Apex Chorus honors veterans at Pearl Harbor Memorial

Claire Feasey
Staff Writer

The Apex High Chorus flew to O'ahu, Hawaii to sing at the USS Missouri Memorial, and open the Annual Pearl Harbor Day Parade with the Star-Spangled Banner on December 4.

On December 5, the students put on their leis, long black dresses, and tuxedos, before heading out to the USS Missouri Memorial, for a tour and a performance. 

Apex High School Chorus on the USS Missouri

Rare rhino dies in captivity

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

Northern White rhino Angalifu died due to old age at the San Diego Zoo leaving only five in the world. Conservationists were hoping to mate Angalifu with Nola, another Northern White rhino. Their attempts were unsuccessful, leaving little hope for the continuation of the Northern White rhino population. Three of the remaining rhinos are located in a preserve in Kenya and while one other is kept at a zoo in the Czech Republic.

219 year-old time capsule unearthed

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

A colonial time capsule was found in Boston at the Massachusetts State House while repairs were being made to the building on December 11. Workers stumbled upon the artifact while they were repairing a water leak near its resting place. The time capsule is the oldest known American artifact ever uncovered. The cigar box-sized time capsule is 219 years old, placed by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams in 1795.

Into the theater without delay

Rebekah Gould
Staff Writer

From Broadway to the big screen, the musical Into the Woods follows the lives of Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Baker and his wife. They are all connected when a witch visits each of them to grant their wishes. She sends all of them into the woods to find what they’re looking for.

The phenomenal cast did an excellent job at digging deeper into their fairy tale characters that we all know and love. Anna Kendrick, who portrayed Cinderella, brought her big, bright voice to the delicate character who is in conflict about marrying the prince. Daniel Huttlestone puts a spunky and determined Jack on the screen. James Corden as the Baker brought both comedy and desperation throughout the movie with his pleasing voice. Meryl Streep is nominated for a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Witch. The unpredictability of Streep excelled in this complex role. Emily Blunt is also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for The Baker’s Wife. Her soothing voice, chemistry with Corden, and desperation for a child bring her character to life. All the characters have a wish that they desire with all their hearts, but how far are they willing to go to have their wish come true?

Director Rob Marshall had to make some tough calls in what songs to cut or shorten and how to keep all the stories aligned. Overall, this Disney film stays true to the original plot, written by James Lapaine, and the songs, written by Stephen Sondheim. Average movie goers and musical lovers are sure to enjoy the film as it takes you on a journey into the woods. Be careful what you wish for.

Into the Woods arrives in theaters everywhere Christmas Day. 

Last minute gift ideas for high school guys

Dylan Tastet and Zane Muzzillo
Staff Writers

The holiday season has arrived and time is running out to find the perfect gift. Here are ten gifts to get a high school boy:

-Sunglasses: Sunglasses are a relatively inexpensive gift that are both useful and stylish.

-Bluetooth Speaker: Bluetooth speakers make it easy to listen to music on the go, a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys music.

-Wallet: A wallet is something that is used every day; a nice durable wallet can go a long way.

-Watch: Watches may have taken a back seat to smartphones, but they are still a great addition to a professional and stylish look.

-Coffee Mug: Coffee is a staple for many people’s morning routine; brighten up that part of their day with a customized coffee cup.

-Gift Cards: Xbox Live subscriptions, popular restaurants, and iTunes cards are all great gift cards for any guy.

-Video Games: There are many new releases in terms of video games available for the holiday season, so you should have no problem finding a game your guy will love.

-Phone Case: A phone case is a great gift for guys who have received a new smartphone this holiday season. A case adds both style and protection to his new smartphone.

-Winter Hat: Keep his noggin warm with a stylish but sensible winter hat. 

-Christmas Ornament: Give a simple but sentimental gift that will stick around many more holiday seasons to come. 

Click here for last minute gift ideas for high school girls.  

Top ten Christmas songs

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

Only one day remains until the beginning of Christmas break and the full swing of the holiday season, so get hyped for the holidays with our top 10 Christmas songs.

