Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Click Click By Zoie James Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images Click, click. I sit at my desk and log into my laptop. School starts in five minutes, but there’s no need to rush in the comfort of my own home. Click, click. I look at the time: 8:00 am. Time for first period. Click, click. Both my hands type the notes on the screen, although my eyes fight to stay open; my brain struggles to think; my body jitters; it can no longer stay still. The school day drags on, so why does time fly when I have a test? Click, click. I hastily turn in my assignment, feeling the stress grow inside me. It eats away at me As I click and click and click and click on the keyboard. At last, the school day ends. I shut my laptop, sigh, and head outside to watch the bright, fluffy clouds before I click, click and click on my computer once more. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections The History of the Iceberg A68A By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by English News To start off here, let’s have a bit of context on icebergs. Icebergs are pieces of ice that broke off from Antartica for multiple reasons. Larger and more frequent ice breaks are oftentimes considered an effect of climate change. They can be an issue to ship traffic and oftentimes wildlife. As well as being a problem for wildlife nearby, melting icebergs cause sea levels to rise. Note that only large icebergs have names, and names vary depending on the original sighting area and child icebergs breaking off (for example, iceberg D300 breaks into iceberg D300A and D300B). In July 2017, Iceberg A68 breaks off from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antartica, which is expected from scientists, as cracks were visible for months at this point. A couple of years after that, a piece (A68B) separates off from the main iceberg (A68A). This is the start of iceberg A68A proper. A68A continues to move north, just like iceberg A68 when it was named that way. In April 2020, another chunk of ice, A68C breaks off from A68A. There are now 3 icebergs, although the most significant one, A68A, continues its march north. After this, in the month of November 2020, A68A is now considered a threat to the wildlife on South Georgia Island, which is in the Southern Hemisphere, near Antartica and South America. Local penguins, seals, underwater life, and other wildlife are at risk. In December of 2020, the scientific community believes a collision is now almost inevitable, at less than 31 miles away. Later in December, A68A scrapes the seabed near South Georgia Island, causing iceberg A68D to come off. Later in the month, a few days before Christmas, icebergs A68E and A68F break off A68A. A68A starts to fall apart faster compared to before, as the warmer weather up north finally starts to kick in. In January 2021, A68G splits off from A68A. This is the end of the road for iceberg A68A, as the complete breakup of the iceberg is almost inevitable given the conditions. As of right now, A68A has vastly diminished from its size when it was the largest iceberg in the world, about the size of New Jersey. The iceberg will continue to diminish in size as it is facing warmer temperatures and harsher conditions. It was once considered a major threat to wildlife on South Georgia Island, and even scraped the bed of the island, but is now a diminishing iceberg. The sheer size of the iceberg when it broke from Antartica has raised a debate over the possibility that climate change had a role in this, and if we’ll see more massive bergs like this in the future. For now, only time will tell what will happen to Earth’s icebergs. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Contemplation Back to Sections Wasif Ahmed - Contemplation By Wasif Ahmed June 8, 2021 Marker Volume 1 Issue 8

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Olivia Muscatteli By Olivia Muscatteli Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Ghost and Mrs. Muir – A Very Rad Review Jasmine Roberts Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image Provided by Unsplash+ The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a classic supernatural romance, film noir of 1947. Starring Gene Tierney, as the titular Lucy Muir and esteemed actor Rex Harrison, as the Ghost. Directed by well accomplished filmmaker Joseph Mankiewicz, it bases itself on the book written by R.A. Dick, or more truthfully, Josephine Leslie. This movie could perfectly be summed up as a blend of the classic noir characteristics of idealistic romance, a stunning contrast of black and white, and the charming transatlantic accents with the supernatural and the melancholic sadness of lost love. The film creates not only an artistically beautiful film, which emphasizes the beauty of intimacy, but also a nuanced and heartfelt perspective on two of the most natural parts of human existence, time and love. The viewer’s heart has no choice but to flutter and yearn for the passion each protagonist shares for one another, even after years have passed. If it was not apparent enough, I will gladly say that The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is one of my most beloved films, and inherently one of the loveliest Romance films to date. The story takes place in 1900s Britain, following Mrs. Muir after the death of her husband, leaving her a widow in a period of patriarchal dependency. The now widowed Muir decides to move to an abode near the seaside, in the small village of