Clear Creek HiLife

Vol. 81/Issue 6April 2007

Hi Life2305 East Main

League City, Texas 77573

YOU can make a difference in Global Warming.Learn how to save the world on pages 4 & 5

Photo courtesy of Pics4Learning

Creek track hits the ground running at district.Read more on page 16.

Photo by Albert Nkansah

GET INVOLVED! Read how and why on pages 10 & 12.

Photo by Wynette Jameson

Tori Wycoff

When driving around League City on any given day, it is apparent that this area is growing rapidly. Just a few years ago, there were not any neighborhoods or grocery stores along Highway 96. In fact, there was not even a Highway 96. South Shore Boulevard stopped at FM 518 and did not extend into oblivion as it does now. This does not even account for the growth that can be found district-wide from Friendswood to Clear Lake to Kemah. As the area becomes more populated, there is a growing need for more schools. High school classes average thirty students and almost four thousand students attend Clear Creek High School. Due to this overcrowding, the Clear Creek Independent School District is putting a bond proposed for $183 million up for a vote on May 12, 2007. District enrollment has increased by 900 to 1,000 students each year, and by 2020, it is projected that our district will serve 52,000 students. This is a huge increase from the 35,500 that are currently attending school in CCISD. In recognizing this problem, the school board formed a Citizens’ Bond Planning Committee to ensure the wise use of funds and to review the district’s long-range strategic plan, demographic information and financial data. This group consists of forty members that are from all over the district. The passing of this bond would pay for the construction of one new high school, one intermediate school and two elementary schools. One of the elementary schools, the intermediate school and the high school would be built on the CCISD Education Park site at Highway 96 and Highway 146. The fifth high school would be scheduled to open in 2010. On top of that, it would fund the transformation of the two existing ninth grade centers back to intermediate schools and increase the number of science and math classrooms in the district high schools by twenty-four. This is necessary due to the bill passed by the Texas Legislature that requires all students to now take four years of science and math. Buses would be added to the CCISD fleet to allow decrepit ones to be eliminated and old air conditioners would be replaced. Buses that are 23 years or older would be

replaced. The average life expectancy of a bus is only fifteen years. The CCISD transportation department needs these buses since it serves over 20,000 students and logs about 2.5 million miles a year. Roofs that are damaged would be fixed and security devices would be installed. Surveillance cameras and keyless entry systems would be used to help with campus security. This equipment would be installed within a year. The surveillance equipment is necessary to deter vandalism and other unlawful activities on school grounds. The building of the new schools is necessary. Right now, 2,960 students attend class in a portable building and there are 35 portables at elementary schools, 40 at intermediates and 73 at the district high schools. The use of these portables allows the district to assess the growth carefully before constructing new campuses. A school bond issue is a contract to repay borrowed money on a given date and to pay interest at an agreed rate. These bonds will be sold over a period of years to match the cash-flow requirements of the construction. The district uses 25 years for the repayment of bonds for the construction of facilities. A school bond, however, cannot be used to pay teacher salaries. Though our community is growing and there are more tax payers, those taxes do not mean that the district receives any of those funds. The bond would increase the taxes of a home valued at $100,000 by $1.33 a month or $16 a year. A house valued at $200,000 would see an increase in taxes of $2.62 a month or $35 a year. Senior citizens who are 65 or older and can file for a “freeze” on their taxes and not experience this increase. If the bond fails, the district would need more portable buildings to aide the overcrowding and the construction costs and interest rate would raise substantially due to inflation. Bonds have been put up for voting in the past with the last being in 2004. This passed and funded the construction of Clear Springs High School, the Clear Creek High School rebuild, Gilmore Elementary and Westbrook Intermediate. A bond was defeated, however, in 1994 which would have allowed the building of a fourth high school. Because of this, two intermediate schools were converted into what is now the Clear Creek and Clear

Lake Ninth Grade Centers. The 2007 bond is necessary to aide the growing population of students attending CCISD schools. Permanent Early voting will be located at Clear Brook High School and the Clear Creek and Clear Lake High

School Ninth Grade Centers from April 30 to May 8. Other early voting sites will be moving around the district on the same dates. For more information about Bond 2007, please see www.CCISD.net/bond.

CCISD 2007 bond benefits growing student population

read more on page 7

Creek’s New Principal

Read moRe on page 7

In the past year, there have been a few changes at Creek. From the construction continually changing paths to the new building to the location of the new portable that blocks walkways, the Wildcats have had to adapt. However, the most notable of these changes is the changing of principals. There have been three so far this year, but now, as of May 1, Clear Creek will have a full-time, non-interim principal by the name of Scott Bockart.

Mr. Bockart graduated from Friendswood High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Abilene Christian. He has taught math and coached basketball for thirteen years. He went on to obtain a Master’s Degree from St. Thomas in Houston. Mr. Bockart was named the assistant principal at Victory Lakes Intermediate for four years followed by the principal of League City Intermediate for the 2006-2007 school year. Mr. Bockart chose education because he loves working with kids.

Outside of school, Mr. Bockart loves to bass fish, although, according to him, he does not get to go fishing “near enough.” He also enjoys spending his free time with his wife, daughter and son.

Mr. Bockart’s immediate plans for Creek are to collect all possible information about the staff, campus and programs that are already in place and assess what changes need to be made. His long term plans would be to ensure that Creek maintains academic success and to see consistent improvement in all areas.

“I hope that CCHS will continue to be an elite school in this area as it has been,” Bockart said.

At the beginning of this year, Mr. Bockart met with students at League City to outline expectations both academically and behaviorally. He also made sure that any situations were handled consistently which allowed for fewer distractions in the classroom. This type of meeting might be implemented at Creek so that from the beginning of school, all students are aware of the expectations and how they should represent Clear Creek High School.

When asked to describe himself in five words, Mr. Bockart replied, “professional, courteous, integrity, hard-worker and organized.”

Mr. Bockart is very excited to be working at the high school, although he has enjoyed the intermediate schools. During the transition of Mr. Bockart to the

O PINION SURVEY

Clear Creek HiLife

Juniors

PINION

E-mail us at Hilifenews@yahoo.comVisit us at http://my.highschooljournalism.org/tx/leaguecity/

cchs/For advertising rates call:

(281) 284-2377or fax (281) 284-1705

Principal:Adviser:Executive Editor:Managing Editor:Editors-in-chief:

News Editor:Features Editor:Sports Editor:Creek Speaks Editor:Centerspread:

Online Editor:Ads Manager:Ads Designer:Photo Editors: Bookkeeper: Video Editors:

2006-2007 HiLife StaffReporters:

Lauren GillespieStephanie HaechtenCassie LeeTaylor LongAlbert NkansahRyan OwensMelissa DevittKirsty ReidRebecca RodriguezKearston RoweAllie HingaSarah CisnerosNadia AhmedTaylor FreudenbergDestinee Walker

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Clear Creek High School HiLife Newspaper

Freshmen

Sophomores

“What career do you want to pursue after high school and why?”

“I’ll be an ecologist so I can save the world.” -Danielle Schaefer

“I will be majoring in Buisness and minoring in Dance to eventually teach dance and work for the Make-A-Wish foundation and Homeless organizations.” - Torrie Hardcastle

“A fashion merchandiser for a designer because I have a passion for fashion.” - Audrey Christensen

“Professional stage actress because theater is my passion.” – Brittany Wehman

“I would like to pursue a career as an attorney. I have always had great interest in such fields and have excellent people and debate skills neessary to excel.” - Tyler McGraw

“I am going to pursue massage therapy as my career because it’s one of my greatest skills. Plus the sense of touch can be relaxing.” - Brittany Tabias

“Elementary Education - I’ve always liked kids and I’m good with kids too. I also want to help kids to enjoy learning and school/” - Brittany Ethington

“Psychology because it interests me and I wanna find out how to help people and their mental status.” - Taylor Smith

“Orthepedic surgen because I’ve been studying it in anatomy and it fascinates me.” - Lauren Carpenter

“Forensic Science/Archeology, because I have a love for science and history.” - Ariel Adout

“Being a writer has always been a very strong possibility for me, maybe some free lance, bu I am also exremely interested in exonomics.” Rebecca Bellay

“I want to be a psychologist because I like helping people and giving advice.” – Shelby Fisher

“Psychology because it interests me and I want to find out how to help people and there mental status.” – Taylor Smith

“Video game designer or animator because I love drawing.” – Rodney Smith

“Youth minister - I love kids and i’m very into my faith.” - Allison McKnight

“Play pro football, but if I dont succeed I will be a doctor which is alright because I get to help people.” - Jonathan Daniels

“Fashion Designer - so I can make money for my designs.” - Sahar Arabi

“Chemist or psychologist, because I like to mix things in chemistry and for psychology I want to help people.” - Ariel Sanchez

“Acting is one of the very few things that I enjoy doing, I’m good at, and gives enough money so that I can eventually support my own family.” - John Vollmer

“I want to be an interior designer. It’s something i’ve loved for years. I think I’d love to design and decorate.” - Jenna Canary

“I want to become a pharmacist because I love medicine or be involved in a physics job.” - Cathy Walker

“Music. Anything that has to do with it. Producing, singing, dancing. Whatever, because I love it and would never get tired of it.” - Alicia Davis

“I want to work with the public, public speaking, anything dealing with people because i’m mostly interested in interacting with them.” - Jayda Washington

“I want to be an aerospace engineer or an astronomer because ever since I was a kid, my love and passion has always been space. I really think that the future and progression of the human race relies on it.” - Ryan Price

“A chef, because I want to make my own restaraunt and possibly go to France.” - Chris Ballard

“I want to be a teacher because I like helping others understand things.” - Halley Stulb

“I want to own a doggie daycare/animal shelter because I love dogs!” - Ali Dunn

“I would love to be a pediatrician and specialize in cardiology because I love the fact that I could be saving a child’s life everyday I go to work.” - Katy Winslow

“I want to have an occupation where I can use my experience with foreign languages; maybe a career in international business.” - Emily Backus

Scott BockartWynette JamesonJan O’NeilTori WycoffOlivia Huynh, Jessica O’Neil

Haylet BoultinghouseHaley RushSarah PooreBobby MurphyCassie Lee, Amanda Compton

Ryan GriponDrew WalkerAdam VencilMicah Wesley, Fallan DragoAustin YoungTravis Hallett, Micheal Sosebee, Andy Holcomb, Jacob Lux

Seniors

Clear Creek HiLife

PINION 3O NEWSA BRIEF

EDITORIAL:

cory SToTTlemyer

Everybody’s first year of college is different. Lucky for me, mine was not too bad. Not everyone is as lucky as me however, and some people have everything in the world that could possibly go wrong happen to them. I have seen people crack and break down before my very own eyes because of the horrors that have struck them. Though sometimes-terrible things can happen without any warning and are completely unavoidable, a lot times I see people who bring trouble on themselves. When I see people that moan and groan about their failing grades or their depleting bank account, I struggle to fight back the desire to smack them on the back of the

head and scream “you brought this on yourself!” I am not trying to sound high and mighty here. I have made many mistakes this past year that many of my fellow freshmen make as well, and, by learning the hard way, I am able to warn you from bringing unwanted stress and frustration upon yourself. Grades appear to be top the list of things that students fail at controlling. It is true that college course-work is a lot different than what you have to do in high school. Though I took lots of courses my first semester, they were divided up during the week, and I found myself with plenty of free time during the day. I cannot tell you how many times I was tempted to slack off during my free time and do whatever I wanted. The liberating feeling of having the choice to do whatever you want is almost intoxicating. This ability to live your own life without dictations from others is a huge way to get into trouble. In college, there is nobody to tell you when to study, when to clean your room, or when to turn off the TV, get up off your lazy bum, and do something useful. It is very easy to fall into a bad routine of laziness and wasting time doing nothing. There were many days when, instead of working on a major paper or reading a textbook, I chose to go downtown or watch a movie with friends. I do not suggest this way of studying.

