Swing dance club members host annual swing dance tomorrow
November 15, 2007
DANCE AWAY: Dance instructor Ben Turnbill and junior Domenica Matson demonstrate a dip in their swing dance routine. Since the start of the club, a tradition was set to host a swing dance once or twice a year. Anyone may attend the dance this Saturday night at the CHS freshman cafeteria from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Free dance lessons are provided at 7:30 p.m., and prizes will also be available at that time. People attending the dance will have to pay a $5 entrance fee, which goes towards club funds.
Celebrities must set better example
November 15, 2007
By: Rosemary Boeglin <rboeglin@hilite.org>
Celebrities are an enormously important part of American culture. They are read about in magazines and tabloids, searched for on the Internet (cough… PerezHilton.com), and watched on the television. Where they lead, Americans will follow. To some extent, these “in” people control much of the way we live our lives and by doing this, they brainwash us as to what is or is not currently appropriate and trendy.
In some ways, this is not horrible. Actors like Leonardo DiCaprio have made it cool to care about the environment by supporting research for Global Warming and other eco-related issues. U2 star Bono has spearheaded the Product (RED) campaign to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries. Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commission for Refugees and has done humanitarian work all around the world including refugee camps in Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Africa.
These are examples of stars using their power for good, not evil. If this was the norm, then celebrity impact might be a positive part of American culture. Unfortunately, these are three extraordinary people amidst a large group of disappointing examples for our society to model itself after.
In recent years, there has been a new trend of messages that Hollywood has begun to send out to the public. Stars and the media have begun to glamorize the truly unglamorous. Lets get a couple things straight: the ghetto is not fabulous and rehab is not a quick fix for poor public behavior.
Both of these issues are serious ones, and with the media presenting them as the “in” thing, it shines an inaccurate light on grave situations and takes away from their weightiness.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines ghetto as “a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure.” During the Holocaust, ghettos were areas where Jews were often forced to reside. There were squalid living conditions and they symbolized the unfair oppression of innocent people. Now, the ghetto remains a place where opportunity rarely flourishes and living is anything but easy and fabulous.
Why is it then that Hollywood glamorizes the ghetto as being fabulous? The only thing this is doing is trivializing the grave conditions that many Americans have to live with every day.
In the past year or so, checking into rehab for any number of unsavory activities or displays of character has been the “quick-fix” for today’s celebrities. Ex- Rep. Mark Foley checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation facility after a series of scandalous e-mails were exchanged between him and a number of unidentified teenage boys. The perfect excuse, huh?
Who else has chosen the route to rehab? Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Britney Spears and Mel Gibson just to name a few of the many stars who have chosen this way out. So, what is the problem with celebrities going to rehab as a means of apologizing for their behavior without actually having to own up to their actions or even really change their ways?
The problem lies in the fact that rehab is a facility that should be used for people who have hit rock bottom and have chosen or are being forced to change their reckless behavior. It has begun to turn into the must-have accessory for stars when in reality rehab is a last resort for alcoholics, drug abusers, anorexics, etc.
What does this celebrity rehabilitation entail? According to the official Web site for Passages Malibu Rehab, they offer spiritual counseling, deep tissue massages, acupuncture, hiking and a view of the Pacific Ocean with first class tennis courts. Don’t forget the gourmet chefs who prepare meals for patients three times a day, and the common practice of having patients scrub floors and wash toilets at rehabilitation facilities might be construed as too demeaning for patients, so they just hire someone to do that. Don’t worry though, they can afford it with the up to $68,000 dollars that’s charged for a month long visit to resorts like this and some of its contemporaries such as Wonderland, Beau Monde and Promises.
In the end, America’s fascination with the ways of the elite has left the common citizen victim to the ignorance of the privileged, most of whom don’t know and would never dare to ask what life is truly like in the ghetto, or what the real pain is when having an addiction and having to check into rehab because it has spun out of control.
It is important that we see celebrities for what they are—forms of entertainment, not a model of behavior or of thought.
Rosemary Boeglin is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact her at rboeglin@hilite.org.
