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Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Completion of Winter Sports at Valley Stream North By Joseph Garofalo Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Original photo from VSN Spartans Instagram With winter sports on Long Island ending, Valley Stream North had a strong showing from all teams and athletes. From the track to the mat, the court to the range, our athletes fired on all cylinders to complete the season on a high note. The original sports beginning on January 4th included Winter Track and Field, Rifle, Bowling, Fencing and Gymnastics. Although VSN did not have any athletes participate in Gymnastics, our district team finished with two gymnasts performing at the County championship. In bowling, junior Tiffany Wong completed the year placing 5th Overall out of 21 in the Nassau County Championship. In Rifle, junior Nicholas Cavaliere led his team to another Nassau County Championship win. Our Fencing teams did not participate in County Championship; however, they had a strong senior campaign from Irene Quintero. Finally, Winter Track and Field, led by Coach Frazer and Coach Boyens, concluded their season in their first head-to-head meet against Mineola. Strong efforts were shown from seniors Ahmya McMillan, Malachi Lewis, Jake Cresser and Danielle Phillip as they hope to win another county championship come spring. In the second wave of sports that began on February 1st, Boys and Girls Basketball, Wrestling and Competitive Cheer were permitted to begin their seasons. Though the new normal made the resumption of high-risk sports harder than normal, our teams were able to persevere and finish their shortened seasons. Under Coach Achatz, and the strength of juniors Godwin Eyiuche and Malcolm Harrington, the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team completed their season with a win against Plainedge High School. Our Varsity girls team lead by Coach Karahalios, had a strong outing as well with the help of seniors Justice Gordon and Emmy Saracino. Our Wrestling team completed the season with a match against Mineola and Island Trees. Strong performances were shown by senior Noah Gonzalez, and junior Daniel Amin. Finally, the Competitive cheer team closed the winter season with a performance at Cold Spring High School. Many student-athletes like myself now look to the “relocated” fall season, now being hosted in the spring. Those begin March 1st and include Boys and Girls Soccer, Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball, Football, Cross County, sideline Cheer, and Girls’ Tennis. Good job by all of our winter athletes, and good luck to all of those participating in our fall season. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Results: 2020 Exit Polls By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Ben Kirchner With the 2020 presidential election concluded, exit polls in all states continue to be reviewed. Exit polls are conducted directly after voters cast their ballots that give a more detailed report to the demographics of a region. The 2020 exit polls specifically provide an important outlook to the difference between the 2016 and 2020 presidential election. It is important to note that this election has shown record voter turnout, with the most votes cast in over a century. According to NBC news, more than 150 million voters cast ballots. Due to the drastic change in voter turnout (in comparison, only 138 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election), the exit polls changed as well. In the 18-29 age group, the presumed President-elect Joe Biden gained five percent more votes in comparison to the 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, as stated by CNN. Furthermore, CNN reports that President Donald Trump lost the support of older voters aged 45-64 years of age by seven percent. While Democratic nominee Joe Biden performed stronger in the age category in comparison to the 2016 democratic nominee, he underperformed among Black voters. According to CBC news, Trump gained five percent more of the Black vote while Biden lost two percent of the Black vote when comparing the 2016 and 2020 election results. However, Biden still won the Black vote nationwide by a large margin. As reported by NBC news, although nationally most Latinos voted for Biden, President Trump continued to strengthen his Latino vote in battle ground states such as Florida. The 55% of the Cuban American vote, 30% of the Puerto Rican vote, and 48% of other Latinos that voted for the President largely impacted the rest of the state. For example, in the largest county by population in Florida, Miami-Dade, the President improved his total vote from 334,000 votes to 529,000. In comparison, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won 624,000 votes, while the presumed President-elect Joe Biden only won 613,000, a decrease in votes. Although Trump lost in Miami-Dade County, he won enough votes elsewhere in Florida to win the state. As stated by Jennifer De Pinto and Fred Backus of CBS news, “Florida Latinos said Mr. Trump would do a better job than Biden handling the economy”. Therefore, the economy played a major factor to the gains the president made in the Latino community. Although media outlets continue to study and report exit polls, the data clearly show a divided nation. As former President Barack Obama stated in reference to the election results, “What it says is that we are deeply divided. The power of the alternative worldview that’s presented in the media that those voters consume -- it carries a lot of weight”. With record-breaking voter turnout and a tight election, Americans continue to be divided on politics. