Faizy’s Funhouse

May 15, 2024 by

If you’ve walked along Main Street in Lake Placid recently, you would have noticed an arcade being erected right in the center of town. Faizy’s Funhouse is the newest business in Lake Placid. It features traditional arcade games that pair well with the nostalgic theme of the Olympic Village.

Photo: Faizy’s Funhouse

It’s been a month or two since Faizy’s opened its doors. Despite the busyness of my Northwood schedule, I can’t help but feel the excitement building up. With senior privileges just around the corner after spring break, the prospect of a fun springtime activity at Faizy’s is becoming more enticing. Many of our fellow Northwood students eagerly look forward to their first visit to the arcade.

Mitch Baker 24’ has been doing a recurring “Northwood Bucket List” series, and he’s planning a trip to the funhouse. “I think it would be a lot of fun,” Baker said. “I feel like all of my bucket list items have been activities unique to the Adirondacks, and a classic arcade is something that you usually find in the city. Maybe it can be a way to shake things up and diversify how you spend your free time in Lake Placid.”

Hamish Riddell ‘26 has also expressed interest. “We have some more free weekends after spring break, so there’s a good chance I’ll check it out,” he said

It seems like Faizy’s deserves a chance. As the days get longer, I’m sure more Northwood students will be eager to try something fun before summer recess, and why not try something new?

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Three Recommendations from Teagan Wentzel ‘24

May 15, 2024 by

This week’s recommendations come off the back of the Spring co-curricular update, and the little change of weather in the Northeast. Teagan Wentzel 24’ is a Northwood senior. I asked her to recommend two songs and a spring activity because she greatly anticipates summer.

“Fountains,” by Drake (with Tems)

Teagan’s first song fits the bill for warmer weather. “I recommend this song to anybody that likes afro beats or Drake because it’s a bit of both. I love the music that Tems makes, and it gets me excited,” she said. Both Drake and Tems have been perennial top-charts leaders, and this song adds to their repertoire.

“No.1,” by Tyla (feat. Tems)


This song is more traditional afro beats that feature two of the women leading the industry. Tems is on fire now. “Once again, I love Tems and the vibe of this song is nice. You can’t help but move your body to this song.” I can agree as well. I like this song a lot, too, and it is one to listen to if you haven’t yet.

Go for a Swim

Teagan first recommended that any Northwood students that haven’t signed up for their co-co, choose volleyball because it’s a lot of fun. She also said she’s very excited to swim at the Northwood beach this spring.

“I’m really excited to swim. I know that the water will still be cold for a while, but I’m okay with that because it’s my favorite thing to do when the weather is warm, and the sun is out. The Northwood beach is a sweet spot near campus, but any river or lake will do for me.”

See more in our Three Recommendations series.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People Tagged With:

Students Pitch Business Plans

May 14, 2024 by

The Peak Pathway presentations concluded last week, with two seniors presenting business pitches for the school. Sachiel Ming ‘24 and Sophia Miller ‘24 spent their school year pioneering a business venture that was meaningful to them.

Students who completed business-related Peak Pathways projects this year pitched their business models. This allowed students to clarify their models and communicate them to an audience to seek feedback, investment, partnership, and customers.

Sachiel Ming ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Sachiel is from Bermuda, and getting an opportunity to play soccer at Northwood was hard. Bermuda doesn’t have the resources to send all the most talented players to soccer academies where they can excel in both soccer and academics. Sachiel devised a business plan to create an academy back home for people of all socio-economic backgrounds. “My idea was to create an opportunity for the people back home who aren’t as lucky as I was,” said Sachiel.

He spent a lot of time working on his idea and made some important takeaways from his experience. “I think my presentation went well,” he said. “Everyone was very respectful of my idea because it came straight from the heart. I wasn’t very nervous presenting because I think I was set up well by my mentors.”

When asked about whether he would continue pursuing the idea in the future, here’s what he had to say: “I’m not sure I would continue with this in the future; it’s not for sure that I won’t, but it’s very hard work and super complicated.”