Studying becomes easier when I designate a certain amount of time during the day to do school work, with breaks every so often to either hang out with friends or just relax. When I feel swamped by my course work, it calms me down when I set out a schedule of what I am going to study and list everything I have to do. There is, however, a point where you can go too far with your studying habits, and it takes over your life. Yes, it is perfectly normal to sometimes spend a whole week doing nothing but schoolwork. It happens. It is possible to work too much though, and let me tell you, it’s not a fun thing to experience. The stress of feeling overwhelmed by my schoolwork usually happens when I fall and procrastinate. Trust me, college is not the time and place for procrastination. Aside from poor time management skills, people can suffer when their social life gets in the way of everything else. I know how most people view college: one giant party. I am not going to lie; at times this is exactly what college is. College students party, this is true, but I want you to know that it is ok not to. People will still be your friend if you stay in and refuse to follow the crowd in their experimentation of every vice under the sun. Partying is not always fun and games either. Tales flow through the halls of students getting in trouble with the law, getting expelled from the college, or

getting sent to the hospital because they were unable to control themselves or were too naïve to realize how far is too far. This past Halloween, two close friends of mine both had to be rushed to the hospital due to alcohol poisoning. One had nearly choked on his own vomit after he had lost all control of his bodily functions. The other became incredibly hysterical, almost killing her and the boy driving them home. She nearly jumped out the car in her state of incredible delusion as it drove down the highway, and at one time knocked the car into neutral while it was in motion. I know what you are thinking. I sound like a parent. Well, I have some incredibly cliché news for you: they are right. Pay attention to what you hear from those in positions of authority. Most of the time, they really do know what they are talking about and are trying to help you out. Believe when I say that college is a blast. I have never had a more fun time in my entire life. I have been able to meet some incredible people, and have grown as an individual in one year than I ever thought was possible. Simple things such as getting involved on campus and taking care of yourselves can greatly improve your post-high school experience. I wish you all the best of luck as you venture off into the future and experience life beyond the confines of Clear Creek High School.

Don’t Forget to Remember Me

Guest editorial: The inside scoop on college

Tori Wycoff

In the past four years I have spent over 36 months, 1080 days, and 8640 hours in high school. I have had great experiences and some not-so-great ones. I have learned a lot, met a lot of people and overall, I have enjoyed it. I have made memories here at Creek that I will never forget and I do not regret one day of being here. First off, I should address grades and classes. I was so worried about every grade I got at the beginning of high school that I didn’t really learn anything. I just memorized what was needed to pass the test, and never applied anything to my life. This year, I have been able to relax slightly more in school, mainly because college applications are over, and I can really just learn. I had the opportunity to take some wonderful classes in high school and I learned so much from great teachers like Mrs. Cash and Dr. Fleming. Mrs. Cash was the first teacher that really pushed me academically but also cared so much for her students, her class is definitely the most memorable and I can still remember some random United States history facts. Dr. Fleming, on the other hand, teaches his students about life. Yes, we also do the regular AP Literature curriculum, but his interesting stories and passive voice readings make us excited to go to his class every day. Ms. Hinte- thank you for teaching us about more than just Art History and treating us like adults. Now on the sports track, I played volleyball for two years of high school and stayed involved with the team for my last two. I met a lot of girls because of the team and

those relationships are still very strong. I also became close with the coaches who were always someone on campus that was there to help me. Coach Garner, I will never forget our “mother-daughter” fun and Lockett, you always made me smile. Oh, and Coach Simonds, you know I will always be your favorite!! On top of the volleyball team, I was active in a lot of clubs. I am a PAL, a member of Student Council and YoungLife. These activities all allowed me to meet a lot of people and help out around my school and community. I loved all of the opportunities that being a PAL brought, such as convention and just meeting with my PALee’s every week. Ms. Collins, thanks for a great year! With all of those activities, I also stuck to my journalism roots by being in both yearbook and newspaper. Ms. J- thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak my mind as well as write about current topics; I couldn’t have graduated without you (literally). And Mrs. Strong, thank you for allowing me to be the OCD perfectionist I am and dealing with my sometimes overwhelming stress levels. Karalee, Jess, and Amy- thanks for being such great friends and editors in YB- our daily talks were great! In high school you will be surrounded by thousands of other students and I encourage you to meet as many as you can. I kept a lot of my friends that I had grown up with but also made so many new ones through activities and classes. I became friends with people who I never thought I would and now there is not one person in any of my classes that I do not know. There are so many interesting people to meet so get out

of your comfort zone and just meet someone. My brother encouraged me to meet one new person every day of high school and I pass that challenge on to Creek’s future graduating classes. The next big thing in high school is all of the sporting events. I will never forget that my senior year our football team beat Lake- way to go boys! Attending all of the games and matches was definitely a highlight of my year. From watching Steph and Haley wreck in volleyball (I love my HayJay- she’s a beast!), to seeing EJ, Jen and Allyson on that soccer field (I always screamed for y’all!) , and my boys Jereme and Andy on Wildcat Field, I was quite a sports fan. The farthest we went to support a team would definitely have to be Texas Relays though; we had to cheer on our track stars! And how could I possibly forget the Cavs, watching Kare and Kelsey dance at halftime always made me smile. School dances were also a lot of fun. There is nothing better than getting dressed up and walking into the gym, or Doyle Convention Center, or South Shore Harbour hotel and having a ball with your friends. From going to freshman year and senior year homecoming with Taylor (we go way back to like second grade), going to three Christmas dances (junior year had to be the best though, I mean we did plan it!), and two proms- I had a wonderful time at all! Now, as the class of 2007 leaves the halls (or covered, plastic-fence-lined walkways) of Creek, we can all look back on some great memories. We are all about to embark on a new adventure in life and for some of us that means college while others will head into the work force or

serve our country. I will be attending Vanderbilt University in the fall, but I will always look back on my days as a Wildcat with a smile. I will not ever be able to forget the times we shared here at Creek, not to mention all of the fun times I had with friends. Lauren and Audrey, thanks for being my best friends and I loved every minute we shared together. From New York City to wherever our senior trip takes us, y’all were always there for me- I love you both. Jamie, our zoo adventure was a blast with Jake the Snake; thanks for being like a sister to me. Jared, Tanner, and Rob, you guys made my years great by always being able to bring a smile to my face. Catherine, thanks for being my gym buddy- goodness knows I wouldn’t have gone without you. Lastly, thanks Melissa for always listening to me and being a friend. And as for all of you who will be coming back to the entirely new campus next year, I hope all of you have a great end to your high school lives and really get the most out of everything. Do all that you want to in high school because these four years will go back so quickly you can hardly fathom it.

So Seniors, our time here is almost up. We have had four years of fun and now the future lays in front of us and we choose our own paths. When speaking about graduation, Tom Brokaw once said, “You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.” So now, class of 2007, let’s change the world!

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Clear Creek HiLife

HOMECOMPUTER

Do: Enable the powermanagement feature inyour desktop computer.(For Windows users,click on your Start but-ton, click “Controlpanel,” then “Poweroptions.” For Mac users,click the “SystemPreferences” icon in thedock, then “EnergySaver”) For an initiallevel of power savings,turn off the monitor aftera designated time. Foreven more power sav-ings, designate a timeperiod for activating“System Standby”(Windows users) or“Sleep” (Mac users).With standby/sleep, yourmonitor, hard-drive andother internal parts willgo into a low-powermode when you are awayfrom your desk.Do: Get rid of yourscreen saver. It requiresmore energy to run those

static images of yourkids (on a constantbasis) than it does

to have your com-puter and monitor go

into a low-power mode.Unlike 10 years ago, thescreen saver does notextend the life of yourmonitor. Killing it couldsave you $50 to $100 onyour electric bill over ayear, depending on yourequipment. And speak-ing of equipment, anLCD monitor not onlysaves space, it uses one-third the power of aCRT monitor.

REFRIGERATORDo: Replace an olderrefrigerator with a new, efficient one.Refrigerators made pre-1993 use twice as muchenergy as the newENERGY STAR-quali-fied models.Save: $45 to $65 a yearin energy costs.

SODA CANSDo: Recycle.Save: Recycling one alu-minum can saves enoughenergy to run a televisionor operate a computer forthree hours.

LIGHTBULBSDo: Replace five of yourmost used incandescentlight bulbs with compactfluorescent bulbs (whichuse two-thirds less ener-gy, generate 70 percentless heat and last up to10times longer).Save: $25 to $65 a yearin energy costs, depend-ing on the wattage andhow long you leavebulbs on. Bigger picture: If everyAmerican home did that,U.S. consumers wouldsave as much as $6.5 bil-lion a year in electricitycosts and prevent green-house gas emissionsequivalent to that frommore than 8 million cars. Note: A small amount ofmercury is sealed withinthe glass tubing of com-pact fluorescent lightbulbs. Don’t throw themout with regular house-hold trash if betteroptions exist. For dispos-al guidelines: visitwww.earth911.org andplug in your zip code;call 877-EARTH911(877-327-84911); callyour local waste man-agement company; orvisit www.lamprecycle.org. Some stores takeback used CFLs.)

AIRFILTERS

Do: Change the air filtersin your furnace regularly.Save: Up to 5 percent ofheating costs.

ATTICDo: Install a whole-housefan to draw in cool air andforce hot air out the atticvents. Use the fan in theevening after the tempera-ture outside drops below80 degrees Fahrenheit andin the early morning toreduce air conditioner use.

TOILETA leaky toilet can waste200 gallons of water a day. Do: Check for leaks byadding food coloring tothe tank. If you have aleak, color will appear inthe bowl within 15 min-utes. Flush as soon asyou’re done with this testto avoid staining the tank.Bigger picture: Two outof every 10 toilets leak onaverage in the UnitedStates Those two leakerscan waste as much as146,000 gallons of water ayear. That’s enough waterfor a family of four towash clothes in theirwashing machine for eightyears. Consider axing yourol’ big-gun toilet, thosepre-1994 models that use3.5 to 7 gallons of waterwith every flush. Save: If all those pre-1994 guzzlers werereplaced with high-effi-ciency toilets (federal lawnow requires toilets useno more than 1.6 gallonsa flush), the United Statescould save as much as800 billion gallons ofwater a year. That’s theequivalent of 12 days offlow over Niagara Falls.

WINDOWSHADES

Do: Use drapes or blindsto reduce heat gain (inwarm climates) and/orloss (in cold climates).Save: In warm climates,closing light-coloredshades or blinds duringthe day can reduce yourhome’s solar gain by up to50 percent, thus relievingsome of the load on yourair conditioning system.In cold climates, closingdrapes or blinds at nightreduces your home’s heatloss by about 5 percent.

