Israel Awareness Club celebrates Israel’s Independence Day

Today after school in C306, The Israel Awareness Club had a successful second meeting. The club leaders taught a brief history on Theodore Herzl, the man who created the first Zionist congress. Herzl formed the congress in the hopes of developing a united homeland for the Jews. Wishing to create a safe haven away from anti-Semitism, Herzl was committed to building an asylum nation for his Jewish people. The club also discussed Israel’s Independence Day. To celebrate Israel’s “Birthday”, the club served everyone birthday cake. In addition to the delicious dessert, the club members discussed their opinions on current events in Israel. To conclude the meeting, members discussed ideas for a video project advocating Israel, which they eventually hope to send to a congressman. 

For future meetings the club plans to continue planning this video project as well as have debates over disputes in Israel. The club also plans to organize a meeting with a guest speaker sometime within the next two weeks.

Art Club plans to add art to the guidance wing

Today the art club met after school with Mrs. Regan to discuss a plan to create new wall art for the guidance office. The guidance department hopes with the help of the art club to spruce up the plain white walls that currently border the guidance wing.

Mrs. Regan, along with other counselors, designed a simple plan to highlight certain sections of the office. Above the two bulletin boards that face the entrance door, will be bold words that read scholarship programs and summer programs. Also, above the right hand bookcase will be the words college information. The bold, yet clear words, will direct students to the right location, as well as add décor to the room.

The art club also discussed possible topics to correlate the three titles. Although a definite focus was not chosen, the guidance department wants the theme to be universal and one that does not age quickly. One probable theme that was presented was to create a mural that consists of traditional college buildings. Another credible idea that was suggested is to add an educational quote around the perimeter that promotes learning. After brainstorming more possible ideas, the club intends to meet sometime next week to continue the planning process.

With a great plan and team work, the art club will soon begin brightening the guidance office with impressive art work.

The 2010 Volunteer Fair offers community service opportunities

On Monday February 8, East’s and West’s PTAs organized the 2010 Volunteer Fair at the Cherry Hill Library. Over ten volunteer organizations held booths to recruit teen volunteers for their services. From Bancroft to the Camden County Animal Shelter, various organizations are looking for devoted students to help with their causes. If one is interested in taking part in a great community serve opportunity, then contact one of the groups below to get started.

Sickness and Mental Health:

1) Alice Rose “Victorious” Foundation

Bio: A program that reaches out to teens with long term illnesses

Needed: Teens who want to help organize gifts and presents for sick teens and children in hospitals

Contact: gdinatale@arvt.org

2) Bancroft

Bio: Runs nine campuses in New Jersey that serve children and adults with mental disabilities

Needed: Teens who wish to spend time talking, playing, and assisting those in the schools and homes

Contact: www.bancroft.org

3) Lions Gate

Bio: A retirement physicality that provides a lively community for the elderly

Needed: Volunteers who wish to play games, talk, read, and just spend time with the elders.

Contact: 856-679-2205

4) Voorhees Pediatric Facility

Bio: A children’s hospital for children suffering from illnesses

Needed: Volunteers who wish to play and spend time with the children.

Contact: volunteer@uoss.org

Schools:

5) Cathedral Kitchen

Bio: A culinary school that provides a fresh start for the unemployed and homeless living in Camden

Needed: Volunteers who wish to make meals and assist cooking classes.

Contact (e-mail): volunteer@cathdralkitchen.org

6) Latin American Economic Development Association

Bio: A marketing and business school that offers learning opportunity to the underprivileged living in Camden

Needed: Students who are interested in managing events, organizing pamphlets, and making videos that assist the program.

Contact: 856-216-0558

7) Voorhees Pediatric Facility

Bio: A children’s hospital for children of all ages who are suffering from illnesses

Needed: Volunteers who wish to play and spend time with sick children.

Contact: volunteer@uoss.org

Animal Outreach:

8 ) Camden County Animal Shelter

Bio: An animal shelter in Blackwood

Needed: Volunteers who are interested in playing with and taking care of animals

Contact: www.casnj.org

9) New Jersey Academy for aquatic sciences:

Bio: An organization that promotes appreciation and preservation for marine life

Needed: Volunteers who would be interested in hosting inactive water life exhibits for guests

Contact: 856-365-0352

Variety:

10) Quixote Quest

Bio: A group of dedicated teens that take part in an array of volunteer opportunities.

Needed: Motivated teens who wish to make a difference through a variety of community outreach programs. The teens also discuss their volunteer experiences with each other every other week.

Contact:  www.quixotequest.com.

These are just a few of the rewarding community service programs in the area. Give back to the community and take part in an organization.

Disney reveals plans to build new Lost ride

Die-hard fans of Lost who dreamed of running away from the smoke monster or fighting against the darma initiative, may now be able to see their wish come true through Disney’s new stimulus ride.

Disney is now workshopping on an idea to transform the popular TV show Lost into a new stimulus ride. At the recent International Associations of Amusement Parks and Attractions in Las Angles, Walt Disney Imagineering revealed plans of developing a Kuka arm ride based off of the hit series Lost. 

Kuka arm technology is very similar to robotic arms used for building cars.  However when the technology is used for rides, secure seats are attached to the “hand” part of the machine to create an exciting stimulator effect.

