Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Finish Line By Macayla McCaffery November 24, 2020 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Cody's Trivia Corner By Cody Sung Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Getty Images How did the days of the week get their names? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Many of the names come from Roman gods, transported into Nordic culture. Let’s review each one. Sunday – day of the Sun. “Sunna” or “Sól” is a goddess in Norse mythology, which came from the Roman god “Sol”. Monday – day of the moon. The Nordic “Mani” for moon caused Mánadagr to become Monday. Interestingly enough, the Latin name for the moon is “Luna”, which is reflected in the name for Monday in other languages such as French, “Lundí”. Tuesday – named after Tiw, also known as “Tyr” the Norse god of war. Comparable to Mars, the Roman god of war. Wednesday – named after Odin, similar to the Roman god Mercury. Both are responsible for a variety of things such as luck. Thursday – named after Thor, the lightning god and most powerful of all gods. Comparable to Roman god Jupiter. Friday – named after Freya, alternatively called “Frigg”, the goddess of love, Venus being the Roman equivalent. Saturday – named after Saturn, the god of wealth, in Latin (Saturni), still recognizable in English today since the Norse didn’t change it. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Damar Hamlin’s Astounding Recovery By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by CNN Damar Hamlin, a professional American football player, suffered an injury during a game in the 2022 season. The injury was a major setback for both Hamlin and his team because it prevented him from playing for multiple weeks. Hamlin is a talented safety who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a key player for the team making a significant impact on the field with his speed and agility. However, during a game in October 2022, Hamlin suffered a knee injury that forced him to leave the field. The extent of Hamlin's injury was initially unclear, and there was concern that it could be a season-ending injury. However, after undergoing tests and evaluations, it was determined that he had suffered a sprained knee and would be out for several weeks. The loss of Hamlin was a major blow to the Steelers. Despite the setback, Hamlin remained positive and focused on his recovery. He was determined to get back on the field as soon as possible and help his team in any way he could. With the support of his coaches, trainers, and teammates, Hamlin worked tirelessly to regain his strength and get back in playing shape. In his first game back, Hamlin made an immediate impact, recording several tackles and interceptions and helping the team secure a much-needed win. From that point on, he was a key contributor for the rest of the season, helping the Steelers reach the playoffs and make a deep run into the post-season. Damar Hamlin's injury was a challenging experience for both the player and his team. However, it also demonstrated the resilience, and strength of the player, as well as the support he received from those around him. Hamlin's return to the field was a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he remains an important player for the Steelers as they look to build on their success in the coming years. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections P.S. I Love You Week By Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by P.S. I Love You Day The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Wellness Center are working side-by-side to host Valley Stream North’s first P.S. I Love You Week, a time that brings awareness to mental health and bullying. Traditionally a single day, both organizations agreed to extend the celebration to an entire week from February 7th through the 11th. With a pandemic that has brought many extra hardships for students, the week seeks to bring love and joy to the entire North community. On April 23rd, 2010, the DiPalma family faced devastating news. The father of the family, Joseph DiPalma, committed suicide. This tragedy left a gaping hole within those who knew Joseph, particularly within Brooke DiPalma, his daughter. Rather than letting such a horrific event happen again, Brooke took action and worked with her family, school, and peers to annually designate February 11th as a day to ensure that no one ever feels alone. As the organization’s website states, “Tragedy should not be the force for togetherness; togetherness should be the force that ends tragedies.” P.S. I Love You Day is a day of togetherness, a day that will unite North and spread love to all. The SADD club and Wellness Center have planned several activities for the days leading up to February 11th in order to promote the event throughout the entire school: 1. The TikTok Challenge - This creative competition requires participation from all Spartans. Ending on February 9th, Spartans are encouraged to make creative videos on TikTok that bring awareness to mental health and bullying. The videos can include dances, pieces of art, or any creative media that promotes P.S. I Love You Week. The TikToks, which the administration will judge, can be made alone or in groups, with the winner receiving a $25 gift card. 2. Grade Level Purple Clothing Challenge - On February 11th, all the grades will compete against each other based on purple clothing. To participate, students should wear a purple article of clothing on the 11th to show support to P.S. I Love You Week. The grade level that collectively wears the most purple articles will receive recognition and a special award to their grade council. 