“But I think I learned a lot about myself and my motives,” he added. “I learned about how I was able to come to America and achieve what I have, and with the experience of trying to create a business, I learned what it takes.”

Sophia Miller ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Sophia had her business centered around sports as well. Her mother is a yoga instructor, inspiring her to create a yoga business plan for athletes recovering from injury. She even went as far as to get a Yoga teaching certification.

“My pitch went well, I think,” she said. “It was a little scary, but I’m glad to have it all done. It gave me a sense of accomplishment for what I worked for.”

When asked whether she would pursue her plan in the future, she said: “I definitely want to continue. I want to teach yoga as a side job in college, but when I graduate, I want to eventually turn my plan into a studio.”

“I learned about my own wellness and helping others, as well as understanding my muscles and how to recover, and this information will be very helpful for me in the future.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Elise Fraser ‘24

May 12, 2024 by

“I grew up in a small town in Northern Sweden. I live with my mother and father, and I have an older brother, but he’s in college. I came to Northwood for the athletic and academic opportunities. My coach back home knew Mr. Gilligan, so he set me up with the connection, and here I am.

“Two things I’m passionate about besides hockey are going for walks and playing golf. I like walking because it helps me relax. It’s very nice that the Lake Placid area is so beautiful because I can look at the scenery when I walk. I like playing golf for similar reasons because it’s a fun sport. I get to walk, and the scenery is beautiful too.

“Something that I’d like people to know about me is that I don’t like sushi. I don’t get the hype. I feel like everyone likes it, but I don’t.”

As told to Jordan Shullenberger ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

A Spring Hike of Cascade Mountain

May 10, 2024 by

Climbing one of the ADK 46 high peaks can be daunting on a cold, windy day in April, but that’s just what three Northwood students did recently. The conditions were partly cloudy, with a high of 42 degrees, but it didn’t get really cold until the top of the mountain. Although it was cold, and the leaves hadn’t re-populated the trees yet, it was a fun experience as my time in Lake Placid was dwindling.

On the summit of Cascade. From left to right: Cedric Lemaire ’25, Jordan Shullenberger ’24, and Trey Franz ’25. Photo provided.

We started up Cascade by signing the trail register and then made our way up. About half of the trail was below the frost line, so for the second half of the journey, we slowed down a little bit. Even though it was risky, it was funny when one of us slipped and fell. After facing all our adversity, we finally reached the exposed, rock-faced top, where a kind man offered to take our picture.

As experienced hikers know, the reward of getting to the top is not just the view but also your lunch. We took a few minutes at the top and realized that it was way too cold to eat – even after hiding behind a couple of boulders, the wind was still too much – and we had to head back down below the windy summit to use our hands properly. We made our way down the mountain after some more slips and falls, and finally indulged in our sandwiches and fruit. We made it to the bottom, signed out, and I’d say it was a successful day on the mountain.

“I’m glad we did that because it wasn’t too hard and a lot of fun. It was funny when Jordan took that digger,” said Trey Franz ‘25.

“It was nice to get away from campus for a little bit. It was good exercise and not too long, which I liked because I was able to get back to school at a decent time and complete some of my homework,” said Cedric Lemaire ‘25.

But for me, the story isn’t about the hike necessarily; it’s about using time wisely when there’s not a lot of it left. My high school career is coming to an end, and I’m starting to reflect and make sure I can maximize my time with experiences I haven’t had before. I’m excited to see what the next few weeks will bring.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

In Midst of Campus Protests, Recent Grad Shares Perspective from Columbia

May 8, 2024 by

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, the tension is being felt all over the world. Columbia University, which has a long history of campus protests, is experiencing a large uprising in student-led protesting that is causing problems for the Ivy League school. Iva-Amanda Nelson ‘23, a citizen of St. Lucia, is a first-year at Columbia. Nelson’s perspective is different from that shared in most news coverage.