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections 25th Amendment vs. Impeachment By Matteo Somma Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images History will remember the tragic events that took place January 6th of 2021. On that Wednesday, a group of Donald Trump supporters rioted at our nation's Capital building in Washington D.C., and what started as a peaceful “Save America March” quickly escalated into a mob of people swarming the Capitol building. Many blame Donald Trump. The mob of people trapped members of Congress inside and put the Capitol building on lockdown. As crowds of rioters climbed the Capitol walls, broke windows, and pushed past Capitol police, National Guard, Secret Service, and the building's security, they broke into the building. With bomb threats and armed domestic terrorists, Representatives and Senators were afraid for their lives. Multiple Senators, both Democratic and Republican, agreed that this was a humiliation to our country. Whether or not this was Donald Trump’s fault, many can agree that this was one of the most disappointing days in the history of our nation. Following the events of January 6th, many are blaming Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi. Speaker Pelosi has urged Vice President Mike Pence and the rest of President Trump's cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment which states, “Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principle offers of the executive departments or such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.” In simple terms, if Vice President Mike Pence and Donald Trump's cabinet agreed on removing President Trump and Congress went along with it, President Trump would be removed as President, and Vice President Mike Pence would become the Acting President and continue the duties of a President until the inauguration of President-Elect of Joseph Biden on January 20th. The second option for Donald Trump's removal of office is impeachment. This would be his second impeachment while serving his time as our nation’s President, but this time Congress is ready. Speaker for the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, stated “We must take action” on removing President Trump from office. She and the Democratic caucus in the House unanimously impeached Trump on January 13th as Vice President Mike Pence did not move forward with invoking the 25th amendment. It was not just Pelosi who wanted President Trump removed from office, it was countless Republican and Democratic politicians as well. A handful of Republican Senators, such as Pat Toomey (R-PA), stated that Trump simply “needs to get out.” President-elect Joe Biden also stated that “for a long time President Trump was not fit to hold the job.” Whether Trump was impeached or the 25th amendment invoked or neither, two things are for certain: President Trump’s presidential authority expires on January 20th at 12:00 PM, and January 6th will go down in history as a dark day in America. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Fall By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by DK Findout Look around The world's changing all around Colors flying Babies crying Out of all seasons This one's my favorite for many reasons Number one And then I'll be done   Trees swaying Children playing Bouncing up and down I can see the whole town Breeze is chilly, kissing my cheek Shivering, I run to the creek Strands of hair come lose from my bun And that's when it gets fun   Red, orange, yellow That's when things start to get mellow Shhhhhhhhhh Crack! I turn around and see a pack It seems like I'm flying And then I start crying Blood's dripping everywhere Looks like the creek doesn't want visitors here   Is it me or am I hallucinating Ghosts are emerging Zombies are popping from the ground I fall, waiting to be found Excitement races through my body Even though the blood is flowing Laughter rings throughout my yard My siblings' plan worked after all Anger shoots up to my head All I can see is red   Jumping up I face them Humor isn't in my mind A rock goes sailing in the air I can't tell who began the war But I all I know, is to get revenge Ahhhhhhhhhhh My body looks like a bloody mess I knew I should have played chess Instead I went outside Not knowing I might not come back inside   Red, blue, white Lights are flashing My mother's screaming Cut! Oh, how much I love fall Making movies and all 5 stars That's what we got My father loved the movie after all Maybe we'll make another one next fall BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Shifts Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Elaine Ching Our lives have many stages. A book to fill with many pages. Each chapter is a threshold to cross. Bringing new excitement and depressing loss. Chapter one begins our journey. Blooming taste buds with our first taste of turkey. Curiosity peeks at an early age. Ready to explore outside our house-like cage. Life moves quickly through early chapters. From running wild to learning manners. Learning happens at every stage. A new lesson in every pilgrimage. At first the school seemed to be amaze. Creating new friendships that set our hearts ablaze. As we get older, we make new connections. Enabling us to see the world in different perceptions. Twists and turns arrive at every corner. From meaningless banter to harmful chaunter. Elementary to middle to high school. A whole new set of fish in a bigger pool. Leaving high school seems like a dream. However, when reality sits in, it's hard not to scream. Adult life isn't easy, it isn't what we think. We start to miss the days when we couldn't drink. Soon enough, we have our own family. It's hard to keep track, it's happening so rapidly. Our children go from a baby to a teen. Things change so fast; we can't believe what we've seen. The time comes to let them go. That's when our mind wanders to long ago. When the moment arrives, we'll look back, one last time. At all the shifts that lead to this one last prime. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections 2021 MLB Preview By John McCarthy Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 No Image available at this time Spring training for major league clubs ends in a little over a week. Opening Day is April 1, when the games start to count. Many teams have made substantial roster moves that bring excitement to their teams. Opening Day is a day for high hopes and celebrating that baseball is back! So, how did teams shake up their rosters and what can we expect this year? Let's look through each team and how they stack up this year along with my predictions for the 2021 regular season. AL EAST Baltimore Orioles: Last Year (25 - 35) , This Year Predicted (59 - 103) The Orioles find themselves in a massive rebuild, where they built a strong core of young talent, but will not succeed at the major league level for a couple of years. Adley Rutschman is the Orioles’ next top prospect they hope to develop into their franchise catcher. Their last catcher prospect, Chance Sisco, has not worked out yet, having been at the MLB level for 4 years and had little production during that time. Hopefully for the Orioles, Rutschman has a better fate. If the talent wasn’t bad already, their starting third baseman Renato Nunez signed with the Tigers. This leaves Trey Mancini as their best hitter with depth level players at all other positions. It is fair to say that the pitching on this team is sub-par... very sub-par. John Means was the bright spot for the pitching staff posting below-average numbers. Boston Red Sox: Last Year (24 - 36) , This Year Predicted (75 - 87) Last year was a change of pace for the Red Sox. A very successful team in the 2010s found themselves in last place in their division. However, in the shortened season injuries plagued the Sox with pitchers Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez both losing major playing time. The Red Sox also traded away their star player Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. Otherwise, the healthy Red Sox remain a solid team if J.D. Martinez can bounce back from his bad 2020 and Chris Sale can return to the dominant pitcher he was back in 2018. In a tough division, I find them falling to fourth place in the AL East as an average MLB team. New York Yankees: Last Year (33 - 27) , This Year Predicted (97 - 65) The Yankees seem to have a great team every year but haven't won a World Series since 2009. Sluggers Aaron Judge’s and Giancarlo Stanton’s big issue is staying healthy. The Yankees lost pitchers Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton, but then gained Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. The Yankees bullpen remains dominant with anchor Aroldis Chapman, and their lineup can be scary. The Yankees re-signed superstar hitter D.J. LeMahieu, sporting the highest batting average in 2020, for 6 years. They win the AL East this year because they have an above average well-rounded squad. Tampa Bay Rays: Last Year (40 - 20) , This Year Predicted (94 - 68) Last year the Rays made the World Series led by breakout players Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena, and veteran pitching by Blake Snell and Charlie Morton. This year Morton and Snell are gone, a big blow to the Rays’ pitching staff. Arozarena had one of the best postseasons last October, but can he sustain his success, only a second year player? The Rays also have a great bullpen with stars Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. Ji-Man Choi, one of the most flexible 1st baseman returns with a much bigger role with the Rays needing more offense to combat the loss of two star pitchers. The Rays will overcome their losses through great management and remain a great team, finishing a close second to the Yankees. Toronto Blue Jays: Last Year (32 - 28) , This Year Predicted (89 - 73) The Blue Jays have added so much talent in the offseason. They added CF George Springer, SS turned 2B Marcus Semien, CP Kirby Yates, and SP Steven Matz. All these players are valuable additions, especially Springer. The Blue Jays also had a solid core of young MLB talent of their own like Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays were a mediocre team the past few years, but the new additions bring attention north of the border. With all the talent the Blue Jays acquired, they need all their players to come together and perform at a high level. They improve, but not enough to make the playoffs. AL CENTRAL Chicago White Sox: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (92 - 70) The White Sox have an overall great roster. They have a great starting pitching trio with Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Dallas Keuchel. The dominant pitching continues in the bullpen with Aaron Bummer, Evan Marshall, and newly acquired Liam Hendricks. Hendricks is considered by many to be the best closer in the MLB and adds to an already stellar bullpen. That’s just the pitching side of things. The White Sox have the reigning AL MVP, Jose Abreu, the top AL catcher, Yasmani Grandal, and star young outfielder Eloy Jimenez. SS Tim Anderson has a big personality, but he can back it up with great contact hitting, winning the batting title in 2019. With growing talent, they bud into AL Central winners in 2021. Cleveland Indians: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (78 - 84) The Indians were an above-average