Bledfest makes its return to Livingston County

Returning for its ninth year is the all-ages, mixed genre, one-day music festival: Bledfest, which takes place in none other than Livingston County. Last year there were around 2,500 people who came to the festival, as well as 70 bands that performed on the six stages. Bledfest began in 2005 in a basement and later escalated to become what it is today.  Bledfest has recently been referred to as “the most intimate, personal concert experience of its size in the entire country.”

It is now held at the Hartland Performing Arts Center, which used to be the old Hartland High School. This is a music festival for all tastes, and it includes hardcore, metal, punk, pop, indie rock, folk, and much more. This year’s festival takes place on May 25.

Tickets are 25 dollars and are being sold by each of the bands performing as well as at the door.

The following bands are participating in Bledfest 2013: Anti-Flag, Andrew W.K., Pianos Become the Teeth, Into it. Over it., tigers Jaw, The Swellers, code Orange Kids, Hostage Calm, Make Do and Mend, Cheap Girls, Koji, Mixtapes, Diamond Youth, Hit the Lights, Masked Intruder, Sainthood Reps, Allison Weiss, Turnover, The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die, Wilson, Endeavors, Small Parks, The Shack, Hung Up, Aeris, Paths, and many more.

David Day, a junior at Howell High School is very excited to be a part of Bledfest with his band Paths, consisting of Jason Kuckuck, Brad Poppy, Sean Stice, and Neil Hazel. The melodic metal-core band played their first official show six months ago and instantly became a hit with many young people. Paths has played at the Opera House in Howell, Owosso, The American Legion, and several other venues. They’ve already headlined a show with over 150 attendees as well. Their most recent show was two weeks ago in Warren, Michigan where they opened up for a band called Berrier.

Day is still shocked by the whole experience saying, “Bledfest came as a surprise to me; I didn’t think that this would all come and go so fast. Just a year ago we were just messing around, so it’s really awesome to see how far we’ve come.”

Paths just released a new song called “Pitfalls”, and they’re currently working on an EP that will be released after Bledfest. Paths will also be around during the summer with lots of shows lined up.

Former HHS student Justin Brandt is the singer of the band Aeris consisting of him, Dallas Berry, Colin Denton, Max Klein, and Jake Osbourne. Aeris is a popcore band from Oakland County founded in 2011. They mix elements of pop, rock, and metal music to create their sound. They have already recorded a five song EP called “This Is the End of Your Life”, and they were nominated in two categories at the Detroit Music Awards this year.

Aeris likes to blend original songs and covers from alternative, metal, and post hardcore genres. One of their popular covers is “Secrets” by One Republic, which is also included in their EP. They are currently writing more music in order to write another EP.

Brandt couldn’t be happier to be playing Bledfest this year, telling the Main Four, “We’re incredibly pumped to be playing this show! We like playing in Livingston County and hope to do it a lot more in the future.”

The feedback from people all over Michigan as well as the surrounding states over Bledfest is positive and eager. Many are “stoked to hear the new bands and music at Bledfest 2013!” and think that “it’s seriously going to be amazing.” All ages are welcome. Bledfest is a fun experience for everyone so come out and support the ever-growing music scene.

Howell honors alumni basketball players

On Saturday, January 19, the Howell alumni stormed the courts and played another game in the Howell High School field house.

 

“The games are very competitive, they have always been that way,” says Guy Samples, the head of the alumni games.

 

This is the third year that the men have had this alumni game. This year there was a twist however, not only would the men play, but also the women.

 

“This year we added the girls’ game. Since coach Piepho had such a big impact on both the boys and girls program here at Howell, we wanted to make sure that we incorporated everyone,” says Samples.

 

The idea of the fundraiser came from Guy Samples and Dan Millard. The donations are split between the Howell boys and girls basketball program.

 

“We typically average $400-500 a game,” says Samples.

 

The women’s game began at 1:00 p.m. and consisted of ten Lady Highlanders from the 1996 finalist team. Past coaches, Jennifer Goodwin and Trisha Clark coached for the women’s game.

 

“It feels like we are big time now, coming back and playing as alumni. We liked the turn out. We had 18 girls playing and we are looking to get more next year so that should be exciting,” says Howell alumni Stephanie Benear.

