Ghost researchers came to MHS to discuss theories of suspected paranormal activity with Philosphy of Knowledge students on Nov.20.

Congratulations to all new members:

Michael Adams, Nicholas Allevato, Sarah Biggs, Linda Billotti,Clara Bladey, Emily Boyce, Sarah Brierly, Thomas Brown, Sean Byrne, Jenna Caudle, Koby Cavanagh, Megan Cevallos, Jenna Clough, Tayler Corcoran ,Brady Dailey, Eric Doody, Benjamin Drewry, Jordan DuMars, Thomas Effland, Nora Ellis, Christine Evans, Grace Falkenstein, Nicole Frushour, Marissa Gastelle, Ashley Gaver, Joshua Glessner, Bryan Goodyear, Kevin Harris, Joshua Henry, Alisyn Henry, Madison Herrmann, Ashley Higgenbothem, Rebecca Hill, Anastasia Himes, Brittany Holian, Nicole Hood, Sarah Jacques, Matthew Kuhn, Carlee Lammers, Zachary Langley, Christine Lopez, Abigail Lundahl, Katherine Mark, Maureen McCarrick, Marissa McKee, Evan Mellott, Amanda Menke, Kesley Mentzer, Daniel Molander, Kelsey Moore, Mary Nau, Kristin Neary, Annaliese Niemeyer, Elizabeth Payne, Hillary Pierce, Jessica Police, Ashley Rhea, Clarissa Robillard, Julie Rockwell, Cody Snively, Laura Socks, Katherine Tartaglia, Brittany Titus, Chelsea Titus, Ian Tolino, Dana VanOutryve, Luke Welch, Gretchen Whitesell, and Julia Winzer.

Top 20 rejected band names

1. Bed Zeppelin
2. The Shoe Fighters
3. Tickleback
4. Funds and Hoses
5. The Nude Beach Boys
6. Dob Bylan
7. The Feetles
8. The Hateful Ted
9. Oldplay
10.  Trailer Swift
11. Puddle of Crud
12.  Wisdom of a Clown
13.  Shady Lala
14.  Rings of Neon
15.  Toys like Curls
16.  Crimetown
17.  Lean Way
18. Ruben Stutters
19. Rage the Kelly Tent
20.  Snob Honest

]

As Thanksgiving break is coming closer, vacation buzz is in the air. Students are excited to get away for a few days, or just stay home with their family. Vacation spots are getting booked, but there are a few places that are recommended for fall fun trips.

With the weather getting colder, sunnier, tropical and warmer destinations are a big hit. These destinations include Aruba, Orlando, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas.

Aruba is a small island in the South Caribbean, 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela and 70 square miles in area in total. The temperature stays at an average 82 degrees Fahrenheit, a paradise compared to Middletown’s colder weather now.

The island is bustling with activity. There are attractions for all types of people, from the lush Butterfly Farm Aruba to Atlantis Submarines Aruba N.V., to Jolly Pirate Sailing and Snorkeling Tours.

There are several resorts and hotels located in Aruba. The lodging accommodations range as do the prices. In some places like The Westin Resort, rates start at $199 per person, whereas others like the beautiful Paradera Park Apartments start at $110. Even still some like Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort have fall sales that decrease the nightly rate to a start of $99.

For those that want to stay in the country, Orlando, Florida is always a possibility. The temperature is an average 72.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It is about 150 miles from the Floridian border with Georgia.

Orlando has many, many possibilities for fun, from Discovery Cove to Sea World Orlando to Walt Disney World and on. Currently Walt Disney World has several special offers and deals, like Buy Three Get Four Free nights.

Accommodations are not scarce in Orlando either. There are hotels located in Walt Disney World as well as Universal Studios, Orlando. Disney hotels range from $82 a night to $399 for the nicer resorts. In Universal Studios they range from $249 to $399.

There are several options out of the parks as well like Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Marriot’s Harbor Lake Hotel.

The warm city of San Antonio, Texas is also an option to those who want to stay in the United States. The temperature is an average 71 degrees Fahrenheit. San Antonio is about 1.5 hours from Austin and 3 hours from Houston.

San Antonio offers both historic destinations and theme park type attractions. The Alamo has left its mark on San Antonio, where 169 Texans fell defending the city from Mexican armies. Buildings in Alamo plaza stand tall and show Texan pride. There is also La Villiata, the first neighborhood in San Antonio, which was established during the Alamo.

