Looking for some sweet fun for the whole family? The Norwalk Strawberry Fest will have all you want.
Head out to Norwalk (Ohio) this Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28 to experience this Strawberry phenomenon.
The Fest will take place on Friday from 5:00-11:00 p.m. On May 27-28, the times are 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Strawberry Fest will have a lot to do, such as the Strawberry Jam 5K and a one-mile run. There will also be a Berry Cute Baby contest, along with the Strawberry Festival Pageant.
The best part of the Fest? The food!
There will be numerous vendors at this Fest, and no, they are not all strawberry-themed. There are a lot of other food items, too, and some are unique to that vendor.
Now, other than the food, everything is absolutely free. It does not get any better than this!
A bittersweet moment for the BHS News Group as this will be our final news article of the school year, so let us get started.
The final Canes of The Week (the week of May 8) are junior Alice Pham and senior Nate Wilson.
Alice Pham: Track
Alice was a member of the 4x800m and 4x100m relay teams that placed at the CVC Metro Division Championship. She also placed 7th in the 800m run, earning Honorable Mention All-CVC. Lastly, she scored points in the 800m and 4×400 relay at the Brooklyn Tri-meet earlier this season.
Congratulations, Alice!
Nate Wilson: Baseball
Nate batted 3-8 with an RBI and four runs scored. He also made two starts on the mound. In those two starts, he had one win and one loss, giving up six runs and recording seven strikeouts.
Well done, Nate!
In other news, Prom last Friday at the House of Blues was a great success!
Our very own senior Jaiden Paschal (FTL – For The Land) performed on stage to everyone. He lit up the dance floor and got everyone moving.
Additionally, this year’s Prom queen and king were awarded to Jenna Young and Angel Hernandez. Congratulations, you two!
Everyone had a great and memorable Prom night, and we wish our seniors the best to come with graduation coming up this Friday, May 26.
Yesterday (May 22) was a Community Service Day for the high school. Those who participated signed up for various locations to help keep our community clean while earning service hours for graduation.
So, what is coming up next?
May 23 – Spring Sports Banquet —> Dinner at 5:45 / Awards Ceremony at 6:45
May 24 – Music Banquet at 6:00
May 26 – Commencement Ceremony at 6:00
May 29 – Marching Band Memorial Day Parade
May 31 – June 2 —> Finals Week
Well, that is a wrap for our last article of this school year, but before we sign off, we want to say our goodbyes.
Kiley: “This class was one of the highlights of my sophomore year, and I’m very glad I got the opportunity to be here. I learned a lot on how to improve my writing and grammar. Good luck to the next News Group; I wish you the best for what’s to come.”
Malak: “It’s been a very quick year, and Journalism will always be something very important to me. I’m very happy that I had the opportunity to take this class and learn from it and write articles for the News Group. I hope next year’s News Group does great. Thank you so much for an awesome year!”
And to our readers, thank you for supporting us. Please continue to read The Return of the Eye, Like the articles and Comment on them. It means a lot for us to hear your feedback.
This is the BHS News Group signing off.
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here weekly.}
Chosen for this week’s Senior Publications Spotlight is Rebecca Polander. Rebecca has been a student in the Brooklyn City School District since she was in kindergarten. Some of her free time activities are hanging out with friends and family and also traveling. A fun fact about Rebecca is that she has an obsession with Taylor Swift.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: “Going to Tri-C for two years and then transferring to Cleveland State University.”
Q: What made you want to join the Publications class for your senior year?
A: “I love writing, so I felt like journalism was the type of class for me.”
Q: What are you going to miss most about Brooklyn High School?
A: “My friends and mostly how simple it is being in high school since college is going to be a lot different.”
Q: Who is one teacher you want to thank for helping you get to this point?
A: “Probably Mrs. Kunes because she always made sure that I had my work done. She always kept tabs on me, and she was always very nice and supportive.”
Q: If you could give any advice to the underclassmen here at Brooklyn High School, what would it be?
A: “I would tell them to take high school seriously because I didn’t, and I wish I did. Focus on your grades and keep your GPA up because it will benefit you in the long run for college.”
Q: What do you want to accomplish throughout your life?
A: “I would like to travel to all 50 states because I feel like it would be interesting to see, and I would also like to travel to other countries.”
Q: If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?
A: “Taylor Swift because she is my role model. I love her music, and I love her positivity.”
Q: What is your favorite Taylor Swift song?
A: “‘All Too Well,’ the 10-minute version.”
Q: What is your favorite Summer activity?
A: “Playing tennis.”
Q: What are you most grateful for?
A: “My family because I wouldn’t be here without them, and they got me really far in life.”
