Occupy Wall Street Hopes for Change

By: Suli Rivera - Tamarez
The citizens of the United States seem to have had enough with the banks of the country. On September 17th, hundreds of people gathered to rally on the streets of Bowling Green New York otherwise known as, Wall Street. The protesters were mainly around the age of 20, some newly graduated from college and having a hard time finding a job in this economy.

"I have a master’s degree from a top university and $135,000 in student loans (and growing). I've lost 2 jobs in 3 months. I can't afford my antidepressants, but need them more than ever. I'm lucky enough to have friends that live with me, but that won’t last forever. What then,” asked a young woman on her Tumblr account. It seems that now more than ever, the world is pushing young people to get higher degrees for better jobs, but those jobs aren't what they expected and instead are laying off because they can't afford employees.

Facebook has again started a movement. We witnessed as Egyptians were brought together by the social media engine to revolt and demand a just government. In Libya, the citizens demanded the demise of Gaddafi. Facebook helped organize these protest, and once again, people were brought together to bring change by the social network.

"Like our brothers and sisters in Egypt, Greece, Spain, and Iceland, we plan to use the revolutionary Arab Spring Tactic of mass occupation to restore democracy in America", says the official Occupy Wall Street website. Many protesters are looking at what the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, once warned as fuel to their fire. "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. “

As for if the protest will actually bring about change, many believe it to be. Since the protest started in New York on September 17th, other rallies in major cities have begun to organize. A large number of Americans have lost hope in the system, and in cities such as Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C they are making it known. Most recently, Hartford has joined the band wagon of what sources are calling “Occupy Hartford” for all who are against economical inequality and greedy government. On October 11, over 100 people were arrested in Boston for participating in Occupy Boston.

Band Snags 1st Place @ North Adams

By: Amanda Welch, Co-Editor

After a hard lost to Lewis Mills High School at the Bristol Mum’s Parade, the Torrington Marching Band redeemed themselves with a grand come back, by winning last Sunday’s North Adams Fall Foliage Festival Parade in North Adams, Massachusetts.

THS was up against 7 other high schools from New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, including the Red Raider’s largest competitor, Lewis Mills. Torrington’s first place finish was their first since 2008, and their second for this parade. Mills, who was last year’s winner, took second place.

Bridget Bertoldi, drum major, believes that THS went in ready to win. “Looking in everyone’s eyes, I knew everyone wanted it.”

Senior Joe Kuleaza actually had tears in his eyes over the win. “It was so surreal, it was the biggest accomplishment, because we did something that past band members couldn’t do.”

Wayne Splettstoeszer, Band Director, shared in the enthusiasm. “It feels amazing to win! It was a difficult parade and the band has been working extremely hard.”

The Torrington Marching Band has changed their appearance and attitude this year. The marching band has recently purchased new uniforms. Splettstoeszer says “it was time.” The previous uniforms had been in use for 26 years.

“The new uniforms are much lighter than the last,” says Sophomore Devon Donovan. Along with the new uniforms is a new banner created by Sophomore Makenzie Welch. Welch felt that the “the old banner did not match the uniforms, so I was asked to create a banner that would match.”

Senior Krysten Zuffelatto believes the band has become more of a family this year. “It hasn’t felt like this since 2009.”

Band members feel this improved moral contributed to the weekend’s win. Senior Sarah Barrios summed up by saying, “Closer is better.”

End of School Year Now One Day Later

By: Molly Sczucka, Co-Editor
We’ve had no snow days yet, no power outage days yet (no matter how we hoped)… we have already added a day to the school year.

A new district calendar has been published, changing the last day of school from June 14 to June 15. In exchange, students will have October 11, the day after Columbus Day, off from school. Teachers will have to report for professional development.

According to Acting Superintendent Kloczko, the teacher day had been scheduled in August but “was lost to Hurricane Irene.” While in the past, such days have been split into two half days, preventing a change to the school year, Kloczko insisted that such a choice was unavailable.

“Many of the programs from that August day were full day workshops, some with outside presenters, and they had to be schedule when …. available.” She also explained that the information teachers will receive was too important to postpone.
This pushes the last day of school just a little closer to graduation. Should we use more than 5 snow days, underclassmen will have to return to THS after the seniors have graduated.

Mr. McSpiritt explained that the ends of the marking period and final exams will be pushed by a day, however, just like when we have a snow day. This means that students will be taking finals on those last days, whenever they end up being after winter has passed.

In addition to the student’s day off on Oct. 11, two school days have been made half days for students as well, for more teacher workshops. Kloczko says that these days have been requested by principals to cover important changes from the State Department of Education.

The half-days will be on December 13 and March 13. Furthermore, THS only is adding two half-days on November 16 and 17 for parent-teacher conferences. According to Creedon, these days were left off of the original calendar, which did have the half days marked for the spring conferences on March 28 and 29.

Libya's Revolution

By: Amanda Welch, Co-Editor

Libya's agonizing freedom struggle is almost over. No one knows what is in store for the county. It all depends on what choices the Libyan people make. There are many dangers, such as chaos, tribal warfare, and a replacement dictatorship.

The revolution happened because the Libyan people were of one mind: Qaddafi Must Go. Being of one mind, the people won, which proves the basic ground truth of democracy.