Whitecliff, to the dismay of her family and the dismay of the realtor who sells her the home, as Gull Cottage is rumored to be haunted by its previous host, a man who had committed an unfortunate act of suicide; however, Muir decides to rent the home, allowing the widow’s life to change in ways that no mere skeptic could rightfully explain… We open to a scene of Lucy discussing her future with her family-in-law. Her sister and mother are distraught at her departure and are actively begging the widow to stay. Her mother in-law is crying into a handkerchief from losing the only remembrance of her late son, while Lucy’s sister in-law is questioning her ability to raise her daughter, Anna, on her own. Lucy, however, is calm and collected, she is blunt in her answers and makes sure to correctly point out, that she is merely an in-law, who does not have connections to her husband’s family other than by law. She freely states that after her husband's death, she now has her own life to live. When I first watched this movie, I was very young, around 6 or 7. I couldn’t appreciate the tasteful depiction of Lucy as an intelligent woman who understands what she wants, but after my fifth viewing of this movie, it has now greatly surprised me how independent Lucy is, in a time period of the late Edwardian era to early Victorian era. Women of this time were frequently considered more desirable, the less opiniated and assertive they were. If a women allowed herself the independence Lucy has decided to uphold, she would have been considered mentally ill and even branded with the misogynistic illness named female hysteria. Though we could blame this more feminist take on the fact that the author of the book is movie is based on is a woman, and also the time this movie was created, 1947, which was two years after the second world war, a time when women worked in the factories and the iconic illustration Rosie the Riveter was created. It still should be noted that the 40’s were not kind to women and strongly harbored objective views on how women should live their lives, so it was refreshing to see a take that showed not only a bold woman of the early 20th century, but also depicts this in the late 20th century. This movie also wonderfully illustrates Lucy’s personality as soon as she is on screen. As any film hobbyist will explain to you, it is imperative to establish your characters once they are first introduced. This allows the viewer to immerse themselves into the movie, but also makes the select characters' behavior and choices more sensible to the characterization as the story progresses. When we meet Lucy, she is shown to understand what she wants and even though she is a woman in the 19th century, she is blunt and does not sugar-coat her words, so it makes sense that she would want to live independently on her own, away from those who seem to enforce such traditional behaviors. Lucy’s choices make sense and allow me to forget my troubles and completely follow the story of Mrs. Muir and the ghost. I believe that some directors now, seem to not understand how jarring it can be to suspend your disbelief with every scene and decision a character makes, this movie understands that hassle and makes sure not to make those same mistakes. The movie continues to masterfully use Lucy’s early characterization to both make her decisions make sense and also build on her character. After, we are shown a quite short montage of Mrs. Muir moving to Whitecliff, we settle on a scene of Lucy trying to rent a home, from a realtor, Mr. Coombe. He guides Mrs. Muir to a seat next to him and begins to show her different listings, which all seem to be too expensive, except one. Gull Cottage. Mr. Coombe puts the paper aside again in anxious haste, explaining to Lucy that she would be wasting her time; however, Lucy picks up the paper once again, and holds her ground. She, adamant that she wants Gull Cottage and is not afraid to disagree with the man who speaks down to her, even threatening to leave him without business. The first major first scene and the second major scene wove together into a knit of splendid story telling. These scenes need one another to make Lucy. The first scene shows why she would not be scared to double down with her want of Gull Cottage, while the second scene shows how a characterization like this would apply to the real world . Some would say that scenes like this have little to do with the overall review of this movie, but I disagree with such an opinion. This is a romance movie, and romance movies need relationship dynamics for viewers to apply to our own realities. Lucy’s personality, as we will see, makes her and the ghost’s romance lovely to watch, especially in a movie of supernatural and paranormal idealism. Lucy is driven to the Cottage and on the outside, the home is decrepit and wild, in the inside it is plain and blanketed with dust. But this isn’t the most fundamental part of the film. No. It is when Lucy opens an inconspicuous door of the Cottage and is intrigued by an illuminated painting of a man with dark, brooding eyes, wearing the hat of a captain. This is our first introduction to The Ghost. It is a wonderful way to introduce a character and illustrate how the viewer should see this man. The image of a hyper realistic painting in a pitch black room, with the only light source being directly upon this mysterious man's face, not only tells us that we should remember his presence, but also creates an air of suspense, as we want to know more about this man and why a painting