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Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections E/2022 E3 (ZTF) – The “Green” Comet By Elyas Layachi Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Marca In March 2022, the comet E/2022 E3 (ZTF) was spotted by astronomers Bryce Bolin and Frank Masci near Jupiter. This comet contains a form of diatomic carbon, causing the comet to appear green when it is blasted by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. This property of E/2022 E3 is the comet’s defining characteristic. However, what makes E/2022 E3 even more special is that the last time it has been visible to humans with the naked eye was during the Last Ice Age, over 50,000 years ago. Now, in 2023, the green comet is its closest to Earth, making for a marvelous sight for humans across the globe. The green comet (E/2022 E3) has a large elliptical orbit around the Sun located around the inner solar system, and it takes the object 50,000 Earth years to travel once around the Sun. As a result of its slow orbit in comparison to Earth’s one-year orbit, the comet is impossible to see for much of its orbit without technological aid. This was the case for the past 50,000 years, until February 1st and February 2nd of 2023, when the comet was a mere 26 million miles (about 41,842,944 km) from the surface of Earth. At such a distance, and with its distinct green hue, the green comet was visible to the naked eye at locations with low light pollution and clear skies. Viewers across the globe had the opportunity to view the rare green comet, and it is highly likely that we are the last humans to be able to view the green comet from Earth’s surface without technological aid for the next 50,000 years, due to the comet’s large orbit around the sun. The comet provided scientists with insight into the properties of diatomic carbon; the compound is not easily studied on Earth due to its high instability and reactivity. Furthermore, it can only be found in extremely energetic or low-oxygen environments like stars, comets, and the interstellar medium, according to phys.org . Comet E/2022 E3 is an incredibly special phenomenon, and its passage near Earth is a rare occurrence. However, the green comet is not the only rare celestial object set to illuminate the night sky, with objects such as other small asteroids and meteor showers set to appear regularly throughout the rest of the year. Additionally, with the recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, more phenomena than ever before will be able to be studied by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), expanding our knowledge of the universe. Refrences: https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-green-comet-aka-comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64252258.amp BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Women Who Have Dominated the Grammys By Isabella Menjivar Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Original artwork by Isabella Menjivar Alison Krauss - She currently holds the record for female artist with the most Grammy awards. Her astounding number of awards comes from her work in Country music. In 2019, she was awarded a National Medal of Arts. Some of her well-known songs include “When You Say Nothing at All”, “Gone Gone Gone”, and “Paper Airplane”. Beyonce - After becoming a solo artist, she’s gone on to win 22 Grammy awards. Her 2017 Grammy performance sent an inspiring message of honoring women was a showstopper. Aside from the breathtaking visuals, at the performance she balanced on a floating chair while pregnant. Beyonce also holds the Grammy record for most nominations. Whitney Houston - With 6 Grammy awards and 25 nominations, the legendary singer’s most famous win was her song “I Will Always Love You” being awarded record of the year. Whitney’s powerhouse voice is unforgettable, and her performance at the 36th Grammy Awards featured fireworks, and her vocals were astounding. Taylor Swift - Her Grammy performances that feature incredible music, scenery, and background dancers are what makes her on the list to perform at the 2021 Grammys. Taylor’s 10 Grammy awards and 41 nominations are all products of her relatable music. Many different people make up her fan base because she has written country, pop, and indie music. Taylor is currently re-recording old music to officially hold rights to her records, all written by herself. