Rather than hoarding tons of cash, Chavez took much of the money from Venezuela’s vast oil industry and put it back into the country. This financed several laws and programs to aid the poor. These systems lowered the percentage of Venezuelans living below the poverty line from 69% to 29%. His investments in education dropped the illiteracy rate from 7% to 5%. A deal with Cuba allowed doctors in Venezuela to give health care for free

Nevertheless, as with almost every socialist government, Chavez’s administration had its drawbacks. His critics say that he wrecked the Venezuelan economy by meddling with business and replacing oil specialists with party supporters, scaring off foreign investment. He also mistrusted American “imperialism” and denounced capitalism. In order to exacerbate Venezuelan distrust of the U.S., he even blamed America for giving him cancer. Just recently, who military attachés to the American Embassy were brought back after the government accused them of spreading discontent. Chavez blamed many of the Venezuela’s problems on foreign intervention, and he tried to  move his people towards economic and ideological independence.

Alex Duffin, a junior at HMHS, states, “Although his policies and decisions may be seen as controversial to Americans, he did a lot to benefit the people and conditions of Venezuela and it is a shame to see that he passed away because there was still so much he planned on improving within the country.”

Yet as he finally leaves power in a coffin, a certain degree of uncertainty has fallen over the country. The election to select Chavez’s successor is set to be on April 14th. Mrs. Motolese, a Spanish teacher at HMHS says that she is “curious about the elections” and the results.

As dictators go, Hugo Chavez was about as benevolent as they come.

Mayor Columbi has worked with many excellent people and accomplished many different things in her terms. Regarding the most memorable highlights of her career, Mayor Columbi says, “What I’m probably proudest of is that I am the only woman to have been elected mayor in the history of Haddonfield, and that will probably be my legacy. I think that made better government (to have both men and women involved in making decisions for a town where people live) is a better combination than all men or all women.” She also says that many people from around the town contribute to give her ideas for the town itself. She feels that “good ideas come from the residents; it’s [her] job to make them happen.” She’s very energetic about the children as well. She says, “It’s a town’s responsibility to let our kids know that we support them and care about them and make sure that they’re safe.” Regarding supporting neighbors and the children of Haddonfield, she relates it back to the stories of the families of Jason Garstkiewicz and Colin Hough. “Everyone really got behind them,” she says. “Kids wore his shoelaces and parents really supported his family until we got a successful outcome.”

A new mayor will soon be in Haddonfield Borough Hall, and who it will be is uncertain. Currently there are four known candidates for the mayorship of Haddonfield, and the standards have been set high. The last day to file for a petition is March 12th, 2013, and each potential candidate must have at least 100 signatures in order to be considered fit for office. Mayor Columbi says that the next mayor may not have the time that she had, but what is most important is that they have the presence that is necessary

The movie shows the American side of the story, and Iranians are frustrated that it contains cultural mistakes and portrays them to “look stupid, backward, and simple-minded in this move,” says Iranian Mehdi Tondro. According to the New York Times, Tondro is an Iranian who is one of the leaders of an annual anti-Hollywoodism conference held in Tehran.  He is a ‘self proclaimed specialist in anti-Iranian and anti-Islamic films’ as stated in the Times.  Many Iranians believe the movie is distorted and anti-Iranian, feeling that Argo makes them appear incapable and narrow-minded. Obviously, this is not how they wish to appear.

Many Iranians are certain of the fact that Hollywood has a hidden agenda, known as Hollywoodism, that brainwashes the viewers with underlying motives. Tondro says, “Hollywood is not a normal industry; it’s a conspiracy by capitalism. We need to come up with an answer to this and other films.” Many Iranians believe that Americans are using entertainment to sway viewers in one direction, and not in Iran’s favor. To some, the CIA is behind all of this. The Iranian state media portrayed Argo as an “advertisement for the CIA” and stated that Argo is “against Iran and artistically invalid.”

In response to Argo, the Iranians boycotted the Academy Awards and banned the film in the country. Despite these efforts, Argo is a huge hit, with underground copies of the movie being sold in Tehran for about a dollar. It has caused enough of a controversy that Iran is planning its own anti-Argo film, The General Staff, to show their side of the story. Production begins later this year.

Is Iran justified in their accusations? Mr. Miller, a history teacher at HMHS, believes it is all about perspective. Overall, he says the film was “entertaining” and that “the embellished parts added to the movie.”

There is a fine line between entertainment and propaganda, and the Iranians feel that with Argo, Americans may have crossed that line.