10.


9.

NAACP requests federal investigation of suspected lynching

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

The NAACP has requested a federal investigation for the August death of 17 year old Lennon Lacy. Lacy was found on August 29 in a trailer park in Bladenboro, North Carolina. The State Medical Examiner’s Office had declared his cause of death to be asphyxiation from hanging, with no evidence of foul play. But in the summary of the case, the local medical examiner included questions such as, “did he hang himself? Will autopsy tell us?” In the autopsy report, the state medical examiner had taken note of Claudia Lacy, Lacy’s mother, saying that her son had been depressed recently. Lacy’s mother later said she did not mean her son had been suffering from depression, only mourning for a recently lost relative. North Carolina’s Chief Medical Examiner Doctor Deborah Radisch was not given dimensions or photographs of the swing set and given Lacy’s height, weight and lack of objects nearby, investigators are unsure of how he reached the top. "His size, his stature does not add up to him being capable of constructing all of this alone - in the dark," Lacy’s brother says. He was found hanged by a dog leash and a belt, which his family does not believe were his. According to the family, he left the house for an evening walk in size 12 shoes but was found wearing size 10.5 shoes. Lacy’s friends do not understand why Lacy would have committed suicide, as he was a lineman for his school’s football team and was focusing on college. Although, his friends also mention that he was distracted with his girlfriend, a 31 one year old white woman. His friends say some members of the community would bully Lacy for being involved in this interracial relationship.

Selma, Birdman among top Golden Globe nominees

Mae Turney
Staff Writer

The 72nd Golden Globes will air on January 11, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. , hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. There are 25 categories with five nominees for each award, Below are some of the most popular categories:

Best Motion Picture (Drama)

Nominees: Boyhood, Fox Catcher, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)

Nominees: Julianne Moore, Still Alice; Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl;  Reese Witherspoon, Wild;  Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything; Jennifer Aniston, Cake.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)

Nominees: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything; Steve Carell, Fox Catcher; Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game; David Oyelowo, Selma; Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler.

Christmas in the courtyard

Maya Horton
Staff Writer

Christmas has come to the Apex courtyard via the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club.  It is under the stairs in the form of a perky evergreen bearing a sign that welcomes one and all to come and decorate its limbs.  The feeling of inclusion is expressed by Hannah Siegel, a junior officer of FCA.  “The main purpose of the tree is to bring some Christmas cheer to school while classes are stressful and all that! FCA is trying to encourage people and invite them to FCA so that we can build up a community of believers at AHS!”

There will be caroling Friday morning in the courtyard near the tree.

Apex fire chief retires

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

After serving Apex for 12 years, Apex fire chief Mark Haraway is retiring. Haraway has been a firefighter for 35 years and has served in Virginia and across North Carolina. Incoming chief, Keith McGee, is coming from the Rocky Mount Fire Department, where he has served for 23 years. There were over 160 applicants for the job from across the country.

When asked if there was anything that Haraway would like to share with the students of Apex High School, he said, “Many times I have had to respond to incidents involving teenagers.  Many unnecessary accidents that could have been prevented.  I would have to say, don’t drink and drive; alcohol and a motor vehicle do not go together.  Don’t text and drive.  Both had led to so many unnecessary tragedies.”

With his retirement, Haraway and his wife plan to travel and he hopes to “further his hobby of woodworking.” In the spring, he plans to spend some time in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Deadly Taliban attack on Pakistani school

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

Taliban suicide-bombers killed over 140 people during an attack on a military-run school in Peshawar, Pakistan this Tuesday, making it the deadliest attack ever committed by the Taliban in the country.  More than 130 of the victims were children.  Initially, officials believed that the intention of the terrorist group was to take hostages, but now it appears that they were trying to kill as many members of the school as possible.  Six terrorists were involved in the attack, which started around 10:00 a.m.  They scaled the walls of the school armed with guns and suicide vests.  The arrival of Pakistani troops stopped the insurgents, and all of the terrorists have been reported dead.  Peshawar is a volatile area, and there have been many other acts of terrorism in the area.  A spokesman for the Pakistani-based Taliban said that the attack was a response to a military offensive carried out against Taliban members in North Waziristan.  The majority of the students killed were between the ages of 12 and 16, and many of them were children of military officials. 

