of something that never actually happened the way they were sure it did. The reason it was given the title, “The Mandela Effect” is because many people can remember President Nelson Mandela’s death taking place in a prison in the 1980s, however he actually passed away in the winter of 2013. The reason people have this belief is because he was imprisoned for a certain time. This situation sparked questions regarding why people remembered an event that did not actually happen, and it led to even more discoveries of past events at fueled countless theories.

     What was the famous line Darth Vader said to Luke Skywalker when he confessed to him that he was his father? What is the ending line of the famous 1977 Queen Song “We Are The Champions?”  Most believe that Darth Vader said “Luke I am your father” and that the song ends saying “of the world.” Wrong. “Of the world” was never written into the song, and Darth Vader actually said, “no, I am your father.” Another very popular example are the children’s book series The Berenstain Bears. Countless were floored when they found out that Berenstain actually ends with an “ain” as opposed to an “ein.”  Those are just three examples that have sent people into a frenzy, trying to figure out why if they remember something one way, what actually happened was nothing of the sort.

     Some extreme conspiracy theorists believe that alternate universes exist, and that we, as the human race, have been unknowingly going into these alternate universes and gaining memories of events that never occurred.  Now, this is somewhat of a hard concept to grasp. To each their own, but I personally think that is a little bit of a stretch. It is hard to consider “alternate universes” to be the only logical answer to this phenomenon. There is always the underwhelming possibility that a lot of us just have a bad memory. But where is the fun in that?

     For numerous individuals, this whole ordeal is very exciting, and extremely thought provoking. To think that there are other realms out there that alter our memory, even if it does seem absurd, why not consider it as a possibility? Or don’t, it is a little hard to wrap your head around. In the end, believe what you want, but be rest assured that this phenomenon will not be hushed. People want answers, no matter how complex they may be. 

By Jade Washington

     Before there were roses, Valentine’s day card and teddy bears with chocolates, there was Saint Valentine sitting in his prison cell writing his final letter, awaiting his execution. Everyone knows Valentine’s Day as a day of affection, candy, and romance; however, before cupid could shoot with his bow and arrow and strike the hearts of many a man named Valentine first had to come about to originate the famous holiday.

     Even though there are many legends regarding Saint Valentine, the one story that holds truth to it is from a special catholic website. The story is set around the third century in Rome, Italy, when Claudius II, an oppressive emperor, ordered all Romans to worship idol gods and made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. Valentine, a Catholic, refused to worship idols and instead follow the ideals of Christ. He later was arrested and imprisoned. While in his confinement, he taught a jailer’s daughter named Julia, about Rome’s history, mathematics, nature, and God. Since she was blind since birth, “she saw the world through his eyes”. As time passed, with prayer every morning and night, she regained her vision back and expressed it with great joy to Valentine. Consequently, on his execution day, he wrote a letter to Julia pleading her to stay close to God writing “ Sincerely, Your Valentine” before he died on February 14.

     Thereafter, the Romans created a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February where boys would draw girls’ names from a box and then they would dance in the festival. Later,  near the end of the fifth century,  Pope Gelasius declared February 14 to be St.Valentine’s Day in remembrance of Saint Valentine,  a martyr. Gradually, in the early 1700s, Americans began exchanging hand-made cards with one another that was made from real lace, ribbons, colorful drawings, and some included written poems.

     Today, we still associate Valentine’s Day as the day of love and affection with sweet candy, cuddly teddy bears, and gooey chocolates. Valentine’s Day may not be recognized as when Saint Valentine died, but is known for appreciation, friendship, love and romance. Just remember when Valentine’s Day makes its way around that it first was about friendship, so be like Cupid and strike the hearts of many with your overflowing kindness. 

By Emma Twigg
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​     Most people would agree that 2016 was not a great year overall. There were many tragedies, conflicts, and deaths. However, it is a new year and, despite some sad instances, the positives appear to outweigh the negatives. Hopefully 2017 will be filled with uplifting stories, such as those below. All across the world, there are positive stories that have been overlooked due to their minimal significance, but they hold an uplifting message that everyone should hear.

