THE RETURN OF THE EYE

The Unfortunate Goodbye

By: BHS Staff Profiles

May 16, 2025

Sometimes, it is difficult to say goodbye. Other times, it’s not. For this group of four senior journalists, it will be a sad farewell because these young men have provided BHS with so many laughs and memories. They will be remembered for being well-rounded, driven, and kind.

As these four finish up their high school careers, it is time to hear from them before they receive their diplomas.

Senior #1: Collin Flanagan

*Favorite BHS Memory: “Journalism class with Mr. Holko and a few baseball memories. I cannot exactly pinpoint a favorite one, though.”

*Advice for Next Year’s Seniors (Class of 2026): “Be yourself and stay involved.”

*Plans after Graduation: “I plan to attend Baldwin Wallace University and then pursue a career in Sports Management. Go Jackets! 🐝”

Senior #2: Jeffery Helmick

*Favorite BHS Memory: “The Europe trip.”

*Advice for Next Year’s Seniors (Class of 2026): “Have a plan for after graduation. Do not wait until the last minute.”

*Plans after Graduation: “Get an Electrician internship.”

Senior #3: Caydin George

*Favorite BHS Memory: “I would say going to Europe. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I was lucky enough to go on. I also need to thank my mom and uncle for helping pay for most of it.”

*Advice for Next Year’s Seniors (Class of 2026): “Do your work, do not mess around with your classmates too much, and try to show up every day.”

*Plans after Graduation: “I am going to attend Kent State University for Journalism.”

Senior #4: Aiden Starr

*Favorite BHS Memory: “Freshman year, specifically my Honors Chemistry class.”

*Advice for Next Year’s Seniors (Class of 2026): “Do not get lazy, and stay on top of your work.”

*Plans after Graduation: “I plan to attend a four-year university for a degree in Finance.”

We hope all of you go on to accomplish amazing things in your lives. Reach for the stars, work hard, accomplish anything you want to, and always be confident. Never let anyone get in your way, or better yet, never let yourself get in the way of your own happiness and success.

One last time, thank you for the countless amount of dedication, for being wonderful writers and leaders, and for being even better people. All of you have made Brooklyn a better place, and we are immensely proud of you!

“Don’t be sad that it’s over; be glad that it happened,” Dr. Suess.

Guardians Rundown

By: BHS Sports Staff

May 15, 2025

The Cleveland Guardians are currently one of the hottest teams in the American League with Summer approaching in Northeast, Ohio.

Currently, the Guardians sit at 25-18, which puts them in second place in the AL Central, 3.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. They also have the second best record in the entire AL, tied with the Yankees.

Leading the way for the Tribe is superstar Jose Ramirez and first baseman Kyle Manzardo. Manzardo is leading the team in homers with 10 and 25 RBIs. Ramirez is hitting .295 with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs. Other contributors are 2B Daniel Schneemann, SS Gabriel Arias, and LF Steven Kwan. Schneemann is currently hitting .261 with 5 HRs and 12 RBIs, Arias is hitting .263 with 4 HRs and 19 RBIs, and Kwan leads the team in batting average at .325 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs.

On the pitching side, reliever Hunter Gaddis has been leading the bullpen, a pen that hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations from a year ago. In 17 innings, Gaddis has only surrendered one earned run, giving him a 0.53 ERA. A surprise out of the bullpen has been Kolby Allard, who was a late free agent signing, as he currently sits with a 1.20 ERA. The pitching has been a bit of a weakness as the Guardians currently rank 21st in baseball with a 4.14 ERA. Hopefully, the return of ace Shane Bieber and John Means will bolster the starting rotation.

Some highlights from this season include Manzardo’s first career walk-off home run against the Minnesota Twins, recent dominant pitching performances from Gavin Williams and Logan Allen, and Schneemann’s go-ahead grand slam in the ninth against the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month. This ball club has also won four of its last five series.