For those with a more adventurous side, there is Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio and the San Antonio Zoo.

Fiesta Texas boasts a list of rides, from Goliath to Scream. It also includes a free waterpark, White Water Bay.

SeaWorld San Antonio is the largest marine life park in the world. While at SeaWorld visitors have an opportunity to watch Shamu perform or ride roller-coasters like Steel Eel, the tallest in SeaWorld San Antonio.

The Zoo has over 600 species onsite, classing it as one of the best zoos in the nation. There are several interactive exhibits from the Fun Farm Petting Zoo to the Caterpillar Flying School.

San Antonio has many options for sleeping. It offers lodging from B&B’s to resorts. San Antonio’s Riverwalk Vista, Staybridge Suites and Drury Hotels are all recommended by San Antonio’s Tourism website.

Whether you want to stay in the country or go somewhere exotic, there are more than enough places to explore and visit during the fall months.

Despite the fact that Middletown is in the last month of what many people consider the fall season, the charm of this time of year is not yet over. From the wide array of colors on the trees to the community feeling of Thanksgiving, fall continues to thrill through to the end.

Fall is arguably the busiest season of the year. It’s back to school time, for starters. That means the end of carefree summer days and the beginning of hectic school weeks, full of early mornings and homework. It’s not all bad, however. With back-to-school comes the new fall fashions, and many students take advantage of the sales to update their wardrobes in time for the season.

With school comes fall sports . Football, soccer, field hockey, and volleyball seasons start up, giving students lots of games to attend for entertainment. Then one can’t forget the marching band starts up.

 “I love fall because marching band starts again,” said Middletown High School freshman Allison Tipsord. “Marching band is the best time of the year.”

Of course, with October comes Halloween, which means corn mazes, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns, and costumes. This year at MHS was especially fun for seniors on October 30, seeing as it was the first year they’ve been able to wear costumes to school.

And yet even with all these fall aspects past us, students still find joy in the season, especially with Thanksgiving quickly approaching. MHS freshman Matt Lloyd said Thanksgiving is his favorite part of fall because he gets to eat “two whole pumpkin pies every year.”

Thanksgiving is not only about the food, however. “I like Thanksgiving because I get to see all the family that I don’t see very often,” said Denise Stull, a MHS senior.

MHS sophomore Matt Mannas finds particular joy in the holiday because it usually falls on the same day as his birthday. “That way, I always get good food for my birthday,” he said.

Many students find joy in the splendor of fall. Clint Magruder, a MHS senior, said his favorite part of fall is the leaves changing colors, because it looks “so cool.” Vibrant shades of orange, red, and yellow leaves cover the trees of Middletown in the fall, leaving the valley undeniably beautiful.

MHS sophomore Peter Davy finds beauty in the nighttime sky of fall. “As a junior astronomer, I know the sky gets clearer and you get better views of the stars in the fall, due to less humidity.”

That crisp, fresh air is a distinct characteristic of fall. “I like how it’s not too freezing, but it’s not too hot either,” said Maddy Nissel, a MHS sophomore. “It’s just right in between.”

No matter what one finds joy in this fall, it is surely a season unique from any others, and MHS students plan to enjoy it through to the end.

Old Saint Nick and Christmas comes early this year in convenient stores.

With Thanksgiving around the corner and Halloween just ending, it seems sudden to see Christmas decorations on the shelves and Halloween decorations back in the store warehouses.

“I think it is to get people to start thinking about Christmas and to start to buy gifts and decorations,” said Sarah Spiegel, Middletown High School junior.

Santa Claus figurines now take the place of Halloween trappings, and Thanksgiving seems to be oddly forgotten. Customers have to search through Christmas items to find anything relating to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Marian Richards, a store shopper said, “I wonder if it is because merchandisers have a hard time capitalizing on the simple act of giving thanks. People need nothing more than a grateful heart to celebrate the day.”

The holiday was established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War, to celebrate the friendship between the pilgrims and the Indians, who helped the pilgrims, survive and give rise to the colony that eventually became our founding fathers.

It is sad that Thanksgiving seems to get lost between the commercialism of Halloween and Christmas. That our society is so busy buying and selling that we have become so commercial to the fact that this significant act of friendship has slowly dwindled into nothing and that there is no time for giving thanks to those from who we are founded.