Fairmont High School reports that 36 members of the Class of 2012 graduated in January. In addition, at least three juniors have declared their intention to graduate at the end of this school year.

The number of students graduating early has been rising over the past 10 years, and Fairmont Guidance Counseling Department Chair David Elliott has an idea to why this is happening.

“A few early grads who are 18 years old tell me that they’re earning money to pay living expenses, and some are moving out of their homes and living independently. Also, many of these students are starting college in January, getting half a year of course work completed by the end of the regular school year,” he said. “Nearly all of them are working part-time or even full-time to earn money for college or living expenses and a few have enlisted in the military and have headed off to basic training.”

Although this decision may sound difficult for some students, the process is actually quite simple. Elliott says there are just a few steps students have to take to begin the process.

“To start the process, students usually come either the end of their junior year if they’re graduating early their senior year, or at the end of their sophomore year if they’re graduating early their junior year. They must get an early graduation form from their counselor’s office,” Elliott said. “But if students feel at the last minute, such as after winter break of their junior year, that they want to graduate early, they’re still welcome to talk to their counselor and discuss graduating early.”

Because these students have to earn the same 21.5 credits required of all other graduates, they must take the time to fill out the form, which must be signed by the early graduates’ parents as well. “We feel that parents should be required to sign the form because it’s important they know what is going on in their child’s educational life and are on the same page with their child’s decisions,” said Elliott.

Elliott said counselors not only help the students through the paperwork and formalities of the process, they try to mentor these students as well. “Mainly, our jobs as counselors are to review our students’ transcripts to ensure eligibility for graduation and to help students make the best decisions about their schedules and plans for higher education and careers,” he said.

Reasons for graduating early

Each student who chooses to get his diploma early has specific reasons for doing so. Tyler Edmondson, who left Fairmont midway through his senior year and began at Sinclair Community College on Jan. 9, simply wants to get a head start in his life. “I’m graduating early so I can start college earlier and be able to work more,” he said.

After it’s all said and done, though, Edmondson knows his decision won’t be so simple. “Since I’m 17, I don’t get financial aid, so I’ll have to balance two jobs with college in order to pay for my classes,” he said. “Also, it’s kind of a bummer that I won’t be able to see all of my friends because I’ll be so busy.”

Edmondson says he knows his life won’t be easy at first, but he’ll always be working to complete his goals. “I plan to go to Sinclair for two years and then transfer to the University of Cincinnati,” he said.

While some students work to get a head start on achieving their goals, others have to take on new and unknown challenges in order to even go to college. Senior Lauren Lee finished early in order to join the military. “The job that I want to do in the Army is only available if I leave in February,” she said.

Since money is a main priority when it comes to going to college, some students have to do extra work to get money for school. Lee has decided that the Army will help her in the end. “I really want to go to college and receive my doctorate, but I don’t have the money to pay for all the schooling,” she said. “I also would love to travel, so I figured joining the Army will help me do everything that I wish to do.”

Weighing the pros and cons

For some students, graduating early during senior year isn’t early enough; they decide to start talking to their counselors during their sophomore year and graduate at the end of their junior year. Junior Shannon Brown was interested by this idea and took action.

“I’ve always been very driven and felt like I’m stuck a few steps behind where I want to be,” said Brown. “Also, I have not enjoyed high school at all. So when I discovered that I had enough credits to graduate without taking any extra classes and still get an honors diploma; it was an easy decision to make.”

Brown also feels her decision allows her to end her high school career on a good note. “I don’t have to write a senior research paper and I have two semesters’ worth of exams I don’t have to take to take,” she said. “A lot of people think that I’m missing out on being a real senior, but you still get all the senior perks and experiences.”

But Fairmont English Department Chair Penni Meyer feels teens who skip their senior year may end up regretting it. “If students are going to college, they’re hurting themselves by not learning the process of how to write a research paper and document sources correctly,” she said. “If students see avoiding the research paper as a ‘perk,’ then they’re not looking at the long-term benefits of a thorough education.”

The fantasy of leaving high school ahead of other students may appeal to some students, but there are still some disadvantages. “When graduating early, you miss out on quite a bit, like senior prom, senior pranks, walking (if you’re not walking) and the rest of your childhood,” said Lee. “In a way, I’m being rushed into my adulthood.”

