JIM MATTHEWS / Star BeaconTHESE STUDENTS were all disappointed after the new high school
levy failed. Harbor High School students Michael Gardner, Mia
DiAngelo and Robin Campbell, from left, stand in front of the aging and
cramped Lake Avenue building.
A COMMENTARY
By STACY PUZO
Well, the dust has settled and the votes have been counted and once
again, there will be no new school for Ashtabula's students.
Since 1968, the school board and its supporters have vainly tried to pass
a levy that would provide a new, state-of-the-art facility for high school
students that attend Ashtabula and Harbor high schools.
At the same time that attempts are being made to better the education of
Ashtabula's youth, the prospects for a new municipal building in town
are being talked up. Most likely to appear on the ballot in May will be
a
vote to find out whether or not the people support the idea.
Accompanying that question will be yet again the issue that would bring
a much needed resource to the city. A new school.
I talked with Ashtabula's athletic director, John Higgins, about the
matter at hand. Higgins stated: "I think that the economy of the town
needs either a major industry or a good school system to take off. We've
been sliding down hill for the last three or four years."
Higgins went on to say, "Also, I think that our students are as capable
as
any in Ohio, but that lack of facilities is holding them back. In my
personal experience with students, none plan to stay here because there
is nothing here for them."
On the topic of a new municipal building versus a new high school,
Higgins said that he was used to the "Olden Days," seeing the
old
building where the former Carlisle's parking lot is located. He also
stated that, "If they can't fix broken steps for $20,000 then they
need to
find someone who can. Broken steps can wait, we need schools now."
Since the city is placing a referendum on the May ballot concerning the
construction of a new municipal building, the issue of new schools will
undoubtedly be overshadowed and will most likely not be passed. After
such a long and fruitless attempt you have to stop and wonder, from a
student's point of view especially, what is making it so hard to pass an
issue that will improve the quality of education in a community that has
suffered in crumbling buildings year after year? Can you really put a
price on the future?
One thing that many voters in the city do not understand is that in May,
the issue concerning the municipal building is simply to find out
whether or not the voters want to vote for the construction of the new
building or if they want to leave it up to City Council to decide. If the
vote turns out that the people do want to decide on whether or not it
should be built, then on the November ballot, it will appear again and be
voted on. (Makes the school bond issue seem simple. Yes or No.
Preferably YES.) Passage of the municipal building referendum on its
first try would be like a kick in the knees of the school board that has
worked for nearly 30 years to build a new school for the city. To avoid
having the two building issues on the same ballot, the school board may
hold a special election in February.
By singling out the issue, its importance may draw more attention even
though every year at election time the board has made valiant attempts at
rousing the public's interest. Countless parades and rallies have been
organized. Major campaigning, to no avail, has been the main focus of
the school board for years now. It is like running a race and education
should not be about politics.
One of the major roadblocks concerning the school bond issue is, as
Higgins puts it, "People think that school is school and that it does
not
matter what kind of facility you have."
Hopefully between now and May or possibly February, the attitude of
the voters will change and they will realize how beneficial a new school
would be to students and the community as well. Not only will it bring
new jobs to the area, but priceless are the opportunities it would provide
for faculty and students.
R.O.C.K.,
horror go well togetherBy MAGGIE DeVORE
Lizard eyes! Shots 'o blood! Yummy! Fans were gobbling up gory
snacks at R.O.C.K.'n Horror Show II, Oct. 25. For the saner appetite,
donuts from four of the best bakeries in town and Little Caesars pizza
were plentiful.
Silva's Zip Zap and the Short Stop drive through filled the ice tubs with
soda pop and Brant's apple cider was chilled, once again, courtesy of
"Tony the Iceman" of Balkan Bakery fame. Apples and bags of treats
were served by our new snackmeister, Margie Welton.
Upon entering the Ashtabula Party Center, West Avenue at Route 20,
we were mysteriously shrouded in black light. Ghoulishly, costumes and
clothes with light colors seemed to float in the air.
At 7 p.m., a brand new group blasted open the concert with anything but
Frail sounds. The Sons of Assassins held the fans in a trance with their
new girl rapper and distinct social comment. Elegy picked up the tempo
with their new, hard driving beat. They did not disappoint us with some
fresh, solidly heavy tunes.
The house lights were raised at 8:30 p.m. to reveal many uncanny and
brilliantly creative costumes. Prizes were handed out by Judges Crystal
White, Charlie Fike and Joe Moore, with Debbie "Elvira" Barley
as
emcee. Spill concert tickets, gift certificates from Slappy's and the mall,
Sunny Knights, Subway, NRM and tapes from Stone Orchard were
given to those costumes voted best by concert goers.
As the lights came down, the roar went up when a coffin bearing Joe
Capo of Spill smashed its way through the excited fans. What a howl!
Talk about stage presence! Just goes to prove R.O.C.K. HQ can put out
a stage production to rival any professional group. When the Mosquito
Bitten Bs chewed up the stage the crowd went wild. Trust MBB to get
everybody on their feet. What a "Monster Mosh!" "Da Blurnan"
was
burnin'!
Pathogen kept the fans in a frenzy with a riveting, attention grabbing
beat. No time to cool down because the Devoured Soul group nailed us
with their hot premier performance. Welcome to the club guys. Then
silence...darkness. The crowd parted to let candle-flanked creepy
looking Kevin Morgan slowly play a dirge to the stage. Stone Orchard
diabolically churned out their final concert set before moving to a
warmer climate. Good luck, let us know if you're back around so we can
do this again, fellas.
