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The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

Liza McCarthy

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager

Liza McCarthy is a senior who is excited for her second and final year on staff. This year, she is taking on the new role of Podcast Manager which will help her step out of her comfort zone as she works on this project. She enjoys hanging out with her family, friends, and Oliver, her dog. When she’s not playing tennis or going to get ice cream with friends, you can find her reading, writing, and painting. Traveling and hammocking make her happy in the summer months, and she loves the beautiful leaves in the fall. 

Favorite stories to write: Columns

Favorite place in the world: Turks and Caicos.

Favorite subjects: English and biology.

All content by Liza McCarthy
Liza McCarthy, a talented writer and future Hope College student, posing for her senior photos.

[Photo] Liza McCarthy has been preparing for her future career her whole life

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager May 6, 2022

Liza McCarthy, a talented writer and future Hope College student, posing for her senior photos.

I am thankful for everything that has made my past amazing and looking forward to what my next step will bring me.

There is a time and a place for every goodbye

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager May 3, 2022

I’ve always been one to believe that everything happens for a reason and that there is a right time for everything, including when to move on to the next adventure in life. And the current wild adventure...

The tv show poster for "Is it Cake?" shows a realistic rubber ducky that is actually a cake.

Is it Cake? has me questioning if I am cake

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager April 28, 2022

Scrolling through endless Instagram reels and YouTube shorts, I usually bypass most videos after the first few seconds. However, when I see the familiar soft frosting look of food that looks fake, I stop...

Katie soaks in the sunshine as she poses by Torch Lake near her cottage.

Katie Wilson’s life up North includes a job she loves and an atmosphere she lives for

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager April 26, 2022

Unlike some students that enjoy the convenience of having a job close by, senior Katie Wilson’s work commute is notably different. Located in the quaint, small town of Bellaire, Michigan, about two...

I went to Chicago over spring break and got a chance to spend some time in the city.

The city never sleeps

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager April 21, 2022

Once the highway starts to trail off and parallels rickety railroads of seemingly rarely used trains, you know you're getting close to the Windy City. Stemming from every which way, the tracks point to...

Sofia Carson debuted her first ever album, one she has been working on for a long time.

Sofia Carson’s first album tells a story of love, heartbreak, and healing

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 31, 2022

In her new—and very first—album titled with her own name, Sofia Carson takes her listeners through a journey of heartbreak, love, and revival.  Carson has been a minor figure in my life ever since...

A picture from the senior sunrise when I sat with my friends making memories

[Photo] I am not ready

Lauren Batterbee, Print Managing Editor March 31, 2022

A picture from the senior sunrise when I sat with my friends making memories

Senior Abbey Calderwood has been the student theater director for two years.

Abbey Calderwood had been given an opportunity that few students have had the chance to take

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 29, 2022

In the midst of the sometimes chaotic theater show performance preparations, senior Abbey Calderwood plays the mediator amongst the cast, crew, and adult staff.  The official term for that role is...

A picture of when I visited Hope's campus last summer.

Decisiveness is a gift

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 24, 2022

Thank goodness I am a very decisive person. Every single day, decisions loom over me, never leaving until a direction is chosen. This has never overwhelmed me, and I feel like it makes cruising through...

The movie poster for The Adam Project shows both present and future Adams.

The Adam Project takes saving the world to the next level

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 17, 2022

Believe it or not, the new Netflix movie, The Adam Project, was my first time ever having the pleasure of watching a movie starring the esteemed actor, Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds is known for starring in...

I walk on the curve while I look to the beautiful sky.

[Photo] There’s more to a curb than cement

Lauren Batterbee, Print Managing Editor March 17, 2022

I walk on the curve while I look to the beautiful sky.

Gabby's passion for volunteering stems from unmatched experiences.

Gabby Partlo’s passion for volunteering has opened her eyes to those around her

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 15, 2022

What started as a struggle to get volunteer hours for the National Honors Society has now sparked a passion for volunteering in senior Gabby Partlo’s life.  Every year, junior and senior students...

Group collaboration opens doors for new ideas and polishes students' communication skills.