The Libyan rebels began full-scale attacks to end the holdouts of Bani Walid and Surt. Their plans failed when enemy fire became too much and hade to surrender. The rebels tried to create peace negotiations, but failed and the loyalist forces opened fire on the rebels.

The rebel cornered Colonel Qaddafi in the desert town of Bani Walid, and he and his two sons were killed. During the rebel’s final weeks of Colonel Qaddafi’s battle, the Chinese state companies offered to sell his government large stockpiles of weapons and ammunition.

After Colonel Qaddafi’s killing the rebels pressed the loyalists into the desert town of Bani Walid, in order to have them surrender peacefully. This event might have shifted the balance of power, after six months of conflict.

Students Travel to Spain for World Youth Day

By: Tiana DeLorge, Reporter

From August 16^th-21^st over a million Catholics gathered in Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day. The streets were packed with Catholics from all over the world and thousands of volunteers.

            Among the million, were a group of 8 from Torrington. For are students at Torrington High School, including Amy Kostak, Dennis Cardenas, Zamir De Jesus, and Tiana DeLorge. They were lead on this journey by Torrington Cluster of Roman Catholic Parishes’ priest Fr. Carlos, and youth leader, Marlene Carrier.

            Throughout the journey they heard keynote speakers on many different subjects, including the media and chastity. Among their favorites were Jason and Crystalina Evert, who spoke on chastity. “Crystalina was so real. She had actually gone through hard times in her life and really knew what she was talking about,” said Kostak. The group also celebrated mass with the Pope amongst over a million youths and went through the Stations of the Cross.

            While walking back from watching the Pope’s arrival with thousands of youths on the streets of Madrid, the group stumbled upon an open spot in the crowd where they were able to see the Pope riding in the Pope Mobil from about 8 feet away.

            They were also able to participate in the United States mass, as Kostak and DeLorge were a part of a group of 8 youths that brought up the gifts for the mass. The group also journeyed to Cuatro Vientos, an air base, where all the youths from World Youth Day gathered for a final Vigil and closing mass with the Pope.

            When asked what his favorite part was from the whole trip, Zamir De Jesus said, “I loved meeting everyone from all the different countries! Everyone was so nice and friendly, and would just come up and talk to you or ask to a picture with you! They loved America, and when they saw our flag many people would ask if we could trade it with them, but we couldn’t because we only had one.”

  “This was such a great experience for the kids! They were able to worship with many Catholics from all over the world and become closer to the Lord,” said Carrier.

            World Youth Day has been going on since 1984 when Blessed Pope John Paul II initiated it. The next World Youth Day will be held in two years, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2013. The group hopes to attend and double its size.

Summer on Main Street

From Our First Issue: Main Street Comes Alive
By: Molly Sczucka, Co-Editor

Every Thursday this summer, downtown Torrington hosted Main Street Market Place (MSMP) as a way to create more business down town. For the second year MSMP has attracted thousands of people each week to a selection of some 50 vendors and a farmer’s market.

For Vendor Coordinator Jessica Hordorski, MSMP is one of the main reasons businesses have been moving downtown and people have been choosing local shops.

“MSMP has helped downtown by making it a destination point again. People have been able to re-familiarize themselves with the stores, restaurants and activities that take place on or around Main Street,” says Hodorski

This year at MSMP people got to witness a fire show, fried dough, and a variety of vendors and other ds. For Kristin Ellis (‘12) who attended MSMP more than once, the market place made Torrington a little more interesting.

“There were alot of the same things each week, but it shows you that its not “Borrington” and that there are things to do and little shops to go in,” says Ellis

For the shops already down town, MSMP has helped their business to gain more notoriety. The vintage and local clothing store Brazen Betties has been a hometown hit with their original “Raggie” shirt. Backstage Restaraunt enjoys increased customers due to the major foot traffic of MSMP.

For Hodorski, her ideal Torrington is a vibrant arts and culture destination. She like other appreciators of local businesses hopes for the down town store fronts to be filled with customers and business. Horoski also understands that the center of cities and towns are what make them unique.

“Downtowns are generally the heartbeat of a town. They can make or break a town. If there is nothing to offer people, then the people will leave. If there is a lot of variety and destination points, then people will visit and support the town,” says Hordoski.

Irene's Road Trip

Hurricane Irene took a trip up the East Coast this weekend, leaving destruction in her wake.

Evacuations were ordered in coastal communities in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. For the first time ever, parts of NYC were evacuated and the subway system was closed. Luckily, by the time Irene arrived, she has weakened enough to limit the damage there.

Coastal Connecticut is facing flooding from the storm surge and the destruction of homes and businesses. Some people were trapped in their homes by flood waters. One person in Prospect perished in a house fire caused by the storm, and two men canoeing in Bristol went missing in the flooded streets. As of this post, one man had been recovered and one was still mising.

Here in Northwest Connecticut, we are facing power outages and river flooding. A number of roads were closed by Sunday afternoon, including the entrance to THS, Riverside Ave. at Besse Park, and South Main Street from Iffland Lumber to the Cemetary. The Farmington River is already above flood stage and the Housatonic River is supposed to crest @ the 3rd highest level ever sometime late this evening.

Professional development for school staff was cancelled on Monday, but as of now, New Student Orientation will be on Tuesday and school will still start on Wednesday.