When the crowd was gone and the floor swept, Mark Potts, manager of
the Party Center, commented he was looking forward to our next
concert.
By the way, it will be called "Plymouth R.O.C.K." and will be
presented
two days after Thanksgiving. Plan to bring a toy four our second annual
"Toys for Tots" effort. Look for flyers and a band member for
advance
tickets. WZOO will give out free tickets so tune in for freebies. An open
Jam at noon is planned. If you aren't in a group, come in and show what
you can do. Who knows? Maybe you'll make a connection.
Kudos to Julie Welton, our trusted money handler, Happy's Golden
Donuts, Jubilee, Squire Bakery, Finast and Allmans for treats and Linda
Caudill (you were missed) for her paper product donation. Wendy's
supplied the mini cups for the gory snacks. Thanks to Sports and
Sports, our security crew is now labeled. Robert Delweski, John
Cashohm and Phil Kiser put "security" on the shirts.
Continued support form the community helps us provide safe, drug and
alcohol free concerts with security. We don't even mind the new rule of
no loitering outside (UGH) although it gets mighty hot.
We have started a continuing benefit through our bank account called
the "Kids Who DO Care Fund" which will be available to any R.O.C.K.
HQ member in need of a loan to further his or her talent. An application
for such a loan can be made at any membership meeting. We would
happily accept donations from the community to increase the benefit
fund. Our charity work is not limited to the fund and suggestions are
welcome. You may call 998-6448 any evening for information.
Meetings are Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Ashtabula Senior Center on Main
Avenue, Ashtabula.
Keep cool. Keep R.O.C.K.in'. See 'ya Nov. 29!
Put a romance into your winter
With LAURA DOWLER
Now that summer is over, the days are colder and drearier, what could
be better than a cup of hot chocolate, some popcorn and a romantic
movie on a rainy or snowy day? Grab some kleenex and hit the couch to
watch one of these love stories.
"The Princess Bride:" - This fairy tale romance has everything.
It's
exciting, it's funny and it is incredibly romantic. Wesley the servant falls
in love with a beautiful maiden who also loves him. Can the pirates stop
the romance? Watch and find out.
"Pretty in Pink" - Poor Girl falls for Rich Guy in this 80s love
story.
Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy star in this touching and funny
romance. Features a great 80's soundtrack with the Psychedelic Furs and
Code Blue.
"Only You" - Do you believe in destiny? Faith thinks that a Ouiji
board
and a fortune teller can say whom she is going to marry. On the night
before her wedding she drops every thing to chase after her "dream
man." She follows him to Rome and chases him all over Italy. What she
doesn't realize is that she is ignoring who might really be her soul mate.
Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei.
"Sabrina" - If you like romantic movies you will LOVE Sabrina.
Julia
Ormand, Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear star in this modern day fairy
tale. Sabrina has had a crush on David Larabee for years. When he
finally takes note of her, she is thrilled. Then she has to make a choice.
The final scene brings back memories of some of the greatest romances
of all time. Just four words: Paris in the rain. If you like this movie
you
might want to check out the original "Sabrina," starring Audrey
Hepburn
and Humphrey Bogart.
"Untamed Heart" - "I don't make sense, He doesn't make sense,
together
we make sense." This describes the relationship of Adam and Caroline.
Adam is a shy dishwater and Caroline is an outgoing waitress. Even
though they work at the same restaurant, it is by chance that they really
get to know each other. Bring lots of kleenex.
Meet freckled seventh grader Sara Pierson, an almost 13-year-old
from
Geneva (She desperately wanted to be on the TEEN page. She has
GOOD taste..)
Sara wants to be a nurse someday. For now, her profession of choice is
babysitting. Sara tends to spend her babysitting money on clothes and
accessories, she says.
Sara plays tennis and likes corn-on-the-cob. She also sings along to the
radio when she's cleaning her room. (Cleaning her room!? Is this girl for
real?)
Sara's favorite subject is science, perhaps because there's a boy in her
class whom she likes. You'll have to ask her about that, however.
But speak up, she's got the vacuum sweeper running.
Every once in awhile we start feeling some responsibility in
Teen/Currents and tactfully suggest you think about YOUR FUTURE.
Huh? Huh?
Well there's a career and college day coming up at the Federated Family
Center, 11995 Main St., East Springfield, Pa.
It's 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22. More than 200 colleges will be
represented, 10 professionals, there's a financial aid seminar at 12:30
p.m. and scholarship giveaways at noon and 2 p.m.
For more information, call 814-922-3655.
When you become a big success, come back and thank us and take us to
dinner and stuff some money in our pockets.
On with the show
Edgewood High School had its fall play last weekend. That means
you're too late for that one.
But fear not, this weekend are plays at Conneaut and Madison and next
weekend in Perry.
Madison High School hosts "Dead Giveaway" today through Saturday
at
8 p.m. in the school's lecture hall. It's directed by Matt Martello.
Conneaut hosts "Breaking Up is Hard To Do, and Then Some." It's
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Shoot, Friday night at 6 you can eat
dinner, too.
Oh, and Perry has "That's the Spirit" Nov. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Did your school have a play and we didn't mention it? Um, it's cuz you
didn't tell us! So you have to see one of these instead.