Horrified? Good! By Lauren Harris (Photo credits to Amanda Lilley)

      Established on Route 26 in Mechanic Falls, Harvest Hills Farm (owned by Peter Bolduc and his wife Kathie) is  notorious for their Corn Maze Adventure,  which began in 2008. They have now constructed another trademark to fame: The Gauntlet.

After buying Pumpkin Land from Chipman Farms of Poland in 2009, Harvest Hills Farms created The Gauntlet, a hayride aimed to scare those who just can’t get enough horror in their lives.  Now out of season, the hayride was introduced to the public on September 18th, and closed on October 31. Numerous tourists and thrill-seeking locals experienced The Gauntlet, and many found it to be as frightening as they had hoped. Maybe more so. 

 
The high-end animatronics were marvelous and wicked all at once. At the entrance to the woodland, a mysterious aura illuminates from every shadow of tree and man alike. “Will the gatekeeper let us in?” As soon as you ask yourself that question, the doors separate, and the moon flickers down on the eerie trail the wagon must follow. Later on the course, in a dog house the size of a tool shed, a massive, 5-foot tall, animatronic junkyard dog named “Fluffy” greets you with growls and screeches. At the end of the ride, another rather huge gatekeeper wishes you well as you leave them all behind in the dust.

 
Although the animatronics were amazingly realistic and creative, the actors whom performed during the haunted hayride were the stars. Jeff Strout, the creator of The Gauntlet, requested our very own Mrs. D’Arcy Robinson to employ local actors and actresses to be coached and taught a script for The Gauntlet. (Bolduc also announced plans to donate money to the PRHS drama department.)

These entertainers were all given certain rolls to execute. The characters included in The Gauntlet ranged from killer clowns holding chain saws, spiders with screaming victims enveloped in their webbing, a butchering hog, stalker cannibals, and our own local legend: The Lady in White. This spirit is usually spotted alongside route 26 by locals and travelers, in the dark of night. Her story is a sorrowful one, as she was murdered on the night of her wedding many years ago. She walks the road searching for a motorist to assist her to her wedding. But in Jeff Strout’s scene found on the hayride, she is but a confused soul wondering in a graveyard, finally arriving to her church. All to find out she has been slaughtered by fellow hayriders. 

Overall, the Gauntlet was intriguing and startling enjoyment. Much business has been brought to the area because of it and Harvest Hills Farm’s many enjoyments. The owners have stressed how essential it is to bring the 240-acre farm to life once again. If scaring the life out of customers is what it takes, so be it.

The Knights Stand Tall In The Spotlight By Lauren Harris (Photo credits to Lauren Harris)

It takes a lot to be an elite cheerleader. Good timing, flexibility, confidence, and dependability are just a few of the most important qualities, but there are so much more!

 Most of us don’t know what it takes to be flipped in the air, make eye contact with the judges while supervising every stunt, and daze the audience at the same time, but last year’s Knights cheering team did it all. while earning the title of Western Maine Class B Champions -- again.

    Our Lady Knights won their title with determination and endless practice, and yet achieved the crown by the thinnest of margins, one-tenth of a point. It was no luck -- that’s skill. Last years team went all-out and showed the judges what they are made of.  

Last year’s PRHS Knights cheerleader team improved tremendously over the previous year, putting the team on par with our previous champions.  At Regionals the previous year (2009) they scored 116.8, good for 4th place, while this year (2010) they scored 146.8, good for the championship. 

How will they ‘wow’ us this year? They have history on their side: the PRHS cheering squad is the only PRHS athletic team to bring home state championships.

The squad of 2010 consisted of Captain Sophie Geelhoed, Olivia Doyer, Shelby Brown, Billy Jo Morrison, Tyler Davidson, Stephanie Campbell, Brianna Morris, Abby Strout, Colleen Murphy, Alycia Walsh, Paige Brousseau, Heidi Chipman, Kaitlyn Roy, Mikala Hayes, Emily Briggs, Haley Hebert and Krysta Martin. Champions, all of them.

What is SRB and Why You Should Know More About It By Kelley Handy

If you want to know how student events are planned at our school, ask a member of the Student Representative Body, also known as SRB. They are not hard to find; we have 32 members of SRB.

The Student Representative Body consists of eight students from each graduation class -- seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen.  SRB is the form of student government we use here at Poland Regional High School -- a major change that took place last year. 

The new model is based on student government at Bonny Eagle;  we took their idea and tweaked a bit. We changed the number of representatives, and we included all class officers.  

“Another  change and plus is that advisers are involved, have more communication with each other, and are more aware of what’s going on in the student body” says Mr. Novak, who is largely responsible for the overhaul of student government. 

Students meet once or twice a month on Thursdays, during lunch and Roundtable, to plan events, discuss issues among students, and organize fundraising for each class. They also meet occasionally at night.

“It’s a place for peers to mentor to the younger grades” so they know what to do in the future when they’re seniors, says Mr. Novak. Older students mentoring  younger students is exciting, Novak said. 