     In China, a 600-year-old Buddha head was found when water levels fell during renovation work. The Buddha was found in China’s Jiangxi Province by a local villager who noticed it along the side of a hydropower gate. According to archaeologists, the statue may date all the way back to the Ming Dynasty, which existed from 1368-1644 C.E. Researchers told CNN that they believe the Buddha could be the beginning of a temple or more archaeological treasures, such as the ancient town of Xiaoshi. To researchers, this discovery was exciting and gave them hope to find more of the vanished Xiaoshi.

     2017 has also brought a rising popularity in goat yoga. Lainey Morse, a goat farm owner, has created a class that now has a 1,200 person waiting list. The class incorporates goats into yoga, allowing the students to interact with the goats. The classes are held at Morse’s farm in Oregon and has provided happiness for all who participate. The goats are allowed to join the students in their class, acting as an adorable distraction while allowing students to relax.

     In more animal news, the Atrium Mall in Istanbul, Turkey has opened its doors to allow homeless dogs to sleep inside away from the cold. The mall has provided blankets for the poor pups that have no place to turn when the weather gets bad. Volunteers gave the dogs food and made sure they were comfortable for the night.

     Last in the positive news of 2017, an elderly man by the name of Bob Rutherford has created a device that helped knit thousands of socks for a local shelter. Located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Rutherford felt that he wanted to benefit his community in some way, so he set to work on building a cheap knitting machine. He made his machine out of old sewer tubing. He now has made over 10,000 pairs of socks for shelters not only in Saskatoon, but around the country. Luckily, Rutherford has had the support of his friends and family to help him on his sock journey. The old man has claimed that knitting the socks has finally given him a purpose after his wife’s death. Rutherford claims that many older folks “look at the wall with nothing to do”, but now with his sock machine, he has found something to keep him occupied and give him a reason to get up in the morning.

     2017 may have just started, but optimism appears to be the focus. Hopefully, the happy news will continue for the rest of the year. 

By Molly Swartz & Abbey Soltis
​   
     Are you tired all the time?  Do you find yourself waiting until the period before to do your homework? Did you finish that Netflix series before you finished that paper? Chances are, you are a senior.

Diagnosis: Senioritis
Cure: Graduation
 
     We have survived twelve plus years of school. That’s 3000 school lunches, forty-eight quarters, and twenty-four semesters. If there’s anyone who understands the phrase, “I’m so done”, it’s the seniors. Unfortunately, we are not done yet; can we endure this last semester? 

     Senioritis is a disease that is affecting all of the almost four million seniors worldwide. Although it is not a deadly disease, Senioritis can cause many symptoms, all of which are aimed to make life miserable. A lack of motivation, severe procrastination, and being easily agitated are just three components of Senioritis that can result in uncomfortable relationships between you and your friends, teachers, and especially parents. Often, these already uncomfortable relationships will spiral downhill, at a conveniently similar rate as your grades.

     This lack of motivation can come with serious consequences. According to the International College Counselors Program, “A drop in performance can [...] result in consequences such as getting dropped from an honors program or having your admissions postponed”. These are not the only consequences to laziness in the final semester of senior year. The program also stated that colleges can potentially get booted from admission. They explain that “the number of students who get their acceptance offers withdrawn is small as the drop usually needs to be significant before colleges go that far. However, colleges can and do punish in other ways.” These punishments include a warning letter, or an clarification via phone call in order to explain what has occurred with a student’s academic performance.

     The key to beating Senioritis is to stay on top of your responsibilities. Planning and maintaining a schedule will ensure that you will get everything that needs to be completed done, with plenty of room for the special activities that make senior year so great. Although it is hard to stay motivated, keeping yourself on a high level of achievement will benefit you in the long run. 

     Although seniors are striving to stay on top of their responsibilities, many live for after school activities. For example, “Going to the movies is a great way for us to hang out and relax after a tough week of homework and tests,” Michael Lyons says. Many students also enjoy going out to eat with friends. Or, during a busy week, Jeffery Powell says that “playing games like 2K is a fun (yet frustrating) distraction from the pressures of school. Video games can be the perfect way to occupy your brain, while still leaving time for homework and other responsibilities. The combination of the pressure to succeed and the freedom to do what we want is what makes senior year so unique. Just keep the steady balance between the two, and you will find that this last semester is flying by.