of him is so important to be directly emphasized upon. The light on this painting is also eerie. It illuminates upon an uncanny valley depiction of this gentleman, bringing a life to him, that should not be there, it feels as though he knows you are in his home, he sees you, and he knows what you are doing. The black and white contrast of the movie also creates this aura of mystery of both fear and intrigue. Even something as simple as the hat upon his head is a great way to tell us who this painted man is without directly stating so. In context, Gull Cottage is near a beach, so when the captain hat is shown, it tells the viewer right away that this man has worked at sea, and most likely appreciates it, as to then live right near it. The usage of the bright light is a stylistic, somewhat impressionist way of shooting this scene, because realistically in an all dark room, that does not have any obvious source, light does not appear in one area, but the light works so well because it feels supernatural, as if a ghost is haunting this portrait, and could even express how Lucy sees this man. A handsome gentleman, that draws attention with his aesthetic powerfulness, a man that the heart leads towards, to find some sanctity in his love. When they learn that the home was owned by the late Captain Gregg, we aren’t told anything after that, leaving the viewer with more questions that shall not be answered. The lovely Lucy seems to already adore this home and has already fallen in love with it. This scene shows a significant way of how the Ghost and Mrs. Muir will connect. Their taste in furniture can strongly allude to their sensibilities about life, as where furnishing is where you live for the majority of your life. A shared taste in furniture is also a shared belief in how individuals should live. Lucy has fallen in love with the home, and especially the room in which the painting resides, but there is a tree that exists on the outside of a large bay window, which she finds hideous, and tells the realtor she will have chopped down. At that moment, she freezes in place once the words have left her mouth. The instruments which play in the background have risen in intensity, and Mrs. Muir looks surprised, like she has felt a chilling presence, but nothing is there… right? We will discuss this later. A few more occurrences occur, which point to paranormal activity, such as food being left loosely upon a table, as the charwomen who had visited left in a haste, and a telescope located in the main bedroom, being clean when no one has lived in the home for 4 years, leaving the rest of the cottage dusty and old. But most chilling is the disembodied laugh which echoes through the main bedroom, as the realtor runs away in fear. These are good ways to foreshadow the existence of the ghost, as now the viewer knows there is a supernatural being roaming around, and one can piece together who it is, yet the viewer knows very little about the ghost. It both lets us on the secret yet leaves us out the loop. Questions surely need to be answered, so the viewer continues to watch the film, hoping their queries will be resolved in due time. Mrs. Muir still decides to take the home, she is skeptic of a ghost actually haunting the cottage, but the thought does not frighten her. It hints that she wants to understand the ghost, while others run away from terror. So, she moves in and begins living with her maid, Martha. A scene which I deeply appreciated was when Mrs. Muir discusses feelings of inadequacy. It foreshadows later events, ties into her characterization while adding a conflict, and creates agency in a female character when in other films, even modern ones, women are shown to have little. Every scene in a movie should progress the plot in some shape or form and this simple scene, as Mrs. Muir walks up the stairs, does this exact thing creatively. When Lucy is put down for a short nap, the viewer is welcomed to a dynamic shot of a clock, ticking. Showing the passage of time, it’s a loud ding that tells the watcher that something important will be showing soon, the camera shows Lucy’s barking dog, then lingers on the figure of a shadow, as it creeps towards Lucy. The film is amazing at shooting suspense, we know who that this shadow is the ghost, but now we are waiting for Lucy to know, though she continues to stay oblivious and wakes up in a haze, the clock is shown again, and the lighting dims, reminding the viewer that time has passed. Lucy knows very little of the Ghost, she lives her life without the knowledge of the dead, Until one stormy night. Lucy places her daughter to sleep, as lightning strikes, creating a comfy, yet haunting effect when contrasted with the traditional black and white film. Lucy, with one candle in her hand walks throughout the cottage and opens the door to the room which houses the illuminating painting, she glows once again, then vanishes with the dark. The ghost will appear soon. Mrs. Muir then lends herself in the kitchen, she tries to create light, but is disturbed by the hectic wind which blows the light. Mrs. Muir realizes it is the ghost and confronts him, she isn’t shy nor meek, instead she yells at him for being such a coward as to terrorize a poor lady. In response the ghost speaks. His domineering voice tells Lucy to allow light. Which she does and begins to show around the kitchen only to stop once she sees the Ghost in person. She is frightened, but I would say scared. More like surprised at such a sight, that should defy the laws of nature. The