Congratulations, Rebecca! Best of luck at Tri-C, CSU, and beyond.
The NBA Playoffs have been in full swing for the past month, and there have been some crazy upsets and hard fought series. So the question remains: Which two teams will advance to The Finals?
WESTERN CONFERENCE
7 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 6 Golden State Warriors:
The Lakers came into this series on fire. Anthony Davis led the team with 30 points and 23 rebounds, giving them the lead in the series with a game one victory, 117-112. However, the defending champions were not going out without a fight. Game two was at home for the Warriors, so they were ready to play. Klay Thompson had 30 points to force the series to be tied 1-1 with the final score of 127-100. The Lakers did not let the defending champs take this series, however, so they proceeded to win two games in a row with both scores being 127-97 and 104-101. The reason for this was Lebron James and Anthony Davis. AD had 23 rebounds combined through the two games, and Lebron led the team in scoring in both games. The Warriors managed to win Game 5 with a score of 121-106, but the Lakers had the home court advantage in Game 6, so they ultimately ended up winning with a score of 122-101 to close out the series 4-2. Better luck next time, Defending World Champs.
1 Denver Nuggets vs. 4 Phoenix Suns:
In the end, the Suns fell 4-2 in the series, dropping Game 6 to the Nuggets, 125-100. This series was reminiscent of their shocking elimination at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals. In both situations, Phoenix trailed by 30 points at halftime of a win-or-go-home game at home. Star guard Devin Booker scored 11 points and 12 points, respectively, in those losses. The top seeded Nuggets truly did not face much adversity in this series. And, it is always nice to see Kevin Durant lose.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
8 Miami Heat vs. 5 New York Knicks:
This series was a surprising one. The Knicks were coming off a good season and a first round win over our beloved Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Heat had all of the momentum, knocking out the 1-seed Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round. In game one, the Heat set the tone for the series and took the win. The Knicks, in game 2, responded by evening the series with three players dropping 24+ points. In game 3, the Heat completely took over, showing their dominance in a home blowout win, 105-86. In game 4, the Heat kept their “Pedal to the Metal” mindset. Miami’s bench played a huge part in this win, and the Heat had half of their players drop 10+ in the victory. In an elimination game for the Knicks in game 5, the Heat was looking to close out the series, but Jalen Brunson and the Knicks had other plans and took game five at home. In game 6, the Heat had everything they needed to win this game and sent the Knicks home with a score of 96-92. The Miami atmosphere and Heat were too hot to handle.
3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. 2 Boston Celtics:
This series was highly anticipated with two loaded teams with great talent. Despite not having Joel Embiid in Game 1, James Harden stepped up with 45 points as the 76ers got the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Celtics took that performance personally and absolutely dominated in Game 2, led by Jaylen Brown’s 25 point performance, to even up the series at 1-1. The Celtics kept their momentum going in Game 3 with a 114-102 win to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was arguably the most entertaining game in this series with the lead going back-and-forth. But in overtime, James Harden hit the go-ahead three to even up the series. Back in Boston, the 76ers kept their momentum going to take a 3-2 series lead, one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. But, the Celtics were not ready to go home yet as their defense held Philly to just 86 points in Game 6, sending this series to a decisive Game 7. The Celtics absolutely dominated Game 7, 112-88. Jayson Tatum scored 51 points and set a new Game 7 playoff record. The Celtics are back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row.
The Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics should make for some entertaining basketball.
{Editor’s Note: Both the Nuggets and Heat are already up 1-0 in their respective series.)
Now, the moment all of you have been waiting for: Sports Staff Picks!
*Youssef: Lakers / Celtics
*Jacob: Lakers / Celtics
*Ayman: Lakers / Heat
*Anthony: Nuggets / Heat
*Mr. Holko: Nuggets / Heat
Who do you think will make the NBA Finals this year? Leave your predictions down in the Comment section below.
That is a wrap for our NBA coverage. The Finals are right around the corner, so stay tuned.
In Brooklyn sports, the varsity baseball team defeated Bard Early College in the OHSAA sectional semifinals by a score of 16-0. However, their season came to an end last night with an 11-0 loss against Apple Creek Waynedale (the defending Division III State Champions).
It was definitely not the season that the program envisioned, but the team stuck together, earned some wins, and improved throughout the campaign.
Good luck to the track team as their district tournament begins today.
The Tremont Greek Festival begins next weekend on May 26 from noon to midnight. The location is in Cleveland at the Saint Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.
From May 26-29, this is expected to be an action-packed festival with terrific food and great music. And the best part? Admission is completely free!