Though sometimes frustrating, group projects allows students to practice vital communication skills

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 10, 2022

I have worked with many unique people all my life—especially in high school. So, it isn’t surprising to me that there have been times that I have had discrepancies and disagreed with the views...

The silhouette of the band looking over a cliff in Malibu, California.

OneRepublic’s album One Night In Malibu puts a live spin on well-known favorite songs

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 3, 2022

My first concert was OneRepublic, with one of my really close friends at the time. I can still remember it so clearly—the disco ball shimmering from the top of the Van Andel Arena ceiling, the pyrotechnics...

Grace Fitzgerald puts a swing in her step as she navigates out of her comfort zone.

Grace Fitzgerald swing dances her way out of her comfort zone

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager March 1, 2022

On one Tuesday night in downtown Grand Rapids, senior Grace Fitzgerald found herself accidentally knocking someone's glasses off while performing a dance move. Having never tapped a toe to the dance...

Me, my brother, and my three cousins stand on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood Studios.

There are no other people I’d rather travel the world with

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 24, 2022

To my travel buddies, As we venture to places all over the world, there are no other people I’d rather do it with.  Oftentimes, it is necessary to wake up ridiculously early the morning of the...

The poster represents the suspense that each contestant experiences before seeing their fiance for the first time in person.

The second season of Love is Blind holds the same intriguing factors that made the first season a success

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 17, 2022

Would you propose to someone you have known for less than one week? Actually, an even better question: would you propose to them having never laid eyes on them?  The Netflix original series Love is...

Alex Fletcher combines her love of both music and art into one masterpiece.

Alex Fletcher uses everything around her as inspiration for her art

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 15, 2022

As freshman Alex Fletcher’s playlist hit an angsty, splenetic-sounding song, she grabbed her art supplies and got to work. “Last night,” Alex said, “I was drawing, and I was listening to angry...

11 year old me dressed up in a lab coat and playing pretend vet at a museum.

My life with animals has made my uncertain future a little clearer

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 10, 2022

From a very young age—pretty much since I knew what a veterinarian was—I knew I wanted to work with animals. Instead of most kids who would set up doctor’s offices in their playrooms at home and...

Kevin Quinn's new EP is full of old favorites and a new song that was worth the wait.

Kevin Quinn’s new EP It’s About Time is full of familiar favorites topped off with a new single

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 3, 2022

Sometimes I get that deja vu moment where I know I've seen, heard, or experienced something before. But the thought of it is almost comforting to have something familiar around me. Kevin Quinn’s new...

The groundhog is hoisted into the air after giving its weather prediction.

Groundhog Day is a longtime American Tradition that is sometimes hidden in the shadows

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager February 1, 2022

Since 1886, we have been watching a fifteen-pound rodent act like a meteorologist and predict when our springtime will arrive.  If the groundhog emerges from his little burrow and sees his shadow,...

A picture of me in the snow during wintertime--my favorite season besides fall.

The four seasons define what my year entails

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager January 26, 2022

Melting under the scalding summer sun, I wish for fragile flakes to descend from the sky. In the thick of the unforgiving winter season that brings frigid temperatures and unpleasant driving conditions,...

The movie poster for Back to the Outback featuring all the main characters

Back to the Outback is a sweet story with a pleasantly surprising ending

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager January 20, 2022

I am still very much a child at heart; there’s no doubt that I’d choose to watch movies or TV shows that stray far away from the horror or sci-fi genres. Disney movies, cheesy Netflix comedies, and...

Saniya Mishra loves spending hours perfecting her drawing skills

Saniya Mishra finds many ways to embrace the artist within her

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager January 16, 2022

As beams of soft sunlight stream across her bedroom walls displaying her past and present artistry, sophomore Saniya Mishra can often be found sprawled on the floor with a pencil in her hand.  For...

A collection of memorable moments with my partner in crime.

My life would be incomplete without you

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager January 13, 2022

Life is not meant to be trekked through alone, and I can confidently say that my partner in crime through it all has never left my side.  Though we are technically cousins, that doesn’t mean we’re...

