When in quarantine, make a mask

By: Mackenzie Vogt

The year 2020 has forced our hands into what is to be this year’s new fashion fad: masks. With the continuing of the coronavirus, people around the world are trying to do their part by preventing the spread.

Mask wearing has become more common and almost a social obligation. Some of our local stores, such as Walmarts, are displaying signs encouraging customers to wear masks. Menards took it a step further and won’t allow anyone inside who isn’t wearing a mask. So with this new essential clothing item, the next question becomes what type to wear.

N95 respirators and surgical masks are best left for healthcare providers, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the general public use cloth masks. Masks can be found online, in stores and perhaps most commonly from everyday items at home.

My family and I have made masks that are from the latter. My grandma, Evelyn Alvarado, first started making masks when schools and businesses shut down. She then made videos and sent them to my mom, Carmen Vogt, on how to make them. Vogt then Googled, Pinterested and YouTubed different ideas and strategies.

“The ones that I’ve made are pleated with the elastic,” Vogt said. “It’s hard to find the elastic right now so you can also use fabric as a tie. Sometimes the elastic bothers people anyways.”

Other tips and tricks that Vogt and Alvarado have found are that you can add a wire or a pipe cleaner around the nose so that the mask will stay in place. If you can’t find elastic, the ties can be made from ribbon or hair ties. Vogt also commented that the best material, as far as protection goes, is 100 percent cotton. This is due to the way the fabric is made. Its strands are tight together, a fact that the CDC confirms.

Senior Emma Smidt, an employee at Country House, an assisted living facility, talks about the possibility of mask-wearing becoming a fad.

“I‘ve already seen it happen at work and at the store with different materials. There are also different patterns. People have solid colors or stripes or flowers and also different styles of masks.”

If interested in making your own mask, the CDC has three different options to choose from on their website. They each depend on skill level as well as the materials you already have.

So as the end of quarantine approaches, and you begin re-entering society, will it be with or without your personalized mask?

*Photo by Mackenzie Vogt

Once a Viking, always a Viking: A sad departure

By: Gabriel Lorenzo

As the school year winds to a close, four Northwest teachers prepare to depart: Jessica Brondel, Trevor Menke, Sara Olsen and Pamela Moritz. Here are their stories. 

Jessica Brondel

What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“I will be teaching Agricultural Education/FFA at Central City High School.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“I have been at Northwest for 11 years.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“I was the FFA Advisor, so we did a lot of community service (Adopt a Road, state fair, Ag Day, Husker Harvest Days, connecting chapters). The chapter also went to state and national conventions, district competition, fundraisers, career fair.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Definitely the students in the classroom and FFA. Most memories involve students. I will always cherish the thank-you notes I have received over the years. I liked to make up songs and sing them to students (they thought I was crazy, but I’ve been told some students used them in college to pass tests). Of course the staff relationships I will cherish.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I will miss daily chats with my hallway teachers. I will miss the students and staff. I liked the staff homecoming king and queen (even though they did away with it and I was never queen).”
What advice would you give to students?
“Get involved in something and try something new (FFA … It’s fun). Laugh each day! Never complain, rather find solutions. Be kind. Everyone has something.”

Trevor Menke

What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“I will be moving to Seward and joining Seward High School as a social studies teacher and head boys basketball coach.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“I was at Northwest for four years.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“During my time at Northwest, I served as assistant freshman football coach, assistant boys basketball coach (head JV) and assistant boys golf coach.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Truly just all the people I’ve met and relationships I’ve been fortunate to build here will last a lifetime.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I am going to miss the students and staff. I was welcomed with open arms for my first year, and the students here at NW have been a blast to get to know. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to teach and coach here.”
What advice would you give to students?
“I would tell students to stick together and stay active. There is great culture here at Northwest because of how active kids are.”