DISH WASHINGDo: Generally, it’s best towash dishes in the dish-washer (preferably withfull loads) than to do themby hand — and scraperather than rinse platesbefore loading. Save: The aver-age Americandishwasher inuse todayconsumes8.7 gallons aload (themost currentmodels use 4to 8 gallons).Washing byhand for 10 min-utes with thefaucet running canuse as much as 20 gal-lons of water. Filling thesink uses about 5 gallonsor less — but that’s 5 gal-lons for washing, five forrinsing.Bigger picture: Some 42million U.S. homes do nothave a dishwasher. If allof those households usedthe fill-the-sink methodinstead of letting the taprun, Americans could saveas much as 100 billiongallons of water annually.

AIRCONDITIONINGDo: Turn up your (A/C)thermostat by a mere 2degrees in warm weatherand turn on a ceiling fan.Save: A/C costs will belowered by as much as 14percent over the coolingseason, with no sacrificein your personal comfort.Turn off the fan when youleave the room, though.Ceiling fans cool people,not rooms.

F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

GREEN HOMEMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

S O U R C E S : E N E R G Y S TA R ; U. S . E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R OT E C T I O N AG E N C Y; U. S . D E PA RT M E N T O F E N E R G Y; WAT E R S E N S E ; N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S D E F E N S E C O U N C I L / N O A H H O R OW I T Z , S E N I O R S C I E N T I S T ; C I T Y O F C H I C AG O D E PA RT M E N T O F T H E E N V I R O N M E N T ;N AT U R A L H O M E M AG A Z I N E ; P C M AG A Z I N E ; WAT E RW I S E R . O R G ; A B T E L E C T R O N I C S ; W W W. I L L I N O I S R E C Y C L E S . O R G ; C O M C A S T ; AT & T ; S M A RT- H O M E OW N E R . C O M ; C O N SU M E R E N E R G Y C E N T E R . O R G .

Do: Wash only fullloads.

Save: As much as 3,400gallons of water a year.

Do: Use the “cold” setting (with acold-water laundry detergent) or“warm” setting whenever possible.Heating water to “hot” accountsfor 90 percent of the machine’swashing energy; only 10 percentgoes to power the motor. Save: Switching to “cold” cansave the average household morethan $400 annually with an elec-

tric water heater, $300 annuallywith a gas heater.

Do: If your dryer has a moisturesensor that turns the machine offautomatically when clothes aredry, use it. Don’t: Do not over-dry laundry. Save: An electric dryer operatingan extra 15 minutes a load cancost you up to $34 a year in wast-ed energy; a gas dryer, $21 a year.

Do: Clean the lint trap beforeevery load. Save: As much as $35 a year.

WASHER AND DRYER

$1,900Amount the average Americanhousehold spends annually onenergy billsSOURCE: WWW.ENERGYSTAR.GOV

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BY KAREN KLAGSChicago Tribune

verywhere you turn these days,there go those buzzwordsagain: green, eco, organic, sus-

tainable, renewable, alternative, recy-cled, reused.

And it’s not just Al Gore andWhole Foods Market and MotherEarth News and a bunch of long-haired, tofu-loving guys wearingBirkenstocks and obsessed withArmageddon doing the talking.

The conversation now has enteredbastions of Middle America — placeslike Target, The HomeDepot and Wal-Mart StoresInc., all of

which are making a major greenpush. Add to that an ever-growingbuzz over global warming, carbonfootprints, China’s thirst for oil, anuclear renaissance and the plight ofthe polar bear. But what’s the averagehomeowner to do to make any sort ofdifference?

The idea and the prospect of livingin a more environmentally consciousway have, indeed, gone mainstreamin the United States.

But the reality of actually doing it inyour neighborhood, in your home, inyour garden and in the very cupboardsof your existence is another thing.

Where does one begin? What’sworth the time and trouble? Anddoes any one person/one family’sefforts really count?

We dissected a house, looking foreasy (but not always obvious) waysthat homeowners can conserve ener-gy and water — and money at thesame time. And then, where wecould, we extrapolated the numbers,showing exactly how many gallonsand kilowatt hours and dollars couldbe saved with these minor lifestyleadjustments.

The question, we discovered, isnot whether any one person or onefamily’s behavior makes a difference

but how much of a differ-ence that is.

Energy-conscious tips help preserve the environment — and save money

eNVIRONMENT

Clear Creek HiLife

5F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

EARTH DAYMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

● You get your coffee from Starbucks.The company may be super-corporate, butthey offer Fair Trade coffees, which ensurethat coffee farmers are paid a fair price, andinvest in social programs in coffee-growingcommunities. If you pre-fer supporting non-chain coffee shops,ask them to offer FairTrade selections.

● You downloadmusic to an MP3player. Have youstopped buying CDs?You’re already cuttingwaste.

● You buy or sellon eBay. You get rid ofstuff you don’t need without trashing it, andyou reduce the amount of packaging used tomake new products.

● You don’t rinse before putting dishesin the dishwasher. Consumer Reports testsshow rinsing first doesn’t improve cleaning.By skipping this step, you’ll save up to 20 gal-lons of water per load, or 6,500 gallons peryear.

GREEN GLOSSARYBeing “green” means being aware of your

responsibility to the environment and to thecommunity. Here are other common greenterms and their meanings:

● Organic: Organic food is produced byfarmers who place an emphasis on renewableresources and soil and water conservation, anduse minimal pesticides as defined by the U.S.Department of Agriculture. Organic meat,poultry, eggs and dairy products come fromanimals that are given no antibiotics or growthhormones. The term “organic” must be certi-fied by the USDA. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/nop for more information.

● Fair Trade: Fair Trade helps familyfarmers in developing countries gain directaccess to international markets, allowing themto compete fairly and receive a fair price. Thisalso deters cost-cutting practices that diminish

quality. Look for the fair trade certifi-cation on products, and visitwww.transfairusa.org for informa-tion.

● Shade grown: If you buyFair Trade certified coffee, teaand chocolate, it is usuallyshade-grown. This means thatthe products you buy provideshelter for migratory birds andhelp reduce global warming.

● Sustainable: A methodof harvesting or using aresource so that the resourceis not depleted or permanent-ly damaged.

● Biodegradable: Theproduct has the ability tobreak down, safely and rela-tively quickly, by biologicalmeans, into raw materials ofnature and disappear into theenvironment.

TAKE IT BACKWe can’t all be green all

the time, but there are ways tooffset the damage we do.TerraPass (www.terrapass.com) helps reverse the globalwarming impact of your car’sCO2 emissions. You pay a certainamount a year ($29.95 for a hybrid,$49.95 for a standard size vehicle,$79.95 for an SUV), which helps fundclean energy projects that reduceindustrial carbon dioxide emissions.You even get a windshield sticker toshow others your do-gooder side.

WHAT’S YOUR IMPACT?Visit www.myfootprint.org and fill in

your information, such as ZIP code. The sitedoes the calculations to tell you how big anecological footprint you’re leaving on theEarth. In other words, how many acres of landare you using up? The results may surpriseyou.

BY ERIN WADEThe Dallas Morning News

t’s a big world out there, andkeeping it clean is a big task —sometimes too big, with ourbusy lives. That’s why thatoccasional soda bottle ends upin the garbage can instead ofthe recycling bin, and that box

of packaged food seems like such abetter deal than the locally grown,organic version. But, believe it ornot, little things can make a big dif-ference.

So if you’re interested in goinggreen, even just a little bit, don’t beintimidated. It’s not about judging,says Kate Macaulay, co-owner withMichael Johnson of Green Livingin Lakewood, Texas. “One woman

said she was scared to come intothe store because she drives anSUV,” Macaulay says. “But we’re

just happy she came in.”Going green doesn’t make your

life more complicated; it’s aboutsimplifying. By making smallchanges you can save water andelectricity, live healthier and helpprotect the environment.

Macaulay and Johnson learned alot about simplicity when theylived overseas. “We’d see peoplelive more simply, and to them it’s away of life,” Macaulay says.Johnson had a pair of shoes withholes in the bottom and threw themin the trash, thinking they wereuseless. But a woman who caredfor their home asked if she couldhave them. “It’s about finding ause for everything,” Macaulaysays. “We wanted to applywhat we learned when we

came home and try to influenceothers.”

We talked with them about sim-ple, low-cost eco-changes that canmake a big impact. You canbuild your eco-consciencegradually, and learn tolove how easy it is— and howgood it feels— to gogreen.

LAUNDRY ROOMOLD WAY: Regular laundrydetergentNEW WAY: Green laundrydetergentWHY? Most regular detergentsare petroleum-based and con-tain chemicals that are dis-charged into our water system,which can harm aquatic life.Green detergents such asSeventh Generation andEcover are nontoxic and madewith plant-based, biodegrad-able ingredients, saving oil forother uses.COST: Green detergents alsouse fewer fillers, so you don’tneed to use as much per loadof laundry, Macaulay says.Select mass-merchandiserscarry a selection of greencleaning products.

LIVING ROOMOLD WAY: Incandescent lightbulbsNEW WAY: Compact fluores-cent light bulbsWHY? According to EnergyStar, a government-backedprogram that helps people pro-tect the environment throughenergy efficiency, compact flu-orescent light bulbs use 66percent less energy than astandard incandescent bulband last up to 10 times longer.They also are cooler to thetouch.COST: Replacing a 100-wattincandescent with a 23-wattcompact fluorescent bulb cansave you about $20 in energycosts over about three years,according to the U.S.Department of Energy.

KITCHENOLD WAY: Using your stove oroven to cook small amounts offoodNEW WAY: Opting for yourmicrowave or toaster oven WHY? Microwaves and toast-ers generate less heat thanstoves or ovens, so you cansave energy and air condition-ing costs in the summer.COST: Using the microwave ortoaster oven to reheat smallportions reduces the amount ofcooking energy up to 80 per-cent.

OLD WAY: Running yourfaucet while you wash thedishesNEW WAY: Installing an aeratorWHY? Aerators mix air intowater, which cutswater flow andreducessplashing.However, usingan aerator won’tdeprive you ofstrong water pres-sure.COST: Aerators can cost aslittle as $2, and they reducewater flow from the faucet to1.5 gallons per minute, cuttingwater usage by about 50 per-cent.You can find aerators atyour home supply store andonline.

BATHROOMOLD WAY: Regular shower-headNEW WAY: Low-flow shower-headWHY? Showers account for 32percent of home water use,according to the NationalResources Defense Council.Low-flow showerheads (similarto faucet aerators) deliver nomore than 2.5 gallons perminute compared to standardshowerheads, which releaseabout 4.5 gallons per minute.COST: A family of fourusing low-flow shower-heads can save about20,000 gallons ofwater a year, accord-ing to the council.

GARDENOLD WAY: Gas lawn-mowerNEW WAY: Push lawn-

mowerWHY? Push lawnmowers

aren’t new, but they’rehealthier for you and the envi-ronment.You don’t have to buygas, you get more exercise,and you don’t pollute theair or your lungs.COST: A push mower isavailable at Target,Home Depot andelsewhere for about$90, while gaslawnmowers costabout $200 to$400 (notincludinggas).