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has condemned the attack.  He lifted a ban on the death penalty related to terrorist attacks, and is working with representatives in the Afghan government to capture Taliban officials living in Afghanistan.  President Barack Obama and Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai have also spoken out against the attack, with Obama calling it an act of “depravity” and saying that “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s horrific attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan.”

Taylor Swift, La Dispute among many to perform in N.C. in 2015

Michael Lyday & Nicholas Chupka
Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

There are concerts aplenty in store for North Carolina in 2015. The following list contains some of the most popular artists expected to hit the scene in the upcoming year.

 

97.5 Winter Jam

December 20 - Dorton Arena

Hang out at the Triangle’s iciest winter music festival featuring hip hop and R&B artists such as Cash Out, Rae Sremmurd, Teyana Taylor, Dej Loaf, Snootie Wild.

Sing loud for all to hear

Rebekah Gould
Staff Writer

Break out the wrapping paper and the holiday records. Here are some of this year’s new holiday albums with old classics and original songs to enjoy.

• Motown Records and Motown Gospel have collaborated to release their first Christmas album in over 40 years, Motown Christmas. Kevin Ross, Ne-Yo, Gene Moore, Tasha Cobbs, The Temptations and many more artists all add their twist on traditional songs and new songs that are sure to become classics. Various.

• A cappella group, Pentatonix, has released their second holiday album That’s Christmas to Me. It features classic carols such as “Mary Did You Know?”, and remixes of “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy” and renditions of “White Winter Hymnal” and “Let it Go”. Their title and original song, “That’s Christmas to Me”, ties in personal meanings of Christmas to each member of Pentatonix. A Cappella.

Toy drive spreads holiday cheer

Grace Fendrick
Staff Writer

Mrs. Gaines' 10th annual Holiday Toy Drive was a success. She collected gifts and donated them to the Marines' Toys for Tots program, making many children's Christmas a little brighter.

Johnny Manziel flops in first NFL start

Adam Mancini
Sports Editor

Johnny Manziel, college football’s most polarizing player for the past two years, finally made his long awaited, much hyped debut on Sunday. After being drafted 22^nd overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, Manziel was benched for the first 14 weeks of the season in favor of incumbent starter Brian Hoyer. After Hoyer began struggling, Manziel was finally afforded his first opportunity as a starter when it was announced that he would start the Browns’ week 15 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Last minute gift ideas for high school girls

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

Christmas is in a week, Hanukkah starts tonight, and you are running out of time to buy gifts. Here are some easy gifts to get a high school girl:

-Scarves: It is chilly outside and the perfect winter weather to buy someone a scarf. Infinity scarves are the new fashionable way to stay warm. You can also pair a scarf with some “techy” touchscreen compatible mittens that let you text and stay warm at the same time.

-Bath and Body Basket: The cold, dry winds of winter are capable of causing skin and lips to dry. Throw some tinted lip balm and a bottle of festive lotion into a gift bag’ add a bow and give it to your gal pal.

-Phone Cases: Phone cases are becoming a stylish accessory and are relatively inexpensive. Buy your friend one from her favorite brand name or personalize one with her name.

Time announces Person of the Year

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

Of the eight finalists on the shortlist for TIME's Person of the Year, The Ebola Fighters are the 2014 winners. TIME’s Person of the Year is chosen by the editors, although there is a separate poll for the public to vote as well. Winners fit a certain criteria of ‘individuals, or group of individuals, who have had the most impact on the news over the year, for better or for worse’.

WCPSS tests "Bring Your Own Device" program

Alex Sands

Student uses tablet to study

Staff Writer

In first period AFM, I pulled up my Blackboard account on my iPhone and studied the notes my teacher had posted before my test began.