team last year making the expanded playoffs. However, this year they lose 1B Carlos Santana and SS Francisco Lindor. They did gain promising rookie SS Andres Gimenez in the Lindor trade with the Mets. Shane Bieber comes back as one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2020. The Indians also have one of the best third basemen from last year, Jose Ramirez, runner up in MVP voting. Other than Ramirez, their lineup is lackluster this year and their bullpen is less than desirable. Past Bieber the Indians’ starters are decent with Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac rounding out their top three. The Indians are not the powerhouse they were in 2016, but they can still hold their own in the AL Central with a record slightly below .500. Detroit Tigers: Last Year (23 - 35) , This Year Predicted (60 - 102) The Tigers are a very young team with some great prospects for the future. However, they have few players that can produce at a high enough level in the majors. An interesting rookie to watch is Casey Mize, who is the Tigers’ top pitching prospect. The Tigers got a decent 3B in Renato Nunez through free agency. The Tigers bullpen does not have anyone that is reliable against any lineup. 1B Miguel Cabrera will enter the Hall of Fame one day, but when will he retire? He still bats for a high average, but doesn’t produce as much as he did when he won back-to-back MVPs in 2012 and 2013. The Tigers are in a massive rebuild and will most likely be at the bottom of their division. Kansas City Royals: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (73 - 89) The Royals are a typical below average team. There are exciting players, worth the price of admission, but giant holes in their lineup and rotation that leave the team performing average. The Royals acquired LF Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox in an attempt to bolster their lineup. Their main pieces are contact hitter Whit Merrifield, speedster Adalberto Mondesi, and power hitter Jorge Soler. Their real need is pitching. They don’t have a quality starting pitcher or a deep bullpen that can be relied on day in and day out. Baseball still relies on quality pitching to win games and I don’t see the Royals with adequate pitching. The Royals find themselves in 4th place in 2021. Minnesota Twins: Last Year (36 - 24) , This Year Predicted (91 - 71) The Minnesota Twins hit a record number of home runs in 2019, and the core of their team remains the same. The only major lineup change for the Twins is losing OF Eddie Rosario and gaining SS Andrelton Simmons. This is an upgrade at the shortstop position and an interesting chance for Alex Kiriloff in Left Field. He is a young prospect finally getting an everyday role to show what he can do. The already strong bullpen receives another successful arm in Alex Colome. Jorge Polanco, the Twins former SS moves to 2B, while Luis Arraez consequently takes on the utility player role, moving around defensively to give management an easier time with giving rest days. The Twins are still a solid team, but in 2021 the White Sox have a slight edge over the Twins this year. AL WEST Los Angeles Angels: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (81 - 81) The Angels have the best player in baseball, Mike Trout. That is a fact. Other interesting players include top third baseman Anthony Rendon and 2-way player Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is special in that he can pitch and hit at an MLB level. If he can return to the mound, the Angels get a well needed starting pitcher option. Dylan Bundy’s success has a huge impact on the success of the Angels’ pitching success. The lineup for the Angels is very top-heavy with a couple of great hitters then replacement level players rounding out the lineup. The bullpen has no players that are amazing, but should hold up against average lineups. Can the Angels finally bring Mike Trout back to the playoffs? Unfortunately, the Angels need one more decent player for their lineup and pitching staff for me to put them through to the playoffs. Oakland Athletics: Last Year (36 - 24) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Athletics seem to have an average team on paper and find a way to perform really well in the regular season. Although they lost Marcus Semien to the Blue Jays, they replaced him with veteran Elvis Andrus, who may not perform as much on the field but being a leader for almost 20 years can provide a locker room presence for the club. The A’s have a two-time Platinum Glove winner in Matt Chapman at one corner infield position and Gold Glover Matt Olson at the other. The Athletics have a great defense that is also backed up by a good offense. Outfielders Mark Canha and Ramon Laureano are underrated and provide good value with the bat. While starting pitching is a struggle for the A’s their bullpen has also diminished. However, their pitching should hold up pretty well against their division, so I have them atop the AL West. Seattle Mariners: Last Year (27 - 33) , This Year Predicted (67 - 95) The Seattle Mariners are another team with some young talent, but many of whom are not ready to produce to lift this team to the playoffs. We saw CF Kyle Lewis breakout last year and show he can produce at the big league level. The Mariners also have pitching promise with lefties Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn spending some time in the majors. The Mariners are hoping this year they can break out and post low ERAs to give an average Mariners’ lineup a chance to win some games. The Mariners’ young talent looks solid for the future, but this year might be another segment in their rebuild. Texas Rangers: Last Year (22 - 38) , This Year