THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Black History Month: Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner

By: Valery Warner, Jaden Majewski, and Daylun Armstrong

February 11, 2020

Before Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, many had to deal with the discomfort and inconvenience of using cloth pads and rags during their menstrual cycles. Due to racial discrimination, Kenner’s invention (the sanitary belt) was overlooked and not implemented until 30 years later.

Born to a family of inventors in North Carolina on May 17, 1912, Kenner always had a desire to create something new.

After her high school graduation in 1931, she attended Howard University but sadly was forced to drop out due to financial pressures.

This did not stop Kenner as she still found a way to create and improve the world around us.

She took on odd jobs (babysitting and finally as a federal employee). Eventually, she saved up enough money to make the first patent for sanitary napkins.

Her idea sparked interest in the marketing world, but as soon as the investors found out that she was African-American, all interest was lost. With lost interest came lost hopes and dreams for Kenner.

With the loss of money and dreams, she still did not give up hope. She was inspired in her daily life to continue inventing.

Kenner eventually filed five patents in total, more than any other African-American woman in history.

Never recognized or paid for her numerous inventions, Kenner still had a positive outlook and never felt the need to create anything for money or fame; she created them out of love, for the craft, and for the common good of human beings (though she should have been paid and given credit and recognition for her work).

Unfortunately, Kenner died at the age of 93 on January 13, 2006, but it will never be forgotten that she believed that anyone could make a difference with their inventions and improve today’s world.

People today can thank Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner for creating a product(s) that not only makes life easier but makes that time of the month a little bit easier as well.

JESSIE HERZFELD OPENS EXHIBIT WITH ILLUSIONS AND VISIONS

By: Izabella Hotz and Destiny Cannon

February 7, 2020

This past Friday, artist Jessie Herzfeld opened her first solo art exhibition at the Art On Madison gallery with her collection named Illusions and Visions. The atmosphere was nice, and snacks were provided along with refreshments.

This collection is composed of poems by the french poet Rimbaud that she actualized into mixed media works. Each piece uses quite a few different mediums, including but not limited to paint, pencil, and stamps.

Overall, each work was visually appealing, and although complex, they followed the poems perfectly, depicting moods,themes, and visuals that were expressed in Rimbaud’s poems.

Each of the paintings was done twice, once with the french poem and another time translated into English, as she said she wanted everyone who sees her work to be able to fully enjoy it. She also displayed the concept art for certain sections of her works.

Concept art displayed in the gallery: *Off With Her Head*

Concept art displayed in the gallery: *Animals*

Concept art displayed in the gallery: *Man Who Chases You*

Characters and creatures found in the paintings were also displayed and sold, as well as full sizes of the works. Overall, the collection was clearly well-thought out and made with great care.

We asked Herzfeld how she wanted people to interact with her collection, and she told us, “I want them to engage with the poems in a way that they might not otherwise…having people slow down when they engage with it so that they’re really using their own imagination.”

She also explained that her collection was a way for her to express things in a dreamlike and fantastical way, which definitely opens up the imagination of anyone who sees her work.

Her advice for aspiring artists is, “Keep working at it, and don’t worry if what you’re doing is different than what you think things should look like.”

Viewing the gallery was a lot of fun, between the amazing narratives and the bold imagery. There were lots of things to look at and find in each painting, which did cause us to slow down and truly appreciate the art and the poems together.

Herzfeld did a fantastic job of marrying poetry and visual art in this collection, giving lots to discover and ideas to explore.

This collection is on display at the Art On Madison gallery located at 14203 Madison Avenue in Lakewood through Saturday, March 7.

A Night to Shine

By: Haley Schaldach, Savannah David, and Alaysia Curry

February 7, 2020

“A Night to Shine” is an event that is geared towards those with disabilities to ensure that they will have the night of their lives.

This gathering is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and is hosted in over 655 churches throughout 24 different countries. It also takes place the week before Valentine’s Day.

Tebow wanted to help people who were disabled to make sure that they were treated just like everyone else. This foundation has impacted many, and the volunteer numbers continue to rise.

As Tebow was growing up, he visited a village where he met a boy named Sherwin. Not knowing, in the moment, the extent of the impact, Sherwin was born with his feet backwards, and everyone in his village said he was “cursed”. Tebow helped this boy and then realized that this is what he wanted to do forever. It was his calling!

“That’s why in 2010, I was so excited to create the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need,” said Tebow.

Last Friday, some students from BHS volunteered to help at the event hosted at the Cuyahoga Valley Church. Around seven volunteers from our school, along with organizer Miss Kristen Field, assisted in this amazing event by being buddies to guests who attended.

Before the dance began, each guest was announced by name into the dance room where they walked down a red carpet to receive their boutonniere or corsage.

