Monster Bash

By Megan Laubershimer

Want to plan a frightfully fun Halloween party but have no idea how?  10 easy steps are all it takes to transform a draining night of handing out candy to mini trick-or-treaters into a wickedly good celebration that even the dead, or the undead, will want to boogie.

    Step one Create a theme.  It will liven up a dead party and brew up some fun.  Themes come in all shapes and sizes from a witches' night full of magic, broomsticks and even a few black cats to a fancy dinner party where someone just might turn up dead.  Whatever the theme may be, make sure everything else centers around it.

    Step two Find a "boo-tastic" setting.  The setting is like the frosting to an almost delicious cake; it sets the mood of an already spooky theme.  Settings like Dracula's lair where everything is dark, old and just a little chilling or maybe just a picnic in a graveyard will spice up the party.

    Step three Choose the perfect bone-chilling music.  Music is what gets the blood pounding and the adrenaline running, a practice every horror movie uses, so crank up the scary music and do the monster mash to the zombie music of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.

    Step four Mouth-watering food can both excite and terrify when it comes to Halloween treats.  Some advice: first impressions are almost always wrong, so even if it's called toe jam soup or fungus surprise, try it.

     Junior Alex Travis's favorite ghostly treat is kitty litter cake. "It's made of that confetti cake mix with tootsie rolls and cake crumbs.  Then you make the frosting grayish."  Sounds deliciously spooky.

    Step five What's a Halloween party without costumes?  Whether the costumes fit the theme, like a prom night revisited or maybe a '50s flashback with poodle skirts and leather jackets, or they're crazier than a giant sumo wrestler blow-up suit, costumes are tradition.

    Step six If it is going to be a costume party, why not throw in a little competition?  Awards make a great ending to the night, and a best costume prize would be hauntingly festive.  Just be sure the winner really is wearing a costume.

    Step seven There's the setting, music and food, but a party's not complete without decorations.  Anything black, orange or green will give the party some festivity, but try adding a splash of red to create a more haunting atmosphere.  Streamers, black lights, glow-in-the-dark accessories and especially carved pumpkins will bring some spooky cheer into the celebration.

    Step eight Games will bring out the inner witch in all the party guests, especially if there are prizes for the winner.  Pin the tail on the werewolf and bobbing for apples are classics but may seem like dead and boring games, so try playing Ghosts in the Graveyard or Name that Scary Movie.

    Step nine People are an important part of planning.  A party can't be a party without guests.  Decide if the party calls for a small group of ghastly guests, or take the more common route and host the bash of the year.

    Step ten Cost determines everything.  Be prepared to pay anywhere from $50-$200 depending on what kind of party it turns out to be.  Use coupons, shop at the dollar store and make home-made food and decorations.

    Remember, Halloween is a time for thrills, chills, a few good screams, and especially a little boogie to the "Monster Mash".

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By Camlyn Giddins

    Of course Halloween is a day of fun, candy, costumes, and scares. For some, however, trick or treating doesn't only include sweets and aimless wandering. Trick or treating requires strategy. There are places to go, places to avoid, times to go out and not to go out. 

    Senior Kathy Calero says, "Up at Skyline they give a lot [of candy]." She also adds that the best time to go is, "Earlier. If you go too late, then everything is gone. Go when the sun goes down." Senior Jacob Burgess says Mapleton is a good place to candy hunt and agrees with Kathy as far as time goes, but also advises, "Don't be the person that goes out at four o clock though." 

    Senior Katrina Brocco says the best place to go is Cambera Heights. "There's this one house that's really, really big and they're the cheapest. They give out tootsie rolls. But some houses give out king size candy bars." She prefers to go out later."Going earlier is fun, but being later is the best because that's when all the good candy's out because they save the best for last." 

    Junior Ale Cano goes by Target and junior Alana Smith likes Eagle Mountain. Junior Royce Berube suggests, "Palisade on the other side of the golf course."

    The neighborhood east of Timpanogos is said to be a good location. Junior Robin Omer shares that, "Sebastian gives out DVDs. He's the guy that has all the Christmas lights up."

    If you're thinking about giving up on trick or treating, try these places out first and see what you get. As Katrina says, "Trick or treating is the best, You're never too old to go trick or treating." 