Predicted (72 -90) The Rangers were not good last year placing last in the division and their roster has made minimal improvements. They do add outfielders David Dahl and Khris Davis, but they lose SS Elvis Andrus and pitchers Corey Kluber and Lance Lynn. Dahl and Davis add valuable contact and power respectively, but nothing electric to turn the Rangers lineup into a dangerous one. One dangerous hitter is Joey Gallo who can always provide some power, but had a disappointing 2020. Gallo should bounce back, but his team is not ready to compete at a high level this year. Houston Astros: Last Year (29 - 31) , This Year Predicted (90 - 72) The Astros have been star-studded the past fews and last year they seemed to regress after a scandal came out regarding their 2017 World Series victory. The Astros still have a good roster, even though they lost CF George Springer. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, and Carlos Correa remain star hitters and Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke return as top pitchers in the MLB. Their bullpen was above average, but since they didn’t re-sign Roberto Osuna their bullpen lost a step. Astros should remain a top team in 2021, but might lose close games allowing the Athletics to take the top spot in the AL West. NL EAST Atlanta Braves: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Braves have solid players at each position, a complete team that will compete this year. Freddie Freeman, reigning NL MVP, is always great at first base providing for the Braves offense. On the other side of the ball, Braves get Mike Soroka back from injury and add veteran Charlie Morton from free agency. Max Fried comes off his best year and slots in as the Braves’ ace. Their back side of the rotation is not atrocious either; they have a deep pitching staff. This includes the bullpen with Will Smith, Luke Jackson, and Chris Martin. The re-signing of Marcell Ozuna keeps the Atlanta offense potent. Ronald Acuna Jr. remains the best outfielder on the team, but can he make a push to become the best in the NL, like many believe he can be? The Braves are a solid team and may win 1st place in this division, but how will they fare in the postseason? Miami Marlins: Last Year (31 - 29) , This Year Predicted (70 - 92) The Marlins lost a playoff series for the first time last year, but it was a surprise they got in the playoffs anyway. They have a young, but inexperienced pitching staff led by Sandy Alcantara, and their bullpen does not have any notable relievers. Their lineup can have some success at times with Corey Dickerson, Brian Anderson, and Starling Marte. These players have unique skills that can show up when the time is right, but how often and how major can they contribute to wins? The Marlins are relying on another lucky season if they want to make the playoffs, especially since this season is over twice as long. The Marlins can only go so far with what they have and remain in the bottom third in the MLB in 2021. New York Mets: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (88 - 74) The Mets have a great team on paper this year, but can they finally put it together? They acquired SS Francisco Lindor, C James McCann, SP Carlos Carrasco who will play significant roles in the majors. The Mets have also had the best pitcher in baseball Jacob DeGrom play at his best the past few seasons. The question with their pitching staff is can Noah Syndergaard stay healthy and return to his All-Star form? Pete Alonso needs to bounce back from a poor 2020 and return to smashing home runs like he did in 2019. McNeil will get on base at a high level and score runs, but players in the middle of the lineup need to drive him and others in sufficiently. Unfortunately, the Mets have always seemed to get their fair share of injuries and bad management; hopefully this year will break that trend and the Mets have a good, winning record. Philadelphia Phillies: Last Year (28 - 32) , This Year Predicted (74 - 88) The Phillies have gone on a free agency spending spree the last few years, many players not working out the way the team wanted. The Phillies have a decent lineup headed by RF Bryce Harper, SS Didi Gregorius, and 1B Rhys Hoskins. Young 3B Alec Bohm hopes to make an impact in 2021 after making a small one in 2020. Their pitching staff has a top heavy rotation with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. The last three starters have been atrocious in the majors. The Phillies bullpen just got better acquiring star reliever Jose Alvarado on top of having a decent bullpen prior to this move. Although the Phillies have a good roster, they always have trouble turning their talent into wins, and I see them as a fourth place team. Washington Nationals: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (76 - 86) The Nationals have a few stars that really impact the success of the team. Trea Turner is a five tool player at shortstop and Juan Soto is already dominating opposing pitching at 22 years old. Soto’s patience early in his career sets him apart from past players. Also, the Nats acquired 1B Josh Bell and LF Kyle Schwarber to bolster the offense. The Nationals also have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, and Jon Lester all in their rotation. Plus, Brad Hand is the Nationals’ new closer in a bullpen that might finally have a structure this year. However, in a tough division they will have trouble linking wins together. NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs: Last Year (34 - 26) , This Year Predicted (83 - 79) The Cubs aren’t as strong as they were in 2016 when they won the World Series. Their pitching staff isn’t as potent now as it was back then. The Cubs will rely on Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies to give the team quality starts, and they need them to do so because their bullpen is not stellar. Their lineup has pieces to provide sufficient offense for some games. Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez can build an exciting offense if they have a good season. None of them are coming off a fantastic season, but the Cubs need them for their offense. The Cubs’ average pitching and average hitting this year has them finish in the middle of the league. Cincinnati Reds: Last Year (31 - 29) , This Year Predicted (78 - 84) The Reds made upgrades for their 2020 roster which made them an average team finishing just above .500. Coming into 2020 however, they lost their star pitcher Trevor Bauer who won the NL Cy Young Award last year. They still have a solid 1-2 punch in their starting rotation with Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. Their bullpen lost a top arm in Raisel Iglesias, so they regress in that department. Their lineup always produces decently. Eugenio Suarez, Nicholas Castellanos, and Mike Moustakas will most likely lead the scoring. Joey Votto is regressing with age, but still provides at a sufficient level. The Reds need everything to come together to have a chance at the playoffs and I don’t see that happening. Milwaukee Brewers: Last Year (29 -31) , This Year Predicted (90 - 72) The Brewers have solid players all around that can perform well enough to propel this team to the postseason. Although Christian Yelich had an awful season in 2020, he should bounce back with a good 2021 and revert to his elite level of play. He is the lifeblood of this offense; without him there is no Brewers offense. The pitching staff is what is going to decide their success. Brandon Woodruff has proved he is a top starter in the league, a valuable asset to the Brewers. The bullpen is above average with two of the top relievers in the MLB, Devin Williams and Josh Hader. If their pitching can hold their end of the bargain, the Brewers can sneak their way in to the postseason. Pittsburgh Pirates: Last Year (19 - 41) , This Year Predicted (68 - 94) Unfortunately, the Pirates might be the worst franchise in recent history. Losing games, trades, and players, the Pirates are in a rebuild that seems to never end. They lost Josh Bell and Jameson Taillon, and Chris Archer to free agency this year. Their pitching at all levels has no one of note and rival the Orioles and Rockies ]for the worst pitching staff. On the offensive side Ke’Bryan Hayes is one prospect that could help the Pirates in the future. Right now he should provide an alright amount for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds has shown he can get on base at a high level and is the Pirates’ best hitter at the moment. These stars alone are nowhere near what the Pirates need to succeed in the MLB. They find themselves in 5th place in the NL Central. St. Louis Cardinals: Last Year (30 - 28) , This Year Predicted (99 - 63) The Cardinals added one of the game’s best superstars Nolan Arenado over the offseason. For how good he is, he still has to prove he can sustain his performance outside of Coors Field, an extremely hitter friendly ballpark. On the opposite side of the infield, you find Paul Goldschmidt, an all around talented first baseman whose strengths are patience, power, and fielding. The Cardinals pitching staff is led by Jack Flaherty, a young pitcher budding into a superstar role. The bullpen has reliable options like Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller to sustain a lead late in a game. Rookie Dylan Carlson is predicted to star in right field for the Cardinals and fans will watch him to see how he will grow as a major league player. The Cardinals are a solid team and they win the central in 2021. NL WEST Arizona Diamondbacks: Last Year (25 - 35) , This Year Predicted (77 - 85) The D’Backs have an average roster in a good division. Their pitching consists of rising star Zac Gallen and veteran Madison Bumgarner for the rotation. Their bullpen does not have any reliable options other than newcomer Joakim Soria who is a decent relief pitcher. Their pitching needs to have a great 2021 to support their offense. The lineup has a few good hitters in superstar Ketel Marte, LF David Peralta, and 3B Eduardo Escobar. SS Nick Ahmed has been getting more recognition for his defense adding to his value to the club. The D’Backs do not have a good team if the players live up to their potential, but with the powerful teams in this division they don’t stand a chance. Colorado Rockies: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (73 - 91) The Colorado Rockies probably have the worst pitching staff in baseball. Besides German Marquez, a good #1 starter, every other pitcher has had a substandard career in the MLB. Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Antonio Senzatela are not reliable for quality starts on a regular basis. For how bad their rotation is, their bullpen did receive upgrades with Robert Stephenson and Mychal Givens. The bullpen is still average at best. The big story with the Rockies is trading away 3B Nolan Arenado who has been their franchise star for six years. This hands the reins over to Trevor Story, a young well-rounded and powerful shortstop. A below average team losing their star player only makes the Rockies worse in 2021. Los Angeles Dodgers: Last Year (43 - 17) , This Year Predicted (103 - 59) The defending champions still remain the best team in baseball going into 2021. Not only do they return their squad from the World Series victory they add Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. Their pitching was already dominant without him, how good can they be with him? The performance of the rotation will also be a fun competition to watch amongst the Dodgers’ big three, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Bauer. The other side of the ball is just as good. They return Justin Turner reaching a two-year deal. Mookie Betts signed a huge extension to stay with the Dodgers for 12 years, a player Los Angeles would be glad to have for the rest of his career. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Max Muncy are also stars in the middle of the Dodgers’ order. The Dodgers win the division and will be the only team to reach 100 wins. San Diego Padres: Last Year (37 - 23) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Padres might be the most exciting team coming into 2021. After making significant improvements for 2020, this offseason they outdid themselves. The Padres signed pitchers Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, to make their rotation deadly when paired with Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. In addition to having a top starting pitching staff, their bullpen has solid options such as Emilio Pagan, Mark Melancon, and Drew Pomeranz. The talk of 2020 baseball was the excellence of Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr.. 2B Jake Cronenworth also had a breakout season, providing offense for the Padres. This team’s pitching staff will be fun to watch, and the great hitting potential of this team is scary. However, they don't overcome the Dodgers for the top spot in the West. San Francisco Giants: Last Year (29 - 31) , This Year Predicted (80 - 82) The Giants have fallen back in the rankings after their three World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014. The new star for the Giants is RF Mike Yastrzemski. Sporting a .966 OPS in a short 2020 shows his immense production for this team. 2B Donovan Solano also had a breakout season with a high batting average. The pitching is average with Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman heading the rotation. The bullpen has added a reliable option, Taylor Rogers to shut down opponents. The Giants are an average team in a division that is tough and they slot in 3rd. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Tales Through Time: Mai Bhago; The Saint Warrior Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Medium.com Early Life Mai Bhago was born in 1666 in the Punjab village of Chabal Kalan, India. It is today known as the Tarn Taran district. She was raised in a Sikh household with religious views and values. She lived with four other family members: her grandpa, father, and two brothers. Her mother was said to have died while she was little. Her father, Malo Shah, was a soldier in Guru Hargobind's (Sikhs' 6th Guru) army, and she also braved to be taught in weaponry (Shastar Vidya). Her great grandpa, Bhai Pero Shah, was converted to Sikhism with his consent during the reign of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the 5th Guru of Sikhs). Mai Bhago was born “Bhag Bhari” which means “fortunate” or “one who is full of good fortune.” After being blessed with Amrit (like baptism), she was named Bhag Kaur. Her family was highly associated with the Sikh Gurus, and she was severely moved by Guru Arjan Dev's (5th Guru) martyrdom, Guru Hargobind's (6th Guru) warfare, and the Mughal army's injustice to the Sikhs. She made two visits to Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru) and went to Anandpur with her father in 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh (10th Guru) established the Khalsa. Her father brought her back despite her wish to join the Sikh army because no women were serving in the Sikh army at the time. Mai Bhago continued studying combat and horseback riding from her father. She then practiced piercing trees with her spear and quickly became a devoted soldier. A couple of years later she married Bhai Nidhan Singh of Patti village near Amritsar. The Mughals The Mughals dominated the majority of India and Pakistan at the time. Aurangzeb controlled the Mughals, yet he was neither peaceful nor understanding. He was especially hostile against Sikhs, partially for religious reasons and partly because Sikhs were opposed to the caste system. In truth, the Sikhs were generally egalitarian and saw women as equal to males. Liberated Sikhs (Chali Mukte) Aurangzeb, the expansionist Mughal Emperor, attacked Sikh territory with an army of 16,000 warriors in 1704-05 and surrounded the Sikh capital of Anandpur Sahib. During this time, 40 Singhs made the decision to leave Anandpur Sahib and return home. They signed a Bedava (document of dissent) declaring that they were no longer Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. This group included Mai Bhago's spouse and two of her brothers. Outraged by this betrayal, Mai Bhago left home with her own horse, armor, and weapons to seek down the deserters. Mai Bhago is reported to have dressed in traditional "male" attire and collected up the deserters. She went to their houses and urged their wives not to provide refuge for their husbands. Mai Bhago and the other women accused them of being cowards and lacking trust. Some of the women armed themselves and joined Mai Bhago, vowing to fight for the Guru if their husbands refused. Shaken by this, the 40 deserters consented to return to Mai Bhago's service. Battle Of Mukatsar When Mai Bhago's band arrived at Khidrana, they fought against Mughal soldiers in what became known as the Battle of Muktsar. So, despite the fact that they were certainly going to die, the forty (chali) men, along with Mai Bhago, charged headlong into the Muslim forces (around 10,000 soldiers) and inflicted so