However, Cleveland has been hit with some injuries (a similar script with the Cavs). Outfielder Lane Thomas first hit the IL with a bone bruise in his right wrist after getting hit during the home opener. However, he is currently on a rehab assignment with the Columbus Clippers and is expected to return soon. Reliever Paul Sewald landed on the IL with an isolated high-grade strain. This past Monday, starting pitcher Ben Lively left the game with arm discomfort, and he hit the IL on Tuesday with a right flexor tendon strain. On top of this, Bieber and David Fry are eyeing returns within the next month or two.

The Tribe has yet to hit their stride, but they have done enough to keep them in early contention. Once some of the star power gets healthy and everyone finds their rhythm, it should be a good Summer for the Guards.

Next up is a 10-game road trip starting in Cincinnati tomorrow night for the beginning of the Ohio Cup and a reunion with former manager, Tito Francona.

Go Tribe!

In Brooklyn sports, the baseball team (4-14) crushed Cleveland Central Catholic on Monday by a final of 21-2. Senior Collin Flanagan pitched three innings, giving up zero earned runs, and freshman Mason Vega finished out the day pitching two scoreless frames. On the offensive side, senior Aiden Starr led the way with five RBIs, including a grand slam to cap off a 13-run, second inning. Today, the boys will host Glenville for Senior Recognition Night. Activities start at 4:45 with first pitch at 5:00.

The softball team’s season came to an end yesterday as they lost to Mogadore in the state tournament. They finished with a record of 3-12.

Go Canes!

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Asian Festival

By: BHS Features Staff

May 14, 2025

This year, the Cleveland Asian Festival runs from May 17-18, marking its 16th anniversary. It was created to celebrate and experience the many Asian cultures, all in one location. This month is also Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, making it a perfect time to celebrate Asian culture.

The festival has a plethora of different activities, foods, and souvenirs. Over 30 different restaurants are offering traditional Asian cuisine, so you will not have to worry about leaving hungry.

Not only can you try many Asian, traditional foods but you can also vote for the best vendor. The Best Food Competition is an event in which everyone votes for who has the best food at the festival, and the winner will be crowned.

In addition to the delicious cuisine, there are well-over 100 different souvenir vendors, so you will definitely be able to find something of interest and possibly gifts for family and friends.

The most important aspect of this festival is to celebrate Asian culture. “The Colors of Asia” event on Sunday is a fashion showcase of traditional clothing, showing off the many beautiful, different clothing styles. The festival is eager to have more people model their clothing, and it is strongly recommended that you use your own clothing, but there is a limited amount of clothing available just in case you forget. If you are interested in modeling, please fill out the form listed on the website below.

The Cleveland Asian Festival is a great way to experience Asian cultures and a great opportunity to get out of the house. The festival is only 15 minutes away, so please do not miss out on the fun.

Maybe you will be picked to be the head of the dragon?

{Information for this article sourced from Cleveland Asian Festival.}

Riding Off Into The Sunset

By: BHS News Staff

May 13, 2025

As the end of the year approaches, seniors are getting ready to graduate, and two very loved staff members will be retiring. This year marks the retirement of Mrs. Katy Cushler and Mr. Jim Verba.

Mrs. Cushler and Mr. Verba have been working in Brooklyn for over 30 years each, both of them working multiple jobs within the district.

First, Mrs. Cushler started her Hurricanes career in the cafeteria and then left, thinking that she was not going to return. She then ended up returning and did multiple jobs, now finishing her career as the high school Attendance Secretary. Her plans for retirement include traveling and hoping to land a part time job as a caterer. She said that she will greatly miss her coworkers. Overall, her lifestyle will not change much, but she is grateful that she does not have to wake up at 6:00 in the morning anymore; instead, she will be able to sleep in and spend more time with her family.

Next up is Mr. Verba. He has taught a lot of different subjects over his career, covering numerous grade levels. He is also a successful coach, primarily in girls basketball. Verba has big plans for his retirement such as learning how to play the piano, traveling with his wife, and finding a part-time job doing something other than teaching. Something he has always wanted to do is learn how to cook traditional meals from different countries. Something he is going to miss from Brooklyn are the people, the students, going on the Europe trips, grading papers, and assigning Edpuzzles (He was being sarcastic on the last part.). He is looking forward to being able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

The News Staff would like to congratulate both Mrs. Cushler and Mr. Verba on two wonderful careers of impact. You two will be missed!

