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The Viking Saga

The Student News Site of East Lyme High School

The Viking Saga

The Viking Saga

The Viking Saga

James Ambrosini

James Ambrosini, Editor-in-Chief

 

Hi everyone! My name is James, and I’ll be one of your editors-in-chief for my third and final year of Journalism. It’s been really fun to be a part of the Saga team for so long, and I’m excited to see where this last year takes me. For this year, I want to focus on the ELHS community, and try to get more of y’all involved with the Saga and submitting your own pieces. Keeping the paper open for public input is what’s at the heart of a good publication, and I encourage everyone, student or teacher, freshman or senior, to send in your own writing for us to publish. 

Besides writing, music is one of my favorite passions as well, as those who remember last year’s “Antique Albums” column can attest to. I’ll be trying to continue reviewing good music when it comes up (though it’s in such limited supply these days,) as well as the occasional op-ed if I ever find a hill worth dying on. Otherwise, I’ll be working behind the scenes, editing and organizing articles so they’re fit to print! I can’t wait to show y’all what’s in store for this year, so in the meantime sit back, relax, and enjoy this edition!

 

James Ambrosini

[email protected]

All content by James Ambrosini
PHOTO BY BRANDON MOWINKEL ON UNSPLASH

New Experiences for ELHS Exchange Students

JAMES AMBROSINI
October 24, 2024

Picture this: you’re stepping off the plane after just touching down in a strange new land. Almost immediately, you’re greeted with a massive mural of the American flag, its bright stars and colorful...

Tyler Eng Rocks His Way Through Vanguard and Berklee

Tyler Eng Rocks His Way Through Vanguard and Berklee

JAMES AMBROSINI
September 19, 2024

The Viking Saga: How did it feel being a part of Vanguard last year? Tyler Eng: It was amazing. It was, and still is, such a good opportunity. Originally I met Darius [lead singer] through Instagram;...

Bermuda: Thousands Of Experiences, Once In A Lifetime

Bermuda: Thousands Of Experiences, Once In A Lifetime

JAMES AMBROSINI
September 11, 2024

Picture this: you're snorkeling through clear blue water, taking in the beauty of the dozens of multicolored fish that swim by you as you go along. Now, you’re on an island turned 400 years back...

The Gardening Club enjoys a field trip to Logee's Greenhouse in Killingly

Gardening Club Spreads Flowers and Fun Outside ELHS’ Main Entrance

JAMES AMBROSINI
May 1, 2024

They say April showers bring May flowers, but by the time June rolls around, the ELHS Gardening Club is planning on bringing more flowers to the school’s main entrance, in order to make a more vibrant...

Antique Albums: Born In The U.S.A.

Antique Albums: Born In The U.S.A.

JAMES AMBROSINI
March 18, 2024

March is an unusually busy month for me. On top of the usual chaos school brings, my two younger brothers’ birthdays take place on the 17th and 18th, and much like me, they both enjoy music from decades...

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: MY AIM IS TRUE

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: MY AIM IS TRUE

JAMES AMBROSINI
February 5, 2024

The term “classic rock” has many definitions. From the flashy arena flair of Queen, to the hard and heavy sound of Black Sabbath, almost any rock band can fit in this catch-all category. But with...

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: ELVIS PRESLEY

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: ELVIS PRESLEY

JAMES AMBROSINI
February 1, 2024

Cult-like followings, eccentric personalities, and repetitively-styled songs are all the rage amongst the greatest musicians of our era, yet none of these current attributes are original. Most of this...

Antique Albums: Nat King Cole Sings Ballads of the Day

Antique Albums: Nat King Cole Sings Ballads of the Day

JAMES AMBROSINI
January 26, 2024

It was only right, I think, for the most “Antique Album” I’ve reviewed in this series, that I listen to it on the shiny new record player that I received for my 16th birthday. So, armed with an original...

Antique Albums: Built for Speed

Antique Albums: Built for Speed

James Ambrosini
December 5, 2023

Get ready for the grooviest album of the 1950s, as ‘Built For Speed’ by the Stray Cats tops the charts with that sensational sound of rock and roll that’s taken the nation by storm! Pioneers of rockabilly...

Antique Albums: Social Distortion

Antique Albums: Social Distortion

JAMES AMBROSINI
November 16, 2023

“Love is a burning thing/And it makes a fiery ring/Bound by wild desire/I fell into a ring of fire.” The immortal country singer Johnny Cash spoke these lines for the first time in 1963 in that...

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: REMAIN IN LIGHT

ANTIQUE ALBUMS: REMAIN IN LIGHT

JAMES AMBROSINI
November 1, 2023

“And you may find yourself, living in a shotgun shack/And you may find yourself in another part of the world...” These are the first lyrics to “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads, the fourth...