Ghost, however, seems to be more agitated than anything. Rex Harrison played the Ghost like a melodious flute. Everything present around the Ghost alludes to who he is as a person, from his informal, and scratchy tone to his rough beard. It helps the viewer draw correct conclusions on this sea torn man. He is ill-tempered and badly mannered, which contrast Mrs. Muir respectable, kind personality. As soon as these two meets, we are shown a sweet dynamic, where opposites attract to create the most wonderous of love. The two begin on shaky grounds. The Ghost is crude and misogynistic, finding solace in insulting others, especially women. He wants Mrs. Muir ousted from his past home, while Mrs. Muir refuses to leave. This causes a certain tension amongst the two, they argue and bicker, for Lucy is not a woman who is ordered around, while the ghost has his own wants, which Lucy refuses to allow him. But the ghost seems to have developed a soft spot for Lucy, due to her refusal to run away, and allows her to stay on a trial. The two continue to quarrel and argue, frequently clashing with one another's personalities, for instance when Lucy cuts down the tree, she deemed ugly when she first looked at the place, to then find out the Ghost planted the tree with his own bare hands. The argument is sweet to watch, it is like seeing an old married couple bicker in public. The Ghost nags Lucy about it, while the women hold her cool, demanding roses instead. They also connect in ways that are emotional. The Ghost has realized that Lucy didn’t actually love her husband, but merely liked him, a deeply hidden truth, which causes Lucy to become aghast. But through conversation, it is shown that he is right. Lucy says that her husband could not design the house she had moved into and loved so dearly, and when she asks who designed the home, the Ghost says that he created. This is similar to the furniture, these miniscule details show that they are on the same wavelength and through all their arguing, they still have a founded connection. The connection is shown even more when Lucy in-laws come to visit, bring bad news with them. The investment of her husband is paying dividends no more, forcing in a corner. With no more money to spare, she now has to move back in with the in-laws, which she finds little connection with. But, the Ghost refuses, and pridefully admits that he wants Mrs. Muir to stay with him in his own ornery manner. It is idealistic that in such a short period of time, these two would have a connection so profound, but it works so well because the connection between them was created before they had even met. They knew each other dearly before their words could ever clash. To remedy Mrs. Muir’s financial issue, the Ghost proposes that she write a book. He allows Lucy to write about his life as a captain, even though they haven’t known each other long, the captain seems to trust Mrs. Muir with his story. He evens tells her his name, Daniel, and nicknames Lucy, Lucia, explaining that the latter name, is strong and does not get forced upon. During their writing sessions, they begin to fall in love, as they fill in each other's gaps. Their bickering comes off as squabbles to hide their romantic tension, and even sometimes genuine flirts, for example when the Ghost begins to mock Lucy as a well-behaved young girl to then end with the compliments of her freckles. However, as their love grows the more unfortunate it becomes. Lucy is alive, while Daniel is dead. A love that is hindered by space and time, so Daniel must give Lucy up and direct her to fall in love with a living man. Their romance isn’t reconciled either, when Lucy meets another author named Miles Fairley and begin their own blossoming love. Daniel becomes jealous of their love at first, but ultimately decides to vanish in the night, leaving Lucy with merely a dream and idea of his existence, for he told Lucy to move on, so now the Ghost must move on too. But, not without his own sorrowful regrets. Lucy, however, doesn’t obtain the mortal love, The Ghost so desired her to get. Instead, she is left heartbroken, once she discovers that Miles, in an unfaithful man with two kids and a morose wife, who explains that Fairley makes it a habit to practice adultery with other women. Lucy withdraws into herself and forgoes the search for love, instead she grows lonely and tired, as her daughter leaves her to attend college and falls in love with her own future spouse. But her daughter leaves her with a few words relating to her secret crush as a child Daniel, who she has seen since the little girl had been living in Gull Cottage. As time grows and life begins to wane, Lucy’s health begins to diminish, she denies a cup of milk Martha offered to her and begins to grow tired. Time is merely a circle which documents our life throughout our years, and like any circle, there is a cycle to be maintained. Lucy dies in the same seat, in which she was first visited by the ghost. Daniel has come back to guide her to the heavens, and hand-in-hand the couple are delivered to the song of the angels. This movie cannot be explained, just in words. No. One must actively see how beautiful and loving this film is, by watching it on a cold, gloomy afternoon, with little to no natural nor artificial light. I couldn’t recommend it more! The symbolism of the clock, and of time, reminds those who view the movie, that nothing lasts forever, and we must cherish what we have now. This film has engraved itself into the edges of my heartstrings, and with