In other news, as of last night, Brooklyn High School awarded its seniors with academic and scholarship recognitions as well as inducted new members into National Art Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, National Honor Society, as well as International Thespian Society. Congratulations to all of the winners and inductees.

Testing is almost over with two AP exams remaining.

AP Spanish: May 15
AP Psychology: May 16

Finally, there are currently 13 school days remaining for all underclassmen until Summer vacation. Seniors, you are done this week!

Outside of the testing dates listed above, here is the full May calendar.

May 14-16: Senior Internship/Final Exams
May 16-17: Prom (Zoo) & Post-Prom (Swings-N-Things)
May 21: Cap & Gown Pick-Up
May 22: Senior Clap-out & Graduation Practice
May 23: Graduation
May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 30: Last Day of School

Hurricane Nation, enjoy the final days until Summer freedom.

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}

Senior Spotlight: Jason Eggers

By: BHS Staff Profiles

May 9, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Jason Eggers. Jason’s plans after graduation involve attending Kent State University for Aerospace Engineering. Something he likes to do in his free time, which is rare for him, is landscaping for his neighbors and his grandparents. A fun fact about him is that he invests in cryptocurrency.

Q: If you could be accepted into any college/university, what would be your ideal school?

A: “Harvard.”

Q: What was your biggest setback in life, and how did you deal with it?

A: “Working and maintaining my grades. It has been a hard thing to do lately.”

Q: What is your dream job and location?

A: “Aerospace Engineering with NASA or SpaceX.”

Q: What is the most ridiculous item that you have purchased?

A: “Cologne or shoes.”

Q: If you were the president for a day, what would you do?

A: “I would focus on the school system, reduce the hours, and school would start later than it does already. That is a big deal for a lot of students. They always show up late.”

Q: What was your favorite class in high school?

A: “AP Chemistry. Despite the difficulty, it was fun with the labs and everything like that.”

Q: What is your favorite Pokémon?

A: “Gangara because the backstory is sad.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration or influence?

A: “Mr. Chernushin. He always tries to make sure you are prepared and you know what you are getting into.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Jason. We hope that your dream is fulfilled in Aerospace Engineering. What a great life goal!

Spring Sports Winding Down

By: BHS Sports Staff

May 8, 2025

As mid-May approaches, Hurricanes Spring sports are beginning to wrap up with OHSAA playoffs on the horizon.

Yesterday, both the softball and track teams hosted their respective senior nights.

First with softball, before the game against Independence, the team recognized seniors Jessica Byrnes, Emily Radovanic, Andrea Guzman, Antonia Torres, Aaliyah Chin, Audrena Vega, and Rayanna Cogburn for all their hard work and dedication throughout this season and the years prior.

Although the game result was not what the girls wanted for senior night, they have a lot to be proud of, as this is their first year playing a varsity schedule with the last two years being on a JV schedule. Regardless, these girls stuck it out and improved throughout the years.

Nice job, ladies.

Moving forward to the track team, seniors Kevin Nguyen, Jaylen King, Ema Bencova, and Camila Gordillo were recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

We at the Sports Staff would like to congratulate these four seniors, especially Ema and Camilla for participating this year as exchange students.

In other Spring sports, the baseball team (4-10) travels to Cuyahoga Heights tonight to take on the Red Wolves. First pitch is at 5:00.

Go Canes!

In Cleveland sports, the Cavaliers are not in an ideal situation as they trail the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference (best-of-seven) semi-finals, 2-0. Game 3 is tomorrow in Indianapolis.

However, at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, the Guardians hold the second-best record in the American League at 22-15. Roll Tribe!

Have a great week, sports fans.

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Honor Thy Mother

By: BHS Features Staff

May 7, 2025

This year, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 11, and it is time to start thinking about how to celebrate the special moms in our lives. Whether it is a thoughtful gift, a homemade card, or simply spending quality time together, there are countless ways to show appreciation to all of the wonderful mothers in the world today.

