by Ellie Carter Limestone Coffee and Tea is a lovely cafe with delicious beverages and snacks and a cozy, quiet atmosphere. This women-owned small business is located in the middle of downtown Batavia and features a variety of coffees, teas, smoothies, juices, steamers, and small breakfast options. This means that even if you aren’t a […]

By Emma Stoodley Seven point one percent of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have been diagnosed with anxiety and 3.2 percent of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have been diagnosed with depression according to data from the CDC. However, this doesn’t include the numbers from other mental health problems and children […]

By Ellie Carter From the bright, rhythmic tunes of modern pop, to the moody melodies of grunge/alternative, there is truly something for everyone in music today. Learning an instrument allows you to be a part of it.  Learning an instrument is incredibly helpful for mental health, creativity, and patience. Given the incredible benefits, everyone should […]

By Reina Manabe        Phones are now an essential tool of teen’s life. Research has shown that 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone and 45 percent say they are online “almost constantly.” Moreover, being a highschooler, I see a lot of students being on their phones in classes so often. What makes teens […]

   Phoebe Bridgers’ second solo album Punisher skillfully combines musicianship, lyricism, and vocals to create the perfect record for those moments when you’ve hit rock bottom but still want to boogie. This ranking was difficult to make as this is one of those rare records where every song is top-notch. So, just because a track might […]

By Ava Curran Stressful and time-consuming, the SATs are making their way to your school even while fewer colleges are requiring them. In response, Illinois should make standardized tests optional for students. The standardized tests students take in Illinois, such as ACT, SAT, MAP, & IAR, are quite inaccurate.  “So, there’s testing anxiety so you […]

By Amanda Melvin Long summer vacations, days on the beach, swimming in the pool, a carefree three months. This is what most kids love. With year-round school, this break would be significantly shorter.  For those reasons, a year-round school year should not be considered. The most common year-round schedules are the 60/20 model and the […]

By Mary Fornelli How would you feel if you were trapped in an enclosed space for years with little space to roam and very little freedom? This is how animals in zoos feel. I believe that zoos in Illinois should be banned.  Zoos are causing more harm than good to animals. Keeping these animals in […]

Alexa Schorr Many critics and fans think that the Golden State Warriors are the team to beat in the NBA. They have Steph Curry, the best shooter of all time; Draymond Green, who is one of the best defensive players in the league; and Klay Thompson, who also is outstanding from the arc. As of […]

By Brynne Albert From the rise of athleisure to the dominance of twee and business casual to the quiet overtaking of Tumblr grunge and celebrities like Kim Kardashian popularizing BBL fashion, the 2010s have been a diverse decade of style, but that diversity comes with a price–the speed at which trends move.  It’s no surprise […]