Pretty Little Liars Recap

By: Tiana DeLorge, Reporter

As summer started, Season 2 of “Pretty Little Liars” began. The four girls, Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily, were forced into therapy with the local therapist, Anne Sullivan, who was surprisingly understanding and willing to hear all of their problems, but most importantly their secrets.

            Yet, when she asks them to find other friends separately, the girls become upset and concerned, seeing as it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Spencer still has a relationship with Toby while Aria and Ezra hope to go public with their relationship, as Ezra has moved to Hollis College to teach.

 Emily may move to Texas, and Hanna has some very confused feelings now that Caleb’s back in town.

Not to mention Ian may still be alive! Jason DiLaurentis has moved back into town, and Spencer’s sister Melissa has been acting strange since Ian has disappeared.

            Through all the crazy twists and turns of the summer from Emily moving in with Hanna, Dr. Sullivan’s office being trashed, and finding Ian’s dead body, to Hanna’s father coming back into town, and the fashion show disaster.

As Aria’s brother becomes distant and begins lashing out, “A” puts HGH in Emily’s shoulder cream and putting her in the hospital and threatening to expose the traces of HGH (that could put her in a lot of trouble for swimming in college.)

“A” even comes in contact and touches Emily, which leads to the season finale where Dr. Sullivan finds out who “A” is, only to be kidnapped and have the girls framed with Ali’s murder weapon. The girls find themselves in trouble with the police yet again, just as they were at the end of last season. 

            Check out the Pretty Little Liars Halloween event coming Wednesday, October 19^th!

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.

Crossing the Bridge with Nick Collins

By Mr. Vergaro, Guest Reporter

Life was good, and it was about to get better. I was on my way to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for a Packers’ Shareholder meeting. Green Bay, the center of the football universe! For a fan, it was a bucket list trip. I had been to games years ago, but now I had a chance to attend a shareholder’s meeting at Lambeau Field and the in the Hall of Fame.

I had an exit row seat on the flight out of Detroit, and even better yet, I was alone in the exit row. Leg room and privacy were mine. The flight attendant offered a seat in the exit row to another passenger, assuring him that he would welcome the extra space. I made room for a twenty-something (28, in fact) black man wearing an Angles baseball cap (slightly sideways). The guy was obviously an athlete, and with training camp opening up in two days, I didn’t need to be a genius to figure out this was one of the Green Bay Packers.

The football player glanced over. He saw what I I see in the mirror every day. He saw a conservatively dressed, 55-year-old white guy with a military buzz cut. He immediately pulled out an iPod and put in his ear buds. Seriously, what could we have in common with each other? He sees a fan and expects the same tired questions, so he sends out the message with his ear buds. He wants his privacy. I respect his space, and pull out the book I was reading, A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

The professional athlete glanced over at my book, a nd then I see the double-take. Out come the ear buds. He asks me about the book. He is watching the adaptation of the book in the form of an HBO series. And so it begins. I get an hour and a half talking to Nick Collins, a Superbowl winner, and the starting safety on the Green Bay Packers.

The book was the bridge. We did have something in common. We had a story, a fictional world and a narrative that drew up both in. And once we crossed that bridge, we found that we had much more in common. At the end of the flight, when we shook hand and I said, “It’s been a pleasure,” he responded with a very genuine, “Yes, it really has been.”

The moral? Read. It will enrich life and provide connections that cut across age, race, professions, and every other barrier life tries to put up. Reading bridges our differences and provides one more piece of common ground.

Oh, and of course, “Go, Pack, Go!”

Soccer's Pains and Sorrows

Tuesday, September 6, saw an up and down contest between THS and Northwestern soccer in yesterday's scrimmages. After an amazing performance last Friday, the varsity boys unfortunately found defeat on the field yesterday.

The varsity girls, however, rallied and scored big in a win against their opponents. The win was not without sacrifice, however; Morgan Thulin (12) sustained injury to her knee. Confirmation of what type of injury has not been received.

Regular season games begin on 9/13. The boys will be at home vs. Wilby at 3:45.

"Awkward" Makes Hook Ups Not Awkward.