With that being noted, here are some fun and creative activities to do with your mom this upcoming Sunday.

*Cooking/Baking: One of the best and easiest things to do on Mother’s Day is to cook or bake something. Mothers are always cooking or baking for their families, but they usually don’t have their children helping them. Not only is it great to spend time cooking and baking, but the best part is that you get to enjoy the food together.

*Dancing/Exercising: A great way for you and your mom to bond is to dance or work out. This is a great activity because you can both help each other become healthier, and you have the enjoyment of talking to her as you exercise. Plus, a nice, long walk in the Cleveland Metroparks can cleanse the soul.

*Scavenger Hunt: A scavenger hunt is a great idea for moms with younger kids. Both the mom and children can create a special, unforgettable memory. A scavenger hunt can be easy to set up, and it can involve any theme that either party is interested in, which will make the bond even stronger.

*Painting: Painting with your mom is a great activity for not just children but adults, too. Painting not only allows you to get to know your mom better, but you will also end up with a cute painting afterwards that allows you to remember the memories you share with your mother.

*Eating Out: Simple, original, and reliable. You can never go wrong with taking your mom out to a nice restaurant and eating some delicious food. If your mother is truly sick of cooking and just wants a break, taking her out is the next best option.

*Editor’s Note from Mr. Holko: I am so incredibly-blessed to have such a wonderful, caring, selfless, and loving mom. In addition, my wife holds these same attributes as the mother of our son. Happy Mother’s Day to the most important women in my life.

Considering all of these fun activities, be sure to try and make this Mother’s Day unforgettable. Whether you are crafting, cooking, or even just spending some good ol’ quality time together, the most important thing is to show your mom how much she means to you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

{Information for this article sourced from Beautiful.}

Eventful May

By: BHS News Staff

May 6, 2025

Rain, rain, go away! It is time for sunshine, warm weather, the end of the school year, and of course, Summer vacation.

First, last Friday, the Brooklyn Jazz Ensemble and the Singing Storm performed An Evening With concert. In addition to the two musical groups, National Art Honor Society members created many beautiful paintings for the audience to view before, during, and after the concert. Simply, it was a fun night for BHS students to show off their talents.

Next order of business, as we bid Adieu to the Class of 2025, Mrs. Bader and the Student Council have been making something special for the seniors, one final spirit week. It begins tomorrow, and the details are located on the flyer below.

Additionally, yesterday marked the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week, and the News Group would like to take some time to thank a teacher who has been influential to them throughout their high school careers.

*Maddy: “One teacher who has always been there and inspired me throughout high school is Mrs. Chrzan. I had her in my sophomore year for Biology, and to this day, it was one of my favorite classes. I love the way she taught and how she operated the classroom. I am now a teacher’s aide for her and love it so much! She deserves all of the appreciation.”

*Ben: “One teacher who inspired me has to be Mrs. Sullivan, just by the way she teaches and operates her classroom. It’s inviting and helps me work better. Not a lot of English teachers have made writing feel easy, but she somehow has.”

*Caydin: “A teacher who has always been an inspiration to me is Mr. Roegiers. When I had his class junior year, it was a small class, but he managed to make it fun, even though there were only four students in it. He is a funny person, and I still pop in occasionally to chat with him.”

Now that End-of-Course exams have concluded, May officially marks the start of AP exams. The full schedule for these exams is below.

AP Chemistry and Government: May 6
AP U.S. History: May 9
AP Spanish: May 15
AP Psychology: May 16

Finally, there are currently 18 school days remaining until Summer for all underclassmen. Seniors only have nine maximum days left, including the senior internship and/or final exams. The end is near, so get your school work done well and turned in on time. Also, get your community service hours completed and fees paid off.

Outside of the testing dates listed above, here is the full May calendar.

May 8: Band Concert
May 14-16: Senior Internship/Final Exams
May 16-17: Prom (Zoo) & Post-Prom (Swings-N-Things)
May 21: Cap & Gown Pick-Up
May 22: Senior Clap-out & Graduation Practice
May 23: Graduation
May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 30: Last Day of School

We hope that you enjoy the final days until Summer freedom.