This is a wonderful opportunity for the local Greek community to come together and enjoy a variety of traditional Greek activities and entertainment, along with some of the best Greek food that Cleveland has to offer.
Traditional, homemade Greek food like Souvlaki, Moussaka, and Baklava are made fresh by the parishioners of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. There is also some amazing Greek coffee and other authentic Greek drinks.
The festival has been providing visitors with authentic Greek cuisine, traditional Greek dance performances, and entertainment for over 40 years and continues to spread joy to others every single year. Additionally, the Greek Festival is a Memorial Day tradition.
If you go, do not be surprised if you feel like you are at a very welcoming family party. Everybody seems to know everybody, and chances are that they probably do.
And guess what? You are now a part of the Greek family, too.
Ok, Brooklyn, there are a lot of events and ceremonies coming up; however, let us first recap last night’s Senior Awards Night.
In the BHS Auditorium, seniors were given scholarships and awards for their hard work throughout their high school careers. Two of the very important scholarships given out were the Sean Michael Acierno Memorial Scholarship and the Kathy Linger Memorial Scholarship.
The Sean Michael Acierno Scholarship is given in honor of a 2011 BHS graduate who tragically lost his life in 2021. The winners for this very sentimental scholarship were Morgan Blechschmid and Alyssa Todorovich.
The Kathy Linger Memorial Scholarship is given in honor of a beloved and retired BHS faculty member who passed away in January of this year. The winners of this scholarship were Melaine Fernandez and Sienna Jackson.
Many other seniors won other scholarships and awards, and the BHS News Group would like to congratulate all of the winners.
Now, here are the upcoming events, so be sure to mark your calendars:
Tomorrow, the Brooklyn High School band and choir concert is at 7:00 p.m.
On May 17-19, 8th graders will be heading to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.
Prom is this Friday, May 19, from 6:00-10:00p.m. at the House of Blues in downtown Cleveland. Post-Prom will follow from 11:30 p.m.-3:00 a.m. at Swings-N-Things Fun Park.
May 22 will be a Community Service Day for high school students. Please sign up for locations using the google form in your I.C.E. Block classrooms.
May 23 will be the Spring Sports Banquet Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
The Music Banquet will be held on May 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Finally, the Class of 2023’s Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 26. If the weather is nice, this year’s commencement will take place at the stadium. If the weather is not conducive for the stadium, then the ceremony will be in the auditorium.
As the end of this school year quickly approaches, good luck to all of our seniors as they finish off their high school careers.
Have a wonderful week, Brooklyn.
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to clickhereweekly.}
Chosen for this week’s Senior Publications Spotlight is Adriana Bragg. She has been a student at Brooklyn for six years. Some of her hobbies include taking naps, going shopping, going on drives, and hanging out with friends. A fun fact about Adriana is that she is ambidextrous, meaning she can do tasks with both of her hands.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: “To attend CSU (Cleveland State University) and major is Psychology.”
Q: Who is one teacher you want to thank for helping you get to this point?
A: “Even though he doesn’t work here anymore, Mr. Tanski. He was always so helpful and encouraging when I needed it the most.”
Q: What are you looking forward to the most after high school?
A: “Looking forward to more independence.”
Q: What made you want to join the Publications class for your senior year?
A: “Because I knew my bestie Morgan was going to be in the class.”
Q: How have you managed to stay motivated all throughout high school?
A: “Naps and caffeine.”
Q: What is your favorite song at the moment?
A: “I don’t necessarily have a favorite song; it really just depends on the day and my mood.”
Q: What is the best advice that you would give or have given your younger siblings?
A: “Know your worth.”
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: “My mom because we kind of grew up together since she had me at a young age, and she worked hard to make sure I didn’t go down the same path as she did.”
Q: Why is Dr. Pepper your favorite drink?
A: “Because it tastes good, and most importantly, it has caffeine which gets me through the day.”
Q: What are you most grateful for?
A: “My sister because she’s always been there for me, and she’s the only person who can make me laugh and smile the most.”
We wish you the best in your future, Adriana. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation.
The Brooklyn softball team took on Bedford yesterday, and the outlook predicted a competitive matchup; however, the Hurricanes asserted their dominance early and often in front of a very good crowd.
In the top of the first, Bedford had the bases loaded with nobody out and were able to scratch out two runs, giving them an early 2-0 advantage. In the bottom half, Brooklyn quickly came out with two singles and then a two RBI double to tie the game. But, they were not finished as freshman Aurora Coyne hit an RBI triple. It was a rally in the first inning that saw Brooklyn plate six runs to take a 6-2 lead.
