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Bixbite: A Recently Uncovered Treasure
March 26th, 2012By Jocelyn Cote and Haley Verre
Staff Writers
A gem of a restaurant has popped up in Westford – Bixbite, a small but cozy eatery located in the Westford Plaza at 175 Littleton Road. Bixbite has a classic New England-style vibe and specializes in “comfort foods” that range from burgers to seafood. The Ghostwriter stopped by Bixbite for dinner recently and thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
Bixbite has a calm and romantic atmosphere, with nice decor, a warm color scheme, and tables lit by candlelight. Friendly staff members were eager to take our orders and provide us with complete satisfaction. Unfitting music playing in the background (i.e. Katy Perry and Donna Summers) killed the mood a bit, but otherwise the restaurant had a very pleasant ambiance.
Bread was provided at the start of the meal. Bixbite also offers soups, chowders, and appetizers to start a meal. The homemade seafood chowder was creamy and rich, and teemed with lobster, scallops, and potatoes. This was impressive for a local restaurant and fitting for the comfort food theme.
Bixbite’s dinner menu consists of three main categories: salads and sandwiches, entrées from the land, and entrées from the sea. Although the latter is a bit on the expensive side, the restaurant’s other meals are priced fairly compared to portion size.
The “Gem Salad”, consisting of fresh field greens, cantaloupe, avocado, sliced almonds, and red onions, was one of the more unique meals. The sweet and sour raspberry vinaigrette perfectly complemented the summer salad.
Another entrée, the “New England Burger,” consisted of a juicy, thick hamburger patty topped with smoked bacon, Vermont cheddar cheese, and barbeque sauce. The burger was served with a dill pickle and the customer’s choice of regular or sweet potato fries.
Options for dessert included french vanilla ice cream, homemade warm bread pudding, New York style cheesecake, and the popular “Chocolate Nemesis”. Portion sizes for dessert were just small enough to not make the customer too full (with the exception of the Chocolate Nemesis).
The cheesecake was made with a rich, tangy filling and a thin, buttery crust. The sweet strawberry sauce drizzled on top helped to make this dessert nearly perfect.
Chocolate Nemesis was one of the highlights of the night. Although on the smaller side, it proved to be so rich that we had to split it! It consisted of layers upon layers of fudgy chocolate, chocolate sauce, and chocolate shavings.
Overall, Bixbite is a great new restaurant. Because of the establishment’s small size and pricing, however, we wouldn’t recommend bringing a large group of friends for an after-school snack. Having said this, Bixbite would be a perfect place to bring a date for an evening dinner for two.
A “Fun” Night In Providence
March 5th, 2012By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
On Thursday night, frigid temperatures and the tail end of a snowstorm failed to stop a crowd of rambunctious fans of New York indie rockers fun. from lining up outside of Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in the heart of downtown Providence, Rhode Island.
Fun. have just begun their nationwide tour in support of their newest album, Some Nights, which was released on February 21st. The tour started in late February, and will take the band on the road through mid-June. They have recently received acclaim for the album’s first single “We Are Young,” which is quickly becoming a radio staple and drawing in many new fans eager to witness their music in concert.
As the doors to the venue were opened, dedicated fans who had been waiting for over an hour in the falling snow dashed to the barrier at the front of the stage. The entire floor was filled by the time the opening act, Sleeper Agent, arrived onstage.
Alex Kandel of Sleeper Agent
Fronted by Alex Kandel, Sleeper Agent hail from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and specialize in an upbeat, classic alternative rock sound. The band released their debut album, Celabrasion, in September 2011 and have been playing many shows as both an opening act and headliners since. Although some members of the audience seemed to consider their performance lackluster, others became very in-tune with the band’s ample energy.
Following Sleeper Agent’s departure, setup for fun.’s set took longer than usual, and in turn the crowd became even more impatient and riled up. Deafening roars of applause shook the venue when the stage lights finally went dark and fun. took the stage to a blaze of flashing strobes and LED screens.