Corrections and Clarifications from the 11.2 ISSUE
November 15, 2007
“The sweatshirts will cost $18” (Page 2): The sweatshirts will actually cost $28.
“Students find alternative ways to exercise” (Page B1): Kim TenBrink’s quote should have read, “And in P.E. we’ve noticed a decrease in skill level.””
“Dattolo’s dresses up food court standards” (Page B3): Dattolo’s Ristorante and Pizzeria was misspelled.
The HiLite staff strives for accuracy and regrets any errors. Corrections and clarifications are printed on page 2 of each issue.
Evan Lurie Gallery incites fury, with reason
November 15, 2007
By: Jaclyn Chen <jchen@hilite.org>
Yet another question surrounding the allocation of Carmel taxpayer dollars has been raised. This time, the case involves the $4.1 million Evan Lurie Gallery of Fine Art located on Main Street. Carmel has invested $1.2 million and backed the developer’s $2.9 million loan, according to an Indianapolis Star article.
Evan Lurie, a gallery owner previously located in Miami and a former Hollywood actor and stunt man, opened last month the new gallery with his named etched prominently on the building. According to the Star, he contributed $1.3 million of his own funds to the project while the city secured the rest of the money.
Attracting a high-end gallery in hopes of increasing Carmel’s arts recognition is painfully optimistic and, for everyone’s sakes, hopefully not misled. The contribution of public taxpayer money to a private business, however, sends red flags flaring.
The city plans to recuperate its investment by selling condos in the two upper stories of the Lurie building, the star attraction of the Arts and Design District. The developer of the site projects nearly $3 million in earnings from the sale of these four condos, and the city hopes to break even with this account. The Star said that if the developer defaults on its $2.9 million loan, the city is to pick up the tab. So far, one condo has sold.
The city should have offered tax breaks, care in traffic considerations or zoning for parking as incentives, but it dirtied its hands in a private deal.
There are a couple of concessions in those numbers which should be pointed out. According to the Star, Mayor Jim Brainard said that some of the city’s contribution came from business taxes and that the city also projects the building will generate some $75,000 in property taxes.
When I first heard about the Arts and Design District concept, I supported infusing some new life into the otherwise economically lacking area. The idea, however, has warped into a monstrosity that doesn’t know when to quit. The opening of new stores frequently results in the demolition or closing of old stores, and the city is leveraged up to its nose in District projects.
Not only does Carmel have a large stake in the success of this private business, it also keeps Lurie on its payroll. The city employs Lurie — a consultant, technically speaking — to attract other out-of-state gallery owners to move their businesses to the District. Since 2005, Carmel has paid Lurie more than $100,000 in consulting fees, says the Star. This money covers living expenses for Lurie, who moved his family here.
The opening of this gallery is yet another example of Carmel’s overactive checkbook. To encourage business to open here and to beautify within its boundaries is part of the local government’s charge, and I understand that it takes money and a carefully refined effort. The lengths to which the current administration has gone, however, far exceed its rightful responsibilities and has resulted in unnecessarily huge investments by taxpayers.
Brainard, who has received the brunt of the criticism especially with the recent election, and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission are gambling with millions of dollars here. The return of the city’s investment hinges on three currently unknown individuals who will buy condos retailing for more than $665,000. Now I haven’t personally walked through these residences, but I’m betting that the high price tag will deter most potential buyers, especially when neighboring homes cost less than half that.
Carmel is also saturated with art galleries, especially in the District. The Children’s Art Gallery already holds the Guinness world record for being the smallest one; perhaps the District aims to have the largest number of art galleries in a quarter-mile radius. Nonetheless, the District has not yet achieved the eclectic, artsy vibe it desires. Obviously the idea hasn’t fully taken off, and the enumeration of these galleries fools the District into thinking it has. We are still in the Midwest, and let’s be frank, this is still Indiana – far from a sprawling, urban center.
As a future taxpayer, I hope the city’s money equips the fire department and promotes high education – I would even spring for repaving roads, but not sweeping the doormats of businesses. The Evan Lurie Gallery, even in all its architectural splendor, is unfortunately an example of just that. Hopefully, the city isn’t shooting for the moon and landing in a ditch because with this amount of money involved, the repercussions could echo for years.
