Start the Holiday Off with a BANG!!!

Gretchen Newman and Meghan Miller

Staff Writers

As it is the last week before break, New Hope-Solebury is finishing off with a festive holiday kick off week. Each day is a different fun and exciting theme.

●     Monday is PJ day.

●     Tuesday Flannel Day.

●     Wednesday is Jack Frost nipping at your nose so wear your best winter gear (hats, gloves, ski goggles, scarves).

●     Thursday is twin with Santa or dress up like one of his elves (red or green).

●     Friday is ugly sweater day

To finish up the week before break with a bang, we will be having the Talent Show! We need you and your friends to sign up for the show! Spread the word to your classes!

DiNapoli’s Italian Deli Coming to New Hope

Cooper Hendricks
x

Staff Writers

DiNapoli’s Italian Deli, a very popular Italian restaurant from just across the river in Lambertville, is making its way to New Hope in January.

     They plan to move to 18-20 N. Main Street, which has “ Indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate our amazing customers.” They plan to stay open for the rest of December and will begin the move across the Delaware River in January of 2019.

     DiNapoli’s also comes with great food as well as ratings, even having won the Best Meatball in New Jersey as well as the Golden Meatball. Several other awards like Best Sandwich and Best Catering also are displayed proudly at the top of their webpage.

     The restaurant’s style and aesthetic come from the late nineteen forties and early fifties when famous singers like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin sang on the radio. On their walls, they have old black and white photos of Frank Sinatra and large orchestras.

     The menu is also very promising with their great looking sandwiches, and salads. Going back to their aesthetic, they even have a sandwich called Mack the Knife, which is a song by the singer Bobby Darin.

     DiNapoli’s should be very well received with what looks to be an excellent menu and hospitable staff. They should have no problem at all settling down here in New Hope and should have plenty of new and old customers.

California in State of Emergency after Fires Continue to Spread

Michael Borys and Justin Horak

Staff Writers

On Nov. 9, Northern California was surprised with an enormous fire killing 42 people. As well as, 200 people missing. Around 6,700 buildings and structures were destroyed which is becoming the most destructive fire in California history.  This occured in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which was richy populated with retirees. There are currently two fires going on in the state of California the “Campfire” and the “Woolsey Fire.”

     The  Campfire is in Butte County California and 135,000 acres burned. The California Firefighters have contained 35% of it and there were 48  fatalities and three firefighters injured. In Butte County there were 8,817 structures destroyed and 7,600 of them homes. The Woolsey Fire is a little smaller compared to the Campfire. The Woolsey Fire is located in Los Angeles County and Ventura County California. This fire have burned 97,620 acres of land and about 47% percent have been contained.

     The number of people killed in wildfires burning in California has risen to 50, including 48 from Northern California's Campfire, already the most destructive and deadly blaze in state history. Meanwhile, survivors of the massive Campfire, the deadliest blaze in the state’s history  continued to search for their missing loved ones in the ruins of Paradise. In result of the devastating fires, the air pollution is full of tiny particles that can cause health problems, ranging from from temporary discomfort to long-term heart and lung diseases.

     The largest wildfire, “Camp Fire” ravaged through about 153 thousand acres. The fire began at approximately 6:30 A.M. Later in the same day the “Woolsey Fire” burnt about 97 thousand acres which started at about 2:30 P.M. The smallest wildfire, “Hill Fire” burnt through four and a half thousand acres which started at 2:00 P.M. Seventeen days after the wildfires began, firefighters confirmed that the fire has been 100 percent contained. In result there were three total wildfires that occurred.

2018 Solebury Township Midterm Election Results

Amy Tao and Marina Skuban

Staff writers

Scott Wallace, Brian Fitzpatrick, you’ve heard the names. This election is one to remember.