The band opened with “Some Nights,” the title track from their album of the same name. Despite the song only being officially released for two weeks, many audience members were already belting each lyric straight back to lead singer Nate Ruess. The band was obviously surprised by the energy radiating from the crowd, and aligned their onstage antics accordingly.
The setlist featured an even combination of tracks from Some Nights and their fan-favorite debut album Aim and Ignite. One standout moment during the show was when Ruess announced to the crowd that they would be playing a track that they initially planned on skipping but simply could not overlook the overwhelming demand for. They then surged into a beautifully arranged acoustic version of “Be Calm,” the opening track from Aim and Ignite, to screams of delight from the audience.
fun. play to an enthusiastic crowd
The band closed their main set with “We Are Young” and “Carry On,” and left the stage with beaming smiles. After returning to the stage and playing “One Foot,” Ruess teased the crowd, asking them “One more song… or two more songs?” As a reward for the extreme enthusiasm from the audience, the band slipped in an originally unplanned rendition of “All Alright” to the setlist, and ended the show with their epic Aim and Ignite album closer “Take Your Time (Coming Home),” which clocked in at over eight minutes.
Altogether, fun. had an amazing amount of stage presence and theatrics that left every single person in the crowd awestruck. Everyone left the venue with grins on their faces, eagerly anticipating their next chance to see fun. live once again.
Fun. continues their spring tour through June, including a stop in Boston on April 21st at the House of Blues.
Author’s Note: To view more photos from this show, check out my photoset from the night on Flickr.
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Chef Kucaj spices it up
February 13th, 2012By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
Although many Westford Academy students know Jeff Kucaj as a favorite English teacher, he also has a knack for another special talent – cooking.
“I’ve always liked to eat,” said Kucaj. “But I didn’t start to get serious about cooking until I moved away from home after college and was really put in a position where I had to cook. [...] My parents are good cooks, so [I had] to keep my eating consistent with my expectations from when I was a kid.”
Some of Kucaj’s favorite meals to prepare are those containing pasta, which he makes from scratch.
“It’s something that most people don’t do, but it makes a big difference between store-bought stuff and making it at home. I like that element of elevating the quality of it,” said Kucaj.
He also likes to use a blend of both traditional and unusual ingredients in his dishes. Experimenting with different methods of cooking, such as unique ways of preparing and presenting food, is another forté of his.
Kucaj’s wife and fellow WA English teacher, Kyle Kucaj, is used to enjoying many of the meals in the Kucaj household.
“His sauce is the best. He makes homemade meatballs, everything’s from scratch, it has three different kinds of meat in it, and the meatballs just fall apart,” she said. “He lets them sit all day long so the house smells really good when he cooks.”
According to Kyle, Jeff does most of their cooking, but she enjoys helping him out when she has the time.
“I call myself the ‘sous-chef’ – I like to do a lot of chopping and mixing, but that’s about it. I get very distracted,” she said.
Besides cooking, Jeff Kucaj also enjoys coaching WA volleyball and track, playing guitar and sometimes piano, among other interests. Of course, he also teaches English classes during the WA school day.
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What are IEPs and 504s?
January 9th, 2012By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
Over the past few years, many people have been realizing that some students need extra help to fully succeed in their studies. Two important legal plans have been providing assistance to these students so that they can reach their academic goals with less stress involved.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans debuted under the Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1990. Both plans have a central goal of providing extra services to students with disabilities and medical conditions that bar their academic performance.
IEPs tend to focus more on students with both physical and mental disabilities, such as ADHD. Before receiving an plan, a student must first qualify for special education. Each plan describes specific accommodations made to assist students in achieving their educational goals more easily. However, most students with IEPs learn in the same environment as students who do not have IEPs.