 

Afterward the men’s game took over, coached by Lee Piepho and Bill Simmons. With Piepho’s Green Team trailing Bill Simmons’ White team 63-60, Jeff Dunham swished a three pointer at the buzzer to tie it.

 

Longtime coach of the boys and girls, Lee Piepho was honored between the two games.

 

Lee Piepho was part of both the boys program and the girls. He coached freshman basketball for the boys and then switched to the girls program, becoming the varsity head coach. Throughout his twenty six years at Howell he had a record of 362-152 .In 1996 he led the Lady Highlanders to the Semi finals.

 

“It’s a fantastic experience coming back and seeing all the girls that I’ve coached over the years, especially the girls from the 1996 team. It’s fantastic to see them and their families and just to see what they have been up to over the past few years,” says Piepho.

 

The key teams, according to Samples were the following: ”Boys team was pretty solid through the 80′s and the girls were definitely there in 95-96.”

 

From the amount of smiles and bruises throughout the games fans could tell what a great experience it was for these alumni.

 

“We are just looking to regain the history of Howell basketball,” says Samples.

Main Four alumni share value of journalism in college, careers

The Main Four publication exists to keep students connected and in touch with their surroundings. But Howell High School’s news publication also exists to help further and craft the journalistic minds of ambitious writers. Many talented students have allowed their skills to blossom in the Main Four newsroom.

The only question that remains is this: What happens to all of those aspiring journalists when they graduate? The answer to that critical question is pretty amazing.

Design Editor: Rebecca Turchanik (2007)

“If I look back at it, things I did in the Main Four are tasks I have to do daily here,” says Turchanik, a former design editor for the Main Four.

Where exactly is here?

China.

“I’m living in Shanghai working for a Swiss owned major media company, Ringier,” adds Turchanik. “It produces four English language magazines for foreigners living here.”

Turchanik attended Aquinas and Grand Valley, and she also worked on the Aquinas school newspaper, The Saint, for a year. She explains that she dropped journalism in college, but realized later that she gave up too easily.

“I still don’t always know what I’m doing,” Turchanik says. “It doesn’t really get that easy after high school, knowing who you want to be. The trick is just doing stuff you have a passion for.”

And Turchanik’s passion is almost unmatched. Working for Ringier in Shanghai, as well as doing public relations for the Girl Scouts Council, Turchanik spends much of her time promoting and thinking outside of the box.

“If writing or anything related to journalism is what you want to do, keep going,” Turchanik says. “Half the battle of getting a journalism job is you have to be willing to fight for it.”

Editorial Editor: Samantha Grasley (2009)

“Network, network, network,” says Grasley, former editorial and news editor of the Main Four.

Grasley is currently attending Michigan State University and will be receiving her degree in Zoology in May. She says that she intends to apply for veterinarian school, and she credits a lot of her work ethic back to her days on the Main Four staff.

“It helped me understand the importance of deadlines, time management, and persistence,” says Grasley. “It helped with my brainstorming and outlining skills while developing a paper. The Main Four staff gave me the confidence to approach people with questions and be curious about things around me.”

Grasley also talks about how being part of a journalism class has helped her realize that networking is incredibly important, not only for writers, but for anyone interesting in pursuing a career that involves impressing other people.

“Make a binder of every story you’ve written, every picture you’ve published, every page you have designed. Use it as a working resume to show people when you apply for jobs or have interviews.”

Sports Editor: Jacob Kanclerz (2008)

“The Main Four was where it all started…my first taste of journalism,” says Kanclerz, former sports editor of the Main Four publication.

Kanclerz has a long list of successful ventures. He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He also took an internship with the Columbus Dispatch for six months and now working as a reporter with The Newark Advocate, also in Ohio. Kanclerz had a hand in running the school newspaper at MSU, and won four journalism scholarships.

“I’m most interested in a career based around reporting,” says Kanclerz. “I’d like to cover public affairs, the government and political issues, but I’m open to any compelling and important topics. I’d like to work for a large print or online-based publication.”

Kanclerz knows the ins and outs of the journalism world, and he explains that it is difficult to find a job involving reporting. He describes getting a degree and finding employment ‘an accomplishment in itself’. However, he explains, it is more than possible for someone who is dedicated.

“If you really love journalism and you work very hard, there will be a job for you. But you have to earn it.”