Democrat Bob Casey, seeking his third term, ran against Republican Lou Barletta, who is currently in the House of Representatives, for the US Senate race. Casey easily won with 55.6% over Barletta’s 42.8%, so he will keep his seat for another six years. Pennsylvania’s other senator is Republican Pat Toomey, which gives Pennsylvania one republican and one democrat in the Senate.

Current governor Tom Wolf, seeking a second term, was challenged by Scott Wagner, who aims to free business owners from state regulations for job growth and higher paychecks. Wolf won 57.6% over 40.8%, remaining governor for another four years.

Candidates for Senator in the General Assembly of the 10th District were Steve Santarsiero, aiming to rebuild our economy, and Marguerite Quinn, who prioritizes the education system. The two were battling for the open seat after Chuck McIlhinney did not run for reelection. Santarsiero won the showdown by over 6,000 votes.

Helen Tai and Wendi Thomas ran for the open seat in District 178. Thomas, the Republican candidate, defeated Tai, a resident of Solebury township and the current Democratic incumbent, by fewer than 1,000 votes.

Brian Fitzpatrick and Scott Wallace ran for the 1st Congressional district in a highly watched race. Wallace caught up to Fitzpatrick, the republican incumbent once considered unbeatable, in the polls. However, Fitzpatrick was able to pull off the win.

The 2018 Midterm elections have been one of the most important elections of our time. With a 188% increase in young voters since 2014 and a record breaking amount of women and people from other minority groups elected to the House and Senate, this has certainly been an election for the history books. Our country will continue to change, but only if people get out and vote. 

Whiskey the Whippet Wins National Dog Show

Caroline Donado

Editor-in-Chief

The National Dog Show took place on Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving day), awarding a Whippet

named Whiskey, Best in Show. The show, run by the American Kennel Club, featured thousands of dogs from across the nation and five international entries. 185 breeds were represented including the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen and Nederlandse Kooikerhondje which were featured for the first time. The dog show has seven groups with the Whippet winning the Hound Group, Doberman Pinscher for the Working, Pembroke Welsh Corgi for Herding, Chesapeake Bay Retriever for Sporting, Lhasa Apso for Non-Sporting, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for Toy, and the Wire Fox Terrier for the Terrier Group.

    Whiskey’s handler said to NBC that “[he’s] an outstanding example of what the ideal Whippet would look like.” Whiskey beat Doberman Pinscher, Irupe, for the first place ribbon. This is his 20th Best in Show. “First and foremost he is our companion and pet,” the handler’s wife says. “We love him.”

Amazon Raises Their Minimum Wage

Connor Fitzgerald

Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, Amazon had released a statement that they are raising their minimum wage to $15 an hour for United States employees. The raises apply to part-time workers and people hired by temporary agencies. Amazon has also said they believe the American minimum wage should be raised.

The current minimum wage in the U.S. has been around $7.25 for almost 10 years or so now. The new minimum wage from Amazon will affect approximately 250,000 employees and to 100,000 more workers they plan to hire for the holiday season.

This change in pay will start on Nov. 1. Jeff Bezos has always received criticism for Amazon’s low pay. After Bezos announced this, Target stated they would raise their minimum wage to $15 by 2020. Walmart also exclaimed they would raise their minimum wage to $11 an hour in January.

“We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead,” Amazon’s executive, Jeff Bezos, had stated. “We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.”

Amazon has significantly changed the retailing industry in the past couple of years. Amazons’ high popularity and sales have caused many businesses and stores in the sectors Amazon disrupts to go out of business. One example of this is the closing of the toy store company Toys “R” Us. President Donald Trump is not a fan of this and believes that it is ruining the industries.