Jaclyn Chen is editor in chief of the HiLite. Contact her at jchen@hilite.org.
Growing up more than age
November 15, 2007
By: Claire Pickett <cpickett@hilite.org>
Growing up. Probably one of the hardest things we’ll have to do. Making friends, falling in love, having our hearts broken and finding who we are. So how do you deal with it? How do you learn from it? There are no manuals that can tell us what to do, and no one who can tell us how to do it. The conclusion I have reached is that age is no defining factor of being considered “grown up”. I’m 18, the age that is legally considered an adult, and I know I’m nothing even close to one. When I was younger, I always thought adults were so boring. All they did was talk on the phone, pay bills and watch “Kathy-Lee and Regis”. Where was the fun in that? I would ask my mother if when I grew up, would I still be able to climb trees? She would respond: “I guess, but you won’t want to.”
But now I’m 18, and I still like to climb trees. I still get excited by insignificant things, and yeah, I even jam to Hannah Montana with my best friends in the car. Growing up is what you make it, and part of the growing up process is making mistakes. But the essential part of those mistakes is learning from them. However, now that college is finally in my line of vision, I find myself pausing. Maybe I’ve wanted to grow up too fast. Maybe I haven’t realized that soon enough I’ll be leaving behind some of the most important people in my life; my friends and family. As I look at my peers, growing up seems to be happening faster and faster. Five-year-olds possess cell phones, fifth graders go on diets and seventh graders send nude pictures of themselves to others. But growing up isn’t about doing “grown up” things. It’s about gaining respect as one ages. But how can respect be gained if someone doesn’t respect himself?
I’m not one to preach. I’ve made too many mistakes, and am still too young to know what being an adult really is. But I’ve experienced high school and learned from it, and I have become familiar with the process of becoming an adult. So in the end, if high school has taught me anything, it’s how to grow up, how to fight through hard times and how to find myself. To all those going through it, I can just ask you to hold on. It really is worth it in the end, and every experience is beneficial. Hurt heals while you learn who the real people are in your life. When seniors ask for respect, that is the only reason why: Because we’ve been there, we’ve gone through it and lived through it. We have learned that growing up is facing your fears no matter how much you don’t want to. It’s being man or woman enough to admit your wrong when you thought you were right. But finally, growing up is having the courage to be that one special person who manages to stick out from the rest and do what’s right. Don’t give into the temptation of following the crowd. In the end, it’s not worth it.
Look around at your classmates and decide if that is who you really want to be like. Unless you have the guts to be different, they are just a reflection of yourself. So have fun, be yourself, mess up, laugh about it, then do what you have to do to grow up.
Claire Pickett is on ads staff. Contact her at cpickett@hilite.org
Dear Editor
November 15, 2007
To read the original article by Bennett Fuson, click here
By: Vincent Dattolo
Dear Editor,
In a recent article titled, “Dattolo’s dresses up food court standards,” written by Bennett Fuson, I was disturbed to find misrepresentations, so-called facts that were blatantly untrue and snide comments that have no place in true reporting.
I would like to begin with the first error that should never have made it to print, as common fact finding and editing should have spotted this glaring error: the name of our restaurant is “Dattolo’s Ristorante and Pizzeria.” We do not call ourselves a restaurante, which I believe is an attempt at blending both English and Italian, and we definitely do not miss-spell pizzeria in our name! Even a novice reporter should use spell check and most importantly, get the name right when dishing on a local restaurant!
Secondly, the author, Mr. Fuson, continually refers to our restaurant as “Dattolo,” again, the inability to spell check or better yet, knowing the name of the restaurant on which you are reporting, was written in error. We are Dattolo’s, in the English language we commonly use an apostrophe and an s to denote ownership, and being that Dattolo is our last name and we have named our restaurant after ourselves, our name is thus Dattolo’s.
