Author name: The Lightning Rod

Sowing the Seeds of Community: Sustainable Saratoga’s April 29 “Tree Toga” Event

April 26, 2023 by Elijah N’dolo (’24) On Saturday, April 29th, the environmental preservation organization Sustainable Saratoga will host its annual “Tree Toga” event starting at Pitney Meadows Farm. Over the course of the day, more than one hundred volunteers will disperse throughout Saratoga Springs to plant trees in the yards of 38 “tree hosts.” […]

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Data: After “No Place for Hate” and Ally Program Launch, Students Report Mixed Feelings About Inclusion at SSHS

April 26, 2023 by Ciara Meyer (’23) On Wednesday, April 19, Saratoga Springs High School (SSHS) hosted its first of three “No Place for Hate” events. The assembly, part of an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) program to improve inclusion, equity, and allyship in schools, included testimonies about experiences of exclusion and inclusion in the SSCSD, and

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The Eras Tour Recaped: Swift’s Enchanting Show is Worth the Price

April 5, 2023  by Eliza Howenstein (’24) On March 31, Taylor Swift kicked off the third weekend of her record-breaking Eras Tour, a journey through her musical decades in Arlington, Texas. On March 17, the tour started in Glendale AZ, and the city’s mayor temporarily renamed the city “Swift City” to commemorate the historic tour

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Book Review: In the Aftermath of Covid, The Plague’s Lessons Resonate

April 5, 2023  by Eliza Krackeler (‘24) Covid 19, often characterized by isolation and fear, can also be described as an era of great insight. When living through a time clouded with uncertainty, it nearly always seems impossible to pause for a moment to see what can be learned from the situation. Everyone, at all

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A Definitive Review of Crumbl Latham’s Opening Weekend Selection

April 5, 2023  by Ciara Meyer (’23) Beloved Utah-based cookie chain with a cult-like following, Crumbl Cookies, just opened a brand new location just 30 minutes from Saratoga Springs High School (SSHS). The Latham branch opened on March 31, and we were eager to see if the cookies lived up to the hype. After departing

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SSHS Students Declare Dairy Haus Toga’s Superior Ice Cream Spot

April 5, 2023  by Maggie Trautner (‘25) Step into spring with Saratoga’s impressive ice cream shops! The arrival of the spring season brings many exciting things: different sports, nice weather, and most importantly, ice cream.  Shops offering a wide range of hard ice cream flavors include places like Ben & Jerry’s, Stewart’s, and Kilwins. Located

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Humans of SSHS: A Star On and Off the Stage, Maddie Cook

April 5, 2023  by Elijah N’dolo (’24) As president of the acclaimed Choraliers and vice president of the drama club, Maddie Cook is an indispensable member of the music and theater program at Saratoga Springs High School. But Cook’s influence is not limited simply to the musical domain: she is also a co-founder, active member,

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Album Review: Aurora from Daisy Jones and the Six isn’t Perfect, but it certainly is Transportive

March 27, 2023  by Lucia Birnby (‘23) Based on the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the TV adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six debuted on Amazon Prime Video on March 3rd, 2023, and has remained number one for the entirety of its run. Also turning heads is the accompanying album, Aurora, produced by

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Humans of SSHS: Saratoga’s Own Star Skater, Lillian Bergbom 

March 27, 2023  by Elijah N’dolo (‘24) Saratoga Springs High School sports several exceptional athletes, but one, in particular, stands out. Senior Lillian Bergbom competes at an elite level in a sport few know and even fewer participate in: the obscure figure skating discipline of synchronized skating. Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Bergbom’s introduction

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Opinion: Snapchat AI–Can It Be Your Friend?

March 27, 2023  by Keegan Reinhart (‘25) Since so many high schoolers use the social media platform Snapchat, the news that a new feature had been added to the app’s premium subscription, Snapchat+, traveled quickly. This application uses technology to create an instant-responding AI Snapchat friend.  “My AI” is the name you will see pinned

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