New Hope Fugitive Captured

Will Kelley and Kel MacDowell
Staff Writer

Over the past week, New Hope has been the temporary hiding spot of David Allen Hamilton, 47. According to the Solebury Township Police, Hamilton has been on the run since last week. He was charged with two counts of rape and sexual assault on two different young women.
     On September 21, Hamilton tried to take a New Hope Borough police officer’s gun. He was unable to get the gun and has since disappeared into the woods. Hamilton is suspected to be a 20-year military veteran. Additionally, Hamilton will be charged for aggravated assault.He is suspected to be armed and dangerous. Currently, there is a $1,000 reward for anyone that can give information leading directly to his arrest.
     After a few weeks on the run, Hamilton was caught Friday, September 28, in a bedroom closet in Aston, Pennsylvania. Aston township Police Detective said, “We received the tip this morning that David Hamilton was on the 100 block of Roberts Road here in Aston Township.” He was found hiding in a second-floor closet of his relative’s home in Aston township, Pennsylvania. David Hamilton had a lot to say while being taken in by authorities about the accusations. Hamilton states, “I am innocent until proven guilty and I hope there is a good lawyer out there who will help me.”

Instagram Founders Resign, Facebook’s Downfall Continues

Matthew Bracco

Staff Writer

Instagram’s co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, are choosing to resign, which may be a troubling signal for Facebook, who owns the app.

    Kevin Systrom, Instagram’s chief executive, and Mike Krieger, it’s chief technology officer, have resigned and plan to make their departure in the coming weeks. “We’re planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again,” Systrom said. “Building new things requires that we step back, understand what inspires us and match that with what the world needs; that’s what we plan to do.”

Instagram was purchased by Facebook in 2012 for $1 Billion. However, Facebook has been on a continuous downward spiral. Facebook’s stock hit a peak low in July after it’s second-quarter earnings report showed slowed revenue growth and they haven’t necessarily recovered from that drop yet.

Facebook had barely any new users since their second-quarter and actually lost some users in Europe and Canada. Investors are worried about the future of Facebook, and Instagram’s co-founders making an exit does anything but aid Facebook’s growth. According to the Wall Street Journal, Instagram’s co-founders battled with Facebook leadership, including Zuckerberg. One person familiar with the matter told the Journal the relationship had become “tense” in recent months.

“Kevin and Mike are extraordinary product leaders and Instagram reflects their combined creative talents,” Zuckerberg said in a statement. “I’ve learned a lot working with them for the past six years and have really enjoyed it. I wish them all the best and I’m looking forward to seeing what they build next.” Although their ties are cut, Systrom and Krieger remain “excited” for the future of both Instagram and Facebook.

Attempted poisoning of government officials

Lauren Walinski

    Ricin is a deadly poison derived from castor beans which, once ingested, injected, or inhaled, causes the body to stop making proteins. Once it is  in the body, it takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days to work, depending on the concentration and dosage. A lethal dose of  purified ricin powder is only the size of a few grains of table salt. This is what it seems William Clyde Allen III had intended to send to the Pentagon and to the White House.
    The Pentagon received two envelopes containing a strange substance, and the White House a third. This substance was later revealed through FBI testing to be a concoction made of castor beans. While not technically ricin, it could still be dangerous to ingest.
    The White House envelope was addressed to President Trump. The two envelopes to the Pentagon had been addressed to Jim Mattis, the Defense Secretary, and Adm. John Richardson, chief of the US Navy. The would-be assassin, Allen, served in the Navy for four years.
    Allen was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, after his envelopes were intercepted by the Pentagon and White House mailing facilities. He has been indicted on seven counts.