Editor-In-Chief: Jenna Birch (2010)

“I didn’t even know that I wanted to write until I was on the Main Four,” says Birch, a former editor-in-chief of the Main Four. “I took journalistic writing on a whim in my freshman year and I decided from there that I really loved writing.”

Birch works as a freelance writer. She is a student at the University of Michigan, and while she isn’t involved in journalism through the school, she currently writes regularly for around eight publications.

Writing about a variety of women’s interest topics like health, parenting, and relationships, Birch knows how to word her writing in order to get an audience’s attention.

“Take what you learn from the Main Four and from high school and apply it however you need to,” says Birch. “Because it’s always going to be changing and it’s always going to be what you make of it.”

Birch recently wrote a story that involved interviewing magician David Copperfield, an accomplishment that is huge for journalists. Her story will be published in a magazine, and it probably won’t be her last big story either.

Birch also wrote a story for Womensday.com about marriage and cheating that was recently referred to on the morning television show, The View.

“My love for writing flourished at the Main Four,” Birch finishes. “And I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it weren’t for that experience.”

Staff Writer: John Galubensky (2009)

Journalism can help you become so many things, and that includes an engineer.

“My year on staff helped developed skills of knowing what right questions to ask and how to approach people,” says Galubensky, a former staff writer. “Along with being able to organize thoughts and transfer them into a report that accurately describes the project I had completed.”

Galubensky explains that he was a third-year summer intern at General Motors. He is most proud of his chance to be published in the Livingston Press and Argus while on staff at the Main Four.

“I am constantly in a sea of numbers, graphs, and charts,” says Galubensky. “But being able to properly convey thoughts clearly to a design team or engineering team is something not every engineer has, and I thank the year I spent on staff for the Main Four more than anything for that.”

Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager: Kelsea Raether (2008)

“The number of opportunities I had to be involved in while in high school,” says Raether, “and the skills I was able to present after graduating were rewards beyond just learning to write.”

A graduate from Michigan State University, Raether is currently working in sales and business, but ultimately wants to pursue a career with NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

“Writing is only the beginning of what journalism is,” says Raether. “Learn to accept criticism and red ink marks because they will only make you a better writer. The most important advice I can give though is to stay involved, and always be a part of a writing organization, and to get as many internships and as much experience under your belt as you can.”

Main Four alumni share value of journalism in college, careers

The Main Four publication exists to keep students connected and in touch with their surroundings. But Howell High School’s news publication also exists to help further and craft the journalistic minds of ambitious writers. Many talented students have allowed their skills to blossom in the Main Four newsroom.

The only question that remains is this: What happens to all of those aspiring journalists when they graduate? The answer to that critical question is pretty amazing.

Design Editor: Rebecca Turchanik (2007)

“If I look back at it, things I did in the Main Four are tasks I have to do daily here,” says Turchanik, a former design editor for the Main Four.

Where exactly is here?

China.

“I’m living in Shanghai working for a Swiss owned major media company, Ringier,” adds Turchanik. “It produces four English language magazines for foreigners living here.”

Turchanik attended Aquinas and Grand Valley, and she also worked on the Aquinas school newspaper, The Saint, for a year. She explains that she dropped journalism in college, but realized later that she gave up too easily.

“I still don’t always know what I’m doing,” Turchanik says. “It doesn’t really get that easy after high school, knowing who you want to be. The trick is just doing stuff you have a passion for.”

And Turchanik’s passion is almost unmatched. Working for Ringier in Shanghai, as well as doing public relations for the Girl Scouts Council, Turchanik spends much of her time promoting and thinking outside of the box.

“If writing or anything related to journalism is what you want to do, keep going,” Turchanik says. “Half the battle of getting a journalism job is you have to be willing to fight for it.”

 

Editorial Editor: Samantha Grasley (2009)

      “Network, network, network,” says Grasley, former editorial and news editor of the Main Four.

Grasley is currently attending Michigan State University and will be receiving her degree in Zoology in May. She says that she intends to apply for veterinarian school, and she credits a lot of her work ethic back to her days on the Main Four staff.

“It helped me understand the importance of deadlines, time management, and persistence,” says Grasley. “It helped with my brainstorming and outlining skills while developing a paper. The Main Four staff gave me the confidence to approach people with questions and be curious about things around me.”