By: Molly Sczucka, Co Editor

MTV’s new scripted show “Awkward” follows the life of Jenna Hamilton, a 15 year old high school girl who of course isn’t popular, has the enemy cheerleader, and has a witty sense of humor.

While the theme may be a cliché - an unnoticed girl going through a self-conscious stage in her life who is pining after the hot football hunk - the dialogue and sense of humor heightens the show’s promiscuity and humor.

We first meet Jenna as she recounts the defamation of her precious virgin flower at camp with the high school hunk Matty. While her first time is uncomfortable, the story takes an unusual turn when Matty admits his feelings for Jenna but also the fact that admitting his affection towards her would ruin his own image. While I find the dialogue clever, this unusual theme hooked me on to the show first.

To add oil to the fire, Jenna has a mishap in the bathroom with a hairdryer, a tub, razors, and pills. While to some this may seem like a harsh joke on teenage suicide, MTV relieves the tension and presents the situation in a way that you just can't help but laugh.

While the humor of the show began with what appeared to be an attempted suicide, the flawed characters and witty diction add more spice. Jenna’s parents who became pregnant in high school alleviate the on going issue of teen pregnancy by trying to be friend their daughter rather than guide her. Jenna’s sidekick Tamara pokes fun at the social climbing aspect of high school where it’s believed you gain popularity by the amount of “red cup” pictures you have.

While the crash humor entertains my inappropriate sense of humor, the dialects can sometimes be a little stereotypical. Yes as teenagers we find it easier to say “LOL” rather than “that brought me great humor” but when the acronym “DTR” came about one episode, I was insulted by the idea that we base our whole vocabulary off of acronyms. Never have I once use the term “DTR” in any situation. (For those who don’t watch the show DTR means define the relationship, something that Jenna has an issue doing with Matty.)

If you’ve never seen the show before it could be because it airs at 11 o’clock at night. The late airing is due to the graphic sexual dialogue for a teen series that you wouldn’t normally find. But at this time in pop culture, how often can you replay the outsider girl who gets the hunk’s attention card without spicing it up a little?

This raunchy and witty new comedy will have you falling for Jenna’s hope to find herself in high school. John Hughes may have coined the theme of high school loners finding their place in school, but MTV is revitalizing that theme and making “Awkward” the show to watch.

Schedule for Opening Week

Wednesday - August 31^st - Opening Day Schedule

Homeroom 7:25 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Period 1 8:55 a.m. – 9:31 a.m. Senior Assembly – Little Theater

Period 2 9:35 a.m. – 10:06 a.m. Junior Assembly – Little Theater

Period 3 10:10 a.m. –10:41 a.m. Sophomore Assembly – Little Theater

Period 4 10:45 a.m. – 11:16 a.m.

Period 5 11:20 a.m. – 12:54 p.m. (Includes Lunch Shift)

1^st Lunch 11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

2^nd Lunch 11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

3^rd Lunch 12:24 p.m. – 12:54 p.m.

Period 6 12:58 p.m. – 1:29 p.m.

Period 7 1:33 p.m. – 2:06 p.m.

September 1^st - Schedule

Homeroom 7:25 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Collect Forms

Period 1 7:49 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Period 2 8:34 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Period 3 9:19 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Period 4 10:04 a.m. – 10:46 a.m.

Period 5 10:50 a.m. – 12:24 p.m. (Includes Lunch Shift)

1^st Lunch 10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

2^nd Lunch 11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

3^rd Lunch 11:54 a.m. – 12:24 p.m.

Period 6 12:28 p.m. – 1:14 p.m.

Period 7 1:18 p.m. – 2:06 p.m.

September 2^nd - Schedule

Homeroom 7:25 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Collect Forms

Period 1 7:49 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Period 2 8:34 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Period 3 9:19 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Period 4 10:04 a.m. – 10:46 a.m.

Period 5 10:50 a.m. – 12:24 p.m. (Includes Lunch Shift)

1^st Lunch 10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

2^nd Lunch 11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

3^rd Lunch 11:54 a.m. – 12:24 p.m.

Period 6 12:28 p.m. – 1:14 p.m.

Period 7 1:18 p.m. – 2:06 p.m.

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.