Edmondson agrees and feels teens who graduate early do grow up faster than other students. “Unfortunately, you face the reality of growing up and actually starting a future immediately after high school,” he said. “Not being able to spend time with all your friends is really tough, too.” He added, however, that he thinks it will all work out once he gets used to his new schedule.

At the end of the day, Elliott feels most students should graduate with their class. “With all the extracurricular activities and experiences Fairmont offers that can really help shape students, I feel students staying in high school for all four years is an excellent idea,” he said.

But Elliott also acknowledges that some students have special circumstances. “I do believe it’s a good thing that Fairmont offers the option of students’ graduating early because of the flexibility it provides and how well it represents our diverse population.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit follows the story of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in his quests as a young hobbit. An Unexpected Journey is the first part of a two-part movie series for The Hobbit, in which Baggins finds himself in a quest to help defeat the dragon Smaug. This leads to his meeting with Gollum, from whom Bilbo receives the One Ring.

For anyone anxious to see how Lord of the Rings began or just looking for a good fantasy adventure tale, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey should be on the list of “Must Watch.”

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol

Not quite ready do be disavowed from moviegoer’s minds, Tom Cruise reintroduces super-spy Ethan Hunt to audiences in the newest installment of the Mission: Impossible series. This time around, the MI team makes its way to Moscow, where they must deal with a major terrorist attack, government conspiracies and all the other things that make these movies perfect to watch. If you want to see some massive explosions and espionage galore, make sure you stop into theaters for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.  (See Nikki Kelley’s review of Ghost Protocol.)

Underworld: Awakening

For this fourth installment of the Underworld series, Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein team up to direct Kate Beckinsale in her return to the gritty vampires-versus-werewolves series. This time around, it seems that the human race has discovered both the vampires and lycans and is conducting a war to eradicate the races. Will Beckinsale survive the war? Will the humans succeed in their quest to destroy vampires and werewolves alike? You’ll have to stop into theaters to find out.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

In the follow-up to the hit movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, John Hutcherson returns to reprise his role as Sean Anderson. Young Anderson finds himself receiving a distress call from a mysterious island that shouldn’t exist. He and father Hank, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, embark on a quest to this mysterious island, to help rescue whoever has sent the call for help. If you’re excited to see more action with extinct predators, survival on islands or just a great family film, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island will be a perfect destination on Feb. 10.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nicholas Cage returns to the big screen as Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle stuntman and nighttime superhero known as the Ghost Rider. This time around, the devil is seeking to do his deeds through the villain Blackout, a half-demon with superhuman strength and reflexes, as well as the power to remove light near him through the evil powers granted to him by Mephistopheles. This film isn’t out yet, but the buzz is already beginning on the newest installment to the Ghost Rider franchise. Stop into theaters on Feb. 17 to check it out.

Regular performances of the show will run from Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 2-4, at 7:30 p.m. each night. Saturday will also feature a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students or senior adults. Space is limited for the Saturday and Friday night shows.

All performances for this modern twist on Shakespeare’s classic play will be in the Fairmont Auditorium. The play is about two hours long and will include a 15-minute intermission.

Call 499-2460 to reserve tickets.

Fairmont’s Head Custodian Brian Marker has only worked at Fairmont for six months but already loves his job.  Marker has extensive experience in many trades. Before becoming head custodian, Marker was a carpenter, machinist and cabinet maker.  Marker was also an assistant custodian and head custodian at the D.L. Barnes building and Kettering Middle School.

“I’ve seen and done everything,” Marker said.

Marker’s day typically begins at 6:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. 

“When I first get to school, I make sure all the buildings are open and that the teachers have what they need for the day,” said Marker.

Custodial duties are not simply picking up trash and sweeping the floor.  Custodians have to be able to repair anything from faulty wiring to broken heaters.  They also need to know about the sometimes dangerous chemicals and equipment they are working with to perform their duties safely.  Marker knows the inner mechanics of the school like the back of his hand, but he also finds his work with people extremely rewarding.

“I enjoy interacting with the students and staff,” said Marker.  “I love seeing kids walk through the halls happy knowing they are in a safe environment.”

In his heart, Marker will always have a special place for Fairmont.  “I am proud to work at the No. 1 high school in Ohio,” he said.

Assistant custodian Nathan Hisel has been working at Fairmont for 14 years and still loves his job.  “My favorite part about my job is the students and staff I work with,” he said.