Cosby receives three- to 10-year sentence

McAfee Madding
Staff Writer

The first high-profile conviction since the #MeToo movement put an international spotlight on women’s stories of abuse. Bill Cosby, comedian, creator and star of many long lasting television shows, started his career in Stand-Up Comedy in the 1960s before creating his own sitcom, The Bill Cosby Show in 1969. Cosby was sentenced to  three to 10 years for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. In 2015 New York Magazine published an issue with 35 of the 46 accusers of Cosby, giving those victims a platform to tell their stories. These incidents happened between 1965 and 2008
Bill Cosby was one of America's greatest comedians, so when these victims stories came forward in the mid 2010’s, not only was it surprising because it was a sexual abuse scandal, but in this case the abuser was often nicknamed “America's dad.” Cosby has been affiliated with Temple University decades, he served on the board of trustees before resigning in 2014. In 1991 Temple University awarded Cosby an honorary doctorate, but they have finally decided to strip him of that title.
Cosby's first trial in June of 2017 ended in a mistrial, the latest trial in Norristown, Pa., took place on Sept. 24, 2018. “Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it. He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature, and my trust in myself and others,” Constand commented about the incident. Constand was the only accuser that came forward and pressured any kind of charges towards Cosby. In this new age of the #MeToo movement created by, Tarana Burke, this is a small step towards justice for all victims of sexual assault.

Tsunami devastates Palu, Indonesia

Kennedy Fisher
Staff Writer

On Friday, Sept 28, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake triggered a 20-foot tsunami that ruined Palu, Indonesia. The wave came crashing into Palu turning the town into a wasteland.The town was wiped of electricity,clean food and water.
A series of buoys connected to seafloor sensors designed to detect tsunamis had not been functioning since 2012 due to lack of funding.The soil turned into something similar to quicksand and swallowed town buildings whole.
Two thousand  lives were taken due to the tragedy and 5,000 are still missing. About 70,000 people are now homeless and are camping in tents. Search and rescue are having trouble reaching all these people in time.
Rescue workers are also concerned about a 8,530 foot volcano in western Sumatra that had started erupting after being dormant for 400 years which took time away from the tsunami disaster. Although many people in New Hope may not feel not directly affected by this disaster, Charity Navigator offers many options for supporting organizations that are on the ground helping those in need.

Is Instagram Listening to You?

Lauren Hunt and Frany Barile
Staff Writers

You’re scrolling through Instagram and an ad pops up. To your surprise it is something you just talked about. This isn’t a coincidence. Instagram is now recording your conversations and using them to create ads better geared toward your interests.
     There is speculation surrounding the idea of Instagram recording its users and using their conversations for advertising. To test this theory, users purposefully talk about a product without having the Instagram app open and see if the product shows up as an advertisement on their Instagram feed. For many people, the product is advertised on the app as soon as one day after they talked about it.
     Instagram has become increasingly popular throughout the years. In Feb. of 2013, there were 100 million users. In June of 2018, that number rose to 1 billion monthly active users. This makes Instagram a hotspot for advertising. Instagram is listening, and the only way it can know about certain conversations among its users is to listen through their cell phone microphone.
     We asked a New Hope Solebury student, Kennedy Fisher, about her own experience with the new method of Instagram advertising. “I was talking about ordering some Domino’s Pizza with a group of friends. Later that afternoon, an ad popped up on Instagram for Domino’s. I don’t think it’s helpful, I think it’s just creepy.” Kennedy’s story is very similar to what most Instagram users experience.
     This way of advertising could become the new norm. Although it creates more customized ads, is it crossing the line between personalized content and invasion of privacy?

Hurricane Michael Tears through Florida, Leaving Extensive Damage

Amy Tao and Marina Skubin

Hurricane Michael has ripped through Florida, Georgia, and the Virginias, making it one of the strongest storms to hit the continental U.S
     The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Mexico Beach, Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 10th. Governor Rick Scott of Florida described Michael as “the worst storm that our Florida Panhandle has seen in a century”. It toppled trees, blew away fences, and bent stop signs almost parallel to the ground. The 155-mile-per-hour winds blew debris around the never ending rains. It was impossible to see the full extent of the damage because the waters were still rising, topping some buildings. By 2 a.m. Thursday, Michael, now a tropical storm, was 25 miles east of Macon, Georgia, lost strength, with winds at 60 mph.b
     Around 7,800 people were seeking shelter in American Red Cross shelters on Wednesday night. 1.4 million people people across seven states have lost power. Local governments have placed dusk-to-dawn curfews across several states as they worry the death toll will rise from 19 people. Dozens are still missing as authorities desperately search through mounds of debris. A couple stranded in their home after Michael had written “HELP” using debris and fallen trees in an effort to be saved. Their niece spotted the signal after searching aerial maps by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The couple was eventually rescued by emergency responders from the NOAA.
    Even though the storm is calming down, the damage it has will last for years to come. The estimated cost of damage left by the hurricane is around $8.1 billion. Randy June, a resident of Mexico Beach, was one of many victims whose entire neighborhood was destroyed. “We’re gonna rebuild somehow,” he said. “I just don’t know how yet.”