Many students and teachers believe that it is wonderful to see students taking charge of their school. Because of the increased number of fights earlier this year, SRB will be trying to figure out a way to decrease the amount of bullying in the school. But some representatives have already taken the initiative and have talked to their class about this issue. SRB is helping student leaders learn how to take charge -- and take responsibility.

The hardest thing about SRB, according to Novak,  is making sure everyone says what they think. The major concern is that a freshman might not say what he or she thinks because a senior is sitting in the next seat. However, a freshman or sophomore opinion and vote are just as important as opinions or votes from juniors or seniors.  That happens to be major difference between our form of government and Bonnie Eagle’s -- all grades have equal vote. 

Not everyone in SRB agrees all the time. SRB has healthy debates, followed by voting, followed by acceptance of the outcome. The system is based on mutual respect. 

SRB does not work alone; their proposals and ideas go hand in hand with Vision Keepers, the high school’s policy making board consisting of faculty members, students and a community member. SRB members appoints two students to be on Vision Keepers, but they are not allowed to be on SRB also. Any and all proposals are reviewed by the Vision Keepers to see if they can become policy, or the official way we do things at PRHS.

SRB is also connected with the PRHS Judiciary Board, also known as JBoard. JBoard serves as an in-school court for a variety of student discipline issues. In addition, “JBoard serves as the court of impeachment for SRB,” explains senior Cameron Woodford. If SRB votes “yes” to impeach someone from student government, the proposal goes to JBoard, which has the final say. 

“SRB is the best form of government we’ve had because it allows a place or student leaders to come together, discusses issues and for each class to have an equal say.” says Mr. Novak

"Pain is temporary, Pride is forever." By Jacob MacDonald

Some people may think all Cross Country runners are masochists. After all, who else runs for more than seven miles for absolutely no reason besides conditioning? Who calls that fun? We aren’t getting in shape for a soccer or football game -- we are preparing for even more running.  It’s an endless circle of pain and punishment for more pain and punishment. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, something all runners learn the hard way.

We love it.

Despite the illusion that running is solely a chore and an enormous hassle, Cross Country runners find solace in the calming effect of exploration and physical exertion. Jessie Owens once said, "I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." There is total freedom and serenity while running.

      Think about this: 

     You don’t think about work while running. You think about getting from Point A to Point B. 

     You don’t think about school while running. You think about survival.

     You don’t think about succumbing to pain while running. You dominate the pain.

Cross Country is totally different than any other sport.There are no boring drills and mundane practices: every day is a new day, a new way to test your body and spirit. Many days we are told to explore new paths and trails for an hour and return with a story to tell. Other days we run as a group, exploring and enjoying each other’s company. There is no external stress, no pressure on you to perform better. All that comes from within. You learn to push yourself to your full potential, to believe that you can win if you push more. Running is 90% mental, and the rest is physical.

There is nothing more satisfying then completing a devastating distance run. You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path, watching the earth spin beneath your feet. But when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for a moment everything seems right with the world.

     We earn that.

     We earn the feeling of bliss and calm. 

There are other perks to joining the Cross Country team. Sophomore runner Johanna Moody claims the only way she could tolerate the practices was the support and friendship of her teammates. Cross country runners care for each other. In a sport this difficult, camaraderie is crucial.

Join us next fall. Running is a great way to break into the new school year.

*Photo credit to http://www.pressherald.com/sports/on-the-run-to-a-title_2010-10-08.html*

The Cool Kids Play 4 Square By Matthew Principe

Unless you come to school late or are just plain blind, you have been a spectator of 4 Square. Consider yourself a witness to the coolest activity at PRHS.

4 square is very popular at PRHS. Every morning, lunch, and sometimes after school you can see the endless competition, the trash talking, and the feeling of community. If you don’t know what 4 Square is or how it is played, here's a primer:  it is a game that involves a ball and 4 squares. The names differ among the players, but in every game there is a king square. This is the best square or the square that you are advancing towards or staying in. You can get knocked out by not missing a ball hit at you, or hitting it outside the boundaries of the square, or having the ball hit you before the square.

The game may seem difficult, but is a lot of fun, and perhaps a addictive. How popular is it? Joey Costa, a senior, says that if he could drive he would get to school early just to play 4 Square. Jeremy Benway says “If I could come to school early, it would be to play 4 Square before the bell.” 

Could 4 Square actually help keep kids in school? Hey, anything is possible.

This reporter would rather sleep later in the morning than play 4 Square before 7:30,  but I appreciate the passion. This school loves 4 Square so much, it has a 4 Square Club.

The 4 Square Club meets every Monday and Thursday to discuss the game, its culture at this school, and, of course, to play 4 Square. Lots of 4 Square. 

The club is thinking big.  The kids want to go the 4 Square World Championships that will be held in Maine in February. Currently they are training by playing tournament rules, not schoolyard rules. If you want to join the club should contact Joey Costa, 4 Square Captain.  You've been warned, however. You may get hooked into a new way of life.

*Photo credit to http://www.kidactivities.net/?tag=/school+age+care*

Bullying By Matthew Principe