For Hisel, custodial work runs in the family; his mother, Marsha Ryles, also works at Fairmont after retiring from being a Dayton police officer.  She was also involved with the Police Athletic Program, working with teenagers to show them a more positive and crime-free way of life.

Hisel usually has a pretty busy day ahead of him when he arrives at Fairmont.  He cleans everything from restrooms to classrooms, empties trashcans and dusts the top of the locker bays.

Donny Bradam, an East Unit custodian, also remains very active throughout the day.  “Most days we’ll just work straight through the day,” he said.  “A lot of times, even when we are eating, we get calls to wipe up blood or vomit.”

Their jobs obviously can be challenging, and sometimes custodians feel like they aren’t appreciated enough for the hard work and long hours they put into the upkeep of the school.

Bradam says he thinks students should be responsible and pick up their own trash so the custodians don’t have to clean up after them. “I don’t know why students don’t do more to maintain the school,” Bradam said.  “It is their school, too.”

When people do compliment Bradam, it assures him that he is doing a superb job maintaining the school.  Every once in awhile, “it is nice to get patted on the back,” he said.

While some may not notice how nice the school appears, Bradam says the administrators value the hard work they do.  “After winter break, Mr. Von Handorf praised me by saying how great the school looked,” Bradam said.  “But what really makes me feel good is when students compliment me.”

However, not everybody is oblivious. Sarah Bennett, a senior at Fairmont, took the time to write a letter to The Flyer praising custodians for the hard work they do to keep the school clean.  “You are superheros,” the letter reads.  “Not very many people are willing to do what you do. So thank you, janitors.  Fairmont loves you.”

Taylor died Nov. 11, 2011, at the age of 61 after battling colon cancer. Many remember him for his work at Fairmont, but those closest to him also remember his personality behind his art.

“Wayne Taylor is one of the most gentlemanly individuals I’ve known; he could bring out the best in anybody,” said Thom Meyer, a former Fairmont art photo teacher and longtime friend of Taylor.

Meyer knew Taylor for quite some time during college, even though they attended different universities. They taught together at Van Buren Middle School and developed a friendship. Meyer describes Taylor as “a slow-walking, slow-talking country boy, but a genuinely nice person.” With his artwork, Taylor painted realistic portraiture, which is used with classic poses and detailed lighting. He found this to be the most gratifying style to use, according to Meyer.

Taylor made many of his paintings specifically for Fairmont High School, including the black-and-white paintings of famous artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Salvador Dali. For several years, his paintings illustrating the 12 Character Words of the Month also hung in Fairmont’s halls. (Several are still in the Main Office.) He also painted the Mona Lisa on the wall by the art rooms and had his art students paint the background back in 1997.

When teaching at Van Buren Middle School, Meyer noticed how Taylor would talk to his students like he would any other adult, and he connected with them by pulling out skills and talents that they may have never recognized. He could do this by his comforting approach and his knowledge of art. He believed in his students, which enabled them to perform better than they ever thought.

Meyer saw this as the years passed and they became even closer friends. Taylor started teaching at Fairmont in 1989 and worked there for 17 years as both the Art Coordinator and a part-time art teacher until retiring in 2006.

“He knew his craft, his subject, its history, and from that he had this wealth of information he could draw from and help other people; he was also a very humble man and made a point to recognize other talented artists,” said Meyer.

Senior Nicole Manzo got the opportunity to work with Taylor on a project for her IB art class. “I loved working with him. He was almost like a grandpa figure to me; I’m just so inspired by his art and he truly helped me become the artist I am today,” said Manzo.

Taylor and Meyer were also involved in last year’s Retired Kettering Art Teacher Exhibit, said Fairmont AP 3D Design teacher Susan Bennett.

Taylor also built the fountain in the courtyard outside the art rooms to honor a fellow artist. “We call it our Art Pond. It is dedicated to one of Wayne’s good friends, Mr. Reed, who is currently battling cancer,” said art teacher Candy Clark.

When Taylor became the Art Coordinator at Fairmont, he wanted to promote the systemwide art program and create an art show. He established an organization called N2 ART, which Meyer describes as “so simple, yet so cool.” The annual N2 ART Exhibit features art of all media from students of all ages.

This “gentle” and humble man will be missed by friends, family, students and talented artists who followed his painting techniques, but the memories will remain strong through Wayne Taylor’s art work in the halls at Fairmont High School.

“His whole art staff loved him and will miss him tremendously,” said Bennett.