Each IEP is individually crafted to the student’s needs. It is required by law to include specifications such as the student’s current academic and functional performance, goals for the student, what modifications will be made to the normal curriculum for the student, how their progress is measured, and how this progress will be reported to the student’s parents.
It is up to parents whether or not a child should have an IEP. However, when the student turns 14 years old, they may decide whether or not they would like to have an IEP. By the time the student has turned 16, they must have a transition plan in place. This plan describes how a student will transition from high school to college and which, if any, benefits will continue to apply to them.
Patricia Demins, the chair of Westford Academy’s special education department, further explained IEPs. “It’s a legal document that will identify a student’s disability and what accommodations and modifications they need in order to access the curriculum,” she said.
On the other hand, 504 plans focus more on long-term illnesses and disorders that impair a student’s ability to learn rather than disabilities, but students with disabilities are still perfectly eligible for a 504 plan. 504s were created under section 504 of the Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1990.
Demins stated that students with 504 plans “…need accommodations in order to access the same playing field. They don’t get modifications, they just get accommodations, [such as] they have to be in an air conditioned room”.
Many impairments covered under 504 plans are often not apparent physically, such as diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy. Therefore, many students learn in the same environment as those without 504 plans. Because of this, staff members are required to know how to respond to signs of crisis in these students, such as recognizing hypoglycemia in a diabetic.
At Westford Academy, the number of students that are covered under IEPs and 504 plans has been increasing. However, this may just be because the number of students coming into the school has been increasing as well.
“We have the largest classes coming into Westford Academy right now, so yes, we have seen increase in numbers,” said Demins. “But [it is mostly] because the class size.”
Overall, IEPs and 504s are both legal documents that provide assistance to students who need it. It is important that they are followed and respected by staff and fellow students alike. However, just because a student has one of these plans does not necessarily mean that they are lesser in intelligence than students who do not need IEPs and 504s. These students are able to achieve the same academic goals as others – they just need a helping hand in doing so.
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Westford Academy’s Food for Thought
December 13th, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
In October, National Public Radio ran a segment on author and celebrity photographer Melanie Dunea. For her 2007 book My Last Supper and newly-released sequel My Last Supper: The Next Course, Dunea interviewed fifty famous chefs from across the globe and posed them all the same question: “What would you like your last meal to be?”
Answers varied from extravagant, multiple-course banquets filled with truffles and caviar to simply a plate of mom’s fried chicken and homemade gravy.
A few Westford Academy students were asked the very same question, and the answers were just as varied. For example, freshman Danielle St. Pierre would simply want a fresh garden salad. Other students would prefer to chow down on a plate of steaming potato wedges, a juicy steak dinner, or a whole pizza.
The Ghostwriter would like to know what your last meal would be. Let us know your gustatory dreams by leaving a comment below.
Miracle On Lansdowne Street Delights Boston Concert-Goers
December 7th, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff writer
On Wednesday night, a crowd of hundreds gathered in frigid temperatures outside Boston’s House of Blues, eagerly anticipating the annual “Miracle On Lansdowne Street” sponsored by local alternative radio station WFNX. This was the first of three shows that make up the event, which spans over a period of two weeks.
Headlining the show were indie rockers Two Door Cinema Club, hailing from Northern Ireland, with Manhattan indie pop duo Cults opening.
After the doors were opened, the floor filled up fast, all the way to the back wall of the venue. Other patrons gazed down from the mezzanine and upper balconies while roadies began to prepare the stage with Cults’ equipment.
Madeline Follin of Cults - Photo © Jocelyn Cote
As Cults took the stage, the crowd went into an uproar. Although the band is technically a duo, they bring along three extra touring members to help fill the gaps in their guitar, percussion, and bass sections. Lead singer Madeline Follin announced that this would be their last show of the year, and also touring drummer Marc Deriso’s final show with the band. Some concert-goers seemed more in tune with Cults than others, but as a whole they did their job in getting the crowd riled up for the show’s headliner.