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections VSN Future Teacher Club By Alisson Andrea Alas Bonilla Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by District 230 Valley Stream North High School offers many clubs/activities available for students to enjoy and learn from after school. For example, the Future Teacher Club, organized by two English teachers, Ms. Coleman and Mrs. Modzelewski, is a new club this school year. The club, like the name, is about being a teacher, a future teacher. If you are interested in teaching, this is the club for you. During past meetings, we’ve had guest speakers, for example, Ms. Mulkeen, from the English as a New Language Department, Mr. Jara, assistant principal, former dean, and Spanish teacher, also Dr. Small, North’s principal, Dr. Seinfeld, a dean from Long Island University Post, and Fabayo McIntosh, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in District 13. We've had speakers with dual certification (not one but two fields or subjects), which is great to have because you can hear from someone who knows about teaching and can give you any tips, warnings, and encouragement. I interviewed Ms. Coleman and Mrs. Modzelewski about the club, and their answers are very easy to understand and give a thorough description of the club. 1. What is the purpose of the club? “ Future Teacher Club is to offer an opportunity for students possibly interested in pursuing a career in education.” 2. Why should students consider joining? “Students will have access to presentations and question and answer sessions with education professionals at different levels - teachers of all disciplines, building administrators, superintendents, and college professors and deans. These contacts will provide invaluable resources for interested students.” 3. Can all grades gain from this club? “The club is currently available to students in grades 9-12.” 4. What do the students learn about the educational field once joining? “The students will learn information about the certification process, necessary classes, approaches to student teaching, dual enrollment programs, and more.” I've always wanted to teach, and before joining the Future Teacher Club, I didn't think too much of it. Instead, I thought the feeling would pass and tried not to think about it. After the first few meetings, I decided that teaching is something that I would most definitely do. I've learned so much from this club and met wonderful people who advised and provided us with their knowledge, which has definitely encouraged me to not only want to teach English or History, but to go further because there's more than just teaching a single subject, or two. I would advise anyone who wants to teach to join because it's a perfect opportunity to learn from someone who is willing to guide you, meet wonderful people, learn about our teachers’ careers and how they got to where they are now, and how much effort they’ve put into studying and teaching. Not only that, but some meetings provide snacks! Even if you are in 7th or 8th grade, think of this as a club to look forward to. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Mundane Boredom By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching Sad sarcastic showrunners speak He keeps her company Echoes of past moments flood her thoughts Illustrations of future dreams pitter-patter in the back of her mind Sounds of nothing but quiet and casualness make up the setting Brimming with nothing but comfortable, quiet company Or the calm butterflies that still sit in their stomachs after all this time Right hand intertwined with his left hand Eyes looking down at their separate pens and papers Dabbling in their philosophies as they borrow lessons learned from their other Imaginative ideas flow from their pens as they use inspiration from real life. Dutiful loyalty fills them as they sink into this mundane comfortable life Every moment that they’ve spent with each other is forever burned into their skulls, but not all are brought up As they let the background noise fade away, they focus on the current moment So, in tune with each other that they realize they need a break Exiting their chairs, they walk outside She grabs his hand as she opens the door, feeling the fresh spring air on her face Clicking her tongue in acknowledgment, she turns around to joke about the weather As she turns to where he is, she realizes. Pretty much everything from her past few hours is gone. Eventually, she realizes none of it was ever confirmed, especially her bored companion. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections CHESS By Augustine Magapan Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Wikipedia Pieces in white, and pieces in black; they form a social hierarchy to win the game of chess and must surround the opponent's king. Play games with your friends, grandmasters, or even your younger siblings. People of any age can learn to play this game if they put in the effort. Chess, a board game dating back to the sixth century, is regaining popularity. Before delving deeper into the game, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it today, chess has many complexities. The first step in learning chess is understanding the board and the pieces. Place the white square on the bottom right to set up the board. After putting the board in its proper place, pawns should be on the second row from the bottom, protecting the other pieces... hence the name “pawn.” The rooks should go in each corner, followed by the knights, or horses, next to each other. Then there's a bishop next to each knight, followed by a queen and king. If you're playing white, place the queen on the white square and the king on the dark square. We can discuss the pieces after everything is ready. A pawn is a weak, helpful piece of equipment for blocking or attacking the board. Pawns can only move one square forward in their first turn; if they have yet to be moved, they can move up to two squares forward in their first turn. To attack, the pawn should only move diagonally against the opposing-colored piece. Another method of attack, revolves around the opponent's first move with their pawns. You may attack diagonally if your opponent moves their pawn two squares forward, and it stands right next to your pawn. That is known as “ en passant.” The rook, which can move in straight, vertical, and horizontal lines, is typically used as a defense piece to protect the king. Then there's the knight, a horse-like figure who can jump over other parts and move in an L-shaped pattern. The bishop can move in straight diagonal lines, and the queen, the most powerful piece, can act as both a rook and a bishop. On the other hand, the king is similar to a queen but can only move one space at a time. Once you've figured out how to move the pieces correctly, you must checkmate your opponent's king based on the placement of your army. When a piece attacks the king directly, the king is exposed, but it can move away or defend. In this scenario, white's bishop is "checking," or directly attacking, the king in this position. Unfortunately, there is nowhere for the king to flee. As a result, Black can move its knight or queen to counter the attack. In this scenario, using the knight rather than the queen is preferable because the bishop could capture the queen after Black uses it to stop the check. White would have the upper hand because Black would have lost his or her most influential piece! It's a fascinating concept, but it wasn't always like this. Even before the 6th century, people in India created the first version of chess, Chaturanga. The term "four-limbed" or "four-arms" refers to an army's various components, including infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry. Because the game is so old, it needs proper rules, particularly regarding how the pieces move. Some theories about the game can be related to modern chess. The game board was not checkered, but historians believe it was used for other games because it had markings irrelevant to the game itself. One fascinating aspect of the game was how their soldiers could promote it. The idea of promotion is still being determined where. In modern chess, some thought the soldiers could be upgraded to minister or queen, and some speculated that the soldiers would transform into whatever was originally on the board. Furthermore, there were various theories about how to end the game, with people believing that checkmating was not the way to win, which meant that even the King had to be captured. Chess.com has created a chart of the different pieces and a description. Like a pawn in modern chess, the foot-soldier moves only one square forward. As a result, the foot-first soldier's move must be at least two squares ahead. The elephant was similar to a bishop because it could move two squares diagonally. In modern terms, it is still unknown whether the piece can jump over details such as the horse or the knight. A chariot moves like a rook, and the minister can only move one square diagonally. Finally, the king... the most crucial piece in chess, moves like any other king today. The game influenced various nations in Asia and Europe before evolving into the game we knew today in the 16th century. Many people have theorized multiple ways to start their games or create strategic positions to gain an advantage since the 16th century. These are known as openings. The chess theory is a fantastic concept in which millions of people demonstrate their creative abilities and logical reasoning to gain an advantage by creating a solid opening. The player can win the endgame when the opening has done its job, and the player has achieved an advantage. An endgame occurs when the two players have few pieces remaining and must perform a checkmate as soon as possible. Chess does not have to be played on a board, and many people can play it online at lichess.org and chess.com . Students are becoming interested in the game due to the popularity of social media and the use of laptop computers in school. Tournaments and competitive chess play continue to grow as people strive for a specific ranking to demonstrate their skill. You can improve your cognitive thinking skills of logistic reasoning on real-life problems by studying or thinking about chess. Remember that "having the next move is the most powerful weapon in chess." BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections All Eyes on You By Emily Dahl November 19, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 2 This piece was inspired by the feeling of everyone watching you, but not for the reasons you’d normally want to be seen. There’s a big difference between people watching you perform in a talent show and watching you after you’ve done something embarrassing, and my goal with this artwork was to capture the latter.