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}

Senior Spotlight: Kendall Moser

By: BHS Staff Profiles

May 2, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Kendall Moser. After graduation, Kendall plans on attending Cuyahoga Community College for two years and then transferring to Kent State University to finish her Education degree. In her free time, she likes to research interesting topics and sing. A fun fact about Kendall is that she loves learning about Biology.

Q: What was the most challenging part of high school for you?

A: “Math because I am very bad at it.”

Q: What is the greatest lesson that you have learned about yourself during these last four years?

A: “I have learned that people have different opinions. Honestly, knowing that their opinion means nothing to me and not letting those people judge me has been helpful.”

Q: If you could swap lives with one of your friends, who would it be?

A: “I would want to swap lives with Miley Kegley because she has an easier life than me. Her parents are more supportive than mine, too.”

Q: If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

A: “‘Are you happy?’ My mental health has not been the greatest lately, and I hope it gets better in the near future.”

Q: If you could relive one day of your life, what day would it be?

A: “When I turned 16. It wasn’t the best day, so I would want to go back and relive it to make a positive memory.”

Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be?

A: “Sharks because I really love them. I have always been fascinated with Marine Biology.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration or influence?

A: “Mrs. Chrzan because she has taught me a lot about Forensics, and I love the Forensics aspect of things and learning about it daily.”

Thank you, Kendall, for letting us interview you. We wish you the best at college and a future of happiness, confidence, and success.

Heat Culture?

By: BHS Sports Staff

May 1, 2025

Miami, it is time to get your offseason plans prepared for Cancun.

Round one of the NBA playoffs is in the books, and the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the #8 seed Miami Heat, sweeping them in four games and setting an NBA record for the largest point differential in a playoff series at 122.

Let’s give a rundown of how each game unfolded in this first-round series.

In game one, the Cavs came out firing and held an eight-point lead at the half. Cleveland held this lead for the entire game and pulled away in the end for a 121-100 victory to take a 1-0 series lead. The backcourt led the way with Donovan Mitchell scoring 30 points and Darius Garland scoring 27 points. Off the bench, Ty Jerome put up 28.

In game two, the Cavs continued their dominance, but they had to earn it in the second half. They struggled a bit in the first quarter with the Heat jumping out to a 16-7 lead but warmed up and took a 17-point lead into halftime. Cleveland set an NBA playoff record with the most threes in a quarter, knocking down 11 in the second frame. The Cavs held off a late Miami rally, defeating the Heat 121-112. The backcourt led the way once again with Mitchell scoring 30 points and Garland adding 21. Garland, however, suffered a toe injury that would eventually keep him out of games three and four.

As the series shifted to South Beach, the Cavs showed no mercy on the hosts as the Wine and Gold played aggressive and intense defense. After a quick start for the Heat, the Cavaliers came alive on both ends, handing the Heat a 124-87 loss, now just one win away from advancing to the second round. The frontcourt led the way in this one with Jarrett Allen scoring 22 points and Evan Mobley scoring 19 points. Off the bench, De’Andre Hunter scored 21.

Prior to game four, Heat guard Tyler Herro stated that the series would not end in four games. Well, he was dead wrong with his prediction. The Cavaliers came out firing on all cylinders, blowing out Miami by 55 points, beating them by a final score of 138-83. Cleveland ended the first quarter up by 26 points and never looked back. Allen tied a franchise record for most steals in a playoff game with six. This is pretty impressive for a 6’11” big man. Mitchell led the team in scoring by tallying 22 points.

The massacre was officially complete!

With the sweep, the top-seeded Cavaliers will take on the #4 seeded Indiana Pacers with the second-round series tipping off this Sunday.

Go Cavs!

In Brooklyn sports, the softball team (3-7) travels to Pepper Pike tonight to take on the Orange Lions. First pitch is at 5:00.

The baseball team (4-9) hosts the Oberlin Phoenix tomorrow at 5:00.