In second period Holocaust and Genocide, Mr. Moncelle paused his lecture, to have students pull out their phones and google the definition of unrecognized words he had used.

In third period journalism, I scrolled through my Twitter timeline attempting to find potential headlines and learning about what was going on in school.

So, what’s the big deal with the “Bring Your Own Device” program? Why is the local media talking about this and why are parents concerned?

Countdown to Christmas: 10 days of television specials

Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor

This year offers a range of Christmas specials, including classic movies and musical events, check out some of the most talked about television specials below:

Tonight: The Polar Express will play on ABC Family at 9 p.m. 

Tuesday, December 16: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas, a new cartoon special, will air on NBC at 8 p.m.  The cartoon special will retell the story of Buddy the Elf through extreme positivity and song.  Classic cartoon A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) will air on ABC at 8 p.m. 

Wednesday, December 17: Michael Buble’s Christmas in New York will air at 8 p.m.  Special guests of the night are “Love Me Harder” singer Ariana Grande, Broadway legend Barbara Streisand, The Rockettes and Miss Piggy.  Buble’s fourth NBC Christmas special will air from Radio City Music Hall and feature “unplugged” (acoustic) songs picked by his social media followers. 

Thursday, December 18: The 2014 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball will air on the CW at 8 p.m.  The nationwide two hour broadcast will include performances from Taylor Swift, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani and Ariana Grande.  The musical event is pre-taped; the actual event took place Saturday in New York City.

New Year's resolutions you're guaranteed to keep

Grace Fendrick
Features Editor

The holidays are here, as well as the guilty realization that you did not keep any of last year’s New Year’s resolutions. Instead of trying the same old thing this year, why not try something different. The following list is designed for those who are tired of failing to keep their resolutions, so, give some of these guaranteed to keep resolutions a try. 

• Get back out there and start dating again- A significant other will magically transform your life into a fairy tale.
• Forget friends, focus on yourself- Nothing quite beats the feeling of accomplishment after finishing an entire season of a Netflix show in one day.
• Join a gym- You will feel so much better about yourself when you see your gym card while paying for your weekly half-gallon of ice cream from the store.
• Eat healthy- The switch from Moe’s to Chipotle will have an extremely positive effect on your long-term health.
• Learn a new skill- Being able to lick your elbow, make fart noises with your arm, and yodeling will present many great opportunities in your life.
• Be a nicer person- Instead of “if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all,” lie to your peers about how pretty and awesome they are.
• Get organized- Clothes shouldn't be covering all the floors in your room, just stuff them in the bottom of your closet instead.

Even small things can be great resolutions:

• Walk on the correct side- Many people are unaware that Apex, N.C. is in America, which means you walk on the right side. This prevents parties walking opposite directions from running into each other, and this also applies to doorways (double doors are made for a reason).
• Earn more money- Working a minimum wage job is normal for most high school students, but if you really want to make money start an online store where you can sell your own creations. Who doesn't want to buy a macaroni jewelry set?
• Try to be more humble- Instead of posting a picture to Instagram with the caption, “I felt pretty today *heart emoji*”, you should post a picture of your dog saying, “Gosh I wish I was as cute as her.”

In all seriousness however, New Year’s resolutions can be very beneficial. They can also be a complete disaster. In order to prevent this outcome try to set small reasonable goals. Realize that your habits and attitude will not change overnight and you will have to work hard to carry out your resolution.

North Carolina Museum of Art seeks out teen talent

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Time to pull out the paint brushes; submission for the Teens Inspired annual art competition begins in January. Teens Inspired is hosted by the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) for high school students. Last year, juniors Michelle Stanziola and Hannah Siegel were selected to be a part of the competition. “[Teens Inspired] . . . truly just encourages teenagers in Wake County to be inspired and then share that inspiration with others,” says Siegel.

Hannah Siegel's pieces

To participate in the competition, search through the collection of the NCMA by visiting the museum or by searching their website. Once you find a piece that inspires you, create something. Students are allowed to enter two works of art which can be 2-D, poetry, or video. Along with your piece, you have to include documentation of the artistic process and an artist statement. The artist statement must be 150 to 300 words on what inspired your piece and how this is reflected in what you created.