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Fruit Bowl By Isabella Somma November 24, 2020 Sharpie, Pen Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Review of Polish Food (with a dash of some personal biases) By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Hotels.com As the people slowly come back to the regular, pre-pandemic habits, such as going out to eat, I would like to rate some Polish dishes commonly served in Polish restaurants. Overall, Polish food tends to be rather heavy, and filling. It often consists of potatoes, pork, sausage, and what really makes most of the dishes stodgy for some is the frequent reliance on oil. The desserts on the other hand, usually are healthier than the ones sold in the US (which use large amounts of sugar) and focus on subtle flavor combinations. Appetizers: Naleśniki z serem /Cheese crepes - thin crepes with a sweet white cheese filling, often drizzled with honey, or heavy cream and fruits. I honestly want to say this is one of my favorites, but most of these are. This however does have a nice balance of sweet and salty flavors with a hint of sour from the fruit. These are considerably healthy and make for a good appetizer.  Najlepsze naleśniki z serem - Przepis od Po Prostu Pycha Chleb z smalcem i ogórkiem kiszonym /Bread with lard and pickles - This is the Polish version of the bread with butter appetizer in Italian restaurants. Simply smear the lard on the bread and top with the pickle. Simplicity is key. As you can predict, this is less healthy than the crepes, but it’s a staple everyone should try at least once. Smalec i ogórek – połączenie doskonałe - Zjadlbym.pl Soups: Barszcz Biały /White Borscht - A chicken-based broth with kiełbasa (sausage), vegetables, hard or soft boiled eggs. This soup has a similar, but more sour, counterpart called “ żurek ” and these are often a part of the traditional Easter breakfast. This soup is quite filling and fatty, but the rich flavors of the soup always have me hungry for more. https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Polish-White-Borscht-1608.21.jpg.webp Barszcz Czerwony z uszkami /Red Borscht with dumplings - This borscht on the other hand is traditionally made without any meat, because it is usually served for the Christmas Eve supper at which people don’t eat meat. The vegetable broth is enriched with beets, where it gets its beautiful burgundy color and a deep earthy flavor. Accompanied by cabbage and mushroom filled dumplings, this is a relatively healthier choice than the white borscht and still full of flavor, and to me, and most Poles, is the smell of Christmas. Przepis na tradycyjny polski barszcz z uszkami - Blog EasySend Barszcz po Ukraińsku /Ukrainian Borscht - This is a cold-served soup with a chicken-based broth with beets, some sour cream, and heavy cream. It is a nice and refreshing dish to have during hot summer days and the addition of mint just elevates the flavor. Personally, I associate this with my childhood memories of my mom calling me over to eat something while playing in the backyard. It is close to my heart, and even though it’s cold, it definitely has warm memories attached to it. This is also a relatively healthy dish and is definitely worth getting! Barszcz ukraiński - JAK uMAMI - pyszna zupa w wersji wegetariańskiej. As a side note, we, as Polish people, do not exclusively eat different types of borschts. These are soups I saw mostly served in Polish restaurants that I would consider foreign to non-Polish  people.  Entrees: Gołąbki /Stuffed cabbage with tomato sauce - Steamed cabbage leaf stuffed with rice and meat topped with tomato sauce. This is a surprisingly healthy dish with nice mellow flavors of the meat and a sharper contrast of flavor of the tomato sauce. This Polish staple makes for a good, light dinner. The name “ Gołąbki ,” in literal translation, means little pigeons, but do not fret, no pigeons were hurt in making your dish! Gołąbki warzywne - wegetariańskie | Kwestia Smaku Placki ziemniaczane po Węgiersku /Hungarian pancakes - fried potato pancakes (kind of like thinner hash browns) topped with a rich beef and vegetable goulash. This is definitely a heavier of the bunch but is my comfort food on a rainy day. The crispiness of the potato pancakes and the creaminess of the sauce blend so seamlessly, as if they were made for each other. Placek po węgiersku - Foodwiki - Pyszne.pl Kluski Śląskie /Silesian dumplings - soft and chewy potato dumplings often topped with a pork or beef sauce. This