RESOURCESFor more information on goinggreen, visit these sites:● National Resources DefenseCouncil Guides for Greener Living:www.nrdc.org/action/tips.asp● U.S. Department of Energy’sconsumer guide: www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/● U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency and the U.S. Departmentof Energy’s Energy Star program:www.energystar.gov/● U.S. Department of AgricultureNational Organic Program: www.ams.usda.gov/nop

OFFICEOLD WAY: Pay bills by mailNEW WAY: Pay bills electroni-callyWHY? It saves paper. There’sno need to be wary of doingyour business online, sayexperts at Symantec, manufac-turer of Internet security andanti-virus software. The risk isminimal if you keep your soft-ware updated. “You shouldn’tbe overly concerned,” saysSymantec’s Bill Rosenkrantz.“Most banks are protectingthemselves better, too.”COST: You’ll save on stampsand on time spent hunchedover the shredder.

Keeping it clean and green needn’t be intimidating

ALL ISONLONG/MCT

COURTESY OF NASA

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NEWS

Here are the answers to the2005 Geography Challenge.There’s no official scoring; youwin by playing. (Added infor-mation in parentheses is notpart of the required answer.)Animal travels1. B (New England/Greenland/

Arctic to Antarctica).2. D (South Americato San Juan

Capistrano, Calif., and otherlocations). 3. G (ShawneeNational Forest, Ill.). 4. A(East Africa). 5. E (Mexico toAlaska). 6. F (U.S. to Mexico).7. C (Wisconsin to Florida).

Global views1. Jordan. 2. Vietnam. 3. Kenya. 4. Mexico. 5. Copper.6. Sri Lanka. 7. Costa Rica. 8. Iran. 9. Ireland. 10. India.

Multiple choice1. B. 2. C. 3. A. 4. C. 5. B.6. C. 7. C. 8. A. 9. C. 10. A.

Physical geography1. Windward. 2. Jet stream. 3. Glacier. 4. Prairie.5. Equinoxes (vernal equinoxin spring, autumnal equinox infall). 6. Fiord (sometimesspelled fjord). 7. Irrigation.8. Migration. 9. Isthmus.10. Tropic of Capricorn (the Earth’s axis varies overtime, so the exact latitudevaries slightly from 23 degrees30 minutes).

The real things1. China. 2. Israel. 3. Thailand.4. Japan. 5. Malaysia.6. Arabic. 7. Korea. 8. Bulgaria.

F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

GEOCHALLENGE — ORIGINALLY POSTED NOV. 2005MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Test your knowledge

of where we’ve

come from — and

where we’re going

ANIMAL TRAVELSMatch the animal with its migration route:

1. _____

2. _____

3. _____

4. _____

5. _____

6. _____

7. _____

TO

M V

AN

DY

KE

/KR

T

BY ALFRED BORCOVERChicago Tribune

Through the ages, people — and animals — have been onthe move. The great migrations out of Africa tens of thousandsof years ago brought humans to Asia and Europe, Australiaand the Americas. From the 17th to 19th centuries, slavetraders brought 10 million to 15 million Africans into theWestern Hemisphere. Between 1860 and 1920, more than 30million people migrated from Europe to the United States,cited as the largest migration of human beings ever seen.

The National Geographic Society’s Geography Action! isan annual K-12 conservation and awareness program.

Part of this program, launched in 1987 to promote geogra-phy literacy in schools, is Geography Awareness Week, thethird week of November. To celebrate National Geographic’sefforts, we’re offering this Geography Challenge. This is not apass-fail test. There are no prizes. If you learn one new thing,think of yourself as a winner.

7.Whooping cranes

6.Monarch

butterflies

5.Gray whales

4.Wildebeests

2.Swallows

1.Arctic terns

3.Snakes

(35 species)

STRANGESHAPESOn a globe,

up and down is just a matter of perception.Name these

states,provinces

and countriesthat we’ve taken for a

spin.

1. _____

2. _____

3. _____

4. _____

5. _____

6. _____

7. _____

8. _____

Answers: 1. Ontario.2. Ukraine.3. Arizona.4. New Zealand.5. Peru. 6. Israel.7.Thailand.8. Iceland.

THE REAL THINGSName the country or language behind these famous labels:

1. ____________ 2. _____________ 3. ____________ 4. _____________ 5. _____________ 6. ____________ 7. ____________ 8. ____________

1. The Java Sea issurrounded by islandsof what country?

A. Malaysia.B. Indonesia.C. Micronesia.

2. What country onthe Gulf of Honduraswas formerly knownas British Honduras?

A. Guatemala.B. Costa Rica.C. Belize.

3. In which Canadianprovince do mostpeople speak French?

A. Quebec.B. Nova Scotia.C. Alberta.

4. Which countrydoes not border theMediterranean Sea?

A. Italy.B. Greece.C. Austria.

5. Which state isknown as theKeystone Statebecause of its centralposition among theoriginal 13 colonies?

A. New York.B. Pennsylvania.C. New Jersey.

6. To explore St.Augustine, the oldestexisting Europeansettlement in theU.S., you wouldtravel to which state?

A. New Mexico.B. Georgia.C. Florida.

7. To relax in a ther-mal spa near LakeBalaton, you wouldgo to what country?

A. Romania.B. Bulgaria.C. Hungary.

8. To see ChimneyRock, an importantlandmark for pio-neers traveling onthe Oregon Trail,you would have tovisit which state?

A. Nebraska.B. Idaho.C. Oregon.

9. Which continentis the world’s largestproducer of gold?

A. Asia.B. Australia.C. Africa.

10. The Guadal-quivir River flowsthrough Andalusia, afarming region inwhat country?

A. Spain.B. Portugal.C. San Marino.

MULTIPLE CHOICE1. To visit the ruins of Petra,you would have to travel to whatcountry?

_______________________________

2. If you were able to comparethe bustling Ho Chi Minh Cityto the rural paddy farms of theMekong River Delta, you wouldbe in what country?

_______________________________

3. The Masai Mara NatureReserve is in which Africannation?

_______________________________

4. According to the 2000 cen-sus, nearly 30 percent of for-eign-born residents of the U.S.are from what country?

_______________________________

5. What mineral resource isChile’s main export?

_______________________________

6. Which island nation in the Indian Ocean producesalmost 10 percent of the world’stea?

_______________________________

7. What country lies betweenNicaragua and Panama?

_______________________________

8. The ruins of Persepolis, anancient ceremonial capital ofPersia, are located in which pre-sent-day country?

_______________________________

9. In 1801, an Act of Union cre-ated the United Kingdom byjoining Great Britain and whichother island?

_______________________________

10. Bangalore is a center ofhigh-technology industries inwhich Asian country?

_______________________________

GLOBAL VIEWS1. What word is used todescribe the side of a mountainthat faces the prevailing winds?_______________________________

2. What do you call a high-speed west-to-east wind currentthat flows in narrow corridorswithin upper-air westerlies?_______________________________

3. What word describes a large,natural accumulation of ice thatspreads outward on the land ormoves slowly down a slope?_______________________________

4. What is the term used for thenative grasslands that cover theGreat Plains of the central U.S.?_______________________________

5. What is the time of year whenall latitudes have 12 hours of day-light and darkness, and the sun isdirectly overhead at the equator?_______________________________

6. What Norwegian word isused for a narrow, steep-sidedinlet of the sea that was carvedby a glacier?_______________________________

7. What’s the term used for theartificial watering of farmland?_______________________________

8. What do you call the move-ment of people across a speci-fied boundary for the purposeof establishing a new place ofresidence?_______________________________

9. What term is used for a nar-row strip of land that connectstwo larger landmasses?_______________________________

10. What do you call latitude 23degrees 30 minutes south, the far-thest southerly excursion of thesun when it is directly overhead?_______________________________

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

1.3.

4.2.

1.

5. 8.

7.

6.

ANSWERS

I LLUSTRAT ION BY PH IL GE IB /KRT

A.D.

E.

B.

F.G. C.

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N EWS

Clear Creek HiLife

Headphones causing hearing loss among avid music loversOn today’s high school campus, it has

become nearly impossible to find a student’s purse, pocket, or backpack without some type of music playing device in it. Buses, hallways, and even classrooms buzz with murmurs and snatches of songs. However, many audiologists are now saying that ear bud headphones and music devices with extensive volume capabilities can cause long term hearing loss.

The human body hears because of about 15,000 tiny hairs on the inside of the ears. They transmit sounds to the brain where they are then interpreted. Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is caused by the damage of these hairs due to extensive exposure to loud sounds. Earbuds, popular with iPods and mp3 players, direct music directly into the ear canal, causing quicker and even more direct damage than other types of headphones.

All sound can be measured on a scale of units called decibels (db). Normal conversation is measured at about 60-70 db and a power saw at 110 db. Unfortunately, most music players in the United States have a maximum volume of or over 120 db with hearing loss beginning at about 85 db.

Why then, do so many students choose to crank up the volume so loudly that it can clearly be heard across the room? Well, today’s digital technology cuts back on the distortion of loud music, giving songs a higher level of quality. With this development, it is nearly impossible to resist losing oneself in favorite songs. Teens also find that music helps them through classes and long hours of studying. “It helps me concentrate,” says one student. Also, many students are annoyed by background noise especially in the bus or cafeteria. A higher volume is needed to drown out all the excess noise.

Fortunately, this is a problem that can be, at least partially, dealt with.

Background sounds can be managed with noise-canceling ear buds. Headphones that cover the ears are a cheaper but not as effective option. A current patent-pending development is the iHearSafe earbuds that do not allow volume over 80 db no matter how high the volume is turned. For the most part, parents find these a great help for their younger children, but not very effective in teenagers.

There are also some simple low-tech remedies that work well. Just being conscious of the volume on an iPod is a step in the right direction. A good rule of thumb is if the person next to you can hear the music, it’s too loud. Taking some time for silence during day can be calming for a stressed mind as well as healthy for exhausted ears. In fact, researchers at the Harvard University- affiliated Children’s Hospital Boston say that no more than an hour of music at 60 percent of the

maximum volume is safe. Also, try to avoid any environments with excessive noise such as health clubs that blast music during classes or long concerts. If such places are unavoidable, hi-fi (high- fidelity) earplugs are a good idea.

Noise induced hearing loss is an important issue for this generation. Even Pete Townsend of the popular rock band The Who wrote on his online blog that many years of listening to loud music through headphones has damaged his hearing. For most teens that love music, it is not too late to spare their ears some serious trauma without giving up their headphones entirely.

nadia ahmed

Art car parade drives through HoustonArt Car Parade The Houston Art Car Weekend, a radical live action pop art exhibit on wheels, rolls into town for its 20th anniversary this month. On May 11th through the 13th over 200,000 people will flock to Allen Parkway and the surrounding area to be part of the country’s oldest art car event. The origins of this weekend date back to 1984. A 1967 Ford station wagon was donated by Kit and Carl Detering to be auctioned off at the Orange Show Foundation’s annual Gala benefit. Jackie Harris, a local Houston artist, was given the opportunity to transform the station wagon into a mobile work of art. With a budget of $800 for painting supplies and plastic fruit, the “Fruitmobile” was born. The group of six who originally purchased the car at the gala donated it back to the foundation after its full transformation. That same year, Ann Harithas opened an exhibit at the Lawndale Art Center called “Colllision”. This exhibit featured two art cars. The ball was set in motion for fast growing phenomenon.

