“White Christmas is the best Christmas song ever. It’s the one song that I love to sing on Christmas and when I go caroling this song is always one that we sing” said Christmas caroler Kristina Cortez.

 2.      “Winter Wonderland” was written in 1934 by Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard. Smith served as an editor of a newspaper before taking up a career in music. Bernard, the composer, born in Brooklyn, New York, played the piano with popular orchestras. Although they were the masterminds behind writing this song would not have became famous if it wasn’t for Clay Aiken who sang it. Aiken recorded it on his 2004 album “Merry Christmas With Love”, which won a Billboard Award for the Best Selling Christian Album.      

 3.      “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” This was written by the Sammy Cahn and Broadway songwriter Jule Styne in 1945. It was first recorded by Vaughn Monroe, and has also been recorded by Patsy Cline, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Herb Alpert, The Carpenters, Carly Simon and Jessica Simpson. However Dean Martin’s version is the best-known today. This is known as a Christmas song when there is no mention of the holiday in the lyrics. It’s about making the most of a snowy day by spending it with a loved one by the fire, which was enough to make it one of the most played songs around the holiday.

“When I think of Christmas songs I think of let it snow because it reminds me most of the holidays and really gets me into the Christmas spirit” said Christmas fanatic Rudy Dominguez

4.      “Jingle Bells” yet again Bing Crosby has done it again by recording another holiday classic. Jingle bells was written in 1857 by James S. Pierpont who first titled it One Horse Open Sleigh. The song was sung by many singers who had different names for the song but in 1970 attracted some attention and was re-released with just “Jingle Bells.”

“Jingles Bells is an easy song to remember and it’s so catchy. It always gets stuck in my head for day”. Said junior Jon Lopez

5. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” was first published in 1943 by Ralph Blane and music by Hugh Martin. The song brought comfort to many American soldiers who were fighting overseas during World War II at this time. The song was sung by Judy Garland, but James Taylor recorded his version using the original, more melancholy lyrics, shortly before September 11, 2001 and scheduled to be released the following spring. After the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Taylor

With talent, hard work, and production skills beyond his years, senior AJ Dinicola is making a name for himself as a singer in the area.

Dinicola is known by his stage name, AJ Dee. He is a local singersongwriter and his interest in music developed at an early age.

“Music has been all around me since I’ve grown up. My first bedroom that I could remember being in was a studio. I would sleep under the mixing console [studio table]. For me not to try and follow this would be weird. It’s not that I meant to do it, it’s just really easy. It’s something that’s always been present in my life so I try to follow it and do it justice,” said Dinicola.

A lot of advantages arise from his musical family. His father has been a musician for over 27 years and gives music lessons. At his hands, Aj has always had a personal coach. Dinicola never had to leave his house to pursue his passion.

“Through middle school, I was in a band but it ended freshman year. I figured out how to use the studio and I recorded a little jam that turned into [song] ’Savannah’ and I really liked it. I began to realize I could really do this for the rest of my life. Music for me isn’t something that I like to do. It’s something I have to do,” said Dinicola.

Other than rocking out tunes, AJ is an active member of the school band’s drum line, which further helps him engage in his musical talents.

Dinicola has a recording studio in his house which he and his father made from the ground up. They assumed the task of perfecting it gradually. The easy access to studio tools has made producing music even easier for the local artist.

He plans on continuing with music but he’s not in the business for money.

As any other artist, he’s making his name known around the area. His popularity in the Tampa area is ever present.

“I got played on the Cow Head show, it’s a really popular radio station, channel 102.5 FM. He found one of my songs on Facebook, I don’t know how he found it,” said Dinicola.

The DJ at the Cow Head show contacted AJ before his song was broadcasted.

“But he called my dad and said ‘I found your son’s music online and we really want to play it and get it out there and talk about him.’ They ended up playing it,” said Dinicola.

That first experience on the radio was one he still remembers vividly.

“I remember it was four o’clock when I got the call. It was so awesome and I cried and all that and it was great and even a couple months ago at work the Cow Head show was on and I didn’t get a phone call this time and they played another song,” said Dee

He recently released a CD featuring eleven songs which he spent just under four years to complete the entire album.