Antique Albums: THE STRANGER

Antique Albums: THE STRANGER

JAMES AMBROSINI
October 4, 2023

Everyone knows Billy Joel. After 13 studio albums, 121 songs, and 1,289 concerts in the United States alone, the legendary Piano Man is a household name. Ask anyone, from your parents to your friends,...

A small part of Ms. Hallowell’s record collection. She has over 2000 records in her home.

The Vinyl Revival

JAMES AMBROSINI
October 4, 2023

Modern technology has done amazing work for music. Anyone with a phone and internet connection is able to listen to almost every song ever recorded, and mix and match them together into playlists of favorites. While...

The iconic main Book Barn sits on West Main Street.

Book Barn Battle

JAMES AMBROSINI
September 13, 2023

The Book Barn Location: 41 W Main Street The largest and oldest of the three locations, the original Book Barn is more of a book market than a bookstore. Five different buildings, each filled to...

Antique Albums With Ambrosini

Antique Albums With Ambrosini

JAMES AMBROSINI
September 13, 2023

To say that I’m a fan of The Clash would be an understatement. For as long as I can remember, they have been one of my favorite bands. Anytime they came on in the car when I was little, my dad recalls...

The deli counter is converted to hand out free breakfast each morning.

How to Make Breakfast Break FAST!

JAMES AMBROSINI
September 13, 2023

Forgot something as you left for school today? No, not your homework. Breakfast. It can be difficult to find time for breakfast on school days, with scrambling out the door taking priority over scrambling...

Niantic Bay Playhouse Enjoys First Few Months of Operation

Niantic Bay Playhouse Enjoys First Few Months of Operation

JAMES AMBROSINI
August 27, 2023

The room darkens as the rumble of people running to their seats and chatting before the show dies down. All that’s left is a single sliver of light, the spotlight shining down on the stage, splashing...

Battle of the Breakfast Spots

Battle of the Breakfast Spots

ALEX BROWN, ALEX SALERNO, and JAMES AMBROSINI
August 27, 2023

Deke’s: If you’re looking for the best bagel in southeastern Connecticut, this is the place for you. In the Saga team, we believe that the bagel is an integral piece of the breakfast sandwich. Moreover,...

The Ultimate East Lyme Ice Cream Guide

JAMES AMBROSINI
May 23, 2023

Dairy Queen Address: 73 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic Price: $2.89 for a small Blizzard Score: 7/10 While not as home-grown as the other places on the list, Dairy Queen is still nonetheless one of...

Hargis to Retire at End of Year

JAMES AMBROSINI
May 3, 2023

His bearded face is one that students and staff have seen in plenty of places: ELHS track to AD’s office to the math department office, but Steve Hargis is now retiring after over 20 years of teaching...

Wacky Sports: Fishing Edition

JAMES AMBROSINI
May 3, 2023

Silence. Not even a sound. Then, a subtle, but powerful SPLASH as the red and white fishing bobber dives under the water. The next few seconds are a pandemonium of excitement, splashing, and eventually...

Wake Up From Winter Depression

JAMES AMBROSINI
March 28, 2023

March is tough. Winter blues dig in, and the warmth and sunshine of spring still feels forever away. No upcoming holidays, but plenty of work piles that weigh down both backpacks and brains. March is...

Mitigating Millstone Misconceptions

Mitigating Millstone Misconceptions

JAMES AMBROSINI
February 16, 2023

It’s hard to miss the Millstone Power Plant on the shoreline: a pile of square gray buildings overseen by the tall red-and- white tower, like presents under a leafless Christmas tree. Millstone is a...

Vandalism means bathrooms are regularly closed to students.

Bathroom Damages: A Costly Norm

JAMES AMBROSINI
February 2, 2023

Paper towels everywhere. Jammed down the toilets, scattered on the floor, and even down the hall. There’s barely any left in the dispenser. Gum clogs the sinks, just inches away from the trash can....

Club members Bella Chambers (left), Jillian Arnold (middle), and Kylee Johnston (right) discuss poetry during club meeting.

Poetry Club Offers Students New Writing Opportunities

James Ambrosini
December 3, 2022

It’s that one unit that’s rarely remembered: a brief break from the long, tedious paragraphs of essays for something short, sweet, and full of passion. Poetry is often given the short end of the...

Dungeons & Dragons Club Starts its First Quests this November

JAMES AMBROSINI
November 16, 2022

Hello there, brave, young traveler! Would you like to go on the adventure of your dreams? Slay dragons, save villages, and become heroes? Then you should check out the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons Club...

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