Grasley also talks about how being part of a journalism class has helped her realize that networking is incredibly important, not only for writers, but for anyone interesting in pursuing a career that involves impressing other people.

“Make a binder of every story you’ve written, every picture you’ve published, every page you have designed. Use it as a working resume to show people when you apply for jobs or have interviews.”

 

Sports Editor: Jacob Kanclerz (2008)

      “The Main Four was where it all started…my first taste of journalism,” says Kanclerz, former sports editor of the Main Four publication.

Kanclerz has a long list of successful ventures. He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He also took an internship with the Columbus Dispatch for six months and now working as a reporter with The Newark Advocate, also in Ohio. Kanclerz had a hand in running the school newspaper at MSU, and won four journalism scholarships.

“I’m most interested in a career based around reporting,” says Kanclerz. “I’d like to cover public affairs, the government and political issues, but I’m open to any compelling and important topics. I’d like to work for a large print or online-based publication.”

Kanclerz knows the ins and outs of the journalism world, and he explains that it is difficult to find a job involving reporting. He describes getting a degree and finding employment ‘an accomplishment in itself’. However, he explains, it is more than possible for someone who is dedicated.

“If you really love journalism and you work very hard, there will be a job for you. But you have to earn it.”

Editor-In-Chief: Jenna Birch (2010)

      “I didn’t even know that I wanted to write until I was on the Main Four,” says Birch, a former editor-in-chief of the Main Four. “I took journalistic writing on a whim in my freshman year and I decided from there that I really loved writing.”

Birch works as a freelance writer. She is a student at the University of Michigan, and while she isn’t involved in journalism through the school, she currently writes regularly for around eight publications. Writing about a variety of women’s interest topics like health, parenting, and relationships, Birch knows how to word her writing in order to get an audience’s attention.

“Take what you learn from the Main Four and from high school and apply it however you need to,” says Birch. “Because it’s always going to be changing and it’s always going to be what you make of it.”

Birch recently wrote a story that involved interviewing magician David Copperfield, an accomplishment that is huge for journalists. Her story will be published in a magazine, and it probably won’t be her last big story either.

 

Birch also wrote a story for Womensday.com about marriage and cheating that was recently referred to on the morning television show, The View. (Video below)

 

“My love for writing flourished at the Main Four,” Birch finishes. “And I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it weren’t for that experience.”

Staff Writer: John Galubensky (2009)

Journalism can help you become so many things, and that includes an engineer.

“My year on staff helped developed skills of knowing what right questions to ask and how to approach people,” says Galubensky, a former staff writer. “Along with being able to organize thoughts and transfer them into a report that accurately describes the project I had completed.”

Galubensky explains that he was a third-year summer intern at General Motors. He is most proud of his chance to be published in the Livingston Press and Argus while on staff at the Main Four.

“I am constantly in a sea of numbers, graphs, and charts,” says Galubensky. “But being able to properly convey thoughts clearly to a design team or engineering team is something not every engineer has, and I thank the year I spent on staff for the Main Four more than anything for that.”

 

Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager: Kelsea Raether (2008)

      “The number of opportunities I had to be involved in while in high school,” says Raether, “and the skills I was able to present after graduating were rewards beyond just learning to write.”

A graduate from Michigan State University, Raether is currently working in sales and business, but ultimately wants to pursue a career with NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
“Writing is only the beginning of what journalism is,” says Raether. “Learn to accept criticism and red ink marks because they will only make you a better writer. The most important advice I can give though is to stay involved, and always be a part of a writing organization, and to get as many internships and as much experience under your belt as you can.”

 

Ten things they don’t tell you about college: advice from HHS alumni

For seniors who are headed off to college in the fall, a whole new world is going to unfold. Teachers and parents always seem to have an abundance of advice for those who are starting this new point in their lives. Here are ten things, from Howell High School alumni, that you should know before you go off to college.

1. Time management is extremely important. With the abundance of work that students in college receive, time management is a key to success. “College doesn’t teach you time management; they teach you crisis management. Prioritize your homework based off when exams, quizzes, tests, and projects are. And don’t try to read the entire textbook. Skim it and write down vocab, but again, crisis management,” explains Becca Miner.

