It certainly takes a lot to make anywhere but home feel anything like a home, but Jason Kreitz (12) has found his place on stage and in the spotlight.

Kreitz comes from a long line of performers, following a path paved by his grandparents and passed down through his mother and uncles to him and his siblings.

After watching his sisters grow up in Liberty’s theatre, Kreitz naturally dove headfirst into the program, participating on the side as extras in multiple productions at Liberty as early as his second year of junior high.

“I’m not passionate for it just because it’s something that my family does,” Kreitz said. “I’m passionate for it because it’s something that I really enjoy doing.”

Performing seemed to come as second nature to Kreitz, though it wasn’t until his junior year that he began to feel completely at ease on stage.

Though it was initially his family’s involvement in the arts that influenced Kreitz to get started in the program, he gradually discovered for himself the true passion he had for performing over the first couple years of his experience.

Kreitz believes that having real enthusiasm for performing is essential for a person to benefit from taking part in the theatre program. The program is catered to benefit students with a desire to improve upon their performances.

“If you’re just in there because you want an easy A, I don’t know if you’ll really enjoy it,” Kreitz said. “That’s not what it’s about.”

One of Kreitz’s many talents includes being extremely versatile with roles. Kreitz has jumped from playing the prideful King Oberon, king of the fairies, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to portraying Reverend Shaw Moore in Liberty’s recent production of Footloose.

Out of the countless number of productions he has been a part of in the past, Kreitz especially enjoyed his role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“My character was just so dynamic and different than anything I’d ever done before,” Kreitz said. “It was really refreshing.”

Recently, Kreitz set aside acting, took to the sidelines, and tried his hand in directing the one-act play “Nora’s Lost,” emerging with flying colors. The one-act received a superior rating at the program’s regional competition, then moved right along to the state competition.

“He really did some amazing work on [“Nora’s Lost”] with his peers,” Sharon Chadwick, performing arts teacher, said. “The play was very mature, and he took the material and was able to really delve into that.”

The whole experience was an eye-opener for Kreitz, and taught him that a director doesn’t have time to show any leniency. One-act plays have to run from start to finish smoothly, without any breaks in between. There aren’t any empty spaces in which the characters can stop to think or sit back and relax.

Even just barely a week before “Nora’s Lost” was performed, many lines were unknown, and there seemed to be a serious lack of emotion behind the words and actions of many of the characters.

“When you’re a director, you can’t just be the cool person and let everything slide, because nothing gets done,” Kreitz said.

Kreitz said that directing was particularly fun because he got to see his ideas grow and develop and then come out onto the stage as a physical representation of his imagination.

His dedication to theatre and amazing work ethic do not go unnoticed by his peers.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to go far in life,” Hawraa Hamey (12) said.

Chadwick especially took note of how much Kreitz’s maturity level has grown since he first began performing at Liberty.

Through all the ups and downs, from the thrill of dress rehearsals to the annoyances of drama and gossip, theatre will always be a part of Kreitz’s life, though he has many other ambitions that he wishes to pursue during the course of his life.

“It’s given me a home. My whole life is here, and this place is basically a second home to me,” Kreitz said.

With the status of the world’s economy on the constant decline, gas prices have seemed to be travelling in the opposite direction.

Despite the lack of money in the pockets of people everywhere, consumers are expected to spend more cash on the rising cost of gasoline.

According to the Washington Post, gas prices remain high in the west because of the rising tension over Iran’s nuclear program.

This means that the United States’ conflict with the Middle East is causing more problems here in America.

Similarly, the price of gas is expected to break the record for the highest recorded cost-per-gallon sometime within the next two years.

According to the United States Census, the price of gas has sky rocketed by more than 150 percent since the 1970s, and the price is only increasing as time goes on.

With summer on the way and travelers soon to hit the roads in their cars, gas will be even more valuable, and it will be essential to this summer’s vacationers despite its swollen cost.

Regarding the students of Liberty High School, newly licensed drivers will have trouble finding money for transportation.