Michelle Stanziola's piece

All artwork must be submitted by April 1, 2015 and will be judged by April 15, 2015. Results will be located on the Teens Inspired blog. The exhibition will be open for viewing in the summer of 2015 in the Museum’s East Building. Some artists will also get the chance to have their art presented at ArtScene, an annual event for teens that is planned by NCMA’s Teen Arts Council, on April 25, 2015. “It gives teens like me a really great opportunity to let my voice be heard,” says Siegel.

For additional information visit teens-inspired.org and search www.ncartmuseum.org to view the collection.

Who's in the College Football Playoff?

Matt Sholtis
Staff Writer

Sunday sealed the fate for the six teams who had a chance to make it in to the inaugural College Football Playoff. The six teams in contention for four spots were Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon, and TCU. Before getting into the four teams that will be competing for a National Championship, let’s recap the weekend.

CIA torture report released

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

A United States Senate report on torture released this Tuesday shows that the C.I.A.’s torture methods following 9/11 were more extreme and inefficient than they had previously disclosed.  The report details many brutal interrogation tactics, including starvation, mock executions, and a technique referred to as “rectal-feeding”.  Threats of murder and rape were used to extract information.  The director of the C.I.A., George J. Tenet, apparently misled members of the White House and Congress.  The agency underreported the amount of torture and detention that was taking place. 

Apex senior advances to semi-final round of Morehead-Cain Scholarship

Dylan Tastet

Sanjna Iyengar

Staff Writer

The Morehead–Cain Scholarship is a fully funded four-year undergraduate program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It has built an enormous reputation for its selectivity, as well as for being the first merit-based scholarship program in the U.S. The Morehead-Cain is awarded based on four basic criteria: scholarship, leadership, character, and physical vigor. Students who meet these criteria are nominated for the scholarship by their high school; however, students may also apply to the scholarship directly. In addition to full tuition, the scholarship provides free housing, meals, student fees, books, laptops, supplies, and travel funds to its winners. It also includes a four-year summer enrichment program designed to challenge scholars with extracurricular activities.

Santa's favorite cookies for this holiday season

Katie Mazanec and Maya Horton
Staff Writer

This holiday season impress your friends and family with a new holiday cookie recipe: 

Christmas Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened to room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract (makes the flavor outstanding)

2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

In a large bowl using a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamed and smooth should take about 1 minute. Add the sugar and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 or 4 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat on high until fully combined, for about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl. Turn the mixer down to low and add about half of the flour mixture, beating until just barely combined. Add the rest of the flour and continue mixing until just combined. If the dough still seems too soft, you can add one more tablespoon of flour until it is a better consistency for rolling. Roll out onto a piece of parchment to about 1/4″ thickness. Refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 1 day. Chilling is essential to the process.

Once chilled, preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. The number of batches will depend on how large/small you cut your cookies. Remove one of the dough pieces from the refrigerator and using a cookie cutter, cut in shapes. Transfer the cut cookie dough to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-11 minutes. Make sure you rotate the baking sheet halfway through.

Review: The almond extract makes these sugar cookies different from the others. The cookies are flavorful and addicting.  

Eggnog Cookies

¾ cup softened butter

1 cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

⅔ cup prepared eggnog (store-bought)

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups flour

Frosting:

6 T. prepared eggnog

2½ cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, eggnog, and vanilla, and mix well. Add salt, soda, and nutmeg and mix well. Add flour and mix until combined. It should form a very soft dough. Drop spoonfuls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes, until lightly brown. Let cool before frosting.

For frosting, combine all ingredients, mixing until smooth. Frost cooled cookies, and store between layers of wax paper or parchment paper.

Review: These cookies are delightfully cakelike with a very subtle taste of Eggnog. I usually do not like eggnog but loved these cookies! They are a great treat for the holidays and the frosting adds an additional sweetness.