In 1987, after a few years of unofficial art car rallies. The Houston International Festival urged the Orange Show to make the Art Car Parade a reality. In April of 1988 40 cars rolled down the street with over 2,000 viewers. By the next year participation doubled and crowd size grew by tens of thousands. The Art Car Parade began to turn heads all over the nation after 1989 participant, Harrod Blank from California, documented his experiences in Houston. Soon after art cars by the thousands poured into Houston for a spot in the parade. The 2007 Art Car Weekend kicks off with the Friday Main Street Drag starting at 9am and running through 2pm. During this event, seven separate groups of art cars leave from the Houston Zoo to go out and see over 30,000 people who may not be able to get out to see the art cars. There are organized stops at 32 schools, hospitals and community centers. Saturday is the long awaited parade day. Starting at 9 am, the art cars begin lining up on Allen Parkway, between Taft and

Shepard. Anyone interested is extended a open invitation to come see the art cars up close and personal and meet their creators. It is estimated that there will be over 250 entries from 23 states and Canada. There will be a live audience of over 200,00 and an audience of over 225,000 sitting in the comfort of their home. The parade will kick off at 1pm. Anything on wheels and decked out to the drivers wishes is allowed to participate. Past vehicle entries have included cars, bicycles, unicycles, lawnmowers and wagons. Any person can be an art car artist. Just as many art cars are made by the general public as they are by recognized artists. Regular participants come from community organizations and even schools in the public and private sector. On Sunday the Art Car Awards Ceremony will take place at the Orange Show Monument form 11am-3pm. At this event cash prizes totaling $10,000 are awarded in several categories to deserving participants.

deSTinee Walker

As the school year is coming to close, our three-month vacation is just around the corner. Many teenagers have a hard time staying active during the summer, and even if they plan on keeping ft, most of them don’t really don’t know what to do without a coach’s assistance and/or team motivation. Too often summer is spent in front of the television, or computer screen, eating greasy chips and drinking soda for hours at a time. Soon, the hours turn to days and before you know it summer is over and you haven’t worked out in three months. That doesn’t sound so bad until try-outs come around and you’ve never felt, or performed worse. The best thing to do is to try not to think of working out as a burden, but instead think of it as a time to be more creative with your exercise.

Want to stay in shape this summer but you’re not the outdoorsmen? Try something like pilates, kickboxing, yoga, treadmills, indoor gyms, or something as simple as crunches while you’re watching TV. Most

people make the mistake of slacking off for a while and then trying to work out as hard as they did before. This is hard on your body as well as your confidence when you soon find you can’t do a fourth of what you use to be able to do. Start slow, or better yet don’t stop at all.

If you find yourself in this situation cut your previous exercise in half and work your way back up from there. It may seem too easy at first, but it’s better to be too easy and rebuild your strength then to

over exert yourself and end up with an injury. It’s hard to stay in shape when you’re unable to exercise at all. Most of the time summer is thought to be as a time to rest from the stress of the school year. This almost always has the opposite effect. Too

Summertime Health: Fending Off Laziness and Boredommuch rest can equal no energy at all. Energy is gained through exercise, eating healthy, and getting the right amount of rest. Energy drinks, junk food, and sleeping until noon will achieve the opposite effect. Exercising doesn’t have to be a major, planned out, dreaded occasion. Lying out by the pool? Jump in and swim a few laps. Driving to a friend’s house down the street? Ride your bike, skateboard, or if you’re really feeling dedicated, jog. Changing small things in your everyday routine helps your fitness level more then you would think. Take the stairs not the elevator, don’t super size your fast food order, and make time for exercise. Three days a week is ideal, more is even better. Don’t stay idle for too long this summer. Keep moving and you’ll find yourself feeling energized and ready to take on the new school year before you know it.

Creek’s New PrincipalCOUNTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CCHS principal, he remembered his high school days and recalled how much fun it was to work with older kids.

“Mr. Bockart is known for his strong relationships with teachers, students and parents, Scott’s thoughtful leadership makes him a perfect match for Clear Creek High School,” Assistant Superintendent Alex Torrez said.

Creek students should look forward to great years with Mr. Bockart at the helm of the school and it is finally possible to say that there is a full-time principal on staff at Creek.

“I am excited about working with the faculty, students, and community to continue the great history and traditions of CCHS. We will continue to strive for excellence and success for all of our students each and every day,” said Bockart.

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Clear Creek HiLife

8 CREEK CLUBS

Anime Club The Anime club is a Japanese oriented club that discusses Japanese life style and watches new and action filled anime made in Japan. The Anime Club holds its meetings on Fridays in P-11 from 2:30-4:00. When you walk in you are greeted with a bag of popcorn and a smile. Sometimes The President, Kitty, teaches the club Japanese or talks about up and coming club conventions. The Anime club has been at Clear Creek for four years now and is still strong in members and in staff.

Auxilio! A special thanks to all of the Spanish V students that took out their personal time to help with the club. Wish them the best of luck, as they will soon be going to take their AP tests in May. Auxilio will be available through the month of April for student Spanish help Mondays and Wednesdays in Mrs. Rodery’s room T-11. Mrs. Rodery encourages the auxilio students to go to their teachers for tutorials, help is always available.

Quiz Bowl Quiz bowl is a new club at the high school. Next year, the club plans to compete in regional academic contests, but right now they are preparing for next year. The club usually meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, but meeting dates are subject to change. The club is open only by invitation; if you are interested in joining however, contact the club’s president Haotian Xu, at haotianx@gmail.com for more information.

Invisible Children Club Although the Invisible children Club had a late start the members have taken and ran with the idea of giving kids of Pabbo Secondary School (in Northern Uganda) a valued education. They club has planned a car wash, a bake sale, and Uganda Fest. The top fundraising school of Schools for Schools will have a chance to visit Uganda and see the school that they worked so hard to build on the other side of the world. Meetings are held every Wednesday from 2:45 to 3:30 in room N227. With the help of the kids at Clear Creek High School children from Pabbo Secondary School will get an education.

French ClubThe French club offers students a chance to

experience the French culture in a way they might not otherwise. Students don’t even need to be enrolled in French to join this club. All that is required is an interest in France and the lives of the people who live there. For more information about this club and where and when it meets, contact Mrs. St. Pierre, the club sponsor.

Red Cross Club If you want to give back to the community while still having fun, the Red Cross Club is the club for you. Every other Wednesday from 2:40 to 3:00 in room P-45 the Red Cross Club meets to talk about helping the neighborhood and upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Attention Club Sponsors If you do not see your club here, or you would like the Hilife paper to feature more information about on this page, contact the page editor at bmurphy_hilife@yahoo.com, and we will do the best we can to feature your club in our next issue of the paper. Thank you.

National Honor Society Congratulations to all of the new members that were inducted in the ceremony on April 9 2007. May they continue to serve the community and Clear Creek High School as all of their predecessors have. A special thanks to Mrs. McNatt and NHS president LuLu Chang and all of the NHS officers for coordinating all of the activities this year, including the induction ceremony. For more information about the club visit Mrs. McNatt in room P-05.

C.L.E.A.R The C.L.E.A.R club is continuing to establish news ways of preventing the use of drugs and alcohol among high school students. While attending the community summit at NASA Gilruth Center in late March, the C.L.E.A.R club members in the CCISD district devised new and improved ways to prevent underage drinking and the use of drugs after gradating high school and the beginning years of college. Also, in late May the C.L.E.A.R club will be continuing their plans of sponsoring a no drug and alcohol end of the year party. Come and join the C.L.E.A.R club. Meetings are every other Thursday at the ninth grade center in room N119.

National Technical Honor Society National Technical Honor Society joined HOSA for the Relay for Life benefit on April 13. The Club raised over $600 for the American Cancer Society. In May, officers for the 2007-2008 school year will be elected. National Technical Honor Society meets on the second Friday of every month in room B125.

Muslim Student Association

The MSA, or the Muslim Student Association, members meet every Friday at the Main Campus library. During the meetings the MSA members discuss club programs, community service projects, school events and activities, and club fundraising. The MSA club invites any Clear Creek student who wants to be involved.

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Clear Creek HiLife Clear Creek HiLife

D IVERSIONS

Fun Facts

The average human will eat about 110,000 pounds of food in their lifetime.

In the USA, 13 people die each year from vending machines falling

on them.

Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.

In 1969, Apollo I took the first man to the moon. The steering system was less advanced than

calculators today.

Marilyn Monroe had six toes on her left foot.

The largest exporter of camels in the western

world is Norway.

Charlie Chaplin competed in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest and won third

place.

When you are using the keyboard, your left hand

does 56% of the typing.

Not only is a tiger’s fur striped, but it’s skin is as

well.

During the second world war, Queen Elizabeth II studied to be a car

mechanic.

Pure gold is so soft that you can shape it with your

hands.

Cleopatra could speak 13 languages.

crossword Comics

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3. Talk about interests- no one wants to be in a boring conversation. Talk about shared interests that both can talk about. Conversations are

not fun if the other person cannot relate or be involved. Do not be the only talker, listen to the other person and REMEMBER what they are talking about!

1. Do not be afraid- many people miss out on the opportunity of meeting others because they feel too childish to introduce themselves to someone else. However, by introducing yourself without fear, it shows confidence to other classmates. Self confidence may be intimidating or may be used to a good advantage when meeting someone new. This could break the awkwardness of the introduction.

2. Remember names- by

remembering another persons name, it shows that they are important

enough to remember. Making

someone feel important creates a bond between

High school can be an exciting time to many, a nightmare to some, and a challenge to most. Not only do students strive to understand their studies, but they also progress in high school seeking themselves. Many fear the problem of not fitting in or not being accepted by certain people. However, this fear makes teenage students afraid to cross the line to meet new people and become active in other activities. By trying new activities and meeting new people, teens could learn something new and take one step closer to finding themselves. Do not be afraid to get involved and miss out on an exciting experience: 4.

Keep the

conversation going. A good way

not to end a conversation is to ask questions. By doing this, one

conversation will lead to another topic.

5. Ask about them- get to know the person. By asking questions about the person, one can

get to know who that person is. Personality is the key to being friends. One can relate to the other person by knowing their background and their personality. This gives the other person a chance to express themselves.

MIX IT UP!

Becoming Active

Dos

Get Involved!

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Clear Creek HiLifeClear Creek HiLife

Get Involved!

Bring down the walls!

Many people do not know how to keep friend relationships going or lose themselves in the process. High school is the most likely place to become a victim of peer pressure.

1. Don’t be afraid to talk- say,

“hey” to the other person during school. If one just ignores the other, the relationship is bound to decrease. This will also prove the importance of knowing who that person is.

1

3. Don’t become conceded- place both yourself and the friends

at the same level. If one puts them above the other, they will probably stop interacting. No one wants to be looked down on.

4. Do not forget other friends in the process- High school can be tough juggling school, family, and friends. However, find time for all and do not forget old friends. Anything can happen, so don’t let high school come between friends.