Many students will have to either use their cars sparingly or find other, cheaper transportation.

“I like driving, but I don’t want to spend money on gas,” Sam Parawan (11) said.

For those who are going through driver’s ed, it seems time spent driving may be a big problem.

Many people are unwilling to pay for gas as is, despite having to drive a required number of hours to pass the program and receive a driver’s license.

This puts aspiring drivers in a tough dilemma with virtually no easy, or cost-effective, solution.

“The price of gas just ruins wanting to drive,” Adam David (10) said. “I really don’t want to drive if it means I have to spend so much money just to get somewhere.”

Since the price of gas is steadily increasing, parents who are training  their children to become responsible drivers will be more hesitant to let their children drive and spend ludicrous amounts of money on gasoline.

Their kids will struggle to get their licenses because of their lack of practice behind the wheel, and the vicious cycle will go on and on.

With all things in consideration, it seems driving this summer will be a real hassle on the roadways.

People will most likely be less inclined to drive and more willing to stay at home where their hard-earned money can stay in their pockets and out of the gas pumps.

With a curious name like Firefly, the restaurant is sure to capture interest.

With two locations on Paradise and Sahara and an upcoming location on Eastern, Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar is renowned for their tapas.

Tapas are Spanish snacks and finger foods. However, Firefly has added personality to their food, including chilled, hot, seafood, meat and poultry tapas.

They are perfect for eating alone or sharing. Consequently, the restaurant is popular for ravenous groups, parties, meetings or gatherings.

The Paradise location in particular has a lively atmosphere. With an elevated outdoor seating available and energetic music that can be heard across the parking lot, the restaurant simply implores diners to go inside.

It is recommended to eat outside, as indoor seating does get crowded and blaringly noisy, especially during dinner.

The vibe and decorations can also remind customers of dining outdoors in Los Angeles, which is a fantastic brief getaway from The Strip.

With an extensive menu of tapas, the waitress recommends the Stuffed Peppers Tapas ($7). Spanish piquillo peppers are stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese and garlic cream cheese covered by a layer of tomato sauce.

The warm mozzarella cheese blends with the tomato sauce and the soft peppers. However, the waitress could have recommended better tapas to a diner without tapas experience.

Firefly’s Chicken Skewers Tapas ($7) are three skewers of marinated chicken, tomato and roast garlic cream.

The roast garlic cream is the perfect companion to the chicken. It can quell even the grumpiest of diners.

The Stuffed Dates Tapas ($4.50) are bacon-wrapped smoked almonds and blue cheese.

Like magic, Firefly has found a way to make the salty bacon work with the sweet almonds they encase. Because of the oddity, it is a surprise at every bite.

Firefly’s prices are decent. It is perfect for a group of friends to put their money together and order a feast of tapas. It is an inexpensive place to munch and have great laughs.

With the majority of the staff being Spanish, they obviously like to display hospitality. The host, waiters and managers are considerate and wear genuine smiles on their faces.

The wait for a table and for the food may take a while. Because of their prominent location near The Strip, Firefly has a heavy traffic of customers, so reservations would be smart.

If friends are looking for a place to grub and enjoy a night on the town without having to be on the busy Strip, Firefly is highly recommended.

As soon as the curtains opened, the music started and the 1980s-based play Footloose opened up with its classic theme song. Energy and excitement immediately filled the room and its audience.

This crowd pleaser of a play was well received. Throughout the performance, there was either an audience member laughing, singing along or crying with sympathy; there was never a bored spectator and those who missed will surely be sorry when they find out how good the play truly was.

The singing was outstanding, especially from Ren McCormack played by Marlon Bulaong (12).

The character was spunky and energetic with exquisite dance moves. He played the crowd well by getting everyone to immediately fall in love with the outcast from Chicago who wants to change the small town of Bomont.

Reverend Shaw Moore, played by Jason Kreitz (12), filled the walls of the theater with his deep harmonious voice and played the character of a reserved, closed-minded reverend with skill.