is a texture dish, so if you’re not open to new textures, I can’t guarantee you won’t be averse to it. If you don’t mind them though, the combination of the thick meat sauce and the velvety dumplings will satisfy your hunger for new experiences. Jak zrobić kluski śląskie bez wagi i miarki - Vademecum Kuchni - Akademia Smaku Pierogi - The famous dumplings! They can be served with potatoes and white cheese (they’re commonly called “Russian dumplings,” but they don't originate from there), cabbage and mushrooms (often served at Christmas Eve), or minced meat. The potato pierogi are hands down my favorite type with the potatoes and cheese blending nicely into a beautiful harmony of flavors. Personally, I haven’t had cabbage and mushroom pierogi in a long time because I don’t like mushrooms, but for people who like them, this will taste great! As much as others love the rich meat pierogi, I often find them a little dry, unless done properly, which is not often done at restaurants. Another very important factor of pierogi is the quality. Since they have become a well-known polish staple, many companies have made frozen versions of them. I do not find that wrong, it is the natural way of modern commercialization, but what I do find sad is when restaurants serve them to their clients. You can easily tell the difference between a homemade one and a store bought one. If your pierogi have more filling than dough, and the filling is well-seasoned, then they are most probably hand made. On the other hand, if the dough overshadows the filling in its quantity and thickness, and the filling is perfectly smooth and bland, it is most definitely store bought. Pierogi are often topped with caramelized onions, sour cream or sometimes bacon bits. I personally love the contrast of the coldness and taste of sour cream against the warm and creamy dumplings, but I also see the appeal of adding the extra sweetness of the onions or the savory flair of the bacon against the smooth potatoes. There are so many ways one could go with pierogi and you will not be disappointed when you find your favorite. My Grandma's Homemade Pierogi - Spend With Pennies Bigos /Hunter’s stew - is a delicious and hearty dish made of sauerkraut, vegetables, sausage, mushrooms, pork or beef, and prunes. This savory dish lives close to my heart, as my grandma makes it for me fairly often. It is yet another heavy dish, and is usually served with bread, which only increases its calorie count, but the salty and umami flavors, with the occasional hint of sweetness from the prunes surrounded by the slightly acidic flavor of the cabbage have me thinking about when I’ll have it again. Bigos, a Polish Hunter's Stew | Paleo Leap Desserts: Karpatka - This dessert is similar to a napoleon pastry but has a sweet origin story. The name “ karpatka ” comes from the name of a Polish mountain range “Karpaty,” because the pastry the cream is surrounded in looks like a mountain range after it is baked. The sweet filling nicely complements the pastry creating a very enjoyable experience. Traditional Karpatka - one of the most popular Polish desserts. - https://tasteisyours.com Chrust or faworki - This desert might be hard to find at a restaurant, but it is a Polish delicacy. Very thinly rolled dough, fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar is a dessert served most commonly for Fat Thursday (February pre-Lent Christian celebration). It is best served fresh and still slightly warm. Babcia’s Polish Chrust Recipe (Faworki) – matthew eats the world (wordpress.com) Honorable mentions: Ptasie Mleczko - You won’t find this at a restaurant, but in your local Polish store. This candy is the most popular (and one of the best in my opinion) Polish candy. It’s a sweet marshmallow covered in chocolate. Wedel, the company that makes Ptasie Mleczko , manufactures many flavors of the candy, from the original (and arguably the best) vanilla flavor, to chocolate, caramel, or even lemon. Wedel.pl - Czas na przyjemność Thank you so much for reading and allowing me to share my love for Polish food with you. Growing up in Poland, it was my everyday life, and after moving it has made it even more special. The comforting flavors bring me back to some of my fondest memories, looking up at my grandma and seeing magic happen in her kitchen. Food has a lot of power to keep one grounded and I know I can always come back to it after a harsh day. I hope this review will help you choose a dish of your liking next time you end up at a Polish restaurant. There are of course many that I have not covered but be daring and try new flavors as well!  BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Without Her Face 3 By Nora Chery Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Original artwork by Aleeza Dhillon Far East, in the outskirts of Snow Valley Square, resided a lovely opening. Spring had already arrived in the region and swept through the town. It made its fame justified, as the plants grew rich and rapidly. They bloomed with vivid colors dotted around. A breeze gently swayed the grass. The sun shone bright, reflecting its rays all throughout. Birds sang as they fluttered under the warm sheet of heat. The place was popular amongst the townsfolk, many visited for the flowers and scenery alone. The area had an appeal, anyone can swim through the green seas of grass looking to find a flower to gift to their partner and find the perfect fit. In the midst of it sat a modest white cottage. The windows were small and left open, letting the wind made the beige curtains dance. The paint on the cottage's walls was faded but still presentable, and most importantly, the roof didn't leak. It wasn't as fancy as some other houses in the town. Infact, the only things that stood out about it was the flowers growing around the house, mainly in front if the porch. Many of the flowers were pink, yellow and orange blossoms. There was also a porch that creaked quietly, due the footsteps of a woman swiftly making her way to her rocking chair. Her hair, which was normally tied in a neat bun, was worn down to an untidy ponytail. Quick and edgy, she straightens her long summer dress, protecting her skin from the wood of the chair and plopped down. Her breathing, even with all of the sweet warm air surrounding her, was quivering as she stared down that the letter. A red envelope was discarded, left alone on the threshold of the door. The flush-colored letter had a somewhat fancy feminine theme to it. Along the margins were lipstick marks, in an almost mocking way. The letters were, of course, cursive, a darker shader for contrast. Anita scanned through the cursive letters over and over like a malfunctioned factory machine. The gripe of the edges of the paper tightens, as she hoped she must’ve misinterpreted something, a word or a sentence, after all it’s been at least a week since she picked up a book. But no. The more she repeated her reading cycle, the more her reassuring self disappeared. “Mama.” The edges of the card were jagged and disjointed, slick with sweat. “Mama.” She massaged her left temple with her left hand, relying on the small comfort as her headache began to straggle her. “Mama!” Her brown eyes weakly shifted her focus on the horizon to the voice of her 5-year-old son. His hair of which she spent 30 minutes combing was tussled, his clothes of which she spent one hour washing were stained with dirt and grass. With his equally brown eyes, he looked at her with a pale pedal on his chubby cheek, daisy on his left hand and action figure on the right. “What is it, sweetheart?” she asked weakly. Her son responded to her question by turning his head behind him, presumably staring at the distance. In the distance, bestows a dark brown path along the hills. It had been beaten hard by the tires of cars that belonged to people who would much rather drive than walk to gawk at the tree and pluck the flowers. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion; she followed the child’s gaze standing up to get a better look. The wind suddenly grew strong, enough to snatch the empty envelope from the threshold and fly it to the very same direction, the two-person family were looking at. Then, the letter soon joined alongside it, as the hand that was holding it felt numb. From the inside of her mind, everything was mute and tight. The sound of an engine growling, faint due to the distance. A hot pink spot was seen in the heather grew into a roadster car as it traveled near its destination. Managing to climb out of her state, she tramped down the stairs, racing towards her son. With grass slamming against the hem of her dress, too preoccupied to pick up it up like a lady, she extended her sweaty hands to him and plucked him up. The small boy grip on the things he was holding had loosened, abandoning them near the lilies. The boy frowned and fought with whines as he extended his small hand over his mother’s tense shoulder. The woman only responded by caressing his head making her grip on him firm as she ran to the entrance of their tiny house. The brown door that was slightly ajar was struck by the woman’s hip, swinging open, the knob jabbed the wall. She plopped her son on the oak floorboards inside, outside she stands over him still on the porch. “Go to your room.” she whispered with urgency. The boy tried to step outside, he pointed at the direction on his toy lost within the grass but his mother grabbed his small paw. “Go to your room and don’t make a sound.” She grabbed the other paw, cupping them like they were one fragile baby bird and placed her lips on their knuckles. She closed her eyes, long eyelashes joined together quickly and tightly as she lingered for a bit. She prayed and lifted her eyelids. The boy pouted in frustration. The wheels of the vehicle rolling against the ground could be heard like a whisper. The woman pushed the boy inside and closed the door. Her