3. Supportive Post-it Note Messages - Various clubs will come together on February 10th after school to make post-it notes with supportive messages. Every single locker will receive a personalized note, so all students are encouraged to visit their lockers on February 11th. The SADD club and Wellness Center hope that the North community comes together for this important cause with these events. This will, hopefully, be the start of an annual tradition at Valley Stream North. Mark your calendars for the first P.S. I Love You Week, from February 7th to the 11th! BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Monsters in Us By Saniyah Corbin Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by Celebrations.onehowto.com I did not know what was coming until I killed the only one I loved. Then I went into a deep state of fear after hearing sirens. I started to run out of the house, realizing I feared that I was becoming a monster. I was alone. Everything had changed since I was bitten by a vampire; all I remember was walking out of the school at 12 am. The bushes started to move, so I checked it out, and then he jumped out and bit me. I was helpless. I could not do anything. When I woke up from passing out, I felt the urge for blood. Any live thing I saw, I thought: I can I bite into that . I went to my boyfriend’s house, and he had a cut. The blood was dripping; I felt like it was pulling me in. I only wanted a taste, but I killed him instead. Then his mom came in early from work. I tried to tell her it was an accident, but I don’t think she could see or hear me. The next day I told my best friend. She was scared at first, then she said that she needed to say something. I was shocked I didn’t know what to believe. So, I ran. When I was turned into a vampire, I thought my emotions heightened. It was scary. I did not know what to do. Two days later. THE TRUTH I was on a killing rampage. I didn’t know what to do. My thirst for blood was taking over. I had already killed over ten people. I wanted it to end, so I almost did the thing that would kill me forever, until someone behind me said, “Don’t do that.” The voice sounded masculine but comforting. Then I said “Why? It’s only a matter of time before everyone finds out.” After that, I blacked out again. When I woke up, he was sitting in front of me. At first, my vision was blurry. Then I could see him. It looked like my dad, but he died 3 years ago when he went down to the Mariana Trench and never returned. He was wearing his wedding ring. Then again, I have read about vampires before they were known to have compulsion powers. So, I tried. As I was looking in his mind, he spoke in a weird language; all I remember was “relinqueret statu mens in illa sunt et cognoscetis veritatem. ” Then it felt like I was going back in time with him. I saw an event when I was a baby; it was great. Then all of it transferred into my mind. I thought he was a witch-like my best friend, Layla. It was so crazy, but I tried to leave, then he told me to stay and look through the memories. So, I did... I saw the truth and found out my mom knew that my dad was not dead but turned into a vampire-witch hybrid. It was crazy, so I did what I always do... I ran . Then it felt like I was in a vampire town, but I knew it was not valid...until a gang of vampires tried to bite me. After that, they bowed; I did not understand what was going on. So, I played along and told them to get up and tell me the meaning of all this. They said “Princessss! We did not know it was you.” Princessss? I thought. Then she ran back to her dad to find him holding a crown. He must have known she was behind him because he said this would all be yours one day. I tried to find out if he was talking to me. “That’s ridiculous,” I told him. Then left again to find out what my mom knew, and turns out she knew everything because she was a witch herself. She even had a secret lair of blood for newly-turned vampires. I don’t think she knew what I was until I started to drink the blood. The hunger was not there anymore; I felt great. “You were not supposed to know until you were sixteen” because I became a witch, she explained. So I will be just like Dad, I thought. Which means that I couldn’t die. “That means people I have killed have only been turned into vampires,” my mom also told me. She started to walk the street again. Then something came out. I don’t know what it was, but it must have been wrong because I woke up in the hospital. My dad was by my side, and he told me it was a werewolf bite, and the only way to cure it was to have blood from a doppelganger. I don’t even know my doppelganger. And a wolf bite is deadly. “ Ahh!” I yelled. There was a sharp pain in my stomach. It felt like hundreds of pranas eating my flesh. It kept getting worse by the hour. As my dad said, I wish I could end itall right now, but I will be queen soon. So, I had to push through. Two hours later. My dad came back with a bottle of blood from the doppelganger. He said, drink this everything stopped hurting the moment one tiny drop went in my mouth; it was relieving. I felt alive, but you know, dead. I wanted to think pleasant thoughts, but all I could see in my head were the pictures of agony that I may have released on the town. We tried to leave, but the nurse said there are vampires out there, and I quietly whispered there are some in here too. My dad said he would handle it, but instead, I said no, it was my turn. He told me to say a bunch of weird words like Venite et ipsi nos ejiciant. Once we had gotten out, I told him to secure the town once everybody was inside and every window and door was locked. I told him to cover the windows so no one would see what we were doing. One by one, I gave them my blood to stop everything from happening. However, I guess they still must have been feeling something because they screamed, and it sounded like bloody murder. I was scared, then it all stopped. They passed out; my dad did a spell I didn’t notice because I finally found the person I’ve been looking for all along. My one true love, he was still alive, only turned into something more deadly. I wasn’t scared. But I still jumped in fear. I don’t know how but something felt different. He wasn’t the person I knew; he was someone totally different. So, I did the only thing that I could. I staked him. I couldn’t do anything else. It was so hard I tried not to show it. Once I showed the vampires our town, I immediately welcomed them and fed them blood, so their hunger wasn’t there anymore. As the years went on, we all lived in peace. The vampires stayed in the nighttime, and the humans stayed in the daytime, but still, I didn’t follow anyone. So I did what I wanted to. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Nayib Bukele - Democratic Leader or Autocrat? By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by the government of El Salvador (Official Portrait of the President Nayib Bukele) On June 1st, 2019, Nayib Bukele, 39, was sworn into office as the 46th President of El Salvador. As a president serving in a country where his government has faced much corruption, Bukele provided a beacon of light for the citizens. However, two years into his governance, the president has repeatedly faced scrutiny from politicians worldwide due to unconventional and questionable executive decisions. Although Bukele has sworn to fight corruption, has he as well become warped in this political cycle? El Salvador’s history of corruption dates back several decades. Several militaristic regimes ruled the state from 1931-1979, causing much strife and civil unrest due to seven coups during this time frame. However, the most relevant political unrest occurred with the last coup, in 1979. According to Britannica , the removal of Carlos Humberto Romero, a general and the president of El Salvador at the time of the coup, was the spark of the brutal twelve-year civil war. This conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 civilians, as per the Center for Justice and Accountability, and ultimately the war led to a stalemate. The two sides, the newly formed Salvadoran government (which went through several power changes during the war itself) and the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN - left-wing in political ideology), agreed to the Chapultepec Peace Accords in 1992. These peace accords resulted in several governmental changes, and dissolved FMLN into a political party. The rise of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista political party (ARENA - right in political ideology) also should be taken into account, as this party held much influence throughout this period. Into the 21st century, FMLN and ARENA were the two prominent political parties that handed the baton of power between each other as they contested political positions in the Salvadoran government. Both of these political parties promoted presidents that have engaged in corruption and crimes. As per InSight Crimes , in 2016, Mauricio Funes (the 44th president, of FMLN), Antonio Saca (the 43rd president, of ARENA), and Francisco Flores Pérez (the 42nd president, of ARENA) all face monetary criminal charges; essentially, they have all robbed the Salvadoran people of millions in public funds. While Pérez passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage, Saca is already serving a prison sentence, while Funes has fled to Nicaragua where he was seeking, then was granted, political asylum. These three administrations (which totaled 15 years) show the staunch corruption in the Salvadoran government. However, Bukele has sought to change this cycle. As a millionaire himself (due to his private business), Bukele has no direct incentive for stealing public money. Originally serving under FMLN, Bukele won the mayoral election of the capital city, San Salvador. Under this administration, Bukele was expelled from FMLN, causing him to be politically homeless. Despite this, Bukele grasped this opportunity and formed his own political party, Nuevas Ideas (NI) in 2017. Although the president was unable to run under NI for the 2019 presidential elections, he did compete under NI’s ally, the Gran Alianza por la Unidad Nacional (GANA). Under GANA, Bukele successfully won the 2019 presidential election, ousting the control FMLN and ARENA had since the end of the civil war in 1992. This great shift in power showed the will of the Salvadoran people to receive change; however, the change presented by President Bukele has been questionable. Immediately in his first week of office, Bukele fired government officials associated with the former president, Sánchez Cerén. While this was an expected move, as the president was beginning to set up his government, he used the unconventional method of firing officials over Twitter. However, according to The Independent, who cited Luis Assardo, a journalist from Guatemala, this form of communication is a way to surpass the media. Therefore, while there was some criticism, Twitter was and continues to be Bukele’s main mode of communication, and it has proved effective for the president. In regard to a more serious topic, Bukele’s handling of gang members has also proved controversial. The president combines the strategy of an “iron fist” (tough crime policies to halt gang activity) with incentives to keep young Salvadorans away from gangs, as described by War on the Rocks . This media outlet notes that due to these policies, “homicides have halved,” showing their high rates of effectiveness. However, the scrutiny of Bukele’s work comes from the treatment of the gang members in prison. According to Human Rights Watch , the imprisoned gang members were stripped of clothing, packed tightly together, and unable to receive light from the outside. In addition, members from enemy gangs were jailed together, potentially increasing the amount of violence in prisons. All of these incidents, as per Human Rights Watch , were ordered by Bukele himself, who permitted deadly action by security forces, despite this being against Salvadoran and international law. Additional criticism of the 46th president’s administration stems from the handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Reuters news agency reports that Bukele mandated several orders to force the populace to comply with pandemic regulations, otherwise they may be arrested and their property confiscated. In direct counter to these regulations, the Supreme Court, at the time, declared these orders unconstitutional. However, the president ignored the court’s rulings and continued to enforce his governance style during the pandemic. Evidently, one might consider this an abuse of power and a flaw in the system of checks and balances for the Salvadoran government. Furthermore, Bukele has taken advantage of his position and power by storming the Salvadoran legislature with troops. CNN describes