The stage was once again assumed by roadies, but soon the lights went down and Two Door Cinema Club finally took the stage as screams of joy erupted from the audience.
The band opened with “Cigarettes In the Theatre,” which also opens their successful debut album, Tourist History. Fans were up on their feet and dancing immediately as lead guitarist Sam Halliday strummed the song’s first chords. Subsequently, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Alex Trimble began his duty as vocalist as the crowd went wild.
The setlist derived heavily from their aforementioned debut album, with a few b-sides and rarities such as “Hands Off My Cash, Monty” and “Kids” thrown in for good measure. The band also took time to praise the crowd on their enthusiasm and revealed how Boston was one of their favorite cities to play in. They also revealed their plans to return to the studio in January to record their long-awaited sophomore album, and treated the crowd to a sneak preview by playing new songs “Handshake,” “This is Moon,” and “Sleep Alone.”
Long-time fans of the band enjoyed lesser-played songs from Tourist History such as “Eat That Up, It’s Good for You” and “You’re Not Stubborn,” while others belted out the lyrics to current singles “Undercover Martyn” and “What You Know,” the band’s most popular song and main set closer.
Alex Trimble of Two Door Cinema Club - Photo © Jocelyn Cote
After cries for an encore from their adoring fans, the band returned to the stage one last time for a three-song encore comprising of “Come Back Home” and “Sleep Alone,” and finally closing with the fast-paced fan-favorite “I Can Talk,” during which a small mosh pit ensued. As Two Door Cinema Club walked offstage for the final time, the crowd dispersed with ringing ears and grins on their faces, while a brave few clung to the barriers in hopes of receiving one of the four setlists from a roadie.
Altogether, Two Door Cinema Club delivered an upbeat and unforgettable show, with many fans already looking forward to their next appearance in Boston.
The Miracle On Lansdowne Street continues on December 9th with Matt and Kim and Mute Math performing, and on December 10th with Beady Eye and Black Box Revelation performing, both at the House of Blues.
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Staff Picks: What We’re Listening To II
December 1st, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
I’m not afraid to admit it – I’m a music nerd. Many of my favorite bands have been huge influences on my life for years, and writing about music is a passion of mine. However, my music taste is quite the opposite of many girls here at WA: I much prefer a crazy guitar solo to a catchy dance beat. My choices on this list vary in age – some albums were released this year, while a few are a bit older. Although my taste is varied, many of my choices may not be for you. After all, everyone has their own unique music taste.
‘Tourist History’ by Two Door Cinema Club
© Kitsune Music
Ever since this Irish trio stepped onto the indie music scene with the release of this debut album in 2010, they’ve been taking the world by storm. Their self-declared “alt-tronic” genre is a unique blend of electronic riffs and fast paced guitar-driven songcraft. Tourist History is filled to the brim with catchy lyrics, hooks, and beats. If you’re looking for a fun, upbeat record, give this one a spin. I attended a show of theirs this past Wednesday and it was one of the best concerts I’ve been to!
Go listen to: “Cigarettes In the Theatre” and “I Can Talk”
‘The Big Roar’ by The Joy Formidable
© Canvasback Music
While I am usually not a fan of bands with female vocalists, The Joy Formidable blow me away. This debut album was released in January of this year. Hailing from Wales, The Joy Formidable released various singles and an EP in 2009 through 2010, creating a growing fanbase. Since the release of The Big Roar, the band has been touring across Europe and the United States, even opening up for the Foo Fighters at a few shows. For someone looking for a unique indie album, be sure to give it a listen. The album is characterized by a dynamic female vocalist and exceptional guitar work.