After being announced, each person was served a wonderful dinner along with tasty desserts. At the conclusion of their meals, the guests received their crowns and began to move on to other activities.

While the dance was going on, there were different activity stations. These stations included the following: karaoke, photo booths, dancing, makeup, shoe shining, and limo rides.

These activities helped provide lifelong memories for everyone involved.

This night was dedicated to those with special needs to help them remember how unique and loved they are.

We would love to share this great time with everyone, so please, volunteer your time next year.

Just one star can light up a darkened sky. So too can one smile!

NORMANDY INVADES

By: Morghan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

February 6, 2020

Coming off of a hard loss in their previous game against the Lakewood Rangers, the Hurricanes hockey team was hoping for a better outcome against the Normandy Invaders. However, the momentum did not last despite great efforts put forth by the team.

The Hurricanes started all seniors: Jason Edmonds, Aaron Wrost, Ian Krall, Gavin Supek, Nick Baldwin, and Riley Beni.

This evening was special for the team as it was senior night for the Brooklyn Hurricanes. Before the game began, the seniors from both of the teams were recognized.

In the first period, the Invaders scored first. Then just about two minutes later, Wrost scored the first goal for the Hurricanes. But, the tie was short-lived as the Invaders scored two more goals to end the first period, leading 3-1.

The second period began with a goal by Normandy within the first three minutes. The Hurricanes responded and scored again, courtesy of Supek.

There was a lot of back-and-forth, with both teams putting up a good defense. However, the Invaders found their offense and scored four more times after Supek’s goal and took an 8-2 lead into the third period.

The third and final period was full of tension until the end when the Hurricanes scored twice (both goals by Supek).

The Invaders, though, ended the game with an 8-4 victory.

Freshman Colin Pope said, “[This match was] a hard loss, especially considering it was senior night. I think we could have played better than we did.”

Senior Riley Beni said, “I’m definitely going to miss playing with this team, but I enjoyed it while it lasted.”

The hockey team concluded its regular season and will now wait to see where they are seeded for the postseason tournament.

Black History Month: Carter G. Woodson

By: Daylun Armstrong, Jaden Majewski, and Valery Warner

February 6, 2020

“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

“The Father of Black History,” also known as Carter G. Woodson, worked endlessly to establish Black History Month nationwide.

He did this to celebrate and appreciate the achievements, culture, strengths, and struggles of African-Americans.

Woodson was born on December 19, 1875, in New Canton, Virginia. He was the son of Anna Eliza Riddle Woodson and James Woodson, who had been formerly enslaved. Before he went to school, he was a sharecropper and a miner to help support his family.

When he began high school in his later years, he showed outstanding achievement and earned his diploma in just two years.

Continuing on the path of education, he attended Berea College in Kentucky and worked for the U.S. government as an education superintendent in the Philippines.

Soon after, Woodson earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Chicago and was the second African-American ever to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard.

Woodson helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (later named the Association for the Study of African American Life and History), the scholarly publication Journal of Negro History (later named the Journal of African American History), the Negro History Bulletin (later named the Black History Bulletin), the African American-owned Associated Publishers Press, along with more than a dozen books.

His goals were created to empower and support African-Americans.

He campaigned for schools and organizations to engage in studying African-American history, which commenced Negro History Week in February of 1926.

This led to Black History Month, which is celebrated in the month of February (to honor the birth months of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and former President Abraham Lincoln).

Unfortunately, Woodson died on April 3, 1950, at the age of 74 due to a heart attack.

Even though he departed, his legacy and teachings continue on.

He stated, “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated,”

Carter G. Woodson will never be forgotten.

{Information found: https://www.biography.com/scholar/carter-g-woodson}

The Hurricanes Fall Short Against Trinity

By: Jessica Strimpel, Normeze Rivera, and Anayah Flowers

February 5, 2020

Last night, the Lady Canes faced the Trinity Trojans for the second time this season, and unfortunately, they were defeated 68-36.

Senior Marshay Smith started the game by scoring first for Brooklyn. Freshman Delaney David and junior Kelsey Bruzek both made a shot as well.

The Hurricanes held Trinity down and only trailed 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Freshman Genesis Caraballo started the second quarter with a basket. Then, fellow freshman Jenna Young made one of her two free throws. Sophomores Gwen Spaliatsos and Savannah David then chipped in with two buckets.

However, Trinity caught fire and led 37-16 at the half.

In the final two quarters, freshman Shariah Gailes scored six points while Bruzek finished a three-point play. Also, Caraballo and David both added to the score, but it was not enough to stage the comeback.

The Lady Trojans were able to break through the Brooklyn zone defense and connect on many shot opportunities ending the game with a 32-point victory.