Photos by Amanda Neslon ’23

Currently, the university is investing in and partnering with weapon manufacturers. The University has placed graduates with the corporations involved in those partnerships for years. The protests started this fall after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, calling for divestment and disassociation from the manufacturers.

“Students are doing what is called an encampment,” Amanda said. “They are literally living in tents out around the campus. Some students spend all day in tents, and only leave for meals and previously classes, but now all classes have been moved to virtual because of the protests. There is also a large congregation of people right outside my dorm.”

The encampment is inspired by 1968 campus protests against the Vietnam War and Columbia’s association with the US government and corporations supporting the war effort. Like today, those protests also saw encampments and building occupations.

History has repeated itself, and once again, almost 60 years later, Columbia students have discovered links between the administration and weapon manufacturers supplying the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Every student wants our school to divest from the war. There are people here who are pro-Israel, and on the other side, there are people that are pro-Palestine, but there’s not a single person that is in favor of the Columbia administration,” Amanda continued. “I don’t like that our school is supporting violence, but I cannot protest myself. The police have been arresting people, and that’s scary for me because I’m an international student. If I get arrested, I will get deported.”

On April 30, students broke windows in the Hamilton administration building, so the Mayor of New York ordered the police to Columbia, and the university president allowed hundreds of NYPD to sweep the encampment in riot gear and arrest the students who entered the building. The students were tear-gassed and are facing criminal charges.

“I’m shaken up,” Nelson said. “It’s not easy to be a full-time student in the middle of all this.”

There is no word on when the protests will stop. Some students might stay over the summer, and some might go home and come back to the protests, but the consensus is that the protests will continue until a change is made.

Amanda’s sister Christie-Ann attends Northwestern, and I was told that similar things are starting to brew among the student body there.

Columbia students have started a widespread campaign to urge people to remember their humanity and consider whether doing the right thing is more important than money.

“The whole situation is surreal,” Amanda concluded. “I hope the administration makes a change soon and listens to us. It feels like we have no power as students and need that to change.”

Let this be a lesson for all people to consider the importance of their values. Sticking to your values as a human is more important than money.

Filed Under: People, Real World, Top Story

Senior Brian Brady Named Jefferson Scholar

March 18, 2024 by

Brian Brady ’24. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Athletic achievements are often praised at Northwood. We take pride in our academic and athletic accomplishments, but there’s less buzz about who is killing it in the classroom. This past week, senior Brian Brady received a prestigious academic honor, the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia.

The Jefferson Scholarship is a four-year full scholarship to UVA, one of the top universities in the nation. According to the Jefferson Scholars website, approximately 840,000 seniors are eligible for the scholarship each year, and 2,100 become candidates. Only 30 students per class get this distinction, and the scholarship covers everything, from tuition, room, and board to travel expenses and summer enrichment.

Brady, a senior from Lake Placid, is thrilled. “I was very excited when I opened the letter. I already liked the school a lot, so I am extremely happy,” he said.

“It means a lot to me because it’s a top university and I’m going for free, and I get access to a special network within the university,” Brady said. “I think it will make it easier for me to have a successful time in college and after college,” he added.

Jefferson scholars often have an accelerated plan for their time in Virginia, and Brian is excited about the possibilities. “A lot of Jefferson scholars graduate in two years and then go on to get a master’s degree because the scholarship pays for four years of college,” he said. “I feel like I’d be stupid not to go,” he said.

While he hasn’t heard from all of the colleges he’s applied to, Brian will likely attend UVA, and everyone at Northwood is proud.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Recommendations of the Week: Sam Knauf ’24

March 12, 2024 by

Sam Knauf ’24 (Photo: Jordan Shullenberger ’24)

For recommendations, I like to seek a great variety of people and a diversity of subjects. This week, I interviewed Sam Knauf ‘24 for some different recommendations than the past couple of editions. Sam is a second-year Senior from Lake George, New York. Sam plays on the U19 soccer team.