One of AJ’s well-known songs, “Have You Seen Savannah,” depicts a relationship gone wrong as he fills the track with a bitter sweet melody.

His versatility shows throughout the album, most notably, his song “That Girl” which portrays a more acoustic side of him.

The family consists of June “Mama” Thompson, her partner “Sugarbear”, and their daughters Jessica “Chubbs”, Anna “Chickadee”, Lauryn “Pumpkin” and of course Alana.

It is amazing how Alana transforms from a chunky redneck child into a picturesque baby doll that competes in beauty pageants. The show is characterized by its southern, white-trash charm rather than focusing on the beauty pageant aspects.

 In the first season the family partakes in the Redneck Games in Southern Georgia. These games consist of belly flopping in vats of mud and bobbing for raw pig’s feet. Also, an entire episode focuses on “Mama’s” deformed toe.

Every episode is unbelievable and shocking. The family’s acquisition of a noisy pig only adds to the southern charm. Throughout countless episodes it continues to obnoxiously squeal. Alana even takes it with her to get her pageant dress fitted.

Although the family appears to be a train wreck they are confident in themselves. The confidence they portray is motivational to anyone who watches the show. It will lift the spirits and inner confidence of those who choose to not turn away from the family show.

The JV cowboys finished with a close 34 – 27 game against the JV Plant Panthers. With the season closing, however, players and coaches alike are not upset about the Plant game or their overall season.

“The team played with so much heart and fight that we should all be proud of the effort. Plant is an excellent team that we look forward to playing every season. The pre-game message to the team was that regardless of the outcome we needed to leave it all on the field.” said JV Head Coach Zachary Sechrist, “The players were devastated by the loss, but could walk off the field with their heads held high.”

Sechrist, who has been on the Cowboys’ coaching staff for three years, believes that improvement on the field can start with the improvement in the classroom.

“Even an undefeated team has room for improvements. I think that this team’s biggest need for improvement is in the classroom.” said Sechrist, “We constantly remind them that they are STUDENT-athletes. Our team needs to realize the immense importance of academics and strive to do better in the classroom.”

A big contender on the JV football team is sophomore captain David Mazur.

Mazur finishes a successful sophomore season as starting quarterback. At six feet, one hundred and sixty – five pounds, Mazur, has the arm and aim to be a dependable backup for starting quarterback Alex McGough, who at the moment has no main backup.

If moved up to varsity, Mazur has the ability to dress and play immediately.

“Hopefully, [Mazur] can play well enough to play him, it’s definitely a different level, moving from JV to varsity,” said Offensive Line coach Jeff Ditman, “it’s a different speed, a different game. He looks good so far, so we’ll see.”

Students like Mazur and junior Joseph Bouchard, sophomores Tyler Castro, Malik Huff, Conner Chasteen and freshman Sam Ford also have the potential to dress immediately.

Freshman Defensive Lineman Clay Marshall enjoyed his first successful season with the JV team.

“It was pretty cool to make it on the JV team, and it was actually real football, not PeeWee football. I’m just glad I got to play,” said Marshall, “[At the Plant game], we played fine, we made a few mistakes, but we played our hearts out. It was a good game.

With the season closing, both players and coaches alike have big goals for the 2013 – 2014 season.

“Hopefully, I can get stronger and faster so I’ll be able to start and get moved up to varsity next season.” said Marshall.

Sechrist, who will begin training with new recruits in the near future, has big plans, to beat Plant.

“[One big goal], beat Plant. The schedule will most likely get a shake up and we are not sure who are opponents are but the plan is to come back and continue to build on the success from this season. I think that the reputation for Gaither Football has been going through a 2 year facelift. When Coach Stokes came into GHS, we have really worked hard for the last 2 years to change our reputation.” said Sechrist, “We are no longer going to be a speed bump for other teams en-route to the playoffs. Our goal is high success on and off the field and we are going to work hard and relentlessly to achieve those results.

The JV Cowboys will be taking a break and resume training to go undefeated for the 2013 -2014 school year, while those who moved up will begin training with varsity.

“It’ll be interesting in the next few weeks.” said Ditman.