This year’s Oscars had nine nominations for Best Picture, each very different and spectacular in its own way. Eventually the award went to Argo, which Ben Afleck starred in and directed. The movie tells the true story of 1980 mission carried out by the CIA, with assistance from Canada, to rescue six American hostages from Iran. While many people agree that Argo deserved the award, others believe that other films would have been a better choice. Ms. Duffy says, “I really liked Silver Linings Playbook; I think it would be great to see that get Best Picture.” Caroline Taffet, a sophomore, says that she thought Life of Pi should have won. Yet Emma Tranfalia, a freshman, says, “I did feel that Argo was the best, because it kind of had a mix of all the genres; there was a little bit of romance, there was action . . . and it felt timeless.”

No one was surprised when Daniel Day-Lewis received the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln in the movie Lincoln, although how much he deserved the award was debated by several students. Emma Tranfalia says, “I don’t know if you should give the credit to him or to the makeup department that made him look like he was Lincoln.” Freshman Jules Reed believes that he should not have won because the movie was a “snooze-fest. There. Summed it up.”

Most people agree, however, that Jennifer Lawrence truly earned the Best Actress award for her part in Silver Linings Playbook. She played a young woman suffering from a mental illness, a very different role from the other roles she has recently played, such as Katniss in The Hunger Games or Elissa in The House at the End of the Street. Even though she tripped when walking up to accept her Oscar, she held herself with poise and was even able to joke about her fall.

As always, there is disagreement about nearly every Oscar given out. Jules Reed is unhappy that Adele’s Skyfall won Best Original Song, beating out Suddenly, sung by Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables: “I didn’t like that. I don’t think Adele should have won; Suddenly was very good,” and stating that it was, in fact, even better than some of the songs from the original Les Mis musical. Sophomore Drew Conte, however, believes that despite winning Best Original Song, “Skyfall should’ve gotten more awards and nominations.”

Another small controversy was Pixar’s Brave winning Best Animated Feature. Freshman Emma Tranfalia speaks very passionately against the film: “In Brave, I personally felt that Pixar tried to make a princess movie and they completely missed . . . The first half was fine, but the second half was Brother Bear, just with a mom and a daughter . . . They fired the lady that started to write and direct the movie halfway through for creative differences, and you can tell, and that’s why I don’t think was good.”

No matter what people’s opinions are, these are the winners until next year’s surprises, upsets, and all-around fantastic films.

Two of our editors sample the coffee from the newest shop in town.

Saxby’s, a 10 year old franchise named because of the pleasing auditory effect of the syllables, is establishing itself in the intricate web of small shops in downtown Haddonfield. Located conveniently near HMS, it draws mostly middle schoolers, who favor the hot chocolate. It is easy to see why; there is the option of adding different flavors into and onto the hot chocolate. However, professional adults who prefer the variety of lattes available are regular customers as well as the riders from the nearby Patco station.

Another benefit to Saxby’s is that it is concerned about the environment. HMHS faculty member, Mr. Smith, appreciates businesses like Saxby’s that are eco-friendly and the Saxby’s Coffee company has 100% recyclable cups, lids, java jackets and napkins. Mr. Smith supports Saxby’s not only for their environmental conscientiousness, but also for “the rich, smooth flavor of the coffee.” He and others appreciate the “lack of the burnt taste” that comes with the aftertaste of sipping a cup of joe that he experiences at other coffee shops.

Walking in, one is greeted with a smile that assures, “Our goal is your happiness”. The next thing that catches your eye is the mural of a collage of photographs, a mix that integrates Saxby’s into the Haddonfield community. The owner of this particular Saxby’s, Joe Lynch, explained that he went to the historical society for the pictures and that “we wanted to blend in with the community” while setting Saxby’s apart from your average coffee shop. “The coffee is different, smoother, not as dark of a roast…and we have our own frozen yogurt,” he explains. This frozen yogurt is offered in multiple flavors and various toppings to please the senses.

Joe Lynch seems to be the right man for the job because he has already successfully owned a Saxby’s in Center City, Philadelphia. Why choose Haddonfield for the location? We asked, and the response was that we Haddonfielders tend to support our local businesses and he appreciated the feel of this great town. HMHS teachers, like Dr. Dilks, agree that “It’s worth the extra steps to grab a coffee at Saxby’s”.

You may be wondering why you could choose Saxby’s coffee over the other small town stores. The reason is that Saxby’s aims to be more of a café than just a coffee shop. The visually appealing menu offers a variety of tempting choices in a welcoming setting. It offers many other food options besides coffee drinks, and their sandwiches are homemade, unlike packaged ones you will find in other places.