Be Yourself

Don’ts

2. Do not give in- don’t let peer pressure affect your choices. If you do not want to

do something, do not do it just to fit in. Most likely, if one has

to prove themselves to another, they are not

going to be a good

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Clear Creek HiLife

REEK PEAKSCreek students to visit China during the summer

Congratulations to Clear Creek’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian

LuLu ChengValedictorian

Laura Gordon Salutatorian

National Honor Society inducts its new members

BoBBy murphy

On Monday April 9 2007 The Clear Creek Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed a large group of new members in an induction ceremony in the high school’s auditorium. The new members, a majority of who were sophomores, have spent the past semester going through a rigorous application process, and struggling to get the required amount of community service. National Honor Society members are considered to be the best of the school they represent. Members must maintain at least a 4.0 grade point average, be involved in at least one extra-curricular activity, and have to have at least 10 hours of community service upon application. The applicant increases their chance for membership if he or she has received awards in any of the activities they are involved in. Once the applicants have turned in their bid for new membership, the applications flow through the different ranks of the NHS officers and through the NHS sponsor, Mrs. Joan McNatt, until only those that are the most qualified remain. According to Mrs. McNatt, the group sponsor, the National Honor Society is older than any other in the League City area. The first chapter was chartered before Clear Creek High School even existed at the district’s original high school in Webster, and every year since then new members have been inducted in a formal candle-lighting ceremony. Each year at the induction ceremony the current NHS officers speak and educate the new members and the audience on the four major principles of the organization: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. For each principle an officer lights a candle. The candle-lighting ceremony is traditional in all honor societies across the country. Another tradition is to have a guest speaker. This year, physics teacher Mrs. Martha Bosworth spoke to the new members. She spoke of the endurance

of the new members and of all of their multiple achievements. She also spoke of her past and asked the students to follow their dreams, and that anything is possible for them as long as they try. It is also customary for the head principal to attend the ceremony, and congratulate the new members. Due to the transition between his old job, and his new job; new head principal Scott Bockart was not able to attend. Instead, Associate Principal Jamey Majewski was also present at the induction ceremony to congratulate

the organization’s new members, however he did no speak. After the ceremony, new inductees and their honored guests were invited to the auditorium to enjoy free refreshments. Now that the new members have been inducted, they will quickly have to prove that they are worthy of membership. New members are required to attend meetings every other week,

and are expected to uphold the same principles and standards as other members. They are also encouraged to participate in group community service projects, as well as find community service

projects of their own to participate in. New members are also required to gain a certain number of points, represented by the meetings they attend, the community service projects that they participate in, and other donations of service to the organization. These points are required for members to graduate their senior year with NHS honors. Members are also required to uphold a steady amount of points for their respective grade levels in order to keep active membership. Those who do not attain their required number of points will be dismissed from the organization. The application process may be rigorous, the standards, tough to uphold. But the deeply entrenched traditions of the National Honor society make the process of induction and the hard work for membership all worthwhile.

Creek senior enters race for school board position

BoBBy murphy

For only the second time in the history of CCISD a student has announced her bid for a position on the school board. Senior Mary Brown announced her bid late last month for the at-large position B on the school board, which manages affairs throughout the district. Her name will appear on the ballot of the May 5 municipal elections. She will be facing long time Clear Lake resident Ann Hammond in the only competing race for a school board spot. Until just recently, Brown said that she had no intention to run for the school board position, but after a number of kids in her government class began asking questions about the school policies that were being imposed, Mary Brown asked the one that no one had thought of. “How do I change the policy?” her government teacher answered “Run for the school board,” so Mary Brown did just that, filing the necessary paperwork and making her candidacy official. Brown is second in command of the school’s JROTC program, and she has a GPA that is considered by many colleges to be above average. She has also lived in the League City area for over ten years, and works as a tram tour guide at Johnson Space Center, making for a prestigious resume. Brown said that the election would not

affect her social life or her future. “My social life has only been affected by the increased number of handshakes that I give each day,” said Brown. She reiterated in an interview that her graduation would come before her race, and that should she win the election she would easily be able to fulfill the duties of her position, and at the same time pursue her culinary arts degree at San Jacinto College. Brown plans to be a wedding planner in the future, after the elections are over and she has the chance to go to college. There are more things on the mind of Mary Brown though than simply winning the election. Brown said that one of her main reasons for campaign was to encourage more people to vote. “I have been handing around voter registration cards, [and] I’ve really been spreading the word around to the senior class” said Brown. With voter registration at new low, Brown hopes that here bid for election will increase the number of younger voters, even if they are not voting for her. Mary Brown’s candidacy is bold and innovative. If she wins her election she will be the youngest person ever to serve on the board of trustees. We all wish her the best of luck.

NHS torch, seal, and logo courtesy of Mrs. Joan

Mcnatt.

nadia ahmed & allie hinga

This summer, on June 3, five students in the Chinese language classes will leave for a trip to China. On the trip, they will visit Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, where they will experience Chinese culture and immerse themselves in the language they have been learning for several years. The trip is sponsored by the Education Forum for Asia, an organization aiming to establish platforms for dialogue about issues in China and to increase mutual understanding among countries through cultural and academic exchanges.

Ms. Wang, the Chinese teacher at Clear Creek, will be one of the chaperones on the trip, which will cost $2460. The experience will last nine days, and the students will return on June 12.

The purpose of the trip will be to

provide students with a program that will allow them to experience the Chinese culture, and encourage them to learn and experience what the country is all about. Ms. Wang hopes that this exchange will allow for better cooperation and understanding between two very different countries, and will give students a chance to apply the Mandarin Chinese language.

In hopes of achieving these goals, the students will “visit schools and have some interactive activities with Chinese students and teachers,” said Ms. Wang. In addition, there is a chance that Chinese media will cover the visit because of its educational and cultural aspects, and how it will bridge the gap across cultural boundaries.

After a flight about 20 hours long, the group will arrive in Beijing, China’s capital. There, the students will visit the stadium that will be the main site of the

track and field events at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The next day, they will visit Tian’an’men Square, the largest public square in the world. They will also tour the Forbidden City, known to be the best-preserved ancient imperial architectural complex in the world. Their afternoon that day will be spent at the Summer Palace, Beijing’s widest royal garden. The fourth day of the students’ trip will visit the Great Wall, 4,163 miles long and originally built to keep invaders out of ancient China.

The next day, the group will take a two-hour plane trip to visit Xi’an, China’s oldest city. Over the next few days, the students will go sightseeing in Xi’an, visiting the famous city walls, and the Forest of Steles Museum. They will also see the eighth wonder of the world: the Terra-cotta Warriors. They will see the tomb of, China’s first emperor, and will personally

visit Huaqing Pools, the former bathing springs of Lady Yang Gui Fei.

The next stop of the trip will be in Shanghai, which Ms. Wang calls “the heaven of shopping.” There, the City Temple Bazaar offers many exciting shops selling everything, ancient and modern. Afterward, the students will visit The Eastern Bright Pearl Broadcast Television Tower, the highest TV tower in Asia, and on the eighth day of their trip, the students will board a plane to take them home.

Upon their return, Ms. Wang plans for them to share their experiences with the school and community through a project which she hints may include creating an interesting and informative website and research papers. Hopefully, the students will be able to achieve this in such a way that will give those who hear them a taste of the cultural experience they received.

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14 fEATURES

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F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

SPIDER-MAN 3MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Peter Parker/Spider-ManThe hero of our story,bitten by a geneticallyenhanced spider, Peterinherited the spider’sstrength, speed, agilityand the ability to spinwebs.

Mary Jane WatsonThe love of Peter’s life,Mary Jane is a buddingactress on Broadway.She knows who Spider-Man really is and sup-ports him in every way.

TOBEY MAGUIRE

KIRSTEN DUNST

JAMES FRANCO

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH

TOPHER GRACE

Harry Osborn/New GoblinFormerly Peter’s bestfriend, Harry believes thatSpider-Man is responsiblefor the death of his father(the Green Goblin).

Flint Marko/SandmanEscaping from prison,Flint ends up on a beachduring testing of anuclear device. His bodyinherits the properties ofthe beach sand and hegoes on a crime spree.

Eddie Brock/VenomA rival photographer ofPeter’s, Eddie Brock isdisgraced by Spider-Man.As Venom he vowsrevenge.

MOVIE COMIC BOOK

While on a field trip, highschool loser Peter Parker is bittenby a genetically altered spidergiving him amazing powers.While at a wrestling match, helets a burglar escape who killshis Uncle Ben. Wracked withguilt, he becomes Spider-Manand vows to protect the innocent.Meanwhile NormanOsborn becomes theGreen Goblin, above,in an accident thatleaves him withsuperhumanstrength butcauses himto goinsane. Heasks Spider-Manto join him in tak-ing over the city, and vows todestroy him when he refuses.The Green Goblin kills himselfwhile trying to kill Spider-Man,though Harry, Norman’s son andPeter’s best friend, walks in onSpider-Man delivering Norman’sbody home. Harry swearsrevenge on Spider-Man. Peterdenies Mary Jane’s affection outof fear that those who hateSpider-Man will hurt those heloves.

THE STORY SO FAR ...

Peter’s life is falling apart.The city is against him, his bestfriend wants to kill him, the girlhe loves is marrying somebodyelse. He finds that his powersbegin to desert him as he strug-gles with balancing his personallife with his superhero life. Dr.Otto Octavius, below, in anexplosion, has four arms grafted

to his body which takeover his mind. He

goes on a crimespree to getenoughmoney torebuild thevery machine

that left himdeformed. Parker

regains his powersafter Mary Jane is kidnapped,and defeats Doc Ock, but notbefore Harry and Mary Janelearn Spider-Man’s true identity.Mary Jane leaves her fiancé atthe altar for Peter, and Harryfinds out that his father was theGreen Goblin.

SOURCES: WWW.MARVEL .COM, SONY P ICTURES, WWW.WIK IPEDIA .COM,SP IDER-MAN COMIC BOOKS.

Graphic by Josh Ruthnick/Contra Costa Times

SPIDER SENSESpidey’s spider-sense acts similarlyto a dolphin’s or bat’s radar. Itallows him to sense danger andreact instinctively, dodging punchesand even bullets.

SPIDER STRENGTHSpider-Man possessesthe proportionatestrength of a spider.He can easily lift a car.

SPIDER AGILITY AND BALANCESpider-Man canleap severalstories in theair, or across abusy street.He has perfectbalance and canbalance on one ofhis fingers on ahighwire.

CLINGING ABILITYSpidey can cling towalls with hishands and feet.The bond hemakes is sostrong, in battlethe wall maycome apartrather thanhim beremovedfrom it.

WEB SPINNINGSpider-Man can shapehis webbing for manypurposes depending onwhat the situation callsfor. It can be formedinto a line for traveling,a bullet-proof shield,and even a parachute.In the original comic,Peter builds mechanical“web-shooters” that areaffixed to his wrist. Inthe movie, he generatesthe webs biologically.

Perhaps the most noteworthy addition to the Spider-Man movie franchise is the inclusion of the blackcostume. But where did it come from? The black costume is actually an alien entity. In thecomic books, Spider-Man finds the costume on a foreign

planet when he shreds his usual red and blues. Thinkingthat it is some form of alien clothing, he doesn’t realizethat the suit is actually a living entity until he has it test-ed by Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. Peter finally sepa-rates himself from the alien by subjecting it to the sound

waves of ringing bells. The alien escapes and bonds withEddie Brock. Both hate Spider-Man and set out to destroy him.

Venom possesses all of Spider-Man’s powers but is stronger. He alsodoes not trip Spider-Man’s spider sense.

