by Danielle Tomaka

It’s often said that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but it is also the most expensive. Christmas shopping can be time consuming and can get costly. If you’re like me and get too generous with purchasing more gifts than you actually need, there are several precautions you can take to help budget your finances. Follow these 5 easy steps to make a budget plan:

1. Make a list. Make a list of people you need to get gifts for.
2. Set a spending limit. Find out how much money you have to work with. Divide it however you feel necessary.
3. Make a shopping list. Going off of your list and spending limit, write down what you want to get for each person, within that limit of course. If you can, buy a combined gift. It’s much cheaper to buy one gift for your parents than two separate gifts.
4. Do your research. Now that you have a shopping list made, look online to see where they might have that product on sale or where you can find it the cheapest. Many stores price match as well.
5. Keep your receipts. After purchasing your gifts, make sure that you keep your receipts and make sure that you stuck to budget plan. You never know if you have to return something for any reason.

Following these 5 steps will ensure you to have a successful Christmas shopping experience. Saving money is hard for anyone, especially college students who are on a tight budget. Don’t forget, Christmas is a time to spread peace, love, and joy. It is not about presents, though we love to give this time of year. Just remember to shop smart and enjoy your time doing it!

by Kaitlyn Halper

With the end of the semester around the corner, students are prepping for papers, exams and homework galore. The Scribe is here to help with a list of study techniques to help you ace your finals.

1. Stay organized – Organize your class notes, use sticky notes, and keep flash cards. Create a calendar on what you are going to do when and stick to it.
2. Set boundaries for yourself with technology – Cell phones and social media are very distracting, especially during finals week. When studying, put your phone to the side and focus on studying.
3. Don’t wait until the last minute – Waiting until the last-minute hurts your ability to retain the information. Try to study for a set amount of time each day to get the best grade.
4. Take a break – Don’t over work yourself, as that can hurt you. Take a ten-minute break every hour or so to allow yourself to recharge.
5. Read out loud – Reading out loud helps a person retain information. Websites say to record yourself and then play it back to listen.
6. Get enough sleep – Make sure you get enough sleep, so your brain is well rested and ready to study or take your final.
7. Study in different locations – Research shows that studying in different locations helps you retain information.

Good luck to all Hilbert students on your last week of classes.

by Brandon Zicari

I was seven years old when I was introduced to the work of Stan Lee. My father took me to see the first “Spiderman” movie starring Tobey Maguire. My dad had been into the comics growing up so when another adaptation came out he made sure to take me to see it.

I became infatuated with the idea of a superhero. It was that day that I started to get into the Marvel world and read about the characters that Stan Lee had created. I loved reading about all the characters and their powers, wishing that I could have just one. Some of my favorites included Thor, Captain America, and of course Spiderman. It baffled me that one man could create so many stories that all hold the same core values.

Fast forward sixteen years and as a young adult I am still eagerly waiting for the next Marvel movie to be released. Stan Lee made these characters to show that no matter who you are or where you came from, you can be great. That message is what has turned Marvel from almost going bankrupt to one of the most prominent companies in the entertainment world.  Lee took the world for what it was and made characters that people can relate to. Each of his character balances their extreme power with human insecurities. For example Spiderman is a high school kid who balances trying to be a kid with being a superhero. He isn’t the most popular kid in school and does what he can to get his love interest to like him.

Lee began writing comics in the 1940’s for Timely Comics. He and his team were able to produce stories that resonated very well with the public. It was here that Lee created famous characters such as the Fantastic Four, The Hulk, and Iron man. As he produced more stories more fame came his way. Partnered with Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, and others they recreated their brand naming it Marvel. They continued to produce quality comics that the public could not get enough of. Lee’s comics had one aspect that made them differ at the time; each character was connected in some way. He had created a giant universe that could all correlate together allowing for cross overs that made stories even better. Readers could buy comics that had a team up between two or more superheroes which allowed for many compelling plot lines.

The idea of cross over stories is one of the main reasons Marvel is still very popular today. In 2009 Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion dollars. This was a huge step for Marvel. With Disney funding the movies they were better than ever. Since the purchase of Marvel there have been twenty movies released all interconnected with each other. This was a huge gamble because it has never been done before but with Lee’s stories Disney was able to do something historic. In 2018 the two highest grossing movies to date are “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Black Panther”. Both of these movies combined made well over two billion and brought in a lot of revenue for Disney. Overall it is easy to see why people enjoy these movies. They are fun, easy to grasp, and appeal to many demographics of people. Stan Lee wanted everyone to be able to enjoy his work. He is a role model and will forever be highly regarded in the entertainment industry.