Ed Sheeran and Elton John posing among the Christmas decor.

“Merry Christmas” is all the upbeat holiday feelings wrapped into a song

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager December 16, 2021

Though the song “Merry Christmas” has such a simple title, the song lyrics are packed full of holiday nostalgia. All of the warm and fuzzy feelings pouring into the cherished season have been wrapped...

A picture of one of my note pages for the genetics unit in AP biology. It is filled with  vocab words and definitions, images, and key information to help me commit it to memory.

Committing information to memory: putting pen to paper

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager December 9, 2021

Opinions expressed in editorials on The Central Trend are the view of the individual writer and are not the opinion of the entire staff of The Central Trend or the Forest Hills Central staff or administration. I...

The movie poster for The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.

The third installment of the Princess Switch movie franchise proved to be a holiday redemption story

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager December 2, 2021

If you have only seen the first Princess Switch movie, you probably wouldn’t even believe all that goes on in the next two movies—especially the third.  In the first movie, baker Stacey De Novo...

Project Charlie aims to educate young students about important topics through engaging lessons

Project Charlie aims to educate young students about important topics through engaging lessons

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 30, 2021

For Senior Roman Kalaczinski, any experience that allows him to interact with students in younger grades is an opportunity he enjoys. So when he heard about Project Charlie, a program that teaches young...

TCT's The Countless Thanks 2021: Liza McCarthy

TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2021: Liza McCarthy

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 25, 2021

Lauren Batterbee and Rachel Marco—for close to 12 years of friendship We are Mike, Sully, and Boo. They always say good things come in threes, and that phrase definitely applies to us. It’s so crazy...

The FHC Student parking lot where students face overwhelming traffic everyday.

[Photo] The student parking lot causes chaos in both students and staff

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager November 19, 2021

The FHC Student parking lot where students face overwhelming traffic everyday.

A Market full of handmade souvenirs from the island locals.

Everywhere I go, I take some of it back with me

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 18, 2021

I tend to keep every place, experience, and notable circumstance with me in one way or another.  Part of the reason I love to travel and experience new things is to accumulate irreplaceable memories....

The movie poster for Resort to Love

On top of being completely predictable, Resort to Love was full of over-dramatized scenes

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 10, 2021

Netflix may be one of my favorite streaming services, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m a fan of all the original content that they put into the world of TV and movies. Resort to Love, another...

Sydney is a clarinetist that had a part in the percussion fifth quarter this season.

Sydney Bacon finds enjoyment in playing multiple instruments in the band

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 9, 2021

When junior Sydney Bacon started this school year, she never imagined finding herself in front of various crowds holding a pair of cymbals.  Sydney is one of eight band members that got asked to join...

On the last hour delay, I came to school and saw this rainbow that lasted for like half a second, but it made my day nonetheless.

Long story short, I am an opacarophile

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager November 4, 2021

Long story short, I am an opacarophile—a lover of sunsets.  You can bet that anytime the sky paints itself into something even remotely pretty, I’ll have my phone out, ready to capture the moment....

This displays some of the many games the Board Game Club could play.

The Board Game Club brings friendly competition into one place

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 29, 2021

Junior Emalea Rooke considers herself a competitive person with a knack for figuring out people’s gaming strategies.  So when her board game enthusiast friend, freshman Angel Dominguez, told her...

Lauren shares about her ghost, Stephanie.

Spooky Humans: Lauren Wolffis

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 29, 2021

"I have a ghost named Stephanie. She lives near the side of my house, and I see her in the window sometimes. She has spoken to me before; she said, 'Hi, Lauren, it's me' in a very feminine voice. She sat...

The cover of Elton John's newest Album, The  Lockdown Sessions

Elton John’s Lockdown Sessions Album allowed him to stay far away from being musically typecast

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 28, 2021

Some might’ve used the COVID-19 lockdown as a time of self-reflection or decided to pick up a new hobby. Elton John, however, elected to make new connections and associates in the music realm.  Per...

This is at roughly 11pm when I was traveling home after a vacation, and I thought these lights were so pretty.