Sara Olsen

What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“My plans for next year is that I will be teaching at St. Libory and 1R. I won’t be at the high school anymore, but at least I still get to teach in the Northwest district.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“This is my second year at NW.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“I was involved with softball and track. I will still be helping out with both sports.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Being a young teacher I have had a lot of new experiences that will help me grow as a teacher.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I will miss working with all the students and teachers.”
What advice would you give to students?
“Get involved in as many activities as possible.”

*Photos Courtesy of Jessica Brondel, Trevor Menke, and Sara Olsen.

The soundtrack of social distancing

By: Hailie Melton

From family-made bands in North Carolina to virtual reality and live-streamed concerts, we are still dancing to the beat of the music as this quarantine marches on. According to NPR, in their article “From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song,” there are many more tunes about quarantine than you might originally think.

NPR explains how on March 15, around the same time many cities ordered their citizens to stay at home, Detroit Rapper Gmac Cash released a song called “Coronavirus.” Cash raps on how if you cough or sneeze, he doesn’t want to be around you. His sweetest line may be “Make sure you wash your hands with lots of love.” Cash also released other coronavirus songs, such as “At Home,” “15 Days of Quarantine” and “Stimulus Check.”

While Cash’s songs are centered around fun, not every musical artist writing quarantine tracks is like that. Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie released a batch of gloomy tracks called “Life in Quarantine.” Even though Gibbard released some not-so-happy tracks, he has been live-streaming and raising money to donate to health and relief organizations to help stop the coronavirus. All of the money that is raised, plus the proceeds from “Life in Quarantine,” is given to non-profit organizations in Seattle, like Aurora Commons, an area relief group.

The inspiration that fuels musicians is different depending on the artist. According to The New Yorker, artists like A$AP Ferg have been listening to Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem, while Gibbard has been listening to a lot of “Stars of The Lid” and says he is “head over heels in love with Eluvium’s new record ‘Virga I.’”

Overall, the music industry is still glowing bright, even in this lonely and dark time of quarantine. Like Gmac Cash says, “Make sure you wash your hands with lots of love,” and stay safe.

*Photo Obtained from MEL Magazine

Man’s best friend, COVID-19’s newest target

By: Haili Luevano

With the ongoing pandemic affecting people all across the globe, news of how COVID-19 is affecting pets and their owners has gone widely unnoticed.

“You hear conflicting stories,” said Kaci Schacht, a local farmer. “One moment they say dogs can contract and be affected by the virus and the next they’re saying that they’re safe from it. But I have also heard that dogs can carry the virus on their fur, but that’s only if they are exposed to someone who has the virus.”

While it’s true that animal cases are few and far between, especially in regards to their human counterparts, there are still ways that the coronavirus can make life difficult for pet owners and their companions.

In the past two decades, coronaviruses have caused two major pandemics: SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome. Scientists of the World Health Organization (WHO) previously thought that another outbreak could only be caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARSr-CoV), which is mainly found in bats.

It’s also speculated that COVID-19 originated from Chinese horseshoe bats in one of Wuhan’s many food markets. The closest confirmation of this data was given by WHO Spokeswoman Fadela Chaib on April 21, stating, “It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin.”

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is able to affect animals by binding to a cell surface protein known as ACE2, thus injecting itself into the cells. This protein is found in many animal species. As of April 22, it was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that SARS-CoV-2 had found its way into two pet cats. This marked the first pets to test positive for the coronavirus in the United States.

The pandemic could also pose problems for more exotic species, especially those who are flagged as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Already, a 4-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 5.

“I think [COVID-19] might actually help [endangered species] right now,” Schacht said. “Due to the fact that travel is restricted and people aren’t allowed into different areas, [this] helps restrict access to them.”

While opinions on the matter may differ, the fact still stands that the current pandemic isn’t just affecting pet owners, but their pets and other animals as well. The first confirmed pet cases in the U.S. might have been two cats, but Hong Kong’s first pet case was a dog.

The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported that a pet dog who had previously been in contact with a person infected with the coronavirus tested “weakly positive” on February 28, through samples taken from the nose and mouth.