I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain people, you’re doing a good thing. – Stan Lee       

by Scott Peet

Winter is coming and it’s time to start thinking about protecting our smallest family members from the cold and snow. Humans may take our feet for granted from time to time, but our animals need to have special care taken to protect their paws from the weather and many deicers used on sidewalks. It is important to monitor the condition of their paw pads every time they go outside, and while many dogs are naturally protected from the cold with thick winter coats, not all breeds are quite so lucky. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your canine happy and healthy this season.

1. Put your boots on – There are a variety of fashionable options to choose from at most pet stores and from online retailers. The first walking experience is often adorable.
2. Trim your toes – Many breeds have extra fur between their toes which can trap ice and debris.
3. Wash your feet- Even if your feet are clean do you like have cold wet feet all day? Use a warm washcloth or keep a small bath of water with a towel by the door.
4. Protect with cream- You can find a number of DIY recipes for this or pick up a tin at your local pet store.
5. Don’t forget your Jacket- While not all dogs require a coat its important to know your breed and monitor them during outside time this winter. Smaller breeds and those without significant undercoats could benefit greatly with extra protection.

For more useful tips and resources check out AKC.org here 

by Kaitlyn Halper

Students in Don Vincent’s Com 460 class are holding a fundraiser for HEART Animal Shelter on Thursday, December 6^th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hatches and Hops. Located on 505 Main St in Buffalo, Hatches and Hops is Buffalo’s first axe throwing club, where people can play competitively or casually. Tickets will be sold at the door for $25 dollars (must be 21 or older to enter the bar) which includes one free beer and free hatchet throwing all night. There is a menu with delicious food options, where proceeds also go to HEART, along with several beers on tap. Wine options will also be available. There will also be a Chinese auction and a 50/50 going on during the event. “The beer blast is a fun and different way to help fundraise for the HEART adoption center even though it is limited to people considering the event is 21 and up, we look forward to coming together to get this done and reach our goal,” Jamie Hehir, one of the group members running the event, said. Please look into coming to help out HEART.

by Kaitlyn Halper

Students in Don Vincent’s Com 460 are holding an on-campus event in Swan Auditorium called Art for Life on November 27^th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The fundraiser aims to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health and is sponsored by S.P.U.D.S. (Suicide Prevention and Understanding Different Signs). This event includes live performances, basket raffles, gallery exhibits, and snacks from Coyote Cafe! When asked why she wanted to put on this event, one of the group members, Amanda Mituzas, said “I am very passionate about the cause, it is something very personal to me and it has to be talked about more.” Make sure you try and make it to help out this organization!

by Brandon Zicari

Photos by Joe Bogucki

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When it comes to photography, there are many methods that people like to explore. Some examples include aerial photography, black and white photography, and composite photography. Taking different types of pictures can be for a professional job or a hobby to pass time. Joe Bogucki, a business major at Hilbert enjoys capturing light trail photos. Light trails are a colorful and creative effect that photographers use to produce certain colors. Below is an in depth interview with Joe, diving deeper into the process of creating a light trail photo.

The Scribe: What made you get into photography?

 Joe Bogucki: Well, it was due to me being bored and finding a camera at my house. I started going out to places and trying to get cool pictures. The thing that is tough is that there isn’t that many cool places around here, so you have to get creative.

TS: What is a light trail photo?

JB: If you take your camera and drop the ISO(International Standards Organisation. It measures the sensitivity of the image sensor.) down, it will make it more sensitive to light. If you have a glow stick or any other type of light you can make a “trail” with it. Depending on how good the light is you can make some cool designs.

TS: What is the process in making a light trail photo?

JB: It has to take place somewhere dark enough but not too dark. There needs to be enough light to see the background. Another key component is a good camera that has to ability to drop the ISO and increase the shutter speed. This allows for the ability to capture more light. When taking the picture the camera needs to be held completely still as well.

TS: From your point of view, what makes a good light trail photo?

JB: When capturing the picture a lot is based on luck. I can tell it’s a good one if the colors pop and everything around it flows very smoothly. A bad one would be very blurry or the colors would not show.

TS: What is the most important aspect to take into consideration when taking a light trail photo?

JB: The most important thing is to keep the camera still. There has been a bunch of times where the light part of the picture has been very good but since I shifted my camera during it, the background came out blurry.

TS: What kind of camera do you use?

JB: I mainly use a Go-Pro 6 and also use a DSLR which allows for more customization of the image. The Go-Pro is easy to use because I can take it a lot of places and it is durable.

TS: Who has influenced you the most in photography?