Towards the end of the play, audience members were torn with either agreeing with Ren and his changing ways or with Shaw whose heart was broken with the death of his son, Bobby.

The female lead of Ariel Moore was played by Sharmaine Velasco (10). At first Moore was portrayed as a rebellious, scandalous teenager who only wanted to impress the boys of Bomont, especially her abrasive and bad-boy boyfriend.

Their romance was never convincible and every kiss seemed forced. The chemistry was not there although the efforts were clearly made.

As the play progressed, Moore began to open up to her true and more likeable character whenever she was with Ren. The connection between them was very strong especially when joined in song. Her sweet and melodic voice joined together with his in perfect harmony and was a perfect example of a dream romance.

Rusty, played by Jessica Vance (11), had the audience laughing with her corky, spontaneous character.

Her projection was portrayed well especially when she sang with her ladies: Urleen, played by Jenelle Tamio (12), and Wendy Jo, played by Elena Salman (11).

The trio’s voices went very well together and personified typical teenage best friends. Their choreography was a bit repetitive, but was still able to portray each song’s emotion.

Vi Moore, played by Axenya Kachen (11), was a sympathetic and concerned wife and mother who always defended Ariel. When she was torn between choosing sides of the two and sang her emotions with “Can You Find It In Your Heart,” it brought tears to audience members’ eyes.

The transition to each scene and movement with the props was very smooth and organized. The use of props was not over-the-top and fit to each scene.

The lighting was in sync with the mood of every scene and the live bass, piano and drum players added to the clarity of the music. However, sometimes the music was a little too loud and overpowered the singers’ voices.

The choreography as a whole in the play was at times too basic. The lifts attempted were not well coordinated and a bit clumsy.

The size of the cast at 40 looked like it may have overwhelmed the stage, but worked perfectly when they were all together on stage.

The closing scene of the play with the cast dressed up and going to prom was perfect timing with Liberty’s prom around the corner. It was full of joy, excitement and fun-filled dancing that left the audience a final emotion of satisfaction and closure.

As the curtain fell, most wished they had just a little more time with this lovable cast.  Footloose was a true success.

By Cole Mitchum

Sports Editor

The Liberty Patriots have a new banner to add to the quickly increasing collection. The men’s track and field team has just won the Sunrise Region Championship.

The team concluded the two-week Region Championships on Friday by having Colin Schultz (11) win the 800-meter, Martin Ponce (10) taking second in the 1600 and Fabian Lopez (11) taking second in the 400.

The team edged out divisional rivals Coronado and Silverado by 12 and 15 respectively to win the region with a total of 86 points. The women’s team finished with a total of 45 points and in eighth place.

The track teams will be sending a total of nine athletes to the Class 4A State Championships this coming weekend at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno.

The women’s team is sending Gabrielle Palazoolo (12) in the pole vault in which she won the region. Ashlie Blake (10) is also going for the women’s team in the shot put and discus in which she won both for the region as well.

The Sunrise Region Champion men’s team is sending Reno Tuufuli (10) in the discus, which he won, and the shot put, which he took third in. Jordan Kapeli (12) in the discus that he took second in and shot put where he took first. The final thrower who qualified was William Ashby (12) who took third in the discus to make it to State.

The other’s on the men’s team includes Nate Creiger (11) who won the pole vault. The team qualified three runners as well. Ponce in the 3200 and 1600-meter races. As well as Lopez in the 400-meter and Schultz in the 800-meter.

On a side note, Blake is currently third in the nation for best shot put throw with a distance of 49-10.5 and leads the nation for her age group. She is also 16^th in the nation for her discus throw of 152-5 and is second for her age group in that category.

Stephanie Cregier

Cub Reporter

For the 2012-2013 school year, the Clark County School District has made the district-wide decision to pull the plug on all Principles of Science classes in every school throughout the district.

Colleges expect more from students in general, complaining that high school students do not have enough knowledge in the sciences that colleges would like and expect them to have when they first enter their campuses.