The second inning was very much like the first as Bedford scored two more runs off of a couple of walks and singles. In the bottom half, Brooklyn started with three straight singles; the third single brought in a run to make it 7-4. With a runner on third after a stolen base, a fourth straight single brought in two more runs. This inning was all about singles as the Hurricanes added two more runs to take an 11-4 lead.
The hit parade of singles continued in the third as the Bearcats got four straight singles and multiple stolen bases to get three more runs on the board to cut the lead back down to four. The bottom half of the third consisted of a one-out triple and an RBI single to drive in run number 12 for the Blue and Gold.
In the fourth, Bedford was held to no runs despite a runner in scoring position to keep the score at 12-7. The hit parade continued for the Hurricanes as they scored five more runs to make the score 17-7.
Similar to the fourth inning, the Bearcats once again had a runner in scoring position, but after a force out at home, they were held scoreless in the top of the fifth. After two quick groundouts in the bottom half, an infield single and a couple hit by pitches brought in another run, increasing the lead to 18-7.
Just before the sixth inning got underway, it was determined that there was a Mercy Rule, which ended the game.
Final score: Brooklyn 18, Bedford 7
The girls earned their third victory of the season and continue to improve in all aspects of the game.
Congratulations, girls!
The varsity baseball team takes on Oberlin at home today at 5:00. Come out and support the team as they look to tally their third win of the season.
As everyone knows, the month of May celebrates all the wonderful moms in our lives. Each year, the second Sunday in May is dedicated as a celebration for all of the sacrifices and beautiful things a mother does on a regular basis.
This year, Mother’s Day will be celebrated this Sunday, May 14.
The official Mother’s Day holiday started back in the 1900s by the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, Anna Jarvis. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Anna made a push for Mother’s Day to honor moms because of their selfless love for their children.
After gaining financial backing from states and stores, Mother’s Day became a hit everywhere. In May of 1908, people celebrated the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anna spent most of her adulthood fighting for equality for women. One of her biggest arguments was that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, so she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.
By 1912, many states, towns, and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Anna had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause.
Eventually, all her hard work and efforts paid off because in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
So this Sunday, do not forget to tell the special mom in your life Happy Mothers Day! Even though they are honored one day of the year, they are special and deserving of our love for all 365 days.
If you need any Mother’s Day ideas and gifts, click here.
Happy Mother’s Day!
{Information for this article can be located at History.com.}
A new week means more news. With this school year winding down, what is happening at Brooklyn High School?
First, the Canes of the Week for the week of May 1 are Rajon Foster and Audrena Vega.
Rajon Foster: Track
Rajon is on the Sprint Medley relay team, and he broke the school-record by over two seconds at the Cuyahoga Heights Relays, placing third with a time of 1:42.31. He also finished eighth in the 100-meter dash at the 15-team Independence Invitational with a season-best time of 12.05 and seventh in the 200-meter dash (24.74) as well. Lastly, he is a part of the 4×100-meter relay team that placed fifth.
Audrena Vega: Softball
Audrena pitched an amazing game against Trinity on April 26, recording 13 strikeouts. Audrena pitched the first four innings and then was put back in to finish the game. At the plate, she had her first homerun, too. She is having an incredible season.
Speaking of track, a big congratulations to our senior track members as they were recognized on Senior Night last Thursday: Alex Chiclana-Cortes, Lexi Fecko, Melaine Fernandez, Chavon Holton, Laura Nguyen, and Jenna Young.
Next, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week!
Today, all teachers have signs hung up on their doors, and they will choose the snacks and beverages they want to be delivered to them throughout the day. It is a small token of our appreciation for everything they do to help the students here at BHS.
Also this week will be the final Blood Drive of the year, and it will take place this Friday, May 12.
Who is getting excited for Prom? Ticket pick-up will be this week. See Mrs. Holko when the tickets become available.
Regarding Friday, May 19, Post Prom tickets ($25) are still available and are being sold at lunch for the remainder of this week.
Next Monday evening (May 15), the Senior Awards Ceremony will take place in the auditorium. This is always a special night to recognize our seniors and all of their hard work.
And, that is wrap for this week’s news. Stay tuned for more news coming next week. Until then, have a wonderful week, Brooklyn!
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here weekly.}
Chosen for this week’s Senior Publications Spotlight is Jaiden Basinger. He has been a student in the Brooklyn City School District for five total years, first coming here in eighth grade. Some of Jaiden’s hobbies are sports, friends, and napping. One fun fact about him is that he has 11 siblings. What!?
Q: What are your thoughts about graduating?
A: “I’m ready to get up out of here. I think I’m gonna miss a lot of the people here and the teachers, though.”