“People don’t think about it, but animals are a big part of life and the economy,” said Bibiana Luevano, a local pet owner. “Police dogs. Service dogs. Military dogs. If service dogs are affected, then how will people be affected? The dog food business is a huge market.”

While COVID-19 has seemingly expanded its sphere of influence, the next logical step is to find a vaccine for both humans and animals.

“I know that even though this virus is new to humans, it’s not new to certain animals,” Schacht said. “For instance, cattle actually have some strand [of coronavirus] and they have a vaccine … but it is not safe for human injection.”

A statement released by Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institution of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that developing, testing and approving a vaccine for humans could take 12-18 months, though most new vaccines usually take years to approve and release to the public. In the meantime, pet owners must use their own methods to protect their animals.

Much of the same safety measures that people use for themselves can also be applied to pets. With the recent closing of parks, there’s less places to socialize or walk your animals, encouraging people to keep them at home. Make sure to carefully monitor their behavior and take them to the vet if they get sick.

“Wash your hands,” Luevano instructed, sharing the precautions she takes with her own pets. “Clean their bowls, and avoid sneezing or coughing near them. Keep an eye out on their behavior. Sometimes it’s easy to spot when animals are feeling under the weather.”

Kaylee Cellar, an English teacher at GISH, offered the same advice, stating that she has taken to isolating her own animals at home and keeping them six feet away from other animals.

Ensuring that your pet is happy and healthy is simply one more weight off of your shoulders. Animals are still susceptible to disease, so it’s better to make sure that they truly have nothing to fear from COVID-19.

“Animals are important,” said Pamela Robledo, a local pet owner. “They are family as well.”

Toss your dog their favorite toy, feed your bird some fruit, redecorate your fish tank or simply cuddle with your cat. Quarantine may be boring at times, but with a safe and healthy animal at your side, at least it won’t be lonely.

*Photo by Haili Luevano

Saying goodbye to “the good life”

By Emily Krupicka and Emelia Richling

Clara Krabbe

For international students studying abroad in America, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted a sense of normalcy and routine. At Northwest, foreign exchange students were asked to return home with very little time to prepare. Senior Clara Krabbe, a foreign exchange student from Denmark, has felt the repercussions of this.

“Things have changed faster than I ever could have imagined. I never thought that this would happen on such a large scale,” Krabbe said.

In the beginning stages of the pandemic, each exchange student was given the opportunity to continue their learning in the United States or return to their home country; however, soon after, students received an email that prompted them to go back home immediately.

“When I learned that I had to leave, I definitely didn’t see it coming; I was very shocked,” Krabbe said.

Although Krabbe’s departure seemed unexpected to many, the unprecedented news was especially surprising for her host family.

“When we got the news about her going home early, we were heartbroken for sure,” said Sophomore Alexis Julesgard, a member of Krabbe’s host family. “The day that she left was so hard for me; it was like I was losing a sister.”

During her stay in America, although cut short, Krabbe made fond memories in Nebraska. Immersing herself in the culture and meeting new people were among the top highlights from her stay.

As Krabbe adjusts to life back in Denmark, she has hopes of returning to America to visit when the pandemic has eased.

Giacomo Sarra

Before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Giacomo Sarra, a foreign exchange student from Italy, had a lot of plans for the remainder of his time at Northwest. Besides receiving his diploma, Sarra was also looking forward to a great soccer season. During this past year, he has been heavily involved in sports, playing football and working as a basketball manager in addition to participating in soccer.

However, when the news broke that schools would be closing, Sarra’s time in America was cut short. The exchange agency informed their students that they would have to return to their respective countries immediately.

“I felt sad about it because I had a lot of plans for the remainder of the experience,” Sarra added.

Not only would Sarra be unable to walk across the stage at graduation, but he would also be unable to play soccer, hang out with his friends and complete the rest of his experience as a typical American teen.