that the president attempted to pressure the legislators into signing a law that would fund the military and police force, allowing them to supposedly better control gang violence. While Bukele’s plan to curb gang violence did prove effective, invading the parliament with troops to pressure a bill showed an authoritarian governing style. In face of all the political conflicts under Bukele’s administration, he has overall proved to have done the unthinkable. Nayib Bukele formed his own political party less than five years ago and took control of the presidency dominated by FMLN and ARENA, political parties drenched in corruption. He used his position to decrease El Salvador’s homicide rates, caused by extreme gang activity, to an all-time low by the end of 2020 (a little over a year into his presidency), an incredible feat for a state that was once considered to be the “murder capitol of the world”. The president also successfully curtailed the pandemic, with only 72,821 cases (as of May 28th, 2021) in a country with over six million people, as reported by Reuters’ Covid-19 tracker. His popularity also remains extraordinarily high, with a CID Gallup poll reporting that Bukele has an approval rating of 89% for his job as a whole and holds an approval rating of 98% for handling the pandemic. Many Salvadorans support him, including my grandmother. She was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States, and she states that “He’s a great president that truly cares about the wellness of his people. Health, education, the economy, and security are the priorities in his government.” Evidently, this trend in popularity continues because the NI political party, which Bukele founded, has recently (approximately a month ago) gained a supermajority in the Salvadoran legislature, taking 56 out of the 84 total seats in the assembly. This new parliament grants Bukele the ability to pass laws and regulations freely. One of the first actions of this legislative assembly was to depose and replace the five magistrates on the Supreme Court and the attorney general that hindered the president’s ability to govern. This move by the assembly, which is permitted by the Salvadoran constitution, was harshly criticized by many media outlets and politicians because it removed the last check and balance on the president. However, the Salvadoran people appear generally unfazed by the removal of the judges, with President Bukele himself stating to critics in a reply to a tweet that “75% of the Salvadoran people voted in these free elections for the change we are seeing.” Despite all the controversy seen in his administration, Bukele continues to challenge the cycle of corruption in the government in his unique way for the Salvadoran people who overwhelmingly support him. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Tanka Sahari's Secret Life Sarah Velez Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Unsplash Photos Warning, the following program contains scenes of graphic stupidity among four lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other- the intro we all know and love, Impractical Jokers has been a world-wide favorite since December 15, 2011. The show consists of four men, James Murray, Brian Quinn, Joe Gatto, and Sal Vulcano, born and raised in Staten Island, who have carried a friendship for over 30 years. Playing pranks and doing dares on strangers they come across, anything could happen. Randomly being approached on the street and asked to sign a waiver or having a chicken tender thrown at you, the four boys made sure to get a laugh out for those at home-and maybe even for themselves. Two of the boys go by a different nickname, James being known as Murr, Brian being known as Q, and what has recently become a famous nickname, Sal being known as Tanka Jahari . As open as Tanka Jahari may seem on screen, recent fans have discovered a truth which has been swept under the rug for quite some time. Sal Vulcano was born November 6, 1976. This germophobic TV star never fails to make those at home laugh whether it be by his most irrational fears, or reactions to what goes on while filming. His lack of affection on the show portrays a picture of how he acts behind cameras, right? Wrong. Sal Vulcano, along with co-host Chris Distefano, run a podcast called Two Cool Moms . Despite the relatively comedic factors that this podcast provides, curtains opened when Sal Vulcano stated that he has a daughter and has been married for quite some time. Sal Vulcano commented during his podcast, “I never really talk about it at all, but people know I’ve been with my lady for a very long time…I’m so, so private. Privacy is like the last thing I have, you know. Once I give it away, I can’t get it back and it’s just weird because I’ve spent a decade on television as myself.” This took fans by surprise. How could a man who had no boundaries on television manage to keep a secret for so long? The truth is, Vulcano stated he would like to speak publicly about his life, but on his “own terms.” It is a balance on controlling yourself in front of millions of people while also providing and supporting a family you love more than anything else. Vulcano melted whilst speaking about his daughter, claiming that there aren’t any words to describe his introduction to fatherhood. Vulcano stated, “Imagine having a new feeling after 45 years…I don’t need to access [happiness]. If I hear her voice, if she walks in, if I look at a photo of her right now, something happens to my body,” while tearing up. It’s safe to say despite being an open book to the media world, everyone has their own sacred privacy dear to their heart. As big of a fan that some people may be, it is crucial to respect Sal’s decision about his private life, limiting the pressure on him to reveal what goes on behind the screen. Regardless of his at home life, Tanka Jahari shall continue to be a comedic source for those in need of a good laugh. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections What I Carry By Emily Dahl June 13, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Blue Orange Study By Gilana Etame November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2