I don’t say “thank you” enough

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 21, 2021

I don’t think I say “thank you” enough.  I’m so unbelievably grateful for all the astonishingly significant people in my life, but sometimes I consider the possibility that I don’t express...

The cover photo displays the five main babysitters in The Baby-Sitters Club.

The Baby-Sitters Club brings each individual babysitters’ story to life

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 14, 2021

Though I can’t say I’ve had a lengthy career as a babysitter, I will say I do wish I would’ve known about some of the tips and tricks that the Baby-Sitters Club came up with.  Based on the book...

Avery Schanski is a travel enthusiast--beach or forest, they bring her relaxation

Traveling has allowed Avery Schanski to experience the world around her in new ways

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 13, 2021

For most people, experiences at airports while navigating around the hustle and bustle of the crowd can be slightly stressful, but for freshman Avery Schanski, airports bring a feeling of excitement.  “I...

Intro to Business Q&As: Hunter Robinson - Class Threads

Intro to Business Q&As: Hunter Robinson – Class Threads

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 13, 2021

Product: Class Threads Instagram: @FHClass_threads Group Members: Hunter Robinson (manager), John Horky (finance manager), Madison Sizemore (sales department), and Carson Miller (supply help), Lagago...

An elephant and a giraffe peacefully roaming in their zoo habitat.

Are zoos beneficial for the wild animals they captivate?

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 7, 2021

Zoos have been around for millions of years. The idea of a place where you can observe many different animals all at once is simply not a new concept. Even the rulers of Mesopotamia, China, and Rome...

Honors English 10 students stand near their hard work in the FHC Memorial garden.

Applying a literary quote to their lives, Honors English 10 students revive the Memorial Garden

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager October 1, 2021

Honors English 10 teacher Ken George works the hardest he can at making his class anything but ordinary.  Just this past week, the honors kids’ normal class time was held outside. They cleaned...

Lahela "Doogie" Kamealoha M.D. sits on an ambulance surrounded by the Hawaiian scenery.

The newest Disney+ Original show, Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. takes Disney to a deeper level

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 30, 2021

What started out as a lighthearted Disney+ original series abruptly turned into a show with a much deeper meaning.  Starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jason Scott Lee, and Kathleen Rose Perkins, Doogie...

Homecoming Court Q&As: Theryn Hallock

Homecoming Court Q&As: Theryn Hallock

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 24, 2021

What was your reaction to hearing your name called? "I was very surprised and didn't expect to be called at all." Why do you think you were nominated for court? "I feel [like] I am a very social...

I can't wait to see what the future holds for me.

What I want to be when I grow up

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 23, 2021

When I grow up, I want to be the best me I can be.  When I grow up, I want to be able to say that I worked my hardest to get the life I want. I want all the years of school I spent sitting for hours...

The album cover of Surfaces' deluxe album features a vibrant purple sunset complete with a rising moon.

Surfaces’ Pacifico Deluxe album uniquely branches out but is no musical breakthrough

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 19, 2021

It’s hard to believe that Pacifico Deluxe is only Surfaces’ fourth album.  The band composed of the duo Forrest Frank and Colin Paledecki has been meandering around in my Spotify for ages, and...

Improv Team Q&As: Zach Guikema

Improv Team Q&As: Zach Guikema

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 17, 2021

What made you decide to join Improv?  "I convinced myself that I was funny, and my friends also tried out." What is your favorite Improv memory?  "Shingle Witch and Holy Donkey." Why should...

Ms. Belsito is thrilled to be in the classroom this year!

Student teacher Natalie Belsito finds her passion teaching in science classrooms

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 15, 2021

When student teacher Natalie Belsito took the opportunity to work alongside the biology teachers here at FHC, she had no idea that she’d be working in the same building as a relative of hers.  “My...

This picture was taken when we flew through a thunderstorm coming home from one of my family vacations.