“The universities were saying to the Clark County School District that our students aren’t coming prepared with the basic sciences,” Chris Hermes, assistant principal, said.

In order for the school district to comply, the new structure of science classes will be for a student to start their freshman year with biology.

Then they would advance to chemistry in the sophomore year and either physics or geo science, preferably physics, following.

Principles of Science (POS) is being cut from the school district because it simply recaps what students were supposed to have learned during the years of  sixth, seventh and eighth grade.

“Although I think [Principles of Science] served a purpose for a while, it’s a remedial course,” William Marrit, chemistry teacher, said.

There will be 610 freshmen coming to Liberty next school year along with 230 sophomores that will have to take biology in the same year.

According to Charles Baxter, science department chair, there are too many incoming students and not enough books.

However, the school has an interesting solution.

“We have e-books, and I think that’s going to be the push for the future,” Baxter said. 

All of the departments would be using the e-books in place of textbooks, since it’s a cheaper alternative. The textbooks needed will be available online.

Teachers will not be allowed to check out any textbooks to students in the science department beginning next year.

Every year, $30,000 is lost in textbooks, so students having a Kindle or other reader will be more cost effective.

As for now, the new classes for Principles of Science teachers are undecided; there won’t be many changes to the science department in terms of staffing and who will be teaching what courses.

The POS course, however, will be a casualty of change next year.

Nicole Kowalewski

Executive Editor

As the seniors get ready to graduate, the other classes prepare themselves for next year’s work. For clubs, this includes electing new leaders, inducting new members and creating an agenda for the 2012-2013 school year.

Liberty’s National Honor Society (NHS) was right on schedule as they held a ceremony and inducted 70 new members into their club on April 12.

Currently, the top officers include Miguel Henares (12), who holds the president position, Vice President Leishel Pasion (12) and Kamille Hinojosa (12) as Parliamentarian following.

The National Honor Society allows students to start applying at the end of their sophomore year. They must complete a required packet of materials and provide evidence that they meet the required grade point average.

“By exposing [students] to community service during their youth, they will hopefully stay active through their adult lives,” Henares said.

The induction occurs around the same time each year and is one of the most important occasions that NHS puts on.

This professional dress event consisted of the adviser, Kathy Waugh, and the current NHS officers introducing and explaining what National Honor Society entails.

The first segment included the traditional candle lighting ceremony where six candles, each representing a different aspect of NHS, are lit and accompanied by a short speech explaining their significance and meaning to the program.

“I was nervous because I was becoming part of something new, but excited at the same time because I finally got to where I wanted to be,” inductee Evan Chronakis (10) said. 

Once acknowledging the importance of the program, all members were asked to recite the membership oath in unison. This short dialogue consisted of the members pledging to maintain loyalty, a good scholastic standing, to be a model student, provide service to others and other crucial characteristics of the National Honor Society.

After the delivery, the students were then called up individually to be honored as a new inductee and receive their certificate and a yellow rose.

“Something really cool this year was the officers pulled out lines [from the required entrance essays] that were really neat about service and they displayed them with the member’s name on the power point when that student came up,” Waugh said.

Following the closing words, the inductees and their guests were invited to enjoy refreshments provided by the school, meet new members and take photos to cherish the honored night.

With their high expectations being met with the inductions, the officers are realizing it is almost time to hand over their positions to new individuals who are passionate about the program and will guide it in a positive light.

Currently, NHS has 11 officer positions, nine of which are occupied by graduating seniors. The official appointment of new officers is expected to follow in early May.

“I hope that members will grow as individuals and want to further their help in their community,” Hinojosa said. “They should learn that community service is not tedious work, but instead can be fun and rewarding.”

Cierra Woods

Staff Reporter

Fresh and Easy is more than just your average neighborhood market they share a great contribution to the community as well.

The neighborhood market has been fundraising with the Clark County School District for four years and this year Fresh and Easy’s Neighborhood Affairs Director, Brendon Wonnacott coordinated an assembly with Liberty High School athletes on May 1 after school in the gymnasium to celebrate the success in the Shop for Schools program in 2011.