Fairmont Senior Michael DeBanto has loved automobiles ever since he can remember. “I remember riding with my grandma in her 1979 Cadillac Brougham d’Elegance and I just loved that car. That’s really what sparked my interest,” said DeBanto.

But DeBanto’s isn’t really all that interested in modern cars. “My favorite cars are the luxury cars of the 1970s. The first that comes to mind as my favorite would be a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am,” he said.

In DeBanto’s eyes, muscle cars are almost becoming a thing of the past – that’s what interests him about them. “Back in the day, the cars were just made with more heart. They were made with much more style and durability,” he said. “The little cars you see on the streets today won’t last those 20 years down the road.”

Another interest that can be found within the student body is Irish dancing. Fairmont senior Gracie Townsend has had a love for Irish dancing since childhood. “My mother had been into dancing for 35 years, plus both of my sisters were involved in dancing. This has been a tradition in my family for years,” said Townsend.

Irish dancing is an interest that can be fostered through both a person’s heritage and family traditions. Although in its roots, Irish dancing has no competitive aspect, dancers now can compete in individual events or team events. “I love competing both individually and with a team,” said Townsend. I’ve made so many friends in the process; I practically grew up with my teammates.”

English teacher Fig Poling has an interest that’s a bit unusual in the Midwest – whale watching, which involves traveling and becoming one with nature. “The first time I went whale watching, we went to the Gulf of Maine,” said Poling. “It has underwater mountain ranges, thus being filled with marine life; whales love feeding there.”

Being so in sync with nature is something that opens a lot of different interesting doors. “The only time I’ve gone and haven’t seen whales was in Lubec, Maine. Although there weren’t whales, it was still amazing because we saw a lot of seals and American bald eagles,” said Poling.

Another teacher with an unusual interest is math teacher Brad Bishop. “My interest in singing started in church when I was a young boy. I learned how to read music through hymns and would then learn different harmonies,” said Bishop. “That’s how I learned to do tenor and bass; my family all shares a love of singing, including my parents who sing duets in their retirement community and are the leaders of their choir at church. Also, my sister was involved with dinner theatre after college.”

Bishop’s interest for singing, like his family’s, has turned into much more as time has progressed. The math teacher now enjoys performing in plays and musicals. “I perform with a community theatre and am right now actually rehearsing a production of Scrooge at the Dayton Playhouse,” said Bishop.

“My favorite type of singing and performing is with rock ‘n’ roll music. That’s where my voice and love for playing guitar really come out,” said Bishop.

Teachers and students alike all have things that interest them. And it’s those varied interests that can bring people together or set them apart from each other. DeBanto knows some people might not understand his love of muscle cars, but that doesn’t bother him.

“Although it’s just a car,” he said, “it’s something that I can really relate to.”

How long have you been swimming competitively?

I’ve been on a competitive team since I was 5 years old. So about 12-13 years.

What events do you participate in as a swimmer? 

I’m a sprinter, so I swim the 50 (down and back) and 100 freestyle. I also swim the 100 backstroke.

Do you swim on teams besides Fairmont’s?

If so, what are they? Yes, the KEY Swim Team.

How do you train?

I practice twice a day, once before school starting at 5:15 and then after school starting at 3:30. In one day, I spend about 4 hours in the pool. Some mornings we do dry land, which is just running and cardio. I also lift three times a week after practice. Our whole team is together, which makes practices way more fun.

What are your personal bests?

50 free – 23.6 seconds. 100 free – 51.6 seconds. 100 back – 58.3 seconds. I swim other events, too, but these are the events I swim during the high school season.

Do you expect you’ll improve your personal bests this year?

I hope so! My team as been working a lot harder this year, so hopefully it all pays off.

Do you hope to swim in college? If so, what colleges are you interested in?

Yes, and I actually already committed to Miami University a few months ago to swim on scholarship next fall.

What do you want to major in at Miami?

I plan on majoring in Exercise Science in college.

What other sports do you do participate besides swimming? What’s your favorite? Why?

Oh, I have zero coordination to be able to do anything else. If I didn’t swim, I would have no idea what I would do. Maybe/probably volleyball? Swimming and school take up so much of my time already, I really wouldn’t have time to participate in anything else.

What are your non-sports interests?

