Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster, Top Gun has just recently been released. The film centers around Academy Award nominee Tom Cruise’s character, Pete Mitchell, better known as Maverick, a gutsy naval aviator. I highly recommend seeing this film!

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are 10 women who have furthered mankind’s progress with their incredible scientific discoveries.

Once again, Summit High School’s Theater Program presents an outstanding performance. This year’s musical, Footloose, tells a tale of unity, freedom, and healing. In order to truly heal from grief, Footloose expresses, one must accept, move on, and allow themselves to be happy.

Sarah J. Maas’ Crescent City series is a favorite among readers everywhere, acclaimed for its immersive world-building, wonderful pace, and exhilarating action sequences.

Netflix has a plethora of movies to choose from, and yet its wide variety can seem oh so small when it’s time to choose. To help you stave off that indecision, here are 10 great romance movies!

The Midnight Library follows the lives of Nora Seed, a young woman who takes her own life and then finds herself in the enormous Midnight Library – a mystical place between life and death, each book detailing a possible life she could have lived. Her decisions put herself and the library in danger, forcing her to ask the all-important question: “What makes life worth living?” This effortless read is one of the most profound, thought-provoking, and human books out there and changed my perspective on life itself.

Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows high schooler Pippa Fitz-Amobi and her reopening of a missing-persons case one – that has plagued her town for 5 years. With the help of the younger brother of the boy pinned to the crime, Pippa attempts to find the real perpetrator. Fast-paced, entertaining, and refreshing, you’ll devour this book in one sitting.

We may not talk about Bruno, but we will DEFINITELY talk about Walt Disney Animation Studios newest feature film, Encanto. This movie gets just about everything right: the characters, the story, the songs, the culture, the animation, and so much more.

As always, the Summit High School Theatre Program delivers on an incredible production in this year’s show, Romeo and Juliet. Anne Poyner, director of the SHS theatre program, comments that the play reveals what happens when “we let hate divide us”, as well as “the strength of the power of love.”

If you were to ask someone what their favorite season is, either they would not be able to choose one at all or they would answer without hesitation. Some might pick fall because they love Halloween. Or perhaps some would say summer, simply because they have no school. I, on the other hand, couldn't tell you what my favorite season is. Each season is perfect to me - long walks on the beach in summer, the crisp air of fall, the holiday spirit that fills winter, and spring's blooming flowers.

I highly recommend A Quiet Place Part II, even to those who don’t usually enjoy horror movies. It’s just as brilliantly written, directed, and filmed as its predecessor, and will leave you terrified, out of breath, and contemplative about your own humanity and priorities.

They Both Die at the End is a young adult fiction/romance novel where Death-Cast, a service that can predict the day on which a person is going to die and notifies those who will die that day. The novel follows teenagers Mateo and Rufus who both receive their Death-Cast calls on the same day; they then meet up using an app called Last Friend which allows deckers to connect with other deckers who are destined to die that day. Mateo and Rufus spend their “last day” together having the adventure of a lifetime, connecting to each other on a deeper level than anyone could have imagined; all while the inevitability of their deaths festers in their minds as the hours slip away. 

Luca’s vibrant animation, touching story, and all-around amazing production make Luca one of Pixar’s most charming movies to date and I could not recommend it enough. Just be warned: you may have an insatiable need for sunny skies, gelato, and fresh pasta by the end of your viewing.

We’re all on the lookout for easy ways to make money – and now that it’s summer, we have all the time in the world to do so. But the question is, how do we get the cash? I now present to you: Three Summer Side Hustles for Teens.

Nomad [noh-mad] noun: a person with no fixed abode who roams about; a wanderer

The Academy Award winning film, Nomadland, proved to the world that there is power in stillness. Fern works to maintain an unconventional van lifestyle after her hometown is discontinued. Grappling with the loss of her husband and home, Fern discovered the true meaning of the word home. Each scene is crafted with such intricate detail, despite its simplicity. The film is made up of beautiful cinematography, gorgeous wide shots of nature, and nearly pitch-black stills of Fern in her day-to-day life.

We’ve all thought “Man, I really wish I didn’t have to deal with this today” at least once in our lives. So, I’ve compiled a list of 4 of my absolute FAVORITE books to read if you want to escape reality for a little while! These books are great for elementary-schoolers and middle-schoolers.

Rookie reporter Monique Grant is suddenly handed the rare opportunity to author the biography of glamorous, mysterious Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo. And before the final bow of the heartrending tale, discussing social injustice and mental health, Hugo reveals her connection to Grant, delivering a message that will shatter the reporter – as well as your heart. Beautifully-written, each phrase art in and of itself, the novel will leave you aching for days.

It’s no secret that I am a total bookworm! I mean for goodness sake, I run a whole blog where I make drink and book pairings! One thing that Liza and I have loved most about our time in the Berkshires is discovering all of the amazing local book stores. Amazon has put a huge damper on the book industry, and so many mom and pop shops are struggling to survive.

Some of our Halloween favorites for a spooky, movie night in!