Venom

Prepare for the latest big-screen adventure of everyone’s favoritemasked superhero

15fEATURES

Clear Creek HiLife

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Clear Creek HiLife

American Idol Takes Hold of America’s Heartshaley ruSh

In the summer of 2002, a British hit took over America, which we know as American Idol. The singing contest was not only an instant sensation, but also one of the leading shows in American television history. The exhausting competition has already crowned two multiple Grammy winners, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. Other top musicians who have been produced through the show are Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, and Taylor Hicks. The winners of the competition aren’t the only ones who receive success. Clay Aiken, the runner up of season two came out with a very profitable CD a couple years back. Also Katharine Mcphee recently made a debut with her fist CD. The host of American Idol is none other than Ryan Seacrest. Since the start of the show Seacrest has rose to fame over night. With a profitable broadcasting career and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame it seems like he will be around for a while. Seacrest recently opened Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP) and is becoming known by hosting and producing television and radio specials. He has made many restaurant

investments, as well as launched the R Line of clothing. Seacrest is redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur and a quadruple threat in Hollywood. The audiences of American Idol seem to be very keen on the three judges of the show. They’re all uniquely different and have sometimes-outrageous opinions to share. Paula Abdul is the only female judge on the show and is known to be rather nice. She is also one of the most acknowledged pop singers and choreographers in video, film, television, and live tours. Abdul’s music career has composed of worldwide album sales greater than thirty million records, two number one albums, six number one singles, a Grammy award, seven MTV awards, two Emmy awards, two people’s

choice awards, and two kids Choice Awards. Simon Cowell’s frankness on American Idol has made him a household name in America. His UK-based production

company, SYCO, produces many award winning shows. The UK version of American Idol, “Pop Idol,” is where Cowell got his first start. In 2006 he was ranked number twenty nine on Forbes Magazine’s celebrity

100 power list. A 20-year veteran of the music industry. Cowell is a director with SonyBMG Records and has helped to form the present pop music

industry. Over the last fifteen years, his acts have achieved sales of more than 100 million albums, and he has had over seventy number one records. Grammy Award-winning producer Randy Jackson has added a fun touch to the show. As a musician and producer healso spent eight years as the Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records, followed by four years as Senior Vice President of A&R at MCA Records. Jackson has recorded, toured and performed with artists like Mariah Carey, NSYNC, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Elton John, Madonna, Destiny’s Child and many more. Jackson has worked on over 1,000 gold and multi-platinum albums. His assistance has helped to sell over 200 million albums worldwide. With his flair and studio awareness, joint with his performing, touring and record company knowledge, Jackson is one of today’s most highly regarded music industry experts. American Idol is currently in the middle of its sixth season and is still going strong. America just seems to be obsessed with this singing phenomenon. With no end to sight, American Idol is a growing sensation.

The Broadway Musical Hairspray Hits The Box Officehaley ruSh

The twenty first century is out and change is in the air. It is time to go back in time when abnormally large hair and kooky outfits were the way to go. Welcome to the 60’s and a new movie, based on the version of the Broadway hit that was itself based on a film Hairspray.

The original “Hairspray Movie” was a 1988 John Waters comedy movie about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, starring the drag queen icon Divine, who gained her fame in the 1971 John Waters smut film “Pink Flamingos.”

The new “Hairspray the Movie” is very similar to the original movie except for one major difference. The new movie is a musical movie. It has the same characters and plot as the original movie, but it takes the lively dancing and songs from the Tony award winning Broadway production.

Many familiar faces will be lighting up the big screen for Hairspray the Movie. John Travolta took one of the leading roles as Edna Turnblad. Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, and the ever so popular teen heartthrob Zac Efron are all major characters in the film. Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeifer, and Brittany Snow also

Talk Shows Give A Positive Outlook For Its ViewersmeliSSa deviTT

Some people see talk shows as just a source of entertainment, but others see talk shows as a true source for inspiration and a way to get help. Oprah has always believed that when you have knowledge, more and more doors can open up for your future. Through her private charity, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, she has awarded millions of dollars to organizations that support the education and empowerment of people throughout the world. Oprah has also created “The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program,” which gives scholarships to students who need help getting an education. School supplies, books and toys. Sixty-three rural schools received libraries and teacher education.

Just a few of Oprah’s donations include, pledging 10 million dollars to build a school in South Africa. Also she created the Leadership Academy Foundation, where she has contributed more than $40 million toward the creation

of a school in Africa for girls. Oprah urges people to get involved and help people less fortunate than us.

Dr. Phil McGraw has inspired millions of people to “get real” about their own actions and create more constructive lives. Dr. Phil, his syndicated, daily one-hour shows, is the second highest rated daytime talk show in the country. The show has been making headlines and breaking records since the show first started.

Not only is Tyra Banks a famous supermodel, she is also an amazing talk show host. Tyra says “It’s important to make people feel good,

to show compassion, to be uplifting and to help people expand their horizons. We should encourage people, discover new

talent and creativity, and give people a chance to realize their full potential.” Tyra uses that when she plans out what she is going to cover on her shows. She has one of the top ratings and has helped many people through her

show. She handles people with image issues and low confidence.

In addition to receiving the 1996 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, the show has also been honored with Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Talk Show in 2001, and Outstanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Host in 2002. His show recognized itself as and lasting brand built on excellence and integrity. Entertaining, educational and relatable, the show’s prolonged existence is evidence to Mr. Williams’ genuineness and sympathy, in addition to his readiness to tackle multifaceted issues head on. The show provides a safe forum for important issues. He has donated a lot of money for people in need.

Talk shows are some of the most significant shows on television because the help people in need and give strength to people in need. All day long viewers can be found huddled near a television set to watch their favorite host and whatever the day’s line-up is.

share semi-leading roles in this motion picture.

The filmmakers were determined to cast an unknown to follow Ricki Lake’s character Tracy Tumblad in the original Hairspray movie. Little did they know their perfect Tracy would be found scooping ice cream at a Cold Stone Creamery in New York. Nicole Blonsky, 18, beat out a couple thousand hopefuls to nab her dream role. “When she walked out her first day on the set,” Shankman says, “it was if she had been doing this for 30 years. Like watching a Barbra Streisand being born.” Ever since seeing Hairspray on Broadway as a 15th

birthday gift, Blonsky felt destined to be Tracy.

John Travolta was very eager to accept the role as the frumpy mama Edna Tumblad. It has been almost thirty years since Travolta slid into the role of Rydell High stud Danny Zuko in Grease. Now the actor is back in tune and bigger than ever.

Everyone seems to be excited for the release of Hairspray In June of 2007. So come join Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion, to dance.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/cp/entertainment/20051102/e110250a.jpg

F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

SPIDER-MAN 3MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Peter Parker/Spider-ManThe hero of our story,bitten by a geneticallyenhanced spider, Peterinherited the spider’sstrength, speed, agilityand the ability to spinwebs.

Mary Jane WatsonThe love of Peter’s life,Mary Jane is a buddingactress on Broadway.She knows who Spider-Man really is and sup-ports him in every way.

TOBEY MAGUIRE

KIRSTEN DUNST

JAMES FRANCO

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH

TOPHER GRACE

Harry Osborn/New GoblinFormerly Peter’s bestfriend, Harry believes thatSpider-Man is responsiblefor the death of his father(the Green Goblin).

Flint Marko/SandmanEscaping from prison,Flint ends up on a beachduring testing of anuclear device. His bodyinherits the properties ofthe beach sand and hegoes on a crime spree.

Eddie Brock/VenomA rival photographer ofPeter’s, Eddie Brock isdisgraced by Spider-Man.As Venom he vowsrevenge.

MOVIE COMIC BOOK

While on a field trip, highschool loser Peter Parker is bittenby a genetically altered spidergiving him amazing powers.While at a wrestling match, helets a burglar escape who killshis Uncle Ben. Wracked withguilt, he becomes Spider-Manand vows to protect the innocent.Meanwhile NormanOsborn becomes theGreen Goblin, above,in an accident thatleaves him withsuperhumanstrength butcauses himto goinsane. Heasks Spider-Manto join him in tak-ing over the city, and vows todestroy him when he refuses.The Green Goblin kills himselfwhile trying to kill Spider-Man,though Harry, Norman’s son andPeter’s best friend, walks in onSpider-Man delivering Norman’sbody home. Harry swearsrevenge on Spider-Man. Peterdenies Mary Jane’s affection outof fear that those who hateSpider-Man will hurt those heloves.

THE STORY SO FAR ...

Peter’s life is falling apart.The city is against him, his bestfriend wants to kill him, the girlhe loves is marrying somebodyelse. He finds that his powersbegin to desert him as he strug-gles with balancing his personallife with his superhero life. Dr.Otto Octavius, below, in anexplosion, has four arms grafted

to his body which takeover his mind. He

goes on a crimespree to getenoughmoney torebuild thevery machine

that left himdeformed. Parker

regains his powersafter Mary Jane is kidnapped,and defeats Doc Ock, but notbefore Harry and Mary Janelearn Spider-Man’s true identity.Mary Jane leaves her fiancé atthe altar for Peter, and Harryfinds out that his father was theGreen Goblin.

SOURCES: WWW.MARVEL .COM, SONY P ICTURES, WWW.WIK IPEDIA .COM,SP IDER-MAN COMIC BOOKS.

Graphic by Josh Ruthnick/Contra Costa Times

SPIDER SENSESpidey’s spider-sense acts similarlyto a dolphin’s or bat’s radar. Itallows him to sense danger andreact instinctively, dodging punchesand even bullets.

SPIDER STRENGTHSpider-Man possessesthe proportionatestrength of a spider.He can easily lift a car.

SPIDER AGILITY AND BALANCESpider-Man canleap severalstories in theair, or across abusy street.He has perfectbalance and canbalance on one ofhis fingers on ahighwire.

CLINGING ABILITYSpidey can cling towalls with hishands and feet.The bond hemakes is sostrong, in battlethe wall maycome apartrather thanhim beremovedfrom it.

WEB SPINNINGSpider-Man can shapehis webbing for manypurposes depending onwhat the situation callsfor. It can be formedinto a line for traveling,a bullet-proof shield,and even a parachute.In the original comic,Peter builds mechanical“web-shooters” that areaffixed to his wrist. Inthe movie, he generatesthe webs biologically.

Perhaps the most noteworthy addition to the Spider-Man movie franchise is the inclusion of the blackcostume. But where did it come from? The black costume is actually an alien entity. In thecomic books, Spider-Man finds the costume on a foreign

planet when he shreds his usual red and blues. Thinkingthat it is some form of alien clothing, he doesn’t realizethat the suit is actually a living entity until he has it test-ed by Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. Peter finally sepa-rates himself from the alien by subjecting it to the sound

waves of ringing bells. The alien escapes and bonds withEddie Brock. Both hate Spider-Man and set out to destroy him.

Venom possesses all of Spider-Man’s powers but is stronger. He alsodoes not trip Spider-Man’s spider sense.

Venom

Prepare for the latest big-screen adventure of everyone’s favoritemasked superhero

16 PORTSS

Clear Creek HiLife

alBerT nkanSah

Creek track and field has been running, jumping and throwing all year, and recently in April they had the opportunity to prove their athletic ability to schools across the district. That weekend, they all loaded a bus and went to Clear Brook for the District Track Meet. Coach Jordan and Coach Bidelspach, as well as all the students involved, had taking home first place bragging rights on their minds.

A few guys were able to able to take the title of “the best” at their individual event. Anthony took first in the 400, Zack Duncavage received first place in Discus. Robert McLemore also took first place in both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, which started a friendly rivalry against teammate Marcus Davis who took second place in both events.