And so, the thunder rolls

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 9, 2021

The thunder rolls, and my world seems calm.  As I write this column, rumbles of thunder mixed with the pitter-patter of prominent raindrops rush through the trees outside my window.  Thunderstorms...

https://movies.disney.com/cruella

The Cruella movie poster featuring Emma Stone who stared in the movie as Cruella De Vil.

Cruella proves to be a wonderfully dramatic backstory of one of Disney’s most mysterious villains

Liza McCarthy, Podcast Manager September 2, 2021

Predictability is one element of a story that really bugs me.  Why sit through a two-hour movie when you already know the outcome for the characters?  However, in Cruella, this was not the case....

Lauren and Liza with big smiles on the last day of fourth grade before going off to separate schools.

You’ve got a friend in me

Liza McCarthy and Lauren Batterbee June 3, 2021

*Lauren is in italics as she wanted to be fancy, and Liza is not because she wants to be taller.  Due to our matching golden locks of hair, we claimed to be sisters. We were attached at the hip, theoretically...

The Album cover of MercyMe's newest album, inhale (exhale)

The inhale (exhale) album was a breath of fresh air

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 28, 2021

When I found myself at MercyMe’s Imagine Nation concert in the fall of 2019, I barely knew of the band; they’d only come up on some of the Pandora playlists at my house on occasion. All I knew was...

Katie Romijn on her horse, Malone.

Katie Romijn’s riding skills grow as she does

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 26, 2021

What started with her mom seeing a Facebook ad has turned into a life-long hobby that sophomore Katie Romijn has become passionate about.  Taking the chance to try something new evidently benefited...

Me sitting on a butterfly seat at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens

I am an introvert, and it works for me

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 21, 2021

Anyone who’s met me can vouch for me when I say I’m not the most outgoing person.  I’ve been that way all my life, and everyone knows I’m quiet; I’m not inclined to share things without being...

Louis Knight's new song "Maybe That" shows off his phenomenal vocal and songwriting talents

Louis Knight’s new song “Maybe That” shows off his phenomenal vocal and songwriting talents

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 14, 2021

On my birthday this year—March 19—it was evidently a special musical-related day for someone else too. Louis Knight, an English singer/songwriter who appeared on American Idol season 18, graced...

Dancer Ella Piontkowsky poses for the camera in front of a chain link fence

Ella Piontkowsky discovered her confidence through dance

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 12, 2021

When freshman Ella Piontkowsky was only four years old, she already had her eye on the prize: a blue dance competition jacket just like all of her sisters’. “When I was [young],” Ella said, “I...

Ready or not, here it comes

Ready or not, here it comes

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer May 7, 2021

Graduation and senior year always seemed to be a far-off thought for me until recently.  Whether we accept it or not, the class of 2022 will be in the same place the seniors this year were—graduating...

The Disney Plus series Big Shot has the potential for greatness

The Disney Plus series Big Shot has the potential for greatness

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 30, 2021

John Stamos is staring in the new Disney Plus Original series, Big Shot, and honestly, I think it could quite possibly have the potential to become a modern-day classic Disney series.  The series pilot...

Chloe Teliczan is thankful for her past experiences and is excited for what the future holds

Chloe Teliczan is thankful for her past experiences and is excited for what the future holds

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 28, 2021

Senior Chloe Teliczan is still unsure what her future will bring her.  Having narrowed down her college choices to Western Michigan University and Ferris State University, Chloe is still trying to...

Aruba-- a place I'd go back to in an instant

Take me back

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 23, 2021

I want to go back to the times when all I had to worry about was sunburns and tan lines.  Take me back to the palm tree-lined boardwalks that lead me to nothing but beautiful beach sunsets.  Fly...

Seniors make their college decisions based on the elements that will benefit them the most

Seniors make their college decisions based on the elements that will benefit them the most

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 19, 2021

Senior Abigail Cool’s college decision process was overall seamless, unlike most seniors.  Abigail only applied to one college: Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. This college also happens...

The American Idol 2021 Top Ten was introduced with flying colors

The American Idol 2021 Top Ten was introduced with flying colors

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 16, 2021

As the stage glows with immeasurable amounts of spotlights, the 2021 season of American Idol Top Ten is crowned.  This year, the amount of talent displayed on the Idol stage is astounding; never in...