When heading over to Saxby’s it is good to be aware of what the bestsellers are. Right now, their seasonal drinks are a huge hit, especially the winter’s feature of the German Chocolate Cake Latte. Their seasonal drinks will soon take a turn to spring, including fresh fruit smoothies to delight your taste buds. The most popular non-seasonal lattes are the British Islander coffee and the Milkyway latte. HMHS student, Julia Honigfeld, class of ’16, says “Raspberry Mocha is my favorite…the coffee is really smooth… it’s rich in flavor”. We would like to add that the outdoor lovers go with the specialty Campfire drink, which is coffee with marshmallow and chocolate flavoring to bring you déjà vu of good times.

But the real opinion of Saxby’s and its beverages comes from you, the citizens of Haddonfield who travel to Saxby’s and pay for their options. So take a walk, head on down, and find out for yourself!

Senior Pitcher Jason Cavanaugh

After losing 7 starters from last year’s team, the 2013 Haddonfield baseball squad is determined, and hungrier than ever. Under the coaching of Bob Bickel, the Bulldawgs will be tirelessly training and conditioning in hopes of winning the Colonial Conference, competing in the Diamond Classic, and vying for a position to make a run at a NJSIAA Group II Championship.

This year marks a transition of fresh new faces to accompany the program. Although a starter since freshman year, junior Mike McLaughlin is expanding his role as a leader on the field. McLaughlin along with junior Mark Ostbye and senior Jason Cavanaugh have stepped up this season getting the team focused and in check, fine tuning the team and making the squad as competitive as possible.  Redemption is what will be driving the Dawgs during this 2013 season. After a shutout loss to GCIT in the semifinals last year, the team is determined to prove themselves as a South Jersey powerhouse. Ostbye says, “The loss last year was disappointing, but it has motivated our team to not settle for anything less than a sectional championship”.

Pitching is going to be the key to the Dawgs’ success. Current pitchers Cavanaugh, Ostbye, and senior Stephen Noll will have to perform at their best every game if they want to make a competitive run at a sectional title. Fielders too will make a large impact this year. Juniors McLaughlin, Matt Cassel and Carter Fichter will have to step up as their roles will increase dramatically from last year.

The Bulldawgs will not be able to simply coast to the championship season; they will have to face many formidable opponents along the way, most notably Sterling, Audubon, Overbrook and other Colonial Conference foes. The transition of young talent up to larger, key roles will make this season exciting and unpredictable. However, what is known is that young or old, the Dawgs do have talent, now they just have to work together and be ready to compete come the start of the regular season.

There are approximately 80 members of Heal Camden. Besides raising money for Noah, they focus on finding volunteering opportunities for the members, so that as a group, Heal Camden can make a difference. As Nick looks back on his and Meghan’s difficulties in starting this club, Nick says, “It’s been all work from here, and I can’t thank the people enough that work with us to achieve our goal. I just can’t thank them enough.”

In the past, the club has fundraised for Noah’s sponsorship through bake sales and business donations. Right now club members are hoping to sell all of their t-shirts with the club’s logo, which will help them in providing for Noah.

A few months ago, Meghan, Nick, and other Heal Camden members went to a “partner day.” On this day, a few members of Heal Camden visited Noah and his classmates at the school, which was a very memorable and meaningful experience for all of these HMHS students. Nick reflects, “It couldn’t have been more meaningful, because all the work that we had been putting in . . . was kind of a blind effort . . . Actually seeing the class, and actually seeing how they value education and how beautiful the actual program is . . . just incredible . . . It was life changing and eye-opening.” The club plans to do a second partner day and other events this spring.

According to Meghan, the mission statement of her and Nick’s club is to “improve the lives of those in Camden, starting with the youth.” She believes Heal Camden is a great club to get involved in because educating and caring for children is the first step in ensuring success for the future.

Contact Meghan or Nick with any questions about getting involved, donating, or purchasing a T-shirt.

On December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School, 20-year-old Adam Lanza carried out the second-deadliest school shooting in American history. In the end, 27 people died, including 20 six to seven-year-old students, six teachers, Lanza, and Lanza’s mother. From this event came not only extraordinary grief and heartbreak, but also amazing bravery and hope.

The response from the nation is truly inspiring. Many people took part in the snowflake project. For this project schools were asked to make paper snowflakes to decorate the new school Newtown students will be attending. The theme behind the decoration is winter wonderland. HMHS students were able to help make snowflakes during some classes a few weeks ago.

