Along with the drinks, participants also received $5 Dunkin’ gift cards, which made the visit even sweeter.

Freshman AJ Cabral was especially excited about the visit. When asked if he enjoyed the Dunkin’ Cruiser’s visit, Cabral said, “100%, it was the best thing I’ve ever had in my life. It was so tasty and wonderful, and they gave me a $5 voucher, so I’m gonna go buy more Dunks.”

Physics teacher Christian Langlois also enjoyed the free sample. “I got a little cup, and it was delicious,” Langlois said. When asked if he planned to use the $5 voucher, he responded, “100%, how could I not?”

The Dunkin’ Cruiser provided a nice break from the normal school day and the traditional school lunch. Many students were excited to try the drinks, receive a gift card, and enjoy a little taste of Dunkin’ without even having to leave school.

Olivia Connoly, Brayden Folan, Daria Giorgi Woodford, and Anna Iacobucci have been announced as the morning announcers and the Friday Morning Lights anchors for their upcoming senior year.

“It has been something I’ve wanted to do since my first year at Hudson High,” junior Brayden Folan said.

As the new anchors, they are required to meet every Thursday morning to film that week’s episode of Friday Morning Lights. For the morning announcements they meet in the main office before the first block everyday.

“The jobs are an extra responsibility, but the schedules of both work very well,” junior Anna Iacobucci said.

At Hudson High the morning announcer role is prestigious. Obtaining the position means your voice will be heard every morning.

“I know how crucial the role is because I was once an underclassman in the school, and I remember hearing the voices of the seniors every morning,”  Folan said.

These students made a significant achievement by graduating from the fast-growing biomedical pathway. The pathway started in the 2018-2019 school year and currently has 365 students, with a total enrollment of 552 since the beginning of the program. 68 of those students have graduated from the pathway and earned white coats.

The biomedical pathway includes three classes: Biomed with Judy Pavao, Human Body Systems with Heather Witrowski, and Medical Interventions with Rita Smith. 

Even though these students have gotten their white coats, it wasn’t as easy as it may seem, with all the constant, difficult lessons that most people learn in medical school.

“The hardest part of completing the biomedical pathway for me was all the new things you have to learn,” Connolly said.   

When these students received their white coats, they were so proud of themselves and each other. After watching the prior students get their white coats, to become the students that they looked up to. These students have not only gained their white coats and a sense of accomplishment, but also friendships and unconditional support from their teachers, family, and friends. 

“I also give much credit to my friend Josephine Budrewicz, whom I’ve called my “Biomed Buddy” over the past few years. She and I completed the full pathway together and were together in PBS and MI, which are classes we have both loved. We have closely bonded over assignments, labs, and projects, and she has always been a source of support and help whenever I am struggling. I am lucky to call her my friend.” Ruminski said.  

All of the students have expressed that they all really enjoyed the pathway, but especially enjoyed the memories of the Harvard medical trip. 

“One memory from this program I will never forget is the Harvard Medical field trip. We went to Harvard, which is such a cool experience, and we got to work on a robot patient and help them through an emergency as a team.” Said Connoly                                                                                           

To many students, the white coat is more than just a coat; it is a representation of their hard work, their responsibility, and above all, the memories and connections they have made along the way.

“My white coat is a symbol of my hard work; I plan on bringing it to college with me, especially because it reminds me of all the memories I made throughout the pathway,” Budrewicz said.  

After they finished this pathway, they all decided that this is their passion and that they would like to continue to do something in the medical field. 

“I’ve become more knowledgeable, a hard worker, and I’ve learned how to stay determined even when things get hard. But overall, it has really opened my eyes to the medical field and helped me find what I want to do for the rest of my life, which is nursing,” Connoly said.

Due to the recent demand for protein stemming from the American population’s rising desire to be healthier, whey protein has become one of the most in-demand ingredients on the market. 

Whey protein is a high-quality, complete dairy protein that contains all nine essential amino acids and is derived as a by-product of cheese-making. 

Protein has newly become a breakout ingredient, with 70% of Americans saying they want more protein in their diet compared to 59% 4 years ago. 

The demand has led to immense shortages, even with some companies having run out of supply for the remainder of the year. 

With sales slowly decreasing, companies have resorted to adding protein to their products as a way to rekindle growth and interest, as well as commanding price premiums. 

Because of this, whey powder prices have increased 50% since January. 

Prices are higher for powders with a higher concentration of protein. Whey protein falls in the 80% content range, meaning spot prices have topped $11, which is considered a historic high for the specific ingredient. 