knuckles were white when she held onto the knob. The pink vehicle rolled in it a gentle hold. The click and squeaky sound of the car door opening could be heard like a whisper in her ear. She released a short breath through her barley unlatched lips against the door. She turned finally, brown eyes meeting blue piercing eyes. The car was there in front of the cottage, next to the mailbox. The driver was already out and was leaning against one of the front doors, her red lipstick curled into a small smile. Her designer rose heels crossed over the other, titling her head. Black-coloured silk-gloved nails rhythmically tapped against the side view mirror. Anita stood straight and polite with her hands tightly woven together, her left thumb gentle rubbing the other. She opened her mouth to inhale, her shoulders lifted with the action, and then exhaled along with her greeting. “Good evening, Catherine.” Catherine straightened her head with a snort along with a bright beam. She took her hand from the mirror and used it to wave her hand, “A fine evening to you to, it’s a pleasure to see you, Anita dear, it’s been a while.” She adjusted her tilted hat than paused, eyebrows lifted “...Has it been awhile?” she asked affably Anita gazed down at her pumps, they didn’t seem as pretty anymore, “Yes.” she answered. Catherine shrugged and playful patted her purse at the side of her hip as she giggled “Well - you know we’re living in a busy world, and I’m a busy girl, so time seems to fly fast, I tend to lose track.” Her patting stopped “...I know you wouldn’t.” “I suppose I wouldn’t.” “I hope you weren’t expecting me to drive by, say ‘hello’, give you a hug and a kiss, and drive away soon after.” Anita whipped her head up, “Of course—of course not!” “Well, I'm accepting that you would invite me inside your home and we could may have a discussion like fine women, talking is what women do best, Anita.” Anita quietly shuffled to the side of the door, she lifts her hand toward it, “Please make yourself at home.” Catherine crossed the distance of grass between her and porch with long elegant strides with her hips swaying. She climbed up the stairs and slicked her long blond hair over her ear, revealing a strikingly red earring. She sides eyes Anita before swinging the door open. “How polite of you.” She steps over the threshold; she scans the cottage’s interior “This house is just what I remembered, it looks quite lovely inside, though I've seen better” she remarks as she takes off her leather jacket and hat. Anita nods, taking notice of her empire dress, the material was light with dark floral designs that trailed around her torso and waist. Catherine sets her things aside on the coat rack next to the door. She sighs and turns to give Anita that warm looking smile, it never left her beautiful face, but in the gram scheme of things meant nothing. A mask she didn't have to wear but chose to for the fun of it. Catherine pulled out a humanoid-shaped item, it was wrapped with pink parchment. She displayed the thing up to Anita’s face, “Littering is a no no.” she jested, “Especially if it belongs to your son.” She wrapped the paper and separated the item from it. The item was the boy’s action figure. Anita lifted her hands to take the toy, but hesitated. When Catherine tilted the figure towards her, giving her permission, she slipped the toy out her hold. She stared down at it, the toy once withered by the elements of the world and the abuse from a child, now looked brand new. Shiny with each colour popping with quality. Anita looked up to Catherine swiftly making her way to the dining table, she sat down on one of the chairs to then flip the paper, other side was the letter. “But most especially if it’s one of my letters.” Anita felt her heart against her ribcage, “I didn’t mean to throw it away, I swear I would never throw it away,” she managed to squeeze out, “It just slipped out of my—” “May I please have some wine?” “I beg your pardon?” “Would you be so kind as to get me wine, red would be preferable.” Anita, obliged, she walked to the kitchen to make the drink. She reached over to the wine crate, grabbed a bottle of “Flordames Amiable” and poured a wine glass of the crimson liquid for the woman. Soon she was back with the drink, she walked towards the opposite of the table, reached over and placed the drink in front of Catherine. She sat down at the opposite and watched anxiously as Catherine lifted the glass to her lips. She drained it in one swallow, only leaving a puddle at the bottom. She let out what sounded like a sigh, putting the glass back on the table. She looked over at Anita, her smile deepened. She refocused her gaze to the paper in her hand. “All of my clients, as far as I know, have been loyal to my polices—except for you.” To be continued... BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Ramadan and Eid in Islam By Nidha Dar and Mairaab Jahangir Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by India TV Have you ever seen or heard Eid and Ramadan greetings and wondered what they are all about? Why do Muslims celebrate Eid and Ramadan and when do they do so? What is the Muslim way of celebrating Eid and Ramadan? These are only a few questions out of a plethora that many people typically have about the Islamic month and holidays. In this article, we will be explaining a bit about both Eid and Ramadan. To begin, it is almost necessary to start with Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and occurs when the new crescent moon is first sighted. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, Ramadan goes back approximately 10-11 days each year. Ramadan mainly holds significance in Islam because it is regarded as the time when the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Additionally - it is a time of year when Muslims overall truly acknowledge the blessings that they have, and overall thank Allah for them. During Ramadan, it has been taught to Muslims through the actions of the prophet to fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset, and fasting being one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting includes abstinence from drinking, eating, immoral activities, and rage. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran, and charitable giving are encouraged during this time. During the month, Muslims rise early almost every day to eat suhoor , a pre-dawn meal, and break their fast with iftar , a meal occurring at sunset. Not all Muslims are required to fast though - children, the elderly, those who are pregnant, those who are menstruating and those who have medical related health problems are exempt from fasting. If a person cannot fast, it is recommended that they make up their fast later in time, but if they cannot, they can make charitable payments known as fidya or kaffara . These help to provide to those who are less fortunate with a meal to sustain them for a day, which in turn is equivalent in action to fasting. Eid directly translates from Arabic into English as the festival or feast. In a typical Islamic year, there are two major Eids, Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year (in the Islamic month of Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha later on in the year (in the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah). Both are extremely important holidays in the religion of Islam, both with their respective and differing purposes. Eid al-Fitr simply means "the festival of breaking the fast", and is usually a three-day lasting celebration with special morning prayers. People exchange ceremonial embraces and greet one another with the phrase "Eid Mubarak," which translates as "Blessed festival." Meals are prepared at home, and gifts or money are given to younger members of the family and those in need. People will typically dress in their very best clothing, usually of their own cultural background. Muslims are taught to forgive and to seek forgiveness during these days. Practices on the days of Eid-al-Fitr vary from country to country, culture to culture, and even household to household. The other Eid, Eid al-Adha, is known as the "Festival of Sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj, a pilgrimage that millions of Muslims undertake (if they are able to afford it) to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (Hajj is also one of the five pillars of Islam). Eid al-Adha commemorates Allah's command to Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son Ismail (may peace be upon him) as a testament of his faith. The story, as told in the Quran, depicts Shaytaan or Satan’s attempt to tempt Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) into disobeying Allah's command. Ibrahim (may peace be upon him), on the other hand, remains dedicated to his actions and informs Ismail (may peace be upon him), who agrees to be sacrificed. But, just as Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) is about to slaughter his child, Allah intervenes and a sheep is sacrificed in his place. Muslims slaughter an animal during Eid al-Adha to remember Ibrahim’s (may peace be upon him) sacrifice and to remind themselves of the need to submit to Allah's will. Most of the meat from this Eid is donated to those less fortunate, or given to local family friends. A small portion of the meat is kept to the family who paid for the animal, mainly as a token of charity. On this Eid people wear their best clothing as well, and spend time with family. Both Eid and Ramadan prove to be pivotal times in Islam. With the variety of culture in the United States, more and more people are learning about what they are, and further educating themselves about Islam. As of two years ago, the Valley Stream schools close for Eid. May everyone who celebrated Eid and Ramadan have had a pleasant time, and for those who didn’t, we hope you learned a little bit about Eid and Ramadan. BACK TO TOP