much damage that the Muslims were forced to abandon their attack and retreat. In the end, all 40 men died, but Mai Bhago and Guru Gobind Singh ji survived. Chali Mukte, or the 40 Liberated Ones, was the name given by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to the dead soldiers. Guru Gobind Singh praised the martyred Sikhs, tore the Bedava paper, and re-established relations with the Sikhs who had deserted him here. Mai Bhag kaur was a celebrated Sikh woman and was the first woman in Punjabi history to fight on a battlefield. Aftermath Guru Gobind Singh Ji was proud of Mai Bhago and fulfilled her ambition to be a true saint-warrior by becoming the Guru’s bodyguard until his death. She later settled in Jinvara and practiced Sikhism until her last breath. Her Legacy Her life demonstrated that, while sexism exists in this world, it is not encouraged by the Gurus. Her beautiful journey continues to inspire countless people today. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Obbession By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Green Robe Girl just tell me why It feels like you're obsessed with me Cuz you've been spreading rumors Like its butter on bread, please   Obsession ain't a good thing honey You need to drop it, please Cuz you've been painting pictures Like I'm someone that you know   We used to be best buddies, now look at us, oh Sitting on opposite sides of the room We used to gossip all day Now I can't stand the sight of you   You’re the one that wants to fight but you’re the victim too? Playing both sides of the story doesn't look too good for you After all you can't be the villain and the hero too Every story there's one main character, and that sure ain't darn you   Laughing at each other's jokes, now I just want to choke All those pictures in my room, need to burn them down Accusing me of hurting you when I actually sewed you back Wished I saw your true colors, before it was too late   Girl just tell me why It feels like you're obsessed with me Cuz you've been spreading rumors Like its butter on bread, please   Obsession ain't a good thing honey You need to drop it, please Cuz you've been painting pictures Like I'm someone that you know   Every class we had together, we were inseparable, oh Now I make sure we're as separate as can be Paring up for every class, now I run across the room Only god knows why I trusted you   Spilled all my secrets to your so called "friends" Hope they're treating you like you've treated me, facts All that staring you've been doing, isn't getting you anywhere So I suggest you drop the act, ‘cuz it looks like you're obsessed   All my friends been telling me, how you always darn ask If I've gotten another best friend or did I replace you I'm used to pain honey, so don't worry, that's right I moved on right after I blocked all your socials, oh   Stop following me around, it’s getting creepy I know you want to come back, but I'll never let you Hurt me once shame on you, hurt me twice shame on me There's no three times the charm, in friendships, sweetheart   Girl just tell me why It feels like you're obsessed with me Cuz you've been spreading rumors Like it’s butter on bread, please   Obsession ain't a good thing honey You need to drop it, please Cuz you've been painting pictures Like I'm someone that you know   It's so sad how this turned out, it could have been forever Every time I walk the halls, I think of you honey We used to be the best of friends, isn’t that right? It’s such a shame, you let jealousy, come in the darn way BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The History of Valentine's Day By Sahar Ali Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by National Geographic Kids Celebrated every year on February 14th, Valentine’s Day is when loved ones show their affection and receive flowers, candies, and gifts. Valentine’s Day is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. Thousands of people worldwide celebrate Valentine’s Day, but have you ever wondered about the history behind this Day full of love? Valentine’s Day is assumed to have originated from the Roman festival of Lupercalia (which is celebrated during mid-February) due to the similarities of both celebrations. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I had forbidden Lupercalia and is thought to have replaced it with St. Valentine’s Day. However, until the 14th century, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated as a day of romance. In the past, there have been many Christian martyrs named Valentine, but Valentine’s Day has most likely gotten its name from a priest who had been martyred by emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. There are many legends about who Saint Valentine actually was and his backstory, which is why people cannot pinpoint the holiday’s true history. In the 1500s, formal messages known as valentines started to appear. Commercially printed cards then started to show up by the late 1700s. During the mid-1800s, the first commercial valentines were printed in the United States. These valentines mostly portray the Roman god of love, known as Cupid. Additionally, hearts are depicted in valentines since they show emotion. Birds are also a huge symbol of Valentine’s Day because their mating season starts mid-February. On Valentine’s Day, people will gift the people they love candy and flowers to show their affection. The most traditional Valentine’s Day gift are red roses since the y symbolize beauty and love. Refrences: Valentine’s Day | Definition, History, & Traditions | Britannica BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Fairy Light Circles By Sienna Munro January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4