Windsock

A Savage Hit!

The class of 2011 presented The Curious Savage, a comical and quirky production written by John Patrick, on March 17, 18, and 19 in the EMS auditorium.  The play was a complete one-eighty from the previous year’s senior play The Diary of Anne Frank.  For seven weeks the cast and stage crew worked tirelessly to perfect the comedy, and they all agree their success can be attributed to their experienced directors Ted and Sue Swartz. Raving reviews were received each night, and many attendees returned for multiple performances.

Dispelling the Myths About Hookah

You can’t believe everything you hear, and with hookah this is no exception. A common misconception has spread among teens, young adults, and even athletes that hookah smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking. Don’t let your friends or yourself get sucked in by this rumor; it could be the difference between sickness and good health.

The atmosphere of a hookah lounge entices people of all ages to participate in the Middle Eastern tradition.  Originally from India, hookah has spread from the Middle East to Europe and across the Atlantic to the United States.  The décor of hookah bars is typically of Middle Eastern origin, and many serve Middle Eastern cuisine.  Hookah smoking has gained popularity from its reputation as a chic and multicultural way to socialize.

Staying Trim While Enjoying Treats This Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving in the recent past and Christmas coming up on the radar, sweet goodies and savory dishes await us at every holiday dinner and get-together. The average American gains six pounds every year during the holiday season, making sweaters fit a little tighter and causing belts to be cinched a few notches looser. These extra pounds, although a consequence of American tradition, are not a mandatory post-holiday affair. With a few helpful pieces of advice, you can exit this holiday season as trim and svelte as you entered.

Vaccaro and McConnel Make a Comeback

Junior year has the reputation of being especially demanding academically, and as a result several student athletes opt to not participate in their auxiliary sport during this critical year. For seniors Joslyn Vaccaro and Robert McConnel their secondary sport is basketball. Both Joslyn and Robert participated on the basketball team at the Junior Varsity level as sophomores, and then chose to sit it out their junior year.  They’re back as seniors to tear up the court for one final season, each with polar opposite pieces of advice for their younger peers.

Spiritual Renewal at Rockbridge

Three yellow school buses pulled into Duke’s Plaza on Friday October 29, and for once students couldn’t wait to get on board. But their destination wasn’t EMHS, HHS, SHS, BHS, or East Rock; they were headed to Rockbridge for Young Life Fall Weekend. Eastern Mennonite set their record high for Fall Weekend attendance with twenty three Flames. “We were so excited to have so many [people] from EMHS at Fall Weekend. It makes an awesome weekend even better with more friends,” said Eastern Mennonite Young Life leader Margaret Murphy.

Five Wardrobe Essentials

We would all like to have a wardrobe full of unique pieces, ones that stand out and are unrepeatable. But there are several problems with wardrobes of this type. The first issue is that distinctive elements can’t be worn often. A pair of hot pink stilettos should be worn once every two weeks at most, partly because they will not complement every outfit, but also because people will remember them. The purpose of one-of-a-kind pieces is to provoke that “wow factor,” and if you wear your neon stilettos every day, the wow factor will inevitably wear off.

The Seniors Take Their Trip

Last Wednesday, 48 Seniors rolled out of the EMHS parking lot in a charter bus named Richard, destined for the nation’s capital. In spite of the early departure, the bus trembled with excitement as the class of 2011 anticipated their time in Washington D.C. The events of the following three days proved to be valuable bonding experience for the Senior class.

With growling stomachs, the group piled onto the bus on Wednesday evening after observing a Supreme Court case and touring the National Cathedral and National Zoo. They were destined for a street lined with ethnic eateries ranging from Italian pizzerias with gigantic slabs of pizza to Ethiopian cuisine served upon round pieces of injera. The brave souls of the bunch ventured out into a whole new realm of ethnic eating, while the more conservative ones opted for a hamburger from Mickey D’s.

Varsity Soccer Hosts Menno Classic

Three years – that’s how long it’s been since the Flames claimed the title at their home soccer tournament, the Menno Classic. But Coach Bauman and the team are not discouraged by their season record of 4-6-1. Bauman says their schedule has been tough during these first weeks of the soccer season, requiring them to play non-conference matches against the teams who were ranked in the top eight in the state last season. They’ve been in the game in each of their six losses, but were just unable to pull out the win.

The Flames were in the groove on Friday evening in their match against Lynchburg Christian Academy. “We possessed the ball well,” says Coach Bauman. “We were able to move the ball around and get in behind their defense, breaking it down.” The apparent enthusiasm of the team was displayed in their aggressiveness and determination to win. Junior Eric Pardini, assisted by senior mid-fielder Mark Mast, scored the first goal of the game. Another junior, Will Montgomery, followed up on the goal with another convincing kick past the LCA keeper.  Montgomery was assisted by a fellow junior, Tyler Eshleman.  Eastern Mennonite’s keeper, Andrew Yoder, didn’t let a single shot slip past him, allowing the Flames to earn a victory of 2-0.

The R's of Closet Organization

Do you find yourself staring into your closet each morning at a loss for what to wear?  If your closet is full of old clothing that doesn’t fit or just isn’t you anymore, the process only becomes more complicated.  With autumn approaching, now is the perfect time to refurbish your wardrobe. Just remember the four “R”s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Reorganize!

Reduce
The first step of your closet makeover is to reduce the total amount of clothing you have stashed away.  This opens up more space for new apparel, and it simplifies the process of putting together outfits.  Ask yourself this question for each item. “Have I worn this piece in last year?”  If the answer is no, then you most likely won’t choose to wear that article of clothing again.  If you have clothing that isn’t your size, toss it!  The clothing in your closet should fit you right now, not after you lose those ten pounds you’re hoping to shed.  You might also find that your style has changed. This happens all the time as we mature and find our own personal identities.