     Our four years are almost up. We are applying to colleges and preparing ourselves for the next huge step in our lives; there will be no more waking up at 6 am to get ready to catch the bus. No more of that feeling of not wanting to leave your bed because it's warm and cozy. No more time consuming busywork assignments.  Although there are many aspects of high school we can’t wait to abandon, you should not be surprised when you realize there are going to be activities we are going to miss.  No more Friday night lights at football games. No more intense basketball games, or playing wall ball after school before lacrosse.  We will never dress up and go to another homecoming or prom with our friends. As much as we complain about how we hate school and can’t wait to leave, we need to cherish these last couple of months because nothing will ever be the same. Yet with everything we are going to miss, as we close one door, it leaves us with an open door of opportunity.  Whether you are working towards going to college, the workforce, or into the military, you should see graduation as a start to a new beginning with new memories, friends and successes.

By Samantha Larson  

​The holiday of love is just around the bend, and creative date ideas can be hard to scrape up. Sure, the movie theater is nice every now and again, but your valentine deserves a nice change of pace. Don't stick to the cliches, they get old fast. No box of chocolates, no half dead roses. Try something new! Here are five fun date ideas to make your valentine feel truly special.
 
1. Take a Hike
Sure it may be a little chilly, but nothing beats bundling up in cozy sweaters and down coats. Maybe bring some thermoses of tea and hot soup. Enjoy nature right along side your loved one. And thankfully, here in Maryland, nature isn't too hard to find. There are wonderful little trails winding all through the state. So grab your winter gear, your valentine, and go trek through the beautiful Maryland forests.
 
2. Indoor Picnic
An adventurous hike in the cold is nice now and again, but sometimes it's just too chilly. Clear some space in your living room, spread a blanket, light a few candles, buy fresh flowers, and set up a picnic! Perhaps play some quiet nature noises in the corner to add to the affect. Get a basket, and pack some of your valentine’s favorite foods. Or maybe just traditional picnic foods like watermelon and peanut butter jelly sandwiches. Trust me, they will be thrilled.
 
3. Scavenger Hunt
Did you get your valentine a present? Well, maybe instead of just handing it to them, set up a scavenger hunt around the house that will eventually bring them to their gift! Write out clues that lead your valentine to their surprise. Try to make each clue creative, and perhaps something that relates to your relationship to add a nice twist. 
 
4. Karaoke Competition
What could be better than singing your heart out to cheesy 80s hits alongside your valentine? Nothing trumps that! And if you don't have one of those clunky karaoke machines, no worries! You can check out sites like thekaraokechannel.com or singsnap.com. You can compete with others, against each other, or just have fun! Online karaoke websites have a lot of older and newer music to choose from, so if you and your valentine don't have the same taste in music, no need to worry!
 
5. Road Trip
Plan a good ol’ fashioned road trip with your valentine. Get out of Maryland, cruise along route 70, and see the states! Indulge yourselves in fast food and gas station snacks. And don't forget to bring along some tunes! Road trips are always made better with your valentine by your side, and good music blasting over the stereo. Visit quirky little tourist traps, and don't forget to take a lot of pictures!

By Mason Steinberg
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Everybody loves a surprise snow day, but some people just find themselves sitting inside wasting their time off. Here are some fun snowed in activities that will help you out.

1.  Go Sledding
What better way to spend your snow day then playing in the snow while it is here!
 
2.  Make Hot Chocolate
This drink will help to warm you up, and also, it tastes delicious.
 
3.  Make a snowman or an igloo
This can be a bit time consuming, but you can create masterpieces if you have the patience.
 
4.  Binge watch your new favorite show on Netflix
Sometimes, a lazy day is necessary, so you might as well start a new season of a show!
 
5.  Make snow slushies
Scoop up some fresh snow and pour your favorite soda on it for a tasty treat.
 
6.  Take a nap
Catch up on your sleep while you can!