Go Canes!

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Mental Health Awareness Month

By: BHS Features Staff

April 30, 2025

If you struggle with mental health, you are not alone, and this is why May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental Health Awareness Month was founded in 1949 and is meant to highlight the importance of a person’s mental well-being and to promote support for mental health issues. Not only is this month when other people talk about mental health, but it is also the month when many look to help themselves or their loved ones.

Mental Health Awareness can also help reduce the stigma around mental health. Many people think that these issues stem from being weak-minded or sensitive, but this is untrue. There are many people in the world struggling with mental health issues due to environmental factors, bullying, genetics, etc.

Many mental health support systems, such as websites, set up campaigns to show people that they are not alone. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a campaign with the theme of “In Every Story, There’s Strength.” This was chosen because hearing people’s stories may help someone else feel heard, and it could expedite the recovery process.

Many children and teens, unfortunately, struggle with mental health. Globally, one-in-seven 10 to 19-year-olds (14 percent) struggle with and experience bad mental health or some type of mental disorder. A large number of these cases go unrecognized or untreated. When it comes to mental health in children and teens, it is important that they are taught healthy coping mechanisms.

Suicide is a very sensitive topic, but it is very important when it comes to mental health. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in older teens and young adults, ages 15-29. For younger teens 10-14, it is the second leading cause.

It is important to look for warning signs. Changes in sleep habits, not wanting to do activities of interest, social isolation from family and friends, substance abuse, neglecting self-care, obsessing over death, problems with focusing, no response to praise, and many more are red flags. Everyone is different and will feel differently.

If you or anyone you know shows these signs or you think that they may be planning suicide, please call the suicide helpline at 988 or (800) 273-8255. The help line runs 24/7, so please call when needed. Do not hesitate! ❤️

Mental health is real and nothing to be ashamed of. It is important to seek recovery for anything you may be struggling with, and the faster you do, the better you will feel.

Take care of yourself.

{Information for this article sourced from NAMI, National Council, World Health Organization, and Johns Hopkins Medicine.}

May on the Way

By: BHS News Staff

April 29, 2025

May is on the way, and the excitement is evident amongst the staff and students. May is a big month for everyone involved with prom, post-prom, graduation, etc. And of course, May officially ends the school year!

To start, Brooklyn High School’s post-prom (May 16) will be held at Swings-N-Things Family Fun Park in Olmsted Falls. Tickets will be on sale this Friday, May 2, with a cost of $10. This event is open to all eligible BHS seniors and juniors, even if they do not attend prom. Those who plan to bring guests can bring them to post-prom only if the guest attends prom. All students and guests attending post-prom must ride the buses to and from, no exceptions. If you need a permission slip, the main office has extra permission slips.

Additionally, there are post-prom t-shirts available for purchase. Order forms are located in the main office.

Next, with the school year coming to a close, many things come to an end. However, this may not be the case for Dr. Caleris, who just recently started his own podcast. The first episode has already been uploaded and features the Technology Department (Mr. Wallis and Mr. Black) as they discuss how Brooklyn has impacted their lives. A new episode will feature select seniors and will be released soon.

As April comes to a close tomorrow evening, so do End-of-Course exams. In May, AP exams will begin. The full schedule for these exams is below.

Geometry (9-10): April 30-May 1
AP Chemistry and Government: May 6
AP U.S. History: May 9
AP Spanish: May 15
AP Psychology: May 16

Finally, there are currently 23 school days remaining until Summer for all underclassmen. Seniors only have 14 maximum days left. The end is near, so get your school work done well and turned in on time. Seniors, finish strong and then enjoy prom and graduation. No regrets!

Outside of the testing dates listed above, here is the upcoming May calendar.

May 2: Jazz Band & Choir Concert
May 14-16: Senior Internship or Final Exams for Seniors
May 16-17: Prom & Post-Prom
May 22: Senior Clap-out
May 23: Graduation
May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 30: Last Day of School

We hope that you enjoy the final two days of April and look forward to the final month of school.

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, click here.}