Creek’s relay team was a force to be reckoned with, as they took first in all three relay events. They ran with a time of 42.78 seconds in the 4 x 100, also had a time of 1 minute 30.83 seconds in the 4 x 200, and 3 minutes 21.38 seconds in the 4 x 400.

Creek was able to get some athletes to regionals, including J.J. Mullins who took second in the 100, and Tre Mason who took second in the high jump.

Brandon Burton also ran well getting second in the 200 and in the long jump.

There were even more Wildcats that qualified for regionals as Bobby Bassett

got third in the 400 and Chris Mattison received third in the 3200. Also taking third was freshman Terrance Williams in the triple jump.

The girls also ran well at District. The relay team featuring Tori Edwards, Kathleen Ward, Chrystlyn Stephens, and Kirsten Goodman, was able to get second in the 4 x 400 with a time of 4 minutes 3.82 seconds. Michelle McCullough received second in the shot put, and Tori Edwards ran to a regional qualifying third place in the 400. Also placing third was Rhevan Rhodes in the 100 hurdles. One of the most successful Creek girl was Taylor Smith who took first place in the shot put and second place in discus.

Other girls were able to have a nice showing at district. Sydney Johnson finished fourth in both the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. The other relay teams did well too, as the 4 x 200 finished fourth and the 4 x 100 finished fifth.

The Girls fell short of becoming district champions as the came in fifth place with 73 points. However, the boys were able to claim the title of district champions as the team came in first with 183 points.

Some of Creek’s track athletes’ season might have ended, but many Wildcats are going to continue to run to the finish line, hoping to beat out the best as they go to state.

Photo taken by Albert Nkansah

Creek Track Hits the Ground Running at District

Wildcat Baseball Says Good-Bye to 2007 Senior playersSarah poore

The distinct ping made during bat and ball contact has been filling Creek’s baseball field for several weeks now, as the Wildcats continued fighting to keep their place in district.

The Wildcats were still 3-5 in district when varsity pitcher Jack Pollard was asked about what he thought Creek’s chances of making to play-offs were.

“I think we can get there, it just depends on if we show up to play or not, if we show up ready. When we do all aspects of the team are strong- the pitching, infield, and outfield.”

It remained to be seen if Pollard’s predictions would prove accurate. Creek moved through the next few weeks with two more wins as well as a loss, leaving Creek’s standings at 5-6. It came down to what would be the deciding game for playoffs as well as Creek’s last home game of the season. The Wildcat baseball program held a ceremony for the seniors and their families, thanking them for their dedication throughout their high school careers. Senior players prepared

a short thank you for their parents as well, presenting their mothers with roses. With bittersweet excitement, the team and their families prepared to engage in the last game they would ever play on Creeks field.

Set against Brazoswood, Creek kept the hits coming and tied with Buccaneers in the bottom of the sixth inning 7-7. Unfortunately, Brazoswood came back in the eighth with 2 runs scored. The ninth inning passed by without a run by either teams, leaving the score at 7-9. Creeks loss

would prevent them from moving forward into playoffs, their district standing left at 5-7.

It was a great disappointment to all involved after a season of long practices and hard work. Although Creek didn’t go as far as was hoped, the Wildcats walked away with a respectable 2007 season, with an overall standing of 12-14.

Creek will undoubtedly return next year strong and continue their incredible 12 year district appearance tradition. The seniors that carried Creek this season may be leaving the

team, but a promising new group of seniors are waiting for their turn to lead. The Wildcats intend to get deeper into post-season play in the upcoming season, and with the work ethic and coaching staff known to Creek, Wildcat fans have good reason to continue their faith in the Clear Creek baseball club.

Photos by Sarah Poore

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Clear Creek HiLife

PORTSSATHLETES OF THE MONTH

Not many people are able to deal with graduating from high school, getting ready for college and preparing for track regionals at the same time, but this is just another day for Taylor Echols. Like most athletes, Echols started running track and playing football in the seventh grade, but it soon became clear he was a step ahead of the rest on the field. It’s no surprise the tall, fleet-footed receiver was signed on to Tulane University in New Orleans earlier this year to play football for the Green Wave. Echols runs the 4x1, 4x2, and 4x4 on the Varsity track team and is training hard for his last regional meet.When asked what his favorite memory was his senior year he replied, “Regionals are this weekend, so hopefully we will go to state and that will be my favorite memory.” Echols years at Creek have prepared him for what should be a successful athletic career at Tulane.

Morgan Luksa has been one of Wildcat softballs biggest assets all season, as her hitting and pitching continue to help the team to victory. Luska hopes to continue the success of her season on through next year and eventually to the University of Texas- San Antonio Luksa is having a fun time playing for the Wildcats, and she shows it on the field. When asked what the most memorable experience has been she replied, “Actually making the playoffs this year.” She has been outstanding both on the mound and in the batters box. She has a record of 8-9, and an ERA of .98, and has 82 strikeouts. She also has a batting average of .270, has hit 13 RBI’s, and 17 hits. Luska has been playing softball for nine years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She can hit, she can pitch, and so far nothing is impossible for our player of April.

Story by Destinee WalkerPhoto by Fallon Drago

Photo by Hailey StephensStory by Albert Nkansah

TayloR echols moRgan luska

Playoffs End for SoftballTaylor freudenBerg

This year the girl’s Varstiy softball team went 6 and 6 in the District season, and they are now officially in the playoffs. The Varsity ended their season in fourth place in the district, and played Elkins High School for their first playoff game. Elkins is the first place softball team in their district, HISD. Even with the losing record of 5 and 7, the Lady cats were able to squeak by and get a spot in the playoffs.

Creek was able to pick themselves up after a rough start, with problems such as the loss of one of their courtesy runners, Kaylin Bowen, and many more injuries. Even with all of their troubles, they managed to land a spot in the playoffs by beating out Clear Brook when the team won the Galveston game.

The four teams in the playoffs from the district are Pearland, Brazoswood, Alvin, and Creek. The Varsity team played Elkins on April 26 and 27, playing at both the Creek fields and Elkins fields. Unfortunately, the Lady Knights won with a final score of 3-2. Creek played a good, hard game against Elkins, but came up a bit short at the end of the game.The game started out with an ongoing stalemate, with each team getting three up three down until the 3rd inning. During the top of the 3rd, the lady knights were able to get a runner on base and score her taking the lead 1-0. Then, at the bottom of the fifth, the lady wildcats were given a

chance to tie the game when Morgan Luksa had a stand up double. The next batter up, Kara Rau, hit a stand up triple and scored Luksa for the tying run.

In the tenth inning, the Lady Knights were able to take the lead after one of their players had an inside-the-park homerun, when two of the Lady Wildcats each made an error.

At the end of the game, the Lady Wildcats could not recover after Elkins pulled ahead with a 3-2 lead. They may have lost the first game, but they hoped they

would not lose the battle. The series is best 2 out of 3, and both games were played on Friday, April 27.

During the second game on Friday against Elkins, the teams played at the Elkins’s home turf. The game was a hard match up as the two teams battled it out to see if the Lady wildcats would be able to

move on to a further round in the playoffs.At the beginning of the game, the lady

wildcats were the first on the board when they scored their first run in the top of the first. The Elkins Knights were also able to score the first inning, so the game was tied at 1-1.After the first inning, the Lady Wildcats were not able to score another run, and the Lady Knights took the lead 2-1.

The game was lost with a final score of 2-1, but Creek still managed to out-hit the Lady Knights 8-5. The loss of those games resulted in the end of their season, but Creek intends on coming back next year stronger than ever.

Photo By Taylor Freudenberg

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Clear Creek HiLife

Chasing a Dream: Life in the MBL Minor LeaguesSarah poore

It is a life of physical and financial stress, where your teammates can be your worst adversaries and your future is completely dependant on performance. For the men in the MLB minor leagues, glamour is not a priority. It begins with a yearly draft. In early June, baseball players wait anxiously by their phones for a call that will reveal the team that’s chosen them and what round they were drafted in. Players usually have an idea of where they’ll be from calls made by major league scouts in months prior, but the call on this day cements their place on a team. The MLB takes players in 50 rounds, starting with the best players and moving down. The same applies when it comes to signing bonuses. Players drafted in the first round receive millions, and after that money tapers down according to round number. The draftees’ real prize, however, is being selected at all. For them, it is the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. Baseball players are usually called up from college, but some high school players receive offers as well. The weeks following the draft are a whirlwind for the players, as they scramble to secure a place to live in their minor league team’s state. They usually only have a few days to get everything in order. Professional teams have minor league baseball sites in multiple states, called “farm teams”. And so beginss a long journey to a spot at the top. Unlike basketball and football, where drafted players get instant millions and instant gratification, baseball draftees live virtually under the radar for years and must make it through several minor league teams before they can get a spot in the majors. The team levels are as follows: rookie ball, short season A, low A, high A, AA, AAA, and the team everyone is fighting for- the big leagues. The usual dynamic of a team is skewed in the minors, because all players are essentially trying to out play their oun teammates. On the field, everyone is in some way the opponent. Nathan Southard has experienced all of this first hand. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Southard after his senior season at Tulane University in 2006. An outfielder for most of his baseball career, Southard found himself working left field for the State College Spikes, St. Louis’ short season A team. After a successful year, Southard moved up to the Cardinals’ high A team in Florida where he currently plays right field. Life for these players is as exciting as it is monotonous. They play an astounding 140 games in 151 days, giving the teams only two days off a month. Mental and physical endurance is key. When asked about he continual stress, Southard replied, “Its grueling. The long weeks are hard on your body, and it gets tough to keep focused and give your all day after day. But I have fun, I’m getting paid to do what I love.” While all the players are getting

paid for doing what they enjoy, any of them will tell you that money cannot be your motivation in Minor league baseball. They get paid $1,300 a month- barely enough to cover rent, gas, and food expenses. Southard said that he handles financial difficulty by simply being cheap. “We just try to find inexpensive places to live, and be careful with how much we spend on food and things like that. A lot of guys eat fast food to save money, but I try to keep healthy. Its definitely a life lived on the bare minimum.” Going through the physical strain and pressure to do well, as well as struggling

through six months with barely any money and no promise that you will eventually find yourself in the major leagues, makes most of us wonder why these guys are willing stay in the minor leagues so long. When asked if he felt it was worth it, Southard replied “For me, definitely.” The life of a minor leaguer is far from the glory and bright lights found on major league diamonds, but most draftees anticipate the difficulty. When asked if being a pro baseball player was what he expected, Southard says, “In some ways its harder than I thought it would be. I wasn’t used to a season this

long and demanding, but getting to travel and play so often is great. Being away from the support system of home and family is tough sometimes, but I get to play baseball as a profession. I get money to do what I’ve loved all my life. I’m just thankful to be here.” Characterized by exhausting seasons, simplistic lifestyles, and earnest attempts at a lifelong dream, life in the minor leagues is a unique experience in which success is self-created. Only a few will reach big league status, but the pursuit is the same for every player that passes though the MLB system.

Clear Creek Independent School District

Keep you mind and body active this summer. Check out some of these fun and educational activities you can do while on summer break 2007.

For more information call: 281-284-0000 Or visit us online @ http://www.ccisd.net

Summer Camp 2 0 0 7

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