Go listen to: “Whirring” and “The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade”
‘Neighborhoods’ by blink-182
© DGC Records
One of the biggest modern punk bands in the world, blink-182 recently reformed in 2009 after a 5 year hiatus. Their newest effort, Neighborhoods, was released with an 8 year gap between their previous self-titled album. Obviously, the band has changed in this span of time, and Neighborhoods is definitely different from any of the band’s previous albums. First and foremost, the record has a much more mature sound to it, which some fans were not happy with. Personally, I think this sound is a step in the right direction. While I love the old school “potty jokes” blink as much as the next person, a band can only go so far before a change would be healthy. The album also features more experimental additions to the band’s sound such as the addition of subtle synthesizers. I was lucky enough to get a preview of some songs from the album when I saw blink-182 at the Honda Civic Tour this year, and I can assure that for a fan with an open mind, Neighborhoods will not disappoint.
Go listen to: “Ghost On the Dancefloor” and “After Midnight”
‘Send Away the Tigers’ by Manic Street Preachers
© Columbia Records
In the 1990’s, the Manic Street Preachers were one of the bands fronting the Britpop movement. Released in 2007, Send Away the Tigers is quite an upbeat album for the Manics, but nonetheless an excellent one. With exhilarating guitar riffs, strong vocals, and unique basslines, the band does not disappoint with this recent effort. The addition of synthesizers to certain songs also adds to the album as a whole. If you’re looking for a strong, guitar-driven band, the Manics would be an excellent choice.
Go listen to: “Send Away the Tigers” and “Autumnsong”
‘Goo’ by Sonic Youth
© DGC Records
Sonic Youth were one of the first bands to dive into the previously undiscovered world of experimental rock. Using endless amounts of effects pedals and distortion, they create a mind-blowing sound coveted by many but achieved by few. Released in 1990, Goo is my personal favorite Sonic Youth album. Riff after riff, the album creates an unrivaled wall of sound. However, some may dismiss this as simply noise. Sonic Youth are definitely an acquired taste, but once you grow to love them, there’s no turning back.
Go listen to: “Kool Thing” and “Titanium Expose”
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The Internet Apocalypse: SOPA
November 23rd, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff writer
What would happen if this was commonplace on the Internet?
Many government officials and Hollywood head honchos have been chasing after pirated media for as long as the Internet has been available to the public. Multiple House and Senate bills have been proposed (and have failed) over the years, but their newest effort, the Stop Online Piracy Act (abbreviated as SOPA), is by far the most strict proposal yet.
The main goal of SOPA is “to promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.” This House bill was proposed by Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas on October 26th, 2011. Under this act, websites with user-created content such as Facebook and Twitter will be responsible for making sure that everything users post does not contain any sort of copyrighted material.
Sites like Flickr and Vimeo could potentially shut down under this bill. YouTube could possibly remain safe, as it is continually combating users posting copyrighted content by removing their videos and closing their accounts.
Under SOPA, search engines will also be responsible for preventing links to sites containing copyrighted materials.
A major goal of the bill is to be able to take legal action of “foreign rogue sites,” which its term for sites outside of the US’s jurisdiction that infringe on copyright. Under Title I of the bill, the US Attorney-General can legally take action against these websites and force US-based websites that contain advertising to stop doing business with these sites.
Title II of the bill makes unauthorized streaming of any copyrighted material a felony.
To protest SOPA, many websites declared November 16th “American Censorship Day”. Many websites, such as social networking sites Tumblr and Reddit, displayed black banners over their site logos with the words ‘stop censorship’ in bold lettering to show their distaste for the bill.
As someone who spends a bit too much time browsing social websites, I am unhappy about this bill. I’m against illegally downloading media, and always try to make sure musicians, actors, directors, and everyone else who contributes to the ever-growing world of media gets compensated for their work that they put so much time and effort into. However, SOPA is far from a rational way to do this.
Personally, I think SOPA is borderline infringement on our right of freedom of speech. Many people mean no harm in putting a background track over their video of a baby doing a silly dance or of their daughter performing ballet to a copyrighted piano composition. Should these innocent people be convicted of a felony for doing this? I surely think not.