Find that silver lining and never let it go

Find that silver lining and never let it go

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer April 2, 2021

In life, there are the people, places, and things I never let go of. The serendipity of the springtime includes sweet baby bluebirds chirping from their nests hidden high in the branches amidst the...

The cover image for Yes Day showing the main characters

Yes Day allowed me to tag along with all the fun

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 26, 2021

As a kid, having a “Yes Day” would be the best day ever. The movie Yes Day on Netflix gives families a feel of what that kind of day might be like: kids going crazy, bending all the rules, and having...

Joe chilling in his car as the sun sets

Joe Clancy lives high school through the lens of his camera

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 24, 2021

Senior Joe Clancy has accomplished something that very few students have done before at FHC. Though it wasn’t something death-defying or inherently dangerous, it did take a lot of endurance and skill. Joe...

Many of my birthdays throughout the years

I now add another year to my catalog of life experiences

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 19, 2021

The years of my life are sufficient with milestones. Unique to each person, these prominent or succinct moments contour how lives turn out and who is the most influential. I am beyond grateful for the...

The movie poster of Tom and Jerry: The Movie featuring some of the cast

Tom and Jerry: The Movie took me down memory lane

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 12, 2021

Growing up, I’d often find myself perched in front of my tv after eating lunch. Tom and Jerry was an after-lunch favorite; I loved seeing Jerry the mouse scamper across the screen with Tom the cat chasing...

The full FHC parking lot

Open campus lunch isn’t feasible right now but isn’t considered impossible

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 11, 2021

In all the years that FHC has been around, having an open campus lunch has never been a serious consideration. Although, Principal Steve Passinault admits that the discussion has come up a few times within...

A sun setting at a baseball game last summer

Take me out to the ballgame

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer March 5, 2021

The smell of the sweet cotton candy and salty popcorn drifts all around the bustling place. You can’t just sit in your seat and not crave the mouth-watering goodies that people around you are going nuts...

The song cover of Gargano's latest single

Julia Gargano’s new single, “You Don’t Get To,” continues to impress me

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer February 26, 2021

As the 2021 season of American Idol has begun, it made me curious to see how last year’s top contestants have been faring in the world of music, and as I was looking, I stumbled upon one of my favorites.  Julia...

A stack of games that are a favorite among many

The ticket to togetherness

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer February 19, 2021

It’s game night. Friends gather around to play a night full of fun games with difficulty levels ranging from Monopoly to Machi Koro.  New York Seltzer sodas in a variety of flavors get passed...

The cover art for Surfaces's Horizon album

Surfaces’s new album, Horizons, radiates positivity in tough times

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer February 12, 2021

Just by the sound of the first note of a song, you could tell that it was written by Surfaces.  On February 28, 2020, the group released their third album, Horizons. Honestly, I think this album—chocked...

Prominent changes to the High School Musical Jr. performance present unmatched opportunities for everyone involved

Prominent changes to the High School Musical Jr. performance present unmatched opportunities for everyone involved

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer February 10, 2021

As the production of this spring’s musical High School Musical Jr. progresses, there seems to be one key element theater teacher Robbin Demeester is looking forward to: the show being filmed as a movie.  Last...

The pure white snow blanketing the ground

The delicate inner-workings of the soft flurries of winter

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer February 5, 2021

While I walk on the crumbling, crunchy snow, I take a breath that ices its way through my lungs. The smallest little crystalline flakes find spots to rest temporarily on my brow before melting away into...

This is the Pixar Popcorn Poster showing a preview of the ten shorts.

My favorite part of Pixar Popcorn is not what you’d expect

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 29, 2021

My favorite part of Pixar Popcorn is not what you would expect from this short little collection.  The arrangement didn’t have too much packed into it; I guess there’s not an incredible amount...

Emma poses with her two horses: Vinnie and Remi

Emma VanTongeren finds thrill in riding her horses

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 27, 2021

As unexpected as it may seem, freshman Emma VanTongeren’s horse, Vinnie, claims Poptarts as his favorite food.  Emma has been riding horses both for fun and with the intent of competing for about...

