With an impressive time of 5:09.14 in the preliminary meet, Cynthia Hu ‘26 took first place in finals for the 500 yard freestyle event with a time of 5:08.76. She also took first place in the 200 yard freestyle event with the time of 1:56.86, almost four seconds faster than second place.

After completing the 100 yard breaststroke event with a time of 1:23.56 in the preliminary meet, Kellen Spears ‘27 placed eighth in finals with a time of 1:19.69, a new personal record.

After a strong performance in the preliminary meet, the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) swim team arrived at the Ventura Aquatic Center on May 2, 2025 determined to succeed. Pictured, Larissa Myers ‘26 races the 50 yard freestyle event finishing with a time of 27.04, which ultimately placed her fourth in the championship heat. Myers would go onto race in the 200 yard freestyle relay along with the 400 yard freestyle relay where she and her teammates placed second for both events and potentially qualified for California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Prelims.

On May 2, 2025 Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) faced off against their in-town rivals at the Ventura College Track. The teams raced in the Tri-Valley League Championships where the schools Saint Bonaventure High School, Cate High School and Bishop Garcia Diego High School were all present. Foothill Tech students raced in a wide variety of events ranging from 100 meter sprints to 3200 meter run to their multiple relays. Many of Foothill athletes reached for their goal of qualifying for California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Prelims which will be held on May 10, 2025.

At Morro Rock Beach, about two hours up the coast from Ventura, the Velella Velella can be seen scattered in large mounds all across the shore. Onshore winds, warm waters and upwelling cause the Velella to wash up most abundantly along the west coast in the states of California, Oregon and Washington.

The Velella velella have washed up in mounds all across Ventura’s beaches. At Pierpont, scattered all over the sand are hundreds of these small, mostly harmless creatures.

Up close, the Velella are a vibrant dark blue and about three inches in width. The clear “sail” is visibly attached to the top of their body and allows them to harbor the wind to drift across the surface of the ocean. When they wash ashore, the small creatures dry up and eventually die. Their brilliant blue color eventually fades away, making them resemble cellophane wrappers.

All across the coast of California, large masses of blue creatures resembling jellyfish are washing up onshore. These are not in fact jellyfish but Velella velella, or commonly referred to as “by-the-wind sailors.” With the arrival of spring and the changing of wind patterns and currents, velella wash up on shore all over our local beaches.

Ben Markov ’27 receives Athlete of the Week for his ongoing remarkable boys golf season, where he has displayed exceptional leadership and skills as one of the top performing players on the team. The Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) community appreciates all his hard work in representing the school.

Students engaged in the viral challenge created by the University of South Carolina’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) Club. The Speak Your MIND Ice Bucket Challenge aims to raise awareness and funds for the mental health non-profit Active Minds. Through a simple video, Active Minds has raised more than $370,000 to help youth and young adults struggling with mental health. The trend serves as a commitment to further advocate for mental health through public participation.

Where do monsters come from? Where did these urban legends originate, and how have they changed? Whether they reside in the shadows in your closet or under the bed, monsters were made for a reason. They were made to teach lessons and cope with things that were hard to understand at the time. Parents would tell stories of their untrue nature to protect their kids from real world threats. Even in the modern day when some of these previous questions have been answered, people still find comfort in horror movies and games.

A thin bike lane traces the edge of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), offering breathtaking coastal views and a scenic route for many cyclists.This beauty, however, comes with risk, as the bike lane lacks a physical barrier and is in close proximity to high speed traffic. There are also numerous sections containing crumbling pavement and sudden drop-offs, making the PCH bike lane dangerous at times. While the state of Calif. is largely in support of eco-friendly travel, real investment in safer and well-designed bike lanes is still urgently needed.

The automobile industry has been a prevalent factor in American culture for a long time, resulting in the sprawling expanse of roads covering the country. With cities planned in the image of cars, pedestrians face significant dangers traveling without one in various places all across the country. The busy metropolis was the model from years ago, one that has since become outdated and requires a replacement. With future adaptation towards more urban settings, the importance of cars is downsized. These urban settings will put the pedestrian first, aimed at providing safer human interactions without the threat of an accident lurking at every corner.

Not only were the 1920s a time of burgeoning music, wealth and freedoms, it was also an era of urban evolution for America’s cities. From emerging forms of architecture to newfangled lingo, America would never be the same again after its transportation revolution. [1] A 1921 flyer using the newly coined term “jaywalking” [2] In July of 1953, residents of Philadelphia took to the streets to rally for the installment of stop signs. Here, a group of protesters block an intersection. (image: Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia) [3] 1920s Government safety poster that scorns jaywalking. (image: National Safety Council/Library of Congress) [4] 1922 sketch of Corbusier’s “Plan Voisin” for Paris. His minimalistic and geometric style is one of the leading influences of modern architecture. (image: Fondation Le Corbusier) [5] The Lower East Side of Manhattan Island, Hester Street in 1914. (image: Maurice Branger/Roger Viollet/Getty Images)

Foothill Tech’s drama club was able to recreate many different iconic scenes and characters with their own production. Many of the casted students held very similar characteristics and components to those of the original film, which ended up enhancing the play much more. Besides the characters, many iconic scenes such as those that took place in the classroom were recreated on stage. These reflecting moments were an important way to interest the audience even more.

Emily Turner ‘26 was casted as the main character “Regina George” in Foothill Technology High School’s (Foothill Tech) spin off play, based on the popular 2004 drama hit “Mean Girls.” With this role she obtained many singing scenes where she captivated the audience with her voice and her ability to present her character. Throughout the play she embraced the original character of “Regina George,” with outfit changes, attitude remarks, and references from the original movie.

Starting in 2020 as an Apple TV+ exclusive, “Severance” is an ongoing thriller show following a Mark Scout and his team after undergoing a procedure that separates their memories between their work at the Lumon Industries and their personal lives outside of it. As each episode goes on, the deep conspiracy hidden beneath the company slowly unravels as the main cast must struggle to find the truth. Currently, the show has two seasons, with a third one confirmed shortly after the season two finale.

Aside from the classic romance films, “Grease” and “Pretty In Pink,” there were other incredibly popular movies released of all different genres that are still streamed on numerous platforms today. Whether you like jarring-suspenseful dramas or prefer sweet-enchanted romances, there will always be a movie from each decade to satisfy everyone’s taste.