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By Abby Clyde

   Halloween has always been a favorite holiday for many teens. Who wouldn't want to run around dressed as your favorite cartoon character collecting free candy? Another question is: how many Timpanogos students actually participate in Halloween festivities? When asked if she was planning on going trick-or-treating, sophomore Lisa Raymond replied, "Nope, my parents think that I'm old enough that it'll be rude if I ask for free candy." 

    Junior Robyn Omer had a similar response, "Probably not. I might take my nephews trick-or-treating, but after that I'm going to Halloween parties and stuff."

    On the other hand, sophomore Michael Thurman responded with, "Yeah, of course. All day!"

    More often than not though, most of our students turned out to be planning huge Halloween bashes, or attending family gatherings. Interestingly enough, out of the ones who are going on the hunt for sugary treats, more guys than girls were looking forward to it.  Either way, parties, candy, or both, Halloween is always a fun holiday that everyone can enjoy.

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By Cole Ainsworth
   Halloween, an old religious holiday that found new commercial value in the United States, has a long history of traditional behavior.

   Old religious traditions had an offering of food to restless spirits so that spirits wouldn't haunt their inhabitants and move on to another home without the offering.

   Loved ones placed candles on the graves to keep their souls in the grave and not lost and wandering the earth. Candles are often lit for people who have passed away. The candle tradition has lived on in jack-o-lanterns which tie the food and candle offerings together. If one works, doing both should work a treat!

   A superstitious belief was that  if a woman made some food, and put a gold ring in the center, her true love would show up for dinner. Bobbing for apples also had a romantic interest. The first  to get an apple would be the first one to walk down the aisle.   

   Overall, Halloween is a time enjoyed by all, especially the students at Timpanogos  High. Each Halloween the students here surprise everyone as they dress up and show off their Halloween pride. Despite not looking for marriage and Halloween not being a romantic holiday anymore, having Halloween on a Saturday allows hosts to have a really great party or dates to find something really fun to do for Halloween.

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Putting to the State Championships

by Marissa Unbedacht

   From getting hit in the head with the golfball to shooting an 86 with 23 puts, the Timpanogos golf team has started out with a great season.   

   There are great individual players on the golf team this year.

   Junior Connor Sharp said, "Golf is so different from other sports because it's mentally challenging, harder, and takes more skill than other sports." 

   Do you ever wonder what is going through a golfer's head while he's getting ready to take a swing at the ball?  "Don't double bogey, and don't shank it," says junior Hayden Telford said. 

   Our golf team had much success this year leading up to taking region this year. 

Another accolade for the THS golf team is sophomore Tanner Halford's Academic All Region award this year. 

   The THS golf team headed by Coach Nelson competed at the golf state championship at Soldier Hollow on October 8th.

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A New Spanish Teacher

By Chelsey Averett And Emily Knorr

    Mr. Claybaugh, the new Spanish teacher, has high hopes for his career here at THS. He replaced Mr. Barth, and although people were disappointed that Mr. Barth left, they will absolutely love having Mr. Claybaugh as a Spanish teacher. He first went to high school in Costa Rica, but then he later moved here and graduated from Timpanogos. While attending Timpanogos, he ran track and won a state medal. He then moved on to attend UVU to become a Spanish teacher. He first learned Spanish when he lived in Costa Rica, but then later served an LDS mission to further his knowledge.

    Mr. Claybaugh enjoys how the students and staff here at THS are all united.

    "I want students to be able to come into my classroom and be able to feel comfortable and where they can have an environment where it is fun but also there is learning." Welcome to THS Mr. Claybaugh. We hope you have a great time here.

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The Invention of Lying

By Kegan Penovich

    A world where you must tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is the world in which the film The Invention of Lying takes place. But then an unassuming "chubby, snub-nosed" man, as the movie often refers to him, stumbles into the world of dishonesty. He uses this new gift to form the world that had taken advantage of him into a world to serve him and his agenda. However, he finds a new reason for his talent in helping people.

    The movie was much more touchy-feely than expected, I didn't mind that though.  The humor was excellent enough to balance it out even for the most obtuse among us.

    The main role is played by Ricky Gervais and the the main supporting role is played by Jennifer Garner. It is written and directed by both Ricky Gervais and Mathew Robinson. Due to the nature of the film, it would be a questionable date movie.  

    Overall, the movie was terribly entertaining and I found it to be extremely satisfying. I'd love to see it again. Just be aware that it is rated PG-13 for language, sexual content, and a drug refrence. 

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