On the performance, Coach Urig stated, “I thought we played well in stretches, but we had some mental lapses. When the other team cranks up the pressure, we have to be able to withstand it.”

Although the girls lost this game, this will not stop them from working hard as they head into the final week of the regular season. While they have some things to clean up, they will be ready when they host the Independence Blue Devils on Saturday, February 8.

Come out Saturday to support the Lady Canes as they recognize three seniors one last time on the home hardwood: Marshay Smith, Haley Connors, and Alexandra Nieves.

Go Canes!

Cane’s Rematch Doesn’t Go As Planned

By: Ariana Rojak, Danielle Shehee, and Gino Pallotta

February 4, 2020

The boys’ varsity basketball team fought the Lutheran West Longhorns and lost 71-60. Their rematch opportunity slipped through their fingers with a rough second quarter.

The star players were Calvin Gore (freshman), Jaiden Basinger (freshman), and Maceo Pytel (sophomore).

In the first quarter, the boys gave it their all. They kept the game even for the most part, yet they were racking up fouls giving the Longhorns multiple free throw attempts. The score after the first quarter was 12-9 in favor of the Longhorns.

In the second quarter, the Canes started to get frustrated with the Longhorn’s pressure defense. This also domino-ed into a lack of communication. These two factors led to the Longhorns to build a massive lead, making the score 28-13 at the half.

However, the third quarter showed hope for the boys. Their communication increased, and boys started to work better as a team.

Even though the third quarter was a chess match and there was a valiant effort to catch up, the Longhorns still had the lead at 50-36.

The fourth quarter was similar to the third quarter as a back-and-forth game concluded with the Longhorns winning this CVC matchup. The boys fought a long and hard battle but came up a little short on the scoreboard.

Gore commented on the issues that led to the loss: “We need to improve our execution and eliminate the arguments to win our next few games.”

The next game is on Friday, February 7 against the Trinity Trojans.

Come out and support the boys!

CVC Wrestling Tournament

By: Ella Fowler, Delaney David, and Serena Barile

February 1, 2020

Last Friday and Saturday, the wrestling team participated in the CVC championship; this tournament took place at Cuyahoga Heights High School.

Three out of the eight wrestlers on the team participated in this tournament. The wrestlers for this event were senior captain Eric Khay, freshman Joe Dennis, and freshman Tyler Kebbel.

Schools involved in the tournament included Beachwood, Berkshire, Cardinal, Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga Heights, Edgewood, Geneva, Grand Valley, Harvey, Hawken, Independence, Kirtland, Lakeside, Orange, Perry, Lutheran West, Trinity, West Geauga, and Wickliffe.

Dennis started out Friday night with a 9-2 loss.

After that match, Khay showed outstanding effort and technique during his bout leading 9-2, but unfortunately, he got pinned in the last minute to lose. He quickly recovered, though, with a 4-0 win later in the evening.

Kebbel then started off with a 10-3 loss, but similar to Khay, won his second match 10-1.

On Saturday, Dennis, Kebbel, and Khay continued their participation.

Dennis started off with a 12-2 loss. Then, Khay had an outstanding 17-2 win. However, Kebbel lost by getting pinned.

Khay was the Hurricanes last hope, but his tournament ended with a 12-0 loss.

The two-day tournament resulted in some positive moments, and the Hurricanes look to take some confidence into the sectionals and districts.

You can help support your wrestling team by cheering them on at a tri-meet at Valley Forge High School on February 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Show your Brooklyn pride and go Canes!

Staff Profile: Mr. Meehan

By: Daylun Armstrong

*Math Teacher*

Why did you decide to be a teacher?

“I did it for the money and to torture children (all in good-joking fun, of course).”

How do you deal with a stressful day?

“I’m a person who goes with the flow, so not everyday is stressful, but some of them are, and I deal with them by just telling myself it’s just one of those days.”

What is your most interesting, high school memory?

“I’ve forgotten more than I remember, but I had quite an enjoyable time in high school. I won the best actor’s award in my school play. High school was also where I met my wife.”

If you could change your career, what would it be?

“An Engineering Sales Rep (the job I had before becoming a teacher): It was a lot of work but very rewarding. I enjoyed the technical aspect of it.”

What was your biggest setback in life?

“Life has been what I’ve made of it; I still haven’t had those setbacks happen yet.”

If you could change one thing about our school, what would it be?

“I wish they (the district) would have built a new high school when they built the other new building; I’m not sure why they didn’t.”

A Fight to the Finish

By: Destiny Cannon and Izabella Hotz

January 31, 2020

The boys varsity basketball team faced off against the Fairport Harbor Skippers with a starting lineup of senior Tristan Peggs, sophomore Maceo Pytel, freshman Jaiden Bassinger, sophomore Areon Cowling, and freshman Anthony Starr.