Trump issues new tariffs

Ally Mangano and Nick Oz
Staff Writers

Recently, President Trump has been under fire for his new tariff comments and policies. Trump is no stranger to controversy, opposition, and being thrown into the fire, and continues to stand firmly behind his policies on tariffs.
Although initially approached with much opposition, China has responded just as Trump, and those who sided with him, hoped. China has agreed to cut import tariffs on about 1,600 products as of the turn of November. On America’s end, Trump is aiming to stop China from controlling the U.S. economy. China, on the other hand, is thinking more politically than economically as they seem to be biting at Trump’s bait. They are working on overall domination rather than just doing so from an economic standpoint. Lowering these tariffs can help the Chinese in other facets, such as real estate. This may lead the housing bubble to pop in China, which would make homes more affordable for generations to come, starting with young, developing families. Additionally, these actions serve to provide China with motivation to progress in terms of research, technology, and more. The competition from foreign companies may just in fact drive China to do better themselves, thus becoming more productive domestically. These resulting changes may just serve to boost China’s economy and make them more progressive for the long haul.
This scenario has seemed to follow Trump’s ideal path, as China forces American companies into doing business in China to transfer technology and intellectual property,  threatening the U.S. economy. However, China has shown that this may be helping them just as much, if not more so.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh Scandal

Cheyenne Carr
Staff Writer

Brett Kavanaugh was nominated  to be a Supreme Court justice back in July. Recently, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward and said that 36 years ago Kavanaugh sexaully asaultted her. Back in summer 1982, Dr. Ford alleges that Brett Kavanaugh assault her at a high school party. She claimed it was a small party and that people were drinking alcohol when Kavanaugh pinned her down onto the bed, groped her, and tried to remove her clothes and bathing suit while covering her mouth. She also said that his friend Mark Judge was in the room and that they were both laughing at her. Kavanaugh says he “categorically and unequivocally” denied the allegations made against him from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
     On Sept. 27, 2018, both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh Appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and were questioned by senators and outside prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. The hearing went on for days. Ford discussed the personal difficulties she had after the alleged assault. Kavanaugh claimed the allegations were false, however, he did admit to drinking with his friends and attending parties in high school but he didn’t know anything about the allegations.
     With still no conclusion, an FBI investigation into the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh ordered by Mr. Trump. He gave the F.B.I a week, they interview many people. Since it was not a criminal investigation, FBI agents will not be able to get search warrants. Witnesses can refuse to cooperate, but talking to the FBI agents is a powerful motivator to telling the truth.
     It was a close vote, 50-48. After weeks of these allegations the Senate has finally come to a conclusion. After seven background checks on Kavanaugh, a week of FBI interviews, and a hearings for days, the senators have voted to make him an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court.

Trump cancels Eagles’ visit

Georgia Pappas and Eric Locke
Staff Writers

President Trump suddenly called off the Philadelphia Eagles' visit to the White House after the team’s Super Bowl win. After President Trump demanded the entire Eagles team to stand during the National Anthem, many of the players and coaches of the team stated they would boycott the visit.
     In a statement President Trump released on Monday, June 4:"The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow," he continues, "They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in hour of the great men and women of military and the people of our country."
     White House officials stated that fewer than 10 members of the teams were planning to attend the event on Tuesday in spite of the weeks of planning. Instead of the team being present at the ceremony, President Trump said that the 1,000 fans originally invited would still be allowed and welcomed to the White House, but instead the celebration would honor "our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem."
     In terms of athletes skipping the White House victory ceremonies, it is not uncommon. After the New England Patriots' win, a distinct number of players from the team skipped the celebration. Michael Jordan, of the Chicago Bulls, was not present at the White House celebration with President George H. W. Bush in 1991. However, it is rare that a conflict between the president and the  players reaches such an extreme level.