JB: My friends have been the biggest influences. We all like to go out and take pictures which make for a good time when we go places. We all motivate each other to take cool pictures.  

by Michael Goodberry

Red’s Hot Dogs, located off Main Street in East Aurora, offers a great family dining experience. Walking into the hot dog stand there is a nostalgic feel with the bricks showing on walls by the menu board. Red’s is starting to decorate for the holidays and has light strands in the windows and strung around the counter.

I ordered a bacon cheese dog with a large vanilla milk shake and a side order of mac and cheese. The bacon cheese dog was a Sahlen’s hot dog on a toasted sub roll topped with perfectly cooked bacon, and delicious American cheese sauce, served in a plastic fry basket lined with a white and red plaid wax paper. The hot dog was as charred all the way around and hot in the middle. The bacon was crispy in the middle and softer by the tips. The sauce was gooey and salty, as any good melted American cheese sauce should be, was the perfect ingredient to top the decadent hot dog. The cheese sauce hardened as it cooled which made the hot dog easier to eat.

The mac and cheese did not appear too special.  By appearance, it was your standard elbow mac and cheese in gooey golden cheese sauce served on a black plastic fast food salad plate. But after my first bite, I was impressed. The noodles were cooked perfectly and they added shredded cheddar cheese to the sauce mixture and further melted it to make the sauce runny and stringy at the same time. Flavor wise the dish was slightly above average.

The milkshake was made very well with actual ice cream. The only thing I regret is by this point I was too full to finish the milkshake. I am anxiously waiting the next chance I get to eat at this excellent hot dog stand again. If anyone is looking for a well-made hot dog with quality ingredients with a vast variety of options, run down to Red’s in East Aurora you will not be disappointed.

by Mary Kate Wirfel

Hilbert College Partnered with Kiss 98.5 and Roswell Park for a Bald for Bucks event last week. The organization helps raise awareness about the effects of cancer. Students shaved their heads,not only to raise money, but as an act of solidarity with cancer patients, who often lose their hair as a result of their treatments.   Hamburg’s very own The Loft on Staub Square did the haircuts and head shaving.  There was also a basket raffle. All proceeds went to Roswell Park. To see photos from this event check out the photo galleries below. (Photos by Mary Kate Wirfel)

by Mary Kate Wirfel

Prism Warriors, Hilbert College’s LGBT club, has been on the move this semester, mobilizing to advocate for equality and acceptance on campus. Prism Warriors is Hilbert College’s LGBT club. This club was, made to help raise awareness to the faculty and staff as well the Hilbert community about the LGBT community. All students are welcomed to join the club because everyone needs an ally.

The club, which was  originally named Spectrum was, has been working to make their presence known on campus through events and campaigns. They recently held a TKTK and plan to TKTK this semester.

“When the light hits the Prism true colors show, the rainbow shows,” Corey Boice, the cliub’s president, said in explained in explaining the name change. The warrior term comes from how everyone in the LGBT community has their own light, as well wanting to live out the warrior meaning, he added.

The club wants to encourage faculty and staff as well other students and the administration in general to come to their events. They would also like everyone’s support to be an ally to the club. They are working to educate people about the LGBT community and culture by putting out various events and handouts with information.

The club hopes to let incoming freshmen know that Hilbert College is a safe and welcoming place for them.  The club is working with the Pride Center of Western New York and wants to get the Hilbert and Hamburg community involved.

The events the club has put on so far was coming out day on October 11. The turnout for this event was more than expected. On October 18, the club decorated the campus with purple decorations for Spirit Day. In October the Third Thursday of the month is known as spirit day this is a day to raise awareness about LGBT bullying and suicide. Hawk radio even played songs by popular LGBT artist such as Sam Smith and Mary Lambert. You are, also asked to wear purple in support.

The Prism Warriors group has many of upcoming events they would like the Hilbert community to know more about on November 1^st they will be hosting a movie event in Bogal 101. They will also be giving out pamphlets with information about the LGBT community to people who attend. On November 26, the club will be hosting an LGBT panel to raise awareness about the different groups throughout the community.  On November 28, the club will be hosting a Transformal with an Alice in wonderland theme titled “Alex in Wonderland.” There is more information to come regarding that event. November 28 is also AIDS awareness day and the club is planning to educate the Hilbert community about the AIDS epidemic

“all are welcome” Corey Boice told me “ you don’t have to be LGBT to be in the club we are here to advocate the LGBT community as well make LGBT students feel welcome and safe everyone is welcomed to be an ally.” If you are looking for a fun and educational club to join, I suggest you join prism worriers because everyone needs an ally.  The Prism Warriors is always welcome for new members.