One solution may be for companies to reformulate using cheaper alternatives such as soy and pea protein.

The tight supply as of late is additionally affecting the prices of non-fat dry milk, another ingredient that is used in the protein fortification process. 

Similarly, as dairy producers have shifted to grow the supply of whey protein, production of another byproduct called butterfat has been increasing, leading to an optimistic decline in costs. 

Although the U.S. dairy producers have announced an 11 billion dollar contribution to the expansion of new facilities for protein production in 19 different states, companies have been struggling with the decision to raise prices when consumers are already overwhelmed by inflation. 

Having said this all, the International Dairy Foods Association sees milk production growing by 15 billion pounds by 2030 to meet the rising demand for whey protein.

Sully’s Deli is a newly owned sandwich shop, and he was inspired by his connection with the town of Hudson.

“I love the community and the fact that Main Street is filled with local small businesses,” said Sullivan.

Before opening the Deli shop, Sullivan had spent more than 10 years working in restaurants and said his passion for cooking and making pastrami had motivated him to open a sandwich shop in the town where he grew up.

Sully’s Deli hopes to stand out from other restaurants by making homemade pastrami and other freshly sliced meats and cheeses. Sullivan had said that you can expect fresh ingredients, seasonal, and classic sandwiches.

One item on the menu that represents Sully’s deli is the “Sully’s Reuben,” which is pastrami, Swiss cheese, and a choice of sauerkraut or house-made slaw.

Sullivan says, “It’s a modern twist on a classic, which is what Sully’s is all about.”

Although the restaurant hasn’t opened yet, Sullivan said that their biggest challenge has been trying to manage steps as they’re going through the process of opening.

“There are a lot of steps between having an idea and getting your doors open,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also mentioned that he thinks it is really important that he has regular customers coming in. He said that he has had friendships from his other jobs, and this created a loyal relationship with regular customers.

Sullivan mentioned, “My goal is to create a place that feels clean, comfortable, and full of energy.” Then Sullivan said, “ I want it to feel like a neighborhood spot where people look forward to coming back.”

Sullivan hopes to be a lasting, growing small business as part of the town of Hudson.

Sullivan lastly said, “I hope to build a long-standing sandwich shop that becomes a landmark in Hudson. The kind of place that visitors want to check out and locals love to return to.”

—30—

On Thursday, June 4th, 2026, I attended my third and final literary field trip of the year. This trip took place at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre, where I watched the matinee showing of the movie Pressure, which is based on a true story and was directed by Anthony Maras.

The film focuses heavily on the role that meteorologists played during WWII, especially in the days leading up to the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day. Before viewing the film, I had a general idea of the importance of D-Day during the Second World War, but I had no idea how significant meteorologists were in planning the invasion and ensuring victory. 

The operation of D-Day depended heavily on the weather, some of the most unpredictable forces in the entire world. With the fate of the war on the line, meteorologists were tasked with predicting the unpredictable with almost zero technological aid. When you think about military history, you think of generals, soldiers, tanks, and bombs, but few people think of meteorologists. Because of this, I expected the film to offer a unique insight into the behind-the-scenes of planning one of the most influential invasions in the history of the world, but I never expected it to connect and engage with me symbolically as much as it did.

The Theatre 

The theatre itself contributed greatly to this experience. Unlike a large commercial theatre, the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre felt much more personal.

Additionally, watching a historical movie in a historically founded building just seemed to add to this feeling of personality that a large big box theatre would lack. The theatre layout itself was unlike any theatre I have ever seen before. When you think of a typical movie theatre, you think about a large square room that is quite wide, but this theatre was much more rectangular and only had 2 columns of seats, which stretched the theatre, making it look very long and skinny, making it a very unique viewing experience. This smaller and more unique setting created a much stronger connection between the audience and the film. 

The Movie Itself 

The movie Pressure tells the story of the meteorologists who were tasked with predicting the weather conditions for D-Day. The film places a spotlight on the gigantic amount of pressure that was placed on these meteorologists as they had to come up with calculated predictions in a very short amount of time.

The meteorologists were given the power to influence the date of D-Day; a decision that bet the outcome of the war on these meteorologists being able to correctly predict the weather. At face value, this may seem like a stretch. You may be asking how knowing the weather could lead to the ending of a world war? But when you look deeper, the weather needed to have conditions that would allow for the successful landing of ships on the shores of Normandy, or the invasion would have been over before it even started. As the film progresses, it continuously seems to reinforce to the viewers that weather forecasting technology during WWII was far less advanced than it is today, opening the eyes of viewers to the sheer importance of the meteorologists in the outcome of the war.