However, Sarra wasn’t the only person who was disappointed that he would have to leave America. Johnny Bangs, a junior, has been a friend of Sarra’s since he came to the United States.

“I was shocked that he had to go back to Italy early, especially when COVID-19 was pretty bad [there],” Bangs said, referring to the fact that Sarra had to leave the United States a little over a month ago when Italy’s numbers were the highest in the world.

Bangs also added that he will miss Sarra and the many memories they have had together, including watching sports events, like the Super Bowl.

“I wish I could tell him that we miss him and hope he can visit soon,” Bangs concluded.

However, now that Sarra is back in Italy, a return date to America is indefinite and improbable in the near future as COVID-19 continues to stall travel. In the meantime, Sarra has been catching up on school work and spending time with his family. Although he was a senior in the United States, he still has one year left of Italian high school.

Once his high school years are behind him, though, Sarra plans to return to the United States.

“I would like to attend college in the U.S. because I like the American culture, and I’ll have the possibility to play soccer at a higher level,” Sarra said.

Even though his time in America was cut short, Sarra has not been deterred about returning to the United States. He hopes that he will be able to come back to America soon and continue creating memories and building friendships.

*Photos Courtesy of Clara Krabbe and Giacomo Sarra

Toilet paper shoppers are on a roll but students shouldn’t be

By: Emelia Richling

Within the last few weeks, our lives have changed considerably. New challenges have arisen as our coveted two-ply toilet paper disappears from the shelves and quarantine restrictions are enforced upon us. As difficult as these measures are, it is important that we continue to follow them.

Going out with friends and leaving our houses for nonessential activities are luxuries that we will have to sacrifice in order to stay safe. Although there are exceptions to the quarantine measures, such as working or shopping, many students shouldn’t be leaving the house. In order to protect ourselves and others, it is essential that we understand how important staying at home really is.

However, sometimes the pressure of a situation can seem far away, distant and unlikely to pertain to us. Even though this situation is an awful reality, the nonchalant attitudes many people are demonstrating proves that we think this situation is too far away to bother us. Despite this mentality, this disease is hitting close to home, as awful as it is to have to say that.

A local article published by the Grand Island Independent on April 28 shows how our community’s response to COVID-19 is lacking in terms of people following the orders, wearing masks and staying home. Danny Lemos, a Grand Island man who had a successful fight with the disease, stresses the importance of following guidelines.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take for this town to realize that they have to quit going out,” Lemos said. “People need to stay home and stay inside and get this under control.”

Lemos isn’t the only person who is stressing the importance of staying at home. In order for the medical community to emphasize the importance of flattening the curve, the Mayo Clinic published an article on April 6, detailing how staying home is one of the most effective steps to protect yourself, those you care about and the stranger who is six feet away from you.

In the article, Dr. Nipunie Rajapkse, an infectious disease expert, stated that it is difficult to give a defined endpoint for when the restrictions will be lifted, but quarantining and other preventive measures are essential to contain the spread of the disease.

“The things we are asking people to do are not easy,” Rajapske states. “They are definitely disruptive, they’re definitely challenging, but they do have evidence to show that they work when implemented broadly, widely and followed by everyone.”

Until these measures are lifted, students need to stay home. Hanging out with friends is a luxury that we may have to give up but only temporarily. Sacrificing in the short term will make for a better long term. If people choose to properly follow the guidelines, they will be lifted sooner. Simply put, we have to stay home to stay safe.

However, for those who do have to leave their home for essential activities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided helpful guidelines for leaving the house, including choosing to wear a mask and avoiding even small gatherings. They also discussed how to properly practice social distancing, advising people to stay “about 2 arms’ length” from other people.

Exchanging in-person contact for digital contact is difficult, staying home all day is not always fun and switching from two-ply toilet paper to one-ply is a challenge that we will have to undertake if we want to keep ourselves and others as safe as possible.

*Photo Obtained from KTIV Television