Another project special to Haddonfield is the heart project. After the tragedy, HMHS teachers Mrs. Acton and Mrs. Motolese felt as if their hearts were broken and thought about how they could support the Newtown community. With the help of Principal Klaus, they came up with the idea to have paper hearts fingerprinted by the students and faculty of our school and enclosed in a glass blown heart. As it is often difficult to find a way to help those who are suffering, Mrs. Acton says, “We decided to show our concern for the Newtown community by creating a work of art.” All students and faculty had the opportunity to be a part of this by putting their own individual fingerprint on a heart.

It is necessary to help those who are grieving in any way possible. It is important to think of every community as connected and dependent on one another. When something goes wrong it is up to everyone to work together to help each other. “I believe as United States citizens it is important for us to see ourselves as united,” states Mrs. Acton. As a country it is necessary to support each other, and and HMHS is able to support Newtown, Connecticut through the snowflake and heart projects.

One of the biggest disadvantages the shores had during Sandy was the tide. A full moon lurked over the troubled waters during the storm which increased the water height by 20%. This made it easier for the water to climb over seawalls in its path. Pictures taken from helicopters post Sandy showed Atlantic City completely submerged in water. It barely looked like an island at all. The water did not just flood homes, but subways in New York City and other metropolises, theme parks, parks, and other recreational areas.

Many people were left without electricity for weeks. As of November 1^st, 4.7 million people in a total of 15 states were without electricity. A day earlier, the number was a shocking 8.5 million.  This left the city of New York looking dimmer than ever. The lower parts of the city were flooded so badly that cars were floating away. The borough of Queens caught on fire during the storm and ended up destroying 80 fires. The storm created problems for firemen and other rescue crews because the water was preventing them from traveling places easily.

All in all, the damages ended up totaling around $20 billion in property damage and $10-30 billion in business, making Hurricane Sandy one of the costliest natural disasters on record in the United States. The presidential race was also slowed down by the storm, and Halloween had to be rescheduled in most northeastern towns and cities. However, the largest impact was the emotional one.

So many people lost their homes in the storm. Whether it was a primary home or a beach house, the storm affected man. The damage is shocking in Brigantine, New Jersey. Brigantine is an island right next to Atlantic City, a city also destroyed by the storm. The once lively Atlantic City is now dead.

In Brigantine, two days after the storm, everyone was in the streets gutting out their homes and helping each other. The togetherness in Brigantine has never been more evident. One woman even drove around in a van offering waters and sodas to everyone who was working in the streets. Bev Maskrey, a resident of Brigantine, reported that all of her furniture, clothes, and shoes was ruined, and her house was soaking wet. However, she still kept a smile on her face and had an optimistic future for not only herself but for the island of Brigantine. When tragedy strikes and it seems like the end, it really isn’t. It makes for an even brighter future than there was before.

This storm may have destroyed New Jersey’s shore, but it also brought everyone together. By donating money, time, and effort, anyone can help rebuild the shore in time for summer 2013. Sure, the rollercoaster in Seaside Heights may be in the Atlantic, and the Atlantic City boardwalk may be broken, but that doesn’t mean the shore can’t be rebuilt. This storm may have been terrible, but in the end, it can’t stop the people of New Jersey.

Upon entering Brigantine, there is a sign that reads: “Nice try Sandy, but we’re Jersey Strong.” These words ring so true.

Malala is from Mingora, a town in the Swat Valley of Pakistan.  The Swat Valley has been a scene of intense fighting between the Pakistan army and the Taliban for years.  The Taliban is an Islamic militant group whose beliefs contrast with those of the west.

The attack took place on Malala’s bus on her way home from school.  The gunmen entered the bus and demanded the kids to identify their classmate.  Then, they shot Malala twice in the head and neck, along with two other girls, and fled the vehicle.

Serious medical care was needed for all three, and Malala was sent to the United Kingdom for further treatment.  There her bullets were removed, and she is now recovering.  Jamil Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, says the girl is making a “very satisfactory” recovery, and is walking, talking and reading.

However, Malala’s nightmare is not over yet.  A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban has said, “We will certainly kill her” and promised that if she survives the shooting, they will go after her again.  Malala’s father is also on their list because he is the head of a girls school in the region.

Malala’s sacrifices have definitely not gone unheard.  November 10th was declared ‘Malala Day’ in recognition of her deeds.  She has brought awareness to the differences of life around the world and she has gained support of girls education rights from many.  Mr. Miller, a history teacher at HMHS, says, “It also shows you just how lucky we are in Haddonfield to have basic rights that are denied to millions around the world every day.”  Malala risks her life everyday to secure those rights for herself and the future and to make what she believes in a reality.