Student Q&A: Paige Fron

Student Q&A: Paige Fron

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 26, 2021

Name: Paige Fron Grade: 10 1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas? "[I am not acclimating to [Canvas] the greatest right now because the Canvas platform is similar to Google Classroom,...

Teacher Q&A: Chad Scholten

Teacher Q&A: Chad Scholten

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 26, 2021

Name: Chad Scholten 1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas? "For me personally, Canvas is what’s called a Learning Management System, which is a fancy website that allows you to organize...

Student Q&A: Jacob Tishon

Student Q&A: Jacob Tishon

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 26, 2021

Name: Jacob Tishon Grade: 10 1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas? "It's actually pretty easy. It took a little bit of getting used to, but it's not [that] different from Google...

My Grandma and I beaming with joy at one of our many family gatherings.

To grandmother’s house we go

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 22, 2021

To grandmother’s house, we go. But unlike the famous song, the five-minute drive is not necessarily over the river and through the woods, yet we still get to my grandparents’ house all the same.  The...

Mendes posing for a new Wonder photoshoot.

Each song in Shawn Mendes’ new album Wonder is its own unique musical journey

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 15, 2021

Although it took a while, Shawn Mendes finally released his new album.  On December 4, 2020, all 14 of Mendes’ new songs—including the previously released single, "Wonder"—were released into...

A quaint cottage in Leland, Michigan

Cottages are a tranquil home away from home

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 13, 2021

For FHC Math teacher Tracy Will, what started as “all her husband’s idea” turned out to be a great blessing for her family.  In June of 2020, Will and her family purchased a family cottage on...

My three-year-old self with my family enjoying a crisp fall morning, unknowingly sitting next to one of my present best friends.

My family photo from 2007 predicted the future

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer January 8, 2021

One of my very closest friends to this day is in the background of one of my family pictures, one from when I was merely 3 years old. In the 2007 picture, it’s a typical crisp fall morning, and my...

Natalie poses in the beautiful fall forest

Natalie Hedger finds her second home in Florida

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer December 18, 2020

Freshman Natalie Hedger looks forward to one trip every year.  When school and sports get stressful, sometimes it’s helpful to have a nice relaxing family vacation to look forward to every year....

Netflix

In Wonder gave me hope for a bright musical future for Mendes

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer December 16, 2020

Shawn Mendes’s documentary on Netflix, In Wonder, was released at just the right time: under a month before Mendes’s newest album, Wonder. The documentary was a combination of little moments that...

The simple lessons I've learned from my dog

The simple lessons I’ve learned from my dog

Liza McCarthy, Junior Writer December 9, 2020

As I write this, my furry best friend is laying at my feet.  The twelve-pound Bichon Maltese that we elected to name “Oliver” has become the center of attention in my family.  Resting his sweet...

FHC Students have mixed feelings about driving in the snow

FHC Students have mixed feelings about driving in the snow

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer December 4, 2020

The snow is not junior Seth Bush’s friend.  For a new driver, driving in the snow can be very intimidating. One month into having his driver’s license, disaster struck on the road one snowy morning. “I...

The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again is a typical romance with a twist

The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again is a typical romance with a twist

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer December 2, 2020

It’s not like I was intentionally longing for a continuum of The Princess Switch, but hearing the announcement of The Princess Switch 2: Switched again undeniably got my attention.  The Princess...

TCT's The Countless Thanks: Liza McCarthy

TCT’s The Countless Thanks: Liza McCarthy

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer November 24, 2020

Mom and Dad: for everything Thank you for everything you do for me. Whether it's helping me with math homework or painting my nails, I’m thankful for every moment. Thank you for giving me a chance...

Jack McNamara

Jack McNamara cherishes his life surrounded by family and friends

Liza McCarthy, Staff Writer November 20, 2020

Junior Jack McNamara’s dog has a knack for escaping.  Jack’s family loves to travel and get out of the house; he and his family rent a cottage every year in Grand Haven. His dog, Ranger, a miniature...

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