A wrong prediction could potentially cost thousands of lives and could jeopardize the allies’ chances of coming out on top. The tension caused by such an important decision was present throughout the entire film and showed viewers that the decisions around weather forecasting during WWII were not decisions that only impacted science, but also decisions that impacted the lives of human beings.  

Symbolism

One of the most interesting aspects of the film to me was a question that the main character, Captain James Stagg, raised about halfway through the story, Why does the wind blow? At first, this appears to be a pretty simple question that can be answered with science, but as the film progressed, I realized that it represented something much larger.

It symbolizes the desire to understand what’s going on around us. To always have an answer, to never be left in the dark, unknowing of what is next.  This connects back to the meteorologists because they are not just simply trying to predict next week’s weather. They are trying to understand an invisible and unpredictable force that can shape the outcome of a world war. People are always searching for answers, and the experiences of the meteorologists show us that to find answers, you need to be willing to start, even if the outcome seems impossible. 

Another moment of the film that stood out to me was at the very end when the two rivaling meteorologists who were forced to work together in order to predict the weather of D-Day shook hands, but not just any handshake, a left-handed handshake. This left-handed handshake immediately stood out to me because traditionally, everyone shakes hands with their right hand, so this moment confused me and was very thought-provoking. I feel that the filmmakers wanted this moment to stand out to the viewers.

I feel this way because throughout the film, the two men often disagreed and actively challenged each other’s ideas, but as the story progressed, they began to realize that their shared goal was much more important than their personal rivalry. This was a very hard thing for them to realize and accept, but in the end, they were able to find their common ground. To me, the filmmakers chose the left-handed handshake to represent this neutrality and common ground between the two once rivals. A right-handed handshake would’ve portrayed one individual as surrendering to the other and admitting he was wrong, but this uncommon left-handed handshake shows both rivals stepping down to each other and showing their respect for one another.

I believe that this idea connects back to the central idea of the film, the left-handed handshake breaks away from the idea of assumptions and patterns representing the same process that the two rivals had to go through for the success of the greater good. This teaches viewers that progress is not always made from what you originally think, but comes from people who are willing to think differently and consider possibilities and solutions that they may have never thought of on their own.

Conclusion 

Overall, I really enjoyed how thought-provoking this film was, and it truly expanded my understanding of WWII and brought light to a hugely important factor that many people have never even considered to be significant. This lit trip showed me that even scientific topics can connect back to our class and can be very engaging and educational. I walked out of the theatre today with something that I did not walk in with; I walked out with a certain appreciation for things that go unseen.

In many cases in our lives, people work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure success, but never truly get the credit that they deserve. Pressure acts as a symbol for those who go unseen, for those who go above and beyond day in and day out. This movie taught me that history does not revolve around those whose names we see in textbooks or whose faces we see in portraits or on statues, but also to countless other individuals whose efforts may seem insignificant, but have shaped the world we live in today.

The total experience of the field trip was unique and new because of the fascinating art museum. Overall I enjoyed my time at the Russian Icon Museum.

• First Impression

From the first step into the museum I realized that this was nothing I had ever seen before. Everywhere you looked was incredible vibrant artwork that looked to be centuries old. I had expected this museum to be just like every other museum with paintings and sculptures and a few old “masterpieces,” but what I saw was symbolic storytelling artwork.

Before going I expected the museum to be tiny because of the way the building is laid out from perspective on the outside. However I quickly realized that the museum was fairly large and was completely filled with tremendous artwork that still perplexes me with the complicity involved in creating the art.

• Outside of my comfort zone 

This was not the typical museum that I would be going to. Usually it would consist of hands-on activities or typical American artwork and sculptures. Where this museum was filled with over 1000 different ancient Russian artifacts. A majority of the artwork was religious material typically showing a religious figure. This made me have to think more deeply about what the artwork was trying to convey because I don’t have a lot of religious material knowledge, which did make my experience interesting.

One encounter with a worker told me a unique fact that a lot of the artifacts date back to 1450. This still shocks me because the fact some of the paintings were able to be preserved for over 500 years and make it to Clinton, Massachusetts is incredible.

• My changing view on artwork

Originally I came into this field trip not expecting to gain anything out of it and was planning on going through the motions and getting it over with, but by the end of the trip this was certainly not the case. I was now thoroughly enjoying the trip and was curious about some of the artwork which led me to interact with a few people walking around. One worker was very pleasing to talk to and was able to answer a majority of my questions. Although I did not catch his name, I am very appreciative of his knowledge that helped me through my experience because that knowledge also helped me look more appreciative towards the artwork.