Guatemala volcanoes claim dozens

Garrett Hoffman & John Devaney
Staff Writers

You may of heard about the terrible volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, but they’re not done yet. Just yesterday, news went viral about another volcano erupting in Escuintla, Guatemala. The unstoppable flows of lava and ash have left people trapped in their homes. In the town of El Rodeo, the ash has covered many homes since Sunday’s eruption. Reports from CNN have said that there at least 75 people dead and they are expected to find more remains in El Rodeo. “Smoke rose from the volcano Wednesday morning, and Ramirez's colleagues parked their vehicles facing downhill -- in case Fuego erupted again and they had to flee” Firefighter Rigoberto Ramirez said.
     Over the past few days, the death toll and number of people affected by the volcano has risen.
     “The Fuego volcano on Sunday unleashed fast-moving pyroclastic flow -- a nasty mix of ash, rock and volcanic gases -- that buried nearby towns such as El Rodeo before many could flee.” There are at least 192 people missing, it's hard for rescuers to find people because they “face hazardous conditions as they navigate hot, rocky debris.” Reporters say that they think that this eruption is probably not over. The Fuego volcano sent “ash over 16,000 feet into the sky and temporarily halting search operations.” Near the town of San Miguel Los Lotes, Miriam Juarez and her husband, Jose Amigar, waited Wednesday, hoping authorities would let them pass so they could retrieve some belongings. “An emergency medical team from the hospital has been treating the injured on the ground after being deployed Monday to Guatemala,” it said.

In 7-2 ruling, SCOTUS finds for baker in cake case

Lauren Walinski

Co-editor in chief

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a baker who refused to make a cake for a gay couple on June 4, 2018, on the grounds of making such a cake being a violation of his religious freedom. The vote was 7-2, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the dissenting voices.

     The case itself dealt with a couple who tried to buy a wedding cake in 2014. The baker did not want to be involved in what he believed to be a sin and refused. He believed that making the cake would be seen as endorsing being gay and his refusal prompted the couple to take legal action. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which reviewed the case, ruled in favor of the couple.

     The case was thought to be one of freedom of speech and religion versus equality. Many of those in the majority of the Supreme Court voted, however, with a third factor influencing their vote. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion, ruled on the basis that the original commission which had dealt with this case had done so unfairly. The Supreme Court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which had ruled in favor of the couple, had made hostile remarks in the case which had compromised the fairness of the ruling. The Court struck down the ruling on this basis.

     The dissenting judges did not see the ruling this way. There was concern that this would set a precedent for future rulings which would encourage discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Additionally, even if the ruling is narrow and only applies for the case at hand, there is always the risk that others who are hateful will feel emboldened by this ruling to discriminate just the same. Even if the case ruling is narrow, other businesses may still take it as a sign they do not need to serve LGBTQ individuals, either.

History: President Trump meets Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un

President Trump meets Kim Jong Un

White House Photo by Shealah Craighead 

Caroline Donado

Editor-in-Chief

As we went to press, President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un met in Singapore for a summit to begin a process that may lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We surveyed students to get their thoughts. Here are the results:

Question #1: Do you believe the recent summit between President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un will be the start of a strong relationship between the two nations?

Yes: 26.9%

No: 25%

Maybe: 48.1%

Question #2: Do you believe Kim Jong Un will continue to make nuclear threats to the US?

Yes: 25%

No: 30.6%

Maybe: 44.4%

Question #3: Who gained more from the summit?

United States: 34.3%

North Korea: 25%

Don’t know: 40.7%