In 2010 Shop for Schools program raised $1.3 million and in 2011 they raised over $2.1 million.

With 261 schools participating in Nevada Liberty managed to obtain the top fundraiser in the state and was rewarded a $5,000 bonus. Liberty itself raised $5,291.35.  In regards to achieving this, Liberty received a check from Fresh and Easy for $10,291.35.

The money earned is being used to pay for the new flooring in the brand new spacious weight room.

Since the money given was spent on the behalf of athletics at Liberty, Wonnacott invited former NFL player Marcellus Wiley to speak to the student athletes.

Wiley was born and raised in Compton, California and he didn’t get all the advantages that life throws at an average teenager now-a-days. Wiley was more than just a student athlete. He was valedictorian and he attended an Ivy League college.

As inspirational as Wiley’s childhood was he gave a quick motivational speech on how student athletes should always have something to fall back on.

“I believed in my own dreams and now I just want to support kids who have dreams of their own,” Wiley said.

Schools from Arizona and California were also top fundraisers as well. California’s Sunset View Elementary School raised $11,243.05 and in Arizona Our Lady of Sorrows Academy raised $10,866.77.

After the check was distributed they called out raffle tickets that were given to the athletes in hopes to win one of the 12 custom Fresh and Easy footballs signed by Wiley.

As Fresh and Easy continues to contribute to our community Liberty will continue to make receipts make a difference and raise even more money next year.

By Cole Mitchum

Sports Editor

In action on Friday the track and field teams competed in more regional action to determine who would go to state.

For the boys team Martin Ponce (10) added his name to the list of qualifiers by taking third place in the 3200 meter. Nate Creiger (11) also claimed another spot by winning the men’s pole vault. Jordan Kapeli (12) and Reno Tuufuli (10) who already qualified in the discus also qualified in the shot put on Friday. The men’s team also holds a 16 point lead for first in the region with only a few running events left for this coming Friday.

Now for the women’s side only Ashlie Blake (10) qualified again by taking first in the discus just like she did for shot put. The women’s team as a whole is down just 2.5 points from first for the Sunrise Region.

Also in action on Friday was the Patriot baseball team. In their final game of the season at Cimarron Memorial, they won 18-13. They were led by Jessie Keiser (10) who went 3-4 with two RBI’s.

Written by Nicole Kowalewski

Executive Editor

While Sean Gribbin (10) may shine on stage and in front of the camera, that’s not the only place he’s being recognized for his extraordinary talents. He comes across like a normal 15-year-old boy, but he can be compared to Harry Potter’s, “The boy who lived” persona.

Having grown up in Miami, Florida and then moving to Las Vegas when he was still young, Gribbin has lived anything but the typical life.

“Sean is just a small paragraph that has a lot of details,” close friend Michael Walter (10) said. “There is so much about him that nobody knows.”

Like most teenage boys, Gribbin is into video games, computer surfing and hanging out with his friends, but what sets him apart from the rest is his unbelievable battle to overcome cancer.

In 2009, at the age of 12, Gribbin was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.

Ewing Sarcoma is defined as a malignant round-cell tumor where the genetic exchange between chromosomes 11 and 22 causes cells to become cancerous.

There are roughly 300 reported cases each year in the United States, most commonly occurring among male teenagers between the ages of nine and 21.

“When the doctor said it was a tumor, my entire world came crashing down,” Gribbin said.

Gribbin had gotten into a motorbike accident, and after weeks of feeling consistent pain in his leg, he decided to consult a doctor.

The family thought it may have been something as simple as a sprained or fractured bone, but to their surprise, the aches were put off as growing pains and were said to decrease within a few weeks. Once they noticed the pains hadn’t subsided, they contacted a different doctor for a second opinion. It was at that point when they found out about Gribbin’s serious condition.