Originally Disney passed on an opportunity to install a ride controlled by a Kuka arm, due to small capacity and long wait lines. However Disney recently decided to incorporate the Kuka arm technology in its new ride, Sum of All Thrills. The ride begins when each rider chooses his or her vehicle of choice, a jet, bobsled, or a roller coaster. Then using a touch screen, the rid-

Sum of all Thrills, which is located in Epcot, was the first ride of its kind, making Disney the only park in Orlando to feature the new technology. However, many believe that Universal theme parks plans on using the Kuka arm in its highly anticipated Harry Potter ride. 

With the exciting thrill of Lost and Harry Potter, accompanied by the adrenaline pumping Kuka arm, both Orlando parks are sure to bring in the crowds.

Comcast Holiday Spectacular brings the holiday season to a close

Comcast, one of the country’s largest cable, internet, and phone companies, is now offering the community more than just “triple play.” The Comcast headquarters, located in downtown Philadelphia, is showcasing a great holiday show until New Year’s Day.

The free 15-minute holiday show is played on the world’s largest mm LED video wall.  The screen’s 10-million pixels of clarity bring the actors featured in the show to life. When first entering the 975 feet tall Comcast building, large wooden panels face the opening doorway. But when a guest takes a closer look, the top half of the panels is merely a projection. Similar to a 3-D effect, the images portrayed on the screen look touchable.

Throughout the day, on the hour, The Comcast Holiday Spectacular begins. From a nighttime view of the skyline of Philadelphia to Santa taking off into the sky, every scene in the show is perfectly clear and life-like. The graphics are so realistic, guests feel as if the show is being performed right in front of their eyes.

From parents to teenagers, the Comcast show is great for people of all ages. Families should take the time to wrap up the holiday season by experiencing the exciting Comcast show.

Demogorgon holds its weekly meeting after school

Demogorgon (Demo), East’s literary magazine, holds its weekly meeting every Thursday. Every year a new edition of the magazine comes out, which features short stories, poems, and photos generated by Cherry Hill East students. The magazine is put together by Demo’s staff members, who review submissions every week. The weekly submissions form packets put together for each meeting. This week’s packet consisted of three entries, two stories and one poem. After discussing the literature’s content and structure, the group votes on whether or not the piece should be submitted. This week the staff decided that none of the written pieces would be printed in Demogorgon. However, the poem, Victims of Babylon, will be sent back to the writer for revisions. For next week’s meeting, Demo’s staff strongly suggests that anyone interested in poetry or short stories, should submit their work to the Demo email, eastdemogorgon@gmail.com.

Tryouts for A Midsummer Night’s Dream begin

This afternoon at 2:45 the drama department met in the East auditorium. Students of all grades at East tried out for parts in this year’s fall play, A Midsummer Night’s dream. The play is not a musical, therefore each student who wished to tryout had to memorize the monologue of the character he or she wished to play.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Weaver reminded students the importance of fulfilling the requirements of the cast contract, which states that all who participate in the play must attend the mandatory rehearsals.

After explaining the process of the play, Mr. Weaver began the tryouts. It was soon evident that the audition process was going to be tough. Many students tried out. The high-quality tryouts prove that A Midsummer Night’s Dream is on its way to becoming another great East production.

Vans’ Warped Tour: a history

Van’s Warped Tour is a music festival that brings over 600,000 kids across the country a lineup of 100 rock bands. Today, the tour attracts thousands of music loving fans, but in 1995 Kevin Lyman created Warped Tour for a very different reason.

Kevin Lyman started his career

in music while in college. For his university, he booked performances featuring upcoming bands. After graduating, Lyman continued pursuing his music career by working as a production manager under the up-and-coming music promoter Goldenvoice. Still, Lyman wished to promote bands on a larger scale. Pairing his love of music and skateboarding, Lyman envisioned a skateboarding competition accompanied by live music. The first ever Warped Tour took place in 1995 when Vans, a skateboarding company, sponsored the tour.

The music genres played at Warped has progressed over the years. Originally Ska and skate punk was played, including bands such as No Doubt and Sublime. The genres played progressed into punk rock and metal core. By the early 2000’s, Warped became centered on pop rock and post-hardcore bands that it features today. This year a few of the bands included in the band lineup is Saosin, Bayside, Nevershoutnever, and A Day to Remember.

From June to August, the Warped Tour travels across the country, from coast to coast. In 1998, Warped Tour went international, playing at venues in Australia, Japan, and throughout Europe. Almost every day of the summer, The Warped Tour is set up in empty lot, or a large stadium. Scattered across the designated area are five stages. Smaller stages are reserved for up and coming bands, while the larger stages are performed on by well known bands. Many times

throughout the day, bands are playing at the same time. Those who attend the concert pick and choose the bands they wish to see.

The Warped Tour may center on music, however the tour is also a social event. Along with the stages, tents are raised throughout the lot. Clothing companies, band merchandise, and charities all set up displays. Bands that are just starting out follow the tour hoping to attract new fans. A skateboard ramp is set up in the center of the grounds, where anyone can skate.

Although warped tour only takes place one day in a local community, it has become a traditional summer event throughout the world.