Now, if we can separate ourselves from these elementary errors for a moment, I would like to address the continual references to “food court standards” that appear throughout the article. Mr. Fuson was a guest in our restaurant during our lunch hours, which had thorough reporting been used in this article, would have been listed somewhere for the reader so that they too could come and join us during business hours.
However, I digress; Mr. Fuson was apparently at a loss when he joined us between the lunch hours of 11 am and 3 pm. We give our guests the option of either enjoying a sit-down luncheon with table service or our express self-serve lunch where one orders at the counter to expedite their meal. Mr. Fuson, as the article states, clearly chose the latter option. However, to my dismay, he failed to explain to the reader the option that he chose not to take was indeed available, instead he continually refers to my restaurant as a “food court” style dining experience, when, in truth, was the option he chose. Furthermore, Mr. Fuson apparently has never dined at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis, because I fear that if he had, he would be able to ascertain that indeed we are a pizzeria and do not claim to be, nor have we ever claimed to be, a five star dining experience. We want our guests to enjoy a genuinely Italian meal in a family-friendly atmosphere.
In the next paragraph of Mr. Fuson’s unedited article, I was astounded to find that Mr. Fuson stated that we have claimed to serve the best pizza in Indiana. This is a glaring error, and had he proof-read his work; he would have found that we claim to be the best tasting pizza in all of Carmel, not the state of Indiana. This claim we stand behind with a guarantee and would invite all readers to come and join us to see that our homemade sauces and dough are truly worthy of this distinction. We, unlike our competitors, do not use canned sauces or store-bought dough. We use authentic Italian recipes that have been passed through generations of our family.
As any food critic knows, when one dines in an establishment, it is customary to state what items one tried and the cost per item, so that the reader can gain an understanding of the cuisine, and perhaps try it out for themselves. However, Mr. Fuson again misstates the facts when he claims that he ordered an $18.00 one topping pizza. One would need to finish reading the article to find that Mr. Fuson in fact ordered a 16” pie with pepperoni, an order of garlic bread, (which happens to feed a family of four), and his bill was only $18.00. Our prices are at least one dollar below those of our competitor’s and we challenge Mr. Fuson and his readers to find a cheaper pie of the same quality, size, and price in all of Carmel. His reference to a store bought, frozen pizza from Costco being cheaper is in fact quite funny, because as you can see Mr. Fuson, you are comparing apples and oranges.
Mr. Fuson goes on to attempt to describe the flavors of the meal he enjoyed. He claims the pizza sauce to be “tangy or spicy,” but he “couldn’t figure out which.” Mr. Fuson, I would challenge you to look up these two very different words in any English dictionary. The words are not synonymous, nor are they similar. They are in fact quite different from one another. Tangy, according to our dear friend Mr. Webster is having a distinctively sharp taste, flavor, or odor; while spicy, on the other hand, means to be seasoned with or containing spice. So, in the future I would ask that you fully understand the meanings of the terms that you use so that you can ensure accuracy in your reporting.
Lastly, I would ask that Mr. Fuson reexamine his perpetuation of the stereotype “redneck” when reporting. As a reporter it is your duty to report facts in an unbiased manner, while at the same time painting a mental picture for your audience. In the last paragraph of your article you claim that my restaurant is a “glamorous redneck, not in any way true to itself.” I would again ask the reader to remember that Mr. Fuson, according to his own words, seems to think that Dattolo’s atmosphere is indeed similar to that of St. Elmo’s. I can honestly tell you dear reader, that it is not. We are a pizzeria, true in form and design to those images that your mind conjures up when remembering those times when you have enjoyed a truly authentic Italian meal. It is unfair, untrue, and extremely unprofessional to refer to anyone, let alone one’s business, as a “redneck” when it is glaringly obvious that you have not dined at the restaurants which you reference throughout your article.
This completes my rebuttal to Mr. Fuson’s lack of fact finding and glaring errors in his reporting style. I thank you for your time and I would ask that all of your readers please come and join us Monday thru Thursday 11 to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 to 11pm, and Sunday’s 4 to 9 pm, we look forward to serving you our homemade Italian classics in a family friendly atmosphere.
Sincerely,
Vincent Dattolo
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