Doctors believe the accident itself had no connection with the tumor, but was more of a coincidence in timing.  It can be said that fate had its role, too. Without the wreck, Gribbin wouldn’t have been prompted to visit the doctor and therefore wouldn’t have found out about his increasing cancerous tumor when he did.

“I’m really lucky to even be here today,” Gribbin said.

With a story as heart-pounding as this, one would think Gribbin would prefer to keep it private, but that is yet another trait that makes him extraordinary.

Through many hard trials, such as 15 sessions of two different kinds of chemotherapy treatments and 70 blood transfusions, Gribbin is now strong and healthy, but with unavoidable side effects.

He currently has a prosthesis acting as his right femur bone and continues to encounter occasional pains in his leg, but is able to subside some of it with the assistance of a walking cane to distribute the weight when he moves.

As for doctor visits, he’s not quite done with them just yet.

The temporary procedures he still has to undergo are check-ups, blood work, scans and the most painful: leg extensions. This involves extending the metal rod in his leg in order to fit his increasing height.

He is very approachable for people who want to know more about what happened and has no problem talking about it if it comes up in class or conversation.

One of the most comfortable times he reveals his incident is during his Biology I Honors class where his matter is sometimes relevant to what they are learning.

“Sean is very open to talking about his cancer and he even uses it as a topic when it relates to what we are discussing in class, such as stem cell research,” biology teacher Anu Pande said.

She says unlike most students his age, Gribbin is very mature and one of the most motivated students she has seen.

As a result of treatment for the cancer, there are various activities that Gribbin is unable to participate in.  One of the most life altering is that he can’t perform simple tasks such as running, jumping or any sort of strenuous physical activity. Therefore, physical education is not an option in school.

“Even through his struggles, Sean stands strong and stays a positive young man,” Pande said.

Besides overcoming a tragedy most teenagers don’t have to deal with in a normal lifetime and upholding an exceptional status is school, Gribbin finds time to fulfill his one true passion in life: acting.

He was first introduced to the craft at a very young age when he watched a James Bond film. From that moment on, he knew that acting was his calling.

His mother, on the other hand, wasn’t as sure. She thought he was a little too young and that he should hold off until the time was right. Then, at age ten and after years of persistently begging, Gribbin’s mother agreed to jump on board.

Once she agreed, Gribbin says the process went at light speed.

“I got headshots, auditions, commercials and I even got a lead role in a movie,” Gribbin said. “My dreams finally came true and I started acting.”

He is currently working through the Lewis and Beal Talent Agency and has starred in and auditioned for various commercials, television shows and movies including for popular names such as Modern Family and The Disney Channel.

Alongside “Hollywood” acting, Gribbin has also picked up a liking for theatre. He enrolled in the Theatre I class at Liberty High School his freshman year as common interest, and after seeing the production of Brigadoon, he decided he wanted to go further with it.

He has found the theatre environment to be a place where he can be himself while having the opportunity to meet friendly and interesting people.

“People are what make up theatre,” Gribbin said. “Without the people, there would be no theatre.”

Aside from the obvious reasons, Gribbin says theatre acting differs greatly from television acting. Though he still has a passion for both, he says he is more of a film actor than a theatre performer.

For a mere boy of 15, Gribbin has probably put more hours of dedication into his future and has triumphed over more obstacles than an average teenager could imagine, and he hopes and plans to go even further in the future.

“The hard work and long hours he puts in now will definitely pay off for him in the future,” Walter said.

Since he still has a ways to go, he has not put too much thought into his plans after high school, but he does have a few choices lined up. A career in acting is his obvious number one, but if that doesn’t take off, he would like to make a life out of computer programming or becoming an author.

“I know that whatever Sean decides to do with his life, he will do well at it,” Pande said.

He has goals to possibly attend MIT and create some sort of computer program or video game.

As of Feb. 24, 2012, Gribbin has been declared two years cancer free, but is still forced to face the grueling aftermath of his condition.

Even through the battles he’s faced in his life, Gribbin is able to keep a positive personality and continue on each day with nothing standing in his way.