I’ve been playing the cello for about seven years now. My mom is the orchestra teacher at Van Buren Middle School and plays violin in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and my dad loves to sing, so I’ve always been surrounded by music. I love playing cello. I feel like playing an instrument is a lot more different than anything else you could do. I also love Mr. Wright and the Symphonic Orchestra.  

What would your ideal job be after college?

Oh, I would love to become an athletic trainer for a professional sports team, but that may be slightly hard to do right after college. I will more than likely attend physical therapy school after college.

Whether it’s basketball or bowling, soccer or wrestling, injuries occur in every sport. Most athletes have been faced with an injury or two, and those who have been there know that being injured is one of the worst feelings in the world. It’s torture to sit on the bench and watch teammates play; all an injured athlete wants is to get back on the “stage” as soon as possible.

But it’s this kind of thinking that leads some athletes to rush their recovery period. It’s difficult for teens to think about the long-term effects of pushing too hard or returning too early. Next year seems a long way away, let alone 25 years from now.

“I see a lot of athletes who try to rush their recovery,” said Dr. Sean Convery, a Sports Medicine specialist at Miami Valley Hospital. “They don’t realize that if they rush their recovery and don’t heal completely, they’ll be faced with the same injury or possibly a new one over and over again.”

Convery believes participation in sports helps most teenagers. “Sports at a young age do benefit teenagers’ development, and I have also seen that they have psychosocial benefits,” he said.

But Convery says he can’t ignore the downside of high school sports. “Sports can be damaging by overtraining,” he said. “If an athlete has poor workout habits, that could also be a huge source of physical harm.”

Robin Lynch, the Fairmont High School athletic trainer, agrees with Convery. “I believe that high school sports develop a mentality of an active lifestyle rather than a sedentary lifestyle. But athletes do run the risk of injuring themselves when they are active so much,” said Lynch.

She thinks that overall, high school sports benefit students, as long as they are not faced with a season-ending injury. “Some athletes who encounter very serious injuries never fully recover,” said Lynch. “They try too hard to come back too quickly.”

Freshman Elijah Redman is one of the many high school students who have been faced with an injury. Redman played varsity soccer this past fall, and during the second-to-last game before the state tournament, he fractured his growth plate in his knee.

“I had never felt pain like that before in my life,” said Redman. “I knew right away that it was going to be worse than any other injury I have ever had to recover from.”

Redman has a long road to recovery in front of him, and he’ll have to go through months of physical therapy. “I know that the harder I work during my recovery, the stronger I will come back,” said Redman. He believes he will be 100 percent ready for next soccer season.

Some Fairmont graduates continue to face pain from their high school sport, even years after the injury. Erin Carey, 23, played field hockey and basketball for Fairmont and had shoulder problems during the beginning of her junior year during basketball season. “I still feel pain sometimes when I am carrying something heavy or reach for something too quickly,” Carey said recently.   

Luckily for athletes, almost all injuries can be fixed and physical therapy programs can help get an athlete back in the game. The most common injury is an ankle sprain and it occurs in almost every sport, says Convery. Because of all the jumping, running and cutting athletes do, they’re more prone to rolling their ankles.

Convery has seen many ankle injuries over the years. “The best way to avoid hurting your ankles or any body parts is to strengthen it,” said Convery. “I tell athletes to do workouts that are designed to make the muscles in their bodies able to withstand all of the hard work they are putting themselves through.”

Lynch agrees with Convery, but also believes that healthy training and diets are the keys to staying in the game. “I tell athletes to eat healthy and build good workout habits,” she said. “That is the best way to make sure you are healthy and at the top of your game during your entire high school career.”

 To say that Roalef started playing basketball at a young age is an understatement. “I’ve been playing basketball ever since I can remember,” said Roalef. He says his father is the one who encouraged him to play basketball ever since he was a little boy. “My dad has really helped me throughout my career.”

Along with his dad, Roalef says Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach Hank Bias has helped him get where he is today. “Coach Bias is always there to help and is a great man,” Roalef said.

Bias, who has coached Roalef since he’s been in high school, has nothing but good things about the player. “Jacob is a great person on and off the court; he is one of the finest young men I have coached,” Bias said. He added that Roalef leads by example on the court and many of his teammates look up to him.

Because Roalef is a senior with four years of varsity experience, many players look to him for guidance and help on the court. “Jacob really helps me out during practice and during games,” said junior Greg Osborne.

Roalef understands his role and tries to live up to the responsibilities that come with it. “I’m always willing to help the other players when they need it. I enjoy how some of the guys look up to me; they know I am always here to help them,” Roalef said.