Q: Who is one teacher who you want to thank for helping you get to this point?
A: “Mrs. Velez, she checks up on me a lot. She’s like a second mom, and I really enjoyed being in her class. She always helped me out a lot, and I really appreciate her.”
Q: How has high school athletics shaped you into the person who you are today?
A: “It just made me realize that losing is not fun at all. Life is similar to basketball; every game is not going to be fair. Sometimes, you’re off. Sometimes, you’re on.”
Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
A: “I see myself either playing college football or pursuing a career in a football-related path.”
Q: What is one piece of advice a mentor told you during your senior year that you will take with you to college?
A: “Mr. Holko said a gap year is not a wise plan, and it’s just not proven to be beneficial because you will lose motivation as time goes on without being in school.”
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
A: “Just to breathe and that everything will be alright. Also, keep believing in yourself.”
Q: Who is your idol?
A: “Lamar Jackson! He’s a running quarterback like me, and he matches my play style, so I feel like I can learn a lot from him and what he does.”
Q: What type of person makes a good mentor?
A: “Someone who doesn’t prepare you for failure but helps you through failure. Someone who sees your good and someone you look to, no matter what. Someone who will be there for you, no matter what.”
Q: What is your favorite sports team?
A: “The Cleveland Cavaliers because I grew up watching them, and I like basketball and Donovan Mitchell.”
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: “Chicken and Alfredo. My mom always makes it, and you can never go wrong with it.”
Good luck at Notre Dame College, Jaiden. Go make your dreams become a reality.
The Spring sports seasons are over halfway done, and there have been some bright spots and some great performances. With baseball, softball, and track all showing improvement, there is a lot of optimism going forward.
Baseball
The varsity baseball team won 19-4 against John Hay last Saturday. Senior Adam Geballa notched his second win of the year on the mound. He struck out six Hornets and limited baserunners. The Canes totaled nine hits and 14 RBIs. It was an all-around great team performance.
Altogether, this team is playing well and will continue battling for more victories. Their next game is today against Cuyahoga Heights at 4:30.
Make sure to come out and support the boys.
Softball
Similarly, the softball team has been showing improvement throughout the season as they picked up a recent win.
Head coach Sarah Young (a Brooklyn graduate) on her first year at the helm and what makes this team special:
“The 2023 season started strong when nineteen girls came to tryouts. With not having a team last year, I did not know what I was getting myself into and if we would even have a team again this season. The girls who came out had little experience but were eager to learn which made all the difference. Throughout February and March, we began with the basics and gradually improved. Sophomore Audrena Vega and freshman Aurora Coyne both have a grand slam under their belts. The girls on this team have made the season so much fun and uplifting. Each girl wants to learn and become a better softball player, and this shows at practice and in the games. Even though we are still competing now, I am looking forward to next year. We are only going to improve since we are a young team with no seniors. We are excited to continue to grow and build this program for many years to come.”
Freshman Ashlee Rich on what she sees in her young teammates:
“I feel that the team has worked together well so far, and we have learned from our mistakes and have been able to turn them into opportunities to be better.”
Congratulations, girls. Keep striving for daily improvement. Embrace each moment with confidence.
Track
Last but not least is track.
Senior Jenna Young (also a Penn State recruit) has built off of her state championship from last season with another impressive campaign. She has set another personal best and school record in the high jump with a height of 5’8″. Her personal-best jump is currently the top jump across all divisions in the state this season. She has also set several meet records at large field invitationals, including the 8-team George Gross Invitational (5’8″) and new records in the high jump, long jump, and hurdles at the 16-team William E. Fisher Invitational.
On the boys’ side, senior Chavon Holton has had an impressive season, including tying the school record in the 300-meter hurdles at the 8-team George Gross Invitational (40.80). He also has several meet victories in the 300-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles, setting a new PR in that event (16.07).
Other athletes to win events at meets this season include Lexi Fecko in the long jump, Rajon Foster in the 200-meter dash, and the boys’ 4×100 meter relay. Foster and Isabella Simpson stand out as a pair of freshmen sprinters who are just starting what should be great careers.
Track coach Kyle Akins on his team’s improvement and his optimism for what comes next:
“Overall, I am very pleased with our season and the progress we have made so far in building toward the big meets at the end of the season. Our times have constantly been improving, and our times are going down. We have a group of hard-working athletes who are dedicated to getting better and have been achieving that. We are hopeful to have a few boys returning from injury in the near future and to have a successful stretch run of the season for both the girls and boys.”
Good luck, track team. Continue to set the bar high.
Since it is already May, the Spring sports seasons will be winding down soon, but we cannot wait to see how each sport’s season unfolds.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 