 

For recommendations, I asked Sam for a movie, food, and game to share with the Northwood community, and here’s what he had to say:

 

 

Movie: Champions (2023)

Champions is about an ex-NBA coach sentenced to do community service by coaching a team of recreational basketball players with mental disabilities. It’s a comedy, but it also has sentimental value and will warm your heart.

“I like Champions because it’s funny but also a good movie,” said Sam.

 

Food: Chicken fried rice

Chicken fried rice is a traditional Chinese dish that contains chicken, rice, and vegetables, and it’s like stir fry.

“I like chicken fried rice because it’s yummy, and it’s even better with a little bit of hot sauce. My dad makes some good homemade hot sauce. Hot sauce is my favorite sauce, and I put it on everything,” Sam continued.

 

Game: Fortnite

Fortnite is a game that has been popular all over for years and has re-emerged recently as a top game. It’s a battle royale game, and I bet you that all high schoolers have heard of it.

“I like Fortnite because it’s a fun game to play, especially with friends,” Sam said.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People Tagged With:

Recommendations of the Week: Jordan Shullenberger ’25

February 29, 2024 by

Jordan Shullenberger ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Last week, we got some good recommendations from Colton Cushman ’25. This week, I thought I might provide my own. What good is this series if I can’t even recommend something myself? This week, I have a few songs, a movie, and a show I’d love for people to check out.

 

 

 

Jazz (We’ve Got) – A Tribe Called Quest (1991)

Since February is Black History Month, this song is very fitting for the theme. A Tribe Called Quest became a famous group in the 90s era of hip hop with their creation of what is called “jazz rap.” The Low End Theory combines smooth jazz beats with vocals that hit every beat just right. A Tribe Called Quest is part of a large collection of hip-hop artists called The Native Tongues that focus their music on Afrocentrism and elevating black music in America. If you haven’t listened to this song, dim the lights and put it on because it is literally music to your ears.

 

Olufe feat. Wande Coal – WizKid (2023)

This song is a bit different from Jazz (We’ve Got) because it’s straight from Africa. WizKid has dominated the top charts for the past couple of years, and I’m sure you’ve heard a song from him before. His most recent release, “S2,” is an EP that was dropped in December of 2023. This song is the type that comes to mind when you think of Afro beats.

 

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson (2014)

If we’re talking about recommendations, how can I not recommend my favorite movie? This movie by Wes Anderson is quirky, funny, goofy, sentimental, and artistic. And the vibes are immaculate. Watching this movie makes me feel like I’m a child again, and I’m playing with my figurines, making up my own storyline. It has a banger cast, and the acting is very well done. The story follows a journalist who travels to the hotel and meets its owner. The owner recollects the crazy tale of how he came to inherit the enchanted old ruin back in its glory days. The film explores the themes of nostalgia, friendship, and loyalty and is a must-watch.

 

Ted Lasso (2020)

I can’t recommend this show enough. By far, it is the best show I’ve ever watched. Being a soccer player myself, I enjoy the story, but it’s more than just a show about soccer. It exhibits character growth, love, loss, and happiness, and it’s an extremely sentimental show. Moreover, it is very funny. There are some corny jokes in there, but overall, the humor is of good taste. This show has a bit of everything for everyone, and you should listen to your neighbor and give it a watch. It lives up to the hype.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People Tagged With:

Humans of Northwood: Hayden Newman ‘24

February 29, 2024 by

I’m from Acushnet, Massachusetts. I live with my parents at home, and my older sister lives in California. I came to Northwood just after COVID first hit because I started to get more serious about hockey. My club coach was good friends with the coach at the time at Northwood, so after some talking, I thought it would be a good fit. Northwood was the only school I looked at.

I’m passionate about golf. I’ve only gotten into it recently, but it’s a lot of fun. Something else that I’m passionate about is my Entrepreneurship project. I’m developing a smoothie for kids that can replace brushing your teeth.

Something I’d like people to know about me is that I’m friendly and easy to talk to. I’m a good listener, and you can talk to me about anything.

As told to Jordan Shullenberger ’24. Photo by Jodan Shullenberger ’24.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People
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