• Friendly Environment

Another major takeaway from this experience was the friendly environment that made me feel welcomed into an environment where I wouldn’t usually be. There were many museum workers inside that were highly professional and definitely had a good understanding of what they were talking about. The museum itself had a flourishing feeling while everything was laid out in a mannerly fashion with appropriately dimmed lights. The friendly atmosphere turned what could have been an overwhelming experience into an enjoyable time.

• Unfamiliar doesn’t mean unimportant

Overall this was a highly unique experience that crossed many boundaries that were set before the trip. I learned that just because something isn’t your specialty it doesn’t mean that it isn’t important. All the artwork that I saw displayed their own creative way of telling a story. To me this would have never been important, but now I am more comfortable expanding my learning boundaries so this trip was an overall success.

Protein is one of the most important substances in the human body. Your muscles, hair, organs, and many hormones are primarily made up of protein.

There are 20 amino acids, but your body can only make 11; the other nine are called essential amino acids. 

In the past few years, many foods and beverages in stores have been labeled “High-protein” due to the sudden rise in demand and the desire to prioritize these essential amino acids.

The majority of Americans are driving this demand after learning that protein helps maintain muscle, stabilize blood sugar, and promote a feeling of fullness. 

However, just because something says “High-protein” doesn’t mean it won’t have saturated fats and sugar in it.  

Ultra-processed foods, which Americans are known to turn to for their flavor and convenience, are often linked to high saturated fats and commonly contain anywhere from zero to 46 grams of sugar per serving, even with some universal products exceeding that range. 

The digestive process, when it comes to protein, is a multi-step, complicated process, and these saturated fats slow down the process, and the sugar content triggers insulin responses that ultimately affect how your body uses protein.

The process starts when chewing. Amylase and lipase in your saliva break down fats and carbohydrates.

When a protein source reaches your stomach, proteases, which are enzymes that break peptide bonds, and hydrochloric acid break it down. 

That smaller chain of amino acids then moves into the small intestine, where your pancreas releases enzymes and a bicarbonate buffer that reduces the acidity of digested food.

In the small intestine, villi absorb the protein. After being absorbed, they are taken to cells to start repairing tissue and building muscle. 

Along with speeding up chemical reactions, proteins are found in substances in our body that perform important functions, like lactase, keratin, antibodies, and hemoglobin.

When turning your head away from high-quality protein sources like fish, meat, eggs, and dairy and locking eyes with a bag of protein popcorn or a box of protein cookies, you threaten the functions of your own digestive system. 

It makes sense why protein is so popular; it is essential to our body and the maintenance of lean muscle. 

However, as consumers who are bombarded with constant ads and promises, make sure you’re finding a high-quality source and moving your body. And no, walking down the grocery aisle reading “High Protein!” in large font does not count. 

A main goal the environmental club decided this year was the pollinator garden.

“Pollinator gardens are really important for local biodiversity. Things like bees and butterflies are struggling right now because a lot of land is used for pavement, for parking, that is used for grass.” said Jean Ganek, the club adviser and science teacher.

The pollinator garden is used to support animals who pollinate, a lot of pollinator gardens should be planted right now due to land being taken over by pavement for parking. 

“There’s lots of great resources to find native plants that are great for our bees and butterflies as well. don’t have plants like clovers in them for those pollinators to be able to get the pollen that they need,” Ganek said.

When also asked how students can get involved in this and help out with the pollinator garden club adviser Ganek Said 

“So, if you want to plan a pollinator garden at home, making sure you have a nice little pot of land would be important. If you make sure that you get some good sunlight and you’re able to go out and water it every day,” Ganek said.

Springtime is a perfect time to start planting a pollinator garden as most animals who pollinate come out during springtime. 

“I usually want to plant around April, May. Sometimes, if you want to, like, start from, you might want to start earlier, so they’re ready to go and actually be planted in the ground come springtime. But if you want to plant now, it’s certainly not too late.”

“It comes down to going to a local nursery and picking some good plants. I find that oftentimes if you go to one of the local nurseries.”

If you want to help the animals, plant a pollinator garden and it does not need much  daily maintenance. 

“Well normally there wouldn’t be that much maintenance just regularly going out to be able to water the plants and keep them alive. I might try to water at least once a day and thus it’s raining, in which case mother nature takes care of it for us.”