Coach Jerrod Karl shared his thoughts going into the game. “We just gotta play physical…we have to make this team feel uncomfortable.”

He also stated that a key part of this game will be to, “…keep the kids up and focus on the positives.”

The game started with the tip-off by Cowling, setting a highly-energetic tone for the rest of the quarter. The team worked and fought hard, but the defense struggled as they trailed at the end of the first quarter, 18-11.

The second quarter was back-and-forth with stints of great offense and other stints of great defense. However, finding both at the same was difficult.

The passing and opportunities for easy shots were there, but they were just not falling consistently. Towards the end of this quarter, the chemistry started to fade and communication broke down.

The score at halftime was the Skippers 36 and the Hurricanes 26.

Halftime featured a performance by the cheer squads, dancing to a mashup of popular songs.

The team came into the third quarter with focus and determination as well as an aggressive attitude, overall. However, after two technical fouls, they started to lose their concentration, becoming less physical and much less aggressive.

The quarter ended with the Canes trailing 60-36.

The fourth quarter presented an opportunity to come back as the defense and offense seemed to both click at the same time. Although the Canes outscored the Skippers 30-17, the deficit was too big to overcome.

Peggs shooting a free throw in the fourth quarter

Basinger played a key role in the last quarter with explosive energy and by helping to rally the team together. He finished with 25 points. Patel added 23 points.

A 77-66 defeat hurts, but the Canes understand that they need to play four quarters of high-energy and fundamental basketball.

Their next game is Tuesday, February 4, as they travel to face the Lutheran West Longhorns.

GIVING BACK

By: Morghan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

January 30, 2020

On Thursday, January 30, the AVID 9 class went on a field trip to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank (GCFB) to help out with the packaging and preparing of food for homeless people.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank works to make sure that everybody in our surrounding communities has nutritious foods on a daily basis. The GCFB is a non-profit organization, working only for the benefits of others who need assistance.

Mr. Jonathon Holko (AVID 9 teacher) said in an interview, “Instead of worrying about ourselves, helping others is the greatest way to show love and humanity.”

The GCFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in Northeast Ohio, having served more than 350,000 people in 2019 in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Ashland, and Richland counties.

When asked why he believes giving back is so important, Holko said, “Because none of us got to where we are without others helping us. Sometimes, people need a little jump start in life to feel confident and to give them hope and optimism.”

In 2018-2019, the GCFB provided application assistance to more than 33,000 eligible people in Northeast Ohio through their SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program) outreach efforts.

When asked about his view on homelessness in the Greater Cleveland area, Matt Jackson (Volunteer Experience Manager at the GCFB) said, “Our outreach team works with a lot of organizations in the community that is geared towards helping the homeless, not just with food help, but connecting to other resources as well. We know that homelessness is a contributing factor to hunger and vice versa. Everything is connected, and here at the food bank, we do push to connect people to other modes of help as well.”

While at the GCFB, the AVID 9 students worked together to prepare food bags to be passed out to homeless people, and everyone had to work together to make sure that everything was done correctly. The students had to make sure that everybody was constantly on the same page to ensure that the process flowed smoothly.

“So, we literally couldn’t do as much as we do without our volunteer support. Our volunteer effort helps us save about 2.2 million dollars each year that we are able to reinvest into supporting our program. Last year, about 350,000 individuals made over 50 million meals,” stated Jackson.

Holko said, “This field trip was important because it’s good for students to get outside of their comfort zones and to get outside of the school to assist others. We talk on a regular basis that when you think you have it bad, somebody else always has it worse.”

If you ever have the chance to come out and volunteer, the GCFB is always taking volunteers, and your work truly does help.

The work is pretty easy for how much of an impact it will have on people’s lives.

Serving others is our calling.

Hockey Continues to Struggle

By: Daylun Armstrong, Valery Warner, and Jaden Majewski

January 31, 2020

It was an unfortunate loss for the Hurricanes hockey team yesterday against Chagrin Falls, falling 5-2.

The Hurricanes put up a tough fight for the first two periods, with the score tied at 1-1 after one and 2-2 after two.

In the last period, Chagrin Falls blanked the Canes 3-0, finishing the game with defensive dominance.

Both of the Hurricanes goals were scored by senior Gavin Supek.

When asked what went wrong, Supek answered, “Not being able to get the puck out of the zone and getting shots on the other team’s goalie.”

Despite not winning, Mr. Jason Supek (assistant coach) still has seen an improvement from the team. “The fact that the team did not give up and that they fought until the end is what will stand out to me.”

The Canes have not given up hope and will still continue to fight and strive for improvement.

If you want to see the Hurricanes in action, their next game (Senior Night) is Thursday, February 6, against the Normandy Invaders at 7:30 p.m.