every romantic memory I dare think, the water of my eyes begins to overflow, and the waterfall of my soul drowns me in sorrow and a hopeful yearning for the love so similar to that of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and for that I rate this movie: 10/10 Crying Jasmines BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Usman- Anonymous Artist Anonymous Artist February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Gas leak at North surprises all, results in evacuation By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Forbes Hello Dear Readers, Today I would like to give you a piece of advice concerning some recent occurrences in our school building. This school year has engulfed us, as both students and staff, in many tragedies and forced us to take responsibility for ourselves and others and, as a consequence, make crucial decisions. Because of all of this, sometimes being in the school building can feel not totally safe and any surprise event or break in a routine can add to, or trigger, stress. In January, the students of Valley Stream North walked into the building, and they immediately encountered a strong gas smell. Not even five minutes into the first period of the day, most classes changed locations and settled in the gym. While in the aura of uncertainty, students tried to figure out what would happen next, Ms. Bounaspina had to step up and take sole charge of the building, as both Dr. Small and Mr. Jara happened to be absent. As trivial as this event may seem, and students spent around an hour supervised in the gymnasium, this unexpected event could have resulted in stress for students (as well as staff members). If you, my dear reader, find yourself in a similar kind of situation, or any time you feel yourself tense up and want to manage your stress quickly, try these fast-acting techniques: 1. Steady your breathing Take some deep breaths until your breathing becomes steady. Try a slow inhale, hold your breath for 4 or 5 seconds and exhale. 2. Consider your situation Try to gauge the situation you are currently in and remember to see if someone is already taking care of the situation. Look for the safe and familiar aspects. 3. Ask questions If you can, ask questions! People around you will be more than willing to help. I hope this helps calm you down in any stressful moment! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Lexi Sowerby - Prism By Lexi Sowerby November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Sophia Mura - Who Am I? By Sophia Mura November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The History of Valentine's Day and its Tradition Mya Hans Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by HOLA Chocolates, cards, flowers, teddy bears, and hearts. A day to express your love and affection for your family, friends, and/or partner. Valentine’s Day. This is a highly favored day of the year because it’s an emblem of love, and it’s an especially wonderful day to appreciate your loved ones. But what if I told you the origins of this holiday are vastly different from what we know today? What’s the history of it? And who started Valentine’s Day and its traditions? Well, as with most holidays, there are many ways that people believe Valentine’s Day started, but this one starts in Ancient Rome. During the time, the emperor was Claudius II, and he decided to ban marriage because he thought single men were better soldiers, rather than men who were married. However, a priest named St. Valentine disagreed with the emperor’s new rules and married couples in secret. When the emperor found out what St. Valentine was doing, he was put in jail and eventually executed, this happened on February 14th, the day we now refer to as Valentine’s Day. So now that you know the tale behind Valentine’s Day, you may wonder how the traditions began. One gift everyone gives not only for Valentine’s Day but for every holiday is cards. The tradition of giving cards on Valentine’s Day also connects with the legend of St. Valentine. Following the path of the legend, after St. Valentine was put in jail, he befriended the jailer’s daughter, Julia, and some even say he healed her blindness. Before he got executed, he wrote her a goodbye letter and apparently signed it saying, “From your Valentine.” Another gift many people receive on Valentine’s Day is flowers, specifically roses. Roses, especially red ones, signify romance, love, and passion. According to writer Ashley Paige, “The flower's connection to Valentine's Day hearkens back to the 19th century when Victorians used floral bouquets to deliver a message to love interests.” The history of roses goes back to the 19th century! The traditions of Valentine’s Day have been around for the longest time and continue to have an impact on the holiday we know today. Although all the legends and stories about it may not be completely accurate, it’s still interesting to think about how people believe it began. As you celebrate this Valentine’s Day, remember that it’s about celebrating your loved ones and showing your admiration for them. When you’re thinking of what to give your loved ones, remember these traditions that date back hundreds of years ago, or maybe even start your own! Sources: The History of Valentine's Day Cards ( scrapbook.com ) The Real Story of Cupid (and other Valentine’s Day Traditions) - Cincinnatus Insurance LLC The History of Valentine's Day Gift Traditions ( streetdirectory.com ) Valentine's Day 2024: Origins, Background & Traditions | HISTORY BACK TO TOP