The Wallkill Wire

Elisabeth Muller, Staff Writer In today’s world climate change is a huge problem. According to NASA , the planet's average surface temperature has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century. Glaciers have reduced all around the world since the beginning of the industrial in 1760. Global sea levels have risen about 8 inches in the last century. Activists like Greta Thunberg, Ridhima Pandey, and Nina Gualinga have been fighting for solutions and change. This is how our small town of Wallkill, New York is making a difference. I spoke with the chair of the Ulster county Environmental Management Council, Dave Haldeman, about this. He says that the county has officially declared a climate emergency. The Environmental Council's main goal right now is to protect and preserve any land that must be, such as wetlands, diverse forests, and wildlife habitats. The council also wants to enforce composting, rain gardens, LED street l...

Lance Booth, Staff Writer It’s that time of the year again; Battle of the Buildings is here! This is the second year of this event. Last years turnout was amazing, with both teachers playing and the students coming to watch. 2018 Graduate Mackenzie Bunt brought up the idea of staff playing in some sort of sporting event. When she approached administration about her idea, they said to turn it into a fundraiser. The event that came to be is the high school teachers versing the middle school teachers in a softball game. All the money raised goes to the Wallkill Reformed Church Snackin’ Kidz Klub. The Snackin’ Kidz Klub provides weekend meals of healthy breakfast and lunch items, plus snacks and drinks to local kids. When asked about her favorite part about the fundraiser Mrs. Murphy said, “My favorite part is seeing all the students and staff come together as one” Some teacher athletes participating in this year’s event are Mrs. “Banged up Berta from the Bronx” Roberta, Mr. Smith...

Sophia Soler, Editor-in-Chief Wallkill’s Music Department is filled with talented young individuals who have been working incredibly hard to expand their musical education. This March marked Music in Our Schools Month. MIOSM was created by the National Association for Music education ( NAfME ). March 2019 marks the 34 th  Music in Our Schools Month. It is a month dedicated to the celebration and expansion of music in schools around the nation. Music is an important tool in education and New York was the first state to recognize this, celebrating Music in Our Schools Day on March 14, 1973. Every year, Wallkill Senior High School holds concert in March to celebrate Music in Our School's Month where everyone who has received music honors receives awards. The following groups students were selected for music honors this year: All County:   Chorus-Piper B o , Ellie Shuart, Sophia Soler, Victoria Soler, Madison Temper, Hailey Woodruff, Jaden Rosario, Owen Scott, Chase...

Lance Booth, Staff Writer Former Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Machado has signed a 10- year deal worth $300 million with the San Diego Padres. This is the biggest free-agent contract in American sports history. The only other team that offered Machado a deal was the Chicago White Sox; the Sox offered $250 million over 8 years. People believed he would sign with the White Sox because his brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso, and Machado’s good friend, Jon Jay, play for the Sox. According to Ken Rosenthal, the total offer from the White Sox could have reached $350 million if all options were vested and every incentive was reached, but the $350 million wasn’t guaranteed from the Sox; that’s why Machado went with the $300 million guaranteed from San Diego. Other teams like the Yankees and the Phillies were in talks this off-season to make a deal for the gold-gloved third baseman (he also plays shortstop, but won his two Golden-Glove awards at third base...

Cass Sozio, Staff Writer The Wallkill Fire District has proposed a 17,500 square foot site across from John G. Borden Middle School to be used as a more efficient fire service. At the Shawangunk Town Board meeting on December 6, commissioners Michael Croce and Rich Freer explained the tentative plan of the fire house project that may only be implemented if the public vote is concordant with the arrangement. The projected two-story building will add character to the hamlet in accordance from the request of former property owners, the Donner family. It is expected to cost $5,582,469 in borrowed funds to construct. It will be a much needed five-bay firehouse and provide additional overflow parking for events at the middle school. The council voted to extend water and sewer service to the site if it’s eventually built in March. Croce continued to disclose information about the current outdated facility. He described the inadequate truck bays, tight spaces, wate...

Mikayla Bonner, Staff Writer Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...Yes it’s that time of the year again; time for the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The lighting of the tree is an annual tradition that brings people from all around the world to see it, and even more travel to see it once it’s already lit. This year, the tree picked was close to home...right down the road on Route 32! While it may not have been right in our backyard, it is still cool that a tree we’ve all driven past is now on display for the whole world to see. The trees used are typically Norway spruces that are at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet wide. Norway spruces that naturally grow in the forest usually don’t grow this big, so most trees end up being from the yards of people who planted the tree ornamentally. No compensation is given to the family when their tree is chosen, except the pride in knowing their tree will be seen by millions. Once Rockefeller Center is done with the tree,...

Cass Sozio, Staff Writer We all know the facts; juuls are molesting insides of teens across the nation. There is no doubt that a significant  number of teenagers in the United States  is hooked on nicotine. Unfortunately, this epidemic  reaches every high school throughout the nation; everyone is at risk no matter what. Take a  minute and educate yourself. For the ones who are aware of the harm that juuls bring, but continue to take bathroom breaks for a sweet puff, here’s your wake up call. It’s understood why the juul has become a popular option. It was designed to target the youth , and many have walked straight into the trap. If you wouldn’t  smoke a cigarette, then you might want to take another look at the flavored glycerol in your pod. Making the effort to quit may not be what you want, but it surely doesn’t hurt to try. Even if  you couldn’t care less about the effects, know that others are concerned. Some students who aren...