The bill has certainly been a hot topic on the Internet for the past few days. It really has gotten everyone thinking: what would we do if something like SOPA were to be put in place?
CSI: Westford Academy
November 7th, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff writer
Handwriting analysis, deciphering forgeries, and spending time watching NCIS are just a few of the activities enjoyed by the super sleuths of the Westford Academy Forensics Club.
Timothy Knittel, a chemistry teacher at WA, is the club’s current advisor. He stepped up to the position last year.
“I’m looking for ways to involve myself,” said Knittel. “They needed an advisor, and they came to see me last year, and they said, ‘Can you do this?’ and I said sure.”
The club itself has been around for about five years, started by a senior who graduated from WA two years ago. Her work and resources are still in use by the club today. The club is still gaining interest this year, with only about five regular members and a few more who attend meetings now and then.
Members use much of the technology explored within the forensics class, and work together to help solve fictitious crimes and mysteries.
“You see CSI and stuff on TV and hear all about it and it’s really interesting,” said senior John Rockwood, who has been a member of Forensics club for four years. “I like how we can look at techniques for removing evidence from a scene. They’re very far out there. It’s the kind of stuff that you think couldn’t possibly exist.”
The club meets every other Wednesday in room 229 and all students are welcome, regardless of their involvement in an actual forensics class. Although it is no longer officially recognized by administration as an official club, it continues to run as long as there is interest from the student body.
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Maraganis joins WA community
October 13th, 2011By Jocelyn Cote
Staff Writer
As a young girl, Kristine Maraganis was always playing teacher with her stuffed animals. Her mother, who also worked at a school, would often bring home used teachers’ books to aid her in her adventures.
“It’s something I’ve kind of always wanted to do,” she said.
Maraganis, who is currently teaching special education, student support, Concepts of English, and co-teaching a few English 9 classes, is not new to the world of education. Before moving her career to WA, Maraganis taught for nine years in Derry, New Hampshire and Chelmsford, Massachusetts, teaching first and second grade and special education respectively. She is also an advisor for SADD.
“I know that Westford has extremely high expectations for their students and their staff, which is why I wanted to work here,” said Maraganis.
Maraganis’ job includes doing a large amount of paperwork and meetings, but she is able to work with kids on a more personal level than some other teachers might. She teaches a wide variety of subjects to her students rather than being tied to a single one like many teachers.
Besides school, Maraganis enjoys interior decorating, writing poetry and reading. Her four sons at home always keep her busy.
Maraganis said that the students she teaches are definitely her favorite part of her job.
“The students here are extremely respectful,” said Maraganis. “They’re just really good kids to be around. It makes it fun to teach.”
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Welcome Mrs. Chaput
September 26th, 2011By: Jocelyn Cote & Alivia Kilroy
Staff Writers
Q: Have you had any other teaching experience before you arrived here at Westford Academy? If so, where and for how long?
A: Yes, I have been teaching for six years at Munson High School in Munson, MA. I have also been an online high school math teacher.
Q: Were you nervous on the first day of school?
A: Yes, but not as nervous as I was during my first year of teaching.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westford Academy so far?
A: Incredible staff. The math department is awesome. Everybody’s helpful, everybody works together.
Q: What courses and grades do you currently teach?
A: Intermediate geometry and beginner geometry. Mostly sophomores, a couple freshmen, and a couple seniors.
Mrs. Chaput is a new math teacher at Westford Academy.
Q: Where did you go for college and what did you major in?
A: I went to the United States Naval Academy. I studied general engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Well, right now my life is consumed by work and family, so in my free time, when I have it, I read, I like to run, and I like to make things. I like to do crafts, it’s fun.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: We have a pet fish named Bubbles.
Q: What is your favorite part of your curriculum to teach to your students?
A: I do like geometry. I like the reasoning. I think it’s so applicable to everything we do in life.
Q: Are you involved with any after school activities?
A: Not yet. Getting the lay of the land first.
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