2. If a professor sends out a study guide, DO IT! Miner also said that college isn’t like high school where you get study guides all the time. If a professor sends out a study guide or some other tool to help with either a paper or a test, take it seriously. In college, it is a lot of book work and reading, so when the occasional study guide does come up take advantage of it.

3. College allows you to be who you really are. “They never tell you that when you get into college that’s when you truly find yourself,” explains Alumni Jessica Hatfield. “Everyone says high school is when you become yourself. I have found it’s when you are tested academically and socially that a person really grows. I recently had a speech class. My goal for every speech was to put myself a little more outside of my comfort zone. Doing so has allowed me to be able to talk to anyone about anything and that is a rewarding experience.”

4. Make friends with upperclassmen. Meeting upperclassmen is one of the keys to success in college. Since you can choose your professors, up to a point, having someone who has already taken the classes you are looking into is helpful. Figuring out what professors are amazing and which ones are to be avoided is something that upperclassmen can help you figure out. Also, using websites such as www.ratemyprofessors.com where students go on and help decipher what professors to have is definitely useful. “I’ve used it every semester and it has helped a lot,” explains HHS graduate Anthony Nazarowff. “There tends to be more complaints than anything else, but you can usually tell which professors are going to make your life easier while still learning.”

5. Try to limit what you bring to college. It’s important to realize that what may have been a necessity at home, you can leave behind once you get to college. Whether it’s your whole closet or all of your favorite books and movies, they are really not necessary for dorm life.

“Really try to limit what you bring from home. Your room gets so cluttered so easily, it’s insane,” tells Jillian Coy. “Just make sure to bring enough school supplies, especially tape (ALL KINDS!) and glue and stuff. And Clorox wipes. Also medicinal things, like Ibuprofen, bandages, antibiotic cream, etc. Just trust me. Because it’s not like you can just walk downstairs and grab it from your mom…you have to bike to the store, which is not so much fun.”

6. College isn’t as difficult as it is made out to be. Now this does depend on the university and what classes you enroll in, but many college students don’t believe it is as difficult as the teachers and counselors make it out to be. “When you consider how much time you aren’t actually in class compared to high school, you have plenty of time for school work and anything else you might want to do. Taking a normal 15 credits means you are only in class for 15 hours a week. Compare that to the 35+ hours spent in classes for high school,” explains Nazarowff. “Sure, I’ve had big projects and papers to do, but nothing that hasn’t come with a reasonable time to complete the assignment.”

7. Finding the right group of friends is important. Those who you surround yourself with can really influence what your college experience will become. Finding a good group of friends who you can have fun with, but can also study with is important. We all want to have fun when we go to college, but it is key to remember that you are there to get an education. “I am so content with the people I have around me because they are very good influences,” comments Coy.  “In college it is SO ridiculously easy to just not do your homework or not go to class or not get involved. But my friends and I do homework together every single day. They push me to go to class and are very supportive of my work. We edit each other’s papers and help each other out, but then we also know how to chill out. We take lots and lots of caf breaks. You name it, we do it. You need to find a balance between schoolwork and hanging out because it’s so easy to get caught up in just chilling with your friends all the time that you neglect your work, and vice versa.”

8. Always have bus fare and the number for a cab or bus programmed into your phone. This is key to staying safe while on campus. If you go out with friends and for some reason get split up, you don’t want to be left without a way to get back. Not only do you need the number for a bus or cab in your phone, make sure that your phone is always charged. “Being left without your room key or money is the worst possible situation you could be in. This may sound like common sense, but always have this as a backup plan,” advised Miner.

9. Find the warmest route to class. This may sound silly but being wet because of rain or freezing because of snow is not fun, especially if you are attending a large university. “Cut through buildings, minimize your time outside. Class will be miserable if you’re shaking and numb. I used to take a route to the Broadcasting building that took 10 minutes longer because I could cut through other buildings. It was worth it.”

10. There’s no place like home. “You will miss home,” Bre’Ana Strong explains that even though there is the anticipation to be independent, that you truly will miss home. Whether going to another state for college, like Strong did, or just a few hours away from home, college students still enjoy going home.

Going to college is a huge change of lifestyle, and you don’t always know what to expect. Be open to your new environment and find a way to make it work for you. Hopefully these helpful hints will make your transition just a little bit easier.