When he is not on the court or in the classroom, Roalef can be found hanging out with his friends. “I don’t really have that much free time, but when I do, I’m usually joking around and having a good time with my friends,” he said.

After high school, Roalef intends to study some type of biology in college, but he’s not sure where he would like to go with that yet. He’s also uncertain about his future with basketball. “I’m not sure if I am going to play ball in college because I can get great scholarships for my grades if I decide I don’t want to play,” Roalef said.

Playing sports and getting good grades in high school takes a lot of hard work and determination, and Roalef brings both of those to every challenge he faces.

But perhaps the biggest decision of all is how to plan a nice date that doesn’t exceed the capabilities of your wallet.

If anyone is having this problem, The Flyer is here to assist you. Let’s say you didn’t get as many tips at work this week or mowing lawns didn’t really put that extra wad of cash in your pocket. Well, it is possible to go on a date and still have fun, while not spending too much money in the end.

Cheap isn’t always bad

To have a good and inexpensive time, pack a lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit, chips and possibly a bottle of sparkling grape juice in a picnic basket. Then put that and a blanket in the trunk of your car, and take your date to a public, comfortable atmosphere such as Cox Arboretum, located a little south of Kettering at 6733 Springboro Pike.

Admission is free, and you and your date can go on a nice nature walk or a hike to get some relaxing exercise. Once the two of you finish your adventurous tour, return to your car to grab the picnic items and have a picnic at a nearby area. At the end of the date, you’ll have barely spent a penny, but you’re sure to have had a great time.

Fairmont junior Matt Steele agrees there’s no reason to spend a lot of money on every date. “I love going on dates and experiencing new things with my significant other, but it’s nice just to do something adventurous that is cheap and still fun,” said Steele. “It’s nice having a girlfriend who doesn’t need extra money spent on her to be pleased.”

A little pricier

It’s possible that you’ve already done the extra-cheap-but-cute date, and you’re in it this time to spend a little more cash. You can drive your date to one of the many relatively inexpensive fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald’s. Most offer a variety of food choices, including items for meat-eaters, vegetarians and dieters, so your date will have plenty of menu items from which to pick.

Maybe you and your date want to add an activity, too. You can drive over to1601 East David Road and play a few games of miniature golf at Indian Trails. You can enjoy the competition of trying to beat one another and only pay the price of $5 per person. The cost of the meal and the golf outing works out to about $20, so you’re not putting too big of a dent in your wallet.

Sophomore Holly Gyenes feels a fun date doesn’t have to be a pricey one. “My ideal date is a dinner and a movie,” said Gyenes, “something that’s simple and nothing too fancy. I think spending time with someone should be special and for me, nothing extravagant is necessary to win me over.”

For someone “extra” special

To kick it up a notch, you might be interested in taking your significant other somewhere a little nicer than McDonald’s. Instead of chicken nuggets or cheeseburgers, the two of you can enjoy a delicious pizza in a comfortable atmosphere by heading over to Marion’s Piazza at the corner of Stroop Road and Far Hills Avenue. This popular restaurant offers quality, inexpensive pizza that can satisfy meat lovers and vegetarians alike. A typical 13” Marion’s pizza is $13 and after a pitcher of Coke or another drink, the bill averages out to about $17.

If you do lunch at Marion’s, you’ll have time to go all out with an afternoon activity. Hop in your car, blast the radio and drive down to the Cincinnati Zoo. After 61 minutes of jamming out with your date, you’ll arrive at your destination at 1229 Elm St. What a great place to go on a sunny day! Your date will fall head over heels for you upon seeing all the adorable and exotic animals and will appreciate the creativity of the date.

A regular adult admission ticket for the Cincinnati Zoo is $14 per person, so your cost for this date will be about $45 (plus, of course, the gas to get from here to Cinci and back). Sure, it’s a little more expensive than your usual date, but it’s sure to please that extra-special person, and everyone needs to splurge once in a while.

After taking all the time to make the decision of where to eat and what to do afterwards, you may feel overwhelmed on how to act on the date. Don’t fret; Fairmont Social Studies teacher Karla Mabry has advice for you.

“When you go on a date, the most important thing to do is be yourself,” said Mabry. “Always be proud of who you are and make sure your date likes you for you and not someone else.”

Want to see more inexpensive date ideas? Click HERE.